Rome, April 8 : More than five million students across Italy returned to schools for in-person classes, after months of distant learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Announced by the central government on March 26, the reopening on Wednesday concerned all nursery and primary students up to the sixth grade, including those in the nine regions currently classified as high-risk red zone due to their high level of pandemic risk, reports Xinhua news agency.

Most Italian schools had been closed nationwide since March 15, as the country implemented a new round of severe restrictions ahead of Easter to slow down a third pandemic wave.

Since last year however, face-to-face school learning has faced frequent and longer interruptions here compared to other major European countries.

This sparked a protest from large numbers of students and parents, and of some teachers as well, who took to the streets in dozens of Italian cities in late March asking to go back to the classroom.

Partially to address their requests, and in a change from previous school closures, Prime Minister Mario Draghi's cabinet this time ruled that regional governors will no longer be allowed to eventually impose further shutdown at a local level.

The only exception would be represented by "cases of extraordinary necessity" due to outbreaks or to an extremely high risk of the virus spreading, and, even in such cases, only in agreement with health authorities.
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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it recorded 108 road traffic accidents in Gombe State between January and March.

The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Ishaku Ibrahim, stated this in Lafiyawo, Akko Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday, while briefing journalists on the activities of the corps during the Easter.

Mr Ibrahim said during the period, 501 persons were involved in the crashes which claimed 33 lives with 298 others sustaining various degrees of injuries.

He said speeding accounted for most of the accidents recorded within the period but added that the command was intensifying enforcement of speed limit as well as sensitisation.

Since 2017, we have embarked on installation of speed limit devices in all commercial vehicles and we have realised that some vehicles have not been complying with the speed limiters.

That is what led to a lot of crashes; we are intensifying enforcement. Any driver of commercial vehicle without speed limit installed will be sanctioned, he stated.

Mr Ibrahim said the speed limiter was being installed in vehicles in phases in the state, beginning with commercial vehicles and school buses.

He said the command was sensitising motorists to the dangers of speeding in the 11 Local Government Areas of Gombe State with a simple message  avoid over speeding.

As far as speed is concerned, different routes have their speeds but the maximum speed you can go is 100km per hour.

(NAN)
Anthony Albanese has weighed in on bitter internal stoushes marring Labor's Tasmanian election campaign, backing the 'courageous' decisions of state leader Rebecca White.

Labor's bid to oust the Liberal state government at the May 1 poll has fallen into disarray after one candidate was forced to step down over 'inappropriate' text messages and another criticised party policy.

Ms White told state party president Ben McGregor to quit his candidacy after messages he sent to a woman seven years ago came to light following a complaint to the party.

Anthony Albanese has weighed in on bitter internal stoushes marring Labor's Tasmanian election campaign, backing the 'courageous' decisions of state leader Rebecca White

Ms White told state party president Ben McGregor to quit his candidacy after messages he sent to a woman seven years ago came to light following a complaint to the party

Mr McGregor said he had apologised to the woman at the time for the messages and that the complaint was part of a politically motivated smear campaign against him.

At his first appearance on the hustings, Mr Albanese said Ms White had shown she could make tough decisions amid a 'bit of noise'.

'It has shown that she has the courage and leadership capacity to lead Tasmania,' the federal Labor leader told reporters in Launceston on Thursday.

Ms White earlier said she was left with no choice but to disendorse Mr McGregor after speaking with the woman who received the messages.

Earlier this week, Labor was left red-faced when Ms White asked the party's national executive to endorse popular mayor Dean Winter as a candidate after he was snubbed during preselection.

'She has received the backing of me and the national executive to do that and that's a good thing,' Mr Albanese said.

Ms White earlier said she was left with no choice but to disendorse Mr McGregor after speaking with the woman who received the messages

'She now has the team in place she wants.'

The initial decision not to select Mr Winter as a candidate in the southern seat of Franklin was seen to be driven by the state party's left faction.

Fellow Labor Franklin candidate, Fabiano Cangelosi, made waves on Wednesday when he spoke out against the party's pokies policy and proposed tough anti-protest laws.

Labor, which campaigned on an anti-pokies platform in 2018, recently signed a deal with the hospitality lobby backing the rights of pubs and club to operate the machines.

'From time to time when you have a whole lot of candidates you'll have everyone not always on the same page,' Mr Albanese said,

'But the Tasmanian Labor position (on poker machines) is clear and it's one I support.'
Maputo  The one day extraordinary summit of the "Double Troika" of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ended in Maputo on Thursday, without announcing any decisions other than plans to hold further meetings at the end of the month.

One of the two troikas consists of the current, incoming and outgoing chairs of SADC (namely Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania), while the second is formed by the current, incoming and outgoing chairs of the SADC organ for politics, defence and security cooperation (Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe).

The summit was called in the wake of the terrorist attack of 24 March against the town of Palma in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, but the leaders did not pledge any immediate practical support for Mozambique.

The final communique from the summit condemned the terrorist attacks "in the strongest terms" and declared that "such heinous attacks cannot be allowed to continue without a proportionate regional response". But it did not suggest what such a regional response might consist of.

The Summit expressed "SADC's full solidarity with the government and people of Mozambique" and reaffirmed "SADC's continued commitment to contribute towards the efforts to bring about lasting peace and security, as well as reconciliation and development in the Republic of Mozambique".

The summit ordered "an immediate technical deployment" to Mozambique, and "the convening of an Extraordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ by 28 April 2021 that will report to the Extraordinary Organ Troika summit on 29 April 2021".

The extremely brief communique mentioned no other specific measures.
Millennial Liu Lurui quit her job and moved to the outskirts of Beijing, where she built a farm on three acres of land to create a healthier lifestyle for herself and five friends. The farm was completed in April 2020, and includes a house, a garden and an organic orchard. They hope that their hobo life can set an example for people looking to lead alternative way of life

Jun 04, 2021 06:31 PM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia has more troops on Ukraine's eastern border than at any time since 2014, when it annexed Crimea and backed separatist territory seizures, and the United States is concerned by growing "Russian aggressions," the White House said on Thursday.

The United States is discussing its concerns with its NATO allies, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told a briefing.

The Russian buildup has become the latest point of friction in icy relations between Moscow and U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, adding to disputes over arms control, human rights and other issues.

Biden last week expressed "unwavering support" for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in his confrontation with Russia, which in 2014 annexed the Crimea peninsula and backed separatists who seized large parts of the eastern Donbas region.

Russia has said its troops are no threat and are defensive, but they would remain as long as the Kremlin sees fit.

Psaki said that the United States "is increasingly concerned by recent escalating Russian aggressions in eastern Ukraine, including Russian troop movements on Ukraine's border."

"Russia now has more troops than at any time since 2014," Psaki added, saying that five Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the past week.

Psaki did not elaborate on the number of Russian troops deployed on Ukraine's border. But it was the first time that the Biden administration has given a description of the scale of the buildup.

In March 2014, as the conflict in eastern Ukraine escalated, Western estimates put the number of Russian troops, militia or special forces on Ukraine's border at 25,000 to more than 30,000.

Psaki's comments followed by hours a telephone call in which Chancellor Angela Merkel of NATO member Germany demanded that Russian President Vladimir Putin pull his troops back to de-escalate the situation.

(Reporting by Steve Holland, Andrea Shalal and Jonathan Landay. Editing by Franklin Paul and Will Dunham)
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Unknown gunmen have attacked a third police station in Imo State, Nigerias South-east, in less than 72 hours.

The attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday at the Mbiere Divisional Police Headquarters in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state, The Punch newspaper has reported.

Two similar attacks, including the one at the police headquarters and the prisons headquarters in the state, have taken place before now.

The second attack was carried out a few hours after the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, accompanied by the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, visited the state to assess the damage done to the police headquarters.

During the latest attack, the gunmen reportedly freed some suspects from the police detention facility and also carted away phones belonging to suspects and police officers.

A police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the incident, but said the officers on duty repelled the attack, according to The Punch newspaper.

Mr Ikeokwu, a superintendent of police, said one officer was missing and that two sustained injuries during the attack.

The Punch reported that the gunmen also attacked a military base at Ukwuorji, burnt a soldier inside a car and razed four vehicles belonging to the military.

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The attack has brought to six the number of police facilities targeted in the state between February and April.

They are Obowo, Aboh Mbaise, Ihite/Uboma, Isiala Mbano, Ehime Mbano, and now Mbiere, as well as the police headquarters in the state.

There has been spate of attacks on police officers and police facilities lately around the countrys South-east and South-south regions.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7)  The Food and Drug Administration took a 180-degree turn and approved the use of the vaccine from Chinas Sinovac Biotech on senior citizens.

After considering the recommendation of the experts and the current situation of high COVID-19 transmission and limited available vaccines, the FDA is allowing the use of Sinovac on senior citizens, FDA Director General Eric Domingo said in a statement.

He said the approval was based on reports from other countries shared by the vaccine expert panel, but all factors were considered.

Domingo also noted that vaccination should be preceded by an evaluation of the receivers health status and exposure risk to assure that benefits outweigh risks.

Initially, the FDA previously recommended the use of Sinovacs CoronaVac on clinically healthy individuals aged 18-59 under the Emergency Use Authorization it granted to the manufacturer because of its low efficacy rate of 50.4% for high-risk groups.

Domingo said the letter of approval was already sent to the Department of Health to inform them of the change.

In a joint statement, the FDA and the Department of Health said that the health status of senior citizens must be evaluated first before getting inoculated with CoronaVac.

"The DOH and FDA emphasized that the vaccination of senior citizens using CoronaVac should strictly be preceded by careful evaluation of the person's health status and exposure risk," read the statement. "There is a Phase I/II safety and immunogenicity data for seniors but efficacy data is not yet sufficient to establish vaccine efficacy."

Domingo also reiterated that CoronaVac is allowed for adults with controlled comorbidities.

RELATED: Here's what adults with comorbidities need to know before getting the COVID-19 vaccine

During the Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday, Dr. Nina Gloriani, head of the governments Vaccine Development Expert Panel, said they already recommended to the regulator the use of the said vaccine on the elderly to ensure continuity of the immunization program.

Mayroon na kaming ganoong rekomendasyon, she said when asked about the matter.

[Translation: We already have that recommendation]

Gloriani explained that their call is also based on the continuing surge in new infections, thus there is a need to use whatever vaccine supply the country has to ensure protection of Filipinos, especially the priority sector.

This recommendation was also due to the depletion of the supply of AstraZeneca vaccine in the country, the brand that can be given to senior citizens, and the possible delay in the delivery of additional doses from the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility, she added.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. also said last month that they are targeting to inoculate up to 9 million Filipino senior citizens using Sinovac's vaccine.

Other countries, specifically China, have started the use of the said vaccine on citizens aged 60 and above despite lack in enough data since only a small number of senior citizens were included in previous trials.

Gloriani assured that based on their previous evaluation, CoronaVac has a good safety profile, causing only mild to moderate side effects that would last up to just two days, and also prevents severe COVID-19 cases.

Speaking to CNN Philippines News Night, she said based on previous studies, anti-bodies produced by the elderly who received the vaccine were almost the same as those produced by people aged 18-59 years old.

Gloriani said there is still not much data regarding its efficacy on variants, but that there is a theoretical possibility it will work well against them given that it is an inactivated vaccine, or it uses killed viral particles.

"Nasa pandemiya po tayo ngayon at hindi po tayo pwedeng mag-delay nang mag-delay [ng vaccination] dahil iyong bakuna na hinihintay natin ay hindi pa dumarating," she said. "Kung ano po iyong mayroon tayo sana ay magamit na natin."

[Translation: We are in a pandemic and we cannot delay vaccination just because the vaccine we are waiting for has not arrived yet. We hope that whatever we have will be used already.]

The China-made vaccine earlier caused concern for its use on healthcare workers due to its low efficacy rate of 50.4%. Despite this, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the recommendation for its use to medical workers to already give them the protection they need amid the fight against the virus.

Local government units already started vaccinating senior citizens and people with comorbidities late March following the rollout for the country's 1.7 million healthcare workers. Vaccine supply mostly came from donations from China and the COVAX facility.

By end of the year, the government targets to vaccinate up to 70 million Filipinos.
In this April 7, 2021, file photo, cemetery workers wearing protective gear lower the coffin of a person who died from complications related to COVID-19 into a gravesite at the Vila Formosa cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Nations around the world set new records Thursday, April 8, for COVID-19 deaths and new coronavirus infections, and the disease surged even in some countries that have kept the virus in check. Brazil became just the third country, after the U.S. and Peru, to report a 24-hour tally of COVID-19 deaths exceeding 4,000. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

Ambulances filled with breathless patients lined up in Brazil as nations around the world set new records Thursday for COVID-19 deaths and new coronavirus infections. The disease surged even in some countries that have kept the virus in check.

In the United States, Detroit leaders began making a plan to knock on every door to persuade people to get vaccine shots.

Brazil this week became just the second country, after the U.S., to report a 24-hour tally of COVID-19 deaths that exceeded 4,000. India hit a peak of almost 127,000 new cases in 24 hours, and Iran set a new coronavirus infection record for the third straight day, reporting nearly 22,600 new cases.

In the state of Rio de Janeiro, emergency services are under their biggest strain since the pandemic began, with ambulances carrying patients of all ages to overcrowded hospitals struggling to care for everyone. Authorities say over 90% of the state's intensive-care unit beds are taken by COVID-19 patients, and many cities are reporting people dying at home due to lack of available medical treatment.

"We're already living the third wave. We have three times more calls," in comparison with previous waves, said Adriano Pereira, director of the mobile emergency care service in Duque de Caxias, an impoverished city outside Rio.

A woman wearing mask walks past a notice about the shortage of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine supply outside a vaccination centre in Mumbai, India, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Nations around the world set new records Thursday for COVID-19 deaths and new coronavirus infections, and the disease surged even in some countries that have kept the virus in check. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to get vaccinated, writing in a tweet: "Vaccination is among the few ways we have to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon." (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Brazil's death toll has risen past 340,000, the second-highest total in the world behind the U.S., where nearly 560,000 people have been confirmed killed. The U.S. is the only other country that has had daily death tolls higher than 4,000. A Peruvian report of 4,143 virus deaths on Aug. 14 included deaths from several days.

Rio state's 14-day moving average of COVID-19 daily deaths climbed from 112 to 207 between March 1 and April 7, with some health analysts expecting even worse days in the next couple of weeks. Many hospitals warn about the risk of shortages of oxygen and sedatives for intubation.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to get vaccinated, writing in a tweet: "Vaccination is among the few ways we have to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon."

In this April 7, 2021, file photo, people attend the burial of a relative who died from complications related to COVID-19 at the Vila Formosa cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Nations around the world set new records Thursday, April 8, for COVID-19 deaths and new coronavirus infections, and the disease surged even in some countries that have kept the virus in check. Brazil became just the third country, after the U.S. and Peru, to report a 24-hour tally of COVID-19 deaths exceeding 4,000. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

The U.S. has now fully vaccinated nearly 20% of its adult population, and New Mexico became the first state to get shots in the arms of 25% of its residentsmilestones that are still far off for many hard-hit countries.

In India, home to 1.4 billion people, only 11 million are fully vaccinated. In Brazil, less than 3% of the country's 210 million people have received both doses, according to Our World in Data, an online research site.

South Korea reported 700 more cases, the highest daily jump since Jan. 5. Health authorities were expected to announce measures to strengthen social distancing following a meeting Friday.

In Thailand, which has reported only 95 deaths during the pandemic, health officials reported the country's first local cases of the coronavirus variant first detected in Britain. The news comes at a time when only 1% of the population has been vaccinated and as Thais prepare to celebrate the traditional Songkran New Year's holiday next week, typically a time of widespread travel.

People queue up for COVID-19 vaccine in Mumbai, India, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Nations around the world set new records Thursday for COVID-19 deaths and new coronavirus infections, and the disease surged even in some countries that have kept the virus in check. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to get vaccinated, writing in a tweet: "Vaccination is among the few ways we have to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon." (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

That variant is more contagious, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week that it is now the most common variant in the United States, raising concerns it will drive infections and cause more people to get sick.

Michigan has averaged more than 7,000 new cases a daya number that makes the state second in the nation behind New York. Michigan also has the highest number of new cases per capita, with 1 of every 203 state residents getting diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 31 and April 7, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

In Detroit, which is about 80% Black, officials said they plan to start visiting homes to talk about the importance of protecting themselves from the virus with vaccinations and how to sign up to receive the shots.

"We're going to knock on every residential door in the city, making sure every Detroiter knows how to make an appointment," Victoria Kovari, an executive assistant to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, told The Detroit News.

People get nasal swabs taken for COVID-19 tests in the Mare Complex favela of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Nations around the world set new records Thursday for COVID-19 deaths and new coronavirus infections, and the disease surged even in some countries that have kept the virus in check. Brazil became just the third country, after the U.S. and Peru, to report a 24-hour tally of COVID-19 deaths exceeding 4,000. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

In this March 25, 2021, file photo, people, right, walk past diners seated near open windows, left, in a restaurant on a busy street in the historic North End neighborhood of Boston. In Massachusetts, where the seven-day rolling average of daily new cases has risen to over 2,100 new cases per day, the Massachusetts Public Health Association called on Republican Gov. Charlie Baker to reinstate public health measures. The group urged Baker to limit indoor dining capacity and other indoor activities, saying the rise in cases and hospitalizations followed Baker's decision to loosen those restrictions. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

A health worker takes swab sample of children to test for COVID-19 in Prayagraj, India, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Nations around the world set new records Thursday for COVID-19 deaths and new coronavirus infections, and the disease surged even in some countries that have kept the virus in check. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to get vaccinated, writing in a tweet: "Vaccination is among the few ways we have to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon." (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

In this April 5, 2021, file photo, people wearing protective face masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus walk in downtown Tehran, Iran. Nations around the world set new records Thursday, April 8, for COVID-19 deaths and new coronavirus infections, and the disease surged even in some countries that have kept the virus in check. Iran set a new coronavirus infection record Thursday for the third straight day, reporting nearly 22,600 new cases. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)

In this April 7, 2021, file photo, Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) workers carry an elderly COVID-19 patient to an ambulance in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Nations around the world set new records Thursday, April 8, for COVID-19 deaths and new coronavirus infections, and the disease surged even in some countries that have kept the virus in check. Brazil became just the third country, after the U.S. and Peru, to report a 24-hour tally of COVID-19 deaths exceeding 4,000. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)

Only 22% of Detroit residents have received at least one vaccine dose compared to 38% for all of Michigan, according to Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services.

Other Midwestern states have seen troubling signs in recent days, including a school district in Iowa where 127 students and five staff members tested positive for the coronavirus or are presumed positive.

In Massachusetts, where the seven-day rolling average of daily new cases has risen to over 2,100 new cases per day, the Massachusetts Public Health Association called on Republican Gov. Charlie Baker to reinstate public health measures. The group urged Baker to limit indoor dining capacity and other indoor activities, saying the rise in cases and hospitalizations followed Baker's decision to loosen those restrictions.

"We are currently in a race between the vaccines and the variants," Carlene Pavlos, the group's executive director said Thursday. "Without these public health measures, even more innocent lives will be needlessly lost."

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.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 19:14:25|Editor: huaxia

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GABORONE, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Botswana has adjusted its COVID-19 vaccination rollout by giving priority to the elderly above the age of 75, a health official said on Wednesday.

Due to the limited available doses and the need to actively protect the most vulnerable, the government has taken a decision to give priority to the elderly above the age of 75.

The age group continues to register a high number of severe diseases and death in all districts of the Southern African country, said Director of Health Malebogo Kebabonye.

The government realized that most people that had registered for the vaccine were younger people and the elderly were being left behind since they are not familiar with technology or have no access to the internet, said Kebabonye.

New measures, such as offline visits, have been put in place for those who are not able to register online. The ministry said that some areas have been designated as registration centers, however, members of the public are still encouraged to register online, to avoid overcrowding at vaccination centers which may also risk spreading the disease.

As of April 5, a total of 13,690 people have been vaccinated across the country. "So far we have not received any major complaints from patients who received the first jab since the start of COVID-19 vaccine rollout, only 24 patients had side effects such as flu, headache, and fever but they did recover after a few days," said Kebabonye. Enditem
After a pandemic shook Canada's economy, schools and health-care system to the core, the tax-slashing Pallister government has, as promised, left money on the kitchen table for some Manitobans.

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After a pandemic shook Canada's economy, schools and health-care system to the core, the tax-slashing Pallister government has, as promised, left money on the kitchen table for some Manitobans.

It has done so with tax cuts, an overhaul of the education system and a half-billion dollars in relief from the federal government. While the province giveth, it has also taketh away. In December, the online services that kept Manitobans entertained throughout the COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown will be taxed by the province.

Here are a dozen things to know about Budget 2021:

1. Property owners to get a 25 per cent tax rebate

Approximately $248 million in education property tax rebates will be provided to 658,000 residential and farm property owners as the province phases out the education property tax. Property owners will automatically receive a 25 per cent rebate cheque on their education property taxes in the same month or sooner that municipal property taxes are due, followed by another 25 per cent rebate cheque issued in 2022.

2. What about renters?

To offset the 25 per cent education property tax rebate that benefits landlords, the province is freezing annual rent increases for 2022 and 2023. Landlords can still apply for an above-guideline increase if "material improvements" are made to a property.

3. Taxing streaming services, online shopping, accommodations

Starting Dec. 1, retail sales tax will apply to audio and video streaming services such as Netflix. The province will also require online marketplaces to collect and remit retail sales tax on the sale of taxable goods sold by third parties on their electronic platforms. Online accommodation platforms such as Airbnb will also be required to collect and remit sales tax on the booking of taxable accommodations starting Dec. 1.

4. Spend less to look better

The province is removing retail sales tax for personal services starting Dec. 1. That includes hair services, non-medical skin care, body modifications and spa services.

5. Sales tax revenue up, federal transfers way up

The province is expecting to collect $250 million more in retail sales tax revenue this year ($2.2 billion) than last year ($2 billion) as Manitoba recovers from the pandemic. The government is also expecting a whopping $504-million increase in federal transfers.

6. Pandemic drains provincial piggy bank

The province's net income is expected to plummet by $600 million to $1.6 billion this year from $2.2 billion last year. Part of that is due to $1.2-billion budget for COVID-19 expenditures. Overall revenue is projected to increase to $17.84 billion from the forecast $17.48 billion. Expenditures are expected to rise to $18.2 billion from $17.9 billion in the last fiscal year.

7. More money for COVID-19 fight

The province has budgeted $1.2 billion for pandemic-related health and education costs:

 $230 million for personal protective equipment, testing and vaccine site infrastructure, contact tracing and other preparations as part of the province's overall public-health response

 $350 million for additional health-care systems costs in preparation for a potential third wave of COVID-19

 $160 million to support school and education needs over the current and next school years

 $100 million for the vaccine program

 $40 million for Manitoba Restart Program capital initiatives at the municipal level.

 $300 million will be set aside for unexpected expenses.

8. Debt-to-GDP ratio increase

Prior to the pandemic, Manitoba's debt-to-GDP was forecast to be 34.2 per cent. Due to COVID-19, the ratio is expected to be 38.8 per cent. The pandemic and resulting restrictions saw Manitoba's GDP decline by 5.3 per cent last year  the worst downturn in modern history. A strong economic forecast is expected to result in a 4.1 per cent increase in real GDP in 2021 followed by 3.6 per cent growth in 2022.

This past year, capital spending on buildings in Manitoba increased by 13 per cent, exports to China rose by 81 per cent after trade battles the year before and, in manufacturing sales, Manitoba was first in the country at -3.2 per cent.

9. Vehicle owners get a break

Vehicle registration fees will be reduced by 10 per cent for renewals starting June 30, following a 10 per cent reduction last year. The reduction includes registration fees for non-commercial and passenger vehicles, trucks, trailers, motorcycles/mopeds and off-road vehicles.

10. Business owners get a break

The province is lowering payroll taxes for small businesses. The exemption threshold is being raised to $1.75 million of annual payroll from $1.5 million. The threshold below which employers pay a reduced rate is being raised to $3.5 million from $3 million. The small business venture capital tax credit is being increased to $500,000 maximum eligible investment to help businesses raise business growth equity.

11. Young diabetics get a break

Budget 2021 includes funding for glucose monitors for eligible Manitobans under the age of 25 with Type 1 diabetes. The province is increasing the age limit for the insulin pump program to 25 from 18.

12. Teachers get a break, sort of

A new refundable Teaching Expense Tax Credit allows K-12 teachers and child-care educators to claim a 15 per cent refund for up to $1,000 on eligible teaching supplies that are not reimbursed by their employers, to a maximum $150 rebate.
Tel Aviv, April 8 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the US that a possible future nuclear agreement with Iran will not obligate the Jewish state.

The remark was made on Wednesday during Israel's national ceremony to mark its Holocaust Remembrance Day, reports Xinhua news agency.

"To our closest friends, I say: Make no mistake," Netanyahu said in a reference to the US.

According to Netanyahu, "any agreement with Iran will pave the Islamic Republic's way to obtain nuclear weapons that threaten us with destruction".

Netanyahu has been a vocal opponent of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). between the world powers and Iran.
The article, published after the National Assembly of Vietnam elected its key State leaders, providesinformation and data to highlight Vietnams socio-economic development results and praise Vietnam's achievements in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The article stated that despite the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Vietnams economy recordedthe highest growth in Asia with total GDP up 2.9%, ranking it in the worlds top 10 economic performers in 2020.

It also reiterated the 13th National Party Congress of Vietnam acknowledged these achievements while affirming that Vietnam is still facing many challenges.

Delegates attending the Party Congress passed a resolution to assert Vietnams persistence with Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought as well as its national independence and socialist targets, according to the article.

Regarding the new senior leadership, the article stated the new generation of Vietnamese leaders will continue to strengthen Party building and rectification while streamlining the State administrative apparatus.

The author of the article believes Vietnam will continue to promote its relations with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean region in both politics, diplomacy, economy and trade. Of which, Cuba will be a high priority for Vietnam based on the deep friendship and solidarity between the Parties, States and peoples of both countries.
Black Spring Break is back, and Arthur Jackson cant wait to get to Biloxi.

Last year, the 26-year-old, who lives in Wilmington, North Carolina, missed the event for the first time since 2012 after it was canceled during the first wave of coronavirus cases. On Thursday, hes making the trip back to the Coast with a couple of friends who will be attending Black Spring Break for the first time. Theyre looking forward to eating seafood and visiting the casinos, but mostly to spending time on the beach.

You cant go wrong with a beach party, he said.

Also known as Mississippi Gulf Coast Spring Break, the annual gathering could draw as many as 40,000 people, said organizer Nick Brundidge, who has promoted the event since 2010. Police estimated 30,000 people attended Black Beach Weekend in 2018 and 2019, and Brundidge thinks people are ready to have a good time.

We have people coming from Chicago, New York, Texas, he said. A lot of people from the Midwest and a lot of people who have never been to Mississippi.

The first Black Spring Break events took place on the Coast from 2000 to 2002. After a hiatus, its been an annual tradition since 2010, with different organizers holding events under the same umbrella.

This year, one prominent organizer decided to move the party to August. Black Beach Weekend will be held from Aug. 27-29. Organizer Maurice Bryant said that after Gov. Tate Reeves lifted COVID-19 restrictions including the mask mandate on March 2, there wasnt enough time to plan for an April event.

Bryant said he thinks this weekends festivities and the August event will both draw a crowd.

I just think people that are comfortable coming out now will be here, and people will be coming back again from this event in August, he said.

Weekend Events

Here are the events planned for the weekend. Some require tickets. A full line-up is available on Facebook.

Thursday, April 8

A welcome party and $1,000 Twerk Off at Club Thirty IV in Gulfport

Big Boogie live in concert at Club Zodiac in Biloxi

Friday, April 9 & Saturday, April 10

Black Beach Gone Wild after-hours party, wet T-shirt contest and twerk contest at Torios Bar in Gulfport

Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11

Annual Black Spring Break Beach Party Extravaganza starting at 11 a.m., including Battle of the DJs and Battle of the Sexes, at 2450 Beach Blvd.

Sunday, April 11

Car and bike show at 17085 Racetrack Rd. Gulfport, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Black Beach Hangover at Zodiac in Biloxi

Traffic plans

Brundidge said attendees can park at private lots including at 3940 Beach Blvd. and others along the beach.

The City of Biloxi described its traffic plan for the event in its April newsletter.

Starting Friday morning, cones will divide lanes of U.S. 90 between I-110 in Biloxi and Cowan Road in Gulfport. If needed, police will limit traffic to one lane in each direction, clearing left lanes for emergency vehicles.

Text BILOXI to 994111 to get free traffic updates from the city.

Captain Brian Dykes, a spokesman for the Biloxi Police Department, said the department was planning for a normal spring break crowd size.

Usually, Dykes said, the department looks at hotel bookings and social media activity to predict how many people will attend. This year, that has been difficult because area hotels have seen unusually high occupancy rates in the past few months.

Last weekend, for example, the occupancy rate at Coast hotels was 90%, said Linda Hornsby, executive director of the Mississippi Hotel and Lodging Association. During Black Spring Break in 2019, held April 12-14, the occupancy rate was 71.7%.

Public transit changes

The Coast Transit Authority said passengers should expect major delays on several CTA transit routes from April 9-11.

The CTA announced the following service modifications:

Friday, April 9

 Beachcomber will end service for the day at approximately 12:35 p.m. at Edgewater Mall.

 Rt. 34  Pass Road will end service at approximately 6:53 p.m. There will be no service to Eisenhower, C.T. Switzer Road or Edgewater Mall after 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 10

 Beachcomber  No Service for the day.

 Rt. 34  Pass Road will end service at approximately 6:53 p.m. There will be no service to Eisenhower, C.T. Switzer Road or Edgewater Mall after 12:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 11

 Beachcomber - No Sunday Service

 Rt. 34  Pass Road will resume a Sunday Schedule, however, expect some traffic delays.

Covid-19 precautions

Although COVID-19 cases are falling in Mississippi, the virus is still spreading and state public health leaders have said new variants are a concern.

And some spring breakers may be traveling in from parts of the country with higher rates of spread, so COVID-19 precautions are important, medical experts say.

While its true that young adults rarely die of COVID-19, they can become super-spreaders because they are typically asymptomatic, as they show few symptoms or signs that they have been exposed and potentially infected, said Dr. Amit Prasad, UnitedHealthcare Chief Medical Officer and Mississippi-based internal specialist, in an email statement.

The health challenge will come when all the students return to their respective campuses and communities and interact with those who could still be at risk for serious illness due to COVID.

The majority of events this weekend will be outside, Brundidge said. Experts say outdoor gatherings are safer than indoor gatherings because air flow disperses virus-containing droplets.

Prasad recommended the following safety measures:
Biden willing to negotiate on corporate taxes, but 'sick and tired' of non-payers

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the state of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccinations from the State Dining Room (Photo : REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

President Joe Biden on Wednesday made a fiery appeal for U.S companies to foot most of the bill for his $2 trillion-plus infrastructure plan, but signaled an openness to negotiate over exactly how much they would have to pay.



"I'm willing to negotiate that," he told reporters. "But we've got to pay for this."



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Biden faces stiff opposition from Republicans, major corporations and even some in his own Democratic Party to elements of the proposal he laid out a week ago, which must be approved by Congress to become a reality.



The president argued that the United States' position as a pre-eminent global power was under threat from China if the investments he outlined were not made, saying it would be unacceptable not to move forward.



"America is no longer the leader in the world because we're not investing," Biden said. "I don't know why we don't get this."



China, he said, is "counting on American democracy to be too slow, too limited and too divided to keep pace" and "we can't afford to prove them right."



The president has proposed making investments over eight years in building roads and bridges, retrofitting homes, expanding broadband internet access, caring for the elderly, financing domestic manufacturing and building high-speed rail.



Biden's plan would not add to the country's debt in the long run, the White House says. The largest share of funding would come from an increase in the corporate tax rate to 28% from the 21% levy set by then-President Donald Trump's 2017 tax cut.



The administration released more details on Wednesday about the tax components of the plan, which also includes higher levies on companies' overseas earnings, a new minimum tax on the profits companies report to investors and funding for more Internal Revenue Service enforcement officials.



Those efforts, dubbed the "Made in America Tax Plan," would raise $2.5 trillion over 15 years, the Treasury Department said.



Reuters interviewed more than a dozen corporate and White House officials engaged in the infrastructure push. Most expect the White House and business groups to compromise on a 25% corporate tax rate.



WITHERING CRITICISM



The business lobby and Republicans have been withering in their criticism of the funding side of the proposal.



Still, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell left open the possibility of compromise. He told reporters in Kentucky on Wednesday that an infrastructure bill could win Republican support if it targets traditional projects involving roads, bridges and broadband without "completely revisiting" the 2017 tax cut.



One of Biden's closest allies in the Senate, Democrat Chris Coons of Delaware, issued an ultimatum to Republicans on Wednesday. He said they would have until the end of May to negotiate a compromise bill before Democrats move sweeping legislation on their own.



A ruling by the U.S. Senate parliamentarian on Monday would allow Democrats to pass the bill even in the face of a Republican filibuster, relying on a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Kamala Harris in the 50-50 chamber. Sixty votes are usually needed to overcome filibusters.



Coons told Punchbowl News that several senior Senate Republicans have privately signaled they would support a package of up to $1 trillion that targets roads, bridges and other typical infrastructure areas and includes some tax increases to pay for legislation.



'SICK AND TIRED'



U.S. Chamber of Commerce chief policy officer Neil Bradley said the need for infrastructure was no excuse for passing "tax hikes that will hurt American businesses and cost American jobs."



Biden countered by taking aim at companies paying little to nothing in federal taxes.



"I'm not trying to punish anybody, but damn it - maybe it's because I come from a middle-class neighborhood - I'm sick and tired of ordinary people being fleeced," he said.



Individual taxpayers, whose taxes are deducted from their paychecks, make up a big chunk of U.S. federal government funding.



Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said on Tuesday that he supports hiking the U.S. corporate tax rate as part of an infrastructure overhaul.



But the carefully worded statement stopped short of endorsing any specific tax or spending proposal made by Biden.


Researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) demonstrate an mRNA delivery system that effectively produces BDNF protein in rat brain to protect neurons from ischemia

Tokyo - A lack of oxygen to brain tissue--known as ischemia--leads to the death of neurons, which results in stroke. Despite considerable research, there are currently no treatments that successfully prevent neuronal death. Now, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) researchers have reported a way of delivering mRNA to produce a therapeutic protein that protects neurons. Their findings, demonstrated in rats, are published in Biomaterials.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein that enhances the survival and function of neurons. However, the BDNF molecule is too large to cross the brain's protective barrier and is rapidly removed from the central nervous system, making it difficult for BDNF to make its mark as a treatment.

The researchers therefore devised a way of producing BDNF where it is needed most.

They designed a delivery system containing BDNF messenger RNA (mRNA), which is the information molecule needed to make BDNF. When the mRNA gets inside a cell, it can be used as a blueprint to make the protein.

Their system--known as an mRNA nanomicelle--is a tiny ball-like parcel of mRNA surrounded by polymer strands. The polymer protects the mRNA from molecules that might break it down and helps to disguise it from the immune system.

"As well as protecting the mRNA by providing containment, the polymer allows the release of the cargo to be controlled," study first author Yuta Fukushima explains. "By selecting polymers with particular properties, we can ensure the mRNA is released when and where it is needed."

The effectiveness of the mRNA therapy was tested on rats that had experienced brain ischemia. The nanomicelles were found to increase the survival of hippocampal neurons. In particular, the nanomicelles showed better effects when administered 2 days after the ischemia than when given immediately. This indicates that the nanomicelles extend the opportunity for providing effective treatment.

In addition, long-term therapeutic benefits were observed 20 days after ischemia when the mRNA nanomicelle was administered on both days 2 and 5. Treated rats showed better spatial memory than untreated rats in a maze experiment.

"We are very encouraged by the performance of our system," says study corresponding author Keiji Itaka. "Our experiments not only demonstrated that the mRNA nanomicelle could prevent neuron death, but also that the potential treatment window could be extended. We expect these findings to have a significant impact on the development of practical clinical treatments."

###

The article, "Treatment of ischemic neuronal death by introducing brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA using polyplex nanomicelle", was published in Biomaterials at DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120681.
A man on Caruthers Road told police he wanted to report that the girl he is on and off again with was threatening to accuse him of holding her hostage. The man showed police a video where she said he was not holding her hostage and that she did it because she didn't want the other guy that had pulled up to see her to know what was going on. Police recovered a stolen vehicle in the parking lot behind Massey Law Firm, 6712 Dupre Road. Officers located an abandoned vehicle and, upon checking the registration, the vehicle confirmed stolen out of Alabama.

The vehicle had a key on the center console and was locked. Mostellers Towing towed the vehicle.* * *A woman on E. 11th Street told police that someone from the Social Security Office had called her and told her that someone stole her Social Security number and wanted her to pay fees and provide her banking information. Police told the woman that the phone call was a fraud and they were attempting to steal from her. She assured police that she did not provide the caller with the wanted information and that she did not make any financial transaction.* * *A man on Alabama Avenue told police that his vehicle was taken from him and his ex got him arrested for it. The man had a title for the vehicle, but it was not in his name. Police told him to take his ex to court over the vehicle.* * *Police spoke with a man and woman on Maple Street Court who said they were both in a verbal disorder with a man named "Darrell" over him living with the man. "Darrell," whose last name is unknown, left prior to police arrival. "Darrell" is said to be a white middle-aged man about 67 inches tall, with a thin build.* * *Police responded to a shoplifting at Walmart, 490 Greenway View Dr. A loss prevention agent told police that she watched a white female grab a small handbag out of clothing. She said the woman then walked to the electronics department and stuffed several electronics into the bag. The woman then passed all points of store sales and got inside a blue BMW and sped away. The employee is still checking the cameras and will update police as needed.* * *A man told police that he was in an altercation with another man in front of a gas station on Rossville Boulevard. He said he did not know the man who confronted him, but he said that he insulted him. After the insult, the man approached him and told him to leave. The verbal confrontation ended with both of the men throwing punches at each other. The man said that neither of them was injured, and the other man had left. The man told police he did not want to press charges, he just wanted police to be aware in case the other man came back.* * *While at the city fuel pumps, 1001 E. 12th St., police were approached by an employee of city Public Works. The man said he placed a Stihl 201T chainsaw in the bucket of his boom truck prior to stopping for lunch. He said he believes the saw was taken at the Mapco on 20th Street at approximately 11:15-11:30 a.m. The man was unable to provide a serial number for the saw, but said the saw is engraved with the city of Chattanooga emblem.* * *An employee called police from Mystik, 6024 Dayton Blvd., to report a man had been acting strangely and screaming randomly. She said she wanted the man trespassed from the property. Police trespassed the man and transported him to the Circle K, 5501 Hwy. 153 without incident.* * *Police made a traffic stop at E. 37th Street/Rossville Boulevard. The two men were on their way to the Corner Market to purchase beer. Both were extremely cooperative and allowed officers to search their vehicle. Nothing was located and they were sent on their way without incident.* * *A woman on E. 51st Street told police that she thinks her daughter has her Social Security check. After speaking with the woman's oldest daughter, she told police that her mother is in poor health and that her and her sister pays the bills for their mother, but has not gotten the check yet this month. Police asked the woman to contact the Social Security office and see if they can give her a status on her check. She said she would do that and give police a call back if need be.* * *A man on Mountain View Court told police that he was hanging with a friend. He said that a woman was drunk causing problems and yelling at him and his friend. He said the woman left the scene in a silver Nissan sedan before police arrival. Police checked the area for the vehicle, but were unable to locate it.

* * *



While working an extra job at Walmart, 2020 Gunbarrel Road, an officer was approached by a woman who said she left her purse by accident outside of Walmart next to the building. She said when she returned for it, it was gone. Police checked Walmart video footage and saw two suspects, a black male and a black female, walk off with the woman's purse towards the Cheddar's restaurant. Police were able to print a photo of the suspects and gave it to the woman. The woman said her purse contained her cell phone, cash, debit/credit cards, driver's license, Social Security card and medical cards, etc., all of which were stolen. A BOLO will be created on the man and woman.
Mitchell boys basketball coach Todd Neuendorf named Hamlin head coach

Todd Neuendorf has resigned after four seasons as Mitchell boys basketball coach, the school announced Friday afternoon.
New Delhi:

It is time India and China turn the old page and start a new chapter, the Chinese envoy to India, Luo Zhaohui said on Friday, adding the countries have made a lot of progress at the bilateral level.

He said Chinese President Xi Jinping met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS Summit in Xiamen earlier this month, and the two leaders sent a clear message of "reconciliation" and "cooperation".

"We should turn the old page and start a new chapter with the same pace and direction. We should dance together. We should make one plus one eleven. China is the largest trading partner of India. We have made a lot of progress at the bilateral level, as well as in international and regional affairs", Luo said.

The Chinese envoy was speaking on the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Read more: Is China seizing copies of Quran: Heres what happened

His comments come in the backdrop of the disengagement of Chinese and Indian troops in Dokalam, where the army of the two nations were locked in a stand-off for over two months.

India and China, who went to war in 1962, share an uneasy relationship with territorial dispute being a major bone of contention between the two countries.

The Chinese diplomat also recalled one of his teachers, Prof Xu Fancheng, who lived in Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry from 1945 to 1978.

Xu is known for his work of translating Upanishad, Bhagawad Gita and Shakuntala from Sanskrit to Chinese.

"In our bilateral engagement, there have been thousands of prominent persons like Prof Xu Fancheng, (Buddhist monk) Bodhidharma, Faxian (a Chinese Buddhist monk who travelled to India in the 3rd century) and Rabindranath Tagore.

"We should never forget their contribution and legacies. The history could do a lot of things. Standing on their shoulders, we should do more today", Luo said.

The Chinese envoy added that the speed of Chinese high-speed trains from Beijing to Shanghai was increased from 300 kmph to 350 kmph two weeks ago.



"We have started the feasibility study of hyperloop trains at the speed of 1,000 to 4,000 kmph", he said.

He added that the high-speed trains were one of the four latest inventions of China.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
analysis

If the press is cowed into silence and the people robbed of information about the true state of public affairs, detractors have essentially won the unholy war of disinformation. Press freedom blackouts provide fertile ground for not only authoritarianism, but the trampling of all remaining fundamental rights.

At least 60 journalists worldwide lost their lives on the job in 2020, according to Unesco, a sad continuation of targeted attacks on the press, mostly for its obligatory scrutiny of public officials.

In a world that thumps its chest for supposed progress made in guaranteeing press freedom, more than 60 deaths is, by any standard, an astronomical number.

Although what meets the eye in these scenarios is an attack on individual practitioners and who they work for, conventional wisdom would have it that the fundamental victims of this carnage are free speech as a principle, and the citizenry in its entirety.

If the press is cowed into silence and the people robbed of information about the true state of public affairs, detractors have essentially won the unholy war of disinformation. Press freedom blackouts provide a fertile ground for not only authoritarianism, but the trampling underfoot of all remaining fundamental rights, as well...
Join our expert writers from the Sydney Morning Herald for a fascinating briefing on trends in travel, food, luxury, wellness, sustainability and design. Presented by Celebrity Cruises, this Q&A panel session will look at new directions and innovations in these areas, and what you can look forward to experiencing in hotels, cruising, restaurants and retreats in 2021 and beyond.

Speakers include:

Jill Dupleix, food writer and Good Food Guide senior reviewer

Anthony Dennis, national editor of Traveller, Sydney Morning Herald

Karen McCartney, author, design writer and columnist for Good Weekend

Julia Naughton, lifestyle editor of The Sydney Morning Herald

Clockwise from top left: Panellists Jill Dupleix, Julia Naughton, Karen McCartney and Anthony Dennis.

You can join us in person at the brand new Nine headquarters in North Sydney, or via livestream around the country. Attendees will have the chance to win one of five prize packs valued at $178.
RICHMOND, Va., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Energy has been awarded a 22-year, $47.9 million Utility Energy Service Contract (UESC) for Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington provided contracting and technical support, awarding this project 24 Sept 2020 on behalf of the Marine Corps Installations Command (MCICOM) supporting MCB Quantico.

The project will bolster energy resiliency at MCB Quantico, by installing new generators to support critical facilities via onsite microgrids during emergency operations. Additionally, it calls for refurbishing an existing microturbine system which will reduce peak demand at MCB Quantico and reduce electric costs for the federal government. Energy savings of $1.6 million annually are anticipated with equipment upgrades, HVAC repairs and LED lighting installations.

"This is a great opportunity for Dominion Energy to provide our industry expertise to enhance energy resiliency and help provide cost savings for MCB Quantico," said Ed Baine, President - Dominion Energy Virginia. "We appreciate the great work being done by members of the military and look forward to supporting their mission."

Dominion Energy and its subcontractor, Energy Systems Group, a nationally recognized energy service company, will provide operations, maintenance, repair & replacement of the base's energy facilities for the life of the contract. The project's construction will be completed by 28 Feb 2023. The overall contract will last until 1 Mar 2044.

The project is part of NAVFAC Washington's move to contract with utilities that have expertise in replacing, operating, and maintaining energy infrastructure. NAVFAC Washington awarded the contract following a competitive bid process.

Dominion Energy, through its Federal Energy Solutions team, has privatized 11 installations and provided multiple UESCs resulting in energy cost savings, improved reliability, resiliency and efficiency for the federal government.

About Dominion Energy

More than 7 million customers in 16 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to sustainable, reliable, affordable and safe energy and to achieving net zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions from its power generation and gas infrastructure operations by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.

SOURCE Dominion Energy Virginia

Related Links

https://www.dominionenergy.com


By the way, this isnt just an American problem. The International Monetary Fund estimates that about 40 percent of the worlds foreign direct investment  basically corporate cross-border investment, as opposed to portfolio purchases of stocks and bonds  is phantom investment, accounting fictions set up to avoid taxes. Thats why on paper Luxembourg, with just 600,000 people, hosts more foreign investment than the United States does.

So the real problem with U.S. corporate tax policy isnt loss of jobs, its loss of revenue  and the Trump tax cut made that problem worse.

For the most part the Biden administrations Made in America Tax Plan is an effort to reclaim the revenue lost both as a result of profit-shifting and as a result of the Trump tax cut, in order to help pay for large-scale public investment.

As the plans name suggests, the administrations experts  at this point its hard to find a tax expert who hasnt joined the Biden team  do believe that there are aspects of the U.S. tax code that have created an incentive to move jobs abroad. But they see the problem as the consequence of details of the tax code rather than the overall burden of taxation.

And while they believe that tax reform can improve incentives to invest in America, the main focus of the plan  even of things like the proposal for a 21 percent minimum tax rate on overseas profits, emphasized by Janet Yellen, the Treasury secretary  isnt on these incentives so much as on increasing revenue from the corporate profits tax, which falls mainly on the wealthy and on foreigners, and is at a historical low as a percentage of G.D.P.

What about warnings from corporate groups that raising taxes on corporations would have dire economic consequences? Well, they would say that, wouldnt they? And if raising taxes would have such a negative effect, why did cutting taxes fail to produce any visible positive results?

The corporate tax plan, then, looks like a really good idea. In part thats because President Biden, unlike his predecessor, has hired people who know what theyre talking about. And it also marks a welcome break with the ideology that says that the only way we can help American workers is indirect action: cutting taxes on corporations and the wealthy in the hope that theyll somehow deliver a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
High notes

Susquehanna County Dairy Ambassador Chelsea Empet asks community members to celebrate National Grilled Cheese Day on April 12.

Americans eat around 2.2 billion grilled cheese sandwiches per year, and the sandwiches help reach three everyday servings of dairy, Chelsea said.

Super students

Local students who attend Cedar Crest College were among 49 of their peers inducted into Alpha Alpha Alpha or Tri-Alpha, a national honor society for first-generation college students.

The students include Destiny Farmer of Blakely, Telena Jones of Scranton and Julie Krupka of Jessup.

The honor society was founded in 2018 at Moravian College in Bethlehem.

Area residents were among the University of Scranton students inducted into Pi Mu Epsilon, the national honor society for mathematics majors.

Students inducted include Mason Boettger of Old Forge, a senior applied mathematics major; Ashley Spencer of Tunkhannock, a senior biology major; Sidney Reinfurt of Peckville, a junior mathematics major; and Zeba Naz Zafar of Scranton, a sophomore mathematics major.

To be considered for induction, students must be in their junior or senior year, have an overall grade point average of 3.33 and a grade point average of 3.5 or higher in mathematics, according to the university. The universitys chapter of the honor society was established in 1973.

Area residents were also among the 27 University of Scranton students inducted into Lambda Pi Eta, the national honor society for communication majors.

Students inducted include Kelsey Wynn of South Abington Twp., a senior journalism and electronic media major; Rebeca Chieffallo of Olyphant, a senior journalism and electronic media major; Maxwell Earl of Clarks Summit, a senior journalism and electronic media major; Ann Marie Siock of Jefferson Twp., a senior journalism and electronic media major; Nicholas Yanni of Scranton, a senior journalism and electronic media major; Alessia Brunori of South Abington Twp., a senior strategic communication major; Karly Johns of Hunlock Creek, a senior strategic communication major; Kyle Zaboski of Wyoming, a senior strategic communication major; and Abigail Rhodes of South Abington Twp., a senior journalism and electronic media major.

The national honor society was founded in 1985 to encourage high levels of scholarship and leadership in the field of communications, according to the university, whose chapter was established in 1999.
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Lady Gaga wowed in a stunning white bridal gown as she filmed the House Of Gucci biopic with onscreen husband Adam Driver at Santa Maria in Campitelli church in Rome, Italy, on Thursday.

The 35-year-old actress looked incredible as she transformed into 'black widow' Patrizia Reggiani to shoot her wedding to Maurizio Gucci, played by Adam.

The Ridley Scott autobiographical drama documents Reggiani's marriage, divorce and subsequent plot to murder her ex-husband.

Wow: Lady Gaga wowed in a stunning white bridal gown as she filmed the House Of Gucci biopic with onscreen husband Adam Driver at Santa Maria in Campitelli church in Rome, Italy, on Thursday

Pictured: Patrizia and Maurizio on their wedding day in 1973 when they were both aged around 24-years-old

Patrizia and Maurizio married in 1973 when they were both aged around 24-years-old and went on to have two children - Alessandra and Allegra.

It is believed that the wedding caused a rift with Maurizio's 'overprotective' father Rodolfo at the time who 'disapproved' of Patrizia's background, reports The Guardian.

Gaga looked incredible as she wore a stunning white lace wedding dress with long-sleeves and a scalloped hem.

The superstar teamed the look with white Manolo Blahnik heels, which were adorned with a diamond buckle, and a breathtaking veil.

Gorgeous: A crowd of extras could be seen fawning over the onscreen couple as they made their way into a vintage silver vehicle after their wedding

Striking resemblance: Gaga pictured as Reggiani, left, and the real 'black widow' pictured right

Uncanny: Adam pictured as Maurizio, left, and the real Gucci heir pictured right

Wow: Gaga wowed in the stunning white bridal gown during the busy day of filming in Rome, Italy

Gaga's brunette locks were styled into a voluminous sweptback beehive hairdo, she added a full face of make-up, including a thick slick of eyeliner.

The superstar was joined by an entourage of crew who help carry her wedding dress train and veil across Rome as she prepared to film scenes for the biopic.

Adam looked dapper as he transformed into Maurizio with pinstriped trousers, a black blazer, silver cravat, waistcoat and white shirt.

Stunning: The Just Dance hitmaker looked incredible in the gown, she added a full face of make-up, including a thick slick of eyeliner

A helping hand: The superstar was joined by an entourage of crew who help carry her wedding dress train and veil across Rome as she prepared to film scenes for the biopic

Breathtaking: The Ridley Scott autobiographical drama documents Reggiani's marriage, divorce and subsequent plot to murder her ex-husband

The Marriage Story actor finished the look with oversized brown glasses, a white corsage and pocket square, and in a nod at the film, Gucci loafers.

Later on Thursday, the duo were seen filming scenes with co-star Jared Leto, who is playing fashion designer Paolo Gucci.

Gaga stars as the 'black widow' opposite her on-screen husband Adam Driver, who is playing Maurizio Gucci, heir to the celebrated Italian fashion empire.

The film, which documents Reggiani's sensational plot to murder her ex-husband, is based on the novel The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by author Sara Gay Forden.

Here comes the bride! Crowds of extras and crew could be seen gathering to film the scenes

Wedding: Patrizia and Maurizio married in 1973 when they were both aged around 24-years-old and went on to have two children - Alessandra and Allegra

'Rift': It is believed that the wedding caused a rift with Maurizio's 'overprotective' father Rodolfo at the time who 'disapproved' of Patrizia's background, reports The Guardian

Gorgeous: Gaga looked incredible as she wore a stunning white lace wedding dress with long-sleeves and a scalloped hem

Vintage glamour: Gaga's brunette locks were styled into a voluminous sweptback beehive hairdo tucked under the breathtaking veil

Reggiani was found guilty of paying a hit man 300,000 (240,000) to murder 46yearold 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.

She was also said to be furious her former husband had started seeing other women, and feared her daughters' $170million 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.

Leading role: Gaga stars as the 'black widow' opposite her on-screen husband Adam Driver, who is playing Maurizio Gucci, heir to the celebrated Italian fashion empire

Premise: The film documents Reggiani's sensational plot to murder her ex-husband, it is based on the novel The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by author Sara Gay Forden

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.

Woes: 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

Demands: She also wanted more than the $650,000 she had been offered in a divorce settlement, the court heard

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.

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.

Hitman: 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

Convicted: She was convicted after her clairvoyant and confidante Pina Auriemma turned informer and told police about the plot

Gucci: During the murder trial, which transfixed Italy, Reggiani arrived each day wearing head-to-toe Gucci clothes and accessories

Trio: Later on Thursday, the duo were seen filming scenes with co-star Jared Leto, who is playing fashion designer Paolo Gucci

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)

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 is scheduled to go on general release from November 24 2021.

Wow: The actor, 49, had a bald patch, receding grey-streaked locks and ageing prosthetics while donning a bright coral coloured shirt and a burnt copper suit as he transformed into the fashion designer

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
When former U.S. President Donald Trump ascended into the Oval Office in January 2017, he kicked off his presidency by investigating unfair trade practices in China as part of his 'America First' policy. A year later, he imposed hefty tariffs on a wide range of goods from the Asian nation, sparking outrage and retaliatory tariffs from its trading partners. A year ago, Washington and Beijing inked the Phase One Trade Deal whereby Beijing committed to importing an extra $200 billion worth of American goods over the next two years, including purchasing an extra $52.4 billion of U.S. energy supplies from a baseline of just $9.1 billion in 2017.

But observers who have been hoping the new administration will mark a return to normalcy on trade issues after the drama of tariff battles and tweet diplomacy of the Trump-era will be sorely disappointed.

Two weeks ago, the new U.S. trade representative, Katherine Tai, said all American tariffs will stay in place--at least for now.

In other words, the U.S.-China cold war remains alive and well despite a change of guard.

What does it mean for the U.S. energy sector? Probably not much, considering that China has been doing little to honor the deal anyway, conveniently using the global pandemic as an excuse to abscond from its responsibilities.

Back in August, Reuters reported that whereas crude oil was supposed to feature prominently in the Phase 1 deal, China imported only 45,603 barrels per day (bpd) of U.S. oil during the first half of the year, or about half of 85,453 bpd it imported during the previous year's corresponding period. Wood Mac's Sushant Gupta reckons that China needed to import 1.5 million bpd of U.S. crude in 2020 and 2021 just to fulfill its commitments, meaning China is barely scratching the surface.

Related: UAE Presents Phenomenal Plan To Boost Its Position As Oil Hub



Poisoned chalice The United States currently maintains tariffs on $370 billion worth of Chinese goods even after signing the phase one trade deal. Will the Biden administration remove these tariffs? Absolutely not--at least for the time being.

The big difference between the two regimes, however, is that whereas Trump instigated the trade war, Joe Biden will merely be forced to continue it not necessarily because he wants to but rather because it's going to be a herculean task ending the wide-ranging areas of competition between the world's leading economic powerhouses.

In effect, Biden has inherited a poisoned chalice.

Indeed, the level of mutual competition, containment, and challenge between the U.S. and China at this point greatly supersedes any level of cooperation. After all, global economic leadership is at stake here, with the winner of this tussle of values and political systems likely to gain the upper hand. The Biden administration will continue to seek leverage on China using the trade war whether in terms of enforcing "structural changes" in China's economy for fairer competition or preventing technology transfer that could have military applications.

For starters, the Biden administration will be reluctant to remove additional tariffs on Chinese goods considering the fact that Washington has been pressing Beijing to undergo "structural changes."

It's quite telling that the Biden administration views economic and trade relations between the two nations pretty much the same way the Trump administration did. Biden has criticized China for the same things that Trump did: Unfair trade practices, including state-owned enterprises' abuse of power, currency manipulation, unfair subsidies, anti-competitive dumping, overcapacity, intellectual property theft, and state-sponsored cyber espionage.

Newly elected US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has asserted that Trump was right in adopting a tougher stance on China, while Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has echoed similar sentiments declaring that the U.S. must "take aggressive trade enforcement actions to combat unfair trade practices from China and other nations that undercut American manufacturing."

You don't have to look very far to find an instance of Beijing's blatant abuse of power: The recent Xinjiang Controversy.

Nike (NYSE:NKE), H&M (OTCPK;HNNMY), Adidas (OTCQX:ADDY), and Skechers (NYSE:SKX), among other brands, are caught up in a bitter conflict over Xinjiang after several Western governments imposed sanctions on officials based on accusations of labor abuses. Beijing has ratcheted up pressure on foreign shoe and clothing brands to reject reports of abuses in Xinjiang.

Related: Should U.S. Oil Drillers Be Worried About Carbon Taxes?



Chinese state media has called for a boycott of H&M for saying it would no longer use cotton from Xinjiang resulting in H&M, Nike, and Adidas merchandise disappearing from major Chinese e-commerce platforms.

The Biden administration is also highly unlikely to end the war of technology that has been waged for years. A report titled "Artificial Intelligence and National Security" (released in August 2020 and updated in November 2020) by the US Congressional Research Service noted that China is the United States' biggest competitor in cutting-edge military technology such as AI and quantum computing. The report added that military AI applications could be used to aid military objectives and for counter-espionage.

Two years ago, the Washington Post reported that Huawei had been secretly building and maintaining North Korea's commercial wireless network, providing the country with antennas, base stations, and other critical mobile equipment. Further, the company also provided network integration, software, and expansion services for North Korean telecoms provider Koryolink. According to the report, Huawei partnered with Chinese state-owned firm Panda International Information Technology Co. Ltd on a number of telecom projects in North Korea over an eight-year span, leading to U.S. companies being banned from doing business with Huawei on account of being a national security threat.

Multilateral approach

However, unlike his predecessor, Biden is much more willing to cooperate with America's trade and economic partners when dealing with China.

In his economic and trade plan unveiled in July, Biden said that his administration will not only rally its allies to force China to play by the rules but will also hold them to account if they fail to do so. In particular, Biden wants America's allies to pressure Beijing to stop its unfair trade practices and also put an end to its rampant intellectual property theft.

When it comes to resolving the China-US trade war, Biden plans to use the same approach by first consulting with major allies such as the EU before taking action after reaching a consensus.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com



More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Extensive customization, a wide variety of rich media formats and templates for them, and continuous support that actually never ends after signing a contract are three pillars why large mobile and desktop gaming publishers choose our solution.

Epom ad server is the oldest product of Epom company, which was launched in 2010 and has been honed to the industry standard since that time. The ongoing number of clients who use the server reaches over a hundred, while the average lifetime of the average client using the server exceeds 4.5 years.

A few months ago, Wargaming and Epom signed an agreement for continuous cooperation, where Epom undertakes to be a provider of ad serving software to the gaming company, which has an aim to step up their game not only in the industry but also in their advertising strategy. According to the companys representatives, Epoms software helped the brand to re-arrange ad delivery and organize partner management in the best possible way.

Anton Ruin, CEO of Epom, commented: Epom ad server offers the exact set of features needed to help large gaming companies like Wargaming strive and prosper. Extensive customization, a wide variety of rich media formats and templates for them, and continuous support that actually never ends after signing a contract are three pillars why large mobile and desktop gaming publishers choose our solution.

Key features Epom offers for the gaming brands:



Custom targeting functionality. It makes possible targeting by any parameters instead of 50+ pre-set attributes. Targeting occurs based on the data coming from publishers and specific values assigned to each attribute.

Variety of ad formats. 40+ standard ad formats plus non-standard format support helps gaming brands to make a difference and catch the eye of innovative creatives.

Feature customization. Epom is open for custom feature development on request, so its possible to build additional functionality on top of the existing base.

Aggregated reports and analytics. The platform features comprehensive reports that show the integral picture of ad delivery analytics.

White-labeling. Large gaming companies may benefit from purchasing a platform and re-branding it as their own network.

Aside from the recent partnership Wargaming, Epom ad server became a choice of Classtag, IronSource, and YuppTV. A more complete list of the companys partners is available here.

About Wargaming:

Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 5500 employees and offices spread all over the world. Over 200 million players enjoy Wargamings titles across all major gaming platforms. Their flagship products include the massively popular free-to-play hit World of Tanks and the strategic naval action game World of Warships.

Official website: wargaming.com
~Michel Hyman appointed temporary Chairman of Management Board.~

AIRPORT:--- The Holding Company of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) has officially dismissed its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brian Mingo.

In December 2020 the Holding Company dispatched a letter to Mingo asking him to resign from the position as they have lost confidence in him.

The letter sent to Mingo was published on this news website. Mingo was given until January 4th, 2021 to willingly resign however the companys CEO who was in discussion with the Holding Company pulled back his payout proposal and said he would not be resigning, leaving the Holding Company no choice but to start the dismissal process.

On Wednesday, April 7th, 2021 shareholders meeting was held where Mingo was presented with his official letter of termination, reliable sources have informed SMN News. In the same meeting, the company's COO Michel Hyman was appointed chairman of the management board effective immediately.

Mingo and the companys CFO Leo Van der Meiden were scheduled to appear in parliament on April 1st but both men did not show up for the meeting even though the Acting Minister of TEATT Ardwell Irion showed up with the companys COO Michel Hyman and the managing director of the Holding Dexter Doncher.

The Members of Parliament refused to allow Doncher to read the 25 pages of answers he was given since would not have been able to provide clarifications to parliament should the need have arisen.

Efforts made to reach Managing Director Dexter Doncher for comment proved futile by phone. SMN News also tried contacting Mingo for a comment and he too could not be reached.
Government leaders from across the state of Florida are breathing a sigh of relief as the threat of a toxic flood seems to be dissipating in the Tampa Bay area.

Last weekend, more than 300 homes and businesses near the Piney Point site in Manatee Countyjust south of Tampawere forced to evacuate when a retention pond holding contaminated water from a former phosphate plant began spewing the liquid from a ripped seam in its containment liner. The leak threatened to topple one of the reservoirs walls, potentially sending a 20-foot wall of toxic water into the surrounding community, and Tampa Bay just a few miles away.

On Saturday, emergency officials, working with the states Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Army Corps of Engineers determined that siphoning water out of the leaking reservoir, into another pond and into Tampa Bay, was the best way to prevent a larger flood.

While their efforts may have stemmed a crisis for nearby residents, the impacts of dumping an estimated 165 million gallons of this water into Tampa Bay could be extremely damaging to the Gulf Coast of Florida and the states tourism-dependent economy, University of Miami experts say. The Piney Point emergency also reveals a larger struggle in the Sunshine Statehow to hold powerful corporations accountable when they damage the environment.

With work crews funneling the contaminated water into Tampa Bay, officials are now watching closely to see whether the nutrient-rich wastewater will spawn algae blooms that could cause fish kills and other environmental damage.

Larry Brand, a phytoplankton ecologist at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, hasnt seen the actual numbers on the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous in the water being pumped, but he believes the nutrients may generate an algal bloom about a week after they are dumped.

Those effects could have a detrimental impact on marine life. An abundance of algae in the water prevents light from reaching the seabed, killing seagrasses that are important habitats and nurseries for many species.

We have seen this process many times throughout the world, Brand said.

Even worse, if the blooms are very dense, they could eliminate all of the oxygen at night, generating an anoxic habitat and producing toxic hydrogen sulfide.

This would then kill virtually everything in the bottom water and benthos, he said, noting that such a habitat is often referred to as a dead zone.

Biology professor Kathleen Sullivan Sealey, who studies coastal ecology and water quality in Florida and the Caribbean, agreed. An example of a dead zone is at the mouth of the Mississippi River, where many oil spills have prompted the loss of life.

We know that putting these chemicals in the water will cause irreparable damage, Sealey said. Once these nutrients get in the water, they are hard to get out.

But while high concentrations of nutrients often lead to algae blooms, scientists still have a difficult time predicting which species of algae will win the competition for those nutrients. One species of concern is the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, better known as Florida red tide, which produces a powerful neurotoxin that kills fish, dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, and seabirds, and makes people sick.

The hot spot for this species is along the west coast of Florida from Tampa Bay to Naples, Brand said. We have had a moderate red tide since this past November. It started at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River, and currents have carried it up to just south of Tampa Bay in Sarasota County. Should the currents lead to a mixing of this nutrient-rich water from Piney Point and the red tide, a much larger red tide could develop and lead to a large fish kill.

Other factors, like the presence of other chemicals that might be introduced with the nutrients, could also play a role in whether a bloom will develop, according to Kim Popendorf, a chemical oceanographer at the Rosenstiel School.

Relatively low concentrations of copper, for instance, can prevent algal growth, which comes with its own problems as it reduces the growth of both harmful algal blooms, but also could kill all of the beneficial phytoplankton and bacteria in the water, she said.

The decision to pump the Piney Point water into Tampa Bay is doubly unfortunate because of the progress the region has made in the past 30 years, Sealey said. In response to the harmful effects of pollution from industry, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program was founded in 1991 and it remains one of the most important success stories in coastal restoration, she said. The effort has improved the seagrass beds, limited the nutrients present in the water, and allowed many species, like sting rays, to return, Sealey said.

This is undoing what millions of dollars and what thousands of people have worked to do to clean up Tampa Bay, she added.

In addition, the question of how to adequately clean up contaminated sites in Florida is not limited to Piney Point, Sealey said. In fact, there are many other sites with reservoirs just like it, she added. State and local officials are now trying to determine how to remediate these sites, which have changed ownership several times, but there is no clear path.

When many of these phosphate mines closed, they put in these temporary impoundments [to hold the contaminated water], said Sealey. They paid millions of dollars to these consulting companies who put in these temporary pools. But they cant last forever.

Phosphate mines have a long history in Florida, and trace back to the 1940s and 50s, Sealey said. Phosphate rock is used to make phosphorous, one of the critical ingredients in fertilizer, and the raw mineral is readily found in the southeastern United States.

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency ranks phosphate mining as the fifth largest mining industry in the U.S., and most of the nations phosphate is mined in Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The Sunshine State is home to 27 phosphate mines, and nine are still active, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Most are clustered in the center of Florida, west of Orlando.

To produce the phosphorous needed for fertilizer, however, the companies had to dig up the phosphate. Justin Stoler, associate professor of geography and regional studies as well as public health, who studies water access and quality, said that after it is mined, phosphate rock is put into an acidic solution of water and other chemicals needed to make fertilizer. The leftover waste is called phosphogypsum.

Without any designated place to contain this waste safely, companies like the one operating at Piney Point simply piled it on the ground in a large circle or rectangle, with a plastic liner underneath. This byproduct hardened to form the stacks that are the walls of the reservoirs at Piney Point, and the water left from the waste often pools in the middle and mixes with rainwater to form the reservoirs.

Although heavy-duty liners prevent the water from leaching into the ground, the weight of rainfall and other waste dumped into the pools can stretch the liners, causing them to tear. This is what prompted the waterwhich could contain radon gas, arsenic, nitrogen, mercury and leadto start gushing from Piney Point last week, Stoler said.

Those heavy-duty liners are a common way we contain waste products, he added, noting that they are similar to the liners used when creating landfills or burying any toxic waste, as well as to cap a landfill. But its not ideal.

Often a capped landfill can be turned into a park or recreational space. Some former phosphate mines have done this in central Florida, Sealey said. But older ones, like the Piney Point site, have not been held accountable, she added.

Another way to get rid of the contaminated water, which Manatee County leaders are now considering, is to build a deep injection well that reaches hundreds of feet below the ground and to pour the water from Piney Point into it.

Deep-well injection is effective in that it keeps the wastewater from being discharged into surface water bodies, thereby avoiding very negative ecological impacts and associated water-quality impairments, said David A. Chin, a professor of environmental engineering at the University of Miami.

Yet a well could also be problematic, Stoler said, because if any of this contaminated material gets into Floridas two aquifers, it could affect the states sources of clean drinking water. Sealey said that in the past, the Keys built similar wells and some of the material ended up seeping into the ocean several dozen miles from the well and damaging coral reefs.

Both Sealey and Stoler agree that the best course of action would be to treat this water before releasing it anywhere, but they acknowledged that it is costly. Yet, rather than the taxpayers, who are funding the emergency actions happening today, the companies that cause this damage should be forced to mitigate the environmental impacts, Sealey stated.

Why do the people of Florida, or the U.S., have to pay for the mess that a private company made? Sealey asked.

Abigail Fleming, the Fredman Foundation Practitioner in Residence at the University of Miami School of Laws Environmental Justice Clinic echoed her sentiments and said the entire crisis points to a larger issue.

Once again, the state of Florida failed to keep ecosystems and economies safe; and now, taxpayers will suffer the consequences, Fleming said. Although I can envision environmental groups and residents bringing a lawsuit to seek relief, litigation is expensive, time-consuming, and may not address systemic issuesone being Floridas lax enforcement of environmental regulations.
By Peng Chunli

America's first African Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently called for addressing racial discrimination by thoroughly investigating extremism in the ranks, including racism and anarchist extremism. Analysts said, for a long time, racial discrimination is not only a common phenomenon in the US military, but also deeply rooted in American values and culture. The military shakedown is more symbolic than realistic, and America is quickly stepping down from its self-claimed pedestal for democracy and human rights.

The long-standing racial discrimination

According to a report on its racist problems issued by the US Air Force in December 2020, African Americans in the air force, ranging from senior officers to the ranks, are subject to widespread discrimination in treatment, promotion and punishment.

When General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. was appointed Chief of Staff of the Air Force in 2020, he said point-blank that his success didnt mean liberty and equality. Austin, in an interview on March 21, also said he has met numerous obstacles in his military career ever since he became operations officer of the 82nd Airborne Division in 1995, and white supremacy has become a conscious prejudice in the military.

According to a survey conducted by The Institute for Veterans & Military Families at Syracuse University, about 1/3 of active service members in the US claimed to have witnessed white supremacy or extremism in the military, such as the swastika sign, white-supremacist tattoos, KKK stickers, and Nazi salutes between soldiers.

Why has racism existed in the US military for such a long time? On the one hand, the top brass is still dominated by the whites, and white supremacy is usually associated with patriotism and American rejuvenation. On the other hand, after the Iraq War and the Afghan War, the US military has a much larger demand for new recruits and has kept silent on the racist problems in order to enlist enough soldiers, even helping the applicants to cover up their extremist tattoos. Such American-style double standards have been seriously questioned by the outside.

Resurgence of Asian discrimination

Compared with the widely noticed African Americans, Asian Americans have received little attention as mainstream media tend to keep quiet on discrimination against them. However, an outburst of Asian discrimination resurge in the US lately.

A recent report released by Stop AAPI Hate, an American organization, shows that 3,795 Asian discrimination events of various types were reported from March 19 in 2020 to February 28 in 2021. On March 21, protests were organized in tens of cities across the US against discrimination and hate crimes toward Asians, the largest-scale protest of this type in recent years, yet Americas mainstream media, such as New York Times and Washington Post that like to pride themselves on objectivity and neutrality, collectively kept silent on the topic.

Statistics show that soldiers of African descent account for about 9% in US military and those of Asian descent 4.8%, the latter being subject to equally serious racial discrimination.

On April 2, 2011, Marine Lance Corporal Harry Lew shot himself at his barracks in Afghanistan due to sustained discrimination and abuse.

On October 13, 2011, Asian-American private Danny Chen was found dead on duty after enduring intolerable racial hazing and harassment.

......

With the increasingly divided politics in the US over recent years, some politicians are even publicly rooting for white supremacy, adding fuel to racial discrimination in American society. While the US is smearing and lying about the human rights situation in other countries, it always plays down the grave human rights problems on its own soil, which exposes the hypocritical nature of the so-called American democracy.

Will the shakedown really work?

Will the latest shakedown ordered by Defense Secretary Austin work on the long-standing racism in US military? Well, there are two questions to answer. First, did the Department of Defense (DOD) take the step really to root out racial discrimination or for some ulterior motives? Second, is the DOD under Austins charge capable of rooting out the problem?

There is no doubt that addressing racial discrimination has always been the right choice to be politically correct in the US rather than a way to really solve the problem. Chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on March 29 that the 60-day stand-down is not ordered to collect information from the military, but to reinforce its values. Matt Gaetz, a member of the US House of Representatives, criticized Austins investigation into military extremism just for turning the DOD from a capable organization into one controlled by left-wingers.

Besides, although the shakedown was mainly targeted at white supremacy, Austin didnt pinpoint it directly, but defined it as extremism with a broader sense, and its not hard to guess why.

It is said that the DOD is unsure about the scope of extremist problems in the military yet or has any specific data. A few weeks ago, members of the House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services said at a hearing that the DOD only demanded its commanders to spend one day talking to their troops about extremism in the ranks, but it was impossible to fully grasp the situation of racial discrimination within one day. Obviously, the senior officers at Pentagon didnt do enough to get to the bottom of the issue.

For a long time, the US has been practicing double standards in a wide range of areas, and the DOD has never clearly defined what extremism means. Its foreseeable that the recent shakedown ordered by Austin will be more symbolic than really effective, and racial discrimination in American ranks will continue to exist for a long time to come.
Mumbai, April 8 : Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar has bagged an international project with Marvel Studios. Unconfirmed sources said the actor has started shooting for the project in Bangkok, although when we contacted Disney, who own Marvel, they refused to comment.

"Farhan is currently stationed in Bangkok, along with an International cast and crew, for the shoot of a project with Marvel Studios, who are known to be one of the biggest film studios worldwide," the source said.

However, the source refrained from giving details about the project.

"All other details of the project are strictly under wraps," the source explained.

Meanwhile, the actor has the film "Toofan" lined up for release. The actor plays a boxer in the film. "Toofan" has been directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and also features Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal, Supriya Pathak Kapur and Hussain Dalal. This is the second time that Farah is working with Mehra. The two had collaborated for the film "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" in 2003.

Farhan was last seen in "The Sky Is Pink" alongside Priyanka Chopra.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A San Francisco job posting is looking for the ultimate team of nannies and is offering a salary of least $100,000 to each of three caregivers for the family's two children.

The posting was made to Indeed by the private staffing firm Louer, which according to its website offers services for 'family offices, residences, yachts and planes.'

It went viral this week when outlets pointed out its Mary Poppins-like job requirements and incredible pay. The job posting has since closed.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the company for more information and additional comment. The family for whom the company was seeking nannies remains unknown.

A San Francisco job posting went viral this week when outlets pointed out its Mary Poppins-like job requirements and incredible pay

The posting was made to Indeed by the private staffing firm Louer, which offers services for 'family offices, residences, yachts and planes'

The San Francisco posting was first spotted by the local online magazine The Bold Italic, which noted that that the family spending more than $300,000 on private childcare was startling even in the Bay Area.

'Dont get us wrong, people who watch and teach children for a living deserve that much money (hello, teachers), but the fact that they are spending upwards of $300,000 on private childcare blew our minds,' the outlet reported.

According to the listing, the family is seeking a 'professional, experienced and educated full-time nanny' for their toddler and a baby.

'Schedule will be spilt between three full-time nannies to ensure the family has seven day per week coverage,' the listing reads.

The nanny will live in the residence only on the days they work but 'should be comfortable working many days consecutively.'

The posting noted that the family lives in Napa and the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, which is one of the most expensive neighborhood in the United States.

'If traveling for a week at a time, one or two nannies will travel with family and the other nanny is off work,' the listing reads, while noting that the family travels 10 weeks a year to 'various residences across the country.'

The applicants are required to sign a confidentiality agreement about their employment.

'Applicants need to be honest, trustworthy, understand the importance of maintaining discretion,' the listing reads.

The nannies are expected to plan 'engaging activities at home, developmentally appropriate games and activities, engaging projects and crafts, themed weeks, [and] scheduled outings.'

The nannies are also expected to assist the kids with their homework, prepare 'fresh and healthy meals for children that introduce them to new foods' and pack healthy lunches and prepare school bags as well as other 'domestic duties.'

The family was looking for candidates with a bachelors degree and/or Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education with CPR certification and at least three years of full-time consistent and recent nanny experience.

Louer is also hiring two full-time nannies for a family in Miami Beach, Florida with pay above $100,000, according to the companys website.
Local rivals and life-long friends face off for the second time this season, this time with plenty at stake on the eve of softball district tournaments.

Oviedo (14-4) hosts neighboring Hagerty (11-7) on Friday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students via the Go Fan app.

Its a big rivalry and it gets pretty competitive, Hagerty senior Olivia Lipari said with a laugh. Weve been playing against some of these girls, or with these girls, since we were six years old. Its always fun when youre playing former teammates.

Oviedo ruined Hagertys home opener on Feb. 16  in the first game for both teams  when freshman standout Riley Fennell hit a home run in her first career varsity at-bat during a 3-1 win.

Hagertys loss was part of a 2-5 start to the season, which included a 9-8 setback in 13 innings vs. Lake Howell (8-8) and a 6-5 outing against undefeated Orange City University (16-0). The Huskies, who were scheduled to play Timber Creek (7-9) on Thursday, entered the week winners of nine of their past 11 games.

Weve finally figured out a way to win games and compete against good teams, said Hagerty coach David Stone.

The turnaround is due in part to tinkering with the lineup. That has resulted in Lipari moving to the top of the order and getting more time at the plate, where she has thrived while leading the team in batting average (.431), RBIs (15), runs scored (29) and extra-base hits (10).

We were a very young team at the beginning of the season, Lipari said. Now weve found our competitive drive and weve been hitting a lot better.

Hagerty sits in a three-way tie for the third seed in Class 7A District 3 alongside Apopka (15-3) and Lake Mary (10-6). Those teams tallied a 13.1 score in FHSAA power rating this week. Oviedo trails Lake Brantley (14-4) for the No. 1 spot in the district by a 19.6 to 16.2 rating.

Games played through April 17 count toward seeding in district tournaments, which begin April 26. Only district champions and runners-up advance to the regional quarterfinal round.

Story continues

Theyre going to be hungry, and we want to protect our home field, Oviedo senior pitcher Catherine Buckner said of Hagerty. To beat them at home would be a nice finishing touch to our season.

Buckner and Lipari are travel ball teammates. Oviedo coach Jennifer (Quattry) Pecoraro was a player when Hagertys Stone was an assistant with the Lions. She later coached with Stone at Hagerty before taking over at her alma mater.

Several Oviedo players attended Hagertys senior night last week after playing a game of their own earlier in the evening.

Those are just a few examples of how well these programs are intertwined.

I know their strengths and weaknesses and they know my strengths and weaknesses, Buckner concedes.

Buckner enters the game with a 1.96 earned run average and 109 strikeouts in 68 innings pitched. Fennell is batting .412 (21-for-51) with team highs in RBIs (21), runs scored (18) and home runs (8) in her debut season.

Its going to be a tough game, Pecoraro said. Hagertys got a lot of talent. At the beginning it wasnt so great for them, but theyre definitely gelling at the right time.

This article originally appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email J.C. Carnahan at jcarnahan@orlandosentinel.com.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8)  Not all members of the Presidential Security Group were vaccinated against COVID-19, the group commander said on Thursday after more than a hundred PSG personnel contracted the coronavirus recently.

Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III, PSG chief, told CNN Philippines the president's security reached a peak of 126 active cases over the past week. The alarming rise in infections not just among PSG personnel but in Metro Manila as well prompted the PSG to recommend the postponement of President Rodrigo Duterte's activities for the week, including his regular "Talk to the People" address, Durante said.

The capital region, where Malacanang is located, has been placed under enhanced community quarantine along with four nearby provinces due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, the number of PSG personnel battling COVID-19 was down to 41 as of Thursday, Durante said.

He reiterated that most of those infected were assigned to man the Malacanang gates, and not one of them is among the President's close-in security.

Durante also said majority of the patients have not received their COVID-19 shots.

Not all personnel have been immunized yet with any vaccine but some of the personnel were already immunized. But I could say that statistically, most of those who havent been immunized yet were the ones who were infected by the virus, mostly, he told CNN Philippines' News Night. He did not say how many have been vaccinated.

Health experts have explained that vaccinees can still contract the coronavirus, but they are protected from severe disease or hospitalization. All infected PSG personnel are asymptomatic or not showing flu-like symptoms, Durante said.

In February, the Food and Drug Administration granted the PSG a compassionate special permit, allowing it to use 10,000 doses of Chinese firm Sinopharms coronavirus vaccine. When asked about this, Durante said the inoculation drive is still ongoing.

Every day we have a program for our personnel here to be vaccinated and its being scheduled from time to time, he said.

He said Dutertes close-in security personnel were prioritized in the vaccination and that all of them are safe and free from the virus, including the President.

Some PSG personnel got COVID-19 vaccine shots as early as September 2020, and investigations are ongoing on how these unauthorized vaccines presumably were "smuggled" into the country.
Mr. Pham Minh Chinh has taken office as the new Prime Minister of Vietnam.

Pham Minh Chinh has taken office as the new Prime Minister of Vietnam

VietNamNet talks with Tran Dinh Thien, an economist with deep understanding about Quang Ninh, where Chinh was Party Committee Secretary and deserved credit for laying down a foundation for the province to take off.

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You are a member of the PM Advisory Council and you have witnessed the development of many localities, including Quang Ninh, which has made great strides over the last decade, especially the time when Chinh was the provincial Party Committee Secretary. And now Chinh has become Prime Minister. What do you think about Chinhs policies?

Chinh is a man with drastic thinking and actions. In addition, as many people know, he has a rare working power. The virtues were one of the important factors that helped Quang Ninh make a breakthrough and join a new development orbit at a new height.

I am not exaggerating. The development of Quang Ninh in the last decade, starting from the time when Chinh took office as Party Committee Secretary, is convincing proof.

Chinh was a secretary of action. In principle, a Party Committee secretary plays the role of giving orientations, general guidelines and instructions instead of organizing implementation. But I know Chinh threw himself into the practice, instructed the implementation of plans in practice and found strategic solutions from practice.

With his drastic actions and experience drawn from practice, he successfully persuaded the apparatus, both the central and local, and won Quang Ninh peoples confidence. At that time, it was not easy to get peoples confidence there.

In such conditions, Chinh made a push that led to institutional changes in the locality: creating a friendly and transparent investment environment, supporting enterprises, encouraging breakthoughs, and creating favorable conditions for investors, especially capable investors," Tran Dinh Thien, an economist with deep understanding about Quang Ninh

Of course, being serious and taking drastic action is not enough to create such outstanding achievements. Chinh also has two other virtues  outstanding vision and breakthrough thinking. The policy to develop Quang Ninh greatly, at an international stature on the basis of the worlds leading natural heritage, its advantages, with breakthrough and unusual solutions initiated by Chinh, originated from these virtues.

Creating a transparent environment

But I have to remind you that Quang Ninh has heaven-sent advantages  abundant reserves of coal and the worlds natural heritage  Ha Long Bay, which no other localities have.

The advantages have existed for thousands of years, but Quang Ninh still did not take off until tens of years ago. People dug coal every day and enjoyed the beauty of Ha Long Bay, but they could not get rich.

Why? This was because Quang Ninh lacked some basic resources to promote its great potential and join the orbit of modern development. The problem was that the province lacked a reasonable mechanism and necessary space to converge its resources for modern development.

In such conditions, Chinh made a push that led to institutional changes in the locality: creating a friendly and transparent investment environment, supporting enterprises, encouraging breakthoughs, and creating favorable conditions for investors, especially capable investors.

Quang Ninh, after Binh Duong, made strong commitments on supporting investors. In 2011-2015, Quang Ninh truly became the province which fulfilled the commitments it made to people and investors.

I think this is Quang Ninhs knowhow. Not many provincies can create attractiveness to Vietnamese eagles (big companies) and create favorable conditions for them to grow.

I had the chance to meet Chinh soon after he took office as Party Committee Secretary and exchanged views on Quang Ninh development. Therefore, I think I could understand his thoughts.

Chinh said Quang Ninh is a miniature of Vietnam and he decided to shift from brown to green development when drawing up the provinces development strategy. This was a development vision and aspiration for strong growth, not only for Quang Ninh.

Attracting domestic eagles

You have just mentioned Vietnamese eagles (eagle is the word used by Vietnam when talking about big investors). A decade ago, the legal framework was still not perfect enough, but eagles still came. What does Quang Ninh have now to prepare the nests for eagles?

Quang Ninh, when Chinh was Party Committee Secretary, did very well in implementing the strategy of developing public investment to lead private investment.

Van Don Airport

The most impressive project is the highway that links Ha Long and Hai Phong, thus making Ha Long nearer to Cat Bi Airport and connects with the 5B Hai Phong  Hanoi highway. Chinh was the author of the initiative and the person who came forward to organize the implementation.

In order to build the highway at that time, Quang Ninh had to struggle with the old way of thinking. The province successfully dealt with conflicts of interest and big difficulties in capital arrangement.

The highway also gave a driving force for Hai Phong development, and helped improve the traffic scarcity on Highway 5B which consumed a lot of money of the State. This is one of the roads as part of the nest for eagles.

However, developing transport infrastructure is not enough. Quang Ninh also applied other comprehensive measures to lure investors. The province soon built a public administration center, and began apparatus restructuring by organizing exams to select leaders for local departments. These are the initiatives with Pham Minh Chinhs hallmarks which makes the apparatus operate in a transparent way, thus helping create an open environment for businesses.

Chinh believes that in order to attract good businesses to Quang Ninh, it is necessary to prepare good human resources. To do this, it needs to both build high-quality training establishments and attract talents from other localities.

Quang Ninh pursues comprehensive solutions to prepare nests for eagles, but it doesnt just apply some single measures, such as building industrial zones or roads.

Quang Ninh once refused foreign capital when building infrastructure items. It also focuses on attracting domestic eagles. What do you think about this approach to development?

Quang Ninh has changed its face in the last 10 years thanks to Vietnamese eagles. The province, together with Da Nang, Phu Quoc and Nha Trang, proves the capability of Vietnamese enterprises, which can solve the problems of the country.

Quang Ninhs model provides convincing proof to show the ability of Vietnamese private economic groups acting as pillars of development. The viewpoint is shown in the documents of the 13th Party Congress.

Experience shows that one nation can become an economic power thanks to its eagles, not foreign economic groups.

Do you think that Chinh will use the experience he got in Quang Ninh during his tenure as Prime Minister?

Yes, I think the experience will be useful, though a province and a country are quite different.

Tu Giang - Lan Anh

Pham Minh Chinh elected as Prime Minister of Vietnam Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, Politburo member, head of the Party Central Committee's Organisation Commission and deputy to the 14th legislature, was elected as Vietnam's Prime Minister at the 11th session of the 14th National Assembly this afternoon.
In a study published in Science, an international team of researchers led by the University of Zurich, in collaboration with the ESRF, has been able to answer this question using computed tomography to examine the brain cases of Homo fossils that lived in Africa and Asia between two and one million years ago.

The human brain as we know it today is relatively young. It evolved about 1.7 million years ago when the culture of stone tools in Africa became increasingly complex. A short time later, the new Homo populations spread to Southeast Asia, researchers from the University of Zurich have now shown using computed tomography analyses of fossilized skulls.

Modern humans are fundamentally different from our closest living relatives, the great apes: we are ground-dwelling bipeds and have a large brain. But when did these features emerge? The first populations of the genus Homo appeared in Africa about 2.5 million years ago. They were already bipeds like us, but their brains were only half the size of ours today. Until now, scientists assumed that these small brains had a similar modern structure as those of today's humans and thus made it possible for Homo to disperse into the Old World from Africa as early as two million years ago.

However, the theory was on shaky ground, mainly because of the dearth of fossil data. The brains of our fossil ancestors have not been preserved; their former structure can only be deduced from imprints on the inner surface of the skull left by the cerebral convolutions and furrows. Since the imprints vary considerably from individual to individual, it was not possible until now to determine unambiguously whether a particular Homo fossil had a brain that was more ape-like or more human-like. This left the central question unanswered: did the typical human brain structures actually evolve at the very beginning of the genus Homo?

Skulls of early Homo from Dmanisi, Georgia (specimen D4500, left) and Sangiran, Indonesia (specimen S17, right). Virtual fillings of their braincases permit inferences on brain organization (blue). Brains of Homo evolved from ape-like (D4500) to human-like (S17) in the time between 1.7  1.5 million years ago. source: M. Ponce de Leon and Ch. Zollikofer, University of Zurich

An international team led by Christoph Zollikofer and Marcia Ponce de Leon from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Zurich (UZH) has now succeeded in answering these questions. Our analyses suggest that modern human brain structures emerged only 1.5 to 1.7 million years ago in African Homo populations, Zollikofer says. The researchers used computed tomography, combining CT scans and synchrotron tomography at the ESRF to examine the brain cases of Homo fossils that lived in Africa and Asia between two and one million years ago. At the ESRF in particular, one Dmanisi specimen - the earliest Homo populations outside Africa - was studied using beamline ID17. The team then compared the fossil data with reference data from great apes and humans. Apart from its volume, the human brain differs from that of the great apes in the positional relationships of its individual regions to one another. A human peculiarity are those areas in the frontal region that are responsible for planning and executing complex patterns of thought and action, and ultimately for language. In humans, these regions are significantly enlarged, and as a result, all the adjacent brain convolutions and furrows have been displaced backward. When this process took place in human evolution can thus be deduced from the displacement of some prominent brain furrows, which left imprints in all the fossil skulls studied.

Dmanisi cranium D4500, mounted for synchrotron tomography on beamline ID17 at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France. source: Paul Tafforeau, ESRF

The results of the analyses were unexpected but clear. The earliest Homo populations in Africa had evolutionarily primitive, ape-like brains - just like their ancestors, the australopithecines. The biggest surprise for the research team, however, was that the earliest Homo populations outside Africa, those from Dmanisi in what is now Georgia, had brains just as primitive as their African relatives. So until about 1.7 million years ago, early humans had neither especially large nor especially modern brains. Yet we know from other studies that they were quite capable of making a variety of tools, adapting to the new environmental conditions of Eurasia, tapping animal food sources, and caring for members of the group in need of help, so we should not underestimate the cognitive achievements of ape-like hominin brains.

Early Homo skulls from Dmanisi, Georgia (specimens D2280, D2282, D2700, D3444, and D4500) with internal braincase structures revealed by computed tomography and virtual reconstruction. source: M. Ponce de Leon and Ch. Zollikofer, University of Zurich

The team went on to show that the new brain structures characteristic of modern humans first emerged between 1.7 and 1.5 million years ago, in African Homo populations. During the same period, stone tool cultures in Africa became more complex and diverse. Biological and cultural evolution - so the researchers assume - were mutually dependent, and at that time the earliest forms of human language had probably also developed. Fossil finds from Java show that the new populations were extremely successful. Shortly after their appearance in Africa, they had already spread to southeast Asia. On the way there, they probably met the descendants of the first emigrants with the more primitive brains. How these encounters might have unfolded is the next question the researchers want to investigate.

Reference:

Marcia S. Ponce de Leon, Thibault Bienvenu, Assaf Marom, Silvano Engel, Paul Tafforeau, Jose Luis Alatorre Warren, David Lordkipanidze, Iwan Kurniawan, Delta Bayu Murti, Rusyad Adi Suriyanto, Toetik Koesbardiati, Christoph P. E. Zollikofer. The primitive brain of early Homo. Science. 8 April 2021. DOI: 10.1126/science.aaz0032
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has said that the ongoing strike action by its members will continue as most of their demands were not yet met.

NARD, in a communique late Wednesday expressed disappointment over what it described as insincerity of government to meet the demands of its members.

It described the statement by the minister of labour and employment, Dr Chris Ngige, as spurious misinformation, stating that the strike became imperative because the Ministry of Health was not interested in any form of settlement to avert the avoidable action.

Though the association confirmed that some House Officers have been paid, it, however, alleged that the payment was marred with irregularities.

It noted that the only positive result from the conciliatory meeting is the abolishment of the exorbitant bench fees being paid by its members on outside postings in all training institutions across the country.

NARD, however, said that there was no circular yet to back the abolishment.

It maintained that its members will continue with the strike untill government meets their demands.

The communique reads: "Our NEC unanimously voted that the ongoing total and indefinite strike that started on the 1st of April 2021 be continued until the federal and state governments of Nigeria meet up with our demands as captured in our earlier communique."

The demands, according to the communique include "immediate payment of all salaries owed to all house officers including march salaries (regardless of quota system) before the end of business on the 31st of March 2021.

"Immediate payment of all salary arrears including march salaries for our members in all federal (GIFMIS platform) and state tertiary health institutions across the country.

"Upward review of the current hazard allowance to 50 per cent of consolidated basic salaries of all health workers and payment of the outstanding COVID-19 inducement allowance.

"Payment of death in service insurance for all health workers who died as a result of COVID-19 infection or other infectious diseases in the country, and others."
The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate has documented 24 violations of press freedom in the country between 1 January and 31 March 2021, ranging from arbitrary detentions to assaults and threats. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate in condemning the systematic violence against Yemeni media workers by warring parties and urges the authorities to take urgent steps to guarantee journalists' safety.

A Journalist mourns by the grave of TV reporter Adib al-Janani who was killed in an attack on Aden airport. Credits: AHMAD AL-BASHA / AFP

The violations recorded by the YJS include seven cases of detention, seven cases of journalists being taken to court, six cases of media coverage being banned, two cases of work equipment being confiscated, one case of an assault on a journalist and another one of threats against a journalist.

The YJS reports that the Houthi group was responsible for 14 of the cases, while the government was responsible for 9 cases. The remaining case was blamed on the Transitional Council.

Yemeni journalists are in permanent danger

The report reveals that all parties are harassing and attacking media workers' freedom and that they are all responsible for creating an unsafe environment where journalists are constantly facing more repression and abuse.

The report recalls that 13 journalists are still disappeared, having been kidnapped, 11 of them by the Houthis, some for five years, including Waheed al Sofi, Abdulkhalig Amran, Hareth Hameed, Akram Al Waleedi, Nabeel Alsidawy, Mohammed Abdoh Al Salahi, Mohammed Aljunaid, Sultan Qatran, D. Wadya Al Sharjaby, Waleed Al Matary and Tawfiq Al Mansori.

All of them are in critical and very difficult circumstances. Besides the illegal status of their detentions, they are deprived of medical treatment and not allowed to be visited by their families, the YJS claims.

The previous YJS report, which documented the violations of media freedom during 2020, listed 112 cases that included torture, kidnapping, arrest and coverage bans.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: The first report of 2021 shows that things haven't got better in Yemen. We support the YJS efforts to encourage the warring parties to ensure freedom and safety for journalists and not target them during the conflict. Journalists must be able to report on the conflict without fear or threats.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8)  The country recorded 9,216 new COVID-19 patients on Thursday, pushing the active cases  or those that are currently ill with the coronavirus  to a new all-time high at 167,279, the Department of Health's case bulletin said.

The active case count is equivalent to 20.2% of the COVID-19 total.The bulletin said the nationwide tally of all cases is now at 828,366.

At least 97.6% of the active cases have mild symptoms, 1.2% have no symptoms, 0.5% are in critical condition, 0.5% are severe infections while 0.29% are in moderate condition, according to the DOH case bulletin.

The total does not yet include data from five laboratories that have yet to submit their reports, it added.

The death toll also climbed to 14,119 which is 1.70% of the case count after 60 more patients died from the disease. Meanwhile, 598 others got better, raising the recovery count to 646,968 or 78.1% of the COVID-19 tally. The DOH said it reclassified 28 survivors into fatalities after validation and removed 14 duplicates, including six recoveries.

The bulletin also posted a positivity rate of 20.8% out of 39,969 tests as of noon of April 7. Positivity rate is the percentage of individuals that tested positive out of all patients tested. The DOH will still update the figure with the remaining data later.

The DOH COVID-19 tracker also updated the positivity rate for April 6 at 20.2% with 5,814 positive individuals out of 46,027 tests.

It is the ninth day in a row that the country had a positivity rate of at least 20%, which is high considering that the World Health Organization recommends that the percentage be kept below 5%.

Experts said a higher rate suggests more widespread transmission and that there are likely more cases which have not yet been detected.

Among Filipinos abroad, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported a surge of 483 new infections, lifting the total to 17,064 in 91 countries. The DFA said the surge is due to an increase in cases in a country in the Middle East.

Of the total, 3,996 cases have been verified by the DOH, the DFA said. Meanwhile, seven more Filipinos died and seven others got better. The death toll is now 1,066 while the survivor tally is 10,077. There are also 5,291 patients undergoing treatment, the DFA added.
Mumbai, April 8 : Television actor Siddharth Nigam, who recently joined the cast of the show "Hero: Gayab Mode On", says while actors get paid well on television, shoots can be exhausting.

"TV is high-paying but can be exhausting. However, I feel if you love something you can't be exhausted. I love acting and I love my job, so I don't find it that strenuous," he told IANS.

With the new Covid protocols, the actor feels it is scary to step out for shoot.

"I am taking all the precautions during the pandemic. It is very tough to shoot nowadays. Even our normal lives have changed. You can't touch anything and have to be cautious of who is near you. It is very risky to roam around. How I am managing is by ensuring I have my mask on and sanitizer with me at all time. On set, they have taken good precautions and I also maintain my own precautions," he says.

The actor is seen alongside his brother Abhishek Nigam in "Hero: Gayab Mode On", which was a huge draw for him.

"It is a wonderful feeling to be working alongside my brother in 'Hero: Gayab Mode On'. While this feels amazing to me, I am equally nervous because he is my elder brother and he knows me. So, obviously this is a wonderful feeling with a hint of nervousness. I am sure, this experience will be something we'd always talk about," he says.

The actor will also be seen in the film "The Shoonyah: Chapter 1 -- Blow Of The War Horns".
India and China will hold 11th round of Corps Commander talks on Friday at Chushul to iron out differences for the next phase of disengagement in Eastern Ladakh.

After nearly a two month gap, the Corps Commander level talk is again happening between the two countries. The focus of the talk would be disengagement on other friction points. After Pangong disengagement, both the countries have planned to carry out disengagement on other friction points like Gogra, Hot Springs and Depsang.

"Important that before the onset of summer, de-escalation is discussed. Both sides need retreat to original positions for things to ease," said a senior Indian Army officer.

On February 20, Indian and Chinese militaries held 10th round of military dialogue to de-escalate tension at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Indian military delegates were led by Lieutenant General PGK Menon, Commander of 14 Corps based in Leh.

They had met to discuss disengagement at friction areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and 900 square km Depsang plains.

The build-up in Depsang was not being considered part of the current standoff that started in May last year as escalations here took place in 2013, India has insisted during recent military commander meetings to resolve all issues across the Line of Actual Control.

"The initial attempt will be to resolve Gogra and Hot Springs. Finding a solution to Depsang might be tricky and take longer," said the officer.

So far disengagement process at both banks of the Pangong Lake has taken place. It was on February 10 that China made an announcement that New Delhi and Beijing had agreed to disengage at Pangong Lake.

Indian Army team along with Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) team physically verified and re-verified disengagement at Pangong Lake.

As per the agreement, Chinese troops moved back to Finger 8 and Indian troops pulled back to the Dhan Singh Thapa post between Finger 2 and 3 of the north bank of Pangong Lake.

A temporary moratorium on military activities, including patrolling to the traditional areas was placed.

The mountain spur jutting into the lake is referred to as Finger in military parlance. The north bank of the lake is divided into 8 Fingers. India has claimed its territory till Finger 8 and China disputes it and claims its own territory till Finger 4.

India and China are engaged in a year long standoff at the Line of Actual Control. The confrontations began on the north bank of Pangong Lake, both in the waters and the bank as Chinese incursions increased in early May last year.
Students, university staff and other workers, including participants from overseas, joined an online public meeting last week to discuss and issue a call for a unified struggle of students and educators against the huge and intensifying cuts to jobs and courses since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) and the Committee for Public Education (CFPE) in Australia held the meeting to call for the formation of joint rank-and-file committees of staff and students to fight the attacks at Sydneys Macquarie University and across the country.

An NTEU rally at Macquarie University late last year (WSWS Media)

In the latest assault at Macquarie, 90 more full-time academic positions are set to go, this time by forced retrenchments, on top of more than 350 voluntary redundancies of academic and professional staff already inflicted in 2020.

Carolyn Kennett, a member of the Socialist Equality Party and the CFPE, and an academic at Macquarie University, told the meeting: The ruling class is using the pandemic as an opportunity to refashion class relations and working conditions in factories, schools and universities. The trillions of dollars handed to the corporate and wealthy elite in the course of the pandemic has to be clawed back through an accelerated exploitation of the working class internationally.

The cuts to staffing announced at Macquarie University last month are part of this broader assault on the working class. Universities across the country have been slashing staff since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out more than a year ago.

Kennett read out a proposed resolution (found in full here), which called for staff and students to reject the framework of the change proposal at Macquarie, as nothing but a vehicle for imposing further cuts to jobs and conditions through the pretence of consultation.

The motion opposed all efforts to make workers and students pay for the cuts to funding made by the Liberal-National and Labor governments over the past decade; demanded that billions of dollars be poured into education and healthcare, instead of big business and the military, and called for the formation of rank-and-file committees, completely independent of the trade unions, to join with workers in other areas and internationally who are facing similar struggles against the impact of the worsening global capitalist crisis.

Kennett explained that the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) had refused to put this resolution to a recent Macquarie staff meeting, precisely because the motion offers a way forward, based on an alternative socialist perspective that rejects the dictates of the corporate elite.

Kennett reminded the meeting that the attacks on education were initiated by Greens-backed Labor governments. It was under the Hawke-Keating government of Labor that fees were re-introduced for both domestic and international students. The education revolution of Rudd and Gillard forced universities to fight each other for students, particularly full fee-paying international students.

The second speaker, Sneha Arutla, the president of the IYSSE club at Macquarie University, brought into stark relief the money being spent on war preparations compared to the inadequate spending on the pandemic. She cited the UK governments announcement of a 40 percent increase in its nuclear weapons stockpile, and the US governments doubling of its military forces in the Indo-Pacific region, intended to threaten China.

Arutla said: The events of the past year have brought students and young people face to face with the brutal reality of capitalismthat our social rights, and our very lives, are to be sacrificed on the altar of profit for major corporations and the wealth of a tiny layer of billionaires.

The IYSSE club president explained: The job cuts at Macquarie University are not only an attack on university workers. Students are already being impacted. Face-to-face hours have been slashed ... Units and programs of study have been deleted, including in Arts and Science and Engineering. Students are facing larger class sizes, lower quality courses and fewer services and facilities.

Arutla exposed the role of the Macquarie Socialists, a pseudo-left group formed on campus. While the pseudo-left groups misleadingly label themselves socialist, they oppose any struggle for a socialist program. Instead, they are preoccupied with keeping university workers straitjacketed within the NTEU and the pro-capitalist perspective of the trade unions, which is to tie workers to the needs of their employers.

The reports and resolution prompted a series of questions and comments on how to fight the cuts, and the role of rank-and-file committees. One student asked whether immediate legal action could be taken to freeze the cuts.

Kennett explained that managements cuts were legal under its Enterprise Bargaining Agreement with the NTEU. She emphasised that the union could not be relied upon, having imposed such agreements time and time again. The perspective of the SEP was to develop a broader struggle against the destruction of jobs and the quality of education for students.

Zach Diotte, the president of the IYSSE club at Western Sydney University (WSU), said the assault on education was occurring worldwide, so the fight at Macquarie had to be developed within that global context.

Evrim Yazgin, president of the IYSSE club at the University of Melbourne, expressed solidarity for the struggle at Macquarie, and support for the resolution. He stressed that the IYSSE and CFPE urged university workers to join with students, other workers, unemployed people and youth, to break completely from the unions and form rank-and-file committees.

Mike Head, a WSWS correspondent and an academic at WSU, said the NTEU was blocking a unified struggle against similar job cuts at WSU. He said the unions had straitjacketed and suppressed the struggles of workers for decades in Australia and internationally. He referenced the ongoing strike by graduate students at Columbia University in New York, who were fighting for better wages and conditions, and coming into conflict with the United Auto Workers union, which was seeking to isolate and stifle their struggle.

Diotte referred to the SEPs campaign at the Coles Smeaton Grange warehouse in southwest Sydney to oppose the shutdown of the facility and the destruction of most, if not all, the 350 jobs there. He described how the pseudo-left group Solidarity had propped up the United Workers Union, which sold out workers in their three-month fight against the companys lockout.

Following the discussion, the resolution was carried unanimously. Kobra, a Macquarie student, commented: A lot of the things discussed in the meeting really resonated with me because as an arts and humanities student I had also felt the pressure on tutors to conduct larger tutorial classrooms, which I personally felt took away from my engagement and learning in the classroom setting.

This past two years I have felt that there has been more of an effort to make the arts units employable and corporate-worthy which I think undermines the inherent value of the arts as a discipline. I think the resolutions proposed in the meeting are a great way to address some of these issues.
 Flash

The besieged Gaza Strip on Wednesday inaugurated a China-funded solar power plant in a children's hospital.

The solar power plant project, which can provide 30 KW of electricity to Al-Durrah Children Hospital in Gaza city, was implemented through Give Palestine Association, a charitable organization in the coastal enclave.

At an online ceremony, Guo Wei, head of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine, said China has been committed to implementing "projects that will help Palestinians improve their livelihood in accordance with their needs and bring more benefits to the Palestinian people."

Guo said China is "a trustworthy friend and partner" of Palestine, adding that the project reflects "the deep friendship of the Chinese people towards the Palestinian people."

"China will continue to help Palestine improve its people's livelihood and take concrete actions to build a community with a shared future for mankind and inject new content into the traditional Sino-Palestinian friendship," he said.

For his part, Emad al-Agha, secretary general of Give Palestine Association, said the China-funded project can provide 60 percent of the needed power for the operations of Al-Durrah Children Hospital.

"The Chinese support to the hospital is a continuation of what China provides to the Palestinian people at all levels, especially the needs of Palestinian children," he said.

In recent years, the Gaza Strip has been suffering from a chronic electricity deficit, which undermines already fragile living conditions.
Former Prime Minister Najib Razak arrives at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, Malaysia, for an appeal hearing on his 2020 conviction on money laundering and other charges tied to a subsidiary of state fund 1MDB, April 6, 2021.

Disgraced former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak faces bankruptcy for allegedly failing to pay U.S. $421 million in taxes and penalties, which could end his political career.

Najib said late Tuesday that the countrys tax board served him a bankruptcy notice allegedly for unpaid personal income taxes from 2011 to 2017, in retaliation for his political party deciding to break up with the ruling coalition in the next general election.

What are the consequences of this bankruptcy notice? I will be losing status as the Pekan Member of Parliament and a by-election would be held, Najib said in a Facebook post.

He was referring to a rule that strips a person of their parliamentary seat and bars him or her from contesting elections if declared bankrupt.

I will no longer be eligible to run for party elections and general elections, I will lose all my savings accumulated through my years of service in the government, which I am depending on to support my life and to pay my lawyers.

Malaysias Inland Revenue Board (IRB) served Najib the bankruptcy notice on Monday. The case is scheduled to be heard May 5.

Najib is a former president of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), which holds the most parliamentary seats in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition government led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The former PM alleged that the notice was related to UMNOs decision last month to not ally itself with Muhyiddins coalition in the next general election.

UMNO[s] decision not to cooperate with PPBM/PN during GE15, he claimed was one of the reasons he received the notice. PPBM refers to Muhyiddins party Bersatu and GE15 stands for the 15th general election.

BenarNews contacted IRB and Muhyiddins office for comment, but no one from either office returned calls.

Najib got the bankruptcy notice on the day that he began appealing his July 2020 Kuala Lumpur High Court conviction on charges tied to the looting of billions of dollars from state fund 1MDB that led to his governments ouster almost three years ago.

He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined 210 million ringgit ($51 million), in the case related to SRC International, a subsidiary of sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

Perhaps the move to issue the bankruptcy notice on the first day of my appeal case hearing is meant to rub salt on the injustice injury that still bleeds, or simply to humiliate me, he said.

I will use all of my capabilities to come up with the best appeal alongside my lawyers, to help the wise judges make a decision that is based on truth.

Najib said the personal income tax the IRB was claiming was on 3 billion ringgit ($726.1 million) he had received in donations in his personal account.

Political analyst Azmi Hassan said Najibs tax bill would be difficult to pay for any person.

I dont think Najib could ever afford to pay a 1.7 billion ringgit tax return, Azmi, an academic at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, told BenarNews

The bankruptcy notice is an option that the IRB has and they have used it, hoping to recoup some of the money, given that Najib has challenged the IRB in court over the tax bill, Azmi said.

If Najib is declared bankrupt it would be a huge blow to the former PMs political career, Azmi

Najib would be stripped of his seat in parliament and as someone found bankrupt, he would be ineligible to stand as a candidate in the general election, Azmi said.

Conviction appeal

Separately, in the appeal of his SRC conviction, Najibs defense team told the Court of Appeal on Monday that the High Court judge who oversaw the trial was inexperienced in criminal cases, leading to a situation where Najib did not receive a fair trial.

On Wednesday, Najib defense lawyer Harvinderjit Singh blamed fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, for manipulating the distribution of funds from 1MDB subsidiary SRC International.

Singh argued that Low used an SRC senior official and bank official to move funds into Najibs account.

The subject of an international manhunt, Low faces criminal charges in Malaysia for his role in allegedly embezzling billions of dollars from 1MDB as Najibs financial adviser.
New proprietary formula for the symptomatic relief of pain and irritated sore throat



Initial launch in 3,500 pharmacies in Greece with plans to expand to the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Canada and the Middle East

CHICAGO, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cosmos Holdings, Inc. (the Company") (OTCQX: COSM), a vertically integrated, international pharmaceutical company with a proprietary line of branded and generic pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, OTC medications and an extensive, established EU distribution network, announced today that it has launched Mosept-Oral, a new, proprietary oral antiseptic spray designed to be effective against bacteria, certain viruses and fungi, as well as for the symptomatic relief of painful, irritated sore throats.

The product is being placed in 3,500 pharmacies and the Company expects to have it in 10,000 pharmacies by the end of the year in Greece. The Company has also started the registration process for Mosept-Oral for the UK with the submission of the documentation for the formulation. It will be gradually registering the product to other countries with local exclusive distributors and expects the registration period to take anywhere from 8-12 months. Initial target countries are the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Canada and the Middle East.

The mouth spray was formulated, designed and developed entirely by the Cosmos Holdings research and development team. Mosept-Oral is made with the highest quality materials and to the highest possible standards, which are, in turn, based on strict pharmaceutical standards and good manufacturing processes (GMP) protocols; these protocols are similar to FDA regulations in the USA. Each ml of Mosept-Oral contains 2 mg of Chlorhexidine digluconate (Chlorhexidine) and 0.5 mg of Lidocaine hydrochloride. Chlorhexidine is a bisbiguanide antiseptic and disinfectant which is bactericidal or bacteriostatic against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and inhibits the proliferation of certain viruses and fungi. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic and impairs the generation and conduction of the nerve impulses by slowing depolarization.

The Mosept-Oral spray allows for local application for action on the pharynx. Mosept-Oral provides longer lasting and a safer approach to administering Chlorhexidine. Several research projects have been initiated to examine whether oral antiseptics could reduce the oral viral load of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. In a recent study published in the Journal of Medical Virology, researchers from California, USA, provided data that showed significant elimination of SARSCoV2 with chlorhexidine application in the oral cavity and pharynx (Huang, J. T. (2021). Use of Chlorhexidine to Eradicate Oropharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 Patients. Journal of Medical Virology.)

We are very pleased with how well the Mosept-Oral spray has been received and we believe that it will become another important tool for reducing pathogenic load and treating symptoms, such as sore throat. Moreover, research progress for the potential inactivation of COVID-19 by oral antiseptics is being closely monitored and we are encouraged by the data indicating that chlorhexidine could become a safe addition to the current prevention guidelines, stated Greg Siokas, Chief Executive Officer of Cosmos Holdings.

The Mosept-Oral spray does not require a medical prescription, as it can be provided to patients both by doctors and other healthcare professionals, and is also available over-the-counter. Another advantage is that it is sugar-free and can be administered safely to people with diabetes. In addition to our global distribution network, we have the exclusive distribution rights and a well-equipped team of 32 salespeople with direct access to over 10,000 pharmacies and 8,500 doctors across Greece. We have a large marketing campaign underway and will also be launching a tv ad campaign later this month. The addition of Mosept-Oral is another example of our commitment to expanding our portfolio with high quality health care products and leveraging our robust global distribution network to drive value for shareholders.

About Cosmos Holdings, Inc.

Cosmos Holdings Inc., is an international pharmaceutical company, with a proprietary line of branded and generic pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, OTC medications and medical devices and an extensive, established EU distribution network. The company identifies, acquires, develops and commercializes products that improve patients' lives and outcomes and has an extensive network of clients in Germany, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Italy, France, Singapore, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Netherlands, and Greece. Cosmos Holdings has offices and distribution centers in Thessaloniki, Greece, Athens, Greece and Harlow, UK. More information is available at www.cosmosholdingsinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

With the exception of the historical information contained in this news release, the matters described herein, may contain 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. Statements preceded by, followed by, or that otherwise, include the words believes, expects, anticipates, intends, projects, estimates, plans and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as will, should, would, may and could, are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts, although not all forward-looking statements include the foregoing. These statements, involve unknown risks and uncertainties that may individually or materially impact the matters discussed, herein for a variety of reasons that are outside the control of the company, including, but not limited to, the companys ability to raise sufficient financing to implement its business plan, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the companys business, operations and the economy in general, and the Companys ability to successfully develop and commercialize its proprietary products and technologies. Readers, are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements, as actual results could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements contained herein. Readers are urged to read the risk factors set forth in the companys filings with the SEC, which are available at the SECs website (www.sec.gov). The 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.

Investor Relations Contact:

Crescendo Communications, LLC

Tel: 212-671-1020

Email: COSM@crescendo-ir.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b2004864-cc5e-49f3-baa0-dcf8b3fe5e9c
U.S.-funded package for Ukraine's Air Force could include around a hundred F-15, F-16, and E-2C fighters currently in storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, according to a U.S. think tank.

U.S. President Joe Biden on April 2 made a call to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to affirm "unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression in the Donbas and Crimea," according to a statement from the White House, Defense Express reported.

The recent major Russian military build-up close to the Ukrainian border prompted discussions within the American think tank community about how the United States could help Ukraine in the face of increasing military challenge from the Kremlin. One such proposal was suggested by Atlantic Council, a U.S. think tank that has frequently suggested solutions in support of reforms and transformations in Ukraine.

Atlantic Council has suggested that the U.S. administration should provide Ukraine with a "lend-lease package" to help the country upgrade its Air Force.

That said, the think tank warns that Ukraine's Western partners are "understandably reluctant to enter into an armed confrontation with Russia, and have also been extremely cautious about providing the Ukrainian military with the means to counter the Kremlin."

Against this background, the U.S. assistance in the Ukrainian Air Force modernization could become an effective deterrent to further Russian aggression.

Ukraine's Air Force leadership has recently conceded that by 2030, most of the country's fighter jets will be non-viable. Meanwhile, Moscow exploits the weakness of Ukraine's Air Force and menaces Ukraine with the threat of air attacks. Most of Russia's newest fighters have been deployed across a chain of airfields in an arc around Ukraine's borders.

Clearly, the Ukrainian Air Force is in urgent need of an upgrade. Ukraine's public debate over how to revive the UAF has reached a consensus that Western-built jets armed with modern smart munitions are needed, along with Western air defense capabilities.

Atlantic Council's analysts therefore suggest that the U.S. should supply Ukraine with 100 or more jet fighters now in storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force base. Other U.S. aid supplies could include six to eight E-2C-2000 Hawkeyes, and eight to 12 KC-135R tankers, along with Link-16 datalink terminals, smart munitions, cruise missiles, and suitable reconnaissance and targeting equipment. This, they believe, would send Moscow an unambiguous message and help deter any future invasion plans.

The experts suggest that the Su-27 FLANKERs in the Ukrainian Air Force service should be replaced with the US F-15C, and MiG-29 FULCRUMs with the U.S.-equivalent F-16.

The "instant capability" option is to pull mothballed F-15C/D, E-2C-2000, and KC-135R aircraft out of storage and send them to Ukraine. Alternately, the U.S. could supply Ukraine with new build F-15QA or F-15EX jets.

Atlantic Council, however, did not propose any time frame for this suggested plan nor did it outline the conditions on which this kind of "lend-lease" aid package could be provided.

op
Kolkata, April 8 : The Election Commission of India has decided to deploy 789 companies of Central forces -- the highest force concentration so far -- in the fourth phase of elections in West Bengal when 44 Assembly constituencies spread across seven districts in the state will go to the polls on April 10.

"Presently, there are around 800 companies of Central forces in the state, but the commission has assured to send another 200 companies from Assam where elections have recently concluded. This will take the number of Central forces to 1,000 companies, which is the highest deployment in the state in any election so far. This additional 200 companies will be used for the elections in North Bengal as this it will be logistically easier," said a senior commission official in the state.

The rest of the forces after poll deployment will be used for guarding the strong-rooms and containing post-poll violence.

The nine constituencies in Cooch Behar that are going to the polls on Saturday will have the highest number of force deployment. According to the EC officials, 187 companies of Central forces will be deployed in 3,229 booths spread across 1,882 premises in the district. This will have a concentration of approximately 5.7 personnel per booth.

"Cooch Behar shares inter-state and national borders and so the district is topographically vulnerable. We don't want to take any risk," an EC official said.

The 11 constituencies in South 24 Parganas district will have a deployment of 184 companies. Of these, five constituencies, including Jadavpur, Kasba, Behala East, Behala West and Tollygunje, fall under the administrative jurisdiction of Kolkata for which 100 companies have been allotted.

The commission has deployed another 44 companies for poll management in the rest of the six Assembly constituencies. "There will be a major concentration of forces for the Assembly constituencies in Kolkata where elections will be held in 2,343 booths across 721 premises," an official said.

In addition to this, 174 companies of Central forces will be deployed for the 10 Assembly constituencies in Hooghly district, 140 companies for the nine constituencies in Howrah district and another 98 companies for Alipurduar district.

The commission has allocated six companies of Central forces for Jalpaiguri as it shares borders with Alipurduar. "There are some booths in Alipurduar district that falls under Jalipaiguri district and so six companies have been allotted for the district," the official said.
Between hospitals in Midland and Odessa there have been at least five patients with confirmed or suspected cases of known COVID-19 variants, officials said this week.

Midland Memorial Hospital has had three patients with the UK variant and one patient with the California variant, according to a hospital spokesperson.

At Medical Center Hospital in Odessa there is currently one patient suspected to have the Brazilian variant of the virus, Critical Care Attending Alejandra Garcia Fernandez said during a press conference on Thursday.

Testing to confirm the presence of the variant has not yet been completed, she said, but the Brazilian variant is suspected because of where the patient traveled to. She declined to say when the patient was admitted to the hospital.

Variants, or mutations of the coronavirus, have health officials concerned because of the possibility that existing vaccines may be less effective against them. So far, preliminary studies have suggested the vaccines are still helpful in preventing infections from known variants.

The most notable difference between variants and the original strain of the virus is that the mutations appear to be more contagious, Garcia Fernandez said. She said mutated strains are not necessarily more dangerous and treatment for patients in the hospital remains the same.

The main difference is that its very similar to the South African strain that was detected a while back, she said of the Brazilian variant. It has two different kinds of mutations in two very specific places and what those mutations do is allow the virus to replicate and be contagious faster than the initial strains of COVID-19 we dealt with early in the pandemic.

Garcia Fernandez said the most effective way residents can protect themselves from new variants of the virus is by continuing to follow the recommended precautions and getting vaccinated.

Basic measures that weve been pushing for since the beginning of the pandemic are still up to date, she said. You can do your life but be mindful and take the precautions that weve been offering since the beginning of the pandemic. Thats the only concern people should have.

And whenever you have the ability to get your vaccine, please do, because thats what you can do to help these variants not be able to keep mutating and spreading, she said.

The Midland Health Department on Thursday reported there have been 17,109 confirmed cases and 250 COVID-19 related deaths in Midland County.
Dr. Hartman is board-certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

Fine Arts Skin & Laser Facial Plastic Surgery exists today because of a unique blend of experiences and events in the life of Dr. David Hartman. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University, graduating with high honors  summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and the National Deans List. He was one of only two college students in the state that year to receive the Governors Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service.

More than a decade in New York City and Los Angeles found David acting in commercials, film, and daytime television, earning his membership in the Screen Actors Guild. During that time, he also designed and built exquisite furniture collections for elite producers, directors, and actors in Hollywood.

These artistic experiences honed Davids ability to work with his hands and developed his eye for beauty, proportion, and detail.

Following his fathers terminal battle with cancer, David turned to the medical field as he was inspired by the empathy he saw modeled by his fathers medical team. He earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, graduating from the medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha, and magna cum laude. He then completed his residency training in Manhattan at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary, one of Americas premier facial plastic surgery training programs.

Dr. Hartman is board-certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). His other professional memberships include the American Society of Plastic Surgery, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, the American Academy of Regenerative Medicine, and the American Medical Association.

When he is not practicing medicine, Dr. Hartman enjoys spending time with his wife, Melissa, and two children, Lucy and Jonas. Davids hobbies include working on their small farm of orchard trees and hiking trails. Six dogs, a cat, two goats, and a miniature horse named Farmer keep things lively. He also enjoys performing in comedy skits at his church, furniture making, and restoring old oil paintings. His office is a gallery of more than 100 of his painting restorations. To see photos of some painting restorations, or to learn more about David and Fine Arts Skin & Laser, visit the website at http://www.FineArtsSkinandLaser.com.

Learn more about Dr. David Hartman by visiting: https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/member/dr-david-hartman/

ABOUT HAUTE BEAUTY NETWORK:

Haute Beauty is affiliated with the luxury lifestyle publication Haute Living. As a section of Haute Living magazine, Haute Beauty covers the latest advancements in beauty and wellness, providing readers with expert advice on aesthetic and reconstructive treatments through its network of acclaimed doctors and beauty experts.

For more about Haute Beauty, visit https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/
Dr Tony Sewell has defended his controversial racism report in the face of fierce criticism - and refused to be cowed by personal attacks.

The educationalist, who chairs the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, came under fire last week for claiming that Britain was not an institutionally racist country.

His findings incensed many left-wing politicians and campaigners, some of whom took aim directly at Dr Sewell and tried to tarnish his credibility for the job.

Last night Dr Sewell swatted away assaults on his character and doubled down on the report's conclusions.

'I'm not going to entertain this idea of me feeling anything  I'm used to this and am fairly thick-skinned,' he told the Telegraph's Planet Normal podcast.

He added: 'When people are desperate to silence you and discredit you, you must be saying something that's true.'

Dr Tony Sewell has defended his controversial racism report in the face of fierce criticism - and refused to be cowed by personal attacks

The Race Commission, launched by Boris Johnson following last summer's Black Lives Matter protests, hailed the UK a 'beacon to the rest of Europe and the world'

The Race Commission, launched by Boris Johnson following last summer's Black Lives Matter protests, hailed the UK a 'beacon to the rest of Europe and the world'.

Dr Sewell stressed that 'no one denies that racism exists' but argues Britain is not institutionally racist - a term he believes is deployed too 'willy-nilly'.

Amid cries of a 'whitewash', he was branded a Government stooge and compared to Josef Goebbels, Hitler's minister for propaganda, by a Cambridge professor.

Dr Priyamvada Gopal initially questioned whether Dr Sewell even had a doctorate.

After finding out that he possesses one from the University of Nottingham, she tweeted: 'Okay, established. It is, in fact, Dr Sewell. Fair enough. Even Dr Goebbels had a research PhD. (University of Heidelberg, 1921).'

Labour MP Clive Lewis even tweeted a picture of the Ku Klux Klan with the caption: 'Move along. Nothing to see here. #RaceReport.'

The backlash became so vitriolic that the Commission's members were forced to issue a joint statement railing against the 'dangerous personal attacks'.

Dr Sewell said last night reflected that the response to the report as 'extreme, unnecessary, over-the-top, ridiculous and absurd.'

He said some of his most vocal critics 'should be ashamed of themselves  they should read the report, not read what other people have said about it, then make a comment.'

The report also found that 'geography, family influence, socio-economic background, culture and religion have more significant impact on life chances than the existence of racism'

The report - criticised as an 'insult' by Labour - said in terms of overall numbers white boys from low income families were the most disadvantaged.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on March 9, 2021. [Photo: Foreign Ministry]

China criticized the United States on Thursday for frequently sending warships to the Taiwan Straits to flex muscles and stir up trouble, saying the move sends the wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" forces and threatens cross-Straits peace and stability.

The US State Department has expressed its concern about "a pattern of Chinese intimidation efforts in the region, including toward Taiwan", reiterating that the US commitment to Taiwan is "rock solid", Reuters reported.

A US warship sailed through the Taiwan Straits on Wednesday after China said an aircraft carrier group was exercising close to the island.

"The US accuses China of intimidation and coercion, which have nothing to do with China," Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a daily news conference.

There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, Zhao said, adding that the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations and a clear commitment made by Washington, and is a red line that cannot be crossed.

"Would a Chinese warship go to the Gulf of Mexico to make a show of strength?" Zhao asked.

China has no intention to intimidate or coerce anyone, the spokesman said, adding that the country also has no fear for intimidation or coercion wherever it may come from.

China has the will and capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the US should fully grasp the highly sensitive nature of the Taiwan question, he said.

Zhao urged Washington to avoid the dangerous path of challenging the bottom line and playing with fire, and prudently handle Taiwan-related issues.
Ankara, April 8 : Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Thursday said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in line with "demands and suggestions from the EU side", rejecting criticism that Ankara snubbed her.

Cavusoglu said the Turkish and EU sides agreed on the protocol ahead of Tuesday's meeting with Erdogan, reports dpa news agency.

"The seating arrangement was made in line with suggestions from the EU side," Cavusoglu told a joint press conference with his Kuwaiti counterpart Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah in Ankara.

Cavusoglu's remarks came after the European Commission expressed disappointment that its President was relegated to a sofa on the side, while European Council President Charles Michel was offered the only chair next to Erdogan during their visit at the Turkish presidential palace.

The unequal seating arrangements prompted social media allegations of sexism or a purposeful affront against the commission.

Cavusoglu called the criticism against Turkey "very unfair", adding the meeting was held "within the frame of international protocol rules and Turkish hospitality".

"We would not put this so clearly if it wasn't for the accusations," the top Turkish diplomat added.

Cavusoglu described the meeting as "very productive".

In a Facebook post late Wednesday, Michel described the situation as "regrettable" and added the EU leaders decided to focus on the substance of the meeting rather than cause a "public incident".




Haiti - Elections : The Dominican Government deeply concerned...





Wednesday April 7 Roberto Alvarez, the Dominican Minister of Foreign Affairs, during the reading of a report on the position of the Dominican Republic on the situation in Haiti and its current climate of tension, reiterated the "deep concern" of the Dominican Government faced with the political instability and violence that Haiti is experiencing, and the "difficulties" it foresees for the electoral calendar proposed by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) to be carried out this year.



Recall that President Moise hopes to organize a referendum on June 27 (initially scheduled for April 25 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33094-haiti-flash-the-referendum-postponed-by-2-months-official.html ) to approve a new Constitution and in September to organize legislative and presidential elections while Haiti is going through a period of open confrontation between the power in place and the radical opposition, in addition to a situation of insecurity, war between armed gangs and an increase in kidnappings, especially in Port-au-Prince.



Alvarez underlined that for the Dominican Government, the difficulty for the Haitian authorities to comply with the electoral agenda "[...] stems from two fundamental elements :



Firstly, the lack of dialogue between the main political actors called upon to participate in the various electoral processes.



Secondly, the great slowness with which the registration and identification of voters is carried out. Adding "To date, all estimates indicate that the goal of completing voter registration before the election will not be met."



In this sense, the Dominican Government "reiterates its commitment to support the process of inclusion for the elections in Haiti of all Haitian citizens who are on Dominican territory," affirmed the Dominican Chancellor.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33094-haiti-flash-the-referendum-postponed-by-2-months-official.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32988-haiti-flash-fearing-the-worst-in-haiti-the-dominicans-deploy-armored-vehicles-at-the-border.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32719-haiti-flash-complete-calendar-of-all-electoral-operations-2020-2022-official.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine Gunduz Mamedov signed and sent to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) an information message on violations of international humanitarian law by representatives of Russia and illegal armed groups controlled by them in Donetsk region in 2014-2015.

According to the PGO website, the prosecutors of the Department for Crimes Committed during Armed Conflict have collected facts and evidence confirming the treacherous murder and injury of the Ukrainian military during the events in Ilovaisk on August 29, 2014 and during the defense of Donetsk airport on January 19 to January 21, 2015. The information message was prepared on the basis of materials from criminal proceedings, photos and videos from open sources, as well as collected material evidence.

"The treacherous killings and injuries of the servicemen of the Armed Forces and other military formations of Ukraine took place amid humanitarian agreements. When providing a 'green corridor' in Ilovaisk area to escape the encirclement of Ukrainian servicemen who had laid down their arms, intensive shelling was carried out at them, as well as at the car with the 'Red Cross' symbol. This led to the death of 366 Ukrainian soldiers, some 429 were wounded of varying severity, some 300 were taken prisoner and 24 were missing," the PGO said in the message.

"During the defense of Donetsk airport, representatives of the occupation administration of Russia in Donetsk region [...] requested a 'silence' regime to evacuate the bodies of the dead and wounded from the battlefield. However, the truce was used to secretly mine the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and, after its completion, a treacherous explosion. Then 25 servicemen were killed, some 22 captured, one prisoner was killed," the PGO said.

According to the statement, treacherous killing in an armed conflict is a war crime and violates Article 37 of the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, which prohibits "killing, wounding or capturing the enemy, resorting to treachery."
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
According to various estimates, between 150,000 and 400,000 Roma people live in Ukraine.

According to various estimates, between 150,000 and 400,000 Roma people live in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights congratulates the Roma community on the significant event  the 50th anniversary of the International Romani Day, the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights posted on Telegram.

It is specified that the protection of the Roma national minority, the promotion of their rights on an equal footing with other citizens of Ukraine, their social, economic and cultural integration is one of the important areas of public policy.

As Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova stressed, according to Article 11 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the state is obliged to promote the development of ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity of all indigenous peoples and national minorities of Ukraine.

In particular, the Ukrainian Ombudsperson emphasized the need for the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to approve the strategy for prevention of all forms of discrimination against the Roma national minority and for integration of its representatives into Ukrainian society until 2030.

Denisova also thanked Roma NGOs and activists for their significant contribution to a common activity united by a common goal  the protection of human rights.

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Helsinki: Greenlands main opposition party, which campaign heavily against an Australian companys mining project involving uranium and other metals on the Arctic island, has emerged as the biggest party after winning more than a third of votes in an early parliamentary election.

The result of casts doubt on the mining complex at Kvanefjeld in the south of the Arctic island and sends a strong signal to international mining companies wanting to exploit Greenlands vast untapped mineral resources.

Members of IA (Inuit Ataqatigiit) celebrate the partys strong showing in the election. Credit:AP

The island of 56,000 people, which former US President Donald Trump offered to buy in 2019, is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but has broad autonomy.

With all votes counted on Wednesday (Greenland time), the left-leaning Community of the People party (Inuit Ataqatigiit) had secured 37 per cent of the votes, entitling it to 12 seats in the Greenlandic national assembly, the 31-seat Inatsisartut.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- American Airlines has apologized after a two-time cancer survivor was told she couldnt board a flight from Los Angeles to Charlotte because of a vulgar word spelled out in an anti-cancer message on her yellow hoodie.

Tell me why the guy from American Airlines just told me if I dont put a sweatshirt on that I cant get on the plane? Roslyn Singleton of Charlotte said in an Instagram video.

The words [expletive] Cancer were spelled out on the hoodie. Her lawyer, James Walker Jr. of Atlanta, said millions have said it before, and there is nothing illegal about said statement.

Walker called what happened to Singleton a violation of her constitutional rights.

Singleton is an eight-year Navy veteran who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, Walker said in a statement.

In a statement to The Charlotte Observer on Wednesday, American Airlines said its policies prohibit clothing that displays offensive statements and inappropriate language from being worn on board.

But the employees Singleton encountered in the L.A. airport should have taken the broader context of the message displayed on the customers shirt into consideration when explaining our policies, according to the AA statement.

Our team has reached out to learn more about Ms. Singletons experience, offer our apologies and reaffirm our support for efforts to fight cancer, AA officials said.

On Instagram, Roslyn Singleton said she put a jacket over the hoodie because I didnt want any problems. Yet, as she and her husband were about to board the flight, another AA employee came up to her and said, I was made aware that there was an issue,' Singleton recounted. I had no idea what was going on, because I had my jacket on.

In a follow-up clip she made after arriving at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport on the first leg of her flight, Singleton said the airline did a very disrespectful and embarrassing thing to me in LA.

She also wrote on Instagram: @americanair Let me apologize to you publicly for having such a strong stance on Cancer. I hope other cancer survivors and fighters dont go through this!! Never AGAIN ....

Singleton and her husband, Ray, hit the national spotlight in February 2020 when he serenaded her on The Ellen Show.

The segment, titled Ellen Meets Uplifting Husband and His Inspiring Wife Battling Cancer, has drawn nearly 2.2 million views on YouTube.

This article is written by Joe Marusak from The Charlotte Observer and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
Homeware retailer Dunelm admits it has 'underperformed the market' against competitors in the last few months having been forced to shut its stores.

The chain's entire 174-strong store estate was temporarily closed for months in the latest lockdown, but its stores in Scotland have now reopened and its sites in England and Wales are reopening on 12 April. It is unclear when the group's sites in Northern Ireland will be given the green light to reopen.

While the retailer has been hard hit by the pandemic, strong online sales growth means it now expects to beat profit forecasts for the year.

The group, which saw its online sales treble over the past year, said its pre-tax profit now looks set to come in 'modestly ahead' of the top of the range of analyst expectations, set at between 120million and 125million.

Looking ahead: Strong online sales growth means Dunelm now expects to beat profit forecasts for the year

Dunelm said it expects a 'strong consumer response' to shops reopening next week.

In the first three months of last year, the retailer's online sales comprised less than 23 per cent of all its sales.

But, in the first three months of this year, online sales formed 92 per cent of the group's total sales.

The online sales boost meant total sales only fell to 237million, which is 93.2 per cent of levels seen the year before.

Click-and-collect orders covered approximately 35 per cent of in-shop sales from the same period last year.

Boss Nick Wilkinson said: 'In a quarter when we were largely unable to open our stores, it has been very encouraging to see the strength of our digital channels which have enabled us to cover over 83% of sales from the same period last year.

'We are now looking forward to reopening, with colleagues ready to welcome back customers through our doors. We have worked hard to rebuild inventory levels and our stores are well stocked across our extensive product range.'

Shares in FTSE 250-listed Dunelm got off to a strong start in early morning trading and are currently up 2.37 per cent or 32.00p to 1,380.00p. A year ago the share price was 785.00p.

While bricks-and-mortar retailer like Dunelm have seen parts of their business suffer amid closures during the pandemic, it's a different story for online-only firms like Asos.

The online based fashion retailer, which recently snapped up brands like Topshop and Topman, saw its half-year profits jump 275 per cent,

Asos said the pandemic drove a 1.5million rise in its active customer base over the six month period, nearly hitting 25million.
Appointment

8 April 2021

Strategic Solution Partners is pleased to announce the addition of Glen Coben to its hospitality consulting team.

Glen Coben is the founder of Glen & Company, a New York City-based, award-winning architecture and design firm that provides customized designs. Coben's extensive portfolio includes hotel repositioning and renovation, new builds, restaurants, residential, retail, corporate offices, and showrooms. His firm has been featured in Hospitality Design, Metropolis, Interior Design as well as Architectural Digest. Coben is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at Hotel School at Cornell University's College of Business. He is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of HD Magazine as well as a member of the Board of Advisors of Culintro, a culinary trade organization whose mission is to establish a source that will provide insights on major trends and serve as a gateway to influence culinary industry development.
Paris, April 8 : In a boost to the Covid-19 vaccination campaign at home and in Europe, French subcontractor Delpharm started packaging Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in its plant in Saint-Remy-sur-Avre.

President Emmanuel Macron tweeted on Wednesday that the country's goal is "250 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines" in 2021 and "it begins today with the first BioNTech-Pfizer vaccines" in the Delpharm site, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Strengthening of health systems, better distribution of vaccine production capacities thanks to technology transfers, transparency of contracts, sharing of doses: an increase in power is essential for collective security in the face of the risks of variants," he said.

"As long as the virus circulates and evolves, no one is safe," Macron warned, calling for "a coordinated and united response, on a global scale" to contain the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed 97,722 lives in France, the heaviest death toll in Europe after the UK and Italy.

The vaccines packaged in France were made in BioNTech's factory in Germany.

Some 1,700 vaccination centres have been opened across France and 250,000 health professionals are mobilised to ramp up the vaccine rollout, which will be open to people aged between 60 and 70 in mid-April.

The government aims to extend vaccination to those aged between 50 and 60 next month, followed by people under 50 from June 15, and all adults who want to be inoculated by the end of the summer.

To date, about 9.8 million people in France have been given the first shots of a coronavirus vaccine, representing 18.7 per cent of the adult population, according to the Health Ministry.

France has approved the use of four vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Port Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Mauritian health authorities said on Wednesday that eight positive COVID-19 cases were detected in quarantine centres in Mauritius, after the 7th quarantine day out of some 684 PCR tests
on Thursday protested the passage of a U.S. destroyer through the Strait in the latest move as both nations increase their naval activity in the region.

tracked and monitored the USS John S McCain throughout its passage on Wednesday, Zhang Chunhui, spokesperson for the Chinese military's eastern theater command, said in a statement.

The US move sent the wrong signal to Taiwan's government and willfully disrupted the regional situation by endangering peace and stability across the Strait," he said. firmly opposed the move and Chinese forces will respond with "strict precautions and vigilance," he added.

China threatens to invade to assert its claim over the self-governing island democracy, which enjoys strong US support.

In a one-sentence statement, the US Navy said the McCain "conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit April 7 (local time) through waters in accordance with law."



The McCain's transit follows China's announcement Monday that its aircraft carrier Liaoning and associated vessels were holding drills near Taiwan meant to help it "safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests," terms often interpreted as being directed at Taiwan's leadership that has refused to give in to Beijing's demands that it recognize the island as part of Chinese territory.

Meanwhile, the US Navy announced the carrier Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group reentered the South China Sea on Saturday to "conduct routine operations," the second time the strike group has entered the strategic waterway this year.

China claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety and strongly objects to foreign naval activity in the resource rich and heavily transited waters, especially the US practice of sailing naval vessels close to Chinese-held features in what it terms freedom of navigation operations."



While the Taiwan Strait lies in waters, its transiting by US naval vessels is seen as a partly symbolic show that Washington will not permit Beijing's forces to dominate the waterway.

Along with military exercises, China has been sending warplanes on practically a daily basis into Taiwan's air defense identification zone to pressure the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen and advertise its threat of military action.

That prompted a statement from Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on Wednesday that Taiwan would "fight a war if we need to fight a war, and if we need to defend ourselves to the very last day, then we will defend ourselves to the very last day."



The vast improvements in China's military capabilities and its increasing activity around Taiwan have raised concerns in the US, which is legally bound to ensure Taiwan is capable of defending itself and to regard all threats to the island's security as matters of "grave concern."



At a regular briefing on Wednesday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price reiterated that, Our commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid."



"We think and we know that it contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region as well," Price said.

"The United States maintains the capacity to resist any resort to force or any other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan.

(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  Britain said on Wednesday that it would curb the use of AstraZenecas vaccine in adults under 30 because of the risk of rare blood clots, a blow to the efforts of scores of countries reliant on the vaccine to stamp out the coronavirus pandemic amid a global surge in cases.

Adding to the unease, the European Medicines Agency outlined a possible link between the vaccine and rare clots, even as it said that Covid-19 remained the far greater threat, leaving decisions about how to use the vaccine in the hands of the 27 member states of the European Union.

Taken together, the decisions represented a considerable setback for the AstraZeneca shot, which has been seen as the principal weapon in the battle to reduce deaths in the vaccine-starved global south.

The worlds most widely administered coronavirus vaccine, it is far less expensive and easier to store than some of the alternatives, spurring its use in at least 111 countries, rich and poor. AstraZeneca, based in Britain, has promised to deliver three billion doses this year, enough to inoculate nearly one in five people worldwide.
New Delhi/Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused Central paramilitary forces, especially the CRPF, of harassing voters at the behest of the BJP and asked voters not to deterred by their intimidation but to gherao them and lodge FIR against them if they foment trouble in the remaining five phases of Assembly elections in West Bengal.

The TMC chief also alleged 10 murders in this election and urged the Election Commission to ensure that there is no further blood bath and no public harassment by Central forces.

Hours after the TMC chief's controversial appeal to voters issued at a party rally in Coochbehar North Assembly constituency in north Bengal, the Election Commission issued a notice to her for an earlier appeal she allegedly made to Muslim voters while campaigning in Hooghly. She had urged them not to allow their votes to get split among different political parties.

Ms Banerjee has been asked to respond to the ECs notice within the next 48 hours.

The notice said the poll panel had received a complaint from a BJP delegation alleging that on April 3 Ms Banerjee appealed to Muslim voters not to let their votes get split among different political parties.

"Kanyashree, there are scholarships up to the university. There is Shishashree for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. For the general category there is Swami Vivekananda Scholarship. There is Aikyashree for my brothers and sisters belonging to the minority community and I have given it to 2 crores and 35 lakh beneficiaries. I am requesting my minority brothers and sisters with folded hands don't divide the minority votes after listening to the devil (shaitaan) person who had taken money from the BJP. He passes many communal statements and initiates clashes between the Hindu and the Muslims. He is one of the apostles of the BJP, a comrade. The comrades of CPI-M and BJP are roaming around with the money given by the BJP to divide the minority votes. Please don't allow them to do so. Keep in mind that if the BJP comes into the government then you will be in severe danger. I also will tell my Hindu brothers and sister not to make division amongst yourselves as Hindu and Muslim after listening to the BJP," the notice quoted Ms Banerjee as saying.

The EC said it found her speech violating the provisions of the Representation of the People Act and the model code.

Ms Banerjees statement on Wednesday is also likely to land her in trouble.

We want a free and fair election. Public should be allowed to cast their votes. CRPF should not obstruct them from entering the voting centres. The CRPF is doing a nuisance. I respect the CRPF which have real jawans. But I do not respect the CRPF which is doing nuisance by beating women and killing and harassing the people. I do not support them."

If the Central forces, say CRPF or even the Bengal force ask you to not to cast your votes, tell them I will not listen to you. Lodge an FIR or diary against them. If the CRPF creates trouble, you, the women, gherao them totally. While one group will keep the forces gheraoed, another will go to cast your votes. Do not waste your votes anyway, she said at a TMC rally.

Condemning the statement as anti-national", the BJP complained to the Election Commission and demanded a case against her and cancellation of her party's registration.

In her speech, Ms Banerjee also slammed the home minister for the deaths of CRPF jawans in an encounter with Naxals. "So many jawans were killed in Sukma. What has the government done? As a home minister you could not protect the lives of police either at Sukma or Pulwama. What do you think about yourself? On one hand they are getting killed on the other they are dispatched for poll duty with a direction to them to ask the people to cast their votes for the BJP A complaint of molestation of a girl has come. Why did they molest a girl? Don't do anything wrong. People say, 'A King can not do wrong.' But you are the king who is doing everything wrong. The CRPF is doing all these on Mr Shah's orders, Ms Banerjee said.
PHILADELPHIA, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC), a leading agricultural sciences company, obtained a new mode of action classification for its proprietary herbicide molecule, tetflupyrolimet. It is the first active ingredient in the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) and Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) Group 28 and the first new herbicide with a novel mode of action in the crop protection industry in over three decades.

Studies show this new mode of action herbicide provides season-long control of important grass weeds in the rice market, as well as key hard-to-control broadleaf weeds and sedges. As disclosed at its November 2020 Investor Technology Update, FMC plans to start the registration process and expects to launch products containing tetflupyrolimet in the transplanted and direct-seeded rice markets in 2023. The use of tetflupyrolimet is being tested in other crops, including sugarcane, wheat, soybeans and corn.

"In 2010, our research and development organization in Delaware made a strategic decision to focus on discovering new herbicide modes of actions," said Kathleen Shelton, FMC vice president and chief technology officer. "The organization believed that resistance to herbicides would present a significant challenge for growers in the coming years, and they endeavored to discover a novel mode of action. To achieve this, the research and development team screened over 60,000 compounds, synthesized 1,200 analogs and tested molecules in different crops and weeds around the world. We are proud of the accomplishments of our scientists who bring their passion and creativity for innovation to discover new modes of action, especially in the herbicide area."

Weed resistance is an increasing challenge for growers around the world, who spend billions of dollars annually trying to control weeds. "It is hard to overstate the significance of the development of tetflupyrolimet, which represents an entirely new class of chemistry and a new mode of action," said Diane Allemang, FMC vice president and chief marketing officer. "We will be able to provide growers with a critical new tool to rotate into their weed management program and achieve control they cannot achieve today. Additionally, due to its unique mode of action, tetflupyrolimet has no known cross-resistance."

About FMC

FMC Corporation, an agricultural sciences company, provides innovative solutions to growers around the world with a robust product portfolio fueled by a market-driven discovery and development pipeline in crop protection, plant health, and professional pest and turf management. This powerful combination of advanced technologies includes leading insect control products based on Rynaxypyr and Cyazypyr active ingredients; Authority, Boral, Centium, Command and Gamit branded herbicides; Talstar and Hero branded insecticides; and flutriafol-based fungicides. The FMC portfolio also includes biologicals such as Quartzo and Presence bionematicides. FMC Corporation employs approximately 6,400 employees around the globe. To learn more, please visit www.fmc.com.

FMC, the FMC logo, Rynaxypyr, Cyazypyr, Authority, Boral, Centium, Command, Gamit, Talstar, Hero, Quartzo and Presence are trademarks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate. Always read and follow all label directions, restrictions and precautions for use. Products listed here may not be registered for sale or use in all states, countries or jurisdictions. Hero insecticide is a restricted use pesticide in the United States.

The Company's investor relations website, located at https://investors.fmc.com, should be considered as a recognized channel of distribution, and the Company may periodically post important information to the website for investors, including information that the Company may wish to disclose publicly for purposes of complying with the federal securities laws. After April 27, 2021, this type of information will no longer be regularly provided by press release but will continue to be posted on the investor relations website.

Statement under the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: FMC and its representatives may from time to time make written or oral statements that are "forward-looking" and provide other than historical information, including statements contained herein, in FMC's other filings with the SEC, and in reports or letters to FMC stockholders.

In some cases, FMC has identified forward-looking statements by such words or phrases as "will likely result," "is confident that," "expect," "expects," "should," "could," "may," "will continue to," "believe," "believes," "anticipates," "predicts," "forecasts," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "intends" or similar expressions identifying "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the negative of those words and phrases. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's current views and assumptions regarding future events, future business conditions and the outlook for the company based on currently available information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. Currently, one of the most significant factors is the potential adverse effect of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance of FMC, which is substantially influenced by the potential adverse effect of the pandemic on FMC's customers and suppliers and the global economy and financial markets. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts us will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the scope, severity and duration of the pandemic, the actions taken to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the pandemic and containment measures, among others. Additional factors include, among other things, the risk factors and other cautionary statements included within FMC's 2020 Form 10-K filed with the SEC as well as other SEC filings and public communications. Moreover, investors are cautioned to interpret many of these factors as being heightened as a result of the ongoing and numerous adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

FMC cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the above cautionary statement. FMC undertakes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any duty, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they were made, except as otherwise required by law.

SOURCE FMC Corporation

Related Links

http://www.fmc.com


New Delhi, April 8 : WOW Skin Science India Limited, a leading new-age personal care brand, has announced that ChrysCapital, a leading India-focused private equity firm, has agreed to invest $50 million in the company for a significant minority stake.

The transaction is a combination of a primary raise by the Company for growth initiatives, and a secondary sale by existing shareholders.

Founded in 2014 by brothers Manish and Karan Chowdhary, WOW Skin Science is one of India's fastest growing new-age beauty and personal care companies available across e-commerce platforms, its own website, as well as brick-and-mortar stores.

The company develops and markets all-natural products at affordable price points, with a sharp focus on customer satisfaction. WOW aims to maintain its growth momentum by capitalizing on its loyal customer base, expanding penetration across channels, and further developing its portfolio of brands and products.

"We are extremely pleased to announce ChrysCapital's investment in WOW, and welcome ChrysCapital to the WOW Skin Science family. ChrysCapital is a leading India focused private equity firm with deep experience and a proven track record across sectors, including Consumer. We are excited to build a long-term, and mutually beneficial, partnership with ChrysCapital over the coming years. The foundation of this relationship is our shared goal of creating sustainable value at WOW by creating a house of brands, accelerating growth, hiring talent, institutionalising the organisation, and expanding WOW's presence in the Beauty and Personal Care category," said Manish Chowdhary.

"We also look forward to working closely with Enhancin, ChrysCapital's portfolio operations group, to achieve these goals. WOW Skin Science is a "consumer first" brand in the D2C Space. We strive to optimize the consumer's experience, and address their problems and pain points by leveraging technology and innovation. From being a digital first brand, the vision now is to scale up to become the number one brand in the toxin-free space within the larger FMCG sector. Along with ChrysCapital, we are focussed towards creating value for all our consumers, employees, and stakeholders." Commenting on the investment, Ashish Agrawal, Managing Director, ChrysCapital said "ChrysCapital is excited to partner with WOW Skin Science in its growth journey towards becoming a formidable house of brands in beauty and personal care. The founders have demonstrated a robust historical track record by significantly outperforming the industry growth while demonstrating superior capital efficiency.

"WOW's unique positioning of toxin-free beauty regimes centred around natural ingredients (apple cider vinegar, onion, Vitamin C) at an affordable price point has created strong resonance with a fast-growing millennial demographic. We look forward to helping WOW grow multi-fold by further increasing online penetration, driving pan-India offline expansion, and launching new brands in adjacent categories." PricewaterhouseCoopers and J. Sagar Associates (JSA) advised Wow Skin Science, while Quillon Partners advised ChrysCapital.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in)
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is snubbing new calls of COVID restrictions amid the rising cases in the country, insisting that there would be "no national lockdown."

Health experts are prompting the measure after the country is seeing its highest COVID-19 deaths in just a day since the pandemic started.

Brazil's Health Ministry reported that the country had surpassed the 4,000 daily COVID death toll for the first time, with 4,195 registered deaths on Tuesday, according to an Associated Press report. This pushes the total COVID deaths in Brazil to almost 337,000. This makes Brazil the country with the second highest total COVID death s, next to U.S., with 555,000.

This marks Brazil as the third country to reach the said threshold. According to MSN, U.S. and Peru are the first two countries to reach the 4,000 daily death toll.

Meanwhile, Bolsonaro's political adversaries are demanding tougher measures to curb the spread of the virus in the country.

"We're not going to accept this politics of stay home and shut everything down," Bolsonaro was quoted in a report.

READ MORE: Last Living Man of Juma Tribe in Brazil Dies From COVID-19 Spread by Invading Loggers

National Lockdown Calls

Leading public health institute Fiocruz suggested on Wednesday that Brazil should impose a lockdown to bring some relief to its health care system.

The institute said that lockdown measures are bitter, but it is needed in moments of crisis and the collapse of the health care system. It added that it is what the country is experiencing now, according to an AFP News report.

The Brazilian Association of Collective Health, with its 20,000 members, is calling for a three-week national lockdown.

"The serious epidemiological situation that is leading to the collapse of the health system in several states requires the immediate adoption, without hesitation, of strict restrictive measures," the statement was quoted in an ABC News report.

Despite Bolsonaro's hesitation to implement a lockdown, local authorities took the matters into their hands and decided to ban large religious gatherings.

Brazil's federal government has labeled them as part of essential services.

However, Brazil's solicitor general Andre Mendonca said that there is no Christianity without community life. Mendonca is an evangelical pastor.

COVID Cases in Brazil

Meanwhile, aside from the rising COVID cases in the country, Brazil has reported its first confirmed case of the South African variant, which is considered a highly contagious COVID variant.

The country's biggest city, Sao Paulo, said on Wednesday that it would start opening some 600 new graves per day.

This is way above that its previous record of 426 burials in a day within the last days of March, according to a Reuters report.

Scientists expressed concern about how the cases will play out, with the Brazilian variant infecting the public and the emergence of the South African variant.

Both are considered more contagious and possibly more deadly as compared to the original virus strain.

Maria Carolina Sabbaga said that it could be a huge deal as the Brazilian variant has already taken over. Sabbaga is one of Butantan's coordinators responsible for studying the emerging COVID variants.

Aside from posing to be more deadly, current vaccines seem to offer less protection against it, according to studies.

A woman in Sao Paulo was confirmed to be infected by the South African variant.

Immunizations in Brazil have been slow, with its program built around the vaccines from AstraZeneca and China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

Both were proven effective against the Brazilian variant.

READ NEXT: Parts of Amazon Rainforest in Brazil Are Being Illegally Offered for Sale on Facebook Marketplace

WATCH: Bolsonaro asks court to reverse Brazil's COVID-19 restrictions - from Al Jazeera English






Several non-BJP ruled states have highlighted the problem of COVID-19 vaccines' shortages in some of their districts recently. According to Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, Maharashtra's Pune district had to shut 109 covid vaccination centres because the vaccines ran out of stock on Wednesday. Odisha, too, echoed the same sentiments. The Odisha government halted the vaccination drive in 700 centres due to the lack of COVID-19 vaccines yesterday.

In a tweet yesterday, Sule said Pune vaccinated 55,539 persons in 391 vaccination centres on Wednesday. However, several thousand people went back without being vaccinated because the vaccine stock was exhausted.

Sule requested health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan to replenish the stock of coronavirus vaccines as the cases in Maharashtra have continued to scale up.





Pune District vaccinated 55,539 persons today in 391 vaccination centers today. Several thousand people went back without being vaccinated because the vaccines stock was exhausted...1/3  Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) April 7, 2021

109 centers remained shut today because they had no stock of vaccines.Our momentum may be lost due to lack of stock,we remain determined to vaccinate every consenting person to save lives,to break the chain of infection and to get our economy back on its feet at the earliest..2/3  Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) April 7, 2021

Requesting Hon. @drharshvardhan

Ji to kindly help us with the COVID 19 Vaccines..3/3  Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) April 7, 2021

Sule's remark has come after Maharashtra's health minister Rajesh Tope also underscored the similar problem of COVID-19 vaccines' shortage. Tope said that many inoculation centres were being shut due to the shortage of vaccines in the state, and they have 14 lakh doses which would last just three days.

"We need 40 lakh vaccine doses every week. We can then administer six lakh doses every day in a week. The doses we are getting are not enough," he said, adding the Centre should ensure that those in the 20-40 age group are vaccinated on priority.

Additionally, Odisha's Health Minister NK Das wrote a letter to Dr Vardhan and informed him the state has a stock of 5.34 lakh doses of Covishield, which can last up to two more days.

"Due to shortage of vaccine, we have to close nearly 700 vaccination centres in the state (out of over 1400 functional sites). Only 755 could be made active today," Das wrote it to Dr Vardhan.

He further asked to supply at least 10 day's stock, which is 25 lakh doses of vaccine, to the state for effective vaccination.

However, the Centre has rejected the claims, calling them "baseless allegations". In fact, the union health minister alleged that the states were trying to cover their "failures" and spread panic among the people by demanding vaccination for all without first inoculating enough of the eligible beneficiaries.

He said the "lackadaisical" attitude of the Maharashtra government has "singularly bogged down" the entire country's efforts to fight the virus.

"The inability of the Maharashtra government to act responsibly is beyond comprehension. To spread panic among the people is to compound the folly further. Vaccine supplies are being monitored on a real-time basis, and state governments are being apprised regularly about it. Allegations of vaccine shortage are utterly baseless," Vardhan said.

Over 8.83 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the country so far, with more than 13 lakh jabs given on Wednesday, the ministry said. According to Dr Vardhan, Maharashtra has vaccinated only 86 per cent of health workers with the first dose, while the equivalent numbers for Delhi and Punjab are 72 per cent and 64 per cent. He said 10 Indian states/UTs have done more than 90 per cent.

Also read: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, blood clots link 'plausible' but unconfirmed, says WHO

Also read: 'Get your shot soon': PM Modi after getting 2nd COVID-19 vaccine dose
While Bollywood actors, filmmakers, singers and others expressed warm wishes to their followers on the festival of Lohri on Wednesday, a section of B-Towners shared their hope and prayers for the farmers who have been protesting against the three new Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, April 8 : Actress and Shiv Sena politician Urmila Matondkar on Thursday urged the central government to send more vaccines to Maharashtra, saying there was a shortage of supply in the state.

Urmila said that Maharashtra is receiving a low supply of vaccine despite being the most affected state in the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India.

"#Maharashtra is worst hit with #COVID19 and yet we've received the least #vaccine supply. There will be plenty of time to play politics. Now is the time to rise above it. So request centre govt to please supply vaccine to our state. #MaharashtraNeedsVaccine," the actress-politician tweeted.

"It is sad shocking n disheartening to see the opposition in #Maharashtra keeping an alarming silence over such a serious issue. #MaharashtraNeedsVaccine," Urmila expressed in a separate tweet.

Her tweet comes at a time when Maharashtra reported 59,907 new Covid-19 cases in the highest ever single-day spike on Wednesday. The state also reported the highest single-day death count due to coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic, with 322 fatalities. Out of the new cases, Pune shared the highest with 11,023 cases, followed by Mumbai at 10,428.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
TAIPEI : Taiwan has spotted Chinese drones circling the Taipei-controlled Pratas Islands in the South China Sea and may shoot them down if they stray too close, a government minister said on Wednesday, a move that could dramatically increase tensions with Beijing.

Speaking at parliament, Lee Chung-wei, who heads the Ocean Affairs Council under whose purview the Coast Guard falls, said that they had recently spotted Chinese drones circling the Pratas, though they have not flown over the islands.

"They have never entered our restricted waters and airspace, they've just flown around them at a certain distance," Lee said.

While China recognises no Taiwanese claims of sovereignty, its aircraft and ships generally stay outside Taiwan's restricted zone, which extends 6 km from its coast.

Asked how the Coast Guard would react if a Chinese drone entered that restricted zone, Lee said they had rules of engagement.

"After it enters it will be handled under the rules. If we need to open fire, we open fire."

The Pratas lie at the top end of the disputed waterway, and have become a relatively new source of intrigue between Chinese-claimed Taiwan and Beijing.

In recent months Taiwan has complained of repeated Chinese air force activity near the islands, which Taiwan's Coast Guard only lightly defends though there are periodic deployments of marines. There is no permanent civilian population, only occasional visiting scientists.

In October, Hong Kong air traffic controllers warned off a Taiwanese civilian flight flying to the Pratas on a routine weekly supply run, forcing it to turn back.

The Pratas, the closest Taiwan-controlled territory to Hong Kong, have also taken on extra significance since anti-government protests began in the Chinese-run city.

Taiwan has intercepted at least one boat close to the Pratas carrying people fleeing from Hong Kong trying to make their way to Taiwan.

Taiwan's other main South China Sea island is Itu Aba, also known as Taiping Island, which is part of the Spratly archipelago.

Lee said they have not spotted Chinese drones there.

Apart from China and Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam also have competing claims for islands and features in the South China Sea.

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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Israel, Germany, Britain and the NATO headquarters in Belgium in the coming week for talks with government and military leaders, the Pentagon announced Thursday.

The highest ranked official of the administration of President Joe Biden to visit Israel, Austin will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, where discussions will cover "shared priorities" and reaffirm Washington's commitment to Israel maintaining military superiority over its neighbors, according to a Pentagon statement.

In Europe, he will hold talks with German defense minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Chancellery Foreign and Security Policy Advisor Dr. Jan Hecker, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and British defense minister Ben Wallace.

Austin will leave Washington on Saturday, but the dates for his stops in each country were not given.

The trip coincides with rising tensions between Israel and Iran just as the Biden administration tries to engage Tehran over returning to the nuclear pact effectively torn up by former president Donald Trump.

In Europe it comes as Russia has sent shivers across the continent with the massing of a troops and war equipment along its border with Ukraine.

"Russia now has more troops on the border of Ukraine than at any time since 2014," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday, saying Biden was "increasingly concerned."

pmh/ft
U.S. Border Patrol officers in Texas have detained hundreds of migrants in a single night as they illegally crossed from Mexico to the US across the Rio Grande river.

At least 200 migrants crossed the Rio Grande between 5am and dawn on Tuesday before they settled at a park in the town of La Joya, according to online portal Border Report.

Some had crossed the river on rafts, and Department of Homeland Security buses had to be brought in to ferry the migrants to processing centers.

Agents, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the scene was a daily occurrence, Border Reports said.

It came as U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced in a statement that agents detained 276 in the nearby towns of La Grulla and Roma on Tuesday

Border agents on Tuesday discovered several colored bracelets that were ripped off and thrown on the ground by the arriving migrants.

The colored bracelets are part of an elaborate system used by human smugglers and cartels and allows them to keep track of migrants who they traffick across the border.

Agent told the site that migrants often reuse the bracelets if they are turned away from the US, and used them to 'keep trying to cross.'

'It's like a ticket to the carnival,' one of the U.S. Border Patrol agents told Border Report.

SEE VIDEO BELOW

Asylum-seeking migrants' families wait to be transported by the U.S. Border Patrols after crossing the Rio Grande River into the United States from Mexico in La Joya, Texas, on Tuesday

Unaccompanied minor migrants rest on the ground while waiting to be transported by the U.S. Border Patrol after they were found resting at a park in the small city of La Joya

A group of unaccompanied children await to be transported to a processing facility after they safely made it into the United States by crossing over from Mexico through the Rio Grande on Tuesday

Another told of the sheer numbers of people crossing the river in the early hours of the morning.

They said: 'Theyre everywhere. If you drive back there you might hit someone.'

Human smugglers reportedly have been charging individuals between $5,000 to $8,000 in order to illegally cross the United States-Mexico border, which stretches 1,9454 miles through the states Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California.

Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande City Patrol station said they intercepted 276 migrants during two other separate incidents on Tuesday after they were seen trekking across the Rio Grande, according an official CBP statement.

Agents arriving at the shoreline near the town of Roma - some 33 miles away from La Joya - saw dozens of individuals crossing the river where strong rip currents have claimed many lives in the past.

The officers apprehended 145 migrants, including 24 unaccompanied children.

Moments later, Border Patrol agents assigned to the small city of La Grulla - 13 miles from La Joya - detained 131 migrants, including 28 unaccompanied children, after they were able to safely cross the Rio Grande into the United States.

A group of unaccompanied migrant children await for U.S. Border Patrol officers to taken to a processing facility Tuesday. As many as 19,000 unaccompanied migrant minors cross into the United States from Mexico during the month of March, according to preliminary U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures

All of the migrants were taken to local holding facilities where they were processed.

The asylum-seeking groups consisted of families, single adults and a number of unaccompanied minors.

All shared a common goal - finding suitable employment in to provide a better future for themselves and their children in the United States while sending what they could afford back home to support their families.

Cassie Escalante, a 30-year-old mother from Nicaragua, was among the 200 migrants who survived the often dangerous journey across the Rio Grande.

According to Border Report, she and her nine-year-old daughter spent a month moving through Mexico on taxis , buses and on foot before they finally made it to America, where they hope the Biden administration and immigration judges will grant them asylum.

'We have been affected very much by the hurricanes and we want a normal life, Escalante said. 'We really have nothing. In Nicaragua, the schooling for children does not offer a good education. It is a country where life is not sure.'

Honduran Jacqueline Jimenez found a spot with her three-year-old daughter on one of the rafts packed with other migrants before she made it to the Texas shore.

'I am calm and grateful to God for our safe passage and crossing,' she told Border Report.

Families seeking asylum from the Biden administration rest at a park in La Joya, Texas, on Tuesday

Unaccompanied minor migrants wait to be transported by the U.S. Border Patrol after crossing the Rio Grande, a river that serves as an international border line between Mexico and the United States

A child rests with an adult as they await to be transported by U.S. Border Patrol officers in La Joya, Texas, after they safely made it into the United States from Mexico

Tuesday's group was just a small sample of migrants who have ignored warnings from the Biden administration about not showing up at the border entry points or other areas that aren't heavily guarded by the Border Patrol

The crisis at the United States-Mexico border has worsened since Biden opened the southern border to asylum seekers who were living at a makeshift migrant camp in the Mexican border city of Matamoros on January 28, less than a week after he had been inaugurated as president.

Biden showed a willingness to grant entry to unaccompanied minors and families traveling with children who were seeking asylum from the United States.

Pictured are some of the 276 migrants who were found by Border Patrol agents in west Texas near the Mexico-United States border on Tuesday

An adult migrant hugs a child before they were taken to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing facility near La Joya, Texas

However, the Biden administration continued a practice set in place by the former President Trump which enforces the immediate removal of all others who come to the United States to file asylum petitions under the Title 42.

Under the policy, CBP is allowed to expel migrants through ports of entry instead of transporting them to Border Patrol stations.

The decision, the agency said, eliminates the risk of detained undocumented immigrants contracting COVID-19.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com on Wednesday that the agency is slated to release its stats for the month of March on Thursday.

Preliminary data shows that 171,000 migrants were caught by U.S. authorities at the border in March - the highest monthly total in two decades and the latest sign of the mounting humanitarian challenge confronting President Joe Biden.

The March arrest totals at the United States-Mexico border represent the highest monthly level since April 2000 when border patrol agents caught more than 180,000 migrants.

About 19,000 unaccompanied migrant children and 53,000 family members traveling together were detained, the preliminary figures showed.

The rising numbers of unaccompanied migrant minors are among the tasks that Vice President Kamala Harris has been ordered to find a solution for after President Biden tabbed her to lead the administration's efforts into finding a solution for the border crisis.

In span a week Border Patrol agents have encountered at least five children abandoned by human smugglers near the Mexico-United States border.

On March 30, CBP surveillance cameras captured the moment two Ecuadorean sisters, aged 3 and 5, where dumped from a 14-foot high border wall in New Mexico.

Last Thursday, a 10-year-old boy from Nicaragua was found wandering alone on a road east of Rio Grande City. Video recorded by a Border Patrol officer showed the child crying and begging the agent for help because he was afraid he would be kidnapped.

On Tuesday, agents in Jacumba, California, saw two adults walking with two children, a six-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl, before they took off running and abandoned the children.

A bakery, a water plant and her LA home: Everywhere Kamala has flown in the 14 days since she was placed in charge of migration crisis (but not the border)

Kamala Harris has still to visit the US-Mexico border or even hold a press conference about her new duties in the two weeks since being tasked with addressing the migrant crisis.

The Vice President spent Easter weekend at her Brentwood home in Southern California where she baked a 'beautiful' roast pork with rice and peas, but did not find time in her schedule to visit the nearby border.

In the past two weeks she has also visited Connecticut for a talk with the Boys and Girls Club of New Haven, traveled to Oakland to meet with Gavin Newsom to show support amid his potential recall election, and made a trip to a bakery in Chicago.

Harris has also been busy moving into her new residence at the Naval Observatory just days after she complained about living out of suitcases while it was being renovated.

On March 24, she was tasked with leading the efforts to tackle the 'humanitarian crisis' amid a surge of migrants trying to enter the US since Joe Biden's administration came into office.

Since being appointed Border Czar, the Vice President has jetted all over the US without visiting the 'humanitarian crisis' in the south

New government statistics released last week revealed that 171,000 migrants were caught by US authorities at the border in March - the highest monthly total in two decades.

It comes as Biden's Homeland Security head is looking to crack down on illegal immigration by taking more legal action against border jumpers and targeting US cities that act as a safe haven.

The total includes about 19,000 unaccompanied migrant children and 53,000 family members traveling together, the preliminary figures showed.

The March arrest totals at the US-Mexico border represent the highest monthly level since April 2000 when border patrol agents caught more than 180,000 migrants.

But Harris has stayed publicly silent on the issue and has not held a press conference or major interview about her new duties she was assigned them two weeks ago.

Harris visited the Brown Sugar Bakery in Chicago on Tuesday after touring a Covid vaccine site

The March arrest totals at the US-Mexico border represent the highest monthly level since April 2000

Harris speaks about investing in small businesses using community banking at Red Door Catering in Oakland

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich invited the Vice President on a tour of the border this month in a letter on Friday.

He wrote: 'Recently, you stated, "You have to see and smell and feel the circumstances of people to really understand them." With that in mind, I formally invite you to join me for a tour of the southwest border in Arizona later this month.

'It will provide firsthand insight into what Arizonans, law enforcement officials and migrants are experiencing. I will make myself available any day of your choosing.'

Shortly after her appointment, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey also branded Harris 'the worst possible choice' to lead the border team, saying Biden had 'completely trivialized the issue by putting someone in charge who flat out just doesn't care'.

Ted Cruz added 'she is not going to be able to solve this crisis', branding it Biden's 'biggest political mess'.

Biden initially said his vice president would be in charge of returning migrants to their home countries in her new role.

He said: 'The vice president has agreed... to lead our diplomatic effort and work with those nations to accept the returnees, and enhance migration enforcement at their borders.'

The White House later claimed Harris was not directly involved with the border crisis but was instead addressing its 'root causes'.

Her schedule shows that since she was tasked with helping the crisis, she has largely remained in Washington DC.

On March 25, her only public duty was the White House's virtual Passover celebration with her husband Doug Emhoff, while the following day she visited New Haven, Connecticut, to meet with the Boys and Girls Club.

She spent the weekend in Washington DC with no public commitments, before receiving a Covid briefing and joining Biden for a speech on their pandemic response on the Monday.

On Tuesday March 30, Harris received the President's daily brief in the morning before signing the PPP extension into law in the Oval Office.

She also carried out the only known work related to the border since being appointed Border Czar as she held a phone call with President Alejandro Giammattei of Guatemala.

So far, 64,000 migrants out of the 350,000 who have been caught by US authorities at the border were Guatemalan.

A statement said: 'They discussed the significant risks to those leaving their homes and making the dangerous journey to the United States, especially during a global pandemic.'

The following day, she led a discussion with faith leaders where she encouraged their communities to take up the vaccine.

She returned home to California on Thursday, April 1, her third visit during the administration.

Harris spent the weekend at home where she baked a 'beautiful' roast pork with rice and peas, according to the LA Times.

She had no public events over the weekend until she traveled to her hometown of Oakland on Monday where she met with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and gave her support as he faces a potential recall election.

The Vice President toured a water treatment plant to highlight the benefits of the American Jobs Plan and held a 'listening session' with business owners.

She said during her visit to the East Bay Municipal Utility Districts Upper San Leandro treatment plant, in an area affected by drought: 'For years there were wars fought over oil. In a short time there will be wars fought over water.

'We must address inequities in access to clean water, at local state federal levels, understanding opportunities to build back up infrastructure around water.'

Republican National Committee spokesman Keith Schipper said: 'It's been nearly two weeks since Vice President Kamala Harris was named manager of the Biden Border Crisis, and while she has made time to return home to the Bay Area, Harris has refused to visit the border  which is only 500 miles from her location today  to survey the crisis firsthand.

'Californians don't find this border crisis funny and demand the so-called manager get to work fixing the problem this administration created.'

On Tuesday, Harris traveled to Chicago where she toured a Covid vaccine site before returning to Washington D.C.

Upon her return to DC, Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff moved in to their official residence, just days after it emerged she was unhappy about living out of suitcases while it was being renovated.

The Naval Observatory - the VP's official residence - has been out of action for more than two months while it undergoes much-needed updates.

The pair had been living at Blair House, across the road from the White House, since January - an arrangement that was reportedly beginning to wear on Harris.

'She is getting frustrated,' an administration official told CNN, noting that every day her desire to move into her designated house grows more intense.

But it seems that she has now had the green light to move into the official property.

Just days before she was tasked with addressing the migrant crisis, Harris laughed when she was asked if she would visit the border.

She was in Jacksonville to address food insecurity and vaccinations when asked if she had plans to visit the border.

Harris replied laughing: 'Not today. But I have before and I'm sure I will again.'
By Donald Kirk





WASHINGTON  U.S. policymakers are doing a delicate dance with their counterparts in Tokyo and Seoul. On April 16, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will call on President Joe Biden at the White House, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in should be next in line. For the Americans, the challenge is to persuade them to bury their differences for the sake of trilateral cooperation against China and North Korea.That's asking a lot, and it's not likely to go much beyond formal statements crafted in advance. Japan isn't giving way on such familiar issues as Korea's grip on Dokdo (the rocky islets that the Japanese call Takeshima), compensation to the Comfort Women, distorted textbook histories or disputes on trade. The Americans would dearly love for the Japanese and Koreans to join in military exercises, or at least to share intelligence, but these two U.S. allies are not on the same wavelength.President Moon, when he calls on Biden, will go on about the depths of the U.S.-Korean relationship, but they'll be talking past each other. Moon prays that Kim Jong-un will invite him once more to Pyongyang to talk about all the good things North and South Korea can do for one another, but Kim won't be happy until Moon shows clear signs of doing away with South Korea's alliance with the U.S. For Kim to be happy, Moon needs to halt military exercises with the U.S., even the computer simulations of operations. It's not enough for the Americans and South Koreans to have agreed on no troops running around the countryside. They have to stop the computer games too.The Japanese take quite a different view. They see no prospect of reconciliation, and they think the only way to deal with the North is to get tough. That means keeping or increasing sanctions, demanding the safe return of Japanese kidnapped years ago from the beaches in Japan, and getting the U.S. to stick to an equally hardline position.Most immediately, the Japanese are fearful that the Chinese will escalate their intimidation campaign in the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, out there in the East China Sea north of Taiwan. The breakaway regime of Taiwan also claims the Senkaku, which the Chinese call Diaoyu, but Taiwan fears that sooner or later, China's President Xi Jinping will decide that the time for empty threats is over and take Taiwan by force.All of this tension in the region gives Biden and Suga much to talk about. Biden will assure Suga that the Senkaku problem falls within the U.S commitment to defend Japan, and they both will agree totally on the need for North Korea to get rid of its nukes and stop developing missiles capable of flying warheads to distant targets. The Japanese aren't worried about intercontinental ballistic missiles. It's the mid-range ones, within range of their own turf, that bother them.Too bad for the U.S. vision of trilateral cooperation that Moon doesn't share a common cause with the Americans on either Japan or China. Quite aside from all the issues that never get settled, such as Dokdo-Takeshima and the Comfort Women, he would like to get along great with China, which he believes can hold Kim in-line and maybe convince him to return to talks. Moon is not going to side with Japan on the Senkaku dispute any more than he's sticking up for Taiwan, which the U.S. also is committed to defend.The Americans, working to keep up appearances with both Japan and Korea, are forever repeating the cliche that there's "no daylight between us," meaning that they're so close to both countries that they're almost hugging  just not at the same time.That's not to say that Moon won't agree  yes yes, nukes are bad and North Korea should get rid of them. He'll sign on to denuclearization but with considerably less emphasis than Suga. For Moon, the best hope is for the U.S. to agree step-by-step on the removal of sanctions in return for the usual pledges of North Korean denuclearization.It's a tale told over and over, and we're going to hear it all again when first Suga and then Moon pay their respects at the White House.Donald Kirk ( www.donaldkirk.com ) has been covering the nuclear standoff for decades.
Rural educators and residents are worried about school closures and student commute times under proposed reforms to public schools in Manitoba.

Rural educators and residents are worried about school closures and student commute times under proposed reforms to public schools in Manitoba.

There has been a moratorium on school closures since 2008, with few exceptions, which require elected trustees to undertake extensive consultation with a school community and make their case to the education minister. Existing legislation also requires school boards to make their "best efforts" to ensure each students one-way trip to school is no more than an hour.

The Education Modernization Act (Bill 64) includes neither a ban on closures nor a time cap on school bus trips.

"It just points to potential disaster for small schools in the province  be they in an urban setting or in, more predominantly, rural settings," said Alan Campbell, president of the Manitoba School Boards Association and a trustee in the Interlake School Division.

"In every rural division there are small schools that operate effectively and efficiently that also double as the heart and soul and foundation and lifeblood... of those small communities."

Under Bill 64, a centralized education authority, made up of government appointees slated to replace elected boards, would be in charge of decisions to close schools. The authority would be able to close a school on the grounds it is either part of consolidation, there is consensus for the closure among parents and residents, or because declining enrolment means operations are no longer feasible  or a combination of the above criteria.

The same considerations have to be made at present, but a new central board will create a policy on possible closure notification and undertake public consultation.

Jan McIntyre, chairwoman of the Prairie Spirit School Division, said "virtually 100 per cent" of a school community has to support a closure before its approved at present, but Bill 64 paves the way for the government to ignore meaningful consultation.

McIntyre questions why a centralized board would be able to close rural schools  a decision that hurts a communitys social and economic future  as opposed to local trustees who experience the effects of a closure first-hand.

"Despite the fears and the fearmongering thats out there being created by school boards, the government has no intent whatsoever in closing rural schools or any other school for that matter," Education Minister Cliff Cullen told the Free Press Wednesday.

When asked about Bill 64 not including guidance on one-way school trips, Cullen said the province has no plans to expand busing distances. The minister reiterated the intent behind the proposed reforms is to shift an estimated $40 million in education administrative costs to front-line services.

The superintendent of Frontier School Division said theres no doubt cost savings could be found by shutting down schools with fewer than 20 students and busing them to larger centres, but doing so would be to the detriment of student well-being and safety on rough northern roads. Reg Klassen said such a move would "rip apart" a community rather than improve education.

Klassen added, "Community voice needs to be heard. Its the job of policy-makers to protect the rights of citizens, its not their job to protect cost savings. Those two dont often play nice in the sandbox. Thats the difficult part about democracy."

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
Brazil-focused gold explorer

Multiple high-grade targets with significant resource upside

Experienced management team with notable insider ownership

What Altamira Gold does:

Altamira Gold Corp ( ) (OTCPINK:EQTRF) ( ) is focused on the exploration and development of gold projects within western central Brazil.

The Vancouver, British Columbia-based company holds nine projects comprising approximately 280,000 hectares within the prolific Juruena gold belt, which historically produced an estimated 7 to 10 million ounces of placer gold.

Altamira Gold has three high-priority projects in Brazil: Cajueiro, Apiacas, and Santa Helena.

Cajueiro, the companys most advanced property, contains more than 14 kilometres (km) of drilling across 105 holes, and over 4 km of trenching completed to date across the 39,053-hectare claim package. A 2019 resource estimate showed 700,000 ounces of gold in the combined Measured, Indicated, and Inferred categories. Bulk sampling licenses have also been received for trial mining at Cajueiro.

Apiacas, meanwhile, is a highly prospective land package that consists of properties covering seven primary target areas and over 80,000 hectares. None of the Apiacas targets has ever been drilled out but trenching has returned consistent values of more than 5 grams per ton (g/t) gold. The company has said its near-term focus is the Mutum target, with widespread disseminated mineralization at surface.

And Santa Helena, which covers 58,000 hectares in the south-eastern portion of the Alta Floresta/Juruena gold-copper belt, is in close proximity to Anglo American's newly-discovered Jaca target, which demonstrated the areas potential to host significant copper porphyry deposits. The property has not been drilled previously.

Altamira Gold is led by CEO Michael Bennett, a geologist with over 30 years of industry experience in South America, having previously worked closely in joint ventures with Rio Tinto, Barrick and Goldfields of South Africa. Bennett is also Altamiras largest shareholder, owning 8.8 million company shares.

How it is doing:

In March 2021, Altamira Gold said it had confirmed four high-grade gold-silver vein structures at its Apiacas project.

The miner revealed that the veins appear to extend over at least a one-kilometre strike length on the Mutum target, with surface grab samples returning values of up to 403.5 g/t gold, while recent channel samples included values of up to three metres at 10.4 g/t gold. Silver assays also returned high-grade values of up to 871 g/t.

The company added that all of the veins originate from an area of disseminated gold mineralization, which was mapped over four square kilometres on surface.

In late 2020, Altamira announced that it had discovered a major new gold-in-soil anomaly in a greenfield area of the Cajueiro gold project. The 700 metres by 100 metres anomaly was discovered at the Maria Bonita area of the project, making it the largest anomaly found at Cajueiro so far.

The company completed three new north-south trending soil lines at Maria Bonita and 75% of the soil samples returned highly anomalous gold values over 100 parts per billion up to a maximum of 3.1 g/t gold in soils  higher than previous values found elsewhere at the Cajueiro resource area.

Earlier in that year, Altamira had reported highly encouraging channel sampling results from three new structures at Cajueiro, underlining the potential to expand the current resource.

Results included an intercept of 7 metres at 1.32 g/t gold at Baldo 3, which is an east-north-east (ENE) structure about 350 metres north of the known Baldo 1 zone and appears to be parallel to Baldo 1.

On the financial front, Altamira closed an oversubscribed financing in February 2021, raising C$4 million to explore its Cajueiro, Apiacas and Santa Helena projects. About C$1.5 million of the offering was purchased by asset management group Crescat.

Inflection points:

Drilling the Apiacas, Cajueiro, and Santa Helena projects

Plant construction at the Cajueiro project expected in 1H 2021

Near-term production at Cajueiro

What the boss says:

Commenting on the companys channel sampling results from its Cajueiro gold project, Altamira Gold CEO Michael Bennett said in a statement: "The channel results from the three new mineralized structures in the Baldo area are highly encouraging and contain several high-grade intervals, confirming our belief that there is significant potential to expand the present 43-101 resource within the central area at Cajueiro."

Bennett added: "The current resource corresponds to approximately 1% of the project area and we expect to identify further new zones both within and outside the resource area once the stripping of surface cover commences in advance of production."

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
Kevin Miller, Co-Founder and CEO of GR0 On top of keeping a lively presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others, its crucial to build a presence for your company on workplace-focused platforms as well.

Spreading awareness has always been a business toughest struggle, and the reason for this has changed over time. In the past it was simply a challenge to reach people, as brands had to find ways to utilize channels like print and radio while the technology was developed, and often would find themselves smuggling aboard some other program in the form of an advertisement. Now though, anyone has the power to reach everyone with the internet, and the struggle takes on a whole new meaning: How do you get anyone to notice you in a now-crowded room?

For some the answer is as simple as to shout, pumping huge amounts of money and effort into your ad spend with the simple goal of speaking louder than everyone else. This can work for global names in evergreen categories like food, but for most, you need a smarter, more tactical approach. Brands are working more than ever to own the audiences they have by getting direct lines to them and getting them to visit their own spaces like a website or social page. With direct-access to customers brands can utilize the internet to build more direct relationships with users, but it takes a lot of effort to get to that point. Luckily though, there are obvious places to start building your name, and none is more apparent than Google. Search engines are the backbone of the internet, guiding users to the resources theyre looking for and providing answers to whatever questions they might have. If you want to be seen, then youll need to be recognized by Google, as it makes up for over 92% of search engine usage worldwide. And when it comes to Google experts, Kevin Miller and GR0 are well-studied in the field, driving search engine results for dozens of clients in several industries. Miller is here to help, and has advice to offer for those who want to start building brand recognition within Google and getting better search placement.

Firstly, you need to develop a presence on the platforms that Google recognizes and features content from, as it will always pull these results. On top of keeping a lively presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others, its crucial to build a presence for your company on workplace-focused platforms as well. These include LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Built in X, and Clutch.co, where you can build landing pages to describe your company more in-depth and provide Google with beneficial information such as your size, location, and specialties. Glassdoor specifically can give you valuable ratings, and your LinkedIn follows gives the algorithm a good metric to understand how in-demand you are. You can also affect Google directly, by listing your business on it and supplying the search engine with information such as your street address, hours, phone number, or even a direct link to a restaurant menu. Google is designed to surface reliable, trustworthy information and serve it to users as efficiently as possible, so offering them links to known platforms and direct information gives them exactly what they want.

However, your brand cant simply post information onto pages once and forget about them forever. Google is always checking for the most updated, relevant information it can find, so regularly refreshing and updating your online presence is paramount, and you need to adopt an always on mentality. Developing a social presence and consistently putting out content is a crucial part of this strategy, and you can even keep Google abreast of smaller developments like if your office is closed on a specific holiday. These micro-updates are still important verifications for the algorithm that its information is up-to-date, and its not going to search deeper for something more recent.

Crucially though, the importance of doing this is not just in spreading awareness, but optimizing your search engine results can also help you to own the narrative of your own business. Any developing brand has to have a laser focus on its desired image, and allowing confusing search results to surface will only slow you down. Google searchers hardly scroll beyond the first few results, and so by owning the top listings you are the most likely to gain traction, while also developing a concrete image for your brand. In working to fill out your link portfolio you help weed out similarly named brands or outdated information, allowing your new image to shine front and center.

Miller understands that in the modern era information is always moving and evolving, and brands have to constantly be on the ball to shift and maintain their relevance. Thats why Miller developed GR0, a digital marketing agency with a search engine focus that works to bolster brands ratings on Google and get them more eyes without breaking the bank. With both diligence and persistence, Millers team keeps content fresh, information relevant, and your image clear. Information is a powerful tool in the modern age, and understanding how to wield it is the key to success.


analysis

Churches can be a refuge for women fleeing domestic abuse. But sometimes they can help perpetuate abuse by failing to offer support when needed. There can be many reasons for this. Sometimes it's because church leaders simply don't understand - or are not willing to accept - that domestic abuse occurs within their congregations.

I have spent five years with the Black Church Domestic Abuse Forum (BCDAF) and helped create a programme to train church leaders on the most vital issues in the hope it will address domestic abuse in those communities.

Black majority churches are churches of any denomination where most of the congregation are of African or Caribbean heritage and have over 100 years of history within the UK. They provide spaces for belonging, solace, fellowship and support for those suffering from racial discrimination.

These churches can help new migrants adapt to life by offering them assistance with issues like language, culture, mental health and employment.

Black majority churches have played a major role in countering health inequalities because of the trust local communities invest in them. For example, they have raised awareness about sexual health, HIV, breast cancer, diabetes, obesity and the importance of physical activity. Not to mention the work they are doing to encourage vaccine uptake in minority communities in the US and UK.

Male leadership

But these churches are far less active on the topic of domestic abuse. Part of the problem is the overwhelmingly male leadership. And that's not just in Black churches. In the UK 76% of church leaders are men and they are the ones who are the key decision makers when it comes to church priorities.

This might go some way to explaining why domestic abuse seems to be a low priority and doesn't often get referred to in sermons.

Studies have shown that churches of all denominations can actually oppress women experiencing domestic abuse. For example in studies from the US, some churches advise women to "stay and pray" in relationships or create a culture that makes it difficult or unsafe for women to speak out about experiences of violence and abuse.

There have been cases of pastors counselling couples together - where one is the abuser. This further endangers the victim in question. Other examples include not reporting abusive men to the police and siding with abusers.

Meanwhile abuse by men - including men of the clergy - has gone unchallenged and is under-reported. Studies with clergy and victim/survivors also report a lack of training in how to respond to reports of domestic abuse. Lack of training was also highlighted by the priests and pastors we spoke to.

Even when clergy are trained, they fear they are still ill-prepared to effectively respond. So in my pilot training and evaluation study with Black majority church leaders they were given further support to navigate the complexities of responding to domestic abuse.

During my time with the forum, I learned that some churches have - for many years - supported women and men who experience domestic abuse by helping them to relocate, provide advice and counselling. But not enough people know that this support is there.

Fearing judgement

Women who seek faith spaces to cope with the consequences of past or current abuse may fear judgement from other members of the congregation and blame themselves when interpreting religious text. For example, not being faithful and pious enough to await the answering of their prayers for the abuse to stop. Despite this, they still might wish to be supported and be a part of that faith community.

Belonging to a faith group can also be a barrier to accessing help and support from secular organisations for violence and abuse. Secular services can perceive faith groups as complicit in domestic abuse and faith groups can perceive secular services as anti-marriage. So women fear that secular support agencies will not understand their religious practices and avoid them. This means they stay in abusive relationships for longer.

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I helped the BCDAF create a toolkit that includes bible stories, verses and case studies relevant to the cultural contexts of Black majority churches. The trainers, who were also pastors, advised the church teams responsible for managing reports of domestic abuse and encouraged churches to connect with domestic abuse response and support agencies. In questionnaires completed after the training, people said they were now listening more to what women reporting domestic abuse wanted, rather than just acting on their behalf.

All faith groups can do more and be more visible and vocal in their responses to domestic abuse. If people feel safe in church then that is a good first step. It can be a starting point for reaching out, speaking and seeking further support.

Ava Kanyeredzi, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of East London
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 18:22:10|Editor: huaxia

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Front) lays a wreath during a ceremony marking the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, on April 8, 2021. (Alex Kolomoisky/JINI via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Israel came to standstill to the sound of sirens on Thursday morning to commemorate its annual Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Ceremonies were held in schools throughout the country, unlike last year when most ceremonies held online due to coronavirus restrictions.

At 10 am (0700 GMT,) as the two-minute sirens pierced the air, people across the country stood in solemn silence in honor of the six million Jewish victims of the Nazis during the Second World War.

In streets and highways, traffic abruptly stopped. Many drivers stepped out of their vehicles, standing still in contemplation. Pedestrians halted their steps and stood in silence. In many homes, businesses, and offices, people stopped their activity and stood still, contemplating the victims of the Nazi genocide.

The sirens marked the beginning of a series of memorial activities on the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day, an official day to honor the Jews who died at the hands of Nazi Germany and its collaborators in World War II.

At Yad Vashem, Israel Holocaust memorial museum in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials attended an official wreath-laying ceremony. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Netanyahu also attended another official ceremony on Wednesday evening. Enditem
Androids ad-tracking code is illegal. According to Engadget, the European privacy group Noyb makes this complaint. Ironically, this group is the same one that blasted Apples methods as well. The group is filing a complaint with Frances Data Protection Authority. Which accuses Google of violating the EUs Cookie Law.

The complaint specifically targets Googles Android Advertising Identifier or AAID. The AAID is automatically created by Google and users can not delete it. Due to this Noyb is saying that it violates European rules requiring informed and unambiguous permission.

Now a user can reset their AAID. However doing this does not eliminate past data, nor does it keep advertisers from tracking you via the new ID. Noyb filed these complaints in France, but the group says that all Android phones are likely affected.

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Privacy campaigner Max Schrems chairs the group. The group is hoping that France will make Google take action quickly. The EUs e-Privacy directive is what Noybs complaint it built upon. As a result, the authorities will not have to cooperate.

Androids ad-tracking code is illegal according to Noyb

Google could be looking at a substantial sanction according to Noyb. Of course, there is no guarantee that this complaint will lead to what Noyb wants. But, Schrems has a track record of success in getting results. In fact, he is one reason why the EU-US Privacy Shield fell apart.

Now there is reason to believe that Noyb may succeed. As a result, Google may find itself being forced to either offer more control over users AAID or scrap the technology. If that happens then advertisers will be left without a tool to track users. However, for all the privacy-conscious users this would be welcome news.

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Google is no stranger to finding itself in legal trouble. Especially, over the past few years. The company is the power behind Android which is an amazing mobile OS. However, because Android is free for any and everyone to use Google has to make money somehow.

The search giant is no stranger to getting in trouble for its privacy policies before. However, the company is not he only one finding itself in trouble when it comes to privacy. Facebook and Twitter are in the same boat.

But, despite this Google has some positive things to focus on. News that the company will be using its own custom chip in the upcoming Pixel 6 is welcome news for all Pixel lovers. With this in mind, there is no guarantee that Noyb will succeed in its goals. As a result, it will be easier to focus on the more positive things that Google has on the horizon.
Market monitors in Hanoi have busted a food processing facility for injecting unspecified chemicals into their prawns before shipping them to various restaurants in the capital city.

The facility is located in Yen So Ward of Hoang Mai District, according to Nguyen Binh Minh, an inspection officer working for the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Minh orchestrated the raid alongside local economic police officers on Wednesday.

During the inspection, workers at the facility claimed that the filler was injected into the prawns at customers' request, but it was actually done of the facility owners own accord, Minh explained.

A worker injects filler into prawns at a food processing facility in Hanoi. Photo: Anh Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Authorities estimate that each prawn weighed about 10-15 percent heavier after the injection, vastly increasing the factorys profits.

Functional forces have collected samples in an attempt to pinpoint the chemicals used as the filler, Minh stated.

We will also point out the restaurants and firms that used prawns from this processing facility.

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Moscow developer gets suspended sentence for tax evasion

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

16:17 08/04/2021

MOSCOW, April 8 (RAPSI)  The Kuzminsky District Court of Moscow has passed a 4-year suspended sentence on the owner of Monolitinvest construction company Gennady Vinogradov for tax evasion in the amount of more than 363 million rubles (about $5 million), RAPSI has learnt from the press service of the Moscow Prosecutors Office.

The court has also granted in full a civil claim to collect 363 million rubles in moral damages from the defendant.

According to prosecutors, he evaded millions of rubles in taxes by adding false data to tax declarations. Therefore, his actions caused a serious damage to the federal budget.




Technical issues arose despite multiple successful tests of the application process, Andrea Roebker, an agency spokeswoman, said in a written statement.

After discussions with the vendors that built the system, the agency decided to shut down the portal to ensure fair and equal access once reopened, since this is first-come, first-serve, Ms. Roebker said. This decision was not made lightly as we understand the need to get relief quickly to this hard-hit industry.

In social media forums and Zoom calls, frustrated applicants vented and shared their anger.

Its hard to keep hearing help is on the way and then not be able to apply, said Tom Weyman, the director of programing at the Columbus Theater in Providence, R.I. I dont think any of us thought the application process would be totally smooth, but this is life and death for our venues.

The meltdown echoed problems the agency had last year in taking applications for the Paycheck Protection Program, which it also oversees. When that program opened, the agencys overwhelmed systems seized up  and the same thing happened again, weeks later, when a new round of funding became available.

Applicants for the grant program were incredulous that the agency was not better prepared  especially because the funds are to be distributed based on the order in which people apply. Those who get their applications in early have the best chance of getting aid before the money runs out.
SIUE School of Nursings Sheri Compton-McBride, DNP, RN, assistant professor and director of the RN/BS Nursing Program and Contract Management. We are dedicated to a partnership that positively impacts access to nursing education and growth within the nursing profession, as well as contributes to a diverse, productive nursing workforce."

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing (SON) and Joliet Junior College (JJC) have agreed to offer an accelerated path to a bachelors in nursing (BSN). The partnership would allow students to complete their general education courses at JJC, earning an associate in nursing, then complete their baccalaureate nursing coursework online through SIUE.

Students can take classes at JJC and begin a job in their profession, while working online to obtain their BSN from SIUE.

The SON accelerated registered nurse to Bachelor of Science (RN to BS) in nursing option is offered in a flexible, entirely online format to accommodate the needs of working registered nurses (RNs). The program format consists of eight-week courses, and can be completed in one year (three semesters) if most of the general education requirements are met at the time of admission. A students academic progression plan is customized to meet their individual needs. Those interested in attaining an RN to MSN or DNP may apply for accelerated graduate nursing options.

The SIUE School of Nursing is excited to enter into this long-term partnership with Joliet Junior College, said Sheri Compton-McBride, DNP, RN, assistant professor, and director of the SON RN/BS Nursing Program and Contract Management. We are dedicated to a partnership that positively impacts access to nursing education and growth within the nursing profession, as well as contributes to a diverse, productive nursing workforce. Together, we will work with students to provide a seamless transition to obtain their bachelors degree, and for those interested, access to graduate nursing program options.

The mission of Joliet Junior College is to transform students lives with a vision to cultivate pathways to success. This partnership with SIUE provides an option for students to further their education at the baccalaureate level at a time when the demand for nurses is high, said Jorie Kulczak, interim dean of nursing health and public services. JJC is proud to support the nursing profession and nursing workforce in Illinois through this partnership.

For more information, contact JJC at 815-729-9020 or jjc.edu/choose-your-path/ or visit siue.edu/nursing/academic-programs.

About JJC

Located in the south Chicago suburbs, Joliet Junior College is the nations first public community college, with six campuses and education centers that serve approximately 27,000 students annually. JJCs nine academic pathways offer customized, affordable certificate and associate degree options for immediate career placement, as well as seamless transfer capabilities through its partners across Illinois and throughout the U.S. JJC students also benefit from a collective $13 million in state and federal grants, and scholarship assistance in excess of $750,000 each year. Learn more about transfer opportunities at https://www.jjc.edu/university-partners.

About SIUE School of Nursing

The SIUE School of Nursings programs are committed to creating excellence in nursing leadership through innovative teaching, evidence-based practice, quality research, patient advocacy and community service. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, masters and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders in pursuit of shaping the nursing profession and impacting the health care environment. SIUEs undergraduate nursing programs help to solve the regions shortage of baccalaureate-prepared nurses and enhance the quality of nursing practice within all patient service venues. The Schools graduate programs prepare nurses for advanced roles in clinical practice, administration and education.
HARTFORD  Insurance giant The Hartford has rejected an approximately $23 billion acquisition offer. Whether it would turn down future bids is unclear.

The Hartfords refusal last month of the proposed combination with insurance multinational Chubb Ltd., has cast doubt on the future of one of the pillars of the states insurance sector. The company has remained tight-lipped about its long-term plans, while a prospective deal has sparked scrutiny from state legislators concerned about the impact on a Fortune 500 firm that ranks as of the states largest corporate employers.

Contributed photo /The Hartford

It is one of our flagship corporations, and it employs an awful lot of folks, state Sen. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, co-chairman of the state legislatures Insurance and Real Estate Committee said in an interview. It would be hard to overstate its significance to our regional economy.

Chubb set off the saga when it submitted March 11 the unsolicited $23 billion proposal to acquire The Hartford. The plan valued The Hartford at $65 per share, comprising a 26 percent premium based on an unaffected 20-day volume weighted average share price of $51.70 as of March 10.

In a March 18 statement, Chubb officials said the proposal reflected their belief that a combination of our two companies ... would be strategically and financially compelling for both sets of shareholders and other constituencies.

A member of the S&P 500 index, Chubb describes itself as the worlds largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. Operating in 54 countries and territories, it employs approximately 31,000 people, with executive offices in cities including New York, London, Paris and Zurich.

In Connecticut, Chubb has locations in Cromwell, Ledyard, New Haven, Simsbury, Stamford and Windsor.

In a March 23 statement, The Hartford confirmed that its board of directors had unanimously rejected the offer because the board had determined that entering into discussions regarding a strategic transaction would not be in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.

Responding to an inquiry from Hearst Connecticut Media, The Hartford declined to comment beyond the March 23 statement.

Chubb officials appear undeterred by the rejection, issuing a March 29 statement that did not rule out another bid.

Although we were disappointed that The Hartford chose not to engage in discussions regarding a strategic business combination, our shareholders demand of us, and we demand of ourselves, that we remain a disciplined acquiror with an uncompromising focus on the fair value of any institution that we could acquire, the statement said.

Chubbs approach to The Hartford prompted another insurance giant, Allianz, to explore a counteroffer, Bloomberg reported late last month.

I trust The Hartfords board in rejecting Chubbs offer, Lesser said. My specific concern (about a potential acquisition) is I think they (the prospective buyer) would be more interested in looting The Hartfords book of business than in continuing their commitment to running an insurance company here.

Lesser and state Rep. Kerry Wood, D-Rocky Hill, co-chairwoman of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, have announced that they intend to schedule oversight hearings to examine how a potential acquisition would affect The Hartfords policyholders and the general public.

When a 211-year-old Connecticut insurer is being considered for a takeover by an overseas entity, its our job as legislators to get to the bottom of how this affects consumers and our local job market, Wood said in a statement. I look forward to a fully transparent process that includes a hearing in front of our Insurance and Real Estate Committee in the upcoming weeks.

Republican leaders in the state legislature faulted Democrats for the companys predicament.

Whats alarming is to see our flagship industry exposed to a hostile corporate raid which puts good-paying Connecticut jobs at risk, said state Sen. Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, the Senate Republican leader. I want to see Connecticut companies stay in Connecticut, grow jobs in Connecticut and support families in Connecticut. Sadly, Democratic policies make that harder and harder every year.

Capital City institution

Founded in 1810, The Hartford specializes in property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds. Its customers include more than 1 million small businesses.

The company employs approximately 18,500, including about 6,100 in Connecticut. It sells products primarily through a network of independent agents and brokers.

It is a cornerstone of the economy of Hartford, whose concentration of insurance firms is recognized in its longstanding nickname, insurance capital of the world. The companys main offices are located at One Hartford Plaza, a few blocks west of the downtown and near Union Station.

The Hartford has been providing $3.3 million annually as part of a pledge made in 2017 with two other insurance giants, Aetna and Travelers, to give the city of Hartford a combined $50 million across a five-year span for community institutions such as the Hartford Public Library.

Messages left for a spokesperson for Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin were not returned.

Elsewhere in Connecticut, The Hartford has offices in Stamford, Windsor and Farmington.

In lieu of state income tax, insurance companies such as The Hartford pay taxes based on the premiums that they collect in the state. For 2020, The Hartford paid about $30 million to the state and local governments through a number of taxes, fees and assessments, according to company data.

As the No. 160 company on last years Fortune list, The Hartford produced revenues of approximately $20.5 billion in 2020, down 1 percent from 2019. It posted about $1.7 billion in profits last year, compared with $2.1 billion in 2019.

We have been through one of the most turbulent years in recent history, which was shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic shutdown, social unrest and a significant number of catastrophe events, The Hartfords CEO and Chairman, Christopher Swift, said in a statement in February when the firms latest earnings report was released. Despite these challenges we delivered strong (pre-income tax) core earnings of $2.1 billion.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott
ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 07th Apr, 2021) Khalifa University of Science and Technology and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) announced they have signed a research collaboration agreement to jointly fund a project to engineer, scale-up and commercialize a novel class of selective ion sponges for desalination supporting enhanced water recovery and a circular approach to desalination.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, and Saeed Albahri Salem Alameri, Director-General, ADAFSA. The project represents both the partners intense involvement in water management and food security  two sectors strategic for the UAE.

The project will lead to the delivery of intellectual property (IP) in desalination, advanced materials design, process integration and trigger responsive systems, with applications and scope of study spanning far beyond the projects ambit. It will also place Khalifa University, ADAFSA and the UAE in a leadership position in advanced separation materials design for the development of a significant and scalable technology for desalination. Additionally, it will find potential applications beyond desalination in areas such as resource recovery, selective toxins or pathogens removal, and nutrients benefaction. Highly novel materials and manufacturing routes are also expected to be developed and translated in the scale-up stage.

Dr. Al Hammadi said: "Khalifa University is delighted to enter into this partnership with ADAFSA and inspire innovation in the UAEs strategic sectors. In addition to food security and desalination, this project is expected to yield IP in several related sectors, which will help highlight the UAEs role in advancing development of fresh technologies. We believe our expert faculty, who are leading this research project with their collaborators, will not only drive innovation but will also develop human capital for the local and regional industries."

Saeed Alameri said: "We are happy to collaborate with Khalifa University in conducting this research project, which will create environmentally and economically sustainable freshwater resources. Due to the increased pressure on the available water resources and the depletion of groundwater, there is a pressing need for investing in scientific research to localize modern technologies and innovations in desalination.

"

Alameri noted the agriculture sector is the largest consumer of groundwater in the Emirate, stressing this collaboration stems from ADAFSAs keenness on leveraging all possible opportunities to achieve agricultural sustainability, thus boosting the food security of Abu Dhabi and the UAE in general.

The project was initially submitted to Khalifa University within ADAFSAs efforts to build strategic partnerships with key research entities in the UAE, to develop the agricultural and food sector. It was prioritised as water is of the essential natural resources used in agricultural production, especially as this sector faces many challenges in providing the needed irrigation water for crops.

The project will be led by Dr. Ludovic Dumee, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, an expert in advanced and responsive separation materials development at Khalifa University, who will be assisted by post-doctoral researchers and two PhD students. Dr. Hassan Arafat, Director, Khalifa University Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), and Professor, Chemical Engineering, will also support and co-lead this project.

From ADAFSAs side, the research project will be supervised by a team specialized in economic, agricultural and irrigation development under the directives and follow-up of H.E. Saeed Alameri, ADAFSAs Director General.

The project will eventually lead to development of a library of light responsive MOF materials and module configurations enabling relatively low-cost water recoveries, as well as analytical databases that can predict water quality based on source waters. In addition, it will generate freshwater streams from saline groundwater or treated wastewaters at par quality or above that is required for farming applications, while leading to a scalable technology for deployment at the end of the project with relevant stakeholders in the water utilities and materials engineering areas.

Khalifa Universitys CMAT focuses on advanced desalination technologies, nanomaterials and membranes, energy efficiency and sustainability of water processes, as well as technology transfer and capacity building in desalination.

Meanwhile, ADAFSA will follow-up and utilize the projects outcomes in developing the agricultural sector and finding ways to desalinate water in a sustainable, economic and environmental manner, in cooperation with the stakeholders.
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President Muhammadu Buhari has described his latest medical trip to London as a short rest.

Mr Buhari said this in a letter to the King of Jordan, Abdullah Al-Hussein.

Mr Buhari travelled to London last week for medical check-up, according to his office. He is due back in Nigeria in the second week of April, his office said.

The president has been criticised by many Nigerians for travelling for medical treatment at a time resident doctors in the country were preparing for a nationwide strike. The doctors commenced the strike two days after the presidents trip and are still on strike.

Details of Mr Buharis letter to the Jordanian king was contained in a Thursday statement by Mr Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehu.

Read the full statement by Mr Shehu below.

PRESIDENT BUHARI WRITES JORDANS KING ABDULLAH, CONVEYS GOOD WISHES AND SOLIDARITY

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a letter of good wishes and solidarity to King Abdullah ll Bin Al-Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, following the resolution of a recent rift in the royal family.

In the letter personally signed by him, President Buhari said he felt much disturbed when he heard reports of the problem but felt reassured when he learnt that everything had amicably been resolved.

The letter reads in part: While here in London taking a short rest, I was profoundly disturbed to read from international news agencies of attempts to destabilise the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Your exemplary leadership since ascending the throne has attracted worldwide admiration. Relations between Nigeria and Jordan have been excellent and I thank you for the part you have played in this relationship.

Your Majesty, I am much heartened that matters have now been resolved and I pray that the Hashemite Kingdom continues to not only remain peaceful, but also a major beacon of hope for the region under Your Majestys wise guidance.

President Buhari extended to the King the assurances of his highest personal regards.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

April 8, 2021
Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman may have paid a $450million for a Leonardo da Vinci painting that the artist did not actually create, according to a new documentary.

The new film, by documentary-maker Antoine Vitkine, delves into the row playing out between Riyadh and Paris over the authenticity of 'Salvator Mundi' - an artwork promoted as the 'male Mona Lisa' before it sold for the record sum in 2017.

In it, senior French officials advising the government say Bin Salman had demanded that the French government display the artwork inside the Louvre alongside the Mona Lisa and present it as 100 per cent da Vinci's work.

But, they say, their analysis shows that - while the painting was produced in one of da Vinci's workshops - the master himself only 'contributed' to the work.

Salvator Mundi sold for a record-breaking $450million at Christie's in New York in 2017, but has been left out of major gallery shows since amid doubts about its authenticity

That analysis and the ensuing row explains why the painting failed to appear as planned at the Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2018, and then at a blockbuster da Vinci show by the Louvre in Paris the following year.

'Things turned incomprehensible,' says one French official in the film - The Savior for Sale, which premiers on French TV this week.

'The request by 'MBS' (bin Salman) was very clear: show the Salvator Mundi next to the Mona Lisa, and present it as 100 percent a da Vinci.'

The Saudis offered various deals, the official says, but his recommendation to the Elysee was that this would amount to 'laundering a $450 million artwork'.

The documentary alleges that some members of the French government, including Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, lobbied on behalf of bin Salman's request.

They were concerned about the impact on France's wide-ranging strategic and economic relationship with Saudi Arabia.

But Macron ultimately decided to reject bin Salman's request, leaving it to the Louvre to negotiate with the Saudis on how the painting should be presented in their retrospective, said the documentary.

A new documentary claims Mohammed bin Salman, thought to be the work's owner, wanted it presented as 100% da Vinci's work - but experts say the master only 'contributed' to it

No deal was concluded and the museum has refused to comment on the case.

'The Saudis are afraid of this debate on the authenticity,' says Chris Dercon, who heads one of France's top museum bodies and advises the Saudi government on art, in the documentary.

'They are afraid that people will say, both at home and abroad, 'You spent all this money for something that is not a da Vinci.''

The painting was initially bought in 2005 for just $1,175 by a New York art dealer and restored in the United States.

Several British experts authenticated the painting as a long-lost da Vinci and it was presented as such at London's National Gallery in 2011 before being sold to a Russian oligarch for $127.5 million two years later.

It then sold for $450million at auction at Christie's in New York, breaking the record for the most expensive artwork ever sold at a public auction.

Officially, the buyer was Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud - a little-known member of the Saudi royal family with no history as an art collector.

But, American officials have said, Prince Bader was actually used as a stand-in for Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is the true owner of the painting.

Riyadh continues to deny that Bin Salman is the true owner.
Amid the concerns over the potential link between the AstraZeneca jab and rare blood clots, the UK on Wednesday rolled out a third Covid-19 vaccine developed by the US-based Biotechnology company Moderna.

The Moderna vaccine follows the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca jabs, which are already widely in use, the BBC reported.

The government said it has ordered seventeen million doses, which will be the third to be administered in the UK since the rollout began in December last year.

The vaccine was approved by the medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, in January.

"The UK government has secured vaccines on behalf of the entire nation and the vaccination programme has shown our country working together at its best," said Matt Hancock, Health Secretary.

The Health Secretary said approximately three out of every five adults had now been vaccinated with at least one dose across the UK, and urged the public to maintain confidence in the rollout, according to Financial Times.

A trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine on children in the UK has been paused even as the country's medicines regulator probes a possible link of the vaccine with rare blood clots in adults.

The trial, which started in February, is evaluating whether the vaccine generates a strong immune response in those aged between 6 and 17.

While the trial has been paused, Professor Andrew Pollard from the University of Oxford ruled out safety concerns with the trial itself, the BBC reported.

What the scientists are waiting for is more information, said the report.
Infosys Ltd is quoting at Rs 1439.5, up 0.65% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 126.25% in last one year as compared to a 63.97% jump in NIFTY and a 113.8% jump in the Nifty IT.

Infosys Ltd is up for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 1439.5, up 0.65% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.82% on the day, quoting at 14940.5. The Sensex is at 49970.14, up 0.62%. Infosys Ltd has gained around 6.98% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty IT index of which Infosys Ltd is a constituent, has gained around 6.37% in last one month and is currently quoting at 26831, up 1.42% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 36.68 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 78.26 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark April futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 1446.15, up 0.48% on the day. Infosys Ltd is up 126.25% in last one year as compared to a 63.97% jump in NIFTY and a 113.8% jump in the Nifty IT index.

The PE of the stock is 34.51 based on TTM earnings ending December 20.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On March 19, 2021, Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor of Nigeria's northern Kano state, said in an interview with the BBC's Hausa-language service that he planned to "deal with" journalists who produced a 2018 series of videos published by the privately owned Daily Nigerian news website, which alleged that he had received bribes.

"We are making plans. We will not disclose what sort of plans we are making," Ganduje said, saying that the videos were fake. "The main issue is that we will deal with those who made it."

On March 22, Daily Nigerian publisher Jaafar Jaafar filed a petition to Nigeria's police force through his lawyer, Abdullahi Gumel, alleging that "Ganduje recently indicated that he and his supporters are scheming underground to deal with our client," according to a copy of the petition reviewed by CPJ and a report by the Daily Nigerian.

The petition also accuses Ganduje of "instigating, inciting, aiding, abetting and procuring his supporters... to harm their client, his family and property" and described the comments as "a ratification of past stalking, harassment and threats" to Jaafar by Ganduje's supporters after that story's publication in 2018.

In the petition, Gumel asked police to investigate any plots against his client and ensure Jaafar's protection from threats and harassment. CPJ could not determine whether police have taken any action in response to the petition; National Police spokesperson Frank Mba did not answer multiple calls and text messages seeking comment.

After the reports were published in 2018, unidentified people approached Jaafar's home and requested to see him, which the journalist felt was an attempt at intimidation, he said in an interview at the time. According to the petition, Jaafar fled his home state of Kano in 2018 and "lives in perpetual fear in the rest of the country."

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In November 2018, Ganduje filed a 3 billion naira (US $7.88 million) civil defamation lawsuit against Jaafar and the Daily Nigerian over those videos, according to copies of the suit reviewed by CPJ and a report by the privately owned Premium Times news website; that case is still ongoing.

In a phone interview with CPJ, Kano State Information Commissioner Mohammed Garba said that the governor's remarks about wanting to "deal with" journalists were made in reference to that defamation suit. Garba also disputed Jaafar's assertion in the petition that he fled the state, saying he believed the journalist had freely entered and exited Kano since 2018 without receiving any threats.

CPJ called and texted Ganduje's chief press secretary, Abba Anwar, for comment, but did not receive any responses.

When contacted by messaging app, Jaafar declined to comment to CPJ about the recent threats, saying he wished to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing court case regarding the matter.
The 18th China-ASEAN Expo will take place both online and offline in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in September, the organizer said on Wednesday.



This year marks the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This year's expo will help expand the platform functions of the expo. It will also further serve the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The expo will have an exhibition area of 124,000 square meters and hold exchange activities in economy and trade, science and technology, and the digital economy and health, said Wang Lei, secretary-general of the China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat.

In 2020, trade between China and the ASEAN reached 684.6 billion U.S. dollars, bucking the trend to post a year-on-year increase of nearly 6.7 percent. The ASEAN remained China's largest trading partner, demonstrating the massive potential and strong resilience of China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation, said Wei Yan, an official with the Ministry of Commerce.

Yang Zhuo, another commerce ministry official, advised to focus on development opportunities of the RCEP and expand and deepen cooperation in fields including health, new business models, and technological innovation.

Total two-way investment between China and ASEAN reached 22.31 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, according to Yang.
"We're totally transparent about (the) side effects and publish all the data that we have on them... And the regulators, not just the British regulator, but the European regulator and the World Health Organisation, are clear that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks," he told the BBC on Thursday (April 8).

Britain's vaccine advisory committee said on Wednesday (April 7) that an alternative to Oxford-AstraZeneca's vaccine should be given to under 30s where possible due to a "vanishingly" rare side effect of blood clots in the brain.

Hancock said new guidance would not delay Britain's vaccination program because alternatives from Pfizer and Moderna would be available for the affected group.

Video Transcript

MATT HANCOCK: The safety system is also working because the regulators were able to spot this extremely rare event, around four in a million. And we've been able to say that, for under 30s, it is still safe to have the AstraZeneca jab. But if you want to, you can have the Pfizer or Moderna jab instead.

There are 10.1 million people aged between 18 and 29 in this country in the UK, and 1.6 million of them have already been vaccinated because either they're care workers, or they might be clinically extremely vulnerable. That leaves around 8 and 1/2 million people. And we have more than enough Pfizer and Moderna vaccine so that if all of them get that jab, then we'll be able to ensure everybody can get it. And it doesn't-- it doesn't impact on the speed of the rollout.
With 1.5 million Bay Staters fully vaccinated and warmer weather on the horizon health officials indicate some people are beginning to relax on precautions such as wearing face coverings in public and maintaining social distancing.

Springfield is still in the high risk category. With infection levels still high, and a variant spreading, now is not the time to relax the simple mechanisms suggested to reduce COVID spread.

Springfield recorded 486 cases last week, a decrease of 11%. The week before the city reported a 76% increase in new cases.

Helen R. Caulton-Harris, Springfields commissioner of health and human services said, We are not powerless individuals, we are individuals with power, and that power comes from taking back our lives by doing the things that are necessary to get us back on track. Now is the time to continue to wear your masks, wash your hands and watch your distance (from others).

Much of the population is suffering from pandemic fatigue, eager to get out and travel, visit loved ones and return to a normal life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently warned of an impending doom, warning of a fourth wave and President Biden warns now is not the time to be complacent.

While we agree that complacency should not be cast aside, using phrases like impending doom, injects fearful language that dissolves all hope. The population has three very effective vaccines and the phased inoculation process is moving forward. In Massachusetts, by April 19 the general public  ages 16 years and older  will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

On Saturday, a record 4 million people in the U.S. received a COVID vaccine, bringing the seven-day average to more than 3 million per day. More than 161 million doses have been administered in the U.S.

There is certainly a light that can be seen in the tunnel. And it is getting brighter. The vaccination progress is positive news so there is hope. The finish line is in view. But in order to get there, following the protocols weve been doing all along  wearing a mask in public, hand washing and keeping our distance from others  is not an unreasonable request.

Related:
The province is dipping into the uncertain future of the shuttered Hudson's Bay flagship building in downtown Winnipeg.

The province is dipping into the uncertain future of the shuttered Hudson's Bay flagship building in downtown Winnipeg.

As the Manitoba government unveiled its 2021-22 provincial budget Wednesday, a sum of $25 million "in trust" was announced to redevelop the historic site on Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard.

Calling it an "exciting partnership," a provincial spokeswoman said she could not provide any details yet about how the funding will be used.

In his speech to the legislative assembly, as he tabled the Tories' fiscal blueprint for the province, Finance Minister Scott Fielding called the new funding a way "to preserve our past while revitalizing our future."

"Much of our economic growth occurs in our cities and local communities," said Fielding. "That's why we're investing in this historical preservation and civic development project in the heart of our capital city, especially during COVID-19 (pandemic)."

At an afternoon news conference, Premier Brian Pallister said the former retail flagship, which opened in 1926 and closed in 2020, is "iconic for everyone in the province."

Both Pallister and Fielding urged municipal and federal levels to step up and match the funding being proffered by the provincial Progressive Conservative government.

"I think we all have an interest in seeing us preserve, to some appropriate manner, the legacy and history of our province as its been associated with the Bay," said the premier.

The mammoth, 650,000-square-foot building is one of original six stores for the 350-year-old Hudson's Bay Co. before it expanded across North America.

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES In October 2020, the Canadian retail chain announced it would be shuttering the downtown Winnipeg store permanently in early 2021, due to a "change in consumer behaviour."

In October 2020, the Canadian retail chain announced it would be shuttering the downtown Winnipeg store permanently in early 2021, due to a "change in consumer behaviour."

By late November, citing debilitating finances during the COVID-19 pandemic, a "closed" sign was placed on the building two months earlier than planned.

Business leaders, industry stakeholders, and City of Winnipeg officials have been left scratching their heads about what exactly should happen with the now boarded-up eyesore smack dab in the middle of downtown.

"I think it's incredibly encouraging that the province is stepping up right now with this," Kate Fenske, chief executive officer of Downtown Winnipeg Business Improvement Zone, said Wednesday in an interview.

"There's a pretty big ripple effect with the way businesses work, and with so many that have closed in downtown (amidst the pandemic), 37 that we know for sure, certainly the Bay being vacant isn't helping anybody."

Fenske compared the new funding to The Forks North Portage Partnership, an initiative that developed the riverside tourism, dining and retail destination in the city, through a corporation equally owned by the federal, provincial and municipal governments.

"I mean look at The Forks, right?" she said. "That worked out great because everyone was at the table talking about this historical space that could be used to increase the potential of our city."

For Economic Development Winnipeg president and CEO Dayna Spiring, however, it's "surprising" the province is investing in the building now, months after its permanent closure.

"It's good to see the province interested in our downtown, and interested in this particular building. We'll obviously look to see what they have in mind."  Mayor Brian Bowman

"You know what?" Spiring told the Free Press, "I haven't actually had any talks with them about this before this happened. So, yes, it is a surprise."

Spiring is leading a city-appointed advisory committee to figure out the best use for the building, and who will pay for its future. She said Wednesday nothing has yet been set in stone by the advisers, including building owner Hudson's Bay Co.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference, Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman said Wednesday was the first he had heard of the provincial funding, too.

"It's good to see the province interested in our downtown, and interested in this particular building," he said. "We'll obviously look to see what they have in mind.

"They haven't shared any specific redevelopment ideas that they may have and who they may be discussing with other parties."

Asked whether the city will be matching the provincial funding, Bowman said: "If you're asking whether we're prepared to commit $25 million today, we think there's more work that needs to be done before that decision is made in due course."

temur.durrani@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @temurdur
Lights Up: Sitting

Rating:

The Day Will and Kate Got Married

Rating:

Great minds being what they are, Lights Up: Sitting (BBC4) is the second programme this year to explore the personalities behind portraits.

Last month, comedian Jenny Eclair presented Drawers Off on Channel 4, where amateur artists took it in turns to disrobe and sit for a life class competition.

As they sketched, painted or posed, the contestants chatted away. Much more than skin was revealed.

Actress Katherine Parkinson, of Humans and The IT Crowd, tackled the same theme in her first play, Sitting (BBC4)  part of the Lights Up series of theatre productions staged under lockdown rules.

Parkinson played Mary, a sad-eyed, sardonic single mother whose one escape from loneliness was the afternoon she spent each week, posing as a model for a well-to-do painter.

Mary talked straight into the camera, making us feel we were that silent figure behind the easel.

Actress Katherine Parkinson, of Humans and The IT Crowd, features in Lights Up: Sitting

No ones ever looked at me as much as you do, she said  an accusation of voyeurism that could induce queasiness in the most innocent of viewers.

What is television about, if not for staring at people who cannot see us?

Gradually it became obvious that the invisible painter was an old lecher, and Mary was conducting an affair with him, in his own house. Intercut with this story were two other monologues by sitters.

One was a dim young man, Luke (Mark Weinman), so gauche that he sat down stark naked  he didnt realise people sometimes had their pictures painted with their clothes on.

The other was a sassy, nervous woman in her 20s who called herself Cassandra (Alex Jarrett) and harboured fantasies of being an actress. Something connected the three, but the picture made sense only slowly.

Parkinsons script tricked us into imagining the portraits were all painted around the same time, since the scenes often appeared together in a split screen.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge journey by carriage procession to Buckingham Palace following their marriage at Westminster Abbey in April 2011

It was only when we worked out that Mary sat 20 years ago, and was long dead by the time the other models arrived, that their stories came into perspective.

Cassandra was Marys daughter, just six when her mum died and barely able to remember her face. Luke, though he didnt have a clue, was the painters illegitimate son.

It was artfully written, setting out clues like details in the background of a picture.

Parkinsons comic talent shone through the dialogue, too, with wordplay and puns that ensured the performances never became morose.

Its weird, Luke pondered, just sitting. Its harder than you think  like, thoughts fly about and you get all . . . thinky.

One of the worlds most famous amateur painters is Prince Charles, but The Day Will And Kate Got Married (ITV) revealed theres another artist in the Royal Family, as the show marked the couples tenth wedding anniversary this month.

The Day Will And Kate Got Married marked the couples tenth wedding anniversary this month

Kate Middletons grandfather on her mothers side was a painter and decorator, explained an interviewee and wedding guest, her rascally Uncle Gary.

Gary has a fund of anecdotes, most of which revolve around himself. He cheerfully admits that his sister, Kates mum, and her family never tell me a secret  Im terrible with them.

But none of his stories could match the tale by a Met officer, whose team were on security duty when they spotted a car dumped outside the Goring Hotel in Belgravia  where the future Duchess of Cambridge was making the final adjustments to her dress.

Fearing a terrorist attack, police sent in a bomb squad. It turned out the vehicle belonged to a tourist  who came back to find a car with no doors or windows. And a parking ticket.
Proposition 19 Family Inheritance Tax Benefits Reduced

Proposition 19 was approved by the voters last November by a slim margin and it is creating tremendous uncertainty and confusion among taxpayers and assessors statewide.

Proposition 19 is a Constitutional amendment to Proposition 13 that allows seniors and the disabled to sell their home and buy a new one without experiencing an increase in property taxes. However, it is also a regressive policy that disproportionately impacts the ability of working-class and middle-income families to leave their homes to their children (and in some cases grandchildren) without them having to pay an increase in property taxes.

Since November 2020, my office has received scores of inquiries about this challenging new law and its important to understand the issues.

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To not put too fine a point on it, Proposition 19 may actually result in some working-class median-income families of modest means having to selling their homes, family farms as well as other property to avoid a new property tax burden because the property now faces reassessment.

To make matters worse, some of the most challenging provisions are already in effect as of February 16 before many property owners really understood its impacts. Many scrambled to address estate planning and family inheritance concerns before the February 16th deadline.

Lets review: Under the pre-Proposition 19 law, parents (Proposition 58) and grandparents (Proposition 193) were able to transfer residential and commercial properties to their children and grandchildren without a tax hike because the homes would not be reassessed, allowing the original tax base to be carried over.

Between 60,000 to 80,000 property owners statewide had been embracing this tax savings annually, avoiding as much as $10 billion in assessed property value from reassessment, according to data from the Legislative Analysts Office.

In 2018, a Los Angeles Times investigation revealed that Hollywood celebrities Beau and Jeff Bridges inherited a palatial Malibu home with access to a semi-private beach and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from their famous father, actor Lloyd Bridges of Sea Hunt fame. The Times investigation revealed the brothers rented the home for $16,000 a month, but retained their fathers annual tax property tax payment of about $5,000. This was possible because they inherited their parents home under Proposition 58 which has been informally referred to as the Lebowski loophole, named for a character that actor Jeff Bridges played in a movie, 1998s The Big Lebowski. Many believe that this was an unfair use of Proposition 58  the family inheritance law.

To address this legal loophole, under Proposition 19, only a parents principal residence may be transferred to their children, and that home must then become and remain the principal residence of the child/children within one-year of the transfer. This was intended to eliminate the Lebowski loophole that allowed the home to be used as a rental property.

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Although it certainly appears the intent of the measure was to eliminate this legal loophole for the wealthy, the measure does not just impact the 1% who benefitted from huge financial windfalls, it also impacts a broader range of the public and includes working-class and middle-income families whose family assets are often in the family home and perhaps other modest real estate investments. This places new stress on the ability to pass along new found generational wealth.

Its now estimated that Proposition 19 will impact 40,000 to 60,000 families each year with higher property taxes and, according to the Legislative Analysts Office, will result in hundreds of millions of dollars a year from taxpayers. Proposition 19, in effect, repeals Propositions 58 and 193.

Unfortunately, Proposition 19 was rushed on to the ballot at the end of the legislative session and would have benefited greatly by further study and deliberation. Because of this rush to the ballot box, the measure is deficient, confusing and at times, seemingly, in conflict with its intent.

The campaign for Proposition 19 stressed that the initiative that would give much-needed assistance to seniors, the severely disabled and victims of fires and natural disasters, while simultaneously providing revenue for wildfire protection agencies and counties. Indeed, it was titled The Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families, and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act. And it does have some positive aspects for seniors and the disabled.

However, as I previously mentioned, as of February 16th, parents and grandparents are no longer able to transfer property to their children or grandchildren without the possibility of an increase in property taxes.

There is a solution to this regressive tax, and that is to encourage the Legislature to draft legislation that will serve as a corrective Constitutional amendment to Proposition 19. Such a corrective Constitutional amendment should aim restore the ability of families to leave their homes and other property to their children that was previously available under Proposition 58 since 1986.

In the meantime, I am working with the California Assessors Association and with state Legislators to enact legislation that will address the numerous deficiencies and ambiguities in Proposition 19.

I must emphasize that absent legislative clarification, the implementation of Proposition 19 will be a significant challenge and create a great deal of confusion and uncertainty for both the public and administrators.

For more information on Proposition 19 or other tax savings programs, visit assessor.lacounty.gov or call 213-974-3211.

Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang has been in office since 2014. Upon taking office, Prang implemented sweeping reforms to ensure that the strictest ethical guidelines rooted in fairness, accuracy and integrity would be adhered to in his office, which is the largest office of its kind in the nation with 1,200 employees. It provides the foundation for a property tax system that generates over $17 billion annually.
The Northern Ireland Executive is to meet on Thursday morning to be briefed on the ongoing unrest seen over the last week.

Leaders will meet for the briefing at 10am, an hour before the Stormont Assembly is to be recalled to discuss the recent scenes of violence in mainly loyalist areas.

News of the meeting was confirmed late on Wednesday night as trouble continued to rage on the streets of Belfast, with Executive members scheduled to debate a motion condemning the recent attacks on police.





Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neil, the Deputy First Minister tweeted: The Executive will meet tomorrow morning to be briefed on the violence and street disorder which is causing huge distress in local communities at this time.

Those involved in violence, criminal damage, manipulation of our young people and attacks on the police must stop.

Violent scenes including attacks on police, petrol bombings and rioting have taken place repeatedly on the streets of Belfast and Derry throughout the past week.

A car bursts through the Peace Gates in Lanark Way on Wednesday night (Liam McBurney/PA)

Wednesday night saw a bus hijacked and set on fire, a press photographer assaulted and clashes between loyalists and nationalists at peace line street that links the Shankill Road with the Springfield Road in west Belfast.

The scenes of violence flooded social media and prompted UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to appeal for calm.

He tweeted: I am deeply concerned by the scenes of violence in Northern Ireland, especially attacks on PSNI who are protecting the public and businesses, attacks on a bus driver and the assault of a journalist.

The way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not violence or criminality.

The unrest has been attributed to tension in loyalist communities over the Northern Ireland Protocol on Brexit and the PSNIs handling of alleged coronavirus regulation breaches by Sinn Fein at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey.

People stand next to a fire in a street in Belfast on Wednesday night (Liam McBurney/PA)

First Minister Arlene Foster condemned the attacks on Twitter, saying: There is no justification for violence. It is wrong and should stop.

This is not protest. This is vandalism and attempted murder. These actions do not represent unionism or loyalism.

They are an embarrassment to Northern Ireland and only serve to take the focus off the real law breakers in Sinn Fein. My thoughts are with the bus driver.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin also condemned Wednesday nights events, tweeting: I utterly condemn the violent attacks on police, a journalist, and bus driver over recent days in The North.

Now is the time for the two Governments and leaders on all sides to work together to defuse tensions and restore calm.

Plans to recall the Assembly were already underway after Alliance Party leader Naomi Long secured the required support of 30 members to force a return.

Ms Long  who serves as Justice Minister  said it is her partys intention to get all parties at Stormont to unite around a call for calm and the cessation of violence.

Some 41 police officers had been injured and 10 people arrested over the disturbances, prior to the events on Wednesday night.

Ms Long told RTE that she also wants to hear all elected representatives express confidence in policing structures and in the rule of law.

Over the last number of weeks we have heard increasingly inflammatory public comments around policing in Northern Ireland, political comments that have been deeply and profoundly unsettling and we have then seen this spill over into violence on the streets, she said.

A car drives past the wreckage of a Translink Metrobus on fire on the Shankill Road (Liam McBurney/PA)

These situations and intentions of course then will be exploited by those in paramilitary organisations, so it is incumbent on all of us who are in leadership at a time like this to come together and to speak with one voice to say that this violence must stop and irrespective of our various political views, that we do not support it, that we do not want to see it continue but more than that, that we are absolutely committed to the rule of law and to fair and equitable policing across our society.

The violence has been blamed on anger in response to a decision by the Public Prosecution Service not to pursue prosecutions against members of Sinn Fein who attended the funeral of Mr Storey last year despite restrictions over gatherings, as well as Brexit and localised issues in the south-east Antrim area.
STAMFORD  Investigators are asking for the publics help tracking down leads on the individuals behind a spate of catalytic converter thefts in Stamford over the past week.

Sgt. Sean Scanlan, supervisor of the Stamford Property Crimes Unit, said there have been over 25 catalytic converter thefts in Stamford.

The alleged thieves were caught on camera Monday morning as they struck box trucks and vans in the commercial sector along the upper part of Hope Street, according to Scanlan.

Scanlan said the individuals in question were operating out of a dark-colored Acura MDX SUV with New Jersey plates.

It appears one person acts as a lookout while others commit the act, he said.

While investigators are working with law enforcement officials around the state and in Westchester County, Scanlan said the department does not have any real discernible leads at the moment.

We welcome anything from citizens who may have seen something. If you see something that doesnt look right, we cant stress enough that you should reach out to police, he added.

Scanlan said the rise in catalytic converter thefts is part of a nationwide epidemic driving by skyrocketing prices for precious metal like platinum, or platinum-like material such as palladium or rhodium, that are used in the devices, which is used to control emissions.

Last year, the price of palladium quintupled to hit a record of $2,875  up from the $500 an ounce it garnered five years ago, according to the New York Times. Over that same period, rhodium prices have grown over 3,000 percent from about $640 an ounce five years ago to a record $21,900 an ounce this year, roughly 12 times the price of gold, the Times reported in February.

Anyone who may have information regarding the recent catalytic converter thefts is asked to contact the Property Crime Unit at 203-977-4407.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan drew flak from people across the world, including his ex-wife, after he linked increase in rape cases to how women dress. Khan stoked controversy after he not only blamed womens dress for a rise in rape cases in his country but also advocated that women should keep themselves covered in veil. "Vulgarity is to blame for the rise in cases of sexual violence in Pakistan," he was quoted as saying.

During a live question and answer session, when a caller asked Khan what his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government plans to do about sexual violence against women, the Pakistan PM said that some fights cannot be won by laws alone and advised women to cover up to prevent temptation. He further said that the concept of 'pardah' (traditional head covering) in Islam is intended to "keep temptation in check".

If you keep increasing vulgarity in a society, then definitely there will be this impact, he said What is the whole concept of observing the veil? It is so that there is no temptation in society. Each individual does not have the willpower or strength, if you keep increasing obscenity in the society and if you dont care, then there are impacts of such things.

Reacting to the statement, Khans ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith took to Twitter and quoted Quranic verse lashing out at the Pakistan PM. Jemima, who was married to Khan from 1995 to 2004, tore into the misogynist statement by saying that the onus is on men.

Human rights organisations condemn Pak PMs remark

A number of human rights organisations released a statement condemning Pakistan PMs factually incorrect, insensitive and dangerous remark and demanded an apology. Through this statement, and others made prior to this, the Prime Minister has actively fostered and promoted rape culture and rape apologia, the statement read. The organisations pointed out Khan's previous comments while noting that 'there is a discernable pattern in his statements, which reveals his own regressive views on rape and sexual violence."

Further the letter demanded an apology from Imran Khan while also urged him to desist from making such statements in the future In demanding an apology from the Prime Minister, we take this opportunity to remind him that rape is never the fault of the victim or survivor. Fault rests solely with the rapist and the system that enables the rapist, including a culture fostered by statements such as those made by him."

Netizens enraged over Khans remake

Pakistan PM's "insensitive" remark comes while there are at least 11 rape cases reported in the country every day, according to official statistics. In the past six years, over 22,000 rape cases were reported to police but only 77 accused have been convicted. Imran Khan's comment sparked an outcry on social media as netizens were 'utterly disappointed by the 'victim blaming' and called Khan a 'rape apologist'.

Utterly disappointed but not the least bit surprised at the archaic stance IK took on rape. Its hard enough being a woman in this country, weve seen how easily the victim is blamed and your PM just validated this backward thinking men have. We honestly deserve better than this.  Hadeel Obaid (@hadouken51) April 6, 2021

Anyone blaming clothes and not the rapist is a rape apologist.  Saadia Ahmed (@khwamkhwah) April 4, 2021
First Cases of Brazilian CCP Virus Variant in Colorado Announced

Colorado on Tuesday reported its first two cases of the Brazilian variant of the CCP virus.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said in a release it was notified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of two new cases in the state of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus P.1 variant, also known as the Brazilian variant.

The two cases are Boulder county residents. The department said that their travel history is unknown at this time. The department did not note whether the two cases were of the same household or have exhibited any symptoms.

The department said it is investigating possible exposures, and also carrying out contact tracing, and that Boulder County Public Health is working closely to provide local support if needed.

Public health officials first identified the P.1 variant from travelers arriving in Japan from Brazil in early January.

While these are the first cases in the Colorado, at least 356 cases of the P.1 variant have been found across 25 U.S. states as of early Thursday. The variant was first detected in the country at the end of January 2021.

The CDC has classified the B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, B.1.427, and B.1.429 variants in the United States as variants of concern, meaning that these emerging variants appear to spread more easily and quickly than earlier forms of the virus, and may lead to more cases of COVID-19.

An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on health care resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths, the CDC states on its website. So far, studies suggest that antibodies generated through vaccination with currently authorized vaccines recognize these variants. This is being closely investigated and more studies are underway.

The CDC has noted that the P.1 variant raises concerns of a potential increase in transmissibility or propensity for SARS-CoV-2 re-infection of individuals, citing a recent study on a cluster of cases in Manaus city in the Amazon region of Brazil. There, it was estimated about 75 percent of the population had been infected with the CCP virus as of October 2020, yet since mid-December 2020 the region saw a surge in cases.

The CDC and the Colorado health department advise that people carry out general strategies like physical distancing, masks, hand hygiene, and isolation and quarantine, and get vaccinated to limit the CCP viruss spread.

Early research suggests that the currently authorized vaccines are effective against known variants, though perhaps to varying degrees depending on the strain. Experts stress that getting vaccinated can provide significant protection against transmission and severe illness from COVID-19, the Colorado health department stated.
The head of Origin Energy says state governments must explore ways to spur private investment in new projects to plug gaps in the market as their plans to increase renewable power force an early exit of coal.

An influx of wind and solar power into the nations main grid  supported by the Victorian and New South Wales governments pro-renewables policies  has been driving down daytime power prices and threatening the viability of ageing coal plants. EnergyAustralia last month announced it would close Victorias Yallourn brown coal-fired power plant in 2028, four years earlier than planned, in response to spiralling losses.

Origin Energy chief executive Frank Calabria. Credit:Louie Douvis

Origin chief executive Frank Calabria said new investment in firming capacity such as gas plants, big batteries and pumped hydro would be required to replace coal-fired power in order to keep electricity reliable and affordable when weather conditions for renewable energy were unfavourable.

But state government plans to underwrite the cost of renewable energy projects were deterring private sector investment, he said.
Every Hawaiian adult will become eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine by April 19, as Hawaii becomes the 50th state to heed President Bidens calls to accelerate vaccinations, a health official there said Wednesday.

The news came with a note of caution.

This does not mean everyone will be able to get vaccinated on April 19, and people must continue to be patient, Brooks Baehr, a health department spokesman, said in a statement. Supply still does not meet the tremendous demand.

In March, Mr. Biden announced that he would direct states to make all adults eligible for the vaccine by May 1. Then on Tuesday, with more states ramping up their vaccination efforts and expanding eligibility, he moved the target date to April 19.
Published: 8 April 2021

Corona crisis dropped the demand for accommodation services to the level of the 1990s

Due to the corona crisis, overnight stays at Finnish accommodation establishments decreased to the level of 1995. The number of overnight stays by resident tourists in 2020 decreased by 25 per cent and that of overnight stays by non-resident tourists by as much as 68 per cent from the previous year. In 2020, a total of 14.3 million overnight stays were recorded at Finnish accommodation establishments.

Because of the corona crisis, the year 2020 was very exceptional for accommodation services. The year started with a growth of around seven to eight per cent in overnight stays in January to February. However, the pandemic that started in March began to decrease clearly the number of visitors. In April, the number of nights spent by resident tourists decreased by 86 per cent and that of nights spent by foreign tourists by around 95 per cent. In 2020, a total of 12.0 million overnight stays were recorded for resident tourists and 2.3 million for non-resident tourists. During July to August, the number of nights spent by resident tourists was close to the level of 2019, but from September to December, the decline in overnight stays by resident tourists remained at around 20 per cent. Overnight stays by foreign tourists decreased by around 85 per cent from May to December from the year before.

Year-on-year changes in nights spent (%) by month, 2020/2019

Domestic demand was upheld by leisure trips

For the whole year, overnight stays by resident tourists showed a drop of one quarter from the year before. The number of overnight stays did not reach the level of the previous year in any region, but in some of the regions overnight stays decreased clearly more strongly than in others. Overnight stays by resident tourists decreased by 45 per cent in Uusimaa, where overnight stays decreased by 46 per cent in Helsinki and by 56 per cent in Vantaa. In sparsely populated areas, year-on-year changes were considerably more moderate. In North Ostrobothnia, overnight stays by resident tourists decreased by around seven per cent and in Kainuu by eight per cent. The number of nights spent by resident tourists in Kuusamo was four per cent higher than in 2019.

Year-on-year changes in resident nights spent (%) by region, 2020/2019

There were also differences in overnight stays by resident tourists between leisure trips and business trips. For leisure trips, overnight stays by resident tourists were almost on level with the previous year in July to August. However, overnight stays related to business trips remained clearly lower after spring. In July to September, around one-quarter fewer overnight stays were recorded for business trips, but in October to December as much as nearly 40 per cent fewer.

Year-on-year changes in nights spent (%) by month and trip purpose, 2020/2019

Difficult year for accommodation establishments

The weakening in the demand for accommodation services was clearly reflected in the available capacity of accommodation establishments. During the year, an average of 1,100 establishments were open, offering around 56,000 rooms and 144,000 beds. Many accommodation establishments have been forced to close doors temporarily because of the pandemic, which has resulted in lower capacity being available than before. The number of open establishments decreased by 83 and available were over 9,000 fewer rooms and over 18,000 fewer beds than in the year before. Despite the contraction in availability, the occupancy rate of rooms fell by 16 percentage points, being around 37 per cent, on average. The occupancy rate of rooms is calculated from the available capacity of the open establishments.

Hotel room occupancy rate (%) and the monthly average price (EUR)

Overnight stays in hotels decreased by 43 per cent in the whole country and the occupancy rate also dropped by around 18 percentage points from the previous year. Thus, the average hotel occupancy rate was about 38 per cent. The average price of hotel rooms fell by around EUR eight and was EUR 102 per night. The fall in the demand for hotel stays has been stronger than in other types of accommodation. Regional differences are also visible in that the drop is stronger in larger towns than in sparsely populated areas.

The decrease in overnight stays was not as big in other accommodation establishments than hotels. In other accommodation establishments, overnight stays by resident tourists decreased by three per cent from the year before, while in hotels they went down by 31 per cent. For foreign tourists, the change in the number of overnight stays is closer to one another for hotels and other accommodation establishments: overnight stays by foreign tourists in hotels decreased by 69 per cent and in other accommodation establishments by 61 per cent from one year ago. For domestic tourists, the difference can be explained by that tourists have favoured establishments where they can have more space for their overnight stay and fewer human contacts.

Hardly any foreign tourists since March

Last year, there was a distinct collapse in the travel of foreigners to Finland. However, the most important countries of origin remained almost unchanged from previous years. In 2020, Russian, German and British tourists were the three largest groups of foreign citizens. This is explained by trips made in January to February, when the restrictive measures imposed due to the pandemic had been implemented in only a few countries. In January to February, a majority of foreign tourists headed to ski resorts in Northern and Eastern Finland.

There were changes between the five most important countries of origin compared with previous years. The fourth and fifth largest groups were French and Estonian tourists, leaving behind Swedish and Chinese visitors that occupied the same positions in the previous year. The change can be explained by the corona restrictive measures imposed at different times in the countries of origin. Consequently, overnight stays by Swedish and Chinese tourists dropped by over 80 per cent from the year before.

Year-on-year changes in nights spent (%) by country of residence, 2020/2019

Source: Accommodation Statistics. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Jussi-Pekka Rantanen 029 551 3547, Ossi Nurmi 029 551 2984, liikenne.matkailu@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

Publication in pdf-format (529.2 kB)

Updated 08.04.2021

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Accommodation statistics [e-publication].

ISSN=1799-6325. 2020. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 5.6.2021].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/matk/2020/matk_2020_2021-04-08_tie_001_en.html
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.
Hyderabad, April 8 : The Telangana government on Thursday decided to provide financial assistance and 25 kg rice to the teachers and other staff of the recognised private educational institutions in the state.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao made the decision as teachers and other staff are facing financial problems due to shutting down of educational institutions in view of Covid-19 pandemic. The rice will be made available through fair price shops.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said that this decision was taken on a humanitarian consideration and it would help 1.50 lakh teachers and staff working in recognised private educational institutions in the state.

The Chief Minister's Office clarified that this will be one time assistance.

KCR said that to get this assistance, private educational institutions' teachers and other staff should apply to the District Collector concerned with their bank account details and other relevant information.

KCR instructed Education Minister Sabita Indra Reddy, Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar and Government's Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma to hold a videoconference on Friday at the state secretariat in this regard.

All the District Collectors, District Education Officers and Civil Supplies Department's District Supply Officers will participate in the conference. Orders for the implementation of the required guidelines and an action plan will be issued.
What would you do if you witnessed a crime? The Bystander Effect explains why people hesitate to help. (Photo: Getty Images)

If you saw someone being harassed or assaulted in a busy public place, what would you do?

Psychologists have long explored that question with the bystander effect, "a phenomenon in which people fail to offer needed help in emergencies, especially when other people are present in the same setting," according to the American Psychological Association. It sounds unimaginable to doing nothing when someone is suffering, but the theory may explain how the assault of an Asian woman in New York City could have unfolded without intervention by two prominent witnesses.

This week, two doormen who worked at an apartment building were fired for disregarding emergency protocols as Vilma Kari, 65, a Filipino-American woman who was walking to church was punched and kicked to the ground by a man named Brandon Elliot who yelled anti-Asian statements. Apartment building security cameras captured not only the unprovoked attack that left Kari hospitalized but also the nonresponse of employees who instead closed the entrance door and did not call 911 (a union that represents the workers alleges that because Elliott had a knife, the employees waited until he fled before flagging down a cop car). The incident ignited outrage and Mayor Bill de Blasio called the workers' actions "absolutely unacceptable," urging the "crucial" need for interventional bystander training.

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The bystander effect was first studied in 1968 by psychologists Bibb Latane and John Darley, four years after the 1964 murder case of Catherine Kitty Genovese, 28, a bar manager who was stabbed to death by a stranger in her Queens, N.Y. neighborhood, in the early morning hours. According to a 1964 New York Times article titled "37 Who Saw Murder Didn't Call the Police; Apathy at Stabbing of Queens Woman Shocks Inspector," neighbors did little as Genovese screamed for help, save for opening windows and turning on lights, although one man shouted, "Let that girl alone!" Thirty minutes passed before a neighbor called the police, only after much deliberation. "I didn't want to get involved," he said. Other neighbors misinterpreted what they heard ("We thought it was a lover's quarrel," said one) or were "tired." Later, details of the case were questioned (even by the New York Times), such as the number of bystanders and their comprehension of the attack.

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Latane and Darley determined that people (regardless of personality type) are likelier to help others when they're the sole witness versus one in a group. People arent insensitive to victims, they argued in their landmark study, but personal responsibility diminishes in a crowd, along with fear of being personally blamed for inaction. "A person witnessing an emergency situation, particularly such a frightening and dangerous one as a stabbing, is in conflict," they wrote. "There are obvious humanitarian norms about helping the victim, but there are also rational and irrational fears about what might happen to a person who does intervene" such as potential physical harm to oneself, public embarrassment and police interaction. In the case of Genovese, they theorized, bystanders concealed in their own apartments, could have assumed that help was on the way.

However, newer research challenges the bystander effect. Last year, a team led by Richard Philpot, a research fellow at Lancaster University, analyzed 219 real-life altercations caught on CCTV cameras in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and South Africa and found that in 90 percent of situations, at least one witness intervened, by either making peaceful gestures, consoling victims or physically stopping aggressors. "Finally, we find that increased bystander presence is related to a greater likelihood that someone will intervene," wrote the study authors. "Taken together these findings allay the widespread fear that bystanders rarely intervene to help. We argue that it is time for psychology to change the narrative away from an absence of help and toward a new understanding of what makes intervention successful or unsuccessful."

The anti-harassment movement Hollaback! and the nonprofit organization Alteristic, are trying with the "5 Ds of Bystander Intervention," a five-step approach to helping crime victims. "We often see emergencies through our own lens, personality traits or cultural norms," Kristen Parks, vice-president of programs at Alteristic, tells Yahoo Life. "And research shows us that bias based on race, gender and sexuality also affects how individuals respond to perceived risks." For example, a bystander might worry about perpetuating negative stereotypes by intervening with perceived aggressive behavior or someone who hates conflict could freeze up and fail to act.

Parks adds, "Most people would say 'absolutely' when asked if they would intervene in a [hypothetical] situation where a woman was assaulted in a park. But in order to learn realistic and safe intervention methods, we have to discuss what makes it so hard."

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Emily May, the co-founder and executive director of Hollaback!, tells Yahoo Life that personal safety should be prioritized when executing the 5 Ds, which represent distract, delegate, document, delay and direct, in no particular order.

In the first, bystanders create a distraction to stop the aggressor. "You can drop something, scream loudly or start a casual conversation with the victim if the harassment is verbal," she says. One witness to Karis attack tried that, according to daughter Elizabeth Karis GoFundMe page for her mother's medical expenses. "There were many times that I wish someone would have stepped in," she wrote. "However, what this video did not capture was that there was someone who was standing across the street that witnessed my mom getting attacked who yelled and screamed to get the assailants attentionto this person, I understand your decision in remaining anonymous during this time. I want to THANK YOU for stepping in and doing the right thing."

A bystander could also delegate by finding help. "You could call the police, but [depending on the circumstance] we recommend checking in with the victim since communities of color may not feel safer with police presence," says May. "You could also say to another witness, 'Hey, do you see whats going on here?' so everyone is aware of what's happening."

From a safe distance, document the incident on your cell phone and give the footage to the victim, without posting it online or utilizing it without permission. Hollaback! recommends capturing any geographical information such as street signs that would identify the scene.

Bystanders can "delay" their response by hanging around the scene to comfort the victim. "Even if you cant act in the moment, you can make a difference for the person who has been harassed by checking in on them after the fact," according to the organization, especially if the incident happened in passing or very quickly." One finding from a Hollaback! survey conducted with the Worker Institute at Cornell University found that even a knowing look made a positive influence on the victim. Or, offer to accompany him or her to a destination or help file a police report.

If it feels safe to do so, bystanders can "direct," by drawing a boundary. "Saying, 'Don't hurt her' or 'Step away,' without getting into a back-and-forth with the harasser," says May. "Then, turn your attention to the victim and prioritize their care."

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Massimo Bottura: when art and food collide

Italys most feted chef has art everywhere in his restaurant, his hotel and his home. Visiting him in the summer of 2019, Maia Morgensztern discovered how the artists in his collection, from Ugo Rondinone to Damien Hirst, have influenced him

Should I add some prosciutto? Fumbling around in his kitchen, Massimo Bottura, the chef behind the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, is making a snack. We have just arrived at his home, a few kilometres from Modenas medieval city centre. The motor of his white Maserati is still warm in the driveway. Around me, art is everywhere. Works by Ai Weiwei, Joseph Beuys, Cindy Sherman and Michelangelo Pistoletto are dotted all over the ground floor. Downstairs, Bottura happily poses in front of a large painting by Ugo Rondinone. He and his wife Lara Gilmore had been lusting after the work for so long that they didnt think twice before raising a paddle when it came up at auction. On the way home, they just hoped it would fit somewhere in the house. It did not. We had to dig into the basement to accommodate the painting! Bottura laughs. We move to the living room, a plate of fresh vegetables and prosciutto in hand, and sit on a purple sofa facing a huge sculpture by Allora & Calzadilla. A perfect view to start our conversation. Art is everywhere around you: in your house, in your restaurant and in your boutique hotel, Casa Maria Luigia. When did you first start collecting? Art and music have always been part of my life. Im from Modena. At home, bel canto opera and 19th-century art formed the basis of our education. As I grew older, I started reading about Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Futurism, etc.

At Casa Maria Luigia, Annette Lemieux, Hellos and Goodbyes, 1994 (detail), Barbara Kruger, Untitled (Go/Stay), 2006, and Jonathan Borofsky, Half a sailboat painting no. 2, 1984 (detail). Photograph by Thomas Chene. Artworks:  Annette Lemieux, Emilio Mazzoli Galleria, Modena, Italy and Mitchell Innes and Nash NYC.  Jonathan Borofsky. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York

Until I hit a wall. For me, art was all over after Duchamp. I wasnt planning on changing my mind until I met Lara in New York in 1993. She tried to pull me towards contemporary art, step by step. I eventually discovered things I could not see before. Lara made the invisible visible, and we started buying works together. Your collection includes works by Piero Manzoni, Barbara Kruger, Duane Hanson, Maurizio Cattelan, Carsten Holler and Tracey Emin, many of which have a tongue-in-cheek undertone. Do you think humour is an easy way to draw people to art? Absolutely. At Osteria Francescana, we regularly have customers complaining about a rubbish bag in the hallway. Gavin Turks bronze-cast sculpture Trash is a playful way to begin a conversation, but the piece also marks the location of our old kitchen.

Duane Hanson, Security Guard, 1990, at Osteria Francescana. Photograph by Thomas Chene. Artwork:  Estate of Duane Hanson/VAGA at ARS, NY and DACS, London 2021

It was so small we had to constantly take the rubbish out, sometimes during service. And look at where we are now. Beyond collecting art, the restaurants menu is filled with dishes referencing specific works. Where does your inspiration come from? Inspiration comes from everywhere, but invariably I come back to art because it has this capacity to quote the past while reinventing it. I am just adding a layer to the story. In 2012, I was invited to cook at Casa Italia, the countrys official hub during the London Olympics. Damien Hirst participated in the festivities by loaning a spin painting to a fast-food restaurant. Beautiful, psychedelic spin-painted veal, not flame-grilled was my take on Hirsts collaboration. I used Chianina beef, not veal, rolled it in carbon ash and vacuum-packed it.

Massimo Botturas Damien Hirst-inspired dish, Beautiful, psychedelic spin-painted veal, not flame-grilled. Photo: Courtesy of Osteria Francescana

Once cooked, it was completely black on the outside and perfectly pink inside, as if it had been grilled. This was a nod to the so-called flame-grilled image of the fast-food industry. I finished the plate by spinning a tricolour sauce on it, a la Hirst. The sculpture behind you, called Sled, is by Joseph Beuys. The work refers to Tatar shamans who supposedly saved the artists life after his plane crashed. They wrapped him in felt and fat. My dish The crunchy part of the lasagna refers to the sculpture. As an Italian, lasagna is part of our mythology, what children crave, what comforts us. Your collection is clearly an inspiration. What do the artworks in the restaurant have to say about your food? Look at Elger Essers photograph of the Po River, which is hanging next to Bosco Sodis burnt tondo. The works are begging you to ask: What was better, 30 years ago when the river was healthy and filled with fish for everyone, or now? Bosco Sodis cracked soil is screaming: Stop using chemicals, because Im dying! If we dont act now, our resources will eventually dry up. Thats why I put those two pieces there. But is a restaurant the right place to start a debate? I like to think so. I hope people who come to the restaurant have a good time, but I feel it is also my responsibility to talk about wider issues. Art is a great way to start a difficult conversation. For example, the dish Burnt alludes to a work by Glenn Ligon, To Disembark, which deals with slavery.

Maurizio Cattelan, Tourists, 1997 (detail), at Osteria Francescana. Photograph by Thomas Chene. Artwork:  Maurizio Cattelan

Your activism goes further though. Sylvie Fleurys sculpture Golden Bin sparked the birth of your non-profit organisation promoting social awareness about food waste and hunger. How did that happen? I bought Golden Bin in 2014, and had a revelation: garbage is gold. Milan Expo was coming up, so it was the perfect opportunity to redefine what people think of as waste. We came up with a simple idea: our Refettorio offered to feed those in need, with meals made using leftover ingredients from the fair. We repurposed unwanted food into beautiful dishes cooked by the worlds best chefs, and filled the place with what we love. Architects, artists, designers  everyone joined in. I wanted to keep the concept alive, and Food for Soul was born in 2016. It was important to create something both meaningful and beautiful, because through beauty you can rebuild peoples dignity.

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Is beauty really enough to jump-start and maintain a sense of community? You cannot start a revolution with beauty, but you will need it to make it work, because thats what brings people together. Oops! I dropped the lemon tart is probably your most famous dish. Could it be considered an artwork? This is probably the only dish I could consider an artwork. I was in New York and stumbled upon a group show of artists attempting to perfectly rebuild the same imperfection, over and over again. The moment stayed in my head, and when my sous-chef Taka Kondo accidentally dropped a lemon tart, I connected the two.

A kitchen mishap artfully recreated: Oops! I dropped the lemon tart. Photo: Paul Terzi

We worked very hard to recreate the mishap. We also designed a plate that looks as if it has been smashed on the floor. Its almost art. But its not art? A chef is an artisan. Take this Merda dartista can. Manzoni was free to do whatever he wanted. I could never go as far as he did because, at the end of the day, a chef has to cook good food. This is our job. You have defined your cuisine as an attempt to reinvent the archetype of Italian food. Do we need to break with tradition to move forward? Think about Ai Weiwei breaking a 2,000-year-old vase. It reminds me that tradition is always there, even if you try to erase it. My heritage, my grandmother, and the grandmother of my grandmother: theyre all there, no matter what I do. My father had an oil company, which distributed gas and kerosene. I bought Allora & Calzadillas Petrified Petrol Pump because it is heavy and impossible to move, just like my past. I always look to the future, but I dont have to forget where I come from. This is what I mean by reinventing the archetype.

Massimo Botturas hand with detail of Carlo Benvenuto, Untitled, 2013. Photograph by Thomas Chene. Artwork: Courtesy the Artist and Galleria Mazzoli
(Natural News) The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) headed by Anthony Fauci may have had a hand in the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus (COVID-19).

A recent report by the Epoch Times revealed that an oversight board created to scrutinize research that would enhance highly dangerous pathogens did not review a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant that funded a lab in Wuhan, China to genetically modify bat-based coronaviruses.

NIAID, a sub-agency under NIH, awarded the grant to the nonprofit group EcoHealth Alliance to study Chinese bat coronaviruses.

The grant apparently ended up funding scientists conducting gain-of-function research, a risky area of study that makes a virus even more contagious  in this case, a SARS-like virus. (Related: Fauci Virus: Shocking new evidence proves covid-19 began with Dr. Anthony Fauci and NIAID.)

NIAID did not flag EcoHealth grant for independent review

The government stopped funding gain-of-function research in 2014 after lab workers were accidentally exposed to anthrax by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The incident came on the heels of widespread scientific outcry in 2011 when it was revealed that laboratories in Wisconsin and the Netherlands were intentionally modifying the H5N1 bird flu virus so it could more effectively jump between ferrets.

Federally funded gain-of-function research resumed in late 2017 after the Potential Pandemic Pathogens Control and Oversight (P3CO) framework was formed within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The review board is tasked with critically evaluating whether grants that involve enhancing dangerous pathogens are worth the risks and that proper safeguards are in place.

However, NIAID did not flag the EcoHealth grant for independent review by P3CO.

A spokesperson for the NIH explained why NIAID did not flag the EcoHealth grant for review.

After careful review of the grant, NIAID determined research in the grant was not gain-of-function research because it did not involve the enhancement of the pathogenicity or transmissibility of the viruses studied, the spokesperson said. We would not submit research proposals that did not meet the definition, because otherwise we would need to submit everything.

An HHS spokesperson confirmed that the P3CO only reviews research grants that are flagged for additional review by funding agencies.

Richard Ebright, professor of chemical biology at Rutgers University said the offices of the director for the NIAID and the NIH have systematically thwarted  indeed systematically nullified  the HHS P3CO framework by declining to flag and forward proposals for review.

Ebright asserted that NIAID was wrong to determine that the EcoHealth grant did not involve enhancing the transmissibility of Chinese bat-based coronaviruses. He said the projects abstract for the 2019 fiscal year, which referenced in vitro and in vivo infection experiments on coronaviruses, unequivocally required risk-benefit review under the HHS P3CO framework.

EcoHealth transfers $600,000 to Wuhan Institute of Virology

The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) is at the center of widespread speculation that SARS-CoV-2 might have accidentally leaked from a lab into the human population. EcoHealths grant to study bat-based coronaviruses in China included the transfer of $600,000 to the WIV. (Related: American taxpayer money funneled to Wuhan to build coronavirus bioweapon.)

Had EcoHealths grant been subjected to P3CO review, an HHS panel would have independently evaluated the grant. If necessary, it would have recommended additional biocontainment measures to prevent potential lab leaks or it would have recommended that the grant be denied entirely.

The WIV is a biosafety level 4 laboratory, which is the highest level biocontainment certification, but U.S. Embassy officials issued two diplomatic cables warning about inadequate safety at the lab after a visit in 2018. According to the Washington Post, one of the cables warned that the labs work on bat-based coronaviruses represented the risk of a new SARS-like pandemic.

An annex to the World Health Organizations COVID-19 origin report describes the WIVs work using recombinant viruses in tests involving bat coronaviruses, which Ebright said are descriptions of gain-of-function research.

Other scientists also said EcoHealths NIH-funded work in China involved gain-of-function research on bat-based coronaviruses.

It is hard to overemphasize that the central logic of this grant was to test the pandemic potential of SARS-related bat coronaviruses by making ones with pandemic potential, either through genetic engineering or passaging, or both, Drs. Jonathan Latham and Allison Wilson wrote in June last year.

Ecohealth also has a history of manipulating bat-based coronaviruses. The groups president, Peter Daszak, said as much during a podcast interview filmed in Singapore just weeks before the first reported cases of COVID-19 in Wuhan in December 2019.

You can manipulate them in the lab pretty easily, Daszak said. Spike protein drives a lot of what happens with the coronavirus. Zoonotic risk. So you can get the sequence, you can build the protein  and we work with Ralph Baric at the University of North Carolina to do this  and insert the backbone of another virus and do some work in the lab.

The NIH terminated the EcoHealth grant in April 2020. NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research Michael Lauer told the group in a letter that the agency does not believe that the current project outcomes align with the program goals and agency priorities.

NIH funds gain-of-function experiments involving SARS-CoV

On Dec. 19, 2017, the NIH announced that they would resume funding gain-of-function experiments involving influenza, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV).

Four years prior, the NIH decided to suspend funding for gain-of-function studies involving influenza, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV when over 200 scientists signed the Cambridge Working Group declaration arguing for a cessation of experiments creating potential pandemic pathogens until there has been a quantitative, objective and credible assessment of the risks, potential benefits, and opportunities for risk mitigation, as well as comparison against safer experimental approaches.

Carrie Wolinetz, head of the NIH Office of Science Policy, said: Gain-of-function experiments allow us to understand how pandemic viruses evolve, so that we can make predictions, develop countermeasures, and do disease surveillance.

Gain-of-function experiments are typically done in biosafety level 3+ facilities. Such facilities have excellent records and are long-accustomed to handling dangerous material.

Follow Pandemic.news for more news and information related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

TheLancet.com
Sheriffs in Michigan are seeking an arrest warrant for a 37-year-old woman on child abuse charges after her four-month-old baby was found abandoned in the woods.

The little boy was discovered by Oakland Sheriffs lying face down by the banks of a river in woodlands in Orion Township, midway between Detroit and Flint.

Mike Bouchard, sheriff of Oakland County, said the baby was in a hypothermic state, and taken to hospital, but was expected to recover fully from his ordeal.

It was not clear how long the baby had been left alone, he said.

'Thankfully, deputies were able to determine that a baby was missing, which triggered an immediate large response and search,' he said.

Oakland County Sheriffs are seen on Wednesday wrapping the baby in warm blankets

Thirteen sheriffs patrol cars were involved, with K9 and drone support.

'Their quick work avoided what could have been an unspeakable tragedy,' he added.

Bouchard's team was alerted at 8:35am on Wednesday to a lone woman hiding in the bushes.

Neighbors called 911 and said she was visibly distressed, insisting that someone was chasing her with guns.

Oakland County Sheriffs dispatched 13 patrol cars to assist with the search for the baby

Police managed to track her down and speak to her, and tried to calm her.

They said she 'gave some information they did not believe was accurate', but they learnt she had an infant son.

Debris from the woods on her pants suggested that the child could be in the woodland, and so they began combing the area.

Bouchard said in a statement they believe she had been abusing prescription drugs.

The baby has been taken into care.
ACKO Insurance, one of Indias leading digital insurance companies, announced its partnership with Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals for the latest installment of the nations most popular T20 tournament.

ACKO joins hands with both the finalists from the last season, taking on the role of the teams official insurance partner. As part of this collaboration, the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals players will be sporting the ACKO logo.

The association with Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals will be amplified with a 360-degree campaign across television, digital and social media platforms in the weeks to follow. ACKO has also planned a series of activations across platforms for engaging with the audience and driving brand recall. This includes an online contest called Catch the Logo on days when the MI/DC teams are playing, giving the audience a chance to win an opportunity to virtually interact with players.

Commenting on the partnerships, Ashish Mishra, Executive Vice President - Marketing, ACKO General Insurance, said, We are pleased to be associated with two of the leading teams in the tournament - the Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. With their tremendous appeal and fan base, we aim to introduce the ACKO brand to newer audiences and cater to their protection and car insurance needs. These collaborations provide an avenue to connect with a larger consumer base and further strengthen our presence in new and existing markets.

A Mumbai Indians spokesperson said, We welcome ACKO Insurance to the Mumbai Indians One Family for the upcoming season. It is encouraging to have a brand partner which resonates the same passion and commitment towards becoming the leader and continues to be the best. We look forward to a successful association with ACKO this season.

Vinod Bisht, Interim CEO, Delhi Capitals, said, We are very pleased to collaborate with ACKO once again this year. They are a young brand, striving to scale new heights, just like our team, vibrant with the energy of youth, and aiming to better our performance each year. I am confident this will be a successful partnership for both of us once again.




South Korea's health authorities on Thursday said they will resume administering AstraZeneca vaccines one day after suspending the vaccination program for certain groups over its safety, saying they will officially decide the issue over the weekend.



On Wednesday, the country suspended the use of vaccines by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant and Oxford University for people under age 60, special education instructors and school nurses.



The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) stressed the need to continue with the nationwide inoculation program as the benefits of administering the vaccines outweigh the risks.



The KDCA said a team of outside experts will thoroughly review the latest rare cases of blood clots from both home and abroad, and announce the result over the weekend.



The European drug safety agency, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), is also due to announce the results of a review on whether some cases of blood clotting in adults are linked to the AstraZeneca shot.



The EMA earlier said it found rare cases of blood clots among some adult vaccine recipients, although the agency said the vaccine's advantages still outweighed the potential risks.




Sinopharm is one of the vaccines being used to inoculate the population.

The Ministry of Health is seeking to provide more information on the WHO approved vaccine which is produced by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products
Press Release

April 8, 2021 Pangilinan appeals to WHO to put PH on top of COVAX beneficiaries list SENATOR Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan appeals to the World Health Organization (WHO) to put the Philippines on top of the list of beneficiaries in its COVAX facility and deliver the urgently needed vaccines to help avert the collapse of the country's healthcare system. "Unahin na ng WHO ang Pilipinas sa mga beneficiary ng COVAX facility nila at i-deliver agad sa atin ang mga vaccines para hindi tuluyang mag-collapse ang ating healthcare system (We are urging WHO to put the Philippines on top of the list of beneficiaries in its COVAX facility and deliver to us the urgently needed vaccines to help avert the collapse of our healthcare system)," Pangilinan said. "Parang apoy na kumakalat ang Covid-19 at na-o-overwhelm na ang ating healthcare capacity. Umaasa tayong paninindigan ng international community na global public good ang vaccines, at sisiguraduhin ang abot-kaya at patas na access sa bakuna para sa lahat (Covid-19 is spreading like wildfire and overwhelming our healthcare capacity. We trust that the international community will live up to its commitment to treat vaccinations as a global public good, and ensure affordable, equitable, and fair access to vaccines for all)," he added. Lagging in its Covid response, the Philippines is experiencing the biggest surges in Covid cases, after failing to do free mass testing and tracing despite having one of the longest and strictest lockdowns. As of April 7, the country has recorded 819,164 total Covid cases, 158,701 active cases, and 14,059 Covid deaths. The senator also exhorts the government to work double time in talking with WHO, foreign governments, and vaccine manufacturers for the needed supply of the doses. "Hinihikayat din natin ang IATF na mas agresibong makipag-negotiate sa WHO para sa agarang delivery at nang maiwasang lumala pa ang sitwasyon at tumawid tayo sa sinasabing 'red line' ng WHO at maging humanitarian crisis (We urge the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to aggressively negotiate with WHO for an earlier delivery in order to prevent worsening the situation and crossing what WHO calls the 'red line' into a humanitarian crisis)," he added. Pangilinan rued that since the government started negotiating for the vaccines, only a little over a million doses have arrived in the country. Arrival of a few million doses from abroad has faced several delays. "Pumupunta ang mga tao, lalo na ang mga senior natin, sa mga vaccination site pero umuuwi silang hindi nababakunahan dahil kulang ang bakuna. Ganyan kalala ang sitwasyon (People, including our senior citizens, go to vaccination sites but go home without getting the jab because there are no more vaccines. This is how dire our situation is)," he said. COVAX, an abbreviation for the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access initiative, aims to provide equitable access to vaccines worldwide to low- and middle-income countries.
The cannabis products maker said the deal with the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation expands its distribution network to five Canadian provinces

Inc ( ) ( ) (FRA:7LV) said it has entered into an agreement with the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation to supply and distribute a wide range of cannabis products to LGCA-licensed private retailers in the Canadian province of Manitoba.

The cannabis products maker said the deal expands its distribution network to five provinces in the country, with its business already sending products to Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.

Valens said it has already shipped several products to Manitoba, including A1 Cannabis' Summit 10 THC beverages, Verse Cannabis' Tropic Lemon and Sunset Peach vape carts, and 1:20 CBD oil, with additional product formats across various categories expected to be shipped in the coming weeks.

Expansion into other Canadian provinces and territories such as Quebec is expected in the short term, the company said, adding that discussions are continuing with provincial and territorial boards and private retailers.

"Expanding our domestic distribution capabilities is one of our top strategic initiatives to drive growth this year and beyond. Our entry into the Manitoba market takes us a step further toward capturing larger market share and bringing the Valens advantage to consumers in a new province, enabling greater access to our high-quality products across Canada," Valens chief executive, co-founder, and chair Tyler Robson said in a statement.

Contact the author at calum@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @Cal_Proac
Mumbai, April 8 : Actress Anupria Goenka loves working with newcomers who have a distinct voice, and it is the reason she agreed to star in one of the films of an untitled upcoming anthology, set to release on OTT. The film also features Girish Kulkarni.

The actress is part of a thriller story that revolves around love in today's time.

"I saw the trailer of one of the shorts in the anthology that they had done with Girish Kulkarni and I really liked it. I went with my gut feeling because I believe in working with newcomers who have a voice. We had a wonderful shoot and it was a great two-to-three day affair with the entire crew being new but extremely passionate," Anupria tells IANS.

The short film is being directed by Deepankar Prakash who, Anupriya feels "has interesting directorial sensibilities".

"I just took a leap of faith with this new team based on the script," she added.
Deputy Foreign Minister and seasoned diplomat Bui Thanh Son was appointed foreign minister on Thursday, one of 12 new ministers and department heads named by the new government.

The 59-year-old, who has a bachelor's degree in diplomacy and a master's degree in international relations, has largely been in diplomacy, having been deputy department chief and deputy director of what is now the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam between 1996 and 2000, counsellor and envoy at the Vietnamese embassy in Singapore from 2000 to 2003, deputy chief of the Department of Foreign Policy from 2003 to 2007, and its chief from 2007 to 2008.

In 2008-09 he was assistant to the minister of foreign affairs before becoming deputy minister of foreign affairs.

His predecessor, Pham Binh Minh, relinquishes his ministerial responsibilities but continues to be a deputy prime minister.

On Thursday the National Assembly approved the 12 new ministers and department heads, and two deputy ministers in new Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs cabinet.
Latvia supports the provision of a NATO Membership Action Plan to Ukraine amid the escalation of the situation by Russia, according to Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics.

He said this in an interview with national broadcaster LTV Zinu Dienests, the Ukrainian Embassy in Latvia reported.

"We are watching closely how Russia brings its troops to Ukraine's borders. It is not clear at this time what this is: a show of force or real aggression. But there is every reason to worry. [...] Ukraine has been trying to join NATO for 15 years by obtaining a Membership Action Plan. Apparently, it is time to provide this Plan to Ukraine. This will be at least a signal from us [NATO] that Ukrainians will not be left without support. I will definitely support such a decision," Rinkevics said.

Earlier, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that Lithuania would propose that NATO Allies provide the Membership Action Plan (MAP) to Ukraine, thus allowing the country to become a member of the Alliance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stressed the importance of granting Ukraine the NATO MAP.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference in Brussels on February 9, following talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, that NATO Allies recognized Ukraine as a potential candidate for NATO membership and provided practical assistance in implementing reforms to meet NATO standards.

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Judge Blocks Attempt to Limit Beshear COVID Orders

By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - A Kentucky judge temporarily blocked another attempt by Republican lawmakers to restrict Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd extended a temporary injunction Wednesday.It applies to a measure passed over the governors veto.The measure specifies which of Beshears pandemic-related orders would remain in place should the GOP-led legislature win its a legal fight with the governor.The measure is House Joint Resolution 77.It was passed in response to Shepherds previous order temporarily blocking Republican-backed laws that threatened to invalidate Beshears COVID-related orders.
(Natural News) The personal data of more than 500 million Facebook users became public following a breach on the social media platform. On April 3, a member of a low-level hacking forum published the data  containing phone numbers, full names, email addresses and other information. The breach compromised over 533 million users from 106 countries including the U.S., U.K. and India.

Business Insider confirmed the veracity of the leaked data by testing some of the email addresses and phone numbers in the set. According to a Facebook spokesperson, the data had been obtained due to a vulnerability the company patched in 2019. Now that the data set has been publicized, anyone with rudimentary data skills can access it for their use. The news outlet attempted to get in touch with the hacking forum member but did not get a response.

Hudson Rock Chief Technology Officer Alon Gal first discovered the leaked data set in January. The executive of the cybercrime intelligence firm expressed concern that the cybercriminals could use the information for nefarious purposes. A database of that size containing the private information would certainly lead to bad actors taking advantage of the data, he commented. Gal first caught wind of the leaked data when a user in the same forum promoted an automated bot that could provide phone numbers for troves of Facebook users  for a price.

The Hudson Rock CTO said that Facebook could not do much to help users affected by the breach, given that their data is already exposed. However, Gal said that Facebook could remind its users moving forward to be on the lookout for phishing schemes or other fraudulent activities using their data.

Individuals signing up to a reputable company like Facebook are trusting them with their data, and Facebook [is] supposed to treat the data with utmost respect. Users having their personal information leaked is a huge breach of trust  and should be handled accordingly, Gal remarked. (Related: Facebook tramples on privacy law by illegally tracking internet users without consent.)

Facebook appears to be dismissive of data privacy despite past breaches

While the social media site managed to fix the aforementioned 2019 vulnerability, information extracted during that breach is included in the recent leaked data. The breach enabled unscrupulous actors to scrape millions of phone numbers from Facebook servers, violating the platforms terms of service.

Bad actors managed to exploit the Facebook issue in 2019, resulting in the data set posted in the hacker forum more than a year later. An article published in The Conversation surmised that it was likely acquired through a misuse of legitimate functions in the Facebook system. Such incidents can occur when parties utilize a websites seemingly innocent feature for an unexpected purpose.

Facebook data had been compromised before.

In March 2018, the social media site headed by Mark Zuckerberg issued a statement claiming that a psychology professor at the University of Cambridge named Aleksandr Kogan violated Facebooks platform policies by passing data from an app that was using Facebook login to Cambridge Analytica  a firm that does political, government and military work around the world.

The British consultancy firm obtained data belonging to over 80 million Facebook users, utilizing it for targeted political advertisements.

A TechCrunch report in 2019 said that Facebook employees had raised the alarm bells on Cambridge Analytica as early as September 2015. A Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing noted that the social media company was already aware of concerns raised by staff members assigned to the political advertising unit. Facebook staffers described the British data firm as a sketchy data modeling company that has penetrated our market deeply.

The SEC filing also noted that Facebook had no specific policies or procedures in place to assess or analyze these potential concerns. (Related: Trust crisis looms over tech industry as public grows weary of privacy scandals.)

Facebook itself later severed ties with Cambridge Analytica and its parent company Strategic Communication Laboratories. In a March 2018 statement, the social media site clarified that there was no data breach. Instead, it said that people consented to providing their data  but these pieces of information were forwarded to third parties without the users consent. Facebook also reiterated its commitment to vigorously enforcing [its] policies to protect peoples information.

We will take whatever steps are required to see that this happens  including legal action if necessary, the social media giant stated.

Visit FacebookCollapse.com to read more stories about issues surrounding the social media sites data privacy.

Sources include:

BusinessInsider.com

TheConversation.com

TechCrunch.com

About.FB.com
New Delhi:

Despite the Tamil Nadu state government efforts to control the vector-borne disease, dengue, the number of dengue cases this year has also only risen. The city has registered around 131 cases of dengue this year and as per the records, more than 7,000 cases have observed.

On Saturday, three children died in the hospitals. The victims have been identified as 6-year-old Sanjana from Nellore, 3-year-old Joy Benita from Ambattur and 6-year-old Divya, also from Ambattur.

Due to low platelet counts, Sanjana was being treated at the Egmore Children's Hospital, while Joy Benita was admitted to the Kilpauk Hospital a few days ago.

Dean Dr. Ravi Chandran said, The girl was referred from a private hospital in Chennai in a state of shock and was admitted to the hospital and survived for 12 hours.

Also Read: Upsurge in swine flu cases, Delhi witnesses 320 cases so far



Amidst rising dengue cases, the health secretary has requested patients to go for checkup doctor if the fever persists and emphasized that measures should be taken to control dengue and ensure that there was no stagnating water in their homes or nearby areas. He also appealed to people to take their children to government hospitals.

According to the health secretary, the government hospitals are well-equipped to handle the dengue and appealed to people to take their children to government hospitals.

Although the state health department claims that they are taking effective measures to control the spread of diseases and has made an allocation of 13.95 crore for control measures but due to the paucity of staff and facilities at Primary Health Centers (PHCs), the city is unable to emerge from the challenge for doctors in the treatment of the fever and dengue patients.

While the pediatric ward needs at least 6 doctors, there are only 3, making it difficult to render services round the clock. Our first concern is lack of staff and then machinery, as enough staff is needed to use them, said a staff at Pediatric ward at PHC in West Mambalam.

Also Read: Hypertension, TB, Dengue cases spike in Delhi: Survey
International competition is escalating to dangerous levels, as China spurns calls for compliance with the liberal international order, Ali Aslan, a Faculty Member at the Political Science and International Relations Department of Ibn Haldun University and a researcher at the SETA Foundations Society and Culture Directorate, states in his article for Anadolu Agency.

US President Joe Bidens biggest promise on foreign policy during the campaign trail was to revive the liberal international order. Biden has so far taken a few steps in this direction. He has brought the US back into the Paris Agreement. He has restored his countrys membership in the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Human Rights Council. On the other hand, he has made some important moves toward establishing closer relations with Asian and European allies. This resurgence of institutionalism, however, is not limited to the fulfillment of US commitments to Asian and European allies that were broken during Trumps presidency, nor to the countrys reconnection with international institutions. It also includes integrating powers capable of competing with the US, and especially China, into the liberal institutional order. This would obviously be a strategic move and would not mark the end of the US-China rivalry. The US needs to cut China in on the rewards of the liberal international order, and China, in exchange, must accept US leadership and obey the norms and rules that constitute this order. The US, understandably, wants to wage its (now inevitable) hegemonic struggle with China on its own terms. The US reckons that it could thus fend off Chinas rise before it becomes an open challenge or without triggering a cold/hot conflict, or at the very least that it could avoid a sharp and rapid downfall by protracting its relative decline against China. And, most fundamentally, the US is expected to maintain its leadership status in international politics for a little while longer.

Institutions and power

That international institutions play a decisive role in interstate affairs means that power politics and conflict give way to economic cooperation and multilateralism. This is also aimed at persuading states to build institutional structures to restrain themselves, and thus eliminating any possibilities of mutual distrust and conflict brought on by anarchy. This situation usually ensues from the emergence of clear supremacy in favor of one of the opposing sides following a major war. The institutional order is then embraced by the losing side to avoid buckling under heavy punishments, as well as by the victor to perpetuate its dominance, or, in other words, to extend its rule and make it less costly. These were precisely the circumstances that arose as a result of the Second World War. A liberal international order was built under US leadership, and many countries outside the Soviet sphere of influence became integrated into it.

After more than half a century, US President Donald Trump attempted to render this order dysfunctional by turning his back on it. His rationale was that institutional structures had been harming US interests. According to Trump, the very institutions that were supposed to protect US interests had actually been undermining US power and stacking the deck in favor of its rivals. It was not for nothing that the Chinese government stated at the time that they were expecting the United States to remain faithful to the liberal international order, which was very ironic. Trump kept advocating that the current security regime, and especially NATO, was costing the US disproportionately. It was, however, neither reasonable nor possible to scrap a long-established institution like NATO at the drop of a hat. For this reason, the Trump administration kept bringing up the need for their European allies to step up to the plate, economically and militarily. Their European allies were, on the other hand, firing salvos at the Trump administration, claiming that the brain death of NATO had already occurred. The situation on the economic front was no different. On the one hand, the US was running trade deficits with China due to the current trade regime and gradually losing its technological superiority. Markets dominated by companies operating on a global scale, on the other hand, were weakening US economic interests. The US government was collecting less taxes, its domestic companies competitive capabilities were eroding, production was falling, and unemployment was increasing. Under the given circumstances, according to Trump, an economically nationalist and isolated America untrammeled by institutional structures could do better.

Trumps critical and distrustful attitude towards institutional structures was something any other realist politician would display. Trump, a realist, assessed the relationship between institutional structures and power in a different light than liberals. Liberals saw institutions as structures independent of and neutral to states while realists considered them as structures that should, instead, be serving the interests of the most powerful state under the leadership of that state itself. Liberals accord considerable sovereignty to institutions. They view them as mechanisms that counterbalance state sovereigntys potential to sabotage the economic space. They regard it as a reasonable medium operating between the impossible-to-establish world government and the anarchical order, which gives the state and politics plenty of space. For realists, sovereignty in international politics unconditionally belongs to the state and must remain so. Liberals believe that institutions carry a potential for reining in international anarchy while also softening (or even transcending) power politics. Realists, on the other hand, believe that institutions should not have a constraining effect against the strongest state. In fact, if an institution has become an impediment to the strongest state, it must be ignored and cast aside, because power -- not institutions or anything else -- is the truly decisive element in international politics.

Realism, liberalism, and grand strategy

This fundamental divide naturally results in the US employing various strategies against China, a state with the potential to pose a threat and a challenge to US leadership. A US president with liberal views, such as Biden, is expected to employ a strategy that not only seeks to incorporate China into the liberal institutional order but in the meantime offers its adversary some leeway and flexibility commensurate with its strength. It would be appropriate to call this a win-win formula focused on emphasizing common interests. Realists like Trump, however, do not like this formula. They are more concerned with relative gains. They care about differences, not commonalities. They consider even the slightest gain obtained by an opponent to be a loss. Accordingly, the US strategy towards China is to disrupt the international institutional order that enabled China to thrive in the first place and to contain China by a variety of means, including the use of force.

Trump remained true to his principles and, despite all the criticism, followed this realist strategy to a large extent. Biden came to power by criticizing Trumps realist strategy, especially towards China. He vowed to alleviate the tensions heightened by the Trump administration against China (and also Iran) and to find non-military ways to resolve the disputes with these countries. However, the strained relations with China recently show that Biden will follow Trumps course, which he had criticized heavily. In fact, considering the statements and moves made so far, it could even be said that the Biden administration will pursue an even more confrontational and exclusionary strategy against China than the Trump administration.

The March 12 meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), which consists of the US, India, Australia, and Japan and is regarded by some experts as an Asian NATO, was a good example of this. The most striking part of the statement made following the summit was that the vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific had brought these four countries together. This vision first emerged at the October 2020 summit hosted by Japan. This time, however, it was expressed more forcefully. In addition, the closing statement of the summit promised to fight for a regional order that was free, transparent, inclusive, healthy, rooted in democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion. One can easily see that China is being intimidated here. The QUAD, which could be traced back to the early 2000s, was revitalized during Trumps term, beginning in 2017. The leaders of these four countries met a total of five times between 2017 and 2019. Joint military exercises have also been held within the scope of this initiative. Military drills conducted initially between the US and India developed by 2020 into a demonstration of military strength against China involving all four countries.

A war of words occurred, yet again, between the foreign ministry officials of the US and China who met in Alaska two weeks ago. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concern about human rights violations against Uyghur Turks in Chinas Xinjiang region, anti-democratic activities in Hong Kong and Taiwan, cyberattacks targeting the US, and economic pressures on US allies. Blinken emphasized that all of these practices were threatening the rules-based international order, that is, the liberal international order. Chinese Foreign Ministry officials, on the other hand, replied by saying that the US could no longer lecture China arrogantly and that those days were long gone. It was quite meaningful that, among the Chinese public, the Alaska meetings were compared to the humiliating Boxer Protocol signed in 1901 between China and the Eight-Nation Alliance, which was made up of the US and some prominent European countries. It was indicative of how the progress made by China in international politics was received by the Chinese population and how the increasing material capacity has strongly boosted the psychological confidence. In addition, Chinese officials stated that the US was trying to disrupt Chinas lawful trade relations with third countries by portraying them differently through the rhetoric of national security and to get certain countries to attack China, and expressed concern about the situation.

Missionary liberalism

The current situation clearly contradicts hopes of a softening in the run-up to the 2020 US presidential elections. This leads to debates over whether the US-China relations would devolve into a new cold war. So, we must ask, what happened to cause the Biden administration to abandon the liberal institutionalist strategy toward China that it had vowed to pursue before the election? There are two possible explanations for this. The first is liberalisms hypocrisy in international politics. Liberalism, on the one hand, has a pragmatist, soft and inclusive side that emphasizes international institutions and cooperation, and on the other, an ideological, harsh, and exclusionary side that does not shy away from shaping the world in its own image. The missionary viewpoint of the latter portrays politics as the clash of morally unequal political actors, that is, a clash between the good and the evil. In this regard, they moralize the image of realists power relations and confrontational international politics and carry them into the existentialist dimension, closing the doors to pluralism. The US attitude towards China (and all other states), as well as its patronizing, moralizing, and peremptory language, stems from liberalism, the countrys founding ideology. Hence, as the ideological dimension of liberalism gains clout, the Biden administration distances itself from the liberal institutional strategy.

So, how is the dark and ideological dimension of liberalism increasing its influence? The second statement would answer this: It is not possible for the US to restrain China by integrating it into its institutional order. As China grows stronger and the US leadership is called into question, the use of exclusionary language associated with liberal ideology becomes more prevalent. Trump realized this and did not pursue a liberal institutionalist strategy. He went for a realistic one. Biden, on the other hand, portrayed this as a weakness during his election campaign and used it against Trump. However, since the same political realities prevail, the Biden administration had to employ a similar strategy, but certainly with a significant difference: Trumps anti-China language made sense on the axis of nationalism, and a hierarchical relationship was not envisaged because China was being portrayed as a threat. The Biden administration, on the other hand, adopts a hierarchical attitude that attempts to discipline China while being anti-China. Neither of these courses of action is quite acceptable or rational in international politics. However, the discourteous attitude of the Biden administration has the potential to escalate international competition to dangerous levels. It is no coincidence that people are speculating about a new cold war. Beyond global bipolarity, the most distinctive feature of the Cold War was the intense ideological division and mutual marginalization. This situation brought the competition to an existential level, and the threats coming from the competitors began to appear more dangerous than they actually were, resulting in a harsh security dilemma. These events demonstrate an inconsistency and conflict on the part of the Biden administration. Nowadays, newspapers are rife with criticism from leftist groups as well as public intellectuals -- who we might call liberals in the American context -- resented by the Biden administration reneging on its election promises.

Future of US leadership

But, can the Biden administration smoothly sustain its current policy against China, which combines realism and liberal ideological strategies? The answer to this question depends on how other states in the international system will view and respond to the US-China power balance in the long run. In international politics, just as states can form an alliance that would balance out the state that wants to reform the existing order, that is, to revise the system as the underdog, they can also choose to partner with the revisionist state in order to reap the benefits of the new order. It is impossible to predict whether states will favor maintaining the status quo or a revision.

Today, we see that some states in East and Southeast Asia are attempting to counterbalance China by containing it with the US. The revival of the QUAD and attempts to turn it into a more serious platform is a sign of this. However, we also see that European countries are not necessarily responding positively to the US calls to strengthen their alliance relations. On the one hand, the view that acting together with China would create more economic opportunities is gaining momentum in Europe, while, on the other, that a rapprochement with the US would inevitably lead to a more confrontational relationship with Russia.

Considering Europes dependence on Russia, especially for natural gas, US calls for strengthening their alliance are not receiving a robust response. In addition to these two reasons, the actual deciding factor is that the decline in US power is recognized by European states, which then think that administrations akin to Trumps, which are more likely to leave Europe alone, will come to power in the US in the future. In this case, it is understandable why European states are reluctant to take a clear stance in the US-China conflict. In addition, it also causes other states within the system to steer a more cautious course in their dealings with the US, since a bipolar international system would provide them with more advantages and latitude. It also whets their appetite for Chinese overtures to them.

What all of these developments are telling us is that it is too early to say that a new cold war has begun. We cannot, however, let it go unsaid that, given past experiences, the conditions of hegemonic war -- the division of the system into status quoist and revisionist blocks, the uncertainty of alliance relations, and the normalization of the use of military power -- observed during periods of international system transformations, are becoming more prominent by the day.


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Workplace ergonomics enhancements can simultaneously help reduce risk factors that lead to musculoskeletal injuries while providing better human performance and productivity.

Now that so many people work from home, ergonomic workspaces, furniture, and design have become a key concern when setting up a home workplace or company offices of the future.

Alongside this demand is an escalation of online sales in the home furnishings industry.

The E-Commerce Times spoke with several ergonomic and e-commerce experts to get their perspective on this trend.

"I think the interest stems from the changes everybody has had to make during COVID," Karen Loesing, a certified ergonomic assessment specialist and owner of The Ergonomic Expert, told the E-Commerce Times. "Many people had never worked from home before and were ill-equipped."

People are, essentially, having to rethink how and where they work.

"Many have only a laptop or pad at home," explained Loesing. "When the average employee is going from two large monitors at work and suddenly finds themselves on the dining table with a laptop, it's a shock.

"While some businesses have allowed employees to take home some of their computer set up, some have not been so generous. Many companies have given a stipend, which can often include getting a remote ergonomic evaluation, which has been helpful."

Demand for New Products

With a new awareness of the importance of ergonomic furniture and design, there has been an increased demand for new ergonomic products.

"The most popular product has to be the height-adjustable desk," said Loesing. "Although, it may have seemed trendy at one time, I would say it's a rarity for someone not requesting to have the chance to work standing. Everybody is suddenly in the height-adjustable desk business.

"Prior to COVID, finding a height-adjustable desk under $500 wasn't really an option. Furniture dealers are coming up with all shapes, sizes and a range of prices to attract customers they might previously not have had."

In addition to adopting standing desks, people are also reconsidering other office essentials.

"Another hot product is probably the vertical mouse," said Loesing. "A vertical mouse places your arm in a handshake position, which is much easier on your entire upper extremity, especially if you have a painful shoulder. This position also alleviates compression to the carpal tunnel region in the wrist, which has always been an issue for intensive computer work."

Rethinking Business Environments

Businesses, too, are rethinking the design and layout of their spaces in an attempt to make them more ergonomic as well as more easily sanitized.

"Creating a work environment that is comfortable for all promotes healthier and happier employees and consumers, as well as making them feel that the environment isn't one size fits most," Kate Orara, marketing engagement manager for SpacePole, told the E-Commerce Times.

Some of these changes involve accounting for the extra demands placed by social distancing and other COVID-19 mitigation guidelines.

"With the current status and overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, store operators are looking for solutions that protect their employees as well as their customers," explained Orara. "[One of] our most popular solutions is the social-distancing payment paddle arm, which mounts a payment device to a lightweight extension arm that is great to use for payment at a drive-through or other curbside checkout."

Ergonomic Offices

Though many of the changes afoot have been prompted by the pandemic, increased attention to and awareness of the importance of ergonomic design will likely remain even after the pandemic is over.

"I hope future offices have spaces designed by function -- how people work," ergonomics expert Deborah Read, president of ErgoFit Consulting, told the E-Commerce Times.

"This would include quiet private spaces for head-down work at dedicated height-adjustable desks, sound-proofed collaboration rooms with write-on walls/screens that aren't wrap-around see-through glass, and sound-dampened rooms for sales teams or others who are on phone and video calls frequently."

It's important, however, for consumers and businesses to understand what counts as truly ergonomic -- and what does not.

"Consumers are interested in ergonomic products because those products are more comfortable and easier to use -- if they actually are ergonomic," explained Read. "Often that term is used in marketing falsely, so buyer should beware, which is unfortunate. I would advise consumers to ask themselves, is this ergonomic for me?"

With increased attention to ergonomic office design, there is likely to be more attention paid to the need for individual spaces in the business environment, as well.

"COVID-19 reintroduced panels between people, and frankly I think people like that sense of individual space," said Read. "So I predict that trend will continue and that most people prefer not to feel like they're being watched all the time, so solid panels may start showing up."

Working Safely

With increased demand, ergonomic products and design strategies will continue to evolve.

"I think the future of ergonomic products will continue to improve," predicted Loesing. "There are still some products that I look at and think, 'if only it did this and this,' I'd love it.

"Although ergonomics is all about working safely, there will be more emphasis in the near future on partitions, smaller meetings, and there could be an end to the open-office concept that has been so popular the last few years.

"I also believe that 'hot desking' will become a thing of the past. It's possible that many businesses will go back to a hybrid style of working -- maybe two or three days in the office. The future of workstations might become more portable, compact and lightweight, but ergonomic, of course."

Home offices themselves -- and the ergonomic redesigns they require, are likely to also remain even after the pandemic is over.

"The combination of the shift to work from home and interest in health and wellness will accelerate the infusion of ergonomic design into many product categories," Josh Walter, CEO of BrandJump, an e-commerce marketing and merchandising company in Los Angeles, told the E-Commerce Times.

"Comfort and well-being are top priorities today, and people have a renewed interest in this due to work-from-home conditions as a result of the pandemic. Even in a post-COVID era, the home office, for many, is here to stay," Walter concluded.

Vivian Wagner has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2008. Her main areas of focus are technology, business, CRM, e-commerce, privacy, security, arts, culture and diversity. She has extensive experience reporting on business and technology for a variety of outlets, including The Atlantic, The Establishment and O, The Oprah Magazine. She holds a PhD in English with a specialty in modern American literature and culture. She received a first-place feature reporting award from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, and is the author of Women in Tech: 20 Trailblazers Share Their Journeys, published by ECT News Network in May 2020. Email Vivian.


Sydneys $2.3 billion desalination plant is continuing to supply 50 million litres of water a day just weeks after the citys dams spilled and storage levels remain near full.

New figures from WaterNSW also show Sydneys main dam at Warragamba collected 1212 gigalitres of inflows from the big rainfall event  or 1,212,000,000,000 litres. That is about 60 per cent of the dams capacity.

At its peak, Warragamba Dam was spilling at the rate of 500,000,000,000 litres per day, WaterNSW says. Credit:WaterNSW

As the dam was near-full before the deluge across eastern NSW ramped up from March 19, it began spilling within a day.

At its peak, Warragamba was collecting water at the rate of 750 gigalitres a day for a few hours, meaning it could have gone from empty to full in under three days if the pace had been maintained.
** NO ACCESS SPAIN **

AEDAS Homes has met its delivery target for the fiscal year that ended on 31 March. With the delivery of 1,963 homes, the company has achieved its Business Plan and cemented its benchmark status in terms of deliveries in the Spanish residential sector.

The company is reporting its best numbers ever and has demonstrated once again its capacity for management and sustainable growth.

The nearly 2,000 homes that the company delivered in 2020-21 are located in Spain's most dynamic residential markets and stand out for their modern, high-quality design and sustainability credentials.

Part of this current success comes thanks to the company's decision in 2018 to become the first homebuilder in Spain to promote large-scale offsite construction. Three years later, the company is leading the sector in the use of the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), with 24 projects and 1,500 homes precision-built partially or fully in factories.

Furthermore, in 2019 it was also the first company to sign an agreement to develop turnkey Build to Rent projects in Spain. Today it has 9 BTR projects with a total of over 1,100 units and has already delivered its first turnkey development.

"Achieving this delivery target is excellent news for both AEDAS Homes and the real estate sector as a whole, which is proving itself to be a driving force in Spain's economy at such a difficult time due to the health crisis", commented David Martinez, CEO of AEDAS Homes.

Mr. Martinez emphasized that AEDAS Homes met its delivery target with solvency and during a particularly complex, exceptional context brought on by the pandemic that paralyzed the country for several months and also despite the biggest snowstorm in memory in Spain, which brought Madrid and other cities to a standstill for several days in early 2021.

The developer has a fully permitted landbank to build more than 15,500 homes located in Spain's key economic centres and most dynamic residential markets: Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante, the Balearic Islands, Costa del Sol, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, etc.

About AEDAS Homes

For more information: https://www.aedashomes.com/en

AEDAS Homes corporate video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkyf0TgNmyY

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005412/en/

Contacts:

Contact information:

Red Robot PR

Paul Pasquale

paul@redrobot.org
When a Baby Orca Visited Central Oregon Coast River | Video

Published 04/03/21 at 6:55 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Florence, Oregon)  Its spring of 2015, a lovely set of days in May. Lisa Horn of Sweet Home is visiting the central Oregon coast town of Florence, during a week where there have been lots of Killer Whale sightings farther up north, especially around Depoe Bay. (Photo above: Seaside Aquarium's Tiffany Boothe spotted a trio of Orcas near Florence about 2010.).

Every spring, usually in late March or April, a rather mysterious group of killer whales show up along the Oregon coast, sticking around through May and sometimes into June. They are called transient whales, and not much is known about them. These whales are slightly more beaked in appearance and are a bit of a puzzle because scientists don't actually know where they come from.

The one thing that is for certain is that they come this way chasing newborn gray whales for food as the grays and their parents migrate past the Oregon coast.

The week prior to this mid May event in 2015, the Whale's Tail Whale Watching Tours out of Depoe Bay caught some incredible photos of Orcas at sea. Then a few days later, Horn caught some amazing video of the same pod carousing not just in the mouth of Florence's Siuslaw River  but quite a ways up the river.

Like that sighting at sea, Horn was there to see the same group with its two baby Orcas. That earlier encounter entailed what appeared to be six whales, but Horn told Oregon Coast Beach Connection at the time that this group was just two adults and the two little ones.



Still shot from Horn's video

Horn said she was staying at a condo along the Suislaw River when the Orcas appeared on the other side, far away. There were numerous people in other condos, and everyone soon had their cameras out. It was about 2:30 to 3 p.m.

They were going towards the bridge, then disappeared for a while, and then they came back up, Horn said. So it was about all of 25 minutes.

Horn watched them reappear on the inland side of the bridge, and then they disappeared before coming back up where Horn caught the Killer Whales on camera. She said she saw them quite a ways up the river, all the way near the Mo's restaurant a few blocks away.

To see them go that far up a river is fairly rare.

Later that night we had dinner at Mo's and the waitress said they saw them there, through the big windows, Horn said. So a lot of people got a good view.

Even more dramatically, the Orcas appeared to be eating something  most likely a seal or sea lion, but possibly just plenty of fish. While Horn could not see what they were chomping on, she said there were quite a lot of seagulls diving in the water just after the whales and feeding off whatever they left behind.

The Orcas clearly chased away wildlife in the area. Horn recounted a situation similar to the whale watch tour boat in Depoe Bay the prior week that encountered the usual number of sea lions loitering in the waters on one trip, and then sudden, mysteriously  as if a kind of omen  they disappeared.

Before they showed up there were seals around, Horn said. Then all of a sudden the seals were gone.

This is a regular thing with killer whales, something the Whale Watch Center in Depoe Bay says happens often. You see gray whales with their babies and maybe other seals or aquatic wildlife, and abruptly theyre all gone. Other ocean-dwelling creatures seem to know the dangers ahead of time. MORE ORCA PHOTOS BELOW

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Photos below courtesy Whale Watch Center in Depoe Bay





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A team of experts from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Fisheries Commission has released 38 of the dolphins that were washed ashore at Axim-Bewire last Sunday back into the sea.



However, 25 of the marine mammals that were found dead in the communities have been buried.



Officials said an estimated 120 dolphins were washed ashore alive, but they were weak and unable to swim back to their habitat.



Some people picked 29 of the sea mammals to the communities but a search found all of them dead.



Consequently, 25 of the carcasses were buried, while four were taken to the University of Cape Coast for examination.



Back into sea



The rest of the dolphins, according to the team, could not be accounted for.



Besides, the heads, tails and pieces of dismembered parts of nine dolphins were picked along the shores of Axim- Bewire, with the suspicion being that the other parts had found their way into the communities.



Based on that, officials had to stay late into the night last Sunday, with the view to picking up any person who would, under the cover of darkness, go to process the mammals either for consumption or sale.



The acting Western Regional Director of Fisheries, Mr Arafat Alhassan, said for now, they had buried what they were able to retrieve from the community.



Coastal communities



Apart from the dolphins, large numbers of other fish species were also washed up on beaches in Accra, necessitating investigations by the authorities.



Experts noticed that there were 10 species of small dead pelagic and demersal fishes at Osu.



Officials of the FDA, the Marine Police Unit of the Ghana Police Service and the Fisheries Commission had appealed to coastal communities in the Nzema East area to volunteer information on the whereabouts of the remaining mammals.



Protected species



Mr Alhassan said the Fisheries Commission and other members of the team from sister agencies faced fierce resistance from community members in the team's quest to take over the marine animals.



He said the police intercepted some of the dolphins loaded onto a truck.



We found out that some were alive and we released them, but the people caught them back and tied them to canoes but they died the next day, he said.



Mr Alhassan said dolphins in the country's waters were one of the highly protected marine mammals and his outfit had, on many occasions, educated fishermen and coastal communities on the need to protect the mammals.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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New Delhi, April 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday received the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine here at the city's premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), giving a message to the people that "vaccination is among the few ways we have, to defeat the virus".

The Prime Minister also advised the citizens through a Twitter message: "If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon. Register on CoWin.gov.in." "Got my second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at AIIMS today (Thursday). Vaccine is among the few ways we have, to defeat the virus," Modi tweeted.

He also posted a photograph while taking the second jab.

The Prime Minister has taken Covaxin, India's homegrown vaccine developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech.

The two nurses who administered the Covid-19 vaccine to the Prime Minister on Thursday are P. Niveda from Puducherry and Nisha Sharma from Punjab.

Niveda was also involved in administering the first dose of Covid to the Prime Minister on March 1.

He was the first beneficiary on March 1 as the second phase of nationwide vaccination against the deadly pandemic began.

Amid the "second wave" of Covid-19 across the country, the Centre allowed administering vaccine shots at workplaces with around 100 eligible beneficiaries from April 11. Currently, people at the age of 45 and above are eligible for vaccination.

The Union Health Ministry recently said India has surpassed the US to become the fastest Covid-19 vaccinating country in the world with an average daily rate of 30,93,861 vaccine doses.

So far, over 9.01 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered in India, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Nifty futures on the SGX traded at 14,930, up 0.45 per cent, around 8.25 am, indicating a positive start for the benchmark indices on Thursday.

Here are the top stocks that are likely to be in focus today:

Muthoot Finance: The company is planning to raise Rs 1,700 crore through public issue of secured redeemable non-convertible debentures. The issue opens on April 8 and will close on April 29.

Reliance Industries: Sebi imposed a total penalty of Rs 25 crore on Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, other individuals and entities for non-compliance with takeover norms in a Reliance Industries case dating back to 2000. READ HERE

Ashok Leyland: The company said it has decided to form two new subsidiaries as part of its plans to strengthen green transport solutions. The first unit -- Switch Mobility Automotive Ltd -- is being formed to carry on the electric vehicle strategy in India and forms part of its global entity. The second subsidiary -- OHM Global Mobility Pvt Ltd -- will focus on providing mobility as a service offering.

Tanla Platforms: The communications services firm announced the appointment of Aravind Viswanathan as chief financial officer effective June 1, 2021. Viswanathan joins the company from Wipro, where he served as senior vice president and CFO - iDEAS Global Business Line.

Wipro: The IT major said it has appointed former Walmart executive Subha Tatavarti as its Chief Technology Officer. The company has also appointed Suzanne Dann as Senior Vice President and Sector Head for Capital and Insurance, North America region.

UCO Bank: The lender on Wednesday said its board has approved allotment of preference shares to the government for infusing Rs 2,600 crore capital.

IRCTC: The company has temporarily suspended Lucknow-New Delhi Tejas Express until April 30, due to recent increase in coronavirus cases.

Hindustan Copper: The company said the company opened its qualified institutional placement issue for subscription on April 7. The floor price has been fixed at Rs 125.79 per share.

Vedanta: Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Resources Ltd's sweetened offer to buy back 17.5 per cent share in its Indian flagship firm was subscribed 57.5 per cent, helping it raise its stake to about 65 per cent. If the maximum 651 million shares would have got tendered the promoter stake would have increased to72.6 per cent.

Airtel: Bharti announced an integrated platform that enables enterprises to leverage the power of the Internet of Things (IoT) and gear up for the emerging era of 'connected things'.

Barbeque-Nation Hospitality: UTI Mutual Fund bought 2.50 lakh shares at Rs 579.62 per share while Integrated Core Strategies Asia PTE sold 4.01 lakh shares at Rs 545.15 per share.

Prakash Industries: In Q4FY20-21, achieved the highest-ever sales of around 2,72,142 tonnes of steel,up 31.16 per cent year-on-year (YoY) and 8.85 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ). In FY21, the company achieved the highest-ever sales of around 9,54,760 tonnes of steel, a growth of 3.13 per cent over FY20 despite disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Godrej Consumer Products: In Q4FY21, in India, Godrej Consumer expects to deliver sales growth around the thirties, driven by strong volume growth and calibrated price increases.
Helix and Ginkgo will make easy, affordable, pooled COVID-19 testing accessible to K-12 schools, safeguarding health. Tweet this

Helix, with support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) program, has scaled to become one of the country's largest COVID-19 testing labs and is able to process up to 150,000 tests per day if needed. Helix's COVID-19 testing platform is currently used by schools, health systems, employers, governments, retail pharmacies, and other organizations across the U.S. with a median lab turnaround time of under ten hours.

"Enabling students and faculty to return to in-person learning is an important part of this nation's COVID-19 recovery efforts," said Marc Stapley, CEO of Helix. "Through our partnership with Ginkgo, we'll be able to make our accurate, rapid, and affordable molecular testing accessible to schools, starting in the Western U.S."

Concentric by Ginkgo's goal is to provide easy, affordable pooled testing to every school in America. Pooled classroom testing, which combines swabs from all consenting individuals in a classroom and runs them as a single test, is an effective way to significantly increase testing capacity and lower the cost of testing programs in low prevalence situations.

"COVID-19 testing remains critical to the nation's efforts to reopen," said Jason Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Ginkgo. "Through this partnership with Helix, we can supply the entire western U.S. with the testing capacity and logistics support to help schools resume in-person learning in the spring by testing every student, every week."

To date, Helix has delivered over four million COVID-19 tests in its CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory based in San Diego, California. Helix and Ginkgo expect to make this offering available to the approximately 2,000 school districts across the western U.S. as needed.

More information on Helix's COVID-19 testing platform and research efforts can be found at helix.com/covid . To learn more about Concentric by Ginkgo or to get your school district involved, head over to concentricbyginkgo.com .

About Helix

Helix is the leading population genomics company operating at the intersection of clinical care, research, and genomics. Its end-to-end platform enables health systems, life sciences companies, and payers to advance genomic research and accelerate the integration of genomic data into clinical care. Powered by one of the world's largest CLIA / CAP next-generation sequencing labs and the first and only FDA authorized whole exome sequencing platform, Helix supports all aspects of population genomics including recruitment and engagement, clinically actionable disease screening, return of results, and basic and translational research. In response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, Helix has launched a sensitive and scalable end-to-end COVID-19 test system to meet the needs of health systems, employers, governments, and other organizations across the country. Learn more at www.helix.com .

About Ginkgo Bioworks

Headquartered in Boston, Ginkgo uses the most advanced technology on the planetbiologyto grow better products. The company's cell programming platform is enabling the growth of biotechnology across diverse markets, from food to fragrance to pharmaceuticals. Ginkgo is also actively supporting a number of COVID-19 response efforts, including community testing, epidemiological tracing, vaccine development and therapeutics discovery. For more information, visit https://concentricbyginkgo.com .

Contact

Media Contacts

Amy Fisher, Padilla for Helix

[email protected]

612.805.5707

[email protected]

SOURCE Helix

Related Links

http://www.helix.com


More details are coming out regarding the first-degree murder charge faced by former New York Giants wide receiver Travis Rudolph.

According to the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office, Rudolph was arrested early Wednesday morning following a double shooting in Lake Park, Fla.

USA Today reports two different versions of events leading up to the shooting are making the rounds.

Both versions are in agreement that Rudolph had a fight with a woman on Tuesday whos believed to be his girlfriend. Both versions are in agreement that some time following that fight, a group of four people drove to Rudolphs home.

What happened next is uncertain.

According to the first version, the group of four was unarmed and wanted to talk with Rudolph:

Instead of a conversation, both the group of people who came to Rudolphs home and those inside his residence said a fight broke out as another unidentified person attempted to stop the altercation. At some point, witnesses allege Rudolph went into his home, got a rifle and started shooting as the group ran back to their car in an attempt to flee. One witness said Rudolph chased down the car and continued to fire at them.

Thats a bit different from the second version:

When investigators made their way to Rudolphs home, he and two others in the home invoked their right to a lawyer, but one blurted out the shooting was in self-defense.

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According to USA Today, detectives are checking surveillance cameras at the property to see if the fight and shooting were caught on video.

Investigators also spoke with a neighbor who witnessed the physical fight Rudolph had with the woman earlier in the day. The unidentified individual said within hours of that incident, the fight between the four individuals and Rudolph and those in his home took place. Afterward, the person said they heard gunshots and then later saw Rudolph walking back into his home with a rifle.

Rudolph is being held without bail, with his first appearance in court scheduled for Thursday. He faces one count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.

Rudolph signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2017 following his college career at Florida State. He played in seven games with the Giants, making one start. Rudolph pulled in a total of eight catches for 101 yards during his brief career with New York.

The Giants cut the 25-year-old Rudolph shortly before the start of the 2018 season. He caught on with the Dolphins but tore an ACL on his first day of practice.

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Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
As many students prioritized health and fitness post-quarantine, gyms such as Classic City Cycling, Crunch Fitness, Purvelo and the University of Georgias Ramsey Student Center have regained memberships. Gyms balanced between increasing membership and revenue and reopening safely with COVID-19 precautions.
Britain is thought to be paying about 15 ($29) per dose compared to 2.17 for AstraZeneca. The European Union is paying about 12 ($19) per Pfizer dose - less than the UK because it helped subsidise its development. Those prices were set in 2020 and competition for scarce vaccine supplies has only increased since. The next questions are whether all 20 million extra doses arrive by the end of 2021, and where from. Tough export controls established by the European Union have prevented Australia from importing 3.1 million AstraZeneca doses from the Continent. In good news, though, Australia will likely have a much easier time getting approval for exports of Pfizer from Europe. This is because Pfizer has largely met its supply contracts with the EU, so the bloc has no beef with the company and will not stand in the way of exports even while its own contracts continue to be met. It is often overlooked that the European Commission has approved the shipment of more than 1 million Pfizer doses to Australia in the months since it established new powers to block exports. Australian government sources say Pfizer doses have come into the country every week, almost without fail. The United States will have likely vaccinated the majority of its population by mid-year so there is a chance Pfizer rolling off the production line there could also end up in Australia, however US President Joe Biden will come under pressure to use excess production to prop up Mexico and Canada.

Loading Morrison and Health Minister Greg Hunt were taken aback by Thursdays advice by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) to offer an alternative dose to AstraZeneca for under 50s. The expert panel reached the conclusion after reviewing UK data which showed 1 out of every 250,000 people given the jab might develop a rare but potentially deadly blood disorder after being vaccinated. Concerns focus on the young because they make up most of the cases of fatal blood clots in Europe. Professor Greg Dore, an infectious diseases expert at the University of New South Wales Kirby Institute, says that even if clots formed at a rate of 1 in 100,000 vaccinated people, a 20-year-old could be jabbed every month for the next 40 years and have a 99.5 per cent chance of not getting a severe clot and 99.9 per cent chance of not dying from one. Professor David Spiegelhalter, chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at Cambridge University, calculates that, based on current evidence, Londons Wembley Stadium could be filled with vaccinated people in their 20s and one person in the crowd would likely develop blood clotting.

The rate of blood clots in Germany is higher than the UK, which has prompted authorities there to restrict AstraZeneca for anyone aged under 60. The European Unions regulator this week said there was a link between the vaccine and the blood clots but cleared it for use on all age groups. The UK drug regulator said AstraZeneca should not be used on people under 30  an outcome some in the Australian government thought ATAGI might endorse. However Morrison had no choice but to follow ATAGIs much more cautious decision because he spent most of this year talking about how much he values vaccine safety. In some ways, Australia has been a victim of its own success because the chances of dying from COVID-19 are currently close to zero, meaning the risk  however small  of developing severe side effects from the vaccine might outweigh the benefits of being inoculated. In the UK, where community transmission is still fairly high, the benefits of having the vaccine for those aged 30 and above clearly outweigh the chances of getting a life-threatening blood clot.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, with Simon Buensch, executive director of manufacturing at CSL, and Dr Brian McNamee, chairman of CSL board, holds a box of AstraZeneca vaccines at the CSL factory in Melbourne last month. Credit:NCA British authorities were also able to restrict AstraZeneca to under-30s with less disruption to its rollout because it has more options. The UK has rights to seven different alternatives to AstraZeneca, and two  Pfizer and Moderna  are in use already. Up to 30 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson jab might be available from July. Australia only has Pfizer for its under-50s right now,and Novavax potentially later in the year. It is already in talks with Johnson &Johnson but will not touch others made by China and Russia. In the meantime, the Australian public will debate whether to take what is for the extraordinarily vast majority a safe and effective vaccine that can help bring the pandemic to an end. It would be a good idea to keep some perspective when calculating the risks. Based on current UK data, the chances of dying from a rare blood clot following an AstraZeneca dose stands at about 1 in a million. The risk of dying in a car crash is about 1 in 6700.
A Mexican Catholic priest was found guilty of murdering a 29-year-old deacon in 2019. A Mexican court determined that Fr. Francisco Javier Bautista Avalos was responsible for the death of Hugo Leonardo Avendano Chavez, a deacon at Cristo Salvador Catholic Church in Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico News Daily reported.

Avalos was arrested a week after he celebrated a funeral mass for the victim in June 2019, The Catholic Register reported.

Avalos is set to be sentenced on Thursday, and the victim's family is seeking the maximum penalty of imprisonment of 50 years.

READ NEXT: Pregnant Mom Escorted Out of Texas Church by Cops for Not Wearing Mask

The Mexican Priest

Josue Avendano, Leonardo's brother, said the Mexican priest was accused of "murder, treason, premeditation, and torture."

Josue noted that about 54 pieces of evidence were presented during the April 6 hearing, Milenio reported.

"He (Avalos) was responsible for the murder and it was also presented that there were a betrayal and premeditation on his part," Josue said in the report. He added that he felt "great peace" when he heard that the court ruled that Avalos was guilty.

Leonardo disappeared on June 11, 2019 and he was found dead in his truck on June 13 with signs of torture and strangulation.

Security camera footage and mobile phone showed the Mexican priest's connection on the day the deacon was killed. Hours before the murder of Leonardo, Avalos was captured by the video surveillance cameras with the victim.

It was established that Leonardo was in the church, and Avalos' mobile phone also gave the same location. It was also learned that the Mexican priest also went towards the area where the victim's truck was found.

On June 18, 2019, Avalos was arrested and was eventually put in the Oriente prison. Josue acknowledged that he was very disappointed because the Mexican priest was very close to their family. He further noted that his brother admired Avalos a lot.

"I wouldn't have been happy if there was an injustice and they released someone who deprived someone's life," said Josue.

Avalos is known to be the parish priest of the Cristo Salvador Church when the tragic incident happened. During a funeral service of the killed deacon, Avalos, who officiated it, even expressed his hopes to catch the murderer.

But the police noted that there were discrepancies in the Mexican priest's testimony during his interview with the authorities.

The Victim

Hugo Leonardo Avendano Chavez has a master's degree from a Catholic University. The victim worked with the Mexican priest in the church while having ambitions of entering the priesthood.

Josue noted that his brother died due to asphyxiation. He also said that his brother's body is badly bruised, and his nose was broken. Moreover, some of the victim's teeth were also missing.

Josue noted that the Mexican priest had no reaction when he was charged guilty by the court.

The Archdiocese of Mexico earlier expressed its hopes that the authorities holding the case will conduct a "rigorous and efficient" investigation that will conform to the law.

READ MORE: Supreme Court Favors California Churches Over Gavin Newsom, Restrictions Lifted

WATCH: Coronavirus: Mexico City Churches Reopen After Lockdown - From Bloomberg Quicktake: Now


A 104-year-old woman has been given a round of applause by Colombian hospital staff after she recovered from Covid-19 for the second time in less than a year.

Carmen Hernandez received a standing ovation from the medics as they lined up along the corridors of the San Rafael de Tunja University Hospital in the city of Tunja as she was transported through on a hospital bed.

And as she made her way outside - now with a ventilated plastic cover over the bed - scores of staff clad in PPE kit continued the round of applause as Hernandez was discharged after 21 days in the hospital.

A 104-year-old woman has been given a round of applause by Colombian hospital staff after she recovered from Covid-19 for the second time in less than a year

Carmen Hernandez received a standing ovation from the medics as they lined up along the corridors of the San Rafael de Tunja University Hospital in the city of Tunja as she was transported through on a hospital bed

Carmen was transported on her hospital bed through the corridors after beating the virus

Hernandez was first diagnosed with Covid-19 in June last year and was treated in the San Jose nursing home where she has lived for 25 years.

She was able to beat the virus - but despite being vaccinated in February this year, Hernandez was diagnosed with Covid-19 for the second time in March.

Hernandez was admitted to the San Rafael de Tunja University Hospital's intensive care unit where doctors and nurses have been treating her.

On Monday, she was able to be transported away from the hospital in an ambulance to her care home after beating the virus for a second time.

Hernandez was first diagnosed with Covid-19 in June last year and was treated in the San Jose nursing home where she has lived for 25 years. Pictured: Doctors transporting Hernanez outside

As she made her way outside - now with a ventilated plastic cover over the bed - scores of staff clad in PPE kit continued the round of applause as Hernandez was discharged after 21 days in the hospital

On Monday, she was able to be transported away from the hospital in an ambulance to her care home. Pictured: Gina Gomez, from the San Jose Nursing home (left), in the ambulance with Hernandez

Gina Gomez, a health worker at the San Jose nursing home, told local reporters: 'She is an elderly patient with an excellent physical capability because she resisted the virus for the second time.

'Thank God she has done very well and has beaten this virus.'

Yamit Noe Hurtado, the director of the hospital told Caracol Radio: 'Precisely because of her advanced age, for us she is a hope.

'This woman managed to come out fully recovered from the coronavirus in this first reinfection. We had to give him assistance in the ICU for 21 days.'

Not only has Hernandez beaten Covid-19 twice, she has also recovered from an aggressive form of skin cancer.

Hernandez was born in Tunja on 14 July 1916 and has a daughter who is around 70 years old.
A forensic toxicologist at the laboratory that tested George Floyds blood said it was common for intoxicated driving suspects who used fentanyl to have higher levels of the drug in their systems than Mr. Floyd did when he died. Prosecutors hoped his testimony would strike a blow to the argument by Derek Chauvins lawyer that Mr. Floyds death may have been an overdose.

The toxicologist, Dr. Daniel Isenschmid, works at N.M.S. Labs in Pennsylvania and testified on the ninth day of the trial against Mr. Chauvin, who has been charged with murder in Mr. Floyds death. Of more than 2,300 blood samples from intoxicated drivers that N.M.S. Labs tested last year  all of which were in cases where the driver survived and tested positive for fentanyl  about a quarter of the people had fentanyl levels that were the same or higher than Mr. Floyds, Dr. Isenschmid said.

Prosecutors had called him to the stand to rebut the argument from Mr. Chauvins lawyer that fentanyl, a powerful opioid, had caused Mr. Floyds overdose. Prosecutors say Mr. Chauvin is responsible for Mr. Floyds death, and earlier on Thursday, a lung doctor testified that Mr. Chauvins knees on Mr. Floyds neck and back were significant factors in his death.

Dr. Isenschmid said that last year, in cases where N.M.S. Labs tested blood from a person who died and who had taken fentanyl, the average amount that scientists found was 16.8 nanograms per milliliter, about 50 percent higher than the amount found in Mr. Floyds blood. But Mr. Chauvins lawyer, Eric J. Nelson, noted that average was among people who died of any cause and had fentanyl in their system, not just overdoses. And, he pointed out, the median level of fentanyl among that group was slightly below Mr. Floyds.
During a working trip to eastern Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the frontline positions of Ukrainian servicepersons, where the largest number of violations of the comprehensive and permanent ceasefire regime had been recorded.

Zelensky talked to the military serving on the front line, Ukrinform reports with reference to the press service of the head of state.

The defenders told the president about the situation at the front.

"Thank you for keeping people calm and defending our land. You are a true example of heroism and dedication. We remember every soldier who died defending our state," the president said.

Those present observed a minute of silence in memory of the soldiers who died in the battles for the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

Zelensky presented Ukrainian defenders with state awards and valuable gifts.

The president had lunch with the servicemen in their canteen.

As Ukrinform reported, President Zelensky is on a working trip to eastern Ukraine on April 8.

ish
Doctors are incensed the province has expanded the eligibility criteria for people to get the AstraZeneca vaccine when they have so little supply with which to inoculate people who have high-risk illnesses.

Doctors are incensed the province has expanded the eligibility criteria for people to get the AstraZeneca vaccine when they have so little supply with which to inoculate people who have high-risk illnesses.

They join the long list of Manitobans who have questioned the vaccine rollout.

"It is so frustrating to us," said one doctor, who asked that her name not be published because she worries the province might cut off her clinic from getting more vaccine.

"Two weeks ago, we were given 50 doses, so each doctor at this clinic picked 12 to 14 high-priority patients. That's not many because we see 7,500 patients.

Clinics and pharmacies received a new shipment of 54,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which will be administered to people 55 to 64 with serious health conditions, and anyone over the age of 64. (Matthias Schrader / The Associated Press files)

"But since then, we have gotten nothing. And we've been told today we would get nothing, and nothing for mid-April. At this point, it seems we are looking at May now before getting more.

"It just doesn't make sense."

The doctor doesn't understand why the province expanded the number of people who can get the AstraZeneca vaccine when the supply is so tight. Before Wednesday, it was available to people between the ages of 55 and 64 who have certain health conditions. On Wednesday, the province announced it would offer it to people 65 and older as well.

"We don't understand the decision on how the vaccines are allocated," she said.

"Family physicians are better positioned to know peoples' chronic health conditions. This shouldn't be done haphazardly."

Two weeks ago, the government said the first 18,000 doses of AstraZeneca would be used in a pilot project in which only the most high-risk patients would receive it. Recipients had to be aged 50 to 64 in the general population or aged 30 to 64 in the First Nations population. They also had to have a condition such as cardiac and respiratory conditions, Down syndrome, or severe asthma.

"Family physicians are better positioned to know peoples' chronic health conditions. This shouldn't be done haphazardly."

Because of the potential risk of blood clots, the age criteria was later raised to 55 for the general population who had high-risk conditions.

But on Wednesday, the province changed the AstraZeneca criteria further by allowing anyone aged 65 and older, without high-risk conditions, to get the vaccine, with priority being given to people who are unable to get vaccinated at a provincial super-site or a pop-up clinic.

A second doctor, who practises at a clinic with nine other physicians, which has 25,000 patients, said that just means his patients  many with life-threatening conditions  are being pushed back further in line.

Rules change Manitobans who are 62 and older can book a vaccine appointment at a provincially run clinic. On Wednesday, the provincial government lowered the age of eligibility to people who are 62 or older, and First Nations people who are at least 42. Previously, the age eligibility criteria was 65 or older, and had been at that tier since March 22. click to read more Manitobans who are 62 and older can book a vaccine appointment at a provincially run clinic. On Wednesday, the provincial government lowered the age of eligibility to people who are 62 or older, and First Nations people who are at least 42. Previously, the age eligibility criteria was 65 or older, and had been at that tier since March 22. The province estimates there are about 125,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 in Manitoba. As of Wednesday, 24,963 people in that age group had received their first dose. The province has decided to offer the AstraZeneca vaccine to people 65 or older, in addition to people between the ages of 55 and 64 with certain health conditions, at doctors' offices and pharmacies. Anyone between the ages of 62 and 64 without the health conditions listed by the province, cannot receive the AstraZeneca product. The province also announced it will host two telephone town halls with members of the vaccine task force on April 13 at 6:30 p.m. for rural Manitobans and April 15 at 6:30 p.m. for Winnipeggers. Registration is required through https://engagemb.ca/. Immunizations teams will visit more than 100 congregate living facilities this week. The province did not provide an estimate of how many people will be vaccinated by the teams. As of Wednesday, the province had received 407,130 vaccine doses and had administered 222,130, about 54.5 per cent of its inventory. Appointments for mass vaccination clinics and future pop-up clinics can be booked by going to https://protectmb.ca or calling 1-844-626-8222. To find a clinic or pharmacy where you can get a vaccine, go to the province's vaccine finder website at wfp.to/vaccinefinder and type in your address.  Danielle Da Silva Close

The doctor, whose clinic received only 100 doses two weeks ago, said he also could vaccinate more high-risk people if the province would just provide more vaccines instead of expanding the criteria.

"There are people who need the vaccine more than them," said the doctor, "I have about 500 patients I would have given the vaccine to, but I had only 10 patients I could choose.

"It is just horrible. I had a list of my patients and I had to go through and decide who would definitely die if they got COVID  how do I decide that?

"And, if a clinic like us has 25,000 patients and we are not getting more vaccines, who the hell is getting them?"

A provincial spokesman said 52,000 doses of AstraZeneca were sent to 293 medical clinics and pharmacies this week while another 11,000 vaccines will go out to another 43 places when the federal government ships them to Manitoba.

"We would send out even more doses if received from the federal government," said the spokesman.

"We also know that there is a high demand for the vaccine in medical clinics and pharmacies and we recognize that some providers are frustrated about how much vaccine theyve received, when they are getting vaccine and the notice they are getting about the deliveries.

"Weve had to make choices about how we allocate the vaccine. Our principles need to ensure all regions have equitable access to vaccine, the historic flu vaccinations done by our partners are respected and adjustments can still made for unique circumstances as warranted.

"We will continue to work with stakeholders to provide information and supplies needed to provide high quality care."

"Many patients are hesitant to attend large government-run mass immunization clinics, and would prefer to see their doctor to talk about and receive the vaccine."  Keir Johnson, a spokesman for Doctors Manitoba

Keir Johnson, a spokesman for Doctors Manitoba, said they understand vaccine supply is limited from the federal government, but physicians have the ability to immunize the Manitobans most at risk for severe injury or death from the virus.

"Many patients are hesitant to attend large government-run mass immunization clinics, and would prefer to see their doctor to talk about and receive the vaccine," said Johnson.

"We want to work collaboratively with provincial officials to help ensure Manitobans can get immunized as quickly as possible, focusing first on those most at risk from this pandemic."

Johnson said Doctors Manitoba also understands many other seniors are also at risk.

"While doctors are focused on ensuring those most at risk get the vaccine first, the expansion to include those 65-plus is seen as a positive step forward as this population is also at increased risk too," he said.

"With a limited supply of vaccines, however, doctors now have an even more difficult task of ensuring their handful of doses get to their most at risk patients."

Meanwhile, Barret Procyshyn, a pharmacist in Dauphin and past president of Pharmacists Manitoba, said they also could vaccinate more people if they had more vaccines.

"My biggest concern is vaccine supply," said Procyshyn, who has 2,000 people on a waiting list to be vaccinated.

"We had 200 doses last month. We go by what patients are telling you (to determine if people qualify for the vaccine). You make an educated decision.

"I think we've done a good job."

Procyshyn says his pharmacy gave out 2,300 flu shots "so we're prepared and ready to go. We would even do a drive-thru. We would do anything if it would speed up people getting the vaccine in their arms.

"Now it is time to put the pedal to the metal."

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
OXFORD TOWNSHIP, MI  A home inspector is facing charges for allegedly pleasuring himself with a childs Elmo doll while he conducting a home inspection, authorities said.

The alleged incident was caught on a nursery nanny cam, according to a news release from the Oakland County Sheriffs Office.

Just when I think I have seen it all, someone steps up and surprises me with a new level of disturbing actions, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a statement.

Kevin Wayne VanLuven, 59, is charged with aggravated indecent exposure, punishable by up to two years in prison and a $2,000 fine; and malicious destruction of property under $200, punishable by up to a 93-day jail sentence and $500 fine. Both charges are misdemeanors.

VanLuven was arrested by the sheriffs offices Fugitive Apprehension Team on Wednesday, April 7, on the charges related to a March 12 incident during home inspection in Oxford Township, police said. VanLuven was inspecting the home for perspective buyers. The homeowners let VanLuven and the buyers real estate agent into their home and then left.

After leaving, one of the homeowners received an alert on their phone due to movement in the nursery, police said. She checked the video feed and saw VanLuven. As she watched, he allegedly began to touch himself inappropriately. At that point, she began to record the incident. VanLuven then allegedly picked up an Elmo doll from the nursery floor and appeared to pleasure himself with it. Afterward, he returned the doll to its original location.

The homeowners called police and sheriffs deputies responded to the residence. VanLuven told deputies that he had only moved the doll to inspect an outlet. When told he was caught on camera, he allegedly made incriminating statements and apologized.

This is a disgusting reminder to be cautious about who you let into your home, Bouchard said in a statement. The actions of these homeowners will likely prevent this defendant from going into anyone elses home.

Magistrate Karen Holt of the 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills set a $2,500 cash/surety bond for VanLuvens charges with conditions that he not to be alone in any residential property he doesnt own, has no contact with the victims and undergoes a mental health evaluation. His next court appearance is April 19 before Judge Nancy Carniak.

READ MORE:

Baby found suffering from hypothermia in Michigan woods was allegedly abandoned by mother

Lizards, tarantulas, 22-year-old tortoise among slew of exotic animals seized from Lansing home

Weekend weather in Michigan has one round of solid soaking rain
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 7:30 am ET Thursday, the European Central Bank has published the account of the monetary policy meeting of the Governing Council held on March 10-11. The euro changed little against its major rivals after the release. The euro was trading at 129.80 against the yen, 1.1875 against the greenback, 0.8638 against the pound and 1.1013 against the franc around 7:35 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Life under lockdown and other consequences of coronavirus affected youth around the world in different ways.

Now, researchers from Queensland and Victoria are looking into whether young people from their respective states were affected differently by their contrasting pandemic experiences.

Victoria endured months of hard lockdown as cases climbed over the course of 2020. Queensland went through several weeks of lockdowns, but spent most of the latter half of 2020 with residents able to leave their homes.

Researchers want to survey young people from Queensland and Victoria to compare their very different lockdown experiences Credit:Jason South

Researchers from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and Swinburne University of Technology are calling for people aged 16 to 24 to participate in a survey of their experiences during lockdown.
NEW HAVEN  Prospective emergency service providers will be able to get paid while theyre being trained for jobs with American Medical Response under a new Earn While You Learn Academy the company has begun in partnership with the city, officials said.

The program, similar to one the company began in February with the city of Hartford, was created to ease the transition for those wanting to become EMS professionals, AMR said in a release.

It provides on-the-job training while participants take the required certification courses to become emergency medical technicians, or EMTs, the release said.

Once participants successfully complete the program, they are given the chance to become full-time AMR employees.

Mayor Justin Elicker, Fire Chief John Alston Jr. and Director of Emergency Management Rick Fontana joined AMR officials at a press conference earlier this week to announce the start of the program.

I am excited for this partnership with AMR, Elicker said in the release. EMS work is so critical for our community, and even more so as we work through the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to thank the team at AMR for all of your support.

This program will be an incredible way to get our residents into a good-paying job and solid career, Elicker said.

We take pride in our service in the community, and the Earn While You Learn program is an amazing opportunity for New Haven residents who may be interested in a career in emergency medical services, healthcare, police, or fire, said Mike Turcio, AMRs manager of clinical services for Connecticut.

We are grateful to Mayor Elicker for his partnership on this inaugural Earn While You Learn Academy, and look forward to providing this exciting program to the residents of New Haven, Turcio said.

Students accepted into the program will become employees of AMR and will be paid for the hours that they are in class and field training, the release said. AMR also will cover all costs related to obtaining EMT certification, including books, AHA training, testing and license certification fees.

Once they complete the program, employees will be promoted to EMT with a commensurate pay increase. Theyll work a part-time schedule for at least one year, and individuals who are interested will have the opportunity to move into full-time positions as they become available, it said.

Applicants must be at least 18, with a valid drivers license and a high school diploma or GED. The Academy is part-time and will operate evenings during the week, with occasional weekends.

It lasts 10 weeks, the release said. Applications are available at https://bit.ly/3uoj2mm. Participants must enroll by May 1. The academy will begin June 28.
American rapper Jay Z was recently spotted wearing a designer T-shirt with an image of Lamu's Riyadha Mosque on it and this didn't go down well with the clerics of the historic Kenyan mosque. Lamu is a 19th-Century mosque and a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site.

On April 3, Riyadha Mosque took to their Facebook page and shared a letter expressing their disappointment.

It read, "The Management Committee of the Riyadha Mosque and Islamic Centre, Lamu, Patrons and General worshippers are disturbed and actually feel insulted by the photos of Jay Z wearing a Bikburdgenes T-shirt portraying our Riyadha Mosque Lamu, designer by Zeddie Loky. Rest assured, we neither consider it an honor nor a privilege for the Historical Mosque and its Founder Habib Swaleh. When wearers of these T-shirts end up in bars, clubs and at all sorts of sacrilegious joints, it is certainly an affront to the spiritual respect and dignity towards all those who revere the Mosque, its Founder and the General Muslim community within and outside Lamu. We therefore politely write to you to show respect for the Mosque by 'removing our Mosque's portrait', if actually you are guided by a sincere intention to display the Riyadha Mosque as an icon of the Lamu World Heritage Site and the Mosque as a National Monument."

The US-based designer Zeddie Lukoye has apologized, according to the reports and the mosque has accepted it in 'good faith'. The reports suggest that the designer has specified that only 20 T-shirts have been sold and those who have them were requested not to 'wear them in a bar or a club'. According to the website of LA-based clothing brand blkburd Genes, the company is on a 'mission to educate people around the world about history, nature and current affairs."

The T-shirts costs around Sh21,000 ($195)

Lamu's Riyadha mosque in Kenya is disturbed after American rapper Jay Z was spotted allegedly wearing a T-shirt with its image. pic.twitter.com/7Kwnt5Bm3x  FL3XX (@ImDahDude_01) April 4, 2021

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.
MESA, Wash.  A Washington man has pleaded guilty to defrauding businesses out of more than $244 million by charging them under various agreements for the purported costs of purchasing and feeding hundreds of thousands of cattle that did not actually exist, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

According to court documents, Cody Easterday, 49, of Mesa, Washington, used his company, Easterday Ranches, to enter into a series of agreements with Tyson Foods and an unnamed second business to purchase and feed cattle on behalf of Tyson.

For years, Cody Easterday perpetrated a fraud scheme on a massive scale, increasing the cost of producing food for American families, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. The criminal divisions prosecutors are committed to swiftly and thoroughly prosecuting frauds affecting our nations agricultural and other commodities markets, whether in the heartland or on Wall Street.

Per the agreements, Tyson and the unnamed business would advance Easterday Ranches the costs of buying and raising the cattle. Once the cattle were slaughtered and sold at market price, Easterday Ranches would repay the costs advanced  plus interest and certain other costs  retaining as profit the amount by which the sale price exceeded the repayment to both Tyson and the unnamed business.

Easterday submitted and caused others to submit fraudulent invoices and other information to both Tyson and the unnamed business starting in 2016 and continuing through November 2020.

The false invoices sought and obtained reimbursement from the victims for the purported costs of purchasing and growing hundreds of thousands of cattle that neither Easterday nor Easterday Ranches ever purchased and that did not actually exist, the press release said.

The press release said Easterday constructed the fraud in order to offset more than $200 million in losses incurred in the commodities trading markets.

In connection with his commodity futures trading, Easterday also defrauded the CME Group, which operates the worlds largest financial derivatives exchange. On two separate occasions, the press release said, Easterday submitted falsified paperwork to the CME that resulted in the company exempting Easterday Ranches from otherwise-applicable position limits in live cattle futures contracts.

I commend the agents with the Federal Deposit Insurance Company Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their dedication to investigating this case and tenacity in ferreting out the fraudulent activity to which the defendant has pleaded guilty, said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Harrington for the Eastern District of Washington.

Easterday pleaded guilty March 31 to one count of wire fraud and agreed to repay $244 million in restitution. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 4 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Tyson Foods is the worlds second-largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef and pork. The company does not own or operate feedlots, but employs buyers in beef-producing areas who visit independent feed yards and public auctions to buy animals for its processing plants  including one near Pasco, which Easterday Ranches supplied.

Tyson entered into a cattle feeding agreement with Easterday Ranches in 2017. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Tyson reported that Easterday provided roughly 2% of the companys beef during the last four fiscal years.

Gary Mickelson, senior director of public relations for Tyson, said in January the company became aware of fraud during a recent company-led inspection.

As we disclosed in December, this misappropriation of funds has cost Tyson more than $200 million, which the company is working to recoup, Mickelson said. We are also working with our outside auditor to implement additional financial controls to help prevent or detect this type of activity in the future.

Easterday Farms, part of the familys multi-pronged agricultural operation, is working to revive Oregons second-largest dairy, the former Lost Valley Farm near Boardman. The family registered a new business in Oregon, called Easterday Dairy LLC, which is now seeking state approval to reopen the dairy in rural Morrow County with up to 28,300 total cattle.

In a February statement to the Capital Press, Cole Easterday, one of the owners of Easterday Dairy, said the company is still working to secure a Confined Animal Feeding Operation, or CAFO, permit from the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Department of Environmental Quality to reopen the dairy near Boardman.

Though the situation with Easterday Ranches and Easterday Farms is unfortunate, Easterday Dairy LLCs commitment to our current CAFO permit and our permit application is unchanged, he said.
Private Window Office- Premier Workspaces - Woodland Hills, CA ...Premier Workspaces has taken over and repositioned 74 distressed or bankrupt shared workspace locations.

The pandemic has shaken up the coworking/flexible office space industry with struggling and bankrupt1 coworking operators dominating the headlines. Many coworking operators closed2 their doors, leaving office building owners with empty and vacant floors previously occupied by these coworking companies. Premier Workspaces (formerly Premier Business Centers) has positioned itself to offer such office building owners solutions. With the backing of its multi-billion dollar real estate holding company investor (The Bascom Group, LLC), Premier is moving forward with plans to grow by taking over these distressed locations and adding more than 100 new locations over the next few years.

Premier, one of the largest privately held coworking/executive suite operators in the US, started with the bankruptcy sale acquisition of American Office Centers. nearly 20 years ago. Premier has since owned or operated a total of 132 shared workspace locations and more than two million square feet of space. Over these two decades, Premier has never had an unprofitable year, nor defaulted on a lease, making Premier a trusted option for landlords. Premiers impressive, yet responsible growth, comes from operating coworking spaces with a healthy mixture of master leases, subleases, and management/partnership agreements. This strategic growth comes not only from new buildouts, but also from the managing and repositioning of distressed locations.

As a pioneer in the management agreement model, Premier signed its first management contract to operate a coworking space nearly 20 years ago and has continued to grow the management portion of its portfolio. In 2020, Premier added five new managed shared office spaces. These managed locations also include a coworking space within a luxury apartment community  the latest amenity trend in rental housing.

Jeff Reinstein, Premiers Chief Executive Officer, says he is convinced that businesses will not only still need office space, but also seek the flexibility and convenience of full-service office solutions like Premier Workspaces offers. With news of large national and global companies going through restructuring3, having to right-size their footprints4 or in extreme cases, filing for bankruptcy5, Reinstein thinks the industry is ripe for consolidation. Over the past nearly 20 years, Premier Workspaces has taken over and repositioned 74 distressed or bankrupt shared workspace locations. There is no company in our industry that has the same track record or depth of experience as Premier Workspaces in taking over and repositioning failed shared workspace locations.

We are getting calls from landlords daily, stated Michael Pollack, Vice President, Director of Real Estate at Premier. Landlords are inquiring about possible partnerships to take-over spaces where coworking operators are not paying rent or simply notified them that they are leaving. We are able to sign short-term management agreements to stabilize the center and then convert it to a long-term master lease, unless the landlord prefers a long-term management deal.

The Orange County-born coworking company expects to take-over, partner with, or start up 100 coworking spaces nationwide totaling another estimated two million square feet of space. Bascom is committed to supporting Premier Workspaces upcoming growth, said Jerry Fink, Managing Partner at Bascom Group, LLC. Bascom Groups commitment of financial support certainly adds credibility to the announcement. David Kim, Managing Partner at Bascom Group added We are excited about the opportunity in the coworking space today and our turnaround experience is a natural fit with the distress in the industry.

An example of the win-win nature of such transactions is one of the many management deals done by Premier with a large, institutional office building owner such as the Irvine Company. In this example, after another operator defaulted6, Premier Workspaces quickly assumed management of over 200,000 square feet of space across the six Irvine Company properties in Southern California. Premier was able to retain nearly all of the existing clients, dramatically reduce recurring operational expenses, and increase revenue through a more diverse product offering and favorable client negotiations. Finally, and most importantly to the building owner, Premier Workspaces converted all six locations to master leases prior to the one-year mark.

We offer landlords our unparalleled experience as well as internal infrastructure that allows us to better understand and fulfill the opportunity of each location. said Amy Fuller, the Companys SVP of Sales & Marketing.

Premiers shared workspaces were fortuitously designed with an almost exclusive focus on individual, private offices, which has become highly desired in this Covid-19 environment. This allowed the company to retain almost all of its client base during the pandemic. The swift implementation of additional COVID-19 protocols allowed the company to attract a new client base while competitors repositioned their centers by dividing large team rooms or shared coworking areas. As a result, Premier has seen a consistent increase in activity in recent months. Much of this activity is driven by corporate clients seeking remote or spoke locations in the communities where their employees live. They also appreciate the added flexibility of short-term agreements as they incorporate coworking into their real estate strategy to attract and retain talent.

Before as Premier Business Centers and now as Premier Workspaces, Premier has been a trusted, industry leader with nearly 20 years of management knowledge and experience both clients and landlords can count on.

About Premier Workspaces:

Premier Workspaces (http://www.premierworkspaces.com) operates one of the largest privately owned executive suite, coworking and shared workspace companies in the United States with locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Since 2002, Premier Workspaces has owned or operated 132 locations comprised of 2 million square feet of commercial office space.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/premier-workspaces/

Twitter: @PWSpaces

Facebook: @PremierWorkspaces

Instagram: @PremierWorkspaces

About Bascom: The Bascom Group, LLC (http://www.bascomgroup.com) is a private equity firm specializing in value-added multifamily, commercial, and non-performing loans and real estate related investments and operating companies. Bascom sources value-added and distressed properties including many through foreclosure, bankruptcy, or short sales and repositions them by adding extensive capital improvements, improving revenue, and reducing expenses by realizing operational efficiencies through implementation of institutional-quality property management. Bascom, founded by principals Jerry Fink, David Kim, and Derek Chen, is one of the most active and seasoned buyers and operators of apartment communities in the U.S. Since 1996, Bascom has completed over $17.0 billion in multifamily and commercial value-added transactions including more than 330 multifamily properties containing over 85,000 units. Bascom has ranked among the top 50 multifamily owners in the U.S. Bascoms subsidiaries and joint ventures include the Southern California Industrial Fund, Rushmore Properties, Bascom Portfolio Advisors, Shubin Nadal Associates, Spirit Bascom Ventures, REDA Bascom Ventures, MHF RM Holdings, Bascom Northwest Ventures, Bascom Arizona Ventures, Harbor Associates, Village Venture Partners, Bascom Milestone Ventures, and the Realm Group.

1 Regus Co-Working Company Files More Bankruptcies But Suffern Location Still Operating

(https://rcbizjournal.com/2020/09/17/regus-co-working-company-files-more-bankruptcies-but-suffer-location-still-operating/)

2 Coworking Provider MakeOffices Is Closing Down

(https://www.bisnow.com/washington-dc/news/coworking/dc-coworking-provider-makeoffices-closing-down-107355)

3 WeWork Forerunner IWG/Regus Restructures its Business, Unleashing Mayhem on Landlords and Investors

(https://wolfstreet.com/2020/10/29/wework-forerunner-iwg-regus-restructures-its-business-unleashing-mayhem-on-landlords-and-investors/)

4 Coworking CEO Says Business Model 'Never Made Sense,' Closes All Locations

(https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/coworking/breather-closes-400-locations-lays-off-employees-online-only-107142)

5 Knotel Files for Bankruptcy as Pandemic Strains Office Rentals

(https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-01/knotel-files-for-bankruptcy-as-pandemic-strains-office-rentals)

6 Irvine Co. tells 450 small businesses not pay rent to ROC after terminating lease

(https://www.ocregister.com/2017/08/31/irvine-co-terminates-lease-with-roc-offices-shared-by-some-450-small-businesses-in-newport-beach-irvine/)
BOULDER, Colo., April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ColdQuanta, the leader in Cold Atom Quantum Technology, has been awarded two development contracts from U.S. Government agencies worth $2.55M in total. Both projects are based on the company's Quantum Core technology that uses atoms cooled to a temperature of nearly absolute zero, and lasers to manipulate and control the atoms with extreme precision.

Quantum Atomic Clock:

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (OUSD (R&E)) awarded ColdQuanta $1.8M for the development of a prototype atomic clock that could enable reliable, highly accurate, position, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities, necessary for the functioning of critical infrastructure around the world. Atomic clocks are used for GPS/GNSS systems, as well as for time distribution services that are the basis of financial networks, computer, TV, and radio services, and other applications we depend on today.

However, services such as satellite-based GPS can be spoofed, lack encryption or other security features, and often can't deliver the signal strength required. Because of this, the development and deployment of a PNT system that doesn't depend on GPS is a critical need across governments and industry. This is especially true for mobile systems such as aircraft and spacecraft that need to know their position with great precision even when GPS is unavailable.

Under this project, ColdQuanta will deliver a state-of-the-art atomic clock with "instant on" capability if a GPS signal is lost, with a timing accuracy comparable to the best commercial clocks. It will also be ruggedized, portable, and compact to enable its use in aircraft, and will minimize the power draw in between periods of demand.

"High-performance atomic clocks are the backbone of the Internet, electrical power grids, financial networks, and autonomous navigation. Combining this with ColdQuanta's development of related inertial navigation devices such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, and gravimeters, will lead to the first Quantum Positioning Systems," said Dan Caruso, executive chairman and CEO of ColdQuanta. "We're excited to work closely with the Department of Defense to meet their urgent needs, while also advancing the capabilities needed for future, unassailable global positioning technology."

Miniaturized Ion Trap System:

Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded ColdQuanta $750K for the development of a high-performance miniature ion trap system. Compact ion trap systems are applicable to a spectrum of quantum applications including quantum networks, computing, metrology, and timekeeping.

ColdQuanta previously developed a prototype miniaturized ion trapping system with performance that is competitive with traditional, large-footprint vacuum systems. The system maximizes performance and robustness while minimizing size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP). The new AFRL award will build on the success of this prototype to increase performance, reduce cost, and create a robust architecture for deployable quantum platforms.

About ColdQuanta

ColdQuanta is the leader in Cold Atom Quantum Technology, the most scalable, versatile, and commercially viable area of quantum. ColdQuanta is dedicated to making quantum a reality through the development of a cloud-based Quantum Computer and precision Sensing and Networking solutions. Backed by years of research and development, the story of ColdQuanta began in 1924 with the discovery of the Bose Einstein Condensate (BEC) - also known as the 5th form of matter  and 70 years later brought to fruition when it was first synthesized at the University of Colorado at Boulder in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). ColdQuanta was spawned by this BEC breakthrough. Today, ColdQuanta is collaborating with its global customers, which include major commercial and defense companies; the U.S. Department of Defense; national labs operated by the Department of Energy, NASA, and NIST; major universities; and quantum-focused tech companies, to advance products and services development with Cold Atom Quantum Technology. ColdQuanta is based in Boulder, CO with offices in Madison, Wisconsin and Oxford, UK. Find out more at www.coldquanta.com .

The name ColdQuanta and the ColdQuanta logo are both registered trademarks of ColdQuanta, Inc.

SOURCE ColdQuanta

Related Links

http://www.coldquanta.com


GEORGETOWN, Ky., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- There are 540 online engineering degrees in the U.S. Which one is for you?

The past 20 years have witnessed exponential growth in online college and university instruction. Despite this, online classes in engineering lagged. Now, spurred on in part by the COVID-19 pandemic and further innovation in remote teaching, online classes in engineering are experiencing rapid growth.

Prospective engineering students and career engineers looking to advance their degree have a new home for the best online college and university rankings for engineering programs, along with excellent guides and tips. Visit OnlineEngineering.org today!

As with any fast-growing field, the challenge of finding the right online engineering program is also growing.

OnlineEngineering.org launches today with a mission to help future engineers and advancing engineering professionals alike find an exceptional online engineering program that fits them:

The best online engineering colleges and universities in the U.S.

Undergraduate, graduate, and community colleges. Best value and most affordable too. If it exists as an online program in engineering, OnlineEngineering.org covers it.

And not just the top schools, but also all the online degree programs, at every degree level:

All the online engineering degrees and programs in the U.S.

OnlineEngineering.org is a comprehensive resource for navigating the online engineering degree landscape, providing a complete set of rankings for online engineering degrees in every major specialization at the associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. In addition, the site contains guides covering a far-reaching set of related subjects such as engineering accreditation, tips for succeeding in an online engineering degree program, and a guide on how to earn a professional engineer (PE) license.

"The need is clear for resources dedicated solely to engineering, and we meet it with our decade of experience helping students find higher ed programs that align with their wants while providing a superior education," says Wayne Downs, president of OnlineEngineering.org. "We not only achieve that goal for students, but we do it using innovative ranking technology. Our ranking tool's accuracy advantage means students get an unbiased, peerless list of high-quality, influential engineering schools, a result they can trust."

How does OnlineEngineering.org measure and rank influence? Like many sites, OnlineEngineering.org uses government supplied IPEDS data to help compare programs based on graduation rates, retention rates, student-teacher ratios, experience in online learning (how long a school has offered online engineering degrees and how many graduates it has had), but that is only part of the rankings methodology.

With licensed permission, OnlineEngineering.org also partners with AcademicInfluence.com to incorporate its proprietary machine-learning technology that explores millions of open-source, crowd-edited data points, mapping lines of influence through constantly updated data repositories, including Wikipedia and Crossref. The result is a methodology that not only considers school performance as indicated by IPEDS data, but also considers the influence of professors at the schools and the influence of the programs' alumni.

"Engineers will appreciate the technological advantage and results we achieve. It's such a unique and logical approach, Forbes.com featured an article about it," says Downs.

"But we do more than just rank the best online engineering degree programswe also provide a wealth of information about the types of programs, array of specializations, and variety of professional opportunities that await online engineering students. Our goal is to make sure that prospective students have everything at their fingertips to make an informed decision."

OnlineEngineering.org is the leading site dedicated exclusively to assisting engineering studentsfrom high school through college and beyond. Offering unmatched, technology-driven rankings and information-packed guidance, it's the one-stop source for engineering higher education information online.

Contact:

Wayne Downs

President

OnlineEngineering.org

682-302-4945

[email protected]

SOURCE OnlineEngineering.org

Related Links

http://OnlineEngineering.org


Centre to make advance payment of Rs 1500 Cr for 30 Crores doses of vaccines 05 Jun 2021 | 12:25 AM Patna, May 4 (UNI) Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP member of Rajya Sabha Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday said that the Centre has decided to make advance payment of Rs 1500 Crores to Hyderabad based Company Biological for production of 30 cr vaccine doses of coronavirus. see more..

No agreement on MeECLs Jaintia Distribution Circle : Sangma 04 Jun 2021 | 11:05 PM Shillong, June 4( UNI) Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma on Friday said that no agreement has been signed yet to hand over the Jaintia Distribution Circle to the public sector undertaking under the Government of India or to any private company. see more..

Congress attacks Nitish as Bihar is placed at the bottom of SDG index 04 Jun 2021 | 9:50 PM Patna, Jun 04 (UNI) Congress on Friday ridiculed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his claims of achieving development, saying he shoul explain to the public as to why Bihar is placed at the bottom in the list of states prepared by NITI Ayog on Sustainable Development Goals(SDG). see more..

SER despatched 13636 MT of liquid medical oxygen across country 04 Jun 2021 | 9:29 PM Kolkata, Jun 4 (UNI) South Eastern Railway (SER) has already moved 190 Oxygen Express

Trains with total 13636 tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) to 12 different States and

Union Territories for treatment of Covid affected patients. see more..
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is calling on the federal government to close a migrant children facility in San Antonio after receiving abuse and understaffing complaints.

Greg Abbott said on Wednesday that complaints include sexual assault, understaffing, not being fed enough food, and failure to separate COVID-19 positive children from others, according to a KSAT report.

The Texas governor noted that the complaints are credible and were made to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Abbott did not give additional details about who provided the information but said it was from at least one or more people who have been inside the facility.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn asked for a federal investigation on the said allegations of child abuse at the Freeman Coliseum facility in San Antonio, Fox News reported.

"The fact that any child would experience abuse in the care of the U.S. government is despicable. The HHS Inspector General must fully investigate these allegations and the treatment of children at this facility," Cornyn said in the report.

He added that these unaccompanied children have already endured dangerous conditions before reaching the U.S. border.

READ NEXT: Biden Administration Receives Backlash After Reopening Migrant Facility for Children

Abuse Allegations on Migrant Children Facilities

In 2019, the same sexual abuse complaints were made. Thousands of migrant children reportedly suffered sexual abuse while they are in U.S. government custody over the past four years.

Between October 2014 and July 2018, CBS News noted that 4,556 sexual abuse complaints were reported to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).

Another 1,303 complaints were made by the Justice Department between fiscal years 2015 and 2018. However, it was not clear whether these complaints overlap with those reported to ORR.

Critics have blamed President Joe Biden for the ongoing border crisis, saying that his decision to undo Trump-era policies has caused the migrant influx at the border.

Abbott blamed Biden for the allegations made in the San Antonio migrant facility. The Texas governor declared the housing facility "a health and safety nightmare," Daily Mail reported.

Greg Abbott added that the Biden administration is "presiding over the abuse of the children," which should immediately be stopped by shutting down the facility.

"While we wait on the Biden administration to act, I'm directing DPS and Texas Rangers to immediately begin investigation these allegations," Abbott noted.

Biden has still refused to call the situation a crisis despite the influx of migrants at the border. He has already tapped Vice President Kamala Harris to address the border issue. Harris has received criticism for not flying down to the southern border to see the situation personally.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that now is not the time for migrants to come to the U.S. as the journey is dangerous.

Mayorkas added that they are also establishing a safe and humane way to address the needs of the migrants, DW reported.

READ MORE: Pathway to Citizenship: Biden Sends Immigration Bill to Congress for 11 Million Illegal Migrants

WATCH: Gov. Abbott Says State Agencies Received Reports of Abuse at San Antonio Facility for Migrant Children - From WFAA






The ex-wife of missing Sarm Heslop's boyfriend still lives in fear of him seven years after their divorce - and now carries a gun with her at all times, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Cori Stevenson, 43, who was married to Ryan Bane between 2008 and 2014, claims her ex-husband has a history of violence - and animal cruelty - that still haunts her to this day.

Bane, 44, was jailed for 21 days in 2011 after physically assaulting his ex-wife in an incident that left her with a broken tooth and finger marks around her neck.

Stevenson has claimed 'there was never a day' she didn't fear Bane during their turbulent marriage and that she had slept with a shotgun throughout their divorce.

Holding up her .380 Smith & Wesson pistol outside her Florida home, the mom-of-one told DailyMail.com: 'This is what I carry around with me now. I keep the gun with me everywhere in case he shows up and confronts me.

'I really am that afraid of him. He was basically my bully. I don't know what else to call him. He's already beaten me up. I am definitely worried he would still harm me in some way.'

Cori Stevenson, 43, who was married to Ryan Bane (pictured together right) between 2008 and 2014, says she now carries a gun (left) with her at all times to protect her from her ex-husband

Bane, an American charter boat captain, remains on his catamaran on the US Virgin Islands as authorities continue to search for his missing girlfriend Sarm Heslop (pictured together)

Bane remains at sea on his $500,000 catamaran in the US Virgin Islands after refusing to be interviewed by police over the mysterious disappearance of his British girlfriend Sarm, 41, who was last seen on his vessel last month.

He is said to have waited nine hours before calling the US Coastguard to report her missing and, despite Sarm's parents' pleas, has refused to let police search his boat.

The American charter boat skipper, who moved to the Caribbean in 2015, met former flight attendant Sarm on dating app Tinder last year.

The couple were last seen together having dinner at a dive bar restaurant in Cruz Bay on the island of St John on March 7.

According to Bane, the pair left the restaurant at 10pm in line with the local Covid curfew and took their dinghy back to his 47ft-catamaran, Siren Song, anchored 120ft from secluded Frank Bay.

Bane was awoken by the yacht's anchor alarm at 2am to find no trace of Sarm onboard. He later told authorities she may have fallen overboard.

Bane has since moved the yacht to a more secluded spot on a smaller island while he continues to refuse detectives' requests to search it.

Bane is not being treated as a suspect and Virgin Islands police have said he is free to leave as they continue investigating his girlfriend's disappearance.

Bane, 44, was jailed for 21 days in 2011 after physically assaulting his ex-wife in an incident that left her with a broken tooth and finger marks around her neck

Stevenson, meanwhile, has publicly spoken out against her ex-husband in recent weeks, describing him as a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character who was pleasant in public but became abusive behind closed doors.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, she said she believes Bane had cheated on her throughout their marriage - alleging he entertained women at their home while she was away overnight.

In a more startling claim, she also accused her ex of being cruel to animals, claiming he once killed a baby deer she had befriended and cooked it, in an incident that mirrored Glenn Close's infamous bunny boiler scene in 1987 movie Fatal Attraction.

The couple had lived together in Lake Orion, Michigan, where Stevenson said she had befriended a fawn that came to the edge of their backyard one day.

'While I was at the store during the day, he actually shot it in the yard,' she said. 'He tried to trick me into eating it by putting it on the grill outside.

'I had no idea that the meat on the grill was the baby deer. As he was cooking it, he was telling me: "This is going to be great  you're going to love this."

'And I was asking, where has this meat come from? That's when I saw the mess outside. You could see where he shot the deer, dragged it through the yard, put it in a garbage can and cut it up. Once I'd figured it out, he admitted it was the baby deer I used to feed.

Sarm, 41, from Southampton, England met Bane on Tinder eight months ago. She was last seen on his boat on the island of St John on March 7

Bane (pictured on his yacht last month) has not been cooperating with police investigating the former flight attendant's disappearance and has refused to allow them to search his boat

Bane was seen with his dog Hunter last month when DailyMail.com confronted him on a secluded beach in the US Virgin Islands

'It was one of twins who came round with their mom. After the grill incident, the mom came round but with only one baby.'

Stevenson, who has since made a new life in Melbourne, Florida with fiance Ralph Carpenter, also recalled how Bane allegedly killed a squirrel she 'loved' that regularly came by the house.

'He would come into my lap if I had food and I would feed him. He would eat out of my hand almost every day. I called him Fatty. I loved that squirrel,' she said.

'While I was gone one time, Ryan killed the squirrel and put it in the freezer for me to find.'

Bane is currently travelling on his boat with his pet Labrador Hunter and was recently spotted walking the dog on a secluded beach.

According to Stevenson, Hunter was actually a gift to her daughter Grace, now 20, from a different relationship.

She said: 'The dog you see in all the pictures, is actually her dog. We gave it to her for her birthday. Grace named the dog Hunter and then halfway through the divorce Ryan obtained possession of him.

Stevenson and Bane married in 2008, but their relationship deteriorated almost immediately on their honeymoon to Spain, his ex-wife said

Stevenson told DailyMail.com she believes her ex-husband cheated on her throughout their six-year marriage

'We went to a judge and tried to get it back but weren't successful. The judge told me it's just a dog.

'I said, try telling that to a crying 12-year-old girl. She cried every day about the dog. And she still wants him back.'

Stevenson said she was told by friends two years ago that Bane had made a new life for himself on a boat in the Caribbean after years in office jobs in the States.

'I looked up on Instagram just to see and saw pictures on Hunter with him. And I thought, oh good. Our dog is still alive.'

Stevenson, who worked as a nanny while they pair were living together in Lake Orion, near where they both grew up, believes Bane had been unfaithful throughout their marriage.

'I would sometimes stay overnight to look after children,' she said. 'I would come home and there would be two wine glasses, one with lipstick all over it.

'And I'd ask him who had been there. He'd just say, nobody. That happened a lot of times.'

On other occasions Bane told Corie he would be staying in a hotel to go hunting with friends, she said. But she claimed this was just a ruse.

Corie went on: 'I would ask the guys, hey did you have fun hunting? And they looked at me like I was crazy. Like we weren't hunting.

'I think he was cheating on me any chance he got. And I believe it was happening our whole marriage. But if asked him about anything he would just lie. He would lie about everything.'

Stevenson and Bane married in 2008. But their relationship deteriorated almost immediately on their honeymoon to Spain.

'It was like he flipped a switch,' Stevenson said. 'He suddenly became a different person a total Jekyll and Hyde character, snd that continued when we got home.

Steenson has described her ex as a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character who was pleasant in public but became abusive behind closed doors

'He would have a good week, and then all of a sudden he changed.

'He was a totally different person publicly. None of his friends ever saw him like that. He was good at covering up.'

Bane was jailed in 2011 for domestic violence after Corie reported him to police following a row when they returned home at 5.30am from a wedding.

The police report said Bane was abusive to her on the way back. It added he 'dragged her out of the truck' and 'grabbed' Corie in the dining room.

An officer wrote Bane then 'threw her to the ground and smashed her head into the floor, chipping one of her teeth'.

Bane pleaded guilty and served 21 days, according to court documents.

Other court papers reveal he served another 31 days for a probation violation in 2013, the year they began divorce proceedings.

Of the attack, Corie said: 'I was absolutely terrified while it was happening. I saw the devil behind his eyes and it scared me. It was a totally different person who was there. It was petrifying.

'I was terrified already when he pulled me out of the truck. But during the assault my fear reached a whole other level.'

She added: 'My face was all red and my tooth was broken. A couple of days later my face was black and blue and I had finger marks around my neck.'
Study by MIT Technology Review Finds Businesses Expect Offensive AI

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Darktrace, a leading autonomous cyber security AI company, today announced that a study conducted by MIT Technology Review finds that 96% of security leaders are now preparing for the emergence of AI-powered cyber-attacks, with many embracing AI defenses.

MIT Technology Review Insights surveyed over 300 C-level executives, directors and managers worldwide between December 2020 and January 2021 to understand how they address present and future cyber-threats. Key findings include:

The top 3 most concerning attacks were email attacks (74%), ransomware (73%) and cloud-based attacks (68%)

96% of respondents are preparing for the onset of AI attacks

68% expect AI to be used for impersonation and spear-phishing attacks

60% believe that human-driven responses fail to keep up with automated cyber-attacks

The report includes a case study from McLaren Racing, the Formula 1 giant, which uses Darktrace's Autonomous Cyber AI to detect and respond to fast-moving cyber-attacks. The case study details an instance in which the AI stopped a sophisticated email impersonation attack during a busy race weekend.

The report also details insights from Darktrace's Director of Threat Hunting and former White Hat Hacker, Max Heinemeyer, who explores the security challenges of 'fearware', highly targeted scam emails that have exploited the public's fears around the pandemic.

"Of the individuals surveyed for this report, 60% are C-level executives and directors," commented Laurel Ruma, Editorial Director, US at MIT Technology Review. "From the results, it is clear that cyber security is a real and significant issue for business leaders - and AI is going to play a very big part in securing all enterprises."

"These findings show that we are at a watershed moment and business executives are preparing for a new era of attacks," commented Nicole Eagan, Chief Strategy & AI Officer at Darktrace. "Approaches that are based on analyzing historical attacks will be ill-equipped to defend against Offensive AI. A fundamentally new approach using self-learning technology and autonomous response will be necessary to augment human security teams."

About Darktrace

Darktrace is a leading autonomous cyber security AI company and the creator of Autonomous Response technology. It provides comprehensive, enterprise-wide cyber defense to over 4,700 organizations in over 100 countries, protecting the cloud, email, IoT, traditional networks, endpoints and industrial systems.

A self-learning technology, Darktrace AI autonomously detects, investigates and responds to advanced cyber-threats, including insider threat, remote working risks, ransomware, data loss and supply chain vulnerabilities.

The company has 1,500 employees globally, with headquarters in Cambridge, UK. Every second, Darktrace AI detects a cyber-threat, preventing it from causing damage.

Media Contacts



Amy Longo Edelman (US) +1 (646) 912 3210 darktrace@edelman.com Nikhol Hui Brands2Life (UK) +44 (0) 7908 714 331 darktrace@brands2life.com Aliya Anwars Golin +65 9172 3242 darktrace@golin.com



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Moves from San Francisco to Sacramento increased by 70% in 2020. Katie Canales/Business Insider

San Francisco lost the most residents between 2019 and 2020 out of every major city, per CBRE.

Moves from San Francisco to Texas increased by 32.1% and to Florida by 46.2%.

Yet most who left San Francisco went to nearby Sacramento, the data shows.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

San Francisco lost the most residents between 2019 and 2020 out of every major city, according to a new analysis.

The Bay Area city lost about 18 residents per 1,000 people in 2020, compared to losing just 9 residents out of ever 1,000 the year prior, according to a new report by the commercial realty firm CBRE Group.

Though most people moved out of San Francisco to other areas in California, the share of people moving to Texas and Florida soared compared to 2019, the data showed. The number of people who moved from San Francisco to Texas increased by 32.1% between 2019 to 2020, and the share of those who moved to Florida rose by a whopping 46.2%.

CBRE Group, based in Dallas, Texas, obtained USPS records through a Freedom of Information Act request, a spokesperson told Insider. CBRE used the USPS records of individual permanent address changes between 2019 and 2020 to analyze how the pandemic impacted migration patterns.

Read more: Google continues its Search leadership shuffle, appointing new executives to focus its most important business

Tech companies' transition to work-from-home during the COVID-19 pandemic incentivized employees to move out of San Francisco to less costly areas, CBRE estimates. As many as 89,000 households moved out of San Francisco between March and November 2020.

Several prominent techies boasted about their move out of California. Elon Musk confirmed he moved to Texas in December after criticizing California's response to the pandemic. Unicorn investor Keith Rabois moved to Miami and said the Bay Area is losing its concentration of tech talent.

"Many of the most ambitious people on the planet have lived here," Rabois told Insider regarding the Bay Area, "but post-COVID, I think the concentration of talent has atrophied, perhaps permanently."

Story continues

Yet CBRE said most who left San Francisco went to nearby Sacramento. Moves from San Francisco to Sacramento increased by 70% in 2020, and more people moved to California's capital last year than to cities like Tampa, San Antonio, and Austin.

"The pandemic came just as the bulk of the large and increasingly affluent millennial cohort had reached prime family formation age," the report states. "Consequently, millennials had been trending toward more suburban residencies even before COVID-19 came on the scene."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A convicted felon who threatened to kill his Florida girlfriend drove there from Connecticut, broke into her house, grabbed a gun and chased her before being subdued by deputies over the weekend, Florida authorities said.

Aaron James Thayer, 39, of Justice Lane in Bunnell, Florida, was charged Saturday with written threats to kill, attempted premeditated murder with a firearm, possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon, petit theft and resisting arrest without violence. He was in custody at the Sheriff Perry Hall Detention Facility without bail, they said. Formerly from Connecticut, he was staying in the state for work.

Deputies used a stun gun on Thayer when he refused to get on the ground as they repeatedly ordered, police said. The tense scene was captured on one of the deputys body camera and posted on YouTube.

This guy told the victim he was going to kill her and less than 24 hours later he had driven all night and was at her door to kill her, Sheriff Rick Staly said. I am so thankful that my deputies were able to intercept this guy and used their training, tactics and de-escalation techniques before he was able to hurt anyone, he said of deputies Jen Prevatt and Ed Faircloth.

Thayer, who has a conviction in Connecticut for first-degree assault, later told police he would never hurt his family and said he grabbed the gun to protect himself against what he thought was the womans new boyfriend.

According to an affidavit provided by the Flagler County Sheriffs Office, Thayers girlfriend called police Friday because Thayer had been sending her threatening texts that included Imma kill you and Im coming down and Im gonna fix this forever.

When Prevatt arrived, the woman told the deputy she was afraid Thayer would carry out his threat because he has injured her in the past. In December, he choked her, but she didnt report it to police, she told the deputy; before that, he had kicked her in the face with steel-toe boots, the affidavit said.

Story continues

Meanwhile, Thayer kept texting the woman, angrily demanding to know who was at the house. He had surveillance cameras set up around the home and was monitoring her movements from Connecticut, the document said. Prevatt also heard him threaten her on the phone.

Deputies kept an eye on the house while police got a warrant for Thayers arrest. They also checked his cellphones location, and initial pings indicated he was headed south, the affidavit said.

Shortly before 3:30 p.m. Saturday, the woman called police and said Thayer had arrived and was breaking in. She called back a few minutes later and said she was in the street and that he had a gun. Thayer had used a tire iron to pry open a door, accused her of cheating on him and picked up a gun off the bedroom nightstand, prompting her to run out of the home, the affidavit said.

When deputies arrived, they told the woman to stay behind a police car and they ran up to Thayer in the driveway. He put his hands up but refused to get on the ground as they ordered at least a half-dozen times, so Faircloth shot him with a stun gun.

Thayer dropped to the driveway and was handcuffed.

Christine Dempsey may be reached at cdempsey@courant.com.
We have dedicated surveyors that support municipalities across the country and are familiar with property lines, land ownership, parcel information and related data.

Woolpert has been contracted by Propelio, a real estate software company, to provide Google Maps Platform services, Google Workspace, application programming interfaces (APIs) and technical support. Propelio helps real estate agents analyze properties, identify investment opportunities and locate motivated sellers.

Woolpert Senior Account Executive Jeremy Quam said Propelio has used the Google Maps Platform for the last few years. A pricing model switch prompted the nationwide firm to pursue a Google service provider that could support its extensive location intelligence and infrastructure-related needs at a better price point. Woolpert has been a Google Premier Partner since 2016.

Propelio uses Google to supplement their imagery, using Googles Snap to Roads and Street View, and aggregates their data into one tool, Quam said. Were a global mapping company that also is an architecture and engineering company. We have dedicated surveyors that support municipalities across the country and are familiar with property lines, land ownership, parcel information and related data.

Quam said Propelio benefits from the fact that Woolpert is a longtime Google service provider who understands the mechanics of the real estate industry and the latest geospatial technology.

Propelio plans to integrate additional GIS layers into its platform to further enrich capabilities for customers, and we are ready and able to help whenever needed, he said. Were excited to work with Propelio and support their current and future location intelligence needs.

About Woolpert

Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. We innovate within and across markets to effectively serve public, private and government clients worldwide. Woolpert is an ENR Top 150 Global Design Firm, recently earned its fifth-straight Great Place to Work certification and actively nurtures a culture of growth, inclusion, diversity and respect. Founded in 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert has been Americas fastest-growing AEG firm since 2015. The firm has over 1,100 employees and 42 offices in three countries. For more, visit woolpert.com.
Interview This Is Not Just Another Coup: Ex-US Ambassador to Myanmar

Then US Ambassador to Myanmar Scot Marciel in Yangon in 2018. / The Irrawaddy

The Irrawaddy spoke to Scot Marciel, who served as US ambassador to Myanmar from 2016-20, about the unfolding crisis in the country and how the international community and regional powers can help stop the regimes violence against the Myanmar people.

THE IRRAWADDY: It seems Myanmar is now sliding into chaos and civil war; the resistance to the military coup is very strong. The attempted coup has not succeeded yet. We have seen a lot of people die; young people, young children are dying, kids are being killed, shot through the head. You left Myanmar in 2020. How do you see the situation in the country now?

SCOT MARCIEL: Its tragic and its horrible. First, the coup itself occurred in the aftermath of an election that produced a clear winner in the form of the [National League for Democracy (NLD)], which was a legitimately elected government. So the coup itself was a terrible step, and had no justification as far as I can see. Second, even worse, since the coup the militarys incredible brutality and willingness to murder its own people, including women and children on the streets, is just so appalling. And it is quite clear that you have two sides. The Tatmadaw [Myanmars military] together with the police on one side, and on the other side you have the overwhelming proportion or percentage of Myanmar people who refuse to accept this coup. We have seen tremendous bloodshed; I fear we are going to see more.

Where do you think this is going to go? People inside the country have been hoping for some form of intervention. Last month, protesters and demonstrators were holding signs calling for R2Pthe principle of the international communitys Responsibility to Protectand for some form of intervention. But as the days go by, you can see the people are growing frustrated, taking up homemade weapons and fighting against the military. We are seeing reports of clashes taking place in the countryside. What can the international community do?

I understand the frustration of the people of Myanmar. I think there are a couple of things that the international community should be doing. One, trying to put maximum pressure on the Tatmadaw to reverse course, including by not doing anything to legitimize the coup or the junta that has taken over in Naypyitaw. Two, going after the sources of finances, to put pressure on it. It is very hard for the international community, especially the UN. The UN is made of member states. For example, at the Security Council meeting on [March 31], most of the members of the UNSC were quite united and were pushing for very tough language going forward. But you know China and Russia opposed that, so its very hard to get that [language] when you have opposition from countries like China and Russia. It is very difficult for the UNSC to do very much.

And I would say that ASEAN is somewhat in a similar situation. It is a group that operates by consensus. Some of the membersIndonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippineshave been quite strong in their condemnation of the violence and looking for a diplomatic way to try to end the violence and calm things down, and move the country back towards democracy. But its hard without unity within ASEAN. And remember, Myanmar is a member of ASEAN. Myanmars representative is in these meetings, and so far in these meetings the representatives are from the junta. And that is just the way ASEAN operates. It is really important that ASEAN has been talking about an emergency summit. I think that would be useful, and it is important that at the summit they not just talk, but come up with specific ideas to reduce the militarys violence against its own people. And if the representative of the junta is sitting in the Myanmar seat, I hope that other members do not allow them to veto any kind of ASEAN action. I think it is also important to make it clear that, while ASEAN is keeping channels of communication open to the SAC [the State Administration Council, the juntas ruling body], that does not mean that they are conferring legitimacy on it. These are very important steps.

Among ASEAN members there are like-minded authoritarian governments, and some members are dragging their feet, simply observing the situation. Indonesia and Singapore are using tougher language, but other members are keeping quiet. That is not very helpful.

I think it is not only important for these ASEAN members but for all nations in the neighborhood not to see this just as a fight for democracy and human rights, although it is. But it is also a question of the stability of the country and of the region. Myanmar has headed down a very dangerous path because of the Tatmadaw. I want to be very clear: It is because of the Tatmadaws behavior that Myanmar is headed down this path. Even for governments that may not place a priority on democracy and human rights, they should be concerned about the risks of greater conflict, of a large [number] of refugees fleeing, of increased production and sales of narcotics, and of Myanmarone of the 10 ASEAN membersbecoming, if not a failed state, a source of great instability and of huge problems for the entire region. So even if you are thinking in strategic terms or just about peace and stability, there is a need for more than just observing.

Russia was invited to attend the Tatmadaws Armed Forces Day parade. This is quite chilling because coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing seems to be drawing one of the major powers into the conflict. China and Russia have always provided much-needed support for past regimes, including diplomatic cover at the UN, and continue to do so for the current regime. What is your view on this? It seems the middle powers and the international system are failing Myanmar, quibbling among themselves.

I would [make a distinction between] Russia and Chinawith a caveat that I am not an expert on China or Russia. But my sense is that Russia does not have huge interest in Myanmar, so it is not affected if there is great instability or conflict in Myanmar. But it is an opportunity to sell weapons and to show up and show itself to be a friend of the generals. Chinaand then again, I cant speak for the Chinese governmentbut my sense is that China is in a difficult position. I cant believe they are happy with the current situation, as it would not be in Chinas interest to see this level of violence and instability. The trouble is their ambassador to the UN in his statement on Wednesday talked about how pressure and the threat of sanctions could add to tensions or further complicate the situation. I think we are way past that point. We already have not only tension, but terrible violence. So I think it is important that all of the countries in the world and certainly in the region, look at the situation as what it is: an illegitimate military junta basically trying to terrorize its population into submission. And the population is refusing to accept this. And as a result the conflict is taking the country down a dangerous path, as I mentioned before, obviously foremost for the people of Myanmar and also for the entire region.

Intellectuals are leaving, civil servants are being arrested, politicians are being detained, and activists are fleeing the country. Not only that, businesspeople are concerned about the future. How can ASEAN members, or China, Japan, Singapore or anyone else, hope to do business in the country?

I think its very hard trying to do any kind of legitimate long-term business. Myanmar has to look extremely unattractive right now just from a pure business point of view. So there may be money flowing in, but there is a lot of money flowing out of the country. And again, this contributes to the countrys downward spiral; obviously its creating great suffering in the country. But [it also creates] great risk for the entire region. And that is why this cant be just looked at by the international community as business as usual: Oh, too bad, there was a coup. This is much more than a coup, this is a takeover by a military that has no support, no legitimacy and a history of terrible governance. And it is opposed by virtually the entire country. It is important for the policy makers in the country and around the world not to see this as just Oh this is just another coup. It is much more than that.

In addition to Myanmar, you served as ambassador to Indonesia. How can Western powers including the US and other powers in the region put pressure on ASEAN, which is not doing anything?

Its not about putting pressure on ASEAN. I am a big supporter of ASEAN. I think it has played a very important role for many years even though, in a situation like this, it has not been able to do much. I think ASEAN can play a role in two ways. Onealready seen in the effort by the Indonesian foreign minister and othersis trying to establish channels of communication and push for an end to the violence and some kind of dialog that could lead to a way out of this. I think what ASEAN has in its so-called ASEAN Centrality is the ability to convene and lead in that sense. It doesnt have to always lead by dominating or coming up with ideas. But at ASEANs upcoming summit, if they want to take the lead, I think certainly the US and many other countries are more than willing and interested in working with and trying to support an initiative to try and improve the situation in Myanmar. But it is really important that it has to be an initiative that takes into account the fact that the overwhelming percentage of Myanmar people will not accept this coup or the military role.

Lets talk about ASEAN and the US. You cannot speak for the Biden administration, but what can the US do to work with ASEAN? Previously, you tweeted about not dealing with the Tatmadaw. Can you elaborate on that? How can the US work with regional partners?

There is an important distinction here. Some of my friends in Southeast Asia/ASEAN have talked about the need to keep open channels of communication, including to the Tatmadaw. Thats reasonable. It is always useful to have channels of communication. I think it is a different thing to deal with them as a legitimate government or to give them legitimacy by dealing with them as an accepted government. So there are ways this can be done, that allow communication without conferring legitimacy. I believe there are a lot of conversations between people at the State Department and elsewhere in Washington and Southeast Asia about this situation. There is ongoing dialog. And I think it is really important not to see this as a US vs. China issue. I do not think it is. We are not looking at it as, Oh what about China? We are looking at it as, How can we help the people of Myanmar? So I do not think it has to be part of this big power rivalry. There is an opportunity for different parties to try to work together in support of the people of Myanmar. And I hope ASEAN can play an important role, just as it did in helping the international community and Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis. ASEAN can create entry points for the international community to try to work together in support ofagain, I have to stress in support ofthe Myanmar people. This is not about coming up with some deal behind the backs of Myanmar people, which would be totally unacceptable.

You have mentioned that this is not US vs. China and not about the US-China rivalry. But we saw a lot of anti-China protests inside the country, making threats against Chinese businesses and the Chinese natural gas pipeline. At the same time, do you think China can work with the US on Myanmar or for the people of Myanmar?

I do not know, I just dont know. But I think we should have conversations. As I said, I cant be sure and I cant speak for the Chinese government, but I cant imagine that they are happy with the current situation. There may not be a lot of overlapping interests, but there may be some if we all try to work in support of Myanmar people. Not only because we care about them and democracy, but because this is the best way to get to long term peace and stability. I will just add that I do not want to see anti-Chinese sentiments in Myanmar. There are a lot of ethnic-Chinese people in Myanmar, I do not want to see divisions in the country. Hopefully the people will stay focused on the responsible party for the issue and that is the Tatmadaw. I think it is important not to lose focus on that.

We shouldnt forget Japan, which is a key player in Myanmar, as one of the largest donors and investors, and generally well received inside the country. When you were ambassador you saw a lot of Japanese investment coming in and observed Tokyos influence both with Daw Aung San Suu Kyis government as well as with the military.

Japan is a very important player and I think it has been a very constructive player. Its taken a pretty firm position since the coup. Again, I may be too optimistic but I think a lot of countries in the region and the US all have an interest in Myanmar getting out of this terrible situation, ending the military violence against its own people, and finding some way to support a process that allows the people to choose their own government. I dont think there are too many governments who are happy with the current situation. If governments recognize that the continuation of the junta is going to lead to more violence and more instability, that should allow many of us to find ways to work together. At least I hope so. Certainly Japan has a very important role and I think it can be a very positive role.

Should Japan stop aid and investment in Myanmar?

I cant tell you what Japan should do. My view in general is that, if governments are able to provide assistance in helping people and communities but not the Tatmadaw/junta, then I would say that should not be stopped. Investment, thats a really difficult situation. Again investments  that benefit the juntaabsolutely not. But private companies that are giving people jobs? It is a really difficult situation to be honest. The bottom line is you are not going to get too much investment right now as long as this continues.

Lets discuss the Quad members, in particular Australia. Australian adviser to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Sean Turnell is now in detention. Australia has been accused of being too soft, of acting like a Norway of the southern hemisphere, or like India. It has been skittish and people are saying its not to be trusted. But to be fair on both countries what are your thoughts on what can they do?

Well I think it is not helpful for various countries to be complaining about other countries. The trouble is, the truth is, that this is a very difficult situation. If there was an easy answer we would have already solved the problem. And I think each country is trying to make the best decision they can. Certainly I know Australians are in a very difficult situation. There is quite active debate in India right now about how to proceed. But again, I would just say that whats important is to look at the best prospects for Myanmar returning to peace and stability and a legitimate government that the people of the country accept. And I think its clear that rule by the Tatmadaw is not the answer. And as times goes on, as more and more governments see this, I hope they will be compelled to act.

Lets talk about Thailand, Indonesia and India, and even Bangladesh, because refugees are fleeing, activists are fleeing. There have been airstrikes targeting the Karen civilian population and insurgents along the Thai-Myanmar border. From a humanitarian point of view, how should these neighboring countries react and what can the US do to collaborate with them?

Well particularly with Thailand, it has a long history of accepting refugees fleeing conflict in the region. And we have a long history of working with Thailand as well as the UN and others to help Thailand meet the burden of hosting, hopefully temporarily, refugee populations. Recently Bangladesh has taken a lot of refugees. We have been working with them and the UN and others too, to help share the burden of that. I think the US has been quite generous and think we will continue to be generous in trying to support what is a huge burden for any country, to take a lot of refugees. But I think, also, these countries have taken a lot of refugees in the past; they dont love it. But they do it because its their responsibility and I expect they will going forward. And I think the international community, including the US, will do what it can to support them financially and otherwise as they deal with this.

The US is implementing more targeted sanctions. Do you think this will work? What more can the US do?

There was this whole debate before 2010 and after 2010: Did sanctions work? Did engagement work? I think you need multiple things by multiple countries, each country doing what it can. Sanctions that reduce the flow of money to the junta, I think can be helpful. The Biden administration for example freezing US$1 billion of reserves at the New York Federal Bank, thats money the junta cant use to suppress its people and maintain its hold. I dont think sanctions alone solve the problem. Its an international effort not to accept or give legitimacy to the military junta thats really important. Its psychological but it is really important [to the junta] that they feel accepted. Because clearly their hope is that over time more and more governments will just accept them. There needs to be continued diplomatic efforts to work together to create a strong pressure on the Tatmadaw to recognize that its not going to win and to look for a way out. And that needs to be as many countries as possible, including the US. Its also important that there be continuing dialog as much as possible with the Myanmar public, whether it is with elected parliamentarians or people whom the international community is able to talk with to make sure that whatever we are doing reflects as much as possible what the people of Myanmar are asking for. I think that is critical.

Before 2010 Myanmar was opening up under President U Thein Sein. The US, whether under Democrats or Republicans, was playing a leading role in Myanmar. Some critics kept saying Myanmar was a boutique issue in Washington, but in the region and inside the country the role of the US was held in high regard. Do you think the US is doing enough or does it have too much on its plate?

I think its getting a lot of attention. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken about it multiple times. President Biden spoke about it. People are working constantly to look at what else we can do. You have seen a series of actions. But you also see on social media, people saying why dont you do this and that. Honestly, the people may be well intentioned, but then you look at the suggestions and you realize that sometimes they are not easy to do, or it may not be very helpful. It takes a lot of work to make sure that whatever we do is helpful. I know the US will continue to be active diplomatically working with ASEAN colleagues, Japan, India, Australia, otherswhoever is interested in contributing to the solution  and at the UN. The US sees [that] this may not be resolved for some time, but it is very much on the side of the people of Myanmar. And their clear message is that they dont want to go back to military rule. So we are going to do everything we can to support that effort, even if it takes a lot of time.

In 2016 there was controversy over the US decision to lift sanctions on Myanmar. Some people regretted the lifting of sanctions on certain individuals. Some people argued that sanctions should remain until genuine change occurred.

I supported the lifting of sanctions and I still think based on what we knew then it was the right decision. It is important to remember that the sanctions that had been put in place until Myanmar allowed fair elections. Obviously the [2015] elections were not perfectthe military still controlled 25 percent of parliamentbut the pro-democracy movement (very much) obviously participated and supported those elections and took charge of the government. The second thing was, at that point, our sanctions were hindering the kind of investments that we thought the country needed [in order] to have the economic progress that would reinforce the democratic reforms we had hoped for. You cant say, We need you to keep on making reforms, but we are going to make it harder for you by squeezing your economy. The other point I would make is there is a tendency sometimes to exaggerate the influence of sanctions. We had sanctions in the early 2000s when the Tatmadaw was brutalizing the population in Karen and Shan states. It did not stop them. I have a hard time believing that maintaining sanctions would have stopped the Tatmadaw from either its actions in Rakhine or its coup. You cant prove it. But there is just no evidence to support that, so I think it was the right decision at that time, and I think people tend to exaggerate how much leverage sanctions give you.

When you were ambassador, you worked with government officials including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and also with some top military leaders. Did you have any sense at the end of your term, any sort of signal or message or indicator, that Myanmar was returning to dark times? What was your feeling then?

Overall we certainly had some concerns about the Rakhine State situation, we had concerns about the lack of progress on peace, and we had concerns about things like freedom of press and assembly that were not at the level that we certainly had expected. And we certainly had concerns about the militarys behavior, which was bad even then. I didnt anticipate a coup, no I didnt. And so, I remained, when I left, optimistic, but optimistic in the longer term, because I saw a whole new generation of people rising, better educated, more access to information, more open minded and I thought that was the great hope for Myanmar, and I still think thats the great hope. And you see these young people now very active and even talking among themselves about the need to change the relationship between the different ethnic groups and these sorts of things. I think thats still great reason for optimism in the long run. But no, in short, I did not anticipate the coup and I am really sad to see this crisis.

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Theres a saying often espoused by Judy and Alex Buchler, Holocaust survivors wrested from their childhood homes and subjected to Nazi brutality: the greatest revenge against Hitler is to live a good life.

Its an ethic that lives on for both eight decades after the war, as Judy, 93, and Alex, 94, celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary Thursday  which this year just so happens to coincide with Yom HaShoah, the day of remembrance for the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust.

I am totally awed by them and their resilience and their love for each other, daughter Edna Alberts, 67, of Parsippany, told NJ Advance Media. My father wont even let her out of his sight. Every minute he says, Judy, where are you and dont leave me, and he holds her hands the whole time  its like theyre on their second honeymoon.

Alex and Judy Buchler have been married for 70 years, after both miraculously surviving the Holocaust.Courtesy of Edna Alberts

But its been a long and winding journey that led them to their current home in Rockaway, punctuated by trauma and displacement.

Born in 1928, Judy grew up in Yugoslavia, but was soon forced to leave her home behind.

By her 13th birthday, she was living under Hungarian occupation and in 1944, when the Germans arrived, she was transported to various camps. She eventually landed in the Sudetenland, the territory of Czechoslovakia annexed by the Germans in the infamous Munich Agreement.

Judy was made - along with about 35 others - to lug heavy stones and build a dam along a river with little food, she said.

We were the horses, Judy told NJ Advance Media.

Some were taken to Auschwitz, but Judy survived with her mother and grandfather until the Russians liberated them. They made it to Budapest and Judy left for Israel soon after.

There she met Alex, who hid during the war in a school for Deaf children, cramming with hundreds of other Jews in closets and other hiding spots. Though Nazis discovered the school and forced them to march to Mauthausen, Alex eluded his fate with a shutzpass, a special Swedish travel document that saved 20,000 other Jews.

Alex Buchler received a "schutzpass," a special Swedish passport issued by Raoul Wallenberg who helped save thousands of Jews in Hungary.Courtesy of Edna Alberts

The rest of Alexs family, however, did not escape with their lives. He left his home in Slovakia in 1944 to study the jewelry trade in Budapest and never saw his family again, later learning they perished in Auschwitz.

Judy too carried the trauma of the war with her  while her parents and grandfather survived, the rest of her family did not. When they returned to their home near Belgrade, they saw it had been destroyed.

It was terrible times to be a Jew, Judy said.

Years later, after the fall of the Third Reich and the creation of the state of Israel, the couple met in Tel Aviv. Judy entered Alexs jewelry store and they soon discovered they shared the language of Hungarian in common, having both grown up in territories bordering Hungary.

They married in 1951, lived in Israel for ten years and had two daughters, before emigrating once again, this time to the Bronx. In 2003, they moved across the Hudson to be closer to their daughter in New Jersey.

Alex and Judy Buchler have been married for 70 years, after both miraculously surviving the Holocaust.Courtesy of Edna Alberts

It means a lot that we survived once and that we lived a whole nice life together, Judy said. We had two daughters and four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. To live to see that makes us very happy.

After a year in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic, Alex and Judy, now fully vaccinated, were finally able to visit with their extended family again, gathering in Ednas home for Passover. Even though Alexs health has been in decline, Judy said he wouldnt stop smiling the whole time while around his four great-grandchildren.

Hopefully we will be able to see them again, Judy said. But every time now we have the question, will we see them again, because of our age.

Alex and Judy Buchler gather with their four great-grandchildren for Passover.Courtesy of Edna Alberts

Today, there are about 400,000 living Holocaust survivors remaining, with more than a fifth residing in America, according to estimates from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany in 2020.

But that number dwindles each year, especially as survivors age and face the disproportionate threat of poverty and COVID-19.

[Children] should never forget what happened to their grandparents, great-grandparents and so on. Soon we will be all gone and [it] should be remembered what happened then and what Hitler did, Judy said.

As the number of firsthand survivor accounts shrinks, Judy worries about the reemergence of anti-Semitism and whether younger generations are educated on the evils of the 20th century. When she saw news coverage of the U.S. Capitol riot in January, her stomach churned at the sight of an extremist wearing a sweatshirt that read Camp Auschwitz.

Looks like anti-Semitism will be around forever sometimes its better, sometimes its worse  we got the worst of it, unfortunately, Judy said. And I just pray that it shouldnt repeat itself. Pray to God  never again.

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FRANKFORT, N.Y. -- It's official -- retail titan, Amazon, will be putting a facility in the Hale building, in the 5S North Business Park, in Frankfort.

"It'll be considered a last mile facility. What that means is, most likely all deliveries will be within 45 minutes but it could be up to 2 and a half hours," says Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency Executive Director, John Piseck.

Details of the project emerged during a Frankfort Village Board meeting Tuesday night. Piseck says this means hundreds of distribution jobs, and that Amazon will also contract with Uber drivers to make deliveries. He says the deal came about through good, old-fashioned networking, with a real estate contact in Albany.

"We've always been talking about different properties, you know, I'll send him emails, hey what's going on, and then he reached out and said, 'hey, there's a building I think for sale in Frankfort. I said, 'you want the contact?' I gave him the owner's contact, cell phone information and here we are today. It's fantastic. Didn't take long, either. And this was all during COVID, by the way," says Piseck.

Piseck says one of the most beneficial aspects of the plan for Herkimer County is the fact that Amazon isn't looking to the IDA for any breaks.

"They will not be seeking any pilot from the IDA. So from day one, they'll be paying property taxes. They're not looking for any sales tax abatement, they're ready to give back to the community and we're very excited about that. That's economic development," says Piseck.

Piseck says Hale will close on the sale of the building to the developer, Scannell Properties, out of Chicago, in about a month. Then, the developer will lease to Amazon. There will be a public hearing on potential environmental impacts of the project before the sale closes.

Hale Manufacturing will be moving with all of their current employees to a facility on Cosby Manor Road, still in Herkimer County, by June 1st.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Bachelors Degree Programs.

Intelligent.com analyzed 79] schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 61 making it to the final list for Online Bachelors Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-bachelors-degrees-and-programs/

2021 Online Bachelors Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

American Public University

Arizona State University

Arkansas State University

Bellevue University

Bemidji State University

Brandman University

California Baptist University, Online

Campbellsville University

Central Methodist University

Champlain College

City University of New York

City University of Seattle

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Colorado Christian University

Colorado State University Global

Columbia Southern University

Concordia University Wisconsin

Concordia University, St. Paul

Dallas Baptist University

Drexel University

Duquesne University

Eastern New Mexico University

Eastern Oregon University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Excelsior College

Franklin Pierce University

Franklin University

George Mason University

George Washington University

Georgia Southern University

Indiana University

King University

Lamar University

Loyola University Chicago

New England College of Business

New England Institute of Technology

North Greenville University

Northern Arizona University

Northern Kentucky University

Northwestern State University

Norwich University

Oral Roberts University

Pace University

Portland State University

Regent University

Regis University

Sam Houston State University

Southeast Missouri State University

State University of New York at Delhi

Texas Tech University

University of Arizona

University of Bridgeport

University of Cincinnati

University of La Verne

University of Minnesota, Crookston

University of Missouri

University of South Carolina, Aiken

University of Texas Permian Basin

Washington State University

Weber State University

Western Kentucky 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/.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks to the media during a press conference at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Ga., on April 27, 2020. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Georgia to Roll Back Remaining COVID-19 Restrictions on Thursday in Favor of Guidelines

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced on Wednesday that all remaining COVID-19 restrictions in the state will be lifted on Thursday, a move that will allow businesses to return to a level of normalcy.

We are taking steps every day to return to normal. Weve come a long way, but we had not yet finished the race. Many small business owners in our state are still struggling under the impact COVID-19 has had on our economy. And we know hard-working Georgians cannot endure another year like the last, Kemp said in a video statement on Tuesday.

That is why beginning tomorrow. We are loosening the remaining restrictions on our economy here in Georgia.

Kemp said the state restrictions to be lifted include eliminating the ban on gathering, shelter-in-place requirements that were first put in place about a year ago, and social distancing requirements for bars, restaurants, and other places of business.

The state is also eliminating the ability of law enforcement to shut down a business or organization for failure to comply with the states executive orders.

Instead, the state will issue recommended guidance consolidated into an easy-to-use list, the governor said.

Georgians know the right thing to do. They know the best practices to protect themselves and their families, he said.

As our COVID-19 numbers continue to trend in the right direction, and with all Georgians age 16 or over now eligible to receive the vaccine, Dr. Toomey and I are now encouraging everyone to roll up their sleeve and get their shot so we can continue making steady progress to return to our way of life in the Peach State, the governor said.

Georgia is the latest state to roll back on its pandemic restrictions such as mask mandates and indoor capacity limits despite warning of another surge of virus by the Biden administration. Other states that have already lifted or announced their intention to lift restrictions include Texas, Arizona, Mississippi, and Wyoming.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had also sued officials in the City of Austin and Travis County for failing to comply with a governor order that lifted a mask mandate across the state.

In late March, President Joe Biden and Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), warned Americans about prematurely declaring a victory against the virus, while adding that there was still potential for another wave of cases.

On Tuesday, Biden announced that all American adults will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine by April 19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 24.9 percent of the adult population in the United States has been fully vaccinated against the virus, meanwhile 42.4 percent of adults have received at least one dose as of April 7.

If you are fully vaccinated against #COVID19 (its been 2 weeks since the last shot in your series) and are exposed to someone with COVID-19, you are not required to quarantine if you havent had any symptoms. Learn more: https://t.co/TRZRzx3cym. pic.twitter.com/TYxyZKLCJ0  CDC Emergency (@CDCemergency) April 1, 2021

Walensky announced on Wednesday that the more contagious UK variant of the virus, known as B.1.1.7, has become the most dominant strain in the United States.

Based on our most recent estimates from CDC surveillance, the B.1.1.7 variant is now the most common lineage circulating in the United States, Walensky said.

Colorado officials also announced on Tuesday that the Brazilian variant of the virus, known as the P.1 variant, has been detected in the state. There have been 356 cases of this variant reported in 25 jurisdictions in the United States, according to the CDC.
China has been using Coronavirus vaccines' supply to reinforce its mission of dominating diplomatic relations. In one such recent instance, China offered "millions of doses" of Coronavirus vaccines to Paraguay in exchange for severing ties with Taiwan. Defending Taiwan's ties with Paraguay, India sent out 100,000 Covaxin doses to the South American nation.

Defending Taiwans ties with Paraguay, India sent out 100,000 Covaxin doses to the South American nation at a time when China was trying to tempt Paraguay against Taiwan by offering vaccines. The foreign minister of Taiwan, Joseph Wu on Wednesday said that India has already sent 100,000 doses to Paraguay and would be sending 100,000 more.

China has been using Coronavirus vaccines supply to reinforce its mission of dominating diplomatic relations. In one such recent instance, China offered millions of doses of Coronavirus vaccines to Paraguay in exchange for severing ties with Taiwan.

Taiwan Foreign Minister said that India helped Taiwan in maintaining its diplomatic relations with its South American ally nation, Paraguay. He said that if one looked at the countries that were receiving the Chinese vaccines, whether it was Brazil or Chile or El Salvador, he thought that it was having a lot of impact on their diplomatic allies. He further said that China had been very active in publicly stating that Paraguay would be able to receive millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines if it severed ties with Taiwan.

Also read: China attempts to occupy mindspace with blatant lies; Time tech giants take action to curb this?

Also read: China intensifies Xinjiang propaganda, portrays happy Uyghurs through Facebook ads

China cuts off ties with countries that recognize Taiwan as a country, citing its One China principle. Currently, there are only 15 countries that recognize Taiwan as a country and maintain diplomatic relations with it. A few days ago, NASA had become the latest foreign organization to rattle China by listing Taiwan on its website in the list of countries.

Also read: NASA refers to Taiwan as a country: China cries violation of One-China principle
OTTAWA - Groups representing thousands of doctors and nurses are asking the federal Liberals to help Canada's strained health-care system in their upcoming budget, flagging concerns about lack of access to family doctors as well as chronic staff shortages.

OTTAWA - Groups representing thousands of doctors and nurses are asking the federal Liberals to help Canada's strained health-care system in their upcoming budget, flagging concerns about lack of access to family doctors as well as chronic staff shortages.

The Canadian Medical Association estimates about five million Canadians don't have a primary care physician, or family health-care team, which has spillover effects into other parts of the health-care system.

A man walks into the main entrance to St Josephs Health Centre in Toronto, Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Among those trickle-down effects is people going to emergency departments, already stretched by the COVID-19 pandemic, for issues a family doctor could manage.

For the moment, the Liberals have sent signals there won't be a prescription for primary care in their upcoming budget.

Association president Dr. Ann Collins said the budget should set aside about $1.2 billion over four years, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said people who contracted the disease  particularly those with lingering symptoms, who are known as COVID long-haulers  might have ongoing health effects that a family doctor could address.

Others have avoided seeing a physician over concerns of catching the novel coronavirus, which Collins said would leave conditions undiagnosed and make treating them that much costlier later on.

"The treatment of acute COVID is front and centre right now, but we know that these issues around access to primary care existed long before the pandemic," said Collins, a family doctor for over 30 years.

"COVID-19 only exacerbated that."

There is a long list of issues facing the Liberals, from the need to improve long-term care for seniors to addressing human resource concerns around health-care workers who have been stretched during the pandemic.

The government also faces a balancing act of continuing to aid the economy while keeping a close eye on spending.

Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, said communities have been affected economically, "but we have a health-care system that was stretched to the limit," with workers feeling the strain in terms of their physical and mental health.

She said the budget needs to help increase the number of health-care workers, improve problematic conditions in long-term care facilities and boost health transfers to the provinces as premiers have asked.

But, Silas said, the government needs to put conditions on the spending so provinces can't simply use it as they wish.

This year, the federal government will send about $42 billion to the provinces to cover the costs of their health-care systems under an arrangement that sees the amount rise by at least three per cent annually.

The country's premiers say that formula means transfers don't keep pace with yearly cost increases of about five per cent. They're looking for $28 billion more this year and about $4 billion annually thereafter.

Some of those costs have to do with an aging population, with the oldest of the baby boomer generation turning 75 this year.

Collins said the medical association is also looking for the government to create a seniors care benefit, modelled after the Canada Child Benefit to help anyone caring for a senior defray out-of-pocket expenses.

Putting strings on health transfers is never popular with provinces, but the federal government can designate where investments should go, said former health minister Dr. Jane Philpott. The budget could be a platform to establish national standards for long-term care tied to additional funding, she said.

Philpott added she would be surprised if the budget didn't put money into health research and bio-manufacturing to improve domestic capability to develop and produce vaccines, as well as expand the budget of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The agency has traditionally drawn a small part of the Health Canada budget, but the pandemic has rapidly expanded spending.

The government previously estimated the agency would spend $641.8 million, but documents show the total is now over $21 billion. The Liberals' most recent spending estimates for the current fiscal year allot a budget of $8.75 billion for the agency.

Philpott, now dean of health sciences at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., said a stronger Public Health Agency could have made the country more successful at managing the pandemic, limiting the health and economic impacts.

"Public health has always suffered from the fact that people never want to pay the ounce of prevention, and then we end up paying the pound of cure."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 8, 2021.
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YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has sent a congratulatory letter to Eduard Heger on his appointment as Prime Minister of Slovakia, the PMs Office told Armenpress.

The letter reads:

On behalf of the government of Armenia and myself personally, please, accept my warm congratulations and wishes on your appointment as Prime Minister of Slovakia.

Armenia highly values the constant development of the relations with friendly Slovakia in all spheres of bilateral interest.

I am sure that the relations between Armenia and Slovakia, which are based on the friendship and mutual sympathy between the two peoples, will continue deepening and strengthening both at the bilateral and multilateral levels for the benefit of our peoples.

By using this chance I wish you achievements, and to the good people of Slovakia  welfare and peace.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The lawn outside the '62 Center at Williams College will be the setting for one of the Williamstown Theatre Festival's three productions this summer.

Williamstown Theatre Festival Aims for Safe, Outdoor Season



WTF's Artistic Director Mandy Greenfield appears before the Board of Health on Thursday. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  Mandy Greenfield's innate pessimism paid off for the Williamstown Theatre Festival, the theater going public and the town.

On Thursday, the WTF's artistic director met with the town's Board of Health to discuss the summer season that the festival officially unveiled on Wednesday night.

Greenfield, who told the board that she always presumes "we're on the brink of disaster," said she committed to the idea of an outdoor 2021 season way back in August.

"At that time, I got some pushback from people saying, 'By next summer, we'll be ready to be back indoors,' " Greenfield said. "I thought, 'Maybe, but maybe we need to stay on the most conservative course imaginable so we can be back in Williamstown.'

"Risking the possibility of canceling, risking the possibility of not being in Williamstown in some form or another felt too scary for the economic viability of the town and for the essential spirit of what we are. The 2020 season with Audible was extraordinary, but we share a name with the town and want to be in it."

On Wednesday, the WTF held a virtual version of its annual gala where it announces the upcoming summer season.

This year, that season will include three outdoor, in-person, world premiere productions, starting July 6 with "Outside on Main: Nine Solo Plays by Black Playwrights."

The show, which runs through July 25, will feature nine different short works -- three different 30-minute performances each night -- presented on the lawn in front of Williams College's '62 Center for Theatre and Dance on Main Street (Route 2).

Starting July 13 and running through Aug. 8, the WTF will present the world premiere musical "Row," near the reflecting pool at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute.

"Row" is inspired by the memoir of Tori Murden McClure, the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

The festival's third offering, "Alien/Nation," will be "an immersive world premiere theatrical experience that takes you on a journey throughout Williamstown," according to the festival's website, which also notes that audience members will be able to experience the outdoor production "by foot or by car."

"Alien/Nation" is slated for July 20 through Aug. 8.

WTF officials have been talking with members of the Board of Health since January about the 55 pages of COVID-19 protocols the festival developed in conjunction with Williams College.

Greenfield said Thursday that WTF also is bound by the protocols required by Actors' Equity, the union that represents the performers in the summer festival.

"The union's mandate for how we must be COVID compliant are more conservative and more onerous than the state of Massachusetts," she said. "Just as, frankly, Williams College's campus rules are more onerous. In two ways, we are beholden to two organizations that are going to hold us to a standard far above the state guidance.

"That's in our interest and the town's interest. It's a win-win. At every step, we'll have a set of rules we'll have to live up to.  Like the college, we'll be in a zero tolerance for breaking the rules atmosphere.

Greenfield said performers and backstage people for each of the three productions will be living in "pods," and it is coordinating with Williams to keep those groups in campus housing close to the venues where the performances will be held.

And there will be some other noticeable differences to this season beyond the truncated schedule of shows.

"We normally bring 500 people together to make the work of the Williamstown Theatre Festival in any given summer," Greenfield said. "This year, we're looking to bring 280 people together. Normally, we have an apprentice class of 70 college-aged students. We have suspended that program this year."

The only educational component to this year's festival will be an "Early Career BIPOC Theatre-Makers" program, Greenfield said. That will bring together 13 college students, graduate students and recent college graduates who will be overseen by a COVID compliance officer and a supervisor, she said.

The festival also this year will suspend its Fridays at 3 reading series, its cabaret performances and the social gatherings usually associated with the WTF.

"We will not be able to have opening night parties," Greenfield said. "We will not be able to have a big launch celebration. We will not be able to allow people to eat or drink near actors.

"We're focusing on putting actors on stage, creating a glorious piece of art and having people see it safely. We're hoping that between the work itself, the weather, the setting, the spirit of joy that will accompany being back with life performance, the frivolity will prevail even in the absence of some of those trappings."
Faced with a surge in Covid-19 cases, Jodhpur Police Commissioner, J Mohan said that challans will be sent to the homes of those who flout Covid-19 norms.

Speaking to ANI, Mohan said, "Some people misbehave with cops or run away when being penalised for violating Covid. CCTV cameras will be used to check those who roam around without masks or flout social distancing. Challans will be sent to their homes."

With 1,15,736 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, India recorded its daily highest spike on Wednesday. With the surge, the total count of cases in India has reached 1,28,01,785.

The country reported 630 Covid-related deaths in the last 24 hours, while the active number of cases stands at 8,43,473, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

As many as 59,856 people recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours. The cumulative death toll has mounted to 1,66,177.

11 states -- Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Gujarat constitute for 80 per cent of COVID cases.

We had a discussion with health ministers of these states on strategies used last year, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on April 6.

has tightened its COVID restrictions. On April 4, the state government in the order stated, "Amid a surge in Covid cases, RT-PCR test mandatory for people entering the state and those travelling outside. Classes 1 to 9 will remain suspended. District Magistrates can impose night curfews but they will be required to seek government's permission for curfew before 8 pm and after 6 am.

(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.)
Kenya has no capacity to test for viral load in HIV/Aids patients, a problem governors say could result in more deaths.

Antiretrovirals (ARVs) are also limited, with some counties having run out of stock.

Suba sub-county in Homa Bay, for example, has no single ARV dose for adults and children.

Regions with paediatric ARV regimen are also not safe as a critical component - identified as Kaltera - cannot be found in the entire country.

"It means the children are not getting the full range of ARVs. This will lead to treatment failure," Council of Governors Health Committee chairman Anyang Nyong'o said.

After consultations with the National Aids and STIs Programme (Nascop) and HIV/Aids high-burden counties, the council requested that guidelines be provided to direct the inclusion of the Nevirapine component into the paediatric regimen.

These emerged on Wednesday during the Council of Governor's Health Committee update on the state of the Kenya's health.

"There is need to increase domestic financing and producing ARV commodities," Governor Nyong'o said.

A meeting between the National Treasury, the Ministry of Health, Nascop and governors will be held on April 12.

It is expected to look into the prevailing HIV/Aids situation and give recommendations.

It was also during the press briefing that the Kisumu governor gave details on Kenya's oxygen supplies.

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Prof Nyong'o said the country has 58 oxygen plants, out of which 42 are operational.

He said the 42 have produced 2,828 oxygen cylinders and 730 concentrators.

"At least 3,601 isolation beds are connected to oxygen across the country," Prof Nyong'o said.

Some 395,096 Covid-19 doses have been received in 41 counties.

Prof Nyong'o said 70,883 health workers have received the shots, followed by security officers (120,975), teachers (33,759) and the remaining 115,903 given to the elderly.

"We urge frontline workers and the elderly to ensure they are vaccinated against coronavirus," he said.

Prof Nyong'o added that 5,856 Covid-19 cases in the 41 counties are under home-based care while 7,071 are in isolation.

Contracts for health care workers battling the virus in the 47 counties have been extended for six more months beginning in April.

This happened after consultations between the Public Service Commission and the Council of Governors.
ZURICH, GENEVA and LUGANO, Switzerland, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The digital financial services company Alpian SA ("Alpian"), incubated by the Swiss banking group REYL & Cie Ltd ("REYL"), today announced a successful Series B funding worth around USD18 million (CHF16.9 million). The fundraising follows the Series A round in 2020 in which CHF12.2 million was raised.

The company's latest funding will allow Alpian to finalise the development of its digital offering tailored for the mass affluent population, individuals with investible assets between CHF100,000 and 1,000,000, and ensure that all operations are in place to achieve a successful launch, subject to regulatory approval. The offering combines cutting edge technology with investment advisors to create tailored investment portfolios aligned to personal preferences aimed at delivering a unique experience to each client based on their concept of wealth. Payment services will also be offered to meet everyday banking needs.

Schuyler Weiss, Alpian's CEO, said:

"While the Series A fundraising was conducted to build the digital bank, the Series B fundraising is intended to be principally used to launch the bank in the Swiss market, subject to the issuance of a full banking licence by FINMA."

Pasha Bakhtiar, Alpian board member and partner at REYL, said:

"This exceptional milestone is a strong testament to the talent and execution capabilities of the Alpian management team and the innovative mindset championed by Reyl & Cie. We are particularly proud that this incubated idea has flourished into a blooming company and has attracted broad investor interest as well as support from our strategic partner ISP-Fideuram."

About Alpian

Alpian is a Swiss financial technology company incubated by the private bank REYL & Cie and incorporated in October 2019. It will combine private banking and wealth management services with everyday banking to potential mass affluent investors. Alpian has applied for a full banking license to Switzerland's Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) and intends to launch its core product and services range in the course of 2021, subject to the issuance of a full banking licence by FINMA.

About the REYL Group

Founded in 1973, the REYL Group is an independent diversified banking group with offices in Switzerland (Geneva, Zurich, Lugano), Europe (London, Luxembourg, Malta) and the rest of the world (Singapore, Dubai). The REYL Group manages assets in excess of CHF 13.5 billion and employs more than 220 professionals.

Media Contacts:

C-Matrix Communications

Vicki Tanner

+41 43 300 56 72

vicki.tanner@cmatrix.ch
CBSS 60 Minutes

4/4/2021

SHARYN ALFONSI: This past week, president Biden said 90% of U.S. adults will be eligible for the covid vaccine by April 19 and will be able to get their shots within five miles of their home. That will be welcome news to many in Florida. For three months, weve been reporting around palm beach county, the third largest in the state. Its home to old-monied millionaires, but also some of the poorest day laborers and farm workers in America. During those months, we watched Floridas vaccine rollout deteriorate into a virtual free for all and watched as some wealthy and well-connected residents cut the line, leaving other Floridians without a fair shot.

()

WEST PALM BEACH MAYOR KEITH JAMES: People were saying, Listen, this is a resource and I know its out there and Im going to use whatever leverage I have to get that resource. There were no rules.

SHARYN ALFONSI: It sounds like The Hunger Games.

JAMES: Thats a pretty good way of putting it. And those who had the fiscal resources were going to use them in whatever way they could to get this vaccine.

()

ALFONSI: So, why did the governor choose Publix? Campaign finance reports obtained by 60 minutes show that weeks before the governors announcement, Publix donated $100,000 to his political action committee, friends of Ron DeSantis. Julie Jenkins Fancelli, heiress to the Publix fortune, has given $55,000 to the governors pac in the past. And, in November, Fancellis brother-in-law, Hoyt R. Barnett, a retired Publix executive, donated $25,000. Publix did not respond to our request for comment about the donations.

ALFONSI: Governor DeSantis is up for re- election next year I imagine Governor DeSantiss office would say, look we privatized the rollout because its more efficient and it works better.

HARDY: It hasnt worked better for people of color. Before, I could call the public health director, she would answer my calls. But now, if I want to get my constituents information about how to get this vaccine, I have to call a lobbyist from Publix? That makes no sense. Theyre not accountable to the public.

ALFONSI: Distributing vaccines is lucrative. Under federal guidelines, publix, like any other private company, can charge Medicare $40 a shot to administer the vaccine. We wanted to ask governor Desantis about the deal, but he declined our requests for an interview. We caught up with him south of Orlando.

ALFONSI: Publix, as you know, donated $100,000 to your campaign. And then you rewarded them with the exclusive rights to distribute the vaccination in Palm Beach County.

DESANTIS: So, first of all, that what youre saying is wrong. Thats

ALFONSI: How is that not pay to play?

DESANTIS: That thats a fake narrative. I met with the county mayor. I met with the administrator. I met with all the folks in Palm Beach County and I said, Heres some of the options. We can do more drive-thru sites. We can give more to hospitals. We can do the Publix. And they said, We think that would be the easiest thing for our residents.

ALFONSI: But Melissa McKinlay, the county commissioner in the Glades, told us the governor never met with her about the Publix deal.

ALFONSI: The criticism is that its pay to play, governor.

DESANTIS: And its wrong. Its wrong. Its a fake narrative. I just disabused you of the narrative. And you dont care about the facts because I obviously laid it out for you in a way that is irrefutable.

ALFONSI: Well, I I was just talk

DESANTIS: And, so, its clearly not.

ALFONSI: Isnt there the nearest Publix in the Glades

DESANTIS: No, no, no. Youre wrong. Youre wrong. Yes, sir?

ALFONSI: Thats actually a fact.
The West Australian government has banned residents under the age of 50 from getting the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

The decision comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison late on Thursday received recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

The ATAGI recommended the Pfizer vaccine be 'preferred' over the AstraZeneca one in people aged under 50, who face a very rare risk of developing blood clots.

The West Australian government has banned residents under the age of 50 from getting the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

The decision comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison late on Thursday received recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation

WA Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson said that from Friday, AstraZeneca vaccinations will only be given to those over 50.

'People under 50 who are booked in to receive their AstraZeneca vaccine will have their appointments cancelled,' he said in a statement.

People in the 1a and 1b vaccination program cohorts - including health workers - who are under 50 and have already received their first AstraZeneca vaccine, should 'not be alarmed' and proceed to their second jab.

'You should not cancel your second vaccination booking,' Dr Robertson said.

WA Premier Mark McGowan will on Friday join his interstate counterparts and Mr Morrision for a national cabinet meeting to discuss the national vaccine rollout.
The United States and South Korea on Thursday signed an agreement on sharing the cost of the American troop presence, which is intended as a bulwark against the threat of North Korean aggression.

Under the agreement, which will last until 2025, South Korea will pay 1.05 billion US dollars.

The U.S. keeps about 28,000 troops in South Korea to help deter potential aggression from North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.

But how much South Korea should pay for the American military presence was a thorny issue in bilateral relations under the Trump administration, which often asked its Asian ally to drastically increase its share.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Supreme Council members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea bow to apologize for the party's crushing defeat in Wednesday's Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections, at the National Assembly, Seoul, Thursday. All eight members resigned to take responsibility for the election result. Yonhap



By Kim Rahn



The leadership of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) stepped down Thursday to take responsibility for the party's crushing defeat by the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) in Wednesday's Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections.



The election loss virtually meant the downfall of the supermajority ruling party which controls 174 seats in the 300-strong National Assembly. The election results also showed how the public had grown weary of the ruling bloc's policies, making it impossible to railroad controversial bills as it had previously done until now.



The by-elections were largely regarded as an indicator for the next presidential election slated for March 2022 and it will be inevitable for the ruling party to undertake major reforms to regain its appeal to the public before the presidential race.



DPK floor leader Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon, who has been the acting head of the party, said all eight Supreme Council members, including himself, decided to step down.



The eight officials were originally set to remain in their posts until August next year.



"We are resigning to take responsibility for the by-election results," Kim said in a statement after a party meeting.



He said the party would form an emergency committee led by Rep. Do Jong-hwan until it selects a new floor leader, April 16. The DPK will also hold a party convention, May 2, to select a new chief.









"New heads will lead innovation to meet the public's demands," Kim said. "Through the by-elections, the people have presented a lot of tasks for the DKP. We'll review them thoroughly and reform the party."



Kim also said the party members will raise the ethical bar for fairness and justice, an apparent response to criticism that the ruling bloc has applied "double standards" and has been lenient in addressing corruption allegations involving ruling party figures.



Despite the pledges for reform, it remains unclear if the party will be able to salvage itself and prepare for the election by offering appealing pledges.



In addition, its potential presidential candidates have yet to gain noticeable traction and the situation is likely to become worse due to the by-election results.



Rep. Lee Nak-yon, former head of the party and chief of the by-election campaign committee, was once considered as the strongest presidential contender. It was also under Lee's leadership that the DPK revised its own regulations to field candidates for the by-elections in Seoul and Busan, where the mayoral posts had been vacated after former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon killed himself and former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don resigned following sexual harassment allegations raised against them. Both were DPK members.



Some party members apparently claim that it would be ethically wrong for Lee to run in the presidential election as he is the one who should take the most responsibility for the by-election defeat.





Kim Chong-in, center, the interim head of the main opposition People Power Party, gets applause as he enters a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday, a day after the party won a landslide victory in the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections. Yonhap
After having successfully disengaged with China in the Pangong lake area, Armies of India and China are scheduled to hold the 11th round of Corps Commander-level talk on Friday to discuss disengagement from friction points in Gogra, Hot Springs and Depsang plains in "Indian and Chinese Army are scheduled to hold the 11th round of Corps Commander-level talks at Chushul in eastern tomorrow at 10

The credit for the disengagement was given to all stakeholders by Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane who also talked about the country benefitting from the inputs given by the Security Advisor Ajit Doval during the crisis.

Earlier, India and China held 10 round of talks at the Corps Commander level to reach the arrangement to disengage from the Pangong lake area.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The final report on the route of the new N25 link between Waterford and Glenmore has been completed - but the preferred route has not yet been announced.

At the meeting of Piltown Municipal District councillors, this week, Area Engineer Stan Cullen, explained that while the report has been completed it has now been sent to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for peer review.

The peer review group meeting has to be arranged, and when that is complete the report will be presented to councillors before it is published.

This is due to take place in the next few weeks, Mr Cullen said.

It had been hoped to announce the route before the end of March.

The proposed 9km dual carriageway will link the New Ross bypass and Waterford bypass.
If he cant hire more help before business increases with the growth of outdoor dining, Mr. Williams said, all of a sudden, you got to pay more overtime, and youre running the risk of burning out your staff.

The tight job market has helped hasten changes that restaurant workers pushed for during the shutdowns, including higher pay and better working conditions. Ms. Button has raised wages in accordance with recommendations made by One Fair Wage, an advocacy group for service workers, and is paying $150 bonuses to employees who refer new hires who stay on the job for more than 90 days.

The starting wage for kitchen employees at Mr. Achesons Atlanta restaurants is $14 to $15 per hour, he said, up from $12 before the pandemic. People will walk down the street for a buck more  and they should, he said.

Mike Traud, the program director of the Department of Food and Hospitality Management at Drexel University, in Philadelphia, said intense competition for talent makes this an opportune time for people to break into the restaurant business. He said this is particularly true in the Northeast, where restaurants on the coast are hiring for the tourism season.

You have more leverage, he said, and there are more opportunities to get into upper-level kitchens.

Many people, though, may be reluctant to take up or return to restaurant work, given the health risks that some studies have linked to serving customers, particularly indoors. Many restaurateurs are also concerned that resuming indoor dining too quickly could cause another spike in Covid infections. (This week, the Aspen Institutes Food and Society Program released a set of safety guidelines it developed, in partnership with other industry groups, for diners and restaurant employees to continue following.)
Controversial Byron Bay influencer Ruby Tuesday Matthews has slammed Netflix's upcoming reality series Byron Baes.

On Thursday, the streaming giant announced it had commissioned an eight-episode series about the glamorous lives of Byron Bay's biggest Instagram stars.

And while Ruby, 26, could have been a fascinating addition to the cast, the mother of two has made it clear she won't be making an appearance.

'Byron, you are officially cooked': Influencer Ruby Tuesday Matthews has slammed the new Netflix series Byron Baes, which she claims she was invited to appear

Ruby posted a promotional image for Byron Baes on Instagram Stories, and wrote: 'For everyone asking if I'll be on this show, I declined the offer.'

'Goodbye Byron, you are officially cooked. How embarrassing,' she added.

Ruby also used the hashtag #ShireRepeat?, in reference to Channel 10's short-lived 2012 reality show about the glamorous residents of Sydney's Sutherland Shire.

Thanks, but no thanks: Ruby posted a promotional image for Byron Baes on Instagram Stories, and wrote: 'For everyone asking if I'll be on this show, I declined the offer'

While Ruby won't make an appearance on Byron Baes, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that fellow influencer Elyse Knowles is 'hotly tipped' for a starring role.

Byron Baes will follow the influencers in their everyday lives, but won't criticise influencer culture.

Netflix's director of content for Australia and New Zealand, Que Minh Luu, said giving the show the green light was a 'no brainer'.

Unimpressed: 'Goodbye Byron, you are officially cooked. How embarrassing,' Ruby declared

Remember this? Ruby also used the hashtag #ShireRepeat?, in reference to Channel 10's short-lived 2012 reality show about the glamorous residents of Sydney's Sutherland Shire

'You've got this cabal, or live feed as we've been calling it, of Instagrammers, who all live up in Byron, and there are a lot of them,' said Ms Luu.

'I'm not going to judge anyone for having a product to sell. Musicians have music to sell. I have ideas to sell,' Ms Luu added.

A press release for the program describes Byron Baes as a 'docu-soap series'.

Returning to TV: According to The Sydney Morning Herald, The Block star and model Elyse Knowles (pictured) is 'hotly tipped' for a starring role

'This is our love letter to Byron Bay,' it states.

'It's not just Chris [Hemsworth] and Zac [Efron]'s backyard; it's the playground of more celebrity-adjacent influencers than you can poke a selfie-stick at.'

There will be 'fights, flings and heartbreak' on offer, too.

Structured reality: A press release for the show describes Byron Baes as a 'docu-soap series'

Byron Baes is being produced by Eureka Productions.

Emma Lamb, who is known for her work on Married At First Sight and The Real Housewives of Sydney, will serve as the executive producer.

Byron Bay has become a celebrity hotspot in recent years, after Chris Hemsworth and his wife, Elsa Pataky, built a $30million mega-mansion in nearby Broken Head.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an influx of Hollywood stars to the area, include the likes of Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy.

A-list destination: Byron Bay has become a celebrity hotspot in recent years, after Chris Hemsworth and his wife, Elsa Pataky, built a $30million mega-mansion in nearby Broken Head
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / Skeena Resources Limited (TSX:SKE)(OTCQX:SKREF) ("Skeena" or the "Company") A new conservancy to protect the environment and wildlife on Tahltan territory has been created in an area of northwestern B.C. historically known as the Ice Mountain Lands, adjacent to Mount Edziza Provincial Park.

The Tahltan Central Government, the Province, Skeena Resources Limited, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and BC Parks Foundation have worked in partnership to create the conservancy.

"Mount Edziza and the surrounding area has always been sacred to the Tahltan Nation. The obsidian from this portion of our territory provided us with weaponry, tools and trading goods that ensured our Tahltan people could thrive for thousands of years," said Chad Norman Day, President of Tahltan Central Government. "Working alongside Skeena Resources, the Province, BC Parks Foundation, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada to provide further protection to this area is an initiative we can all take pride in. I am so relieved and thrilled that Mount Edziza is better protected for our future generations."

The conservancy is the first step in the multi-year Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI). The goal of the TSI is to bring greater self-determination to the Tahltan Nation and support stewardship on Tahltan Territory. Tahltan Central Government plans to rename the area within the conservancy at a future date, to better reflect Tahltan heritage.

"Protecting these lands will preserve the natural environment, help maintain biological diversity, and respect the history and importance of this area for the Tahltan Nation," said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. "Collaboration and shared understanding about stewardship of the lands and waters that sustain us is an important lesson delivered through true reconciliation."

Skeena Resources Limited is returning its mineral tenures for its Spectrum mineral claim, which supports the partnership with the Tahltan to establish the new 3,500 hectare conservancy adjoining the 230,000 hectare Mount Edziza Provincial Park.

"We are very pleased to work with our Tahltan partners to be a part of this historically significant event. Through many open and respectful conversations with Tahltan leaders over the years, we have developed a sincere appreciation of the cultural importance of this area to Tahltan," said Walter Coles, President and CEO of Skeena Resources. "We are deeply committed to our partnership with the Tahltan Nation and are happy that we can play a role in protecting this area for future generations. This is reconciliation in action and symbolic of our partnership commitment to Tahltan."

Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation said, "This conservancy was created thanks to the unique partnership between the BC Parks Foundation, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Skeena Resources, the Tahltan Central Government and the Province. The genuine participation between all parties to protect these lands for future generations is a real achievement. This partnership fosters long-term relationships between Indigenous Nations and mineral companies."

The parties have worked together to establish the conservancy with support from the BC Parks Foundation and the Nature Conservancy of Canada as well as the Province.

This initiative was also supported by the Government of Canada through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, part of Canada's Nature Fund; the Wyss Foundation; MakeWay; the Wilburforce Foundation; MapleCross Fund; Sitka Foundation; and the Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation.

"It's encouraging to see governments, Indigenous peoples, industry, philanthropic foundations and conservation groups working together to protect our iconic natural environment in British Columbia and across the country. By collaborating on projects like these, we are making progress toward conserving a quarter of lands in Canada by 2025," said the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

"Permanently protecting the cultural and ecological values of these lands is a remarkable achievement. We congratulate the Tahltan Central Government on their leadership and vision in making this outcome a reality," said Nancy Newhouse, BC Region Vice President, Nature Conservancy of Canada. "The unique volcanic landforms, the habitat connectivity for wildlife, and the long history of human relationship to this land all make it an area well worth conserving. This was truly a collaborative project, where partners representing a wide range of interests worked together in the spirit of co-operation."

The Province and Tahltan Central Government have been working together to advance their shared interests in building an enduring, resilient government-to-government relationship in respect of land and resource use, and community, social and economic development within the Tahltan Territory. While more work remains to be done to advance their shared interests, this agreement is an important step.

"This is a triple win," said Andy Day, CEO of the BC Parks Foundation. "Together, we're protecting a huge area for wildlife and nature, we're advancing reconciliation, and we're supporting sustainable recreation and use. Big up to the Tahltan, B.C., NCC, and Skeena for getting in the same canoe and paddling in the same direction - it's a great direction for B.C."

Quick Facts:

There are 157 conservancies in B.C., ranging in size from 11 to 322,020 hectares.

The last conservancy established was Tsaa Nuna Conservancy in 2021.

Conservancies allow a wider range of low-impact, compatible economic opportunities than Class A parks. However, commercial logging, mining and hydroelectric power generation, other than local run-of-the-river projects, are prohibited.

Parks and protected areas are dedicated to preserving the natural environment and providing outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities. Places of special ecological importance are designated as ecological reserves for scientific research and educational purposes.

Learn more:

Map of the conservancy: https://bcparks.ca/conservancies/mount-edziza/

Information about the B.C. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act can be found here: www.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/indigenous-people/new-relationship/united-nations-declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples

For a backgrounder with more information, click here.

About Skeena

Skeena Resources Limited is a Canadian mining exploration company focused on revitalizing the past-producing Eskay Creek gold-silver mine located in Tahltan Territory in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company released a robust Preliminary Economic Assessment in late 2019 and is currently focused on infill and exploration drilling to advance Eskay Creek to full Feasibility by the end of 2021. Additionally, Skeena continues exploration programs at the past-producing Snip gold mine.

CONTACT:

Inquiries: info@skeenaresources.com

Phone: +1 604 684 8725

Company Website: www.skeenaresources.com

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "could" or "would". Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Skeena Resources Limited

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639402/Tahltan-Land-to-be-Protected-in-Partnership-with-Conservation-Organizations-Skeena-and-the-Province
Research shows that just thinking about how to achieve health and wellness can create greater stressors. Following complex dosing and regimes is stressful for those that are well - the actual patient or individual seeking support. The solutions provided by Mary Jane on Main Streets Family Farm'acy demonstrate that simple is stress-free.

Retrospective studies note that up to 80% off patients presenting with autoimmune disease report uncommon mental stressors just before the disease presents. Mary Jane on Main Street Solutions realizes how vital it is to manage the stress of not feeling well, in order to reduce and prevent the risks of chronic disease. Our hemp-based products make every aspect of your daily care a ceremony of self that feeds your nervous system and your vagus nerve from your crown to your soles.

Our philosophy is: Whole Being Made Simple, says Jeanette Wolfe, Owner of Mary Jane on Main Street. Im grateful for the connections Ive made working with AsSeenOnTV.pro, being able to reach more people with our natural solutions, from daily presence pauses, to hemp-based products.

"With a multi-sensory approach, Mary Jane on Main Street is all about supporting your wellbeing," says Doug Scott, Executive Producer of AsSeenOnTV.pro. "They strip self-care back to basics."

As part of its DRTV campaign with AsSeenOnTV.pro, Mary Jane on Main Street will be appearing in 30 second spots set to air nationwide and feature the original Shark himself, Kevin Harrington. AsSeenOnTV.pro is comprised of an award-winning team of producers, writers, videographers, and editors as well as industry veterans dedicated to finding the latest, most innovative products and ideas, and putting them on the DRTV map.

About AsSeenOnTV.pro

Headquartered in South Florida, AsSeenOnTV.pro is a full-service production, branding, and marketing company that specializes in direct response television, short- and long-form commercials, and brand building. Based out of a 25,000+ sq ft, state-of-the-art studio, the companys creative team handles every aspect of production from script to screen to airing. For nearly two decades, AsSeenOnTV.pros veteran staff of writers, producers, videographers, and editors has amassed more than 50 Telly Awards, thousands of prestigious clients, and over $20 million in television placements.

About Kevin Harrington

As the inventor of the infomercial, founder of As Seen on TV, and one of the original Sharks on Shark Tank, Kevin Harrington has worked with some of the worlds biggest celebrities and launched some of the best-selling DRTV campaigns in history. Since producing his first 30-minute infomercial in 1984, Harrington has been involved in over 500 product launches that have resulted in over $5 billion in sales. Now, in his latest venture with AsSeenOnTV.pro, Harrington is on the hunt for the best new products and ideas, bringing them to homes everywhere through personalized DRTV campaigns featuring the Shark.

For more information on Mary Jane on Main Street, please visit http://www.MaryJaneOnMainStreet.com.
The National Committee for the Coordination of Activities on Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 (CNCAV) will make available to the public an informative material with possible symptoms that may occur after vaccination with anti-COVID serum, so that people who have been vaccinated or are about to be vaccinated can address a medical consultation, if the case may be, said the CNCAV president doctor Valeriu Gheorghita.

"An extremely important thing is related to communication and information. And here I think that every person must understand what are the possible alarm signals that we need to know as well as possible in order to address medical services for diagnosis and treatment. That is why we will develop, together with colleagues from the National Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices in Romania, an informative material for all people who want to be vaccinated or who have been vaccinated, which should present succinctly and easy to understand all the potential signs and alarm symptoms for which we must request a medical consultation," Valeriu Gheorghita told a Thursday's a press conference at Victoria Palace, agerpres.ro confirms.

He said the material would be available on the vaccination platform, but also at COVID immunization centres.

Gheorghita mentioned the symptoms that can appear after vaccination: "We are talking about breathing difficulties, chest pain, swelling of the lower limbs, persistent abdominal pain."

"Certain neurological symptoms - intense headache that is not eased by usual treatments and that can be associated with visual disturbances or the appearance of small bloodstains or bleeding outside the place of administration," added Gheorghita.

Gheorghita appealed to health professionals, but also to vaccination beneficiaries, to properly report and monitor "all recorded adverse events".
Its been a week since Mehmood Ansari, 66, collapsed and died in his shop on the Atlantic City boardwalk after allegedly being robbed and threatened with the knife by a 12-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl.

It was the tragic result of a problem thats been brewing for a few years at least, according to local merchants, and only gotten worse since the coronavirus pandemic.

Armed robbery is no small offense, and both boys have been charged, police have said. But at a meeting Thursday at a city mosque with law enforcement and public officials, those shop and restaurant owners said that what happened to Ansari last week was an escalation of something they deal with regularly: People  often juveniles  coming into their businesses on the boardwalk, pocketing what they want, calling them names and damaging property. Often, one merchant said, the offenders hop on their bikes and disappear before the police can arrive.

People come and abuse us. They throw bottles, they throw food on me for no reason, said Asad Chaudhry, owner of Molto Pizza. He said a young woman who was drunk squirted him with a water bottle last week. Were not going to be victimized every day.

Authorities and officials at the meeting listened, pledged cooperation and discussed new ideas and initiatives, from getting more officers on bicycles to building a new police substation on the boardwalk.

The meeting at Masjid Muhammad mosque drew 30 people, about a third of whom were boardwalk merchants, including relatives of Ansari. Numerous officials were present from police to city councilors and representatives from the Attorney Generals Office and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Capt. Rudy Lushina, commander of the police departments Tourism District Unit, said the city has always had to contend with youth roaming the boardwalk in groups and sometimes behaving badly, but it usually doesnt start until after school is out for the summer. The pandemic seemed to make it worse, he said.

Several groups of juveniles seem to be causing 90% of the problems, Lushina said.

A man with a rolling chair watches as visitors pass him by on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. Lori M. Nichols

Race has been an undercurrent of the discussions since Ansaris death. Many of the boardwalk merchants are South Asian, while many of the juveniles walking the citys boardwalk are Black.

Weldon Powell, chief of detectives for the state Division of Criminal Justice, said at the meeting that he was invited not just because of the crime, but also the name calling and potential bias involved.

Nothing hurts like hate. Hate hurts a lot, Powell said. He encouraged them to report any bias incident to police and said the Division of Criminal Justice would review every one.

On Monday, according to authorities, a shop clerk on the boardwalk fabricated a robbery that never happened and tried to make it seem like it was the same African American youths accused in Ansaris death, Mayor Marty Small said Wednesday. The mayor said then that Atlantic City would not have a race war and said Thursday he believed the individual was trying to divide us.

The meeting was mostly cordial and calm, but after a shopkeeper suggested the youths causing trouble were riding stolen bicycles, Imam Amin Muhammad, who is African American, said the citys youths are not all riding stolen bicycles and have been demonized in the discussions.

The businessmen expressed frustration that they face harassment from youths who often seem to get away with it.

Deputy Chief James A. Sarkos, who has led the department since Henry White retired as chief last year, also said some shop owners are reluctant to sign criminal complaints against the kids giving them trouble  which he acknowledged is a burden on the owners  but said the best way to send a strong message is to press charges.

Capt. Lushina said the departments plan to target the groups of juveniles and charge the main aggressors who actually commit crimes. If the bad behavior doesnt rise to that level, theyll have a department chaplain try to talk to the juveniles parents, he said.

Amer Kashmiri, president of the local merchants association, said he hoped local officials would push for stronger juvenile laws, saying he feels like even when shop owners call the police, theyre told their hands are tied.

Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said he can only enforce the laws legislators put on the books, but this tragedy is something we can point to when were working with legislators when were trying to toughen up the laws.

Both police and businessmen at the meeting agreed that having more officers highly visible on the boardwalk could help deter crime. Chaudhry suggested multiple substations along the boardwalk every few blocks, so they could respond quicker.

Sarkos said he is in talks with the mayor and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to build a substation on the boardwalk, but added that it is in the very early stages. He said police are already strategically posted along the boardwalk and asked shop owners to let him know if they see officers who arent taking their posts seriously.

An Atlantic City police cruiser parked near Caesars casino. (File photo)Tim Hawk

The department also has trained more officers as bike officers for the boardwalk, and given the same training to some casino security guards so they can be our eyes and ears, Sarkos said.

He said the city has hired a new crop of class II special officers  many of whom work part-time as a way to get their foot in the door of a policing career. Nineteen are graduating the police academy Friday and another 20 will complete the training in the fall.

City leaders said they also want more full-time officers, but that funding isnt available to scale up. Sarkos said the department has tried to use technology to stretch their forces, installing surveillance cameras all on the boardwalk, which are monitored in real time.

But those cameras are not a substitute for more officers, he said. The force is 272 officers now, after nine more were sworn in this week. At its peak the department had 432, he said.

So if you say you see fewer cops, youre not lying, he said.

The meeting included a moment of silence for Ansari, who worked 40 years in Atlantic City after immigrating from Pakistan. His son, Asif Ansari, said his father saw the U.S. as his country and Atlantic City as his town.

Councilman Kaleem Shabazz, whose third ward includes the boardwalk, facilitated the meeting and said he hoped it would be first of many to address issues beyond just safety.

My hope is that we are able to move forward from this and we are able to take a lesson from his life, he said of Ansari. We have to work together and be respectful of each other and make sure going forward that people know that Atlantic City is not just a safe place, but a place that they can come where people get along, they can enjoy themselves. And our residents know that we have the same kind of values.

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Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Washington  President Biden unveiled his first attempts to curb gun violence on Thursday, announcing a set of modest moves designed to begin revamping federal gun policy by tweaking the government's definition of a firearm and more aggressively responding to urban gun violence.

"Gun violence in this country is an epidemic, and it's an international embarrassment," Mr. Biden said in his remarks announcing the actions. He called high rates of gun violence a "blemish on the character of our nation."

He pushed back against arguments that these executive actions would infringe upon the right to bear arms. The changes include reviewing federal policy surrounding ghost guns  handmade or self-assembled firearms that don't include serial numbers  and the use of stabilizing braces on pistols, a modification that turns the weapon into a short-barreled rifle.

"Nothing I'm about to recommend in any way impinges upon the Second Amendment," the president said. Mr. Biden said he wants ghost gun kits "treated as firearms," and have key parts labeled with serial numbers. He also said that he wants pistols modified to be more dangerous to be subject to the National Firearms Act, meaning that owners would have to register and pay a fee for the modifications.

The president urged the Senate to pass bills passed in the House to expand background checks. He also called on Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which would close the so-called "boyfriend loophole" to prevent dating partners and stalkers convicted of domestic violence or abuse from purchasing and owning firearms.

"Whether Congress acts or not, I'm going to use all of the resources at my disposal as president of the United States to protect Americans from gun violence," Mr. Biden said.

The president also called on Congress to pass an assault weapons ban. He helped shepherd a ban through Congress as a senator in 1994, but it expired in 2004. However, the measures mentioned by the president are opposed by most Republicans, meaning that they are unlikely to pass in the Senate. Most legislation requires 60 votes to advance in the Senate, and Democrats have a 50-seat majority.

Story continues

But Mr. Biden insists that there is "common ground" between Republicans and Democrats and noted that gun control measures are overwhelmingly popular with the American people.

"I know it's painful and frustrating that we haven't made progress that we've hoped for," Mr. Biden said. "No matter how long it takes, we're going to get these passed. We're not going to give up."

Mr. Biden on Thursday also nominated David Chipman, a former special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), to lead the agency. A widely quoted expert on gun violence, Chipman in recent years has served as policy director for Giffords, the gun control organization founded by former Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was wounded in a 2011 assassination attempt.

If confirmed, Chipman would be the first permanent director of the agency in more than six years. Given the fraught nature of gun politics, only one ATF director has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate in the last 15 years, leaving the agency mostly run by a string of acting bosses.

The president formally announced the pick on Thursday as he unveiled other steps he's taking through executive action to address gun violence. He was joined by Attorney General Merrick Garland, whose Justice Department will be tasked with taking some of its most aggressive steps on gun policy in more than a decade.

Advocates for gun control are pushing the president to classify ghost guns as traditional firearms, a move that would require anyone who buys them to undergo a federal background check. On Thursday, Mr. Biden gave the Justice Department 30 days to issue potential changes in federal rules "to help stop the proliferation" of the weapons, according to the White House.

Given the handmade nature of the weapons, ghost guns often cannot be traced by law enforcement because serial numbers are not required.

The Justice Department is also being given 60 days to issue a proposed rule regarding stabilizing braces. Attaching such a brace to a pistol makes the firearm more stable and in essence transforms it into a short-barreled rifle subject to regulation by federal law. The White House noted that the alleged shooter in the March supermarket shooting in Boulder, Colorado, appears to have used a pistol with a brace.

The Justice Department was also asked to draft model legislation to enact "red flag" laws at the state level. For years, lawmakers in both parties have been pushing for federal and state legislation that would temporarily bar people facing mental anguish or other personal crises from accessing firearms if law enforcement or a judge determine they present a danger to themselves or others.

"I am under no illusions about how hard it is to solve the problems of gun violence, and I know the Justice Department alone cannot solve the problem," Garland said in brief remarks. "But there is work for the department to do, and we intend to do it."

To curb the uptick in homicides nationwide, the Biden administration is also asking five federal agencies to adapt more than two dozen government programs to help buoy community violence intervention programs nationwide. The White House noted that the president's American Jobs Plan proposes spending $5 billion over eight years to support state and city-based violence intervention programs.

The new plans earned swift support from national gun control organizations Wednesday night.

John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, said in a statement that the moves "will start to address the epidemic of gun violence that has raged throughout the pandemic, and begin to make good on President Biden's promise to be the strongest gun safety president in history." He added later that the decision to target ghost guns and "treat them like the deadly weapons they are will undoubtedly save countless lives - as will the critical funding provided to groups that focus on city gun violence."

Kris Brown, president of the gun control advocacy organization Brady, said in a statement that Mr. Biden's actions "will have immediate impact."

"President Biden's actions are historic and they will have an immediate impact. These are tangible and powerful policies that will save lives," Brown said.

Organizations pushing for stricter gun laws and Democratic lawmakers have been pushing for years for the federal government to reclassify ghost guns and force purchasers to undergo background checks.

"Ghost guns are guns, too. And it's time to close the loophole," Democratic Congressman Adriano Espaillat, who's pushed for legislation to regulate ghost guns, tweeted Wednesday.

The NRA, meanwhile, immediately pushed back on the plans. The organization tweeted Wednesday night that the actions were "extreme" and wrote "the NRA is ready to fight."

"These actions could require law-abiding citizens to surrender lawful property, and push states to expand gun confiscation orders," the NRA tweeted.

Meanwhile, Republican Senator Pat Toomey, who co-sponsored background check legislation that failed to pass in Congress in 2013, said in a statement that he and his staff are "reviewing" Mr. Biden's actions.

"I appreciate President Biden's expressed willingness to work with both Republicans and Democrats to achieve this goal. If done in a manner that respects the rights of law-abiding citizens, I believe there is an opportunity to strengthen our background check system so that we are better able to keep guns away from those who have no legal right to them," Toomey said.

It is unclear, however, how much progress gun control reforms can happen in Congress.

"It will take time. This will not be easy. But we have to take action," White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told CBSN Thursday after the president spoke. "And in Congress, there are two pieces of legislation that went out of, that passed the House, bipartisan. In a bipartisan way. And so now it's time to move those as well and to get that into the Senate, and for the Senate to move those piece of legislation. And the president is going to work very hard as he has committed, as he has said, to make sure that happens."

Growing in popularity but difficult to track broadly given the lack of a serial number, ghost guns have been used in multiple shooting-related crimes in recent years.

The Biden administration has been reluctant to publicly discuss gun control amid its initial focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic downturn. During his first formal news conference last month, the president signaled he would not be rushed to address the issue despite recent mass shootings in Georgia and Colorado and that his administration would remain focused primarily on pushing legislative responses to the pandemic and his multi-trillion dollar infrastructure plan.

His decision has allowed critics to highlight how Mr. Biden came up short on fulfilling a notable campaign pledge. Appearing in Nevada in February 2020, Mr. Biden vowed to send legislation to Congress on his first day in office that would repeal the liability protection for gun manufactures and closing loopholes in the federal gun background check system.

For weeks, administration aides have said plans were still in the works  a posture that didn't change in the wake of those recent shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colorado.

Corey Rangel, Nancy Cordes, Kristin Brown and Fin Gomez contributed to this report.

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Islamabad, April 8 : Visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi here during which the two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral ties and deepen cooperation.

Lavrov arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day visit to discuss bilateral and regional matters, reports Xinhua news agency.

A statement from the Prime Minister Office said that during the meeting on Wednesday, Khan reiterated that "the importance Pakistan attaches to its relations with Russia as a key foreign policy priority" and expressed satisfaction at the steady growth in bilateral ties.

Enhanced bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, industrial modernization, railways and aviation was discussed, the statement said.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed Islamabad's resolve to expeditiously conclude the requisite legal process for the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline project and commence the work as early as possible.

Views were also exchanged on the health and economic challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, while Khan also congratulated Russia on its development of Sputnik-V vaccine and underscored Pakistan's procurement plans in this regard, according to the statement.

In the regional context, Khan stressed the importance of a negotiated political settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan and appreciated Russia's efforts in promoting the Afghan peace process.

Earlier in the day speaking at a joint press conference with Qureshi, Lavrov said that his country is ready to further build counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan through supply of military equipment.

"This serves in the interest of all states of the region," Lavrov said, adding that both countries have agreed on conducting more joint military exercises.

The visiting Foreign Minister said the increase in bilateral trade is satisfactory and expressed readiness to "further strengthen economic relations".

He showed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.

"Russia and Pakistan have agreed to further facilitate the agreement among Afghan parties through inclusive political dialogue," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Qureshi reiterated Pakistan's resolve to build a strong multifaceted relationship with Russia.

"There is a new approach and mindset in Pakistan for a relationship with Russia. We feel that not just we have geographic proximity but Russia is a factor of stability in the region and the world at large," he added.
BlackArch Partners LLC (BlackArch) is pleased to announce that U.S. Waffle Company, Inc. (U.S. Waffle or the Company) has been acquired by Cerelia Group Holding SAS (Cerelia), a portfolio company of Ardian.

U.S. Waffle, headquartered in Greenville, SC, is a premier contract manufacturing solutions partner for popular frozen breakfast items, including waffles, pancakes and breakfast sandwiches. The Companys focus on specialty, hard-to-manufacture frozen breakfast items that address better-for-you and natural ingredient trends support its strategic vision to be the highest quality and most efficient producer of specialty pancakes and waffles in the industry. U.S. Waffles position as a competitively differentiated innovator of specialty breakfast foods has created consistent, entrenched relationships with leading branded and private-label customers. Over the past several years, the Company has successfully accelerated its organic growth while making strategic investments in facilities and infrastructure to further strengthen its capabilities and competitive positioning.

John Symons, CEO, U.S. Waffle Company, stated, BlackArch was chosen to represent the Company because their entire team made it a mission to learn our business and understand our categories like operators. They also made a great effort to work with, and know, our team members. Mr. Symons further noted, Our team members at U.S. Waffle Company are very excited to partner with Cerelia as we look to grow our business at an even faster pace. BlackArch brought together two successful businesses that will make a major impact on the breakfast category, both in retail and in food service.

Marshall Cole, former Chairman, U.S. Waffle Company, and Managing Partner, Azalea Capital, said, During these unprecedented times of COVID-19, the BlackArch team gave us great advice and guidance, and kept our process moving at a crisp pace. He continued, Their senior-level experience and around-the-clock work ethic resulted in a terrific outcome for our shareholders.

Transaction Highlights



Cerelia Group Holding SAS has acquired U.S. Waffle Company, Inc.

The Companys management team will continue to lead the business segment and remain an integral part of the shareholder group during U.S. Waffles next phase of growth

BlackArch leveraged its industry experience and process management expertise to drive an expedited process and achieve a superior outcome for management and the shareholders

BlackArch was retained by U.S. Waffle to serve as the Companys exclusive financial advisor. The transaction furthers BlackArchs position as an advisor-of-choice for leading food & beverage companies and is representative of the firms focus on providing unique M&A advisory services to market-leading growth businesses.

About U.S. Waffle Company

Based in Greenville, SC, U.S. Waffle Company is a leading contract manufacturing solutions partner for popular breakfast items, including waffles, pancakes and breakfast sandwiches. The Companys 350+ employees support its strategic focus on specialty, hard-to-manufacture frozen breakfast items that address better-for-you and natural ingredient trends. With the mission to maintain long-term relationships with its customers, U.S. Waffle Company is dedicated to delivering high-quality, tailored manufacturing solutions. For more information, please visit http://www.uswaffle.com.

About Cerelia

Cerelia is a leading manufacturer of fresh, ready-to-bake dough solutions for pie and pizza, as well as ready-to-heat pancakes, crepes, cookies and cookie dough. Thanks to (i) sustained organic growth over many years, driven by a relentless focus on product quality, service levels and new product innovation (such as the introduction of organic, gluten-free and wholesome products) and (ii) an ambitious, yet thoughtful M&A strategy, Cerelia has become the leader in the European market. In 2015, the Company broadened its strategy through the acquisition of de Bioderij, which extended its product portfolio into pancakes and crepes and launched the Company into the North American and Asian markets. Through the acquisition of Bakeaway in 2016 and English Bay Batter in 2017, Cerelia expanded its presence in the United Kingdom and North America while further diversifying its product portfolio. The Company has meaningful market shares in the private label segment, manufacturing for some of the largest brands in the world alongside its own family of brands, which regularly introduce innovative new products. To learn more, visit http://www.cerelia.com.

About Ardian

Ardian is a world-leading private investment house with assets of US$110bn managed or advised in Europe, North America, Asia and South America. The company is majority-owned by its employees. It keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and focuses on delivering excellent investment performance to its global investor base. Through its commitment to shared outcomes for all stakeholders, Ardians activities fuel individual, corporate and economic growth around the world. Holding close its core values of excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship, Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 700 employees working from fifteen offices across Europe (Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Zurich), the Americas (New York, San Francisco and Santiago) and Asia (Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul). It manages funds on behalf of more than 1,000 clients through five pillars of investment expertise: Fund of Funds, Direct Funds, Infrastructure, Real Estate and Private Debt. To learn more, visit http://www.ardian.com/.

About BlackArch Partners

BlackArch Partners is a leading middle-market investment bank offering a full spectrum of advisory services to financial sponsors, private companies and diversified corporations. BlackArch addresses the needs of companies with specialized services that include M&A advisory, strategic advisory and private capital solutions. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, BlackArch features a total of 12 industry-focused practices that cover all sectors of interest to middle-market investors. BlackArch professionals have closed more than 350 transactions in 16 countries on 4 continents. Please visit http://www.blackarchpartners.com for more details.

Securities offered through BlackArch Securities LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. Testimonials may not be representative of the experience of all clients. Testimonials are not a guarantee of future performance or success.
Chandigarh, April 8 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday urged the Centre to give flexibility to states to devise their local strategies for Covid vaccination, within broad parameters of the Centre's approach, while seeking a review of the strategy to allow all adults in high-risk areas to be immunised, along with patients with liver and kidney disease below the age of 45.

He made these suggestions in a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, immediately after the latter's virtual meeting with Chief Ministers of all states to review the Covid and vaccination situation.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister of the situation in the state, and also the steps taken by his government to control and manage the disease.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also present at the meeting, during which Amarinder Singh assured the Centre of all-out efforts by his government to contain and manage Covid.

He stressed on the fact that the UK variant which is dominating the second wave in the state, is reported by experts to be more virulent and affecting the youth disproportionately.

In his subsequent letter, the Chief Minister said his suggestions, some of which had been earlier submitted on March 17 to the Prime Minister, the Union Minister and the Union Health Minister, were based on the state government's interaction with independent experts.

Amid reports of some states facing vaccine shortages, he also requested the Union Health Ministry to share the schedule for supply of vaccines with the states over the next quarter, based on their confirmed supply orders.

Given that over 80 per cent positive cases found in Punjab are of the UK variant, as per early reports from central laboratories, the Chief Minister also sought strengthening of viral sequencing in the state, which has been reporting around 3,000 cases per day since the last 15 days, with around eight per cent positivity.

The state currently has around 26,000 active cases with recovery rate of 87.3 per cent, with fatalities a matter of concern at 50-60 deaths a day and around two per cent Case Fatality Rate (CFR) in the second surge, which struck the state in the latter half of February this year.

The Chief Minister reiterated his earlier request for covering all teachers and staff in all educational institutions for vaccination to enable resumption of physical classes once the surge abates.

He also called fo occupation-based immunisation for judges and judicial officers, bus drivers and conductors, elected representatives at all levels, etc.

Amarinder Singh also urged the Prime Minister to direct central institutions like IISER, IMTech, AIIMS Bathinda and PGIMER, Chandigarh to increase the RT-PCR testing from Punjab. Further, PGIMER, Chandigarh should be asked to earmark at least 50 Covid ICU beds for patients being referred by the state, he added.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
President Joe Biden signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

10 Republican Senators Respond to Bidens Comments on Bipartisan Cooperation

Ten Republican senators wrote a statement on Wednesday in response to President Joe Bidens comments on a bipartisan COVID-19 relief proposal that the senators previously submitted.

When Biden was asked on Wednesday about Republican support for the $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal, he referenced the CCP virus relief bill, and said that the Republican group wasnt ready to cooperate.

I wouldve been prepared to compromise, but they didnt. They didnt move an inch. Not an inch, Biden said.

The ten senators are Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Ark.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

In good faith, our group of 10 Republicans worked together to draft a sixth Covid-19 relief package earlier this year, their statement reads.

The Administration roundly dismissed our effort as wholly inadequate in order to justify its go-it-alone strategy. Fewer than 24 hours after our meeting in the Oval Office, the Senate Democratic Leader began the process of triggering reconciliation which precluded Republican participation and allowed for the package to pass without a single Republican vote, the statement says.

Our $618 billion proposal was a first offer to the White House designed to open bipartisan negotiations. Our package included the core Covid relief elements of the Biden Administrations plan, such as providing an identical amount$160 billionto support vaccines and testing. In addition, we later upped our offer to $650 billion to increase the size of the stimulus checks.

The group met with Biden on Feb. 1 to discuss the specifics of their $618 billion CCP virus relief proposal, later introducing another expanded version ($650 billion) that increased the stimulus check sizes.

The Biden administration ended up moving the plan forward with only congressional Democrat support.

The senators had previously sent a letter (pdf) on Jan. 31, describing their version of a COVID-19 relief.

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) told The Epoch Times on Feb. 28 that the vast majority of the COVID-19 relief bill isnt targeted for actual pandemic relief and is intended to back Democratic-controlled states.

The congressman said the $1.9 trillion measure is actually an addition to the $1 trillion already allotted for COVID-19 relief.

I think most of the American people need to know, we already had a trillion dollars worth of money allocated but not yet spent. Now, were going to throw another $1.9 trillion on top of that, Kelly said at the annual conservative conference in Orlando, Florida.

And only about 9 percent of that is going to actually go to COVID relief, the other is going to go to backing blue states that have not been able to run themselves the right way.

Kelly expressed annoyance with the argument that its government money and that its acceptable for them to spend it as such, pointing out that it adds to the national debt.

Not one penny of it is government money. Every single penny of it came out of your pocket; youre going to be co-signing on a debt that goes far into the future. And we know right now, between funded and unfunded liabilities, the total debt in the United States is over $130 trillion, he said.

We talk so quickly about, Oh, its $30 trillion were up to right now. I said no, nofunded and unfunded liabilities [its] $130 trillion. Were spending money like theres no tomorrow.
Mr Abu Sumaila, Western Regional Director of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has urged Ghanaians to temporarily stop the consumption of Salted fish, locally known as Kako.



This follows a report that some Community folks had already picked and killed some of the live melon-headed whales washed ashore on Sunday, April 4, 2021, at Brawire and Ankobra beaches in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region.



Mr Sumaila, who spoke in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the time the officers of the Authority visited the area, said the advice to avoid the eating of Kako was necessary to ensure public health.



"For now, let's stop the consumption of Kako. Some of the dolphins were sold out and there is no trace so the best advice is to suspend the eating of Kako for at least a month whilst investigations and education is ongoing."



He said the Authority was currently surveying the various market for a possible trace of such fishes that might have entered households.



"Our main focus is the markets in Half-Assini, Axim, Dixcove and all other possible places," he said.

Source: GNA









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A steel mill in the Iskenderun region booked a Baltic Sea cargo, comprising 16,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20), 8,500 tonnes of shredded, 4,500 tonnes of bonus, 3,500 tonnes of rail and a 2,500-tonne mixture of busheling and new cuttings at an average price of $436 per tonne cfr.The price for the HMS 1&2 (80:20) element of the cargo was around $430-430,50 per tonne cfr, according to the buying party.A steel producer in northern Turkey booked a US cargo, comprising 13,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20), 16,000 tonnes of shredded and 2,000 tonnes of bonus at an average price of $439 per tonne cfr.And a mill in the Marmara region booked a US cargo, comprising HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $433 per tonne and bonus at $443 per tonne cfr. The cargo breakdown was not immediately clear at the time of publication.The previous deal was done on April 2, when a steel mill in the Iskenderun region booked a Baltic Sea cargo of 20,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (95:5) at $430 per tonne cfr.After the three new deals, the daily scrap indices went up sharply on April 7.Fastmarkets daily index for steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix), North Europe origin, cfr Turkey was $428.85 per tonne, up by $7.35 per tonne.And Fastmarkets daily index for steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix), US origin, cfr Turkey was calculated at $434.82 per tonne on April 7, also up by $7.35 per tonne, leaving the premium for US material over European scrap at $5.97 per tonne.However, the increase in the prices may not last, as supplies instantly increased on news of the higher prices, Fastmarkets understands.The market improved in the morning with the news of these fresh cargo deals. However, the number of offers suddenly increased, which caused mills to withdraw from negotiations. A lot of suppliers are now willing to sell at latest deal levels, but I think we will see $427-428 per tonne cfr [for HMS 1&2 (80:20)] by Friday April 9, a Turkish mill source told Fastmarkets.There is some demand for rebar in the export markets, but domestic demand for the material is still insufficient because the weak lira caused prices to go up sharply. Besides, cashflow in the local market is very low, he added.The Turkish lira started to decline two weeks ago, following the Turkish president's surprise sacking of the head of the country's central bank.The Turkish lira was trading at 8.125 lira to $1 on April 7, compared with 7.200 lira to $1 on March 22, according to Oanda.com.The weakening of the Turkish currency against the US dollar led to a rise in finished steel prices in the local market because mills in Turkey buy most of their raw materials in US dollars before selling them to the domestic market in the local currency.The most recent rebar export deal was heard at $640 per tonne fob level on an actual-weight basis to Southeast Asia, sources said.Fastmarkets weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), export, fob main port Turkey , was $625-636 per tonne on April 1, up from $610-620 per tonne of previous week.After the indices closed, another deep-sea deal came to light, with a steel mill in the Izmir region booking a European cargo, comprising 20,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20), 11,000 tonnes of shredded, 8,000 tonnes of plate and structural (P&S) scrap and 2,000 tonnes of busheling at an average price of $433 per tonne cfr.
Ending nearly six days of uncertainty, Maoists on Thursday released CRPF CoBRA commando Rakeshwar Singh who was taken captive following a deadly ambush in Chhattisgarh's Bastar on April 3.

Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, a commando of the 210th battalion of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), an elite unit of the CRPF, had gone missing after the fierce gunfight with the Maoists.

BCCL

#WATCH "Today is the happiest day of my life. I always remained hopeful of his return," says Meenu, the wife of CRPF jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, on the release of her husband by Naxals in Chhattisgarh



Manhas was kidnapped by Naxals during the Bijapur attack on April 3 pic.twitter.com/SqeQGRKGAb  ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2021

The Maoists had earlier said that they are willing to free Manhas and had asked the government to name interlocutors, to mediate in the release process.

Earlier in the day, Chhattisgarh Police said there have been "positive developments" in their efforts to secure his release.

Jammu: Family of CRPF jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas celebrates after he was released by Naxals



"I have received official communication of his safe return. His health condition is good," says Meenu, the wife of CRPF jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas pic.twitter.com/nI4hOCmv3U  ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2021

As many as 22 CRPF personnel lost their lives in the ambush while several Maoists were also killed during a gun battle in jungles on the Bijapur and Sukma border on April 3.

Reuters

The gunfight broke out between security forces and ultras who outnumbered them and used the forest to their advantage to carry out the carnage.

Out of the 22, eight were from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including seven CoBRA commandos and one jawan of its 'Bastariya' battalion, eight from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and six from the Special Task Force (STF).
Bereft Mom Warns Parents to Throw Out Thumbtacks After Tot Dies From Inhaling a Pushpin

A heartbroken mom is warning parents to throw out all thumb tacks after her 4-year-old son died when he inhaled a PUSHPIN in January.

Ayla Rutherford was getting in the shower when she heard her family screaming downstairs, before rushing in the room to find her husband Josh, 29, performing the Heimlich maneuver on their little boy, Axel.

The 29-year-old still had no idea what had happened when she realized their efforts were failing as Axel lost consciousness and started to turn blue.

After rushing the little boy to the hospital, doctors found he had not been choking but had inhaled a common household pushpin, which had pierced through his left lung and left him unable to breathe.

Ayla Rutherford, 29, shows type of pin her son inhaled before he died. (Kennedy News and Media)

Axel Rutherford, 4, with mom Ayla, 29, from Washington state (Kennedy News and Media)

After a week on life support and four brain death tests, the young boy tragically passed away in his parents armsleaving his family to agonize over how a simple piece of stationery could have taken their boy away forever.

Ayla and Josh are now warning others to throw out any pins they have in their home to prevent their children suffering the same tragic fate.

Ayla, from Graham, Washington, said: This was freak accident.

All I want to do is prevent other people going through what we have to go through.

I want to let people know that [pins are] such a normal thing to have in your houseto hang up posters, picture frames, Christmas lights, calendars.

Everybody uses them and all it takes is for one little kid to pick it up, put it in their mouth, inhale it and puncture their lungs.

If you have pins around the house, throw them out or lock them up. Its not worth your childs life or the pain.

Me and my husband held Axel as he passed away. He was four years old, one month and four days old.

I dont want anybody to have to go through this.

Ayla Rutherford with Axel and older son Soren (Kennedy News and Media)

Ayla had just finishing baking her oldest son Sorens birthday cake when she heard Josh screaming that there was something wrong with Axel.

Within minutes, the tot had lost consciousness and was turning blue, as Josh and his dad Stuart tried to do CPR, desperately waiting for ambulance sirens to whirl down the street.

Ayla said: As I was getting ready, my husband started calling me and screaming that there was something wrong with Axel.

I immediately ran downstairs and I saw my husband and in-laws around him trying the Heimlich maneuver.

We thought my kid was chokinghe wasnt breathing. He was trying but he couldnt. I was crying and screaming.

My mother-in-law called 911 and my husband kept trying to get whatever it was out of [Axels] mouth. We thought he was choking.

Weve dealt with [choking] before when theyre babies. You get it out and its fine, but my son lost consciousness and he was turning blue. My husband and father-in-law immediately started CPR.

It felt like the longest moment of my life waiting for those sirens.

It felt like forever but eventually one of my neighbors across the street heard me screaming and crying.

He started chest compressions [too]. It was a three-way of trying to keep oxygen in him.

Eventually the [paramedics] showed up and tried CPR, then they started the paddles.

They kept trying and trying until eventually they had to load him into the ambulance and rushed him to Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital in Tacoma.

Axel Rutherford, 4, on life support in the hospital before he passed away in January (Kennedy News and Media)

At the hospital, doctors searched for hours before finding out what had happened to Axel.

After failing to find anything blocking his throat, a scan revealed the boy had a pushpin wedged between his ribs after having punctured his left lung.

Ayla said: They said there was nothing in his throat to get out. We had no idea what was going on and why this was happening.

At about 6pm, the doctor told me theyd finally found the problem. A thumb tack had punctured his left lung and had blocked the way for his right lung to breathe too.

He couldnt get oxygen no matter what. They found the pushpin between his ribs on his left side.

It took about two hours for them to remove the pin because when youre not breathing, your throat closes up.

They had to do a tracheotomy and cut a hole in his throat to get it out. They eventually got it out and it was just a regular size thumb tack.

This is a kid who never put things in his mouth. It was the first time.

After the two-hour surgery, Ayla and Josh were able to visit their youngest child, who was hooked up to life support as he could no longer breathe for himself.

The pair were warned it was unlikely Axel would recover.

Four-year-old Axel Rutherford from Washington state before he passed away (Kennedy News and Media)

Ayla said: After they removed the pin we got to go visit him. That was really hard.

The doctors pretty much told us that because he was without oxygen for so long and went into cardiac arrest five times, he wasnt going to come back from that.

They told us not to hope, but we did anyway.

He was on life support. It was breathing for him because he was no longer breathing on his own.

Axel was in hospital for three days but made no recovery.

His parents were told medics would do a brain death test on the tot which required two tests, 12 hours apart.

After one doctor saw Axels pupil twitch slightly, she was unable to confirm he was brain dead, so the couple had to repeat the ordeal before receiving the devastating news that their second born would not survive.

Mom-of-two Ayla Rutherford, 29, with husband Josh, also 29 (Kennedy News and Media)

Ayla said: We were praying really hard. I was like please dont take my baby. Dont take him from me.

Theyd done an EEG where they monitor brain waves and it showed he had none.

At the first brain death test, me and his daddy and the doctor were there. It took half an hour and she told us it showed signs of brain death. We wanted to do the second one.

Our entire family showed up for that test. It was midnight the next day that they did the second test.

This doctor said that he showed a tiny, miniscule sign of brain life. They could not declare him brain dead which gave us all hope, because we were hoping so hard and praying so hard.

His pupil twitched a bit and when they took him off life support, he tried to take a breath. He tried.

Me and Josh would go and visit him. Wed visit him in the afternoon and evenings and read books, sing songs with him and tell him that we loved him.

On the 16th, me and my husband and Soren were out going on errands when we got a call from the doctor about around 1pm saying he did a brain death test without us knowing.

He told me and Josh we needed to go to hospital soon. We dropped Soren off at home and the doctor told us he was really aggressive with Axel to see if he could get any brain activity. He didnt.

Axel Rutherfords urn and urn arrangement (Kennedy News and Media)

Doctors declared Axel brain dead at 1:35 p.m. on Jan. 17. The family had a memorial service and cremated him on Feb. 6.

Ayla and Josh then faced breaking the shattering news to Soren, who had just celebrated his birthday without his brother by his side.

Ayla said: We let Soren see Axel at the first brain death test. We let him give him a kiss, say I love you, brother then he went back out.

He was screaming. He wanted his brother to wake up.

We kept telling him that Axel wouldnt wake up. Hes sixhe doesnt understand death yet.

That day we came home, me and his daddy sat him down and told him Axel died. You use real words. You dont tell him he passed away or hes gone. You tell him that he died. You use real wordseven though they hurt.

Four-year-old Axel Rutherford, from Washington state, who died after inhaling a pushpin (Kennedy News and Media)

We told him that he died, and we had to explain that hes with Jesus and no longer sick, but he wouldnt be coming home anymore.

He cried for five minutes then said, I want to go watch TV. Hes special needs and didnt really understand.

He brings him up all the time. Today we were doing home-schooling and he asked me when he was coming home.

Now Ayla is warning other parents to be wary of the stationary materials they use around their children after the life-changing accident forced her to say goodbye to her energetic and inquisitive little boy at just 4 years old.

Ayla said: If Axel had swallowed it, hed have been okay. It might have punctured his intestine or his stomach and hed have told me his tummy hurts, then wed have taken him to the hospital.

Axel was so energetic. That boy would not sit down. He was so smart and he loved Rubiks Cubes.

He loved magic tricks. For Christmas, he got a top hat and he loved costumes. Ninety percent of all my pictures of him involved costume.

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.

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
Welcome to Pandemic Problems, an advice column from The Chronicles engagement reporters that aims to help Bay Area residents solve their pandemic-related conundrums  personal, practical or professional. Send your questions and issues to pandemicproblems@sfchronicle.com.

Todays question is fielded by The Chronicles Kellie Hwang.

Dear Advice Team:

My kids (7 and 9) are going back to school in two weeks. We've been living with their grandma for the last eight months, following strict social distancing and stay-at-home protocols. Grandma will have full vaccine coverage by the time the kids are back in school. Other than being in a high-risk age group, she has no underlying medical conditions.

After the kids go back to school, could we still safely visit her and stay in her home? If not, at what point would that be safe again? When both adults are vaccinated? When the entire family is vaccinated?

Dear Reader:

As of Tuesday, a third of all Americans and 35% of Californias population had received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine. So many people, such as yourself, are wondering what is safe and not safe to do now that a good number of people have been vaccinated, but many are still waiting their turn.

In February the CDC released guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals, who should be able to visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without masks or needing to keep 6 feet apart. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The agency also said it is safe for vaccinated individuals to gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household without masks, unless any individuals are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Under those guidelines, unless any of your own family has any underlying health conditions, it should be safe to go to Grandmas house.

John Swartzberg, an infectious disease expert at UC Berkeley, said regardless of the CDCs guidelines, these decisions also need to factor in a persons own risk tolerance. So in your case, there are a number of potential risks.

Your childrens grandmother could be one of the small percentage of people who contracts the coronavirus despite being vaccinated. But Swartzberg said it would most likely be a mild case.

The risks of winding up so sick that she would end up in the hospital are so minuscule, Swartzberg said.

Your childrens grandmother could be a silent carrier of the virus, but doesnt know she is infected because she is asymptomatic, therefore possibly spreading it to you or your children.

But there is reason to be optimistic. Late last month, the CDC released a study that found the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were 90% effective at preventing infection after full vaccination, and 80% effective at least two weeks after one dose in a real-world setting.

The study followed 4,000 health care workers, emergency responders and other essential workers, who were tested weekly for both symptomatic and asymptomatic infections.

A study published late last month out of Israel showed that individuals with the Pfizer vaccine who became infected with coronavirus had significantly reduced viral loads, which could affect contagiousness, but more research is needed to confirm whether vaccines prevent transmission.

We dont have a firm answer on that yet, but we probably have at least two-thirds of people and maybe up to 90% of people that after theyve been vaccinated will not transmit the virus to other people, Swartzberg said.

More Information About Pandemic Problems Send your questions and issues to pandemicproblems@sfchronicle.com. We cannot respond to all questions, but your submission will be read and considered. Please be as specific as possible, but try to keep it concise. We may edit your submission for space, clarity or spelling and grammar. Keep the people and situations in your letter anonymous by changing the names (including yours) and details. We will remove any identifying information. Emails, letters, tweets or other messages you send become the property of The Chronicle and may be published online and in print. Important: This column cannot address immediate risks to your health and safety. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 to reach a counselor at a locally operated crisis center 24 hours a day for free. Text "Connect" to 741741 to reach a crisis counselor any time for free. Emails or other communications you send become the property of The Chronicle and may be published online and in print. By submitting a question, you agree to The Chronicle's Terms of Use, which are available for review at https://www.sfchronicle.com/terms_of_use/ , and acknowledge its Privacy Notice, which is available for review at https://www.sfchronicle.com/privacy_policy/. The advice offered in this column is intended for informational purposes only. Use of this column is not intended to replace or substitute for any professional, financial, medical, legal, or other professional advice. If you have specific concerns or a situation in which you require professional, psychological or medical help, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified specialist. The opinions or views expressed in this column are not intended to treat or diagnose; nor are they meant to replace the treatment and care that you may be receiving from a licensed professional, physician or mental health professional. This column, its authors, the newspaper and publisher are not responsible for the outcome or results of following any advice in any given situation. You, and only you, are completely responsible for your actions. See More Collapse

Then there is your own risk tolerance as well as your partners, especially if youre not yet vaccinated.

How comfortable do they feel with the thought they could spread it to Grandma? Swartzberg said. Its not very likely, but its possible.

Swartzberg said its a good idea to communicate concerns early, so the right steps can be taken to ensure everyone is being heard and is comfortable with the decision.

Its complicated, and everybody will have a different risk tolerance, he said. Have a conversation beforehand. ... Its not going to be like an epiphany where you wake up and the pandemic is over. It will be more like a gradual process. Some people will throw their masks off and start hugging everybody, and some people will take baby steps for a long time.

Pandemic Problems is written by Chronicle Advice Team members Annie Vainshtein and Kellie Hwang, combining thorough reporting and guidance from Bay Area experts to help get answers and find a way forward.

Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang
The Prime Minister said he would not pre-empt any decision from the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, and so far Australias vaccine rollout would continue as planned. My advice at this point, but thats obviously subject to what ATAGI might say later in the day, [is] there is nothing to suggest at this stage that there would be any change, he said on Thursday morning. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Regardless of whether the regulator changes its advice, Mr Morrison said it was important to know the risk of developing venous thromboembolism was much lower following the AstraZeneca vaccine than the risk of death from COVID-19. Lets note that in the UK, the advice is that some 6000 peoples lives have already been saved by this very vaccine. So we need to consider the positive benefits, he said.

From UK data, the risk of venous thromboembolism following the vaccine was about one to five per million people. Loading To put that in some sort of perspective, the combined oral contraceptive pill, that can include adverse side effects of venous thromboembolism - thats seven to 10 per 10,000, Mr Morrison said. So what ATAGI will be doing is theyll be looking at that evidence and they, of course, will be weighing that against the very positive benefits of the vaccine program and then theyll be providing further advice, he said. A federal government spokesperson said the expert groups were meeting on Thursday to discuss the latest overseas updates and evidence.

The government has asked ATAGI and the TGA to immediately consider and advise on the latest vaccination findings out of Europe and the UK, the spokesperson said. That advice will be provided to the Commonwealth government for immediate consideration. The advice will be shared with the expert medical panel, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, which is comprised of all state and territory chief health officers and led by federal Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly. Mr Morrison said he expected to receive an update later on Thursday evening. The matter will also be discussed in national cabinet on Friday and in meetings with state and territory health ministers, he said.

Professor Kelly told the ABC on Thursday morning there were so few cases of the rare clotting disorder it was hard to make conclusions. Loading He said overseas advice regarding younger people and women being at higher risk would be brought to the table on Thursday and looked at in the Australian context. The government will be looking to reassure people that the AstraZeneca vaccine is very effective and extremely safe for most people, the Chief Medical Officer said. But there is this rare event that appears to be linked with that particular vaccine and people need to be aware of that.
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Dear William,

Sometimes you have to accept there's only so much you can do for a sibling.

For 20 years, after those tragic events in 1997, you were a rock for your brother  the only other human being he could entirely open up to and trust.

Your father was often absent and distant. Given the deep-rooted bitterness you and Harry both feel about the way Charles treated your mother, the paternal relationship was understandably strained for many years.

As a result, you often took on the combined role of Harry's surrogate dad, chief-of-staff and best friend.

It wasn't always easy. Especially as scandal followed scandal for your brother  the drugs, the Nazi uniform, the drunken altercations, the racist language in the army and the strip poker incident in Las Vegas.

But you always kept the faith, with calm and wise counsel behind-the-scenes, imploring harsher members of your family to give Harry the chance to grow up while making mistakes.

Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Charles after Princess Diana's funeral at Westminster Abbey in September 1997

The Duke of Cambridge (left) and his brother Prince Harry at the opening of the Greenhouse Centre in London in April 2018

It was you who convinced Harry to seek professional help to deal with his mental health problems sparked by the death of Diana. He first saw a counsellor after you reassured him by saying: 'Look, you really need to deal with this. It is not normal to think that nothing has affected you.'

When your wife Kate entered the scene, she immediately bonded with your brother too, becoming a trusted companion and then a work colleague.

Your bold and brave charity initiatives as a trio revitalised a tired and fading monarchy, providing some much-needed hope that young people would keep the faith with the Crown.

In that context, it is completely understandable that when a fame and power-hungry American actress entered the scene and stole your brother's heart, you asked some difficult questions about the courtship.

No one with any sense blames you for gently querying whether Harry should take some time before he married someone so apparently prepared to give up her career and life in the US to enter the British Royal Family.

Many of your early fears have tragically come to fruition.

Your guidance encouraging Harry to take it slow and not rush into any hasty decisions was rooted in love and concern, certainly nothing to do with racism.

Despite these initial skirmishes, you put that nagging feeling in the back of your head that something wasn't right about your brother's new partner to one side and prioritised making Meghan feel welcome in the dysfunctional and odd Royal Family.

Prince William has ended two-decades long friendship with the ITV News presenter Tom Bradby, pictured greeting the Duke and Kate Middleton after they announced their engagement in November 2010

Bradby hosted an ITV documentary in South Africa in 2019 which Harry used to publicly confirm a feud with his brother

Bradby's ITV documentary in South Africa in 2019 also saw Meghan Markle tell him: 'Not many people have asked if I'm okay'

She was invited to spend Christmas with you and Kate at your Anmer Hall residence in Norfolk, a decision you supported even though it went against royal protocol.

Discussions soon started about Meghan taking a leading role in your beloved Royal Foundation  the Fab Four was born.

But no matter how hard you and Kate tried, it soon became clear that Meghan had not moved to London to quietly settle into life as a community-focussed royal.

I remember from my reporting at the time that Kate was not happy with the way Meghan spoke to staff at Kensington Palace. Your wife rightly raised the issue and it caused tension.

The infamous bridesmaid dress fitting and Meghan's failure to accept Kate's apology for whatever did or did not happen made things worse.

You were also dragged into the sensitive row over which items from the Royal Collection  including tiaras worn by your mother  would be loaned to Meghan.

In the end, following discussions with the Queen's dresser Angela Kelly, it was down to your grandmother to make the tough call to Prince Harry that made clear, given the royal pecking order, Meghan couldn't always get what she wanted.

But the damage was done.

You and Kate had tried everything, but fundamentally Harry and Meghan had made a decision that they didn't want to be on your side. Their narrative as victims of the system was firmly set in their heads.

Prince Harry and Prince William after the traditional Christmas Day church service at Sandringham in Norfolk in 2013

The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Charles and Prince Harry at the Invictus Games competition in London in September 2014

They were increasingly angry you wouldn't back them in petty battles with the media. Your advisers were, entirely appropriately, beginning the long and sensitive journey of preparing you to be king, and didn't think your public input would be helpful.

The final straw for you came with the way Harry and Meghan behaved over the Megxit debacle.

You are right to feel it's unforgivable that they twice tried to publicly jump your grandmother  now 94  into giving into their ludicrous demands.

The phone calls largely stopped, Harry and Meghan left the country and very open wounds remain.

Before that despicable Oprah Winfrey interview, where they accused your family of racism, you had hoped that matters could be resolved privately over time. The Windsor way, you might say.

There was the possibility of a fruitful reunion to unveil the long-awaited statue of your late mother later this year.

But sadly, it's now reached the point where you can no longer trust your brother or his wife, largely down to their ongoing manipulation of the American media.

Private conversations with family members have twice been twisted and dissected for US TV personalities Oprah and Gayle King, both friends of Meghan.

You've rightly ended your two-decades long friendship with the ITV News presenter Tom Bradby, who you believe has taken sides by becoming a media mouthpiece for Harry and Meghan.

The Sussexes have declared war and are not attempting to start any form of healthy discussion.

The Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Sussex and the Duke of Sussex arriving to attend the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, in December 2018

The Royal Family leave Westminster Abbey following the Commonwealth Day Service in March 2020

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex speak to Oprah Winfrey in their bombshell tell-all interview which first aired on March 7

History will show the problem was with Meghan, not you. She has fallen out with most of her close relatives  including her father and half-sister  and no old friends were on the guest list for her wedding.

Her friends are in showbiz now. They're ready to exploit her for their own gains, be it by securing TV interviews or advancing divisive identity politics.

By contrast, you are going to be king. Your priority is to keep the monarchy popular, not give in to your brother's petulant tantrums and delusions.

Bowing down to Harry and Meghan is no longer the right thing to do and that's why you were correct to publicly state at the first available opportunity that 'we're very much not a racist family'.

Many old friends of Harry I have spoken to are convinced he will come back to you and Great Britain, but it's going to take him some time to work out the mistakes he's made and how he's let you down.

Until that time, there is nothing more you can do. Harry knows you love him and that you'll do anything for him if he's in serious trouble.

It's painful. But the time has come to stop appeasing your brother. He'll soon learn millions of dollars and a Californian mansion don't compare to the unconditional and unwavering love of your blood relatives.
Funding of 460,000 for roads projects in Danesfort parish as part of the 2021 Municipal Roads Allocation has been welcomed by local Cllr Patrick ONeill.

The projects cover road resurfacing and safety works and this funding will be a huge boost for a large rural area, he said.



The safety scheme in Burnchurch is most welcome as it has been an ongoing issues for residents and parents in the locality for many years. This will be the first of many improvements made to the area in the coming years, said Cllr ONeill.



Projects included are: Danesfort Road to Bennettsbridge, 180,000; Grovine West, 112,000; Burnchurch towards Limetree, 63,000; Church Hill, Cuffesgrange, 59,000; Burchchurch Low Cost Safety Scheme, 25,000; Sevenhouses Cross Low Cost Safety Scheme, 20,000.

In 2021 we will be awaiting a report from Transport Infrastructure Ireland on the survey that they carried out at the GAA/ Bennettsbridge junction on the Waterford Road which will hopefully lead to safety improvements at this very busy junction, he added.
LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE IS JUNE 1, 2021

NEW YORK, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP announces that a federal securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California has been filed against Canoo Inc. (the Company (NASDAQ: GOEV; GOEVW) (Canoo) f/k/a Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. IV (NASDAQ: HCAC; HCACW; HCACU) (Hennessy Capital) on behalf of those who purchased or acquired Canoo securities between August 18, 2020 and March 29, 2021, inclusive (the Class Period).

All investors who purchased shares of Canoo Inc. and incurred losses are urged to contact the firm immediately at classmember@whafh.com or (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774. You may obtain additional information concerning the action or join the case on our website, www.whafh.com.

If you have incurred losses in the shares of Canoo Inc. you may, no later than June 1, 2021, request that the Court appoint you lead plaintiff of the proposed class. Please contact Wolf Haldenstein to learn more about your rights as an investor in the shares of Canoo Inc.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN CASE

Canoo was formed by a business combination between Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. IV (a special purpose acquisition (SPAC) company) and Canoo Holdings Limited in December 2020. The Company is a mobile technology company that develops electric vehicles.

The filed complaint alleges that prior to and after the combination, the Company promoted a business model based on a three-phased approach to generating revenue and growth:

an engineering services segment,

the sales of subscriptions to vehicles to consumers, and

the sale of vehicles to other businesses.



On March 29, 2021, the Company revealed that it was radically changing its business model by deemphasizing its engineering services business and by no longer focusing on its subscription-based business.

In response to this news, Canoo fell $2.50 per share ($21.2%) from a March 29, 2021 close of $11.80 per share to close at $9.30 per share on March 30, 2021.

Story continues

Wolf Haldenstein has extensive experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas; and offices in New York, Chicago and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of this firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly recognized by the courts, which have appointed it to major positions in complex securities multi-district and consolidated litigation.

If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this case, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at classmember@whafh.com, or visit our website at www.whafh.com.

Contact:

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP

Kevin Cooper, Esq.

Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis

Email: gstone@whafh.com, kcooper@whafh.com or classmember@whafh.com

Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.




Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a major change to Australia's Covid vaccine rollout plan on Thursday evening amid findings overseas that one vaccine can cause blood clots.

That change involved the administering of AstraZeneca injections, which are no longer recommended for people aged under 50 - with Pfizer now the preferred alternative.

A 'very rare' but potentially fatal 'syndrome' that results in blood clotting in a small percentage of people was responsible for the government's 'precautionary' vaccine u-turn.

AstraZeneca, which was expected to be the main type of vaccine administered in Australia, is not banned for all under 50s but is now considered unsuitable in many cases.

Australia's chief medical officer Paul Kelly (pictured left) and Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, announce major changes to the AstraZeneca vaccine rollout on Thursday

NEW ASTRAZENECA RECOMMENDATIONS

* The use of the Pfizer vaccine is preferred over AstraZeneca in Australian adults under 50 who have not already received their first AstraZeneca dose

* Australian immunisation providers should only give a first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to adults under 50 where the benefit clearly outweighs the risk

* Australians who have had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine without any serious adverse events can safely be given their second dose, including those under 50

* Australians who have had blood clots associated with low platelet levels after their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should not be given a second dose

* Australia's Department of Health further develop and refine resources for informed consent that clearly convey the AstraZeneca vaccine's benefits and the risks

The guidelines around the use of Covid vaccine AstraZeneca in Australia significantly changed on Thursday

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT AUSTRALIA'S COVID-19 VACCINATION ROLLOUT?

* Rollout plan will be recalibrated and re-evaluated

* End of October timeline for every Australian to receive first vaccine dose in doubt

* Phase 1b - which includes younger adults with a medical condition or disability and frontline health workers among others - may be delayed

* Pfizer vaccine will be reprioritised for under 50s once phase 1a finishes

* Australia's vaccine purchases under review

HOW OFTEN DO ASTRAZENECA-LINKED BLOOD CLOTS OCCUR?

* Four to six cases per million AstraZeneca vaccine doses

* One known Australian case found in a 44-year-old man admitted to hospital in Melbourne

* 25 per cent death rate in known cases

* More common among younger people

* Cause unknown
Resident appointed manager of Henry C. Reid & Son Jewelers

David Glucksman, of Fairfield, was appointed store manager of Henry C. Reid & Son Jewelers, the 111-year-old jewelry store at 1591 Post Road in Fairfield.

Glucksman joined Henry C. Reid at a pivotal time in the stores previous 110-year history, including a major renovation. Glucksman was formerly with the Betteridge, and Tiffany & Co., jewelry stores, both of Greenwich.

Trinity Southport presenting New York jazz ensemble

The Curtis Nowosad Quartet will perform a rare local area concert on the front lawn of Trinity Episcopal Church, 651 Pequot Ave., at the corner of Center Street in Southport. at 3 p.m. on April 24. The special event is open to all members of the community regardless of their religious affiliation. Purchase tickets online at www.trinitysouthport.org/music. Visit eventbrite.com to register.

Fairfield Police share tips for 9-1-1 calls

Chief Robert Kalamaras and the Fairfield Police Department are sharing guidelines, and tips as part of National 9-1-1 Education Month this April.

People can reach 911 with text to 911 throughout Connecticut as an alternative to a typical phone call. Enter 9-1-1 in the To field of your mobile device and then type your exact location and a brief description of what kind of help you need. Once you hit send, respond to any questions youre asked and follow the instructions given. Residents should note that at this time, 911 can only receive text messages in English.

With wireless calls, 911 operators can locate callers, but more information may be needed in order for emergency services to find exact locations. Be prepared to provide detailed information on your location to assist the 911 operator.

Unless instructed to do otherwise, you should stay on the line when calling 9-1-1 in order to provide necessary information to the 911 operator. Even if you accidentally dial 9-1-1, you should stay on the line and inform the operator that there is no emergency and that you dialed accidentally. While on the phone, please answer the telecommunicators questions. They are trying to determine whether or not there is an emergency or if someone is in need of assistance.

Staples free school fund scholarships available

Applications for college scholarships from the Staples Free School Fund for the 2021-2022 school year are available online at www.StaplesFreeSchool.org through May 7. The school is located at 515 Morehouse Road in Easton. Also visit www.StaplesFreeSchool.org for details. Scholarships granted for the 2020-2021 school year totaled $35,000.

Easton Arts Council presenting online art shows

The Easton Arts Councils annual Youth Art Show is available for viewing online at www.eastonartscouncil.org, with 64 total entries.

Accounting and consulting firm gets new location

Knight Rolleri Sheppard CPAs, LLP, a regional certified public accounting and business consulting firm has moved down the road to 2150 Post Road. The firm will occupy the entire fifth floor of the building. Knight Rolleri Sheppard has been in business in Fairfield for 36 years. The move was prompted by the firms expansion requirements resulting from a growing client base and hiring of new staff members, Angel Commercial announced.

Eva Kornreich, Angel Commercials vice president, said the Fairfield County office market vacancy rate is up to 26 percent, but in the town of Fairfield, the office vacancy rate is 5 percent. Kornreich conducted a comprehensive search on behalf of the tenant and was able to negotiate a custom build out while maintaining an efficient floor plan.

This transaction brings the building to 100 percent occupancy.
Los Angeles  Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, issued the following statement following the death of Congressman Alcee Hastings of Florida.

I am saddened by the passing of my longtime friend and colleague, Congressman Alcee Hastings, who was a vibrant Member of Congress that was dedicated to public service and doing good on behalf of his constituents. Congressman Hastings was not only a talented legislator, but a brilliant lawyer who lived a distinguished life of service. When I think of Congressman Hastings, I think of someone who absolutely loved coming to work every day for his community, and I take solace in the fact that they so deeply loved him back.

First elected to Congress in 1992, Congressman Hastings work in the Congress is extensive and he took great pride in that. Rising to the role of Dean and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation, he sought out any opportunity that would allow him to better serve not only his constituents, but all Floridians. As Vice Chair of the Committee on Rules, he was extremely well versed on the Committees issues and he will undoubtedly be remembered as a strong Democrat who gave tremendous support to other Democrats who came before the Committee.

Congressman Hastings was the kind of person who came to work and got the job done, and  not to mention, he did it in style, too. Over the years, I noticed that he would match his ties and socks, and when I would see him, I would always comment on his outfit and his skill for coordinating colors. In the midst of it all, we always found the time to share in laughter and joy and I will miss that dearly.

To the Congressmans family, friends, and beloved community, I extend my deepest and most heartfelt condolences. During this difficult time, let us find peace in the extraordinary life he lived and the incredible amount of good he did.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Remember that scene in season 1, episode 5 of Emily in Paris where Emily, Gabriel and Camille go to a digital art exhibit of Van Goghs Starry Night at LAtelier des Lumieres?

Immersive Van Gogh, a similar show from Massimiliano Siccardi, the same artist behind the exhibit featured on the Netflix series, is headed to Cleveland beginning on September 9. The venue hasnt been announced yet. Pre-sale tickets starting at $39.99 went on sale Wednesday.

Despite being unknown throughout his life, Van Goghs artwork has created a lasting impact through its emotional richness and simple beauty, said Siccardi in a press release. Both myself and [composer] Luca Longobardi are very excited to visit Cleveland and once again bring Van Goghs legacy to life in a way that embraces this citys one-of-a-kind energy.

The exhibit -- which, if you havent seen Emily in Paris, looks pretty cool and super romantic -- is an hour-long, timed-entry, walk-through experience. The idea is to step inside several of Vincent Van Goghs post-impressionist masterpieces and gain insight into what was going through his mind as he created his most famous paintings. Featured works include Les Mangeurs de pommes de terre (The Potato Eaters, 1885), La Nuit etoilee (Starry Night, 1889), Les tournesols (Sunflowers, 1887) and La Chambre a coucher (The Bedroom, 1888). The effect is created through 500,000 cubic feet of projections, 60,600 frames of video and 90,000,000 pixels. Longobardis score provides the mood.

Capacity to the show will be limited in accordance with city guidelines. COVID-19 health and safety measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing will be enforced.

Find more information at vangoghcleveland.com.
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New Mexico Game and Fish conservation officers manage the states diverse wildlife.

But the state employees also investigate crimes committed by poachers who illegally hunt or dispose of game animals.

Officers have a vast state to cover, so tips from local hunters or outdoors enthusiasts are essential to helping catch poachers.

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The department created Operation Game Thief in 1977. Albuquerques Crime Stoppers inspired the program model.

Citizen reports have helped New Mexico officers solve poaching cases of dozens of animals, and paved the way for hefty fines, criminal sentences and hunting license revocations.

Tipsters have the option to remain anonymous, and can report the crime 24/7, online or by phone.

If you see someone committing a wildlife violation or you suspect poaching, dont approach them, said Tristanna Bickford, Game and Fish spokesperson. Our conservation officers are equipped to handle these situations, so get as much information as you can safely get.

Cellphone or camera photos are helpful to the investigating officers.

License plate numbers, vehicle information and GPS location can also help identify poachers.

The department investigates every tip.

Sometimes the cases are turned over to the DA, depending on the specific violation, Bickford said. Our officers work closely with state police, local sheriffs and livestock bureaus, and federal forest service and law enforcement officers.

The officers conduct interviews, search the region, and collect evidence in response to the tips.

Even small tips can be the key to solving big investigations.

A 2015 tip about a headless mule deer in Rio Arriba County sparked a five-year, multi-state investigation, and eventually a $74,000 fine and criminal conviction, for a North Dakota man whose wildlife crimes in New Mexico dated back 20 years.

Reports of deer poaching are higher than elk or other species, Bickford said. We also get tips on nearly every other game animal, and even all kinds of animals like lizards, snakes, turtles, rabbits and roadrunners.

A tip from southern New Mexico helped officers nab a suspect who had illegally killed and improperly disposed of several elk and deer. That case and concurrent drug charges for the poacher resulted in a six-year prison sentence.

Callers can earn monetary rewards if the poacher is charged or cited.

Rewards are set at $750 for cases involving elk and bighorn sheep, $500 for deer and oryx, $350 for antelope, and $250 for small game, endangered species, turkey, bear, cougar, javelina and ibex.

Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal.
(CNN)  China's armed forces conducted simultaneous military exercises to the west and east of Taiwan on Monday in a move analysts said was a warning to the self-ruled island and its supporter, the United States.

The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning and its escorts were conducting maneuvers around Taiwan, China's military said in a statement Monday.

"It was a routine training exercise organized according to the annual work plan to test the troops' training effectiveness and beef up their capability to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests," the statement said.

Meanwhile, at least 10 People's Liberation Army (PLA) warplanes, including four J-16 and four J-10 fighter jets, a Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft and a KJ-500 early warning aircraft, entered Taiwan's self-declared air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry.

The US Federal Aviation Administration defines an ADIZ as "a designated area of airspace over land or water within which a country requires the immediate and positive identification, location, and air traffic control of aircraft in the interest of the country's national security."

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said it had a "full grasp" of the situation and was "appropriately handling" the matter, Reuters reported.

The PLA kept up its pressure on Taiwan on Wednesday, sending 15 warplanes into the island's ADIZ, the Defense Ministry said.

For its part, the US Navy showed its flag around the island on Wednesday as the guided-missile destroyer USS John S McCain steamed through the Taiwan Strait, the waterway that separates the island from mainland China.

"The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," US Navy 7th Fleet spokesperson Lt. Mark Langford said in a statement.

Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, even though the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed that Beijing will never allow the island to become formally independent and has refused to rule out the use of force, if necessary, to take the island back.

Tensions over Taiwan have been heating up in recent months as Taipei has garnered support from the US in the form of new military hardware, an agreement between the US and Taiwanese coast guards, and strong statements of support from the administration of US President Joe Biden.

"Our commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid," US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Wednesday.

"We have, of course, taken note with great concern the pattern of ongoing PRC efforts and attempts to intimidate in the region, including in the context of Taiwan," he said.

"The United States maintains the capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan," Price told reporters at the State Department.

Last month, after talks with Japanese leaders and diplomats, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that Washington and Tokyo were prepared to push back against Chinese threats to stability and order in Asia.

"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," Blinken said.

"We will push back if necessary when China uses coercion or aggression to get its way."

A 'warning' from Beijing

China's maneuvers Monday demonstrated its military superiority over Taiwan, Shi Hong, executive chief editor of Chinese magazine Shipborne Weapons, said in a Global Times report.

"The exercise showed that the PLA (People's Liberation Army) is capable of surrounding the island of Taiwan, isolating its troops and leaving them nowhere to run and no chance to win if circumstances arise," Shi said.

The exercises also sent a message to both the US and Japan, Shi added. Since any US and Japanese military interventions would likely come from the east, China, by exercising its carrier group there, demonstrated it could cut off that help, Shi said.

Western analysts said China did not demonstrate any new capabilities in Monday's exercises.

In fact, a Chinese carrier in the open Pacific could play to one of the strengths of the US Navy  its nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN), said Thomas Shugart, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and former US Navy captain.

"A Chinese carrier operating east of Taiwan is not particularly valuable being used like that, as it could be quite vulnerable operating that far out  in SSN-infested deep water and beyond China's integrated air defense/SAM umbrella," Shugart said.

But the Chinese military did make a political statement, analysts said.

"It's intended as a warning to the Taiwanese and others who Beijing deemed as undermining its interests, not least the Americans," said Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

Koh points out that a PLA Navy carrier group has operated east of Taiwan at least twice before.

And the presence of large numbers of PLA aircraft in Taiwan's ADIZ is becoming more common.

In late March, 20 PLA warplanes entered Taiwan's ADIZ in one day, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry. It's the highest number since last year, when Taiwan began disclosing almost daily flights by Chinese aircraft into its airspace.

Such Chinese activity is expected to continue. The PLA said in its statement that carrier operations such as the one staged Monday would occur on a regular basis.

US carrier operates in South China Sea

While the Chinese carrier was conducting exercises off Taiwan, a US Navy aircraft carrier strike group was carrying out its own operations in the South China Sea.

The US 7th Fleet said the USS Theodore Roosevelt and its escorts entered the South China Sea on Sunday for routine operations, the second such visit of the Roosevelt to the area this year.

"It is great to be back in the South China Sea to reassure our allies and partners that we remain committed to freedom of the seas," Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine, said in a statement.

"While in the South China Sea, the strike group will conduct fixed and rotary-wing flight operations, maritime strike exercises, anti-submarine operations, coordinated tactical training, and more," the 7th Fleet statement said.

Beijing claims almost all of the 1.3 million square mile South China Sea as its sovereign territory and in recent years has built up military fortifications on several islands.

It says the presence of foreign military forces like the US aircraft carrier strike group are fomenting tensions in the region.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "China flanks Taiwan with military exercises in air and sea."
[April 08, 2021] proteanTecs Joins the Open Compute Project (OCP), and Introduces First-Ever UCT Monitoring System for Field-Deployed Electronics

HAIFA, ISRAEL , April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- proteanTecs, a leading provider of health and performance monitoring solutions for advanced electronics, announced today that it has joined the Open Compute Project (OCP) as a Community Member. The OCP Foundation, launched by Facebook in 2011, is a collaborative community whose mission is to innovate hardware technology and efficiently support the growing demands on datacenter IT infrastructure. Acceleration of cloud and edge computing, AI and as-a-service solutions are driving massive growth in the datacenter market. As a result, new challenges related to higher-power workloads, HW interoperability and maintenance arise. proteanTecs' deep data monitoring solutions deliver end-to-end visibility, providing significant power, performance and cost efficiencies. Based on UCT (Universal Chip Telemetry), datacenter operators can track system health, in mission-mode, while drawing on historical data from production, to prevent failures and ensure continuous service availability. "The OCP is taking a whole new approach to cloud-scale computing," said Uzi Baruch, CSO at proteanTecs. "They recently shared their mission for HW fault diagnostics, stating high replacement rates, long mitigation cycles and gaps in telemetry solutions as key challenges. What we are doing falls direcly in line with that. Enabling datacenters to transition to a predictive strategy will allow them to maximize dollar per GHz, detect early failures, optimize compute performance, and provide instantaneous visibility into hardware faults."



Serving customers across several mission-critical sectors, including Datacenter, Automotive and Communications, proteanTecs is rapidly expanding into a wide range of cutting-edge designs. The company's solutions are embedded in various types of systems, spanning AI, HPC, networking and storage applications. "We are working closely with hyperscalers, semiconductor companies and system integrators to rapidly increase scalability in the cloud", added Baruch. "Joining the OCP will allow us to better tailor our roadmap to industry needs and provide our expertise for next-generation infrastructure."

About OCP The Open Compute Project Foundation (OCP) was initiated by Facebook in 2011 with a mission to apply the benefits of open source and open collaboration to hardware and rapidly increase the pace of innovation in, near and around the data center's networking equipment, general purpose and GPU servers, storage devices and appliances, and scalable rack designs. OCP's collaboration model is being applied beyond the data center, helping to advance the telecom industry & EDGE infrastructure. About proteanTecs proteanTecs develops revolutionary Universal Chip Telemetry (UCT) for electronic systems throughout their entire lifecycle, increasing their performance and reliability. By applying machine learning to novel data created by on-chip UCT Agents, proteanTecs provides meaningful insights and visibility unattainable until today, leading to new levels of quality, reliability and scale. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Israel with offices in New Jersey, California and Taiwan. For more information, visit: www.proteanTecs.com. Press Contact Tamar Naishlos, Media Relations

tamarn@proteanTecs.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/proteantecs-joins-the-open-compute-project-ocp-and-introduces-first-ever-uct-monitoring-system-for-field-deployed-electronics-301265077.html SOURCE proteanTecs

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lookout, Inc. , a leading cybersecurity company, today announced the launch of its new global channel partner program. Developed based on partner feedback, the new program will accelerate and grow the success of its global channel community through exclusive benefits, comprehensive education, sales support and marketing resources.

This expansion comes on the heels of the company's recent acquisition of CipherCloud, and partners of both companies will benefit from the Lookout Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution. Participation in the Lookout channel program will accelerate partners' ability to sell the industry's first integrated platform that secures an organization's entire data path from endpoint to cloud.

"We know that securing endpoint-to-cloud connectivity will remain a top IT priority for organizations as a large portion of their workforce continues working remotely, even as the pandemic subsides," said Gert-Jan Schenk, Chief Revenue Officer, Lookout. "To enable their digital transformation, we've redesigned our partner program to better enable partner success. With the Lookout integrated endpoint-to-cloud security solution, our channel partners can enable their customers' digital transformation by empowering them to securely deliver applications to users anywhere they want to work."

New Program Initiatives:

The new program includes two partner levels: Elite and Select

Lookout has simplified its previous channel partner levels to better recognize and celebrate partners who have shown industry expertise and a proven track record. Lookout partners are eligible for benefits that elevate their value and differentiation in the market and increase profitability.

Benefits exclusive to Elite partners include larger discounts on registered deals, marketing development funds (MDF), additional revenue streams from consulting and professional services, dedicated product and sales champions, access to insights and findings from the Lookout Threat Intelligence team, technical and sales training, exclusive invitations to industry roundtables and peer exchange events, and an invitation to the annual Lookout Partner Summit.

Lookout Partner Academy: Available later this spring, the Lookout Partner Academy training and certification platform will provide partners access to sales and pre-sales online training courses. Upon completion of the curriculum, the partner will be designated Lookout Qualified.

Lookout Partner Portal: The refreshed partner portal provides partners with an easy and transparent way to register and view their opportunities, find the key documents needed to support prospect and customer conversations and stay up to date on the latest news and product updates.

The need for an integrated endpoint-to-cloud security solution is accelerated by several factors, including the proliferation of remote users, the adoption of cloud applications, and data transitioning out of the corporate data center into the cloud. To tackle the security challenges posed by these unstoppable trends, businesses need a unified platform that can track activity and enforce policies across the entire data path  from the endpoint device to cloud-based applications. With the signals and control points needed to stop zero-day attacks scattered across the entire end-to-end path, only a fully integrated solution can close the gaps created by multiple point products sourced from separate security vendors.

Gartner forecasts that over the next five years, the SASE market will grow at a CAGR of 42%, reaching almost $11 billion by 2024.1 The integration of CipherCloud and Lookout technologies will remove friction, increase usability and convenience, enable user freedom and reduce operational costs when compared to a collection of siloed point products.

Visit https://www.lookout.com/company/partners to learn more.

Lookout Partner Quotes

Marco Gocht, CEO, ISEC 7

"We are pleased to take our relationship with Lookout to the next level as an Elite partner. Lookout is the first to deliver integrated endpoint-to-cloud security  its platform features are incredibly valuable to our customers and complement our in-depth cybersecurity services. Together, ISEC7 and Lookout will provide a wide range of security options for customers in the private and public sector markets."

Alex Whitworth, Sales Director, Carahsoft (U.S.)

"To avoid unexpected and evolving security threats, the U.S. Government must prioritize proactive, comprehensive approaches to endpoint security even when workers are outside the protection of perimeter-based security. The new Lookout SASE solution addresses these needs, and we look forward to working with Lookout and our reseller partners to enable our joint Federal, State and Local Government customers to take advantage of these new tools."

David Fizer, Managing Senior Account Executive, Eurofins Cyber Security North America

"The Lookout product innovation is unmatched, and now, the educational and sales support opportunities presented to us through the new partner program will help us further support our customers' ever-changing and personalized requirements for best-in-class cybersecurity."

Ulrik Van Schepdael, CEO, Mobco (Benelux)

"Mobco is proud and honoured to be recognised as a Lookout Elite partner. We look forward to working even closer with Lookout to provide our customers with the highest standard of security platforms from the endpoint to the cloud. As we live in a connected world, we appreciate the technology ecosystem Lookout has established that allows us to simply integrate the solution into the digital workplace."

Enrique Lopez, Director Digital Mobility Services, Digital Dimension  an Econocom company (France)

"Digital Dimension (an Econocom company) is honoured to be recognised as one of the first Lookout Elite Channel Partners. We look forward to expanding our mobile security knowledge as part of the worldwide Lookout Elite community. We are excited to help our customers extend Zero Trust capabilities so that they are protected against app, device and network threats from endpoint to cloud."

Steve Whiter, Vice President, Appurity (U.K.)

"Delivering Lookout cybersecurity solutions that adhere to frameworks such as Cyber Essential Plus, together with our app assessments, can ensure a secure endpoint posture. As our customers move to cloud, visibility and security is critical for endpoints. We're proud to be a Lookout Elite Partner and we look forward to introducing the new Lookout integrated endpoint-to-cloud security solution to our customers."

John Olve Andersen, Director of Product Innovation, Techstep (Nordics)

"Techstep is partnering with Lookout across the Nordics to solve our customers' security challenges. We appreciate the company's continued product innovation and dedication to protect people no matter where they are or how they access content. We look forward to continuing our great partnership and participating in the new Lookout partner program."

Additional Resources:

To learn more, visit www.lookout.com .

. Sign up for a free trial of Lookout .

of . Follow the Lookout blog and join the conversation on LinkedIn and Twitter .

and join the conversation on and . Subscribe to the Lookout Endpoint Enigma podcast.

About Lookout

Lookout is a leading cybersecurity company. Our mission is to secure and empower our digital future in a privacy-focused world where mobility and cloud are essential to all we do for work and play. We enable consumers and employees to protect their data, and to securely stay connected without violating their privacy and trust. Lookout is trusted by millions of consumers, the largest enterprises and government agencies, and partners such as AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Microsoft, Google, and Apple. Headquartered in San Francisco, Lookout has offices in Amsterdam, Boston, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Washington, D.C. To learn more, visit www.lookout.com and follow Lookout on its blog , LinkedIn , and Twitter .

Contact Lookout PR: [email protected]

1 Gartner, Forecast Analysis: Gartner's Initial Secure Access Service Edge Forecast, 26 August 2020

SOURCE Lookout
Parkinsons disease diagnoses are dramatically on the rise in the U.S., and a neurologist who studies the degenerative condition says the increasing rates are the tip of a very, very large iceberg.

Dr. Ray Dorsey of the University of Rochester Medical Center told The Guardian newspaper that the number of Parkinsons disease patients likely will double over the next 25 years.

The cause of Parkinsons disease, which can impact a persons motor function and cognitive ability, is often impossible to nail down, in part because onset can occur decades after related environmental exposure. But one of the common triggers is suspected to be exposure to the carcinogen trichloroethylene, which is used in dry-cleaning processes, pesticides, household cleaning wipes and paint removers, among other products.

Pesticides have long been connected to [Parkinsons disease] incidence; however, it has become increasingly apparent that other industrial byproducts likely influence neurodegeneration, states a new peer-reviewed article in the journal Neurobiology of Disease. For example, organic solvents, which are used in chemical, machining, and dry-cleaning industries, are of growing concern, as decades of solvent use and their effluence into the environment has contaminated much of the worlds groundwater and soil.

Concerns about organic solvents such as trichloroethylene are not new -- a 2011 study found a six-fold increase in the risk of developing Parkinsons in individuals exposed in the workplace to trichloroethylene (TCE), The Guardian notes -- but the evidence keeps building.

Trichloroethylene is common in the water that Americans drink and bathe in, with studies indicating its present in at least 30% of the countrys groundwater. Using water filters can cut down the amount of the chemical compound people drink.

The advocacy and research organization Environmental Working Group has created an interactive map that shows trichloroethylene contamination in public-water systems across the country.

Trichloroethylene is also believed to play a role in many cancers as well as fetal cardiac defects.

About 220 million pounds of trichloroethylene are produced every year in the U.S., according to 2012 data from the Environmental Protection Agency. This is down from some 600 million pounds in 1970. Minnesota and New York have recently banned the chemical.

-- Douglas Perry

dperry@oregonian.com

@douglasmperry
The archaeology department was intimated about the finding and they will examine the ornaments to see if they hold any historical significance.  DC Image

WARANGAL: A copper vessel filled with gold and silver ornaments was found while clearing the land with earthmovers for developing plots in Pembarthy village of Jangaon district on Thursday.

Many locals gathered to see the treasure and some went ahead to perform puja and demand that a temple be built with the valuables that have been found.

Police and revenue officials reached the spot. Additional collector A. Bhaskar Rao and mandal revenue officer (MRO) P. Ravinder and ACP S Vinod Kumar weighed the ornaments in front of the villagers. The pot contained 187 grams of gold ornaments and 1.727 kg of silver ornaments and the copper vessel 1.2 kg. They shifted the metal vessel to the district collectorate.

District collector K. Nikhila said officials had cordoned off the 11 acres of land and deployed police personnel at the site.

We instructed the real estate company to stop work till further orders from revenue officials. We have intimated the archaeology department about the finding. They will examine the ornaments to see if they hold any historical significance," she said.

Meanwhile, an archaeology department team visited the spot and is trying to gather evidence of any historical significance of the find.

Pembarthy sarpanch Ambala Shankar Goud said that Hyderabad-based realtors purchased 11 acres of land from a farmer Narsimha two months back for a venture beside National Highway-163 between Hyderabad and Warangal.
Just when you thought AI cannot get any smarter, it finds just the perfect thing to prove you wrong, and now, it has brought Nirvanas legendary Kurt Cobain back to life in the form of a song.

Getty Images

Artificial intelligence has written a song based on the songs written by the legendary songwriter of Nirvana -- Kurt Cobain.



How did they manage to achieve this?

To help the AI make the most accurate song, they stripped songs of the artists completely and added one at a time.

Also Read: IIT Delhi Will Offer Artificial Intelligence Courses To Make India AI-Ready

Engineers added lyrics from Nirvanas catalogue into Googles AI program dubbed Magenta, which analysed the lyrics, looking for similar components, themes and developed an entirely new track. The song named Drowned in the Sun was later voiced by a human -- Eric Hogan who is the lead vocalist of an Atlanta-based Nirvana cover band dubbed Nevermind.

The song is one of the several that were released as a part of The Lost Tapes of the 27 Club -- an initiative by not for profit organization Over The Bridge that is working on highlighting the issue of mental health in the music industry.

Getty Images

The 27 Club comprises popular artists who died at the age of 27, like Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrisson, Jimmi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse and others.

Also Read: How Artificial Intelligence Can Help Us Fight Climate Change And Make The World Better

According to Sean OConnor, in a conversation with Rolling Stone, adding several songs at once would confuse the AI. Magenta, by Google, uses Alphabet's TensorFlow open-source deep-learning library. OConnor added, There's less of an identifiable common thread throughout all their songs to give you this big chunk of catalogue that the machine could just learn from and create something new.

Helping fight mental health problems in the music industry

According to the organisation, suicide attempts in the music industry are two times more common compared to any other industry. Approximately 71 percent of people in the industry suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, whereas 68 percent are fighting hard with depression.

Also Read: How Artificial Intelligence In Politics Can Prove To Be A Game Changer

With these AI creations Over The Bridge is hoping that it will encourage more people in the music industry to seek mental health support as they claim, even AI will never replace the real thing.

Listen to the soundtrack below:




Recently, 35-year-old hottie Irina shared a pandemic spin on the body suit and her foray into the old school world of ladies skivvies inspires this quick look at community news, pop culture and top headlines.



Kansas City First Responders Reveal More Options

KCFD creates team to help residents with onsite health care needs The Kansas City Fire Department said that nearly 80% of all calls to 911 involve a request for medical service. Authorities said that many of those do not require an ambulance or a trip to the hospital. That is why the department has started a new Community Medical Response Team to provide health care and more when needed."We have about 10 so far (who) called us about 100 times last year," said Michael Latta, a Kansas City Fire Department division chief.

JoCo Rail Deal Revealed

Train collides with truck in Johnson County JOHNSON COUNTY, KS (KCTV) -- The driver of a pickup that got hit by a train early Thursday morning is fine, Johnson County authorities say. A pickup got stuck on train tracks near 175th Street in Johnson County, near Olathe, around 2 a.m. overnight, before the collision.

Referencing New Jobs

We're Hiring: Kansas City Public Library needs library assistants KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Public Library has at least 13 openings for library assistants. The positions are part time, scheduled for about 20 hours per week and pay roughly $13.00 per hour. And for those who love to help people but think a library might be too quiet of a place - think again.

COVID Fashion Forward

Irina Shayk bares it all in sexy see-through Mugler catsuit Irina Shayk is one hot mom. One week after joining Bella Hadid and Hunter Schafer on the runway for Mugler's Spring 2021 virtual fashion show, the model shared behind-the-scenes photos of one of her looks: a see-through catsuit with a built-in thong and back cutout.

Prez Biden Talks Guns Today

Biden to announce executive actions to curb gun violence President Biden is set to unveil his first attempts to curb gun violence on Thursday, announcing a set of modest moves designed to begin revamping federal gun policy by tweaking the government's definition of a firearm and more aggressively responding to urban gun violence.

Po-Po Speaks Out

How Derek Chauvin's trial is bringing down the blue wall During his lengthy testimony Monday, the chief of the Minneapolis Police Department minced no words in condemning the actions of Derek Chauvin, the former officer who is charged with murder in the death of George Floyd.

Democratic Party Resistance To Constitutional Change

Manchin: 'No circumstance in which I will vote to eliminate or weaken the filibuster' WASHINGTON - Sen. Joe Manchin reiterated his opposition to eliminating the filibuster on Wednesday, dimming hopes for changing the contentious rule. In an opinion piece published in Wednesday in The Washington Post, Manchin, D-W.V. cautioned against ousting the voting procedure to keep the majority party from bypassing minority opinion in enacting legislation.

THE WALL RETURNS?!?

Rep. Ilhan Omar rips Biden admin over reported plans to resume border wall construction Rep. Ilhan Omar ripped President Joe Biden for his administration's reported plans to resume construction on parts of the border wall. "It's shameful and unacceptable for @POTUS to continue the construction of Trump's xenophobic and racist wall," Omar tweeted Wednesday.

Celebs Share Bad Advice

Paris Hilton Teaming Up with Danielle Bregoli for Troubled Teen Campaign Paris Hilton is linking up with none other than Danielle Bregoli -- AKA Bhad Bhabie -- over an issue that's near and dear to both lately ... alleged abuse at troubled teen camps.

Show-Me Friend Indeed

Local woman helping others through Missouri's medical marijuana licensing process KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Missouri woman is working to make medical marijuana licenses more accessible for all people. Missouri voters legalized medical marijuana back in 2018. Since then, the state has issued hundreds of licenses to operate grow-houses, testing and manufacturing facilities, as well as dispensaries.

COVID Cash Provides Shelter

reStart receives $85,000 to assist with homelessness prevention KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City, Missouri, nonprofit received $85,000 to further its mission of preventing homelessness and assisting those experiencing homelessness. Healthy Blue presented the funds to reStart on Wednesday. Shamika Hogan, reStart's director of development, said in a news release that the need for emergency assistance and shelter "continues to increase" due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thursday Stays Soggy

Your Storm Track 5 Daily Forecast We are tracking a 60% chance for scattered showers off and on most of the day. Grab the rain gear and some warmer layers. Today will be the coolest day of the week with highs in the low 50s.

Billboard #1 in April 1981 Blondie - Rapture is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Pipeline

8 April 2021

Debuting as one of the most highly anticipated projects in the region, Alaia Belize will be the first-everMarriott International property in the country under the Autograph Collection brand opening May 2021.

In October 2020, Belize officially reopened Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) to international visitors for leisure travel. As of January 2021, Belize moved on to Phase 4 of its reopening plan with the full reopening of the overnight tourism sector and allowing visitors to move around the country freely.

Spanning over 20+ acres and the first in San Pedro Town to sit on more than 1,000 feet of beachfront access, Alaia Belize will be a 155-unit complex and operating as the first true four diamond resort on Ambergris Caye. The eco-luxury development will a barefoot luxury hotel, upholding the high-quality standards of Marriott International's Autograph Collection brand.

Autograph Collection Hotels advocates for the original, championing the individuality of each of its 200+ independent hotels located in the most desirable destinations across more than 30 countries and territories. Each hotel is a product of passion and a personal realization of its individual founder's vision, making each hotel singular and special: Exactly Like

Nothing Else. Hand-selected for their inherent craft and distinct perspectives on design and hospitality, Autograph Collection hotels offer rich immersive moments that leave a lasting imprint.

The complex will also feature 71 studios, two- and three-bedroom condominiums and eight oceanfront villas, with prices ranging from $399,000 to $1.3 million. With interiors by renowned Brazilian designer Debora Aguiar, the designer-ready hotel rooms will be curated to celebrate Belize's outdoor living and offering 1,200 square feet indoors and almost 900 square feet in open air, per unit. Featuring world-class amenities, guests and owners will have access to Belize's first-ever suspended rooftop pool and lounge with 360-degree views, piano bar, live art gallery, dive shop, full-service spa and endless dining and bar options. On the residential end, Alaia Belize is currently 78 percent sold out and receiving interest from buyers in the U.S. and Canada looking to purchase a vacation home on Ambergris Caye, a long-time haven for expats across the globe.

With exterior designs led by International Environments, the branded development is nearly completed and on track to open its doors in May 2021. The tropical oasis is 600 meters away from the world's second largest barrier reef and near Mayan Temples, lush jungles and the ultimate world-class destination - The Great Blue Hole.
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As the World continues with the race for globalisation and technology, with more and more products shifting from physical addresses to online shopping, Kenya has also been making huge strides in the march for cutting edge technology and business adeptness.

Kenya have been ranked severally as one of the highest ranking Country in Africa as far as Internet reach and online interaction is concerned.

We caught up with high-flying investor, hedge fund pioneer and bitcoin mogul Joe Kariuki to understand more on the new techie revolution in town.

Q: What is Round-Up in a nutshell?

Joe: Well, 51 Capital, the parent company of one of Kenyas premier bitcoin companies Pessacoin, has now launched a revolutionary idea called Round-Up geared towards online service and products delivery.

Q: So, its basically a delivery app?

Joe: Yes, Round-Up is a platform that intends to connect consumers and Round-Up accredited vendors to supply agricultural produce, foodstuffs and other products for human consumption, much like other apps dedicated to the delivery of products. But ours is much different and high-tech.

Q: How different is the app from other normal platforms?

Joe. Unlike other platforms, Round-Up will utilise cryptocurrency (Pessacoin) as the main mode of payment and all products on the platform will be priced based on Pessacoin tokens. You know, Drivers and riders have, over time, been exploited and misused, so, the platform will only act as a link between riders/drivers and the consumers and the drivers/riders will also be able to earn full delivery charges. Thats an idea that has yet to be tapped into.

Q: So, will you operate normally like other apps? Cashing in on delivery fees and all?

Joe : Absolutely NOT. Actually, to enhance delivery security, the platform will offer two-factor authentication whereby delivery will only be acknowledged when the customers have recieved their products. 51 Capital will absolutely not at any point charge commission from the delivery amount. Not at all.

Q: What else should clients be looking out for?

Joe: Actually, Round-Up will offer branding and packaging for all the goods ordered through the platform and all the goods will be checked to ascertain quality and top notch standard. Also, after inception, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays will be Student Days and all students will get 20% off on all our products when they do their shopping through the Round-Up application.

Q: So, must a customer have a Round-Up wallet to do business with you?

Joe: Actually no. And that is the best part about us. A customer can very easily do business with Round-Up even without them having to have a wallet with Round-Up or even being on our platform. Its easy, there are payment options, like card or MPESA. And if you wish to pay via MPESA, the cash will immediately be converted to Pessacoin tokens. Lets say you bought goods worth Ksh. 1000, during payments, our platform will simply do the conversion for you and the vendor, who must be on the Round-Up platform, will be paid around 10 Pessacoin tokens, and so on and so forth. So basically anyone can do business via Round-Up and pay in whichever mode of payment they wish.

Q: Wow, sounds revolutionary, anything more?

Joe: Yes, Yes. Round-Up actually also goes a step further  it offers you an opportunity to effectively track your daily expenses. All you need to do is just shop, take a picture of the receipt and store it in your BOXUP which is the ultimate wallet to store your Round-Up vouchers, coupons and rewards. Its like the normal loyalty cards, now, with this, you get to earn points as we keep track of your engagement with Round-Up. There are offers and freebies too that, with BOXUP, you can even forward them to friends who will easily pick it up without hassle. Of course, the more you shop with us, the fatter your BOXUP account and the more offers, freebies and discounts you get.

Jump on the Round-Up platform today and change the way youve always shopped. Its simple, effective, fast and safe.

A new wave has hit the market, time to ride with it.
Colombo, April 8 : Caroline Jurie, the 2019 winner of the Mrs. Sri Lanka who tried to seize the crown of this year's winner Pushpika De Silva leading to a brawl on stage, has been arrested over the incident, local media reported on Thursday.

Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana confirmed that along with Jurie, who is the current holder of the "Mrs World" title, former model Chula Padmendra was also arrested, the Daily Mirror newspaper reported.

Rohana said the police is currently recording statements from the arrested suspects.

The Daily Mirror report said that Jurie has refused to apologize to De Silva.

Meanwhile, De Silva has also refused to settle the matter without an apology.

The fiasco broke out on Sunday night after De Silva was named the winner of the pageant held in Colombo.

Moments later, Jurie seized De Silva's crown, claiming she could not be awarded the title because she was divorced, the BBC reported.

"There is a rule that prevents women who have already been married and are divorced, so I am taking steps to make the crown go to second place," Jurie told the audience.

She placed the crown on the runner-up, prompting a De Silva to walk off stage, a video of the incident showed.

The organisers have apologised to De Silva, who says she is separated, but not divorced. The title has also been returned to her.

In a Facebook post, she said she went to hospital to be treated for head injuries after the incident.
A mother-of-two has revealed how she feared she was going to die after her boyfriend headbutted, punched and choked her until she was unconscious while their children slept upstairs.

Carly Naylor, 30, from Litherland, Merseyside, was attacked after she returned home from a family party on March 8 last year.

Partner Ryan Thorp, 25, had not attended the party and was at home babysitting their two young children - now aged four and two.

But Ms Naylor said Thorp had started to send her aggressive text messages while she was out and she 'knew there was going to be trouble'.

She returned home and Thorp launched a 20-minute attack during which he headbutted, punched and bit her before choking her unconscious.

Thorp, who was arrested a few days later in Worcester, was sentenced to 13 months in prison for assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday.

He has also been made subject to a three-year restraining order.



Carly Naylor, 30, from Litherland, Merseyside, was attacked after she returned home from a family party on March 8 last year

Ms Naylor's partner Ryan Thorp, 25, headbutted, punched and choked her until she was unconscious while their children slept upstairs

Ms Naylor told the Liverpool Echo: 'I was at the party and it got to a bit later in the night and I got a few texts from him.

'He was like "when are you coming back" and I said "not just yet".

'His attitude changed then so straight away I knew there was going to be trouble.

'He was sending me messages saying "don't be f*****g taking the p**s" and things like that.

'When I got back, I put my key in the door and popped my head in the living room.

'He was still up sitting on the couch in the dark. This was 2.30 in the morning, even though I'd said in the messages for him to go to bed.

'When I came back downstairs I walked straight past him into the kitchen and then he said, "you fat f*****g b***h" and as I turned around he headbutted me.

'He headbutted me, punched me, bit me. I've got a scar on my arm from his bite.

'He hit me multiple times in the face, bear in mind I had two kids in their beds in the house at the time.'

Ms Naylor (pictured) said Thorp had started to send her aggressive text messages while she was out and she 'knew there was going to be trouble'

Ms Naylor described said the vicious attack went on for around twenty minutes culminating in Thorp choking her while she was on her hands and knees on the kitchen floor until she fell unconscious.

She continued: 'As I was coming to on the floor, I heard him in the living room in my bag.

'He must have stood on my iPhone because he came over and threw it at me and it was bent like a banana. All the screen was smashed. He said: "There you are, there's your phone."

'I think he must have panicked and didn't want me to call the police.

'I didn't run out for help or anything as I was so scared. I just wanted to wait until it was safe and he'd gone to work the following day.'

Ms Naylor said she was thankful her children did not wake up to see the violence and took them to her mother's house for safety the next day.

She arranged to have the locks in her home changed while Thorp was out at work and when he returned she demanded he pack his things and leave.

Ms Naylor then phoned the police to report what had happened and was taken to hospital when officers saw the extent of her injuries.

She added: 'Police sent an ambulance here and they asked me if I wanted to go to hospital. I said no just because I was worried about the children. I was also scared and embarrassed about it all.

'They suspected I had a fractured skull at the front of my head. I've still got a lump on it now from where I was headbutted.'

Thorp, who was arrested a few days later in Worcester, was sentenced to 13 months in prison for assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday.

He has also been made subject to a three-year restraining order.

Ms Naylor said: 'What was so upsetting was my daughter seeing me in that way.

'I had to wear sunglasses to pick her up from nursery, even though it was raining. People were staring at me, it was humiliating and horrible.'

Except for one other occasion, Ms Naylor said her now ex-partner's behaviour towards her had been verbally threatening more than physically threatening in the past.

She said he displayed an intense jealousy of her having friends and was controlling and manipulative but she never expected him to inflict such a brutal attack from which she still suffers psychologically.

She said: 'It's with me every day, every time I look in the mirror and the scars on my arm. Every time I walk in the kitchen. It's horrible, I think I'll have to move house at some point.

'When he was strangling me I was terrified and was thinking this is it, I'm going to die with two kids upstairs in bed. All I could think of was them.'

She continued: 'I'm trying to get on with my life but I've still got bad anxiety. But each day is a new day.

'I feel better that he's out of my life and he's not controlling me any more. I feel like I can breathe again, if that makes sense?

'I think people should speak out about these things - I've got nothing to feel ashamed of. It needs to be out there to protect other women from him.'
JACKSON, Mich., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CMS Energy announced today it will provide 2021 first quarter results along with a business and financial outlook at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, April 29, 2021.

A webcast of the presentation will be available on CMS Energy's website, cmsenergy.com. An audio replay will be available approximately three hours after the webcast and will be archived for 30 days on CMS Energy's website in the "Investor Relations" section.

CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is a Michigan-based company that has an electric and natural gas utility, Consumers Energy, as its primary business and owns and operates independent power generation businesses.

For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our website at cmsenergy.com. To sign up for email alert notifications, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website.

SOURCE CMS Energy

Related Links

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A man who beat his wife to death and then propped her body up on a sofa as her children opened their Christmas presents is facing 15 years to life in jail.

William Wallace, 39, of Anaheim, Southern California, was convicted Wednesday of second degree murder after he killed college student Za'Zell Preston, 26, in 2011.

Wallace, who had already served jail time for beating Preston, flew into a drunken rage after the couple arrived home from a Christmas Eve party at a neighbor's.

Preston tried to flee but Wallace dragged her back inside the apartment and continued his attack.

The following morning, he dragged her body into the living-room, propped her on the couch, placed sunglasses over her face and told her children: 'Mommy ruined Christmas, she got drunk and ruined Christmas.'

Wallace then instructed the children to open their presents while Preston was remained on the couch.

William Wallace, 39, of Anaheim, California is pictured above. He was convicted of second degree murder on Wednesday for the 2011 killing of Za'Zell Preston, 26

Wallace murdered the mother-of-three on Christmas Day 2011

Paramedics later arrived to find Preston's body slumped over on the sofa.

She left a seven-week-old son and two daughters from a previous relationship, who were then three and eight years old.

The couple had gone to a friend's party and a neighbor described hearing an argument later that night, Heather Brown, deputy district attorney for Orange County said at the trial.

Another neighbor said Wallace could be seen picking up what appeared to be a body by an apartment gate.

Wallace told one of Preston's relatives that 'we were drinking and during the argument I tossed her around a bit,' the prosecutor said.

Preston tried to flee but Wallace tracked her down and dragged her back to the apartment, the trial heard.

Investigators said they found blood stains throughout the home. There were also holes punched in the wall and a door was knocked off its hinges.

After Preston was found dead, Wallace is alleged to have told one of her relatives that he was 'on my way to the penitentiary.'

He also told relatives that he was defending himself from Preston.

Wallace claimed that it was Preston who had attacked him, bit him, and that she fell and hit her head while he was defending himself.

Wallace's attorney argued that Preston died from injuries after she drunkenly tripped and fell into a glass table, shattering it.

Preston and Wallace were together for three years during which he was jailed several times for beating her and violating a restraining order that she obtained against him

Wallace propped up Preston's body on a sofa, told their children she was drunk and had them open Christmas presents in front of her body

'Mr. Wallace is being accused of something that is not his fault,' Heather Moorhead told jurors.

'You will hear about a relationship that was full of arguing and yelling, but also a lot of love.'

Moorhead said that neighbors heard a woman believed to be Preston angrily yell at Wallace in an alleyway behind the apartment complex.

The attorney told the court that after Preston fell into the table, her older daughter removed glass from her mother's body and helped clean her wounds.

Moorhead claims that her client, Wallace, then moved Preston into a bathtub but that her head struck something else in the bathroom.

Wallace could face up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder.

Lorri Galloway, a longtime friend of Preston, who was also an Anaheim city council member, told The Orange County Register that Wallace regularly beat Preston during their three-year relationship.

Galloway, who ran a home for abused women and children, said she and others begged Preston to leave Wallace.

'This is the story of a girl who had access to resources, but she thought she could handle it,' Galloway said.

'These men are experts at apologizing. The women think they can change them.'

In 2008, Wallace was convicted of battery against a cohabitant. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, probation and was required to attend a batterers treatment program.

Soon afterward, Preston got a restraining order against Wallace, but relatives said that on several occasions he managed to convince her to forgive him.

Wallace was arrested at least two times for violating the restraining order. Nonetheless, Preston would visit him in jail.

At one point, when she was pregnant with Wallace's child, she visited him behind bars, where he told her that he had 'found Jesus.'

'He was going to live life as a man of faith,' Galloway said Preston told her.

'She believed it.'

On July 29, 2011, Preston posted on Facebook a picture of her and Wallace kissing under the caption, 'Lovebirds for life.'

Preston told her mother and grandmother that she intended to marry Wallace.

'We begged her not to marry this guy,' her mother, Saidell Preston, told OCR.

'I told her I had a bad feeling about her marrying him,' her grandmother, Sallie Baker, said.

In the summer of 2011, just months before her death, Wallace was released from jail. Preston allowed him to move into her apartment in Anaheim.

On July 29, 2011, she posted on Facebook a picture of her and Wallace kissing under the caption, 'Lovebirds for life.'

District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in the statement on Wednesday: 'A young mother finally losing her life after years of violence at the hands of her husband is a heart-wrenching tragedy.

'That heartbreak is only exacerbated by the fact that her children witnessed much of the violence and were forced to celebrate Christmas in the presence of their dead mother. That is not a Christmas memory any child should be forced to have.'
NORWALK, Conn., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Terex Corporation (NYSE: TEX) will host a conference call to review its first quarter 2021 financial results on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. John L. Garrison, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will lead the call.

The Company's financial results will be issued and available at https://investors.terex.com after the market close on Thursday, April 29, 2021.

Participants are encouraged to access the webcast 15 minutes prior to the starting time. The webcast will be available for replay at https://investors.terex.com

About Terex:

Terex Corporation is a global manufacturer of aerial work platforms and materials processing machinery. The Company designs, builds, and supports products used in construction, maintenance, manufacturing, energy, minerals and materials management applications. The Company's products are manufactured in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia and sold worldwide. The Company engages with customers through all stages of the product life cycle, from initial specification and financing to parts and service support.

Contact Information:

Terex Corporation

Randy Wilson

Director, Investor Relations

(203) 221-5415

[email protected]

SOURCE Terex Corporation

Related Links

https://www.terex.com/


Geneva (Switzerland)  A Sahrawi delegation headed by Sahrwai Minister delegate to Europe and UE, Ubbi Bucharaya along with POLISARIOs representative to to Switzerland, Omeima Mahamud held an extensive meeting on Tuesday with prominent officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at its headquarters in Geneva to discuss the situation in the Western Sahara, particularly in the territories under Moroccan occupation.

They briefed the ICRC on the latest's developments in Western Sahara mainly new circumstances resulting from the resumption of the war, which require the urgent intervention of this international organization, taking into account the escalation of the repression and the acts of reprisal of the Moroccan occupation authorities against the Sahrawi civilians.

The meeting also addressed the precarious conditions in which the Saharawi activist Sultana Sidbrahim Jaya finds herself in the city of Bojador, who continues to suffer daily acts of reprisal and mistreatment, as well as the situation of the Saharawi political prisoner of the Gdeim Izik Group, Mohamed Lamin Haddi, who is on the verge of death behind bars in the Tifelt 2 prison, in Morocco, far from his homeland, like his compatriots who are victims of permanent violations of International Humanitarian Law. SPS
The stabilization of the epidemiological situation and the increase of the vaccination capacity in April and May are "clear and safe prerequisites" to defeat the SARS-CoV-2 virus, says Prime Minister Florin Citu, on Thursday, recalling that he announced "Romania's return to normalcy" as of June 1.

The head of the Government sent a message on the Facebook page of the Executive, after the meeting with the representatives of the Council of Foreign Investors, agerpres.ro confirms.

"Whether we are talking about investors with Romanian or foreign capital, the private sector is a reliable partner in this joint effort to overcome the pandemic, by immunizing the population and complying with health protection measures. Stabilizing the epidemiological situation and increasing vaccination capacity in April and May are clear and certain prerequisites for gradually defeating this virus," the Prime Minister wrote on the social platform.

He added that representatives of HORECA, foreign investors who have business projects in Romania "have come up with proposals and want to participate in the consultations that will take place in the Interministerial Committee whose task is to prepare Romania's return to normalcy starting with 1 June 2021."

"It is a milestone that we look forward to with confidence and prepare with great responsibility. It is vital to protect people's health, it is essential to maintain a healthy economy," Citu underscored.

In this context, the PM said that the fiscal regime will be maintained and "categorically" there will be no increases in taxes or duties. "These are objectives assumed by the Government and expected by the business environment," Citu added.
Bach Mai Hospital decided against introducing new fees after a rebuke from the MoH

Taking over 60 minutes to transport her father from the northern province of Thai Binh to Bach Mai Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in Vietnam, in early March to test for epithelial cancer, Hang Pham stressed when hearing about possible increases in hospital fees there.

I was worried when relatives of other patients told me that the hospital was going to increase some customised examination and treatment service fees from early April. My family is not rich enough to afford the increase, she told VIR in tears. If my father has cancer, my family would face financial pressure.

Bach Mai in March issued Document No.454/BVBM-TCKT announcing an increase in health service fees from April. Customised examination and treatment service fees were planned to be raised depending on academic title and diploma of doctors. For example, if a patient wants to be examined by a professor doctor, they must pay VND550,000 ($24) per time, up from the current VND200,000 ($8.70). Similarly, the charges of customised sick-beds were also in the new price plan.

However, the hike almost immediately met with objection from the Ministry of Health (MoH), citing Resolution No.33/NQ-CP dated May 2019 on pilot autonomy of the four major hospitals under the MoH as saying that the framework of customised examination and treatment service fees are decided by the MoH with all necessary factors and reference from those at private-run and foreign-invested hospitals to be taken into account. And the state-owned groups are only able to change the fees within the framework.

Due to the serious developments of COVID-19, which negatively affected livelihoods, the ministry has not issued a circular adjusting the frame of customised examination and treatment service fees at state-owned hospitals, and is yet to make any reports to the National Steering Committee on Price Management about the adjustment in 2021, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son said in a document sent to Bach Mai Hospital on March 6.

The MoH has asked Bach Mai not to make any increases in examination and treatment service fees until the framework is enacted, he noted.

Bach Mais plan was an attempt to cover the difficulties it has faced during the pandemic. The hospital admitted that 2020 was a challenging year as it had to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak, while also implementing Decision No.268/QD-TTg from just over a year ago, approving the pilot hospital autonomy scheme of Bach Mai in 2020-2021, as well as Mays Resolution 33.

The other hospitals in the pilot autonomy scheme are Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital, Central Oncology Hospital in Hanoi (K Hospital), and Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. They received investment from the state budget in the past, but they now no longer receive this funding and must manage their own budget collection and spending once granted autonomy.

Like Bach Mai, the majority of hospitals also faced difficulties as the global pandemic kept people at home, resulting in a strong fall in the number of visiting patients.

Do Thu Ha, head of Finance and Accountancy at Vietnam-Germany Hospital told VIR, COVID-19 led to an on-year drop of 3 per cent in revenue. Moreover, it cost the hospital much in pandemic prevention, thus increasing its costs by over 2 per cent. As a result, the hospitals overall performance fell 18 per cent from 2019.

Similarly, 2020 was also not a rosy year for Hanoi Medical University Hospital (HMUH), which already enjoys self-control of revenues and expenditure. Deputy director Nguyen Thanh Binh said, The hospital saw an on-year decrease of 1 per cent in revenue. Before the pandemic, it received about 3,000-3,500 patients a day. However, during March, April, and July of last year, the figure fell to fewer than 1,000.

Following the case at Bach Mai, hospitals including Vietnam-Germany Hospital and HMUH said that they have yet to formulate plans to increase hospital fees for 2021.

Autonomy aims to enable the hospitals to optimise the use of resources and improve their capacity and quality of services to ensure public healthcare, while maintaining and developing advanced techniques, not only to serve local patients but foreign patients as well.

But while some have succeeded, many other hospitals are still struggling to achieve such autonomy.

HMUH leader Binh admitted, It is a challenge to harmonise between improvement of service quality and keeping the fees unchanged but we did already achieve this. We have continued practicing cost saving and have tried to keep the hospital fees unchanged for nearly 10 years, while continuing to win peoples confidence, thus increasing the number of visiting patients.

Structural reforms in the governance of hospitals and performance of hospital autonomy were first introduced in developed countries in Europe and the North America. It has since been initiated in public hospitals of developing countries such as Ghana, India, Indonesia, and Kenya over the past few decades.

Hospital autonomy reforms have been promoted by the World Bank in the majority of developing countries  however, successful implementation of reforms in developed countries has not always ensured success in developing countries, mainly due to the vast differences in economic conditions and health systems.

Global studies have found that developing countries also face challenges in implementing hospital autonomy reforms due to lack of infrastructure, weaknesses in accountability mechanisms, unintended consequences and perverse incentives, lack of proper planning for implementation, limited decision rights, and more.
Olive ridley turtles hatch at Mai Khao, first in 20 years

PHUKET: Eight hatchlings from the first olive ridley turtle nest known to be laid on Mai Khao Beach in 20 years have hatched and been released to the sea.

marineanimalsenvironmentnatural-resources

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 8 April 2021, 05:04PM

The nest, found on Feb 19, contained 131 eggs intact and one egg that had already cracked open. The nest was too close to the water, so officers moved the eggs to be so they could be protected and remain undisturbed to hatch naturally

Prarop Plangngarn, Chief of Phuket Marine National Park Operation Center 2, reported that last night (Apr 7) officers monitoring the nest saw the sand above the nest sink a little, indicating that the eggs were about to hatch.

After 47 days of waiting, the first baby turtle climbed up from the nest at about 11pm [last night]. Then officers uncovered the nest to help the other hatchlings, Mr Prarop said.

At 1am, seven more baby turtles climbed up, but their shells were not completely closed. They were taken into care in a fenced area to wait for their shells to form properly.

At about 5:30am, the turtles shells were closed. they were healthy and released to the sea, Mr Prarop said.

I believe that because we have had a lot of rain, the conditions under the sand were not ideal for the turtles to hatch. More baby turtles will climb up tonight, he said.

Haritchai Rittichuay, Chief of the Khao Lampi  Hat Thai Mueang National Park, also reported that a total of 60 baby leatherback turtles hatched on Thai Mueang Beach and made their way to the sea yesterday (Apr 7).

The first one climbed up at about 1am and the last one surfaced at 6am. They were all strong and released to the sea, Mr Haritchai said.
Baz Luhrmann has shared a heartbreaking tribute to Romeo + Juliet actor Quindon Tarver following his shock death aged 38.

The Australian director, 58, shared unseen footage to Instagram of Tarver rehearsing his cover of Rozalla's Everybody's Free on the set of the 1996 film on Wednesday.

'A beautiful soul has passed, my thoughts are with Quindon Tarver's family and loved ones,' he wrote.

'A beautiful soul has passed': Baz Luhrmann (pictured) has shared a heartbreaking tribute to Romeo + Juliet choirboy Quindon Tarver following his shock death aged 38

Tarver, whose rendition of Everybody's Free and When Doves Cry captured the hearts of millions in the 1996 film, died in a car crash in Texas last week. He was 38.

Tarver's family confirmed to The Daily Beast that he was in an accident early Friday morning in Dallas.

'He had an accidentall we know is he had a wreck, crashed into a wall somewhere on George Bush [Turnpike],' Tarver's uncle, Willie, said.

No other information was immediately available.

Tribute: The Australian director, 58, shared unseen footage to Instagram of Tarver (pictured) rehearsing his cover of Rozalla's Everybody's Free on the set of the 1996 film on Wednesday

Tarver played a choirboy in Baz Luhrmann's remake of Shakespeare classic, Romeo + Juliet, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo.

Back in 1995, Tarver had been signed to Virgin Records and was recording a debut album when he received a call from a music supervisor he had met on a previous audition.

'They needed a kid to sing that part in the movie, and she remembered me, and her people reached out to my people, and I went and auditioned, and I got the part,' Tarver recalled in a 2016 interview with Cosmopolitan.

Tarver was just 12 at the time, and totally wowed them with a rendition of Whitney Houston's His Eye Is on the Sparrow.

Tarver was flown to Mexico City for the filming in a grand cathedral, where he was perched in the front of a choir on a balcony and took the lead on the song.

Tragic: Tarver (pictured),whose rendition of Everybody's Free and When Doves Cry captured the hearts of millions in the 1996 film Romeo + Juliet, died in a car crash in Texas last week

His music career stalled after he spoke publicly about being sexually abused by an industry figure.

Tarver, who was vocal about being abused in the music industry, shared in a December 2020 Instagram post: 'I thought it was real between us all.... it was all apart of a motive & agenda! Young artists breaking into the industry be aware of wolves in sheeps clothing!!'

According to the Daily Beast, Tarver also struggled with addiction for some time before trying to make a comeback.

Tarver released the song Stand Our Ground a year after his first cousin Darius Tarver was shot dead by police officers on January 21, 2020.
Black Press Week Shows Power of African American Newspapers

The National Newspaper Publishers Association Fund (NNPAF) first virtual Black Press Week presentation proved an excellent elixir for those seeking valuable information as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

With the theme, Black Business Challenges Responsibilities and Opportunities Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic, Black Press publishers, readers, viewers, sponsors, partners, and anyone else tuning in were enlightened about overcoming adversities on many levels.

We will have informative workshops, promised Pluria Marshall Jr., the NNPAF Chair and CEO of Marshall Broadcasting Group.

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Marshall and his colleagues delivered.

In the opening workshop titled, Business, Politics and Public Policy: Implications for Black-owned Businesses and the Black Press, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Congressman Dwight Evans (D-Penn.) declared the value of small businesses and members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).

Small businesses, particularly Black-owned, are the backbone of the economy, Evans declared.

The American Rescue Plan recognizes that and makes grants and loans available to small businesses, including the Black Press, and that is a major step. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have shown the kind of leadership and understanding the needs of getting this economy back  if not better.

Clyburn admonished viewers about the value of COVID vaccines in the African American community.

Protect your children and your grandchildren, protect those who you come in contact with, he stated in discussion with Real Times Media President and CEO Hiram Jackson.

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He noted that some would experience side effects of some sort, but each of the three vaccines offers a 95 percent rate of effectiveness.

If you have a 95 percent chance  I would play the lottery every day if I had a 95 percent chance of winning, exclaimed Clyburn, who received the NNPAFs Newsmaker of the Year Award.

The family of George Floyd also appeared to accept a special NNPAF award.

I want to thank the NNPAF and all the publishers of the Black Press for helping people across the nation and the world to keep the spirit and legacy of George Floyd alive, said Philonise Floyd, who was flanked by a younger brother, Rodney, and nephew Brandon Williams.

Black Press Week partners included General Motors, Pfizer Rare Disease, RAI Services Company, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Sponsors included Wells Fargo, AARP, the American Petroleum Institute, Zillow, the U.S. Census, and the Facebook Journalism Project.

A Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-sponsored education forum included John B. King, the former U.S. Education Secretary, and current president and CEO of the Education Trust.

The education gap has widened during the pandemic, which already disproportionately has affected communities of color, King uttered during a conversation about education equity with NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.

Education saves lives. If not for the phenomenal New York City school teachers who gave me hope and purpose, I would be dead or in jail, King declared.

Darrell Green, the SVP of Southeast Small Business Development for Wells Fargo Bank, provided insights that could help businesses overcome challenges during and after the pandemic.

Atlanta Voice publisher Janis Ware hosted an Alternative Funding for Black Press Publishers forum with Lea Trusty, Lasharah S. Bunting, and Vincent Stehl.

The NNPAF also paid tribute to one of the legends of the Black Press  celebrating the legacy of and inducting the late Carter Walter Wesley into the Black Press Archives and Gallery of Distinguished Black Publishers.

The Archives and Gallery are housed at the Moreland Spingarn Research Center at Howard University.

We acknowledge and salute the historic contributions to the Black Press of America by Carter Walter Wesley, Marshall, the NNPAF Chair, exclaimed during the virtual ceremony.

We will always hold dear in our hearts not only our memories of the outstanding contributions of Carter Walter Wesley. We also know that today, it is important to remain vigilant and committed to his example of leadership and courage to be the trusted voice of Black America, Marshall proclaimed.

We are honored to install Carter Walter Wesley into the Black Press Archives and Gallery of Distinguished Black Publishers.

Wesley, who pushed for voting rights and weighed a campaign against systemic racism, married Dorris Wooten, and the couple reared three children.

Wesley died in 1969 at the age of 87.

Thank you for honoring my father, the publisher of the Houston Informer and Dallas Express, Kathy Wesley Ennix, Wesleys daughter, stated during her fathers virtual enshrinement ceremony on Friday, March 19.

The ceremony included a touching video about Wesleys inspiring life and career.

My dad was a man of integrity and character. He fought for what he believed. Not only was he a businessman, but he was also a loving and caring dad.
- Battery-powered surgical drills highly sought-after instrument for surgeons, North America and Asia Pacific lucrative markets

- Strides made by medical tourism propels demand in surgical drills market, rapid uptake in orthopedics presents value-grab opportunities for players

ALBANY, N.Y., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Surgical drills have become an important surgical tool in various boring procedures widely in orthopedic, neurosurgery, ENT, and dental. In particular, orthopedic surgeries have seen rapidly rising use of various technologies in surgical drills over the past few years. The adoption has risen on the back of growing number of surgeries that need orthopedic implants. Over the past few years, a few striking advancements in relation to design and power options for operating surgical drills have contributed to revenue prospects for manufacturers and vendors in the surgical drills market. The products have emerged in durability and maintenance.

The global valuation of the surgical drills market is projected to reach US $ 622.0 Mn by 2026, representing, representing CAGR of 4.7% during 2018-2026.

Request for Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Surgical Drills Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/covid19.php

Battery-powered surgical drills have gathered remarkable traction in recent years, more notably in orthopedics.

Key Findings of Surgical Drills Market Study

Cost-effective and Low-maintenance Devices Gain Attention

The surgical drills market is witnessing a rapidly increasing array of technologically improved instruments. Battery-powered surgical drills have gathered wide traction among surgeons to improve the final outcomes in orthopedics and neurology. Further, medical device manufacturers are keen on offering new features than keep pace with the changing techniques used by surgeons in all medical specialties, thereby boosting the market. Instrumentation for spine surgeries are a glaring example that has witnessed some remarkable advances. The demand for surgical drills for the closure of cranial implants is a key trend.

Request Brochure of Surgical Drills Market Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/brochure.php

Proliferating Demand for Surgeries to Manage Chronic Diseases Boosts Market

The prevalence of chronic diseases, and their alarming burden in developing and developed nations, is one of the key aspects in propelling the number of patients undergoing surgeries. The burden of obesity is a case in point. Also, orthopedic disorders in elderly are becoming more prevalent than ever. A great deal of the trend is due to the change in lifestyle. Coupled with access to quality healthcare care in developing regions of the world has bolstered the business proposition of surgical drills in populations.

Purchase the Surgical Drills Market Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php

Orthopedics Surgeries See Vast Uptake

Growing number of patients who need implants in dentistry is a key trend in the surgical drills market. The demand has expanded on the back of strides being made in health care and radiology. The morbidity and burden of osteoporosis has also grown in various developing and emerging economies over the recent years. This also is driving the uptake of advanced surgical drills in orthopedics. Growing population suffering with fractures in developed regions are also promising trend for players in the surgical drills market. Surgeons in these markets are rapidly adopting technologically advanced surgical drills to improve their workflow and reduce intraoperative complications in their patients. These technological advancements relate to surgical positioning of the hand device and navigation features. Expanding understanding of traumatology and advances in electronics are also boosting technological advancements.

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Surgical Drills Market: Key Driving Factors and Avenues

Growing spending on healthcare expenditure is a key trend.

Rise in adoption of advanced instruments for improving surgical outcomes boosting sales in the surgical drills market.

Rise in medical tourism is a key trend in the surgical drills market.

Surgical Drills Market: Key Participants

Companies with prominent presence in several geographies include

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

Stryker Corporation

B.Braun Melsungen AG.

AlloTech Co. Ltd.

CONMED Corporation

De Soutter Medical

DePuy Synthes

Medtronic plc

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Healthcare Industry:

Surgical Kits Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/surgical-kits-market.html

Surgical Masks Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/surgical-mask-market.html

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President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has visited the volatile eastern part of the country as rising tensions with Russia over the conflict moved closer to the boiling point.

Zelenskiy's "working trip" on April 8 saw the president meet with Ukrainian servicemen serving on the front lines separating them from Russia-backed fighters and comes after a recent accumulation of photographs, video, and other data suggesting major movements of Russian armed units toward or near Ukraine's borders and into Crimea.

As Zelenskiy toured the area, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged President Vladimir Putin in a phone call to reduce Russia's troop buildup near Ukraine, while Putin in turn accused Kyiv of "provocative actions."

Meanwhile, the White House said it was "increasingly concerned by recent escalating Russian aggressions in eastern Ukraine, including Russian troop movements on Ukraine's border."

"Russia now has more troops on the border with Ukraine than at any time since 2014," when the conflict started, spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. "Five Ukrainian soldiers have been killed this week alone. These are all deeply concerning signs."

In Moscow, the deputy head of Russia's presidential administration, Dmitry Kozak, took the situation a step further, warning that major military hostilities could mark "the beginning of the end of Ukraine."

Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014, sending in troops and staging a referendum denounced as illegitimate by at least 100 countries after Moscow-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted amid a wave of public protests.



Since then, overwhelming evidence suggests Russia has continued to lend diplomatic and military aid to armed separatists fighting in the eastern Ukrainian region known as the Donbas.

Despite multiple cease-fire agreements, the violence has never really ended with more than 13,000 people killed since April 2014, according to the United Nations, and more than 1 million displaced.

Images released by Zelenskiy's office showed the 43-year-old president in the trenches clad in a helmet and bulletproof vest, handing out awards to soldiers and shaking their hands.

Zelenskiy visited positions where "the largest number of violations" hadtaken place, thanking the soldiers "for defending our land," his office said.

Moscow has called the recent troop movements defensive and says it has no plans to intervene in the conflict, which has seen both sides blame each other for recent violations of a cease-fire agreement.

But when asked whether Moscow would protect Russian citizens in eastern Ukraine, Kozak said on April 8, "It all depends on the scale of the fire."

Western countries have called for restraint after Ukraine raised the alarm over the buildup of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border with Russia. Violence has risen along the line of contact between government forces and separatists in Ukraine's east.

The West is already dealing with the Kremlin on several different fronts, including the poisoning and jailing of opposition figure Aleksei Navalny, Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, and other thorny issues, including Crimea.

Merkel's call on April 8 for a "reduction of these troops reinforcements to de-escalate tensions" came two days after NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on Zelenskiy "to express serious concern about Russia's military activities in and around Ukraine and ongoing cease-fire violations."

Zelenskiy reportedly told Stoltenberg that a path toward NATO membership was the only way to end war in eastern Ukraine.

He also urged NATO member states to strengthen their military presence in the Black Sea region as a "powerful deterrent" to Moscow.

With reporting by Reuters, TASS, Interfax, and AFP
President Joe Biden speaks in Pittsburgh on March 31, 2021, as he unveils his $2 trillion infrastructure plan. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Calls for Global Minimium Tax Rate to Target US Companies in Tax Havens

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he will push for the adoption of a global minimum corporate tax rate to reduce opportunities for tax-rate arbitrage by American corporations that reduce their U.S. tax burden by shifting profits to low-rate tax havens.

Ive also proposed a global minimum tax, which is being proposed around the world for U.S. corporations, of 21 percent, Biden said at a White House press briefing.

It means that companies arent going to be able to hide their income in places like the Cayman Islands and Bermuda, in tax havens, the president added.

It comes after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Monday urged the adoption of such a tax, which would rely on negotiating a 21 percent global minimum corporate tax rate with major economies.

Citing a 30-year race to the bottom in which countries have slashed corporate tax rates in an effort to attract multinational businesses, Yellen said the Biden administration would work with other advanced economies in the Group of 20 (G-20) to set a minimum.

It is important to work with other countries to end the pressures of tax competition and corporate tax base erosion, Yellen said.

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) said that Yellens proposal of a global minimum corporate tax rate was unlikely to make much progress overseas. He also said Republicans should reverse any corporate tax hike if they regain a congressional majority in upcoming elections.

Spoiler alert: This effort will likely fail and even if there is some sort of agreement, it will be non-binding because it is not a treaty, Toomey said.

Biden faces stiff opposition from Republicans, major corporations, and even some in his own Democratic Party to elements of his tax proposal.

While negotiations on an international deal on minimum corporate tax rates have run on for years, the drive gathered steam on April 7 after G-20 finance chiefs met virtually on Wednesday and pledged to reach a consensus on new rules by mid-year as part of a broader overhaul of the way international businesses are taxed.

The Biden administration is seeking international cooperation on the global corporate minimum tax rate in an effort to at least partially offset any disadvantages that might arise from the administrations proposal to raise the U.S. corporate tax rate to 28 percent. The move is seen as a key to funding the Biden administrations $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal.

On Monday, Biden said he is not at all concerned that a higher corporate tax rate would cause some U.S. companies to relocate overseas, though the proposed global minimum corporate tax is intended to prevent that from happening.

Biden has sharply criticized large companies for paying not a penny in corporate income taxes in recent years. Dozens of big American corporations use complex tax strategies to reduce their federal tax liabilities to zero.

Tax planning is always going to be present as long as there are differences in tax laws across different countries, said Kyle Pomerleau, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told Bloomberg. Companies are going to take advantage of that.

In a separate but related move, Bidens proposed Made in America tax plan would modify international tax provisions under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) version of a global minimum tax, the 10.5 percent Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income tax (GILTI), by raising that rate to 21 percent and applying it on a country-by-country basis.

With a view to stopping the shift of profits to tax havens, the plan would also replace a separate 10 percent minimum tax, called the Foreign Derived Intangible Income (FDII) regime, with a new system, also at 21 percent.

The plan would also repeal the Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) and replace it with a new framework called SHIELD (Stopping Harmful Inversions and Ending Low-tax Developments), in a further bid to counter the profit shifting of foreign-headquartered multinational companies.

All told, the proposals to amend or repeal the international tax regimes that impact American corporations with a global scope of operations would bring well over $2 trillion in profits over the next decade back into the U.S. corporate tax base, according to a Treasury report (pdf) released Wednesday.

While President Donald Trumps 2017 tax overhaul did have measures to increase the U.S. tax take from companies overseas operations, Bidens plan takes a tougher approach.

This is aiming to prevent gaming the system entirely, said Matthew Gardner, a senior fellow at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, in remarks to Bloomberg. The party does seem like its over.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Shirtless Zayn swears during a VERY tense stand-off with reveller in the street in NYC

Shock footage shows the singer, 28, become visibly enraged and start swearing at the unidentified man outside Amsterdam Billiards Club in East Village.
Following eight successful shows in Hanoi at the end of 2020 and in early 2021, the Vietnam Opera and Dance Theater will apply visual art technology, bringing the show to an even higher performance level with the participation of hundreds of live actors and orchestras throughout the show.

As planned, Les Miserables will start its tour with three nights at the Hanoi Opera House (April 16-18). Following this, the musical will go to Buon Ma Thuot city (Dak Lak province) for the National Dance and Music Festival 2021. This is also considered an opportunity to bring the classic work to people in remote areas. After that, French Writer Victor Hugos classic work will be staged for three nights in Ho Chi Minh City.

During these challenging times with the COVID-19 pandemic, VNOB artists have taken inspiration from Victor Hugos masterpiece to bring Vietnamese audiences the beloved musical with the hope that music and the magic of the stage will unite people to once again stand in solidarity, love, and in the hope for a better future.

The piece will be delivered in English with Vietnamese subtitles featured on the screen.
[April 08, 2021] Shift4 Payments: One Year Later, Data Shows Accelerating Recovery as Transaction Volume Grows

Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR), the leader in integrated payment processing solutions, recently marked the one-year anniversary of its launch of Shift4Cares.com, a website that the company created to raise funds and increase awareness for U.S. merchants facing the economic brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its launch, the site has served as a resource for news outlets, businesses, and government agencies, providing valuable transaction volume data to assess the ongoing economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the data on Shift4Cares.com has revealed, merchants in the hospitality sector experienced a severe decline one year ago at the pandemic's start, with restaurant and hotel transactions plummeting nearly 75% during March of 2020. The data has shown transaction volume recovered somewhat steadily from May through October of 2020 but experienced declines throughout the holiday months of November and December 2020 as cases spread and increased restrictions were put in place. Since January 2021 there has been an accelerated recovery in transaction volumes with March 2021 representing a 215% increase from the pandemic "trough" level in April 2020. This ecent surge in transactions, along with many new merchants joining the platform, drove a record-breaking month and quarter for Shift4 in terms of end-to-end payment volume. March end-to-end volume was $3.3B in 2021, up 40% from February 2021 and 82% from the prior year. This is especially notable when considering that many states are still operating with significant capacity restrictions in place for businesses.



In looking at regional details, it is clear that spring break travel is playing a significant role in transaction recovery. Five of the top ten cities for transaction volumes in March were in Florida, and Las Vegas entered the top ten for the first time since the pandemic started. Hotel transaction volume was the fastest growing industry category, although hotel transaction volume remains ~20% below pre-pandemic levels. "We are very pleased to see the early signs of a recovery within the merchants we serve," said Jared Isaacman, CEO of Shift4 Payments. "While there remains much progress to be made, there is also genuine reason for optimism. As the hospitality sector continues to improve and as vaccinations become even more readily available, we look forward to the spring and summer months when Shift4's contactless ordering and payment solutions can also help drive our return to stadiums and concert venues. Whether it's a restaurant kitchen that is bustling with life again or a concession stand that is gearing up for the return of fans, these demanding commerce environments can continue to benefit from Shift4's technologies."

About Shift4 Payments Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR) is a leading provider of integrated payment processing and technology solutions, delivering a complete omnichannel ecosystem that extends beyond payments to include a wide range of commerce-enabling services. The company's technologies help power over 350 software providers in numerous industries, including hospitality, retail, F&B, eCommerce, lodging, gaming, and many more. With over 7,000 sales partners, the company securely processed more than $200 billion in payments volume for over 200,000 businesses in 2019. For more information, visit shift4.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005487/en/

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Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, and Dubai Municipality have announced a partnership to redesign public parks across the emirate to make them more engaging to visitors as creative, social and natural spaces.

The joint project falls within the framework of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan launched by Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum that lays out a comprehensive future map for sustainable urban development with the aim of making Dubai the worlds best city to live.

Aligned with the UAEs vision for the next 50 years, the masterplan creates a development roadmap centred on enhancing the happiness and quality of life of citizens, residents and visitors.

Brand Dubai and Dubai Municipality will work closely with each other initially to develop a comprehensive conceptual framework and implementation plan for redesigning public parks to meet the current and future needs of the communities surrounding them.

The duo will also work to actively involve the community and creative talent in the redevelopment of the parks.

The joint park redesign project is aimed at promoting sustainable land use and enhance community well-being and happiness, both key aims of the 2040 Master Plan, said a top official.

Under the masterplan, green and recreational spaces and areas dedicated to public parks in Dubai are set to double in size to serve the projected growth in the number of residents and visitors," stated Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality.

"Through the partnership with Brand Dubai, we will develop and implement new public park designs that promote a deeper harmony between urban facilities and nature," he noted.

"Aligned with the 2040 Urban Master Plan, the joint project also supports Dubai Municipalitys goal of constantly enhancing its parks and community facilities to ensure they meet the requirements of visitors from all segments of society," added Al Hajri.

Mona Al Marri, Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office, said: "Public parks are central to the life of communities across Dubai and our collaborative redesign project will serve as a catalyst for revitalising major neighborhoods, which in turn will enhance peoples wellbeing and their sense of connection with their society and natural environment."

"Partnering with the municipality on this project is consistent with Brand Dubais objective of leading and contributing to initiatives to enhance Dubais ambience, create truly inclusive spaces and develop creatively inspiring urban environments," she added.-TradeArabia News Service
Liberia fishermen complain about the quality of new fishing nets

by Willie N. Tokpah

April 08,2021 | Source: FPA

Local fishermen in Liberia have criticized recent move by the National Fisheries and Aqua Culture Authority (NaFAA) to change their fishing nets.



The fishermen who spoke with FrontPageAfrica over the weekend said the fishing net intended to be distributed by NaFAA is not durable compared to the ones being used by them and will cost them serious losses.



They said, the decision to change their fishing nets is good, but it must be done with durable nets.



NaFAA recently disclosed the arrival of a huge consignment of internationally recommended threat free fishing net, expected to be distributed among fisher men who have met all tax compliance.



The arrival of the nets according to NaFAA, is a part of the World Bank sponsored project for Sustainable Management of Fishery Resources.



NaFAA said, the net exchange program will begin with Montserrado County, followed by other counties.



Acdordingly, the first set of beneficiaries will be fishermen at Banjor, Popo Beach, West Point and the King Gray fishing sites.



This means all fishermen using the rubber nets or the monofilament nets will be required to turn over all their rubber nets to NaFAA team during the free distribution to receive the thread nets or the multifilament nets, NaFAA said in a released.



NaFAA says after a successful net exchange program and consultation with fisher folks, it shall ban the usage of monofilament or rubber nets in Liberia.



At the same time, NaFAA states that only fishermen who have been paying their fishing license fees since 2019-2020 (past 2 years) will be qualified to receive the free nets.



This means, fishermen who have not paid their fishing license fees since 2018 will not receive the free fishing nets and they will no longer be allowed to use the rubber nets for fishing purposes.



The rubber nets are dangerous to the fishing environment and other aquatic resources. Meanwhile, the free nets distribution will shortly be followed by the free Yamaha motorized engines distributions to Kru canoes or paddling canoes operated by fishermen in Liberia, NaFAA added.



But the fishermen have argued that the nets being introduced are not of quality for effective fishing purpose and may cost them loses.



The fishermen also complained that recent taxes imposed on them by NaFAA are very high and could deprive them from reaching the tax compliance benchmark.



As a result, they stated that most of them may not be able to benefit from the distribution, eventhough they argued that the nets are not of quality.



At the same time two of the fishermen, Hilton Smythe, one of the fishermen in West Point said contrary to the net being free, the payment being requested is equivalent to paying for the net.



The net is not good and will not last long like the ones we have. The new net is made in a way that we will not be able to catch the enough fish, Smyth said.



However, NaFAA Deputy Director for Administration, Augustine M. Manoballah said the nets are of quality and it is intended to curb illegal fishing activities.



Mr. Manoballah is calling on all fishermen in the country to comply to the mandate of receiving fishing nets in the country.

 2021 - FrontPageAfrica. All Rights Reserved.

Theme(s): Others.
City of Mutare has resolved to provide serviced residential stands to home-seekers after ditching private land developers who according to the municipality have only worsened the housing situation.

City of Mutare is sitting on a waiting list of over to sixty thousand people.

Mutare housing director, Emma Mandiziba said the city is currently resolving legacy problems created by unscrupulous land barons in some settlements and will now focus on providing developed stands.

She said due to political interference some land barons issued and sold land illegally giving rise to unsanctioned settlements which council is working towards regularizing.

"Land developers had left citizens in inhabitable settlements without proper water, sanitation, roads and drainage services.

"We have realised with regret how private land developers have left most of the settlements without proper services like water, sanitation, roads and drainage systems thereby leaving citizens in flood prone areas,

"Council will not issue land to any land developers. Going forward, it is now the responsibility of the council to allocate land to its ratepayers," she said.

Mandiziba said while council has closed its doors to land developers, it was in the process of correcting the anomalies created by land barons.

Council is currently regularizing settlements such as Gimboki and Federation in Dangamvura high density areas which were created by private land developers who left settlers without putting in place water and sewer facilities.

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These areas to date have no proper road network and health facilities, while settlers buy water from surrounding communities others rely on unprotected sources such as wells and streams.

"With regards to settlements that are already affected, council also resolved to take up settlements which were mismanaged by land developers so that we can complete servicing of such areas," said Mandiziba.

United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust (UMRRT) coordinator Edson Dube said council must expedite the process of allocating stands to residents on the waiting list.

"Housing is still a challenge in Mutare. It is taking ages for people to be allocated stands. Land barons have taken advantage of the situation to fleece desperate home seekers," said Dube.

Recent floods which hit parts of the city affected houses constructed on wetlands and waterways, and central government has called for council to bring sanity, while councils must also relocate people in suitable areas.

Areas like Gimboki, where allocation of stands was haphazard were hit by the floods which also destroyed roads, precast walls and flooding in other suburbs Zimta, Dreamhouse, Pegasus, Greenside extension and Fairbridge Park.
A member of the medical staff draws serum from an AstraZeneca vaccine container at a vaccination center in Bucharest, Romania, April 7. AP



European and British medicine regulators said on Wednesday they had found possible links between AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine and reports of very rare cases of brain blood clots, in a setback for inoculation campaigns.



A British government advisory group said the vaccine should not be given to the under 30s where possible, though an official said this was "really out of the utmost caution, rather than because we have any serious safety concerns".



More than a dozen countries have suspended use of the vaccine, which has been given to tens of millions of people in Europe, after reports linking it to blood clotting in a few dozen recipients.



In its statement, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it was "reminding healthcare professionals and people receiving the vaccine to remain aware of the possibility of very rare cases of blood clots combined with low levels of blood platelets occurring within 2 weeks of vaccination".



"So far, most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within 2 weeks of vaccination," it added. "Based on the currently available evidence, specific risk factors have not been confirmed."



The EMA received reports of 169 cases of the rare brain blood clot by early April, after 34 million doses had been administered in the European Economic Area, according to Sabine Straus, chair of the EMA's safety committee.



In comparison, four women out of 10,000 would get a blood clot from taking oral contraception.



"We know that we are rolling out vaccines on a very large scale. We will see events occurring... Some of them by chance," Straus said.



EU health ministers were told in a letter from the EMA seen by Reuters that the announcement on the safety of the vaccine would have immediate implications for vaccination plans and require a coordinated response.





Signs show Korea has entered 4th wave of infections Korea to resume AstraZeneca jabs amid lingering safety woes PM orders full review of EMA's findings before resuming use of AstraZeneca vaccine Korea suspends AstraZeneca vaccination programs due to concerns over blood clots The chief executive of Britain's health regulator, June Raine, said the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the risks for the vast majority of people. She said those risks were more finely balanced for younger people - for whom the risks from coronavirus infection are, on average, lower.



Wei Shen Lim, COVID-19 Chair for Britain's advisory Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation, said it was preferable for adults under 30 with no underlying health conditions to be offered another vaccine.



Ministers to meet



The letter to the EU health ministers was sent by the Portuguese presidency of the EU on Tuesday to invite them to an extraordinary virtual meeting on Wednesday, to be held immediately after the decision by the EU drugs regulator.



The AstraZeneca vaccine is sold at cost, for a few dollars a dose, and is by far the cheapest and most high-volume launched so far, and has none of the extreme refrigeration requirements of some other COVID-19 vaccines.



After extensive use in Britain and mainland Europe, it is set to be the mainstay of vaccination programmes in much of the developing world.



Experts say that, even if a causal link between the vaccine and blood clots is proved, the risks to the general population of getting a serious clot are vanishingly small compared to the risks from possible COVID-19 infection, which can also cause similar clots, or from many other widely used drugs such as the birth control pill.



"The risk of mortality from COVID is much greater than the risk of mortality from these rare side-effects," EMA's executive director Emer Cooke said on Wednesday.



AstraZeneca has said previously its studies have found no higher risk of blood clots in those vaccinated than in the general population.



But the shot has faced questions since late last year, when the drugmaker and Oxford University published data from an earlier trial with two different efficacy readings as a result of a dosing error.



AstraZeneca last month published early results of its U.S. late-stage clinical trial showing the shot was 79% effective, but then had to scramble to release more data after a rare rebuke from U.S. health officials, who said the data was outdated.



Scientists are exploring several possibilities that might explain the rare brain blood clots. One theory suggests the vaccine triggers an unusual antibody in some rare cases; other investigators are looking into a possible link with birth control pills.



But many experts say there is no definitive evidence, and that it is not clear whether or why AstraZeneca's vaccine would cause a problem not shared by other vaccines that target a similar part of the coronavirus.




Longtime Houston wrestling promoter Paul Boesch was named a 2021 inductee into the Legacy Wing of the WWE's Hall of Fame, the company announced this week.

To generations of Houstonians, Boesch was a familiar sight on TV and at the Sam Houston Coliseum when wrestling matches were a fixture of live entertainment here.

Before moving to Houston, the Brooklyn native worked as a lifeguard in New York and wrestled around the world, developing his distinctive cauliflower ears along the way.

"It helps folks recognize me in crowds," he once said.

Boesch joined the Army in 1942 and over the next two years he was injured twice in combat and awarded two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, and the French Croix de Guerre. For years afterward, he would be identified as World War II's most decorated soldier-wrestler.

After the war, Boesch worked for Houston Wrestling's Morris Sigel and announced matches first on radio, then on television from the old City Auditorium.

Boesch felt his experience as a wrestler gave him unique insight when it came to describing wrestling holds to audiences.

"It feels like hell," he recalled.

After Sigel's death in 1966, Boesch purchased the business and operated it until the late 1980s. For years he was involved in numerous civic causes, including work for the Variety Boys Club, The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, the VA hospital and the Chronicle's Goodfellows program. He also published poems and a book on his experiences during the war.

The recognition by the WWE comes 34 years after Boesch arranged a deal to promote matches by the then-World Wrestling Federation. The arrangement was short-lived.

After Boesch's death in March 1989, the Chronicle Editorial Board called him a "distinctive Houston legend."

Other inductees for 2021 include wrestlers Dick the Bruiser, Ethel Johnson, Pez Whatley and Buzz Sawyer.
Ask people what theyd do if they could climb inside a time machine and head back to when they were young. Some would say theyd snap up all the Microsoft stock they could; others would ask out that girl they were always too chicken to approach.

Me? Id take pictures of people I knew just hanging out. Tons of them.

According to Marla Paul, writing on the Northwestern University website, Remember the telephone game where people take turns whispering a message into the ear of the next person in line? By the time the last person speaks it out loud, the message has radically changed. Its been altered with each retelling. Turns out memory is a lot like the telephone game, according to a Northwestern Medicine study. Every time you remember an event from the past, your brain networks change in ways that can alter the later recall of the event. Thus, the next time you remember it, you might recall not the original event but what you remembered the previous time. The Northwestern study is the first to show this.

Photos solve that problem.

We didnt take enough pictures back then. Cell phones with cameras didnt exist; film cameras only held 12 or 24 shots and it cost money to buy the film and then have it developed. Polaroids were even more expensive. Photo taking was left to parents, who werent around when some of the most memorable moments of our childhood took place - thankfully.

Id go back and take pictures of people. Id also have to invest in Microsoft so I could afford all the film and developing.

Heres a gallery of photos of folks hanging out New Jersey. If you have vintage photos youd like to see in our slide shows, send them in an email to greghatalagalleries@gmail.com.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) (the "Company") will release first quarter 2021 results before the market opens on Monday, May 10, 2021 by 7:00 a.m. and will host a conference call to discuss the results at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

The conference call number is 877-665-6356 (U.S. callers) and 270-215-9897 (International callers) and the access code for both is 3867564. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the events section of the Company's website (www.investor.clearchannel.com). The related earnings materials, including reconciliations of any non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures and any other applicable disclosures, will be available on the financial section of the Company's website after 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Approximately, two hours after the live conference call, a replay of the webcast will be available for a period of thirty days on the recent events section of the Company's website.

About Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) is one of the world's largest outdoor advertising companies with a diverse portfolio of approximately 500,000 print and digital displays in 31 countries across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia, reaching millions of people monthly. A growing digital platform includes nearly 17,000 digital displays in international markets and more than 2,000 digital displays (excluding airports), including more than 1,400 digital billboards, in the U.S.

Comprised of two business divisions  Clear Channel Outdoor Americas (CCOA), the U.S. and Caribbean business division, and Clear Channel International (CCI), covering markets in Europe, Latin America and Asia  CCO employs approximately 4,800 people globally. More information is available at investor.clearchannel.com, clearchanneloutdoor.com and clearchannelinternational.com.

SOURCE Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.
A new trend of letter-writing by accused in jails has started in Maharashtra which is a political conspiracy intended to defame and destabilize the Maha Vikas Agadhi government, Shiv Sena MP and Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut said here on Thursday.

In his first reaction after the 'letter-grenade' lobbed by arrested-suspended Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze levelling several allegations against the MVA ministers, Raut said that these efforts to dislodge the government are on since day one.

"The real faces of those who are trying to sabotage the state government are coming to the fore. A new trend has begun of people in jail writing letters which are used to hammer the government. There are many others in jail and a lot can be written from them also. This kind of dirty politics is unprecedented in the history of state and the country," Raut said.

In Sachin Vaze's letter, the names of former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Transport Minister Anil Parab and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar have cropped up.

"But who is taking these names. It (letter) is written in prison by a person who is jailed for the crime and is now being trumpeted as 'evidence'. This is nothing by a political conspiracy," Sanjay Raut added sharply.

He called upon the Opposition to clarify the antecedents of the person writing the letter, how saintly or notorious he is and whether the letter itself is genuine or not.

Defending Parab, the Shiv Sena MP said that he could never be involved in such activities and 'then take a false oath in the name of Balasaheb Thackeray'.

"It is unfortunate that the so-called National Investigation Agency (NIA) is laying the red carpet for the opposition to shake the MVA government. But their intentions will not succeed," Sanjay Raut warned.

The Sena MP's reactions came a day after a letter written on April 3 by Sachin Vaze to the Special NIA Judge came into the public domain in which he has made certain allegations of corruption against Deshmukh, Parab, Ajit Pawar as the tainted policeman was sent to NIA custody till April 9.
Two Southeast Texas community colleges are using federal funds to offer a discounted tuition deal for students this summer and next Fall.

Lamar State College Orange and Lamar State College Port Arthur are featuring a buy one class, get one free for the Summer 2021 semesters and will double down for the Fall 2021 semester with a buy two classes, get two free.

The two state colleges received funding authorized in the The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) and will fund the opportunity for any student looking to take advantage of a discounted degree or certificate.

We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to new and returning students, LSCPA President Betty Reynard said in a statement. The pandemic has affected us all to different degrees and this is a way that were able to help our community come out the other side better than where we started.

The offer is valid until all allotted funds for scholarships have been disbursed, the colleges said in a joint press release adding that it is important to register for Summer and Fall as soon as possible.

For summer classes in 2021, the tuition and fees for one three-credit hour course, up to $399 for non-dual credit students and $150 for dual credit students, will be paid for every student who registers and pays for one course at the posted tuition and fees rate

LSCO is excited to support our community during these challenging times, LSCO President Thomas Johnson said Through this offer, more students will be able to access higher education in our region. This is in keeping with our mission of Transforming Lives and creating a Bright, Orange Future.

For Fall 2021 classes, students who pay the posted rate for tuition and fees for one three-credit hour course will receive a scholarship to pay for one additional three-credit hour course. Students who pay for two three-credit hour courses will received a scholarship to pay for two additional three-credit hour courses. Receiving six free hours at LSCPA is a savings of more than $1,100, according to the school.

In order to get as much financial assistance as possible beyond the Buy One, Get One offer, students are urged to complete and submit the 2020-21 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as the 2021-22 FAFSA for fall registration. The school code for LSCO is 016748 and for LSCPA the school code is 016666.

isaac.windes@hearstnp.com

twitter.com/isaacdwindes
The Australia Post chairman has hit back at claims by the company's former boss that she was bullied out of her job in a 1,000-word smackdown.

Ousted postal boss Christine Holgate gifted four senior executives $20,000 worth of luxury Cartier watches on October 2018 as a reward for securing a $66 million deal with three of the big four banks.

Ms Holgate resigned following a subsequent investigation into the gifts and the alleged misuse of corporate credit cards late last year, with chairman Lucio Di Bartolomeo claiming she agreed to step down.

But in an explosive 151-page statement on Tuesday to a Senate inquiry into her departure, the former chief executive said she made no such agreement and accused Mr Di Bartolomeo of lying to parliament.

Pictured: Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate appears before a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on October 22

In her statement to the inquiry which contained emails, photos of cards and a letter to her lawyers, Ms Holgate claimed Mr Di Bartolomeo treated her 'like a criminal' and blamed him solely for her being forced out of the top job.

She alleged the chairman unlawfully stood her down and failed to defend her despite knowing the facts of the case.

The former Blackmores executive said the watches were bought legally and signed off by then-chairman John Stanhope, auditors, and Australia Post's chief financial officer.

An independent investigation later cleared Ms Holgate of any dishonesty, fraud, corruption, or intentional misuse of taxpayer funds.

'[It was] widely celebrated within the organisation, and presented at a morning tea by the previous chairman and me with a thank you card signed by both of us,' she wrote.

'It was then found to be legal by the 'review' which was clearly intended to find it otherwise.'

Mr Di Bartolomeo told an inquiry last November he would have blocked the purchase of the luxury watches if he was in charge when the gifts were handed out.

Pictured: Australia Post Chair Lucio Di Bartolomeo appears before a Senate estimates hearing at Parliament House in Canberra on November 9

'He lied repeatedly to the Australian people and to their parliament about his actions,' she claimed in the submission.

'Time after time he has made statements that I had agreed to stand down when I had done no such thing.

'He then abandoned me to a media firestorm that he and others had created and cut me off from resources, despite knowing that these events had caused me to seek mental health care and medication.'

On Wednesday afternoon, Mr Di Bartolomeo hit back with a 1,000-word statement and said Ms Holgate was a 'very good chief executive' but accused her of making a series of incorrect claims in her submission.

'Ms Holgate agreed with me to stand aside from her role pending the outcome of the shareholder departments' investigation and any further actions taken by Australia Post,' he said.

'The board's intent was to ensure that both Ms Holgate and the organisation could focus their attentions on full co-operation with the investigation.

Ms Holgate said the watches were given as a reward to four executives who worked hard over a deal with Australia's big banks. Pictured: An Australia Post store in Sydney

'The board did not stand down, or suspend, Ms Holgate from her role - that being an unnecessary consideration given her agreement to stand aside.'

He claimed the agreement was reached in telephone conversations, which go against Ms Holgate's claim that the pair communicated in two emails on the same afternoon that Prime Minister Scott Morrison demanded she step aside.

In October, Mr Morrison said the Cartier gifts were disgraceful and appalling.

'She's been instructed to stand aside and if she doesn't do that, she can go,' he told parliament.

Mr Di Bartolomeo said he and Ms Holgate did not speak after the Question Time comments, 'however, phone records support my recollection - including that we had conversations at 4.27pm and 5.50pm on that day'.

In response to Ms Holgate's comment that she only 'offered to resign' and never signed the deed of release, the chairman said she wrote to Australia Post at 10.46am on November 2 advising her immediate resignation.

'We understand that Ms Holgate then released the statement at 2.00pm and subsequently advised the Australia Post Executive Team at 2.29pm that she had done so,' he said.

Ms Holgate said she had two witnesses who could support her version of events, including Australia Post's human resources boss Sue Davies who joined her on the three-hour trip to Sydney from Canberra after Mr Morrison's comments.

It was within those three hours that Ms Holgate and Mr Di Bartolomeo exchanged emails, according to her statement.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the gifts were as unacceptable and ordered her to step down

Ms Davies is understood to be giving evidence at the inquiry and Ms Holgate and Mr Di Bartolomeo are expected to give in-person evidence.

In his lengthy statement, Mr Di Bartolomeo also said he did not try to restrict Ms Holgate from working elsewhere for 12 months, despite Australia Post not paying her any compensation to do so.

'Ms Holgate claims that I made a counteroffer which would have prevented her from working for 12 months without pay. That is not correct.

'The existing provisions of Ms Holgate's contract of employment contained non-compete provisions, as is common for such senior executive roles. These provisions apply only to working for a competitor for a period of six months from the end of Ms Holgate's employment - and therefore expire on May 2, 2021.

'Regarding payment, Ms Holgate had already advised the Board and stated publicly that she was not seeking any financial compensation.'

The ex CEO also said she asked Aystralia Post for support but was met with 'continuous requests to examine credit card expense records, on the disguise that they must be made public, presumably to cause me even greater harm'.

But Mr Di Bartolemo said he was complying with a freedom of information request.

'She also claims there were leaks of misleading reports regarding the management of expenses. This is not correct,' he added.

'Australia Post was obligated to disclose information regarding credit card transactions and other expenses, in response to Senate Committee questions and Freedom of Information requests.'
By Catherine A. Mazzola

With recent headlines highlighting racial and ethnic differences in outcomes from the coronavirus pandemic, awareness is rising about the impact healthcare inequities, racial discrimination, disparate opportunities and limited access have on minority populations.

While University Hospital in Newark and its leader, Dr. Shereef Elnahal, have tried to be a bulwark against those depressing tidings, actions being taken by Rutgers with a corporation, RWJ Barnabas Health, threaten the stability and future of this important asset in our community.

The tragic part is Gov. Phil Murphy and the state of New Jersey, owner of University Hospital since 1968, are passive in the face of this threat.

I am a product of both Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) and University Hospital, where I completed my neurological surgery residency in 2001. I am now an attending neurosurgeon at University Hospital. I am also a member of the Newark Community Coalition, a group of advocates that is investigating and fighting changes that could weaken University Hospital and access to healthcare for people in Newark.

Rutgers, founded in 1766, is now called the State University of New Jersey with its flagship campus in New Brunswick and Piscataway and regional campuses in Newark and Camden. In the 1960s, Rutgers, Newark and state officials took over a sizeable portion of the citys Central Ward to build the New Jersey Medical School and took possession of Newark City Hospital.

We tackled the implications of that event recently in an academic journal article: Broken Promises.

Historically, Newark residents experienced poor socioeconomic conditions, terrible medical care and abhorrent racism. In the aftermath of the devastating Newark uprisings that were rooted in those conditions, community leaders engaged city, state and university officials about their plan for the medical school, which threatened to displace many residents from their homes.

Through meaningful collective bargaining, community activists achieved the Newark Agreements (also known as the Newark Accords) of 1968. In part, state and Rutgers officials committed to promoting public health in Newark through the new medical school and University Hospital indefinitely. Community leaders, meanwhile, were able to reduce the horrific effects that the new campus would have created by convincing state and city officials to build New Jersey Medical School on 58 acres instead of 167 acres.

As with indigenous populations in America, Rutgers and state officials bargained for land with no intention of accountability for promises unmet. How else would you interpret their neglect of Newark residents, the hospital, and the medical school in recent years? Community leaders bargained in good faith and believed that city, state and university leaders would live up to their commitments. History repeats itself in modern times with more broken promises.

Ultimately, the rights of Black and brown residents of Newarks Central Ward are being blatantly disregarded, despite the agreements made in 1968. More broken promises.

We are speaking up now because these recent developments at Rutgers indicate that the people of Newark and University Hospital are in imminent danger. Rutgers and RWJ Barnabas are in a position to compound those broken promises by allowing the cannibalization of the hospital and its services, reneging forever on the commitment of economic development, education and healthcare services that leaders of city and state, as well as Rutgers, made to Newark residents.

I believe the joint operating agreement between Rutgers and RWJ Barnabas Health system poses immediate threats to medical education at the Newark New Jersey Medical School campus and, ultimately, University Hospital, the current name of Newark City Hospital.

Dr. Robert L. Johnson, dean of the New Jersey Medical Schools, and Brian Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, both sit on the boards of University Hospital and RWJ Barnabas Health. They are known supporters of RWJ Barnabas Health and, in my opinion, have stood by and may have facilitated the relocation and centralization of services to RWJBarnabas System by redirecting financial support, senior staff and resident physicians, nurses and other resources away from Newark and University Hospital. Hundreds of others, if not thousands of people, are against the relocation and redistribution of graduate medical education monies, resident physicians, nurses, support staff and senior physicians to other sites.

Many of us believe that redirecting jobs, opportunities, access to healthcare services in Newark and other resources to Livingston and New Brunswick are in direct violation of the Newark Accords.

Author James Baldwin famously concluded a groundbreaking essay by saying No more water, the fire next time! But, what do you do when the fire has come and gone and the injustices remain?

Newark residents already suffered through their fiery uprising and, in response, formalized what they believed was an inviolable social contract with the state, business leaders and Rutgers. History is showing us their commitments in the Newark Agreements were empty promises, a way to quell the fire without accountability.

As recent marches and rallies for social justice are showing us, disingenuous promises will not quell what comes next. It is time to hold the state, city and Rutgers to commitments they made 53 years ago. The people of Newark deserve all that was promised to them in 1968. No more broken promises.

Dr. Catherine Mazzola, an attending neurosurgeon at University Hospital in Newark, is a member of the Newark Coalition of Concerned Citizens and is writing on the coalitions behalf. The coalition includes the Newark Coalition of Concerned Citizens, which includes: HPAE; CWA; NAACP; NJ State AFL-CIO; AFT-NJ; Rutgers AAUP-AFT; AAUP, Biomedical and Health Sciences of NJ; Local 68 Operating Engineers; URA Local 1765; International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Committee of Interns and Residents, SEUI Healthcare; NJ Appleseed; New Jersey Citizen Action; New Jersey Communities United; Peoples Organization For Progress.

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President Joe Biden speaks during an event on the American Jobs Plan in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus in Washington on April 7, 2021. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

Biden Administration Announces Plans to Curb Ghost Guns, Push Red Flag Legislation

President Joe Bidens administration is taking action to stop the proliferation of so-called ghost guns and push states to adopt red flag legislation, the White House announced late Wednesday.

Biden is directing the Department of Justice to, within 30 days, issue a proposed rule aimed at curbing the spread of so-called ghost guns, or guns that are made from build-it-yourself kits.

The department will also in the next two months issue a proposed rule declaring a stabilizing brace that turns a pistol into a short-barreled rifle and publish model red flag legislation for states.

Red flag laws let family members or law enforcement ask a court to bar people from owning guns if the people allegedly present a danger to themselves or others.

Three other actions announced Wednesday by the administration are: investment in community violence interventions that is meant to curb the spike in murders and shootings seen last year; starting the issuance of an annual report on firearms trafficking; and the nomination of David Chipman, a former adviser to the gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety and a current adviser at Giffords, an organization that says it works to stop gun violence, as the director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF).

The ATF is a federal agency that aims to prevent the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, among other efforts.

The new announcements mark the first wave of executive action on guns that the White House had vowed to take following recent mass shootings in Boulder, Colorado, and Atlanta, Georgia.

Giffords Law Center Senior Policy Advisor David Chipman speaks at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on assault weapons on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 25, 2019. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo)

A makeshift fence stands around the parking lot outside a King Soopers grocery store where a mass shooting took place a day earlier in Boulder, Colo., on March 23, 2021. (David Zalubowski/AP Photo)

Biden is still urging Congress to pass legislation to reduce gun violence, the administration said, but he and other officials will not wait for Congress to act to take its own stepsfully within the Administrations authority and the Second Amendmentto save lives.

Biden told a press conference after the Boulder shooting last month that Congress should ban so-called assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, referring to a bill he helped pass as a senator in 1994 that did just that for 10 years.

A Department of Justice-funded study found the results of that ban, which expired in 2004, mixed. A RAND Corporation review of gun restriction policies said there is inconclusive evidence for the effect of assault weapon bans on mass shootings.

Democrats quickly praised the Biden administrations actions on guns, including the planned nomination of Chipman.

This is the most significant executive action on gun violence in a generation. These actions set a model of courage & strength that Congress must now match, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said in a tweet.

The action on ghost guns will protect against untraceable, homemade weapons that no law abiding gun owner would want, he added.

Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, also cheered the actions.

Each of these executive actions will start to address the epidemic of gun violence that has raged throughout the pandemic, and begin to make good on President Bidens promise to be the strongest gun safety president in history, Everytown President John Feinblatt said in a statement.

Lateif Dickerson handles some of his rifles at his gun instruction headquarters in Jersey City, N.J., on March 25, 2021. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Police gather at the scene of an afternoon shooting along Ludlow Street in the lower Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, amid a continued rise in shootings in the city, on March 30, 2021. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Biden has struggled to find traction for gun restriction proposals in Congress, especially in the 5050 Senate, where Democrats maintain a slim majority only by virtue of Vice President Kamala Harriss tiebreaking vote.

During the pandemic, gun sales have soared to record-highs as Americans sought to protect themselves against rising crime and dramatically altered conditions.

Christopher Herrmann, an assistant professor at the City University of New Yorks John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told The Epoch Times last month that some new laws or regulations, such as red flag laws, could help decrease the number of shootings and murders in the future.

But Lisa Dadio, director of The Center for Advanced Policing at the University of New Haven, said those would not help because most people committing the crimes are not getting their guns legally.

Republicans and groups who say they fight to protect Second Amendment rights said they opposed what the Biden administration is doing.

President Biden wants to let violent criminals go free but take guns from law-abiding citizens, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said in a social media statement.

Gun Owners of America Senior Vice President Erich Pratt said the group is wholeheartedly opposed to the unconstitutional gun control threatened today by President Bidenrestrictions such as the attacks on homemade and brace equipped firearms and so-called Red Flag Gun Confiscation Orders.

Joe Biden knows he cannot beat gun owners in Congress. Instead, hes circumventing the legislative process to impose his own tyrannical vision by executive fiat, he added.

The federal government will face trouble enforcing rules deemed inconsistent with laws in Arizona. Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, this week signed a bill that prohibits law enforcement from enforcing any laws or rules from the U.S. government that is inconsistent with any Arizona law regarding the regulation of firearms.
Croatian car maker Rimac Automobili has established an R&D operation in the UK at Warwick Enterprise Park, enabling it to collaborate more closely with players in the UKs automotive industry. The new facility will house 30 members of staff by the end of 2021 in addition to the team of nearly 1,000 personnel currently at Rimac.

Mate Rimac, founder and CEO, said, While Croatia will always be our home, we have decided to take the opportunity to gather a small team in the UK where the automotive industry has a long history and great expertise. We are of the strong opinion that British engineers are world-class in the field of electrification and the future of mobility. While we are starting with a small office, we might expand significantly in the years to come, working on Rimacs future projects, while closely collaborating with our team of engineers, designers and technicians back in Croatia.

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Rimac Automobili already has close ties with the UK, with HR Owen as a part of its global partners network. The company has provided electrified technology to a number of British automotive brands such as Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover.

Rimac is scheduled to reveal its latest showpiece, the hypercar C_Two, in its final form, very soon. You can learn more about cars climatic program through this video here. For more on its EMC testing regime, head to the March 2021 issue of ATTI.
KONNOR PERRIN, Chariho boys lacrosse, freshman: Perrin established a school record for assists in a game with nine in the Chargers 22-0 win over Ponaganset. Perrin leads the team with 21 assists to go with 14 goals.

LILA RICH, Stonington girls track, senior: Rich won two events at the ECC Division I track meet. Rich was first in the high jump (5-0) and the pole vault (10-0) as the Bears finished third at the meet.

MADIGAN HILTZ, Westerly boys lacrosse, senior: Hiltz scored seven goals and had three assists in pair of victories for the Bulldogs. Hiltz has 17 goals and seven assists for the season.

ADDIE HAUPTMANN, Wheeler softball, junior: Hauptmann was 4 for 9 with a home run and six RBIs in two games. For the season, Hauptmann is hitting .617 with eight homers and 42 RBIs. She has 50 hits.

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The new series of reports that has come in the French media about the alleged kickbacks in the Rs 59,000 crore deal between the governments of India and France to buy 36 Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft is disquieting. As per the report in Mediapart, a Paris-based investigative website, Frances anti-corruption agency National Financial Prosecutors Office, or Parquet National Financier (PNF), had in 2017 reported about the suspicious payment of half a million euros to an Indian middleman for making models of the fighter jets. The same middleman is under investigation by Indian agencies for his role in the Agusta Westland helicopter deal, which is also mired in controversy and corruption. The French agency did not pursue the case and closed the complaint filed by a well-known anti-corruption NGO Sherpa, the reports said.

The government of India had in 2015 cancelled the negotiations between public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Dassault Aviation, the makers of Rafale, for the purchase of 126 aircraft. The protracted discussions, started in 2012, were about to close, according to the then CEO of Dassault, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a new deal to buy 36 aircraft. The government blunted criticism against the deal that it violated the defence procurement procedure by stating that it was a government-to-government deal.

The Supreme Court also did not find merit in the plea that there were political intervention and corruption in the deal that required to be investigated. It is clear that there need be no middleman in a government-to-government deal but the latest revelation raises questions about the very claim the government had advanced. There had already been suspicions about the governments ignorance about Dassaults choice of Reliance Defence as its Indian partner to meet its commitment as per the offset clause in the deal. The government will have to consider instituting an investigation by a credible agency or even a judicial commission to clear the air instead of allowing every fresh controversy to become a stick to beat it with.
Burma Chinese Embassy Makes Contact With Myanmars Shadow Government

Residents of Mogoke stage a protest against the military regime on Wednesday. / CJ

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar has for the first time spoken with members of a committee representing elected lawmakers from the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government, amid Beijings repeated calls for all parties in its southern neighbor to seek a political resolution to the current crisis through dialog.

Multiple sources confirmed to The Irrawaddy that a counselor from the embassy in Yangon spoke by phone with members of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) last week. (The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is Myanmars Union Parliament.) Founded by NLD lawmakers following the February coup as a challenge to the legitimacy of the military regime, the CRPH enjoys popular support both domestically and overseas.

The phone call is the first contact between Chinese officials and lawmakers from the ousted NLD government since the Feb. 1 military takeover. The CRPH previously demanded to meet with officials from Beijing.

During the phone call, the two sides discussed the turmoil that has engulfed Myanmar since the military takeover.

The Irrawaddy has learned that the CRPH demanded China back the efforts of the committee and the Myanmar people to bring down the coup leaders and restore civilian rule to the country.

During the call, the counselor reiterated the Chinese ambassadors earlier comments that the current situation is not what China wants to see, and expressed concern for the safety of Chinese citizens and investments in Myanmar amid the escalating violence.

The Chinese official reminded the CRPH members that those investments were approved under the NLD government.

In March, Chinese government mouthpiece Global Times claimed Myanmar protesters were responsible for attacks that damaged 32 China-backed factories in Yangons Hlaingtharyar Industrial Zone. Protesters denied the allegation, saying the attacks were a plot by the military to justify harsher crackdowns.

The Chinese counselor did not state clearly whether Beijing sought a mediation role in any dialog between the parties involved. However, the official said Beijing wanted to open a communication channel with the CRPH.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in March that China would not change its course of promoting bilateral friendship and cooperation, no matter how the situation evolves in Myanmar. He said Beijing would however try to bring about reconciliation by engaging with all relevant parties in the country.

Following the coup, the CRPH sent at least three letters to Beijing demanding the Chinese government stand with the Myanmar people and not back the military regime.

Last week, the US called on China to use its influence to hold to account those responsible for the coup, saying Beijing could certainly do more, given its considerable leverage in Myanmar.

China has failed to take a strong stand against the coup in Myanmar. Amid demands from pro-democracy groups in the country that the international community apply serious pressure on the junta, Beijing has repeatedly blocked the UN Security Council (UNSC)s attempts to take action against the coup leaders and prevent further bloodshed. Anti-Chinese sentiment has risen rapidly in Myanmar over Beijings stand at the UNSC.

Pro-democracy activists in the country have called for opposition to all Chinese projects in Myanmar. Some have even called for Chinas twin oil and gas pipelines in the country to be blown up in response to Beijings stance at the UN.

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Three Karen Villagers Killed in Myanmar Military Airstrike

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[April 08, 2021] Afterpay and Adyen Partner to Deliver Flexible Payments

SAN FRANCISCO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Afterpay (ASX:APT) the leader in "Buy Now, Pay Later", and Adyen, (AMS: ADYEN), the global payments platform of choice for many of the world's leading businesses, are joining forces to offer Afterpay's leading "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) service to retailers, kicking off with Hunter, the premium British footwear brand. Leading iconic British outdoor lifestyle brand, Hunter, is among some of the first retailers to offer Afterpay with Adyen. "We wanted a way of offering our customers more flexibility through payments, as we know giving our customers choice to pay in a way that suits them drives on-site conversion" said Bryony Longden, senior eCommerce manager for Hunter. "By offering Afterpay through Adyen, we were able to implement this new payment method quickly and effectively to offer a seamless checkout experience. The ability to split payments really helps to make higher price point items accessible to our customers. " Hunter can now offer Afterpay, known as Clearpay in the UK - the popular service which allows customers to get their items right away and pay in four installments, without the need to take out a traditional loan or pay upfront fees or interest. The service is completely free for consumers who pay on time1. Afterpay now has more than 13 million customers globally and 1.6 million shoppers in the U.K.2 With Afterpay, retailers attract a growing segment of the population who prefer to pay without incurring traditional credit-style debt, interest or fees. For this reason, many retailers offering Afterpay see an average increase in conversion of approximately 22% - as well as incresed basket size, higher customer satisfaction and repeat customers.3 Around 90% of Afterpay transactions are made with debit cards.4



"BNPL has changed the retail industry - as young shoppers prefer to use their own money to buy items they need and want - instead of using credit cards which often lead to revolving debt with interest and fees," said Ben Pressley, SVP of Global Sales Strategy and Operations at AfterPay. "We are so excited to kick off our partnership with Adyen and Hunter to offer a payment solution that delivers real benefits to consumers and retailers alike." Merchants of Adyen can offer Afterpay in the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to their customers.

About Adyen

Adyen (AMS: ADYEN) is the payments platform of choice for many of the world's leading companies, providing a modern end-to-end infrastructure connecting directly to Visa, Mastercard, and consumers' globally preferred payment methods. Adyen delivers frictionless payments across online, mobile, and in-store channels. With offices across the world, Adyen serves customers including Facebook, Uber, Spotify, Microsoft, Casper, Bonobos and L'Oreal. The support of Afterpay and Hunter as described in this update underlines Adyen's continuous expansion of supported payment methods and continuous growth with current and new merchants over the years. About Afterpay Limited

Afterpay Limited (ASX: APT) is transforming the way we pay by allowing customers to receive products immediately and pay for their purchases over four installments, always interest-free. The service is completely free for customers who pay on time5 - helping people spend responsibly without incurring interest, fees or extended debt. As at December 31, 2020 Afterpay is offered by nearly 74,000 of the world's favourite retailers, and is used by more than 13 million active customers globally. Afterpay is currently available in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom, where it is known as Clearpay. Afterpay is on a mission to power an economy in which everyone wins. 1 Late fees may apply. Eligibility criteria apply. See afterpay.com for full terms. 2 As at 31 December 2020. Further infocmation can be found at https://corporate.afterpay.com/investors/asx-announcements 3 More information can be found at https://www.afterpay.com/for-retailers 4 Based on company data, 31 December, 2020. 5 Late fees may apply. Eligibility criteria apply. See afterpay.com for full terms. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/afterpay-and-adyen-partner-to-deliver-flexible-payments-301264852.html SOURCE Afterpay

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TEL-AVIV, Israel, April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EyeYon Medical, an Israeli start-up company developing a variety of ophthalmic products for vision-threatening conditions, announces today that EndoArt was granted the Innovative Device Status by China's Center for Medical Device Evaluation, the arm of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Following the announcement, the EndoArt became the only ophthalmic device in the world to receive both China's Innovative Device Status and the Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The EndoArt is the world's first synthetic implant that enables doctors to treat chronic corneal edema, the main reason for the world's most common organ transplant, with a minimally invasive surgery that erodes the use of human tissue.The EndoArt is designed to replace dysfunctional endothelium in patients awaiting human donor tissue as first-line treatment or patients where the human tissue, which is the current standard of care. A nonfunctioning endothelium results in excess fluid flowing into the cornea, resulting in severe vision loss.

The implant has been in clinical trials, including human clinical trials, in selected medical centers, in Europe, India and Israel, which demonstrated a significant reduction in edema in affected eyes.

"The Innovative Device Designation we have been granted by China's National Medical Products Administration demonstrates the level of unmet need and acknowledges the extensive scientific work we have done for years. This prestigious Designation will allow us to work closely with the NMPA to advance our breakthrough technology through the regulatory process in China," said Nahum Ferera, Co-Founder and CEO of EyeYon Medical. "After demonstrating excellent results and safety in clinical trials, we expect to begin our first in-human trial in China very soon. We would like to thank our investors, especially the Rimonci team, for helping us advance our technology in China."

Richel Liu, CEO of Rimonci Capital, Ophthalmology focused Venture Capital and investor in EyeYon Medical, said: "As early investor of EyeYon Medical, we have been working very closely with company to secure NMPA innovation channel, and to facilitate the implementation of China strategy including clinical and network build up. We feel confident about the company's promising solution for treating corneal edema and we believe EndoArt would bring significant contribution to eliminating corneal blindness in China and worldwide."

About EyeYon Medical

EyeYon Medical is a start-up company developing a variety of ophthalmic products for vision-threatening conditions. For more information please visit https://eye-yon.com/ .

Contact:

Yafit Lazar

Spokesperson

Yafit@rcspr.co.il
Winfred Rembert, the self-taught African American artist whose life story was deeply rooted in the struggle against Jim Crow segregation in the US South, died at his home in New Haven, Connecticut on March 31 at the age of 75. Rembert, who survived a near-lynching as a young man and served seven years on a Georgia chain gang, achieved a measure of recognition, in the last decade of his life, for the vivid works he created on carved and dyed leather.

Winfred Rembert, Homer Clydes Place, 2009, dye on carved and tooled leather. Private collectionCourtesy Adelson Galleries, NY

Born in the tiny town of Cuthbert, Georgia, Rembert was working in the cotton fields from the time he was six years old. He did not learn to read and write until his time in prison, in the late 1960s.

At the age of 19, the young man joined a protest against segregation in nearby Americus, Georgia, the center of the well-known Americus Movement, the mass civil rights demonstrations against segregation and for the right to vote, initiated by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1963.

The Americus Movement was part of the broader civil rights struggle that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. That same year, Rembert was arrested after he was chased by several racists as he left a protest. He stole a car in order to get away but was caught and held in jail for a year without charge. When he tried to escape, he was recaptured, and this led to the near-lynching, along with threats of castration, at the hands of a racist mob.

Rembert was not killed, but was instead sent to prison, where he spent seven years on a chain gang. It was here that he learned, with the help of another prisoner, to carve wallets out of leather. This enabled him to find an outlet for the artistic interests he had shown even as a boy.

Released from prison, he married and moved with his wife to the North, settling first in Rochester, New York, later in Bridgeport, Connecticut and finally in New Haven, the home of Yale University. The family grew, with the addition of eight children. Rembert worked as a longshoreman and handyman, among other jobs. He is survived by his wife Patsy, seven surviving children and 17 grandchildren.

Rembert did not begin to work on his art on a more ambitious scale until he was about 50. This led within a few years to the exhibition of some of his leather creations at the Yale University Art Gallery in 2000. His art work dealt with the subjects of Remberts life: working in the cotton fields, life on the chain gang, socializing, dancing and drinking at local juke joints.

Many of Remberts creations, in color and subject matter, recall some of the masterpieces of the Migration Series by the world-famous Jacob Lawrence (1928-2000)particularly those of Lawrences famous panels that dealt with life in the Jim Crow South. Jock Reynolds, the director of the Yale University Art Gallery, has said about Rembert, I found myself captivated by the work of an entirely self-taught artist who was unaware of the strong affinities of form, subject matter, and narrative that he shared with Hale Woodruff and other towering figures of African-American Art such as Horace Pippin, Jacob Lawrence, and Romare Bearden.

Winfred Rembert, Picking Cotton, Rows to the Left #2, 2010 (Flint Institute of Arts)

Winfred Rembert did not begin to receive the recognition he deserved until he reached the age of 65. A solo exhibition was mounted in 2010 at the Adelson Galleries in New York City, and his carved and dyed leather works began to sell for between $15,000 and $80,000 each. The New York show was followed by a documentary film, All Me: The Life and Times of Winfred Rembert (directed by Vivian Ducat), released in 2011, which brought Remberts story and his art to a far wider audience. Other shows of Remberts work followed, to warm critical and popular response. There were exhibitions at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, outside of New York City; at the Greenville, South Carolina Art Museum; and elsewhere across the US.

From the documentary film, All MeThe Life and Times of Winfred Rembert (2011)

The Hudson River Museum show was the first major museum exhibition of his work. As the curators put it at the time: In more than 50 works on hand-tooled leather stretched, stained, and etched Rembert constructs scenes from the rural Southern town where he was born and raised, and peoples it with characters working the fields, joyous at church meetings, and enjoying its pool hall, jazz club, and cafe. His images are alive with figures and color, and dense with pattern. Some, more somber, convey the strife and grief of his own experiences of a near lynching and prison life.

The man who narrowly escaped lynching 50 years earlier was honored by his home town of Cuthbert in 2011, with the mayor proclaiming Winfred Rembert Day. This event should be understood in its historic concreteness. It reflected in a limited but significant way the dismantling of the apartheid-like system in which Rembert and millions of others were born and came to adulthood, and the artist was deeply satisfied to return to Georgia in that fashion. The limits of the mass movement for civil rights under reformist leadership, however, meant that legal equality only revealed even more clearly the class issues of poverty and inequality, which of course could not be addressed by mayoral proclamations.

Winfred RembertAmazing Grace Images on Leather at the Hudson River Museum (2012)

Rembert himself suggested that he understood this, when he told the New Haven Independent several years ago, reflecting on the respect he had won, but not changing his outlook on life: When people think youre somebody in this world, theyll give you everything. But when youre down and out, they wont give you a dime. Its backwards, he said. His work conveys some of this, not self-pity, but the rough-and-tumble struggle of life, including the struggle against injustice and cruelty.

Remberts creative output reflected, as it must, both his own artistic talent and the times in which he lived, which shaped that talent and found expression in his striking, original and vibrant work. His achievements are testimony to the great and still largely untapped talent that exists within the working class all over the world.

In August 2021, a memoir by Rembert (as told to Erin I. Kelly), Chasing Me to My Grave: An Artists Memoir of the Jim Crow South, will be released.
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Cabin exposed, with half of its walls and roof gone, workers pulled out the last remaining train car in Taiwans worst rail accident in seven decades.

The crash site on the islands east coast was cleared, barring one car that was moved to the side of the tunnel where the train hit a construction truck that had fallen onto the track. Fifty people died and over 200 were injured in the crash on Friday.

The driver of the truck, Lee Yi-hsiang, who is also the manager of the construction site above the tracks, has been detained on charges of causing death by negligence. He has apologized for the accident and promised to cooperate with investigators.

While an initial report from transport safety officials said the brakes on the truck were not engaged, prosecutors declined to say what caused the vehicle to fall down the slope.

Taiwans Minister for Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung said Wednesday that he had offered his formal resignation to the islands president and premier.

I want to again express my deepest apologies to all the victims and their family and I will also take the political responsibility after completing all the relief work, he said at a hearing by members of the transportation committee of the Legislative Assembly. I will face it fully and meet it bravely.

The meeting started off with a moment of silence for the victims but quickly turned acrimonious when a group of opposition Nationalist Party politicians held up signs calling for the resignation of the minister and Premier Su Tseng-chang, shouting, The government is a killer and must step down.

Members of the committee took turns to raise questions about the crash and rescue. One lawmaker asked Lin why certain safety improvements had not been completed since the last major train crash in 2018, which killed at least 18 people. Among those was an automatic system that would check on the condition of slopes by the railway tracks.

They also raised concern over the slow reform of the indebted Taiwan Railways.

About the photo: In this image taken from a video footage run by Taiwans EBC via AP Video, the damaged train engine of the derailed train is placed at Heren Station near the crash site for further investigation by prosecutors office and police in Hualien, eastern Taiwan on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. The crash site on the islands east coast was cleared, barring one car that was moved to the side of the tunnel where the train hit a construction truck that had fallen onto the track. Fifty people died and over 200 were injured in the crash on Friday. (EBC via AP Video)

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky said she believes all children will be back in the classroom by September.

Walensky revealed the current vaccination rollout means enough of the population will be inoculated against Covid-19 to stop children having to face remote learning.

The CDC has reported 170 million vaccines administered to date, with 64 million Americans fully vaccinated with two doses.

CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky said she believes all children will be back in the classroom by September

Dr Walensky told ABC News's Dr Jennifer Ashton that there should be no more remote learning by the fall

Dr Walensky told ABC News's Dr Jennifer Ashton: 'I think with the combination of testing and vaccination for our older populations, and I really hope a decreased number of cases, that we should anticipate, come September 2021, that schools should be full-fledged in person, and all of our children back in the classroom.'

The health chief added that children would return to school regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.

Children without serious health conditions are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine but Dr Walensky estimated they will be offered shots by mid-May.

But even if children have not been vaccinated, teachers and parents should be inoculated and more testing could be in place to ensure schools stay open.

The health chief added that children would return to school regardless of whether they have been vaccinated

Pfizer recently shared data showing its vaccine is safe and effective for children aged 12 to 15.

Moderna currently has trials under way and Dr Walensky expects them to follow Pfizer by offering a jab by summer.

But she said she does not expect the vaccine to be authorized for children aged under 12 before the end of the year.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden warned Americans that 'we aren't at the finish line' when it comes to the pandemic and said it is not yet time to return to normal.

'The virus is spreading because we have too many people who see the end in sight and think we're at the finish line already. But let me be deadly earnest with you: We aren't at the finish line. We still have a lot of work to do,' he said in remarks at the White House.

Biden issued his warning as he announced he will move up the vaccination eligibility goalpost by two weeks so all American adults can get inoculated from April 19.

'No more confusing rules. No more confusing restrictions. My message today is a simple one. Many states have already opened up to all adults. But beginning April 19 every adult in every state, every adult in this country is eligible to get in line to get a COVID vaccination,' he said.

The country is facing a fourth surge of the virus, experts have warned amid worries about the number of variants on the rise.

'New variants of the virus are spreading and they're moving quickly,' Biden pointed out. 'Cases are going back up, hospitalizations are no longer declining. While deaths are still down, way down from January, they're going up in some places.'

He also touted the administration's progress since he took office: Over 80% of teachers, school staff and childcare workers received at least one shot by the end of March and 150 million shots in the arms of Americans.

'We're not even half way through vaccinating 300 million Americans. This is going to take time,' he said. 'Now is not the time to celebrate.'

President Joe Biden warned Americans that 'we aren't at the finish line' when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic and he reminded people to remain cautious

President Biden reminded Americans that even after getting a shot it takes time for the vaccine to kick in so a person is fully innoculated

He also reminded people that it takes time for the vaccine to take affect, particularly if one gets the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, which take two shots.

'To get your first shot next week in mid April, you won't be fully protected until May, late May. If you get your first shot in Mid May, you aren't fully protected until late June. So look. Now, on the one hand, June, isn't that far away, given how long this has been going on, but it isn't here yet either,' he said.

Biden's new eligibility goal comes as 34 states have already opened up vaccination eligibility to those 16 and older and 41 states will have have it opened up to adults before April 19 anyway.

During a speech last week, Biden already said 90% of adults would be eligible for vaccines by mid-April  and the previous goal was to open it to everyone above 18 by May 1.

President Joe Biden speaks with medical workers during a visit to a coronavirus vaccination site at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Va.

The announcement comes as 41 states have already or will already have vaccine eligibility open to those 16 and older by April 19

Before Biden's new goal is unveiled, 41 states already will have opened up vaccine eligibility to adults. And four other governors have announced they will open it up by April 19.

Although eligibility is expanding at a rapid pace, this does not necessarily mean inoculation rates will speed up in the U.S.

Some states are experiencing obstacles with getting shots in the arms of even those who are more at risk  like individuals older than 60 and those with preexisting conditions.

People have lamented long wait times and lines while others say they can't even get an appointment and spend their days refreshing web pages to try and snag a time to get the shot.

A few states have even reported shortages of shots.

Notably last week, a facility in Baltimore, Maryland had to throw out 15 million one-shot doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after an ingredient error.

The administration set some low goals it has easily surpassed and later changed to be more ambitious.

When taking office, Biden said he wanted to get 100 million shots administered in his first 100 days in office. Far exceeding that goal, he later said the new target is to get 200 million vaccinations in arms by the 100 day mark.
NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Deloitte and Techstars announced a new effort to catalyze the innovation ecosystem by connecting startups from Techstars' portfolio to opportunities at Deloitte's clients and businesses.

Deloitte Catalyst has worked with accelerators and venture capital firms since 2019 to enhance corporate innovation opportunities for promising startups. Specifically, Deloitte provides insights on emerging trends and specific use cases, introduces businesses to disruptive ideas, and develops relevant prototypes with startups. With this new collaboration, Catalyst hopes to diversify its ecosystem relationships and provide new opportunities for Techstars' startups while continuing to accelerate innovation for its clients.

"Technology is advancing fast. Deloitte helps our clients keep pace with these rapid changes and break down barriers to innovation. Collaborating with a leading accelerator like Techstars enhances our work with promising startups and provides the best solutions to our clients," said Sonal Naik, managing director, Deloitte Consulting LLP, and executive leader of Deloitte Catalyst.

"At Techstars, we're passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed. One way we do this is by providing market opportunities for our accelerator and investment portfolio startups. Deloitte, as a leading provider of professional services, has a strong understanding of the industries our startups are targeting. We look forward to working together to set these companies up for success," said Alex Tepper, senior vice president, Industry Solutions, Techstars.

With 43 accelerator programs, more than 2,400 portfolio companies, and connections to over 6,000 founders, Techstars' support of startup communities around the world is expansive. Combining this global reach with the power of Deloitte's consulting services, the collaboration is an immense opportunity for entrepreneurs to expand their B2C footprint and for corporations looking to tap into a broader ecosystem of technology providers.

As Deloitte continues to deliver industry-leading solutions and services, the Techstars collaboration will be a key player in helping Deloitte Catalyst take the isolation out of innovation and bring the best of the private sector to enterprises and government agencies.

About Techstars

The Techstars worldwide network helps entrepreneurs succeed. Founded in 2006, Techstars began with three simple ideas  entrepreneurs create a better future for everyone, collaboration drives innovation, and great ideas can come from anywhere. Now we are on a mission to enable every person on the planet to contribute to and benefit from, the success of entrepreneurs. In addition to operating accelerator programs and venture capital funds, we do this by connecting startups, investors, corporations, and cities to help build thriving startup communities. Techstars has invested in more than 2,400 companies with a combined market cap of more than $204B. Learn more at www.techstars.com.

About Deloitte

Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500 and more than 7,000 private companies. Our people come together for the greater good and work across the industry sectors that drive and shape today's marketplace  delivering measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to see challenges as opportunities to transform and thrive, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthier society. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Now celebrating 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's more than 330,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

SOURCE Deloitte Consulting LLP

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Luanda  Around $460 million is the value of the investment made by Spanish businesspersons in Angola, between 1990 and 2020, as a reflection of a constantly growing commercial portfolio.

Data obtained by ANGOP, from the Angolan Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX), indicate that the amount was applied to a set of 82 projects, in several segments of the economic sector.

Of these investments, the Industry sector leads with 15 projects, with values fixed at US $323.195,00 followed by Fisheries (7 projects, valued at US $59.3million), Civil engineering (23 actions, budgeted at US $41.3million).

In the range of investments made, there is the Service Provision sector with 17 projects, supported by an investment of US $19.4million, among others, as well as in the Extractive Industry, Health, Agriculture and Trade.

The northern Zaire Province is the one that has received most of the Spanish investments in Angola, in the global amount of US $285.890 (five projects), followed by Luanda, with US $72.673.222(64) and Benguela, with US $33.928.000(5 initiatives).

As part of the strengthening of cooperation between Angola and Spain, the head of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sanchez Perez Castejon, arrived in the country on Wednesday night, for an official visit, at the invitation of the President of the Republic, Joao Lourenco.

According to the programme of the visit, this Thursday Pedro Sanchez Perez Castejon is to be received by the Angolan Head of State.

Pedro Sanchez Perez Castejon is to attend the Angola-Spain Economic Forum and, in the afternoon, the President of the Government of Spain is to visit some socio-economic undertakings, in Luanda.

Data obtained by ANGOP, from the Angolan Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX), indicate that the amount was applied to a set of 82 projects, in several segments of the economic sector.

Of these investments, the Industry sector leads with 15 projects, with values fixed at US $323.195,00 followed by Fisheries (7 projects, valued at US $59.3million), Civil engineering (23 actions, budgeted at US $41.3million).

In the range of investments made, there is the Service Provision sector with 17 projects, supported by an investment of US $19.4million, among others, as well as in the Extractive Industry, Health, Agriculture and Trade.

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The northern Zaire Province is the one that has received most of the Spanish investments in Angola, in the global amount of US $285.890 (five projects), followed by Luanda, with US $72.673.222(64) and Benguela, with US $33.928.000(5 initiatives).

As part of the strengthening of cooperation between Angola and Spain, the head of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sanchez Perez Castejon, arrived in the country on Wednesday night, for an official visit, at the invitation of the President of the Republic, Joao Lourenco.

According to the programme of the visit, this Thursday Pedro Sanchez Perez Castejon is to be received by the Angolan Head of State.

Pedro Sanchez Perez Castejon is to attend the Angola-Spain Economic Forum and, in the afternoon, the President of the Government of Spain is to visit some socio-economic undertakings, in Luanda.
[April 08, 2021] Habana AI Accelerators Chosen by the San Diego Supercomputer Center to Power Voyager Research Program

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Habana Labs , a leading developer of purpose-built deep learning accelerators for a wide range of data centers, today announced that its artificial intelligence (AI) training and inference accelerators have been selected by the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at UC San Diego to provide high-performance, high-efficiency AI compute in its Voyager supercomputer. Scheduled to be in service in the fall of 2021, Voyager will be dedicated to advancing AI research across a range of science and engineering domains. The system build-out, as well as ongoing community support and operations, are funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. The Voyager supercomputer will employ Habana's unique interconnect technology to efficiently scale AI training capacity with 336 Gaudi processors, which are well-architected for scaling large supercomputer training applications. Gaudi is the industry's only AI processor to natively integrate ten 100-Gigabit Ethernet ports of RoCE v2 (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) on-chip, enabling flexibility of scaling and avoidance of throughput bottlenecks that can limit scaling capacity. The Voyager system also features 16 Habana Goya processors to power AI inference models. "With innovative solutions optimized for deep learning operations and AI workloads, Habana accelerators are ideal choices to power Voyager's forthcoming AI research," said Amitava Majumdar, head of SDSC's Data Enabled Scientific Computing division and principal investigator for the Voyager project. "We look forward to partnering with Habana, Intel and Supermicro to bring this uniquely efficient class of compute capabilities to the Voyager program, giving academic researchers access to one of the most capable AI-focused systems available today." Habana Gaudi AI training and Goya inference processors are architected to drive performance and efficiency in AI operations. They will provide data scientists and researchers having access to Voyager with flexibility to customize models with programmable Tensor Processor Cores and kernel libraries, and ease implementation with Habana's SynapseAI software platform, which supports popular machine learning frameworks and AI models for applications such as vision, natural language processing and recommendation systems.



Supermicro , a Voyager technology partner and global leader in enterprise computing, storage, networking solutions and green computing technology, will provide Habana-based AI systems to SDSC for Voyager: Supermicro X12 Gaudi AI Training System (SYS-420GH-TNGR) featuring eight Gaudi HL-205 cards paired with dual-socket 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, the newest high-performance processors from Intel, introduced this week

this week Supermicro SuperServer 4029GP-T featuring eight Goya HL-100 PCIe cards for AI inference, paired with dual-socket 2nd Gen Intel Xeon scalable processors "Combining Supermicro's advanced application-optimized server and storage hardware with Habana's AI training and inference products is the best solution for SDSC's multi-year Voyager AI project," said Ray Pang, vice president technology and business enablement, Supermicro. "We continue to work closely with leading innovators to deliver solutions for computationally intensive projects worldwide at leading research and HPC environments for science and medical discovery, compute, and leading-edge AI solutions."

"We are honored that Habana's AI processors have been selected to power the AI workloads that will run on San Diego Supercomputer Center's Voyager supercomputer," said Eitan Medina, Chief Business Officer at Habana. "This implementation of our Gaudi and Goya products showcases how top academic institutions like SDSC can harness efficiency and performance to effectively address the growing demands of AI research workloads." The first three years of Voyager's operation will be the Testbed Phase, during which SDSC will work with select research teams from astronomy, climate sciences, chemistry, particle physics and other fields to gain AI experience and insights leveraging Voyager's unique features. Throughout the Testbed Phase, SDSC will share experiences with the AI research community and develop documentation that will serve as a resource for an expanded user base in years four and five. "The level of performance and efficiency that Voyager will require is precisely what Intel architectures are designed for," said Trish Damkroger, vice president and general manager of Intel's High Performance Computing group. "Our Xeon Scalable processors coupled with Habana AI accelerators will ensure Voyager's users have the HPC and AI capabilities they need to power their game-changing research." For more information about Habana AI training and inference solutions, please see Habana's website .

For more information about Supermicro's Habana-based servers, please see the Supermicro website . About Habana

Habana Labs is a leading AI Processor company founded in 2016 to develop purpose-built processor platforms optimized for training deep neural networks and for inference deployment in production environments. We are unlocking the true potential of AI with platforms offering orders of magnitude improvements in processing performance, scalability, cost, and power consumption. Acquired by Intel, Inc. in 2019, Habana operates as an independent business unit in the Intel Data Products Group. About SDSC

The San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) is a leader and pioneer in high-performance and data-intensive computing, providing cyberinfrastructure resources, services, and expertise to the national research community, academia, and industry. Located on the UC San Diego campus, SDSC supports hundreds of multidisciplinary programs spanning a wide variety of domains, from astrophysics and earth sciences to disease research and drug discovery. SDSC operates several high performance computing systems and data resources on behalf of the national community. Media Contacts

Zeno Group for Habana Labs

Nisa Chavez Taylor

nisa.chavez-taylor@zenogroup.com San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC)

Cynthia Dillon

cdillon@sdsc.edu View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/habana-ai-accelerators-chosen-by-the-san-diego-supercomputer-center-to-power-voyager-research-program-301264779.html SOURCE Habana Labs

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Thungela Resources Ltd will have a primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and a standard listing in London

( ) said it will spin off its thermal coal operations in South Africa, helping the group move closer towards its commitment to be carbon neutral by 2040.

Subject to the approval of Anglo American's shareholders on May 5, the thermal coal operations in South Africa will be transferred to a new holding company, Thungela Resources Ltd, which will have a primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and a standard listing in London.

Thermal coal is used to generate about 40% of all electricity worldwide, but investors are increasingly shunning the commodity because power generation from coal is very carbon dioxide intensive, making it a significant contributor to climate change.

"Anglo American has been pursuing a responsible transition away from thermal coal for a number of years now, said Anglo American chief executive Mark Cutifani. "As the world transitions towards a low carbon economy, we must continue to act responsibly - bringing our employees, shareholders, host communities, host governments and customers along with us.

Thungela will be a leading South African thermal coal exporter, with 16.5 million tonnes of attributable export saleable production in 2020.

Looking forward, we believe the prospects for long-term value delivery are greatest as two standalone businesses, each with their own strategy and access to capital," said Cutifani.

India and Chinas reliance on imported thermal coal is expected to continue in the long term.

Thungela is a leading South African producer of high quality, low-cost export thermal coal, well positioned to benefit from improved market conditions, and providing a reliable and affordable energy source to our customers mainly in developing economies, said Thungela chief executive July Ndlovu.

The proposed demerger recognises the diverse range of views held by Anglo American's shareholders in relation to thermal coal and therefore provides Anglo American's shareholders, including those with specified investment criteria, with the choice to act on such views and, following the implementation of the proposed demerger, to either retain, increase or decrease their interests in Thungela.

The proposal also allows Thungela to attract new shareholders and to access new sources of capital as an independent company offering direct exposure to thermal coal, Ndlovu added.

Anglo American will provide an initial cash injection of ZAR2.5bn (125mln) and could provide further capital support until the end of 2022 if rand prices for thermal coal fall below a certain level.

Following completion of the proposed demerger, 100% of the issued share capital of Thungela will be held by Anglo American shareholders who will each receive one Thungela share for every 10 Anglo American share.

Thungela will hold 90% of the thermal coal operations in South Africa with the remaining 10% held collectively by the employee partnership plan and the community partnership plan.

If approved, the demerger is expected to be effective on June 4, with Thungela's shares being listed and admitted to trading on the JSE and LSE on June 7.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said on Wednesday 7/4/2021that the secured and smart documents complex will achieve a leap as regards the State's plan of digitization.

Speaking during the inauguration of the secured and smart documents complex, the president added that the complex will help prevent forgery and corruption as well as ensure the governance of procedures.

During the opening of the secured and smart documents complex, President Sisi greeted the Egyptian people on the approaching Holy month of Ramadan.

President Sisi said the establishment of the complex will achieve a great leap, mainly when it integrates with the idea of the smart government to be located in the New Administrative Capital.

The complex will help maximize the State's resources and eliminate evasion of financial liabilities, Sisi added.

The complex will also prevent forgery of certificates because all certificates will be 99.9 percent secured after being issued by the center, Sisi asserted.

"We want to confront corruption and violations," President Sisi said during the opening of the secured and smart documents complex.

The president asserted that the purpose of customs procedures are not only to get money but also to prevent the entry of any substances that may be hazardous to security or any other prohibited materials.

"The cost of this building and its land amounts to 1 billion dollars", President Sisi said at the inauguration of the secured and smart documents complex.

Sisi added that the elements of this project may exist in other countries but such integration may only be in very few countries.

"We need to think well in legislation criminalizing violations on this path," President Sisi stressed.

The president said that each student will have a card, including all his personal data.

The president gave instructions to create secured and documented contracts on all lands and property owned by the state within a period of six months to a year.

President Sisi said the complex was provided with well-trained cadres and equipped with the latest technology.

The president instructed the complex's officials to pay special regard to the health of workers in order to improve their efficiency.

The state spares no effort to make use of every drop of water, the president said, adding that 15 low-lift pumping stations will operate soon.

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President Sisi said that an up-to-date water treatment plant will be opened in Sinai in July.

Such projects aim to develop Sinai through increasing its agricultural lands and providing jobs for its citizens, he noted.

The president said that a third water treatment plant will be established in el Hamam city to reclaim lands in Dabaa and Wadi el Natroun cities.

The state seeks to reclaim more lands to meet the growing demands of citizens and provide jobs for youths, he added.

The president said that he has been concerned over the issue of water since January 2011, adding that citizens need to keep the Nile water clean and avoid dropping waste in it.

He reiterated that Egypt respects the right of other countries to development, but this should not harm its share in Nile River water.

The president also stressed the importance of the canals lining project, which is being carried out nationwide.

MENA
Chief Minister will attend a meeting on the Covid-19 situation in the state with Prime Minister at 6.30 pm on Thursday via video conferring.

reported 55,469 new COVID-19 cases and 297 deaths on Wednesday-- the highest by any state in India. The active number of cases in the state stands at 4,72,283. The death toll in the state has gone up to 56,330.

To curb the intensity of the rising cases in the state, the government on Wednesday announced new Covid-19 guidelines for Mumbai to restrict the movement of people in public areas and transport while exempting those involved in essential services.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police the updated lockdown guidelines which restrict the movement of people in public areas and transport while exempting those involved in essential services.

In a series of tweets, Mumbai Police announced the updated lockdown guidelines, which stated: "Public Places: Weekdays (7 am-8 pm) - the movement of no more than 5 people allowed Weekdays (8 pm-7 am) and 8 pm Friday to 7 am Monday - no movement except essential services Beaches- Closed till 30 April."

While private offices will remain closed, government offices have been allowed to run with 50 per cent occupancy whereas government offices required for response to COVID-19, electricity, water, banking and financial services are allowed to function with 100 per cent capacity.

Moreover, only 50 guests are allowed in wedding ceremonies while not more than 20 people can attend funerals.

On Monday, Chief Minister Thackeray also wrote a letter to PM Modi urging to lower the age group eligible for vaccination to 25 years old to curb the intensity of the rising cases in the state.

(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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Astronomers at Western University have discovered the most rapidly rotating brown dwarfs known. They found three brown dwarfs that each complete a full rotation roughly once every hour. That rate is so extreme that if these "failed stars" rotated any faster, they could come close to tearing themselves apart. Identified by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, the brown dwarfs were then studied by ground-based telescopes including Gemini North, which confirmed their surprisingly speedy rotation.

Three brown dwarfs have been discovered spinning faster than any other found before. Astronomers at Western University in Canada first measured the rotation speeds of these brown dwarfs using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and confirmed them with follow-up observations with the Gemini North telescope on Maunakea in Hawai'i and the Carnegie Institution for Science's Magellan Baade telescope in Chile. Gemini North is one of the pair of telescopes that make up the international Gemini Observatory, a Program of NSF's NOIRLab.

"We seem to have come across a speed limit on the rotation of brown dwarfs," said Megan Tannock, the Western University physics and astronomy graduate student who led the discovery. "Despite extensive searches, by our own team and others, no brown dwarfs have been found to rotate any faster. In fact, faster spins may lead to a brown dwarf tearing itself apart."

Brown dwarfs are, simply put, failed stars. They form like stars but are less massive and more like giant planets [1].

Tannock and Western University astronomer Stanimir Metchev worked with international collaborators to find three rapidly rotating brown dwarfs spinning around their axes once every hour. This is approximately 10 times faster than normal [2], and about 30 percent faster than the most rapid rotations previously measured in such objects.

The astronomers used large ground-based telescopes, Gemini North in Hawai'i and Magellan Baade in Chile, to confirm the rapid rotations. They did this by measuring alterations in the brown dwarfs' light caused by the Doppler effect and using a computer model to match those alterations to spin rates [3]. The researchers found that these brown dwarfs spin with speeds of about 350,000 kilometers per hour (around 220,000 miles per hour) at their equator, which is 10 times faster than Jupiter.

"These unusual brown dwarfs are spinning at dizzying speeds," said Sandy Leggett, an astronomer at Gemini North who studies brown dwarfs. "At about 350,000 kilometers per hour, the relatively weak gravity of the brown dwarfs is barely holding them together. This exciting discovery by the Tannock team has identified rotational limits beyond which these objects may not exist."

The team first identified the rapid rotation rates by using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope to measure how quickly the brightness of the objects varied. "Brown dwarfs, like planets with atmospheres, can have large weather storms that affect their visible brightness," explained Metchev. "The observed brightness variations show how frequently the same storms are seen as the object spins, which reveals the brown dwarf's spin period."

The team's results will appear in an upcoming issue of The Astronomical Journal.

###

Notes

[1] There are four known giant planets in the Solar System: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

[2] Stars, brown dwarfs, and planets generally spin around their axis once every 10 hours or more slowly. For example, Earth spins around its axis once every 24 hours while Jupiter and Saturn take about 10 hours. The Sun spins around its axis on average every 27 days. The Sun's rotation rate varies with latitude, with its equatorial regions completing a rotation in about 25 days and the polar regions rotating once in approximately 35 days.

[3] As each brown dwarf rotates, light from the hemisphere turning toward us appears blueshifted while light from the hemisphere turning away from us appears redshifted because of the Doppler effect. This causes absorption lines in the brown dwarf's spectrum to appear broadened (stretched both toward the red end of the spectrum and the blue end of the spectrum). By matching this broadening to a computer model, the astronomers determined how fast each brown dwarf is spinning.

More information

This research will be presented in the paper Weather on Other Worlds. V. The Three Most Rapidly Rotating Ultra-Cool Dwarfs, to appear in The Astronomical Journal.

The team is composed of Megan Tannock (Western University), Stanimir Metchev (Western University and American Museum of Natural History), Aren Heinze (University of Hawai'i), Paulo A. Miles-Paez (European Southern Observatory), Jonathan Gagne (Planetarium Rio Tinto Alcan and Universite de Montreal), Adam Burgasser (University of California, San Diego), Mark S. Marley (NASA Ames Research Center), Daniel Apai (University of Arizona), Genaro Suarez (Western University), and Peter Plavchan (George Mason University).

NSF's NOIRLab (National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory), the US center for ground-based optical-infrared astronomy, operates the international Gemini Observatory (a facility of NSF, NRC-Canada, ANID-Chile, MCTIC-Brazil, MINCyT-Argentina, and KASI-Republic of Korea), Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), and Vera C. Rubin Observatory (in cooperation with DOE's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory). It is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with NSF and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. The astronomical community is honored to have the opportunity to conduct astronomical research on Iolkam Du'ag (Kitt Peak) in Arizona, on Maunakea in Hawai?i, and on Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachon in Chile. We recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that these sites have to the Tohono O'odham Nation, to the Native Hawaiian community, and to the local communities in Chile, respectively.

Contacts

Megan Tannock

Western University

Email: mtannock@uwo.ca

Stanimir Metchev

Canada Research Chair in Extrasolar Planets

Institute for Earth and Space Exploration, Western University

Email: smetchev@uwo.ca

Amanda Kocz

Press and Internal Communications Officer

NSF's NOIRLab

Cell: +1 626 524 5884

Email: amanda.kocz@noirlab.edu
Pavel Veksler Wins the Irish Open Main Event at partypoker (266,000)

April 08, 2021 Jason Glatzer

Ukraine's Pavel Veksler outlasted a field of 1,880 entrants to ship the 2021 Irish Open 1,100 Main Event for 266,000 after agreeing to a heads-up deal with Bulgaria's Stoyan Obreshkov (second - 224,769).

The event was another massive success at partypoker with the prize pool reaching a whopping 1,880,000 to smash the generous 1 million guarantee.

Read on to learn more about Irish Open Main Event at partypoker.

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2021 Irish Open Main Event Final Table Chip Counts

Place Player Country Prize 1 Pavel Veksler Ukraine 266,000* 2 Stoyan Obreshkov Bulgaria 224,769* 3 Franco Spitale Argentina 135,483 4 Robin Andreas Berggren Sweden 89,896 5 Eduards Kudrjavcevs Estonia 61,229 6 Julian Edward James Adamson Germany 46,743 7 Victor Hugo Bonifacio Brazil 36,241 8 Justin Ouimette Canada 28,776 9 Justus Held Austria 22,481

*Reflects heads-up deal at the final table.

Irish Open Main Event Final Table Recap

Stoyan Obreshkov entered the final table with a big lead on the field with eventual winner Pavel Veksler near the bottom of the chip counts in seventh place.

The entire final was broadcasted live at the partypokerTV Twitch and YouTube channels with James Dempsey and Henry Kilbane commentating the action from beginning to the end with a handful of guests joining the virtual booth including Fintan Gavin, Louise Butler, and Sven McDermott.

It took more than two hours for the first elimination to take place during which time Justus Held, who entered the action in sixth place, got short on chips. Justus (ninth - 22,481) then became the first casualty at the final table when he called off for less than one big blind with king-four and couldn't hold against Obreshkov's jack-ten suited.

partypoker MILLIONS Online Mini Main Event winner Justin Ouimette had high hopes entering the action in second place with more than 100 big blinds. He lost most of this during the first two hours of play before hitting the rail in eighth place for 28,776. He put most of his short-stack in preflop with queen-ten and then coming up short despite pairing the board against Veksler and Victor Bonifacio, who both held ace-jack.

A break took place before a quick trio of eliminations of Eduards Kudrjavcevs (fifth - 61,229), Julian Adamson (sixth - 46,743), and Victor Bonifacio (seventh - 36,241) brought the action down to just four players. Veksler was in first place when four-handed action began with Obreshokov close behind.

Four-handed action lasted for more than an hour until Robin Andreas Berggren was ousted in fourth place for 89,896. It was a huge hand where Berggren three-bet jammed with sixes and didn't get there against Veksler's nines. Veksler held a massive chip lead after the hand with approximately double the stacks held by both of his opponents combined.

Spitale then followed Berggren to the rail to collect the third place prize when his treys were no match to Obreshkov's pocket rockets.

Heads-Up Action

Runner-up Stoyan Obreshkov collected nearly 200K as part of a heads-up deal.

Veksler began heads-up play with a 2:1 chip advantage. Players agreed to a deal while playing heads-up to reduce the payjumps between the top two prizes and Veksler increased chip advantage to leave his Obreshkov with just 15 big blinds.

Obeshkov then jammed his short-stack with jack-nine and was ousted in second place after he didn't get there against Veksler's ace-four. Thanks to the deal, Obreshkov collected 224,769 instead of the originally scheduled runner-up prize of 198,511, while Veksler collected 266,000 instead of the originally scheduled top prize of 292,256.

Meanwhile, congrats to Pavel Veksler for forever etching his name in the Irish Poker history books with a massive Main Event victory!

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Its only three homes, said Keller. If theres not a lot of demand for three units, Id be surprised.

Where else can you find this size of a condo in downtown? Keller asked.

Everything else is in the more 1,000 to 1,500 square-foot range. This gives a few select people an option for a little more space.

Likely buyers could be Upvalley residents looking to move south, he proposed. Or we also have a big influx of San Francisco and Bay Area people looking for nicer options or larger options than whats been available in downtown.

Downtown is such a great spot, he pointed out. All the amenities are right there.

Each unit has the ability to include up to three bedrooms, with the eventual floor plan to be determined later, wrote Keller in his application to the city for a use permit. Access to the units is provided via the existing elevator and/or stairway located in the eastern portion of the building at 801 Coombs and a second stairway located on the western side of the building.

Current zoning of the Young Building block includes residential uses, said Keller. For more 30 years portions of the building were occupied by the law offices of Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty, which moved out in 2012.
New Delhi:

United States acknowledged for the first time on Saturday that it has direct lines of communication with North Korea over its nuclear and missile tests.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that his immediate goal is to 'calm down things', opening a possible way forward beyond threats of military confrontation between both the sides.

"We are probing, so stay tuned," Tillerson replied. "We ask, 'Would you like to talk?' We have lines of communications to Pyongyang. We're not in a dark situation or a blackout. We have a couple of direct channels to Pyongyang. We can talk to them. We do talk to them. Directly, through our own channels."

Tillerson also claimed that the Trump administration aspired for peace and stability vis-a-vis North Korea.North Korea and US have threatened each other with dire consequences over North's nuclear program.

Whereas North Korea has claimed that its missiles can strike US, President Trump vowed to destroy North Korea."I think the most immediate action that we need is to calm things down," Tillerson added.

Tillerson was in Beijing for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and to discuss North Korea and other issues, as well as to lay the groundwork for Trump's planned visit to China in early November.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
As the spike in COVID-19 cases in the United States territory continues, the governor of Puerto Rico declared Wednesday that public health officials will start vaccinating all individuals ages 16 and up starting on Monday.

The said announcement was celebrated by more than 3 million individuals in the U.S. territory as it recently prioritizes individuals 50 years and older or people ages 35 to 49 years old experiencing chronic health conditions to receive the vaccine. Since the vaccination started on the island in December, more than 1 million vaccines have been administered.

According to WION, Puerto Rican Governor Pedro Pierluisi shared that along with the entire world ,they also face terrible times during this pandemic. He also added that the global health crisis created a huge blow in the territory.

Moreover, in his first state of territory address, Pierluisi made an announcement that he would implement stricter measures in fighting against the latest surge of cases of COVID-19. The Puerto Rican governor also mentioned that the curfew, which has remained in place for more than a year, has been expanded as it will start from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning Friday. Pierluisi also added that businesses will be forced to close by 9 p.m., or two hours earlier than the current practice time at 11 p.m.

In addition, the Puerto Rican governor said that government and public health officials are seeing a dangerous spike in cases, and it will be causing a rise in hospitalizations and even deaths. He also announced that his administration would allot $20 million in establishing a genomics surveillance program in the Health Department of the Island to help health officials monitor possible variants and mutations of the virus in the future, GOA Chronicle reported.

ALSO READ: 104-Year-Old Colombian Woman Contracts, Beats COVID-19 Twice

Pierluisi also stated that he will leave aside a $1.5 million budget in creating a digital vaccine passport. He emphasized that the personal information of his people would be protected, but he did not mention any details that will be present in the digital passport.

U.S. Assistance

Furthermore, the Puerto Rican governor praised the Biden administration for treating the island fairly. He also shared that the U.S. will be giving the territory millions of dollars from federal funds to aid those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, York News-Times reported.

The budget will have at least $50 million of assistance to the restaurant and bar industry as it has been hit hard by the pandemic due to the ongoing restrictions imposed on the island. Bar closures were still not lifted as of the moment. It has been in effect for more than a year. Another $50 million would be allocated to clinics and private hospitals, while the same amount would be given to those work in agriculture.

The recent assistance from the U.S. came after recent reports of more than 199,000 confirmed and suspected cases shocked Puerto Rico along with more than 2,000 deaths in the U.S. territory.

RELATED ARTICLE: Governor Abbott Prioritizes Personal Freedom Over Vaccination Proof, Bans Vaccine Passports

WATCH: Puerto Rico governor talks statehood, COVID vaccinations and more FROM- Good Morning America
Taiwan's foreign minister has said the island will defend itself "to the very last day" if attacked by

Joseph Wu said on Wednesday China's attempts at conciliation while engaging in military intimidation are sending "mixed signals" to the island's residents.

claims as its own territory to be won over peacefully or by force.

Wu noted flew 10 warplanes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone on Monday and deployed an aircraft carrier group for exercises near

"We are willing to defend ourselves, that's without any question," Wu told reporters.

"We fill fight a war if we need to fight a war, and if we need to defend ourselves to the very last day, then we will defend ourselves to the very last day."



China does not recognise Taiwan's democratically elected government, and leader Xi Jinping has said "unification" between the sides cannot be put off indefinitely.

"On the one hand they want to charm the Taiwanese people by sending their condolences, but at the same time they are also sending their military aircraft and military vessels closer to aimed at intimidating Taiwan's people," Wu said at a ministry briefing.

"The Chinese are sending very mixed signals to the Taiwanese people and I would characterize that as self-defeating," Wu said.

The vast improvements in China's military capabilities and its increasing activity around Taiwan have raised concerns in the US, which is legally bound to ensure Taiwan is capable of defending itself and to regard all threats to the island's security as matters of grave concern."



Speaking in Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price reaffirmed the US commitment to Taiwan.

"The United States maintains the capacity to resist any resort to force or any other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan," Price said Wednesday.

The naval drills being conducted in waters off Taiwan were meant to help China "safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests," the army said Monday, using language often interpreted as being directed at Taiwan's leadership that has refused to give in to Beijing's demands that it recognize the island as part of Chinese territory.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949, and most Taiwanese favour maintaining the current state of de facto independence while engaging in robust economic exchanges with the mainland.

China has created conditions for greater economic integration, while also targeting some communities such as pineapple farmers in hopes of weakening their support for the island's government.

Chinese diplomatic pressure has been growing also, reducing the number of Taiwan's formal diplomatic allies to just 15 and shutting its representatives out of the World Health Assembly and other major forums.

Taiwan has responded by boosting its high-tech industries and unofficial foreign relations, particularly with its key partners the US, Japan and others, and by building up its own defense industries, including a submarine development program, while buying upgraded warplanes, missiles and other military hardware from the US.

Meanwhile, the US Navy says the carrier Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group reentered the South China Sea on Saturday to "conduct routine operations." It is the second time the strike group has entered the waterway this year as part of its 2021 deployment to the US 7th Fleet area of operations.

(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 once divisive pair of Crocs are well and truly back in fashion.

A host of Australian celebrities and influencers have been seen wearing the quirky shoes in recent months, proving the mid-noughties trend is making a comeback.

The likes of Ruby Rose, Roxy Jacenko, Brooke Boney and Martha Kalifatidis are all proud owners of Crocs, despite their popularity peaking around 2007.

Crocs are back! A host of Australian celebrities and influencers have been seen wearing the quirky shoes in recent months, proving the mid-noughties trend is making a comeback. Pictured: actress and DJ Ruby Rose with a pair of customised Crocs

The brand has grown in popularity thanks to a number of high-profile collaborations with the likes of Justin Bieber and Post Malone.

Married At First Sight's Martha Kalifatidis, who boasts 593,000 Instagram followers, recently shared her own custom-made design.

The customisations reflect her own personality and her relationship with her boyfriend, personal trainer Michael Brunelli.

She's a fan! Married At First Sight's Martha Kalifatidis (pictured), who boasts 593,000 Instagram followers, recently shared her own custom-made Crocs

MB and MK: The customisations reflect her own personality and her relationship with her boyfriend, personal trainer Michael Brunelli

'I did an MB, for Michael Brunelli, and an MK, and I have the lock and the key,' she explained, pointing out the different accessories.

'I really like the cactus, because Michael can be a prick sometimes. I also gave him some chill pills because he needs to chill.

'Obviously a camera for me, because I take selfies, and an alien, because you know, I'm out of this world.

'And a gummy bear, because they're my favourite lollies in the world.'

Meanwhile, PR queen Roxy Jacenko managed to get her hands on a pair of Crocs from Justin Bieber's Drew House collaboration.

Limited edition: PR queen Roxy Jacenko managed to get her hands on a pair of Crocs from Justin Bieber's Drew House collaboration

Collaboration: Justin's shoes retail for about $100, and you get a free pair of Drew House socks if you buy directly from Crocs

In October last year, she posed in her walk-in wardrobe wearing her yellow Crocs from Justin's range.

'My friends think I've lost it,' Roxy captioned the post.

The shoes retail for about $100, and you get a free pair of Drew House socks if you buy directly from Crocs.

Unique: 'My friends think I've lost it,' Roxy said after buying a pair of limited-edition Crocs

P.E Nation designer Pip Edwards also showcased her purple Drew House Crocs on Instagram on Wednesday.

The 41-year-old's shoes feature a number of cartoon characters on the front, including Looney Tunes favourite Bugs Bunny.

'Yep, I'm doing it,' she said of the 'comfy' footwear.

Pip's given her approval: P.E Nation designer Pip Edwards also showcased her purple Drew House Crocs on Instagram on Wednesday

Trend: 'Yep, I'm doing it,' she said of the 'comfy' footwear

Actress Ruby Rose also designed her own collection for the brand, called Just Love.

One pair of shoes, released in June last year, featured a rainbow design to celebrate Pride Month.

'I've been incredibly excited these past few months to design another shoe with @Crocs!' Ruby said at the time.

Just Love: Actress Ruby Rose also designed her own collection for Crocs

Eye-catching: One pair of shoes, released in June last year, featured a rainbow design to celebrate Pride Month

Fancy that: Australian musician G Flip is also a fan of Crocs

Turning heads! Brooke Boney also owns a pair of bright pink Crocs

Australian musician G Flip is also a fan of Crocs, as is Today reporter Brooke Boney.

Former WAG-turned-fashion designer Nadia Bartel this week shared a video on Instagram of her sister checking out the Crocs website while on set of a photo shoot.

'So we're meant to be working but Michelle is telling us about her Crocs obsession,' Nadia wrote. 'Who else thinks these are a vibe? I am not sure if I am sold yet.'

Popular: Former WAG-turned-fashion designer Nadia Bartel this week shared a video on Instagram of her sister checking out the Crocs website while on set of a photo shoot
New Delhi:

"The surgical strikes were a message we wanted to communicate. I think they have understood. If the adversary does not behave, and it is required, we can conduct such operations again. We can repeat them, if not in the same form and shape": Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat



Going Back to 2015



On June 4, 2015, National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) ambushed a convoy of 6 Dogra Regiment in Chandel district of Manipur, killing 18 jawans.



On June 10 India conducted surgical strikes against terrorist camps along the Indo-Myanmar international border, eliminating more than 150 militants.

The Nature of Surgical Strikes Carried Out On Thursday, September 29, 2016

India conducted Surgical Strikes in an area of 25 km across Line of Control (LoC) which came as a shock for Pakistan and celebration for Indians. This strike was not anti-Pakistan but was clearly focused on terrorists.



On the day of this planned strike, Chief of Army Staff Gen Dalbir Singh was continuously monitoring the Operation, right from the night of Wednesday when Special Forces Para Commandos from the 4th and 9th Battalions of the Northern Command started the onslaught that started just after midnight and concluded around 4.30 Thursday morning. This attack came merely 10 days after the Uri attack in which 18 soldiers were martyred.



Seven terrorist launch pads spread over a significant area were targeted. Each terrorist launch pad had 30 to 40 terrorists, guides and support aides. The launch pads had been under surveillance for about a week.

India's Surgical Strike across Line of Control Described In 10 Points

Earlier on Thursday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a crucial meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) that was attended by the top brass including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.



And then came the news that sent varied messages of varied essence to varied parties in the country, and across the border: Indian Armed Forces conducted surgical strikes on the Pakistan side of the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday night.



This was announced by the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Ranbir Singh in an official press conference on Thursday morning.



To simplify the entire operation undertaken, we have it broken down in 10 points. Here you go:



1. The strikes began past midnight and were carried out in Bhimber, Hotspring, Kel and Lipa sectors on the Pakistan side of the LoC.



2. Indian soldiers went at least three kilometres inside the Pakistan side of Line of Control. "Our forces have gone deep in and come back before sunrise," said government sources.



3. The strikes are India's first direct military response to the attack in Uri. It included para-commandos and helicopters.



4. The arc of the operation was spread over 250 km in a landscape that included hills, forests, and mountains.



5. Indian Armed Forces confirmed that full surprise was achieved and there were no Indian casualties.



6. Troops had clear orders not to leave bodies or buddies behind.



7. The mission was actively monitored by senior officers in the Army's Operations Room at the Ministry of Defence in South Block.



8. Chief of Army Staff Gen Dalbir Singh was continuously present in the Operations Room, right from Wednesday night when Special Forces Para Commandos from the 4th and 9th Battalions of the Northern Command started the onslaught that started just after midnight and concluded around 4.30 Thursday morning.



9. Seven terrorist launch pads spread over a significant area were targeted. Each terrorist launch pad had 30 to 40 terrorists, guides and support aides. The launch pads had been under surveillance for about a week.



10. According to the Army, the terrorists were planning major attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and in major Indian cities.

Will the Army Conduct Operations on the Lines of the Surgical Strikes in the Near Future?

We should hit Pakistan, continue to prepare for surgical strikes, continue to punish Pakistani posts in the proximity of the LoC and we should start adopting counter terrorist measures.



That should be India's action without escalating it to a full-fledged war, said Lieutenant General D B Shekatkar (retd) in October 2016.



Army chief's stern message to Pakistan: 'Infiltrators will be buried two-and-a-half feet under the ground'



As the country is celebrating the first anniversary of successful execution of the surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC), Army chief General Bipin Rawat, in a direct caveat to Pakistan, said that it should stop cross-border terrorism and if it fails to do so then India possesses an array of penalizing measures to ruin its evil designs.



The Indian Army, with a strong counter-infiltration grid along the 778-km Line of Control and robust counter-terrorism operations in the hinterland, is also ready to keep on welcoming infiltrating terrorists and burying them two-and-a-half feet under the ground," said General Rawat.



General Rawat said the successful surgical strikes by Indian Special Forces on September 29 last year were intended to send a loud and clear message to Pakistan.



"The surgical strikes were a message we wanted to communicate. I think they have understood. If the adversary does not behave, and it is required, we can conduct such operations again. We can repeat them, if not in the same form and shape," reiterated Gen Rawat.



India, as a strong country is capable of taking such decisions if and when required in keeping with its national security objectives, he added.
A Syrian air defence missile fell near a southern Lebanese border town on Thursday, waking residents up to a loud sound.

Israel carried out a missile attack near the Syrian capital of Damascus and its southern suburbs early Thursday that wounded four soldiers, Syrias state media said.

State news agency SANA quoted an unidentified military official as saying that Syrian air defences were able to shoot down most of the missiles before they hit their targets.

SANA said some of the missiles were fired by Israeli warplanes flying over neighbouring Lebanon.

Residents of some of Lebanon's southern regions woke up early on Thursday to the blaring sound of Israeli warplanes flying over their homes to reach their targets in Syria.

The planes were flying so low, "we felt they were going to touch the mountains then we heard a very strong sound", said Houla resident Abdullah Mustafa.

Al-Manar TV of Lebanons militant Hezbollah group said one of the Syrian air defence missiles exploded near the Lebanon-Syria border and was heard in parts of southern Lebanon.

It later said the missile crashed near Houla, a Lebanese border village.

Israel has launched hundreds of strikes against Iran-linked military targets in Syria over the years but rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations.

Israel views Iranian entrenchment on its northern frontier as a red line, and it has repeatedly struck Iran-linked facilities and weapons convoys destined for Hezbollah.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
 Flash

Kenya and the United Kingdom on Wednesday resolved to set up a joint emergency committee to address COVID-19 travel restrictions after London added Nairobi to its COVID-19 travel red list.

Raychelle Omamo, Kenya's cabinet secretary for foreign affairs, held talks with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab where they also agreed to bolster trade and regional security.

"They discussed the strength of our relationship on trade, regional security, and health and agreed to establish a Joint Committee to work together on addressing COVID-19 travel restrictions," the ministry of foreign affairs said in a brief statement.

It said the two officials underlined the need to work on strengthening trade and deepening regional security.

Britain sparked a diplomatic row on April 2 when it included Kenya in the COVID-19 travel ban red list effective Friday.

London said the decision was taken by UK Ministers on March 31 following a review of the latest scientific evidence pertaining to the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 variants.

According to British Department of Transport, nearly a third of about 550 people who travel from Kenya to the UK each week have been testing positive to the COVID-19 variant originating from South Africa.

But Kenya criticized the move, saying the decision was "discriminatory" and lacked "logic and scientific knowledge of the disease or the spread of the pandemic".

Kenya also said all visitors originating from or transiting through UK airports will be required to undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine at a government facility at their own cost.

Nairobi said that exemption from the new travel restrictions include cargo flights between the two countries and Kenyan nationals resident in the UK or transiting through the European nation's airports.
SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (AP)  The man who killed more than two dozen people at a Texas church in 2017 appeared to have been planning months before, according to testimony at a trial in a lawsuit alleging the Air Force failed to flag a conviction that might have prevented him from legally buying the gun used in the shooting.

Trial began Wednesday in a lawsuit against the federal government filed by survivors and families of victims of the shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs.

Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire during a Sunday service there in November 2017 in the worst mass shooting in Texas history. Authorities put the official death toll at 26 because one of the 25 people killed was pregnant. Kelley died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was shot and chased by two men who heard the gunfire at the church.

Kelley had served nearly five years in the Air Force before being discharged in 2014 for bad conduct, after he was convicted of assaulting a former wife and stepson, cracking the childs skull. The Air Force has publicly acknowledged that the felony conviction for domestic violence, had it been put into the FBI database, could have prevented Kelley from buying guns from licensed firearms dealers, and also from possessing body armor.

During cross-examination of the lead investigator in the church shooting, government lawyer Paul Stern showed a series of notes and investigative reports, including several photos posted on Kelley's social media accounts of him pointing guns at the camera, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

Investigators also showed his iCloud account that had reminders to himself of getting ammo, destroy phone, and clear YouTube and browser.

Lawyers for the survivors and victims' families said there was evidence Kelley not only had a history of violence but that he was also obsessed with guns and church shootings after the June 2015 mass church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.

The bench trial is expected to last up to three weeks. U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez will determine if the government is liable, and if so, the matter will proceed to a trial on damages.




NEW DELHI (PTI): Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said that China is capable of launching cyber attacks against India and that there is a capability gap between the two countries when it comes to technology.



In an address at the Vivekananda International Foundation, he also said that India's leadership displayed political will and determination to uphold vital national interests in the face of "unprovoked assault" on its security and dignity, remarks seen as an apparent reference to the border row with China in eastern Ladakh.



In response to a question, he said the "biggest differential" between India and China lies in the field of cyber domain, adding the neighbouring country has been able to invest a lot of funds on new technologies.



Gen Rawat said that a "capability differential" has come between the two countries over the years and that China has a "lead" over India on technology.



"We know that China is capable of launching cyber attacks on us and that it can disrupt a large amount of our systems. What we are trying to do is to create a system which would ensure cyber defence," he said.



He said the aim has been to create firewalls to deal with the cyber attacks and that the issue is being addressed in a "serious way".



The CDS said each service has its own cyber agency to ensure that even if they come under cyber attack, the down time and the effect of the cyber attack does not last long.



"What we are trying to do is to create a system which would ensure cyber defence...We should be able to overcome cyber-attacks and continue with our systems either through an alternative or preventive means through firewalls," he said.



"I would unhesitatingly say that the (Indian) Navy is far ahead than the Army and the Air Force as far as the way they are imbibing technology," Gen Rawat said.



He also referred to evolution of India's military, and said the country must come out of the temptation of looking at the western world for security solutions, and instead, tell the world to come and learn from its vast experience in dealing with diverse challenges.



"Democracy, justice, liberty and international peace call upon us to enhance our global reach and play an important role in global and regional affairs by promoting international peace and stability through a rules-based international order," he said.



Gen Rawat said India's external threats can be met with effective diplomacy and adequate defence capability but at the same time noted that strong political institutions, economic growth, social harmony, efficient law and order machinery, expeditious judicial relief and good governance are "prerequisite for internal stability".



"Our leadership has displayed the political will and determination to uphold our vital national interests in the face of unprovoked assault on our security, values and indeed our dignity," he said. The CDS, however, did not elaborate further.



"We can't just return to the way things were before. Therefore, change has become the need of the hour. There is a need to overcome and shed the colonial era syndrome completely," he added.



Asked about the evolving situation in Afghanistan, the General said Taliban is trying to gain ground and that India is closely watching the developments.



"We are not out of the bandwagon...Anything that happens, we will be on board," he said, adding India's security interests will get considered.



To a question on allocation for the armed forces, Gen Rawat said the government is working on a non-lapsable budget which will help the services.



Talking about regional dynamics, he said it has witnessed military conflicts, civil wars, liberation movements, military dictatorship and challenges of emergencies, religious fundamentalism, terrorism and poverty. "Our backyard, hence, continues to remain full of contradictions, disparities and paradoxes. Hence, there is an emergent need to develop a vision for the region," Gen Rawat said.



"However, one must be careful to not bite more than what one can chew. Hence, the vision for the region, even our global vision must be intrinsically linked to our national interests with a direct link to our national security," he said.



The CDS also mentioned that the higher defence organisation in India has been witnessing "incremental reforms''.



He said the restructuring of the Ministry of Defence has provided an opportunity to embrace forward looking strategies to set in motion a dynamic transformation process that gives the country the desired capabilities to prepare for future wars in an era of high-technology.



Gen Rawat also said that time has come for the military to look towards technology in a big way.



He said that work is being done to create a national maritime commission under the Navy and the new entity would ensure convergence among users operating in the high seas and coastline.


STOCKHOLM, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Effective May 1, Vanessa Butani, current Head of Sustainability for Business Area Europe, will take on the role as VP Group Sustainability at Electrolux. She will replace Henrik Sundstrom, who is retiring from the company.

Vanessa Butani will lead Electrolux forward in the company's For the Better 2030 framework, which covers the full value chain, from operations and products to helping consumers live more sustainably while using Electrolux products.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity to work across the entire organization to drive our sustainability agenda," says Vanessa Butani. "We have ambitious but achievable objectives and I look forward to the journey ahead to drive positive change both at Electrolux and in the daily lives of our consumers."

In her role, Vanessa Butani will become a member of the Electrolux Consumer Experience Leadership Team and report to Ola Nilsson, Chief Experience Officer at Electrolux.

"I'm very pleased to have Vanessa joining the team," says Ola Nilsson. "She will play a key role in taking Electrolux sustainability agenda to the next level, and ensure we have a strong voice as a corporate sustainability leader as well as connect our sustainability conviction with the consumer."

Vanessa Butani has a strong track record in the sustainability field. During an earlier eight-year period at Electrolux, she held several managerial roles in sustainability and connectivity. After three years outside Electrolux she re-joined the company to lead sustainability for Business Area Europe in January this year. She is replacing the current VP Group Sustainability, Henrik Sundstrom, who will be retiring after 36 years with Electrolux.

"Henrik has been instrumental in establishing Electrolux as a global leader in sustainability. We would not be where we are today without his foundational work in multiple roles across the company. I have no doubt that he will continue to stir impactful discussion with his knowledge and insights going forward," says Ola Nilsson.

The search for Vanessa Butani's successor as Head of Sustainability for Business Area Europe will begin shortly.

CONTACT:

For further information, please contact Electrolux Press Hotline, +46 8 657 65 07.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 22:42:37|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on April 2, 2021 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday refuted U.S. accusations of the country conducting "intimidation actions" in the Taiwan Strait and said that the label of "intimidation" or "coercion" can never be pinned on China.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily news briefing when asked to comment on U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price's allegations against China.

"China has never intended to intimidate others, but it is not afraid of any intimidation. China does not want to coerce anyone, but it is useless to coerce China," said Zhao.

He stressed that it is a fact recognized by the international community that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

"The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, a commitment made by the U.S. side in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, and a red line that cannot be crossed," said the spokesperson.

He noted that the U.S. warships have repeatedly showed off "muscles" in the Taiwan Strait recently, sending out gravely wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" forces and threatening the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The United States has fought no war for only 16 of its nearly 250 years of history and runs over 800 overseas military bases globally, Zhao said, adding that with the highest military expenditure in the world for years in a row, the United States accounts for about 40 percent of the world's total military spending.

The United States also frequently imposes illegal unilateral sanctions on other sovereign states.

"China has the firm will and the ability to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity," Zhao said.

He said the United States should understand that Taiwan question is highly sensitive and that it should abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques.

The United States should also stop its dangerous practices, prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, and should not send wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" forces, to avoid damaging its own interests as well as the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. 
As a company committed to helping farmers drive their businesses forward and working to ensure global food security, we are focused on bringing advanced innovations to market that will help increase yield and profitability while also making measurable impact in reducing climate change.

Corteva Agriscience (NYSE: CTVA) today announced the creation of a new Carbon and Ecosystems Services portfolio to develop innovative products and services. The initial offering will enable the carbon sequestration process, ease access to carbon credits and create flexible solutions to help farmers increase profitability while contributing to a climate change solution.

Additionally, Corteva has created the 2021 Climate Positive Leaders Program, which will recognize early adopter farmers and ranchers who have successfully implemented climate positive agriculture practices. These efforts support Cortevas 2030 Sustainability Goals and are key components of the companys Climate Positive Commitment.

As a company committed to helping farmers drive their businesses forward and working to ensure global food security, we are focused on bringing advanced innovations to market that will help increase yield and profitability while also making measurable impact in reducing climate change, said James C. Collins, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Corteva Agriscience. Leveraging the full spectrum of our seed, crop protection, digital technology and agronomic expertise, the products and services we are developing in this portfolio reflect our ongoing progress in delivering on the ambitious goals we set to advance sustainable agriculture, for the benefit of customers, our company and our planet.

Anne Alonzo, Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, Corteva Agriscience, added, We recognize the urgency of addressing climate change to ensure farmers will be able to produce a healthy food supply for generations to come. There is increased understanding that sustainable climate change mitigation is not only critical for our environment but also for ensuring the ongoing health of the farming sector globally. Corteva Agriscience is dedicated to providing our customers with best-in-class solutions to address environmental issues while strengthening their businesses.

Carbon and Ecosystems Services Portfolio

Cortevas new Carbon and Ecosystem Services portfolio, part of Cortevas Digital Business Platform, will provide farmers simple and clear access to incentives and initiatives related to sustainable and regenerative agriculture practices.

Cortevas integrated approach with agronomy support, digital solutions, carbon advisory services and access to carbon markets will help farmers make impactful and sustainable changes that return economic and environmental benefits. Dedicated Corteva Carbon Specialists will work with farmers and industry collaborators across the food and agriculture system to uncover carbon market opportunities. The initiative builds on Cortevas strong history of putting farmers first, as illustrated by the companys facilitation of the first modern carbon payout in 2019 to a farmer for adopting regenerative practices and capturing carbon credits.

The introductory launch of Cortevas Carbon Initiative will be targeted to row crop farmers in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa this year, with the intent to expand to new geographies and crops for the 2022 growing season.

Cortevas differentiated approach for farmers with the initial program includes:



Providing farmers with access to new markets through a simple, flexible way to sell carbon credits for a fair price on the farmers terms.

Allowing farmers to typically earn an estimated $5-$20/acre/year by introducing cover crops and/or reducing tillage with the assistance of their Corteva advisor.

Third-party verification by the leading independent marketplace provider, Ecosystem Services Marketplace Consortium (ESMC), a non-profit consortium that works to compensate producers who improve the environment through their agricultural practices.

Offering flexibility for farmers to work with other carbon credit buyers in the future. After the initial period, farmers can continue with Corteva Agriscience or opt to sell new credits to their preferred buyer across the ESMC marketplace.

Additionally, Corteva is uniquely positioned to deliver trusted carbon assets to buyers who are looking to fulfill their sustainability commitments with the assurance of driving scalable, science-based outcomes.

Carbon programs provide an opportunity to help farmers move into practices that have both financial and environmental benefit. We take pride in the clear water coming off our fields but also know that these practices have to pay, said Tom Anson and Ben Singleton of AMS Farms in Monroe City, Indiana. Historically, weve tried to do whats right environmentally and agronomically on our operation. As we pick up new acres and implement these practices, were excited to enroll them with Corteva Agriscience because of the trust we have and the revenue this will generate. Our goal is to work with Corteva Agriscience to help us move faster with confidence into the carbon market while building healthier soils on our operation.

Farmers interested in gaining access to new carbon market opportunities can learn more here.

2021 Climate Positive Leaders Program

Corteva Agrisciences 2021 Climate Positive Leaders Program is a nomination-based farmer and rancher recognition program featuring early adopter producers around the world who are implementing, scaling and sharing climate positive practices. The Climate Positive Leaders Program is open to farmers in the United States, Canada*, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, Australia and Kenya. Farmers who meet the program criteria can be nominated by regional third-party organizations, including grower groups, NGOs, universities or other technology assistance partners. A panel of judges will review the applications, with winners and runners-up announced later this year. Winners and their innovative practices will be featured in educational campaigns to scale and promote further adoption of climate- and business-friendly approaches.

Nominations are open now until June 19, 2021. For more information, visit the climate positive leaders program on Corteva.com

*Void in Quebec.

About Corteva

Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) is a publicly traded, global pure-play agriculture company that provides farmers around the world with the most complete portfolio in the industry  including a balanced and diverse mix of seed, crop protection and digital solutions focused on maximizing productivity to enhance yield and profitability. With some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and an industry-leading product and technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the Company is committed to working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfills its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. Corteva became an independent public company on June 1, 2019 and was previously the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont. More information can be found at http://www.corteva.com.

Follow Corteva on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

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4/8/21

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Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 7, 2021) - KWESST Micro Systems Inc. (TSXV: KWE) (OTCQB: KWEMF) ("KWESST" or "the Company") has been requested by OTC Markets Group Inc. to issue this statement about promotional activity concerning its common stock.

On April 6, 2021, OTC Markets informed the Company that it became aware of certain promotional activities concerning the Company and its common stock traded on the OTCQB Marketplace, including the distribution of two promotional newsletter e-mails published by Epic Stocks Picks discussing the Company, its products and the global size of the defence and security business sector. The publications also contained a summary of recent news release issued by KWESST. OTC Markets provided examples of the promotional material for reference. The Company was aware of the articles before receiving them from OTC Markets.

Epic Stock Picks is a third-party marketing and advertising firm retained by the Company's investor relations' firm Emerging Markets LLC ("EMC") to provide content distribution and advertising services. Each of the newsletters presented factual statements regarding the Company, its business and industry. The Company provided EMC publicly available source information for the newsletters and did have editorial control over the materials, including reviewing the materials for factual accuracy prior to their dissemination. The Company does not believe the statements in the newsletters were false or misleading. The appointment of EMC, the nature of the relationship between KWESST and EMC as well as the compensation to be paid to EMC was publicly disclosed on March 3rd, 2021 and the news release announcing the appointment can be found on SEDAR and on the Company's website at https://kwesst.com/news/kwesst-enters-into-investor-relations-agreement/ . Neither EMC nor any of its principals currently own any securities, directly or indirectly, of the Company or have any intention to acquire any securities of the Company.

Further, the Company understands this promotional activity may have coincided with increased trading activity in the Company's common shares beginning on April 6th, 2021. The Company does not believe the promotional activities were a factor in the recent increase in trading volume in the Company's common shares. Instead, the Company attributes the increase to a news release issued by KWESST on that day, which investors can find on SEDAR and on the Company's website https://kwesst.com/news/kwesst-signs-exclusive-counter-drone-technology-license-agreement/.

In the last twelve months, the Company has worked with EMC, Equity Guru, Maximus Strategic Consulting, Stockhouse.com, Investor News Network, Proactiveinvestors.com, Digitonic Ltd., Agora Internet Relations Corp. and Hybrid Financial Ltd. to provide investor relations, public relations services, marketing or other related services. The Company also has Jason Frame and Scott Young providing investor relations work to KWESST in their personal capacity.

After an inquiry by management, none of the Company's executive officers, directors or, to the knowledge of the Company, any controlling shareholders and third-party service providers, except as outlined herein, sold or purchased shares of the Company within the past 90 days. Within the past 90 days, Jason Frame bought and sold shares in the context of the market and 2573685 Ontario Inc. - a company controlled by the President and CEO of KWESST - sold 184,956 common shares in a private transaction and made all required securities filings in connection with such trade.

The OTC Markets has further requested that the Company state whether it has issued any shares or convertible instruments allowing conversion to equity securities at prices constituting a discount to the current market rate at the time of the issuance. The Company represents, as disclosed in its public filings on SEDAR that since listing on the TSX Venture Exchange on September 22, 2020 it is has not issued common shares at a discount to the market price at the time of the offering. On April 6th, 2021, KWESST issued a news release announcing its intent to complete a best efforts, brokered private placement of up to 2,000,000 units of the Company at a price of C$1.25 per unit for gross proceeds of up to C$2,500,000. Investors can find the news release on SEDAR and on the Company's website at https://kwesst.com/news/kwesst-announces-c2-5-million-brokered-private-placement-financing/.

For more complete and specific information regarding the Company, its prospects and the risks associated with those prospects, readers should consult the Company's public filings on SEDAR, its website and other reliable sources. The Company encourages investors to contact their investment advisers prior to making any investment.

About KWESST

KWESST develops and commercializes high-value ultra-miniaturized technology applications that make a critical difference to the safety and operational effectiveness of personnel in the defence and security industries. The Company's current portfolio of unique proprietary offerings include: its signature TASCSTM (Tactical Awareness and Situational Control System) for real-time awareness and targeting information from any source (including drones) streamed directly to users' smart devices and weapons; the autonomous GreyGhostTM soldier-portable micro drone missile system that defends against small hostile drones including swarms using high-speed kinetic impact; a Ground Laser Defence system to counter the emerging threat of weaponized lasers against personnel; and, the PhantomTM electronic battlefield decoy system to mask the electromagnetic signature of friendly forces with decoy signatures at false locations to deceive and confuse adversaries. All systems can operate stand-alone or integrate seamlessly with OEM products and battlefield management systems including Frontline, Edge, Killswitch and ATAK (Android Tactical Assault Kit) among others. KWESST also has developmental "smart ordnance" projects including its "Shot Counter" system, which records the number and type of rounds fired, for optimized firearms maintenance and performance. The Company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with representative offices in Washington, DC, London, UK and Abu Dhabi, UAE. KWESST trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol KWE and on the U.S. OTCQB under the symbol KWEMF.

Contact: Jason Frame, Investor Relations: frame@kwesst.com

For more information, please visit https://kwesst.com/

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of the phrase 'forward-looking information' in the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations. Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the anticipated size of the Offering, the Offering price, the anticipated closing date and the completion of the Offering, the anticipated use of the net proceeds from the Offering, the receipt of all necessary approvals, and the Company's intentions regarding its objectives, goals or future plans and statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: an inability to complete the Offering on the terms or on the timeline as announced or at all; and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies 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. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

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 news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79715
The audience room of the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg, eastern France, on April 23, 2015. (Patrick Hertzog/AFP via Getty Images)

European Court Rules Mandatory Vaccination for Children Doesnt Violate Human Rights

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on April 8 ruled that compulsory childhood vaccination in the Czech Republic doesnt violate the European Convention on Human Rights and could be regarded as being necessary in a democratic society.

The Grand Chamber judgment, held by a 161 vote, was on six complaints against the Czech government over its vaccination policy that mandates children to receive two vaccineshexavalent and MMRagainst nine diseases.

One of the parents was fined for refusing to vaccinate his children. In the other cases, the children had been rejected from pre-schools after they hadnt received one or both of the mandatory vaccinations for various reasons.

The court said it recognized that compulsory vaccination does represent an interference with physical integrity and therefore concerns Article 8 (right to respect for private life) of the human rights convention.

But the Czech policy, the ECHR said, pursued the legitimate aims of protecting health as well as the rights of others and is in the best interest of children.

The ECHR also said theres a wide margin of appreciation' for the policy, and that the punishment for violating the rules is proportionate.

The fine imposed on Mr. Vavricka had not been excessive, the ECHR said, referring to Pavel Vavricka, the parent fined for not vaccinating his children.

For the children not accepted into preschools, the ECHR said it does mean the loss of an important opportunity to develop their personalities, but the impact was limited since their primary school education hadnt been affected.

The Court also declared, by a majority, the complaints under Article 9 (freedom of thought and conscience) of the Convention inadmissible and that there was no need to examine the case separately under Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 (right to education) to the Convention, the ECHR said in a statement.

According to Czech tabloid the Blesk, the Czechs Office of the Government Plenipotentiary said the ruling sent a message to the world.

In addition to fundamental rights, a person also has basic duties and responsibilities towards others, the office stated, adding that the ruling emphasized the importance of social solidarity in society.

Zuzana Candigliota, a lawyer who represented the parents, said the verdict is disappointing.

For us, the verdict is, of course, disappointing, as the uncritical vaccination ideology prevailed before a thorough assessment of the adequacy of enforcing a potentially risky intrusion on bodily integrity, which is vaccination, Candigliota said.
Chevrolet Equinox SUVs are parked awaiting shipment near the General Motors Co (GM) CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, on Oct. 13, 2017. (Chris Helgren/Reuters)

GM, Ford Cutting More North American Production Due to Chip Shortage

WASHINGTONGeneral Motors Co (GM) and Ford Motor Co both said on Thursday they will cut more vehicle production due to a semiconductor chip shortage that has roiled the global automotive industry.

The White House plans a summit on the chip shortage issue next Monday that is expected to include GM Chief Executive Mary Barra and Ford Chief Executive Jim Farley and top technology firm executives.

An auto industry group this week urged the government to help and warned that a global semiconductor shortage could result in 1.28 million fewer vehicles built this year and disrupt production for another six months.

President Joe Biden wants at least $50 billion to help boost semiconductor production, but that will not address short-term needs. This is something that there is a great deal of focus at the highest level across government, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

General Motors, the largest U.S. automaker, said it will cut production for two weeks at its Spring Hill assembly plant that makes popular SUVs starting on Monday, and cut a week of Chevrolet Blazer production at its Ramos plant in Mexico and its Lansing Delta Township factory in Michigan.

GMs Lansing Grand River Assembly will extend its downtime through the week of April 26, while its CAMI Assembly (Canada) and Fairfax Assembly plants will extend production shutdowns through the week of May 10.

Ford, the second-largest U.S automaker, said it will cancel production next week at its Chicago Assembly Plant, its Flat Rock Assembly Plant and part of its Kansas City Assembly Plant. It will also operate its Ohio Assembly Plant on a reduced schedule.

Ford said it will operate more plants this summer during traditional shutdown weeks to make up for lost production.

GM said the latest cuts have been factored into its forecast that the shortage could reduce this years profit by up to $2 billion.

GM said it has not taken downtime or reduced shifts at any of its more profitable full-size truck or full-size SUV plants due to the shortage.

By David Shepardson and Ankit Ajmera
Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister of Works and Housing has urged engineers across the country to prioritize the life of humans over their economic gains in the discharge of their mandates.



He has, thus, charged the Engineering Council to effectively regulate the sector to weed out unqualified and unregistered practitioners to ensure the highest professional standards and improve quality of work delivery.



Speaking at a news conference in Accra on Wednesday organised by the Ministry and the Engineering Council, the sector Minister bemoaned the poor execution of some projects in the past, a situation he said had resulted in the loss of many lives and caused damages to properties.



He said engineering failures were major causes of destructive disasters which result in unimaginable damages and therefore the need for practitioners to place human life at the topmost of their list in the discharge of such duties.



Ghana has witnessed a number of engineering challenges in the past, some good examples are roads and bridges not living up to design expectant lives, inadequate hydraulic structures on waterways resulting in localized floods, and building structural failures resulting in the loss of lives.



Engineering practitioners should, therefore, not only be concerned with economic gains or prestige reasons but for respecting human life and therefore the need for the Council to effectively enforce its regulations, Mr. Asenso-Boakye noted.



The conference was to bring out issues regarding the implementation of the Engineering Council Act, 2011 (Act 819) and the Engineering Council Regulation, Legislative Instrument, L.I. 2410 (2020) to facilitate effective operation of the Council.



It was held on the theme: Regulation of Engineering Practice in Ghana using ACT 819 of 2011 and L.I. 2410 of 2020.

Parliament in October 2020 passed the Engineering Council Regulation, L.I. 2410 (2020). The Regulation, among other things, seeks to standardize the practice of engineering in the country to ensure efficient and quality work delivery.

The Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bantama, assured the Council of the Ministrys commitment to resource it to strengthen its monitoring and evaluation performance.



He, therefore, tasked the Council to take bold steps by registering all practitioners, as well as corporate engineering institutions to enable it to monitor, evaluate and take corrective actions on their performances.



Mr Asenso-Boakye appealed to the media to support the Council to educate and sensitize the public on the need to employ qualified and certified engineers for projects to curb unforeseen disasters.



The Minister was optimistic that the passing of the Engineering Council Act, 2011 (Act 819), as well as L.I. 2410 (2020) would help in attaining the highest professional standards.

Source: GNA









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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.

Get a Free Sample of This Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/821

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.

Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/potash-ore-market-821

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 23:30:39|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday opened a new government small arms factory in Kiambu County, central region, which will allow the east African nation to produce high quality weapons.

Kenyatta said the 4 billion shillings (about 37 million U.S. dollar) gun manufacturing factory will address the high cost of weapons acquisition and provide security sector independence.

"This ground breaking initiative will allow us to lay the foundation for addressing the high cost of weapons acquisition, free us from the complex foreign export approval processes currently in place, provide Kenya with greater security sector independence and flexibility, and allow Kenya to design and produce high-quality weapons, customized to our unique needs and operating environments," he said.

Kenyatta said in a statement issued after the ceremony that the factory, with a single-shift annual production capacity of 12,000 assault rifles, is part of a broad multi-agency national security industries strategy. The factory which draws 60 percent of its input from local sources seeks to enhance her self-reliance in security through local production of equipment and technologies in line with the government's development plan.

The arms factory will establish a sustainable national security industrial base that provides jobs for the Kenyan youth. Kenyatta commended the multi-agency security team overseeing the project for setting up the self-sustaining factory at a fraction of what the open market had proposed.

Through the arms factory, the president said, Kenya plans to create a weapons manufacturing surplus that will transform the country into an exporter of security equipment. "This will not only boost our balance of trade position, it will also create employment for thousands of Kenyans, in addition to creating a skills and technology environment that will drive transformation in civilian industries," he said.

Kenyatta said the government's decision to set up the arms factory was encouraged by Kenya's success in the local manufacture of some of the equipment needed in the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i noted that the local manufacture of small arms will help eliminate exploitative brokers and cartels in the supply of weaponry, who he said, enrich themselves by manipulating the Government tendering system.

"In our country, I have come to learn from my short tour of duty that if COVID-19 or HIV/AIDS does not kill us, the disease that will kill us is middlemanism," Matiang'i said. Enditem
(Natural News) Richard H. Ebright, a professor of chemical biology at Rutgers University, says that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Anthony Fauci systematically thwarted proper government oversight of dangerous pathogen research, a move that ultimately resulted in the creation of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19).

An oversight board specifically created to scrutinize such research was never even given the chance to review the NIH grant that was given by Fauci to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), which we now know is where the Chinese virus originated.

High-risk gain of function research had previously been suspended back in 2014 due to widespread concerns within the scientific community that it could lead to supercharged viruses. It was later resurrected in 2017, though, after the Potential Pandemic Pathogens Control and Oversight (P3CO) Framework was formed within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The purpose of the P3CO committee is to evaluate whether government grants intended for gain of function or other questionable scientific research are worth the risks involved. In the case of the Wuhan flu, the P3CO was never even given the chance to evaluate the research methods that predicated its creation and release into the public.

As it turns out, the NIH subagency that awarded Faucis grant to the nonprofit group EcoHealth Alliance to study Chinese bat coronaviruses chose not to first forward it to the P3CO committee for review. This was obviously intentional to avoid having it get rejected.

This is a systemic problem, Ebright is quoted as saying about this major loophole in the review framework.

NIAID under Fauci says grant was not flagged for review because research was low-risk

The NIH subagency that awarded this non-reviewed grant to EcoHealth Alliance was none other than the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is headed up by Fauci.

This Fauci-led agency systematically thwarted  indeed, systematically nullified  the HHS P3CO Framework by declining to flag and forward proposals for review, Ebright says.

A spokesperson from the NIH claims that the reason Faucis NIAID did not flag the EcoHealth grant for proper independent review is because it was not as risky as watchdogs are making it out to be.

After careful review of the grant, NIAID determined research in the grant was not gain-of-function research because it did not involve the enhancement of the pathogenicity or transmissibility of the viruses studied, the spokesperson is quoted as saying.

We would not submit research proposals that did not meet the definition, because otherwise we would need to submit everything.

Part of the EcoHealth grant from Faucis NIAID involved a $600,000 transfer of American taxpayer cash to the WIV. Had this grant been subject to a P3CO review, it more than likely would have been rejected or at least modified with improved standards.

Back in 2018, U.S. Embassy officials issued two diplomatic cables warning about inadequate safety at the WIV lab. One of them specifically warned that bat coronavirus research taking place at the lab risked a future unleashing of another SARS-like pandemic.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also more recently issued a Covid-19 origin report that described the WIVs research activities as involving recombinant viruses, meaning gain of function research. This defies the claim by Faucis NIAID that no gain of function research was taking place at the WIV.

It is hard to overemphasize that the central logic of this grant was to test the pandemic potential of SARS-related bat coronaviruses by making ones with pandemic potential, either through genetic engineering or passaging, or both, warned Drs. Jonathan Latham and Allison Wilson back in June.

More related news stories about the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) conspiracy can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

DailyCaller.com

NaturalNews.com
Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of China Construction Bank CorporationGlobal Credit Research - 09 Apr 2021Hong Kong, April 09, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of China Construction Bank Corporation and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review discussion held on 1 April 2021 in which Moody's reassessed the appropriateness of the ratings in the context of the relevant principal methodology(ies), recent developments, and a comparison of the financial and operating profile to similarly rated peers. The review did not involve a rating committee. Since 1 January 2019, Moody's practice has been to issue a press release following each periodic review to announce its completion.This publication does not announce a credit rating action and is not an indication of whether or not a credit rating action is likely in the near future. Credit ratings and outlook/review status cannot be changed in a portfolio review and hence are not impacted by this announcement. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.Key rating considerations are summarized below.The A1 rating of China Construction Bank Corporation's (CCB) long-term deposits incorporates a three-notch uplift from its baa1 Baseline Credit Assessment. We assess that the bank is likely to receive a very high level of support from the Government of China (A1), in times of need.CCB's asset quality is unlikely to deteriorate significantly because of the strong buffers the bank has built up. CCB's capitalization is likely to remain robust over the next 12-18 months. The bank is one of the four Chinese global systemically important banks subject to a capital surcharge of 1.5% in common equity Tier 1 ratio. CCB's liquidity profile is likely to stay solid over the next 12-18 months.This document summarizes Moody's view as of the publication date and will not be updated until the next periodic review announcement, which will incorporate material changes in credit circumstances (if any) during the intervening period.The principal methodology used for this review was Banks Methodology published in March 2021. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.This announcement applies only to EU rated, UK rated, EU endorsed and UK endorsed ratings. Non EU rated, non UK rated, non EU endorsed and non UK endorsed ratings may be referenced above to the extent necessary, if they are part of the same analytical unit.This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history. Chen Huang Senior Vice President Financial Institutions Group Moody's Investors Service Hong Kong Ltd. 24/F One Pacific Place 88 Queensway Hong Kong China (Hong Kong S.A.R.) JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350 Client Service: 852 3551 3077 Yat Man Sally Yim, CFA MD - Financial Institutions Financial Institutions Group JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350 Client Service: 852 3551 3077 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service Hong Kong Ltd. 24/F One Pacific Place 88 Queensway Hong Kong China (Hong Kong S.A.R.) JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350 Client Service: 852 3551 3077  2021 Moodys Corporation, Moodys Investors Service, Inc., Moodys Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, MOODYS). All rights reserved.CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S CREDIT RATINGS AFFILIATES ARE THEIR CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDIT RISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKE SECURITIES, AND MATERIALS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY MOODYS (COLLECTIVELY, PUBLICATIONS) MAY INCLUDE SUCH CURRENT OPINIONS. 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Rishi Sunak was facing accusation of breaking the ministerial code tonight after he released messages he sent to former prime minister David Cameron amid a furious lobbying row.

The Treasury released the Chancellor's texts after a freedom of information request into efforts by the ex-Tory leader to contact ministers in search of millions of pounds of extra Covid rescue cash for Greensill Capital.

Mr Cameron's attempts on behalf of his employer were rebuffed and Greensill - run by Australian Lex Greensill - has filed for insolvency after failing to secure support through the Government's Covid Corporate Financing Facility.

But the ex-premier's ability to contact ministers privately prompted a row over lobbying which intensified after he was cleared of breaking rules he himself introduced.

Mr Sunak also confirmed Mr Cameron lobbied three ministers, including himself, over the matter of Greensill Capital's access to a Covid support scheme.

On April 3 last year, Mr Sunak wrote: 'Hi David, thanks for your message. I am stuck back to back on calls but will try you later this evening and if gets too late, first thing tomorrow. Best, Rishi'

Almost three weeks later on 23rd April he messaged again, saying: 'Hi David, apologies for the delay. I think the proposals in the end did require a change to the Market Notice but I have pushed the team to explore an alternative with the Bank that might work.

'No guarantees, but the Bank are currently looking at it and Charles should be in touch. Best, Rishi'.

Tonight Labour's shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said: 'These messages raise very serious questions about whether the Chancellor may have broken the Ministerial Code. They suggest that Greensill Capital got accelerated treatment and access to officials, and that the Chancellor ''pushed'' officials to consider Greensill's requests.

'The Chancellor's decision to open the door to Greensill Capital has put public money at risk.

'There must be a full, transparent and thorough investigation into the chain of events that saw Greensill awarded lucrative contracts, the freedom of Whitehall and the right to lend millions of pounds of government-backed Covid loans.'

The Treasury released the Chancellor's texts after a freedom of information request into efforts by the ex-Tory leader to contact ministers in search of millions of pounds of extra Covid rescue cash.

But the ex-premier's ability to contact ministers privately prompted a row over lobbying which intensified after he was cleared of breaking rules he himself introduced.

Australian financier Lex Greensill, 44, (left seen walking his dog in Cheshire on April 5) reassured staff in an internal video on February 15 of the 'incredible strength' of a key set of funds it held with Zurich-based Credit Suisse, just before the plug was pulled

In a letter sent to Ms Dodds tonight, he wrote: 'I can confirm that David Cameron reached out informally by telephone to me, and to the Economic Secretary and the Financial Secretary, on the matter of Greensill Capital's access to the CCFF (Covid Corporate Financing Facility).

'The matter was referred to the relevant officials and, following appropriate consultations as outlined in the previous requests, the request was turned down.

'During this process, this was communicated to Greensill Capital by officials and, in parallel, by me to David Cameron.'

The messages from Mr Sunak are sure to raise further questions about private communications between serving and former ministers.

It is the latest twist and turn in a saga that has engulfed the heart of the Government and Conservative Party.

Last week it it emerged the firm's founder once had his own Downing Street business card, describing him as a 'senior adviser' in the 'Prime Minister's Office'.

Mr Greensill had a No 10 email address during his three years as a financial adviser to the Cameron government, between 2012 and 2015, and a landline telephone number at Downing Street.

At the same time it was revealed that a senior civil servant went to work for Greensill without getting approval from the ethics watchdog.

Bill Crother was chief commercial officer under David Cameron's premiership and worked alongside Lex Greensill, the firm's founder, while he was an adviser to the PM.

Mr Crother took up a post with Greensill Capital in 2016, a year after leaving Whitehall.

Labour was today dragged into the Greensill scandal after it was revealed its shadow defence secretary John Healey lobbied ministers to hand the cash-strapped company 200million in COVID-19 loans 'without delay'.

The shadow defence secretary wrote to Business Secretary Nadhim Zahawi in May 2020 urging him to give Greensill, run by Australian financier Lex Greensill and owners of Liberty Steel, greater access to the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme [CLBILS].

Mr Healey said Liberty needed the cash and 'their application for CLBILS remains dependent on their lender, Greensill, being accredited for the higher cap loan scheme, which I trust can now be done without delay'.

But in spite of lobbying by Mr Healey and former prime minister David Cameron, who advised Greensill, Rishi Sunak's Treasury capped the loans at 50million.

Mr Healey told the Financial Times today that he felt his letter was the right thing to do as 'the local constituency MP' for Liberty Steel's Rotherham plant, just as Labour demanded a new law on political lobbying and accused the Tories of being 'consumed by cronyism'.

He said: 'I was doing my job for the big Rotherham plant that Liberty had recently bought and expanded'.

His involvement was revealed by Mr Sunak, who struck back yesterday via an aide who said: 'A member of the Labour front bench was lobbying on behalf of Greensill to be accredited for the higher cap loan scheme'.

Shadow defence secretary John Healey (left) lobbied the Business Secretary Nadhim Zahawi (right) to hand Greensill 200million in COVID-19 loans 'without delay'. He claims he was protecting jobs in his constituency

Mr Healey told the Financial Times today that he felt his letter was the right thing to do as 'the local constituency MP' for Liberty Steel's Rotherham plant

The collapse of Greensill has sent shockwaves across the City and Whitehall, dragging in David Cameron, who acted as an adviser to the firm, and raising questions about the access which Mr Greensill was given to top politicians and civil servants.

Plans to stop steel tycoon buying own plants on the cheap Jobs fears: Sanjeev Gupta employs around 5,000 people in the UK including 3,000 at Liberty Steel Liberty Steel boss Sanjeev Gupta will be prevented from buying back his plants at bargain prices if they go bust, under plans being drawn up by the Government. The metals magnate's empire has been left on the brink of collapse after its largest lender Greensill Capital, which David Cameron worked for, imploded. He is scrambling to raise cash after ministers rejected a 170million bailout of Liberty's parent company GFG Alliance last month. Whitehall officials are reportedly now concerned Mr Gupta might declare his steel business insolvent and later try to repurchase it. This is a process known as 'phoenixing'  which company directors are strongly advised against doing. GFG employs 5,000 people in the UK, of which 3,000 are steelworkers spread across 12 sites. Boris Johnson has said he is 'very hopeful' that the Government can save Liberty and all options  including nationalisation  are on the table. To block Mr Gupta from potentially buying back parts of Liberty, officials are considering appointing accounting firm Deloitte to handle a possible insolvency that would carve it out from the rest of the company, according to The Sunday Times. A GFG spokesman said: 'Liberty Steel UK is undertaking significant self-help measures... working with our customers to achieve terms that will bring in cash earlier.' Advertisement

It has also put thousands of jobs across Britain's steel industry at risk, as the GFG Alliance - a network of businesses including Liberty Steel run by tycoon Sanjeev Gupta - relied heavily on Greensill for funding.

James Murray MP, Labour's Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury, responding to the Chancellor's latest deflections over Greensill, said: 'This is desperate stuff from the Chancellor. By trying to deflect attention from his own decisions, he's just reminded everyone that his own department had multiple meetings with Greensill last spring.

'The Chancellor needs to stop trying to pass the buck and start answering questions about why he opened the door to Greensill to lend through the CLBILS Covid loan scheme in the first place, putting hundreds of millions of pounds of public money at risk.

'And he still hasn't explained why the Treasury was planning to expand supply chain financing on his watch.'

Yesterday it emerged that the founder of Greensill Capital boasted that his firm had 'enormous' amounts of money to lend out just weeks before it collapsed.

Lex Greensill, an Australian banker who is now at the centre of a political storm over his ties to the establishment, reassured staff that the firm was in a strong position in a video call on February 15.

But less than a month later, administrators were appointed to the lender as it admitted it could no longer keep running.

On the video call in February, a recording of which was obtained by the Financial Times, Mr Greensill said: 'We've got enormous amounts of liquidity that are available to us.'

He added that the 'markets are very much behind us', and that investors were becoming increasingly interested in his business.

But less than two months later, the majority of Greensill's 1,000-plus staff in the UK were made redundant.

It specialised in supply chain financing, meaning it worked with major corporates like GFG and Vodafone to pay their suppliers quickly, in return for a fee.

Greensill was effectively lending to the companies, and would be repaid at a later date when they had more cash freed up.

Greensill then bundled up these loans and sold packages of them to investors, through major asset managers such as Credit Suisse.

Mr Greensill, 44, told staff in February: 'One of the things that is a really important detail for us to be aware of is just the incredible strength that we've got in our supply chain finance funds.

'Those funds have continued to see robust inflows - indeed we've actually had to slow down the inflows.'

Even Qatar's former prime minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, had invested in Greensill loans to the tune of 145 million, according to Bloomberg. He will now be bracing for heavy losses.

Greensill hit the rocks when it revealed that its insurer had failed to renew a vital insurance policy, and it was not able to find a replacement.

The insurance gave investors the confidence to hand Greensill money - it covered any losses which they would have suffered if any of Greensill's borrowers had failed to repay their loan.

Pressure was growing on Boris Johnson to introduce a lobbying law last night as David Cameron faced more questions about his closeness to a controversial financier (File image)

But when this cover expired, investors such as Credit Suisse refused to give Greensill any more money to lend out.

Mr Greensill told staff on the February call that a one of its insurers, Chubb, was 'very supportive' of agreeing a 'tweak' to its policy which would give investors '100 per cent insurance with no gap in cover'.

He said that top staff at Greensill were doing 'great work with our friends at [insurance broker] Marsh and with Chubb'.

But it seems that the tweak was never made, precipitating the lender's failure just weeks later.

Now GFG, one of Greensill's biggest customers, is teetering on the brink of collapse and has been denied a 170m Government bailout. It is also refusing to make any repayments on its loans owed to Greensill.

A bloody legal battle is expected to ensue over who should bear the losses between Greensill's administrators, its customers such as GFG, its insurers, banks such as Credit Suisse and the end investors who ploughed money into Greensill loans.

The collapse has dragged Mr Cameron back into the public eye, after it emerged he had texted Chancellor Rishi Sunak trying to get Greensill special access to emergency Covid loans.

MPs across the House of Commons have also called for an investigation into what access Mr Greensill was given to senior politicians, after it emerged he had regular meetings with officials in Whitehall and had even helped Mr Cameron's government form a lending scheme for NHS pharmacies.
When the state Department of Unemployment first updated its employer contribution rates for 2021, Suzanne Murphy thought she spotted a mistake.

The solvency fund assessment, one of several factors used to calculate a business owners unemployment insurance contribution rate, jumped from 0.58% to 9.23% for 2021. For Murphy, CEO of Unemployment Tax Control Associates in Springfield, that meant an employer contribution rate thats twice as high and a tax increase of thousands of dollars.

I said its got to be an error, said Murphy, CEO of Unemployment Tax Control Associates in Springfield. It must not have reconciled everything based on the latest UI legislation that was passed.

Despite the passage of an unemployment insurance law that legislators praised as a relief package for employers, business owners are getting hit with higher tax bills due to what some call an unintended consequence or a loophole of the pandemic-era unemployment crisis.

The states unemployment levels have stabilized since they hit record-high levels in the first months of the pandemic, but the million-plus claims swallowed the states UI trust fund. The fund is expected to face a roughly $4 billion deficit by the end of 2021  in big part due to federal advances that the state has to repay.

Business owners who lay off workers typically pay more as the jobless claims affect their UI employment contribution rating, leading to a higher tax bill. The CARES Act passed in March 2020 prevents states from charging employers  most of them private, for-profit companies  for the cost of COVID-related unemployment claims until at least Dec. 31. But those claims were sent to a separate fund called the solvency fund.

The COVID-related jobless claims were shifted from an employers own account, which is used to calculate the experience rate, to the solvency fund, shifting the burden paying for COVID-related claims to all employers  even companies that didnt lay off employees, such as UTCA.

We had people working an incredible amount of overtime and increased our overtime hours and our labor costs. We never terminated or let everybody go, said Murphy, whose company has more than 1,000 clients. We actually brought on additional staff to meet peak demand on claims.

The UTCAs overall contribution rate doubled to nearly 4.6%, according to a copy of the companys letter provided to MassLive. Murphy estimates the companys employer contribution increased by thousands of dollars.

Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, is seeing an increase as well. He estimates RAM paid roughly $500 for its solvency fund assessment last year. This years assessment is nearly $10,000, almost 20 times as high.

I had nothing to go on. I knew it would be an increase, Hurst said in an interview. If the regulators had an inkling that it was going to be that high, it should have been discussed when we were debating the [UI schedule] freeze.

It is unclear whether legislators knew the solvency fund was expected to increase. A spokesman for House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz deferred to Rep. Josh Cutler, chairman of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. His office did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues said the senator was not available for comment.

I feel like a whole lot of employers out there got the misimpression that they didnt have to budget for an increase in their UI taxes this year, he added.

The DUA did not comment, except to note that the solvency rate is calculated every year in accordance to state statute and that the agency does not have the discretion to alter the rates.

Earlier this month, Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a $7 billion unemployment insurance bill that authorizes the state to borrow money to make the UI trust fund solvent.

Lawmakers said the new law also freezes the UI payment schedule for two years, slowing the annual employer contribution rate. This fix kept the experience rate, one of several factors used to calculate employer contribution rates, locked at Schedule E.

Yet while lawmakers tried to patch one money pit that ramped up employers tax bills, the debt resurfaced through a different avenue: the solvency fund surcharge. The assessment typically covers unemployment benefits for workers whose employers have gone out of business or financial assistance for unemployed families. Before 2021, the assessment had remained under 2% for roughly a decade, often falling below 1%.

Hurst suggested that Massachusetts follow the lead of other states that are debating using federal funding to cover unemployment insurance costs. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, for example, signed a bill allocating $575 million in federal relief to repay a federal loan the state received to keep its unemployment insurance loan afloat, according to the Associated Press.

The alternative, he says, is making the average business owner foot the bill.

We do not think its fair that employers have to cover the entire cost of COVID layoffs, Hurst said, referring to layoffs and furloughs that happened after the state mandated that non-essential businesses temporarily close. This has nothing to do with employer decisions. This has everything to do to with government decisions.
Mr Buhari and President Idriss Deby deliberated on sub-regional issues including security challenges occasioned by the activities of the Boko Haram.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday met with Chadian President, Idriss Deby, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chadian leader, a field marshal, who arrived at the Presidential Villa at about 12.15 p.m., was received by Mr Buhari at the forecourt of the villa.

It was gathered that the two leaders would deliberate on sub-regional issues including security challenges occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram.

Mr Buhari and the Chadian leader last met face-to-face in June 2019 on the sidelines of the Organisation of Islamic Conference summit in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Mr Buhari last visited N'Djamena, the Chadian capital, in April 2019 where he participated in a one-day Extraordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States.

It was further gathered that the Chadian leader, who is standing for re-election for a sixth term, may brief the Nigerian leader on the forthcoming Chad's presidential election on April 11.

Mr Deby, who has ruled Chad for 30 years, began his campaign for a sixth term on March 13, calling for unity after rival protests were banned.

The Chadian leader is expected to brief the media at the end of his one-day official visit to Nigeria.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufa'i, were among those in the forecourt to welcome Mr Deby.

Others include the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello.

(NAN)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 11:37:47|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- "Vaccine equity is the biggest moral test before the global community," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said. At a time when COVID-19 is ravaging the Middle East countries, China has withstood the test.

The global pandemic remains in a dire situation, and vaccines have obviously become a powerful weapon against the deadly virus. In many Middle East countries, surging infections, weak medical systems, as well as severe economic conditions have made the demand for vaccines particularly urgent. Even countries in a relatively stable and peaceful environment are running into difficulties in obtaining vaccines, not to mention those afflicted with conflicts and wars or suppressed by Western sanctions.

However, some Western powers who have never stopped interfering in domestic affairs of Middle East countries and creating tensions and turbulence in the region are all in complete silence at this moment.

With strong capacity for vaccine research, development and production, those countries, instead of lending a helping hand to people in need, chose to hoard vaccines and impose export restrictions on these live-saving tools, creating a "vaccine divide" and disrupting the global efforts in equitable vaccine distributions.

According to Duke University's Global Health Innovation Center, as of mid-January, high-income countries, which represent only 16 percent of the world's population, had taken 60 percent of available doses. "More other high-income countries have more than 100 percent coverage, and some can cover their populations several times over," the institute said.

Facing the raging pandemic, many Middle Eastern countries have turned their eyes to the East. As early as June 2020, China and the United Arab Emirates jointly conducted the world's first international phase III clinical trial of inactivated vaccines against COVID-19. Later, Bahrain, Turkey, Morocco and other countries joined the cooperation. So far, Chinese vaccines have arrived in more than 10 countries in the Middle East, playing a leading role in the region's anti-virus fight.

From sharing experience on pandemic control to carrying out vaccine cooperation and promoting fair distribution, China's timely and practical support for other countries, as well as its efforts to safeguard people's right to life and health, the most fundamental part of human rights, has been widely recognized worldwide.

Actions speak louder than words. All sober minds across the world have a pretty clear idea of who always indulge in meddling in others' internal affairs while refusing to take their due responsibilities in global affairs.

According to a survey polling citizens in six Middle Eastern countries conducted by the Arab Barometer research network, the Arab public view China more favorably than the United States. Researchers believe that China is playing an increasingly important role in the Middle East and North Africa by implementing the Belt and Road Initiative and helping the region fight the pandemic.

Cooperation between China and the Middle East epitomizes China's commitment to the global anti-pandemic drive. China is providing vaccine assistance to more than 80 countries and three international organizations, exporting vaccines to more than 40 countries, and cooperating with more than 10 nations in vaccine R&D and production, and has thus honored its commitment to making Chinese COVID-19 vaccines a global public good and promoted the accessibility and affordability of vaccines.

At this critical moment, the world community should band together to discard "vaccine nationalism" and bridge "vaccine divide" between the rich and the poor, and try its best to deliver vaccines to every corner of the world. To build a global safety net, China is ready to continue working with the rest of the world. Enditem
Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar has bagged an international project with Marvel Studios. Unconfirmed sources said the actor has started shooting for the project in Bangkok, although when we contacted Disney, who own Marvel, they refused to comment.

"Farhan is currently stationed in Bangkok, along with an International cast and crew, for the shoot of a project with Marvel Studios, who are known to be one of the biggest film studios worldwide," the source said.

However, the source refrained from giving details about the project.

"All other details of the project are strictly under wraps," the source explained.

Meanwhile, the actor has the film "Toofan" lined up for release. The actor plays a boxer in the film. "Toofan" has been directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and also features Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal, Supriya Pathak Kapur and Hussain Dalal. This is the second time that Farah is working with Mehra. The two had collaborated for the film "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" in 2003.

Farhan was last seen in "The Sky Is Pink" alongside Priyanka Chopra.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8)  The Department of Health said on Thursday it adopted the recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration to temporarily stop giving the COVID-19 vaccine made by British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca to people under the age of 60. This was after European drug regulators found a link between the coronavirus shot and a few cases of unusual blood clots with low platelet count.

The DOH made the announcement hours after FDA Director General Rolando Domingo said they made such a request.

We asked DOH kung mayroon pa pong natitirang AstraZeneca vaccine, siguro ay huwag muna nating gamitin sa mga people below 60 until we get clearer evidence and clearer guidance from the WHO at sa ating pong mga experts, Domingo said Thursday in a briefing.

[Translation: We asked DOH if there still AstraZeneca vaccines left, maybe we should not use it on people below 60 until we get clearer evidence and clearer guidance from the WHO and from our experts.]

READ: EU agency finds AstraZeneca vaccine can cause rare blood clots, as UK advises other shots for under-30s

The European Medicines Agency said it reviewed 62 cases of clotting in the sinuses that drain blood from the brain, and 24 cases of clotting in the abdomen, 18 of which were fatal. The cases were reported to the EudraVigilance, the EU drug safety database from European countries, including the United Kingdom, where around 25 million people had received the AstraZeneca vaccine, it added.

Domingo said those who had this reaction were women below 60 years old.

But he added there was no similar adverse event reported for those given the AstraZeneca shot in the Philippines.

The DOH and the FDA said experts are carefully reviewing information pertinent to this new development in order to craft appropriate recommendations on the vaccines use.

Domingo, however, pointed out that the rare side effect was so far observed only after the first dose. So, if nothing happened after the first dose, then there should be "no problem" with getting the second shot, he added.
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18.11 - "Gut Punch

Written by Christopher J. Waild

Directed by Rocky Carroll

Reviewed by KathM

This week the Gibbs gang learned that theres no I in Team and Gibbs himself seems to be double-dog daring NCIS to either fire him or force him to retire. Either way, he doesnt really seem to care.

How far the mighty have fallen. Since admitting to Vance that they lied to cover for Gibbs when he attacked the owner of a dog fighting ring who killed the losers in last weeks episode, "Watchdog", he has put them all on desk duty until further notice. Bishop wonders whether everyone in the building knows what they did and a deeply annoying, almost childish, agent called Sawyer pops up from his desk to assure them that they do. He may have some serious issues about not being on Gibbss elite team. Now hes on top while McGee, Torres, and Bishop are stuck doing computer work. Not that he thinks this is ample punishment. "There haven't been any consequences  I mean, Gibbs took it on the chin but his disciples barely got a reprimand...why?" he sneers at Bishop.

Sawyer and Ronnie (Agent Veronica Tyler, last seen in 18.1, Sturgeon Season) from the night shift are taking over the day shift for now, the temporary (possibly permanent?) A Team. When word comes down that a body has been found McGee and the gang are ready to grab their gear, but they have to stay behind to be briefed on a new assignment Vance has for them: COVID compliance for an event SecDef is having with the Minister of Yemen. Fun.

When Torres intimates that COVID compliance duty was silly and unnecessary, Jimmy made it very clear to him how valuable it was. You could save a life, you know. And since his wife died of COVID several months ago, Jimmy would know. And Nick should really think before he speaks.

But somehow our intrepid, leaderless Team Gibbs turn checking that everyone involved in the event has either been vaccinated or tested negative and measuring the distance between hand sanitizing stands into finding out who was hired to take out SecDef and ferreting out who hired a nearly ex-Marine to do the deed. And the Marine is dead now, too, and so is the guy who hired him, which they also sorted out. But there is still the Ultimate Villian, because three is a magic number. He's taken down as well. All while they skate on the razors edge of what Vance had assigned them to do. And Leon continues to be unhappy with them, ultimately giving Sawyer and Tyler credit when explaining to SecDef who saved his life and uncovered the whole scheme.

The fact is that McGee, Bishop and Torres are the best agents around for a reason. They have been given a lot of autonomy and frankly Gibbs is an amazing teacher. They know how to think outside of the box and trust their gut, but he never taught them that they were part of a larger team: all NCIS agents. They rarely look outside of their own world, which includes Kasie and Jimmy. When Bishop wants something from Kasie, she says shell get to them by the end of the week. Why not immediately? Because they arent the top team anymore, Kasie reminds her, and therefore any of their requests fall in line with everyone elses. Feel Kasies gentle tough love. All of the individual teams make up Team NCIS, Kasie reminds Bishop. Parts of a whole.

In my opinion, Tyler and Sawyer seem to be sub-par agents, following the trail straight ahead and never looking to see what might be just outside of their view. You could see it with Tyler in the episode that introduced her. I also loathe Sawyers character, and can neither confirm nor deny that at one point I became so frustrated I threw a stuffed toy at the screen when he appeared. But they havent had the kind of training that Team Gibbs has had, so you cant really blame them. Youll know what I mean if you have had a boss who hems you in as opposed to one who trusts you to let you spead your wings a little. Im not saying that Tyler and Sawyer cant do their jobs, but I dont find them to be dynamic thinkers and those types of people (and characters) annoy me.

That being said, McGee and Co. need to learn more about looking outside their bullpen and consider how their actions impact others. They wont always be #1, and they wont always have Gibbs (maybe sooner rather than later) to lead them. I wondered how theyd handle learning about being part of a larger team, and while they succeeded a little at the end of the episode they still have a long way to go. Maybe thats what Leon is trying to teach them.

Meanwhile, Gibbss world is pretty much how Id imagine it to be if he had the day off. Has some breakfast at the diner, makes Lucy a big plate of meat for her lunch, hangs out in his basement playing with his boats. Leon calls him to tell him that the press has heard about his incident and wants to know the whole story, but SecDef has ordered everyone not to speak on the record about it. Gibbs reiterates that he doesnt talk to reporters, anyway, but isnt ashamed of what he did and thinks they should just tell the story and let it rest on him. Enter Pam Dawber.

The actual wife of Mark Harmon is playing Marcie Warren, a reporter who wants to get the story about what happened with NCIS but nobody is returning her calls. She tries to start a conversation with Gibbs at the diner, but he recognizes her as an investigative reporter and walks away. Later, when Marcie brings some scary-looking meat product over to Gibbss to apologize, Gibbs is also not impressed. Marcie even has her clip book, which is so 80s I want to weep. She tells Gibbs that she just wants the truth to come out, which is what Gibbs wants even as he sends her on her way. Until she recognizes part of a boat engine hes holding, then he tells her the whole story. No, really. Thats the only thing I can come up with.

Team Gibbs is pretty worried for Gibbs when they read the completely accurate account of how and why he attacked Stana, and know that only Gibbs could have been the one who talked. Later that night, as Gibbs is working in his basement, Vance comes to visit him. He cant protect Gibbs anymore, he tells his long-time friend. Gibbs wants him to stop trying. Whatever comes next, I cant save you,.

I have no idea what is going to happen next: Im surprised the show hasnt been renewed yet because it consistently ranks best in its time slot. Its an expensive show to run, so Im not sure how they balance that out. Is Mark Harmon leaving? Yeah, I think so. Maybe going part-time and moving Gibbs in another direction, but I cant see him in the bullpen full time anymore. Well have to see.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 00:15:23|Editor: huaxia

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Tunisian President Kais Saied (R) meets with Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush in Tunis, Tunisia, on April 7, 2021. Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush arrived in Tunisia on Wednesday for a surprise visit that had not been previously announced, a source from the Tunisian ministry of Foreign Affairs told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. (Tunisian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

TUNIS, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush arrived in Tunisia on Wednesday for a surprise visit that had not been previously announced, a source from the Tunisian ministry of Foreign Affairs told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The same source said that this was the first trip of the Libyan foreign minister since her rise to the head of diplomacy in the Government of National Unity led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.

The schedule of this visit included holding consultations with Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Othman Jerandi on bilateral relations.

According to the same source, the Libyan minister will also have a meeting with Tunisian President Kais Saied to discuss bilateral cooperation in various fields and a number of regional and international issues of common interest.

It is noteworthy that this visit came about 20 days after Tunisian president's visit to the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on March 17, the first official visit by a Tunisian head of state to Libya since 2012. Enditem
April 08, 2021





Its been exactly one year since notable tech giants like Microsoft (News - Alert) recommended its almost 54.000 Seattle-area employees work from home as a mysterious pandemic began spreading across the U.S.







If youre working remotely, you can tell its of a global pandemic by simply sitting down at your desk and listening to your back scream. The pain burrows itself into your lower left side in what many would describe as a pulsating, fist-sized red orb.

The pain depth ranges from bearable but irritating, like an annoying buddy who wont go home, to alerting and constant like a gassy baby.

If you are constantly fantasizing about doctors opening and fixing your back, then you can tell your back is mad. For those fortunate enough to work remotely throughout the pandemic, we bet yours is pissed off too.

The problem is that for many WFH tech employees, the home office never actually became one- just a minor temporary setup meant to suffice for god knows how long. That makes you wonder, when would life surely be back to an ordinary?

Some tech organizations have a flexible plan in place for bringing back some employees, so of the time. Others not so much  they plan to take the rest of the year to see how COVID case numbers and vaccine rollouts progress.

In the meantime, everyone struggles with less-than-ideal workstations  desktops too small and too low; chars without back support and armrests; desks that dont adjust; built-in keyboards and touchpads instead of external ones  added to a sedentary work habit which has taken a physical toll as the pandemic has hauled on.

WFH tech employees have reported suffering from pain and aches, joint soreness, numbness, stiffness, headaches, and the famous carpal tunnel. Thats concerning enough for some business owners, particularly as many implement permanent remote work policies, and a blessing in disguise for ergonomic consulting, office supplies, and pain-relief solution companies.

WFH Can Mash-Up Your Neck and Back

In the office, employees are often encouraged to get up and walk, but remote work doesnt really encourage them to get up unless theyre hungry or something.

Does sitting cause back pain? Yes, of course. Its true what they say; smoking is the new sitting. While all jobs require a mix of walking, standing, and sitting, some require one to sit more than they walk or stand.

A 2016 survey across all civilian jobs exposed that people working in corporate jobs such as programmers, software designers, and accountants spend more than 75% of their time sitting then both walking or standing, posing a serious health threat to them.

Sitting implies physical inactivity, and spending too much time in the sitting position means you have a sedentary lifestyle no matter if you exercise.

Sitting is linked to almost 3 million preventable deaths yearly, ranking as the fourth leading cause of death resulting from a non-transmittable disease.

This has pushed many remote employees and companies alike to invest in all kinds of ergonomics in order to improve their work-from-home setup  that or theyll have to live and work in pain.

Chronic Joints Pains

Theres no news  sitting for too long may get you to the physiotherapist clinic for rehabilitation and massage.

The hips and leg muscles, especially the glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings, are the major muscles we use when we sit. But when we get used to sitting for too long, what happens is that we put a lot of pressure on these muscles, causing them to become short and tight.

These muscles are there to protect your back and hips, but if you maintain a poor sitting position, they will immediately cause problems for your back and joints. This could also lead to further complications such as nerve impingement, premature degeneration of the joint structures, and disc prolapse. Not to mention the ongoing sensation of stiffness in the neck and shoulders.

Remote Work is Here to Stay but Is Breaking Our Backs

Chiropractors and doctors point to numerous contributing factors  tech employees had professional workstations, and in many organizations, access to ergonomic specialists.

Back then, our lives revolved around a simple yet healthier routine: getting ready and commuting, attending meetings, taking a walk outside to grab a coffee or lunch and maybe going to the gym.

Were all on the move, but now all of a sudden, that routine is gone. No more breaks (because we forget) and little transference of the work environment to the home environment.

A 2020 chiropractic survey found that 92% of the respondents say theyd experience an increase in musculoskeletal conditions like neck and back pain due to work-from-home adjustments.

Additional polls conducted over the summer found that 57% of tech employees said lack of movement was the key cause those issues were growing during the lockdown, followed by bad posture at 12% and psychological stress 20%.

Some companies, especially those in the tech industry, have received substantial support to properly set their employees.

Platforms like Shopify provided their staff with a $1,200 remote-work allowance last March, and an extra $1,440 after the platform announced they would move to a permanent work-from-home structure even after COVID-19 ends.

At Salesforce, employees received a $250 initial reimbursement in March to help cover the expenses of at-home office-related equipment; The San Francisco-based company has also offered its staff access to an ergonomic evaluation with a professional.

This mass migration of employees away from their cubicles has led to surprising success for furniture producers whose clientele have historically been businesses instead of individual customers.

In todays all-remote environment, it can be hard to be a biped. It may be easier to write an email standing on two legs than fours, but this plus comes with lots of minuses for our skeletons. As a last resort, a smarter and more ergonomically designed office seems to be the choice if you want to work in a healthier posture.
But like WTF is Chamoy? The colorful Mexican flavor is widely loved but hard to describe. In fact, the term doesn't even have an official definition! To help solve the age-old mystery, Estrella Jalisco is enlisting help from Mexican singer, songwriter and chamoy-enthusiast Sofia Reyes, who is rallying fans to submit their best definition of chamoy with @Estrella Jalisco for a chance to win two Tropical Chamoy swag kits and a year-long supply of Tropical Chamoy Micheladas. Comment with your definition through April 15 using @EstrellaJalisco, #TropicalChamoy and #contest on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.

"Growing up in Monterrey, chamoy is a flavor I loved putting on candy and fruit  it sparks nostalgia and even now I enjoy it on the rim of my beers and micheladas! It shocked me to learn that it's not in the English or Spanish language dictionary," says Sofia Reyes. "I'm excited to help Estrella Jalisco spread awareness of chamoy's wonderful and complex flavor and I'm looking forward to seeing all the creative definitions people share!"

Estrella Jalisco also believes it's time to add some new flavor to the dictionary. To help define the sweet-salty-spicy-sour flavor once and for all, Estrella Jalisco is launching a petition asking Merriam-Webster to add chamoy to the dictionary. Fans are invited to sign the petition at change.org/definechamoy.

"Our Tropical Chamoy Michelada is a completely new flavor for American consumers in a ready-to-drink product, designed to evoke a modern connection to a Mexican tradition," says Jayden Kahl, Senior Director, Estrella Jalisco, Anheuser Busch. "But while people absolutely love chamoy, most don't know how to define it. As we introduce chamoy's unique, delicious taste to a wider audience, we're hoping to open more palates to a Mexican staple, and give it the recognition it deserves."

The Estrella Jalisco family of products is up 47% over last year, with growth in the original Estrella Jalisco lager up 60% YTD as well as the Michelada product extensions up 29% (IRI TUS MULC YTD ended 3/21/21).

You can find the Tropical Chamoy Michelada in 25oz cans at your local retailer and sold on your favorite e-comm delivery platforms. Follow our journey to share chamoy with the world at @EstrellaJalisco on Instagram and Twitter.

About Estrella Jalisco

Born in the cultural capital of Guadalajara, Jalisco over 100 years ago, Estrella Jalisco is a refreshing, traditional lager increasingly becoming a Mexican favorite among cerveza aficionados. Estrella Jalisco is best enjoyed in a wide-top pilsner glass and can also be found as ready-to-drink micheladas in mango, pina and tropical chamoy flavors for a flavorful spin on a Mexican classic. Launched in the U.S. in 2015, Estrella Jalisco believes a more colorful world is a brighter world which is why the brand made a $1M commitment to brighten 100 communities across the U.S. by 2025. Join us in celebrating a colorful life and discover what makes Estrella Jalisco a true, authentic Mexican beer at www.EstrellaJalisco.com.

Contact: Allison Wilson, [email protected]

SOURCE Estrella Jalisco

Related Links

http://www.estrellajalisco.com/


Israel on Thursday said it had formally decided not to cooperate with an International Criminal Court war crimes investigation into the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The ICCs chief prosecutor announced on March 3 that she had opened a full investigation into the situation in the Israeli-occupied territories, infuriating Israel, which is not a member of The Hague-based court.

The ICC sent a deferral notice on March 9, which gave Israel and the Palestinian Authority a month to tell judges whether they are investigating crimes similar to those being probed by the ICC.

Had Israel informed the court that it was in fact carrying out its own probe into alleged war crimes perpetrators, it could have asked for a deferral.

A day before the deadline, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office issued a statement saying the government had agreed to not cooperate with the (ICC).

The statement said Israel would send a letter to the court completely rejecting the claim that Israel commits war crimes.

The letter will also reiterate Israels unequivocal position that The Hague tribunal has no authority to open an investigation against it.

The Palestinians, who have been a state party to the ICC since 2015, have welcomed the investigation and said they will not seek any deferral.

The worlds only permanent war crimes tribunal, the ICC was set up in 2002 to try the humanitys worst crimes where local courts are unwilling or unable to step in.

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has said her investigation will cover the situation in the blockaded Gaza Strip along with the Israeli-occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem since 2014.

It will mainly focus on the 2014 Gaza War but also look at the deaths of Palestinian demonstrators from 2018 onwards.

Netanyahu, a vocal critic of the ICC, has said the decision to open the probe was the essence of anti-Semitism and declared Israel was under attack.

However, Thursdays statement marked the first time Netanyahu had made it clear Israel would not directly engage with the ICC.

The United States has also criticised the ICC investigation and voiced support for its ally Israel.
Internal audit leaders across the country are faced with the same problem. Budgets for internal audit are flat, but the need for internal audit capacity has increased.

Chicago-based consulting firm, Vonya Global, released a white paper titled Leveraging the Value of Internal Audit in a Post-Covid World. The firm, which specializes in internal audit, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, and corporate governance, released the paper to help educate senior leadership on the many ways the pandemic has highlighted the need for a strategic internal audit function.

The pandemic has created increased risks and new vulnerabilities for many companies, and the need for oversight has only increased. However, after a disastrous year for the economy, most internal audit budgets remain flat in 2021. The white paper serves as a resource for risk and compliance leadership who are navigating new and changed risk environments. Vonya Global partner, Steven Randall, explains:

Internal audit leaders across the country are faced with the same problem. Budgets for internal audit are flat, but the need for internal audit capacity has increased. Were seeing it across the boardthe need to do more with less. We created this resource because we saw an opportunity to educate decision makers on the immense value that lies in a strategic internal audit function.

To learn more and access the report, visit Vonya Globals website.

About Vonya Global: Vonya Global is a multinational consulting firm that partners with business leaders on a range of assurance and consulting services. Specializing in corporate governance and internal audit, Vonya Globals services range from financial reporting to cyber security and technology consulting. With industry-specific practices, a tailored approach to client service, and a wealth of experience, Vonya Global moves businesses forward with certainty.

For additional internal audit resources, follow Vonya Global on LinkedIn.
Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross outside New Stobhill Hospital in Springburn, north Glasgow - Andrew Milligan/PA

Douglas Ross has urged unionists to vote Labour or LibDem if they are better placed to defeat the SNP, amid growing fears that Nicola Sturgeon is cruising to a huge Holyrood majority.

The Scottish Tory leader on Thursday endorsed widespread tactical voting in an effort to prevent the nationalists claiming a mandate for a new independence referendum, saying that people should vote for the strongest party to stop the SNP in constituencies.

He claimed that the second ballot - used to elect regional rather than constituency MSPs - is more important in Mays election and called for unionists across the country to back the Conservatives with this vote, regardless of where they live.

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There is growing alarm among Conservative strategists that fringe parties, such as George Galloways All For Unity, will cost established pro-UK parties vital regional votes meaning Scottish Greens, or candidates from Alex Salmonds Alba Party, will be elected instead.

A new poll showed on Thursday that the SNP is currently on course to win 53 per cent of constituency and 44 per cent of regional votes, which would translate to an SNP majority of 13 seats.

Such a result would see Ms Sturgeon claim an overwhelming mandate for a new referendum on leaving the UK.

Challenged on a BBC Radio Scotland phone in by a Conservative supporter who said he was planning to vote Labour in his constituency as the Tories had "no chance" of winning the seat, Mr Ross said: Across the country people should look at their individual constituency and vote for the strongest candidate, which in most cases is a Conservative candidate, to defeat the SNP.

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Pushed over whether this would mean voting Labour in the callers seat, he said: People should vote for the strongest party to stop the SNP.

While public opinion on leaving the UK is evenly split, the SNP benefits from being the only major pro-independence party standing in constituencies.

The Opinium poll predicted that the Greens would win six seats and the SNP 71, meaning pro-independence parties would hold 77 of Holyroods 129 seats.

Story continues

The Tories were on course to win 27 seats and Labour 21, both reductions on 2016 tallies, the survey found. However, just two per cent of voters are planning to back Mr Salmond's party, which would see it fail to win a single MSP.

According to a tactical voting guide produced by the pro-UK campaign group Scotland in Union, Labour is the main opposition to the SNP in 35 constituencies, the Tories in 32 and the Liberal Democrats in six.

The SNP will use every vote it receives to argue for another referendum on its negative vision to leave the UK, a spokesman for Scotland in Union said.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar during a visit to the Scottish Power Training Centre in Cumbernauld - Jane Barlow/PA

If you do not want your vote at this election to be used to divide our communities, friends and families, consider tactically voting for the best-placed pro-UK party to stop the SNP in your constituency, and voting for one of the three main pro-UK parties - the Conservatives, Labour or the Liberal Democrats - on the regional list."

The Tories devoted their first televised party political broadcast this week to urging voters to back the party with their second ballot, in a sign of alarm that the public does not understand the importance of the regional ballots or the complicated voting system.

Constituencies are elected on first-past-the-post, the same as Westminster, but regional seats are distributed under a system designed to make the final result more proportional.

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While the Tories won seven constituencies in 2016, 24 Conservative MSPs were elected as regional MSPs. Labour won just three constituencies, but 21 regional MSPs.

Asked whether he would reciprocate Mr Rosss call by urging his supporters to vote for other pro-UK parties if they were better placed than Labour to defeat the nationalists in constituencies, Anas Sarwar declined to do so.

What I dont think politicians should do is attempt to game the system, the Scottish Labour leader said. Individuals can make their own choice when it comes to voting in this election.

We have a failing government on one side, and a game-playing, cheap opposition on the other."
A 60-year-old woman has been pinned down by her neck and raped on her early morning walk.

Police are hunting the young white man after he threatened to kill the woman and only stopped his vile attack when a passing car interrupted him.

The woman was walking along the footpath on Toomuc Valley Road in Pakenham, Melbourne, about 6.30am on March 2.

She was approached by a man on a bike who slowed down and asked her for the time.

When she whipped out her phone to check, the attacker grabbed her by the throat and pulled her to the ground.

Police are hunting a man after a woman was raped while walking along a footpath on Toomuc Valley Road in Pakenham (street pictured)

He kept her pinned down by her neck while he got on top her her and raped her despite her pleas an cries for help.

Only a passing car interrupting the shocking scene made him release her and flee with his victim's phone and credit card.

The woman managed to flag down a passer-by for help and later reported her ordeal to police.

Her attacker is described as a white man aged 18-30 who is 160-170cm tall with a black mask, cap, and jacket with its hood pulled up.

His bike had a blue crossbar and a blue and white frame.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested after the attack, but he is not accused of being the rapist and was charged with theft and deception.

Police appealed for witnesses to come forward.
A group that claims to have stolen a $500,000 Confederate monument from a Selma cemetery said they plan to return the Jefferson Davis Memorial Chair tonight, though will a slight alteration.

The group, which calls itself White Lies Matter, earlier this week said they would give the chair to the United Daughters of the Confederacy if the organization agreed to hang a banner outside its Richmond, Va. Headquarters.

They demanded that the UDC hang the banner at 1 p.m. Friday - the anniversary of the Confederacys surrender in the Civil War -- and leave it there for 24 hours.

The banner bears a quote from Assata Shakur, a Black Liberation Army activist wanted by the FBI for the 1973 murder of a New Jersey state trooper: The rulers of this country have always considered their property more important than our lives.

White Lies Matter said it had already delivered the banner to the UDC.

Failure to do so will result in the monument, an ornate stone chair, immediately being turned into a toilet, an email sent to AL.com and other media outlets stated. If they do display the banner, not only will we return the chair intact, but we will clean it to boot.

On Wednesday night, however, the group issued this statement:

As the UDC has given us every indication that they had no intention of hanging the banner, even going as far as declaring our demands, fake news, White Lies Matter has decided to move forward prematurely with the alteration of the chair. It will be returned to the UDC immediately.

Photos of the chair  seemingly being used as a toilet  accompanied the newest statement.

White Lies Matter, when asked for more information, said the chair will be surrendered to the UDC tonight.

White Lies Matter will contact them directly with coordinates indicating where the chair is located,' WLM said. The chair will not be returned to the cemetery.

Selma Police Chief Kenta Fulford and District Attorney Michael Jackson confirmed the theft and said they were aware of the ransom demand. The felony theft occurred sometime between midnight and 3 a.m. on March 19, according to a Selma police report.

This is getting stranger and stranger,' Jackson said Wednesday night. Hopefully they will clean and sanitize it before they return it.
Prosecutors are accusing the French arm of Ikea, the Swedish home furnishings giant, and some of its former executives of engineering a system of espionage from 2009 to 2012, in a criminal trial that has riveted public attention in France.

The alleged snooping was used to investigate employees and union organizers, check up on workers on medical leave and size up customers seeking refunds for botched orders, Liz Alderman reports for The New York Times. A former military operative was hired to execute some of the more clandestine operations.

In all, 15 people are charged. A verdict from a panel of judges is scheduled for June 15.

The case stoked outrage in 2012 after the emails were leaked to the French news media, and Ikea promptly fired several executives in its French unit, including its chief executive. There is no evidence that similar surveillance happened in any of the other 52 countries where the global retailer hones a fresh-faced image of stylish thriftiness served with Swedish meatballs.

Victims lawyers described a methodic operation that ran along two tracks: one involving background and criminal checks of job candidates and employees without their knowledge, and another targeting union leaders and members.
Leading construction industry event Big 5 said its digital festival which made its debut last November has won top honours at the Middle East Event Awards 2021.

Held virtually in 2020 as a special edition, The Big 5 Digital Festival was the first digital event in the 40+ years history of The Big 5, the largest and most influential event for the construction industry in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

The Middle East Event Awards 2021 recognises companies and individuals from the events industry for their exemplary efforts, said its organisers.

The Best Digital Event award was one of the newly introduced award categories with the aim to honour the contributions and strategies developed by organisers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the win, Josine Heijmans, VP (Construction) at dmg events said: "We are delighted to win the Best Digital Event at the Middle East Event Awards, it is a fantastic recognition for the teams that worked so hard to deliver a great event for our exhibitors and visitors despite the circumstances."

During the Covid-19 pandemic, The Big 5 Digital Festival offered the global construction community a convenient platform to access leading-edge education, innovation, and business opportunities.

With over 61,000 live chats and calls taking place over the 4 days, the event connected global construction players from 127 countries on a purpose-built platform powered by an AI-based matchmaking software.

"As event organisers, we had to quickly adapt and find viable solutions to continue accomplishing our mission of connecting and supporting the construction community despite travel restrictions, lockdowns, and physical distancing. This award, coupled with visitor and exhibitor feedback, is further motivation for us to continue developing innovative solutions that drive global business and trade," noted Heijmans.

The Big 5 will return from September 12 to 15 at the Dubai World Trade Centre and will be the only live in-person global construction event this year, she added.

The Big 5 2021 will run alongside nine specialised events including The Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, Windows, Doors & Facades Event, Gulf Glass, HVAC R Expo, The Big 5 Solar, Middle East Stone, Urban Design & Landscape Expo and FM Expo.

Set to support economic growth and recovery, the event will feature enhanced health and safety measures to ensure all participants can meet, network, and do business in a safe environment.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- A spill of firefighting foam at the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport caused a spike of PFAS pollution at the Kalamazoo wastewater treatment plant, sending some into the Kalamazoo River.

The spill happened at 10:30 a.m. March 30 and foam was released into the sanitary sewer. There is no danger to drinking water supplies.

Kalamazoo City officials were told 200 gallons of foam was accidentally released in an apparatus bay at the airport.

Staff at the Kalamazoo Department of Public Services immediately began investigating and started taking samples of sanitary sewer water coming into the Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant and also treated water going out.

Related: Michigan collects 30k gallons of toxic PFAS firefighting foam

Airport workers notified the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy about the spill about five hours after it happened.

Test results from water samples taken April 2 came back Wednesday, April 7 and showed a spike in levels of PFOS, a type of PFAS, in the treated water being released into the Kalamazoo River. The level was 2,630 parts per trillion, or more than 200 times greater than a national water quality standard of 12 parts per trillion.

Because it was above the standard, the effluent release was a violation of the plants National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

Kalamazoo city officials say they are working with airport staff to assess the impact of the foam release on the Kalamazoo River, as well as the wastewater treatment plant.

The spill comes after EGLE, in cooperation with the state fire marshals office, in 2020 collected more than 30,000 gallons of toxic fluorochemical foam from municipal fire departments and commercial airports across the state. The effort was part of a foam disposal program.

PFAS are nicknamed forever chemicals for their ability to resist degradation over time. They are considered harmful at the very low parts-per-trillion (ppt) level if consumed in drinking water and, over time, can cause serious health effects.

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SHANGHAI, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 2, 2021, the Board of Directors of the New Development Bank (NDB) approved a USD 1 billion COVID-19 Emergency Program Loan to the Government of the Republic of South Africa for supporting South Africa's economic recovery from COVID-19 (the Loan).

The Loan will support the Government of South Africa in its efforts to contain the economic fallout of the pandemic and start economic recovery. The Loan will finance creation of employment opportunities in South Africa, in particular the first phase of the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES) aimed to create and support about 700,000 job opportunities in the public sector, together with social protection measures for active labor market participants that temporarily lost their jobs, in order to help them remain in the labor market.

NDB's financing under the Program is primarily aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

The Loan is part of the second batch of COVID-19 Emergency Program Loans to NDB's member countries focusing on economic recovery. The Loan focuses on supporting economic growth through employment generation as well as support for labor force participation. This follows the first COVID-19 Emergency Program Loan to South Africa that provided emergency relief funding for supporting healthcare and providing social grants in the country.

Background Information

The NDB established the Emergency Assistance Facility in April 2020, to provide up to USD 10 billion in crisis-related assistance to its member countries, including USD 5 billion for financing healthcare and social safety-related expenditures, as well as USD 5 billion for supporting economic recovery efforts. In total, the NDB Board of Directors so far has approved nine COVID-19 related emergency assistance programs with a total amount of around USD 9 billion.

The NDB was established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries, complementing the existing efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development.

SOURCE New Development Bank
New Delhi:

The politics has intensified on the tragic Mumbai stampeded in which at least 23 people died and 38 others were injured. On Saturday, Shiv Sena workers allegedly assaulted two doctors of KEM hospital for marking numbers on the foreheads of deceased.

The doctors have filed an FIR and Police have registered a case against accused Shiv Sena workers. It was being said that Sena workers were angry on the writing of identification numbers on the forehead of Elphinstone stampede victims.

The incident took place on Saturday evening when two Shiv Sena workers entered the cabin of Forensic Science Department head Dr Hari Pathak and thrashed him, said a police official.

The police officials further informed that the accused also brought a sketch pen with them and tried to write something on the forehead of Dr Pathak.

Also Read | Papa, you go ahead, I will come, let the crowd thin out: Last words of Elphinstone stampede victim

Along with the accused Sena workers, Mumbai Police is also searching for five other persons who provided help to them.

At least 23 people including a child were killed and 38 others suffered serious injuries in a rush-hour stampede caused after rumours of a bridge collapse in Mumbais Elphinstone Road station on Friday.

The stampede took place around 10:30 am on a small bridge connecting Elphinstone Road station and Parel station. According to the Western Railways, the bridge is five meters wide and 32 meters long having a dual exit.
India on Thursday expressed its support for the mine action efforts taken by the agencies of the United Nations. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (West) Vikas Swarup said that UN Mine Action Service's (UNMAS) mine action has remained pivotal to the safety and security of peacekeepers around the world.

Speaking at a UN Security Council open debate, Vikas Swarup said: "It is a matter of deep concern that terrorist groups such as Da'esh, Hayat Taharir Al Sham [HTS], Al Nusra Front, have resorted to landmines and IEDs as low cost and effective options to spread terror and threaten innocent civilians. We are also witnessing a similar trend in Mali, where peacekeepers have been targeted by IEDs."

Secretary (West) delivered an address at the @UN Security Council Open Debate on Mine action and sustaining peace: Stronger partnerships for better delivery" today. pic.twitter.com/UfHKyYX6lO  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 8, 2021

Swarup highlighted Indias contribution towards UN peacekeeping operations and assistance towards international de-mining and rehabilitation efforts, which includes training and capacity building.

#IndiainUNSC



UNSC Open Debate on Mine Action



Secretary (West) @VikasSwarup addresses the Security Council



Highlights of remarks pic.twitter.com/PaVuZYMLsZ  India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) April 8, 2021

He called for all the countries to condemn and take actions against the trend of usage of landmines while urging for assistance to the countries that are affected by landmines.

Under the 'India for Humanity' initiative, 13 artificial limb fitment camps have been held by India in 12 countries and over 6,500 artificial limbs have been fitted to address the concerns of persons with disabilities, including landmine survivors, said Swarup.

"India is a leading contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and has extended assistance towards international de-mining and rehabilitation efforts, Swarup informed while adding that India has also undertaken specialist training on Counter IED, bomb disposal and de-mining operations with numerous partner countries, including Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia and Uzbekistan.

India has also provided seven demining teams to clear landmines in northern Sri Lanka, he informed the UNSC. "We remain willing to share our best practices with member states and the United Nations with respect to IED design, development, proliferation and mitigation and stand ready to contribute towards capacity building, victim assistance and victim re-habilitation," Swarup said in his concluding remarks.
A Kildare-based financial services company has been bought in a deal worth up to 110 million.

Maynooth Business Park-based Sentenial Group has been bought by Brisbane company EML Payments Ltd for an upfront payment of 70 million, plus a further earn-out component of up to 40 million. The deal is expected to be completed later this year.

Sentenial is a cloud-native, API-first, full-stack enterprise-grade payments company, which processes 45 billion annually for 1,750 banks across Europe.

The company, and its open banking brand Nuapay, operate in the fast-growing European Open Banking sector. It will provide EML with the capabilities to manage payments across Mastercard and Visa, account-to-account, and both card and non-card payments.

EML intends to expand Sentenial's platform and products into the North American and Australian markets. Post-completion of the acquisition, the combined group is expected to become one of the largest FinTech enablers in Open Banking and Prepaid globally.

Sean Fitzgerald, founder and CEO at Sentenial, said: Nuapays mission is to be the best way to pay and get paid. We are proud to have developed a market-leading Account-to-Account and Open Banking payments platform over nearly two decades in business. The revolution in payments caused by Open Banking and Real-Time Payments is rapidly building momentum globally, and we are hugely excited by this opportunity to move to a global scale as part of EML. From the moment EML approached us, weve been impressed by their vision, ambition and growing ecosystem.''
In a major setback to the first family of the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, Sandhya Yadav, niece of party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, will be contesting the Zila Panchayat elections on a BJP ticket from Mainpuri, a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party.

Sandhya Yadav is the sister of former Badaun MP Dharmendra Yadav and also the incumbent chairperson of Mainpuri district panchayat.

Sandhya Yadadv, who had won the last election on a Samajwadi ticket, filed her nomination papers on Wednesday.

The polling is scheduled to take place on April 19.

In 2017, a no-confidence motion was moved against Sandhya just a week after her husband, Anujesh Yadav, who was a member of the Firozabad Zila Panchayat and was close to Shivpal Yadav, was expelled from the party. Anujesh had signed a motion against the local Zila Panchayat president, Vijay Pratap, who in turn, is a close associate of Ram Gopal Yadav.

Later, the motion was withdrawn after 11 members submitted an affidavit disassociating themselves from the decision.

Two years ago, in 2019, Anujesh joined BJP. He told reporters, "If SP members could move a no-confidence motion against my wife (Sandhya), she can also fight the elections on a BJP ticket."

Anujesh claimed that his wife would win this election.

Sandhya Yadav further said, "My mother, Urmila Yadav, had been MLA twice from Ghiror in 1993 and 1996 and we enjoy considerable support among the people."

Former Samajwadi MP from Mainpuri, Tej Pratap Yadav, who is a nephew of Sandhya Yadav, said the party will treat her as a political opponent.

"We have our own candidate and we will work for his victory," he added.

BJP district president Pradeep Chauhan said, "Mulayam Singh Yadav himself had praised PM Narendra Modi in Parliament, and if the former's niece is contesting as our party candidate, it means that she also supports the development agenda of the BJP. There is nothing wrong in it. Everyone has a right to choose one's path."

However, the SP leaders in Lucknow admitted, albeit on condition of anonymity, that Sandhya's decision to contest on a BJP ticket was a 'huge embarrassment' for the party and also the family.
President Issues Executive Orders on Voting on Anniversary of Bloody Sunday

President Joe Biden used the 56th anniversary of Bloody Sunday to issue an executive order on voting rights and boosting Americans access to voter registration services.

The President also urged Congress members to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

The legislation named after the late Congressman would restore critical provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act  specifically where states and counties with a history of discrimination were forced to receive federal approval to enact new voting laws.

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The right to vote is the foundation of American democracy. Free and fair elections that reflect the will of the American people must be protected and defended, President Biden remarked during the Martin & Coretta Scott King Unity Breakfast. But many Americans, especially people of color, confront significant obstacles to exercising that fundamental right. These obstacles include difficulties with voter registration, lack of election information, and barriers to access at polling places.

He continued:

For generations, Black voters and other voters of color have faced discriminatory policies and other obstacles that disproportionally affect their communities. These voters remain more likely to face long lines at the polls and are disproportionately burdened by voter identification laws and limited opportunities to vote by mail.

Limited access to language assistance remains a barrier for many voters. People with disabilities continue to face barriers to voting and are denied legally required accommodations in exercising their fundamental rights and the ability to vote privately and independently.

Members of our military serving overseas, as well as other American citizens living abroad, also face challenges to exercising their fundamental right to vote.

The President signed the order while observing the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when, on March 7, 1965, Alabama state troopers attacked peaceful demonstrators led by the late Congressman John Lewis. They were fighting for voting rights as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.

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President Bidens order directs federal agencies to submit to the White House plans to outline ways to boost voter registration and participation.

The order also directs federal agencies to help states with voter registration efforts and modernize www.vote.gov.

Earlier legislation passed by the U.S. House would create automatic voter registration and expand absentee voting, measures Republicans have fought to deny.

The Constitution and laws of the United States prohibit racial discrimination and protect the right to vote. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other Federal statutes implement those protections and assign the Federal Government a key role in remedying disenfranchisement and unequal access to the polls, President Biden stated.

On this day of reflection, please, let us stay focused on the work ahead. Let us remember all those who came before us as a bridge to our history, so we do not forget its pain, and as a bridge to our future, so we never lose our hope.
PulseTV.com, a top 1000 North American Retailer for the past 5 years announced the creation of a series of digital NFTs (Non Fungible Tokens) that feature iconic whistleblowers like Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning, Daniel Ellsberg, Edward Snowden and more. An entire line of NFTs dealing with whistleblowers are part of The Whistleblower Collection.

PulseTV CEO, Jaffer Ali explained, Our NFTs are digital pieces of art created by our in-house creative team. Each NFT includes inspirational quotations from the specific whistleblower. This is a way to own a piece of digital art and own a piece of history.

Hundreds of unique, one-of-a-kind NFTs will be created. 25% of all NFT revenues generated from The Whistleblowers Collection will be donated to the official WikiLeaks and Julian Assange Defense Fund https://defend.wikileaks.org/donate/. This includes ANY NFT revenue from The Whistleblowers Collection.

Ali continued, We wanted to do something to help Julian Assange and came up with the notion to donate 25% of all revenues from the collection to his defense fund. Each person chosen has impacted history and inspired generations. Their courage and unwavering devotion to justice has earned them a place in history. We have our internal design team creating unique NFTs.

The NFT market has been largely a vanity market where celebrities create digital memorabilia around their status. The Whistleblowers Collection bridges political activism, technology and crypto enthusiasm. But one of the problems of the NFT industry is the idea that all one needs to do is create them and they will come.

Ali noted, The entire crypto and technology sector in general believe that scarcity and supply creates demand. While each NFT we create is unique, scarcity alone does not create demand. PulseTV will be using its email and web traffic to create awareness of all of its NFT collections.

The Whistleblowers Collection is PulseTVs second foray into the NFT marketplace. Its first offering was creating U.S. Military Generals digital cards with quotes that define Generals philosophy of war and life.

PulseTV has been an online retailer for over 20 years. For more information, contact: Mary Kolacki, Communications Director M.Kolacki@PulseTV.com or call 708- 478-4500 ext. 109.
Lambert here: Boy howdy, that $2000 from Joe Biden sure did come in handy! That was a months rent!

By The Texas Tribune. Cross-posted from Alternet.

Texans behind on their rent are at increasing risk of losing their homes despite a federal moratorium on evictions, according to housing attorneys, because a Texas Supreme Court order aimed at forestalling evictions has expired.

The nationwide order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention halting evictions through June 30  originally issued under the Trump administration  has been an important bulwark against a housing crisis as people lost jobs and income during the pandemic, housing advocates say.

But an emergency order issued by the Texas Supreme Court that instructed judges across Texas how to follow the federal mandate expired March 31.

Without the explicit backup of the moratorium from the states highest civil court, Texas landlords could resume pursuing evictions of people affected by the pandemic, housing advocates said, and it could fall to the federal government to enforce the CDC order.

A lot of people have been saying for the last year that this eviction wave is coming and that we are about to step off this cliff into the abyss. With this latest news, we just stepped off that cliff. This is the worst case scenario, said Mark Melton, an attorney who has helped hundreds of Dallas-area tenants during the pandemic. This basically says that if a landlord wants to risk federal prosecution, thats their business, not our problem. And if they want the eviction we have to grant it under state law.

The Texas Justice Court Training Center, which trains judges and issues procedural guidance, has updated its eviction-related guidelines to say that Texas courts can proceed with eviction cases, although the landlord might choose to place this case on hold.

This just means that the courts in Texas would follow Texas procedure in law, which doesnt have anything in it about the CDC moratorium. Now there could be local laws that would maybe have a moratorium, said Theadora Wallen, the training centers executive director.

To be protected by the CDC order, renters must sign a declaration stating they risk homelessness due to effects of the pandemic, among other requirements. The CDC order subjects violators to fines up to $100,000 and a year in jail. The penalties are steeper if violating the order results in death. Until March 31, justices of the peace in Texas played a key role enforcing it, halting eviction proceedings they believed violated the CDC order. Now it will be up to individual judges to decide whether to follow the federal orders.

Meanwhile, a Texas program meant to financially help renters who have fallen behind has barely taken root.

In essence, the Texas Supreme Court and the states leaders are abdicating their powers and moral obligation to protect renters from homelessness. Meanwhile, the $1.3 billion state-run rental assistance program has stumbled. As of less than two weeks ago, fewer than 130 payments had been made, said Christina Rosales, deputy director of the advocacy group Texas Housers, in a statement. Program administrators, who had aimed to process applications within 14 days, say that 60 days is closer to average. If landlords are able to evict tenants who have applied for rent relief, the program will fail before it has had the chance to succeed.

According to Kristina Tirloni, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, as of April 2 the program had provided $2.3 million in rent relief for 358 households. But when TDHCA announced the program in February  tapping federal funds  the agency said it hoped to help around 80,000 households.

Texas received more than $1 billion to start this first-time statewide rent program from scratch, with little to no federal guidance, Tirloni said. The system will ramp up considerably in the coming days and weeks, and we are preparing to administer another round of funding, approximately $1 billion more, very soon.

The slow deployment of assistance hasnt been a problem just in Texas. The Texas Tribune reached out to agencies in the six biggest states, and all have experienced similar delays. Some, like Florida, have not even opened the application process.

For Texans who have lost income, the delays are feeding stress and uncertainty. According to a survey by the U.S. Census Bureau released in March, around 1.5 million households in Texas have slight or no confidence in their ability to pay next months rent. The problem is most common among Black and Hispanic households. Thats the case for Nini Maldonado, a mother of five in Katy, who has applied to city and state rent relief programs with no success.

We would call the customer service hotline and no one would pick up, Maldonado said in Spanish. We would be waiting for an hour and then the call would drop. We never managed to get help to fill up the forms.

Maldonado works in a restaurant, and her husband is in construction. During the last year, both lost hours of work and sometimes were unemployed. On top of that, the couple contracted COVID-19, leaving them out of work in December. Right now, she owes two and a half months rent, and although their landlord is open to a payment plan, he has also said he is ready to proceed with their eviction.

He told us that if by April 3 we havent paid rent plus $200 [of the amount owed], he is going to court, Maldonado said. My husband is a calm person, he tries to stay positive. But I do feel this very hard on myself, I think about where we will go with the five kids if they throw us out.

Landlords  many also struggling to pay for mortgages and maintenance  also complain about the slow and cumbersome access to rent relief. David Mintz, vice president of government affairs at the Texas Apartment Association, said rent relief is key, and he expects the program to speed up.

While the Texas Apartment Association opposes the CDC order, so long as it remains in effect we will continue to educate rental property owners about complying with its provisions, Mintz said. The real focus needs to be on ensuring the Texas Rent Relief Program, the Texas Eviction Diversion Program and similar programs in local communities are running efficiently.

Nelson Mock, a housing attorney for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, said that the organizations immediate concern is eviction cases that were already in the legal pipeline before they were halted, when the judge had already instructed a constable to proceed with the eviction.

If a tenant is at the end of the process, where the judgment is final and a writ is allowed, then the tenant is given 24-hour notice and removed, said Mock, who has heard of many evictions that were stopped at the last minute. Once that pause is lifted, once that abatement is lifted, they will get this almost immediate removal from their homes.

Given the lack of protection for tenants in the states new guidelines, having legal advice could be key for people risking eviction, but in Texas most of them appear in courts on their own. Many avoid court altogether. Mock said that many attorneys and advocates are asking the Texas Justice Court Training Center to change its recommendations and, in the meantime, are advising tenants to be proactive and seek legal aid.

Anyone who has the protections of the CDC order should be urging the courts to follow the CDC order, Mock said. To the extent that they have a landlord who is not following the order, there is a help line, a complaint line that the [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau] has set up. Tenants should be reporting these problems.
Closed stores on Dam street and the Royal Palace on Dam Square are seen in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Jan. 14, 2021. (Peter Dejong/AP Photo)

New Report Warns of Chinese Regimes Influence in the Netherlands

A new report warned the Dutch government to be vigilant about the Chinese communist regimes influence in the Netherlands through educational and cultural infiltration.

The investigative report, which was released at the end of March, was authored by Professor Frank Pieke at the Asia Center of Leiden University in the Netherlands. The report was funded by the Dutch governments Chinese Knowledge Network.

The report said, The basis for influencing the Chinese Dutch has been laid out and that there is potential for interference. Pieke urged the Dutch government to be vigilant and proactive in preventing the Chinese regime from adversely affecting the Chinese expat community in the Netherlands.



The report analyzed Beijings direct ties with eight local Dutch-Chinese organizations and six major Chinese-language media outlets in the Netherlands.

After the Dutch parliament passed a non-binding motion at the end of February to condemn the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s genocide against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, the Dutch Chinese-language media Shunhe published a joint statement with 55 Chinese expat associations on March 8, lambasting the Dutch parliament for passing the motion. The statement parroted the same message that the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands released earlier in response to the motion.

Screenshot of a joint statement of 55 Chinese expat associations in the Netherlands, criticizing the Dutch parliament for passing a motion to condemn Beijings genocide of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

A similar statement was issued by the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification in the Netherlands, which is another Chinese expat organization in the country.

In order to counter the CCPs promotion of its socialist and communist ideologies through local Chinese-language media, the report said the Dutch government should establish Chinese-language media services for the Dutch-Chinese communities.

The report addressed issues related to Chinese-language instruction in schools and proposed that the content should meet the requirements and needs of the Dutch people, and not give in to Chinas demands.

Meanwhile, the University of Groningen in the Netherlands has also announced that it will not renew its contract with the Confucius Institute due to concerns over its ties with the Chinese regime. Confucius Institutes are operated under the Chinese government agency Hanban, under its Ministry of Education. It promotes the communist ideology and the CCPs agenda, including censoring topics the regime deems sensitive such as the persecution of Falun Gong adherents and Uyghurs.

The report also said that the dialogue between the Dutch government and representatives of the Chinese communities in the Netherlands is essential in countering the Chinese regimes influence over the expat communities, as it will promote integration, participation, diversity and openness as well as sending a signal to China itself.
Developing worlds first commercially viable and scalable coal dehydration technology that creates stable, dust-free coal

The University of Wyomings School of Energy Resources has validated the companys Pristine-M technology

It has signed several license agreements for its coal upgrading technology

What Clean Coal Technologies does:

Clean Coal Technologies Inc ( ) is developing the worlds first commercially viable and scalable coal dehydration technology that creates stable, dust-free coal.

The Madison Avenue, New York-based companys patented Pristine-M technology puts low-quality coal through a mild gasification process, removing moisture as well as coals worst pollutants. Along with producing more energy than untreated coal, the refined product also produces fewer harmful emissions when burned, including carbon dioxide, sulfur and mercury. The technology, developed over ten years, has undergone rigorous testing.

The technology applies controlled heat to extract pollutants and moisture from low-rank coal, transforming it into a cleaner-burning fuel. The coal cleaning process ensures the carbon in coal maintains its structural integrity during the heating process, while the volatile matter  often polluting heavy metals  turns into liquids and gas and escapes the coal.

The technology is handy as deposits with high moisture coal emit less energy than low moisture coal. Think about trying to burn wet logs to warm a room. You need more logs and it takes longer. The same applies to coal. The higher the moisture content of coal, the more coal power plants need to consume.

On the other hand, the processed stabilized coal reduces the carbon footprint on the environment by burning efficiently and averts dust pollution during transport. According to the company, tests show a 33% increase in heating value which means a coal power plant will need to consume less coal to achieve the same energy output.

In addition to Pristine-M, the company has a portfolio which includes its legacy technology, Pristine, which is designed to remove moisture and volatile matter, as per client-specified requirements, rendering cleaner thermal coal. Similarly, Pristine-SA is a technology designed to remove volatile matter in coal feedstock to achieve stable combustion by co-firing it with natural gas.

A sophisticated rotary kiln will be used across all three of the companys patented coal dehydration technology processes  Pristine, Pristine-M, and Pristine-SA. The company said the rotary kiln has been designed in a manner that will enable the company to automatically extract by-products from coal.

The new kiln will enable the companys test facility to double its heating capability to in excess of 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. This will enable the company to access all the very valuable chemicals in the coal as well as many other important bye-products potentially adding an entirely new revenue stream for the coal industry.

The sophisticated rotary kiln will now be used across all three of the companys patented coal dehydration technology processes  Pristine, Pristine-M, and Pristine-SA.

How is it doing:

Clean Coal Technologies has been quiet so far in 2021.

The company's last statement was in September 2020 when it announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalizing its partnership with Energy Capital Economic Development in Gillette, Wyoming. The ECED enables legislative, local and state economic development in order to encourage private sector growth of companies to therefore stimulate economic benefit, the company said.

A month earlier, Clean Coal announced that it had received the delivery of its $1.4 million rotary kiln which will be used with its patented coal dehydration technology to create stable, dust-free coal at its Fort Union test facility near Gillette, Wyoming.

The company said the fabrication of the rotary kiln was completed in Canada and finally arrived at the facility on August 6 and had been installed.

In October 2019, Clean Coal said it had begun the assembly of their test facility at their Fort Union site. The 2nd generation facility will incorporate new features and designs following the successful testing of its process in Oklahoma.

The changes were the result of close collaboration between the company's engineers and the University of Wyoming's (UofWY) School of Energy Research, who partnered with the company in 2017 to help optimize its technology for coal beneficiation and for the extraction of coal byproducts - critical issues facing the PRB coal-producing region.

The UofWY's School of Energy Research is one of the world's leading research institutions in energy technology, particularly in the development of coal beneficiation and byproduct extraction.

Inflection points:

Establishing Pristine-M technology commercially in the Powder River Basin

Upside potential in manufacturing valuable byproducts as a consequence of the coal-beneficiation process

Japan, South Korea, Mexico and Australia have granted full patents to the Pristine technology enabling work on partnerships with government institutions and commercial entities in the countries

What the boss says:

In the September 2020 statement, Clean Coal COO Aiden Neary commented: "We are very proud to announce that CCTI has formally signed an MOU with ECED who are the owner and operator of the Wyoming Innovation Center based at the Fort Union location in Gillette, Wyoming."

He added: "This partnership will provide us with infrastructural support when necessary as we advance our first-of-a-kind technology at our Fort Union location, Neary said. The Innovation Center is a very unique initiative and reflects the continued support by Wyoming in advancing the use of Wyoming PRB coal through technology.

"With the arrival of our $1.3 million Rotary Kiln at our site last month this partnership will provide our ability to supply processed coal feedstock to other businesses in the Industrial park and enable us to share infrastructure as we move towards being fully operational at our new facility, Neary said.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
Sattar Sawut was convicted for his role in the publication of school textbooks said to incite interethnic hatred. Five other Uyghurs were convicted in the same case. The former head of the local justice department was also sentenced to death for conspiring with Muslim separatists.

Beijing (AsiaNews)  A Chinese court has sentenced to death a former head of Xinjiang's education department on charges of separatism and taking bribes. The court suspended for two years the sentence against Sattar Sawut, who was convicted along with five other Uyghurs, a Muslim-majority Turkic group.

The state-run Xinhua news agency reported the court decision, but did not indicate when the verdict was reached. Sawut came under investigation in 2017 for his role in the publication of school textbooks that allegedly incited inter-ethnic hatred and encouraged the spread of "separatist thoughts" in the autonomous region.

The offending texts are blamed for a series of violent riots between 2009 and 2014. According to Beijing, Uyghur terrorists are seeking the independence of Xinjiang, which they call East Turkestan.

According to expert data, confirmed by the United Nations, China holds or held more than a million Muslims in Xinjiang concentration camps. Recent media revelations have highlighted the existence of labour camps in the region, where hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz are forced to work, especially picking cotton.

China has denied the accusations, claiming that the camps in Xinjiang are vocational centres, part of a plan to reduce poverty while fighting terrorism and separatism.

Meanwhile, the Xinjiang Regional Court sentenced to death Shirzat Bawudun, the former head of the local justice department, after he was convicted of separatism.

In his decision, Judge Wang Langtao said Bawudun conspired with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement. According to the United Nations, the latter is a terrorist group; however, last November, the United States removed it from its blacklist, citing a lack of evidence that it is still existed.
U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price speaks ahead of an address by Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the release of the "2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices," at the State Department in Washington on March 30, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

US Will Not Offer Incentives to Get Iran Back to Negotiating Table on Nuclear Deal

The U.S. State Department reiterated on April 7 that the Biden administration wont offer unilateral incentives to get Iran back to the negotiating table on the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)known commonly as the Iran nuclear dealwhich former President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018.

We are not and will not offer any unilateral gestures or incentives to sweeten any sort of deal or to induce Iran toback to the negotiating table or to a better position at that negotiating table, State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on April 7.

Price was referring to the deal between Iran and six major powers under which Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear program in return for the easing of U.S. and other economic sanctions.

The deal made it harder for Irans atomic program to be used to produce nuclear weapons, an ambition Tehran denies. Trump pulled the United States out of the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, saying at the time that America would not be held hostage to nuclear blackmail. He called it a horrible one-sided deal that is defective at its core.

That prompted Tehran to begin openly violating the deals nuclear restrictions about a year later.

Price echoed his remarks from last month, in which he suggested Washington would consider each side taking steps to resume compliance with the agreement once theyre at the negotiating table.

If the Iranians are under the impression that, absent any movement on their part to resume full compliance with the [nuclear deal], that we will offer favors or unilateral gestures, well thats a misimpression, he had told reporters.

If and only if Tehran comes to the negotiating table would we be in a position, would we be prepared, to discuss proposals that would help push both sides back on that path of mutual compliance to the deal.

Ultimately, that is where we seek to go: compliance for compliance.

His comments come as the United States partakes in indirect talks with Tehran in Vienna, Austrianearly three years after Trump abandoned the deal. Tehran has ruled out face-to-face bilateral talks with the United States.

Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.), leaders of several Senate committees or subcommittees, submitted a letter (pdf) to the president this week urging him not to reenter the nuclear deal.

They described it as a severely flawed agreement that undermines our national security interests due to its arbitrary sunsets and limited scope.

Unfortunately, recent comments from Administration officials suggest that is exactly what the U.S. intends to offer Tehran, they wrote.

We urge your Administration to reset its approach immediately. Members of Congress rejected the JCPOA on a bipartisan basis in 2015, they wrote. Returning to the JCPOA is not a recipe for a sustainable Iran policy, and will not protect U.S. national security interests.

Separately, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last month warned that the United States and the Middle East would be made less secure by rejoining the 2015 nuclear accord.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on April 6 that a diplomatic path is the right path forward, and there are benefits to all sides.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Gov. Henry McMaster will travel April 9-10 with state Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Van McCarty to visit S.C. National Guard soldiers stationed on the U.S. southern border in Texas.

Recent reports indicate around 300 South Carolina troops are in place at various points along the 2,000-mile stretch dividing the U.S. and Mexico since being assigned there under President Donald J. Trump's administration.

The troops are assisting understaffed federal law enforcement amid a recent uptick in migrant crossings that began after the beginning of the year.

The men and women of the South Carolina National Guard are selflessly serving our country in the midst of a serious crisis at our countrys southern border, McMaster said in a statement.

Im grateful to have the opportunity to meet with these brave South Carolinians and hear directly from them about their heroic efforts and the challenges they are facing, he said.

During the governors travel he will meet with members of the 2-151st Aviation Regiment, a helicopter regiment based out of Eastover, and the 1052nd Transportation Company, a truck unit out of Kingstree.

McMaster is meeting with the groups at a military installation and Customs and Border Protection sector headquarters near the border.

He will also receive in-person briefings from military leadership supporting and supplementing federal efforts.

Defense and White House officials have not said whether the border mission, which is authorized through Sept. 30, will end sooner as President Joe Biden attempts to unwind some of the policies that originated from the Trump administration.

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In May, 2018, McMaster signed off on sending National Guard assistance from the state, taking to Twitter about deploying one UH-72 Lakota helicopter and three crew members from Greenville to Texas.

Two years later, in May 2020, South Carolina was notified the federal mobilization would require a significant number of guardsmen to assist Trumps border agenda and the needs of the Department of Homeland Security.

What their day-to-day duties have been since arriving have not been publicized. Historically, they have helped federal law enforcement with counter-drug, counter-transnational organized crime and other transnational threats, according to Maj. Karla Evans, a spokeswoman for the S.C. National Guard.

This could range from helping file paperwork on migrant travelers and helping fix vehicles, to patrolling uncompleted sections of Trumps border wall project or providing surveillance.

Many soldiers receive a per diem, which allows them to stay in nearby hotels and buy meals.

A recent influx of immigrants have been arriving at the southern border since Bidens inauguration.

Arrests and detention cases rose to nearly 78,000 in January, according to The Washington Post. Notably, its the highest number for that month in at least a decade and more than double from the prior year.
A health worker shows a box containing a bottle of Ivermectin, a medicine authorized by the National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (INVIMA) to treat patients with mild, asymptomatic or suspicious COVID-19, as part of a study of the Center for Paediatric Infectious Diseases Studies, in Cali, Colombia, on July 21, 2020. (Luis Robayo/AFP via Getty Images)

Anti-Parasitic Drug Can Be Used for COVID-19 in South Africa; WHO Says Use in Studies Only

South African doctors may now prescribe ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 without fear of reprisal or waiting for approval from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAPHRA), according to a court order on April 6, as the World Health Organization (WHO) advised that the drug be used in a trial only.

The court order ruled that a medical product for human use containing ivermectin as an active ingredient had been registered by SAPHRA on March 16, that allowed ivermectin to be compounded, or mixed together with other registered medicines, and made accessible in accordance with the provisions of Section 14(4) of the Act.

Access in accordance with Section 14(4) of the Act practically means that doctors can prescribe ivermectin on their own judgment and that no Section 21 application or reporting is required for compounded ivermectin, Barend Uys, Head of Research at AfriForum, said in a news release. Patients can then use this prescription to buy ivermectin from any pharmacy where compounded ivermectin is available.

AfriForum was one of four groups that filed a lawsuit against SAPHRA.

Prior to the ruling, doctors were required to apply for approval for the use of ivermectin through SAPHRAs controlled compassionate use program under Section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, which allowed SAPHRA to sell an unregistered medical product within the country.

But submitting an application did not guarantee approval from the medical regulator.

The court also ordered SAPHRA to report to the court every three months of any changes made to ivermectins availability and use.

WHO Recommends Against Ivermectin Use

A logo is pictured outside a building of the World Health Organization (WHO) during an executive board meeting on an update on the CCP virus outbreak, in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 6, 2020. (Reuters/Denis Balibouse)

The South African ruling comes less than a week after the WHO advised against the use of ivermectin for COVID-19, a disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, except in a clinical setting, citing inconclusive data.

The current evidence on the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients is inconclusive, the WHO said in a press release. Until more data is available, WHO recommends that the drug only be used within clinical trials.

The WHO said its decision was based on the review of 16 randomized controlled studies with 2407 participants by its panel of experts assessing whether ivermectin had any impact on hospital admission, viral clearance, mortality, and mechanical ventilation.

Dr. Pierre Kory, a member of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care (FLCCC) Alliance, said that the WHOs statement was not based on science and was rather biased.

They dont mention that the majority of studies find really important benefits. All they do is [say] that resultsnot positive results, the results, the outcomesare all low quality or low certainty, Kory said in an FLCCC weekly update. We know thats not true. Theres a number of extra groups that graded the quality, and they actually find it moderate, including the lead researcher of the WHO.

Kory also said that the WHOs recommendation was in-line with statements from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and Merck, to try to manufacture uncertainty about science where little or none exists.

The WHO didnt respond to a request for comment.

The NIH initially said it only recommended ivermectin for use in clinical trials, but updated its guidance after members of the FLCCC Alliance presented their data in January.

There are insufficient data for the COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) to recommend either for or against the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19, the NIH stated.

In February, Merck, who held a patent until 1996 and for years touted the safety of ivermectin, released a statement against the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 citing the lack of safety and efficacy data.

We do not believe that the data available support the safety and efficacy of ivermectin beyond the doses and populations indicated in the regulatory agency-approved prescribing information, Merck said.

A month later, the drug manufacturer announced the preliminary findings of its Phase 2a study with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics of experimental anti-viral drug Molnupiravir for early treatment of COVID-19. The oral drug showed a quicker reduction in infectious viruses similar to ivermectin. The Phase 2/3 trial of Monupiravir will be completed in May.

Dr. Andrew Hill, senior visiting fellow at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, led a meta-analysis study on ivermectin that was funded by Unitaid, part of the World Health Organizations ACT Accelerator initiative to improve access to COVID-19 treatment and diagnostics, according to TrialSite News.

In his meta-analysis study [pdf] of 18 trials involving over 2,200 patients, Hill, and his team found that there was a 75 percent improvement in survival, faster time to clinical recovery and signs of a dose-dependent effect of viral clearance for patients given ivermectin versus control treatment.

Despite the encouraging trend this existing database demonstrates, the researchers say that additional, higher-quality and larger-scale clinical trials are needed before regulatory approval of ivermectin.

Dr. Jean-Jacques Rajter, a pulmonologist who treated severe COVID-19 patients successfully with ivermectin early on in the pandemic, testified at a Senate hearing last December that funding and support for a randomized controlled trial to confirm ivermectins efficacy and safety had been difficult.

My team has multiple study protocols in place, ready to be implemented in short order, Rajter said. We have established relationships with international teams to complete such randomized controlled trials, yet funding for such studies has been elusive at best.

According to Nobel Prize winner and co-developer of ivermectin Dr. Satoshi Omura, there are a total of 91 trials in 27 countries being conducted, with 80 being conducted for therapeutic purposes and 11 for the purpose of preventing COVID-19.

Ivermectin

Ivermectin, an inexpensive anti-parasitic drug initially given to animals, was approved for human use in 1987 for the treatment of onchocerciasis, or river blindness, a disease caused by worms that were transmitted by flies. More than 3.7 billion doses of ivermectin have been distributed in over 30 years.

The drug is on the WHOs essential medicines list and has a high safety profile.

Dr. Tess Lawrie, Director of Evidence-based Medicine Consultancy Ltd., said in an interview on March 6, that there were around 4,600 adverse events and 16 deaths listed on the pharmacovigilance database for ivermectin since the drug was first given to people.

Some common side effects of ivermectin include nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, and skin rash, according to the FDA.

Lawrie said remdesivir for hospitalized COVID-19 patients had more adverse events and 417 deaths since it had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year. Side effects for remdesivir include nausea, bleeding, and pain.

Ivermectin has several possible mechanisms of action in treating COVID-19, with its anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties that blocks the viral proteins from entering the nucleus and prevents the virus from impairing the immune system, Lawrie said. It also has the mechanism of action that impairs the viruss ability to replicate.

Countries Using Ivermectin

Ivermectin use around the world. (Courtesy of c19ivermectin.com)

In the Philippines, the countrys FDA has granted compassionate use of ivermectin to one hospital that had applied for it, but said the distribution of the drug remains illegal, the Philippine News Agency reported. Proponents of ivermectin have been pushing for the drug to be approved for use in treating COVID-19 as the roll-out of the vaccine has been slow. Ivermectin is available only for animals in the country.

Officials in Belize, a Central American country, authorized the use of ivermectin in December 2020 to combat the CCP virus, citing that the decision to add the drug as a treatment protocol because it would have more benefits than risks, according to local news LoveFM.

Mexico City also began dispensing ivermectin on Dec. 29, 2020, to COVID-19 patients after the local government said it had examined over 30 clinical studies using ivermectin as treatment. By Jan. 22, more than 50,000 people had been treated with the drug, El Financiero reported.

Slovakia became the first European Union nation to authorize ivermectin. The countrys health minister approved ivermectin as a prophylaxis and treatment for COVID-19 in January, allowing doctors to prescribe it for the following six months.

Ivermectin for animals is not recommended for human consumption as animal drugs are often highly concentrated and can be highly toxic in humans, according to the FDA.
Farm Business Options Webinar - Organic Farming  Steps to Conversion and Opportunities

Event Time 11am

Venue Online



A weekly webinar, Farm Business Options, will feature news, views and interviews on current topics relevant to farm business diversification in Irish Agriculture.

Barry Caslin will be joined by Elaine Leavy Teagasc Organic Specialist and Clive Bright (Organic Grass only Farmer, Sligo) to discuss the Organic Farming Scheme currently open for applications, balancing profit and sustainability, key considerations and opportunities which organic farming can offer.
Gettysburg father and daughter Brian and McKenzie Long this morning stepped onto the Appalachian Trail at its southern terminus on Springer Mountain in Georgia. They hope to finish a thru-hike of about 2,200 miles sometime in September at the northern terminus on Mount Katahdin in Maine.

They had planned to make the trek last year, but like thousands of others opted to postpone in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy urged all hikers to stay off the trail last year.

Plenty of pandemic concerns remain for those planning to walk through 14 states this year, but the Longs have decided to take them on in the hike of a lifetime.

Well have our frustrations, such as occasional resupply problems caused by ongoing pandemic-related restrictions, Long acknowledged. But, the trail towns, where AT hikers resupply and sometimes take a bit of time off from the trail in hotels and restaurants, are all open again.

This year also is expected to be a relatively crowded year on the AT, as many of those who postponed their 2,200-mile attempts last year are now hitting the trail, joined by the thousands who had planned for their treks in 2021.

But through that the Longs hope to average about 15 miles per day for nearly half of this year, while also raising $10,000 for Hope Walks, an international nonprofit with U.S. offices in Dillsburg that supports treatment of children with clubfoot in Latin America and Africa. Clubfoot is a birth defect that twists feet, making simple walking difficult or impossible. It is easily treated with a series of casts and braces known as the Ponseti method.

Our company (Cabinet Joint) partners with many organizations and ministries, Long said. Hope Walks made perfect sense. Why? Simply because they help kids walk, kids who otherwise would never consider walking down the street, let alone walking a 2,200-mile trail. It was a perfect fit. Every mile we walk enables us to raise money so maybe one day, one of these kids can undertake an adventure like this.

Long, the 53-year-old owner of an online cabinet company, has wanted to hike the AT since he was in high school, but life got in the way of that dream. Then last year, when McKenzie graduated from high school and expressed the same AT dream, Long had the push he needed.

The Longs will be joined in their trek by brother-in-law and niece Mark and Naomi Barrett, of Milledgeville, Illinois.

About 4,000 people attempt to hike the entire AT each year, but only about a quarter of them complete it. Long views their treks connection to Hope Walks as the extra drive they will need to become part of the 25 percent.

I am also hoping to build margin back into my life, he said. By putting aside the things that society says are important and instead focusing on making my life extraordinary, I am attempting to be counter-cultural. I want to prove to myself that I can live simply, carrying everything I need to be happy right on my back. I want to show myself that I dont need or aspire to the American Dream we and our parents have sold our kids. In the end, I am simply praying 5 to 6 months of intensive time with God has left me with a spiritual life that is ablaze and priorities that are very much realigned when I step on Katahdin.

But beyond the loftier philosophies and hopes are the everyday logistics of the trek.

The Longs each will be carrying a pack loaded with about 28 pounds of gear and food, which testing and retesting, and replacing, over the past year has whittled down from an initial 35 pounds.

Theyve discarded their backpacking tent in favor of covered hammocks and quilts rated down 20 degrees, which is below the lowest nighttime temperatures they expect to encounter on the trail.

Long estimates the endeavor will carry a price tag of $5,000 to $7,000, but it will be the physical aspects that will really test them.

He said theyve been doing 7- or 8-mile training hikes with fully loaded packs a couple or 3 times a week and regularly climbing stairs at the battlefield observation towers in Gettysburg.

From there, he explained, well just let the trail talk to us, starting the trek at 7-8 miles per day and working up to the goal of 15.

Theyve done plenty of hiking, including about a hundred miles on the John Muir Trail in California, but weve never hiked 8 miles over and over and over again. Doing that for 5 months will be new territory for us.

Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.
Mumbai, April 8 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday questioned arrested Mumbai Police officer Sachin Vaze, former city Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and two others in connection with the preliminary enquiry it registered for the probe into allegations of corruption against former state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

A CBI source related to probe told IANS: "The agency sleuths have recorded the statement of Vaze, who is presently in NIA custody." The source said that the CBI is also recording the statement of Singh, who dropped a letter bomb on March 20, accusing Deshmukh of asking Vaze and other Mumbai Police personnel to extort Rs 100 crore 'monthly' from bars, hotels and restaurants.

Besides the two, the agency also recorded the statement of ACP Sanjay Patil and petitioner Jayshri Patil in connection its PE.

The CBI had registered a PE on Tuesday night. Two teams of CBI-led by SP level officer have arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday and Wednesday to probe the matter.

The Bombay High Court directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary probe against Deshmukh on Monday. Soon after the ruling, Deshmukh stepped down from his post.

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the pleas of the state government and Deshmukh challenging the High Court order.

The NIA has arrested Vaze on March 13 after taking over the case of the explosive laden SUV found outside Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani's residence. Vaze is also being probed in the mysterious death of businessman Mansukh Hiran.


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(Alliance News) - Gemfields Group Ltd announced on Thursday that it had generated revenue of USD58.9 million from an online ruby auction, conducted from March 15 to April 8.

The London and Johannesburg-listed gemstone supplier said the figure is its third highest auction result to date and saw 52 companies placing bids with 95% of the number of lots being sold.

Operations at Gemfields's Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique were suspended from April 2020 to March 2021, with no revenue realised there for 2020.

The rubies sold at the auction were all extracted from the mine before April 2020, and were sold at an average price of USD171.33 per carat.

Gemfields' Managing Director of Product & Sales Adrian Banks said, "We are very encouraged by the strong appetite from our clients and by the prices realised. As a result of the fall-out from the Covid-19 pandemic, this auction was also our first since December 2019, meaning we realised no sales at all for some 15 months. We're truly delighted to be back in business after the lengthy pause in both mining and sales."

Last week,for 2020 Gemfields reported a decline in revenue to USD34.6 million, leading to a pretax loss of USD99.2 million, swinging from a profit of USD67.4 million in 2019.

Shares in Gemfields were up 2.1% at 7.15 pence in London on Thursday afternoon, while its Johannesburg shares had closed 3.7% higher at ZAR1.40.

By Will Paige; willpaige@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
WASHINGTON  A top federal pandemic official warned last June that Emergent BioSolutions, the government contractor that last month threw out millions of doses of Covid-19 vaccines because of contamination, lacked enough trained staff and had a record of problems with quality control.

A copy of the officials assessment, obtained by The New York Times, cited key risks in relying on Emergent to handle the production of vaccines developed by both Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca at Emergents Bayview plant in Baltimore.

The assessment, which has not been released publicly, was based in part on a visit to the plant just days after the government awarded Emergent a contract worth up to $628 million, mostly to prepare its factories to make coronavirus vaccines as part of Operation Warp Speed.

Addressing the problems will require significant effort, and the company will have to be monitored closely, said the report, which was written by Carlo de Notaristefani, a manufacturing expert who has overseen production of Covid-19 vaccines for the federal government since last May. Though marked as a draft, federal officials said the report was considered to be final.
Investing in dividend stocks could be a way of boosting your income while potentially increasing your savings too

One of the potential benefits of investing is seeing your money grow thanks to rising share prices - but a major source of long-term stock market returns comes through dividends.

Companies pay dividends to their shareholders as a reward for their investment - and often to retain their commitment to holding shares.

They provide a handy income that investors can earn on top of capital growth and when reinvested and compounded over the years, dividends have proven to be a major driver of total returns.

Take the FTSE 100 over the past 20 years: in terms of share price returns it is up just 19 per cent, but its total return, which includes dividends, is 146 per cent.

Some investors choose to reinvest dividends and use the power of compounding to earn returns on returns, while others may take them as income - this is a popular option for those using pensions invested for retirement income.

Here is everything you need to know about dividend stocks, including how they could boost your portfolio and where to find them.

What is a dividend?

As a shareholder, you own a stake in a business and share in the companys profits.

Some companies, typically smaller and or younger businesses, will use profits to reinvest in the business and grow it while others, typically more established businesses, will reward investors by using some of the cash to make payments to them, known as dividends.

But some smaller and medium-sized companies also choose to pay dividends too.

The idea is that shareholders will hold onto their shares, or even invest more if there is the promise of regular dividend payments that deliver a return on their investment.

A company will declare its dividend in its financial results and they are usually paid quarterly or once or twice a year.

You will receive a figure related to how much of a share you own.

For example, if FTSE 100-listed AstraZeneca announced a dividend of 50p per share and you owned 100 shares, you would get a dividend of 50.

Dividends are measured by the annual payment as a percentage of a company's share price, which is known as the dividend yield. This moves around depending on dividend payments and share prices.

For example, if a company paid out a total of 10p per share over the course of a year and its current share price was 200p, the dividend yield would be 5 per cent (10/200 = 0.05).

Placing some of your hard-earned money in dividend stocks could offer you better, more regular returns than the average savings account in the current climate

How to spot a top dividend stock

It is up to a company to pay a dividend, but you can get a good idea on their plans based on their history and financial performance.

The dividend payment will be disclosed in a companys financial reports and you can usually check previous payments in its investor relations section on its website.

Dividends can be cut at any time. There are some financial indicators to look out for to check how stable dividends are and spot potential future dividend payers, or companies that might raise their payout.

If a company is making lots of profit then there is more chance that it will use the extra cash to pay dividends, especially if it has a track record of doing so.

But dividend payments could be one of the first expenses that are cut to save money if its profits are falling.

You can compare the level of a dividend payout with its profits and cashflow to see how sustainable and viable payments are. This is known as the dividend payout ratio.

To do this, divide a companys annual dividend per share figure by its earnings per share (EPS). A high number may suggest a large proportion of a companys profits is going towards payouts. Does a company have enough cash and decent profit prospects to keep paying dividends at the same level?

Dividend cover is a figure that is used to measure this and is calculated by earnings per share divided by the dividend per share. The higher the number, the more secure the dividend is considered.

A high dividend yield may make a stock seem attractive as you could get a large and steady source of income with a relatively small investment. But it could suggest that earnings and the share price are falling, which could reduce payments.

Analyst reports may help decide how sustainable a dividend. is. However, beyond financials, there are political and economic reasons why a company may not pay a dividend.

Many companies have scrapped or reduced dividend payments to shareholders during the pandemic, as it looks bad at a time when their staff may be furloughed or have lost their jobs or the business may have received government support.

This underlines the importance of building a portfolio combining growth and income stocks across different sectors and regions so that your money isnt hit drastically if a dividend is cut or scrapped.
Google might have accidentally leaked the first look of its Pixel Buds A. Various sources stated that the tech giant firm showed the wearable device's image through an email that was sent to users' Google Nest accounts.

The upcoming Google Pixel Buds A have 'accidentally' been leaked by, well, Google. pic.twitter.com/JQ4ScQsIih  Dada Bhai Tech (@DadaBhaitech) April 8, 2021

Aside from how it looks like, the email message also leaked some possible features of Google Pixel Buds A.

According to Gizmo China's latest report, the email accidentally included Pixel Buds A's image together with a link to the Google Store where the wearable device is listed under the Accessories section of the company's official website.

Based on the leaked visual, the upcoming Pixel Buds A still has the same design as its predecessor, which is Google Pixel Buds. However, it has a dark green color, which is very different from the current grey one.

Google Pixel Buds A's possible features

9to5Google previously reported that Google's earphones had surfaced on the FCC website as a new Pixel Buds-like device for certification. Recently, there were two Weifang Goertek Electronics' devices that passed the FCC listing.

Been using the Google Pixel Buds for the past week. I like them a lot.

199 pic.twitter.com/39qJvhNJrz  Jess Kelly  (@jesskellynt) July 13, 2020

Also Read: Razer Project Hazel Coming Soon, Company Confirms Transparent Mask Concept with Built-In Mic, Speaker, and MORE

These two wearable gadgets have model numbers GPQY2 and G7YPJ. Speculations stated that the two numbers could represent the left and right sides of the upcoming earphones.

On the other hand, the dimensions that FCC documentation revealed, which is 27 by 20 by 15 millimeters, is very similar with the current Pixel Buds version. Because of this, rumors stated that Google might release the new Pixel Buds A as an alternative to the current version's practical issues.These include disconnection problems.

Google analysts are expecting that Pixel Buds A's higher power output will remove this issue once it is released.

Meanwhile, Tom's Guide also confirmed that the new Google Pixel Buds A could have the same features that its predecessor offers. However, the company might release it at a lower price.

As of the moment, speculations stated that the new wearable device could cost around $100 to $150 range, which is cheaper than Pixel Buds 2's $179 price tag.

Other things that Google accidentally leaked

Aside from the upcoming Pixel Buds A, Google's email also accidentally revealed some upgrades that the Nest Hub could receive sppn, including smart device controls, voice sharing, and other enhancements.

However, the tech giant company hasn't confirmed any of this information. Right now, it is still advised to wait for the software giant's actual announcements.

For more news updates about Google and its upcoming innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Google WebXR Brings VR and AR to Web Browsers

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by: Giuliano de Leon

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The writer-director Norbu, a Buddhist spiritual leader making his fifth feature, presents Tenzin as a hip modern guy in bluejeans with a wide smile that vanishes as soon as he has to seek self-awareness. The cozy streets of Kathmandu become like a place without a map to Tenzin as he scans passing strangers for signs of divine femininity and leaves his business partners in the lurch. Theres a slight narrative echo of romantic comedy as the monk and the master sage feed him tips and ritual gestures, and it appears the woman he seeks could be right under his nose, in the form of a singer (Tenzin Kunsel) from his music lessons.

Mark Lee Ping Bing, Wong Kar-wais magic-making cinematographer, shoots phantasmic riverbanks and saturated vistas of the countryside. As I scanned the sights and people along with Tenzin, I began to worry that I was missing something too, wondering if I was reading the signs wrong, or dwelling on the leads desultory acting. Still, at least for the uninitiated, the drift of the filmmaking seemed to fall short of the transcendence envisioned by its story.

Looking for a Lady with Fangs and a Moustache

Not rated. In Tibetan and Nepali, with subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 53 minutes. Watch through virtual cinemas.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 23:53:49|Editor: huaxia

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by Arison Tamfu

YAOUNDE, April 8 (Xinhua) -- After testing hundreds of people for coronavirus, Cameroonian nurse, Judith Maya, plans a hero's welcome for the first arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in the Central African nation.

"I have seen people die within days after I test them positive. I need protection and can't wait to be vaccinated", the 35-year-old told Xinhua in the capital Yaounde where the country's first batch of COVID-19 vaccines are expected to arrive at the weekend.

The delivery of 200,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines, donated by China, will arrive on Sunday, said Shalom Tchoukfe Ndoula, Permanent Secretary of Expanded Programme on Immunization.

"Upon reception of these vaccines, we will distribute to the regions and the districts. There will be at least one health centre in every district," Ndoula said, stating that over 500 accredited vaccination centres have been created across the country.

First in line for inoculations will be healthcare workers and those with chronic health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19, according to Cameroon's Ministry of Public Health.

"The first objective is to protect the most exposed people," Ndoula said.

Members of the general population will then follow.

Cameroon will provide COVID-19 vaccines for free under its national vaccination plan and vaccination will not be mandatory, according to officials.

Johnson Esunge, a virologist running a lab that has performed more than 10,000 virus tests, said the arrival of the vaccines will be "a breakthrough" in the fight against the pandemic in the country.

"Vaccines save lives. This will definitely change so many things," Esunge said.

Misconceptions around the COVID-19 vaccines have discouraged some Cameroonians from taking the jab but not 59-year-old Josephine Ndabu who has seen the devastation wrought by the virus up close.

Last year, she lost four members of her family to the virus in less than two months.

"I hope to be vaccinated, and that's it. I have done my own research and now know that the vaccines are safe and can actually help. I cannot be discouraged by fake news," Ndabu said.

She plans to talk to those who may still be sceptical about the vaccine.

Like Ndabu, Antoinette Fatimatu who works at the Yaounde General Hospital, is hopeful that the COVID-19 vaccine would make a huge difference.

Fatimatu, 38, said she has tested more people than she can count. "The most difficult part of the job is telling people they are positive. They get scared," she said.

The prospect of getting vaccinated excites her. "I want the vaccine like now now now," she said enthusiastically.

Louis Ngwei, who deals in household utensils in the national capital, is excited about the inoculation.

Ngwei, whose business has suffered the adverse consequences of COVID-19, said he was upbeat about the positive impact of the vaccine on the economy.

"It pleases me that the vaccine will soon arrive. With that, I hope we can move forward and get through this sad phase and restart our lives," the 55-year-old said.

The vaccination programme will be crucial for Cameroon's efforts to revive its economy, which has suffered due to strict social distancing restrictions that hit consumer spending and saw job losses.

Cameroon reported its first coronavirus infection in March last year, an imported case from Europe.

Cameroon had registered 61,731 COVID-19 cases, including 56,926 recoveries and 919 deaths, tweeted Thursday by the country's Minister of Public Health Malachie Manaouda. Enditem
ESMO/SIOPE expert position paper raises awareness of need for age-appropriate specialist services to improve cancer outcomes

Unique tumour epidemiology, scarce awareness, difficult access to dedicated care and clinical trials, complex psychosocial aspects can impact negatively on disease outcome

Lugano, Switzerland; Brussels, Belgium, 8 April 2021 - Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer are often missing out on age-appropriate specialist care owing to a lack of awareness of how their needs differ from those of children and older adults with cancer.

A newly released position paper from the AYA Working Group of ESMO and the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE) defines a common vision for improving outcomes for AYAs with cancer in Europe. (1, 2) Its recommendations include cooperation between a diverse range of specialists involved in AYA care, development of services tailored to the needs of AYAs with cancer, and specific measures to get more patients in this age group into clinical trials.

Each year, more than 150,000 people in Europe in the AYA age range of 15-39 years, and over 1.2 million worldwide, are diagnosed with cancer. This is equivalent to nearly 7% of all cancers. (3)

S., a 21-year-old patient with a rhabdomyosarcoma of the trunk, recalls that when he finally received the correct diagnosis, he was told to travel to another city where there was the only specialised centre for his rare cancer. "They told me that even at 21, I would be hospitalised in a paediatric oncology unit, because the only experts for my disease were there," he says.

"These patients are a unique group who inhabit a middle ground between the paediatric and the adult worlds of oncology, and their management is still a challenge," underlines Dr Andrea Ferrari, Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy, lead author of the paper and SIOPE Co-Chair of the joint ESMO/SIOPE AYA Working Group. "They may present with paediatric- or adult-type tumours and there is limited awareness both within the general population and the medical and scientific community that cancer can arise at this age. In addition, there is the serious problem of access to quality care and specially designed clinical trials, and last but not least the specific and complex psychosocial considerations in this age group. Together, these critical determining factors impact on treatment outcomes and optimal care for these patients," he says.

"There is an under-provision and inequity of cancer care offered to this group of patients: 'speaking the same language' and fostering professional collaboration are really key to finding common ground and building something which is tailored to the unique needs of these patients," says Emmanouil Saloustros, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece, ESMO Co-Chair of the joint ESMO/SIOPE AYA Working Group.

The ESMO/SIOPE position paper highlights the key challenges of AYA care as a lack of understanding of cancer biology in this group, limited availability of specialised centres with age-appropriate multidisciplinary care and poor access to clinical trials of novel therapies. It also suggests that modest improvements in survival in the AYA age group compared to children and older adults with cancer reflect inequalities in care.

The ESMO/SIOPE AYA joint Working Group is committed to supporting both medical and paediatric oncologists by increasing awareness of AYA patients' needs, encouraging the development of ad-hoc education and advocating for an increase in research capacities in tumour types. "Educating oncologists on the characteristics of the diseases in this age group is a first step," says Ferrari. "It is similarly important to raise awareness beyond the medical communities, because the knock-on effects of adolescents and young adults being diagnosed with cancer are far broader and longer term."

"When I had to move to another city, I had to give up everything - university, my girlfriend, my friends. I packed my luggage with a lot of fear, a little courage and a little determination, and also a lot of hope. And I left for this journey, with uncertain and limping steps," says S.

The Working Group calls for healthcare professionals from different disciplines, patient advocates and stakeholders to focus collectively on the specific challenges of AYA cancer, taking account of the changing physical and psychosocial needs of patients in this age group.

The position paper also suggests that centralisation of care into dedicated and financially well-supported specialist AYA services and networks is needed to improve care and facilitate access to clinical trials of novel therapies for all eligible patients, with potential for improved outcomes for AYAs with cancer.

S. says: "It is important we can have a way to tell our stories. We feel we have an important responsibility; we are witnesses and together with our doctors, we want to make it known that teenagers and young adults can have cancer too, and they can be cured, but only if they receive the best treatment at the right time."

###

ESMO and SIOPE are committed to improving education and care of people with cancer and established the joint Cancer in AYA Working Group in 2015. The goal of the Working Group is to increase awareness among adult and paediatric haemato-oncology communities, enhance knowledge on specific issues in AYA, and ultimately, to improve the care of AYA with cancer across Europe.

ESMO Press Office: media@esmo.org

SIOP Europe Communications Office: office@siope.eu

References

(1) Ferrari A, Stark D, Peccatori FA et al. Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer: a position paper from the AYA Working Group of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE). ESMO Open. DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2021.100096 https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S2059-7029(21)00053-3/fulltext

(2) AYA Working Group of ESMO and the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE) https:/ / www. esmo. org/ about-esmo/ organisational-structure/ educational-committee/ adolescents-and-young-adults-working-group

(3) Barr R, Ries L, Trama A, Gatta G, Steliarova Foucher E, Stiller C, Bleyer A. A system for classifying cancers diagnosed in adolescents and young adults. https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1002/ cncr. 33041

Notes to Editors

- Although AYA is widely used to denote this patient population, TYA (teenagers and young adults) is also used in some settings. - Among the 'young' AYA group, blood cancers (mainly lymphomas and leukaemia) and brain tumours are more common than in other age groups. However, as age increases, solid tumours become more common.

About the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)

ESMO is the leading professional organisation for medical oncology. With more than 25,000 members representing oncology professionals from over 160 countries worldwide, ESMO is the society of reference for oncology education and information. ESMO is committed to offer the best care to people with cancer, through fostering integrated cancer care, supporting oncologists in their professional development, and advocating for sustainable cancer care worldwide. https:/ / www. esmo. org/

About the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOP Europe or SIOPE)
YEREVAN.  Edvard Hovhannisyan, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee (SRC), on Thursday received Nico Schermers, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Armenia, the SRC informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

They discussed cooperation between Armenia and the Netherlands in tax and customs administrations.

The SRC chief noted that there is a legal framework between the two countries in terms of these administrations, which allows for cooperationboth at the bilateral level and within the framework of international organizations.

Also, Hovhannisyan lauded the course of implementation of technical assistance, which contributes to the development of the capacity of the SRC staff and the exchange of experience.

The parties expressed readiness to take active steps to further expand cooperation between the tax and customs authorities of Armenia and the Netherlands.
Alex Wong/Getty Images(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- In the wake of several mass shootings, President Joe Biden is expected to roll out several new gun control measures Thursday, sources tell ABC News.

President Biden included gun reform as part of his platform, citing that he wants to end America's mass shooting problem.

While there is currently no information regarding the plans expected Thursday, it is believed that the president will propose legislation banning "ghost" guns, guns that are assembled by parts purchased online and therefore do not have a serial number, and background checks.

President Biden is expected to announce the gun control plans alongside Attorney General Merrick Garland. In addition, the president is said he will use the press announcement to nominate the new Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives director.

A White House official says President Biden will select David Chipman, a former ATF agent who has worked with former Representative Gabby Giffords as a gun control advocate.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday will include a "combination of steps," including executive orders and presidential memos.

For Congress to advance any form of gun control, Democrats -- who control the House -- will require 10 Republicans in the Senate to help pass legislation.

The issue of passing bills along party lines has inspired progressive Democrats to call for the elimination of the 60-vote threshold to advance legislation.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DoorDash today announced details of a new effort to support Dashers and the community organizations they care about. For every 25 deliveries a Dasher completes between April 5 and April 18, they will be entered for a chance to be one of 10 Dashers to receive $50,000 cash, and will additionally have the opportunity to select a charity to receive $50,000* for a total of $1 million in contributions.

"Over the past year, Dashers have played an important role in our neighborhoods, connecting customers and community members to essential items, groceries, and meals, and enabling restaurants to adapt their services to meet the demands of a COVID-19 world," Sueli Shaw, Head of Social Impact at DoorDash said. "To celebrate all that delivery drivers have done for our communities, DoorDash is excited to continue our commitment to giving back to Dashers and the causes they care about."

Organizations eligible for donations are addressing complex issues like hunger, economic empowerment, and social justice, and were selected in consultation with DoorDash's Dasher Community Council and Voices from Dashers of Color Council .

"I know that dashing helped give customers peace of mind that they can order from their favorite places and be safe at the same time, and I'm proud of the role we played in helping restaurants during the pandemic," said Alfonso Auz, a Dasher in Charlotte, NC. "I think this is an amazing idea -- that's 10 lucky Dashers who will definitely put $50,000 to great use for themselves, and then, at the same time, have $50,000 to make a difference in the lives of others."

In addition to the opportunity to win, all Dashers across the United States can now access $20 in CarAdvise credit and access to discounts for car maintenance.**

The ten winners will be announced on April 23rd, 2021.

For more information, visit dasher.doordash.com .

*No Purchase Necessary. Purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Open to legal residents of the U.S. (excluding FL & NY) & D.C. at least the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence. Starts 12:01 am PT on 4/5/21 and ends 11:59 pm PT on 4/18/2021. Limit fifteen (15) entries per person. Winners will select from charities determined in partnership with the Dasher Community Council and Dasher Voices from Color of Council members. List will be provided with confirmation of winning entry. For Official Rules, including how to make an entry (including webform entry), prize description & odds statement, visit here. Sponsor: DoorDash, Inc.

**Service booking and promo redemption must be processed by CarAdvise. $20 promotional discount is divided into two transactions, $10 off applied per transaction. Promos are not redeemable by store. Valid for one use only. No cash value. Void where prohibited. Not combinable with other offers. Not valid on prior purchases and no rain checks. Other restrictions, fees, taxes may apply. See CarAdvise for details. Subject to change, all rights reserved. Copyright CarAdvise 2021.

About DoorDash

DoorDash is a technology company that connects consumers with their favorite local and national businesses in more than 4,000 cities and all 50 states across the United States, Canada, and Australia. Founded in 2013, DoorDash enables local businesses to address consumers' expectations of ease and immediacy and thrive in today's convenience economy. By building the last-mile logistics infrastructure for local commerce, DoorDash is bringing communities closer, one doorstep at a time.

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If you werent yet willing to concede Australias vaccine rollout was a disaster at lunchtime on Thursday, then by dinner time there was little room for debate.

Already three million jabs behind where the nation was supposed to be eight days ago, the decision by health authorities to advise against the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for Australians under 50 is calamitous.

(From left) Greg Hunt, Professor Paul Kelly and Professor Brendan Murphy with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is taking a closer look at his notes during a press conference on Thursday night. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Unless the federal government can source millions of extra Pfizer doses from overseas within months, it is unlikely the nation will meet the October deadline of all Australians having received at least one dose. November or December may well be even too optimistic.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was rather ashen-faced as he delivered the news to the nation a bit after 7pm. One can assume he was expecting medical experts to tell him the vaccine would be, like Britain, ruled out only for those under 30. That would have brought about a course correction but not one so dramatic as what now lies ahead.
Hundreds of thousands of doses of AstraZeneca vaccine have been secretly flown to Australia from Britain after the EU blocked exports to the country.

A total of 717,000 doses have been sent, but the source of the shipments was kept quiet to avoid any controversy in the United Kingdom, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Thursday.

The first 300,000 British-made doses landed at Sydney airport on February 28 - a month after the European Commission adopted curbs on the export of vaccines produced in the EU, the newspaper said.

Another large batch arrived on an Emirates passenger plane in March, well after Italy and the European Commission formally blocked an application by AstraZeneca to ship 250,000 doses to Australia, it added.

The paper cited an unidentified British official as saying the shipments to Australia were never at the expense of Britain's vaccine rollout, one of the world's swiftest.

Meanwhile on Thursday, Australia joined a growing number of countries halting the use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for younger people - in this case for those under the age of 50 - over fears it can cause serious blood clots.

The EU blocked a shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines from leaving Italy for Australia last month, drawing on controversial export laws for the first time. Pictured: The first shipment of AstraZeneca arriving in Australia on February 28

So far, three in five adults in the UK have been given at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine since the program began in late December.

While Britain has sent doses to overseas territories - such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands - Australia is thought to be the only separate country to receive AstraZeneca vaccines made in Britain.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock did not deny that AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines manufactured in the UK have been sent to Australia.

Mr Hancock told Sky News: 'In terms of what the companies do, these companies are manufacturing for all around the world and we source from everywhere in the world, so what I'm in control of, what matters for us as the UK Government, is making sure that we get the supplies that we have got contracted from the companies.'

But he said the Government did not send the doses.

He said: 'No, the British Government has a contract with seven companies now, but of course including AstraZeneca, for the delivery by AstraZeneca to the UK for us to deploy through the NHS, and that's the bit I'm responsible for.'

A spokesman for Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined to comment. A second source said Australia was reluctant to confirm or deny the report.

'For reasons of supply chain integrity and national security, we do not advise the origins of particular vaccine shipments,' said the source, who sought anonymity in the absence of authority to speak on the matter.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured speaking to Sky News) did not deny that AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines manufactured in the UK have been sent to Australia

AUSTRALIA'S VACCINE ROLLOUT Pfizer/BioNTech 10 million doses will be available from early 2021 These doses will be manufactured offshore Australia will have the option to purchase additional doses where supply is available University of Oxford/AstraZeneca Australia has secured 53.8 million doses of this vaccine 3.8 million doses will be delivered to Australia in early 2021 50 million doses will be manufactured in Australia in monthly batches. CSL will manufacture these doses on behalf of AstraZeneca Novavax 51 million doses will be made available in Australia during 2021 Advertisement

The news of the shipment from the UK comes as concerns continue to be raised about the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine, leading to Australia halting its use among younger people over fears it can cause serious blood clots.

In a further setback for Australia's already halting coronavirus vaccine rollout, officials said the AstraZeneca shot should no longer be given to people under the age of 50, unless they had already received a first dose without any ill effects.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison held an evening press conference to announce the decision shortly after the government's medical advisory board decided to follow European and other countries in limiting the use of AstraZeneca.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison held an evening press conference to announce the decision shortly after the government's medical advisory board decided to follow European and other countries in limiting the use of AstraZeneca.

'It has not been our practice to jump at shadows, it has not been our practice to take unnecessary precautions,' he said in explaining the step.

'We've been taking the necessary precautions based on the best possible medical advice.'

Australia has been one of the world's most successful countries in containing the spread of Covid-19, with fewer than 30,000 cases and 1,000 deaths for a population of 25 million and virtually no ongoing community transmission.

But it has fallen far behind the government's own schedule for vaccinating people against the disease, with just a million doses administered by Thursday when it had pledged to give four million doses by last week.

Australia had counted on using AstraZeneca to inoculate most of its population, first using doses imported from Europe and then locally manufactured vaccines.

But vaccine shortages in Europe led to delays in AstraZeneca shipments, while planned deliveries of alternative vaccines like Pfizer/BioNTech and Novavax have not yet ramped up.

Several European countries have already suspended the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine for younger populations after it was earlier banned outright in several places over blood clot scares.

The EU's medicines regulator said Wednesday that the blood clots should be listed as a rare side effect of the shot, but that the benefits of inoculation continue to outweigh the risks.

Australian officials justified the cutoff age of 50 for giving the vaccine by saying younger people were less at risk of suffering severe complications from Covid-19.

But they stressed that older Australians should continue to trust the AstraZeneca shots.

'I want to reiterate that we are strongly encouraging those 50 and over to take up the AstraZeneca vaccine - it is a highly effective vaccine at preventing severe Covid,' said Brendan Murphy, head of the government's health department.

He added that the danger from blood clots associated with the vaccine was 'extraordinarily low'.

There has so far been only one case of blood clotting in a patient who received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia.

Morrison and Murphy said they were confident there would be enough doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Novavax vaccines to inoculate Australian adults.

A spokesman for Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured on Wednesday) declined to comment on the shipment of vaccines from Britain

Australia is still owed 3.1 million doses from overseas, and on Wednesday demanded that the European Commission give the green light to doses that were blocked from being exported in March.

Also on Wednesday, a spokesman for the European Commission said Italy blocked the export because 'AstraZeneca is not meeting its obligations in the EU'.

'So far, the company has delivered much less than what was foreseen,' the spokesperson said. 'The pandemic continues to be very acute in the EU.'

Early last month, the EU was branded a 'total disgrace' and a 'bully' after it blocked an application for the 250,000-dose shipment of AstraZeneca to Down Under.

Officials in Rome informed the EU of its intention to act at the time, and Brussels did not object to the move.

Authorities in Italy used controversial export laws - approved by the EU in January to control doses leaving the bloc - to block the shipment, refusing to grant a licence for the doses manufactured in the country to be exported.

The EU gave itself the powers to do so after AstraZeneca failed to meed its contract with Brussels, resulting in a bitter dispute between post-Brexit Britain and the bloc.

European Leaders accused Britain of prioritising itself ahead of Europe's 450 million people, with European Council President Charles Michel writing in early March that the UK had 'imposed an outright ban on the export of vaccines or vaccine components produced on their territory'.

But with the news that 300,000 doses left the UK to Australia on February 28, his claim - which was heavily rebuked at the time - has been proven false.

The UK government was quick to deny Michel's claim, has also repeatedly refused to say whether any vaccines had been sent abroad, and if so, to which countries.

Authorities in Italy used controversial export laws to block the shipment, refusing to grant a licence for the doses manufactured in the country to be exported. It came as the 27 member bloc's own disastrous jab programme left its leaders - such as President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (pictured March 25) - red faced

The Italian foreign ministry said in a statement at the time that the batch was halted because of 'continuing shortage of vaccines in the EU and in Italy and delays in supplies from AstraZeneca to the EU and Italy,'

Italy also argued Australia is not a high-risk country, with low case and death numbers, in stark contrast to countries overwhelmed by the pandemic.

The move came amid a row over vaccines leaving the EU to other nations, including the UK, while the 27 member bloc's own disastrous jab programme left its leaders - such as President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen - red faced.

The decision led to anger from commentators worldwide, with critics accusing the EU of punishing Australia due to their own management failures during the pandemic.

The EU has been frustrated with a slow vaccine rollout and criticised AstraZeneca for a shortfall in delivering millions of doses.

However, the fact that Britain has been sending doses to Australia may go some way towards explaining why the EU blocked the export of 250,000 jabs.

Registered nurse Maddison Williams (left) receives the first jab of the Biotech Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the COVID-19 surge centre in Canberra, Monday, February 22, 2021

Earlier this week, British regulators said young people should be offered alternative vaccines while experts investigate its link to rare blood clots.

Most Australians were to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine with the government securing 53.8 million doses, including 50 million to be manufactured locally.

The jab was declared safe by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and is an integral part of the nation's slow-moving vaccine rollout - meaning there is no sure-fire way to demand another vaccine.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Health Minister Greg Hunt and state premiers have previously publicly backed the vaccine and urged Australians to get it.

However, the federal government at the same time had asked the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to review the British findings.

'The government has asked ATAGI and the TGA to immediately consider and advise on the latest vaccination findings out of Europe and the UK,' it said.

'Regulators have already been working with their international counterparts to consider the latest international evidence.'

Advice from the two bodies will be given to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, comprised of the state and federal chief health officers.

A review by the UK's drugs watchdog the MHRA found that by the end of March, a rate of just one in 250,000 Britons who received the AstraZeneca vaccine had suffered deadly blood clots in the brain or arteries.

Of the 79 cases, 19 died and three were under the age of 30.

Slides presented at a press conference announcing the change in guidance on Wednesday showed that younger people are more prone to blood clots after vaccination than older groups.

The MHRA said healthy people aged 19 to 29 should be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna jabs instead when the programme moves to younger groups in the coming months.

Anyone who has already had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, regardless of their age, is being advised to go for their second appointment as planned.

AstraZeneca's jab is only being paused for under-30s in Britain because coronavirus levels are getting low, said the nation's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam.

If Covid was still more prevalent, as it is in the rest of Europe, he suggested that the vaccine would still be recommended for all ages, including young people.
Marc Chesney Warns Against Financial Blowout and Argues for Glass-Steagall

April 7 , 2021 (EIRNS)Marc Chesney, head of department of banking and finance at Zurich University, warned about a coming blowout of the financial system and called for re-introduction of bank separation (Glass-Steagall). Chesney was interviewed on April 3 by the Swiss daily Tagesanzeiger on the Credit Suisse crisis. Professor Chesney is a frequent speaker at events organized by Impulswelle, friends of the Schiller Institute in Switzerland.

Credit Suisses current troubles are a new episode of the permanent crisis of the financial gambling casino. There are more and less acute phases and then, such episodes occur as if out of nothing. It is very opaque but we, the citizens, should know what is going on. Credit Suisse is systemically relevant, and therefore it has a responsibility towards the taxpayer. The mixture of high debt and derivatives is the recipe for acute crises; it was so in 2008, and it is still the case, regularly.

The banks justification for derivative contracts as insurance against risk is a bad joke. The nominal value of derivatives in Switzerland was 26,000 times the GDP last autumn. How can one believe that bank customers in Switzerland must cover risks for 26,000 times the national output?

Chesney proposed that the use of derivatives be restricted only to those who really need insurance, similar to car insurance. You dont insure the car of your neighbor, and you dont bet that he has a car accident.

Asked what else he would propose, Chesney said:

We need smaller banks and, like previously in the U.S.A., a separation between pure deposit banks and investment banks. Then, banks that go into high risk can go bankrupt with a minor danger for the rest of the economy. But the 30 largest world banks are principally convinced that they will never go bankrupt, because they must be bailed out. This fuels the false incentive to go into higher and higher risk at the taxpayers cost.

Chesney also exposes the scandalous gap between the super-rich and increased poverty in the world. To make his point, he said that in a single day, Jeff Bezos will become richer by $13 billion. This is double what 1.3 billion Africans have earned that same day. (Chesneys [known] weak point is environmentalism.) A blowout is probable. The main indicators are in red: environment, pandemics, instability on the financial markets, social injustice, poverty. We need now to solve not only the effects of the pandemic or of the crisis, but we must recognize the grounds behind it.
The street disorder that has flared in various parts of Northern Ireland for more than a week can be attributed to a multitude of factors.

At its heart is loyalist anger at post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK.

For loyalism, Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol has undermined their place in the Union.

But it took an event unrelated to the Irish Sea border furore to set a match to resentment that has been simmering since the consequences of exiting the EU became a reality at the start of January.





What has sparked the violence?

The announcement by prosecutors last week that no action would be taken against 24 Sinn Fein politicians, including deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill, for attending a huge republican funeral during the pandemic sparked outrage among some loyalists.

In several loyalist working class areas, many still in the grip of the malign influence of paramilitary gangs, sporadic rioting has since flared.

Belfast, Derry, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and Ballymena have all witnessed scenes of violence that many hoped had been consigned to the history books.

There have also been bouts of disorder within republican areas in recent days.

The funeral arrangements for senior Irish Republican and former leading IRA figure Bobby Storey drew the ire of loyalists (Liam McBurney/PA)

In the most stark, youths on both sides of a west Belfast peace line pelted petrol bombs and other missiles at each other through Wednesday night.

For loyalists, the funeral of former IRA leader Bobby Storey last June hardened a long-standing perception held by many within their community that the institutions of the state afford preferential treatment to republicans.

For apparent confirmation, they pointed to police engagement with the Sinn Fein funeral organisers prior to an event that saw around 2,000 people take to the streets of west Belfast when tight limits on public gatherings were in place.

This interaction with the planners was one reason why senior prosecutors concluded any prosecution of Ms ONeill and her colleagues was doomed to fail  the other being the incoherent nature of Stormonts Covid-19 regulations at the time.

There have been calls for the resignation of PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne (Liam McBurney/PA)

How have unionist leaders reacted?

Criticism of the PSNI approach was not confined to hard-line elements within loyalism and all the main unionist parties subsequently called for chief constable Simon Byrne to resign, claiming he has lost the confidence of their community.

DUP First Minister Arlene Foster has said she will no longer engage with Mr Byrne.

Her lack of communication with the regions police chief during a time of escalating street violence, and coming only weeks after she met with representatives of loyalist paramilitaries to discuss the Brexit fall out, has drawn sharp criticism from political rivals.

Non-unionist parties have accused Mrs Foster and other unionist political leaders of stoking up tensions, not only in relation to the Storey funeral but also in respect of the Irish Sea border.





The DUP leader and other prominent voices within unionism and loyalism insist they are only reflecting genuinely held concerns they say must be addressed  specifically by way of Mr Byrnes resignation and the binning of the Protocol.

How have the PSNI handled policing during the pandemic?

Amid the current unionist clamour for Mr Byrnes head, and claims of two-tier policing, it is worth noting that two months ago the PSNI chief constable was facing similar claims of discriminatory behaviour from within nationalism.

Those were prompted by a controversial police operation in Belfast that saw a man badly injured in a loyalist gun massacre during the Troubles arrested at the scene of a commemoration event after officers intervened to probe suspected Covid regulation breaches.

Deputy First Minster Michelle ONeill has not yet called for Mr Byrnes resignation (Liam McBurney/PA)

Following that incident at the site of the 1992 Ormeau Road betting shop murders, Ms ONeill claimed there was a crisis in confidence in the PSNI among nationalists, albeit she stopped short of calling for Mr Byrne to quit.

How does this all feed into political dynamics in Northern Ireland?

The Protocol and funeral controversy have not created the loyalist perception that the system is weighed against them, but have built upon a narrative articulated by an increasing number within loyalism that the peace process  particularly the Good Friday accord of 1998  has handed them a raw deal.

They cite underinvestment and deprivation in loyalist working class areas as further proof that they have missed out on the gains of peace.

Nationalists and republicans reject this premise, insisting their communities have experienced just as many problems with poverty and unemployment since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

Crowds have gathered at Lanark Way where a bus has been set on fire near junction with Shankill Rd. Crowds have also gathered at Springfield Rd/West Circular Rd. Please avoid these areas.  Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) April 7, 2021

Is it all politics or are there other factors at play?

Paramilitary elements are undoubtedly involved in much of the disorder witnessed across the region in recent days  either directly or by orchestrating young people to riot on their behalf.

However, in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus an added factor is at play.

In those areas, the PSNI believes paramilitary involvement is less motivated by Brexit or the Storey funeral and more to do with a rogue faction  the South East Antrim UDA  reacting to recent police operations targeting its criminal empire.
Rege-Jean Page has appeared to publicly address claims that he missed out on a high-profile role playing Superman's grandfather due to his race.

It was reported on Tuesday that DC Comics writer Geoff Johns rejected Rege-Jean as a choice for the role in Superman spin-off Krypton because of the colour of his skin.

Although Johns has denied the allegations of racism, the Bridgerton star, 31, appeared to address the furore in a tweet he posted on Wednesday evening.

Claims: Rege-Jean Page has appeared to publicly address claims that he missed out on a high-profile role playing Superman's grandfather due to his race

He wrote: 'Hearing about these conversations hurts no less now than it did back then. The clarifications almost hurt more tbh. Still just doing my thing. Still we do the work. We still fly.'

A representative for Geoff explained they believed fans would be expecting a young version of Superman actor Henry Cavill due to the fact it was a prequel, the Mirror reports.

Due to the fact Henry is white they suggested that the actor playing his grandfather in Krypton should 'invoke his appearance' and therefore also be white.

It was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter that several sources had claimed Johns said Superman couldn't have a black grandfather.

Twitter: Although Johns has denied the allegations of racism, the Bridgerton star, 31, appeared to address the furore in a tweet he posted on Wednesday evening

He wrote: 'Hearing about these conversations hurts no less now than it did back then. The clarifications almost hurt more tbh. Still just doing my thing. Still we do the work. We still fly' (pictured in character on Bridgerton)

Despite this it had been suggested the creators wanted non-traditional casting and intended to make at least one character LGBTQ+.

Johns is also believed to have rejected this idea, according to the report.

A representative for Johns has since addressed both claims, saying: 'Geoff never said Superman can't have a black ancestor or be black  there have been diverse versions of Superman throughout the comics for decades so he does and can be diverse.

'However, the expectation for Krypton was that it would initially be perceived as a possible prequel to Man of Steel by the fans and the lead was expected to invoke a young Henry Cavill.'

Also addressing the claims he rejected the idea of a gay character, they said: 'Geoff celebrates and supports LGTBQ characters, including Batwoman, who in 2006 was re-introduced as LGBTQ in a comic-book series co-written by Johns.'

MailOnline has contacted reps for Rege and Johns for further comment.

Reports: It was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter that several sources had claimed Johns said Johns said Superman couldn't have a black grandfather (pictured in 2017)

An interview with Ray Fisher, published by The Hollywood Reporter, discussed alleged racism and misconduct on the part of Warner Bros DC Films co-founder Johns while filming Justice League.

Justice League actor Ray also slammed the Warner Bros' investigation into director Joss Whedon's onset behavior as suspicious because he claims it was designed to protect top executives who he says aren't 'fit for positions of leadership'.

Ray is still demanding an apology from the film studio over its handling of the investigation that he pushed for following his work with Whedon, who directed Buffy the Vampire Slayer, on the set of the 2017 Justice League film.

The actor, 33, has repeatedly slammed Whedon, producers Johns and Jon Berg and other film executives on Twitter over the past year for what he claims was racist and inappropriate conduct while filming the movie.

He also alleges a subsequent cover up by Warner Bros regarding the investigation and a smear campaign against him after he decided to come forward.

In his first wide-ranging interview about the ordeal, Ray has now slammed the studio's handling of the allegations and claimed that some executives are not fit for their positions.

Claims: Justice League actor Ray has slammed the Warner Bros' investigation into director Joss Whedon's onset behavior as suspicious because he claims it was designed to protect top executives

The studio's parent company, WarnerMedia, said back in December that its investigation into Ray's complaints had concluded and 'remedial action' had been taken.

It did not elaborate and Ray has since demanded that the results of the investigation be released publicly.

Speaking about what he claims was a cover-up by studio executives regarding the investigation, Ray said: 'I don't believe some of these people are fit for positions of leadership.

'I don't want them excommunicated from Hollywood, but I don't think they should be in charge of the hiring and firing of other people.'

He said he feels he has been able to make a point over the last year.

'If I can't get accountability... at least I can make people aware of who they're dealing with.'

Whedon and the studio have not commented about Fisher's allegations.

Fisher, who played Cyborg in the film, first came forward publicly with his allegations against Whedon last July when he alleged that the director had displayed abusive behavior on set and that producers Johns and Berg had enabled him.

Fisher, who played Cyborg (above) in the film, first came forward publicly with his allegations against Whedon last July when he alleged that the director had displayed abusive behavior on set

He has now detailed those allegations for the first time, telling THR that he felt like he had to explain 'the most basic points of what would be offensive to the black community'.

Fisher also says there were discussions with top executives that they could not have an 'angry black man' at the center of the film.

He said tensions escalated when the issue of having his character say 'booyah' came up.

Fisher said his agent eventually called studio chief Toby Emmerich about his on-set concerns.

He claims Johns later called him in for a meeting to say that Fisher's agent calling studio executives was 'just not cool'.

'He said, 'I consider us to be friends' - which he knew we were not - 'and I just don't want you to make a bad name for yourself in the business',' Fisher recalled him saying.

A spokesman for Johns has denied making such threats.

The 33-year-old actor has repeatedly spoken out on Twitter over the last year regarding his ordeal with Whedon and the producers on set

He also alleged a subsequent cover up by Warner Bros regarding the investigation, accusing DC film boss Walter Hamada of interfering

Fisher also once claimed that the studio engaged in a smear campaign against him after he decided to come forward

After the investigation was launched in August last year, Fisher claims the process was suspicious because he said it seemed like it was designed to protect the studio executives.

In response, Fisher said he felt like he had to step up his protests on Twitter. He claims it resulted in the studio smearing him in public.

Following a September tweet in which he accused DC film boss Walter Hamada of throwing Whedon and Berg 'under the bus' to protect Johns, the studio issued a statement calling the actor's allegations false.

The studio also said Fisher had refused to speak to investigators 'multiple' times.

Fisher, who has described that statement as a 'hit piece', said he demanded an apology for several weeks but to no avail.

He said he then learned the investigation had been completed in December and in January this year found out his Cyborg character had been removed from an upcoming The Flash film.

Fisher said he knew speaking out could harm his career and ultimately cost him a place in the DC film world.

'When I first spoke up, I assumed there was no way these guys would allow me to do my job in peace,' he said.

'I'm not so indebted to Hollywood that I haven't been willing to put myself out there.'
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Maharashtra President Chandrakant Patil on Thursday, reacting to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)'s chief Sharad Pawar's remarks on Centre cooperating with the state government in fighting COVID-19, said this showed that the Centre has given all possible help to the state.

"I don't know what is the political meaning of this statement but the academic meaning of that is Centre has given all possible support to the system," Patil said.

"The Central government gave over 1 crore vaccine dosages but several dosages were wasted, why so?" he questioned.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said that the Centre is cooperating with the state government in the ongoing pandemic.

Speaking on the issue Pawar said, "The Central government is cooperating with the State government in this tough times of pandemic. We all have to come together and fight this menace farmers, traders, workers and people should understand the current situation. The State and Centre both have to come together and find out a way to fight the pandemic."

The reaction of the NCP chief came after Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday had said the state is facing a COVID-19 vaccine crunch.

"Currently, we have 14 lakh vaccine doses which will get over in the next three days. We've urged for 40 lakh more vaccine doses per week. I'm not saying that the Center is not giving us vaccines but the speed of delivery of vaccines is slow," Tope had 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.)
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Plant&Co. Brands Ltd. (CSE: VEGN) (FSE: VGP) (OTC Pink: VGANF) ("Plant&Co" or the "Company"), a modern health and wellness company curating delicious plant-based foods, is pleased to announce that it has applied to list 21,613,250 share purchase warrants of the Company (the "Warrants") for trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). The Warrants were previously issued in connection with a non-brokered private placement completed by the Company on December 14, 2020. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") upon payment of the exercise price of $0.25 per Warrant Share prior to December 10, 2022.

The Warrants, which are subject to a statutory four month and one day hold period expiring April 15, 2021, are expected to commence trading on the CSE at the open of markets on or about April 16, 2021 under the trading symbol "VEGN.WT". Completion of the listing of the Warrants is subject to Company fulfilling certain listing conditions in accordance with the policies of the CSE.

About Plant&Co

Plant&Co. Brands Ltd. (CSE: VEGN) (FSE: VGP) (OTC Pink: VGANF) is modern health and wellness company curating delicious plant-based foods. For more information please visit: www.PlantandCo.com.

About Holy Crap Foods Inc.

At Holy Crap Foods Inc. our mission is to create products that create a healthy gut through simple, quality ingredients that ultimately feed the connection between gut and mind. Holy Crap is an organic breakfast cereal for today's consumer that expects their food to work hard for them. Our great tasting cereal helps maintain a healthy gut which creates a happy mind. For more information on the healthy and high-quality breakfast cereals visit: www.HolyCrap.com.

About YamChops

YamChops is a plant-based butcher shop based in Toronto, Ontario. Vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians and even meat enthusiasts love visiting the beautifully curated shop located in the heart of Toronto's food district. Whether customers sample YamChops' Tunaless "Tuna", Chick*n Schnitzel, Szechuan "Beef", Montreal Style "Steak", or browse their vegan grocery market assisted by its knowledgeable staff, customers will have an unforgettable experience at YamChops vegan butcher shop. YamChops' mission is to provide extraordinary plant-based foods and provide extraordinary service to its customers, with a vision to expand its plant based culinary experience and make YamChops the destination of choice for all consumers. For more product information please visit: www.YamChops.com. Interested entrepreneurs can find more information regarding YamChops franchising opportunities by visiting: https://yamchops.com/pages/franchise.

For additional information, please contact:

Shawn Moniz

Chief Executive Officer

Plant & Co. Brands Ltd.

ir@plantandco.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including with respect to the listing of the Warrants on the CSE. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates 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 anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Plant&Co. Brands described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedar.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79789
BEIRUT - Eight months after the devastating explosion at the port of Beirut, which killed 200 people, wounded 6,500 and displaced 300,000, Lebanese director and documentary filmmaker Mahmoud Kaabour's short film about the individual and collective drama of the post-explosion period aired in recent hours.



Kaabour, who has been living in Germany for years, returned behind the camera after nearly 10 years of apparent inactivity.



His 13-minute short film is titled "My Family and the Explosion".



It tells how the members of a family in Beirut, hit by the explosion on August 4, 2020, reacted in the period immediately following the devastation.



"When the explosion happened in Lebanon, I was sitting at a playground in Berlin with my children; I could not believe what I saw on YouTube," Kaabour said in an interview that appeared on the website of Emirati daily The National.



In the past, Kaabour has paid tribute, with documentaries and films, to his Beirut and Lebanese origins.



"All I could do was head back to Lebanon and see for myself.



Even though I left Lebanon as a child, I knew the country. I really needed to go back and do my grieving behind the camera," he said.



Kaabour's documentary aired in recent days for the first time on a national state TV channel in The Netherlands.
[April 08, 2021] The Silicon Valley-Spain Venture Summit Brings Together the Best Early-Stage Startups From Spain With Well-Known US Venture Capitalists

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Spain Chamber of Commerce is organizing the first edition of the Silicon Valley-Spain Venture Summit, to be held on June 10. A selection of early-stage Spanish startups will have the opportunity to pitch in front of some of the most prominent tech investors in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pepe Agell, member of the founding team at Chartboost, is president of the California Spain Chamber. His company was the first startup with Spanish-born founders to get investment from Sequoia Capital. "Silicon Valley is an extremely competitive environment that requires founders to think big. Through the venture summit, we want the founders of the most promising Spanish startups to have direct access to this capital that can dramatically accelerate their companies," he says. This non-profit organization is supported by institutions that are active players in the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem. That is the case of ASCRI (Spanish investor association), Caixa Capital Risc, Wayra and Banc Sabadell. The law firms K&L Gates and Cuatrecasas are also joining this initiative, providing legal advice to the participants. The deadline for submitting startups is May 16. After that, a committee of experts that includes investors and entrepreneurs will select the six startups that will present to well-known VCs in Silicon Valley, home of Andreesen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, KPCB and Accel. The first edition on June 10 will be virtual as a result of COVID-19. "The global pandemic has accelerated a trend that was already latent: investors look beyond Silicon Valley and want to invest globally, as long as great ideas meet execution. Spain is, for sure, one of these places," says Mar Hershenson, a Catalan investor at Pear VC with more than 20 years of experience in Silicon Valley, who is also a board member of the California Spain Chamber of Commerce. Before pitching to investors, the selected founders will receive training and advice from experts and peer entrepreneurs who have successfully goe through the fundraising journey, such as Alejando Artacho from Spotahome, Javier Cortes from Flexport, Pilar Manchon from Google and Alberto Martinez from Streamloots.



With companies like Glovo, Wallapop, Flywire and Typeform, the Spanish market just surpassed the 1 billion transaction value threshold in 2020, becoming a sizable market in the context of the larger European region. International VC firms are already operating in Spain and have established a productive and symbiotic relationship with their Spanish co-players. "We do not want this Venture Summit to be an anecdote, but the beginning of a recurrent, growing action that normalizes the access to capital and the relationship between Spanish entrepreneurs and Silicon Valley investors," Agell remarks. About the California Spain Chamber: Born in 2010, the California Spain Chamber is a non-profit organization that promotes shared knowledge and the relationship between businesses, universities and the technological ecosystem of California with Spain. More information at www.californiaspainchamber.org and www.svspventuresummit.com.

For more information and to request interviews, please contact press@californiaspainchamber.org. Related Files

SVSP Summit_invite.jpeg

Horizontal_SV-Spain-Summit_Colored.png Related Images

tech-investment-event-hosted-by.jpg Tech investment event hosted by the California Spain Chamber of Commerce

Founded in 2010, the California Spain Chamber of Commerce has a long track record organizing events to connect VCs and startups. pepe-agell-president-of-the.jpeg Pepe Agell, President of the California-Spain Chamber of Commerce

Since September 2020, the CSCC has a new board, led by Pepe Agell. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-silicon-valley-spain-venture-summit-brings-together-the-best-early-stage-startups-from-spain-with-well-known-us-venture-capitalists-301265189.html SOURCE California Spain Chamber of Commerce

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By Phoebe Cooke, Senior Reporter at DeSmog, Rachel Sherrington, Researcher and Reporter at DeSmog, and Mat Hopeo, Special Projects and Investigations Editor of DeSmog. Originally published at DeSmogBlog.

The majority of directors at the worlds biggest banks have affiliations to polluting companies and organisations, a DeSmog investigation shows. The findings raise concerns over a systemic conflict of interest at a time when the international financial sector is under increasing pressure to stop funding fossil fuels.

DeSmogs analysis found 65 percent of directors from 39 banks had 940 past or current connections to industries that could be considered climate-conflicted.

Directors with affiliations to companies involved in extracting oil, gas and coal  the worlds most polluting energy sources  were well-represented across bank boardrooms, with 16 percent of all board members having current or previous roles in the polluting energy sector.

There were also significant ties to banks and investment vehicles supporting polluting industries, as well as to thinktanks and lobbying groups with a history of campaigning against climate action.

Geoffrey Supran, Research Associate in the Department of the History of Science at Harvard University, said the existence of such ties is predictable, yet shocking.

The fossil fuel industry has a well-established track record of ingratiating itself with societys opinion leaders and decision makers, and because of the revolving doors between the corporate leaderships of incumbent industries, he told DeSmog.

Having its fingers in all the pies allows the fossil fuel industry to quietly put its thumb on the scales of institutional decision making, helping delay action and protect the status quo.

Systemic Problem

The investigation assessed the employment history and affiliations of 565 bank directors from the boards of major retail banks in the UK, US, Canada, Europe, South Africa, China and Japan.

Directors were found to have a wide range of experience in high carbon sectors, including in polluting energy, aviation, mining, manufacturing, and banks and investment companies known to support the fossil fuel industry. These positions ranged from director and advisory roles, to employment by the companies, and trade association or thintank memberships or affiliations (with data collected up to January 31, 2021).

Banks are increasingly saying they will decarbonise by 2050, yet a large number continue to finance fossil fuels, the primary source of carbon emissions. To accelerate action, shareholder activists have filed climate resolutions for upcoming AGMs at three of the institutions analysed. UK bank Barclays and Japans biggest bank Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFJ) are considering resolutions for stricter regulations on lending. US bank Wells Fargo is facing a resolution to remove its Chair.

The resolutions come as a report by Rainforest Action Network showed that some of the worlds largest commercial and investment banks had invested $3.8 trillion into fossil fuel companies in the five years since the Paris Agreement, the global commitment to limit temperature rise to 2C and preferably to 1.5C by 2100.

Simon Youel, of advocacy group Positive Money, said the banks failure to act showed they could not be trusted to go green of their own accord.

Bankers too often have vested interests in pumping up the carbon bubble, which is why we need central banks to play their role as regulators of the financial system and stamp out risky fossil fuel lending, he told DeSmog.

Climate conflicted banks

DeSmogs analysis found that 15 percent of directors had worked with companies identified by the Climate Action 100+ initiative as some of the worlds worst polluters, and one in 20 (six percent) had ties to companies financing extraction of coal, the most polluting fossil fuel.

The research also found that more than one in five directors (28 percent) had worked at other banks known to support fossil fuel extraction, and that 16 percent had been involved with investment vehicles supporting polluting industries.

All eight board members of Dutch bank ABN AMRO have had positions in environmentally damaging companies, with six having current affiliations. Heavy industry was also well-represented on the banks board, with four directors having past or current connections to the polluting energy sector, four with ties to industrial organisations, and three to construction companies.

Responding to DeSmogs findings, a company spokesperson for ABN AMRO said sustainability was a core element of its strategy, with full support of the banks Supervisory Board.

A Credit Suisse spokesperson said they did not respond to media requests regarding individual board members. In a statement to DeSmog, they added: As a global financial institution, Credit Suisse recognizes its share of responsibilities in combating climate change, and we acknowledge that financial flows also need to be brought in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. We believe that our role as a financial intermediary is to act as a reliable partner in the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.

A spokesperson for ING told DeSmog that the bank was committed to steering its entire lending book of over 600 billion towards the Paris Agreement goals and would reduce financing to upstream oil and gas by 19 percent by 2040 from 2019 levels.

The Supervisory Board of ING consists of a mix of persons with experience in various sectors and environments, they said, adding that in selecting the board ING strove for a balance in nationality, gender, age, and educational and work background. ING director Mariana Gheorghe had nothing further to add to this, they said.

All other banks referenced in this story were approached for comment.

Directors at JP Morgan Chase, a company recently found to have spent $317 billion on fossil fuel financing since the Paris Agreement, held multiple affiliations to companies funding or associated with hydrocarbon extraction, including major industrial conglomerate General Electric and Warren Buffetts holding company, Berkshire Hathaway.

Coal accounted for 43 percent of the generation capacity of Berkshire Hathaway Energys assets in 2019, and for 48 percent of the capacity of assets owned by PacifiCorp, an electric utility owned by the group. General Electric, one of the worlds largest makers of coal-fired power plants, announced last year it would no longer build any new plants, but continues to service existing operations.

Six of JP Morgans directors also had connections to investment and holding companies, and four to think tanks and associations with a history of campaigning to weaken climate change measures. Several board members were also affiliated to major polluting food and beverage organisations, including Walmart, Starbucks and General Foods.

Regional Variations

Directors affiliations reflected the sectoral emphasis of domestic economies. For instance, banks in oil-rich Canada had the highest number of ties to extractive industries  with 35 percent of directors holding past or current positions in the polluting energy sector, including links to high-carbon oil extraction from Albertas tar sands reserves.

The vast majority of directors at Scotiabank (93 percent), and TD (92 percent) had past or current affiliations to high carbon sectors, while 40 percent of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) directors held past or current ties to the fossil fuel sector. Three in 12 directors at the Bank of Montreal (25 percent) had current affiliations to polluting energy sector organisations, as did four of 14 (29 percent) board members at Scotiabank.

Many British bank directors (45 percent) were found to have held positions at other banks known to support polluting industries, with 28 percent of directors at US banks holding positions with organisations in the same sector. One in five (20 percent) of US bank directors also had links to investment vehicles that also have stakes in polluting sectors.

Across the dataset, seven percent of directors also had links to thinktanks and lobby groups that had campaigned to weaken climate change measures. In the U.S. and Canada, 17 percent and 24 percent of directors respectively had such connections.

Ties to companies that work in or serve high-carbon industries were most pronounced in the U.S. (with 14 percent of directors holding such positions), while one in 10 of the Canada bank directors held links to steel, metals and mining.

Within Europe, polluting connections were more evenly distributed, though the continent had the highest proportion of ties to the aviation sector (with nine percent of directors being affiliated). Connections to the food and drink industry were also noteworthy. Fifteen percent of U.S. directors had ties to the sector, including through previous jobs with Coca Cola, Pepsi and KFC, which have come under fire for their lack of climate commitments.

Of the banks analysed outside of Europe and the Americas, Bank of China had the highest number of overall polluting ties, with 23 percent of directors connected to other fossil fuel supporting banks, and several board members affiliated with high-carbon industries such as shipping and agribusiness. Two board members had held positions in companies financing extraction of coal, which in 2019 provided 58 percent of the countrys energy mix.

Climate-Conflicted Directors

DeSmogs analysis focused on board members as banks ultimate decision-makers on strategic, financial and regulatory matters. The investigation broadly identified three types of climate-conflicted director: those who have spent their careers in fossil fuels, those who have extensive ties across polluting industries, and directors that do not have long-standing relationships with the most polluting sectors but have significant occasional affiliations to high-carbon companies.

All directors referenced in the investigation have been contacted for comment.

Fossil Fuel Executives

Oil and gas giants such as Shell, BP and Exxon, as well as some lesser known polluters, were well represented on banks boards through directors with lengthy careers in the industry.

Bank of Montreal board member Lorraine Mitchelmore has over 30 years experience in the oil and gas industry, having spent 14 years with Shell Canada, seven of those as President. She also worked with oil giant Chevron and BHP (formerly BHP Billiton), an Anglo-Australian mining, metals and petroleum company, and Petro-Canada, a subsidiary of oil sands company Suncor Energy, where she now serves as director.

Barclays director Brian Gilvary has also spent his career in oil and gas, having worked for BP for 34 years in various senior financial and commercial roles. Last year he was appointed Chair of INEOS Energy, a new company formed by the chemicals giant to accelerate the groups technologies under the energy transition. Gilvary is also a current fellow of the Energy Institute, a global association of energy industry professionals. The institute organises International Petroleum Week, an annual conference aimed at bringing oil and gas professionals together to flourish the sector and resolve various issues faced by the industries.

Within Europe, ABN AMRO director Arjen Dorland spent 29 years working for Shell, including as Vice President. Before that, he worked as a project manager for Exxon, and currently serves on the board of gas and electricity company and E.ON subsidiary Essent.

Credit Agricole director Caroline Catoire has also spent her career working in polluting industries. Catoire sits on the board of oil and gas exploration company Maurel & Prom, and previously spent 18 years at oil giant Total, including as the companys Director of Corporate Finance. Her role coincided with Societe Generale director Jerome Contamine, a current director at Total who previously worked in its exploration and production division.

Director at the Dutch multinational ING, Mariana Gheorghe, served as CEO and President of Romanian integrated oil company, OMV Petrom, from 2006 to 2018. Gheorghe now sits on the board of British power generation company Contour Global, which still has stakes in coal assets in Bulgaria and Colombia, despite announcing a pivot away from coal last year. An ING spokesperson told DeSmog Gheorge had nothing further to add to the banks statement reiterating its climate goals and commitment to diversity on its board.

In South Africa, Standard Bank director Nomgando Matyumza, previously worked as the CEO of Transnet Pipelines, the principle operator of the countrys fuel pipeline system. She also worked for state-run energy company Eskom, where fellow board member Thulani Gcabashe served as CEO from 2000-2007. Matyumza is also currently on the board of oil and gas company SASOL Limited, along with fellow Standard Bank board member Gesina Trix Kennealy.

Industry Executives

The analysis also revealed the prevalence of business figures who have spent their careers in polluting non-energy sectors, from metals and mining, to agribusiness and aviation.

Lakshmi Mittal, an Indian steel magnate on the board of Goldman Sachs, has extensive ties to industry as CEO of ArcelorMittal, the worlds largest steelmaking company. Mittal is also a member of the World Steel Association, which has argued against carbon pricing mechanisms in the name of maintaining a level playing field. Mittal is also a member of the European Roundtable of Industrialists, which previously opposed increasing the ambition of the EUs carbon pricing system, and which thinktank InfluenceMap found had a limited but broadly negative engagement on climate policy.

Likewise, Morgan Stanley director Mary Schapiro, appointed under Barack Obama as the first woman to have served as the Chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has also sat on the board of a range of major energy, industrial, and food and drink companies, such as General Electric, Duke Energy, and Kraft Foods.

In Europe, Deutsche Bank director Paul Achleitner has worked across big names in German agribusiness, car manufacturing and energy. After a long career in banking and insurance, including as the managing director of Goldman Sachs German operations, the Austrian businessman spent thirteen years as a director of German energy and coal-producing giant RWE, and 10 years on the board of car company Daimler, best known for its Mercedes Benz brand. He is now coming to the end of a two-decade term as a board member of the board of pharmaceutical and chemical giant Bayer, which has been involved in a number of controversies over its production of hazardous pesticides and climate-washing PR campaigns.

Former President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo, a board member of Citi, is recognised as a leading voice on globalisation, and regularly speaks on climate change and economic leadership, including in his role as Professor in the Field of International Economics and Politics at the University of Yale. But Zedillo has multiple connections to high carbon sectors, including through his current advisory roles on the boards of BP, Credit Suisse, Coca Cola and Rolls Royce.

Occasional connections

The analysis also reveals a number of bank directors with significant occasional ties to high-carbon sectors without having spent their careers working in them.

They include Credit Suisse board member Michael Klein, who has used his decades of experience working at Citigroup to advise on major oil and gas deals, including Saudi Aramcos recent initial public offering (IPO), the biggest in history, and the merger between mining companies Glencore and Xstrata.

Santander director Marty Chavez spent 20 years at Goldman Sachs, including as its chief executive  but also four years on the board of PNM Resources in the early 2000s  an coal-supporting energy holding company providing electricity services in New Mexico.

Standard Chartered director Gay Huey Evans has three decades of experience in financial services, including with the Financial Services Authority, Citibank and Barclays Capital. She also serves as Chair of the London Metal Exchange, and is a board member for oil giant ConocoPhillips, which between 1965-2017 was responsible for more than 15 billion tonnes of carbon emissions.

Barclays director Tushar Morzaria worked as a chartered accountant before holding senior roles at JP Morgan and Credit Suisse, both among the biggest financers of fossil fuels. He currently sits on the board of BP, the oil company responsible for over 34 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions between 1965-2017.

Climate Leadership Lacking

The extent of polluting affiliations exposed by the analysis underscore the need for closer scrutiny of board members, said Molly Scott Cato, Professor of Green Economics at the University of Roehampton and a former Green Party MEP.

Its shocking to see the very close links between banks and fossil fuel and other heavily polluting industries and helps to explain why, even in the middle of a climate emergency, it has been so difficult to undertake the rapid defunding of the very industries that are driving us to climate destruction, she told DeSmog.

This research needs to become a lesson for banks to conduct audits of their staff, not only to understand their potential biases, but also to ensure that they have undertaken mandatory sustainability education.

Adam McGibbon of Market Forces, a group campaigning to prevent investment in environmentally-damaging projects, agreed that the extent of the connections that fossil fuel companies had to bank boardrooms presented a potentially concerning conflict of interest. He told DeSmog:

Financial institutions are critical to driving the transition to clean energy, so its terrifying that their directors views are being shaped by the fossil fuel industry.

How can banks reasonably claim to support the Paris Agreement when their directors are linked to an industry with a vested interest in the Paris Agreement failing?

Additional research by Richard Collett-White and Michaela Herrmann. Graphics by Sam Whitham.
Esta tarde, el presidente @FSagasti, junto con los titulares de la @pcmperu y @Minsa_Peru, @VBermudezV y @ougarteu, respectivamente; y el gerente de Operaciones de Pfizer en Peru, Jorge Moreno; lidero la llegada de un lote de 200 070 dosis de vacuna de este laboratorio. pic.twitter.com/Uc51eQLmgF
SHANGHAI, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai Genechem Co., Ltd. (Genechem), a discovery company dedicated to novel target discovery and development of novel therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Dr. Eric Rowinsky, President and Executive Chairman of the Board of Rgenix, Inc., and Dr. Manuel Hidalgo, Chief of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, to its Scientific Advisory Board. Drs. Rowinsky and Hidalgo will bring their strong expertise in translational and clinical development to support Genechem's mission to bring its innovative pipeline to global markets through novel target discovery, early development in China, and global partnership.

Genechem also announces that it will present two abstracts at AACR 2021, on an antibody against Claudin 6, and a TCR-T therapy against K-Ras mutations. (https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9325/presentation/2600, https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9325/presentation/1949)

"We are excited to welcome Drs. Rowinsky and Hidalgo, global leaders in biopharma industry and translational/clinical development, to our SAB, as we position Genechem to collaborate with cancer centers and biopharmaceutical companies globally to advance development of its innovative pipeline developed on our Good Research Practice (GRP) platform, leveraging CHAMP antibody discovery platform and Cell Therapy Discovery platform", commented Yueqiong Cao, Founder and CEO of Genechem.

"Genechem has built an innovative preclinical pipeline over the last five years, building on almost 20 years of partnership with research Oncologists in China, and I look forward to contributing my expertise to their mission of bringing innovative medicine to patients and partners globally. I am also impressed by their vision and global caliber management team, which I will enjoy working with", Dr. Rowinsky remarked.

Dr. Rowinsky is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Biogen and as President and Executive Chairman of RGenix, Inc. Dr. Rowinsky has also been the Chief Scientific Officer of Clearpath Development Co., which rapidly advances development stage therapeutic assets to pre-defined human proof-of-concept milestones. Dr. Rowinsky was the Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer of Stemline Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company focusing on the discovery and development of therapeutics targeting cancer stem cells. Dr. Rowinsky has also been an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at New York University and has been an independent consultant from 2010-2019. Prior to that, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Primrose Therapeutics, Inc., a start-up biotechnology company focusing on the development of therapeutics for polycystic kidney disease. From 2005 to December 2009 he served as the Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of ImClone Systems Incorporated, a life sciences company. From 1996 to 2004 Dr. Rowinsky held several positions at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center's Institute for Drug Development, including Director of the Institute and Director of Clinical Research. During that time, he held the SBC Endowed Chair for Early Drug Development and was Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. From 1988 to 1996 Dr. Rowinsky was an associate professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and on the staff of the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Rowinsky is also a member of the Boards of Directors of Fortress Biotech Inc., Purple Biotech Ltd. and Verastem, Inc., all of which are biopharmaceutical companies.

"As a clinical oncologist involved in drug discovery and clinical trials, I'm excited to bring my expertise to Genechem and help advance its antibody and cell therapy platforms. I am pleased to support Genechem's global efforts in advancing scientific understanding of cancer and addressing clinical unmet needs, in particular in solid tumors," said Dr. Hidalgo, who receives an honorarium for participation on Genechem's SAB.

Manuel Hidalgo, M.D., Ph.D.is currently the Chief of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He is also the Hugh E. Luckey Distinguished Professor of Medicine and a senior member of the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Hidalgo received his MD degree from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain in 1992 and a Ph.D. degree from University Autonoma of Madrid in 1997. He trained in medicine and medical oncology at Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid and at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He also completed a fellowship program in anticancer drug development at the Institute of Drug Development in San Antonio, TX. Prior to this position he served as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. In 2001, Dr. Hidalgo relocated to Johns Hopkins University to be Director of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program at the Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins and Associate Professor of Oncology. In 2009 he became Director of the Clinical Research Program at the Spanish National Cancer Center and Vice director of Translational Research in 2011. In 2015 he became the Chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology and Director of the Rosenberg Clinical Cancer Center at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He was also the Theodore W. and Evenly G. Berenson Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. His main focus of research has been new drug development in pancreatic cancer. His group popularized the use of Avatar mouse models for cancer research and recently contributed to the development and approval of nab-paclitaxel for pancreatic cancer treatment. His current work focuses on strategies for personalized medicine and immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer.

About Shanghai Genechem Co., Ltd. (Genechem)

Genechem is a leading innovation research company focused on target discovery/validation, development of antibody and cell therapy products against novel targets, and partnership globally to maximize its portfolio. Founded in 2002, now with over 500 employees, Genechem works closely with Research Oncologists to translate clinical research into therapeutics addressing high clinical unmet needs, leveraging its strong network of Research Oncologists in over 300 hospitals and Good Research Practice (GRP platform) which includes comprehensive RNAi library, tools including genetic typing, bioinformatic analysis, genetic manipulation, as well as SOP and project management systems. For more information, visit http://www.gcbio.com/.

Contact:

Dr. Tong Zhang

Chief Business Officer

Shanghai Genechem Co., Ltd

[email protected]

+86-18501607878

SOURCE Shanghai Genechem Co., Ltd. (Genechem)
In other action Tuesday, the Edwardsville City Council unanimously approved the following items:

 A resolution to reimburse the city for certain capital expenditures from costs incurred from the construction of the RP Lumber Center Ice Rink and Teen Center. The maximum amount of bonds expected to be issued for the project is $6 million

 A resolution authorizing the transfer of funds to other designated city funds. Transfers include: $50,000 from the municipal band to the general fund; $90,000 from capital improvement to street and bridge; $375,000 from general to capital equipment acquisition fund for city halls heating-ventilation-air-conditioning replacement; $75,000 from general to social security; $500 from general to social security; $500,000 from general to park improvement; $295,000 from general to parks and playgrounds; $46,000 from general to liability insurance; $300,000 from general to community redevelopment; $739,396 from general to Plummer Family Park Capital; followed by another $64,738 to the same fund

 A professional services agreement that increases the fee for Paul Welch, the administrative hearing officer for the city. His current fee is $375 per session, where it has been at since 2004. If approved, the rate will climb to $500 per session, starting May 1. Council members were quick to point out that Welch did not request this increase and as of last week, he was unaware of it

 A resolution approving an emergency water supply agreement between the city and Glen Carbon. The village is nearing the end of its time as a city water customer, which began in June 1996. The village plans to switch to Illinois-American Water in the short term while officials decide whether to build their own water plant or use Maryvilles water. The switch will take place no earlier than May 3 but will more likely happen on or around June 1. In the event of a natural disaster or other calamity, the city and village will retain this emergency agreement for water supplies.

 A professional services agreement for an additional biosolids storage tank at the wastewater treatment plant. This added one million-gallon tank is required to keep up with sludge loading and to handle additional solids from the chemical feed associated with phosphorus removal

 A sole source resolution to buy one, 335-horsepower Flygt 3231 pump to use at the wastewater treatment plant. The city has three such pumps to pump wastewater. It will replace a pump that had been previously rebuilt. The city has two reserve pumps used for high flows and in emergencies. The new pump will cost $120,500

 A LED replacement contract to J F Electric for $37,376 to convert all of the lights in the citys water treatment plant to LEDs. The city applied for and received a grant of $15,000 to put toward the project and will provide the funding to complete the work

 A resolution to expand the property covered by the Edwardsville Childrens Museum to include the recently relocated Nickel Plate Depot. The museum currently leases the old LeClaire School property and this adjusts that lease to include the depot and its adjacent land. It calls for a 10-year term with and an additional 10-year option

 Millennium Construction was the lowest bidder at $435,000 to add 4,200-square-feet of space at the citys M Street Maintenance facility. The extra space will allow for maintenance and storage of construction materials that are currently exposed to the elements

The next city council meeting is April 20 at 7 p.m. at city hall, 118 Hillsboro Ave. or via Zoom.

Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735
Environment: Cetacea Foundation, project on Moana60 sailboat Citizens spend week aboard with scientists in Mediterranean

(ANSAmed) - RIMINI, APRIL 8 - An initiative for "citizen scientists" will start this summer aboard an 18-metre sailboat, the Moana60, coordinated by the Cetacea Foundation in Riccione.



"Sailing for Blue Life" is the name of the scientific research project, in this case aimed at conservation of the marine habitat.



It will actively involve citizens who can set sail together with experts on a route in the Mediterranean that will stop at meaningful points from an environmental point of view, such as sea turtle rescue centres, protected marine areas, and nature reserves.



The route will travel the Adriatic Sea along the coasts of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, as well as the Ionian Sea and the coasts of Sicily, Malta, and Tunisia.



Conservation and research activities will take place at each stop, and the landings will be accompanied by public events such as the "Sailing for Blue Life Festival", scheduled in Rimini from June 3 to June 8 for World Oceans Day.



The journey lasts one week and university students can use it to obtain internship credits.(ANSAmed).




Jackson County Public Health says the Countys 125th COVID-19 death is a 66-year-old man who tested positive March 13th and died April 5th at Providence Medford Medical Center. It says the County's 126th COVID-19 death is a 64-year-old man who tested positive March 16th and died April 6th at Providence Medford Medical Center. The public health agency says both men had underlying health conditions.

It also says, We are in a race against getting people vaccinated and the rapid spread of COVID-19 and COVID-19 variants, as more people become eligible for coronavirus vaccine in Oregon by the States guidelines. All people 16 years old and older are eligible for vaccination April 19.

Jackson County Public Health is encouraging eligible people to get their shots. Jackson County Health Officer Dr. Jim Shames urges, "If you are eligible to get vaccinated, do it now. Do not wait for a specific brand of the vaccine; get the one that is available to you. This is a lifesaving vaccine that people should not postpone in getting."

Jackson County Public Health Promotion Manager Tanya Phillips advises, "There are numerous locations in Jackson County to access the COVID-19 vaccine. You can schedule an appointment with Jackson County Public Health at our vaccination site at the Expo, there is the Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic, La Clinica, numerous pharmacies, and other locations with primary care providers."

This week Oregonians in the State guidelines Group 7 who are 16 years old and older are eligible for vaccination, including:

Frontline workers as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and their residential family members.

People who live in multi-generational households.

 Adults 16 to 44 years old with underlying health conditions with increased risk. Oregon has adopted CDC guidance for underlying health conditions.

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has U.S. Food & Drug Administration approval for people 16 years old and older, while Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are FDA approved for individuals 18 years old and older.

Jackson County Public Health says its Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic, Walgreens, and Walmart have Pfizer vaccine, and it invites people to check the Jackson County Health and Human Services COVID-19 Vaccine website for vaccine locations.
As the 106th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approaches, the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) has written an open letter on behalf of Armenian-Australians calling on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to recognize the systematic persecution of 1.5 million Armenians, as well as over 1 million Assyrians and Greeks, perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire as genocide, ANC-AU reported.

In the letter, the 50,000 strong community urges the Prime Minister to uphold his own beliefs articulated in his speech to Parliament on 26th May 2011, when he said: "Today, as a member of this House, I join others in this place, and in parliaments around the world, to place on record that I believe the Armenian Genocide was one of the greatest crimes against humanity  it is important that we recognise the Armenian genocide for what it was."

This is in stark contrast to Scott Morrisons most recent statements as Prime Minister, which have excluded the use of the word genocide.

Now, is the time for Genocide recognition. The changing political climate on the Armenian Genocide issue in Australia and the positive steps towards Genocide recognition internationally, leads us to believe that now is the time, the letter reads in part.

We believe that becoming Prime Minister shouldnt compromise your own values and opinion and it shouldnt compromise our Australian values standing up for human rights and standing on the right side of history, it adds.

Like countless nations around the world it is time we reject foreign threats and gag orders imposed by an authoritarian regime [i.e., Turkey]. On behalf of the 50,000 Armenian-Australian's, we urge you to officially characterise the events of 1915 by their true name  Genocide, the letter also notes.

"With strong indications from the White House that President Biden will recognise the Armenian Genocide, the 50,000 strong Armenian-Australian community remains hopeful that this year, Prime Minister Morrison will stand up for his declared beliefs and join the United States and over 30 other nations including France, Germany and Canada in recognising the Armenian Genocide," said ANC-AU Executive Director Haig Kayserian.
As a nuclear waste companys plan to store the most dangerous type of radioactive waste in West Texas moves forward at the federal level, state lawmakers are aiming to ban the materials from entering the state.

Environmental and consumer advocates for years have decried a proposal to build a 332-acre site in West Texas near the New Mexico border to store the riskiest type of nuclear waste: spent fuel rods from nuclear power plants, which can remain dangerously radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years.

A bill advancing in the House, filed by Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa, whose district includes Andrews County  where the proposed facility would be located  seeks to stop the plan by banning that type of radioactive waste from being disposed of or stored in Texas.

But House Bill 2692 would also give that same company a big break on state fees it pays for its existing disposal facility for lower-risk radioactive waste.

This bill bans high-level waste altogether, Landgraf said during a committee hearing in March, and focuses on making low-level waste the safest and best, most competitive and most efficient facility it can be.

Waste Control Specialists has been disposing of the nations low-level nuclear waste, including tools, building materials and protective clothing exposed to radioactivity, for a decade in Andrews County. The company is currently pursuing, with a partner, a federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission license to store spent nuclear fuel on a site adjacent to its existing facility.

Waste Control Specialists and Interim Storage Partners  a joint venture between WCS and Orano USA, a subsidiary of one of the worlds biggest nuclear power companies  declined to comment on the proposed bill through a spokesperson.

Interim Storage Partners applied for the license in 2016. Scientists agree that spent nuclear fuel, which is currently stored at nuclear power plants, should be stored deep underground, but the U.S. still hasnt located a suitable site. The Interim Storage Partners plan proposes storing it in above-ground casks until a permanent location is found. It expects federal regulators to make a decision sometime this year.

The plan faces stiff opposition from Gov. Greg Abbott, some oil companies that operate in the region and environmentalists over concerns about the risk of groundwater contamination and transportation accidents. Abbott wrote to federal regulators last year asking them to deny the license application, stating that the proposal presents a greater radiological risk than Texas is prepared to allow.

Many in Andrews County support the existing lower-level hazardous waste facility, which pumps around $1 million annually into Andrews Countys coffers through a 5 percent fee on disposal activities.

WCS has also paid another $59.3 million to the state through a separate fee since 2012.

Landgrafs bill would reduce some state fees on the existing lower-level waste facility. With states in Texas radioactive waste compact, which currently include only Texas and Vermont, a 5 percent fee that now goes to Texas would be eliminated. For waste from other states, the fee would be cut from 20 percent to 5 percent.

The reductions would cost the state nearly $400,000 per year that now goes to the general revenue fund and more than $1 million per year thats dedicated to an environmental fund to remediate radiation, according to an analysis by the Comptroller of Public Accounts.

In an interview with the Tribune, Landgraf said many of the states largest generators of radioactive waste have not been shipping it to the Andrews County facility because the state fees make its disposal prices too high.

That means that rather than being shipped to Andrews County, its typically remaining on site where its generated, he said. Theres basically a disincentive to actually utilize the facility. Keeping that facility viable is in everybodys interest.

If the company failed financially, he argued, the state would be forced to take over and clean it up.

The facility was struggling financially when it was acquired in 2018 by J.F. Lehman & Co., a New York private equity firm that specializes in defense, maritime, environment and government industries.

Opponents of the bill said during a committee hearing in late March that reducing fees means less money for the state to eventually clean up the facility, if necessary.

Why let a private company in Texas get out of paying even their minimum fair share for this kind of risky business? asked Richard Halpin, a Texan who is affiliated with the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Coalition, a sustainable energy alliance of businesses and organizations.

Youre taking away the money that were going to need to protect ourselves, added Tom Smitty Smith, retired head of Public Citizen, an Austin consumer advocacy group, who has publicly spoken against the nuclear waste facility in Andrews County for years.

Customers of the facility support the legislation. Edward Selig, who spoke on behalf of Advocates for Responsible Disposal in Texas, a group of companies that dispose of radioactive waste, said the group supports fair rates.

We support any legislation that preserves the best possible pricing, Selig said.

The facility currently accepts Class A, B and C radioactive waste, which typically includes a wide range of contaminated items such as radioactive gloves, shoe covers and medical tubes. Some environmental and consumer advocates asked Landgraf to also include a ban on greater than Class C waste in his bill as well  it falls into what nuclear waste experts call a gray area between the lower-level categories and spent nuclear fuel. That type of waste is currently banned by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission may soon consider regulations that would allow WCS to accept that waste.

Landgraf said he chose not to include a ban on that type of waste in the bill because it is technically not considered high level by the federal government, although it is currently treated that way for disposal purposes. Nuclear waste experts have told the Tribune that this category can be wide ranging, both in terms of danger and the time it will remain radioactive.

As a state lawmaker, I have to work within the space that our jurisdiction provides, Landgraf said. He said he expects strong support for the legislation from lawmakers in the House. I'm committed to ensuring that high level radioactive waste is not stored in the state of Texas.

--

"Texas lawmakers want to ban dangerous radioactive waste. The proposal would give a nuclear waste company a big financial break." was first published at https://www.texastribune.org/2021/04/08/nuclear-waste-texas-ban/ by The Texas Tribune.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden will unveil a series of executive actions aimed at addressing gun violence on Thursday, delivering his first major action on gun control since taking office.

Hell also nominate David Chipman, a former federal agent and adviser at the gun control group Giffords, to be director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to senior Biden administration officials.

Biden has faced increasing pressure to act on gun control after a spate of mass shootings across the U.S. in recent weeks, but the White House has repeatedly emphasized the need for legislative action on guns. While the House passed a background-check bill last month, gun control measures face slim prospects in an evenly-divided Senate, where Republicans remain near-unified against most proposals.

Biden will be joined by Attorney General Merrick Garland at the event, and most of the actions will come from the Justice Department.

Biden is expected to announce tighter regulations requiring buyers of so-called ghost guns to undergo background checks. The homemade firearms  often assembled from parts and milled with a metal-cutting machine  often lack serial numbers used to trace them. Its legal to build a gun in a home or a workshop and there is no federal requirement for a background check.

The presidents plans were previewed by a person familiar with the expected actions who was not authorized to publicly discuss them.

Senior administration officials confirmed that the Justice Department would issue a new proposed rule aimed at reining in ghost guns within 30 days, but offered no details on the content of the rule.

The Justice Department will also issue a proposed rule within 60 days tightening regulations on pistol-stabilizing braces, like the one used by the Boulder, Colorado, shooter in a massacre last month that left 10 dead. The rule would designate pistols used with stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles, which, under the National Firearms Act, require a federal license to own and are subject to a more thorough application process and a $200 tax.

The Justice Department will also publish model red flag legislation within 60 days, which the administration says will make it easier for states to adopt their own red flag laws. Such laws allow for individuals to petition a court to allow the police to confiscate weapons from a person deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.

And it will begin to provide more data on firearms trafficking, starting with a new comprehensive report on the issue, which the Biden administration says it hasnt done in over two decades.

The president will also announce investments in community violence intervention programs, which are aimed at reducing gun violence in urban communities, across five federal agencies.

Administration officials hinted there may be more to come from the administration on guns, calling the round of executive actions initial steps that were completed under Garlands purview within the first few weeks of his tenure.

The ATF is currently run by Acting Director Regina Lombardo. Gun-control advocates have emphasized the significance of the ATF director in enforcing the nations gun laws, and Chipman is certain to win praise from them. During his time as a senior policy adviser with Giffords, he spent considerable effort pushing for greater regulation and enforcement on ghost guns, reforms of the background check system and measures to reduce the trafficking of illegal firearms.

Prior to that, Chipman spent 25 years as an agent at the ATF, where he worked on stopping a trafficking ring that sent illegal firearms from Virginia to New York, and served on the ATFs SWAT team. Chipman is a gun owner himself.

He also is an explosives expert and was among the team involved in investigating the Oklahoma City Bombing and the first World Trade Center bombing. He also was involved in investigating a series of church bombings in Alabama in the 1990s. He retired from the ATF in 2012.

Chipman and a White House spokesman both declined to comment.

During his campaign, Biden promised to prioritize new gun control measures as president, including enacting universal background check legislation, banning online sales of firearms and the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. But gun-control advocates have said that while they were heartened by signs from the White House that they took the issue seriously, theyve been disappointed by the lack of early action.

With the announcement of the new measures, however, advocates lauded Bidens first moves to combat gun violence.

Each of these executive actions will start to address the epidemic of gun violence that has raged throughout the pandemic, and begin to make good on President Bidens promise to be the strongest gun safety president in history, said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety.

Feinblatt in particular praised the move to regulate ghost guns, which he said will undoubtedly save countless lives, and lauded Chipman as an invaluable point person in the fight against illegal gun trafficking. He also said the group is looking forward to continuing to work with the Biden administration on further gun control measures, but its unclear what next moves the White House, or lawmakers on Capitol Hill, will be able to take.

Biden himself expressed uncertainty late last month when asked if he had the political capital to pass new gun control proposals, telling reporters, I havent done any counting yet.

For years, federal officials have been sounding the alarm about an increasing black market for homemade, military-style semi-automatic rifles and handguns. Ghost guns have increasingly turned up at crime scenes and in recent years have been turning up more and more when federal agents are purchasing guns in undercover operations from gang members and other criminals.

It is hard to say how many are circulating on the streets, in part because in many cases police departments dont even contact the federal government about the guns because they cant be traced.

Some states, like California, have enacted laws in recent years to require serial numbers be stamped on ghost guns.

The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what is known as the lower receiver, a part typically made of metal or polymer. An unfinished receiver  sometimes referred to as an 80-percent receiver  can be legally bought online with no serial numbers or other markings on it, no license required.

A gunman who killed his wife and four others in Northern California in 2017 had been prohibited from owning firearms, but he built his own to skirt the court order before his rampage. And in 2019, a teenager used a homemade handgun to fatally shoot two classmates and wound three others at a school in suburban Los Angeles.

Plans for Bidens announcement Thursday were first reported by Politico.



Alexandra Jaffe, Aamer Madhani and Michael Balsamo of The Associated Press wrote this story. AP Writer Lisa Marie Pane in Boise, Idaho, contributed reporting.
About $1.1 billion in this year's $7.4 billion budget is based on federal funding that has not yet been formally appropriated, prompting some lawmakers to wonder if the governor will line-item veto some, if not many, big-ticket items.
: Over 63 per cent polling was



reported in the to mandal and zilla parishad territorial constituencies in on Thursday, which Panchayat Raj Principal Secretary Gopal Krishna Dwivedi termed "remarkably successful".

Stray incidents of clashes were reported from a few districts but overall the polling went off smoothly, official sources in the State Election Commission here said.

A polling official died of heart attack while on duty in Guntur district.

Polling was stalled in a couple of places because of faulty ballot papers, the sources said.

The Jana Sena party symbol was found missing in the ballot paper in Amalapuram Rural, resulting in the suspension of polling.

In a polling station in SPS Nellore district, a BJP worker allegedly snatched the ballot box and dipped it in water, forcing the officials to cancel the polling.

A re-poll will be conducted in the village on Friday, the sources said.

In half a dozen villages on the Andhra-Odisha border in Vizianagaram district, polling was hampered due to a long-pending jurisdictional dispute that was pending adjudication in the Supreme Court.

Polling was conducted from 7 am to 5 pm across the state as the High Court gave the green signal for the parishad but counting of votes will not be taken up as scheduled on April 10, till the petition in the court is disposed of (probably on April 15).

At Rajupalem village in Guntur district, workers of the ruling YSR Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam clashed, resulting in minor injuries to a couple of persons, police said.

Similar incidents were reported in Krishna and Prakasam districts as well but police immediately quelled the mobs to bring the situation under control.

Panchayat Raj Principal Secretary Gopal Krishna Dwivedi congratulated Panchayat Raj Commissioner M Girija Shankar, district Collectors and polling staff over the "remarkably successful" conduct of the MPTC and ZPTC

Election was conducted for 7,220 MPTC and 515 ZPTC seats for which 20,840 candidates were in the fray.

For the record, the TDP boycotted the election but technically it remained in the contest as the ballot papers were printed before it announced its decision.

The YSRC already bagged 2,271 MPTC and 126 ZPTC seats unopposed.

The TDP won 100 MPTCs unanimously in the election process that initially commenced in March last year.

(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, April 8 : The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva urged policymakers to take the right actions by giving everyone a fair shot, as global economy is seeing a multi-speed recovery.

"The good news is that there is light at the end of the tunnel. After the worst global recession since the second world war, the recovery is underway," Georgieva said in her opening remarks at a virtual press conference during the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

And yet, while there is light, the crisis continues to cast a dark shadow, Georgieva said.

"Economic fortunes are diverging dangerously. A small number of economies, led by the US and China, are powering ahead - while poorer countries are falling behind in this multi-speed recovery," Georgieva said.

"We also face extremely high uncertainty, especially over the impact of new virus strains and potential shifts in financial conditions," she continued, adding that there is the risk of further economic scarring.

As the IMF releases its Global Policy Agenda, Georgieva highlighted three priorities, the first which being a fair shot at the vaccine.

Noting that vaccine policy is economic policy, the IMF chief said faster progress in ending the health crisis could add almost 9 trillion dollars to global GDP by 2025, while adding that this window of opportunity is closing fast.

"Governments must show the same sense of urgency and collaboration to provide vaccines to everyone - everywhere," she said.

In order to give everyone a fair shot in recovery, Georgieva said policymakers should support vulnerable households and viable firms amid the crisis, adopt targeted fiscal measures and maintain favourable financial conditions.

Once the health crisis is over, she said, governments should gradually scale back support programs - while scaling up targeted hiring subsidies and retraining and reskilling, which is particularly important for young people and women, who have suffered more in the crisis.

Looking ahead, the focus should be on scaling up public investment - in green projects and digital infrastructure, in people's health and education - to ensure that everyone can benefit from the historic transformation to greener, smarter, and more inclusive economies, she said.

Countries will need sufficient public revenues and more efficient spending, said the IMF chief. In many cases, this will mean more progressive taxation, and international agreement on questions like minimum taxation for companies, she added.

The IMF has so far supported 86 countries with over 110 billion dollars, using a variety of instruments. It has also supported 160 countries through technical assistance and training.

The multilateral institution will propose a new Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation of 650 billion dollars. "This will help address the long-term global need for reserve assets and provide a substantial liquidity boost to all our members, especially the most vulnerable," Georgieva said.
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7 April 2021

LEI: 2138003QW2ZAYZODBU23

LSE Code: 3NGL

WISDOMTREE MULTI ASSET ISSUER PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

(a public company incorporated with limited liability in Ireland)

WISDOMTREE NATURAL GAS 3X DAILY LEVERAGED SECURITIES

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE AFFECTED SECURITIES

ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING OF THE ETP SECURITYHOLDERS

THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt about what action you should take, you are recommended to consult your independent financial adviser.

If you have sold or transferred all of your WisdomTree Natural Gas 3x Daily Leveraged Securities (the Affected Securities) of WisdomTree Multi Asset Issuer Public Limited Company (the Issuer), please send this document, together with the accompanying form of proxy, at once to the purchaser or transferee or stockbroker, banker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was made, for onward transmission to the purchaser or transferee.

The Issuer wishes to announce that the Meeting of the holders of WisdomTree Natural Gas 3x Daily Leveraged Securities (the Affected Securities, with ISIN IE00BLRPRG98) scheduled for Wednesday 7 April 2021, at 12:00 p.m. (the Original Meeting) has been adjourned, in accordance with paragraph 20 of Schedule 7 of the Trust Deed, for lack of a quorum. The adjourned meeting will be reconvened on 12:00 p.m. on Thursday 29 April 2021, being a date not more than 30 days after the Original Meeting, and will be held by way of virtual meeting (the Adjourned Meeting).

The Adjourned Meeting is being held to consider proposals for the introduction of an Overnight Restrike mechanic, a Discretionary Index Change mechanic and a Near Zero Price mechanic in respect of the Affected Securities. Full details of the Proposal and Extraordinary Resolution are set out in the Original Circular.

Under article 11.5 of the Issuers Articles of Association, no further notification is required for the Adjourned Meeting. Holders of the Affected Securities are therefore directed to the original notification, including the circular dated 12 February 2021 , and also a revised form of proxy for the Adjourned Meeting, which are available on the website of the Issuer at https://www.wisdomtree.eu/en-gb/resource-library/prospectus-and-regulatory-reports#tab-2A942D42-5AA1-4008-9080-3C2DADB050A7 .

Holders of the Affected Securities should note that a duly completed voting instructions already made in respect of the Original Meeting will NOT continue to be valid for the Adjourned Meeting. Holders of the Affected Securities should therefore not rely on any voting instructions already made in respect of the Original Meeting and should therefore make arrangements to vote again on the matters being considered, in order to participate in the Adjourned Meeting.

Holders of the Affected Securities are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold their Affected Securities when such intermediary would need to receive instructions from a holder of Affected Securities in order for such holder of Affected Securities to participate in the Adjourned Meeting by the deadlines specified in this circular. The deadlines set by any such intermediary and each ICSD for the submission instructions will be earlier than the relevant deadlines specified in the circular.

In relation to the delivery instructions or obtaining voting certificates or otherwise making arrangements for the giving of voting instructions, in each case through the ICSDs, holders of the Affected Securities should note the particular practice and policy of the relevant ICSDs, including any earlier deadlines set by such ICSD. The deadlines set by any intermediary or by the ICSDs will be earlier than the deadlines set out in the circular.

In accordance with normal practice, The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c., as trustee, expresses no opinion as to the merits of the Proposal, the terms of which were not negotiated by it. It has however authorised it to be stated that, on the basis of the information contained in the original circular and in this document (which it advises holders of Affected Securities to read carefully) it has no objection to the form in which the Proposal and Notice of Meeting are presented to holders of Affected Securities for their consideration.

Holders of the Affected Securities will be notified of the outcome of the Adjourned Meeting shortly thereafter.
Tata Motors Ltd is quoting at Rs 318.1, up 3.35% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 326.41% in last one year as compared to a 63.97% gain in NIFTY and a 80.51% gain in the Nifty Auto index.

Tata Motors Ltd is up for a third straight session in a row. The stock is quoting at Rs 318.1, up 3.35% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.82% on the day, quoting at 14940.5. The Sensex is at 49954.08, up 0.59%. Tata Motors Ltd has added around 0.92% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Auto index of which Tata Motors Ltd is a constituent, has added around 3.94% in last one month and is currently quoting at 9937, up 1.15% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 395.91 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 608.83 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark April futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 320, up 3.24% on the day. Tata Motors Ltd is up 326.41% in last one year as compared to a 63.97% gain in NIFTY and a 80.51% gain in the Nifty Auto index.

The PE of the stock is 0 based on TTM earnings ending December 20.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
District officials are visiting the school in Ndwedwe

The KZN education department is visiting a rural school in Ndwedwe north of Durban to inspect the condition of the small school, despite it not being registered.

The school has about 70 learners and only two classrooms.

Parents are now pleading for assistance to build a new school.

They say the only other primary school is an hour away on foot and many of them cannot afford transport fees.

Officials at the Department of Education visited Isipho Primary in Ndwedwe, north of Durban, after complaints about the lack of infrastructure and resources at the school.

On Wednesday, KwaZulu-Natal education department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said district officials were at the school to inspect the conditions and would submit a report thereafter.

When GroundUp visited the school last week, several learners were doing classwork at desks outside. The school consists of two classrooms that look weathered and do not have windows or doors. Parents say the nearest primary school is an hour away by foot and they cannot afford transport for their children.

Parent Gugu Ndlela explained that the school started in 2016 and came as a blessing to parents in the area. "Most parents are unemployed and survive on child support grants. When the principal came with the idea of building a school, we all welcomed it. But it has not been easy because the two classrooms cannot accommodate all the learners," said Ndlela.

Ndlela said some learners had been using the community hall but they were recently told they can no longer use it. "Learners had to move back to the two rooms they were using. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all the grades can't fit into the two rooms, so some classes are conducted outside," said Ndlela.

Hleziphi Mzobe's son is in grade 2 at Isipho. Mzobe said that children don't go to school when it rains because there is no space to accommodate all of them.

"We have tried everything as parents to get assistance. We wrote letters, even to the municipality, but to no avail. We are desperate and this school has been very helpful. Many children who were at this school are now in high school," said Mzobe.

The school is currently not registered with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education which has made applying for assistance and resources harder. Most of the teachers are volunteers and learners use a pit toilet.

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School Governing Body (SGB) chairperson Siyabonga Magubane said the school has found a site for a new school to accommodate all of the learners but needs help to build it.

"The founder of the school who is also the principal built two rooms and teachers are trying to adhere to Covid-19 regulations. This school is the only one close enough to walk to, other schools are very far from here. This is an impoverished community so it is difficult for parents to afford transport for children when they can barely feed them," said Magubane.

Ward 14 Councillor Leonard Ngcobo said he was asked whether the school could use the community hall temporarily. He said he was no longer able to accommodate the school as the hall was needed for other community activities.

Ngcobo said he would support and assist where possible with the construction of the new school.

Parents are expected to meet with Department officials on Friday.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Warming at roughly double the rate as the rest of the world, the Arctic is disproportionately affected by climate change, yet the region remains one of the least understood. Sandia National Laboratories scientists are working to gain understanding of the area by capturing and analyzing data pulled from the depths of the Arctic Ocean.

In early February, a team of Sandia scientists, led by geophysicist Rob Abbott, connected a distributed acoustic sensing interrogator system to Quintillion's existing fiber optic cable network along the seafloor of Oliktok Point. This is the first time distributed acoustic sensing has been used to capture data on the seafloor under sea ice in the Arctic Ocean. The system captured and recorded cable vibrations 24 hours a day for a full week to identify the natural and human activity taking place within the data-starved ocean.

This new monitoring method holds the potential to persistently capture a wide variety of Arctic phenomena in a cost-effective and safe manner in a fragile environment, Abbott said. The team expects to identify climate signals, such as the timing and distribution of sea ice breakup, ocean wave height, sea ice thickness, fault zones and storm severity. Shipping, whale songs and breaching may also be recorded.

"This is a first-of-its-kind data collect, and as far as what national laboratories do, this is exactly the type of high-risk, high-reward research that could make a huge difference in how we're able to monitor the Arctic Ocean," said Sandia Manager Kyle Jones. "This really is on the cutting edge of seismology and geophysics, along with climate change and other disciplines."

"Quintillion's fiber optic cable is in a favorable place on the North Slope of Alaska," Abbott explained. "This technology works for this project for several reasons. We are not sending a boat out to plant monitors; we're not traipsing over the sea ice trying to install sensors. This cable will exist for decades and we can take good data on it. It's a very safe way of taking this measurement in a hazardous environment."

The team is beginning to analyze the first 168 hours of data, and researchers are encouraged by their findings. They have identified data indicative of ice quakes, ocean tides, currents and even a low flying hovercraft.

"The opportunity to work with some of the most knowledgeable geophysicists and data scientists in the country is exciting and an honor," said Michael McHale, Quintillion's Chief Revenue Officer. "Supporting the work of the scientific community has long been a goal of Quintillion's. Accomplishing that goal with a client as highly regarded as Sandia Labs exceeded our expectations."

This collect was the first of eight week-long data collects that will happen over the next two years across all four Arctic seasons: ice-bound, ice-free, freezing and thawing. A third year will be spent further analyzing data.

About Quintillion

Quintillion is a private global communications corporation located in Anchorage, Alaska. Quintillion built, owns and operates a submarine and terrestrial high-speed fiber optic cable system that spans the Alaskan Arctic and connects to the lower-48. The planned three-phase Quintillion subsea cable system will ultimately connect Asia to the American Pacific Northwest, and to Western Europe via the Northwest Pass through the Alaskan and Canadian Arctic.

About Sandia National Laboratories

For more than 70 years, Sandia National Laboratories has delivered essential science and technology to resolve the nation's most challenging security issues. A strong science, technology and engineering foundation enables Sandia's mission through a capable research staff working at the forefront of innovation, collaborative research with universities and companies, and discretionary research projects with significant potential impact. Sandia is operated and managed by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc. NTESS operates the labs as a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.

Media Contact

Stephen Finan

(410) 841-4992

[email protected]

SOURCE Quintillion Networks

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People who had mild cases of COVID-19 are still experiencing symptoms eight months later, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that one in 10 healthcare workers reported fatigue or a loss of taste and smell more than 30 weeks after clearing the infection.

What's more, these moderate-to-severe symptoms were having a negative impact on their work, social or home life.

The team, from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, says that the findings provide further evidence for the importance of vaccination.

A new study found that 26% of COVID-19 survivors had at least one symptom that lasted more than two months and 14.9% said they had symptoms that persisted after eight months. Pictured: A Department of Health employee trains New York Army National Guard soldiers to register people on iPads in New Rochelle, New York, March 14

In the COVID-19, group 11% said their symptoms affected their work, social or home life compared to 2% in the control group

For the study, published in JAMA, the team collected data from the COMMUNITY study being conducted in Sweden, which looks at immunity after coronavirus.

In the first wave, blood samples were collected from 2,149 employees at Danderyd Hospital, in Stockholm, between April 15 and May 8 of last year.

Every four months, blood samples were drawn and participants answered questions about long-term symptoms and their impact on quality of life.

In a third-follow up, in January 2021, the team looked at 323 healthcare workers who had had mild COVID-19 at least eight months earlier and compared them with 1,072 employees who had not has the disease up to that point.

Results showed 26 percent of those who had tested positive in the past had at least one symptom that lasted more than two months compared to nine percent in the control group.

A total of 21.4 percent said their symptoms were still lingering after four months and 14.9 percent said the symptoms persisted after eight months.

The most common long-term symptom was loss of smell, experienced by 14.6 percent at least two months later and by nine percent eight months later.

Rounding out the top three long-lasting symptoms were fatigue and loss of taste, respectively.

Eleven percent of the COVID-19 group said their symptoms affected their work, social or home life compared to two percent in the control group.

'We investigated the presence of long-term symptoms after mild COVID-19 in a relatively young and healthy group of working individuals, and we found that the predominant long-term symptoms are loss of smell and taste,' lead researcher for the COMMUNITY study Dr Charlotte Thalin, specialist physician at Danderyd Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, said in a statement.

'Fatigue and respiratory problems are also more common among participants who have had COVID-19 but do not occur to the same extent.

Thalin noted that only between one and two percent of COVID-19 survivors said they were experiencing concentration impairment or memory impairment.

'However, we do not see an increased prevalence of cognitive symptoms such as brain fatigue, memory and concentration problems or physical disorders such as muscle and joint pain, heart palpitations or long-term fever,' she said.
Along the Tian Shan and Alay mountain ranges of Central Asia, sheep and other domestic livestock form the core economy of contemporary life. Although it was here that the movements of their ancient predecessors helped to shape the great trade networks of the Silk Road, domestic animals were thought to have come relatively late to the region. A new study, published today in the journal Nature: Human Behavior, reveals that the roots of animal domestication in Central Asia stretch back at least 8,000 years - making the region one of the oldest continuously inhabited pastoral landscapes in the world.

The domestication of sheep, goat, and cattle first took place in the Fertile Crescent of Mesopotamia and the nearby mountain zones of western Asia roughly 10,000 years ago, in lockstep with the first domestication of plant crops like wheat and barley. This innovation in human subsistence, known as the Neolithic Revolution, spread northwards to Europe and southwards to Africa and India, transforming human societies across three continents. But until recently, it seemed that this dramatic expansion of domestic plants and animals failed to reach eastward to the rich mountain zones of Central Asia, where - despite their outsized significance in the later millennia of the Bronze Age and beyond - there was little evidence of a Neolithic dispersal.

That changed when a joint team of international scientists, led by Dr. Svetlana Shnaider of Russia's Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography (RAS-Siberia, Novosibirsk) and Dr. Aida Abdykanova of the American University of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan), decided to revisit rockshelter Obishir V, tucked into a mountain precipice along Kyrgyzstan's southern border with Uzbekistan. The site, which was first discovered and excavated by Soviet archaeologists in the 20th century, had yielded an unusual assemblage of stone tools, some of which seemed to have been used for processing grains. Furthermore, sprinkled throughout the layers of the site's geologic strata were the fragmented remains of what appeared to be sheep and goats.

Could this be evidence of an ancient, undocumented Neolithic movement of domestic animals deep into the interior of Central Asia? To find out, Shnaider and Abykanova partnered with lead author Dr. William Taylor, a specialist in the study of animal domestication at the University of Colorado-Boulder's Museum of Natural History and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, along with a team of international experts from across Europe and the United States. After radiocarbon dating bones and teeth from the site, it became clear that the oldest cultural layer dated at least as far back as ca. 6000 BCE, or more than 8,000 years ago - three millennia earlier than domestic animals were thought to have reached Central Asia.

Burning, cut marks, and other changes to the animal bones showed that they had been butchered, while patterns of microscopic seasonal layering within the animals' tooth cementum indicated that they were slaughtered in the fall, as is common in many herding societies. But because the bones were highly fragmented, the species could not be identified using standard anatomical analysis. Instead, the researchers applied an interdisciplinary approach using both paleogenomics and collagen peptide fingerprinting to identify the animal remains. Comparing their results with the genomes of wild and domestic sheep species from across Eurasia, the researchers made a shocking discovery.

"With each new line of evidence, it became increasingly clear... these were not wild sheep - they were domestic animals," says Taylor.

For those that have worked for years to understand Central Asia's prehistory, the results are startling.

"This discovery just illustrates how many mysteries still remain regarding the prehistory of Inner Asia - the cultural crossroads of the ancient world," says the Max Planck Institute's Dr. Robert Spengler - a study co-author and author of Fruits from the Sands: The Silk Road origins of the foods we eat.

Future work will be necessary to understand the full impact of the study's findings and their implications for the rest of ancient Eurasia. Shnaider plans to return to Obishir this coming summer to look for clues and to determine whether other domestic animals, like cattle, or domestic plants, such as wheat and barley, also spread to Kyrgyzstan from Mesopotamia in the deep past. With an award from the European Research Council, project partner and co-author Dr. Christina Warinner (Harvard/MPI-SHH) is spearheading an effort to investigate whether these first Central Asian sheep spread elsewhere in the region and whether they were used to produce dairy or wool.

"This work is just the beginning," says Taylor. "By applying these interdisciplinary techniques from archaeological science, we are starting to unlock the clues to Central Asia's past."

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You don't have to always be online. Image: Shutterstock

Hours after you log off for the day your phone dings.

Maybe its an email or a message in Slack or Teams.

Sure youve already clocked off, but whats the harm in just taking a peek?

You check the message: its from your boss and it looks serious.

Even though you were never required to look at the message  its after hours after all  you now feel faced with a choice: either log back in remotely to start fixing the problem or spend all night thinking about the minor crisis you will have to deal with in the morning.

This is the scenario French lawmakers tried to outlaw in 2017 when they amended to the countrys labour laws to enshrine a right to disconnect for workers.

The legislation requires companies implement mechanisms to regulate the use of digital tools to ensure employees get proper rest, leave, and a balanced personal and family life.

The laws are either enacted through collective bargaining (via a relevant union) or by the employer drawing up a charter about its processes to that ensure employees arent always expected online.

Some companies have taken steps toward employees right to disconnect without a legal mandate, like German car manufacturer Volkswagen which implemented a policy 10 years ago that stopped its mail server from delivering email to workers after hours.

Although no such law currently exists in Australia, the union representing the Victorian Police Force struck a deal last year to ensure its workers are given the time off they deserve.

In the case of Victoria Police, officers can no longer be called when they are off-duty unless the matter is an emergency  no more quickly checking in on a case or asking for advice.

But for many Australian workers, the potential for being always online remains high  especially with work from home arrangements becoming more permanent.

Penny Williams, a senior lecturer at the Queensland University of Technologys business school, told Information Age there has been a recalibration of working hours in recent years, not just in the last 12 months of working from home.

Certainly there are situations where employees are unable to disconnect from their work, particularly in the current work from home environment where working hours have extended, she said.

There is an increasing expectation for employees to be available when at desk even when working from home.

A nation of workaholics

Australians, despite our world famous laissez-faire outlook on life, tend to work long hours.

The OECDs Better Life Index puts Australia above average when it comes to long working weeks with 13 per cent of employees working very long (50 or more) hours a week.

For comparison, in France, where companies with over 20 employees can only ask for 35-hour working weeks, only 7.7 per cent of employees say they work long hours.

Longer working hours means less time spent enjoying other aspects of life and Australians are left with less than the average 15 hours per day for personal care (like eating and sleeping) or leisure.

While the amount of time online may have been exacerbated due to the pandemic, Williams said the blurring of work and life has been gradually increasing over time.

People are working longer hours, theyre experiencing greater work intensification, and are finding it difficult to balance the boundaries between work life and life outside of work, she said.

The right to disconnect puts the onus back on the employer to think about when they expect employees to work and acknowledge that, for individuals to perform well at work, they also need some time off.

Dionne Niven, Chief People Officer at Sydney-based hotel guest acquisition service SiteMinder, said the global company became increasingly mindful of its employees needs to disconnect when COVID-19 disrupted normal office business.

We did a fair bit of training with employees and brought in specialists to talk about how to switch off at the end of the day, Niven told Information Age.

Simple things like putting a reminder in their diary to help remember to switch off. And we brought in daily meditation and yoga classes to encourage people to take some personal time outside of work.

The need for flexibility

Niven stressed the need for communicating with employees about how to manage the pressure of working from home and the risks of constant connectivity and that blanket policies may not be the best way to manage ones right to disconnect.

What works for you, and your barriers and boundaries, is not necessarily what works for me, she said.

Employees whove got kids might have found themselves with some much-needed flexibility when working from home full-time.

They may log off around 3.30pm to do the school pick, come home, do dinner, bath, and bed then log back on at night.

Other people might log on a bit later in the morning and finish a bit later at night.

The important thing, Niven said, was to have control over when you check messages and emails if youre inclined to do so after traditional working hours.

I have my notifications and alerts turned off after hours, she said. So in the evenings if Im checking Slack or emails, Im doing it when it works for me.

That means I can sit down for dinner with my husband and enjoy that time without the sound of my phone constantly pinging.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 04:45:30|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, April 7 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian top court sentenced nine people to life imprisonment and acquitted 41 others on Wednesday over charges related to terrorism in Upper Egypt's Sohag province in 2015, state-run Al-Ahram news website reported.

The Court of Cassation, whose rulings are final and unappealable, also sentenced a convict to 15 years in jail, three convicts to 10 years and four others to five years.

A life sentence in Egypt is 25 years.

Dating back to 2015, the case originally involved 190 defendants, and 66 of them are in custody while the rest are fugitives.

Those arrested were hiding in a cave in Sohag with weapons and ammunition in their possession. The prosecution accused them of planning terrorist operations, targeting police personnel and premises, and attempting to topple the regime. Enditem
A missile attack near the Syrian capital of Damascus has wounded four soldiers, according to Syrias state media which blamed Israel for the attack, Al Jazeera reports.

Syrias state news agency SANA, quoting an unidentified military official, said Syrian air defences were able to shoot down most of the missiles before they hit their targets on Thursday.

Damascus residents reported hearing at least one explosion.

The missiles were fired from the direction of neighbouring Lebanon and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, state television said.
"This is the fifth year CB Insights has recognized the most promising private artificial intelligence companies with the AI 100, and this is one of the most global groups we've ever seen. This year's cohort spans 18 industries, and is working on everything from climate risk to accelerating drug R&D," said CB Insights CEO Anand Sanwal. "Last year's AI 100 companies had a remarkable run after being named to the list, with more than 50% going on to raise additional financing (totaling $5.2B), including 16 $100 million+ mega-rounds. Many also went on to exit via M&A, SPAC or IPO. As industry after industry adopts AI, we expect this year's class will see similar levels of interest from investors, acquirers and customers."

"Riiid's inclusion on the list validates our drive to apply AI to create a personalized learning experience and empower global education players to rethink traditional instruction," said YJ Jang, co-founder and CEO of Riiid. "We were founded to make exponential changes in education and we are indeed pioneering a new paradigm. The coronavirus pandemic created a perfect storm for Riiid to provide its proprietary AI technologies to meet the demand for the highest quality remote learning solution."

Through an evidence-based approach, the CB Insights research team selected the AI 100 from a pool of over 6,000 companies based on several factors including patent activity, investor quality, news sentiment analysis, proprietary Mosaic scores, market potential, partnerships, competitive landscape, team strength, and tech novelty. The Mosaic Score, based on CB Insights' algorithm, measures the overall health and growth potential of private companies to help predict a company's momentum.

Riiid, based in South Korea, features AI technology that analyzes student data and content, predicts scores and user behavior, and recommends personalized study plans in real-time to help students achieve their learning potential. Riiid offers a mobile test prep app for a popular English proficiency exam that is used by more than two million students in Korea and Japan and reached No. 1 in sales among education apps in those markets. In addition, Riiid Labs, the company's global arm based in Silicon Valley, has partnered with education companies including Kaplan, ConnecME, Grupo INICIE, and Casa Grande to combine Riiid's AI technology and the content provided by those companies, creating personalized learning mobile apps in Korea, Egypt, UAE, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Brazil, Colombia, and Puerto Rico.

To generate research and attract top AI talent to education, last year Riiid successfully launched the inaugural Riiid AIEd Challenge, carried out on Google's Kaggle platform. More than 3,390 teams from 90 countries participated -- the most of any 2020 Kaggle algorithm competition hosted by a business entity. Riiid also hosted an AI in education workshop at the 35th annual AAAI conference with speakers including Thomas Frey, DaVinci Institute; Elizabeth Bailey Kozleski, Stanford Graduate School of Education; Martha Kanter, CEO of College Promise and former U.S. Under Secretary of Education for the Obama Administration; and Kumar Garg, Schmidt Futures Foundation.

Quick facts on the 2021 AI 100:

Equity funding and deals: Since 2010, the AI 100 2021 cohort has raised over $11.7B in equity funding across 370+ deals from more than 700 investors.

Since 2010, the AI 100 2021 cohort has raised over in equity funding across 370+ deals from more than 700 investors. 12 unicorns: Companies with $1B+ valuations on the list span applications as varied as data annotation, cybersecurity, sales & CRM platforms, and enterprise search.

Companies with $1B+ valuations on the list span applications as varied as data annotation, cybersecurity, sales & CRM platforms, and enterprise search. Geographic distribution: 64% of the selected companies are headquartered in the US. Eight of the winners are based in the UK, followed by six each in China and Israel , and five in Canada . Other countries represented in this year's list include Japan , Denmark , Czech Republic , France , Poland , Germany , and South Korea .

About CB Insights

CB Insights (www.cbinsights.com) builds software that enables the world's best companies to discover, understand and make technology decisions with confidence. By marrying data, expert insights and work management tools, clients manage their end-to-end technology making process on CB Insights.

About Riiid

Riiid (www.riiid.co) is a global leader in AI solutions for education, backed by more than $70 million (USD) in funding. The company is driving a paradigm shift in education with technology that personalizes instruction for all students, with the aim of democratizing quality education anywhere in the world. Riiid launched its first AI tutor solution based on deep learning algorithms in 2017, quickly rising to number one in education app sales in Korea and Japan with more than two million users. The app, called Santa, uses AI to help students prepare for the English language competency exam TOEIC. As a leading force in AI technology, Riiid has published research papers at top AI conferences including NeurIPS and CSEDU. The company has applied for more than 98 patents, 27 of which are registered. In 2020, Riiid established Riiid Labs (www.riiidlabs.ai), the company's global arm based in Silicon Valley, California, to expand its business across the U.S., South America, Middle East and beyond. Riiid also offers Santa for SAT, Santa Realtor to prepare real estate agents for certification and provides its proprietary AI tutor module as a B2B solution to enterprises.

About Born2Global Centre

Born2Global Centre (www.born2global.com) is a full-cycle service platform for global expansion. Since inception in 2013, Born2Global has been setting the standard for successful startup ecosystem as the main Korean government agency under the Ministry of Science and ICT. Born2Global has expanded and transformed startups to be engaged, equipped and be connected with the global market.

Media Contact

Riiid: [email protected]

Born2Global Centre: [email protected]

SOURCE Born2Global Centre
A large gunfight between drug cartels Jalisco New Generation Cartel and Carteles Unidos in the Mexico's state of Michoacan broke out last week that resulted in the deaths of 27 people.

Mexico News Daily reported that the Jalisco cartel had killed these individuals who are members of the rival criminal group.

The shootouts between the Jalisco cartel and Carteles Unidos were first reported early Wednesday morning, hours after the former mayor of Aguililla Adalberto Fructuoso Comparan was arrested in Guatemala, Borderland Beat reported.

At least eight of the reported dead were beheaded in one of the shootout locations. The shootouts took place in three different points of Aguililla in Michoacan.

A local Carteles Unidos boss with the moniker "El Bombilla" was reportedly killed during the exchange of fires. There were no casualties or injuries reported on the Jalisco cartel's side. But a Michoacan media outlet noted that it was presumed that the Jalisco cartel had suffered losses as well.

Residents said the law enforcement did not intervene at all when the shootout happened. No municipal, state or federal officials confirmed that the shootout occurred.

READ NEXT: Ex-Jalisco Cartel High-Ranking Member's Body Found Wrapped in Plastic on Park Bench

Violence in Mexico

More than 31,000 murders were recorded in Mexico last year, which is a number that is roughly on pace with 2019, according to The New York Times report.

In 2019, the township of Aguililla reported the deaths of 13 officers. Some of the bodies were still inside the patrol trucks when the vehicles were set ablaze.

State police ventured into the town to hand out a single warrant, with commanders sending 42 officers in five trucks, according to a USA Today report in 2019.

The said attack marked the worst retaliation on Mexican law enforcement in years. Authorities said the state police envoy was ambushed as it sought to enforce order at home in El Aguaje, Aguililla.

"No attack on the police will go unpunished, and this was a cowardly, devious attack because they laid an ambush in this area of the road," Gov. Silvano Aureoles said at the time of the attack.

In a new report, Amnesty International (AI) stated that unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, and violence against women and girls are among Mexico's human rights violations.

According to another Mexico News Daily report, AI also cited three unlawful killings done by Mexican security forces last year. It includes the death of 30-year-old Giovanni Lopez Ramirez, who was allegedly killed by municipal police.

AI also acknowledged the decree signed last May by Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, which ordered the armed forces to be permanently deployed in public security operations until March 2024.

Arbitrary detention of at least 27 people during protests in Guadalajara was also noted. The said protests erupted in light of the death of Ramirez.

"Protesters were abducted in unmarked vehicles, and their whereabouts were unknown for several hours. Local organizations reported that at least 20 of these detentions could amount to enforced disappearances," the report said.

The group noted that Mexico has plenty to be ashamed of regarding its attitude toward the basic freedoms of the citizens. The report said that even human rights defenders continued to be targeted and harassed, adding that 24 were killed last year.

READ MORE: Video Shows Jalisco Cartel Parading' Narco-Tank' in Mexico's Street

WATCH: 13 Killed in Mexico Cartel Violence - From Al Jazeera English






SIA GovSummit delivers high-quality insights and information on how government uses security technology to meet evolving challenges and succeed across a wide spectrum of missions."  Jake Parker, Senior Director of Government Relations, SIA

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has announced the agenda and speaker lineup for Part 1 of the 2021 SIA GovSummit, its annual public policy and government security technology conference. SIA GovSummit 2021 will be held as a three-part virtual conference, with sessions held on April 28, June 9 and Sept. 21.

Each year, SIA GovSummit brings together government security leaders with private industry technologists for top-quality information sharing and education on security topics affecting federal, state and local agencies. The 2021 virtual conference will examine emerging policy trends, the governments technology needs and changes in the risk environment that shape the development of products and advanced systems integration.

SIA GovSummit delivers high-quality insights and information on how government uses security technology to meet evolving challenges and succeed across a wide spectrum of missions, said Jake Parker, senior director of government relations at SIA. With this new three-part virtual format in 2021, we look forward to offering the program to a wide spectrum of interested attendees and delving even deeper into the most important issues for federal, state and local government security practitioners.

Part 1 of the 2021 virtual conference will be held as a full-day program on Wednesday, April 28, kicking off at 10 a.m. EDT with a keynote presentation from U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.), ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Katko will share insights on security challenges and how we can address them as a nation.

Additional session topics will include:



The American Rescue Plans impact on deployment of safety and security technologies

What the DOD Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification means for contractors and security suppliers

The role of the SAFETY Act under the Biden administration

Protecting public buildings against violent civil unrest

Lessons learned from the Christmas Day bombing in Nashville, Tennessee

Facility safety, COVID-19 and identity and facility management technologies

Audio security technologys use in government facility applications

View the full agenda here.

Speakers for the virtual event include:

William Braniff, director, National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Daryle Hernandez, chief, Interagency Security Committee, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

David Kelly, deputy director, Security Management Group, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

Anna Mansueti, director of diversity and gender equity, Platinum East

Gabriel Russell, regional director, Federal Protective Service

View the full list of speakers here.

This event is free for all government employees, including U.S. and international federal, state, county and municipal-level staff, plus all military, law enforcement and public safety personnel. SIA GovSummit is considered a widely attended gathering and complies with all relevant event guidelines.

Each industry attendee can choose to register for the April 28 session only or purchase an All Access Pass to unlock all three GovSummit events for a discounted rate. Learn more and register to attend here.

SIA GovSummit 2021 is sponsored by Aiphone; Allegion; Ariel Technologies; Axis Communications; Dell Technologies; GSA Schedules, Inc.; Hanwha Techwin America; HID Global; Identiv; LenelS2; and Louroe Electronics.

About SIA

SIA is the leading trade association for global security solution providers, with over 1,100 innovative member companies representing thousands of security leaders and experts who shape the future of the security industry. SIA protects and advances its members interests by advocating pro-industry policies and legislation at the federal and state levels, creating open industry standards that enable integration, advancing industry professionalism through learning and development, opening global market opportunities and collaborating with other like-minded organizations. As the premier sponsor of ISC Events expos and conferences, SIA ensures its members have access to top-level buyers and influencers, as well as unparalleled learning and network opportunities. SIA also enhances the position of its members in the security marketplace through SIA GovSummit, which brings together private industry with government decision makers, and Securing New Ground, the security industrys top executive conference for peer-to-peer networking.
Over 800 locals in the farming town of Mvurwi have secured employment following the opening of the tobacco marketing season yesterday.

The successful decentralisation of tobacco floors to smaller towns has resulted in eight related businesses setting up shop in Mvurwi.

Tobacco giants including Boka, MTC, Voedesel, Grandicore, and SubSahara have since established floors in Mvurwi with Mazowe North legislator Cde Campion Mugweni saying the decentralisation is positively impacting on business and lives of people in the fast growing town.

"I need to commend tobacco farmers for heeding the President's call to decentralise floors, a move that has also seen development activities expanding especially in the employment creation area.

"Meanwhile, we have more than 800 people who have secured jobs in these tobacco companies with at least 3000 indirectly benefiting through business as farmers contribute to a large market for those in the informal sector, " he said.

Cde Mugweni however, urged contracted farmers to desist from crop side marketing and at the same time called for the tobacco companies to remember ploughing back to the community.

"For small scale tobacco growers to keep excelling, they have to create good relations with contracting companies especially by desisting from side marketing which is a breach of contract.

"At the same time, we do also expect companies to plough back to communities by contributing towards development goals like education. We have companies that are building schools, which is commendable, " added Cde Mugweni.
On the eve of one of the most highly anticipated annual meetings of the season, its virtually inevitable that Rio Tinto will suffer an embarrassing large vote against its remuneration report.

This will be a protest from major shareholders around the world who were livid over the generous parting gift, valued at $48 million, the Rio board awarded to the former chief executive Jean-Sebastian Jacques.

His resignation was forced by a large angry mob of shareholders who held him largely accountable for the cultural carnage resulting from blowing up Indigenous sacred sites in West Australias Juukan Gorge.

Juukan Gorge contained prized cultural heritage. Credit:PKKP Aboriginal Corporation

However, the Rio board saw fit to characterise Jacques and the two other senior executives shown the door following the crisis, Chris Salisbury and Simone Niven, as good leavers. This protected a large portion of the trios entitlements.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 20:25:57|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, on his election as the country's president.

Xi said in the message that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Laos relations and is willing to work with Thongloun to further consolidate and expand the two countries' comprehensive strategic cooperation, promote the well-being and friendship of their people, and lift the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future to new heights. Enditem
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Meyers Leonard will meet with members of the South Florida Jewish Community and University of Miami students next week, something that is part of the learning process after the former Heat center used an anti-Semitic slur on a video game stream last month.

Leonard, according to WPLGs Will Mando, will conduct the meeting via Zoom.

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It is one of the first public appearances by Leonard since the incident, which resulted in him being traded away and quickly waived. He has also met with various leaders and members of the Jewish community in the Miami area.

Leonard used anti-semitic slur on Call of Duty stream

Leonard, while streaming and playing Call of Duty on Twitch last month, used an anti-Semitic slur while talking to another player.

The Heat quickly condemned Leonards language and announced that he had been banned from the team indefinitely. Miami later traded Leonard  who had season-ending shoulder surgery in February  to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who waived him just after the trade deadline.

Leonard apologized for using the slur the next day, and claimed that he didnt know what the slur meant when he said it.

I am now more aware of its meaning and I am committed to properly seeking out people who can help educate me about this type of hate and how we can fight it, he said in a statement, in part.

Leonard averaged 5.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 54 games over two seasons for the Heat. The 29-year-old spent his first seven seasons in the league with the Portland Trail Blazers, who picked him up with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2012 draft.

The Miami Heat traded Meyers Leonard away last month shortly after he used an anti-Semitic slur while streaming "Call of Duty." (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

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[April 08, 2021] Fusion Energy Milestone from TAE Technologies Validates Path to Cost-Competitive Carbon-Free Baseload Energy

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TAE Technologies , the world's largest private fusion energy company, has announced a landmark fusion technology milestone by producing stable plasma at 50M+ degrees Celsius in a proprietary compact reactor design that can scale to competitive fusion-generated power. This milestone furthers confidence in TAE's path to commercialization, and has aided the company in raising $280M in additional funding. When combined with prior rounds, TAE has now raised over $880M from some of the world's most sophisticated investors. TAE has validated that it can scale to economically viable commercial fusion conditions by the end of the decade.

The latest financing is the direct result of TAE achieving its most recent scientific milestone on the path to delivering carbon-free baseload energy from the Hydrogen-Boron (aka H-B11 or p-B11) fuel cycle, the most abundant and environmentally friendly fuel source on Earth, capable of sustaining the planet for millennia. This success crucially confirms a key differentiator of TAE's patented technology: a positive relationship between plasma confinement and reactor temperature, meaning that the company's compact linear configuration improves plasma confinement as temperatures rise. By generating such stable high temperature plasmas, TAE has now validated that the company's unique approach can scale to the conditions necessary for an economically viable commercial fusion power plant by the end of the decade. A portion of the capital will be used to initiate development of a demonstration facility called "Copernicus" that will operate well in excess of 100 million degrees Celsius to simulate net energy production from the conventional Deuterium-Tritium (D-T) fuel cycle. Copernicus will provide opportunities for TAE to license its technology for D-T fusion, while scaling to its ultimate goal utilizing p-B11. Use of proceeds will also go to rapid commercialization of TAE's revolutionary Power Management technology, born out of the power delivery systems for its fusion projects. This technology will be used to extend range, efficiency, and faster charging of electric vehicles, as well as for deployment in residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale electrical grid applications. The continuing delivery of these scientific results has propelled TAE to bring in funding with accelerated velocity, including over $130M raised just this year. Broad global support has come from existing investors as well as from new strategic partners, sovereign ealth funds, institutional investors, and family offices spanning the globe. The company counts among its shareholders Vulcan, Venrock, NEA, Wellcome Trust, Google and the Kuwait Investment Authority, as well as the family offices of Addison Fischer, Art Samberg, and Charles Schwab, among others.



TAE has received funding in tranches based on projecting and achieving specific programmatic goals. This "money by milestone" approach has kept the company on time and on (or under) budget for its entire existence of more than 20 years. *** A Milestone for Commercial Fusion ***

Harnessing fusion energy for utility-scale electricity requires confining plasma at "hot enough" temperatures for a "long enough" amount of time to enable fusion reactions. TAE's current platform "Norman" nearly doubled its intended goals over an 18-month testing regime and has now demonstrated consistent performance of reaching 50+ million degrees Celsius, replicated over many hundreds of testing cycles -- all in a compact machine that has very attractive economics when scaled up to a full power plant. In 2015, TAE's previous machine validated that the company's approach can sustain plasma for an indefinite length of time (aka "long enough"). With this most recent milestone, TAE has now unlocked the "hot enough" conditions needed to scale to a reactor level performance. "This is an incredibly rewarding milestone and an apt tribute to the vision of my late mentor, Norman Rostoker," said TAE CEO Michl Binderbauer. "Norman and I wrote a paper in the 1990s theorizing that a certain plasma dominated by highly energetic particles should become increasingly better confined and stable as temperatures increase. We have now been able to demonstrate this plasma behavior with overwhelming evidence. It is a powerful validation of our work over the last three decades, and a very critical milestone for TAE that proves the laws of physics are on our side." "The Norman milestone gives us a high degree of confidence that our unique approach brings fusion within grasp technologically and, more important, economically," continued Binderbauer. "As we shift out of the scientific validation phase into engineering commercial-scale solutions for both our fusion and power management technologies, TAE will become a significant contributor in modernizing the entire energy grid." "TAE is providing the miracles the 21st century needs," said Addison Fischer, TAE Board Director and longtime investor who has been involved with conservation and environmental issues for decades. Fischer also founded VeriSign and is a pioneer in defining and implementing security technology underlying modern electronic commerce. "TAE's most recent funding positions the company to undertake their penultimate step in implementing sustainable aneutronic nuclear fusion and power management solutions that will benefit the planet." Norman, TAE's fifth-generation $150M+ National Laboratory-scale fusion device, achieved this milestone as part of a well-choreographed sequence of campaigns consisting of over 25,000 fully-integrated fusion reactor core experiments. The experiments were optimized with the most advanced computing processes available, including machine learning from an ongoing collaboration with Google (which produced the Optometrist Algorithm ) and processing power from the Department of Energy's INCITE program that leverages exascale-level computing. The milestone results have been reviewed and endorsed by the company's independent Science Panel, including over the years multiple Nobel laureates and Maxwell Prize winners, as well as its Board of Directors, including Jeffrey Immelt, former CEO, GE; John Mack, former CEO, Morgan Stanley; Richard Meserve, President Emeritus, Carnegie Institution for Science and Former Chairman of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Ernest Moniz, former U.S. Secretary of Energy; and others. TAE Technologies is a global, institutionally backed private enterprise which keeps its progress largely confidential and proprietary. For more information on TAE Technologies and the benefits of fusion energy, visit tae.com . ABOUT TAE TECHNOLOGIES

TAE Technologies was founded in 1998 to commercialize safe, cost-effective fusion power as quickly as possible and with the cleanest environmental profile. With more than 900 issued patents, over $880 million in private capital, and six generations of National Laboratory-scale devices, TAE is now on the cusp of delivering a transformational energy source capable of sustaining the planet for centuries. The company's revolutionary approach has led to a robust portfolio of adjacent commercial innovations in power management, electric mobility, life sciences, and more. TAE is based in Foothill Ranch, California, and maintains an international office in Lucerne, Switzerland. Multidisciplinary and mission-driven by nature, TAE is leveraging proprietary science and engineering to create a bright future for us all. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fusion-energy-milestone-from-tae-technologies-validates-path-to-cost-competitive-carbon-free-baseload-energy-301265401.html SOURCE TAE Technologies

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As the world continues to embrace industrialization, there has been global concern over the detrimental overuse of resources. For this reason, many individuals, organizations, and even authorities have begun championing sustainability and preaching the gospel of conservation. Even so, the involvement of corporations and businesses in sustainable development has been quite a controversial matter. On one side, some people are adamant that companies are a significant contributor to environmental degradation and other social evils. However, others believe that enterprises and corporations are the answer to many of these problems. They argue that the role of ensuring the world is safe from environmental destruction does not only belong to the public sector.

"Going green and sharing the responsibility of making the planet greener should be an inseparable part of each company's daily activities. We try to introduce such solutions into our manufacturing process by incorporating solar-powered technology into our products whenever applicable", says Gevorg Hambardzumyan, CEO of Front Signs, a US-based sign manufacturing company specialized in making custom business signs. With this, we can conclude that not only do businesses play a crucial role in conservation, but they are also ready to take up the mantle. Still, given that the green movement is yet to be embraced by most businesses, many entrepreneurs may find it hard to take up sustainability. Nevertheless, this article explores companies' roles in the sustainability movement to help business owners adopt the green movement much more comfortably.

Sustainability in Businesses

In simple terms, sustainability in businesses refers to the ability of companies to mitigate their effects on the environment. While companies have greatly benefited from capitalism since time immemorial, its social and environmental impacts have begun to outweigh its benefits. For this reason, many businesses are aiming at having more positive influences on the environment.

What Can Businesses Do to Promote Sustainability?

Businesses need to take a leading role when it comes to embracing sustainable development goals. Despite this, a recent study found that only 37 percent of corporations have plans to engage the global movement. Here are some of the things that companies can do to ensure that they fulfill their end of the bargain in environmental conservation.

Mitigating Input

One of the most effective ways companies can promote sustainability is by reducing the materials used in manufacturing, packaging, and transporting products. Tiny changes in these sectors of businesses can have immense impacts on the sustainability of corporations. Moreover, with this method of reducing their environmental impact, companies stand a chance of decreasing their overall production costs.

Sourcing Alternative Energy

Alternative sources of energy or renewable energy refer to energy sources that do not rely on fossil fuels. Some of the most common forms of renewable energy include wind, solar, and geothermal energy. Although it is almost impossible for most companies to avoid using fossil fuels, they can reduce their dependence on them by utilizing alternative energy sources. However, a study found that the initial costs of installing these sources of energy are what discourage most entrepreneurs from employing alternative energy. Nevertheless, investing in renewable energy has proven to be beneficial in the long run.

Incorporate Your Employees

Charity begins at home. This adage is especially true when talking about sustainability. For business owners to ensure that their companies play their part in sustainability, employee involvement is paramount. A company culture that encompasses environmental conservation makes it easier to achieve your sustainability goals. There are plenty of ways to make your team more driven towards sustainability. One way is by introducing incentive programs to reward employees who display eco-friendly habits. You can also motivate them by engaging them when making business decisions that promote sustainability. Lastly, business owners can encourage workers to carpool or even work from home to reduce their overall carbon footprint.

Reducing the Use of Paper

Despite today's technologically enhanced world, it's baffling to find out that more than 40 percent of the global wood harvest is used to make paper. Companies use paper for multiple purposes, but perhaps the most prevalent uses are making official communication and billing. For this reason, more enterprises should embrace online billing and electronic communication to cut down on paper waste. After all, more often than not, the paper used for invoices and letters ends up in the trash. However, a completely paperless company is not entirely practical. Hence, business owners should ensure that they exclusively supply their companies with recycled paper.

What Businesses Should Keep in Mind

While there's no doubt that enterprises should be involved in environmental sustainability, taking action isn't a walk in the park. There are some crucial factors that all companies need to keep in mind for them to ensure a successful crossover to sustainability.

Taking Action

At this point, no one can deny that the environment is in dire straits. Climate change and other horrible effects of environmental degradation are slowly destroying the world. While most executives and business owners find sustainability vital, only about 60 percent of them plan to incorporate sustainable business practices in the future. What's more, less than 30 percent of businesses in the world have consolidated conservation strategies in their business model. Therefore, more companies need to do their due diligence in promoting environmental conservation.

It's Not Only About Altruism

Contrary to what many may believe, businesses that embrace sustainability aren't entirely altruistic. Although altruism is a commendable virtue, it can be equally detrimental to your business. Therefore, all business owners must ensure that their companies are both financially fit and sustainable. Without achieving this delicate balance, companies could end up bankrupt.

Compliance and Competition

While it is true that sustainability can present a competitive advantage for businesses, entrepreneurs should understand that the market is yet to be effectively developed. Therefore, companies should be more focused on being compliant with environmental regulations than seeking a competitive head-start.

Final Thoughts

Unlike popular belief, embracing sustainability doesn't mean putting all profitability in the backburner. Instead, sustainability in businesses should coexist with profitability and success. If you're interested in making your company more sustainable, going through this article is a step in the right direction.
I can get through graduate school without ever discussing racism. . . . I can get through a teacher-education program without ever discussing racism, wokeness guru Robin DiAngelo asserts in chapter 1 of her 2018 bestseller White Fragility: Why Its So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism.

Is this true? Do the institutions charged with preparing teachers and researching education really turn a blind eye to issues of race and diversity?

In a new study, we aimed to find out. We scrutinized the research areas of faculty in colleges of education across the country. We combed the faculty pages of the 20 top-ranked schools of education and the 20 that produce the most teachers each year. We documented the research areas of interest for all 3,190 core faculty and a sampling of adjunct faculty.

We were also curious to find out what share of those faculty who do study race and diversity do so using the lens of critical theory  the ideological framework holding that race permeates and defines every aspect of life, including schooling. To distinguish between those professors examining race-related questions and those invested in the politicized mantras of critical theory, we distinguished between scholars who signaled a general research focus on race-related phenomena and those who explicitly described their work using terms such as intersectionality, postcolonial theory, and Queer theory.

What did we find? Are schools of education, in fact, turning a blind eye to issues of race and diversity? In a word: No. At the top-ranked education schools, 48 percent of faculty characterize diversity and race as a research interest or area of study, and 25 percent characterize it as their primary area of study. At the colleges of education that produce the most teachers each year, those numbers fall to 40 percent and 17 percent, respectively  a smidge lower, but still plenty high enough to render DiAngelos contention laughable.

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Indeed, at the nations most influential schools of education, scholarship on race, diversity, and equity is a significant focus for nearly half of all faculty training teachers and conducting education research, and it is the primary interest for perhaps one out of every five professors.

In other words, issues of race, diversity, and equity tend to be at the center of what most schools of education do today. The larger issue, we found, is not a failure to discuss race but that between one-quarter and one-third of professors who focus on race and diversity describe their work as steeped in the troubling tenets of critical theory.

Critical theory is a politicized doctrine that rejects the notion of objective truth; approaches knowledge as a question of oppression; and emphasizes the importance of ascriptive characteristics such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. Indeed, a simple survey of public documentation suggests that many college-of-education faculty may be inclined to approach their role as one more anchored in proselytizing than in pedagogy.

At the University of Oregon, one professor brags of approaching teacher training as a matter of preparing teachers to challenge colonialism in curriculum, policy, and practice. At Vanderbilt, another studies forms of algorithmic violence associated with data-driven planning. At the University of California, Berkeley, a professor works to resist neoliberal logics that render math learning a stratifying project of race, class, and gender in schools. At Stanford, another critically examines the ways students are criminalized and resist that criminalization through the mutually constitutive nature of racism and ableism and how they interlock with other marginalizing oppressions.

What does this mean for teachers entering our nations schools?

Well, we can see critical theorys influence in Californias new ethnic-studies curriculum, through which students will be taught to critique empire-building in history and its relationship to white supremacy, racism and other forms of power and oppression, and in the equitable math initiative designed in collaboration with Los Angeles Unified School District officials, which holds that the concept of mathematics being purely objective is unequivocally false.

So the evidence starkly contradicts those who would parrot DiAngelos claim: The real concern is not that aspiring teachers arent exposed to issues of race; its that such issues are too often taught as a means of political proselytizing and ideological indoctrination, rather than as a subject for serious study.

Frederick M. Hess is the director of education-policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Lindsey M. Burke is the Mark A. Kolokotrones Fellow and the director of the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation.

More from National Review
Andrew Giuliani Strongly Considering Run for New York Governor

Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and a former aide in the Trump administration, told several media outlets Wednesday that he is strongly considering a run for New York governor in 2022.

Giuliani, 35, who has never been elected to public office, told Fox News, the Washington Examiner, and the New York Times that he is mulling the idea.

I plan to run, Giuliani told the Washington Examiner, saying that he believes he has the best chance to win and take the state back outside of anybody named Trump.

I think theres an opportunity in 2022 with a wounded Democratic candidate, whether its going to be Gov. [Andrew] Cuomo, whether its going to be a radical [Attorney General] Letitia James, whether its going to be a no-name lieutenant governor, I think theres a very, very real chance to win, he said.

The New York State Republican Committee and Cuomos office didnt immediately respond to requests to comment by The Epoch Times.

In 2017, Giuliani was appointed by former President Donald Trump to the position of associate director in the Office of Public Liaison. Late last year, Trump named him to serve on the United States Memorial Holocaust Council.

He was added as a contributor to Newsmax TV last month, after appearing as a guest on the conservative network while still employed by the White House.

Giuliani told Fox News that he will make a decision on the matter on April 19 when he visits Albany. He said New York State Republican Committee Chairman Nick Langworthy will invite county chairs and potential candidates to city to present their pitches.

Ill make a decision at that point, he said. I am strongly considering it.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been expected to run for a fourth term, but is facing mounting calls to resign over his handling of the states CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus response and the mounting sexual harassment allegations against him.

Cuomo, 63, has been accused of harassment by at least 10 women, some of whom are current and former aides. He has also been under fire for withholding COVID-19 death data from state lawmakers and the public.

Cuomo has denied the allegations against him.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said last month he believes an impeachment proceeding against Cuomo will soon begin if he refuses to step down.

I think he is used to getting things his way, and its been almost an imperial governorship. But I got to tell you, the folks in this state and the political leadership dont believe him anymore, the mayor said on March 14. He doesnt have any credibility so I think an impeachment proceeding will begin and I think he will be impeached and perhaps right before that hell decide to resign. Thats probably the most likely outcome right now.

Andrew Cuomo cant lead us into the future, de Blasio added. We got the people of the state ready to reopen, but we got to get him out of the way to do it.
Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

It has been over a year since Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old ER technician, was killed by police officers in her home. It has been nearly a year since George Floyd, a former rapper and father of five, was killed by officer Derek Chauvin in broad daylight. And it has been some 300 days since the subsequent uprisings in their names. Thousands of protesters were arrested, and while the vast majority have had their flimsy charges dropped, there are many still facing harsher punishments than the officers who killed Taylor face. There is legislation being passed in the name of the slain and a handful of cities have made modest cuts to police budgets due to the hard work of local organizations. At the same time, many local governments have doubled down on their support for violent policing, and the system that necessitated a movement to defund the police remains pretty much entirely intact and murderous.

Related: Minneapolis promised change after George Floyd. Instead it's geared up for war | Akin Olla

There have already been at least 132 people killed by police officers this year, including Kurt Reinhold, a 42-year-old Black man killed after being stopped for jaywalking  a crime that is almost exclusively used to target Black people and other people of color. Last year saw a total of 1,004 people shot to death by police, and while the majority of those people were white, Black people were still killed disproportionately to the total population. While some of these murders may seem justified, it is important to remember that the US kills significantly more people than other countries of similar political and economic standing. For example, according to a 2015 Guardian report by Jamiles Lartey, police killed 59 people in the US in the first 24 days of 2015, compared to 55 people killed in the last 24 years in England and Wales combined. The city of Stockton, California, saw three police shootings in the first five months of 2015, while the country of Iceland  which has roughly the same population size  had only experienced one killing by police officers in the entirety of its existence.

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People sit during a moment of silence at a Black Lives Matter protest, in the Venice Beach area of Los Angeles, 12 June 2020. Photograph: Damian Dovarganes/AP

The violence of American police was further revealed by the protests in response to the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. The uprising was framed by police departments as rioting and looting, but report after report has revealed that police across the country mishandled what were overwhelmingly peaceful protests. If anything, much of the violence this summer was arguably triggered by heavy-handed law enforcement who showed up with tanks, teargas and tactical shields. 14,000 protesters were arrested within the first two and a half weeks of the initial uprising, and for months after, police continued to round up left-leaning organizers they sought to punish for the summers activities. Thousands of those charges have since been dropped, with many more dropped each day, as it becomes clear that police and federal agents were more interested in political vengeance than evidence. In a victory for press freedom, Andrea Sahouri, a reporter covering Black Lives Matter protests in Iowa who was charged with failure to disperse and interference with official acts, was recently acquitted. Charges were dropped for a group of New Jersey youth who faced felonies for merely tweeting and retweeting an image of a police officer.

The trials are far from over, and police and judges are doing whatever they can to hurt activists. One Phoenix protester was threatened with indefinite detention, and then released only after agreeing to not participate in any public protests. There is a growing movement in Arizona and elsewhere to push for unjust charges to be dropped; 15 protesters already saw their cases dismissed after initially being charged as members of a street gang.

At the same time we havent seen many consequences for  or humility from  police departments or the city governments who control them. No officers have yet been charged in the killing of Breonna Taylor. No officers were charged in the killing of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died after officers pinned him to the pavement and placed a hood on his head in the midst of a psychotic episode, nor were any of those who participated in the apparent cover-up of the incident. Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski, two Buffalo police officers seen on video pushing a 75-year-old protester to the ground, had their charges dismissed this February. Joseph Bologna, Jr, a former Philadelphia police officer, was fired but had all charges dropped after beating a student with a baton on camera. As of December, the five officers who surrounded and beat 28-year-old home health aide Rickia Young  before arresting her and essentially kidnapping her child  have not been arrested or charged for the assault, which took place in the midst of the second wave of the uprising in Philadelphia.

Sheriff deputies and police officers during a protest in Beverly Hills, California, 30 May 2020. Photograph: Etienne Laurent/EPA

The violence of the police as a whole does not look to be abating. Portland police officers have been seen kettling protesters, the practice of corralling entire protests, then detaining all those within, charging some while keeping records and photographs for most. Minneapolis is gearing up for war against its residents in preparation for the potential acquittal of Derek Chauvin, the police officer who killed George Floyd. Kentucky, the home state of Breonna Taylor, is in the process of making it illegal to taunt police officers in a bill that has already passed the states senate. And while the federal government has made some efforts towards police reform, it is far from what many activists had hoped for, even including new potential funding for police departments.

There has been good news, like the dropping of charges against Kenneth Walker, Breonna Taylors boyfriend, and the first successful lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia for teargassing an entire Black neighborhood. But these are unfortunately not the kind of victories that will fundamentally alter law enforcement in a way that can prevent future murders. For that, we will need organizations capable of redefining the very nature of the United States. And the country may very much need another uprising.
Bank Automation News and Kearney, a leading global consultancy, has formed a content partnership that will deliver crucial analysis and insight on banking technology and automation. The partnership will include the participation of Kearney consultants in Bank Automation News events and webinars.

Bank Automation News and Kearney will kick off their alliance with Kearneys participation in the upcoming Bank Automation Ignite conference, April 13-14, 2021, at which Kearney will moderate several sessions. Kearney content will also be featured on an ongoing basis in the Center of Excellence section of Bank Automation News. The Bank Automation News Center of Excellence is a unique resource for banking professionals to access automation best practices and thought leadership.

Kearney is proud to partner with Bank Automation News to share our insights on the vast operational transformation occurring across the financial services industry. These are dynamic times, and readers are seeking advice from trusted sources. Our research and analysis are geared to support the Bank Automation News audience navigate the journey ahead, said Will Callender, Kearney partner and Americas lead for financial services.

Bank Automation News is the first and only news source to focus on automation technology and operations for banking professionals. Automation, the next frontier of financial services technology, is creating the greatest transformation at financial institutions since the digitization of financial services in the wake of the Credit Crisis. Banks that are not already investing in automation technologies must begin shifting their focus to remain competitive. This transition requires training and education, which is provided through the Bank Automation News Center of Excellence.

The Bank Automation News Center of Excellence is really a key initiative focused on providing executives with the content they need to pivot into this new Automation Era in Financial Services, said JJ Hornblass, Publisher of Bank Automation News. This partnership with Kearney provides our audience with the additional and crucial resources and content industry executives need.

The Center of Excellence content is available to Bank Automation News Premium Subscribers. A premium subscription includes unlimited Premium articles, a weekly video update, exclusive event discounts, and much more. Learn more at BankAutomationNews.com.

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RGV is set to launch Spark OTT along with a partner, very shortly, which will also fuse RGV World. (Photo: Facebook @RGV)

Hyderabad: On April 7, Ram Gopal Varma turned 59. He might as well be 18 or 24 or 36. He couldn't care less. His energy, perpetual insistence on living in the present and enjoying every moment, seeking no gratification from the public by way of approvals or peer adulation, all these qualify him to be a

teenager, in mind, and forever.

His intrepid courting of controversies with zeal, one after another, is his

passe-partout into every slice of life. "I have done more genres than any

other film director," he gasconades. "Maybe every single genre out there."

"You have not done mythologies. Or a historical," me retorts, wondering if

he would be offended.

He, for sure, can't be offended. He has a more open mind than anyone else

our society is familiar with. He does not judge and wishes rather to

understand. In a Dostoevsky-ish fervour, he focuses his emulous passion

towards the truest subalterns of society - the rejects and the outcasts, the

rebels against morality and the enemies of the state - criminals, underworld

dons, hired assassins, and their ilk.

"I don't believe in God, so I can't be interested in mythology," he says. "I

don't have the patience for history - the research it would take... like, I

don't want to lose my time getting the costumes details correct."

I wish to ask him how for a man who does not believe in God he loves ghosts, but I let that pass.

RGV decides to invite me inside of an editing studio where he shares with me

a promo of Dangerous, a movie he stresses is India's first truly lesbian

love story on screen. Flashes of Shabhana Aazmi and Nandita Das in Fire, an

avant-garde polemic movie which opened Deepa Mehta's brilliant and epic

trilogy; but I am not wont to mention Fire, lest a reference to Ram Gopal

Varma's Aag being funny. Has he seen Four More Shots Please, I wonder.

Almost reading my mind, he expands the qualifier, "In Dangerous, India will

see its first lesbian duet."

He is set to launch Spark OTT along with a partner, very shortly, which will

also fuse RGV World.

"I am at the peak of my career and life. Filmmakers can pitch their ideas,"

he says, and he would find the funding, professionals, team and wherewithal

to take it to fruition. He has launched more newcomers than most other

Telugu film directors put together.

Does he believe in providing opportunities to talent or prefer being a

mentor? No, he says, reverting to the familiar safe zone to fustigate social

mores. "I don't believe in helping anyone. I just want to do what gives me

pleasure in the same moment. At this point, I want to see not tens but

hundreds of films being made."

Is this the most-amazing era of filmmaking, the most democratised context,

where digital technology has broken barriers in production, editing, and

then, when YouTubes of the world have broken distribution too, and the OTT

has ended even the tyranny of the film theatre screens.

"Yes. Filmmakers can boldly speak out their thoughts today. Many barriers

have been broken. I made a film recently with my mobile phone, spending Rs

3,000 to Rs 3,500 but earned a lot from it. Today, you can make a movie in

five or 20 minutes, or in one hour," he beams with youthful exuberance.

Spark will not only be about bringing to the cloud everything RGV wishes

himself to create in future, but will be an entry and launch platform for

talented filmmakers. All what one has to do is send him a two-odd minute

trailer of an idea. If RGV likes it, it could become the next Shiva or

Satya, or Sarkar or Company.

We speak about censorship and morality, discuss pornography and the dangers of children getting access to things they are not ready yet for.

"With an internet-connected mobile phone, what can people today not see or

know of? If we cannot censor the internet, we should stay away from

censorship of OTT also. They used to take 20 days to give a censor clearance

for a movie. The sheer number of films, short films and documentaries on OTT and the Internet makes this impossible. Besides, as a society we have surely moved past the idea that five people can dictate to a billion what they can see, or cannot."

We look at another trailer, a movie called Ladki. "India's first martial

arts movie with a lady protagonist," he reveals. "It is an Indo-Chinese

production."

I reflect within the silence and soothing calm of martial arts movies I have

personally loved - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or Zhang Yimou's Hero.

RGV's take is loud, very loud. But he's clearly in love with making changes

as he focuses his attention on even the minute details.

RGV is a good litmus test for society. In an age where we are easily

offended, or hurt, when the authority refuses to be questioned and tries to

silence those who dare ask, he does it all.

"Were you ever threatened or under pressure from the underworld," I ask. He is making a movie called the D-Company, on Dawood Ibrahim, and tries to recreate the Bombay of the '80s.

"I tried to understand criminals. What motivates them? What fears they have

and how they face them? I did not try to humanise them but I did present

their points of view too. Why would they want to hurt me?"

Have you lost your genius? I ask him. "Maybe I never had it. It is insane to

think I can make another Shiva or Kshana Kshanam but am not making it. I or anyone else can only make a film. It is the viewers who make it a hit or a

phenomenon. I can only enjoy the process of the next shot, and that's all

there is to it."

Why do you like to shock people and create controversies, I feel like

asking. I don't. That is the whole point of being RGV. And I had quite

clearly not come to talk to Rajamouli.
Truvativ, a branch of SRAM, has expanded the lightweight Atmos lineup with new bars and a stem, and has introduced colorful, lock-on grips to the burlier Descendant series.The new Atmos bars come in a carbon flat option that weighs 190g and costs $170 USD, as well as aluminum flat and riser versions that weigh 250g and retail for $70 USD. All of the Atmos bars come at 760mm, and are said to be trimmable down to 700mm for the aluminum and 680mm for the carbon bars. The clamping diameter is 31.8mm.The Atmos 7k aluminum stem rounds out the line, available in lengths from 40mm to 90mm for $75 USD. The 31.8mm stem has either a rise or drop of six degrees and has an integrated GoPro mount.On the gravity-oriented side of things, the Descendant lock-on grips are soft and textured for maximum grip and confidence, Truvativ says. They come in black, gray, red, and gum solid colors, as well as marbled red and marbled gray designs. A set of Descendant grips retails for $30 USD.Information about Truvativ products is available at sram.com/truvativ
[April 08, 2021] Save the Date: CIRI to Hold 2021 Annual Conference Virtually June 14-16

The Canadian Investor Relations Institute's (CIRI's) 2021 Annual Conference will be held virtually over three afternoons - June 14, 15 and 16. Building on last year's success, this virtual format will include all the elements that make the Annual Conference a hallmark event for Canadian IROs including: general and breakout sessions; panel discussions; interactive roundtables; opportunities to engage with suppliers through a variety of options, time-tested and new; and networking with peers during social events. This year's Conference theme: Megashift: The Evolving Role of IR will not only address the significant and rapid changes the IR role has undergone to adapt to our current environment but also the continued transformation we expect heading into 2022. "As we enter our second year working remotely, it is critical to bring our community together to discuss the major shifts we have seen in the profession and what we can anticipate going forward," said Yvette Lokker, President & CEO, CIRI. "By delivering our Annual Conference virtually, we provide IROs the opportunity to reconnect, share experiences and learn from one another. This is our opportunity to celebrate the resilience of the IR community and get re-energized for what s to come over the next year."



Each year, CIRI's Annual Conference brings together investor relations professionals from across Canada to stay up to date on IR best practices and emerging trends; learn from IR, governance and capital markets experts; network with peers; and stay informed on the IR tools and services available. To make this event even more accessible, we have adjusted our rates to $595 for members and $795 for non-members. To register, click here. More details will be available on the soon-to-be launched Annual Conference website.

About CIRI CIRI is a professional, not-for-profit association of executives responsible for communication between public corporations, investors and the financial community. CIRI contributes to the transparency and integrity of the Canadian capital markets by advancing the practice of investor relations, the professional competency of its members and the stature of the profession. With close to 500 members and four Chapters across the country, CIRI is the voice of IR in Canada. For further information, please visit CIRI.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005779/en/

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Leftist presidential candidate Andres Arauz has big plans to change Ecuador's course if elected on Sunday, when he faces right-wing contender Guillermo Lasso in a runoff.

Arauz, 36, wants to renegotiate a $6.5 billion debt with the International Monetary Fund, alter anti-narcotics agreements with the United States, and even hold President Lenin Moreno legally responsible for his handling of the hard-hit country's coronavirus response.

Despite wanting to renegotiate the IMF agreement, "we're not going to declare a moratorium against the IMF," Arauz told AFP.

He said that under a renegotiated deal, he would seek a slower reduction in public spending and insist that US dollars "must be kept in Ecuador so there's greater economic activity."

Separately he would aim to negotiate with Washington to redraw accords on fighting drug trafficking.

The United States can currently conduct operations against drug trafficking and illegal fishing in Ecuadoran territory and is even permitted to use an airport on the Galapagos Islands.

The world's top two cocaine producers are neighboring Colombia and Peru, with much of the output passing through Ecuador on its way to either Europe or the United States.

"We cannot forget that the US is the (main) consumer country of drugs in the region and on the planet," Arauz said.

"Given that, we aim to adjust the cooperation conditions. There must be cooperation with the US, Mexico, the Central American countries and our neighbors."

Ecuador seized a record 128 tons of drugs in 2020, even though the country produces very little itself.

"Unfortunately, Ecuador is a transit country and that's starting to have ramifications in terms of social violence," said Arauz.

"We're going to act to eradicate the violence, we're going to cooperate with consumer countries."

- No 'political revenge' -

Ecuador has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic and Arauz made no attempt to hide the fact that he blames Moreno, who is the ally-turned-enemy of Arauz's political mentor, former president Rafael Correa.

Story continues

Correa, who left office in 2017, has been convicted of corruption and sentenced to eight years in prison, although he lives in exile in Belgium.

"The country needs to determine the truth, so that there's justice, so that someone is held responsible for the negligence in the management of the pandemic," Arauz said.

"That will happen and we will leave the courts to do their work," he added.

"It's not political revenge, Ecuadoran society demands justice. It's not a personal issue. I have no personal intention to persecute anyone."

One issue he won't push in a hurry, however, is the decriminalization of abortion.

"My personal position with regards to abortion is that there should not be a penalization or criminalization, especially for girls who are raped, but our legislation still needs to adapt and there will be the space and the moment to debate this."

- 'Me governing Ecuador' -

Arauz is aiming to be the youngest current head of state in Latin America and the youngest in Ecuador in 40 years.

But he's determined not to be branded a puppet of his political mentor Correa, who would have been his running mate but for his corruption conviction.

"Former president Correa is a Latin American inspiration, not just an Ecuadoran one. He's the founder of this political project," said Arauz.

"We have a very dynamic, very profitable relationship for the country based on his experience and the transformations that Ecuador has already undergone.

"But it will be me governing Ecuador from May 24."

pld/sp/bc/bfm
Tesla has now refunded the customers that it has double-charged on their recent transactions, particularly for those who bought the company's electric vehicle online, using their credit cards and having it shipped at home. Initially, the owners were crying out for help, as twice the amount of money was billed on their transactions that proved to be a hassle to get back.

The popular electric vehicle manufacturer and clean energy company have been promoting the use of its online stores since before the pandemic for a supposed hassle-free purchase of vehicles and products it offers. The website is intuitive as it explains the details of Tesla's EVs, along with its specifications and additional changes or requests from the company.

The likes of Christopher T. Lee and other excited Tesla EV owners had their enthusiasm shattered that upon receiving their electric vehicles, their credit cards were charged twice the amount they expected. While the case of online purchases from Tesla grew during the pandemic, this was the first news where the company had doubled the price of their EVs on multiple cases.

Read Also: Tom Brady Debuts 'Autograph' NFT to Produce Digital Art Together with Other Athletes, Artists, and MORE

Tesla Refunds Double Charge Customers on EV Purchases

In a recent post from the Tesla Owners Forum, a discussion among the EV owners and enthusiasts of the company was tackling the issue of the double credit card charges made by Tesla as it caused "harm" to its customers. One customer named "everydaychris" mentioned that he got a $200 coupon for an online store after the incident.

Chris appreciated the gesture of Tesla to include freebies and compensation for the "inconvenience" caused by the clean energy company after taking the same amount the owners were willing to pay. The Tesla owner here confirmed that Tesla has already refunded the same amount that was taken from him, and that all harm was done.

The owner, eveydaychris, has confirmed the news yesterday, and according to Engadget, other Tesla EV owners that were double charged have also mentioned that their excess billing was already returned. The resolution to this case has already been forwarded by Tesla, with its cherry on top, the $200 gift coupon that is available for use on its online stores.

Everyday Chris Suggests to Use Cashier's Check

Everyday Chris has narrated his experience with the Tesla double charges in his YouTube vlogs, where he detailed everything that happened, including the conclusion and return of the wrong charges against them. In his recent vlog about the issue, the Tesla owner regarded that people ought to use a "cashier's check" in purchasing from the company to avoid these issues.

There is still no word from Tesla to explain what went wrong or if this incident would occur again for other customers, and the only thing they did in response was to return the money with a complimentary coupon. Tesla is known to accept EV purchase transactions via Bitcoins, debit cards, credit cards, check, and cash during this pandemic.

Related Article: Tesla Online Store Bug: EV Purchases 'Double Charges' on Debit, Credit Card Transactions; Customers Unable to Refund

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
UAEs Masdar has signed agreements to develop a utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The plant is expected to start commercial operations in early 2023, Gulf Business reports. The 230-megawatt (MWac) project is the countrys first foreign investment-based independent solar project structured as a public-private partnership. It entails developing, financing, constructing, and operating the plant, to be located nine kilometers northwest of the Alat settlement in Azerbaijan.

Masdar signed the implementation agreement for the project in January last year. Azerbaijan is targeting to increase its installed power capacity to 30 per cent from renewable sources by 2030, as the country looks to diversify its economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Central Asian country has an estimated solar energy potential of 23,040 MW, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The latest solar project will help to generate half a billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to meet the needs of more than 110,000 homes, and will reduce emissions by 200,000 tons a year, reported UAEs state news agency WAM.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, signed an investment agreement for the project with Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, and a power purchase agreement and transmission connection agreement with Baba Rzayev, President of Azerenerji OJSC, the national electrical power company and off-taker for the project.

Azerbaijans minister of energy, Shahbazov, said: The transformation of Azerbaijan into a country of green growth through the extensive use of renewable energy sources over the next 10 years has been defined by Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan as one of the national priorities that will ensure socio-economic development.

By signing these contracts for a solar power plant worth about $200m, we are one step closer to our goals for renewable energy and carbon emissions. The solar power plant to be built in Baku and Absheron district will produce about 500 million kWh of electricity annually, save 110 million cubic meters of natural gas, [and] create new jobs.

Rzayev, president of Azerenerji OJSC, meanwhile reiterated the importance of wind and solar energy pilot projects in the course of diversifying the energy production of Azerbaijan, which has become an exporter of electricity along with ensuring its energy security, through renewable energy sources.

According to the signed agreements, the connection of the 230 MW power plant to be built by the company to the network and the purchase of electricity generated at the plant will be performed by Azerenerji OJS. The power plant will be integrated into the energy system by connecting to the Janub substation, said Rzayev.

The UAEs Special Envoy for Climate Change, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and chairman of Masdar Dr. Al Jaber added: For the UAE, it is important that our actions on climate always amplify the efforts of others around the world. This partnership with Azerbaijan is a great opportunity to leverage our collective wills on this key issue to work towards meeting global climate goals, reducing environmental impacts and creating new knowledge, skills and jobs.
Its raining unicorns in India. Not the mythical animal, but firms whose valuations have crossed the $1 billion mark. the latest to join the coveted "unicorn club" is conversational messaging platform Gupshup.

The firm, which works in the enterprise messaging space, said Thursday it had raised $100 million in funding from Management, at a valuation of $1.4 billion.

The announcement came shortly after Mohalla Tech, the parent firm of short video app Moj and Indic language social media platform ShareChat said it had raised $502 million from Lightspeed Ventures and Tiger Global, along with participation from Snap Inc, Twitter and India Quotient, valuing it over $2.1 billion.

Gupshups last funding round was in 2011. It exited 2020 with annual revenue run rate of approximately $150 million.

Gupshup said this round of funding will be followed by a second round with significant additional funds raised from more investors, to be announced later. Gupshups API enables over 100,000 developers and businesses to build messaging and conversational experiences delivering over 6 billion messages per month across over 30 messaging channels.





Sheth said the firm will also look at a public listing soon.

Among its recent notable partnerships was one with smartphone maker OnePlus in 2019, as part of which Gupshup made managing SMSes easier with clasification and visualizations.

"We're building predefined, prebuilt experiences for different industries, and different verticals. For example, we are building something for restaurants, something else for hotels, something else for banks and e-commerce and travel sites," said Sheth.

Before Gupshup, Sheth had founded online freelancing platform Elance, which is now a listed company called Upwork.

The company said it will use this investment to rapidly scale product and go-to-market initiatives worldwide in order to accelerate the transformation of business-to-consumer interactions with conversational experiences delivered over messaging channels.

The growth in business use of messaging and conversational experiences, transforming virtually every customer touchpoint, is an exciting secular trend, said John Curtius, Partner at Management. He added, Gupshup is uniquely positioned to win in this market with a differentiated product, a clear and sustainable moat, and an experienced team with a proven track record. In addition to its market leadership, Gupshups unique combination of scale, growth and profitability attracted us.



The company has long been a leader in business messaging in India. It competes with comapnies like Tanla Solutions and Route Mobile in India, Twilio in the US and Sinch in Europe.

With a focus on automated, self-serve, developer-centric, partner-friendly APIs and solutions, Gupshup is making it easier and quicker for businesses, large and small, to leverage IP messaging and build conversational experiences for their customers. Gupshup offers a comprehensive suite of solutions including messaging APIs, bot platform, bot building tools, scripting engine, omni-channel inbox, conversational AI, client-side software and more.

The ubiquity of smartphones and dominance of messaging apps is forcing businesses to go where the consumers are: in their favorite messaging apps. Just like websites during the prior wave of technology-driven transformation, conversational experiences are enabling businesses to better engage, interact with and sell to their customers. Conversations are the new digital storefront for businesses  virtually every business will have to build it. This digital transformation has been further accelerated by the pandemic.

Customers expect to converse with businesses the way they do with friends. They expect the conversation to be simple, easy, quick, contextual, and personalized said Sheth. Gupshups mission is to build the tools that help businesses better engage customers through mobile messaging and conversational experiences. As we work towards our mission, we are delighted with this investment from Tiger Global, given its incredible track record of making big, bold, successful bets on innovative, category-defining worldwide.
Young families, many from Central America and who crossed the U.S. border seeking a better life, find themselves forced to head back south into Mexico.
NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Green Thumb Industries, Inc. ("Green Thumb" or the "Company") (OTCMKTS: GTBIF). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Green Thumb and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

After the markets closed on March 29, 2021, the Chicago Tribune reported that Green Thumb is under federal investigation for possible "pay-to-play violations" during its push to gain coveted growing and distribution licenses in Illinois and several other states. According to the Chicago Tribune article, federal officials are examining campaign donations and other steps that Green Thumb took as it sought to acquire these licenses.

On this news, Green Thumb's stock price fell $3.40 per share or 11.83%, to close at $25.35 per share on March 30, 2021.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

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AKRON, Ohio  The Ohio Department of Transportation released a report Thursday on its 2021 projects for Northeast Ohio, including $679 million in new projects and about $800 million for construction that has already started.

Across ODOTs 17-county Northeast Ohio region, the total active projects cost $1.5 billion, with more than $1.1 billion going to Greater Cleveland: Cuyahoga County and the six adjacent counties of Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit. Statewide, the state is spending $1.92 billion.

For Northeast Ohio, theres 186 new projects and 274 total active projects in 2021. They include 45 safety projects, 104 roadway improvement projects and 60 bridge improvements, ODOT reported. About 90% of the projects are preserving the system, meaning ODOT is maintaining roads and bridges rather than adding to the freeway network.

Here are the projects highlighted in ODOTs report for Greater Cleveland:

Cuyahoga County  $567 million in total projects

 Cleveland: Opportunity Corridor Section 3: started August 2018 and is expected to be completed summer 2022 at a cost of $150 million. It involves constructing a road between East 55th Street/Interstate 490 and East 93rd Street. In total, the $306 million so-called Opportunity Corridor and will create a smooth-flowing route from the interstate to East 105th Street in job-rich University Circle, cleveland.coms Steven Litt writes. It was funded largely by state turnpike bonds and backed by former Gov. John Kasich. This year, crews will rebuild the Kinsman Road and Woodland Avenue intersections with the 35-mph Opportunity Corridor Boulevard, construct pedestrian bridges throughout the project and continue road construction. The new road is scheduled to substantially open to traffic this fall, ODOT said. A change in the design to part of Interstate 490 has closed the freeway between Interstate 77 and East 55th Street for an additional six months, through the fall of 2021. Work is now expected to be completed in November, cleveland.coms Bob Higgs reports.

 Valley View and Independence: I-480 Valley View Bridge: started December 2017 and expected to be completed June 2024 at a cost of $227 million. This year, crews will replace the eastbound bridge deck and remove the westbound bridge deck. Traffic will be maintained using lane shifts, ODOT said. Traffic headed east on Interstate 480 will shift onto the new bridge. Westbound traffic is scheduled to shift onto the new bridge this fall.

 Cleveland: Ohio 10/Lorain Avenue and I-480 Bridge Painting, started April 2020 and expected to be completed in June 2022 at a cost of $18 million. This year, crews working on the project to paint the bridges of I-480 and Ohio 10 (Lorain Avenue) over the Rocky River will paint the Ohio 10 bridge.

Summit County: $335 million in total projects

 Akron: Reconstruction of I-76/I-77/Central Interchange/Akron Beltway, to start May 2021 and expected to be completed July 2025 at an estimated cost of $150 million. The project will reconstruct pavement along parts of Interstate 76 and I-77 and reconfigure the Central Interchange. It will include adding lanes on I-77 in both directions between the Central Interchange and Waterloo Road and on Ohio 8 south between Carroll Street and the Central Interchange; constructing noise walls; replacing the Lafollette Street overpass over I-77 with a new pedestrian and bicyclist bridge; removing Coventry Street between Lafollette and Kipling streets and converting the area into a multi-use trail; removing the Inman Street/Johnston Street exit ramp and the Lovers Lane exit ramp to improve safety; and reconfiguring ramps including I-76 west to I-77 south, I-76 west to Ohio 8 north and I-76/I-77 east to Ohio 8 north.

 Coventry Township: I-77 widening and reconstruction, to start summer 2021 and expected to be completed November 2023 at a cost of $70 million. The project includes replacing the pavement and widening I-77 between Arlington Road and the interchange of I-77/I-277/U.S. 224, and adding two-lane ramps at the interchange. The additional lanes will be built in the existing grass median, ODOT said.

Medina County - $81.5 million in total projects

 Medina, Medina Township and Montville Township: Ohio 18 Widening, to start April 2021 and expected to be completed June 2024 at a cost of $24 million. The project will widen Ohio 18 from just west of Alber Drive to Nettleton Road from five lanes to seven lanes.

Lorain County: $60 million in total projects

 Henrietta Township: Ohio 113 and Baumhart Road Roundabout, to start June 2021 and expected to be completed October 2022 at a cost of $2 million. Crews will convert the intersection with a traffic signal into a single-lane roundabout. The intersection has ranked high on ODOT highway safety concern lists. From 2014 to 2018, there were 24 crashes, including one fatal, 18 with injuries and five with property damage only. The roundabout is expected to make the intersection safer.

Geauga County - $33 million in total projects

 Middlefield-area: Safety Improvements to Ohio 87, 88, 168, 528 and 608, to start April 2021 and expected to be completed September 2022 at a cost of $11.7 million. Crews will widen and resurface roads, replace culverts, install advanced warning detection and mark pavement, ODOT said. Ohio 87, 168, 608 and Newcomb Road will have various restrictions and closures this year, ODOT said. Traffic will be maintained by flaggers and detours will be posted.

 Troy Township: U.S. 422 Bridge Deck Replacement, to start April 2021 and expected to be completed August 2022 at a cost of $2.4 million. Replacing and painting the U.S. 422 bridge over the Cuyahoga River. One lane will be maintained in each direction during construction.

Portage County - $26 million in total projects

 Brimfield: Reconstruction of Tallmadge Road and Mogadore Road north at the I-76 interchange, started February 2021 and expected to be completed July 2023 at a cost of $7.6 million. Crews will widen and resurface Mogadore and Tallmadge roads and reconstruct the I-76/Tallmadge Road interchange ramps. At least one lane will be open on Tallmadge Road, but Mogadore Road will close north of Tallmadge Road for about four months this year. Detours will be posted. The project also includes culvert reconstruction, storm sewer improvements and work on traffic signals at ramp intersections.

 Streetsboro: Widening Ohio 14 between Portage Pointe Drive and Diagonal Road, to start May 2021 and expected to be completed September 2022 at a cost of $6.1 million. Ohio 14 will be widened with a two-way left turn lane on the 1.7-mile stretch between Portage Pointe Drive and Diagonal Road, which includes Streetsboro High School.

Lake County - $21 million in total projects

 Willoughby Hills: I-271 Bridge Replacement, started December 2019 and expected to be completed September 2021 at a cost of $11.9 million. Crews are nearing the end of the project to replace the ramp bridges from I-271 north to Interstate 90 west over Eddy Road and over mainline Interstate 271. This year, crews will continue construction of the new bridge, demolish the old bridge and pavement work.

 Wickliffe, Painesville Township: Ohio 2 Resurfacing, to start April 2021 and expected to be completed September 2023 at a cost of $9.7 million. Crews will replace the two Ohio 2 bridges over Worden Road in Wickliffe. The ramp from Lakeland Boulevard to Ohio 2 east will be closed during various phases of construction, ODOT said. The detour will be Lakeland Boulevard to East 305th Street to Ohio 2. Worden Road will be closed to southbound traffic, and the detour will be Ohio 283 to Lloyd Road to Lakeland Boulevard.
Dickinson College has long been proud of its Colonial-era history, one framed forever by its standing as the first college to be chartered west of the Susquehanna River, launched to ensure the expanding frontiers of the new American nation would have access to future leaders educated to the highest standards of the day.

But what about the people who - at the time of the colleges founding and literally for decades thereafter - didnt fit within the frames of that picture?

Specifically, the men and women of color who, for its first century, werent invited to attend classes at the Carlisle campus, but did have roles in serving the men who founded it - sometimes as slaves - laboring for the contractors who built it, or as freedmen after the Civil War, faithfully serving in any number of background roles?

They are now getting their stories told publicly, too, as Dickinson completes a years-long project aimed at sorting through the Carlisle campus  which drew students from almost evenly from both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line in the years before the Civil War  tangled history with slavery and race.

Consider the cases of the colleges namesake, John Dickinson, and founding trustee, Benjamin Rush, who lead off the six wayside markers making up a new Dickinson and Slavery historic walking tour.

Dickinson owned almost 60 slaves at one point at his Delaware plantation, before coming to see owning other humans as morally wrong following his marriage to a Quaker woman in the 1770s. Dickinson gradually freed all of his slaves by 1786, and by 1787 he was making vehement anti-slavery arguments at the Constitutional Convention.

Rush, meanwhile, held slaves or indentured servants in his Philadelphia household for years. He kept one man, William Grubber, on hand as an indentured servant for six years after first promising him freedom in 1788, as just compensation for my having paid for him the full price of a slave for life.

These were, history professor Matthew Pinsker said, people who said they were in favor of equality, and they actually claimed they were against slavery, but they still lived with slavery. It was this contradiction that they lived with, and were trying to figure out how to commemorate and study that to try to understand what they believed, but also to properly commemorate the people who suffered because of it.

The contradictions ran far past the colleges founding.

By the mid-19th Century, Dickinson alums had their fingers all over the infamous Dred Scott case, where an enslaved man sued for freedom after his Southern owner moved to a free territory. In 1857, then-Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Roger B. Taney  a Dickinson College graduate  wrote a majority opinion holding that, among other things, American Blacks had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.

A longtime Dickinson trustee, John McLean of Ohio, was one of two dissenting justices.

The Scott Case and its players are featured on Dickinsons new tour, student Charlotte Goodman said, as a cautionary tale for present and future Dickinsonians.

Just because one knows, does not mean one understands, Goodman said. Dred and Harriet Scott were kept illiterate. Dred Scott could not sign his own name. But they understood the promise of the U.S. Constitution better than men like Taney and Grier.

Other stops on the Dickinson & Slavery walking tour include:

House Divided Studio  Outdoor markers and murals help commemorate the role of free Blacks and formerly enslaved people in Dickinson history.

Pinkney Gate  A gate leading from North West Street to the Dickinson campus has been renamed to honor Carrie and Noah Pinkney, popular Carlisle food sellers who catered to Dickinson students during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Black Employees  A marker highlights the contributions of various Black employees during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Spradley-Young Hall  A banner temporarily marks the re-dedication of this residence hall off West High Street in honor of Henry W. Spradley and Robert C. Young, two longtime employees of the college and noted community leaders.

In the latter case, the college will formally celebrate in November the renaming of residence hall once named for Thomas Cooper, a former faculty member and prominent early 19th Century scientist who became, later in his life, a leading defender of slavery in South Carolina.

Cooper Hall will be renamed for Spradley and Young, both former slaves who relocated to Carlisle and served the college for decades as janitors after the Civil War. Young is even credited with the first move to integrate the Dickinsons student body, petitioning successfully for his sons admission as a student in 1886.

The view in the mirror that Dickinson has been holding itself up to isnt always flattering. But thats OK, Pinsker said, because it proves at once that the college isnt afraid of intellectual honesty, or striving for a better future.

Its not like were displacing (Benjamin) Rush. Were displacing Cooper (who only served on the Dickinson faculty for four years). And the Pinckney Gate is being named for what was just East College Gate. So its diversifying the history, not erasing it. Its recovering some parts of it that have been lost, but are still important, Pinsker said.

The newly-highlighted knowledge was inspiring to student Alice Agyekum, a junior from Orange, N.J. who considers herself to be standing on the shoulders of these early Black Dickinsonians, and has great admiration for their perseverance and accomplishments.

I would not have gotten the chance to be here now without their efforts, so Im very grateful for those that came before me and making this possible for all of us, Agyekum said, as she completed the circuit Wednesday afternoon.

Besides their narrative scripts, all of the new markers feature colorized photos and QR codes that walkers can use to link to videos and Web sites with more information about the subjects.

The walking tour is one prong of an effort to take the results of a Dickinson & Slavery report released in August 2019 from faculty and students research that spun out of a course on American slavery taught by Pinsker, and spin them forward to create a more enlightened tomorrow.

Other steps, Pinsker said, will include teacher training workshops and, starting later this year, a three-week seminar for low-income high school seniors in the region who will get a chance to experience college life for free and credit for a course derived from the Dickinson & Slavery project.

Dickinson officials are not expected, by the way, to change the name of the school or take down the recently-installed statue of Rush. And the college has plenty of people who were on the right side of Americas racial divide, too.

The colleges first president, Charles Nisbet, was a vocal opponent of slavery. So was professor John McClintock, an abolitionist who was linked to an 1847 anti-slavery riot in Carlisle in which Black residents helped to liberate some fugitive slaves that the court had ordered to be turned over to their owners.

The so-called McClintock Riot occurred after McClintock complained that the local court was flouting a new state law banning any county official from having a part in the recovery of fugitive slaves.

Moncure Conway, a Virginian and an 1849 Dickinson graduate, was a major agitator for abolition in the pre-Civil War South. James Miller McKim, Class of 1828, headed the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society.

But the schools leaders do see the ongoing effort, including the new tour, as a way to demonstrate to students, current and future, that the school is an institution that doesnt shy away from hard facts, and it is also a place where everyone is open to the idea that better ideas may lie in the future and the most important thing is to have the discernment to recognize them

One of the goals of a walking tour like this is to show that we dont have to remove statues. Sometimes we just have to understand them in context, Pinsker said. So the Rush statue alone, without any discussion of his slave-holding, is problematic. But the Rush statue with a marker that explains his contradictions, to me thats the right balance...

I think were making the case that you dont want to judge the past by the present standards, but you also dont want to ignore the moral failings of the past.
AWD

Because we all know that social distancing is best practiced out in the open, he doesnt have them confined somewhere in a class with a blackboard and instead has chosen a short yet very technical racetrack to find out which one is the easiest and most fun to drive very fast.By the way, the tests are just as comprehensive as in a regular curriculum (but a lot more entertaining), so hes embarked with the Fiesta ST, GR Yaris, and M2 CS not just on flying laps but also on a little zero to 60 mph (96 kph) sprint and standing quarter-mile adventure with each of them.First on the circuit comes the cheapest of the bunch, the Ford Fiesta ST from the 1:55 mark. Mat says its lively, doesnt have great brakes, and isnt as affordable as a regular Fiesta ST in the tested Edition configuration. Still, the flying lap (starting at the 2:38 mark) ends with a 1:17.4 result.Next up (from 3:55) on the roster is Mats personal GR Yaris . The Toyota is also configured with the Circuit Pack, so it brings a significant difference compared to the Blue Oval, especially in terms of stopping power. Then theres theadvantage and (slightly) higher power (257 to 197 hp), delivering a more enjoyable experience for the lap (from 4:45).As expected, the Japanese pocket rocket takes the lead with a time of 1:14.1, but Mat saved the best for last. Its the rear-wheel-drive BMW M2 CS, which has a lot more grunt (444 hp) but also a huge retail bill and additional weight. In the end, it turns out to be both the most daunting and rewarding, and also snatches the track win (1:12.2).The standing 60 mph and quarter-mile sprints are executed separately (unfortunately) from the 9:26 mark and keep the same order both in terms of cars and performance (we have the results in the gallery). In the end, the verdict (10:55) gives the sweet spot to the GR Yaris, but Mat says that anyone with the money should go for the M2 CS.
BOSTON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Antimicrobial technologies such as coatings and textiles containing silver and copper are helping people during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring that whatever they touch, whether that is a door handle or their own mask, is free from live SARS-CoV-2 particles. But how exactly do these antimicrobial technologies work? How can a silver, copper or even polymeric coating kill microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or in the case of COVID-19, viruses? This article explores the mechanisms of action, or the interactions, through which antimicrobials work. IDTechEx have recently published a research report on the antimicrobial technology industry  "Antimicrobial Technology Market 2021 2031". Please refer to www.IDTechEx.com/Antimicrobial for more information.

IDTechEx has found that a large portion of antimicrobial companies are developing silver-based technologies. Source: IDTechEx - Antimicrobial Technology Market 2021 2031" (PRNewsfoto/IDTechEx)

Damaging cell walls and membranes

Microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and mold are single cellular organisms surrounded by either a cell wall, cell membrane, or both. Disruption of this outside layer is a common way to kill microorganisms. Like all organisms, the insides of a microorganism are carefully regulated, and ideally, stays inside.

One way to destroy microorganisms is to disrupt the activity of the membrane. For example, silver-based technologies release silver ions that can bind to proteins within the membrane that regulate transport into and out of the cell. Similarly, high concentrations of zinc, itself essential to microorganisms for growth, can end up blocking ion channels that cross the membrane. When nutrients essential to the microorganism cannot enter, cell growth and reproduction is halted.

A more drastic method is to simply break the microorganism open. A wide range of antimicrobial technologies generate reactive oxygen species such as peroxides and singlet oxygen that attack and break down the cell membrane. Others, such as silane quaternary compounds, simply pierce or rupture the membrane through mechanical means.

Binding and inhibiting essential cellular processes

Antimicrobial technologies can also wreak havoc from inside the cell. Metal-based technologies, such as silver, copper, and zinc, release ions that bind to components of the cell's internal machinery, many of which are a part of pathways essential to the cell's survival. Metallic ions, being positively charged, also interact with negatively charged genetic material such as DNA and RNA. Access to DNA and RNA is critical  without it, new proteins cannot be created, and in the case of DNA, cell division is halted when DNA cannot be copied.

Preventing adhesion to surfaces

A tactic to combat bacteria and mold is to simply prevent adherence to surfaces. Bacteria and mold have the ability to form biofilm, a dense film-like structure containing and protecting millions of microorganisms. The first step to forming biofilm, is adherence to a surface. Antimicrobial companies have created surfaces that provide an unfavorable environment for adhesion, resulting in a microorganism that simply lives out the rest of its short life in peace without growing and forming problematic films.

Does the mechanism of action matter?

In short, yes!

There is a great concern amongst scientists that antimicrobials that kill microorganisms from within can contribute to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Almost all organisms have a mechanism called an efflux pump that is responsible for removing toxic substances. Extensive exposure to low levels of toxins pressures microorganisms to develop and evolve more effective efflux pumps, which the microorganism can also use to pump out antibiotics.

As far, scientists have only managed to induce resistance to antimicrobial technologies in the laboratory, but it will become a possibility in the wild if antimicrobial technologies are used irresponsibly. Antibiotic resistance is deemed by the World Health Organization as one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity  without effective antibiotics, many routine conditions and medical procedures today will become a matter of life and death.

IDTechEx have analyzed over 100 companies in the antimicrobial technology market, many of which are developing technologies to circumvent the problem of antimicrobial resistance. For more information on the topic, please refer to www.IDTechEx.com/Antimicrobial, or for the full portfolio of Healthcare related research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/Healthcare.

About IDTechEx



IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

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Scandinavian couple

Trusts can be a useful tool for estate planning if youd like to preserve assets for loved ones while minimizing estate taxes. A qualified domestic trust (QDOT) is a specific type of trust that can offer tax benefits for married couples. With a QDOT, a surviving spouse can qualify for the marital deduction on estate taxes for assets included in the trust. This type of arrangement can be particularly helpful when a surviving spouse is not a U.S. citizen. Heres more on how these trusts work, the benefits and limitations of having one and how to establish a QDOT as part of your estate plan. Estate planning is always done best in consultation with a financial advisor.

Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT), Explained

A trust is a legal arrangement in which you transfer assets to the control of a trustee. This can be yourself or someone else you name and its the trustees duty to manage assets in the trust on behalf of the trusts beneficiaries.

A QDOT is a specific type of trust arrangement thats designed to benefit married couples, specifically when one spouse is not a U.S. citizen. This type of trust extends the marital tax deduction to non-citizen spouses, who would otherwise not be eligible to claim the deduction on estate taxes.

If youre married to someone who is not a U.S. citizen, then setting up this type of trust could make sense if youd like to minimize any tax burden your spouse may assume if you pass away first. A QDOT can essentially create a tax shelter for non-citizen spouses as part of an estate plan.

How a QDOT Works

To understand how a QDOT can benefit a non-citizen spouse, its helpful to understand the marital deduction and how that applies to estate taxes. Ordinarily, the Internal Revenue Code allows surviving spouses to claim a 100% marital deduction for estate taxes that may be due on assets they inherit when their spouse passes away. This is a significant tax break, as it enables surviving spouses to assume control of marital assets without getting hit with a sizable tax bill.

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When a married couple consists of one spouse whos a U.S. citizen and one who is not, the marital deduction does not apply. That means a surviving spouse could face substantial estate taxes on any assets they assume control of after their spouse passes away. Creating a QDOT and transferring assets to it with the non-citizen spouse named as beneficiary solves this problem.

Assets held in the trust would go to the surviving non-citizen spouse, allowing them the benefit of using those assets as well as any income they generate. They would pay no estate tax on assets in the trust. The surviving spouse could then pass those assets on to their children or another named beneficiary when they pass away. If applicable, the estate tax would be due on those assets at that time.

Benefits of a QDOT

Estate planning documents

The main advantage of including a QDOT in your estate plan is to extend tax benefits to your spouse if theyre not a U.S. citizen and dont plan to apply for citizenship. A surviving spouse would be able to enjoy the marital tax deduction on estate taxes. Theyd also be able to receive income distributions from the trust. Those would be subject to income tax but not estate tax. If you have a sizable estate then setting up a QDOT could be worth it to ensure that youre passing on as much of your wealth as possible to your spouse.

While setting up this type of trust is generally more complicated and expensive than setting up a basic living trust, it may be an easier way to afford tax protections to a non-citizen spouse versus having them pursue citizenship.

Limitations of a QDOT

While there are some advantages to QDOT, there are some potential downsides to keep in mind.

First, its important to note that the IRS is specific about how these types of trusts are set up. The trustee must be a U.S. citizen and depending on the amount of assets that are held in the trust, a secondary trustee may be necessary. This trustee must be a U.S. bank.

Once the spouse who created the trust passes away, their executor must make a QDOT election when filing a federal estate tax return. This is necessary to qualify for the marital deduction. The IRS specifies that the estate tax return with the QDOT election must be filed no later than nine months after the individual who created the trust passes away.

Estate tax may be due if a surviving spouse receives principal from the trust, rather than income. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule. For instance, if a surviving spouse is experiencing financial hardship and has no other assets to tap into it may be possible to receive principal from the trust without being required to pay estate tax.

Perhaps most importantly, spouses should be aware that a QDOT only extends to assets held in the trust. If you have other assets you wish to pass on to a surviving spouse whos not a U.S. citizen, those wouldnt be eligible for the marital deduction protection offered by a QDOT if theyre not included in the trust.

How to Set Up a QDOT

Setting up a QDOT starts with determining whether its something you can benefit from having in the first place. If youre married to someone who is not a U.S. citizen, then it may be worth meeting with your financial advisor to discuss the pros and cons of including a QDOT in your estate plan. Your advisor can help to assess any potential estate tax consequences associated with passing on wealth to a non-citizen spouse.

If youve determined that a QDOT is something you need, the next step is finding an experienced estate planning attorney who can help with setting one up. Creating a QDOT means understanding which IRS rules apply and thats something an estate planning attorney or a tax professional can help with.

The Bottom Line

Elderly black couple

A QDOT could be useful to have if youre married and you want to minimize tax impacts associated with leaving assets to a non-citizen spouse. The biggest considerations to keep in mind are what assets youll transfer to the trust and how those will be managed on behalf of your spouse once you pass away. Again, getting help from a tax professional, estate planning attorney and your financial advisor can make creating this type of trust as smooth a process as possible.

Tips for Estate Planning

Consider talking to a financial advisor about the tax implications of passing on assets to a non-citizen spouse and whether it makes sense to have a QDOT. If you dont have a financial advisor yet, finding one doesnt have to be difficult. SmartAssets financial advisor matching tool makes it easy to connect in just minutes with professional advisors in your local area. If youre ready then get started now.

Wondering if you have enough to retire? Our free, easy-to-use retirement calculator can give you a good estimate of your annual, post-tax income upon retirement.

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The post Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT): Marital Deduction appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

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Chennai:

Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswamy was among the political leaders who greeted state governor-designate Banwarilal Purohit on Saturday on his appointment.



Opposition DMK also welcomed the appointment of Purohit as governor of Tamil Nadu and expressed confidence that he will discharge his constitutional duties in a "free and non-partisan manner."



A release from the Tamil Nadu government said that the chief minister dialed up Purohit.



"The chief minister extended joy and greetings on his behalf and that of the people of Tamil Nadu," it said.



DMK working President and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, MK Stalin, welcomed Purohit's appointment and greeted the latter.



Referring to Maharashtra governor Vidyasagar Rao holding "additional" responsibility of Tamil Nadu so far amidst a "crisis" in the state politics and Assembly, he said it had "affected" government administration, resulting in "stagnation" of progress in many departments.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Under-fire congressman Matt Gaetz has issued a statement in his defense which he claims is from women working in his office - although not one of the character witnesses has put her name to the testimony.

The 38-year-old Florida congressman, who is fighting off accusations of sex trafficking and prostitution, is pushing back with every means at his disposal.

On Thursday that included a press release signed by the 'women of the office of U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz' - who said they felt 'morally obligated' to speak out.

'At no time has any one of us experienced or witnessed anything less than the utmost professionalism and respect,' the release said.

'During Congressman Gaetz's time in office, we have been behind the scenes every step of the way. We have staffed his meetings. We have planned his events. We have traveled with him. And we have tracked his schedule.'

They described him as a 'principled and morally grounded leader,' added that none of them had 'experienced or witnessed anything less than the utmost professionalism and respect. No hint of impropriety. No ounce of untruthfulness.'

On Thursday a statement was issued by the 'women of the office of Congressman Matt Gaetz'

The letter continued: 'In our office and under Congressman Gaetz's leadership, women are not only respected, but have been encouraged time and time again to grow, achieve more, and ultimately, know our value.'

The nameless women concluded by saying that they 'uniformly reject these allegations as false' and that Gaetz has always treated every woman in his office with respect.

The 'women' spoke out, as it emerged Gaetz's associate is cooperating with prosecutors and will likely take a plea deal - which will put more legal pressure on the embattled Florida Republican.

'All of these stories we keep hearing are trouble for Matt Gaetz,' said Preet Bharara, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Bhrarara told Wolf Blitzer on CNN that Gaetz could potentially be facing questions about federal law infringements, sex trafficking and campaign finance violations.

CNN reported from court on Thursday that Joel Greenberg's lawyers and prosecutors told the judge that a plea deal was in the works and could be finalized within weeks.

With Greenberg cooperating with the Justice Department, prosecutors may be able to determine if Gaetz broke any sex trafficking or prostitution laws.

Greenberg's lawyer Fritz Scheller told reporters outside the hearing: 'I am sure Matt Gaetz is not feeling very comfortable today.'

Scheller was also asked if Greenberg introduced Gaetz to any underage girls for sexual relations.

'I apologize, I just can't answer that question,' Greenberg's attorney said.

Lawyers for Joel Greenberg (pictured) and prosecutors told a judge Thursday that Greenberg was cooperating with the Justice Department and they were working on a plea deal

CNN's Paula Reid captured Joel Greenberg's lawyer Fritz Scheller outside the courthouse Thursday

Greenberg is the former tax commissioner of Seminole County, Florida and has been charged with 33 counts ranging from sex trafficking of a minor to identity theft.

Gaetz, a third-term congressman from Florida, has not been charged with a crime, and he has vehemently denied the various accusations against him, among them that he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.

He called them a 'lie.'

But the unsettling series of allegations - including that he may have broken federal sex trafficking laws and been involved in a scheme to recruit and pay women for sex - has put the 38-year-old conservative's political future in doubt, just as he was being seen as an increasingly potent force in the Republican Party.

On Thursday it further emerged that Donald Trump, who counted Gaetz as among his most fervent supporters, had to be talked out of issuing a whole-hearted exoneration of his fellow Floridian.

'His first impulse was that he wanted to defend Gaetz, you know: 'He's one of our people,'' said Maggie Haberman, who covered Trump for The New York Times while he was in the White House.

'They have been very close, and it's been because Gaetz is a presence on television, he's from Florida, and he's willing to defend Trump vocally no matter what happens.'

Trump, pictured with Gaetz, had to be talked out of issuing a strongly-supportive statement

Some former White House officials reportedly described Gaetz as 'meanest person in politics'

Trump on Wednesday issued not a full endorsement, but rather a carefully-worded statement saying that Gaetz never sought a pardon from him, personally. The New York Times reported that Gaetz asked the White House for a pre-emptive pardon.

'Several of his advisors had told him that's a very bad idea, that the nature of what Gaetz is being investigated for is so serious that this is not something that former President Trump should be out there on a limb' for, Haberman told CNN.

She said that Trump had been 'staying away from this, and I think it will continue.'

Some within the former president's orbit even celebrated the controversy, with one former White House staffer telling Insider last month: 'He's the meanest person in politics.'

On Wednesday, CBS News reported that federal agents were investigating a trip the Florida congressman took to the Bahamas with a marijuana entrepreneur in late 2018 or early 2019.

Gaetz reportedly traveled with Dr. Jason Pirozzolo, a hand surgeon and co-founder of The American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association.

Pirozzolo paid for the travel and accommodation and also for female escorts, according to the report.

Investigators are probing whether the escorts were trafficked across state or international lines for the purpose of having sexual relations with the congressman.

'Traveling across state lines is what creates a federal hook for a prosecution,' Arlo Devlin-Brown, a former prosecutor and partner at Covington & Burling, told CBS.

'It doesn't matter that [Gaetz] personally paid them as long as he knows someone is doing that,' he added.

Investigators are also looking into whether Gaetz was trading political access for the sexual rendezvous.

The top Republican in the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, last week acknowledged the allegations were 'serious' and could lead to severe repercussions, but said he wanted to see more of the facts.

Joel Greenberg (right) is photographed hanging out with Rep. Matt Gaetz (center) and former President Donald Trump's longtime political adviser Roger Stone (left) in a post from Gaetz's Facebook account from 2017

Joel Greenberg was captured leaving the federal courthouse in Orlando in June 2020 after making his first court appearance

'If it comes out to be true, yes, we would remove him,' McCarthy told Fox News.

Gaetz has pushed back forcefully against the allegations and sought to divert attention from the DOJ investigation by insisting he and his family have been victims of an extortion scheme.

He says two men, including former Air Force officer Robert Kent, approached Gaetz's father seeking $25 million to fund their bid to locate and free American Robert Levinson, who disappeared 14 years ago in Iran.

Kent acknowledged texting the congressman's father Don Gaetz, a former Florida Senate president, telling him he knew of an 'indictment' soon to be filed against his son, and that 'I have a plan that can make his future legal and political problems go away.'

Speaking to CNN, Kent said mentioning Gaetz's legal trouble was merely a 'teaser,' and he explained to the father 'that this was not an extortion attempt,' but a legitimate offer to help rescue Levinson while potentially showing Representative Gaetz in a positive light.

Levinson's family said in 2020 that US officials had told them that the ex-FBI agent had died while in Iranian custody.

Brash and combative, Gaetz has taken controversial steps in Congress, wearing a gas mask on the House floor last year during a vote on an early coronavirus response package.

In 2019 he delayed impeachment proceedings against Trump when he led dozens of Republican lawmakers who burst into closed-door witness depositions and refused to leave for several hours.

And in January Gaetz traveled to Wyoming to help stir up opposition to senior congresswoman Liz Cheney, one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump.

He had volunteered to leave Congress and defend the ex-president during Trump's second Senate impeachment trial, over the January 6 MAGA riot.

Salacious details of Gaetz's behavior have emerged.

According to CNN, Gaetz bragged about his sexual escapades to fellow lawmakers, showing them nude photographs of women he claimed to have slept with.

Gaetz has dug in, penning a column in Monday's Washington Examiner.

'The swamp is out to drown me with false charges, but I'm not giving up,' he wrote.

And earlier this week another ex-staffer came held a press conference in Florida, defending the congressman after speaking with the FBI.

But the DOJ investigation - which was launched while Trump was still in office and not by Gaetz's political opponents - could halt the ambitious Republican's rise.

It centers on Gaetz and Greenberg, who was indicted last year on a federal child sex trafficking charge.

According to the Times, people close to the investigation said they believe Greenberg met women through websites and introduced them to Gaetz, who had sex with them.

The DOJ is also investigating whether Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old.

Most Republicans meanwhile have withheld comment on Gaetz's scandal.

He is scheduled to speak Friday at the Trump National Doral Miami, during the 'Save America Summit' sponsored by a pro-Trump women's group.
TOKYO, Apr 8, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited and Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cybersecurity leader, have collaborated to focus on the security of private 5G networks. The companies will demonstrate the effectiveness of Trend Micro's security for private 5G using a simulated smart factory environment and an operational Fujitsu environment prior to the product's public availability.Private 5G network technology will be the catalyst for true smart factories globally. Connectivity and automation will link factory devices and business applications, improving production capabilities and overall factory performance. However, the expanded IT infrastructure within operational technology (OT) environments can lead to exposed risk for cyberattacks. There is an urgent need to implement cybersecurity measures to secure private 5G networks to protect against potential attacks.Fujitsu and Trend Micro have incorporated Trend Micro's 5G security solution into a private 5G system that simulates an actual smart factory environment equipped with high-definition monitoring cameras and automatic guided vehicles (AGV) at the FUJITSU Collaboration Lab in Kawasaki, Japan. This environment was used to visualize and centrally manage the status and security of systems, as well as correlate threat detection and prevention data from the devices and network.The security solution, Trend Micro Mobile Network Security, leverages embedded endpoint security within the IoT device's SIM card and network security running on private 5G system. Benefits of the product include:- Detect and protect against threats at the private 5G network- Authenticate devices trying to connect to the 5G network- Block unauthorized communication in real timeThis demonstration shows how the Trend Micro solution protects smart factories from internal threats, such as unauthorized or malware-infected devices, as well as external threats attempting to enter the factory through the 5G network."Fujitsu aims to realize a society in which people, goods, and services are connected in real time through 5G technology and to solve problems facing the world," said Tomonori Goto, corporate executive officer, senior vice president and head of 5G Vertical Service Office at Fujitsu. "To this end, we believe that this security solution, created together with Trend Micro, represents a key technology for applying private 5G to mission-critical areas. Fujitsu will continue to cooperate with Trend Micro to create new value through the power of co-creation."Fujitsu and Trend Micro will conduct a field trial until September 2021 at Fujitsu's Oyama Plant. Based on the results of this trial, the partners will consider commercializing a security solution for private 5G."We're delighted to be joining forces with Fujitsu to tackle the immense challenge of cybersecurity for private 5G," said Akihiko Omikawa, executive vice president for Trend Micro. "Together, we are making smart manufacturing more secure to ensure production isn't stopped due to a cyberattack."For more information on Trend Micro Mobile Network Security solutions please visit:https://www.trendmicro.com/tmmnsAbout Trend MicroTrend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, helps to make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Our innovative solutions for consumers, businesses, and governments provide layered security for data centers, cloud workloads, networks, and endpoints. All our products work together to seamlessly share threat intelligence and provide a connected threat defense with centralized visibility and investigation, enabling better, faster protection. With more than 6,000 employees in 50 countries and the world's most advanced global threat research and intelligence, Trend Micro enables organizations to secure their connected world. For more information, visit www.trendmicro.com.About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 130,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.9 trillion yen (US$35 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
Aletha Maybank, MD, MPH currently serves as the Chief Health Equity Officer and Senior Vice President for the American Medical Association (AMA), where she focuses on embedding health equity within and across all the work of the AMA and leading the Center for Health Equity. She will speak during the virtual session on recognizing hate and racism as a public health issue and ways to identify it as such; identify how healthcare communities can address the issue; and discuss potential approaches to take action.

"COVID-19 has particularly ravaged patients with kidney disease in Black, Hispanic and other minority communities," said NKF President Paul Palevsky, MD. "We look forward to Dr. Maybank's insights into ensuring greater racial equity in healthcare as NKF increases its focus on eliminating disparities in the care of patients with kidney disease."

"In order to dismantle systemic racism, we must first recognize how it is ingrained in every aspect of society and is constantly operating to drain, exploit, and harm," Dr. Maybank said. "From there, we can take meaningful collective action and ensure accountability, especially at the institutional level, to advance equity and justice across our health care and other social systems. It is my honor to share this knowledge with the members of the National Kidney Foundation in the hopes of equipping more physicians with the consciousness, tools, and resources required to ensure that all people have the conditions to achieve optimal health."

"We are honored that Dr. Maybank is joining NKF's 2021 Spring Clinical Meetings," said program chair Mitchell H. Rosner, MD MACP, University of Virginia, Henry B. Mulholland Professor of Medicine Chair, Department of Medicine. "Dr. Maybank's work on health equity and systemic and structural racism is a critical starting point for us to understand how we can all work to transform the care of our patients and communities and to focus on the best outcomes for everyone."

Dr. Maybank joined the AMA in April 2019, to launch AMA's Center for Health Equity as their inaugural Chief Health Equity Officer. Prior to joining the AMA, Dr. Maybank served as the Founding Deputy Commissioner for the Center for Health Equity at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (2014).

Aimed at strengthening equity efforts and transforming organizational culture, the Center became a model of success recognized by NYC leadership, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. She was instrumental in infusing equity at the neighborhood level and advancing the Department's place-based approach to addressing health inequities. She also set precedence with groundbreaking work at the Office of Minority Health in the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (2006) while serving as the Founding Director. In addition, Dr. Maybank has taught medical and public health students on topics related to health inequities, public health leadership and management, physician advocacy, and community organizing in health.

NKF has put a priority on efforts to end healthcare inequality. In February, NKF announced the launch of its first-ever Health Equity Advisory Committee (HEAC) responsible for directing and championing NKF's health equity, community health, and social justice efforts through research, education and key partnerships. The committee will work collaboratively with kidney patients, other NKF committees, as well as boards and NKF staff to advise in the design, implementation and evaluation of programs that support stronger and healthier communities.

View Dr. Maybank's keynote address.

NKF Spring Clinical Meetings

For the past 29 years, nephrology healthcare professionals from across the country have come to NKF's Spring Clinical Meetings to learn about the newest developments related to all aspects of nephrology practice; network with colleagues; and present their research findings. The NKF Spring Clinical Meetings are designed for meaningful change in the multidisciplinary healthcare teams' skills, performance, and patient health outcomes. It is the only conference of its kind that focuses on translating science into practice for the entire healthcare team. This year's Spring Clinical Meetings will be held virtually April 6-10.

NKF Professional Membership

Healthcare professionals can join NKF to receive access to tools and resources for both patients and professionals, discounts on professional education, and access to a network of thousands of individuals who treat patients with kidney disease.

Kidney Disease Facts

In the United States, 37 million adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD)and approximately 90 percent don't know they have it. 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. is at risk for chronic kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People who are Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are almost 4 times more likely than Whites to have kidney failure. Hispanic or Latino people are 1.3 times more likely than non-Hispanic or non-Latino people to have kidney failure.

About the National Kidney Foundation

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive, and longstanding patient-centric organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease in the U.S. For more information about NKF, visit www.kidney.org.

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Union minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Thursday said India is open for stronger trade and investment with the European Union (EU).

Portugal's Minister of State for Internationalization Eurico Brilhante Dias called on Thakur ahead of the 5th Joint Economic Commission India-Portugal meeting in Delhi.

The meeting would discuss the ongoing negotiation process of trade and investment agreements between India and the EU, the Finance Ministry said in a series of tweets.

Indian and Portuguese Prime Ministers share a special bond and both nations have strong ties. India welcomes and is open for trade and investment with the EU," Thakur, the Minister of State for Finance, said.

Portugal is a member of the EU that comprises 27 nations.

The negotiations between India and the EU on a free trade agreement have been stalled since May 2013, when both sides failed to bridge substantial gaps on crucial issues, including data security status for the IT sector. The negotiations were launched in June 2007.

The EU-India annual summit is expected to be held later this year.

(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.)
Czech president Milos Zeman (R) appoints Petr Arenberger (L) as the new Czech health minister in Prague, Czech Republic, on April 7, 2021. (Roman Vondrous/CTK via AP)

3rd Health Minister Fired in Virus-Battered Czech Republic

PRAGUECzech Prime Minister Andrej Babis fired his health minister on April 7, the third to have been ousted during the pandemic in one of Europes hardest-hit countries.

Jan Blatny was replaced by Petr Arenberger, the director of Pragues University Hospital Vinohrady, who was sworn in by President Milos Zeman.

The move opens the way for the possible use of Russian and Chinese vaccines, which have not been approved by the European Unions drug regulator.

Babis repeatedly criticized Blatny over his handling of the pandemic, including imposing strict conditions for the use of experimental drugs to treat COVID-19 patients.

Blatny was also under fire from Zeman, an ally of Babis who is known for his pro-Russian and pro-Chinese views. Zeman asked the prime minister last month to replace Blatny over his refusal to allow the use of Russias Sputnik V vaccine because it has not been approved by the European Medicines Agency, or EMA.

Zeman said he approached his Russian, Chinese, and Israeli counterparts with a request for help with the vaccines and received a positive response from all of them. Israel donated 5,000 Moderna vaccines to the Czech Republic in February.

Unfortunately, your predecessor has blocked the process, Zeman told Arenberger at a ceremony, blaming Blatny for those who have died.

Blatny dismissed such criticism. He said he allowed the use of only approved vaccines to assure people they are safe, tested and really work. And thats the same with the drugs against COVID.

My decisions were always based on scientific data and analysis, Blatny said.

Candles and flowers are placed to pay respect to victims of the COVID-19 pandemic at a spontaneous memorial place set at the Old Town Square in Prague, Czech Republic, on March 29, 2021. (Petr David Josek/AP Photo)

Babis previously said Sputnik V might be an option for the country due to a slow rollout of the approved vaccines from the EU.

Were waiting for EMAs approval, he said on April 7.

Arenberger said his priority would be to acquire registered vaccines. He said theres an option to conduct clinical trials with Sputnik V in the country, but didnt immediately give further details.

The contentious Russian vaccine caused the government of Prime Minister Igor Matovic in neighboring Slovakia to collapse after he orchestrated a secret deal to buy 2 million Sputnik V vaccinesdespite disagreements from his coalition partners.

Blatny took office on Oct. 29 to replace epidemiologist Roman Prymula, who was dismissed after he was photographed visiting a restaurant that should have been closed as part of the countrys restrictive measures.

Blatny, a specialist in pediatric hematology, was deputy director of the University Hospital in the second largest Czech city of Brno before he became health minister.

Prymula had replaced Adam Vojtech in the post on Sept. 21, to enable a different approach to the pandemic amid surging infections.

The latest firing comes as coronavirus infections in the Czech Republic have been in decline, with new daily cases at 5,522 on April 6, the lowest number on a weekday since Dec 14.

The nation of 10.7 million has reported 1.65 million confirmed infections and 27,329 deaths.

By Karel Janicek
People have shared their biggest relationship regrets in a revealing online thread.

Taking to anonymous secret sharing app Whisper, people from around the world revealed the single decision or moment they wish they could take back - including one person who admitted to poisoning a love rival.

One said they lent thousands of pounds to their former girlfriend, before she took off and never paid them back.

Another said they moved across the country to be with their other half, only to be dumped, and one person candidly admitted she regretted becoming a married man's mistress and said she was 'falling apart' because of it.

Here, FEMAIL shares a selection of the most astounding posts...

One person explained how they dated a man who had alcohol dependency issues for seven years and lots friends because of it

A man revealed he moved to Oregon, but regretted it when his partner cheated on him with another man online

A man explained how he gave $8,000 to his former girlfriend, who left him and never paid him back

People shared things they regretted doing out of love on Whisper. One person admitted they poisoned a girl in a jealous rage who ended up getting sick

One woman revealed she had left her partner for another and had second thoughts about her decision

One person said they regretted dating a girl online for two years before she stopped all communication with them

A former girlfriend revealed she chose her drug addicted boyfriend over her family. Thankfully her family forgave her after the break-up

A jilted lover said they moved far from their family to be with their partner, only to be stuck far from home for two years after they had broken up

A mistress said she regretted becoming the 'other woman' and said it was causing her to 'fall apart'

One person admitted they regretted standing by their former partner, who was committing crimes

One person regretted giving up on their dream for a partner and said they didn't realise how selfish he was being

A woman revealed she passed on the opportunity to live in New York City for a man who ended up cheating on her four months later

One person recounted how they moved across the country to be with their boyfriend, who kicked them out because of their long working hours
AUSTIN, Texas, and LAKEWOOD, Colo., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- StrasGlobal's new resource for independent convenience store operators, Resources for Retailers, and Raymond Huff, President of HJB Convenience Corporation, share an independent retailer's story of persistence and the course of action he took to stay in business with the Payroll Protection Programs (PPP1, PPP2), and Employee Retention Credit (ERC) funding.

Resources for Retailers Russell's Convenience Stores

According to Ray Huff who operates c-stores in downtown Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit, "My convenience stores in downtown Denver saw a sales drop 80% or more since March 2020. But with PPP and ERC funding, I have been able to pay my employees and keep 16 locations open. My message to all small operators like me is that it's not too late. You have to be aggressive reaching out to make sure your company gets the resources available. I reached out to my state congressmen, senators and my mayor. I reached out to my local bank. I worked with my accountant and reached out to my payroll company to make sure I got loan forgiveness."

"Ray contacted us because he wants to share his story of hope and action with fellow independent operators," said Jessica Williams, Director of RfR. "Ray's approach can be a template for other retailers who can take similar action right away and potentially save their businesses." Actionable highlights of the video Conversation with Independent Operator Raymond Huff include:

Be Curious: Speak to fellow business owners in your community to learn from one another and get results

Be Proactive: Local bank relationships can work in your favor for faster access to funding

Be Aggressive: Ask what you really need to stay in business

Be Persistent: Work with your accountant and payroll company to insure loan forgiveness

Stay Open: With ERC funds you can put money back into your account that you've already paid your employees

Listen to Ray's Interview and Find Resources

Special Feature: How Independent Operator Raymond Huff Used Federal Funds to Stay Open (strasglobal.com)

"We can learn a lot from Ray," said StrasGlobal President Eva Strasburger. "If you're an independent business owner and your sales have been affected by COVID-19, there's still money out there to keep your business open."

About StrasGlobal

StrasGlobal is a leading provider of contract services and site operations around the country. Drawing on our 60-year heritage as innovators in convenience and small-format site management around the world. StrasGlobal offers our services to companies who don't have the expertise, infrastructure or desire to operate them. StrasGlobal's turn- key retail operations and management services include administration and financial reporting, store operations from staffing to marketing and merchandising to foodservice, and vendor negotiations and fuel management. StrasGlobal also has retail company operations in non-traditional convenience locations. Compliance Safe develops and markets a cloud-based software as a service (SAS) program that allows retailers to monitor, track and store business critical documents such as permits and licenses and provides alert notifications for when renewal deadlines are approaching. Resources for Retailers (RfR) is a knowledge center and community for retailers who want access to resources usually available only to the large operators. RfR will also offer benefits such as buying groups, share groups, and various consulting, marketing and operations support services. The "RfR Dispatch" newsletter delivers 'how-to' best practices with real-world, actionable takeaways written by subject matter experts. RfR's mission is to level the retail playing field by providing small retailers with best in industry ideas and programs. The Vision Group is a collection of aspirational, forward-thinking business leaders who anticipate disruption, share best practices, and learn from each other to create new initiatives. Uniquely, the Vision Group's members come from different industry channels  retailers, suppliers, convenience stores, grocery stores, restaurants, institutional food service and concept innovation  to view opportunities from multiple vantage points in order to be one step ahead of their competitors. It was co-founded by Roy & Eva Strasburger & Myra Kressner.

For more information, please visit www.strasglobal.com

About HJB Convenience Corporation dba Russell's Convenience

HJB Convenience is a Colorado corporation formed in 2004, does business as Russell's Convenience and Russell's Xpress, which specializes in tenant convenience stores in the central business district of Denver, Los Angeles, Detroit and San Francisco. HJB operates one traditional convenience store in Honolulu, Hi. The corporate office is in Lakewood, Co. HJB is a forward-thinking retailer. In 2014 HJB opened its first cashier-less (self-serve) location in Denver's Republic Plaza under the brand Russell's Xpress. They now operate 3 Russell's Xpress's. HJB uses or develops as necessary the technology to serve the corporate office market with its sister company Tenderfoot Software.

CONTACTS:

Jessica Williams

Director, Resources for Retailers

859-492-0540

[email protected]



Myra Kressner

President, Kressner Strategy Group

917-837-4058

[email protected]



SOURCE Resources for Retailers
Presiding Bishop Emeritus Blake Joins The PuLSE Institute Advisory Panel

The Right Reverend Charles E. Blake Sr., presiding bishop emeritus of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), the largest Black Christian denomination in the country with a membership of 6.5 million, and an international statesman and humanitarian, has been named to the National Advisory Panel of The PuLSE Institute (Institute for Public Leadership and Social Equity), a national anti-poverty think tank headquartered in Detroit.

Blake will join Dr. Arun Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and a member of the board of the Nelson Mandela Childrens Hospital in South Africa; Sister Simone Campbell, a leading Catholic social justice advocate who gave the invocation at the 2020 Democratic National Convention; Dr. Bernard LaFayette, a top aide to the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and the National Coordinator of the 1968 Poor Peoples Campaign; former White House spokesman Robert Weiner, former presidential diarist Janis Kearney and other luminaries and figures to advise the Institute on issues of poverty and income inequality.

Bishop Blake is the senior pastor of the 25,000-member West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles. He served 13 years as COGIC presiding bishop and was re-elected in 2008, 2012, and 2016 to the position. Blake decided not to seek reelection in 2021 to pave way for new leadership of the Pentecostal denomination.

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Over the decades, West Angeles COGIC has remained the home for spiritual renewal and guidance with members from loyal community parishioners to some of the nations Black cultural icons such as Denzel Washington, Stevie Wonder, Samuel Jackson, Angela Bassett, Magic Johnson and others. The ministry offers scores of programs for the spiritual growth and development of its members and the psychological, social, and economic enhancement of the larger community.

Potential for good is radically enhanced when we join together, Bishop Blake said in a statement. Ability constitutes responsibility. Those who are blessed should bless others. I am proud to serve on The PuLSE Institute National Advisory Panel. Doing good!

Bishop Blake has served on countless boards, coalitions, committees, councils, and executive teams. He is a source of wisdom and council to religious and political leaders, including three former American presidents. President Barack Obama named him as a member of the Presidents Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. A towering voice for justice and equality, he was also chosen as one of four individuals to address the Democratic National Conventions first Ecumenical Service.

Bishop Blake is greatly respected for his practical leadership and compassionate service to others around the world. For example, in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa, Bishop Blake founded and served as president of the Pan African Childrens Fund (PACF). Save Africas Children, a program of PACF, supported more than 200,000 children in 400 orphan care programs throughout more than 23 nations on the continent of Africa who were orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In 2003, Bishop Blake was awarded the Harvard Foundation Humanitarian Medal for his work with Save Africas Children.

The PuLSE Institute is honored to welcome Bishop Charles Blake to the National Advisory Panel. Bishop Blake has demonstrated sincere and persistent commitment to fighting poverty around the globe while leading one of the largest African American congregations in the nation, said Attorney Tina M. Patterson, the president and director of research at The PuLSE Institute. He personifies the spirit and leadership of the revered Black Church, long-renowned for its ardent advocacy for equality, human rights, and economic justice. Bishop Blake has wielded his massive influence with dignity, integrity and moral conviction in defense of those surviving on the margins of society, immeasurable qualities that are still necessary as we continue to face the challenges of inequality.

For more information about The PuLSE Institute email [email protected]
A lot of police officers have testified as witnesses in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. So many have testified, in fact, that one could easily come away from watching the trial believing that prosecutors are overdoing it, and that calling so many duplicative witnesses might actually backfire.

That's not the case. For reasons baked deeply into America's culture and its legal system, a conviction could be incredibly hard to secure in this case. It is in the prosecution's interest to overwhelm the jury with evidence from police officers.

At least 10 law enforcement witnesses have testified, and all have largely agreed with each other around the same general principle: that Chauvin used excessive force that went beyond the training he received from the Minneapolis Police Department.

For instance, on Tuesday, Lieutenant Johnny Mercil, a use-of-force instructor with the department's training unit testified that Chauvin's kneeling on Floyd's neck is not a trained neck restraint tactic. Minneapolis Police Officer Nicole Mackenzie, a medical response coordinator and CPR instructor, testified that officers are required to render first aid and request emergency services when someone needs medical help -- setting up a likely argument from the prosecution later in the trial that Chauvin and his colleagues' failure to provide medical care to Floyd was itself negligent. Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Jody Stiger, a use-of-force expert, gave his personal view that the force Chauvin used on Floyd was excessive. Even Medaria Arradondo, Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, testified about his understanding that Chauvin's actions did not comport with department policy.

It was not necessary for the prosecution to call all those witnesses. Arradondo alone, along with videos from the scene, would likely have been sufficient to establish both what happened on the day of Floyd's death, and MPD's training standards. The trial could then quickly have moved to evidence to support that Chauvin is guilty of causing Floyd's death under Minnesota law. This is one of the rare places in life or the law in which overdoing it is a good idea.

First, Chauvin will have a defense to the charges against him if it can be established that the force he used was "objectively reasonable." According to the Supreme Court in its 1989 opinion in Graham v. Connor, "The 'reasonableness' of a particular use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight." This is inherently subjective, and not answered merely by the display of a chilling video of what appears to be Chauvin ending Floyd's life. Unlike many other criminal trials, at issue here isn't whether the defendant has an alibi; the core issues in the trial are inherently subjective, and only through the introduction of overwhelming evidence -- some of it duplicative -- will prosecutors have a chance of winning.

Moreover, while the words "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" are as much a part of the public consciousness as terms like "prosecution," "defense," and "you have the right to remain silent," the concept of "reasonable doubt" is an incredibly complex one without a clear, universal definition.

Minnesota's judicial branch explains in a glossary that finding a person guilty beyond a reasonable doubt requires that the jury have "a high degree of certainty about the defendant's guilt, although they need not be 100 percent convinced." Minnesota's model jury instructions, which courts and attorneys often use in crafting language used to instruct juries on the law, find that reasonable doubt is such proof "as ordinarily prudent men and women would act upon in their most important affairs. A reasonable doubt is a doubt based upon reason and common sense. It does not mean a fanciful or capricious doubt, nor does it mean beyond all possibility of doubt."

In practice, what do those definitions even mean? Even after having had the concept explained by a judge via jury instructions, one juror's notion of reasonable doubt may differ vastly from another's. Here, where a central issue jurors will be weighing is whether the defendant's actions were "reasonable," prosecutors must minimize any chance that one may have a lingering doubt about the outcome.

Finally, Chauvin's prosecutors have an added burden in that it is quite difficult to convict officers for their on-duty conduct. Police are rarely charged with crimes stemming from their use of force, and even when they are, convictions are rare. According to data compiled by Philip M. Stinson, a criminologist at Bowling Green State University, the conviction rate for police officers who commit murder or manslaughter while on duty is about 50%, which is less than the roughly 70% of people convicted when charged with murder. Juries, as members of a public often taught to trust law enforcement reflexively, tend to resolve doubts in favor of the police. To this end, it should come as no surprise that there has only ever been one known murder conviction of a police officer in Minnesota.

For Chauvin's trial the jurors were selected based in part on either their lack of knowledge of the case, or their ability to set aside whatever they know about the case -- including knowledge of nationwide protests following Floyd's death around police brutality and race -- in order to be able to hear the facts without judgment. They may not have the same relationship to the evidence of the case as a public that has followed it with rapt attention. They may never have previously seen the graphic evidence of Floyd's death that remains painful to view a year later, and further convinces me, along with many others, of Chauvin's guilt every time it is shown on television.

Putting on as many witnesses has taken a long time, and even created openings for the defense to exploit on cross examination. However, the prosecutors' strategy has been wise so far. Their work is cut out for them.
Police vehicles are seen as a hijacked bus burns on the Shankill Road as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 7, 2021. (Jason Cairnduff/Reuters)

UK PM Urges Calm as Belfast Protesters Hijack Bus, Attack Police

BELFASTCrowds of youths in a pro-British area of Belfast set a hijacked bus on fire and attacked police with stones in the latest of a series of nightly outbreaks of violence that began last week.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was deeply concerned by the violence, which has injured dozens of police officers in recent days as protesters burned cars and hurled petrol bombs at police.

The violence comes amid growing frustration among many in the pro-British unionist community at new trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom that resulted from Britains exit from the European Union.

The pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have also pointed to a decision by police not to prosecute Irish nationalists Sinn Fein for a large funeral last year that broke COVID-19 regulations.

Sinn Fein in turn have blamed the DUP for stoking tensions with their staunch opposition to the new trading arrangements and their call in recent days for the regions police chief to step down.

Police officers stand near their vehicles during a riot at Lanark Way as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 7, 2021. (Jason Cairnduff/Reuters)

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has said some of the violence was influenced by criminal elements who helped to orchestrate the attacks.

The violence on Wednesday took place near the Shankill Road in west Belfast near a so-called peace wall that divides the community from the Irish nationalist stronghold of the Falls Road, where groups of youths also gathered.

Rioters are seen at the peace wall gate into Lanark Way as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 7, 2021. (Jason Cairnduff/Reuters)

The walls and fences were built between the two communities to prevent clashes during three decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland that largely ended with a 1998 peace deal.

I am deeply concerned by the scenes of violence in Northern Ireland, Johnson wrote in a Twitter post. The way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not violence or criminality.

An Irish nationalist stands among smoke from the fire near peace wall gates into Lanark Way as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 7, 2021. (Jason Cairnduff/Reuters)

The leaders of Northern Irelands largest political parties Sinn Fein and the DUP both condemned the violence, pointing in particular to the bus hijacking and an attack on a photojournalist from the Belfast Telegraph newspaper.

These actions do not represent unionism or loyalism. They are an embarrassment to Northern Ireland, DUP leader Arlene Foster wrote in a Twitter post that went on to describe rivals Sinn Fein as the real law breakers.

By Jason Cairnduff
IF YOU need evidence that the Democratic administration in Washington is hostile to the Granite State, look no further than its disposition toward our states lawsuit against Massachusetts over the Bay States bad faith policy of imposing its income tax on New Hampshire telecommuters who bot
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk looks on at a press conference at Parliament house in Brisbane, Australia on April 1, 2021.(Jono Searle/Getty Images)

Australian Premier Confident in Vaccine Despite a Death Hours After Jab

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said that she has full confidence in the CCP virus vaccine rollout amid a probe into the death of an elderly woman three hours after receiving the Pfizer jab.

The 82-year-old woman lived at the Springwood Yurana Aged Care Facility in Queensland. She was administered the Pfizer vaccine at 10 a.m. on April 7, and emergency services were called at about 1.30 p.m. when she died.

Palaszczuk said the death was a tragedy, but she has full confidence in the vaccine rollout with 100,000 doses delivered in the state as of Thursday.

The benefits outweigh the negatives, and  we didnt even have the option of a vaccine 12 months ago when we started going into this pandemic, so there is light at the end of the tunnel, she told reporters on Thursday.

She said the federal government was addressing the issue with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the national health regulator, and did not want to comment further.

However, Palaszczuk said she hoped the TGA would look very closely at whether there were any other conditions that contributed to the womans death or whether it was vaccine-related.

Australias Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly had previously downplayed a causal link between the vaccine and the womans death but said it is being investigated. He noted that about 1,000 people die in Australian aged care facilities every week.

It can be expected that older and more frail people, in an aged care setting, may pass away due to progression of underlying disease or natural causes; this does not mean the vaccine has contributed to this, Kelly said.

The death comes as health authorities investigate whether a Victorian mans rare blood clotting disorder was caused by his AstraZeneca jab. The man received the vaccine on March 22.

Palaszczuk also pointed out that vaccine supplies from the federal government have been too unpredictable.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette DAth said the state only had a 14-day supply of vaccinations remaining and said the Commonwealth has not yet confirmed a new supply.

Australias national Chief Midwifery and Nursing Officer Allison McMillan told ABC Radio on April 7 that the Commonwealth wont publicly release information about the number of Pfizer vaccines the government has procured from Europe as it was commercial in confidence.

Be reassured, we have ordered as many as we can acquire. But also, the second line we have is the AstraZeneca bought from overseas and of course now being produced in Australia, McMillan said.

Queensland recorded three new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, on Thursday, all of which were already in hotel quarantine.

The state now has 68 active cases.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / Red Lake Gold Inc. (CSE:RGLD)(FWB:P11)("Red Lake Gold" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicholas Koo, CPA, CA as Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation and Dong Shim, CPA, CA, as Controller of the Corporation.

"We are pleased to expand and strengthen our financial reporting team with the welcoming of Nicholas Koo, CPA, CA as Red Lake Gold's new CFO. Nicholas will be supported by our concurrent appointment of Dong Shim, CPA, CA as Red Lake Gold's incoming corporate controller. Both Mr. Koo and Mr. Shim are experienced Chartered Professional Accountants, and our growth will benefit from their involvement. We wish Mr. Cheung, who formerly held Mr. Koo's position, the best in his future endeavours," noted Ryan Kalt, CEO of Red Lake Gold.

CFO Appointment - Nicholas Koo, CPA, CA

Nicholas Koo, CPA, CA brings significant experience in financial reporting roles covering many industries including junior mining, building materials and high-tech. He is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. Nicholas started his career at a mid-sized accounting firm providing accounting, consulting, audit and tax services to publicly-traded and private entities. He has also gained industry experience in a public company which is one of the largest distributors of building materials and home renovation products in North America, represented nationally across Canada and regionally in the Western United States. Mr. Koo is a Partner at SHIM & Associates LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants with a primary focus on business advisory, corporate consulting and regulatory filings both in the United States and Canada.

Corporate Controller Appointment - Dong Shim, CPA, CA, CPA (Illinois)

Mr. Shim has led a successful accounting and finance career in both the US and Canada. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the team with his expertise in auditing publicly-traded junior mining and high-tech companies. He is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia and a Certified Public Accountant registered in the State of Illinois (United States). Through SHIM & Associates LLP, Mr. Shim serves as an audit partner on numerous audit engagements for various publicly-traded companies, primarily focused on the junior mining, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and high-tech sectors. Mr. Shim has also assisted numerous start-up companies achieve public listings on the TSX Venture Exchange, the Canadian Securities Exchange and the OTC Market.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Ryan Kalt

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Email: info@redlakegold.ca

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains 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 expected or forecast in such statements.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Red Lake Gold Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639377/Red-Lake-Gold-Inc-Announces-Appointments
Yandal Resources is a new IPO focused on the Yandal Greenstone Belt in Western Australia, which continues to host new large scale gold discoveries.

Yandal Resources substantial holder DGO Gold provides strong vote of confidence by lifting stake to 14.26%

Yandal Resources Ltd (ASX:YRL) substantial holder DGO Gold Ltd (ASX:DGO) has increased its stake in the company to 14.26% from 8.69%.

DGO purchased more than 5.3 million shares in a series of transactions from November 20, 2020, to April 7, 2021, increasing the total number of securities held to more than 13.37 million.

The investment in Yandal is part of DGO's strategy of investing in ASX-listed brownfield explorers to provide shareholders with the opportunity to participate in a discovery leveraged exposure to gold.

It provides a strong vote of confidence in Yandal's underexplored projects that are in a Tier 1 jurisdiction and have the potential to host +5-million-ounce deposits with very low discovery costs.



100,000 metres of discovery drilling

As a well-funded explorer, Yandal is undertaking aggressive exploration across its projects aimed at realising the potential.

The company has multiple rigs operating with more than 100,000 metres of discovery drilling planned for 2021.

Last month, Yandal received high-grade results of up to 8 metres at 24.30 g/t gold that confirmed a shallow gold discovery at Sims Find prospect within the Barwidgee Gold Project in Western Australia.

Yandal also intersected high-grade gold mineralisation at Flinders Park and other prospects within the Ironstone Well Gold Project in Western Australia, demonstrating the potential for large gold discoveries within a more than 20-kilometre-long strike zone.

Additionally, the company confirmed a new lode at Mt McClure Gold Project in Western Australia with a reverse circulation drilling program intersecting shallow high-grade results of up to 12.24 g/t gold.
New data highlights research renaissance across Middle East, North Africa and Turkey with opportunity to expand local collaborative networks

LONDON, April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, today released a report which explores the seismic shift of the research landscape in 19 countries across the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) region over recent decades. It presents an international success story, with the region's global share of research output quadrupling from 2% to 8% over the last 40 years, and papers from 22 million individual researchers identified within the region between 2008 and 2017.

The latest Global Research Report from the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) uses data from the Web of Science to demonstrate how MENAT research is growing in volume and impact, driven by increased participation in international research networks. One example is Egypt which has achieved rising impact at scale, with 60% international collaboration and a Category Normalized Citation Impact (CNCI) above world average. The report also points to a changing regional balance over time  for example, finding that Iran has surpassed Israel and Turkey to become the largest research producer among MENAT countries, increasing its world share of the Web of Science literature from 0.2% in 2000 to 2.3% in 2019.

To put the region's research contribution into global context, ISI conducted a special analysis of MENAT research output mapped against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Out of 819 SDG-related topics identified, MENAT countries have authored at least one paper in 253 topics (31%). For most of the MENAT countries, public health and epidemiology is the most frequent topic for publication and accounts for more than one-quarter of their SDG-related papers. However, there are also visible regional sustainability priorities: sustainable economic growth and biogas are hot topics in Turkey while soil erosion is especially strong in Iran.

Story continues

The increasingly international scope of the MENAT regional research base is seen in its researcher mobility and collaborations. The report analyzes researcher mobility both within the region and globally, finding that there is a significant outward flow of talent, with North America and Europe being the most popular destinations. It draws attention to the opportunity for more local collaboration within the region, where domestic mobility is relatively low and purely domestic papers currently account for about 5% of total output. The findings highlight how collaboration within the region as well as with the rest of the world will enhance the quality of scientific research, accelerate access to new markets and allow the financial costs of research to be shared  more effectively meeting the economic and societal challenges the region faces.

Dr. Martin Szomszor, Director at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate said: "The data indicate that MENAT research shows high levels of global collaboration, resulting in diverse and high-quality output with rising impact. However, regional collaboration remains relatively low and fragmented and our analysis suggests that a collaborative regional network could improve competitiveness between the region and the rest of the world by focusing on shared needs and international priorities."

Joel Haspel, SVP Strategy, Science at Clarivate said: "At Clarivate we know that the trusted insights and analytics we provide will help to accelerate the pace of innovation, and our Global Research Reports are a key part of that for the international research community. The period of exceptional growth and impact that this report examines is unsurprising given the MENAT region's history of deep commitment to knowledge and learning. Given these countries' rich human capacity and available resources, as well as the clear evidence of improvement presented in this report, one may hope to see further advances in science and technology for the region in the future."

Notes to editors:

This report from the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) is titled: "The changing research landscape of the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey". It follows on from a 2011 analysis of the Middle East published by ISI: "Global Research Report: Middle East  Exploring the Changing Landscape of Arabian, Persian and Turkish Research". If you would like to receive a copy of the 2011 report, please email ISI@clarivate.com.

The international citation data from the Web of Science used in this report was complemented by regional citation indexes from the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) and the Islamic World Science Citation Center (ISC) in Iran.

About Clarivate

Clarivate is a global leader in providing solutions to accelerate the lifecycle of innovation. Our bold mission is to help customers solve some of the world's most complex problems by providing actionable information and insights that reduce the time from new ideas to life-changing inventions in the areas of science and intellectual property. We help customers discover, protect and commercialize their inventions using our trusted subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise. For more information, please visit clarivate.com.

Media Contact

Rebecca Krahenbuhl, External Communications Manager, Science

media.enquiries@clarivate.com

Cision

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Freenews.am reports that the plane transporting Armenian prisoners of war from Baku has arrived in Yerevan empty.

Hraparak.ams sources report that commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, Lieutenant-General Rustam Muradov was the only one on the plane.

Earlier, in an interview with factor.am, Spokesperson of the Prime Minister of Armenia Mane Gevorgyan had confirmed the news that a new group of Armenian prisoners of war was being returned to Yerevan, and the RFE/RL Armenian Service and Armenian Public Television were live from Erebuni Airport where dozens of relatives of the POWs had gathered.

Later, there were no more live broadcasts when it was reported that there were no prisoners of war on the plane.

Armenian News-NEWS.am wasnt able to receive any official news or clarification from the Government of Armenia since the phones of the competent officials are either switched off or unreachable, and no government official is answering phone calls.
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush said this week that he is weighing a run against Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican primary next year.

Im seriously considering a run for attorney general, Bush told a Dallas radio program. More to come on that.

Bush, finishing his second term as land commissioner, was aggressive in criticizing Paxton, who last fall had members of his staff accuse him of abuse of office, accepting bribes and other potential criminal offenses. And for five years, Paxton has been under indictment on charges of felony securities fraud. Paxton has denied wrongdoing.

Bush said the allegations against Paxton are serious.

Personally, I think that the top law enforcement official in Texas needs to be above reproach, said Bush, the son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and grandson of the late-President George H.W. Bush.

Later he added: I think Texans deserve better.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Bush made his comments in an interview on the Mark Davis Show on 660 AM The Answer.

Paxtons campaign released a statement to the media after the interview.

Attorney General Paxton is focused on keeping the Texas border secure, holding the Biden administration accountable and taking on Big Tech, Paxton campaign spokesperson Ian Prior said in a statement to the Texas Tribune. It is unfortunate, but not surprising, to see a potential opponent more interested with the narrative being set by the liberal media than on the real and important issues facing Texas families and small businesses.

In 2018, Paxton went unchallenged in the Republican primary and defeated Democrat Justin Nelson in the general election by just 3.6 percentage points.

Bush, who turns 45 this month, was born in Houston but grew up in Florida. He graduated from Rice University and earned his law degree at the University of Texas.

Paxton, 58, is a Baylor graduate and holds a law degree from the University of Virginia.

If Bush runs against Paxton, they would battle in a primary scheduled for March 1. But that primary could move to April or May because of delays with the state redistricting plan.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com
She welcomed baby Noa in February and was forced to take the newborn into hospital three times in three weeks due to a series of health scares.

Yet Kate Lawler looked like she had motherhood in her stride after as she headed out on a lockdown walk with her daughter and fiance Martin on Thursday.

The former Big Brother star, 40, smiled in the sunshine as she donned a denim jacket and cashmere scarf to push her daughter around North London in her pram.

Family fun: Kate Lawler headed out on a lockdown walk in a denim jacket and cashmere scarf with her daughter Noa and husband-to-be Martin on Thursday

The Celebrity Bumps star paired her denim jacket with a pair of black gym leggings and accessorized with some blacked-out aviator sunglasses and a pair of fresh white trainers.

Kate toted a black leather rucksack filled with everything she needed for the outing with her newborn.

The new mum looked stylish as she wore her blonde tresses in a half-up-half-down hairstyle, which she tied with a cute black scrunchie.

Content: The former Big Brother star smiled in the sunshine as she pushed her daughter around North London in her pram

Meanwhile her fiance Martin, known affectionately as Boj, sported a navy Fred Perry coat and loose fitting grey jeans for the stroll.

Kate looked cheerful as she walked along the street with her family and their two dogs, before stopping to chat with a fellow mum.

The former reality star has not had the easiest of times since welcoming her daughter, recently admitting she was 'at breaking point' and in 'the darkest place'.

Social stroll: Kate caught up with another new mum as she walked, who had joined the couple's outing for a chat

Little Noa has been taken into hospital three times in three weeks since she was welcomed into the world, and Kate has documented their journey on social media.

The baby girl was rushed to hospital with a temperature of 38C and underwent a series of blood tests as she fought a bout of Paronychia last month.

'It's been the most challenging, emotionally draining and stressful three weeks of my life,' Kate revealed at the time.

Golden girl: The new mum looked stylish as she wore her blonde tresses in a half-up-half-down hairstyle, which she tied with a cute black scrunchie

Earlier this month, Kate admitted she felt guilty about wanting to stop breastfeeding her daughter but said she is considering switching to formula soon, likening breastfeeding to 'a workout'.

The star told her followers she finds breastfeeding 'so demanding' and is often exhausted after.

She penned: 'I've done just over five weeks but considering switching to formula as it's so demanding and my let-down is so fast I'm basically water boarding Noa every time she latches the poor little potato.'

Cosy: Kate's fiancee Martin, aka Boj, sported a navy Fred Perry coat and loose fitting grey jeans for the stroll

Prepared: Kate toted a black leather rucksack filled with everything she needed for the outing with her newborn

Kate explained it was the 'pressure from healthcare professionals and others' that was making her feel guilty.

She said: 'Expressing for a few minutes beforehand has helped though. I know a happy baby is a fed baby but the pressure from healthcare professionals and others, along with my stubbornness makes me feel guilty about stopping.

'It's just so time consuming and does anyone else feel exhausted after feeding? It's like a bloody workout. No wonder you burn up to 500 calories per feed! Hats off to anyone who does this for longer. Also so many of you have said 'get Boj (Martin's nickname) to help'.

Strong: The former reality star has not had the easiest of times since welcoming her daughter, recently admitting she was 'at breaking point' and in 'the darkest place'

'Since day one he's fed Noa a bottle of expressed milk each day and is currently staying up with her until 3am so I can sleep and then take over. I don't know what I'd do without him.'

Last month, the first-time mum thanked her fans for their 'love and support' after she shared an emotional post where she admitted she was at 'breaking point'

She said she'd been 'blown away' by the response to her candid post after she confessed she feels like she's 'failing' while hitting back at trolls who questioned why she shared a picture of her two dogs on Mother's Day.

Taking to Instagram, Kate revealed other parents had messaged her saying they also felt they 'couldn't admit' how they were feeling.

Always smiling: Kate has revealed that little Noa was taken into hospital three times in three weeks since she was welcomed into the world with a series of health scares

Writing a lengthy caption, Kate said: 'Initially I felt scared about posting it because of a fear I'd be labelled insensitive or ungrateful but THANK YOU, it was the right thing to do.

'So many people have reached out, sent messages of love, support, advice & understanding. Just because you've chosen and been fortunate enough to conceive, carry and birth a little human, it doesn't mean that it's all sunshine & rainbows.

'For some it's dark, stormy & no parent should have to pretend it's going well when it isn't. It's okay to feel s**t.'
[April 08, 2021] XPeng Inks Cooperation Agreement for New Smart EV Manufacturing Base in Wuhan

XPeng Inc. ("XPeng" or the "Company", NYSE: XPEV), a leading Chinese smart electric vehicle (Smart EV) company, today entered into a cooperation agreement with the City of Wuhan to build a new XPeng Motors Wuhan Smart EV Manufacturing Base. With an annual capacity by 100,000 units, the Company is well positioned to capture growing consumer demand for Smart EVs as the auto sector is experiencing the most significant transformation over decades. Supported by the Wuhan government, XPeng will commence the construction of the new manufacturing base, covering a planned area of over 733,000 square meters, and featuring manufacturing and powertrain plants, as well as R&D facilities. Known as one of China's major automobile hubs, Wuhan is one of the country's six key passenger vehicle manufacturing centers, with a well-developed auto supply chain and ancillary facilities, benefiting from its superior geographic location as China's high-speed rail, expressway and water transportation hub. As the capital of Hubei Province, Wuhan has a population of more than 11 million - the most populous city in Central China - and its GDP exceeded RMB1,561 billion in 2020. Expanding into China's major auto manufacturing hub with strong local government support is another landmark in XPeng's strategic development. The cooperation agreement highlights the comprehensive support from the Wuhan government and its recognition of XPeng's leading role in the Smart EV sector. "Smart EVs are booming in popularity in China. We have a long-term strategic roadmap to embrace the sector's transformation. Expanding our capacity in key hubs like Wuhan plays a critical role," said Mr. He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of XPeng at the signing ceremony in Wuhan today. "Wuhan's strategic location as an auto manufacturing and distribution hub will further enhance our supply chain management, sales and distribution network in the future," Mr. He continued.



China's new energy vehicle market continues to gain momentum, underlined by a record-breaking sales volume of over 1.3 million in 2020.

XPeng's new Smart EV manufacturing base will also support Wuhan's strategic priorities of transforming and modernizing the city's industrial facilities, and auto manufacturing value chain, creating major innovation clusters and employment opportunities to power the auto industry of the future. About XPeng XPeng Inc. is a leading Chinese smart electric vehicle company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets Smart EVs that appeal to the large and growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers in China. Its mission is to drive Smart EV transformation with technology and data, shaping the mobility experience of the future. In order to optimize its customers' mobility experience, XPeng develops in-house its full-stack autonomous driving technology and in-car intelligent operating system, as well as core vehicle systems including powertrain and the electrification/electronic architecture. XPeng is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, and San Diego. The Company's Smart EVs are manufactured at plants in Zhaoqing and Zhengzhou, located in Guangdong and Henan provinces, respectively. For more information, please visit https://en.xiaopeng.com. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about XPeng's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: XPeng's goal and strategies; XPeng's expansion plans; XPeng's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the trends in, and size of, China's EV market; XPeng's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products and services; XPeng's expectations regarding its relationships with customers, contract manufacturers, suppliers, third-party service providers, strategic partners and other stakeholders; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in XPeng's filings with the SEC (News - Alert) . All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and XPeng does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005568/en/

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Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) speaks during a hearing to examine the nomination of former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to be secretary of energy, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 27, 2021. (Jim Watson/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchin: No Circumstance in Which I Will Vote To Eliminate or Weaken the Filibuster

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) again reiterated that he will not vote to abolish or weaken the filibuster in the Senate, going in opposition to top Democrats who have sought to remove the key legislative hurdle.

The filibuster is a critical tool to protecting that input and our democratic form of government, Manchin wrote in a Washington Post opinion article. That is why I have said it before and will say it again to remove any shred of doubt: There is no circumstance in which I will vote to eliminate or weaken the filibuster.

Manchin also said he does not favor budget reconciliation, which is a tactic being employed by Democratic senators to push through agenda items in the face of Republican opposition.

It comes as Manchins own party is attempting to pass President Joe Bidens massive multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan. Democrats have a narrow 50-50 advantage in the Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris being the tie-breaker.

Manchin stated Monday that he opposes Bidens plan to raise the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent, which would be included in the infrastructure plan.

We should all be alarmed at how the budget reconciliation process is being used by both parties to stifle debate around the major issues facing our country today, the West Virginia Democrat wrote. Legislating was never supposed to be easy. It is hard work to address the needs of both rural and urban communities in a single piece of legislation, but it is the work we were elected to do.

Manchin further argued that when the Senate voted to weaken the filibuster, it backfired.

The political games playing out in the halls of Congress only fuel the hateful rhetoric and violence we see across our country right now, he said, adding that the political dysfunction and gridlock have grown more severe since then.

We will not solve our nations problems in one Congress if we seek only partisan solutions, he wrote. Instead of fixating on eliminating the filibuster or shortcutting the legislative process through budget reconciliation, it is time we do our jobs.

After the infrastructure plan, Democrats may turn their sights on gun-control legislation. Biden on Wednesday night unveiled six executive actions that would further restrict so-called ghost gunsguns that can be assembled at home without serial numbersamong other measures. He also is seeking to nominate David Chipman, a former federal agent and adviser at the gun control group Giffords, to be director of the ATF.
Islamabad, April 8 : Private importers in Pakistan are negotiating to procure more of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine for commercial sale.

AGP Pharma, a pharmaceutical company based in the southern city of Karachi that imported 50,000 doses of Sputnik V, said on Thursday they were trying to get their hands on more.

"Our negotiations are ongoing things are in the pipeline and we will know in a couple of days how many more doses we may get," company's spokesman Umair Mukhtar told dpa news agency.

More importers were seeking the government's permission to import Russian jabs after a price dispute was resolved, Health Ministry spokesman Sajid Shah said.

Pakistan's government last week allowed private companies to import vaccines from Russia and China but imposed a price cap on the amount that could be charged to the consumer, around 80 dollars for two doses of Sputnik V.

The importers had earlier refused to roll out the vaccine unless they were allowed to set the price higher than the 50-dollar cap the government was demanding.

While private distributors have not been able to start purchases from China, a higher demand for that jab has pushed the price beyond $100 at some private hospitals.

The 50,000 doses that AGP Pharma earlier imported were over-booked within hours, according to hospitals.

More than 700,000 people have been infected so far with more than 15,000 deaths, but an official inoculation drive is moving slow after promised supplies under the global distribution system COVAX were delayed.

Pakistan was supposed to get 17 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines in March, but has not got the supplies so far after a production shortfall and high demand in India.

Only 1 million people, mostly health workers and elderly citizens, have been inoculated so far in the country of 216 million. Most of those shots were donated from Pakistan's ally China.
Tampa Bay is in danger of becoming an environmental disaster, putting decades of attempts to enhance water quality and wildlife protection for manatees, dolphins, whales, and sea turtles in jeopardy. More than a hundred million gallons of toxic wastewater have been dumped directly into the bay due to a continuing spill at the old Piney Point phosphate plant site.

Related Article: Manatee County, Florida Under State of Emergency for Possible Radioactive Flood After Phosphate Plant Leak



Harmful Chemicals in the Water

The ammonia, phosphorus, and phosphate in the acidic wastewater that has flooded the bay are contaminants that authorities have been trying to eliminate in Tampa Bay for decades.

The worst-case situation, a total breach of the containment structure, seems to have been prevented. Still, one proposed alternative, dumping treated wastewater into an aquifer, comes with its own set of risks.

Piney Point Plant

After its completion decades ago, the Piney Point plant has posed a constant danger to Tampa Bay's health. Despite the plant's turbulent past, Jessica Bibza, senior specialist for wildlife policy for the National Wildlife Federation's Gulf program, said she was disappointed by the state's inability to deter the situation.

Over the last two decades, the Piney Point wetlands have become a ticking time bomb on Tampa Bay's outskirts, and little has been said about it. Decades of investments in the bay's and wildlife's wellbeing have now jeopardized.

In the last five decades, more than 850 water quality enhancement programs have been initiated in Tampa Bay.

"It will take time for us to properly appreciate the impacts on Tampa Bay, but we might see poisonous algae, fish kills, and the depletion of seagrass beds, affecting species like manatees and scallops," Bibza added.

Manatees in the Area

"Manatees in the Indian River Lagoon are starving to death because low water quality has destroyed the seagrass beds on which they depend. The last thing we want is for anything similar to happen in Tampa Bay. The state must keep Piney Point's owners accountable, as well as ensuring that all of Florida's two dozen phosphate mines are supervised, and taxpayers have not left to foot the bill for similar disasters," Bibza said.

Federal initiatives in coastal resilience projects, such as the plan to reconfigure the Howard Frankland bridge to increase water transport across the bay, which will strengthen water quality and deter further outbreaks of toxic algae, may help Tampa Bay's long-term recovery.

The Recovering America's Wildlife Act, introduced in Congress, will provide funding for habitat conservation projects for at-risk wildlife such as manatees. In the previous legislative session, twelve of Florida's legislators voted in favor of the measure, which would give the state over $40 million a year.

Related Article: Why are Manatees Dying at an Alarming Rate in the First Months of 2021?



High Hopes

"The Piney Point breach is a major disappointment, but if there's one thing we've noticed through the years, it's that the bay and its biodiversity are remarkably resilient. They will regenerate if we owe them what they need to recover," Bibza said.

Also Read: Freshwater in Danger: Marine Giants Face Extinction Risks

For the most recent updates from the animal kingdom, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
DGAP-Ad-hoc: OPDEnergy, S.A. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

OPDEnergy, S.A.: INTENTION TO FLOAT ON THE SPANISH STOCK EXCHANGES



08-Apr-2021 / 08:00 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 8, 2021

OPDENERGY HOLDING, S.A.

INTENTION TO FLOAT ON THE SPANISH STOCK EXCHANGES

OPDENERGY HOLDING, S.A. ("Opdenergy" or the "Company") announces today its intention to proceed with the initial offering (the "Offering") of its ordinary shares (the "Shares") to qualified investors. The Offering will consist of a primary offering of new Shares (the "New Shares") by the Company expected to raise gross proceeds of approximately 400 million to fund its business plan and a secondary offering by one of the existing shareholders of the Company, which approximately 15.64% of the current share capital, to raise gross proceeds of approximately 17 million.

The Company expects to offer a portion of the New Shares in the Offering, not to exceed 11.5 million in gross proceeds, to certain employees of the Company and its subsidiaries in Spain, as well as to selected related non-qualified investors in the European Union.

The Company intends to apply for admission of its Shares to be listed on the Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia Stock Exchanges (respectively, the "Admission" and the "Spanish Stock Exchanges") for trading through the Automated Quotation System (Mercado Continuo) of the Spanish Stock Exchanges.

INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

Opdenergy is a well-established and fully integrated independent producer of sustainable energy, focused on the production of solar photovoltaic ("PV") and onshore wind power, present in selected, stable and mainly fast-growing OECD renewable energy markets. In particular, Opdenergy is present and has pipeline projects in five markets in Europe (Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, France and Poland) and three markets in the Americas (United States, Chile and Mexico). Opdenergy's vertically integrated approach, with in-house expertise and integrated capabilities along the entire value chain, ensures invaluable understanding and control over the projects' development, structuring, financing, construction and operation and maintenance.

As of the date of this announcement, the Company's operating, ready for operation and under construction portfolio includes 13[1] solar PV plants and one onshore wind plant, with an aggregate gross installed capacity of c.583.7 MW (including two plants in respect of which the Company owns a non-controlling interest) and an attributable installed capacity of c.468.3 MW. Approximately 104.3 MW of gross installed capacity correspond to Sol de los Andes, a wholly-owned solar PV plant located in Chile that is under construction, and the remaining gross installed capacity of c.479.4 MW (c.364 MW on an attributable basis) correspond to operating plants and plants which are ready for operation[2]. In addition to this, the Company has an attractive growth profile with a pipeline with an aggregate gross capacity of c.9.4 GW, of which c.3.7 GW relates to projects in the most advanced stages (backlog and advanced stage projects) which the Company expects to undertake in the short to medium term.

The Offering represents the next step in Opdenergy's long-term development and ongoing transformation to become a large-scale geographically diversified independent power producer ("IPP"). Net proceeds from the primary component of the Offering will be fully dedicated to partially fund the equity portion of the capital expenditures associated with the development and construction of the c.3.7 GW related to pipeline projects in the most advanced stages, which includes c.907 MW of backlog projects, located in Spain and the United States, and c.2,781 MW of advanced stage projects. More than 93% of the backlog and advanced pipeline capacity is expected to reach a Ready to Build ("RTB") stage before the end of 2022, providing high visibility regarding the deployment in the short term of funds raised in the Offering.

Opdenergy has a clear vision and a well-defined strategy oriented towards the achievement of its medium-term targets while promoting a sustainable development. The Company is focused on OECD countries, creditworthy investment-grade off-takers and hard currency-denominated (or hard currency-linked) energy sales, which are supported mainly by long-term power purchase agreements ("PPAs") or other types of remuneration arrangements such as public remuneration plans with fixed or stabilized remuneration prices (or a combination thereof), for most of its power production, providing the Company with significant visibility and stability with respect to its future revenues.

Opdenergy has a proven track-record in executing renewable energy projects and delivering targets, having developed and overseen the commissioning of more than 800 MW in more than 70 different projects over the past 15 years, and having financed or transacted more than 2.0bn across different geographies.

The Company is led by a dynamic, highly qualified and experienced management team with over 100 years of combined experience in the sector, with a proven track-record identifying and executing new market and development opportunities and that has been directly responsible for the growth experienced by Opdenergy over the past few years.

Environmental, social and governance ("ESG") is at the core of Opdenergy's strategy and its key initiatives are oriented for the Company to play a very active role in the ESG transition, providing an opportunity to invest in an asset that will contribute positively and in an active manner to the transition towards a decarbonized world while targeting sustainable long-term returns. Opdenergy is also committed to maintaining best-in-class corporate governance practices to ensure a sound, long-term oriented governance.

Luis Cid, CEO of Opdenergy, stated:

"The Offering is a key milestone for Opdenergy in its path to become a large-scale IPP in Europe and the Americas. The company is currently at an ideal position benefiting from a robust balance sheet, a high quality and well-diversified operating portfolio and a tangible and attractive pipeline located in selected markets. The Offering proceeds will allow us to accelerate and fuel our ambitious business plan.

At Opdenergy we are fully committed to continue developing renewable energy projects in our markets, with a profitable and business-oriented strategy focusing on sustainability, and to continue delivering clean energy to our clients."

DETAILS OF THE OFFERING

The Offering will consist of a primary offering, expected to raise gross proceeds of approximately 400 million, and a secondary offering by one of the existing shareholders of the Company, which owns approximately 15.64% of the current share capital, to raise gross proceeds of approximately 17 million. An over-allotment option of secondary Shares by existing shareholders will also be granted. The Offering will be made mainly to international qualified institutional investors. In addition, the Company is offering part of the New Shares to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries in Spain, as well as to selected related non-qualified related investors in the European Union (the "Non-Qualified Investors Tranche"). The Non-Qualified Investors Tranche will not exceed 11.5 million.

Following admission to listing of the Company's Shares on the Spanish Stock Exchanges, the Company, the current shareholders and the Company's senior management team will be subject to a 180-day, 180-day and 365-day lock-up restriction, respectively, during which time they may not dispose of any interest in their Shares without the consent of the Joint Global Coordinators (as defined below), subject to certain exceptions. In addition, the employees subscribing for New Shares in the Non-Qualified Investors Tranche will also be subject to a 365-day lock-up restriction.

Banco Santander, S.A. and Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG will be acting as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners (the "Joint Global Coordinators") for the Offering. Alantra Capital Markets, S.V., S.A., BofA Securities Europe S.A, Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG and RBC Capital Markets (Europe) GmbH will be acting as joint bookrunners (and together with the Joint Global Coordinators, the "Managers"). Evercore and Rothschild & Co. will be acting as financial advisers to the Company.

Further details of the Offering will be included in the prospectus to be filed by the Company with the Spanish Securities Market Commission (Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores or "CNMV") in connection with the Offering and the Admission, and to be published in due course and which will supersede this Announcement in its entirety (the "Prospectus"). The Prospectus will include full details on the Offering and the specific timetable. Upon approval, it will be available in the respective websites of Opdenergy (https://www.opdenergy.com/en/) and the CNMV (www.cnmv.es).

FOR INVESTOR ENQUIRIES

Isabel Troya Smith

Investor Relations & Communications Director +34 914 559 996



itroya@opdenergy.com

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Oscar Torres

KREAB +34 685 929 026

otorres@kreab.com Eva Tunas

KREAB +34 635 186 419

etunas@kreab.com Monica Pastor

KREAB +34 691 435 500

mpastor@kreab.com

IMPORTANT NOTICE

This announcement (the "Announcement") and the information contained herein are not for release, distribution or publication in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Africa or any other jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of the relevant laws or regulations of such jurisdiction. The Offering and the distribution of this Announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This Announcement is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy or subscribe for any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction where such offer, sale or subscription would be unlawful and the Announcement and the information contained herein is not for distribution or release in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into such jurisdictions.

The information contained in this Announcement does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this Announcement.

This Announcement is an advertisement and does not constitute a prospectus for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC (the "Prospectus Regulation"). The information and opinions in this Announcement are not based upon a consideration of any particular investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Readers may wish to seek independent and professional advice and conduct their own independent investigation and analysis of the information contained in this Announcement and of the business, operations, financial condition, prospects, status and affairs of the Company. Any purchase of or subscription for Shares of the Company should be made solely on the basis of the information to be contained in the Prospectus, once and if published. The Prospectus is expected to be approved by the CNMV in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation regime. Once approved, the Prospectus will be available at the Company's registered offices, on its corporate website and on the website of the CNMV (www.cnmv.es). The Prospectus may contain information different from the information contained in this Announcement. The approval of the Prospectus by the CNMV will not constitute an evaluation of the merits of the transactions proposed to investors. Investors should carefully read the Prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to invest in the securities referred to herein.

Any securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There is no intention to register any securities referred to herein in the United States or to make a public offering of the securities in the United States. There will be no public offer of the securities referred to herein in Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa.

In member states of the European Economic Area (the "EEA"), this Announcement is only addressed to and directed at persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation ("Qualified Investors"). In the United Kingdom, this Announcement and any other materials in relation to the securities referred to herein are only being distributed to, and are only directed at, and any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to, and will be engaged in only with, a Qualified Investor (i) having professional experience in matters relating to investments so as to qualify as "investment professional" under Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); (ii) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order; or (iii) being a person to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated. This Announcement and its contents must not be acted on or relied upon in the United Kingdom or in any member state of the EEA by persons who are not Qualified Investors. The communication of this Announcement in the United Kingdom or in any member state of the EEA to persons who are not Qualified Investors is unauthorized and may contravene applicable law.

The Managers and their respective affiliates are acting exclusively for the Company and no-one else in connection with the anticipated Offering. They will not regard any other person as their respective clients in relation to the anticipated Offering and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company and the selling shareholders for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients, or for providing advice in relation to the anticipated Offering, the contents of this Announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein.

The Offering and/or the Admission may be influenced by a range of circumstances such as market conditions. There is no guarantee that the Offering will proceed and that the Admission will occur and you should not base your financial decisions on the Company's intentions in relation to the Offering and the Admission at this stage.

In connection with the anticipated Offering, each Manager and any of its respective affiliates, may take up a portion of the Shares as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, sell, offer to sell, purchase or otherwise deal for its or their own account(s) such Shares and any securities of the Company or related investments and may offer or sell such securities or other investments in connection with the Offering or otherwise. Accordingly, references in this Announcement or the Prospectus, once and if published, to the Shares being issued, offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt with should be read as including any issue, offering, subscription, acquisition, placement of or dealing in such Shares by or to the Managers and any relevant affiliate acting in such capacity. In addition, certain of the Managers or their affiliates may enter into financing arrangements and swaps in connection with which they or their affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of Shares. The Managers do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so.

None of the Managers, or any of their respective affiliates or any of the respective directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents of any of their foregoing entities accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this Announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the Announcement) or any other information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

This Announcement includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the securities laws of certain applicable jurisdictions. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "advanced stage", "backlog", "expects", "intends", "may", "pipeline", "potential", "should", "targets" and "will" as well as their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this Announcement and include statements regarding the Company's investment strategy and the Company's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the Company's financial performance, prospects, growth, pipeline, strategies and the industry in which the Company intends to operate.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions, including, among others, those related to the evolution of the industry, regulatory and economic trends and the Company's ability to successfully fund and carry out its growth plan, meet its targets and execute its pipeline. Such assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, operational, economic and other risks and uncertainties. You are hereby cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that the Company's actual financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, size of its portfolio, and development of the industry in which it will operate, may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement. In addition, even if the Company's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, size of its portfolio, and development of the industry in which it will operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement, those results or developments may not be indicative of the Company's results or developments in subsequent periods and may be impacted by important factors. No representation or warranty is made that any forward-looking statement will come to pass. No one undertakes to publicly update or revise any such forward-looking statement.

The definition and classification of the pipeline of the Company, which comprises "Backlog", "Advanced Stage", "Early Stage" and "Identified Opportunities", may not necessarily be the same as that used by other companies engaged in similar businesses. As a result, the expected capacity of the Company's pipeline may not be comparable to the expected capacity of the pipeline reported by such other companies. In addition, given the dynamic nature of the pipeline, the pipeline is subject to change and certain projects classified under a certain pipeline category as identified above could be reclassified under another pipeline category or could cease to be pursued in the event that unexpected events occur.

The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as at its date and are subject to change without notice.

Information to distributors: Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Offering. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the Managers will only engage with investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Shares.

Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.[1] One of these 13 plants is our Puglia solar PV plant which consists of seven separate plants. The seven solar PV plants comprising Puglia are held through three different SPVs and are considered to be a single solar PV plant for management purposes.

[2] Litre and Lingue, two of the Company's wholly-owned solar PV plants located in Chile with c.3.0 MW of gross installed capacity each, have already been constructed so for management purposes are considered ready for operation plants. However, these two plants are expected to reach full COD in June 2021.
A union leadership contender demanding a wealth tax to pay for the pandemic has his own property empire, it can be revealed today.

Unite, Britains most powerful union, is expected to fire the starting gun on the race to succeed Len McCluskey as general secretary within days.

His closest lieutenant Howard Beckett, who is assistant general secretary, has announced he will stand to replace Red Len.

The hard-Left candidate is a vociferous proponent of imposing a wealth tax and railed against the stamp duty cut for benefiting people buying second homes.

Howard Beckett, a contender for the Unite union leadership who is demanding a wealth tax to pay for the pandemic has his own property empire, the Mail has learnt

Beckett, who is assistant general secretary, has announced he will stand to replace Len McCluskey who has been in charge of Unite for 11 years

But the Daily Mail has learnt Mr Beckett owns at least three properties, including a flat in Bloomsbury, central London, bought for 640,000 without a mortgage six years ago.

The apartment is situated in a Grade II-listed Art Deco building, a short walk from Unites headquarters in the capital.

Mr Beckett bought his 573,000 home on the Wirral 19 years ago, and he also has joint ownership of a nearby office building  valued at 900,000 in 2002  with his former business partner.

He was a partner in a solicitors in Merseyside until May 2011, when he was made director of legal services at Unite.

Three months later, Bemrose, Beckett and Hagan Solicitors was bought for 2.69million by Thompsons, which provides legal services for Unite members.

The Daily Mail has learnt Mr Beckett owns at least three properties, including a flat in Bloomsbury, central London, bought for 640,000 without a mortgage six years ago

Mr Beckett bought his 573,000 home on the Wirral 19 years ago

On its website, Thompsons describes its long and successful relationship with Unite. A spokesman for the firm said the 2011 acquisition was a commercial transaction, with the purchase price set following an independent valuation of the business by a leading national firm of accountants.

Mr Beckett last night refused to disclose how much he received from the sale. Unite has been the Labour Partys biggest financial donor and Mr McCluskey was one of the strongest allies of former leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The general secretary has been heavily critical of Mr Corbyns successor Sir Keir Starmer, who he has warned risks being dumped into the dustbin of history because Labour voters do not know what he stands for.

Unite is due to hold a meeting next week to decide on the timetable for the election. Mr McCluskey is retiring after leading the union for 11 years.

He also has joint ownership of a nearby office building  valued at 900,000 in 2002  with his former business partner

Mr Beckett, who has a seat on Labours ruling national executive committee, also has been a strident critic of Sir Keir.

In a tweet last year, he wrote: Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer, I have a message for you both. We wont stand idly by while you dump the pandemic fallout on the working class. We will fight back.

Mr Beckett has repeatedly sought to put pressure on Sir Keir to back a wealth tax and has said that his failure to do so means he is moving Labour to the right of the oligarch class. A wealth tax must pay for this crisis, he posted on Twitter this year.

Mr Beckett also criticised the temporary stamp duty cut announced last July for not excluding second-home buyers. I am angry beyond words. How dare they abandon workers and renters while handing tax cuts to the very richest, he tweeted.

In 2016 he defended Mr McCluskey after it emerged that Unite had contributed more than 400,000 towards the purchase of a 700,000 central London flat for the general secretary.

In recent days, Mr McCluskey has faced pressure to agree to an inquiry into how the cost of a hotel and conference centre being built for Unite soared from 7million to 98million.

Mr Beckett and Unite both declined to comment last night.
No schooling until department pays the R8 million it owes the construction company, say parents

Parents at a primary school in Kariega won't send their children to school until the education department pays outstanding fees of R8 million for renovations.

Construction has been on hold since 2018 because the provincial department did not pay the company.

Parents say they will continue protesting until construction resumes.

About 100 parents burnt tyres at the gates of Jubilee Park Primary in Kariega, Eastern Cape, before marching to the district education department office on Thursday. They demand the department pay outstanding fees to the construction company renovating the school.

Parents say they have been keeping their children at home since 29 March to force the department to respond.

Last month we reported that nearly 2,000 learners were using prefabricated classrooms while teachers and other staff sat under a tree on the school grounds. The school is surrounded by overgrown shrubbery and piles of unused construction material.

A R77-million project to rebuild the school halted in 2018. The construction company says the department owes it R8 million.

"We have had enough of our children attending classes four times a month or once a week," said a parent, who asked to be identified only as Eunice.

On Thursday, she said they would continue protesting until the construction company is paid to complete renovating the school.

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Chairperson of the school construction project steering committee Mgcini Mejane said that for the past seven years, construction at the school has been delayed due to unpaid bills. "Things are getting worse now during Covid-19 because classrooms are overcrowded. If you attend class one day in a week it creates laziness among children and they are getting exposed to anti-social behaviours because most of the week they are in the streets.

"Parents are now gatvol," he said.

Terry Hake, Community Liaison Officer for the construction company, said they are battling to recover their money from the department. "We are tired of their lies. It is wrong that learners must be exposed to bricks, cement and construction material on school premises when coming to class," he said.

Eastern Cape Education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said that Jubilee Park Primary is one of the schools on its priority list for completion this financial year.

Mtima urged parents to stop protesting and reopen the school. "Funds have already been set aside and will be released in due course ... We condemn the closure of the school."
Ask Dr. Jeanette Success On The Way The War Between Fear and Faith Step Into The Supernatural Realm of Faith. Touch The Golden Scepter part 2

If you ask, Why would I write about this? Its hundreds and hundreds of years old; but the war between Fear and Faith rages. This account will help you become brave, courageous and bold in your faith! Esther (Hadassah) today would be classified as an orphan or perhaps a foster child. Her mother and father had died. She was raised by Mordecai, her cousin. He raised her as his own daughter and kept a careful watch over her from her childhood. (Esther 2:7). Mordecai was trusted and sat in the kings gate. In that honored position, he could get information and hear news as things developed in king Ahasuerus (Xerxes) kingdom (palace/house). Vashti was the Kings Queen before Esther became queen. It was within the Kings command to hold feasts (banquets) wherein he invited his princes and his servants in power of Persia and Media and the nobles and princes of the provinces who ranked under him. He was proud and showed his glorious riches of his kingdom for 180 days (a hundred and four score days). After that time, he made a feast to all the people (Esther 1:5) Queen Vashti also decided she would make a feast for the women in the royal house of Ahasuerus. This feast went on for seven days and on the seventh day the king was joyful and merry, along with the guests and wine was a pleasantry to partake of. Obviously. The evidence points to Vashti being tired of participating in all these wild parties and being shown off like a piece of artwork. Seems she was being taken for granted and nothing more than a show piece. Nowadays, she might be called a trophy wife. When Ahasuerus commanded his chamberlains to call in queen Vashti, she refused to obey his command. He was (wroth) and he didnt know what to do about this rebellious queen! The chamberlains were upset too and figured they had to do something to squelch this rebellion right away. Led by Chamberlain Memucan, he said, Vashti the queen has done a very wrong thing and we have to do something about this! What if everyone hears about her disobedience? If they hear, then all the wives will go against not only the kings commandment, but their actions will be heard throughout the empire and wives will be doing whatever they want to do with no boundaries , dishonoring their husbands! The chamberlains said the king should send forth letters declaring that every man should bear rule in his own house and the women shall give honour to their husbands both small and great and the letter should be published in everyones language and to every people. Vashti is replaced, virgins are gathered. Mordecai enters Esther into the kings beauty contest. Beautiful young virgins (Esther 2:2) are gathered. The chamberlains cleared the way for another queen. Meanwhile, a plot is brewing where Haman (evil Haman) was conspiring to kill the whole of the Jews. He had been promoted. He decided that all the kings servants bow and reverence him. Day after day Mordecai, a Jew, sitting in the kings gate refused to bow. His principles and honor to God disallowed him to act subservient to Haman. The servants told on Mordecai. Haman couldnt stand it. He got the big head. Hamans solution to being ignored was to destroy a whole population of people, all the Jews. He knew Mordecai was a Jew. Mordecai learns of Hamans mass murder plot and decides to tell Esther. She was now Queen and had won the beauty contest. The king found favor in her and chose her as the new Queen. Mordecai and believed that she could do something about Hamans evil plot of destruction. At first she didnt want to do it. She was very fearful. With Mordecais persistent convincing, he helped her build her faith. knew it was not accepted for anyone to go to the king without being called. Mordecai convinced her that she was not going to be saved from this, but she too would be destroyed. Her faith was built. She adorned herself in her royal apparel and went into the inner court. So far, she had won the battle of faith over fear. The king holds out to her the Golden Scepter. She touches it. She told the king the whole story about evil Haman and his plot. A banquet was held. Haman had concocted a convincing lie to the king; that these people were a threat and would destroy his kingdom and they must be destroyed! The king listened. Meantime, Mordecai had explained everything to Esther about Hamans plot. Esther came to understand and her faith was increased as she saw the terrible predicament. Mordecai kept talking to her to build her faith and lessen her fear. He had convinced her to go to the king and tell him everything. The king learned that Mordecai had been the one to save the kings life earlier. Mordecai knew in his heart that saving the Jews would come from another place (Esther 4:14) if she refused to tell all. Mordecai would not back down. He valued his peoples lives and showed great courage. Space doesnt permit to write about the entire account. Haman had also plotted to have Mordecai hanged. He had built gallows. Everything turned on him and he was hanged on his own gallows. We see two elements playing in this account of Queen Vashti and Queen Esther. Very similar to our own every day lives. On the one hand, we see Vashti as a womens liberator and teaching the women to account themselves more than a beautiful ornament. Her fearless role of refusing to prance before the king and all the others showed as well that in a sovereign move of God, who knows all things before they happen moved all obstacles to save and spare the Jewish people. Thats why he is Jehovah , the eternal: He who was, He who is and the One to come. On the other hand, we have Esther who proved to be a main active participant in Gods divine plan for all His people and His sovereign rule over all the affairs of mankind. Never think that God is sitting around waiting for us to be defeated and destroyed. We must be consistent and persistent reminding ourselves of this ongoing battle of faith over fear. Our Lord God Almighty is working behind the scenes to correct problems; to build up our faith and alleviate our fears! Thats why He is God! Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker is Founder-Superintendent of Todays Fresh Start Charter School 4514 Crenshaw BL-323-293-9826 www.todaysfreshstart.org -articles are copyright  all rights reserved Inquiring Minds Want To Know www.askdrjeanetteparker.com -askdrjeanette tm [email protected] [email protected]

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PARIS  There are elite schools and then there is ENA, the small French graduate college that has turned out presidents and prime ministers with such cookie-cutter consistency that it is no exaggeration to say France has been run by its enarques.

President Emmanuel Macron attended the Strasbourg-based finishing school for top civil servants. So did the two prime ministers he has appointed. So did his predecessor, Francois Hollande. So did Jacques Chirac. At a time of growing social fracture, no other institution has symbolized a clubby, mostly male French elitism as vividly as the Ecole Nationale dAdministration.

Now, its gone. Mr. Macron announced on Thursday the closure of ENA, and its replacement by a new Institute of Public Service, or ISP, as part of what he called a deep revolution in recruitment for public service.

The decision, one year ahead of a presidential election, is intended to signal Mr. Macrons determination to democratize opportunity and create a public service that is more transparent and efficient. Earlier this year, he deplored the fact that Frances social elevator had broken down and worked less well than 50 years ago.
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K (mark one)

[X] A NNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

or [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ___________ to ________________ Commission file number: 000-53809 JOSHUA GOLD RESOURCES INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Nevada 27-0531073 (State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)

Unit 20 1033 Pattullo Avenue Woodstock, Ontario, Canada N4V 1C8 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code) (226) 888-5610 (Registrant  s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes  No x Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes  No x Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No  Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit post such files). Yes x No  Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of  large accelerated filer,   accelerated filer  and  smaller reporting company  in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  Accelerated filer  Non-accelerated filer x Smaller reporting company x

Emerging Growth Company 





1

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management  s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.) Yes  No x State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant  s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. Based on an average bid and asked price of $0.11495 per share the aggregate market value of the registrant's voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on June 30, 2020, was $12,677,498.

As of April 7, 2021, the registrant had 145,451,342 shares of Common Stock, $0.0001 par value, issued and outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

A description of  Documents Incorporated by Reference  is contained in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report.





2

JOSHUA GOLD RESOURCES INC.

2020 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS







PART I 4 ITEM 1. Business 4 ITEM 1A. Risk Factors 7 ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 11 ITEM 2. Properties 11 ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings 35 ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 36 PART II 36 ITEM 5. Market for Registrant  s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 36 ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data 37 ITEM 7. Management  s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 37 ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 39 ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 39 ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 56 ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures 56 ITEM 9B. Other Information 57 PART III 57 ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 57 ITEM 11. Executive Compensation 59 ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 60 ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 62 ITEM 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 62 PART IV 63 ITEM 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules 63













3

PART I

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the sections entitled  Management  s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations  and  Business,  contains  forward-looking statements  that include information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies, expectations, competitive environment, regulation and availability of resources. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding: proposed new products or services; our statements concerning litigation or other matters; statements concerning projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts for our business, financial and operating results and future economic performance; statements of management  s goals and objectives; trends affecting our financial condition, results of operations or future prospects; our financing plans or growth strategies; and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Words such as  may,   will,   should,   could,   would,   predicts,   potential,   continue,   expects,   anticipates,   future,   intends,   plans,   believes  and  estimates,  and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by which, that performance or those results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time they are made and/or management  s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to:

 our inability to raise additional funds to support operations and capital expenditures;

 our inability to achieve greater and broader market acceptance of our products and services in existing and new market segments;

 our inability to successfully compete against existing and future competitors;

 our inability to manage and maintain the growth of our business;

 our inability to protect our intellectual property rights; and

 other factors discussed under the headings  Management  s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations  and  Business. 

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. If we do update 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.

ITEM 1. BUSINESS With respect to this discussion, the terms  we   us   our  and the  Company  refer to Joshua Gold Resources Inc., a Nevada corporation. (a) Corporate History and Background.

We were incorporated in the State of Nevada on July 10, 2009 under the name  ABC Acquisition Corp 1501.  Prior to the Stock Purchase transaction described below, our business purpose was to seek the acquisition of or merger with, an existing private company. Accordingly, we were engaged in organizational efforts in order to put us in a position where we could seek to target and eventually acquire an existing private company.

On June 4, 2010, Ben Fuschino, our sole officer and director at that time, sold his 35,000,000 shares of the Company  s common stock, which shares represented 100% of our issued and outstanding common stock, to Luc Duchesne and Robert Cormier for a total purchase price of $7,000 (the  Stock Purchase  ). Upon closing of the Stock Purchase, (i) Mr. Duchesne and Mr. Cormier held a controlling 100% ownership in the Company, (ii) we changed our business and became a start-up carbon measuring company and (iii) we changed our name to  Bio-Carbon Systems International Inc.  to better reflect our new business enterprise.







4

Immediately after the closing of the Stock Purchase, on June 4, 2010, we entered into a license agreement (the  Cormier License  ) with R&B Cormier Enterprises Inc. (  Cormier Enterprises  ), an Ontario corporation and a license agreement (the  GSN License  ) with GSN Dreamworks, Inc., an Ontario corporation (  GSN  ). The Cormier License and GSN License (collectively, the  License Agreements  ) granted the Company licensed intellectual property and technology to conduct airborne and other surveys of forested lands in areas that are difficult to access. Those surveys would have been conducted in a statistically verifiable process designed for use in carbon trading programs to assess the potential value of the surveyed lands as carbon sequestration land parcels in carbon trading, carbon sequestration, and other greenhouse gas emission control, offset and reduction programs.

Also, on June 4, 2010, the Company entered into consulting agreements (collectively, the  Consulting Agreements  ) with Mr. Duchesne and Mr. Cormier, pursuant to which Mr. Duchesne and Mr. Cormier agreed to provide the Company with management and advisory services with respect to the intellectual property licensed to the Company under the Cormier and GSN Licenses.

On December 23, 2010, the Company elected to terminate the License Agreements and Consulting Agreements as the Company determined that conditions were not in place for the successful exploitation of the technology covered by the License Agreements. The termination did not given rise to any penalties against the Company as the termination was concluded through a mutual agreement of separation.

Upon termination of the aforementioned License and Consulting Agreements, the Company abandoned the carbon measuring business and became a mineral exploration company located in Oakville, Ontario, Canada through the acquisition of a mineral rights lease and other mineral properties, as described in further detail below. The Company  s principal business activity now is the exploration of mineral property interests. The Company is considered to be in the exploration stage and substantially all of the Company  s efforts are devoted to exploring mineral property interests. There has been no determination whether the Company  s interests in unproven mineral properties contain mineral reserves which are economically recoverable.

On February 1, 2016, the Company registered articles of amendment with the state of Nevada changing the name of the Company from  Joshua Gold Resources Inc.  to  Enhanced Energy Solutions Corp. 

On October 18, 2016, the Company registered articles of amendment with the state of Nevada changing the name of the Company from  Enhanced Energy Solutions Corp.  back to  Joshua Gold Resources Inc. 

The Company does not have any current plans, arrangements, discussions or intentions, whether written or oral, to engage in a merger or acquisition with an identified or unidentified company or person to be used as a vehicle for a private company to become a reporting company. We are a development stage company and currently have little revenue. At December 31, 2020, our total current assets were $33,953 and our total current liabilities were $1,339,677. Our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2020, was $860,557.

(b) Business of Issuer.

Business Overview

We intend to devote substantially all of our efforts on establishing our business plan and continuing to grow our operations in the mineral exploration sector. We do not have sufficient capital to operate our business and will require additional funding to sustain operations through December 2021. There is no assurance that we will be able to achieve revenues sufficient to become profitable. Our internet address is www.joshuagoldresources.com.

Employees

As of February 28, 2021, we had no full-time employees and two part-time employees. We expect no significant changes in the number of our employees in the next twelve (12) months.





5

Competition

We are an exploration stage mineral resource exploration company that competes with other mineral resource exploration companies for financing and for the acquisition of mineral properties. Many of the mineral resource exploration companies with whom we compete have greater financial and technical resources than those available to us. Accordingly, these competitors may be able to spend greater amounts on acquisitions of mineral properties of merit, on exploration of their mineral properties and on development of their mineral properties. In addition, they may be able to afford more geological expertise in the targeting and exploration of mineral properties. This competition could result in competitors having mineral properties of greater quality and interest to prospective investors who may finance additional exploration and development. This competition could adversely impact our ability to achieve the financing necessary for us to acquire mineral property interests and conduct exploration activities.

We will also compete with other mineral exploration companies for financing from a limited number of investors that are prepared to make investments in mineral exploration companies. The presence of competing mineral exploration companies may adversely impact on our ability to raise additional capital in order to fund our exploration programs if investors are of the view that investments in competitors are more attractive based on the merit of the mineral properties under investigation and the price of the investment offered to investors.

Government Regulation and Standards There are several governmental regulations that materially restrict the exploration for minerals and the extraction of minerals and any related mining activities in Canada and in the Northwest Territories. The Company will be subject to the mining laws and regulations in force in Canada and in the Northwest Territories (as well as any other jurisdiction wherein a future-acquired property is located). In order to comply with applicable regulations, the Company may be required to obtain work permits, post bonds and perform remediation work for any physical disturbance to land.

Additionally, the Dodd  Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed into law in July of 2010, includes a requirement for certain companies using  conflict minerals  in the manufacturing of, or contracting to manufacture, products to publicly disclose the source of the conflict mineral. The conflict mineral list currently includes columbite-tantalite, cassiterite, wolframite, and gold mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo and several surrounding central African countries. These companies reporting obligations begin with the 2013 calendar year, with the initial reports due in May 2014. The Company currently has no business operations, nor intent to engage in business development activity, within the covered region. The Company is currently focused on development of mineral properties primarily in Canada. However, the Company may incur costs related to its future customers  compliance with the law, including, but not limited to: (i) assist future mineral purchase customers by creating and maintaining adequate chain of custody records relating to minerals mined by the Company to establish that they are not conflict minerals, and (ii) provide information to customers for their own conflict mineral reports and audits.

As a general matter, management of the Company will attempt to ensure that all budgets for exploration programs include a contingency for regulatory compliance.

Emerging Growth Company

We are and we will remain an " emerging growth company " as defined under The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the  JOBS Act  ), until the earliest to occur of (i) the last day of the fiscal year during which our total annual revenues equal or exceed $1 billion (subject to adjustment for inflation), (ii) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering, (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt securities, or (iv) the date on which we are deemed a " large accelerated filer " (with at least $700 million in public float) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the  Exchange Act  ).

As an " emerging growth company ", we may take advantage of specified reduced disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:

 only two years of audited financial statements in addition to any required unaudited interim financial statements with correspondingly reduced  Management  s Discussion and Analysis  disclosure;  reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements;  no requirement that we hold non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements; and exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting.





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We have taken advantage of some of these reduced burdens, and thus the information we provide stockholders may be different from what you might receive from other public companies in which you hold shares.

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. However, we are choosing to  opt out  of such extended transition period, and as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that our decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.

Notwithstanding the above, we are also currently a  smaller reporting company  , meaning that we are not an investment company, an asset-backed issuer, or a majority-owned subsidiary of a parent company that is not a smaller reporting company and have a public float of less than $75 million and annual revenues of less than $50 million during the most recently completed fiscal year. In the event that we are still considered a  smaller reporting company  , at such time as we cease being an  emerging growth company  , the disclosure we will be required to provide in our SEC filings will increase, but will still be less than it would be if we were not considered either an  emerging growth company  or a  smaller reporting company  . Specifically, similar to  emerging growth companies  ,  smaller reporting companies  are able to provide simplified executive compensation disclosures in their filings; are exempt from the provisions of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (  SOX  ) requiring that independent registered public accounting firms provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting; and have certain other decreased disclosure obligations in their SEC filings, including, among other things, only being required to provide two years of audited financial statements in annual reports.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common stock involves a number of very significant risks. You should carefully consider the following known material risks and uncertainties in addition to other information in this prospectus in evaluating our company and its business before purchasing shares of our company's common stock. You could lose all or part of your investment due to any of these risks. RISKS RELATING TO OUR COMPANY Our auditors have expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020 were prepared assuming that we will continue our operations as a going concern. We were incorporated on July 10, 2009, and do not have a history of earnings. As a result, our independent accountants in their audit report have expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Continued operations are dependent on our ability to complete equity or debt financings or generate profitable operations. Such financings may not be available or may not be available on reasonable terms. Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty. There is uncertainty regarding our ability to continue as a going concern, indicating the possibility that we may be required to curtail or discontinue our operations in the future. If we discontinue our operations, you may lose all of your investment. We have an accumulated deficit of $(14,888,149) from our inception on July 10, 2009 to December 31, 2020 and have completed only the preliminary exploration stages of our business plan. We anticipate incurring additional losses before realizing any revenues and will depend on additional financing in order to meet our continuing obligations and ultimately, to attain profitability. We anticipate that our current cash assets will be extinguished by December 31, 2021. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the uncertainty about our ability to continue our business. If we are unable to obtain additional financing from outside sources and eventually produce enough revenues, we may be forced to sell our assets, or curtail or discontinue our operations. If this happens, you could lose all or part of your investment.

We are in an early stage of development. If we are not able to develop out business as anticipated, we may not be able to generate revenues or achieve profitability and you may lose your investment. We have no production, no customers, and we have earned revenues on the sale of four mineral lease totaling $15,336 to date. Our business prospects are difficult to predict because of our limited operating history, early stage of development, and unproven business strategy. Our primary business activities will be focused on exploration of the mining



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interests. Although we believe that our business plan has significant profit potential, we may not attain profitable operations and our management may not succeed in realizing our business objectives. If we are not able to develop out business as anticipated, we may not be able to generate revenues or achieve profitability and you may lose your investment. We expect to suffer losses in the immediate future that may cause us to curtail or discontinue our operations. We expect to incur operating losses in future periods. These losses will occur because we do not yet have any revenues to offset the expenses associated with the development of mining properties, and our business operations, generally. We cannot guarantee that we will ever be successful in generating revenues in the future. We recognize that if we are unable to generate revenues, we will not be able to earn profits or continue operations. There is no history upon which to base any assumption as to the likelihood that we will prove successful, and we can provide investors with no assurance that we will generate any operating revenues or ever achieve profitable operations. If we are unsuccessful in addressing these risks, our business will almost certainly fail.

We may not be able to execute our business plan or stay in business without additional funding. Our ability to generate future operating revenues depends in part on whether we can obtain the financing necessary to implement our business plan. We will likely require additional financing through the issuance of debt and/or equity in order to establish profitable operations, and such financing may not be forthcoming. If such conditions and constraints continue or if there is no investor appetite to finance our business, we may not be able to acquire additional financing through credit markets or equity markets. Even if additional financing is available, it may not be available on terms favorable to us. At this time, we have not identified or secured sources of additional financing. Our failure to secure additional financing when it becomes required will have an adverse effect on our ability to remain in business.

The loss of the services of Benedetto Fuschino, our President and Chief Executive Officer, Dino Micacchi Chief Financial Officer, or our failure to timely identify and retain competent personnel could negatively impact our ability to develop our properties. The development of our business will continue to place a significant strain on our limited personnel, management, and other resources. Our future success depends upon the continued services of our executive officers who are developing our business, and on our ability to identify and retain competent consultants and employees with the skills required to execute our business objectives. The loss of the services of Benedetto Fuschino, our President and Chief Executive Officer, Dino Micacchi, our Secretary-Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, or our failure to timely identify and retain competent personnel could negatively impact our ability to develop our website and sell our services, which could adversely affect our financial results and impair our growth. We are a mineral exploration business in the development stage, with no experience in the market, and failure to successfully compensate for this inexperience may adversely impact our operations and financial position. By industry standards, there are generally four types of mining companies. We are considered an  exploration stage  company. Typically, an exploration stage mining company is focused on exploration to identify new, commercially viable gold deposits.  junior mining companies  typically have proven and probable reserves of less than one million ounces of gold, generally produce less than 100,000 ounces of gold annually, and/or are in the process of trying to raise enough capital to fund the remainder of the steps required to move from a staked claim to production.  Mid-tier  and large mining  senior  companies may have several projects in production plus several million ounces of gold in reserve.

As a mineral exploration business, in a highly competitive industry. We have little operating history, few substantial tangible assets, no customer base and no revenue to date. This makes it difficult to evaluate our future performance and prospects. Our prospectus must be considered in light of the risks, expenses, delays and difficulties frequently encountered in establishing a business in an depressed industry characterized by intense competition, including:



 our business model and strategy are still evolving and are continually being reviewed and revised;  we may not be able to raise the capital required to develop our initial customer base and reputation;  we may not be able to successfully implement our business model and strategy; and  our management consists of two people: Benedetto Fuschino who serves as our Chief Executive Officer, President and Director, and Dino Micacchi who serves as our Chief Financial Officer, Secretary-Treasurer and Director. We cannot be sure that we will be successful in meeting these challenges and addressing these risks and uncertainties. If we are unable to do so, our business will not be successful and the value of your investment in our company will decline.



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Our failure to protect our mineral property rights may significantly impair our competitive advantage. Our success and ability to compete depend in large part upon protecting our mineral property rights. We rely on a combination of fund-raising deferred financing to protect our property rights. The steps we have taken may not be sufficient to prevent the expiration of these rights. We may face costly claims against our mineral property rights, the result of which would decrease the amount of cash we would anticipate to operate and complete our business plan. We anticipate that from time to time we could receive communications from third parties asserting that they have certain property rights. If anticipated claims arise, we will evaluate their merits. Any claims brought by third parties could result in protracted and costly litigation, which could result in substantial cost to us and diversion of our resources, may be necessary to enforce our property rights or to defend us against claims by others. Any litigation could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We incur costs associated with SEC reporting compliance, which may significantly affect our financial condition. The Company made the decision to become an SEC "reporting company" in order to comply with applicable laws and regulations. We incur certain costs of compliance with applicable SEC reporting rules and regulations including, but not limited to attorneys' fees, accounting and auditing fees, other professional fees, financial printing costs and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance costs in an amount estimated at approximately $45,000 per year. On balance, the Company determined that the incurrence of such costs and expenses was preferable to the Company being in a position where it had very limited access to additional capital funding. The nature of mineral exploration and production activities involves a high degree of risk and the possibility of uninsured losses that could materially and adversely affect our operations.

Exploration for minerals is highly speculative and involves greater risk than many other businesses. Many exploration programs do not result in the discovery of mineralization and any mineralization discovered may not be of sufficient quantity or quality to be profitably mined. Few properties that are explored are ultimately advanced to the stage of producing mines. Our future exploration efforts will be subject to all of the operating hazards and risks normally incident to exploring for and developing mineral properties, including, but not limited to:

 Economically insufficient mineralized material;

 Fluctuations in production costs that may make mining uneconomical;

 Labor disputes;

 Unanticipated variations in grade and other geologic problems;

 Environmental hazards;

 Water conditions;

 Troublesome surface or underground conditions;

 Industrial accidents;

 Metallurgical and other processing problems;

 Mechanical and equipment performance problems;

 Failure of pit walls or dams;

 Unusual or unexpected rock formations;

 Personal injury, fire, flooding, cave-ins, and landslides; and

 Decrease in reserves due to a lower gold price.





Any of these risks can materially and adversely affect, among other things, the development of mineral properties, production quantities and rates, costs and expenditures, and production commencement dates. We currently have no insurance to guard against any of these risks. If we determine that capitalized costs associated with any of our mineral interests are not likely to be recovered, we would incur a write-down of our investment in these interests. All of these factors may result in losses proportionate to amounts spent, which may not be recoverable.

The potential profitability of mineral ventures depends in part upon factors beyond our control and even if we discover and exploit mineral deposits, we may never become commercially viable and we may be forced to cease operations.

The commercial feasibility of mineral properties is dependent upon many factors beyond our control, including the existence and size of mineral deposits in the properties we explore, the proximity and capacity of processing equipment, market fluctuations of prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, allowable production, and environmental regulation. These



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factors cannot be accurately predicted and any one or more of these factors may result in our Company not receiving an adequate return on invested capital. These factors may have material and negative effects on our financial performance and our ability to continue operations.

Mineral exploration and development activities are subject to comprehensive regulation, which may cause substantial delays or require capital outlays in excess of those anticipated, causing an adverse effect on our company.

Mineral exploration and development activities are subject to various laws, regulations and policies governing prospecting, mine development, mineral production, removal and transport of natural resources, as well as discharge of materials into the environment. Mining activities are also subject to various regulations regarding taxation, import and export, labor standards, occupational health standards, safety standards, waste disposal, toxic substances, land use, water use, environmental protection, and other matters.

Permits from various foreign, federal, state, provincial and local governmental authorities are required for mining operations to be conducted, and no assurance can be given that such permits will be successfully obtained. Environmental and other legal standards imposed by governmental authorities may be changed, and any such change may prevent us from conducting planned activities, or increase our costs of doing so, which could have material adverse effects on our business. Moreover, compliance with such laws may cause substantial delays or require capital outlays in excess of those anticipated, thus causing an adverse effect on our business operations. Additionally, we may be subject to liability for pollution or other environmental damages, which we may not be able to insure against due to prohibitive premium costs and other financial and practical considerations. Any laws, regulations, or policies of any government body or regulatory agency may be changed, applied, or interpreted in a manner which will alter and negatively affect our ability to carry on our business. We cannot assure you that new rules and regulations will not be enacted, or that existing rules and regulations will not be applied in a manner which could limit or curtail our exploration or development activities on our properties.

We believe that we are in compliance with all material laws and regulations that currently apply to our activities, but there can be no assurance that we can continue to remain in compliance. Further, there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain or maintain all permits necessary for our future operations, or that we will be able to obtain them on reasonable terms. To the extent such necessary approvals are required and are not obtained, we may be delayed or prohibited from proceeding with planned exploration or development of our mineral properties.

The lack of an established trading market for our common stock will limit the ability of our stockholders to liquidate their investment.

Our common stock has been quoted on the OTC Pink market only since August 2019. There is currently a very limited public market for our common stock and we can provide no assurance that a significant trading market will ever develop or that, if developed, it will be sustained. Consequently, holders of our common stock may find it difficult to resell their securities at the times and in the amounts that they desire.

We may, in the future, issue additional common shares, which would reduce investors  percent of ownership and may dilute our share value.

Our Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of 400,000,000 shares of common stock. The future issuance of common stock may result in substantial dilution in the percentage of our common stock held by our then existing shareholders. We may value any common stock issued in the future on an arbitrary basis. The issuance of common stock for future services or acquisitions or other corporate actions may have the effect of diluting the value of the shares held by our investors, and might have an adverse effect on any trading market for our common stock.

The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock.

Our Articles of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock with designations, rights and preferences determined from time to time by our directors. Accordingly, our directors are empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting, or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the common stock. In the event of issuance, the preferred stock could be utilized, under certain circumstances, as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company.

Our common shares may be subject to the  Penny Stock  Rules of the SEC and the trading market in our securities is limited, which makes transactions in our stock cumbersome and may reduce the value of an investment in our stock.







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Under U.S. federal securities legislation, our common stock will likely constitute "penny stock  since quoted on the OTCQB. Penny stock is any equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require that a broker or dealer approve a potential investor's account for transactions in penny stocks, and the broker or dealer receive from the investor a written agreement to the transaction, setting forth the identity and quantity of the penny stock to be purchased. In order to approve an investor's account for transactions in penny stocks, the broker or dealer must obtain financial information and investment experience objectives of the person, and make a reasonable determination that the transactions in penny stocks are suitable for that person and the person has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial matters to be capable of evaluating the risks of transactions in penny stocks. The broker or dealer must also deliver, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, a disclosure schedule prepared by the Commission relating to the penny stock market, which, in highlight form sets forth the basis on which the broker or dealer made the suitability determination. Brokers may be less willing to execute transactions in securities subject to the "penny stock" rules. This may make it more difficult for investors to dispose of our common stock and cause a decline in the market value of our stock. Disclosure also has to be made about the risks of investing in penny stocks in both public offerings and in secondary trading and about the commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative, current quotations for the securities and the rights and remedies available to an investor in cases of fraud in penny stock transactions. Finally, monthly statements have to be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks.

Because we do not presently intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock, our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless they sell them.

For the indefinite future, we intend to retain any future earnings to finance the development and expansion of our business. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Unless we pay dividends, our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless they sell them.

The recent COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak and related government, private sector, and individual consumer responsive actions may adversely affect our business operations, financial condition, liquidity, and cash flow.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization continues to spread in the United States, Canada, and in many other countries globally. Related government and private sector responsive actions may adversely affect our business operations. It is impossible to predict the effect and ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as the situation is rapidly evolving. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions taken to contain it or treat its impact.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES Our corporate headquarters moved from 1321 Dundas Street, Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, N4S 7V9 to Unit 20  1033 Pattullo Avenue, Woodstock, Ontario, Canada N4V 1C8 and our telephone number is +1-226-888-5610.

We currently have leases on twelve properties:

a) Kenty Gold Property

McClay Conveyed Property. On October 4, 2012, the Company entered into and closed a mineral property acquisition agreement (the  McClay Agreement  ) with Brian McClay, a British Columbia, Canada resident (  McClay  ), pursuant to which McClay agreed to sell to Company an undivided one hundred percent (100%) interest in and to certain mineral interests found on the Kenty Gold Property located in the Townships of Swayze and Dore, Ontario, Canada (the  McClay Conveyed Property  ).

As consideration for the sale of the McClay Conveyed Property, the Company agreed to deliver the following to McClay in the manner set forth below: (a) Closing Date . CDN$50,000 within three (3) business days following the closing date.

(b) February 4, 2013 . (i) CDN$100,000 on or before February 4, 2013; and



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(ii) 200,000 common shares of Company on or before February 4, 2013.

(c) April 4, 2013 . (i) CDN$150,000 on or before April 4, 2013; and (ii) 200,000 common shares of Company on or before April 4, 2013.

(d) October 4, 2013 . (i) CDN$300,000 on or before October 4, 2013; and (ii) 250,000 common shares of Company on or before October 4, 2013.

(e) April 4, 2014 . (i) CDN$300,000 on or before April 4, 2014; and (ii) 250,000 common shares of Company on or before April 4, 2014.

(f) October 4, 2014 . (i) CDN$300,000 on or before October 4, 2014; and (ii) 250,000 common shares of Company on or before October 4, 2014.

(g) April 4, 2015 . (i) CDN$300,000 on or before April 4, 2015; and (ii) 550,000 common shares of Company on or before April 4, 2015.

(h) Reserve . Upon completion of a NI 43-101 compliant Indicated Reserve of 1,000,000 Troy Ounces of Gold (Aurum Metal) on the McClay Conveyed Property, Company shall pay CDN$1,000,000 to McClay.

(i) Production . (i) Upon production of 1,000,000 Troy Ounces of Gold (Aurum Metal) from the McClay Conveyed Property, Company shall pay CDN$1,000,000 to McClay. (ii) Upon production of 3,000,000 Troy Ounces of Gold (Aurum Metal) from the McClay Conveyed Property, Company shall pay CDN$2,000,000 to McClay. (iii) Upon production of 5,000,000 Troy Ounces of Gold (Aurum Metal) from the McClay Conveyed Property, Company shall pay CDN$2,000,000 to McClay.

(j) Early Buyout Option . Company shall have the option of early buyout within one year of execution for a cash payment of CDN$750,000 and 750,000 common shares of Company.

In addition, upon the Commencement of Commercial Production (as defined in the McClay Agreement), Company shall pay to McClay a royalty in an amount equal to three percent (3%) of all Net Smelter Returns (as defined in the McClay Agreement) on minerals mined from the McClay Conveyed Property (the  Seller NSR  ) on the terms and conditions as set out in the McClay Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any point in time following the closing date and upon Company  s sole election, McClay shall sell to Company fifty percent (50%) of the Seller NSR for a purchase price of CDN$1,500,000.

In 2013 the Company recognized an impairment charge of $657,667 against the carrying value of the Kenty Property based on the decrease in the market price of gold which the Company believes is other than temporary.

As at December 31, 2020, the Company has made payments of $125,000 to the Vendors.

As at December 31, 2020, a third party has filed a claim in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, against the Company. The Company and its legal counsel have determined that the claim is without merit and that no further impairment of the property  s value is required. The third party has made application claiming 100% ownership of the Kenty Property. The Company has responded in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, with a counter application claiming the property was acquired from the Vendors, who at the time had an undivided 100% interest in the property. The Company has also claimed damages in the amount of $1,000,000.00 CDN.

b) Carson Property

In December 2016, the Company entered into a mineral property acquisition agreement pursuant to which the Company acquired the mining lease to the Carson Property. Under the acquisition agreement, the Company was required to pay and issued equity consideration of 150,000 shares of common stock at $0.10 per share.





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In 2016 the Company recognized an impairment charge of $15,000 against the carrying value of the Carson Property based on the company  s ability to continue as a going concern.

c) Asquith Property

On August 17, 2020 the Company sold its one hundred percent interest in these contiguous four single cell staked mining claims located in Asquith Township, Larder Lake Mining Division approximately 100km south west of Kirkland Lake, and approximately 110km south of Timmins, Ontario. They are recorded in MLAS by the following Tenure IDs: 555444 (Cell ID 41P11C056), 555445 (Cell ID 41P11C057 ), 561605 (Cell ID 41P11C036), 561606 (Cell ID 41P11C037) for $15,336 (CDN$20,000) in cash. a) b) c) d) C1 Mortimer Property

On October 8, 2016 Joshua entered into a three-year Joint Venture Option Agreement with the C1 Syndicate owners of a group of claims in Dore and Swayze Townships, Porcupine Mining Division. The C1 Property was named after Charlie Mortimer who has been prospecting in the Swayze Township area for over fifty years. The C1 Property is contiguous to the west, north, and east side of the old Kenty Mine which produced gold in the 1930s, 1950s and 1980s.

In order to earn the fifty per cent interest the Company:

1. Paid $5,000 CDN on June 2, 2017 and $5,000 CDN on July 7, 2017, 2. Paid ten million shares of common stock of the Company to the prospectors pro rata upon signing at $0.10 per share 3. Granted Larry Salo first right of refusal on all exploration work and

The Company is required to: 1. Spend five hundred thousand ($500,000) on mineral exploration on the property within 30 months of the signing anniversary. 2. Pay the prospector owners, pro rata, $750,000 Canadian dollars, within 30 months of the signing anniversary.

The current owner prospectors will retain a three per cent (3%) Net Smelter Royalty on the properties

On October 8, 2020 the Joint venture agreement expired and was replaced with a new Joint Venture Option Agreement with the following terms:

1. Pay the prospector owners $75,000 CDN annual beginning January 1, 2021 and ending January 1, 30, 2030

2. The Company must spend three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) CDN in mineral exploration on the Property by January 1, 2025.

3. Upon signing, the Company will issue two million, four hundred thousand (2,400,000) JSHG common shares to the prospector owners as compensation for the changes to the original Joint Venture Option agreement.

4. The Company must keep each and all claims within the group that comprises the Property in good standing. If the Company forfeits one, any or all of the claims that comprise the Property, then the Company is obligated to inform the prospector owners of its impending forfeiture of any or all claims at least four months previous to the leased claims coming open for staking,

5. Prospector and driller Larry Salo will be granted first right of refusal on all exploration work,

6. The Company must maintain proper insurance on the Property at all times either by itself as a policy holder or through policies held by the Company's contractors such that the prospector owners have no legal liability at any time on the Property,

In 2017 the Company recognized an impairment charge of $240,000 against the carrying value of the C1 Mortimer Property based on the company  s ability to continue as a going concern.





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As at December 31, 2020, the Company had yet to issue 2,400,000 common shares of stock at $0.10 to the prospector owners.

In 2019 the Company recognized an additional impairment charge of $359,760 against the carrying value of the C1 Mortimer Property based on the company  s ability to continue as a going concern.

a) Chewitt Property

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company entered into a mineral property acquisition agreement, pursuant to which the Company acquired the mining lease to the Chewitt Property. Under the acquisition agreement, the Company issued equity consideration of 300,000 shares of common stock at $0.20 per share and $360 ($475 CDN).

In 2019 the Company recognized an impairment charge of $60,360 against the carrying value of the Chewitt Property based on the company  s ability to continue as a going concern.

f) King Solomon Mines Property

During the year December 31, 2019, the Company entered into a mineral property acquisition agreement, pursuant to which the Company acquired the mining lease to the King Solomon Mines Property. Under the acquisition agreement, the Company issued equity consideration of 8,000,000 shares of common stock at $0.16 per share and agreed to a two pe r cent (2.0%) Net Smelter Royalty (NSR) to be paid. Vendor granted the P urchaser an Option t o purchase 50% of the NSR (1%NSR) for $2 Million Canadian dollars ($2,000,000).

In 2019 the Company recognized an impairment charge of $1,280,000 against the carrying value of the King Solomon Mines Property based on the company  s ability to continue as a going concern.

g) Borden Lake North Property

On January 15, 2020, the Company entered into a mineral property acquisition agreement, pursuant to which the Company acquired 100% interest in eleven claims (approximately 495 acres), known as the Borden North Property in Cochrane and Darcy Townships located about 6.5 kilometers (app. 4 miles) north of the Newmont Borden Lake gold mine in Northern Ontario. Under the acquisition agreement, the Company issued equity consideration of 100,000 shares of common stock, valued at US$0.15 per share recorded in common shares issued and agreed to a two pe r cent (2.0%) Net Smelter Royalty (NSR) to be paid. Vendor granted the P urchaser an Option t o purchase 75% of the NSR (1.5%NSR) for $1 Million Canadian dollars ($1,000,000).

In 2020, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $15,000 on the carrying value of the Borden Lake North Property based on the substantial doubt of the Company  s ability to raise adequate financing.

h) Halcrow Gold, McCool, Seymour Lake Property

On April 14, 2020, the Company purchased a 100% interest in thirty-five claims, known as the Halcrow Gold Property, McCool Property and Seymour Lake Extension Property Northern Ontario. The Company paid one million JSHG common shares at $0.145 per share for the mineral property and a two per cent (2%) Net Smelter Royalty ('NSR') of which the Company has the option to repurchase 75% of the NSR for one million Canadian dollars ($1,000,000) for each of the three properties at any time.

In 2020, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $145,000 on the carrying value of the Halcrow Gold Property, McCool Property and Seymour Lake Extension Property based on the substantial doubt of the Company  s ability to raise adequate financing.

i) Haycock, Godfrey, Roma Lake Property

On August 20, 2020, the Company purchased a 100% interest in twenty claims, known as the Haycock Gold Property, Godfrey and Roma Lake Property in Northern Ontario. The Company paid two million three hundred thousand JSHG common shares at $0.06 per share for the mineral property and a three per cent (3%) Net Smelter Royalty ('NSR') of which the Company has the option to repurchase 75% of the NSR for one million Canadian dollars ($1,000,000) for each of the three properties at any time.

In 2020, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $138,000 on the carrying value of the Haycock Gold Property, Godfrey and Roma Lake Property based on the substantial doubt of the Company  s ability to raise adequate



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financing.

j) Hiltz Property

On November 19, 2020, the Company purchased a 100% interest in eight claims, known as the Hiltz in the Asquith Township in Northern Ontario. The Company paid three hundred thousand JSHG common shares at $0.06 per share for the mineral property and a two per cent (2%) Net Smelter Royalty ('NSR') of which the Company has the option to repurchase 75% of the NSR for one million five hundred thousand Canadian dollars ($1,500,000) at any time.

In 2020, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $18,000 on the carrying value of the Hiltz Property based on the substantial doubt of the Company  s ability to raise adequate financing.

k) Jo-Anne Property

On November 13, 2020, the Company purchased a 100% interest in two claims, known as the Jo-Anne Property, in Benoit Township in Northern Ontario. The Company paid two million four hundred thousand JSHG common shares at $0.07 per share for the mineral property and a two per cent (2%) Net Smelter Royalty ('NSR') of which the Company has the option to repurchase 50% of the NSR for two million Canadian dollars ($2,000,000) at any time.

In 2020, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $168,000 on the carrying value of the Jo-Anne Property based on the substantial doubt of the Company  s ability to raise adequate financing.

Additional Description of the Properties

Joshua Gold holds an interest in twelve mineral properties in Canada. All the properties are in Northern Ontario, except for the Carson property which is located in the Northwest Territories. It should be noted that three of the properties, the C-1, the Rollo, and the Kenty are all contiguous but differ in ownership by the Company. They are collectively referred to as the Swayze Area properties and share similar access, locations, and regional geology. However, detailed descriptions for historical exploration work and property geology are given.

Background Information Concerning Properties Located in the Canadian Province of Ontario: Janes, Asquith, C1 Mortimer, Chewitt, King Solomon Mines and Kenty

Upon recording of the mineral claims with the provincial Mining Recorder  s Office, the claims will remain in good standing for a period of two years. The claims can be renewed by performing the minimum specified assessment work within 2 years of the recording date for the claim.

Modernizing of the Mining Act in the Province of Ontario

The Ontario Ministry of Mines and Development (the  MNDM  ) has modernized the Mining Act, moving Ontario  s mining lands administration systems from ground staking and paper map staking to online registration of mining claims; and creating an online Mining Land Administration System (MLAS) that enhances client access to Ontario  s mining lands data and improves their ability to manage their files online.

Pre-Conversion Period

Traditional claim staking in Ontario came to an end on January 8, 2019. During this pre-conversion period claim staking will not be permitted, nor will other transactions such as transfers and the filing of assessment work reports. This period will allow MNDM to prepare for conversion as well as for exhaustive testing of the information technology architecture that will underpin MLAS, and provide enough time to enroll and train users on the new system prior to launch.

Types of Mining Claims

At conversion, there will be two claim types:

(a) Cell Claims

As defined in the Mining Act, a cell claim means a mining claim that relates to all of the land included in one or more cells on the provincial grid that is open for mining claim registration. A cell claim is created at conversion where there are one or more legacy claims in a cell, and all are held by the same holder. In this case, if there is more than one legacy



15

claim in a cell, those claims will merge into one cell claim. A cell claim created from conversion can be a minimum of one cell though it can be amalgamated to form a multi-cell claim up to a maximum of 25 cells.

(b) Boundary Claims

As defined in the Mining Act, a boundary claim is created at conversion when there are multiple legacy claims within a cell that cannot merge into a cell claim. There are two circumstances where mining claims will not merge into a cell claim:

1. When the legacy claims are held by different holders;

2. When the legacy claims are held by the same person who chooses to keep them separate by making an election through the Claim Boundary Report process.

Overall note: boundary cell indicates that the mineral rights are still defined by the legacy claim boundaries, of which the maps provided show and are representative of the physical area that the new claim news/cells represent under changes in the Ontario Mining Act.

 Jane Property

The Jane Property consists of two (2) legacy claims, converted into 31 cell claims (20 standard and 11 boundary claims. These require annual exploration expenditures of $10,200 CAD per year, accompanied by an industry standard report detailing the work completed. These are due on the claim anniversary dates, which also summarizes the cells that compose each legacy claim. These grant the holder, Joshua Gold Resources Inc., the sole right to explore for minerals, and to apply for a mining lease for extraction of the minerals. This does not grant any surface rights to the Crown land, nor rights to extract or mine aggregates from the claim areas.







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Jane Property Claim Summary Legacy Claim No. Claim Number Cell ID Claim Type Due Date Assessment Requirement Township 4286420 324079 41I09F126 Standard 2020-06-06 $ 400 Janes 4286421 324078 41I09F127 Standard 2020-06-06 $ 400 Janes 4286421 324077 41I09F087 Standard 2020-06-06 $ 400 Janes 4286420 311356 41I09F086 Standard 2020-06-06 $ 400 Janes 4286421 267459 41I09F129 Standard 2020-06-06 $ 400 Janes 4286420 266309 41I09F062 Boundary 2020-02-17 $ 200 Janes 4286420 266308 41I09F064 Boundary 2020-02-17 $ 200 Janes 4286420 228227 41I09F066 Boundary 2020-06-06 $ 200 Janes 4286420 227062 41I09F124 Standard 2020-02-17 $ 400 Janes 4286421 220945 41I09F109 Standard 2020-06-06 $ 400 Janes 4286420 219110 41I09F123 Standard 2020-02-17 $ 400 Janes 4286420 219109 41I09F104 Standard 2020-02-17 $ 400 Janes 4286421 208887 41I09F088 Standard 2020-06-06 $ 400 Janes 4286420 208355 41I09F103 Boundary 2020-02-17 $ 200 Janes 4286421 200828 41I09F089 Standard 2020-06-06 $ 400 Janes 4286420 189176 41I09F105 Standard 2020-02-17 $ 400 Janes 4286421 172087 41I09F067 Boundary 2020-06-06 $ 200 Janes 4286421 172086 41I09F069 Boundary 2020-06-06 $ 200 Janes 4286420 170910 41I09F085 Standard 2020-02-17 $ 400 Janes 4286420 154280 41I09F083 Boundary 2020-02-17 $ 200 Janes 4286420 154279 41I09F084 Standard 2020-02-17 $ 400 Janes 4286420 154278 41I09F065 Boundary 2020-02-17 $ 200 Janes 4286420 118251 41I09F102 Boundary 2020-02-17 $ 200 Janes 4286421 115891 41I09F128 Standard 2020-06-06 $ 400 Janes 4286420 115890 41I09F106 Standard 2020-06-06 $ 400 Janes 4286421 115889 41I09F107 Standard 2020-06-06 $ 400 Janes 4286421 115888 41I09F108 Standard 2020-06-06 $ 400 Janes 4286420 102938 41I09F122 Standard 2020-02-17 $ 400 Janes 4286420 102937 41I09F125 Standard 2020-02-17 $ 400 Janes 4286420 102936 41I09F063 Boundary 2020-02-17 $ 200 Janes 4286421 100594 41I09F068 Boundary 2020-06-06 $ 200 Janes Total







$ 10,200



The Janes leases expired during the year and were not renewed.

 Asquith The Asquith Property consists of one (1) legacy claims, converted into seven (7) cell claims (2 standard and 5 boundary claims). These require annual exploration expenditures of $2,000 CAD per year, accompanied by an industry standard report detailing the work completed. Amounts are due at different times of the year. These grant the holder, Joshua Gold, the sole right to explore for minerals, and to apply for a mining lease for extraction of the minerals. This does not grant any surface rights to the Crown land, nor rights to extract or mine aggregates from the claim areas. The table lists the legacy claim numbers and the new cell claims that these legacy mining claims have been converted to under the implementation of the new Ontario Mining Act.





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Asquith Property Claim Summary

Legacy Claim No. Claim Number Cell ID Claim Type Due Date Assessment Requirement Township 4270343 274594 41P11C036 Standard 2020-10-07 $ 400 Asquith 4270343 304417 41P11C037 Standard 2020-10-07 $ 400 Asquith 4270343 220166 41P11038 Boundary 2020-10-07 $ 400 Asquith 4270343 170164 41P11C016 Boundary 2020-10-07 $ 200 Asquith 4270343 311191 41P11C017 Boundary 2020-10-07 $ 200 Asquith 4270343 220166 41P11C038 Boundary 2020-10-07 $ 200 Asquith 4270343 274593 41P11C018 Boundary 2020-10-07 $ 200 Asquith Total







$ 2,000





During the year the Asquith property leases expired and were not renewed

 C1 Property The C1 Property consists of five (5) legacy mining claims that have been converted into 35 boundary claims defined under the new Mining Act in Ontario. These grant the holder, Joshua Gold, through its option with Kencana Technical Services Inc., the sole right to explore for minerals, and to apply for a mining lease for extraction of the minerals. This does not grant any surface rights to the Crown land, nor rights to extract or mine aggregates from the claim areas. The table lists the legacy claim numbers and the new cell claims that these legacy mining claims have been converted to under the new Ontario mining Act. Cells with IDs 41O15G360 (claims 289156, 280401), 41O14H341 (claims 107471, 129129), 41O14H343 (claims 157059, 190225), 41O15H344 (claims 230404, 144217, 216941) although indicated as boundary cells are fully owned due an overlap of the C1 and Rollo Properties. These require annual exploration expenditures of $7,000 CAD per year, accompanied by an industry standard report detailing the work completed. However, portions of this amount are due on individual claim anniversary dates which are summarized below:





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C1 Property Claim Summary Legacy Claim No. Claim Number Cell ID Claim Type Due Date Assessment Requirement Township 4270364 120200 41O15A001 Boundary 2020-12-11 $ 200 Swayze 4275471 233215 41O15A005 Boundary 2020-04-16 $ 200 Dore 4275471 164590 41O15A006 Boundary 2020-04-16 $ 200 Dore 4270364 148240 41O15B019 Boundary 2020-12-11 $ 200 Swayze 4270364 242943 41O15B020 Boundary 2020-12-11 $ 200 Swayze 4275530 269086 41O15G359 Boundary 2020-08-01 $ 200 Swayze 4270433 280401 41O15G360 Boundary 2020-06-27 $ 200 Swayze 4270364 299546 41O15G379 Boundary 2020-12-11 $ 200 Swayze 4275530 184588 41O15G379 Boundary 2020-08-01 $ 200 Swayze 4275530 240808 41O15G379 Boundary 2020-08-01 $ 200 Swayze 4270364 196353 41O15G380 Boundary 2020-12-11 $ 200 Swayze 4270364 108926 41O15G399 Boundary 2020-12-11 $ 200 Swayze 4270364 299547 41O15G400 Boundary 2020-12-11 $ 200 Swayze 4270433 107471 41O15H341 Boundary 2020-06-27 $ 200 Swayze 4270433 295435 41O15H341 Boundary 2020-08-01 $ 200 Swayze 4271227 190226 41O15H342 Boundary 2020-02-13 $ 200 Rollo 4270433 240808 41O15H342 Boundary 2020-08-01 $ 200 Swayze 4271227 190225 41O15H343 Boundary 2020-02-13 $ 200 Rollo 4271227 144217 41O15H344 Boundary 2020-02-13 $ 200 Rollo 4271227 252226 41O15H345 Boundary 2020-02-13 $ 200 Rollo 4275471 252226 41O15H345 Boundary 2020-04-16 $ 200 Dore 4275471 225198 41O15H346 Boundary 2020-04-16 $ 200 Dore 4270364 148238 41O15H361 Boundary 2020-12-11 $ 200 Swayze 4270433 210391 41O15H361 Boundary 2020-06-27 $ 200 Swayze 4271227 246882 41O15H362 Boundary 2020-02-13 $ 200 Rollo 4270433 295435 41O15H362 Boundary 2020-08-01 $ 200 Swayze 4271227 246881 41O15H363 Boundary 2020-02-13 $ 200 Swayze 4271227 144218 41O15H364 Boundary 2020-02-13 $ 200 Swayze 4275471 178621 41O15H365 Boundary 2020-04-16 $ 200 Dore 4275471 318112 41O15H366 Boundary 2020-04-16 $ 200 Dore 4270433 159036 41O15H380 Boundary 2020-08-01 $ 200 Swayze 4270433 280401 41O15H380 Boundary 2020-08-01 $ 200 Swayze 4270364 148239 41O15H381 Boundary 2020-12-11 $ 200 Swayze 4275471 121395 41O15H385 Boundary 2020-04-16 $ 200 Dore 4275471 252227 41O15H386 Boundary 2020-04-16 $ 200 Dore Total







$ 7,000









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Kenty Property The Kenty property consists of historical patents that grant full ownership of the mining and surface rights to the party that is awarded ownership after settlement or conclusion of the legal proceedings (Court File No. CV-13-480311). No taxes or levies are owed by Joshua Gold Resources Inc. until the resolution of the legal proceedings. The table lists each mining claim with the size, and required taxes due each year. These mining claims are described under LRO No. 53 in the Land Registry Office-Land Tides Division of Sudbury under abstracts: PIN 73113-0003(LT), PIN 73113-0004(LT), PIN 73113-0005(LT), PIN 73113-0006(LT), PIN 73113-0007(LT), PIN 73113-0008(LT), PIN 73113-0009(LT), PIN 73113-0010(LT), PIN73113-0011(LT), PIN 73113-0012(LT), PIN 731IV-0013(LT), PIN73113-0014(LT), PIN73113-0015(LT), PIN73n3-0016a(LT), PIN 73113-0017(I.T), and PIN 73114-0001(LT).

Kenty Property Leased Claims Summary

Claim No. Township Parcel Hectares Annual Tax S20835 Dore 7802SWS 13.68 $ 79.52 S20702 Swayze 7793SWS 15.69 $ 91.09 S20703 Swayze 7794SWS 18.18 $ 105.62 S20706 Swayze 7808SWS 16.84 $ 97.87 S20707 Swayze 7809SWS 12.14 $ 70.62 S20708 Swayze 7804SWS 15.35 $ 89.18 S20709 Swayze 7805SWS 12.15 $ 70.68 S20710 Swayze 7806SWS 9.88 $ 57.38 S20711 Swayze 7796SWS 14.8 $ 86.07 S20712 Swayze 7797SWS 14.69 $ 85.48 S20713 Swayze 7798SWS 13.1 $ 76.08 S20714 Swayze 7799SWS 8.31 $ 48.27 S20715 Swayze 7800SWS 9.98 $ 58.03 S20716 Swayze 7801SWS 11.01 $ 63.77 S20704 Swayze 779+5SWS 13.6 $ 79.09 S20705 Swayze 7807SWS 17.42 $ 101.29 Total



216.82 $ 1,260.04

 Carson Property The Carson Property consists of a single mining lease number NT-3446, registered with the NWT Mining Recorder, under the name of Andrew Currah, acting as trustee for Joshua Gold Resources Inc for a period of 21 years with 19 years remaining. Lease payments of $2,310 are required to be paid by June 30th. The lease consisted of the whole of Lot 1003, Quad 86-B-03 in the North Mining District in the Northwest Territories as shown on a plan survey number 76137 in the Legal Surveys Division, Department of Natural Resources Canada at Ottawa, said Lot being otherwise known as the BR#2 mineral claim containing 1,141.00 acres. The gives the holder the exclusive right to search for, win, work, and take all minerals, as defined in the Mining Regulations, in, upon or under the mineral claims, defined in full in the Northwest Territories Mining Regulations SOR/2014-68, Registration 2014-03-28 Northwest Territories Mining Regulations, P.C. 2014-306 2014-03-27. The property is subject to a 2% NSR, 1% due to John Rapski, of which 0.5% can be purchased for $1 million Canadian (CAD); and, 1% to 2214098 Ontario Ltd, of which 0.5% may be purchased for $1 million Canadian (CAD)

Carson Property

Location and Access

The Carson property is located in a remote area approximately 195 kilometers north-northwest of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Direct access is only possible via fixed wing or rotary wing aircraft from Yellowknife.



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However, winter access via the Colomac Winter road is possible. The road comes within 5km to the West of the property area.

Property and Ownership

The Carson property is 1141 acres comprising one mining lease registered in good standing with the NT Mining Recorder  s office and is geographically centered at 1158  35"W 649'57  N, NTS 086G/03, Mackenzie Mining District, North West Territories. The lease number is 3446, issued to John P Rapski June 30, 1993 and expiring June 30, 2024.

Regional Geology

The Damoti Lake area lies within the Slave Structural Province within the Indin Lake Supracrustal belt. This belt is composed of Archean age metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks of the Yellowknife Supergroup, and is truncated to the west by Archean age plutons and migamtites, and to the east by gneissic basement rocks. The Indin Lake belt form a series of north to northeast trending volcanic assemblages.

The Yellowknife Supergroup is composed of a lower Hewlitt group, a sequence of pillowed mafic tholeiitic basalts intercalated with more rare felsic calc-alkaline volcanics and are older than approximately 2.67 Ga. Overlying the Hewlitt group is Leta Arm group, a sequence of pollowed and massive mafic and felsic flows, and intermediate to felsic volcaniclastic rocks (2.6y Ga). The Chalco Lake group, consisting of conglomerates, sandstone-mudstones, and volcaniclastic rocks (<2.65 Ga). Sediments composed of interbedded agillites, siltstones, and greywacke beds are consistent with turbite deposition. Sedimentary horizons host iron formations of pyrite +/- pyrrhotite, as well as sulphide-bearing argillite units in the eastern area of the Indin Lake area.

Gabbro and quartz-diorite sills in the Indin Lake are thought to be related to volcanic units in the area. Volcanic rocks are intruded by grandodiorite and pegmatites of variable ages. Diabase dykes also cut all units in the Indin Lake area.

Property Geology

The Carson property is underlain by mafic and lesser felsic metavolcanic and subordinate metadsedimentary rocks of the Yellowknife Supergroup. Felsic metavolcanic rocks occur at the metavolcanic-metasedimentary contacts. The 1985 mapping program identified 8 major rock assemblages in the property area, which contacts trending slightly east of north.

To the central area of the property is the Snowden andesite and consists of pillowed, variolitic, porphyritic, and amigoidal flows. Two horizons of mafic volcaniclastic rocks are defined by mafic tuff and matric with felsic clasts which overly the Snowden andesite. A strongly sheared unit is equivalent to this unit but is identified as a mafic agglomerate. The Oti rhyolite occurs to the western side of the property. It is strongly brecciated and sericitized, hosting pyritic argillite are associated with graphitic shear zones within lenses of this unit. The Damoti rhyolite is mapped at the metavolcanic-metasedimentary rock contact, and is a fine grained and tuffaceous unit, with local interbeds of lapilli size fragments.

Yellowknife Supergoup metasediments underly the eastern side of the property, and consist of fine grained greywacke and argillite sequences. This sequence sows graded bedding of a turbidite sequence, and interpretation of top indicators suggests this unit overlies the metavolcanic sequences.

Several felsic porphyritic dykes intrude the property, and can be up to 20 meters in width. Additionally, several steeply dipping diabase dykes intrude the entire property stratigraphy.

Mineralization

Gold mineralization in the Damoti Lake area is characterized by quartz carbonate veins associated with regional scale structural deformation. Shear zones on the property are northeast trending and parallel to the regional tectonic fabric. The Hillop, Chuck vein, and Pond showings all occur in these northeast trending shear zones.

This style of mineralization is consistent with volcanic hosted orogenic lode-gold deposits. Quartz-carbonate veins are typically associated with altered volcanic wall rocks with sillification, pyrite, and chlorite alteration, which can include pyrrhotite and biotite alteration minerals. Trace amounts of chalcopyrite and galena can occur in mafic volcanic hosted shear zones. Gold grades on the property associated with quartz-carbonate veins typically show higher grade gold mineralization over narrow widths from 6 to 60 inches (~2.5 to 23.5 cm). Gold mineralization can also be associated with iron formations in volcanic and sedimentary sequences that are prospective for polymetallic base metal mineralization.







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In the property area, shear zones parallel to regional scale deformation zones host auriferous quartz-carbonate veins occur at the Check vein and the Hilltop showing in felsic, intermediate volcanics and sedimentary rocks. Lithological contacts also present a mineralization target for these styles of veins, of which is exemplified by the Pond showing.

Previous Exploration Work

Prospecting and exploration work in the Damoti Lake and Indin Lake areas began in 1938 with the discovery of the Barker (Anne) showing. This discovery lead to the staking and subsequent mapping and prospecting of much of the Indin Lake supracrustal belt by government and invested industry personnel. A number of showings were discovered including Diversi  ed, North Inca and Colomac, all of which reached an advanced stage of exploration.

Reconnaissance mapping of the lndin Lake belt commenced in 1939 by C5. Lord and J.T. Wilson of the Geological Survey of Canada, and was competed in 1948 (Lord, 1951; Fortier, 1949). Detailed geological examination was then conducted at Chalco Lake (Stanton et al., 1948; Pehrrson and Kerswill, 1997), Ranji Lake (Tremblay et al., 1953; Pehrrson and Kerswill, 1997b), and Ghost Lake (Wright, 1954; Pehrrson and Kerswill, 1997b).

A second round of exploration in the 1970's was focused on volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) mineralization. This work resulted in a number of base metal occurrences. During the 1980  s renewed interest in the belt culminated with the development of the Colomac mine and the Cass deposit.

Between 1970 and 1972, Freeport Oil Company explored the belt for base metal mineralization. A 2700 line kilometer airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey was conducted over ground west of the Damoti Lake area, this survey did identify a conductor on the west shore of Damoti Lake (Klein, 1970).

In 1981, Noranda staked the Betam claims adjacent to the present day Carson property. Geological, geochemical, and geophysical investigation were conducted. Anomalous, but low grade gold values were found in small sulphide-bearing quartz veins in the mafic volcanic rocks and the ground was allowed to lapse (Cluff and Myres, 1982).

In 1985, the Oti claims were staked along the western shore of Damoti Lake by Comaplex Resources International Ltd. and were examined by Placer Development Ltd. A number of low grade showings were discovered by geological, geochemical and geophysical surveys (Pinsent, 1985).

The Geologic Survey of Canada initiated 1:125,000 scale mapping furthered the geological understanding of the area (Frith, 1986; 1993). Detailed examination of the mineralized areas in the Indin Lake area was conducted from 1987 to 1991 (Morgan, 1992). Most recently the Indin belt was examined in the context of structural and sedimentological relationships (Pehrsson and Beaumont - Smith, 1994; Pehrsson and Villeneuve, 1999; Pehrsson, 2002; Pehrsson, 2009).

In 1992, J. Brophy conducted mapping and sampling on BIF Island of Damoti Lake. Prospective results from this sampling lead to the staking the discovery of the Damoti Lake deposit by Covello Bryan and Associates in 1993. Exploration at Damoti Lake has been ongoing through to present day. Puritch and Ewert (2005) present a very thorough summary of exploration on the Damoti Lake iron-formation property.

Exploration has been periodically conducted in the Indin Lake area since the mid 1930  s with the discovery of lode gold in the mafic volcanic rocks that surround the lake. Prospecting of the area around the lake identi  ed a number of additional gold showings in the volcanic and surrounding sedimentary rocks. In the 1970's, exploration shifted focus to polymetallic base metal targets and lead to the discovery of new occurrences in the Indin Lake belt. The discovery of iron formation-hosted gold at Damoti Lake, and active mining at the Colomac deposit, fueled the exploration effort during the 1990  s. At present, elevated gold prices have renewed staking and exploration interest in the Indin Lake belt.

The earliest organized exploration recorded on the property was conducted by Snowden Yellowknife Mines (Snowden) in 1947. This exploration effort may have lead to the discovery of the Pond. Chuck Vein, and Hilltop showings. These showings remain the most prominent mineral occurrences recognized on the property. Snowden reported trenching and diamond drilling activities on the Pond showing and isolated localities along strike to the northeast. Grades as high as 1.26 oz/t Au over 7 inches in hole 5-18 and 0.55 oz/t Au ever 7 inches in hole 5-16 are reported (Glidden and Burton, 1948). In 1981, Wollex Exploration examined the property through prospecting, mapping, and re  sampling existing trenches.

A total of nine trenches and 35 x-ray diamond drill holes have been completed on the Pond showing. The showing occurs in sheared mafic and felsic volcanic rocks. Drilled gold-bearing intervals show silicacarbonate-pyriteipyrrhoite alteration. One grab sample from Trench 16 assayed 2.66 oz/t.







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The Chuck vein showing is a milky white quartz vein hosted in a ten meter wide shear zone. This vein is lesoidal and can be traced discontinuously for 200 meters. A chip sample collected in 1985 assayed 870 ppb Au over 0.5 meters in Trench 2.

The Hilltop showing is a weakly silicified zone in intermediate volcanic rocks. Four trenches have been excavated on the showing. No signi  cant gold assays are reported.

The area covering the Chuck Vein showing was originally staked in 1939 by P.A. Schwerdt and restaked in 1945 by Schwerdt again after the Dions claims were allowed to lapse.

In 1946, Snowden acquired the Doins claim and commenced with trenching, stripping, and x-ray diamond drilling. A total of 13 trenches/pits and 43 drill holes totaling 6384.26 feet was completed. Drilling on the Pond Zone encountered visible gold.

Comaplex Resource International Ltd. in 1981 staked the showing area (KIM 1 claim) and Wollex Exploration (Wollex) located and re-sampled the existing trenches in the summer of 1981. The sampling returned some elevated gold values which included 4820 ppb Au from the Chuck vein and 5940 ppb Au from the G  Zone [Pond] (Dickson, 1983).

The KIM 1 claim was allowed to lapse and in 1985 the showing area was re-staked as the BR2 claim by W. Brink. Noranda explored the property in 1985. The showing area was prospected then mapped at a scale of 110,000. The property was chip sampled (92 collected), grab sampled (55 samples) and 63 samples were taken for lithogeochemistry. Sampling on the Pond showing returned signi  cant gold values up to 2.66 oz/ton while the Chuck Vein had a chip sample assaying 870 ppb gold. Noranda did not complete any further work on the property. Geophysical surveys were conducted and the property was taken to lease in June of 1993 (Puritch and Ewert, 2005).

Mapping, sampling and geochemical analysis

Wollex prospected and sampled the Carson property in 1981. A number of shear zones were identified on the then called KIM1 claim (owned 100% by Comaplex Resources International Ltd.), the largest of which was the G-Zone (Pond zone as of 1985). The G-zone is described to continue from the claim boundaries for many kilometers in both directions and coincide with the contact of the ma  c and felsic volcanic rocks (Dickson, 1982).

An analysis error occurred at the lab when processing the 1981 samples (Dickson, 1983). Due to the packaging of the samples, the lab mistakenly assayed several rock chips from the same trench as one sample; therefore some reported results are the averages of several samples over the length of the trench (Dickson, 1982).

Four trenches were sampling at the Pond showing. Gold values are described as erratic with a best result of 0.17 oz/ton Au from an average of two samples (Dickson, 1982).

In 1985, Noranda collected and analyzed 117 chip samples and 30 grab samples for gold across the property. An additional 63 samples were collected for lithogeochemisty and geochemical analysis for gold (Powers, 1986). Chip samples consisted of continuous chisel samples across quartz vein and altered walk rock material.

A total of 20 lithogeochemical samples, eight grab samples, and 78 chip samples were collected from the Pond zone.

Geophysics

Noranda completed ground magnetic and Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic (VLF-EM) surveys in the fall of 1985 after the geology program had finished. A 2.1 kilometer baseline oriented at 034 azm was established by chaining. A line spacing of 100 meters with 50 meter station spacing were chained and flagged from the baseline to establish 15.4 line kilometers of survey lines.

Magnetic survey

Survey speci  cations: The magnetometer employed on the survey was a UNIMAG model 6836 proton magnetometer manufactured by Geometrics of Toronto, Ontario. The diurnal variation was monitored with a geometries base station unit. Base station measurements were made every four seconds and used to correct the  eld data. The magnetic variation ranges from 3350 to -1630 nts (Powers, 1986).







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Discussion: Powers (1986) suggests that there is a trend from low to high magnetic response along the eastern portion of the property interpreted to be the contact between [volcanic and sedimentary] rocks. Within the magnetic terrane there are a number of interpreted linear highs that trend parallel to the regional fabric.

VLF-EM survey

Survey speci  cations: An EM16 manufactured by Geonics Limited of Toronto, Ontario was used to carry out the VLF-EM survey. This instrument measures the in-phase and quadrature component of the electromagnetic  eld transmitted from various naval facilities. In this ca5e the transmitter employed was Seattle, Washington (Powers, 1986).

Discussion: Powers (1986) summarizes three VLF-EM anomalies (Figure 5). A small anomaly interpreted to be shallow in origin occurs at the north end of the grid (L11+00N at 1+50E). A second shallow but more prominent anomaly trends approximately parallel to the baseline on the eastern side of the survey grid (L6+00N at 3+50E to L4+OOS at 2+50E). Powers (1986) suggests that this anomaly may actually be two anomalies offset between 3+005 and 4+OOS. The third anomaly is coincident with the Chuck vein (L1+OOS and L2+OOS at 3+00W). All conductors are interpreted to strike parallel to regional foliation.

Trenching

Snowden exposed 2782 cubic feet in nine trenches on the Carson property (Figure 6). The locations of nine of these trenches are shown to be at the Pond showing (Glidden and Burton, 1948). Trenches are reported at the Chuck vein and Hilltop zone showings and were sampled during the 1981 Wollex program and 1985 Noranda programs (Dickson, 1982; Powers 1986). The author cannot con  rm when the trenches outside the Pond zone were created. Assay values from any material sampled from the trenches is not presented in Glidden and Burton (1948).

Diamond drilling

In 1946, Snowden acquired the Doins claim and commenced with trenching, stripping, and may diamond drilling. A total 43 drill holes totaling 6384.26 feet were completed (Glidden and Burton, 1948).

Local Infrastructure

The Colomac Winter road passes within 5 km to the west of the property. The Colomac Mine is approximately 25 kilometers to the North. No power lines, gas lines, or settlements occur near the property. The property is approximately 100 kilometers north-northeast from Northwest Territories Power Corporation's Snare River Hydro power complex.

C-1 Property Claims and Ownership

The C-1 property consists of 5 mineral claims contiguous with the Rollo property and Kenty area claims were optioned from a mining group representing full, 100% interest in the mining claims.

Kenty Mine Claims and Ownership

The Company entered into an agreement with Brian MacClay to purchase the Kenty Mine claims, which are comprised of patented mining claims. However, a separate group claimed title and ownership of these patented mining claims, and therefore, the Company is currently in litigation to resolve the title and determine the rightful owners of the claims. The Company has been added as an owner on title as a result of the current legal proceedings to date.

Regional Geology

The Swayze Greenstone Belt (SGB) is located within the western Abitibi Subprovince of the Superior Province. It is similar in age and composition the better known Abitibi Subprovince, a prolific producer of greenstone-hosted lode gold deposits, and is thought to be the western extension of the Abitibi. The SGB is bounded to the east by the Kenogamissi Batholith (2713 Ma), to the north by the Nat River granitoid complex (2692 Ma), the Ramsey-Algoma grantitoid complex to the south (2692 Ma), and the Kapukasing Structural Zone to the east.

The Swayze Greenstone Belt hosts Archean age volcanic assemblages with a general east-west trending structure. The oldest rocks are of the mafic to intermediate rocks of the Chester Group (2730 Ma), which are overlain by rocks of the Marion Group (2729 Ma) rocks predominantly of felsic volcanics and iron formations. The Trailbreaker Group (2705 Ma) overlies the Marion group, and is equivalent in age and composition to the tholeiitic Tisdale in the Timmins camp. The Tisdale group hosts most of the major gold deposits in the Timmins gold camp, and is uncomformably overlain by the



24

Timiskaming sediments, which are thought to resemble the Rideout Group (<2690 Ma). The Trailbreaker Group consists of ultramafic, mafic, and felsic volcanic assemblages.

Mineralization

Mineralization in the SGB targets similar mineralization style to quartz vein hosted lode-gold deposits in the Abitibi Subprovince. These deposits are typically structurally controller epigenetic deposits, characterized by complex structural features hosting laminted quartz-carbonate veins in brittle, steeply dipping fault-fill veins, as well as narrow flat-lying extensional veins. These deposits are typically associated with regional unconformities, Archean-age tholeiitic basalts intruded by felsic porphyry bodies. Additionally, major crustal-scale compressional to transtensional fault zone structures resulting from accretionary processes necessary to create the deformational structures that transport deep crustal Au-rich metamorphic fluid along the deformation structures leading to gold mineralization.

Mineralization on the claim group is characterized by quartz-carbonate veins in Archean age metavolcanic rocks, that are typically with porphyritic felsic intrusions. Mineralization occurs within quartz-ankerite-pyrite veins with an associated altered volcanic wall rocks and porphyry. Gold grades are nuggety and sporadic, with anomalous gold values occurring in the vein material, altered wall rock, and altered porphyritic units on the property. The most impression example is a flat-lying quartz-carbonate vein, named the C-1 occurrence, that hosts intensely altered, flat-lying, quart-carbonate veins where visible gold is present. Elsewhere on the property, quartz-ankerite-pyrite veins are associated with less intense wallrock alteration and can trend either ~40-60 degrees or ~ 345 degrees. These are similar orientation to regional scale fault structures in the property area, as well as vein mineralization in the adjacent Kenty Mine claims.

Property Geology

Kenty Property

The Kenty property is underlain by pillowed mafic volcanics, which are in contact with felsic volanics and metasediments in the southern area of the property. Small bodies and dykes of felsic volcanic rocks intrude the mafic volcanic rocks on the property. Local structural deformation and quartz veining are parallel to regional fault and deformation structures and generally trend 40 - 60 degrees. More minor auriferous veins trend at ~340 degrees and are also associated with regional scale deformation structures. These regional structures offset and truncate veins that trends 40 - 60 degrees, which is observed in the No. 17 vein at surface, and in the No. 1 shaft.

Around the No. 2 shaft, veining and mineralization is associated with a "lamprophyrye" body that hosts quartz vein style mineralization and is visible in trenches at surface. Historically it was identified as a lamprophyre, but is has also been classified as an altered diorite. The rock is massive and medium grained with abundant biotite in its matrix.

C1 Property

The property is underlain by mafic to intermediate volcanic rocks that are bounded to the north and south by felsic volcanic rocks. The mafic volcanics are intruded by several smaller felsic porphyry intrusions, as well as intermediate to felsic dykes. A narrow band of altered ultramfic volcanics are suggested from historic geological mapping on the Kenty Mine area, as well as regional mapping by Heather et al (1991). Faulting and shearing appears to occur in a north-south orientation group, as well as a more east-west orientation group that is slight north of the eastern trend of the volcanic rocks. Airborne and ground geophysics suggest electromagnetic anomalies are associated with sediments and felsic volcanic assemlages at the contact with the mafic volcanics, representing accessory graphite mineralization.

Past Exploration Work

Regional Goverment Programs

Donovan (1965) mapped Swayze and Dore townships at a scale of 1:50,000. The claim 4270364 is shown to be underlain by mafic to intermediate massive flows and intermediate to felsic volcaincs with porphyritic textures. Limited metasediment lenses occur within the felsic and intermediate volcanics. On a regional scale NW trending fault are noted, as well as ENE trending synclinal and anticlinal fold axis, although none are noted on claim 4270364.

The Geological Survey of Canada mapped the Swayze Greenstone Belt at a scale of 1:50,00 (Heather and Shore, 1999). General fault and fold structures agree with those observed by Donovan (1965), although additional high strain deformation zones are noted. More differentiation of volcanic sequences are made, leading to a more detailed representation of the geology underlying claim 4270364. The claim is underlain by intrusive ultramafic volcaincs (SNui) and mafic volcanics (SNm), with felsic units intercalated with metasediments to the north and south of the claims.





25

The Kenty Property

Initial work by Kenty Gold Mines in 1930 - 1934 identified several auriferous quartz veins, and completed a diamond drilling program, as well as sinking two shafts with limited drift underground drift development. The No. 1 shaft was sunk to a total of 500 ft (152m), and lateral development took place at the 250 foot (76m), 375 foot (114m), and 500 foot (152m) levels. The number 2 shaft was sunk to a depth of 534 feet (162m), with lateral development on the 290 foot (88m) and 525 foot (160m) levels.

In 1936, Brett-Trethway Mines Limited ran a small 5-ton/day test mill and reported no grades. In 1947, Erndale Mines Ltd. acquired the property and drilled 8 DDH for a total of 498 meters. The company dewatered the mine, and 1,3333 tonnes of ore were extracted from scaling the No. 1 vein. Sampling averaged 0.92 g/t for the program. In 1950, Elancra mines carried out some work with a local mill, with no grades/records produced.

In 1983, Heron Resources carried out a magnetic and self-potential geophysical survey and collected humus samples on the property, and carried out a mapping program and carried out underground sampling on the veins via access from the No. 1 shaft.

In 1986, Emerald Isle Resources carried out an exploration program consisting of bulk sampling and stripping, and identified an hematitic zone with quartz stockworks to the southeast of the No. 2 shaft. Several diamond drillholes were completed to test for gold mineralization around the No. 2 shaft, with the best grades occurring with quartz-ankerite-pyrite veins associated with felsic porphyry dykes.

The C-1 Property

JSHG owns a one hundred percent interest in 37 contiguous staked mining claims formerly comprised of Legacy Claim Numbers 4275244, 4275245, and 4275246.

This 734ha claims group is located within Swayze, Rollo, Coppel and Dore Townships, Porcupine Mining Division, approximately 150 km northwest of the City of Sudbury, west off Highway 144, midway between the established mining camps of Timmins to the north and Sudbury to the south and km south of the town of Gogama in the province of Ontario.

This interest grants claimholder JSHG with the sole right to explore for minerals, and to apply for a mining lease for extraction of the minerals. This does not grant any surface rights to the Crown land, nor rights to extract or mine aggregates from the claim areas.

This claims group requires annual exploration expenditures of $11,200.00 CAD per year ($400.00 per 19 single cell claims and $200.00 per 18 boundary claims), accompanied by an industry standard report detailing the work completed, due on their various anniversary dates (recorded in table below).

Legacy Claim Id Twp Tenure ID Tenure Type Anniversary Date Work Required Work Applied 4275244 ROLLO 343107 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275244 ROLLO,SWAYZE 311135 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275244 ROLLO 311134 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275244 ROLLO,SWAYZE 304312 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275244 ROLLO 273820 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275244 ROLLO 269805 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275244 ROLLO 255729 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275244 ROLLO,SWAYZE 201078 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275244 ROLLO 188921 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400



26

Legacy Claim Id Twp Tenure ID Tenure Type Anniversary Date Work Required Work Applied 4275244 ROLLO 185262 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275244 ROLLO 180954 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275244 ROLLO 156470 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275244 ROLLO 136289 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275244 ROLLO 110491 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275244 ROLLO,SWAYZE 104103 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275244 ROLLO 104102 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275245 ROLLO 281059 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275245 ROLLO 278432 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275245 ROLLO 269805 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275245 ROLLO 259093 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275245 ROLLO 259092 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275245 ROLLO,SWAYZE 251917 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275245 ROLLO 251916 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275245 ROLLO 251915 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275245 ROLLO 225101 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275245 ROLLO 185262 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275245 ROLLO 185261 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275245 ROLLO,SWAYZE 104103 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275245 ROLLO 104102 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275245 ROLLO 104101 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275246 COPPELL,ROLLO 325684 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 600 4275246 COPPELL,DORE,ROLLO,SWAYZE 297033 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275246 ROLLO 297032 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275246 ROLLO 278432 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275246 ROLLO 277653 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275246 ROLLO 259093 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275246 ROLLO 259092 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400



27

Legacy Claim Id Twp Tenure ID Tenure Type Anniversary Date Work Required Work Applied 4275246 ROLLO 242605 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275246 ROLLO 230403 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 600 4275246 ROLLO 192540 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275246 ROLLO 176522 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 800 4275246 ROLLO 129128 Single Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 400 600 4275246 ROLLO 129127 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400 4275246 ROLLO 104471 Boundary Cell Mining Claim 2021-03-09 200 400



They are recorded in MLAS with the current Assessment Assignment by MNDM with the following Tenure IDs:

Legacy Claim Id Tenure ID Cell ID MNDM Assessment Assignment 4275244 343107 41O15G317 $50, 000.00 4275244 311135 41O15G356 $50, 000.00 4275244 311134 41O15G295 $50, 000.00 4275244 304312 41O15G355 $50, 000.00 4275244 273820 41O15G297 $50, 000.00 4275244 269805 41O15G298 $50, 000.00 4275244 255729 41O15G315 $50, 000.00 4275244 201078 41O15G357 $50, 000.00 4275244 188921 41O15G296 $50, 000.00 4275244 185262 41O15G338 $50, 000.00 4275244 180954 41O15G335 $50, 000.00 4275244 156470 41O15G336 $50, 000.00 4275244 136289 41O15G337 $50, 000.00 4275244 110491 41O15G316 $50, 000.00 4275244 104103 41O15G358 $50, 000.00 4275244 104102 41O15G318 $50, 000.00 4275245 281059 41O15G319 $50, 000.00 4275245 278432 41O15H301 $50, 000.00 4275245 259093 41O15H321 $50, 000.00 4275245 259092 41O15H281 $50, 000.00 4275245 251917 41O15G359 $50, 000.00 4275245 251916 41O15G339 $50, 000.00 4275245 251915 41O15G320 $50, 000.00 4275245 225101 41O15G340 $50, 000.00 4275245 185261 41O15G300 $50, 000.00 4275245 104101 41O15G299 $50, 000.00 4275246 325684 41O15H325 $50, 000.00 4275246 297033 41O15H345 $50, 000.00 28

Legacy Claim Id Tenure ID Cell ID MNDM Assessment Assignment 4275246 297032 41O15H284 $50, 000.00 4275246 
[April 08, 2021] Global Edge AI Market Report 2021, Featuring Alphabet Inc., Amazon, IBM, Apple, Intel, Nutanix, Octonion SA and Synaptics Inc

DUBLIN, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Edge AI Market - Forecasts from 2021 to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global edge AI market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 19.27% over the forecast period to reach a market size of US$1,954.244 million in 2026 from US$569.194 million in 2019.



The market is expected to surge in the coming years, because of the advancement and innovation in technologies, adoption of 5G solutions, and rising demand for electric vehicles, globally. Major companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and others, have been moving towards Edge Ai solutions, intending to bring Artificial Intelligence Inferencing from the cloud to their local and regional hardware. In January 2020, Apple Inc. announced the acquisition of Xnor.ai, a Seattle, United States, based start-up specializing in edge-based, low powered artificial intelligence tools. The company suggested that Xnor's Artificial Intelligence based image recognition tools are expected to become standard and premium features, in webcams and iPhones. These developments are expected to surge the market growth, during the forecast period.



The market is expected to surge in the coming years, because of the adoption of 5G solutions, globally. The major advantage of the 5G solution is that the network latency rate would be reduced, with the introduction of high-end applications. The emergence of 5G solutions, across a wide range of applications, is expected to surge and accelerate the amount of data transferred to the respective datacenters, thereby enhancing and accelerating the need for edge networks or intermediary servers. Major countries have been investing a significant sum of capital to develop and introduce 5G solutions, for their respective citizens.







The market is expected to surge in the coming years, because of the rise in demand for electric, and autonomous vehicles, globally. According to the International Energy Agency, total sales of electric vehicles topped 2.1 million, in the year 2019, globally. There was a growth of 6%, in 2019 than its previous year. The agency also estimated that electric vehicle sales will grow at a rate of 40%, annually. China had been the world's biggest electric vehicle market, followed by Europe and the United States , in the year 2019. These three regions accounted for around 90%, of the electric vehicle sales, in the year 2019. Major companies have been developing novel and advanced edge AI and computing solutions, for their customers. In March 2020 , engineers from Tesla discussed the company's major Virtual Power Plant Project. The project had been an advanced and modern example of a cloud-native architecture, that uses edge computing and AI. Other companies are also making significant developments in the market, in the past few years. For Instance, In January 2021 , General Motors announced that they had been teaming up with Microsoft to surge its rollout of self-driving, electric cars. The two companies stated that Microsoft's edge computing and Azure Cloud platform would be used to commercialize its unique autonomous and self-driving vehicle solutions, at a major scale. These developments are expected to surge the market growth, during the forecast period



Key Topics Covered:





1. Introduction



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Dynamics



5. Global Edge AI Market Analysis, By Component



6. Global Edge AI Market Analysis, By Data Source



7. Global Edge AI Market Analysis, By Application



8. Global Edge AI Market Analysis, by Geography



9. Competitive Environment and Analysis

9.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis

9.2. Emerging Players and Market Lucrativeness

9.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations

9.4. Vendor Competitiveness Matrix



10. Company Profiles Microsoft Corporation

Alphabet Inc.

Amazon

IBM Corporation

Apple

Intel

Anagog Ltd.

Nutanix

Octonion SA.

Synaptics Incorporated For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/plrydz About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-edge-ai-market-report-2021-featuring-alphabet-inc-amazon-ibm-apple-intel-nutanix-octonion-sa-and-synaptics-inc-301265022.html SOURCE Research and Markets

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8)  The side effects of Sinovac vaccine among some senior citizens were "within acceptable levels," prompting the Food and Drug Administration to approve its use among the elderly population in light of the shortage in COVID-19 vaccine supply.

FDA Director General Rolando Domingo on Thursday said the decision was based on the inoculation of over 700 local healthcare workers aged 60 years old and above and who earlier gave their consent to receive the Sinovac shots.

Nakita naman po natin na yung adverse events following immunization of senior citizens ng vaccine ng Sinovac ay mababa lamang at within acceptable levels, Domingo said in a briefing.

[Translation: We saw that the adverse events following immunization of senior citizens with Sinovac vaccine were minimal and within acceptable levels.]

The FDA previously recommended the use of Sinovacs CoronaVac on clinically healthy individuals aged 18-59.

READ: FDA approves use of Sinovac vaccine on senior citizens

Another consideration, according to Domingo, was the lack of other available vaccines amid high COVID-19 transmission rates in the country especially within the NCR Plus composed of Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, and Cavite.

Domingo, however, hastened to clarify that they will not rescind the decision to allow giving Sinovac shots to senior citizens even if more vaccine supplies arrive in the country.

That is, if actual, real-life experience would show the vaccine is safe and effective on that demographic, he said.

Only two vaccines  those made by Sinovac and AstraZeneca  are currently being used in the local COVID-19 vaccination drive.

The Department of Health earlier said that the country has run out of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is recommended for senior citizens.

The DOH has expressed hope the next batch of AstraZeneca doses will arrive next month.
Pfizer is now the preferred vaccine for people aged under 50 and the timing of Australias rollout is in doubt after medical experts expressed concerns about rare blood clots potentially linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine  the mainstay of the countrys existing COVID-19 strategy.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday night the government will review Australias vaccine portfolio and accept medical advice that will preference the Pfizer vaccine over AstraZenecas in adults aged less than 50 years old who have not already received a first dose of AstraZeneca, putting plans to vaccinate the entire population by October in doubt.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the advice was not a prohibition on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in people aged under 50. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Australias decision follows changes by European medical regulators after a review of data confirmed a rare blood clotting condition seen in a small number of patients was linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Mr Morrison said the new advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation was not a prohibition on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in people aged under 50.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh today outlined his proposed 2022 budget, calling for new classes of cops and firefighters, new workers charged with cleaning up the citys streets and parks, and a new city unit tasked with cracking down on crummy living conditions at big apartment buildings.

The $264.9 million budget keeps the property tax rate and water rate flat and doesnt use any of the citys reserves. Walsh plans to use about one-sixth of the citys incoming federal stimulus money to balance the books and restore cuts enacted last year amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Missing from the budget is a plan for how the city will spend the remainder of the $126 million it received from the American Rescue Plan stimulus package. Walsh said proposals for that money are still being worked out, and require input from the public and from the Common Council. He expects to have more details within a month.

We wanted to make sure that, given the timing, that we stayed focused on the annual budget and that we used the ARP funding to support the budget, but we didnt want to confuse the two, he said.

Walsh plans to use $20.7 million from the American Rescue Plan fund to balance the budget, restore cuts made last year and hire some new employees. That includes reinstating the police departments ShotSpotter technology  a $250,000 program that alerts officers to the sound of gunfire in real time  and rehiring an administrative judge who handles code violations.

That leaves about $105 million in federal funds still to be spent. The priority for that money, Walsh said, will be transformational projects. Walsh said hell ask the council to schedule an additional hearing over the next month where he can present a separate plan for that money.

One likely use for some of that money, Walsh said, will be launching a municipal sidewalk maintenance program. Its something hes discussed since taking office more than three years ago. It would put the burden of shoveling, maintaining and, when needed, replacing sidewalks on the city, not a property owner.

The proposed budget puts aside money for staff to support the new sidewalk program, and Walsh said he expects to have a detailed proposal in front of the Common Council in the next month for a complete program. The program would likely come with an annual fee for property owners.

On the whole, Walsh said the big injection of federal money allows the city to restore a lot of the necessary services that have been whittled away over the years and decades, particularly when it comes to services and quality of life issues.

We feel like weve been fighting with one hand tied behind our back for years now on many different fronts, he said. We see the opportunity with this budget to significantly invest in our departments so they can provide the services our residents deserve. We dont look at these as extras. We look at these as core services that the city should be providing, but hasnt been in a position to for decades.

Among the new initiatives in the budget is a special city unit dedicated to improving living conditions in apartment buildings. The city will create a High-Occupancy Monitoring and Enforcement unit to crack down on issues at big apartment complexes. It will include a new employee in the fire department working with people from the code enforcement division, the police department and the law department.

The budget also calls for a new class of firefighters and a new class of police officers, while keeping the police budget flat. Chief Administrative Officer Frank Caliva said the department is down to about 377 sworn officers after a huge wave of retirements in recent years.

Though the police budget remains flat from last year, Walsh said there is a contingency fund put aside in case the city needs to pay for salary increases. The police union and the city are currently in arbitration to settle on a new contract for officers. The contract, as originally proposed by the city, would add millions to the police budget in salary and incentive increases.

Walsh also plans to focus more resources on maintaining the citys parks, walkways and green spaces, as well as keeping streets and public spaces clear of litter.

The budget calls for hiring someone to maintain new trails along the Onondaga Creekwalk and the Empire State Trail on Erie Boulevard.

Its one of the things I think the city has not been good at over the years -- were good at securing resources to make big investments, but then were not good at maintaining those investments, Walsh said.

The city will have enough money to open all of its pools this summer as well, Walsh said. Last year, it took a community fundraiser to staff them all. Money will also be put aside for pop-up programs on the citys waterways and new playgrounds at Grace Massena Park and at the Onondaga Geddes play lot.

Also included in the budget is money for the law department to hire another person to respond to Freedom of Information Law requests in a more timely manner.

We havent had the capacity to be as responsive as we need to be on FOIL requests, he said. We pride ourselves on being open and transparent and sometimes its simply our lack of capacity that results in a perception that were not being transparent.

Walshs budget predicts revenue will remain flat as the city continues to recover from the pandemic. The tax rate for city and school property taxes will be flat at $27.1638 per $1,000 of assessed value. The tax levy will increase by $858,000 as a result of rising property values in the city.

The Common Council will begin holding budget hearings virtually next week and is expected to vote on a budget in early May.
Officer Assault Case Moves Forward

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - A Paducah man facing multiple charges appeared in court Thursday for an arraignment.According to the McCracken Circuit Court Clerk, 38-year-old Mauricus Haynes was arraigned on charges of fleeing or evading police, third-degree assault, resisting arrest, defacing a firearm, convicted felon in possession of a handgun, receiving stolen property, and improper lane usage.A pretrial conference is scheduled for June 21 at 9 am.Haynes was arrested on February 14 after a traffic stop. During the stop, police reportedly saw a gun in the driver's side door and attempted to arrest him. Haynes allegedly resisted, kicking an officer and striking him in the face. He was arrested later that day at his home.He remains lodged in the McCracken County Jail.
An Indian man who was injured in 2015 during an encounter with a Madison police officer has settled his federal lawsuit against the officers insurance carrier for $1.75 million.

Sureshbai Patels attorney, Hank Sherrod, announced the settlement today, which means that Patels case has been formally dismissed.

On Feb. 6, 2015, Patel, then 57, was out for a walk near his sons home in Madison. A citizen of India, Patel was visiting his son and daughter-in-law and their child.

Video showed the moment that day when Patel was contacted by two Madison police officers, a new officer going through field training and his training officer, Eric Parker. According to Madison police at the time, they were responding to a call regarding someone looking into garages.

During the stop, Parker put Patels hands behind his back, searched him for weapons, and then took Patel to the ground headfirst using a leg sweep. Patel suffered a serious spinal cord injury and requires a walker. He now lives in India, according to Sherrod.

While we are glad Patel has received compensation for his injuries, no one, and especially not government actors, should be above accountability, Sherrod said. Mr. Patel is glad to put this behind him. He appreciates all the support he has received from people all over the world. Mr. Patel credits his Hindu faith for giving him strength and peace throughout this ordeal.

Three screen grabs show reactions of Indian news media to the violent stop of an Indian grandfather by Madison, Ala., police. bnbn

Parker was charged with violating federal civil rights laws as a result of the incident. A team of three federal prosecutors twice tried Parker in 2016 for the incident. Both trials ended with a deadlocked jury. Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala later threw out the case. Parker faced up to 10 years in prison for excessive force.

Parker was recommended for termination by the City of Madison police chief and placed on paid leave shortly after the incident but eventually reinstated. He is no longer with Madison police. Claims against the city were dismissed, and both the city and Parker denied liability in the case.

Derek Chauvin was fired for what he did to George Floyd, as Eric Parker might have been if what happened to Patel had happened today. We have learned a lot more about policing in the six years between Patels assault and now, Sherrod said in a statement.

Sherrod said one factor in Patels decision to accept the insurance companys offer was that there could have been less than $1.75 million in insurance coverage available for Patel if the case went to trial. The citys insurance policy with the Alabama Municipal Insurance Company was reduced by defense costs, which left a diminishing pool of funds in case of a verdict in favor of Patel, he said.

If you turn down what is being offered and go to trial and win a large verdict against the officer, there may not be enough insurance money to pay it, he said. Not holding Parker accountable for his excessive use of force and allowing him to continue as a police officer is a fundamental failure of accountability, by both the City of Madison and our criminal justice system.

This post was corrected at 5:04 p.m. April 8 to reflect that the settlement came from the insurance carrier of the officer.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.  Klamath County Public Health (KCPH) officials remind the community the annual air quality zone Spring open burn window begins 8 a.m. Saturday, April 10.

Residents within the air quality zone are allowed to burn yard waste. The burn window ends 5 p.m. Sunday, April 25.

To see a map of the Air Quality Zone, CLICK HERE.

Due to the lack of precipitation, Governor Kate Brown declared a drought emergency in Klamath County on March 31. Residents are urged to use caution when burning.

Public Health officials have set the following guidelines for the open burning window:

The air quality advisory must be green. The daily advisory is available at 541-882-BURN (2876). Only residential yard waste, such as tree limbs, brush, and leaves may be burned. All burning must occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. No trash, plastic, rubber, tar, petroleum products, treated or painted wood may be burned. The use of burn barrels is prohibited. The burning of commercial, construction, demolition or industrial waste is not included in this burn window. Burning for these purposes requires a special permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; contact the DEQ office in Bend at 541-633-2016. Agricultural burning inside the Air Quality Zone is prohibited without a certificate of variance issued by Klamath County Public Health.



Fire District guidelines for public safety are:

The wind must be between four and 10 mph. For wind speed call 541-883-8127. There must be a pressurized water hose at the fire site at all times. A responsible adult must be present at the fire from the first flame until the fire is extinguished. The burn pile shall be no larger than six feet in diameter and four feet high. There must be a six-foot clear area surrounding the base of the pile and the pile must be at least 20 feet from combustible fences and buildings. The person conducting any burning is responsible for damage and the cost of an out of control burn as well as traffic problems and other hazards caused by the smoke.

The open burn window may be cancelled at any time due to air quality or fire hazard conditions. KCPH reminds people that the smoke from burning yard debris is equally as harmful to lungs as cigarette smoke.

During the open burn window, residents should check with their local Fire District or the City of Klamath Falls (inside the city limits) for additional restrictions.

Phone numbers for these agencies include:
Seemingly, the essence of our democratic republic is over. Its legitimacy is being severely eroded. This proposition owes much to the recent Government of National Capital Territory Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021, or the Delhi Act for short, hurriedly passed by Parliament, enhancing the powers of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. The Constitution allows the President some limited space to check the excesses of the government by asking it to reconsider the Bill, but the President also failed in his duties to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and gave assent to the Bill on March 29.

The legal deadlock between the elected Delhi government and the Union government appointee Lt-Governor (L-G) is not very old. The political battle turned theatrical when Delhi High Court reduced an elected government merely to a parasitically dependent department of the central government. The L-G started acting as an agent of the Centre, a trend that goes against the spirit of a federal constitution.

The constitutional issue was resolved in 2018 by the Supreme Court in Government of NCT of Delhi v. Union of India. The Constitution Bench comprising then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan ruled that the L-G is an administrative head in the limited sense and bound by the aid and advice of NCT Government in areas other than those exempted. The apex court observed that the elected representatives and the Council of Ministers of Delhi, being accountable to the voters of Delhi, must have appropriate powers so as to perform their functions effectively and efficiently. It further held that the exercise of establishing a democratic and representative form of government for NCT of Delhi by insertion of Articles 239AA and 239AB would turn futile if the Government of Delhi that enjoys the confidence of the people of Delhi is not able to usher in policies and laws over which the Delhi Legislative Assembly has power to legislate for the NCT of Delhi.

But if the government at the Centre is determined, even decisions of the apex court cannot come in its way. Precedents are several, when the government has got laws passed in order to overcome the difficulties created by court judgements. For instance, in 1986, the Rajiv Gandhi government got passed an act titled The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 that nullified the Supreme Courts judgement in the Shah Bano case. Diluting the Supreme Court judgement, the Act allowed maintenance to a divorced woman only during the period of iddat, or till 90 days after the divorce, according to the provisions of Islamic law. The Modi government recently enacted a law to overturn a Supreme Court order concerning certain safeguards against arrest under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This has been done despite clear directives of the Supreme Court that the government cannot dilute its judgements. This time, something more serious is at stake.

The Delhi Act not only reflects the frustration of a party  the BJP -- that was badly defeated in the last two elections to the Delhi Assembly and was trying its best to settle a score, but also makes the Delhi government subordinate to Delhis L-G, an unelected functionary, by declaring him to be the Government of Delhi. It provides that the opinion of the L-G shall be obtained on all such matters as may be specified by the L-G, before taking any executive action on decisions of the Council of Ministers of the Delhi government. The Bill also prohibits the Legislative Assembly from making any rule to enable itself or its committees to: (i) consider the matters of day-to-day administration of the NCT of Delhi and (ii) conduct any inquiry in relation to administrative decisions. Further, any provision in force having the above-said effect will be void.

The Delhi Act is a serious blow to our federal system and parliamentary democracy. Ignoring the guidelines of the Supreme Court, pronounced in the 2018 case, it has abducted the democratic power from an elected government and transferred it to an unelected authority that is not accountable to the people of Delhi. This is nothing but a clear case of exercising power without responsibility. It is a misuse of its parliamentary majority by a government that is determined to weaken the Opposition at any cost. Constitutional and political pundits rightly believe that this Act does not only restrict the powers of an elected government, but this is a fraud on the people of Delhi who had chosen a government to serve them while the central government is deliberately creating hurdles in its functioning. Ultimately, it is the people of Delhi who will suffer because of this political confrontation between the Centre and the Delhi government. In addition, this Act also violates the fundamental principles of our parliamentary democracy and federal structure, which are parts of the basic structure of the Constitution. Parliament cannot violate these inviolable principles.

Parliament is not above the Constitution. It is bound to exercise its law-making powers within the constitutional framework and well-settled norms. Parliamentary majority cannot be a tool of harassment and exploitation of Opposition-ruled governments that do not fall in line with the ruling dispensation at the Centre. The Delhi Act is ill-advised and dangerous for our parliamentary democracy. A legal challenge appears inevitable. The Supreme Court should reinforce its own ruling in 2018 and thus reinforce democratic principles.

(Malik is advocate, Supreme Court and Singh is Professor of Law at NLU, Odisha)
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  A Polish top court judge on Thursday deleted a tweet in which she had publicized personal information about a transgender child, triggering accusations that she had placed the youth in danger.

This is the latest development highlighting a divide over LGBT and gender issues that pits conservatives in the mostly Roman Catholic nation against those seeking greater acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

So far, discussions have focused mostly on adult gays and lesbians, but the judges tweet this week brought calls for empathy for transgender youth.

Krystyna Pawlowicz, a justice on the Constitutional Tribunal, wrote critically on Twitter on Tuesday about the case of a school in the town of Podkowa Lesna, near Warsaw, which is respecting the childs wish to use a girls name.

In that original tweet, Pawlowicz argued that the school was disregarding the official sex designation on the childs records. Pawlowicz referred to the child as a boy, gave the childs chosen first name and the full name of the principal, as well as the name and address of the school.

Amid the controversy triggered by the tweet, Pawlowicz on Tuesday said she had deleted it for the sake of the child.

Pawlowicz is a former lawmaker for the countrys ruling party, Law and Justice, who is known for her strongly conservative views. She was appointed to the Constitutional Tribunal in 2019.

Earlier Thursday, Cezary Tomczyk, who leads the centrist Civic Platforms parliamentary group, accused Pawlowicz of putting the child in real danger. Tomczyk said the party was submitting a request for prosecutors to investigate.

The mayor of the town where the child attends school, Artur Tusinski, published a statement Wednesday calling the original tweet disgusting and saying it took aim at the welfare of the school and the principal.

Tusisnki also said there had also been an enormous outpouring of support for the child and that the school is open to the needs of every student, including transgender students.

We do not agree to the cynical use of children in political games, he said.

By VANESSA GERA

Associated Press
Mohalla Tech, the company that owns short-video app Moj and Indic language social media platform ShareChat, is the latest to join the unicorn club with a latest fundraise of $502 million, valuing the company a little over $2.1 billion.

The was led by Lightspeed Ventures and Tiger Global, along with participation from Snap Inc, Twitter and India Quotient amongst others, the firm said in a statement.

We are at an exciting inflection point in our journey, where we are going after a massive opportunity with the right team in place and the backing of long-term investors who have a deep conviction in our mission. With ShareChat & Moj, we are well-positioned to build the largest AI-powered content ecosystem in India, said Ankush Sachdeva, CEO and Co-founder, ShareChat.

ShareChat will use the latest fund to expand in India and the US, and strengthen its artificial-intelligence powered recommendation engine, platform health and creator community.

Mohalla Tech, which was founded in 2015, has raised over $766 million across six fundraising rounds, enabling ShareChat to substantially grow and differentiate itself by delivering a unique, tech-led social media experience.

Moj, which launched in July 2020, is already a name to reckon with in the short video app space, helped in part by the exit of TikTok from India.

As Internet penetration increases, ShareChats leading content creation platform is poised to expand dramatically by bridging into online purchases of goods and services. Additionally, Moj is well-positioned to seize the opportunity presented by the growth of short video in India. We are impressed with the teams understanding of these rapidly evolving technologies and its ability to execute quickly, and we are excited to partner with them as they continue to build a great company, said Scott Shleifer, Partner at Tiger Global.

Moj and ShareChat together with a 280 million-strong user community envision building a cohesive AI-powered content ecosystem to address Indias growing digital needs.
The trial of leader of the United National Movement Nika Melia has been postponed until April 13

Melia will be able to attend his trial, Judge Nino Chakhnashvili said during the court session held today.

Melias presence at the trial was petitioned by his lawyers, and was agreed upon by the Prosecutors Office.

The trial, scheduled for today, April 8, has been postponed until April 13, Georgia Today reported.

In parallel with todays court hearing, Melias supporters are holding a protest rally in the courtyard. Before the rally, they clashed with the police because the law enforcers did not allow them to enter the yard.
A senior Kremlin official has warned that if Russia is 'forced' to defend its citizens in the disputed Donbass region it would be 'the beginning of the end of Ukraine.'

Tensions have soared in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks after Vladimir Putin dispatched tanks, helicopters and tens of thousands of troops to the Ukrainian border.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the situation in eastern Ukraine was 'very unstable' and warned it risked leading to 'full-scale combat operations.'

The United States is to dispatch two warships to the Black Sea next week in response to Putin's colossal build-up of military hardware and troops close to the front.

The Russian president insists his actions are purely defensive and that upcoming drills are part of routine 'combat readiness' inspections.

But the deputy head of Russia's presidential administration, Dmitry Kozak, jangled nerves on Thursday as he warned that any conflict would mean 'the beginning of the end of Ukraine.'

Kozak claimed that Russia would not act unless Ukraine attacked first, but said that any military action by Moscow would be 'not a shot in the leg, but in the face.'

As tensions flared, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskiy flew into Donbass in a new show of strength as he shook hands with soldiers along the frontier and walked through trenches which protect against Russian-backed rebels.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy walks along a trench during a visit to the frontline on Thursday where Kiev's troops have been locked in conflict with Russian-backed separatists since 2014

The notorious Buk missile system, left, was spotted being transported in the Voronzeh region close to the Ukrainian border, as other footage showed military trucks being freighted to the region

Nuclear-capable 2S4 Tyulpan self-propelled mortar system moved in Krasnodar region

Railway workers on the line as tanks and trucks are transported close to Russia's border with Ukraine

A truck is seen on its way to the Ukrainian border amid a massive build up of hardware from Moscow

Satellite pictures show a field camp for Russian forces in the same region as the BUK was seen. The Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) highlighted the base which has appeared in recent days.

Thousands of Russian troops have been dispatched to the Ukrainian border, some of them are believed to be staying at this field camp

It was announced today that the United States will dispatch two warships to the Black Sea in an attempt to head off Russian aggression.

Joe Biden sought permission from Turkey to transport vessels through the Bosphorus after his press secretary said the US is 'increasingly concerned' by Russian movements at the border.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed the American ships will pass through the narrow strait on April 14 and April 15.

The official said the US notified Turkey 15 days prior to the ships' passage in line with a convention regulating shipping through the Turkish straits.

Such visits by the US and other Nato ships have vexed Moscow, which has long bristled at Ukraine's efforts to build up defence ties with the West and its aspirations to eventually join Nato.

Washington is also continuing to fly reconnaissance planes over the sea to monitor Russian activity and flew two B-1 bombers over the Aegean Sea earlier this week.

It comes after Russian artillery boats and landing craft were transported from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea.

Landing craft are of particular concern because they are used for offensive action and Putin has claimed his actions are solely defensive.

Among other hardware which has seen being freighted to the border with Ukraine are tanks, howitzers, BUK anti-aircraft missile launchers and support vehicles.

Putin's senior aide Kozak was yesterday asked if Russia would protect its people in eastern Ukraine if they come under attack from Kiev.

Referring in his reply to Srebrenica, where about 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb forces during Bosnia's 1992-1995 war, he said: 'It all depends on the scale of the fire. If there is, as our president says, Srebrenica, apparently we will have to step in to defend (them).'

Putin has made previous analogies to a 'second Srebrenica' if Ukraine does not submit to an amnesty on new border lines which have emerged since the conflict started in 2014.

The Russian president yesterday accused Ukraine of 'provocative actions' in a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

His words reflect the masses of military hardware which has been seen being ferried for thousands of miles to the border region.

Trucks and tanks are transported close to the Ukrainian border amid a massive build up of military hardware

A Russian howitzer is seen being transported, left, along with a tank

A Ukrainian soldier walks along a trench at the frontline close to the rebel-held city of Donetsk in the pro-Russian Donbass region

Russian president Vladimir Putin is massing forces at the borders of Ukraine (pictured at the Kremlin during a meeting on March 24)

Footage emerged on Thursday of a Buk missile system in the in Voronezh region which borders Ukraine, amid new fears that Moscow could be massing an invasion-capable force.

The weapons system was used in rebel-held Donetsk region in 2014 to down a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 killing 298 people.

More footage shows the nuclear-capable 2S4 Tyulpan self-propelled mortar system being moved on a military train in Krasnodar region.

New satellite images have also revealed a field camp for Russian forces in the same region as the BUK was seen.

The Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) highlighted the base which has appeared in recent days.

Ruslan Leviev, from CIT, told BBC Ukraine: 'We notice the movement of all the units.

'These are both "Pskov paratroopers" and motorised infantry units - they are for example, from the Kemerovo region of Siberia, and from Dagestan.'

The downing of Malaysian flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur by a BUK missile in July 2014 caused a major international scandal.

Russia denied responsibility but Western investigators found Moscow had provided the BUK system that blew the passenger plane out of the sky.

Merkel earlier today advised Putin to pull his forces back from Ukraine's eastern border amid escalating violence along the frontier.

'The Chancellor demanded that this build-up be unwound in order to de-escalate the situation,' Berlin said in a readout of the call.

Russia has said its forces pose no threat and were defensive, but that they would stay there as long as Moscow saw fit.

The Kremlin said in its readout of the Merkel phone call that 'Vladimir Putin noted provocative actions by Kyiv which is is deliberately inflaming the situation along the line of contact.'

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy flew to eastern Donbass in a show of support on Thursday. He is pictured shaking hands with officers after landing by helicopter

Various videos and photos have emerged on social media in recent weeks purporting to show a build up of Russian military hardware close to the border with Ukraine

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy flew to eastern Donbass in a show of support on Thursday two days after he called on NATO to lay out a path for Ukraine to join the military bloc, whose expansion Moscow fiercely opposes.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said those living in eastern Ukraine would not tolerate NATO membership, and that rhetoric could further destabilise the Donbass region.

'So far we're not seeing an intention by the Ukrainian side to somehow calm down and move away from belligerent topics,' he said.

The rouble hit a five-month low on Wednesday after Russia said it had begun a planned inspection of its army's combat readiness involving thousands of drills.

The standoff has also pushed Ukrainian sovereign bonds to their lowest level since November.

Ukraine and Western countries say Donbass separatists have been armed, led, funded and aided by Russians. Moscow has denied interfering.

While a ceasefire halted full-scale warfare in 2015, sporadic fighting never ceased.
Photo credit: Inna Mykhalchuk - Getty Images

In the UK, 28% of childbearing-age women use the pill as their main form of contraception, despite the small risk of blood clots as a side effect. Over the past few weeks, concerns have been heightened about the Oxford/Astra Zeneca COVID vaccine following a small number of deaths due to blood clots. In the UK, 30 people out of 18 million who have been given the vaccine have been found to have developed a blood clot, with seven people dying as a result. In Germany, the statistics are slightly higher; 31 clots and nine deaths have been reported out of 2.7 million people vaccinated with the AZ jab. While there is no scientific evidence to prove that the blood clots are a side effect of the vaccine, countries including Germany, France, the Netherlands and Canada have restricted the vaccine's use to older people, who are believed to be less affected by blood clots. The UK, in turn, has announced that under 30s will be offered alternative vaccines.

But in comparison to these figures, many people are pointing out that the contraceptive pill - something that's offered to millions of women worldwide - has a higher risk of blood clots. Around 1 in 1,000 women per year who take birth control pills will develop such a clot, yet there are no calls to remove this from the market due experts widely agreeing that the benefits outweigh the risk.

Blood clots from the pill are rare, but they can happen. Here, we tell the story of Kirsty Roberts, who suffered a stroke in 2017 at the age of 25 as a result of a blood clot originating from the pill...

Photo credit: Getty Images

Kirsty Roberts had been taking the same contraceptive pill for nearly ten years when her headaches started. They were short, sharp bursts of pulsating pain, "like somebody had really hit me around the head," and always occurred in the same place - just above her right eye.

The headaches, which lasted no longer than 10 minutes at a time, persisted for six months. During that time, Kirsty went to the doctor to seek reassurance that it wasnt anything serious. "They told me I was probably suffering with migraines, which was quite common for people who work on computers, as I do", Kirsty told Cosmopolitan UK.

Story continues

But one day, in the height of 2017's summer heatwave, the headache intensified. Id been to Ladies Day at Ascot the day before, so people naturally thought I was just hungover, Kirsty recalled. But she knew it was nothing to do with the previous days alcohol consumption.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Kirsty Roberts

"This headache was different to the rest. It just wouldnt go, it lasted all evening and I couldnt do anything, I couldnt even sleep," she said. Over the following week, Kirsty began vomiting and displaying symptoms linked to migraines, such as a sensitivity to light. But worse than that, she felt completely lifeless. "I had no energy, I couldnt really communicate. I couldnt even use my phone," she said.

Despite the fact these scary symptoms lasted for a week, four different doctors dismissed Kirstys suffering as having no cause for concern. It was hot, she was probably dehydrated, they mostly concluded. Doctor number five thought similar, but because the then-24-year-old wasnt showing any signs of improvement, he relented and offered her a brain scan. That was where they discovered the blood clot in Kirstys brain.

"Im sorry, I made a mistake," one of the doctors who had previously dismissed Kirstys concerns told her, as he assessed the scan. She had a blood clot so severe, medical staff told her she was lucky not to have had a stroke. They gave her blood thinners to try to dissolve the clot, kept her in for a night to check she was fully hydrated, and then sent Kirsty home.

Losing the ability to speak

"One minute I have a migraine; the next minute they tell me I have this thing in my head. That was quite scary," Kirsty remembered.

But it wasnt anywhere near as scary as what happened just two days later, when the stroke finally happened.

"I was at home, laid on the sofa holding my phone up above me when I dropped it on my face," said Kirsty. "I went to pick it back up, but I physically couldnt. I was so freaked out. I just couldnt use my arm". Panicking, Kirsty told her dad she thought she was having a stroke, but he put it down to paranoia and suggested she probably had pins and needles.

"Then I could feel it in my face. My arm started moving involuntarily as if it was cramping and I started losing the ability to speak," recalled Kirsty. Her dad phoned for an ambulance and by the time they got there, Kirsty described how "it was like someone had drawn a line down the middle of my body. Nothing on the right side worked."

The loss of her ability to speak made Kirsty frustrated - as well as scared. "Although I couldnt physically say the words I wanted to, my brain was still thinking normally. Its like youre trapped within your own body. Its an isolating feeling," she told Cosmopolitan UK.

When Kirsty got to the hospital and was asked questions about where shed been travelling by medical staff keen to calm her down, she found she had no answers. "All I kept saying was 'I dont know, I cant remember'," said Kirsty. "In my head I could see the countries, I could see the names, I just couldnt verbalise it.

"I could say words - it just wasnt what I was asked for."

Photo credit: Courtesy of Kirsty Roberts

Gradually, and likely because of her young age, both Kirstys speech and her movement in the right side of her body began to return over the following 24 hours. She was kept in hospital for four nights while medical teams monitored her and rehab staff ensured she was returning to her full capabilities.

But what caused a 24-year-old woman to have a stroke? Isnt that something youd normally associate with older people? According to Kirstys haematologist, it was her pill.

Overdosing on oestrogen

Investigating what caused the blood clot that triggered the stroke, doctors assessed Kirsty for clotting disorders and found nothing. Looking at her lifestyle choices, the doctors zoned in on the contraceptive pill as the likely trigger, given that blood clots are a known (although rare) side effect.

While the doctors were confident the stroke was caused by a blood clot originating from the pill, they were slightly surprised that it had happened so many years after Kirsty began taking it. Usually, women tend to suffer side effects of the contraceptive pill within the first year of taking it. But then Kirsty shed some light on what had actually happened.

"Shortly before I first started getting the headaches, my pill company changed their packaging. Where it used to display the days of the week underneath each pill, they changed that to a weird code, so it was very hard to tell when you started it and whether you had taken it that day," Kirsty explained. "To be on the safe side, some days if Id forgotten if Id already taken one, I would take two. I thought I was doing a good thing, being cautious."

But what doctors explained was that Kirsty had inadvertently overdosed on oestrogen. While she thought shed been doing a good thing, making sure she was protected from conceiving, she had been pumping her body with too much oestrogen and a blood clot formed. When the clot reached her brain and caused a blockage, that's when the stroke occurred.

Photo credit: Rex

While this eventuality was very real for Kirsty, who made good steps towards a recovery in the months following her stroke, Claire Shuttleworth, Prevention Marketing Manager at the Stroke Association, was keen to remind women that this is still an incredibly rare occurrence.

"The risk of stroke from using contraception is very low, but some types of hormone-based contraception such as the pill, have an increased risk of stroke. This is because they can raise the risk of blood clots forming." she said. "It is a myth that strokes only happen to older people, anyone can have a stroke and it can happen suddenly no matter what age you are.

"Your risk of stroke should be carefully checked before you are given any of these treatments by your doctor. If you are worried, dont stop any treatment until you speak to your GP or nurse about your own risk and the best contraception for you," Claire added.



And Kirsty doesnt want to scare anyone into stopping the pill, either. "I wouldnt want to scare anybody ever because it is such a rare thing, but I think its important for people to know the risks. The pill is by no means a bad thing, as long as you take it sensibly. I thought I was, but maybe I wasnt being as responsible as I thought."



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A man and a woman were Tuesday charged with various sex crimes at the Kibera Law Courts.

The man identified as Abdirizak Adan Abdullahi is said to have paid large sums of money to his co-accused Faith Washiali Bwibo to lure young girls into his sex den where he allegedly raped them.

Appearing before Kibera Senior Principal Magistrate Esther Boke, the pair faced charges of rape, malicious damage to property and trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation.

Adan Abdullahi denied three counts of rape, malicious damage to property and indecent assault.

The court heard that he raped a 19-year-old Law student on March 2, 2021, in Mugoya estate, South C, Nairobi.

He was also accused of indecently assaulting the complainant and damaging her iPhone worth Sh40,000.

Bwibo on the other hand denied that she unlawfully and knowingly lured the teenage student for sexual exploitation.

State Prosecutor Allan Mogere and the victims lawyers opposed the release of the suspects on bond. They said the suspects are a danger to the society now that schools are closed and young girls are at home.

The court also heard that Adan has been molesting teenage girls and should be kept away from society.

This man raped the victim after she was lured into his house by Faith. Faith was a friend to the victim. She attempted to compromise her by giving her Sh30,000, one of the lawyers said.

The Prosecutor further told the court that Adan took the victim to Naivasha and abandoned her before police rescued her.

The magistrate declined to grant bond to both suspects and directed that the matter be mentioned on April 9.
American evangelicals often find themselves frustrated in their approach to Islam.

Two options are consistently placed before them: a polemical argument few are educated enough to engage in, or an awkward dialogue urging friendship but emptied of theological significance.

Help, therefore, may come from abroadwhere evangelicals interact with Muslims everyday.

A new book, The Religious Other: Toward a Biblical Understanding of Islam, the Quran, and Muhammad, answers both concerns. An anthology of recent academic contributions to Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS), located in Beirut, Lebanon, the publication delves into the details of the debate over how evangelicals should view the rival religion.

But it also promotes a kerygmatic method, based on the New Testament Greek word for proclamation and connoting among biblical scholars the core message of early church gospel preaching. The book applies the term to seek a middle ground between polemics and apologetics on the one hand, and syncretistic and common ground approaches on the other.

Built on a foundation of academic rigor, this method aims for a tone of love within a spirit of Jesus-centered proclamation.

CT interviewed Martin Accad, editor of the anthology and associate professor of Islamic studies at ABTS. Though he remains on faculty, he recently resigned from his leadership positions at the seminary to found Action Research Associates, seeking holistic application of the kerygmatic method within the troubles of sectarian Lebanese society.

Accad described the value of the book for evangelical engagement with Islam, but also how its principles can guide interaction with the religious other in both Lebanon and the United States:

Out of the 30 contributors to this book, only 9 are from the West, while 16 are Arab voices. What is the impact of this diversity?

Having so many Arabs is unusual for this type of book, especially those who are not of a polemical bent. Much of the agenda of missions and dialogue has been driven by Western questions, girded by the theology of the provider.

The contributions, therefore, de-objectify the conversation. We do not claim to be authoritative, but I hope that our voices will come with some authority, as we highlight our primary concerns in this part of the world.

Toward a biblical understanding suggests you have no definitive Christian conclusion about Islam, the Quran, and Muhammad. What message does the book want to give?

The primary goal of the book is theological, and is the crowning of years of work at ABTS. The Religious Other wants to explore what Islam really is. But I have come to the realization that a lot of what drives evangelical approaches to ministry among Muslims is polemical, rather than conciliatory and collaborative.

One of the books central hypotheses is that Islam cannot be oversimplified. Essentializing the other leads to conflict, because it fails to see them in their entirety, or as they perceive themselves.

There can be no definitive biblical understanding of Islam, because chronologically the religion comes after the Bible. But the book is the best effort of our theologians and Christian scholars of Islamic studies to get to an understanding that is both academically rigorous and theologically faithful.

We recognize the difficulty to get at anything certain about the origins of Islam, and therefore about the nature of the Quran or the person of Muhammad. But we seek to humbly bring out the complexity of these issues, and then build upon them for greater peace and understanding.

Where else will the book challenge traditional evangelical thinking?

There is a school of dialogue that says we should emphasize common ground between the two faiths, because there is much overlap in the stories found in both the Quran and the Bible. And missionaries sometimes seize on these as a bridge to the gospel.

Article continues below

One chapter in the book, however, struggles to find any relevance between them. In fact, the contributor says they make understanding more difficult to achieve because of the radically different worldviews of each religious narrative.

Personally, I have a conviction that the evangelical world must grapple more with the doctrine of salvation within its engagement with Islam. While probably half of evangelicals still approach Muslims from a polemical point of view, the other half is growing more comfortable with the idea of dialogue.

This is a good development.

But as some leading figures who had been missionaries in the Muslim world switched into dialogue, Ive wondered what happened to their soteriology. It is as if they entered a new season completely. The shift has been rapid, and I think we need more reflection.

One contributor, however, pushes the boundaries of salvation beyond what the typical evangelical framework is used to. He considers the classic question about people who have never heard the gospel, and then takes it a step further, to consider those who love God but find the message of the gospel doesnt appeal to them.

The trick is, while the contributor doesnt give a clear answer, he interacts with a 19th-century Muslim reformer who approaches the question from the side of Islam. He then asks, What can we learn?

Many biblical scholars will disagree with his reading of Romans 1. The contributor is a comparative religion expert, less versed in biblical studies. But we included his perspective because it will provoke a healthy conversation.

The book provides a whole range of interpretations on many issues like these.

While The Religious Other is about Islam, you propose the kerygmatic method as applicable to the evangelical approach toward all religions.

Yesand all of society. It is about how you understand yourself in a faith community, and your boundaries in interaction with others. It says that God is calling us beyond the walls of the church to something that touches the entirety of human reality.

We need to move beyond one-on-one relationships of evangelism and discipleship as the only legitimate approach to mission, and into a holistic understanding of the churchs role to transform everything.

It is not one or the other, but rather both and all at once.

Jesus inaugurated a new era he called the Kingdom of God. We are far too timid in our understanding of what it means.

The kerygmatic model of interaction with the other is to look for something above religious affiliation as a core element of identity, without giving up faith. And then, the person of Jesus can become very uniting, without making you a fanatic. Because the core of Jesus message is peace, action, and reconciliationwith God, but also with other human beings.

You are now developing a new project for Lebanon along these lines.

Over the past years I realized that engaging religious leaders is not enough. The early thrills of our peaceful revolution for change reached a dead end within a corrupt political system. The explosion at the Beirut port only made our crisis more disorienting.

So the project addresses the root issues of our sectarianism, and the different narratives that emerged from our civil war. We are where we are today because these were never dealt with in our history. This era is not even covered in our textbooks, because it is impossible to reach a common understanding of events.

Therefore, our effort will hold these narratives in tension, because they are not reconcilable. Each one develops a sense that their group is a victim, and the other is a victimizer.

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But just like with other religions, we can accept diverse narratives as real to each person, without agreement. And this then becomes the basis for a process of reconciliation. It creates empathy to hear the story of the other, giving you permission to also share your story, without it being nullified.

I have no doubt that God knows all the intricate details about our history.

But I dont think that the ultimate truth within these narratives can be determined by any human being. So instead of creating one single version of events, our common narrative will become the ability to be tolerant of the others disagreement.

Kerygma, however, is a Greek word for the proclamation of the Christian gospel. Is this also a part of your project?

I would not be where I am today, nor do what I do, without being shaped by the person of Jesus, within a biblical worldview. But it is certainly true that this is less directly a proclamation of the gospel of salvation through the cross than are the ministries of evangelism or preaching.

Instead of starting with verbal proclamation and considering application, this is an applicationthat is begging for the question [of who Jesus is]. Jesus is often part of the conversation, even with top officials and religious figures from Lebanons various sects.

Jesus is inescapable from this whole approach, and he is more at the center of a conversation about the future of Lebanon than he is in a simple dialogue between Christian and Muslim clerics. In fact, if we seek a nonviolent transition from corruption and sectarianism, Jesus may be the only viable model.

One reason is that in Lebanon, the theological component of ones religious identity is often the least important ingredient. But the core value of the kerygmatic method is that Jesus is at the center, supra-religious.

And Lebanon, actually, is a microcosm of the situation in the whole world today. If the church doesnt learn how to look at reality holistically, through the lens of Jesus, then we will be rapidly moving toward irrelevance.

How would you apply this to evangelicals in America?

Critics often blame them for over-involvement in politics. But I think they have not been involved enough. We just have to differentiate between political theology and a partisan theology that pushes a particular agenda, through which believers think that they will gain more influence.

The world doesnt need more religion in public life, it needs more Jesus in public life. The church is wrong when it tries to dictate morality to the society at large, because it becomes seen as the oppressor.

Teachers in the church have the responsibility to teach with love on all questions of ethics. Leaders should encourage believers to be involved in politics and the public sphereeach according to his convictionswhile shaping those convictions through gospel preaching.

It is a politic of humility, with respect for diversity.

For if anyone had the right to dictate right from wrong and compel obedience, it was Jesus. He knew the absolute position, and had absolute authority, but he chose not to do so.

Again, it is the kerygmatic method: A recognition of complexity, and the application of grace.
Leon G, Chabot, a one-time musician, and songwriter, has completed his new book Made in China: a gripping and potent thriller about one man fighting to save his country from hostile foreign forces.

Published by Page Publishing, Leon G. Chabots captivating tale takes place in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. While the best and brightest forces in United States intelligence are consumed by the relentless hunt for Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, a new terror threat goes completely undetected by United States intelligence and grows dangerously closer to fruition with each passing moment. One man alone has six days to stop this deadly attack.

October 16, 1964: The Beatles have invaded American shores, and communist Red China has gained nuclear capabilities, changing the world forever. By the early 1970s, it had become evident to certain party leaders that Chinas missile technology was severely lagging, impacting Chinas ability to become a superpower akin to the United States and the Soviet Union. An alternate plan was needed. Led by their most brilliant scientist, a renegade faction of the Red Regime formed a secret alliance with a dissident splinter of the North Korean military. Through the hand of the Chinese Tong and an unwitting American mafia, the group set into motion a deadly thirty-year plan.

Sam Mason is writing what he expects will be his most thrilling work yet. But as he delves into his research, Sam slowly comes to realize that his fantastic plot is a grim and imminent reality. An ex-Navy SEAL, Mason acquires proof of Chinas sinister, long-brewing scheme, only to find himself hunted by teams of Asian assassins. Now it is up to Sam to convince the commander-in-chief of the deadly Chinese plot and save countless American lives.

Readers who wish to experience this gripping work can purchase Made in China 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.
Drummoyne MP John Sidoti has been accused of fostering a master-servant relationship with local Liberal councillors by pressuring them to conduct council business according to his direction.

Former City of Canada Bay councillor Mirjana Cestar on Thursday told the corruption watchdog she felt so compromised by Mr Sidoti that she considered reporting him, but ultimately decided against it.

I thought the type of behavior that John was exhibiting would ultimately be his own downfall, that he had enough rope to hang himself anyway, so I didnt really need to contribute to it.

Drummoyne MP John Sidoti leaving ICAC last week. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Mr Sidoti is the subject of an investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption examining if he misused his position to improperly influence local Liberal councillors for the City of Canada Bay from 2011-2018.
An Air Force master sergeant at Nellis Air Force Base pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to selling methamphetamine and illegally trafficking in firearms.

Michael Reimers, 41, of Las Vegas, offered to sell several firearms in July through September 2019 -- including an AK-47, a .25 caliber handgun and a 12-gauge shotgun -- the Justice Department said in a statement Tuesday, citing court records and Reimers' admissions in court. In July of that year, he sold $800 worth of meth, the government said.

He was arrested in September 2019 at Nellis, where he was assigned to the 99th Communications Squadron, after a grand jury indicted him on charges, including selling a Century Arms AK-47 and a .25 caliber Titan handgun without a license, and selling a Mossberg shotgun to a prohibited person, who prosecutors said he had reason to believe was in the U.S. illegally.

Reimers was also charged with two counts of distributing a controlled substance, one for the sale of 50 grams or more of meth and one for distributing a mixture laced with cocaine.

He pleaded guilty to the count of selling firearms without a license and one count of distributing a controlled substance for the meth sale.

He was held in pretrial confinement at Nellis while awaiting a possible general court-martial for the same misconduct, court records show. Both sides had been working on a resolution to both the military and civil charges, according to a February court filing.

Reimers was found guilty by a military judge as part of a plea agreement at a court-martial in early March, an official at Nellis told Stars and Stripes late Wednesday. He was sentenced to seven years of confinement, reduction in grade to airman basic -- the lowest rank in the Air Force -- and a dishonorable discharge, the Nellis press office said in an emailed statement.

Reimers had gone on active duty in April 2000 and was promoted to master sergeant in July 2011 before being assigned to Nellis in 2016, the Las Vegas Review-Journal previously reported, based on information the base provided. The Justice Department referred to him Tuesday only as a "senior U.S. Air Force service member."

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Henderson Police Department.

The airman faces a maximum sentence of a life in prison with the possibility of parole and a fine of more than $10 million. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 13.
Cybersecurity disrupter appoints former Accenture Ventures Managing Director with exceptional take-to-market track record, prepares breakthrough product launches, eyes hyper-growth.

OTTAWA, ON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Quantropi, Inc., a ground-breaking Canadian quantum-secure communication solutions provider, today announced the appointment of Michael Redding as Chief Technology Officer. In his new role, Mr. Redding will oversee Product Strategy, Engineering, Research and Development and Customer Support.

With a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton and a Master's in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern, Mr. Redding is a highly accomplished technologist, keynote speaker and market watcher with a penchant for bold ideas and game-changing results. Before joining Quantropi, he incubated and launched technology innovations for enterprises across multiple geographies and industries during 30 successful years in wide-ranging roles with Accenture. Most recently, as Managing Director and co-founder of Accenture Ventures, Mr. Redding grew a global portfolio of strategic partnerships and 38 equity investments in emerging technology startups, including in cybersecurity, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, augmented/virtual reality, blockchain, and cloud (SaaS/PaaS/IaaS). He is also a former member of the Board of Directors for the Accenture Foundation and Board Observer for startups Maana and Splice Machine.

"We could not be prouder to have Mike join our team as CTO. With burgeoning demand for future-proof privacy and security solutions, Quantropi is uniquely positioned to solve the critical global problem posed by exponential increases in quantum computing capacity," said James Nguyen, Co-Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer. "Thanks to a patented breakthrough technology offering, our company has been able to attract significant investments and top international talent. We're thrilled to have Mike on board as we take our business to the next level."

"Simply put, I am excited to join Quantropi because of the brilliance and elegance of this novel technology, and how it secures data communications against current and future threats while dramatically improving cryptographic performance over today's standards," Mr. Redding stated. "That, as well as the energy, attitude, and ambition displayed by the company's leadership and conveyed in its corporate motto: 'Bring it on.'"

Mr. Redding will provide an early reveal of the company's go-to-market product offerings in a presentation on the Current State of the Art in Securing Networks from Quantum Threats at this season's prestigious Quantum.Tech Conference. The high-profile virtual event, where Mr. Nguyen will also be delivering a presentation, titled Digital QKD to the Rescue: Saving Tomorrow's Global Economy Today, will bring together experts across the quantum ecosystem from April 12 to 14, 2021.

Said Quantropi's Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer, Dr. Randy Kuang: "Quantropi is very pleased to be a Bronze Sponsor of #QT21, and is looking forward to taking the stage to demonstrate how our company's core QEEP technology powers both our flagship QiSpace cloud platform  the world's first Digital QKD service, enabling the generation and distribution of pure quantum entropy over the existing Internet in Perfect Secrecy  and CipherSpace, the first-ever truly quantum-secure desktop One Time Pad (OTP) file encryption/decryption application."

About Quantropi

Quantropi, Inc., is a Canadian Cybersecurity company that provides Enterprises with Quantum Secure Data Communications products for use over today's Internet with Perfect Secrecy. The company's patented QEEP technology enables quantum-secure key distribution over unlimited distances, via any communications network. Uniquely positioned in-market as the only vendor capable of delivering an easily deployable, cost-effective and an effortlessly scalable evolutionary solution to upgrade existing networks and systems to total timeless security, Quantropi's vision is to be the standard for quantum-secure data communications  no matter what the future technology, or threat, may be. Bring it on.

SOURCE Quantropi Inc.
Nokias Android 11 update rollout is gradually starting to gain pace. After seeding Android 11 to the likes of Nokia 8.3 5G and Nokia 3.2 in recent months, the finish company is now bringing the latest iteration of Android OS to the users of the Nokia 8.1 and Nokia 2.3. The company has announced the stable Android 11 update rollout for the two devices through forum posts over at Nokia Community.

Nokia rolls out Android 11 to Nokia 8.1 and Nokia 2.3

The Android 11 update for the Nokia 8.1 will be rolled out in two waves. The first wave of the staged rollout begins this week and will cover users in Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Macau, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. The new software will be first available to 10 percent of the total Nokia 8.1 users in these regions.

By April 10th, Nokia hopes to cover around 50 percent of the total user base. The Wave 1 rollout should complete on April 12th. The company has yet to share details about the second wave of the Android 11 rollout for the Nokia 8.1. The Wave 2 will cover the rest of the markets where the phone is available. However, its unclear when the rollout will begin.

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The Nokia 2.3 will also be treated with Android 11 in a similar manner  in two waves. The Wave 1 will cover 18 countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hong Kong, Iceland, Latvia, Laos, Lithuania, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, Norway, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sweden, and Vietnam.

As you might expect, Nokia once again hopes to seed Android 11 to at least 10 percent of the total Nokia 2.3 users in these regions immediately. The rollout will cover 50 percent of users by April 10th, with Wave 1 competing on April 12th. The details about Wave 2 of the Android 11 rollout for the Nokia 2.3 are also unknown.

Nokia needs to improve its software update speed

Most of Nokias smartphones are part of Googles Android One program, which promises timely updates and strong software support. However, the Finnish company has been anything but timely with the Android 11 rollout. More than six months into the release of Android 11, only four Nokia phones have picked the new software so far.

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The company has set some big ambitions after having made a successful return to the smartphone industry under HMD Global. However, if it continues to fail to live up to the expectations like this, it may struggle to find enough buyers in the coming years.

Nokia still has at least ten more models waiting to receive Android 11, according to the companys official roadmap. Hopefully, well see more devices pick up the new update sooner than later.
The African Union (AU) on Wednesday, April 7, joined Rwanda and the rest of the world to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi that claimed a million lives in 100 days.

Themed "Remember-Unite-Renew", this year's commemoration is the 27th of its kind.

In his remarks, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of African Union Commission, noted that the AU stands with Rwandan and her people during the period of commemoration.

"We want to reiterate our solidarity with the survivors and the families of the victims who are marked for life, in their flesh and soul, by these events. 27 years after this large-scale massacre, Rwandans offer us a tremendous lesson in overcoming, reconciliation, and unity," he said.

He also emphasized that the atrocities that took place in Rwanda should serve as a lesson to Africa, and to the rest of the world as well.

He said: "May the tragedy experienced by Rwanda 27 years ago, help Africa to protect itself against the recurrence of such a phenomenon and serve as an impetus to build an Africa, where ethnic diversity will be considered as a wealth and no longer as a weakness," he said.

"We want to tell humanity that such horrors must not happen again, neither in Africa nor elsewhere in the world," he said.

Meanwhile, Faki condemned those who kept a blind eye and a deaf ear during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

"This tragedy unfolded almost in camera, the mainstream media failing to give it the necessary importance, or not measuring its magnitude, just as it benefited from the culpable indifference of the international community and sometimes the implicit support of some powers," he underscored.
Any preserved traces, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological period is known as a fossil. Bones, eggs, exoskeletons, animal or microbe imprints in stone, amber-preserved artifacts, feathers, petrified wood, oil, gas, and DNA fragments are only few examples.

Fossils range in scale from one-micrometer microbes to fossils and trees that are several meters tall and weigh hundreds of tons.

In most cases, a fossil only retains a fraction of the dead body, commonly the portion that was partly preserved during development, such as vertebrates' bones and teeth or invertebrates' chitinous or calcareous exoskeletons. Fossils may also be made up of the marks that an object left behind when it was living, such as animal footprints or feces (coprolites). In contrast to body fossils, these kinds of fossils are known as trace fossils or ichnofossils. Chemofossils or biosignatures are biochemically preserved fossils.

Related Article: Snappy Evolution: The Secret Behind Ancient Crocodiles' Successful Adaptation



Here are 5 of the most famous fossil discoveries in history:

Yuka Mammoth

Yuka is the best-preserved carcass of a woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius). Local Siberian tusk hunters found it in 2010. They handed it over to local scientists in 2012, who conducted an initial examination of the carcass.

It can be seen as a display in Moscow.

The mammoth was discovered on the Oyogos Yar coast, about 30 kilometers west of the Kondratievo River's mouth in Siberia's Laptev Sea district. Yuka is a juvenile female natural mummy that was discovered near the village of Yukagir and named after the people who found it.

Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria have a long history of fossilization. A Cyanobacteria from Archaean rocks in western Australia are the earliest known fossils, dating back 3.5 billion years. This may come as a surprise, given that the oldest rocks are just 3.8 billion years old.

Cyanobacteria are one of the simplest microfossils to identify. The group's morphologies have remained largely unchanged for billions of years, and they can also leave chemical fossils in the form of pigment breakdown materials. SEM and TEM have been used to study small fossilized cyanobacteria isolated from Precambrian rock (scanning and transmission electron microscopy).

Lucy

AL 288-1 is the generic name for several hundred fragments of fossilized bone that make up 40% of the skeleton of a female Australopithecus afarensis hominin. The assembly is also known in Ethiopia as Dinkinesh, which means "you are marvelous" in Amharic. Lucy was discovered in Africa in 1974 by paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History at Hadar, a site in the Awash Valley of the Afar Triangle in Ethiopia.

The discovery of what appeared to be a nearly complete hominid skeleton sparked much celebration and enthusiasm later that night, November 24. There was drinking, dancing, and singing, with the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" played repeatedly. The skeleton was assigned the name "Lucy" at some point during the night. No one recalls when or by whom the name was given.

Turkana Boy

Turkana Boy, also known as Nariokotome Boy, is the name assigned to the KNM-WT 15000 fossil, a nearly complete skeleton of a Homo ergaster (also known as African Homo erectus) youth who lived between 1.5 and 1.6 million years ago. This is the most detailed skeleton of an early human ever discovered. Kamoya Kimeu discovered it on the bank of the Nariokotome River near Lake Turkana in Kenya in 1984.

The sample's age at death is estimated to be between 7 and 11 years old.

Sue the T-Rex

Sue is the nickname given to FMNH PR 2081, one of the most complete, detailed, and well-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex specimens ever discovered, with over 90% recovered by bulk. Sue Hendrickson, an adventurer and fossil hunter found it on August 12, 1990, and it was named after her. The fossil was auctioned in October 1997 for US$8.3 million, the largest price ever charged for a dinosaur fossil until October 7, 2020, when T. rex Stan was auctioned for US$31.8 million after ownership issues were resolved. Sue has been a permanent exhibit at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History.

Also Read: Vertebrate Origin Theory Now Questionable With Discovery of Fossilized Fish Larvae

For more prehistoric news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
CLEVELAND, Ohio  City Council President Kevin Kelley formally announced his long-awaited decision to run for mayor, a foregone conclusion to most of the citys political observers.

Kelley, a Democrat, has been eyeing the mayors race for years but had refrained from making any kind of declaration that he would run to succeed Mayor Frank Jackson, who is currently in his fourth term. Jackson has not announced that he wont seek a fifth term, but Kelleys entrance along with Jacksons lack of fundraising is the clearest sign yet that the longest serving mayor of Cleveland is on his way out.

At a 1 p.m. news conference announcing his candidacy, Kelley said the city needed thoughtful, experienced leadership to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic and the recession thats stunted the economy.

Despite the recession, despite the pandemic, there is a path forward. And the path forward does not lead us to the Cleveland that was, Kelley said. The path forward leads us to the Cleveland that can be. We will come out of this recession. We will restore vitality to our neighborhoods. But to be successful, we have to make sure we bring everyone along in our recovery. Every person, every neighborhood, has to be a part of the Cleveland recovery.

In laying out his vision for the city, Kelley said a focus on health equity, workforce development and investment in infrastructure across all neighborhoods was paramount to Clevelands future. He said his plans did not rely on outside investment as a kind of savior for Northeast Ohio, but envisioned using public dollars to encourage local business and neighborhood development.

Every citizen of our city deserves to travel on streets that theyre not going to lose a tire on, Kelley said. We need to bring our streets up to a level that were all happy with. And when we create infrastructure investment, that creates private sector investment. If we can put together good roads, water, sewer, everything we need to do, that will attract investment.

Policing in the city also needs to be reimagined and bolstered to help with the rise in violent crime, he said. That includes staffing all positions that investigate violent crimes as well as putting more foot and bike patrols in police districts.

That approach coupled with investing in neighborhoods to give people more economic opportunities would alleviate violent crime, Kelley said.

We have to understand that we cannot police our way out of the crime situation that we have, he said.

In an interview after the news conference, Kelley said his mayoral plans did not include closing Burke Lakefront Airport.

There is development opportunity on the southwestern edge of it, but it is a landfill that was built and used during a time they burned it every night. Its been covered by dredge. And it doesnt support the weight for any significant development, Kelley said. It would have to be a low rise. That said, I think theres great opportunity for Burke. We can support some development on the southwest edge of it.

As part of his infrastructure investment plans, Kelley said the city should look at using federal coronavirus relief dollars to help modernize Cleveland Public Power and the electricity grid of the city as a whole. The funds could potentially be used to diversify the citys power supply through renewables as well as update the city to a smart grid, he said.

A capital project like that would have the added benefit of providing jobs for people in Cleveland, as well as create an opportunity to expand high-speed internet access to the entire city, as was done in Chattanooga, Tenn., he said.

Kelley, a lawyer and social worker by trade, was first elected to Council in 2005. He currently represents Ward 13, which includes Old Brooklyn and parts of Stockyard.

He was unanimously chosen by council to serve as president in 2013 and has occupied the role since.

Kelleys mayoral ambitions were far from secret. In October, he launched a nearly 7-minute quasi-announcement video detailing his background and rise to council president. Earlier this year, he held a listening tour in each of Clevelands 17 wards.

Kelley enters the race as one of the favorites to win, with a hefty campaign cash advantage and the preferred candidate of Northeast Ohios business community. As vice chairman of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, he is also firmly entrenched in the Cleveland political establishment, which heavily favors Democrats. He said he will not step down as vice-chair of the party and will stay on as council president through the campaign.

He has often focused on poverty issues while on council, including co-sponsoring legislation aimed at ensuring Clevelands housing stock to be lead safe. He also spearheaded the move to provide free legal counsel to low-income tenants facing eviction and was one of the most vocal elected officials demanding an eviction moratorium during the coronavirus pandemic.

But Kelleys advantages may also be liabilities, depending on what the electorate is looking for as the city emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.

He is likely to rankle more liberal voters in the city who view his business connections as too cozy. In 2016, Kelley asked state lawmakers to help eliminate a referendum that would have increased Clevelands minimum wage to $15 an hour. He helped block a referendum to undo the public funding for renovations to The Q, now known as Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, in 2017.

Kelley dismissed the idea that he was too close to the business community, though said he expected his opponents to lob that attack against him.

Every candidate is going to be soliciting money from where they can. Theyre not going to be refusing it, he said. Thats what people will attribute to me if they cant come up with anything in my record to talk about.

He also runs the risk of being considered a continuation of Jacksons administration  a kind of status quo candidate  at a time when the public has been generally upset with politicians. Asked about his proximity to the administration, Kelley  while refraining from being critical of the mayor  tried to somewhat distance himself from Jackson.

I believe that Mayor Jackson was the right mayor at the right time, but I believe its time for a new path forward, Kelley said. I believe its time we make certain changes. We are not operating at our potential. I have ideas where we really have to reinvest in our workforce and the digital divide and make health equity a top priority. I think we are in a great place for recovery, but we need the right leadership to get us there.

He is the third high-profile candidate to announce, following nonprofit executive Justin Bibb and former Councilman Zack Reed. Reed unsuccessfully challenged Jackson for mayor in 2017. Others potentially waiting in the wings include Councilman Basheer Jones, former Mayor Dennis Kucinich and state Sen. Sandra Williams.

Kelleys decision is also the biggest indication that Jackson, the mayor since 2006, will not seek a fifth term in office. The two have been longtime allies and it was widely believed Kelley was interested in running in 2017, so long as Jackson did not. Jackson also hasnt raised any funds in the current election cycle, with only around $6,000 in his campaign account at the end of 2020.
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In many cases, crucial evidence for the outcome of criminal cases is obtained through quality mutual assistance between the Offices of the Prosecutors General of Armenia and Russia in the sectors of legal aid and extradition. This is what Prosecutor General of Armenia Artur Davtyan said during his meeting with Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Igor Krasnov today.

The Prosecutor Generals Office of Armenia reported that Davtyan had invited his Russian counterpart to Armenia during a working visit to Moscow in January, and this is Krasnovs first foreign visit as Prosecutor General.

Davtyan welcomed Krasnov to the Prosecutor Generals Office of Armenia and stated that the organizing of his visit during the post-war period itself underscores the strategic significance of the cooperation between the two countries.

Krasnov expressed gratitude for the reception and reaffirmed that the cooperation between the Offices of Prosecutors General of Armenia and Russia is very effective, attached importance to the partnership within different international organizations and invited Davtyan to attend the Conference of Prosecutors General of Europe to be held in July 2021 in Saint Petersburg.

During the meeting, the parties also discussed the factors impeding the establishment of durable peace in the region following the war that took place in 2020. Highly appreciating the personal contribution of the President of the Russian Federation to the cessation of the war, as well as the work that Russian peacekeeping forces have done to ensure peace and stability in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and the daily contacts of the Offices of the Prosecutors General of Armenia and Russia aimed at solving legal issues, Davtyan stated that only full implementation of point 8 stated in the trilateral statement signed on November 9, 2020 (regarding the solutions to the issues on the return of all prisoners of war and humanitarian issues) may serve as a guarantee for durable peace and economic cooperation and other sectoral cooperation in the region. Davtyan added that the Prosecutor Generals Office regularly provides Russia with data and evidence regarding Armenian prisoners of war and civilians, and the Prosecutor Generals Office of Russia is in constant contact with the Azerbaijani side.

Military Prosecutor of Armenia Vahe Harutyunyan generally presented the whole picture of the war crimes that Azerbaijan committed during the war, the gross violations of international humanitarian law, the current data on the involvement of international terrorists by Azerbaijan, etc.

Krasnov voiced hope that the active involvement of the Offices of the Prosecutors General of both countries in the implementation of the trilateral statement signed in November 2020, especially in regard to humanitarian issues, will lead to the strengthening of peace and law and order in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the restoration of normal activities in the main spheres of public life in the near future.

Based on the results of the meeting, Davtyan and Krasnov signed a joint statement on the intentions for development of cooperation between the Offices of the Prosecutors General of Armenia and Russia which is aimed at raising the level of qualification of prosecutors and strengthening partnership in several directions.
We have a vaccine, and we are elated about that, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said Thursday. But it doesnt mean this pandemic is completely over. We do need to continue to wear our masks before we can return to what we were doing pre-pandemic in the way we did it pre-pandemic.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Associate Degree Programs in Psychology.

Intelligent.com analyzed 81 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 47 making it to the final list for Online Associate Degree Programs in Psychology . To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-associate-in-psychology-degree-programs/

2021 Online Associate Degree Programs in Psychology featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Anne Arundel Community College

Alamo Colleges District

Alvin Community College

Barton County Community College

Bergen Community College

Brookdale Community College

Bucks County Community College

Bunker Hill Community College

Butler Community College

California Coast University

Casper College

Central Methodist University

Coastline Community College

Cochise College

College of Southern Nevada

Colorado Christian University

Community College of Allegheny County

Cossatot Community College of the University, Arkansas

Drury University

Fisher College

Florida Institute of Technology

Foothill College

Grace Christian University

Hagerstown Community College

Hillsborough Community College

Iowa Western Community College

Lehigh Carbon Community College

Liberty University

Monroe Community College

Monterey Peninsula College

Montgomery County Community College

Navarro College

Parkland College

Regent University

Rose State College

Sinclair Community College

South Texas College

Southwestern Assemblies of God University

St. Charles Community College

Sussex County Community College

Truckee Meadows Community College

Tulsa Community College

Tyler Junior College

University of the Cumberlands

Upper Iowa University

Vincennes University

Waldorf 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/.
Minnesota continues fight against Christian couple who refuse to film gay weddings

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The state of Minnesota is continuing its legal battle against a film company headed by a Christian couple who are opposed to filming same-sex wedding ceremonies.

In August, a three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled that the Minnesota Human Rights Act violated the constitutional rights of Carl and Angel Larsen of Telescope Media Group.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minnesota Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero announced Wednesday that they are going to continue their legal defense of the Human Rights Act.

Telescope wants to breach common decency on the grounds of free speech. But their right to believe what they want is already fully protected, they argued in an opinion column for the Star Tribune.

What theyre asking for is a license to discriminate against LGBTQ folks that could open up a can of worms for everyone.

Ellison and Lucero added that they're planning to take the case back to the district court level, as they believe the U.S. Supreme Court would rule against them.

In the meantime, were going to keep honoring the First Amendment, which allows everyone to believe what they want no matter how much we may disagree with them, and keep enforcing the Human Rights Act, they continued.

Jeremy Tedesco of the law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing the Larsens, said in a statement released Thursday that his organization intends to secure a final victory that prevents the state from using its power to banish people of faith from the public square.

Carl and Angel won a great free speech victory at the 8th Circuit, which rightly affirmed that the government has no power to force people to express messages that violate their deepest convictions. This principle protects everyone, Tedesco said.

After the Larsens won at the 8th Circuit, the Minnesota attorney general agreed to an order from the court preventing it from enforcing the law against the Larsens while the case proceeds.

In December 2016, the Larsens filed a complaint against the MHRA's ban on sexual orientation discrimination, arguing that the measure would force them to film same-sex weddings, for which they religiously object to doing.

U.S. District Court Judge John Tunheim ruled against them in September 2017, concluding that the law is "neutral" in its application and dismissed the Larsens concerns as immaterial.

However, in August, a three-judge Eighth Circuit panel ruled in their favor, with Circuit Judge David Stras stating the majority opinion that antidiscrimination laws, as critically important as they are, must yield to the Constitution.

Indeed, if Minnesota were correct, there is no reason it would have to stop with the Larsens. In theory, it could use the MHRA to require a Muslim tattoo artist to inscribe My religion is the only true religion on the body of a Christian if he or she would do the same for a fellow Muslim, or it could demand that an atheist musician perform at an evangelical church service, Judge Stras wrote.

The district court also ruled that the Larsens could not seek relief on various other constitutional theories. We largely agree that these claims fail. But onethe free-exercise claimcan proceed because it is intertwined with their free-speech claim.

Circuit Judge Jane Kelly authored an opinion that dissented in part, arguing that while objections to same-sex marriage are protected by the First Amendment, these protections do not apply to businesses.

The Larsens remain free to communicate any message they desireabout same-sex marriage or any other topicor no message at all, Kelly wrote.

What they cannot do is operate a public accommodation that serves customers of one sexual orientation but not others. And make no mistake, that is what todays decision affords them license to do.
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Myanmars ambassador to London told Reuters he was locked out of the embassy on Wednesday, but sources said his deputy had shut him out of the building and taken charge on behalf of the military.

The military seized power in Myanmar in a coup in February and have since cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.

London ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn has broken ranks with the ruling junta in recent weeks, calling for the release of detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

I have been locked out, he told Reuters outside the embassy in central London.

Four diplomatic sources with knowledge of the matter said that deputy ambassador Chit Win has taken over as charge daffairs and he and the military attache had locked the ambassador out of the building.

Kyaw Zwar Minn spoke next to the embassy, where police were standing guard. He spoke to protesters on the street outside.

Last month, he had called for the release of Suu Kyi, and ousted President Win Myint, drawing praise for his courage from British foreign minister Dominic Raab.

Britain has sanctioned members of Myanmars military and some of its business interests in wake of the coup and has demanded the restoration of democracy.

The British foreign office had no immediate comment on the incident.

We are aware of a protest outside the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair, London. Public order officers are in attendance. There have (been) no arrests, police said in a statement.

France 24 is Premium Times syndication partner. We have permission to republish content.
New Delhi: Pushkar Singh, a class 11th student from Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), has come up with an anti-COVID-19 smart bag that will let kids maintain social distancing in schools. It reportedly has two ultrasonic sensors installed at the front and back that get active whenever you carry the bag on your shoulder. The bag will alarm you if someone comes closer to you within two metres.

This anti-COVID-19 smart school bag is chargeable and works for over 5 days after two hours of charging.

It also has a barcode that will provide the contact details including the address of the kid, which may help the Police to reunite the kids with their parents in case they are separated.

The bag has been designed with the help of Arduino, ultrasonic sensor, 3.7-volt battery, alarm, push switch and a bar code.

Meanwhile, a night curfew has been imposed in major cities of Uttar Pradesh including Varanasi, Lucknow and Kanpur to check the spread of COVID-19.

In Varanasi, a week-long curfew will be imposed from 9 pm on Thursday.

This is to be noted that India is witnessing a second wave of COVID-19 as the country registered 1,26,789 new cases in the last 24 hours. India's COVID-19 caseload has now soared to 1,29,28,574, of which, 9,10,319 are active, whereas, 1,66,862 have succumbed to the virus.
[April 08, 2021] John Marshall Bank Hires Kenneth Board as Branch Manager in Alexandria, VA

John Marshall (News - Alert) Bank is pleased to announce Kenneth Board as their new Branch Manager in Alexandria, VA. Kenneth's career in banking has a targeted focus in retail lending, deposit acquisition, non-interest income generation, and operations management. Before joining John Marshall Bank, Kenneth was a Market Leader IV at BB&T Bank in Odenton, MD. While in this role, Kenneth was responsible for overseeing the sales management, revenue generation and consumer and small business loan performance within the branch. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005025/en/ Kenneth Board VP, Branch Manager, Alexandria (Photo: Business Wire) Kenneth's academic background includes a B.A. in Business Administration from Mount Ida College in Newton, MA. The consistent thread throughout his career has been providing innovative leadership that aligns with a bank's business goals and objectives. e has previous experience as Branch Manager at national institutions including PNC (News - Alert) and M&T Bank where he was responsible for providing operational oversight and strategic guidance to ensure the success of the branches.



"I'm thrilled to be able to join a great team of like-minded professionals and bankers who are fully committed to their customers' success. I look forward to utilizing my background in bank management to support John Marshall Bank's overall growth and mission," stated Kenneth Board. "Kenneth's background and track record in banking leadership is outstanding. He carries a wealth of expertise and his experience in partnership development and market expansion will be an invaluable resource to our team," stated Ted Johnson, Regional Executive of the Alexandria region.

Kenneth is involved in several organizations in the local community, including having previously served on the Board of Directors for both the Mount Vernon Lee Chamber of Commerce and the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation. About John Marshall Bank: Headquartered in Reston, VA, John Marshall Bank is one of the largest community banks in the region with eight full-service branches located in Alexandria, Arlington, Loudoun, Prince William, Reston, Rockville, Tysons, and Washington, D.C. and one loan production office in Arlington, Virginia. The Bank is dedicated to providing exceptional value, personalized service and convenience to local businesses and professionals in the Washington DC Metro area. JMB offers a comprehensive line of sophisticated banking products and services that rival those of the largest banks along with experienced staff to help achieve customers' financial goals. Dedicated Relationship Managers serve as direct points-of-contact, providing subject matter expertise in a variety of niche industries including Charter and Private Schools, Government Contractors, Health Services, Nonprofits and Associations, Professional Services, Property Management Companies, and Title Companies. Learn more at www.johnmarshallbank.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005025/en/

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A lawyer for Joel Greenberg has hinted the Florida tax collector could flip on Matt Gaetz as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors over sex-trafficking charges, according to reports.

I am sure Matt Gaetz is not feeling very comfortable today, attorney Fritz Scheller told reporters after a hearing on Thursday.

Mr Scheller said his client planned on pleading guilty in the coming weeks but was waiting to see the proposed agreement from prosecutors.

The federal child sex-trafficking case against Mr Greenberg sparked a separate investigation into Mr Gaetz, according to The New York Times.

While Mr Greenberg was set to go to trial in June, defence lawyers and US assistant attorney Roger Handberg agreed to a deadline of 15 May to work out the details of a plea deal.

Read more:

Mr Greenberg is alleged to have met women through a website that facilitates the exchange of dates for gifts and allowances, then introduced them to Mr Gaetz, according to Times.

While the deal has lead to speculation that Mr Greenberg would cooperate with the Justice Department in the investigation into Mr Gaetz, neither prosecutors nor the defence has explicitly confirmed an agreement.

Mr Scheller said negotiations of the plea conditions were in the early stages but that Mr Greenberg was uniquely situated, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

Mr Greenberg, the former tax commissioner in Seminole County, had previously pleaded not guilty to several charges that included sex trafficking of a minor, stalking and wire fraud.

Federal investigators are looking at whether Mr Greenberg used the internet to find women who were paid to travel for sex, while also looking at whether Mr Gaetz travelled to the Bahamas with women paid to travel for sex, according to NBC News.

Mr Gaetz, who has not been charged with any crimes, has denied the allegations. He says that it is part of an extortion plot to defraud $25m from his family.

In a column published in The Washington Examiner on Monday, Mr Gaetz said the allegations were the DC swamp attempting to sensationalise and criminalise his prior sex life.

First, I have never, ever paid for sex. And second, I, as an adult man, have not slept with a 17-year-old, he said.

My lifestyle of yesteryear may be different from how I live now, but it was not and is not illegal, he added.
The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), apex national body representing automobile dealers in India, on Thursday released monthly vehicle registration data for March 2021.

Auto registrations tumbled by 28.64% year on year in March 2021 to 16,49,678 units. However, auto registrations grew 10.05% last month as against February 2021.

Two-wheeler vehicle registrations were at 11,95,445 vehicles (down 35.26% YoY), three-wheeler vehicle registrations were at 38,034 vehicles (down 50.72% YoY), commercial vehicle registrations were at 67,372 vehicles (down 42.2% YoY) in March 2021 over March 2020.

However, the registrations of passenger vehicles stood at 2,79,745 vehicles (up 28.39% YoY) during the period under review. FADA said passenger vehicle waiting period continued to hold its ground and remained as high as 7 months as scarcity of semiconductors remained put. 47% PV dealers said that they lost more than 20% sales due to supply side constraints.

Meanwhile, tractor registrations jumped 29.21% to 69,082 units in March 2021 over March 2020.

In its near term outlook, FADA said, "The month of April comes with festivities like Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Baisakhi and Poila Boishakh. This coupled with marriage season is generally a high sales period. At this juncture, the second wave of Covid is not only spreading faster but is also trying to destabilize the growth which India has been able to achieve in last few months. Any lockdown at this point will severely hamper the momentum which is getting built for Auto Industry to come out of the woods. Since Maharashtra contributes 10-11% of the auto retail, the current Lockdown will have catastrophic effect on overall sales for the month of April. Overall, FADA maintains extreme caution for the month of April as Covid rises to newer highs."

The Nifty Auto index rose 1.1% to 10,045.95, rising for third consecutive trading session. The index added 2.85% in three days.

Ashok Leyland (up 5.65%), Tata Motors (up 2%), Eicher Motors (up 1.74%), Escorts (up 1.51%), M&M (up 1.15%), Maruti Suzuki (up 1.06%), Hero MotoCorp (up 0.68%) and TVS Motor (up 0.17%) were gainers.

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Us, 8 April 2021 In the commercial world, everyone wants to become number one and want to improve their business sales. There are many individuals who are new in the business world and want to gain the attention of the customers. It has been observed that running a business isnt an easy task as there are several things that individuals need to manage in the business. Sometimes, entrepreneurs get troubled because of negative comments and poor reputations in the commercial world. It is suggested that every businessman should give attention to the business management to grab the attention of customers. In the commercial world, everyone wants to have a good business reputation which is only possible when the customers appreciate the services. A business with bad customer reviews performs poorly in the business sector and is unable to achieve the top position in the business sector. It is essential to manage the business reputation as it helps to improve the business sales and attract new customers.

There are many businessmen who think about business reputation management that is also regarded with several other names, for example, Brand perception, Brand management, Representational management, Internet reputation management, Online reputation management, and much more. A majority of businessmen are new in the business sector and need some advice from a professional or mentor to improve their businesss reputation. There are many mentors available in the online world that guide businessmen to achieve a good reputation in the market. Individuals can also find some platforms that act as a mentor, but Vivo Mentor is considered the best platform that guides businessmen effectively and provides all essential information about the business requirements. One can conveniently improve their business reputation by following some strategies that are mentioned on this platform. If needed, interested individuals can click here or visit our official website to know more about the business strategies blog.

It is observed that the reputation of the business is also in the hands of employees because mainly employees contact customers and spend more of their time with customers. Even some businessmen also use several strategies to improve business reputation, for example, content creation, communication, self-assessment, and transparency. All these strategies can help to enhance the business reputation in a short while. It is suggested that every businessman should create positive content for their business and use social media to spread positivity. Businessmen should provide the most effective and transparent services to all the customers to improve the reputation. One must also pay attention to both positive and negative reviews and should behave appropriately. These are the strategies that definitely work to improve business reputation in the commercial sector. Individuals with expectations to know about business reputation management and other details can feel free to visit this site.







Website : https://vivomentor.com/
ALBION, MI  Albion College and the Albion Department of Public Safety say a student is responsible for racist graffiti found in a dorm last weekend.

Albion police brought the 21-year-old Black male in for questioning on April 6, according to Chief Scott Kipp. The student admitted to creating most of the graffiti, and video evidence from Albions Campus Safety Department confirms the statements made by the student, Kipp said.

The student was released after questioning, Kipp said. Once the investigation is complete, the information will be submitted to the Calhoun County Prosecutors Office for any charges related to the incident, he said.

The graffiti, which included racist epithets and multiple references to the Klu Klux Klan, was discovered in a stairwell inside Mitchell Towers on Friday, April 2, university officials said. Pictures of the graffiti were posted by City Watch NEWS Group on its Facebook page.

In a series of tweets Wednesday evening, April 7, college officials said the student was acting alone and acknowledged responsibility for the incidents. The student was immediately removed from campus and placed on temporary suspension while the college conducts a full investigation as part of its student judicial process, college officials said.

We know the acts of racism that have occurred this week are not about one particular person or one particular incident. We know that there is a significant history of racial pain and trauma on campus and we are taking action to repair our community, college officials tweeted. We will change and heal together as a community, because we are committed to doing the work.

College officials are encouraging members of the community to care for one another and lean on faculty, staff and community members who are supporting them, according to a tweet.

At a meeting between college and community leaders on April 6, Kipp said there were three reports made between April 2-5. ADPS and Campus Safety are continuing to work together to investigate the incidents and make sure no other individuals were involved, Kipp said.

Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact Campus Safety at 517-629-1234 or ADPS at 517-629-3933.

READ MORE:

Racist graffiti found in college dorm condemned by Albion community leaders

Racist graffiti found in stairwell at Albion College

100% in-person classes coming to Albion College for fall semester
Kolkata, April 8 : A day after the Election Commission of India issued a show cause notice to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for demanding votes on communal grounds, the poll panel on Thursday issued a similar show cause notice to BJP heavy-weight Suvendu Adhikari and asked him to submit a written clarification explaining the alleged communal overtones in his speech made last month.

In its notice, the ECI asked Adhikari to submit her explanation within 24 hours of receipt of the notice, failing which the commission "shall take a decision without further reference to you".

The commission reacted against a complaint lodged by CPI-ML central committee member Kavita Krishnan, where she alleged that on March 29, Adhikari, the a BJP candidate from Nandigram, delivered a hate speech while addressing a public meeting there.

An authenticated transcript of the alleged speech has also been received from the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, the commission said, adding that the relevant part of the speech said, "I am fond of singing and hearing kirtans. I have nothing new to tell you. On one hand Begum is competing against us... You are not giving votes to Begum. If you vote for Begum there will be a mini-Pakistan. A Dawood Ibrahim has come up in your locality." It should be mentioned here that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting against Adhikari in Nandigram.

In another portion of the speech, Adhikari said, "Which puja is coming next? Ramnabami. With which flower did Ramchandra worship Maa Durga? All of you should therefore vote for Lotus." The commission said that the statement made by Adhikari on March 29 has been examined and the same has been found to be in violation of Clauses (2) and (3) of Part I of the Model Code of Conduct for the guidance of political parties and candidates.

The commission asked Adhikari to explain his stand for making the above mentioned statement within 24 hours of receipt of the notice, failing which the commission will take a decision without further reference to him.

Elections for the 294-member Bengal Assembly are being conducted in eight phases. While the first three phases have been completed, the remaining five phases will be held on April 10, April 17, April 22, April 26 and April 29. The results will be declared on May 2.
Ukraine and Slovakia are launching a project on cross-border cooperation to deepen cooperation between local governments and modernize governance in Ukrainian communities.

Ambassador of Ukraine to the Slovak Republic Yurii Mushka said this during an online conference dedicated to the project "Cross-Border Cooperation between Ukraine and Slovakia - CBC4US, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The Cross-Border Cooperation Project between Ukraine and the Slovak Republic will be another step in our fruitful cooperation. It will deepen cooperation between local governments of Ukraine and Slovakia, provide experience in the process of reform and modernization so that to bring Ukraine closer to European standards," he said.

Mushka stressed that cooperation between the territorial communities of both countries, including border communities, is important.

Natalia Lazarenko, a representative of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, said that the cooperation project would include seminars, conferences, round table meetings, publication of materials or manuals and other events dedicated to the cooperation between Slovak and Ukrainian local governments.

According to the organizers of the conference, the project "Cross-Border Cooperation between Ukraine and Slovakia - CBC4US" is funded under the Program of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area. This project receives grants from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through EEA Grants and is co-financed from the state budget of the Slovak Republic. The project is implemented by the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC), the Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia (ZMOS), the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) and the Slovak-European Cultural Society (FEMAN).

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[April 08, 2021] StockX Valuation Surges to $3.8 Billion with $255 Million Financing

DETROIT, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- StockX today announced the conclusion of a $195 million secondary tender offering as well as an additional $60 million in Series E-1 primary shares at a $3.8 billion valuation. This represents a 35% increase over the $2.8 billion valuation following the company's $275 million Series E funding round closed in December 2020. "This news signals the broad recognition and excitement for the long-term value of StockX's business as well as a growing appreciation for marketplace experiences," said StockX CEO Scott Cutler. "Fundamental shifts in both consumer buying and investing behavior provide an immense growth opportunity for StockX, which has long lived at the intersection of consumer goods and tradable assets. We are just scratching the surface of what StockX can deliver for the millions of global buyers and sellers who count on the platform for a wide range of authentic current culture products." Altimeter Capital led the all-cash offer, with participation from existing investors and new institutional investor Dragoneer. "StockX has quickly become one of the largest and fastest growing consumer marketplaces - serving an accelerating global audience thirsting for authenticity and relevant products," said Brad Gerstner, Founderand CEO of Altimeter Capital. "The visionary leaders and team have built a new platform for trading and ownership that starts with trust and supports a growing list of products from sneakers to electronics to collectibles. Altimeter is excited to partner for the long haul as StockX becomes one of the most important e-commerce destinations in the world."



In just five years, StockX has grown to become one of the largest and most trusted global marketplaces of its kind. For the year ended December 31, 2020 the company closed more than 7.5 million trades and hit $1.8 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV), which resulted in GAAP revenue of over $400 million. StockX also achieved break-even in the second half of 2020 and served more than 200 million visitors across 200 countries and territories. "StockX is a leader at the intersection of two powerful trends: the large and intensifying demand for authenticated products, and elevated price discovery and transparency in online marketplaces," said Jared Middleman, Partner at Dragoneer. "By innovating in these two areas, the company has rapidly established itself as one of the most important online marketplaces for Gen Z and millennial consumers. This position has unlocked a number of promising new growth opportunities, and we are excited to support the StockX team as they work to realize this potential."

Learn more about StockX at www.stockx.com . About StockX

StockX is proud to be a Detroit-based technology leader focused on the large and growing online market for sneakers, apparel, electronics, accessories, and collectibles. StockX's powerful platform connects buyers and sellers of high-demand consumer goods from around the world using dynamic pricing mechanics. This approach brings unparalleled access and market visibility powered by real-time data that empowers buyers and sellers to determine and transact based on fair market value. The StockX platform features hundreds of brands across verticals including Jordan Brand, adidas, Nike, Supreme, BAPE, Off-White, Louis Vuitton, Gucci; collectibles from artists including KAWS and Takashi Murakami; and electronics from industry-leading manufacturers, Sony, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Apple. Founded in 2016, the company employs more than 1,000 people in 13 offices and authentication centers around the world, and facilitates sales in more than 200 countries and territories. Learn more at www.stockx.com . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stockx-valuation-surges-to-3-8-billion-with-255-million-financing-301264729.html SOURCE StockX

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Editorials are longer opinion pieces that are written by a group of community members recruited across campus who address relevant issues on a local, national and international level. Editorials are research-based. The purpose of the Editorial Board is to promote discussion concerning relevant issues in the community while advising on possible solutions. Topics are chosen via relevancy and interests of the members, which are then discussed by the Editorial Board in order to reach a general consensus concerning the topic or issue.

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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.

Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020
(TNS)  Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and other dignitaries visited the Cleveland suburb of East Cleveland on Wednesday to announce a public-private partnership that plans to extend affordable, high-speed internet to as many as 2,000 low-income households.DeWine told several dozen people gathered in front of Mayfair Elementary School about the need for the $650,000 broadband expansion in East Cleveland, one of the poorest and least connected cities in the nation, and elsewhere in Ohio.The truth is that in the world we live in today, 2021, if you cannot access that you cannot fully participate in society today, economically, educationally and other ways, DeWine said. And so, one of our main goals, lieutenant governor and mine, is to make sure that we have, every day, more and more people who have that access.Wednesdays announcement is significant as it signals yet another effort toward bridging the digital divide, which is an economic and education impediment in many areas of Greater Cleveland. Funding to connect households in East Cleveland comes from a variety of sources, including the state, Cuyahoga County, the Microsoft, Eaton Corp. and GE Lighting, which was purchased by Savant Systems in 2020.University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University and the East Cleveland City Schools are providing access to buildings where the necessary infrastructure will be placed. Others involved in the project include the Urban League of Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Partnership.PCs for People, a Minnesota-based nonprofit with an office in Cleveland, is producing the hardware for the expansion, which includes antenna towers nearly 15 feet tall, along with the modems that each household will need to receive the wireless service.The antennas provide the so-called last mile of infrastructure and will connect with the state-funded OARnet fiber backbone that extends into East Cleveland, said Bryan Mauk, who heads the PCs for People office in Cleveland.Households will be charged $15 for the 4G service, which provides speeds of 50 megabits per second for download and 10 megabits per second for upload.The technology will allow for typical family consumption rates, Tom Domzalski, director of data research & assessment with East Cleveland City Schools, said prior to the announcement.The plan is to initially connect 1,000 households, but that the infrastructure will provide for up to 2,000 connections. Mauk said as many as 8,000 households in East Cleveland lack access to the internet.When selecting those households to receive service, priority will be given to families with children in the public school system, Mauk said. The remaining slots can be reserved by residents who sign up at pcsforpeople.com/wisp. Residents can plug in their address to see if they are in an area served by the infrastructure.PCS for People will serve as the internet service provider on the project, distributing the modems and billing customers. Mauk said the $15 per month charge will generate enough revenue to cover operating and maintenance costs, as well as for an eventual upgrade to 5G technology.DeWine said the decision to work on a project in East Cleveland followed a conversation he had a year ago with State Sen. Kenny Yuko, a Democrat from Richmond Heights, and then East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King, who brought up the need for better broadband service.The governor turned the project over to Husted, who said he initially reached out to for-profit internet providers to develop a solution. Husted told cleveland.com andafter the announcement why those initial efforts didnt work.This is economics and those are private companies that have investors, and as one of them explained to me, it costs X amount a mile for them to put fiber in the ground and every time they make that investment they need to get a certain return on that investment or theyre not going to do it, Husted said. And the bottom line is that the economics dont work on a lot of these projects if you leave it completely to the private sector.Husted said the state has led similar broadband projects in other parts of the state but that the East Cleveland project is the first real urban project using this strategy.Other organizations are taking steps to connect underserved neighborhoods with internet service, including DigitalC, a Cleveland nonprofit broadband provider that recently announced plans to extend broadband at $18 per month to 277 low-income households in the Hough neighborhood of Cleveland. So far, DigitalC has committed to hooking up 950 households in the city.In February, for-profit Spectrum announced it was partnering with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority to bring high-speed Internet to 19 of its properties.Husted said piecemeal efforts to bridge the divide may be the only way to go given the vast differences across the state.Different technologies work better in different places, and different technologies need to be used to make the economics work, Husted said, likening the states broadband expansion efforts to sewing a quilt.Said, Mauk, Its really hard to come up with a silver bullet for this, right. If it was that easy, there would be one.DeWine told the crowd to expect more efforts by the state to extend broadband service to those who cant afford it.The announcement that were making today has to do with one step, he said. . . . Well start with a thousand families, maybe 2,000 families. Its not going to be everybody, but its going to be a start.
Alex Salmond's upstart pro-independence Alba Party party could ruin Nicola Sturgeon's chances of an outright SNP majority in the Scottish parliament election, a new poll suggests today.

The Savanta ComRes poll for The Scotsman predicts the SNP will return 64 MSPs, one short of the 65 needed for a majority.

The poll predicts the Alba Party will return none - meaning no Holyrood return for Mr Salmond himself.

But it is forecast to take 3 per cent of the list vote, which would be enough to derail Ms Sturgeon's hopes of governing alone in Scotland.

The Scottish Greens are expected to win 10 seats and form a pro-independence coalition with the SNP under the poll results.

In a separate poll that will further dash Mr Salmond's hopes of a return to frontline politics, he had the lowest personal approval rating of any Scottish Party leader.

Opinium found he had a -60 rating among voters and just 11 per cent believed he had Scotland's best interests at heart.

The poll predicts the Alba Party will return none - meaning no Hollyrood return for Mr Salmond himself.

But it is forecast to take 3 per cent of the list vote, which would be enough to derail Ms Sturgeon's hopes of governing alone in Scotland.

How does the Holyrood election work? On May 6 Scots will be electing 129 MSPs for Holyrood. But unlike at Westminster, there is a form of proportional representation to decide who gets the seats. There are two routes for MSPs to be elected, with each voter having two ballots to cast. Specific 'constituency' MSPs are returned to represent the 73 constituencies in Scotland. Those are 'first past the post' contests, the same as Westminster elections. The second ballot is used to elect 56 'list' members. Each of the eight Parliamentary regions returns seven MSPs. But in this instance, voters back parties rather than candidates. It is this list that Alba is standing candidates on. It is not standing in the constituency vote. The parties are then allocated a number of 'list' MSPs on the basis of their support - and they have a list of candidates by priority to take the seats. The aim is to make the result more proportional. Advertisement

Commenting on the Scotsman poll, SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: 'This poll shows this election outcome on a knife-edge, and reinforces that only by voting SNP on May 6 can people guarantee an SNP government, led by Nicola Sturgeon, which has the plans to remobilise our NHS, kick-start our economic recovery and improve lives across the country.

'At this election the way to ensure that people in Scotland are given the democratic opportunity to choose a better future - once the threat posed by the pandemic has passed - is to vote for the SNP. Anything else is taking a chance on the country's future'

The survey projects the SNP would return a constituency vote of 49 per cent and a list vote of 40 per cent

The number of Alba voters questioned in the survey of 1,007 Scottish adults was 'extremely small', however about 6 per cent of people who voted SNP in 2016 said they would vote for Alba in May.

Meanwhile, 4 per cent of those who plan to vote SNP next month said they will choose SNP for their constituency vote and Alba on the list.

Mr Salmond only launched Alba last week after a bitter split with the SNP over the handling of a sexual harassment into the former first minister.

But he has already attracted a wave of defections from his former party. He wants to form a 'super-majority' at Holyrood that would begin to seek independence from the UK as soon as possible after the May vote.

Analysis of the poll projects that if all Alba voters reverted to choosing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's party, the SNP would have a majority of three MSPs.

However, it predicts a pro-independence majority of 74 MSPs as it projects that 10 Scottish Green MSPs will be elected.

The poll predicts the Scottish Conservatives will lose six seats, returning 25 MSPs, while Scottish Labour is predicted to return 23, one down on 2016.

Scotland operates a version of proportional representation, and Alba is only standing 'list' - or 'additional' MSP - candidates rather than running in the first-past-the-post constituency contests that could have inflicted more serious damage to the nationalists. Pollsters say that means it is more likely to hurt opposition parties, who typically end up with most of the list seats. The chart shows the result from the last Holyrood election in 2016

The Scottish Liberal Democrats are predicted to gain one seat and return seven MSPs.

The poll also found support for Scottish independence is split.

It found that if an independence referendum were to be held tomorrow, 45 per cent would vote Yes and the same proportion No, with the remainder undecided.

The poll was carried out between April 2 and 7.

It comes after a separate poll on Wednesday predicted that the SNP is forecast to win a majority of seats at the Scottish Parliament election on May 6.

The Ipsos Mori poll for STV found more than half (53 per cent) of the respondents who are registered to vote and are at least 9/10 likely to do so intend to chose an SNP candidate in their constituency next month.

This is a rise of one percentage point from the previous Ipsos Mori poll for STV in February.

Boris Johnson accused of 'running scared' of Scottish voters as Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross admits he is 'not sure' the Prime Minister will campaign in Scotland ahead of May's Holyrood elections

Boris Johnson was accused of being scared of Scottish voters today as the country's top Tory admitted the Prime Minister may not visit to support his election campaign.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said today that he was 'not sure' if Mr Johnson would come north ahead of the Scottish parliamentary election on May 6.

Mr Ross, who is himself seeking a Holyrood seat, said he had 'previously expected' the UK party leader to come to Scotland.

But in a BBC radio interview today he said the coronavirus pandemic, and restrictions imposed as a result, made it a 'very different' type of campaign.

However, Mr Johnson visited Scotland in January, when the coronavirus pandemic was raging across the UK at a far higher level than it is today. A 'stay at home' order was in place, with people told only to make necessary trips.

Responding to Mr Ross's comments, the SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown said: 'The fact Boris Johnson is being kept away from Scotland in this campaign, despite previously pledging to visit, shows the Tories know just how unpopular he is with Scottish voters.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said today that he was 'not sure' if Mr Johnson (pictured yesterday in Cornwall) would come north ahead of the Scottish parliamentary election on May 6.

Mr Ross, who is himself seeking a Holyrood seat, said he had 'previously expected' the UK party leader to come to Scotland.

Boris Johnson previously defended his decision to visit Scotland in January (pictured) during lockdown. The Prime Minister said he travelled 'in my capacity as Prime Minister of the whole country'

'We were told just last week by Ruth Davidson that she was 'ringing the alarm bell' for the union, but Boris Johnson must not be hearing it as he cannot even bring himself to come to Scotland to make the case.

'Running scared of the people of Scotland is becoming a theme within the Tories.'

Mr Johnson is notoriously unpopular in Scotland. A poll last October found that Scots' 'loathing' for him was behind a surge in support for independence

JL Partners found he was even more unpopular than Theresa May and David Cameron when they were leaders.

Boris Johnson previously defended his decision to visit Scotland in January during lockdown.

The Prime Minister said he travelled 'in my capacity as Prime Minister of the whole country' after visiting Glasgow to highlight the UK-wide fight against coronavirus.

His flight from London saw him reported to Police Scotland by separatists, with officers clearing him to undertake the 'working visit'.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme about the Prime Minister, Mr Ross said: 'I am not sure he is going to come up.

'I had previously expected him to come up. Clearly as we continue to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic this whole election is very different.

'Clearly it is a different election than any of us have experienced before.'

With four weeks to go until polling day, he said 'we will have to see what happens'.

Mr Ross added: 'Last time he was up here he was supporting our vaccinators, he was looking at how we are getting the vaccine rolled out across Scotland, the successful scheme across all of the United Kingdom.

'Now we are in an election campaign it is very different. He wouldn't be coming up to speak to a big meeting or doing a massive visit as previous leaders have done.

'It is very different. We have seen all the party leaders in Scotland having to tackle this election in a very different way because we are still living under significant restrictions.'

He said: 'The Prime Minister is fully in touch with what we are doing here, but he understands it's my campaign as leader of the Scottish Conservatives, it is our manifesto, he is absolutely behind what we are doing here in Scotland, but he knows our fight is as Scottish Conservatives and he is backing that as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.'

The Scottish Tories are pledging to increase funding for mental health services by hundreds of millions if they win May's Holyrood election.

Mr Ross has revealed his party's manifesto for that vote will include a pledge to ensure mental health care gets 10 per cent of the NHS budget.

Currently just over 8 per cent of health service spending goes to this area, the Tory said, adding that increasing it to 10 per cent could increase funding levels by approximately 325 million.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has already called for mental health care to receive a tenth of the NHS budget - with Mr Ross arguing the coronavirus pandemic meant this was the 'right move at the right time'.

He said there had been a 'massive impact on individuals' mental health over the last year' with the coronavirus lockdown seeing people 'shut away from our loved ones' and others staying inside for long periods as they work from home.

Mr Ross said that this was why his party 'will be putting in our manifesto an increase in funding for mental health services up to 10 per cent of the total health spend in Scotland'.

He told members of the Scottish Parliamentary Journalists' Association that the Conservatives 'believe more has to be done and more support has to be given to mental health services'.

Mr Ross said: 'There was already a problem before we came into this pandemic, I think this pandemic has exacerbated that problem and therefore we need to have the support in place.'

The Tories said this would be part of a 'package of measures' that would also look at how exercise could be used to improve mental health, alongside reforms to help people access services and support more quickly.

Mr Ross said: 'The crucial thing is making sure there is funding available then we would look at the various interventions, measure and projects that could most help people.'
Prehistoric cave painters who daubed colourful murals on the walls of deep caverns thousands of years ago may have been hallucinating due to a lack of oxygen.

A new study speculates that the artists who produced numerous underground works across Europe may have deliberately starved themselves of oxygen.

Among the paintings mentioned by Israeli researchers are those dating from approximately 30,000 years ago in the Chauvet cave in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, southern France.

The Tel Aviv University experts, led by Yafit Kedar, speculate that the artists made a deliberate effort to starve themselves of oxygen - a state known as hypoxia - by going deep underground.

Writing in Time and Mind: The Journal of Archaeology, Consciousness and Culture, the experts said the art was a 'conscious choice, motivated by an understanding of the transformative nature of an underground, oxygen-depleted space.'

Ms Kedar told The Times: 'The symptoms of hypoxia are very similar to when you are taking drugs and it occurred to me that maybe we are talking about alternate states of consciousness.'

A new study speculates that the artists who produced numerous underground works across Europe may have been hallucinating because of a lack of oxygen. Among the paintings mentioned by Israeli researchers are those dating from approximately 30,000 years ago in the Chauvet cave in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, southern France. Pictured: Reproductions of the closely-guarded works at the Chauvet cave

The researchers noted how many Palaeolithic cave paintings in Europe are hundreds of feet from entrances.

The spaces they were drawn in were accessed via narrow passages and would not have been used for daily activities.

It prompted questions as to why the early artists ventured in to such cramped conditions.

The paintings, produced across a wide area of Europe between 40,000 and 14,000 years ago, depict animals including mammoths, bison and horses.

To find out whether the effects of oxygen deprivation may have played a role in the production of the works, the Tel Aviv researchers ran computer simulations based on cave sites in France and Spain.

The paintings and engravings in Rouffignanc, in the Dordogne, which are around 2,400 feet (730 metres) from the entrance, are among those included.

The paintings and engravings in Rouffignanc, in the Dordogne, which are around 2,400 feet (730 metres) from the entrance, are among those included

Also examined was the El Castillo cave in Cantabria, northern Spain. Depictions there, which include the world's oldest known cave painting, were mostly in narrow passages around 660 feet (200 metres) from the entrance

Women may have produced most cave art Research from 2013 suggested that ancient cave art may have been produced by women rather than men. When scientists at Penn State University looked at hand stencils found on the walls of caves in France and Spain, they concluded around three-quarters of them were drawn by women. The researchers drew their conclusions by examining the lengths of fingers in the stencils. Before the study was published, it was assumed that men produced most cave works because they often depicted animals they hunted, such as bison, horses and woolly mammoths. Advertisement

Also examined was the El Castillo cave in Cantabria, northern Spain.

Depictions there, which include the world's oldest known cave painting, were mostly in narrow passages around 660 feet (200 metres) from the entrance.

The researchers' models indicated oxygen in the artists' bodies would have fallen rapidly at those depths and would have induced hypoxia.

The normal concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere is around 21 per cent, with the rest mostly being made up of nitrogen.

The models suggested the oxygen levels would fall below 18 per cent - the threshold for hypoxia - within 15 minutes.

In cases where there were ceilings lower than three feet (one metre), the experts' simulations suggested levels would fall below 11 per cent within two hours, leading to severe hypoxia.

The researchers noted how both hypoxia and environments such as deep caves increase the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Hypoxia, which is potentially deadly, can result in hallucinations, feelings of euphoria and out-of-body sensations such as floating or flying.

The experts said that, in such a state, the art works on the cave walls may have appeared to float.

Ms Kedar and her co-authors suggested the paintings might have been a means of communicating with other-worldly entities.

Previous research has suggested that prehistoric people may have been disoriented by the environment of cave systems, leading them to produce cave art.

Lascaux Cave is a Palaeolithic cave situated in southwestern France, near the village of Montignac in the Dordogne region, which houses some of the most famous examples of prehistoric cave paintings

Cave paintings at Chauvet, at Pont D'Arc on the Ardeche river, Ardeche, France

The Israeli study is the first to speculate about the possible role of deliberately-induced hypoxia in producing cave art.

The authors wrote: 'In this paper, we showed that hypoxia... might indeed be a plausible trigger for the creation of cave depictions.

'We moreover demonstrated that hypoxia might well be a plausible explanation for many of the depiction locations, which are far from the cave mouth and require passing through low, narrow passages.'
SWANSEA  In an effort to drive more travel and tourism to its 22-county coverage area in southern Illinois, ILLINOISouth Tourism has released a new-look 2021 Visitors Guide.

The publication features ideas from food to outdoor adventure, according to the Illinois Office of Tourism. Readers will find four-day trip ideas in ILLINOISouths new guide as well.

A lot of people are looking to travel now that restrictions are loosening and more folks are vaccinated, said Andy Waterman, Communications Director for ILLINOISouth. Bringing in visitors for a weekend or even for day trips will really start to help the recovery process for many of these communities and businesses.

Tourism was one of the states leading industries before the pandemic, accounting for more than $41 billion in visitor spending. Waterman says ILLINOISouth is focused on attracting visitors from a five-hour radius to experience unique road trip adventures.

In ILLINOISouth you can start the day petting a kangaroo, then spend some time at a beach watching sailboats, and finish it by climbing up the Worlds Largest Mailbox, said Waterman. We love to promote the fun, quirky road trips that truthfully are not a far drive for many of these visitors.

A new aspect of ILLINOISouths 2021 Visitors Guide is the ability to be interactive with the digital version online. Many of the listings in the digital version are linked, so readers can click on anything they are interested in and it will take them to that specific listings website or social media pages to learn more.

While touching and feeling a hard copy is great, we realize that more and more people are viewing our materials online, said Waterman. We wanted to give those folks an added feature to make their reading experience as in-depth as they want it to be.

Hard copies of the ILLINOISouth 2021 Visitors Guide have been distributed to many different locations throughout Illinois and Missouri, including tourist information centers along several different interstates. The Visitors Guide is free to the public, so those interested in the publication can also visit illinoisouth.org to request a copy. For those who would like to view a digital version of ILLINOISouths 2021 Visitors Guide online, it can be found at https://issuu.com/illinoisouth/docs/12592_prodonline_illinoisouth_2021vg.

ILLINOISouth Tourism currently covers the following counties: Bond, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Cumberland, Edwards, Fayette, Hamilton, Jasper, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Perry, Randolph, Richland, St. Clair, Wabash, Wayne, White
At least 10 Left party offices were vandalised and police resorted to baton charge as violence broke out in Kerala's district on Wednesday night over the death of an IUML youth wing member.

Widespread violence was witnessed during the funeral procession of the 22-year-old Youth League member, Mansur, who died in a post-poll clash allegedly between workers of the CPI(M) and the IUML on Tuesday.

District Collector T V Subhash has called an all-party peace meeting at 11 am on Thursday. Range Inspector General Venugopal K Nair said the situation was under control.

CPI(M) offices at Panoor in district have been attacked and burned, a party source from the district told PTI.

Kannur Superintendent of Police Ilango R told PTI that police resorted to baton charge and used grenades to dismiss the violent crowd in the Kolavellur police station limits.

"Around five-six persons, mostly IUML workers, were taken into custody after some miscreants have vandalised around five party offices in Chockli and Kolavellur police station limits. A few more were also attacked in other places, he said.

Three police personnel got injured and a police bus was damaged. Houses of few accused in the murder case were also attacked, he said.

More will be taken into custody and a case will be registered, the officer said, adding that extra police force had been deployed and the situation was under control.

"I visited the spot. The funeral procession happened late in the evening and some people attacked the party offices in the dark. Only party offices were attacked, it seems," the Kannur Range IG said.

The CPI(M) Peringathur local committee office, branch committee offices in the town, Aachimukku, Keezhmadam, Kochiyangado and Kadavathur branch committee offices have been vandalised and a few libraries were burned down allegedly by the Indian Union Muslim League workers.

"At least five CPI(M) offices in Kannur district were gutted down by the IUML activists. Even though the police claim that everything was under control, the Muslim League workers are threatening the CPI(M) families," a party official told PTI.

Mansur had suffered critical injuries to his leg and was admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode, where he was declared dead by the doctors, police said.

An alleged CPI(M) activist was taken into custody by the police soon after the incident, sources said.

The Youth league is the youth wing of the IUML, a key ally of the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front.

According to local witnesses, the incident happened when a clash broke out in Paral area in Koothuparamba constituency over allegations of bogus voting by around 8 pm on Tuesday.

A group of people waylaid Manusur and his brother Muhsin, a UDF poll agent, near their home and hurled bombs at them before attacking the youth with sharp weapons, they said.

Muhsin, who also sustained serious injuries, was rushed to the private hospital in Kozhikode.

While the IUML alleged that the ruling CPI(M) was behind the killing of Mansur, the Left party dismissed the charge and took a stand that it was not a political murder.

The Congress-led UDF opposition observed a strike at Koothuparamba on Wednesday.

Koothuparamba assembly constituency in the northern district of Kannur witnessed a fierce contest between K P Mohanan of the Lok Janatantrik Dal, a partner of the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front and Pottankandy Abdullah of the IUML.

(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 have been trying for more than a year to obtain a refund after my cruise was cancelled - it was the infamous Diamond Princess Cruise which was due to travel around Japan but was cancelled due to an outbreak of Covid-19.

My family in Canada decided to do a reunion family cruise in Japan last March and invited me and my daughter to join them.

We were due to stay in Japan from 12 March 2020 to 31 March and then to Hong Kong until 11 April.

A number of passengers on the Diamond Princess Cruise became infected with coronavirus

On 21 February, we were informed the cruise had to be cancelled and in the same email it said we were entitled to claim refund for lost money due to the cancellation including the flights to and hotel in Hong Kong.

I was told it would take about four weeks but now it has been well over a year. Overall, I am expecting 2,075.82 back. Can you help? M.L., via email

Grace Gausden, consumer expert at This is Money, replies: Trying to obtain a refund from Princess Cruises for the cancelled trip has been anything but plain sailing.

You and your family were set to travel around Japan on the Diamond Princess ship. It transpired to be one of the first high profile Covid-19 outbreaks and for a time, dominated the news.

While docked in Japan, the virus tore through the mega ship trapping the 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew members aboard for weeks.

In total, 712 people were confirmed to have the virus and 14 people died from that outbreak.

Infamous images of hazmat suit clad medical staff boarding the ship were broadcast around the world, highlighting the danger of the virus and providing an insight of what was to come.

A new documentary on HBO Max, called The Last Cruise, is now available, showing footage from within the Diamond Princess at the time all were trapped on board and documenting exactly how the guests and crew were affected.

You were due on the cruise after a high number of coronavirus cases became known and so avoided being on board when the virus was rife.

GRACE ON THE CASE Our weekly column sees This is Money consumer expert Grace Gausden tackles reader problems and shines the light on companies doing both good and bad. Want her to investigate a problem, or do you want to praise a firm for going that extra mile? Get in touch: grace.gausden@thisismoney.co.uk

In March 2020, you were due to go on the cruise as part of a family reunion travelling around Japan before heading to Hong Kong with your daughter.

However, the trip was cancelled and you were told one person per cabin had to claim for a refund.

Princess Cruises said it would pay for all lost costs including your flights and hotel to Hong Kong from Japan booked via Expedia.

You filled in the refund request in February and were told it would be about four weeks from the date of receipt before you received your refund.

Overall, you wanted to claim 2,075.82 - 650 for the cancellation fee for you and your daughters flights, 1,420.71 for your hotel in Hong Kong that would not give you a refund and 5.11 for your daughters travel insurance she no longer needed.

Meanwhile, your twin sisters, who were also due to share a cabin with you and your daughter, claimed for cancellation of air tickets and administration fees.

However, in May, having not heard anything, you were told you needed to provide more supporting documents which you sent over.

One customer due on the Diamond Princess Cruise was made to wait over a year for a refund

Consistently over the course of last year you contacted Princess Cruises asking for updates about when your refund was due as 2,000 is a substantial sum of money to be without.

Your sisters, who live in Canada, received their refund on 19 November so you queried with Princess Cruises why, if they had already received theirs, you hadn't.

You were told there could be a delay in processing refunds for guests who were not US or Canadian citizens as they would get theirs first then customers around the rest of the world.

But in January  nearly a whole year after the cancellation of the cruise - you were asked to complete a wire transfer form as the Carnival Corporation office in the UK was not able to process the refund.

Why it had taken so long for this to be organised was not explained. A month later you were advised a representative from Carnival Corporation will phone you on your landline and were told the call will be based on US time.

A week later, having received no call, you received an email saying the wait time for the wire transfer was 'extensive'.

Throughout this period you say you were unable to sleep properly, expecting a call in the middle of the night from Carnival which never came.

Despite trying to speak to someone numerous times over the space of a year, you never received a straight answer - or your money back.

I contacted Princess Cruises to find out why you had to wait for over a year for a refund that was promised within four weeks.

A Princess Cruises spokesperson said: 'Princess Cruises spoke with Mrs L to sincerely apologise for the delay in processing her refund and the frustrations this has caused.

'Mrs L has been reassured that she will receive her refund and as a sincere gesture of goodwill, Princess Cruises has offered Mrs Lung and her daughter additional Future Cruise Credit.'

As well as receiving your refund, you have also now been given $600 to spend on your next cruise which you say you are planning to take around South East Asia with your daughter.

Whilst it wasn't all plain sailing, at least you can now look forward to your next trip away - pandemic permitting.

Workers boarded the Diamond Princess cruise ship in February last year in Yokohama, Japan

Hit and miss: This week's naughty and nice list

Each week, I look at some of the companies that have fallen short of expected standards as well as those that have gone that extra mile for customers.

Miss: One person unhappy with a service this week is reader, Clive, who had issues with AO.com after buying a larder fridge for 419 and a freezer for 469 from the site in July last year.

A couple of days after the appliances were installed, both started to make loud cracking noises. Clive reported this and AO sent an engineer to come out in November who said the noise was due to a block of ice at the rear of the units.

He said it was cracking due to a heat element defrosting the ice for the automatic defrost function, adding there was nothing that could be done to rectify the issue as it was all inside the unit.

Another engineer was called out a month later and came to the same conclusion.

Clive asked for a refund or a replacement as he believed this to be a fault but AO and Stoves, the brand of the fridge and freezer, said this would not be possible.

I contacted with AO to ask why it was not refunding or replacing the appliances as this was clearly not how the models were designed to work.

An AO spokesperson said: 'We can confirm the customer has been in touch with our customer care team and we arranged for two separate engineer visits to look into this matter further.

'It has been agreed with the customer that the products will be exchanged and the old products will be taken in for testing to investigate the issue further.'

Although it was a less than cracking experience, you now have new appliances that work without disruption.

Broken: One AO customer found his new fridge and freezer were making loud cracking noises

Hit: In better news, this week reader Karen wanted to praise hotel chain, Premier Inn.

She said: 'Last year prior to lockdown I booked some nights at Premier Inn on a no refund basis. When the pandemic hit, I thought I wouldn't get a refund.

'However, I was amazed and pleased that Premier Inn cancelled the booking automatically and refunded the cost.

'So much so I rebooked on a more flexible basis which they have amended to take into account Covid. This changed twice more and again they cancelled and refunded. Eventually, we did get to stay in July 2020.

'I am so impressed with the customer care that I had booked again for April 2021. Whilst we have had to defer again this year due to lockdown I have rebooked and will continue to do so.

'With so many bad stories regarding travel and holiday companies I wanted to shout out about a good one. They have certainly won more business from me because of exceptional customer care.'

Happily, you received a premier service and have found a new go to hotel.
J. Gottshall has completed his new book The Wanderers: A Summer Journey: a stirring tale of love, loss, fear, and hope.

Gottshall writes, The need to get somewhere, or get away from something, will bring six unlikely traveling companions together for a cross-country summer road trip. The summer journey will take them from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, from Texas to New England, from a small community in Nevada to the crowded streets of New York City. It will bring chances to see new places and experience new things.

The trip is how one of the wanderers will spend his remaining days. The rest of the group will be in a period of transition as their lives change.

Their wandering will not only bring change, but also freedom, love, anger, sadness, pain, death, fear, and unwanted fame.

The wanderers will learn from each other to look at life differently.

The diverse group will find that the problem of getting along with each other will be one of the easier challenges of the journey.

They have few destinations and plenty of time to reach them and get into trouble along the way. Traveling can be dangerous, as each of the six will learn firsthand as they get in and out of deadly situations.

They will see their travel plans change as few things go as expected and unforeseen problems come up.

The wanderers will put aside their own problems as they are drawn into a tragedy and find themselves assisting others in dealing with their grief and heartache.

They will explore historic sites and museums and look at their own pasts, and some will get a surprise from the past.

The wanderers must keep in mind the future as they head toward it. Some of the group must make decisions that can affect the rest of their lives and those around them.

Published by Page Publishing, J. Gottshalls tale offers a fresh look at what modern teens may face as they venture into the world to find their paths in life. With unexpected adventures and dangers, join the Wanderers as they attempt to navigate their way to adulthood.

From West Coast to East Coast, the story within these pages is sure to keep you guessing.

Readers who wish to experience this intriguing work can purchase The Wanderers: A Summer Journey 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.
Molly Martens and her father Thomas have been granted release on bail with a bond of $200,000. They must hand in their passports and are also banned from any contact with the Corbett family.

Once the convictions were vacated, Molly and Thomas Martens were moved from prison to the custody of the prosecuting jurisdiction, Davidson County, according to Davidson County District Attorney Garry Frank.

According to FOX8 News "They are now back to the same point as they were when they were first indicted, and, just as they were at the beginning, they are being held with no bond"

The duo's legal representatives will now consider a plea bargain deal which would allow them to avoid a retrial for the Limerick man's murder. If that plea deal is accepted, they would avoid retrial for second degree murder, serving out the remaining sentence, of which four years have already been served.

Should the plea deal be rejected, County prosecutors would then proceed with a full retrial on second degree murder charges.

According to 'The Dispatch' - "During the hearing, David Freidman, Martens' attorney, read a portion of a letter from the Department of Public Safety, which called Martens a "model inmate" and described the work she has completed as a janitor while he was incarcerated. Freidman also argued for a lower bond, saying that Martens isn't a flight risk as his wife has cancer, and he wants to be with her to take care of her. The defendants' attorneys said during court that they plan to pay the bond. The next court hearing in this case hasn't been scheduled yet. "

Molly Martens, Jason Corbett's wife, and her father, Martens, were convicted of second-degree murder in the case in 2017. They were both sentenced to between 20 and 25 years in prison by Davidson County Superior Court Judge David Lee.

The Martens made an application for bail at a hearing at 2pm local time (7pm Irish time) at Davidson County Courthouse, in Lexington, North Carolina.

Davidson County District Attorney Garry Frank told FOX8 that he "does not discuss pretrial matters and will neither confirm or deny any plea offers. He added that a retrial is not off the table"

Ive got a number of families, victims of homicides and other cases that have been waiting for their cases to be tried for a long time, Frank said before the decision. And weve been on an imposed sabbatical on that for the past year. The pursuit of justice is rarely easy and thats the guiding star that were trying to keep our sight on for all of this and were here for the duration.

NEW - Molly Martens and her father Thomas have been granted release on bail with a bond of $200,000 - also banned from any contact with #JasonCorbett family  Suzanne Lynch (@suzannelynch1) April 7, 2021

Breaking: Molly & Thomas Martens have been granted bail and will be released on a bond of $200,000. They must agree to surrender their passports & have no contact with the family of Jason Corbett. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/YiNpyCD6CP  Brian O'Donovan (@BrianOD_News) April 7, 2021

Molly Corbett and her father, Thomas Martens were granted bond ahead of their retrial.



State wanted bond raised to $1million, defense wanted lowered to less than initial bond but it was set at 200k, the bond set before initial trial. @WXII pic.twitter.com/HHyhmuBCSY  WXII Lee Anne Denyer (@WXIILeeAnne) April 7, 2021

In February 2020, the Court of Appeals overturned that conviction, saying Molly Corbett and Martens were unable to present a meaningful defense during their 2017 trial.

The North Carolina Supreme Court opinion, released in March of 2021, stated the original trial court erroneously omitted admissible testimony which could have played a vital role in the jurys decision to find Corbett and Martens guilty.

Prosecutors - who had expected the Supreme Court to ratify the original decision of the Davidson County murder trial conviction from August 2017 - are ready to proceed with a new trial though this is unlikely to be staged before 2022.

The original trial heard how Tom Martens, 68, and Molly Martens, 34, beat the 39-year-old businessman and father-of-two to death as he lay asleep in bed.

Tom Martens, a retired FBI agent, claimed he acted in self-defence and alleged Mr Corbett had been attacking his second wife, Molly, who is Mr Martens daughter.

The Limerick based Corbett family launched a petition on www.change.org called 'Retrial for Molly and Tom Martens' which has over 8,700 signatures.

The petition was set up for the attention of Garry Frank. (Davidson County District Attorney, Lexington, North Carolina) after the Martens murder convictions were overturned last month after they had served four years of 20-25 years sentences, and were then offered a deal to admit to manslaughter instead of facing a retrial  meaning they would likely serve only two additional years in jail.
Using DNA structures as scaffolds, Tim Liedl, a scientist of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich, has shown that precisely positioned gold nanoparticles can serve as efficient energy transmitters.

Since the inception of the field in 2006, laboratories around the world have been exploring the use of 'DNA origami' for the assembly of complex nanostructures. The method is based on DNA strands with defined sequences that interact via localized base pairing. "With the aid of short strands with appropriate sequences, we can connect specific regions of long DNA molecules together, rather like forming three-dimensional structures by folding a flat sheet of paper in certain ways," as Professor Tim Liedl of the Faculty of Physics at LMU explains.

Image and mirror image

Liedl has now used DNA origami to construct chiral objects, i.e. structures that cannot be superimposed by any combination of rotation and translation. Instead they possess 'handedness', and are mirror images of one another. Such pairs often differ in their physical properties, for example, in the degree to which they absorb polarized light. This effect can be exploited in many ways. For example, it is the basis for CD spectroscopy (the 'CD' here stands for 'circular dichroism'), a technique that is used to elucidate the overall spatial configuration of chemical compounds, and even whole proteins.

With a view to assembling chiral metal structures, Liedl and his group synthesized complex DNA-origami structures that provide precisely positioned binding sites for the attachment of spherical and rod-shaped gold nanoparticles. The scaffold therefore serves as a template or mold for the placement of nanoparticles at predetermined positions and in a defined spatial orientation. "One can assemble a chiral object based solely on the arrangement of the gold nanoparticles," says Liedl

Gold is not only chemically robust, as a noble metal it exhibits what are known as surface plasmon resonances. Plasmons are coherent electron oscillations that are generated when light interacts with the surface of a metal structure. "One can picture these oscillations as being like the waves that are excited when a bottle of water is shaken either parallel or at right angles to its long axis," says Liedl.

Gold nanoparticles as energy transmitters

Oscillations excited in spatially contiguous gold particles can couple to one another, and the plasmons in Liedl's experiments behave as image and mirror image, thanks to their chiral disposition on the origami scaffold. "This is confirmed by our CD spectroscopic measurements," says Liedl. In the experiments, the chiral structures are irradiated with circularly polarized light and the level of absorption is measured as a percentage of the input. This enables right- and left-handed arrangements to be distinguished from one another.

In principle, two gold nanorods should be sufficient for the construction of chiral object, as they can be arranged either in the form of an L or an inverted L. However, the rods used in the experiments were relatively far apart (on the nanoscale) and the plasmons excited in one had little effect on those generated in the other, i.e. the two hardly coupled to each other at all. But Liedl and his colleagues had a trick up their sleeves. By appropriate redesign of the origami structure, they were able to position a gold nanosphere between the pair of L-formed rods, which effectively amplified the coupling. CD spectroscopy revealed the presence of energy transitions, thus confirming the hypothesis which the team had derived from simulations.

Liedl envisages two potential settings in which these nanostructures could find practical application. They could be used to detect viruses, since the binding of viral nucleic acids to a gold particle will amplify the CD signal. In addition, chiral plasmonic transmitters could serve as model switching devices in optical computers, in which optical elements replace the transistors that are the workhorses of electronic computers.

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IT major on Thursday announced a strategic long-term partnership with to help accelerate the companys digital transformation journey and enable next-generation application management and business process management (BPM) services for Europe.

Through this engagement, will work with Europe, share best practices around next-generation application management services to optimise, stabilise, and transform ArcelorMittals IT landscape.

will also establish a robust, state-of-the-art Business Process Management (BPM) service in ArcelorMittal Europes Business Center of Excellence (BCoE) shared services center.

"The collaboration will further strengthen Infosys presence in Europe and will enable it to maximise synergies across the ArcelorMittal Group worldwide," the company said in an exchange filing.

Commenting on the partnership, Jasmeet Singh, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Manufacturing, Infosys, said: The need to accelerate digital transformation has never been more urgent in the manufacturing sector. We are pleased to partner with ArcelorMittal and help them stay one step ahead of disruption. Leveraging our global delivery model, right shoring, and robust BPM offerings, we are committed to driving efficiency, bolstering operational excellence, and establishing future-ready services in line with ArcelorMittals growth strategies. We look forward to a long, fruitful partnership with the group and are excited to help them navigate the next.

We are delighted to partner with Infosys on our digital transformation journey. Infosys not only shares our vision and values but also brings agility, delivery excellence, and willingness to walk the extra mile to ensure mutual success. We are conf ident that this collaboration will mean our employees and associates are equipped with powerful new tools that enhance our competitiveness and fuel our innovation," Geert Van Poelvoorde, CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe said.

Infosys' scrip on Thursday was up 0.56 per cent on NSE to close at Rs 1,438.15
San Francisco has hired a permanent director for its Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, a demanding and crucial position in a city that has long struggled to help its most vulnerable.

Mayor London Breed announced Thursday that Shireen McSpadden, the current executive director of the Department of Disability and Aging Services, will take over May 1 and oversee a department with around $600 million in funding to help the citys more than 8,000 homeless people.

McSpaddens executive team will include two new hires: Noelle Simmons, the current deputy director at the Human Services Agency, and Cynthia Nagendra, the executive director at the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, a research institute at UCSF that studies homelessness.

McSpadden will take over a department that has struggled to make progress since it was created under Mayor Ed Lee in 2016  even as its budget swelled over the past few years. An August city report found the department was understaffed and unprepared to help the citys most vulnerable. Its also one of the few major departments in the city without a formal oversight commission.

The homeless department spends more than $300 million and a 2018 ballot measure is expected to raise an additional $250 million to $300 million per year for the department, beginning this year. An additional $500 million of one-time funding, which was tied up in court until last fall, has also been collected.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Health spends hundreds of millions more trying to address mental health and drug addiction, often among the same population.

Our response to homelessness is one of the most important, pressing and complex issues facing this city as we emerge from this pandemic, McSpadden said in a statement.

Homelessness is one of San Franciscos most vexing problems, and elected officials have long vowed to address it. But promises, plans and new programs have fallen short and the tragedy on the citys streets has worsened. The department has been without a permanent leader since early 2020, when former director Jeff Kositsky stepped down shortly before the pandemic began.

Interim Director Abigail Stewart-Kahn resigned last month after leading the department through the tumultuous past year.

Leading the homeless department has been a difficult post, even before the pandemic squeezed the city budget and forced shelters to reduce capacity. Its a position that often gets mired in City Hall politics, and also one that must balance the needs of the citys homeless with demands from residents, businesses and advocates.

Its a meat grinder of a job, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman previously told The Chronicle.

One main driver of the citys homeless problem is the dearth of affordable housing. But many of those on the streets also struggle with mental health and drug use, which can make it difficult to bring people inside.

A record number of people died last year from drug overdoses, many of whom lived in the citys single-room occupancy units or in leased hotel rooms. The surge can largely be attributed to fentanyl, a dangerous opioid thats flooding the streets.

Anyone who walks around our city right now can see clearly that the citys response to homelessness is failing, said Supervisor Matt Haney, one of the most consistent critics of the citys homeless department. We need a transformational leader who can effectively lead our homelessness response.

Breed said she chose McSpadden because of her experience leading innovative and effective efforts to care for some of our most vulnerable residents. During the pandemic, McSpadden ran the food security unit at COVID Command Center as hunger skyrocketed.

Simmons will serve as McSpaddens chief deputy, and Nagendra will help implement the departments long-term goals. These two new positions were specifically created to help the new director.

McSpadden  who was not available for comment Thursday  will take over as the city emerges from the pandemic and contends with the economic fallout. Before the pandemic, there were more than 8,000 homeless people in the city. Experts say that number has likely increased, as more people have been pushed toward poverty.

Over the past year, the department had to completely overhaul its homeless response. Shelters had to thin out and stop accepting new residents, which caused the number of tents in the Tenderloin to expand. That prompted a lawsuit from UC Hastings, businesses and residents, which the city settled a few months later by promising to find temporary shelter and housing for those living in the tents.

The city scrambled to lease more than 2,000 hotel rooms for the homeless and also created several safe tent sites. While those sites have helped many off the streets, they are temporary measures that the city must reassess over the next year.

In her new role, McSpadden will oversee the mayors Homeless Recovery Plan, which includes a promise that anyone who moved into the hotel rooms will be offered housing when they have to move out. If the plan doesnt work, people could land back on the streets when the program ends, likely in the fall.

The mayors plan also includes the biggest expansion of the citys permanent supportive housing stock in 20 years.

Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the citys Coalition on Homelessness, said the advocacy group is excited to have an experienced administrator to breathe fresh perspectives and know-how at a time we desperately need it.

Chronicle staff writer Mallory Moench contributed to this report.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
SALEM, Ore., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OregonSaves, which helps Oregon's private sector workers save for retirement when their employer doesn't offer an option at work, is celebrating a major milestone: $100 million saved as of April 2.

Participants in OregonSaves reached $100 million in assets saved in just under four years. When OregonSaves launched in 2017, it was the first state-based retirement savings program in the country. The program's popularity shows that having a convenient, accessible way to save for retirement helps people choose to build better futures for themselves and their families.

"OregonSaves started with the idea that everyone should have an easy way to save for their retirement at work," said State Treasurer Tobias Read. "It is gratifying to see the program grow, and to know that more than a hundred thousand Oregonians are giving themselves more choices and a stronger financial foundation for their future."

Participation continues to exceed projections, with seven in 10 workers electing to remain in the program as opposed to opting out, and with workers saving an average of around $135 a month  a higher rate than initially anticipated.

Prior to the launch of OregonSaves, an estimated one million workers in the state lacked access to a work-based retirement plan. The program is in the latter stages of a statewide rollout. The state's smallest businesses are set to join in 2022, which will add to the more than 105,000 accountholders currently contributing to accounts.

Administered via a public-private partnership, OregonSaves will help more people retire with dignity after a lifetime of work, and over time will help to reduce government costs by millions, according to an AARP study.

The trailblazing Oregon program leads a national movement: 11 states are in various stages of creating similar programs to respond to the retirement savings crisis, and another 23 states have legislation introduced.

OregonSaves is a simple way for Oregonians to save for retirement at work. Employees contribute part of their paycheck into their own personal IRAs. To learn more about OregonSaves, please visit www.oregonsaves.com or call 844-661-6777.

The Oregon Treasury Savings Network, part of Oregon State Treasury, administers the Oregon College Savings Plan; Oregon ABLE Savings Plan; national ABLE for ALL Savings Plan; and the first state-run retirement program, OregonSaves.

Media Contact:

Kasey Krifka

[email protected]

SOURCE OregonSaves
Chile approved on Wednesday the emergency use of the vaccine from the Chinese-Canadian consortium CanSino, restricting its distribution to people between 18 and 60 years of age.

The Director of the Chilean local drug regulator, Heriberto Garcia, said the age restriction is due to a lack of studies of the use of this specific vaccine model in elderly people.

Chile, which has vaccinated more than 7.1 million people, has already immunized an estimated 84% of people over 60.

President Sebastian Pinera underlined the CanSino jab requires only one shot for immunization, helping in the outreach of the health campaign.

The vaccine developed by CanSino is the fourth approved in Chile, after the vaccines from AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Pfizer.

The Chilean government negotiated the purchase of 1.8 million doses of the CanSino vaccine.

Chile has reported more than 23,000 COVID-19 deaths and is currently coping with an extensive outbreak, using most of its ICU bed spaces.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
A 73-year-old, an 80-year-old, and a 74-year-old. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

It was September 2019, the Democratic primaries were really starting to heat up, and Joe Biden was struggling to keep it together. In a debate that month, he was asked about racial inequality in schools, and his advice to parents was, charitably, puzzling. Play the radio. Make sure the television  excuse me, make sure you have the record player on at night. Make sure kids hear words. At 78, he became the oldest president: older than Ronald Reagan was when he left office and older than all of his living predecessors besides Jimmy Carter.

But compared to many in Congress, he looks like a tiny little baby. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 80, as is Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, while Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is 81. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Chuck Grassley, as well as Alaskas lone representative Don Young, are all 87. (In December, The New Yorkers Jane Mayer reported that, according to sources, Feinsteins short-term memory has grown so poor that she often forgets she has been briefed on a topic, accusing her staff of failing to do so just after they have.) These people are not even young enough to be baby-boomers. They are part of the Silent Generation.

If youre starting to get the feeling that the country is governed as a gerontocracy, you are correct. People over 50 make up 34 percent of the U.S. population, but 52 percent of the electorate, according to Pew. And its not only political power that baby-boomers and the Silent Generation have a tight grip on: Americans over 55 own two-thirds of the wealth in this country.

The power imbalance between the old and young is to some extent rooted in demographic changes. There are simply more old people than there used to be. (The 2010 census reported that the number of Americans over 45 had increased by almost 25 million since the 2000.) People are living longer  the current generation of late-middle-aged and post-retirement Americans are called baby-boomers for a reason.

Still, that doesnt entirely explain the political situation: Its not like young people simply hate to vote and run for office. [It] is not an issue of apathy, said Abby Kiesa, the deputy director of the Center for Information & Research Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University. We dont have any systems that really assure that young people, regardless of their Zip Code, regardless of their neighborhood or family background, learn about how to register to vote and vote.

Young people face more barriers when it comes to running for office than old people do. There is a finite amount of people who can credibly run for Congress, said Amanda Litman, the co-founder of Run for Something, an organization that supports people under 40 running for political office. You need the money, the political skills, the network  When you are older, your network has more money. Voters in national elections skew older, and the more local the election gets, the older the voter tends to be. In a municipal election, the median voter age is 57. Ross Morales Rocketto, the organizations other co-founder, said their candidates said the area of identity where the most folks said that they faced discrimination was age, despite heavy representation of women, people of color, and LGBTQ people.

Boomers came to hold a disproportionate amount of power in this country because they were able to experience uniquely positive economic circumstances in their youth, explained Kevin Munger, a political science professor at Pennsylvania State University who is currently writing a book about generational conflict. Theyve also been able to start accumulating wealth early in their life cycles. Boomers, for the most part, had more economic opportunity not only than their parents generation, but also more than their children, largely millennials, who have faced slower wage growth and higher barriers to homeownership and family formation.

Munger also noted that, unlike the generations that came before them, boomers have been able to take advantage of what some people call the democratization of old age, or simply, the increased longevity due to better nutrition, better medicine, etc.

To recap: The older you are, the more money and resources you most likely have, which you need to run for political office. When you run for office, you specifically target voters in your age range since they will be more likely to vote for you. And, as both Munger and Tim Hogan, former campaign staffer for Amy Klobuchar and Hillary Clinton, emphasized, incumbents have a significant advantage when it comes to elections, so retaining power is much easier than attaining it.

This isnt happening everywhere. Contemporary gerontocracy, it appears, is a distinctly American problem. If you look at other countries, theyre not similarly controlled by older politicians. I think that the explanation here is the two-party system, Munger said. [A multiparty system gets] young people involved in politics, voting, organizing, running things, organizational politics, [which] means that they are able to start accumulating institutional power. The two parties of the United States, on the other hand, are staunchly controlled by older generations.

Before things get better, they will get worse. We have not yet reached the peak of boomer culture. Were going to see the highest number of people turning 65 in U.S. history in 2023, Munger said. The long-run perspective is good. The long run is actually 20, 30 years. Generational replacement will happen. In other words, things will change, but only after the baby-boomer generation literally dies.

Not having enough millennials and Gen-Zers, or even Gen-Xers, at the table isnt only worrisome because its unfair or because of senility concerns. It threatens the very future of the nation. Because a gerontocratic government is a government that doesnt represent all its citizens; its a government that doesnt feel very democratic at all. According to a Pew survey, in 2018, the most common age for all Americans was 27, while the most common age for white Americans was an astounding 58. Overrepresentation of older folks both in Congress and the voter registries points to just how overrepresented white interests are in the U.S. Beyond age, the rules we have in place  from gerrymandering to Citizens United to the existence of the electoral college and U.S. Senate  ensure that the government does not accurately represent the increasingly racially diverse populace. (If our lawmakers were in touch with what the people actually wanted, the minimum wage would be $15/hour already.)

Our older legislators might have a different understanding of some of the biggest issues facing the country and different priorities than younger generations. This is most apparent when it comes to climate change  an issue young people are statistically more likely to be concerned about. Is it ageist to suggest that an 87-year-old might have a harder time proposing good policies about how to regulate social media than someone 40 years their junior? No more than it would be to suggest that a teenager would most likely do a better job than me, a millennial, at making a TikTok. The ability to regulate the internet is coming. Its increasingly obvious that this is one of the biggest issues in society, Munger said. And the fact is, many [older members of Congress] have people print out their emails. Theyre not close to understanding anything about whats going on there.

This isnt to say that older folks are incapable of governing a world that is quickly changing on account of their age  experience can be and often is an asset. A reason that Ted Cruzs repeated attempts to add a constitutional amendment imposing term limits on members of Congress is such a bad idea is because it seeks to completely erase institutional knowledge from an entire branch of government. There surely has got to be a way to bring more people under the age of 50 into elected office without sacrificing the very real wisdom that (many of) our elders offer.

The most obvious way to do this would be to diversify our voter ranks by passing laws that make voting more accessible to everybody, and young people in particular, who tend to move around more than older generations. (Since young people are statistically more ethnically diverse than older folks, passing laws that make voting easier for younger folks would also benefit POC communities across the board.) If we want to change anything about who participates in democracy, Kiesa said, young people [need to see civic] opportunities that they find meaningful, accessible, and even visible. Democratic participation is learned. Whatever happens with early generations is going to sustain us for decades to come.
Paris, France and Madrid, Spain - April 8, 2021 - Atos today announces that it is coordinating and actively contributing to the European project " FlexiGroBots ". This initiative aims to empower robot-makers, engineers and service providers to build and deploy multi-robot systemsfor the agri-food industry to support farmers in their daily work. Within the framework of the Horizon 2020 program, the project will develop an innovative platform to facilitate the use of robotics through three large-scale pilots across Europe.



The adoption of new technologies in the agricultural sector has increased in recent years, unleashing a new paradigm: "agriculture 4.0" where robotics, AI and automation play a fundamental role in crop management and precision agriculture1 by addressing real-time decision making and monitoring needs. However, current robotic systems are lacking flexibility as they are built to carry out very specific missions and are not able to handle other tasks nor cooperate with other robotic technologies, leading to a lack of ROI for farmers.

The FlexiGroBots project will run over 36 months with the aim of developing and validating an open platform which supports the creation of flexible and heterogeneous multi-robot systems that enable multi-robot cooperation and autonomy. Robots include UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and UGVs (unmanned ground vehicles).

Within FlexiGroBots, the Atos research and innovation group acts as the project coordinator, guaranteeing the execution of the planned activities and the overall monitoring and supervision of the project. Atos will help provide the architecture and requirement analysis, lead the reference architecture and synchronize the three pilots. It acts as a technical leader and main contributor in the development of robotic mission control center capabilities for the design, planning and supervision of heterogeneous multi-robot operations, including robotic services enabled by Computer Vision techniques and in geospatial data analysis. As a member of the International Data Space Association (IDSA), Atos also works on the development of data space enablers for the data management of an industrial data space tailored to the agricultural context, allowing secure data exchange across various stakeholders within the agri-food sector.

"This project fits perfectly with Atos' objective to contribute to the digitization of European industries, including agriculture, through the development of innovative applications and services based on AI, data and trusted robotics", comments Daniel Calvo Alonso, Head of the 'AI, Data and Robotics' Unit in the Atos Research and Innovation department and coordinator of the FlexiGroBots project.

The FlexiGroBots platform will be validated in three real pilot projects:

Vineyards (Spain): Demonstrate the high capacity and versatility of robots to perform different tasks in vineyards, contributing to the quality of grapes for wine production and to overall economic profitability.

(Spain): Demonstrate the high capacity and versatility of robots to perform different tasks in vineyards, contributing to the quality of grapes for wine production and to overall economic profitability. Rapeseed fields (Finland): Demonstrate time-critical pest management and robotization of heavy machinery fleets in grassland management.

(Finland): Demonstrate time-critical pest management and robotization of heavy machinery fleets in grassland management. Blueberries fields (Serbia and Lithuania): Demonstrate the potential of innovative robotic solutions - with advanced remote sensing techniques, deep learning and decision support - to grow blueberries.

Funded by the European Commission with 7 million euros, FlexiGroBots brings together a multidisciplinary consortium made up of 16 different organizations and companies from 8 different countries. For more information, visit https://flexigrobots-h2020.eu/

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About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 105,000 employees and annual revenue of over  11 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 71 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos operates under the brands Atos and Atos|Syntel. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.

The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

Press contacts

Spain: Christian Suell - christian.suell@atos.net - 91 038 98 27

Other countries: Lucie Duchateau - lucie.duchateau@atos.net - +33 7 62 85 35 10

1 Precision agriculture is a farming management concept based on observing, measuring, and responding to inter and intra-field variability in crops







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The Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester, N.H. New Hampshires Attorney Generals Office said six men were arrested in connection with sexual abuse allegations at the state-run detention center.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 03:15:04|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on April 7, 2021 shows the China-funded solar energy panels installed at a children's hospital in Gaza city. The Gaza Strip on Wednesday inaugurated a China-funded solar power plant in a children's hospital. The solar power plant project, which can provide 30 KW of electricity to Al-Durrah Children Hospital in Gaza city, was implemented through Give Palestine Association, a charitable organization in the coastal enclave. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The besieged Gaza Strip on Wednesday inaugurated a China-funded solar power plant in a children's hospital.

The solar power plant project, which can provide 30 KW of electricity to Al-Durrah Children Hospital in Gaza city, was implemented through Give Palestine Association, a charitable organization in the coastal enclave.

At an online ceremony, Guo Wei, head of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine, said China has been committed to implementing "projects that will help Palestinians improve their livelihood in accordance with their needs and bring more benefits to the Palestinian people."

Guo said China is "a trustworthy friend and partner" of Palestine, adding that the project reflects "the deep friendship of the Chinese people towards the Palestinian people."

"China will continue to help Palestine improve its people's livelihood and take concrete actions to build a community with a shared future for mankind and inject new content into the traditional Sino-Palestinian friendship," he said.

For his part, Emad al-Agha, secretary general of Give Palestine Association, said the China-funded project can provide 60 percent of the needed power for the operations of Al-Durrah Children Hospital.

"The Chinese support to the hospital is a continuation of what China provides to the Palestinian people at all levels, especially the needs of Palestinian children," he said.

In recent years, the Gaza Strip has been suffering from a chronic electricity deficit, which undermines already fragile living conditions. Enditem
Tajik migrant workers are desperate to return to Russia and the jobs they lost during the coronavirus pandemic, but skyrocketing prices for plane tickets are preventing them from going.

Large crowds of people have gathered outside the central air ticket office in Dushanbe every day since late March, when Russia reopened its borders to Tajiks.

Russian officials only permit Tajiks to enter Russia directly via air -- but the number of flights is restricted and the cost of a seat on a plane often unaffordable.

Thousands of families in Tajikistan faced severe food shortages after Russia closed its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Many could not pay their rent or make ends meet.

But despite the much-celebrated resumption of regular flights to Russia on April 1, only a handful of Tajiks have managed thus far to buy plane tickets to return to their jobs.

People complain about a lack of concrete information on the prices and availability of tickets, as the paucity of flights has put seats on the planes in great demand.

That has led to an unprecedented upsurge in airfares despite a government pledge to keep the prices under control.

Tajik authorities initially announced that tickets for flights to Russia would be sold only at one ticket office in the capital, Dushanbe.

Several people outside the ticket shop said they came from villages in the southern Khatlon and northern Sughd provinces. For some, it took a whole day to travel to the capital. Many came with their bags packed for Russia, although a large number of them eventually had to return to their homes after not being able to get a plane ticket.

Several people told RFE/RL on April 5 that they had been waiting at the ticket office for a week.

When I first came here on March 31, officials put our names on a waiting list. They told us that the first 80 people might get tickets for the following day and that the others should come on April 4, said Jamshed Boimurodov, a migrant worker.

When Boimurodov returned on April 4, he was told the tickets had sold out until the end of the month.

The next day, a shop began offering plane tickets to Russia for anyone willing to pay up to three times more than the original price.

A one-way flight from Dushanbe to Moscow on Somon Air costs about $349, a fixed price the airline agreed to with the government.

A World Bank survey said a significant portion of Tajikistan's 9.5 million people were forced to eat less, with many skipping meals entirely and some even going hungry.

The government also imposed a price cap of $500 for a return ticket from Tajikistan to Russia to protect people from unaffordable prices.

As one ticket-seeker said: "The reality is completely different from what official websites and state television say."

I just saw the prices that the ticket office is offering, he told Current Time TV, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. They start at $525 for later dates. If you want to fly earlier, you would have to pay [about] $1,200 per ticket.

Several other men came out of the ticket office also complaining of high prices.

I was told there are no tickets for May, either, and the fares are between $525 and $1,050, depending on the date, said a would-be buyer. Its far too expensive for me.

"I asked the price for any Dushanbe-Moscow flight, without asking for an exact date. They said its $1,200. When I asked them why its so expensive, the cashier said, 'It's an instruction from above,'" said another.

For Tajiks, an instruction from above usually means an order from the authoritarian government that has the ultimate say in virtually all matters in the tightly controlled Central Asian country.

RFE/RL contacted officials at the Air Service Agency, who insisted the tickets are being offered at $349 apiece.

The agency said it has held a meeting with representatives of the State Security Committee, the Transport Prosecutor's Office, and private airlines to discuss ways to resolve the situation.

Running Out Of Options

Munira Davlatova, one of those standing in line for days, says people are extremely frustrated after waiting so long and with the ambiguity surrounding the the price of tickets and scarcity of flights.

Authorities should tell people what the situation is, Davlatova said.

Even the original price of $349 was too expensive for many people to afford. Davlatova said some people had to sell their livestock, while others took loans from banks in order to buy tickets.

Umarjon from Sughd (who would only give his first name) said his brother and two cousins put together all their savings so he could go Russia. The plan is for Umarjon to send money from his earnings in Russia so they could then buy tickets and join him.

On his shoestring budget, Umarjon said he cant afford the airfare if it goes up even by $20.

We raised just enough money for the ticket and for a [mandatory] Russian work permit, he explained.

I suppose this is what hunger and hopelessness do to you.

Unable to purchase a ticket at the official price, Umarjon is going back to his village for now. Asked what hell do next, the 33-year-old father of two said he is running out of options.

Umarjon lives with his family in the same house as his younger brother and their elderly mother. With the two siblings seasonal work in Russia, the family had enjoyed a relatively comfortable life.

But the pandemic changed everything.

Over the summer, the brothers and their wives worked at an apricot farm.

In the fall, they picked cotton, earning just enough money for food, bills, and firewood to cook and heat their home.

Since December, Umarjon was taken on different odd jobs, such as repairing homes or unloading goods at bazaars.

Like many Tajiks, the family experienced a shortage of food over the past year as the country struggled with the economic impact of the pandemic.

A December World Bank survey said a significant portion of the countrys 9.5 million people were forced to eat less, with many skipping meals entirely and some even going hungry.

More than 30 percent of the respondents in the Listening To Tajikistan survey said they had reduced the amount of food they eat compared to pre-pandemic times. More than 5 percent said they had to go hungry because they couldn't afford food.

According to a World Food Program report released in September, 27.4 percent of the population lives in poverty and 11.8 percent in extreme poverty, making Tajikistan the poorest of the 15 former Soviet republics.

In neighboring Kyrgyzstan, another remittance-dependent country, migrant workers have no problem entering and working in Russia because it is a member of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.

Remittances are also vital for fellow Central Asian state Uzbekistan, where millions have eagerly been waiting for the borders to reopen.

The Uzbek government recently pledged millions of dollars to create jobs, organize training courses and workshops, and to help start-up companies as part of a major plan to tackle unemployment.

But with no clear pandemic-related aid or support programs from the government, the situation in Tajikistan has gone from bad to worse in the past year. Food prices rose further during the winter, which was unusually cold, with temperatures plunging to minus 15 degrees Celsius.

Umarjon fears the hardship has taken a toll on his family's mental health. The formerly laid-back adults have become easily irritated, he said.

I noticed that we snap at each other a lot. I know its wrong, I know, he added hastily. But I suppose this is what hunger and hopelessness do to you.

Umarjon said he feels guilty and inadequate at not being able to provide for his family the way they deserve.

You feel youve lost your dignity when you wait for hours on the corner of the street or bazaar waiting for someone to hire you for a job, he said.

Umarjon and millions of Tajiks believe the only way out of hunger and poverty is to go to Russia for work.

I hope the ticket prices will go down in a few weeks, he said. Or perhaps well be allowed to travel to Russia by bus, as we did before. That was much cheaper.

Written by Farangis Najibullah with additional reporting by Current Time and RFE/RL's Tajik Service
In a letter sent to Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett, Rep. Salud Carbajal and Sen. Dianne Feinstein sought a clarification on the selection process, specifically requesting information about how the base was evaluated.
In the early 1980s, Beatts created the CBS comedy Square Pegs, which was a launching pad for Sarah Jessica Parker. The series that revolved around a group of awkward high school students was embraced by critics as a breath of fresh air for TV at the time, reflecting the burgeoning youth culture of the 1980s. But the show was canceled due to low ratings after a one-season run in 1982-83.
As a growing number of lawmakers and institutions target "critical race theory" across the country -- including its presence in classrooms as low as elementary schools -- many Americans may be wondering what, in fact, the theory involves.

Untangling it can be difficult. Much of the literature on the subject, like much of academia, is shrouded in dense theoretical language and inter-disciplinary references that often leave non-experts scratching their heads.

The scholars of this discipline themselves seem reluctant to discuss it: Nearly three dozen experts in critical race theory contacted by Just the News either declined to offer any insight into it or did not respond to multiple queries.

Yet considerable documentation on the theory abounds online, revealing a discipline that, in the words of one Harvard Law School resource , "challenge[s] the ways that race and racial power are constructed by law and culture."

The theory itself, that resource claims, is "not a set of abstract principles but instead a collection of people struggling inside and outside legal scholarship ... engaged in building a movement to eliminate racial oppression, and other forms of group-based oppression."

These scholars "converge around the belief that racism is endemic, not aberrational, in American society; that liberal legal ideals of neutrality and color-blindness have replicated rather than undone racism; that analysis should be informed by personal experience and contextual, historical studies; and that pragmatic and eclectic strategies should be pursued in the struggle for racial and social justice."

In other words, critical race theory takes the widespread principle of racial colorblindness and flips it on its head. Its practitioners advance "race-conscious mobilization as an empowerment strategy for African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, and other persons of color," opposing "apparently neutral rules, such as color-blindness, and one-person, one-vote" due to their alleged role in creating a culture of white supremacy.

The attack on the classical American principles of equality and individuality is a regular feature of critical race scholarship. Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic, authors of the seminal textbook "Critical Race Theory: An Introduction," argue that the theory itself "questions the very foundations of the liberal order, including equality theory, legal reasoning, Enlightenment rationalism, and neutral principles of constitutional law."

Putting it more bluntly, writing in The Root last week, Michael Harriot suggested critical race theory is essentially "an entire field of Black scholarship based on the idea that [the United States] is inherently racist."

Theory makes its way into lower education, federal government

As an esoteric and highly specialized discipline, critical race theory has for years largely been confined to higher education enclaves, mostly remaining a theory shared by highly credentialed scholars and graduate students.

Yet in recent years elements of the theory have begun permeating lower education as well. Seattle Public Schools, for instance, late last year reportedly held a teacher training seminar which instructed faculty that the U.S. was "built off the stolen labor of kidnapped and enslaved black peoples work" and that the teachers themselves were interlopers on "ancestral lands and traditional territories" of local Native American tribes.

In Loudon County, Virginia, meanwhile, the school system has reportedly been implementing critical race curricula to the point that some parents have pushed back against it; a group of teachers there were recently accused of plotting to "infiltrate" and "expose" those leading the backlash.

The Phoenix-area Litchfield Elementary School District, meanwhile, last year reportedly moved to adopt policy materials espousing a variant of critical theory; the district is presently embroiled in what the Arizona Republic dubbed a "culture war" between parents and administrators on the subject.

Lawmakers from New Hampshire to Texas to Oklahoma to Rhode Island have proposed bans on teaching the theory in schools, claiming that it is divisive and teaches little other than "Marxist indoctrination," as one Oklahoma senator recently put it.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, last month vowed that a proposed civics education initiative would "expressly exclude unsanctioned narratives like critical race theory and other unsubstantiated theories.'

"Let me be clear, there's no room in our classrooms for things like critical race theory," DeSantis said. "Teaching kids to hate their country and to hate each other is not worth one red cent of taxpayer money."

Critical race theory has also lately expanded upward, breaking the confines of higher education to spread even throughout the federal government, to the point that the Trump administration in September ordered federal agencies to stop using it in employee training, while last month U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton introduced a bill banning its use in the military.

As one of his first initiatives in office, President Joe Biden in January signed an executive order rescinding a Trump administration directive that had sought to "combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating" in the federal ranks.

The Biden order also, in part, directed the federal government to "allocate resources to address the historic failure to invest sufficiently, justly, and equally in underserved communities, as well as individuals from those communities."

Source: What is critical race theory? A look at the ideology some are trying to ban from schools | Just The News
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Speed limits are changing across the Med City.

Officials say drivers will have to stay under 25 miles per hour on streets without a posted speed limit. For affected roads with posted speed limits other than 25 mph, changes will take effect as soon as new signage is installed.

The City of Rochester says reducing speeds on streets where people walk, bike, and play will help prevent severe injuries and deaths. Officials add a person hit by a car at 40 mph is five times more likely to die than someone hit by a car at 20 mph.

"This approach puts the safety of all road users as the top priority when making decisions related to our streets. Not only will this speed limit reduction make our streets safer, it will make our neighborhoods more livable and advance our efforts towards zero deaths, says Rochester City Engineer Dillon Dombrovski.

KIMT spoke with a number of Rochester residents who say they support the change, believing they will help keep children and pedestrians safe. However not everyone in the Med City is on board.

"I think it's not a good idea because everybody's used to it being 30 miles per hour, so everybody's going to be getting tickets. That's all it's going to be about," said Frank Carrillo of Northwest Rochester. "At the school limits, it's fine - no problem, everybody can slow down. But residential and everything else like over here, you see no cars. Why should it be that slow? It's way too slow."

Installation of new speed limit signs will begin this month, and is expected to be completed over the next six months. The city adds not every city-owned street will be at 25 mph, with roads like Elton Hills Drive and Broadway Avenue outside of the business district remaining their current posted speed - for now.

You can see an exact breakdown of speed limit changes for each street in Rochester by viewing this interactive map.
Professor Mehrsa Baradaran, University of California, Irvine School of Law is author of The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap , which makes clear that housing segregation, racism, Jim Crow, redlining and other public policies created and maintain an inescapable, but hard to detect, economic trap for Black communities. She makes clear that only bolder, more realistic public policy changes will end the cycle of poverty and promote black wealth. Professor Baradaran will be interviewed live by Karen Hunter , Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and host of The Karen Hunter Show on Sirius XM Urban View.

"We are excited to have Professor Baradaran join the OneTransaction Conference to provide an important framework for our discussion on the racial wealth gap," says Teri Williams, President & COO of OneUnited Bank. "We need to dispel the myths of why the racial wealth gap exists and promote significant changes in public policy to close it."

Additional All-Star Presenters include Emmy award winning actress and author Tiffany Haddish and experts in business and personal finance including Tiffany Aliche, The Bugetnista, an award winning financial education teacher, Chris Browning, podcast host and producer of the award-winning Popcorn Finance, Sharon Epperson, Senior Personal Finance Correspondent for CNBC, Daymond John, globally recognized from ABC's Shark Tank, founder and CEO of FUBU and a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, Calvin Martyr, founder of #BlackOutDay2020 and The Blackout Coalition, Everett Sands, founder and CEO of Lendistry, a Black-owned SBA Preferred Lender, Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist and author of upcoming book "What To Do With Your Money When Crisis Hits", Bola Sokunbi, Certified Financial Education Instructor and founder of The Clever Girl, Kemberley Washington, CPA and Tax Analyst with Forbes Advisor among others.

Media Inquiries: Suzan McDowell, Circle of One Marketing, [email protected] , or by phone at 305-576-3790.

ABOUT ONEUNITED BANK:

OneUnited Bank is the premier bank for urban communities, the largest Black-owned bank, the first Black internet bank and a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Its mission is to provide affordable financial services to support economic development in urban communities and maintain superior financial performance to maximize shareholder value. OneUnited is an FDIC insured bank and an equal housing lender.

SOURCE OneUnited Bank
The bosses of LV are facing calls to come clean over the money they stand to make after agreeing to sell the 178-year-old insurer to private equity.

Chief executive Mark Hartigan was left red-faced after a damning report into the 530million takeover by US giant Bain Capital called his motives into question.

Campaigners, MPs and industry experts have now accused LV's management of 'selling its heritage down the river'  and are pressing executives to reveal how they stand to benefit.

Selling out: LV= chief executive Mark Hartigan (pictured) was left red-faced after a damning report into the 530m takeover by US giant Bain Capital called his motives into question

Originally called Liverpool Victoria, it was set up in 1843 to give poorer Liverpudlians a chance to hold a funeral for their loved ones.

But soon after taking charge in 2019, Hartigan kicked off a sale process despite reassuring the firm's members that it had plenty of money to continue on its own and would remain a mutual.

The Bain deal will see LV ditch its mutual status, and hand any profits to its private equity owners, if a majority of LV members vote in favour of the bid later this year.

James Daley, of research and ratings agency Fairer Finance, said: 'It seems LV has sold its heritage down the river.'

A spokesman for LV said none of the firm's management would receive any of the 530million which Bain is paying  instead this will be split between LV's 1.3m members.

But should they stay on following the takeover, private equity ownership could yield huge rewards in future.

In its report into the deal, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Mutuals said: 'Bain is clearly interested in making a profit from the acquisition, through the implementation of the management's business plan.

Executive management may well likewise benefit from enhanced remuneration and incentives attached to this and we might expect departing directors to be compensated for loss of office.

It is likely that the rewards to Bain and the leadership will dwarf any payments made to members.'

The report called for the deal to be scrutinised by the Competition and Markets Authority. Industry sources were left baffled last year when LV plumped for the Bain deal  especially as Royal London, the UK's biggest mutual, had put in its own offer for the insurer.

But this was shunned by LV's board, who changed their tune on the firm's prospects. Despite having recently sold LV's general insurance arm to Allianz for more than 1billion, they began to say that the firm didn't have enough capital to sustain its future without a further cash injection.

In its report into the deal, the APPG cast doubts on these claims.

The MPs said: 'On the one hand, both before and after the Allianz deal was concluded, [LV] stated that it is a well-capitalised business, but then on the other hand, that it is unable to raise sufficient capital as a mutual to continue trading independently. Both statements cannot be correct.'

An LV spokesman said: 'We have always been clear to our members that the strategic review and subsequent proposed transaction with Bain Capital has been solely driven by their long-term interests.'
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A Farmington man has been arrested on federal charges for his alleged role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol that left five dead and dozens injured.

Shawn Witzemann, 38, turned himself in to federal authorities on Tuesday in Farmington, according to FBI spokesman Frank Fisher.

My client has done nothing wrong, Witzemanns attorney, Todd Bullion, told the Associated Press. He is looking forward to vindicating himself in front of a jury of his peers.

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The charges against Witzemann include knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, along with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, according to the criminal complaint.

The defendant was allegedly part of the group that forced entry into the U.S. Capitol while the U.S. Senate was in session, which prompted the evacuation of the chambers as some in the group broke windows and assaulted members of the U.S. Capitol Police, according to court documents.

A Facebook account in Witzemanns name posted on Monday that he was going to be charged by the U.S. Department of Justice and that he planned to turn himself in on Tuesday. Witzemann wrote that he did not know how long he would be held in connection with the criminal charges he was accused of, but hoped he would be able to return to work as soon as possible.

Witzemanns Facebook page listed him as a principal at Rocinante High School, but Farmington schools spokeswoman Renee Lucero said he was not the principal.

Telling the truth isnt an easy business to be in, but I suppose this is just another chapter in my lifes greatest passion, Witzemann wrote on Facebook.

It was on Jan. 15 when the FBI received a tip, which contained a link to a video recorded inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

It was hosted on a Facebook page called The Armenian Council for Truth in Journalism.

The FBI learned the video was initially uploaded by an Instagram account tied to Witzemann.

On Jan. 15, Witzemann provided a video he recorded of himself to the FBI. He admitted in the video to being inside the Capitol building during the insurrection.

The defendant said in the video that he travels to demonstrations and protests, providing livestreaming video coverage.

He also admitted to participating in a podcast for The Armenian Council for Truth in Journalism.

Witzemann said he initially went to former President Donald Trumps rally on Jan. 6, then marched on the U.S. Capitol.

He then said he went inside the building and entered the rotunda. The defendant says he left the Capitol building after being told by police to leave.

Witzemann also provided to federal authorities three videos he recorded inside the Capitol building.

U.S. Capitol Police body cameras captured Witzemann inside the Capitol building and screenshots of the video were included in the criminal complaint.
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Great Britain often monopolizes the conversation around royalty. But the new epic drama Atlantic Crossing (PBS Masterpiece) centers on another set of royals, Norwegian Crown Prince Olav (played by Tobias Santelmann) and Crown Princess Martha (Sonia Helin), as they flee their neutral homeland under the threat of German invasion. Inspired by true events, the saga spans the years of 1940 to 1945 as the prince moves to Buckingham Place and the courageous princess flees to America with her three children in tow, looking to her special friendship with President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Kyle MacLachlan) for refuge and eventual aid to her country.

Photo: Julie Vrabelova

Considered one of the biggest productions in Scandinavian history, this show presented Danish production designer Jette Lehmann with the daunting challenge of designing various distinctive locations, from the familys Norwegian home of Skaugham Castle and summer palace in Sweden to the more familiar environs of Buckingham Palace and the White House. Primarily filmed in the Czech Republic (which boasts thousands of lavish castles), the task at hand for the designer, art director Kindra Koci, and set decorator Karel Vanasek was to find mid-European locations that could be simple American interiors as well as depict the war, Lehmann tells AD.

Photo: Dusan Martincek

Utilizing color, texture, climate, and space, the designer details, the challenge was how to set the palaces apart. Her approach was to create a feeling of ice, snow, the cold climate, and rough terrain against a blue and gray color palette in a land of picturesque landscapes and never-ending forests for the royals Norwegian castle of Skaugum. As a contrast, King Gustavs summer Swedish castle (where the Princess and her family find refuge before their journey to America) was filmed at the Zamek Litomysl. Known for its mix of 18th-century Baroque designs and Italian Renaissance style, the UNESCO site dates back to 1568. The interiors are a bright mix of whites, greens, and classic Swedish style that has not changed, and there are still some beautiful villas and castles that look the same over the years, she notes.

Story continues

Courtesy of Masterpiece

Dividing the interiors into the Old and New World, Lehmann notes, The U.K. sets represent the Old World. We used a color palette of browns, golds, and reds with a touch of dust and worry that surrounds Olav. As many production designers have found before (witness The Crown), the British monarchys residence is not welcoming to film productions. Buckingham Palace was very hard to get any information, so we had to rely upon official pictures. We knew it had more than 500 rooms, but photographs were all we had access to. The Archbishops Chateau in Kromeriz Castle serves as the location, with interiors shot in various palaces and villas in the country. Locating appropriate royal rooms with classic gilt embellishments was also a challenge, as yellow is now the trendy palatial color.

Photo: Julie Vrabelova

Representing the New World, the U.S. sets are filled with light and color as a metaphor for hope and new beginnings. With its identifiable white columns and portico, the White House exterior was filmed at the Empire-style Zamek Kacina, known as the Museum of the Czech Countryside, with interiors on a soundstage. Unlike that of its London counterpart, Lehmanns research of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was vast, including a deep dive into Roosevelts 12-year tenure through archival photographs. The White House is very presidential but at the same time not as posh as we see today; it was much more of a home than an official residence. You could tell Eleanor had a love for flowers as seen in the furniture, and pictures of the family were everywhere. One of the key sets was a swimming pool the 32nd president built for his physical training. While authenticity is always crucial, the design team did not create an exact replication of the interiors; as Lehmann explains, We let ourselves be inspired because there is only so much of what you can actually find furniture-wise.

Photo: Julie Vrabelova

See the video.

Princess Martha and her family eventually settle into a Cubist-style house in Washington, D.C., known as Pooks Hill. Martha is intrigued by her new surroundings and makes her new home different from her former royal residences. Flowers and cool pink pastels characterize this newfound expression, details Lehmann. For the interiors, the designer was influenced by Scandinavian artists such as Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck, and intrigued by the Cubist architecture and styles that depict the princesss new attitude and life. Filmed at architect Jan Koteras chateau near Prague, the neoclassical-style estate was the former home of the Madelik family that the German SS occupied in 1945. Today it is a luxury hotel, designed with the architects furniture line and the works of 20th-century notables Adolf Loos, Pavel Junak, and Marcel Kammerer.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
The first day of the public count in the Bessemer Amazon union vote is over, with results tilting heavily against the union effort.

As of 6 p.m. CST, workers with the National Labor Relations Board suspended the count for the evening. Currently, there are 1,100 no votes against the union, and 463 yes votes, unofficially.

The count will resume Friday at 8:30 a.m. CST.

A simple majority of votes will determine whether workers at Amazons Bessemer fulfillment center will be represented by the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union.

The RWDSU has already telegraphed that it expects the majority to be no. Union president Stuart Appelbaum said this afternoon, Our system is broken, Amazon took full advantage of that, and we will be calling on the labor board to hold Amazon accountable for its illegal and egregious behavior during the campaign. But make no mistake about it; this still represents an important moment for working people and their voices will be heard.

The public portion of the count began after more than a week of preparations, as NLRB staffers went through each ballot with observers from Amazon and the RWDSU watching and contesting some ballots. About 5,800 ballots were sent out to workers in early February. According to the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union, a total of 3,215 ballots were received by the National Labor Relations Board in the election, or about 55 percent of those that went out.

Its unclear how many ballots were contested by the union and Amazon. Election terms stipulate that workers who quit or are discharged for cause after a payroll period ending Jan. 9 are ineligible to vote. Its unclear how many of those workers received ballots. The union said in a statement last night that hundreds of challenged ballots mostly by the employer will be addressed after the public count.

Here is full coverage of the Alabama Amazon unionization effort

The media is able to view the count through a zoom link. There are three observers each for Amazon and the RWDSU, along with members of the NLRB staff who are conducting the vote count. Each individual ballot is displayed for observers, and yes or no is called out. When either side reaches 100 votes, the ballots are then recounted to verify the total, then counting continues.

As of 4:45 p.m., the counting took a 15 minute break, but both sides showed a willingness to let the count continue as long as the NLRB staff wanted to go. By 6 p.m., the counting ended for the day.

The union election is the largest overseen by the NLRB since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The NLRB chose a mail-in election because of COVID-19 levels back in January in the Jefferson County area.
Australia's youngest billionaire has catapulted herself to the top of the rich list after fresh investment saw her company valued at a touch below $20billion.

Melanie Perkins founded graphic design software platform Canva in 2012 with husband Cliff Obrecht - and it's soared in value every since after a series of investments and partnerships with global companies such as FedEx and Office Depot.

Canva is now valued at $19.6billion, which sees the couple with an estimated wealth of $3.43billion according to AFR, which would see them into the top 10 on Australia's rich list joining media magnate Kerry Stokes and Westfield founder Frank Lowy.

Australia's youngest billionaire Melanie Perkins has catapulted herself to the top of the rich list after fresh investment saw her company valued just below $20billion

Ms Perkins previously told Daily Mail Australia how she dreamed up the idea for a graphics design business from her mother's couch

The Perth-born Ms Perkins became the third richest woman in the country in 2020 as her and her husband's business flourished, and said her biggest aim was to make 'one of the world's most valuable companies'.

Ms Perkins previously told Daily Mail Australia how she dreamed up the idea for a graphics design business from her mother's couch while studying a first-year digital media subject at university in 2005.

Canva was first founded in 2012 and now has around 55 million users across almost 200 countries.

New investment from a fresh round of fundraising saw a US$71 million injection - driving the company's value to $19.6billion.

The Perth-born Ms Perkins became the third richest woman in the country in 2020 as her and her husband's business flourished

New investment from a fresh round of fundraising saw a US$71 million injection - driving the company's value to $19.6billion

MELANIE PERKINS' TIPS FOR SUCCESS Ms Perkins says a big tip for companies to reach success is to 'dream big' Setting realistic goals and how to achieve them will also impact a business' success Create a workplace culture where everyone is working towards the same dream, not competing with each other to be the best Take the time to celebrate when teams reach their goals. 'It means that when a team hits their goal, they feel recognition from the whole company,' she said. Have a workplace where people want to come to work The 33-year-old billionaire also encouraged others to never give up, crediting sheer determination as her biggest success Credit: SmartCompany Advertisement

They say they've doubled their monthly users in the last year to now boast 55 million customers around the world.

Their staff has ballooned to 1500 - including 600 at their headquarters in Sydney.

While studying the 33-year-old fell in love with graphic design and quickly found herself being invited to teach workshops to students in other faculties.

Ms Perkins found most people struggled to use the clunky software, so she developed a business idea.

'It was really complex and difficult, and it would take the entire semester to just learn where the buttons were on the software,' she said.

'At the same time Facebook was taking off, and it was so easy to use and everyone was on it.

'And I just had this belief that in the future it wasn't going to be as complex to do design work.'

Her first company, Fusion Books, allowed schools and students to make their own yearbooks.

She had no business or marketing experience but said her inexperience gave her the confidence that it wouldn't be too difficult to start a company from scratch.

'My boyfriend became my co-founder and we started in my mum's living room,' she said.

'Our naivety in some ways helped us  If I knew at the time all the things I didn't know it would have been intimating.'
The National Theatre of Namibian(NTN) will present a storytelling evening with Felicitas Mogotsi, storyteller and praise poet, in partnership with the National Arts Council of Namibia.

The event will be live streamed on NTN's Facebook page on 8 April at 18:30, while physical seating is available but limited. Virtual and physically attending audiences can look forward to an evening into the indigenous Setswana story 'Molemathite', resonating the value of humility and the communal principal of love and kindness.

Mme Mogotsi's, a retired teacher, love for storytelling developed in her primary school days, where she was drawn to the art of storytelling, emoting and orating. She saw it as a means to allow learners from various backgrounds and groups to express themselves and understand one another.

Her house was also filled with storytellers including her parents and Grandmother, therefore from a young age, she was drawn to praise poetry and to this day promotes the practices, as she sees it as a culture and technique that is fading away.

She has worked as a primary school teacher until her retirement, but she continues to do community work in Aminuis and believes that storytelling and education go hand in hand, as education prospers through the medium of storytelling.
Today, Lenovo Malaysia is releasing a new Lenovo monitor called the Qreator 27. Retailing at RM2599, this is a new 27-inch 4K Smart Crystal Sound Display monitor aimed at digital creators. Let's see what else the monitor is offering.

For starters, the Qreator 27 is designed with a minimalist look in Iron Grey with a metallic chrome finish. It's TUV Rheinland Eye Comfort certified so that it helps the user to reduce eye fatigue in the long run. In terms of specs, it features a 10-bit colour depth, 98% DCI-P3 colour gamut, and supports over one billion colours.

For connectivity, the monitor is equipped with multiple ports which includes USB 3.2 Type-C and Type-A, HDMI and audio ports. There's even a wireless charging function built into the base of the monitor with 15W fast charging technology (Qi-Certified). Since this is clearly not a gaming monitor, it only supports a 60Hz refresh rate.
The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to defend the democratic island of Taiwan amid ongoing incursions from China's military in recent weeks.

"Our commitment to Taiwan is rock solid," U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price told a news briefing on Wednesday.

"We think and we know that it contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability in and across the Taiwan Strait and within the region as well," he said.

"We have, of course, taken note with great concern the pattern of ongoing efforts [by China] and attempts to intimidate in the region including in the context of Taiwan," Price said, citing the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act that requires the U.S. to "resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan."

A Chinese aircraft carrier group conducted drills in waters off Taiwan and as 15 Chinese warplanes entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Wednesday, the fifth day of incursions into the zone by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Taiwan's military responded by scrambling planes to monitor the Chinese aircraft, issuing radio warnings and mobilizing air defense systems until the aircraft left the area, its ministry of defense said.

Taiwan foreign minister Joseph Wu warned on Wednesday that the country would fight "to the very last day," if the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has never controlled Taiwan, were to invade.

"From my limited understanding of American decision makers watching developments in this region, they clearly see the danger of the possibility of China launching an attack against Taiwan," he told reporters.

"We are willing to defend ourselves without any questions and we will fight the war if we need to fight the war. And if we need to defend ourselves to the very last day we will defend ourselves to the very last day," Wu said.

Meanwhile, the USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, conducted "a routine Taiwan Strait transit April 7 (local time) through international waters in accordance with international law," the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the move wasn't in response to "specific events or actions," but rather to demonstrate its commitment to the freedom of all nations to "sail, operate and fly in accordance with international law."

'Combat ready'

China hit out at the United States for "endangering the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait."

CCP leader Xi Jinping has told the country's military and armed police force to get 'combat ready' to defend national sovereignty and security, amid fears that Beijing may be planning an invasion of democratic Taiwan in the next few years.

Gaining control over Taiwan has been highlighted as a core goal of Xi's "national rejuvenation program" by 2035, with some analysts saying Beijing will likely make its first move in the next few years.

The top U.S. military commander in the region has warned that China could be preparing to bring forward plans to invade Taiwan as early as 2027.

Admiral Philip Davidson, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Beijing could launch an invasion within the next six years.

The PLA has flown multiple aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ since the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden took office on Jan. 20.

The ADIZ was created by the United States Armed Forces after World War II, and covers most of the Taiwan Strait, part of the East China Sea, and adjacent airspace.

Not mentioned in or regulated by any international agreement, the zones extend far beyond territorial airspace and are designed to give a country more time to respond to potentially hostile aircraft.

Taiwan's defense ministry said recent incursions have included bombers and fast-moving fighter jets usually used for offensive purposes.

Possible invasion

In 2018, the Pentagon warned that the PLA is gradually preparing for a possible invasion of Taiwan, as the CCP "continued to develop and deploy increasingly advanced military capabilities intended to coerce Taiwan, signal Chinese resolve, and gradually improve capabilities for an invasion."

Taiwan has never been ruled by Beijing nor formed part of the People's Republic of China, but has been locked out of international diplomacy and agencies at the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s insistence.

Washington has said it will no longer seek to "appease" China on Taiwan, as the State Department announced an end to a ban on high-level official and diplomatic contact with Taiwanese officials on Jan. 9, at the tail end of the Trump administration.

Under CCP general secretary Xi Jinping, China has stepped up its rhetoric claiming the island as part of its territory, and has refused to rule out a military invasion.

But Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly said that the country's 23 million people have no wish to give up their sovereignty or their democratic way of life.



Reported by Man Hoi Yan for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Hwang Chun-mei for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Sigora, announces Mike McDermitt as the companys Chief Investment Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Sigora also announces that Karla Loeb, its Chief Policy & Development Officer, has been elected by her fellow board members to a three-year term as Chair of the State Policy Committee and to the Executive Committee of SEIAs Board of Directors.

McDermitt joined Sigora in December of 2020. McDermitt will work to expand the financing capabilities for Sigora as the company continues its transformational growth and expansion across the country.

Mikes experience is right in line with our direction as a company, said Sigora CEO Logan Landry. Connecting with the right investors and partners is crucial to reaching our full potential and empowering our customers. Mike will play a critical role in helping us achieve our growth and expansion goals.

McDermitt has worked with a number of residential solar companies over the past five years, in addition to Solar Mosaic. While at Mosaic, he was part of the team that successfully introduced residential solar loans to Wall Street, in the process raising hundreds of millions of dollars in rated and unrated capital. Prior to entering the solar industry in 2015, he led a team at Moodys Investors Service that rated new issue asset backed securities. Previously McDermitt was an investment banker at Smith Barney. There is a delicate balancing act between becoming a successful company and connecting with and prioritizing the needs of your customers, said McDermitt. Sigora is on its way to becoming a household name because we are focused on taking the financial and mental stress of these projects away by being a one-stop shop for going solar. As CIO/CFO I look forward to capitalizing on Sigoras strengths to expand access to clean energy services to more homes, businesses and municipalities across the country.

Loeb, who joined Sigora in 2017, stated that strengthening SEIAs position in state policy nationally is imperative for the long-term health of the solar industry. State Policy has been the primary battleground for energy policy, particularly for distributed generation and rooftop solar, for years. We must make sure any federal policy developed under the new administration does not undermine the gains the industry has made at the State level.

In addition to her election as SEIAs State Policy Committee Chair and member of the Executive Committee, Loeb serves as SEIAs elected Distributed Generation Chair.

Loeb has been at the forefront of energy policy at the state-level for years, in particular playing an instrumental role in building support for the recently-passed Virginia Clean Economy Act. The VCEA is one of the nations most ambitious clean energy policies mandating that the Virginias investor-owned utilities become 100% carbon-free by 2050 and included a litany of polices to expand access to distributed generation in the Commonwealth. As the largest provider of distributed generation in Virginia, Sigora successfully advocated for provisions for its customer-base with highlights that included a renewable portfolio standard carve out for home and business owners, the expansion of net metering and power purchase agreement caps, and the increase of net metered system size eligibility. Each provision helps home and business owners take greater control of their energy needs and provides greater financial security.

Karla has been a driving force behind our policy wins in Virginia and other state markets, said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). As the leader of our state policy committee, she will continue to advocate for bold and sensible state-level policies that promote competition and support the continued rise of local and resilient distributed solar energy. Karla will also play a key role in our federal advocacy strategy over the coming months as we engage federal leaders on the American Jobs Plan and the solar industrys ability to lead our economic recovery.

I look forward to using the lessons learned in State Policy development to support the realization of the Administrations Infrastructure package being contemplated by Congress. This must include a robust distributed generation foundation to ensure the energy and economic transition away from fossil fuels in a just transition. said Loeb. It is responsible for the largest share of jobs in the solar industry, more than 80%, and has the most forward-facing image to the public. Roof top solar provides direct financial and environmental benefits to ratepayers, primarily composed of home and small business owners.

Additionally, Loeb actively participates in Clean Energy Advisory Board work, which she helped to create through legislation with Del. Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg) in 2019. The Board seeks to establish a sustainable pilot program to incentivize Virginias low-to-moderate income customers to install solar and energy efficiency in their homes. In 2020 the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) named Virginia and the Clean Energy Advisory Board to their Clean Energy States Honor Roll for its commitment to clean energy equity and access.

About Sigora Solar:

Sigora Solar has consistently appeared on Inc.s list of fastest growing companies in the U.S., operating in 14 states, and is Virginias largest residential and commercial solar installer, according to Solar Power World. In 2019, Sigora was named Solar Power Worlds Most Forward-Thinking Company, highlighting an innovative and equity-inspired business model that incorporates solar and energy efficiency services paired with a Pearl CertificationTM and Sigoras One For OneTM program which provides free connections to clean, reliable electricity for families in Haiti - many of whom have never had access to electricity before. Sigoras mission is to empower people and communities through energy and technology services enabling a more sustainable and equitable energy economy. For more information visit sigorasolar.com.
Some unidentified gunmen have shot and killed a 55-year-old farmer around Tordzinu and Dorkploame area in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region.



The gunmen also robbed a businessman who was on his way home.



Mr Christian Dzifa Tordzro, the Assembly Member of the area, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 1830 hours.



He said the deceased, Mr Francis Kwaku Dey, who hailed from Klotekpo-Dorkploame, was shot and killed while on his motorbike at a spot on the Tordzinu-Dorkploame feeder road.



He said the gunmen took away his money, mobile phone and other items.



Mr Tordzro said the perpetrators, who hid in a nearby bush, later robbed Mr Israel Nanenu, an MTN, Vodafone and Airtel Merchant at the same spot, where the deceased was killed.



"They tortured him and took away 10 mobile phones, over GH13,000 and other valuable items," he said.



Mr Tordzro explained that the second victim, on his way home, saw the motorbike of the deceased, who bypassed him on the way lying in the middle of the road with the traffic indicators on.



"He decided to stop to find out what was going wrong and suddenly, three young men from the bush rushed on him with a gun commanding the victim to kneel with his bag handed over to them," Mr Tordzro stated.



The Akatsi Police command has confirmed the incident to the GNA.



However, no arrest has been made yet.



Mr Kobla Woyome, Member of Parliament (MP) for South Tongu, who visited the residence of the deceased, has called on members of the community to provide the police with any vital information on the incident to bring the perpetrators to book.



He pledged an amount of GHC5000.00 for anyone who would assist the Police to arrest the culprits.



The GNA further gathered the body of the deceased has been deposited at the St. Paul Hospital morgue at Akatsi pending postmortem.

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 European Court of Human Rights ruled on Thursday that democratic governments can make vaccinations obligatory, in a landmark judgement rejecting complaints brought by Czech families penalised for refusing compulsory jabs for their children

Strasbourg, France, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2021 ) :The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Thursday that democratic governments can make vaccinations obligatory, in a landmark judgement rejecting complaints brought by Czech families penalised for refusing compulsory jabs for their children.

It is the first time, since its creation in 1959, that the ECHR delivered a judgement about compulsory vaccination against childhood diseases.

Experts say it could have implications for Covid-19 vaccination policies although the Czech cases were lodged between 2013-2015, well before the current pandemic, and concern the vaccination of young children.

"The... measures could be regarded as being 'necessary in a democratic society'" the court ruled, saying that the Czech health policy was consistent with the "best interests" of children.

"The objective has to be that every child is protected against serious diseases, through vaccination or by virtue of herd immunity," it added.

As a result, the court ruled there had been no violation of Article 8 on the right to respect for private life of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The decisions by the Czech authorities were "fully consistent with the rationale of protecting the health of the population." The decision was handed down by the Strasbourg-based court's highest instance, the Grand Chamber which is composed of 17 European judges, and cannot be appealed. It was passed by 16 votes to 1.

- 'Legitimate aims' - Experts said the decision was above all a blow to so-called "anti-vax" movements in Europe who oppose all vaccines on principle, and is particularly timely as the Covid-19 pandemic is still raging worldwide with immunity through vaccination the only clear solution.

This judgement "reinforces the possibility of a compulsory vaccination under conditions of the current Covid-19 epidemic," Nicolas Hervieu, a legal expert specialising in the ECHR, told AFP.

The judgement endorses "the principle of social solidarity which can justify imposing vaccination on everyone, even those who feel less threatened by the disease, when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable people," added Hervieu, who teaches at Sciences Po university in Paris.

In the Czech Republic, there is a general legal duty to vaccinate children against nine diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and measles.

The case had been filed to the ECHR by Czech parents who were fined for failure to comply with this vaccination duty or whose children were denied admission to nursery school for the same reason.

The applicants alleged that the consequences of non-compliance were incompatible with their right to respect for their private life.

The court found that the Czech authorities "pursued the legitimate aims of protecting health as well as the rights of others".

It noted that "vaccination protects both those who receive it and also those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons and are therefore reliant on herd immunity for protection against serious contagious diseases." - Governments wary - The need for a large level of herd immunity to quell the Covid-19 pandemic has prompted debate about the need for possible compulsory vaccinations in the face of scepticism among some populations worldwide about inoculations.

Experts say people turning down vaccinations on principle will create immense risks of future Covid-19 outbreaks but governments have so far been extremely wary of even mulling compulsory coronavirus vaccinations.

The recent reports of potentially fatal blood clots in a small number of people given the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine have made the issue even more sensitive.

"I do not believe in compulsory vaccination for this (Covid-19) vaccine because above all we have to be very honest and very transparent," French President Emmanuel Macron said in December.

"We do not know everything about this vaccine as we do not know everything about this virus."
Link between AstraZeneca and blood clots confirmed. Early diagnosis important

Blood clots can be a very rare side effect, but the overall benefit-risk remains positive, the European Medicines Agency said.

Unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as a very rare side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the safety committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has concluded.

Our paywall policy: The Slovak Spectator has decided to make all the articles on the special measures, statistics and basic information about the coronavirus available to everyone. If you appreciate our work and would like to support good journalism, please buy our subscription. We believe this is an issue where accurate and fact-based information is important for people to cope.

The agency has checked 62 cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and 24 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis reported in the EU drug safety database, as of March 22, 2021.

One of the explanations for the combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is an immune response, leading to a condition similar to one sometimes seen in patients treated with heparin, according to EMA.

The reported combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is very rare, and the overall benefits of the vaccine in preventing Covid-19 outweigh the risks of side effects, EMA reported.

Still, people who have received the vaccine should seek medical assistance immediately if they develop symptoms related to a combination of blood clots and low blood platelets.

Checking symptoms

Patients should seek medical assistance immediately if they have the following symptoms: shortness of breath;

chest pain;

swelling in the leg;

persistent abdominal (belly) pain;

neurological symptoms, including severe and persistent headaches or blurred vision;

tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the injection site. Source: EMA

EMA has reminded healthcare professionals and people receiving the vaccine, to remain aware of the possibility of very rare cases of blood clots combined with low levels of blood platelets, occurring within two weeks of vaccination.

Most cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within 14 days after vaccination so far. Based on currently available evidence, specific risk factors have not been confirmed.

One explanation for the combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is an immune response, leading to a condition similar to one sometimes seen in patients treated with heparin, according to EMA.

The agency will continue monitoring the vaccines safety and effectiveness.

Slovakia to monitor the situation

The State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL) respects the EMA statement and is ready to monitor the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine as well.

State controllers will not decide on Sputnik V. They do not have enough data Read more

Similarly to the European authority, the institute stressed the need for early diagnosis and treatment, claiming that it helps prevent more serious complications, the SITA newswire reported.

SUKL has meanwhile contacted the Health Ministry, ready to discuss a vaccination strategy in Slovakia.

The topic will be discussed by a group of epidemiological and immunology experts, who are supposed to meet on April 8, Health Ministry spokesperson Zuzana Eliasova said, as reported by the TASR newswire.

Read more about the coronavirus developments in Slovakia:

8. Apr 2021 at 11:32 | Compiled by Spectator staff
My eyes unflinching from my computer screen, I confirmed I had read the words correctly. Yes, my grandfather had written that Church tradition is essential for believers. Inwardly, I protested: But, only the Bible is essential.

My grandfather was an evangelical missionary and missions scholar. At the time, I was reading an early draft of his manuscript amidst our months-long process to compile and refine his final book. Turn by turn, I read a carousal of his manuscript iterations and returned my reactions to him. I was lending what aid I could toward tuning his words to Millennial ears.

And, on this point of tradition, my grandfather had effectively lost me.

Given my proximity to him and the project, I respondedstill too boldly, I realized in retrospectthat his perspective on tradition did not sound correct. I thought it stood to erode the prized position that the Bible, and the Bible alone, occupied in my mind. To consider any words but those of God in Scripture as essential was a prickly concept, course and rejectable as it attempted to broach my spirit.

Undoubtedly, he sensed that I recoiled over the matter. So, instead of responding to my concerns via email or phonehe lived over an hour awaywe spoke in person. This kind of meeting, in my maternal family, is considered a soudana Japanese word enjoyed in our vernacular due to my grandparents early missionary ministry.

Joining us for this meeting in his living room were intricately carved Asian nesting tables, artwork of workers harvesting Japanese rice fields, ivory figurines in the curio cabinet, and a small number of other collectibles assumed into his possession during his years as a missionary. This meeting would be characteristic of what I had come to anticipate of visiting his home, of him, and especially of this project. I was about to hear thoughts I would collect to my mind, take to my life, and carry with me in times ahead.

At the start of our soudan, I sat across from him holding only my protests as he tottered in my mind between being biblical and unbiblical on this point of tradition. Yet, by the end of our meeting, I had shifted, seeing a need to slow my Millennial minds propensity toward forming snap judgments. Would I be willing to have my felt personal expertise on this matter of tradition confronted? Could I be persuadable, if offered a more biblical case than my own? Who, if not my grandfather, deserved this hearing from me? Could it be that I did not have enough information for the unbiblical assessment already stamped as pending in my mind?

In that meeting, and over the subsequent months of continued writing, reading, and responding, my grandfather received my protests into his consideration and provided response.

In We Evangelicals and Our Mission, he differentiates between traditions of men and the kind of tradition to which he referswith the former being considered mere inherited patterns of Church life (120). Distinguishing between traditions that originate from men and the kind of theological tradition my grandfather viewed as essential smoothed, in my mind, some of the initial, roughened filigree over the concept. Traditions of menas my grandfather puts itneed to be resubmitted to the Scriptures.





Photo credit: SparrowStock

Yet still, I thought: Doesnt theological tradition compete with the Bible, if viewed as essential? My grandfather explains that with the Bible comes true truth and undivided authority that forever attends the Word of God (6). He describes how early church believers would have received and understood matters pertaining to learning the truth:

With the completion of the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus and his return to the Father, where did they find true doctrine and divine direction? Paul answers that question in large part when, addressing the church at Thessalonica, he admonished believers to stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter (2 Thess. 2:15). The Christian Great Tradition begins with the inspiration and inscripturation of the Word of God and proceeds with its proclamation, dissemination and instruction (5).

Tradition is a biblical, Pauline concept, I learnedand this tradition includes proclamation, dissemination and instruction of the scriptures. At this, I again protested: Okay, but with all of the disagreement I know to be in Church history, whose tradition is followed?

I had heard the terminology from him, Great Tradition of Christian thinking. It seems I was ready for a definition. My grandfather gives attention to scholar Thomas Odens treatment. Starting with a quote from Oden and concluding with my grandfathers comments concerning his purposes in composing his final project:

All that is meant by tradition, then, is the faithful handing down from generation to generation of scripture interpretation consensually received worldwide and cross-culturally through two millennia. Odens phraseology is worth pondering'scripture interpretation, consensually received, worldwide and cross-culturally, handed down through two millennia. That is precisely what we are attempting to discover here, and it is not only good, it is essential to evangelicalism (2-3).

This kind of tradition transcends denominational lines. The Great Tradition involves broad bodies of believers resubmitting themselves to the Bible amidst movements of the Holy Spirit. That is the essential tradition my grandfather further expounded upon in the pages of his book.

Seeing my pending viewpoint compromised by my grandfathers clarifications, I started questioning my own practices concerning the reading of Scripture. What was my approach to determining what interpretation to believe as true?

Largely, I would appeal to my felt sense of God with a me, Jesus, and my Bible approach. That is, if my internal senses were flared when reading Scripture, I would assume I had heard from Him regarding the meaning of Scripture. I would, no less, communicate this interpretive experience with all conviction to my peers. The one with the strongest spiritual feelings when reading Scripture should have the most sway or be the one with most presumed maturity of understanding amidst group discussions, right?

I had already been appealing to an authority, was already inwardly assessing what was essential in order to believe any given interpretation of Scripture. Even though I had been to Bible school and knew how to employ exegetical tools, I realized that my approach was still heavy with the individualistic venture afore described, not the Great Tradition of which my grandfather spoke.





Photo credit: Unsplash/Sarah Noltner

While having my thought challenged by these new, better bounds, I was also losing my grandfather in this life as we were concluding our work on his book. The anticipation of this loss had once alarmed me with a manner of spiritual fear as I imagined a shallowing of my perspective on the Lord without his insights. He was a favored resource, with Scriptural wisdom an email, call, or soudan away.

Today, while the loss of my grandfather remains felt, the absence is not productive of fear. For, he freed me of himselfto two millennia.

The final day I saw my grandfatherin this lifehe had thought of an analogy that furthered the ideas on tradition we had been discussing for months. He likened the me, Jesus, and my Bible approach of Scriptural interpretation to Esau selling his birthright for a meal. My grandfather was right; the Great Tradition provides the longer sightline I need and an authority other than my gut. No longer can I view tradition as a peripheral, optional feature of my thought about God or interpretation of His Word.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Priscilla Du Preez

Lianna Davis is author of Keeping the Faith: A Study in Jude and Made for a Different Land: Eternal Hope for Baby Loss. She and her husband, Tyler, live outside of Dallas, Texas and have two dear daughters.
A Vietnamese teenager accused of being a key 'organiser' in the fatal people smuggling operation which saw 39 migrants suffocate in the back of a container on its way to Essex has lost his appeal against extradition.

Ngo Sy Tai, also known as Hung Sy Truong, is wanted in Belgium over allegations he ran a so-called 'safe house' for his fellow Vietnamese nationals in Anderlecht, Brussels.

Joel Smith, representing Ngo, appealed against extradition and cited a lack of detail in the charges against his client, meaning he was unable to sufficiently advise him.

Ngo Sy Tai, pictured right, was arrested in Redditch, Worcestershire, on a European Arrest Warrant in connection with the deaths of Vietnamese migrants. Today he lost an appeal against his extradition to Belgium

District Judge Mark Jabbitt, in his written ruling handed down at Westminster Magistrates' Court today, said Ngo should be extradited.

But District Judge Mark Jabbitt, in his written ruling handed down at Westminster Magistrates' Court today, said Ngo should be extradited.

He faces up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted over the operation, an extradition hearing at the same court heard last month.

Ngo, who is said to be 18, fled to Berlin and then to Birmingham following the grim discovery of the 39 dead men, women and children in an airtight trailer the morning after it left the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, bound for the UK, on October 22, 2019.

The victims, 10 of whom are said to have passed through Ngo's four-storey terraced safe house on a quiet backstreet, had hoped for a better life in Britain when they agreed to pay up to 13,000 a head for a 'VIP' smuggling service.

The court heard Ngo, who would therefore have been just 16 at the time of the deaths, is accused by Belgian authorities of being a member of a criminal organisation, being involved in human trafficking and using forged documents.

Outlining the case for the Belgian authorities, Daniel Sternberg said: 'He (Ngo) is described as an organiser for the people-trafficking organisation, arranging accommodation and transit for money.

'The vulnerable position of the people who paid money to be smuggled was abused and minors were also abused.

'A criminal attitude on the part of Ngo and others amounted to gaining money with total disregard to the physical and psychological impact on the victim.'

Mr Sternberg said the migrants kept at the safe house were 'forbidden to leave, and were obliged to be silent during their stay'.

He said Ngo also arranged for taxis to take the Vietnamese migrants to a location near the France-Belgium border before they were put on to the lorry bound for the UK.

Mr Sternberg said there was 'sufficient evidence' to bring a case against Ngo, potentially this summer.

The matter will now be sent to the Home Office for the Secretary of State to rubber-stamp extradition, pending any appeal by Ngo's legal team.

Ngo was located by NCA officers at an address in the Redditch area of Worcestershire, on December 15 on foot of a European Arrest Warrant.

According to the NCA he moved at least ten of the victims from a safe house in Anderlecht in taxis to a location on the French / Belgian border where they were loaded onto trucks.

After discovering the migrants had all died in the back of the truck, Ngo fled to Germany before going to the UK.

The NCAs Head of Organised Immigration Crime Operations, Miles Bonfield, said:

'We are working closely with partners in the UK, Europe and beyond to disrupt and dismantle organise criminal networks involved in people smuggling.

'The arrest of Tai demonstrates that in action, and demonstrates our continued determination to get justice for the families of those who so tragically died in October 2019.

'People smuggling is a horrendous trade where those involved treat migrants as a commodity to be profited from and do not care about their safety or wellbeing. There can be no greater example of that than this case.'
A teachers union has sued a northwest Louisiana school system, saying a $1,000 bonus discriminates against women, older workers and disabled people.

The Caddo Parish School Board approved the Caddo Heroes Stipend Allocation for full-time employees who were present for at least 90% of their scheduled workdays during the 2020-21 school year.

Red River United, a local of the American Federation of Teachers, filed the lawsuit on April 5 and announced it at a news conference the same day, news outlets reported.

This year has been grueling and every employee who has shown up for our students is a hero. That doesnt change just because someone had to take time off to have a baby, or went in for emergency surgery, union president Jackie Lansdale said, according to KSLA-TV.

Lansdale said that with 3,000 members in Bossier, Caddo and Red River parishes, Red River United is the states largest local representing teachers and other school workers.

Teacher aide Amanda Lowery told the news conference that she cant get the supplement because, as a paraprofessional, she does not get maternity leave and had to take extended sick leave, at 65% pay, after having a baby in February, The Times reported.

I was excited when I heard about the heroes pay, but then once they said I cant get it, its like, well, what am I going to do now? Lowrey said.

The Caddo Parish School District released a statement saying it had asked the union for weeks to cease spreading erroneous and false information about the supplement, news agencies including KTBS-TV reported. It said district officials do not comment on pending litigation but look forward to a court ruling.

The stipend, to be paid at the end of the current school year, uses about $6 million from higher-than-expected sales tax revenues.

The Heroes Supplement is the latest effort by the Caddo Parish School Board to ensure employees are supported through the COVID-19 pandemic, the board said in a statement.

The district was among the most generous in the region in providing fully paid COVID leave without asking employees to use their personal sick days, it said. Those days also didnt count against eligibility for the stipend.

Thousands of employees reportedly wrote to ask the school board to broaden the distribution, according to KSLA.

To the Caddo Parish School Board, it does not matter that these employees risk their lives as well as the lives of their unborn children each day they step into a school building,? said Jordan Thomas, president of the Caddo Federation of Teachers. It does not matter that these employees worked while on leave and they only received 65 percent of their daily rate of pay. It is a slap in the face to us and our members for any employee to be left out.

The unions petition asked for a court order halting payments until a ruling is made, and asks for a decision without full trial, The Times reported.

It discriminated unreasonably against female employees and discriminates unreasonably against employees who have a physical condition or handicap, said the petition filed by union attorney Pam Jones.

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

Topics Lawsuits Louisiana K 12
A car crashed into a tree early Tuesday morning on West Third Street in Bethlehem, moments after an encounter with a police vehicle in Fountain Hill, authorities say.

The female driving and the male in the passenger seat were seriously injured and taken to an area hospital, police from both communities said. The males injuries were considered life-threatening but he is now expected to survive, Bethlehem police said.

A Fountain Hill officer had seen the car driving without lights on Broadway, Chief Ed Bachert said. The officer switched on the patrol vehicles emergency lights and the car took off up a side street toward Delaware Avenue, Bachert said.

It was gone before a pursuit could really begin, the chief said.

As the officer drove around trying to find the car, it crashed in the 500 block of West Third -- just past the curve after Delaware ends at Uncas Street, Bachert said. Fountain Hill police didnt know about the wreck, which was also on the other side of the Lehigh-Northampton county line, until they saw Bethlehem police responding, Bachert said.

Bethlehem police had yet to interview the driver or the passenger as of Thursday morning due to their injuries, city police Capt. Tim Cooper said.

The car has been impounded, Bachert said, as investigations continue in both municipalities. Fountain Hill is awaiting toxicology results as part of its probe, Bachert 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.
" " Traditionally hypergamy has been when a man has married a woman of lower status than himself. The practice has shifted since early times partly because of the changing roles of women in education and the workplace. sesame/Getty Images

You've heard the terms before: Gold digger. Trophy wife. They most often apply to women whose social or economic status is "lower" than their husbands.' You might even know of a few couples where these terms could apply.

But this act of a woman vying for "higher status" when marrying also has a scholarly name and a long history. It's called hypergamy (hi-purg-me). And while the Oxford dictionary defines hypergamy in neutral terms  "the action of marrying or forming a sexual relationship with a person of a superior sociological or educational background"  social scientists explain it in a more gendered way.

"[Hypergamy] is when men marry women of lower status than themselves," says Christine Schwartz, professor in the department of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Or in other words, when women marry men of higher status, whether it's related to education, income or occupation.

Scholars have also looked at marrying up in other ways, for example geographically. In the introduction to the journal article "Cross-Border Marriages: Gender and Mobility in Transnational Asia," author Nicole Constable explains global hypergamy as "the movement of brides from more remote and less developed locations to increasingly developed and less isolated ones."

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History of Hypergamy

We might not know just how far back the tradition of men partnering with women of lower status than themselves goes. Hypergamy can be seen as a natural response to women's inability in early history to earn a living and "marriage was the only way a woman determined her status in life," Kay Hymowitz wrote for the Institute for Family Studies.

What we do know is the term hypergamy likely has origins in the Hindu tradition of women wanting to marry men from higher castes. It was first used in 1881 in the "Panjab Castes," a book based on the census report of the Panjab province of British India by Sir Denzil Ibbetson. It describes a situation in which a man sought to marry his daughter to a "member of a tribe" superior to his, anthropologist T. Mohanadoss explains in the article "Hypergamy and Its Inherent Contradictions." Mohanadoss writes that hypergamy is associated with "the assumption that man is superior to woman." Interestingly, while this type of marriage raises the status of the bride-giver  the father  it also admits his inferiority to his in-laws.

But if all women are striving to marry up, hypergamy must eventually lead to a situation where the women at the top of the social ladder won't have anyone to marry, and the men at the bottom won't have women to marry either. That's what scholars in the 1970s found anyway, Mohanadoss writes.

But that's where hypogamy comes in.

" " The term hypergamy likely has origins in the Hindu tradition of women wanting to marry men from higher castes. This vintage illustration shows an Indian couple in the Palace of Delights, in 19th-century Mughal India. duncan1890/Getty Images

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Hypergamy vs. Hypogamy

It does happen that men marry women of a higher status, and women "marry down." There's a name for that too: hypogamy. The sociology dictionary defines it as "a marriage between a male of low status to a female of higher status." There is even a word for marriage between people with similar characteristics and statuses. Did you figure out that it has to be homogamy?

What's changed since that 19th-century anthropological study in the Panjab? Are we more homogamous today? Or are women still focused on marrying up?

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Hypergamy Today

In many countries, the practice of hypergamy has shifted since the earlier research, and part of the reason has to do with the changing roles of women in education and the workplace.

"We see that all over the world, this isn't true in every case, but the general pattern is that there's much less hypergamy than there has been in the past," says Schwartz, who contributed to an article on this topic, "The End of Hypergamy: Global Trends and Implications."

In plenty of societies, it is now more common for women to be more educated than men. That's been the trend in the United States since around the 1990s, but it wasn't really recognized until the early 2000s. But women in the United States now have higher average education attainment than men.

That means women sometimes have little choice but to marry men with less education than they have. In fact, according to Margarita Chudnovskaya and Ridhi Kashyap, who wrote the academic journal article "Is the End of Educational Hypergamy the End of Status Hypergamy? Evidence from Sweden," in the United States and most European countries, "the prevalence of educational hypogamy (women 'partnering down') now exceeds that of educational hypergamy (men 'partnering down')."

Add to that the 2020 finding from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that women make up more than half of the non-farm labor market in the U.S., and it might seem like hypergamy is on its way out, at least in America.

But there is another factor to consider, and that is economic  a gender pay gap to be more specific. "It is true that in the United States it's now more common for a woman to have more education than her husband than the other way around, but it's still less common for women to outearn their male partners," says Schwartz.

For couples married between 2005 and 2009, just 30 percent of wives made more money than their husbands, she says. "There is a definitely a difference in the U.S. at least between education and income."

Chudnovskaya and Kashyap's Swedish study found that in various types of couples, even when the woman had higher education, occupational prestige and social class, the man was still a higher earner. "One reasonable guess is that men's income advantage is due not to the persistence of hypergamy but rather to the gender wage gap, which sits at about 14 percent in Sweden," writes Hymowitz.

Today, educational hypogamy is more common, but hypergamy still rules in the financial realm.

" " Today in many countries it's more common for women to be more educated than men. That means women sometimes have little choice but to marry men with less education than they have. Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

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Non-hetero Hypergamy

With all this gender-specific hyper- and hypogamy, where does that leave same-sex or non-binary couples? Schwartz says we can still talk about these types of relationship statuses.

"It's just when one partner has higher status than the other," she explains. And research has shown that members of same-sex couples tend be more different from each other in terms of education.

In her article "Cruising to Familyland: Gay Hypergamy and Rainbow Kinship," sociologist Judith Stacey says that hypergamous relationships happen more frequently among "those who breach sexual norms" than among heterosexuals and "gay men can cruise their way to creative, multicultural permutations of hypergamous kinship."

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Do Hypergamous Relationships Last?

"There is a perception that still exists that successful women who are highly educated and highly paid won't be able to find partners," Schwartz says. But societies around the world have changed. In response to these demographic trends, increasingly relationships are forming where women have higher status than their partners, and studies are showing that these marriages do last.

A study published in 2018 used Belgian census and register data for 458,499 marriages contracted between 1986 and 2001. It found that neither hypogamy nor homogamy was associated with higher divorce rates. It was educationally hypergamous marriages  those in which the husband was more highly educated than the wife  that had the highest rates of divorce.

Now That's Interesting How do men feel about economic hypogamy? Better and better it seems. In 1980, 41 percent of male college students said it wouldn't bother them at all if their female partners earned more than they did. By 1990, 60 percent of them said they were OK with it.
Everybody should thank state Rep. Victor Dabney for showing us exactly why we need a hate crime law.

On Wednesday, the South Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill that increases prison sentences and fines for people convicted of crimes motivated by hate. Reps. Wendell Gilliard and Beth Bernstein had been pushing such legislation for years, seeing as how this is one of three states without such a law.

Backed by the business community, it passed on a strong bipartisan vote. But Dabney, a Republican from Kershaw County, took to Facebook with an unhinged rant about it.

He spouted lies about the racial breakdown of crime statistics, said that our way of life  whiteness and straightness  was vilified by the left, and swore he would not bow down.

I am 63 years old and have spent my entire life watching our society give in to the liberals  and its never enough, Dabney wrote. Folks, if this bill passes, it will lead to Hate Speech laws and you wont believe what a nightmare that will be!

Perhaps hes worried about someone censoring his own Facebook feed, which is filled with conspiracy theories, right-wing propaganda and posts from QAnon Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Anyway, Mr. Courage-of-His-Convictions deleted the post after some lawmakers and the state Democratic Party called for him to be stripped of his committee assignments ... as Greene was in Congress for her support of the Capitol rioters and various other nonsense.

Sign up for our new opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email

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Gilliard says, yes, Dabney illustrates exactly why such a law was needed.

Its the very reason, the essence, the nucleus of why we need a hate crime law, the Charleston Democrat says. He has a right of freedom of speech  but we also have a right to freedom of speech. And its dangerous when a person in a position of power puts up that kind of stuff, because it can get people killed.

He's absolutely right. Online craziness and white supremacist blather contributed to Dylann Roof killing nine people at Emanuel AME Church  including Sen. Clementa Pinckney, for whom the legislation is named.

House leadership hasnt yet said whether Dabney faces any sort of retribution. But Republican Rep. Weston Newton, who supported the legislation, summed up the need for this law nicely on Wednesday.

Protecting against violent criminal acts motivated by proven hatred is not a liberal or conservative issue, Newton said. It is not a Republican or Democrat issue, it is not a Black or a White issue, and it is not a gay or a straight issue.

Exactly. If this legislation ultimately passes the state Senate, you can thank Gilliard, Bernstein, Newton, Democrats and Republicans, Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter and the late Rep. Joe Neal (who started this years ago), Charleston businesswoman Anita Zucker, the state Chamber of Commerce, civil rights organizations and the NAACP.

And you can thank Dabney for showing us who he really is, and why this is necessary.
ISLAMABAD: Russia has reiterated its commitment to promoting bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in multiple fields, including economy, trade, and defence while Pakistan pledged to extend facilities, including that of e-visa to foreign investors.

Visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi in ISLAMABAD during which the two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral ties and deepen cooperation. The foreign ministers of both countries expressed their resolve during delegation-level talks in Islamabad on Wednesday.

FM Qureshi also briefed his Russian counterpart about the situation in Indian held Kashmir and the regional security situation. He said Pakistan desires peace in the region and resolution of all outstanding disputes, including that of Jammu and Kashmir, through peaceful means.

Appreciating Russia's efforts for peace in Afghanistan, he said Pakistan will continue its sincere efforts for peace in Afghanistan. The foreign minister said Pakistan has shifted its priorities from geo-politics to geo-economics.

Pakistan is determined to promote its ties with Russia in diverse fields, he said, expressing Pakistan's commitment to the early commencement of work on the Stream Gas Pipeline project with Russia.

Forbes 35th annual list: Ambani dethrones Jack Ma in Asia

Japans Osaka declares local medical emergency as Covid-19 cases hit record 878

Australian PM calls on European Union to release AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine
Efforts of the Central African government to mount an anti-coronavirus response have been hindered by the latest waves of violence by rebels who ignored calls to allow free movement of humanitarian workers, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission MUNISCA told Sputnik

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th April, 2021) Efforts of the Central African government to mount an anti-coronavirus response have been hindered by the latest waves of violence by rebels who ignored calls to allow free movement of humanitarian workers, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission MUNISCA told Sputnik.

"MINUSCA spent $7,563,019 on COVID-19 related support projects and equipment to assist and support the authorities to implement protection measures though this is very difficult in a country where people survive on their day-to-day life and wages and any disruption makes it difficult for the population to cope," Mankeur Ndiaye said.

The UN official said he had called on the armed groups, which control most of the nation's territory, to halt operations after the UN secretary general appealed for a global ceasefire in March last year.

The militants defied the calls by launching several attacks through winter.

The country is expecting a delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks through the COVAX shot-sharing mechanism. Ndiaye said that MUNISCA would coordinate with the car government and UN charities on a "coherent and concerted" vaccination campaign, which might be muddled by the rebels.

"The health workers who do the vaccinations will require access in order to vaccinate the population," he said.

Ndiaye praised cooperation with the CAR government on the COVID-19 response at the strategic, technical, and operational levels, as well as donations of essential supplies by UN charities, who helped transport samples to the country's only labs in the capital and rehabilitate severely ill people.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has launched a scathing attack on the federal government over the glacial pace of Australia's vaccine rollout.

The frustrated veteran Liberal MP said his federal colleagues were 'struggling to do the right thing by the community of NSW' and demanded better communication on when vaccines would arrive.

He even claimed he was learning about the vaccine rollout by watching the ABC's 7.30 Report rather than hearing about the rollout directly from the government.

In an interview with the show's host Leigh Sales, he said: '7.30 is a very good program, Leigh. Very good program. We do get a lot of our information from you.

A nurse in the ACT receives her first Covid-19 vaccine on February 22. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has missed his target to vaccinate four million Australians by April by three million doses

'I think it reflects the fact that the Federal Government are obviously struggling with trying to do the right thing by the community in NSW and indeed Australia.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison spectacularly missed his target to vaccinate four million Australians by April.

Only about 500,000 doses were administered by the end of March and the count is now at about 900,000.

He has blamed the shortfall on a lack of supply from Europe with about 3.1 million doses ordered from AstraZeneca failing to arrive on time.

Mr Hazzard said he sympathised but demanded better communication.

'I also understand that the Federal government would be having challenges dealing with what is a very problematic situation in Europe,' he said.

'All the state and territory governments are very keen to work with the Federal government but it is difficult if we don't know what the supplies are and it would appear the federal government aren't very sure, are they?'

'I think it's fair to say that the communications probably do need to be improved a little bit with each of the states and territories.'

Veteran Liberal MP and New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard said his federal colleagues were 'struggling to do the right thing by the community of NSW'

Australia is making the AstraZeneca vaccine at the CSL factory in Melbourne. The government said the company could produce a million doses a week, but so far the amount has been irregular.

'It is challenging for the federal government I'm sure at the present time to know precisely how much vaccine is coming to us from either offshore or onshore,' Mr Hazzard said.

'We were led to believe that CSL in Victoria would be giving us much larger regular supplies and for whatever reason that hasn't been achieved.'

The NSW Government previously slammed the federal government for suddenly 'dumping' doses on its doorstep and expecting them to be administered within days.

The NSW government is trying to temper concerns about confidence in the the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying the benefits still outweigh the risks

The state government is meanwhile trying to temper concerns about confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying the benefits still outweigh the risks.

There are concerns about the AstraZeneca vaccine after a man in Melbourne developed blood clots last week after getting the jab.

Health officials in Europe found there is a causal link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and a rare blood clotting syndrome.

Mr Hazzard went on the Today show saying 'everything has to be kept in perspective'.

'There are some issues... but I think all things weighed up I'd still have no hesitation in having the AstraZeneca vaccine,' he said.

'Many people have died from the virus and there is some indication that in some situations, very rare... that (clots) may occur.'
SEOUL  A South Korean man was sentenced to 34 years in prison on Thursday as part of the countrys crackdown on an infamous network of online chat rooms that lured young women, including minors, with promises of high-paying jobs before forcing them into pornography.

The man, Moon Hyeong-wook, opened one of the first such sites in 2015, prosecutors said. Mr. Moon, 25, operated a clandestine members-only chat room under the nickname GodGod on the Telegram messenger app, offering more than 3,700 clips of illicit pornography, they said.

Mr. Moon, an architecture major who was expelled from his college after his arrest last year, was one of the most notorious of the hundreds of people the police have arrested in the course of their investigation. Another chat room operator, a man named Cho Joo-bin, was sentenced in November to 40 years in prison.

The accused inflicted irreparable damage on his victims through his anti-society crime that undermined human dignity, the presiding judge, Cho Soon-pyo, said of Mr. Moon in his ruling on Thursday. The trial took place in a district court in the city of Andong in central South Korea.
Foreigners continue to drive in Australia for years without a local licence, even after committing multiple offences that would force ordinary citizens off the road.

Holders of temporary working or student visas in most states can drive on their overseas licences indefinitely, or until they become permanent residents.

The loophole means non English-speaking foreigners can drive on Australian roads without undergoing any local testing or even being able to read road signs.

The family of a father-of-three killed in a collision with a student visa holder driving on his Nigerian licence near Newcastle last year is now pushing for changes to the law.

Trent Heffernan was killed in a collision with a Nigerian student driving on his foreign licence. His family is now pushing for changes to laws which allow visa holders to drive indefinitely without obtaining a local licence. Mr Heffernan is pictured with daughter Matilda

Innocent Oliver Idokoh allegedly drifted onto the wrong side of the road and hit Trent Heffernan's car near Newcastle. Idokoh (on crutches) was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving causing death and not keeping left of a dividing line

Brazilian student visa holder Arthur Rohsig was caught with eight passengers in his car while driving drunk with a flat tyre on his foreign licence. He had racked up 35 demerit points in nine months but avoided a driving ban until he was pulled over in Sydneys eastern suburbs

Trent Heffernan was behind the wheel of his Toyota Corolla on Wakefield Road at Ryhope, west of Lake Macquarie, when he collided with another vehicle on November 29.

Mr Heffernan, who was trapped in his car and died at the scene, was on his way home to celebrate his 42nd birthday with his family at Millfield near Cessnock.

He left behind widow Kirsty, sons Beau and Will and daughter Matilda.

The driver of the second vehicle, student visa holder Innocent Oliver Idokoh, 38, had allegedly drifted onto the wrong side of the road and hit Mr Heffernan's Toyota.

Idokoh, who suffered a leg injury, has been charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving causing death and not keeping left of a dividing line.

Mr Heffernan's sister Peita Heffernan has started a petition seeking to ensure foreign drivers obtain a NSW licence rather than rely on a permit from their country of origin.

Trent Heffernan was behind the wheel of his Toyota Corolla on Wakefield Road at Ryhope, west of Lake Macquarie, when he collided with another vehicle on November 29 (pictured)

Mr Heffernan, who was trapped in his car and died at the scene, was on his way home to celebrate his 42nd birthday with his family at Millfield near Cessnock. He is pictured with wife Kirsty, sons Beau (back) and Will and daughter Matilda

'There is no way to track these International licences for validity or the holder's driving history,' Ms Heffernan states in her petition.

'We are allowing these people to drive on our roads without any testing.

'Our own students or new licence holders are expected to undertake hours of learning and tests before they can be determined as safe to drive on our roads.

'If a person is of a non English-speaking background how can they be expected to read and understand our road signs?'

Ms Heffernan told Daily Mail Australia that foreign drivers, particularly students, needed to understand local driving rules.

'You can't get angry, you just have to find a solution,' she said. 'It can't be that hard.

'My point is they've come here to learn so we should harness that desire and give them another opportunity to learn something else.

'We're not only letting Australians down, we're letting those people down as well.'

Peita Heffernan said foreign drivers, particularly students, needed to understand local driving rules. 'If a person is of a non English-speaking background how can they be expected to read and understand our road signs?'

Mr Heffernan's sister Peita Heffernan has started a petition seeking to ensure foreign drivers obtain a NSW licence rather than rely on a permit from their country of origin. Ms Heffernan is pictured with her brother

NSW Roads and Transport Minister Andrew Constance, who met Ms Heffernan recently, told Daily Mail Australia the rules governing international driver's licences had to change.

'I want to pay my respects to Trent Heffernan's family,' Mr Constance said. 'They are going through the worst kind of pain, grief and suffering having lost their beloved father, husband, brother and son.

'I know they are advocating strongly for change to the way we record international drivers in our state.

NSW Roads and Transport Minister Andrew Constance wants to limit the time visa holders can drive on foreign licences

'Out of respect for the family, and as Trent's legacy, this must happen and we must make it happen quickly.'

Authorities have difficulty keeping track of demerit points issued to visitors driving on foreign licences, which in some cases have accrued for years without any action being taken.

The issue has long been a major concern for police and is acknowledged by governments but despite a number of disturbing high-profile incidents has still not been resolved.

An international licence holder stopped for speeding near Wyong on the NSW Central Coast on January 15 was later found to have accrued 74 demerit points in the past three years.

After police made submissions to Service NSW the driver's foreign licence was suspended - for just nine months.

Almost four years ago a student visa holder was caught with eight passengers in his car while driving drunk with a flat tyre on his Brazilian licence.

Arthur Rohsig had racked up 35 demerit points in nine months but avoided a driving ban until he was pulled over in Sydneys eastern suburbs in April 2017.

The then 24-year-old, who described himself online as a 'sick c*** living the dream', laughed at police when caught driving more than three times the legal limit.

Arthur Rohsig (pictured) described himself online as a 'sick c*** living the dream' and laughed at police when caught driving more than three times the legal limit

When Rohsig (pictured) came before a furious magistrate Jacqueline Milledge at Waverley Local Court she said any driver living in NSW for a 'length of time' should have a local licence

When Rohsig came before a furious magistrate Jacqueline Milledge at Waverley Local Court she said any driver living in NSW for a 'length of time' should have a local licence.

'Any system [that] allows this to happen should hang its head in shame,' she said.

'We are swamped by young people on student visas and they don't apply for NSW licences and they can drive... without any regard to losing their driving privileges.

'To allow someone like you to flout the law without keeping you in check is ridiculous. It is the absolute arrogance of the way you have been driving in your host country.'

Ms Milledge jailed Rohsig for six months for driving with a blood alcohol reading of 0.172 while carrying more than four unrestrained passengers in his vehicle.

Rohsig appealed and two months District Court judge Paul Conlon reduced the penalty to a 18-month good behaviour bond.

Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge jailed Rohsig (pictured) for six months for driving with a blood alcohol reading of 0.172 while carrying more than four unrestrained passengers in his vehicle

NSW Deputy Secretary for Safety, Environment and Regulation Tara McCarthy acknowledged the system needed to change in a response to questions from Daily Mail Australia.

'Transport for NSW recognises the need for policy reform regarding the current arrangements that permit an overseas licence holder who is a temporary visa holder to drive on their overseas licence indefinitely or until the licence holder becomes a permanent resident,' Mrs McCarthy said.

'As a priority Transport for NSW is currently examining the introduction of a time limit in which an overseas driver must convert their licence to a local licence.

An international licence holder stopped for speeding near Wyong on the NSW Central Coast on January 15 was later found to have accrued 74 demerit points in the past three years

'In addition, NSW road transport legislation was amended in October 2020 to provide police with powers to immediately suspend the driving privileges of an overseas driver at the road side.'

One of the few conditions placed on drivers using an international licence is that they carry an English translation of their permit if it is not already in English.

In Victoria and the Northern Territory a time limit of six months and three months respectively has been introduced for overseas drivers to convert their permit to a local licence.

Australia is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic, whereby countries agree to allow international visitors holding valid overseas driver licences to drive on their roads without further testing or assessment.

The same agreement allows Australian licence holders to drive overseas on their Australian licences without further assessment.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - A 39-year-old Rochester woman was arrested Thursday in connection to criminal acts at the U.S. Capitol.

The FBI (Minneapolis) said Victoria White was arrested Thursday by special agents.

A list of charges against White is not yet available.

White is the second Minnesotan to be charged in the attack. Last month, federal prosecutors charged 31-year-old Jordan Stotts, of Moorhead, with trespassing and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, both federal misdemeanors.

For a complete list of those arrested in the riot, click here.
Missing teenage twins from London have been found safe and well after six days, according to police.

On Thursday, the Metropolitan Police launched an appeal for information over the 13-year-olds from southwest London who were reported missing last Saturday.

The Met told The Independent the teenagers had been found safe and well on Friday morning.

The twins had been last seen in Twickenham in the afternoon of 3 April and reported missing later that day.

After urging the public on Thursday to call police if they saw the twins, Richmond Police later said they believed the girls had been in touch with friends earlier that day.

They asked those friends or their parents to get in contact with the force.

On Thursday, police said they believed the twins may have travelled to Hillingdon and have strong links to the borough in west London.

A missing person investigation was launched for the teenagers, who are both of slim build and around 5ft 2in tall.

One twin was last seen wearing a long white coat and knee-length riding boots in Twickenham, while the other was last seen wearing black trousers and black platform boots.

The Met had issued an appeal to parents who thought their children may be friends with the teenagers to ask their children if they have been in touch with them and to contact police with any relevant information.
The Pilbara-based lithium explorer is aiming to list on the ASX in early May under the code GL1.

( ) is set to debut on the ASX in early May after closing its fully subscribed, $10 million initial public offer early.

The companys main focus upon listing will be the Marble Bar Lithium Project (MBLP), an emerging lithium discovery in the globally renowned Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Funds raised through the IPO will be used to continue exploration at the project, where it has already declared a maiden inferred mineral resource of 10.5 million tonnes at 1.0% Li2O at the Archer deposit.

Global Lithium thanks supporters

Global Lithium managing director Jamie Wright said the board was overwhelmed and extremely gratified by the response to the IPO.

Interest has been solid and the offer has been strongly supported by a mix of institutional, sophisticated and retail investors.

We would like to thank participating shareholders for their interest and look forward to working for their best interests.

We have an exciting period ahead, including recommencing drilling and other exploration activities at the MBLP once we have finalised our ASX listing.

Marble Bar Lithium Project

The company is extremely bullish about the ground beneath its feet at the project in the Pilbara, about 180 kilometres southeast of Port Hedland and 15 kilometres northwest of Marble Bar.

It consists of three granted exploration licences covering about 243 square kilometres of ground.

Lithium opportunity

Wright told investors ahead of the IPO that the time was now for lithium.

The Pilbara is the engine room for many commodities delivered to global markets, quickly becoming a force delivering critical minerals including lithium to the battery metals supply chain, he said.

Following a number of years of exploration, we believe this is a fortuitous time to be embarking on our public listing as the lithium market thematic builds momentum.

As investors are rapidly embracing the global push for carbon neutrality driven by EV adoption and energy storage, it is a great time to be involved in lithium exploration.

Since Proactive last covered Global Lithium, prices of the soft, silvery-white metal have risen further.

Lithium carbonate, a critical ingredient in lithium-ion batteries, is the best-performing commodity in 2021 to date, having risen an astonishing 94% to 90,000 a tonne.

- Daniel Paproth
New unemployment claims are on the rise in New Jersey, one year after the Department of Labor saw a 2,700% increase in claims at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nearly 20,000 new unemployment claims were filed for the week ending April 3, the Labor Department said. Its the second consecutive week of increases, bringing the total new unemployment claims filed in the last 13 months to 2,103,411.

Self-employed individuals and spring breaks in schools are contributing to the rise in claims  the highest since early January, said spokeswoman Angela Delli-Santi.

But the numbers arent affected by claims that need to be reopened due to hitting the one-year benefit mark, which requires a federally mandated review of the claim before payouts can continue.

In the past five weeks, 246,000 claimants hit their benefit year mark, requiring a review and refiling, which the Department of Labor has automated. New Jersey is the only state to enable to the automation, according to the state Labor Department.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

If the process wasnt upgraded, it could have taken three months to make those transfers, the Labor Department said. Claimants should not reopen their year-old claim, as it can cause delays since its been automated.

New Jersey is the only state to address this issue head-on with automation to allow up to one million claimants reaching the end of their benefit year to continue receiving benefits without delay, said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo.

Still, thousands of claimants have had problems over the last year, including technological issues that delayed payments from months and confusing questions that, if answered wrong, can result in the claim being pulled for a fraud check. Some residents have been waiting over a year for benefits.

The Labor Department has paid out more than $26 billion in unemployment funds during the pandemic, with the average claimant receiving $17,357 in benefits.

Unemployment programs including the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation are currently extended through Sept. 4 after President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan. That also includes the weekly $300 supplement to anyone collecting unemployment benefits.

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Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 23:50:13|Editor: huaxia

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JAKARTA -- The death toll of tropical cyclone Seroja in Indonesia rose to 165 with 45 still missing, the National Disaster Management Agency said on Thursday.

"Two died in Bima district, West Nusa Tenggara province, and 163 others in East Nusa Tenggara province," said the agency's head Doni Monardo.

In addition, 45 people are still missing and another 20,929 are displaced. (Indonesia-Cyclone-Deaths)

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WASHINGTON -- Three retired senior officials of the U.S. Department of State have urged the current administration to pay the arrears the country owes to the United Nations peacekeeping budget.

These dues have been accruing for four years and total more than 1 billion U.S. dollars, according to the writers -- former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, and former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering. (US-UN-Peacekeeping)

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BERLIN -- BMW recorded its best-ever first quarter (Q1) in China as sales increased by 97.3 percent year-on-year to 229,748 BMW and Mini brand vehicles in Q1 2021, the German carmaker announced on Thursday.

Sales in the first three months of 2021 in China even "exceeded the high pre-crisis deliveries in the first quarter of 2019," BMW noted. The number of vehicles sold in China in Q1 was almost as high as in Europe as a whole. (Germany-BMW-China)

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ROME -- Some 70 people were arrested in a major anti-mafia operation in Italy on Thursday, and economic assets and estates worth around 1 billion euros (1.19 billion U.S. dollars) were seized, local media reported.

The operation was run by the National Anti-Mafia Prosecution office in coordination with the anti-mafia district directorates of Rome, Naples, Reggio Calabria, and Catanzaro, according to Italy's main business daily Il Sole 24 Ore. (Italy-Mafia-Operation) Enditem
Christian Porter was never interviewed by police over accusations he raped a teenager in 1988 because the alleged victim never gave a formal statement.

The dumped attorney-general was accused of raping a 16-year-old member of his debating team during a trip to Sydney - which he vehemently denies.

The accuser made her initial complaint in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and asked to give her statement over Skype - police denied her request.

She later withdrew her accusation when the pandemic delayed the meeting with detectives and was found dead at her home 24 hours later.

'Yes. On April 1, 2020, the (alleged) victim requested that she commence her statement by way of Skype,' a response from NSW Police reads.

'Investigators consulted with the (alleged) victim on April 2, 2020 by way of teleconference. Options were presented to the (alleged) victim in relation to obtaining her statement.

'A joint decision by all parties was made not to conduct the interview remotely. There were a number of reasons which led to this decision. The (alleged) victim was understanding and supportive of this decision.'

Pictured: Former Attorney-General Christian Porter, who is accused of raping a teenager in 1988

On Thursday, police confirmed her withdrawing the complaint before making a formal statement meant Mr Porter was never questioned.

NSW Police said in a statement that its 'common practice' that a formal allegation be made to be put to the accused 'as per procedural fairness'.

'On June 23, 2020 the (alleged) victim clearly communicated to investigators that she no longer felt able to proceed with the report,' the statement reads.

'The NSWPF did not have a signed statement from the (alleged) victim, hence no formal allegation to put to the person of interest.

In keeping with the (alleged) victim's wishes no further investigation took place and the person of interest was not interviewed.'

Detectives were scheduled to travel to Adelaide, where the alleged victim lived, to take her statement formally in March, 2020 but were unable to due to the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Attorney-General was accused of raping his 16-year-old female debating teammate in Sydney 1988, when he was 17

Scott Morrison said Porter will not be responsible for his normal duties when he returns from 'mental leave'

The Attorney-General was accused of raping his 16-year-old female debating teammate in Sydney 1988, when he was 17.

The historic 'March 4 Justice' was a response to the allegations against Mr Porter, and allegations by former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins who accused an ex colleague of raping her in their boss Defence Minister Linda Reynolds' office in 2019.

Mr Porter's former wife was among thousands of West Australians to march across Perth on Sunday in protest against gender discrimination and violence.

'(Women are) crying out that this is a moment that requires leadership, and it requires leadership from this Prime Minister. And we are not getting it, prime minister,' Mr Albanese said.

If you require help please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
YEREVAN.  The relatives of the missing and fallen servicemen have gathered again in front of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) of Armenia.

Arsen Ghukasyan, a relative of one of these missing soldiers, said live on Facebook that the promises that were made during their previous meeting at the MOD had not been fulfilled yet, and therefore they had to come to the ministry again.

"No one [from the MOD] has approached us yet. Those who share our sorrow and grief, join us! We will stay here [outside the ministry] until the matter of our [fallen and missing soldier] children is resolved," Ghukasyan added.
Allu Arjun is celebrating his 38th birthday on Thursday, April 8, 2021, and social media is filled with love and best wishes for the actor. Following the occasion, one of his past interviews, where he shares his views on the social media battles that go on between his and Mahesh Babus fans, has also made it to Twitter. Read along and have a look at the video to know what the actor had to say.

Allu Arjun shares his views on the battles between his & Mahesh Babu fans

Bollywood Hungama has shared a series of snippets from an earlier interview with the much-loved Tollywood actor. Among other things, he was asked how he feels seeing all the online battles that go on between his and Mahesh Babus fan clubs. The actor shared that any battle is acceptable till the time it doesnt involve explicit language and, he further corrected himself and said that battles are in fact not right altogether and there should be respect between the fanbases.

"I request every fan that you should at least respect the other actors and other fan bases just because...": @alluarjun on fan war between @urstrulyMahesh fans and his fans on social media. #HappyBirthdayAlluArjun

YT: https://t.co/huqwKsqqzv pic.twitter.com/m89I3rOLFa  BollyHungama (@Bollyhungama) April 8, 2021

He went on to add that as much as fan bases are important for an actor, they should also respect the other actors and fellow fanbases. Allu Arjun then mentioned that since people are on social media, and dont have a face or accountability, that should not be the reason for them to pointlessly aim at any actor or his fans. The actor also stated that he strictly discourages any vulgar language and while concluding he said, We love our fans, but we request them to hold up to their dignity".

More about Allu Arjun's birthday

The actor is celebrating his birthday in the island country of Maldives, where he has been vacationing for a while with his wife, kids and extended family. His wife Sneha Reddy, took to her Instagram account and wished the actor with a selfie of the two. She wrote in her caption, #happybirthday Arjun followed by a red heart and kiss emoji.

On the work front, Allu Arjun will be seen next in the movie Pushpa, where he plays the titular role of Pushpa Raj. The teaser and first look of the movie were released on his birthday eve on April 7, 2021; take a look at it here.

Promo Image Courtesy: Allu Arjun and Mahesh Babu Instagram

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Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 27, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Mike Pompeo Joins Fox News as a Contributor

Fox News announced Thursday morning that former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would join Fox News as a contributor, and his debut will be on Fridays Fox & Friends.

Mike Pompeo is one of Americas most recognized and respected voices on foreign policy and national security issues. I look forward to his contributions across our range of platforms to share his distinct perspective with our millions of viewers, Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said in a statement.

Pompeo served as the CIA director and secretary of state under former President Donald Trump. Before that, he was a U.S. representative for a Kansas district in the lower chamber. After he left office, Pompeo joined the conservative think tank Hudson Institute.

As a now-former diplomat and member of Congress, and in this new role at Fox News Media, I intend to give viewers a candid, no-nonsense look at geopolitics, international relations, and the America First policies that helped chart the course for unprecedented American prosperity and security, Pompeo said in the statement.

Pompeo is a staunch supporter of Trumps America First policy. He once said former Secretary of Defense James Mattis was dead wrong to advocate eliminating America First from the national security strategy. In February, he told The Epoch Times that the American First policy succeeded in a wide range of foreign policy areas that others thought were impossible, such as moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Pompeo is the latest from the Trump Administration to join Fox News. Former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined Fox News in September 2019 after she left the White House. She left the network in January to run for governor of Arkansas.

Former Trump economic advisor Larry Kudlow and former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany have joined Fox News since February and March. Trumps daughter-in-law and former senior adviser to his campaign, Lara Trump, also joined Fox News as a contributor in late March.

Pompeo will offer analysis across all Fox News Media platforms, including Fox News Channel and Fox Business Networks daytime and primetime programming.

As a notable former cabinet member with a solid conservative track record, Pompeo hasnt ruled out the possibility of running for President in 2024.

Im always up for a good fight, he responded to the question of a possible 2024 run from Fox News Sean Hannity last month.

Zachary Stieber and Allen Zhong contributed to this report.
Washington/Jerusalem: The Biden administration has announced it will provide $US235 million ($309 million) in aid to the Palestinians, restarting funding for the United Nations agency supporting refugees and restoring other assistance cut off by former president Donald Trump.

The package, including humanitarian, economic and development assistance, was detailed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as part of an effort to repair American ties with the Palestinians that all but collapsed during Trumps tenure.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken Credit:AP

It marked Democratic President Joe Bidens most significant move since taking office on January 20 to make good on his promise to roll back some parts of his Republican predecessors approach that Palestinians denounced as heavily biased in favour of Israel.

The plan calls for $US150 million through the United Nations relief agency UNRWA, $US75 million in economic and development assistance and $US10 million for peace-building programs, Blinken said.
Nagma is one actress who has dabbled into various languages in the movies. Right from South industry to Hindi and then even Bhojpuri. The actress turned politician has several fans nationwide and now that the actress has quit films, she often takes to her Twitter profile to update her fans on her life.





Today she took to social media to update us about her health, the actress Nagma has tested COVID-19 positive despite the first shot at vaccination. She said, Had taken my 1st dose of Vaccine a few days ago tested for Covid-19 yest, my test has come Positive so I Quarantined myself at home. All Please take care and take all necessary precautions even after taking the 1st dose of Vaccine do not get complacent in anyway manner #staysafe !

The actress had taken the first shot at vaccination on April 3. Unfortunately the actress had some side-effects of the vaccination as she had a fever and headache. Have taken my first dose of #CovidVaccine Yesterday in Mumbai running temperature, having headache cold and cough , eyes r burning at the moment hope all is well and it ends soon have been advised by the dr to stay at home for two days under observation, Nagma had shared earlier this week when she had got the first jab at vaccination and updated the netizens about it.



Nagma is currently home-quarantined and we wish her speedy recovery. Nagma joined politics in 2004 and soon by 2008 she quit films. The actress has done several films in South industry and in Hindi and her masala roles were quite popular.


Coronavirus Coverage

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New Delhi, April 8 : As many as 37 vaccinated doctors at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital have tested Covid positive, hospital sources said on Thursday.

Majority of these doctors have mild symptoms while a few have been hospitalised as they complained of uneasiness.

Of the 37 doctors, 32 are in home isolation and five are admitted in the hospital.

All the doctors were infected while serving Covid patients at the hospital despite many having already received both doses of the vaccine during first phase of inoculation that was started on January 16 covering health care workers.
In a medical records study covering thousands of children, a U.S.-Canadian team led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine concludes that while surgery to correct congenital heart disease (CHD) within 10 years after birth may restore young hearts to healthy function, it also may be associated with an increased risk of hypertension -- high blood pressure -- within a few months or years after surgery.

Reporting their findings in the April 8, 2021, issue of JAMA Network Open, the researchers showed that children who had cardiac repair surgeries were 13 times more likely to develop hypertension as adults when compared with the general population.

"Congenital heart disease is among the most common forms of birth defects, and successful surgical interventions are usually performed before the age of 2; however, the specific risks of long-term, negative outcomes -- including hypertension -- are basically unknown for this population," says Chirag Parikh, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Division of Nephrology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and lead author of the new paper.

"So, we conducted what is believed to be the largest study with the longest follow-up ever of these children to better understand these risks and guide the development of methods to help them lessen the chance of hypertension-related cardiac disease or death," he says.

The hypertension study used the same data registry from a 2019 investigation of CHD repair and long-term risk of end-stage kidney disease.

Parikh says that clinical outcome studies in recent years provide evidence that surgical repair of heart problems during the first decade of life leaves behind some pathological changes that can continue in the cardiovascular system.

In an attempt to more precisely measure the problem of hypertension after childhood heart surgery, Parikh and his colleagues looked at medical records from seven linked Canadian patient databases. Since Canadians have universal access to health care services, the study population was less likely to have disparities and differences in the treatment and follow-up care they received.

From the list of all babies born in Ontario, Canada, between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2015, the researchers selected 3,600 children who had surgeries to repair CHD within 10 years of birth, and matched them with 36,000 others who did not have the congenital condition nor any procedures performed on their hearts. The majority of the patients who had repair surgery were prematurely born males with low birth weights and around 150 days old at the time of their first surgery.

Cardiac repair surgeries performed on the patients were ranked from 1 to 4 in increasing complexity, with 43% being listed at categories 3 or 4 (the most complex), and including some even more complex than category 4. The two most commonly seen procedures (64%) were closure of a hole between the atria (upper chambers of the heart) or between the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart).

Both the cardiac repair surgery and the nonsurgery subjects were followed medically for up to 13 years, with data collected until death, diagnosis of hypertension or the end of the study (March 31, 2015). Of the 3,600 subjects who had surgery, 445 -- or 12.4% -- developed hypertension, compared with 398 out of 36,000 people -- or 1.1% -- who did not have the procedure. This means the children who had CHD repair surgery were 12 times more likely to become hypertensive.

The hypertension incidence rate -- the total number of high blood pressure cases identified during the study period divided by the cumulative time in years for all of the patients participating (known as person-years) -- also showed significantly higher risk of developing hypertension as an outcome of early age CHD repair surgery. For the surgery patients, the incident rate was 141.3 cases per 10,000 person-years compared with 11.1 cases per 10,000 person-years for those who did not have the surgery -- a difference of nearly 13 to 1.

"We also saw that the more complex the cardiac surgery performed, the higher the risk for developing hypertension," Parikh says. "In the most extreme case, patients who had surgery to correct a hypoplastic left heart -- a severe defect where the left side of the heart is underdeveloped -- were three times more likely to develop hypertension than the congenital heart condition next in severity."

Other factors raising the risk of future hypertension were CHD repair surgery at age 3 months or younger, needing kidney dialysis during recovery from CHD repair surgery, and one or more cardiac surgeries after the initial repair.

Parikh cautions that medical records studies that "look back" at patient histories have limitations, but says that the research team's findings should be useful in guiding better long-term care for those at highest risk for hypertension, and subsequently, heart disease, stroke or kidney disease.

"For now, we recommend that children who have cardiac repair as infants be monitored more closely for hypertension throughout their lives," he says. "Future research will need to explore if early treatment of hypertension in these patients can prevent cardiovascular or renal problems later on."

In addition to Parikh, the other members of the research team are Heather Thiessen-Philbrook, Allen Everett and Derek Eng from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Baltimore, Maryland); Jason Greenberg from the Yale University School of Medicine (New Haven, Connecticut); Eric McArthur from ICES (Toronto, Ontario, Canada); Michael Zappitelli from The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, Ontario, Canada); Ron Wald from St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto (Toronto, Ontario, Canada); Sunjay Kaushal from the Lurie Children's Hospital and Northwestern University (Chicago, Illinois); Rahul Chanchlani from McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada); and Amit Garg from Western University (London, Ontario, Canada).

The study was supported by ICES, which is funded by an annual grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), and by the National Institutes of Health (Grant R01HL085757). Parikh reports personal fees for consulting from Genfit Biopharmaceutical Company and other fees from Renalytix AI. None of the other authors from Johns Hopkins Medicine have anything to disclose.
CLP candidate Jacinta Price during the Australian Prime Minister's press conference at the Bowali Visitor Centre, Jabiru, in the Northern Territory on Jan. 13, 2019. (AAP Image/ Michael Franchi)

ABC Apologises for Broadcasting False and Defamatory Views of Jacinta Price

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has apologised to Alice Springs Deputy Mayor Jacinta Price for broadcasting false and defamatory views on two local radio services in September 2019 during her Mind the Gap speaking tour.

Price claimed the Coffs Harbour & District Local Aboriginal Land Councils and the ABC had falsely accused her of vilifying Aboriginal people and their culture.

The ABC issued a public apology on April 7, admitting that on Sept. 11, 2019, its Coffs Coast and Alice Springs stations broadcast radio segments about Prices speaking tour and local reactions to it in Coffs Harbour. The reactions included a media release put out by the local Aboriginal Land Council.

The ABC understands that the Land Council has withdrawn and apologised to Ms Price for statements contained in that media release, which it accepts were false and defamatory, and which caused hurt and distress to Ms Price and her family, the apology said.

The ABC did not endorse the opinions contained in the media release and apologises to Ms Price and her family for the hurt and distress caused by broadcasting those views.

Price, who has Aboriginal and Celtic ancestry, was on a speaking tour and due to visit Coffs Harbour when nine local Aboriginal groups wrote a letter telling Price she had no right to speak in their community. She proceeded regardless.

The Alice Springs deputy mayor, who was a councillor at the time, told SkyNews on Sept. 10, 2019, minutes before she was due to give her talk, that the local Aboriginal groups wanted to stop her from speaking without having reached out to find out what she had to say.

They dont have a clue what it is I am actually talking about at this event, she said. But theyve made assumptions based on the fact that Ive spoken out against family violence and child sexual abuse in the past.

Because other Aboriginal people asked Price to tell their stories of family violence, she said she couldnt fathom why the Coffs Harbour groups would want to stop her from talking about issues facing many Indigenous Australians, unless they had something to hide perhaps.

She said that the purpose of her talks was to create an understanding between all Australians. It is about breaking down those barriers between us, stopping the labelling and trying to bring solutions for our most marginalised Australians.

In the ABCs reporting of local views on the talk, Price was accused of spreading racist vitriol and hate speech against Aboriginal Australians. But the national public broadcaster did not reach out to Price to offer her a right of reply and admitted at the time that it was wrong not to do so.

Price said the move to cancel her Mind the Gap speaking tour appearance in Coffs Habour was backward.

However, Price claimed the Alice Springs ABC report conveyed the meaning that Price had labelled the local Gumbaynggirr people themselves as backward, instead of the attempt to cancel her speech.

In her amended statement of claim filed in December, Price claimed to have been greatly injured and suffered hurt feelings by the reports.

In an interview with SkyNews, Price said, If I was of the left  I would probably be seen as some sort of hero to some journalists in the ABC, but because I have my own opinions and they differ from other Indigenous people, from the status quo if you like, I am treated quite horribly, actually.

Price settled her lawsuit with the local Aboriginal Land Council in November and settled with the ABC last week.

Price told The Australian she was happy with the settlement but could not disclose any details.
Lucknow: In view of a steep rise in Covid-19 cases, the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh has announced several restrictions and issued new guidelines to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

Accordingly, a night curfew has been imposed in major cities of Uttar Pradesh including Lucknow, Kanpur and Varanasi with effect from Thursday night.

While the night curfew has been imposed in Lucknow at 9 pm and 6 am, it will come to force between 10 pm till 6 am in Kanpur. On the other hand, Varanasi will observe a week-long curfew starting at 9 pm from April 8.

The new restrictions have been imposed in compliance with the Allahabad High Courts recent order to consider a night curfew situation as the state is witnessing a surge in the number of coronavirus cases. The high court had asked the government to consider vaccination of all people and imposing a night curfew.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath passed the order after holding a video conference with several district magistrates on Wednesday.

Check new guidelines

-In the wake of the rising cases, the district magistrates in Uttar Pradesh have been given the authority to impose night curfew from 9 PM to 5 AM in their respective areas.

-In those districts where more than 100 fresh cases are being reported every day and have more than 500 active cases, the district magistrate may take a decision regarding holidays, barring examinations, depending upon local circumstances.

-As per the order, people coming and going at the railway station, bus station, and airport will be able to travel by showing their ticket. Significantly, no restriction has been imposed on the movement of freight trains.

-Stress on COVID-19 testing of people at railway stations, bus stations for effective control over COVID-19 and for effective contract tracing.

-Social distancing and masks made mandatory for everyone and violators to be fined on the spot.

-Fifty per cent of the ambulance to be reserved for COVID-19 patients, while the rest for the non-COVID-19 patients.

-All educational institutions, barring medical, nursing and para-medical institutes, would remain closed in Lucknow till April 15.

-Examinations would be allowed in recognised educational institutes with strict adherence to COVID protocols.

What will be exempted?

-There will be an exemption on ferrying essential items and there will be no ban on the movement of goods vehicles in Lucknow.

-The supply of fruits, vegetables, milk, LPG, petrol-diesel and medicine will continue as usual.

-The government and semi-government personnel working in night shifts and private sector personnel engaged in essential goods services will also be exempted.

Uttar Pradesh reported 40 coronavirus fatalities, the highest in recent weeks, and 6,023 new cases on Wednesday, pushing the toll to 8,964 and the tally to 6,45,930. The 40 new fatalities in the state include six from Lucknow, five from Kanpur, four from Ballia, three each from Allahabad and Varanasi, and two each from Moradabad, Ghazipur, Amroha and Fatehpur, according to a health bulletin.

Of the 6,023 new cases, 1,333 are from Lucknow, followed by 811 in Allahabad, 593 in Varanasi and 300 in Kanpur, among others. As many as 6.05 lakh patients have recovered and there are 31,987 active cases.

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A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Detroit to temporarily halt the processing of recreational marijuana business applications.

Detroits City Council took great care and time to draft an ordinance that ensures the citys marijuana market isnt overrun by wealthy outsiders and gives preferential treatment to longtime residents designated legacy applicants.

In doing so, a lawsuit filed by prospective marijuana shop owner Crystal Lowe claims Detroit is violating both the state and U.S. Constitution.

The adult-use license application process is on hold, by temporary order of the court, Detroit Corporation Counsel Lawrence Garcia said Wednesday evening. The citys Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity Office will reach out to certified Legacy Detroiters to offer general advice and support while the litigation is pending.

U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman issued the temporary restraining order from the bench, barring Detroit officials from receiving any more marijuana business applications until at least April 21 or April 22, when a hearing will be held to determine if a preliminary injunction will be issued. A preliminary injunction could mean no marijuana business licenses are issued until the lawsuit is resolved.

Legacy applicants are defined as those who have lived in the city for 15 of the last 30 years; have lived in the city for 13 of the last 30 years and are low income; or have lived in the city for 10 of the last 30 years and have a marijuana conviction or a parent with a marijuana conviction.

Legacy residents also receive a 99% discount on licensing fees in 2021, a 75% discount on licensing fees in 2022, and the opportunity to purchase city-owned land for 25% of the market value.

The intent of the ordinance aligns with the state marijuana law that voters passed in 2018. The law includes support for the concept of social equity, with the intention of supporting or at least to avoid the penalization of anyone whos been negatively impacted by prior marijuana prohibition.

Detroits licensing plan calls for no less than 50% of up to 75 new retail businesses to be owned by legacy residents and the 50% legacy minimum applies to most other license types.

This is pure economic protectionism, reads the motion requesting the temporary restraining order that was filed by Lowes attorney, Kevin M. Blair of the Honigman law firm. Time and again, Michigan courts have struck down municipal licensing schemes for private businesses that discriminate based on residency.

Detroit City Council passed the ordinance on Nov. 20 and began accepting applications from only legacy applicants for a six-week period that ended March 12. Beginning April 1, the city opened the application process to remaining applicants.

The city said it would potentially begin issuing the first licenses May 1. Officials planned to begin with a 45-day review of only legacy applications, followed by applications submitted by existing owners of medical marijuana businesses in the city. Finally, nonresidents and those who havent lived in Detroit long enough or consistently enough to be considered legacy applicants would be considered.

Based on the interest in Detroit marijuana licensing, its possible all the available licenses could be taken up by legacy applicants.

At a March 29 Detroit City Council meeting, the Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity Department reported that 400-plus legacy applicants had already been certified, the lawsuit said.

As if prepared for the possibility of a legal challenge, Detroits licensing ordinance states no license will be issued or renewed if any portion of the law is struck down or deemed unconstitutional.

More on MLive:

Michigan communities to split $10 million in tax revenue

Glimpse inside recreational retail experience

Marijuana stock market may be coming to Michigan

New taxes, stock market proposed to boost minority investment

Michigan to increase access to marijuana market

Michigan businesses licensed tow grow over 500,000 plants

Marijuana thrives in market changed by the coronavirus

Spouses of licensees may be able to work for government

A prior marijuana conviction could be a good thing
The Assembly finished passing the state budget last night, but not without a little last-minute drama, as a handful of Democratic Socialist lawmakers changed their votes on the Big Ugly revenue bill from no to yes. Its common for new, insurgent progressives who campaigned on big ideas to accept compromise once theyre faced with Albany realities. But the final twist in budget season also showcased internal Democratic turmoil that recently has boiled over into public view.

Earlier in the day, Assembly Members Marcela Mitaynes and Phara Souffrant Forrest  both freshmen from Brooklyn who toppled Democratic incumbents with the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America  expressed their intention to vote no on the revenue bill. For Mitaynes, her vote was over the excluded workers fund included in the legislation that will provide aid to undocumented workers who have not been eligible for unemployment or federal relief throughout the pandemic. Mitaynes has been a staunch supporter of the fund and even joined a hunger strike for nearly two weeks to demand a $3.5 billion fund.

In the end, lawmakers agreed on a $2.1 billion fund, celebrated as a victory by many lawmakers and immigration advocates. But Mitaynes said the restrictions on how to access that money were too onerous and would leave out too many who should be eligible for relief. To those who fought hard to set up roadblocks for eligibility, youve succeeded, Mitaynes said on the floor of the Assembly during debate on Wednesday. She said that several of her fellow hunger strikers would not be able to access funds under the system as written in the bill. And she said that rhetoric she heard during debate over the fund was offensive, insulting and at times racist.

Souffrant Forrest also stated her intention to vote no during debate, saying that the budget still did not go far enough and that lawmakers had conceded too much to Gov. Andrew Cuomo during negotiations. She was disappointed that changes were made to the budgets proposed by each chamber of the Legislature, which included more revenue from new taxes than made it into the final budget. We had a plan, a vision for justice, Souffrant Forrest said. But all of this was erased, set back, subverted by one, corrupted, fraudulent, austere, abusive, nepotistic governor By accepting this bill, I will then accept that my voice as a member of this Assembly means nothing.

Hours later, though, fellow freshman DSAer Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani of Queens said that while he originally intended to vote no on the revenue bill, he, Mitaynes and Souffrant Forrest were strong-armed into changing their votes. We were going to be voting no on this budget because we could not accept it, Mamdani said. We started to be strong-armed into accepting what we had made very clear was too little. He said they were told their intent to vote no was motivating other Democrats to vote down the bill over opposition to the excluded workers fund. Mamdani didnt say who specifically they received pressure from, but vaguely mentioned fellow members, leaders and activists.

Mamdani did not pull any punches with his unhappiness with the situation. The idea that was coming to life, was that we were being held hostage in this budget process, Mamdani said. So it breaks my heart today to announce that, against what I told many that I and my colleagues will be changing our votes to vote in the affirmative for this budget. He ended his speech by implying that some unnamed members should face primaries.

Mitaynes did not explain her vote when the time came, and would not comment when reached out to by City & State. But Souffrant Forrest did speak again on the floor to explain why she would change her vote. She echoed Mamdanis words about getting pressured into voting yes so that Democrats would not vote with Republicans. Today, I'm being asked to compromise my principles as a Democratic Socialist, and I will do so, Souffrant Forrest said. But only as part of my continuing fight against racism and xenophobia, in all its forms, and all who would use it for political benefit. A spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie did not respond to a request for comment about the alleged pressure these lawmakers received to change their votes.

In the end, 17 Democrats and one Independence Party member who conferences with them voted against the revenue bill. Only one of those dissenters spoke to explain his vote  Assembly Member Phil Steck from the Albany area said the budget was unfairly picking and choosing which workers deserved support by creating a large excluded workers fund but not approving higher wages for direct-care workers. Capital DistrictAssembly Member Carrie Woerner, who voted no, had previously said she opposed the excluded workers fund. For the most part, those casting dissenting votes were moderate Democrats from the suburbs or upstate.

Progressive insurgents being unhappy with what they are capable of getting done in Albany is nothing new. The 2019 budget fell short of expectations even after the state Senate flipped blue and a class of new, insurgent Democrats joined the chamber with big policy ideas. But what happened during the tail of this years budget debate seems to be further evidence of fracture lines appearing in the Democratic Legislature.

Turmoil started to boil to the surface over the excluded workers fund as rhetoric got heated between progressive and more moderate lawmakers. State Sen. Gustavo Rivera earned a rebuke from Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie after saying some of his members were supporting racists and implying the Assembly was standing in the way of the excluded workers fund. A conference dispute between freshman Assembly Member Amanda Septimo of the Bronx and Westchester Assembly Member Tom Abinanti made its way to Twitter. Abinanti also called Rivera a Trump-like bully for threatening not to work with him.

State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs admonished Rivera and state Sen. Jabari Brisport for implying their colleagues were racist for not supporting the excluded workers fund, which led to Brisport creating a video response explaining racism.

With the budget done and lawmakers taking a break for a few weeks, that might provide some time for tempers to cool and some unity to be restored. But it also might just be the beginning of what seems to be growing unrest within the Democratic supermajority among old and new, moderate and progressive.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8)  Spanish missionaries introduced Christianity to the Philippines 500 years ago, and the religion has since changed many aspects of Filipinos' lives, including the definition of a family, a Church historian said Thursday.

When Christianity came, the fuzzy boundaries of what the family was, were defined. And that is what we have now - sa labas at iyong nasa loob (legitimate and illegitimate family), Dr. Paul Dumol, who is a full professor at the University of Asia and the Pacifics Department of History, told CNN Philippines New Day.

Prior to the Spanish colonization period, there was no restriction on how many women a man can have a relationship with, Dr. Dumol said. At the time, a Filipino man had one official wife, but also had access to other women, who are almost certainly his relatives, he added, noting they all lived under the same roof.

In my research about the pre-Hispanic family, the family was not defined by parents but rather by the male, the father, and it did not matter how many women he had because the family was his progeny, Dumol explained.

Historic significance

Before Christianity, Dumol said there were no municipalities or cities, only villages and each of them was inhabited by people who are related to one another.

But in the process of evangelizing Filipinos, missionaries grouped together villages, which they later called pueblos and are now known as municipalities or cities, he explained.

Pueblo is the first community  where you have various families interacting with each other, Dumol said, adding missionaries had founded around 850 to 900 pueblos.

He also believed another importance of Christianity is its successful campaign against abuses during the Spanish colonial rule by what was called the Synod of Manila, which started in 1582. Discussions of the assembly of church leaders, religious persons and most eminent members of the communities included the teaching of catechism in the native dialect and the declaration of human rights of both native Christians and non-Christians, according to a post on the Manila Cathedrals website.

This campaign of the synod, which was led by missionaries  mostly Augustinians and Franciscans  was so successful that to them I trace the concept of hustisya or katarungan (justice) that we have in the Philippines, he added.
Fastmarkets index for iron ore 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao was at $159.85 per tonne on Thursday March 25 while that for iron ore 65% Fe Brazil-origin fines, cfr Qingdao was at $190.40 per tonne.The spread between the two indices rose to a historical high of $30.55 per tonne that day.Here are five factors that market sources cited for this development.Chinas Ministry of Industry & Information Technology (MIIT) announced its draft masterplan of policies for the ferrous sector in its 14th Five-Year Plan on December 31 last year, which placed emphasis on keeping emission levels low.Part of the strategy for reducing emissions involve crude steel production cuts in 2021, which prompted a bearish outlook for iron ore.

Prices for the mid- and low-grade iron ore were directly affected because sintering restrictions are typically introduced as part...
[April 08, 2021] Tivian Launches New Brand Identity as Leader in Intelligent Experience Management

Company aims to reinvent the experience management industry using emerging technology to help organizations increase corporate effectiveness NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tivian, the leader in intelligent experience management, today launched a new brand identity to innovate the industry, moving from passive experience management to proactive intelligent experience management. The newly-named software company will continue to harness and incorporate the latest in emerging technology, including AI and predictive analysis, to collect, analyze, and interpret data, delivering actionable solutions to improve employee and customer experiences. "Over our decades of experience, we've taken the pulse of our customers and the wider market to determine that there is a need to reinvent the experience management category and evolve it into something much more dynamic and powerful," said Frnk Mllerop, CEO of Tivian. "Tivian enables companies to close the loop, providing the power to act through its unique combination of technology, analytics, vision, and people. Our approach unlocks tremendous competitive advantage and opens up a completely new, growing market for us."



Tivian brings together a strong philosophy of the importance of listening to employees to drive corporate effectiveness, the power to act through advanced analytics capabilities, and a roadmap that will see AI, predictive analytics, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and biometric indicators incorporated within its platform to drive better insight and decision-making. The company has headquarters in New York, with offices in Houston, London, Berlin, Oslo, and Cologne. About Tivian

Through advanced analytics and cutting-edge AI technology, Tivian helps great organizations capture and harness experience data to drive business listening, deeper insights, and better decision making. Tivian's intelligent experience management platform increases corporate effectiveness and enables a smarter business world, empowered by insight. Built on 20 years of experience in enterprise feedback management, Tivian provides over 400 customers in 35 countries with the ability to take action and achieve their objectives. For more information, please visit www.tivian.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Contact: press@tivian.com

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A former church leader has appealed his conviction and sentence for raping and indecently assaulting young choir members.

Shartiel Nibigira was sentenced to 11 years in jail after being found guilty on 21 charges.

The father-of-eight committed the offences at a house during choir practice, or while the girls were transported for practices or church events, the Brisbane District Court trial heard in 2019.

A former church leader has appealed his conviction and sentence for raping and indecently assaulting young choir members (stock image)

A jury found Nibigira guilty of raping and indecently touching one girl at least eight times in 2011 and 2012, when she was aged between nine and 11.

Her testimony relating to penetration and the vehicle in which the offending occurred should have caused the jury to have reasonable doubt about her evidence, the Queensland Court of Appeal was told on Thursday.

But crown prosecutor David Nardone said the young girl gave succinct detail about what occurred, while speaking about the events 'in a very naive or innocent way'.

'The level of clarity and precision in which she gave her evidence would overwhelm any confusion about where the offence took place,' he added.

Mr Nardone told the court the girl's evidence was corroborated to some degree by her parents as the pain she suffered from the offending impacted on her ability to walk properly.

Nibigira also raped a second girl in a bathroom during choir practice and indecently assaulted her at another time.

About a week after the rape he gave the girl $20 in an attempt to buy her silence.

Nibigira told the Appeal Court on Thursday two audio recordings of conversations between himself and other people should have been considered during the trial.

During his earlier sentencing the court heard Nibigira lived in poverty before fleeing Burundi to seek refuge in Tanzania in 1997.

His parents and siblings were killed during the escape.

Nibigira lived in a refugee camp for 10 years before coming to Australia in 2007.

The Appeal Court judges have reserved their decision until a date yet to be decided.
Challenging of Navalnys sentence in veteran defaming case set for April 29

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

17:38 08/04/2021

MOSCOW, April 8 (RAPSI)  Moscows Babushkinsky District court will hear appeals against sentence given to Alexey Navalny in a case over insulting veteran of the Great Patriotic War Ignat Artemenko on April 29, the courts press service has told RAPSI.

In February, the court found the blogger guilty of defamation and sentenced him to a 850,000 ruble ($11,500) fine for his statements about the veteran.

In early June 2020, Russia Today TV channel published a video where the 93-year Artemenko and other respondents were reading the Constitution preamble. Following that, Navalny released a video with comments on his social networks insulting the veteran. He pled not guilty.

In February, Moscows Simonovsky District Court overturned a suspended sentence given to Navalny in the Ives Rocher embezzlement case and ordered him to 3.5 years in jail. On February 20, the Moscow City Court upheld the ruling.




Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has assured his Moldovan counterpart Aureliu Ciocoi in a phone call that Moldova remains a friend for Ukraine, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service has reported.

According to the report, the parties discussed the development of friendly Ukrainian-Moldovan relations, as well as the aggravation of Russia's security situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and a buildup of Russian troops around the borders of Ukraine. Ciocoi said that Moldova's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity remained unchanged.

The ministers also drew attention to the situation surrounding former Ukrainian judge Mykola Chaus, who four years ago illegally entered Moldova, where he had sought political asylum and had recently disappeared in Moldova under no less bizarre circumstances.

According to Kuleba, Ukrainian law enforcement officers expected that after the positive completion for Ukraine of the trial of Chaus's complaint against the refusal to grant him asylum, he would be extradited under international legal assistance on the basis of European conventions and bilateral agreements on extradition and mutual assistance in criminal matters.

Kuleba noted that Ukraine had nothing to do with the current situation with Chaus and proposed setting up a joint working group to establish all the circumstances, in particular, the whereabouts of the former judge. He also said that Moldova remained a friend of Ukraine.

"The Ukrainian side is convinced that attempts to use the situation in their favor are being made by forces that are not only not interested in the further deepening of Ukrainian-Moldovan cooperation, but also aim to disrupt the positive development of relations between both countries and the strengthening of Ukraine's and Moldova's European prospects," the report reads.

On April 3, Chaus's lawyer, Yulian Balan, said a group of unidentified gunmen had abducted Chaus in central Chisinau. Local police confirmed the report.

On March 3, a panel of civil, commercial and administrative disputes of the Supreme Court of Moldova refused to grant political asylum to former Ukrainian judge Mykola Chaus, who has been hiding in Moldova since 2016.

On August 9, 2016, detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and prosecutors of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office caught Judge Mykola Chaus receiving a $150,000 bribe.

In September of the same year, the Verkhovna Rada upheld the Prosecutor General's Office's request for consent to detain and arrest the judge. However, Chaus fled Ukraine. Since November 11, 2016, the judge has been on Interpol's international wanted list.

In October 2017, the High Council of Justice suspended Chaus from office, and on November 28, 2017, it decided to dismiss him as a judge.

op
(Newser)  Two police officers in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who've been previously accused of what the Sun Sentinel dubs "overzealous policing" have now been hit with a lawsuit by two brothers who are claiming the same. Per the complaint filed Monday against officers Alexander Paul and Steven Pohorence, as well as the city itself, Raymond Purcell called 911 on April 6, 2017, to report his car and his wife's car had been keyed; he claimed his own sister did it. When Pohorence and Paul arrived on the scene, however, they informed Purcell, then 62, that because the damage appeared to be less than $1,000, no police report would be filed, records note. That frustrated Purcell, who then hit the hood of his car and threw a flashlight, though not in the direction of the officers, per the suit. The complaint notes Purcell then tried to go inside his home, which is when Paul allegedly hit him with the butt of his gun, threw him down, and pulled his arms back, per the Miami Herald.

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Paul is then accused of punching Purcell in the mouth "with so much force that it knocked Raymond's acrylic partial dentures out." Meanwhile, when Purcell's brother Randall tried to intervene, Pohorence kicked him down and placed his foot on Randall's face, leaving a gash near his eye, the suit notes. In depositions, both officers say they felt threatened, as they knew Raymond had a concealed weapon permit and a weapon inside, with Paul adding they saw "weapons all over the wall." The suit notes those "weapons" were actually Star Trek props. Paul is said to have used force 70 times during his six years on the force, though the department says he never violated policy. He's being sued in one case for shooting a Broward man. Pohorence, now on leave without pay, has been reviewed internally for using force 79 times in his four years on the force. An internal probe of the two officers exonerated them in 2019 in the case of the Purcells. The brothers are suing for $75,000. (Read more Star Trek stories.)
GBP/CAD Exchange Rate Struggles to Hold Ground as CAD Strength Persists

The British Pound to Canadian Dollar (GBP/CAD) exchange rate has seen mixed movement since markets opened this week. Sterling has been sold from its best levels in profit taking, but lasting strength in the Canadian Dollar has made it harder for the pair to advance again after the Pound selloff cooled. Still, the Canadian Dollars own appeal has also taken a hit as commodity demand has weakened this week.

Last week saw mixed movement in GBP/CAD as well. The pair opened last week at the level of 1.7338 and spent most of the week dipping lower, before closing close to the weeks opening levels again.

This week, movement has once again been dovish. A rise to a weekly high of 1.7468 was very short-lived, and at the time of writing GBP/CAD is trending lower in the region of 1.7348.

Will GBP/CAD be able to avoid weekly losses again with another late-week recovery? That may depend on tomorrows key Canadian job market report.

Investors have pulled back slightly from the Pound this week, causing the British currency to be sold from its best levels in profit taking after a long period of surging higher.

Markets remain optimistic about Britains economic recovery outlook, and more parts of Britains economy are expected to reopen next week.

This is keeping the Pound a relatively appealing major currency overall, and limiting its losses as it is sold from recent highs.

This weeks UK services and composite PMI therefore had little notable impact on the Pound. The data fell short of expectations but analysts noted it continued to have promising signs of economic recovery in Britain.

According to Valentin Marinov, Head of G10 FX Strategy at Credit Agricole, the Pound is struggling to hold its best levels as it is being seen as overbought:

The recent FX price action seems to suggest that many positives are in the price of the GBP by now and that the Pound is looking quite overbought (especially in the case of EUR/GBP),

Canadian Dollar (CAD) Slips as Market Demand for Commodities Softens

The Canadian Dollar is a currency often correlated to market risk and commodity sentiment. In particular, it is often driven by global commodity trade and the performance of economies it has strong trade links with, such as the US.

The Canadian Dollar is especially correlated to prices of oil, Canadas biggest export.

As a result of its commodity correlation, the Canadian Dollar has been a little less appealing this week. Investors are anxious about a potential third wave of coronavirus infections, which is causing some to sell commodities from recent highs.

Oil prices have been sold due to oversupply in oil inventories, which has also weighed on CAD.

Markets are overall optimistic in commodities lately, but there has been a slight pullback which is causing CAD losses. According to George Davis, Chief Technical Strategist at RBC Capital Markets:

The commodity currencies began today's session under pressure after overnight activity, and this theme has largely continued through the day as well, Our positioning models have shown that long positions have been built up in commodity FX over the past 3-4 weeks.

Pound Canadian Dollar Forecast

This weeks notable UK data has been published, and investors dont expect any big changes in the global coronavirus situation in the coming sessions.

As a result, Pound to Canadian Dollar investors will be awaiting tomorrows key Canadian data for now.

Fridays American session will see the publication of the weeks most influential Canadian dataset, in the form of Canadian job market and unemployment rate data.

Canadas unemployment rate is expected to have improved in March, while employment is predicted to have slowed. If the data beats forecasts, it could bolster the Canadian Dollars late-week support and lead to GBP/CAD losses this week.

On the other hand though, if the Pound continues to benefit from coronavirus recovery hopes, it could claw back some losses and the Pound to Canadian Dollar exchange rate could end the week higher.
New Delhi, April 8 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday said that it has filed a supplementary charge sheet against three narco-traffickers in the Khalistan Liberation Force narco-terror case.

An NIA spokesperson said that the anti-terror probe agency has filed a supplementary charge sheet in the special NIA court in Punjab's Mohali against Rajender Singh aka Ganja, a resident of Amritsar, Parminder Pal Singh aka Bobby, and Jasmeet Singh Hakimzada, both originally residents of Delhi but currently in Dubai, under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The official said that during the probe, it was found that Rajender Singh was instrumental in selling the smuggled heroin in India, while Parminder Pal Singh played important role in channelising the proceeds through hawala from India to Dubai.

"Hakimzada, a Dubai-based international drugs smuggler and money launderer, further transferred the funds to entities based in Pakistan to further the activities of banned terrorist organisation KLF," the official said.

Hakimzada, along with Pakistan-based self-styled KLF chief Harmeet Singh aka Ph.D, have been instrumental in running a narco-terror network to strengthen their terrorist activities, the official said.

"The probe has established that a network of narco-traffickers, terrorists and hawala operatives based in Punjab, Delhi and Dubai was operating at the behest of Harmeet Singh and Hakimzada and was indulging in subversive activities against India," the official said.

The NIA case was registered in January after the Punjab Police registered a case over the seizure of 500 gms of heroin and drug money amounting to Rs 1.20 lakh from Samra and two others in December 2019.

Earlier, after completion of its investigation, the NIA had filed charge sheet against 10 accused in the case.
Cincinnati authorities say that a barrel of monkeys spotted by residents in a local cemetery most likely came from a local residence.

Sammy Trinh captured video of the five monkeys swinging from trees in St. Joseph's Cemetery at West Eight Street & Enright Avenue in East Price Hill, Ohio.

Footage appears to show creatures sitting in the tree during the dark night.

Cincinnati police responded to the scene at around 10pm Wednesday and reported not seeing any monkeys, WAVE 3 reports.

Residents of a Cincinnati neighborhood have reported seeing monkeys swinging from the St. Joseph's Cemetery at West Eight Street & Enright Avenue in East Price Hill, Ohio

Police added that they are taking the sightings seriously and believe the story is 'real,' adding they believe the monkeys came from a private collection.

Authorities went back to the cemetery on Thursday morning, along with David Orban - director for animal science and strategy at the Cincinnati Zoo.

'There's not much we can do until we have a confirmed sighting by Cincinnati police,' Orban said, adding that no animals escaped from the zoo.

Orban said that Trinh's video is too dark and blurry to know for sure if the animals seen are monkeys.

Cincinnati police responded to the scene at around 10pm Wednesday and reported not seeing any monkeys. Authorities went back to the cemetery on Thursday morning, along with David Orban - director for animal science and strategy at the Cincinnati Zoo

A cheeky Twitter account, Price Hill Monkeys, has provided funny commentary while authorities and the media search for the troop

He added that 'numerous types of animals can occupy trees' and that it was hard to determine the size and appearance of the ones seen in the video.

'Until we are able to identify them in the daylight, it's hard to know. The Cincinnati Zoo will be here to assist and confirm, but at this point we need a confirmed sighting,' he added.

'If anyone does have a confirmed sighting of these monkeys they should call Cincinnati police.'

Orban concluded that 'as with all wild animals, people should keep their distance. The best thing to do is to call the Cincinnati Police Department and let them know they have a sighting.'

A cheeky Twitter account, Price Hill Monkeys, has provided funny commentary while authorities and the media search for the troop.
She is always vivacious, professional, and elegant as she hosts Sunrise between 5.30am and 9am.

But a lot happens during Natalie Barr's morning before viewers even tune in - starting with a very early wake-up alarm at 2.50am.

On Thursday, the 53-year-old TV host documented her daily routine to loyal Sunrise fans on Instagram, including a behind-the-scenes' look at the show's wardrobe department, hair and makeup room and co-host David 'Kochie' Koch's desk.

Scroll down for video

Out of bed by 2.50am, surprise wardrobe selections, news briefings, an hour of hair and makeup, and only ONE coffee: Inside Sunrise host Natalie Barr's morning routine

While most of Australia is still fast asleep, Natalie is already showered, dressed and ready to start her day at 3.12am.

In her video, Natalie is seen makeup free in her Sydney kitchen as she makes herself her first, and only, coffee of the day.

Her at-home routine seemingly hasn't changed much from when she was the show's news reporter.

In a 2017 video she said she didn't believe in the 'snooze button' and would jump 'straight out of bed into the shower' at 2.50am, and enjoy her only coffee of the day shortly after at 3am.

Rise and shine: While most of Australia is still fast asleep, Natalie is already showered, dressed and ready to start her day at 3.12am. She has one coffee to kickstart her day

Ready for action! By 3.35am Natalie heads into the office while it's still dark outside and is promptly briefed on the day's news and segments

By 3.35am Natalie heads into the office while it's still dark outside and is promptly briefed on the day's news and segments.

Natalie then heads to the private office she shares with co-host David 'Kochie' Koch.

In her video, she also offered a glimpse of Channel Seven's ladies' changeroom, where the wardrobe department labels her clothing and accessories for the day.

Glam team: Natalie sits in the hair and makeup chair for around an hour between 4am and 5am to get 'TV ready' for Sunrise

What viewers see! She is then vivacious, professional, and elegant as she hosts Sunrise between 5.30am and 9am

Then it's into the hair and makeup chair around 4am to get 'TV ready'.

'We probably spend an hour in hair and makeup, I come in with wet hair as I wash it every second day and I read the papers and briefing notes as we go,' she explained.

After hair and makeup is done, and Nat has changed into her carefully selected ensemble for the day, she sneaks onto the live set to greet viewers at 5.30am.

Natalie's move to the co-host role came after Samantha Armytage stepped down from Sunrise after eight years on the program last month.
Invested by the Asia Food Company, the facility has an annual capacity of processing 4,600 tonnes of pine apple, 800 tonnes of banana, 1,000 tonnes of maize, 1,600 tonnes of concentrated pine apple juice, and 250 tonnes of vegetables and fruit.

The products will be exported to the Asian, European and American markets, and serve domestic consumption.

It will create jobs for 500 seasonal and 200 regular labourers.

Currently, the factory has committed to buying all farm produce of Muong Khuong farmers, while supporting them in fertilisers and farming techniques.

Muong Khuong district is an agricultural hub of Lao Cai with nearly 8,000 hectares of crops.
Bengaluru, April 9 : A 26-year-old woman strangulated her three-year-old daughter to death using her 'dupatta' (veil) after the minor reportedly took the side of her father during a tiff over who should watch TV, the police said.

The police said that the child's biggest mistake seemed to be loving her father unconditionally and telling him everything that had transpired during the day.

The accused has been identified as Sudha. While her husband Eeranna works as a coolie, Sudha was working as a maid at a tiles shop in Mallathhalli in Bengaluru. The police said that Sudha used to take her daughter Vinutha to work, who used to narrate the day's ordeals to her father in detail later.

"Vinutha used to tell everything to her father after returning home, which often led to fights between the husband and the wife. Fed up with the regular fights and her daugher's growing attachment towards her father, Sudha committed the crime," the police said, quoting her confession statement.

The police said that on Wednesday, Sudha took her daughter to an isolated place where she strangulated her to death using her 'dupatta'.

The police added that initially, Sudha lied to her husband that their child had gone missing after which the couple filed a missing complaint at the Jnanabharathi police station.

Her lies got exposed when the police asked her to show the spot from where her daughter went missing, which happened to be an isolated spot. Their suspicion grew after Sudha made some inconsistent statements. Meanwhile, Vinuta's body was found near a building which was in another police jurisdiction.

"When Sudha was taken for identification, she confessed to her crime after seeing her daughter's body," the police said.
JACKSON, MI -- Rock wall climbing, swim lessons and outdoor Zumba are part of a free community event coming up at the Jackson YMCA.

The Community Fun Day event is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 24 at the YMCA, 127 W. Wesley St.

Activities include:

A Swim Lesson Open House from noon to 2 p.m. Pre-registration is required by calling 517-782-0537.

Outdoor Zumba at 11:15 a.m.

Rock wall climbing and gym games.

Martial arts demo at noon

Popcorn and other treats are also available for free at the event, officials said. Specials on memberships and summer camps also will be offered.

Face masks are required indoors, officials said.

For more information, visit the Jackson YMCA website.

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Myanmars military has shown itself to be a brutal force, meting out violence against the civilians it is meant to protect amid a popular rebellion against its Feb. 1 coup. The powerful Tatmadaw, as it is called in Burmese, has steadily escalated the violence directed at protesters, bystanders, and ordinary citizens, with indiscriminate shootings, shakedowns, break-ins, beatings, and arbitrary arrests.

Some of the rebel armies that have fought Myanmar forces to defend their ethnic groups and territory have denounced the military and its bloody crackdown on protesters. The Three Brotherhood Alliance of rebel groups  the Arakan Army (AA), Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA)  issued a statement in late March condemning the crackdowns and saying that it would support and cooperate with those waging the Spring Revolution, as the civil resistance movement is called locally, if the violence did not stop.

Anthony Davis, a Bangkok-based security analyst who writes for IHS-Janes security and defense publications, spoke with Ye Kaung Myint Maung of RFAs Myanmar Service about the Myanmar militarys manpower and firepower, and the possibility of ethnic armed groups forming a federal army as a solution to the current crisis. The Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

RFA: How do you evaluate the Myanmar militarys strength and level of professionalism?

Anthony Davis: The Myanmar military is definitely one of the most powerful militaries in ASEAN in the Southeast Asian region. The army alone is at least 350,000 men, and then there is also the air force and the navy, which have both gone through a recent process of modernization. The Tatmadaw is a capable, professional, and strong military force. There is no question about that. I mean professional in a purely military sense  not professional in terms of their relationship with the people they are supposed to be defending.

RFA: How does the strength of Myanmars ethnic armed groups compare to that of the Tatmadaw, especially the four that comprise the Northern Alliance  the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), AA, TNLA, and MNDAA?

Anthony Davis: Compared to the military, the four members of the Northern Alliance, and if you include the Shan State Army-North/Shan State Progressive Party, are essentially guerilla organizations. They are not conventional modern military forces, so compared to the Tatmadaw, in terms of numbers they are maybe 15,000- or 20,000-strong. But that is a very small number compared to the numbers and the firepower that the Tatmadaw can bring. The Tatmadaw as a reasonably modern military has significant quantities of artillery, armor, mobility, and air power with fixed-wing [aircraft], jet fighters, ground-attack fighters, and helicopters, so this is a David and Goliath contest.

RFA: What kinds of weapons do the Northern Alliance groups possess and used in their battles against the Myanmar military?

Anthony Davis: The Northern Alliance groups use light weaponry  assault rifles, rocket launchers, and mortars in some cases. Thats about it. These are not groups that can bring to bear significant firepower in terms of artillery. They have no air power. They have some 107-mm surface-to-surface rockets which are useful for firing on large targets like airports or army bases from a distance. But thats about the heaviest weaponry they have. So, these are guerilla forces that can be very effective if were talking about cutting roads, cutting communications, and raiding army bases. With hit-and-run warfare, they can be very effective.

RFA: What do you think an armed confrontation between the Northern Alliance and the Tamadaw would look like?

Anthony Davis: The weaponry that they [the Tatmadaw] would bring to bear against the Northern Alliance is the same weaponry that weve already seen in campaigns against the AA in Rakhine state, against the KIA in Kachin state, and against the TNLA in northern Shan state. Were looking at the same systems here, so were looking at infantry supported particularly by air power  by Russian Mi-35 helicopter gunships, new Russian Yak-130 ground-attack aircraft, older Chinese ground-attack jets which date from the early 1990s, and modern Chinese JF-17 [fighter] jets. So, the Tatmadaws main advantage in any real confrontation with the Northern Alliance would be less infantry and much more air power and artillery in the form of 105-mm and 122-mm cannons and multiple-barrel rocket launchers which can be very effective and very deadly against area targets. You put all these things together and were talking very serious fire power, so its a classic situation of guerilla forces combating a conventional army. The guerillas know the terrain, they can move more easily, and they can strike suddenly and disappear. But the conventional army has the advantage of firepower and air power.

RFA: Hypothetically speaking, if all armed ethnic groups in Myanmar combined their strengths, manpower, and firepower and formed a federal army, what would their military capabilities be like? Would they be comparable to the Tatmadaws force?

Anthony Davis: My best assessment is that if you look at all the ethnic armed organizations in Myanmar, youre looking maybe at around 75,000 to 78,000 armed troops. Now, on the Tatmadaw side, the army is in total probably around 350,000, so its significantly larger, but this is not a numbers game. Were not talking about a situation where all the ethnic forces or the Tatmadaw are at war at the same time. So, if they were facing operations in many different parts of Myanmar at the same time, if they had to counter the AA in Rakhine at the same time that they had to counter the Karen National Liberation Army in Kayin state, the TNLA in Shan state, and the KIA in Kachin state, the Tatmadaw would be very thinly stretched. It would be a serious problem for them particularly given what is happening in the cities of Myanmar in the center of the country. The strategy of the Tatmadaw has always been to divide and rule  to have a cease-fire with one group and attack another group, then to have a cease-fire with that group, and go back and attack the first group. That is their preferred strategy, and usually the ethnic armed forces fall into that trap. Now under the present circumstances, where there is a peoples rebellion in the center of Myanmar, if the ethnic armed organizations were to combine even loosely, not necessarily coordinating their operations closely but in their own areas conducting operations against the Tatmadaw at the same time, that would be a very, very significant problem for the Tatmadaw despite their firepower and despite their numbers.

Reported by Ye Kaung Myint Maung for RFA's Myanmar Service. Edited by Roseanne Gerin.
Its been a big week for 23-year-old US poet and advocate Amanda Gorman. A book of her poem, The Hill We Climb, which she read at President Joe Bidens inauguration in January, was released, rocketing straight to the top spot on The New York Times bestseller list. And she did a sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey for an Apple TV special.

But some would argue an even bigger coup is appearing on the May cover of US Vogue, photographed by Annie Leibovitz, who has also shot Princess Diana and Kate Moss.

Overnight, Los Angeles-based Gorman shared the unveiling of her cover in an Instagram video with her mother, Joan Wicks, whose reaction via Zoom was priceless. Thats my daughter! Thats my daughter on Vogue! Wicks shrieked as Gorman pulled the glossy tome out of a nondescript white envelope.

The cover features Gorman in a one-off design by Louis Vuittons menswear designer, Virgil Abloh, and incorporates tributes to his Ghanian roots through the pattern and colours.
In Chinese families, you greet someone by asking if theyve eaten yet. It is love expressed as concern: Let me take care of you, let me tend to your most basic need. And the response  Ive eaten already  is an expression of love, too. Dont worry, Mom, Im doing fine.

When I was in college, my father would send boxes of snacks: packets of potato soup mix, sticks of beef jerky, my favorite chocolate pudding cups, purchased in bulk. Didnt he know, I thought, that I could buy food myself? He would call me weekly  to fuss, I used to think. Did I need money? Was I staying out late? The day before he died, he called to see if I was going to bed on time.

After my sons birth, I took him to visit my mother and found shed converted my old desk into a changing station. A soft mat on the desktop for my baby to lie on. Boxes of wipes in the cubbies that once held envelopes; a pump of hand sanitizer where pens once stood. Every need anticipated and attended to, though of course I could have just changed him on the floor. Holding my 3-month-old, his skull still soft, I was finally old enough to see this for what it was: love disguised as worry.

These days, I video-call my mother every weekend; I ask about her hip, her allergies, her medications. Has she been eating enough vegetables? Is she double-masking? Has she gotten any exercise?

Love is a slippery and intangible thing, and sometimes we can only pin it down in these mundane, bodily needs.

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Sandy Kim In Koreatown, Los Angeles Every week my parents drive an hour and half away to visit me in Los Angeles. They stock my fridge, clean my house, do my laundry, cook meals for the week and fix anything broken. Its important to them that I stay on track ever since I overcame a decade-long opiate addiction. Ive spent the last two years relearning how to live, replacing all the shame I had with love and connection instead. I am so grateful to be alive, and for the love, support and hope they give me.

Christelle de Castro In Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn I adopted my sweet pup last September, and renamed her Mayonnaise. My entire family immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines. We didnt grow up appreciating dogs, as they arent a big part of Filipino culture. A few weeks ago I received a care package from my mom packed with gifts for Mayo. It was a way of telling her, Welcome to the family, and it made me feel so seen.

Jingyu Lin In her kitchen in Brooklyn Love is present in my life in so many different ways, its hard to fully express with words. Cooking is one of my favorite activities and I can spend hours in the kitchen, but even more so is the act of sharing it with those that I care for. The joy I see in their faces when I present them a home-cooked meal is one that never gets old.

Ricardo Nagaoka In Portland, Oregon I met Denzel when my partner and I moved into a small duplex in North Portland. Every afternoon, the sounds of his trombone swelled from the stairwell, jazz melodies filtering between the creaky, red floorboards. It wasnt long before we spent evenings in the backyard, talking about his past in Nevada, his present as a DACA recipient, and his dreams for a better future. Four years later, he and his wonderful wife, Aurora, are on the verge of becoming parents  by the time you read this he might very well be a father to a baby boy. Seunghoi () immigrated to the U.S. for work from South Korea a few years ago. With a mounting feeling of loneliness, she called her sister Seungwon () to join her. To feel the shadow of absence from a sibling is something I have felt intimately, living thousands of miles from my brother and sister the majority of my adult life. Missing everything from the big days to the small moments, compounded over years, hurts. Yet, I know we will share space again  a powerful reminder of how lucky I am to have them in my life.

Brendan George Ko In Maui, near his parents home My father has always been an enigma. We knew he immigrated to Canada in the 1970s from South China, that he loved to figure skate and paint, and that he worked himself down to the bone. It turns out, in order to escape persecution from the Communists, my father smuggled his way into Hong Kong and left behind his mother, brother and baby sister. When he moved to Canada one of his Canadian friends told him that, in Canada, if you want to find a partner you ought to be good at figure skating. So he picked up skating and met my mother.

Kanghee Kim In Queens I believe nobody can replace the love of a grandma. They have the magical ability to make everything feel better. Sadly, I have only seen mine twice in the past 13 years after I moved to the United States because she lives in Korea. I was reminded to express extra gratitude and love toward her especially during this time.

Chloe Pang In Los Angeles I feel more invisible as an Asian-American now more than ever, even as someone who strives every day with every shot and every breath to make the invisible visible and the ordinary extraordinary. I aim to protect those who cannot protect themselves. These are the microcosms of humanity. Behavioral change and softening of the heart cannot be rushed, but can be encouraged.

Heather Sten In Brooklyn Throughout the pain that this past year and, specifically, the last few weeks have caused, I realize I have retained so much joy in little pockets of my life. The love that I receive on a daily basis from my partner and my friends is so nourishing and keeps me feeling like a whole person.

For many of Asian descent, there is good reason for love to look like worry, especially now. Our faces mark us, in the eyes of too many, as foreigners, no matter how long weve been in the United States. Sadly, this is nothing new. Like so many other wrongs in our society, its a crack that has always been present, widening under the pressure of the pandemic.

I watch the videos of attacks on elderly Asians, though they are hard to stomach. They dress like my faraway aunties and uncles; sometimes they walk like them too, hands clasped behind their backs, or clutching plastic shopping bags heavy with fruit. I cry because it could have been them; it still could be them, next time. Each of these people is someones auntie or father or poh poh.

I text my cousins  only our generation replies promptly. How are you? How are your parents? Stay safe, OK? I text my mother a picture of the food Ive cooked, the cake Ive baked, my son smiling and well-fed. What I mean is: Dont worry, were all fine, see?

I wish I lived nearby, so I could bring her melons and the pork buns she loves, so that if someone came rushing toward her, ready to strike, I could throw myself in their way.

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Haruka Sakaguchi In Queens When I was called a chink on multiple occasions last year, I realized that my belonging in this country was provisional at best. Whatever American identity I had pieced together over the past three decades was utterly dismantled, leaving in its wake a crippling fear of stepping outside of my apartment. Since then, my lifeline has been the texts and emails that I have received from friends and family. These messages have lifted me up on good days, quelled my fears on low days and put me back together at a time when I questioned my very existence here in this country.

Leonard Suryajaya In Chicago Am I practicing self-love or narcissism? Nowadays I dont know anymore. Last year was my welcome to America and I spent most of it at home. Last month, I moved into a new home across the street from the building where I was interviewed for my green card. I never understood what a sense of belonging felt like until recently. These photographs are pages of my gratitude journal. Theres not much to be celebrated these days. But I dont think I can handle much more than what I got either. These photos are what I got and what Im thankful for.

Kathy Lo In Ridgewood, Queens My kids give me hope for collective change because of how much they love life and how free they are.

Ryan Jenq In Brooklyn There has been a longstanding obsession with clarity and focus in photography. In truth, only time and distance can allow insight into a particular moment, at the expense of the details that we scramble to hold onto.

An Rong Xu In Taiwan, his home during the pandemic The concept of love that I grew up with isnt what I saw reflected on television or movies. My family didnt hug each other or say things like, I love you. I spent much of my life searching and trying to see people who look like me in love. It wasnt until I began traveling through Asia that I began to see and feel the love I was looking for. These photographs reflect gestures of love from my current home, Taiwan  the small, everyday, mundane things that add up to what Ive come to understand as love.

Tess Ayano In Ridgewood, Queens My partner and I both have a Japanese parent and an American parent. We both spent our lives in Japan until our midteens, went to high school in the States, and ended up in New York where we met. Our parents love stories didnt come as easy as ours. They had to go through the hurdles of language barriers, differences in culture and customs, and acceptance from their friends and family. I thought it was fitting to pay homage to our pioneers, and the way we inherited their language of love.

Hiroko Masuike In Osaka, Japan, during a family visit My parents have been married for almost 58 years. They are a quiet couple without many activities, especially during the pandemic. But they still enjoy their daily routines. Many Japanese people, especially of my parents generation, do not express their feelings physically, such as with hugging or holding hands. But I wanted to capture the quiet moments in their lives together, to show their way of love, and my way of love to them, through the lens.

Elizabeth Wirija In Manhattan Im connecting to my lineage with my elders that are in the afterlife and those who are still alive in these images. Hearing of the tragic attacks on Asian elders and others made me want to dig into my history and find the resilience and strength within my blood. We see three generations in the embodiment of my grandmothers presence in the altar, my father through his identification card and me in the flesh.

Rozette Rago In Los Angeles Is there anything I could do? a friend asked me the morning after the shooting in Atlanta that killed eight people, most of whom were Asian women. I shrugged and put my head back down on the pillow and closed my eyes. The last year has really simplified the way I look at life and made clear to me what truly brings me joy during an incredibly traumatic time. When the feeling is too heavy, it helps to look at myself through the eyes of the people who love me.

Stephanie Mei-Ling In Brooklyn These last two months Ive spent in my Brooklyn apartment are the first Ive truly spent alone. Focusing on the things that I am in control of  my habits, my relationships, self talk, self love, boundaries, my mental and physical health, my environment  and standing firm in the connection to myself, my history, lineage, family and friends, are acts of radical self care that keep me grounded during hard times. When we cant do much to change the external world, we can work hard to change our internal one.

Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet In Elmhurst, Queens Two years ago, I packed my clothes, my lovers letter and my dream to New York City. Here is where Ive experienced my next chapter. I made new friends. We share our dreams. We all enjoy our lives in this city but still deeply miss where we are from. These photos reflect how we keep our love close to us. Our belongings carry our memories and faith here.

When your face makes you vulnerable, one solution is to disappear: Keep your face hidden; dont go far from home; dont leave the house at all. Some advocate becoming hyper-American. Change your name; change your smile; wave the flag  camouflage yourself with what were told Americanness should resemble, which is to say: not us. Others would like us to disappear literally. I was 11, standing at a bus stop, when a man shouted in my face: Go back to China or Vietnam or wherever you came from.

Hanging above the desk where I type this is a small print of a famous Dorothea Lange photograph: Oakland, Calif., Mar. 1942. It shows the Wanto grocery store, a huge banner stretched across its front. I AM AN AMERICAN, it reads. I picture Tatsuro Matsuda, the owner, a University of California graduate, commissioning the sign. Larger. All capitals. As large as you can make it. Hanging it across the windows of his familys store, embracing his Americanness in two-foot letters.

And then, with tens of thousands of other Japanese Americans, he was rounded up and sent to a detention center nonetheless, disappearing into the desert. I cant find anything about what happened to him after that, only this picture of this sign that did not save him.

A picture cant prove someones humanity  at least not to those determined to see you as other. But we dont need our photos and stories to convince people were human, that were just like them. We dont need to be just like them, for that matter; we dont need to match some narrow red-white-and-blue blur of what Americanness  or humanity  means.

There is value in choosing how to be seen, in reclaiming the right to select the face you show the world, in insisting that others see you as you know yourself to be. In proudly and boldly framing ourselves in the ways of our own choosing, to say: Here I am, this is me.

In a way, this is a form of love, too.

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Valerie Chiang In Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn I had hoped to wrest some profound meaning out of these photographs, but the reality is much simpler. They are just a collage of what I see and what I choose to surround myself with. All of these things in my life bring me great comfort and sustain me through times of sorrow and uncertainty.

Justin J Wee In Brooklyn I experienced a lot of violence growing up when I was caught indulging my femininity. I remember one incident where, after being found with a blanket on my head, an elder forced me into female clothing and made me stand for a picture. Since then, Ive performed once in drag and I remember getting off the stage and into the arms of my friend Heather. She greeted me with a bouquet of flowers and a drink, and when she hugged me I could feel her pride. I keep forgetting how much it means to be affirmed by someone who looks like you, until it happens. Recently its become increasingly hard to get out of bed. It feels like were being hunted for sport. This spiral is something Ive grown familiar with over the last year, and Ive found that the only thing that keeps me from circling the drain is the comfort of my chosen family. Each one of my friends in these pictures is holding the 20-pound weighted blanket, duvet, and bedsheet that I sleep with, because sometimes loving someone is about carrying the things they can no longer get out from under.

Chang W. Lee In Acworth, Georgia Give a hug to the tired and still struggling precious yourself tonight, Give a hug to the loved ones who cannot love themselves anymore tonight, Give a hug to the fallacious reality of America and to the ferocious reality of Atlanta tonight, Give a warm hug to the nonexistent ourselves who are lost tonight.                                      .

Alex Lau In Brooklyn and Glenmont, New York To the general population, the word powerlifting conjures thoughts of red-faced white men from the Rust Belt. While communities like that may still exist, powerlifting has become popular among Asian-Americans. The unfortunate reality is Asians are perceived as physically small, weak and fragile. Yet the goal of powerlifting is to get big, strong and resilient. There is a social currency to being an Asian person with a larger frame. I am perceived differently and less worried about harassment, whereas I am constantly concerned for my parents.

Yunghi Kim In Brooklyn and Connecticut I came to the United States at age 10 to join my parents, who had immigrated when I was an infant. Soon after, my mother left my father. With a steely determination and frugality, she raised three children on her own. A few weeks ago, when my younger brother Albert, 55, died suddenly, it made me reflect on those early, tough years. Alberts wife, Katherine, and her three kids  including Tasha, pictured here  now need to be strong. I dont think I ever really hugged my mother or told her that I loved her. I didnt live with her as a young child  I was raised by my grandmother  so our relationship was more formal. Im not sure what she would have done had I told her I loved her. I imagine she would have responded by asking if I had enough to eat.

Mary Kang In Austin, Texas During the first two weeks following my fathers unexpected death last year, family, friends and those in our local Korean American community came together to organize a meal train to drop off food for us. They understood that our grief may have weighed us down to the extent of not easily being able to take care of ourselves. During our difficult time, it was a source of comfort and nourishment for us. More than that, it was a source of love  a love from a community with which we are interdependent.

Jade Thiraswas In New Orleans Love looks like this to me: My cross-cultural family members radical embracing of one another, like making a home in a foreign land, like our unique traditions that combine southern Cajun and Thai practices, like a tray of spicy boiled crawfish, like my dad taking delicate care of his makrut lime tree used to make Panang curry, like a sack of pecans picked from my Uncle Spyders yard, like my Aunt Natana and her blooming azaleas in the spring, like Louisiana oaks adorned with Spanish moss and golden light, like my dads endless photographs from the 70s and 80s that we salvaged after Hurricane Katrina, like my mom and dad dancing on the back porch after 50 years of marriage, going strong.

Tracy Nguyen In Los Angeles My real name is Trang Hoang Nguyen, but you may know me as Tracy Nguyen. My worlds were often divided growing up. There was a life I lived in public as a first-generation Vietnamese-American, and then there was my life at home with my family, who migrated here on boats from Vietnam. Living on my own in a new apartment has given me a new opportunity to combine those worlds with my friends and family. Nha cua Trang, or Tracys Home.

Peter Ash Lee In Gwangju and Yeoju, South Korea,

on a work trip This is my 97-year-old grandmother, Kim Gap Soon. I remember her telling me the story of when she crossed a large river in the middle of the night to flee south during the Korean War while pregnant with my dad and carrying her other children, praying they wouldnt cry so they wouldnt get shot at. Shes now living at a nursing home outside of Seoul and is suffering from dementia. When I see the senseless attacks on elders in the U.S., it breaks my heart to think that anyone would want to hurt these grandmas and grandpas who suffered so much and made so many sacrifices for us.

In the meantime, we survive: by loving each other through our worry and by our worry. We check in. We mask our children, and ourselves; we remind each other to stay on guard. We send packages with gift messages to the living and make offerings to those who have gone. We stock each others fridges, feed each other, tend each others bodies and spirits in whatever ways we can. We visit those we love, but sometimes only through glass: behind windows, on our screens, in our minds. We do what we can to show them we are fine, so that they worry less, and in this way, we show them our love, too.

In the early days of the pandemic, I sewed mask after mask, mailing them to family and friends when none were available to buy. My mother had been worrying about my masklessness for weeks, so I snapped a selfie in one and sent it to her. Happy, Mom? I asked.

I am very happy now, she texted back.
Gov. Greg Abbott called on the federal government to shut down the temporary facility housing migrant children at the Freeman Coliseum on Wednesday, saying two state agencies have received several complaints alleging child abuse and neglect.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services each received separate tips Wednesday morning, Abbott said at a quickly called news conference in front of the coliseum.

Abbott said the complaints came from more than one person whos been in this facility.

The complaints alleged that some children had been sexually assaulted, that the facility was understaffed, that some children were not getting meals throughout the day and that children testing positive for the coronavirus were not separated from the other kids.

As of Monday, there were about 1,370 boys ages 13-17 in the Freeman Coliseum facility.

San Antonio officials who visited the youth last week said they saw no signs of neglect and that they are fed regularly.

Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores or a member of her staff has been volunteering nearly every day at the facility, officials said.

I have spoken directly with many of the wonderful, beautiful young men in this facility, Clay-Flores said Wednesday, adding that the federal government has contracted with three local catering agencies to feed the youth three meals and two snacks a day.

The kids were very happy, and theyre very grateful, the commissioner said.

She and the governor took a tour of the facility after his news conference.

County Judge Nelson Wolff, who was on the tour last week with Clay-Flores, Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Congressman Joaquin Castro, echoed those sentiments.

Clay-Flores said children who test positive for coronavirus are immediately separated and sent to a different area. She also said the entire facility is well staffed; its designed to hold up to 2,400 people at a time.

As for the child abuse allegations, she said those need to be investigated immediately.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who also visited the facility last week, agreed.

If these allegations are true, theyre serious and disturbing and they should be thoroughly investigated, he said. The welfare of these children is of the utmost importance.

Abbott said he had directed the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers to investigate the allegations.

At the news conference, Abbott called the problems a biproduct of President Bidens open border policies and the lack of planning for the fallout from those disastrous policies.

It follows a string of recent public remarks from the governor on the border surge, accusing the Biden Administration of creating unsafe and overcrowded conditions for the thousands of children now entering the system.

Last week, he highlighted a handful of anecdotal arrests that state police had made of migrants with existing warrants out for alleged sexual assault.

Biden has countered that he inherited an immigration system in disarray, and that border crossings have been rising since before he took office.

Clay-Flores said housing the children at the facility is not a political issue although some have tried to make it so.

Children do not choose what country they are born into or if they are born into the north or the south of the border, she added. The children in the facility, she said, are dreaming of a better tomorrow.

We are here to open our doors, she said.

The first group of unaccompanied children came in early last week, consisting of nearly 500 boys, aged 13 to 17, from Central America seeking asylum.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement has about 200 facilities nationwide and had 14,287 kids in its care, as of Sunday.

The temporary facility at Freeman Coliseum will be open until at least May 30, per an agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The children will stay in the coliseum on cots until they are placed with family members or other sponsors while their applications for asylum are being considered. Some also could be transferred to state-licensed local youth-care facilities.

Staff writers Jeremy Blackman, Joshua Fechter and Scott Huddleston contributed to this report.
UNICEF 2020

The COVAX Facility has now delivered life-saving vaccines to over 100 economies since making its first international delivery to Ghana on February 24th

So far, more than 38 million doses of vaccines from manufacturers AstraZeneca, Pfizer- BioNTech and Serum Institute of India (SII) have now been delivered, including 61 economies eligible for vaccines through the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment

COVAX aims to supply vaccines to all participating economies that have requested vaccines, in the first half of 2021, despite some delays in planned deliveries for March and April.

More than one hundred economies have received life-saving COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX, the global mechanism for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The milestone comes 42 days after the first COVAX doses were shipped and delivered internationally, to Ghana on February 24th.

The President of the European Investment Bank Werner Hoyer welcomed confirmation of COVAX delivering of COVID-19 vaccines around the world.

As part of Team Europe the European Investment Bank is pleased to provide EUR 400 million for COVAX, representing the EIBs largest ever support for global public health. COVAX has already provided vaccines to vulnerable groups and front-line workers and brought hope to millions more. COVAX demonstrates the benefit of global cooperation to tackle the shared challenge of COVID. Congratulations to the COVAX team and global partners in 100 countries around the world. Together we are ensuring equitable access to vaccines and together we are directing our efforts towards a global recovery. said Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank.

In December the European Investment Bank agreed 400 million of financing to support the participation of low and middle income economies in COVAX Advance Market Commitment (COVAX AMC) and accelerate up-front investment essential to deliver vaccine doses as soon as they become available.

This rapidly approved financing, guaranteed by the European Fund for Sustainable Development and alongside 100 million grant support from the European Commission to COVAX AMC, is already supporting access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in 92 low and middle-income countries.

The EIB is in discussions with Gavi, the vaccine alliance, about new financing to further scale up access to COVID-19 vaccines by high-risk and vulnerable populations in low and middle-income countries.

Follow up EIB support could be agreed in the coming months following due diligence and subject to the final approval of the EIBs governing bodies.

In under four months since the very first mass vaccination outside a clinical setting anywhere in the world, it is tremendously gratifying that the roll-out of COVAX doses has already reached one hundred countries, said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. COVAX may be on track to deliver to all participating economies in the first half of the year yet we still face a daunting challenge as we seek to end the acute stage of the pandemic: we will only be safe when everybody is safe and our efforts to rapidly accelerate the volume of doses depend on the continued support of governments and vaccine manufacturers. As we continue with the largest and most rapid global vaccine rollout in history, this is no time for complacency.

COVAX has given the world the best way to ensure the fastest, most equitable rollout of safe and effective vaccines to all at-risk people in every country on the planet, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. If we are going to realize this great opportunity, countries, producers and the international system must come together to prioritize vaccine supply through COVAX. Our collective future, literally, depends on it.

COVAX has now delivered more than 38 million doses across six continents, supplied by three manufacturers, AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech and the Serum Institute of India (SII). Of the over 100 economies reached, 61 are among the 92 lower-income economies receiving vaccines funded through the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC).

Despite reduced supply availability in March and April  the result of vaccine manufacturers scaling and optimising their production processes in the early phase of the rollout, as well as increased demand for COVID-19 vaccines in India  COVAX expects to deliver doses to all participating economies that have requested vaccines in the first half of the year.

According to its latest supply forecast, COVAX expects to deliver at least 2 billion doses of vaccines in 2021. In order to reach this goal, the COVAX Facility will continue to diversify its portfolio further, and will announce new agreements with vaccine manufacturers in due course.

Furthermore, in March it was announced that the United States government will host the launch event for the 2021 Gavi COVAX AMC Invest Opportunity to catalyse further commitment and support for accelerated access to vaccines for AMC-supported economies. An additional US$2 billion is required in 2021 to finance and secure up to a total of 1.8 billion donor-funded doses of vaccines. COVAX is also working to secure additional sourcing of vaccines in the form of dose-sharing from higher income countries.

Notes to editors

Full announcement

The list of 102 Facility participants that have received a combined total of 38,392,540 doses of COVAX-delivered vaccines so far is as follows (in alphabetical order):

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Congo (DRC), Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, St. Lucia*, Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen.

*100th Facility participant to receive a COVAX delivery

About COVAX

COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, is co-convened by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO)  working in partnership with UNICEF as key implementing partner, developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers, the World Bank, and others. It is the only global initiative that is working with governments and manufacturers to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide to both higher-income and lower-income countries.
SHELTON The city-owned bus company is refuting claims of poor bus maintenance and lack of a required safety officer made during a recent school board meeting.

Resident David Eldridge in a letter read at last months Board of Education meeting said that Shelton Student Transportation Services employees told him about buses running with no low lights, problems with bus radios, a student left on the bus and that the company was operating without a safety officer.

Superintendent Ken Saranich sent an email to parents earlier this week and provided information from the bus company which states each of the claims leveled by Eldridge was false.

"Every bus has to complete a pre-check inspection form prior to running, Saranich stated in his email to parents. If there is an issue, it is reported to the bus yard mechanic who addresses the issue and completes this paperwork that is submitted and filed.

Were satisfied, said John Fitzgerald, chair of the Board of Educations ad hoc building, grounds and transportation committee, about the information provided by the bus company concerning each accusation.

Eldridge also asked about an incident on Feb. 5 when a child was allegedly found on the bus when it had finished its route and returned to the bus yard.

Saranich said at last months Board of Education meeting that incident was handled immediately, and the bus company immediately disciplined the bus employees involved. The employees were also required to attend mandatory retraining.

Given the history of Shelton and ... its subpar maintenance of its fleet of vehicles, its important to follow up on any complaints that are reported, Eldridge told Hearst Connecticut Media Wednesday. Although its more disturbing to learn that a child was left on a bus and that is just unacceptable at any and all levels.

Eldridges letter said he learned of several of the safety concerns from a bus company employee.

I feel that (with) the work environment at the City of Shelton bus company, employees might be reluctant to come forward in fear of losing their job, Eldridge stated in his letter. Since these issues are related to the safety of our children, I felt it was important to inform the Board of Education as the oversight authority for our school buses.

Fitzgerald, who said he speaks daily with bus company Director Ken Nappi, confirmed that SSTS conducted a review of all bus paperwork on file for the last quarter and found no issues that matched Eldridges complaint.

Last month, the DOT conducted their inspection of the buses and paperwork on files and no irregularities were found, Saranich stated in his email update to parents. Included in all of this, every bus must pass a maintenance inspection every three months or 3,000 miles.

Fitzgerald said the bus radio systems do work properly, contradicting Eldridges claim drivers are told to use their cellphones because of inadequate equipment.

Saranichs email stated SSTS uses NORCON for its radio service, and that a company representative recently came out, per SSTSs request, to inspect the repeater located on the roof of Shelton High.

There are no reported problems with their system, Saranich said in the email. Along with all bus inspections, working radios are required on all buses.

Saranich said SSTS informed board and district officials that the City of Shelton does have four identified dead zones that radios cannot reach.

If at any point in time, a driver needs to contact the bus company, in an emergency, and happens to be traveling in a dead zone, they are instructed to pull the vehicle over and use their cell phone, Saranich added. This is only instructed as a result of an emergency.

Regarding the safety officer position, Saranich said the bus company had two safety officers, but one recently died. The other had been offered a job at Durham School Services, a rival bus company, but the city matched the offer and retained her services.

The bus company has also hired an individual to fill the second safety officer position, he said.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
WOOD RIVER  A $16 million sewer project got the green light, and funding, in Wood River Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, was joined by Wood River Mayor Cheryl Maguire, state Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, and state Rep. Amy Elik, R-Fosterburg, to announce federal funding for the project through the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

Bost said the act  which passed through Congress in December  a provision to help fund six miles of sewer separation projects in Wood River and Belleville. The cost of the project is estimated at $16 million for both, with the majority of the funding coming for the federal government.

Untreated sewage water and overflows have serious health consequences on the economy and on public safety, Bost said. This project will help reduce the backup and distribution and help keep Wood River and Belleville safe.

Maguire said that eight years ago Wood River was able to get about 800 houses out of the combined sewer system in the east side of town. This next project, she said, will take care of about 840 homes.

Sewers arent very exciting, but theyre necessary, Maguire said. Without his (Bost) help, the couldnt have been done.

Crowe said that, as a Wood River native, she is aware the community has geographical advantages  except when it floods.

Weve all seen the flooding more times than we can count, Crowe said. Weve seen the effects that it has on us as individuals who live here, but also on our economy.

Elik echoed those statements.

Sewer concerns are not pretty, she said. But improving the citys infrastructure is critical to the health of the community.

Maguire said Wood River has already begun the engineering process for the project. Construction is expected to begin early next year.

The scope of the construction area is in uptown Wood River, bounded by Wood River Avenue, Old St. Louis Road, Illinois 143 and Edwardsville Road.

Wood River Public Works Director Steve Palen said that while a new storm sewer system will be built, the current combined system will stay in place and become a sanitary only system in case of potential back ups of the new system.
Firefighters battle Houston-area chemical fire for hours View Photo

CHANNELVIEW, Texas (AP)  Firefighters have extinguished a blaze at a suburban Houston chemical warehouse that emitted a dense column of black smoke visible for miles.

The Harris County Fire Marshals Office said in a tweet that the 4 p.m. Wednesday fire was at a Channelview warehouse owned by K-Solv, a chemical distribution company. The fire started as a chemical product was being transferred from one container into another, said Mikie Sopczak, K-Solvs director of environmental health, safety, and security.

County officials say the fire involved such toxic chemicals as toluene, xylene, triethanolamine and monoethanolaminealcohol, but air monitors detected no unsafe air pollution levels. Company officials said all runoff was contained, and no waterways were contaminated.

No workers were injured in the fire, which was declared extinguished about 7 p.m. Wednesday, officials said.

The Harris County Sheriffs Office had closed at least four streets near the facility near the Houston Ship Channel, and residents of nearby neighborhoods were advised to shelter in place as a precaution while firefighters attacked the blaze. The advisory later was lifted.

Channelview is 15 miles (24 kilometers) east of Houston.
Connected vehicle technology from Applied Information had been selected by the City of Evansville, Indiana, to give emergency vehicles preemptive green lights at traffic signals  reducing response times and improving safety at intersections.

Traffic Control Corporation of Woodridge, IL, is Applied Informations partner on the project that includes installing the technology at 230 traffic signals and on 40 emergency vehicles.

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The preemption technology uses LTE cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X Network) connectivity, with redundant 900MHz radio, which enables emergency vehicles to communicate with multiple traffic signals in the direction of travel and change the light to green or hold the light green.

Traffic in front of the emergency vehicle is kept moving while oncoming and cross-traffic is brought safely to a halt. Deployments in other cities indicate a time savings of about 10 seconds or more per light using the technology.

Deploying the preemption system will help to ensure our firefighters get to the scene safely and quickly, as well as safeguard the public we are sworn to protect and serve, said Paul Anslinger, assistant fire chief of the Evansville Fire Department.

Assistant Chief Anslinger and the City of Evansville are taking leadership roles in Indiana by deploying the latest Smart Cities, Connected Vehicle technology that will help save lives on a daily basis, said John S. Lizzadro, Jr., President of Traffic Control Corporation. We are very excited to be the citys partner, along with Applied Information, to improve safety and reduce the response time of emergency personnel when responding to someone in need.

We are pleased to have been selected by the City of Evansville, along with Traffic Control Corporations, to provide this life-saving technology for its first responders, said Bryan Mulligan, President of Applied Information, Inc. As Applied Informations first major Smart Cities deployment in Indiana, it is a significant milestone for the company and the technology.

The total project contract value is US$4 million and comes from federal funds. The deployment is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2021.
com Inc. offered a rare peek into the Covid-era growth of its Indian business while it battles Walmart Inc. in its biggest overseas market.



The US online giant said it has enabled exports of Indian-made goods worth $3 billion and created over a million local jobs since it began operating in the Asian nation about a decade ago -- about $1 billion of that and 300,000 jobs since January 2020 alone. About 250,000 new sellers have joined in since and more than 50,000 offline retailers and neighborhood stores are now on the platform, the companys country chief said.

The numbers illustrate the frenetic pace of growth in Indian online retail after the pandemic accelerated buying and selling in segments beyond smartphones and fashion. But has to contend with Walmarts and homegrown competitor Reliance Industries Ltd. in India, an increasingly important growth market since Amazons exit from China about a decade ago. American firms also face tightening regulations, antitrust scrutiny and accusations theyve elbowed local players aside.

chief Amit Agarwal said the Seattle giant is on track to fulfill commitments made when founder Jeff Bezos visited the country in January 2020: to digitally enable 10 million businesses, handle e-commerce exports worth $10 billion and create 1 million additional jobs in India in the five years to 2025.

"Covid-19 has made businesses realize they need to be more resilient, robust because theres no notion of only offline or only online anymore," chief Amit Agarwal said in a phone interview on Thursday to discuss the units progress. "The internet is like electricity, everybody will use it."

Bezos has made India the centerpiece of his global ambitions, a burgeoning market for not just online goods but also video content and gadgets. The country, one of the last big consumer markets still up for grabs, will generate $200 billion in e-commerce sales by 2026, Morgan Stanley estimates.

Its also a source of talent. Amazon has hired locally in fields like machine learning and software development, while employing an army to staff its giant fulfillment centers. Its also profiting by helping more than 70,000 Indian exporters sell everything from toys and bed linen to jewelry and tea to 300 million customers across 200 countries.

Reliance and Flipkart, which is said to be preparing for a fourth-quarter initial public offering, are employing the same playbook but Agarwal said Indian e-commerce remains embryonic and can support several major players.

Amazon will focus on local execution while complying with local regulations as they evolve, he added. The Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Information Technology have been pondering a raft of laws and rule changes to protect consumer data and eradicate anticompetitive practices, while a backlash against US and Chinese internet giants grows. Agarwal said Amazon is compliant but stressed a stable regulatory system -- particularly during a time of heightened global uncertainty -- was essential to drawing more investment into India.

"We are more than happy to be inspected, our job is to focus on the customer and India is a long term investment for Amazon," he said. He said its not the time to make changes. "Changes are very disruptive and any rule changes require adherence and changes on our part."
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Kelechi Ndukwe, a Nigerian-American, has been appointed the commander of a U.S. Navy ship, USS Halsey (DDG-97), described as an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. He is the first Nigerian-American to reach the height.

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria Thursday congratulated Mr Ndukwe, an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame and the U.S. Naval War College. He was appointed last Thursday.

Kudos to Kelechi Ndukwe on his new role as commander of a U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer. The University of Notre Dame and the U.S. Naval War College alumnus becomes the first Nigerian-American captain of a U.S. Navy ship. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/SCoaIVBlWd  U.S. Mission Nigeria (@USinNigeria) April 8, 2021

The graduate of chemical engineering replaced DeVere Crooks who had commanded the ship since November 2019, and whom he deputised.

The appointment shoots Mr Ndukwe to the pinnacle of his 18-year career in the US Navy where he started as an auxiliaries officer of the USS Thorn, a year after he bagged a masters degree in national security and strategy studies from the US Naval War College.

Mr Ndukwe, who graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2002, has also worked in the office of the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff (CJCS), Americas highest-ranking military officer.

In the handing over ceremony hosted live on Facebook, Mr Ndukwe recalled how his parents migrated to the U.S. from Nigeria in 1977 as poor college students with hopes and dreams.

Thank you for your example of hard work and dedication and the foundation you have laid for your children, he said amidst claps from the cabin crew whom he praised for their hard work and urged to do more.

He noted that he is the oldest of his parents four children but also the smallest. And now their son is the captain of a U.S. warship. In America, anything is possible.

In previous appointments, Mr Ndukwe served as the fire control officer of USS Normandy in Norfolk from 2004 to 2006.

He also wrote on his LinkedIn page that he served as a weapons officer and combat systems officer of USS Fitzgerald in Yokosuka, Japan, from June 2010 to December 2011. Likewise, he was a navy congressional liaison officer in Washington DC, from July 2006 to August 2008.

Between 2013 and 2015, he was the commanding officer for the USS Devastator (MCM 6), a minesweeper based in Bahrain.

The bio of Mr Ndukwe on the Foundation for Defense Democracies (FDD), shows that he had served in numerous warships around the world, including in the Mediterranean Sea, Horn of Africa, Arabian Gulf, and Western Pacific Ocean.
By the end of 2020, Moscow exported agricultural products worth $ 49.85 million to the United States, Canada and Mexico, which is 7.5% more than in 2019. This was announced by Vladimir Efimov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Economic Policy and Property and Land Relations. The export of agricultural goods from Moscow to North American countries in 2020 amounted to almost $ 50 million, which is 7.5% more than a year 
District 47 - West TN  Northern

DYER COUNTY, SR-3 (US-51): The repair of bridges on US 51 (SR 3) over SR 211 in Dyersburg will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 55 MPH.

DYER COUNTY, SR-3 (US-51): The repair of bridges on US 51 (SR 3) over the South Fork Forked Deer River will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.

Restrictions: Beginning January 25, 2021, Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction with a 12 6 lane restriction.

DYER COUNTY, SR-20: The repair of bridge on US 412 (SR 20) over Hogwallow Road will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 55 MPH.



GIBSON COUNTY, SR-5:

Monday, April 5 through Wednesday, April 7: There will be lane and shoulder closures in the north and southbound lanes for resurfacing and pavement markings along SR 5 between LM 4.65-5.82.

HENDERSON COUNTY (New Lexington By-Pass): The grading, drainage, construction of bridges and retaining walls, signals and paving on US 412 (SR 459) from US 412 (SR 20) west of Lexington to near SR 22 south of Lexington. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway.



HENRY COUNTY, SR-54: The grading, drainage, construction of bridges, retaining wall and paving on SR 54 from near Rison Street to near Smith Road. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. *Speed limit has been reduced to 35 MPH.

OBION COUNTY, Future I-69 (Phase 3): Grading, drainage, construction of bridges and paving on future I-69 from west of SR 21 to US 51 (SR 3) will cause possible lane closures throughout the project.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020: Bethlehem Road north from Clifford Rives Road to Lindenwood Road will be closed. Claude Tucker Road north from Cloys Road to Section Line Road will be closed. Detour routes are posted.

WEAKLEY COUNTY, US 45E (SR-43): The repair of bridge on US 45E (SR 43) over the North Fork Obion River and Overflow will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.

TDOT DISTRICT 47 MAINTENANCE:

Wednesday, April 7 through Wednesday, April 14, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures at various locations in Region IV in order to repair pavement on an as needed basis.

District 48 - West TN  Middle/Southern

DECATUR/HENDERSON COUNTY, I-40:

Thursday, April 7, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be lane closures on I-40 east and westbound in Decatur and Henderson counties MM 95.0-126.0 for pothole repair.

HARDIN COUNTY, SR-69: The construction of a Bulb Tee bridge over Doe Creek along with grading, drainage, and paving may cause temporary lane closures on SR 69 at LM 10.06. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway.



HARDIN COUNTY, SR-128: The grading, drainage and paving on SR 128 from south of Pyburns Drive (LM 3.11) to north of SR 226 (Airport Road) (LM 6.54). Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway.

HAYWOOD COUNTY, SR-19 (Brownsville Bypass): The construction of an I-Beam bridge along with grading, drainage, and paving may cause temporary lane closures on SR 19 (Brownsville Bypass) from east of SR 87 to west of Windrow Rd. One lane will remain. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. Speed limit is reduced to 45 MPH within the project limits. Shaw Chapel and King Road are closed at SR 19 and a detour put in place. . Haralson St (Old SR19) is now open.



HENDERSON COUNTY, SR-22: The repair of the bridges on SR 22 over Big Beaver Creek and Little Beaver Creek. Motorists should watch for crews and equipment in the roadways. One lane will remain open in both directions.

Restrictions: February 1, 2020 there was a 12 width restriction put in place.

MADISON COUNTY, I-40 (Concrete Repair):

Wednesday, April 7 through Wednesday, April 14, 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.: The On ramps and Off ramps at Exit 93 will have construction activity but will remain open. Flaggers will be present on the ramps.

Wednesday, April 7 through Wednesday, April 14, 7:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.: I- 40 eastbound from MM 87.6 to MM 95.0 will be down one lane for saw cutting and removal and replacement of damaged concrete.

LOOK AHEAD

Wednesday, April 14 through Wednesday, April 21, 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.: The On ramps and Off ramps at Exit 93 will have construction activity but will remain open. Flaggers will be present on the ramps.

Wednesday, April 14 through Wednesday, April 21, 7:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.: I- 40 eastbound from MM 87.6 to MM 95.0 will be down one lane for saw cutting and removal and replacement of damaged concrete.

MADISON COUNTY, I-40: Resurfacing on I-40 westbound from the Haywood County Line to near Lower Brownsville Rd.

Wednesday, April 7 through Friday, April 9, and Sunday, April 11 through Wednesday,

April 14, 7:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime temporary inside and outside lane closures on I-40 westbound from LM 0.00 (MM 67.1) to LM 7.30 (MM 74.4) for OGFC paving operations. Speed limit is reduced to 60 MPH during active closures.

MADISON COUNTY, I-40: The widening of I-40 east of US 45 (SR 5) MM 82.0 to east of US 70 (SR 1) MM 87.0 in Jackson, including bridges, retaining walls and installation of TDOT Smartway Intelligent Transportation System.

Wednesday, April 7 through Wednesday, April 14, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: (AS NEEDED) I-40 east and westbound from MM 82.0-87.0 will have intermittent left and right lane closures to repair any potholes.

Wednesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 8, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: I-40 westbound will have intermittent right lane closures from MM 87.0-82.0 for milling and paving to repair potholes.

Wednesday, April 7 through Wednesday, April 14, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: Campbell St. will be down to one lane in each direction over I-40 for Phase 1 bridge construction activities.

Closed until Summer of 2021: Campbell St. will be down to one lane in each direction over I-40 for Phase 1 bridge construction activities.

Closed until Summer of 2021: Old Henderson Rd. Bridge over I-40 will be closed to thru traffic for Phase 1 bridge demolition activities. Detours will be posted for traffic.

Closed until Summer of 2021: Watson Rd. Bridge over I-40 will be closed to thru traffic for Phase 1 bridge demolition activities. Detours will be posted for traffic.

LOOK AHEAD

Wednesday, April 14 through Wednesday, April 21, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: (AS NEEDED) I-40 east and westbound from MM 82.0-87.0 will have intermittent left and right lane closures to repair any potholes.

Saturday, April 17, 6:00 a.m. through Monday, April 19, 6:00 a.m.: (FULL CLOSURE)

 I-40 EB and WB will be closed at Exit 83 (Campbell Street), traffic will be routed up and over the ramps. Traffic will be down to one lane in each direction starting EB at Exit 82 and WB at Exit 85 to allow for this closure and for traffic to flow smoothly on and off the ramps.

 Campbell Street will be closed at the interchange and detours will be posted.

*The closure is for crews to safely begin Phase 1 structural steel installation of the bridge over Campbell Street.

MADISON COUNTY, SR-186 (US 45 Bypass) and I-40: Interchange improvements on SR 186 (US 45) north and southbound from the I-40 ramps to Old Hickory Blvd for paving and construction of retaining walls. Widening of I-40 from just east of Exit 79 to just east of Exit 82.



Thursday, April 8 and Friday, April 9, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for signal installation activities.

Thursday, April 8 through Wednesday, April 14, 7:00 p.m.6:00 a.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for Bridge 4 texture coating.

Friday, April 9, 12:00 a.m.6:00 a.m.: I-40 both east and westbound will have intermittent lane closures at Exit 79 for removal of barrier rail.

Friday, April 9, 8:00 p.m. through Monday, April 12, 6:00 a.m.: I-40 westbound will have intermittent lane closures from Exit 79 to Exit 82 for paving activities.

Monday, April 12 through Wednesday, April 14, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for signal installation activities.

Monday, April 12 through Wednesday, April 14, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: I-40 both east and westbound will have intermittent lane closures at Exit 79 for guardrail installation in the median.

Wednesday, April 14 and Thursday, April 15, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: I-40 westbound will have intermittent lane closures at MM 81 for installation of the traffic counter loops.

LOOK AHEAD



Thursday, April 15 and Friday, April 16, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for signal installation activities.

Thursday, April 15 through Wednesday, April 21, 7:00 p.m.6:00 a.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for Bridge 4 texture coating.

Friday, April 16 8:00 p.m. through Monday, April 19, 6:00 a.m.: I-40 eastbound will have intermittent lane closures from Exit 79 to Exit 82 for paving activities.

Monday, April 19 through Wednesday, April 21, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for signal installation activities.

Friday, April 23 8:00 p.m. through Monday, April 26, 6:00 a.m.: I-40 both east and westbound will have intermittent lane closures from Exit 79 to Exit 82 for paving activities.

TDOT District 48 MAINTENANCE:



Wednesday, April 7 through Wednesday, April 14, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures at various locations in Region IV in order to repair pavement on an as needed basis.

TDOT REGION IV ON-CALL RETRACE



Wednesday, April 7 through Wednesday, April 14 There will be lane closures for pavement markings at various locations along SR 5 (LM 0.00-9.63) and SR 100 (LM 10.45-13.88) in Chester County.

Wednesday, April 7 through Wednesday, April 14 There will be lane closures for pavement markings at various locations along SR 15 (LM 9.99  14.38) in Hardeman County.

Wednesday, April 7 through Wednesday, April 14 There will be lane closures for pavement markings at various locations along SR 20 (LM 0.00-24.96) in Henderson County.

District 49 - West TNSouthwest



FAYETTE COUNTY, SR-196: The repair of bridge over Shaw Creek will cause a lane closure with temporary traffic signal near MM 7.0.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-4: Grading, drainage, construction of a concrete bulb-tee bridge, retaining walls and paving on US 78 (SR 4) from the Mississippi State line (LM 0.00) to south of Shelby Drive (LM 1.48)



Monday, April 12 and Tuesday, April 13, 7:00 p.m.6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime lane closures of the NB outside lane on SR 4 to allow for AT&T utility work. Weather Permitting.

LOOK AHEAD:



Wednesday, April 14 through Tuesday, April 20, 7:00 p.m.6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime lane closures of the NB outside lane on SR-4 to allow for AT& T utility work. Weather Permitting. Wednesday April 21 and Thursday, April 22 will serve as backup dates.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: The grading, drainage, construction of concrete Bulb-Tee and I-beam bridges, signals and paving on SR 14 from east of Old Covington Pike to SR 385 will cause possible lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 45 MPH.



SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: Construction on SR 14 for a widening project from SR 385 to east of Kerrville Rosemark Rd. There will be possible temporary lane closures throughout the project. Access to SR 14 from McCalla Rd West will be permanently detoured to Donnell Rd. *Speed limit has been reduced to 45 MPH.



SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: Bridge repair Over Wolf River Overflow. Construction on SR 14 to complete bridge repairs over the Wolf River. There will be lane closures and traffic shifts throughout the project. Detours will be in place. Advisory speed limit 30 MPH.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-205 : The addition of turn lanes on SR 205 (Airline Rd) from Brooks River Drive to south of I-40 will have lane closures throughout the project.

Wednesday, April 7 through Tuesday, April 13, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on SR 205 north and southbound from Brooks River Drive to just south of I-40 to perform temporary road widening work. There will be one lane traffic with flaggers present at times. Weather Permitting.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-385: The signalization and safety modifications on Ridgeway Road from Mt. Moriah Road to Quince Road in Memphis, including grading, drainage and paving.

Tuesday, April 13 and Wednesday, April 14, 7:00 p.m.  6:00 a.m.: At the EB SR 385 off ramp to NB and SB Ridgeway, there will be nightly ramp closures to install Traffic signalization items at the Ridgeway Rd intersection. Thursday is a backup date and may not be used. Weather Permitting.

TIPTON COUNTY, SR-59: The emergency slide repair of SR 59 near MM 1.0 will cause a road closure with full detour signed.



TDOT District 49 On-Call Guardrail/Concrete Barrier Rail Repair

Wednesday, April 7 through Tuesday, April 13, 8:00 p.m.6:00 a.m.: There will be night time lane closures at various locations on SR 3 (Shelby County), SR 385 (Shelby County), SR 14 (Shelby County), I-40 (Fayette and Shelby Counties), I-269 (Shelby and Fayette Counties), I-55 and I-240. One lane will be CLOSED to repair damaged guardrail. THP will assist with traffic control. Weather Permitting.

Wednesday, April 7 through Tuesday, April 13, 8:00 p.m.6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures in Shelby County at I-40 EB EXIT 8 On ramp from SB SR 14, I-40 WB EXIT 8 Off ramp to SR 14, I-40 WB EXIT 10 Off ramp to SR 204, I-40 WB EXIT 18 On ramp from SR 15 (US 64), I-240 WB EXIT 24 Off ramp to Millbranch. Weather Permitting.

If weather prohibits, the closures will be on the next available night.

Thursday, April 8 through Wednesday, April 14, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be daytime lane closures at various locations in Lauderdale County, SR 3, MM 7.0MM 21.0. Flagmen will be used to direct traffic where necessary. Weather Permitting.

LOOK AHEAD:



Wednesday, April 14 through Tuesday, April 20, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures in Shelby County at I-40 EB EXIT 8 On ramp from SB SR 14, I-40 WB EXIT 8 Off ramp to SR 14, I-40 WB EXIT 10 Off ramp to SR 204, I-40 EB EXIT 16 Off ramp to SR 177, I-40 WB EXIT 18 On ramp from SR 15 (US 64), I-240 WB EXIT 25A Off ramp to I-55 SB, I-240 WB EXIT 24 Off ramp to Millbranch. Weather Permitting.

TDOT District 49 MAINTENANCE

Thursday, April 8 through Wednesday April 14, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures on all interstates and state routes in District 49 for routine maintenance activities on an as needed basis.

TDOT REGION IV ON-CALL RETRACE:

Wednesday, April 7 through Wednesday, April 14: There will be lane closures for the installation of stop lines and cross walks at various intersections along SR-1 (US-70) from Shelby County Line (LM 30.82) to Florida St. (LM 0.29).

Wednesday, April 7 through Wednesday, April 14 There will be lane closures for pavement markings / Scoring Rumble Stripe at various locations along SR 175 from Swinnea Rd. (LM 8.26) to Airways Blvd (LM 6.77) in Shelby County.

NON-TDOT WORK:



SHELBY COUNTY, I-55:



Sunday, April 11, 8:00 p.m. through Friday, April 16, 4:00 p.m.: Repairs of the north and southbound I-55 MS river bridge by ARDOT will cause temporary lane closures between MM 1.0 and the TN/AR state line on both.

Shelby County I-40 westbound Exit Ramp at Appling Rd (Exit 15)

Sunday, April 18, 5:00 a.m.-7:00 a.m.: MLGW will close off I-40 WB Exit Ramp to Appling Rd. (Exit 15) for repairs to existing transmission tower.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel or for West Tennessee follow https://twitter.com/NicLawrenceTDOT .

As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

In 2016, the Tennessee Department of Transportation lost three workers in the line of duty. All three were struck by passing motorists. Those tragedies bring the total number of TDOT lives lost to 112. We dont want to lose another member of our TDOT family. Were asking you to WORK WITH US. Click on the WORK WITH US logo to learn more.
New York, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "NDT & Inspection Market Research Report by Testing Technology, by Type, by Vertical - United States Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06015223/?utm_source=GNW



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. This helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available.



The United States NDT & Inspection Market is projected to grow with a significant CAGR in the forecast period. Economic development and substantial infrastructure development have constituted regional revenue generation. Further, the patterns associated with domestic production, import and export, and consumption have helped market participants to analyze and capitalize on potential opportunities. Besides, the qualitative and quantitative parameters provided in the report with detailed analysis highlights the driving and restraining factors of the United States NDT & Inspection Market.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the NDT & Inspection to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Testing Technology, the NDT & Inspection Market studied across Eddy Current Testing, Liquid Penetrant Testing, Magnetic Particle Testing, Radiography Testing, Ultrasonic Testing, and Visual Inspection Testing.



Based on Type, the NDT & Inspection Market studied across Equipment and Services. The Services further studied across Calibration services, Equipment Rental Services, Inspection Services, and Training Services.



Based on Vertical, the NDT & Inspection Market studied across Aerospace, Automotive, Manufacturing, Marine, Medical & Health, Oil & Gas, Plastics & Polymers, Power Generation, and Public Infrastructure.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



360iResearch FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The 360iResearch FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the NDT & Inspection Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



360iResearch Competitive Strategic Window:

The 360iResearch Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The 360iResearch Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the United States NDT & Inspection Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the United States NDT & Inspection Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the United States NDT & Inspection Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the United States NDT & Inspection Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the United States NDT & Inspection Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the United States NDT & Inspection Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06015223/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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Kochi, April 8 : A few online gaming companies on Thursday got a jolt, when the Kerala High Court refused to stay the state government's February 23 notification under Section 14A of the Kerala Gaming Act, 1960 clarifying that online rummy when played for stakes does not enjoy exemption from the general prohibition of gaming and gambling.

A few online gaming companies had sought a stay on the Kerala Government's order, but failed to get it.

The Court however asked the Kerala Government to file its statement and posted the case for May 29.

Kerala was forced to ban these online games after lots of complaints of people losing money surfaced and when it decided to ban, it joined neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu besides Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which had done the same.

Incidentally in August last year, a Kerala government official working in the State Treasury department was taken into custody after it was alleged that he had siphoned off Rs 2 crore and was engaged in playing online games.
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DENVER  A study of decisions made by the Denver district attorneys office has said Black and Hispanic people charged with felonies in Denver face a persistent set of disadvantages compared with their white peers.

The study found that white people facing drug charges were more likely than Black or Hispanic people to be referred to drug court programs and that white defendants were twice as likely as Black or Hispanic people to have their cases deferred, The Denver Post reported. Case deferrals allow defendants to have charges or entire cases dismissed if certain requirements are met.

Researchers also found that charges against Black people were more likely to be dismissed than charges against white or Hispanic people, meaning more Black people were facing charges where prosecutors later found there was not enough evidence to support the charges, the study said. It did not find any racial disparities in plea agreements.

The study was released Wednesday after being commissioned by Denver District Attorney Beth McCann in 2019. It was funded by the state Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver.

When examined together, results of this study demonstrate a persistent set of disadvantages faced by Black and Hispanic defendants in the criminal justice system, said Stacey Bosick, author of the study and dean of undergraduate and graduate studies at Sonoma State University near Santa Rosa, California.

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Bosick and researchers analyzed more than 5,800 felony cases filed between July 2017 and June 2018, and interviewed 20 prosecutors in Denver. The study looked at dismissals, deferred judgments, plea agreements and referrals to drug court.

Bosick made recommendations to address the inequalities, including giving prosecutors more time to review evidence and providing additional training and discussions on topics such as implicit bias. She also suggested further data collection and analysis.

This study is being presented to district attorneys offices throughout the state as a catalyst for serious discussion, and for the study of equity in the criminal justice system, said McCann, who pledged to implement the changes suggested in the study.
Kim Kardashian has just become part of the billionaire's club.

When reporters asked her about her newest accomplishment just outside of her SKIMS pop-up store in Los Angeles, the 40-year-old said she's feeling blessed to reach the milestone finally.

The "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star felt that her businesses, such as makeup line KKW Beauty and shapewear line SKIMS, have contributed to her newest net worth.

Now, she and her younger sister Kylie Jenner are both the billionaires in the Kar-Jenner clan.

But Kim makes one important vow just after making it into Forbes' official billionaire's list.

Kim Kardashian Net Worth 2021

In just six months, Kim Kardashian's net worth surged by $220 million.

According to Forbes magazine, from her previous net worth of $780 million in Oct. 2020, she is now worth $1 billion.

Aside from her brands, with a $500 million stake in KKW Beauty and her shapewear line valued at $225 million, she also earned most of her millions from her reality TV career and endorsement deals.

The rest of Kardashian's estate is made up of her investment, properties, and personal finances.

READ ALSO: Kanye West New Documentary Will Debut This Year: Why Netflix Paid Millions for It

Kim Kardashian's Vow

Kim Kardashian, who is mom to children North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm, is confident that she and Kylie Jenner will not be the only billionaires in the family.

When reporters asked her who she thinks will be the next Kar-Jenner member they'll be welcoming to the billionaire's club soon, she gave it some hard thought.

Reporters suggested that it could be her mom, Kris Jenner, or perhaps her supermodel sister, Kendall Jenner, but Kardashian is thinking bigger.

That may be all of them will be making some pretty big bucks, and it won't stop with Kardashian, nor her Kylie Cosmetics mogul sister.

Her sisters Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian can make it to the list, and even her brother Rob. But it won't stop them because the Kar-Jenner children may also earn themselves some good money. After all, as they say, "success breeds success."

Kardashian Jenner Family Net Worth

According to Harper's Bazaar, Kylie Jenner's estimated net worth was $1 billion but was downgraded by Forbes to $900 million. She is the second-richest Kar-Jenner member in the family.

Kar-Jenner matriarch Kris Jenner gets a 10% cut of each of her kids' offsprings, so she has an estimated net worth of $190 million. She also has stakes in her kids' businesses, such as Kylie's makeup brand and Rob's sock line.

Khloe Kardashian is worth $50 million, according to Parade. This is all thanks to her jeans line, social media, and endorsement deals.

Next is Kendall Jenner, who reportedly has a net worth of $45 million. She continues to top the highest-paid model's list with earnings of $22.5 million.

Kourtney Kardashian is estimated to be worth $35 million, and Caitlyn Jenner is worth $100 million.

Their brother Rob Kardashian has a net worth of $10 million.

READ MORE: KUWTK: Khloe Kardashian Wants Leaked Photo Gone From The Internet But It's Not Even Explicit

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Rob Satran thinks of it as the Hoshizaki syndrome.

Beginning last March, when the world went into lockdown and it became clear that, as Mr. Satran said, people were not going to be spending their disposable income on normal things, the trade in high-end appliances abruptly took off.

Mr. Satran is a part owner of Royal Green Appliances, a boutique dealership in New York that may be to refrigerators what a Rolls-Royce showroom is to automobiles. Covid instantly domesticated people, he said. They were looking around and thinking about where to invest in their homes.

If, as the adage has it, old appliances are like old friendships  barely functional but too heavy to dispose of  this was the year when homeowners got around to casting a fresh eye on tired refrigerators, balky dishwashers, ranges with pilot lights that stubbornly refuse to ignite.

It was the year in which some near the apex of the income pyramid concluded there was no reason to settle for an ordinary ice tray, or even cubes produced by some humdrum domestic appliance, when they could upgrade to a commercial machine capable of cranking out transparent crescents or lucid spheres or gelid top hats like the ones you used to see clinking in glasses at upscale bars. Why not buy a Hoshizaki?
Saatchi & Saatchi Propagate, the full service digital agency of the Publicis Groupe has announced the departure of its CEO, Priya Jayaraman. Taking over the reins is Charles Victor, who has been elevated as the Chief Operating Officer at Saatchi & Saatchi Propagate. Charles will be responsible for driving business growth and strategic direction at the agency while also continuing to serve as the Executive Director of L&K Saatchi & Saatchi. He will continue to report into Paritosh Srivastava, MD of L&K Saatchi & Saatchi.

To further strengthen the team, the agency has also announced the appointment of Sabah Iqbal as Sr. VP & Head  S&S Propagate. She will report into Charles Victor and will play a key role in furthering business growth at the agency. Sabah joins the agency from Digitas where she was Sr. VP  West & South and managed some of the key brands at the agency including Puma, Hindustan Unilever, Nivea, Nissan, Mondelez among others.

Commenting on the development, Paritosh Srivastava, MD, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi said: Would like to thank Priya immensely for her contribution and hard work in making SSP into a powerful digital offering with a national footprint with some amazing client partners and talent.

Adding further he said, Charles Victor has been with LKSS for 15 years, working across creative, mainline and digital. Hes got a perfect mix of business, creative and technology that one could have asked for to take on SSP. Hes a trusted and true partner for clients and agency alike. Joining him will be Sabah Iqbal, who with 15 years of enviable pedigree brings with her a unique creative lens combined with astute knowledge and expertise across mainline, digital and media. I am excited to partner the duo in the next chapter of growth at the agency.

Sharing her views on the decision, Priya Jayaraman said: Its been a decade of a journey of creating a digital agency from inception and seeing it through to becoming a part of a global entity. I feel blessed and humbled to have met such fabulous colleagues who built their careers here, of many clients who trusted their journey with us, and partners without whose support this journey would have been impossible. I am carrying with me stories, learnings, friendships and a whole lot of gratitude for a lifetime.

On assuming a new role at the agency, Charles Victor said: Firstly, we cannot thank Priya enough for the tremendous legacy she leaves behind for all of us. She and the team have accomplished so much in a short span of time on the creative and the business front, attracting an enviable bunch of partner brands around the Saatchi & Saatchi Propagate fireplace. For me, it isnt so much about taking on the reins at Saatchi & Saatchi Propagate but the excitement of helping our partners unlock growth and deliver dynamic, diverse, disruptive creative in the platform world.

Welcoming Sabah Iqbal to the agency, Charles added, I am absolutely stoked to have Sabah on board as Sr. VP and Head - Saatchi & Saatchi Propagate. For us, its like having a wonderful relative coming over to stay at your home for good, as she moves internally from within the Publicis Groupe. Sabahs fabulous energy, her deep experience and her strong leadership skills are just what we need to step up.

Part of the Publicis Groupe, Saatchi & Saatchi Propagate is a specialist digital agency serving a wide range of local and global clients, notably MaxLife Insurance, Max Group, Scripbox, Practo, ESPN CricInfo, Embassy Springs, Revlon, Dailyhunt among others. Known for its entrepreneurial spirit, the agency today partners with reputed clients in drafting their customer journeys that operate at the intersection of media, technology and creativity.
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.
HIGH Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi has released on bail a suspected armed robber, Brian Mubaiwa, accused of robbing a Chinese national of gold worth US$50 000.

Justice Chitapi granted Mubaiwa $10 000 bail after noting that the State did not have a strong case against the 47-year-old.

Mubaiwa, together with his co-accused Gift Moffat, had been remanded in custody by the Harare Magistrates Courts on February 8. This was after they were arrested for allegedly storming Zhang Guanghuis home on February 2.

The duo, who were part of a five-member gang that was allegedly armed with two pistons and a pair of catapults, jumped over the precast wall surrounding the house and manhandled Zhang and five other occupants.

The gang reportedly tied Zhang up with cables and assaulted him before escaping with 600 grammes of gold as well as valuables worth US$50 000.

In delivering his judgment, Justice Chitapi said the prosecution had failed to present an open and shut case to convince him to deny Mubaiwa bail.

In weighing the interest of justice against the right of the applicant to his personal freedom, I am inclined in favour of granting bail.

I do appreciate that the offence is serious. However, the circumstances of each case will determine how the seriousness of the offence is likely to impact on the risk of the applicant absconding.

The State case is not open and shut, if one considers the allegations made and the evidence said to be available, a conviction is not given.

The interest of justice will be served if bail is granted and the ensuing order is made. The applicant is granted bail. He shall deposit $10 000 with the Clerk of Court at the Harare, Magistrates Courts, Justice Chitapi ruled.

He also noted that the fear expressed by the prosecution that Mubaiwa would flee from justice was unnecessary as he had proven to be of fixed abode.

The applicant does not possess any travelling documents. He is just a peasant farmer with no assets which can sustain him were he to be minded to flee the jurisdiction of the court.

He offered to report at Guruve Police Station as a check mechanism to ensure his continued availability, Justice Chitapi added. Daily News
[April 08, 2021] Global Lathe Machines Market Procurement Intelligence Report with COVID-19 Impact Analysis | Global Market Forecasts, Analysis 2021-2025 | SpendEdge

NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lathe Machines market will register an incremental spend of about USD 2,539 Million, growing at a CAGR of 3.14% during the five-year forecast period. A targeted strategic approach to Lathe Machines 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: 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 Lathe Machines market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Lathe Machines 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%-3.00%. Identify favorable opportunities in Lathe Machines 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 Lathe Machines suppliers listed in this report: This Lathe Machines procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies. DMG MORI Co. Ltd.

Okuma Corp.

Yamazaki Mazak Corp.

Dalian Machine Tool Group Corp.

Doosan Machine Tools Co. Ltd.

Heavy Engineering Corp. Ltd.

Batliboi Ltd.

JINN FA MACHINE INDUSTRIAL Co. Ltd.

Haas Automation Inc

Machinery Solutions Inc. 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 Get access to regular sourcing and procurement insights to our digital procurement platform-Contact Us. About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more: https://www.spendedge.com/request-for-demo Contacts

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By Ivan Ssenabulya

The Requiem Mass of the deceased Kampala Archbishop Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga is underway at Rubaga cathedral.

Earlier this morning members of the public were given a chance to pay their last respect to the fallen prelate.

About 500 people have been invited to send off the Archbishop due to the covid19 pandemic.

A number of dignitaries have attended the funeral mass including the vice president Edward Ssekandi and the queen of Buganda, Silvia Nagginda.

In his homily, the chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal conference who is also the Kiyinda-Mityana Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa challenged Ugandans and those who will follow in the footsteps of the prelate to maintain his legacy.

He said that the late Lwanga has done his duty of serving the Lord, and the challenge is now on those remaining on earth.

Meanwhile human Rights activist Miria Matembe who has attended the mass says the late Arch-Bishop died with a mission accomplished.

Matembe says that its a Godly principle that when one walks a right way and in faithful service, the Creator takes them back.

Archbishop Lwanga is to be buried in a grave inside the cathedral.

His grave lies in the middle of two graves where two other bishops ,including Dr Joseph Kiwanuka who was the first African Bishop South of Sahara (Sub-Saharan Africa) and Edward Michaud.

The burial of Archbishop Lwanga is special in away. It marks 43 years after he was ordained a priest.

Lwanga was ordained priest on 08th April 1978 at Rubaga Cathedral by the late cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga.
Couple Who Were Once Torn Apart Reunite After 53 Years, Find Daughter Given Up for Adoption

Septuagenarian sweethearts, Karen and Denny Vinar from Northfield, Minnesota, first met and fell in love when they were just 11 and 13 years of age. The then-teen girl fell pregnant at 14 and the two were encouraged to give up their baby for adoption.

Sadly, circumstances kept them apart for over five decades until a chance social media connection began a new chapter in their love story. Together, they relocated their long-lost daughter and wrote a book about their extraordinary journey.

Karen, 75, now credits divine intervention for their reunion. There could have been so many twists and turns in our lives that would not have allowed us to get back together again, she told The Epoch Times in an interview. God meant us to be together.

We started off together and were gonna end up together, said Denny, 78.

Karen and Denny were junior and high school sweethearts. The two had fallen in love and it seemed like they would spend a life together. However, things took an unexpected turn.

In the 1950s, Karen was devastated to fall pregnant out of wedlock, she even considered committing suicide. However, her parents were quite supportive and werent terribly angry, and they didnt kick her out of the house.

They knew I had a problem and they were willing to work with me to work things out, Karen recalled.

Nonetheless, Karens parents were clear that they didnt want to raise another child. Thus when Denny asked Karen to marry him, her parents didnt agree as they felt she was too young to start a family of her own.

Then, with the support of their pastor and counselors at Lutheran Social Services in St. Paul, Minnesota, Karen and Denny conceded to giving up their baby for adoption.

Karen was then sent to live in a home for unwed mothers after the school year completed. She lived there for a period of three months with six other pregnant women and a house mother. Denny was allowed to visit just once, accompanied by Karens parents.

The teen then gave birth on Aug. 13, 1961, at just 15 years old, and called Denny, who was 17 at that time.

I called Denny and asked him if he wanted to come to the hospital to see our baby girl and sign the birth certificate, and he said yes, Karen recalled. So he came to the hospital and we held our baby girl for maybe an hour or so.

A photograph of this tender moment and a small card detailing their babys birth date, weight, and length were the only mementos the couple walked away with.

Karen then returned to school, while Denny and his family moved away to the Minneapolis area in Minnesota. After that, Denny wrote letters to Karen and even tried calling her up, but Karens parents hid his letters and screened his phone calls.

After military duty three years later, Denny showed up at Karens door. The two then dated for a period of six months. Eventually, Denny asked for his sweethearts hand in marriage, but Karens parents objected by threatening to rescind payment for her senior year of college.

The couple then forged separate lives, and Denny had three children from a marriage.

In 2014, when Denny was living in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, a friend recommended he join the networking site, LinkedIn. Suddenly inspired, he typed Karens name including her maiden name Lehmann, and her profile was the third listing. Karen, who was widowed, was at work at her workplace in Everett, Washington, when Denny called to connect.

Reflecting on his call to her workplace, Karen said: My first thought was that he had some contact with our daughter, for some reason. Delighted to hear him after almost five decades, her first words on the phone were, How did you find me?

As Karen was still at work, the two decided to speak later that evening. Before calling him back, Karen googled her former beau, delighted to discover he still had the same twinkly blue eyes and nice smile with dimples as in the early years.

After the conversation, Denny offered to fly to Karens home in Seattle, Washington, immediately, but Karen protested, claiming they must first get reacquainted. Ninety days later, on Jan. 20, 2015, Denny finally arrived to meet her.

Karen ran out of the car, he recalled, jumped on me, wrapped her legs around me, before whispering in her true loves ear, Baby, youre home. The couple tied the knot just 36 hours later.

In the period of time that followed, the two moved back and forth to visit each other on the weekends, as Denny managed a marketing firm in Eden Prairie. Karen then eventually sold her home and moved to stay with Denny.

It was then that Denny managed to convince his wife to look for their daughter.

Agreeing with Denny, Karen then penned a letter to Lutheran Social Services, and the board of directors agreed to help them. Three weeks later, they found their daughter, Jean Voxland. Initially reticent, it was Jeans husband who convinced his wife to pursue a reunion.

Karen even remembers one specific phrase near the top of her daughters eventual return letter: Thank you for choosing adoption over abortion.

On May 31, 2015, the trio shared an emotional reunion at the social services office.

Her first sentence to us when we walked upstairs .. she said, Now I finally looked like someone,' said Denny. She has my smile, added Karen, but everything else looks like Denny.

Denny and Karen Vinar with Jean and her husband. (Courtesy of Karen Vinar)

Denny and Karen learned that Jean had grown up in a loving adoptive family, and has three children and several grandchildren. She lives just 23 miles away from her birth parents in the town of Northfield, so they visit once or twice a week.

Since their reunion, the family has even penned a memoir together: How did you find me  after all these years? They have been interviewed by television host Steve Harvey and featured in several European documentary adaptations of their remarkable, decades-long journey.

As for Denny and Karen, their love is as strong as ever. They dance, cycle, and cook together. They have fun, an awful lot of fun, said Denny, and talk often of their feelings.

I told Karen that we have to take the 18-inch journey, and she said, Whats the 18-inch journey?' Denny explained. I said, From your head to your heart. Thats important, when you speak from your heart.

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
The Malaysian government defended itself Thursday over heavy criticism after an online video showed Kuala Lumpurs ambassador to Naypyidaw meeting with a minister from Myanmars junta, whose forces have killed hundreds of people in crushing post-coup pro-democracy protests.

In a statement responding to media inquiries, Malaysias Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the meeting took place a day earlier at Myanmars Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE). It said the Ambassador Zahairi Baharim went there for the meeting, but the statement did not name Minister of Electricity and Energy Aung Than Oo.

He was also seen in the video, which has gone viral on social media and drawn accusations that this showed Malaysia recognized Myanmars military regime, which overthrew a democratically elected government two months ago.

The meeting does not construe a recognition or otherwise of the State Administration Council (SAC), Malaysias foreign office said, referring to the junta by its official name.

As of Thursday, at least 614 demonstrators had been killed by the military and government security forces across Myanmar since the Feb. 1 coup, according to information compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a Thai NGO.

Malaysias position on Myanmar is clear and consistent, the statement from the foreign ministry said.

We have persistently called for an immediate end to violence, unconditional and immediate release of political detainees, and resumption of an inclusive dialogue involving all concerned parties for a political transition and peaceful settlement of the ongoing crisis in the interest of Myanmar and her people, it said.

The meeting was held to convey a decision by a subsidiary of Petronas, the state-run Malaysian oil company, to suspend a gas project in Myanmar, the statement said.

The decision was made following challenges in the wells deliverability that resulted in the production rate dropping below the technical threshold of the offshore gas processing plant, Petronas said in an April 2 statement.

Thursdays statement from the foreign ministry mirrored comments by Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on March 19, when he called on Myanmars military leaders to change course.

Once again, Malaysia repeats our consistent call for all concerned parties to work together towards a peaceful settlement of this crisis. We will continue to support an inclusive dialogue for a political transition, and urge all parties to return to the negotiating table, remedy the crisis, and avoid any further escalation of tensions, Muhyiddin said at the time.

I am appalled by the persistent use of lethal violence against unarmed civilians which has resulted in a high number of deaths and injuries, as well as suffering across the nation. There is no question about it  the use of live ammunition against peaceful protests is unacceptable, he said.

Muhyiddin also called for Myanmar authorities to unconditionally release political leaders, including civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and others who have been detained since their government was overthrown.

The junta declared a one-year state of emergency after ousting Suu Kyis government, which was democratically elected last November.

Malaysian and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) have joined world leaders calling for peace to be restored in Myanmar and for the unconditional release of Suu Kyi and others.

Earlier this week, ASEAN chair Brunei as well as Malaysia announced that a special meeting of top leaders from across the regional bloc would take place in Indonesia to discuss the Myanmar crisis, but a date has yet to be determined.

Myanmar is one of the 10 members of ASEAN.

Viral video

The video of Wednesdays meeting lit up social media in Malaysia.

Does Malaysia recognize SAC Terrorists as legitimate govt? @MuhyiddinYassin, according to one message posted on Twitter directed at the prime minister.

Members of the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition also criticized the meeting.

The meeting between the Malaysian ambassador and the Myanmar junta army has created a perception that Malaysia has recognized the Myanmar government, coalition members the Peoples Justice Party, Parti Amanah Negara and the Democratic Action Party said in a joint statement.

Washington announces new sanctions

Meanwhile on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced sanctions on Myanma Gems Enterprise, part of the countrys mining ministry, as he called on the Myanmar military and security forces to cease all violence against peaceful protesters.

By imposing targeted sanctions on this entity, we are sending a clear signal to the military that the United States will keep increasing pressure on the regimes revenue streams until it ceases its violence, releases all those unjustly detained, lifts martial law and the nationwide state of emergency, removes telecommunications restrictions, and restores Burma to the path of democracy, Blinken said in a statement.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
L.A. Metro Board To Appoint Metrolink CEO Stephanie Wiggins as Metro CEO

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors is scheduled to appoint Stephanie Wiggins, current CEO of Metrolink, to lead L.A. Metro. The current L.A. Metro CEO, Phillip A. Washington, announced on Feb. 3 that he is stepping down in May after six years. The Board of Directors conducted a national search for the next CEO and will vote during its Board of Directors meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday to appoint Wiggins.

Once appointed, Wiggins four-year term at Metro CEO will begin between May 30 and June 14. Her annual salary is set at $400,004.80 and her term will be extendable by a pair of one-year options at the boards discretion. Wiggins previously served as L.A. Metros deputy chief executive officer, where she assisted in the passage of Measure M, which raised funds for transportation through a half-percent sales tax. She also served as L.A.

Metros executive director of vendor/contract management before joining Metrolink. After being unanimously appointed as CEO of Metrolink at the end of 2018, she became the multi-county commuter rail agencys first female CEO, as well as its first Black CEO. At Metrolink, she managed a $793 million annual budget and 282 full-time employees. At L.A. Metro, she will oversee its multi-billion-dollar budget, which this fiscal year was $6 billion.

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Wiggins prior transportation experience also includes serving as regional program director for Riverside County Transportation Commission, where she oversaw transit, commuter rail, rideshare, goods movement and rail capital projects. Her first role in the transportation industry was on a temporary six- month assignment at the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, where she stayed for four years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Whittier College in 1992 and a Master of Business Administration from the USC Marshall School of business in 2007.

The L.A. Metro Board of Directors is scheduled to vote on her appointment at 3 p.m. People can watch the meeting at https://boardagendas.metro.net/. At 4 p.m., Mayor Eric Garcetti is scheduled to announce her appointment. That event will be streamed on his Facebook page at Facebook.com/MayorOfLA.
The Ruston Police Department has launched an investigation into an alleged incident of sexual abuse that occurred by a worker or former worker of the Louisiana Center for the Blind, according to a department spokesperson.

The alleged incident happened in summer 2018 while the woman was a student at the center and when the alleged abuser was an employee by LCB, according to Deputy Chief Chad Hamlin.

The investigation is in its early stages and the police department is arranging a time to speak with the victim in person and gather additional information.

We haven't gotten to the point where we've interviewed anyone or gotten any information from the alleged suspect, Hamlin told Gambit. But we do have enough information to start the investigation.

According to Hamlin, the victim is currently an adult, but that it is a possibility she could have been a minor at the time of the incident based on the timeframe.

Hamlin said that the police department has investigated student complaints of sexual misconduct at the center in the past, but that the current allegations were the most severe hed seen over the years.

The Ruston PD is not currently investigating the Louisiana center, which has had multiple former students allege sexual assault and abuse against employees and students, as a whole. But Hamlin said if through this investigation, the department determines LCB employees at the center knew about the alleged incident and didnt take action, then the investigation could spill over to the center.

If through this initial investigation ... we discovered or uncovered some type of cover up based on several personnel within the center or the center having knowledge of this and not reporting to us, or our victim reporting it and not getting any help, that's when it kind of turns from the individual to the center, he said.

+12 Former students allege 'toxic culture' of racism, abuse and assault at Louisiana Center for the Blind The Louisiana Center for the Blind was supposed to help blind people learn vital life skills. But many students say there was a 'toxic culture' of abuse, racism and assault.
Farmers are alarmed at the prospect of a new pipeline they say could lead to further development of gas fields across central Queensland's Galilee Basin.

The planned project spans more than 500 kilometres to connect Galilee Energy Limited's Glenaras Gas Project near Longreach to Jemena's Queensland Gas Pipeline near Injune.

Galilee Basin grazier Bruce Currie is worried about the 'industrialisation' of his region and says the pipeline could impact the lives of 300 families.

Galilee Basin grazier Bruce Currie (right) is worried about the 'industrialisation' of his region and says the pipeline could impact the lives of 300 families

'This pipeline will inevitably aid gas companies who want to build sprawling fracked gasfields across the Galilee Basin, irreparably industrialising this iconic part of the outback with massive impacts on our grazing businesses that depend entirely on ground water,' he said.

A spokesperson for energy company Jemena said no decision had been made about the exact route of the pipeline.

'We do not yet understand what, if any, impact the pipeline could have on the local environment,' a spokesperson said.

'As we have done with other projects ,we will work to protect local flora, while minimising any disturbance to local fauna in line with our EPA requirements.

'While we will always seek views from a broad cross-section of the community, we expect this project will impact between 50 to 80 landholders along the pipeline route.'

Jemena has applied to the state government for a petroleum survey licence that gives companies 'the right to enter land to survey the proposed route of a pipeline'

Lock the Gate Alliance has pointed to a 2019 assessment by the federal environment department it says found the pipeline would require the clearing of 'high-quality' koala habitat.

'The pipeline would traverse the Channel Country Strategic Environmental Area on the Barcoo River and would also cut across habitat for threatened species, including the koala,' it said in a statement.

Spokesperson Ellie Smith said the project would 'impact two regions that are already under extreme pressure from fossil fuel developments, the Galilee Basin and the Channel Country'.

'If approved, this pipeline would open up the Galilee Basin to intensive gasfields, threatening farmland, water resources and natural areas,' she said.

Jemena has applied to the state government for a petroleum survey licence that gives companies 'the right to enter land to survey the proposed route of a pipeline'.
CINCINNATI, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- H.H. Franchising Systems Inc. ("H.H. Franchising"), a Cincinnati-based company that operates Home Helpers Home Care, announced today it has been acquired by RiverGlade Capital ("RiverGlade"), a Chicago-based growth-oriented private equity firm that invests solely in healthcare companies.

Previously owned by private equity firm Linsalata Capital Partners, H.H. Franchising will maintain its current leadership team, national support team and franchise system as part of the transaction. The company will also continue operations at its Cincinnati headquarters.

Home Helpers Home Care CEO and President Emma Dickison said its new partnership with RiverGlade will accelerate growth for the nationwide in-home care leader.

"Home Helpers Home Care has realized 15% compound annual growth rate over the last five years and our new partners at RiverGlade will provide experience and resources to support us to continue on that upward path and at an accelerated pace," said Dickison. "This is an investment in Home Helpers Home Care that enables us to provide exceptional in-home care for more families and seniors across the country."

Home Helpers Home Care operates in more than 1,000 communities across the United States. The company has more than 320 franchise territories operating in 41 states and growing.

"With its strong performance in the home care market and talented leadership team and staff, we saw an opportunity in Home Helpers Home Care in which our investment could continue to fuel growth," said Danny Rosenberg, Managing Partner at RiverGlade. "We recognize the great company that has been built at Home Helpers Home Care and look forward to working with Emma and team."

Home Helpers Home Care was founded in 1997 and has grown to become one of the largest franchisors of in-home senior care. Dickison joined Home Helpers Home Care in 2007 and has elevated the in-home care franchise company in her role as president and CEO. Home Helpers Home Care provides comprehensive home care services and support for individuals who choose to live independently at home.

ABOUT HOME HELPERS HOME CARE

Since 1997, Home Helpers Home Care has provided exceptional in-home care to seniors and others. With independently owned and operated offices in more than 1,000 communities across the United States, we are committed to supporting the dignity and independence of the families we serve. Learn more at HomeHelpersHomeCare.com. For franchising information, visit HomeHelpersFranchise.com.

ABOUT RIVERGLADE CAPITAL

RiverGlade Capital is a healthcare services-focused private equity firm that invests in high-quality, differentiated businesses. RiverGlade partners with companies that have demonstrated strong organic growth and where value can be accelerated through operational improvements, strategic planning, and dynamic organic and inorganic growth initiatives. For more information, visit http://www.rivergladecapital.com.

SOURCE Home Helpers Home Care
A woman has revealed that she has been left with a botched smile and is unable to fully widen her mouth after getting Dysport injections in her cheeks to treat her temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ).

Montanna Morris, 24, from Florida, opened up about her condition this week in a now-viral TikTok video that she filmed two months after her injections, explaining that her mouth paralysis was even worse before.

'About two months ago, I got absolutely botched from Botox,' she explained, though she later told BuzzFeed that she actually got Dysport, a different brand of the neurotoxin.

Oh no! Montanna Morris, 24, from Florida, revealed on TikTok this week that she was left with a botched smile after getting Dysport injections in her cheeks in January to treat her TMJ

Hard to handle: Montanna is pictured before the injections she got in late January (left) and after (right). The paralysis was so bad that she could barely open her mouth at first

'I wasn't going to talk about it until I was fully recovered, but I saw someone post yesterday who this also happened to, but to her eye.'

The TikToker was referring to influencer Whitney Buha, 34, who was left with a droopy eyelid after getting Botox at a medical spa.

The Chicago-based blogger has been documenting her road to recovery after her eye started to droop, causing her other eye to bulge out to overcompensate for her impaired vision.

Whitney's candid videos inspired Montanna to share her story in the hopes of preventing this from happing to other people.

'If I can post now and save like one person from having to go through this, I would feel a lot better about the experience,' she said, sharing a photo of her smile before the injections.

'Your girl had a decent smile. I had dimples. It's really all I had going for me, and then I developed really bad TMJ. My doctor suggested I get Botox in my masseter muscles right here.

Clearing this up: Montanna stressed in follow-up video that it was the injector's misplacement of the neurotoxin that ruined her smile  not the injection itself

'Well, I did. They over-injected me and injected in the wrong spot and paralyzed all of my facial muscles.'

Montanna then smiled for the camera to show how her smile is shortened and doesn't reveal as many of her front teeth as before.

'So this is my smile now  and this is two months in,' she noted. 'You guys should have seen it before.'

Montanna's video has been viewed more than 4.4 million times in just two days and has received thousands of sympathetic comments. However, many people pointed out that it was the injector's misplacement of the neurotoxin that ruined her smile  not the injection itself.

'I just want to say I am completely aware that this was an injector problem, not a Botox problem,' she said in another TikTok. 'I was just rambling and not imagining two million people would see what I was talking about, so I wasn't wording things perfectly. I'll admit that.

'I've had Botox be a success at different med spas in different areas. I hope this doesn't completely discourage people from getting Botox. It can be an incredible tool,' she added. 'I was just spreading awareness that this can happen.'

Side-effect: Montanna added that she is actually in more pain than before (pictured) because the paralysis has caused her to suffer from muscle atrophy

Candid: 'Things are getting better, but let's just say the confidence took a hit for a minute and I don't want anyone else to go through that,' said the TikToker (pictured before the injections)

Montanna told BuzzFeed that she started developing TMJ dysfunction  a painful jaw disorder  two years ago and would sometimes wake up with her jaw completely locked.

She said it was locked for two weeks straight when she started looking into Botox as a treatment option. When she was injected on January 21, she opted to get Dysport because they were running a discount special.

However, the injector didn't convert the unit measurements properly, and she ended up getting over-injected, which left her mouth mostly paralyzed.

'The injector told me I would have final results within a week or two, but my face was already freezing within four days  so I knew it was going to be bad,' she recalled.

'The width of my mouth started shortening. I could see less and less of my teeth when I would smile  thats the first thing I noticed. Then my dimples almost completely went away.

Botched: Montanna was inspired to share her story after seeing influencer Whitney Buha, 34, open up about how she was left with a droopy eyelid after getting Botox at a medical spa

Before and after: Whitney, who woke up with her left eye drooping and her other eye bulging out to overcompensate for her impaired vision, has been documenting her recovery

'My TMJ is better  my jaw did unlock soon after treatment and locks up a lot less now, but I surprisingly have more pain than before,' she added. 'From the paralysis, Ive had quite a bit of muscle atrophy, so chewing certain things is more difficult than before.'

In a follow-up video, Montanna shared a photo of herself trying to smile right after the facial injections, revealing she could barely open her mouth.

'Things are getting better, but let's just say the confidence took a hit for a minute and I don't want anyone else to go through that,' she said.

Luckily, Dysport and Botox are only temporary and will start to wear off in three or four months, meaning Montanna's smile will likely be back to normal by the summer.

Montanna thanked viewers for their support and kindness in her latest TikTok.

'I really want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you guys for being so, so sweet and kind in the comments,' she said.

'Posting something like this could have gone in a completely different direction. TikTok is really ruthless sometimes and you guys chose to be sweet. So I really, really, really appreciate it.'
In the spring, a young turkeys fancy turns to love. Tennyson said that, and I realized truer words were never spoken as I looked out the window and saw four tom turkeys on the lawn, fanning their tail feathers, strutting their stuff and competing with one another to lure a mate ... while the hens were completely oblivious of the pomp and circumstance and trotted away in the opposite direction. Isnt that always the case?

Watching those toms looking for action has to unnerve males of any species. Theyre almost as bad as the young guys who hang out at bars on spring break and fan their tail feathers. I dont know whether I feel sympathy for them or second-hand embarrassment.

Signs are everywhere that spring is in the air: turkeys pooping all over the lawn, pollen polluting my nasal passages, and thousands of college students causing mayhem on beaches and in bars.

Weeks later, theyre probably still partying in Miami Beach. It makes me wonder: If students can celebrate without masks, why am I teaching college classes with Zoom instead of in-person?

All the revelry has Floridians begging for an end to what CNN will probably describe as mostly peaceful partying.

Only a week or two after videos showed crowds of teens and twenty-somethings partying on South Floridas beaches, health officials are finding a surge of coronavirus infections in younger people, the Palm Beach Post reported.

The locals are in an uproar, according to ABC News, which reported: Miami Beach residents have been protesting outside City Hall over the chaos caused by spring breakers.

This really bothers me. Why cant retirees enjoy spring break and cause a little chaos? Its discrimination. If President Joe Biden got me that stimulus check in time, I could have been in Miami Beach with the youngsters, twerking on top of Cadillacs and playing bikini volleyball on the beach. When is that cash coming anyway ... and who hid my Speedo?

Spring break shouldnt be a privilege of only one class. Im a progressive wannabe who believes we all should be allowed to go crazy one week of the year, call in sick, board the dog in a kennel and send the grandkids back to their parents, so we can frolic in the sun and stay out after our curfew.

Instead of Miami Beach, retirees could incite mayhem in St. Petersburg, once famously known as the retirement capital of America, which is what it was called during my years working at the St. Petersburg Times.

After watching videos of hundreds being arrested, I decided to put spring break on my bucket list. Im hoping my grandkids will take me down there someday, even if I have to use a walker, but that day is a long way off because they just enrolled in kindergarten, and the kindergarten idea of spring break is a six pack of chocolate milk and twerking with dinosaurs at Peabody Museum. Take my advice, kids  stick with the chocolate milk.

Sadly, I never went on spring break. For that matter, I also missed Woodstock because I had a paper due in metaphysics for the Rev. McCool SJ. In retrospect, I should have gone to Woodstock because I got a lousy grade on the paper.

When I was a student and spring break came around, my father had other plans. No fun in the sun. He had this prearranged deal with my cousin Larry, who was a bricklayer. To pay my college tuition, I had to work, mixing mortar, carrying bricks, setting up scaffolding and taking abuse from a lot of bricklayers who took delight in proving they were smarter than a college kid. They were. Instead of studying Plato, they learned a trade. They never went on spring break either. They got up every morning, went on the job and worked hard to support their families.

Thats why I feel a special bond to my students. Like me, most of them are the first generation in their families to go to college. For some, English is a second language, others have kids to support, and a few are single moms.

All of them are working a job, if not two, while taking courses. Theyre the ones who deserve a spring break. So the air fare is on me if I ever get that stimulus check.

If not, well charge it to Joe Bidens infrastructure bill.

Joe Pisani can be reached at joefpisani@yahoo.com.
U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., carries a fuel line from the Cota and Cota fuel truck as he helps deliver fuel to a Brattleboro resident as part of the Vermont Fuel Dealers Associations Split the Ticket Program.
Roadblocks and fences barred members of the GraceLife Church in Alberta, Canada from their worship building.

Faithwire reports that the closure was enforced by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) under the order of Alberta Health Services (AHS), "a government health agency of unelected officials." On Wednesday morning, members were prevented by the police from entry into their church property.

The police, however, did not have documents to present to justify the sudden shutdown, Rebel News' Sheila Gunn Reid tweeted.

GraceLife is being walled off by two layers of security fencing and a black tarp to obscure the entrance to the church.



RCMP and private Paladin security are here.



RCMP have no documentation to present to the church re:closure, but are keeping members off the property. pic.twitter.com/68E7ntCHVp  Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 7, 2021

Representing the church is the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms. The law firm's president John Carpay said on Wednesday afternoon that the barricade was an unjustified violation of Charter rights and freedoms.

"The Alberta government has known for many months that it will be called to publicly account before the judiciary for its lockdown destruction of the Alberta economy and trampling of Albertan's civil liberties," said the lawyer.

"Freedom of conscience and religion is the first fundamental freedom listed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms." It is listed first because it is one of the key bedrock principles on which Canada is built, argues Mr. Carpay.

"The government has so far refused to justify the limits on worship and gathering. Health orders are inconsistent, differing from province to province, and arbitrarily created by one public health official who is under no obligation legally to advise the legislatures of the science and rationale which supposedly are the basis of the orders."

CBC News was able to obtain statements from both RCMP and AHS concerning the church closure.

RCMP confirmed to CBC that they closed the church under Section 62.1 of the Alberta Public Health Act. AHS, on the other hand, told the press that it '''physically closed" the church and has prevented access until the church 'can demonstrate the ability to comply with Alberta's chief medical officer of health's restrictions.'"

The GraceLife Church's counsel told CBC that the move was a "draconian and aggressive enforcement of health orders." Additionally, Justice Centre challenges in court the constitutionality of enforcing these health orders at the expense of violating charter freedoms.

"It shows a very aggressive government that is not answering questions about its policies, but wants to push its weight around and try and make an example out of GraceLife Church," added Mr. Carpay.

Prior to the "physical closure" on Wednesday, AHS said that it had taken steps by first asking the church to comply with the health order in the collective effort to lessen the risk of COVID-19 spread. On Jan. 29, they issued a notice of closure due to the church's non-compliance to the previous orders. Other follow-up letters were sent on March 27 and last week inviting the church's pastor James Coates to discuss the risk of infection in keeping in-person church meetings.

"GraceLife Church has decided not to follow these mandatory restrictions, nor have they attempted to work with AHS to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission," said AHS in a statement.

Their pastor, James Coates, was also jailed in February for refusing to comply with public health orders. He has just recently returned on March 28 and will undergo a trial on May 3.

"For the Alberta Government to request an adjournment of the May 3 trial of Pastor Coates is outrageous, while at the same time entering onto the church's private property and putting up fencing with hired security," states Mr. Carpay in the official statement released by Justice Centre.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

BANGUI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th April, 2021) The government of the Central African Republic (CAR) will not hold negotiations with the armed Unity for Peace in Central Africa (UPC) group, which recently quit the rebel coalition that had accused car President Faustin-Archange Touadera of election fraud, Ange Maxime Kazagui, a spokesman for the government, told Sputnik.

"The government does not intend to hold negotiations with armed groups that do not wish to abide by a political peace agreement," Kazagui said.

On Monday, UPC head Ali Darassa said that the group was withdrawing from the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), although it remained committed to the peace deal signed by the CAR government and over a dozen armed groups in February 2019.

"The CAR government's current position, however, is not a response to this decision, but was adopted as a result of ongoing attacks after the group's withdrawal from the Patriots for Change Coalition," Kazagui added.

The official further noted that other rebel groups had made similar statements in the past but still took part in offensive operations carried out by the CPC.

The security situation in the CAR has deteriorated since a 2013 coup, after which the country saw fighting between Muslim-majority Seleka and Christian Anti-Balaka militias. The government and the leaders of 14 armed groups struck the peace deal in February of 2019 to put an end to the long-lasting conflict. At present, the government has yet to regain control of large swathes of territory.

In December, the country held a presidential election. The country's Constitutional Council court confirmed Touadera's victory in the presidential election, with 53.9 percent of the vote in the first round. Some electoral districts were unable to cast ballots in militia-controlled areas, and some only managed to hold a partial vote because of intimidation by armed rebels.

In March, the CAR held a runoff legislative vote, as well as first-round voting, in areas where violence obstructed the electoral process back in December.
Walter Olkewicz, the New Jersey actor who played the slimy Jacques Renault in Twin Peaks, has died, multiple outlets report.

Olkewicz, a Bayonne native, was 72 when he died Tuesday.

Screenwriter Zak Olkewicz, his son, confirmed his death to Deadline and the Hollywood Reporter. The actor, who lived in Reseda, California, had been dealing with various health issues over 20 years, including a longtime infection relating to a series of knee surgeries.

He was a good man who pushed his love for creativity and the arts into everything he did, Zak Olkewicz said in a statement. He handed that passion down to me, and I look forward to passing it on to the grandchildren he loved so much.

In Twin Peaks, the iconic TV series created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, Olkewicz Jacques Renault, who spoke with a French Canadian accent, was brother to drug kingpin Jean Renault, working as a drug runner transporting product across the Canadian border into Twin Peaks, Washington. Jacques was also a bartender and card dealer at the gentlemans club and casino One-Eyed Jacks.

After being arrested for the murder of Laura Palmer, Renault is snuffed out by Lauras father, Leland, though he did not commit the crime.

The death of his character did not hold Olkewicz back from returning to Twin Peaks a quarter-century after he first starred in the show.

Not only did the actor play Renault in the first run of Twin Peaks, which debuted in 1990 on ABC, but he also appeared in Twin Peaks: The Return, the 2017 series revival on Showtime. For the third season, which arrived 26 years after the second, Olkewicz played a character named Jean-Michel Renault, owner of the Roadhouse, a local watering hole and music venue. It was his last role.

Olkewicz had also played Jacques Renault in the 1992 movie Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

After the series shut down, David said, Oh we love what you did, we want you for the movie, Olkewicz told The Jersey Journal in 2017. I said, David, I was killed in the last episode. He said, Bull, we got flashbacks, we got dream sequences ... well bring you back.

Behind the scenes of the legendary Roadhouse floor sweeping scene with Walter Olkewicz as Jean Michel Renault. #TwinPeaks pic.twitter.com/W8A9MkKfrk  Twin Peaks  (@ThatsOurWaldo) June 25, 2017

Lynch responded to Olkewicz death in his daily weather report on YouTube Thursday.

I was very sad to hear about the passing of Walter Olkewicz, also known as Jacques Renault and Jean-Michel Renault of Twin Peaks, Lynch said. Walter, you did great work. And Walter, you will be missed.

Olkewicz suffered from problems with his legs, including ongoing infection. When he filmed his scenes for Twin Peaks: The Return, he was using a wheelchair.

Nineteen surgeries in 10 years, he told the Jersey Journal, at the time hoping to crowd-fund an expensive procedure to keep his left leg. Its been crazy.

From 1993 to 1996, the actor, who first developed a taste for acting at Bayonne High School, played Dougie Boudreau, a recurring character on the ABC TV series Grace Under Fire.

Among his many other TV credits, Olkewicz played Nick the cable guy on Seinfeld; Tiny McGee on Whos the Boss; Bubba on Dolly, Dolly Partons 80s ABC variety show; and various roles in Night Court.

Olkewicz first screen credit was for the 1976 movie Futureworld with Peter Fonda and Blythe Danner. He would go on to appear in Steven Spielbergs 1979 film 1941 alongside Dan Aykroyd, Treat Williams, John Candy and Mickey Rourke. Olkewicz also had roles in Christopher Guests 1989 film The Big Picture and Joel Schumachers 1994 film The Client.

He is survived by his son and two grandchildren.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter.
HUMBOLDT, Tenn., April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN) along with local, state and federal officials met Thursday to officially open the companys new poultry complex in Humboldt, Tennessee. The $425 million project, which includes a processing plant, feed mill and hatchery, represents Tysons biggest investment in Tennessee and the single largest corporate investment ever in Gibson County.



Were pleased to add to the growth in Gibson County with the opening of our new 370,000 square foot processing facility, said Dean Banks, President and CEO, Tyson Foods. We appreciate the support of all those who played a role in making this facility possiblethe local community, county, state and our Humboldt team members, who safely and responsibly produce high-quality protein daily to help feed our nation and the world.

Tyson Foods started as a small family poultry business more than 85 years ago, and today we are a recognized leader in protein, said John R. Tyson, chief sustainability officer and member of the Tyson Family. We are incredibly proud to make western Tennessee the home of our first new poultry facility in 25 years and look forward to being part of the community and supporting the local economy.

Several hundred workers have been hired so far and are being trained for the start of production later this month. The processing plant, which is expected to employ more than 1,500 team members by 2023, is located within the Gibson County Industrial Park and will produce pre-packaged trays of fresh chicken for retail grocery stores nationwide beginning in late April.

The demand for Tyson chicken products continues to grow and this plant will help us meet the needs of our customers and consumers, said Donnie King, Chief Operating Officer and Group President, Poultry for Tyson Foods. Were excited to start this new chapter with the people of western Tennessee who have been extremely supportive of the project since day one.

The payroll and payments to farmers from the new operation, along with the purchase of grain and utilities, is expected to generate an annual economic benefit to the state of Tennessee of $150 million.

With five facilities across Tennessee, Tyson Foods has an enormous impact on our states agriculture industry and rural communities, said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. Job creation is crucial to our continued economic success, and I thank Tyson for its investment and commitment to Humboldt and West Tennessee.

The companys Humboldt feed mill, which will supply feed for approximately 56 local poultry farmers, will employ 30 team members and produce 14,000 tons of finished feed a week when production reaches full capacity.

The Humboldt hatchery employs 30 team members and provides chicks for local poultry farmers who supply broiler chickens to Tyson.

This is the second major economic development project Tyson Foods has initiated in Tennessee in recent years. In August 2017, the company announced an $84 million expansion of its Union City operations, which has added more than 200 jobs.

Including Union City, the company currently operates five facilities in the state, employing about 5,000 people with an annual payroll of more than $226 million. In its 2020 fiscal year, Tyson Foods paid Tennessee farmers more than $61 million. The company estimates its total statewide annual impact for fiscal 2020, including payroll, grain purchases, utilities, property taxes and charitable contributions to be more than $428 million.

Tyson Foods has been doing business in Tennessee for nearly 50 years and were committed to making a positive impact on Humboldt and the entire region, said Tom McCue, Humboldt complex manager. We appreciate the support of the local community as weve worked toward this day and Im excited to build a tradition of excellence with our team members.

About Tyson Foods, Inc.

Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) is one of the worlds largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Wright, Aidells, ibp, and State Fair. Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere its available and raise the worlds expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has 139,000 team members. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit TYSONFOODS.COM to learn more.

Media Contact: DEREK BURLESON, 479-290-6466

Newsroom: IR




A tiny-home village for homeless veterans is planned for Harrisburg.

Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania plans to build the 15-unit village on a 20-acre vacant lot just south of the PennDOT building at 1101 S. Front Street.

The property is bordered to the south by Paxton Creek, railroad tracks to the east and the Susquehanna River to the west. A portion of the Capital Area Greenbelt runs through the property.

The 12-by-14 foot detached houses would contain the basic necessities  a sleeping area, a half bath, a desk, a small sitting space, etc. A 6,000-square-foot community center would have meeting space, a dining area, activity rooms, a laundry and other amenities, according to The Burg. There will be 15 parking spaces to serve the village.

Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania addressed the Harrisburg Planning Commission on Wednesday night (virtually) with plans to subdivide the 20-acre property. The southern most side of the property will be the 5 acres where the village will be situated. There are no plans for development at this time for the remaining 15 acres.

The lot is largely vacant, although it still retains some of the building foundations and site infrastructure from when the property was home to a steel mill that was demolished decades ago.

The owner of the property, the Green Chair Trust, has allowed the Greenbelt to run through the property. Officials from the Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania noted that Green Chair Trust has said it would be fine with relocating the portion of the Greenbelt that runs through the property to another part of the property.

However, the Planning Bureau requested that an easement or other right-of-way dedication be completed for the width of the existing footprint of the Capital Area Greenbelt running from the property to the north to the bridge over the railroad tracks.

Bruce Grossman, an attorney for the Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania, said that the organization was unable to have the easement completed because it doesnt own the property.

The city is asking for something that we the applicant cannot do, he said.

A representative of the Green Chair Trust was not present at the meeting.

Most of the Planning Commission members said they supported the project but also agreed with the bureaus request. Ultimately, they voted unanimously to move forward with the recommendation and requested that the easement be completed before the plan goes before Harrisburg City Council, which would have to approve the subdivision of the property and a land development plan.

Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania previously requested and received zoning relief to establish the village and a community center. A land development plan still needs to be submitted to the city.

You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like him on Facebook.
The Lookout: New Bills Aim to Police the Police; Possibly Give Calif Its First Black Sheriff

Watching your tax dollars, elected officials and legislation that affects you.

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To serve and protect Californias many communities is a daunting responsibility  from entry level jobs to the highest elected positions in public safety. Therefore, qualifications to hold these positions are important considerations as those criteria could mean the difference between life and death.

In the California Legislature, there are a few bills being proposed that aim to specify qualifications for those who take the oath to maintain public safety.

One such bill is Senate Bill (SB) 271, also known as the Sheriff Democracy and Diversity Act, authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). It would allow any registered voter to be eligible to be voted county sheriff in California.

We want to reimagine a sheriffs department that is accountable to the community they are supposed to serve, and the only way that happens is if we the people have the ability to run a diverse group of candidates, candidates that are concerned with taking care of our communities and not dominating, incarcerating and dehumanizing them, said Cat Brooks, executive director of the Justice Teams Network, an organization committed to eliminating state violence.

As it currently stands in California, only individuals who possess Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificates can run for the office.

This requirement went into effect in 1989, making Michael Hennessey, the longest serving sheriff of San Francisco, the last civilian in California to be elected to the office in 1980.

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Since 1988, California voters have come to accept that only individuals with a law enforcement background can competently perform the job of a sheriff. SB 271 puts an end to that myth, said Judge LaDoris Cordell, former Independent Police Auditor for the city of San Jose.

Cordell went on to explain why she believes needing law enforcement experience to properly run the office of the county sheriff is a myth.

In 2015, I chaired a Blue Ribbon commission that was convened to evaluate the countys jails in the aftermath of the beating death of Michael Tyree, a mentally ill inmate who was beaten to death by three guards, Cordell said. What our commission found was a jail system that was horribly mismanaged. We also encountered tremendous resistance from the sheriff and her command staff to providing transparency into the jail operation  so much for law enforcement experience.

In Californias long history, there has never been a Black person elected to the office of the county sheriff. Both Wiener and Cordell believe that SB 271 could change that.

SB 271 returns our state to pre-1988 standards while also bringing us into the 21st century with a populace that is exhausted with the status quo and want a voice and choice in who sits in one of the most powerful positions in our county, Cordell said.

According to the text of the bill, Many current Sheriffs lack mental health or de-escalation training. As recent COVID-19 outbreaks in our jails demonstrates, the skills Sheriffs need to protect public safety include strong management, leadership, and the ability to move quickly and make difficult decisions, rather than the ability to fire a weapon.

SB 271 has passed the Senates Public Safety Committee with a 4-1 vote. It is now being reviewed by the Governance and Finance Committee. A hearing has been set for March 16.

In the lower house of the state Legislature, Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Sacramento) is proposing Assembly Bill (AB) 60. It would disqualify individuals who have been subjected to a military tribunal for any offense that would have been a felony in California from becoming peace officers in the state.

The bill would also disqualify any person who has been certified as a peace officer by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training and has had that certification revoked by the commission, the bills text reads.

On March 17, AB 60 was referred to the Assembly committee on Public Safety.

In the same vein, Assembly Bill (AB) 17, also introduced by Cooper, would disqualify an individual from serving as a peace officer if they have been discharged from the military for an offense that would have been a felony in California.

As it stands now, these conditions would not legally bar a person from being hired at a law enforcement agency.

Existing law makes the personnel records of peace officers and custodial officers and specified other records confidential and limits the disclosure of those records except in investigations or proceedings concerning the conduct of peace officers or custodial officers, or an agency or department that employs those officers, conducted by a grand jury, a district attorneys office or the Attorney Generals office, the bills text reads.

Assembly Bill (AB) 89, introduced by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), would increase the qualification standards to become a peace officer.

The Assembly Public Safety committee is currently reviewing AB 17.

AB 89 would raise the minimum age to become a peace officer from 18 to 25, with the exception of individuals under 25 with advanced degrees.

The bill would specify that these requirements do not apply to individuals 18 to 24 years of age who are already employed as a peace officer as of the effective date of this act, the bills text reads.

AB 17 has been referred to the Assembly Public Safety committee.

All of these adjusted qualifications being considered for varying law enforcement positions are designed to better regulate some of Californias most powerful public servants. Time will tell if using legislation to police the police is effective in solving Californias law enforcement-related problems.
Karlin Chan started the Chinatown Block Watch in February 2020, when the coronavirus crisis was just beginning in the United Statesand was already spurring racist attacks on Asian people. Three times a week he and a group of volunteers went on patrol in Chinatown to look out for their neighbors. Now, after a year of increased anti-Asian violence and harassment, theyre still at it. Chan is a New Yorker through and through, lived there 60 years, and as he put it, Im not going to take this stuff from anyone. On Thursdays episode of What Next, I talked to him about the groups community-building efforts, the police presence in Chinatown, and how long he plans to keep up the patrols. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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Mary Harris: So youre still doing the block watch twice a week. Thursdays one of your days.

Karlin Chan: Yes. I started this last February 2020, and we were patrolling three times a week. Because of the winter, its pretty cold out there. Most of our volunteers dont live in the Chinatown area. They come in from all over, they come from New Jersey even, so I had to cut down the days. But were going to pick it up again because apparently this is not going to ease up anytime soon, so theres a need to increase the frequency of the patrols. I may actually start an evening patrol now, just to address the needs. Its an ever-evolving strategy and plan.

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Do you have a route you do with your crew?

Its a very random route throughout the neighborhood. Last weekend I switched it up again because we had a larger group last weekend, we had about 30 people, so we split into three teams and we stay in contact with the FM walkie-talkie devices. This way, were always within a block of each other in case there is an incident, but we get more coverage area also.

How would I know its you? Do you guys wear identifying clothes?

I started with the orange safety vest and then I ordered the orange polos. Now we have black hoodies. I just recently made a shipment of face masks, and Im buying new uniforms for the summer. So were all in uniform, were visible.

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You try to reason with them, you try to de-escalate the situation. Were not a bunch of vigilantes.  Karlin Chan

Is there a moment from your patrols over the last year that stands out to you? Was there a moment where you saw something and you intervened or something that you just keep returning to?

Well, weve intervened in verbal harassment. A person will be making stupid remarks about people, especially the old ladies along the curb trying to sell something. I would intervene and say, Why are you bothering these people? What has this old woman done to you? If you dont like Chinese, you dont like Asians, why are you in Chinatown in the first place?

You try to reason with them, you try to de-escalate the situation. Were not a bunch of vigilantes out there looking for trouble. Were not a bunch of vigilantes out there looking to racially profile people. But were there to de-escalate the situation, intervene and record and help the victim report it if necessary. Were just neighbors looking after neighbors.

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Ive always advocated for people to report incidents of crime, whether they got mugged or whether they were harassed or whether they were attacked.

Why wouldnt they do that?

Years ago, it was a language access problem. The city did not have a language bank at the time, but they created a language bank where the city agency or the police officer on the street can call into this bank and just say Cantonese, Mandarin, or whatever language. So it makes it a little easier. But theres still a lot of hesitancy on the part of immigrants to have any kind of contact with government.

Also, the reporting process was a chore. If you walked into a precinct, youd be spending an hour and a half to two hours there trying to report a mugging. And then if you have to look through mug shots, we can count on another hour or so. But the NYPD recently rolled out an online reporting system, where lets say an immigrant can have their children or grandchildren just report the incident online and a detective or a police officer will follow up with you. So it makes it a little easier and also makes it less intimidating.

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In the year that you built up this block watch, theres been an increase in reported attacks against Asian Americans in New York City. I feel like having more incidents reported is part of your goal, and it may be a sign that youre reaching people.

Exactly. My whole goal was to encourage people to start reporting incidents, because years ago people didnt want to report this. If you were verbally harassed on the street, especially if youre ESL, English as a second language, you had no idea what they were talking about anyway. But we look at 2019I think there were one or two bias incidents against Asians in New York City.

You dont think thats accurate.

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Ah, heck no. No way is that accurate because Ive seen more personally. So how can you have two incidents of harassment when Ive personally witnessed more?

Its good to see people are stepping forward to report these incidents, because the NYPD and also the city government needs to allocate resources. Now theyre recognizing this problem. Ive always said, if you dont report it, it never happened, and the city agencies and police will not allocate resources to address the issue. So now the city is allocating resources. The NYPD has created positive steps to address this issue of bias incidents against Asians.

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I always knew things will get worse before it gets better.  Karlin Chan

If you could advocate for one change in the response to anti-Asian hate and hate crimes right now, what would it be?

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I would advocate for them to toughen the laws on this because right now, when you go into court, its kind of difficult to prove a hate crime in front of a jury, if it gets that far. In the absence of any witnesses, multiple witnesses, credible witnesses at least, its hard for the prosecution, the DAs office, to prove this, and harassment as a hate crime is not really an offense that would put a person behind bars.

I was reading that historically the relationship between residents in Chinatown and the police has been pretty complicatedin the 80s and 90s, police were viewed as indifferent to locals concerns and folks even worried they were being taken advantage of.

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There was a lot of misunderstanding. There was a lot of miscommunication, which created a lot of distrust. And there was also the language access problem. Now we have many more bilingual officers assigned to this precinct and the surrounding precincts. So it makes it a little easier. They are making an effort to have good relations with this communitythe last couple of years, yeah, I would say so. They made big strides in community policing down here.

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Im curious how people in the block watch talk about things like defunding the police. Ive noticed that some activists are pretty bullish on the idea of taking money away from the police and saying this really isnt working for our community, while others very much want the protection of the police. What are those conversations like when youre having them?

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Well, actually, there are no members on the Chinatown Block Watch calling for defunding the police.

None?

We dont get into partisan politics. We actually dont talk about politics at all. I support community policing here. I would love to see a beat cop come back onto the job. Decades ago, there used to be a beat cop, these officers that walk around the neighborhood on foot, and they get to know all the business owners, they get to know the residents.

Why do you think it is that in your group there isnt conversation about defunding the police? Because it seems like some of what youre doing is community building. Its the kind of stuff that activists who want to defund the police think is more necessary.

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Were community building. Also, this is a form of community policing, you might want to call it, but were not anti-police or calling to defund the police at all. If you defund the police, whos going to respond to crimes? Whos going to respond to shootings or anything?

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There is room for reform on how the police respond to marginalized or ethnic enclaves. But defunding the police? No. I wouldnt agree with that.

Now that youve started patrolling the streets, do you think youre going to stop? Do you see this as a temporary thing thats responding to a crisis, or something else?

When I started the block watch, I was hoping that it would kind of disband by the end of the year. But in the back of my head, I always knew things will get worse before it gets better. And sadly, it has gotten worse. So probably were gonna extend this until the end of this year at least, or until the attacks fade away, because I think as the city reopens more, were going to have less of these attacks.

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People have been locked down. Many people lost their jobs. So theyre frustrated, sitting at home. They couldnt go to a ballgame up until just a couple of days ago. They couldnt spend time with their family in large groups. So people are frustrated. Sometimes frustration turns to anger. And sometimes when youre in a supermarket or in a store somewhere, you see an Asian person, you would lash out at that person, say, Youre the one who caused this. Youre the freakin person. Your race or ethnicity caused me a year of hardship.

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Its like the guy in Georgiahe had a bad day. I mean, were talking institutionalized entitlement here, where the police captain said, oh, he had a bad day. Well, I got news for you. Ive had 400-plus bad days.

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Im kind of surprised to hear that youre hoping to shut down the block watch. I was wondering if you were just going to make it a permanent fixture.

Well, if someone wants to fund this, I could make it a permanent fixture. Were all volunteers. As the city reopens, people need to get back to work. I have a solid core of 25 people whove dedicated the last 14 months to coming out and patrolling the neighborhood, without any kind of reward. The only reward is the satisfaction of taking an active part in keeping an eye out for this community.

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Thousands of Australians are on alert as two tropical cyclones hovering off the coast are set to collide and form a dangerous super-system.

Tropical Cyclone Seroja is forecast to hit the Western Australian coast as early as Sunday as it barrels towards Broome, in the state's north-west.

The Bureau of Meteorology said anywhere along a 1,100km stretch from Perth north to Coral Bay could be in the cyclone's firing line - although it will most likely make land near Carnarvon in the Gascoyne region.

Another tropical low has formed west of Cyclone Seroja, with the two weather systems expected to rotate around each other to create the Fujiwhara Effect.

Tropical Cyclone Seroja is tracking south from its current position 720km northwest of Broome and is expected to make landfall as early as Sunday

Tropical cyclone forecaster Craig Earl-Spurr said the rare meteorological phenomenon would make it look like the cyclones were 'dancing' and was not common in Australia.

'Because both are trying to throw each other around their own wind fields, as each one moves the wind field moves with it,' he told ABC News.

'Depending on how that then pushes the other [system] around, little changes can become big changes very quickly.'

BoM computer modelling has yet to pinpoint the path of Cyclone Seroja.

But the bureau warned there could be an increase in rain and winds in the Pilbara and Gascoyne Coat region.

Mr Earl-Spurr said the systems are difficult to track because they will be locked in a 'tug of war' once the Fujiwhara Effect starts to take place.

'They can take a full 90-degree turn when they first start to interact with each other,' he said.

Cyclone Seroja pictured to the east of the other tropical low north-west of the Australian coastline. Meteorologists have said the systems are difficult to track because they will be locked in a 'tug of war' as part of the Fujiwhara Effect

South Australia, Victoria, southern parts of NSW and the ACT will see temperatures dramatically drop over the weekend. Pictured: A woman braves the rain in Sydney in February

Parts of Australia are forecast to shiver through icy temperatures and wet weather in the coming days as a blast of Antarctic air sweeps across the nation's south.

Some areas are tipped to see their coldest days of the year so far.

Cold fronts are forecast to hit southern and central parts of the country beginning on Friday, with some areas expected to see hail or snow by the end of the weekend.

As a high pressure system that has brought balmy weather across the east shifts into the Tasman, two low pressure systems moving in from the south are bringing cold artic air up from the Great Australian Bight.

'A spell of unseasonably warm weather will come to an abrupt end over central and southern Australia this weekend,' said Sky News senior meteorologist Tom Saunders.

Parts of Australia are set to shiver this week as two cold fronts sweep a 'polar blast' of air across the country. This map shows the coldest areas (in blue) on Sunday morning

'The warmer temperatures have left southern Victoria about 5C above average.

'But the cold front hits Hobart on Thursday night, and on Friday morning cold south westerly winds will arrive in Melbourne.'

South Australia, Victoria, southern parts of NSW and the ACT will see temperatures dramatically drop over the weekend, with those regions tipped to potentially see the coldest day of the year so far on Sunday or Monday.

Melbourne is forecast to fall from a top of 29C on Thursday to just 15C on Sunday, with showers developing on Friday and continuing through the weekend.

In Adelaide, the mercury will plummet from 31C on Thursday to a high of 19C on Sunday.

Meanwhile, residents along a vast stretch of Western Australia's coastline have been warned to prepare for two possible tropical cyclones developing offshore, while minor flood warnings are in place for rivers in north-east NSW.

Sydneysiders can expect a hot 30C on Friday, before mid-20C temperatures on Saturday and Sunday.

But the mercury will drop to a chilly minimum of 11C on Monday, before jumping back to 26C on Tuesday.

Canberra is set to shiver through cloudy days over the weekend with lows below 5C and highs in the mid-to-high teens.

Residents of a vast stretch of Western Australia's coastline are being warned to prepare for two possible tropical cyclones developing offshore. Pictured: A couple walking near Leighton Beach in Perth during wet weather

Sunshine will reappear on Monday, but temperatures will remain low, with a 0C minimum, bouncing up to 2C on Tuesday.

Showers are in store for Hobart on Saturday and Sunday, with temperature ranges between 7C and 15C.

Possible storms and showers are forecast for Darwin from Friday until Tuesday, with highs topping 33C and lows in the mid 20C.

Brisbane and Perth residents will enjoy warm weather leading into next week, with lows in the high teens and maximum temperatures in the 20Cs.

Perth will swelter through 30C heat on Saturday, before some showers on Sunday.
Joe Biden promised to do it and he has finally delivered. Today, the cognitively declining President of the United States signed a number of Executive Orders allegedly designed to curb gun violence but actually designed to destroy the Second Amendment and the Bill of Rights.

In the process, Biden has turned many Americans into felons with a stroke of his pen.

Details are still emerging as to just what the Executive Orders will mean for gun rights but we are aware of some of the ramifications.

Biden has signed 6 Executive Orders related to guns:

1.)Tightening regulations on ghost guns. Ghost guns are of course the labels liberals use to describe homemade firearms (because we will win by slogans) that are generally put together from parts assembled and drilled with machine tools. As a result, they often do not have serial numbers so it is harder for the government to be able to trace them. It is legal to build a gun in a home or workshop and there is no federal requirement for a background check. But Biden aims to stop this, saying his administration will rein in the proliferation of so-called ghost guns.

These are guns that are homemade. Built from a kit that include directions on how to finish the firearm. You can go buy the kit. They have no serial numbers. So, when they show up at a crime scene they cant be traced. And the buyers arent required to pass the background check to buy the kit. To make the gun. Consequently, anyone from a criminal to a terrorist can buy this kit for as little as 30 minutes, put together a weapon, Biden explained.

Biden wants these guns treated as firearms under the Gun Control Act. He argues that, under the act, key parts of gun-making kits would be required to have numbers for traceability and would also require background checks for people purchasing the kits.

The White House stated:

We are experiencing a growing problem: criminals are buying kits containing nearly all of the components and directions for finishing a firearm within as little as 30 minutes and using these firearms to commit crimes. When these firearms turn up at crime scenes, they often cannot be traced by law enforcement due to the lack of a serial number. The Justice Department will issue a proposed rule to help stop the proliferation of these firearms.

2.) Measure the problem of gun violence in a data driven way. The Justice Department will issue an annual report on firearms trafficking. According to the official White House statement:

In 2000, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) issued a report summarizing information regarding its investigations into firearms trafficking, which is one way firearms are diverted into the illegal market where they can easily end up in the hands of dangerous individuals. Since the reports publication, states, local, and federal policymakers have relied on its data to better thwart the common channels of firearms trafficking. But there is good reason to believe that firearms trafficking channels have changed since 2000, for example due to the emergence of online sales and proliferation of ghost guns. The Justice Department will issue a new, comprehensive report on firearms trafficking and annual updates necessary to give policymakers the information they need to help address firearms trafficking today.

3.) The Justice Department, within 60 days, will issue a proposed rule to make clear when a device marketed as a stabilizing brace effectively turns a pistol into a short-barreled rifle subject to the requirements of the National Firearms Act. The alleged shooter in the Boulder tragedy last month appears to have used a pistol with an arm brace, which can make a firearm more stable and accurate while still being concealable, the White House says.

4.) The Justice Department, within 60 days, will publish model red flag legislation for states.

From the White House:

Red flag laws allow family members or law enforcement to petition for a court order temporarily barring people in crisis from accessing firearms if they present a danger to themselves or others. The President urges Congress to pass an appropriate national red flag law, as well as legislation incentivizing states to pass red flag laws of their own. In the interim, the Justice Departments published model legislation will make it easier for states that want to adopt red flag laws to do so.

5.) The Administration is investing in evidence-based community violence interventions.

Community violence interventions are proven strategies for reducing gun violence in urban communities through tools other than incarceration. Because cities across the country are experiencing a historic spike in homicides, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking a number of steps to prioritize investment in community violence interventions.

The American Jobs Plan proposes a $5 billion investment over eight years to support community violence intervention programs. A key part of community violence intervention strategies is to help connect individuals to job training and job opportunities.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is organizing a webinar and toolkit to educate states on how they can use Medicaid to reimburse certain community violence intervention programs, like Hospital-Based Violence Interventions.

Five federal agencies are making changes to 26 different programs to direct vital support to community violence intervention programs as quickly as possible. These changes mean we can start increasing investments in community violence interventions as we wait on Congress to appropriate additional funds

6.) The President will nominate David Chipman to serve as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

According to the White House:

ATF is the key agency enforcing our gun laws, and it needs a confirmed director in order to do the job to the best of its ability. But ATF has not had a confirmed director since 2015. Chipman served at ATF for 25 years and now works to advance commonsense gun safety laws.

It should be noted that Chipman served an important role in the coverup of the Oklahoma City Bombing and the First World Trade Center bombing and is now serving an even more important role in the war against American citizens.

Biden says no Amendments are absolute.

The President is unconvinced that these orders infringe on the Second Amendment but seems cool with it even if they do.

Nothing, nothing I am about to recommend in any way impinges on the Second Amendment, the president said, calling arguments suggesting that those constitutional rights are at stake phony. No amendment, no amendment to the Constitution is absolute, he said. You cant yell fire in a crowded movie theater  recall a freedom of speech. From the very beginning, you couldnt own any weapon you wanted to own. From the very beginning that the Second Amendment existed, certain people werent allowed to have weapons. He added: So the idea is just bizarre, to suggest that some of the things were recommending are contrary to the Constitution. (source)

This is just the beginning.

Make no mistake, the Biden Administration is declaring war on the rights of the American people and the first act of resistance is non-compliance. But there seems to be more on the horizon both coming from the White House and Congress itself.
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In prison, everything that happens feels like part of our punishment, he writes. Over the last year, that has included living through a pandemic while behind bars.

He adds: As the lawyer and human rights advocate Bryan Stevenson has written, we are more than the worst thing weve ever done. Thats the ideal. Yet the worst thing weve done is part of us, too; we are the sum of all our deeds. I murdered a man, and I sometimes feel that the act did diminish the value of my own life. I sometimes feel that I am less deserving of the vaccine than an innocent person.

ARTS AND IDEAS

The unsung influence of a pioneering food journalist

Jane Nickerson made Craig Claiborne possible and put the cheeseburger on the map, writes Sam Sifton, the food editor at The Times. This is an excerpt.

In 1947, Jane Nickerson broke news of an innovation in the world of hamburgers: the cheeseburger. At first, the combination of beef with cheese and tomatoes, which sometimes are used, may seem bizarre, she wrote in The Times. If you reflect a bit, youll understand the combination is sound gastronomically.

Two years later, she introduced Times readers to the concept of food writers in an article about a press luncheon aboard the ocean liner Ile de France. She brought green-goddess dressing to The Times, and steak Diane. These recipes, these stories, Craig Claiborne  they dont exist without Jane Nickerson, said Kimberly Voss, the author of The Food Section: Newspaper Women and the Culinary Community.

Nickerson ran the food desk of The Times from 1942 to 1957 and shepherded Times readers through the austerity of wartime rationing and into the prosperous economy that followed, with hundreds and hundreds of news articles, restaurant reviews and recipes that continue to resonate today.

It was Nickerson, the food historian Anne Mendelson wrote in a 1990 review of a revised edition of The New York Times Cook Book, who was chiefly responsible for the national prestige enjoyed by Times food coverage when Claiborne succeeded her.
April 8, 2021 - Routinely collected data on patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery do not provide a valid basis for assessing and comparing hospital performance on patient safety outcomes, reports a study in Spine. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

At a time when hospitals are increasingly subject to online rankings or "pay-for-performance" reimbursement programs, metrics based on hospital administrative data are "unreliable for profiling hospital performance," concludes the new research by Jacob K. Greenberg, MD, MSCI, of Washington University in St Louis and colleagues. They write, "These results provide important insights into the advisability of using administrative billing data to benchmark hospital quality in spine surgery."

Study finds unacceptably low hospital 'rankability' for spinal fusion

The researchers analyzed more than 367,000 spinal fusion surgery procedures performed in nine states between 2010 and 2017, drawn from nine state inpatient databases. Performed in patients with degenerative spine disease, spinal fusion is a common and costly inpatient surgical procedure. The study included data on approximately 154,000 procedures in the upper (cervical) spine and 213,000 in the lower (thoracic and lumbar) spine.

The analysis focused on serious complications such as return to the operating room, myocardial infarction (heart attack), death, or prolonged hospital stay. The study was designed to determine whether a metric based on publicly available information from state inpatient databases would be reliable for benchmarking and comparing performance between hospitals.

The researchers calculated a risk/reliability-adjusted complication rate to account for differences in the characteristics (case mix) of patients treated at each hospital. They then used a "rankability" measure to assess whether the metric could distinguish true differences in hospital performance from random fluctuations due to chance (signal-to-noise ratio).

Overall, 4.4 percent of patients undergoing cervical spinal fusion had serious complications. For this group of patients, rankability was consistently low - indicating that "rank-based profiling efforts would lead to widely varying results over time," Dr. Greenberg and colleagues write.

For patients undergoing thoracic and lumbar spinal fusion, the serious complication rate was 7.7 percent. Rankability was higher than for cervical spinal fusion. However, the metric's ability to compare complication rates between hospitals was still just slight to moderate depending on the year, indicating most differences across hospitals were due to chance.

The authors noted that rankability increases with the volume of spinal fusion procedures performed. However, only about one-third of hospitals performed sufficient numbers of thoracic-lumbar fusions to produce reliable estimates. Less than five percent performed enough cervical fusions for reliable rankings.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers increasingly use complication rates or other safety metrics to adjust payments to doctors and hospitals for various conditions and procedures. Complication rates are not yet used in national benchmarking for spine surgery, but are widely used for hip and knee replacement surgery. "While payers are increasingly focused on implementing pay-for-performance measures, quality metrics must reliably reflect true differences in performance among the hospitals profiled," according to the authors.

The new analysis - including hundreds of thousands of procedures performed at hospitals across the United States - suggests that state inpatient data on complications are inappropriate for use in ranking and comparing hospital performance for spinal fusion procedures. Dr. Greenberg and colleagues conclude: "These results indicate that such metrics derived from administrative billing data should not be used in high-stakes applications, such as public reporting or pay-for-performance."

###

Click here to read "Administrative Data are Unreliable for Ranking Hospital Performance Based on Serious Complications after Spine Fusion."

DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000004017

About Spine

Recognized internationally as the leading journal in its field, Spine (http://www. spinejournal. com ) is an international, peer-reviewed, bi-weekly periodical that considers for publication original articles in the field of spine. It is the leading subspecialty journal for the treatment of spinal disorders. Only original papers are considered for publication with the understanding that they are contributed solely to Spine. According to the latest ISI Science Citation Impact Factor, Spine is the most frequently cited spinal deformity journal among general orthopaedic journals and subspecialty titles.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2019 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit https:/ / www. wolterskluwer. com/ en/ health and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.
A Manitoba judge has convicted a former health-care aide of sexually assaulting an elderly, physically vulnerable personal care home resident, flatly rejecting the mans claim the victims silence amounted to consent.

A Manitoba judge has convicted a former health-care aide of sexually assaulting an elderly, physically vulnerable personal care home resident, flatly rejecting the mans claim the victims silence amounted to consent.

"That is clearly not the law," provincial court Judge Wanda Garreck told 69-year-old Kevin Noakes on Thursday.

Noakes, who acted as his own lawyer at a trial last summer, was a part-time aide at Oakview Place in Winnipeg. The 68-year-old victim had moved into the facility three weeks prior to the Nov. 3, 2018, assault.

The woman, who died in October 2019, suffered from a host of health issues, including Parkinsons disease.

In the absence of the womans testimony, Garreck accepted into evidence her video police statement, recorded 11 days after the assault.

"The biggest concern, of course, is that (the video statement) was unchallenged by cross-examination because of her unavailability," Garreck said.

The woman, appearing gaunt and frail on video and years older than her age, told investigators a man wearing "baby-blue scrubs" took her to the bathroom shortly after midnight and then walked her back to her room, which she shared with another resident at the St. James neighbourhood facility.

The man pushed her backwards onto the bed, "Said he wouldnt hurt me," and had sex with her, the woman said.

The woman said she told the man to stop, but the plea was ignored.

When he was done, the man "rolled me over kissed me on the cheek and said I was his favourite girl," the woman said. "I was still crying and he left."

The woman described her attacker as 30 years of age, with a muscular build.

While that description did not match Noakes, he was just one of two health-care aides on shift that night, and the only male, Garreck said. Semen samples taken from the woman matched Noakes DNA, which he did not contest.

"I am satisfied (Noakes) was the male she was describing," the judge said.

Noakes claimed the sex was consensual, telling court in a closing argument last year: "Consent can be given, in my opinion, by not saying anything."

Not true, Garreck said: "But on the evidence of this case, I find she actually did in fact communicate a complete lack of consent, based on the totality of the circumstances, which included her word 'stop,' as well as the fact she was crying."

At trial, Noakes often appeared unprepared, declining opportunities to cross-examine several witnesses, and admitting to not reading large volumes of disclosure provided to him by the Crown. Garreck urged Noakes to consider securing a lawyer, but he declined, telling court he could not afford one and had been turned down twice by Legal Aid.

Noakes agreed Thursday to co-operate with the completion of a pre-sentence report that would detail his personal history, education, work background and other factors the court might take into consideration before sentencing him.

Noakes will return to court for sentencing arguments July 12. He remains free on bail.

dean.pritchard@frepress.mb.ca
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki declined to directly answer a question asking for President Joe Bidens thoughts about the Equality Acts implications for Catholic businesses and individuals who seek to operate in accordance with their deeply held religious beliefs.

EWTN White House Correspondent Owen Jensen asked Psaki about the Equality Act's implications for religious Americans, specifically Catholics, during a White House Press Briefing Tuesday.

What does the president, who we know is Catholic, say to Catholic doctors, Catholic institutions who are fearful that if the Equality Act passes, it has the potential to trample on their conscience rights? What does the president say to those people who are concerned about that? he asked.

Psaki responded by saying that the president has a difference of opinion.

Source:The Christian Post
"We are extremely pleased to have been selected to develop this facility, which will provide critically needed services to veterans," said Steve Colon, President of Hunt's Hawaii Development Division. "We worked very hard over the past four years to secure this facility in an area that will have an enormous impact on our community for generations to come. As the largest military housing owner in the country, we are committed to filling unmet meets within the military community, and this certainly does that for those who have served our country and are now in need of convenient healthcare on the west side of Oahu."

The team is comprised of the following:

Lead Developer  Hunt Companies, Inc.

Architect  Ferraro Choi and Associates Ltd.

and Associates Ltd. Civil Engineer  RM Towill Corporation

Landscape Architect  HHF Planners

Electrical / Data / AV / Security Design  WSP Hawaii

Mechanical Design  Mechanical Engineers of Hawaii

Structural / Transportation  SSFM International

Traffic Engineer  Austin Tsutsumi & Associates

& Associates Geotechnical Engineers  GeoLab Inc.

Environmental Engineers  Weston Solutions

The Veterans Administration (VA) awarded the lease to locate the Advanced Leeward Outpatient Healthcare Access (ALOHA) project at Kalaeloa under a 15-year lease. When completed, the ALOHA Project will be a new 88,675 square-foot multi-specialty VA clinic that will provide primary care, mental health care, x-ray, laboratory, diagnostic, pharmacy, and specialty care for the area's veterans.

"We are proud to be expanding the much needed services to our veterans," said Dr. Adam Robinson, Director of the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System. "The ALOHA project will increase access to VA's advanced technology, top providers and staff who will bring safe, compassionate, quality care to them. We appreciate all of the support from our congressional and community partners who have helped to make this a reality."

"Leeward Oahu veterans have been waiting for years for a new facility that would improve their access to health care closer to home," Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) said. "This lease award brings us one step closer to making the ALOHA Project a reality for these veterans and is progress toward fulfilling the vision of Senator Daniel K. Akaka, who first spearheaded this project working with local veterans."

"The ALOHA Project will help more than 87,000 veterans on Oahu receive the benefits, resources and services they deserve," Congressman Kaialii Kahele (HI-02) said. "I am honored to carry out the mission of Senator Daniel Akaka to deliver results for our veterans who dedicated their lives to protecting our country."

Hunt will now begin working with the VA on design development and anticipates that groundbreaking will take place in late 2021.

About Hunt Companies, Inc.

Hunt is a diversified, family-owned holding company that invests in operating businesses, real estate assets and infrastructure assets. Since its founding in 1947, Hunt's size and scope have grown substantially while gaining considerable expertise across multiple real asset sectors. Hunt's reputation is built on integrity and performance. Hunt is committed to a culture of transparency for employees, clients, investors, and the communities it serves. Hunt and its affiliates employ over 3,000 employees across the United States and Europe.

Hunt has been active in Hawaii for three decades and has long been recognized for its innovative renovation of underutilized military properties, as well as its commitment to creating premier master-planned communities that complement the cultural and geographical riches of the Hawaiian Islands.

SOURCE Hunt Companies, Inc.
China urges U.S. to improve its own human rights

Xinhua) 08:53, April 08, 2021

A protester holds a sign that reads "Black Lives Matter" near the White House during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd in Washington D.C., the United States, June 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- China urges the United States to face up to its own serious human rights problems and take concrete measures to improve its own human rights situation, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

This came after U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price's remarks over China's Xinjiang Tuesday.

In response, spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the so-called "genocide" in Xinjiang is the most preposterous lie of the century. By smearing others, the United States is trying to distract attention away from its own blatant human rights violations.

Noting that history has recorded all the crimes committed by the U.S. side in violating human rights, Zhao listed five kinds of crimes at the press briefing.

The first is colonialism. U.S. history has recorded the horrific systemic ethnic cleansing and slaughter of Native Americans, which constitute genocide and crimes against humanity. Over nearly 100 years after the United States was founded, Native Americans were expelled and killed during the Westward Expansion. Their population dwindled from 5 million at the end of the 15th century to 250,000 at the beginning of the 20th century.

The second is racism. In the United States, racism is a systemic and persistent problem covering every aspect of society. As pointed out by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, African Americans face systemic racism in terms of their health, employment, education, the legal system and beyond. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, hate crimes against Asians soared by 150 percent from March last year in the United States. When the UN Human Rights Council was reviewing the report on the United States this year, over 110 countries criticized the United States on its human rights issues, urging the country to take concrete measures to solve systemic problems such as discrimination against minority groups.

The third is exporting unrest. Since 2001, the United States has launched wars and military operations under the pretext of "countering terrorism" in about 80 countries around the world, which have claimed more than 800,000 lives, including about 330,000 civilians, and tens of millions of people have been displaced in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and many other countries. The United States and the West supported and instigated the "Arab Spring," which plunged countries across West Asia and North Africa into turmoil from which they have yet to recover.

Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2019 shows the White House and a stop sign in Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The fourth is interference. Hiding behind the banner of human rights over sovereignty, the United States has ignored the principles of respecting national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs in the UN Charter, and imposed unilateral sanctions on relevant developing countries, triggering serious humanitarian crisis.

The fifth is double standards. The United States has turned a blind eye to the fact that Xinjiang enjoys prosperity and development and that the 25 million residents of all ethnic groups in the region live in harmony and solidarity, and arbitrarily slapped the label of "genocide" on China based on nothing but the accounts of a few fake academics and false witnesses. However, after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, extreme acts such as smashing and looting mosques occurred in some Muslim neighborhoods in U.S. cities. In 2017, the previous U.S. administration put in place the anti-Muslim ban, making the U.S. the only country in the world to have issued a ban targeting Muslim community specifically. According to one poll in the United States, more than 80 percent of respondents believe that Muslims face discrimination in the country.

"We urge the United States to put aside its arrogance and prejudice, face up to its own serious human rights problems and take concrete measures to improve its own human rights situation," Zhao said.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
As research involving transplanting lab-grown human 'mini-brains' into animals to study neurological diseases continues to expand, experts warn the work with these brain organoids could result in a 'Planet of the Apes' scenario.

The concern is animals could develop humanized traits and start to behave similar to the intelligent apes of the popular science fiction story.

The warning comes from a team at Kyoto University who released a paper highlighting a number of ethical implications that could arise with brain organoid research.

Although many see brain organoids as a way to quickly develop disease treatments, others fear that because they are designed to mimic the real thing, they too may attain some form of consciousness.

Scroll down for video

Experts warn the work with these brain organoids could result in a 'Planet of the Apes' (pictured) scenario. The concern is animals could develop humanized traits and start to behave similar to the intelligent apes of the popular science fiction story

Tsutomu Sawai, an assistant professor at the Kyoto University, said: 'This is still too futuristic, but that does not mean we should wait to decide on ethical guidelines.

'The concern is not so much a biological humanization of the animal, which can happen with any organoid, but a moral humanization, which is exclusive to the brain.'

Brain organoids, first created in 2008, are 3D balls of brain-like tissue grown from stem cells  and usually from that of humans.

Other stem cell research is using animal tissue to grow organoids, called 'xeno-organs, which are transplanted into other animals.

Brain organoids (pictured), first created in 2008, are 3D balls of brain-like tissue grown from stem cells  and usually from that of humans. Some fear that because they are designed to mimic the real thing, they too may attain some form of consciousness

For example, scientists successfully grew a mouse pancreas in a rat and vice versa.

This ground-breaking work is paving the way for human pancreases to be grown in pigs that could later be harvested for human organ transplants.

The paper notes, however, these animals would carry out their lives as organ farms for the sake of humans.

However, Sawai said there is a more pressing issue.

'One of the biggest problems is transplants. Should we put brain organoids into animals to observe how the brain behaves?'

Sawai warns that doing so could result in the animals having enhanced abilities, which may sounds just like the popular Planet of the Apes.

The story has been a popular one since first being released in 1968 and then again in 2017 as a remake.

Planet of the Apes takes place on a distant planet sometime in the future, where three astronauts become stranded and learn the world is ruled by intelligent apes.

While growing whole human brains inside animals is not under any serious consideration, transplanting brain organoids could give crucial insight on how diseases like dementia or schizophrenia form and treatments to cure them.

The brain organoids have provided scientists with a new way of studying the human brain  to better understanding how it develops to learning how diseases develop.

While growing whole human brains inside animals is not under any serious consideration, transplanting brain organoids could give crucial insight on how diseases like dementia or schizophrenia form and treatments to cure them. Pictured are the cells in a brain organoid

However, the topic has been met with mixed signals in the scientific community, as some see brain organoids as a way to rapidly develop treatments for devastating brain diseases and others fear organoids may soon attain some form of consciousness.

The brain is deemed the source of human consciousness, so if brain organoids are just a smaller version of the real thing, they too should develop consciousness.

And Kyoto University's paper states this brings all sorts of moral implications.

'Consciousness is a very difficult property to define. We do not have very good experimental techniques that confirm consciousness,' said Sawai, who has spent several years writing about the ethics of brain organoid research

'But even if we cannot prove consciousness, we should set guidelines, because scientific advancements demand it.'

Another ethical issue that comes from brain organoid transplants deals with humans. If something goes wrong, the mini brain can't be removed. Pictured is the grown process of brain organoids starting at three days to 10 days

Another ethical issue that comes from brain organoid transplants deals with humans.

All paths of brain organoids point to being transplanted in human patients who have suffered some type of sudden brain injury or trauma.

There are already a number of clinical trials that involve the transplantation of brain cells as a cell therapy in patients with such injury or neurodegenerative diseases.

Sawai said that the ethics behind these therapies could act as a paradigm for brain organoids.

'Cell transplantations change the way brain cells function. If something goes wrong, we can't just take them out and start over,' said Sawai.

'But right now, cell transplantation is usually in just one location. Brain organoids would be expected to interact more deeply with the brain, risking more unexpected changes.'
A woman sits in solitude at George Bell Park in Toronto on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, a day before another province-wide stay at home order takes place. Ontario residents are facing new stay-at-home orders as officials in several provinces tighten restrictions and crack down on rule-breakers in a race against COVID-19 and its variants. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin
Towerstone, a Dallas-based wholesale insurance division of IMA Financial Group, has acquired Jacobs & Associates, a general agent and excess and surplus lines broker based in Strongsville, Ohio.

The transaction was effective April 1, 2021.

The partnership opens new markets for Towerstone and Jacobs, while also creating new offerings for the companies retail broker partners and specialty risk clients.

Jacobs will join the IMA Financial Group and will retain its name. Its six team members will continue to operate out of the companys office in Strongsville.

The acquisition is IMA Financial Groups tenth in the past 12 months and serves as a springboard for Towerstones growth within Texas and beyond, the companys announcement said. Towerstone has specialized in wholesale insurance products and services for the oil and gas industry for three decades, and serves additional industry verticals, as well.

Source: IMA Financial Group

Topics Mergers Agencies Insurance Wholesale Ohio
A man who waited four months during lockdown to visit his barber has left social media in stitches with the 'worst haircut of his life'.

College student Andrew Riley, 20, from Glasgow, visited his local hairdresser in Bearsden on April 7 - two days after the salons were allowed to reopen across Scotland.

Mr Riley paid 12 for the cut and asked the barber for a mid-skin fade - a tapered cut that ends between the temple and ears.

However, he was furious when he ended up with a thick patch of hair on the top of his head, and bald sides.

Mr Riley, who is set to start a barbers' course himself in August, took to Twitter to share the results of his new look.

College student Andrew Riley (above), 20, from Glasgow, visited his local hairdresser in Bearsden on April 7 - two days after the salons were allowed to reopen across Scotland. The result left him with the 'worst haircut of his life'

Mr Riley paid 12 for the cut and asked the barber for a mid-skin fade - a tapered cut that ends between the temple and ears. However, he ended up with a thick patch of hair on the top of his head, and bald sides

In screenshots of messages between Mr Riley and the barber, the student explains that he isn't happy with the finished look. The barber responds with an apology and offers a free haircut next time

In screenshots of messages between Mr Riley and the barber, the student explains that he isn't happy with the finished look.

The barber responds with an apology and offers a free haircut next time.

However, the customer is less than impressed and replies: 'Don't think it will be mate as I will be taking my business elsewhere.'

Mr Riley (above), who is set to start a barbers' course himself in August, took to Twitter to share his experience and has racked up more than 10,500 likes

Mr Riley has since said: 'During the haircut, I had my doubts as I have done before but I thought I should trust the process as these guys are trained professionals.

'I waited four months for the haircut and got hit with the worst one I've ever had in my life.'

When do hairdressers reopen in the UK? Scotland: Hair salons opened in Scotland on Monday, April 5 - allowing desperate people to finally get a post-lockdown trim, as long as they have pre-booked. England: Hair salons and barbers in England will reopen on April 12 - but they too must have arranged an appointment. Wales: Hairdressers were allowed to reopen on March 15. Northern Ireland: NI has not yet confirmed any dates for when hairdressers and barbers can reopen. The Northern Ireland Executive has said some lockdown restrictions could be eased from April 12, as long as Covid cases stay low following the Easter weekend. Advertisement

Mr Riley chose not to complain to staff during his visit but promptly paid and left.

He said: 'I was really angry and frustrated at my haircut, it ruined my whole day.

'I decided to text the barber after to complain as I found their number on Facebook.'

The tweet has so far racked up 10,500 likes, with amusing reactions.

'Surely you never paid for it,' one person asked, to which Mr Riley replied: 'Unfortunately I did, mate.'

'Did he use hedge trimmers for that!,' joked another fan of the look.

Mr Riley was not alone in feeling disappointed by a haircut.

Another Twitter user revealed they'd also not had a great experience, reportedly with the same barber.

'Been in there before mate, they don't even listen to what you ask for, they just decide themselves what they're doing,' they wrote.

Even a professional barber weighed in, adding: 'Wow, this is unreal! I am a barber and this is nothing like a midway fade. This has been shaved like right up and not blended right at all.'

Mr Riley says he wasn't expecting his post to go viral and is shocked at the response.

He added: 'It's blown up quite a bit on Twitter, which I wasn't expecting and wasn't the reason I posted it.'

Commentators on Twitter were quick to react to Andrew Riley's hair-raising trip to his local barber shop
The conservative candidate in the Ecuadorean run-off elections, Guillermo Lasso, closed his campaign on Wednesday in Cayambe, ahead of the vote on April 11.

In Cayambe, a province of a majority of indigenous population, Lasso hoped to turn voters that could give him a victory over the leftist candidate Andres Arauz.

Lasso and Arauz finished as the leading candidates on the first run of the elections on February 7, with Arauz seen as the candidate of former president Rafael Correa.

Lasso, a former banker, has presented himself as a change of a decade of governments associated with Correa.

Both candidates intend to convince the almost 29% of voters who, until last week, remained undecided and who could define the new ruler.

The leftist faction that has won the past four general elections is the clear favorite on the ballot.

However, Arauz barely managed to get about 33% of the votes in the election's first-round Feb. 7.

Lasso, who lost the last two presidential contests, emerged with a little under 20% of the votes in the first round, giving him a perilously fragile edge to get to claim victory on the runoff ballot.

Nearly 13.1 million Ecuadorians have been called to vote in Sunday's elections when a new president will be elected to replace current Moreno for a four-year term.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
New HUB interior "We are proud to have had to opportunity to foster our relationship further with RISD and HKS on this project, after successful completions of the MAC at J.J. Pearce High School, the MAC at L.V. Berkner High School, and the MAC at Richardson High School together.

Cadence McShane Construction (CMC) has completed the construction of Lake Highlands High School Addition/Renovation and MAC in Dallas, Texas on behalf of repeat client, Richardson Independent School District (ISD). The project included the construction of a 76,000-square-foot Multi-Purpose Activity Center, a 144,000-square-foot addition to connect the ninth-grade center to the rest of the high school and a two-story storm shelter addition, as well as additional renovations and upgrades to the existing building.

Designed by long-time partner HKS, the project includes a multi-story renovation and addition to the existing high school. The project kicked off with the construction of the Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC), which included a 78,000-square-foot indoor practice facility  including an 80-yard practice field  and a 24,000-square-foot Class A structure including office suites, locker rooms, and sport support areas.

The project also included a 144,000-square-foot HUB addition that connects the ninth-grade center with the existing high school facility, while also providing an expanded cafeteria and kitchen, commons spaces, a learning stair, and a new library.

Unique to this project, the HUB now also houses the new library, kitchen and cafeteria for the entire school. The cafeteria and main corridor in the HUB have a clear span of over 25 feet from floor to ceiling. The ceilings were composed of wood and insulated metal slats, which contributed to the balanced acoustics of the space. The HUB also included an open wood collaboration/ presentation stairs with A/V systems. The existing school library, kitchen and cafeteria remained in operation during the addition and renovation work. Once the new center was finished, they took on a new life as new classrooms and labs.

The remaining project scope included a new, two-level ICF storm shelter addition serving as new wrestling room, lockers and a weight room. Re-purposed cafeterias and library areas were remodeled into new general classrooms, science classrooms, ART Labs, SPED classrooms including restrooms and collaborative areas. Also renovated the CTE classrooms, CAD Lab, Materials Shop/Lab and computer labs.

Having the opportunity to renovate Lake Highlands High School and be able to give them the facilities that they need to grow was exciting, remarked Will Hodges, President of Cadence McShane Construction. We are proud to have had to opportunity to foster our relationship further with RISD and HKS on this project, after successful completions of the MAC at J.J. Pearce High School, the MAC at L.V. Berkner High School, and the MAC at Richardson High School together.

Cadence McShane is a long-time partner with RISD, having consistently worked with the district for 20 years on 19 different projects. Lake Highlands High School received substantial completion and is currently supporting full services for students and staff.


Canadian pastor says attacks on church services bring back memories of communism

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A Canadian pastor who kicked police out of his church after they tried to shut down a worship service during Holy Week said the actions of law enforcement bring back memories of communism under the Soviet Union.

Pastor Artur Pawlowski, who was born in Poland and lived under Soviet rule during part of his childhood, received plaudits from people worldwide for his actions in forcefully ordering law enforcement officers  including a police officer and public health officer  off the church's property after they interrupted a Passover mass at Street Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. A video documenting his encounter with the local law enforcement went viral, receiving more than 3 million views.

Throughout the video, Pawlowski is seen telling law enforcement officials to get out. He also commanded that they dont come back without a warrant and called them Gestapo and Nazi psychopaths. About a minute after the video started, they began to depart from the property.

Calgary Police Service released a statement suggesting that their presence at the church was justified because of a concern that people in attendance were not adhering to the governments COVID-19 public health orders, which are in place to ensure everyones safety.

Pawlowski, who grew up in Poland when the country was under a communist dictatorship, appeared on Fox News Primetime Tuesday night to discuss the exchange. Host Mark Steyn noted that Pawlowski grew up behind the Iron Curtain, adding, What happened to you over Easter is exactly, I take it, why you didnt want to stay behind the Iron Curtain.

I grew up under communist dictatorship behind the Iron Curtain, under the brute of the Soviets, and Im telling you thats no fun at all. It was a disaster, Pawlowski recalled. Police officers could break into your house, five in the morning, they could beat you up, torture you, they could arrest you for no matter what reason.

It was like a  flashback when those police officers showed up at my church. Everything kind of came back to life from my childhood, he said. And the only thing I could do is to fend off the wolves as a shepherd, and I used my voice to get rid of them. They were illegally encroaching on our rights during the most holy days during the Passover celebration.

I was a little bit shaken. But I did what every shepherd, right now, on the planet Earth, should be doing: Fend off the wolves. We as lions should never bow before the hyenas, and thats what they are right now, Pawlowski added.

Steyn noted that a lot of the things that have become accepted in the last year, for example, New York police kicking a woman to the ground because shes not wearing a mask (and) governors of American states and Canadian provinces telling you whether youre allowed to have your granny or your aunt over for Christmas or Thanksgiving are examples of the tight, 24/7 control that most communist countries lived under for half a century.

He asked Pawlowski: Is it all beginning to look worryingly familiar to you, the way people accept it?

Pawlowski answered in the affirmative: I have been warning Canadians for the past 16 years that thats whats coming. I could smell it; I could see it at every corner. The implementation of what we are seeing now, it  started  about 20 years ago.

Growing up under communist dictatorship, I mean, thats a disaster, thats hell on Earth, and I see it already in our western democracies, he continued. The only way I know how to fight them is 1981  that I witnessed millions of Poles taking to the streets and saying to them No more. Get out of our country. Get out, stop.

Millions of Poles took it to the streets during Solidarity, Lech Walesa, and they won their freedom. He suggested that a similar movement was needed in western democracies to ensure that politicians will give up the emergency powers they have enjoyed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those people will never give up their new gained powers, Pawlowski predicted. Youve got to demand those rights back; you have to fight for your rights. Theyll never give it back to you freely.

Pawlowski urged the residents of Canada, the United States, and other western democracies to get them out of your properties, out of your businesses, out of your churches. He then urged viewers to open up, open the churches.

Clergymen should unite and start pushing this darkness away. We should come and take to the streets and say, No more lockdowns, no more restrictions. We will not put up with this anymore. We are fighting back.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on May 18, 2020. (Lynda M. Gonzalez/The Dallas Morning News Pool)

Texas Launches Probe Into Child Abuse Allegations at Migrant Facility

HHS to look into matter

Two Texas agencies received tips alleging that children have been sexually assaulted and neglected at a federal outflow migrant facility in San Antonio, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday, adding that he has ordered an investigation into the matter and called on the Biden administration to shut down the facility.

The separate complaints came to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services about the Freeman Coliseum, where some unaccompanied minorschildren who crossed the southern border illegally without an adultare currently being held, Abbott told reporters at a conference held in front of the site.

Earlier today, the Texas Health and Human Services commission and Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, separately received tips that alleged child abuse and neglect at the San Antonio migrant facility, Abbott said. These products are a bi-product of President Bidens policies.

The allegations comprise four main complaints that allege child sexual assault, children not eating throughout the day, not enough staff on hand to supervise the children, and children with COVID-19 are not being physically separated from those who dont have the virus. It is unclear how many children were allegedly abused or adversely affected by neglect.

Abbott called the situation at the facility a health and safety nightmare, and called on the administration to move the children away to safer facilities and shut down the facility. Bidens open border policy caused this crisis, Abbott said on Twitter.

Biden opened the borders & failed to plan for the influx of unaccompanied minors. Now he must respond to allegations of child abuse & neglect on his watch. DPS & TX Rangers are investigating. The administration must close the facility & protect these children. pic.twitter.com/s1chzDQYlx  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 8, 2021

In the meantime, Abbott said he is directing the Texas Rangers and the Texas Department of Public Safety to investigate the allegations.

According to KSAT-TV, the facility as of April 5 was holding more than 1,300 children. It reportedly has a capacity of 2,100 beds.

A White House spokesperson said in a statement to news outlets, The Biden Administration takes the safety and well-being of children in its care very seriously. Currently we see no basis for Governor Abbotts call to shut down the San Antonio Freeman Coliseum as an intake site, however, his claims will be looked into and investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Three new overflow facilities for unaccompanied minors were announced in the past week amid a surge in illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico into the United States. They are the Delphi Emergency Intake Site (EIS) in Donna, the Dimmit EIS in Carrizo Springs, and the Pecos EIS in Pecos.

While the facilities are not intended to hold children for longer than three days, the high influx of unaccompanied minors has left officers with no choice.

Since taking office, Biden has reversed a number of border policies from the Trump administration, including pausing border wall construction and announcing a halt to the Remain in Mexico policywhich required asylum-seekers to stay in Mexico while awaiting immigration proceedings.

Read More Biden Admin Responds to Reports Saying DHS May Restart Border Wall Construction

The administration also stopped expelling from the country unaccompanied minors. Adults and family units are generally still being expelled from the United States.

President Joe Biden and other U.S. officials have urged migrants to refrain from illegally crossing the border into the United States, saying that the U.S. borders remain closed. The president characterized the border surge as something that happens every year, due to multiple external factors including natural disasters, lack of food, and gang violence. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last month that, The last administration left us a dismantled and unworkable system, referring to the situation at the southern border.

Critics, including Republicans, have said that the border crisis was largely exacerbated by Bidens immigration policies that they say have recreated an incentive for people to enter the United States.

The number of illegal alien arrests from October 2020 to the end of February 2021 was 396,958, representing a more than 96 percent increase from the year-earlier period, according to CBP data. In February alone, the CBP apprehended 100,441 aliens who crossed the southern border illegally.

This article has been updated to include a new statement from the White House.
The Sonoma County Sheriffs Office launched a criminal investigation Thursday into Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli, as more than a dozen local and state lawmakers demanded that he resign or be removed from office in response to a Chronicle investigation documenting four womens accounts that Foppoli sexually assaulted them in incidents from 2003 to 2019.

The reaction to the investigation, which published Thursday morning, was swift. Even as Foppoli denied the womens allegations in a statement released by his attorney, elected officials across Sonoma County said the revelations made clear that he had caused too much harm  and that his town needed a new leader.

It was not immediately clear whether Foppoli could face criminal charges; as of Thursday, none of the women who spoke to The Chronicle had filed police reports, and in some cases the legal statute of limitations for prosecution may have passed. Windsor contracts for police services with the county Sheriffs Office.

These allegations are troubling, shocking and, if verified through our investigation, they constitute criminal actions, and we will prosecute them to the fullest extent, Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick said. As a 28-year cop this affects me not only as a member of the community but as the father of a 21-year-old daughter. This really hits home.

Windsor town officials said in a statement: The conduct described in the article published by the San Francisco Chronicle is not acceptable nor does it reflect the values or standards we hold ourselves to as a community. They said the town was in the process of evaluating its duties and options under the circumstances. We ask for the communitys trust that the allegations are being taken seriously and that appropriate actions will be taken in response.

Those who called for Foppoli, 38, to step down included all eight mayors from the rest of the incorporated cities in Sonoma County.

As your local elected leaders, we are committed to ending sexual violence in Sonoma County and believe the actions by a fellow Mayor should not be tolerated, said the mayors of Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol and Sonoma.

Foppolis Windsor Town Council colleague, Sonoma County Deputy District Attorney Esther Lemus, asked him to give up his seat, as did Healdsburg Council Member Ariel Kelley, state Assembly Member Jim Wood, D-Santa Rosa, and state Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Given the severity and specificity of the allegations against Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli theres only one option  he needs to resign immediately, McGuire said on Twitter. Mr. Foppoli has caused tremendous pain and trauma with his appalling and disgusting behavior.

Also Thursday, Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said she has assigned the chief deputy district attorney in charge of sexual assault prosecutions and the chief investigator in the investigative bureau to review the allegations against Foppoli.

Chronicle Investigation Crime A Sonoma County winery owner has been accused of sexually...

Ravitch encouraged potential victims to contact her office or the countys Family Justice Center. We want to move forward with this, she told The Chronicle. We are not going to sit by idly having read this information. Time is of the essence.

Foppoli, the co-owner of Christopher Creek Winery outside Healdsburg, did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. In a statement provided to The Chronicle by his attorney Wednesday, he categorically denied all allegations of sexual assault.

Sexual assault and sexual misconduct are very serious issues, and Mr. Foppoli takes these allegations very seriously, said the lawyer, Bethany Kristovich of Los Angeles. He has a long history of supporting women in his business, personal, and political lives, and the accusation that he has engaged in any of these misdeeds is deeply troubling. Mr. Foppoli prides himself on working to improve life for all of his constituents, and he will continue to maintain the fundamental value of treating everyone with respect.

Ken MacNab, the town manager for Windsor, an up-and-coming tourist destination in the heart of Californias Wine Country, said Thursday that the town was evaluating its duties and options. MacNab did not respond to questions about what that process might entail beyond the referral to law enforcement.

The allegations made against the Mayor are both shocking and horrible, MacNab said. The conduct described does not reflect the values or standards we hold ourselves to as an organization or as a community. We are taking the allegations seriously.

Windsor Vice Mayor Sam Salmon said town officials were in discussion with their lawyers on Thursday morning.

Its going to be a very hard road here for us on council, Salmon said in an interview. How will we continue to build trust? Because now some people will somewhat lose trust in the town and in our process.

In statements posted to her Twitter and Facebook accounts, Lemus asked for Foppolis resignation, saying she was horrified by the allegations.

As a mother, a Deputy District Attorney and Windsor Town Councilmember, I find the recent San Francisco Chronicle story both distressing and horrifying, Lemus said in her Facebook post. I am saddened for the victims and disgusted by the allegations against Dominic Foppoli. In order for our Town to continue to function properly, I request the resignation of Dominic Foppoli from his position as Mayor immediately. My heart goes out to all the courageous women who have come forward.

The Chronicle investigation detailed the accounts of four women who said Foppoli sexually assaulted them after nights of social drinking. The women said they did not know each other.

A woman who had volunteered for Foppolis 2003 campaign for California Assembly, and had dated the candidate, said he raped her twice at a New Years Eve party.

A second woman, Sophia Williams, told The Chronicle that Foppoli, during his first bid for Windsor Town Council in 2006, thrust his groin against her, tried to kiss her and attempted to remove her pants without her consent.

Allison Britton said Foppoli engaged in oral copulation with her in 2012 at a hotel in Reno when she was nearly unconscious and too intoxicated to consent. Britton said she and Foppoli were both attending the national convention of Active 20-30, a civil and social organization to which they both belong.

In 2019, during Foppolis first year as mayor, he kissed and groped 21-year-old Rose Fumoso as she pleaded with him to stop, Fumoso told The Chronicle.

The Chronicle investigation also revealed that someone had sent an email to then-Windsor Mayor Debora Fudge in 2017, describing an additional allegation of sexual misconduct against Foppoli. The Chronicle obtained the email through a California Public Records Act request.

The complainant  whose name was redacted by Windsor officials  said that in 2013, when she and friends were renting the guest house at Christopher Creek Winery, Foppoli invited himself over, directed two young female winery employees to remove their underwear and wear togas, secretly topped off guests wineglasses, and tried to remove at least one womans bathing suit.

The Chronicle asked Foppoli about the complaint this week, but the statement provided by his attorney did not address the specific allegations. In a Nov. 29, 2017, email to the town manager responding to the complaint involving the winery guests, Foppoli said he adamantly denied doing anything improper.

As a Town Council member and mayor, Foppoli has helped to propel development in Windsor, including multimillion-dollar housing projects and a downtown redesign. He was part of an effort to bring Russian River Brewing Co.s massive production facility and brewpub to town.

Last year, Foppoli took on a leadership role with the League of California Cities, which advocates for cities interests across the state.

Calling the allegations horrible and deeply disturbing, Carolyn Coleman, executive director and CEO of the League of California Cities, said in a statement Thursday that the organization is currently evaluating our options regarding Mayor Foppolis position as a department officer.

Earlier this week, Foppoli was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District to represent the countys half-million residents in the operation of the bridge and the districts bus and ferry services.

Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt, who is also a board member for the bridge district, said in an interview that actions should be taken to rescind Foppolis recent appointment.

I sent a note to our chair (at the district) asking for them to reconsider Foppoli, Rabbitt said. The person at the center of the issue needs to starts taking responsibility, and thats why I say he needs to resign immediately, to let the town move on and heal.

Tiffani Montgomery, the president of the national Active 20-30 organization, said its officers have launched expulsion procedures Thursday to remove Foppoli from the Santa Rosa club, and have directed an independent investigator to review the allegations made against him.

The Board of Directors is both saddened and outraged in the wake of these allegations and stands firmly with the victims, Montgomery said in a statement. She went on to specifically reference the alleged assault involving Britton: The Board of Directors deeply regrets any lapses on its part that may have permitted this abuse to persist, and the victims suffering prolonged.

Officials with Sonoma County organizations representing wineries and winegrowers said they were appalled and sickened by the allegations.

Sexual assault and harassment are violent acts we categorically do not condone or tolerate. Period, said Michael Haney, executive director of Sonoma County Vintners, which includes Christopher Creek Winery.

These condemnations from the community came alongside a steady rush of North Bay lawmakers calling for Foppolis resignation Thursday.

What these womens stories reveal about Mayor Dominic Fopolli (sic) is a pattern of criminal behavior and sexual assault, Sonoma Mayor Logan Harvey said in a Facebook post. I have nothing but the deepest sympathy for the women represented in this article. Their experiences with Fopolli are traumatic events that will stick with them for the rest of their lives and I honor their bravery in stepping forward to share their stories.

Added Harvey, Dominic must resign immediately from all elected offices and posts. No one who is so credibly accused of such heinous acts should be in a position of honor or power. These women should be believed and supported by their community as all victims of sexual assault should.

Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore, who has been friends with Foppoli and recently endorsed him for the mayoral election in Windsor, expressed his shock over the allegations in a Facebook post and apologized to the women, stating, Our systems failed you.

In learning about these stories, he should step down from representing the community that he has deeply hurt, Gore said. I hold myself accountable for not digging deeper into his personal behavior before endorsement, and commit to doing deeper diligence in the future.

Kelley, the Healdsburg council member, also took to Facebook to call for Foppolis resignation. No political maneuvering because of his position. No non-answers because he denies it. Mayor Foppoli has to go, Kelley said. And if he doesnt, the Windsor Town Council should take the necessary action to remove him  immediately.

In posts to his Facebook and Twitter accounts, former Windsor Town Councilmember Bruce Okrepkie said, Dominic Foppoli must resign.

Santa Rosa Mayor Chris Rogers said in a Facebook post, Dominic needs to resign, or his voters need to remove him.

I understand that everyone in this country is innocent until proven guilty, Rogers said, but these allegations are credible, specific, documented, and horrifying.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Esther Mobley contributed to this report.

Alexandria Bordas and Cynthia Dizikes are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: alexandria.bordas@sfchronicle.com, cdizikes@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @crossingbordas, @cdizikes
The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has again called for the total annihilation of bandits and other non-state actors perpetrating terrorism in Nigeria.

Mr El-Rufai said the bandits have lost their right to life under the constitution and must be wiped out entirety.

There is no other way to approach the current insurgency situation today as far as governmental action is concerned, he said.

The governor spoke on Thursday at the Federal Government Town Hall Meeting on National Security, held at the Main Lecture Theatre of the Kaduna State University (KASU).

Amidst the sorrows and suffering insecurity has caused to many of our citizens, some of our compatriots will be tempted to dismiss gatherings like this as futile and impotent gestures. No one who is in a position of responsibility can deny the necessity for firm action in the form of proactive and sustained offensives against the criminals who menace us.

Such security operations will not only cripple the outlaws, but will also reassure ordinary citizens, bolster the morale of the security agencies and provide an alternative focus for the energies that are being dissipated on fractious endeavours.

Mr El-Rufai also advised security agencies to collaborate as it is expedient in the war against the criminals.

The situation in which the security agencies mostly only react to cases of banditry and abduction is unacceptable. We are in a war with these terrorists who are challenging the sovereignty and monopoly of the instruments of coercion of the Nigerian state and its territory. Our security forces must collaborate to take the war to them, recover and restore the un-governed forests these terrorist occupy, and enable our law-abiding citizens to engage in their legitimate pursuits, including farming and livestock production, without fear.

According to him, setting benchmarks for enhanced security and national unity is important.

 Everyone that has been concerned about the danger that insecurity has posed to national cohesion will appreciate the importance of securing a collective understanding of the problems and the solutions.

He also shared some lessons from the efforts to manage the security situation in Kaduna State.

 The Nigerian state has not jealously and consistently protected its prerogatives and status as the leviathan, the ultimate guarantor of security, the protector of rights and the promoter of the rule of law. That is why its power is being challenged, in a frighteningly sustained manner by a phalanx of armed non-state actors.

Our national level security response to these challenges has been uncoordinated and ineffective in wiping out the threats. None of the military services nor other security agencies has been suitably expanded in numbers and equipment for over a decade since the insurgency in the North-East pushed things to a new low.

This country does not have enough soldiers, uniformed police and secret police to project state power across its vast swathes, particularly the forests. The limited number of boots on the ground are not well equipped and are significantly lacking in the technology that can make their limited numbers matter a lot less.

The justice system operates with ethos and at a pace that do not reflect the fragility of the situation and the urgency to demonstrate that the rule of law is meaningful. Prosecutions take so long that many citizens assume that the criminals have long been released, encouraging criminal conduct, and raising the dangerous appeal of illegal self-help. The delays in the dispensation of justice in Nigeria has made criminals to fall more in love with our Courts than the innocent. This is unsustainable and unacceptable.

The subnational levels  that is the states and local governments combined  have limited hard power but considerable options and scope for the exercise of soft-power using the traditional institutions, community and political leaders at the grassroots  but which require for its effectiveness the looming shadow of credible coercive power. Unless our state governments, local governments, emirs, chiefs and community leaders know that the state can protect them and deal with criminal elements decisively, the exercise of soft power is reduced to weak appeals to behave well.Too many carrots without sticks lead to the near-anarchy we are witnessing.

Mr El-Rufai said the country requires urgent action to identify and deal decisively with all state and non-state actors engaged in conduct that amounts to challenging the supremacy of the Nigerian state and our Constitution without ethnic profiling or discriminatory treatment.

He said the government at all levels should provide immediate and enhanced funding to acquire advanced equipment, armament and ordinance for the armed forces, police, security and paramilitary agencies;

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Centralised policing in a federation is not only a contradiction in terms. The state governments today bear most of the burden of the running costs of the Federal Police anyway, so why not the sub-nationals the state police now, he said, repeating his call for State Police.

We should also devolve more responsibilities and duties to the states to enable greater accountability and minimise the habit of blaming the Federal Government for every ill in Nigeria. We should therefore expeditiously amend the Constitution to vest all on-shore minerals, including petroleum in the states now.

A unitary and dysfunctional judiciary that is so slow in dispensing justice that it amounts to being on the side of the criminals need to be decentralised and reformed. The Constitution should be expeditiously amended to remove the unitary control of the superior courts and federalise our judiciary now.

He, however, said to address the banditry prevalent in the north-west and north-central, the national livestock transformation plan must be implemented.
Tensions in Texas are growing as one rancher claims he and a neighbor have found numerous bodies of illegal immigrants on their properties for at least a decade.

Whit Jones, who lives about 50 miles north of the border at Rio Grande, says he has found 2-3 bodies annually in recent years.

An unnamed neighbor of Jones claims he has found an average of 10 bodies a year for the past 10 years.

The allegations come as border crossings have hit their highest level in 15 years amid widespread criticism of crowded holding facilities which some are now saying are rife with abuse. Texas's governor has claimed that children face food shortages and are being targeted for sexual abuse.

Jones says that due to the recent accommodations near the border, the people migrating to his property north of the border have been mostly adult males, as opposed to women and children, resulting in 'a little bit more of a dangerous situation.'

Whit Jones, a Texas rancher, told 'Fox & Friends' about the disturbing discoveries he and a neighbor have made

Senator Marsha Blackburn reported she'd spoken to a local Texas rancher who has found over a dozen dead illegal immigrant bodies on his ranch

Texas Senator Marsha Blackburn reported similar claims from another local rancher in Cochise County.

She tweeted that John Ladd told her 'in the past 30 years he's had over a dozen dead illegal immigrants on his ranch.'

'He's had his trucks, barns and buildings broken into countless times and every day multiple groups of illegals cross his land.

Ladd, a rancher in Cochise County, told Sen. Blackburn 'he shouldn't have to live like this in America.'

These latest reports from Texas ranchers come just over one week after surveillance video captured two Ecuadorean girls who were abruptly dumped over a steel barrier at the Mexico-United States border.

The two little girls, aged three and five, were abandoned by smugglers on March 30 in New Mexico.

Footage release by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows a human smuggler (top) climbing over the Mexico-United States border wall in New Mexico after dropping two sisters from Ecuador, aged 3 and 5, over the steel barrier last Tuesday

A migrant boy, who was abandoned in southern Texas after crossing over from Mexico, was recorded on video in tears and asking a U.S. Border Patrol agent for help last Thursday

Their parents, Yolanda Macas Tene and Diego Vacacela Aguilar, live in New York.

Consulate officials were able to find the girls, and discovered their parents had left their Ecuadorean home not long before, according to relatives, and were awaiting their daughters in New York City.

Two days later, a 10-year-old Nicaraguan boy was found wandering alone near the border, sobbing uncontrollably.

When found, he explained that the group of migrants he had been traveling with had abandoned him while he slept.

US Customs and Border Protection said they 'transported the child to a Border Patrol facility where he was fed and medically screened.'

March saw the most migrant children crossing the border in history, with 18,890 unaccompanied minors being taken into cramped shelters.

Now reports have surfaced of child sex abuse and neglect at Freeman Expo Center, which is housing 1,370 underage migrants.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott made the declaration at a press conference Wednesday evening, following tips to authorities about the alleged abuse occurring inside the Freeman Expo Center.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says Joe Biden should shoulder blame amid allegations of child abuse and neglect at an overcrowded San Antonio migrant facility

President Joe Biden, seen on Thursday at the White House, has tried to characterize the uptick in border crossings as seasonal

'This facility is a health and safety nightmare,' Abbot declared.

'The Biden administration is now presiding over the abuse of children. To end this abuse, the Biden administration must immediately shut down this facility.'

President Joe Biden tried to characterize the border crossings as normal seasonal upticks during his late March press conference.

'It happens every single solitary year. There is a significant increase in the number of people coming to the border in the winter months of January, February, March - it happens every year,' Biden said then.

In addition to the claims of child sex abuse and neglect, Abbott also claimed that there were reports of understaffing, children not eating and the failure to separate children with or without COVID-19.

The number of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border is spiking in 2021 compared to 2020, which saw a decrease in crossings thanks to the coronavirus pandemic

A graphic from US Customs and Border Protection shows the number of encounters by region along the border and beyond this fiscal year, with more than 172,000 encounters in March alone

Abbott did not say how many children had reportedly been abused, but he did say that the claims appeared to be 'credible'.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff says he has not heard anything regarding the possible abuse, and that all of the claims made by the governor have been general allegations.

Families are pouring into the US from Mexico on a daily basis and have pushed crossings up to their highest level in 15 years.

US Customs and Border Protection reported they've had over 569,800 encounters this fiscal year along the Southwest border, including over 172,000 encounters in March.

A large number are unaccompanied minors, which has forced the administration to open its tenth temporary housing facility to accommodate these young arrivals.

Police register names as a group of migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador arrives in the U.S. after crossing the Rio Grande river on Wednesday

Migrant, departing from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are seen after crossing the Rio Grande River in Texas

Asylum seeking migrants board a Border Patrol bus after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico into the United States

The vast majority of adults are immediately sent back to Mexico.

The border patrol say they are currently detaining around 5,000 people a day.

The Biden administration is spending at least $60 million per week to care for the more than 16,000 unaccompanied minors in shelters according to The Washington Post.

Despite Vice President Kamala Harris being tapped to address the migration crisis two weeks ago, neither Biden nor Harris have made a trip to the Southwest border region.

The top House Republican, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, tweeted Thursday, 'President Biden said the surge was seasonal. But the #'s dont lie  172k migrants were taken into custody last month, a two-decade high.'

Vice President Kamala Harris has not visited the border since being chosen by President Joe Biden White House to find a solution for the migrant crisis

On Monday, Customs and Border Patrol announced that two unnamed Yemeni men on the terror watch list - one 33, the other 26 - had been detained over the last three months in the Calexico area of California.

'So we know people on the terrorist watch list are coming into America,' McCarthy said, pointing to the announcement.

'How are they coming in? How many do we assume go through that we did not catch? Why were they on the watch list? What were they doing coming into the country? Do we have any intel based upon what did they have planned once they entered the country? Who were they going to meet up with?'

McCarthy told Fox News that he requested a classified briefing from the FBI and CIA on the matter and said Vice President Harris should attend.

McCarthy's call for Harris to finally address the crisis came as more images emerged of migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador crossing the Rio Grande and packing shelters in Texas.

Harris hasn't made a border trip in the 15 days since she was charged with dealing with the root causes of the immigration crisis - a role President Joe Biden described as dealing with the Northern Triangle countries and Mexico, in an attempt to stem the flow.
The much-anticipated first live-fire test of the United States Air Force's new hypersonic missile has been abandoned prior to launch.

The Air Force said a B-52H bomber which was due to test the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) in a flight departing from Edwards Air Force Base in California was unable to complete its launch sequence on Monday.

Brigadier General Heath Collins, the armament directorate program executive officer, described the missile failure as a 'setback' for its hypersonic ambitions.

'The test missile was not able to complete its launch sequence and was safely retained on the aircraft which returned to Edwards AFB,' he said in a statement emailed to media.

A B-52H aircraft, similar to the one above, was unable to complete its launch sequence and abandoned the first test of a AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (file photo)

Lockheed Martin released this photo of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), showing hypersonic glide warhead, which it was contracted to build for the US Air Force (file photo)

Air Force crew from the 912th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron secure the ARRW to the wing of a B-52 in August (file photo)

'The ARRW program has been pushing boundaries since its inception and taking calculated risks to move this important capability forward.

US Air Force's supersonic program An ARRW is loaded under the wing of a B-52 (file photo) In 2018, Lockheed Martin were awarded an initial $480 million contract to develop a hypersonic missile that could be launched from the air. By the end of 2020 the company had more than $3 billion in hypersonic-related orders, Lockheed CEO Lockheed CEO Jim Taiclet said recently. The ARRW is among a wave of 'new-generation weapons' to complement B-52 in the coming years, which will allow the half century-old Cold War-era bombers to remain 'an important piece of the Pentagons arsenal for decades to come', Defense One reported. The ARRW's hypersonic speed is measured as anything greater than five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5. Currently, only Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) reach that speed when they re-enter the atmosphere from space. But because they travel along a predictable path, they lack the element of surprise. When the Pentagon's budget for hypersonic missiles was increased by 23 per cent in February 2020, the Air Force moved ahead with acquiring the AGM-183A. The ARRW has a potential top speed of 15,345 miles per hour, meaning it could travel around the circumference of the earth in one hour and 37 minutes. The US Air Force Magazine describes the ARRW as a 'boost-glide type of hypersonic missile'. 'The booster accelerates the payload to hypersonic speed, at which point the clamshell front end opens and releases the hypersonic glide vehicle, which flies the rest of the way to the target with no further propulsion, maneuvering along the way.' In 2019, the United States spent $732 billion on national defense, more than the next 10 countries combined. Advertisement

'While not launching was disappointing, the recent test provided invaluable information to learn from and continue ahead. This is why we test.'

The ARRW hypersonic missile is expected to supposed to usher in a new era in US military capabilities.

The test launch had been had been hotly anticipated since the Air Force's Armament Directorate announced on March 5 that a test would occur within 30 days.

Further signs a test was imminent came when the US Army's missile range instrumentation ship USAV Worthy arrived at the San Diego Naval Base and airspace restrictions were imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration on an area of the Pacific Ocean near the Point Mugu Sea Test Range.

Missile maker Lockheed Martin, which has a multi-billion dollar contract with the Air Force to produce the missiles, declined to comment 'due to the classified nature of the program,' Defense One reported.

The Air Force says it expects the missile program to be operational by the 'early 2020s'.

It has previously said that the hypersonic missile hit targets 1,000 miles away in 10 to 12 minutes, meaning it would travel at an average speed of 5,000 to 6,000 milers per hour, or between Mach 6.5 to Mach 8.

The ARRW will be used to destroy 'high-value, time-sensitive targets', Mike White, the Pentagon's top hypersonics director, told Airforce Magazine in February.

White said the new ARRW is meant to be survivable when being fired against 'heavily defended targets'.

He said the ARRW is a 'rapid prototyping project that will leverage cutting-edge technologies to deliver a conventional hypersonic weapons capability to the warfighter in the early 2020s'.

The ARRW will be the first hypersonic weapon in the American military arsenal.

In June 2019, the Air Force conducted a captive carry flight test - where the payload does not separate from the carrier aircraft - onboard a B52.

Compared to the Cruise missiles, which have a top speed of about 800kms per hour, the ARRW could be as much as 10 times higher.

The US, China and Russia are all testing prototypes of hypersonic missiles.

China has been conducting tests of its own Xingkong-2 'Waverider' hypersonic cruise missile.

Chinese state media said the Waverider would enable the new weapon to 'break through any current generation anti-missile defense system.'

Meanwhile, Russia has also been busy testing its new surface-to-air hypersonic missile.

The Kremlin's Admiral Gorshkov frigate has carried out at least four test launches of the new 6,100mph Zircon missile, which is expected to go into service next year and which defence chiefs boasted had 'hit the bullseye' in testing.
Joe Biden is trying to get through Congress a gargantuan "infrastructure" plan with a price tag of around $2 trillion.

Sounds good coming out of the seemingly benign mouth of Biden, but the infrastructure tax-and-spend idea concocted by radical Democrat beavers will be hell for every American household.

The devil is in the details.

Biden's $2-trillion wish list to build and revamp everything from roads and bridges to schools and 5G would, he said, make America more productive and effective.

The only problem with the Biden dream is that it will make everything more expensive and most Americans a lot poorer.

The one question every American needs to ask is who is going to pay for it. The answer, my American friends, is you.

In America, the Business Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers  all said the plan was great.

But they also all agreed that raising taxes was not the way to pay for it. They all preferred to offload the cost into the road-, bridge-, and rail-users. That means you, Americans.

The "user fees" these bodies are demanding mean tolls, higher gas prices, higher communication costs, and more. And guess who will be paying these fees! You.

If Biden is dreaming about electric vehicles, this would reduce the gas tax his government brings in as more Americans move over to electric vehicles. The road/bridge tolls would remain, but the income from the gas pumps will shrink. To compensate, the Democrats will raise the users' toll fees. It's a vicious circle in which the ordinary Joe is always the one who pays, not "the Big Guy," as Hunter Biden might say.

Even as Biden pledged not to impose new taxes on households with incomes under $400,000, he was lying, unless these households don't drive.

So how will Biden fund his infrastructure bill if the business, commerce, and manufacturers' associations are not prepared to foot the bill? I guess a corporate tax hike is one way. And how are they going to compensate for having to give the government more of their income? By raising prices, that's how. And who is going to pay for that? You are. In the higher taxes they say they are not going to impose on you.

This is how a promise turns into a purgatory that will impoverish most households in America. No matter  Big Government will be there to bail you out when the Democrat dream turns into a demonic nightmare.

At least you'll have nice roads and bridges to look at.

Actually, you won't. The bulk of the money will be diverted into expensive and inefficient green new energy deals that will further increase your household energy bill. It won't even keep you warm in winter.

Look at California and Texas and remind yourself how those folk suffered when wind turbines stopped turning when they needed them most.

Californians had blackouts and brownouts and no air-conditioning due to wind farms not having wind, while Texans froze as turbines froze in the depth of winter.

No amount of energy costs could cover the dismal reality of green energy turning sour.

Welcome to the false promise of a "Build Back Better" Biden future.

Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday (April 8) that Seychelles is central to India's vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), after handing over a fast patrol vessel to the island nation at a virtual event.

The Prime Minister jointly inaugurated with Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan a solar power plant, a court building, and 10 community development projects. The patrol vessel as well as the three other projects were part of India's development assistance to the strategically located island nation.

Referring to the handing over of the patrol vessel, PM Modi said, "India and Seychelles share a strong and vital partnership in the Indian ocean neighborhood. Seychelles is central to India's vision of 'SAGAR' -- 'Security and Growth for All in the Region'."

Reiterating India's commitment to strengthening the maritime security of Seychelles, the Prime Minister said that India was able to supply essential medicines and 50,000 doses of 'Made in India' vaccines to Seychelles during times of need, adding "Seychelles was the first African country to receive the 'Made in India' COVID-19 vaccines."

Talking about climate change, PM Modi said it poses a special threat to island countries, adding "I am happy that today we are handing over a one megawatt solar power plant in Seychelles built with India's assistance."

Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan said his country wants to deepen ties with India and added today's event as a "defining moment in the annals of bilateral ties"

He appreciated the solidarity shown by India over the years and said that the support they have received from India has contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of their country.

Ramkalawan further said, "In little less than two months, we will be commemorating the 45th anniversary of the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between Seychelles and India. The support we have received from India has contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of Seychelles."

He also lauded India`s support on the COVID-19 vaccine front, adding that Seychelles is nearing its target of achieving 70 per cent of herd immunity by the end of this month due to the precious donation of vaccines by India.

"What better example of Indian solidarity than your spontaneous donation of 50,000 doses of Covishield vaccine. If we are nearing our target of achieving 70 per cent of herd immunity by Apr 2021 and have re-opened our country to business, it is due to this precious donation," he added.

Notably, the new magistrates' court building in the capital city Victoria is India's first major civil infrastructure project in Seychelles built with grant assistance. It is a state-of-the-art building that is expected to substantially enhance the capacity of the Seychelles judicial system and aid in better delivery of judicial services to the people of the country.

The 50-meter-long fast patrol vessel is a modern and fully equipped naval ship that has been made in India by GRSE, Kolkata, and is being gifted to Seychelles under Indian grant assistance.

(With Agency Inputs)

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While some of its eight programs affected by a hacking incident have gone back online, a company official said Thursday that Applus Technologies continues to work with the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles to get their program up and running safely and securely as quickly as we can.

Following an attempted malware attack, some of Applus programs were halted. In Connecticut, that affected the state DMVs ability to offer emissions testing services.

Dennis Palmer, the vice president of corporate development for Applus Technologies, said the process to go live involves three stages: The remediation process, the restoration process  which is the one theyre currently in  and after that, the go live phase.

Once weve completed phase 2, the restoration, well do some testing to make sure its safe and secure, he said. Thats our primary concern right now is to make sure everything is safe and secure before we go live.

The company hopes to have some information shortly in terms of a little bit more definitive timeline, he added.

Shaun Formica, state DMV communications director, wrote in an email that procedures were altered last week to allow customers to register vehicles regardless of vehicle emissions test status.

Emissions testing requirements will need to be met at a later time, Formica wrote. DMV will provide information to customers when the system is back online.

Additionally, dealerships have been given the option to give 30-day registrations to those buying vehicles there, according to Formica. And when the system goes live again, [p]ermanent registrations will be issued, Formica wrote.

Formica also wrote that the agency had notified law enforcement last week to ask for their cooperation to not cite those with an expired emissions test during this outage.

As far as whether anyones information was compromised, Palmer said theyre still looking at that, but there wasnt any evidence of it right now. A recommendation from the company for people to check their personal information came out of an abundance of caution, he said.

That statement was made not because there was anything in particular or specific we identified, its just good practice, he said.

The company had told customers in a Q&A to monitor your financial accounts for any unauthorized activity and alert authorities and your bank if you see anything unusual.

Regarding the cyberattack, Palmer said it involved sophisticated malware, and they believed the incident was a crime.

So we turned the information over to the FBI, he said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation didnt say whether the agency was investigating the incident.

In keeping with DOJ policy, the FBI neither confirms nor denies the existence of any investigation, according to an email from Tina Jagerson, a representative from the FBI National Press Office.

.
Following last years Legion Duel gaming phone, Lenovo is here with a successor called the Legion Duel 2. The standout features here come in pairs - dual charging ports, dual cooling fans, two linear motors for haptics and two pairs of ultrasonic shoulder triggers. The side-mounted pop-up selfie camera is here again but with a 44MP Samsung sensor this time around.

The AMOLED display has grown to 6.92-inches while keeping the 144Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support of its predecessor. Resolution is still capped at FHD+ (2460 x 1080) to be more precise. The panel now supports a peak brightness of 1,300 nits, packs symmetrical bezels as there is no need for a selfie camera cutout and is flanked by stereo speakers.

Being a gamer-centric phone the Legion Duel 2 has a really diverse set of extra controls. There are two force touchpoints in the display, two pairs of ultrasonic shoulder triggers on the side frame and a pair of capacitive keys on the back of the device.

The back design is also unique with its two squares design interrupted by a glass island housing the cameras, cooling fans and the RGB Legion logo. The camera setup is identical to last years model with a 64MP main shooter and a 16MP ultrawide snapper.

The two fans work in tandem with the bottom one intaking hot air and passing it through the copper heat sink while the top fan serves as an exhaust. Lenovo boasts a 30% improvement in thermal efficiency compared to the first Legion Phone.

The Snapdragon 888 is tasked with the heavy lifting and is paired with 12/16 or 18GB RAM. Storage options are 256 and 512GB. The battery comes in at 5,500 mAh and is split between two 2,750 mAh cells.

Charging through one port brings 65W speeds while an optional adapter bumps the combined speed to 90W and can deliver a 100% charge in 30 minutes. Lenovos battery protection system monitors heat and charging speeds for optimum power delivery and long-term battery preservation.

The software front is covered by Lenovos ZUI 12.5 which is based on Android 11. The phone comes in Ultimate Black and Titanium White colors.

The Legion Phone Duel 2 will release in China later this month while European availability is scheduled for May. Pricing starts at 799 for the 12/256GB model and goes up to 999 for the 16/512GB model with a bundled charging dock.
A Victorian police officer accused of unlawful assault has faced court.

Tristan Zerafa, 34, has been charged with unlawful assault, discharging pepper spray without justification and abusive language at Sunbury, in Melbourne's northwest, in December 2019.

Zerafa's matter was heard on Thursday at Broadmeadows Magistrates Court, where an adjournment seeking to have matter heard in Melbourne was granted.

The Brookfield man will next face court on May 11.
The Thursday made it clear that Rohingyas, who have been detained in Jammu, shall not be deported to unless the procedure prescribed for such deportation is followed by the authorities.



A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said it is true that rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution are available to all the persons who may or may not be citizens but the right not to be deported, is ancillary or concomitant to the right to reside or settle in any part of India.



While Article 14 deals with equality before law, Article 21 deals with protection of life and personal liberty.



The bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, passed the order on an application seeking release of detained Rohingya refugees and also a direction to the Centre not to deport those who have been detained in the sub-jail in Jammu.



The apex court noted that two serious allegations have been made in the Centre's reply in the matter which relates to threat to internal security and that agents and touts are providing a safe passage into India for illegal immigrants due to the porous nature of landed borders.



The bench also noted the Centre's contention that a similar application challenging the deportation of Rohingyas from Assam was dismissed by the top court in October 2018.



Therefore, it is not possible to grant the interim relief prayed for. However, it is made clear that the Rohingyas in Jammu, on whose behalf the present application is filed, shall not be deported unless the procedure prescribed for such deportation is followed. Interlocutory application is disposed of accordingly, the bench said in its order.



It is also true that the rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 are available to all persons who may or may not be citizens. But the right not to be deported, is ancillary or concomitant to the right to reside or settle in any part of the territory of India guaranteed under Article 19(1)(e), it said.





ALSO READ: Supreme Court collegium meeting on vacancies ends inconclusively

The bench also noted there is no denial of the fact that India is not a signatory to the refugee convention.



Therefore, serious objections are raised, whether Article 51(c) of the Constitution can be pressed into service, unless India is a party to or ratified a convention, it said.



But there is no doubt that the courts can draw inspiration from international conventions/treaties, so long as they are not in conflict with the municipal law. Regarding the contention raised on behalf of the petitioners about the present state of affairs in Myanmar, we have to state that we cannot comment upon something happening in another country, the bench said.



Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners who are Rohingya refugees, had referred to a recent judgement of the International Court of Justice and said that it has taken note of the genocide of Rohingyas in and lives of these refugees are in serious danger, if they are deported.



The petitioners had argued that Rohingyas were persecuted in even when an elected government was in power and now the elected government has been over thrown by a military coup, so the danger is imminent.



The bench noted in its order that according to the petitioners, new circumstances have arisen as revealed by media reports to the effect that about 150-170 Rohingya refugees detained in a sub-jail in Jammu face deportation back to Myanmar.



It noted that reports that appeared in the media were relied upon to show that there are more than about 6,500 Rohingyas in Jammu and that they have been illegally detained and jailed in a sub-jail now converted into a holding centre.



The Centre had filed its reply in the apex court saying that persons, for whose protection against deportation the application was filed, are foreigners within the meaning of section 2(a) of the Foreigners Act 1946 and India is not a signatory either to the United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees 1951 or to the Protocol of the year 1967.



It had said that since India has open or porous land borders with many countries, there is a continuous threat of influx of illegal immigrants and such influx has posed serious security ramifications.



The Centre had also contended that decision of the International Court of Justice has no relevance to the application filed in matter.



It had said that the Union of India generally follows the procedure of notifying the government of the country of origin of the foreigners and order their deportation only when it is confirmed by the government of the country of origin that the persons concerned are citizens/nationals of that country and they are entitled to come back.



The bench noted in its order that the petitioners are Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and they are housed in a refugee camp.

It appears that persons similarly placed like the petitioners are housed in refugee camps in New Delhi, Haryana, Allahabad, Jammu and various other places in India, it noted.



The Centre had earlier opposed the plea saying the country cannot be the capital for illegal immigrants.



Violent attacks allegedly by Myanmar army have led to an exodus of Rohingya tribals from the western Rakhine state in that country to India and Bangladesh.



Many of them, who had fled to India after the earlier spate of violence, have settled in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan.


RTE star Daithi O Se is calling on Longford to show solidarity with people with dementia and their family carers and virtually have Tea in Every Town with their friends and loved ones to mark Alzheimers Tea Day across Ireland on Thursday, May 6.

This year The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is inviting the public to brew the most important and powerful cup of tea this year and invite your family and friends to join you online. The ASI wants people to now come together virtually to celebrate, remember and show solidarity with people with dementia, their carers and the 500,000 people who are impacted by dementia in Ireland.

Although people cant gather in groups for Tea Day, people can still connect and reach out to friends and loved ones across their communities, around Ireland and abroad  on the phone, on screen, Skype, Zoom and any other socially-distanced way people may choose.

There are 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland today and every day, another 30 people are diagnosed. However, there is one simple and magical thing you can do to help  put the kettle on and connect with friends online over a simple cuppa!

The ASI has listened to concerns of people with dementia and family carers who have been feeling isolated in their own homes lately and many people have contacted The ASI about Tea Day  and thanks to the wonders of modern technology, Tea Day can still take place.

This year, its more important than ever before that people put the kettle on, pick up the phone and reach out to a loved one or someone in your community to say hello and share a virtual cup of tea and to show people with dementia and carers who are at home, often confused, isolated and struggling without access to usual daily supports that we havent forgotten them.

The ASI needs to raise 3.5 million every year just to keep services running and while the public has been so generous over recent months; the reality is that more funds are needed to plug the gap in funding due to the impact of Covid-19 to support the 64,000 living with dementia in Ireland.

Daithi O Se, Ambassador for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, said: On Thursday, May 6th, join your online gathering to thousands of others all over the country as we share a cuppa with our friends, family and colleagues to chat and celebrate those we love.

"Youll also be raising much-needed funds to help families living with dementia. Tea Day is The Alzheimers Society of Irelands biggest and most important fundraiser of the year. Over the last year, because of COVID-19, they could only raise a fraction of what is needed to run their vital services.

"So, this year people living with dementia need our support more than ever. So please join the Tea Day movement. Click with your family and friends by clicking online. Maybe even invite loved ones across the world.

"Share some precious memories over a cuppa and help change the life of someone living with dementia today. Thank you so much!

HOW TO TAKE PART IN TEA DAY 2021  FOUR EASY STEPS:

SIGN UP  Join the nation for the most memorable cuppa ever. All you have to do is sign up on teaday.ie and youll be helping to support people in your area living with dementia.

HOST  Share the magic of a cup of tea  online  with the ones you love. Invite family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and loved ones  from home and from all over the world  to join you to share some precious memories over a wonderful cup of tea.

CELEBRATE your Tea Day by sharing it on social media. Post your photos, videos, messages and dont forget to use our hashtags #TeaInEveryTown #TeaDay2021

DONATE Send us back your special Tea Day donation on teaday.ie. Remember, every extra euro you raise funds vital services for people living with dementia and their families.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland CEO Pat McLoughlin said: Alzheimers Tea Day has been our biggest fundraising event over the last 27 years and the organisation is so dependent on the funds that it brings in each and every year. However, the Covid-19 health crisis means that Alzheimers Tea Day has to move online, but I am delighted that we can still celebrate the community spirit that makes Tea Day such a great national event through modern technology. This year we cant gather in each others homes to share Tea Day. But there is still something that you can do. You can invite friends and family from all over Ireland  and even all over the world  to join you online or on social media to share some memories and a cuppa. Every person who joins you will be helping to support vital dementia services all over Ireland.

Fujitsu Ireland CEO Tony OMalley said: We are incredibly proud to support this vital campaign alongside The Alzheimer Society of Ireland. People with dementia and their families, carers and supporters have felt the challenges of lockdown and the associated restrictions on travel, household visitors and daily social interactions most keenly and Fujitsu Ireland is committed to helping The ASI continue to deliver its vital support to this amazing community. We invite our staff, clients, partners and the Irish public to sign up on teaday.ie, put the kettle on, and raise much-needed funds for this incredible organisation.
In a week that saw the making of unicorns, short video app Moj and Indic language social media platform parent Mohalla Tech joined the club with its latest fundraise of $502 million, valuing the company at a little over $2.1 billion.

The investment has been led by Lightspeed Ventures and Tiger Global, along with participation from Snap Inc, Twitter and India Quotient amongst others, the firm said in a statement.

This is also the fifth Indian firm to hit the unicorn or $1 billion valuation this week. Others include social commerce firm Meesho, online investment firm Groww, fintech Cred, and online pharmacy Pharmeasy.

We are at an exciting inflection point in our journey, where we are going after a massive opportunity with the right team in place and the backing of long-term investors who have a deep conviction in our mission. With & Moj, we are well-positioned to build the largest AI-powered content ecosystem in India, said Ankush Sachdeva, CEO and Co-founder,

He added that the firm will use the latest fundraise to expand in India and the US, and strengthen its artificial intelligence powered recommendation engine, platform health and creator community.

Sachdeva also posted in a blog post about the firm's journey.

Mohalla Tech is the brainchild of Sachdeva, along with his friends from IIT-Kanpur Farid Ahsan and Bhanu Singh. The three met in 2012, when they participated in a hackathon.

"We built 14 products while being in college  and failed 14 times to get it off the ground," Sachdeva said in the post.

It was in November 2014 that they discovered interest-based WhatsApp groups in India. "We discovered that Indian users were hungry for finding content in their own language.

They were sharing their phone numbers publicly on FB (Facebook) in the hope to get added to an interest-based local language group on WhatsApp. We tried creating/joining 1015 such groups and saw users using it for all kinds of purposes  getting news, joining celeb fan clubs, finding new jokes, shayaris, devotional content etc.," Sachdeva said.

That is how ShareChat was born in January 2015. "a simple app to find trending content in Indian languages with a baked-in viral loop" and allowed a one-tap share to WhatsApp.

ShareChat currently has 160 million monthly active users, serving 15 Indian languages

Moj, which launched in July 2020, is already a name to reckon with in the short video app space, helped in part by the exit of TikTok from India.

Sachdeva said short videos were growing in popularity on ShareChat and on other platforms in the past couple of years and understood that there was big appetite for this format.

As several China-based short video apps got banned in last year in June, Moj was born. "We built the app in 30 hours. Scaled it to 120 million MAUs in 9 months," Sachdeva said.

The company expects to reach 1 billion MAUs on both its platforms combined.

Mohalla Tech has until now raised over $766 million across six fundraising rounds, enabling ShareChat to substantially grow and differentiate itself by delivering a unique, tech-led social media experience.

As Internet penetration increases, ShareChats leading content creation platform is poised to expand dramatically by bridging into online purchases of goods and services. Additionally, Moj is well-positioned to seize the opportunity presented by the growth of short video in India. We are impressed with the teams understanding of these rapidly evolving technologies and its ability to execute quickly, and we are excited to partner with them as they continue to build a great company, said Scott Shleifer, Partner at Tiger Global.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aquarion Company (Aquarion), parent of Aquarion Water Company, and New England Service Company (NESC) (OTC Pink Sheets Trading Symbol: NESW) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Aquarion will acquire all outstanding shares of NESC and NESC will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aquarion. Aquarion is a water supply company and holding company based in Bridgeport, Connecticut, providing regulated water service to customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. NESC is a holding company based in Plainville, Connecticut providing regulated water service to customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

Under the agreement, which was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both Aquarion and NESC, the acquisition will be executed through a stock-for-stock transaction that is structured to be a tax-free reorganization. The agreement provides that the stockholders of NESC will receive 0.51208 shares of the common shares of Aquarion's parent, Eversource Energy (Eversource) (NYSE: ES), in exchange for each share of NESC common stock. The fixed exchange ratio implies a $44.90 per share price based on the $87.68 closing price of Eversource Energy common shares on April 6, 2021. In connection with the exchange, Eversource Energy will issue approximately 463,000 shares of ES Common Stock at closing.

The merger includes NESC's Valley Water System in Connecticut, Colonial Water Company and Mountain Water Systems in Massachusetts, and Abenaki Water Company in New Hampshire, as well as unregulated service operations throughout New England. The merger will add nearly 10,000 customers to Aquarion's existing base of 216,000 customers. Under the agreement, all NESC employees will be retained.

"This merger will create long-term benefits for customers, employees, and the communities we serve," said Donald Morrissey, President of Aquarion Water Company. "We will make investments in these water systems focused on reliability and water quality and deliver a superior customer experience. We also welcome NESC's dedicated employees to the Aquarion team. I'm confident that we share a similar passion for delivering superior water service to customers and the communities we serve and being great stewards of the environment."

Over the last ten years, Aquarion has integrated over 70 water systems into its operations, strengthening the company's ability to deliver high-quality water to communities throughout the region.

"I am pleased to announce the NESC and Aquarion combination and look forward to working with Aquarion's leadership team on a smooth transition for our customers and employees," said Don Vaughan, NESC Chairman. He also noted, "Aquarion is well-positioned to deliver the reliable high-quality water service that our customers expect." NESC President, Nicholas LaChance, added "The stockholders, customers and employees of NESC will benefit from this deal with Aquarion. We view this transaction with Aquarion as a win for all of our stakeholders, and we look forward to working closely with their team."

The completion of the transaction will require approval by the stockholders of NESC, and the NESC Board of Directors has resolved to recommend the adoption of the merger agreement by the stockholders. The transaction is also subject to the approval of regulatory authorities, including the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, and New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, and satisfaction of several other conditions. The parties plan to file all required regulatory applications over the coming months with an anticipated closing by the end of 2021.

Advisors and Counsel

Ropes & Gray LLP served as counsel to Aquarion Company and Eversource Energy in the transaction. Boenning & Scattergood, Inc. provided a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of New England Service Company. Cranmore, FitzGerald and Meaney served as counsel to New England Service Company.

About Aquarion Water Company:

Aquarion Water Company is the public water supply company for more than 625,000 people in 52 cities and towns throughout Connecticut, as well as serving customers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It is the largest investor-owned water utility in New England and among the seven largest in the U.S. Based in Bridgeport, CT, Aquarion has been in the public water supply business since 1857. Across its operations, Aquarion strives to act as a responsible steward of the environment and to assist the communities it serves in promoting sustainable practices. Aquarion Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eversource. For more information on Aquarion Water Company, please visit www.aquarionwater.com or www.facebook.com/aquarionwater.

About New England Service Company:

Headquartered in Plainville, Connecticut, NESC is predominantly involved in the operation, management and financing of water systems and other related activities. NESC was formed in 1997 to operate in both regulated and unregulated water markets. NESC is the sole stockholder of four regulated water companies. For more information on New England Service Company please visit www.NewEnglandServiceCompany.com.

This news release includes statements concerning Aquarion and Aquarion Water Company's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, assumptions of future events, future financial performance or growth and other statements that are not historical facts, including statements regarding the planned merger with New England Service Company, the timing of such transaction and benefits anticipated from such transaction. These statements are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, readers can identify these forward-looking statements through the use of words or phrases such as "will," "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "project," "believe," "forecast," "should," "could" and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the transaction is subject to conditions to closing, including regulatory approvals, that may not be satisfied; it may take longer than anticipated to consummate the transaction; we may not realize the benefits we anticipate from the transaction; unforeseen liabilities; risks relating to integration of the acquired business; and other presently unknown or unforeseen factors.

Other risk factors are detailed in Eversource Energy's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and updated as necessary, and are available on Eversource Energy's website at www.eversource.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. All such factors are difficult to predict and contain uncertainties that may materially affect Aquarion or Aquarion Water Company's actual results, many of which are beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements; each speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, except as required by federal securities laws, and Aquarion Water Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Additional Information

This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of any offer to sell securities. This communication relates to a proposed business combination transaction between Aquarion Company and New England Service Company. In connection with the proposed business combination, Eversource Energy will file a registration statement with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for any registration statement, prospectus/proxy statement or other document Eversource Energy, Aquarion Company and/or New England Service Company may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF NEW ENGLAND SERVICE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROSPECTUS, PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT EVERSOURCE ENERGY, AQUARION COMPANY, NEW ENGLAND SERVICE COMPANY AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents (when they are available) and other related documents filed with the SEC at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to Eversource's Investor Relations department at (860) 665-5154 or by email to [email protected].

Certain Information Regarding Participants

This filing may be deemed solicitation material in respect of the proposed business combination transaction between Aquarion Company and New England Service Company. The directors, trustees, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees of Eversource Energy, Aquarion Company and New England Service Company may be deemed "participants" in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of New England Service Company in favor of the proposed merger. You can find information about Eversource's trustees and executive officers in Eversource's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the SEC on February 17, 2021 and its proxy statement for its 2021 annual meeting filed with the SEC on March 26, 2021. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of New England Service Company in connection with the proposed merger will be set forth in the registration statement, prospectus/proxy statement or other documents filed with the SEC if any when they become available. You may obtain these documents (when they become available) free of charge at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov and from Investor Relations at Eversource as described above.

SOURCE Aquarion Water Company

Related Links

https://www.aquarionwater.com/


The Nigerian government has directed all states to halt COVID-19 vaccination once they utilise half of the doses allocated to them.

The Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, disclosed this while speaking at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 weekly briefing on Tuesday.

According to Mr Mamora, the directive became necessary as the country is unsure of when the next batch of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines will arrive.

He said this will ensure those who have already received the first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine get the necessary second jab.

We believe that in a situation where we still cannot specifically determine when the next batch of AstraZeneca vaccines will arrive, then I think wisdom only dictates that we should vaccinate people fully, Mr Mamora said.

So we can say that we have a pool of citizens that have been fully vaccinated since this vaccination comes in two doses.

Nigeria commenced COVID-19 vaccination on March 5 having received 3.94 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines through COVAX, a UN-backed effort that promises access to vaccines for up to 20 per cent of participating countries population

The vaccination started with healthcare workers who are often at the risk of exposure to infections being the first responders to patients.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and members of the PTF received jabs of the vaccines publicly to drive vaccine acceptance.

Strategic leaders, COVID-19 rapid response team, police officers, petrol station workers and others have since joined the list of people that have received the vaccine.

Nigeria recently received another 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from telecom giant, MTN, as part of the latters contribution to Africa.

The country on Tuesday also received 100,000 doses of Covishield COVID-19 vaccines from India. This will boost the number of Nigerians to be vaccinated by about 50,000, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, said at the committees weekly briefing on Tuesday.

The Covishield is a brand of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. It is used in over 71 countries including the UK, Canada, India and Brazil.

Clinical trials show that the vaccine has a 76 per cent efficacy rate against symptomatic COVID-19 and is 100 per cent effective in stopping severe infection.

Vaccination target

The Nigerian government had announced its plan to vaccinate 109 million people against the COVID-19 virus over a period of two years.

Health authorities said only eligible population from 18 years and above will be vaccinated in four phases.

COVID-19 vaccination has also commenced in all states across the country, according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

As of April 6, 2021, 964,387 persons in Nigeria, had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, an update by NPHCDA shows.

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MBABANE - The suspension of the elderly COVID-19 vaccination exercise has been lifted.

Two days after the COVID-19 vaccination exercise for the elderly was put on hold, the Minister of Health, Senator Lizzie Nkosi, has announced that it will resume today. She announced this yesterday in a COVID-19 vaccination announcement press statement. The Ministry of Health is announcing that the vaccination programme for the elderly and bagcugcuteli (health motivators) will be at Lobamba Clinic, National Church, Maliyaduma KaNdvuna and Kukhanyeni Inkhundla.

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The ministry will continue announcing the COVID-19 vaccination centres daily. The starting time for the vaccination exercise in the listed centres is 7am, said the minister. Nkosi said people should register for vaccination on www.eswatinihealth.org. On Tuesday night, the ministry, through the Eswatini Government pages on social media, announced the vaccination exercise of the elderly had been suspended. The Ministry of Health notifies the nation that the elderly vaccination exercise is currently in abeyance as inoculation of more healthcare workers, including bagcugcuteli, continues. The public will be updated of the next elderly vaccination schedule, she said. The vaccination of the elderly began last Wednesday and since the exercise started, there have been concerns on the large numbers of the elderly who cram the tinkhundla centres without practising social distancing, making them (tinkhundla) potential superspreaders.

Also, concerns have been raised by the elderly that they would return home without them being inoculated in some vaccination sites due to the late start of the exercise. Others complained about having to endure long hours in queues before being eventually vaccinated. The minister also said the ministry was pleased to update the nation on the good progress made in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in the country. The vaccination rollout, as outlined in the National COVID-19 Vaccination Deployment Plan (NVDP), started with healthcare workers for a period of one week, after which the elderly and those with comorbidities followed in the ensuing week.

Currently, the vaccination of healthcare workers is running concurrently with that of the elderly and those with comorbidities (Phase 1A and B) of the NVDP, she said.
The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (Adnec) has won two accolades at the Middle East Event Awards (MESE). Held virtually from Dubai, the award ceremony recognised and celebrated central figures in the events industry.



The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company was recognised as the Best Employer of the Year, 2020 in the events industry, following its presentation of its core mission, vision and values alongside the companys commitment to developing experienced and talented employees.



Adnec Services, Adnec Groups events services arm, also received Best Association/Corporate Meeting for the entitys work and management of the tenth session of the World Urban Forum. At the first time the event was held in an Arab nation, Adnec Services handled the entire event, from conception to execution.



A total of 28 categories were presented during the award ceremony, which presented winners for the 2020 and 2021 editions. There was a record number of nominations, with over 400 entries submitted.



Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director &Group Chief Executive Officer of Adnec, commented: Winning these two awards adds to Adnecs achievements and it is a source of great pride to be recognised in these important categories. Adnecs important win for Best Employer of the Year demonstrates our commitment to our people. Our sustained efforts to host international exhibitions, meetings, and conferences cements Abu Dhabi as the regions hub for business tourism.



Receiving these awards supports Adnecs vision and mission to be the leading venue in the MENA region, and further demonstrates our key values: striving for excellence, working together, being creative and innovative, and being passionate about what we do. Al Dhaheri concluded.



The Middle East Event and Exhibition Awards gathers key players of the industry to recognise and reward the outstanding individuals, teams and companies that have been involved in creating some of the best events in the world, including marketers, designers, suppliers, planners and many more.  TradeArabia News Service
(Newser)  The tweets that got former President Trump booted from Twitter may be gone from the social media platform forever, despite the National Archives' desires. Twitter on Wednesday told Politico it will not allow the National Archives and Records Administration to bring the tweets that Trump posted while president from his @realDonaldTrump account back to Twitter for archival purposes. NARA says it is "is still exploring the best way" to make the federally archived version of Trump's banned Twitter feed public, likely as a download on the Trump Presidential Library website. Fox News reports that even Trump tweets that were blocked or deleted by Twitter will be included. Politico notes Twitter's move will likely inflame the controversy over whether social media companies wield too much power over communication.

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"America getting a little taste of communism..." reads one sample response to the news on, yes, Twitter. Others, however, indicated glee that Trump's words won't re-emerge on the site, though at least one person pointed out that the Trump Twitter Archive already exists. NARA maintains archival versions of other former members of the Trump administration (including the @POTUS account from when Trump, not Joe Biden, held it), but Twitter points out in a statement that "administration accounts that are archived on the service are accounts that were not in violation of the Twitter Rules." Trump was booted for violating terms of service regarding glorifying violence in the wake of the January 6 US Capitol riot. The ban was controversial on both sides of the political aisle, though; even far-left Sen. Bernie Sanders said he wasn't comfortable with it. (Read more Twitter stories.)
Within days of the first COVID-19 case being reported in Michigan, Sue Huggett walked door-to-door asking downtown Kalamazoo businesses to participate in the Gift Card Stimulus program.

As the events director for the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership, Huggetts duties became solely focused on business support. Doors were closing and the weight of the novel coronavirus was setting in.

In five days, Huggett collected 2,000 gift cards from 66 businesses. She set up a mailing station in her home and sent the gift cards directly to purchasers. The downtown partnership added $10 to every $25 gift card purchased. The initiative brought $70,000 to downtown businesses within a week.

As small businesses and restaurants continued to weather the blows of COVID-19, many expected a demise of downtowns to follow, but creative solutions buoyed Michigans Main Streets. They were revived with social drinking districts, expanded outdoor dining and socially distanced events  some of these creative solutions are here to stay.

This year has pushed a lot of us to think differently and its also given us permission to think differently, Huggett said. Were not going to get stuck in the same old same old. Were continuing to think of ideas.

Downtown managers have never been busier than 2020, Michigan Downtown Association Director Dana Walker said. As city governments became consumed with changing health orders, downtown associations stepped up to be resources for federal funding, proper signage and keeping businesses afloat.

Downtown is so important because its that gathering space, but also its really the hub for all these small businesses that are so key to our Michigan economy, she said.

The International Downtown Association surveyed 37 downtowns across the U.S., including Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids, to assess the value of downtowns.

Long-established downtowns, like Ann Arbor, are assessed to be valued at $15.4 billion on average. Emerging downtowns, like Grand Rapids, average $1.4 billion in value, according to the report.

The pre-pandemic data showed downtowns outpaced the cities theyre in when it comes to residential growth between 2000 and 2018, growing an average of 40% compared to a citywide average of 15%.

The report, published in 2020, did not have statistical insights into the pandemics effect on downtowns.

However, it does list key factors that will change downtowns moving forward, such as the decline of daily workers due to remote work, an emphasis on diversity after the national reckoning on racial injustice and the permanent need for outdoor shopping and dining space.

Communities across Michigan modified city ordinances to allow for more outdoor dining spaces. Streets were shut down to allow for foot traffic. Temporary barriers created sidewalk cafes in Bay City and established a new outdoor dining atmosphere in Grand Haven.

In June, lawmakers passed legislation to allow for outdoor drinking, or social districts in the summer. Theyve popped up in 38 cities, including Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Muskegon.

Its another economic tool for downtowns to draw people in, Walker said. Social districts for Michigan are nothing like New Orleans. Its basically just another method for people to be able to walk downtown, window shop and [add] that social aspect.

Related: Tracking a year of coronavirus in Michigan

Small business owners are forging ahead, even if its at a slow pace. Since last April, the U.S. Census Bureau has surveyed small business owners on a weekly basis about the impact of the pandemic on their business and their expectations for returning to normal.

The most recent Census data at the end of March showed 25% of business owners still say the pandemic is having a large, negative impact on their business. Operations have even gone back to normal for 16% of business owners.

Thats an improvement compared to last April, when 64.5% of Michigan small business owners responded that the pandemic had a large, negative effect. This was above the national average of 51.4% business owners responding the same way.

By the holiday season, attitudes seemed to be improving among Michigan business owners. During the week of Christmas, only 30.8% of business owners said the pandemic had a large, negative impact.

Consumers Energy donated $500,000 spread out over 55 Michigan communities for a dollar-for-dollar match program during the holiday season.

In just 20 minutes, Kalamazoos flash sale on Downtown Dollars matched by Consumers sold out. Throughout 2020, Kalamazoos Downtown Dollars brought in almost $150,000. Although the program had been around for decades, the increased marketing during the pandemic paid off seven-fold.

The Consumers Energy match propelled Traverse City into a record-setting year for its downtown gift certificate program as well. In 2020, the downtown development authority reported more than $1 million sold in gift certificates, nearly doubling the previous years effort.

Related: 15 things the pandemic changed for now  and maybe forever

Downtowns are often defined by their annual events but as the pandemic pushed further and further into the year the list of cancellations grew longer.

In Marquette, the Blueberry Festival, which usually gathers about 5,000 people throughout the day, was reduced to a virtual scavenger hunt.

It was a little bit heartbreaking to knock off each of those timeframes and be like, Were gonna have to go a little further and a little further, said Tara Laase-McKinney, events coordinator at Marquette Downtown Development Authority.

The festival is back on this July, but it will be scaled back without outdoor vendors in hopes that this will shine the spotlight on downtown businesses instead. Laase-McKinney said events like this have been a bright spot to look forward to for both her team and her community.

The U.P. had to perform a balancing act between keeping crowds and the virus at bay while minimizing loss of income last summer. And although tourists were a mixed blessing, Laase-McKinney said she expects most visitors will be respectful of restrictions while still supporting the local economy this summer.

Although Traverse Citys famous cherry festival was canceled last summer, the Downtown Development Authority looked for other opportunities to keep the citys agricultural tourism moving forward.

Pre-pandemic, the Traverse City farmers market had an average of almost 2,000 daily customers, 74% of which come to the area specifically for the market, according to the Traverse City Downtown Development Authoritys 2019 report.

On average, customers spent $24 at the market and $31 at neighboring businesses, according to the report.

In an effort to save that revenue, the farmers market went online in May 2020. The order online method took off and the virtual market registered 2,860 customers. The interim online market was successful enough to launch a winter market. The initiative will continue for the 2021 summer market, Director of Community Development Katy McCain said.

The needle is moving forward for Michigans small businesses and downtowns, with some state aid coming to fill in the gaps.

In April, 21 small businesses received grants from Michigan Economic Development Corporation with the aim of strengthening downtowns,.

In total, $500,743 in grants went out to 17 communities through the Match on Main program, said Michele Wildman, MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development.

Eligible businesses seeking support were awarded up to $25,000. The grants are expected to create or retain 69 full-time and 71 part-time jobs, according to the MEDC.

In an earlier round of funding last year, the Match on Main program awarded $993,984 spread out across 22 communities in June. In total, the program has assisted 299 small businesses..

Thriving small businesses are the cornerstone of what makes Michigans downtowns unique and authentic while helping to create economic opportunity across the state, Wildman said. These Match on Main grants will help local businesses find new paths to growth and create and retain jobs, while further developing vibrant, unique, and attractive places where people want to live, work, and play.

More on MLive:

Will the pandemic be the final nail in the coffin for Michigans malls?

Pandemic pushes Michigan retailers into online sales, making E-commerce a permanent fixture

E-commerce isnt for everyone; theres still room for brick and mortar, Michigan retailers say
ATLANTA, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. (NYSE: CTT) will release its first quarter 2021 earnings on Thursday, May 6, 2021, following the market close. The company will host a conference call and live webcast at 10 a.m. ET on Friday, May 7, 2021 to discuss these results.

Investors may listen to the conference call by dialing 1-888-347-1165 for U.S/Canada and 1-412-902-4276 for international callers. Participants should ask to be joined into the CatchMark call. Access to the live webcast is available at www.catchmark.com or here. A replay of this webcast will be archived on the company's website immediately after the call.

About CatchMark

CatchMark (NYSE: CTT) seeks to deliver consistent and growing per share cash flow from disciplined acquisitions and superior management of prime timberlands located in high demand U.S. mill markets. Concentrating on maximizing cash flows throughout business cycles, the company strategically harvests its high-quality timberlands to produce durable revenue growth and takes advantage of proximate mill markets, which provide a reliable outlet for merchantable inventory. Headquartered in Atlanta and focused exclusively on timberland ownership and management, CatchMark began operations in 2007 and owns interests in 1.5 million acres* of timberlands located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas. For more information, visit www.catchmark.com.

* As of December 31, 2020

SOURCE CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.catchmark.com


KYODO NEWS - Apr 8, 2021 - 19:11 | All, World

An illegal foreign worker has been detained as a second suspect in Taiwan's worst train derailment in seven decades in Hualien County on the east coast that killed 50 people and injured more than 200 others, authorities said Thursday.

Chief prosecutor of the case at the Hualien District Prosecutors Office Chou Fang-yi told reporters that two men are suspected of causing the April 2 disaster and the court approved on Thursday afternoon their request to detain the second suspect, who she said is a foreign worker from Vietnam who has been in Taiwan illegally.

The main suspect, Lee Yi-hsiang, has been detained for further questioning since Sunday. The court has seized Lee's assets to prevent him from transferring his personal assets and those under his two companies that are subcontractors of the Taiwan Railway Administration.

As Lee also serves as a construction site manager for the TRA, rail authorities say Lee lied about his identity to circumvent the law prohibiting holding of both positions, construction company owner and construction site manager.

Authorities also found that Lee lied about inspecting the construction site alone. Surveillance camera footage showed that more vehicles and other people were at the site on the day of the accident, even though he TRA had ordered all construction work to be halted during the four-day Tomb Sweeping Festival.

Investigators said Lee was not alone, but instead with a man caught on surveillance camera with him in the crane truck loaded with waste tires. Prosecutors identified the passenger as the illegal worker from Vietnam.

Lee is the driver of a crane truck that rolled down a slope on April 2 and caused the accident. Railway authorities suspect that the truck was parked without the emergency brake engaged.

The Transportation Safety Board Chairman Young Hong-tsu said on Tuesday that the brakes of the truck had been modified without the certification of the manufacturer, and that its engine had been turned off before it rolled down the slope.

While it is unclear how the truck rolled down the hill beside the track, the board found that before that happened, the truck ran off the dirt road at a turning point where it got stuck in roadside bushes and its engine stalled.

Young told reporters at the legislature on Thursday that more evidence has been secured, including an audio and video recording between Lee and the illegal foreign worker inside the truck. However, Young declined to reveal details of their conversation.

Prosecutors seek to determine whether Lee and the illegal foreign worker tried to use another on-site crane truck to free their truck from the roadside bushes.

Meanwhile, trains in Taiwan mark the seventh day of the accident on Thursday by sounding their horns.

Trains passing the accident site did so for 30 seconds, and at least 120 trains did so or five seconds at 9:28 a.m., the time of the accident.

Taiwanese believe that on the seventh day, the spirits of a deceased would return to the house of that person's family and religious rituals must be performed to welcome the dead.

Among the 50 people who died were a 5-year-old girl, two American women in their 20s and a Frenchman who would have turned 28 two days after the accident. The train driver, 32, and his 31-year-old assistant also lost their lives.

Related coverage:

Suspect ID'd at scene of Taiwan's worst train derailment in decades

Some 120 passengers were standing in derailed Taiwan train

Taiwanese man involved in deadly train derailment released on bail
The Vietnamese cloud service market is projected to grow from $181 million in 2019 to $427 million by 2025, exhibiting a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 15 per cent during 2020-2025

On March 31, Korean telecommunications company KT Corporation announced that it will enter the B2B cloud computing market in Vietnam. Based on its achievements in the cloud business in Korea, KT signed an MoU with FPT Smart Cloud, an affiliate of FPT Group, a leader in Vietnam's ICT scene.

KT is planning to carry out a project on hybrid cloud computing services optimised for industrial characteristics such as G-Cloud and F-Cloud can be offered in Vietnam.

At the middle of the month, Mat Bao Corporation, a Vietnamese technology company also launched its new cloud server cluster located at the data centre of Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT). As planned, the server cluster will store information with high security and stability to ensure efficient data security for enterprises.

With the rapid development and high demand from the market, the investment in upgrading services to bring advanced quality and outstanding products is a prerequisite to ensuring data security at Mat Bao, Huynh Ngoc Duy, CEO of Mat Bao said.

Earlier, Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon.com officially announced AWS EdStart in Vietnam, an online support programme for educational technology startups to develop teaching solutions on the AWS cloud platform.

The AWS EdStart programme provides EdTech startups with resources to quickly get started on AWS  including AWS Promotional Credits and access to training and support. AWS EdStart is a global community of like-minded people and companies that are solving complex educational problems.

At the present, the cloud computing market in Vietnam is led by both domestic and foreign suppliers. The key players in the Vietnamese cloud services market are FPT Corporation, Viettel-CHT, CMC Corporation, IBM Vietnam, Microsoft Vietnam, Amazon Web Services Vietnam, Mat Bao Corporation, NTC Cloud Computing, SAP Asia (Vietnam), HPT Vietnam, Google LLC, and Salesforce.

In 2020, the Vietnamese cloud computing market currently reaches about $133 million, equivalent to VND3.2 trillion ($139.13 million). However, domestic enterprises only account for about 20 per cent of the market while foreign partners hold the remainder.

Bui Quoc Anh, director at Data Centre  Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City stated that the international providers, such as AWS, and Google Cloud have a lot of platforms. It is too difficult for domestic providers to build such platforms because of cost, time, and expertise level.

At the moment, the public sector and big enterprises in Vietnam use domestic cloud computing services but mainly infrastructure services.

However, the international players such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, or IBM Cloud do not officially operate in Vietnam because Vietnam's Network Security Law does not allow, because of data centre locations, although many people and companies use their services.

He noted that the big barriers for international players are Vietnam's Network Security Law. They cannot provide their services in Vietnam including the public sector, state-owned organisations and big enterprises that work with the public sector. It is challenging for them to open data centres in Vietnam if they do not have enough customers in Vietnam. Maybe, when international companies work in Vietnam, the situation may be changed.

For domestic providers, the big challenges are capital-intensive platforms as well as time and expertise for development. It is difficult for domestic providers to develop fast in a cost-efficient manner for competitiveness. Domestic providers need to find an exclusive or niche segment or a more innovative market for survival and development.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the digital transformation trend stronger than ever. A survey of IBM Institute for Business Value showed that 56 per cent of Vietnamese enterprises are already using cloud management platforms. Responses indicate that Vietnamese enterprises plan to increase expenditure on hybrid cloud services from the current 41 to 43 per cent by 2023.

In fact, figures from the Ministry of Information and Communications showed that the market has been growing at 30 per cent on average in recent years while the growth rate reached 40 per cent in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commenting on this trend, Le Anh Vu, creative director of CMC Telecom, stated that in 2021, the cloud computing market will continue to be more active with the strong entrance of small- and medium-sized enterprises, even business households. Also, the push for digital transformation from the state and the growth of domestic clouds such as CMC Cloud, VNPT Cloud, and VNG Cloud will be the premise to speed up the process of cloud computing.

According to the report of TechSci Research, the Vietnamese cloud service market is projected to grow from $181 million in 2019 to $427 million by 2025, exhibiting a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 15 per cent during 2020-2025.
Over the course of separate lines of questioning to Debele and Doyle, Carl DePalma, Debele's attorney, argued that the food pantry had educational and community value through different classes and events that were held at its former location before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It wasn't just a place where food was stored and distributed, he argued.

DePalma also noted the pantry is operating out of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, which is in the same residential area and street as the old school building. Doyle he said the pantry was operating out of the church, but hadn't received any applications regarding that or issued any permits, but noted that he knew the pantry was working at two temporary locations. DePalma asked if Doyle believed he should investigate that when he heard about it, Doyle said "I knew they were temporary locations" and he hadn't received any complaints.

DePalma asked Doyle if there had been any complaints about the pantry to his knowledge, to which Doyle said no. DePalma then asked, "Why is it that you wouldn't have to uniformly apply the code to the church as well as Mr. Debele?"

Doyle said "I basically do apply it uniformly" and added that now that "I have a specific address I'll have to look into that and determine if it's in compliance or a violation."
You can see his eyes  hes conscious  and then you see that he isnt, Dr. Tobin said. Thats the moment the life goes out of his body.

The doctor also rejected the defenses arguments about drugs, saying that videos show Mr. Floyd breathing at a normal rate before he went unconscious, meaning any fentanyl in his system was not having an effect on his breathing.

A healthy person subjected to what Mr. Floyd was subjected to would have died, Dr. Tobin said.

Eric J. Nelson, the lawyer for Mr. Chauvin, pushed back on Dr. Tobins testimony during his questioning and suggested that Mr. Floyd could have died of an overdose. Dr. Tobin agreed that fentanyl could have hindered Mr. Floyds breathing if he had taken the drug in the minutes before police officers pushed him to the ground, but the doctor said Mr. Floyd had never gone into a coma, something he said would happen before a person dies of a fentanyl overdose. Mr. Nelson also sought to portray the medical care that Mr. Floyd received from paramedics as lacking, saying they had not inserted a tube down Mr. Floyds throat until nine minutes after they arrived.

In his testimony, Dr. Tobin said he had determined that Mr. Chauvin had pressed his left knee on Mr. Floyds neck for more than 90 percent of the time that Mr. Floyd was on the ground, and that he had kept his right knee on Mr. Floyds back for the majority of the time as well. That pressure, combined with having his hands cuffed behind his back and pushed into the street facedown, had cut off oxygen and caused his heart to stop, Dr. Tobin said.

He was being squashed between the two sides, he said.

Mr. Floyd was so desperate for air at one point that he tried to lift himself off the ground by pushing his right knuckle against a police cars tire, the doctor said.
The New York State budget is an investment in the future of our diverse farms and local food system. In particular, the fully funded research, marketing, conservation, and animal health programs that New York Farm Bureau members advocated for will provide the framework for growth and opportunity that are needed coming off a challenging year. Additionally, we are pleased to see Nourish NY is now a permanent program that will benefit our farms and people in need of healthy food in every corner of our state. The extension of the farm workforce retention tax credit is also applauded to continue to help offset rising labor costs that put New Yorks farmers in an uncompetitive marketplace position. That concern over the high cost of doing business in New York remains with the scope of the full budget plan.
LEBEC, Calif. (AP)  A long-running plan to build a community of 19,000 homes on vast Tejon Ranch north of Los Angeles has been halted by a judge who cited high wildfire risk.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff on Tuesday rejected Los Angeles Countys approval of the developers environmental impact report, effectively blocking construction.

The judge cited aspects of the environmental review concerning fire danger and additional greenhouse gases generated by vehicles, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The ruling does not kill the project on the southern flanks of the Tehachapi Mountains near the Kern County border, the newspaper said, but it does threaten to delay it significantly.

The Center for Biological Diversity, one of the projects most vocal opponents, hailed the judges decision.

The science is clear that developments like Centennial will literally be built to burn, and our elected officials cant continue to downplay these risks through inaccurate environmental reviews, said J.P. Rose, an attorney for the environmental group, in a statement Thursday.

The projects developer said the ruling would merely delay construction.

Environmental impact reports are extremely lengthy, complex documents and its difficult to get everything perfect the first time out, Barry Zoeller, senior vice president at Tejon Ranch Co., said in a statement. With the judges direction, he added, the company intends to work with Los Angeles County to address what he described as a few remaining issues.

The Centennial development has faced significant opposition since it was proposed by Tejon Ranch Co. in 1999.

Opponents cite impacts on plant and animal habitats, earthquake and wildfire hazards, traffic congestion and pollution, among others.

Advocates say Centennial would bring housing, jobs and revenues to the county, as well as needed infrastructure in the region 70 miles (112. kilometers) north of downtown Los Angeles.
Hill County Residents Now Have More Vaccine Options Hill Regional Hospital (HRH) announced last week that it is now offering COVID-19 vaccines on a regular schedule and currently has openings for both the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine, both of which will require a return for the second doses either three weeks or four weeks later.



Hill County Emergency Management Coordinator Tom Hemrick reported last week that with the number of vaccines now coming into the county, anyone who wants to be vaccinated should now be able to get an appointment.



Hill Regional Hospital reported that first doses of the two-dose vaccines are consistently being given on Wednesdays, with second doses generally being given on Thursdays. Recipients of the vaccines will have their return date on the back of the card and are expected to honor those appointments.



For now, Hill Regional has first received 600 doses of the Moderna vaccine, and those will be administered on Wednesday, April 14, with appointments currently being accepted. Those who choose this vaccine and book an appointment must return Thursday, May 13, for their second dose.



Pfizer vaccine appointments are also available to book now online, with first doses being given on Wednesdays, including April 21 (booking this date now), April 28 and May 5. Return dates will be noted on vaccine cards for second doses.



To register online, visit www.hillregionalhospital.com. In the middle of the page is information and a link to sign up for either of the vaccines and choose an appointment time.



Those signing up are asked to complete all of the information on the page (note that insurance information is not required), and click the "Book Appointment" button. A confirmation will immediately pop up, and those who input an email address will also receive an email.



Hill Regional will be administering the vaccines at the Hill County Fairgrounds, 205 Stadium Drive in Hillsboro.



"The space worked well for the large clinic held there recently and offered plenty of parking spaces," said spokesperson Tricia Shelton. "As we completed our first regularly scheduled Pfizer vaccines on March 31, we want to thank again Hill County Judge Justin Lewis and Hill County Office of Emergency Management and Tom Hemrick for letting us use their system to book these appointments and allowing us to continue to use the Hill County Fairgrounds. This made the administration of these vaccines go smoothly."



She added, "We want to also thank the Army and National Guard for their assistance in March for the 1,600 Pfizer vaccines that were given, and we look forward to all working together again for second doses this week."



The hospital also thanked Hill College School of Nursing students who helped administer the vaccines and Ascension Providence Hospital for supplying the Pfizer vaccines.



"Other community volunteers also assisted in this undertaking and are continuing to do so," Shelton said.



Organizers noted that when those signing up select a date and time, they are also committing to return three or four weeks later, depending on the vaccine they receive. "If you cannot return at the required interval, then perhaps you should wait to set your initial appointment at another time," Shelton said. "It is very important to keep your return date. If you find you must cancel an appointment, please email us at covidvac@hillrh.com and let us know your names, emails and appointment times so we can remove your name."



The State of Texas has now opened up registration for the vaccines to all Texas residents 16 and older. Note that the Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine currently approved for teenagers 16 and 17. Parents are encouraged to check with their childs doctor if they have questions about the vaccine.



Those unable to navigate the website to sign up for a vaccine and who do not have a relative or friend to help can call the hospital at 254-580-8500 to sign up. This number can also be called with any questions.



What an excellent exercise in bringing the community together, said Hill Regional Administrator Susan Popp. Getting these vaccines out is truly an effort of everyone pulling together. We are Hill County strong, and we are happy Hill Regional can participate with other community leaders to get COVID knocked out."



Popp added, We ask that our residents help spread the word about this availability of so many vaccines.



For information about the vaccine itself, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19.


Washington: Interpol is too susceptible to abuse by despotic regimes and its next president should not come from the United Arab Emirates because of its systematic breaches of human rights, according to a new report.

UAE Major General Nasser Ahmed al-Raisi is running for president of Interpol.

In a scathing assessment of the undue influence of the UAE on the international policing organisation, the paper points to large financial donations and a misuse of the red notice system by a country where torture and repression is a stock in trade.

Last year, the London Telegraph revealed that Major General Nasser Ahmed al-Raisi, the UAE security chief was running to become president of Interpol - a prestigious role which would give him insight into and influence over police forces across the world.

The report, written by former British director of public prosecutions Sir David Calvert-Smith and titled Undue influence: The UAE and Interpol, says he is unsuitable for the role.
DALLAS, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pollo Campero, the fast service chicken restaurant founded in 1971 in Guatemala, celebrates its 50th anniversary in April with a month of 50%-off deals.

Pollo Campero started as a small family-owned restaurant, using recipes passed down through generations to make Pollo Campero's famously flavorful hand-breaded, seasoned-to-perfection fried chicken and citrus-marinated grilled chicken. Today, the company has grown to more than 350 locations internationally while continuing to serve up the same delicious chicken along with unique sides and signature drinks made fresh daily.

"When we think of our golden anniversary, we think of the delicious, golden-fried perfection we have been crafting since day one," said Pollo Campero USA Director of Marketing Federico Valiente. "Our month of 50%-off rewards is our way to celebrate with our loyal customers to thank them for 50 great years the best way we can: with more FLAVOR!"

Guests who download the Pollo Campero app and sign up for the brand's loyalty program can receive the following anniversary rewards:

April 6-12 : 50% off purchase of two Empanada Meals

: 50% off purchase of two Empanada Meals April 13-19 : 50% off purchase of two Sandwich Meals

: 50% off purchase of two Sandwich Meals April 20-26 : 50% off purchase of two Camperitos Meals

On April 27, the actual day of Campero's birthday, the brand is going all out with what it does best: family meals. On this day, guests can receive 50% off any family meal, including 8-piece, 12-piece or 20-piece fried or grilled chicken meals served with a choice of family sides and tortillas or dinner rolls. To get the deal, guests must use the code HAPPYBDAY when they order online at campero.com, in-app or in-restaurant.

"We are extremely honored and humbled to have been invited into so many homes throughout the past 50 years. Offering families great meals that they can share with one another is at the heart of everything we do," said Valiente. "Our April 27 offer gives us the opportunity to invite even more families to experience Pollo Campero's unique flavor  from our fried and grilled chicken to our nine unique sides, fresh drinks and desserts."

About Pollo Campero

Founded in Guatemala in 1971, Pollo Campero is a fast service chicken restaurant brand specializing in uniquely flavorful chicken and a wholesome menu offering individual and family meals. Using family recipes passed down from generation to generation, Pollo Campero offers tender, juicy, hand-breaded fried chicken and citrus flavor-infused grilled chicken that is always fresh and hand-prepared daily. Since its beginnings as a tiny, family-owned restaurant, Pollo Campero has grown to more than 350 restaurants around the world. To learn more about Pollo Campero, visit us.campero.com and follow the flavor on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media Contact:

Callie Haddox or Kim Cooper

[email protected] or [email protected]

817-329-3257

SOURCE Pollo Campero

Related Links

http://us.campero.com


EXCLUSIVE: Israeli production and distribution outfit ADD Content Agency, and European media group Mediawan, are partnering to develop a series inspired by the life of Israeli activist, entrepreneur and former soldier Ziv Shilon.

Shilon was severely wounded on the Gaza Strip in 2012, losing his left hand in battle. After undergoing 17 surgical operations and 11 months of intensive rehabilitation, he became an advocate for the disability community, working with companies including Microsofts Xbox to help make their products more accessible to consumers with limited motor skills.

More from Deadline

Mediawan and ADD will co-produce the series, which is being co-written by Iranian-French writer Negar Djavadi alongside Israeli writers Shahar Segall (Little Miss Jones) and Oren Jacobi (False Flag). Shilon will serve as a creative consultant.

ADD Content Agency co-founder and Head of International Hadas Mozes Lichtenstein will executive-produce alongside Gregory Cantien, producer and Managing Director of Mediawan Studio France label Camerons, and Charlotte Toledano-Detaille, former SVP Content at Lagardere Studios and producer at Mediawan Studio France.

Euro production and distribution force Mediawan owns a growing fleet of production companies including Lagardere Studios and its French banner Atlantique Productions, whose credits include Damien Chazelles Netflix series The Eddy, Palomar, and Mon Voisin Production, which makes global Netflix hit Call My Agent. The group also runs production hubs in Spain and Italy.

Distribution, production and talent management agency ADD was launched in 2010. Co-founder Mozes Lichtenstein has played a part in expanding the global footprint of Israeli TV drama, brokering the sales of the original Israeli drama series Euphoria to HBO for an English-language adaptation and the lauded drama Fauda to Netflix. On the agency side, ADD represents clients both in Israel and abroad.

Story continues

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Matthew Rupert was the first person to be charged with federal crimes for participating in the looting and arson that took place after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. He was originally charged with counts of civil disorder and riot as well, but the U.S. Attorneys Office dropped all but the arson charge as part of a plea agreement.
Mumbai, April 8 : Actress Alia Bhatt announced on Thursday the Telugu teaser of her film "Gangubai Kathiawadi" will be attached with Telugu star Pawan Kalyan's upcoming theatrical release, "Vakeel Saab".

Alia announced the news with a video she posted on Instagram stories. In the video she is seen greeting her Telugu fans in their language and then goes on to say in English: "It is such an honour and so exciting for me to be sharing something so special with the release of one of the most awaited films 'Vakeel saab'." She later wished Pawan Kalyan and team the best, and asked fans to watch out because Vakeel Saab was coming.

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, "Gangubai Kathiawadi" stars Alia in the titular role along with actor Ajay Devgn in a pivotal role.

Pawan Kalyan's "Vakeel Saab" is set to hit theatres on April 9.
The pandemic has created a great divide between people who think they can work efficiently from the back bedroom and those who believe that creativity and productivity flow from the collaboration and accessibility that comes from being in a commercial setting.

It is less than ideal that Pascal Soriot, who is helping to lead the nation, Europe and large swathes of the world out of Covid, has spent the last several months at his home in Australia.

As good as modern communications are, the AstraZeneca boss is in the wrong time zone and far away from the regulatory flare-ups and political storms which have swirled up around the Oxford vaccine.

Missing in action: Astrazeneca boss Pascal Soriot, who is helping to lead Britain, Europe and much of the world out of Covid, has spent the last several months at his home in Australia

Soriot did a wonderful thing when he backed the development, trials and manufacture of a vaccine for all mankind at cost.

Competitors Pfizer and Moderna are piling up the earnings with 11billion and 13billion in extra revenues respectively.

But the noble aspirations of Soriots pledge of 3bn doses for the world has been marred by communications failures, disputed trials, manufacturing slippages and politics.

Soriots fellow Frenchman and friend Thierry Breton, the EUs internal market commissioner, is blunt in his assessment of AZ chief executives leadership.

At a time when European factories and nations are struggling to cope with the vaccine rollout he argues that managing AZ from nearly 10,000 miles away on the Sydney harbour front is mistaken.

As pathetic as the EU response to immunisation has been, Breton is on the right track. AZs production problems have stretched across the globe from India to the United States.

AZ also has faced a cascade of regulatory difficulties in Europe and the US, and a lesser extent the UK, all of which have cast a shadow over his leadership.

If Soriot had been present in London to preside over his pandemic war cabinet, with the same intensity as he defended Astra from being swallowed by Pfizer in 2014, much of this could have been avoided.

He could also have made essential journeys to Washington and the European capitals to calm frayed regulatory nerves.

The responses by AZ to successive problems with big pharma enforcers have been slow and imprecise, undermining confidence when it could have been shored up.

The Astra board has been discomforted by this and the share price tumbled from a peak of 9320p in July last year to 7243p in latest trading.

Directors recognise that is no time to question the future of Soriot who has delivered a vaccine from a standing start and brought to fruition an impressive suite of cancer fighting immunology compounds.

At the upcoming public shareholders meeting on April 30 and the AGM scheduled for May 11, approval will be sought for an extension to chairman Leif Johanssons nine-year stretch even though it goes beyond the tenure recommended by governance rules.

Continuity is seen as critical at this juncture. Soriots 15.4million 2020 pay package is unlikely to cause too much of a ripple given his efforts in the pandemic.

But as the first 700,000 AZ doses of vaccine arrive Down Under, it is critical for his own and the companys reputation that Soriot climbs aboard a flight in the opposite direction.

Mine field

The passions aroused by king coal as the world speeds towards clean energy have been symbolised by planning delays to a new deep mine in Cumbria.

Global mining groups have come up with an answer. Split out or sell off the coal mines, then it becomes someone elses problem.

Anglo American is seeking to underline its environmental credentials by de-merging its South African thermal coal deposits, renaming them Thungela, and listing on Johannesburg and London.

That may pep up Anglos green credentials but does nothing to rid the world of coal.

Glencores departing boss Ivan Glasenberg has a different solution. His firm is to deplete and close coal mines around the world. That is an ethical approach with owners taking responsibility for clean-up.

Mutual respect

The Co-op is declining to pay back 66million of government assistance through business rates relief in spite of rumblings among members.

It follows the lead of partner-owned John Lewis-Waitrose. Pandemic sacrifice would be better but mutuals do find it harder to raise capital and win access to borrowing than quoted rivals.

Thats fine as long as executives dont pay themselves fat bonuses at taxpayer expense.
London, April 8 : Hollywood star Margot Robbie has shared that she is a tea fanatic and that she is obsessed with drinking the hot beverage after moving to London from Australia.

"Breakfast is usually porridge, and during the morning I'll have an immunity-boosting smoothie. I'll normally have a chicken salad for lunch, and for dinner I'll tuck into a tuna steak with sweet potato. Throughout the day, I'll sip on tea -- I've been obsessed with it ever since I lived in the UK," Robbie told Women's Health UK magazine.

She has been living in the US over the past several years to pursue a Hollywood career, and is said to be a huge fan of burgers and beer. When she lived in London, the actress was obsessed with a Mexican restaurant.

"Food is a big thing for me. I love burgers and fries, which I'll order with a pint of beer. In the US, my favourite meal is a double truffle burger from the American chain Umami Burger: it comes with a truffle cheese fondue, truffle aioli and truffle glaze," she said.

"But back when I called London home, I loved the Mexican restaurant and bar in Soho. Everything I ate there was amazing -- and they whip up the best margarita I've ever had anywhere," Robbie added.

The actress is said to particularly enjoy her experience of working with filmmaker Quentin Tarantino.

"When I got the chance to work with Quentin Tarantino (on 'Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood') I was so excited. He is one of the all-time great directors -- and I wrote him a letter telling him I'd love to be in one of his films," she said.

Robbie added that once she was on the set, she made sure she soaked up all the knowledge from him.
OKLAHOMA CITY, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Progentec , a leader in diagnostic and digital technologies for the proactive management of autoimmune diseases, announced today that Bendcare, a large healthcare services and technology organization which empowers community rheumatologists in the United States, is supporting clinician and patient access to the aiSLE DX Flare Risk Index. Bendcare plans to begin offering rheumatologists in the Bendcare and American Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates (AARA) networks clinical education sessions focused on the laboratory technology later this month. Additionally, Progentec will be utilizing Bendcare's Columbus Data Repository to analyze the impact of the aiSLE DX Flare Risk Index.

"aiSLE DX Flare Risk Index represents a paradigm shift in the treatment of lupus (SLE) patients. Proteomics empowers clinicians to treat lupus patients based on changes in the underlying immunology," said Mohan Purushothaman, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Progentec. "aiSLE DX Flare Risk Index calculates a patient's future risk of a lupus flare. Early identification of SLE flares provides an additional tool in the hands of the clinicians to help them take proactive steps to mitigate irreversible damage caused by the disease. This damage ultimately leads to morbidity, mortality, and increased resource utilization."

Systemic lupus erythematosus ("SLE" or "lupus") is an extremely challenging disease to manage clinically. It has become a top 20 leading cause of death for young American women and disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Challenges in achieving positive lupus health outcomes stem from the complex underlying biology of the autoimmune disease and the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH), specifically access to care and health literacy.

Learn more about using aiSLE DX Flare Risk Index and Progentec's other technologies at: https://progentec.com

About Progentec Diagnostics, Inc.

Progentec is committed to improving access and health outcomes for patients with autoimmune diseases by combining clinically validated diagnostic interventions with state-of-the-art digital technologies. Through collaborations with research institutions and health practitioners around the world, Progentec is working to reduce mortality and morbidity while improving care management and service delivery for chronic health conditions.

About Bendcare, LLC

Bendcare, LLC (www.bendcare.com) provides services, technology, education, and purchase power solutions to specialty providers and patients on journey. They strive to create healthier healthcare by returning control to physicians and patients, improving quality and outcomes while creating cost-effective care in a community-practice setting.

Bendcare's proprietary Columbus data repository delivers real-time access and real world evidence (RWE) for research, value-based reimbursement, practice performance monitoring, and patient treatment decision support. Columbus' unique visualization and proprietary patient engagement software facilitates intelligent collection and targeted educational campaigns through its web and app platforms.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that represent management's beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this news release based on currently available information. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure that these expectations will prove to be correct. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

Contact: Brett Adelman

(405) 216-4818, Ext. 105

[email protected]

SOURCE Progentec Diagnostics, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.progentec.com


His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, chairman of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), has unveiled "The Journey Through Time", a visionary masterplan that sets to responsibly and sustainably develop the core historical area of AlUla, Saudi Arabia.

"The Journey Through Time" represents a key milestone in the transformation of AlUla into a global destination for heritage, culture, and nature, and contributes to the advancement of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

Under the leadership of HRH the Crown Prince, Chairman of the Royal Commission for AlUla, and the guidance of HRH Prince Badr, the Saudi Minister of Culture, and the Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), the plan will be implemented in three phases until 2035, with the first phase set to be completed by 2023.

Upon completion of the wider development strategy for AlUla in 2035, 38,000 new jobs amid a population grown to 130,000 will have been created while AlUla will contribute SAR120 billion ($31. billion) to the kingdom's GDP.

The Journey Through Time Masterplan was envisioned as a way to capture the deep-rooted essence of what AlUla already is - an oasis of unique culture, heritage, nature and community  while curating a timeless legacy with stories of the past to inform the future and open new chapters in AlUla's unfolding history.

As part of the masterplan, five districts spanning the 20km heart of AlUla will serve as waypoints on the Journey Through Time, representing a Living Museum.

The five key districts envisioned in the masterplan include the AlUla Old Town, Dadan, Jabal Ikmah, Nabataean Horizon, and Hegra Historical City.

Each of these districts is a cultural landmark in its own right and reflective of the topography and nature that is unique to each location. The highly differentiated experiences and cultural assets are designed to be visitor-centric, rewarding more immersive discovery of the regions rich culture and history.

Fifteen new cultural assets including museums, galleries, and cultural centres are planned as part of the masterplan, serving as landmarks across each district. Besides, 5,000 room keys will also be added, with each district offering its tailored blend of living and hospitality options, ranging from hotels and eco-tourism resorts to exclusive lodges and canyon farms carved into the sandstone rocks.

The Kingdoms Institute, one of the plans flagship components, will be a global hub for archaeological knowledge and research dedicated to the cultures and civilizations that have inhabited this area for more than 7,000 years. This includes the ancient kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan and the magnificent Nabataeans, who built the city of Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The masterplan offers several sustainable mobility solutions to help visitors traverse each of the districts, to minimise road congestion and noise levels. A scenic roadway as well as bicycle, equestrian, and pedestrian trails will promote a smooth and experiential approach to mobility, championing low-carbon journeys.

Reflecting AlUlas standing as a historic crossroads and the cultural center of northwestern Arabia, the historical tramway will ensure that visitors enjoy a memorable and historically stimulating experience, connecting from AlUlas International Airport to the five districts.

The masterplan also serves as an investment in AlUlas citizens and their future, emphasizing RCUs commitment to community inclusivity. Fully embedded within the plan, new community-driven services, amenities as well as cultural and educational facilities will together promote the development of the local tourism, cultural and agricultural economies for AlUla, helping to nurture a thriving and vibrant society in a great place to live, work and explore. Also, the masterplan will contribute to the revitalization and rehabilitation of the cultural oasis, and the sustainable development of its agricultural community, as a commitment to developing the agricultural sector in AlUla.

Reinforcing Saudi Arabias renewed commitment to the preservation and protection of world heritage, knowledge, and research, the masterplan is backed by extensive scientific studies on AlUlas human patterns, environmental and geological evolution, led by a team of international and Saudi experts over three years. It seeks to achieve the concept of coexistence with nature and to celebrate the cultural and historical heritage of AlUla.

As a direct result, the revitalisation of AlUla's cultural oasis and the sustainable development of its community is an integral part of the plan, in response to the challenges of sustainably and responsibly developing in a fragile desert environment. At the heart of this are several robust resiliency policies, including circularity commitments, as well as flood and improved water management and sustainable agricultural production.

Together, the two flagship projects of the masterplan  the Kingdoms Institute and the Cultural Oasis  reflect Saudi Arabias commitment to offering the world a viable model for protecting, preserving, and contributing to the worlds cultural and natural legacy.

Solid policies have been adopted regarding development in heritage and environmentally sensitive areas, development of AlUla community, sustainable agricultural production, improvement of water management, in addition to promoting the principles of circular economy in the masterplan.

Contributing to the Saudi Green Initiative, the regeneration of AlUla is underpinned by a strategy to rehabilitate the land and reverse the course of desertification in the area. Enabling a major expansion of AlUlas green and open spaces up to 10 million square meters, 80 per cent of AlUla Province is also being designated as nature reserves with key flora and fauna reintroduced, as well as the conservation of wild animals.

This will be achieved through income generated by welcoming 2 million visitors annually, offering over 9,000 hotel keys in total across the six areas, and further promoting agriculture, arts and culture, and tourism as key economic drivers for AlUla. Unique opportunities brought on by the development of the masterplan will further encourage and accelerate business and investment from partners who share RCUs values of sustainability, responsible development, and community inclusivity. - TradeArabia News Service
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine could possibly cause rare blood clots in some people but further studies are required to confirm the link, experts with the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday
Spain will allow the vaccination people between 66 and 69 years old with doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine starting this Friday (9 April) and up to 5.5 million people could benefit from the decision.

The Ministry of Healths Public Health Commission agreed this Thursday to use the vaccine to additionally immunise this group and not only people aged between 60 and 65, as was originally announced on Thursday morning when it was also confirmed that the AstraZeneca formula would no longer be given to the under-60s.

Until a few weeks ago, the administration of the vaccine - developed by the University of Oxford - was limited to people under 56 years of age. It was later expanded to people aged between 56 and 65.

Now, after a new investigation into dozens of cases of blood clots among those vaccinated with the British vaccine, Spains Interterritorial Council has agreed that only those over 60 will receive this vaccine.

It is not yet known what will happen to those under 60 who have already received the first dose of AstraZeneca in Spain, although the usual protocol is to keep the second dose scheduled if no side effects have been detected after the first.

The Ministry of Health still believes the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risks, especially in the elderly, the most vulnerable to coronavirus.

The debate came after the European Union reaffirmed its support for AstraZeneca but recognised blood clots as "very rare" side effects.

After an investigation the European Medicines Agency concluded: the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh any possible risk and urged governments to continue its use.

Meanwhile UK advised against the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine among people under thirty years of age. Trials of the Oxford vaccine on children in the UK have also been suspended on a precautionary basis.
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Covid: Riyadh bans iftar in mosques during Ramadan To contain spread of virus

(ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 8 - Saudi Arabia has suspended iftar, the evening meal consumed by Muslims to break the daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan, in all mosques in the Kingdom, in an attempt to control the spread of Covid-19, reported dailies in the United Arab Emirates.



Ramadan is expected to start around April 13, although the exact date is still to be announced.



Meanwhile, however, Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs Abdullatif Al Sheikh said that to break the daily fast people will not be allowed to gather in the mosques, in order to prevent a growing number of coronavirus cases.



Saudi Arabia has registered an increase in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks, going from 338 daily cases in March to 644 as of April 5.



In addition to banning iftar in mosques, the government also announced a ban on "suhur" (the last meal prior to sunrise before fasting) and "tikaaf" (staying in a mosque for a certain number of days).(ANSAmed).




Three-time Grammy nominee Camila Cabello donned a bizarre double denim look while bonding with her parents Alejandro and Sinuhe during her trip back home to Miami on Wednesday.

The Cuban-born, Miami-raised 24-year-old wore blue overall cut-offs over a pair of distressed skinny jeans and black combat boots while grabbing coffee-to-go.

Cabello (born Karla Estrabao) let her natural beauty shine through and ditched her coronavirus-protective face mask as there are no mandates in Florida.

Reunited! Three-time Grammy nominee Camila Cabello (M) donned a bizarre double denim look while bonding with her parents Alejandro (L) and Sinuhe (R) during her trip back home to Miami on Wednesday

As of Wednesday, there have reportedly been 2.1M confirmed COVID-19 cases in the sunshine state (454K in Miami-Dade County) leading to 33,821 deaths.

Two days earlier, Camila posted a hilarious video of her grandmother Mercedes Rodriguez saying: 'My daughter and my granddaughters are the f***ing s***.'

The Fifth Harmony alum has been visiting family in Florida as far back as Sunday when she posted two seaside snaps while on board a boat.

Meanwhile, Cabello's boyfriend - three-time Grammy nominee Shawn Mendes - was babysitting their six-month-old Golden Retriever puppy Tarzan at her $3.4M Hollywood Hills home.

Strange: The Cuban-born, Miami-raised 24-year-old wore blue overall cut-offs over a pair of distressed skinny jeans and black combat boots while grabbing coffee-to-go

Bum bag alert! Cabello (born Karla Estrabao) let her natural beauty shine through and ditched her coronavirus-protective face mask as there are no mandates in Florida

Two days earlier, Camila posted a hilarious video of her grandmother Mercedes Rodriguez saying: 'My daughter and my granddaughters are the f***ing s***'

'Hey it's me!' The Fifth Harmony alum has been visiting family in Florida as far back as Sunday when she posted two seaside snaps while on board a boat

On Tuesday, the Canadian 22-year-old shared his a cappella cover of Justin Bieber's new song Peaches on TikTok.

Shawn will next compete for two trophies - best cover song and best fan army - at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards, which air May 27 on Fox.

Last week, the Christmas Song crooners were the victims of a home invasion when suspects broke into a window but only left with his Mercedes G-Wagon, which was later recovered undamaged - according to TMZ.

Just the two of us: Meanwhile, Cabello's boyfriend - three-time Grammy nominee Shawn Mendes - was babysitting their six-month-old Golden Retriever puppy Tarzan at her $3.4M Hollywood Hills home (pictured Wednesday)

Warming his pipes! On Tuesday, the Canadian 22-year-old shared his a cappella cover of Justin Bieber's new song Peaches on TikTok

Fan-voted awards: Shawn will next compete for two trophies - best cover song and best fan army - at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards, which air May 27 on Fox

Mendes and Cabello - celebrating their second anniversary in June - originally met in 2014 while serving as opening acts on Austin Mahone's tour.

Camila makes her onscreen acting debut as the titular character in Kay Cannon's modern live-action remake of Cinderella, which hits US/UK theaters on July 16.

The First Man belter even wrote songs for the fairy tale flick - which also stars Minnie Driver, Missy Elliot, Idina Menzel, Billy Porter, James Corden, John Mulaney, Pierce Brosnan, and Nicholas Galitzine.

Hitting US/UK theaters on July 16! Cabello will make her onscreen acting debut as the titular character in Kay Cannon's modern live-action remake of Cinderella
BRANCHBURG, N.J., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In efforts to provide necessary health and safety equipment to first responders, ClorDiSys Solutions, Inc, headquartered in Branchburg, NJ, partnered with EMSGrantsHelp to expand its grant funding assistance program to include ClorDiSys' ultraviolet light disinfection equipment. Through this program, ClorDiSys can aid EMS, Fire and Rescue, Law Enforcement, and Local Government receive free assistance from industry professionals. The amount of grant dollars available has remained strong across the country, however navigating through the grant application process can be challenging. Departments often fail to be awarded a grant due to inexperience in this area. ClorDiSys is dedicated to helping organizations receive assistance for the time-consuming work involved in creating a compelling application to secure funding for disinfection equipment and keep themselves and their patients safe.

Through ClorDiSys' sponsorship program, first responders can obtain customized grant help for grant research, grant alert notices and grant application reviews from EMSGrantHelp. The item of highlight is ClorDiSys' Lantern. It is a UV-C disinfection unit designed specifically for ambulances after the firm's involvement with providing UV-C devices for University of Nebraska Medical Center during the 2014 Ebola crisis. The Lantern serves first responders well as a lightweight, durable unit that is easily portable from rig to rig and can be used both in the upright or inverted positions to maximize light exposure. The device is calculated to get a 99% reduction of bacteria and viruses within 1 minute and spores, like C. diff, within 3 minutes for a vehicle setting. The UV-C bulbs are also validated to deactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

First responders provide critical services, so it is essential for their environment to be as safe as possible and pathogen free. This allows patients to be treated in a safe environment and to help maintain the health and well-being of those on the front lines. Since financial challenges are spread throughout the entire nation, ClorDiSys hopes this grant assistance program will help alleviate that area of concern.

Established in 2001, ClorDiSys Solutions, Inc is a New Jersey based business that manufactures sterilization and disinfection equipment and provides decontamination services. Its ultraviolet light disinfection line of products was initiated in 2014 and devices have been used across all industries to prevent or eliminate the spread of pathogens.

SOURCE ClorDiSys Solutions Inc

Related Links

https://www.clordisys.com


TORONTO, April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Newtopia Inc. ("Newtopia" or the "Company") (TSXV: NEWU), a tech-enabled habit change provider focused on disease prevention, today announced that Jeff Ruby, Founder and CEO, and Anthony Lam, CFO, will participate in two upcoming investor conferences.

Bloom Burton & Co. Healthcare Investor Conference to take place virtually on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 through Wednesday April 21, 2021 . Management will be available to meet with investors on the first day of the conference ( April 20 th ) and is scheduled to present at 3:30pm ET on the second day of the conference ( April 21 st ). The presentation will be webcast live and can be accessed on the Investor Relations' section of Newtopia's website, newtopia.com/investors.

through . Management will be available to meet with investors on the first day of the conference ( ) and is scheduled to present at on the second day of the conference ( ). The presentation will be webcast live and can be accessed on the Investor Relations' section of Newtopia's website, newtopia.com/investors. Stifel GMP & Stifel FirstEnergy 2021 Inaugural Canada Cross Sector Insight Conference to take place virtually on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 . Management will be available for meetings with investors throughout the day.

About Newtopia

Newtopia is a tech-enabled habit change provider focused on disease prevention and reducing the cost of care for health insurers. As a provider of whole person care, we prevent, reverse, and slow the progression of chronic disease while enriching mental health, resilience and overall human performance. Newtopia's programs leverage genetic, social, and behavioral insights to create individualized prevention programs with a focus on type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and weight. With a person-centered approach that combines virtual care, digital tools, connected devices and actionable data science, Newtopia delivers sustainable clinical and financial outcomes. Newtopia serves some of the largest nationwide employers and health plans and is currently listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSXV: NEWU). To learn more, visit newtopia.com, Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.

SOURCE Newtopia Inc.

Related Links

www.newtopia.com


Foreign Minister Marise Payne says Australia holds deep concerns about Chinas treatment of Uighurs - including potential forced sterilisation programs - after the countrys ambassador told Canberra to stop criticising it over human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

In a two-hour media event on Wednesday at his Canberra residence, Cheng Jingye said the claims of genocide and mass detention camps in China were based on anti-China forces and fake news. He also threatened retaliatory sanctions against Australian officials if Australia followed the United States, Britain, Canada and Europe in imposing sanctions over human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

The Chinese ambassador to Australia, Cheng Jingye, said on Wednesday claims of human rights abuses in Xinjiang amount to disinformation. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Senator Payne said Australia had raised its concerns with the Chinese government at the highest levels.

We have been very clear about our deeply held concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, she told Sky News on Thursday. Particularly as it relates to forced labour, re-education, restrictions on freedom of religion, potential restrictions on reproductive rights including forced sterilisations and also very credible reports of the systematic abuse and torture of women.
One person was still missing this morning after an explosion ripped apart a paint factory in Columbus, Ohio.

A total of eight people were taken to hospital after being rescued from the blaze which started shortly after midnight at Majestic Paints on Leonard Avenue.

But one person remains unaccounted for and search and rescue efforts were continuing into the early hours of the morning.

The blast was felt for miles around by residents who reported their houses shaking.

The fire department in Columbus battles the blaze at Majestic Paints on Leonard Avenue

A fire truck is seen outside the factory during the inferno, left, and a column of smoke rises to the sky

A thick column of black smoke rises into the night sky as the inferno at the paint factory rages

Firefighters are battling a blaze at a paint factory in Columbus, Ohio , following an explosion

Massive fire in northeast columbus along Leonard ave. Firefighters at a paint plant where multiple explosions have occurred. We are checking on injuries. Stay with 10tv https://t.co/3dZLqPbMux and Wake Ip CBUS for the latest pic.twitter.com/Aw0Pvhd8BG  Tino Ramos (@Tino10TV) April 8, 2021

Firefighters arrived to meet some of the wounded employees escaping the building.

But another two factory workers were trapped inside and firemen had to break them free before ambulances sped them to hospital in 'critical condition.'

Medics have since revealed that those two victims are now 'stable.'

It is not yet clear what caused the blast, but firefighters said the factory contains hazardous materials.

Columbus Fire Department said: 'We are currently fighting a second alarm fire at Majestic Paints, 1920 Leonard Ave.

'First responding companies were met by employees exiting the building, five of them injured and taken to local hospitals.

'Two other employees were trapped inside the building and had to be extricated and transported in critical condition. Search and rescue efforts are continuing, as are extinguishment efforts at this time.'

Columbus Division of Fire Chief Steve Martin said factory contains dangerous materials and there are hazmat crews at the scene of the fire, while surrounding businesses are being evacuated.

Residents reported feeling a powerful explosion which shook their homes.

Stewart Smith tweeted: 'Not sure what that was, but about 10 mins ago, there was what felt like large explosion on the east side of Columbus. (West of Airport/I-670 area).

'Powerful enough to shake my whole house Large smoke column seen west of me, multiple sirens can be heard. Not good.'

Jets of water are sprayed across the paint factory as firefighters congregate on the street outside

Stewart Smith tweeted: 'Not sure what that was, but about 10 mins ago, there was what felt like large explosion on the east side of Columbus. (West of Airport/I-670 area). Powerful enough to shake my whole house Large smoke column seen west of me, multiple sirens can be heard. Not good'

The fire broke out shortly after midnight at Yenkin-Majestic Paints (file image)

Brett Lawrence added: 'It was all over the city, I think. I'm in central Columbus, by fairgrounds.

'We heard a "muffled" explosion-like sound and whole house shook, windows rattled.

'All the neighbors came out of their houses, our dog ran upstairs to see what was happening, etc.'

Another Columbus resident tweeted: 'Anyone on the east side of Columbus hear that explosion?! Shook our whole house. Im in Reynoldsburg near Mount Carmel East. It was incredible!'
OKLAHOMA CITY, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PHX MINERALS INC., "PHX," or the "Company," (NYSE: PHX), today announced it has entered into an agreement with Bank of Oklahoma ("BOK") during its borrowing base redetermination to amend its revolving credit facility. The amended facility sets the Company's borrowing base at $29 million effective April 7, 2021, and the maturity of the credit facility is extended to Nov. 30, 2023. Additionally, the quarterly commitment reduction is decreased to $500,000. Further details regarding this amendment are contained in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 8, 2021. The next regularly scheduled borrowing base redetermination is expected to occur on Dec. 1, 2021.

As of March 31, 2021, PHX had $23.5 million of debt outstanding, down $3.5 million from the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2020.

PHX Minerals Inc. (NYSE: PHX) Oklahoma City-based, PHX Minerals Inc. is a natural gas and oil mineral company with a strategy to proactively grow its mineral position in its core areas of focus. PHX owns approximately 253,000 net mineral acres principally located in Oklahoma, Texas, North Dakota, New Mexico and Arkansas. Additional information on PHX can be found at www.phxmin.com.

SOURCE PHX MINERALS INC.

Related Links

http://www.phxmin.com


Vedanta Ltd is quoting at Rs 240.3, up 1.46% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 212.89% in last one year as compared to a 63.97% gain in NIFTY and a 164.26% gain in the Nifty Metal.

Vedanta Ltd rose for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 240.3, up 1.46% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.82% on the day, quoting at 14940.5. The Sensex is at 49970.14, up 0.62%. Vedanta Ltd has added around 7.04% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Vedanta Ltd is a constituent, has added around 18.52% in last one month and is currently quoting at 4325.45, up 4.19% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 184.79 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 206.16 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark April futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 241.3, up 1.09% on the day. Vedanta Ltd is up 212.89% in last one year as compared to a 63.97% gain in NIFTY and a 164.26% gain in the Nifty Metal index.

The PE of the stock is 7.68 based on TTM earnings ending December 20.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One of the Gold Coasts top cops says hooning in the region has reached a whole new level, with officers facing escalating abuse as police initiate major operations to combat a surge in dangerous driving incidents.

Superintendent Rhys Wildman, who oversees uniform police on the Gold Coast, said a significant operation with a borderless approach was under way in the coming weeks to target major hooning events across the south-east.

A police car damaged in the incident. Credit:Jordan Fabris - Nine News

However, he said as hooning had increased, threats to officers had taken things to a whole new level.

On Saturday night at Pimpama, on the northern end of the coast, police responded to a gathering of 1000 people and 600 cars, where several police cars were damaged and officers had projectiles, including fireworks, thrown at them and the police helicopter.
The Rwandan ambassador to Switzerland, Marie-Chantal Rwakazina, has appealed to concerned countries to act on indictments and international arrest warrants for 1,145 of individuals living in 33 countries worldwide.

She made the appeal Wednesday, April 7, on the occasion of the international day of reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda held at the Palais des Nations.

Besides being an envoy to Switzerland, Rwakazina is also Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland,

"I would like to recall here that, between 2007 and 2020, Rwanda issued indictments and International arrest warrants for one Thousand One Hundred Forty-Five Cases (1,145) of individuals living in 33 countries worldwide," she said.

"We once again appeal to all those concerned countries for their urgent implementation."

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Commemoration was held in hybrid format with participants watching the ceremony on their screens, while a few gathered for the event.

The Commemoration started in the morning by the laying of wreaths at the Memorial Stele at Place des Nations which was built in collaboration with the City of Geneva to honour the memory of victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

The consequences of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi were enormous and had repercussions outside Rwanda's borders, the envoy noted. More than two million civilians were forced by the defeated genocidaires to flee Rwanda to neighboring countries, notably in Tanzania and ex-Zaire where they were used by the latter as human shield in the militarized refugee camps that were tightly controlled by ex-Forces armees rwandaises (FAR) and Interahamwe militia.

It's worth recalling that, she said, UN resolutions 955 of 1994 establishing the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that aimed at prosecuting persons responsible for Genocide and urged all States to cooperate with the Tribunal in the investigation and prosecution of persons accused of committing Genocide.

The Appeal Chamber of the same Tribunal ruled that between April 6, 1994 and July 17, 1994, a Genocide was committed against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

"Unfortunately, some suspects are still living and traveling freely around the globe, notably in western countries, a number of them being called or calling themselves defenders of human rights," Rwakazina said.

"The arrest of Felicien Kabuga in June 2020 by France constitutes a powerful message to those fugitives still at large, that they cannot evade justice. Thus, reminding countries that still harbor those fugitives to bring them to justice."

In doing so, she noted, they would emulate the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals and International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (IRMCT) in its decision early this month, on the rejection of early release of Theoneste Bagosora.

Genocide fugitives in New Zealand, Australia

Nearly six hours earlier, during another commemoration at the High Commission of Rwanda in Singapore, which is also accredited to Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia, Rwanda's envoy to Singapore, Amb Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, raised the issue of Genocide fugitives and deniers roaming freely.

He observed that Kwibuka27 comes at a time where deniers of the Genocide against the Tutsi and double genocide theory apologists are on the rise, and called on the participants to stand against Genocide deniers and the spread of misinformation.

Uwihanganye said: "Kwibuka period is an opportunity to remind the world that it is only through the cooperation of every country that genocide suspects, still hiding in different countries around the world, including in this region, will be brought to book to render justice to the victims as well as preventing Genocide from happening again anywhere in the world.

"Disallowing genocide deniers a platform and a safe heaven to peddle their misinformation as well as cooperating in apprehending Genocide suspects is the only way to make 'Never Again' mean 'Never Again' for Rwanda and the whole world."

According to sources, known Genocide fugitives in New Zealand include Eugene Uwimana, Enock Ruhigira, Thomas Kigufi, and Pheneas Nzaramba.

Nzaramba is charged with Genocide - his participation in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was specifically in Nyakizu, in the former Butare Prefecture, present Huye District.

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In Australia and many other places, Genocide fugitives changed names and nationalities to disguise themselves.

The only known fugitive in Australia is Celestin Munyaburanga but there are others living there under new identities.

Many illegally sought Congolese and Burundian nationalities before they relocated to Australia under third country relocation deals between the UNHCR, the host countries where they had taken refuge and Australia.

Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations at Geneva, lays a wreath to the memorial stele to pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Leon Saltiel, Representative and Coordinator on Counter-Antisemitism at World Jewish Congress, pays tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Frederique Perler, Vice President of the Administrative Council of the City of Geneva, pays tribute to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Fox News

A Fox News debate on race and politics went completely off the rails on Thursday after Geraldo Rivera asked fellow network contributor Leo Terrell when was the last time you were in the ghetto?

The pair ostensibly appeared on Fox News Americas Newsroom to discuss Tishaura Jones, who just became the first African-American female mayor in St. Louis history. And while much of the discussion did revolve around the pairs criticism of Jones plan to employ more social workers to bring down crime in the city, it quickly devolved into a food fightas is customary for the cable-news medium.

I wish her the best. She seems very idealistic but unrealistic in many regards, Rivera said about Jones positions on policing and crime, prompting Terrell to immediately blast his colleague.

Geraldo, give me a break! All the evidence on Fox News, all this crime is going on in Democratic cities where they basically give the keys of the city to the criminals! Terrell exclaimed.

Im agreeing with you, bud, Rivera replied, attempting to calm Terrell down. You cant bring a social worker to a gunfight, I agree with you. But there is always room for kindness and compassion and these families are shattered.

Terrell, who recently christened himself Leo 2.0 after renouncing his liberalism to come out in support of Donald Trump, was in no mood to be calmed. And Riveras remarks later in the debate would serve to set him off.

After anchor Bill Hemmer noted that Jones told her white mayoral opponent Cara Spencer that she believes that white allies dont have the lived experiences to lead a majority-minority city, Terrell insisted that was the most insulting, racist comment hes ever heard.

To say that she is basically in a better position because she is Black is insulting, is racist, and makes no sense whatsoever. Terrell fumed. I reject that argument!

Rivera, rhetorically stepping on the nearest rake, shot back: Hey Leo, when was the last time you were in the ghetto?

Story continues

At that point, reality-TV-like fireworks ensued on the Fox News set.

How dare you say that?! an enraged Terrell shouted back. You know nothing about me. How dare you say that?!

Yelling over each other, the two went back and forth over their shared living experiences before Terrell directly appealed to Hemmer over what Rivera said to him.

You know what Geraldo accused me of? Living in a particular area that I dont understand, he grumbled. I have been a civil-rights attorney for 30 years and fought against this for 30 years. How dare you!

Not making things any better, Rivera chimed in: All right, youre Jesus on earth!

Eventually bringing the shouting match to an end, Hemmer let the bickering Fox personalities know: I love you both.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A New Jersey man has been charged with insurance fraud after an investigation revealed he failed to pay the correct premiums to insure his commercial vehicle and deprived his employees of proper insurance coverage.

Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announced the arrest of Densy Hidalgo, age 50, of Passaic, New Jersey, for insurance fraud, a third degree crime.

The investigation was conducted by the Passaic County Prosecutors Office Insurance Fraud Unit. It revealed that a commercial van registered to Hidalgos company D.H. Transportation was involved in a motor vehicle accident on the New Jersey Turnpike, in which personal injuries were sustained.

Detectives learned that Hidalgo insured the vehicle with a personal instead of a commercial insurance policy. As a result, Hidalgo failed to pay Farmers Insurance Company the correct premiums to insure a commercial vehicle and deprived D.H. Transport employees of proper insurance coverage.

The sentencing exposure for third degree insurance fraud in New Jersey is three to five years to be served in New Jersey State Prison. Hidalgo was charged on a complaint/summons and was released pending a court hearing scheduled for April 19, 2021.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: Passaic County Prosecutors Office

Topics Auto Fraud Abuse Molestation New Jersey
The defendants found guilty of attempts to overthrow the constitutional order and assassinate of the head of state. Another 106 people will have to serve between six and 18 years in prison. 497 defendants on trial. The majority were career soldiers at the time, including presidential guard officers.

Istanbul (AsiaNews) - A Turkish court yesterday sentenced 32 former soldiers to life in prison, found guilty of various charges including "attempted overthrow of the constitutional order" and "attempted murder of the head of state".

The judges' reference is to the (failed) coup of mid-July 2016, which - according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan  was orchestrated by (alleged) supporters of the Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, once an ally and now the number one enemy of the "sultan" of Ankara.

The convictions are part of a maxi-trial that sees 497 defendants on trial in Ankara, all linked to the failed coup. The majority of these were career soldiers at the time, especially within the presidential guard, the body responsible for the personal security of the head of state.

At first, a lawyer from the presidential entourage spoke of 22 life sentences. In fact, the official Anadolu agency corrects the number to 32 life sentences in total. Other charges that led to the conviction include the assault on TRT public television on the night of the failed coup, for forcing journalists to issue a coup d'etat communique and for attacking the headquarters of the general staff.

In addition to the 32 life sentences, the judges imposed sentences ranging from six to 18 years in prison for another 106 defendants.

After the night of the attempted coup in mid-July 2016, in which 250 people died and Erdogan's power wavered for a few hours, the Turkish government launched a full blown witch hunt.

Tens of thousands of alleged participants, at home and abroad  intellectuals, activists, soldiers, judges, teachers, ordinary people  were targeted for links, real or imagined, with Fethullah Gulen, or even priests sentenced to prison for offering a piece of bread in "Christian charity".

Official sources speak of 251 deaths following the coup, but the number could be greater and excludes the minds of the operation, which is joined by over 2,000 wounded. Having regained control of the country, President Erdogan launched a veritable manhunt by targeting Gulen's supporters, with an unprecedented purge in the history of modern Turkey. Tens of thousands were arrested and another 140,000 were fired or relieved of their duties.
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The International Monetary Fund yesterday raised its growth forecast for

Bahrains economy, as it said it also expects most other economies in the Gulf to do the same.

The fund said that it now expects most Gulf economies to recover this year at a faster pace than previously estimated, as it raised its 2021 global growth forecast to 6% from 5.5% less than three months ago. IMF forecasts the economy of Bahrain to grow 3.3% this year versus a forecast of 2.3% in October, the IMF said in its latest World Economic Outlook, released this week.

Saudi Arabias economy, the largest in the region, is expected to grow 2.9% this year, up from the 2.6% forecast in January.

Saudi Arabian economy contracted 4.1% last year due to the twin shock of the COVID-19 pandemic and lower oil prices...

The United Arab Emirates, the Gulfs second-largest economy, will see a growth of 3.1% this year rebounding from a 5.9% contraction in 2020, the IMF said. In October last year, it had forecast a 6.6% drop in 2020 and 1.3% growth this year.

Oman saw the biggest positive revision of the Gulf countries, from expectations of a 0.5% contraction this year to a forecast of 1.8% growth.

Forecasts for Kuwait and Qatar remained almost unchanged, with Kuwait expected

to post 0.7% growth this year, up from an October estimate of 0.6%.

Qatars economy is estimated to grow 2.4%, just below the previous 2.5% estimate.

The IMF on Tuesday said un- precedented public spending to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily by the United States, would push global growth to 6% this year, the fastest pace since 1976
Nana Owiti, the wife of celebrity rapper King Kaka, recently went public about a traumatic incident from her past in which a relative sexually assaulted her.

In a new episode of her YouTube channel By NanaOwiti, the mother of two said a relative groped her inappropriately when she was about nine years old.

Nana, who was living with her grandpa in the village, was visiting her mother in Embakasi, Nairobi during the school holidays.

Nana said her mother, who was a cop, lived in a shared one-bedroomed house when her mothers cousin started molesting her.

With her mother taking up the bedroom, a young Nana had to share a bed with the said cousin in the living room.

There is this cousin that my mom really trusted. Any time she would send food back home, she would send this cousin of hersSo my mom trusted this man to share beds with me

The first day we went to sleep, I remember feeling that the only person I trusted sleeping with was my grandpa at home in the village, Nana painfully narrated.

So this man at night touches me inappropriately, and I knew it was wrong and I tell him to stop. I was in class 3, thats around 9 years as well, she said while holding back tears.

Nana went on: So I ask him why are you doing this and he says si hata wewe unishike Then he told me if you tell your mom utaniona.

The switch TV presenter went on to say that at the time, her relationship with her mother was weak, making it hard to confide in her.

We didnt have a relationship growing upShe was very strict she was just a cop but I totally understand because she had me when she was around 16 and she had to go back to school. My mom couldnt stay with me in Nairobi because cops were not allowed to have kids back then. Even her friends knew I was her small sister. I would even call her by her real name, Wanza, she narrated.

Owiti continued: So the next day, I dont know how to tell my mother. One day I gather courageI tell her mom, [namewithheld] ananichunachuna usiku.

In tears, Nana continued: And she jokingly told him wewe kwanini unanichunia mtoto, usinichunie mtoto and that was it. And at night it was the same cycle. I dint tell anyone up until I was pregnant with my son and thats when I told King Kaka.

Nana said she spoke about the abuse to the public because she wants to heal.

This is like a trauma I have carried for so many years and I was telling King as the year began that I definitely need to see a therapist concerning this,

I want to be able to forgive him not because he deserves but because I deserve peace. I want to break away from his jaws mentally. From a parent to another. Pay close attention before its too expensive. Teach your children the boundaries, she said.

Nana was sharing her experience alongside Wahu, who also opened up about being molested by a cousin at the age of 9.

Watch the full video on YouTube.
President Moon Jae-in poses with Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto during the latter's visit to Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. Joint press corps



By Kang Seung-woo



Defense Minister Suh Wook and his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto agreed, Thursday, to further discuss details regarding joint work on Korea's homegrown KF-X aircraft and other defense cooperation projects, according to Seoul's defense ministry, amid growing questions over Jakarta's commitment to the joint development program.



Indonesia is a partner of the 8.8 trillion won ($7.7 billion) KF-X that seeks to produce 120 advanced multi-role fighter jets. Jakarta promised to fund 20 percent of the total development cost, or 1.7 trillion won, in exchange for 50 planes that will be manufactured there for the Indonesian Air Force, as well as technology transfers.



"Given that the KF-X/IF-X joint development project symbolizes the solid mutual trust between Korea and Indonesia, the two countries concurred on the need to reciprocally cooperate in the defense sector," the ministry said in a press statement. In Indonesia the project is known as the IF-X.



Prabowo arrived here Wednesday on a three-day trip that will include attending an upcoming rollout ceremony showcasing a KF-X prototype.



The Indonesian minister's visit to Korea carries extra significance as it can be seen as the Southeast Asian country's possible recommitment to the aircraft project.



Since the minister took office in October 2019, he has been allegedly critical of the KF-X, with his country paying only 227.2 billion won as of this month out of the 831.6 billion won it promised, citing financial problems.





Defense Minister Suh Wook, right, and his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto pose prior to their talks at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
A 54-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed to death in Pennsylvania by a Facebook Marketplace seller purportedly looking to get rid of their refrigerator.

The suspect in the alleged stabbing was arrested in Geistown on Tuesday and charged with criminal homicide, the same day Williams was found with multiple stab wounds.

Joshua Gorgone, 26, has been arrested and charged with criminal homicide

Denise Williams, 54, was planning on buying a new fridge for her boyfriend, Guy Eldridge, as a gift.

She went to the apartment of Joshua Gorgone, 26, after he listed a fridge on the Facebook Marketplace.

Gorgone told detectives that he stabbed Williams with a kitchen knife following a dispute over how much the fridge should cost.

An autopsy revealed defensive wounds, suggesting there was a struggle before Williams was killed.

'She did put up one heck of a fight,' said Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees. 'This was a violent death that she sustained.'

Williams was found within Gorgone's apartment after being reported missing the previous night.

Police were able to find Williams by tracking her phone, as well as utilizing a Facebook account Williams' family provided.

Denise Williams, 54, was stabbed to death trying to buy a fridge on Facebook Marketplace

Pictured: Joshua Gorgone at police headquarters following his arrest

It's not believed that Williams and Gorgone knew one another prior to their fatal encounter.

'She went there to look at the fridge and never came out, unfortunately,' said District Attorney Greg Neugebauer.

Town officials are now urging caution when it comes to meeting strangers for transactions, such as those promoted through Facebook Marketplace.

'Its never a good idea,' Geistown Borough Police Chief Nicholas Zakucia said of meeting at someone's home.

'Public place. Meet with more than one person. You never know what youre going to walk into.'

According to WJAC, Gorgone has been denied bail and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 14.

Eldridge claims that Williams used Facebook Marketplace in the past, including to buy motorcycle parts for him.

Williams was reported missing on Monday night (scene pictured)

She was found by investigators with defensive stab wounds on Tuesday (scene pictured)

Police were able to find Williams by tracking her phone, as well as utilizing a Facebook account Williams' family provided (scene pictured)

Eldridge described Williams as someone who 'wouldnt hurt a soul' while charting his path without her.

'Just trying to continue to love the way she would want me to do and live life to the fullest, like she expected me like I would,' Eldridge said to WJAC.

'Just you know always try and remember her in the happier times.

'I just hope that justice will be served. Bring closure for our family, bring closure for myself because she didnt deserve this. I just hope justice will be served.'

A GoFundMe page has been organized to help pay for the funeral and memorial, as well as for the daughter and son Williams leaves behind. It has raised more than $17,000 so far.

'If you knew Denise, then you know that she was one of the most charismatic, loving, and bull headed people you will ever meet,' the page reads.

Williams leaves behind two children, according to a GoFundMe page

'There is never a challenge she would back down from, and when it came to her family, there were no lengths she wasn't willing to go.'

Most Facebook Marketplace transactions happen without incident, but there are serious problems sometimes lined to these deals.

Last month, a recently licensed realtor was killed after selling his dirt bike on Facebook Marketplace for $2,750.

Joseph Vindel of New Orleans went to an unincorporated town to make the sale, but was allegedly killed by a 20-year-old who took the bike and fled.

Jalen Harvey was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and obstruction of justice, according to KIRO 7.
New Delhi: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday (April 8) alleged discrimination by the Centre against the state over allocation of COVID-19 vaccines.

Talking to reporters, Tope claimed that as per latest release order of COVID-19 vaccines, Maharashtra has been allotted 7.5 lakh vaccine dosages, while BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana etc. have been given far more vaccines.

According to the latest release order of vaccines from Centre, Maharashtra has been given 7.5 lakh vaccine dosages only. While Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana etc have been given far more vaccines than Maharashtra, Tope was quoted as saying by ANI.

Our pace has increased, centres have increased. How can a state that has the most number of cases in the country get lesser vaccine doses? I talked to Dr Harshavardhan (Union health minister)... I raised the issue of discrimination with us. We have the most number of active patients, positivity rate and death with 12 crore population. Why we are given so few vaccines?" he further asked.

Hinting at shortage of vaccines in Maharashtra, he said that Satara, Sangli, Panvel stopped vaccination on Thursday while Buldhana has only one days vaccine stock left.

When told that the Centre has increased vaccine dosage for the state to 17 lakhs, Tope asserted it is not enough. He said, I have just been informed that the Center increased COVID19 vaccine doses from 7 lakhs to 17 lakhs. Even this is less because we need 40 lakh vaccine doses a week and 17 lakh doses are not enough.

The Health Minister apprised that Maharastra requires 40 lakh doses per week. We want at least 40 lakh vaccine dosages every week. Instead of supplying vaccines to other countries, supply them to our own states. The centre is helping us but it is not helping us in the way it should, he told reporters.

On Wednesday (April 7), Maharashtra reported 59,907 new Covid-19 infections, its highest single-day spike, with 322 fatalities. Its total tally reached 3,173,261 while death toll stood at 56,652.

(With ANI inputs)

Live TV
A stunning array of jewellery owned by Princess Margaret's mother-in-law Countess of Rosse is set to go up for auction at Bonhams.

Two pieces, which were formerly part of socialite Anne Parons' collection, a late 19th century emerald, pearl and diamond bangle, and a mid-19th century onyx cameo, enamel, pearl and diamond bracelet, will go up for sale on 28 April in London - almost three decades after her death in 1992.

The bracelet, which also once belonged to Adrian Hope of the famous Anglo-Dutch banking dynasty, has an estimate of 15,000-20,000  whilst the bangle has an estimate of 20,000-30,000.

Emily Barber, Head of Bonhams Jewellery Department, UK, commented; 'The Countess of Rosse was a woman of exquisite taste, and the two pieces offered in the sale clearly express this.

A stunning array of jewellery owned by Princess Margaret's mother-in-law Countess of Rosse are up for sale at Bonhams. Pictured, the bracelet and the emerald bangle were great favourites of the Countess of Rosse and she was seen wearing them at the marriage of her son Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Lord Snowdon, to HRH The Princess Margaret in 1960 (pictured)

An Emerald and Diamond Ring, by Bulgari. The cut-cornered step-cut emerald weighing 10.04 carats between demilune-shaped diamond shoulders, diamonds approximately 1.25 carats total, signed Bulgari, maker's mark. Estimate: 180,000 - 250,000

A Late 19th Century Emerald, Pearl and Diamond Bangle. Estimate: 20,000 - 30,000. Set at the front with a polished emerald bead with rose-cut diamond finials, between bouton pearls and old brilliant-cut diamonds, mounted in yellow gold, emerald approximately 20.00 carats, diamonds approximately 3.15 carats total, pearls untested, inner diameter of bangle 6.0cm, case with gilded monogram

Mid-19th Century Onyx Cameo, Enamel, Pearl and Diamond Bracelet. Estimate: 15,000-20,000

The mid-19th century onyx cameo, enamel, pearl and diamond bracelet in particular, is very special  having also formerly been in the collection of Adrian Hope, whose great-niece, Lady Beatrice Lister Kaye, wore it at her wedding in 1880.

In 1935, it featured at another wedding, when Michael Parsons, 6th Earl of Rosse, himself a descendent of the illustrious Hopes gave it to his bride, the then Anne Armstrong-Jones.

The bracelet is a fitting marriage token; the lion proffering its paw to Eros is an allegory, expressing that love conquers all.'

The Countess of Rosse was born in 1902, and was the second child of Maud - daughter of the famous Punch cartoonist Edward Linley Sambourne - and Leonard Messel.

Making her debut in society in 1922, and often appearing in the photographs of royal and society favourite, Cecil Beaton, Anne Messel's style was often praised by society columnists.

In 1925, she married Ronald ArmstrongJones, however the pair divorced in 1934, and the following year, she married Michael Parsons, 6th Earl of Rosse.

A 19th Century Spinel and Diamond Necklace and Bracelet. Estimate: 150,000 - 250,000.

A Mother-of-Pearl and Diamond 'Serpenti' Bracelet, By Bulgari. Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000

Her son from her first marriage, the photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, later 1st Earl of Snowdon, married Princess Margaret in 1960  The Countess wore the attention-grabbing Rosse family diamond and emerald parure, comprising a tiara, necklace and earrings, to the wedding.

The Countess was also a leading light in the Victorian Society, which she helped create at the Sambourne family home at 18 Stafford Terrace in 1958, together with John Betjeman and Nikolaus Pevsner.

This bracelet and the emerald bangle were great favourites of the Countess of Rosse and she may be seen wearing them in many society photographs of her.

She wore them at the marriage of her son Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Lord Snowdon, to HRH The Princess Margaret in 1960 and both are clearly visible, one on each wrist, in their wedding portrait by Cecil Beaton with HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in attendance.

The mid-19th century onyx cameo, enamel, pearl and diamond bracelet is accompanied by a note handwritten on an address card belonging to the Countess of Rosse

Mid-19th Century Onyx Cameo, Enamel, Pearl and Diamond Bracelet. Estimate: 15,000-20,000. Pictured, detail of the cameo

Other highlights of the sale include: A number of lots containing spinels, a gemstone which has seen a huge increase in popularity in recent years, and for which Bonhams hold the world-record price - which was set in 2015 for the Hope Spinel.

Pieces offered in the sale include a Spinel and Diamond Ring, with an estimate of 10,000-15,000, and a 19th Century Spinel and Diamond Necklace and Bracelet, expected to featch between 150,000 - 250,000.

The sale will also include Property from an Important Private Collection of Bulgari. Leading the selection is an Emerald and Diamond Ring, which is expected to fetch between 180,000-250,000.

Other highlights include a Mother-of-Pearl and Diamond 'Serpenti' Bracelet, which has an estimate of 30,000-50,000, a Pair of Emerald and Diamond Pendent Earrings, estimated at 35,000 - 45,000, and an Emerald and Diamond Bracelet, which is expected to fetch anywhere between 55,000- 80,000.
New Delhi: Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, over one lakh students of classes 10 and 12 have signed petitions urging the government to either cancel board exams scheduled to be held in May or conduct them in online mode.

The hashtag "cancelboardexams2021" has been trending on Twitter for the past two days.

However, both the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) have said that adequate safety arrangements are being made for students and all COVID-19 guidelines will be followed during the exams.

"Adequate arrangements are being made to ensure the students are safe and all COVID protocols are followed. The number of exam centres has been increased by 40-50 per cent to ensure social distancing. The staff at exam centres is being sensitised to ensure all guidelines are followed," a senior CBSE official told news agency Press Trust of India.

ALSO READ: CBSE Class 10, Class 12 sample papers here, check other key details

"The situation in India is getting worse day by day. When there were only a few cases in the country, they cancelled the remaining board exams and now when the cases are at a peak they are planning to open schools. We urge the education minister to look into this matter and cancel all examinations to be held this year as students are already under a lot of stress," a petition on Change.org said.

Divya Garg, a class 10 student, on Twitter urged the government to postpone the exams for at least a month and then take a further review based on the number of cases.

"The students have already faced a lot of problems till now in this pandemic. Classes were held online so the exams should also be held online or students should be promoted via internal assessment marks," another user tweeted.

Usually, practical exams are conducted in January and written exams begin in February and conclude in March. However, the exams were delayed and are scheduled to be held in May-June in view of the pandemic.

ALSO READ: CBSE Board Exam 2021: Students with 'C' in marksheet need not worry, here's why

"Adequate arrangements are being made to ensure the students are safe and all COVID protocols are followed. The number of exam centres has been increased by 40-50 per cent to ensure social distancing. The staff at exam centres is being sensitised to ensure all guidelines are followed," a senior CBSE official said.

The board had last week announced that if any student fails to appear for ongoing practical exams after the student or any family member testing positive, the schools will conduct re-tests for them at an appropriate time.

The official, however, did not comment on whether the same relaxation will be given to students in theory exams as well.

Similarly, Gerry Arathoon, the chief executive and secretary at CISCE, said the schedule for exams "will remain the same".

Schools across the country were closed in March last year to contain the spread of COVID-19 ahead of a nationwide lockdown.

Several states started reopening the schools partially from October last year, but physical classes are again being suspended in view of the exponential rise in coronavirus cases.

Last year, the board exams had to be postponed mid-way in March. They were later cancelled and the results were announced on the basis of an alternative assessment scheme.

Both the CBSE and CISCE had decided not to come up with a merit list last year.

India registered single-day spike of 1,26,789 new COVID-19 cases, pushing its overall COVID-19 case tally to 1,29,28,574, while the number of active cases also went upwards to breach the nine lakh-mark again, the Union Health Ministry''s data updated on Thursday (April 8) showed.

Live TV
Christian artists cant be forced to make same-sex wedding invitations, Ariz. Supreme Court rules

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A pair of Christian artists cannot be forced by a city ordinance to make wedding invitations for same-sex marriages, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Monday.

In Brush & Nib v. City of Phoenix, Arizonas highest court ruled that Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, owners of Brush & Nib Studio, cannot be compelled by a local antidiscrimination ordinance to provide their services to same-sex weddings.

Writing for the majority, Justice Andrew Gould concluded that the city of Phoenix cannot apply its Human Relations Ordinance to force Brush & Nib to create custom wedding invitations celebrating same-sex wedding ceremonies in violation of their sincerely held religious beliefs.

Duka, Koski, and Brush & Nib  have the right to refuse to express such messages under article 2, section 6 of the Arizona Constitution, as well as Arizonas Free Exercise of Religion Act, wrote Gould.

Duka and Koskis beliefs about same-sex marriage may seem old-fashioned, or even offensive to some. But the guarantees of free speech and freedom of religion are not only for those who are deemed sufficiently enlightened, advanced, or progressive. They are for everyone.

However, the Arizona high courts ruling was limited to just the creation of custom wedding invitations, with the ruling not allowing for a blanket exemption from the Ordinance for all of Plaintiffs business operations.

Likewise, we do not, on jurisprudential grounds, reach the issue of whether Plaintiffs creation of other wedding products may be exempt from the Ordinance, continued Gould.

Gould was joined by Justices Clint Bolick, John Lopez, and John Pelander. Vice Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer and Justices Scott Bales and Christopher Staring each wrote dissenting opinions.

Our constitutions and laws do not entitle a business to discriminate among customers based on its owners disapproval of certain groups, even if that disapproval is based on sincerely held religious beliefs, wrote Justice Bales.

In holding otherwise, the majority implausibly characterizes a commercially prepared wedding invitation as pure speech on the part of the business selling the product and discounts the compelling public interest in preventing discrimination against disfavored customers by businesses and other public accommodations.

In 2013, Phoenix added a new ordinance titled "Discrimination in public accommodations," which banned discrimination "in places of public accommodation against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or disability."

Also called City Code Section  18.4(B), the ordinance had a religious exemption, but it did not include businesses. A violation of the law could result in up to six months in prison.

In May 2016, Duka and Koski filed a lawsuit against the city of Phoenix over the ordinance. That September, Arizona Superior Court Judge Karen A. Mullins ruled against their request to block enforcement of the law. In October 2017, Judge Mullins again ruled against Duka and Koski.

In June of 2018, a judge panel of the Arizona Court of Appeals unanimously ruled against them, concluding that they failed to prove that Section 18-4(B) substantially burdens their religious beliefs by requiring that they provide equal goods and services to same-sex couples.

Appellants are not penalized for expressing their belief that their religion only recognizes the marriage of opposite-sex couples, claimed the panel opinion.

Nor are appellants penalized for refusing to create wedding-related merchandise as long as they equally refuse similar services to opposite-sex couples.

Represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, the artists then appealed to the Arizona Supreme Court in July of last year.

Artists shouldn't be forced to create artwork contrary to their core convictions, and certainly not under threat of criminal fines and jail time, stated ADF Senior Counsel Jonathan Scruggs at the time.

Breanna and Joanna are happy to design custom art for all people; they simply object to being forced to pour their heart, soul, imagination, and talent into creating messages that violate their conscience.
FRACKVILLE  The cause of a borough fire that damaged three homes in the 300 block of South Broad Mountain Avenue remained under investigation Wednesday.

Frackville Fire Chief William Lindenmuth, who was at the scene into the nighttime hours Tuesday, said officials determined the fire started in the kitchen area of 337 S. Broad Mountain Ave. but have yet to determine how the blaze originated.

Firefighters were called to the scene Tuesday afternoon for a report of a kitchen fire and found the back of 337 S. Broad Mountain Ave. engulfed in flames. Lindenmuth said crews managed to get the fire under control in less than an hour, but not before it caused damage to the back of the second half of the duplex at 335 S. Broad Mountain Ave.

The chief said a man, woman and three children lived at 337 S. Broad Mountain Ave., while 335 S. Broad Mountain Ave. was vacant and undergoing construction.

Danielle Boris of the American Red Cross Tri-County Chapter said Tuesday the organization assisted the family living in 337 S. Broad Mountain Ave. with food, clothes and shelter.

Boris could not be reached Wednesday so the identities of those displaced was unavailable.

Both buildings sustained extensive damage while the north side of a third home, at 339 S. Broad Mountain Ave., had heat damage to siding.

Firefighters from Frackville, Englewood, Altamont, Mahanoy City and Shenandoah assisted along with Frackville police and Shenandoah EMS.
BEIRUT (AP)  Syrian government forces fired a missile at a civilian vehicle in a rebel-held village in the countrys northwest on Thursday, killing seven people, including three children from the same family, opposition activists said.

The attack took place near the village of Najia, close to front lines with government forces in Idlib province, the last major rebel stronghold in the war-torn country.

The missile killed two men, two women and three children, and wounded several others, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitoring group, and an Idlib-based citizen journalist, Salwa Abdul-Rahman.

The U.N. childrens agency, UNICEF, confirmed that three children from the same family were killed when an attack hit the car they were in.

Ten years on (in) this brutal war, children continue to be killed and injured, day in, day out, tweeted Ted Chaiban, UNICEFs Mideast and North Africa director.

Despite a cease-fire that was reached in March last year between Turkey and Russia  a truce that stopped a Russian-backed government offensive on Idlib  there have been sporadic violations since then, which left scores dead and wounded. Russia and Turkey back rival groups in Syrias conflict.

Syrias 10-year conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced half the countrys pre-war population of 23 million. More than 5 million Syrians are refugees, mostly in neighboring countries.

Last month, artillery shells fired from government areas hit a major hospital in a rebel-controlled town in northwestern Syria, killing at least six patients, including a child, wounding medical staff and forcing the facility to shut its doors.
April 8, 1976

Scranton Police, FBI hunt for bank bandit

Scranton Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations were working to solve a bank robbery that took place April 7 at the North Penn Savings and Loan Association on South Main Avenue in West Scranton.

According to two female tellers, the bandit walked in and announced I want the money. The one teller thought the bandit was kidding at first until she spotted a long barreled pistol he pointed at her. He tossed her a bag and said Fill it up.

The teller complied and filled the bag. The bandit walked behind the counter and took more money from another drawer.

He then turned and said to the tellers, Ill give you back the money after my operation, and he walked out of the bank.

Scranton Police, who arrived shortly after the bandit left, searched the area but didnt find the bandit.

Scranton Police Capt. Frank Roche said the investigators were following leads but he said he doubted the bandit would return.

Scranton hospitals to discuss merger

Officials representing the Scranton State General Hospital and Community Medical Center agreed to meet to talk about plans for a possible merger of the two hospitals.

The hospitals agreed to form a committee to send to the meeting, made up of executives from the two hospitals, the medical directors of each hospital and members from each hospitals staff.

The ultimate goal of the committee was to make a plan for the transfer of the State General Hospital to local control through Community Medical Center.

State Secretary of General Services Ronald Lench also announced that the State General Hospital had received $1.84 million for renovation projects. The project included the renovation to walls, ceiling and flooring and improvements to the nurses stations, medical preparation rooms and janitor closets.

At the movies

Bad News Bears at the Comerford, Lucky Lady at Cinema North, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, I Will, I Will  For Now, and The Sunshine Boys at the Cinema I, II, III at the Viewmont Mall and The Longest Yard and Hustle at the Circle Drive-In.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)- U.S. Senator Mike Braun is visiting every county in the state of Indiana on his annual tour. So far, he has visited over a dozen counties in the state of Indiana so far. He says there are three issues that are concerning Hoosiers the most. Rural Broadband, affordable housing, and the workforce. He says businesses tell him its due to many people making enough money off of unemployment.

"I travel the state and have listened to small medium and large business owners they say competing with the federal government in enhanced unemployment benefits when we are having trouble getting people back to work," said Senator Braun.

Braun feels the American Rescue Plan went too far. He says the extension of an additional 300 dollars in unemployment extended until September has disincentivized people from going back to work, which is why he voted against it.

"I was all for 1,400 dollar checks to people that were still without a job and that were still hurting and in the area's disproportionally hurting like restaurants," said Senator Braun.

Recently President Biden proposed a 2.2 trillion-dollar infrastructure plan. Braun says that for a bill bases on the president's plan to pass with bipartisan support, it needs to focus on traditional infrastructures like roads and bridges.

"When you throw valid long-term investments like water and sewage treatment plants, rural broadband, and even stretch to elderly housing that's taking it beyond what we normally talk about in infrastructure, said Senator Braun. Im not saying there aren't needs there. But if you focus it on traditional infrastructure you'd get most Republicans for it.

To pay for this plan, President Biden has said he will set the Corporate Tax Rate at 28 percent and discourage offshore banking. However, Braun feels raising taxes on large corporations may not work.

"Most people don't know when we had a 35 percent corporate tax rate there were so many loopholes that the big companies with their staffs of lawyers and lobbyist were paying closer to 20 percent," said Senator Braun.

Braun says he would be willing to work across the aisle to get rid of the loopholes.

"I would be because as a main street entrepreneur I can't think of any loopholes that benefit small businesses our effective tax rates are generally the same as our nominal tax rate because we don't have that benefit," said Senator Braun.

Regardless of getting rid of loopholes, Braun doesn't feel increasing the corporate tax rate is the best way to pay for an infrastructure plan.

"User fees are how I think we can pay for infrastructure, said Senator Braun. Nobody wants to discuss that because it's a political hot potato whenever you are talking at the federal level how you pay for things when you've gotten so used to borrowing the money.

Senator Mike Braun also discussed the state of Indiana's economy. He feels Indiana is doing better than most states because the Pandemic was handled moderately.
London: Rioters set a hijacked bus on fire and hurled petrol bombs at police in Belfast in the fourth night of violence in a week in Northern Ireland, where Brexit has unsettled an uneasy political balance.

Youths threw projectiles and petrol bombs at police on Wednesday night, UK time, in the Protestant Shankill Road area, while rioters hurled objects in both directions over the concrete peace wall separating the Shankill Road from a neighbouring Irish nationalist area.

The police had to close roads into the nearby Protestant area as crowds from each divide attacked each other.

Nationalists and Loyalists clash with one another at the peace wall on Lanark Way in West Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Wednesday. Credit:AP

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the unrest, and Northern Irelands Belfast-based government was due to hold an emergency meeting Thursday on the riots.
The issue of prisoners and detainees after the Armenia-Azerbaijan war over Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 is not yet resolved, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th April, 2021) The issue of prisoners and detainees after the Armenia-Azerbaijan war over Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 is not yet resolved, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

"I want to note that in this context there is a very important issue that has not yet been resolved this is the issue of prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees. As we have repeatedly discussed, according to the statement dated November 9 [2020], all hostages, prisoners of war, other detainees must be returned to their homeland. But, unfortunately, we still have detainees in Azerbaijan," Pashinyan told Putin during a meeting in Moscow.

The Armenian prime minister also said that he is that Moscow and Yerevan have no disagreements on this issue.
A Hillsboro man took home a $3.9 million Megabucks jackpot, then he split the sum with his son.

Melvin Date is a longtime lottery player and won the prize from the April 3 drawing, the Oregon Lottery said Thursday.

Date gave his son $1 million of the jackpot. They both chose the one-time lump sum amount, which is half of the total prize.

Date will receive $986,000 after taxes for his portion of $2.9 million, while his son will receive $340,000.

Date bought his winning ticket at Beaverton Safeway on Tualatin Valley Highway, the Oregon Lottery said.

-- Jaimie Ding

jding@oregonian.com; 503-221-4395; @j_dingdingding
The race to vaccinate hit more roadblocks on Thursday, as several patients at a mass vaccination site in North Carolina suffered immediate reactions to the Johnson & Johnson shot. A day earlier, 11 people had adverse reactions in Denver, ranging from dizziness to nausea.

Both sites temporarily shut down.

"At this point we have no reason to believe there's anything wrong with the vaccine itself," said Dr. Shauna Gulley, a Centura Health chief clinical officer. "This is a temporary pause of one brand of vaccine so that we can investigate further."

The news comes as distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is expected to fall 85% next week due in part to a factory mix-up.

Meanwhile, the Midwest is on the verge of a relapse. In the last week, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased 11% on average among adults under 50 compared to the prior week. But in the Midwest, those hospitalizations jumped 42%.

The hardest hit state is Michigan, where one doctor tweeted a desperate plea on Thursday. "We need some help," Dr. Justin Dimick wrote.

Variants continue to complicate the country's recovery. Of all new coronavirus cases last week, children accounted for roughly one in five. Children are especially susceptible to the variant first found in the U.K., which was discovered at a recent outbreak at a Wisconsin childcare center.

"Prior to this time, young kids, particularly those in eighth grade or younger, rarely got infected or seriously ill with the virus and importantly did not transmit the virus in the community. Today that has been turned on its head," said Dr. Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

It's hitting college students, too. The University of Chicago said 50 students have tested positive. Some cases were linked to fraternity parties.

In small-town Villa Grove, Illinois, a bar's indoor opening event was linked to 46 cases in February, spanning eight households. That led to the hospitalization of an elderly resident and forced a school to temporarily close, impacting 650 students.

Story continues

"Mask use was inconsistent and that six feet of distance was not maintained," said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky. "These findings underscore the vast impact of a single event."

Some struggling families are still waiting on government aid

Georgia's new voting law set to have mixed effects on state's 7.8 million voters

Deadly D.C. carjacking highlights troubling nationwide trend
Business groups arent happy about it. The Chamber of Commerce said the plan would hurt American businesses and cost American jobs. The Business Roundtable said it threatens to subject the U.S. to a major competitive disadvantage. Republican lawmakers have also argued that its bad for business, but the White House was quick to note that the former Trump economic adviser Gary Cohn, a key player in the 2017 tax cut, said last June that Im actually OK at 28 percent.

I think there could be bipartisan interest in about half of what the president proposed on the spending side, but of course the corporate tax increases would be a non-starter, Rohit Kumar, the head of PwCs Washington tax policy group and a former aide to Senator Mitch McConnell, told DealBook. Hes not convinced theres even enough support among Democrats for tax increases.

For more on this, see our sister newsletter, The Morning: Corporate Taxes Are Wealth Taxes

Image

HERES WHATS HAPPENING

The counting of votes in the Amazon union drive begins soon. The union seeking to represent workers at a warehouse in Alabama said that 3,215 ballots were cast, representing 55 percent of eligible workers. The hand count of the ballots will begin either later today or tomorrow.

Britain curbs the use of AstraZenecas vaccine for people under 30. The decision came as regulators increasingly suspect a link between the shot and rare blood clots. While Britain has enough vaccines from other makers to avoid a slowdown in its inoculation efforts, the concerns may dent vaccination efforts in developing countries.

Senator Mitch McConnell walks back his comments on companies and politics, sort of. The minority leader conceded that his criticism of companies for speaking out against voting restrictions was not spoken artfully. (Democrats noted that Republicans have benefited from corporate donations.) They are certainly entitled to be involved in politics, Mr. McConnell said.

Tencents biggest shareholder sells a slice of its holdings for $14.7 billion. Prosus, the Europe-based tech investor, sold 2 percent of its stake in the Chinese tech giant in the biggest-ever block trade (breaking its own record). Prosus still owns a 29 percent stake in the company.
Despite warnings on its potential side effects, a congressman is standing by his plan to distribute the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment.

But what is Ivermectin? And why are other doctors showing support for its use against COVID-19?

Pinky Webb speaks to FDA chief Eric Domingo and Dr. Benigno Agbayani, President of the Concerned Doctors and Citizens of the Philippines.
Walking has never been so popular - and now you can help a good cause while you take your daily walk.

Adi Roches Chernobyl Children International is organising a virtual walk fundraiser to commemorate the upcoming 35th Anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster and United Nations Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day, on April 26.



Walkers in Kilkenny who have been taking to the roads and laneways of the county for exercise during the Covid-19 lockdown are being asked to walk 35km in the month of April to support the work of the Chernobyl Children International group with victims of the worlds worst nuclear accident.

The campaign in Kilkenny is being led by Jim Kavanagh, who appealed to everybody who has supported the work of CCI to take part in this vital fundraising effort.



Although hes always been a busy man, it was lockdown that made Jim a daily walker. Hes delighted to be leading this virtual walk with his wife Penny, family, friends and strangers.

Signing up, making a donation and walking 35km during the month is very doable Jim encourages everyone.

I was never a walker until four or five months ago, when I started walking up the lane, said Jim. If I can do it everybody can do it.



To sign up to the fundraiser go to chernobyl-international.com.

Youll be sent a CCI branded face covering to help you stay safe when you are out and about.

Clock up 35km throughout April in whatever way you can. You can share photos of your journey online using the hashtag #35KmForChernobyl to help raise awareness.



Jim is a long-time supporter of CCI. Last January, when he and his son JimBob loaded up a truck of aid for the charity to distribute in Belarus, his work was described as a labour of love by CCI founder Adi Roche.
He is one of the hunkiest actors in Hollywood.

And Jason Momoa showed off yet another talent on set of his latest project.

The 41-year-old Hawaii native practiced his ballroom dance moves before getting in front of a green screen while shooting the film Slumberland in Toronto on Tuesday.

Scroll down for video

Hunk: Jason Momoa practiced his ballroom dance moves before getting in front of a green screen while shooting the film Slumberland in Toronto on Tuesday

He proudly showed off his prowess on the dance floor including impressively dipping his unnamed partner.

Momoa appeared to be very serious about getting the proper steps down as he maintained a very straight face while recalling the steps.

He donned his signature style including a green graphic T-shirt and red striped pants featuring a long silver chain hanging from the belt loops.

Dancing with the star: The 41-year-old Hawaii native proudly showed off his prowess on the dance floor including impressively dipping his unnamed partner

Looking good: He donned his signature style including a green graphic T-shirt and red striped pants featuring a long silver chain hanging from the belt loops

His long hair was worn down as he proudly sported his signature bushy beard.

Slumberland follows the adventures of a young girl, played by Marlow Barkley, looking for her missing father in a dreamworld alongside an eccentric outlaw (Momoa).

Netflix recently posted two photos of the actor in character onto their Twitter account, where the star wore a decorative top hat as he hid inside of a closet.

Another behind-the-scenes snap captured Jason and Marlow gazing towards the distance with an expression of shock on their faces as they clung to a blue vehicle.

Who's there? Netflix recently posted two photos of the actor in character onto their Twitter account, where the star wore a decorative top hat as he hid inside of a closet

'No, you're not dreamingthat's Jason Momoa with a full set of horns,' Netflix tweeted on Tuesday. 'Here's a sneak peek behind the scenes at SLUMBERLAND, a new adventure story about an eccentric outlaw (Momoa) who guides a young hero (Marlow Barkley) through a secret dreamworld.'

The upcoming sci-fi fantasy film is based on the comic book series chronicling the extraordinary dreams of a young boy, Little Nemo In Slumberland.

Also starring Kyle Chandler and Chris O'Dowd, Slumberland will premiere on Netflix in 2022.
Negotiations over a potential merger of the Malaysian mobile operations of Axiata and Telenor are reportedly at an advanced stage.

According to Bloomberg, the parties are close to reaching an agreement to merge Celcom Networks and Digi. Malaysias Axiata and Norways Telenor would each retain a 33.1% stake in the merged unit, which would be branded as Celcom Digi and would become Malaysias largest mobile operator by subscriber numbers with 19 million, and a combined revenue of 12.4 billion ringgit ($3 billion).

While the deal would be subject to due diligence and require the approval of Celcoms shareholders, Digis board and Malaysias regulator, it could close as early as this quarter.

Telenor and Axiata discussed a possible merger of their Asian operations in 2019, exploring possibilities before eventually abandoning talks. The revived negotations chime with expected consolidation in Malaysias telecoms sector in response to government plans to construct and operate its own 5G network rather than relying on private companies for the technology. Pricing will therefore become the key differentiator for private companies, as the state-owned special purpose vehicle will render their coverage largely identical.

Axiata president and CEO Izzaddin Idris said: As a commercially stronger and more resilient entity, Celcom Digi will help restore long term growth and capacity to the industry, especially in terms of improved profitability.

Telenor EVP and head of Asia Jorgen Arentz Rostrup added: Size matters, not just in the combined cellphone customers, but in having the financial capability to support Malaysias digital aspirations. The new entity will have size and financial capabilities to support Malaysias digital aspirations and lead industry development in a connected society.

Idris was nominated to chair Celcom Digi by the operators, with Rostrup named as deputy. Celcom chief Idham Nawawi has been appointed CEO, with Digi CEO Albern Murty as deputy chief. The company will be listed on the Malaysian stock exchange, with more than 51% owned by Axiata and Malaysian institutional funds.
"It was scary how fast things changed for me," said Christine Storm, 53, who tested positive for COVID-19 on New Year's Eve. "My daughter flew home from California for Christmas. When she and her boyfriend landed in St. Louis, she found out they had been earlier exposed to COVID."

Although they underwent numerous tests while in St. Louis, each family member's results came back negative. The family carried on with holiday festivities but still used caution, limiting contact.

"As my daughter was flying back to California, she realized she couldn't taste anything," said Storm, a tax accountant. "I woke up that next day not feeling great. I did OK until the fifth or sixth day and then within 24 hours, I was really sick. In fact, two nights I woke up in the middle of the night and prayed I wasn't going to die."

Storm's primary care physician referred her to Mercy's virtual program.

"I couldn't even go up and down the stairs because my oxygen levels had dropped so low," Storm said. "Mercy monitored my oxygen very closely with a pulse oximeter. Mercy Virtual gave me a great amount of comfort in knowing someone was checking on me and I could reach out at any point of the day or night. They were extremely responsive."

For Storm, the peace of mind was worth everything. Today she is fully recovered and back to work during a busy tax season.

To take part in the virtual COVID-19 program, patients are enrolled through a Mercy emergency department, urgent care clinic or primary care physician.

"This level of medicine is unheard of in virtual care," said Dr. Justin Huynh, a primary care physician and vice president of population medicine at Mercy Virtual. "Mercy committed to staffing this program with board-certified emergency medicine physicians because they have the skill set and training to quickly troubleshoot in an intense and evolving situation. When you have something like COVID-19 and your condition can worsen in minutes, you want the expertise of an ER doc."

Dr. Carter Fenton, an ER physician with more than 20 years of experience, agrees.

"We have created a 24/7 contact for these patients," said Dr. Fenton, medical director of Mercy's vAcute, a physician led team that cares for COVID patients at home, as well as addresses other acute care needs. "It's real-time, high-level advice from a team of medical professionals who are experts in this dreadful disease."

While some health systems have a virtual program that includes physician oversight, Mercy has a team of board-certified emergency medicine physicians on call around the clock

"That's unique, and it can save your life," Dr. Fenton said. "If needed, within 30 seconds, an ER doctor can hop on a call or video and troubleshoot best options with patients. And these are physicians who have been on the front lines with COVID and have seen the disease firsthand and know its many evolutions. What it might have looked like a week ago is different than what it is today. They have that kind of knowledge."

Since November, the program has tracked more than 21,000 people who were able to recover from COVID-19 at home and 391 who were referred for a higher level of care when doctors determined their condition had worsened.

"Initially, people were going to the ER for any COVID symptom  shortness of breath, cough, you name it, but if they arrived and didn't meet the threshold for being in the hospital, they were sent home. They were no better and they had no lifeline to expert medical advice like Mercy's COVID Care @ Home," said Dr. Fenton.

For most, Mercy's COVID Care @ Home includes daily health checks via text. If the patient isn't doing well, they can let Mercy know by responding to the daily text and activating an evaluation for another level of care  possibly a phone call, video consultation or even a visit to a clinic, ER or hospital if their condition worsens.

A patient with a Mercy physician can ask their physician to refer them to the program.

SOURCE Mercy

Related Links

www.mercy.net


About Dassault Aviation and India

(Saint-Cloud, France, April 8, 2021) - Faced with certain allegations reported in the press about the contract signed in 2016 with India for the supply of 36 Rafale combat aircraft, a Dassault Aviation spokesperson points out the following:

- Numerous controls are carried out by official organizations, including the French Anti-Corruption Agency. No violations were reported, notably in the frame of the contract with India for the acquisition of 36 Rafales.

- Dassault Aviation wishes to reiterate that it acts in strict compliance with the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and national laws, in particular the law of December 9, 2016 known as Sapin 2.

- Since the early 2000s, Dassault Aviation has implemented strict internal procedures to prevent corruption, guaranteeing the integrity, ethics and reputation of the company in its industrial and commercial relations. In the context of the Sapin 2 law, the company has completed and strengthened its system for the prevention and detection of corruption and influence peddling, both at the level of the parent company and its subsidiaries.

- The contract with India for the acquisition of 36 Rafales has been established on a government-to-government basis. This contract, as well as the offsets corresponding contract, meet the criteria established by these regulations and are being executed in full transparency between the various government and industrial partners. The aircraft were delivered in respect of the schedule, despite the COVID-19 health crisis, and fully meet the security needs of the Indian authorities.

- Dassault Aviation and the Reliance Group established the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL) Joint Venture in 2017 and built a plant in Nagpur that has been producing numerous Falcon parts and pieces since 2018.

- Dassault Aviation and its partners are working with 60 companies in India and negotiations are underway to establish potential new cooperations.

ABOUT DASSAULT AVIATION:

With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,500 Falcons) delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets, military drones and space systems. In 2020, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of 5.5 billion. The company has 12,440 employees.

dassault-aviation.com

Attachment
ROME, APR 8 - Top Italian art critic Vittorio Sgarbi says he has discovered a lost Caravaggio at a Madrid auction house. The painting, The Crown of Thorns or Ecce Homo, attributed to Spanish 17th-century master Jose de Ribero aka Spagnoletto, was due to go on sale at the Casa Ansorena auctioneers with a reserve price of just 1,500 euros Thursday, but has now been withdrawn after the owners "had doubts on its authorship", the house said. Sgarbi was sent a picture of the painting by an artist friend last month who told him it was by Italian 17th century great Mattia Preti. But as soon as he saw it Sgarbi said he recognised the hand of Caravaggio, the painter who revolutionised art in the post-Mannerist Baroque period and whose works are among the rarest and most prized on the art circuit. "I see it, realise that the work is by Caravaggio and think that with the help of funding I can get it back to Italy," Sgarbi told the Italian press Thursday. The Spanish State on Thursday confirmed media reports it had blocked the sale and export of the work and is reserving the right to buy it. The Prado said Thursday: "if it's proven to be a Caravaggio then we're definitely interested in it". The Palazzo Bianco museum in Genoa said any new attribution would not call into question that of its own Ecce Homo by Caravaggio, made by legendary art critic and historian Roberto Longhi in the 1950s. The last rediscovered Caravaggio, believed to be his lost Judith and Holofernes, was valued at up to $170 million before a French auction in 2019, when a mystery bidder stepped in ahead of the sale to get it for an undisclosed price. (ANSA).
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has signed on Wednesday the Born Alive Act, also known as Senate File 0034, that protects babies who survive botched abortions.

"Today's bill signings included legislation to protect Wyoming businesses and our healthcare industry from frivolous lawsuits; bills that support our coal industry; expand higher education opportunities; and continue our tradition of safe and secure elections" Gordon tweeted referring to the Born Alive Act for healthcare.

According to the State of Wyoming 66th Legislature website, Senate File 0034 is "an act relating to public health and safety; requiring the commonly accepted means of care to be employed in the treatment of any infant born alive; imposing duties on physicians performing abortions; and providing for an effective date."

The Born Alive Act specifies the manner in which treatment for "viable abortion" should be done, which is what is normally administered to a regularly-born infant.

"The commonly accepted means of care that would be rendered to any other infant born alive shall be employed in the treatment of any viable infant aborted alive. Any physician performing an abortion shall take medically appropriate and reasonable steps to preserve the life and health of an infant born alive," the bill said.

The website showed that the bill, which will be in effect come July 1, was introduced by sponsor Senator Cheri Steinmetz in January of this year. The bill is also co-sponsored by 13 senators and 16 representatives.

Steinmetz previously said that her "bill sponsorship and voting record reflect my commitment to traditional family values" out of her desire to keep the state "family friendly."

"In order to be successful in all areas, Wyoming must respect the basic building block of society and government which is the family. State law should not threaten or harm traditional family values, personal or cultural virtue, or freedom of conscience as we govern our society and educate our children," she said.

Local news station KGAB reported that the bill actually passed the Senate on March 5 with a 26-4 vote. The media outlet added that abortion of babies 23 weeks of gestation is banned in Wyoming and that "any abortion in which a baby survived in Wyoming would already be illegal unless it was an emergency procedure to save the life of the mother."

As per the Daily Caller, the governor has vetoed a similar bill the previous year. This bill he signed was amended to remove the clause "with any chance of survival" that came as the last part of the clause, "The commonly accepted means..." and before the sentence "Any physician..."

The Daily Caller cited the governor in explaining that "last year's Born Alive bill was different from the one brought this year" because the older one could "harm people it never intended to harm" based on the receipt of "the devastating news that their pregnancy is not viable." This excludes the fact, the governor said that there is an existing law that protects "children from being denied lifesaving care simply because they were born as a result of an abortion."

"In the Governor's opinion, this bill met with the Governor's pro-life and pro-family convictions," stressed Communications Director Michael Pearlman in behalf of Gordon during an interview with Daily Caller.
(Adds comment from Prodeco)

By Oliver Griffin

BOGOTA, April 7 (Reuters) - Colombia's national mining

agency (ANM) said on Wednesday it has initially rejected a

request by coal miner Prodeco, a wholly-owned unit of miner and

commodity trader Glencore, to return two of its

Colombian concessions.

Anglo-Swiss company Glencore said in February Prodeco would

hand back its operations at the Calenturitas and La Jagua mines

to Colombia, after its request to keep the operations on care

and maintenance was denied by the ANM.

The two mines were placed on care and maintenance last March

amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Obligations which must be met before returning two of the

contracts for concessions included within La Jagua - including

for environmental management - remain outstanding, the ANM said

in a statement, making the request to return them "legally

inviable."

"It's not possible for the (agency) to approve the request

for resignation because it is not up-to-date in complying with

all contractual obligations at the time of submitting the

resignation, as required by the mining code," ANM President Juan

Miguel Duran said in a separate message.

While the request to hand back the DKP-141 and HKT-08031

contracts has initially been denied, the company can request to

relinquish the concessions again in the future.

"Prodeco is acting in full accordance with the legal and

regulatory framework governing our operations and the mining

sector," the company said in an email, adding that it is

evaluating the ANM's decision.

The two mining operations are made up of five concessions,

including one at Calenturitas. Resignation requests for the

three remaining concessions are still being evaluated, Duran

said, while a sixth concession at La Jagua finished in 2019.

Glencore's coal production in 2020 fell 24% to 106 million

tonnes, with Prodeco's output plummeting 76% to 3.8 million

tonnes.

Production at Cerrejon - a Colombian coal mine owned jointly

by Glencore, Anglo American and BHP - also fell

last year, declining 52% to 12.4 million tonnes.

(Reporting by Oliver Griffin

Editing by Marguerita Choy)
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Graph Blockchain Inc. (CSE: GBLC) (OTC Pink: REGRF) ("Graph" or the "Company") as a follow up to our news release on April 6, 2021 is pleased to announce the Company has deployed capital into a third cryptocurrency, Chainlink's token ("LINK Token"), for the purpose of staking.

As part of our recent deployment of $2,000,000 previously announced on April 6, 2021, the Company allocated the final tranche of $500,000 into LINK. Additional information will be provided on the LINK Token as the project develops and progresses through its development phases.

Paul Haber, CEO of Graph Blockchain Inc., commented, "We are very excited to be deploying funds into our third token purchase. We feel strongly that Link will appreciate in value given it has a substantial market cap of over USD $13B, a fixed supply, and is possibly the most important piece of infrastructure in the blockchain ecosystem. Graph understands firsthand how valuable bridging onchain and offchain data sources is to smart contracts and Chainlink is the best solution on the market."

About Chainlink

Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network that provides off-blockchain data to smart contracts. Chainlink was first described in a white paper published in September 2017. Chainlink is a decentralized network that connects smart contracts to external data or the outside world. It aims to bring real world data onto the blockchain so that smart contracts can interact with real world events and information that exist off-blockchain. Chainlink was built to increase the potential applications and prospects for smart contracts and reduce their need to rely on trusted third parties.

LINK is the digital asset token used to pay for services on the Chainlink network. It is built on Ethereum in accordance with the ERC20 standard for tokens. LINK can be bought and sold for fiat currency or other digital currencies. The supply of LINK is fixed at 1 billion LINK tokens.

About Graph Blockchain Inc.

The Company is a blockchain development company that provides high performance blockchain solutions that include graphic data analysis and consulting services, implementation of data mining analysis through the use of graph databases and speed enhancements of blockchain control systems for businesses and government. This includes the Babbage Mining Corp. which will focus on altcoins, alternative cryptocurrencies to Bitcoin. Graph will be the first publicly tradable altcoin Proof of Stake ("POS") miner, which will generate revenue while providing exposure to several top digital assets by market capitalization.

By mining altcoins through Proof of Stake, Babbage can provide to its investors exposure to the vast emerging market of cryptocurrencies with the significant technological disruption and potential gains that altcoins represent.

Additional Information on the Company is available at www.graphblockchain.com and www.babbagemining.com

For further information, please contact:

Jamie Hyland

Phone :604.442.2425

Email: jamie@graphblockchain.com

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions, and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties, and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Such statements may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events, or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

###

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79738
The announcement about the link between the vaccine and a clotting disorder marks a dramatic shift in the EMA's position on the AstraZeneca vaccine. For two months the agency had insisted there were no reasons for EU countries to restrict or stop using the shot.

Emer Cooke, head of the EMA, said, "This vaccine has proven to be highly effective, it prevents severe disease and hospitalization and it saves lives." Rare blood clots have been associated with the deaths of at least 14 people across Europe.

Officials at the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, emphasized that the benefits of AstraZeneca overall outweigh the risks and that the vaccine is saving lives. The side effects are extremely rare, they stressed during a news conference in Amsterdam. "The EMA is reminding health care professionals and people receiving the vaccine to remain aware of the possibility of very rare cases of blood clots combined with low levels of blood platelets occurring within two weeks of vaccination," the officials said. "So far, most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within two weeks of vaccination," the EMA officials added.

The findings of the weeks-long review into the safety of the jab could fuel vaccine skepticism in Europe, where several governments have paused their rollouts of the jab amid rising safety doubts.

Several European countries ignored the reassurances over the jab and have been restricting the use of the vaccine amid mounting worries about links with the clotting disorder. Germany last week said the vaccine should not be given to those under 60 years of age.

Britain's medicines regulator separately also has found a causal link between the vaccine and the rare clotting disorder, which has been associated with the deaths of seven vaccinated people in Britain. It is advising that Britons under 30 should be offered the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine instead.

June Raine, chief executive of Britain's Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency, (MHRA) said at a press conference in London that more than 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca jab have been administered in Britain, but no effective medicine is "without risks." She said a link between rare blood clots, that prevent blood draining from the brain, and the AstraZeneca vaccine are a "strong possibility," but that more work needs to be done to "establish beyond all doubt" that the jab can cause the rare side effect. Raine too, emphasized that the vaccine's "benefits continue to outweigh the risks." She said, "This is extremely rare and with the proven effectiveness against a disease that is still a huge risk to our population, the balance of benefits is still very favorable for the vast majority of people."

Up to March 31, Britain's MHRA received 79 reports of blood clots accompanied by low blood platelet count, in people who had their first dose of the vaccine. Of these 79, 19 people have died. The 79 cases occurred in 51 women and 28 men, ages 18 to 79. Of the 19 who died, three were under the age of 30, the MHRA said.

While the medicines regulators highlighted how rare the side effects are with less than one death per one million jabs administered, European Union officials fear the findings of the reviews will knock confidence not only in the AstraZeneca jab but in other COVID vaccines. They warned the health ministers of the bloc's 27 member states that the announcements on both sides of the English Channel would have an "immediate impact on vaccination plans" and "vaccine confidence," according to an official EU document seen by the Reuters news agency.

According to pollsters, Europe is already the most vaccine-skeptic continent in the world. Doubts about the jab's safety have mounted in recent weeks, leading to Europeans in growing numbers declining the chance of being inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine. British officials reacted angrily to doubts cast recently about the vaccine by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

AstraZeneca has been the key vaccine in Britain's exceptionally speedy inoculation campaign, which has outpaced significantly the vaccination rates in the rest of Europe. British officials say restricting the use of AstraZeneca will not have a major impact on the country's inoculation program with other vaccines coming on stream.

The vaccine is critical also to Europe's immunization campaign and crucial in the global strategy to supply vaccines to poorer countries. The vaccine is cheaper and easier to use than rival vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

Independent medical experts backed the conclusions of the medicines regulators and also said only a very small number of people could have serious side effects from AstraZeneca but that the vaccine is clearly saving tens of thousands of people from dying of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. "If you are currently being offered a dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, your chances of remaining alive and well will go up if you take the vaccine and will go down if you don't," Adam Finn, a professor of pediatrics at Britain's University of Bristol, wrote in a press release.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A nonprofit at the heart of a $60-million statehouse corruption scandal has not answered Cleveland City Council subpoenas for documents dealing with the FirstEnergys suspected funding of an effort discredit Cleveland Public Power.

The council in February issued subpoenas to statutory agents of Generation Now Inc. in Delaware and Generation Now Ohio Inc. in Columbus, demanding records.

They just havent responded, City Council President Kevin Kelley said Thursday in an interview with cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.

Attempts to reach Generation Now for comment were not immediately successful.

Kelley said the council will consult lawyers to determine what, if anything, happens next.

City Council previously had subpoenaed records from Consumers Against Deceptive Fees, a dark-money nonprofit that was publicly critical of CPP and sent residents leaflets disparaging the rates and service of the city-owned electric utility.

That organization, now defunct, refused to comply with the councils demand, citing an infringement on the organizations rights of free speech.

The City Council issued the subpoenas under authority granted in Clevelands charter  a power not exercised in more than two decades.

Kelley and his council colleagues want to know the source of $351,000 that Consumers Against Deceptive Fees got in in 2018. They have said they suspect the money originated from FirstEnergy, CPPs competitor.

Links between FirstEnergy and Consumers Against Deceptive Fees were revealed in the fallout of the statehouse bribery scandal surrounding H.B. 6, a legislative bailout of nuclear and coal-burning power plants.

Records have shown that Consumers Against Deceptive Fees received $200,000 in 2019 from that pass through, Partners in Progress. It was part of a larger sum of money the pass through received from FirstEnergy.

An FBI affidavit and tax filings show Partners for Progress got $20 million from FirstEnergy and its affiliates. Partners for Progress gave $13 million to Generation Now as well as smaller contributions to Consumers Against Deceptive Fees and other groups.

In February, Generation Now admitted its part in the scandal and signed a guilty plea to a charge under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

In a plea agreement, the dark-money nonprofit said it was set up to receive undisclosed donations to benefit Householder and advance [Larry] Householders efforts to become speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives.

Householder and two others pleaded not guilty to federal racketeering charges. One of the two, lobbyist Neil Clark, died in March.

Two others pleaded guilty last October.

FirstEnergy has not been charged and the company has said it is cooperating with investigators.

More from Cleveland City Hall

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Will Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson run again? Past practices might offer clues

Cleveland City Council OKs refitting fire stations to accommodate female fire personnel
Virginia is the 16th state to legalize marijuana for adults after Governor Ralph Northam accelerated the state's timeline by three years.

Beginning July 1, Virginians will be able to legally grow up to four cannabis plants and possess up to one ounce.

The bill was passed by a 53-44 vote in the House and Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax broke a 21-20 vote in the Senate to pass it, with no support from Republicans.

Democratic Governor Ralph Northam said the state has 'made history as the first state in the South to legalize the simple possession of marijuana.'

So far, 34 states and Washington D.C. have legalized marijuana in some form, including recreational use, medical use and sales

Gov. Ralph Northam announced that Virginia is making history as the first state in the south to legalize marijuana

Virginians will be able to legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana under the new law

'Marijuana laws were explicitly designed to target communities of color, and Black Virginians are disproportionately likely to be stopped, charged, and convicted,' he said.

Gov. Northam proposed a bill in February that would legalize recreational pot in 2024, but pushed for the timeline to be accelerated in an effort to 'restore justice to those harmed by decades of over criminalization.'

'Today, Virginia took a critical step to right these wrongs and restore justice to those harmed by decades of over-criminalization.'

Regulated sales are scheduled to begin in January 2024 to give the state time to license recreational retailers, and the state's current medical dispensaries won't be able to begin selling to all adults immediately unlike other states.

The state plans to use tax revenues from marijuana sales to fund health initiatives like substance use disorder treatment programs, along with pre-kindergarten education.

When regulated sales begin, the current bill sets a 21 percent excise tax on marijuana. Retailers will be able to add an additional 3 percent tax on top of existing sales tax.

A 2020 study by the governor's office found marijuana tax revenue in the state could bring in up to $274 million. The legal industry could bring in between $698 million and $1.2 billion annually in economic activity.

In addition to the financial benefits for the state, Gov. Northam wanted to move up the date of legalization in an effort to stop penalizing people for possessing a drug that would be legal soon.

Eileen Filler-Corn, Democratic House of Delegates Speaker applauded the plan in a statement saying, 'With the Governor's amendments, we will have made tremendous progress in ending the targeting of Black and brown Virginians through selective enforcement of marijuana prohibition by this summer.'

The Virginia bill allows for people who have been charged with marijuana-related offenses and those who graduated from historically Black colleges and universities to have preference when the state begins to grant licenses.

Several other US states, including New York and Colorado, have legalized marijuana, but Virginia is the first to do so in the socially conservative US south

Marijuana tax revenue in Virginia could bring in up to $274 million annually in tax revenue

Recreational marijuana sales will begin in Virginia in 2024

'Legalization will bring an end to the thousands of low-level marijuana infractions occurring annually... ending a discriminatory practice that far too often targets Virginians who are young, poor, and people of color,' said Jenn Michelle Pedini with NORML, a national group lobbying for pot legalization.

Virginia joins several other states, including New York and New Jersey, to approve similar measures, but is the first state to do so in the socially and politically conservative US south.

In 2019, New York softened some criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana and launched a process to automatically expunge the records of thousands of individuals convicted of low-level possession crimes.

Last month, New York lawmakers reached a deal to legalize recreational marijuana after Cuomo dubbed it his 'top priority' under tax plans expected to bring in more than $350 million annually.

With Virginia's legislation, 16 states and Washington DC have legalized marijuana for recreational use, and 34 states have relaxed marijuana laws in different ways, with medical marijuana legalization and decriminalization elsewhere.
The first of several upcoming vaccination sessions sponsored by the Lakewood Public Schools for special needs students ages 16 and older began Wednesday at the district high school.

Over 600 students signed up for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and it was administered Wednesday by staffers from CheMed Health Care Center, a non-profit community health center in Lakewood.

The program is sponsored by Lakewood Public Schools following Gov. Phil Murphys order last month making the students eligible for shots.

During Wednesdays round of shots, Kelieo Mercado, 16, a student at Lakewood High School said, It wasnt as scary (as I thought).

It just seemed like a normal one that you would take, he said, adding that he only felt the needle a little bit.

Mark Berkowitz, Chief Operating Officer at CheMed Center For Health Education Medicine & Dentistry, said it was the second time his staff had administered shots at the school. He was referring to the 380 teachers, therapists, nurses and other staff members that were vaccinated during a March 15 event in the Lakewood High School gym.

Its very simple. This is our second time here, Berkowitz said. We feel that (the staff members) are very important part of ... the society of helping our children, so we came here to vaccinate them. Now, the vulnerable children, the 16-year-olds and above who are special needs children.

Wednesdays vaccinations were held in a tent set in the high school parking lot and will be followed by another session on Thursday in the same location during the same hours, and then a third session on Sunday afternoon from 3:30-5:30 p.m., officials said.

Another three days of vaccinations will be held at the school on April 13-15, each from 8 a.m. to noon, in those cases administered by staff of the Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, a Lakewood hospital thats part of the RWJBarnabas Heath system.

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.
Christian wedding photographer sues New York over LGBT anti-discrimination law

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A Christian wedding photographer has filed a complaint against New York over a state law that requires her to service same-sex wedding ceremonies despite her religious objections.

Emilee Carpenter of Emilee Carpenter Photography sued multiple state officials, with the lawsuit being filed Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York.

Named defendants include New York Attorney General Letitia James; Jonathan J. Smith, interim commissioner of the New York State Division of Human Rights; and Weeden Wetmore, district attorney of Chemung County.

At issue, according to the litigation, are provisions in state law that require businesses like Carpenters to provide services. This included New York Executive Law  296.2(a), which unlawful discriminatory practices  because of sexual orientation in any place of public accommodation.

 the Accommodations Clause forces Emilee to celebrate same-sex engagements or weddings and would require her to promote messages that violate her religious beliefs or require her to participate in religious ceremonies that violate her religious beliefs, something she cannot do, stated the lawsuit.

Likewise, the Publication Clause prohibits Emilee from asking prospective clients questions sufficient for her to learn whether they are seeking photography services celebrating same-sex engagements or weddings so that she can be honest with them about the photographs she does and does not create.

According to the lawsuit, Carpenter would also refuse to do weddings that include irreverent themes like vampires or Halloween and would also oppose doing business with entities that promote abortion, such as Planned Parenthood.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative law firm that has argued religious liberty cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, is representing Carpenter.

ADF Legal Counsel Bryan Neihart said in a statement released Wednesday that the government should not treat some people worse than others based on their religious views.

Creative professionals like Emilee should have the freedom to create art consistent with their beliefs without fear of the government closing their business or throwing them in jail, Neihart said.

Emilee serves all people; she just cannot promote messages which contradict her religious beliefs about any topic, including marriage.

In recent years, several legal battles have been fought between states and Christian business owners over anti-discrimination laws that require them to service events they morally object to.

The Carpenter complaint comes as Congress debates the Equality Act, a federal bill recently passed by the House of Representatives and is being considered by the Senate.

If enacted, the Act would add gender identity and sexual orientation to federal anti-discrimination law while also removing various religious liberty exemptions.
The European Commission has hit out at Turkey after the commission chief Ursula von der Leyen was left without a chair as she was in Ankara for talks with the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The video from Tuesday's encounter in Ankara showed von der Leyen flummoxed as Erdogan and the European Council president Charles Michel took two chairs in front of the EU and Turkish flags.

"Ehm," she is heard muttering, holding out her arms in apparent exasperation.

She was eventually seated on a sofa a little further away from her male counterparts, opposite Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu - who is significantly below her in the pecking order of diplomatic protocol.

Responding to the diplomatic gaffe - quickly dubbed "sofagate" online - Cavusoglu said on Thursday that the seating was arranged in line with the bloc's demands and with international protocol. He said that Turkey was being subject to unjust accusations.

3 chairs good, 2 chairs bad

In the past, three chairs were provided when Erdogan visited Brussels for talks with the heads of the European Commission and the European Council, which collectively represents the EU's 27 member states.

Similarly, when former EU Commission President Donald Tusk and European Council president Jean-Claude Junker met Erdogan in the past, three chairs were also provided for their meeting.

Ties between Brussels and Ankara have been strained since a failed coup in 2016 prompted a crackdown in Turkey that led to thousands of arrests.

And more recently, a maritime row between Turkey and Greece stoked tensions last year with the EU threatening sanctions against Ankara.

Wednesday's diplomatic debacle was also widely shared on social media and prompted backlash against Ankara over protocol, and also Michel for not defending his fellow EU executive.

Story continues

Dutch MEP Sophie in 't Veld questioned why Michel remained silent as von der Leyen was left without a seat.

European Council president defends his (seating) position

After a day of weathering criticism on social media, Michel responded on Facebook saying the video of von der Leyen left without a chair "gives the impression that I was oblivious to this situation. Nothing is further from the reality or my deepest feelings".

He blamed what he called a dismal and regrettable scene on a protocol blunder by the Turkish side.

Michel added that he and von der Leyen chose not to worsen it by making a public incident and to focus instead on the matters to be discussed.

Wednesday's faux pas came as the EU and Turkey look to rebuild ties despite concerns over Ankara's record on human rights, including discrimination against women.
A major fire broke out on Wednesday at an oil refinery run by Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) in the eastern city of Minatitlan by the Gulf of Mexico, though there were no immediate reports of fatalities, Mexican media and authorities said.

The blaze started on Wednesday afternoon, according to media reports, and Mexico's safety, energy and environment regulator ASEA said it was monitoring the situation.

Pemex said in an early evening statement that it so far had no reports of any fatalities or serious injuries to people from the fire. Emergency services were at the scene, it added.

ASEA's executive director Angel Carrizales said on Twitter the fire started in a gasoline transfer pump. Footage posted on social media showed flames leaping inside the refinery and thick black plumes of smoke billowing out.

The refinery, one of six operated by Pemex, has a capacity of up to 285,000 barrels per day, according to the company.

Also read: OPEC+ agrees to ease oil output cuts from May after Washington dials Riyadh

Also read: Saudi Arabia hikes Arab light crude price for Asia in May
Said is well-positioned to guide our team, our customers, and our partners to success and deliver the world-class experience EditShare is known for. We welcome Said's leadership to the team, where he will continue to drive the adoption of EditShare solutions across EMEA.

EditShare, a technology leader that specializes in collaboration, security, and intelligent storage solutions, announced today the appointment of Said Bacho to Vice President of Sales, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). The technically savvy Bacho has a deep background in media enterprise solutions and will be responsible for executing go-to-market plans that enable customers to leverage EditShare production workflow solutions on-premise and in the cloud.

Said is well-positioned to guide our team, our customers, and our partners to success and deliver the world-class experience EditShare is known for," comments Conrad Clemson, CEO, EditShare. We welcome Said's leadership to the team, where he will continue to drive the adoption of EditShare solutions across EMEA.

Prior to joining EditShare, Bacho was senior vice president of international sales at Operative with a particular focus in growing sales and account management teams in EMEA. Bachos earlier roles include chief business development and marketing officer with Snell Advanced Media; senior vice president, EMEA with Grass Valley; vice president sales and marketing - Middle East, Africa, & South Asia with Imagine Communications; and managing director - Middle East and North Africa with Avid.

With multiple years of experience in media technology markets internationally, Bachos career has encompassed sales, business development, and marketing leadership, building and managing high-performing teams, direct sales and channel partner growth, driving significant increases in revenue and profitability, owning regional P&L, leading strategic M&A projects and driving company change and process improvements through effective field sales organization enablement.

I am thrilled to join EditShares talented team at this strategic stage of the companys journey, comments Bacho. Our industry is going through an exciting transition and I look forward to working closely with EditShare customers and channel partners to help them successfully drive their businesses forward.

Bachos appointment is effective immediately.

About EditShare

EditShare is a technology leader in networked shared storage and smart workflow solutions for the production, post-production, new media, sports, and education markets. Whether you need on-prem, cloud, or hybrid solutions, our products improve efficiency and workflow collaboration every step of the way. They include media optimized high-performance shared storage, archiving and backup software, a suite of media management tools and a robust set of open APIs that enable integration throughout the workflow. Customer and partner success are at the heart of EditShares core values ensuring a world-class experience that is second to none.

2021 EditShare LLC. All rights reserved. EditShare is a registered trademark of EditShare.
The 40,000-metre infill drilling program is ongoing, targeting the upgrade of inferred resources outside the recently declared AG ore reserve of 15.7 million tonnes at 1.7 g/t gold for 860,000 ounces.

These latest results from AG South will be included in the next Abujar mineral resource update, which is due late on Q2 of 2021.

( ) has hit 180.86 g/t gold within 7 metres at 51.56 g/t gold during infill drilling at the AbujarGludehi (AG) deposit, part of its 3.02-million-ounce Abujar Gold Project in Cote dIvoire, West Africa.

The latest results from the 40,000-metre infill drilling program include ZDD491 at AG South on Section Line 6B:

7 metres at 51.56 g/t from 53 metres including 1-metre at 21.15 g/t from 53 metres, 1-metre at 152.70 g/t from 56 metres and 1-metre at 180.86 g/t from 57 metres.

Results from ZDD483 at AG South on Section Line 4B include:

3 metres at 52.95 g/t from 71 metres including 1-metre at 121 g/t from 71 metres and 1-metre at 36.01 g/t from 72 metres.

Shares have been as much as 11.7% higher to 33.5 cents with the company's market cap at approximately $136.5 million.

Results to be included in update

The company will include these latest results from AG South in the next Abujar mineral resource update, which is due later this quarter.

Tietto managing director Dr Caigen Wang said: Our infill drilling program continues to exceed our expectations with multiple ultrahigh grade gold hits in the holes reported today.

These results sit outside of the recently announced maiden ore reserve and will upgrade the inferred material making up the mining inventory.

We have many more results to come from our 40,000 metres of infill drilling, and high impact holes like these will be going into the mineral resource update due in late May.

This updated model will then be used for new optimisation and mine scheduling studies using improvements identified during our PFS work.

DFS on track for Q3

The mineral resource update will drive mine mill optimisation and ore reserve studies for the Abujar DFS, which is on track for delivery in the third quarter of 2021.

Dr Wang said: As we combine the updated resource with the enhancements identified in the PFS, I expect to see an uplift in our ore reserves at AG even before the inclusion of infill drilling at APG and drilling below the PFS pit at AG.

Our diamond drilling rigs will soon move onto drill testing the multitude of exploration targets around our proposed mill at Abujar to drive future resource growth.

On the development front, we have mapped out a clear path to delivery for our fully funded Abujar DFS in Q3 2021 as we move towards Abujar becoming West Africas next gold mine.

Oblique cross section (6B) showing latest drill results at AG South

Infill drilling continues

The infill drilling program is ongoing, targeting the upgrade of inferred resources outside recently declared AG ore reserve of 15.7 million tonnes at 1.7 g/t gold for 0.86 million ounces (maiden open pit) within the 22.9 million tonnes at 1.5 g/t gold for 1.12 million ounces mining inventory.

Assay results from more than 6,000 Abujar core samples expected throughout April, with the companys fleet of six diamond rigs now drilling at a rate of ~11,000 metres a month to drive Abujars rapid resource growth at low discovery cost per ounce in 2021.

Tietto also plans to drill additional holes along strike at AG South, as well as further stepback drilling to test the depth limits of this large highgrade gold system.

Next steps

With over $52 million cash at the end of March, Tietto remains very well positioned to advance its dual strategy of continuing to drive rapid resource growth and fast-tracking project development.

The company is negotiating the Abujar Mining Convention with the Ivorian Government, which is the final regulatory step with all mining and environmental approvals already secured.

In addition, Tiettos recently appointed COO Matt Wilcox is focused on value enhancement areas identified by the PFS and is finalising plans for the commencement of long-lead activities to ensure an expedited route to commencement of production.
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.
Texas Governor reveals abuse allegations where 1,300 migrant children are being held at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio. Children at this facility are being sexually assaulted." GOV. ABBOTT: Texas Rangers, TexasHHSC and TexasDFPS have received tips regarding child sex abuse inside Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio. Gov. Abbot calls on President Biden to close the Freeman Coliseum facility immediately.

NEWSWEEK: Silicon Valley biotech companies are working on transfusing blood from young people into older people in order to "hack the process of aging."

Biden Poised to Issue Executive Order on Gun Control Thursday
New thought leadership award categories will be introduced in the Stevie Awards competitions. The first fruit of the partnership is a new category in The 18th International Business Awards for communications or public relations campaigns that create or further the thought leadership credentials or reputation of an individual or organization.

The Stevie Awards, organizers of the worlds premier business awards programs, announced today that Thought Leadership Leverage (TLL), a consultancy that helps individual experts and organizations take their ideas to scale through thought leadership, will sponsor its awards programs.

TLL will work with the Stevie Awards team to create and promote categories related to thought leadership in its eight national and international awards programs. The first fruit of the partnership is a new category in The 18th International Business Awards for communications or public relations campaigns that create or further the thought leadership credentials or reputation of an individual or organization. TLL will next help create a number of categories for the 18th Stevie Awards for Women in Business, which will begin accepting nominations in May.

We are very pleased that Thought Leadership Leverage has agreed to partner with the Stevie Awards to create new categories in our competitions as recognition of achievement in thought leadership that did not exist in any of our programs thus far, said Maggie Gallagher, Stevie Awards president. We think the addition of thought leadership-related categories will serve to bring attention to worthy achievements in thought leadership generation, exposition, and promotion.

TLL CEO and founder Peter Winick thinks the partnership with the Stevies will be a win for his firms clients. There is no prominent international awards program to recognize individual and team achievement in organizational thought leadership  certainly nothing of the prominence of the Stevie Awards. The Stevies will help us to bring a new level of recognition to the achievements of our clients and other organizations and individuals.

ABOUT THOUGHT LEADERSHIP LEVERAGE

Thought Leadership Leverage specializes in taking ideas to scale through thought leadership--creating impact and generating revenue for individuals and organizations. Over the past two decades, their clients have included New York Times best-selling business book authors, Thinkers 50 recipients, and Heads of Thought Leadership at some of the world's most respected organizations. CEO, Peter Winick, and COO, Bill Sherman, co-host the podcast "Leveraging Thought Leadership"which has been recognized as one of the top podcasts that explores the business of thought leadership. Learn more at http://www.thoughtleadershipleverage.com.

ABOUT THE STEVIE AWARDS

Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Award for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Award for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.
Another family losing their home, the post began. Owners have decided to move up from the Bay and we have 60 days. I know this is a long shot with how crazy everything is right now, but we are a family of four plus a kitty looking for a rental in the basin.

When Rachael Brigham posted that message to a popular Facebook group for Tahoe Truckee locals on March 24, she was desperate. Her landlord dropped the news just a few days before their lease expired on April 1: They were moving to Tahoe from San Francisco and wanted their house back. The Brighams had to find somewhere else to live, as soon as possible.

"We have great references," Brigham said in her Facebook post. "My husband and I have lived in Tahoe for 10+ years."

This past year, as San Franciscans flee the city and move to the mountains, longtime Truckee and Tahoe residents are getting displaced.

Lake Tahoe has thousands of Airbnbs available to rent for a few days, but finding a home to live in full-time and rent long-term is near impossible. In a hot real estate market, many landlords are seizing the opportunity to sell homes they were previously renting to locals. Others are taking advantage of newfound flexibility in the pandemic to move to Lake Tahoe, giving their former tenants the boot. Those residents are struggling to find new places to live.

Tahoe has few long-term rentals available, and with such high demand, rents are going up.

In the past six months, rental prices in Lake Tahoe and Truckee have risen by 25-50%, says Colin Frolich, CEO of Landing Locals, an organization that aims to place local renters with homes to rent. Last year, a three-bedroom home might have rented for $2,000-$2,500. Now, those same homes are renting for closer to $3,000 a month, while larger houses are renting for $5,000 a month, or higher.

Thats pretty astonishing, Frolich says. He keeps a close watch on the regions rental inventory, tracking every Craigslist and Zillow post, and entering them into a database.

According to change of address data obtained by The San Francisco Chronicle (SFGATE and The San Francisco Chronicle are both owned by Hearst but operate independently of each other), of those who moved out of San Francisco last year, more transplants landed in Truckee than any other ZIP code. In August 2020, Truckees main ZIP code saw 130 new households from San Francisco, compared to 11 in August 2019.

Meanwhile, Landing Locals has a database of more than 400 Tahoe and Truckee families and individuals  upwards of 1,000 people total  who are currently looking for a place to rent. About 44% of those households said they were displaced because their old rental house is being sold or their lease is ending, which is often because the property owner wants to move in or needs the house back. Frolich and his wife, Kai, who is the companys chief impact officer, keep in close communication with the people in their database so that when a house becomes available, they can be ready to move in.

Frolich is also working with the town of Truckee on a program that gives second homeowners a financial incentive if they rent their empty houses to locals, and hes hoping to expand the program to other towns and counties in Lake Tahoe. Trying to persuade second homeowners to rent their empty homes to locals is a worthy cause. While hundreds and hundreds of homes are selling on the real estate market, the inventory for rentals is extremely limited, Frolich says.

Why are they being displaced? Well, certainly the rental house being sold is very obvious. The markets booming, Frolich said. Its probably a combination of owners wanting their house back or owners wanting the flexibility of potentially selling or using it themselves.

Since her landlord told her she had to move, Brigham said she has been searching for a new house to rent everywhere: Craigslist, Zillow, property management companies, nonprofits. The few she found online were listed to rent for $5,000 to $8,000, a huge jump from the $2,100 a month they have been paying for their three-bedroom house.

Out of luck in Tahoe, she was now looking at houses in Reno, an hours drive away. But the thought of having to leave her community was heartbreaking. Her daughter had just started in-person classes again at Kings Beach Elementary. Tahoe is their home, a place she fell in love with a decade ago. Brigham met her husband here, and together they built a life. She works for the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation, a philanthropic organization that raises money for the hospital. Her husband is a contractor. Over the years, they've lived in a crowded ski lease, a dingy apartment with the orange shag carpet from the '70s, a slightly nicer apartment near Tahoe City and now, with two young daughters, this house in Tahoe Vista.

When [my landlord] first told us we were going to lose the house and looking at how crazy the market is, the first night I cried so hard. I cried myself to sleep, Brigham said. Its like a mourning process to think youre going to have to leave. Ill be OK one minute, and then Im super down and crying the next minute. Then its like, OK, well get through this. Its denial, depression; its been a rough, rough week and a half.

To make matters worse, when Brigham asked for more time to search for a new house, her landlord sent them a letter from a lawyer with an intent to sue if they werent out of the house by April 30. The Brighams sought local legal advice, which said they were entitled to 60-days notice to move, giving them until June 1.

We dont want to be in a place where were not wanted, Brigham said. We just need time to find somewhere. Its hard right now. Luckily, we are really well known in the community and everybodys looking out for us.

As a last resort, Brigham posted her cry for help on Facebook. Within hours, her post had hundreds of comments, likes, and shares.

The best way to get a place right now is going to be knowing someone who knows someone, Brigham says. If anyone knows anyone local, who wants a family living there long term, thats going to be great tenants and pay rent on time. People know people and they can pass on the message.

For months now, nearly every day, Tahoe Facebook groups are seeing messages just like Brighams from displaced locals who are pleading for help to find somewhere to live. Tahoe doesnt have many resources for stranded tenants in situations like Brighams. With nowhere else to go for help, locals are posting messages to Facebook groups to spread the word, hoping their neighbors and fellow community members might be able to help them.

Truckee resident Allison Keasal posted her own plea to Facebook just a few days ago. Her landlord decided to move from the Bay Area to the townhouse she has been living in with her fiance for four years (hes lived there for seven years). They have to find a new place to live by June, when their lease is up. Their landlord denied their request to stay longer  theyre getting married this summer and its a busy time for work  but he did give Keasal the option to move out earlier. So far, the search isnt looking very promising. The one house Keasal has found for rent in Sierra Meadows is asking for $4,000 a month, twice as much as she is currently paying.

Keasal says that shes disappointed. Shes lived in the area for seven years, and has her own wedding and events planning business called Forget Me Knot. Many of her clients are from the Bay Area. Her fiance works for an architecture firm thats walking distance from their house, and hes working toward his license. She also recently started a networking group for female entrepreneurs in Truckee.

Its disappointing, because weve invested so much into this community, and really given our hearts and souls to it, Keasal said. We make good money. Theres no reason we shouldnt be able to live in the community we work in.

Keasal and Brigham fit into what local housing experts are calling the missing middle. They make too much money to qualify for rental assistance programs or affordable housing. But they dont make enough to pay $4,000 in rent a month, or to compete in Truckees exorbitantly high real estate market. Recently, a new neighbor from the Bay Area moved into a townhouse near Keasals, paying $900 more a month than she does.

For him, its a break in rent, she said. For us, we could live somewhere else, but it would be really hard to pick up my business and try to go somewhere else and do it.

Keasal said shes looking at places in Verdi and Reno, further away from Lake Tahoe, which would mean shed join a long line of Tahoe locals who have given up, moved away, and now commute long distances to work. She posted to Facebook as a last resort.

When youre renting out your place long term, maybe try to rent to someone who is actually in the community and not just someone thats going to be here for a little bit while they dont have to go into the office, she told SFGATE.

One of the big questions that keeps Frolich awake at night is whats going to happen to all these homes that sold for exorbitant prices when all these transplants have to go back to the office in the Bay Area. Will those homes sit empty? Will they become Airbnbs? If they do become long-term rentals, Frolich thinks the rents will continue to be higher than local wages can afford. Tahoes economy is heavily dependent on tourism, which pays much less than the Bay Areas tech industry.

Its a big question mark, Frolich said. Is this going to be what we are going to see with this new wave of second homeowners that, one, displaced local renters, and two, probably arent going to return the house to the rental pool in the same way. Or if they do, its going to be way over what people can afford to pay that are locally employed here  the people in our database.

Some of the regions biggest employers, like Tahoe Forest Hospital, are working with the Truckee Tahoe Workforce Housing Agency to build places for their employees to live. That effort is moving ahead, currently in the process of identifying parcels that have potential to build, says Emily Vitas, executive director of Truckee Tahoe Workforce Housing Agency. But building workforce housing is a long-range solution. For the short-term, there arent many resources besides Landing Locals to help people who don't qualify for affordable housing and need places to live right now.

Word of mouth really does still seem to be the number one way for finding housing, Vitas said.

Brigham still has hope. The morning before we spoke, someone had just posted on another Facebook group, Bad Moms of Truckee Tahoe, about a house available for rent in Kings Beach. Its a tiny two bedroom, one bath  smaller than the house she currently lives in. But the rent is right: $2,200. Its a place that shed never find on Craigslist, but when she logged onto Facebook, many of her friends had tagged her in the post, alerting her to the find.

I woke up this morning and it was like, Rachael! Rachael! Rachael! she said. A lady posted. Im actually talking to her now. Its a house just up the street.

The house wont be available for long.
But we cant  and wont  surrender to anarchy. Of course, what appears to be the official government policy of negotiating with bandits and criminals in one part of the country, while demonising and shelling them in other parts, has emboldened criminality. It must stop.

There was a BBC News story in February that caught me between laughter and bemusement. The news channel reported, in very strong language matched only by the alarming reactions of the persons interviewed, a spate of stabbings across parts of south London that left at least one dead.

Its sad that anyone should take the law into their own hands, and sadder still that even one innocent person should suffer injury or die from such senseless attacks.

One of the law enforcement officers interviewed, Ade Adelekan, obviously of Nigerian roots, described the south London incidents as shocking and went on to say that the absolutely horrific news would devastate our community.

In comparison with what has been happening in Nigeria in recent times, Adelekans response to the south London attacks would appear to be outrage that should have been reserved for two-fighting. His misery, however genuinely concerning, would not make it to the Sitrep of the local police authorities in Nigeria, much less become a matter of interest at the state or national level.

Violence now registers in its grossest numbers and scale, and would become instant national news if it affects one or two people of power and influence. The country is sliding into anarchy and the harder you try to run from headlines of deaths and violence and destruction, the faster the news catches up with you.

Even social media, with its incredible capacity for the banal and the bizarre, couldnt make up the heartrending wave after wave of utterly distressing news of violence in recent times.

The South-East, home to one of the three largest ethnic nationalities in Nigeria and the theatre of a brutal civil war that left over two million dead, has been facing something worse than a crisis in the last few weeks: Its been at war, again. Between January 8 and March 22, nine police officers were murdered, 12 police stations burnt down and three checkpoints attacked and vandalised by gunmen.

But that was only small potato compared with the horrific events that would follow. In two straight days, gunmen attacked and burnt down two major police facilities and a correctional centre in Owerri, Imo State, and released over 1,800 inmates.

The attacks were bad enough. The audacious manner in which they were carried out makes Syria look like a haven of peace. According to reports, the gunmen announced themselves with a carnival near the Government House in the wee hours, chanting war songs, shooting into the air, and generally making merry.

Nothing justifies the brazen attacks on police facilities and policemen or the freeing of inmates. Nothing. But it doesnt matter how many times Buhari replaces the head of the Police, until he is prepared to make more than cosmetic changes, until he is prepared to deal with the root causes of spiraling violence

For 30 minutes while the madness lasted, no one, that is, no state official, stirred. Not the police whose headquarters shares a wall with the Government House, where this drama was taking place; not Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, who only a few weeks earlier deployed busloads of armed policemen in an internecine war with his predecessor and political rival; not one single security official stirred.

After the rehearsal in front of the Government House, which the gunmen could have recorded and shared on social media if they wanted to, they then proceeded to attack the Police headquarters and the correctional facility.

In the morning, the governor, the Police high command and every single public official who should have been hiding in shame, rushed to the crime scene chewing microphones in a rehearsed show of pretentious rage and improvised shock and surprise. The law, they promised, would take its course  that is, after the next mayhem, and the next one

Yet, to send a message that they were not to be trifled with, the gunmen attacked another Police station in the state within 24 hours. This attack came even after President Muhammadu Buhari replaced Police Inspector General, Mohammed Adamu one month ahead of schedule. Weeks after Buhari said never again, following the kidnap of hundreds of students from their dormitories in the North of the country, trouble came back with its own shade.

The new Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has his work cut out for him. He is taking the reins at a time when the reputation of the Force and public confidence in it are at their lowest.

Theres hardly any search that wont turn up the Force among one of the worlds worst, either for corruption or human rights abuses, ranking it in some instances, with forces in DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Haiti and Pakistan. And yet this was a force ranked among the best in international peacekeeping in the past.

At the heart of the #ENDSARS protests, which nearly brought Buharis government to its knees last year, was the legend of police brutality and corruption, with stories ranging from chilling human rights abuses, to corrupt recruitment and tropes of how you can rent the force or hire arms for less than a pipers fee. The rot is deep, very deep. And its beyond the missionary zeal of any new appointee.

Nothing justifies the brazen attacks on police facilities and policemen or the freeing of inmates. Nothing. But it doesnt matter how many times Buhari replaces the head of the Police, until he is prepared to make more than cosmetic changes, until he is prepared to deal with the root causes of spiraling violence, including the deepening feelings of malicious exclusion, failure of intelligence and proliferation of illegal arms, things would get worse.

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A 2016 Oxfam report put the estimated legal and illegal small arms and light weapons circulating in Nigeria at about two million. But the number, according to former head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar, has tripled in five years, reaching six million.

Crime is crime. Criminals should be sussed out, whoever they are and wherever they are found, and punished as a deterrent. What happened in Imo is inexcusable. The only way to prevent it happening again, whether in Imo or elsewhere in the country, is to find the perpetrators and punish them before ethnic politics inflames the tragedy.

The unraveling of Libya apparently accounts for some of the proliferation, but no one can say for sure how many are pouring in through the porous borders and how many are hired for a fee by rogue elements in the security forces.

And then there are the soft issues, which also appear to be just as deadly. You can tell how serious these soft issues are in how the debate has drifted from finding the culprits of the Imo attacks and punishing them, to name-calling and finger-pointing.

Crime is crime. No one who attacks and burns down a police station and frees inmates should go unpunished, whether they are members of the Eastern Security Network, IPOB or any of their franchises.

The problem is that politicians have been captured by the same mobs, gang leaders and ethnic warlords they raised to win elections  the monsters they nursed over the years: those in the South-West are willing captives of Sunday Igboho; those in the South-East kowtow to Nnamdi Kanu; and those in the North take peace offering to Abubakar Shekau and his murderous gang of Boko Haram, bandits and herdsmen. Our politicians are done for. Unfortunately, were paying the price.

When President Buhari, who instead of showing the way with the tough, no-nonsense firmness that endeared him to Nigerians in his earlier life, choose instead to act like a captive of the mob, he lost the chance to stop the problem from escalating.

With career politicians muddying the waters ahead of 2023, the perception that Buharis government takes sides with the partisan mob will only compound our collective misery.

But we cant  and wont  surrender to anarchy. Of course, what appears to be the official government policy of negotiating with bandits and criminals in one part of the country, while demonising and shelling them in other parts, has emboldened criminality. It must stop.

Crime is crime. Criminals should be sussed out, whoever they are and wherever they are found, and punished as a deterrent. What happened in Imo is inexcusable. The only way to prevent it happening again, whether in Imo or elsewhere in the country, is to find the perpetrators and punish them before ethnic politics inflames the tragedy.

Crime thrives on indulgence. That was what the south London policeman saw. Buhari must show, by his clear unambiguous choices, that his government is not feeding anarchy.

Azu Ishiekwene editor-in-chief of LEADERSHIP.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Trade Commission and a big group of U.S. states asked a federal court on Wednesday to deny Facebook Inc's request to dismiss major antitrust lawsuits filed against the social media giant in December.

The FTC, in its filing, said Facebook bought photo-sharing app Instagram because Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg believed it was "a large and viable competitor" and purchased the messaging app WhatsApp to neutralize a nascent threat. The FTC has asked the court to order Facebook to sell those assets.

The states, which had filed a separate antitrust lawsuit against Facebook, said in its filing: "Deploying a buy-or-bury scheme of predatory acquisitions and exclusionary conduct, Facebook successfully squashes, suppresses, and deters competition, entrenching its monopoly power to this day."

Facebook had asked the court to dismiss the two lawsuits, alleging that they were brought "in the fraught environment of relentless criticism of Facebook for matters entirely unrelated to antitrust concerns."

It also said that the states, in their case, failed to show that they were harmed by Facebook and that they waited too long.

The FTC and states accused Facebook of breaking antitrust law to keep smaller competitors at bay and snapping up rivals, like Instagram for $1 billion in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion.

All told, the federal government and states filed five lawsuits against Facebook and Alphabet Inc's Google last year following bipartisan outrage over use and misuse of social media clout both in the economy and the political sphere.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Building on anti-poverty success, China turns to rural vitalization

Xinhua) 08:48, April 08, 2021

A woman poses for a photo amid cole flowers in Longquan Village of Xiushui Township in Anzhou of Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Building on its experience and success in the poverty fight, China is ready to take on a new challenge.

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- From launching massive reforms to adopting targeted alleviation measures, China has explored a unique course to end extreme poverty and now that a complete victory has been secured, the country is rolling up its sleeves for a new mission to propel rural vitalization.

The world's largest developing country has achieved the complete eradication of extreme poverty, raising more than 770 million people out of poverty since its reform and opening up in the late 1970s.

According to the World Bank standard, this figure accounted for more than 70 percent of the global total over the same period, said a white paper released Tuesday by the State Council Information Office.

A report titled "Chinese Poverty Alleviation Studies: A Political Economy Perspective" released by New China Research, the think tank of Xinhua News Agency, has summarized foreign experts' views on the lessons the world can learn from China's success into the "Five Ds": Determined Leadership, Detailed Blueprint, Development Oriented, Data-based Governance and Decentralized Delivery.

Building on its experience and success in the poverty fight, China is ready to take on a new challenge.

"Removing the label of extreme poverty is not the end, but the beginning of a new life and a new journey," the white paper stressed, vowing to continue to consolidate the results of poverty elimination, dovetail new measures with rural vitalization, and pool more resources to energize the countryside.

In an important move to enable a smooth transition into rural vitalization, China in February unveiled a new government body -- the National Administration for Rural Vitalization -- to shift its policy focus to further boosting rural areas.

Aerial photo taken on June 18, 2019 shows a road on Banshan Mountain in Wuxiang County of north China's Shanxi Province. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

China will roll out more than 30 policies to ensure the resources leveraged for intensive poverty elimination are redirected toward an extensive drive for rural vitalization, Wang Zhengpu, head of the administration, told a press conference on Tuesday.

China is reviewing, adjusting, optimizing and improving existing support policies for poverty alleviation, said Wang, pledging to keep policies consistent and stable as part of efforts to prevent people from falling back into poverty.

Official data show that the final 98.99 million impoverished rural residents living under the current poverty line were all lifted out of poverty over the past eight years. All of the 832 impoverished counties and 128,000 impoverished villages were also removed from the poverty list.

China's counties have been given a five-year grace period from the day they emerged from poverty, during which they will continue to enjoy the main support policies for poverty alleviation.

To prevent any relapses, China has put in place a long-term mechanism for dynamic monitoring of any trends indicating a return to poverty and regular checks on key groups, according to Wang.

Follow-up support will be strengthened for the relocated population, with targeted efforts to develop industries, create jobs and improve infrastructure and public services.

While ensuring those who emerged from poverty see no setbacks, the government work report this year has pledged to advance rural vitalization on all fronts and improve the new urbanization strategy during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

By 2035, China will have achieved basic socialist modernization. With decisive progress in rural vitalization by that time, agriculture and rural areas will be modernized and fundamentally restructured, according to the white paper.

The country will become a great modern socialist country in every dimension by 2050, realizing the Second Centenary Goal and fully vitalizing the countryside.

"At that time, China will have strong agriculture, a beautiful and vitalized countryside, and prosperous farmers, enjoying across-the-board progress in society and the economy, and thriving endeavors in every sector," the white paper said.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Red Hat announced that it has named Dirk-Peter (DP) van Leeuwen as senior vice president and general manager of North America Commercial Sales. Marjet Andriesse, who joined Red Hat as vice president of Sales in Asia Pacific in October 2020, succeeds van Leeuwen in leading the companys Asia Pacific region as vice president and general manager.

The appointments are effective immediately and both van Leeuwen and Andriesse will report to Larry Stack, Red Hats executive vice president of Global Sales and Services.

Marjet Andriesse, vice president and general manager, Asia Pacific, Red Hat, said, Since joining Red Hat, I have been impressed with the dedication Red Hatters show every day and their desire to serve our customers. We have shown the power of open source in driving software innovation and our customers rely on us to guide them as they embrace an open hybrid cloud strategy. Im humbled to step into this role and am ready to lead the team into the next phase as we look to continue delivering innovative technologies to the industry.

Since joining Red Hat in 2004, van Leeuwen has been instrumental in enabling customer success and scaling the business internationally. Van Leeuwen played a key role in establishing Red Hats operations in the Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg), and central and eastern Europe. In 2009, he was appointed to lead sales, marketing and operations in the Asia Pacific region. Under van Leeuwens leadership, Red Hats customer base in the region has grown significantly, helping to establish Red Hat as the open hybrid cloud technology leader, both in established markets where modernization and transformation are a business imperative and in emerging markets, where innovation is driven by agility. In his new role, van Leeuwen will build on this experience, further driving digital transformation as leader of Red Hats commercial business in North America, including sales, consulting and channel activities. Van Leeuwen plans to relocate to North America from Singapore in the coming months.

Andriesse has quickly established herself as a respected and experienced sales leader since joining Red Hat in 2020, prioritizing customer satisfaction and team collaboration to deliver results. With more than 25 years of broad industry experience, she has a strong track record of success in leading teams in global and regional roles at organizations across Europe and Asia, including expansions into new geographical markets and transformation following an acquisition. Most recently, Andriesse was managing director of APAC at Telstra. Prior to Telstra, she held senior leadership positions at Randstad. In her new role, Andriesse will be instrumental in driving the next phase of growth for Red Hat in the Asia-Pacific region and leading initiatives to enable customer success with open hybrid cloud technology.

Dirk-Peter van Leeuwen, senior vice president and general manager, North America Commercial Sales, Red Hat, said, It makes me proud to see how much we have grown the Asia Pacific business during my tenure and still see such a big opportunity in front of us. Working collaboratively, weve found a common purpose and were helping our customers navigate the changing technology landscape. Im honored to take on this new role and work with the North America team as our customers embrace open source technologies and drive innovation.

Larry Stack, executive vice president of Global Sales and Services, Red Hat, said, DPs leadership and strategic thinking have fueled our growth in Asia Pacific and helped turn Red Hat into a truly global enterprise. He will bring that same passion for open source and open ways of working to his new role in North America and will continue to help our customers solve their IT challenges. Marjets balance of proven sales leadership and industry expertise makes her the right person to pick up the mantle from DP. This is an exciting time for Red Hat and we have the right leaders in place to help our customers succeed.
LONDON and BENGALURU, India, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced a strategic long-term collaboration with ArcelorMittal, the world's leading steel and mining company. ArcelorMittal has chosen Infosys to help accelerate the company's digital transformation journey and enable next-generation application management and business process management (BPM) services for ArcelorMittal Europe.

Through this engagement, Infosys will work with ArcelorMittal Europe, share best practices around next-generation application management services to optimize, stabilize, and transform ArcelorMittal's IT landscape. Infosys will also establish a robust, state-of-the-art Business Process Management (BPM) service in ArcelorMittal Europe's Business Center of Excellence (BCoE) shared services center. The collaboration will further strengthen Infosys' presence in Europe and will enable Infosys to maximise synergies across the ArcelorMittal Group worldwide.

Jasmeet Singh, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Manufacturing, Infosys, said, "The need to accelerate digital transformation has never been more urgent in the manufacturing sector. We are pleased to partner with ArcelorMittal and help them stay one step ahead of disruption. Leveraging our global delivery model, right shoring, and robust BPM offerings, we are committed to driving efficiency, bolstering operational excellence, and establishing future-ready services in line with ArcelorMittal's growth strategies. We look forward to a long, fruitful partnership with the group and are excited to help them navigate the next."

Commenting on the partnership, Geert Van Poelvoorde, CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe, said, "We are delighted to partner with Infosys on our digital transformation journey. Infosys not only shares our vision and values but also brings agility, delivery excellence, and willingness to walk the extra mile to ensure mutual success. We are confident that this collaboration will mean our employees and associates are equipped with powerful new tools that enhance our competitiveness and fuel our innovation."

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements mentioned in this release concerning our future growth prospects, financial expectations and plans for navigating the COVID-19 impact on our employees, clients and stakeholders are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding COVID-19 and the effects of government and other measures seeking to contain its spread, risks related to an economic downturn or recession in India, the United States and other countries around the world, changes in political, business, and economic conditions, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company unless it is required by law.

SOURCE Infosys
The first sign was four low-flying turkey vultures. The second sign was the smell.

As I traveled through the ravine, I knew I would find some dead animals.

I walk into the lush green fields near an opening to the Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve where a dozen or so cattle graze, their black and white faces side-eyeing the new visitor traipsing through the field. The hills connect at a jagged ravine, muddy with the collection of rain and pocked with hoofprints.

Ravines, in addition to collecting water and the plants that enjoy the moisture, tend to collect skeletons. Following the vultures, I come upon a lonesome cow skull, minus the jawbones, yellow with grease. A bit farther and the vultures were getting lower, and two sat on a black, unmoving mass.

The eyeless carcass of an Hereford-Angus cross lay partially hidden, but in the nearby artichoke thistle, there was something that the vultures were done with. I recognized the pattern, bars of yellow bone laid evenly in the form of a rib cage. The greasy cow skeleton was complete, with ribs, pelvis, spine, legs and even mandibles submerged in earth. Just the skull was missing.

Over the course of the next few hours, I found two more skulls and the scattered, sun-bleached bones of maybe a dozen more cattle. After years exploring the shadows of Mount Diablo, Ive found the remains of hundreds of animals, including deer, coyotes, boars, skunks, squirrels, mice and raccoons, but cow skeletons are the most prevalent.

I spend a lot of time bone hunting. Bones are plentiful in the East Bay simply because bones come from dead animals, and dead animals come from live animals, and live animals live in places with nature. The bones from cows are easy to find because they are big, and they are big because they come from big animals. Sorry these answers arent more beguiling, but the rest of the story is.

Kristin Hugo

Simply put, theres a lot of living cattle in the East Bay. If youre wondering why so many places in the area are called Something Ranch, its because ranching here predates much of the areas development. Some of the very first cowboys, vaqueros, wrangled cattle in the Bay Area hills for the Spanish mission system, and today, ranchers monitor the land.

Picture if you will the 1780s and the early 1800s, explains local history writer Amelia Sue Marshall, who wrote a book called "East Bay Hills." [Spanish Missionaries] would force Indigenous Ohlone families into the mission system and try to indoctrinate them into Spanish, Western ways of living. The men would work as unpaid cowboys, vaqueros. They would run cattle over an enormous expanse of territory.

The beef fed the missions. Over time, ranchers sold their land to parks, but some continued grazing their cattle there by leasing it.

Today, the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) maintains about 125,000 acres, 85,000 of which they lease to ranchers for livestock. With about 50 tenants grazing about 6,000 cattle on multiple use land, hikers are bound to run into some bovines. They chew cud languidly and eye you suspiciously as you pass. Theyre perfectly safe with a wide berth and respectful distance, but if you get too close they will stomp and grunt. If you dont heed those warnings, it could be worse.

Whether livestock grazing is good or bad for public lands is controversial, and it depends on how well managed the practice is. Cattle ranching has been described as an environmental partnership, but Point Reyes ranching has been said to be incompatible with wildlife. The Center for Biological Diversity is against cattle grazing on public land generally.

The EBRPD, however, argues the benefits to the park are significant. When colonists drove bison to near-extinction, there were few grass-eaters around to mow down the plants. So the cattle, occupying a similar role to the absent bison, munch down the tall grasses, making it harder for flames to climb a fuel ladder. If we remove the fuel ladder, the fire cant go up from the ground into the trees, said Aileen Theile, fire chief of EBRPD.

If done correctly, that same munching can give desirable plants the opportunity to thrive and increase biodiversity, said Dina Robertson, EBRPD wildland vegetation program manager. Some wildlife prefer land after it has been cow-grazed, too, according to EBRPD.

Kristin Hugo

While there are scores of bovines, dead and alive, in both regional and state park land all over the Bay Area, on most public lands, they are not for collecting. Bone collectors run into the same problems as wild plant and mushroom foragers  its pretty hard to find a place where you can collect just about anything without violating any laws or park rules.

The EBRPD has rules against taking anything. Collecting roadkill is also illegal in California for now. There are many, many wild animals that are illegal to have in almost any case, such as even a shed feather of a migratory bird.

Most of the time, I take pictures and videos for TikTok. To find bones for photographing, its usually necessary to go off the trail, leaving behind the paths that humans frequent and animals avoid. There are also ecological questions about going off-trail. Mount Diablo State Park and the California Department of Parks and Recreation safety tips suggest not going off-trail. The National Park Service considers going off the trail poor etiquette.

However, assuming you are careful, courteous, safe and follow signage and leave no trace practices, you could do some exploring  some outdoor experts and advocates even encourage it when done correctly.

For me, bone hunting is one of the most rewarding and realistic ways to experience nature. There is no ticket you can buy to The Bones of The East Bay and there is never a guarantee. Bone hunting is an adventure. There are broken and healed radii, there are piles of mouse bones under owl homes. There are red skulls that absorbed the iron-rich nutrients where they lay. There are holes in noses where the shooter hit the wrong part of the skull and had to shoot again. There are deer who died in velvet, their antlers soft and rounded at the ends. There is history, ecology, biology, mystery, nutrients, adventure and value in bone hunting.

So, I go into ravines and follow vultures.

Kristin Hugo is a freelance science journalist based in the East Bay.
UPDATE: Honoring a fallen hero in Phillipsburg (PHOTOS)

Phillipsburg laid to rest a devoted father, beloved husband and committed police officer on Thursday.

Phillipsburg police officer Dominic Belcastro died Saturday, April 3, in an off-duty motorcycle crash on Memorial Parkway in Phillipsburg. He was 38. Authorities said Belcastro, of Stewartsville, had the right of way during the traffic accident.

His casket was accompanied to Walters Park by his former squad car, members of his department, emergency workers, bagpipers and motorcycles, including the Bethlehem Police Department motorcycle unit.

Belcastro was a Phillipsburg native who leaves behind a wife, Kristen, and two daughters.

Phillipsburg police chaplain Richard Gelson remembered Belcastro as a battle-trained U.S. Army soldier who served in Bosnia, a dedicated police officer and also a goof.

He was a goof, but he was not a goof because he needed to call attention to himself, Gelson said. At heart he was too humble for that. He was humble because he was grounded, not in his prideful self assessment, but he was grounded in powerful eternal truths.

The funeral was punctuated by a flyover by a New Jersey State Police helicopter and a 21-gun salute by the Allentown Police Department. Dozens of officers from across New Jersey stood at attention as his flag-draped casket was carried to the park pavilion.

Donations to benefit his family can be made payable to PBA Local 56 and may be delivered to the Noto-Wynkoop funeral home or mailed to PBA Local 56, P.O. Box 67, Phillipsburg, N.J. 08865.

A online fundraiser in his memory was set up by a fellow officer. Belcastro graduated Phillipsburg High School in 2000, then joined the U.S. Army, his obituary says.

He joined the Phillipsburg Police Department in 2012, the obituary says.

End of watch, April 3, 2021, said a police dispatcher, marking the end of Belcastros career and life.

While the hearts of those who loved him are filled with grief over his loss, Gelson urged his family and friends to remember what made Belcastro larrger-than-life and passionate about serving his community and his family.

Like water slowly cutting away around and through rocks, these memories will cut through and around the deepest grief, Gelson said.

Phillipsburg police officer Dominic Belcastro died April 3, 2021, in an off duty motorcycle crash.Courtesy Noto-Wynkoop funeral home

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
Peter Dutton during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House on December 10, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Chinese Media Takes Aim at Australias New Hawkish Defence Minister

Newly minted Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton has asserted that his main objective will be to protect Australias sovereignty and national interests after a state-controlled Chinese newspaper criticised his appointment.

The Chinese regime mouthpiece, The Global Times, claimed in an editorial that Dutton was a hawkish and extreme populist political leader with a strong tendency of racism.

The editorial said Dutton would see Australia take further actions to cooperate with the United States to stir up South China Sea issues.

In response to the attack, Dutton said: I think theyre half right.

Well work very closely with the United States because they are our most important ally, but we dont do that in an antagonistic way; we do that to protect our sovereignty and national interests, Dutton told Sky News Australia.

We dont support the militarisation of ports. We dont support any foreign country trying to exert influence here via cyber or other means. We dont want to see conflict in our region, he added.

Duttons appointment to the defence portfolio came about following a cabinet reshuffle that was sparked by allegations of sexual misconduct in Parliament.

Defence analysts have applauded his appointment, saying he would bring urgency and drive to the job, which will involve overseeing and implementing the Australian governments $270 billion Strategic Update designed to bolster the countrys military strike power in the face of increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.

I think he is going to grab the Defence Strategic Update and realise the urgency of delivery, and push Defence to do a whole lot of things  that arent happening at the speed required, Michael Shoebridge of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute told The Australian.

The minister struck a more conciliatory tone regarding China during his first days in office, however.

All of us want to see emerging super-nations like China and existing ones like the United States work closely together, he said.

Obviously, China has held long-term ambitions in relation to Taiwan, and we want to make sure there is peace in our region, that we can work in a collaborative way with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)with those that run Chinaand make sure at the same time we can work with those in our region.

The Global Times followed up his interview with an op-ed, pointing out that Dutton referred to the ruling regime as the CCP and not China.

This is a subtle difference that reflects Duttons own conservative political stance and ideological bias against China. And China needs to pay attention to this, it said.

Bilateral relations took a dive last year following an eight-month economic coercion campaign by the CCP against Australia that targeted key export industries, including coal, beef, wine, barley, lobster, timber, lamb, and cotton.

The campaign was in response to Foreign Minister Marise Paynes calls for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19 in April 2020.

The value of affected exports to China was around $25 billion in 2019, according to the Lowy Institute.

By January 2020, that value had diminished to $5 billion. However, exporters have been able to find alternative markets, while iron ore exports to China have boomed, helping Australia record the fourth-highest monthly trade surplus on record in December.
I am ready to quit from this election even today if KCR makes a public appeal to my party high command to leave the seat to TRS in the bypoll, says Jana.  DC file photo

Nagarjunasagar: Kunduru Jana Reddy, the Congress heavyweight and a veteran seven-time MLA from Nagarjunasagar (known as Chalakurthy constituency until 2009), is facing the toughest battle of his political career spanning nearly four decades from two new political entrants -- from the TRS and the BJP --in the Nagarjunasagar Assembly bypoll slated for April 17. He was first elected as MLA from TDP in 1983. Barring the 1994 and 2018 assembly polls, Jana won as MLA for seven terms and served as minister for 17 years, which is a record of sorts in Telugu politics.

Jana Reddy is depending on his clean image to win votes this time, apart from the sympathy factor that he lost the 2018 elections. He is giving an impetus to the campaign by reeling out the development done by him as an MLA and minister. He is also challenging the ruling TRS that he would sit at home without campaigning if they are willing to do the same and let the voters decide who is better, based on who did what so far.

In an exclusive interview to Deccan Chronicle at his Nagarjunasagar residence, Jana Reddy says why it is important for people to elect Congress nominees in the bypoll, and adds there is need to save democracy in Telangana and check the abuse of money power in elections, which has become a norm under TRS rule for the past six years.

Q: Why do you offer to contest this bypoll without campaigning and are challenging the ruling TRS to do the same?

A: This is just a bypoll. The Congress will neither form the government if it wins this seat nor will a Congress government fall if it loses this seat. For TRS too, this theory holds good. The outcome of this bypoll will have no impact on the TRS government. Under this scenario, let us remain at home and leave the decision to voters.

TRS says they have developed Nagarjunasagar constituency during their six-year rule and that I did nothing in the last three decades. Let voters decide who did what. In the name of campaigning, the TRS is deploying a large contingent of leaders and ministers. They are luring voters with money, liquor and other inducements. When they claim that all the development was done by TRS,where is the need for all this hungama?

Q: But campaigning in elections is the right and responsibility of political parties.

A: I totally agree. Unfortunately, the TRS had completely commercialised the elections ever since it assumed office in 2014. We never witnessed such abuse of money power and government machinery in elections as is being

witnessed now.

Q: What were your achievements as the seven-time MLA of Nagarjunasagar?

A: I worked for the development of the constituency and succeeded in solving many issues faced by the people. My constituency is surrounded by forests and irrigation projects. Getting forest and environmental approvals to take up development programmes is a herculean task. Despite this, I secured permissions to lay BT roads extending over 975km, more than what KCR did for his constituency. I could secure approval for a drinking water scheme worth Rs25 crore. Entire land in Nagarjunasagar was under purview of PWD but I helped in 1983 to provide ownership to the residents of 2,000 quarters at a nominal payment of Rs 100 on Nagarjunasagar.

Due to my efforts, the penalties imposed on the people under the pretext of unauthorised constructions were also cancelled by the state government in 1985. A residential school was set up at Nagarjuna Sagar about 35 years ago. Of the three residential schools set up in united AP then,

one came up in Nagarjuna Sagar due to my efforts.

Q: Yet, you were defeated in 2018 election?

A: As a ruling party, the TRS indulged in gross misuse of power to defeat me in 2018. They went to the extent of threatening beneficiaries of welfare schemes that their names will be removed from

the list of beneficiaries if the TRS candidate was not elected. Despite this, I lost with a small margin of 7,700 votes. I polled 76,000 votes and TRS got 84,0000 votes. This is no mean achievement.

Q: But opposition parties say you are afraid of campaigning as people would pose questions on lack of development in Nagarjunasagar during your stints as MLA and minister.

A: TRS leaders are uttering lies on the lack of development of Nagarjunasagar during my tenure. I am ready for an open debate with anyone on this issue.

Q: TRS campaigns that its welfare schemes and development programmes have reached every household.

A: This is yet another lie. TRS welfare schemes are nothing but the continuation of the Congress government's welfare schemes which also reached every household. It's the Congress government that introduced pensions for the poor, free power to agriculture, crop loan waiver, Arogyasri, fee reimbursement, scholarhsips. What KCR did was that he simply renamed those schemes. He failed to implement even the renamed schemes properly. What he did new was Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima. But he stopped all other financial assistance, subsidy schemes to farmers like interest-free loans, the pavala vaddi loans, and also the Rs 5 lakh compensation for families of farmers who committed suicide, and he did this under the guise of the Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima. The end result is farmers are getting the same financial assistance now as what they used to get during the Congress terms. Congress built new irrigation projects in Nalgonda district. I dare KCR to show at least one new project he launched and completed in Nalgonda district or elsewhere in state.

Q: The ruling party argues you were rejected in 2018 and Nagarjunasagar people elected Nomula Narasimhaiah for five years until 2023. Due to untimely death of Narasimhaiah, this bypoll came and it would have been ideal for Jana Reddy to leave the seat to Nomula's family instead of contesting again against the wishes of the people?

A: I am ready to quit from this election even today if KCR makes a public appeal to my party high command to leave the seat to TRS in the bypoll. I made this proposal earlier also but there was no response. If KCR makes this appeal, I will strive to convince my party high command to allow me withdraw from this bypoll.
Immediately after Samuel William Davidson mowed down a group of children on a Sydney footpath, killing four of them, he was resigned to being jailed.

On Friday Davidson is expected to find out how long he will spend in prison when he's sentenced at Parramatta District Court.

The 31-year-old had been drinking, consumed drugs and was speeding when his ute mounted a kerb at Oatlands, in Sydney's northwest, on February 1 last year.

The children had been walking to a supermarket to buy ice-creams.

Samuel William Davidson (pictured) pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the injuries caused to the other children, including a boy who has suffered permanent brain damage

Davidson pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Veronique and Sienna Abdallah, 8, and her siblings Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13 (Abdullah siblings pictured)

After the crash, Davidson appeared distressed and was heard saying: 'What have I done?... I have killed people... I am going to jail.'

Davidson, a professional truck driver, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Sienna Abdallah, eight, her siblings Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13, and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11.

He has also pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the injuries caused to three other children, including a boy who has suffered permanent brain damage.

The court was told Davidson was travelling up to 133km/h in a 50km/h zone and was clocking about 111km/h at the time of impact.

Veronique Sakr was hit and killed together with three of her cousins by an alleged drunk driver in Oatlands, in Sydney's west

Danny Abdallah (back right) said during sentencing hearings that Davidson 'ran my children over like a lawn mower would cut grass'

He'd also driven erratically, swerving across the road and went through a roundabout on the wrong side before losing control of the ute.

Police said he had a blood alcohol reading of 0.15 - three times the legal limit - and had MDMA in his system.

Danny Abdallah, father of three of the children who were killed, told the court in March that while he blamed Davidson, he also blamed the culture that says consuming excessive drugs and alcohol was good.

'This culture needs to stop, because of this culture I buried half of my children,' Mr Abdallah said.

In her statement Leila Abdallah said she, her husband and the parents of Veronique had forgiven Davidson, referring to their Christian faith and their hope he will find God and repent.
Two Rhode Island lawmakers introduced legislation that would ban police from using chokeholds and require body-worn cameras for officers in every department statewide, among other things.

The bill proposed by Sen. Jonathon Acosta and Rep. Jose Batista, both Democrats, also requires that police intervene in and report severe misconduct by fellow officers, and opens the door to personal liability for officers who engage in willful misconduct.

It is called the Rishod K. Gore Justice in Policing Act of 2021, after a man who was assaulted by a Providence officer during an arrest a year ago.

This bill aims to usher in once-in-a-generation reform to our policing practices, while providing to Mr. Gore the opportunity to reclaim the narrative and turn this horrific event into a positive for the community, Batista, of Providence, said in a statement.

Batista is the former executive director of the Providence External Review Authority, the Providence Police Departments civilian oversight board, who was fired after publicly releasing body camera video of Gores arrest.

Sidney Wordell, executive director of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association, told The Providence Journal the organization is opposed to the elimination of qualified immunity, which protects officers from personal liability in suits alleging civil rights violations.

Theres already provisions that if an officer does a criminal act in the scope of their work they can be held liable for doing that, the retired Little Compton chief said.

The association is already working with the state attorney generals office to craft a statewide body camera proposal, he said.

The chiefs organization last June, in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, announced its own 20 promises and reforms it said would ensure transparency and maintain human rights.

The introduction of the bill is simply the first step in the process. It has to be heard in committee, heard and passed in both chambers, then signed by the governor before it becomes law.

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

Topics Legislation Law Enforcement
A family has shared the incredible story of how they were reunited with their beloved tinny named the 'love boat' after it was swept away by floods.

Brad and Leah Gow from the small town of Telegraph Point on the Mid North Coast were devastated when their community was destroyed by floods in late March.

The tinny was among many possessions that were swept from the back of their home into the river, but the boat held the most sentimental value.

The beloved tinny (pictured) named the 'love boat' travelled 70km along the river before it washed up at a family members property in Port Macquarie

The tinny held sentimental value for the family as Brad Gow (right) proposed to his wife Leah (left) in the boat five years ago

Mr Gow had proposed to his wife in the boat surprising her with a ring and champagne in 2016, before they named it 'the love boat'.

Days later Mr Gow decided to pay his uncle a visit at his property on a canal in Port Macquarie, about a half an hour drive from Telegraph Point, when he saw the boat in his yard.

'My uncle was describing all the types of things that had washed up and I said, 'It's going to be a bit of a treasure hunt with all the things around,' he told the ABC.

Mr Gow recognised the rope on the front of the vessel and the sticker on the front.

'Next thing you know it was ours, I couldn't believe it  I just thought how much of a fluke it was', he said.

'For me just to sort of stumble upon it myself was absolutely crazy  I did go and buy two lotto tickets that day.'

Mr Gow said he was shocked the vessel had survived the precarious route from his home to the Port Macquarie property.

Mr Gow noticed a familiar rope hanging off the front of the tinny as well as a familiar rental sticker that confirmed it was his 'love boat'

Mr Gow said he could hardly believe it when he found the beloved tinny washed up at his uncle's property a few days later

He estimates the boat had travelled around 70 kilometres along the rivers many twists and bends, and is surprised it didn't end up in the ocean.

The boat has been renamed 'The Boomerang' in honour of its safe return to the Gow family, who have said it was a much-needed silver lining amidst the chaos.

Leah Gow said she felt total disbelief when her husband said he had found the boat.

But she also felt guilty her family had lost so little in the floods and was returned such a special memory, while next-door her neighbours had lost everything.

A GoFundMe page has raised $25,000 for the young family who are described as 'a huge part of the Telegraph Point community'.

The money will go towards rebuilding their home, replacing vehicles and basic essentials such as beds, clothes, shoes and school items for the children.

Around 40 per cent of Australia's population of 25 million was affected by the severe flooding which touched every mainland state or territory but one.

At least 17,000 damages claims have been lodged worth about A$254.2 million, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.
People wearing face masks pass by a banner displaying precautions against the coronavirus on a street in Seoul, April 5. AP



South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases hit the highest in three months Thursday amid rising concerns that the country's vaccination campaign may hit a snag due to safety concerns over AstraZeneca jabs, possibly making the targeted herd immunity by November elusive.



The country reported 700 more COVID-19 cases, including 674 local infections, raising the total caseload to 107,598, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. It marked the highest level since 870 cases on Jan. 7 and a rise from 668 on Wednesday.



The country added two more deaths from COVID-19, increasing the total to 1,758. The fatality rate came to 1.63 percent.



Authorities have been grappling with the rising number of new cases sparked by increased spring travel and loosened vigilance against the virus and warned that enhanced virus curbs may be adopted to flatten the curve.



On Friday, health authorities plan to decide whether to maintain or raise the current social distancing guidelines, which will be implemented starting next week.



Currently, the greater Seoul area, which houses around half of the nation's 51.7 million population, is under the Level 2 social distancing scheme, the third highest in the five-phase system. The rest is under Level 1.5. Gatherings of more than four people are banned nationwide.



Under the current distancing rules, Level 2.5 can be adopted when the average daily caseload stays above 400. The figure already far exceeded 500 over the past week.



The spiking virus case cases also came as health authorities decided to suspend the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination program for people younger than 60 due to concerns related to blood clots.



Under the measures, the AstraZeneca vaccination for education instructors and teachers at kindergarten, elementary, middle and high schools, about 70,000 in total, will also be suspended.






Blog

On April 5, gunmen attacked a prison in Owerri, Nigeria, freeing 1,844 inmates. (Owerri, the capital of Imo State, is a major trading center with more than one million residents.) On April 6, "bandits" stormed a police station in Ehime Mbano, also in Imo State, freeing detainees. No group has claimed responsibility, but police say the likely perpetrators are the Eastern Security Network, the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

President Buhari, in London for medical reasons, characterized the perpetrators as "terrorists"; the army pledged to "flush out the miscreants" from the region. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo arrived in Imo State yesterday to assess the damage in Owerri.

Imo is mostly Igbo and Christian in population. It was the heartland of support for an independent Biafra during the 1967-70 civil war. Since then, successive federal governments have taken a hard line on separatism. Since 2015, when Buhari, a northern Muslim, was elected president, separatist sentiment has been growing. The movement of Muslim, ethnically Fulani herdsmen into the region looking for pasture has exacerbated the situation, as has the influx of mostly Muslim internally displaced persons fleeing Boko Haram in the North East. Some advocates for renewed Biafran separatism claim an Islamic plot, abetted by the Buhari government, to place all of Nigeria under the crescent.

The jailbreaks will likely increase violence and insecurity in Imo State. It should be noted, however, that pro-Biafra sentiment is not widespread in the adjacent oil patch in the Niger Delta, specifically Bayelsa and Rivers States. The low-level insurrection in the Niger Delta has different drivers.

Blog posts represent the views of CFR fellows and staff and not those of CFR, which takes no institutional positions.
MEDFORD, Ore.  A 23-year-old man was convicted in Jackson County Circuit Court on Wednesday for lighting a sleeping homeless man on fire in downtown Medford last fall.

Medford Police arrested Brandon Nathaniel Lyon, also a transient, on September 16 after matching his description to that of the suspect, seen on security camera footage lighting the victim's blanket on fire. The 54-year-old victim woke up in flames, receiving third-degree burns to his hands and feet from putting the fire out.

According to a probable cause statement from the arresting officer, Lyon admitted to investigators that he started the fire, and said that he did not know why he did it. There was no known link between Lyon and the victim, Medford Police said at the time.

Lyon initially faced six counts, including Attempted Murder in the Second Degree. On Wednesday, he entered pleas on just two of the charges  "guilty" on Assault in the Second Degree, and "no contest" on Attempted Arson in the First Degree. The other counts were dismissed.

Judge David Orr handed down a sentence of 90 months  7.5 years  in Oregon state prison. Over the last 20 months of that sentence, Lyon will be eligible for early release or some other kind of transitional program.
EAST LANSING, MI  Michigan State University will administer doses of COVID-19 vaccines to registered students on Friday.

The student-only vaccine clinic on April 9 is located inside the Pavilion for Agricultural and Livestock Education, university officials said. Doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are being made available by the Ingham County Health Department and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Students must make vaccination appointments, which will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. Students should bring a valid student ID, state ID, passport or drivers license. Their status as an MSU student will be verified upon arrival, officials said.

Vaccines transform our ability to deal with COVID-19, but the real challenge has been about access, MSU President Samuel L. Stanley said in a statement. We are thrilled to now have the ability to provide a safe and effective, single-dose vaccine directly to our student population, who overwhelmingly want to receive one. The more people who get vaccinated, the closer we get to a more typical fall semester.

The Capital Area Transportation Authority is providing free transportation to and from appointments in Ingham County for students needing transportation, according to Vennie Gore, MSU interim vice president for student affairs and services. Students must call 517-394-2282 at least 24 hours before their appointment to schedule a trip, Gore said.

A recently conducted survey by the National Social Norms Center at MSU found that more than 80% of MSU undergraduate and graduate students plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to them, according to a news release. Students identified protecting themselves (48.1%) and caring for others (34.5%) as their main reason for wanting the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the release.

Nearly 30% said getting back to normal, including attending in-person classes and interacting with each other, was their top reason for getting vaccinated, the release states.

About 12% of students said they were unsure about getting a vaccine and 7.5% said they did not plan on getting vaccinated, the release states. Students were concerned about adverse reactions and long-term effects, but the university is providing information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines for students, according to the release.

The data from our survey, which has a 20-year history of tracking health issues and primary prevention on the MSU campus, is very encouraging and reliable, said Dennis Martell, executive director of the center and director of MSU Health Promotion. We should not underestimate the will of MSU students to get back to in-person classes.

The university has information about how to sign up and receive a vaccine at other locations, including links to local health departments, hospital systems and pharmacies, as well as mass distribution centers at Ford Field in Detroit and the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, on its COVID-19 website.

READ MORE:

7,500 doses of COVID-19 vaccine now available to University of Michigan students

In-person classes, spring sports suspended at Wayne State University as COVID-19 cases surge

COVID-19 cases on the rise again at Grand Valley State University
chief Chandrakant



Patil on Thursday claimed two more state ministers will have to resign in 15 days and that the state was a "fit case for President's rule".

His remarks came a day after suspended cop Sachin Waze in a letter claimed former state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had demanded Rs 2 crore from him to continue his service in the Mumbai police and another minister Anil Parab asked him to collect money from contractors.

Deshmukh, a senior NCP leader, resigned as home minister on Monday after the Bombay High Court ordered a CBI probe into corruption allegations levelled against him by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

Parab, a Shiv Sena leader, has denied the allegations.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Patil said "what is in store in future is the common man's guess".

"Two state ministers will have to resign in another 15 days. Some people will go to court against these ministers and then they will have to quit," he claimed without naming anyone or elaborating further.

Patil said there is a possibility that the allegations against Transport Minister Anil Parab may also be clubbed with the probe into charges against Anil Deshmukh.

" is a fit case for President's rule," the leader said, adding his party was not making the demand.

He said from what is going on in the state, experts should explain what else is needed to impose the President's rule.

"If you want to blame the Centre for everything, why not give the state administration to the central government?" be asked.

Patil alleged that Anil Deshmukh was a "hypocrite" as he had moved the Supreme Court against the Bombay HC order for a CBI probe into the allegations against him.

"In the resignation letter, he (Deshmukh) says he is quitting to facilitate a free and fair probe, and the next day he moves the apex court against the probe," Patil said.

The leader said the MVA government (comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) in defended Waze so aggressively during the state's budget session that the Assembly had to be adjourned nine times.

"Now you don't trust him," he added.

Patil alleged that the MVA government was indulging in an "organised crime".

"If the evidence comes out on paper,provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) will have to be invoked," he claimed.

Talking to reporters in Nagpur, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said the claims made by Waze in his letter are serious and there is a need for deliberation on it.

"The things that are coming out and happeningare not good for the reputation of Maharashtra and the state police. The CBI or any other competent authority should investigate the letter's content and bring out the truth," the former state 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.)
Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Vice President Woo Tae-hee, front row fourth from left; head of the Industrial Policy Office of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Kang Kyung-sung, front row fifth from left; and SK Social Value Committee Chairman Lee Hyung-hee, front row sixth from left; pose with other participants during the 1st KCCI ESG Management Forum held at the KCCI headquarters in downtown Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of KCCI



By Yi Whan-woo



Any efforts and activities related to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) should be measureable as monetary value for the companies to better cope with sustainable growth, according to an expert.



Speaking at the 1st Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) ESG Management Forum, Thursday, Na Seok-kwon, president of the Center for Social Value Enhancement Studies, said quantifying ESG performance should be a "top priority."



"If you don't measure it, you can't manage it," Na said, citing business management guru Peter Drucker. "It is important to be able to recognize where each company is located by quantifying the monetary value of ESG activities."



He also said ESG measurement efforts are needed to "counter the big wave" of ESG and that they should "choose a surfing strategy."



Na was one of the three presenters at the forum.





KCCI Vice President Woo Tae-hee, second from right, speaks during the 1st KCCI ESG Management Forum held at KCCI headquarters in downtown Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of KCCI
About 7 a.m., an Oak Park officer was assisting Forest Park police at a traffic stop on Harlem above the expressway, said Oak Park village spokesman David Powers. The driver of the pulled-over vehicle got out of his car and began shooting and the Oak Park officer returned fire, Powers said.
The U.S. economic blacklist discovers some advanced Chinese supercomputers that are accused of collecting sensitive info. Some United States officials claim that these technologies could affect national security.

Also Read: Ransomware Demands Two Bitcoins: Attack Disguises as Security Software Exploiting VPN Weakness, Two Manufacturing Plants Down

According to CNBC's latest report, seven Chinese supercomputing entities were added by the Commerce Department to a U.S. economic blacklist previously Thursday, Apr. 9. Reuters reported that the department accused seven Chinese entities. Here are the following:

the National Supercomputing Center Shenzhen

the National Supercomputing Center Zhengzhou

the National Supercomputing Center Wuxi

Tianjin Phytium Information Technology

Sunway Microelectronics, the National

Shanghai High-Performance Integrated Circuit Design Center

the National Supercomputing Center Jinan

Why these Chinese supercomputers are alarming

The Commerce Department claimed that these supercomputers could also be linked to China's military weapons and modernization efforts.

Aside from these, various U.S. officials added that these advanced computers might have also been collecting sensitive details. However, they did not confirm if the supercomputers target normal citizens or big organizations.

"Supercomputing capabilities are vital for the development of many - perhaps almost all - modern weapons and national security systems, such as nuclear weapons and hypersonic weapons," said Gina Raimondo, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

Why the U.S. is concerned

The Department of Commerce explained that these supercomputers could spy on various U.S. technologies and use the stolen info to improve their military efforts.

Previously, there were also a dozen Chinese tech manufacturers added to the U.S. economic blacklist. These include SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd., Huawei Technologies, SMIC, and more.

Right now, the Chinese Embassy hasn't released any statement regarding the identified supercomputers. If you want to know more details, all you need to do is click this link.

For more news updates about the alleged Chinese supercomputers and other security issues, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: US Police Depts Allegedly Use Clearview AI's Tool to Search Millions of Americans' Faces

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by: Giuliano de Leon

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
TOKYO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IAR Systems, the future-proof supplier of software tools and services for embedded development, today announced that Kazuhisa Harabe has been appointed to Country Manager for IAR Systems Japan. Kiyofumi Uemura, who has served as Director for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and Country Manager for Japan since 2016, will continue to devote his efforts to business expansion as Director for the APAC region, which in addition to Japan also includes supporting the growing IAR Systems' offices in Taiwan, China and Korea.

"Since the founding of the Japanese office in 2001 and with the support of our customers and partners in Japan, we are able to celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2021," said Kiyofumi Uemura, APAC Director, IAR Systems. "During these two decades, we have experienced various changes in the business, but thankfully we have been able to increase revenue continuously over more than 18 years. In the midst of turbulent changes in recent years, leadership drawing on superior analytical skills and problem-solving abilities is essential, and Kazuhisa Harabe has been prominent among the employees who have worked in concert to grow our business. With the elevation of Kazuhisa Harabe to represent our company in Japan, I am certain that we will be able to build better relations with our customers and partners, contributing to expansion of our business into embedded systems in Japan."

"I take great pride in being appointed to a position from which, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Japanese office, I will be able to lead such a great team," said Kazuhisa Harabe, newly appointed Country Manager Japan. "Through my contact with over 300 customers in Japan, from major manufacturers to tech venture businesses, I have witnessed the impressive competitive power in Japanese manufacturing. In order to create revolutionary products while maintaining international competitiveness, it is vital that superior Japanese engineering ability can be made even smarter and faster. To this end, our company considers our grand mission to provide superior development tools with powerful features. In my new role, I will focus on driving our business forward and contribute to the further fortification and development of world-renowned Japanese manufacturing."

Harabe joined IAR Systems in 2010 as an account sales representative, and has contributed to business expansion and strengthened partnerships with semiconductor vendors in the fields of factory automation, medical equipment, and consumer products. Since 2018, he has been responsible for IAR Systems' sales in Japan and has been engaged in the reinforcement of marketing and cultivation of new markets, such as the Internet of Things and robotics. Prior to joining IAR Systems, he served in several roles in the IT industry, and after handling various corporate solution sales in the SoftBank Group and with foreign IT vendors as well as starting up new businesses, he gained further experience in consulting sales to support B2B sales and marketing process improvements, and was involved in business organization innovations.

With headquarters in Sweden, IAR Systems has offices all around the world. In APAC, IAR Systems serves its customers through sales and support offices in Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan, and is also represented in additional countries through distributors.

Editor's Note: IAR Systems, IAR Embedded Workbench, Embedded Trust, C-Trust, C-SPY, C-RUN, C-STAT, IAR Visual State, IAR KickStart Kit, I-jet, I-jet Trace, I-scope, IAR Academy, IAR, and the logotype of IAR Systems are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by IAR Systems AB. All other product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

IAR Systems Contacts AnnaMaria Tahlen, Content & Media Relations Manager, IAR SystemsTel: +46 18 16 78 00 Email: annamaria.tahlen@iar.com

Tora Fridholm, CMO, IAR SystemsTel: +46 18 16 78 00 Email: tora.fridholm@iar.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/iar-systems/r/iar-systems-appoints-kazuhisa-harabe-as-new-country-manager-for-japan,c3321388

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/386/3321388/1398457.pdf IAR_Systems_appoints_Kazuhisa_Harabe_as_new_Country_Manager_for_Japan https://news.cision.com/iar-systems/i/kazuhisa-harabe-iar-systems,c2897430 Kazuhisa Harabe IAR Systems

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iar-systems-appoints-kazuhisa-harabe-as-new-country-manager-for-japan-301264791.html

SOURCE IAR Systems
The Greek island of Rhodes is home to a special biome called Petaloudes Valley, or the Valley of Butterflies, after the millions of endemic moths that cover almost every surface during the summer months.

Located on the western side of Rhodes Island, about 10 kilometers from 10 km from the airport and 25 km from Rhodes City, Petaloudes Valley hosts the only natural forest of Oriental Sweetgum trees (Liquidambar orientalis) in Europe. Its the scent given off by these trees that attracts an endemic subspecies of Jersey Tiger moths called Euplagia quadripunctaria rhodosensis; huge numbers of moths congregate in this small valley, covering almost every visible surface almost as a living blanket.

Photo: Karelj/Wikimedia Commons

Every year, the spectacular migration of the Jersey Tiger moth to Petaloudes Valley begins around the end of May, after the rainy season, as the Jersey Tiger moths emerge from their caterpillar form. Attracted by the aroma of Oriental Sweetgum trees, they make their way along the islands waterways, traveling dozens of kilometers towards the valley they helped name (petaloudes means butterflies in Greek).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marco Maggesi (@marco_maggesi)

Once they reach their destination, the swarms of butterflies begin to cover everything, from the lush foliage to rocks of all shapes and sizes. They prefer to sleep on the shady sides of trees or around the roots, and tourists are advised to admire the surreal views in silence, as loud noises can disturb the butterflies.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Veronelli Inventori Viaggio (@inventori_di_viaggio_veronelli)

Keeping quiet is more than a simple curtesy to the Jersey Tiger moth, as startling the tiny fliers and forcing them to fly more than they need to is a sure way to render the entire subspecies extinct. Thats because the butterflies dont have stomachs, which renders them unable to feed. They survive on the fat deposits they store during their caterpillar stage, so they need to save up their energy.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by  (@patsa.alexandra)

Startling the moths and causing them to fly off, can cause them to exhaust their energy reserves before they can reproduce, which can have a disastrous impact on colonies. In fact, due to the large number of tourists that visit the Valley of Butterflies every year, the endemic Jersey Tiger moth population has been greatly affected. Hopefully, the decrease in tourism caused by the Covid-19 pandemic can help the colonies recover.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Diana (@pjegica82)

As the official Valley of Butterflies website explains, many visitors ignore the advice of staff and tour guides, and clap or whistle just to see the swarms of butterflies take flight. Its an impressive sight, indeed, as the flapping of their wings allows viewers to see the orange of their underwings, but it is nothing short of animal cruelty.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aleksandra (@swiat_w__moich__oczach)

The clapping and whistling produce ultrasonic sounds similar to those of bats, the Petaloudes Valley website reads. The butterflies feel threatened and try to escape frightened. Many of them die from shock or from depletion in their attempt to escape or even by crashing on rocks and trees. It is also important for them to stay still on the trees because they must keep their strength for their long journey in September.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by  (@ladikosgarden)

After enjoying the cool, humid habitat of Petaloudes Valley during the hot summer months, the moths mate in late August and September. The women then leave the valley, travelling great distances in search of dark and safe places to lay their eggs in, before their natural life cycle ends. Then, as the rain season ends the next year, a new generation of Jersey Tiger moths emerges, and the cycle repeats itself.

While not of the same scale as Mexicos Butterfly Forest, the Valley of Butterflies is definitely one of the must-see natural phenomena for lepidopterists and butterfly enthusiasts in general.
(Natural News) The Biden administration and some (but not all) of their Democratic allies in Congress want to raise the corporate tax rate to 28 percent. They say this would help the working class and hurt Big Business, finally making corporations pay their fair share. But if that were true, giant corporations like Amazon wouldnt be endorsing the change.

(Article by Brad Polumbo republished from FEE.org)

Yet thats exactly what Jeff Bezos just did.

We support the Biden Administrations focus on making bold investments in American infrastructure, the Amazon CEO wrote in a public statement. We recognize this investment will require concessions from all sidesboth on the specifics of whats included as well as how it gets paid for were supportive of a rise in the corporate tax rate. (Emphasis mine).

Amazon has also lobbied aggressively for other big-government policies like a $15 federal minimum wage. At first glance, this might seem like an endorsement of the policies: see, they wouldnt be so bad for business after all. Yet its actually a giant red flag.

When Big Business comes together to collude with Big Government, it usually means everyday people are about to get ripped off.

When CEOs and politicians are able to agree on seemingly anti-business policies, its often because they know the government roadblocks instituted will entrench their market dominance and ultimately redound to the C Suites benefit. Amazon knows it can weather the storm of higher corporate taxes (right now it pays very little in corporate tax because it exploits tax breaks) but many of its smaller competitors cannot. Meanwhile, Bezos also knows that his company can afford armies of tax experts, accountants, and lawyers to exploit every loophole to minimize the damage; a luxury many less-dominant rivals wont have.

And, most importantly, a wealth of economic research shows that workers and consumers really bear the majority of the costs of corporate taxes through lower wages and higher prices.

The elementary fact is that business does not and cannot pay taxes, Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman once explained. Only people can pay taxes. Corporate officials may sign the check, but the money that they forward to Internal Revenue comes from the corporations employees, customers or stockholders.

More specifically, a study by the Tax Foundation found that Bidens proposed corporate tax hike would shrink the overall size of the economy, reduce wages, and eliminate 159,000 jobs.

Of course, Bezos would hardly notice a blip in his bank account. The workers left unemployed would have a different experience.

Amazon is not truly altruistic or woke. The company knows that the costs of proposed corporate tax hikes would mostly fall on workers and hurt smaller retail competitors. Amazon just hopes that you dont know thatand that Americans mistake its cronyism for altruism.

Read more at: FEE.org and JeffBezosWatch.com
UK pauses trial of AstraZeneca jab for children

There have been 30 blood clotting cases, seven fatal, out of the 18 million doses administered in Britain. Photo: AFP

A British trial of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine on children has been paused while regulators assess its possible link to blood clots, Oxford University, which helped develop the jab, said on Tuesday.



"Whilst there are no safety concerns in the paediatric clinical trial, we await additional information from the MHRA (UK regulator) on its review of rare cases of thrombosis/thrombocytopaenia that have been reported in adults, before giving any further vaccinations in the trial," the university said in a statement.



"Parents and children should continue to attend all scheduled visits and can contact the trial sites if they have any questions."



Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is one of many bodies across the globe analysing real world data from the AstraZeneca rollout to see if there is a definitive link between the jab and a rare form of blood clot, after cases were initially reported in Norway and continental Europe.



The WHO and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will reveal their findings later this week.



It is the latest drama to hit AstraZeneca, which has been embroiled in controversy over its failure to deliver its promised doses to the European Union, and over the jab's efficacy and safety profile.



The MHRA reported over the weekend that there had been 30 blood clotting cases, seven fatal, out of the 18 million doses administered in Britain.



The European Medicines Agency said on Tuesday it "has not yet reached a conclusion and the review is currently ongoing".



EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides later said that the agency was expected to make its decision "late Wednesday", adding that she was in "close contact" with the EMA.



The statement came after the EMA's head of vaccine strategy Marco Cavaleri was quoted in Italian media as saying that there was a "clear" connection and that the agency would announce it within hours.



"In my opinion, we can say it now, it is clear there is a link with the vaccine," Cavaleri told Italy's Il Messaggero newspaper in an interview. "But we still do not know what causes this reaction." (AFP)
Bengaluru, April 8 : The commuters across Karnataka continued to face hardships as the call for indefinite strike given by the Karnataka State Road Transport Employees League (KSRTEL) entered the second day on Thursday.

With the majority of the employees from all the four state-run transport corporations not attending their duty, buses continued to remain mostly off roads across the state, affecting the daily commuters.

With the employees remaining adamant, the four state road transport corporations have now shown signs of taking a tough stand by serving notices to more than 3,000 employees who are under training period.

After the tough measures, nearly 100 RTC buses started operations with regular crew members.

Accordingly, 54 buses of NEKRTC, 38 buses of KSRTC, 28 of BMTC and 14 of NEKRTC were operated by the regular crew.

"Of the 3,000 trainees, only about 300 have started attending work for fear of facing disciplinary action. While these employees can't fill in for the 1.3 lakh employees who are on strike, this will definitely rattle them and unease the agitators," an official said.

Travellers from far flung areas as well as office-goers were the most affected due to the ongoing strike.

However, the state government's efforts to rope in private players as part of its effort to make alternate arrangements has mostly worked in negative terms as several commuters continued to allege that private operators were charging exorbitant rates.

Although, the Railways and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation are running additional trains to ease out the pressure, but they remained inadequate.

With the bus strike entering the second day, the number of passengers thronging the bus stands continued to remain scarce as most people in Bengaluru preferred to use their own vehicles.

Officials stated that the alternate arrangement of roping private players can never match the total capacity of busses operated by the four state run transport corporations.

"More than 20,000 buses are operated by the four state-run corporations and they are responsible for making nearly 60,000 trips inside and outside the state. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is responsible for ferrying passengers within Bengaluru city alone," an officials told IANS.

Another official added that though the state government has provided all exemptions including emission, tax, insurance and fitness, the private players can not match the four state-run transport corporations.

The official added that private operators who had surrendered their vehicles due to non-payment of tax and lack of fitness certificates are also being roped in and allowed to operate without permits.

With the government not ready to concede to their demand for implementation of the 6th Pay Commission report for RTC workers, the employees have decided to continue with their strike, despite Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa issuing a warning of strict action.

The KSRTEL members have announced that the stir will continue indefinitely till the state government agrees to their demand of implementing the 6th Pay Commission.

Yediyurappa had opened a window for negotiations on Wednesday and said that talks could be held if they suspend the strike.

Yediyurappa said, "The state government has fulfilled eight of the nine demands and has also announced an 8 per cent salary hike. In these tough times, it is wrong to go on an indefinite strike. I hope they do not force a situation where tough measures will be necessitated." While welcoming the invitation for talks, Kodihalli Chandrashekar, the president of the KSRTC Employees League, said they believed that talks were the only way ahead.
ANTIGUA, Guatemala  Rescue teams on Saturday dug through mud and debris in a remote village in central Guatemala searching for more than 100 people whose homes were swallowed by a massive mudslide caused by rainfall from remnants of Hurricane Eta.

Francisco Muss, a retired Guatemalan army general who has been coordinating rescue efforts since Thursday, when part of a mountain slope sheared off and smothered some two dozen homes in the village of Queja, said rescuers had found three bodies so far and believed that at least 125 people had been killed.

The tally adds to a confirmed storm-related death toll of more than 60 throughout Central America, according to regional officials, local media and wire services.

Hundreds of other homes in Queja were also damaged or destroyed, General Muss said in a phone interview. The mountainside collapsed, he said. It split into two separate mudslides once it got to the village of Queja.
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd is quoting at Rs 239.9, up 1.63% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 15.42% in last one year as compared to a 63.97% spurt in NIFTY and a 53.47% spurt in the Nifty Energy index.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd gained for a third straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 239.9, up 1.63% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.82% on the day, quoting at 14940.5. The Sensex is at 49954.08, up 0.59%. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd has risen around 0.71% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd is a constituent, has risen around 5.1% in last one month and is currently quoting at 18333.35, up 0.35% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 26.18 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 62.12 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark April futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 240, up 1.18% on the day. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd is up 15.42% in last one year as compared to a 63.97% spurt in NIFTY and a 53.47% spurt in the Nifty Energy index.

The PE of the stock is 3.99 based on TTM earnings ending December 20.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Visionary bone damage study

A novel way to pinpoint and illuminate bone damage promises to make X-rays more efficient at diagnosing bone and other injuries, Flinders University researchers say.

The new technique, looking at potential biomedical applications of an ancient inorganic salt-based aggregation induced emission (AIE) radio-luminescence material, could open new frontiers in medicine including X-ray dosimetry, bioimaging and advanced applications such as optogenetics, says Professor Youhong Tang, from Flinders University's College of Science and Engineering.

The review article, published by Professor Tang, postdoctoral student Dr Javad Tavokoli, colleagues in Hong Kong and Australian technology company Micro-X and, examined the potential of the AIEgen luminogens (AIEgens) in deep tissue imaging. The study used X-ray testing provided by Adelaide-based Micro-X.

"We were able to use Micro-X advanced X-ray machines at the Tonsley Innovation District to show the benefits of this AIEgen system which can be excited by X-ray (as the radioluminescence emitter) and UV light (as the photoluminescence emitter) compared to current AIEgens which mostly only act as the photoluminescence emitter," he says.

"The study highlighted the disadvantages of autofluorescence, poor signal-to-noise radio, and poor tissue penetration depth of traditional photoluminescence emitters which could be elegantly solved by these radioluminescence luminogens," says Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Dr Tang.

"Not only do they pinpoint bone and soft tissue damage for better diagnosis and treatment but we suggest further studies could see these AIE-based materials with multifunctionalities used for improved drug delivery, biosensors, bioimaging, and tissue engineering."

Lead author on the journal article in Aggregate, Dr Tavokoli, how based at the Centre for Health Technologies at University of Technology Sydney, says the next generation of fluorescent gels could also capitalise on additional light-emitting properties making them attractive for different applications.

The latest work not only explores a series of inorganic AIE systems but also "fundamentally helps to understand both the unconventional organic and inorganic clusteroluminescence phenomena, Professor Tang concludes.

###

The paper, Revisiting an ancient inorganic aggregation?induced emission system: An enlightenment to clusteroluminescence (2021) by Zheng Zhao, Zaiyu Wang, Javad Tavakoli, Guogang Shan, Jianyu Zhang, Chen Peng, Yu Xiong, Xuepeng Zhang, Tsz Shing Cheung, Youhong Tang, Bolong Huang and Zhaoxun Yu published in Aggregate DOI: 10.1002/agt2.36

This story has been published on: 2021-04-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
New Delhi: Amid the rising COVID-19 cases across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (April 8) said that there will be no lockdown. He said that there is a need to work on war footing again to fight against the pandemic.

PM Modi held a meeting with Chief Ministers on the current COVID-19 situation.

"A challenging situation is emerging again. I request you all to give your suggestions to tackle the COVID-19 situation," he said.

The prime minister also announced that a "Tika Utsav" would be observed from April 11 to 14.

"11th to 14th April can be observed as 'Tika (vaccination) Utsav' for COVID-19 vaccination," he said.

PM Modi's address in meeting with CMs - Live updates:

* There is a need to work on war footing again to fight COVID-19. Despite all the challenges, we have a better experience, resources & a vaccine: PM Modi

* We need to fight the second surge in cases. Many states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Punjab have crossed first wave of peak in COVID-19 cases. This is a serious concern. People have become complacent. In most States administration has also become relaxed: PM

* A challenging situation is emerging again. I request you all to give your suggestions to tackle the COVID-19 situation: PM Modi

* I appeal to you all to stress on COVID-19 testing. Our target is to do 70% RT-PCR tests. Let the number of positive cases come high, but do maximum testing. Proper sample collection is very important, it can be checked through proper governance: PM Modi

* COVID-19 tracing and tracking is the way to curb the spread of infection: PM Modi

* We must concentrate on micro-containment zones. In places where night curfew has been imposed, I would urge to use the word 'Corona Curfew', to continue alertness about coronavirus. It will be better to start curfew timing from 9 pm or 10 pm till 5 am or 6 am: PM Modi

* 11th to 14th April can be observed as 'Tika (vaccination) Utsav' for COVID19 vaccination: PM Modi

11th to 14th April can be observed as 'Tika (vaccination) Utsav' for COVID19 vaccination: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/8PfY6EZftS  ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2021

* Once again we need to raise awareness about the importance of wearing a mask and following COVID19 safety protocols: PM Modi

* Today, the problem is that we have forgotten about COVID19 testing and have moved to vaccination. We have to remember that we had won the fight against COVID19 without a vaccine. We have to emphasise on testing: PM Modi

* We need to prioritise (vaccine distribution) with what we have. We won't get the result by keeping vaccines in one state. It is not right to think in this way. We have to manage by thinking about the country: PM Modi

Second wave of COVID-19 in India

PM Modi's address comes after India recorded 1,26,789 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 1,29,28,574.

As per the Health Ministry data released at 8 AM on Thursday (April 8), 685 deaths and 59,258 discharges were reported in the last 24 hours. The active caseload has reached 9,10,319 while the death toll stands at 1,66,862 in the country.

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Last week, President Joe Biden nominated 11 people for judicial posts, including Las Cruces civil rights and defense attorney Margaret Strickland to fill the judgeship in Las Cruces that has been vacant for more than 30 months.

Its an important, if expected, move to finally get the wheels of federal justice moving in New Mexico.

The last time the U.S. Senate confirmed a federal judge for the District of New Mexico was pre-pandemic  in December 2019, state District Judge Kea Riggs of Roswell filled one of three judicial vacancies in the District of New Mexico. Since then, pure partisan politics have delayed new confirmations and slowed the administration of justice in one of the busiest federal district courts in the nation.

With a Democrat in the White House, its likely the logjam has been broken for the foreseeable future. Thats overdue good news for anyone who has business before the court. The federal court in New Mexico has long been one of the busiest in the country, especially in terms of federal felony filings, in part because of the large number of drug and immigration cases. New Mexicos judges on the federal bench have been crushed by civil and criminal caseloads  each had more than 900 cases before Riggs was confirmed. In recent years, its become all too common for out-of-state federal judges to have to come to New Mexicos rescue to hear lawsuits to help ease our backlog, which had been exacerbated by our own raw partisan politics.

The way it works: U.S. senators from the various federal court districts send a group of potential judicial nominees to the president, who traditionally chooses to nominate one of those recommended, whose fate hinges on Senate confirmation. The process worked when Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, both D-N.M., sent names, including Riggs, to former President Donald Trump, but Trumps other judicial pick from their May 2018 list, U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Sweazea of Las Cruces, was inexplicably never heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Then late last September, as the presidential election approached, Udall and Heinrich withdrew their support for the May 2020 nominations of First Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred J. Federici III and Albuquerque attorney Brenda Saiz. Our senators pulled the rug out from under their own nominees  both rated as well qualified, the highest possible ranking by the American Bar Association  because, they said, Trump insisted on politicizing the judicial appointment process in his remarks at a thinly veiled campaign event at the White House.

It was clear retaliation for Trumps moving forward with the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg weeks before the presidential election. No matter how unhappy our senators were with that move, they turned it into a case of two wrongs dont make a right when they opted to leave New Mexicans who have waited, and waited, for justice to be delivered without enough federal judges to hear their cases.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



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When Trump lost, the nominations were scuttled, and the District of New Mexico has remained two judges short of the seven authorized by Congress.

Strickland should be confirmed in quick order  she is also well qualified. She began her career at the state Law Offices of the Public Defender in 2006 and went into private practice in 2011, representing clients in civil rights and criminal cases. Shes well suited for the current environment of police reform, having been president of the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and an attorney who won a $1.6 million verdict from the Las Cruces Police Department in 2017 in an excessive-force case.

With a steady drumbeat of judicial nominations expected this year from Biden, its likely our two Democrats in the Senate, Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan, will retain the courage of their convictions and get New Mexicos federal bench up to its full strength. Politics aside, thats a good thing. New Mexicans deserve timely decisions from their federal courtrooms in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Las Vegas, Roswell, Santa Fe and Silver City.

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.
ABS

kWh

Ford has recently released a technical service bulletin to address this problem, confirming the forum posts and owner complaints. The issue especially affects owners in cold-weather areas, which is why the Ford Motor Company recommends leaving the Mach-E plugged in to warm up before driving.As per the bulletin attached at the end of this article, the service procedure starts by connecting a charger to the 12-volt battery. Next up, the service technician reprograms the powertrain control module with better-written software. A dedicated scan tool is required for this operation, and the service technician also has to check for updates for a whopping five more modules.In the order of listing, these are the secondary on-board diagnostic control module (SOBDM), battery energy control module (BECM), secondary on-board diagnostic control module B (SOBDMB), secondary on-board diagnostic control module C (SOBDMC), and the anti-lock brake system (). This piece of intel shouldnt worry owners, but it does confirm that Ford hurried the Mustang Mach-E to market without properly polishing the software.Priced from $42,895 in the United States of America before destination charge, the electric crossover goes as low as $35,395 after the federal tax credit. This, in turn, makes the Mustang Mach-E a pretty interesting alternative to a Tesla Model 3 ($37,990) and the Model Y ($49,990).The Dearborn-based brand offers four trim levels in total: the Select, Premium, California Route 1, and high-performing GT. Highlight features of the base model are the SYNC 4A infotainment system, using the phone as a key, the 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and 15.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, as well as Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 safety systems. As for the estimated driving range, the least you can expect from the standard 68battery and rear-wheel-drive setup is 230 miles (370 kilometers).
Since the data are not being gathered in any meaningful way, its challenging if not impossible to hold agencies accountable for complying with IDEA. - Jamie Gass, Pioneer Institute

States, school districts failing to allocate sufficient federal funding to special needs students in private schools

On the heels of a $3.8 million settlement for private school students with disabilities in Massachusetts for the states failure to comply with provisions of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that require provision of equitable, publicly funded special education services to students in private schools, a Pioneer Institute study finds that two states and three school districts around the country for which data are available also appear to be out of compliance.

Whether it be state departments of education wrongfully conflating state and federal law and giving school districts faulty or incomplete guidance, or lack of enforcement efforts, private school students are being wrongfully denied access to IDEA-funded special education services, said Tom Olson, who co-authored Bad IDEA: How States Block Federal Special Education Funding to Private and Religious School Students with Kate McConnell and Nancy Kriegel.

IDEA requires states to ensure that all public-school students aged 3-21 who have disabilities receive a free and appropriate education. It also requires the provision of equitable services to students with disabilities in private schools.

The federal government appropriates IDEA funding for the states, which then appropriate the money among local school districts. A proportionate share of the funds is to be spent on private school students who attend school within the school districts geographic boundaries. Proportionate share is determined by a districts total IDEA allocation, the total number of students within the district who are found to have disabilities, and the percentage of those students who attend private schools.

The law permits states to use their own money to offer special education services to private school students in addition to those required by IDEA.

In theory, Massachusetts is one of those states. However, the states anti-aid amendment prohibits state or locally funded services from being delivered at the private school site. In practice, this makes it difficult for students to access services and support. Until recently there was also confusion regarding federally funded services provided under IDEA. However, given the private school coalitions work in partnership with Massachusetts DESE, and the recent settlement, private school students with disabilities can now access federally funded special education services on site at their schools.

To determine whether such non-compliance is common, the authors sent Freedom of Information Act requests to 12 states and 8 school districts that are geographically representative to determine how IDEA funding was allocated to students with disabilities in private schools beginning with the 2015-16 school year. Only five  Florida, Missouri, Denver, Los Angeles and Portland, OR  more-or-less furnished the requested information. In nearly all cases, the states and school districts didnt provide proportionate share numbers, meaning the authors had to do their best to calculate it themselves based on the data provided.

The authors assumed that between 7 percent and 14 percent of private school students have special needs. The best results were from Denver, where during the 2015-16 school year between a quarter and half of the money that should have been made available for provide school students was allocated to them. The poorest performer was Florida. There only between 0.7 percent and 1.3 percent of the appropriate proportionate share was made available to private school students with special needs during the 2017-18 school year.

Since the data are not being gathered in any meaningful way, its challenging if not impossible to hold agencies accountable for complying with IDEA, said Director of Pioneer Education Jamie Gass.

Among the authors recommendations are that USED collect the applicable data from the states, that each state assume that at least 7 percent of private school students have special needs, and that each state appoint an IDEA ombudsman.

About the Authors

Tom Olson: Tom is currently a Principal Partner of ADAC. Tom has overseen development efforts, augmented donor commitment, and cultivated major gifts for a variety of organizations. Supporting initiatives that advance in government and civil society limited government and the principle of subsidiarity, Toms professional competencies include published writing and public policy research. Tom holds a bachelors degree from the College of the Holy Cross and graduate degrees from Saint Louis University and Boston College.

Nancy Kriegel: Nancy is currently the Executive Director of Yad Chessed (Hand of Loving Kindness), a social service agency assisting individuals and families who are living at or below the federal poverty level. Prior to this, she was a Senior Director at Combined Jewish Philanthropies and one of the founders of Gateways: Access to Jewish Education. Nancy is a strong advocate for Jewish Day Schools and the wider Jewish community. Nancy holds a bachelors degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a juris doctor (JD) from the Boston College School of Law.

Kate McConnell: Kate is currently serving as the Director of Inclusive Education for the Office of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Previously, she has worked as the Director of Inclusive Education at Chicagos Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy. Before becoming a Catholic school educator, she was a special education teacher in public schools. A certified Learning and Behavior Specialist, Kate holds a bachelors degree from Towson University and graduate degrees from Loyola University Chicago and DePaul University.

About Pioneer Institute

Pioneers mission is to develop and communicate dynamic ideas that advance prosperity and a vibrant civic life in Massachusetts and beyond.

Pioneers vision of success is a state and nation where our people can prosper and our society thrive because we enjoy world-class options in education, healthcare, transportation and economic opportunity, and where our government is limited, accountable and transparent.

Pioneer values an America where our citizenry is well-educated and willing to test our beliefs based on facts and the free exchange of ideas, and committed to liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise.
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WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RARE BLOOD CLOTS LINKED TO ASTRAZENECA'S VACCINE? Only Britons who suffer one of the below symptoms four days post-vaccination need to contact their doctor. Shortness of breath

Chest pain

Swollen leg

Persistent stomach pain

Severe headache

Blurred vision

Skin bruising beyond the site of injection Advertisement

Matt Hancock today warned people under the age of 30 that refusing a coronavirus vaccine because of blood clot fears could 'ruin your life' due to the risk of catching the disease and developing 'debilitating' long Covid.

The Health Secretary launched a media blitz this morning to reassure the public over the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine as he insisted the nation's vaccination drive remains on course to offer all UK adults a jab by the end of July.

Mr Hancock said a decision by UK health chiefs to rule the AstraZeneca jab should not be given to Britons under the age of 30 as experts continue to investigate its link to rare blood clots showed 'the safety system is working because the regulators can spot even this extremely rare event'.

The Government's vaccine advisory group yesterday ruled that people aged between 18 and 29 should be offered an alternative to AstraZeneca's vaccine.

Asked for his message to young people who may be reluctant to get a jab, Mr Hancock said all of the vaccines being used in the UK are safe and 'when you get the call, get the jab'.

He added: 'Covid is a horrible disease and long Covid affects people in their 20s, just as much it seems as any other age group and can have debilitating side effects that essentially ruin your life.'

Mr Hancock said the UK has 'more than enough' Pfizer and Moderna jabs to cover all of the people in the 18 to 29 age group who are yet to receive a vaccination - approximately 8.5million.

He said 'all three vaccines that are in use in the UK are safe and they are safe at all ages' and that there is simply a 'preference for the under-30s, if they want to have the Pfizer of Moderna jab instead then they can'.

The comments came after a series of Government figures, opposition politicians and medical experts rushed to shore up confidence in the vaccine programme amid fears the AstraZeneca decision could damage the public's faith in the jab.

Boris Johnson tweeted that the British-made vaccine was 'safe' and that the benefits far outweighed the risks for the vast majority of adults, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'looking forward' to getting his second dose.

A review by the drugs watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) found that by the end of March, 79 out of 20million Britons vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine had suffered blood clots in the brain or arteries, a rate of about one in 250,000. Nineteen of the cases died and three were under the age of 30.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advisory group said healthy people aged 18 to 29 should be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna jabs instead when the programme moves to younger groups in the coming months.

Slides presented at a press conference announcing the change in guidance showed that younger people are more prone to blood clots after vaccination than older groups.

Anyone who has already had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, regardless of their age, is being advised to go for their second appointment as planned.

Former Tory leader Sir Ian Duncan Smith told Politico the move could be a 'real blow' to uptake of the vaccine, adding: 'I'm concerned that this statement by the MHRA will lead to a lack of confidence in the jab.'

Matt Hancock said a decision by UK health chiefs to rule the jab should not be given to Britons under the age of 30 as experts continue to investigate its link to rare blood clots showed 'the safety system is working because the regulators can spot even this extremely rare event'

Experts: Covid vaccines are 'breaking the link' between cases and deaths Coronavirus vaccines are 'breaking the link' between cases and deaths, experts behind a major surveillance study tracking England's outbreak revealed today. Imperial College London epidemiologists found while Covid infections appeared to have levelled off in early April, fatalities linked to the virus were still falling - which would not have been expected during the first or second wave. More than 31million Britons - or three in five adults - have already received a jab, with separate experts today suggesting the speedy roll-out could see the UK hit herd immunity - when the virus stops spreading - next month. The REACT-1 study - which randomly swabbed 140,000 people in the latest round - also suggested Covid cases had more than halved in a month and fallen in every age group, adding the reopening of schools had little impact on the epidemic. They estimated 0.2 per cent of England's population, or one in 500, were infected between March 11 and 30 compared to 0.49 per cent in February, a fall of 60 per cent. The biggest drops were recorded in the South East, where prevalence went from 0.36 per cent in February to 0.07 per cent in March, in London (0.6 to 0.16 per cent), and in the East of England (0.47 to 0.15 per cent). They also suggested cases may have 'flattened off' in early April. But experts said this was nothing to worry about and insisted this was actually 'good news' because it means the slight easing of restrictions in late March has not caused a spike. Boris Johnson has given the go ahead to outdoor pubs and restaurants reopening on Monday, saying his four tests for moving to the next stage of England's roadmap out of lockdown - including cases still falling and ramping up vaccinations - had been met. Further relaxations will see foreign holidays allowed from May 17, and the earliest date all restrictions on daily life could be relaxed - excluding face masks and social distancing - is June 21. Separate data from the Department of Health - which publishes daily case updates - also shows the virus is still in retreat, with cases yesterday dropping by a third to 2,763 compared to last Wednesday. Advertisement

The latest coronavirus developments came as:

Professor Beverley Hunt, an expert in thrombosis and haemostasis at King's College London, who has been working with the MHRA on the clot cases, said 'we don't know whether it's causal or not' when it comes to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford vaccine group, said 'this is not the time to waver' over rare blood clots linked to the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine because coronavirus cases are rising in Europe and other nations around the world.

Mr Hancock did not deny that AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in the UK have been sent to Australia after reports 717,000 doses had been sent.

Professor Anthony Harnden, the deputy chair of the JCVI, said the clots are 'extremely rare events  much, much more rare than, for instance, clots due to common drugs that we prescribe such as the contraceptive pill'.

Professor Steven Riley, an expert from Imperial College London's Real-Time Assessment of Community Transmission (React-1) study, said its most recent finding that there are increasingly 'fewer deaths per infection' in the UK is partly due to the vaccine rollout.

Mr Hancock told Sky News this morning that the AstraZeneca decision will not impact the Government's target of offering every UK adult a jab by the end of July.

He said: 'The vaccine programme is proceeding well. The speed of the vaccine programme is not affected by the decisions yesterday.'

Asked how concerned he is about the potential for a drop off in uptake of vaccinations, the Health Secretary said: 'Well, there is no need for that. We have seen this incredible level of uptake of the vaccine in this country and what we have learned in the last 24 hours is that the rollout of the vaccine is working.

'We have seen that the safety system is working because the regulators can spot even this extremely rare event, four in a million, and take necessary action to ensure that the rollout is as safe as it possibly can be.

'And we are seeing that the vaccine working, it is breaking the link between cases and deaths, the number of people dying from Covid halved again just in the last nine days since I last spoke to you and is down 98 per cent from the peak.

'So we can have confidence, people can take confidence that we have a system that we are extremely careful on the safety front but that the rollout is progressing at pace so when you get the call, get the jab.'

Mr Hancock insisted the MHRA was correct to be 'totally transparent'. He said: 'I think people can be reassured that we have the high class safety system run by our world class regulator if you like at the MHRA and then we are totally transparent with all of the side effects, no matter how extremely rare they are like these ones.'

He added: 'Well, it is absolutely right that we are completely transparent and that we have this highly sensitive safety system that can spot even these extremely rare events and it is important though that we are clear about the policy.

'All three vaccines that are in use in the UK are safe and they are safe at all ages but there is a preference for the under-30s, if they want to have the Pfizer of Moderna jab instead then they can.

'But not only the British regulator but even the European regulator and indeed the world health authority yesterday said that the Oxford AstraZeneca jab is safe and we know that it is highly, highly effective.'

Asked how the rollout of vaccinations will work for people under the age of 30, he said: 'There are 10.16million people aged 18-29 in the UK, 1.6million of them have already had their first jab.

'Anybody who has had the jab should continue with the second jab because there is no evidence of this effect after a second jab.

'And we have enough, more than enough, Pfizer and Moderna vaccine to cover all of the remaining eight and a half million people aged between 18 and 29 if necessary.

'It is some time before we will get onto that cohort, the next step once we have made sure we have got that offer out to everybody in the current groups one to nine, the over-50s, then we will move onto people in their 40s, people like me, and then people in their 30s.

'After that we will come to people aged 19 to 29 and we will make sure that they have the option of having the Pfizer or the Moderna jab if they want to and we have large numbers of jabs coming on stream, we have 40million Pfizer jabs in production, we have 17million Moderna jabs that are coming through.

'So as you can see thankfully, because we have been working on this for over a year now, we have got more than enough jabs and we are on track to hit the target that we have set that we will ensure every adult in the UK is offered the jab by the end of July.'

Asked for his message to people in their 20s who may be reluctant to get a jab, Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast: The first thing to say is that the vaccines are safe and if you want to have the Pfizer vaccine or Moderna vaccine instead then that is fine.

The second thing to say is that Covid is a horrible disease and long Covid affects people in their 20s, just as much it seems as any other age group and can have debilitating side effects that essentially ruin your life.

We have seen some of the stories of the impact on people unable to get their breath many, many months after and the mental health impacts of having Covid are increasingly clear as well.

So the vaccine is there to protect you because although of course any drug has side effects and we are totally transparent about those side effects and publish all the data that we have on them, getting Covid has very bad effects and the regulators, not just the British regulator but the European regulator and the World Health Organisation are clear that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks.

Jonathan Van Tam, England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said yesterday that AstraZeneca's jab is only being paused for under-30s in Britain because coronavirus levels are so low.

If Covid was still more prevalent, as it is in Europe, he suggested that the vaccine would still be recommended for all ages, including young people.

The MHRA insisted there was still no concrete proof that the British-made vaccine is causing the clots, but admitted the link was getting firmer.

The review prompted the Government's vaccine advisory group, the JCVI, to recommend that people aged 18 to 29 be given an alternative jab.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, coronavirus chairman for the vaccines committee, said: 'The Covid-19 vaccines have already saved thousands of lives and the benefit for the majority of the population is clear  if you are offered a vaccine, you should take it.'

However, the European Medicines Agency, the EU's regulator, took a bolder approach, saying that blood clots should be listed as a 'very rare' side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine but it stopped short of imposing any age restrictions on its use.

The Government wheeled out a series of graphs comparing the risk of falling ill with Covid compared to the threat of developing blood clots after getting the AZ vaccine in various age groups. In low Covid levels, every 100,000 vaccines prevents 0.8 ICU admissions from coronavirus in people under 30 but 1.1 people will suffer blood clotting after having the jab, making the threat higher than the virus itself

When coronavirus is prevalent in society, 100,000 AstraZeneca vaccines prevent 127.7 Covid ICU admissions among 60 to 69-year-olds. For 20 to 29-year-olds, every 100,000 vaccine administered stops seven people in that age group from being admitted to intensive care with the disease

The EMA, which polices the safety of drugs used on the continent, spotted 169 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVST) and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), from 34million jabs. CVST occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot. It can lead to a stroke. SVT is the same type of blood clot but it occurs in the digestive system

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, pictured during a visit to Truro, Cornwall, yesterday said the Government believes the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is 'safe'

Jonathan Van-Tam, England's deputy medical officer, led a press conference this afternoon, where it was announced the AZ vaccine is being restricted in under 30s

What should I do if I've had the AZ jab? What are the alternatives for under-30s? And what are the tell-tale symptoms of blood clots? WHAT HAS HAPPENED? The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that healthy adults aged 18-29 are offered an alternative vaccine to the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, if available. The recommendation follows a review by the UK's medicines regulator, the MHRA, which found there was a 'strong possibility' that very rare blood clots, known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), could be caused by the vaccine. Dr June Raine, chief executive of the MHRA, yesterday said the possible side effect was 'extremely rare', while the balance of benefits from having the jab are 'still very favourable for the majority of people'. However, for healthy younger adults, for which the risk from coronavirus is far lower, it is more 'finely balanced'. SHOULD I STILL GET MY SECOND AZ JAB? Anyone who has already had their first dose of AstraZeneca's jab, regardless of their age, was today urged to still attend their second appointment as planned. Trials have shown the jabs work better after two doses, with the UK's current campaign based on getting the top-up 12 weeks after the first. The decision only applies to healthy under-30s  who should not yet have been invited for vaccines. Regulators insisted the benefits of the jab  which has been repeatedly been proven to save lives and stop people falling severely ill with Covid  clearly outweigh the very small risk for everyone else. Addressing the fears today, Boris Johnson said it was 'very important for everybody to continue to get their top-up jab when you're asked to come forward for your turn.' CAN I CHANGE AND GET A DIFFERENT VACCINE? Currently, you cannot switch jabs in between first and second doses. The JCVI is not currently recommending the mixing of vaccines because there is not yet the evidence to support its effectiveness. Trials mixing doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca are ongoing with data expected soon. At the moment, people will be offered a second dose in line with the first. Furthermore, there have so far been no recorded cases of serious clotting incidents in the UK after a second dose of the vaccine  all have been following the first. People are advised to get their second dose of the jab, whatever their age. IF I'M PREGNANT, SHOULD I GET THE VACCINE? The advice on this has not changed, meaning it's recommended that those who are pregnant should not be vaccinated, with some exceptions. This is because the vaccines have not yet been tested in pregnancy. While there is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine would harm the baby, pregnancy is more likely to lead to thrombosis. Therefore women should discuss with their healthcare professional whether the benefits of having the vaccine outweigh the risks for them. WHAT ALTERNATIVE JABS COULD BE GIVEN TO UNDER-30S? The MHRA ruled that Britons under 30 should not be given AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine due to mounting evidence linking it to rare blood clots. More than 20million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have now been given in the UK, with the jab used as the main weapon in the UK's arsenal. The roll-out is unlikely to move on to under-30s for several weeks, perhaps months, meaning that supplies of the other jabs could be saved for younger adults. The chief scientist behind the US-developed Novavax vaccine, which Britain has secured 60million doses of, has said he expects it to be given the green light this month and rolled out in May. A separate vaccine made by American pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson, which uses the same type of technology as AstraZeneca's but is administered via a single injection, is slated for a summer rollout. But, given that AstraZeneca's vaccine is the main driver of the campaign, the roll-out could be slowed if the change of heart on blood clots knocks public confidence in 30-50 year olds. I'M 29. WHAT IF THEY ONLY OFFER THE OXFORD VACCINE? Officials say this will not happen unless you have an underlying medical condition and are prioritised. In such instances, they say the benefit of having the vaccine far outweighs any issues as you have an equivalent risk from coronavirus as 65 to 70-year-olds. For healthy under-30s, officials are confident there are sufficient supplies of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines coming on stream to vaccinate all 10million 18 to 29-year-olds in the UK. WHAT ARE THE BLOOD CLOTS LINKED TO ASTRAZENECA'S JAB? European health chiefs today ruled that AstraZeneca's Covid jab should come with a warning that, in very rare cases, it may cause potentially deadly blood clots. The EMA, which polices the safety of drugs used on the continent, spotted 169 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVST) and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), from 34million jabs. CVST occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot. It can lead to a stroke. SVT is the same type of blood clot but it occurs in the digestive system. WHAT SYMPTOMS DO THEY CAUSE? The EMA said symptoms of the two blood clots included: Shortness of breath

Chest pain

Swelling of leg

Persistent stomach pain

Severe headache

Blurred vision

Skin bruising beyond the site of injection IS THERE ANY PROOF THE JAB CAUSES THE BLOOD CLOTS? Scientists have repeatedly insisted there is no proof yet that AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine causes the blood clots. But officials are still investigating the link and can't rule it out completely. Although there isn't any evidence that the clots are developing because of vaccinations, some academics have a theory that it is the immune reaction making it happen. Research teams in Germany and Norway claim the blood clotting issue may be caused by the jab, in very rare cases, making the body attack its own platelets. Platelets are tiny chunks of cells inside blood that the body uses to build clots to stop bleeding when someone is injured. But they can also make unwanted clots. Experts from Oslo and Greifswald University believe the jab could cause the body to produce antibodies  normally used to fight off viruses  which mistake platelets in the blood for foreign invaders and attack them. To compensate, the body then overproduces platelets to replace those that are being attacked, causing the blood to thicken and raising the risk of clotting. The researchers say the phenomenon is similar to one that can occur in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), when sufferers take a drug called heparin. HOW OFTEN ARE THE CLOTS OCCURRING? Figures presented by the EMA today  which took into account data up until April 4  suggested the clots were occurring once in every 150,000 jabs. They also said most of the cases had occurred in women under 60. The MHRA, which plays the same role in the UK, found 79 cases of clots in 20million doses by the end of March. Officials said the risk was around one in every 250,000 doses. They also insisted the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people  but that the ratio was more 'finely balanced' in younger people. EMA chiefs said that the clots were occurring more often than expected, prompting them to say the jabs need to come with the warning that it is a rare side effect. But it said the committee investigating the link did not conclude that age and gender were clear risk factors for the very rare side effects. WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE ALREADY RESTRICTED THE JAB TO OLDER PEOPLE? Germany last week temporarily banned the AstraZeneca vaccine for under-60s, while France took the same controversial move for under-55s. Iceland has restricted it to over-70s, while Finland, Sweden and Lithuania all say it can only be given to adults over the age of 65. Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Latvia have all suspended the jab completely, while regulators probe the link further. But the EMA refused to back any of the nations in their age-restricted roll-outs. Last week it publicly said there was no evidence to justify sweeping bans for younger people. I'VE HEARD ASPIRIN CAN STOP BLOOD CLOTTING. SHOULD I TAKE IT BEFORE THE JAB? No. The risks of an adverse clotting event are extremely low. Taking aspirin or anti-coagulants can increase the risk of bleeding and is not Advertisement

Britons over the age of 30 are still being advised to take the AstraZeneca jab because the risk of Covid far outweighs the chance of developing the extremely rare conditions. But the JCVI said the benefit to risk ratio was 'more finely balanced' in younger people.

Professor Van Tam said the new advice marked a 'course correction' for the UK's vaccine rollout - and reiterated that for the vast majority of people the 'benefits outweigh the risks'.

Displaying three slides that showed the relative risk of coronavirus versus blood clots after vaccination, Professor Van Tam said that for older age groups the risk of the disease always outweighs the risk after having the AstraZeneca jab.

He said that when coronavirus is prevalent in society, 100,000 AstraZeneca vaccines prevent 127.7 Covid ICU admissions among 60 to 69-year-olds. For 20 to 29-year-olds, every 100,000 vaccine administered stops seven people in that age group from being admitted to intensive care with the disease.

However, he justified the change in course on the AstraZeneca vaccine by pointing out that when Covid levels are low - as they currently are in the UK - the benefit per vaccine is lower.

In low Covid levels, every 100,000 vaccines prevents 0.8 ICU admissions from coronavirus in people under 30 but 1.1 people will suffer blood clotting after having the jab, making the threat higher than the virus itself.

The EU currently has much higher levels of coronavirus than the UK and is in the midst of a third wave, likely driving the EMA's decision not to issue any age restrictions for the vaccine.

Professor Van-Tam insisted the under-30s ban would have no bearing on the UK's ambition to vaccinate all adults against coronavirus by the end of July, so long as Pfizer and Moderna can meet their scheduled deliveries.

However, leaked figures have revealed that the AstraZeneca jab makes up 75 per cent of Britain's jab roll out.

The country is set to start vaccinating under-50s next month but has only comparatively small numbers of Pfizer and approximately 100,000 Moderna jabs available every week.

Any slowing of the vaccine roll-out would be a political body blow to Mr Johnson who has enjoyed a recovery in the polls thanks to his success deploying jabs after a series of missteps at the start of the pandemic.

The UK's drive had already suffered a set back, with NHS bosses effectively blocking over-40s from getting jabs this month following India's decision to block a shipment of five million AstraZeneca doses that officials hoped would speed up the rollout.

Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said he does not believe the announcement would slow vaccine uptake, saying that being 'over-cautious' will 'cost lives'.

He said: 'This is a fascinating issue for the very simple reason that the EMA  is also recommending that the Oxford AZ vaccine remains safe for all age groups.

'That was another thing that was interesting. Individual EU countries have restricted its use, I think that there is a real danger that being over-cautious as is happening in France and Germany will cost more lives than it saves.'

'Because what we can see in this country is that we have a death rate from Covid nine times lower than for example in France because we have this vaccine rolled out quickly.'

'A lot of that is thanks to Oxford AstraZeneca so I think most people can see we are really benefiting from a rapid rollout from the vaccine.

Mr Johnson said the Government believes the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is 'safe' and had already saved countless lives, insisting that Britons who have had a first dose of AstraZeneca should continue to get their second jabs.

The Prime Minister said: 'But the crucial thing for everybody is to listen to what the scientists, the medical experts, have to say.'

He added: 'You can really start to see some of the benefits of that - it's pretty clear that the decline in the number of deaths, the decline in the number of hospitalisations is being fuelled, is being assisted, the steepness of that decline is being helped by the rollout of the vaccines so it's very important for everybody to continue to get your second jab when you're asked to come forward for your turn.'

'You can really start to see some of the benefits of that  it's pretty clear that the decline in the number of deaths, the decline in the number of hospitalisations is being fuelled, is being assisted, the steepness of that decline is being helped by the roll-out of the vaccines so it's very important for everybody to continue to get your second jab when you're asked to come forward for your turn.'

Announcing the updated guidance, Dr June Raine, head of the MHRA, told a press conference: 'Based on the current evidence, the benefits of the Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca against Covid-19 and its associated risks  hospitalisation and death  continues to outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people. Our review has reinforced that the risk of this rare suspected side effect remains extremely small.'

Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the JCVI, said there was a slight gradient of risk of blood clots in younger age groups with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Speaking at a briefing hosted by the Science Media Centre (SMC) yesterday, Prof Harnden said: 'We on JCVI have decided that that risk-benefit ratio doesn't really stack up when it comes to the very well under 30-year-olds.

'We felt on JCVI having weighed up all the data that the benefits outweighed the risks in anybody over the age of 30.

'But under the age of 30 it was not clear the benefits did outweigh the risks and they were more similar, and therefore we decided... as a precautionary approach we would advise an alternative vaccine for that particular age group.

'We just thought there was enough doubt in our minds that the benefits did not completely outweigh the risks of the vaccine in the very young, well age group.'

Professor Van-Tam said it was not unusual for doctors to alter their view on medicines and vaccines. He acknowledged the change in recommended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine might result in delays and longer journeys to receive the jab.

He told the press conference: 'The NHS has a message that we will get the right vaccine to you in the right time according to the new JCVI advice.

'There might be a small delay sometimes, there might be a slightly greater distance that some people might be asked to travel. But the NHS is all over this and understands the challenge of making the advice from JCVI truly operational in a smooth way.'

Of the 79 people who suffered clots after getting the AstraZenca vaccine in the UK, a total of 19 people have died, although it has not been established what the cause was in every case. The 79 cases occurred in 51 women and 28 men, aged from 18 to 79. Of the 19 who died, three were under the age of 30, the MHRA said.

Some 14 cases of the 19 were cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), a specific type of clot that prevents blood from draining from the brain. The other five cases were thrombosis in the arteries.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi tweeted that there was 'reassurance' that drug safety standards worked well 'in both the United Kingdom & the EU'.

He added: 'This is important in maintaining confidence in the largest vaccination program in history. As @BorisJohnson has said; We will follow the advice & are confident in meeting our programme targets.'

Reacting to the guidance change in the UK, independent experts said the link between the jab and clotting was becoming 'increasingly plausible', but they reiterated they were still 'rare'.

Dr Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health, University of Southampton, said: 'We have seen an update from the UK and EU regulators, suggesting that these thrombotic events may have been a causal, but rare, adverse event from the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. This link is still not proven, but is now thought to be increasingly plausible.

'It's important to emphasise that adverse events happen with all medicines, and vaccines are no exceptions. Safety surveillance is vital in picking up and assessing signals that emerge from the data. There were some cases of severe anaphylaxis with the Pfizer vaccine early in the UK rollout.

'These were openly investigated, guidance subsequently updated, and the rollout continued with high public confidence. Hopefully, we will see similar outcomes here in the UK with the Oxford AstraZeneca product, and also that European countries can get their vaccine administrations back on track.

'The harm from withdrawing the vaccine altogether is almost certainly going to be much greater than the harm from rare adverse events.

'The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is a vital tool in the global strategy to contain the pandemic. It is being manufactured in large numbers, is stored at refrigeration temperatures and thus easier to transport, cost per dose is cheap, and key to the COVAX distribution to low- and lower-middle income countries.

'Maintaining public confidence is so important. An open transparent process to assessing safety concerns must be part of that.'

The EU's medical regulator said that AstraZeneca's vaccine should come with a clear warning that blood clots are a 'very rare side effect'.

No specific risk factors had been identified based on current evidence, the regulator confirmed at a press briefing yesterday afternoon.

The EMA refused to back Germany and other nations banning the jabs for under-60s, saying they could not prove that age or gender was a risk factor for the 'very rare' side effect.

When there is medium prevalence, the threat of Covid still outweighs the chance of clots after AZ vaccine in every age group

Leaked delivery schedules reveal the Government is expecting AstraZeneca's vaccine to make up 75 per cent of its Covid jab supplies over the next two months. The document, published on the Scottish Government's website in January and quickly taken down, showed Britain was anticipating about 29.4m doses of AstraZeneca's jab between April and the first week of June. By comparison, officials expected just 8.5m of Pfizer's vaccine in the next two months and 1m of the new Moderna jab, which is being rolled out for the first time in Wales today

Clots are similar to condition linked to blood-thinning medicine, says Europe The rare but potentially fatal blood clots associated with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine are similar to a condition suffered by patients treated with a blood-thinning medicine, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has said. Analysis of the jab, prompted by concerns about severe blood clots, concluded that most of the incidents occurred in women under 60 within two weeks of vaccination with the AstraZeneca product, but said no specific risk factors have been identified based on current evidence. They said the body's natural response, similar to conditions seen in patients treated with the anticoagulant heparin, might be a plausible explanation for the blood clotting side effect. EMA safety committee chairwoman Dr Sabine Straus told a Brussels briefing on Wednesday: 'Current available data did not allow us to identify a definite cause for these complications. 'However possible plausible explanations have been put forward, including an immune response that leads to a condition that seems similar to atypical heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.' The EMA said data showed the blood clots reported had been found in veins in the brain, the abdomen and arteries, combined with low levels of blood platelets and sometimes bleeding. Symptoms associated with the blood clots include shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling in the leg, persistent abdominal pain, severe headaches, blurred vision and tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the area where the injection was administered, and anyone who displayed them should seek medical attention. The EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee carried out an in-depth review of 62 cases of clots in the brain and 24 cases of clots in the abdomen as of March 22, with 18 of the combined cases proving fatal. They came from reporting systems in the European Economic Area and the UK, from around 25 million people who had received the vaccine. The committee has requested new studies and amendments to ongoing ones to provide more information. Emer Cooke, executive director of the EMA, said its review 'confirmed that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19 overall outweigh the risk of side effects', adding: 'Vaccination is extremely important in helping us in the fight against Covid-19.' Advertisement

European health chiefs said they had spotted 169 cases of CVST and 53 cases of a separate blood clot called splanchnic vein thrombosis out of 34million doses dished out by April 4  the equivalent of one blood clot for every 150,000 doses. But many of these clots would have occurred naturally, meaning the true risk will be smaller.

Health ministers from EU countries will hold a virtual conference this evening to discuss their next steps with the AstraZeneca jab.

The EMA said the risk of deadly side effects from AstraZeneca's vaccine is far lower than the risk of death from Covid.

It suggested the vaccine should come with a warning and individual countries should decide who is vaccinated with which company's jab.

Emer Cooke, executive director of the EMA, sought to downplay any concerns about blood clots.

She said: 'These are very rare side effects. The risk of mortality from Covid is much greater than risk of mortality from these side effects.'

Dr Sabine Straus, the regulator's chairwoman, said the available data found a 'very rare event that might occur'.

She told a press conference: 'The frequency is difficult to assess, but we feel if you state the reporting rate is approximately one in 100,000 or even a little bit higher, that would reflect the risk.

'Based on that information we ask national vaccination authorities to make up their mind on who they would like to vaccinate with which kind of vaccine.'

The EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) said the blood clots reported had been found in veins in the brain, the abdomen and arteries, combined with low levels of blood platelets and sometimes bleeding.

It said symptoms associated with the blood clots included shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling in the leg, persistent abdominal pain, severe headaches, blurred vision and tiny blood spots under the skin where the injection was administered.

Anyone who displayed them should seek medical attention, the EMA said.

The committee carried out an in-depth review of 62 cases of clots in the brain and 24 cases of clots in the abdomen as of March 22, with 18 of the combines cases proving fatal.

The EMA said most of the cases of blood clots reported have occurred in women under 60 within two weeks of vaccination with the company's jab.

They came from reporting systems in the European Economic Area and the UK, from around 25 million people who had received the vaccine.

Ms Cooke said its review 'confirmed that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19 overall outweigh the risk of side effects'.

Britain's daily Covid cases fall by a third in a week with 2,763 more infections - while deaths rise slightly to 45 Britain's daily Covid cases have fallen by a third in a week but deaths rose slightly, official figures revealed today. Department of Health data showed there were 2,763 new lab-confirmed cases recorded and 45 Covid deaths, which was two more than last Wednesday. More than 31.7million Britons - or three in five adults - have also now received their first dose, after the national drive began to pick up the pace yesterday following the Easter bank holiday. In a boost to Britain's roll-out today, however, Wales became the first UK nation to start dishing out the Moderna Covid vaccine. More than 100,000 doses of the US-made jab are set to arrive in the country this month, with deliveries expected to 'significantly increase' from May. Advertisement

She said: 'Vaccination is extremely important in helping us in the fight against Covid-19.

'This vaccine has proven to be highly effective. It is saving lives, vaccination is extremely important in helping us in the fight against Covid and we need to use the vaccine we have to protect us from the devastating effects.

'We will continue to monitor the scientific evidence and issue further recommendations, if necessary, on the grounds of science and robust evidence.

'When millions of people receive these vaccines, very rare events can occur that were not identified in clinical trials.

'Our conclusion is that these clotting disorders are very rare side effects of the vaccine.'

Ms Straus said the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19 overall outweigh the risk of side effects.

She said: 'This vaccine has proven to be highly effective, it prevents severe disease and hospitalisation and it is saving lives.

'Vaccination is extremely important in helping us in the fight against Covid-19 and we need to use the vaccines we have to protect us from the devastating effects.

'Prac, after a very in-depth analysis, has concluded that the reported cases of unusual blood clotting following vaccination of the AstraZeneca vaccine should be listed as possible side effects of the vaccine.'

She added: 'I think that the cases that we have evaluated, the 62 together with the expert group, those cases provided quite good and extensive information.

'But nevertheless, the number is very limited. On the one hand, that's of course very good and fortunate that the number of cases is limited. At the same time, that also makes it very difficult to find common factors.

'And on the other hand, what we also know is a lot of cases that are spontaneously reported, they are not as complete as we would like to have them in order to further analyse them.

'So I would like to repeat again, my kind request for people who suspect that they might have a side effect, please report it, and report it as extensively, and as complete, as possible.'

Elle Taylor, 24, today became the first person to receive the Moderna jab in the UK. She said it would help her care for her grandmother 'properly and safely'

A TIMELINE OF THE ASTRAZENECA BLOOD CLOT SAGA March 7: Austria suspended the use of one batch of the vaccine after a woman, 49, who had been given it died of a 'severe coagulation disorder' and a 35-year-old developed a blood clot in her lung. March 11: Authorities in Denmark, Norway and Iceland suspended all use of the vaccine following a 60-year-old woman in Denmark died of a blood clot after the reports emerged in Austria. Danish health minister Magnus Heunicke said: 'It is currently not possible to conclude whether there is a link.' March 11: European Medicines Agency's safety committee began an investigation into the cases. It confirms 30 cases of 'thromboembolic events'  clots  were reported after five million vaccines in the EEA. March 12: Thailand suspended the use of the vaccine off the back of European worries. Bulgaria also stops using it. March 12: The European Medicines Agency, Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, the World Health Organization and AstraZeneca itself, all spoke out to defend the vaccine and say there is no proof it's linked to blood clots. March 13: The Netherlands, Italy and Ireland temporarily stopped using the vaccine as fears about the cases in Austria and Denmark snowballed. March 14: Germany and France suspended the vaccine. March 15: Spain, Portugal and Slovenia suspended use of the jab. March 15: Professor Andrew Pollard, the Oxford expert who ran the clinical trials of the jab, insisted safety data are 'reassuring' and said 'clearly those blood clots still happen' as often as they would in unvaccinated people. March 16: World Health Organization officials met to discuss the issue. European Medicines Agency is still investigating. March 17: Scientists accuse governments of banning the jab on political grouns. AstraZeneca's vaccine has been a flashpoint in the past. March 18: European Medicines Agency holds a press conference on its investigation and rules that the vaccine is 'safe and effective'. It said there wasn't enough evidence to rule out a link to blood clots, but also not enough to prove one. On balance, it would be safer for countries to keep using the vaccine to stop Covid. The investigation would continue. March 18: Germany, France and Italy resume use of the jab after the EMA's conclusion. March 19: Finland suspends the jab after finding blood clot cases in its own population. March 19: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands and Spain all confirm they will start using the jab again. Scandinavian countries did not follow suit and kept the ban in place. March 22: A study is published that found public trust in the AstraZeneca vaccine collapsed in Europe at the time of the blood clot saga. A YouGov survey found more than half of people in Germany, France, Italy and Spain believed the jab was unsafe. March 30: Germany bans the vaccine for people under the age of 60 after officials said they had found 31 cases of CSVT after 2.7million vaccinations. April 2: UK regulators announce a total of 30 blood clots, 22 in the brain, have now been discovered in Britons vaccinated with the AZ jab. April 5: UK regulators begin reviewing their guidance amid concern the jab is considerably more likely among younger people. April 7: The UK's chief vaccine advisory group concludes the jab should not be given to Brits aged between 18 and 29. It said an 'alternative' vaccine should be given, if one is available. April 7: The EU's regulator took a different approach, saying that blood clots should be listed as a 'very rare' side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine but stopping short of imposing any age restrictions on its use. Advertisement

Some 34million AstraZeneca jabs had been dished out in the EU by April 4, with 169 cases of CVS and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis. This is the equivalent of one in every 150,000 doses, according to Google.

The EMA said the updated figures  which were slightly higher than the headline numbers in the main release  did not change the recommendations.

Scientists believe the combination of clots and low blood platelets could be caused by an immune response leading to a condition similar to those seen in heparin patients.

Patients who use the blood thinner sometimes fall into heparin induced thrombocytopenia  a condition involving thrombosis.

Professor Van Tam insisted that the MHRA's updated guidance would not impact Mr Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown, which targets the lifting of all major restrictions by June 21.

Officials have put the AstraZeneca jab at the heart of the country's rollout and a leaked delivery schedule reveal the Government is expecting it to make up 75 per cent of its Covid vaccine supplies over the next two months.

The document, published on the Scottish Government's website in January and quickly taken down, showed the UK was anticipating about 29.4million doses of AstraZeneca's jab between April and the first week of June.

For comparison, officials expected just 8.5m of Pfizer's vaccine  which is already being rationed for second doses  in the next two months. Britain's supply comes entirely from the EU, which has threatened to block exports of the jab.

Officials were also only expecting 1million doses of the new Moderna jab, which is being rolled out for the first time in Wales today. But supply will trickle in at around 160,000 doses a week, if the leaked plans are still correct. And the UK has only bought 17million  enough to vaccinate 8.5million people.

Professor Adam Finn, from the University of Bristol and a member of the Government's vaccine advisory group, the JCVI, admitted pausing the AstraZeneca jab could threaten Britain's roadmap out of lockdown.

He said today: 'We do need to keep the programme going if the plan to open things up and allow things to get back to normal is to proceed without another wave of the pandemic coming through. So it's quite a tricky balancing act here, getting the balance right, getting vaccines coming through... getting the risk-benefit right for people coming forward.'

One Tory MP told MailOnline that halting the jab would 'certainly put things back', adding: 'Clearly it would have very adverse consequences because AstraZeneca is the workhorse of the vaccination programme.'

However, the UK inoculation programme could be bolstered if two other promising jabs under review are given approval by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the coming weeks.

The chief scientist behind the US-developed Novavax vaccine, which Britain has secured 60million doses of, has said he expects it to be given the green light this month and rolled out in May. All of the Novavax supplies on order will be manufactured within the UK under a new Government deal announced last week, which could drastically speed up its distribution.

A separate vaccine made by American pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson, which uses the same type of technology as AstraZeneca's but is administered via a single injection, is scheduled for a summer rollout.

Because people given the J&J vaccine don't need a 12-week follow-up appointment, it means ministers don't have to reserve supplies for second doses and can unleash them all at once.

Britain's inoculation drive drastically slowed down over the Easter weekend, figures showed. Just 100,000 vaccines were dished out on Sunday and Monday, reaching 88,000 Britons.

Number 10's scientific advisers had already hinted that supplies of Moderna's jab could be reserved for younger people, if the MHRA pressed ahead with a German-style ban.
A look at the major movers on the London market on Thursday

( ) has accelerated after the car dealership issued a positive first quarter update even though its showrooms were shut thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown.

It said it continued to take orders and fulfil vehicle handovers through its dealership teams, call centres and website.

It said: "These activities were underpinned by our new Click and Drive and contactless technology platform, which has allowed us to service the increased demand through digital channels."

Despite the restrictions, its performance was better than expected, with 44,000 cars sold compared to 49,000 the same time last year. New car sales were flat compared to a 1.2% fall for the sector as a whole.

Lookers is cautious about the rest of the year (unsurprisingly) but said that following the better than expected quarterly performance, it expected full year profits to be materially ahead of the concensus forecast of 22.6mln.

The company's shares are up 14.86% or 9.3p to 71.9p.

3.03pm: Green is Good

( ), the energy storage and clean fuel company, has received a positive reaction to its plans for improving its environmental and social performance.

Its shares have added 2.96% or 13.6p to 472.8p after its inaugural Environmental, Social and Governance report set future targets for the business, which included reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions before 2050 and assessing all critical suppliers by May next year.

Chief executive Dr Graham Coole said: "By unlocking the power of green hydrogen, our products are helping the world reach net zero. But we need to bring that same ambition to everything we do as a business - whether that's developing our employees, investing in our local communities or minimising our own carbon footprint. Our Sustainable Energy, Engineered Sustainably strategy will help us to achieve that goal."

2.12pm: Education group sees light at the end of the tunnel

As a supplier of technology and resources to the education sector, ( ) has clearly been adversely affected by pandemic shutting down the country's schools.

But with pupils returning and signs that things are improving generally, it has issued a cautiously positive message to shareholders at its annual meeting.

Chairman John Poulter said: "The first quarter trading performance has been impacted by the closure of schools and the cancellation of 2021 school examinations in the UK and Ireland. The effect of this nationwide lockdown in RM Resources has been less significant than experienced in the prior year as the numbers of pupils physically in school has been higher and trading has recovered quickly since the reopening of schools.

"The situation remains uncertain as a result of COVID-19 but the group was profitable in the first quarter and remains in a robust financial position with net debt as at 28 February 2021 of 13.3m (February 2020: 30.0m) against a committed credit facility of 70m."

Investors are accentuating the positive, and RM's shares are up 7.44% or 16p at 231p.

11.42am: Sun rises on Caspian

The charmingly named ( ) is looking bright after its latest update.

The Kazakhstan oil and gas company said its flagship BNG Contract Area asset produced 119,916 barrels in the first three months of the year, and while domestic prices remained low, thay had recently risen from approximately $6 a barrel to $7.27.

Chairman Clive Carver said: "With the improving weather we are able to increase the pace of our operations at BNG. We now have three operational rigs and expect a fourth rig to become operational in the next few weeks."

Caspian's shares have climbed 10.26% or 0.2p to 2.15p.

One of the day's big movers is Minds + Machines Group Limited ( ).

It has surged 65.22% or 3p to 7.6p after it agreed to sell the majority of its assets to Registry Services LLC, a subsidiary of US web domain group , for US$120mln in cash.

The top-level domain registry firm said the deal represented an estimated value of 8.8p per share, a 91% premium to its closing price on Wednesday, adding there was a strong strategic rationale to sell to an established player in the industry.

10.16am: Drinks group goes tropical

Investors are toasting the latest news from drinks group PLC ( ).

The company - whose brands include Blackwoods Vintage Gin and Blavod Original Black Vodka - has added another flavour to its RedLeg rum product.

RedLeg Tropical Rum, the third flavour extension to the brand, adds mango, guava and passionfruit to the rum base, which is led in the Caribbean.

Executive chairman Don Goulding said: "We've seen tremendous growth in the spiced rum category and for the RedLeg over the last 12 months. Our RedLeg Spiced Rum has performed well in major retail and the existing flavours have been instrumental in recruiting new consumers to the brand and have delivered incremental sales. We are confident that RedLeg Tropical Rum will continue to build on this success."

Its shares have bubbled up 11.54% or 0.3p to 2.9p.

9.05am: Healthcare group signs collaboration agreement

( ) - whose businesses range from commercial property to pubs to life science investments - is in demand.

Its shares have climbed 6.46% or 1.68p to 27.68p after one of its investments, women's health specialist Verso Biosense, announced the signing of its second product collaboration agreement with one of the UK's leading fertility clinics, London Women's Clinic.

The clinic will use its uterine monitoring device to refine Verso's technology and biosensing platform to meet the needs of its fertility patients.

Joseph Cefai, Head of Product Development at Verso Biosense, said: "We are delighted to announce our partnership with the London Women's Clinic, a true leader in providing world-class fertility treatment to women and couples. It is testament to the potential of our ground-breaking platform that this is the second partnership we have announced in the space of a few of weeks, following our agreement with Homerton University Hospital in March. We are moving at pace to provide our monitoring platform to meet the needs of patients and we are delighted by the progress that we are making."

One of the day's big fallers is ( ).

The potash exploration and development company whose flagship asset is the 97%-owned Sintoukola Potash Project in the Republic of Congo ("RoC") is down 0.4p or 24.24% to 1.25p.

The fall comes on news of an US$ 11mln fundraising for working capital for the next twelve months and to meet the cost of an optimisation study for the Sintoukola project.

To be fair, the day's drop still leaves the shares above the placing price of 1.1p a share.

Under a proposed debt and royalty funding deal with its partners Summit Africa, SEPCO Electric Power Construction Corporation and China ENFI Engineering Corporation, Kore would not be required to contribute to the capital needed to build the US$1.65bn project and would retain a 90% equity interest.

8.23am: Mining group upbeat on open pit prospects

( ) is in sparkling form after a positive update from a gold deposit in Australia.

A preliminary study for a small-scale open pit mining operation at Rockfire's Plateau Gold Deposit in North Queensland showed positive anticipated cash flows and paves the way for further drilling.

The company said possible cash flow ranged from AUD$6.8m to AUD$19.4m (GBP 3.7m to GBP 10.7m), depending on technical and operational variables. But five different scenarios all resulted in positive cash flow outcomes.

David Price, chief executive officer of Rockfire, said: ""We are very pleased that this preliminary Scoping Study has returned results indicative of a small-scale, open pit operation, delivering a range of net positive cash flow outcomes.

"At an early stage of a project's exploration history, it is prudent to focus on the possibility for eventual economic extraction and a positive result at this stage is a very significant achievement and a promising start for Plateau. As more work is completed, the understanding of the financial and operational parameters of a project become apparent and more confident. With numerous opportunities identified by the Study for further drilling, management is excited by Plateau's growth potential to improve the economics to achieve a larger production profile."

The miner's shares have climbed 12.12% or 0.1p to 0.95p in early trading.

Also heading higher is ( ).

The brain health specialist has won a contract with a new pharmaceutical client to provide cognitive assessments in an at-home clinical trial. The contract is worth approximately 0.5 million with most of the revenue expected to be recognised in 2021.

The company said the COVID-19 pandemic had accelerated interest in virtual or decentralised clinical trials, with more assessments being planned at home and therefore out of the clinic setting.

Matthew Stork, chief executive officer of Cambridge Cognition, said: "We are delighted to have secured this contract and to be supporting another major pharmaceutical company to assess cognition in patients' homes. This is a trend that we expect to continue and will therefore provide more growth opportunities for Cambridge Cognition in the future."

Its shares are 7.5p or 7.61% better at 106p.
Some lawmakers are fed up with the National Personnel Records Center, or NPRC, falling behind by nearly 500,000 military record requests critical for benefits. And the center still lacks a plan to overcome a year of limited operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"They're good folks, but I didn't see a sense of urgency," Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, said in an interview with Military.com. "The backlog is actually growing. Congress reacted and sent them money. We've been alarmed; we gave them more resources and yet the problem grows."

Last year, former President Donald Trump signed a $2.3 trillion coronavirus relief and government funding bill that included $15 million for the NPRC to combat the backlog, add resources for staff to work remotely and hire temporary employees. The funding also included a stipulation that the center could not furlough employees.

Read Next: 140 Former NatSec Officials Demand 9/11-Style Commission on Capitol Riots

A spokesperson for the NPRC said that ensuring a safe work environment is the center's top priority and that its employees are in the midst of being vaccinated.

"The staff at NPRC, many of whom are also veterans, have served with distinction throughout the pandemic, responding to over 167,000 requests from veterans, many of which involved burials, medical emergencies, homeless veterans seeking shelter, and comparable emergencies," the spokesperson said.

Davidson toured the NPRC's St. Louis facility Monday and said he was shocked that there isn't a timeline or plan to get the backlogged requests processed. The NPRC spokesperson said that it is "achieving some success" digitizing its vast library of records, which will make it easier to serve veterans electronically.

Most records for veterans who left the service in the past two decades are available electronically, but those whose records exist only on paper rely on human assistance to access them. Personnel records can be required for disability claims, proof of veteran status for other benefits, documentation in lawsuits and personal archives.

Yet the backlog continues to grow while the NPRC waits for updated guidance from the Biden administration.

"We do not have a firm timeline for returning to 100% occupancy of the facility," the NPRC spokesperson said. "We have been and will continue to follow the guidance of the administration regarding COVID-19 safety protocols, including its guidance regarding safe occupancy limitations in federal facilities."

The NPRC is working at 25% capacity, which equates to 187 staff on site operating in two shifts per day and on weekends, according to the spokesperson. Some of its work is also being conducted by employees remotely.

The center also is adding 100 additional staff to boost its attempt to catch up. There have been 63 cases of COVID-19 exposure at the facility, which requires a deep cleaning of the building and the staff to be quarantined, significantly bogging down the workflow.

Davidson and other legislators plan to meet with White House staff soon to discuss the problem that has had Congress' attention since November, when a bipartisan group of 233 lawmakers wrote a letter to the head of the NPRC amid mounting concerns from constituents unable to access their records.

"Some of this stuff are things that need to be turned around in a day or two -- for example, records to show eligibility for burials," Davidson said. "I saw a record request for a funeral from January."

Davidson argues that the St. Louis building where records are processed is a massive and open warehouse, meaning it could be safe to bring in more employees. According to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the coronavirus is less likely to spread in large spaces as opposed to tight office environments.

"If you need the National Guard to deploy to help file records faster while in Hazmat suits, sure.  I mean, there has to be a way to accomplish the mission. We've sent in millions of dollars, and the problems have only grown," Davidson added.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: 'Significant Anxiety and Hardship:' 233 Lawmakers Call for Military Records Processing to Resume
Miss Vicki isnt credited for her crucial role in the creation of George Porter Jr. & the Runnin Pardners new album, but she is unlikely to complain.

Miss Vicki is a dachshund/Labrador mix that belonged to Porters late wife, Ara. Ara was an early riser, much more so than her musician husband. Thus, Miss Vicki got in the habit of getting up and going outside before sunrise.

After Ara died of pancreatic cancer in 2017, it became Georges responsibility to deal with the dog in the wee hours. While waiting for Miss Vicki to finish her business outside, he started noodling around with either the acoustic bass or guitar he kept downstairs at his Gert Town townhouse.

Id pick it up to give myself something to do instead of falling asleep on the sofa, he recalled. I wrote six or seven songs while waiting for Miss Vicki to come back in.

Those early morning compositions account for half of Crying For Hope, Porters first full-length album of original songs with the Runnin Pardners in more than a decade.

Hell showcase songs from Crying for Hope Friday at Tipitinas. Both the 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. shows will start off with the George Porter Trio: Porter on bass, Michael Lemmler on keyboards and Terrence Houston on drums. Then Runnin Pardners guitarist Chris Adkins will join them for the second half of each show.

As the bassist in the Meters, Porter, now 73, helped define New Orleans funk in the 1960s and 70s. That legacy made him a legend in the jam-band community. On Feb. 24, 2018, at the Smoothie King Center, Porter sat in with Dead & Company, holding his own alongside three members of the Grateful Dead and guitarist John Mayer. Porter sang Sugaree to close the first set, hamming it up and earning a huge ovation.

It was very heart-warming, the applause and the reception I got for that, he said. I was getting ready to pass the bass back to Oteil (Burbridge, Dead & Companys bassist) because they were supposed to play another song. But Bobby (Weir) said there was no sense in playing anything else in that set.

After leaving the Smoothie King Center, Porter played two after-party shows catering to funk-loving Dead fans. That night, he noted, I paid some bills.

The coronavirus pandemic pulled the plug on such lucrative late nights of music-making, but Porter is easing back in. The Runnin Pardners are booked for Suwannee Surprise, a camping festival with socially distanced pods in Live Oak, Florida, on April 16-17; Galactic and Tank and the Bangas are also on the bill.

Hell then fly to Las Vegas to play at a fashion show for Ben Jammin, co-founder of the JamminOn line of tie-dye clothing and the supplier of Porters signature stage attire.

A tie-dye fan going back to the 60s, Porter was for a while wearing cheap, mass-produced knock-offs. Then he went on tour with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, and Jammin took offense to Porters wardrobe: He said, We are not having you wear that fake tie-dye.

For the past few years, Porter has pivoted between the jazz-leaning George Porter Trio and the funkier Runnin Pardners.

Several songs on Crying For Hope were originally recorded with the Pardners four years ago, only to be set aside as he focused on his trio. Hes got more than a dozen trio studio recordings waiting to be finished, along with hours of live recordings from the trios pre-pandemic Monday night residency at the Maple Leaf Bar.

The singing is the part that needs to be refined, he said. Im not always happy with the way I sing. It takes some time for me to be happy with me.

Sometimes he will forgo singing, lyrics or even a real title. The second song on Crying For Hope is called Porter 13A  the original file name that identified the track on his computer.

For other songs, he called in Susan Cowsill, Leslie Smith and Mia Borders to help with lyrics. Borders wrote words for Wanna Get Funky and Get Back Up. Porter didnt like the way he sang Get Back Up and was going to leave it off the album, until Lemmler suggested it remain as an instrumental.

Mia wrote some wonderful lyrics and I wasnt pulling it off really well, Porter said. Its about me being able to sing a track with some legitimacy. I did not do a really good job.

His girlfriend of two years, photographer Denise Sullivan, has helped him sort out paperwork leftover from a long legal battle with an ex-manager, as well as his lyrics.

She turns my words into English. Shell say, This just doesnt mean anything. Its not a word. And Ill say, If Dr. John can get away with it  She goes, Youre not Dr. John.

Musically, Crying For Hope covers familiar terrain for Porter, from the smooth funk of Cloud Funk to the Grateful Dead-like You Just Got Tired. Im Barely recalls the Radiators; Porters craggy vocal take evokes the Rads Dave Malone.

Porter wrote Im Barely when Ara, whod been at his side for 50 years, was nearing the end of her cancer battle.

I was canceling gigs to stay home. She was not having that. She did not want me to stop my career and be her caretaker. She was trying to push me away. I was having trouble with that.

She protected me all of my life. Even though what she was trying to do was protect me from her illness, it hit a soft spot on my bones.

Get Back Up, an album highlight, could pass for a lost Meters gem, given its effortless groove and the way Lemmlers sing-song organ style recalls that of the late Art Neville.

Lemmler also channels Neville on A Taste of Truth, which sounds tailor-made to be played on a sunny day at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Everyone in this band, unbeknownst to themselves, pays homage to the Meters, Porter said of Runnin Pardners. Especially with Lemmler, I always tell him, 'Think bebop. Dont think funk. Dont play an R&B solo.' I try to present this group in a light that shows their talents.

Not that Porter and his "partners" are running away from his Meters legacy. Royalties from classic Meters recordings have helped keep him afloat financially during the pandemic. The Runnin Pardners 2011 album Cant Beat the Funk consisted of new versions of 14 Meters songs that the band never, or rarely, performed live.

Just before the pandemic, Porter was in Mexico to play with Foundation of Funk, in which he and Meters drummer Zigaboo Modeliste explore their old bands catalog with different collaborators. Porter anticipates rejoining Foundation of Funk whenever Modeliste is ready to start playing again.

He also welcomes offers to pair him with Meters guitarist Leo Nocentelli (who will lead his own quartet for two shows Saturday at Tipitinas). At this point in time, Porter said, Im in no position to say no to income.

But hes unlikely to ever perform again as the Meters or the Funky Meters, the popular offshoot he fronted with Art Neville, who died in 2019.

I get questions all the time about whether Ill put a version of the Funky Meters together. The Funky Meters was Art and myself. Im not doing anything else with that.

Between the Runnin Pardners, the George Porter Trio and Miss Vicki, hes got more than enough to keep him runnin'.
Kendra Wilkinson has responded to claims her former Girls Next Door costar Holly Madison made about their time in the Playboy Mansion.

Madison, 41, on the podcast Call Her Daddy Wednesday, called into question Wilkinson's previous claims that she hadn't had relations with late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner prior to when she moved into the famed mansion at the age of 18.

'I had to sleep with him first ... I'm not trying to slut shame anybody or anything,' Madison said, 'but nobody ever got asked to move in unless they had slept with him.'

The latest: Kendra Wilkinson, 35, has responded to claims her former Girls Next Door costar Holly Madison, 41, made about their time in the Playboy Mansion

Wilkinson, 35, responded to the claims in a reply to an E! News Instagram post about the podcast, saying 'Dude... it's 2021.'

The San Diego native, who shares children, Hank IV, 11, and Alijah, seven, with ex-NFL Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Hank Baskett, 38, made clear she did not harbor any ill will amid the controversy.

'Times have changed, I forgive and have kids to love and focus on,' the 35-year-old reality star said.

The Girls Next Door star also responded to another commenter questioning why she had a negative reaction to the post from Madison.

Throwback: Madison, the late Hugh Hefner, Bridget Marquardt and Wilkinson were snapped in 2008 in LA

Wilkinson, 35, responded to the claims in a reply to an E! News Instagram post about the podcast, saying 'Dude... it's 2021'

Wilkinson also replied to commenters who questioned her take on the situation

'How am I hating,' Wilkinson said. 'She's one out there. I'm all love now baby.'

Wilkinson also replied to a commenter who said Madison 'shouldn't be shamed' for her recollections of the past, which might not square with contemporary values.

The commenter said to Wilkinson, 'There's nothing wrong with comparing what was glamorized 20 years ago to how things are now How about we not silence women, even if what they're discussing happened years ago.'

In response, Wilkinson said that 'if you believe this will help women then I will try to understand.'

She added: 'I wish I had more time with Holly to understand this side ... I wish her the best in life and [hope] this helps heal her.'

Appearing on I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! in 2014, Wilkinson said she was naive to the dynamics of the Playboy Mansion when she had moved in.

'I moved in and weeks went by, and I didn't know "sex" was involved ... because I knew nothing about Playboy - I had just graduated high school,' she said on the show, ET reported.
(CNN)  Samsung expects to have pulled off a strong first quarter, even as one of its chipmaking facilities was temporarily shut by a brutal US winter storm earlier this year.

The South Korean conglomerate said Wednesday that it likely made about 9.3 trillion Korean won ($8.3 billion) in operating profit from January to March, marking a 44% jump compared to the same period last year.

It also expected sales to have climbed about 17% year-on-year, to approximately 65 trillion Korean won ($58.2 billion). The preliminary results were roughly in line with estimates forecast by analysts polled by data provider Refinitiv.

Samsung's semiconductor plant in Austin, Texas was forced to shut down in February after the state was hit by widespread power outages related to a massive winter storm, but "reached production close to normal levels as of end of March," according to a statement from the company.

Analysts estimate that the disruption cost the company about 400 billion Korean won ($358 million). That's assuming that 100,000 semiconductor wafers "were discarded," according to Jae-yun Lee, an analyst at Yuanta Securities.

The suspension struck at a particularly unfortunate time: the global chip industry has been grappling with a supply crunch for months, with many players failing to keep up with demand.

Last month, Samsung co-CEO Koh Dong-jin told investors that the tech giant was having trouble with its supply chain. The company was scrambling to address the dearth of semiconductors, and could continue to face problems in the second quarter, he added.

But as the situation in Austin continues to improve, recovering output "should start to drive earnings growth for" Samsung's chip division, CW Chung, an analyst at Nomura, wrote in a note to clients on Wednesday.

Nomura's analysts also expect an increase in prices for certain semiconductor components in the second quarter, which they believe could help boost the company's results in the coming months.

Samsung smartphones are expected to shine, too. The company released its new Galaxy S21 devices this January, earlier than usual, and its "momentum" in the space "should stand out," Lee wrote in a recent research note previewing first quarter performance.

Samsung did not break down its earnings in its preliminary release. The company will report full results later this month.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Samsung says profits likely jumped 44% despite chip supply problems".
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.
A Filipino American man in Los Angeles was nearly hit with a rock by a stranger who appeared out of nowhere and started yelling in his direction.



The incident occurred while Andre Cadiz, 26, was having lunch with his dog outside Dollar Hits, a restaurant in the citys Historic Filipinotown around 4 p.m. on April 3.



Cadiz, who was sitting outside facing the restaurant, first heard the unidentified man yell incoherently. Ignoring the strangers remarks, he then heard a loud bang on the window right in front of him.



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It turns out the man had thrown a rock. Cadiz said it narrowly missed his head.



I jumped out of my seat and then I realized this guy in the parking lot was in a stance that looked like he just threw something, Cadiz, a graphic designer, told the Asian Journal. There was a mark on the window and Im like, Oh my God, that was a rock that went over my head.



Cadiz then pulled out his phone to film the rest of the incident, which he later posted on Instagram.



What the f*ck, bro? he called out the man.







The attacker, who held another rock and a pair of scissors, also dared restaurant staff to come outside and call the cops. He allegedly threw another object at one point.



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Cadiz confirmed that he did not hear the man use any racist language. Regardless, he fears the rise in anti-Asian violence in the city and across the country.



Dollar Hits, located in the 4200 block of Temple Street, is known for its Filipino street food. Owner Elvie Chan hopes the incident will not scare customers away, but instead raise awareness and bolster support for Filipino businesses.



The business has since reported the incident to law enforcement. As of this writing, the attacker remains at large.



Fortunately, we were all able-bodied to get out of the way, but our elders wouldnt have been so lucky, Cadiz wrote in a follow-up post. These are dangerous times for the AAPI community and I urge everyone to stay extra cautious, regardless of whether youre in an AAPI area, restaurant, store, etc.



Be safe everyone, please protect your family and community.



Feature Images via Andre Cadiz (@mintidesign)

Story continues

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

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Malaysia and Brunei have signed an agreement to develop two offshore oil fields on the maritime boundary, with greater exploration of recent ultra-deepwater discoveries.

The governments from both countries signed a unitisation agreement to develop the Gumusut-Kakap and Geronggong-Jagus East offshore oil fields. Development will be managed by Malaysian state-owned Petronas and Bruneis National Unitisation Secretariat (NUS).

The agreement took place during Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's visit to Brunei. It is one of several initiatives that was agreed upon during the official visit.

Having now formalised this landmark agreement, PETRONAS believes that both parties can look forward to continuing the strong momentum towards developing our nations energy sectors for the long-term growth and prosperity of both Brunei and Malaysia. Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Kamadjaja Aziz, Petronas president and group CEO, said of the agreement.

The Gumusut-Kakap field waters reach a depth of 1,200m, allowing for the development of two ultra-deepwater projects, Gumusut and Kakap. The field consists of 19 undersea wells. The maritime border location provides a new area of development for the oil industry in both countries.

Malaysia and Brunei are also expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on Transport Cooperation to develop their partnership in the areas of safety, security, intelligent transport systems and logistics. In addition, the two states could soon also reach a modernised Air Services Agreement and are expected develop their partnership to enhance gas resources across the two countries.

In the 23rd Annual Leaders' Consultation, held in Brunei, the national leaders from both states solidified existing commitments to information and communication technology, agriculture - food supply chains and distribution, trade and tourism.

Related Video: Irans Oil Exports Render Sanctions Irrelevant



This is not the only oil project to come out of Brunei in recent weeks. In late March, the government of Brunei announced plans to triple oil production over the next five years as Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) began exploratory drilling in deepwater wells.

BSP is preparing to drill deepwater exploration wells Merbah Deep-1 and Jagus Subthrust-1. The company has had a significant stake in Brunei oil since the discovery of the Seria field in 1929, with around 4,000 employees and over 20,000 contractors at present.

Bruneis Ministry of Energy said of the development last week, Both exploration wells will form a key test in proving new hydrocarbon volumes and opening up the deepwater, further in alignment to the ministrys strong emphasis to the operators to develop existing deepwater fields in the near to mid term.

The government hopes to expand national production to 350,000 bpd equivalent by 2025, owing largely to deepwater digging. This is a significant increase from the 2020 dip to 105,100 bpd.

As well as being hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with four consecutive quarters of negative growth in 2020, Bruneis oil industry has been declining since 2006. However, greater investment from BSP and the new exploration agreement with Malaysia could see the oil and gas industry develop substantially over the next decade.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Containers loaded with waste brought via ship from various countries were spotted by the border police of southeastern Constanta port, the waste being illegally imported into Romania by two companies registered in the county of Prahova and Bucharest Municipality, the Coast Guard informed on Thursday.

The cargo were falsely declared as being used domestic goods.

"Upon informative activities carried out by the border police within the Coast Guard, there were two companies that were identified, one from the county of Prahova, and another from the Bucharest Municipality, which carried out activities of illegal import of waste into Romania. The goods were falsely declared at the customs authority as being debris from plastic material, namely from used domestic goods, but in reality they were unusable waste," according to a press release sent by the Coast Guard.According to the quoted source, on April 7, the border police, in cooperation with workers from the Constanta Environmental Guard and the Constanta Sud Customs Office, under the coordination of the Public Prosecutor's Office attached to the Court of Appeal, have carried out the physical check of 5 containers unloaded form a Liberia pavilion ship, which was in Constanta Sud - Agigea port. The containers were loaded in Germany, and the goods were from a Belgian company.Although, according to the documents presented at the border authority, the containers were full of unusable plastic material and wood, metallic and dangerous waste (batteries and metallic components, electrical tools) were found.On the same day, the authorities discovered another container, with the same type of waste, brought into our country from Canada, via a ship with Liberian pavilion."In the two cases the measure of not allowing passage into Romania was taken by the commissioners of the Constanta Environmental Guard. In cause, the border police are carrying out research, under the coordination of the Public Prosecutor's Office attached to the Constanta Court of Appeal, invested in cause, under the aspect of committing the crimes of using non-real documents and illegal import of waste, violating legal provisions in the field, and the goods will be returned to the sender," the Coast Guard informed.Continuing the research, according to the press release, 50 containers were identified, which were in the Constanta Sud - Agigea terminal, as well as other 15 containers which will be unloaded on the current day.AGERPRES
People stand in line at a makeshift coronavirus testing site in front of Seoul Station, Thursday. Yonhap



By Lee Hyo-jin



Korea may be at the beginning of a fourth big wave of COVID-19 infections, according to health experts, with the daily caseload reaching its highest level in three months amid sporadic cluster infections across the country.



According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the country reported 700 daily new cases for Wednesday, the highest level in 91 days, bringing the total caseload to 107,598. Among the new cases were 674 local infections and 26 cases from overseas.



Medical experts who viewed that Korea has already entered its fourth wave of infections expressed concerns that the daily caseload could cross into the thousands unless the government introduces tighter social distancing measures, considering deepened public fatigue from the year-long pandemic and increased outdoor activities in the warming weather.



Jacob Lee, an infectious disease specialist at Hallym University Medical Center, wrote on Facebook, "Experts have been warning of a fourth wave of infections over the last two weeks, but the public awareness remains low. In order to improve the current situation, there should be certain changes in quarantine measures or better practicing of social distancing rules."



"Currently, there seem to be more asymptomatic patients than during the third wave, as the government has eased social distancing measures, allowing the use of bars, restaurants and other facilities. If we fail to identify the asymptomatic spreaders, we might see the daily tally reaching 1,000 by next week," warned Chon Eun-mi, a pulmonologist at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital.





Korea to extend current social distancing measures: PM Korea to resume AstraZeneca jabs amid lingering safety woes EU, UK regulators find possible link between AstraZeneca and rare blood clots Under the government's five-tier social distancing scheme, the average number of daily cases for the past two weeks has already exceeded the benchmark for Level 2.5  more than 400 daily cases nationwide. Currently, Seoul and its surrounding areas are under Level 2, and other regions are under Level 1.5, with gatherings of five or more people banned nationwide.



Given the situation, it is highly likely that the government will raise the social distancing level or introduce stronger quarantine measures, Friday, as the current distancing measures end on Sunday.



Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol speaks during a press conference at the Government Complex Sejong, Thursday. Courtesy of Ministry of Health and Welfare

"Until now, we have been implementing social distancing rules flexibly. When the daily cases went down, we eased the regulations. But as some businesses and industries have failed recently to adhere to the rules, the daily cases have gone up sharply," Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol said at a press conference, Thursday.



Kwon told the reporters that the government is making final discussions to impose effective distancing measures while minimizing economic losses of small business owners.



Meanwhile, the country's nationwide vaccination program has been met by a series of setbacks including unstable vaccine supply worldwide and safety issues surrounding AstraZeneca's products.



Due to concerns over possible blood clotting side effects, the KDCA said Wednesday it would suspend the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine for people aged under 60, and temporarily called off its plan to begin inoculations of special school teachers and school nurses scheduled to begin on Thursday.



The agency said it will make decisions whether to resume the inoculations based on experts' opinions and a thorough review of the latest report from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) over the weekend.




For the most part, Labor MPs have been kept in the dark about Andrews condition. Most of his colleagues assumed he was on track to return to Spring Street six weeks after he took leave as he had planned. That would see him back at Treasury Place just after Anzac Day.

The Victorian Premier, who is on leave after a serious fall, tweeted that he is walking for 18 minutes each day. No doubt a huge achievement given the seriousness of his injuries last months.

To doctors and physios, the 18 minutes of walking Andrews is doing each day may be considered a monumental victory given he fractured his T7 vertebrae. But politics is a little more brutal than that, and the revelation instead reignited debate about his eventual successor.

Its difficult to believe, but a little over a decade ago when Andrews was elected leader of the Victorian Labor Party following the resignation of John Brumby, he was considered a stop-gap leader.

John Brumby with his wife Rosemary after announcing his resignation from politics. Daniel Andrews was always considered a stop-gap premier. Credit:John Woudstra

That meant he was effectively keeping the chair warm until someone better came along. He was viewed as too young, unknown and from the wrong faction. In those early years, during one infamous focus group, he was described as the the guy who looks like an accountant and hunches.

More than 10 years on and Andrews is one of the most recognised faces in Australian politics and is on track to be one of the longest-serving Labor premiers in Victoria. Against the odds, he also remains relatively popular despite failures in the states hotel quarantine program which triggered months of restrictions.
London: The Myanmar embassy in London was stormed and seized by allies of the nations new military regime, the ambassador has alleged.

Kyaw Zwar Minn, who has served as the Asian nations ambassador to the UK since 2014, said he had been betrayed by former colleagues whom he had worked alongside in the building.

Kyaw Zwar Minn, the Myanmar ambassador (centre), talks with his staff outside the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair, London. Credit:AP

Although himself a former military colonel, he drew the ire of his countrys armed junta last month after he expressed his opposition to the successful coup they launched on February 1.

He called publicly for the release of deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and ousted president Win Myint. He also went on to hold a meeting with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who applauded his courage and patriotism in speaking out. Raab called on the military regime to end their brutal crackdown and restore democracy.
[April 08, 2021] Holberton Announces DevOps Program in Partnership with Mexico's Anahuac University

SAN FRANCISCO, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Holberton , an education company focused on making software-engineering education affordable and accessible globally, announced today that Anahuac University has launched their first DevOps certification using Holbertons OS of Education .

Puppet, the industry standard for infrastructure automation, helped develop the content for the course, named Certificacion Profesional en DevOps Foundations: Software Development Optimization. The course will be accessible in June 2021 via the EdX learning platform, an American massive open online course (MOOC) provider created by Harvard and MIT that hosts university-level courses online. According to a Puppet survey , released last month, DevOps salaries last year increased around the world last year, despite widespread economic slowdowns and cross-industry layoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey of 2,415 DevOps professionals in eight key international markets, found that companies are struggling to find DevOps engineers and that demand is projected to grow consistently in the next 10 years. On LinkedIn alone, there are almost 100,000 DevOps positions open globally. Companies cant find enough DevOps engineers to sustain their needs. As a result, there is a massive and global opportunity to train DevOps practitioers.



Last year, one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in Mexico, Anahuac University, asked Holberton to help create a new DevOps certification program that would be accessible and flexible enough for everyone in Latin America. Holberton partnered with Puppet to create that program. Puppet is offering 20 scholarships for the Anahuac University DevOps program.

Anahuac University plans to train more than 5,000 people in DevOps this year alone. This partnership is the latest demonstration of Holbertons commitment to its mission to open doors to as many jobs as possible for the next generation of software engineers in Latin America in the 4th industrial revolution. Read more about the news About Holberton Founded in Silicon Valley in 2015, Holberton s innovative and flexible delivery of the OS of Education provides a unique portfolio of tools, auto-graded tailored curricula and teaching methods to help its customers -- education institutions, universities, corporations and franchisees -- successfully train the next generation of digital talent at scale. Follow us on LinkedIn

Follow us on Twitter About Anahuac With more than 50 years of history, Anahuac University is currently recognized as one of the 3 best universities in Mexico, according to the QS World University Rankings 2020 and is part of the 500 best universities in the world. Today, Anahuac has more than 60 undergraduate options and 200 postgraduate programs, distributed in eight campuses around the country and five in the rest of the world. More than 90 thousand alumni attest to the mission of the Universidad Anahuac: Contribute to the comprehensive training of positive action leaders and promote the development of the person and the society. The Anahuac educational model allows the integral development of the person by embracing the professional, intellectual, human, social and spiritual dimensions. About Puppet Puppet makes infrastructure actionable, scalable and intelligent. From the data center to the cloud, Puppet helps enterprises modernize and manage their infrastructure to deliver innovation and efficiency through continuous automation. More than 40,000 organizations  including more than 80 percent of the Global 5000  have benefited from Puppets open source and commercial solutions to ensure business continuity, optimize costs, boost compliance and ensure security  all while accelerating the adoption of DevOps practices and delivery of self-service. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Puppet is a privately held company with offices in London, Belfast, Singapore and Sydney. Learn more at puppet.com . Editorial Contact

Lonn Johnston for Holberton

lonn@flak42.com

+1 650.219.7764



[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - Faced with a deteriorating epidemiological situation of the Covid-19, Tunisian authorities have extended the nightly curfew by three hours from Friday until April 30
Well-known antique auctioneers Matthews of Kells are to conduct a three-day house clearance auction starting this weekend.

The entire contents of Ardlaois, Blackrock, Co Louth, the property of the late Professor Kieran Taaffe (d. November 2020) is to be sold by order of his executors.

The auction, a live online event, will commence at 12 Noon each day beginning Saturday, April 10, at 12 noon sharp.

The fully illustrated catalogue can be viewed online on the auctioneers website www.matthewsauctionrooms.com.

Over 2,100 lots will be sold; contents of the main house, various adjoining outbuildings, stores and two garages.

Items to be cleared include Irish and international art, old silver, antique furniture, rugs, gilded mirrors, books, oriental items, collectables and a large quantity of general household as well as two motorcars.

The Professor, a past pupil of CBS Dundalk and graduate of University College Galway, was a life-time collector who travelled widely as both vice principal and head of International Affairs at Dublin Institute of Technology. This is reflected in his collection.

Professor Taaffe was also a board member of many charitable foundations.
CHICAGO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Food Colors Market by Type (Natural, synthetic, nature-identical), Application (Food products, and beverages), Form (Liquid, powder and gel), Solubility (Dyes and lakes) & Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market for food colors is estimated at USD 4.3 billion in 2021; it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% to reach USD 5.4 billion by 2026.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Food Colors Market"

323 - Tables

57 - Figures

364 - Pages

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The production of food colors is continuously increasing, and companies are investing increasingly in research & development activities of natural and synthetic colors to enhance their existing product portfolio across various regions. The demand for food & beverage products processed with the inclusions of food colors is comparatively higher. The lucrative opportunities are available in the emerging regions due to the growing economy and technological advancement. The market in China is projected to grow at a higher pace due to an increase in industrial activities.

The natural colors sub-segment is estimated to account for the largest market share in the by type segment for the Food Colors Market.

Natural pigments are being increasingly emphasized upon as they have achieved commercial significance, and consumers have perceived them as safe additives. Besides aesthetics, natural pigments have potential physiological effects due to their potent antioxidative properties. Advancements in technological innovations, such as nano-encapsulation, supercritical carbon dioxide, supercritical fluid, gas-based extraction, and spinning cone column, to increase the efficiency of extraction have also been encouraging the growth of the food color industry.

By application, the food sub-segment is estimated to account for the fastest growth in the Food Colors Market.

The growth in the processed and packaged food markets directly impacts the growth of the Food Colors Market. Due to the growth in the processed food & beverage market, the demand for food colors is also projected to grow at a rapid pace. The processing of food products involves various practices, including thermal and non-thermal processes. These processes alter the characteristics of the original color of food products due to various process parameters, such as temperature, moisture, and PH. Due to these factors, the demand for food colors in processed food products is increasing to impart natural aesthetics to the products.

The liquid sub-segment by form is estimated to account for the largest market share of the Food Colors Market over the forecast period.

Natural food colors are highly in demand in the global markets, these colors are extracted from natural resources such as turmeric, saffron and carrots. These are extracted in liquid form and thus they are estimated to drive the global market for liquid food colors.

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The dyes sub-segment is estimated to observe the fastest market growth in the Food Colors Market during the forecast period.

The growth for dye food colors is driven by the food sector globally as this segment is a strong end use industry. Dye food colors impart strong color and have high stability at different temperatures and PH due to which their production is increasing. Thus these factors are estimated to drive the market growth.

Europe is estimated to be the largest market.

There are key players in the European markets that supply high-quality food products in the European markets, such as DSM (Netherlands), Naturex (France), and Campbell Foods Belgium NV (Belgium) and they are significantly encouraging the trends of developing new products in the region. The high demand for packaged food and the growing bakery and confectionery and dairy & frozen products market in Germany. Furthermore, investments in new technological developments are projected to encourage the formulation of innovative natural or nature-identical colors for applications, such as pharmaceuticals and processed food.

Key players:

Key players in Food Colors Market include ADM (US), International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (US), Sensient Technologies Corporation (US), DSM (Netherlands Naturex (France), DDW (US), Dohler Group (Germany), Florio Colori (Italy), Lycored (Israel) and Kalsec Inc. (US). These players in this market are focusing on increasing their presence through agreements and collaborations. These companies have a strong presence in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe. They also have manufacturing facilities along with strong distribution networks across these regions.

Related Reports:

Natural Food Colors & Flavors Market by Color Type (caramel, carotenoids, anthocyanins, curcumin, annatto, and copper chlorophyllin), Flavor Type (natural extracts, aroma chemicals, & essential oils), Application & Region - Global Forecast to 2025

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/natural-colors-flavors-market-676.html

Specialty Food Ingredients Market by Type (Acidulant, Colors, Flavors, Enzymes, Emulsifiers, F&B Starter Culture, Preservatives, Functional Food Ingredients, Specialty Starches, Sugar Substitutes), Distribution Channel - Global Forecasts to 2025

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/speciality-food-ingredients-market-252775011.html

Browse Adjacent Reports @ Food and Beverage Market Research Reports & Consulting

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We have a lot of the information in our hands and weve utilized the information and took the time to learn more about the vaccine, Young said. The guys who did take it came to the conclusion that we want to take it as soon as possible so we could loosen some of these protocols and try to get back to living a semi-normal life.
Three children  ages 5,7 and 13  siblings are suspected of breaking and entering five Bourret Township residences between Monday and Tuesday, and causing thousands of dollars in damages.

Gladwin County Sheriffs Office Sgt. James Cuddie said they have found five properties violated so far in the Wildwood Shores area of Bourret Township. Its unknown if there are more. He said several of the homes sustained thousands of dollars in damages allegedly caused by the suspects.

Cuddie said the investigation is ongoing and will be turned over to the Gladwin County Prosecutor once complete.

If guilty, the 5-year-old cannot be convicted of the crime, since the law doesnt allow for anyone under the age of 7 to be convicted of crimes due to lacking criminal mens rea. The older children could be found guilty.

Police discovered 666 spray painted on a wall, other spray-painted vandalism, broken dishes and trashed furniture following the crimes.

Of course, its unusual to have a 5-year-old involved, Cuddie said Thursday.

He said better supervision may have prevented the case that involves a single mom who entrusted the older child to watch the younger two children while she worked. He suspects the children spent the past year bored with limited in-person schooling and were exposed to violence on television and video games.

Cuddie said the sheriffs office will work with the Michigan Department of Heath and Human Services to get the family the help they need.

This was a tragedy and people feel violated, Cuddie said, noting that most of the damage was destruction and vandalism. It caused unrest for the victims.

He said its also a disaster for the suspects family.

This family is broken and needs help and resources, Cuddie said. This is fixable.

He said broken drywall and graffiti can be repaired.
Ulrich Lifestyle Structures, a leader in shed manufacturing, is excited to announce Tom Dodson as Director of Operations for their Virginia market. Tom will become part of the leadership team for Ulrich of VA, overseeing and managing production, quality, distribution, service and all other product related activities, ensuring our customers continue to receive top quality products and services.

Dodson brings extensive experience as a leader from his prior roles as Vice President and then President of a popular Roanoke, Virginia restaurant chain; I feel fortunate to join the Ulrich family: an emerging leader in the shed manufacturing industry, a company that has been built on a foundation of quality, and a belief in serving both their customers and employees. I am excited to be part of this incredible team and look forward to contributing to our continued growth both in Virginia and nationally.

Ulrich Lifestyle Structures CEO Jonathan Ulrich is excited to work with Tom and explains, Tom is a self-starter and team player with the ability to lead while supporting and demonstrating Ulrichs vision. I look forward to working with Tom while we continue to provide quality lifestyle structures to the residents of Virginia.

Ulrich Lifestyle Structures is a leading manufacturer in storage sheds and lifestyle structures such as cabin shells, playhouses, and finished cabins with locations currently in Virginia, Texas and California. To be the leading manufacturer in backyard storage structures, Ulrich has made the customer experience a priority throughout each phase of the customer experience. Ulrich explains, our goal is to create raving fans, not happy clients, and we do that by offering over-the-top products and services made possible by an excellent culture and supported by each of our phenomenal team members and we dont rest until we meet our goals.

Find out more at http://www.UlrichLifestyle.com or stop by one of our retail locations and meet one of our friendly sales professionals or call our internet shed specialists today at (540)208-3245.
Washington, April 8 : President Joe Biden spoke with Jordan's King Abdullah II to voice US support for his leadership and affirmed the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

Biden expressed "strong US support for Jordan and underscore the importance of King Abdullah II's leadership to the United States and the region," the White House said in a statement on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral ties, Jordan's important role in the region, and strengthening cooperation on political, economic, and security issues.

"The President also affirmed that the United States supports a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," the statement added.

The phone call came as Jordan returns to stability from a royal rift over the weekend. King Abdullah II said on Wednesday that Prince Hamza, who was accused of being part of a plot to destabilize Jordan by authorities, was in the king's care.

In a letter to the nation published by the Royal Hashemite Court, the king said the "sedition has been nipped in the bud" and Jordan is safe and stable.

The Biden administration on the same day announced plans to restore US assistance for the Palestinian people.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement introduced a US $235 million package of economic, development, and humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, a large portion of which will go to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Former US President Donald Trump cut hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Palestinians, and during his administration, diplomatic contacts with Palestinians came to a virtual halt.

After Trump declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel in December 2017, the Palestinian Authority broke off all official relations with the White House and the State Department, though security cooperation continued.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council last month that Washington will "re-open diplomatic channels of communication" with Palestinians that has been cut off under the previous administration.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Susanne Lyons, Acting Chief Executive Officer of United States Olympic Committee testifies before a Commerce Subcommittee (Photo : REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein)

Susanne Lyons, chair of the United States Olympic Paralympic Committee (USOPC), said on Wednesday athletes can expect a lot more talk about a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics but again argued there were more effective ways of dealing with China's human rights abuses.



During the opening session of a three-day virtual media summit to highlight U.S. plans ahead of this summer's Tokyo Olympics, Lyons focused on China's Winter Games, addressing comments by the State Department that there are ongoing discussions on how to proceed with participation in them.



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"I think we will continue to see a lot of discussion on the topic of boycotts and I want to just point out again what we have said very consistently," Lyons said.



"We at the USOPC oppose athlete boycotts because they have shown to negatively impact athletes while not effectively addressing global issues in the past."



In a briefing on Tuesday, State Department spokesman Ned Price repeated Washington's concerns over Beijing's human rights violations, particularly its persecution of Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region, which the United States deems a genocide.



Asked if the United States was discussing with allies whether or not to consider a potential joint boycott, Price said; "It is something that we certainly wish to discuss".



Price later clarified in an email that he was referring to the United States having a coordinated approach rather than saying it was specifically discussing a joint boycott.



"Since yesterday the State Department has clarified their position they've denied that they were saying that a boycott was moving ahead and said that the Biden administration is more generally in talks with allies over China's human rights violations," Lyons said.



"We certainly don't want to in any way minimize the serious human rights issues that are happening in China but the U.S. has many tools to constructively respond to these concerns.



"We do not believe that Team USA's athletes should be used as political pawns in these issues."



U.S. President Joe Biden's administration signalled earlier this year that it had no plans to bar American athletes from participating in the Beijing Games.


Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

Mainly clear skies. Low 67F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 67F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Certificate Programs.

Intelligent.com analyzed 127 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 64 making it to the final list for Online Certificate Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-certificate-programs/

2021 Online Certificate Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Albany Technical College

Arkansas State University

Baker University

Barton County Community College

Boston University

California Southern University

Carl Albert State College

Central Community College

Central New Mexico Community College

Central Texas College

Champlain College

Chandler-Gilbert Community College

Charter Oak State College

Coastline Community College

Cochise College

Collin County Community College District

Columbus State Community College

Concordia University, St. Paul

Cornell University

Craven Community College

Crowder College

Dickinson State University

Duke University

Eastern Gateway Community College

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Georgetown University

Harvard University

Highland Community College

Hillsborough Community College

Hutchinson Community College

Ivy Tech Community College

Jefferson College

Johnson & Wales University

Keiser University

Lamar University

Lone Star College

Louisiana State University

Mesa Community College

Metropolitan Community College

Michigan State University

Mississippi College

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Neosho County Community College

North Central Missouri College

North Hennepin Community College

Northeast Community College

Penn Foster

Pitt Community College

Regent University

Rutgers University

Sam Houston State University

San Juan College

Shoreline Community College

Sinclair Community College

Southeast Community College

Southern New Hampshire University

Southern Regional Technical College

Stanford University

State Fair Community College

Tarrant County College

Tulsa Community College

Wake Technical Community College

Washtenaw Community College

Williston State 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/.
New Delhi, April 8 : The 400th Birth Anniversary (Prakash Purab) of Guru Teg Bahadur should not be looked only as a "religious event" but his sacrifice for the religious freedom should be highlighted, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said on Thursday.

"This event should not be looked as a religious event but much more emphasis should be put on highlighting the sacrifice of Guru Teg Bahadur for religious freedom. Guru Teg Bahadur wanted to establish freedom of religious faith, peace and unity across the world," he said during the high-level meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on commemorating the event.

The meeting was also attended by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee President Bibi Jagir Kaur, MPs Sukhbir Singh Badal and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, former MP Tarlochan Singh, Amul MD R.S. Sodhi and eminent scholar Amarjit Singh Grewal, among others.

Kharge stressed that the Punjab Chief Minister has made a detailed plan for the event and has also launched a logo for the same. "Keeping in view the cultural and tourism importance of the birth anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur, Captain Amarinder Singh has made several plans in Amritsar and also to develop his ancestral place in Anandpur Sahib," he said, adding that the Central government should help the state government in such plans.

Kharge also said that the eminent writers, historians and artists should be included and seminars should be arranged in universities and colleges across the country.

The High-Level Committee was constituted by the Central government on October 24 last year to approve policies, plans and programs related to the commemoration of the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur along with supervision of the events.

It has 70 members including the Prime Minister as Chairman.

Guru Teg Bahadur, ninth of ten gurus who founded the Sikh religion, was head of the faith from 1665 until his beheading in 1675.
Monrovia  First Lady Clar Marie Weah has reassured Liberian girls of her unflinching support to their growth and development as well as ensuring that they become confident and productive leaders for tomorrow.

Madame Weah disclosed plans to help girls grow-up being properly guided, cared for and given the requisite support which she was not opportune to receive while growing up as a child.

The First Lady made the statement over the weekend during an interactive discussion with a group of girls, most of whom were students of the ELWA Academy in Paynesville.

She said the students' eloquence and self-confidence exhibited when she first met them impressed her so much that she wanted to work with them in instilling similar qualities in other girls.

Unlike the students, the First Lady recalled that she was rather shy, reserved and less confident as a teen, owing to some forms of insecurity resulting from inadequate parental care during her childhood.

At age three, the First Lady disclosed that her mother migrated and that her father subsequently died while she was eight years old, a situation which caused her to grow up without the needed guidance and support, noting that the condition negatively impacted her life.

As Mother of the Nation, the Liberian First Lady is poised to help girls recover or avoid encountering such a difficult experience.

Madame Weah however urged the gathering of female students ranging from ages 11 to 14 to continue to pursue their education, daring to lead while being respectful, humble and hardworking.

She also commended the girls' parents and school authorities for the level of support they continue to provide, pledging to work with them as they seek to become a better citizen.

For their part, the students commended Madam Weah for the audience with them and her unwavering support to women and girls development, while urging her to continue her humanitarian work in improving the lives of the underprivileged.

Also speaking, a representative of the girls' parents and the ELWA Academy expressed delight and profound appreciation for Mrs. Weah's passion and support for girls.
Why it matters: MS Paint's move to the Microsoft Store appears to be progressing four years after the company announced the change. The app isn't in the store just yet, but there are reports of a placeholder appearing in preparation for its arrival.

Way back in 2017, Microsoft announced it would be killing off the graphics app after 32 years. While it's not exactly people's first choice when working with images, birthing the phrase, "What did you make that atrocity on? Paint?", the program is still used by millions for quick and easy editing.

News of Paint's demise brought a chorus of disapproval from fans, leading to Microsoft clarifying that while it would be removed from a core group of bundled Windows applications, MS Paint was moving to the company's store as a free download.

In 2019, Brandon LeBlanc, a senior program manager on the Windows Insider Team, tweeted that Paint would be included with Windows 10 "for now."

Italian tech site Aggiornamenti Lumia (via Thurrott.com) reports that MS Paint is finally listed in the Microsoft Store, though it can't be downloaded, suggesting a placeholder. It's not showing up for us yet.

Making Paint part of the Microsoft Store will be appreciated by many users. Not everyone wants the app bundled in with Windows 10, and as Microsoft said at the time, it allows Paint to be updated more regularlythe updates currently arrive via Windows 10 feature upgrades.

Microsoft expected Paint 3D to replace the venerable MS Paint, but it failed to find the popularity enjoyed by its predecessor. As such, it's also being dropped as one of Windows 10's core apps and will become a free download in the Microsoft Store.
RTE star Daithi O Se is calling on Laois to show solidarity with people with dementia and their family carers and virtually have Tea in Every Town with their friends and loved ones to mark Alzheimers Tea Day across Ireland on Thursday, May 6th.

It is estimated that there are 962 people living with dementia in Laois and for every one person with dementia three others are directly affected. The number of people with the condition will more than double in the next 25 years to over 150,000 by 2045.

This year The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is inviting the public to brew the most important and powerful cup of tea this year and invite your family and friends to join you online. The ASI wants people to now come together virtually to celebrate, remember and show solidarity with people with dementia, their carers and the 500,000 people who are impacted by dementia in Ireland.

Although people cant gather in groups for Tea Day, people can still connect and reach out to friends and loved ones across their communities, around Ireland and abroad  on the phone, on screen, Skype, Zoom and any other socially-distanced way people may choose.

There are 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland today and every day, another 30 people are diagnosed. However, there is one simple and magical thing you can do to help  put the kettle on and connect with friends online over a simple cuppa!

The ASI has listened to concerns of people with dementia and family carers who have been feeling isolated in their own homes lately and many people have contacted The ASI about Tea Day  and thanks to the wonders of modern technology, Tea Day can still take place.

This year, its more important than ever before that people put the kettle on, pick up the phone and reach out to a loved one or someone in your community to say hello and share a virtual cup of tea and to show people with dementia and carers who are at home, often confused, isolated and struggling without access to usual daily supports that we havent forgotten them.

The ASI needs to raise 3.5 million every year just to keep services running and while the public has been so generous over recent months; the reality is that more funds are needed to plug the gap in funding due to the impact of Covid-19 to support the 64,000 living with dementia in Ireland.

Daithi O Se, Ambassador for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, said: On Thursday, May 6th, join your online gathering to thousands of others all over the country as we share a cuppa with our friends, family and colleagues to chat and celebrate those we love.

"Youll also be raising much-needed funds to help families living with dementia. Tea Day is The Alzheimers Society of Irelands biggest and most important fundraiser of the year. Over the last year, because of COVID-19, they could only raise a fraction of what is needed to run their vital services.

"So, this year people living with dementia need our support more than ever. So please join the Tea Day movement. Click with your family and friends by clicking online. Maybe even invite loved ones across the world.

"Share some precious memories over a cuppa and help change the life of someone living with dementia today. Thank you so much!

HOW TO TAKE PART IN TEA DAY 2021  FOUR EASY STEPS:

SIGN UP  Join the nation for the most memorable cuppa ever. All you have to do is sign up on teaday.ie and youll be helping to support people in your area living with dementia.

HOST  Share the magic of a cup of tea  online  with the ones you love. Invite family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and loved ones  from home and from all over the world  to join you to share some precious memories over a wonderful cup of tea.

CELEBRATE your Tea Day by sharing it on social media. Post your photos, videos, messages and dont forget to use our hashtags #TeaInEveryTown #TeaDay2021

DONATE Send us back your special Tea Day donation on teaday.ie. Remember, every extra euro you raise funds vital services for people living with dementia and their families.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland CEO Pat McLoughlin said: Alzheimers Tea Day has been our biggest fundraising event over the last 27 years and the organisation is so dependent on the funds that it brings in each and every year. However, the Covid-19 health crisis means that Alzheimers Tea Day has to move online, but I am delighted that we can still celebrate the community spirit that makes Tea Day such a great national event through modern technology. This year we cant gather in each others homes to share Tea Day. But there is still something that you can do. You can invite friends and family from all over Ireland  and even all over the world  to join you online or on social media to share some memories and a cuppa. Every person who joins you will be helping to support vital dementia services all over Ireland.

Fujitsu Ireland CEO Tony OMalley said: We are incredibly proud to support this vital campaign alongside The Alzheimer Society of Ireland. People with dementia and their families, carers and supporters have felt the challenges of lockdown and the associated restrictions on travel, household visitors and daily social interactions most keenly and Fujitsu Ireland is committed to helping The ASI continue to deliver its vital support to this amazing community. We invite our staff, clients, partners and the Irish public to sign up on teaday.ie, put the kettle on, and raise much-needed funds for this incredible organisation.
Office of the Attorney General Becerra in a settlement reached on Wednesday asked Apple Inc to pay USD 3.4 million in compensation to the Chilean customers against a lawsuit that alleged 'planned obsolescence' of older iPhones. Filed by the Organisation of Consumers and Users (Odecu), the lawsuit was brought against Apple Chile in 2018 and it stated that the company purposely fitted batteries with limitations in the handsets that throttled performance, prompting the iOS users to upgrade the model. The scandal had come to be known as "Batterygate" as it involved aging batteries to push the iPhone customers to invest in the new devices.

While the settlement is first of a kind in Latin America, Attorney General Becerra's Office had already announced $113 in compensation to the customers in at least 33 US states, including Washington. The iPhone users made allegations that Apple fitted its iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 generation phones, as well as its first-generation iPhone SE phones with batteries that wereparticularly susceptible to performance loss over time. This led to a higher than expected number of "unexpected power-offs" ("UPOs") as the phones aged, the aggravated customers said in a lawsuit, dragging MacOnline and local online store Reifschneider.

"Apple is one of the world's largest cell-phone manufacturers and makes the popular line of iPhone smartphones. Apple's iPhones are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which lose the ability to provide voltage over time. Because utilizing peak processing power with a degraded battery can damage a phone's electronic hardware, iPhones are programmed to automatically shut off when a battery can no longer provide sufficient voltage to support necessary processing power," the lawsuit read.

Apple's 'false claims' about improvements

According to the customers' complaints, after iPhone released the update for the operating system, it downgraded the iPhone's processing performance as the battery drained or slowed down or "throttled". Apple's throttled iPhone performance manifested itself in many ways noticeable to iPhone owners, the lawsuit alleged, saying, for example, throttled phones took longer to launch apps, it lowered frame rates while scrolling, reduced screen brightness, and lowered speaker volume.

Overall, iPhone performance was noticeably slower in throttled phones than in the new handsets. As many as 150,000 iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, and SE users sued the company. The Chilean customers alleged that Apple's public statements about the iPhone 6, the first-generation iPhone SE, and the iPhone 7 were "directly contrary to the realities of the battery performance". Apple also made false claims, saying, it "made improvements to reduce occurrences of unexpected shutdowns."

"Apple withheld information about their batteries that slowed down iPhone performance, all while passing it off as an update. This type of behaviour hurts the pockets of consumers and limits their ability to make informed purchases. Today's settlement ensures consumers will have access to the information they need to make a well-informed decision when purchasing and using Apple products," Becerra said in a statement released by the office of the Attorney General.

(Image Credit: Twitter/@AGBecerra/Unsplash)
No operational content should be carried that was likely to incite violence or contains anything against the maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national sentiments". (Representational image/PTI)

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir police has banned the live coverage of all encounters between the security forces and separatist militants and of law and order situations, but used a somewhat obnoxious phrase to justify its plan to keep reporters and photographers away.

Dont interfere in the professional and bona fide duty of police and the security forces at encounter sites, IGP Ajay Kumar told the media.

Responding to that, the Valleys media fraternity said that reporters or camerapersons do not interfere in the work of the security forces but only discharge their professional duty while covering encounters, their aftermath or law and order situations.

Farooq Javed Khan, president of the Kashmir Photographers Association, said: First of all, we have to verify if the statement attributed to the IGP in identical reports circulated by local news agencies is really his. And if he has used the phrase dont interfere, then we would say it is obnoxious and, therefore, unacceptable. He added: While covering encounters and law and order situations we strictly follow the rulebook and never exceed our brief. If we are not allowed to discharge our professional responsibility, then what are we there for?

The Kashmir Press Club and various Valley-based media organisations, in a joint statement, said the IGPs statement has created anguish among the media. If this is a part of the official policy of the police, it appears to be a tactic to coerce journalists into not reporting the facts on the ground. It also seems a part of the string of measures by the authorities to suppress freedom of the press in the region. Summoning journalists to police stations, filing FIRs and seeking informal explanations for their work has intensified in the past two years, the statement said.

News agencies GNS and KNO reported that Mr Kumar advised media persons not to come close to encounter sites or law and order situations. The media persons should not carry any live coverage of any encounter or law and order situation. Freedom of speech and expression is subject to reasonable restrictions that should not violate other persons right to life guaranteed under Article 21 or put national security in jeopardy. Do not interfere in the professional and bona fide duty of the police and security forces at encounter sites.

He was also quoted as saying that no operational content should be carried that was likely to incite violence or contains anything against the maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national sentiments.

The statement of the KPC and media organisations said: Journalists in Kashmir have worked under tremendous pressure for the past several decades and despite facing threats to life, liberty and property, they upheld the principles of journalism and reporting. The statement also adds: The media in Kashmir is aware of journalistic guidelines and ethics for situations like encounters, law and order situations, and have always upheld these principles. Covering and reporting law and order situations in the region is one of the basic requirements for most news organisations, and hence an essential part of the professional role of the media. Barring them from covering such events would mean stopping them from delivering their professional duties.

The statement further stated: Press freedom is the cornerstone of a democracy and any attack on it undermines the democratic setup, of which the media is the fourth pillar. Any such attack on press freedom and journalism is highly distressful. In this backdrop, journalist bodies in Kashmir urge Mr Kumar to put the record straight and clarify the statement attributed to him.

It is pertinent to note that images of the security forces targeting private houses and other buildings in which militants were holed up during counter-insurgency operations went viral recently. It was alleged that the security forces used flame-inducing gunpowder, mortar shells and IEDs in such actions and the resultant devastation has been seen by critics as a step to punish the alleged abettors and supporters of militants.

The security forces officials reject this criticism as unwarranted, and say it is unavoidable collateral damage, which they claim they try to keep under check. They also claim that the medias presence, particularly that of photographers and videographers, further provokes protesters near the encounter sites and leaders to more stone-pelting for the benefit of the cameras. Last week, a video showing a policeman kicking a press photographer near an encounter site in southern Pulwama district also went viral and evoked much criticism of the police.
WASHINGTON  Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) President Jamie Fly today denounced Russias escalating efforts to force RFE/RL  including its venerable Russian Service and 24/7 digital network Current Time  out of the country.

Fly stated that RFE/RL is being targeted by the Russian authorities because we continue to provide a growing audience in Russia with objective news and information at a moment when the Kremlin is trying to limit access to information. We will continue to fight these attacks on our ability to operate in Russia through all possible means. We believe that the Russian people want more choices.

Fly made his comments as RFE/RL learned that Russias media regulator, Roskomnadzor, would be serving RFE/RL with a new round of 130 charges beginning on April 16  bringing the total number of violations charged by Roskomnadzor to 520, and the anticipated total amount of fines assessed to $2.3 million.

Over the past five years, RFE/RL has nearly doubled its audience in Russia to a current weekly reach of at least 6.5% of Russian adults, or nearly 6.7 million people. Between October 2019 and September 2020, Current Time-produced videos were viewed more than 1.5 billion times on social media platforms, and the number of subscribers to Current Times social media pages more than doubled to over 5 million; online audiences for RFE/RLs Russian Service also grew dramatically, with 250 million video views on all media platforms in 2020.

Roskomnadzor has already served RFE/RL with 390 violation charges in the past three months, resulting in anticipated fines of $1.4 million, for violating invasive self-labeling rules that would require that RFE/RL label every piece of text, video, audio, or social media content with a prominent, lengthy, state-mandated disclaimer. Video content is obligated to carry a 15-second disclaimer at the start of each clip, and disclaimers published with text articles and social media posts must be published in a font size twice that of the text. RFE/RL has not complied with these labeling rules, which it says violate the Russian Constitution and Russias media law and would detract audiences looking for alternatives to Russian state media.

Russian regulators have singled out RFE/RL, whose editorial independence is also enshrined in U.S. law, over other foreign news operations in Russia. In 2017, Russian regulators put RFE/RL's Russian Service onto a list of news media deemed to receive foreign funding for political activity as foreign agents, along with RFE/RL's regional Russian-language news services and Current Time, the network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with Voice of America. The law also puts RFE/RL journalists at risk for criminal prosecution. With nearly 270 freelancers and more than 50 local contractors, RFE/RL has one of the largest networks of independent journalists in Russia and has maintained a bureau in Moscow since 1991, when it was invited into the country by Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

On April 6, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his concern over Russia's efforts to close Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and silence this valued source of independent reporting via Twitter following a meeting with U.S. Agency for Global Media Acting CEO Kelu Chao. State Department spokesman Ned Price had previously said the U.S. is deeply concerned about the Russian governments actions against RFE/RL, which have also been criticized by the European Union, senior members of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, The Washington Post, and media freedom groups including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters without Borders.

About RFE/RL

RFE/RL relies on its networks of local reporters to provide accurate news and information to more than 41 million people every week in 27 languages and 23 countries where media freedom is restricted, or where a professional press has not fully developed. Its videos were viewed 6.5 billion times on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram/IGTV in FY2020. RFE/RL is an editorially independent media company funded by a grant from the U.S. Congress through the U.S. Agency for Global Media.

----

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Martins Zvaners in Washington (zvanersm@rferl.org, +1.202.457.6948)

Jana Hokuvova in Prague (hokuvovaj@rferl.org, +420.221.122.072)
[April 08, 2021] TS Cloud is now selling the new Google Workspace Frontline

TAIPEI, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to statistics, about 80 percent of workers globally are "deskless". These people work on the front line as the backbone of the enterprise, thus the new Google Workspace Frontline has been launched. It is designed to allow the frontline staff to enjoy the convenience of online communication and collaboration with colleagues even if they are not working at their desks. As a long-term Google Premier Partner, TS Cloud will be selling the new Google Workspace Frontline at USD5/user/month with the aim to assist more companies in adapting to the ever-changing digital era. What is Google Workspace Frontline? The difference with Business Starter is not only in price. Google Workspace Frontline is designed specifically for frontline workers as a collaboration and communication tool. In terms of function, it provides basic tools including Gmail, Meet, Calendar, Docs, Drive, Chat, and more, as wll as business-grade support and security features like advanced endpoint management that help keep a company's data secure. Additionally, customers can purchase Google Vault as an information governance and eDiscovery tool to further ensure the security of company data.



Although the main functions of Google Workspace Frontline are similar to Business Starter, it provides the same level of security feature as Business Standard. Google Workspace Frontline

Price: USD$5 /user/month

/user/month Cloud storage: 2GB

Advanced Endpoint Management

Eligible to add on Google Vault Google Workspace Business Starter Price: USD$6 /user/month

/user/month Storage: 30GB

Basic Endpoint Management

Not eligible to add on Google Vault TS Cloud continues to help companies establish smooth channels for information exchange via cloud technology. Google's local reseller - TS Cloud believes that the new Google Workspace Frontline can help to open up communication and collaboration channels between frontline workers and corporate teams. With the experience of helping more than 3,000 companies to implement Google Workspace, it will continue to use Google's cloud technology to help companies to improve productivity and competitiveness by providing services such as introduction, activation, and consultation for customers who want to use the new Google Workspace Frontline to complete the goal of a perfect work mode of internal enterprise communication. Please feel free to schedule a consultation ( https://tscloud.com.my/consult-g-suite ) or call TS Cloud (Google Premier Partner) at 1800-18-3155. Company Details Company Name: TS Cloud Sdn Bhd

Website (MY): https://tscloud.com.my

Website (TW): https://tscloud.com.tw

Email: service@tscloud.work

Tel: 1800-18-3155 SOURCE TS Cloud Co. Ltd

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
State-owned and Mumbai-based Suraksha group have submitted revised bids to acquire debt-laden through the insolvency process, as per the direction of the

Last month, the remitted to the Committee of Creditors (CoC) the issue of approval of resolution plan for Ltd (JIL), saying no new expression of interest will be entertained for taking over the firm and only and Suraksha Realty may file revised proposals.

The apex court also directed to extend the resolution process by 45 days.

and Suraksha group have submitted their resolution plans, Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) Anuj Jain told PTI.

A meeting of the CoC has been called on April 12 to consider their bids, he added.

NBCC also informed the stock exchanges that it has submitted its bid.

This is the fourth round of bidding process for Jaypee Infratech, which went into insolvency proceedings in August 2017.

According to sources, the bids were opened on Thursday.

Both NBCC and Suraksha have made some changes in their plans in view of the apex court direction to return Rs 750 crore with accrued interest to Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL), the promoter group of Jaypee Infratech, after reconciliation of accounts between JAL and JIL, the sources said.

According to sources, NBCC has offered 1,526 acres of land to lenders under a land-debt swap deal and Rs 10 crore as equity contribution.

On Yamuna Expressway, NBCC proposed to offer 82 per cent equity in the road asset to lenders and it will retain 18 per cent share.

In the 2019 bid, it had proposed 100 per cent transfer of the highway.

Meanwhile, Suraksha has offered 2,040 acres to lenders worth Rs 7,500 crore, sources said.

Suraksha will also infuse Rs 250 crore as equity in two tranches for construction, they added.

NBCC and Suraksha have proposed to complete around 20,000 pending flats in housing projects launched by in Noida and Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh).

In March last year, NBCC got approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to acquire Jaypee Infratech.

Homebuyers' claim amounting to Rs 13,364 crore and lenders' claim worth Rs 9,783 crore were admitted last year.

The order was, however, challenged in the appellate tribunal NCLAT and later in the

Jaypee Infratech went into insolvency process in August 2017 after the NCLT admitted an application by an IDBI Bank-led consortium.

Anuj Jain was appointed as an IRP to conduct insolvency process and also manage the affairs of the company.

In the first round of insolvency proceeding, the Rs 7,350-crore bid of Lakshadweep, part of Suraksha Group, was rejected by lenders.

The CoC rejected the bids of Suraksha Realty and NBCC in the the second round held in May-June 2019.

The matter then reached the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) and then the apex court.

On November 6, 2019, the Supreme Court directed completion of Jaypee Infratech's insolvency process within 90 days and ordered that the revised resolution plan to be invited only from NBCC and Suraksha Realty.

In December 2019, the CoC comprising 13 banks and around 21,000 homebuyers, approved the resolution plan of NBCC with 97.36 per cent vote in favour in the third round of bidding process.

Buyers have 57.66 per cent voting rights, fixed deposit holders 0.13 per cent and lenders 42.21 per cent. For a bid to be approved, 66 per cent votes are required.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 20:17:53|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Based on fabricated materials, the United States has once again wantonly slandered other countries by releasing the so-called 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

In fact, the United States, with its own human rights problems piling up, has earned itself a tainted human rights record in the past four years.

From post-election riots to deep-rooted racist problems and an incompetent pandemic response, the appalling facts have completely unmasked the self-proclaimed "defender of human rights."

AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IN DISORDER

Disorder in American democratic institutions led to political chaos, further tearing the fabric of society apart. Money-tainted politics distorted and suppressed public opinion, turning elections into a "one-man show" of the wealthy class.

According to an analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, dark money groups poured more than 750 million U.S. dollars into 2020 elections through ad spending and record-breaking contributions to political committees such as super political action committees.

According to a commentary carried by the Wall Street Journal on Nov. 9, 2020, the 2020 U.S. election can be seen as the culmination of a two-decade period of decline in faith in the basic building blocks of democracy.

Gun trade and shooting incidents hit a record high, and people's confidence in social order waned.

The shooting incidents have rekindled the debate over gun control in the United States. However, over the past years, political division and partisan fights have complicated the issue and made the process fruitless.

RAMPANT RACISM

In the United States, ethnic minority groups have been suffering systematic racial discrimination and are in a difficult situation.

The murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin charged with killing African American George Floyd in late May last year officially got underway in Minneapolis, Minnesota last month.

Young black males in recent years were at a far greater risk of being shot dead by police than their white counterparts -- 21 times greater, according to federal data. The data also showed that blacks, age 15 to 19, were killed at a rate of 31.17 per million, while just 1.47 per million white males in that age range died at the hands of police.

However, police officers in the United States who enforce laws with violence are usually not brought to justice.

Moreover, African Americans are not the only victims of racism in the United States. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, some Washington politicians have been manipulating racist rhetoric and sentiments by linking the deadly pathogen to specific ethnic groups, leading to increasing violence and hatred against Asian Americans.

GROWING POLARIZATION BETWEEN RICH, POOR

In the United States, the gap between the rich and the poor has widened, with the people at the bottom of society living in misery.

The pandemic led to mass unemployment in the country. Tens of millions of people lost health insurance coverage. One in six Americans and one in four American children were at risk of hunger. Vulnerable groups became the biggest victims of the government's reckless response to the pandemic.

Experts believe that the pandemic has exacerbated the survival crisis of the people at the bottom of U.S. society, but the problem of inequity in wealth distribution in the country has long existed and is worsening, thus triggering social and political unrest.

INCOMPETENT PANDEMIC CONTAINMENT

Due to the government's reckless response, COVID-19 in the United States has spiraled out of control and turned into a human tragedy.

By the end of February 2021, the United States, home to less than 5 percent of the world's population, accounted for more than a quarter of the world's confirmed COVID-19 cases and nearly one-fifth of the global deaths from the disease.

In a documentary that aired on CNN, Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator under former U.S. President Donald Trump, said the biggest mistake the federal government made in handling the pandemic was not providing "consistent messaging."

TRAMPLING ON INTERNATIONAL RULES

In the past four years, the United States has persisted in pursuing an agenda of "America first," isolationism and unilateralism, thus becoming the biggest threat to global security and stability.

In June 2018, the United States brazenly announced its withdrawal from the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council.

John Bolton, former U.S. national security advisor, and former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, warned in September 2018 and in March 2019 respectively that if the International Criminal Court (ICC) went ahead with investigating personnel from the United States and its allies, the United States would impose retaliatory measures against the personnel that were directly responsible for the investigations such as a ban on their entry to the United States, fund freezes and even economic sanctions on the ICC.

From July 2017 to July 2020, in violation of international human rights laws and international humanitarianism, the U.S. immigration authorities have forcibly separated more than 5,400 children from their parents who are refugees or illegal immigrants in the southern border area, causing the painful separation of families as well as many child deaths in custody.

In 2019, a total of 850,000 immigrants were arrested in the southern border area of the United States. Most of them suffered rough, insulting treatment and their human rights were trampled on.

Due to its government's ineffective anti-pandemic efforts, the United States has unfortunately seen itself become the most seriously-affected country during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and its immigrant detention centers are the most severely-affected places in the country.

Ignoring the risk of spreading the virus, the U.S. government has even forcibly repatriated a large number of illegal immigrants, which has put the people in Central America at higher risk of contracting COVID-19.

During the just-ended 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, some countries' representatives have accused the United States of pursuing "vaccine nationalism."

Over the years, the U.S. armed interventions have caused large numbers of civilian casualties in other countries. The U.S. unilateral coercive measures against certain countries have gravely violated human rights and even caused humanitarian crises. Enditem
The US-based Kenyan designer Zedekiah Lukoye popularly known as Zeddy Loky has apologised for designing a T-shirt with an image of Lamus Riyadha Mosque.

Zeddy Loky came under fire from the mosques management and the Islamic community in Lamu after American rapper Jay Z was last week spotted wearing the T-Shirt as he left a restaurant in California.

In a letter dated April 3, 2021, and addressed to Lukoye, the mosque said it was deeply concerned about the portrayal and misuse of the mosques image.

We dont consider this an honour, nor a privilege, for the historical mosque and its Founder Habib Swaleh for its imagery to be portrayed in such a way. Bars and clubs are an affront to the spiritual respect and dignity of the mosque, its founder, to the congregation, and the general Muslim community within and outside Lamu, stated Islamic Centre Secretary-General Abubakar Badawy.

We therefore politely request you to show respect for the mosque by removing our Mosques portrait on the shirt, to show us that you really do respect the people of Lamu and the Mosque.

Loky, the chief executive officer of California-based Blkkburd Genes that printed the T-shirt, duly obliged and apologised for his ignorance.

He admitted that he was unaware, during research and design stage, that portrayal of the mosque on T-shirts would be perceived as sacrilegious.

In this respect, we are willing to make this right with you. We will make sure to remove all the inappropriate portrayal of Riyadha Mosque Lamu on our T-shirts, Loky says in a letter addressed to Riyadha Mosque and Islamic Centre Secretary General Abubakar Badawy.

The designer said he had alerted friends and family who received the T-shirt to respect the dignity of the mosque, its founder-Habib Swaleh, and the general Muslim community by not wearing it in bars nor clubs if they happen to decide to wear it.

Since we only produced 20 T-shirts for some of our celebrity friends and family, we will not be reprinting this design, he adds.

Loky further promised to frame the entire collection and put it at a museum for exhibition to bring awareness of their work in order for them to continue appreciating what the company does.
New Delhi, April 8 : As the battle for West Bengal is underway, the strategically located state is of importance as it shares its borders with three countries-Nepal, Bhutan besides of course Bangladesh. The state government -- driven by whichever party comes to power after the elections -- will have to prioritize the Centres Act East and Neighbourhood First policies.

It is the only state which shares its borders with three countries. All these three countries feature prominently in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Neighborhood policy. Analysts said that Bengal is not just about its own domestic policies but are intertwined with the country's foreign policy framework besides being the gateway to the northeast.

Besides, if India has to resolve the issue of illegal immigration, West Bengal and its internal policies will be critical.

"A resurgent Bengal can dramatically transform the entire region and its neighbourhood in more ways than one. Mamata Banerjee understood this but couldn't translate it into an actionable vision due to the internal political contradictions. But, for a Look East policy without Bengal at the pivot cannot work," Sandip Ghose, political analyst told India Narrative.

Sample this. In 2011, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was keen on sealing the Teesta river water sharing pact with Bangladesh. However, at the last moment West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee pulled out of the agreement and did not let it see the light of the day.

Singh at that point was in Dhaka. Banerjee, who was to accompany Singh, opted out at the last moment leaving the then government red faced.

"The Teesta river water issue has remained at the core of the India Bangladesh relations though bilateral ties have strengthened in the last months," a Bangladeshi analyst said.

Recently, Indian High Commission to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami said that while New Delhi is keen to sign the agreement, the state government of West Bengal has remained firm on its opposition to the move.

"The Teesta water issue between India and Bangladesh has been pending for long. There is no denying that water flow into Bangladesh has been thinning and this is becoming a cause for concern. The West Bengal government, however, has not even held any discussion on this," Shakti Sinha, retired bureaucrat and director at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Policy Research and International Studies said.

Sinha also pointed out that as connectivity becomes the focus, West Bengal will have to play a strategic role in the altered geopolitical situation.

The Narendra Modi government will need co-operation and support from the West Bengal government if it wants to expedite the process of building connectivity with its neighbours.

"Bengal was a gateway for the North East - Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim (then independent) Sikkim - not just for movement of goods but also culturally, when Kolkata -- then Calcutta-- was centre of commerce, industry, education, medicine. But, it has lost that importance - symbolised in the state of the Kolkata Port," Ghose added.

Needless to say, therefore, that the ongoing West Bengal elections have generated unprecedented curiosity within the country and outside, especially Dhaka, which is hoping for a resolution to the Teesta river water issue.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/
Mandatory vaccinations for pre-school children in the Czech Republic have been backed by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in a landmark ruling.

The case was lodged by families in the Czech Republic who had children refused admission to pre-school or had been fined for refusing to vaccinate their children, in some instances dating back to 2003.

The ECHR said it found no violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, rebuffing the parents' complaints that the government had violated their rights.

While all the cases pre-dated the Covid-19 pandemic, the issue of routine vaccinations in children has faced increasing challenges due the spread of the virus.

That landmark ruling is the first from the ECHR on compulsory vaccinations against childhood diseases, with the judges backing Czech legislation by 16 to 1.

'The... measures could be regarded as being "necessary in a democratic society"' the court said, adding: 'The objective has to be that every child is protected against serious diseases, through vaccination or by virtue of herd immunity.'

Mandatory vaccinations for pre-school children in the Czech Republic has been backed by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in a landmark ruling. Under Czech law, unless medically exempted, children must be vaccinated against nine generally known diseases, like poliomyelitis, hepatitis B or tetanus. Pictured: A child is vaccinated (stock image)

'The Court found that the measures complained of by the applicants, when assessed in the national context, had struck a fair balance with the aims pursued by the Czech State, i.e. protection against diseases representing a serious risk for ones health.'

Under Czech law, unless medically exempted, children must be vaccinated against nine generally known diseases, like poliomyelitis, hepatitis B or tetanus.

However, jabs cannot be given forcibly, and un-vaccinated children cannot be excluded on the such a basis once they read primary school age.

The court said the Czech policy 'pursued the legitimate aims of protecting health as well as the rights of others, noting that vaccination protects both those who receive it and also those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons' and who are reliant on herd immunity.

'The Czech health policy could therefore be said to be consistent with the best interests of the children who were its focus,' it added.

In one of the five cases involving pre-school exclusions, the family involved refused to allow their daughter to be given the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab.

The child joined school in 2006, but her place was revoked two years later when the family doctor told the headteacher of the school that the child had not received the MMR vaccination.

A Czech court later backed the school's decision, saying allowing the child to go to pre-school could endanger others.

Other parents had been refused pre-school spots, while one father was fined for not vaccinating his children fully.

The European Court of Human Rights said it found no violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, rebuffing the parents' complaints that the government had violated their rights. Pictured: Building of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France

The court said the fine in the original applicant's case was not excessive. It also said that refusal of admission to pre-school was a 'preventive rather than a punitive measure'.

The Czech Republic is not the only country in Europe with mandatory childhood vaccination policies in place.

Both France and Italy have changed their vaccine rules following measles outbreaks in recent years. Similar suggestions have been made in the UK amid a decline in uptake in England in 2018-19.

Last year, the UN warned that routine child vaccinations have fallen sharply during the coronavirus globally, despite coronavirus vaccines not yet having being approved for use amongst younger people.

While trials are being undertaken to test whether coronavirus vaccines are safe for children, it is only being given to young people in specific circumstances. The coronavirus vaccine is currently not on the list of routine vaccines given to children.
Waikato iwi Ngati Hinerangi's Treaty settlement legistlation is now law.

Ngati Hinerangi, whose rohe includes the Matamata township, the Kaimai Range, and through to Tauranga Moana harbour, will receive more than $8.1 million in financial redress, after its settlement legislation passed its third and final reading in Parliament Tuesday.

The redress includes a $200,000 cultural fund, $20,000 for a marae rebuild and the return of 14 sites of cultural significance.

The settlement provides Crown apology redress, including an agreed historical account, and Crown acknowledgements of its historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi.

As the settlement legislation passed into law, the 130 iwi members from across the country who had gathered in the public gallery of Parliament rose to sing a waiata and do a haka.

Lead negotiator Dianna Vaimoso was overcome with emotion saying it's a proud moment for the iwi which had found its identity through the settlement process.

"I can't believe that we're finally here and I know that as far as our identity as Ngati Hinerangi, this has hit the top ... it can only get higher from here," Vaimoso says.

"We are tuturu Ngati Hinerangi and everyone's seen it now."

Photo: Supplied.

Vaimoso's uncle Matua Kore McMillan Koperu started the negotiation process back in 2004-2005 when he pushed for Ngati Hinerangi to be recognised as an iwi in its own right, rather than a hapu of Ngati Raukawa.

She says it took her a "while to hop on the waka", but she finally joined the Te Puawaitanga o Ngati Hinerangi Iwi Trust in 2008-2009.

Her uncle passed not long after, leaving her to carry on his legacy.

"That's certainly what I've tried to do everyday, is carry his legacy through, and of course if my uncle had not said that, one more generation and we would have been extinct, we were close to it.

"The reasoning for that is a lot of our women had married into Raukawa so it became Raukawa kawa (protocol) for us and we had forgotten who we actually were."

Surrounding iwi, including Ngati Haua, Tauranga Moana, Raukawa and Hauraki, had supported them through the settlement process, despite the challenges of overlapping claims, but she felt that everyone had come through the process with their mana intact.

The iwi now had its sight firmly on encouraging its people to return home, with the iwi membership already growing from 220 to 1400 in the past five years.

Its labour hire crew, Wairere Mahi, employs 22 kaimahi who try to set iwi members up with full-time employment while connecting them with their marae and ahurea (culture).

Already, 27 iwi members have secured jobs, and Vaimoso hopes with their iwi settlement they will be able to grow that number.

It also runs Wairere Toi, a collective of haka, reo, art and history enthusiasts in the iwi who work in seven schools in the region to revitalise their culture.

Minister of Treaty Negotiations Andrew Little says it marks "a new beginning in realising the settlement promises made to Ngati Hinerangi".

I want to acknowledge nga uri o Ngati Hinerangi and the Crown negotiations teams for working tirelessly during the negotiations process. This is a significant milestone to see this legislation passed, says Little.

This marks a new beginning in realising the settlement promises made to Ngati Hinerangi.

When the Deed of Settlement was signed in May 2019 at Te Ohaki Marae, the Ngati Hinerangi Chair Phil Smith likened it to a new Treaty between Ngati Hinerangi and the Crown. In many ways that is true.

"Today we are reaffirming our relationship with hope and a vision for the future generations of Ngati Hinerangi.

This settlement signifies a new phase in the partnership between the Crown and Ngati Hinerangi."

Copies of the Ngati Hinerangi Deed of Settlement are available at: https://www.govt.nz/treaty-settlement-documents/ngati-Hinerangi/

The Ngati Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill can be found at: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/

-Additional reporting by RNZ/Meriana Johnsen.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
Significant enforcement problems prevail in Irish industry: Fishing's control issues

"The finest cod bank on the Irish coast lies about two to three leagues to the northward of Boffin, nearly midway between that and Achill Head.



The great harvest on the bank couldnt be exploited by the Inishbofin islanders due to the small size of their boats, according to a report from 1873 by the then Inspector of Irish Fisheries, Thomas F. Brady,



Much has changed over the past almost 150 years. Not only is cod in crisis, but decades of overfishing combined with years of under-regulation have left many other species under threat.



The oceans if managed sustainably and protected sufficiently are one of our most powerful allies in the fight against climate change, according to Virginijus Sinkevicius, the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.



In order to do this, Sinkevicius said, in a recent online conference, that managing fisheries is key.



"An effective control system is the precondition for an effective fisheries policy the best policy remains toothless if not properly implemented and enforced."



That is where Ireland has fallen down in recent years, according to European Commission who found severe and significant weaknesses in the Irish control system.



Over the past number of months, Noteworthy has investigated Irelands enforcement of fisheries policy and controls. We submitted freedom of information (FOI) to multiple Government departments as well as State bodies and talked to numerous experts in both the fishing and environmental sectors. We can now reveal:



-- Land and sea inspections of fishing vessels dropped by 30% in 2020, with a drop of over 60% sea boardings by the Naval Service due to Covid-19 redeployment.



-- No vessels from Ireland, Scotland or the continent were willing to participate in a trial of CCTV by an Irish authority.



-- The landing obligation  or discard ban  is not working for fishers, environmental groups or scientists.



-- Ireland stated it had put no landing obligation specific tools in a report to the European Commission.



-- A number of issues identified in a recent Commission audit had already been flagged in a 2007 report commissioned by the Government.



-- A 2014 report by a Sea Fisheries Protection Officer suspected that a vessel intentionally and illegally discharged a large quantity of herring in Killybegs harbour.



Yesterday, we revealed the impact that fishing is having on wildlife. Tomorrow, part three examines the lack of transparency in much of the decision-making in the fishing sector.

 TheJournal.ie

Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture.
(Natural News) As you probably saw, the Coca-Cola Company has unofficially gone woke with a new employee training program that equates racism with whiteness. In order to become officially woke, though, Coca-Cola would now need to cancel itself for doing business in 1930s Nazi Germany.

Many people are unaware of it but Nazi Germany was one of Coca-Colas largest markets. A big part of the companys overall success was built upon what todays leftists would describe the systemically racist policies of Adolph Hitler.

Were it not for Hitlers leadership, Coca-Cola might never have become the global force it is today. German people, who are white, loved the companys carbonated sugar water and bought plenty of it with Hitler as their leader.

Todays leftist logic would dictate that Coca-Cola now has a responsibility to right the wrongs of the past by canceling its operations and donating all remaining assets to anti-racist organizations. The case could also be made that Coca-Cola now owes reparations to those who were negatively impacted by Hitlers rule.

Oh, but Coca-Cola did not actually support Hitler, right? Well, consider the below image depicting a 1936 advertisement put out by Coca-Cola specifically for the Nazi market. It reads:

One people, one country, one drink, Coke it is.

This nationalistic tagline was right up Hitlers alley, suggesting that Coca-Cola did, in fact, support Hitlers agenda. And because Coca-Cola profited heavily under Hitlers leadership, it is quite literally a Nazi company.

It is time for Coca-Cola to apologize to whites and Jews

As extreme as this all might sound, it is only fair as leftists are renaming schools, tearing down historical monuments and bullying city councils for far less.

Despite freeing the slaves, Abraham Lincoln, for example, is now racist simply because he lived during a time when other people he knew had slaves. Based on that line of logic, Coca-Cola has a whole lot more recompence to pay for its involvement with the Nazis.

One would think that a company so dedicated to rooting out white supremacy that it forces its white employees into racial re-education training seminars would first want to take a hard look at its own rather awkward historical relationship with actual white supremacists intent on building a world-dominating master race,' writes J.B. Shurk for the American Thinker.

Thats what racial justice requires, right  the punishment of one generation of Americans for the sins of generations past? So why should Coca-Colas questionable corporate history be off-limits when it goes out of its way to demonize white Americans for no other reason than the color of their skin?

Shurk is right. The problem, though, is that Coca-Cola is still a Nazi company. Its anti-white racial programs today in many ways mirror the anti-Jewish racial programs attributed to the Nazis. Wokeness in the modern sense is just racial prejudice repackaged and redirected against whites.

 everything about Coca-Colas racial indoctrination program today sounds as if it could be ripped right from the pages of Nazi Germanys own race laws, with Jews and other undesirables being crossed out and whites scribbled in their place, Shurk notes.

All the racial animosity that nearly destroyed humanity last century is back in woke form, and some of the same companies that underestimated the Nazi threat then are underestimating the evil intent of the new racialist agendas that are taking over the corporate world today.

That said, the time has come for Coca-Cola to renounce itself and apologize to Jews, Poles and others it discriminated against by selling carbonated sugar water in Nazi Germany. Coca-Cola also needs to beg for forgiveness from white people, whom it has unfairly denigrated.

More stories like this can be found at PoliticalCorrectness.news.

Sources for this article include:

AmericanThinker.com

NaturalNews.com
Riedel plans to aggressively drill and explore the Kingman Gold and Silver Project in Arizona during 2021.

( ) is earning into the Kingman Gold and Silver Project, an advanced high-grade gold and silver exploration project in north-west Arizona, US.

The Kingman project is another one of those that have good historical activities that makes me wonder why this is still not being explored. When Michael Bohm, Chairman of Riedel Resources Limited ( ) approached me to make this Coffee with Samso, I was very impressed with what I saw from their previous exploration.

Followers of would know that we had an Arizona story in New World Resources Limited (ASX: NWC) with the Antler Project, which was a good story about high grade mineralisation. This story appears to have a similar path and it looks like it has some hallmarks of a potential VMS region/province.

It is making its introduction as a high-grade gold and silver project but as the conversation progresses, there seems to be some evidence of a potential VMS system. Don't get me wrong - I am a strong proponent of the system whatever it is as long as it produces, so whether it is a VMS or not is really not all that relevant.

We talk to Michael Bohm, the Chairman of Riedel Resources Limited ( ) in Coffee with Samso Episode 80, about their Kingman Project. One of the most important part of my investment thinking is the technical merits and the management of a project. I have known Mike since 1993 and I have known him as one who is in the quality status. Hence, when I see a project that looks good and is associated with quality management, I am immediately interested.

Over the years, I have learned that these two parameters of good technical and management points are the most important aspects of any investment idea.

Michael shares with us how their projects were acquired and why they came to the conclusion to go ahead with the project.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:35 The Kingman Story

01:27 Why do we not hear a lot about the US Projects?

03:36 What is good about Kingman?

05:07 How did RIE acquire the project?

11:48 Quality of Project

15:17 The Silver component to US projects.

17:08 What is economical Silver?

19:09 Lack of popularity in US mineral projects.

23:46 What is the value proposition?

31:08 News flow?

PODCAST

About Michael Bohm

Chairman

BAppSc (Mining Engineering)

Appointed: 12 December 2020

Mr. Bohm is a qualified mining professional with extensive Corporate & Operations experience. Michael has extensive minerals industry experience in Australia, South East Asia, Africa, Chile, Canada and Europe.

A graduate of WA School of Mines, Michael has worked as a mining engineer, mine manager, study manager, project manager, project director and managing director and has been directly involved in a number of mine developments in the gold, nickel and diamond sectors.

Michael is a current Director of a number of ASX-listed companies and sits on their Audit & Risk and Remuneration Committees.

Michael has had previous directorships at Argyle Diamonds Mines, Sally Malay Mining Limited and Ashton Mining of Canada.

About Riedel Resources

Riedel Resources ( ) is an ASX-listed mineral exploration company earning into an advanced high-grade gold exploration project in north-west Arizona.

The Kingman Project comprises approximately 200 contiguous mining claims located approximately 30km from the town of Kingman Arizona.

The area was mined for high-grade gold and silver from the 1880s to the early 1940s and since then very little modern exploration has ever been carried out on the property.

The Riedel board has extensive experience in minerals and mineral exploration in Australia, the US and Canada, amongst others.

Kingman Gold Project

The Kingman Gold Project is located near Kingman Arizona and only 90 minutes drive from downtown Las Vegas.

The project was mined for high grade gold and silver from the 1880s until the early 1940s which coincided with the outbreak of WWII.

Following drilling in the 1990s, 11 diamond holes were drilled on the property in late 2019 and which intersected multiple zones of high grade gold, silver and lead from shallow depths and confirmed the extensive mineralisation potential of the area.

Riedel plans to aggressively drill and explore the project area during 2021.

Kingman Gold Project Map

Please let Samso know your thoughts and send any comments to info@Samso.com.au. Remember to Subscribe to the YouTube Channel, Samso Media and the mail list to stay informed and make comments where appropriate. Other than that, also feel free to provide a Review on Google.

For further information about Coffee with Samso and Rooster Talks visit: www.samso.com.au

About Samso

Samso is a renowned resource among the investment community for keen market analysis and insights into the companies and business trends that matter.

Investors seek out Samso for knowledgeable evaluations of current industry developments across a variety of business sectors and considered forecasts of future performances.

With a compelling format of relaxed online video interviews, Samso provides clear answers to questions they may not have the opportunity to ask and lays out the big picture to help them complete their investment research.

And in doing so, Samso also enables companies featured in interviews to build valuable engagement with their investment communities and customers.

Headed by industry veteran Noel Ong and based in Perth, Western Australia, Samsos Coffee with Samso and Rooster Talk interviews both feature friendly conversations with business figures that give insights into Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) companies, related concepts and industry trends.

Noel Ong is a geologist with nearly 30 years of industry experience and a strong background in capital markets, corporate finance and the mineral resource sector. He was founder and managing director of ASX-listed company from 2009-2017 and has also been involved in several other ASX listings, providing advice, procuring projects and helping to raise capital.

He brings all this experience and expertise to the Samso interviews, where his engaging conversation style creates a relaxed dialogue, revealing insights that can pique investor interest.

Noel Ong travels across Australia to record the interviews, only requiring a coffee shop environment where they can be set up. The interviews are posted on Samsos website and podcasts, YouTube and other relevant online environments where they can be shared among investment communities.

Samso also has a track record of developing successful business concepts in the Australasia region and provides bespoke research and counsel to businesses seeking to raise capital and procuring projects for ASX listings.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this article is the writers personal opinion and is provided for information only and is not intended to or nor will it create/induce the creation of any binding legal relations. Read full disclaimer.
Peru voters are preparing to head for the polls on Sunday, casting their ballots for the next president and congressional representatives.

Yonhy Lescano of the Popular Action party remains the leading candidate in the latest polls.

Lescano is followed by George Forsyth of the National Victory party. In total 18 candidates are vying for the presidency.

Lescano has been touring the country and during the last days of campaigning which ends Thursday, has been visiting various parts of Lima.

Meanwhile, presidential candidate of the Victoria Nacional political party George Forsyth recently announced that he contracted COVID-19 during his campaign activities in Madre de Dios, Junan and Cajamarca.

Also in the running is Veronika Mendoza for Together for Peru, a Peruvian and French citizen with degrees in Psychology and Social Sciences obtained in Paris, France.

Between 2011 and 2016, she held a seat in Congress for the Cusco region.

This is the second time she has run for the presidency. In 2016, competed against Keiko Fujimori and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who won the presidency

The forthcoming elections, on April 11th, seek to replace President Francisco Sagasti, who took office after his predecessor, Martin Vizcarra, was impeached during an investigation on corruption allegations.

"Whomever is elected on Sunday will not have a majority in Congress and that will be the real test, how to build a majority, and it will not be easy because the parliament is very fragmented," said political analyst Fernando Tuesta Soldevilla, at the Pontifica Universidad Catolica del Peru.

Peru will hold elections amid a political crisis that saw three presidents in a period of two years and a devastating coronavirus pandemic that killed thousands.

"The topic of the pandemic has been number one on the agenda and that is what is suprising," Soldevilla said.

"That the candidates have spoken about everything but we have before us the worst wave and the highest level of contagion."

Peru has had just over 1.5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus infections, with 53,411 deaths related to COVID-19 according to Johns Hopkins University's collated data.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
El Salvador receives cargo of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China

Xinhua) 16:36, April 08, 2021

SAN SALVADOR, April 7 (Xinhua) -- El Salvador announced Wednesday it is ready to distribute more vaccines as part of its national vaccination campaign against COVID-19, after a cargo of doses donated by China arrived late Tuesday.

Following the arrival of the shipment of CoronaVac vaccines, developed by the Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people via a message posted on social media.

El Salvador's Minister of Health Francisco Alabi and Chinese Ambassador to El Salvador Ou Jianhong were both on hand to receive the shipment.

Alabi thanked the Chinese government for its support of the Central American country in fighting the pandemic, saying the vaccines represented hope and opportunity to protect Salvadorans.

"We are receiving much more hope in our country to continue moving forward," Alabi said.

A cargo of Sinovac vaccines bought by El Salvador's government landed several days ago at the same airport, said Ou.

"These important events once again demonstrate the success in anti-pandemic cooperation between China and El Salvador. It also vividly reflects the bonds of friendship ... and partnership that bind us closely," she added.

Alabi said the new batch of donated vaccines would be distributed by the National Biological Center to different parts of the country to boost the vaccination drive launched in February.

On Wednesday, El Salvador began the second phase of its vaccination plan, which targets those with chronic degenerative diseases, adults over 80, and groups at risk from COVID-19.

The first phase of the vaccination plan immunized healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic fight, as well as soldiers, police officers, firefighters and teachers.

The country has so far registered 65,491 COVID-19 cases and 2,037 deaths, according to the Salvadoran government.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Los Angeles, CA, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Throughout the Month of the Military Child this April, national nonprofit Operation Gratitude and CSX will honor and recognize the resiliency of military children by delivering 5,000 Battalion Buddies, hand-stuffed teddy bears dressed in military uniform, to children of deployed or soon-to-deploy military parents. These Battalion Buddies provide a sentimental connection and can offer emotional comfort to military kids who make a different, but equally difficult sacrifice, while their parents are stationed away from home. The COVID-19 pandemic has extended deployments, creating additional stress and uncertainty for military families, especially those in the National Guard who have been mobilized rapidly and frequently to aid in testing and vaccination efforts.

We are three months into the deployment. Ashlynn loves her bear so much! She takes it to daycare every day and sleeps with it every night. She said it reminds her of Daddy. I wanted to thank you again for all you do. You have made a difference in my daughters life, stated N., mother of Battalion Buddy recipient & spouse of a deployed soldier.

Local deliveries are being planned throughout April and May, as part of Operation Gratitudes ongoing commitment to support not only the military, but their families as well. CSX and Operation Gratitudes partnership is part of Pride in Service, CSXs company-wide community investment initiative, which directly supports military, veterans, and first responders as well as their children and spouses.

Each one of our Battalion Buddies is hand stuffed by an Operation Gratitude volunteer  a grateful American who opted to go a step beyond saying thank you to service members and their families and take tangible action to show their support and appreciation. These volunteers may have experienced the challenges of being part of a military family firsthand, or maybe they havent. Either way, their time and effort send a clear message to Battalion Buddy recipients that they are supported by their community and their sacrifices will not be forgotten, said Kevin Schmiegel, CEO, Operation Gratitude.

At CSX, we remain committed to serving those who serve. It is simply part of our identity, as 1 in 5 CSX employees has served in the military, said Bryan Tucker, vice president of corporate communications at CSX. In partnership with Operation Gratitude we hope to deliver smiles to more military children, particularly when their parent is deployed. Battalion Buddies are meant to alleviate some of that stress.

Interviews with Operation Gratitude and CSX leadership available upon request.

POC: Amber Myszka, Operation Gratitude PR & Media Manager, amyszka@operationgratitude.com or 715-927-7722

About Operation Gratitude

Operation Gratitudes mission is to forge strong bonds between Americans and their Military and First Responder heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude, and meaningful engagements in communities nationwide. In March of 2003, Operation Gratitude sent its first four care packages to deployed service members in Iraq. Since then, the organization has given millions of Americans the opportunity to express appreciation through hands-on volunteerism while lifting the spirits of more than 1.8 million deployed troops and another 1.3 million recruit graduates, veterans, military families, first responders, and healthcare heroes. Corporate partners and grateful citizens from across the country donate more than 15 million Wish List and handmade items each year to fill the signature Operation Gratitude Care Packages. Through donation drives, letter-writing campaigns, craft projects, service projects, and other activities, volunteers are the heart and soul of the organization. For more information visit OperationGratitude.com, or follow us on Twitter at @OpGratitude.

About CSX

CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural and consumer products. For nearly 200 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nations economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nations population resides. It also links more than 230 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike. More information about CSX Corp. and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com.

Attachments
BRIDGEWATER  The Bridgewater Hilltop

Center will be opening on Monday, April 19, with limited activities. When in the center, all will be required to wear a mask at all times, social distance and take care to wash hands and use hand sanitizer.

Center Programs include the following:

Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance, Mondays at 1 p.m. and Thursdays at 10 a.m. beginning April 19. This new therapeutic program helps participants improve balance, mobility, daily functioning and prevent falls. Participants meet at the center twice a week for one hour, for 24 weeks. This is a licensed property that Connecticut Community Care is offering for free.

The Body Conditioning class will remain live via Zoom Mondays at 10:30 and Wednesdays at noon.

The Computer Club will be meeting at the center at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays.

Silver Needles at 1 p.m. starting April 20.

Book Group starts April 22 at 11:30 a.m.

Chair Yoga will continue to meet on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. live via Zoom.

Municipal Agent Dawn MacNutt will be at the center on Tuesdays from 10 to noon.

Grab & Go lunch of ham, scalloped potatoes and veggies, prepared by Lisa at the Bridgewater Convenience store, will be on the menu on Thursday, April 29, at 12:30 p.m. Cost is $10. Sign up is required to reserve a meal.

The senior van is available for the use of residents. During COVID-19, the service is transporting only people that are well. Use includes doctor appointments, grocery shopping and special activities with a limited destination of 20 miles. Availability is on a first come, first served basis. Riders are asked to contact the senior van director, Ann Frattalone, at 860-350-3042 at least two weeks in advance for an appointment.

The senior center at 32 Hut Hill Road may be reached at 860-355-3090. For more information, visit bridgewater-ct.gov/hilltop-senior-center.
This breeding season, Munster Bovine offer an excellent range of bulls to meet all herdowner needs.

The challenge is to breed animals that are efficient producers and fit the system they are expected to perform in. To make life easier for farmers to choose which bulls to use, we have introduced panels specifically selected to suit different farming systems.

One of the most popular panels is the Target of 500-600 KG Milk Solids. This is a goal a lot of Spring calving operations try to achieve. Balanced for Production and Fertility with an eye on milk price through high components while breeding cow with a mature liveweight of approx. 600kgs.

Fiachra Liston, dairy farmer from Banogue, Co Limerick, Munster Bovine Milk Recording customer.

Panel highlights include: EBI 273, Milk SI 106, Fert SI 107, Health SI 8, Main SI 8, Milk Kg 181, Fat Kg 18, Prot Kg 15, Solids Kg 32, Fat 0.18%, Prot 0.14%. Because of its popularity, this panel has 18 bulls to choose from; that offers choice and also different bloodlines.

Our Super Grazer Panel is designed for farmers looking to breed an efficient cow of 500kgs body weight that will produce 500 Kgs of milk solids. Panel Highlights are: Fert SI 99, Health SI 10, 30kgs Solids at +0.22% Fat & 0.16% Prot. This panel is for herdowners looking for the most efficient cows to convert kgs grass DM into Kgs of milk solids with high % while minimising concentrate supplementation.

Following the latest calving evaluations, this years panel of easy calving sires is exceptional. With a choice of top EBI genomic bulls like Seville, Stark, Pivotal and Bond or daughter proven like Spice and Ronald there is a bull available to suit all heifers

The Pedigree, Production & Conformation panel is focused on the higher producing pedigree herds that are looking at conformation as one of their breeding objectives. The best of domestic and international sires make up this panel with sires like Perseus, Yamaska, Batman and Starmaker some of the standout picks.

For Daughter Proven there is an excellent choice of sires that do what it says on the tin. Standouts in this category are PKR and FR4207 Ronald, two of the highest daughter proven fertility bulls. FR2235 Spice and FR4020 Jack are two very special easy calving sires that are doing a superb job.

Following the latest calving evaluations, this years panel of easy calving sires is exceptional. With a choice of top EBI genomic bulls like Seville, Stark, Pivotal and Bond or daughter proven like Spice and Ronald, there is a bull available to suit all heifers.

Munster are also excited to announce their Sexed Semen line-up with new additions to the high EBI, high solids bulls SUPREME, NOVA, COSMIC and FIVEO.

Our beef on dairy panel is specifically selected for dairy herdowners to ensure they achieve easy calving, short gestation, increased calf value and a calf that will grow into a profitable beast for the beef purchased and meet the factory specifications.

The Munster Bovine Fresh Programme will also start week commencing April 19th where all you have to do is heat detect and call for an AI and Munster will take care of the rest. Exceptional value for money and proven high conception rate Technicians are promised.

Munster Launch 2021 G1 Programme

ICBFs Gene Ireland programme will be the platform used to test Munsters superb offering of young G1 Sires this season. With over 80 bulls being tested and more than 60 over 300 EBI by 35 different sires demand is expected to be high. By using these sires, breeders will potentially get the opportunity to breed the next generation of elite ai sires. Remember straws from these bulls is limited so herdowners shouldnt miss out on getting their herds signed up asap.

Contact your local Munster Bovine Sales Rep or AI Technician today for more information.

Make This Your Best Breeding Season Yet with Munster Bovines FarmOps

The Breeding and Fertility module in Farmops is designed to help herdowners achieve the best possible outcome from the breeding season. This is achieved by providing herdowners with live relevant insights during the breeding season for both cows and heifers.

The Key breeding metrics provided are:

Number of heats expected per day: This calculation is performed daily in FarmOps and will give herdowners an invaluable barometer to benchmark heat detection efficiency.

Cows due to repeat: This gives the number of animals served or recorded in heat 18-24 days ago that are due to repeat. You can also view the actual list of cows or heifers.

Valid serves: A valid serve is a serve that can result in a pregnancy. For example, if a cow was served twice in 2 days, only one of these serves can result in a pregnancy. FarmOps will calculate the herds total serves, total valid serves and what the target valid serves should be.

Cows calved 35 days not served: This is a critical action list. It is these cows that require timely veterinary intervention during the breeding season.

Potential empty cows: This calculation is performed daily by FarmOps. It is the number of cows, based on a 60% conception rate, that have yet to go in calf. This metric along with the number of heats expected per day are powerful motivating metrics to maintain heat detection intensity.

Stock bull required: This is the number of mature stock bulls required based on the number of potential empty cow. This is a key metric when deciding when to stop AI and release the stock bull(s).

Munster Bovine: The FarmOps app is suitable for all dairy and beef farmers across the country and comes with a three-month free trial.

If you are on the Tech Service, simply download FarmOps and you will get these metrics. If DIY, start recording serves to see these metrics in FarmOps.

The FarmOps app is suitable for all dairy and beef farmers across the country and comes with a three-month free trial. Munster Bovine dairy customers who participate in a milk recording programme and use Munster Bovine breeding services get the app for FREE for all of 2021. The app is also available for FREE for all of 2021 to beef customers who use Munster Bovine breeding services i.e. a minimum of 20 straws / AI tech serves.

Farmers can continue to use existing apps while trying out FarmOps this breeding season, before deciding which app to finally continue using on farm.

Milk Recording and Herd Health Programmes with Munster Bovine

Changing legislation regarding the use of antibiotics is coming into effect in January 2022, which will seriously curtail the use of antibiotics on farm. The information generated from early Milk Recording is gold and will help you, your Vet and your advisor to manage your herd to lower SCC, reduce mastitis incidence, improve dry period performance and help ultimately in becoming less reliant on antibiotics.

Our Herd Health programme is all about helping herdowners achieve the best possible performance from their herds through maximising health and management. The Munster Bovine Herd Health programme has been running since 2013 with approximately 2500 herd owners set to avail of the service in 2021. The greatest testament to the Herd Health programme is that once farmers join, they continue to use the service year after year.

Sign up to Munster Bovine

To sign up for a Munster Bovine Milk Recording or Herd Health Programme call 022 43228 today. Visit munsterbovine.ie for more.
Actress and influencer Tammin Sursok has updated fans on how she and husband Sean McEwen are doing, after they had the coronavirus vaccine in the U.S.

The Pretty Little Liars star, 37, revealed in a series of Instagram videos on Tuesday they were both 'doing pretty good' and that she'd only suffered mild side effects, including tiredness and a sore arm.

It comes after Sean battled Covid-19 earlier this year, losing 6.8kg (15lbs) while battling the respiratory virus.

Updates: Actress and influencer Tammin Sursok (right) has updated fans on how she and husband Sean McEwen (left) are doing, after they had the coronavirus vaccine in the U.S.

'We're doing fine, my arm is a little sore now. It was sore the first time straight away. It's taken about five hours to get to work,' Tammin explained.

'I'm a little tired. I think that's because I've had two kids, but that's it for now,' she added.

While recording a video from her bed, Tammin said that Sean had 'chills' and laughed off her slightly numb arm.

'We're doing fine, my arm is a little sore now': The Pretty Little Liars star, 37, revealed in a series of Instagram videos on Tuesday they were both 'doing pretty good' and that she'd only suffered mild side effects, including tiredness and a sore arm

'We were both laughing. My arm is so sore, I can't move it off my body, but I'm faring pretty well and he's fairing pretty well.'

She later added: 'We are tired and achy but pretty good.'

It's unclear which vaccine Tammin and Sean had, or which dose of the vaccine she was referring to when discussing her side effects.

Details: It's unclear which vaccine Tammin and Sean had, or which dose of the vaccine she was referring to when discussing her side effects. Their children have not yet been vaccinated

In late January, Tammin revealed that Sean had tested negative to Covid-19, after 21 days battling the virus.

Hours before receiving the result, Tammin confirmed her husband was 'really weak' and had lost 6.8kg (or 15lbs) in two weeks.

'Once you're past the scary phase and your loved one is okay, it's still such a disruption to your life, and your kids' lives and the person who is sick's life,' she said at the time.

Ordeal: In late January, Tammin revealed that Sean had tested negative to Covid-19, after 21 days battling the virus

She added that everyone needs to realise the virus is 'still around', saying: 'This is almost a year, and I never thought after a year that this would still be affecting us.

'Please be safe, and I know that the fatigue of all this gets overwhelming - I get it, because it's happening to me too.

'But there will be some light at the end of the tunnel and we will get back to our normal lives.'

Hospital woes: Over the weekend, Tammin revealed she'd been rushed to hospital, where doctors found a large cyst in her right ovary

Over the weekend, Tammin revealed she'd been rushed to hospital, where doctors found a large cyst in her right ovary.

She said that after sharing her journey, thousands of people reached out to her with their heartbreaking stories of misdiagnoses and struggles with pain management.

'Let's make women's health a priority. It is completely unacceptable that so many live in constant pain and anguish with no real answers,' she wrote.
What should I do if I think I may have mold in my house? What resources are available to help?

The Daily News talked with mold inspection and mold remediation experts to provide some guidance to homeowners.

Residential and commercial account representative for SERVPRO of Saginaw, Shawn Weiss, said there are several warning signs that homeowners have a mold problem. They include:

 Black dots on drywall

 Musty, damp smell

 Doors that become harder to close  moisture causes the wood to swell

 Lingering health issues such as itchy eyes, headache, or sore throat

Weiss said he hasnt seen an unusual amount of local mold remediation cases. But it is a common problem crews are addressing since mold growth can stem from incidents like dishwasher leaks and sink overflows, as well as region-wide flooding.

If its not dried properly, youd be shocked at just how fast the mold can spread throughout your house, he said.

A meticulous process

Weiss explained proper mold removal is meticulous. In addition, mold spores that become airborne can quickly spread throughout an entire house. If these spores are breathed in, it can cause health issues for residents.

Weiss said one of the worst things you can do is put a fan on a wet area without drying it properly first because it can cause the mold to spread.

That fan is just going to send the mold spores everywhere and it can go throughout your entire house, Weiss said.

And, a few tiny black dots on drywall could point to a much bigger spread inside the wall and on the insulation.

So, proper mold remediation includes locating and containing the mold to the problem area  putting up plastic sheeting, closing air ducts, turning off your HVAC system and wearing proper protection equipment, like a respirator.

If now all of a sudden you start seeing some dots on your walls, youre going to have to cut that out, remove the insulation, treat the inside of it, dry it properly, put the walls back in, put some antimicrobial primer on it and then put it all back together, Weiss said. So, it is a complicated process and it can have severe health impacts.

So, its best to call a professional that does this, but if you are going to attempt to do it on your own, just make sure you use proper (protection equipment)," he added.

How to prevent mold growth

One of the best ways to prevent mold growth is to monitor the humidity in your house using a thermostat or hygrometer, Weiss said.

He said 40% humidity is ideal but higher than 55% can be problematic  creating conditions for mold to grow rapidly.

Having a good dehumidifier running can help control humidity levels.

It really deters mold growth when there isnt that environment  that humid environment  for it to become a mold factory, Weiss said.

A mold inspector's point of view

Tom Hernick, owner of Hernick Environmental in Frankenmuth and a professional mold inspector throughout Michigan for the last 20 years, said if a homeowner suspects mold issues but isn't sure, one way to gauge the problem is to spend some time away from the home if possible.

"Go away from home a week or so," Hernick said of what he tells people who aren't sure whether they have mold in their home. "If you start feeling better, its probably your home thats causing the issue  because you will start to feel better once you go away from the problem."

Hernick said he gets more calls about mold concerns in the winter than in the summer.

"Mold doesnt really go airborne until it dries out," he explained.

According to Hernick, the proper process, when mold is suspected to be in a home, is for a mold inspector to come in and take air samples and then prescribe the abatement work that needs to be done.

Then, a mold abatement specialist does that work, and the inspector returns to the home to ensure that the remediation was done properly.

"They need top have a proper inspection done where we do the air samples, do the inspection, and write up an abatement protocol," Hernick explained. "Abatement contractors can then take our abatement protocol. So (homeowners) can compare apples to apples when they're getting quotes."

According to Hernick, mold abatement is always more involved than just spraying the area that has been affected by mold.

"The true abatement companies will put up vertical barriers and a negative air machine," he said.

The two worst forms of black mold are stachybotrys and chaetomium, Hernick siad.

"We cant (approve) an abatement if any of those show up at the house sampling," he said.

Do your research

Brian Carson, owner of Elliot Environmental, a mold abatement company in Bay City, encourages homeowners to research a company before hiring it, because mold abatement is unregulated in Michigan, unlike in some other states.

"I would say, do your research. Because of the lack of regulation, there are a number of companies with different qualifications and skill sets," Carson said.

In terms of homeowners whose residences got flooded last May following the mid-Michigan dam failures, exposed drywall is one potential area of trouble.

"The most important thing (is), if they had drywall that was wet and it was not removed, then its likely they still have a mold problem," Carson said. "Potentially they might not have a problem visually, (but the problem is still there)."
ROGUE RIVER, Ore.  An alarming wildfire that drew in firefighters from all over the Rogue Valley on Tuesday night was caused by unattended burn piles that spread to the wildlands, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Rogue River Fire District initially responded to reports of a spreading grass fire in the 3700-block of Wards Creek Road, northeast of Rogue River, just before 5:30 p.m. that evening. The fire was initially estimated at three acres in size, but it was quickly spreading uphill into heavy brush and timber.

RRFD triggered a second and third alarm, calling in help from multiple local fire agencies. The steep terrain hindered bulldozers from helping to line the fire, leaving most of the work for fire crews, ODF said. Within three hours, crews were able to build a hose line around the entire perimeter, but winds caused the main fire to spot in the hills above.

ODF brought in more resources to relieve the original firefighter engines, working to contain the spot fires over night. By early Wednesday morning, the agency said that the fire was contained  allowing crews to begin mopping up.

After GPS mapping, the total fire area was estimated at just over eight acres, including the spot fires.

"Due to direction the fire was spreading, evacuations were never ordered and no homes were threatened," ODF said. "Wards Creek Road was closed for a time to everyone but residents and fire personnel; that closure has since been lifted."

Fire investigators looked over the scene and spoke with witnesses, determining that the fire had been caused by multiple unattended burn piles. ODF said that the responsible party was cited.

"This incident is not the first of its kind this week; fire agencies from across southern Oregon have responded to multiple escaped burns in the past seven days. Warmer weather, winds and a lack of rain are contributing to increased fire activity and risk," ODF said.

Fire officials said that conditions are more comparable to late spring in the Rogue Valley in areas below 3,000 feet. As a result, debris burns can easily escape into the wildlands. Burn piles also run the risk of reigniting, due to the winds and dry conditions.
Core issue of culture remains, in our view, largely unaddressed by the company

Kingspan PLC ( ) has seen one of its long-term investors sell out due to the issues that emerged during the Grenfell Tower inquiry.

WHEB, a sustainable investment specialist, had held shares in the building materials firm since May 2014 but said the inquiry had highlighted a culture of seeing UK regulation as an impediment to doing business within its UK arm.

The Ireland-based group was heavily criticised by witnesses at the inquiry into the 2017 fire in west London where 72 people died.

Kingspan has always insisted it had no role in the design of cladding used on Grenfell Tower and that the K15 product it supplied for the building only constituted 5% of the insulation used.

It was used without Kingspan's knowledge in a system that was not compliant with the buildings regulations and was unsafe, the building materials group has said repeatedly.

In February, chief executive Gene Murtagh also apologised for what he said was unacceptable conduct and historical process shortcomings, involving a small number of employees in our UK insulation boards business.

Kingspan has since introduced new processes in its insulation boards division and that has helped its share price recover from 57(euro)c in February to 71.3c today.

In its March 2021 investment advisory committee minutes, WHEB said that while the recent initiatives were impressive the core issue of culture remains, in our view, largely unaddressed by the company.

Compounding this concern was the decision by the company to appoint the CEOs brother to the Board," said the minutes.

This appointment was announced with the annual results in late February. In our view, this was a missed opportunity to make board appointments which present the clearest possible signal of independent governance.
Pamela Turner was shot to death in May 2019. The lawsuit was filed Thursday, on what would have been her 46th birthday.

Video Transcript

BEN CRUMP: Thank you so much, President Dixon. I'm attorney Ben Crump and I'm so grateful to the leadership of the NAACP and Bishop Dickson for always being there in matters of injustice. We're going to fight with the elements-- so we'll pause so you all can hear these important people and what they came to proclaim to you today. And before we make our proclamations, I am but one of the great lawyers and representatives fighting for justice for Pamela Turner, this innocent black woman, who was killed unjustifiably. But we'll get to that in a moment.

I am honored to stand with attorney Devon Jacob, my co-counsel for Pennsylvania. We are filing a federal civil rights lawsuit against officer Delacruz and the Bay Town police department today on April 8, 2021 on what would have been Pamela Turner's 46th birthday, had officer Delacruz not accosted her, assaulted her, battered her and shut her down like a dog in the street and you don't have to take my word for it. Go watch the video.

And so, it is with a heavy heart that we come to celebrate the life of Pamela Turner today. And so attorney Jacobs is going to talk to you about the law suite but before we do that, I want to recognize some other special people here today. Equal Justice Now and their executive director, Tony Smith, and a lot of young people who have been on the front lines all across America saying that we demand equal justice now for Pam Turner. For Breonna Taylor. For Black Lives Matter. For black women lives matter. and so I'm so grateful to Equal Justice Now for being here, standing with the NAACP and this family so they know they're not alone.

We also have, what I call the mother of the movement for Houston, Texas, and that is Miss Miriam Tolan. Who you all remember her son, Robbie Tolan, who was shot in the parking lot in front of her and her husband. Shot in front of her house, in the driveway. In front of her and her husband and she with the faith of a mustard seed took that case all the way to the United States Supreme Court and made it where qualified immunity was pushed back to give families like Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, and Jacob Blake Junior a chance to have their day in court. And now Pamela Turner.

Story continues

We're all standing on the shoulders of you, Miram Tolan.

[APPLAUSE]

BEN CRUMP: Let them see Miriam. This battle axe who never gave up when the courts here in Houston Texas dismissed her. She took it all the way to the Supreme Court and we always should celebrate her every chance we get.

Also we have the family of Danny Ray Thomas, who like Pam Turner, was suffering the mental health crisis, had his pants down in the middle of the hallway and the police officer shot and killed him unjustly. You shouldn't have to have it be a life or death situation just because you're black in America and having a mental health crisis. His sister, Markita Thomas, is also present here standing with the family of Pamela Turner.

And then, a lady-- Charlie, attorney Ricky Anderson, attorney David Ransea All these great lawyers who are standing with this family. We pale in comparison to a lady who did not think it [INAUDIBLE] to come all the way from Louisville, Kentucky, even though she's still grieving with the loss of her angel, who the world came to know in the most unimaginable of circumstances where she was killed in the sanctity of her own home, Monique Pressley. She was in her home. If we can't be safe in our home, where can we be safe at. But she has been so dignified and graceful in defining the legacy of her daughter and she is using whatever platform, whatever influence, whatever resources she has to stand with the children of Pam Turner here in Houston, Texas.

And we are so-- I mean-- we are so grateful-- we are so in awe that she would come Bishop Dixon, and be with this family today. And that is the mother of Breonna Taylor, Ms. Tamika Palmer. And you will hear from the family of Pam Turner last. and then we'll-- and you will hear from her daughter, Chelsea Rubin. I think her son Cameron January, won't speak but he'll stand beside his sister. His heart is heavy. And you'll hear from Pam's sister, Antoinette Darcy James. And then we will celebrate the life of Pam Turner by singing in a brief few bars of "Happy Birthday" and then we will release 46 purple balloons because purple was her favorite color. And we are here to celebrate her life on her birthday. let And define the legacy of her birthday to let officer Delacruz know that he won't get away with this.

To let officer Delacruz know that what he did was not extend any consideration, any professionalism, or any humanity to Pamela Turner. You all saw the video. I mean, she was an unarmed black woman in [INAUDIBLE]. She was just walking to give her trash and the police came and accosted her. And you hear her say, "Why are you bothering me? Why are you harassing me? I just want to go home."

And yet, he still confronted her. They went to the ground. He tased twice. She's fighting to get the taser away. 'Cause you tasing her. And he gets up on his feet. And I still can't believe this. I cannot believe this-- this man on his feet. A black woman on her back on the ground. He could have did any number of things to not use the deadly force he used. He could have created distance. And Devon is going to talk to you all about this. He could have called for backup. He could have set up a barrier. He coulda did-- he coulda gave verbal commands, which he did none of that. He coulda said freeze. Stop. Anything. He shot five times at point blank range.

Five times at point blank range. Put three bullets in the body of this unarmed black woman who was on the ground saying I'm pregnant. He had no consideration for her or any possible life could have been in her. He shot her down like a dog in the street and that's why we're here today. Because Chelsea and Kevin but life man but like many Black women lives matter.

And it's breaking news. And as Tamika Palmer. And Chelsea Rubin. The daughter of Pam. We've talked this morning and obviously we all know what's going on in America with the trial of Derek Chauvin regarding the death of George Floyd, Houston native. And the fact that I flew in from Minnesota to be here because it was too important to this family. It was too important to this community. Too important to justice that I could not find away on Pam Turner's birthday.

But it's so ironic that as Chelsea told Tamika, that there's a trial date set in the Criminal Court and Monique Pressley, it was so ironic, that trial date is set right here for Harris County. Equal Justice Now, we got to pack this courtroom.

On May 25th, which coincidentally is the one year anniversary of when George Perry Floyd was tortured to death by officer Derek Chauvin. I say coincidence and Chelsea said no. It's providence that the trial will be set to begin on the day that George Floyd was killed. So there's so much irony. Breonna's age and Chelsea's age. Pamela Turner's age when she was killed and Breonna's mother age. And the fact that you have these black women coming together. To have to stand up for black women that have been killed.

So it is such an emotional moment for both these families. With that, we're trying to go in our successive order with-- I'm going to go through all them and then we're gonna call them up. Attorney Devon Jacob is going to speak to you. A representative from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee office is briefly to speak to you and then we're going to have Miriam Tolan just say a brief word to you and then we're going to turn it over to Tamika Palmer to tell you why she came and then we will bring Chelsea Rubin and Antoinette, the family of Pamela Turner. But I'm proud to co-counsel this case with a great lawyer. A great civil rights lawyer, who is one of the best I've ever worked with and a better person. Attorney Devin Jacob to talk about the lawsuit

DEVON JACOB: It's always an honor to work with Ben, a true crusader. I'm here and it's-- it's always disheartening to have to look at yet another family. I extend my condolences before I begin to speak. But here we are again. Another city. Another death Senseless death. I'm supposed to yell, they say.

I'm a former police officer and I've defended law enforcement for 10 years. And for the last approximate 10 years I've been prosecuting civil rights cases. And those are against cities and municipalities and police officers for the systemic problems that exist. And that's exactly what we have here yet again. Officer or former-- well, officer still, I guess.

- He hasn't been fired.

DEVON JACOB: Juan Pedro Delacruz He's a criminal defendant. He's still a police officer. This morning he became a civil defendant in federal court. Lawsuit is filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and its docket number 21-1148. If anyone needs that, it's available for download. The lawsuit names as defendants officer Delacruz the city of Baytown, Texas, and Cypress Point Equity Partners, who we understand is the-- was the owner at the time, of the apartment complex where Miss Turner was shot and killed and that's because officer Delacruz was operating both as a police officer and a security officer and there had been a systemic, ongoing harassment of Ms. Turner while she was employed there.

It is our belief that the officer decided to use these low level warrants as a means to find a place for Ms. Turner when they intended to evict her and the eviction notice served earlier in the day. As a former police officer, that disgusts me does not what is supposed to be done. That is not the actual purpose of a police officer. And there's absolutely no reason to be serving low level warrants at night at somebody's residence. It's just not normally what happens, even in a small town, let alone a city district. I guess we are going to be fighting with the noise.

So just a couple real quick points and that's that unfortunately, the city does not take this matter seriously. And that's because they still have this individual as a police officer in their ranks. They may be suspended. You may not be paid. But the fact is the city hasn't fired him. Imagine that. We have an officer who's been criminally charged with assault that caused death, misusing his authority, and he still remains on the force. There's absolutely no reason for this. We've seen other police departments within days fire police officers regardless of what collective bargaining agreements say or don't say. Leave it to an arbitrator to bring them back.

But there's absolutely no reason that this city shouldn't have stood up and said that this is not going to be tolerated in our city. And it's very clear, as a former police officer, that this shooting was unlawful from the beginning. And it's because even if Ms. Turner was able to get a hold of a taser while she's lying on the ground, that police department knew that she knew that night that having already been used, that taser was rendered useless for Ms. Turner.

Yes. The model taser the M-26 that was being carried. There's two ways to fire. One is prong mode and one is drive stun mode. Prong mode shoots. Drive stun, you have to touch. And once it was fired by Delacruz, he knew that the only way that she could use that taser against him at that distance was by firing it. And she had no means to fire it because it had already been fired. She didn't walk around with cartridges to refill tasers. It's not it's not what happens.

Does anybody have a taser cartridge in your pocket? No. And officer Delacruz knew that. And when he pushed off of her and actually backs all the way out of the video frame, there's no way she could touch him while laying on her stomach looking up pleading. And yet he shot her right in the face. And he shot five times and that's significant, because every round fired is a use of deadly force. It's not one use deadly force. It's each bullet fired has to be independently justified under the law. And there's absolutely no reason for the number of rounds that were fired. And I don't understand why it took a year and the city still can't figure out if they should fire this police officer. When we have video of what happened.

Don't listen to any spin that you hear. Trust your eyes. Trust your eyes. We can see it. Don't listen to the spin. The city is a defendant. And officer Delacruz is a defendant. And I will be deposing officer Delacruz and he will go under oath and he will explain himself. And same with the city representatives. They're going to have to explain why it is they haven't fired them. I invite each one of you to call the city later today and ask them what is so confusing about this case that you still haven't fired him.
[April 08, 2021] Postmedia Reports Second Quarter Results

Postmedia Network Canada Corp. ("Postmedia" or the "Company") today released financial information for the three and six months ended February 28, 2021. "Our second quarter represents continued progress on our strategy with measured optimism for the future," said Andrew MacLeod, President and Chief Executive Officer, Postmedia. "Across our organization, our teams are working together to accelerate our transformation, grow our audiences and architect new digital models to monetize. The reduction of debt and leverage remains a core focus and management expects to further reduce first lien debt by an additional $17 million through mandatory payments by the end of May. This would result in a decline of over 70% of our first lien debt from $225 million to $67 million since our 2016 recapitalization. It is our collective hope that an end to the global pandemic is closer than further and it is Postmedia's commitment to continue delivering thought-provoking journalism that Canadians rely upon and strong platform solutions for businesses." Updates from the Quarter Constraining Costs - In the quarter we realized a 19.7% reduction in operating costs 1 , which includes the impact of initiatives implemented in the quarter that are expected to result in approximately $5 million of net annualized cost savings.

In the quarter we realized a 19.7% reduction in operating costs , which includes the impact of initiatives implemented in the quarter that are expected to result in approximately $5 million of net annualized cost savings. Preserving Liquidity - Cash management, including the impact of cost savings and government assistance, has resulted in an unrestricted cash balance of $52.8 million as at February 28, 2021.

Maximizing Revenue - Second quarter revenue was down 21.0% from the same period in the prior year with revenue trends showing modest improvement each quarter since the start of the pandemic. Second Quarter Operating Results Revenue for the quarter was $106.0 million as compared to $134.2 million in the same period in the prior year, representing a decrease of $28.2 million or 21.0%. The revenue decline was primarily due to decreases in print advertising revenue of $14.7 million or 29.3% and digital revenue of $6.2 million or 20.9%. Print circulation revenue decreased by $5.6 million or 11.6%. Total operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization, impairment and restructuring decreased $31.0 million or 24.1% for the quarter, relative to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was a result of lower compensation expense and newspaper circulation volumes as well as the implementation of various cost reduction initiatives. Included in the operating expense decrease is the impact of a compensation expense recovery of $5.7 million related to CEWS, partially offset by a decrease in compensation recovery related to journalism tax credits of $0.3 million. Operating income before depreciation, amortization, impairment and restructuring of $8.3 million in the quarter represents an increase of $2.9 million relative to the same period in the prior year. The increase is due to a decrease in operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization, impairment and restructuring partially offset by decreases in total revenue Included in the operating expense decreases is the impact of the compensation expense recoveries related to CEWS and journalism tax credits. Net earnings in the quarter ended February 28, 2021 were $0.7 million, as compared to a net loss of $12.8 million in the same period in the prior year. The change was primarily the result of gains on derivative financial instruments and foreign exchange in the three months ended February 28, 2021, the increase in operating income before depreciation, amortization, impairment and restructuring as well as decreases in depreciation and amortization expenses partially offset by impairment expense of $7.0 million in the three months ended February 28, 2021, and an increase in interest and restructuring expenses. Year-to-Date Operating Results Revenue for the six months ended February 28, 2021 was $222.9 million as compared to $290.8 million in the same period in the prior year, a decrease of $67.9 million or 23.3%. The revenue decline was primarily due to decreases in print advertising revenue of $35.3 million or 30.9% and decreases in digital revenue of 16.9 million or 25.9%. Print circulation revenue declined $11.9 million or 12.0%. Total operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization, impairment, settlement gains and restructuring decreased $66.5 million or 25.2% for the six months ended February 28, 2021, relative to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was a result of lower compensation expense and newspaper circulation volumes as well as the implementation of various cost reduction initiatives. Included in the operating expense decrease is the impact of a compensation expense recovery of $12.3 million related to CEWS, partially offset by a decrease in compensation recovery related to journalism tax credits of $1.2 million. Operating income before depreciation, amortization, impairment and restructuring of $25.5 million in the quarter represents a decrease of $1.3 million or 5.0% relative to the same period in the prior year. The decrease is due to the decrease in total revenue partially offset by decreases in operating expenses. Included in the operating expense decreases is the impact of the compensation expense recoveries related to CEWS and journalism tax credits. Net earnings in the six months ended February 28, 2021 were $53.5 million, as compared to a net loss of $15.8 million in the same period in the prior year. The change was primarily the result of a non-cash settlement gain related to employee benefit plans of $63.1 million, gains on derivative financial instruments and foreign exchange in the six months ended February 28, 2021, decreases in depreciation, amortization and restructuring expenses partially offset by impairment expense of $20.5 million in the six months ended February 28, 2021, the decrease in operating income depreciation, amortization, impairment, settlement gains and restructuring and an increase in interest expense. COVID-19 Update The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in governments worldwide enacting emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus including travel bans, self-imposed quarantine periods and social distancing that have caused disruption to businesses resulting in an economic slowdown. The Company is generally exempt from mandates requiring closures of non-essential businesses and therefore has been able to continue operations, however, advertising revenue declines have accelerated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related government measures. On April 11, 2020, the Government of Canada passed CEWS to support employers facing financial hardship as measured by certain revenue declines as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. CEWS currently provides a reimbursement of compensation expense to June 5, 2021, provided the applicant has met the applicable criteria. During the three and six months ended February 28, 2021, the Company recognized a recovery of compensation expense of $5.7 million and $13.3 million, respectively, and in total has recognized $52.4 million related to CEWS since the program was announced. As at February 28, 2021, the Company has a receivable related to CEWS in the amount of $4.0 million. Debt Repayment Subsequent to February 28, 2021, the Company gave notice to its first-lien noteholders of its intention to redeem $9.6 million of first-lien debt on April 30, 2021 with the proceeds of asset sales. In addition, as required pursuant to the semi-annual excess cash flow requirement contained in the first-lien notes indenture the excess cash flow for the six months ended February 28, 2021 was $7.3 million which is expected to be used to redeem a portion of first-lien debt by May 8, 2021. After these aggregate redemptions of approximately $17 million the Company will have approximately $67 million of first-lien debt outstanding of the original $225.0 million that was issued in October 2016. Business Transformation Initiatives During the three months ended February 28, 2021, the Company implemented initiatives related to compensation expense reductions, real estate rationalization, production efficiencies and other transformation programs, which are expected to result in approximately $5 million of net annualized cost savings. The Company intends to continue to identify and undertake ongoing cost reduction initiatives in an effort to address revenue declination in the legacy print business. Additional Information Additional information, including financial statements and management's discussion and analysis can be found on the Company's website at www.postmedia.com/investors-governance/quarterly-filings or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Note: All dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified. About Postmedia Network Canada Corp. Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (TSX: PNC (News - Alert) .A, PNC.B) is the holding company that owns Postmedia Network Inc., a Canadian newsmedia company representing more than 120 brands across multiple print, online, and mobile platforms. Award-winning journalists and innovative product development teams bring engaging content to millions of people every week whenever and wherever they want it. This exceptional content, reach and scope offers advertisers and marketers compelling solutions to effectively reach target audiences. For more information, visit www.postmedia.com. Forward-Looking Information This news release may include information that is "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company has tried, where possible, to identify such information and statements by using words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "may," "will," "could," "would," "should" and similar expressions and derivations thereof in connection with any discussion of future events, trends or prospects or future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements with respect to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's business, the implementation and results of the Company's transformation initiatives, continued benefits of historical results into future periods, the realization of anticipated cost savings, the receipt of anticipated government assistance and the identification and undertaking of ongoing cost savings initiatives. By their nature, forward-looking information and statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: competition from digital and other forms of media; the effect of economic conditions on advertising revenue; the ability of the Company to build out its digital media and online businesses; the failure to maintain current print and online newspaper readership and circulation levels; the realization of anticipated cost savings; possible damage to the reputation of the Company's brands or trademarks; possible labour disruptions; possible environmental liabilities, litigation and pension plan obligations; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and the prices of newsprint and other commodities. In addition, we are subject to the risk and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has resulted in governments worldwide enacting emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus including travel bans, self-imposed quarantine periods and social distancing that have caused disruption to businesses resulting in an economic slowdown. We are generally exempt from mandates requiring closures of non-essential businesses and therefore have been able to continue operations however, advertising revenues have declined as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and related government measures. The outbreak of contagious illness such as this can impact our operations in a number of ways including quarantined employees, travel restrictions, temporary closure of our facilities, a decrease in demand for advertising, as well as interruptions to our supply chain, including temporary closure of supplier facilities. Given the high level of uncertainty surrounding the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic it is difficult to reliably estimate its potential impact on the financial condition and results of our business. We are continuing to address the current challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic and monitoring these challenges as they evolve so as to minimize this risk however it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flow. For a complete list of our risk factors please refer to the section entitled "Risk Factors" contained in our annual management's discussion and analysis for the years ended August 31, 2020 and 2019. Although the Company bases such information and statements on assumptions believed to be reasonable when made, they are not guarantees of future performance and actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and developments in the industry in which the Company operates, may differ materially from any such information and statements in this press release. Given these risks and uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of such information or statements. Other than as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and specifically declines, any obligation to update such information or statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any such information or statements. Postmedia Network Canada Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(UNAUDITED)







(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts) For the three months ended For the six months ended February 28, 2021 February 29, 2020 February 28, 2021 February 29, 2020 Revenues Print advertising 35,475 50,172 79,007 114,315 Print circulation 43,028 48,670 87,128 98,997 Digital 23,480 29,701 48,349 65,287 Other 4,031 5,624 8,460 12,223 Total revenues 106,014 134,167 222,944 290,822 Expenses Compensation 38,603 51,145 75,415 103,428 Newsprint 4,127 6,661 9,117 14,138 Distribution 22,851 27,334 47,537 56,240 Production 14,529 17,920 29,473 38,859 Other operating 17,605 25,671 35,925 51,343 Operating income before depreciation, amortization, impairment, settlement gain and restructuring 8,299 5,436 25,477 26,814 Depreciation 2,811 2,926 5,594 5,937 Amortization 2,477 4,045 5,032 8,293 Impairment 7,000 - 20,464 - Settlement gain - - (63,079) - Restructuring 1,861 1,136 4,796 9,705 Operating income (loss) (5,850) (2,671) 52,670 2,879 Interest expense 7,545 7,445 15,371 14,823 Net financing expense related to employee benefit plans 230 609 866 1,219 Gain on disposal of property and equipment and assets held-for-sale (270) (13) (276) (16) (Gain) loss on derivative financial instruments (10,110) 398 (11,714) 917 Foreign currency exchange (gains) losses (3,962) 1,710 (5,119) 1,756 Earnings (loss) before income taxes 717 (12,820) 53,542 (15,820) Provision for income taxes - - - - Net earnings (loss) attributable to equity holders of the Company 717 (12,820) 53,542 (15,820) Earnings (loss) per share attributable to equity holders of the Company Basic $0.01 $(0.14) $0.57 $(0.17) Diluted $0.01 $(0.14) $0.54 $(0.17)

Postmedia Network Canada Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(UNAUDITED) (In thousands of Canadian dollars) As at February 28, 2021 As at August 31, 2020 Assets Current Assets Cash 52,837 49,795 Restricted cash 538 3,402 Trade and other receivables 55,407 65,548 Assets held-for-sale 18,427 28,229 Inventory 3,108 3,260 Prepaid expenses and other assets 7,921 10,338 Total current assets 138,238 160,572 Non-Current Assets Property and equipment 80,789 90,778 Right of use assets 37,279 40,857 Derivative financial instruments and other assets 15,252 3,338 Intangible assets 29,382 41,334 Total assets 300,940 336,879 Liabilities and Deficiency Current Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 39,989 48,041 Provisions 5,504 6,856 Deferred revenue 22,938 24,369 Current portion of lease obligations 7,827 9,482 Current portion of long-term debt 16,968 20,372 Total current liabilities 93,226 109,120 Non-Current Liabilities Long-term debt 246,086 252,983 Employee benefit obligations and other liabilities 46,940 101,862 Lease obligations 34,847 37,136 Total liabilities 421,099 501,101 Deficiency Capital stock 810,861 810,861 Contributed surplus 16,307 15,925 Deficit (947,327) (991,008) Total deficiency (120,159) (164,222) Total liabilities and deficiency 300,940 336,879 Postmedia Network Canada Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(UNAUDITED) (In thousands of Canadian dollars) For the three months ended For the six months ended February 29, 2020 February 28, 2019 February 29, 2020 February 28, 2019 Cash Generated (Utilized) by: Operating Activities Net earnings (loss) attributable to equity holders of the Company 717 (12,820) 53,542 (15,820) Items not affecting cash: Depreciation 2,811 2,926 5,594 5,937 Amortization 2,477 4,045 5,032 8,293 Impairment 7,000 - 20,464 - (Gain) loss on derivative financial instruments (10,110) 398 (11,714) 917 Non-cash interest 5,699 5,437 11,554 10,795 Gain on disposal of property and equipment and assets held-for-sale (270) (13) (276) (16) Non-cash foreign currency exchange (gains) losses (3,934) 1,838 (5,058) 1,787 Share-based compensation plans 109 149 382 371 Net financing expense relating to employee benefit plans 230 609 866 1,219 Non-cash settlement gain - - (63,079) - Employee benefit plan funding in excess of compensation expense (780) (663) (1,318) (1,115) Net change in non-cash operating accounts 4,145 1,874 378 (5,840) Cash flows from operating activities 8,094 3,780 16,367 6,528 Investing Activities Net proceeds from the sale of property and equipment and assets held-for-sale 617 63 5,325 96 Purchases of property and equipment (577) (794) (969) (1,916) Purchases of intangible assets (23) (104) (38) (300) Cash flows from (used in) investing activities 17 (835) 4,318 (2,120) Financing activities Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt - - - 95,235 Repayment of long-term debt - - (15,372) (94,761) Restricted cash (538) - 2,864 13 Debt issuance costs - - -) (1,710) Lease payments (2,488) (1,024) (5,135) (3,182) Cash flow used in financing activities (3,026) (1,024) (17,643) (4,405) Net change in cash for the period 5,085 1,921 3,042 3 Cash at beginning of period 47,752 13,546 49,795 15,464 Cash at end of period 52,837 15,467 52,837 15,467 Supplemental disclosure of operating cash flows Interest paid 141 17 4,303 3,965 Income taxes paid - - - - 1 Operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and restructuring as adjusted for the impact of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy ("CEWS"). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005705/en/

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Stefano Domenicali appears to have resolved an issue that could have red-flagged Formula 1's sprint qualifying trial in 2021.

In Bahrain recently, Mercedes and Red Bull bosses led the argument that teams need an extra $300-400,000 each under the new $145 million budget cap rules to cover the extra cost of the additional racing on three Saturdays this season.

F1 CEO Domenicali hit back: "The difference (in cost) is not as big as it is made out to be."

"If we ask for compensation for everything we want to try, we will never get there," he added. "We shouldn't lose sight of the big picture."

However, the German broadcaster RTL and other media outlets are claiming that Domenicali has in fact reached a financial deal with the teams that clears the way for the 'sprint qualifying' trial to begin at Silverstone.

RTL said teams have agreed to be compensated to the tune of $500,000 each for the trial of the new race weekend format, with even more extra money to flow in the event of crash damage.

Domenicali had said he wanted a resolution to the issue by next weekend's round at Imola, which he hopes is the scene of another "extraordinary race" in 2021.

"I think we have seen a Ferrari that is much more competitive than last year," the Maranello based team's former boss told Rai's Radio Anch'io Sport this week.

"Mercedes and Red Bull are a little above all of the others, but the teams are much closer together in general compared to last year," he added.

(GMM)
A new survey from the Pew Research Center found that while the majority of Americans know that President Joe Biden is Catholic, perceptions about the degree of his religiosity differ based on an individuals partisan affiliation.

The Pew Research Center released the results of an extensive survey last week asking the American people for their thoughts and feelings about the religious faith of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The survey, conducted between March 1 and March 7, included 12,055 respondents who are part of Pews American Trends Panel, which is an online survey panel that is recruited through national random sampling of residential address.

The survey asked respondents to identify the faith of the president and vice president. Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed correctly identified Bidens faith as Roman Catholic.

An additional 31% said they were not sure of his faith, while 6% identified him as Protestant, 3% said he was atheist, 1% said he belongs to an other religion not listed, and 1% thought his religion is something else. A higher number of Democrats and Democrat leaners (63%) knew that Biden is Catholic than Republicans and Republican leaners, just 55% of whom identified Bidens faith as Catholic.

Source:The Christian Post
Three Emory University professors have been awarded 2021 Guggenheim Fellowships, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation announced today.

The faculty members, all based in Emory College of Arts and Sciences, include:

Laura Otis , Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of English, Department of English, won a fellowship in the field of English literature;

, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of English, Department of English, won a fellowship in the field of English literature; Katherine Young, assistant professor of composition, Department of Music, won in the field of music composition; and

assistant professor of composition, Department of Music, won in the field of music composition; and Tayari Jones, Charles Howard Candler Professor of English and Creative Writing, Department of English, won in the fiction category.

In writing, music, scholarship and interdisciplinary collaboration, Tayari Jones, Laura Otis and Katherine Young transcend boundaries and have shown the world their creativity and discoveries, said Emory President Gregory L. Fenves. They embody the extraordinary range of artistic expression and scholarship that defines the Emory mission and illuminates our purpose as a university.

Im thrilled to have three outstanding colleagues named Guggenheim Fellows this year and to see them recognized for their highly creative scholarship, which continues to have important influence and impact on their respective fields and the world at large. They represent the very best of Emory and the ideals of our liberal arts foundation, said Michael A. Elliott, dean of Emory College of Arts and Sciences and Charles Howard Candler Professor of English.

The Guggenheim Foundation has awarded Fellowships this year to 184 American and Canadian scientists, scholars in the social sciences and humanities, and writers and artists of all kinds, selected from almost 3,000 applicants. Fellowship amounts vary, but are designed to help fund writers, scholars and scientists in their work.

Edward Hirsch, president of the Foundation, noted in a news release announcing this years fellows what a devastating year it had been for many. A Guggenheim Fellowship has always been meaningful, but this year we know it will be a lifeline for many of the new Fellows at a time of great hardship, a survival tool as well as a creative one, Hirsch said. The work supported by the Fellowship will help us understand more deeply what we are enduring individually and collectively, and it is an honor for the Foundation to help them do what they were meant to do.

Laura Otis

Otis began her career as a scientist, earning her bachelors degree in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale and her masters in neuroscience from the University of California at San Francisco. Before receiving her Ph.D. in comparative literature from Cornell University, she worked in labs for eight years. A fiction writer as well as a literary scholar, she earned her MFA from Warren Wilson College.

Otis studies and teaches about the ways that scientific and literary thinking intersect and foster each other's growth. She is especially interested in multisensory imagery and emotions and has recently worked as a guest scholar at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin. She is the author of the academic books Banned Emotions, Rethinking Thought, Mullers Lab, Networking, Membranes and Organic Memory, along with six novels. In 2000, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for creativity.

Katherine Young

A composer and bassoonist, Young makes electroacoustic music and sonic art using expressive noises, curious timbres and kinetic structures to explore the dramatic physicality of sound, shifting interpersonal dynamics and tensions between the familiar and the strange. The LAPhil, Chicago Symphony Orchestras MusicNOW, and others have commissioned her music. She performs often as a soloist, and her debut solo album garnered praise in The Wire (Bassoon colossus) and Downbeat (seriously bold leaps for the bassoon).

In her scholarly work, she researches the incorporation of idiosyncratic electronics and improvisation in contemporary notated music. She taught composition, electronic music and improvisation at School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Berklee College of Music before joining the Emory faculty in 2020.

Tayari Jones

A New York Times bestselling author, Jones is the author of four novels, most recently An American Marriage. Published in 2018, An American Marriage is an Oprahs Book Club Selection and appeared on Barack Obamas summer reading list as well as his year-end roundup. The novel was awarded the Womens Prize for Fiction (formerly known as the Orange Prize), Aspen Words Prize and an NAACP Image Award. It has been published in two dozen countries.

Jones, a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers, has been a recipient of the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, United States Artist Fellowship, NEA Fellowship and Radcliffe Institute Bunting Fellowship. Her third novel, Silver Sparrow, was added to the NEA Big Read library of classics in 2016. Jones is a graduate of Spelman College, the University of Iowa and Arizona State University. She joined the faculty of Emorys Creative Writing Program in 2018.

Created in 1925 by U.S.Sen. Simon and Olga Guggenheim in memory of their son, John Simon Guggenheim, the Foundation has offered fellowships to exceptional individuals in pursuit of scholarship in any field of knowledge and creation in any art form, under the freest possible conditions.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8)  All options are on the table as Chinese vessels linger in the West Philippine Sea, the countrys Department of National Defense said Thursday.

As the situation in the West Philippine Sea evolves, we keep all our options open in managing the situation, including leveraging our partnerships with other nations such as the United States, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.

It was in response to the US State Departments assurance that an armed attack against the Philippines armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea, will trigger our obligations under the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

Andolong considers it an admonition to China and affirmation of the Philippines-U.S. alliance.

We are continuously in talks with the U.S. on the matter of mutual defense. Both parties are committed to undertake their obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty so that neither stands alone in these issues involving the two states' inherent right of self-defense, individually and collectively, Andolong also said.

The MDT, signed by Manila and Washington in 1951, states that the two countries will provide military aid to each other in case their metropolitan areas or territories in the Pacific are attacked by a foreign force.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had been in an apparent word war with China, belying its claims that the Chinese vessels at Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea are fishing vessels, not maritime militia, merely seeking shelter from bad weather. Lorenzana said he is no fool to believe this, reiterating the governments demand for China to promptly withdraw its vessels.

The Department of Foreign Affairs first filed a diplomatic protest last March 21. Two weeks later, 44 Chinese vessels remain moored at Julian Felipe Reef. The DFA on Monday again asked the Chinese ships to leave and warned that it will fire off a diplomatic protest "for every day of delay." The DFA announced filing another protest on Wednesday.

The Julian Felipe Reef, also known as Whitsun Reef is located 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza town in Palawan, well within the Philippines exclusive economic zone. Around 200 Chinese vessels were seen amassing at Julian Felipe Reef in March. As of the latest aerial and maritime patrols, 44 Chinese ships were still at Julian Felipe Reef while over 200 other Chinese vessels were in different areas in the West Philippine Sea.

The US in its latest statement also called on China to finally recognize and abide by the 2016 decision of an arbitral tribunal, which recognized the Philippines sovereign rights to areas within its EEZ that Beijing contests.

Aside from the US, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the European Union have weighed in on increased Chinese presence in the West Philippine Sea, calling on China to refrain from actions that raise tensions in contested waters. Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including areas Manila considers as part of the West Philippine Sea, despite an arbitral ruling striking down its nine-dash line historical claim.

Early in his term, President Rodrigo Duterte agreed to set the ruling aside to pursue other areas of cooperation, but he again raised the landmark decision with China's Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian due to the deployment of Chinese vessels, according to the Palace.

Lawmakers and maritime experts say the Philippines should band together with other countries to rally international pressure against China.

Duterte's foreign policy was seen as a pivot toward China and away from traditional allies like the US, although his administration calls it an independent friend to all, enemy to none policy. Last year, Duterte moved to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement, which complements the MDT, only to repeatedly suspend its abrogation.

CNN Philippines' David Santos contributed to this report.
THE HOSPITAL

Life, Death, and Dollars in a Small American Town

By Brian Alexander

The business of sickness is perverse. In too many instances, medical interventions are ineffective Band-Aids. Other factors, like where you stand in the social, racial and economic pecking order  and what ZIP code you were born in  determine far more about your health. As Bertolt Brecht said so well, in his Workers Speech to a Doctor:

When were sick, we hear

You are the one who will heal us.

When we come to you

Our rags are torn off

And you tap around our naked bodies.

As to the cause of our sickness

A glance at our rags would

tell you more. It is the same cause that wears out

Our bodies and our clothes.

In The Hospital: Life, Death, and Dollars in a Small American Town, Brian Alexander shares this reality from the perch of a struggling rural hospital, known to its Bryan, Ohio, community as the Band-Aid Station. While the nonprofit hospital fights to stay solvent and independent, each day brings new gut-wrenching stories. From the C-suites tension-filled strategic planning meetings to life-or-death moments at the bedside, Alexander nimbly and grippingly translates the byzantine world of American health care into a real-life narrative with people you come to care about.

Reporting over a period of two years, which only ended this past August, Alexander went into exam rooms, patients homes and pathology labs, and rode along with ambulance crews. He provides a deep investigative account that chronicles the staff of nurses, doctors, technicians and administrators trying to keep the patients of northwest Ohio alive.

You will root for the hospital C.E.O. who is tiptoeing around minefields, and for the immigrant doctors who are decidedly unwelcome in Trump country, even as they try their best. But the work is grueling and the lives are almost impossibly hard to save. In sensitive portrayals, Alexander shares how patients become sicker as care is delayed, costs spiral out of control and all too often patients die from preventable deaths. The entire mess is plagued by a malignancy of despair. Everybody in this story is drowning.

Just as Brecht captured in 1938, what often makes patients sick are conditions we dont see  or choose not to see. Alexander identifies them with surgical precision, the underlying pathogens of pernicious poverty and the widening chasm of income inequality. Add in systematic racism, early childhood trauma and inequitable access to healthy food, healthy air and high-quality health care, and you have a perfect storm.
The 2021-22 Manitoba budget failed to grant two of Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowmans three key wishes  and may fall short on the third.

The 2021-22 Manitoba budget failed to grant two of Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowmans three key wishes  and may fall short on the third.

"I think time will tell what specific grade we can provide this budget because they havent provided the clarity that we would like and expect in a budget," Bowman said Wednesday.

The mayor had lobbied the province to: give the city $273 million of total operating and capital funding (to match last years amount); officially commit to a tri-government Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program request for the first two phases of the north end sewage treatment plant upgrade; and leave $204 million of potential federal funding for Winnipeg Transit in place.

Instead, the province is still calling for Ottawa to divert the Transit cash to "green" projects across Manitoba, and didnt commit to submitting the official funding request for the $1.8-billion sewage upgrade.

While the province clearly and repeatedly told media Winnipeg will see no decrease to its $273 million of annual provincial funding, Bowman said an official letter confirmed just $224.5 million of that grant.

"There is $48.5 million that is outstanding, that is attributable to (ambulance service)," said Bowman.

The mayor said hes disappointed by the Transit and sewage plant response.

"If residents are concerned about the health of the rivers and lakes, the delay that has been caused on Broadway should end," he said.

The sewage plant upgrades third and final phase will reduce the algae-promoting nutrients that leave the plant and eventually enter Lake Winnipeg.

The province stressed it is committed to the upgrade and says it will pay $264 million for the first two phases of the project. That includes $182.6 million that already flowed to the city, and $81.5 million the province expects to include in future city capital grants.

Finance Minister Scott Fielding said this marks a clear commitment: "Our No. 1 goal is to make sure that Lake Winnipeg is protected."

Bowman said the province has only provided written confirmation of $182.6 million of the sewage funding so far.

Meanwhile, Fielding said the Tory government also plans to fund a so-far unspecified number of electric bus purchases for Winnipeg.

The province says other such funding decisions wont take place until city council approves its Transit master plan.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
Prosecutors in Manhattan on Thursday took multiple boxes of information from the home of the former daughter-in-law of top Trump Organization exec Allen Weisselberg  in the latest sign they are focusing the company's chief financial officer.

Jennifer Weisselberg, who used to be married to the executives son Barry, also a Trump Organization employee, delivered the materials outside of her New York apartment.

Jennifer Weisselberg said earlier this month he will 'turn on' Donald Trump and revealed she has already given documents to prosecutors investigating the former president. She has said she has seven boxes of records - although a copy of the subpoena and images obtained by the Washington Post showed she furnished three of them, plus a laptop computer.

Jennifer Weisselberg

She wheeled the materials out of her apartment building to a black Jeep.

She was married to Barry Weisselberg from 2004 to 2018 and the couple went through a divorce, and says she was able to obtain financial information through litigation.

The document handoff is the latest sign that investigators are focusing on Weisselberg, whose tenure at the Trump Organization goes back to his time working for Trump's father, as part of Manhattan D.A. Cy Vance's probe into Trump's finances.

The documents were obtained under a grand jury subpoena that specifically seeks documents related to the Trump-operated Wollman Rink in Central Park, which Barry Weisselberg managed.

Once a talking point for Trump on the campaign trail as a turnaround story, the rink became a flashpoint after the January 6th Capitol riot when Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city was pulling out of contracts with the Trump Organization. The rink was operated on a cash-only basis.

Manhattan prosecutors have issued a subpoena for bank records for longtime Trump organization CFO Allen Weisselberg

Jennifer Weisselberg, who was married to the CFO's son Barry from 2004 to 2018, said she thinks Allen will turn on Donald Trump to protect his own kids from liability

Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen identified Allen Weisselberg as being involved in the scheme to provide hush payments to former porn star Stormy Daniels

Prosecutors in New York have already obtained eight years' worth of Donald Trump tax return information

Weisselberg ran the Trump Organization along with Trump's adult sons Don Jr. and Eric during Trump's time in the White House.

A source told the Post last month prosecutors are seeking to 'flip' Weisselberg in order to obtain his cooperation in their probe of Trump.

Jennifer Weisselberg told CNN she thinks her father-in-law would flip.

'I think that he'll turn on him,' she said. 'I think that his sons have too much liability,' she said.

She also said investigators were seeking information about a Trump-owned apartment she lived in for years presented as a 'gift' where the couple lived for years and didn't pay rent.

She told CBS news last month that she had been interviewed by prosecutors from Vance's office and the state attorney general's office, and told CBS they sought information on the arrangement.

Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen identified Allen Weisselberg as being involved in the scheme to provide hush payments to former porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had an affair with Trump.

Trump has denied wrongdoing, and charges have not alleged any wrongdoing by the Weisselbergs in the probe of Trump's finances.
MBABANE - Police had to be called to intervene after two families clashed over a corpse that was carried in a bag and had to be immediately buried.

The incident happened at Mshasheni in Ezulwini, under Lobamba Constituency last Tuesday. The corpse was brought to a Mavimbela homestead by a Ndaba family for burial. The corpse was of a two-month-old baby who died at a health facility after falling sick. The babys mother is from the Mavimbela family while the babys father is from the Ndaba family. Information gathered was to the effect that the Ndaba family called and informed the babys grandfather, Nathi Mavimbela, that his daughter had lost her two-month-old baby at around 5pm on Tuesday. It is said that the Ndaba family, led by Sipho Alex Ndaba, further requested for a burial site since they were rooted in Mozambique, meaning they had nowhere to bury the corpse in the country.

Homestead

It is said that Nathi agreed that his grandchild could be buried at his parental homestead, on condition the corpse was brought in a coffin. It was stated that the Ndaba family collected the corpse at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital in Manzini and proceeded to Ezulwini in a hired motor vehicle. With them was a red bag, in which the corpse of the minor had been stuffed. It was gathered that Nathi welcomed the Ndaba family and further provided them with a room where talks were to take place. During an interview, Nathi confirmed having agreed to bury his grandchild at his parental homestead after the Ndaba family informed him about their predicament.

Consent

He stated that his consent did not come easy as he was never made aware of his daughters second pregnancy, since she left the homestead with another child. He mentioned that he had never met the Ndaba family who lived with his daughter. I asked if they had brought a coffin because I didnt see any. To my surprise, they told me that they did not have a coffin, before showing me the red bag with the corpse. I simply asked them to take the corpse back because I had never seen a human being buried without a coffin, Nathi said. He stated that a two-month-old baby was old enough and should be buried in a similar manner as an adult. We do not subscribe to a culture that allows burial without a coffin, he said. Nathi was interviewed after the babys grandmother, who is his former girlfriend, went around shouting for help. Her shouting attracted the residents of the area and the community police members.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Zbigniew Rau agreed to jointly consolidate efficient international support for Ukraine against the background of escalating Russian aggression.

Kuleba informed Rau in detail about Russia's systematic aggravation of the security situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the concentration of Russian troops near the borders of Ukraine, and the increase in the intensity of Russian propaganda, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs.

Zbigniew Rau expressed concern over Russia's actions and assured that Poland consistently and firmly supported Ukraine in its struggle for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The chief diplomats agreed to make joint efforts to consolidate efficient international support for Ukraine in countering Russian aggression.

The ministers also discussed deepening of military-political cooperation, the energy component of regional security, in particular in the context of implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project, the future chairmanship of Poland in the OSCE. The parties paid special attention to strengthening the cooperation between Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania in the Lublin Triangle format and the preparations for the inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform.

According to the Foreign Ministry's press service, Poland expressed support for Ukraine's course towards full membership in the EU and NATO.

"Our countries are united by a common vision of Europe's past and future. Ukraine is an integral part of a holistic, free and peaceful Europe, and Ukraines accession to the EU and NATO will be a natural stage in the historical process," Dmytro Kuleba said.

The ministers agreed on joint efforts to increase trade and investment, creating new opportunities for companies of the two countries. Moreover, the parties discussed further military-technical cooperation, cross-border and near-border cooperation, preservation of cultural and historical heritage, overcoming consequences of COVID-19 pandemic.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya") is pleased to announce the results of a recent surface sampling program to prospect the Bethania extension zone and the vicinity of the historical Espanola 2 adit. This batch of the program consisted of 97 rock chip samples, employing a combination of trenching to expose bedrock and outcrop along visible or inferred vein zones. Of the 97 samples reported, 76 were taken from veins (observed or inferred) and 21 samples taken from altered or unmineralized host rock (hanging wall or foot wall). These sampled vein zones are located approximately 600 metres to 1000 metres from the main Bethania adit and 100 metres to 500 metres east of easternmost underground development. When mineralized, the vein zones sampled reported anomalously high silver and lead, and in some cases anomalous gold. Anomalous zinc and copper grades, which can be associated with silver mineralization in the fresh veins underground, were rarely observed on surface.

Highlights of the Program

The easternmost zone sampled a newly identified vein at surface called the Santa Elena vein, roughly 500 metres along strike of the eastern limit of the Espanola underground workings. Samples were taken at 10 metres intervals along surface exposure of the vein system. Seven consecutive samples distributed over 60 metres in length averaged 698 g/t (22.4 oz/t) silver, 2.79 g/t gold and 3.07% lead (30.9 oz/t silver equivalent*). Results from the Santa Elena vein included:

2833 g/t (91.1 oz/t) silver, 5.20 g/t gold and 10.6% lead (110.7 oz/t silver equivalent*)

300 g/t (9.6 oz/t) silver, 11.03 g/t gold and 2.17% lead (35.5 oz/t silver equivalent*)

812 g/t (26.1 oz/t) silver, 0.32 g/t gold and 4.82% lead (30.6 oz/t silver equivalent*)

A second zone of interest is located at the intersection between a parallel vein structure to the Espanola 2 vein and a newly identified Samantha Vein. At the vein intersection, four consecutive samples distributed over 30 metres in length (NW-SE) averaged 258 g/t (8.3 oz/t) silver and 2.84% lead (10.5 oz/t silver equivalent*). Along the Samantha vein three consecutive samples distributed over 20 metres in length (WNW-ESE) averaged 171 g/t silver (5.5 oz/t) silver and 2.33% lead (7.3 oz/t silver equivalent*).

*metal prices used to calculate silver equivalence were: silver, $25/oz, gold, $1700/oz, and lead, $1950/t.

Kuya's President and CEO, David Stein stated, "Kuya is very excited with this initial surface sampling program, which clearly indicates that the Bethania vein system continues along strike even further east than previously known. While we are highly confident in finding new veins in this swarm-like system, it is always a pleasant surprise to see new zones of high-grade mineralization sitting on surface up to 500 meters from the nearest underground development. The Santa Elena vein is particularly exceptional due to its high gold grades, something we have not seen to this extent in any other vein at Bethania. Kuya will use this information to help target future drilling and exploration along the strike extension of the Bethania mine."

Fig 1: Geochemistry map showing location and results of rock chip samples at Bethania Project



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5945/79734_07ff9665149db9ac_001full.jpg

National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Quinton Hennigh, P.Geo., Chairman of Kuya and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Kuya Silver Corporation

Kuya is a Canadian-based silver-focused mining company that owns the Bethania Project, which includes the Bethania mine, located in Central Peru. The Bethania mine was in production until 2016, toll-milling its ore at various other concentrate plants in the region, the Company's plan is to implement an expansion and construct a concentrate plant at site before restarting operations. The Bethania mine produced silver-lead and zinc concentrates from the run of mine material, until being placed on care and maintenance due to market conditions and lack of working capital.

For more information, please contact the Company at:

Kuya Silver Corporation

Telephone: (604) 398-4493

info@kuyasilver.com

www.kuyasilver.com

Reader Advisory

This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79734
Labor minister appeals to labourers not to migrate

Kolhapur, Apr 7 (UNI) State labour minister Hasan Mushrif today appealed to labourers not to migrate from the state on the backdrop of corona epidemic and scuumbed to rumours and goverment would stand behind them firmly.

In a press statement , which circulated here , Mr Mushrif, while taking charge of labour ministry at labor department in Mumbai today where labour chief secretary Ms Vinita Ved-Single garlanded him, appealed to laborers not to migrate from the state on the backdrop of corona epidemic in the state as the state government was trying to control on it even corona positive patients were increasing rapidly in the state with available of emergency service through hospitals in the state. The state goverment also taking precautions not to close any industry in unorganised sector. On this backdrop, he also appealed to labourers not to succumb on any rumours.

He also said that all public transport system including bus, railway and private vehicles also functioning smoothly.
PHILADELPHIA  Philadelphia officers shot and killed a man Wednesday during a traffic stop after he fired a handgun at them, striking one of the officers in the foot, police said.

Two officers pulled over a vehicle with four people inside at about 6:45 p.m. Wednesday around the corner from the Einstein Medical Center. The officers collected identification from the vehicles occupants and found that two of them had outstanding warrants, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said at a Wednesday night news conference.

The officers requested backup, and two police cruisers in the area responded, Outlaw said. Officers approached the vehicle for a second time to detain the wanted individuals, at which point a man in the rear passenger side of the vehicle fired at least one round from a handgun, she said.

Sgt. Eric Gripp said at an earlier news conference the officers retreated after the shot, and the 24-year-old passenger exited and fired at least once more at officers, who returned fire. At least five officers shot the man in the torso, he said.

Police took the man to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 7 p.m. The injured officer was taken to the hospital by his police partner and was in stable condition Wednesday night, Gripp said.

A handgun was recovered from the scene, he said.

Investigators detained the three other passengers in the vehicle for questioning, Outlaw said. None of them were injured, Gripp said.

It wasnt immediately clear why the vehicle was pulled over, Outlaw said.
Daniel Hutchinson

From The Hutch

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and caldron bubble.

Cool it with a baboon's blood,

Then the charm is firm and good.

And there we have it - our travel bubble with Australia is complete thanks to a complicated recipe and a double down on the Devils detail.

The problem with bubbles is that they are notoriously fragile and almost certain to pop. In fact, Covid-19 is the only context in which bubbles are a thing of assurance and safety.

Nobody talks fondly of a housing bubble or a bubble in the stock market.

Soapy bubbles are okay - mainly for children who like to watch the pretty things float away or poke them with a finger and make them burst.

Just dont ask Macbeth or his wife how that bubbling cauldron prophecy worked out for them.

For the Australians, this weeks announcement of a trans-Tasman bubble is probably more of a beach ball than a bubble. Kiwis and returning Aussies have enjoyed unfettered re-entry into the Lucky Country from New Zealand for a few weeks now.

Flyer beware

It has only been upon entering New Zealand that things have got complicated, with two weeks of quarantine required.

So, if you want to head to Oz, and dont plan to return before April 20, then book your flight and bugger off.

However, the returning thing is still a bit up in the air - excuse the pun.

Our Prime Minister has issued a flyer beware warning to anyone thinking of running the gauntlet to Australia. Should there be an outbreak of Covid-19 over there, the borders could close at very short notice. Two weeks quarantine could be required with all the associated costs.

For those missing family on either side of the ditch, this is great news but for others it does make it a little bit difficult to relax on the Gold Coast.

Spoiling for a clock fight

Its that time of the year when the annual argument over making daylight saving permanent becomes most relevant.

It seems pretty simple - we like to spend our late afternoons making snow angels in the dead leaves and throwing frisbees to the labradoodle in the park.

Both of these things make more sense during daylight hours.

However, when you start thinking about time, it starts getting a bit weird and especially when it comes to daylight saving.

For starters, we have already made daylight saving permanent.

In 1868 New Zealand set its time at 11 and a half hours after Greenwich Mean Time. Then, in 1927, after a push for daylight saving, The Summer Time Act was introduced and people were instructed to move their clocks forward one hour, from November 6 to March 4. It was later amended so people only put their clocks forward by half an hour.

Then, in 1946, the Summer Time Act was amended so daylight saving was all year round - hence our new standard time of 12 hours past GMT.

In the 70s, daylight saving was introduced again, this time a full hour ahead of New Zealand standard time.

It has been tinkered with a few times since then, to lengthen the period in which it happens and now, we put our clocks forward a full hour, from the last Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April.

Catch and release

The problem with this is that messing with time, messes with our circadian rhythm and our sleep and makes us grumpy.

Anyone who has ever owned a cockerill will confirm this.

Now, Im not the bloodthirsty type. Ive had to put a few animals out of their misery over the years. For sport and food I have shot a bunny or two, and hooked some particularly incompetent fish.

But Im no hunter.

In fact, I had a catch and release policy with mice for a while. They would get bored with the sauvignon blanc grapes in the vineyard down the road and sneak into the house we rented on the outskirts of Blenheim.

Dark little secrets

Every few days I would catch these little critters in a non-lethal tilt trap and then go outside to take care of it.

That involved driving them a bit further out of town and releasing them back into the vines. They were clearly beer drinkers so it was a pretty inhumane thing to do really.

But that pales in comparison with the cockerel who would set his alarm to go at exactly 10 minutes to dawn.

That was fine in the winter months but all I can say is that rooster never saw the summer solstice.

So, the moral of this story is we should just pick a time and stick with it - none of this messing around with the clocks please.

daniel@thesun.co.nz
When Dr. Linda Reece saw the benefits her pre-service students received from Mental Health First Aid training in 2019 through Gainesville High School, she wanted to offer the training herself.

This spring, a $6,000 State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Grant and some UNG funding enabled Reece to be trained and then teach 60 students in March about spotting mental health issues in their future classrooms.

"They'll know the signs of depression, anxiety and substance abuse and how to approach a student," said Reece, associate professor of social foundations and leadership education and master faculty adviser in UNG's College of Education.

Mental health has been a rising concern for years in education. Dr. Sheri Hardee, dean of the College of Education, is grateful for Reece's initiative and passion to tackle such an important issue.

"These issues have been exacerbated since COVID-19. We are preparing our College of Education students for the future in a way we haven't before," Hardee said. "This training can be very personal. It's asked our students to be reflective, and that will make them more empathetic educators in the future."

Jim Ramirez-Ruiz, a sophomore from Lawrenceville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in middle grades education, said the workshops spread over three days have better prepared him to notice when his students are struggling.

"It opened my eyes about how to work with students and counselors," Ramirez-Ruiz said. "If we're not sure about the situation, it's better to guide the student to a counselor or medical professional who is more knowledgeable."

Alexis Byrne, a senior from Dacula, Georgia, pursuing a degree in English with teacher certification, said society is becoming more open to discuss mental health issues. She indicated the training will help UNG's future educators become part of the solution.

"A lot of people feel like they're alone, and they don't know how to ask for help. In this workshop, we're learning how to look for signs," Byrne said. "It has opened my eyes to what students may be facing."

Taylor Lyle, a sophomore from Winder, Georgia, pursuing a degree in elementary and special education, particularly appreciated the scenarios students role-played to help them better understand the material.

"We were able to perform these scenarios to get a better feel for what we should do in these instances," Lyle said. "I am thankful to know how to help."

Reece said the workshops prepared students to be "mental health first responders." Especially in the time of COVID-19, Lyle knows those skills are vital.

"More people are becoming depressed, suicidal and sad," Lyle said. "We need advocates who can make an early intervention."

The training for students fits within a larger context of UNG preparing students to be educators who provide students more than textbook knowledge. Reece and Dr. Yacine Kout, assistant professor of education, lead UNG's collaboration with Gainesville High's "The Hub" student success center that gives UNG students field experience through mentoring and tutoring.
Hunter Biden has rekindled his feud with the Trump children, accusing them of "reaping the rewards of their family name." President Joe Biden's son criticized the Trump children - Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump - in his latest book, "Beautiful Things," for not finding work outside of their father's business. Hunter said, "I've worked for someone other than my dad, and I've risen and fallen on my own."

Hunter tells Trump kids to get a job without using Trump name

He admitted that his last name was a "cherished credential," but he accused the former president's children of implying that their millions were earned independently rather than as a result of bearing the Trump name. Hunter Biden is the middle child of President Joe Biden and was a top target of the Trump team in the run-up to the 2020 election, as per The Insider.

He was accused of profiting from shady Chinese investments and possessing dark links to Ukrainian gas firm Burisma Holdings, among other things. Hunter recently admitted that he "didn't know" that his work with Burisma would become a political burden for his father. In a BBC interview, Biden said that Burisma saw his name "as gold," and that the Biden name, which he described as a privilege and a burden, had opened doors that would not have been opened to other people.

Hunter Biden Has Explosive Revelations in His Memoir "Beautiful Things"

Eric Trump says he'd be jailed for 'lying like Hunter Biden

Meanwhile, Eric Trump has slammed Joe Biden and his family, saying that if he and his brother Donald Jr "lied about weapons like Hunter," they would be "imprisoned for life." President Biden's eldest son Hunter "is clearly a troubled kid," according to Donald Trump's second eldest son, who spoke to Fox News about claims that he lied on a federal form about possessing a discarded rifle.

Hunter's suspected business relations with Ukraine and China were also targets for Eric Trump, The Sun reported. According to sources, Hunter Biden said in 2018 that his then-girlfriend tossed his gun in the trash because she was "scared he'd hurt himself" due to a drug and alcohol addiction.

Since Delaware police opened an investigation after the firearm went missing from the garbage can, the president's son reportedly claimed that the FBI and Secret Service were involved in the incident. The bizarre incident allegedly occurred on October 23, 2018, when Hunter's late brother Beau Biden's wife Hallie Biden reportedly tossed the weapon in the garbage behind a grocery store and returned later to find it missing.

Trump Campaign Reportedly Issues $122 Million Refunds to Donors in 2020

The publication obtained a Firearms Transaction Record and a receipt for the weapons dated October 12, 2018. When asked, "Are you an illegal marijuana user or addicted to any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or other controlled substance?" Hunter answered, "no."

Biden's son was released from the Navy five years ago for using drugs, and his family has spoken out about his struggle with addiction. Politico broke the story first on Thursday, claiming that the Secret Service interfered after Hallie called the police to report the missing gun, and an investigation was launched.

Hallie had thrown the gun away because she was "afraid for the kids," according to Hunter Biden's alleged texts to his therapist released by DailyMail on Friday. "Did I tell you what she did with my 38?" Hunter allegedly wrote in a text message discovered on his abandoned laptop in December 2018.

During today's interview, Eric Trump said that he and his brother are also firearms lovers. Eric referred to himself and Don Jr. as "shooters" and "second amendment advocates."

Eric Trump Claims His Father 'Fixed' Undocumented Immigration Problem Prior to Biden's Election

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The City of Athens will not issue a local mask mandate when the states requirement ends Apr. 9.

A statement from a city spokesperson, Holly Hollman, said Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks said Wednesday, April 7, he will not issue a local mask mandate now that Gov. Kay Ivey has rescinded the statewide mask mandate.

The state order does not require masks but says theyre strongly encouraged.

Our local businesses and organizations can follow state guidelines and make their own decision whether to encourage or require masks, Marks said. COVID certainly has not gone away although more people are getting the vaccine. We still need to be cautious and have personal responsibility.

Hollman said some city facilities may require masks because of the high volume of foot traffic, like the Athens Police Department. In these cases, notices will be posted at entrances to let people know if masks or other restrictions are required there. She also said seating will remain spaced apart for Athens City Council meetings and other meetings at City Hall.
Spain's vaccination strategy was turned upside down in a matter of hours this Wednesday, 7 April, following a meeting between the Ministry of Health and the regions.

The outcome of the debate was that Spain has decided to reserve doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged between 60 and 65.

This is a radical change; until a few weeks ago, the administration of the vaccine - developed by the University of Oxford - was limited to people under 56 years of age. It was later expanded to people aged between 56 and 65.

Now, after a new investigation into dozens of cases of blood clots among those vaccinated with the British vaccine, Spains Interterritorial Council has agreed that only those over 60 will receive this vaccine.

It is not yet known what will happen to those under 60 who have already received the first dose of AstraZeneca, although the usual protocol is to keep the second dose scheduled if no side effects have been detected after the first.

The Ministry of Health still believes the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risks, especially in the elderly, the most vulnerable to coronavirus.

The debate came after the European Union reaffirmed its support for AstraZeneca but recognised blood clots as "very rare" side effects.

Despite the fact that several European countries, including Spain, have documented up to 228 episodes of thrombi (169 brain and 59 abdominal), the European Medicines Agency conclusion remains the same: the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh any possible risk and urged governments to continue its use.

The EMA's ruling came just hours after the United Kingdom advised against its use among people under thirty years of age. Trials of the Oxford vaccine on children in the UK have also been suspended on a precautionary basis.

On Wednesday Spains Castilla y Leon region stopped all vaccinations with the AstraZeneca formula as a "precaution" before knowing the conclusions of the EMA.
April 08, 2021 U.S. Iran Conflict In Iraq Put On Pause During their recent strategic dialogue the U.S. and Iraq agreed to relabel U.S. combat troops in the country into train and assist forces. A common statement said: Based on the increasing capacity of the ISF, the parties confirmed that the mission of U.S. and Coalition forces has now transitioned to one focused on training and advisory tasks, thereby allowing for the redeployment of any remaining combat forces from Iraq, with the timing to be established in upcoming technical talks. The transition of U.S. and other international forces away from combat operations to training, equipping, and assisting the ISF reflects the success of their strategic partnership and ensures support to the ISFs continued efforts to ensure ISIS can never again threaten Iraqs stability. The timing of the actual relabeling is still open. Technical meetings, to be held sometime in the future, are supposed to decide on that. This however will not satisfy the Iraqi parliament which had decided that all foreign troops have to leave Iraq. Nor will this satisfy the 'resistance axis' of Iran, Syria and the aligned Shia militia groups in Iraq and Lebanon. As long as U.S. troops are still in Iraq, they will also continue their war on Syria. Those troops must leave: Prior to the US-Iraq strategic talks, the Coordinating Committee of the Iraqi Resistance Factions, which includes all Iran-backed militias, issued a statement demanding a clear timetable for departure of all US forces from Iraq. The committee said it supports the strategic talks only if they lead to setting a clear timetable for a US departure, and that otherwise militias will return to attacking US bases and forces in Iraq. Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, who became Prime Minister in May 2020, had promised to fulfill the parliament demand. He is however known to be leaning to the U.S. side. He has also worked deftly to diminish the influence of militia groups which lean towards the Iranian side: In recent years, the Iranian-backed political and armed factions and their allies have occupied high-ranking offices in various sensitive security services, giving them wide-ranging power. The National Intelligence Service, the National Security Agency, the national security adviser, the Internal Intelligence Agency, the elite Falcons Cell, and the Supreme Technical Committee for Information and Communication Security are among the most important official security agencies that the Tehran-allied armed factions and political forces controlled until last year. But Kadhimi has managed to prize them all from the factions hands under one pretext or another, security officials told MEE. The Interior Intelligence Agency and the Falcons Cell, the most prominent domestic intelligence units in terms of technical and human capabilities, which had not previously used their resources to pursue the Iranian-backed factions, have been in the prime ministers hands since January. Despite these losses of influence the various forces aligned with Iran are still powerful. Iraq also depends on electricity and gas which Iran provides to it. Kadhimi must therefore take Iranian interests into account: Al-Kadhimi has walked a tightrope as he negotiates with the Americans while coming under growing pressure from local militias loyal to Tehran. Last week, a convoy of heavily armed Shiite militiamen drove openly through Baghdad, denouncing the U.S. presence and threatening to cut off al-Kadhimi's ear, a display that clearly sought to undermine the premier. Angered, al-Kadhimi asked Iran's leaders to rein in Iran-backed militias in Iraq and suggested he would confront the factions, two Iraqi officials said Wednesday. In the note, al-Kadhimi threatened to "announce clearly who backs these groups," the officials said. It was not immediately clear who the message was given to. The timing suggested al-Kadhimi, who has appeared powerless in confronting the militias, was looking to appease the Americans ahead of Wednesday's talks. The message led to a two-day visit this week by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force chief Ismail Qaani to Baghdad, where he met with militia and Shiite political leaders and called for calm, according to a senior Iraqi Shiite politician. While Iran still wants the U.S. to leave the Middle East it is currently not interested in an immediate conflict. That is why Ismail Qaani told the Iran aligned militia groups to stand down. A priority for now is the return of the U.S. to the nuclear deal and the lifting of U.S. sanctions. Should that process fail it will again be open season. Kadhimi will then have to leave and the U.S. 'trainers' in Iraq will again come under direct attacks. All this is political movement on the tactical level. On the strategic level Iran's aim is still to remove the U.S. from the Middle East. That will however take much more time. Posted by b on April 8, 2021 at 16:20 UTC | Permalink Comments
FOSHAN, China, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bright Scholar Education Holdings Limited ("Bright Scholar," the "Company," "we" or "our") (NYSE: BEDU), a global premier education service company, today announced that it will release its unaudited financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2021, on April 21, 2021, after the US market closes.

The earnings press release will be available on the investor relations page at http://ir.brightscholar.com.

Conference Call

BEDU's management will host a conference call at 8:00 am US Eastern Time (8:00 pm Beijing/Hong Kong Time) on April 22, 2021, to discuss its quarterly results and recent business activities.

To participate in the conference call, please dial the following number five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time:

Mainland China: 4001-201-203 Hong Kong: 852-301-84992 United States: 1-888-346-8982 Canada Toll Free: 1-855-669-9657 International: 1-412-902-4272

* No passcode is needed for the call. Please request to join Bright Scholar Education Holdings Ltd.'s call as you dial in.

The Company will also broadcast a live audio webcast of the conference call. The webcast will be available at http://ir.brightscholar.com/.

Following the earnings conference call, an archive of the call will be available by dialing:

United States: 1-877-344-7529 International: 1-412-317-0088 Canada Toll Free: 855-669-9658 Replay Passcode: 10153442 Replay End Date: April 29, 2021

About Bright Scholar Education Holdings Limited

Bright Scholar is a global premier education service company, dedicated to providing quality international education to global students and equipping them with the critical academic foundation and skillsets necessary to succeed in the pursuit of higher education. Bright Scholar also complements its international offerings with Chinese government-mandated curriculum for students who wish to maintain the option of pursuing higher education in China. As of November 30, 2020, Bright Scholar operated 94 schools across twelve provinces in China and eight schools overseas, covering the breadth of K-12 academic needs of its students.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's business plans and development, which can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law.

IR Contact:

GCM Strategic Communications

Email: [email protected]

Media Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86-757-6683-2507

SOURCE Bright Scholar Education Holdings Ltd.
Gandhinagar, April 9 : Amid the spiralling Covid-19 cases, the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have appealed to the State Election Commission (SEC) to postpone the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) elections, slated for April 18.

The counting will take place on April 20.

The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief Amit Chavda had written to the State Election Commissioner Sanjay Prasad, urging him to postpone the Gandhinagar Corporation polls.

"When the elections to the local bodies of six corporations were announced, we had asked the SEC to simultaneously hold the Gandhinagar corporation elections along with the rest, but our request went unheeded. Even prior to the announcement of the GMC polls by the SEC, we had requested to withhold the same due to the surge in Covid cases across the state, but that too was disregarded," said Chavda in his letter to the SEC.

"But after the announcement by the SEC, there is a tremendous rise in the number of coronavirus in the state and day-by-day the count is breaking all the record. Now the situation has gone out of control. Even the Gujarat High Court had also advised for a lockdown and thereafter the authorities were forced to impose a night curfew in Gandhinagar from 8 pm to 6 am," said the letter.

"Therefore our party demands that the Gandhinagar Corporation elections should be postponed by the SEC till the situation improves," the GPCC president added.

Even the AAP has also requested the SEC to postpone the Gandhinagar Corporation elections for a period of 3 months.

"The AAP has declared 40 candidates out of the total 43 seats for the polls. Our internal assessment tells us that the AAP will be forming the local body in Gandhinagar. But the AAP is more concerned about the lives of the people then winning the elections. Looking at the present situation, the AAP legal cell appeals to the SEC to postpone this election for 3 months, so that most of the voters can get vaccinated during the time and be secured against the virus," says the AAP letter to the SEC.

The poll-bound Gandhinagar has 11 wards consisting of 44 seats.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Data of at least 500million LinkedIn users has been lifted from the platform and is currently for sale online, prompting an investigation from an Italian watchdog group, according to tech media sources.

The dataset scraping was confirmed by a spokesperson from LinkedIn who said that 'scraping' members data violated terms and services. The Italian data protection authority is investigating.

'While we're still investigating this issue, the posted dataset appears to include publicly viewable information that was scraped from LinkedIn combined with data aggregated from other websites or companies,' a LinkedIn spokesperson said in a statement to Insider.

Approximately two-thirds of the platform's 740million user base has been affected

Italian data protection authority is investigating

'Scraping our members' data from LinkedIn violates our terms of service and we are constantly working to protect our members and their data.'

Approximately two-thirds of the platform's 740million user base has been affected by the scraping.

Included in the data was account IDs, full names, email addresses, phone numbers, workplace information, genders and links to other social media accounts.

According to CyberNews, the data has been posted for sale on a hacker forum. The author of the post has shared 2 million of the records as proof-of-concept, the outlet reported. They are seeking bitcoin for the data.

According to CyberNews, the data has been posted for sale on a hacker forum. The author of the post has shared 2 million of the records as proof-of-concept (stock photo)

Paul Prudhomme, an analyst at IntSights, said that exposed data is significant because bad actors could use employees' data to attack companies.

'Such attacks may be more likely to succeed due to the rise of remote work and the increased use of home or personal devices for work due to the COVID-19 pandemic,' Prudhomme said.

'Attacking companies via their employees' personal accounts and devices is one way for attackers to work around enterprise network security defenses.'
There are many appalling narratives emerging from the trial of the former police officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd.

There is the transference of guilt from the people who killed Floyd to those who watched him die. There is the difference in empathy when a Black person in the inner city is struggling with opioid addiction, compared to when the drug user is a young white person in a suburb or rural America.

But what resonated for me was the sense of powerlessness in Floyd begging, to no avail, for his life, and in the powerlessness of the agitated crowd of bystanders and witnesses to intervene. The power in this dynamic was held by the officers, including Chauvin, and it was wielded to a deadly extreme.

The application of force, a deadly force, even after Floyd was handcuffed, even after he became unresponsive, is to me emblematic of an attempt not only to punish Floyds body but also to demonstrate complete control and demand complete submission. The treatment of Floyds body was a message to those in his community: Any perceived disorder or disobedience will be crushed, literally.

It recalled for me the long history of demonstrative displays against Black people in America. The enslavers performed barbaric acts on the bodies of so-called disobedient enslaved Africans as a punishment to the person deemed guilty but also as a deterrent to the fellow enslaved people who saw or heard of it.

It was the flaying of flesh, the human beings torn apart by hounds, the stiff bodies dangling from the stiff branch of a tree. The display was the thing. The theatrical production of pain, to the point of mutilation, was the thing. The transmission of trauma was the thing.

When the enslaved rebelled, this theater was taken to even higher levels. The German Coast Uprising of 1811 in Louisiana, one of the largest slave revolts in U.S. history, ultimately failed, but so intent were the white enslavers to terrorize the remaining enslaved never to repeat the attempt that, as Leon A. Waters wrote for the Zinn Education Project: Some of the leaders were captured, placed on trial and later executed. Their heads were cut off and placed on poles along the river in order to frighten and intimidate the other slaves. This display of heads placed on spikes stretched over 60 miles.

When Nat Turner staged his revolt some 20 years later, the response took on a similar expression. As Daina Ramey Berry, an associate professor of history and African diaspora studies at the University of Texas at Austin, wrote for the New York Times in 2016 about Turners 1831 hanging: Those who came to witness his death then decapitated and skinned him. They bragged about it for decades. One participant, William Mallory, also known as Buck, gloated so much about having skinned Turner that it was listed in his own obituary.

She wrote that one of her students even claimed that his family was in possession of a purse made from Turners skin.

Even after slavery ended, or maybe because it did, lynching surged. And the terror infliction moved from the plantation into the general populace. Often, the bodies werent just hanged, they were burned or their fingers, toes or genitalia sliced off. And to commemorate  and disseminate  the terror, postcards were often made of the lynchings.

In 1956, just months after being acquitted in the lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till, his killers gave an interview to Look Magazine in which they confessed. As one of Tills killers, J.W. Milam, said of the killing, I just decided it was time a few people got put on notice that as long as he lived Black people (he used a racial slur) are gonna stay in their place.

They pistol-whipped Till, made him strip naked on the banks of the Tallahatchie River that Sunday morning, shot him through the face, then tied a cotton gin to his neck with barbed wire and pushed him in.

Tills face would emerge nearly unrecognizable.

There is no way for me to know if Chauvin intended to kill Floyd, but there is an abundance of evidence of a depraved indifference about Floyds life. There is no way to predict how a jury will rule, even with video of the killing, and being predictive in that regard is not the point of this column.

My point is that there are echoes in Floyds killing, in public, in front of his community, in broad daylight, that reverberate from centuries of killings of men and women who look like Floyd, whose killings the system of the time validated or shielded.

It is hard not to draw the through-line from a noose on the neck to a knee on the neck. And it is also hard not to recall that few people were ever punished for lynchings.

Motionless Black bodies have been the tableau upon which the American story has unfolded, and Floyds body is sadly but one of the latest examples.
BOOK OF THE WEEK

The Inevitable: Dispatches On The Right To Die

By Katie Engelhart (Atlantic 15.99, 352 pp)

'My body served me obediently for 80 years, but is now, quite suddenly, in every sense, unserviceable and well past its sell-by date.'

That was the judgment of Avril, a retired professor from Devon, one of Katie Engelhart's interviewees in this compelling book about assisted dying.

The subject is coincidentally back in the news after the eminent neurosurgeon Henry Marsh, who has advanced cancer, said last week that he wanted the ability to 'choose how, where, and when' to die.

The current law 'insists instead that I must suffer'. He has called for an inquiry into the issue, backed by more than 50 MPs and peers from all political parties.

Assisted dying is back in the news after the neurosurgeon Henry Marsh (pictured), who has advanced cancer, said that he wanted the ability to 'choose how, where, and when' to die

Avril had no fatal illness, but she did have multiple problems.

One was incontinence. She had to wear nappies, and used a chamber pot so often during the night that by the morning it was too heavy for her to lift, meaning she had to drag it to the bathroom and 'use a long-handled soup ladle to spoon the urine into the toilet'.

Avril  a lucid and eloquent woman  decided that her quality of life was now so low that she wanted to die. She asked several doctors for 'a nice handful of barbiturates'. Assisting people to die is illegal in this country, so they refused.

One later visited her at home and explained, in tears, that he wanted to help, and had consulted a medical lawyer (at his own expense) to see if there was anything he could do. The lawyer said there wasn't.

So, after careful research, Avril ordered a supply of lethal medication from a foreign company. Before she could take it, however, the police raided her home and refused to leave until she handed over the bottle. (They were acting on a tip-off  other customers of the company around the world were also raided.) Avril complied.

The police went on their way. What they didn't know was that Avril's bathroom cupboard still contained the second bottle she'd obtained in a separate order.

Opponents of assisted dying argue that while stories like Avril's are undoubtedly powerful, enshrining a 'right to die' in legislation will soon make it a 'duty to die'.

Anyone who is seriously ill, perhaps even just frail, will feel pressured to choose death, rather than delay and deplete their loved ones' inheritance.

But Henry said that the current law 'insists instead that I must suffer'. He called for an inquiry into the issue, backed by more than 50 MPs and peers from all political parties (stock image)

Not Dead Yet, a U.S. disability rights group, says that assisted dying laws 'pose an implicit challenge to disabled people: 'Why are you still here? Still burdening us by living?'

But you could say that it's the other way round: modern medicine now keeps people alive for so long that the American constitution's 'right to life' has become a 'duty to live'. Doctors always cite their oath to 'first do no harm'. This has traditionally included refusing to assist in death.

But couldn't it also mean acting to reduce pain and suffering?

As one of Engelhart's interviewees says of doctors: 'Their whole education is 'Save a life! Save a life! Save a life!' Sometimes they forget what terrible shape people are in.'

Then there's that word 'dignity'. In 2019, Pope Francis and other religious leaders issued a joint declaration condemning euthanasia as 'against the dignity of the dying patient'.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu would disagree: he has said he wants the option of an assisted death. And Maia, an American woman in her 30s suffering immense pain from multiple sclerosis, tells Engelhart that 'as a person of faith . . . I believe the soul travels on and wants to be free from this prison that has become my body'.

Certainly those who talk about dignity cannot ignore cases like Avril's. And that of Diane Pretty, the Luton woman paralysed from the neck down by motor neurone disease.

In a new book, Katie Engelhart interviewed Avril, from Devon, who decided her quality of life was so low that she wanted to die

She wanted her husband to help end her life, but worried about him being charged with murder. So she took her case to court. It was finally rejected in April 2002, but by that time Diane was close to death anyway. She died a month later 'after days in terrible pain'.

An alternative is offered by doctors like Lonny Shavelson in the U.S., who helps Californians take advantage of their state's assisted dying laws.

Relatives sometimes tell him that the patient's final moments are the first time they've seen them comfortable in years. (Shavelson's nurse says of one mainstream doctor that 'he will pry the lid off a coffin to try another treatment'.)

Natural deaths, argues Shavelson, often happen when a relative has left the hospital, or just popped out of the room. With a planned death everyone can say goodbye properly, even compose their final words.

And, of course, there are safeguards. In California you must be diagnosed as having only six months or less to live. In Oregon it's the same, and the patient has to make two oral requests at least 15 days apart as well as a written one.

Canada has no six-month rule  the death need only be 'reasonably foreseeable'. In Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, assisted dying is allowed if several non-fatal complaints combine to make life unbearable.

Without the option of help, some people try to kill themselves. A successful suicide usually means a traumatic death, while a failure can mean paralysis or a ruined liver. But having the opportunity to end your life more easily, we learn, can paradoxically keep people alive.

A Belgian doctor tells of a 40-year-old woman who requested euthanasia. The medic discovered that the patient was autistic, and asked her to undergo therapy. The woman agreed, and is still alive several years later. Without that first appointment, she thinks she would now be dead.

Assisted dying is always described as a 'very difficult subject to talk about', which in my view sums up the whole problem. Why the hell should it be?

Death is the only thing that's certain in life (hence the book's title)  and yet hardly anyone wants to discuss it. Engelhart is a wonderful exception, and her book is superb: well-reasoned arguments with absorbing personal stories.

And Avril? She did indeed take her own life in the end, after saying goodbye to all her friends.

She also left a note for whoever bought her house, urging them to carry on using her handyman Geoff because he's very reliable.
Bharti Airtel launched 'Airtel IoT' - an integrated platform that enables enterprises to harness the power of Internet of Things (IoT) and be ready for the emerging era of connected things.

Muthoot Finance has announced its 25th series of Public Issue of Secured Redeemable Non-Convertible Debentures of face value of Rs. 1,000 each (Secured NCDs). The issue is with a base issue size of Rs 100 crore with an option to retain oversubscription upto Rs 1600 crore aggregating upto tranche limit of Rs 1700 crore.

Ashok Leyland through its subsidiary Switch Mobility, the U.K. based EV producer of buses and vans announced its global expansion plans into India and its plan to create two subsidiary companies. The first, Switch Mobility Automotive, is being formed to carry on the EV strategy in India, which forms part of its global entity. The second is OHM Global Mobility, which will focus on providing mobility as a service offering.

Godrej Consumer Products in its 4QFY21 update said that the company expects to deliver sales growth around the thirties in India, driven by strong volume growth and calibrated price increases. Sales growth was quite broad based across key categories of Soaps, Household Insecticides and Hair Colours.

UCO Bank informed that the board of directors of the bank approved the proposal for the issue of equity shares on preferential basis to Government of India against capital infusion of Rs.2,600 crore.

Indian Overseas Bank informed that the meeting of the board of directors of the bank is scheduled on 12 April 2021, to consider and approve issue of equity shares against capital infusion of Rs 4100 crore.

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Portlands mayor and commissioners Wednesday unanimously approved a $6 million plan they say is the best option to combat a dramatic rise in shootings and gun deaths thats placed the city on track for a record number of homicides.

The measure, which takes effect immediately, reestablishes a uniformed team of officers tasked with preventing shootings but without a cent of new funding for the Portland Police Bureau.

It also provides millions of new dollars to community organizations for anti-violence work and authorizes the addition of two dozen unarmed rangers to patrol parks and surrounding neighborhoods.

The work in front of us is that of building a community safety system, said Commissioner Dan Ryan before casting his vote in favor of the proposal he helped spearhead. Now is the time to take some big steps and to be bold.

The gun violence prevention package came together late Tuesday, nearly a week after The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that all four Portland city commissioners had rejected Mayor Ted Wheelers police-focused plan and offered a counter proposal centered on community groups and park rangers.

Its 11th hour placement on the City Council agenda cut members of the public off from their normal means of signing up to testify ahead of the vote.

The mayor and commissioners, however, invited nearly a dozen racial justice advocates and leaders within communities of color to offer their enthusiastic support for the compromise during Wednesdays hearing. One after another, they delivered a collective hour of thanks and praise.

Among the backers were members of the Interfaith Peace & Action Collaborative, which had originally asked Wheeler to push for $2 million in additional one-time policing funding. The group is made up of clergy, social workers, police and Black community members who have ties to the mayor and law enforcement.

Multiple members of the group touted the councils pivot to a plan that gives millions to community groups and no more money to police.

The action you are taking today will save lives, said J.W. Matt Hennessee, the chair of the collaborative and longtime Black community leader. And that will provide the opportunity and the doorway for less Black and brown men, in particular, from losing their lives.

Commissioner Carmen Rubio, who played a central role in negotiating the final plan, said its approval could not wait for more extensive public input and that Portlanders, particularly those belonging to communities of color, had long demanded changes to policing and public safety.

We felt that weve had years worth of clear and firm direction from our communities to take immediate action on these issues, said Rubio, who also encouraged people to submit testimony in writing or contact elected leaders.

In the end, three members of the public managed to sign up to testify nonetheless, and Wheeler allowed them. One was the mother of a man shot to death in Portland in February.

Under the plan, the City Council directed the Portland Police Bureau to reassign six assault detectives and one sergeant to work on gun-related investigations approved by the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office.

The mayor, acting as police commissioner, separately directed the bureau to use 12 officers and two supervisors currently assigned elsewhere to form a new uniformed team tasked with combatting the citys wave of gun violence, documents show.

That so-called focused intervention team will be required to collaborate with an independent oversight committee to develop specific policing strategies, which Chief Chuck Lovell said he hopes will be a first step toward improving community trust.

I want to give people my personal assurance that this going to be work that were going to do with the utmost equitable and transparent way going forward, Lovell said at the council meeting.

The police chief acknowledged in a press conference later Wednesday that some officers may be reluctant to participate on the team in light of the heightened scrutiny and criticism of the Police Bureaus former Gun Violence Reduction Team. The City Council eliminated the team last June as part of a $15 million cut to the police budget, citing concerns about its disproportionate stops of people of color.

The new council plan also allocated $4.1 million for community-based groups that already work with the citys Office of Violence Prevention to step up efforts to aid shooting victims and their families and attempt to stop retaliations. That amount is quadruple what the office had requested for next fiscal year, according to the city budget office.

Another $1.4 million will pay for around-the-clock foot patrols by two dozen new park rangers. Though unarmed, these rangers have the authority to enforce rules in and near public spaces that have been the sites of some of the shootings or other violent altercations in the last year.

Commissioners said they hope having more goodwill ambassadors in the citys public spaces will reduce calls to police.

Finally, about $442,000 would fund several crime analysts, including two for the citys new community safety director Mike Meyers, and pay for an outside firm to examine gun violence reduction efforts in Portland.

There have been at least 284 shootings this year that have left 91 people injured, according to the Portland Police Bureau. Firearms have caused 18 of the citys 25 homicides since Jan. 1.

Statistically, the city is on track to experience 100 homicides if the pace does not slow in the remainder of the year, which would shatter the previous record of 70 in 1987.

Portland recorded 55 in 2020, the highest number in 26 years. Forty-one were fatal shootings, more than half of them people of color, figures provided by the police bureau show.

Pastor Edward Williams of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in North Portland said that while he shared some of the optimism expressed by other invited speakers and by the City Council, there is still far more work to be done.

Let us not get lost in the celebration of the moment, not get lost in the accomplishment of the hour, Williams said, but realize there are many more hours and many more days ahead of us.

-- 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.
Teva Pharmaceuticals Europe announced that it has received EU Marketing Authorisation for Seffalair Spiromax and its duplicate BroPair Spiromax (salmeterol xinafoate/ fluticasone propionate, 12.75/100 and 12.75/202 micrograms delivered doses) as a maintenance treatment for asthma in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older. Initial launches are planned in Portugal, Switzerland, Spain and the UK.

Introducing Seffalair Spiromax and BroPair Spiromax

The launch of Seffalair Spiromax and BroPair Spiromax further extends Teva's respiratory portfolio, and provides healthcare professionals another option in treating people living with asthma. Since the launch of DuoResp Spiromax (budesonide/formoterol), the Spiromax inhaler has been well received by healthcare professionals and patients.1,2

Inhaler technique and treatment adherence are key factors in improving outcomes for asthma patients, of which there are an estimated 28 million in the EU.3,4

"We are excited about the European approval of Seffalair Spiromax and BroPair Spiromax, as an important goal of our respiratory franchise is to bring new treatment options to healthcare professionals who support people living with long-term conditions such as asthma," says Paul Blonk, Head of Teva Respiratory Europe. "We want to empower patients to effectively manage their condition through the medicines we provide, whilst also offering cost-effective treatments to healthcare systems."

About Seffalair Spiromax and BroPair Spiromax (salmeterol xinafoate fluticasone propionate)

Seffalair Spiromax and BroPair Spiromax are indicated as a regular treatment for asthma in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older not adequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and 'as needed' inhaled short-acting 2 agonists.

About Teva Respiratory

Teva Respiratory develops and delivers high-quality treatment options for respiratory conditions, including asthma, COPD and cystic fibrosis. The Teva Respiratory portfolio is centred on optimizing respiratory treatment for patients and healthcare providers through the development of novel delivery systems and therapies that help address unmet needs. Teva's respiratory pipeline and clinical trial program are based on drug molecules delivered in proprietary dry powder formulations and breath-actuated device technologies, as well as a targeted biologic treatment for severe asthma. Through research and clinical development, Teva Respiratory continually works to expand, strengthen and build upon its treatment portfolio to positively impact the lives of the millions of patients living with respiratory disease.

About Teva

Teva Pharmaceuticals Europe makes life-saving and life-improving medicines more accessible for millions of people around the world. We focus on treatments for migraine, conditions of the central nervous system including pain, as well as respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD and have a portfolio in oncology. Our mission is to be a global leader in generics and biopharmaceuticals improving the lives of patients around the globe.

Building on more than a century-old legacy we have an established presence in generics, specialty, over-the-counter (OTC) and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). With a fully integrated R&D function, strong operational base and global infrastructure and scale we invest millions of dollars to help our scientists find the next breakthrough.

We strive to act in a socially and environmentally responsible way. Headquartered in Israel, with production and research facilities around the globe, we employ 40,000 professionals, committed to improving the lives of millions of patients. Learn more at www.tevapharm.com.

References

van der Palen et al. Poster presented at the ERS International Congress, Paris, France, September 2018 (PA1020). Roche N, et al. J Asthma, 2021; DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2021.1875482 GBD. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2018. 392 (10159):1789-858. Eurostat. First population estimates.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005322/en/

Contacts:

PR (Europe)

Fiona Cohen, 31 6 2008 2545
Stacey Abrams looked me straight in the face from her twitter video, smiled, and lied to me. She revealed her utter contempt for her opponents -- whom she has libeled as unregenerate racists, and her supporters, whom she believes too stupid to check facts for themselves. Her lie: Georgias new election laws are worse than Segregations Jim Crow laws -- in fact, they are Jim Crow 2.0!

The worst insult I can give is to call someone a liar. To know the truth and to say its opposite is to reveal a deep emptiness of the soul. But Stacey Abrams was not the only liar to refer to our new law as so bad. Biden said it is Jim Crow on steroids or Jim Eagle. Democrat leaders across the land have not corrected these misstatements: The Democrat party is the Lying party.

The outrage the Democrat party focused on Georgias election law and election law reforms across the country shows its 2020 election success may be due to new tactics and thus vulnerable to legislative change.

Georgias election law was the result of bipartisan compromise and negotiation. Initially, the proposals were more restrictive, yet Democrats came to the table, provided inputs, and some changes were made. Even Stacey Abrams acknowledged the compromises negotiated in the bill -- Souls to the Polls (that is, busing people from Church to polling places) and absentee voting were both upheld.

These were two important parts to the Democrat victories in Georgia. Souls to the Polls reveals the historic partnership between the African American church and the Democratic Party. As my African American friends have discussed with me, it is considered normal for pastors to go over the ballot with their members, explaining who and what to vote for, then bussing members who need transport to the polling place.

Culturally, this is different from the white church culture that tends to avoid politics. Still, Georgia wrote Sunday balloting into the law, a concrete example that this law specifically, knowingly gave advantages to African American voters. As the law states:

More than 100 counties have never offered voting on Sunday and many counties offered only a single day of weekend voting. Requiring two Saturday voting days and two optional Sunday voting days will dramatically increase the total voting hours for voters across the State of Georgia, and all electors in Georgia will have access to multiple opportunities to vote in person on the weekend for the first time.

Likewise, the unprecedented absentee vote in Georgia in response to the COVID pandemic was pivotal to the Democrat Partys victory in Georgia. The new law could have dramatically restricted absentee voting in Georgia -- but instead, it implements measured changes. Again, this shows responsiveness to Democrat concerns, which Stacey Abrams acknowledged with a twitter smile, before insulting the conservatives of Georgia as unrepentant neo-segregationists.

Democrats main line of attack falsely claims no one can give water and food to those waiting in line. I did not see anyone complaining about the parts of the law that mandate identifying polling locations with long lines and implementing changes to ensure lines are shorter than one hour.

Regarding the water complaints, I noticed water and food distribution during several days of early October voting in now-Blue Gwinnett County. There were two food trucks and a food stand in the parking lot, handing out tamales, hot dogs, and water to everyone going voting. The new law would not stop this  if electioneers stay either 150 feet from the polling place or 25 feet from voters. May question when I saw all the food being given away was, Wheres the money for this coming from?

And that raises one of the key unspoken objections to Georgias law: It specifically stops counties from taking private funds for election purposes. Facebooks CEO gave $350 million in election grants around the country  saving the 2020 election and supercharging Democrat-leaning precincts. The law states that any private donations will go through the state, which will then openly and equitably distribute the funds. Because that does not benefit Democrat-leaning counties over Republican-leaning countiesit is clearly Jim Crow 2.0.

Another key provision seems modeled on Floridas success in cleaning up its elections. After Governor Ron DeSantis was elected, he fired Broward countys corrupt and/or incompetent elections supervisor, Brenda Snipes. And to some surprise, Floridas election went off smoothly on election night.

As was the case in Broward, one Georgia county, Fulton, the seat of the state capital, Atlanta, is notorious for its long-time corruption -- with virtually every male mayor since the 70s having been investigated. Fulton provided the edge that put Biden over the top in the state.

Georgias new law allows the State Election Board to suspend and replace the elections supervisors in up to 4 counties. It provides a process to begin performance reviews and request investigations into complaints about elections supervisors and their removal for demonstrated nonfeasance, malfeasance, or gross negligence in the administration of the elections. As both Fulton county and neighboring Dekalb county seem to have continuing problems smoothly administering elections, this process threatens to change their administration if these counties do not ensure smooth elections.

The 2020 absentee ballot count was a major flashpoint: Signature matching was used for verification. The drop-box locations were unsecured. On election night, counting inexplicably stopped, then started once the monitors left. It took days. There were suspicions of ballot harvesting.

In response, the new law says people requesting absentee ballots must use the same ID theyd use for voting in person. Absentee votes can be opened and scanned before Election Day, with counting starting that morning. Counting will not stop until complete and must be complete by 5 PM the following day. Drop-boxes must be at each advance voting location, a video or guard must watch them, and discrepancies will be reported to the Secretary of State. It is now a felony for unauthorized people to deliver or open absentee ballots.

The new law will also prevent the Secretary of State from secretly negotiating election law changes with Stacey Abrams, as happened in 2020. Any such changes must be publicized, and the legislature can review and reverse them. The Secretary of State will no longer be involved in changing the election law.

In short, the reason Stacey Abrams is spitting mad at, and lying about, all those ignorant, racist Georgians, is because a few legislators were smart enough and brave enough to counter Democrat tactics. Jim Crow 2.0 is preventing secret election law changes, securing procedures for absentee ballots, improving accountability for corrupt or incompetent election officials, and stopping the flow of corporate dark money to local election officials. Principles of good government will erase the Democrats 2020 election success blueprint.

IMAGE: Stacey Abrams lies to the camera. Twitter screengrab.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Long revered as one of musics most gifted and influential geniuses, Jimi Hendrix had a natural talent.

He started playing the guitar as a teenager, and when he was old enough and ready to kickstart his dream, he moved across the country to officially begin his career.

Hendrixs memorable journey to stardom included stints with some of the worlds most beloved stars such as Little Richard. And The Isley Brothers were a big part of his history and musical family.

Jimi Hendrix performs at Royal Albert Hall in London, 1969 | David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images

Jimi Hendrix headed South in his early career

A native of Seattle, Washington, Jimi Hendrix enlisted in the military at 18. After getting discharged for a medical injury, he found himself in Tennessee with a few bucks in his pocket. He put himself in a rut and couldnt get home, but he honed his guitar skills while in the army and decided to put them to use.

In Hendrixs book, Starting at Zero: His Own Story, he talked about playing his guitar to earn money. It took me some time to get better from the injuries I had, and then I went down South. I played cafes, clubs and on the streets. It was pretty tough at first period I lived in very miserable circumstances. I slept where I could, and when I needed to eat I had to steal it. I earned some money, but I didnt like it at all, he wrote.

Hendrix recalled linking up with the musician Gorgeous George and going on tour with him throughout the country. He also said he started playing the guitar with his teeth while doing gigs in Tennessee because down there you have to play with your teeth or else you get shot!

Hendrix admitted to joining and quitting groups with frequency, and he eventually found himself in Buffalo, New York. In those early years, he did not have a stable place to live, rest, or eat.

So, he moved around a lot. After heading to New York City, he bumped into The Isley Brothers.

The Isley Brothers with Jimi Hendrix (far left) in Harlem, New York City, on June 19, 1964 | Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

RELATED: How Little Richard Helped The Rolling Stones and The Beatles Before They Were Famous

The Isley Brothers hired Jimi Hendrix

Hendrix wrote about winning first place at the Apollos amateur contest and his decision to stick around the city. But it wasnt easy. He worked non-music odd jobs to survive, sometimes sleeping outside. However, he quit those too. Then his musical life changed one day in Harlem.

Then one of the Isley Brothers heard me playing in a club and said he had a job open. So I played with the Isley Brothers for a while, and they used to make me do my thing (play with my teeth, etc.), because it made them more bucks or something. Most groups I was with didnt let me do my own thing, Hendrix wrote.

He rocked with the famous soul group for a few months, recording and performing on stages around the U.S. I quit the Isley Brothers in Nashville. I got tired of playing in the key of F all the time, so I turned in my white mohair silk suit and patent leather shoes and began playing on street corners again.

Hendrix later wound up playing with Little Richards band, left, and bounced around with a few other groups before going solo.

Ronald and Ernie Isley have done several interviews praising Hendrix and his talent. They said he stayed in their mothers house for two years and the brothers once gifted him with a brand new, left-handed guitar.

The Isleys called him a phenomenal guitar player, unlike any theyd ever seen. Hendrix went on to become one of the most acclaimed artists in music. He died in 1970.
American culture is a grand mix of the old and the not so old, as we all know. As is true in other cultures, including the island culture here Read more
New York, US (PANA) - The failure of Libya to investigate the unlawful arrest and torture of a womens rights activist is a clear rights violation, the UNs Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), said on Wednesday
The Galaxy A80 from 2019 was one of the more unique models in Samsungs lineup, but it didnt get a sequel  which may be about to change. Though it will be a sequel in name only, its really more of a followup to the Galaxy A Quantum than an A80-series model.

In South Korea, this phone will be known as the Samsung Galaxy Quantum2 and will be exclusive to carrier SKT. The exciting part for the rest of the world is that (according to rumors) this hardware will be sold under the name Samsung Galaxy A82 globally.



Samsung Galaxy Quantum2 (aka Galaxy A82) in its retail package for SK Telecom

However, theres no flip up camera, the defining feature of the A80. Instead, it will have a punch hole in its 6.7 Super AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate (1080p+ resolution, 800 nits brightness). With no moving components, this will phone be water resistant (IP67).

Interestingly, the Galaxy A82 may be powered by the Snapdragon 855+ chipset. Its possible this is a case of mistaken identity, of course, and the chip could actually be a Snapdragon 860. Either way, it will be hooked up to 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB storage (with a microSD for future expansion).



Triple camera setup, 64 MP main cam + OIS (Galaxy S21+ on the right)  6/128 GB + microSD slot

Moving on to the rear camera, it will have a 64 MP main module with OIS (based on an IMX686 sensor). The other two modules are still wrapped up in mystery.

The phone will be equipped with a 4,500 mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging, though it will ship with a 15W charger. The retail package for SKTs Quantum2 will also include a transparent case and headphones. Those wont see much use as the carrier will give you a free pair of Galaxy Buds Live as a pre-order bonus (in Mystic Bronze).



Retail package with 15W charger (25W supported)  Galaxy Buds Live is the pre-order bonus

Of course, the international retail package could be different. Interestingly, the Quantum2 will also feature MST  something that Samsung has started phasing out of its phones. Again, the global model could be different.

While the leaked info omits whether this is a 5G phone, it almost certainly is - the original Quantum was. That said, the Snapdragon 855+ (860 too) can be configured as 4G only or with 5G connectivity. This leaves the door open for two versions of the Galaxy A82.

Samsung and SKT will unveil launch the Galaxy Quantum2 on April 23. Theres no information on when it will go global as the Galaxy A82.

Source (in Korean) | Via 1 | Via 2
Health Minister Anahit Avanesian said the 15,000 doses of the vaccine will be used to inoculate 7,500 people at highest risk of contracting COVID-19.

Preference will be given to health workers of COVID [medical] centers, patients suffering from chronic illnesses and people aged 65 and older, Avanesian told reporters.

The same high-risk groups of the population are also eligible for 24,000 doses of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine which the Armenian government purchased and imported on March 28.

Health authorities were due to start administering the AstraZeneca vaccine shots on April 5. The inoculations were postponed, however, due what government officials called logistical problems.

Avanesian downplayed the delay, saying that the governments vaccination efforts remain on track.

The minister also complained that the government has trouble buying larger quantities of coronavirus vaccines manufactured by various countries.

All vaccines are sold to small countries in very small quantities, she said. Its very hard to acquire them.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian raised the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin when they met in Moscow on Wednesday.

Pashinian asked Putin to help Yerevan buy many more doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. We need more than a million doses, he said.

Our [vaccine] production is gaining momentum  So I think that we will solve this problem, replied Putin.

The Russian Embassy in Yerevan described the first major shipment of Sputnik V shots as a continuation of Russias large-scale support for Armenia in the fight against COVID-19. It said Russia donated 2,000 Sputnik doses to the South Caucasus country earlier this year.

Armenia has been hit hard by the pandemic and is currently grappling with a third wave of coronavirus infections.

The Armenian Ministry of Health said earlier on Thursday that 1,231 new coronavirus cases have been registered in the country of about 3 million in the past day. It also reported the deaths of 32 more people infected with COVID-19.

The daily numbers of cases and deaths have increased sharply since the end of February. Critics blame the resurgence of the acute respiratory disease on the authorities failure to enforce their physical distancing and sanitary rules.

Few Armenians now wear mandatory face masks not only on in the streets but also shops and even public buses. Schools, theaters, restaurants and cafes across the country remain open.
We are looking forward to working with Bryant to grow the Architects and Engineers Professional Liability program and anticipate that he will work with many of our existing producers as well as specialists in the professional liability classes.

MiniCo Insurance Agency now offers an Architects and Engineers Professional Liability Insurance program to provide errors and omissions (E&O) coverage for a vast spectrum of architects, engineers, construction managers, and other professionals serving the construction, manufacturing, and environmental industries. Professional liability insurance helps to protect service providers and businesses from claims that may arise in the performance of professional services. Bryant Michels will be the program leader within the MiniCo Casualty Division located in MiniCo's Woodbury, N.Y., offices. Coverage under this program is now available.

MiniCo's Architects and Engineers Professional Liability Program will offer worldwide coverage on a claims-made form with a schedule of professional services crafted for each risk and capacity of up to $2 million on a primary basis. Coverages will include duty to defend, supplemental payments, and regulatory/administrative actions reimbursement. This is a sampling of available coverages. Each risk will be underwritten individually, and additional coverage options may be available.

The program will be available through a select group of wholesalers. Appointment requests and submissions may be emailed to Bryant Michels at bryant.michels@minico.com. Targeted classes of business will include architects, mechanical engineers, structural engineers, electrical engineers, construction managers, solar system designers, civil engineers, product designers, technical consultants, testing/inspection, surveyors, automation engineers, design-build and design/manufacture, and material handling system designers.

Rick Krouner, President, MiniCo Programs, stated, "We are looking forward to working with Bryant to grow the Architects and Engineers Professional Liability program and anticipate that he will work with many of our existing producers as well as specialists in the professional liability classes."

About MiniCo Insurance Agency

MiniCo Insurance Agency, LLC, was founded in 1974 as a provider of specialty insurance products and publications for the self-storage industry. Today the company is a program administrator offering multiple specialty property and casualty insurance products for a variety of unique industries and exposures. MiniCo Insurance Agency is a Jencap company and member of the Jencap Program Administrators division. For more information, please visit https://www.minico.com.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, surrounded by officials and cruise workers, speaks during a news conference to announce a lawsuit against the federal government, at Port Miami in Miami, Fla., on April 8, 2021. (Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo)

Florida Sues Biden Administration Over Continued Cruise Shutdown

The state of Florida on April 8 sued the federal government over its prolonged shutdown of cruises, arguing that trips are being run safely in other parts of the world and that the U.S. industry is on the brink of financial ruin.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is continuing to prevent cruises from launching from U.S. ports despite not having the authority to do so, the state said in the 156-page suit filed in federal court and obtained by The Epoch Times.

Even if the agency did have the authority, its actions have been arbitrary and capricious and violate federal law, plaintiffs say.

Theyre asking a judge to bar the CDC from preventing cruises from launching from Florida and other U.S. ports. If the shutdown continues, Florida will lose hundreds of millions of dollars, if not billions, and the approximately 159,000 state residents who work in the industry could lose everything, according to the suit, which names the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services and their directors.

The two agencies didnt immediately respond to requests by The Epoch Times for comment.

The CDC ordered cruises to stop departing and returning to U.S. ports in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The no-sail order remains in place despite a drop in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, and a steadily rising number of people being vaccinated against the CCP virus.

This is not reasonable. This is not rational, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, told a press conference on April 8. And this is something that we dont believe can continue any longer.

We are not going to sit back while its administrative agency decides to shut down an entire industry, the states Attorney General Ashley Moody said.

The Carnival Panorama cruise ship sits docked, empty of passengers, as the global outbreak of COVID-19 continues, in Long Beach, Calif., on April 16, 2020. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

The CDC last week issued fresh guidance that informs cruise lines of what changes theyll have to make before cruises can resume from Americas ports. The guidance came on the same day the CDC said in updated guidance that fully vaccinated people could fly outside the country.

Were disappointed that this guidance for the cruise industry appears to be nothing more than an incremental step in a far-reaching process to resume passenger sailings in the U.S. with no definitive or target start date, Port Canaveral CEO John Murray said in a statement.

The Cruise Lines International Association said the instructions were disappointing and urged the administration to consider the ample evidence that supports lifting the shutdown.

If it doesnt end soon, more sailings will originate from the Caribbean and elsewhere, effectively shutting American ports, closing thousands of American small businesses, and pushing an entire industry off-shore, it said in a statement.

Monica Sebata, a former employee of Cruiseport Destinations, told the briefing that her company, which serves the cruise industry through services such as pre- and post-cruise hotel options for customers, has suffered financially and mentally.

Major cruise lines have been under strain because of the shutdown.

Carnival Cruise Line, the worlds largest cruise company, suggested on April 7 that it might withdraw its ships from the United States.

I dont want to move Carnival cruise ships out of the U.S., but at some point, we also have to make sure we can sustain our business, Carnival President Christine Duffy told WESH-TV.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7)  Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte quietly flew to Singapore this week for "personal health management."

In a statement on Wednesday, the presidential daughter disclosed that she is on a five-day leave, claiming that she was granted a travel authority by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

"I am on leave from April 6-10, 2021," she said. "I have a travel authority to Singapore from the DILG. The reason is personal health management."

Duterte reportedly flew from Davao to Ninoy Aquino International Airport on board a Philippine Airlines flight on Tuesday, before heading to Singapore.

She claimed that all protocols for her return to Davao City, including RT-PCR testing and 14-day quarantine, have already been pre-arranged.

The mayor did not provide other details of her trip. She also took a week-long medical leave in September 2020.

The Greater Manila area is currently under the enhanced community quarantine. The government, however, has not imposed any limitations on outbound flights of residents from other areas despite rising COVID-19 cases.
(Natural News) An elderly woman on Wednesday, April 7, died just hours after receiving her first coronavirus (COVID-19) jab at the Blue Care Yurana Aged Care Facility in Queensland, Australia.

The 82-year-old resident of the aged care facility was reportedly given the Pfizer vaccine at 10 a.m. She died three hours later.

Police authorities were called following her death. A police spokesman said the death was not suspicious and a report would be prepared for the coroner.

Its not known whether her death was caused by the vaccine as she was also suffering from a lung disease at the time of her death.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said: At this stage there are no signs of any causal link. He noted that any event that happens following vaccination is fully investigated.

Sadly more than 1,000 people pass in aged care every week. It is inevitable, Kelly said. It can be expected that older and more frail people in an aged care setting may pass away due to progression of underlying disease or natural causes, this does not mean the vaccine has contributed to this.

Australian authorities reassured the public of the Pfizer vaccines safety despite several reports of deaths in other countries after Pfizer vaccinations.

Australias drug regulator says Pfizer vaccine poses no risk to elderly patients

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) insisted that there is no specific risk of vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in elderly patients. The TGA is part of Australias Department of Health and is responsible for regulating prescription medicines and vaccines.

The Pfizer vaccine was shown to be effective in 95 percent of recipients during clinical trials. However, the TGA warned future recipients of the vaccine to expect side effects, including fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain and chills. (Related: Australia cancels COVID vaccine trial over unexpected false positives for HIV.)

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison himself received the Pfizer vaccine, which was mainly used in the early stages of Australias vaccine rollout.

An experienced emergency room doctor recently claimed that he was floored for days by side effects from his second jab of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.

Dr. David Caldicott, who works at Canberras Calvary Hospital, was among the first people in the country to get the vaccine under the governments phase 1a rollout. He did not experience adverse effects after his first dose of Pfizers coronavirus vaccine in February. But his second dose made him feel so exhausted that he had to cancel his weekend plans and just stay at home.

Australias vaccine rollout plan features two vaccines  one made by the Pfizer-BioNTech and the other by AstraZeneca and University of Oxford.

The majority of Australians will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. People who will receive the AstraZeneca jab are expected to experience side effects such as fatigue, headache and body ache.

Australia continues use of AstraZeneca jab amid reports linking it to rare blood clots

The rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine will continue in Australia despite recent concerns over the link between the jab and rare blood clots.

Michael Kidd, Australias acting chief medical officer, said the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and the TGA did not recommend any change to the vaccine rollout during an urgent meeting of health authorities on April 3.

The meeting was called after a 44-year-old man was admitted to a Melbourne hospital with blood clots and low platelet count about a week after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Kidd said a link between the clotting and the vaccine was likely as the clinical features of the mans case were similar to other cases overseas.

While at this time, we dont have evidence of causality, the clinical features of this case, are consistent with what we have seen in international reports of similar cases. And it is likely that the reported case is related to the vaccine, Kidd said. This would be consistent with international experience.

However, Kidd said serious side effects were rare and Australians were at greater risk from further outbreaks of COVID-19.

If we experienced a severe outbreak  especially among older Australians and those with severe health issues  the risk is far greater than the very small potential risk of a very rare clotting disorder associated with the vaccine, Kidd said.

Follow Immunization.news for more news and information related to coronavirus vaccines.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

9News.com.au

7News.com.au

ABC.net.au
By Colin Packham and Jonathan Barrett

CANBERRA/SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia recommends the use of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine for people younger than 50 in preference to the shot made by AstraZeneca, the government said on Thursday, changing its advice for those deemed most at risk.

The move, after Europes drug regulator found a possible link between the Anglo-Swedish vaccine and rare blood clotting issues, is a huge hurdle for Australia's faltering inoculation effort, which relies heavily on the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said Australia would advise health providers to only give a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to adults younger than 50 when the benefit clearly outweighs the risks.

Those who have already had a first Astrazeneca dose without any serious adverse events "can safely be given their second dose," he added.

On Wednesday the European Medicines Agency said it found rare cases of blood clots among some adult vaccine recipients, but added that the advantages still outweighed the risks.

Kelly said despite the risks being extremely low, Australian experts have changed their advice for those at greatest risk.

Australia has ordered 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine and Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Canberra was in talks to increase the order.

It will continue to give the AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged over 70, but those above 50 who opt for the Pfizer vaccine will have to wait, the government said.

The European regulator's latest findings spurred Britain to recommend an alternative vaccine for people younger than 30, while Italy suggested limiting AstraZeneca shots to those older than 60.

Australia's immunisation campaign, which is more than 80% behind its original schedule, relies heavily on the AstraZeneca vaccine for a population of nearly 26 million.

It had pledged to administer at least 4 million first doses by the end of March, but could only deliver 670,000, with the government blaming the delay on issues over supply from Europe.

Story continues

It had been looking to ramp up the immunisation effort, underpinned by plans to make 50 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia, produced by CSL Ltd.

Australia began vaccinations much later than some other nations because of its few infections, which stand at just under 29,400, with 909 deaths, since the pandemic began.

Neighbouring New Zealand has barred entry to all travellers from India, including its own citizens, over the next two weeks after numerous arrivals from the South Asian nation tested positive.

It is the first time New Zealand has barred its own citizens and residents, although both it and Australia shut their borders to non-citizens very early in the pandemic to rein in outbreaks.

(Global vaccination tracker: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/vaccination-rollout-and-access)

(Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps)

(Reporting by Colin Packham and Jonathan Barrett; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence Fernandez)
In 1983, the U.S. militarys research and development arm began a ten-year, $1 billion machine intelligence program aimed at keeping the United States ahead of its technological rivals. From the start, computer scientists criticized the project as unrealistic. It promised big and ultimately failed hard in the eyes of the Pentagon, ushering in a long artificial intelligence (AI) winter during which potential funders, including the U.S. military, shied away from big investments in the field and abandoned promising areas of research.

Today, AI is once again the darling of the national security services. And once again, it risks sliding backward as a result of a destructive hype cycle in which overpromising conspires with inevitable setbacks to undermine the long-term success of a transformative new technology. Military powers around the world are investing heavily in AI, seeking battlefield and other security applications that might provide an advantage over potential adversaries. In the United States, there is a growing sense of urgency around AI, and rightly so. As former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper put it, Those who are first to harness once-in-a-generation technologies often have a decisive advantage on the battlefield for years to come. However, there is a very real risk that expectations are being set too high and that an unwillingness to tolerate failures will mean the United States squanders AIs potential and falls behind its rivals.

ACCIDENTS HAPPEN

The path to the effective uses of military AI will inevitably be rocky, with accidents and missteps amplified by overhyping of the sort that has seen, for example, outsize excitement over futuristic, fully autonomous cars give way to the mundane reality of vehicles that can just about parallel park. A mismatch between expectations and reality can spell the end for new technologies and is especially likely to do so when governments prioritize quick wins over long-term potential. Successful AI adoption will require patience and careful communication so that opportunistic naysayers cannot hold up accidents as proof that failure is inevitable.

AI might be especially vulnerable to this type of hype-induced backsliding. It has suffered two previous winters in its relatively short history, during which AIs failure to live up to expectations drove declines in funding and interest. AI is also tricky to understand and to define, and the algorithms on which it is based are prone to failure when used outside the context of their initial development.

Incorporating AI into the U.S. military, moreover, will require disruptive changes to everything from force structure and promotion patterns to doctrine and responsibility. This will inevitably trigger resistance. And because U.S. defense officials generally lack the expertise to assess AI advances currently being driven by the private sector, opponents of the new technology will find it easier to capitalize on inevitable setbacks, arguing that a potentially effective application of AI is not just too early but will never materialize.

Yet the naysayers cannot be allowed to triumph. Over and over throughout history, resistance to technological change has come back to haunt militaries. In the late nineteenth century, for instance, Frances navy sought to counter British naval supremacy by investing heavily in submarines and torpedo boats. The technology of the time was not up to the task, however, and France reverted to building battleships, a move that left the United Kingdom to rule the waves until the outbreak of World War II.

About 25 years later, Russia abandoned early design armored vehicles because they got stuck in the mud. Better tread and more power were the simple fixes. But instead, Russia put off procurement of the vehicles and fell behind as others moved forward. In short order, the armored vehicle evolved into the tank, a critical innovation in ground warfare. The Russians, like the French, ought to have shown more patience and persistence.

STUMBLING BLOCKS

There are three main chokepoints at which new technologies such as AI often fall short of inflated expectations and therefore backslide into the abyss of premature abandonment. The first is the valley of death, the appropriately named gap between a technologys development in the private sector and its acquisition by governments or militaries, which often require more certainty than developers can offer. It is the burial ground for many great ideas.

If the valley of death is safely navigated, a cumbersome and timid testing and evaluation process can be the next trap. The U.S. Department of Defense in particular needs to invest in making testing, evaluation, verification, and validation of new AI applications more efficient. Existing processes are not designed to handle ever-evolving machine learning systems and AI algorithms, which may enable the deployment of unreliable systems. These, in turn, are more likely to fail, generating mistrust and resistance to further AI adoption.

The final hurdle is real-world deployment. Fear of the many unknownssuch as the perceived impact on soldierscould strengthen resistance to the broad integration of AI over time, as could the perception that AI will reduce the human role in warfare. These are fertile grounds for those looking to seize upon AI errors in order to halt the technologys use.

MANAGE EXPECTATIONS, SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES

Both China and Russia are investing heavily in AI, in part because they hope to challenge the conventional military superiority of the United States. It would be a colossal mistake for Washington to allow the potential of this new technology to slip through its hands, just as it was a mistake for France and Russia to dismiss early submarines and armored vehicles. The United States must therefore find a balance between leaning too far forward, pushing technology before it is ready, and being too quick to abandon it when inevitable accidents occur.

In order to strike this balance, the U.S. government will need to set more realistic expectations about what AI can do for the military. It must counter the popular focus on the fantasticallethal autonomous weapon systems and artificial general intelligence, for instance, remain closer to sci-fi than realitywith a carefully calibrated, well-informed, and realistic picture of what AI can actually do. At the same time, it must emphasize that AI will not replace humans but rather enhance their capabilities. Treating algorithms more like computing power and less like a magical substitute for human insight will make them more palatable to the public.

Popular acceptance must be matched by technical capacity within the U.S. government, which will mean modernizing Department of Defense infrastructureboth hardware and software. Legacy computing systems, for example, lack the common programming languages used in the private sector and are difficult to update, making them ill suited for AI adoption. Improved and transparent testing and evaluation procedures would make it easier to identify whether accidents involving AI are caused by immature technology that needs more time or by fundamentally flawed concepts that should be discarded.

And people will also need an update. The notable deficit of technical understanding and AI literacy among policymakers and government officials must be urgently addressed. This could involve attracting outsiders into the military or supporting insiders while expanding efforts, such as the Air Forces Computer Language Initiative, that treat programming and computer languages similarly to how many agencies already treat foreign languages.

Failure to fully engage with the possibilities of AI would put U.S. national security at risk, potentially allowing adversaries to gain an edge in emerging military capabilities. If decision-makers confuse inevitable accidents with inherent problems, they will shy away from AI and lose out on its benefits. U.S. President Joe Bidens administration has the opportunity to build on nascent investments over the last decade and set the United States firmly on a trajectory toward responsible military leadership in AI. Failure to do so means consigning the United States to runner-up status, or worse, in the competition for military superiority.

Julia Ciocca, Michael C. Horowitz, Lauren Kahn

: foreignaffairs.com




Global experts see COVID-19 lockdown in Wuhan last year as "timely, wise step"

Xinhua) 16:32, April 08, 2021

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- After a 76-day lockdown against COVID-19, China's central megacity of Wuhan was finally reconnected with the rest of the world on April 8, 2020. One year on, China has made enormous efforts to contain the pandemic and contributed to the global battle against the virus.

"It was a very bold, timely and wise step which resulted in quick decline in COVID-19 cases, thus more than compensating the loss to the economy," said Omera Naseer, a public health specialist at National Institute of Health in Pakistan.

"Being a public health specialist, I really admire China's step of lockdown as it has major contributions in containment of COVID-19 not only in China but across the world," he told Xinhua.

Specifically, he pointed out that Wuhan's resilience, determination and responsible manner, punctuated by the over 10 million residents who abided by the government's strict lockdown orders, is "an example for the world to follow."

"It has shown the world that if government and society act with responsibility together, major challenges can be faced rather easily," Naseer said.

China's overall anti-pandemic measures could be pigeonholed into three main categories of responses, according to Costantinos Bt. Costantinos, a professor of public policy at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia.

The first is China undertook active case surveillance immediately after the deadly virus was reported. Massive testing was launched as soon as laboratory equipment was made available from global and Chinese sources.

"This enabled China to embark on speedy identification of and response to all COVID-19 cases that emerged in Wuhan," he said.

Secondly, the measures were supplemented by a strict lockdown of cities and quarantine of persons with close contact to COVID-19 patients, he noted, adding that public institutions also provided instantaneous information and guidance on COVID-19 prevention measures.

Finally, China provided swift and operative policy guidance while expanding the capacity of its public health system. "This was grounded on active citizen participation in the management of the COVID-19 epidemic in China," Costantinos said.

China's response to COVID-19 has been "impressive" and the country has once again managed to do well in the face of a major crisis, Tobias Adrian, director of the International Monetary Fund's monetary and capital markets department, told CNBC on Tuesday.

"China is really an impressive example of an outlier in the positive sense," Adrian said, adding that China has defeated the pandemic "very aggressively, very early and the economy really already came back to normal levels at the middle of last year, so way ahead of any country in the world."

Speaking about the origins of the virus, Naseer noted that its epicentre remains unknown.

"China controlled the virus when it was fastly spreading in European countries and American states," he said. "The world had witnessed that most of the cases which later spread in the world were transmitted from other countries, not from China."

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a report on the global tracing of COVID-19 origins, after a total of 34 experts from the WHO and China jointly conducted a 28-day on-site investigation from Jan. 14 to Feb. 10 in Wuhan to study the likelihood of possible pathways.

The findings showed that "some of the suspected positive samples were detected even earlier than the first case in Wuhan, suggesting the possibility of missed circulation in other countries," said the report.

"Don't think about national boundaries if we really want to defeat pandemics. We have to come together with other countries to focus on how they emerge and try and stop them for the future," said British zoologist Peter Daszak, a member of the WHO team, during a briefing on the report.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Professor Dominic Dwyer from the University of Sydney stressed that origin tracing of the coronavirus needs to be done not only China but other parts of the world.

Dwyer, also a member of the WHO expert team to China, said that further studies are needed to investigate the animal origins, or potential animal origins of the raging virus.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
A disgruntled customer has blasted McDonald's because he claims the Quarter Pounder he ordered from the restaurant was completely raw.

The Brisbane man ordered a burger meal at a restaurant in Helensvale, northwest Queensland, when he found 'bleeding beef' after taking one bite on Wednesday night.

'Anyone else tried the new McRaw burger yet?' He wrote on Facebook alongside pictures of the relatively untouched patty with bright pink meat.

A Brisbane man ordered a Quarter Pounder meal at a restaurant in Queensland when he found 'bleeding beef' after taking one bite on Wednesday night (pictured)

When he peeled back the top bun he discovered the patty hadn't been cooked (pictured)

After peeling back the bread, he looked down at the patty and discovered that it hadn't been cooked all the way through.

'Tad underwhelming to be honest,' he said.

The horrified customer reportedly did not receive a refund for the undercooked meal but he 'got a free apple pie'.

A company spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that McDonald's takes food safety very seriously and an investigation is underway.

'We are disappointed this has happened and encourage the customer to contact us to help us investigate the situation fully.

'We take food safety very seriously and have strict processes and systems in place to be followed at all times.'
A realistic appreciation of the state of Indias relationship with Russia  which remained high in areas such as military sales and energy, nuclear and space cooperation, even after the collapse of Communism, and while New Delhis convergences with Washington took on strategic dimensions  can be gained when President Vladimir Putin visits India later this year. The compatibility between Indian and Russian political positions in the region, or internationally, is likely to be better in view then.

But there are straws in the wind that can be picked up at this stage. These were available during the visit earlier this week of Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, who held detailed confabulations with external affairs minister S. Jaishankar on a range of bilateral and regional issues, before embarking for Pakistan, with which Moscow has expanded its relationship in recent years, particularly in the field of fighting terrorism, sale of defence equipment and energy.

Moscow-Islamabad views on the peace process in Afghanistan, and the place of importance in it given to the Taliban on the question of future power-sharing, appear convergent at this stage. More, they are not different from that of Washington and Beijing, which is happy to go along with Islamabad. The Indian position, although not fully articulated except on first principles, may be seen as differently nuanced on the Taliban factor and in the context of the relationship with the government of President Ashraf Ghani.

And yet New Delhi-Moscow ties have historically had a broad sweep. To what degree this changes, if at all, in the context of Indias favourable positioning with the US, Russias close proximity with Beijing and Americas contentious relationship with both China and Russia, can be better understood after Mr. Putin meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the year.

But the observations of Mr Jaishankar and Mr Lavrov suggest that there is a desire on both sides to keep the bilateral relationship well-oiled. Will India go ahead with the purchase of the S-400 anti-missile defence system from Russia in the face of serious US reservations on this? This is a serious question for later, the answer to which could have a bearing on India-Russia as well as India-US relations.

In his remarks, the external affairs minister called the relationship energetic and forward-looking. This is a speculative formulation, which leaves the door open for positivity. The Russian foreign minister said that the bilateral ties were valuable, mutually respectful and not subjected to political fluctuations. The two formulations are far from being at odds. Perhaps they are at the stage of probing. The reference to mutually respectful is suggestive of differences at the tactical level in a variety of arenas. These will need to be ironed out or taken out of contention in mutually acceptable ways even while cooperating significantly in a range of areas.

Mr Lavrov noted that Russia-China ties are at the highest level, historically, but it is not a military alliance. At the same time he expressed Moscows unease with India being a part of the Quad, obliquely calling it the Asian Nato. These observations are not adversarial, as is being sought to be made out in some quarters, but a reflection of the current state of play in the world. India and Russia both need to move with their eyes open and remain carefully calibrated.
Nadia Langley

langleyn@grinnell.edu

Erin Ritter `22, the manager of KDIC, made sure that Grinnell Colleges student-run radio station survived 2020.

Like many student organizations at Grinnell, KDIC relies on a transition of student leadership over the summer. Student evacuation of campus in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic posed a serious threat to this pillar of Grinnells student community. Because of this delay, Ritter inherited the role of station manager in the spring of 2021, at this time an unpaid position, and faced the task of rebuilding the radio station for a virtual student community.

KDIC has historically broadcast on 88.5 FM from the radio stations studio located on the second floor of the JRC. Without access to the studio and the necessary audio equipment, the station had been unable to broadcast since early 2020.

The loss of staff due to new student employment policies for SPARC positions initiated during the 2020-21 academic year presented another roadblock for the student radio station. KDIC normally hired 10 to 20 student workers who filled positions from station managers to general staff. To recover KDICs status as a place of student employment, Ritter needed to develop a budget and create job descriptions for Handshake which had to be approved by the College before she could begin the hiring process and refill those empty staff positions.

Once Ritter got a budget approved by the College, she turned to finding an online platform that could broadcast students shows from across the country with the technology they had on hand. Mixlr is an online program that lets users broadcast live audio using only a computers microphone. Listeners can tune in to KDIC on the Mixlr website and even set reminders to catch their favorite shows on the air.

KDIC is back, basically. In a different way, but still in a way that I think lets students broadcast their thoughts and music on the airwaves, whether those airwaves are actual FCC radio airwaves on 88.5 FM or online through Mixlr, Ritter said.

There are 25 radio shows scheduled across the week with air times as early as 10 a.m. (all times in CDT) on Saturdays and as late as midnight on Thursdays. The shows cover a range of themes and musical genres, each show unique to the personality of the DJ.

Whatever your taste in music, theres a KDIC show that covers it. Overlooked airs on Fridays at 7 p.m. and highlights work of Black women musicians. The hosts of Grinnhell (Fridays at midnight) promise listeners a diverse selection of unconventional music perfect for anyone who isnt a music elitist.

On her show Life is a Mixtape, which airs on Sundays at 6 p.m., Lucia Finkelstein `24 matches music to a theme chosen by her Instagram followers. Those who tuned in on Sunday April 4 were treated to a dance party study break with a playlist curated for students gearing up for an all-nighter.

This mix promised to keep listeners awake with riot grrrl bangers from the likes of Le Tigre followed by indie rock hits from the Talking Heads.

KDIC is back, basically. In a different way, but still in a way that I think lets students broadcast their thoughts and music on the airwaves, whether those airwaves are actual FCC radio airwaves on 88.5 FM or online through Mixlr.  Erin Ritter 22

Some shows follow more of a talk show format, featuring lively discussions between hosts. Confusion and Delay, which you can catch at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, is devoted to reviewing episodes of Thomas and Friends, the iconic childrens television show starring Thomas the Tank Engine. Obuchi Adikema `21 and Elise Bargman `21, the hosts of Hiding in Plain Spite (Saturdays at 11 a.m.), describe their show on the Mixlr website as a music and talk show for spiteful, angry women and/or amateur spy enthusiasts.

Even President Anne Harris has a show on the air: Once and Future Grinnell, which airs at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Those who tune in to Harriss show will hear her interview members of the Grinnell community on topics ranging from strategic planning to what it means to be a Grinnellian.
Celebrity chef David Chang is bringing his love for food to Texas with his latest concept, Fuku.

Fuku, his delivery-only concept, will serve fried chicken sandwiches and fries from locations in Dallas, Plano and Houston.

Chang has managed to make a name for himself in the food industry through his award-winning Momufuku culinary brand and appearances on shows like "Ugly Delicious" on Netflix and "The Mind of a Chef" on PBS.

GIVING BACK TO TEXAS: Matthew McConaughey, David Chang, Kevin Kwan featured at 2020 Texas Book Festival

The chef and restaurateur started his first restaurantMomofuku Noodle Barin 2004 and expanded across the country and beyond. Now he's working on his "cousin" restaurant Fuku.

Fuku is a delivery-only eatery that offers five different fried, spicy chicken sandwiches and chicken tenders. The restaurant operates as a "ghost kitchen," meaning you can only order via delivery and there's no dining room.

The concept for the Fuku "ghost kitchen" was piloted in New York and then expanded to other major cities like Chicago and Philadelphia.

The delivery-only concept was researched thoroughly, as Chang is "fascinated with delivery," CEO Alex Munoz-Suarez told The Dallas Morning News.

The restaurant partnered with Reef Technology to launch the kitchens, and they use food delivery services like Uber Eats, DoorDash and Grubhub for connecting with customers. Following Reef's model, the ghost kitchens will reside in parking garages or inside parking lots.

BATTLE OF THE CHICKEN SANDWICH: Texans' Deshaun Watson says Popeyes spicy chicken sandwich key to his success

Fuku's two Houston area locations will start delivering on April 6 and then expand with two more on April 7. Munoz-Suarez stated that the mission is to have "six more operating in the city of Houston."

To celebrate the launch, customers in Texas get free delivery via Uber Eats through April 30.

The profits made from opening day across Texas will be donated to the Southern Smoke Foundation, an organization founded by Houston chef Chris Shepherd. The Southern Smoke Foundation is the same foundation Chang won $1 million for on the show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
Paper urges archaeologists and historians to work closely with people who are grappling with racism in public monuments

When most Americans imagine an archaeologist, they picture someone who looks like Indiana Jones. Or, perhaps, Lara Croft, from the Tomb Raider game. White, usually male but occasionally female, digging up the spoils of a vanished culture in colonized lands.

Depictions of archaeologists in popular culture mirror reality. Many scholars have noted the experts institutions recognize as authorities to discuss or represent the past are overwhelmingly white and mostly male. Archaeology has also been a tool colonizing countries use to consolidate and justify their domination. As a new open-access paper in American Antiquity points out, the first doctoral degree in archaeology was not granted to a Black woman until 1980.

First author Ayana Omilade Flewellen, an assistant professor of anthropology at UC Riverside and co-founder of the Society of Black Archaeologists, is working to change this by investigating antiblackness within the discipline, increasing the visibility of Black archaeologists and changing how archaeologists are portrayed in the media, and developing strategies to get more Black students to study archaeology.

"Public-facing avenues for history-making have historically excluded Black and Brown people," Flewellen said. "It has been white, extracting value from and not in dialogue with surrounding communities. How can we be part of history making? How can we get more excluded communities engaged in this work?"

The paper urges archaeologists and history professionals to work closely with people who are grappling with racism in public monuments and institutional names in the wake of last year's uprising following the killing of George Floyd. The authors argue that by working with "broad publics who are actively dictating what should be preserved and what should not the field can begin to redress the harm it has perpetuated."

"The past is messy," Flewellen said. "And archaeologists, we're in the dirt."

The authors assert that professionals of color who deal with history, whether as archaeologists, historians, museum curators, or other heritage experts, are often accused of bias in topics related to slavery, racism, or genocide. Their scholarly or public-facing work is often said to lack objectivity or express excessive emotion. The work of white scholars, writing on the same topics, is considered objective and taken more seriously.

"People question the objectivity of Black scholars but everyone, including white scholars, always has our own biases," Flewellen said. "But embracing these biases by working closely with communities, including Indigenous and Asian, usually excluded from history making allows us to have a more human image of the past."

For example, the authors suggest monuments damaged by protestors could be preserved and displayed alongside exhibits contextualizing the damage as part of a broader history that includes the oppression and struggle for equality of Black, Brown and Indigenous peoples in America. Defacing or destroying monuments could be seen not as an attempt to erase history but rather, as part of an active process of making history.

Recognizing acts of Black resistance against such monuments and other markers of white supremacy makes for a more objective, inclusive, and human telling of history, the authors argue. It also shifts attention from a preoccupation with preservation toward critical examination of the histories scholars choose to see, excavate, and steward.

The paper also addresses the challenges of bringing more Black college students into archaeology, which, in America, is usually housed in anthropology departments.

"Many Black students don't even have access," Flewellen said. "Historically Black colleges and universities don't usually have anthropology majors, and there are financial barriers as well. Field schools, necessary to complete training, are expensive, and because there are so few Black archaeologists, it's also hard for Black students to find mentors."

The authors argue Black archaeology, a specialization shaped by Black Feminist theory focusing on Africa and the African Disapora, can help bring more Black people, especially women, into archaeology and work against racism in the discipline.

"An antiracist archaeology is committed to forging sustainable and nurturing connections among archaeologists of all backgrounds, as well as with communities impacted by archaeological work, community organizers and activists, and those working with smaller historical societies that are also fighting to preserve local histories," the authors write.

The paper emerged from a forum last summer and calls on universities to:

Hire and advance more minority faculty and staff through tenure and promotion and into senior-level roles, respectively.

Make the process of obtaining tenure and merit reviews more transparent.

Admit more minority students and offer more scholarships to help them achieve a degree.

Train faculty and graduate students to integrate antiracist pedagogy in their classes.

Rethink curricula and syllabi to incorporate a greater diversity of voices and perspectives.

Reduce and respond to incidents of macro and microaggressions on campus, such as overtly racist abuse and small everyday insults that make for a hostile environment for students of color.

Hire counseling center staff members who are competent to address the psychological stress of minority students.

###

Flewellen was joined in the research by Justin P. Dunnavant at Vanderbilt University; Alicia Odewale at the University of Tulsa; Alexandra Jones with Archaeology in the Community; Tsione Wolde-Michael at the Smithsonian Institution; Zoe Crossland at Columbia University; and Maria Franklin at the University of Texas at Austin. The paper, "The future of archaeology is antiracist: archaeology in the time of black lives matter," is available here.
A border patrol officer arrested a group of migrants trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. Among the individuals caught in the act, a suspected MS-13 gang member joined the group and tried to sneak into California.

The announcement of the arrest was made by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It can be remembered that apart from gangs, drug cartels from Mexico are reported to smuggle their members inside the United States. The drug cartel members utilize migrant families and even kids, disguise themselves as the legal guardian of a kid from a migrant family, and even give out false names just to sneak in inside the borders of the United States.

READ NEXT: U.S. Woman Held Captive by Sinaloa Cartel Rescued in Mexico After a Year

MS-13 Gang on U.S.-Mexico Borders

An officer from the Border Patrol San Diego Sector was the one who caught the group of illegal migrants, red-handed, as they try to sneak into the border. The arrest happened in a border wall in the town of Campo at around 12:45 in the morning while the border officer is patrolling the mountains near the Forest Gate Road.

The border patrol officer questioned the group of illegal immigrants, and all six allegedly admitted that they planned to cross the country illegally, according to a New York Post report.

The suspected MS-13 gang member was confirmed by the record checks when the migrants were brought to the border patrol station for processing.

The name of the confirmed gang member was not disclosed by the U.S. Customs and Border protection, but the agency revealed that the gang member was 28 years old and an El Salvadorian national.

"I'm proud of the great work by our agents in arresting this gang member," said Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke. Heitke also emphasized that the hard work of the border officers promulgates the safety of the neighborhoods.

The identities of the other five men who were arrested by the border patrol agent were identified by the agency as three El Salvadorian, one Mexican, and one Honduran.

What is the MS-13 Gang?

The MS-13 gang established a reputation surrounding violence and killing machetes. The group was formed in Los Angeles during the 1980s. The proponent of this group is known to be immigrants who escaped El Salvador's brutal civil war.

Apart from El Salvadorians, other nationals are also members of the group. These are nationals from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.

MS-13 is known to recruit poor and at-risk teenagers. Reports noted that initiation to this group includes being subjected to the vicious 13-second beating and carrying out a crime - often murder - for the gang. In 2012, the U.S. Treasury named the gang a "transnational criminal organization."

MS-13 Gang is also involved in drugs, human smuggling, murder, prostitution, extortion, and other illegal activities. The majority of the members of MS-13 are between the ages of 11 and 40. They can be easily identified through very visible tattoos, which are usually on their faces.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not confirm if the MS-13 gang member have tattoos on the face. Meanwhile, all the illegal migrants caught by the border patrol officer are processed for removal from the United States.

READ MORE: Video Shows Jalisco Cartel Parading 'Narco-Tank' in Mexico's Street

WATCH: The Truth Behind Street Gang MS-13 - from Inside Edition
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's military build-up near its borders with Ukraine has nothing to do with any domestic issues including the jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

"This has nothing to do with any detainees or anyone," Peskov told Reuters when asked to comment on remarks by Ukrainian security chief Oleksiy Danilov.

Peskov added that Russia had to be cautious towards its "restless" neighbour Ukraine.

(Reporting by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
[April 08, 2021] Western Union Foundation Announces New Partnerships to Advance Vaccine Education & Workforce Training in Q1/2021

The Western Union (News - Alert) Foundation today announced its first-quarter 2021 programs, investing more than USD 1.25 million to mobilize youth to access jobs in the healthcare industry, assisting with COVID-19 vaccine education and distribution, and to enable economic recovery through workforce training. This investment furthers the Western Union Foundation's Opportunity Beyond Borders three-year USD 15 million commitment to provide migrant and young adults with resources to gain sustainable employment and provide relief and preparedness for crises. "The Western Union Foundation recognizes that this moment-as the global pandemic recovery effort begins in earnest-is a crucial one for the communities we serve," said Foundation Executive Director Elizabeth Roscoe. "We are determined to do everything we can to keep people who are already on the margins from falling farther behind because they lack access to vaccines or opportunities to participate in the formal labor markets as economies progress toward recovery." In 2020, the first full year of Opportunity Beyond Borders, the Western Union Foundation invested more than USD 6 million to help 200,000 people in 33 countries, as detailed in its 2020 Global Impact Report. COVID-19 vaccine education, preparedness, and distribution programs Research has shown a large portion of the population in many low-income countries is hesitant to get the vaccine, often due to lack of education about the vaccine and logistical challenges to reach vaccine centers. The Aspen Institute and International Medical Corps will receive funds from the Western Union Foundation to address these challenges. In Kenya and India, the Aspen Institute will partner with leading community-based organizations to support vaccine education and distribution efforts by skilling youth and women in the community in vaccine awareness, preparedness and access.



In the Philippines, the International Medical Corps program will address vaccine hesitancy by driving awareness and coordinating transportation for vulnerable populations to vaccine centers. In Pakistan, host to the third-largest number of refugees in the world, International Medical Corps will train volunteers in refugee villages to raise vaccine awareness and promote health and hygiene best practices.

Western Union and the Foundation are further enabling vaccine adoption by donating funds on behalf of each vaccinated Western Union employee and allowing employees to donate directly to the cause. This program will provide up to $350K to help inoculate thousands more in rural communities. Workforce training for entrepreneurship and career pathways In addition to the COVID-19 community resilience programs, the Foundation's first-quarter investment aims to enable economic recovery for migrant and refugee communities affected by last year's lockdowns. The following are a few of the programs: In Mexico, the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative will scale entrepreneurship programs by training young business leaders and incubating micro-businesses that provide essential services and products to their local communities. In Jordan and Lebanon, the Kiron Open Higher Education program will work with the most vulnerable populations residing in refugee encampments and will offer skill-building opportunities to prepare individuals for and give access to career pathways. In Jordan and Palestine, Education for Employment will launch a research study about relevant jobs post-COVID-19 and provide customized training to business owners, with the majority female, helping them adapt and grow their businesses in response to the effects of COVID-19. To learn more about the impact the Western Union Foundation has made to people and partners over the past year, check out the stories of impact on their newly launched website. About the Western Union Foundation The Western Union Foundation believes that education is the surest pathway to economic opportunity. After 20 years of impact, we continue to deliver on our mission with Opportunity Beyond Borders, focused on empowering forcibly displaced and marginalized youth with the training and education needed to succeed in today's technology-driven global economy. The Foundation also provides funding for humanitarian efforts for communities in crisis and disaster, one key reason for forced migration. To date, we have funded more than $131 million for projects and scholarships. The Western Union Foundation is a separate, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable corporation and receives support from The Western Union Company, its employees, agents, and business partners. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible for U.S. income tax purposes. To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @TheWUFoundation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005454/en/

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REDDING, Calif. - In the last five months, there has been four officer-involved shootings in Redding. All four have been deadly and three of them were women.

The first one happened in early December, in front of MOD Pizza at Discovery Village. The next on Christmas Eve, the third in February on Cypress Bridge, and the most recent just this past Tuesday at Grandview Avenue and Court Street. Some people wonder if deadly force was necessary for those instances.

I do believe there are probably more incidents than we should have when it comes to officers using lethal force, said Glenn Jones of Redding. I believe they should be retrained to use non-lethal.

Lt. Levi Solada has been with the Redding Police Department for several years and said he hasn't seen an unjustified shooting during his time with the department.

Our officers have the utmost respect for members of this community, said Lt. Solada. The public's safety is our priority, our officer's safety is our priority, and even the people we come into contact with, their safety is our priority.

The Redding Police Department said the two officer-involved shootings in December and the one on Cypress Bridge are still under investigation. Those cases have not yet been sent to the district attorney's office.

The Shasta County District Attorney said she believes the officers didnt do anything wrong.

Unfortunately there has been an increase in the use of force shootings, said Stephanie Bridgett, the Shasta County District Attorney. I dont attribute that, from what I've seen, to any of negative or poor behavior by our officers. What I've seen not only locally, but also statewide and nationwide is the increase of violence on our streets.

The Shasta County District Attorney's Office said under District Attorney Stephanie Bridgetts watch there hasnt been an officer-involved shooting ruled unjustified.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson and Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams patched up their relationship at a Wednesday morning parlay, they said in a joint statement.

Ferguson had expressed alarm a day earlier that Williams agreed to a request, from lawyers for a man convicted of killing a police officer, to hold a court hearing on racial bias during the defendant's jury selection process. The chief also alleged a larger communication breakdown.

But those sore feelings were smoothed over during the face-to-face meeting between Ferguson and Williams, who took office Jan. 11.

Let us be clear: There is no dissension or disagreement between OPDA and NOPD. DA Williams supports the work of NOPD officers; Chief Ferguson supports the work of OPDA prosecutors. We are, and will continue to be, fully unified in our mission of making families and neighborhoods safer," the men said.

The statement was a shift in tone for Ferguson, who had raised "grave concerns" about the district attorneys response to the pending appeal of Travis Boys, the man convicted of first-degree murder in the 2015 killing of 22-year veteran officer Daryle Holloway.

Williams office joined in a request from Boys defense to hold a hearing on whether prosecutors under former District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro discriminated against Black people during the jury selection process at his 2018 trial. Williams has been highly critical of Cannizzaros legacy, especially on race.

But Williams' prosecutors said there was more to the joint motion than might have met the eye. Far from conceding bias, they agreed to the hearing in order to prove once and for all that the office acted properly, Williams said.

"Although we joined a motion to allow evidence to be presented at a hearing, there was never an agreement from us with the defense on their claims," Williams said Wednesday. "In fact, the strategic tactic would have immediately exposed and quashed any arguments by the defense of racial bias in jury selection. We are confident that we will be successful in protecting the integrity of the conviction of Mr. Boys for the death of officer Holloway."

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The joint request came to naught when the 4th Louisiana Circuit Court of Appeal denied it without comment Monday. The same judges are set April 14 to consider Boys overall appeal, including his allegations of discrimination in the jury process.

In a statement before the Wednesday meeting with Williams, Ferguson hinted at larger problems beyond a single court case. He said the district attorney was not moving forward on multiple cases my officers have brought to his office for prosecution. On March 25, Ferguson also sent Williams a letter asking him to keep the Police Department informed about all charges dismissed or refused, charges eligible for diversion and new policies.

On the campaign trail last year, Williams promised to make a number of breaks with Cannizzaro's policies, including by diverting or dismissing more low-level crimes while taking violent crimes to trial.

The Police Department and district attorney's office said Wednesday they had recommitted to keeping lines of communication open.

+3 Case dismissed: New Orleans DA Jason Williams starts trimming court docket Courts in New Orleans built up a huge case backlog during the coronavirus pandemic -- and Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams star

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect year for Boys' trial.
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Grandad Scrounges Rare WWII Ship Plans for 25 Poundsand They Could Be Worth 4,000 Pounds

A grandads 25-pound (approx. US$35) car-trunk bargain could see him rake in thousands at auctionafter his find turned out to be rare WWII plans to convert the RMS Queen Mary into a wartime ship that transported Churchill.

Francis Phillips, 73, unearthed the original wartime conversion plans for the RMS Queen Mary from a car trunk sale 25 years ago while rummaging through a tatty old cardboard box.

The savvy sale hunter offered 25 pounds to take the papers off the sellers hands after learning that they were destined for the bonfire, as they were taking up too much room in his house.

Ewbanks auction staff holding up the plans that are up for sale (Kennedy News and Media)

Detail of rare WWII plans to convert the RMS Queen Mary into a wartime ship that transported Churchill (Kennedy News and Media)

After undertaking extensive research with the help of uni specialists, fishmonger Francis was stunned to learn the provenance of the plans he snapped up for a song in 1996.

Before it was retired, the RMS Queen Mary hosted a glittering roster of celebrities and famous figures on the world stage.

The likes of Elizabeth Taylor, John F. Kennedy, the Duke of Windsor, the Queen Mother and Wallis Simpson all stayed on the cruise liner.

The grandad-of-eight is now selling the plans with a guide price of 3,0004,000 pounds (approx. US$4,120$5,490) hoping to net a tidy profit.

Francis Phillips unearthed the original wartime conversion plans for the RMS Queen Mary at a car-trunk sale 25 years ago. (Kennedy News and Media)

The grandad-of-eight is now selling the plans with a guide price of 3,0004,000 pounds hoping to net a tidy profit. (Kennedy News and Media)

Francis, from Gloucester, Gloucestershire, said: I thought it was worth a punt.

It was towards the end of the day at the car boot, and I knew this gentleman and his business was house repossession.

One of the perks is they can sell these things at car boots.

He was packing up and there was this tatty old cardboard box and I just flicked my hands through it briefly.

I just thought ooh thats interesting and he Im taking them home to burn, theyre taking up too much room.

There was no haggling over prices, it was the end of the day and I asked what he wanted for them.

He said name a figure so I offered 25, which seemed a bit rash in those days for me.

Despite readily handing over his cash, Francis admitted he had no idea of the historical and monetary value of his find.

Francis Philips unearthed rare WWII plans to convert the RMS Queen Mary into a wartime ship. (Kennedy News and Media)

The RMS Queen Mary was launched in 1934 as a passenger ship, but was converted for war service five years later, and carried Winston Churchill to important transatlantic meetings.

The retired ocean liner is now moored as a tourist attraction including a lavish art-deco designed hotel.

Francis contacted specialists at the University of Liverpool who confirmed that he possessed the genuine copies of wartime plans.

The documents are one of only two known surviving copiesthe other set is locked away in the archives of the national museum in Liverpool.

Francis said: I was just a novice at this sort of thing but ever since then I got interested.

If they did go on the fire, theyd be lost [forever].

Having them still here is a chance for someone to enjoy them or take it a step further and study them a bit more.

It was the ship of its time, it carried more passengers than any other ship.

(Inset) Francis Philips. Detail showing specifications of plans to convert the RMS Queen Mary into a wartime ship (Kennedy News and Media)

Francis said: I thought it was worth a punt. (Kennedy News and Media)

Over the years, dedicated Francis spent 750 pounds (approx. US$1,030) digitizing the 14-deck plans, which are 2 feet by 11 feet each, and displaying the originals in Westminster Halls at the Annual Ocean Liner societys meet.

Savvy shopper Francis still goes to car boot sales two or three times a year but has never repeated his success of scoring such a bargain.

Francis said: I watch these programs on television such as Bargain Hunt and think I would like to be the one to find something one day.

I have a loft and garage full of stuff, I may have to move to a smaller place and start thinning it out.

Francis intends to put any money he makes from the sale towards a few treats in later life including the odd holiday.

Francis said: I watch these programs on television such as Bargain Hunt and think I would like to be the one to find something one day. (Kennedy News and Media)

Francis said: I have been so over enthusiastic with these plans all my life, it drives the rest of the family mad.

They are probably sick and tired of hearing about them.

Franciss lot includes the original plans for the conversion of RMS Queen Mary, personal letters of a naval family found with them, and Franciss digitized copies.

The lot went to auction at Ewbanks auction house on March 26 and, at the time of writing, has yet to be sold.

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.

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For the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. Air Force has a new mission statement.

The service on Thursday unveiled its operational goal as, "To fly, fight, and win.  Airpower anytime, anywhere."

"As we developed this new mission statement, we consulted Airmen from across the entire spectrum -- enlisted, officers, reservists, guardsmen and civilians," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown said in a release accompanying the announcement.

Read Next: Navy Destroyer Hopper's Commanding Officer Fired Over Morale Problems

The Air Force added "cyberspace" to its mission statement in 2005, citing growing threats to the nation's network security. That year, the service changed the wording to, "Deliver sovereign options for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests -- to fly and fight in air, space and cyberspace."

Then in 2008, it updated its mission statement again to, "Fly, fight and win... in air, space and cyberspace." It wasn't immediately clear how long "space" has been a part of the Air Force mission.

But the U.S. Space Force was created in December 2019, taking over the space mission.

"The Air Force can now focus solely on Airpower and maintain a sustained focus on core air domain missions," the release states.

The Space Force does not have an official mission statement, but does have a description of its responsibilities. Its motto, "Semper Supra," translates to "always above."

An Air Force spokesperson told Military.com that "cyber" was also dropped from the mission statement because "it is a joint capability that all the services contribute to."

"The ability to fight and win with Airpower is key to facing emerging competitors and near-peer adversaries," the release states.

Leaders said the 689,000 Air Force personnel worldwide contribute to airpower through the service's five core missions: air superiority; global strike; rapid global mobility; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and command and control.

"Delivering airpower for our nation requires more than just aircraft," Brown said in the release. "It requires total force Airmen -- active-duty, Guard, Reserve, civilians -- in all Air Force specialties working together as a seamless team to operate, maintain, and enable our mission and bring the unique capabilities and effects of airpower to bear."

"As the new mission statement was formulated, it was important to us that all Airmen see where they fit in," added Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass. "Every Airman, from every career field, is directly responsible for delivering, supporting, launching and driving Airpower, which is the culmination of our diverse specialties, expertise and capabilities that make up our great Air Force."

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: Beyond BRRRT: Airpower Alone Won't Secure Victory, Goldfein Says
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Gunmen have abducted a traditional ruler in Imo State barely a few days after daring attacks on facilities belonging to security agencies in the state.

The monarch, Charles Iroegbu of Umuezie community in Nguru, Aboh Mbaise council area, was kidnapped Tuesday evening around 6 p.m., alongside his entire cabinet members.

The monarch and his cabinet were abducted while returning from a traditional wedding they attended at Ihitte-Uboma council area of the state.

The incident is said to have occurred at the popular Seven and Half junction in the Obowo area of the state.

The attack happened around the Seven and Half junction, the gunmen simply blocked the vehicle they were travelling in, pulled down the driver, and one of the abductors took the wheel and drove off with the monarch and his cabinet, while the rest of the gunmen followed closely behind in another vehicle, a witnessed said

The cabinet members that accompanied the monarch were seven. They were all abducted.

PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately get a police reaction to the incident, as the police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, did not respond to calls and a text message sent to him.

The insecurity in Imo State has continued to deteriorate daily, just like other states within Nigerias South-east and South-south regions.

Three police facilities in the state, including the state police headquarters, have been attacked by unknown gunmen in the past 72 hours alone.

The prisons headquarters in the state has also been attacked by gunmen.
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.
Owerri  There was a drama yesterday, as suspected hoodlums again attacked a police station in Mbieri, Mbaitoli local government area of Imo state, and injured two police officers, in a gun battle.

According to the Imo state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Orlando Ikeokwo, who confirmed it to newsmen in Owerri, that occurred at about 23:30 pm on Wednesday.

Just as he said that no officer got missing or kidnapped in the attack, adding that the hoodlums were repelled by the officers on duty after engaging the bandits in a gun battle.

PPRO shortly said: "Mbieri divisional Police headquarters was attacked, at about 23:30 pm, but successfully repelled, two officers Injured and presently receiving treatment. The police station was not also set ablaze. No officer missing or kidnapped please."

But an eyewitness who spoke to Vanguard said that there were more than four persons they kidnapped already in their vehicle when they arrived.

Also read: Gunmen storm military camp in Niger, kill soldiers, abduct 10, burn vehicles

He said: "The hoodlums arrived in two vehicles as they tried to enter the station, the policemen on duty started shooting at them. The shooting lasted for more than 40 minutes.

"At the end, as they were about going we saw three persons they dragged into their vehicles around the police premises including the ones already in their vehicles shouting for help."

When Vanguard asked him how many persons he was able to see he said: "I saw four persons and I also heard a female voice shouting for help. We don't know whether they are police officers because they were in mufti. They may be some persons they kidnapped along the road as they were coming to attack the Mbieri police station."

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"When the fire was too much they hoodlums jumped into their vehicles with those they kidnapped and drove away," he said.

Reacting to the Imo state government through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba said: "We have urged security operatives in the State to expedite their investigations into the recent attack on Police and Nigerian Correctional Services facilities by hoodlums to ensure the perpetrators are fished out and made to face justice.

"The Government also called on the Security agencies to beam their searchlight on all possible suspects and avoid the temptation of focusing in only one direction to ensure that the brains behind the mayhem are fished out and prosecuted accordingly.

"Therefore, Council directed the security agents to expedite their investigation and make sure that no stone is left unturned and to beam their searchlight in all possible suspected areas and ensure that those who perpetrated this dastardly act are fished out and brought to book as quickly as possible."

In the last 72 hours, many police stations had been attacked in Imo state, they included; the Imo state police headquarters, Ehime Mbano police station and that Mbieri police station. Also, the Owerri Correctional Center was also bombed by the hoodlums.

Vanguard News Nigeria
President Trump's warning that Joe Biden wants to abolish the suburbs is proving to be accurate.



The Biden regime is working on "pushing local governments to allow apartment buildings in neighborhoods that are currently restricted to single-family homes," Reuters reported on Thursday.

The $5 billion plan could inject the White House into a debate pitting older homeowners against younger workers seeking to gain a foothold in the most expensive U.S. cities, where many families spend a third or more of their income on housing.



The proposal, which would provide financial incentives to local governments that change zoning laws restricting many neighborhoods to single-family homes, is an example of the sort of broad social policy changes Democrats are including in Bidens $2 trillion infrastructure bill.



Critics of the zoning laws say they drive up housing costs, contribute to urban and suburban sprawl and perpetuate racial segregation.



[...] Under pressure from politically active homeowners, urban areas with the tightest restrictions in place - coastal cities including New York and San Francisco - have increased them further since 2006, according to a University of Pennsylvania survey.



[...] Housing experts praised Biden's proposal, but said it may do little to influence affluent communities that have the tightest zoning laws, which have little need for federal assistance.

Indeed, this is only for middle and lower class neighborhoods.



The rich -- Biden's donors and voters -- will still live in luxury in tight-knit communities.



From The National Review, "Biden's Infrastructure Bill Aims to End Single-Family Zoning":

With the introduction of his massive, $2.3 trillion "infrastructure" bill, President Biden's campaign to end suburban single-family zoning has begun. If you think this issue was debated and resolved during the 2020 presidential campaign, you are mistaken. It's true that Biden's campaign platform openly and unmistakably pledged to abolish single-family zoning. As soon as President Trump made an issue of that pledge, however, Biden went virtually silent on the issue and the Democrat-supporting press falsely denied that Biden had any designs on single-family zoning at all. Now that he's president, Biden's infrastructure bill openly includes programs designed to "eliminate" single-family zoning (which Biden calls "exclusionary zoning").



How, exactly, does Biden plan to end single-family zoning? According to the fact sheet released by the White House, "Biden is calling on Congress to enact an innovative new competitive grant program that awards flexible and attractive funding to jurisdictions that take concrete steps to eliminate ['exclusionary zoning']." In other words, Biden wants to use a big pot of federal grant money as bait. If a county or municipality agrees to weaken or eliminate its single-family zoning, it gets the federal bucks.



The wildly overreaching Obama-Biden era Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) regulation -- which Biden has pledged to revive -- works in a similar fashion. The difference is that by adding another gigantic pot of federal money to the Community Development Block Grants that are the lure of AFFH, Biden makes it that much harder for suburbs to resist applying -- and that much more punishing to jurisdictions that forgo a share of the federal taxes they've already paid so as to protect their right to self-rule.



[...] There's more danger in store for America's suburbs in Biden's current proposal than meets the eye, however. If I were administering Biden's various federal housing programs, I would sucker well-off suburbs into accepting grants on lenient terms. The trick is that once a jurisdiction accepts a HUD grant, it has to sign a statement promising to "affirmatively further fair housing." Now that Biden is going to revive the old Obama-Biden AFFH rule, that pledge can be used by activist non-profits or the administration itself to sue localities for failing to meet the outrageously expanded definition of that term set forth in Obama's AFFH. It was suits like this that dragged Westchester County, New York through years of federal control and torment. Just the threat of such suits intimidated Democratic officials in Dubuque, Iowa into surrendering their city's self-rule to the Obama administration.



Here's the bottom line: Biden's campaign to abolish suburban single-family zoning has well and truly begun. As during the Obama era, it will likely escalate in intensity with each passing year. At this point, any jurisdiction in the country that wants to keep control of its zoning and development should decline to apply for federal housing grants. No matter how good the money looks, sign that promise to "affirmatively further fair housing" -- as the Biden administration will define it -- and you are signing away your birthright.

Biden's "infrastructure" plan has nothing to do with infrastructure and everything to do with social engineering -- or what Biden's handlers call "equity."



As the Washington Post reported a week ago, Biden's advisors specifically told him not to focus on "major physical infrastructure investments" because that may help the "White working-class male worker."





WashPo: Biden Advisors Fear Infrastructure Investments May Help White Working-Class Men https://t.co/aM2Yp8FLAo  Chris Menahan  (@infolibnews) April 1, 2021

Rather than focus on building bridges, roads and physical infrastructure, Biden's advisors instead told him to focus on "caregiving investments," such as child care & public health care, because caregiving investments will disproportionately help "minorities and women."  Chris Menahan  (@infolibnews) April 1, 2021

Paid leave is infrastructure.

Child care is infrastructure.

Caregiving is infrastructure.  Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) April 7, 2021



Biden followed through on their request, his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan spends $400 billion on "caregiving" versus only $157 billion on modernizing bridges, highways, roads and upgrading air travel, airports, waterways and coastal ports.



Social engineering is infrastructure!



Eliminating whiteness is infrastructure!



Equity is infrastructure!



Reparations is infrastructure!



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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Peekaboo Beans Inc. (CSE: BEAN) (OTC Pink: PBBSF) ("PK Beans" or the "Company") has entered into a share purchase agreement with certain vendors (the "Vendors") pursuant to which the Company has agreed to acquire 100% of the common shares of Les Petits Terribles Inc. (the "LPTI Shares") from the Vendors (the "Transaction") and launches Private Placement of Convertible Debenture Units.

For PK Beans, the acquisition complements its high-quality children's clothing line, and marks a powerful brand expansion as a leader in total children's wellness.

"Healthy, on-the-go snacks and meals are what millennial parents are choosing," states Traci Costa, PK Beans Founder and CEO. "The industry is skyrocketing. Add to that, our sustainable, high-quality clothing and we become the go-to brand in children's wellness. We believe what kids put into their bodies is as important as what they put on their bodies."

Led by Chef Benjamin Gagne, LPTI specializes in healthy snacks and easy quick meals for children.

"Our high-protein, wholefood recipes have no added sugar, salt or artificial ingredients. They satisfy parents who want healthy options without compromising taste and convenience," adds Gagne.

In consideration for the LPTI Shares, the Company has agreed to issue to, or as directed by the Vendors 4,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") at an issue price of $0.075 per Common Share.

Completion of the Transaction remains subject to completion of normal closing conditions for a transaction of this nature, including delivery of all closing documents representing the transfer of the LPTI Shares to the Company and related documents. LPTI is the holder of intellectual property rights related to children's food products, which the Company hopes to utilize as part of an expansion into a new industry segment with children's lifestyle products, to complement its children's clothing business.

In connection with the Transaction the Company further announces that it is launching a non-brokered private placement of convertible debenture units (each, a "CD Unit" and collectively, the "CD Units") to the Vendors for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $110,000 (the "Offering"). The net proceeds of the Offering will be used for general working capital.

Each CD Unit will be offered at a price of $1,000 and will be comprised of one unsecured convertible debenture with a principal amount of $1,000 (each, a "Debenture" and collectively, the "Debentures") and 5,000 common share purchase warrants of the Company (each, a "Warrant" and collectively, the "Warrants"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.15 per share for a period of two years from the closing date of the Offering (the "Closing Date").

The Debentures will mature and be repayable on the date that is two years from the Closing Date (the "Maturity Date") and bear interest at a rate of 12% per annum until maturity, which will be calculated and payable semi-annually on the last day of June and December in each year. The principal amount of the Debentures and any accrued and unpaid interest will be convertible into Common Shares at a conversion price of $0.10 (the "Conversion Price"). The terms of the Debentures further provide that the Company may from time to time, at the Company's option, prepay all or part of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest without penalty or bonus.

All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release in the United States. Such 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, accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", 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 pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.

About Peekaboo Beans Inc.

PK Beans is an integrated and innovative children's wellness brand. From sustainable clothing options that kids love to wear, to healthy foods that fuel children's play, our mission is to provide the ingredients for a playful life. Together with our monthly adventure subscription box, consisting of interactive and engaging activities that educate and entertain, developed by an Emmy award-winning child psychologist and devoted kid-experts, our goal is to enrich, empower and nourish children through quality nutrition, clothing and play - every day. The company maximizes revenue by reaching sellers and online retailers through an omnichannel approach.

To learn more about PK Beans, visit: www.pkbeans.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Peekaboo Beans Inc.

Ms. Traci Costa, President and CEO

(604) 279-2326

For more information, please contact the Company at:

IR@pkbeans.com

1-604-279-2326

Reader Advisory

This news release may include forward-looking information that is subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions, such information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR 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/79800
Eight months following sharp criticism on Eversource Energys response times after Tropical Storm Isaias sent trees crashing through power lines, the company is replacing its CEO with the man who has led its efforts to generate electricity from offshore wind farms.

Eversource announced Wednesday afternoon that it is promoting Joe Nolan to CEO as the replacement for Jim Judge, who will remain executive chairman of the board of directors. The utility had given no previous indication that a switch was in the works.

Nolan will become CEO on May 5.

Judge testified on multiple occasions to Connecticut lawmakers and regulators, after customers voiced anger last August over power outages lasting several days. Bills were already spiking as a result of a summer heat wave that hit, with large numbers of people staying home during the day as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing up their electric use running air conditioners.

While defending the utilitys Isaias response, Judge concurred that Eversource came up short in some areas, including maintaining lines of communication with customers and municipal leaders. At one point, Judge suggested he expected to see his compensation reduced over the furor. Last month, Eversource estimated Judges 2020 compensation at $14.6 million  about $5.3 million less than he made the previous year.

In response, the Connecticut General Assembly pushed through a take back our grid law, which allows the Connecticut Public Utilities Authority to impose stiffer penalties if outage response is deemed lacking. PURA issued a draft version of its own analysis last month.

In February, Judge reiterated to investment analysts that Eversource would seek to recoup some $230 million in Isaias costs from ratepayers, drawing additional criticism.

We assembled the largest workforce ever in the state of Connecticut for that storm response and the vast majority of the costs that are being reviewed have to do with bringing in those external resources, either from other utilities or from contractors, Judge said during a conference call. We expect, as we have in the past, that cost recovery would be allowed for these costs, as they were prudent.

In the same call, Judge conceded that the company will likely be forced to offer discounted rates to Connecticut customers who fall under qualifying income thresholds.

We will be looking at new rate designs  including possible low-income or economic development rates  and that may require a possible interim rate reduction, Judge said. We clearly are not earning our allowed returns that we have agreed to under a settlement thats been in place for three years now.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., tweeted Wednesday that Judges exit as CEO is welcome news, but we need more than a change at the top. Our electric utilities should be accountable to the people, not shareholders. Joe Nolan must make customer service & lowering rates his number one priority. I will be watching his actions closely.

Eversource has 4.3 million electricity and natural gas customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, with the company one of Connecticuts two main electric utilities along the United Illuminating subsidiary of Orange-based Avangrid. Eversource lists dual headquarters in Boston and Hartford, with both Judge and Nolan living in Massachusetts.

In his role as executive vice president of strategy, customer and corporate relations, Nolan has had an array of oversight duties at Eversource, with the company highlighting his leadership of a joint venture with Orsted that will build the Revolution Wind farm supplying electricity from offshore turbines.

In early February, Avangrid hired Duke Energy executive Catherine Stempien to lead its utility operations, replacing Tony Marone who led United Illuminatings work to restore power to customers.

Includes prior reporting by staff writers Clare Dignan, Emilie Munson, Luther Turmelle and Peter Yankowski. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Business Administration Degree Programs.

Intelligent.com analyzed 177 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 70 making it to the final list for Online Business Administration Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-business-administration-degree-programs/

2021 Online Business Administration Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

American Intercontinental University

American Public University

Amridge University

Appalachian State University

Assumption University

Azusa Pacific University

Baker College

Ball State University

Belhaven University

Bellevue University

Bemidji State University

Black Hills State University

Blue Mountain College

Brandman University

California Baptist University, Online

California State University, East Bay

California State University, Fullerton

California University of Pennsylvania

Campbellsville University

Capella University

Central Baptist College

City University of New York

City University of Seattle

Clayton State University

Colorado Christian University

Colorado State University Global

Colorado Technical University

Columbia College

Concordia University Irvine

Concordia University, St. Paul

East Carolina University

Eastern Oregon University

Everglades University

Fitchburg State University

Florida Atlantic University

Florida Institute of Technology

Florida State College at Jacksonville

Fort Hays State University

Graceland University

Grand Canyon University

Greenfield Community College

Harding University

Herzing University

Huntington University

Husson University

Indian River State College

Indiana State University

Indiana University

Indiana University East

Indiana Wesleyan University

Lamar University

Liberty University

Louisiana State University, Alexandria

Northern Arizona University

Oregon State University

Penn State World Campus

Southeast Missouri State University

The University of Alabama

University of Arizona

University of Arkansas

University of Florida

University of Georgia

University of Illinois Springfield

University of Iowa

University of Maine at Augusta

University of Massachusetts Amherst

University Of Minnesota, Crookston

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

University of Wyoming

Westfield State 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 joint China-World Health Organization (WHO) study into COVID-19 has provided no credible answers about how the pandemic began, and more rigorous investigations are required - with or without Beijing's involvement, a group of international scientists and researchers said on Wednesday.

The joint study, released last week, said the likeliest transmission route for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, involved bats and other wildlife in China and southeast Asia. It all but ruled out the possibility it had leaked from a laboratory.

In an open letter, 24 scientists and researchers from Europe, the United States, Australia and Japan said the study was tainted by politics.

"Their starting point was, let's have as much compromise as is required to get some minimal cooperation from China," said Jamie Metzl, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, who drafted the letter.

The letter said the study's conclusions were based on unpublished Chinese research, while critical records and biological samples "remain inaccessible".

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus said last week China had withheld data.

Liang Wannian, China's senior COVID-19 expert, denied this and appeared to rule out any further joint investigations in China, saying the focus should shift to other countries.

Metzl said the world might have to "revert to Plan B" and conduct an investigation "in the most systematic way possible" without China's involvement.

China has rejected allegations that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a research laboratory in Wuhan, the city where COVID-19 was first identified.

The joint China-WHO study said the lab leak was "extremely unlikely", saying there was "no record" that any laboratory had kept SARS-CoV-2-related viruses. Tedros said more research was required to "reach more robust conclusions".

Metzl said China should disclose information that would allow the lab hypothesis to be disproved.

"China has databases of what viruses were being held... there are lab notes of the work that was being done," he said, "There are all kinds of scientists who are actually doing the work and we don't have access to any of those resources, or any of those people."

Also Read: Data withheld from team probing COVID-19 origins in China: WHO chief
A key figure in the creation of Australias charities regulator says the benefit of a parliamentary inquiry into Scientologys significant wealth in Australia would be public transparency.

Swinburne Universitys Krystian Seibert, a senior adviser to the Gillard government on the setting up of Australias Charities Act and charities regulator, said a parliamentary probe would be public and open and transparent with the ability to compel witnesses and information.

Scientologys Ideal Advanced Org in Sydney. Credit:The Age

Mr Seibert, who said he was speaking in general terms and not endorsing an inquiry, added that such an inquiry cant sanction an organisation but it can recommend that the regulator do an investigation.

Both Labor and the Greens this week flagged support for a parliamentary inquiry after an investigation by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald found the Church of Scientology had shifted tens of millions of dollars into Australia from offshore and had made $65.4 million in tax-free net profits since 2013.
The Market Report with Katie Pilbeam. FTSE 100 continues its rise but is being overshadowed by the its smaller cap sibling the UK-focused 250, which hit another record this morning on vaccination and reopening hopes. The blue-chip 100 index rose 24 to 6,909.

ASOS saw record sales in its latest six months as customer numbers jumped by 24% to nearly 25mln. The lockdown category outperformed again, with face and body products zooming up 114%, activewear jumping 95% and casualwear up 69%.

Britain has more than enough supplies of and Moderna jabs to vaccinate the under-30s, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told reporters today. MHRA, the UKs health regulator said yesterday that Britons aged 18-29 would be given an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine where possible, due blood clot concerns.

Anglo American ( ) said it will spin off its thermal coal operations in South Africa, helping the group move closer towards its commitment to be carbon neutral by 2040. Subject to the approval of Anglo American's shareholders on May 5, the thermal coal operations in South Africa will be transferred to a new holding company.

Among the small caps, Minds + Machines Group Limited ( ) is to sell most of its assets to US web domain group for US$120mln. The deal is a 91% premium to the internet registry firms closing price on Wednesday.

( ) announced that the face mask developed by its subsidiary has been approved by the UK authorities. The model is made with antiviral material.

Spectra Systems Corp ( ) has received a US patent for its technology for disinfecting banknotes from viruses. The plan is to sell it to companies dealing with cash such as banks and casinos.
Beijing replaces New York City as home of most billionaires (Forbes). Hong Kong is third with 80 billionaires, Shenzhen fifth with 68, and Shanghai sixth with 64. China's cities are taking over the top positions.

European Court of Human Rights ruled that **compulsory vaccinations are legal** and may be necessary in democratic societies (Deutsche Welle)

Forensic evidence proves that the laptop at the center of the NYP expose was Hunter Biden's - Daily Mail

On the laptop is evidence that Hunter Biden:

-got unauthorized Secret Service protection

-begged his father to run for president to save his own reputation

-made porn films with prostitutes

-lied on a federal background check form to get a firearm
document

What Jean-Damascene Bizimana [Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide] has just told us, those are facts. Facts of our history, facts about what happened, and the responsibilities thereof. For those deniers, if they have no shame, why should I have fear?

Today, as every year, we gather together to remember the Genocide against the Tutsi. I thank you all for taking part in this ceremony.

This may be the 27th time we have marked commemoration, but the occasion is never ordinary. There are always reminders of what is at stake. New mass graves are regularly discovered. Many perpetrators still roam free.

But we cannot allow the weight of our history to crush us.

This is also the second Kwibuka during the Covid-19 pandemic. The physical distance only adds to the emotional burden on survivors, whose quiet strength has nourished our nation's revival. We thank you and we honour the sacrifices you have made for the sake of a better future for us all.

We also credit Rwanda's rebirth to the fact that the larger part of Rwandans wanted to build a better nation and overcome the manipulations by the bad leaders of the past. Given the chance to live better and see things differently, our people seized it. This is an indispensable part of our strength.

As a result, even in the midst of constant pressures and distractions, Rwanda today is unquestionably more united and forward-looking than ever before. And here, I am speaking particularly about the youth, who are the vast majority of our country's people.

That is why all efforts to divide and divert us have failed, and will continue to fail.

Kwibuka challenges us to reflect on the context of the present moment, as well as the cumulative history that has led us here.

Rwanda may not yet be wealthy or fully healthy, and we have vulnerabilities and limitations, like any country. But we also know how to deal with our problems. Rwandans are resilient, and we are full of purpose and hope.

The immensity of what has been achieved is almost miraculous. The results are attested to by Rwandans, and indeed indisputable.

First, there are the tangible signs, things that we can see and feel.

New buildings and roads. Better hospitals and health centres. Water and electricity services, where they never existed before. Visitors flocking to see Rwanda's unique wildlife and enjoy our hospitality.

But the intangible transformations which have taken place in the hearts and minds of our people are even more important. They allow progress to be sustained from generation to generation.

Our unity and nationhood, which continues to grow. The trust we have in each other as a people, and in our leaders and institutions. Positive mindsets of creativity, accountability, and self-reliance. The satisfaction of seeing Rwanda's story serve as an uplifting symbol of renewal, even hopefully beyond our borders. And the collective self-assurance that comes from the spirit of agaciro, which inspires everything we do.

The Rwandans of today have gained a lot, which means we have something precious to defend. This requires constant vigilance, along with a commitment to introspection and honesty.

Decades, even centuries of progress, can be wiped away in the blink of an eye. We have seen examples in different societies around the world, no matter how advanced.

I know for certain that Rwandans will always be ready to protect what we have built, without hesitation or apology.

Like every country, Rwanda has the right to use all legitimate and lawful means to counter attacks on our people - no question about it - and on the principles of our Constitution.

Whenever possible, we bring those who threaten our country's peace and security to justice. The rule of law is not up for debate. In fact, there are several trials underway in our courts, involving various violent armed groups.

Among those who are undergoing trial, there are those who have been living outside, protected, one way or the other. And it is all connected with the story of denial, distortion, and publication of all kinds of things.

It's interesting to find that when these trials are ongoing, for some - especially those who were hosting these people - the issue is not what they did which they are being tried for, the issue is how they got here. Fine. If they got here the wrong way, we can talk about that. There is no problem.

But shouldn't we concentrate also on what is more important, which is why they are being tried in the courts of law? It's not too complicated to understand that. You can figure out for yourselves why it happens that way. Maybe we will get to understand more as we go on.

Rwandans believe that our country cannot afford to allow such dangerous games against our people to be played on our territory, ever again. When the line into violence is crossed, there is also a remedy for that.

Most of these actors sought international relevance by killing innocent people and threatening our economy. Unfortunately, this strategy of attention-seeking has sometimes worked for them.

You know, some of these people are out there in places where they have a lot of lessons for us, as to what is democracy, freedom, all kinds of political and civil rights. At the same time, they embrace these people, protect them, defend them, speak for them. Because, they are saying, these are people who want to civilise Rwanda and bring it closer to that level, where we are not.

Now, many times - and I am trying to get to the bottom of this question - I ask, why is this? Maybe we will come to it later, but I just want to tell you a few things.

There are a couple of cases where we told their hosts that they are actually criminals. They have killed, they have stolen, they have raped, they have done all kinds of things. And we have the capacity to try them. But they say no, these are critics of the leaders of Rwanda. These are people fighting for freedom, for rights of all kinds.

Now, what is interesting again, is that it doesn't take very long before they actually realise what we were talking about, because a couple of them are now serving sentences in those countries. They are prison for actually having done some of the things we told these people these criminals have been known for.

And, in the court, these people - it's really very interesting - when they are being tried out there in Europe, America, different places, even with evidence that these people have either raped or stolen money in those countries, they still stay no, it is actually President Kagame who is sending his agents, they are the ones.

But how I can I send somebody to give instructions to rape and you rape? How can I send somebody to tell you to steal and you steal? So if there are cases you need to sort out with Rwandan leaders, that's okay, but you first answer for those acts. And we go back to our friends and say: But we told you. Still they will not believe us, even when they have seen it.

You heard the other day when the person was brought here, and the question is how he got here, not how he was leading a group that was killing people in Rwanda. You saw how others from those countries testified in the court and confirmed what they were being accused of, and planning it outside, where they lived. Recently one or two people living outside said that what was said in court is true. They are actually doing these things they are accused of, but here we are protected. Nothing is going to happen to us, and you are not going to be able to bring us there, as you have brought others.

So you can see how disturbing this is. But yes, we fully understand the world we live in.

Disgraced former officials, motivated by petty resentments, have spent years cultivating influential foreign gatekeepers with a flimsy campaign of lies.

My friends, you can tell any lie about me; you are free to do so. You can pile up tons of lies; it won't change me, absolutely not. It won't change this country to be what you want it to be. It doesn't matter how many lies. That I can promise you.

When the storytellers happen to have been born in the right kind of place, out there, their impartiality and integrity is simply taken for granted. Just by where they are born. Whatever they say against you is supposed to be taken for granted. It has nothing to do with the facts. It only has to do with where this person was born. These are the places most of these problems come from.

Falsehoods become facts, and victims become villains. Acts of terrorism are portrayed as principled expressions of opposition and dissent, while Rwanda's response is singled out for criticism.

Let me tell you this: We will be happy to be criticised for doing what we have to do, and believe that we have to do, against these acts against us.

Are these really the people who represent the universal values we all claim to espouse? It is outright wrong. It's wrong. It can't be otherwise. We are left wondering how many bodies there have to be before we are seen as having the right to take appropriate action.

Do you remember the famous interview in the old days, in 1994, where people had problems naming what was happening at that time? Some people were struggling to call it 'genocide'. Well, today we have another struggle, people are struggling to call it 'Genocide against the Tutsi'. But the problem of definitions started way back in 1994, of just simply naming what it was.

Somebody - I think a journalist - asked: "Do you call it genocide?" They said no, it may be acts of genocide. Then the journalist asked: "How many acts of genocide does it take to call it genocide?" Do you remember that story? So it is surprising that we still have the same discussion 27 years later. It's amazing.

Meanwhile, specialists and human rights groups remain silent about the obvious dangers, reluctant to say anything that might be seen to vindicate the Rwandan government.

The cynicism and hypocrisy reflected in such bigoted narratives is breath-taking. And on our African continent, Rwanda is hardly the only target of these tactics. It is something we do not deserve, and will not accept.

Recently, a commission of historians appointed by the French government released a detailed report after reading official archives that had remained secret.

The report shows that President Mitterrand and his closest advisers knew that a genocide against Tutsi was being planned by their allies in Rwanda. Despite that knowledge, the president decided to continue supporting them, because he believed this was necessary for France's geopolitical position. Rwandan lives were just pawns in geopolitical games.

We welcome this report because it marks an important step toward a common understanding of what took place. It also marks a change, it shows the desire, even for leaders in France, to move forward with a good understanding of what happened, and we welcome this. We welcome this. We are going to have the report presented to us; I have been informed about it. It is a good thing.

Rwanda will also have a word to say in the near future, maybe around the third week of this month. The findings we have in our hands, based on the work that has been done by people who were commissioned to do that in parallel to what was being done in France - the findings go in the same direction. The important thing is to continue working together to document the truth. This is the truth.

The decades-long effort by certain French officials to cover up their responsibilities has caused significant damage.

History was falsified by promoting the lie of the so-called double genocide, including with the Mapping Report. Fraudulent court cases were launched in Europe against our officers and officials. Genocide suspects were granted safe haven, and Rwanda's extradition requests refused.

And this was not just in France; it's just because I was talking about the report. Even in other capitals of those developed countries, we know of cases that have gone on for close to 15 years. There are places where there are about 4-5 genocide suspects, the files are very clear. We talked to the country hosting them, we begged them. We said, the case files are ready, they are here, can you please give them to us for trial?

The answer was no, we have no extradition treaty, we don't trust your courts, we don't trust your laws. Okay, we said fine. We needed your trust, but you don't want to give it to us. Fine. So can you try them in your courts? Because if you have a problem with our courts, you don't have problems with your own courts. And even after that request, they still have excuses for not acting. And it continues, and goes on and goes on.

At the same time, these are the people who have all kinds of blame to level against us. We say, but why don't you do it? Are you not ashamed of protecting genocide suspects, covering up for them for any reason? You don't want me to try them, so why don't you try them? It's the same people who question the use of 'Genocide against Tutsi'.

And by the way, I think the word genocide, we are not the ones who invented it. This word was coined by some other people long ago, long before our own tragic situation. But somebody says, you know, we don't want to accept 'Genocide against the Tutsi' because peacekeepers died, foreigners died, Hutus died, everybody was killed.

Look, even if you thought those were the facts, how does this stop you from isolating this case and treating it the way it should be treated? And then you can come up with your own list of other cases to deal with. I don't doubt these people's capacity or logic or anything. No, it's something else.

It's like saying, let's not try this guy for the crimes he committed. Let's deal with how he got to this court. So we have a long way to go.

So when these genocide suspects are granted safe haven and extradition requests are refused, it has a direct consequence, and we have seen a massive increase in genocide denial and revisionism, which will take years to reverse.

Well-known publishers release books accusing the RPF itself of having masterminded the genocide in order to take power. What is even more disturbing, is that too many people who know better prefer to stay out of it by keeping quiet.

A few years ago, a country, I remember, issued a statement to mark the commemoration of the Genocide. On this day we can get a statement of solidarity, or not. If you don't want to send us a statement of solidarity, we don't complain, really we won't complain. But a country sent us a statement of solidarity, supposedly, but then there were more chapters about human rights violations and governance, in the same solidarity message.

So I took time and wrote a back and just made one simple request. I said, you know, this day, the 7th of April, is a commemoration day. And it's just one day in the 365 days of the year. Just one.

So I asked them, can't you spare us just this one day? And for the remaining number of days, 364, you can write anything you want. You can abuse us, insult us anyway you want for the rest the year. But spare us this one.

Fortunately I think they got the message, it hasn't happened again, but there are others who don't learn and maybe their statements are on the way saying the same things. But we really have space to accommodate that as well.

And yet, despite a unanimous resolution by the United Nations General Assembly, there are still one or two countries which stubbornly refuse to use the phrase 'Genocide against the Tutsi'. In the whole of the General Assembly they have that understanding, except one or two, just as they resisted using the word 'genocide' in 1994, as I told you, until it was too late.

They came back to the word itself. Some people had a problem if they called it genocide, as it puts a heavy burden on them to act, to stop it. So they were really trying to avoid the heavy burden of stopping it by refusing to call it genocide.

It is interesting how history repeats itself. We have almost gone full circle from 1994 to now. We have a repetition of questioning words and definitions and all kinds of things.

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It is as though this simple recognition of what the word should be would be a reward bestowed on Rwandans in exchange for 'good behaviour'. In their view, you behave in the way they want you to behave, then they will give you a gift, a reward of recognising what it is. What a shame. But we cannot respond to blackmail on such matters of principle.

Unfortunately, a new generation of Rwandans in the diaspora - and this is really a small group - who have no personal responsibility for what happened in 1994, draw on these accounts to repackage genocide ideology as a critique of governance and human rights. And they are picking it from there or being supported by that.

For us in Rwanda, we are not being held back. We move forward. There is no difference so big that a hand extended in good faith will not be reciprocated. That is how we Rwandans are, who our history has made us.

But the currency of forgiveness is truth. We cannot get tired of talking about the realities we have lived.

On this most solemn of days, I wish to close by thanking Rwandans for remaining dedicated to the task of unity and reconciliation. We also thank the many friends around the world who have joined with us over the years.

Not only that, while some people were having problems of calling it genocide at the United Nations - among those having problems at the time was even the Secretary-General of the United Nations - you know some amazing countries and their representatives stood up and stood out, and said no. This is what it is.

And one of them is an African country that we shall always be proud to call a good friend, represented by a man I remember, called Ibrahim Gambari of Nigeria. Nigeria stood out and said no. There is a problem and we must call it what it is. Professor Gambari was there, and we shall always be proud of Nigeria.

Then there was the Czech Republic, there was New Zealand. Counties you wouldn't think about first. There is a tendency to always think about these big countries. But we will always be indebted and thankful to some of these people across the world.

Let me end by telling you something I remember, and I will end from that. When we were still young and going to primary school, I remember being told a story of the lion and the sheep.

There was a stream of water, like a river. The lion was upstream drinking water. Downstream, there was a sheep drinking water as well. So when the lion recognised there was a sheep nearby, he looked for a quick excuse to go to the sheep and have it for a meal.

But first they had a conversation. The lion called to the sheep and said: "Hey you, you see I'm here drinking water and you're just here making it dirty."

The sheep humbly said, "But sir, I am downstream. Where I am drinking the water from, even if I was making it dirty, it is not coming to you."

So the lion got angry and felt provoked. "How dare you answer back to me like that? You are even abusing me." The sheep said, "I'm really sorry, I didn't want to abuse you, forgive me."

And the lion said, "You know, even the other day, actually you abused me." Then the sheep said, "It's the first time I have come to drink water from here, so it's not me." And the lion said, "You see, you are really annoying me. Even if it is not you, it was your brother or your sister who was here."

"No sir," said the sheep, "I am not aware of my sister or brother who came here. I have come from so far away for the first time." So the lion of course went for the sheep.

I am telling you this story because sometimes we are treated like this story suggests. Somebody out there saying, "Hey you, you are even abusing me." Even when you have not talked to them. "If it is not you, it is your brother, your mother, your sister." "No, sir."

I think some people have been doing that to us.

But let me tell you, don't ever accept to be sheep.

I don't even aspire to be this kind of lion. I'm going to be happy being who I am that will challenge this lion.

Thank you very much.
Vietnam will continue its Covid-19 inoculation program using AstraZeneca's vaccine since no related cases of blood clotting have been recorded, the health ministry announced Thursday.

"We will continue to monitor post-injection reactions," said Dang Quang Ta, head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine under the Health Ministry.

The annoucement came amid rising global concerns over the safety of the vaccine, after European drug regulators on Wednesday confirmed a link between it and rare blood clots.

Yet the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said blood clots were very rare side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and that countries should continue to use it anyway.

The World Health Organization echoed the opinion, adding the vaccine's benefits far outweigh its risks.

Vietnam's mass Covid-19 vaccination program was launched a month ago and the country has received 900,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses from the producer and via the global Covax scheme.

As of Thursday, around 55,000 Vietnamese, mostly frontline workers in the Covid-19 fight, had received their first shots, and no cases of blood clotting have been recorded.

Reports about rare blood clots following inoculation with the Covid-19 vaccine produced by British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca had recently surfaced in certain countries, prompting some to suspend its use for people from 55 or 65 years old.

Vietnam aims to secure around 150 million doses this year to cover 70 percent of its 98 million population from the EU, U.S., Japan, China, India, and Russia.

AstraZeneca shots in Vietnam are delivered in two doses, four weeks apart.
guest column

After 30 years in power, Chads brutal ruler Idris Deby Itno is just coming into his own. With elections on April 11 in his oil rich, yet crushingly impoverished country, he is offering a masterclass in how to not just win an election but crush an opposition, dispirit a population, and seduce foreign backers so completely that his tenure as president is assured for years to come.

The former army chief to Chads even more notorious strongman, Hissene Habre - himself currently serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture - Deby overthrew his mentor in 1990, with the support of France, promising "to bring neither gold nor silver, but freedom and democracy to Chad.

But next weeks elections - the sixth since Deby took power - will offer nothing of the sort for the country of 16 million, that ranks 187 out of 189 countries on the UNs Human Development Index.

When the truncated campaign season kicked off in February, 16 opposition candidates declared their intention to contest Debys stranglehold on power. They were supported by mass popular protests opposing a sixth Deby term under banners like Free Chad and Leave, Deby.

Demonstrations buoyed by momentous events in neighboring Sudan were met with a crackdown on protesters and opposition candidates.

And they were buoyed by momentous events of the last two years in neighboring Sudan, which through its own popular uprising saw the 30-year dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir finally end with his ouster by the military. Sudans affable Prime Minister, Abdallah Hamdok, has expressed his hope that his countrys transition to a hopeful new era of civilian, if not democratic, rule can serve as a model to the region.

But Chad is instead hewing to the model set by long-time contemporaries in Cameroon and Republic of Congo of Big Man rule. And today, the countrys ramshackle capital looks more like it is about to host a coronation than an election.

With several hundred protesters already in detention, along with a prominent journalist for covering the protests, further protest gatherings and opposition campaign rallies have been banned during the campaign period under a national security directive that Amnesty International described as unnecessary and disproportionate restrictions on the right of assembly. And with only Debys ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement allowed to post campaign posters, the streets of Ndjamena bear a tense and unsettling resemblance to Tripoli under Mohammar Qadaffi, with portraits of only the 69-year-old autocrat adorning most street corners.

Stacking the decks even further, a 2018 constitutional amendment helped reset the clock on Debys 30-year rule giving him another 12 years in office after his impending victory. The constitutional coup also helped prevent one of his main opponents, the 38-year-old former World Bank economist Succes Masra, from running by raising the presidential age limit from 35 to 40 years. Meanwhile, Debys Supreme Court threw out the candidacies of seven other candidates on a variety of technical grounds.

But the most brazen warning to Debys remaining contenders came in late February when the Presidents U.S. and French-trained and equipped Presidential Guard, commanded by Debys son, surrounded the home of opposition candidate Yayha Dillo with tanks and heavy weapons to arrest him on charges of opposing the authority of the state. In the shootout that ensued, Dillo, who escaped arrest and is now in hiding, reported that his mother, son, and three supporters were killed.

The very next day, Chads main opposition politician and only remaining candidate capable of seriously challenging Deby, Saleh Kebzabo, withdrew from the race citing, the obvious militarization of the political climate.

Deby's external backers, Paris and Washington chief among them, face an choice between a continued alliance with an autocract or support for democrat aspirations.

With only a handful of candidates remaining and most of the other opposition parties calling for a boycott of the vote so as to not provide cover for a large-scale masquerade, Deby is hoping that what is left of this multiparty race delivers him a knockout vote in the first round that would thwart any opposition to his rule for years to come.

But to Debys external backers, Paris and Washington chief among them, the message he hopes is received is one of another high-living autocrat, Louis XVI, who famously promised, apres moi, le deluge.

For all of the Biden Administrations soaring rhetoric about joining with like-minded allies and partners to revitalize democracy the world over, Chad stands out as one of the glaring challenges to that lofty ambition - a place where Western interests routinely outweigh our values to pernicious effect.

Playing host to the 5,100-man strong Operation Barkhane, that since 2013 has deployed across the Sahel to counter the regions mounting jihadist threat, Deby has deftly positioned himself as the most capable local partner and remaining bulwark against a terror caliphate that could extend from the Red Sea to the Atlantic.

So close are relations that in 2019 - when Deby was threatened by his own internal rebellion from inside Chads expansive northern border with Libya - it was French President Macron, who dispatched French fighter jets from their long-time base in NDjamena to neutralize the threat and preserve Debys hold on power. A headline in the newspaper Le Monde noted it made Paris appear as the protector of a predatory and corrupt regime.

Respecting the symbiotic nature of relations, Deby pledged at the most recent G5 Sahel Summit to increase his own militarys commitment by 1200 troops to the anti-Islamist fight in his own backyard, helping to shore up the military response in light of political re-evaluations going on in both Paris and Washington over the nature and duration of their now-8-year and increasingly expensive and unpopular anti-terror operation.

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But beyond preserving their mutual security interests by combating the regional terrorist threat, neither Paris nor Washington seems to have a vision for what Chad could and should be going forward, while Debys priorities seem limited to ensuring his hold on power and the protection of his family and financial interests.

In the meantime, while Chads elite forces defend Western interests across the region, at home they repress democratic voices demanding change. It is this ambiguity that Deby and big men like him rely on, and indeed thrive in. However, Western audiences should view that ambiguity for what it really is, hypocrisy.

Bidens interim national security strategy acknowledges this dilemma. There are those who argue that, given all the challenges we face, autocracy is the best way forward, the President says in the 24-page guidance document issued last month. I firmly believe that democracy holds the key to freedom, prosperity, peace, and dignity.

This is what the people of Chad have been denied for most of their history, and it is what a renewed commitment to democratic values can offer. Chads election presents an important opportunity to demonstrate that choice.

Cameron Hudson is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils Africa Center. Previously he served as the chief of staff to the special envoy for Sudan and as director for African Affairs on the National Security Council in the George W. Bush administration. Follow him on Twitter @_hudsonc.
Wild boar currently living in the Forest of Dean could spread around the UK if they wanted to, according to a leading expert.

Dr John Dutton, an ecologist at the University of Worcester, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire the biggest boar population in the UK is in the Forest of Dean.

He added that it is likely the feral pigs would be able to cross the River Severn and spread to new areas, if they wanted to.

But he adds that this eventuality is unlikely because the animals have been happily living in the woodland for around two decades and have yet to spread.

Scroll down for video

Dr John Dutton, an ecologist at the University of Worcester, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire the biggest boar population in the UK is in the Forest of Dean and he believes that the feral pigs could cross the River Severn and spread to new areas

Wild boar are large animals which can weigh up to 220lbs, heavier than the average man, and stand around 2.6ft tall at the shoulder, the same height as a Great Dane. The grazing animals have a rough, dark top coat of fur and their young are a paler colour which darkens with age

The Forest of Dean provides the animal with the perfect habitat in which to live and breed, but should they feel threatened or pressured they may look for a new home.

Dr Dutton believes one route the animals could take would involve the River Severn, Britain's fastest flowing and longest river.

Wild boar are large animals which can weigh up to 220lbs, heavier than the average man, and stand around 2.6ft tall at the shoulder, the same height as a Great Dane.

The grazing animals have a rough, dark top coat of fur and their young are a paler colour which darkens with age.

While not naturally aggressive, the animals have been known to become territorial and confrontational if people, or dogs, get too close.

While not naturally aggressive, the animals have been known to become territorial and confrontational if people, or dogs, get too close

Wanted: Britain's first BISON rangers Jobs as the UK's first bison rangers are being advertised as part of a scheme to introduce the huge mammals into ancient woodland in Kent. Two people are being sought by Kent Wildlife Trust and the Wildwood Trust, as part of their Wilder Blean project to restore Blean Woods, near Canterbury. The European bison, the continent's largest land mammal, is the closest living relative to ancient steppe bison that would have once roamed Britain and naturally managed the habitat, conservationists said. A close-knit herd of four European bison will be introduced into a 500-acre fenced enclosure in the woods, in what is the first time the animals have been brought to a nature reserve to help wildlife in the UK. Advertisement

Boar have been commonplace across Eurasia for thousands of years and regularly hunted for sport.

King Philip IV of France died in 1286 after falling from his horse when a boar he was hunting charged at his steed, spooking the animal.

More recently, there have been reports of dogs, cats and people being attacked by the animals, with one man having a finger bitten off.

The animals have also been spotted wandering into nearby towns and villages on refuse collection days to scavenge for food scraps.

Dr Dutton was discussing the increasing spread of the boar, which currently are subject to a population control cull run by Forestry England.

'Potentially, if we didn't do anything and there was anything else to prevent them such as major roads or rivers, then they could reoccupy the whole country,' he said.

'I'm not sure that would happen in any short time.

'After all, they have been in the Forest now for 20 plus years almost and therefore they are going to expand solely in different directions

'But the River Severn, certainly north of Gloucester, would not stop them crossing if they felt like it because it is not a particularly large river and they are very good at swimming.'

Wild boar are among several species that are being left to their own devices in the wilderness of the UK.

Recent rewilding projects are trying to bring back more of Britain's lost fauna, including larger animals and predators, such as wolves, lynx, bison and beavers.

The latter two have been successful, with bison set to be reintroduced in Kent soon and beavers thriving in the South-West.

There is more opposition to predators, however, with famers and the public less embracing of seeing wolves and lynx roaming the hills.
ALC continues to bring in international investment through its latest project in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- American Lending Center (ALC), a licensed non-bank lender, celebrated the official opening of TownePlace Suites in downtown Indianapolis on March 12th. This marks one of several ALC investments that have recently reopened as the hospitality industry recovers from the economic effects of COVID-19.

With 146-rooms, all equipped with a full kitchen, complementary WiFi and access to the Something Borrowed section, where guests can find appliances such as blenders and grilling tools, TownePlace Suites set up lends itself well to extended-stay guests. Further, guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast, fitness center, in-lobby bar and boardroom.

It has been a quiet year for the hospitality industry, but we are very excited to hit the ground running with this opening, said John Shen, ALCs chief executive officer. We are hopeful that via strategic foreign investment we can help boost tourism and stimulate economic growth in downtown Indiana and beyond.

Since opening their doors, TownePlace Suites has increased capacity daily. Ideally situated among several of Indianapolis most notable attractions, some of which include Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center, hotel leadership expects demand to increase throughout the rest of the year, especially with the fall bringing an influx of conventions to the area.

About American Lending Center

American Lending Center (ALC) is a licensed non-bank lender that has provided over 500 million dollars to American ventures and created nearly 40,000 full-time jobs throughout the US. ALC is a small business specialized lender supporting qualified borrowers nationwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005122/en/

Press:

Sarah Neal

sneal@rasky.com

(617) 973-1612

Source: American Lending Center
In a still image from video, Chicago-based breathing expert Dr. Martin Tobin answers questions during the ninth day of the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 8, 2021. (Pool via Reuters)

Expert: George Floyd Died From Lack of Oxygen

George Floyd died from a lack of oxygen while being restrained by police officers last year, a medical expert on April 8 told the court during the trial of one of the former officers involved.

A healthy person subjected to what Mr. Floyd was subjected to would have died as a result of what he was subjected to, Dr. Martin Tobin, a lung specialist at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and Loyola Universitys medical school in Chicago, told the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

Chauvin and two others officers restrained Floyd on May 25, 2020, after Floyd resisted arrest and fought being placed in a patrol car.

Floyd eventually stopped moving on the ground and was soon declared dead.

Tobin said a lack of oxygen oxygen caused brain damage and cardiac arrest, causing death.

The cause of the low level of oxygen was shallow breathing, small breaths, small tidal volumes, shallow breaths that werent able to carry the air through his lungs down to the essential areas of the lungs that get oxygen into the blood and get rid of the carbon dioxide, he added.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiners office determined the manner of death was homicide and the cause of death was Cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression.

The deceased experienced the injury while being restrained by officers, the office said, noting other significant conditions including a history of heart disease, recent methamphetamine use, and fentanyl intoxication at the time.

Prosecutors allege Chauvins actions led to Floyds death while the defense charges the death was caused by his underlying health conditions and the drugs he had in his system.

In this image from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson, left, and defendant, former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, right, listen as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides in the trial of Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 8, 2021. (Court TV via AP/Pool)

In this image from video, prosecutor Jerry Blackwell questions Dr. Martin Tobin as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides in the trial of Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 8, 2021. (Court TV via AP/Pool)

A National Guard soldier, center, stands guard with deputies at the restricted vehicle entrance of the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 8, 2021. (Jim Mone/AP Photo)

Tobin, who was serving as expert witness for the prosecution for free, said that Floyds respiratory rate was normal and that if he were being impacted by fentanyl, his rate would be much lower.

So basically it tells you there that isnt there isnt fentanyl onboard  . Its not having an effect on his respiratory centers, he said.

The autopsy detected high levels of fentanyl and methamphetamines in Floyds body.

Tobin testified that Floyds breath ceased three minutes and 27 seconds before Chauvin removed his knee from Floyds upper body. The defense has established during the trial that Chauvins knee was, at least for some of the time, on Floyds shoulder blade, not his neck.

Chauvins attorney Eric Nelson later cross-examined Tobin and asked if the doctor is trained in forensic pathology, or the study of causes of death. Tobin said he was not.

The doctor was also questioned on if the end result of fentanyl can include respiratory depression. He said it can, but that it would be through the neural receptors.

The doctor also agreed that methamphetamine would increase a persons heart rate.

In some patients with fentanyl, you get an increase in chest wall thickness, which can impede the ability of the lungs to an extent, he added later.
LIMERICK GAA have warned they will be pursuing any entity illegally using our crest, after counterfeit versions of their newly-launched jerseys were advertised for sale online.

A mere four weeks after Limerick GAA launched a limited edition jersey to commemorate the Treaty countys All-Ireland senior hurling victory in 1921, knock-off versions of the special edition are being sold by an online wholesale marketplace based in China.

Limerick GAA will pursue any entity illegally using our Limerick GAA crest or who are in contravention of the copyright of the crest, said a spokesperson for Limerick GAA when asked about the site in China.

A medium-sized counterfeit version of the Limerick jersey retails for 20.35 on the website of the China-based company, before shipping costs are added. The photo on the site shows the jersey to be identical to the genuine Limerick GAA commemoration jersey which retails at 70 on the ONeills website - the official retail platform for the merchandise. All monies generated by Limerick GAA goes towards the development of inter county teams, continued the spokesperson who asked the public to be vigilant when it comes to imitation merchandise.

We would ask people to buy the original jersey and not counterfeit editions, added the spokesperson who said there has been a huge reaction to the new jersey which features a hooped design and an image of the Liam MacCarthy Cup on the sleeve.

The jersey is a replica of the one worn by the All-Ireland winning Limerick team of 1921 - the first winning team to be presented with the Liam MacCarthy Cup - but features all the benefits of a modern-day jersey, with high-performance fabric that transports moisture away from the skin.
Cho Ray Hospital becomes Intl Society of Nephrology training centre

Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City has been selected as one of 21 regional training centres of the Belgium-based International Society of Nephrology (ISN).













Nurses conduct steps for hemodialysis in Cho Ray Hospital (Photo: thanhnien.vn)



The hospital will become a training centre in nephrology (the study of kidneys) over a five-year period to 2026, and that status will be maintained if it fulfils ISNs criteria.



Cho Ray will provide in-depth specialised training to improve patient care in Vietnam and other countries in the region in the fields of general nephrology, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and transplants.



Training activities will be in the form of hosting fellows and educational meetings and workshops on regionally relevant topics, and sharing knowledge and expertise via the ISN Educational Ambassadors of Continuing Medical Education programme, among others.



Alongside Cho Ray, other medical establishments selected in Oceania and Southeast Asia include Malaysias Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Thailands King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok.



ISN Regional Training Centres play a key role in ISNs continuing efforts to establish and develop nephrology in developing countries./.
ONCHAN, Isle of Man, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial technology leader ParagonEX signs deals with several internationally-reputed brokers to provide them with ParagonEX technology and services.

As part of an ongoing effort to expand and diversify its services, ParagonEX announced that several agreements were signed, and one of the brokers, 1Market.com, already successfully finished its migration to ParagonEX.

1Market, offering trading services globally, is a fully regulated broker and is now equipped with the advanced ParagonEX Prime trading platform, back-office services and automated KYC systems, all offered by ParagonEX.

Simon Duggan, ParagonEX's CEO said: "As part of our expansion, we are glad to have constant interest from brokers regarding some or all of our services. As we focus on continued innovation, we will also have to prioritise broker onboarding, to ensure our pipeline is clear for the next group of incoming brokers."

ParagonEX Prime, the core product of the ParagonEX group is hailed as one of the most advanced brokerage packages on offer today, comprising of all the elements that medium-sized to large brokers seek in a technology partner - from a proprietary, state-of-the-art trading platform to advanced back-office features and top-notch ancillary services.

About ParagonEX

ParagonEX is an Isle of Man-based financial technology company established in 2008 with the goal of providing an off-the-shelf, robust trading platform and back office solution to brokers. Committed to creating a secure umbrella solution for brokerage firms, irrespective of their size, ParagonEX has become the technology provider of choice for CFD trading globally. Its solutions are today in use throughout Europe, Australia, and the Middle East. For more information, please visit paragonex.com .

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The authors selected by Granta as the 25 best Spanish-language writers under the age of 35.

Vladimir Nabokov used to say that Russian is spoken with a broad and constant smile, because Russian vowels are like oranges and English ones are like lemons. In line with that analogy. Valerie Miles, the co-director of UK-based literary magazine Granta, says Spanish vowels remind her of grenadine seeds or machine-gun bullets: Short and very fast. After Japanese, Spanish is the fastest language in the world, with the highest number of syllables pronounced per second and with a vast and exuberant vocabulary, thanks in no small part to speakers in Latin America. Granta has emphasized this richness of language in its latest list of the best 25 Spanish-language novelists under the age of 35, compiled 11 years after its first and which includes writers from four continents. The list was presented by Miles at Madrids Cervantes Institute on Wednesday.

One of the main differences in this selection is that many of these young writers pay particular attention to the sonorous qualities of the written word, says Miles. They have a keen ear for capturing the intonation and the subtle idiomatic twists of different geographical areas. And that applies not only to dialogue but in terms of incorporating a narrative voice.

Miles also drew a distinction between the generation of writers included on the first list in 2010 and this one, the first dedicated to young Spanish-language writers by the Barcelona edition of Granta, which is published quarterly. As on the 2010 list, there are veteran prize-winning writers included such as Ecuadors Monica Ojeda, the Cuban Carlos Manuel Alvarez, Costa Rican Carlos Fonseca and Spains Cristina Morales, as well as debut novelists like 26-year-old Tenerife-born Andrea Abreu.

The front page of the latest edition of Granta.

The predominant profile on Grantas 2010 list was that of the urban, cosmopolitan writer and in the case of those Latin Americans included, a stint in Europe was practically obligatory. Among them were Santiago Roncagliolo, Andres Neuman, Alejandro Zambra and Patricio Pron. A pattern of linear continuity in the biographies of the pillars of a boom that is now falling silent. This canon is making a break with that generation, perhaps because of the greater democratization of editorial access, says Miles. Today they are writing from completely different places and dont feel the need to employ urban language. They have lost the complex that dictated to write well in Spanish was to write in that way.

The internet has also helped to break that hegemony of having to go to the big cities to read other things, says Diego Zuniga, one of the 25 writers on the list who sets his novels in his hometown of Iquique, in the north of Chile. His story Una Historia de Mar (or, A Story of the Sea) is a homage to a city forgotten by Chilean literature where a world champion spearfisherman, Chungungo Martinez, resides. Im not afraid to use words that people maybe wont understand. The word Chungungo, for example, is one that not every reader needs to know, but it has a sound that I wanted to include in the text, Zuniga says.

The range of stories produced by each of the 25 authors on the list is evidence of a geographic and linguistic paradigm shift. Jose Ardila writes from a small village in the rural depths of Antioquia, Colombia. Miluska Benavides is based on Perus mineral-producing coast. Martin Felipe Castagne works from an Argentinean mountainside. Musicality and the desire to capture sound are also present in Abreus Canarian pizzicato, as Miles describes it, and in the declamatory tone of Morales ode to female karate fighters. Speaking to EL PAIS, Morales states her preference for consigning neutral Spanish to the past. I give thanks to God if my colleagues and I have overcome this canonical requirement. Hopefully, that is the case and hopefully, texts published in 2021 can be wildly provincialist, oral and follow the glorious path of illegibility.

The days when female writers were associated with a single genre, or with themes like family, domesticity or intimacy, are behind us Mexican author Aniela Rodriguez

Ojeda, whose new work, featured on the list, is a tale based on an Incan ceremony, describes the written word as sensorial, musical, rhythmic, atmospheric when you write you are composing a specific cadence that you feel with your whole body. That is literature: the word that, as in a magic trick, transforms matter because it passes through it. To not place faith in this dimension of writing would be to waste its potential.

The 2021 Granta list also underscores that there are many female authors like Ojeda leading these changes in Spanish-language literature. The introduction in the Spanish edition of the magazine reads: It is to a large degree women who are leading formal preoccupations along a new path. We have received more nominations for women than for men in countries like Spain and Argentina, and an even split in Chile. On the 2010 list, there were 17 men and five women, with Spain and Argentina the most-represented countries. In the latest selection, the balance is 14 men and 11 women with Spain (six) and Mexico (four) providing the highest number of writers per nation and Cuba (three) enjoying greater representation.

Aniela Rodriguez believes that many of these authors are trying to experiment with language as Fernanda Melchor did, or with genres like Samanta Schweblin or Maria Fernanda Ampuero. Rodriguez, born in Chihuahua in 1992, is one of the youngest authors on the list and her tale of a fisherman carrying a dead child is a modern incarnation of the oral style of Mexican writer Juan Rulfo. The days when female writers were associated with a single genre, or with themes like family, domesticity or intimacy, are behind us, she says.

Although Chilean writer Roberto Bolano remains one of the key reference points for many of these authors, one of the writers most often mentioned among those selected by Granta is Sylvia Plath. Despite not being a figure of reference for me, it really caught my attention and I think its very exciting that the writer most cited as a model is a woman, a poet on a list of novelists, and one who wrote in English, says Andrea Chapela, another of the selected writers. It says a lot about things like putting more emphasis on affection at the heart of the work, of care with language and a more embodied style of writing.

One of the main differences in this selection is that many of these young writers pay particular attention to the sonorous qualities of the written word Valerie Miles, co-director of Granta

However, Plaths presence can also be interpreted as a reflection of current concerns in Spanish-language literature about shining a light on gender violence. Aura Garcia-Junco was surprised to learn of Plaths popularity among the authors on the list although it makes perfect sense because she was very much in the shadow of her husband, something that we have re-evaluated, and also there is that vein of a violent situation running through all of her work. Garcia-Junco is one of three female Mexican writers on the list and her novel Mar de Piedra (or Sea of Stone), an extract of which is published in Grantas Spanish edition, speaks precisely about femicide in Mexico, in a world somewhere between fantasy and dystopia in which women who have disappeared can end up as statues on Mexico Citys Avenida Madero. I wanted to reflect how missing people in Mexico become part of the land again, despite being unaccounted for, she says. They leave traces that transcend their own existence, in the social fabric; they are a reminder that nobody is safe.

For the 25 writers on the Granta list, being chosen among the best Spanish-language authors of their generation is a calling card for the English-speaking editorial world of the United States and the United Kingdom. Founded 132 years ago, Granta earned its mythical status when it began publishing its lists of up-and-coming writers in the second half of the 20th century. In 1983, the magazine tipped a group of thirty-somethings including Ian McEwan, Martin Amis, Julian Barnes and Kazuo Ishiguro for greatness. Every story and extract for this latest edition has been translated by some of the most recognizable names in the business  Esther Allen, Sarah Booker, Sophie Hughes and Daniel Hahn, among others  as well as Valerie Miles.

Among the jury for the 2021 list were the co-founder of Grantas Spanish edition Aurelio Major, the literary director of the Booker Prize Foundation Gaby Wood and the writers Horacio Castellanos Moya, Rodrigo Fresan and Chloe Aridjis.

The complete list of writers selected by Granta as the 25 best Spanish-language authors under the age of 35

- Irene Reyes-Noguerol, Spain, 1997

- Andrea Abreu, Spain, 1995

- Munir Hachemi, Spain, 1989

- David Aliaga, Spain, 1989

- Cristina Morales, Spain, 1985

- Alejandro Morellon, Spain, 1985

- Aniela Rodriguez, Mexico, 1992

- Andrea Chapela, Mexico, 1990

- Aura Garcia-Junco, Mexico, 1989

- Mateo Garcia Elizondo, Mexico, 1987

- Camila Fabbri, Argentina, 1989

- Michel Nieva, Argentina, 1988

- Martin Felipe Castagnet, Argentina, 1986

- Carlos Manuel Alvarez, Cuba, 1989

- Dainerys Machado Vento, Cuba, 1986

- Eudris Planche Savon, Cuba, 1985

- Paulina Flores, Chile, 1988

- Diego Zuniga, Chile, 1987

- Estanislao Medina Huesca, Equatorial Guinea, 1990

- Monica Ojeda, Ecuador, 1988

- Carlos Fonseca, Costa Rica, 1987

- Jose Adiak Montoya, Nicaragua, 1987

- Miluska Benavides, Peru, 1986

- Jose Ardila, Colombia, 1985

- Gonzalo Baz, Uruguay, 1985
Dr. Fredrik Strand and his research team at Karolinska Institutet will assess the performance of Lunit INSIGHT MMG combined with radiologists in a true screening population, compared to the "double-reading" standard-of-care in Europe, in which two radiologists assess screening mammograms. Lunit INSIGHT MMG is an AI software developed by Lunit to detect breast cancer in mammography images. It is CE marked and currently commercially available in Europe.

"There have been multiple retrospective studies to validate AI performance, but there has not been any prospective studies to assess AI's clinical utility in an actual clinical setting," said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. "Documentational processes such as licensing and regulatory approvals for an AI solution are mandatory, but assessing the actual effectiveness of its performance in clinical trials is of vital importance. We look forward to finding a meaningful result to bring deeper understanding of our AI solution."

The target volume of the study includes 55,000 patients, in collaboration with Capio Sankt Gorans Hospital of Sweden. It is one of the largest screening centers in Sweden with a high cancer detection rate. The expected timeline for the study is two years. Anders Bystrom, head of Radiology at the hospital, is intrigued: "We are truly looking forward to understanding whether AI can make our screening process even more efficient"

Fredrik Strand, principal investigator at the Department of Oncology-Pathology at Karolinska Institutet and a radiologist at Karolinska University Hospital explained "We were impressed by the results of Lunit INSIGHT MMG in our retrospective trials. It will be interesting to see how it plays out in a clinical setting."

Last year, Dr. Strand's research team conducted the first independent comparison of three commercialized AI to identify breast cancer. Among them, Lunit's algorithm showed the best accuracy with around 15 percentage points higher sensitivity compared to the other two algorithms, and also surpassed the sensitivity of one of two radiologists. The study was published in JAMA Oncology.

In April, Dr. Strand will hold an online webinar featuring the findings on the previous studies with Lunit INSIGHT MMG and introduction of the newly initiated prospective study. Details and pre-registration can be found here .

Media contact

Yunyoung Noh, [email protected]

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No one who knew me up until two or three years ago would consider me an artist, said Sensenbaugh, a retired businessman who has lived in Napa for 43 years.

Now, Sensenbaughs art is being taken seriously. Besides his exhibit at the Napa Library and the wood art that U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson selected for his Washington, D.C. office, some of his work was on display at the Artists of Napa Valley Gallery last year.

In addition, four of his wooden wall hangings are going into new buildings for the Sattui Preschool in Calistoga (for which a ribbon-cutting dedication was held three weeks ago.)

My good friend, Barbara Nemko knew that the preschool needed art, he said.

Sensenbaughs journey from businessman to artist began with his love of woodworking.

I had always had an interest in puttering around with wood, he said. Im self-taught. I got into making toys and furniture. It just evolved.

For the last 10 years, he had been making outdoor furniture as well as puzzles and toys from wood. His nieces and nephews were the beneficiaries of his wooden rocking chairs, play castles, puzzles and cars.
Forecasts aren't just for the weather. Scientists can use weather radar and related technology to chart the journeys of billions of migratory birds, which can help protect these global travelers from a growing array of threats.

In a new breakthrough on this front, a team led by Colorado State University used millions of observations from 143 weather surveillance radars to evaluate a forecasting system for nocturnal bird migration in the United States.

Using these tools, the team discovered that a mere 10 nights of action are required to reduce risk to 50% of avian migrants passing over a given area in spring and autumn. Specific actions are as simple as turning off nonessential outdoor lights.

Conservation Biology published the study, "Near-term ecological forecasting for dynamic aeroconservation of migratory birds," on April 8. Its release occurs just two weeks before peak migration season for birds in states including Texas and Florida. Colorado's peak will take place in the first two weeks of May.

A more 'mindful' approach can best protect migrating birds

CSU's Kyle Horton, lead author of the study and an assistant professor in the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, said that status quo tools for protecting migrating birds are somewhat inefficient. These migrating birds can be negatively impacted by light pollution, wind energy and collisions with structures.

"Even during peak migration, it's not efficient to tell people to turn off lights for a period of two to three weeks," Horton said. "Massive numbers of birds migrate on some nights, and at other times, not at all. As scientists, we want to be more mindful about how best to protect migrating birds."

Wind turbines and nighttime lights serve specific purposes for energy production, commercial marketing or public safety. But researchers said with the tools to predict the most important nights when migrants take flight. It's easier to identify and encourage specific mitigation strategies.

Horton teamed up on this research with scientists from University of Oxford, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, University of Wyoming, University of Massachusetts and Mount Holyoke College.

Migration forecasts are available to the public through Horton's lab website and BirdCast, a collaborative project between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, CSU and University of Massachusetts. BirdCast is supported by organizations including the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Leon Levy Foundation, Lyda Hill Philanthropies and Amon G. Carter Foundation.

Benjamin Van Doren, a postdoctoral associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and co-author on the study, said people can use BirdCast to see daily migration forecasts for the entire United States, as well as location-specific migration alerts.

"Everyone should use these tools to experience the spectacle of migration and guide actions for protecting birds," he said.

New Texas-based conservation project could be replicated elsewhere

BirdCast scientists, working with state and conservation officials, helped establish a Lights Out Texas initiative and pilot project in late 2020. Nearly one of every three birds migrating through the U.S. in spring pass through Texas, as do one of every four birds migrating through the U.S. in the fall - totaling nearly 2 billion birds.

Horton said that mayors in Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston have made commitments to support the new initiative. Former First Lady Laura Bush is also an outspoken advocate.

In a recent op-ed in The Dallas Morning News, Bush encouraged Texans to turn off all nonessential lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the state's peak spring bird migration, which occurs April 19 to May 7.

"Each night, each light turned out helps save migrating birds," she wrote. "And as an added bonus, turning off nonessential lights also saves energy for cities, local businesses and homeowners."

Horton said the initiative in Texas will serve as a test bed for other cities across the country.

"The same principals equally apply in Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder, New York City or Los Angeles," he said. "These tools are the sort of the thing that agencies or cities and conservation managers can leverage to efficiently guide lights out programs."

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On Monday, shopkeepers large and small will begin re-opening their doors to customers.

The feelings they have will be mixed. Hopeful that this will be the last time they have to put their lives and businesses on hold, excited to welcome back the customers they love and apprehensive about the shift in shopping habits we've witnessed this year.

The pandemic hit the fast-forward button on the seismic upheaval that was already in train long before Covid.

Challenges: M&S boss Steve Rowe believes bricks and mortar retail can survive if stores are prepared to adapt

Frankly, it's been a bloody tough year, and its impact has been huge. We've said goodbye to some much-loved names from the High Street and however competitive my sector is  and it is  it's always sad to see businesses close.

The crisis has accelerated the structural changes already under way in retail, from the rapid adoption of online, declining store footfall, move to cashless  even till-free  payment or renting as well as buying products and services.

These trends are exacerbated by lifestyle changes like the rise of home working and the shift to more casual dressing.

And yet, underneath it all, people are still shopping. They're just shopping for different things and in a different way.

Throughout the crisis, at M&S we've seen just what we're capable of when we act with pace and agility to respond to customers changing needs.

Our stores have become more efficient than ever  we've rapidly increased online clothing orders picked, packed and distributed direct from store.

And this gets me to the crux of my argument. I don't subscribe to the naysayers who proclaim 'shops and the High Street are dead'.

They just need to change, as does our understanding of what they do.

For bricks-and-mortar retail to succeed, retailers must deliver efficient, inspiring, and well located shops.

These can be a true source of competitive advantage and the place where the joy of shopping comes to life.

Great shops are a hub of expertise. Our in-store bra-fit has been a much-missed service, and while we successfully pivoted to online customer consultations with our fit experts, when we trialled a contact free bra-fit in stores last December, it was booked out in multiple locations as customers longed to get back to face-to-face advice.

People walk down the High Street in Winchester, Hampshire, last week. Non-essential shops are set to reopen on April 12

And we all know that the social element of shopping, and making a day of it, is impossible to replicate online.

Shopping remains a core part of how we connect as a community. Our amazing store colleagues are testament to that. And if the last year has taught us anything it's the true value of human contact.

However, they must be part of an offer that blends the digital and physical because that's how customers  and in our case our most valuable customers  want to shop.

It shouldn't be overlooked that in recent months some of the biggest online retailers have invested in bricks and mortar.

Shops are a vibrant and vital part of British life  as good-quality, scale employers and as anchors to communities up and down the country. The answer to securing retail's future  and that of our High Street and town centres  is two-fold.

Firstly, to thrive, the High Streets need to be vibrant community hubs, which is no longer solely a retail debate, and they must be underpinned by vibrant economies.

Given the shock of Covid, the Government's levelling-up agenda is more urgent than ever before.

Secondly, it's not to fall into the trap of saying 'retail equals online' but to reimagine what bricks and mortar retail is.

To do that, we need right support. That support must not restrict online growth, far from it  that's a zero-sum game that helps no one.

For the sake of all rate payers, business rates reform cannot be kicked down the road once again.

However, the solution should not be another levy on the already over-burdened retail sector through an online sales tax.

For the High Street to thrive, retailers will need successfully blended online operations too.

An online sales tax would hit the retailers that policy makers are trying to help and curtail their ability to compete through their physical stores.

The fairest and most sustainable way to tax is based on profit. We hope the increases in corporation tax can be used in part to lower the burden of business rates.

But this will only work if we tackle the fundamental issue of those who do not contribute as they should and the presidency of the G7 provides the ideal platform to address the taxation of multinational businesses.

As the future of the High Street is debated, we need to have the right policy framework to support innovation and blending physical and digital retail, not stifle it.

What I do know, is retail has an unbelievable ability to adapt.

And I, for one, will be there to welcome customers through the door on Monday, as the next chapter begins.
A North Korean monument viewed from across the border in Paju, South Korea on July 19, 2017 reads "Great comrades Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il will be with us forever."

North Korea has set up high-voltage electric fences around an important national landmark in a city near the Chinese border, a precaution authorities say is to defend it from would-be vandals opposed to the regime, sources in the country told RFA.

The Kim Il Sung Immortality Tower in the northwestern border city of Sinuiju is one of several such monuments that were built nationwide following the 1994 death of the national founder, grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un. The towers are adorned with slogans that proclaim the elder Kim, and sometimes his son and successor Kim Jong Il, as eternal presidents of the country.

Authorities claim that Sinuiju is a hotbed for dissidents who would seek to deface the monument just before the country celebrates the Day of the Sun on the April 15 birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, one of the most important holidays in the country.

Installation of the high-voltage electric fences began March 20 and was finished yesterday, a resident of Sinuiju told RFAs Korean Service April 3.

High-voltage electricity is flowing through the wire fence, which was installed in a hurry on the orders of the Central Committee [of the ruling Korean Workers Party]. Its impossible for anyone to freely access the tower now, said the source, who requested anonymity for security reasons.

The source said the builders installed a door in the part of the fence facing nearby Chongnyon railway station so that people can enter to lay flowers at the tower on April 15 and other holidays.

The authorities suddenly installed a high-voltage electric wire fence and creating an atmosphere of fear surrounding this important landmark because forces resisting the regime could potentially appear in the Sinuiju area.

Since last year, there have been dozens of officials who have been executed, removed from the party, or dismissed for corruption or failing to follow quarantine orders here in North Pyongan province. So it is natural for the leadership to feel uneasy, said the source.

Another source, a resident of nearby Ryongchon county, told RFA April 4 that Kim Jong Un has been focused on eliminating corruption in the countrys powerful institutions.

He has executed or removed core officials, including the principal of Kim Il Sung Higher Party School, and members of the party, said the second source, who requested anonymity to speak freely.

Most of the purged officials were from the party and administrative agencies in North Pyongan province, the second source said.

Corruption is a way of life for those wielding government power in North Korea. Unable to survive on paltry government salaries, officials are bribed to look the other way by those engaged in illegal activities like smuggling or making illegal international phone calls. Those in higher positions often run the illegal businesses themselves.

Last year a bunch of customs officers from the Sinuiju office were arrested and executed for their corruption, but the purge that really hit home was that of the Kim Il Sung Higher Party School principal, as he was a native of the province, the second source said.

Even after the Sinuiju customs officers were quickly replaced, government officials in Sinuiju were in turmoil as the provincial party secretary and the head of the security department suddenly disappeared one day. Authorities continue to purge senior officials, and they are saying they want to catch potential dissidents in the North Pyongan area including Sinuiju, the second source said.

A number of officials and residents in the province have been turned against the countrys leadership due to the ongoing purges, according to the second source.

The authorities are creating an atmosphere equivalent to a quasi-state of war by installing high-voltage fences around the Kim Il Sung Immortality Tower. They are trying to tell residents to prepare for contingencies because they dont know what will happen in Sinuiju.

We know that the fences will be installed in the parts of the city that border China sooner or later.

A North Korean defector who used to be a high-ranking official in Pyongyang told RFA that Sinuiju is a particularly dangerous part of the country watched closely by the government.

Dissident forces have been deep-rooted there since the Kim Il Sung era [1948-1994]. Authorities are very careful about who they appoint as secretaries for the provincial government and the city party up there, the former official said.

Even when they investigated the [2004] Ryongchon train explosion disaster, which failed to assassinate Kim Jong Il, the authorities presumed it had been carried out by government officials in Sinuiju and so they first investigated the officials and related people.

Then-leader Kim Jong Il had passed through Ryongchon station on his way back from China just hours before the disaster, which killed about 3,000 people and was caused by electrical contact caused by carelessness during the shunting of wagons loaded with ammonium-nitrate fertilizer," according to state media.

Though there was widespread speculation that the disaster was a failed assassination attempt, South Korean intelligence has said it believes the event to have been an accident in a country with a poor industrial safety record and few resources to maintain infrastructure.

South Korean lawmaker Thae Yong Ho, a senior North Korean diplomat before he defected, told the South Korean media in 2017 that Kim Jong Il ordered the executions of transportation officials including the countrys railway chief following the 2004 disaster.

According to the former Pyongyang official, North Pyongan province has produced many well-known people and organizations opposed to the North Korean government or communism in general, including the late religious leader Moon Sung Myung, who fled to South Korea during the Korean War and founded the Unification Church.

The Seoul-based Daily NK online newspaper reported in late March that North Korea has begun building electric fences along the Sino-Korean border in Chagang province, with plans to cover the entire 880-mile border. According to that report, Kim Jong Un ordered the fences as a measure to prevent illegal border crossers from bringing the coronavirus into the country.

Reported by Hyemin Son for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
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The Kwara State Government says it has taken immediate steps to restore peace following renewed clashes between Tsaragi and Kange communities of the state.

Rafiu Ajakaiye, the chief press secretary to the Governor, disclosed in a statement in Ilorin on Thursday, adding that security agents had been deployed and were doing a good job.

The government, he said, had appealed to all sides to maintain peace and order while the development was still being monitored.

According to him, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is talking every other minute with the leaders on all sides to ensure peace is restored.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two communities were engulfed in a renewed communal clash on Thursday, leaving many injured.

The headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area and its neighbouring communities in Edu Local Government Area of the state have been having age-long rivalry and animosity.

While confirming the development in a telephone interview with NAN, Ajayi Okesanmi, the police spokesperson in the state, said the police had taken charge of the situation.

We received information and immediately deployed our men there; weve restored normalcy as I am speaking with you, he said.

(NAN)
Imperial Valley News Center

California Man Arrested for Allegedly Bilking Investors by Falsely Claiming to License Latin American Film Rights to Netflix and HBO

Los Angeles, California - A Beverlywood man was arrested Tuesday morning on a federal criminal complaint alleging that victims put $227 million  investment principal that has yet to be repaid  into a scheme based on false claims their money would be used to acquire licensing rights to films that HBO and Netflix had agreed to distribute abroad, particularly in Latin America.

Zachary Joseph Horwitz, 34, who has used the screen name Zach Avery, was taken into custody by special agents with the FBI. The criminal complaint was unsealed during Horwitzs initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court.

The criminal complaint filed Monday charges Horwitz with wire fraud, a crime that carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

According to the affidavit in support of the complaint, over the course of about five years, Horwitz solicited investors to invest in his company  1inMM Capital LLC  which he claimed would use the funds to purchase regional distribution rights to films and then license the rights to online platforms such as Netflix and HBO. Horwitz provided promotional materials to investors that claimed 1inMM Capital offered safe investments because we receive confirmation from each of our outputs indicating their desire to acquire the rights to any title we purchase PRIOR to us releasing funds for the film, according to the affidavit.

However, instead of using the funds to acquire films and forge distribution deals, Horwitz allegedly operated 1inMM Capital as a Ponzi scheme, using victims money to repay earlier investors and to fund his own lifestyle, including the purchase of his $6 million Beverlywood residence.

The scheme allegedly began in 2015, when investment firms began entering into a series of 6-month or 12-month promissory notes with 1inMM Capital based on Horwitzs statements. The funds supplied under each note were supposed to provide money for 1inMM Capital to acquire the rights to a specific film. To convince investors he was legitimate, the affidavit states, Horwitz provided investors with fake license agreements, as well as fake distribution agreements with Netflix and HBO, all of which contained forged or fictional signatures. Despite Horwitzs claim of solid relationships with online platforms, representatives for Netflix and HBO have denied that their companies engaged in any business with Horwitz or 1inMM Capital, the affidavit states.

Investors started to complain after 1inMM Capital began defaulting on notes at various times in 2019, the affidavit states. To prolong the scheme in the wake of mounting defaults, Horwitz provided excuses that were purportedly given by Netflix and HBO, forwarding to investors spoofed correspondence with Netflix and HBO in which Horwitz again fraudulently used the identities of Netflix or HBO employees.

According to the affidavit, private investment firms have transferred approximately $227 million to 1inMM Capital pursuant to promissory notes since late 2018. Horwitz, through 1inMM Capital, allegedly has defaulted on all these underlying notes.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

During this afternoons initial appearance, a United States Magistrate Judge set Horwitzs bond at $1 million, but he will not be released from custody until the bond is approved. An arraignment in this matter was scheduled for May 13.

The FBI is investigating this matter. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission provided substantial assistance.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab and David H. Chao of the Major Frauds Section.
STOCKHOLM, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Global Ratings said today that KfW's 4 billion green bond scored E1/75 in its Green Transaction Evaluation. E1 is the highest score on our scale; E4 is the lowest. The full Green Transaction Evaluation report is available here.

"The score reflects the transaction's strong governance and transparency, and the favorable environmental impact of projects to be financed by the green bond," said Pierre-Brice Hellsing, the primary contact for the evaluation.

We expect KfW will use the proceeds to finance the construction of new energy-efficient residential buildings in Germany, and renewable energy production predominantly in Germany, through a network of on-lending partner banks.

We foresee that the energy-efficient buildings financed by KfW will yield moderate incremental environmental benefits, given that Germany's building sector is already energy efficient relative to many other regions globally. We also recognize that KfW's portfolio of wind and solar power plants will result in significant avoided greenhouse gas emissions, which will vary depending on the carbon intensity of the local grid.

In our opinion, this transaction is aligned with the Green Bond Principles 2018.

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A member the U.S. forces walks past a drone in the Ain al-Asad airbase in the western Iraqi province of Anbar on Jan. 13, 2020.(Ayman Henna/AFP via Getty Images)

US, Iraq Meet for Talks After Pro-Iran Forces Threaten to Cut Off Iraqi PMs Ear

BAGHDADThe 2,500 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq since the start of the Biden administration will continue their training and advisory role for Iraqi security forces (ISF), U.S. and Iraq delegates said Wednesday, after Iraq called for a third round of strategic U.S.-Iraq talks.

According to a joint statement issued by both countries, the transition of U.S. and other international forces away from combat operations to training, equipping, and assisting the ISF reflects the success of their strategic partnership.

The ongoing partnership ensures support to the ISFs continued efforts to ensure ISIS can never again threaten Iraqs stability, the statement read.

:

       @CJTFOIR              . pic.twitter.com/21nG9pEglW    | Yehia Rasool (@IraqiSpoxMOD) April 5, 2021

During the talks, both countries stressed the need for continued security cooperation in the region to counter ISIS.

U.S. forces are in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi Government for the sole purpose of supporting Iraqi forces in the campaign against ISIS, and of course, that campaign remains important and it remains ongoing, the governments said.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale, and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hassan and his delegation, which included representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government, attended the discussions.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday that the United States shares the Iraqi goal of having a security force thats capable of defending Iraqs own sovereignty and denying terrorist groups the use of Iraq as a base for operations.

He added, The coalition continues to support partner forces in Iraq and in Syria with advising air support, provision of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and conditions-based equipment divestment.

Iraqs Foreign Minister Fuad Hassan said in a statement during the talks that Iraq still needs U.S. support related to training, arming, and advising its military.

The talksheld virtually because of the pandemicbegan in June under the Trump administration. Wednesdays round, the first under President Joe Biden, centered on an array of issues, from Iraqs energy security to the ongoing counterterrorism efforts.

Shiite political factions and militias loyal to Iran have been lobbying Iraqi politicians and making threats against leaders in the hopes of forcing U.S. troops to completely leave Iraq.

Last week, local militias in Iraq loyal to Tehran threatened Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, demanding that he kick American troops out of the country. A convoy of heavily armed Shiite militiamen drove openly through Baghdad, denouncing the U.S. presence as they threatened to cut off al-Kadhimis ear.

Two Iraqi officials said Wednesday that al-Kadhimi subsequently asked Irans leaders to rein in Iran-backed militias in Iraq and suggested he would confront the pro-Iran factions. In the note, al-Kadhimi threatened to announce clearly who backs these groups, the officials said.

The message led to a two-day visit this week by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force chief Ismail Qaani to Baghdad, where he met with militia and Shiite political leaders and called for calm, according to a senior Iraqi Shiite politician.

The two Iraqi officials and the Shiite politician all spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

Pro-Iran factions in Iraq have been more vocal and violent in their efforts to push out Western-backed forces in the country, culminating in a visit by Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad last year which resulted in his death. At the time, Shiite lawmakers had passed a non-binding resolution seeking to end U.S. troop presence in Iraq.

Iraq has also seen dozens of rocket attacks aimed at Coalition base around Baghdad over the past few years, thought to be the work of pro-Iran militias, which have drawn counterattacks by Coalition and U.S. forces.

Iraqis are left feeling split between allying with the United States or Iran. Tehran, for instance, seeks billions of dollars in payment for crucial gas and electricity supplies to Iraq. Iraqi officials say the money is sitting idle in an account at the Trade Bank of Iraq because of U.S. restrictions and fears of sanctions.

The Biden administration last month permitted a 120-day sanctions waiver for Iraq to continue importing energy from Iran, the maximum time frame allowed. Waiver renewals under Trump were often for shorter periods and laden with conditions.

However, Iraqi officials say they require U.S. leniency to repay Tehran directly for the crucial energy imports, forgoing a complex payment system designed to evade U.S. sanctions over trading with Iran.

Iraq relies on Iranian supplies for a third of power needs, especially during peak summer months. Electricity cuts over payment issues resulted in violent protests in the southern province of Basra in the summer of 2018. As Iraq plans for nationwide parliamentary elections in October, the need to avoid unrest is high.

Currently, Iraq can pay Iran indirectly for the supplies in several ways. It can pay in humanitarian goods or medicines, cancel Irans foreign debt, and foot bills such as Iranian Embassy expenses, the costs of Iranian companies operating in Iraq and those of Iranian pilgrimages to Shiite holy sites in Iraq.

During the talks, the United States expressed ongoing support for Iraqs energy independence, given its current reliance on Iran.

The U.S. delegation reaffirmed that American companies can assist in this diversification by investing in projects that will create jobs, improve public services, and help develop the countrys energy resources, the joint statement read.

The United States expressed its support for Iraqs efforts to reform its power sector so that its citizens have cheaper and more reliable electricity, and fewer power shortages. Both countries affirmed their support for Iraq diversifying its sources of energy by building greater ties to its neighbors in Jordan and in the Gulf Cooperation Council, including by moving forward with electric grid interconnection projects.

Iraqi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool said after the talks that al-Kadhimi has ordered the formation of a committee that would hold technical talks with the American side to approve mechanisms and timings related to potential troop redeployments.

Based on the increasing capacity of the ISF, the parties confirmed that the mission of U.S. and Coalition forces has now transitioned to one focused on training and advisory tasks, thereby allowing for the redeployment of any remaining combat forces from Iraq, with the timing to be established in upcoming technical talks, the joint statement read.

Kirby said the statement does not represent an agreement to begin a further withdrawal of U.S. forces.

The Trump administration supported a drawdown of U.S. troops from regions like Iraq while saying that some would remain to support Iraqi forces.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Leagas Delaney has been appointed Investec's global brand agency. Founded in London by Tim Delaney, the firm has worked with Investec in the UK for the past three years and is in the process of hiring a dedicated team in South Africa to work on the account...
House lawmakers will hold a congressional hearing next month to address what one member calls a lack of concern for safety in the Marine Corps after a series of fatal training accidents.

Rep. John Garamendi, a California Democrat, said the House Armed Services readiness subcommittee will call on Marine Commandant Gen. David Berger to explain why there has been a recurrence of accidents in his service. The public hearing is scheduled for May 3, said Garamendi, who chairs the subcommittee.

There have been 84 on-duty deaths in the Marine Corps since Oct. 1, 2015, according to Naval Safety Center data. Only seven of those fatalities occurred in combat zones, Defense Department records show.

Read Next: Navy Destroyer Hopper's Commanding Officer Fired Over Morale Problems

"I trace all of these issues back to just a lack of concern about safety -- it's not there," Garamendi told Military.com. "That is not built into the Marine Corps' readiness."

Fatal Marine Corps training accidents have occurred in the air, on land and at sea. Midair collisions, vehicle rollovers and sinking amphibious vessels have all claimed the lives of Marines and sailors.

The latest investigation into one of those accidents, a waterborne disaster that killed nine troops near California, showed a string of failures across the chain of command that put 16 men in an unnecessarily dangerous situation ahead of their scheduled deployment.

"I want the commandant to explain to me why there's a continuation of Marine personnel [dying] in accidents of all kinds," Garamendi said.

Lawmakers have pressed military leaders on the frequency of training accidents in the past, including just last month. The May hearing will be unique in that it will focus solely on the Marine Corps, one of the military's smallest services.

Garamendi said the other branches "have their share of problems" as well, and that safety issues across the Defense Department remain a top concern for lawmakers.

"The Marine Corps is first, but not the last," he said.

Garamendi has for more than a year pressed the military services to better prevent training accidents. He was one of several members of Congress to call on the Government Accountability Office in 2019 to investigate a tragic string of vehicle rollovers and other accidents that killed at least 15 soldiers and Marines.

That investigation -- which is examining military policies on vehicle safety, how training ranges are inspected, and how accident data is collected -- is expected to be completed in coming months.

Marine Corps officials say they're committed to preventing another deadly accident like the July 2020 amphibious assault vehicle accident off California's coast that killed nine. The service is revising orders and policies on how units prepare to deploy and created a mishap library so leaders at every rank can readily view lessons from previous accidents.

The Marine Corps has also fielded a safety-management system based on the one the Federal Aviation Administration uses to assess risks, a safety expert told reporters last month following the investigation into the AAV accident. The goal is to help commanders better spot safety risks when training or employing a unit, he said.

"This is not what right looks like on the most basic level," the safety expert who spoke on the condition of anonymity said of the circumstances leading up to the AAV accident. "... We recognize that there are significantly better ways to [manage risks]."

Garamendi said the Marine Corps needs to change its entire cultural approach to safety and make it a top priority. "Checking the box" on training requirements should not be considered more important than the safety of Marines and sailors involved, he said.

Safety officers should approve training events ahead of time, and should be given the authority to shut them down if deemed unsafe, the congressman added. There are too many examples of investigators finding that exercises that turned deadly should not have occurred, he said.

"They're going to explain themselves on May 3," Garamendi said.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: Marines Vow Safety Improvements After Fatal AAV Accident Reveals Serious Flaws
WASHINGTON  The Biden administration unveiled a tax plan on Wednesday that would increase the corporate tax rate in the U.S. and limit the ability of American firms to avoid taxes by shifting profits overseas.

Much of the plan is aimed at reversing a deep reduction in corporate taxes under President Donald J. Trump. A 2017 tax bill slashed the corporate rate to 21 percent from 35 percent and enacted a series of other provisions that the Biden administration says have encouraged firms to shift profits to lower-tax jurisdictions, like Ireland.

Some of the provisions in President Bidens plan can be enacted by the Treasury Department, but many will require the approval of Congress. Already, Republicans have panned the proposals as putting the U.S. at a disadvantage, while some moderate Democrats have indicated they may also want to see some adjustments, particularly to the proposed 28 percent corporate tax rate.

Administration officials estimate the proposals will raise a total of $2.5 trillion in new tax revenue over a 15 year span. Analysts at the University of Pennsylvanias Penn Wharton Budget Model put the estimate even higher, estimating a 10-year increase of $2.1 trillion, with about half the money coming from the plans various changes to the taxation of multinational corporations.
The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Australia is holding an online public meeting on Saturday, April 24, at 4 p.m. [AEST], to discuss the way forward in the fight against the advanced US-led preparations for a catastrophic war against China.

The IYSSE invites all students and young people in Australia, New Zealand, throughout the region and internationally, to participate in the meeting, which will examine questions of life and death for billions of people across the Asia-Pacific. Click the link below to register for the meeting:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6EqC01BKRWulBQhXDg8q5Q

Since his inauguration, US President Joseph Biden has intensified an anti-China campaign that was initiated by Obama and further accelerated under Trump. Biden is inflaming regional flashpoints, especially Taiwan, waging a hypocritical campaign over Chinese human rights violations and engaging in alliance building aimed at furthering the encirclement of China.

Senior US generals have declared they expect a war between Beijing and Taiwan within the next five years. Given that they are ratcheting-up the conflict between China and the island-state, these declarations have the character of a timeline for a US-led conflict and not a disinterested prediction. Plans are afoot for the placement of US missiles on Taiwan and Japan. Australia has announced its own missile production program. And moves are afoot to formalise the Quad, a de facto alliance of the most powerful militaries in the regionthe US, Australia, Japan and Indiadirected against Beijing.

The US war drive is aimed at offsetting the economic and geopolitical decline of American imperialism through the use of military means. Its goal is the reduction of China, viewed as the chief threat to American capitalisms global hegemony, to the position of a semi-colony. This can be achieved only through war.

Countries throughout the Asia-Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand, are fully-aligned with these catastrophic preparations. They are participating in the build-up because of their close alliance with the US, and to further their own imperialist aims, especially in the Pacific. Both countries have been centres of a McCarthyite campaign against supposed Chinese foreign interference, aimed at legitimising the military drive and cracking down on anti-war opposition.

The preparations for conflict are being carried out behind the backs of the population. This is because the military generals and capitalist politicians are well aware that war is opposed by the vast mass of the population. The IYSSE meeting is part of the fight by the world Trotskyist movement to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the war drive.

The fight against war is inseparable from the emerging struggles of the working class against inequality, austerity and an assault on jobs, wages and conditions. War abroad means war at home. On the pretext of the pandemic, the Australian ruling elite is carrying out sweeping economic restructuring, aimed at making the working class pay for the crisis of capitalism. While corporate profits are at record highs, wages are stagnating. Unemployment and poverty are growing, as hundreds of thousands of workers have been laid-off, and public health and education continue to be attacked. Labor and the unions, who are also the greatest cheerleaders of the war drive, are spearheading this offensive against the working class.

Young people have been particularly impacted by the rise of joblessness and the uncertainties of education. Under capitalism, the youth face a future of war, social misery and economic devastation.

The meeting will outline the only viable basis for opposing the plans for conflict, as part of the fight for the social and democratic rights of ordinary people. A new international anti-war movement of the working class must be built. It can only go forward, based on a socialist program that targets the source of war, the capitalist nation-state system, and that is aimed at the worldwide unification of workers and young people against their own governments and ruling elites.
Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly planning to bring back its live audience when the show returns for the new series later this year.

Sources claimed that fans will be allowed back into the studio after being unable to attend for much of the previous series due to the ongoing Covid crisis.

It comes following reports that bosses are also planning for the 2021 series to resume its full 13-show run this autumn after the 2020 show was reduced to just nine weeks due to Covid restrictions.

Returning! Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly planning to bring back its live audience when the show returns for the new series later this year

According to The Sun, bosses are hoping to have some form of audience back in the Strictly studio when the show returns to screens this September.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, Strictly was able to return to screens last autumn with strict social distancing measures, with couples placed in their own bubbles to ensure they could train and perform safely.

A source said: 'The rough plans for the series are starting to come together, and that includes getting the show's most important ingredient back in  the audience.

They'll be back! Sources claimed that fans will be allowed back into the studio after being unable to attend for much of the previous series due to the ongoing Covid crisis

'Producers hope that by the last week of September, when the first live show is pencilled in, Covid restrictions will have been lifted and they'll be able to get as many fans into Elstree as possible.

'There might be some social distancing, but it will give the show a lift, having had just cast and crew present in 2020.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Strictly Come Dancing for comment.

At last! This comes following reports that Strictly bosses were planning to resume their usual run of 13 weeks for its upcoming series (2020 winners Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse are pictured)

This comes after it was reported that Strictly bosses were planning to resume their usual run of 13 weeks for its upcoming series, with the show's crew and professional lineup being told to clear their schedules for the show this autumn.

It was also reported that the much-anticipated Blackpool special will be back this year, after travel restrictions meant a trip to the seaside town last year was impossible.

A source confirmed to The Sun: 'They're going to put on a full series this year. That means 13 episodes will and all of the themed weeks. The pinnacle will be the trip to Blackpool and that's always been the way on Strictly.

'As things stand, the whole show will head to the North West in November. Everyone is really excited.'

The BBC declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

Strict: Strictly introduced an array of strict measures to ensure that the 2020 series could go ahead during the Covid crisis, including pre-recording the professionals' group dances

Strictly's eighteenth series faced major setbacks and was forced to go ahead with strict social distancing protocols in place.

This meant the annual Blackpool trip was scrapped, and the competition only ran for nine episodes.

However, the BBC succeeded in keeping the show on air despite a handful of COVID-19 outbreaks, with the likes of Katya and her celebrity partner, world champion boxer Nicola Adams, 38, testing positive for the virus and leaving the show early.

Popstar HRVY, 22, also tested positive before the show aired, however was able to recover in time to take part.
(CNN)  Kenya has sounded the alarm over a potential coronavirus "vaccine apartheid" playing out between countries, as it accused the United Kingdom of instituting a "discriminatory policy" after London issued a travel ban on the east African nation.

"Kenya continues to see, with deep regret, that vaccine producing countries around the world have begun practicing a form of vaccine nationalism, possessiveness, and discrimination, coupled with a vaccine hoarding attitude that can only be described as a form of 'vaccine apartheid'," Kenya's Foreign Ministry said in a lengthy press statement, issued in response to the UK's travel ban.

"This vaccine apartheid, coupled with the reckless calls for vaccine passports while not making the vaccines available to all nations, widens existing inequalities and makes it near impossible for the world to win the war against the pandemic," the statement argued.

Nairobi hit back Saturday against London's decision on Friday to add Kenya to its coronavirus travel 'red list' and announced its own measures on travelers coming from the UK.

Both countries' policy changes will begin on April 9.

A surprise decision

Kenya's principal secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Macharia Kamau, told CNN in a phone call on Tuesday that the move from London came "as a little bit of a surprise".

"It's not like we have an out-of-control Covid situation in Kenya -- we do not. It's not like we are not exercising great prudence and it's not like we are not managing the situation diligently here," said Kamau, who formerly served as Kenya's ambassador to the United Nations.

Kenya's Foreign Ministry statement declared all passengers originating from or transiting through UK airports will now be required to spend 14 days in quarantine at a government-designated facility, where they will need to take two PCR tests, all at their own expense.

Kenyan citizens who live in the UK and cargo flights are, however, exempt from these measures.

The UK government's measures go a step further. They say that all travelers who have been in or through Kenya in the previous 10 days will be refused entry to England. British, Irish, and third-country nationals with residence rights will be allowed to enter but will be required to self-isolate in a government-approved hotel quarantine facility for 10 days -- also at their own expense.

"With over 30 million vaccinations delivered in the UK so far, the additional restrictions will help to reduce the risk of new variants -- such as those first identified in South Africa (SA) and Brazil -- entering England," the UK government's Department for Transport said in a statement while announcing the move.

The UK has almost 40 countries on its 'red list'. Many of these countries are African or South American nations. However, European countries that are currently experiencing a third wave of cases, such as France, are not on the list.

The decision to add Kenya to the 'red list' comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed April as "second dose month," with the country giving more second doses than first doses of the vaccine per day for the first time on March 30.

Over 31 million people in the UK have now received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and more than 5 million have also received their second shot, according to the latest government data.

The UK is seeing a decline in Covid-19 deaths and cases and is taking steps to open up its economy, while Kenya is currently battling a third wave of Covid-19.

On March 26, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced curfews and a ban on almost all movement in or out of the country's biggest cities, including the capital Nairobi, to tackle the outbreak.

International flights were the exception to that travel ban.

However, the UK has seen far more deaths throughout the pandemic than Kenya.

Kenya's total reported Covid-19 death toll on Tuesday stood at 2,258, according to the country's Ministry of Health. The UK's total death toll has topped more than 126,000, according to its government data.

And the daily new confirmed Covid-19 cases per million people in Kenya as of April 6 is 19.2, while the UK stands at 48.75, according to Oxford University's Our World in Data.

The number of confirmed cases is lower in many countries than the number of actual cases, due to reasons such as limited testing, according to Our World in Data.

"We have demonstrated incredible responsibility here. We have kept our numbers impressively low. It's not by accident it is by design and by policy," Kamau said. "If you look at other parts of the world, even our own continent, you'll see that Kenya is a population of 50 million people and with its highly mobile population has still been able to do the necessary things."

An urgent need for vaccines

Amid the row over the travel ban, some Kenyans -- including those in government -- are highlighting the vaccine disparity between London and Nairobi on social media.

Kenya's ambassador to the UN, Martin Kimani, tweeted: "When solidarity is just a word. First came Vaccine Nationalism now we have Vaccine Apartheid," while sharing the Kenyan Foreign Ministry's press statement on the UK travel ban on Twitter.

Kenya, a Commonwealth nation, has requested that the UK -- a country with which it has a long-standing strategic relationship -- share its vaccines, with the Foreign Ministry statement noting: "Kenya is aware that the United Kingdom has [vaccines] in bigger quantities than it currently has use for."

The UK -- with a population of around 66 million people -- has more than 400 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines from eight candidates on order. However, it has not received all these doses yet and not all of these candidates have yet been approved by the UK's medicines regulator.

It is currently administering the Oxford/AstraZeneca and BioNTech/Pfizer vaccines and announced Wednesday it will begin a rollout of the Moderna vaccine too.

The UK Foreign Office declined to comment on the Kenyan statement when contacted by CNN. But the government has said that it will share any future surplus once it has vaccinated its population. The UK has also pledged 548 million ($753 million) to the COVAX scheme, which aims to deliver more than 1 billion vaccines to up to 92 low and middle-income countries this year.

Compared to the UK's 31 million first shots administered, a total of 325,592 Kenyans have received a Covid-19 vaccine as of Tuesday, according to the latest figures from the country's Ministry of Health.

Kenya received its first shipment of vaccines -- 1.02 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot -- via the global COVAX program.

The shipment was part of an initial allocation to Kenya of 3.5 million doses.

"It is the only substantial amount of vaccine we've received so we absolutely welcome it and we celebrate it even. But we are a country of 50 million people and it's imperative we vaccinate at least a third of the population... we actually need tens of millions of doses of vaccine, not millions and we need them rather urgently if we are to be effective in stemming this pandemic," Kamau urged.

As part of its drive to get its population vaccinated, Kenya approved Russia's Sputnik V for emergency use in March -- leading to reports that people were privately purchasing the shots for around $70.

Two lawyers claim to be the first two people in Kenya to have received a dose of Sputnik V -- and tweeted images of themselves being vaccinated. CNN has contacted them for comment.

However, on April 2, the Ministry of Health announced it had halted private sector importation and distribution of the vaccines to ensure "greater transparency and accountability."

"There's nothing wrong with Sputnik V just like there's nothing wrong with all the other vaccines... but they need to be brought in in a manner that is consistent with government regulations," Kamau noted.

"In Kenya, the vaccines are free for everybody," he added.

The global disparity in access to Covid-19 vaccines has caused widespread anger among Africa's leaders, including South Africa's president and chair of the African Union, Cyril Ramaphosa, who warned during a World Economic Forum virtual meeting that richer countries are "hoarding" vaccines, and urged global action to ensure an equitable rollout.

Global charity Oxfam, with other members of the People's Vaccine Alliance, a network of campaigning NGOs, also called for an end to 'vaccine apartheid'. In a press release Tuesday, it said rich nations are vaccinating one person a second whilst many developing nations have yet to administer a single dose.

Kamau is not surprised at how things have played out globally, noting "we live in an unequal world."

"Vaccines are a basic human right," he said. "They protect lives, they enhance people's abilities to live their lives fully and allow nations to remain interactive in trading, which is really what is at the core of global development."
A Kansas tourist has been hit by a stray bullet near New Yorks Time Square, police have said.

A 44-year-old man who was visiting the city from Kansas was shot shortly after 2am on Wednesday, a police spokesperson said.

Police do not believe the man who was shot was the intended target, the spokesperson added.

The shooting took place near West 38th Street and Eighth Avenue and the man was taken to Bellevue Hospital and is stable, police said.

The New York Daily News reported that the victim told police he attended Tuesdays Mets-Phillies game in Philadelphia and then travelled back to New York.

Read more:

He was said to have been headed to his hotel when shots were fired, police said.

According to The New York Post, the bystander passed two men fighting when one of the men opened fire and the tourist was hit.

No arrests have been made in connection to the incident.

Reporting by the Associated Press
Indias state-run oil refiners are ready to snap up Iranian crude the moment US sanctions are eased, according to a government official.

Refiners have started making preparations in advance of the possible removal of penalties so they can swiftly enter into contracts for Iranian supply, said a senior oil ministry representative, asking not to be named because theyre not authorized to speak to the media. This includes drafting commercial terms and putting in place mechanisms to quickly assess crude quality, the official said.

India has been vocal in its support for Iranian crude purchases recently as it laments the price of supplies from Saudi Arabia. The worlds third-largest importer has also signaled its desire to diversify its sources of oil, hoping the new US administration will take a softer line on sanctioned producers. Its criticism comes as the consumer struggles with lower demand due to a Covid-19 resurgence.

Iranian exports tumbled after former US President Donald Trump tightened sanctions in 2018 and ended waivers for some countries in 2019, including India. Iran and world powers this week began their most serious attempt yet to resurrect a nuclear deal. While some progress has been made, the path to an easing of penalties and sharply higher oil exports remains uncertain.

India -- once Irans second-biggest customer -- imports more than 85% of its total oil needs. Getting access to Iranian crude would bring a number of benefits, including cheaper barrels and a longer credit cycle, while the shorter voyage means savings on freight costs. China, meanwhile, has recently boosted purchases from the sanctioned nation to about 1 million barrels a day.

Spokespeople at the biggest state-run refiners -- Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp. and Bharat Petroleum Corp. -- declined to comment.

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Infosys to deliver next-generation application and business process management services to ArcelorMittal

LONDON and BENGALURU, India, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced a strategic long-term collaboration with ArcelorMittal, the world's leading steel and mining company. ArcelorMittal has chosen Infosys to help accelerate the company's digital transformation journey and enable next-generation application management and business process management (BPM) services for ArcelorMittal Europe.

Through this engagement, Infosys will work with ArcelorMittal Europe, share best practices around next-generation application management services to optimize, stabilize, and transform ArcelorMittal's IT landscape. Infosys will also establish a robust, state-of-the-art Business Process Management (BPM) service in ArcelorMittal Europe's Business Center of Excellence (BCoE) shared services center. The collaboration will further strengthen Infosys' presence in Europe and will enable Infosys to maximise synergies across the ArcelorMittal Group worldwide.

Jasmeet Singh, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Manufacturing, Infosys, said, "The need to accelerate digital transformation has never been more urgent in the manufacturing sector. We are pleased to partner with ArcelorMittal and help them stay one step ahead of disruption. Leveraging our global delivery model, right shoring, and robust BPM offerings, we are committed to driving efficiency, bolstering operational excellence, and establishing future-ready services in line with ArcelorMittal's growth strategies. We look forward to a long, fruitful partnership with the group and are excited to help them navigate the next."

Commenting on the partnership,Geert Van Poelvoorde, CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe, said, "We are delighted to partner with Infosys on our digital transformation journey. Infosys not only shares our vision and values but also brings agility, delivery excellence, and willingness to walk the extra mile to ensure mutual success. We are confident that this collaboration will mean our employees and associates are equipped with powerful new tools that enhance our competitiveness and fuel our innovation."

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements mentioned in this release concerning our future growth prospects, financial expectations and plans for navigating the COVID-19 impact on our employees, clients and stakeholders are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding COVID-19 and the effects of government and other measures seeking to contain its spread, risks related to an economic downturn or recession in India, the United States and other countries around the world, changes in political, business, and economic conditions, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company unless it is required by law.

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Built hundreds of years ago, many of the homes on this weeks list of the oldest properties have been retrofitted with modern luxury in mind. Nearly all of these antique homes have been given masterful makeovers by smart designers.
A stockpile of flammable and explosive e-waste that includes discarded batteries and airbag detonators has been found near suburban homes and the EastLink tollway at an unlicensed recycling operation in Ringwood.

Regulators and emergency services are scrambling to manage the threat from waste that is suspected to be stored in hundreds of steel drums on the premises of metal recycler Recycal. There is also a large pile of mixed plastic and steel scrap that is considered a fire hazard.

The Recycal facility at Heatherdale Road Credit:

Batteries and airbag detonators are classified as highly dangerous waste products because of their propensity to spontaneously combust, explode when exposed to fire or water, and spread toxic contamination when burning or leaking.

Fires at battery recyclers Envirostream in January 2019 and MRI in August 2020 caused two of the worst industrial blazes in Melbourne in many years, with fiery shrapnel from exploding batteries damaging properties dozens of metres away and spreading plumes of toxic smoke.
Membranes that allow certain molecules to quickly pass through while blocking others are key enablers for energy technologies from batteries and fuel cells to resource refinement and water purification. For example, membranes in a battery separating the two terminals help to prevent short circuits, while also allowing the transport of charged particles, or ions, needed to maintain the flow of electricity.

The most selective membranes - those with very specific criteria for what may pass through - suffer from low permeability for the working ion in the battery, which limits the battery's power and energy efficiency.

To overcome trade-offs between membrane selectivity and permeability, researchers are developing ways to increase the solubility and mobility of ions within the membrane, therefore allowing a higher number of them to transit through the membrane more rapidly. Doing so could improve the performance of batteries and other energy technologies.

Now, as reported today in the journal Nature, researchers have designed a polymer membrane with molecular cages built into its pores that hold positively charged ions from a lithium salt. These cages, called "solvation cages," comprise molecules that together act as a solvent surrounding each lithium ion - much like how water molecules surround each positively charged sodium ion in the familiar process of table salt dissolving in liquid water.

The team, led by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), found that solvation cages increased the flow of lithium ions through the membrane by an order of magnitude compared to standard membranes. The membrane could allow high-voltage battery cells to operate at higher power and more efficiently, important factors for both electric vehicles and aircraft.

While it's been possible to configure a membrane's pores at very small length scales, it's not been possible until now to design sites to bind specific ions or molecules from complex mixtures and enable their diffusion in the membrane both selectively and at a high rate." Brett Helms, Study Lead and Principal Investigator in Joint Center for Energy Storage Research and Staff Scientist in Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry

The research is supported by JCESR, a DOE Energy Innovation Hub whose mission is to deliver transformational new concepts and materials for electrodes, electrolytes, and interfaces that will enable a diversity of high-performance next-generation batteries for transportation and the grid. In particular, JCESR provided the motivation to understand how ions are solvated in porous polymer membranes used in energy storage devices, Helms said.

To pinpoint a design for a cage in a membrane that would solvate lithium ions, Helms and his team looked to a widely practiced drug discovery process. In drug discovery, it's common to build and screen large libraries of small molecules with diverse structures to pinpoint one that binds to a biological molecule of interest.

Reversing that approach, the team hypothesized that by building and screening large libraries of membranes with diverse pore structures, it would be possible to identify a cage to temporarily hold lithium ions. Conceptually, the solvation cages in the membranes are analogous to the biological binding site targeted by small molecule drugs.

Helms' team devised a simple but effective strategy for introducing functional and structural diversity across multiple length scales in the polymer membranes. These strategies included designs for cages with different solvation strengths for lithium ions, as well as arrangements of cages in an interconnected network of pores. "Before our work, a diversity-oriented approach to the design of porous membranes had not been undertaken," said Helms.

Using these strategies, Miranda Baran, a graduate student researcher in Helms' research group and a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry at UC Berkeley and lead author on the paper, systematically prepared a large library of possible membranes at the Molecular Foundry. She and co-authors experimentally screened each one to determine a leading candidate whose specific shape and architecture made its pores best suited for selectively capturing and transporting lithium ions.

Then, working with Kee Sung Han and Karl Mueller at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a DOE user facility at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Baran and Helms revealed, using advanced nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, how lithium ions flow within the polymer membrane compared to other ions in the battery.

"What we found was surprising. Not only do the solvation cages increase the concentration of lithium ions in the membrane, but the lithium ions in the membrane diffuse faster than their counter anions," said Baran, referring to the negatively charged particles that are associated with the lithium salt when it enters the membrane. The solvation of lithium ions in the cages helped to form a layer that blocked the flow of those anions.

To further understand the molecular reasons for the new membrane's behavior, the researchers collaborated with Artem Baskin, a postdoctoral researcher working with David Prendergast, another investigator in JCESR.

They performed calculations, using computing resources at Berkeley Lab's National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), to determine the precise nature of the solvation effect that occurs as lithium ions associate with the cages in the membrane's pores. This solvation effect causes lithium ions to concentrate more in the new membrane than they do in standard membranes without solvation cages.

Finally, the researchers investigated how the membrane performed in an actual battery, and determined the ease with which lithium ions are accommodated or released at a lithium metal electrode during the battery's charge and discharge.

Using X-ray tools at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source, they observed lithium flow through a modified battery cell whose electrodes were separated by the new membrane. The X-ray images showed that, in contrast to batteries that used standard membranes, lithium was deposited smoothly and uniformly at the electrode, indicating that the battery charged and discharged quickly and efficiently thanks to the solvation cages in the membrane.

With their diversity-oriented approach to screening possible membranes, the researchers achieved the goal of creating a material that helps to transport ions rapidly without sacrificing selectivity. Parts of the work - including component analysis, gas sorption, and X-ray scattering measurements - were also supported by the Center for Gas Separations Relevant to Clean Energy Technologies, a DOE Energy Frontier Research Center led by UC Berkeley.

Future work by the Berkeley Lab team will expand the library of membranes and screen it for enhanced transport properties for other ions and molecules of interest in clean energy technologies. "We also see exciting opportunities to combine diversity-oriented synthesis with digital workflows for accelerated discovery of advanced membranes through autonomous experimentation," said Helms.
On Wednesday, Gov. Kay Ivey announced Alabama is moving into a Safer Apart Order.

The new order lifts the statewide mask mandate Friday. It allows businesses to operate at 100% capacity, but still limits the number of visitors in a hospital or nursing home.

The order is in place until May 5.

One Huntsville resident said it's a good sign that we are making progress in the fight against coronavirus.

"I think we're headed in that direction," Paul Rodriguez said. "I think we still probably have till the end of the year till we fully realized normalcy."

For Wesley Hembree, he has spent the entire pandemic working from home. He said he is ready to get back into the office. Now, most of the decisions regarding safety protocols lie in the hands of businesses or local governments.

"I'm still teleworking and I've been doing that since March of last year, and obviously, that's not normal," Hembree said. "So, yeah, it doesn't feel like things are back to normal even though the mask mandate is going to be lifted Friday."

Many businesses and schools plan to keep masking in place. UAH student Maggie Herda said she is still required to wear masks in the one in-person class she has this semester.

"It's hard to interact with your professors and everything like that, but I also feel like it's a good idea to keep on wearing the masks," Herda said.

While she thinks a statewide mandate is not necessary anymore, she said she will continue to take precautions.

"Because no matter what, there's still a disease, but it's been taken care of the best it can at this point," Herda said.

Ivey is still encouraging Alabamians to continue practicing social distancing, wearing a mask and getting vaccinated.
Im just afraid that all that dark money, all that moneys going to come in and were going to see an election of our school board members become very politicized, and that scares me a little bit because theres a lot of special interests right now that would like to see this board go one way or the other, Martinez said.
PUMA sees 52% increase in search-led conversions on e-commerce site

With $12 million in Series A funding, the company will expand global business and product offering to bring big tech to retailers

Klevu, the leading provider of AI-powered search technology for retail e-commerce sites, today announced the launch of Discovery Suite, an end-to-end discovery solution that captures online shoppers' intent to drive conversion, average order value and loyalty. Klevu's best-in-class discovery tool learns from shoppers at every point as they navigate an online store, not just when they type keywords into the search box, then leverages AI to provide highly relevant, personalized search and discovery experiences that lead to increases in conversion of up to 52%.

The company also announced that it has secured $12 million in Series A funding, led by Alfven Didrikson, with participation from initial investors EVLI Growth Partners, Jerry Pruttz Holding and Jonas Dromberg. Klevu will use the funds to accelerate its global expansion and further develop innovative products that leverage machine learning and natural language processing to drive data-driven business success for online retailers.

"Search and discovery remains the most overlooked aspect of the e-commerce experience and more than 30% of online shoppers will 'bounce,' or leave a site quickly, if they can't find what they want," said Nilay Oza, CEO and Co-founder of Klevu. "But search isn't limited to just the search box; it encompasses every part of an online shopper's experience, from using filters and navigation tools to receiving product recommendations and even chat-all of those touchpoints are part of search. Our Discovery Suite is a holistic solution that enables brands to personalize the entire search and discovery experience to drive sales and relevancy, while also gaining data insights that can inform merchandising and product development decisions."

"Puma has seen a 52% average increase in search-led conversion since integrating Klevu's solution," said Heike Zenkel, Senior Team Head Content Management Global E-Commerce, Puma. Klevu works with Puma's regional teams globally to optimize product discovery and increase use of search. With Klevu's Smart Search and Category Merchandising, all of Puma's ecommerce web vitals have improved as a result.

AI Is No Longer the Secret to Success for Only a Handful of Retail Giants

Average online conversion rates range from just 1%-3%, but shoppers are three to five times more likely to convert when they can find relevant products quickly. Klevu's Discovery Suite helps online retailers of all sizes maximize conversion by seamlessly connecting consumers with the products they want. The end-to-end search solution optimizes relevancy across all search functions and integrates quickly and easily with all other digital and e-commerce platforms, including Shopify, Magento and BigCommerce, in just hours to weeks.

Klevu's Discovery Suite also enables brands to customize the look, feel and experience of search and discovery to maintain control of their unique identity on their online stores, a crucial factor given the increasingly crowded e-commerce space and the pandemic-fueled increase in e-commerce shopping.

Besides Puma, more than 3,000 other leading global brands are now using Klevu's proprietary technology to provide more personalized shopping and discovery experiences, including Toys "R" Us/Babies "R" Us, Yamaha, Callaway, Made.com, Sunspel, and ColourPop Cosmetics. These brands are able to gather data insights from their customers' search and discovery journeys that they can use to identify demand for new category extensions and product improvements as well as to inform merchandising, catalog and promotional decisions. Brands can integrate this data with their ERP systems, email marketing systems and POS systems, enabling a more seamless omnichannel shopping and discovery experience and even empowering in-store associates with insights that allow them to offer a more personalized experience for each customer they serve.

ABOUT KLEVU

Klevu captures e-commerce shoppers' intent and then leverages AI to provide highly relevant, personalized online search and discovery experiences that go well beyond keywords typed into the search box. The company's Discovery Suite technology provides a seamless, fast search online experience that drives traffic, conversion and loyalty, while reducing bounce rates. The end-to-end discovery and search solution is easy to configure, optimize and maintain and fully integrates with major shopping platforms' technology in just hours. Klevu's proprietary technology is driving traffic, conversion and loyalty for more than 3,000 leading global brands, including Puma, Yamaha, Callaway, Toys "R" Us, Made.com and Jack Daniel's.

Founded in Finland in 2013, Klevu has offices in the UK, the US, India, Finland and Sweden. For more information, please visit Klevu.com.

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Europe Industrial Heat Pump Industry is set register more than 6% CAGR between 2021 and 2027, owing to soaring energy demand across the industries.

Selbyville, Delaware, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



The Europe Industrial Heat Pump Market is expected to surpass USD 300 Million by 2027, as reported in the latest study by Global Market Insights Inc. Ongoing regulatory measures toward energy optimization across industrial premises to reduce the operational costs which will surge the industrial heat pump demand substantially.

Closed cycle absorption heat pumps segment is set to witness a substantial growth in the forecast period, owing to its ability to deliver higher temperature lift by utilizing a two-component working fluid. Ability to be customized for combined cooling and heating applications, constant energy performance even at higher temperature lifts are some of the prominent features offered by these units which is stimulating its adoption over other substitutes. These units predominantly find application across district heating on account of its energy efficient performance, which in turn propels the Europe industrial heat pump industry trends from closed cycle absorption heat pumps.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/5025

Some major findings of Europe industrial heat pump market report include:

Governmental efforts to introduce energy efficient technologies across industrial sector will propel the product penetration.

Stringent carbon emission norms across Europe will proliferate the industrial heat pump business outlook.

Increasing investments across industrial infrastructure development in Europe will positively impact the product preference.

Growing preference for district heating applications in the region will favor the industrial heat pump adoption.

Key players operating across the Europe industrial heat pump market are Danfoss, Emerson Electric Co., Thermax Limited and Viessmann amongst others.

Browse key industry insights spread across 170 pages with 145 market data tables & 27 figures & charts from the report, Europe Industrial Heat Pump Market Analysis By Product (Closed Cycle Mechanical Heat Pump, Open Cycle Mechanical Vapor Compression Heat Pump, Open Cycle Thermocompression Heat Pump, Closed Cycle Absorption Heat Pump), Application (Chemical, Pulp & Paper, Food & Beverage, District Heating), Industry Analysis Report, Country Outlook, Application Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2021  2027 in detail along with the table of contents:

Story continues

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/europe-industrial-heat-pump-market

Growing large scale space heating requirement across commercial & residential establishments coupled with governmental regulations pertaining to rising carbon footprint has reinstated the demand for industrial scale district heating heat pumps in the region. Changing climatic conditions across the region will augment the demand for effective space heating systems, thus proliferating the business outlook for these heat pumps in the forecast period. Increasing requirement for clean systems with lower carbon footprint and high energy efficiency will further propel the Europe industrial heat pump market from district heating application.

Industrial heat pumps are gaining a wide recognition across Germany on account of the presence of a large number of energy intensive industries including chemical, pulp & paper, food processing and equipment manufacturing. For instance, as per the Eurostat, Germany accounted for nearly 30% of the industrial production in the EU-27 countries in 2019. Furthermore, growing adoption of energy efficient technologies to fulfil district heating requirement will further enhance the demand for these units, thus augmenting Europe industrial heat pump market statistics.

Toc of this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/europe-industrial-heat-pump-market

Browse Related Report:

Heat Pump Market by Product (Air Source, Ground Source, Water Source), Application (Residential {Single Family, Multi Family}, Commercial {Educational Institutes, Healthcare, Retail, Logistics & Transportation, Offices, Hospitality}, Industrial), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2020  2026

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/heat-pump-market

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.

CONTACT: Contact Us: Arun Hegde Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights Inc. Phone: 1-302-846-7766 Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688 Email: sales@gminsights.com




Maputo  The Southern African Development Community (SADC) believes that the atrocities committed by islamist terrorists against the people of the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado have reached intolerable levels and the time has come to find a definitive solution.

This was the position expressed in Maputo on Wednesday by the Foreign Minister of Botswana, Lemogang Kwape, at the opening of an extraordinary meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the SADC Organ for Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

Botswana is the current chair of this body, and the ministerial meeting was held on the eve of a summit meeting of the SADC "double troika". One troika consists of the current, incoming and outgoing chairs of SADC (namely Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania), while the second is formed by the current, incoming and outgoing chairs of the defence and security organ (Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe),

Addressing the Ministerial Committee, Kwape said "it is very clear that the situation has become a much greater security threat and a much more serious humanitarian catastrophe then initially foreseen".

The deterioration of the situation in Cabo Delgado was illustrated by the terrorist attack against the town of Palma on 24 March. This raid seemed better coordinated than previous attacks, and the jihadists had more modern weaponry (including mortars).

Mozambique was thus facing a stronger enemy than in the past, well financed and supplied, said Kwape.

"These heinous attacks are an affront to peace and security, not only in Mozambique, but in the region and in the international community as a whole", said the Botswanan minister. "Hence it requires a regional and coordinated response to face this new threat to our common security before it spreads throughout the entire region".

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It was well known that halting terrorist attacks is a complex challenge for the entire international community, let alone for one country on its own. "This is because the terrorists operate without respecting any rules, much less taking into account international borders and national sovereignty", said Kwape.

Hence no SADC member state can or should face this threat on its own. "We need to remain firm and united, as the SADC region, in a demonstration of solidarity with our brother country, Mozambique", he declared.

Mozambican Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo said the SADC meeting is an important landmark in the fight against terrorism, not only in Mozambique, but throughout Southern Africa.

The decisions from the meeting, she added, "will be understood as a strong message from the countries of the region that a threat to the integrity of one member state constitutes a threat to all SADC states".
"Founded in 1881, in the basement of Friendship Baptist Church, one of the largest and most influential Black congregations in Atlanta, Spelman College has a long standing commitment to creating pathways for women through education," said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., president of Spelman. "Although circumstances require that we spend this landmark year at a distance, we are looking forward to celebrating the legacy, established by our founders, Sophia B. Packard, Harriet B. Giles, and the 10 women and one girl, who placed their faith in a school that would change their lives and change the world."

The week-long event officially kicks-off at 11 a.m. EDT, Thursday, April 8, on the Zoom platform with the annual Founders Day History and Traditions Convocation, featuring editor, author and public speaker Wanda Smalls Lloyd, C'71, in conversation with her classmate and best-selling author, Tina McElroy Ansa, C'71. During the event, the alumnae will discuss their co-authored anthology, "Meeting at the Table: African-American Women Write on Race, Culture and Community."

"While we mainly remain physically distant, we are bringing the ceremonies and events to our community globally through virtual formats, while upholding our traditions," said Alyson Shumpert Dorsey, C'2002, senior alumnae programs manager in the Office of Alumnae Engagement. "This year's theme, Undaunted: Founders Day @ Spelman, is a testament to the spirit in which Spelman was founded."



In spring of 1879, New England teachers and missionaries, Sophia B. Packard and Harriet E. Giles, journeyed south to study living conditions among the recently enslaved. Appalled by what they found, particularly the lack of educational opportunities for women, they pledged to return to the South to open a school for Black women and girls. Packard and Giles returned to Georgia, and with an offer to use the basement of Friendship Baptist Church, opened the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary on April 11, 1881.

In addition to traditional events like Convocation, The Blue Record , the official podcast of the College, will host a conversation on Spelman's YouTube channel at 3 p.m., EDT, Friday, April 9, focused on what Founders Day means to a new generation of Spelman students dedicated to sisterhood and social justice.

Also on Friday, the College will also host a virtual Alumnae Celebration . During the event, the College will recognize Judge Brenda Hill Cole, C'63 , as an honorary degree recipient; Gwendolyn Harris Middlebrooks, Ph.D., C'61 , as the Founders Spirit awardee, and Nettie Ware , a housekeeper on Spelman's Facilities Management team, will receive the True Blue Award.

The week will close out at 1 p.m. EDT, Sunday, April 11, with the 140th Founders Day Convocation. The event will be streamed live on Spelman.edu , Facebook and YouTube .

For more information and to register for the week of events, visit Spelman.edu .

About Spelman College

Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a leading liberal arts college widely recognized as the global leader in the education of women of African descent. Located in Atlanta, the College's picturesque campus is home to 2,100 students. Spelman is the country's leading producer of Black women who complete Ph.D.s in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The College's status is confirmed by U.S. News & World Report, which ranked Spelman No. 54 among all liberal arts colleges, No. 19 for undergraduate teaching, No. 4 for social mobility among liberal arts colleges, and No. 1 for the 14th year among historically Black colleges and universities. The Wall Street Journal ranked the College No. 3, nationally, in terms of student satisfaction. Recent initiatives include a designation by the Department of Defense as a Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM, a Gender and Sexuality Studies Institute, the first endowed queer studies chair at an HBCU, and a program to increase the number of Black women Ph.D.s in economics. New majors have been added, including documentary filmmaking and photography, and partnerships have been established with MIT's Media Lab, the Broad Institute and the Army Research Lab for artificial intelligence and machine learning. Outstanding alumnae include Children's Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edelman , Starbucks Group President and COO Rosalind Brewer , political leader Stacey Abrams , former Acting Surgeon General and Spelman's first alumna president Audrey Forbes Manley , actress and producer Latanya Richardson Jackson , global bioinformatics geneticist Janina Jeff and authors Pearl Cleage and Tayari Jones . For more information, visit www.spelman.edu .

SOURCE Spelman College

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Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday asked a judge to throw out a voting machine company's $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit relating to his false claims about the November 2020 presidential election being rigged.

Giuliani's lawyer said in a court filing that Dominion Voting Systems' lawsuit should be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, and because the company has not adequately justified its request for money damages.

The filing said Giuliani denies defaming Dominion, adding that the former New York City mayor would present a more forceful defense on the merits if his jurisdictional arguments are rejected by the judge in the District of Columbia assigned to the case.

Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani (pictured January 6) on Wednesday asked a judge to throw out a voting machine company's $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit

'Should this matter reach legal or factual adjudication on the merits, Giuliani will provide a vigorous and complete response,' the court filing stated.

Trump and his allies spent two months denying his election defeat, and claiming without evidence that it was the result of widespread voter fraud, before his supporters launched a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

Denver-based Dominion alleged in its January 25 lawsuit that Giuliani 'manufactured and disseminated the `Big Lie, which foreseeably went viral and deceived millions of people into believing that Dominion had stolen their votes and fixed the election.'

Dominion said it filed the lawsuit 'to set the record straight' and to 'stand up for itself, its employees, and the electoral process.'

Founded in 2002, Dominion is a major U.S. manufacturer of voting machines, and various Dominion machines were used in more than two dozen states during the 2020 election.

Giuliani has said Dominions lawsuit was intended to intimidate him from exercising his free speech rights.

Founded in 2002, Dominion is a major U.S. manufacturer of voting machines (pictured)

Dominion has similar defamation lawsuits pending against Sidney Powell, another former Trump campaign lawyer, and pro-Trump businessman Mike Lindell of My Pillow Inc. Like Giuliani, they have denied defaming Dominion.

Powell said in a March 22 court filing that her claims about Dominion were meant to be hyperbolic, and that 'reasonable people would not accept such statements as fact but view them only as claims that await testing by the courts through the adversary process.'
WASHINGTON  The essence of progressivisms agenda is to create a government-centered society by increasing governments control of societys resources, then distributing those resources in ways that increase the dependency of individuals and social groups on government. Hence this stipulation in Congress $1.9 trillion money shower: None of the $350 billion allocated for state governments can finance tax cuts.

So, the federal government is using the allocation of societys resources to state governments to coerce them into maintaining their existing claims on such resources. The Supreme Court, whose duties include reminding a forgetful Congress about federalism, should find the following provision unconstitutional.

It says states shall not use federal funds to either directly or indirectly offset a reduction in net tax revenue ... resulting from a change in law, regulation, or administrative interpretation. This constitutes (in the language of a letter by 21 Republican state attorneys general seeking clarity from the Biden administration) an unprecedented and unconstitutional intrusion on the separate sovereignty of the States through federal usurpation of essentially one half of the States fiscal ledgers i.e., the revenue half.

The letter notes that money is fungible, and states must balance their budgets, and adds this: Washingtons gross federal overreach is the greatest attempted invasion of state sovereignty by Congress in the history of our Republic. Todays 117th Congress cannot bind the 118th, but, the letter says, a governor accepting stimulus funds could bind his states legislature and his successor from cutting any tax through 2024.

The administrations laconic response is: It is well established that Congress may establish reasonable conditions on how states should use federal funding that the states are provided.

In 1984 Congress imposed a national minimum drinking age of 21, to be enforced by withholding 5% of federal highway funds from noncompliant states. South Dakota, which permitted 19-year-olds to purchase low-alcohol beer, objected. The court, however, held that 5% was a relatively small financial inducement and not so coercive as to pass the point at which pressure turns into compulsion.

So, the court signaled that some financial inducement could constitute unconstitutional compulsion. Arizonas $4.8 billion share of the $350 billion at issue equals about 40% of this years state budget from general funds  not a relatively small sum, a coercive one.

In 1985, Congress gave states various financial incentives to dispose of low-level radioactive waste within their borders. New York challenged this, and the Supreme Court objected to one of the incentives: A state failing to dispose of waste by a set date must take title to the waste.

The court held that this would commandeer state governments into the service of federal regulatory purposes and thus be inconsistent with the Constitutions division of authority between federal and state governments, thereby violating the 10th Amendment.

Today, Congress is attempting to commandeer the states, telling them they cannot receive their portions of the $350 billion without forfeiting discretion concerning their core function, fiscal policy.

In the 2010 Affordable Care Act, Congress stipulated that states refusing to participate in the expansion of Medicaid would lose their existing Medicaid funding. The court blocked this: The threatened loss of over 10% of a states overall budget is economic dragooning that leaves the States with no real option but to acquiesce.

Dragooning, commandeering, coercing, compelling  pick your gerund, the legal significance is the same: The progressive drive to break the states to the saddle of the federal government, which progressives attempt for the purpose of producing an ever-more government-centered society, is unconstitutional.

GEORGE WILL writes for The Washington Post.
A Queensland man will appear in court on Thursday over child exploitation offences. A report from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in the United States suggested a Queenslander was uploading child abuse material using a Google account. The man will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday. Credit:Robert Shakespeare The tip led to detectives finding two laptops, an iPad and five USBs allegedly containing child abuse material during a raid at a Gailes address in Ipswich on January 28. Three mobile phones and two external hard drives were also found and seized for forensic analysis.

The 35-year-old man was later charged with three counts of possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service and five counts of possessing child exploitation material, as well as unrelated state offences. The maximum penalty for these Commonwealth child abuse material offences is 15 years imprisonment. He is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court. AFP Detective Superintendent Child Protection Operations Paula Hudson said the AFPs international partnerships were vital in stopping those spreading child abuse material online. Our message to offenders accessing, transmitting and exchanging child abuse material is that the AFP will not stop investigating those responsible for spreading this abhorrent material and bringing them before the court, she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 18:31:14|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower Thursday as rising fears over a resurgence of domestic COVID-19 cases saw bargain-hunting subdued amid concerns over upcoming corporate earnings and the outlook for the broader economic recovery.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 21.81 points, or 0.07 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 29,708.98.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 15.57 points, or 0.79 percent, to finish at 1,951.86.

Local brokers said that rising domestic COVID-19 cases impacted the market mood with concerns that further restrictions could impact the pace of the economic recovery, particularly if the services sector continues to be stifled.

"Investors have priced in the infection situation to some extent in Tokyo and Osaka, but concerns are now growing that the spread of the virus would expand to other Japanese regions," Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities Co., was quoted as saying.

Yuriko Koike, the governor of Tokyo, said Thursday that the metropolitan government would take stronger measures to counter the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the capital, with the measures likely to last through the Golden Week holidays from late April through early May, the peak period for domestic travel.

Other prefectures that could be subjected to tougher restrictions, to be finalized by the government on Friday, are Saitama and Kyoto prefectures.

Osaka Prefecture, meanwhile, declared a medical state of emergency on Wednesday as the region's healthcare system has faced a severe strain as new daily COVID-19 cases have surpassed Tokyo's in recent days.

"Shares are prone to be sold also because investors are watching whether companies start to have more cautious views about their earnings for the fiscal year from April, given that there were hopes for a strong recovery," Miura also said.

Other analysts said that more restrictions placed on businesses or people's movements as a result of the nation's rising COVID-19 cases could delay the recovery in services consumption.

"Japanese equities may slow down relative to other markets," Masayuki Kichikawa, chief macro strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management Co. said.

"Markets are placing a lot of emphasis on the size of fiscal stimulus and the vaccination rate. More restrictions would be a negative factor because that would delay a recovery in services consumption" said Kichikawa.

By the close of play, decliners were led by air transportation, textile and apparel, and bank issues.

Transportation-linked issues lost ground on concerns rising COVID-19 cases could result in less patronage over the upcoming Golden Week national holidays.

As a result, Japan Airlines dropped 3.3 percent and West Japan Railway fell 2.8 percent.

Toshiba Corp. lost 0.4 recent, after announcing the previous day a 20 billion U.S. dollar offer from CVC Capital Partners to take it private.

High-tech issues found favor as investors still hunted for bargains, with Tokyo Electron adding 1.2 percent, while Taiyo Yuden edged up 0.2 percent by the close.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. was a notable underperformer, losing 2.5 percent, long with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. slumping 3.1 percent by the close.

Issues that fell outpaced those that rose by 1,883 to 285 on the First Section, while 22 ended the day unchanged.

On the main section on Thursday, 1,134.46 million shares changed hands, rising from Wednesday's volume of 1,083.80 million shares.

The turnover on the penultimate trading day of the week came to 2,544.50 billion yen (23.22 billion U.S. dollars). Enditem
Mumbai, April 8 : Actress Kangana Ranaut took to social media on Thursday to talk about her love for India.

She wrote about how you are an 'ultranationalist' if you try to work for the well-being of the country and its people.

Posting a picture of herself in a yellow sari, she wrote: "If you love your nation then you are a nationalist if you are obsessed with your nation, and every single action of yours is directed at its well being every penny that you spend you want your nation and it's people to benefit then you are an ultranationalist #VocalForLocal." Kangana was also in the news on Wednesday for her tweet claiming that actors Akshay Kumar and others called her up to praise the trailer of her upcoming film "Thalaivi" secretively.

In the film, Kangana plays late former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa. It is scheduled to release in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

She is also shooting for her film "Tejas", which is Sarvesh Mewara's directorial debut.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 21:30:23|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits patients who are being treated, by video calls at the Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- On April 8, 2020, the city of Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province ended a 76-day lockdown, after it achieved initial success in putting the coronavirus under control.

Wuhan and Hubei were where China fought a crucial battle against the COVID-19 epidemic. Following the lift of the lockdown, people around the world have witnessed how China, as a major world economy, has taken the global lead in both virus control and economic recovery.

In 2020, President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made a series of remarks on Wuhan and Hubei's fight against the virus.

The following is a selection of his remarks.

-- The positive trend in preventing and controlling COVID-19 could not have been achieved without the sacrifice, devotion, perseverance and strong efforts of the people of Wuhan.

-- The epidemic prevention and control in Hubei and Wuhan not only matters to the province and the city, but also to the whole nation.

-- All prevention and control measures that the CPC Central Committee has taken against the virus are intended to prevent more people from being infected and to save more lives.

-- China has achieved another heroic feat in humanity's fight against diseases by securing major strategic achievements in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

-- The Chinese people and the Chinese nation, with their resolution to fight and win, have created a great spirit to fight COVID-19. This spirit involves putting people's lives first, nationwide solidarity, sacrifice, respect for science, and a sense of mission for humanity. 
YEREVAN.  Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) President Arayik Harutyunyan, who is in Yerevan on a working visit, on Thursday had a working meeting with Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the PM's press service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

"After the end of the 44-day [Artsakh] war, we are practically working [together] on a daily basis to restore normal life in Artsakh, and I can state that during this time we have implemented large-scale programs together; we have already implemented joint projects worth tens of billions of drams.

It [this meeting] is also a good opportunity for me to share with you the results and impressions of [my] visit to Moscow. Naturally, the issue of Artsakh and the situation around Artsakh has been one of the most important points of our discussions with the President of Russia, and I consider it very important that I share also with you the content of the discussions, PM Pashinyan said in particular.

"I want to express, repeat, recall that yes, we have worked on a daily basis not only during the war, but also in the post-war period, in this difficult social situation. We have managed not only to solve the first important social programs, but also to clearly work out what we need to do in the future.

Also, I want to underscore the importance of our further actions in the security and political field, especially in connection with the status of Karabakh, where our actions must be not only coordinated, but in the same way.

In this context, we [Artsakh] also attach importance to your visit to Moscow, and here the role of the Russian Federation, especially the role of the Russian President is invaluable in terms of making peace and maintaining the tranquility of Karabakh in the post-war period," said President Harutyunyan.

"It is important to note also that the Russian peacekeepers [at the Karabakh conflict zone] are key players in ensuring security and stability today. In that sense, of course, it should be noted that the activities of peacekeepers are very effective, and, also, I am convinced that we should have hope that it will continue with the same effectiveness," Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan added for his part.
[April 07, 2021] NETSTREIT Corp. Announces Pricing of Upsized Public Offering of Common Stock

NETSTREIT Corp. (the "Company") announced today that it has priced a public offering of 9,491,903 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $18.65 per share. The Company has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,423,785 shares of common stock. The offering was upsized from the previously announced public offering of 8,000,000 shares of common stock. The offering is expected to close on April 12, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company intends to contribute the net proceeds of this offering to its operating partnership in exchange for Class A limited partnership units in the operating partnership, and the operating partnership intends to use approximately $13.0 million of the net proceeds to repay borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility that were drawn after December 31, 2020 to fund acquisitions of properties and the remainder for general corporate purposes, which may include acquisition of properties in the Company's pipeline. Wells Fargo (News - Alert) Securities, BofA Securities, Jefferies and Stifel are acting as the joint book-running managers and representatives of the underwriters for the offering. KeyBanc Capital Markets, BTIG and Truist Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Berenberg, Citigroup, Scotiabank, Capital One (News - Alert) Securities, Regions Securities LLC and Roberts & Ryan are acting as co-managers for the offering. Stifel is serving as capital markets advisor in connection with the offering. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus may be obtained, when available, from the SEC's (News - Alert) website at www.sec.gov or by contacting: Wells Fargo Securities, Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, 500 West 33rd Street, New York, New York, 10001, at (800) 326-5897 or email a request to cmclientsupport@wellsfargo.com; BofA Securities, Attention: Prospectus Department, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255-0001 or by email at dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com; Jefferies, Attention Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10022, or by telephone at (877) 821-7388 or by email at Prospectus_Department@jefferies.com; and Stifel, Attention: Syndicate Department, One South Street, 15th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, telephone: (855) 300-7136, email: SyndProspectus@stifel.com; Fax: 443.224.1273.



A registration statement on Form S-11 relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and was declared effective on April 7, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About NETSTREIT Corp.

NETSTREIT is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) based in Dallas, Texas that specializes in acquiring single-tenant net lease retail properties nationwide. The growing portfolio consists of high-quality properties leased to e-commerce resistant tenants with healthy balance sheets. Led by a management team of seasoned commercial real estate executives, NETSTREIT aims to create the highest quality net lease retail portfolio in the country with the goal of generating consistent cash flows and dividends for its investors. Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the proposed public offering and other statements identified by words such as "could," "may," "might," "will," "likely," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "continues," "projects" and similar references to future periods, or by the inclusion of forecasts or projections. Forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the expected use of proceeds of the offering and the satisfaction of all conditions to, and the timely closing of, the offering, are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions regarding capital markets conditions, the Company's business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, the Company's actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business and the global economy, financial market and regulatory conditions, general real estate market conditions, the Company's competitive environment and other factors set forth under "Risk Factors" in the Company's registration statement on Form S-11. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210407006008/en/

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Partnership will help Japanese organizations rapidly design and improve customer and employee experiences in an increasingly competitive market

IBM Japan becomes the first Qualtrics reseller in Japan

TOKYO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Qualtrics (Nasdaq: XM), the world's No. 1 Experience Management (XM) Platform and creator of the XM category, today announced a new strategic partnership between Qualtrics Japan and IBM Japan, Ltd. (IBM Japan) to help organizations rapidly access and realise the full value of the Qualtrics Experience Management Platform.

Through the partnership, IBM Japan becomes the reseller and implementation partner for Qualtrics in Japan. As Japan's first-ever certified Qualtrics reseller, IBM Japan will provide one-stop support to customers implementing the industry leading XM solutions from Qualtrics to help them accelerate and expand the value of their investment.

"In a world where businesses succeed or fail based on the experiences they provide, Qualtrics is proven to help businesses across the globe design and continually improve the experiences delivered to customers and employees. As we continue to rapidly scale our operations in Japan, Qualtrics' strategic partnership with IBM ensures businesses across the country can benefit today from the industry leading Experience Management Platform," said Satoru Kumashiro, Managing Director of Qualtrics Japan.

"IBM Japan's appointment as reseller for Qualtrics in Japan is testament to the proven abilities of Qualtrics, which is already being successfully used by leading Japanese companies." added Kumashiro.

IBM Japan Becomes Japan's First Certified Qualtrics Reseller

IBM Japan acquired Qualtrics reseller certification in March 2021, the first company in Japan to do so. As a reseller, IBM will help expand the reach of Qualtrics' Experience Management capabilities in the region and accelerate time to value for joint customers.

Story continues

The partnership will give Japanese companies one-stop support from IBM Japan when implementing Qualtrics Experience Management solutions. The partnership will also help customers achieve even better results by bundling Qualtrics Experience Management software with services and complimentary solutions from IBM Japan.

IBM and Qualtrics: Building on a Foundation of Success

IBM joined the Qualtrics Partner Network (QPN) in November 2019 and established a dedicated Qualtrics team to support XM implementations. In February 2020, all members of the dedicated team were certified as Qualtrics consultants. The team has delivered professional implementation of Qualtrics EmployeeXM to organizations in Japan, including winning orders for large-scale employee experience projects and receiving the highest satisfaction score in IBM Japan after implementation.

In addition to acquiring the Qualtrics reseller certification, IBM Japan will focus on achieving the partnership goals of continuous expansion of the XM market in Japan and expanded support for XM solutions to Japanese customers.

IBM Japan and Qualtrics will conduct XM training within IBM Japan and will also conduct joint account planning with sales representatives from both companies, joint digital assets for customers, and Qualtrics customers will speak at IBM Think (a digital event hosted by IBM Japan).

About IBM Japan

www.ibm.com/jp/ja/

About Qualtrics

Qualtrics, the leader in customer experience and creator of the Experience Management (XM) category, is changing the way organizations manage and improve the four core experiences of businesscustomer, employee, product, and brand. Over 13,500 organizations around the world are using Qualtrics to listen, understand, and take action on experience data (X-data)the beliefs, emotions, and intentions that tell you why things are happening, and what to do about it. The Qualtrics XM Platform is a system of action that helps businesses attract customers who stay longer and buy more, engage employees who build a positive culture, develop breakthrough products people love, and build a brand people are passionate about. To learn more, please visit qualtrics.com.

About Qualtrics, G.K.

Qualtrics G.K. is a wholly owned Japanese subsidiary of Qualtrics LLC (headquartered in Provo, Utah, USA), which began operations in Japan in 2018.

Location : Marunouchi Kitaguchi Building 9F, 1-6-5 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Satoru Kumashiro

Business: Sales, support, and implementation support for Qualtrics products in Japan

URL : www.qualtrics.com/jp/

For media inquiries, please contact:

Qualtrics G.K.

Public Relations: Chisa Minoda

Telephone: +81-3-4520-0520 (main)

E-mail: chisam@qualtrics.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1311410/Qualtrics_XM_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Qualtrics
The American Civil Liberties Union has joined the legal fight in federal court over the fate of Ka'Mauri Harrison, a Harvey fourth grader who was suspended for six days after a teacher saw him handle a BB gun during a virtual lesson.

The ACLU's petition, known as an "amicus" or friend of the court brief, makes the civil liberties group the second outside entity that has filed a brief in the Harrison family's lawsuit against the Jefferson Parish School Board. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has intervened in the case as well.

The ACLU's move highlights the isolation that Jefferson School leaders face in the case, which has seen them take blunt criticism from across the political spectrum as they continue to fight what is becoming a costly legal battle.

Jefferson Parish School Board says law stemming from BB gun suspension is unconstitutional; here's why Attorneys for the Jefferson Parish School Board have asked a federal judge to declare unconstitutional the Ka'Mauri Harrison Act, a law enacte

Legal bills submitted by the firm Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, which the School Board hired to defend it in the Harrison case and another lawsuit, show the firm had billed more than $160,000 for defense work that began last November and stretched through the end of February. Harrison's family and the family of Grand Isle sixth-grader Tomie Brown, who was suspended under similar circumstances, filed suits against the School Board in October.

Both suits seek unspecified damages and legal costs incurred in pursuing the cases.

At least one School Board member has voiced concern about the spiraling cost.

"I'm very concerned about the amount of money we are spending on the lawsuits," said Billy North. "That's a significant amount of money that could be going into the classroom."

The ACLU's brief sharply criticizes the school system for the discipline meted out to Harrison, calling it an overreach by school officials.

The discretion that school leaders employed "is highly susceptible to abuse" and disproportionately harms Black children, the ACLU's filing argues.

"School Board officials sought to enforce Louisianas disciplinary code  already open to interpretation  in the broadest possible manner by applying its most severe punishment to the remote learning environment and recommending the expulsion of KaMauri Harrison," the brief says. "They should not have done so."

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The furor stems from a September incident in which Harrison, a fourth-grader at Woodmere Elementary, was taking a test from his home during an online lesson. Harrison, who was in his room, disappeared from the screen for a moment before returning with a gun in his hand before setting it down with the barrel still visible on the screen. His family has argued that he was moving a BB gun out of the way of his younger brother, who was playing in the room. His teacher reported the incident to her principal, who recommended that Harrison be expelled per a system policy barring on weapons in the classroom.

A hearing officer eventually handed down a six-day suspension. A similar incident involving Brown, a White Grand Isle six-grader, saw the expulsion recommendation reduced to a three-day suspension.

The ACLU brief notes that studies show that discipline like suspensions and expulsions have a disproportionate effect on Black students, such as Harrison, and dings the school system for refusing to consider the novel nature of virtual learning during the pandemic in deciding on what action to take. It also notes that a BB gun such as Harrison handled is not classified as a firearm by federal law and that considering Harrison's home a "school sponsored event" or "school property," is overly broad.

"The School Board and its officials plainly abused their discretion here," the brief concludes, noting that the Louisiana Legislature, in the weeks after the suspension became public, unanimously passed a bill that was signed into law by Gov. John Bel Edwards.

That law, known as the Ka'Mauri Harrison Act, required school districts to develop virtual education discipline policies and offer additional avenues of appeal to students recommended for expulsion. The Legislature made those provisions retroactive, so they applied to Harrison and Brown.

A hearing granted in accordance with the new law saw Harrison's suspension reduced to three days. The School Board has asked a federal judge to declare the new law unconstitutional based on its retroactive provisions.

School Board President Chad Nugent did not return a call for comment. But a statement issued through the school system and attributed to the School Board argued that district employees acted appropriately and that the ACLU brief raised issues that were not raised in the lawsuit.

"Our intention is always to support teachers and administrators in their efforts to create a safe and orderly classroom environment for all students," the statement says. It notes that Harrison's lawsuit does not raise race as an issue or allege discrimination based on race and argues the ACLU's previous statements criticizing the School Board give away any impartiality.

"Not only is the proposed amicus brief irrelevant to the issues in the lawsuit, but the ACLU is not, and cannot, act as an objective, neutral party in this matter given the inflammatory and partisan statements it has made on behalf of the plaintiffs," the statement says.
[April 07, 2021] Kingston Partners with NXP Semiconductors on i.MX 8M Plus Processors

TAIPEI, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kingston Technology, a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it is partnering with NXP Semiconductors on their new i.MX 8M Plus applications processors. NXP is a leading applications processor developer for creating infrastructure solutions involving smart technology, and Kingston is proud that its eMMC embedded memory solution is part of the reference board for its latest application processor. Smart device makers requesting NXP's engineering verification kits featuring the i.MX 8M Plus chipset will see Kingston's eMMC onboard. This creates a terrific opportunity to expand the relationship with NXP and also further showcase Kingston embedded memory solutions to other IoT manufacturers. Kingston's discrete memory and storage solutions were also embedded on NXP's previous-generation i.MX 6 and i.MX 7 series processor boards. "We are honored to extend our partnership with NXP, one of the top semiconductor companies in the world, on their latest i.MX8M Plus evaluation kit," said Kingston. "Kingston products power machines and devices everywhere from data centers to corporate and client PCs, as well as many embedded products. We have been in the memory business for over 33 years and working with NXP is a great way to enhance our embedded solutions business."



"Our latest i.MX 8M Plus processor focuses on machine learning, vision, multimedia as well as industrial IoT devices," said NXP. "As with prior NXP applications processors, it is great to work with Kingston and include their embedded memory solutions with our evaluation kits that are sent to developers and manufacturers. Our relationship runs deep on both engineering and marketing levels." Kingston started its embedded memory business in 2010 to address the then-growing trend toward smartphones, tablets and early-IoT solutions. As the world has increasingly adopted an automated lifestyle via smart devices, Kingston's presence and stature in the embedded memory industry has grown tremendously. As a result, Kingston's memory solutions can be found in industrial applications including automobile fleet tracking and devices enabling 5G telecommunications as well as many home consumer products including Bluetooth speakers, robotic vacuums and wearables.

For more information visit kingston.com . Kingston can be found on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingstonAPAC

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/KingstonAPAC About Kingston Technology From big data, to laptops and PCs, to IoT-based devices like smart and wearable technology, to design-in and contract manufacturing, Kingston helps deliver the solutions used to live, work and play. The world's largest PC makers and cloud-hosting companies depend on Kingston for their manufacturing needs, and our passion fuels the technology the world uses every day. We strive beyond our products to see the bigger picture, to meet the needs of our customers and offer solutions that make a difference. To learn more about how Kingston Is With You, visit Kingston.com. # # # Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. IronKey is a registered trademark of Kingston Digital, Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE Kingston Technology

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - When COVID-19 shutdowns hit in March 2020, Mike Winneker, a hotel executive sous chef, found himself without work for the first time in years. Between caring for a 6-year-old son and waiting for unemployment benefits, days now spent at home in Scottsdale were stressful.

Chef Jose Hernandez preps several pizzas at a makeshift backyard pizza kitchen on April 3, 2021, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Beaten down by the pandemic, some laid-off or idle restaurant workers have pivoted to dishing out food from home. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - When COVID-19 shutdowns hit in March 2020, Mike Winneker, a hotel executive sous chef, found himself without work for the first time in years. Between caring for a 6-year-old son and waiting for unemployment benefits, days now spent at home in Scottsdale were stressful.

One night in June, Winneker, 33, cooked up some tacos with beef chuck and beef cheeks. Seeing what a large quantity he had, he came up with the idea of selling tacos. His first test run was a post on the NextDoor app offering brisket barbacoa tacos in his driveway. Winneker decided he would only do it if he had at least $300 in pre-sales.

He made $800 in one day.

As of right now, I got 300 people on an email list," said Winneker, who has since been offering tacos twice a week via email and Instagram. "If I capture even a small percentage of that, it helps pay my bills.

Beaten down by the pandemic, many laid-off or idle restaurant workers have pivoted to dishing out food with a taste of home. Some have found their entrepreneurial side, slinging culinary creations from their own kitchens.

In many cases, that can mean running up against or accommodating health regulations. These chefs and caterers say they need money and a purpose, and their plight has cast new light on an ongoing debate about regulations over the sale of home-cooked meals.

The rules around serving food for immediate consumption vary across states, making for a complex patchwork of requirements, said Martin Hahn, an attorney at Hogan Lovells, which specializes in food industry law. States generally refer to federal guidelines, but counties and cities drive permit and licensing conditions. While some states have cottage food laws allowing in-house preparation, those are for low-risk products like jams and breads.

The first place I would go is call my local health department, find out whether there are any licensing requirements, permits you need to have and any restrictions on being able to operate this type of a business out of your home, Hahn said.

Don Schaffner, a food science professor at Rutgers University who has given workshops on food safety, said home-cooked foods with items like raw meat are a gamble for consumers. They have to assume that proper storage, prevention of cross-contamination and other best practices were followed.

Chef Mike Winneker prepares tacos at his home as a line of customers wait on April 3, 2021, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Beaten down by the pandemic, many laid-off or idle restaurant workers have pivoted to dishing out food with a taste of home. Some have found their entrepreneurial side, slinging their culinary creations from their own kitchens. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

I totally get why (the chefs) are doing it. Just from a food safety perspective, I cant endorse it, he said.

Eight doors down from Winneker, Ruby Salgado, 26, and her husband, Jose Hernandez, spend their weekends making pizzas in a backyard oven they built. Some nights, they churn out as many as 30 pies with toppings like fennel sausage, fresh mozzarella and carne asada.

Salgado works as a configuration analyst for pharmacy benefits. But Hernandez, a restaurant line cook, has had his hours cut. Salgado's 23-year-old brother, whose hours as a restaurant server can fluctuate, also lives with them.

When they moved in in September, Salgado noticed people leaving Winneker's home with takeout containers and inspiration struck. She and Hernandez planned to someday own a food truck or trailer to peddle pizzas. The pandemic slowdown seemed like a good time to test their concept and earn "extra income to be able to help our family out.

For foods other than cottage foods, Arizona requires that you get a license from a county environmental health department and cook in a licensed commercial kitchen. For Salgado, renting one wouldn't be worthwhile unless they consistently sold 50 pizzas.

I have to do my research and find kitchens close to us that would be willing to rent us a kitchen the morning of to do the prepping, she said.

Both Winneker and Salgado say they have food managers/handlers cards and are fastidious about cleanliness. They have refrigerators dedicated to their food businesses, and they wear masks and gloves.

Like Salgado's family, Thao Nguyen was selling pizzas out of her backyard, in Yucca Valley, California, after her home goods store closed. After three months, her small pizza operation was shut down last summer by San Bernardino County health officials.

They got a formal complaint from somebody and they came up for a visit and they looked on social media for evidence to build a case against me, said Nguyen, who has since started cooking for pop-ups out of a kitchen at the local community college.

It was frustrating, Nguyen said, because a 2018 California law allows home kitchens to be used for a microenterprise  which involves one full-time employee and gross yearly sales that don't exceed $50,000. But it's up to each county to implement it. While San Bernardino County isn't on board, neighbouring Riverside County is.

I think this is a really great thing to help people who cant afford or dont have the means or lifestyle to really commit to having a brick-and-mortar restaurant, Nguyen said.

Lee Thomas, a former San Leandro, California, councilman who works for the Oakland Unified School District, had a side business called GrilleeQ, barbecuing food for events at peoples homes. Because of COVID-19, he now cooks in his backyard  against Alameda County rules. He's worried about getting in trouble but wants to draw attention to the issue.

People are going to do this regardless, Thomas said. You might as well legalize it, take the fear away from people... but also create this ecosystem of making sure that food is safe.

California, Wyoming and North Dakota allow limited sales of higher-risk foods such as meat, according to C.O.O.K. Alliance, an advocacy group lobbying for home cooks. Utah signed off on similar legislation in March.

In New Mexico, the pandemic has spurred new interest in the sale of homemade canned goods. In March, state legislators voted to ease restrictions on the sale of homemade food that can be stored safely without refrigeration. Sellers still have to complete a short training course, label products, and keep the kitchen free of pets or children during food preparation.

Were working on other states, said Peter Ruddock, C.O.O.K. Alliance's California policy and implementation director. We take food safety very seriously. We just think there are many ways to do it and total prohibition  which is what we basically have  isnt the best way.

Schaffner, the professor, advised that any legislation include regular health inspections and intensive training just like restaurant chefs would get. Those two things would be a really good first step, he said.

Winneker doesn't plan on doing a side hustle from home forever. He isn't ruling out returning to his job, but he wants to get a vendor's license and move to a commercial kitchen. In the meantime, he's prepared if forced to close up taco shop.

(The pandemic) made me realize if my backs against the wall, Ill figure it out, Winneker said. Worst case scenario, they're going to tell me to stop. If they tell me to stop, I'll make it legit and start over.

____ Associated Press writer Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, N.M. contributed to this report.

____

Follow Tang on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ttangAP
The EU's medicines regulator said Wednesday that blood clots should be listed as a rare side effect of the AstraZeneca jab but the benefits continue to outweigh risks, as several countries battle fresh virus surges amid vaccine shortfalls.

AFP

A number of nations have suspended the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine for younger populations after it was earlier banned outright in several places over blood clot scares.

Derek Chauvin Never Took Knee Off George Floyd's Neck, Court Told

Officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd's neck - and was bearing down with most of his weight - the entire time the Black man lay facedown with his hands cuffed behind his back, a use-of-force expert testified Wednesday at Chauvin's murder trial.

AFP

Jody Stiger, a Los Angeles Police Department sergeant serving as a prosecution witness, said that based on his review of video evidence, Chauvin's knee was on Floyd's neck from the time officers put Floyd on the ground until paramedics arrived - about 9 1/2 minutes, by prosecutors' reckoning.

Myanmar Group Compiles Junta Rights Abuse Dossier

A group representing Myanmar's ousted civilian government said Wednesday it has gathered 180,000 pieces of evidence showing rights abuses by the junta including torture and extrajudicial killings.

AFP

The country has been in turmoil since the army deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, with nearly 600 people killed in a crackdown on anti-coup protests.

Visas To Sikh Pilgrims Issued For Baisakhi Celebrations: Pakistan High Commission

The Pakistan High Commission on Wednesday said it has issued over 1,100 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the annual Baisakhi celebrations from April 12 to 22.

BCCL

Under the framework of the Pakistan-India protocol on visits to religious shrines of 1974, a large number of Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals every year, the high commission said.

Taiwan Will Fight 'To The Very Last Day' If China Attacks

Taiwan's foreign minister on Wednesday said the island will defend itself to the very last day if attacked by China.

AFP

Joseph Wu said China's attempts at conciliation while engaging in military intimidation are sending mixed signals to the island's residents.

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro Ignores Calls For Lockdown Amid Highest Covid-19 Deaths

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Wednesday there would be no national lockdown, ignoring growing calls from health experts a day after the nation saw its highest number of COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours since the pandemic began.

AFP

Brazils Health Ministry registered 4,195 deaths on Tuesday, becoming the third country to go above that threshold as Bolsonaros political opponents demanded stricter measures to slow down the spread of the virus.
A suspected drunk driver was arrested after crashing into the back of a marked LPD patrol unit and sending an officer to the hospital, according to Laredo police.

Yvonne Mira Earles, 43, was charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal. She was also cited for failure to control speed. This is Earles second DWI arrest. Her first DWI arrest dates back to Oct. 11, 2018. Her case was dismissed on Jan. 6, 2020, after she completed a pretrial diversion program, according to court documents.

Regarding the patrol unit crash, LPD responded to a fleet accident at about 11:36 p.m. April 3 in the intersection of International Boulevard and McPherson Road. A brown Chevy Silverado had rear-ended LPD patrol unit No. 1350. A witness stated that the Silverado was traveling really fast when it rear-ended the LPD unit that was waiting at a red light to turn green.

The officer driving unit 1350 was identified as LPD Officer Carlos Ibarra. Laredo Fire Department crews took Ibarra to Doctors Hospital. Police said the unit sustained major damages to the rear.

Authorities identified the driver of the Silverado as Earles. Police said she failed to control speed and crashed her Silverado into the back of the LPD unit. Earles stated that she was coming from Chilis Grill & Bar. She claimed to have left the business at about 1 a.m. She added that she had eaten quesadillas one hour before and that she had not been drinking.

The officer said he was able to smell a strong odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage while speaking to Earles. She then allegedly refused to provide a breath sample and do a Standard Field Sobriety Test. Police also mentioned that Earles had a strong odor of alcohol emitting from her breath, red glossy eyes and slurred speech. She, too, was verbally combative and insulting toward officers, according to court documents.

At one point, Earles made comments such as blah, blah, blah and How long have you been in the force? toward police, states the affidavit. She was detained and escorted to the back of a unit. During the escort, Earles was swaying side to side. She then stated she could not get inside the unit, and at some point, lost her balance toward the officers, according to police.

Once inside the unit, Earles stated, How fing dare you? She then cried and added, Are you mad at me? I fed up 100 percent. I dont want you to be mad at me, states the affidavit. At LPD headquarters, Earles managed to take off the handcuffs and started swinging them around in the back of the unit. The officer asked her why she had taken off the handcuffs.

Ms. Earles stated that she just wanted me to know that she was able to do so. In the process of waving the handcuffs, she was laughing as if it was a joke and stated Its just for fun, states the affidavit.

The affidavit further states, While in booking, female was still laughing at the situation.
Click here to read the full article.

Anne Beatts, a pioneering comedy writer who helped launch Saturday Night Live and created the 1980s cult-favorite sitcom Square Pegs, died Wednesday at her home in West Hollywood. She was 74.

Beatts death was confirmed by her longtime friend Rona Edwards.

Beatts was a revered figure in comedy circles given her long resume. She and then-writing partner Rosie Shuster were among the very few women to work on SNL at the time of its debut in 1975 on NBC. Beatts was also the first female contributing editor to National Lampoon.

In the early 1980s, Beatts created the CBS comedy Square Pegs, which was a launching pad for Sarah Jessica Parker. The series that revolved around a group of awkward high school students was embraced by critics as a breath of fresh air for TV at the time, reflecting the burgeoning youth culture of the 1980s. But the show was canceled due to low ratings after a one-season run in 1982-83.

Working on the first five seasons of SNL, Beatts and Shuster created some of the most memorable early sketches and characters including Todd and Lisa Lupner, Uncle Roy, Laraine Newmans Child Psychiatrist, Irwin Mainway and Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute. Beatts returned to SNL in 1999 to consult on the 25th anniversary special. She was Emmy nominated five times at SNL and won twice.

Beatts came into the SNL orbit after dating Michael ODonoghue, a National Lampoon editor who was also a pillar of early SNL. She was reluctant to take the job at first because she was working on other projects and had a tough experience with sexism on the Lampoon.

Beatts also didnt consider herself a traditional comedy writer.

I tend to think more in terms of dialogue and character and jokes that come from character than I think of joke-jokes, she told the Television Academys Archive of American Television in 2009. My view of the world is somewhat askance and thats what my comedy comes from.

Starting in 2009, Beatts worked as an instructor at Chapman Universitys Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. News of her death hit the campus hard on Thursday.

Anne wasnt just the queen of comedy; she was also an extraordinary mentor to many students, said Stephen Galloway, dean of Dodge College. She would read their work and help them find internships, always going above and beyond the expectations of her job.

Beatts was also a widely published author, essayist and columnist. She penned a humor column that ran in the Los Angeles Times Sunday edition from 1997-98. Among the books she helped write or co-edit were Saturday Night Live (Avon, 1977), Titters: The First Collection of Humor by Women (Macmillan, 1976), and Titters 101 (Putnams, 1984), and co-authored The Mom Book (Dell, 1986).

She also also wrote for Broadway productions Gilda: Live, the 1979 musical reveue starring SNLs Gilda Radner, and the Tony-nominated 1985 musical Leader of the Pack.

After her SNL years, Beatts remained close with Judy Belushi, widow of the SNL superstar who died in 1982. Beatts and Judy Belushi produced an animated series and other properties tied to The Blues Brothers characters that Belushi and his comedy partner, Dan Aykroyd, created.

She is survived by her daughter Jaylene Beatts, sister Barbara, brother Murray, and nieces Kate and Jennifer.

Original SNL star Laraine Newman paid tribute to Beatts on Twitter as word of her death surfaced on Thursday.

Our Anne- an OG SNL writer passed away yesterday. https://t.co/w372416vub  Laraine Newman (@larainenewman) April 8, 2021

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South Africa: SAPS deploys 200 officers to Cape Town crime hotspots

Police Minister General Bheki Cele has welcomed the deployment of 200 police officers to the Western Cape as force multipliers in violence-laden hotspots across Cape Town.

The officers were seconded from the national South African Police Service.

Addressing the parade of the officers on Wednesday, Cele said the province continues to experience stubbornly high levels of violent crime.

Cele said the reinforcements could not have come at a better time.

The Western Capes high murder rate is simply unacceptable. In the past week and during the long weekend, 100 people were killed either by stabbing or were shot dead in this province.

It is important that we put shoulder to the wheel to make sure that the people of this province, especially those living in and around the city of Cape Town, know what peace looks like, said the Minister.

The brigade, which includes members of visible policing, crime intelligence, forensics and detective services, will focus their skill sets on crime hotspots such as Khayelitsha, Delft, Kraaifontein, Nyanga, Harare and Philippi East.

These areas are in the top 30 police stations with the most contact crimes such murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery and sexual offences.

Cele told the police members that they remain the most valuable resource in fighting crime. He said there simply can be no room for complacency.

Your presence in this province must yield results. We cannot afford anything less. The people of this province are sick and tired of crime, and they are relying on you to consistently and effectively flush out criminals.

At all costs, you must also protect the women and children and the most vulnerable, and remember that drug and alcohol abuse remain the major cause of violence in many of the communities that you are serving, Cele said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-04-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
CHICAGO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homeowner Preservation Inc., an innovative crowdfunding platform that raises capital to buy some of the most distressed mortgages in the country at discounts, announced the promotion of Tim Gillis to Chief Revenue Officer. Gillis will be responsible for driving revenue growth by leveraging and aligning all revenue-generating departments to execute the company strategy and achieve revenue goals.

Tim Gillis, American Homeowner Preservation CRO

"The addition of Mr. Gillis to American Homeowner Preservation will maximize revenue and help create partnerships with existing and new clients," said Jorge Newbery, AHP LLC founder and CEO. "Mr. Gillis will be a visionary for our strategic growth and long-term progression while fostering innovative thinking and best-in-class business standards."

Gillis brings 25 years of lending and service experience to his new role. Prior to his promotion, he was President of AHP Servicing. His new duties will include overseeing Sales, Account Management, Client Marketing, and Loan Trading for Activist Legal, AHP 75, AHP Mortgage Direct, AHP Servicing, AHP Title Direct, America's Trustee Services, DebtCleanse, and preREO.

"I am excited to be joining American Homeowner Preservation at such a pivotal time in the evolution and trajectory of the company," said Tim Gillis, CRO. "It is a considerable honor to be tasked to lead our revenue growth and I look forward to the opportunities and challenges to come."

About American Homeowner Preservation: American Homeowner Preservation (AHP) is crowdfunding an innovative solution to the mortgage crisis faced by millions of Americans. AHP empowers investors, both accredited and non-accredited, to fund the purchase of distressed mortgages with the aim of helping families stay in their homes, all while generating compelling financial returns. For more information, visit http://www.ahpservicing.com.

Media Contact:

Stephanie Fiero

Phone: (773) 389-2082

Email: [email protected]

Related Images

tim-gillis.png

Tim Gillis

Tim Gillis, American Homeowner Preservation CRO

SOURCE American Homeowner Preservation Inc.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has defended its decision to grant Kenya a Sh255 billion (US$2.34 billion) loan despite public backlash.

In a statement, Antoinette Sayeh, IMF deputy managing director, said "The Kenyan authorities have demonstrated a strong commitment to fiscal reforms during this unprecedented global shock, and Kenya's medium-term prospects remain positive."

IMF gave reasons why they had advanced the money to Kenya yet the country still had another multi-billion-shilling loan.

According to IMF, the loan approved is under two programs, the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and it's for an amount of about Sh255 billion.

Secondly, its approval triggered an immediate disbursement of Sh33 billion (US$307.5 million), for budget support, said the Bretton Woods institution.

Thirdly, IMF said the loan is also a continuation of another loan given in May 2020, equivalent to Sh80 billion (US$739 million).

The new loan is to serve the following purposes: reduce debt vulnerabilities through several channels such as raising tax revenues, controlling spending and protecting vulnerable groups, addressing weaknesses in state-owned enterprises and strengthening the anti-corruption framework.

"The three-year financing package will support the next phase of the authorities' Covid-19 response and their plan to reduce debt vulnerabilities while safeguarding resources to protect vulnerable groups," IMF said in a statement.

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Their statements came as more than 200,000 angry Kenyans have signed an online petition, asking IMF to cancel the recently approved loan as previous disbursements have been lost to corruption and remain unpaid.

Read: Over 150k Kenyans sign petition to stop IMF loans in 24 hours

The government has, however, argued that the debt is necessary to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and reduce debt vulnerabilities.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani said access to vaccines is critical, and help from the international community is urgently required.

The 2021 Budget Policy Statement indicated that Kenya's public debt stood at Sh7.06 trillion as of June 2020, equivalent to 65 per cent of the GDP.

On Twitter, the "International Monetary Fund" was trending all day with over 10,000 posts from Kenyans alongside a host of hashtags urging the fund to stop giving Kenyan money.
Donald Trump tore into Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Thursday for allegedly supporting 'chemical castration of children' in vetoing a bill banning hormone treatment for transgender children.

'Asa Hutchinson, the lightweight RINO Governor of Arkansas, just vetoed a Bill that banned the CHEMICAL CASTRATION OF CHILDREN,' Trump released in a statement under the letterhead from his Save America political action committee.

''Bye-bye Asa,' that's the end of him!' he added.

Trump has used emails through his PAC and 'Office of the 45th President' to send out statements issuing endorsements and attacking defectors.

'RINO', which means 'Republican in Name Only', and has become known as a popular insult to wield against GOP lawmakers and politicians, is a term Trump often uses against his critics and defectors.

The former president deemed Hutchinson's career over and slipped in an endorsement of his former press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in the statement.

Donald Trump issued a statement Thursday claiming Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson supports 'chemical castration of children' and insisted his career is over, saying: 'Bye-bye Asa, that's the end of him!'

Hutchinson vetoed a bill Monday that would ban doctors from giving transgender children certain treatments like hormone therapy. His veto was overwhelmingly overturned on Tuesday by the Arkansas House and Senate

'Fortunately for the Great State of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders will do a fantastic job as your next Governor!' Trump wrote.

It's never been a question whether Trump would publicly back his former spokesperson, who left in July 2019 and was succeeded by Kayleigh McEnany. It was clear she was leaving the administration to spend more time with her family and think about her career post-White House.

Sanders officially announced on January 25, 2021 that she would run to become Arkansas' next governor in the November 2022 election.

Hutchinson is in his second term, and the state of Arkansas has a two-term limit on governors.

Trump also sent another statement from his Save America PAC on Thursday endorsing Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul in his reelection.

'He fights against the Swamp in Washington, the Radical Left Liberals, and especially the destructive RINOS, of which there are far too many, in Congress,' Trump said of Paul in his statement.

'Rand will continue to stand up for our great AMERICA FIRST policies because he believes in stopping wasteful spending, defending our Second Amendment rights, and taking care of our Military and our Vets,' Trump continued. 'He has my Complete and Total Endorsement for another term in the U.S. Senate.'

In Trump's statement, he also again backed his former press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in her bid to become Arkansas' next governor when Hutchinson finishes his second term in 2022

Trump also sent a message through his PAC Thursday endorsing Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul in his reelection

Trump is using his statements through his PAC and former president's office as a means to get his messages out after he was booted from Twitter following the January 6 Capitol attack.

These messages include endorsements and attacks  like on Hutchinson.

While a staunch Republican, Hutchinson has shared some views and made some decisions that go against establishment GOP perspectives  including his decision this week to go against his own state legislature.

On Tuesday, the Arkansas House and Senate, which are overwhelmingly Republican, voted to override Hutchinson's veto.

This means Arkansas is now the first state that will bar doctors from providing certain treatment to transgender minors  like irreversible hormone treatment that could delay, stunt or, in some cases, stop puberty.

Hutchinson vetoed the legislation on Monday, calling it 'a vast government overreach.' He also claimed the bill was well intentioned and predicted there would be a successful override vote.

The House voted 71 to 24 on Tuesday to override the veto, followed shortly thereafter by the Senate, 25 to eight  even though only a simple majority was needed in each chamber.

The bill will become law 90 days after the end of the legislative session, which is currently scheduled to end on April 30.

Currently, at least 16 states other than Arkansas are considering similar legislation taking aim at treatment for children who identify as transgender.

Critics claim these laws will lead to more suicides, while supporters feel it will protect underage individuals from taking medical measures  most times permanent  that they will later regret as an adult or teen.
The recent onslaught of armed groups on key cities in the troubled Central African Republic has drained the UN peacekeepers of their resources, the head of the MINUSCA mission told Sputnik

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th April, 2021) The recent onslaught of armed groups on key cities in the troubled Central African Republic has drained the UN peacekeepers of their resources, the head of the MINUSCA mission told Sputnik.

The impoverished nation saw a flare-up in fighting in December after militants, who control two-thirds of CAR, accused President Faustin Archange Touadera of trying to rig a general election. The rebels launched an attack on the outskirts of the capital Bangui in mid-January but were repelled by UN forces and Russia-backed car troops.

"Since mid-December 2020, MINUSCA Force and Police have been involved in several operations in which they expended all their resources," Mankeur Ndiaye said.

He cited the UN Security Council's Resolution 2552 of November 2020, which drew attention to the mission's chronic shortage of military helicopters and troops with the right skills.

These needs were reflected in the draft budget.

"Of course, the financial implications of the deployment of additional peacekeepers were reflected in our 2021/22 budget proposal... The proposed budget takes into consideration the current threat posed by allied armed groups to security situation and MINUSCA mandated tasks," he said.

MINUSCA force has been promised additional resources it needs to perform a wide range of duties, such as civilian protection, securing humanitarian deliveries, support of the peace process and elections, disarmament and reintegration of fighters and others.
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) will hold a conference call on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2021 financial results, which will be released at approximately 6:00 a.m. ET that day.

Webcast link:

https://78449.themediaframe.com/dataconf/productusers/hun/mediaframe/44365/indexl.html

Participant dial-in numbers:

Domestic callers: (877) 402-8037

International callers: (201) 378-4913

The conference call will be accompanied by presentation slides that will be accessible via the webcast link and Huntsman's investor relations website, ir.huntsman.com. Upon conclusion of the call, the webcast replay will be accessible via Huntsman's website.

About Huntsman:

Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals with 2019 revenues of approximately $7 billion. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 70 manufacturing, R&D and operations facilities in approximately 30 countries and employ approximately 9,000 associates within our four distinct business divisions. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company's website at www.huntsman.com.

Social Media:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Huntsman_Corp

Facebook: www.facebook.com/huntsmancorp

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/huntsman

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain information in this release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company's operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Huntsman companies' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, volatile global economic conditions, cyclical and volatile product markets, disruptions in production at manufacturing facilities, reorganization or restructuring of Huntsman's operations, including any delay of, or other negative developments affecting the ability to implement cost reductions, timing of proposed transactions, and manufacturing optimization improvements in Huntsman businesses and realize anticipated cost savings, and other financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by applicable laws.

SOURCE Huntsman Corporation

Related Links

http://www.huntsman.com


RAMAT GAN, Israel, April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Friendly Technologies - a market leader in IoT Device Management with an installed customer base of 250+ carriers/operators globally - has partnered with Microsoft and is the first to offer a full Plug & Play solution for Microsoft's Azure IoT. The solution provided by Friendly includes integration with both MS Azure IoT Hub and Azure IoT Plug & Play, enabling automated connectivity for Azure IoT of standard IoT devices, supporting LwM2M & TR-369/USP.

Friendly worked with Microsoft's Azure IoT product team and has completed the integration of the Microsoft IoT Hub over one year ago. The integration offers full Azure IoT Hub Device Twin support, includes support for device concurrency, desired and reported property updates, direct methods, and device messages. Following the initial completed Friendly integration, Microsoft launched a new Azure IoT Central, offering device plug & play support, which Friendly Technologies is proud to have recently added to its list of forward-thinking integrations.

Customers can now easily connect devices to the MS Azure platform that they were previously unable to or those which are not supported automatically on the Azure IoT cloud, thereby enabling a seamless and automated process. The journey of connecting their IoT devices via bootstrap and/or registration to telemetry and commands, all done securely from their Cloud applications to Edge devices located anywhere in the world, is made possible by this key development.

Azure IoT Central is Microsoft's IoT Application Enablement solution, where solution developers can build complete end-to-end IoT solutions utilizing the Azure IoT framework. Friendly's One-IoT LwM2M connector was essential, allowing for IoT devices to be connected via NB-IoT, CAT-M1, and with the amalgamation of these networks on new 5G rollouts.

Friendly's One-IoT device management platform is classed as a carrier-grade IoT device management solution, connecting any IoT device - regardless of their protocols - to upstream Cloud applications.

Friendly's support for the Azure IoT Plug & Play includes: Create/Update devices, Create/Update templates, and Get device credentials in Azure IoT Central. The integration also includes Provisioning devices in Azure DPS (Device Provisioning Service), as well as the bidirectional communications via Azure IoT Hub Device Twins (Update property/telemetry, receive commands).

Sean van der Walt, Friendly Technologies' IoT Product Director, stated "Friendly's One-IoT platform includes a host of Cloud connectors, such as Kafka, AMQPS, PubSub, MQTTS, and other stream protocols, which allows our solution to be Cloud Ready. Our One-IoT solution is cloud and device-agnostic, and we're especially proud of the fact that we were the first in the world to connect LwM2M IoT devices to Microsoft's Azure IoT more than 18 months ago, and we are the first in the world to release our Azure IoT Plug & Play connector."

Ilan Migdal, Friendly Technologies' CEO, added that "IoT Enterprises, utilities, carriers/operators, and service providers now have the ability to seamlessly connect their IoT assets to Cloud platforms, to scale their service operations, to streamline the costs for mass deployment, and to optimize operations for their service personnel, thereby creating business efficiencies and improving business returns across the value chain."

About Friendly Technologies

Friendly Technologies is a leading provider of operator-class platforms for IoT, Smart Home, and TR-069 Device Management.

Friendly has been providing TR-069 device management solutions to operators and service providers since 2007. When IoT and Smart Home first appeared, Friendly leveraged its expertise and expanded its offering to the IoT and Smart Home markets. Today, Friendly offers a unified IoT platform for managing LWM2M, MQTT, OMA-DM, and TR-069 devices, and a complete solution for the smart home.

Friendly platforms enable their customers to generate new revenue streams in smart home and IoT markets, such as utilities, transportation, smart cities, and more.

The traditional ACS TR-069 for operators and CSPs improve the customer experience, reduces costs, provisions new devices, monitors QoE, and remotely configures and updates firmware while providing data information to service providers.

Friendly Technologies, whose IoT and device management solutions are installed in more than two hundred IoT businesses and service providers worldwide, has been recognized by Frost & Sullivan as a global leader in unified device management and smart homes.

Website  friendly-tech.com

LinkedIn  linkedin.com/company/friendly-technologies

SOURCE Friendly Technologies Ltd.
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Camellia oleifera lifts environment, brings economic benefits to residents in central China

08:59, April 08, 2021 By He Yong ( People's Daily

Photo taken on Aug. 7, 2020 shows a poverty alleviation camellia oleifera plantation in Dongjing village, Lanlong Township, Hengyang, central China's Hunan Province. (People's Daily Online/Liu Xinrong)

As the spring returns, hills in Hengyang, central China's Hunan Province, are turned again into a sea of green, stretching afar with ups and downs.

"The woods you see include ecological forests, as well as camellia oleifera," said He Enguang, deputy mayor of Hengyang.

Working vigorously to develop the camellia oleifera industry in recent years, the city now has nearly 4.5 million mu (300,000 hectares) of such plants. They have turned barren mountains into vast greenness that bears huge economic potential, laying a solid foundation for the promotion of the rural vitalization strategy.

Guihua village of Hengyang's Da'an Township had abundant hillside fields, but limited arable land. The red soil on nearby mountains is ideal for growing camellia oleifera, so the local government believes that camellia oleifera planting would be a great business to expand residents' income.

However, most of the villagers were skeptical about it. They thought that land reclamation was costly, and it was a slow process requiring much labor input. "We can't get any return in the first five years, so why should we do it?"

To mobilize residents' enthusiasm, officials of the Da'an Township government visited the residents door-to-door to persuade them to join.

"The climate and soil are perfect for growing camellia oleifera. Though it takes five years to see the first batch of fruits, the business might bring decades of harvests," the officials said.

To eliminate the doubts of the residents, the officials invited entrepreneurial leaders from other regions who became well-off after planting camellia oleifera to share their experiences. Besides, they also offered training courses in villages, introduced leading enterprises in the industry, and established a cooperative for demonstration.

Finally, the township established its first 1,000-mu camellia oleifera plantation. Later, more and more villagers were mobilized, and the plant now covers over 8,000 mu of land in the township, making barren mountains a "gold mine" for the residents.

Zhang Qiufeng is a farmer from Bajiao village, Dashi Township of Leiyang, Hunan Province. She could only earn around 1,000 yuan ($153) a year by growing corns in the past. Riding on the wave of the camellia oleifera industry, she joined a professional cooperative of the village and planted camellia oleifera in all of her 10 mu of land. Two years ago, her family bid farewell to poverty.

"The cooperative offers seedlings and fertilizers, and helps us sell the products, which makes it easier for us. I earned a net income of nearly 30,000 yuan last year," Zhang said.

At present, the total area of poverty alleviation camellia oleifera plantations in Hengyang adds up to 93,800 mu, and 42,400 households were lifted out of poverty because of this business.

To further drive the development of the industry, Hengyang introduced a number of enterprises on the industrial chain, from oil manufacture to refining. Camellia oleifera has been made into natural skincare products and cleansing products. So far, the industry can generate an annual revenue of nearly 22 billion yuan for Hengyang.

In recent three years, Hengyang covered nearly 700,000 mu of slopes and cutover lands with camellia oleifera. For instance, a plantation in Donghuwei Township, Leiyang, was a cluster of coal mines years ago, but now it is a picturesque place covered by rows of camellia oleifera.

Ping'an village, Xiling Township of Changning, relying on the camellia oleifera industry, has been working to exploit cultural and tourism resources. It has transformed itself into a featured tourism destination that attracted 500,000 visits last year, lifting a total of over 2,000 residents out of poverty.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Thousands of foreign-born NHS staff and their families are to be offered free extensions to their visas, Priti Patel will announce today.

The Home Secretary will instruct officials to grant automatic 12-month extensions to vital workers if their visa is due to run out by October.

The announcement is expected to benefit up to 14,000 essential workers including doctors, nurses and paramedics.

Miss Patel said: 'The dedication and skill of overseas health and care workers who are leading the UK's fight against coronavirus is truly extraordinary.

Thousands of foreign-born NHS staff and their families are to be offered free extensions to their visas, Priti Patel will announce today. (File photo)

The Home Secretary will instruct officials to grant automatic 12-month extensions to vital workers if their visa is due to run out by October

'Thousands have helped save countless lives throughout this pandemic and are now playing a vital part in the vaccination rollout.

'Our offer of free visa extensions shows how our country values the contributions of these heroes.'

The scheme will also benefit workers in the independent health and care sectors.

The announcement is expected to benefit up to 14,000 essential workers including doctors, nurses and paramedics

Scientists, opticians, dentists and physiotherapists will also qualify.

It is the third time the Home Office has offered free visa extensions to foreign NHS workers since the crisis began a year ago.

So far 10,000 people have benefited from the scheme.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'Our overseas health and care workers make such a vital contribution to our health system and have been a key part of the fight against the pandemic.

'They are protecting our loved ones and vaccinating the public so that we can save lives and return to normality.

'To help those staff from overseas, we are extending their visas to provide security while they continue to tackle this virus.'
Victoria's booze buses could be off the road until the end of May as police investigate how one of them caught fire.

It comes after the state's worst Easter road toll in 14 years.

One of the 10 Victoria Police RBT buses was damaged by fire on Sunday at suburban Lilydale.

Victoria's booze buses could be off the road until the end of May as police investigate how one of them caught fire (stock image)

The four large buses and six smaller vehicles in the police fleet will be checked, Acting Assistant Commissioner John Fitzpatrick said.

'Until we find what caused the fire in the bus at Lilydale on Sunday, we won't be deploying any buses into the community,' he told 3AW.

'We're not completely sure of the cause of that fire.'

While Mr Fitzpatrick said taking the fleet off the road is 'not the optimum', he said police would continue to test for alcohol and drugs.

'We don't believe we'll lose a great deal of capacity,' he said.

'The presence will be there, but that big, bounding bus that has that visual presence won't be there until we sort out what the cause of the fire was.

'I would certainly hope that by the end of next month, we have all of those booze buses back in operation.'

The damaged bus was one of the smaller vehicles.

Mr Fitzpatrick said all the Victoria Police booze buses were built in Melbourne and each large bus had six personnel who would be redeployed into three cars.

Five people died on Victorian roads over Easter, while 270 drivers tested positive for drugs and 300 went over the alcohol limit.

Victoria's booze buses were also taken off the road for much of last year during the height of the coronavirus pandemic because of infection concerns.
Having devoted fully half of my adult life to professional and lay leadership of the Anti-Defamation Leagues work in our region, it is time for me to pursue other challenges in the arena of social and community justice. It is a departure laced with sadness as a lengthy chapter in my life ends, but with tremendous satisfaction in the work we have accomplished together.

With my work for ADL coming to an end May 31, I am looking forward to the challenges we will face and successes we can achieve for the benefit of our region.

I came to ADL as a member of the regional advisory board in May 1995. Five years later, when our local staff leader departed, I visited with ADLs iconic leader, Abe Foxman, in the groups New York headquarters across from the United Nations. It was the week of the annual U.N. General Assembly, and my appointment was sandwiched between visits by the Chinese and Spanish delegations. At the close of the visit, Abe said, Give me a reason to come to St. Louis, and I was hired to head our regions ADL office.

With my professional and lay ADL colleagues, we were able to affect many important and positive changes. Legislatively, ADL led coalitions that saw passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act; established the Missouri Commission on Holocaust Education and Awareness; passed a bill to ban cross burning, and legislation to punish companies for unfair trade practices in life insurance policies for those who had or would travel to Israel.

We have been important partners for Jewish communal leaders across the region, in intergroup and inter-religious relations. We have gathered in response to enormous challenges. From 9/11 and the subsequent spike in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, we worked through the economic downturn of 2008, to the heartrending sadness of the Overland Park JCC murders in 2014.

We turned to activism following the murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson, and returned to community protection after the desecration of Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery and the bomb threats of 2017.

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In between these emotional spikes, we responded to hundreds of cases of anti-Semitism and all forms of hate, managed quietly in support of frightened victims. The ability of this region to come together to build community again and again has been extraordinary.

It has been my privilege to learn from dedicated regional and national board leaders, chairs without whom the work would not have been possible: Ken Kranzberg, David Grebler (zl), Stuart Berkowitz, Howard Loiterstein, Michele Kopolow, John Wallach, Robbye Frank, Aaron Vickar and now Jenn Schwesig. With strong board representation in St. Louis and beyond, we built lasting credibility and impact throughout ADLs Heartland region. With the A World of Difference Institute, the second such ADL project in the nation, we innovated long-term, impactful anti-bias learning with important community players: the St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, the Kaplan-Feldman Holocaust Museum and so many different centers of education in the region.

Our partnerships with law enforcement served to build readiness for coping with hate-based crimes. We lead the work of one of the few active U.S. Attorneys Hate Crimes Task Forces in the country and have carried it forward through the transitions of nine U.S. attorneys in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois. This effort furthers partnerships with law enforcement to increase needed responsiveness to hate crime and bias, offers expert resources on extremism, and educates police on anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia and homophobia.

I could always count on so many in this community to be allies, facilitators, educators, program chairs and funders with increasing generosity. So many in the region committed their time, their hearts and their expertise to positive impact with our office, and in particular over the past 13 years, with my tenacious education partner, Tabari Coleman.

ADL has long described its mission as not the work of a day, and Im sentimental about change. But Im connected by my heart and my head to justice and equity. With ongoing community responsibilities for the St. Louis County Human Relations Commission and others, I will support the work of ADL and the Jewish community in the region, and we will continue in different forms to do good work together.

Thank you for your continuing dedication to the ADL and to fighting hate for good.

Karen Aroesty has served as the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League for the past two decades. She plans to step down from the post in May.
An iceberg floats in a fjord near the town of Tasiilaq, Greenland, (Photo : REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

Britain's pensions regulator will consider enforcement action against pension schemes that do not make mandatory climate risk disclosures, it said on Wednesday.



The Pensions Regulator (TPR) said it was calling on scheme trustees to protect pensions savers from climate risk, ahead of proposed regulations requiring trustees of larger schemes to keep track of their climate change exposure.



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"Where we do not see schemes complying with the rules, we will consider enforcement action," David Fairs, the watchdog's executive director of regulatory policy, analysis and advice said in a statement.



UK regulators and policymakers have urged financial services groups and companies across a range of sectors to better understand and plan for climate change-related risks and opportunities.



Proposals under the Pension Schemes Act will require larger schemes to make public their assessment of climate-related risks using the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework.



Later in the year, TPR will publish guidance for schemes to help them comply with the new rules, and will also encourage trustees to reflect climate change in the building of their investment portfolios and talks with their investment managers.



Will Martindale, group head of sustainability at pensions consultant Cardano UK, said he expected the regulator's strategy to lead to "major progress in climate-related financial governance, reporting and investment decision-making".



By the end of 2023, TPR said it expects 81% of pension scheme members and 74% of occupational pension scheme assets to be covered by the TCFD reporting rules.


The representatives of defense ministries of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Lithuania, and Poland held a virtual meeting on the situation around Ukraine, as well as potential opportunities for providing security assistance.

The leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraines sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations and discussed concerns about the increase in Russian military activity in the region. Russias destabilizing actions undermine the de-escalation in tensions achieved through the OSCE-brokered agreement on July 27, 2020, says the readout of Acting Under Secretary of Defense Amanda Dory's participation in a multinational roundtable on Ukraine on April 7.

As noted, the parties reiterated their commitment to providing training and support to build the capacity of Ukraines forces to preserve the countrys territorial integrity and continue progress toward NATO interoperability.

The meeting was initiated and hosted by UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace.

As a reminder, the United States, Western countries and NATO have expressed strong support for Ukraine against the background of escalation in Donbas and build-up of Russian forces along the Ukrainian border.

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COLUMBIA  Three weeks after passing legislation allowing trained gun owners to openly carry their weapons, the S.C. House approved ditching the need for any instruction to legally bear arms  visibly or hidden.

The measure approved 69-47 on April 7 allows any adult who can legally own a gun to publicly tote it without taking a class or passing a background check, making the state's 25-year-old concealed weapon permit law moot.

While advocates dub it the "constitutional carry" bill, pro-gun opponents called that a ruse.

"It's cleverly packaged. It's a ploy. By calling it 'constitutional carry' it implies that if you oppose it, you oppose the Constitution and you're against the Second Amendment," said Rep. Bart Blackwell, R-Aiken.

He should know. In a mudslinging GOP primary challenge last year, mailers and robocalls painted the CWP-holding Air Force veteran as trying to take constituents' guns away. But he's proof such ludicrous accusations can be successfully overcome, he said.

Once voters called his cellphone, printed on the mailers, "Every person I spoke to, without exception, said 'Thank you' for explaining that," he said. "I went from dirt bag to having their vote in a matter of minutes, once folks understood what the issue really was."

He unsuccessfully urged at least delaying a vote until next year, giving time to see what, if anything, the Senate does with a bill the House advanced last month making it unnecessary for CWP holders to conceal their handgun.

"Three weeks ago, training was good. Today, not so much," Blackwell said, arguing that sending the Senate two "diametrically opposed" bills on the same subject may kill the effort entirely.

The "open carry with training" proposal is seen as having a better chance in the Senate, which has repeatedly rejected bills over the past decade that would legalize gun-toting without formalized training. Law enforcement leaders oppose both measures.

Backers of so-called "constitutional carry" contend requiring a class to legally carry is against their constitutional rights.

But both measures would keep in place all existing laws on where people can and can't legally carry. For example, guns would remain off limits in schools, courts and any business that posts a sign prohibiting them.

Rep. John King, D-Rock Hill, challenged his colleagues to allow people to carry their guns on all public property, including Statehouse grounds.

"You have your marching orders to do 'constitutional carry,' but if you exclude public property, how is it truly constitutional carry?" he asked sarcastically. "If youre going to allow people to walk the streets of Columbia, Rock Hill, Lexington, Orangeburg County, why cant it happen at the state capitol?"

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Rep. Kirkman Finlay, R-Columbia, said the reason he allows concealed guns in his restaurants is because he views CWP holders as "the safest group of individuals I can bring in my restaurants."

More than 560,000 South Carolinians hold a CWP, which requires taking an eight-hour class, passing a background check and putting fingerprints into the law enforcement system, according to the State Law Enforcement Division, which handles the permitting.

"We have a program now that works," said Finlay, who voted against the bill. "I have grave concerns were getting ready to see a very different profile."

The issue clearly divided the chamber's GOP majority. No Democrat voted for it.

Eleven Republicans voted "no," including House Majority Leader Gary Simrill of Rock Hill; Speaker Pro Tem Tommy Pope of York, a former solicitor; and former York County Sheriff Bruce Bryant of Lake Wylie.

Rep. Justin Bamberg, D-Bamberg, urged his colleagues to fight back against lobbying groups' nasty, potentially dangerous tactics.

In 2019, then-House Judiciary Chairman Peter McCoy beefed up his security after someone threatened on social media to shoot him. The post came after a lobbying group accused the Charleston Republican of holding up the no-permit-needed bill, calling him the "#1 enemy of restoring our gun rights."

In recent weeks, Palmetto Gun Rights has sent out mailers accusing GOP legislators of stabbing gun owners in the back for voting for open carry with training. The mailers featured a photo of a man with his back to the camera wearing a T-shirt with "insert knife" written across the top and six red, X marks in a triangle pattern.

"No matter how much we disagree on issues, there is a line that's unacceptable to cross," said Bamberg, who voted against the bill. "I've seen some of the mailers. ... You should let them know thats not OK."

No legislator should have to worry about a child going to the mailbox and coming back asking, "Daddy, why does this say, 'Insert knife here?' That is disgusting."

Palmetto Gun Rights, the state affiliate of the National Association for Gun Rights, did not return a phone message April 7.
The number of carjackings has exploded during the pandemic. Carjackings have increased by more than 100% in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and Minneapolis. They are up more than 343% in Washington, D.C.

In Washington, D.C., cellphone video showed Uber driver Mohammad Anwar trying to regain control of his Honda Accord after two teenage girls carjacked him and assaulted him with a Taser. The incident ended with Anwar's car on its side and the 66-year-old Pakistani immigrant and father of three dead.

Mohammad Anwar was remembered by his family as a beloved grandfather, father, husband, brother and uncle. / Credit: GoFundMe

In Chicago, a woman screamed as a suspect threw her to the ground before getting away in her car.

Investigators say the trend is driven by 12 to 15 year olds with time on their hands during the pandemic. Suspects are targeting people warming up their cars or delivery drivers.

So what should motorists do to protect themselves from carjackings?

"Well, first and foremost, I think what you're doing is exactly what needs to be done  is being aware of your surroundings, and to get out of that situation if it doesn't feel right," Montgomery County police Chief Marcus Jones said.

Navy sailor Draper Younce was waiting for a friend when he was ordered to give up his car at gunpoint.

"I see movement out of my camera and a man runs up to me, puts a gun to my face and tells me to get out of the car," Younce said.

The cameras part of his Tesla showed the suspect running toward him, and as Younce steps on the gas to escape, what you don't see is the suspect firing at him. The bullets hit the pillar between the front driver's side door and the back passenger door where that camera is, he said.

Younce said he feels lucky. "A little bit of luck was involved with that."

Some struggling families are still waiting on government aid

Georgia's new voting law set to have mixed effects on state's 7.8 million voters

Deadly D.C. carjacking highlights troubling nationwide trend
A Texas House committee on Thursday advanced an elections bill that would make it a state jail felony for local election officials to distribute an application to vote by mail to a voter who didnt request one.

House Bill 6 is part of a broader Republican effort this year to enact wide-ranging changes to elections in Texas that would ratchet up the states already restrictive election rules in the name of election integrity despite little to no evidence of widespread fraud. The legislation was approved by the House Elections Committee on a party line vote with only Republicans voting in favor of it.

LIMITS: Texas Senate advances bill limiting how and when voters can cast ballots, receive mail-in voting

Like other Republican proposals, the measure would target Harris Countys initiatives from the 2020 general election, including a shift to proactively send out vote-by-mail applications. Various counties sent unsolicited applications to voters who were 65 years and older, who automatically qualify to vote by mail in Texas. But Republicans ire fell on Harris County officials when they attempted to send applications to all 2.4 million registered voters in the county with specific instructions on how to determine if they were eligible. The Texas Supreme Court ultimately blocked that effort.

HB 6, by Republican state Rep. Briscoe Cain, would also set up new rules for people assisting voters  like those with disabilities or those who speak languages other than English  in casting their ballots. Voters can select anyone to help them through the voting process as long as theyre not an employer or a union leader. But the bill would require those helping voters to disclose the reason they need help.

The bill now heads to the House Calendars Committee, which determines whether bills make it to the full Texas House for a vote.

The Houses consideration of the measure has been slowed down by Cains management of the committee. Last month, the Deer Park Republican who chairs the elections committee abruptly shut down a hearing on the bill after refusing to take questions on the legislation from state Rep. Nicole Collier, a Fort Worth Democrat and chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, who asked to participate in the hearing. In rushing to recess the committee, Cain failed to announce a time the committee would reconvene  a procedural error that meant the hearing could not continue. More than 100 members of the public who had traveled to the Capitol to testify on the bill were sent home.

The committee returned a week later and heard 17 hours of divided testimony on the bill. Several partisan poll watchers, who are appointed by candidates and political parties to observe voting at polling places, endorsed the bill because of the enhanced protections it creates for them, including criminal liability for election workers for their treatment of watchers.

Cain has offered the measure as one meant to restore trust in the electoral process." Last year, Cain volunteered with the Trump campaign in Pennsylvania as it unsuccessfully attempted to overturn the outcome of the election and toss that states votes.

ANALYSIS: Texas' proposed voting restrictions have more to do with 2018 than 2020

When people do not have confidence in our electoral institutions, when political legitimacy is questioned, liberty is threatened, Cain said in presenting the bill in committee. Therefore it is incumbent on the Texas Legislature this session to ensure that elections, the bedrock of our republic, are free and secure.

The bill also picked up opposition from civil rights groups who raised the prospect that the legislation violates federal safeguards for voters of color who would be treated differently for being more likely to need assistance and concerns about the punitive nature of the bill against election workers. Advocates for people with disabilities worried it could violate the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and cautioned against complicating the voting process for voters with disabilities by creating new requirements for the individuals they select to help them.

You cant any longer help an elderly constituent by providing them with a mail-in ballot application  this is truly incredible, said Gary Bledsoe, president of Texas NAACP. Theres only one reason to create criminal laws and that is to dissuade minority voters and [minority] voting officials.

The legislation is also among the Republican proposals corporate giants have come out against. Last week, Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell declared his companys opposition to HB 6, arguing it works against ensuring citizens have their voices heard.

Disclosure: Dell has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  An Iranian ship believed to be a base for the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and anchored for years in the Red Sea off Yemen has been attacked, Tehran acknowledged Wednesday.

Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed the attack on the MV Saviz, suspected to have been carried out by Israel  though Tehran did not immediately blame its regional archenemy. The assault came as Iran and world powers sat down in Vienna for the first talks about the U.S. potentially rejoining the tattered deal aimed at curbing Irans nuclear program, showing events outside the negotiations could derail those efforts.

The ship's long presence in the region, repeatedly criticized by Saudi Arabia, has come as the West and U.N. experts say Iran has provided arms and support to Yemen's Houthi rebels in that country's yearslong war. Iran denies arming the Houthis, though components found in the rebels' weaponry link back to Tehran.

Iran previously described the Saviz as aiding in anti-piracy efforts in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a crucial chokepoint in international shipping. A statement attributed to Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh described the ship as a commercial vessel.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported ... and technical investigations are underway," Khatibzadeh said. "Our country will take all necessary measures through international authorities.

In an earlier state TV statement, an anchor cited a New York Times story, which quoted an anonymous U.S. official telling the newspaper that Israel informed America it carried out an attack Tuesday morning on the vessel. Israeli officials declined to comment about the assault when reached by The Associated Press, as did Saviz's owner.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, while refusing to say if his country launched the attack, described Iran and its regional allies as a major threat.

Israel must continue to defend itself, Gantz told journalists. Any place we find an operational challenge and necessity, we will continue to act.

Irans semiofficial Tasnim news agency, believed to be close to the Guard, reported that a limpet mine planted on Savizs hull caused the blast. A limpet mine is a type of naval mine that is attached to the side of a ship, usually by a diver. It later explodes, and can significantly damage a vessel. Iran did not blame anyone for the attack and said Iranian officials likely would offer more information in the coming days.

In a statement, the U.S. militarys Central Command only said it was aware of media reports of an incident involving the Saviz and that U.S. forces were not involved.

At the United Nations, spokesman Stephane Dujarric expressed concern over the Saviz incident and urged concerned parties, including countries in the region, to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from taking any escalatory actions and, in particular, to respect their obligations under international law.

Also Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called the Vienna talks a success while speaking to his Cabinet.

Today, one united statement is being heard that all sides of the nuclear deal have concluded that there is no better solution than the deal, he said.

A European diplomat with knowledge of the talks, speaking on condition of anonymity to frankly discuss the closed-door meeting in Vienna, acknowledged outside events could affect the negotiations.

We hope that every action, whether it comes from (nuclear deal) parties or external parties, wont undermine the dynamic," he said.

Talks between working groups discussing proposals on American sanctions and Iranian violations of the deal started Tuesday night and continued Wednesday, even after Iran acknowledged the attack. Participants said the Saviz attack had no immediate effect on the meetings.

The Saviz, owned by the state-linked Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, came to the Red Sea in late 2016, according to ship-tracking data. In the years since, it has drifted off the Dahlak archipelago, a chain of islands off the coast of the African nation of Eritrea. It likely received supply replenishments and switched crew via passing Iranian vessels using the waterway.

Briefing materials from the Saudi military earlier obtained by the AP showed men on the vessel dressed in military-style fatigues, as well as small boats capable of ferrying cargo to the Yemeni coast. Those materials also included pictures showing a variety of antennas on the vessel that the Saudi government described as unusual for a commercial cargo ship, suggesting it conducted electronic surveillance. Other images showed the ship had mounts for .50-caliber machine guns.

The Washington Institute for Near-East Policy has called the Saviz an Iranian mothership in the region, similarly describing it as an intelligence-gathering base and an armory for the Guard. Policy papers from the institute don't explain how they came to that conclusion, though its analysts routinely have access to Gulf and Israeli military sources.

The Saviz had been under international sanctions until Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which saw Tehran receive relief from sanctions in exchange for limiting its enrichment of uranium. The Trump administration later renewed American sanctions on the Saviz as part of its decision to unilaterally withdraw from the accord.

In June 2019, Saudi Arabia flew a critically ill Iranian off the Saviz after Tehran made a request through the United Nations for assistance.

Amid the wider tensions between the U.S. and Iran, a series of mysterious blasts have targeted ships in the region, including some the U.S. Navy blamed on Iran. Among the ships damaged recently was an Israeli-owned car carrier in an attack Netanyahu blamed on Iran. Another was an Iranian cargo ship in the Mediterranean Sea.

Iran also has blamed Israel for a recent series of attacks, including a mysterious explosion in July that destroyed an advanced centrifuge assembly plant at its Natanz nuclear facility. Another is the November killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a top Iranian scientist who founded the Islamic Republics military nuclear program two decades ago.

___

Associated Press journalists Nasser Karimi and Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran, Iran; Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem; Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and David Rising in Berlin contributed to this report.

This article was written by JON GAMBRELL from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
GRAPEVINE, Texas, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME) (GameStop or the Company) today announced that it is nominating the following six individuals to stand for election to its Board of Directors (the Board) at the Companys Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting) on June 9, 2021: Alan Attal, Larry Cheng, Ryan Cohen, Jim Grube, George Sherman and Yang Xu.



The Company also shared updates that include:

Following the Annual Meeting, the Board intends to elect Mr. Cohen as Chairman;





Following the Annual Meeting, all directors will be compensated 100% in equity;





Following the Annual Meeting, individual director compensation will be reduced approximately 28% from the prior year, and





Effective immediately, the Board has appointed Mr. Grube to serve on the Strategic Planning and Capital Allocation Committee.



New Director Candidate Biographies

Larry Cheng is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Volition Capital, a leading growth equity investment firm based in Boston, Massachusetts and the first investor in Chewy. He has more than two decades of venture capital and growth equity investing experience based on time at Volition Capital, Fidelity Ventures, Battery Ventures, and Bessemer Venture Partners. He presently leads the Internet and Consumer team at Volition, focusing on disruptive companies in e-commerce, internet services, consumer brands, and digital media and gaming. He received his bachelor's degree from Harvard College where he concentrated in Psychology.

Yang Xu is Senior Vice President of Global Finance and Treasury at The Kraft Heinz Company. She has more than 20 years of broad experience across the capital markets, finance, strategic planning, transactions and business operations in the U.S., Asia and Europe. Prior to The Kraft Heinz Company, she held roles with Whirlpool Corporation and General Electric Healthcare. She has a bachelors degree in Finance from Wuhan University, a masters degree in management from the HEC School of Management and a masters in business administration from the London Business School.

About GameStop

GameStop, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, is a leading specialty retailer offering games and entertainment products through its e-commerce properties and thousands of stores. Visit www.GameStop.com to explore our products and offerings. Follow @GameStop and @GameStopCorp on Twitter and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GameStop.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This filing may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the matters to be considered at the Companys 2021 annual meeting of shareholders (the 2021 Annual Meeting). In connection with the 2021 Annual Meeting, the Company plans to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and furnish to the Companys shareholders one or more proxy statements and other relevant documents. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, THE COMPANYS SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT(S) IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPANYS 2021 ANNUAL MEETING OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE PROXY STATEMENTS BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANYS 2021 ANNUAL MEETING AND THE PARTIES RELATED THERETO. The Companys shareholders will be able to obtain a free copy of documents filed with the SEC at the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov or the Companys website at http://investor.GameStop.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

The directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees of the Company may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders in connection with the matters to be considered at the Companys 2021 Annual Meeting. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the shareholders of the Company in connection with the Companys 2021 Annual Meeting will be set forth in the applicable proxy statement and other relevant documents to be filed with the SEC. You can find information about the Companys executive officers and directors in the Companys definitive proxy statement in connection with the Companys 2021 Annual Meeting when filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A and the Companys and such persons other filings with the SEC.

Contacts

GameStop Investor Relations

817-424-2001

investorrelations@gamestop.com

GameStop Public Relations

Joey Mooring

joeymooring@gamestop.com

or

Profile

Greg Marose / Charlotte Kiaie

gamestop@profileadvisors.com




India on Thursday reported a net increase of 66,846 in active cases, the most in a day so far, to take its count to 910,319. That is nearly 90 per cent of the September 18 peak of 1,017,754. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 3.96 per cent (one in 25). The country is 4th among the most affected countries by active cases. On Thursday, it added 126,789 cases, the most in a day so far, to take its total caseload to 12,928,574. And, with 685 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 166,862, or 1.29 per cent of total confirmed infections.

With 2,979,292 more people getting Covid-19 vaccine shots on Wednesday, Indias total count of those inoculated reached 90,198,673. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 11,851,393  or 91.67 per cent of total caseload  with 59,258 new cured cases being reported on Thursday.
Two men have been charged after bombs and Neo-Nazi propaganda were discovered in raids on Adelaide homes allegedly linked to a prominent white supremacist group.

South Australia Police confirmed raids were conducted across the city early Wednesday after the Neo-Nazi group's leader claimed the homes of 15 Adelaide members were raided.

Police added there was no known threat to the public.

'The investigation related to people associated with ideologically motivated violent extremism,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

Two men have been charged after bombs and Neo-Nazi propaganda were discovered in raids across Adelaide (stock image)

'The investigation remains ongoing and there has been no known threat to any person or the public.'

A Surrey Downs man, 28, was charged with possession of extremist material and bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on June 22.

A Munno Para, 32, was charged with possession of an improvised explosive device and instructions for manufacturing explosives or dangerous weapons.

He was bailed to appear in Elizabeth Magistrates Court on May 26.

Police confirmed they raided' a number of domestic premises' across Adelaide (pictured on Wednesday)

Police confirmed the charges after National Socialist Network leader Thomas Sewell posted a video on social messaging app Telegram where he accused police of seizing electronic devices and 'tried to take any sort of political material that they could'.

Sewell described the raids as a 'full harassment operation and that there were 'a lot of fun activities being planned in Adelaide in the coming weeks', Business Insider Australia reported.

The former Australian Defence Force soldier made national headlines in March after he posted shocking footage of his violent attack on a security guard at a Channel Nine office in Melbourne.

Police confirmed the investigation after National Socialist Network leader Thomas Sewell (pictured) claimed the homes of 15 Adelaide members were raided

He and another member had been hoping to confront A Current Affair staff hours before a segment about the extremist group was due to air.

Sewell was later charged with assault over the incident.
New Delhi, April 8 : As more than 100 hours have passed with CRPF commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas still in Maoist "custody", the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in close coordination with the Chhattisgarh government, has been scrutinising names of independent interlocutors whom the ultras will trust to arrange his release.

Among the names under discussion include a few journalists, who have deep approach to the rebels, some NGO members involved in civic operations in Bastar region for years and some former government officials who have worked in the region and helped in safe surrenders of ultras before the government.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Chhattisgarh Police, as well as other stakeholders having reach in the Maoist-affected region, have so far suggested over a dozen such names as interlocutors.

The MHA may announce names of more than one interlocutor anytime so that the Maoist could select the person of their choice to give their message to the Central as well as Chhattisgarh government and release Manhas -- a constable of the 210th CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), an elite wing of the CRPF.

The hunt for the interlocutor began soon after the Maoists on Tuesday issued a two-page communique in Hindi announcing that the missing CRPF commando is in their "safe custody" and they are ready to release him only after an interlocutor is appointed.

"As the Maoists have so far not raised any formal demands for the release of the commando, it seems they want to project their act as a 'retaliation', and that their fight is against the system, not the forces," an official, requesting anonymity, told IANS.

The official has been working in Bastar region for over three years and heading a team of key security personnel involved in anti-Maoist operations.

The Maoists' letter says that "as many as 2,000 police personnel had reached near Jiragudem village to execute a major attack (on Saturday). To thwart them, PLGA (Peoples' Liberation Guerrilla Army) retaliated during which 24 security personnel were killed and 31 others injured. We have caught a policeman (CoBRA commando) at the spot while others escaped".

Asked when the government will announce the name of the interlocutors, the official indicated: "Ministry of Home Affairs is closely monitoring the situation. Names of various people are in the list of interlocutors and the final decision may be announced by Thursday evening or Friday." In the letter issued in the name of 'Vikalp', spokesperson of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of Maoists -- the group instrumental in executing various deadly attacks in the region, the rebels made it clear that the CoBRA commando, who went missing after the April 3 attack, will be in safe custody till the process of appointing an interlocutor is completed.

Manhas had gone missing during the fierce gun battle with over 300 PLGAs ultras in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district in which 22 security personnel were killed and 31 were injured. Over 1,000 security personnel of the CRPF and Chhattisgarh's District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) took part in the operation. The gun battle took place on Saturday noon near Tekulgudem village under Tarrem police station.

(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman underscored the need for equitable access and widespread distribution of coronavirus vaccines at the Second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting.

This meeting aimed at discussing policy measures to counter global challenges to restore strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth and updates of the G20 Action Plan in response to COVID-19. In this meeting, issues like supporting the most vulnerable economies financially, promoting greener transactions and pandemic related financial regulation issues were discussed.

The Union minister said India is carrying out an 'ambitious' programme of rapid vaccination and has also emerged as an important producer of vaccines and medical products globally during this crisis. She added, "India has covered over 8.7 crore citizens in its vaccination drive so far and has supplied over 64 million doses to 84 countries, including 10 million doses as a grant."

Noting the G20 Action Plan's role in shaping economic recovery, Sitharaman talked about global economic growth projections and said there is a need for continuous coordination as uncertainties associated with the virus still persist.

Sitharaman expounded on the need for progress on commitments made as part of the Paris Agreement, which was signed in 2016. She stated that while channeling flows of international financial institutions into green transactions, it should also be recognised the immediate challenge, particularly for developing and low-income nations is to restore growth.

The finance minister also supported the extension of the debt service suspension initiative till December 2021 to provide more economic support to the most vulnerable economies.

Edited by Mehak Agarwal

Also read: 'Get your shot soon': PM Modi after getting 2nd COVID-19 vaccine dose

Also read: 'Deplorable attempts by some states': Harsh Vardhan on Maharashtra's vaccine shortage claim

Also read: Maharashtra closes 109 centres, Odisha 700 due to vaccine 'shortage'
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Millions of Americans are currently receiving coronavirus vaccinations as the U.S. works to restore some sense of normalcy from the pandemic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 33 percent of the US population has received at least one dose and 19.4 percent are fully immunized, either from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

However, some people have been wary of being vaccinated due to fears of experiencing side effects such as fever or headache while others have heard anecdotal reports of more extreme reactions including large rashes on the arm or going into anaphylaxis.

Doctors say that severe reactions are rare, and that common side effects, such as pain at the injection site, are a sign that your immune system is building up a response.

DailyMail.com spoke to three infectious disease experts about what side effects to expect from each COVID-19, why some people get them and what it means.

PFIZER-BIONTECH

The most common symptoms of the Pfizer vaccine are pain or swelling at the injection site, headache, fatigue, fever, chills and muscle pain.

'Somewhere between 20 to 80 percent of people will experience that,' Dr Richard Kennedy, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and co-director of the Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group, told DailyMail.com.

'They're mostly mild to moderate symptoms and they last about a day or two.'

Dr Thad Stappenbeck, Chair of the Lerner Research Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio, said that, in his experience, headache is the most common side effect.

'Headache is probably the most common and, anecdotally, from people I know who have been vaccinated,' he told DailyMail.com

Then, there are rarer side effects, such as nausea, vomiting and swelling of the lymph nodes and armpits.

Kennedy says less than one in 10 people will experience these side effects.

Finally, there are the rare allergic reactions to the vaccine, which can includes hives, itching and swelling and even anaphylaxis.

The most common symptoms of the Pfizer vaccine are pain or swelling at the injection site, headache, fatigue, fever, chills and muscle pain. Pictured: Bials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Pfaffenhofen, southern Germany, January 15

Anaphylactic shock is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to an allergy from food, medicine or even a type of material.

The immune system releases chemicals that flood the body, blood pressure suddenly drops, and airways narrow, which prevents someone from breathing normally.

Kennedy said that about one in 100,000 people who get the vaccine will experience such a reaction.

However, the good news is that 'it's fairly rare and fairly treatable,' he said.

For this reason, the CDC requires vaccination sites to monitor everyone for 15 minutes after receiving their shot and those with a history of severe allergies for 30 minutes.

The doctors also add that people are more likely to experience stronger reactions after the second dose because the immune system has been primed to fight the virus and mounts a response after getting the final shot, only to realize it's a false alarm.

MODERNA

Similar to the Pfizer vaccine, the most common side effects of the Moderna vaccine include pain at the injection site, fever, chills, headache and tiredness.

'Low-grade fever, aches and pain, difficulty sleeping on night one, they're flu-like symptoms,' Dr Robert Murphy, an infectious diseases specialist at Northwestern Medicine, in Chicago, Illinois, told DailyMail.com.

'They're self-limited and gone within 48 hours.'

Another rare reaction, but only in Moderna patients, is 'Covid arm,' in which people experience itchy and swollen skin, sometimes accompanied by red lumps

Also like Pfizer, people are more likely to have stronger side effects after the second dose.

A very small number of Moderna patients have also reported suffering anaphylaxis following their first dose.

'This is a well-documented phenomenon,' Murphy said. 'They can have hives and swelling, but it's a very small number.'

Some recipients - but only of the Moderna shot - have reported experiencing 'Covid arm,' in which people have itchy and swollen skin, sometimes accompanied by red lumps or hives.

But the splotch is a harmless response from the immune system to the shot that fades from the arm within a week.

The official term used by dermatologists and allergists to describe the side effect is 'delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity.'

'The vaccine attracts immune system cells to the injection site, which is why you see a rash, then it dissipates and within a day or two,' said Stappenbeck.

'It's a little troubling at first, but not significant and there are no long-term effects.'

Similar to the Pfizer vaccine, the most common side effects of the Moderna vaccine include pain at the injection site, fever, chills, headache and tiredness. Pictured: Boxes containing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are prepared to be shipped at the McKesson distribution center in Olive Branch, Mississippi, December 2020

JOHNSON & JOHNSON

The Johnson & Johnson single-dose coronavirus vaccine has noticeably milder side effects than either of the vaccines from Pfizer or Moderna.

'Almost across the board fewer people are reporting side effects,' Kennedy said.

'They are more mild. The most common ones are pain at the injection site, which is not surprising since it's a needle entering your arm, which about 50 percent will experience.'

He said about one-third of recipients report fatigue and muscle pain, 10 to 15 percent report nausea, and about 10 percent report swelling and redness at the injection site.

So why does J&J's shot produce fewer side effects? Murphy said it's because this vaccine is different from the other two.

J&J's vaccine combines genetic material from the new virus with the genes of the adenovirus - which causes the common cold - to induce an immune response.

Comparatively, Pfizer's and Moderna's vaccines use a newer platform, part of the pathogen's genetic code called messenger RNA, or mRNA, to get the body to recognize the coronavirus and attack it if a person becomes infected.

'They're very different mechanisms and different manufacturing processes,' Murphy said.

There have not been reports of anaphylaxis among J&J recipients, but Stappenbeck said that may be because fewer people have received the shot.

'It could just be a numbers game at this point,' he said.

Side effects are much rarer among those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, potentially due to the fact that it uses a different platform than Pfizer and Moderna. Pictured: Vials of the J&J vaccine at a vaccination operation organized by St John's Well Child and Family Center in Los Angeles, California, March 25

WHY ARE YOUNGER PEOPLE HAVING MORE SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS?

As more vaccines have been administered, there have been reports of younger people have more severe side effects compared to younger people.

The doctors say this because immune systems evolve as we age.

'As we get older, everything about or bodies doesn't work as well and the immune system is no exception,' Kennedy said.

Clinical trial data showed that young people reported more side effects after receiving vaccine doses than older people.

'The reality is that younger people have stronger immune systems and when you're older, you don't mount as big of a response,' Murphy added.

However, it does not mean older people aren't protected and that the vaccines are still just as protective in senior citizens as in young adults.

ARE WOMEN MORE LIKELY THAN MEN TO HAVE A REACTION?

Also reporting more side effects are women.

Women are more likely to report worse side effects after receiving COVID-19 vaccines then men are, CDC data reveal.

Last month, officials looked at nearly 7,000 reactions reported to the agency's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

They found that nearly 80 percent of the reactions were reported by women, making them four-time more likely to report a side effect than men.

Kennedy said that the reason behind this is a mix of biological and behavioral.

'Women's immune systems behave a little differently, they have a more robust antibody response,' he explained.

'They're also more likely to go to the doctor if something is wrong whereas men are more likely to try and tough it out.'

SHOULD I GET A VACCINE?

All three physicians say that the unequivocal answer is: yes, you should get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it becomes available to you.

'The efficacy of these vaccines have been remarkable,' Stappenbeck said.

'Less than one percent of fully vaccinated people are later infected. That's better than the numbers we've gotten in the trials. that's what we call real-world data.'

Stappenbeck also encourages to prepare for the possibility of having side effects, such as being able to take off work the next day just in case and having an adequate supply of water and Tylenol.

However, he suggests not taking the medication as a prophylactic.

'Wait until you have symptoms, if you have symptoms, and then then take it,' Stappenbeck said.

'The limit is four grams per day, and you don't want to overdose on Tylenol.'

The group also adds that any potential side effects you may are less worse than the possibility of getting COVID-19.

'You don't know how sick you will be until you get infected,' said Kennedy.

'You may be asymptomatic or you might be on a ventilator. Then you'll say I wish I had gotten the vaccine and, by then, it is too late

Reporting by Mary Kekatos, Senior Health Reporter for DailyMail.com
Nestle is joining the drive to speed up vaccination against COVID-19 and ensure broad, equitable distribution of vaccines to developing countries

The deployment of vaccines has started in a number of countries. At the same time, broad and equitable access to vaccines is still lacking because of a major financing gap.

Nestle CEO Mark Schneider said that, "The COVID-19 pandemic has cost too many lives and livelihoods. The speedy development of vaccines has given us hope, but the job isn't done until there is access everywhere in the world. That is why we are supporting COVAX to reach those most in need. We urge everyone to help close this funding gap as soon as possible."

Nestle supported the search for a vaccine with a donation to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which manages the COVAX facility together with the World Health Organization ( WHO) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). The focus is now on the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to help communities worldwide find their way out of this crisis.

Nestle has been responding to the COVID-19 crisis by protecting its employees, by maintaining global food supply chains, and by giving a helping hand in the local communities, including Vietnam.

During the outbreak of COVID-19 cases in the northern provinces of Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, and Haiphong, Nestle Vietnam has worked closely with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, Hai Duong Women's Union, Hai Phong Women's Union, as well as the Quang Ninh Center for Disease Control to support 290,000 drink and nutritional items worth VND2 billion ($86,960), under Nestle and La Vie brands.

Nestle made donations to support Vietnam's COVID-19 fight

In the past year, Nestle Vietnam and La Vie, a member of Nestle Group, have donated VND40 billion ($1.74 million) including products, cash, and 88,000 medical masks to Vietnams COVID-19 fight. The company has also offered support for small business partners affected by the pandemic like small restaurants, small eateries, and school canteens to overcome challenges with a total value of gifts up to VND22 billion ($956,520).

The company has closely followed regulations on pandemic prevention in light of the governments guidance, and disseminated these regulations to all employees. Measures like wearing face masks, using hand sanitizers, measuring the body temperature of workers before entering the company, giving priority to online meetings, and increasing distancing in production areas, among others, have been observed meticulously.
Jatka fishermen in Bangladesh mend ways, now guard fish population

by Bilkis Irani

April 08,2021 | Source: Dhaka Tribune

Fishermen in Bangladesh who previously caught ilish fry, called Jatka in Bangla, have renounced their previous ways and are trying to motivate others to follow suit.



A total of 330 selected fishermen from 15 upazilas of 6 coastal districts, including Bhola, Barishal, Patuakhali, Chandpur, Laxmipur and Shariatpur, are working to save Jatka Ilish.



Rechristened as community fish guards in 2016, their force is increasing in number each year.



They were formed under the USAID-funded ECOFISH Project, jointly implemented by the Department of Fisheries and WorldFish.



It is contributing significantly to protect the Jatka ilish during the sanctuary ban period, between March to April, and brood Ilish during the peak spawning season.



An official of WorldFish told Dhaka Tribune that at first, there were only 20 community fish guards, but now it has reached 330.



They get training on co-management activities of Jatka and brood Ilish (Ilish) safeguarding, Ilish conservation policy and fisheries law, importance of Ilish sanctuary, implementation of their duties and responsibilities, role of fisheries department and law enforcement agencies, and coordination & communication, he also said.



They have also been provided with identity cards, trousers, towel, umbrella, apron, shoes, and flashlight from the project for effective delivery of their duties, said the official.



I was not aware about Jatka conservation earlier, but I have received training about various aspects of fish and biodiversity conservation through CFGs. Now I am working actively to conserve Ilish and raise awareness to save Jatka and its sanctuaries, said Roman Bepari, a fisherman from the community fish guard program of Kedarpur village, Shriyatpur district.



According to the Department of Fisheries, like the previous years, this year, the government is observing a ban on fishing for all kinds of fish, including Ilish, in five Ilish sanctuaries in six districts of the country for two months (March 1 to April 30) to protect Jatka.



Under this ban, all kinds of fishing, including Ilish have been stopped in the five sanctuaries located in the Meghna-Kalabador-Gajaria rivers in Hizla-Mehendigonj, Barishal, the Meghna river in Chandpur, Laxmipur, Bhola, the Tentulia River in Bhola, and the Padma river in Shariatpur.



The ban period in the Andharmanik river, Patuakhali is observed during November-January.



The director general of the department recently sent a letter requesting the concerned fisheries officials to add community fish guards as assistants of the fisheries department to protect Ilish and Jatka during the ban periods.



Honorarium will be provided to these fishermen working for the protection of Ilish from the Ilish Conservation and Development Fund created from the USAID ECOFISH project jointly implemented by the Department of Fisheries and WorldFish.



The government banned all types of fishing, including Ilish, for a total of 22 days from October 14 to November 4, last year during the main breeding season. During that time, community fish guards assisted the Department of Fisheries and law enforcement agencies, said Masud Ara Momi, deputy chief (Ilish) of Department of Fisheries Bangladesh.



She added that this community participation initiative of the government will play a pivotal role in protecting the sanctuary of Ilish and developing fishery resources.

 2012-2019. 2A Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
The guilty pleas are piling up in a fraud case that the Bank of San Antonio says cost it more than $13 million.

On Wednesday, Rigo Alvarado, of Irving, became the third defendant to enter a plea. Five were indicted in the case.

Alvarado, 55, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. He will be required to make restitution.

His plea comes a little more than a month after his wife, Jill Martin Alvarado, 58, pleaded guilty to the same charge.

The couple are co-owners of a trucking company called Alvys Logistics.

According to the charging papers, the couple assisted Ronald Wayne Schroeder, the former president of a Bank of San Antonio factoring subsidiary called Texas Express Funding LLC, in providing false and misleading invoices from Alvys to financial institutions for factoring.

Factoring involves advancing cash to companies in return for acquiring, at a discount, the debts owed to them. This allows the companies to get money quickly instead of waiting for customers to pay their bills.

The alleged arrangement between Schroeder and the couple resulted in payments to the trucking company, the indictment says. Some of that money was turned over to Schroeder for his own profit, the document adds.

Schroeder is accused of using proceeds to buy automobiles, recreational vehicles, an airplane, a boat and a beach house. He faces the most serious charges of the five defendants: three counts of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He has pleaded not guilty.

Schroeders lawyers have said he is cooperating in the case.

Also indicted in the case were a mother and son, Phyllis Jo Martinez, 79, and Ryan Martinez, 56. She is the current owner and he is the former owner of a cleaning company called Nerd Factory LLC. According to the indictment, they also assisted Schroeder in providing false and misleading invoices to financial institutions to factor.

Phyllis Martinez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, too, while Ryan Martinez has pleaded not guilty.

Schroeder and Martinez have until May 13 to enter into a plea agreement. Otherwise, they are scheduled to go to trial May 25, the court docket shows.

The Martinezes and Jill Martin Alvarado were each indicted on three counts: conspiracy to commit bank fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering; and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments  which relates to knowing property involved in a financial transaction represents proceeds from unlawful activity.

The indictments followed an August disclosure by the Bank of San Antonio that it had uncovered a $13.2 million Ponzi-style fraud scheme involving Schroeder.

Sentencing dates for the three who have pleaded guilty are: May 25 for Phyllis Martinez; June 1 for Jill Alvarado; and July 13 for Rigo Alvarado.

U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam is presiding in the case. Rigo Alvarados lawyer didnt respond Wednesday to a request for comment.

Each of the five defendants is free on a $50,000 unsecured bond.

pdanner@express-news.net
Joe and Teresa Giudices marital and legal drama have played out on RHONJ since season 1. But before they were two of the most popular reality stars, they were just a regular suburban family in New Jersey. In a never-before-seen casting tape, the Giudices plush life was revealed.

Joe and Teresa Giudice 2013 | Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images

In light of his deportation, Joe Giudice says he blames the show for much of their trouble.

Teresa Giudice reveals her posh life in her RHONJ casting tape

Andy Cohen surprised Teresa by showing her the casting tape that made producers fall in love with her for the first time. The revelation came during Teresas appearance on his E! limited series, For Real: The Story of Reality TV.

The casting tape showed Teresa sitting outside of her newly built New Jersey mansion, which her then-husband Joe built for them. Filmed in 2008, Teresa declares, I always get what I want, which I love. Always, always, always, always.

Source: YouTube

Related: RHONJ: Teresa Giudice Reveals There Is a Clause in Her Prenup With Joe That Could Affect Them If They Divorce

Her future co-stars Dolores Catania, Dina Manzo, and Jacqueline Laurita speak lovingly of Giudices bubbly personality.

Manzo states,She doesnt have a bad bone in her body  while Laurita and Catania speak about Giudices lack of filter. When she doesnt know shes being funny, she says funny things sometimes, Laurita says in the tape.

Joe also makes an appearance, speaking highly of his wife despite her expensive taste. I cant complain. She cooks. She spends a lot of money, but besides that shes alright, he jokes.

Cohen gushed over Teresas husband in the video, noting, Joe looks cute.

At the time, the couple were parents to three daughters. Teresa became pregnant with their fourth daughter by the end of the first season.

Joe Giudice says the show brought unnecessary attention

Teresa was an instant fan favorite and was able to capitalize off of the shows success. Early on, she marketed herself as the ultimate stay-at-home mother and wife and began releasing cookbooks of her familys Italian recipes, which she happily shared on the show. Since the shows beginning, Teresa has released four books and is a four-time New York Times bestseller.

But along with the triumphs has been much tragedy for the Giudice family. The former couples legal issues began during season 2, resulting in charges of bankruptcy fraud. Both served time in prison  Teresa served one year11 months and Joe served a little over three years before being deported back to Italy.

Source: YouTube

Related: Teresa Giudice Says Joe Blamed Her and Filming RHONJ for His Bankruptcy Case

Joe blames the show for his eventual legal issues. He elaborated on his regrets about joining the show during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live.

I wish I never would have done it, Joe says. I had a great life before. The show actually just brought a lot of attention to us. Just having a house like that alone just brings a lot of attention. I never had so many damn lawsuits in my life until after I got on that show.

Teresa also previously admitted to regretting joining the show

At the time of Joes admission to Cohen, Teresa said that she had no regrets. But she previously shared similar sentiments to Joe when they were in the thick of their legal trouble.

In addition to the legal cases, Teresa was unhappy about her family drama with her brother, sister-in-law, and cousins being played out on the show.

Source: YouTube

Related: Why Teresa Giudice Says Shell Never Forgive Her Cousin and Former RHONJ Co-Star, Kathy Wakile

Having issues with my family blow up even bigger because were on TV together is kind of a nightmare. Its not fun for me. I cant pretend it is, she told Bravo in 2011. Im not gonna sit there and be all smiley and happy that Im on a talk show when I feel like crying. Id rather never have been on TV and have a happy family than go through any of this. And its hard to sit next to people who obviously dont feel the same way and are loving every minute of it

Joe and Teresa divorced in 2020 after 20 years of marriage. Teresa is now dating real estate entrepreneur Luis Ruelas. Joe lives in the Bahamas.

RHONJ airs every Wednesday on Bravo at 8 pm EST.
No one was injured after three people trapped by a roof fire Wednesday night in West Bethlehem needed to be rescued, authorities said.

A family was displaced and two businesses had water and smoke damage, Bethlehem Fire Marshal Craig Baer said.

The three-alarm fire broke out a little after 7 p.m. in a row of businesses and apartments in the 500 block of West Broad Street.

Fire Chief Warren Achey previously said three people were working on the roof above the western end of the row, which includes apartments on the second floor and the Bethehem Furnace Co. and Pho Bowl on the ground floor.

The trio tried to put the fire out, but then became stuck on the roof and had to be rescued, Baer said.

No one was injured, he added.

Crews knocked down the fire by 8:15 p.m., but firefighters stayed on scene to check for extension of flames.

Three apartments were affected; two were vacant but a family was displaced from the third apartment, Baer said.

Pho Bowl suffered smoke and water damage, Baer said, while other businesses in the row including an insurance group and Action Wheels Bike Shop had minor smoke damage.

Pho Bowl was closed, while the other business would be able to reopen after utilities, cut during the blaze, were restored, Baer said.

The fire has been ruled an accident, but Baer said Thursday his investigation was still open.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
Following her speech at the Miss Grand International (MGI) finals night in Bangkok almost a fortnight ago, it appears that Miss Grand Myanmar Han Lay has landed herself in hot water.

Miss Myanmar reportedly gets arrest warrant for MGI speech

Han Lay was given the opportunity to express her thoughts about the civil unrest in her home country during the show's segment "We Stand by Your Side." While there has been no official confirmation, reports are circulated on Thai and Burmese pageant sites that Myanmar has released an arrest warrant for Miss Grand Myanmar Han Lay. Those who sent her to Thailand are also included. The arrest was connected with her expression about her country's continuing political struggle and atrocities committed by the state's militia.

Han Lay was last seen on the island of Phuket with the Miss Grand International Top 5, where the winners were taking photographs and videos for the Amazing Thailand tourism campaign. In a previous interview with Grand TV, she said that she would temporarily move to Thailand as the civil unrest continues, as per PhilStar Global. Han Lay's quest for reconciliation in Myanmar's continuing civil unrest is hoped to support the MGI Organization, which advocates against war and violence.

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Amid the chaos, the 22-year-old used the world stage to draw attention to the country's military abuses. Han Lay emphasized the speed at which casualties occur, expressing her sorrow for those who have died on the sidewalks. Throughout her vehement voice, which left many people in tears, she repeatedly called for immediate assistance for her country.

Han Lay, Miss Grand Myanmar speaks out against military coup.

This is powerful and thank u for speaking out using ur platform 

Thank u #missgrandinternational2021 stage owner giving a chance to represent us and speak to see what happens in our country#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/ChEXVpByZu  Ms.Poe (@MsPoe9) March 27, 2021

@Twitter

Her remarks may have had her on the military's radar. She told the BBC that she would be staying in Thailand for at least the next three months. Regardless, she told the British broadcaster that it was her "job" to speak up for her country.

This comes as Myanmar's military Junta has released a slew of arrest warrants for celebrities who have expressed sympathy for the anti-coup protests, Republic World reported. It issued a "wanted" list of the country's actors, actresses, performers, social media influencers, bloggers, and other acclaimed artists who have been using their popularity and influence to organize protesters, threatening the country's "stability," as the armed forces put it.

American Idol's Katy Perry Reunites with Ex Josh Groban, Fans Feel 'Uncomfortable'

Myanmar junta targets celebrities active on social media

Myanmar's Junta has intensified its fight against celebrities who back nationwide anti-junta demonstrations, posting wanted lists in the state press and threatening against using their jobs. The step comes after weeks of escalating violence by security forces in suppressing street demonstrations against the February 1 coup that deposed Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which tracks casualties and arrests and estimates that the true count is higher, at least 570 protesters and bystanders have been killed after the coup, including 47 children. After five decades of military rule, the country's eventual transition to democracy was halted by the coup.

Actors, musicians, and social media influencers are among those charged with violating Section 505(A) of the Penal Code for "spreading news to harm state peace," according to the lists released in Myanmar's Global New Light newspaper on Sunday and Monday. The offense carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail.

A chart that takes up most of a website lists 20 people, along with their pictures, hometowns, and Facebook accounts. Some actors and directors were convicted in February, but last week, army-controlled Myawaddy TV broadcast a wanted list, intensifying the drive against celebrity protest backers. At this point, there are at least 60 people on such lists, as per NY Post.

Michael Jackson's Daughter, Paris Jackson, Shares Story in Rare Interview, Revealing Dad's Parenting

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Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has pledged his readiness to give financial autonomy to the judiciary in the state.

The governor made the pledge in Bauchi during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed acting Chief Judge (Grand Khadi) of Bauchi State Sharia Court, Mohammed Abubakar.

Mr Mohammed, who said he was always ready to go by the judiciarys tradition, which, he said, was predicated on justice and equity, noted that the judiciary was the last hope of the common man.

The judiciary is the last hope of the common man and it is not only the common man, it is the last hope of Bala Mohammed, because I have derived succour and solace in the judiciary.

I am always ready to go by their tradition, because it is predicated on justice and equity.

We, in the executive, are ready to give you your autonomy; we are ready to give you your respect, we are ready to clear latitude and leverage, so that you will be able to dispense justice, he said.

Judiciary workers across Nigeria had embarked on industrial action to protest the denial of the judicial arm of government its financial autonomy as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

The governor reminded the newly sworn-in acting chief judge of the state sharia court that society expects a lot from him, now and even after service.

I know you are going to have a very little stint, but it does not matter how long you stay, but how well you stay and how much you impact, he said.

Mr Mohammed commended the harmonious relationship between the legislative, executive and judiciary.

I call on the judges to ensure that verdicts are quickly made in criminal cases in order to enhance the issues of reward and punishment in the state, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tenure of Dahiru Ningi, the out-gone chief judge of the sharia court, ended on April 6.

(NAN)
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Inadequacy of US screening system for IUU risks laid bare in trade study

by Mark Godfrey

April 08,2021 | Source: SeafoodSource

Seafood caught via illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and fishing involving forced labor amounting to USD 2.4 billion (EUR 2 billion) was imported into the United States in 2019, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission.



The 18 March report, Seafood Obtained via Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing: U.S. Imports and Economic Impact on U.S. Commercial Fisheries, suggests the U.S. government does not have effective controls in place to limit IUU-sourced product from entering the country.



The report names China, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia, and Vietnam as key sources for illicit wild-caught product, with the main species involved named as swimming crab, warm-water shrimp, yellowfin tuna, and squid. The report also claims 9 percent of the harvested weight of farmed seafood imports is made up of IUU-tainted feed ingredients. It states IUU-sourced seafood is a serious threat to the jobs and earnings of U.S. fishermen.



Beth Lowell, deputy vice president for U.S. campaigns for environmental non-governmental organization Oceana, said while the U.S. government has taken some steps to combat IUU fishing, including establishing the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) in 2018, it has much work to do on its import screening systems. SIMP rules  which currently apply to 13 species of seafood  currently cover around 40 percent of the value and volume of U.S. imports, but not some of the top IUU species identified by the report, Lowell said.



Squid is not a species covered by SIMP, so traceability is not required, she told SeafoodSource.



Oceana is calling for U.S. traceability requirements to be expanded to incorporate more species, and also the full value chain  currently, documentation requirements end with the arrival of the seafood at port, she said.



SIMP requires some imported seafood at risk of IUU fishing and seafood fraud to be accompanied by catch documentation about where and how it was caught. SIMP also requires those products to be traced from the fishing boat or farm to the U.S. border, Lowell said. [However], to make it fully traceable, SIMP needs to be expanded to all species to require the catch documentation and traceability for all seafood imports and the FDA traceability rule needs to be finalized to finish traceability requirements from the U.S. border to the final point of sale.



As the worlds top two markets for seafood, the E.U. and the U.S. both have to improve screening of IUU catches, according to Julian Hawkins, the CEO of Vericatch, a Canada-based developer of software solutions for fisheries management, and seafood traceability.



Import controls in both areas have tightened but there may be some escapes, but it's getting small for fish if it is undocumented, he told SeafoodSource.



By escapes Hawkins said he means exceptions that either accidentally or deliberately seek to bypass or avoid the seafood regulations.



[They] may be legitimate loopholes, but in general, these are an absolute minority, Hawkins said.



Better coordination between major importing countries in the West would likely reap large benefits, according to Hawkins.



The supply chain in the U.S., Canada, and E.U. is not homogeneous, he said.



Forced labor is another persistent issue threatening the integrity of the U.S. seafood supply chain, according to the Seafood Working Group, a group of 27 labor, human rights, and environmental NGOs, convened by Global Labor Justice-International Labor Rights Forum. The group has called for the U.S. Department of State to take more aggressive action against countries with labor issues in their supply chains, including listing Taiwan and Thailand as Tier 2 countries in the departments upcoming 2021 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.



This is necessary due to the continuation of violations of internationally recognized labor rights that make migrants particularly vulnerable to human trafficking, as well as a deterioration of rights for vulnerable workers stemming from COVID-19 policies, the group said in a press release introducing a 47-page report that includes details of 24 cases of labor abuse from frontline worker organizations in Thailand.



The Thai government has failed to make any progress in fulfilling its commitments to ratify ILO conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining and continues to restrict foreign workers from organizing and forming unions. The report shows that the government and employers continued to retaliate against workers, trade unionists, and labor rights defenders who attempt to organize and improve working conditions, GLJ-ILRF Legal and Policy Director Esmeralda Lopez said. The cases of union retaliation and judicial harassment have posed serious obstacles to preventing human trafficking and protecting potential victims. The cases send a message that workers who speak out will face consequences, creating a chilling effect for reporting future abuses.



The Seafood Working Group report alleges abuse in the seafood processing, fishing, and large-scale agriculture industries, where it said employers used document confiscation, physical violence, wage withholding, and forced overtime to keep migrants working under poor and dangerous conditions to meet product demand.



There was also a pattern of excessive overworking in the seafood industry due to increases in demand for shelf-stable seafood during the pandemic, the report said.



In seafood processing hub Samut Sakhon, government authorities sealed off a housing area for 3,000 migrant workers with barbed wire in December 2020, collectively quarantining infected and non-infected workers together, which caused food prices to skyrocket and sudden mass unemployment, the group said.



COVID-19 further exposed the systematic discrimination facing migrant workers in Thailand. Policies and employer practices that were unchecked by the government prevented migrant workers from accessing social security benefits and in some cases medical care during the pandemic. Nearly a year since COVID-19 hit Thailand, the government has failed to address these issues. Without employment and access to social protections, these people have become increasingly vulnerable to labor abuses and human trafficking, Lopez said.

 2021 Diversified Communications. All rights reserved.

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
It's normally the scene of jam-packed stands filled with punters and guests, but Aintree racecourse looked eerily empty on Thursday as the Grand National prepares to get underway without fans for the first time.

The world famous festival in Liverpool starts with Liverpool's NHS Day, featuring seven races - the first starting at 1.45pm, but jockeys will hear nothing but silence from the terraces that usually hold around tens of thousands of spectators.

Last year's event went ahead virtually as a result of the UK plunging into its first lockdown amid the Covid pandemic - using CGI technology and based on the algorithms of the 40 horses most likely to have competed.

The Grand National Festival got underway at Aintree on Thursday with the course deserted as spectators are still banned as the UK gradually comes out of lockdown

The Early of Derby stand - which is usually packed to the rafters - was left eerily empty

It makes quite a drastic comparison to the last festival in 2019 - where tens of thousands were in attendance for the opening day

The world famous faces usually see punters arrive in hordes, with 33,000 arriving for the start of the last event that allowed crowds

The hordes of empty seats makes quite a drastic comparison to the 33,000 fans that were in attendance on the first day of the 2019 festival.

But this year - with the races allowed to go ahead as the UK gradually comes out of lockdown - pictures from Aintree painted a subdued scene.

The Early of Derby Stand that overlooks the racecourse was completely empty, compared to two years ago when it was packed to the rafters for the opening day.

Not a spectator is in sight from the view of the finish line at Aintree on Thursday morning

A lone groundsman in one of the only signs of anyone present ahead of the first meeting

The entrance to the racecourse is shuttered off with the Grand National being forced to go ahead without fans in attendance

A road is closed off to deter punters and spectators from gathering outside the grounds

Elsewhere around the course, the front entrance was completely shuttered off with no guests allowed through the doors, while the road leading to Aintree was also closed to deter any punters from gathering outside.

A lone groundsman mowing the track was one of the only early sign of anyone at the course ahead of Thursday's first meeting.

Liverpool's NHS Day will be marked with a River of Light Rainbow Bridge in the city which reads 'thank you NHS'.

It will be followed by Ladies Day on Friday, with Grand National Day wrapping up the festival on Saturday.

We teamed up with Liverpools River of Light Rainbow Bridge to celebrate the start of @RandoxOfficial Grand National week and Liverpools NHS Day today! 



Thank You NHS!  #GrandNational #Randox pic.twitter.com/iESGiI4TNY  Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) April 8, 2021

Bristol De Mai heads a maximum field of 40 in the Randox Grand National - but the strongly-fancied Secret Reprieve is only second reserve and set to miss out as a result.

Trained by Evan Williams, Secret Reprieve won the Welsh National in December and has been kept fresh in the hope of a crack at the world's greatest steeplechase on Saturday.

However, it had been touch and go whether he would make the cut or not and as only The Storyteller was not declared at the 48-hour stage, Secret Reprieve's connections are resigned to their fate.

Dan Skelton's Blaklion was the beneficiary of of The Storyteller's no-show and creeps in as number 40. The first reserve is John McConnell's Some Neck, with Kauto Riko third reserve and Fagan the fourth and final one.

Ante-post favourite Cloth Cap will aim to give Trever Hemmings a record fourth win in the race following the successes of Hedgehunter, Ballabriggs and Many Clouds - and his trainer Jonjo O'Neill is chasing his second National, having won with Don't Push It.

Bristol De Mai heads a maximum field of 40 but is second reserve and likely to miss out

After their domination at Cheltenham, the Irish battalion bring a strong team in which Ted Walsh's Any Second Now is well touted.

Rachael Blackmore enjoyed a dream Festival and aims to top an incredible year on Henry de Bromhead's Minella Times. The Gold Cup-winning stable is also responsible for Chris's Dream and Balko Des Flos.

Willie Mullins is without the services of Paul Townend, who suffered an injury at Fairyhouse earlier this week. He is replaced on Burrows Saint by Patrick Mullins.

Danny Mullins rides Acapella Bourgeois, and Brian Hayes is on Class Conti - with Sean O'Keeffe on Cabaret Queen.

Denis O'Regan comes in for the ride on Tony Martin's Anibale Fly, who has run well in the race twice before and has also twice been placed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Leading amateur Jamie Codd rides Milan Native, with Sean Flanagan on Tout Est Permis.
U.S. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki holds a briefing at the White House in Washington, April 7. Reuters



The United States is prepared to engage in some form of diplomacy with North Korea if it will lead to denuclearization on the peninsula, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday.



She said the U.S. remains committed to denuclearization of North Korea.



"We have a clear objective as it relates to North Korea, which is denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula," the spokeswoman said at a daily press briefing. "We are, of course, continuing to enforce sanctions. We are consulting with allies and partners. We are prepared to consider some form of diplomacy if it's going to lead us down the path toward denuclearization."



The remarks came a day after a U.S. think tank said the North has moved a submersible missile test barge at its missile test site to a different position, possibly indicating an upcoming test of a submarine launched ballistic missile.



North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles last month, resuming its testing after a year-long hiatus. The country continues to maintain a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile testing since November 2017.



The latest provocation came about two months after President Joe Biden took office on Jan. 20.



Psaki referred related questions to the Defense Department, saying she is unable to get into details.



"So that is broadly how we view," she said, referring to her earlier remarks. "There's also a review that's underway within the administration but on the specific reports, there's not more I'm going to be able to convey from here."



The Biden administration has been undergoing a comprehensive review of North Korea policy that it says will lead to a new approach.



Officials at the State Department have said the review is in its final stages.



The Biden administration has reached out to North Korea since mid-February. North Korea remains unresponsive and says it will continue to ignore U.S. overtures until Washington gives up its perceived belligerence. (Yonhap)


NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pernod Ricard North America today announced the appointment of Lani Montoya, a company veteran who has held leadership roles in both the U.S. and Paris, as the Chief Human Resources Officer on its executive team. She will succeed Paul Holub, who is retiring from his role as Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Services after a 25-year career with Pernod Ricard North America, Corby Spirit and Wine and Hiram Walker & Sons.

Montoya has been with the premium spirits and wine company for 15 years, and most recently led Global Talent Management and Diversity & Inclusion for Pernod Ricard, based in Paris. In that role, she made significant strides towards achieving Pernod Ricard's goal of Better Balance, as the company aims to become the industry's most inclusive, diverse and sustainable spirits and wine company. She also played a critical role in the design and rollout of Pernod Ricard's new HR strategy. Previously, Montoya served as HR Director for the Pernod Ricard Americas Travel Retail division, and as an HR Manager for Malibu-Kahlua International.

"At Pernod Ricard, we are creators of conviviality. That means creating an inclusive environment with employees from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about our brands, our industry and our purpose," said Montoya. "As a Latin-American woman, I am proud of the diverse and gender balance at Pernod Ricard North America and I am committed to ensuring our company mirrors the diversity of our society."

Reporting to Pernod Ricard North America Chairman and CEO Ann Mukherjee, Montoya's responsibilities will include talent acquisition, enhancing employee capabilities and retention, expanding diversity & inclusion programming, and driving ongoing organizational change related to the company's Transform and Accelerate strategy. Montoya will also be responsible for furthering the company's Better Balance cornerstone, ensuring that diversity, flexibility and wellness are prioritized in the workplace.

"It is my honor to welcome Lani as the newest member of our executive team," said Mukherjee. "Lani is the right leader to meet the moment. She shaped the Diversity & Inclusion strategy for our global company, and now she is poised to deliver on the commitment to Better Balance in the North American market. I'd also like to congratulate Paul on his many contributions to our company, and for championing the role that Human Resources can and must play as a strategic partner with other areas of the business."

For more information about Pernod Ricard USA, visit: https://www.pernod-ricard-usa.com/.

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the No. 2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits with consolidated sales of 9,182 million in FY19. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has developed through organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes, as well Jacob's Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard's brands are distributed across 160+ markets and by its own salesforce in 73 markets. The Group's decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of "Createurs de Convivialite." As reaffirmed by the Group's three-year 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 Agenda supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "We bring 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 and is ranked No. 1 in the beverage sector in Vigeo Eiris. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nation's Global Compact LEAD company. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index. For further information, please visit http://www.pernod-ricard.com.

SOURCE Pernod Ricard USA

Related Links

https://www.pernod-ricard-usa.com


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Global recovery underway after worst recession since WW-2: IMF head

A day after the International Monetary Fund forecast a global growth of six per cent for this year, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has said that after the worst global recession since the Second World War, the recovery is underway. The outlook, she asserted, is brighter because millions of people are benefitting from vaccinations and because of further policy support, especially in the US.

SEBI fines Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, others Rs 25 crore on RIL shareholding irregularities

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has slapped a penalty of Rs 25 crore on Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, and nine other individuals and entities in connection with irregularities in shareholding emerging from violation of regulator's takeover code regulations.

Massive fire breaks out at eastern Mexico Pemex refinery

A major fire broke out on Wednesday at an oil refinery run by Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) in the eastern city of Minatitlan by the Gulf of Mexico, though there were no immediate reports of fatalities, Mexican media and authorities said. The blaze started on Wednesday afternoon, according to media reports, and Mexico's safety, energy and environment regulator ASEA said it was monitoring the situation.

Centre allows COVID-19 vaccination drives at workplaces from April 11

Union Health Ministry, in a letter to states and union territories, has suggested that COVID-19 vaccination sessions may be organised at government and private workplaces. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan asked additonal chief secretaries, principal secretaries and secretaries in health department of states and UTs to initiate due consultations with public and private sector employers and management to prepare for workplace coronavirus vaccination drives.

You can soon directly transfer money from one digital wallet to other

You will soon be able to directly transfer money from one digital wallet to other, irrespective of the service provider. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed to make interoperability mandatory for full-KYC (know your customer) prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) and for all acceptance infrastructure.

COVID-19 vaccination: India surpasses US; 8.70 crore shots administered till yesterday

India has surpassed the US to become the fastest COVID-19 vaccinating country in the world with an average daily rate of 30,93,861 vaccine doses,the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday. The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 8.70 crore.

New COVID strains suspected in Maharashtra, samples sent to NCDC: Rajesh Tope

New COVID-19 strains are suspected in Maharashtra as "some patients are showing behaviours other than routine ones," said state Health Minister Rajesh Tope while addressing a press conference over the COVID-19 situation in the state on Wednesday."National Institute of Virology (NIV) is doing genomic sequencing of our samples. It is sending its report to National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)," said Tope.
This week LG confirmed it is withdrawing from the mobile industry, but what about the phones it already makes? The company just announced that "all premium LG smartphones currently in use will receive up to three iterations of Android operating system updates from the year of purchase."

The three OS update guarantee applies to LG premium phones released in 2019 and later (G series, V series, VELVET, Wing) while certain 2020 models such as LG Stylo and K series will receive two OS updates.

There are some caveats for performance or compatibility issues, but if you already have a Wing or G Series device in your pocket, then at least you know updates won't dry up immediately.
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers focused on health care safety and quality, today released its 2021 Maternity Care Report, which measures hospital performance against best practices across three high-risk areas of maternity care: cesarean sections, episiotomies, and early elective deliveries. The report is based on results of the 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey, the flagship initiative of The Leapfrog Group. It is the only source of data on these measures that is publicly reported nationally, by hospital.

"The birth of a child is a life-defining experience, which is why I encourage families to find the highest performing hospital available for them," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. "Though our report shows hospitals have made progress in many areas, too many are still performing unnecessary interventions that can pose risks to the mother and baby. Thanks to public reporting by The Leapfrog Group, and the thousands of hospitals that are transparent about their performance, expectant parents can compare hospitals on important indicators like C-section rates. If a hospital declines to report this information, that's a major concern."

Across all three measures included in the report show progress.

NTSV C-section rates on average remain too high, though there has been modest progress. Survey results reveal that a record 51% of hospitals achieved Leapfrog's NTSV C-section standard of 23.9% or less. This is notable improvement from 2019, when less than 42% of hospitals achieved the standard.

on average remain too high, though there has been modest progress. Survey results reveal that a record 51% of hospitals achieved Leapfrog's NTSV C-section standard of 23.9% or less. This is notable improvement from 2019, when less than 42% of hospitals achieved the standard. Early elective delivery rates have dramatically decreased from a 17% starting point in 2010 to 1.6% in 2020, with nearly 92% meeting Leapfrog's standard of an early elective delivery rate of 5% or less.

have dramatically decreased from a 17% starting point in 2010 to 1.6% in 2020, with nearly 92% meeting Leapfrog's standard of an early elective delivery rate of 5% or less. The average episiotomy rate among reporting hospitals decreased to 5.2%, the lowest rate since Leapfrog began publicly reporting on the measure and encouragingly close to achieving Leapfrog's target rate of 5% or less. Just five years ago, the average rate was over 10%.

"The variation in C-section rates is striking," said Elliott Main, M.D., medical director of the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative and chair of Leapfrog's Maternity Care Expert Panel. "There are vast differences among states and among hospitals within each state. This suggests we aren't yet seeing unified efforts to improve rates nationally. Achievements in reduction of early elective delivery and episiotomy rates show such change is possible."

In some cases, a C-section is necessary to protect the health of the mother and baby, but C-sections can also carry serious risks of infection or blood clots, longer recovery periods and complications with future pregnancies. C-sections can also impact the health of babies, requiring treatment in a newborn intensive care unit, and an increased risk of developing chronic childhood diseases, such as asthma and diabetes.

There is a crucial need to improve quality of maternity care for all women, with special attention to those most at risk for death or harm. According to the March of Dimes, the rate of C-sections in Black women is higher than in women of other racial or ethnic groups.

In the 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Survey, Leapfrog added a new question about whether hospitals analyze quality measures by patient race, ethnicity, or primary language, to accelerate efforts to address such disparities in care.

Over 2,200 hospitals voluntarily submitted data used in the report, representing over 75% of U.S. hospital beds. The Survey results can be accessed for free at https://ratings.leapfroggroup.org/.

To learn more about Leapfrog's maternity care measures, visit https://www.leapfroggroup.org/ratings-reports/reports-hospital-performance

About The Leapfrog Group

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.

SOURCE The Leapfrog Group

Related Links

http://leapfroggroup.org


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British health chiefs have restricted AstraZeneca's vaccine in under-30s because their risk of dying from Covid is so small and there are early signs they may be more prone to blood clots after the jab.

But EU regulators have decided against recommending the vaccine is withheld from any age group because they can't be sure that young people are definitely most at risk of the extremely rare complication.

UK's own medical watchdogs confusingly hold the same opinion but acknowledge cases of rare blood clots from the life-saving jab are occurring slightly more often in younger adults.

For this reason, the JCVI  No10's vaccine advisory panel  has acted out of extreme caution to restrict the jab to under-30s because its benefits don't clearly outweigh the risks in younger adults, who face a vanishingly small risk of falling seriously ill or dying from the disease.

EU nations have defied their own regulator's guidance, with Belgium, Germany and Italy shunning the vaccine for under-60s.

But statistical analysis of the risks  done by Cambridge University academics and used to justify the UK's 'course correction' in the roll-out  show the benefits of the jab are much clearer for over-30s, who face a slightly higher risk from the disease and appear to suffer fewer blood clots.

Scientists have still yet to prove the vaccine causes the blood clots and are struggling to untangle the risk factors because young people are also more at risk of suffering the clots. But experts say the evidence is shifting.

'We felt that the benefits outweighed the risk in those above 30 years old. But in those under 30, the benefits and risk look more similar,' said deputy chair of the JCVI Anthony Harnden.

In total, more fatal blood clots have developed in 30 to 39-year-olds than any other age group and more of them have been found in women than men.

But statistical analysis supporting the UK decision was done by eminent statistician Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, who found that the clots were more common in even younger people.

Professor Spiegelhalter said data suggested about one in 90,000 people aged 18 to 29 given the AstraZeneca jab will likely suffer the clots compared to one in 500,000 over-60s.

Highlighting how the benefit-risk balance of the AstraZeneca vaccine swings heavily in favour of even middle-aged people, his team's calculations show people in their 40s are 100 times more likely to be hospitalised with Covid if they refuse jab.

Professor Spiegelhalter said the change in vaccine guidance had been made as precautionary measure because young people were being hit with a 'double whammy'.

He told MailOnline: 'There does seem to be extra risk in younger people of getting this combination of quite really odd particular group of symptoms [brain clots and low platelet counts].

'Younger people are also not benefiting so much from vaccine, so in sense they're getting a double whammy. They are at a higher risk from the vaccine and lower benefit from the vaccine.'

Regulators in the EU, on the other hand, have decided against restricting the British-made vaccine's use in any age group, claiming that age is not a risk factor.

Professor Spiegelhalter said he was 'not sure' how the European Medicines Agency could have come to such a different finding, reiterating that the 'data definitely does show there is an age gradient.'

He admitted that Europe needed the AstraZeneca vaccine more than the UK because the continent is in the midst of battling a third wave and is struggling to get its jab rollout up to speed.

This graphic shows the seating plan of Wembley Stadium which holds 90,000 people. If it were full and 10,000 people squeezed onto the pitch, there would be 100,000 people - the same number as Professor Spiegelhalter's risk groups. If all of them were 20-29 and had the AstraZeneca jab, one would be expected to get a blood clot, top left. While if they were all 50-59, no blood clots would be expected. The panels on the right show the risk of serious Covid if they all refused the vaccine

The Government yesterday wheeled out a series of graphs comparing the risk of falling ill with Covid compared to the threat of developing blood clots after getting the AZ vaccine in various age groups. In low Covid levels, every 100,000 vaccines prevents 0.8 ICU admissions from coronavirus in people under 30 but 1.1 people will suffer blood clotting after having the jab, making the threat higher than the virus itself

But justifying their decision not to restrict the vaccine by age, Dr Sabine Strauss said: 'Our review has shown that there is a predominance of these rare events of thrombosis combined with thrombocytopenia in certain groups  notably in women and younger women.

'But it is still rather premature to conclude on a specific group because the background risk of thrombosis may be different in various groups and it may also be the case that more people have received this vaccine in certain groups in different countries. The potential for different risk levels is part of our further evaluations.'

The EMA and its UK equivalent, the MHRA, both say the AstraZeneca is safe for every age group, including the under-30s. The EMA has left it to individual countries to carry out their own risk-benefit analysis and decide whether to suspend the jab's use, which has led to nations taking different approaches.

Germany has banned its use in under-60s, while France is not recommending it for under-55s. Britain's JCVI said the benefit versus risk stopped at people aged 30 and below.

Putting the tiny risk of jab-related clots into context, Professor Spiegelhalter said if a cohort of people in their 20s large enough to fill Wembley Stadium was given the UK-made jab, just one person would likely develop clotting.

Professor Spiegelhalter added that he believes the low risk coronavirus directly poses to young people makes their decision to get vaccinated altruistic, because it stops them passing it to vulnerable people, has not been emphasised enough.

It comes after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation ruled yesterday that healthy Brits under 30 should be given an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine while experts probe the clot links.

Professor Spiegelhalter said the UK had the luxury of being able to pivot because it has plentiful vaccine supplies and low levels of Covid infection, which meant the relative risk of the clots was higher than the threat of the virus.

However, should there be a resurgence of Covid transmission or if the UK is hit with vaccine delivery issues, then the relative importance of the risk of blood clots would decrease.

When coronavirus is prevalent in society, 100,000 AstraZeneca vaccines prevent 127.7 Covid ICU admissions among 60 to 69-year-olds. For 20 to 29-year-olds, every 100,000 vaccine administered stops seven people in that age group from being admitted to intensive care with the disease

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED THE RARE BRAIN CLOTS AFTER GETTING THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE? MHRA data leaked to ITV shows that, in total, more fatal blood clots have developed in 30 to 39-year-olds than any other age group. According to the regulator's review, by March 31 there had been 79 cases of the side effect and 19 deaths. The 79 cases occurred in 51 women and 28 men, aged from 18 to 79. Some 14 cases of the 19 were cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), a specific type of clot that prevents blood from draining from the brain. The other five cases were thrombosis. An age breakdown of the cases is shown below: Age range 18  29 30  39 40  49 50  59 60  69 70  79 Unknown Cases 11 16 10 12 13 5 12 Fatalities 3 6 2 2 3 1 2 Total 79 19 Advertisement

HOW COMMON ARE THE RARE CLOTS IN THE GENERAL POPULATION? The exact combination of symptoms affecting a small number of people given the AstraZeneca vaccine are so rare there is no reliable data, according to Professor David Speigelhalter. But the MHRA has said CVST - the deadly brain clot found in many of the patients - normally occurs in five to 16 cases per million in the UK every year, according to LBC's Ben Kentish. The regulator said the condition, which occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot, has been found in two cases per million in the three months since the vaccine rollout began. In Europe, regulators said they spotted 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), a type of clot in the liver, from 34million jabs. It's unclear if any vaccinated Brits have suffered from SVT, which is estimated to affect fewer than one per million people a year. Advertisement

Professor Spiegelhalter told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'It's a complex message here because there is a balance of risk and the unfortunate pattern is that the younger someone is, the benefits [of the vaccine] get less, in terms of the direct benefits to your health. But the risks do increase somewhat of getting this very nasty side effect [clotting].

'At some point it's inevitable that balance will tip in some context. In the context we are in at the moment, where actually there's not that much virus circulating, they've decided as guidance that for people under 30, it has tipped in favour of an alternative vaccine. But in a different context if theres a lot more virus then that guidance would change.'

Slides presented at yesterday showed that, for 20 to 29-year-olds, every 100,000 AstraZeneca vaccine administered stops seven people in that age group from being admitted to intensive care with coronavirus.

However, in low Covid levels, every 100,000 vaccines prevents just 0.8 ICU admissions from coronavirus in under-30s. Whereas, 1.1 people per every 100,000 will suffer blood clotting after having the jab, making the risk of the clots higher than the virus itself.

But Professor Spiegelhalter said the statistics do not account for the indirect benefits that vaccination offer to anyone those people came into contact with after getting their jab.

He added: 'This is something that perhaps should have been emphasised all the time for younger people, who can get long Covid, and it would prevent the huge numbers of that as well, but [also] being vaccinated is as much a contribution to the community and their relatives and the people around them. Preventing transmission has this direct benefit for themselves.'

The European medical regulator the EMA decided against restricting the AstraZeneca vaccine for any age group yesterday, saying that blood clots should be listed as a 'very rare' side effect. It doubled down on its message that the benefits far outweighed the small risk.

It came as the sister of a married lawyer who died from a blood clot after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine today joined the legion of politicians and health experts encouraging people to continue taking up the jab and said: 'My brother was just extraordinarily unlucky'.

Neil Astles, 59, who lived in a 275,000 detached house in Newton-le-Willows on Merseyside, became the UK's first named victim after passing away last weekend following 10 days of severe headaches and a steady loss of vision.

Mr Astles, who married his wife Carole in 1993 and worked as a council solicitor in nearby Warrington, died on Easter Sunday.

His sister Dr Alison Astles, a pharmacist at the University of Huddersfield, said her brother was a keen runner, was 'fit and healthy' and had no history of blood clots.

But he developed a headache about a week after his vaccination March 17. When his headaches and eyesight worsened, he was rushed to A&E at the Royal Liverpool Hospital by his brother, before being admitted to intensive care, where he died more than a fortnight later.

Dr Astles told the Daily Telegraph: 'Despite what has happened to our family, we strongly believe that everyone should go for their first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Emotionally, we are completely and utterly furious. We are suffering. But there's nothing in our minds to be really furious about. My brother was just extraordinarily unlucky.'

Yesterday Britain's medical regulator the MHRA announced the vaccine created by Oxford University and produced by AstraZeneca would not be used for those under 30 following extremely rare cases of clotting. Boris Johnson also declared the jab was safe and will save lives.

According to the MHRA the chance of suffering blood clots after receiving the AstraZeneca jab was 0.000095 per cent. The BMJ said the risk is the same as being killed by a plane falling from the sky and crashing on your house.

Dr Alison Astles agreed and said: 'If we all have the vaccine, a few of us might have a blood clot but the evidence is that fewer people will die.'

But there are concerns public confidence will have been damaged by the change in policy, made worse by chaos in Europe where EU health ministers have failed to agree joint guidelines for who should be given AstraZeneca jabs as many nations reserved the use of the vaccine to the over-55s or over-60s while Germany has placed restrictions in all age groups.

The curbs came despite the head of the European Medicines Agency declaring there is 'no evidence' to support restricting the use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine.

Is it safe for me to get my second dose of AstraZeneca's vaccine if I had agonising headaches? Can I 'mix and match' to get Pfizer's instead? All the answers to your questions about the jab's link to blood clots

AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine is once again under the spotlight, amid growing fears it may trigger extremely rare blood clots.

Health chiefs yesterday recommended it should not be given to under-30s because of its link to the potentially deadly complication.

But medical experts insist the jab is safe and the benefits far outweigh any risks for the majority of adults, with the overall risk of dying from a blood clot after getting jabbed being around one in a million.

Here MailOnline answers all of your questions about what is really going on with the vaccine, revealing why you can't ask to get a second dose of Pfizer's jab instead and why you should not be concerned by any link to blood clots.

I DEVELOPED ONE OF THE TELL-TALE SYMPTOMS OF BLOOD CLOTS AFTER MY FIRST DOSE, IS IT SAFE FOR ME TO GET MY SECOND?

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RARE BLOOD CLOTS? MHRA chief executive Dr June Raine said anyone who has one or more of the below symptoms for longer than four days after vaccination should seek urgent medical advice. Shortness of breath

Chest pain

Swollen legs

Persistent stomach pain

Severe headache

Blurred vision

Skin bruising beyond the site of injection Advertisement

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation  which advises ministers on the vaccination roll-out  says anyone who has already had their first jab should still get their second 'irrespective of age'.

This is because the second dose 'will be important for longer lasting protection against Covid', the panel says.

Only the handful of Brits who developed major blood clots occurring with low platelet levels after getting their first dose should avoid their second.

Everyone else should attend their second appointment as normal, regulators insist.

No evidence currently exists to say there is any link between getting AstraZeneca's top-up vaccine and getting potentially deadly blood clots.

But anyone who suffered one of the tell-tale symptoms of the rare complication should still speak to their doctor before receiving their second dose, purely out of caution, advisers say.

Severe headaches and blurred vision that last longer than four days after receiving the vaccine are two warning signs of the brain blood clot linked to AstraZeneca's jab, called CVST.

But it has also been linked to blockages in other veins, which can cause swollen legs, bruising beyond the site of the jab, crippling abdominal or chest pain, and feeling short of breath.

The JCVI insisted the clots 'appear to be an idiosyncratic reaction on first exposure' to AstraZeneca's vaccine.

Officials have not recorded any cases of blood clots after a second dose, with all 79 incidents occurring after the first jab.

Professor Adam Finn, of the JCVI, said facts could change but at the moment there is 'no evidence of a problem after the second dose'.

'At the moment we would be voyaging into an evidence-free zone if we recommend people do not have a second dose,' he added.

WHAT ABOUT IF I HAD OTHER SYMPTOMS?

HOW COMMON ARE STANDARD SIDE EFFECTS WITH ASTRAZENECA'S JAB? Very Common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people) tenderness, pain, warmth, itching or bruising where the injection is given

generally feeling unwell

feeling tired (fatigue)

chills or feeling feverish

headache

feeling sick (nausea)

joint pain or muscle ache Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) swelling, redness or a lump at the injection site

fever

being sick (vomiting) or diarrhoea

flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, sore throat, runny nose, cough and chills Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) feeling dizzy

decreased appetite

abdominal pain

enlarged lymph nodes

excessive sweating, itchy skin or rash Source: MHRA Advertisement

Brits who suffered flu-like symptoms after getting the first jab do not need to worry, experts say.

Side effects from vaccines are normal and go away on tend to disappear within 48 hours.

They are a sign they are working, with the side effects a result of the jab prompting the immune system to gear up to fight the virus.

Data shows one in ten recipients of the jab will feel unwell after their initial vaccine, or suffer fatigue and joint pain.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which polices the safety of all the drugs, says headaches are also a very common side effect.

Officials say only vaccinated Britons who are struck down with crippling headaches four days after getting jabbed should seek medical help.

They say the headache may not be relieved with painkillers or feel worse when you lie down or bend over. The agony may also occur alongside blurred vision, vomiting, or speaking difficulties.

CAN I 'MIX AND MATCH' AND GET A SECOND DOSE OF PFIZER OR MODERNA?

Drug regulators have yet to approve a mix-and-match policy for jabs, meaning Brits who were given the AstraZeneca jab must stick with it.

JCVI bosses have no reason to believe letting people receive Pfizer or Moderna's jab the second time around would be dangerous.

Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chair of the advisory panel, told Good Morning Britain the safest thing to do at the moment 'would be to receive the same type.'

He said: 'This is an evidence free zone at the moment because all the trials have been done using the same vaccine.

'There is work undergoing at the moment to use different vaccine types but we just don't have that data and we don't have the safety data on that.'

British scientists launched the world's first trial at mix and matching Covid vaccines earlier this year.

The study of 800 patients will look at the effect of giving someone an initial dose of the Oxford University jab, followed by the Pfizer one, and vice versa.

Scientists will trial other vaccine combinations as more are approved and rolled out across the UK over the course of the year-long research.

Experts believe the 'mix and match' approach could stimulate different parts of the immune system and give better, longer lasting immunity.

The tactic could also help Britain deal with supply shortages which has held back the UK's otherwise successful vaccination rollout.

CAN ANYONE CHOOSE WHAT VACCINE THEY GET?

Only healthy under-30s are currently being offered the choice of whether they take AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine.

But younger adults can still opt to take the jab, if they would like.

The MHRA has not placed any legal age-restriction on the vaccine, with the decision made out of an abundance of caution.

Advisers argue because young people are at such low risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid, the benefits of the vaccine are not as clear-cut.

The JCVI says 'the benefits of prompt vaccination with AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine far outweigh the risk of adverse events' over-30s and anyone with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of Covid.

WHAT OTHER JABS ARE AVAILABLE FOR UNDER-30S?

More than 20million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have now been given in the UK, with the jab used as the main weapon in the UK's arsenal.

The roll-out is unlikely to move on to under-30s for several weeks, meaning supplies of other jabs could be saved for younger adults.

Moderna's jab was deployed in Britain for the first time today, with ministers having bought 17million doses  enough for 8.5million people.

The chief scientist behind the US-developed Novavax vaccine, which Britain has secured 60million doses of, has said he expects it to be given the green light this month and rolled out in May.

A separate vaccine made by American pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson, which uses the same type of technology as AstraZeneca's but is administered via a single injection, is slated for a summer rollout. No10 has bought 30million doses.

The UK has also ordered 40million Pfizer doses, enough for 20million people, but the majority of the country's remaining stocks are reserved for second doses.

But, given that AstraZeneca's vaccine is the main driver of the campaign, the roll-out could be slowed if the UK's change of heart on giving the jab to young adults knocks public confidence in 30-50 year olds.

WHAT ARE THE BLOOD CLOTS LINKED TO ASTRAZENECA'S JAB?

European health chiefs ruled that AstraZeneca's jab should come with a warning that, in very rare cases, it may cause potentially deadly blood clots.

The EMA, which polices the safety of drugs used on the continent, spotted 169 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVST) and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), from 34million jabs.

CVST occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot. It can lead to a stroke.

SVT is the same type of blood clot but it occurs in the digestive system.

Both the EMA and their UK counterparts said the clots had occurred alongside thrombocytopenia  low levels of blood platelets.

WHAT EXACTLY IS CVST AND SHOULD I BE WORRIED?

CVST is where potentially fatal clots form in the veins that run from the brain.

Unusually, this is occurring with thrombocytopenia  abnormally low levels of blood cells called platelets.

Platelets cause blood to clot, so while not unheard of, it is incredibly rare for people with low levels to develop clots.

The most severe signs of CVST include stroke-like symptoms such as weakness of the face and limbs on one side of the body, seizures, coma and ultimately death.

But anyone who has suffered headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, abdominal pain and bruising or pinpoint spots below the vaccination site for four days after a jab should seek medical attention.

HAVE THESE CLOTS BEEN LINKED TO ANY OTHER VACCINES?

No cases of CVST with low platelets have been linked to the Pfizer vaccine in the UK, with just two serious clots reported more widely.

Experts suggest this could be to do with the technology in mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, compared to those using adenoviruses, for example, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

Trials of the latter have shown possible clots, although scientists stressed they were incredibly rare with three reported cases in 4.5million jabs administered.

So far, only the Oxford jab has been linked to possible raised levels of clotting. All vaccines will continue to be monitored.

HOW OFTEN ARE THE CLOTS OCCURRING?

Figures presented by the EMA  which took into account data up until April 4  suggested the clots occur once in every 150,000 jabs. They also said most of the cases were in women under 60.

The MHRA, which plays the same role in the UK, found 79 cases of clots in 20million doses by the end of March. Officials said the risk was around one in every 250,000 doses.

They also insisted the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people  but that the ratio was more 'finely balanced' in younger people, who are slightly more prone to blood clots.

LBC claimed that the MHRA revealed the baseline rate of CVST was between five and 16 cases per million people each year. The MHRA has spotted 44 cases of that blood clot  a rate of two cases per million people every three months.

EMA chiefs said that clots occurred more often than expected, prompting them to say the jabs need to come with the warning that it is a rare side effect.

But it said the committee investigating the link did not conclude that age and gender were clear risk factors for the very rare side effects.

HOW COULD THE JAB BE CAUSING BLOOD CLOTS?

Scientists are exploring several possibilities.

European investigators have put forward one theory that the vaccine triggers an unusual antibody in some rare cases, similar to conditions seen in patients treated with the anticoagulant  commonly known as blood thinner  heparin.

The autoimmune disorder called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) leads to plummeting platelet counts and clotting.

Others are looking at whether the cases  which seem more common in women  are linked to birth control pills.

However, at the moment scientists say there is no definitive evidence.

IF I'M PREGNANT, SHOULD I GET THE VACCINE?

The advice on this has not changed, meaning it's recommended that those who are pregnant should not be vaccinated, with some exceptions. This is because the vaccines have not yet been tested in pregnancy.

While there is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine would harm the baby, pregnancy is more likely to lead to thrombosis.

Therefore women should discuss with their healthcare professional whether the benefits of having the vaccine outweigh the risks for them.

I'M 29. WHAT IF THEY ONLY OFFER THE OXFORD VACCINE?

Officials say this will not happen unless you have an underlying medical condition and are prioritised.

In such instances, they say the benefit of having the vaccine far outweighs any issues as you have an equivalent risk from coronavirus as 65 to 70-year-olds.

For healthy under-30s, officials are confident there are sufficient supplies of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines coming on stream to vaccinate all 10million 18 to 29-year-olds in the UK.

I'VE HEARD ASPIRIN CAN STOP BLOOD CLOTTING. SHOULD I TAKE IT BEFORE THE JAB?

No. The risks of an adverse clotting event are extremely low. Taking aspirin or anti-coagulants can increase the risk of bleeding and is not
However, this region is showing signs of neglect and decline in recent times. In a talk with Saigon Investment, Dr. NGUYEN DINH CUNG, former Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management, shared his view on this issue.

JOURNALIST: - Sir, there are many opinions that the Southern Economic Region is facing many bottlenecks, which are limiting its ability to accelerate in growth, such as a deteriorating infrastructure, overload of urban transport, and increasing environmental pollution. What is your opinion on this state of decline and related issues?

Dr. NGUYEN DINH CUNG: - First of all, in terms of a region, frankly speaking, it is just an accumulation of neighboring localities, with no significant links. All regional activities are just superficial. The localities have no motivation, and no need to coordinate and connect into becoming a strong economic zone.

One obvious reason is that the same socio-economic indicators are applied to all localities. Thus, local governments have to compete with each other to attract investments, to take care of their home province first, so they have no need to connect with the neighboring provinces. For example, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Vung Tau is a number one priority for these two provinces, but may not be the number one priority for Dong Nai province. Likewise, connecting Tay Ninh with Ho Chi Minh City may be the number one priority of Tay Ninh, but Ho Chi Minh City has many other concerns that need to be addressed first.

In brief, Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces in the Southern Economic Region have not yet created organic links to become a unified entity. They have not created links with other regions and localities as well, so it is not possible to take advantage of regional relations to create a development momentum for the whole region. For example, Ho Chi Minh City is next to two major industrial and manufacturing centers, Binh Duong and Dong Nai, but the leading service industry of Ho Chi Minh City is real estate, while logistics services in Binh Duong and Dong Nai are their highlight.

- Sir, besides the need to complete twelve socio-economic targets of the region first, what are the other reasons?

- The root cause is that the retained budget ratios of the provinces in this region, including Ho Chi Minh City, are still very low, much lower than those in the North with the same economic scale. Regional budget revenues account for 40% of the national budget revenue, but only 20% of budget expenditure. The industrial provinces around Ho Chi Minh City such as Binh Duong and Dong Nai can only retain 36% and 47% of the budget revenue, respectively. The industrial provinces around Hanoi such as Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, and Hai Duong can retain budget at 53%, 83%, and 98%, respectively. Ho Chi Minh City alone is the highest budget contributor, but the retained rate is the lowest in the country, at only 18%.

Consequently, Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast region lack resources to invest in and re-invest in upgrading the internal transport infrastructure and associated transport systems. The gateway routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City with neighboring areas in the East and the South West are always severely congested, making production, services and export costs too high, thereby reducing competitiveness and attractiveness for investors.

If we look at the results of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Ho Chi Minh City, we will see that the scale of FDI projects in the area is getting smaller and smaller. Specifically, the average size of one FDI project in the Southern Economic Region is about USD 10 mn, significantly lower than the national average of USD 12.42 mn, while the average scale of one project in Ho Chi Minh City is even lower, only USD 5.56 mn. This means that Ho Chi Minh City is gradually lacking projects of large-scale, high-tech and modern corporate governance that are capable of leading development growth.

- Sir, according to you, how can localities in the region closely link and support each other in the most effective way?

- I must emphasize that there are fierce challenges facing the Southern region which require multi-sectoral and multi-local solutions that can only be resolved when localities build links and solve problems together. In order to do that, besides building a quality regional plan, it is necessary to let localities see practical benefits from joint activities and support each other. This means localities must have enough resources to solve their internal pressing problems, as well as participate in regional projects.

In my opinion, the first focus should be on traffic connectivity. If we let the provinces settle for themselves, it will be very difficult and take a very long time. This is where it is necessary to use public investment from the central government, and effectively stimulate development.

Besides, the governments of the provinces and cities must have a global view, so that each locality can bring into full play its own quintessential strengths. For example, Ho Chi Minh City should focus on high-tech projects, high value-added services, and should avoid more labor-intensive projects and production, because it will further stress the situation of infrastructure overload, while the value added is too small.

- Thank you very much.

Anh Thu (interviewer)
Imagine you need to get somewhere quickly and safely. You call your ride-hailing company  and it sends Fred Flintstone in his family car. Not what you had in mind and not what you paid for.

The Texas Immunization Registry, ImmTrac2, is not quite a Stone Age vehicle for sharing our vital immunization records, but in its present form, it certainly is not what Texans have in mind or what we paid for.

The Texas Department of State Health Services, or DSHS, consolidates and stores individuals vaccine records from health care providers, pharmacies, public health clinics, Medicaid claims administrators and the Vital Statistics Unit of DSHS.

Texas launched ImmTrac2 in 2017 to replace the legacy system, enhance functionality and improve the exchange of electronic health record data. Texas, however, is one of four states requiring opt-in. This means parents and adults must fill out and submit a consent form when they get their first vaccination, but sometimes they must repeat the process the next time because their provider cannot access their information in the registry. Data in, but not always data out.

Cumbersome, yes. Inefficient, yes. A waste of provider time and taxpayer dollars, absolutely, especially as we try to vaccinate Texans against COVID-19.

As of Wednesday, almost 17 percent of Texans were fully vaccinated, but the daily entry of that data stretches the abilities of people and technology to keep up to keep us safe. And heres why: Ideally, your provider would submit your opt-in consent and vaccination information at the same time.

However, Texas created electronic consent codes that conflict with the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions national functional standards. The result: Health care providers cannot directly input this medical information into ImmTrac2.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

Instead, providers and their staff work overtime creating spreadsheets they send to Austin, which DSHS staff manually enter into the registry. Anyone who has worked with data and spreadsheets can see the many opportunities for data-entry errors and delays on the side of the registry. Also, many providers fax your private information because that is the only method available to them.

Under the current system, everyone works harder, not smarter, to get around the registrys artificial barriers. We are happy to say help may be on the way, thanks to bipartisan leadership and Texas tenacity. State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and Sens. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, and Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, filed legislation to streamline the registry.

Their companion bills  House Bill 325 and Senate Bill 468  switch off the conflicting codes to allow for easy and efficient entry of vaccine information. The bills also strengthen privacy protections and provide a simple way to opt out permanently.

Easy in, easy out. Sometimes, though, easy solutions require hard decisions. These legislative champions have worked for more than a decade to fix the registry. Now they need our help to make ImmTrac2 fully functional. They need us to ask our legislators to support this bipartisan legislation that will give Texans the immunization registry we expect and deserve.

Allison N. Winnike is president and CEO of the Immunization Partnership, a statewide nonprofit organization.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE /, April 8, 2021 / Searchlight Resources Inc. ("Searchlight" or the "Company") (TSXV:SCLT)(OTC PINK:CNYCF)(FSE:2CC2) is pleased to announce that arms' length creditors of the Company have agreed to accept 1,083,333 common shares in lieu of cash to settle $97,500 in outstanding liabilities. The common shares will be issued at $0.09 per share.

The conversions are subject to TSXV approval, and if obtained Closing will take place immediately thereafter.

About Searchlight Resources Inc.

Searchlight Resources Inc. (TSXV:SCLT, US:CNYCF, FSE:2CC2) is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on Saskatchewan, Canada, which has been ranked as the top location for mining investment in Canada by the Fraser Institute. Exploration focus is on gold and battery minerals throughout the Province, concentrating on projects with road access.

Searchlight holds a 427.6 square kilometre land position within the gold and base metal rich Flin Flon - Snow Lake Greenstone Belt. The Company is currently advancing its Bootleg Lake Gold Project located in Saskatchewan, less than 10 km from Flin Flon, Manitoba, and which hosts four past producing high-grade gold mines.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Stephen Wallace"

Stephen Wallace, President, CEO and Director

SEARCHLIGHT RESOURCES INC.

For further information, visit the Company's website at www.searchlightresources.com or contact:

Searchlight Resources Inc.

Alf Stewart, VP Corporate Development

(604) 331-9326

info@searchlightresources.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

SOURCE: Searchlight Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639414/Searchlight-Announces-Debt-Conversion
Island will follow latest advice on AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

The Isle of Man will follow the latest advice from the JCVI  the UKs Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation  and the MHRA  the UKs Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency  on the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.



It follows a thorough scientific review by the MHRA, the independent Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), and leading haematologists into UK reports of extremely rare and unlikely to occur specific blood clots in people who had the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.



The review concluded that whilst there may be a potential link between the clots and the AstraZeneca vaccine, more work is needed to understand this. The MHRA and the CHM will continue to keep the situation under close observation.



The JCVI and MHRA are now advising that  as a precaution  it is preferable for two groups of people to be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine where available.



 Those aged under 30, who do not have an underlying health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease  this is because of the 79 cases reported there was a slightly higher incidence in the younger adult age groups and because the risks of severe disease associated with COVID-19 increases steeply with age making timely vaccination all the more important

 Those of any age who are at higher risk of blood clots because of their medical condition, unless the benefits from the protection from COVID-19 infection outweigh potential risks.



The current alternatives to AstraZeneca are the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, with Moderna due to be available on the Island within the next few weeks. However, current scheduled supplies of these vaccines will mean that the overall programme delivery timeframes will now be longer. Anyone may wish to make an informed choice to receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.



Pregnant women who are on a high risk pregnancy pathway will be advised by Nobles Hospital directly on the benefits and risks of vaccination, with all other pregnant women excluded from any current vaccination.



People with blood disorders that leave them at risk of clotting should also discuss the benefits and risks of vaccination with their GP before going for a vaccination.



Minister for Health and Social Care, David Ashford MHK, said: I know that the reports of these specific types of blood clots in the brain  which are extremely rare and unlikely to occur  will be a cause of concern for some in our community. Patient safety is the number one priority for all vaccination programmes, including for COVID-19, and we will immediately adopt the advice from the MHRA and JCVI.



This situation does, however, need to be placed firmly in context. No effective medicine or vaccination is completely without risk. The AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective and undoubtedly has already saved thousands of lives. The MHRA and the JCVI have made clear that the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh any risks.



The Minister continued: We will of course now need to determine what the impact these changes will be have on our vaccination programme, but it will certainly mean a delay and a revision to our timetable.



Given the need to manage three different vaccines with different delivery schedules and storage requirements, plus the need to ensure that both doses people receive are the same type, it is not possible to offer the public a choice of vaccine.



Anyone who declines or cancels their vaccination appointment because of the type of vaccine offered will be removing themselves from the current phased roll-out of the vaccination programme. A new appointment will only be offered at the end of the programme after all adults on the Island have been offered an appointment and as supplies allow which may still be the AstraZeneca vaccine.



Commenting on the advice, Director of Public Health Dr Henrietta Ewart, said: The link between the small recorded number of clots and the AstraZeneca vaccine is not yet certain. If there is a link, the risk is incredibly small at around four cases per million people.



Vaccinations are always a matter of personal choice and people should make an informed decision. But the UKs medicines regulator and vaccinations advisory bodies are clear: the vaccination programme is highly effective and substantially reduces the risk of infection and severe COVID-19 disease. Over 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have now been given in the UK which have saved thousands of lives.



To date there have been no reported cases of these rare clots following a second dose of AstraZeneca. Unless specifically advised not to, people whose first vaccine dose was AstraZeneca should take up their second dose, which is important for longer lasting protection against COVID-19.


In a historic and united show of solidarity for a continent that contributes only 5% to global emissions, more than 30 heads of state and global leaders committed to prioritize actions that help African countries adapt to the impacts of climate change and build forward better.

Africa now faces the dual onslaught of climate change  currently estimated at between $7 billion and $15 billion each year  and Covid-19, which has claimed 114,000 lives. The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) expects that the impact of climate change on the continent could rise to $50 billion each year by 2040, with a further 3% decline each year in GDP by 2050.

Speaking Tuesday, during a virtual Leaders Dialogue convened by the African Development Bank (www.AFD.org), the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA.org) and the Africa Adaptation Initiative, more than 30 heads of state and global leaders rallied behind the bold new Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (https://bit.ly/3cYoMgw). The programs objective is to mobilize $25 billion to accelerate climate change adaptation actions across Africa.

President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and African Union Chairperson, invited his fellow leaders to: revisit our climate ambitions and accelerate the implementation of our actions planned under our national priorities. To do this we will need to focus on actions to adapt to the impacts of climate change, these include nature-based solutions, energy transition, enhanced transparency framework, technology transfer and climate finance.

The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program is built to address the impacts of Covid-19, climate change, and the continents worst recession in 25 years. This is why todays unprecedented show of support for the financing of African adaptation is so significant.

According to Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Chair of the Global Center on Adaptation, The Covid-19 pandemic is eroding recent progress in building climate resilience and leaving countries and communities more vulnerable to future shocks. Africa must make up for lost ground and lost time. Climate change did not stop because of Covid-19, and neither should the urgent task of preparing humanity to live with the multiple effects of a warming planet.

President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, and Chair of the African Union-led Africa Adaptation Initiative, spoke of Gabons record in emission reductions. He said that Gabon is one of the few countries in the world that is carbon positive. We have to insist that equal attention be paid to climate adaptation and mitigation in climate finance. Africa calls on the developed nations to shoulder the historic responsibility and to join the program to accelerate the adaptation in Africa, President Bongo said.

African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina said: With our partners, we intend to mobilize $25 billion in financing for the success of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program. It is time for developed countries to meet their promise of providing $100 billion annually for climate finance. And a greater share of this should go to climate adaptation. So far, more than 20 trillion dollars have gone into Covid-19 stimulus packages in developed countries. The International Monetary Funds plan to issue $650 billion of new Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to boost global reserves and liquidity will be enormously helpful to support green growth and climate financing for economic recovery. I applaud the leadership of the US government and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, especially, on this big push.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: African nations are showing leadershipThe Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, and many other ambitious African initiatives, must be empowered to fully deliver on their goals. 

Guterres added: Universal access to energy in Africa, a priority in the coming years, could be provided primarily through renewable energy. I call for a comprehensive package of support to meet these dual objectives by COP 26. It is achievable, it is necessary, it is overdue, and it is smart.

Speaking on behalf of US President Joseph R. Biden, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said: The United States remains a committed development partner for Africa and a huge supporter of the African Development Bank. Africa contributed the least to climate change but is suffering the worst of its effects. I congratulate the African Development Bank and the Global Center for Adaptation for developing the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program. We support the program to help ensure that together, we can avoid the worst effects of climate change.

The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, as launched by the African Development Bank and the Global Center on Adaptation, revolves around several transformative initiatives:

Climate Smart Digital Technologies for Agriculture and Food Security aims to scale up access to climate-smart digital technologies for at least 30 million farmers in Africa. The African Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator will scale up investment for climate-resilient urban and rural infrastructure in key sectors. These include water, transport, energy, and waste management for a circular economy. Empowering Youth for Entrepreneurship and Job Creation in Climate Resilience will provide one million youths with skills for climate adaptation and support 10,000 small and medium size youth-led businesses to create green jobs. Innovative Financial Initiatives for Africa will help close adaptation finance gaps, enhance access to existing finance and mobilize new public and private sector investment.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said: As well as facing the health and economic crisis caused by the pandemic, countries in Africa are among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Tackling this dual challenge requires putting adaptation at the heart of Africas recovery  so countries build resilience to climate change and spur economic activity. This pandemic has shown us the importance of investing in people. And that is so, so very valuable for Africa, which has a fast-growing young population. This begins by improving education, healthcare, and food security, and in that context, I warmly welcome the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program.

Speaking on behalf of French President Emmanuel Macron, the Chief Executive of the French Development Agency, Remy Rioux said: Africa is providing solutions to climate change, including the Great Green Wall and the Desert to Power initiative of the African Development Bank to build the worlds largest solar zone in the Sahel of Africa. France fully supports the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program.

Moderating the Leaders Dialogue, Dr. Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, said: Africa has a unique opportunity to advance its development exponentially if it invests now in a climate-smart adapted future based on a deep understanding of climate risks and solutions that put nature and people at the center.

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The United States on April 7 imposed sanctions on a Pakistani national and a smuggling organization it said he runs to help people migrate illegally from Pakistan and Afghanistan into the United States.

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Abid Ali Khan and the transnational criminal organization he allegedly runs, calling it a prolific human smuggling organization." It said some of the people who have been smuggled into the United States may pose a national security risk.

Khans organization has facilitated the smuggling of foreign nationals through Latin America since at least 2015, the Treasury Department said in a statement. The average cost was $20,000 per individual, the statement said.

"Abid Ali Kahn allegedly organized and leads a widespread smuggling organization that facilitates the illegal smuggling of individuals through various countries and to the United States," Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas McQuaid of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said in the statement.

Andrea Gacki, director of the Treasury Departments Office of the Foreign Assets Control, said the organization should not be allowed to prey on the vulnerable and take advantage of the U.S. financial system.

The move freezes any U.S. assets held by Khan and three people and one entity associated with the organization that were sanctioned along with him. The sanctions also generally bar Americans from dealing with them.

The three people are Afghan national Redi Hussein Khal Gul, who allegedly serves as Khans secretary, and Pakistani nationals Shakeel Karim Mohammed and Choudry Ikram Waraich. They are accused of assisting Kahn in a number of ways, including obtaining fraudulent documents for the migrants. The entity is Friends Travel Inn Private Limited in Peshawar.

Khan did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by RFE/RL to two e-mail addresses listed by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control.

With reporting by Reuters
A Sydney bakery has blended two of the world's most iconic treats into one delicious dessert.

The snack is a baklava croissant, stuffed with an assortment of nuts, honey, lemon clove syrup and indulgent pistachio cream.

It's the latest creation from Banksia Bakehouse, a boutique cafe in the CBD known for its rotating menu of experimental desserts.

Customers have been drooling over the exotic creation since the first photo was uploaded to the bakery's Instagram feed on Wednesday, with comments including 'oh my god, this sounds delicious' and 'I need this in my life ASAP'.

Sydney bakery Banksia Bakehouse's baklava croissant, stuffed with an assortment of nuts, honey, lemon clove syrup and a rich pistachio cream

Banksia Bakehouse head baker Chris Sheldrick said the inspiration behind the croissant came from the pastry chefs' personal love of baklava, a filo pastry believed to originate from Turkey that has long been the Middle East's best-known dessert.

'We thought it would be awesome to create something out of the two things they love - baklava and croissants,' Mr Sheldrick told Daily Mail Australia.

'Most people think of France and Paris as a home of pastries and baked sweets, but the Middle East has a long rich history of fantastic pastries and the baklava is one of the most familiar.'

The croissant will be available from the bakery at 225 George Street until April 30, when a new tranche of decadent desserts will be rolled out.

Banksia Bakehouse head baker Chris Sheldrick said the inspiration behind the croissant (pictured) came from the pastry chefs' personal love of baklava

Just seven months since opening in August 2020, Banksia Bakehouse (pictured) has cemented its reputation as one of Sydney's finest bakeries thanks to its unique take on traditional treats

Just seven months since opening in August 2020, Banksia Bakehouse has cemented its reputation as one of Sydney's finest bakeries thanks to its unique take on traditional treats.

In March, it launched a special Easter-inspired treat - the hot cross croissant, a fusion of the classic croissant and hot cross bun crafted from dough moulded into a cube that's crisscrossed with lashings of white icing.

The two-in-one sweet, which is also available until April 30, is stuffed with a rich cinnamon cream and Australian sultanas.

Meet the hot cross croissant: Banksia Bakehouse in Sydney's CBD has created this two-in-one dessert, which is a fusion of the classic croissant and hot cross bun

The two-in-one sweet is stuffed with a rich cinnamon cream and Australian sultanas

The bakery, which is open from 7:30am to 4:30pm from Monday to Friday, uses locally grown ingredients from Australian producers wherever possible - in this case, Sunmuscat sultanas from a family-owned farm in Mildura, VIC.

Mr Sheldrick said the special croissant was developed as a 'special Easter treat' that is different to the traditional fare stocked in supermarkets across Australia.

'With hot cross buns appearing in shops right after Christmas, we didnt want to create a traditional-style bun as we felt customers would be tired of them by the time Easter actually came around,' he said.
The Eastern Orthodox have a word, prelest, a transliteration from Russian, where in common use means something like charm. In the Orthodox Church, however, prelest has a darker denotation. Its a kind of spiritual delusion, the wounding of human nature by falsehood, using the phrase of the 19th-century Russian monk and theologian Ignatius Brianchaninov.

All of us are subject to spiritual deception in a general sense, Brianchaninov taught, when we do not have the truth of Christ (John 14:6). But prelest as spiritual delusion can have a narrower meaning, too: a more specific delusion in which we actively embrace falsehoods, including ones about our own spiritual state.

Orthodox teaching warns that the Devil, the father of lies (John 8:44), works to draw us into prelest. (The demons in C. S. Lewiss Screwtape Letters practice exactly this, pushing their human subject toward delusion about himself, his politics, his church, and anything and everything else.) Also closely linked to prelest is the vice of vainglory, the disordered desire for the approval of others, especially when no such approval is merited. Prelest has us believe something not good is good.

Isnt that an apt description of how our use of political media, especially social media, affects us? How it has us believing lies? How it deceives us about ourselves and our neighbors? How it invites us into vainglory and distracts us from tasks of loving God and others? How it degrades our attention spans, incites our fears, escalates our (not always righteous) angers, and pulls us into delusion? How it can fool us into forgetting that our political opponents are beloved of God too?

The devil makes every ...

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Athora Netherlands N.V.

PARIS, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HSBC (contact: 'synd manager'; telephone: +44 207 992 8066) hereby gives notice, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilisation Manager(s) named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities



The securities: Issuer: Athora Netherlands N.V. Guarantor (if any): NA Aggregate nominal amount: EUR 300,000,000 Description: Fixed rate due 15th July 2031 NC 5.25 Offer price: TBC Other offer terms: Stabilisation: Stabilising Manager(s): Barclays, HSBC, NatWest Markets Stabilisation period expected to start on: 8th April 2021 Stabilisation period expected to end no later than: 14th May 2021 Existence, maximum size & conditions of use of over-allotment facility[1]: 5% of the aggregate nominal amount Stabilisation Venue(s) Over the counter (OTC)

In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State.

This announcement and the offer of the securities to which it relates are only addressed to and directed at persons outside the United Kingdom and persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters related to investments or who are high net worth persons within article 12(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in the United Kingdom.

_____________________

[1] Please note that the existence and the maximum size of any greenshoe option, the exercise period of the greenshoe option and any conditions for exercise of the greenshoe option must also be disclosed, if such option exists. In addition, the exercise of the greenshoe option must be disclosed to the public promptly, together with all appropriate details, including in particular the date of exercise and the number and nature of securities involved
A new study published in Lancet Psychiatry journal on Tuesday, April 6, finds one in three COVID-19 survivors have had mental health or neurological symptoms over extended period of time. More specifically according to the research, 34% of survivors have been diagnosed either a psychological or neurological condition within six months of being infected with coronavirus.

Our results indicate that brain diseases and psychiatric disorders are more common after Covid-19 than after flu or other respiratory infections, even when patients are matched for other risk factors, said Maxime Taquet, co-author of the study and fellow in psychiatry at the University of Oxford, according to CNN.

The study reveals that its not just former hospitalized patients that are experiencing long COVID-19 neurological and psychological conditions, but also some outpatients too. A total of 236,000 patients who survived COVID-19 are used in the study.

CNNs Ryan Prior broke down the most common conditions from the study. On the top of the list is anxiety with 17% of patients from the study experiencing the condition. This is followed by mood swings at 14%.

While the studys findings break down the long-term effects of COVID-19, its at the six month mark. Taquet added, We now need to see what happens beyond six months.

Read more of the study here.

The White House launched a national initiative to study the longterm effects of COVID-19 on patients called long haulers.

(There are) a lot of important questions that are now unanswered that we hope with this series of initiatives we will ultimately answer, said Dr. Anthony Fauci in a past press briefing back in February, according to USA today.

Sometimes these symptoms arise well after the time of infection or they evolve over time and they may persist ... for months, and can range from mild, annoying to actually quite incapacitating, Fauci added.

The NeuroCOVID Project, a biobank and database spearheaded by New York University, is part of the initiative. Brain fog is considered to be the most common ongoing symptom or condition in COVID-19 long haulers. Hence, the NeuroCOVID Project has been gathering information on neurological conditions in long haulers.

Dr. Sharon Meropol is the program director of The NeuroCOVID Project, and shes one of the doctors who has confirmed the connection between neurological conditions and long COVID-19.

As so many people got sick, it became evident that there were so many patients that seemed to have neurologic conditions that seemed to be associated with COVID, she said.

We dont have the answers, but whats really important is to find out whats there and thats where a nationwide effort like this really plays an important role, added Dr. Barbara Karp, whos the program director at the NIHs National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, via USA Today. Were hoping in the long run that if we can identify the syndrome then we can develop ways to approach treatment for it.

Read More via PennLive:
Varanasi, April 8 : A Varanasi court has ordered an archaeological survey of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi mosque site.

The court, on Thursday, gave its approval for survey of Kashi Vishwanath temple and Gyanvapi Mosque complex by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The court further directed the Uttar Pradesh government to bear the cost of the survey. The ASI is likely to set up a five-member team that will visit the campus soon.

The court order came on a petition filed by a local lawyer Vijay Shankar Rastogi, who had demanded that the land entailing the Gyanvapi Mosque be restored to Hindus.

The petition was filed in December 2019 on behalf of Swayambhu Jyotirlinga Bhagwan Vishweshwar in the court of civil judge.

The petitioner claimed that Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, in 1664, had pulled down a portion of the 2000-year-old Kashi Vishwanath temple to build the mosque in its place.

The petitioner requested for a survey of the entire Gyanvapi compound by the ASI. He had filed the petition as the 'next friend' of Swayambhu Jyotirlinga Bhagwan Vishweshwar. In January 2020, Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee had filed an objection against the petition.

The Gyanvyapi mosque management committee had opposed the petition.

The petitioner had further contended that the Kashi Vishwanath temple was built by Maharaja Vikramaditya about 2,050 years ago, but Mughal emperor Aurangzeb destroyed the temple in 1664 and used its remains to construct a mosque, which is known as Gyanvapi masjid, on a portion of the temple land.

The petitioner requested the court to issue directions for the removal of the mosque from the temple land and give back its possession to the temple trust.

The first petition was filed in the Varanasi civil court in 1991 on behalf of Swayambhu Jyotirlinga Bhagwan Vishweshwar seeking permission for worship in Gyanvapi.

The petition contended that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act was not applicable to the suit as the mosque was constructed over a partly demolished temple and many parts of the temple exist even today.

In 1998, Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee moved the High Court contending that the mandir-masjid dispute could not be adjudicated by a civil court as it was barred by the law. The High Court stayed the proceedings in the lower court which had continued for the past 22 years.

In February 2020, the petitioners approached the lower court again with a plea to resume the hearing as the High Court had not extended the stay in the past six months.
Bihar police have arrested six people from near the Indo-Nepal border here in connection with the killing of five persons last month, an incident dubbed as a "caste war" by the media and "massacre" by the opposition.



All the six persons, including the alleged mastermind Praveen Jha, were arrested from a village in Bisfi police station area on Wednesday, said Madhubani Superintendent of Police Satya Prakash.



Those arrested were allegedly involved in gunning down five people, including four brothers, belonging to the Rajput caste, in a village under Benipatti police station area on March 29.



The SP maintained that the incident that took place on Holi had followed a dispute over catching fish from a pond.



However, some media reports said the mass killing was a fall out of a protracted struggle for supremacy among two dominant castes Brahmins and Rajputs in the area.



The opposition RJD had latched on the issue to train its guns at the Nitish Kumar government and claimed that the police was trying to "shield" the killers since they enjoyed the patronage of a powerful local BJP leader.



The opposition party, which was often criticised for massacres carried out by rival naxal groups and private armies of landlords while it ruled the state, has contended that the "carnage" in Madhubani was proof that "jungle raj" prevailed in Bihar.



RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who had earlier this week travelled to Benipatti to console the family members of the deceased, exultingly posted on Twitter "police announced the arrests just 10 minutes ahead of a press conference where we were going to expose the collusion between the administration and the perpetrators. This is the power of the opposition.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Story Highlights Half now say the environment should be the priority over economic growth

Two-thirds took pro-environment position two years ago

Current attitudes consistent with U.S. unemployment rate near 6%

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As the country continues to recover from the economic shock waves created by the coronavirus pandemic, Americans are more divided than they have been in several years about whether protecting the environment (50%) or strengthening the economy (42%) should be the greater priority.

Line graph. Trend from 1985 to 2021 in Americans preference for the environment versus the economy as the greater priority. After years from 1985 to 2000, when the large majority preferred the environment, attitudes were closely split from 2001 to 2015. Preference for the environment expanded to 65% in 2020 before falling to 50% today.

Gallup asked this question occasionally between 1985 and 2000, but since 2001 has measured it each March as part of its annual Environment poll. The latest result is based on a March 1-15 survey.

While slightly more U.S. adults today prioritize the environment over economic growth, the 50% doing so is down from 60% in early 2020 (largely before the pandemic was declared) and 65% in 2019, and is the lowest recorded since 2015, when 46% held this view.

The current rate matches the average since 2001. Prior to that, from 1985 to 2000, 66% of Americans on average said the environment should take precedence over economic growth. This included 70% naming the environment in January 2000. But the percentage fell to 57% the following year and to 47% by 2003.

A special update of the question in May 2010 found a surge in support for the environment that was out of sync with the higher support for the economy otherwise seen between 2009 and 2013. That reflected public reaction to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010, the largest marine-drilling oil spill in history.

Prioritizing Economy Still Closely Linked With Employment

As Gallup has reported previously, Americans' views on the environment vs. economy question are sensitive to national economic conditions. In general, the higher the unemployment rate, the higher the percentage prioritizing the economy.

The accompanying graph displays the closeness of this relationship since 1997. For this analysis, Gallup's annual measures of Americans' views are compared with the U.S. unemployment rate for the month prior to the survey each year. After declining for nearly a decade along with shrinking unemployment, the percentage of Americans citing the economy increased this year, reflecting the higher rate of unemployment today compared with just before the pandemic in 2020.

Line and bar graph: Trend from 1997 to 2021 showing the percentage of Americans prioritizing economic growth over the environment, represented as a line versus the unemployment rate for each year, represented as bars. For the most part, the higher the unemployment rate, the higher the percentage of Americans prioritizing economic growth.

The percentage of Americans favoring the economy has exceeded the percentage favoring the environment at times when the U.S. unemployment rate was greater than 7%. That occurred during the five-year period from 2009 to 2013.

At all other times, the environment has had at least a slight edge over economic growth as the American people's priority; this trend continues as the unemployment rate heading into the field period for the survey was 6.2%. The environment has received majority support only when the unemployment rate is below 6%, with most of those readings occurring when unemployment is below 5%.

Republicans' Pro-Economy Position More Entrenched

Both party groups are more likely than they were a year ago to prioritize the economy. However, the current percentages are starkly different: 68% of Republicans (up from 54% a year ago) vs. 23% of Democrats (up from 16%) now say the economy should have precedence. Meanwhile, 22% of Republicans (down from 36% in 2020) vs. 71% of Democrats (down from 81%) prioritize the environment.

More generally, although both party groups' views have shifted over the past two decades in accordance with unemployment, Democrats became much less inclined between the end of the Great Recession in 2009 and March 2020 to prioritize the economy as unemployment was falling. Meanwhile, Republicans' preference for the economy waned only slightly, indicating that prioritization of economic growth over environmental protection has become the standard for them, with their views on the tradeoff less connected to economic circumstances.

Line graph. Trend from 1997 to 2021 in percentages of Republicans/Republican leaners and Democrats/Democratic leaners prioritizing the economy rather than environmental growth. Republicans' preference for the economy was 35% in 1997 and rose fairly steadily to 72% in 2011 before tapering off to 54% in 2019 and 2020. It has rebounded to 68% in 2021. Democrats' preference for the economy was 19% in 1997 and rose to 45% in 2009, after which it trended down to 12% in 2019. It is 23% in 2021.

Bottom Line

President Joe Biden began acting on his environmental agenda on his first day in office by signing executive orders authorizing America's reentry into the international Paris Agreement on climate change and canceling federal construction permits for the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Both decisions are not without economic risks to U.S. jobs and business competitiveness, which no doubt resonates with the large segment of Americans who favor prioritizing the economy over the environment. At the same time, others, as Gallup found in 2019, no doubt believe efforts to address global warming will help the economy. Regardless, despite the economic challenges of the past year, the slim plurality of Americans values environmental protection more. And with the unemployment rate edging down to 6% in March and likely to decline further as the recovery accelerates, that pro-environment sentiment may only gain ground in the coming months.

View complete question responses and trends (PDF download).

Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works.
COLUMBIA  Two candidates vying to be Columbia's next mayor disagree on the need for a city health chief for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Sam Johnson, a former aide to Mayor Steve Benjamin, proposes hiring a health officer to help oversee coronavirus response and lead the city out of the pandemic. City Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine, a councilwoman for 20 years, called the position unnecessary, saying the next mayor should work with the county and its existing resources to address public health issues.

The clashing positions came during the first forum ahead of the Nov. 2 election. It was one issue that drew a clear distinction between the two.

In a debate hosted by community activism organization Empower SC, Johnson and Devine spent close to two hours answering questions from host Merrell Johnson about topics including law enforcement funding, inequities in housing and wealth made worse by the pandemic, and affordable housing and food availability.

Another candidate, City Councilman Daniel Rickenmann, didn't participate in the early forum because he was traveling, organizers said.

Johnson first proposed hiring a city health officer after announcing his run in February, with the idea aimed squarely at a city still grappling with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Johnson said the position is needed not only to guide the city out of the pandemic but also to lead on future public health issues.

"Sometimes you just have to be willing to lead," he said. "This is one of those situations where I feel the city has to lead in having a chief health officer who is focused on public health beyond a pandemic."

But Devine said it's important for the next mayor to use available county resources, since city residents pay county taxes too. Plus, many of the tasks Johnson proposes for the health official are already covered by the city's emergency manager, she said.

"I would say the reason the council probably hasnt moved on that, including our current mayor, is because we dont believe that is a role we should be taking on at this point," Devine said.

The forum was a chance to make an early pitch to voters about why each was suited to be mayor.

Devine repeatedly referenced her nearly two decades as a council member representing residents citywide and said the mayors office would give her a platform to get more done.

She also touted her position on the board of the National League of Cities, which lobbied for direct money to cities in the latest, nearly $2 trillion federal spending package Congress passed last month. Columbia is set to receive $26 million in COVID-19 relief from that law.

Johnson said he's the candidate with the most experience in the mayor's office, having worked as Benjamin's chief of staff for the first several years of the mayor's tenure and had an active role in crafting the mayor's policy initiatives.

As for a recent economic study that found Columbia lagged behind other big cities in the state partly because of high combined tax rates, Devine said she's talked to officials with Richland One and Two school districts to begin learning about the issue and potential solutions. Devine's husband, Jamie Devine, is former chairman of the Richland One board and president-elect of the state School Boards Association.

Johnson said the city had reduced its tax rate during the past 10 years and that a solution would require collaboration with other local officials.

Both Johnson and Devine said they wouldn't support cutting the police budget, as protestors nationwide have demanded following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died last May as an officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, kneeled on his neck.

Instead, both advocated raising pay to help retain officers.

Johnson's public safety plan includes creating a mental health team within the police department and annual psychological screenings for officers. Devine noted the city has added a social worker to help address mental health issues.

Devine was asked by moderator Merrell Johnson about past potential conflicts and whether voters could trust she wasn't looking to personally benefit from her elected position. He specifically referenced a 2009 loan via a federal program from the city to Devine's mother to buy a downtown building that would house Devine's law practice, as well as specialized bond work Devine's law firm was paid for by Richland One School District, while her husband was chairman.

Devine said she's done nothing illegal or unethical with the loan and that her mother had refinanced the loan and repaid the city after questions were raised. To the school district work, Devine said she resigned from the bond work her firm had been contracted for over the concerns. She said she worked with Richland One for years before meeting her husband and had also worked with the state and Richland Two.

She noted she had not been cited by the State Ethics Commission over the relationships. Her husband was fined by the commission for his 2018 vote to award a $55,000 school board contract to EngenuitySC, a nonprofit organization on which his wife was a board member. Jamie Devine had argued that his wife had received no financial benefit from the vote.

Sam Johnson said the next mayor should help create a city ethics policy so "we can clearly call balls and strikes on those types of issues."

Benjamin announced in February he would not seek a fourth term and will leave office at the end of the year, triggering announcements from Johnson and Devine. Benjamin has not endorsed either of his allies, saying he will pay attention to campaigns and ultimately support the candidate he feels has the best ideas.
Superannuation laws before parliament could encourage funds to chase 'asset bubbles' instead of being a stabilising influence on financial markets.

McKell Institute spokesman James Pawluk warns the legislative changes could also make it harder to deal with unpredictable 'black swan' events as the bill is drafted for perfectly behaved markets.

'The proposed performance benchmarks will make it less viable for funds to adopt a strategy of steering clear of an asset bubble as it's forming, unless they are convinced it will burst or dissipate before the current performance period ends,' Mr Pawluk told a parliamentary hearing on Thursday.

Superannuation laws before parliament could encourage funds to chase 'asset bubbles' instead of being a stabilising influence on financial markets (stock image)

He said if funds don't chase the bubble and match their peers they could be named and shamed for poor performance and be cut off from members.

'The only rational strategy would be to pile in on the bubble, aiming to pull out just before it bursts or hug the index for good or bad,' he said.

'These reforms will cause superannuation funds to behave more like retail investors, taking on their animal spirits, rather than acting as sophisticated long-term investors that provide a stabilising influence.'

Justin Arter, chief executive of building and construction industry super fund Cbus, supported the objective of preventing multiple default accounts and making sure funds meet performance benchmarks.

He joined a growing coalition of think tanks, industry, professional, business groups and other funds who warn the legislation must not be passed in its current form.

Mr Arter warned 'stapling' to be brought in under the bill may see workers tied to a fund when entering the workforce that does not provide insurance tailored to the risk of their present job or next job.

'In the case of many workers in hazardous occupations, it will leave many workers worse off,' Mr Arter said.

CBus manages over $59 billion for 771,000 members and is a top-performing fund in Australia's $3 trillion pool of superannuation savings.

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers' personal injury specialist Kim Shaw gave evidence of the high rate of suicide in construction and said industry funds - unlike retail funds - made sure specific risk profiles were covered.

She was also concerned about workers being caught out by insurance policy exclusions when struck down by an injury or fatality.

The legislation would also put the onus on the trustee of the superannuation fund to show why any payment is justified, and face new penalties.

Ms Shaw described it as 'an extraordinary intervention in the free market' by the Morrison government.

CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand said this change was a narrowing of the current best interests duty that protects account holders.

Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees spokesman David Haynes identified 14 areas where there were 'holes' in the legislation and 10 big policy issues where witnesses giving evidence to the hearing said the Morrison government needed a rethink.

The committee must report back to parliament by April 22 and the draft bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1.

The legislation is yet to clear the lower house or the Senate.
Friends of the grieving parents of Aishwarya Aswath, the young girl who died after waiting two hours to be seen in a Perth emergency room, have started a fundraiser to help them cope.

The GoFundMe page is aimed at relieving financial pressure on distraught parents Aswath Sasidharan and Prasitha Sasidharan, whose seven-year-old daughter died at the Perth Children's Hospital last Saturday.

By early Friday morning about $7,000 towards a target of $20,000 had been raised.

Her devastated parents claim they repeatedly begged staff at the hospital reception for help as the little girl's eyes clouded over and her hands went cold.

Aishwarya Aswath died after allegedly being made to wait for two hours for treatment in the Perth Children's Hospital emergency room, her parents claim

Meanwhile nurses are set to present Western Australia's Health Minister Roger Cook with a 10-point plan to fix the hospital's staffing crisis, The West Australian reported.

The night Aishwarya died four doctors were off sick - and not replaced - and a 'resuscitation event' involving another patient overwhelmed staff who were on duty.

It is also understood the Perth Children's Hospital had seen 21 critical incidents in the past 18 months and understaffing is partly to blame.

Nurses at the hospital reportedly complained to management on several occasions in recent months and felt their concerns were 'consistently downplayed, dismissed or outright ignored', so they wrote to their union.

Their complaints included claims that present staffing levels meant when a resuscitation took place as few as two nurses could be left looking after the main emergency room.

Nurses at Perth Children's Hospital have defended themselves saying staff shortages were putting patients at risk

WA Health Minister Roger Cook admitted Aishwarya Aswath may have been 'overlooked'

At times the nurse-to-patient ratio slipped to dangerous levels - one nurse for every 11 patients.

The nurse's new action plan proposed one nurse for every three patients.

It also included several measures to improve understaffing problems, including a 'staff-led' taskforce to help ensure changes were implemented.

They also want to see shift coordinators and triage nurses not included in the nurse headcount, a resuscitation team with four nurses and fast-tracked recruitment of new nurses.

On Wednesday Mr Cook admitted Aishwarya may have been 'overlooked' as he called for an urgent enquiry into her death.

Another Perth mum, Emma, claimed her extremely sick two-year-old - Amanda - was turned away twice from the Perth Children's Hospital ER.

Amanda was later diagnosed with sepsis and was at risk of organ failure, but she miraculously survived.

The circumstances surrounding Aishwarya's death will be the subject of an internal investigation

'I'm angry, you know I was hoping they would have woken up with what happened with Amanda,' Emma said.

A mother who took her one-year-old to Perth Children's Hospital the same night as Aishwarya Aswath lay dying in the reception area claimed the child was 'easily' the sickest when she was there.

'The whole process there on that night was deplorable,' the woman, who chose to remain anonymous, told WAToday. 'This whole system failed that young family and my heart breaks for them.'

Emergency departments in Western Australia have been 'crying out for help' for months, said Australian Medical Association WA president Dr Andrew Miller.

'We know that bad things happen, we know that people get sick and die, even children, but what families need at this time is to know that everything possible was done, even if the worst outcome was unavoidable here,' Dr Miller told Perth radio 6PR.

The WA government blamed extra demand for mental health services, staff shortages and tough Covid cleaning standards for delays treating patients.

'We were down a few doctors that night,' Mr Cook told reporters.

'It's obviously part and parcel of running an emergency department in any sort of dynamic environment.'

Aswath Sasidharan pictured left with the youngster's mother Prasitha Sasidharan. He broke down as he called on authorities to get to the bottom of his daughter's death

'In a post-Covid world, we are seeing higher volumes and we are seeing greater acuity and complexity.'

Mr Cook acknowledged the WA hospital system was facing 'challenges' and said border closures had made it difficult to hire staff.

The circumstances surrounding Aishwarya's death will be the subject of an internal investigation by the Child and Adolescent Health Service which is expected to take four to six weeks.

Aishwarya was triaged as a category four patient, the second-lowest urgency.

Aishwarya's mother Prasitha Sasidharan claimed she was told a doctor 'would come and have a look' but no one came for two hours.

'I asked them... her eyes are changing, they asked if it's normal and I said 'it's not normal, she didn't have it before',' Mrs Sasidharan told 9News.

'We pleaded with them to have a look. They didn't think it was an emergency.

'I went to the reception maybe four or five times. I was literally begging to them 'please help, please help'.'

The seven-year-old's father Aswath Chavittupara broke down as he called on authorities to get to the bottom of his daughter's death.

'I loved my daughter. This should never happen to any other child in this country,' he said.

The hospital's management offered the family their 'sincere condolences'.

Her death is also being investigated by the coroner.
PHILADELPHIA (April 8, 2021) - Many factors, including need, affect healthcare use. Strategies geared to enhancing the provision and access to healthcare must consider the various mechanisms that contribute to healthcare need and use. Until now, the mechanism of violence and its impact on both health and healthcare use has not been investigated.

A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) is one of the first to examine the association between violence exposure and healthcare service utilization in Mexico. Results are published in the International Journal of Health Equity.

Widespread violence in Mexico can impact health through various channels. The study explores how violence relates to service utilization changes as a possible mechanism that may impact short- and long-term health. "Violence is a pervasive problem in developing nations such as Mexico and its consequences for service utilization are important to understand," says Laura X. Vargas, PhD, MSW, MPA, Vice-Provost post-doctoral fellow at the Penn Injury Science Center at Penn Nursing and lead author of the study.

Given the prolonged period of escalating violence in Mexico, policymakers should consider whether broader investments in health prevention, primary care, and mental health might effectively buffer some of the long-term (perhaps costlier) impacts of violence on the health of society, the researchers suggest. "One way to do that, for example, is by making trauma-informed health services widely available at the primary care level to improve health outcomes in communities exposed to violence," says Therese S. Richmond, PhD, RN, FAAN, Andrea B. Laporte Professor of Nursing and Associate Dean for Research & Innovation at Penn Nursing, one of the co-authors of the article.

###

The article "A Longitudinal Analysis of Violence and Healthcare Service Utilization in Mexico" is available online. Co-authors of the article include Heidi L. Allen of Columbia University and Zachary F. Meisel of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

About the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is one of the world's leading schools of nursing. For the fifth year in a row, it is ranked the #1 nursing school in the world by QS University and is consistently ranked highly in the U.S. News & World Report annual list of best graduate schools. Penn Nursing is ranked as one of the top schools of nursing in funding from the National Institutes of Health. Penn Nursing prepares nurse scientists and nurse leaders to meet the health needs of a global society through innovation in research, education, and practice. Follow Penn Nursing on: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, & Instagram.
Leaders in the Texas House on Wednesday unveiled a suite of health care initiatives aimed at boosting access for new moms, children, Texans in rural areas and those who depend on costly prescription drugs.

The bills, many of which have bipartisan backing, are among what was suggested to be the first wave of measures the lower chamber hopes to pass this session amid the coronavirus pandemic. Texas has long had some of the worst health outcomes in the country, as well as the highest uninsured rate.

Its very important that we put health care and health front and center, and the House is doing that, said Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, adding its rare for members to get behind such a broad spectrum of legislation all at once. Thats a big deal, Coleman said.

Some of the measures, especially one extending health care coverage for mothers in the months after childbirth, have been passed before by the Republican-controlled House only to die in the more conservative state Senate.

But the package was perhaps most notable for excluding any effort to draw down billions in federal funding through Medicaid expansion, a step most other states have taken and that has been long prioritized by health care advocates, Democrats and some moderate Republicans.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Some House members believe they have found a way to appease conservative concerns about expanding Medicaid through legislation that is budget neutral and contingent on federal support. But that measure, HB 3871, still has yet to be heard in committee, one of the early hurdles of the legislative process.

Its an elephant in the room that will be addressed, said House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, though he declined to say whether the bill itself, which is co-authored by several Republicans, would be heard.

Phelan appeared to walk back remarks from early in the session, when he said there could be a path forward on a Republican-supported approach to drawing down the expansion dollars. He noted that expansion itself would help only a small fraction of Texans, by some estimates between 700,000 and 1 million.

Were talking about millions of Texans with these bills, Phelan said about the measures highlighted Wednesday. On Medicaid expansion, he added, We can talk about that legislation when it gets to the House floor.

In addition to extending coverage for new moms, the legislation unveiled Wednesday would expand access to telehealth services, reduce red tape for children on Medicaid and re-create a task force on health care disparities that had been disbanded before the pandemic. It would also create discount buying clubs for common high-cost medications including insulin and epinephrine.

We're thrilled to see that leaders of the Texas House are committed to passing critical health care legislation this session, said Stephanie Rubin, CEO of Texans Care for Children, though she added the group was disappointed that Medicaid expansion was excluded.

The package also includes a handful of partisan bills, including one from Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, that would allow low-cost, quasi-insurance plans to reenter the market, without requirements that they cover most benefits or pre-existing conditions.

Everyone up here wants to see more Texans with health insurance coverage that meets their individual needs, Frank said, stressing that the plans would create more market competition.

Health care advocates and lobbyists for insurers spoke out against that bill Tuesday, warning it would likely siphon off healthy people without providing quality, comprehensive care.

jeremy.blackman@chron.com
Many cities and villages were devastated by the earthquake and tsunami. Why did you decide to focus on Kesen?

When the tsunami happened, I had to be there because my home country was going through a major disaster. Rikuzentakata, the city where Kesen is, was one of the hardest hit. I had a vacation planned, but 12 days after the tsunami, I landed at the nearest airport. I started to photograph the debris and people at an evacuation center in Rikuzentakata, but I was still numb.

One day, I was driving in Kesen and saw a small temple on higher ground. Ten people were living there, and across the town, there were other people living among the debris. They were very different from any other people living in evacuation centers  they were so energetic. The second day when I visited the people in the temple, they told me, If you want to stay with us, you can. I started photographing how they lived: They built a small shack where we ate; they made a bonfire every day; they would try to clean up the place. They were hoping to reunite their community.
Precision medicine is part of Singapore's Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2025 strategic goal to transform and protect the health of every Singaporean. Identified as a priority by the Ministry of Health, precision medicine aims to understand how genomic, phenotypic, lifestyle and clinical factors contribute to the health of Singaporeans. It also supports the responsible use of health data in clinical applications with the longer-term goal of addressing Singapore's healthcare challenges in a sustainable and clinically cost-effective manner.

Singapore's National Precision Medicine (NPM) strategy is a 10-year plan to enhance and accelerate Singapore's biomedical research, health outcomes and economic growth. NPM is a whole-of-government effort to establish the necessary frameworks and infrastructure to realise precision medicine on a national scale, to ultimately improve public health, enhance disease prevention and to identify the right treatments for the right individuals and groups.

Phase II of Singapore's NPM strategy will start in April 2021 with a four-year horizon and it aims to:

1. Further research insights into the Asian phenotype by analysing the genetic makeup of 100,000 healthy Singaporeans and up to 50,000 patients with specific diseases;

2. Improve patient outcomes by piloting the implementation of precision medicine in clinical practice; and

3. Create new economic opportunities for Singapore's healthcare and biomedical technology industry by attracting and anchoring overseas companies while yielding new opportunities for home-grown enterprises.

To achieve this, Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE), has been set up, as the central entity to drive NPM.

Furthering research insights into Asian genomes

Precision medicine is a fast-growing medical approach, which takes into account a patient's individual variables including genetics, lifestyle as well as other environmental factors. A more comprehensive understanding of disease-causing factors provides earlier, faster and more accurate diagnoses, optimises treatments by prescribing the right drug at the right time, informs the development of new drugs and therapies, and enhances disease prevention.

Governments around the world - including the US, UK, Denmark, Finland and Japan - have initiated national genomics programmes to harness the benefits of precision medicine. However, most current programmes have largely focused on Caucasian populations or lack genetic diversity. Many conditions, such as cancer and heart disease which can have different presentations among Asians, remain underrepresented.

With its multi-ethnic population which captures 80 per cent of Asia's genetic diversity, Singapore is well-placed to address knowledge gaps in Asian-specific precision medicine and complement global efforts.

The NPM Strategy was launched in 2017, supported under Singapore's RIE 2020 plan. NPM Phase I culminated in the world's largest genetic databank for multi-ethnic Asian populations. Completed in October 2019, the NPM Phase I databank comprises the complete genetic data of 10,000 healthy Singaporeans, serving as a reference for Asian genetic normality and underpinning the subsequent development of precision medicine for Singaporeans and patients across Asia.

In NPM Phase II, PRECISE will collaborate with research and clinical partners from the Singapore ecosystem, including the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, National Healthcare Group, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, and SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre to study the genetic makeup of 100,000 healthy Singaporeans and up to 50,000 people with specific diseases. The genetic data will be integrated with detailed lifestyle, environmental, and clinical data to yield rich insights into factors that contribute to Asian diseases and conditions.

"A study with this degree of genetic diversity of the population, coupled with this level of phenotyping, is unparalleled. This a powerful approach for identifying factors which determine why some Singaporeans, but not others, develop certain diseases. With insights into these disease-causing factors, researchers and doctors can develop new approaches that will not only benefit patients in the short term but for decades to come. Additionally, as this will require big data analysis to generate insights, we have also stepped up efforts to ensure a secure and trustworthy data environment by actively working with various government agencies to build a robust infrastructure with safeguards in place to preserve data security and privacy," said Professor John Chambers, Chief Scientific Officer of PRECISE and one of the principal investigators supervising and coordinating the SG100K population cohort study.

SG100K seeks to recruit 100,000 healthy participants to further research insights into the Asian genome and how it impacts health and disease. Prof Chambers is also the Professor of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and the President's Chair in Cardiovascular Epidemiology at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in Nanyang Technological University.

Piloting the use of precision medicine in clinical practice

Singapore's rapidly ageing population and increased prevalence of chronic diseases have changed healthcare demands fundamentally. To ensure that healthcare delivery evolves to address these demands and remain future-ready, precision medicine remains a key focus of the Human Health and Potential Domain under the RIE2025 plan.

Precision medicine has already seen success in the treatment of rare genetic diseases in Singapore. For over two decades, the Genetics Service at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) has been providing clinical care to paediatric patients with genetic disorders, tapping on a precision medicine approach to disease treatments.

Through BRIDGES (Bringing Research Innovations for the Diagnosis of GEnetic diseases in Singapore), 412 families were analysed over the last six years by genomic researchers at SingHealth, A*STAR and Duke-NUS. As a result, 160 children with rare and undiagnosed conditions were able to receive proper diagnoses that led to tailored clinical management and improved health outcomes in at least one of three families. At 39 per cent, BRIDGES has demonstrated a diagnostic yield that is on par with 25 to 40 per cent in similar research programmes worldwide.

Precision medicine has helped to improve understanding of the causes to genetic disorders, and helped clinicians to assess and identify evidence-based, therapeutic targets for developing precise treatments to the conditions.

While the field of precision medicine has seen considerable progress in recent years, there remains an urgent need for research findings to be translated into standard clinical practice. In NPM Phase II, we will be working with doctors, healthcare institutions and the Ministry of Health to find ways to apply precision medicine to improve the health of Singaporeans in a way that is affordable and maximises the benefit to the patient." Professor Tai E Shyong, Chief Medical Officer at PRECISE

He is also a Senior Consultant in the Division of Endocrinology at the National University Hospital and Professor at the National University of Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and Duke-NUS Medical School.

Creating new economic opportunities for Singapore's healthcare and biomedical technology industry

Making precision medicine a reality in Singapore requires a long-term and concerted commitment from both the Government and the industry. In addition to expanding research efforts and establishing national clinical workflows, NPM Phase II will continue to partner the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF), A*STAR, the Economic Development Board, and the Heath Promotion Board to catalyse the next phase of growth for Singapore's healthcare and biomedical technology industry by attracting and anchoring overseas companies in Singapore, and creating new opportunities for home-grown enterprises.

Executive Director of PRECISE Professor Patrick Tan said: "Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and data science companies are a key component of Singapore's NPM strategy. They bring our research from bench to bedside by developing and manufacturing new drugs and therapies for patients. PRECISE will be looking to develop meaningful public-private partnership models to facilitate growth and drive innovation across the healthcare and biotechnology industry - creating higher-value jobs, nurturing the next generation of scientists and clinicians and strengthening Singapore's status as the region's leading medical hub to deliver precision medicine based treatments."

Professor Tan is also the Executive Director of the Genome Institute of Singapore at A*STAR and Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School.
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The Pillars Christian Learning Center has announced today its partnership with the Freiheit Country Store & Restaurant to host a benefit on Saturday, April 10th from Noon to 5 pm at Freiheit Village business community in New Braunfels. This is a benefit event called Band Together Against Hunger.

Thousands of families right here in our local communities are struggling daily just to get the nutrition they need to live, and for their families to be healthy. It takes as little as a $1 donation to the New Braunfels Food Bank to provide a family with 7 meals.

The Pillars Christian Learning Center has already secured corporate sponsorship partnerships with local businesses like ReMax Corridor Commercial Group, Heritage Homes & Ranches, Rosenblatt Law Firm, The Struthoff Company, Jefferson Bank, and more. The benefit Banding Together Against Hunger will include local music, healthy lunch items for children and adults, free games and giveaways, including t-shirts, gift cards, and more.

Geren Anderson, Co-Founder, and CEO of The Pillars said, With the help of several local Corporate Partners who have supported us, we have already raised half of our target goal. A successful event for us will mean raising over $5,000 -- the equivalent of 35,000 meals -- on behalf of the Food Bank.

Louie Guzman, Development Director at New Braunfels Food Bank said, "The New Braunfels Food Bank is excited to benefit from The Pillars and Country Stores event, every $1 donated provides 7 meals into our community. It has been a difficult year but each time a new donor comes on board it is a renewal of our faith in the community that supports us so that we may continue our mission  Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope.

Cody Reimer, Owner, Freiheit Country Store and Restaurant: Were very excited to work with The Pillars and the Food Bank for an event like this. Weve always been about bringing the community together and this event is going to add a unique spin to that. We hope tons of families come out and enjoy themselves, eat some great food, shop the vendors, participate in all the family-focused activities, and listen to great music. And we hope they join us in the bigger cause of raising money to help others in the community who are struggling with hunger."

We look forward to seeing the community unite on Saturday, April 10 from Noon to 5 PM. Please join us at 2144 Gabriels Place, New Braunfels, TX 78130.

For more information please contact Torrey Laffoon at tlaffoon@thepillarsclc.com or call: 210-640-9664

About The Pillars Christian Learning Center

The Pillars Christian Learning Center is an experienced, Christian-based early childhood education and child care operation with multiple facilities around the San Antonio, Texas area. Each Center provides childcare programs for children from infants to 5 years old, as well as before and after school care programs.

Media Contact

Natacha Rousseau

natacha@themediachef.com

(323) 352-6417
(Newser)  Two young children are dead in Texas, where their father is charged with killing them with a backhoe. Vijender Chauhan, 40, had been driving a John Deere backhoe close to his home near Roanoke on Saturday evening "with multiple children and adults riding on various moving parts" of the machinery, a Texas Department of Public Safety rep says, per the Denton Record-Chronicle. Chauhan's 11-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter were in the bucket of the backhoe when he suddenly caused the bucket to drop, the rep adds. Shivraj Chauhan and Sonakshi Chauhan fell to the ground and were fatally run over, reports the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

story continues below

Two other children and an adult who'd been riding on the digger were taken to hospitals following the incident. The adult was described as seriously injured. Their relationship to Vijender Chauhan is not clear. The uninjured man was arrested early Sunday and booked into Denton County Jail on two counts of manslaughter, three counts of endangering a child, and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was later released on $280,000 bond. Meanwhile, Trinity Valley School in Fort Worth acknowledged "the sorrow we all feel for the loss of our young students," and promised supports for those grieving, per the Star-Telegram. (Read more manslaughter stories.)
Jude Law has been seen in character for the first time as Captain Hook, after beginning his work on the latest live action version of Peter Pan and Wendy.

The actor, 48, donned a face shield as he headed onto the set in Vancouver in his period pirate attire to take on the role of the iconic fairy tale villain.

Jude is just the latest actor in a long line of stars to play the legendary pirate in an adaptation of J.M. Barrie's classic novel, and follows in the footsteps of Jason Isaacs, Dustin Hoffman and Garrett Hedlund.

Here he is! Jude Law has been seen in character for the first time as Captain Hook, after beginning his work on the latest live action version of Peter Pan and Wendy

Donning a red waistcoat and black boots, Jude was every inch the swash-buckling Captain as he headed to the set for filming.

The Arthur star sported noticeably longer locks that his typical coiffed cut, along with a scraggly beard and matching moustache.

Hiding his character's signature Hook in place of an arm, Jude kept his right hand tucked away as he chatted a crew member on his way to the set.

Peter Pan and Wendy will star The Reluctant Landlord's Alexander Molony and Black Widow's Ever Gabo Anderson as the titular duo, in the latest adaptation of Barrie's 1904 play and 1911 novel.

Shiver me timbers! The actor donned a face shield as he headed onto the set in his period pirate attire to take on the role of the iconic fairy tale villain (right in the 1953 Disney film)

Eye-catching: Donning a red waistcoat and black boots, Jude was every inch the swash-buckling Captain as he headed to the set for filming

Hard at work: The Arthur star sported noticeably longer locks that his typical coiffed cut, along with a scraggly beard and matching moustache

Rising stars: Peter Pan and Wendy will star The Reluctant Landlord star Alexander Molony (left) and Black Widow's Ever Gabo Anderson as the titular duo

Ever first revealed in April she'd landed the role of Wendy, telling Flaunt: 'I just feel like Wendy, the girl that doesn't ever want to grow up! I wanted this part so bad, it's all I could think about.

'I was having a sleepover at my best friend's house when my parents called me on FaceTime. My mom asked if I was alone, so I took myself into a closet where I could have some privacy. My mom stared at me for a long moment with a very serious face and then broke into a huge smile and said, "You got the part!"

Pete's Dragon director David Lowery will front the project, and will co-write the script with Toby Halbrooks.

The book tells the story of young Wendy Darling and her two brothers Michael and John, who fly away to Neverland after finding Peter and his fairy sidekick Tinker Bell in their bedroom.

The siblings are greeted with a magical world full of fairies, mermaids, Indians and pirates, and join forces with Peter's crew The Lost Boys to defeat Captain Hook and take over his ship The Jolly Roger.

Major role: Hiding his character's signature hook, Jude kept his right hand tucked away as he chatted a crew member on his way to the set

Exciting: It was first reported back in July that Jude was in talks to play the role of Captain Hook in Disney's live-action adaptation

So many: It comes following Disney's huge success in live-action adaptations of their animated films, including The Jungle Book, Aladdin and The Lion King

Many actors have taken on the role over the years, most famously Dustin Hoffman in the 1991 film Hook, opposite Robin Williams as a grown-up version of Pan.

Jason Isaacs took on the role in 2003's Peter Pan, Christopher Walken also played the part in NBC's live version of the 1954 musical.

Stanley Tucci also played the part in the 2015 television film Peter and Wendy, and Colin O'Donoghue also played the part in the ABC series Once Upon A Time.

Praised: It's a story that has been adapted multiple times for the big screen with numerous takes on the famous tale

Stream it! The film is set to be released exclusively on Disney+ in 2022, after plans for a theatrical run were scrapped due to the Covid pandemic

Actor: Jude most recently reprised his role as Pope Pius XIII in the HBO miniseries The New Pope, which was released in January 2020

The most recent incarnation of Hook came in the 2015 prequel Pan which saw Garrett Hedlund play a young version of the pirate before he lost his hand and turned to a life of villainy.

In many versions the same actor has played Captain Hook and Mr Darling, as the original novel hints that the villain is a mirror of the Darling children's strict father and his attempts to force them to 'grow up.'

It was first reported back in July that Jude was in talks to play the role of Captain Hook in Disney's live-action adaptation.

It comes following Disney's huge success in live-action adaptations of their animated films, including The Jungle Book, Aladdin and The Lion King.

So many roles! Many actors have played Hook over the years, most famously Dustin Hoffman in the 1991 film Hook, opposite Robin Williams as a grown-up version of Pan

Sinister: Jason Isaacs took on the role in 2003's Peter Pan, which was praised by critics despite struggling at the box office
ROME, APR 8 - The head of the ANPALS association representing Italy's gyms said Thursday that around 20% of its members had started to reopen their doors in defiance of COVID-19 restrictions that ban them from doing business. ANPALS President Giampiero Guglielmi told ANSA that many gym owners had decided to rebel after Tuesday's demonstration outside the Lower House against the restrictions, which featured clashes between police and protestors. "It is easier to get infected by going outside to a park, taking a bus or going to a pharmacy than by going to the gym," Guglielmi said. He said that around 30% of Italy's gyms will not be reopening after being closed for a year because of the pandemic. (ANSA).
COCOA BEACH, Fla., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team will soon take flight for its first air show appearance of the 2021 season. The squadron of six World War II-era aircraft will perform during the 2021 Cocoa Beach Air Show on April 17-18 along the shores of Cocoa Beach, FL.

The GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team fly over the NASA Assembly Plant during a previous performance in the Space Coast of Florida. The GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team flies a delta formation over the waterways in the southeast.

"Following a year where most cities were unable to host events of any sort involving large groups of people, we're especially excited to participate in the Cocoa Beach Air Show," says team flight lead Larry Arken. "We consider it an honor to demonstrate the amazing abilities of these vintage warbirds on behalf of our sponsor, GEICO, while sharing a bit of aviation history. Despite being nearly 80 years old, the SNJ-2 is a testament to the engineering genius of the Greatest Generation. These aircraft are a dream to fly."

The GEICO Skytypers fly six SNJs powered by 600-horsepower Pratt and Whitney engines. As training aircraft, the SNJ can perform all the maneuvers of a fighter plane, but at slower speeds. A majority of the team's low-level flying demonstration takes place in front of the crowd. The historic sound of the vintage engines fills the air as the team demonstrates more than 20 different tactical maneuvers during its 18-minute, low-level flying demonstration.

The team of elite aviators also creates giant skytyped messages utilizing a unique technology only used by a few organizations in the world. Flying five aircraft in a tight, line-abreast formation, the planes coordinate in typing messages with environmentally friendly puffs of white smoke. A computer located in the lead aircraft utilizes a custom programmed tablet to send commands to the other planes via radio signals. The result is astonishing to behold. Messages can be seen from 15 miles away in any direction with 20-25 characters generated in less than two minutes. Individual letters can be as tall as the Empire State Building.

"Our pilots deliver crowd-pleasing performances at every event we attend," said lead solo pilot and show designer Steve Salmirs. "During our downtime in 2020, we were able to refine elements of our demonstration and believe we've created the best series of maneuvers and formations we've ever assembled. We look forward to performing for aviation enthusiasts on Florida's Space Coast."

The Cocoa Beach Air Show returns to Cocoa Beach on April 17-18 for two days of family fun featuring a lineup of world-class military and civilian performers. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds cap off each air show day with a thunderous performance demonstrating the capabilities of current generation fighters. Spectators can witness the amazing capabilities of the team's signature red, white, and blue F-16 aircraft known as the "Fighting Falcon."

For more information on the air show and VIP tickets, visit https://cocoabeachairshow.com.

For more information on the GEICO Skytypers, visit http://www.geicoskytypers.com.

For Media USE ONLY:

To schedule an interview or request more information on the team:

CONTACT: Brenda Little  [email protected]  813-391-4542

Media only - A limited number of seats may be available for media flights. This is a ride back in time in an open cockpit with world-class aviators flying close formation. Those interested should inquire at their earliest convenience. These seats fill up fast.

Digital Assets:

Media members interested in an electronic press kit may download the content directly from the team's website - https://www.geicoskytypers.com/newsroom/

Link to GEICO Skytypers B Roll  https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/WxtNAC58ZX

Link to GEICO Skytypers Photos - https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/07DanD3c6l

SOURCE GEICO Skytypers
"Almost all mobile shopping is built to optimize the path-to-purchase, but that's never been our focus. Tophatter's aim for the last decade is to create a discovery shopping platform that makes online discount shopping fun by adding the entertainment of a game to the experience," said Ashvin Kumar, co-founder and CEO of Tophatter. "While elements of gamification have always been core to our ecommerce platform, by introducing mini games and an evolving points economy we are further enriching the bargain hunting experience by giving our users more ways to win great deals. Tophatter is positioned at the intersection of gaming and bargain-hunting, offering a one-of-a-kind mobile shopping experience."

Users can now earn points by participating in two games: Quests and Treasure Spin. Quests appear as a set of daily and weekly challenges where customers can earn points by completing tasks while shopping, such as viewing products or placing bids. To play Treasure Spin, customers simply spin a digital wheel to earn points, cards, and more. A total of 1.2B points have been earned of which approximately 900M points have been spent in the points economy.

Customers can currently use the points in the online Card Store toward three types of cards that elevate their ecommerce experience or to unlock other features within the app. To date, shoppers have purchased 2.8 million cards. The cards include:

Win Skins: The skins adjust the look and feel of virtual auctions, adding special effects to bidders' screens such as fireworks or a dancing llama.

Functional Cards: These cards can change the function of an auction when played. For example, the Snipe Card allows users to place a last minute bid on an item without resetting the clock to secure a near-guaranteed purchase.

Credit Cards: The Credit Cards are redeemable for $0.50 - $20.00 off a purchase.

- off a purchase. Mystery Packs: Mystery Packs come in two sizes and include a mix of three to five cards. Mystery Packs can include a $5 or $20 credit card, respectively.

As a leading mobile discovery marketplace, Tophatter is disrupting the retail and e-commerce industry connecting shoppers with thousands of sellers from all over the world and enabling them to browse millions of items and engage in real-time auctions. The Company operates at the category-defying intersection of marketplaces, gaming, and discovery retail; combining the fun of a game, the great deals and rich margins of a discovery retailer, and the lean business model of a marketplace.

About Tophatter

Tophatter Inc., a leading discovery marketplace, is based in San Francisco with offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Portland, and Bangalore. The Company was founded in December 2011 by Ashvin Kumar and Chris Estreich. To date, Tophatter has raised $35M from Goodwater Capital, CRV, and August Capital. For more information about Tophatter, please visit: http://www.tophatter.com/about .

Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tophatter-com/

Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE Tophatter Inc.

Related Links

http://www.tophatter.com


[April 08, 2021] Gridiron Capital Partners with Class Valuation

NEW CANAAN, Conn., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gridiron Capital, LLC ("Gridiron Capital"), an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, today announced it has acquired Class Valuation (the "Company"), a leading, technology-enabled appraisal management company ("AMC") focused on providing regulatory-compliant appraisals to the nation's largest mortgage lenders and originators. Gridiron Capital will partner with and support Class Valuation's management team as they continue to execute on a shared vision for growth and strategic innovation within the residential valuation services industry. Gridiron is acquiring Class Valuation from Narrow Gauge Capital ("NGC"), which will retain minority ownership in the Company. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Class Valuation is a leading nationwide appraisal management company. The Company's proprietary technology enhances every aspect of the home valuation process and leverages advanced analytics and data to assess appraisal accuracy and regulatory compliance. Leveraging technology across all workflows within the appraisal management process allows Class Valuation to deliver high quality valuations to residential mortgage lenders with industry-leading turnaround times. "Class Valuation has experienced substantial growth over the last several years as a result of providing clients with industry leading appraisal turnaround times and consistently strong customer service. With Gridiron's partnership, we look forward to building on this momentum," said John Fraas, Chief Executive Officer of Class Valuation. "We plan to leverage Gridiron's extensive experience investing in technology-enabled business services to remain at the forefront of the home valuation industry." "We are excited to partner with this outstanding management team and leverage our firm's Centers of Excellence to maximize the Company's potential," said Tom Burger, Managing Partner at Gridiron Capital. "Gridiron Capital has extensive experience investing in similar business models that utilize technology to compete more effectively, and we are confident this partnership will position Class Valuation for further growth and continued long-term success." "This is a great opportunity to bring together Class Valuation's superior model, and Gridiron's relevant experience in technology-enabled busines services to create a market leader in the residential valuation services industry," said Will Hausberg, Managing Director at Gridiron Capital.



"Since Narrow Gauge partnered with Class Valuation in 2018, the Company has established itself as the technology and service leader in its market. We are grateful to the management team for their hard work in building the Company, and are excited to be involved in its future success," said Adam Doctoroff, Partner at Narrow Gauge Capital. Jefferies LLC served as lead financial advisor to Class Valuation, with Berkery Noyes also advising and Winston & Strawn serving as legal counsel. William Blair & Company provided financial advisory for Gridiron Capital with Finn Dixon & Herling LLP serving as legal counsel.

About Class Valuation

Class Valuation is a top nationwide Appraisal Management Company (AMC), delivering outstanding quality and service to every client. The company is committed to combining the best people, products, processes, and technology available to help lenders make more homeownership dreams come true. Class has consistently been ranked highly in client service by several of the nation's top ten mortgage lenders and has been recognized as a top place to work, along with receiving many other industry awards. Founded in 2009, Class Valuation is headquartered in Troy, Michigan. For more information, please visit www.classvaluation.com. About Gridiron Capital, LLC

Gridiron Capital is an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, and creating value by building middle-market companies into industry-leaders in branded consumer, B2B and B2C services, and niche industrial segments in the United States and Canada. We help transform growing companies by winning together through hard work, partnerships grounded in shared values and a unique culture that comes from hands-on experience building and running businesses. As a team led by former operators and entrepreneurs, we know what it takes to run successful businesses on a day-to-day basis. Additional information is available on the firm's website: www.gridironcapital.com. About Narrow Gauge Capital

Narrow Gauge Capital is a private equity firm controlled by Adam Doctoroff and Travis Metz, who formerly invested with Monitor Clipper Partners. NGC typically invests between $20 million and $75 million of equity in transactions where an existing founder or family retains a meaningful ownership stake and partners with NGC to drive the further development of the business. NGC is currently pursuing transactions in areas where it has specialized expertise, including health care services, financial services technology, building products, distribution and logistics. For Additional Information: For Gridiron Capital, LLC:

Tom Burger, Managing Partner, Gridiron Capital, LLC

tburger@gridironcapital.com Gridiron Capital Media Contact:

Jon Keehner / Julie Hamilton

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

212-355-4449 For Class Valuation:

Nick Butterfield, Director of Marketing, Class Valuation

Nbutterfield@classvaluation.com For Narrow Gauge Capital:

Adam Doctoroff, Partner, Narrow Gauge Capital

adoctoroff@narrowgaugecapital.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gridiron-capital-partners-with-class-valuation-301264651.html SOURCE Gridiron Capital, LLC

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Workers at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) headquarters in Swansea, South Wales, began a four-day strike Tuesday. This is the first major industrial action taken at a workplace in the UK over coronavirus safety. More than 600 positive Covid cases have been reported at the DVLAs offices.

The 3,300 workers are striking due to DVLAs refusal to implement basic COVID-19 safety measures. For months now, up to 2,500 staff have had to physically attend their workplace at the DVLAs offices. This is despite at least 535 members of the workforce (over 25 percent of those in the office) catching coronavirus in the months since the pandemic began to January this year. At least one employee at the site died after test testing positive for COVID-19.

The DVLA is a major government employer, with more than 6,000 employed in Swansea across two sites: the DVLA's HQ and a contact centre in Swansea Vale. The workers deal with around 12 million calls every year regarding driving licences and vehicles.

The DVLA headquarters in Swansea (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Last December, Public Health Wales declared a coronavirus outbreak after more than 350 people were infected. Workers took to social media demanding management stop placing them in danger.

When the pandemic took hold in Britain last spring, the DVLA outbreak was inevitable as it refused to implement necessary safety measures at the site or provide the resources for remote work. In their determination to keep as many workers as possible herded into unsafe work settings, the fact that offices were major vectors of transmission of the virus was concealed by the authorities and corporations.

However, in January Public Health England released figuresvia a Freedom of Information request from BBC 5 Liverevealing the extent of a vast cover-up. They showed 60 suspected Covid outbreaks in offices in England in just the first two weeks of the January lockdown.

The BBC said of the FOI findings, There were more than 500 outbreaks, or suspected outbreaks, in offices in the second half of 2020, more than in supermarkets, construction sites, warehouses, restaurants and cafes combined.

By January, the Office for National Statistic (ONS) had reported 364 deaths in administrative occupations.

The DVLA strike was called after months of delay by the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) and only after its failure in the last few weeks to come to an agreement in talks with DVLA management.

The union bureaucracy is responsible for workers confronting such a dangerous situation at the DVLA. Following the ending of last springs lockdown, the PCS allowed the DVLA to begin bringing large numbers of employees back into the workplace in autumn. After the offices were forced to close in December due to a huge rise in infections, the union allowed them to reopen on January 4. It was only after another surge of infections in January took the number of infections to over 350, and amid rising anger among workers, that the PCS finally began organising a strike ballot. The mood among the workforce for action was clear in a February all-DVLA staff zoom meeting called by the PCS. The union reported, Over 90 percent of those attending the meeting voted in favour of strike action with 87 percent taking part.

The ballot was held months after the December closurefrom February 19-March 11with workers voting to strike over by 71.6 percent on a 50.3 percent turnout. The PCS used this mandate to resume talks with management that failed.

On March 16, the PCS said it had contacted Department for Transport permanent secretary, Bernadette Kelly, for an urgent meeting to discuss the result of our ballot on Covid safety at the DVLA. It said that it would hold off on serving a formal notice of industrial action until two days later (March 18) to allow the government time to respond. It was not until five days later, on March 23, that the union formally announced a strike date.

In its March 23 update, the PCS said it was engaged in intensive talks with the employer this week and will present our proposals to ensure staff safety at the DVLA now and in the coming months and years. PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka said, Taking strike action is a last resort but if management continues to so flagrantly disregard workers safety, we will be left with no other choice.

In a final update on April 1, the PCS said it has been in intensive talks with the DVLA to try to reach agreement to address our members health and safety concerns and remove the necessity for taking industrial action. Negotiations had not resulted in DVLA backing down on anything substantial. They only agreed a reduction in the capacity of the site by removing over 300 desks and a revision of risk assessments which has led to a further 300 staff being sent home.

The PCS is not opposed in principle to its members going back into DVLA offices during the pandemic, even under conditions in which a small fraction of the adult population have received two required vaccine doses. The PCS presented as a gain from the negotiations that it secured A commitment on how to proceed in the talks over the coming months, in terms of extending home working, safety on site and any potential increase in the numbers of staff on site when it is safe to do so.

The union made clear its plan to halt action after the strike ends on Friday and use it as a bargaining chip for further talks, saying, The bigger the action, the better the deal we will be able to achieve when talks resume after the strike.

The DVLA continues to play down the threat to its workforce, declaring this week, There is currently not a single member of staff in the 10 day isolation period, out of a workforce of more than 6,000."

Such a statement is entirely in line with government propaganda that the pandemic is all but over, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson stating on Monday that everyone must move forward to Step Two of the roadmap to freedom.

The Tories have been able to impose their homicidal agenda only due to the collusion of the Labour Party and trade unions.

Until the pandemic is contained, and workplaces made entirely safe with the necessary social distancing and other protections in place, no worker should be forced into an office. Key workers involved in such work must be allowed to work from home and be provided with every resource to do this safely with no loss of pay. When remote work is impossible, they must be fully compensated for lost income over the entire time they are furloughed.

As far as the trade unions are concerned, whatever remote working is in place now can be ditched according to the governments timeline for reopening the economy. The Trades Union Congress notes that the guidance on working from home has not changed and that everyone who can work from home should continue to do so until at least 21 June. Its April 2 document advised Johnson to work closely with the unions as the UK Government eases restrictions following the third lockdown.

The Socialist Equality Party is opposed to the health and lives of workers being sacrificed for the profit interests of the corporations and billionaires. It is calling for the formation of a Network of Rank-and-File Action Committees for Safe Workplaces. On Saturday April 10, there is on online meeting to discuss the way forward in building these fighting organisations. We urge DVLA workers and all others to register here to attend this vital event.
Gov. John Bel Edwards is scheduled to discuss the latest developments with the coronavirus pandemic in Louisiana at a 2:30 p.m. press conference today.

These weekly press conferences have been awash with news in recent weeks, including the expansion of vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 and older and the loosening of some COVID restrictions.

Click here for the latest data updates on COVID cases and the vaccine rollout.

Watch and follow the press conference live below.

Louisiana to receive 88% fewer J&J COVID vaccines next week Louisiana, along with the rest of the country, will receive significantly fewer doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine next week.

Can't see the module? Click here.
Philippine Coast Guard personnel in Manila salute the US Coast Guard National Security Cutter Bertholf as it arrives for a port call in the first visit by a US cutter in more than seven years, May 15, 2019.

The Philippines welcomes an American commitment to back it should Beijing become aggressive in the South China Sea, Manilas defense department said Thursday, after Washington warned that an armed attack on the Southeast Asian nation would force the U.S. to aid its ally under a decades-old treaty.

For weeks, the Philippine government has engaged in a verbal tussle with Beijing and lodged diplomatic protests over the presence of dozens of Chinese ships in contested waters of the sea, but China has denied the allegations and said these are fishing vessels.

The U.S. admonition to China against the use of force on Philippine public vessels and aircraft, which are performing their constitutional mandate to protect and defend Philippine rights in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, is an additional affirmation of the long-standing partnership between our two countries, said Arsenio Andolong, a spokesman for the Philippine Department of National Defense.

As the situation in the West Philippine Sea evolves, we keep all our options open in managing the situation, including leveraging our partnerships with other nations such as the United States, Andolong said, referring to the section of the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines.

A day earlier, the U.S. State Department reiterated that Washington was backing its longtime Asian ally  a former American colony  in the ongoing dispute over the Chinese ships moored at Whitsun Reef, which lies within the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and other disputed waters in the Spratly Islands.

As we have stated before, an armed attack against the Philippines armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea, will trigger our obligations under the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, Ned Price, the departments spokesman, told a daily press briefing in response to a reporters question.

Under the auspices of the 70-year-old treaty, the armed forces of the United States and the Philippines will come to each others military aid in the event of an external attack on one of them.

Despite repeated calls by Manila for the ships to leave the area and the filing of diplomatic protests, the Chinese vessels have lingered there.

Last week, the Philippine military said dozens of Chinese militia ships were scattered among contested reefs and islets in the Philippine EEZ.

Chinas foreign ministry has insisted the area around Whitsun Reef belongs to Beijing.

The Philippines attempts to use an illegal, null-and-void award to negate Chinas sovereignty, rights and interests, negate Chinese fishermens fishing history and rights in their traditional fishing grounds, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters during a press briefing on Tuesday.

We hope the Philippines will look at this objectively and correctly, immediately stop wanton hype  and avoid casting negative influence on bilateral relations and the overall peace and stability in the South China Sea, he said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond on Thursday to the Philippine and U.S. statements.

Beijing insists much of the South China Sea is its territory, despite a July 2016 international arbitral ruling by a United Nations-backed tribunal that affirmed the Philippines EEZ.

Other governments claiming parts of the South China Sea are Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Although Indonesia does not consider itself a claimant in the territorial disputes, China claims historic rights that overlap with Indonesias EEZ.

A student activist takes part in a protest on Roxas Boulevard in Manila against the presence of Chinese ships in Philippine-claimed waters of the South China Sea, April 8, 2021. [Jason Gutierrez/BenarNews]

Ongoing protests

Since Monday the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has filed daily protests against China about the ships in its EEZ.

On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. again demanded that all the Chinese ships move out.

Nobody fishes by lashing ships together. Last time that was done was the Persian invasion of Greece recorded by Herodotus, Locsin said in a Twitter post late Wednesday. Weve seen that movie.

The Chinese presence in the Philippine EEZ also has Manila counting on its Visiting Forces Agreement with Washington, which President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to terminate.

In February, Lloyd Austin, the defense chief in the new Biden Administration, reaffirmed Washingtons commitment to the 1999 VFA and the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty during his first official phone call with his Philippine counterpart, Delfin Lorenzana.

The VFA, which allows the presence of U.S. troops in the Philippines, has remained in effect since Manila deferred its termination.

The pact is also the basis for another defense cooperation agreement, which allows U.S. troops to pre-position assets at certain Philippine military bases.

We are continuously in talks with the U.S. on the matter of mutual defense, Andolong said Thursday.

Both parties are committed to undertake their obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty so that neither stands alone in these issues involving the two states inherent right of self-defense, individually and collectively, he said.

The U.S., meanwhile, has maintained naval patrols in the South China Sea. On Sunday, the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group entered the waterway to carry out maritime strike exercises, anti-submarine operations, coordinated tactical training, and other activities, according to the U.S. Navy.

On Wednesday, the Royal Malaysian Air Force announced it had completed a two-day bilateral military exercise in the sea with the Roosevelt strike group.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
Three neighbours have united in a bid to each sell their homes in a suburban cul-de-sac - and the idea has seen them earn nearly $2million each.

The trio of vendors, who have all owned their respective properties in Miranda, in Sydney's south, for more than four decades, joined forces recently for the amalgamated 2,390sqm site at 15, 16 and 18 Adina Street.

Despite not revealing the final sale, Newton Real Estate's David Newton confirmed the final price went 'substantially' above the $5.3million price guide and that each of the three home owners would receive about $1.8million each.

Three neighbours have united in a bid to each sell their homes in a suburban cul-de-sac - and the ingenuitive idea has seen them earn nearly $2million each

One of the properties in Miranda where the owners combined for a big pay day

The homowners have netted themselves an extra 30 per cent through the combination of their properties rather than selling separately, experts say.

The per-home figure is a whopping $500,000 more than the current median house price in Miranda, which is a 15-minute drive to nearby Cronulla Beach in the heart of the Sutherland Shire region.

'At the moment we are finding seller's homes are worth more as a development site instead of a house if they can get their neighbours involved,' Mr Newton told realestate.com.

He said there were at least 10 serious buyers for the property, with the final bidding war between four. The final price is believed to be close to $6million.

'It was very hard to select the buyer  it not only came down to dollars and cents, but also the terms of the contract,' Mr Newtown said.

'The sellers also liked how the buyer had done a number of other sites in the area.'

The combined land size in Miranda on Adina Street could see the building of over a dozen townhouses on the current site.

The trio of vendors were all looking to downsize, and following the clever proposal of the agents, the owners are now poised to enjoy a substantial financial windfall.

According to a recent report from Domain, the median house price in Sydney last December was $1.21million, with units typically selling for a little over $730,000.

This property in Miranda (pictured above) could fetch the owners a huge windfall if sold in a proposed package deal with two other neighbouring houses

18 Adina St in Miranda (pictured above) will soon be on the market in Sydney's south
[April 08, 2021] Fintech Platform Marquee Equity Helps Qolo.io Raise Their Seed Round

NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Marquee Equity, a fintech platform, has helped a Florida-based B2B Payments company, Qolo.io, close its seed round. "We reached out to Qolo to explore if we could be of help because they popped up on our 'companies to watch' list, an internal tool we use to scout interesting early-stage companies. We found Qolo to be an exciting company led by Patricia Montesi, an entrepreneur with a superb background in the space, and they were kind enough to give us a chance with their seed round," said Ash Narain, Founder & CEO of Marquee Equity. Marquee Equity's proprietary investor discovery algorithm identified a list of investors, which their execution team then curated, and once approved by Qolo, investors were approached. "Qolo experienced immediate positive traction on our platform and quickly received information and call requests from several top-notch angel and institutional investors. Great quality companies and founders always quickly receive investor interest and before we knew it, Qolo was in the process of closing their round!" adds Kabir Narain, Founder & CTO of Marquee Equity. Over 750 companies use Marquee Equity each year to raise capital, and commenting on their raise, Patricia Montesi, Founder & CEO of Qolo, sai, "We could not be more thrilled with our decision to use Marquee Equity to reach out to potential investors. One of the investors that we met through Marquee had participated in the latest raise, and we got many calls and leads from the outreach conducted by Marquee. I would associate with them again and recommend anyone in need of mass reaching investors in a professional and efficient way."



Marquee Equity was started with the mission of giving any entrepreneur access to the best investors in the world. It operates as a no-judgment, technology-driven platform, that opens up the world's investors to entrepreneurs wanting to raise capital. "We wanted to democratise access to capital. Investment bankers are interested in large ticket deals, leaving early-stage companies without access to good advice to raise capital. We work with companies across the board - from idea stage to pre IPO - from $100K cheque sizes to multi-billion dollar private equity funds raising capital from Limited Partners. We also charge a fraction of what an investment bank of the same quality would charge. This is because of our technology replacing a lot of the manual functions at an investment bank," added Ash Narain.

"Founders need to approach fundraising as a funnel-based process. You begin with a large pool of interested investors and funnel them down to the few that you close a round with. Marquee Equity is a great service to help you build your funnel. They're quick and get you on the phone with the right group of targeted investors," says Patricia Montesi. Press Contact: prachi@marquee-equity.com Related Images marquee-equity-team.jpeg

Marquee Equity Team

Team at Marquee Equity at a recent office gathering View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fintech-platform-marquee-equity-helps-qoloio-raise-their-seed-round-301265216.html SOURCE Marquee Equity

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Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Edible Oils in Saudi Arabiaunder Food & Beverage category. The Edible Oils Market in Saudi Arabia is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports.

The packaged food industry in Saudi Arabia is drastically changing, especially after COVID-19, which is expected to continue to impact the country and consumer behaviour throughout 2020. As foodservice closures drive sales in retail, consumer stockpiling of non-perishable goods is also expected to drive a considerable surge in demand for edible oils in 2020. Consumers have been panic buying in Saudi Arabia through fears that they will be unable to visit shops and that the shops may run out of st...

Edible Oils in Saudi Arabia report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data 2015-2019, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they new product developments, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2024 illustrate how the market is set to change.

Product coverage: Corn Oil, Olive Oil, Other Edible Oil, Palm Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Soy Oil, Sunflower Oil.

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Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

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Table Of Contents

Edible Oils in Saudi Arabia

KEY DATA FINDINGS

2020 IMPACT

Edible oils drastically affected by COVID-19 following foodservice closures and stockpiling

Olive oil to drive growth thanks to health benefits as healthy eating trends continue despite COVID-19

Trend for organic emerges in edible oils as new products enter from category leader and others

RECOVERY AND OPPORTUNITIES

Temporary halt in promotional activity will not last beyond the pandemic but higher tax will provide little relief for consumers in the coming years

Health and wellness trends drive expansion of edible oils as a wider range of options become available to customers

Economic instability will make consumers more price-conscious in the forecast period

CATEGORY DATA

Table 1 Sales of Edible Oils by Category: Volume 2015-2020

Table 2 Sales of Edible Oils by Category: Value 2015-2020

Table 3 Sales of Edible Oils by Category: % Volume Growth 2015-2020

Table 4 Sales of Edible Oils by Category: % Value Growth 2015-2020

Table 5 NBO Company Shares of Edible Oils: % Value 2016-2020

Table 6 LBN Brand Shares of Edible Oils: % Value 2017-2020

Table 7 Distribution of Edible Oils by Format: % Value 2015-2020

Table 8 Forecast Sales of Edible Oils by Category: Volume 2020-2025

Table 9 Forecast Sales of Edible Oils by Category: Value 2020-2025

Table 10 Forecast Sales of Edible Oils by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025

Table 11 Forecast Sales of Edible Oils by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025

Browse our full report with Table of Contents: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/edible-oils-in-saudi-arabia/163817

About Us

Market Reports on Saudi Arabia provides you with an in-depth industry reports focusing on various economic, political and operational risk environment, complemented by detailed sector analysis. We have an exhaustive coverage on variety of industries  ranging from energy and chemicals to transportation, communications, constructions and mining to Food and Beverage and education. Our collection includes over 3000 up-to-date reports all researched, analysed and published by top-notch international research firms.

Contact us at:

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Tel: +91 22 27810772 / 27810773

Email: info@marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com

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Karnataka: Bengre residents hold massive protest against Sagarmala project

April 08,2021 | Source: Daiji World

The residents of Bengre staged a protest against coastal berth and capital dredging under Sagarmala project here on Monday April 5. The protestors said, We strongly oppose the coastal berth and capital dredging under Sagarmala project. By bringing the project to Bengre, we realize that the government is trying to evacuate people from Bengre. Since several years, we have been demanding to provide title deeds and RTC documents. Our demands are yet to be fulfilled.



The fishing community, houses, people involved in dry fish business and fish drying tents will face huge a problem regarding their livelihood due to the construction of the coastal berth which will be 350 meters-long. People here will not have any alternative solution for their livelihood if the project comes up at Bengre. There is a government school close to the area. The project will affect the health condition of the children. So on humanity basis and in view of health condition of school children, we demand the project to be shifted elsewhere. Recently, our fishing boats powered away after their ropes snapped due to strong winds. If the boats had gone missing due to the strong winds, then the entire fishing community would have been in dire straits. The government needs to concentrate on providing basic facilities such as jetties for small boats. Our basic demands are not being fulfilled, they said.

 2001 - 2021. Daijiworld Media Pvt Ltd.,
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Ambassador Jaime Castro took up his duties as Permanent Representative of Colombia to the OECD on 28 April 2020.

Mr. Castro studied at the University el Rosario in Bogota where he obtained a Ph.D in law. He undertook postgraduate studies at the Paris Institute of Political Studies and was part of the Stendhal Promotion of the National School of Administration (ENA). He also followed a course at the Institute for Local Administration Studies in Madrid (Spain) and was Scholar at the Wilson Centre in Washington.

He started his career in academia in 1966, as Professor and Dean at the Higher School of Public Administration in Bogota, then as Professor of Public Law at Rosario, Externado and Los Andes Universities. Between 1968 and 1972, he served as Legal Secretary to the Presidency of the Republic, before being appointed Minister of Justice in 1973. From 1976 to 1978, he represented Colombia as Ambassador to the Republic of Italy. Mr. Castro was elected Senator in 1978, 1982 and 1990. Subsequently, Mr. Castro served as Minister of the Interior from 1984 to 1986. In 1991, he was elected a member of the Constituent Assembly, which issued a new Colombian Constitution. He was elected Mayor of Bogota from 1992 to 1994.

Prior to taking up his duties as Ambassador of Colombia to the OECD, he was member of Boards of various public and private institutions such as Banco Central Hipotecario, the Ibero-American Theater Festival or the Silva House of Poetry, he had been also heading the Delegation of Colombia to the OECD since 1 October 2019.
The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia had to be ready for the worst-case scenario in terms of U.S. sanctions because of what it called President Joe Biden's hostile and unpredictable policy towards Moscow.

The Biden Administration has completed its security review of Russia following a series of efforts to counter to U.S. interests  with potential new sanctions being prepared for close associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin over the jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and other rows.

'You see, the hostility and unpredictability of the US side's actions in general obligate us to be prepared for the worst scenarios. When your interlocutor is quite aggressive and unpredictable, you are naturally mobilized all the time,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Biden ordered the Russia review on his first day in office, and the White House has said it would focus on four problematic areas  among them Russian election interference and the Solarwinds hack of U.S. government agencies and companies whose extent is still being understood.

The Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had to be ready for the worst-case scenario in terms of U.S. sanctions after U.S. completed a review of Moscow-related actions

The Russians cited what they called the 'hostility and unpredictability' of President Joe Biden's administration

With the review's completion, Bloomberg News reported, the administration could impose additional sanctions or even expel Russian intelligence officers it has identified.

The U.S. slapped sanctions on Russia and kicked closed Russian security compounds in the final days of the Obama administration in response to Russian election interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Possible moves could involve sanctions and the expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in the U.S. under diplomatic cover, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. Senior officials were expected to meet Wednesday to discuss what steps to take.

The sanctions could include efforts to single out people close to Putin and agencies 'linked to election interference,' according to the report, although that has proven difficult in the past.

According to a White House spokesperson, 'We are not going to comment on internal policy conversations or meetings. From his first phone call with President Putin, President Biden has been clear that the United States will respond to a number of destabilizing Russian actions, in a manner and timing of our choosing.'

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday the White House was 'disturbed' by reports on opposition leader Alexei Navalny's condition in prison

One area the review is exploring are reports that Russia provided 'bounties' for killings of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Moscow denied the charge

The review included hacking of solarwinds that officials said compromised a range of federal agency computer systems

Many top Russian officials and oligarchs have already made money moves to avoid the impact of U.S. sanctions, and the U.S. already slapped sanctions as well as indictments on Russian individuals and entities linked to election hacking.

Putin last month gave his backing to a constitutional amendment allowing him to remain in office until 2036.

The administration's review focused on hacking, election interference, reports Russia offered 'bounties' for the killing of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Navalny is on a hunger strike. He was detained upon returning to Russia in January after fleeing the country to Germany after he was poisoned with the chemical agent Novichok. Amnesty International said Russian authorities may be slowly killing Navalny in prison under conditions that amount to torture.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday the White House was 'disturbed' by reports on Navalny's condition in prison, after proceedings the U.S. says were unfair.

'We urge Russian authorities to take all necessary actions to ensure his safety and health. So long as he is imprisoned, the Russian government is responsible for his health and well-being,' Psaki said.

'We stand with like-minded allies and partners in calling for his immediate release as well as an end to the persecution of his supporters,' she said, calling his imprisonment 'politically motivated.

The Director of National Intelligence, in a report released last month, assessed that Putin authorized 'influence operations' to denigrate Joe Biden when he was running for president.

The U.S. and Russia had yet another diplomatic spat after Biden said he considered Putin a 'killer' when asked by ABC's George Stephanopoulos. Nevertheless, Putin plans to attend Biden's virtual climate summit this month.
A man has been arrested for allegedly attacking Asian Americans on three separate occasions in New York City, police told ABC News.

Joseph Russo, 27, was taken into custody Wednesday and charged with multiple counts of assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment as a hate crime in connection with all three incidents, according to the New York City Police Department.

MORE: Lobby staff fired after attack on Asian American woman outside apartment building in New York City

The first incident occurred in the Gravesend neighborhood of Brooklyn on March 5 at around 9:20 a.m. local time. Russo allegedly pushed a 64-year-old Asian American woman on a sidewalk, knocking her down. The woman suffered pain to the left side of her body but refused medical attention at the scene, police said.

PHOTO: The New York City Police Department released this image of a man who was later arrested for allegedly attacking Asian Americans on three separate occasions. (New York City Police Department)

The second incident happened near the Madison neighborhood of Brooklyn on March 22 at around 7:45 a.m. local time. Russo allegedly grabbed a 32-year-old Asian American woman on a sidewalk and pulled her hair, causing pain to her head and neck. The woman refused medical attention at the scene, according to police.

MORE: Man charged with hate crime after attack on Asian American woman caught on video

The third and most recent incident occurred in the Homecrest neighborhood of Brooklyn on Monday at around 11:15 a.m. Russo allegedly shoved a 77-year-old Asian American man who was looking at vegetables for sale in front of a market. The man fell to the ground and suffered some bruising to his arm but refused medical attention at the scene, police said.

PHOTO: The New York City Police Department released this image of a man who was later arrested for allegedly attacking Asian Americans on three separate occasions. (New York City Police Department)

The attacks were the latest in a spate of violence targeting Asian Americans in New York City and across the nation. The coronavirus pandemic and its suspected origins in the Chinese city of Wuhan is cited as having led to a fresh onslaught of anti-Asian discrimination in the United States that has waged on for over year.

From March 19, 2020, to Feb. 28, 2021, there were more than 3,795 hate incidents, including verbal harassment and physical assault, against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States that were reported to Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit organization that tracks such incidents.

Story continues

MORE: Why anti-Asian hate incidents often go unreported and how to help

In recent weeks, the New York City Police Department has ramped up patrols in predominately Asian communities. Asian American officers are also working undercover in areas that have had hate crimes, police said. One of those undercover officers was able to step in and make an arrest during an anti-Asian incident in the Chinatown neighborhood of Manhattan on Tuesday, marking the first arrest by the new initiative, according to police.

New York City police arrest man for 3 separate attacks on Asian Americans originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A pandemic has blanketed the planet. Economies have cratered. Across the world, people are scared, anxious and unsteady about the future.

And you want to talk about climate change?

Yes, say African leaders. Now.

African heads of state met virtually this week to make a push for the global community to do more to fight climate change in Africa, arguing that this environmental crisis could  and in fact, is  making the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic worse in the developing world. They are pushing a bold, multibillion dollar plan ahead of a vital climate conference planned for later this year.

It is hardly news that the pandemic has dealt a body blow to the developing world, said Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. But, he said, it has affected everything.

"Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change and climate vulnerability  a situation that unfortunately has been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic," he said, speaking via videoconference Tuesday. "Multiple systemic shocks are now simultaneously threatening African communities and a health crisis, an economic crisis, a food security crisis have all been compounded by this subject that we are continuously debating  that of the climate change crisis. The impact, therefore, of the COVID-19 pandemic on Africa social-economic development has been devastating."

Or, as President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon put it, in an evocative, poetic way that will seem familiar to residents of this vast continent that is larger than the combined landmass of the United States, China and Brazil:

"Every day, the thunderstorms seem more violent. Flooding is more frequent and droughts more severe. Around the world, forests are razed. Crops are failing, people are being forced to flee their homes, becoming climate refugees. Sea levels are rising, potentially drowning cities and even entire countries. The oceans are turning to acid. And salt is penetrating croplands, causing further serious challenges to food security. Ladies and gentlemen, excellencies, Africa contributed just 3 percent of global emissions, but we are the continent which will pay. Indeed, which is already paying the biggest price."

What does this have to do with the pandemic? Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director of the World Health Organization, draws that line clearly. Although the continent has reported a relatively low number of cases compared to other regions, it has seen the world's slowest rollout of vaccination campaigns.

"The health sector is one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and the key priority sector for adaptation," he said. "Despite this, only 0.5 percent of multilateral climate finance is currently spent on health protection. Financing the overall health response to the pandemic and the climate crisis is essential to save lives and drive a social and economic recovery."

These leaders are pushing the global community to put their money behind their commitment, with this plan, laid out by African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina.

"Our goal is to mobilize $25 billion for climate adaptation for Africa," he said. "The African Adaptation Acceleration Program will build on what is working and speed up the actualization, the African Adaptation Initiative of the African Union."

That is not an abstract plan, he said. It translates to the following tangible steps: digital climate information and advisory services for 30 million farms. A plan to build more resilient infrastructure in cities and rural areas. Greater involvement from the private sector. Greater emphasis on green investments. More jobs in climate-resilient fields for young people.

It is ambitious, big and bold  from a continent that is all of those things. African leaders will take this to the floor of the 26th U.N. climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland, in November.


COVID Outbreak at McCracken County Jail

By Tim Brockwell

PADUCAH - McCracken County Jailer David Knight says the jail is experiencing its second COVID-19 outbreak since the pandemic began.Knight told West Kentucky Star 21 inmates at the jail have tested positive for the virus as of Thursday afternoon. He said all of the infected inmates are women, and are in the same cell block."They've all been quarantined, and anybody who's been exposed to them is quarantined. Nobody will be going in or out of those cells until the 14 days is up." Knight said.Knight said all of the inmates who have tested positive are being monitored around the clock. He said so far none of the women have exhibited anything more than mild symptoms.This is the second outbreak of COVID-19 at the jail. In December about 47-49 people at the facility, including several employees, came down with the virus. Knight said this time infections have been limited to the inmate population.Knight commended his staff for limiting virus cases at the jail, citing the number of cases compared to the total inmate population since the start of the pandemic."We've booked in roughly 6000 people since this pandemic started, and for us to be at 69-70 over two different outbreaks, to me that's pretty impressive that we've kept it out that long," Knight said. "Once it gets in here, even keeping it contained within the building, I think my people are doing a great job. For us all to be under the same roof I think we're doing a pretty great job of keeping it under control."Knight said right now jail staff are collecting names of inmates who want to be vaccinated, and that process could start as early as next week."We're gathering a list of what inmates want [the vaccine] now. Of course, I can't make them take them, but we're offering them," Knight said, adding that about 200 of the jail's 480 current inmates have expressed interest in getting the shot.Knight credited the jail's rigorous testing, cleaning and quarantine policies for helping keep case numbers low at the facility."Before they ever come into the jail [the inmates] are screened for temperature and given a questionnaire. Once they come in they're quarantined for at least 14 days before they move to general population," Knight said. "They're given two masks, and our people are required to wear masks. We have tons of cleaning supplies, and clean continuously. We go through probably 55 gallons of COVID cleaner a week. We have tests on hand, and anyone who wants a test for any reason can get one any time."
Syria: media reports Israeli airstrike near Damascus SANA says four soldiers wounded

(ANSAmed) - DAMASCUS, 08 APR - Syrian state news agency SANA reported an Israeli airstrike took place during the night between Wednesday and Thursday in the region of Damascus, adding that the army's air defences responded to the attack.



The agency cited a military source but did not specify the targets of the attack.



It said the attack caused material damage and four soldiers were wounded.



It said the Israeli aircraft came from Lebanon and hit positions near Damascus.



Syrian air defences "intercepted the enemy's missiles and downed most of them", SANA said.



The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the attack targeted military positions near the Syrian capital and destroyed an Iranian-owned weapons warehouse. (ANSAmed).




Stronger US Dollar Reacts To Global Market Concerns  Which ETFs Will Benefit? Part II

In this second part of our exploration of the recent US Dollar rally and what it may be reacting to in relation to the current US stock market highs and continued rally, we will explore some of the underlying factors that are translating into US Dollar strength while the US stock market continues to push higher.

In the first part of this research article, we highlighted the US Dollar reaction to the 2008-09 credit market crisis and how the US Dollar actually started to bottom/rally in early 2008  just as the rollover top in the US stock markets continued to setup. The way the US Dollar reacts to stress factors in the global markets is to strengthen as a safe haven as capital is constantly seeking the best environment for investment and profits. When the markets enter a period of turmoil, the US Dollar typically begins to strengthen before the global markets really begin to react to the fear or turmoil.

The recent news of large financial institutions and hedge funds taking large losses and closing operations is somewhat similar to the Lehman event of 2008. These types of larger corporate debt collapses have wide-range global market effects. Sometimes, these events can ripple into other global corporations who engaged in this level of financing or credit functions. For example, Credit Suisses attempt to recoup potential losses from the Greensill collapse may be a very complicated and fruitless process according to a recent Wall Street Journal article.

Weekly US Dollar Shows Uptrend Starting

The current US Dollar Weekly chart, below, shows how the US Dollar has strengthened over the past 3 months and how this current uptrend aligns with the $89 lows from early 2018. One of the most interesting aspects of this chart is the peak in early 2020, as the COVID-19 virus market collapse bottomed, which was followed by an extended decline. As mentioned earlier, the US Dollar acts as a safe haven during times of uncertainty and chaos. Obviously, the initial COVID-19 market selloff prompted quite a bit of uncertainty and chaos, prompting the US Dollar to rise nearly 9% in just two weeks. Does the current upside trending in the US Dollar translate into more uncertainty and chaos in the markets?

Be sure to sign up for our free market trend analysis and signals now so you dont miss our next special report!

The recent bottom on this Weekly US Dollar chart happened on January 6, 2021. This was the day that Congress certified the US state electors. It was also the day that chaos took place in Washington DC. From that point onward, the US Dollar began a decidedly upward price trend. Since that low on January 6, the US Dollar has risen over 4.60%. Over that same time, the SPY has rallied more than 7.5%, which obviously fails to show any US or global market concerns.

Weekly Smart Cash vs. US Dollar Correlations

The following chart shows the US Dollar (as a GOLD line) and our Custom Smart Cash Index (as a BLUE line) and highlights the threshold of the US Dollar that usually prompts a breakdown in price in the stock market. The ORANGE threshold level on this chart for the US Dollar is 94.10 and the PURPLE threshold level on this chart 99.50. Once the US Dollar reaches levels above the ORANGE threshold, the SPY becomes much more volatile and tends to retrace lower over time. Once the US Dollar reaches above the PURPLE threshold, it appears the US Dollar reaches major resistance, stalls, and contracts, which prompts a fairly large upside price trend in the SPY.

Currently, the US Dollar Index is trading just above 93.00 and it just 1.1 away from the ORANGE threshold. Should the US Dollar continue to rally over the next few weeks and months, our research suggests the US stock market will enter a period of increased volatility with broad sector trending/rotation. As you can see on this chart, near the end of 2018, the US Dollar Index rallied above the ORANGE threshold while the Custom Smart Cash Index entered a period of extended price volatility (2019 through the COVID-19 bottom in 2020). Once the US Dollar Index fell back below the ORANGE threshold (July/August 2020), the Custom Smart Cash Index began to rally estensively.

The current rally in the US stock market will likely continue until the US Dollar Index moves comfortably over the ORANGE threshold, there is a strong possibility the US stock market will enter a period of extended volatility and trending. That means that the current bullish price trend may enter a broader rally phase  targeting a new excess phase peak. Or, it may shift into more of a sideways price trend with a broad range of price rotation  like what happen in 2015 to 2016.

Interestingly enough, near the end of 2016, as the US stock market bottomed and began to rally, the sectors that lead that rally included precious metals, miners, utilities, regional banking, and technology (later in 2017). This suggests we need to watch metals & miners as well as utilities and regional banking sectors later in 2021.

Currently, the leading sector trends are Real Estate, REITS, US Financials, Global Infrastructure, Global Natural Resources, Technology, Consumer Services, and Aerospace & Defense. These leading sectors suggest many traders/investors believe the next few years will be filled with various advantages in technology, raw materials, consumer activities and infrastructure/defense spending. Get ready for some really big trends in various sectors and be prepared to jump into some of these bigger trends.

Dont miss the opportunities in the broad market sectors over the next 6+ months. Staying ahead of these sector trends is going to be key to developing continued success in these markets. As some sectors fail, others will begin to trend higher. Learn how BAN Trader Pro can help you spot the best trade setups. Learning to profit from these bigger trends and sector rotation will make a big difference between success and failure. If you are not prepared for these sector rotations, then you can sign up now for my FREE webinar that teaches you how to find, enter, and profit from only those sectors that have the most strength and momentum. Staying ahead of sector trends is going to be key to success in volatile markets.

For those who believe in the power of trading on relative strength, market cycles, and momentum but dont have the time to do the research every day then my BAN Trader Pro newsletter service does all the work for you with daily market reports, research, and trade alerts. More frequent or experienced traders have been killing it trading options, ETFs, and stocks using my BAN Hotlist ranking the hottest ETFs, which is updated daily for my premium subscribers.

Chris Vermeulen

www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic



Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better.



His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility.



He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk

Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect.

Chris Vermeulen Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




YARDLEY, Pa., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its European Tinplate business to KPS Capital Partners, LP. Crown will receive pre-tax proceeds of approximately 1.9 billion from the transaction and will retain a 20% ownership stake in the business. The European Tinplate business comprises 44 manufacturing facilities in 17 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa which produce food cans and ends, aerosol cans, metal closures and promotional packaging for various consumer brands. In 2020, the business generated 1.9 billion in revenue and approximately 220 million in estimated standalone EBITDA and had approximately 6,300 employees.

"We are very pleased that the European Tinplate business will have a strong owner in KPS Capital Partners to support future profitable growth and innovation initiatives. European customers and consumers alike have long embraced metal packaging, valuing the premium product protection and flavor preservation that it offers. The infinitely recyclable food can is unrivaled from a sustainability standpoint, helping eliminate over one billion liters a year in food waste. We are excited to retain a minority stake in the business alongside KPS as Crown shareholders will benefit from the KPS team and its track record of owning manufacturing companies and creating tremendous value," commented Timothy J. Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Michael Psaros, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of KPS, said, "We are excited to acquire one of the largest metal packaging businesses in Europe. The size and scale of the business, the breadth of its products and its critical food safety technology and process disciplines developed over decades, coupled with growing end-markets, are the foundation of a tremendous investment platform. We thank Mr. Donahue and Crown for their confidence in KPS and trust in our stewardship of the extraordinary business they have built."

Crown expects to use the net proceeds, after closing working capital adjustments, taxes and other transaction related costs, to further reduce debt, fund capital projects and repurchase shares over time under its recent $1.5 billion authorization dated February 25, 2021. For illustrative purposes only, and assuming all net proceeds of the transaction were used to reduce debt, the Company's estimated pro forma adjusted net leverage ratio at the end of 2021 (excluding all 2021 EBITDA related to the European Tinplate business) would be 2.9x compared to the 3.9x at December 31, 2020.

The sale of the European Tinplate business is expected to close during the third quarter of 2021 and is subject to certain regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Evercore acted as exclusive financial advisor to Crown.

As previously announced, the Company will release its earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, April 19, 2021. The Company will hold a conference call to discuss those results at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. The Company will have no further comment regarding the sale of the European Tinplate business beyond this news release until its earnings call on April 20, 2021.

About Crown Holdings, Inc.

Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading global supplier of rigid packaging products to consumer marketing companies, as well as transit and protective packaging products, equipment and services to a broad range of end markets. World headquarters are located in Yardley, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.crowncork.com.

About KPS Capital Partners

KPS, through its affiliated management entities, is the manager of the KPS Special Situations Funds, a family of investment funds with over $12.3 billion of assets under management (as of December 31, 2020). For nearly three decades, the Partners of KPS have worked exclusively to realize significant capital appreciation by making controlling equity investments in manufacturing and industrial companies across a diverse array of industries, including basic materials, branded consumer healthcare and luxury products, automotive parts, capital equipment and general manufacturing. KPS creates value for its investors by working constructively with talented management teams to make businesses better, and generates investment returns by structurally improving the strategic position, competitiveness and profitability of its portfolio companies, rather than primarily relying on financial leverage. The KPS Funds' portfolio companies have aggregate annual revenues of approximately $10.6 billion, operate 159 manufacturing facilities in 22 countries, and have approximately 34,000 employees, directly and through joint ventures worldwide.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, all other information in this press release consists of forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the Company's ability to close the transaction in the third quarter of 2021, or at all; whether the transaction will be approved by the competition authorities in relevant jurisdictions; the number of its shares the Company may repurchase and the price at which those shares may be repurchased; the future value, if any, to Crown shareholders of the 20% retained ownership interest in the business; and the impact of the transaction on the Company's earnings and cash flow. Important factors that could cause the statements made in this press release or the actual results of operations or financial condition of Crown to differ are discussed under the caption "Forward Looking Statements" in Crown's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2020 and in subsequent filings made prior to or after the date hereof. Crown does not intend to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement in light of future events.

For more information, contact:

Thomas A. Kelly, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, (215) 698-5341

Thomas T. Fischer, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs, (215) 552-3720

SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.crowncork.com


Any school hosting the examination centre would have to bear the cost of everything and the government was least bothered about the extra burden.  Representational image/ANI

Karimnagar: Yadagiri Shekar Rao, state president of the Telangana Residential Schools Management Association (TRSMA), on Thursday appealed to the correspondents of private schools not to give their schools as exam centres for the upcoming Class 10 and Intermediate examinations until their problems were redressed.

Shekar Rao alleged that the education department was asking for the schools without solving the problems of the managements.

He noted that for the past 1.5 years, private schools were facing hardships due to the lockdown.

The manangements were not in a position to pay the rent for the buildings and salaries to their staff. Moreover, the buildings were not in a hygienic conditions with lack of maintenance due to the schools being shut down. There was no electricity in many schools as the managements were unable to clear bills, nor water facilities.Any school hosting the examination centre would have to bear the cost of everything and the government was least bothered about the extra burden being imposed on the private school managements, Shekar Rao said.
The Hungary government has lifted several lockdown restrictions on April 7. Businesses that had been closed since March will now be able to reopen with limited customers in the shops. The decision was taken against the doctors warning who had urged caution after a record-breaking day of COVID-19 deaths.

Shops and businesses reopen in Hungary

The decision was taken after 2.5 million people have taken the first jab of the vaccine. But, a new high was recorded in terms of deaths due to COVID-19. Hungary reported 311 COVID-19 deaths on April 7. Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the lifting of lockdown restrictions on his Facebook account. In the video, he said that they have reached an important milestone, reported AP. He said that the virus waged a war against the people and the weapon which can be used against the virus is a vaccine. The Prime Minister who faces an election next year aims to revive the economy of the country by easing the lockdown restrictions.

The lockdown restrictions that have been eased include shops and businesses can now reopen. Shopping hours have been extended from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. The night curfew which was placed in November last year starts two hours later at 10 pm. Restaurants and bars will remain limited to take-out and delivery service while the hotels will remain closed. The shop owners have welcomed the government's decision despite the fears that the reopening may lead to a fourth wave.

PM Orban: 2.5 million vaccinated so shops and services can reopen todayhttps://t.co/Gk1L2fuAcj pic.twitter.com/muZHffTXhk  About Hungary (@abouthungary) April 7, 2021

Hungary has vaccinated 2.5 million people of its 10 million population. It has the second-highest vaccination rate in the European Union. The board of directors of the Hungarian Chamber of Doctors told The Associated Press that continues to consider improvement in pandemic data and a reduction of the burden on the healthcare system to be the conditions for the reopening that everyone is waiting for.

COVID situation in Hungary

As per the website of About Hungary, 1933 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Hungary on April 7. The number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 693,676. Meanwhile, 311 more Hungarians succumbed to the virus and the number of those who have recovered grew to 419,152. The number of active coronavirus cases now stands at 252,115. 2,536,751 people have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Hungary.

(Inputs from The Associated Press)

(Image Credits: AP/Pixabay)
A man was arrested and charged on Wednesday after he was caught on camera pleasuring himself with an Elmo doll during a home inspection in Michigan.

Kevin Wayne VanLuven of Clarkston was seen by the 22-year-old female homeowner allegedly using the doll to touch himself while he was meant to be working in her house.

The Oxford township woman told detectives VanLuven was granted access to the property to carry out what they thought was a routine home inspection prior to its sale on March 12.

Kevin Wayne VanLuven, 59, of Clarkston was arrested and charged on Wednesday after he was caught on camera pleasuring himself with an Elmo doll during a home inspection in Michigan

She and her partner had left the house to allow VanLuven time to carry out the inspection.

While the couple were away, however, the 22-year-old received a phone alert saying there was movement in the nursery.

Thinking nothing of it, she opened her phone and watched VanLuven, through a camera installed in the room.

She told police she saw VanLuven begin touching himself before picking up the Elmo doll and using it to pleasure himself.

He then returned the doll to its original location.

The homeowner recorded the incident and later called police to the property.

The footage shows Vanluven apparently touching himself with his backed turned away from the camera

The 59-year-old then turns around, while appearing to fiddle with his flies, and starts to walk back across the nursery

VanLuven appears to be returning the toy to where he found it, after using the child's toy to pleasure himself

VanLuven initially denied the allegations, telling police he had moved the doll to inspect an electrical outlet, but he later made incriminating statements when it transpired there was a camera in the room

VanLuven initially denied the allegation, telling police he had moved the doll to inspect an electrical outlet.

He later made incriminating statements and apologized for his actions after he was told there was a camera in the nursery.

VanLuven was there on behalf of the prospective buyers' real estate agent when the incident took place.

He was remanded in custody and charged with aggravated indecent exposure and malicious destruction of property under $200 at a district court on Wednesday.

Aggravated indecent exposure carries a maximum two year jail sentence as well as a $2,000 fine.

Malicious destruction of property carries up to 93 days in prison and a $500 fine.

The 59-year-old was remanded in custody and charged with aggravated indecent exposure and malicious destruction of property under $200 at a district court on Wednesday

Magistrate Karen Holt set a $2,500 surety bond on the charges.

Holt also set conditions for VanLuven. He is not allowed to be alone in any residential property he does not own, or have contact with the victims.

VanLuven also will face a mental health assessment as well as drug and alcohol tests under the court orders.

Of his arrest Sheriff Michael Bouchard said: 'Just when I think I have seen it all, someone steps up and surprises me with a new level of disturbing actions.

'Sadly, in today's world we cannot take it on faith that the people we let into our homes can be trusted.

'We cannot always presume that employers have done their job and have confidence their employees are trustworthy and are there to do the job for which they've been hired.

'This is a disgusting reminder to be cautious about who you let into your home. The actions of these homeowners will likely prevent this defendant from going into anyone else's home.'

VanLuven next court appearance is April 19 before Judge Nancy Carniak.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Global investment firm KKR funds will lead a $500 million investment in Box, Inc. (BOX) in the form of convertible preferred stock. The preferred stock will be convertible into shares of Box common stock at a conversion price of $27.00 per share. The preferred stock carries a 3% dividend, which will be payable in kind or in cash, at Box's election. Upon closing of the deal, John Park, Head of Americas Technology Private Equity at KKR, will join Box's Board.



Box anticipates the investment to close in May 2021. The company plans to use substantially all of the proceeds to fund a share repurchase through a 'Dutch auction' self-tender of up to $500 million of its common stock.



Box reaffirmed its vision to deliver the Content Cloud and drive profitable growth. The company remains confident to achieve a revenue growth rate between 12-16%, with operating margins of between 23-27%, by fiscal 2024.



Box also announced that current director Bethany Mayer will be appointed as Chair of the Board, effective May 1, 2021. She joined the Board in April 2020 as an independent director.



Shares of Box, Inc. were down 5% in pre-market trade on Thursday.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Women may be at greater risk of experiencing chronic pain because the condition has a different genetic basis in men and women. Keira Johnston of the University of Glasgow and colleagues report these findings in a new study published April 8th in PLOS Genetics.

Chronic pain is a common and potentially debilitating condition that tends to affect more women than men. To explore this disparity, researchers undertook the largest ever genetic study of chronic pain that analyzed women and men separately. They looked for genetic variants associated with chronic pain in 209,093 women and 178,556 men, and compared the results. In women, 31 genes were associated with chronic pain, while 37 genes were linked in men. A single gene was associated with chronic pain in both sexes. The researchers also investigated whether the activity of these genes was turned up or down in tissues known to be related to chronic pain. They found that all 37 genes in men and all but one of the 31 genes in women were active in the dorsal root ganglion, a cluster of nerves in the spinal cord that transmit pain signals from the body to the brain.

The new results support the researchers' previous work, showing that chronic pain originates to a large extent in the brain, and to a lesser degree in the sites where people may be experiencing pain. The study also suggests that sex differences in chronic pain likely have at least a partial genetic basis. They argue that research into chronic pain - and potentially other complex conditions - will likely benefit from approaches that take sex into account. Overall, these findings add to our understanding of chronic pain and may inform the development of novel therapies for this hard-to-treat condition.

Johnston adds, "Our study highlights the importance of considering sex as a biological variable and showed subtle but interesting sex differences in the genetics of chronic pain."

###

Peer-reviewed; Observational study; People

In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS Genetics:

http://journals. plos. org/ plosgenetics/ article?id= 10. 1371/ journal. pgen. 1009428

Citation: Johnston KJA, Ward J, Ray PR, Adams MJ, McIntosh AM, Smith BH, et al. (2021) Sex-stratified genome-wide association study of multisite chronic pain in UK Biobank. PLoS Genet 17(3): e1009428.

https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1371/ journal. pgen. 1009428

Funding: RJS is supported by a UKRI Innovation- HDR-UK Fellowship (MR/S003061/1). JW is supported by the JMAS Sim Fellowship for depression research from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (173558). KJAJ is supported by an MRC Doctoral Training Programme Studentship at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh (MR/N013166/1). DJS acknowledges the support of a Lister Prize Fellowship (173096) and the MRC Mental Health Data Pathfinder Award (MC_PC_17217). M.J.A. and A.M.M. are supported by Pathfinder Award MC_PC_17209 and by Wellcome Trust Grant 104036/Z/14/Z. TJP and PRR are supported by a National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (Bethesda) grant (R01NS102161). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
For cities and areas with large bodies of water that already allow for the use of waterborne transport, a solution would be to develop and further integrate this solution. That is where CAPTN Vaiaro comes in. CAPTN Vaiaro is a project by the Kiel University, in partnership with the Muthesius University and local authorities, to develop tomorrow's mass transit solution. It is an autonomous, all-electric ferry that stands out for being fully integrated into the local network. Its part of what is being described as networked, inter- and multi-modal mobility, which creates mobility chains that link all forms of public transport for the benefit and easy access of the end consumer.In fewer words, the ferry works in conjunction with other forms of public transport , like buses. Using it would be a simple task of getting on the app, checking the bus routes that lead to the pier, and then hopping on one to cross the Kiel Fjord in Germany. The networking aspect is emphasized in the name of the project, CAPTN, which stands for Clean Autonomous Public Transport Network.But the Vaiaro also stands out for being a striking-looking ferry, in keeping with the theme of transport solutions of tomorrow. Parties involved in the project have, so far, developed two concepts for the Vaiaro, both sharing the same boxy, elongated form factor, called Floating Platform and Passage. However, one is more like a gliding glass box with a dorsal fin and hydrofoils (the Floating Platform), while the other looks like a floating terminal covered in futuristic-looking latticework (Passage).The idea is the same for both: offer easy crossing over any body of water, at all hours and on-demand. Because theyre autonomous, the ferries could operate around the clock, with the possibility of on-demand operation during less busy hours, possible in an accompanying app. Being electric, they offer waterborne transport that is emissions- and noise-free, but also several times faster than with conventional ferries, of the kind used today.Being designed to link with other forms of public transport, these two ferries are meant to be as inclusive as possible. Theyre spacious yet elegant in their minimalist style, with access for wheelchairs, bike stands, and even seats dedicated to pet owners. Passengers will have several large displays to inform them of their destination or the next stop or how much time is left in the journey.Perhaps just as importantly, should these two ferries ever be built, they could become landmarks in and of themselves. The new ferry will also create a new landmark for the city, the designers say. In the future, tourists will be told, if [you] go to Kiel, [you] definitely want to take the new ferry. Public transport is one of the pressing issues that need to be solved in the urban landscape. Truth be told, this isnt the first electric ferry proposition we got in recent days: last month, Candela, a leading European builder of electric boats, presented its upcoming project, called the Candela P-30 Hydrofoil . It will be electric and will use hydrofoils for the smoothest, fastest ride. It aims to be the fastest ferry in the world when it starts commercial operations in 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden.Much like the people behind the CAPTN project, Candela believes water transport can and should be modernized to become a better, cleaner, and more comfortable alternative to mass transit on land.
Biden administration officials, who are formulating their China policies, are giving special attention to Taiwan, and trying to determine whether strategic ambiguity is sufficient to protect the increasingly vulnerable island from Beijings designs. But they also realize that Americans may look unfavorably at new, faraway military commitments after two decades of bloody and costly conflict in the Middle East.

That is why Admiral Davidson raised eyebrows last month when he acknowledged under questioning, in a departure from standard government messaging, that the policy should be reconsidered, adding, I would look forward to the conversation.

I think theres been a shift in peoples thinking, said Richard N. Haass, a former director of policy planning at the State Department under President George W. Bush and now the president of the Council on Foreign Relations. What youve seen over the last year is an acceleration of concern in the United States about Taiwan. He described a sense that this delicate situation that appeared to have been successfully managed or finessed for decades, suddenly people woke up to the possibility that that era has come to an end.

Mr. Haass helped prompt a conversation on the subject last year after publishing an essay in the September issue of Foreign Affairs magazine that declared that strategic ambiguity had run its course.

The time has come for the United States to introduce a policy of strategic clarity: one that makes explicit that the United States would respond to any Chinese use of force against Taiwan, Mr. Haass wrote with his colleague David Sacks.

Mr. Haass and Mr. Sacks added that the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, may question Americas willingness to defend its alliances after four years under President Donald J. Trump, who railed against endless wars and openly questioned the United States relationships and security commitments. While more hawkish-sounding, a clearer pledge would be safer, they argued.

Such a policy would lower the chances of Chinese miscalculation, which is the likeliest catalyst for war in the Taiwan Strait, Mr. Haass and Mr. Sacks wrote.
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Elisha Cooper is the 2018 Caldecott Honor-winning artist of Big Cat, Little Cat and its 2021 companion novel, Yes & No (both Roaring Brook). He is the author-illustrator of many other books for young readers, including Train, Farm, Beach, 8: An Animal Alphabet, and River. He lives with his family and two cats in New York City. Here, Cooper reflects on the frustrating, and ultimately humbling, experience of creating the art for Yes & No.

There was something wrong with the paper. After painting an ink outlinea puppy in my next childrens bookI filled another brush with watercolor and washed it across the paper. But something was off. When watercolor reacts well with paper its like oil spreading across the surface of a smooth pond. But here the reaction was like oil spreading across a sidewalk. Sludgy, granular. This was disconcerting. And baffling, as it was happening only with half of my paintings.

I biked to my art store and complained.

Something is wrong with your paper, I said to the worker at Da Vinci Artists Supply, who stared at me. Some sheets were good, I explained. Some were bad. The worker said shed never heard of such paper. I bought more paper and biked down 5th Avenue, holding the huge sheets in front of me like a sail.

But the next day was the same.

I stared at my painting, ripped it up, tried to breathe. A mornings work ruined. Though not entirelya few paintings came out fineso I taped those above my desk and wondered what was wrong.

I was new to this paper. Id painted most of my previous books on Strathmore paper, but had been seduced by what I heard was the highest quality paper: Fabriano Artistico. Thick, expensive, Italian. It came in big uncut 30x22 inch sheets. Hot press, 300 lb., extra white. When I painted River on this paper, it felt luxurious, the paper smooth and warm beneath my hands, my fingers barely registering the Fabriano watermark on one side, and the paintings flowed out of me on my first attempt. But with this new book, something was different. I was a little flustered inking the puppy, sometimes turning the paper over and painting the other side, trying to get his expression right.

I decided to switch art stores. I went to BLICK Art Materials in Soho, theorizing that an entire batch of paper might have been bad. I bought their Fabriano Artistico, came home, inked, painted, watched the watercolor turn to sludge, yelled, woke up my cats, took the subway to the BLICK store in Harlem, explained the good/bad paper situation, bought all their Fabriano Artistico paper, came home, inked, painted, watched the watercolor turn to sludge, gave up, and went for a run along the river.

At dinner, I told my family about my day. My daughters stared at me with the same blank expression as the workers at the art stores. I tried to appear calm and show them how adults deal with frustration: Itll be okay. Itll be okay. Itll be better tomorrow.

It wasnt.

Days tumbled into weeks. Ripped-up paper spilled out of my garbage can and covered the floor around my desk in a tangled nest that my cats liked to play in.

I asked other artists for advice. I met my friend Brian Floca for coffee and told him about my paper problem.

Hmm, thats weird, Brian said. Then we spent an enjoyable hour talking about Texas, bourbon, and cattle-rustling.

I went to Soho Art Materials and bought their Fabriano Artistico, I went to BLICK in Brooklyn and bought theirs. I ordered paper from an art store in Bushwick. At all the stores, I explained what was wrong. Once home, I ran my fingers over the paper and tried to guess if that individual sheet was good or bad, my eyes an inch from the surface. I smelled it. I thought about tasting it. Then Id spend a day inking the landscape of a peaceful field, and when I started to paint, watch the field turn to mud. Days ruined, weeks lost. Sometimes, though, my paintings were fine, and I couldnt understand why. Was the paper conspiring against me? This was paper paranoia.

About two months into painting the book I feared I was losing my mind. And, my money. I think Id bought up every sheet of Fabriano Artistico Hot Press 300 lb. extra white in New York City. If that was your paper, and you couldnt find it a few summers ago, Im sorry.

One night (well, it was two in the morning), I was at my desk testing the paper. I was cutting small pieces off each sheet, testing them with a wash of blue to see if the piece was good or bad, when one of the bad pieces fell to the floor, and flipped over. I picked it up, painted the other side, and the wash was perfect.

There are moments in everyones life when they realize, with a slow intake of breath, that they are an idiot. This was that moment. The paper had two sides. One treated, one not.

Maybe it wasnt obvious. My fingers couldnt differentiate between the two sides. More importantly, my brain couldnt. I never understood that the Fabriano watermark indicated that one side was treated for watercolor; never realized that when Id messed up inking the puppy I often turned the paper over and painted the other side; never considered that what was wrong was me.

I finished the book in a rush of relief.

The relief, though, like the paper, was double-sided. It was as if Id spent the entire summer walking around town without any pants on, so while I was relieved to know that now, and to be wearing pants again, I felt a little sheepish to think of my summer without pants.

I wonder now if I should be kinder to myself. Art, after all, is about false starts, experimentation, making mistakes. I can say that now with the benefit of reflection. I can say that now, two years later, with the finished book in my hands. It looks pretty good, the work of an accomplished artist, but I know better.
In a horrifying crime, a Brazilian gang allegedly dismembered a young woman and stuffed her body into a suitcase before it was later found by a city council worker.

Gabriela Lima Santana, 21, was reported missing on March 13, though she may have been missing prior to that.

Nearly two weeks prior, the police had received a video of a woman they now say is Santana being dismembered in a bathroom.

Santana's body was not found until March 24 when municipal workers in the southern Brazilian city of Capao da Canoa came across her remains while digging with an excavator in a ditch.

While the drainage ditch was being excavated, an arm flew out from a suitcase towards one of the workers, ultimately landing in water and floating near the top.

Gabriela Lima Santana, 21, was found dismembered in a suitcase after her disappearance

Forensic experts discovered parts of a head, torso, legs, and arm in the suitcase, as well.

Inside the luggage were also two kitchen knives and saws, likely used to dismember Santana, as well as stones that could've helped the suitcase sink.

Santana was only able to be identified through her fingerprints and a tattoo, which was allegedly associated with a local gang, sparking concerns of potential gang retribution.

Prior to Santana's discovery - and before she was even reported missing - the local homicide division received a video on March 1, which showed a woman being dismembered in a bathroom.

Municipal workers came across the suitcase that contained Santana's dismembered body

Forensic workers were able to identify several different body parts in the suitcase

That video shows someone smiling while dismembering a person's corpse, with bags across the floor that may have contained more body parts.

According to The U.S. Sun, it's not clear how police obtained the video or who provided it.

Two suspects have been arrested: a 49-year-old man who was seen in the footage, and the 23-year-old man who allegedly filmed the video.

A video sent to police earlier appeared to show a person being dismembered

Two suspects have been arrested so far, with police on the hunt for two others

Police are still on the hunt for at least two other suspects in the case, though.

Gang violence is a serious concern in Brazil and resulted last month in a terrifying shootout at a school.

A teacher at Sobral Pinto Municipal School in the Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of Praca Seca recorded a video showing at least four children sitting in the middle of the corridor in March as shots rang out.

The students covered their ears and appeared to be composed as the concerned instructor kept them calm during the tense moments.

The video was posted on social media by local activist Rene Silva and drew over 2 million views.

The Rio de Janeiro Military Police attributed the shooting to rival criminal groups fighting for control of the Praca Seca, favela or slum.
With an increased global focus on wellness brought on by the pandemic, Socati Formulations has been launched in response to a growing demand in the CBD market to see GMP-quality finished products with certified organic cannabinoids and a variety of other functional ingredients recognized for overall wellness benefits.

"We're seeing new and exciting trends in the CBD space which we're fortunate to be able to react to quickly and with world-class expertise," commented Mark Elfenbein, Chief Revenue Officer of Socati. "With a sharp focus on wellbeing seen around the world, an increasing number of people are looking for new and innovative products with ingredients they know and trust."

"Yooma is extremely excited about the launch of Socati Formulations," added Lorne Abony, Chairman of Yooma. "The Socati team is already working with several leading consumer brands to create new and unique products which will be available to customers in the coming weeks and months."

Socati has established a team of formulation and product development experts within the new division. Building on the success of its finished goods catalogue and the launch of dozens of products including gummies, tinctures, pet products, and its proprietary water-dispersible flavored crystal stick packs, they will provide a turnkey, white-glove service for new and existing customers looking to bring fresh and innovative products to market.

All Socati ingredients benefit from: non-detectable levels of THC (as determined by independent testing with leading U.S. laboratories), high purity CBD, and custom minor cannabinoid ratios. These ingredients are non-GMO, tested and verified by third party labs, produced in a GFSI certified food grade processing facility, kosher and made to ingredient grade specifications.

About Yooma Wellness Inc.

Yooma's mission is to build a vertically integrated global leader in the marketing, distribution, and sale of wellness products including hemp seed oil and hemp-derived and cannabinoid (CBD) ingredients. The company leverages strategically curated sales channels and ecommerce networks to deliver a diverse mix of wellness products through subsidiaries in China, Japan, the United Kingdom, France and the United States. Yooma has assembled an international team of multicultural industry professionals with extensive experience in digital marketing, ecommerce and social media in the EU, North America, and the pan-Asian region, with particular depth in the Chinese ecommerce market. Learn more at www.yooma.ca.

For Yooma media enquiries, please contact:

Ron Wardle

Email: [email protected]

About Socati

Socati is a leading producer of quality hemp extracts and private label finished goods for the rapidly growing CBD market. It specializes in consistent and highly customized functional products with precise cannabinoid ratios serving the needs of CPG companies globally. With rich expertise in creating custom formulations for brands, Socati focuses on delivering quality CBD ingredients, functional formulations and private label finished goods.

Please watch our video or visit socati.com to learn more.

For Socati media enquiries, please contact:

Josh Stanbury

[email protected]

+1-416-628-7441

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 Yooma 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 "expects", "to be", "to bring", "will", "upcoming", "look forward", "to build", 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 operations, economic conditions and anticipated courses of action of Yooma.

There are many risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements including, among others, regulatory risk in each jurisdiction in which Yooma does or intends to operate, the uncertainties, effects of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, reliance on licenses, competition, dependence on senior management and key personnel, general business risk and liability, regulation of the CBD and wellness products industries, changes in laws, regulations and guidelines, compliance with laws, limited operating history, unfavourable publicity or consumer perception, product liability, risks related to intellectual property, product recalls, difficulties with forecasts, management of growth, litigation, changes or delays in the launch of products or in the locations where products will be launched, breakdowns in Yooma's relationships with its business partners, suppliers and distributors, unanticipated changes in the demand for CBD or wellness products; and other matters which are beyond the control of Yooma. 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, Yooma cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information. Yooma cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. Yooma 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 Yooma.

SOURCE Yooma Wellness Inc.
[April 08, 2021] Waltzing Matilda to launch new airline, Connect Airlines, to serve Toronto Billy Bishop City Airport

- IBS Software provides mission-critical SaaS solutions to support the airline's commercial business and operations BEDFORD, Mass., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Waltzing Matilda Aviation (WMA) will be launching Connect Airlines, a new airline starting operations in October 2021, connecting Toronto Billy Bishop City Airport with airports in the Northeast and Midwest United States. Using the Canadian built Q400 turboprop aircraft, Connect Airlines will offer a premium service for day-tripping business travelers direct into Toronto's downtown island Billy Bishop airport. Subject to regulatory approvals, the airline will provide a valuable alternative to business travelers as they start to fly between the United States and Canada again. John Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of WMA, comments: "We are passionate about how aviation brings people, cultures and business together. Especially in these challenging times, we are committed to delivering the world's most rewarding premium travel experience with safety, service, convenience and reliability." WMA chose IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, as its strategic launch partner. IBS Software's SaaS model fully supports the needs of the start-up airline minimizing fixed costs. Thomas continues: "The last year has shown that airlines need to be lean, agile and digital-first. Not only is this important as the industry recovers but passengers are demanding it. Travelers want a seamless digital experience which is why we partnered with IBS Software. We can manage the airline on a single integrated platform, meaning we can spend more time focusing on our customers, rather than IT headaches." Connect Airlines will be the launch airline for IBS Software's "Airline-in-a-box" set of solutions, enabling them to manage the airline on a single integrated platform, with a simutaneous and seamless implementation and integrated sources of data. The solution includes:



iFly Res, a next generation, customer-centric passenger service solution; the first NDC natively compliant solution in the market, with advanced ancillary management capabilities,

iFlight Lite, an integrated end-to-end fleet and crew operations platform to enable the airline to run efficiently from the beginning,

iFlight MRO, a maintenance and engineering software solution that provides the foundation to implement best-in-class business process to control overall maintenance costs.

IBS Software will also build and host Connect's website and mobile app, using the latest technology to support personalization and serve the needs of the connected business traveler Jitendra Sindhwani, IBS Software, ?President & Head, Aviation Business at IBS Software, comments: "Connect Airlines is bucking an industry-wide trend. This bold statement is testament to the growing confidence in the aviation industry recovery. Our integrated set of solutions will support Connect Airline's commercial and operational business. This includes reservations, fleet and crew operations, maintenance, and their website and mobile application. We are able to provide all the technology to enable the airline to start flying. We are thrilled to welcome Connect Airlines to the IBS Software family and look forward to our long-term partnership with Waltzing Matilda Aviation." About Waltzing Matilda

WMA is a Boston based FAA Part 135 jet charter operator (Certificate number 6WZA614N) that has started the process to add FAA Part 121 scheduled and non-scheduled services to its Air Operators Certificate. WMA began private (Part 91) operations in June 2008 and has operated thousands of hours of safe and reliable flying with a focus on delivering superior customer service. WMA owns and operates both its own aircraft as well as managed aircraft. WMA brings together a group of aviation professionals, many of whom have been involved in jet charter operations in the Boston area for over 20 years. WMA is passionate about flying and dedicated to providing a high quality of service. WMA was co-founded by John Thomas. John has been actively involved in the aviation industry for the past 35 years, both as a senior operating executive as Group Executive at Virgin Australia Airlines and as a strategic advisor to the global aviation industry. He advised major airlines around the world as well as OEMs, Business & General Aviation, FBOs, airports, and ANSPs. In addition to actively managing WMA, John sits on the Board of Skyservice, the largest Corporate aviation service provider in Canada, as well as the Board of Icelandair Group, and continues to provide advisory services to the broader aviation industry including as Senior Advisor to Spike Aerospace Inc., ATM Consultants Group, and CAPA Centre for Aviation. 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/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1483586/IBS_powers_Connect_Airlines.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1169353/IBS_Software_Logo.jpg

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The Columbia-based urgent-care chain Doctors Care and its management company have agreed to pay $22.5 million to settle allegations they defrauded three government health insurance programs.

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced the charges against Doctors Care, a quick clinic company headquartered in Columbia with 50 locations throughout the state, and its management company, UCI Medical Affiliates of South Carolina, on April 8.

Following a whistleblower complaint, government investigators found the two companies were submitting falsified claims to Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare, which is the military's health insurance program, between 2013 and 2018.

The government-run insurers require providers that submit payment claims to have certain credentials. But Doctors Care and UCI allegedly sent in claims for urgent care visits that weren't conducted by credentialed providers, instead substituting the name of other providers with the proper credentials.

The companies even used "cheat sheets" to keep track of whose name to put on a claim, according to prosecutors.

When health care companies do business with the federal government, they must follow the rules like everyone else, M. Rhett DeHart, acting U.S. Attorney for South Carolina, said in a statement.

"All companies with this distinction  regardless of size  should honor their commitment to provide competent care to the full letter of the law," he added. "Our office will continue to protect tax dollars and ensure the rule of law is followed."

An investigation has been ongoing for three years. Lawyers for the government said patients and the quality of their health care were never at risk because of the alleged fraud, and that Doctors Care and UCI management worked quickly to stop the practice after receiving a first subpoena in 2018.

The companies did not admit fault in settling the case, Jill Armbruster, a spokeswoman for Doctors Care and UCI, said in a statement.

"The government did not accuse Doctors Care of providing unnecessary or low-quality services, or of billing for services that were not rendered," she said. "At all times, Doctors Care utilized qualified clinicians and provided a high standard of care to its patients, just as it does today."

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She added the current management at Doctors Care and UCI were "unaware of, and were not involved with" any of the conduct that led to the government's investigation. UCI announced a "new executive leadership team" in early 2019, not long after it became aware of the government's allegations.

Doctors Care and UCI also committed to a "corporate integrity agreement" that will provide government oversight over their operations for the next five years.

According to court documents, UCI is majority-owned by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, the state's largest private insurer. The Columbia-based company was not named as a defendant, and it had no comment on the settlement, a spokeswoman said April 8.

The two whistleblowers both worked for UCI  one as a medical biller and the other as a health care management specialist. They will receive more than $5.4 million for bringing the allegations to the government's attention, according to the settlement agreement.

Bert Louthian, Bill Nettles, Fran Trapp and John Simmons, all attorneys based in Columbia, represented the pair of whistleblowers.

Louthian said the billing credentials at the heart of the case against Doctors Care are an important mechanism the government uses to check providers' licenses "to make sure that patient care is at the highest level possible and that patients are safe."

Fraud in the Medicare, Tricare and Medicaid programs is a major source of government waste. In the 2016 fiscal year, for instance, federal prosecutors identified hundreds of such cases and won settlements or judgments totaling $2.5 billion, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

"It's an honor and a privilege to be able to represent these brave whistleblowers who come forward with information concerning fraud on behalf of the American taxpayers," Louthian said.

Passerby might also notice the Medical University of South Carolina's label on some Doctors Care signs. The two organizations forged a clinical partnership beginning in 2015, but the entities don't exchange money as part of it, a spokeswoman for MUSC said.

The spokeswoman said MUSC "remains committed to its relationship with Doctors Care" and declined to comment further.
MEXICO CITY  Record numbers of asylum seekers are applying for sanctuary in Mexico  some after arriving at the southwest border of the United States hoping to find a safe haven under President Biden, but hitting a closed door.

In March, the Mexican government received asylum petitions from more than 9,000 people, the highest monthly tally ever, officials said. And they predicted that the surging demand, evident in recent month, would continue, possibly reaching a total of 90,000 asylum requests by the end of the year, which would also be an all-time high.

The soaring numbers of asylum petitions in Mexico are in part a reflection of the turmoil at the American border, where the Biden administration is struggling to deal with a surge in undocumented migration and has prevented many asylum seekers from presenting their cases to immigration officials.

Mexico has also become an increasingly attractive destination in its own right for refugees, who have generally found asylum easier to achieve in Mexico than in the United States. Some have also been drawn by the opportunity to reunite with family and friends, and by possibilities of work and a degree of safety that they lacked at home.
"Honda's research collaboration with Verizon is an important step in our multi-year effort to develop connected vehicle safety technology to realize our vision for a collision-free society," said Ehsan Moradi Pari, Ph.D, research group lead at Honda's Advanced Technology Research Division. "While the research is preliminary and not intended as a product feature at this time, 5G-enabled vehicle communication and MEC have the potential to advance safety for everyone sharing the road."

"The ability to move computing power to the edge of our 5G network is an essential building block for autonomous and connected vehicles, helping cars to communicate with each other in near real-time and with sensors and cameras installed in streets and traffic lights," said Sanyogita Shamsunder, vice president of Technology Development and 5G Labs at Verizon. "When you consider that roughly 42,000 people were killed in car accidents last year and 94% of accidents are caused by human error, our new technologies including 5G and MEC can help drivers 'see' things before the human eye can register and react helping to prevent collisions and save lives."

Using Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband, MEC and V2X software platforms, Honda and Verizon explored three safety scenarios:

Pedestrian Scenario: A pedestrian is crossing a street at an intersection. An approaching driver cannot see the pedestrian due to a building obstructing the view. Smart cameras mounted in the intersection relay information to MEC using the 5G network. Verizon's MEC and V2X software platforms detect the pedestrian and vehicle and determine the precise location of road users assisted by Verizon's Hyper Precise Location services. A visual warning message is then sent alerting the driver of the potential danger.

A pedestrian is crossing a street at an intersection. An approaching driver cannot see the pedestrian due to a building obstructing the view. Smart cameras mounted in the intersection relay information to MEC using the 5G network. Verizon's MEC and V2X software platforms detect the pedestrian and vehicle and determine the precise location of road users assisted by Verizon's Hyper Precise Location services. A visual warning message is then sent alerting the driver of the potential danger. Emergency Vehicle Warning Scenario: A driver cannot see an approaching emergency vehicle and cannot hear its siren due to the high volume of in-vehicle audio. Verizon's MEC and V2X software receive a safety message from the emergency vehicle and send a warning message to nearby vehicles. The driver receives a visual warning.

A driver cannot see an approaching emergency vehicle and cannot hear its siren due to the high volume of in-vehicle audio. Verizon's MEC and V2X software receive a safety message from the emergency vehicle and send a warning message to nearby vehicles. The driver receives a visual warning. Red Light Runner Scenario: A vehicle fails to stop at a red light. Using data from the smart cameras, MEC and V2X software detect the vehicle and send a red-light-runner visual warning message to other vehicles approaching the intersection.

Each research scenario demonstrates the potential of 5G and MEC to communicate urgent safety messages between vehicles and infrastructure, reducing the need for complex computing onboard each connected vehicle. In the future, this connected vehicle technology could help ensure that autonomous vehicles will be able to communicate seamlessly.

Watch the video of Honda and Verizon's Mcity tests at http://honda.us/5GResearch.

About Honda

Based on its vision for a collision-free society, Honda is working to improve safety for everyone sharing the road. Advanced active safety and driver-assistive systems found in Honda Sensing and AcuraWatch technologies, now on nearly 4 million vehicles on U.S. roads, are designed to reduce the frequency and severity of collisions while also serving as a technological and perceptual bridge to the more highly automated vehicles of the future.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) (Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on June 30, 2000 and is one of the world's leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products and services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $128.3 billion in 2020. The company offers data, video and voice services and solutions on its award-winning networks and platforms, delivering on customers' demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity, security and control.

SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Outgoing U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink said Vietnam and its natural leadership role in ASEAN was central to his countrys Indo-Pacific strategy.

Speaking at a press conference before leaving for his new assignment as the top diplomat for Asia, he said the U.S. believes that strengthening relationships with partners, friends and allies in the Indo-Pacific region is absolutely vital. Washington wants to work with like-minded partners and friends like Vietnam to promote not just an abstract vision, but really concrete policies that help all the countries.

U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink at a press conference in Hanoi, April 7, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

The U.S. and its partners will uphold a rules-based international order and support international law so as to avoid conflict, he said, adding that it was in America's national interest to have strong, successful, prosperous partners, friends and allies.

The U.S. also believes in the centrality of ASEAN and in Vietnam as a capable, successful country that naturally plays a leadership role in this region.

Kritenbrink said he thinks expectations on Vietnam will only grow in the years ahead, including in the U.S.

"This is demonstrated by the very capable performance that Vietnam has rendered as chair of ASEAN, and now as a two year member on the U.N. Security Council."

President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other American leaders "have made very clear the emphasis they place on the Indo- Pacific region in general and our partnership with Vietnam in particular. More than that, the U.S considers Vietnam to be one of the most important partners in the world," the envoy said.

On East Sea (South China Sea) issues, Kritenbrink said the U.S. continues to believe in the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, in the sanctity of freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight and that all maritime claims should be based on international law.

Washington will always stand by its partners and allies in support of a rules based international order, continue to oppose the actions of other countries in the region, particularly China, who through its actions appears intent on intimidating provoking and threatening other countries, including in the East Sea, Kritenbrink said.

He also said he was very optimistic about the future of the U.S. -Vietnam partnership because the two sides have a shared vision. He said he'd seen evidence of this in all of the private conversations he had with Vietnamese officials and leaders over the last three and a half years. His assessment is also based on his analysis of all of the public comments and speeches that Vietnamese leaders regularly give, he said.

Identical vision

"I think we share this vision, it's almost identical. The language that we use to talk about the kind of region we want to live in is almost identical", he said.

The U.S. and Vietnam both want to live in a peaceful and prosperous region, one in which countries operate in accordance with international law, large countries do not try to bully and intimidate smaller countries, countries can trade freely, and disputes are resolved peacefully, he added.

Comments on the new political leadership in Vietnam, Kritenbrink said he personally, the U.S. government and American leaders congratulate and look forward to getting to know and working closely with Vietnam's new leadership.

"There's a great continuity in Vietnam's leadership which the U.S. very much welcomes," he said.

"We remain committed to a strong, prosperous and independent Vietnam, which we think is in both our countries' national interests."

Kirtenbrink said the U.S. was thankful to Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc for the great contributions they've made to the development of the U.S. -Vietnam partnership.

"I am confident that Vietnamese leaders will continue to prioritize the development of our bilateral relationship."

Kritenbrink said the U.S. -Vietnam partnership is stronger than ever. Their trade relationship is growing exponentially and bilateral trade volume has grown to almost $90 billion. Over the last three and a half years, American companies have signed $46.5 billion in trade deals with Vietnam. The two sides also have worked very closely to resolve several market access issues and other issues that concern the American business community in Vietnam.

He said security cooperation was expanding significantly. Both countries have worked hard together to implement U.N. Security Council resolutions related to North Korea and have advocated common positions on East Sea disputes. The U.S continues to provide significant assistance to the Vietnamese military and Coast Guard to build capacities especially in the maritime domain, he noted.

To VnExpress International query about the framework of the targeted Strategic Partnership between the two countries, he said the content of cooperation was already "strategic in every way" and beneficial for both.

If both sides continue to focus on the content of cooperation, continuing to expand the practical results delivered for both countries and their peoples, "the label is going to take care of itself."
According to The Knot, weddings are returning in a big way later this year.

The renowned bridal publication expects to see some of the busiest weddings seasons ever with nearly half the couples (47 percent) who planned to have weddings in 2020 had to postpone their big day and have rescheduled for 2021 and later dates.

And with this, 'the wedding dress selection has become even more important for brides-to-be,' shared Shawne Jacobs the president and creative director of Anne Barge.

Soon-to-be brides, get ready to fall in love - again! Marchesa, PatBo and Erdem have launched their first ever bridal collections. Take a look.

Luxury bridal brand Pronovias has partnered up with international couture house Marchesa

The Marchesa for Pronovias collection pairs New York bridal couture with the passion of Spain

Each of the 21 wedding dresses has been created by the Creative Director and Co-founder of Marchesa Georgina Chapman and her NYC atelier

Luxury bridal brand Pronovias has partnered up with international couture house Marchesa.

The Marchesa for Pronovias collection pairs New York bridal couture with the passion of Spain.

Each of the 21 wedding dresses has been created by the Creative Director and Co-founder of Marchesa Georgina Chapman and her NYC atelier.

The result is the perfect marriage of romance with Mediterranean sensuality.

Gowns are constructed using sophisticated layering techniques and luxury fabric treatments, and embellished with handmade, 3D floral applique.

Oozing femininity and undeniable glamour, Georgina's ultra-feminine designs are what wedding dreams are made of.

The wedding gowns embody couture craftsmanship with luxury fabric treatments like layered guipure and ruffled Chantilly

Alessandra Rinaudo, Chief Creative Director of Pronovias Group, recalled how she has always admired how flawlessly Marchesa crafts their gowns, marveling at their attention to detail and 'high-quality, spectacular creations.'

She added: 'its an honor to be part of this unique, amazing partnership. The beautiful ethereal aesthetics of Marchesa combined with our bridal savoir-faire has resulted in an exquisite fusion of artistic elegance.'

Gowns are constructed using sophisticated layering techniques and luxury fabric treatments, and embellished with handmade, 3D floral applique

'In Pronovias we have found the perfect partner aligning with our core values of craftsmanship, quality and attention to detail, along with unmatched bridal expertise,' shared Georgina

'In Pronovias we have found the perfect partner aligning with our core values of craftsmanship, quality and attention to detail, along with unmatched bridal expertise,' shared Georgina.

'I could not be more thrilled by our partnership, and with the global reach of Pronovias, we look forward to bringing these romantic and feminine designs to brides worldwide.'

Amandine Ohayon, CEO of Pronovias Group, is thrilled with the partnership, and confident it 'will further strengthen Pronoviass position as a fashion-forward brand in the US and worldwide.'

She continued: 'With Marchesa being such a renowned fashion label, this partnership will buoy our ambitious plans for international expansion, especially in North America.

The collection is designed for all body types available in all Pronovias stores and selected wholesalers around the world with prices ranging from $2,000 to $4,000.

The collection is designed for all body types available in all Pronovias stores and selected wholesalers around the world with prices ranging from $2,000 to $4,000

Oozing femininity and undeniable glamour, Georgina's ultra-feminine designs are what dreams are made of

Spring/summer marks a milestone for PatBo with the debut of its bridal collection

The carefully curated collection consists of dresses and swimwear for every celebratory moment, including bachelorette, wedding and honeymoon

Brazilian fashion brand PatBO is known for their vibrant ready-to-wear and swim collections inspired by South America.

The label debuted its first bridal collection this week.

The carefully curated collection consists of dresses and swimwear for every celebratory moment, including bachelorette, wedding and honeymoon.

Perfect for the bride saying 'I do' oceanside, the offerings are inspired by designer Patricia Bonaldis Brazilian roots and dedication to craftsmanship.

'It is important for me to dress the PatBO customer for all of her life moments,' said Bonaldi whose first-ever bridal collection was born out of the seemingly endless requests to make the brands signature styles in white.

Dresses and separates are adorned with hand-sewn jute trim, delicate cotton fringe, crochet embroidery, seashell accents and sand grazing metallic mesh fabrics.

Perfect for the bride saying 'I do' oceanside, the offerings are inspired by designer Patricia Bonaldis Brazilian roots and dedication to craftsmanship.

Dresses and separates are adorned with hand-sewn jute trim, delicate cotton fringe, crochet embroidery, seashell accents and sand grazing metallic mesh fabric

London-based ready-to-wear brand ERDEM announced the launch of their White Collection; a ready to wear bridal collection back in February

The White Collection was created in response to a need for something a little alternative to a wedding dress in the traditional sense,' said Erdem Moral oglu, Creative Director at ERDEM

'I was really interested in creating a bridal collection that has a modern and new feel'

London-based ready-to-wear brand ERDEM announced the launch of their White Collection; a ready to wear bridal collection back in February.

The seven-piece collection is made up of cotton Broderie Anglaise gowns, delicately embroidered organza midi dresses and embellished caped dresses.

A range of accessories including dramatic veils and beaded headbands are also available.

The White Collection was created in response to a need for something a little alternative to a wedding dress in the traditional sense,' said Erdem Moral oglu, Creative Director at ERDEM.

'I was really interested in creating a bridal collection that has a modern and new feel.

'I started by looking at my archive, for me it was about creating shapes that were light and special, using Swiss embroidery mixed in with crystal embellishment, it was important to me that the collection had a very human hand.

A range of accessories including dramatic veils and beaded headbands are also available.
For Subscribers Mom shares story of son's suicide, shines light on teen mental health

After Aiden Alexander's suicide, his family wants to break the stigma associated with suicide so more youths can be helped.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many different models of infectious disease screening, including contactless drive-through and walk-through stations, have been rapidly deployed around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that healthcare workers, despite precautions being taken, continue to be exposed to excessively high levels of risk relative to the rest of the population.

With the safety of both the healthcare provider and the patient in mind, ISO technical committee ISO/TC 304, Healthcare organization management, established a working group (WG 4) to focus on how best to cut the chain of transmission in situations of pandemic. WG 4, Pandemic preparation response, aims to develop standards that will help healthcare organizations run safe and fast testing facilities with the ability to rapidly quarantine and treat patients without increasing infection rates.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the importance of developing and maintaining healthcare systems that are not only able to handle such crises, but that can spring into immediate action to reduce the spread of infectious diseases quickly and effectively at the first signs of an outbreak. Three standards currently being worked on are ISO 5258 (drive-through screening stations for infectious disease control), ISO 5472 (walk-through screening stations for infectious disease control) and ISO 5741 (pandemic response in residential treatment centres). These standards will provide an effective infection control strategy by giving health workers the ability to quickly identify, isolate and treat patients through rapid examination.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 20:25:36|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The 14th National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam, the country's top legislature, on Thursday afternoon concluded its 11th and final session after fulfilling all items on the set agenda.

During the session that began on March 24, Vuong Dinh Hue was elected as the new chairman of the NA on March 31, before former Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc became the country's president and Pham Minh Chinh was elected as the new prime minister on April 5.

The lawmakers also voted on other key personnel changes including those concerning cabinet members and senior legislators.

In addition to personnel work, the NA comprehensively summarized the work in the 2016-2021 term of state agencies, Chairman of the NA Vuong Dinh Hue said at the closing meeting held in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.

The parliament agreed that in the past term, despite difficulties and complicated fluctuations, state agencies have made important achievements and left outstanding marks in the process of building and developing the country, according to Hue.

The NA also pointed out the shortcomings in the operation of state agencies, with a resolution on the agencies' performance in the 2016-2021 tenure adopted, which put forward suggestions to improve their operational efficiency in the next term, Hue added.

During the session, the NA also passed a draft amendment to the law on drug prevention and crackdown, and listened to a report on the preparation for the general election scheduled for late May to elect deputies to the 15th NA and to the People's Councils at all levels.

Nearly 500 Vietnamese lawmakers convened in Hanoi for the NA session. Enditem
A year after starting construction on its first European auto assembly plant on the outskirts of Berlin, Tesla is complaining that German regulations are too slow and inflexible, risking a delay in the opening of the facility.

Obstacles in German law governing permits are slowing down the necessary industrial transformation and thus the transformation of transport and energy, Tesla said in a 10-page letter, which was seen by The New York Times.

Tesla wants to open its gigafactory as soon as June, and is hiring up to 12,000 workers to build as many as 500,000 electric vehicles a year. But the Office of Environment in Brandenburg, the federal state that encircles Berlin, has yet to say the factory can open.

Tesla sent the letter to the top administrative court in the region in support of a lawsuit filed by Environmental Action Germany that charges the federal government with not doing enough to keep to the targets of the Paris Climate Accord. The letter is similar to a friend of the court brief, which are not common in German courts, and it was unclear whether the German judges would even consider it.
Islamic State group militants hold up their flag as they patrol in a commandeered Iraqi military vehicle in Fallujah, Iraq in 2014. AP Photo

The current leader of ISIS is a man named Amir Muhammad Sa'id Abd-al-Rahman al-Mawla.

Al-Mawla was detained and interrogated by US and coalition forces over a decade ago.

During those interrogations, he provided intel on other terrorists, newly-released records show.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

The current leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria was once a prison informant who named or described dozens of terrorists during interrogation sessions while in US military custody.

After US forces killed ISIS founder and leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019, the terror group chose a new leader, a man whose nom de guerre is Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi. The US has since identified that man as Amir Muhammad Sa'id Abd-al-Rahman al-Mawla.

US counterterrorism officials know the Iraqi terrorist leader well because he was previously an informant while detained in a coalition prison in 2008.

In September, the Pentagon-funded Combating Terrorism Center at West Point released once confidential records of three interrogation sessions where al-Mawla named or described, often in detail, 88 people affiliated in some way with the Islamic State in Iraq, out of which ISIS grew.

The center released another 53 interrogation records this week. The newly-released records show that not only was he informing on terrorists within the organization that would evolve into the one he leads today, but he was doing so in a "very cooperative and forthcoming" way.

In the records, which run from January to July 2008, al-Mawla regularly gives up information on rivals and foreign-born terrorists within the organization.

For example, after first denying knowing anything, he provided detailed information, even drawing a map of his compound, on the terror group's foreign-born second in command, Abu Qaswarah. US forces killed the man a few weeks later. It is unclear if they were operating on al-Mawla's intel.

Daniel Milton, an associate professor and the director of research at the Combating Terrorism Center, wrote in a Lawfare article this week that the new records show that the new ISIS leader was once "a songbird of unique talent and ability."

Story continues

When the center first released a handful of tactical interrogation reports last fall, Haroro Ingram, a senior research fellow with George Washington University's program on extremism, described al-Mawla as the "canary caliph," Middle East Eye reported.

Christopher Maier, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, told The Washington Post, which first reported the release of the new records, that al-Mawla did what he did "to save his own neck."

In one of the later interrogation sessions, when al-Mawla's willingness to cooperate appears to be fading, he acknowledged that while he provided true information in many cases, some information may have been exaggerated.

Born in 1976, al-Mawla was in his early 30s when he was detained by US forces in Iraq. It is unclear exactly when or why he was released.

Al-Mawla, who keeps a low profile, currently leads a crippled organization that has lost control of its so-called caliphate, which once stretched across Iraq and Syria, but ISIS has not yet been defeated.

Last month, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with the foreign ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS Small Group to discuss the ISIS threat.

The officials who attended the meeting "acknowledged that while Daesh/ISIS no longer controls territory and nearly eight million people have been freed from its control in Iraq and Syria, the threat remains," a joint statement said.

"The Coalition," the statement continued, "must continue to be vigilant against the threat of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, to build on the success it has achieved and continue to act together against any threats to this outcome to avoid security vacuums that Daesh/ISIS may exploit."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Some North Carolina Republican lawmakers want to require school districts  but not charter schools  to provide balanced political discussions in classrooms and to list their instructional materials online.

Proposed legislation filed Wednesday in the General Assembly requires that if the viewpoint of one of the two major political parties is presented, then equal time must be given to the other partys viewpoint. The legislation comes amid complaints from conservatives that public schools are promoting a liberal social justice agenda.

The primary sponsors of Senate Bill 700 are all Republicans: Sens. Chuck Edwards of Henderson County, Joyce Krawiec of Forsyth County and Ralph Hise of Mitchell County. The News & Observer couldnt reach them for comment Wednesday.

But at least some teachers accused lawmakers of showing a lack of trust in them.

If they cant feel like they can trust us to do our jobs, then lets trade jobs, Rodney D. Pierce, an 8th-grade social studies teachers in Nash County Public Schools, said in an interview Wednesday. Let us be the legislators and you come to teach.

Critics make indoctrination charge

Pierce was one of the educators who helped draft the states new social studies standards that supporters say will promote the viewpoints of historically under-represented groups. But critics, including GOP Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, charge the new standards are leftist indoctrination.

Robinson recently formed a new task force to collect complaints from parents, students and teachers about indoctrination in the classroom.

Conservative activists have formed a new statewide teachers association, the Carolina Teachers Alliance, to provide the highest quality, unbiased and achievement-driven education to all children. The group charges that theres a lack of transparency about what instructional materials are used.

Reflect balanced viewpoints

The new legislation says the State Board of Education shall require that all curriculum, professional development and teaching standards used to implement instruction in school districts reflect balanced political viewpoints.

Story continues

When the viewpoint of one of the two major political parties in the United States is presented through materials, assignments, lectures, or other instruments for instruction in any classroom or other area of the school, the viewpoint of the alternative political party shall also be presented and given equal weight during the same instructional unit, according to the legislation.

In addition, the legislation says school districts must list on their websites the instructional materials and activities that were used during the prior school year. The law would exempt school districts that have fewer than 500 students from posting their materials.

Pierce, the social studies teacher, said the law is not needed because teachers already present balanced viewpoints in class and make their instructional materials available for review.

But critics have complained about school activities in Wake County such as watching a Black Lives Matter protest video and students filling out an online survey that listed Republicans as being at fault for the current problems with our government.

The legislation specifically exempts charter schools from its requirements. Charter schools are taxpayer funded schools that are exempt from some of the regulations that traditional public schools must follow.

You (bill sponsors) somewhat trust charters but you dont trust traditional public schools, Pierce said. My instincts would tell me that your children or grandchildren go to those schools and you dont want them beholden to the laws you pass but you dont care if other peoples children or grandchildren are beholden to the laws.
A Russellville man is in custody after state and local agents found more than $120,000 in drugs in Tuscumbia.

Hunter Reid Hulsey, 31, was arrested for trafficking in methamphetamine on Wednesday, and more charges are expected, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

A lengthy investigation into drug trafficking complaints lead to the discovery of about 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 5.5 pounds of marijuana, digital scales and drug packaging materials, according to a news release.

There is enough methamphetamine for approximately 1,120 single uses with an estimated street value of $112,000. The estimated street value of the marijuana is $8,800, the release said.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys Region E Drug Enforcement Task Force obtained and served two search warrants within Tuscumbia - one at a warehouse near Highway 72 and the other at a storage locker at a facility near 6th Street.

Hulsey, the suspect, was found in Franklin County. Authorities said he had about 4 ounces of methamphetamine and a handgun when they found him.

Assisting members of the task force represent several agencies including ALEA SBI, Franklin County Sheriffs Department, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the 25th Judicial DAs office and the Russellville Police Department. The Tuscumbia Police Department also assisted with the investigation.
With California likely facing another brutal wildfire season, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a deal with legislative leaders Thursday on $536 million in additional funding to increase fire prevention in the parched state.

1:02 Napa County wildfires take toll on wine country landscape Thousands of fire-damaged trees are being removed at a cost of millions of dollars in the wake of Napa County wildfires.

While the Legislature has increased Cal Fire's budget by hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years, adding additional helicopters, airplanes and firefighters, Thursday's agreement centers largely on money for increasing the resiliency of California's forests and other vulnerable areas.

Although exact funding details weren't immediately available, the money will go toward forestry management, improvements in defensible space around rural homes, vegetation management. The agreement also provides money for "home hardening"  the desperately needed retrofitting of homes in wildfire-prone areas.

The agreement comes on the heels of the worst wildfire season in modern California history, in which more than 4 million acres burned across the state. The deal also follows Newsom's signature on a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Forest Service last summer, in which both governments agreed to dramatically increase forest management.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 16:39:40|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged carrying forward the momentum of poverty elimination to accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, and promote the rural vitalization in an all-round way.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in his recent instruction on the work related to the collaboration and paired assistance between the eastern and western regions of the country.

Conducting collaboration and paired assistance between the eastern and western regions is a major decision made by the CPC Central Committee to promote coordinated regional development and common prosperity, Xi said.

He stressed expanding the fields for paired assistance and optimizing related mechanisms.

Efforts should be made to strengthen industrial cooperation, resource complementarity, the transfer of laborers and exchange of talents to foster a sound momentum of coordinated, collaborated and common regional development, Xi said.

The whole Party should carry forward the momentum of poverty elimination, and build on this achievement to speed up the modernization of agriculture and rural areas and promote rural vitalization in an all-round manner, Xi said.

On Thursday, a conference on promoting the collaboration and paired assistance between the eastern and western regions was held in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, during which Xi's instruction was delivered.

Vice Premier Hu Chunhua, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Enditem
Queensland's peak timber body is calling for an immediate two-year suspension of all native hardwood exports amid a rise in suspect exports to Asia.

Timber Queensland is calling on the federal government to cease exports for at least two years - and up to five years - to allow a crackdown on rogue operators shipping native hardwoods overseas.

TQ hardwood division chair Curly Tatnell said hardwood exports have surged to 360,000 cubic metres in the past three years, much of it destined for China and Asia.

Queensland's peak timber body is calling for an immediate two-year suspension of all native hardwood exports amid a rise in suspect exports to Asia

TQ has also heard of timber yards and log truck volumes destined to ports well above the numbers official ABS statistics for hardwood exports.

Mr Tatnell said native hardwoods could be being illegally miscategorised as plantation pine logs or sawn timber products before being shipped overseas.

'We are calling for an export suspension for at least two years, which could be reassessed at that time for up to five years, in terms of progress against the necessary measures needed to confidently assess compliance,' Mr Tatnell said.

TQ has previously asked both the federal and Queensland governments to implement a stricter compliance regime in the past, but they say no actions have been taken.

Mr Tatnell said under current settings, operators are easily able to acquire export licenses without any systematic auditing or checking of regulatory compliance.

He said TQ is concerned there has been widespread breaches of state and federal laws, poor biosecurity practices, misreported volumes or log categories to avoid detection and unsafe work practices.

'Not only is this a threat to the environment and good forest management, it is damaging the local hardwood industry and reputation of the industry as a whole,' Mr Tatnell said.

'It really is a kick in the guts to the thousands of workers and local timber businesses that are fully compliant with the regulatory requirements.

'Fly by night operators, flagrantly abusing the rules cannot be tolerated by industry and should not be tolerated by governments.'

TQ is calling for a review of the shortfalls and risks of the current compliance regime, develop appropriate protocols and processes for auditing and compliance and to coordinate regulation across both levels government.
will look to resume buying crude oil from Iran the moment US sanctions are eased, helping it diversify its import basket, a senior government official said.

stopped importing oil from Iran in mid-2019 following sanctions on the Persian Gulf nation by the Trump administration.

The US and other world powers are meeting in Vienna to revive the Iran nuclear deal.

"Once the sanctions are lifted, we can look to resume oil imports from Iran," the official, who did not wish to be identified, said.

Indian refiners have begun preparatory work and can swiftly enter into contracts once the sanctions are lifted, he said.

"We already have a template for commercial terms and we can very quickly enter into contracts the moment Iran is cleared for exporting oil," the official said.

Iranian oil coming into the market will not just cool prices but also help diversify its import basket.

In 2020-21, Iraq was India's biggest oil supplier, followed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Nigeria was fourth-largestsupplier and the US was the fifth.

"We have been advocating for oil producers to pump in more oil by easing output caps," the official said. "Rising oil prices are a threat to the fragile economic recovery around the globe including in India."



India, he said, did not advocate for such output increases when prices were within a certain reasonable limit.

"We voiced our concerns when oil crossed USD 63-64 on a sustained basis," he said. "We want prices that are reasonable for producers and affordable for consumers."



India -- once Iran's second-biggest customer -- imports more than 85 per cent of its oil needs. Iranian crude will bring a number of benefits, including a longer credit cycle and shorter voyage savings on freight costs.

Iranian exports tumbled after former US President Donald Trump tightened sanctions in 2018 and ended waivers for some countries in 2019, including India.

Iran and world powers this week began their most serious attempt yet to resurrect a nuclear deal.

Iran re-started banned nuclear programme after Trump pulled out of the deal and re-imposed sanctions on Iran. Even though new US President Joe Biden wants to rejoin, both sides say the other must make the first move.

India was second-biggestbuyer of Iranian oil after China before sanctions halted supplies in May 2019.

Iran in 2017-18 was its third-largest supplier after Iraq and Saudi Arabia and met about 10 per cent of total needs.

Till 2010-11, Iran was India's second-biggest supplier of crude oil after Saudi Arabia but Western sanctions over its suspected nuclear programme relegated it to the seventh spot in the subsequent years. In 2013-14 and 2014-15, India bought 11 million tonnes and 10.95 million tonnes, respectively from it.

Sourcing from Iran increased to 12.7 million tonnes in 2015-16, giving it the sixth spot. In the following year, the Iranian supplies jumped to 27.2 million tonnes to catapult it to the third spot.

Iranian oil is a lucrative buy for refiners as the Persian Gulf nation provides 60 days of credit for purchases, terms not available from suppliers of substitute crudes -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Nigeria and the US.

(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.)
Raytheon Technologies, a Waltham, Mass.-based company with about 16,000 employees in Connecticut, announced it will commit $500 million over the coming decade to open up more opportunities for young women, minorities and veterans.

The initiative  known as Connect Up  would focus on three connected areas: providing access to STEM education to groups who continue to be underrepresented in technology careers; supporting local communities by focusing on food insecurity and social justice issues; and helping veterans and military families land jobs in the civilian workforce.

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Raytheons pledge was the latest from the private sector to arrive attached to eye-popping dollar amounts. Last October, JPMorgan Chase committed $30 billion to addressing racial inequality, much of it in the form of mortgage refinancing to help minority homeowners reduce their monthly costs and construction loans dedicated to affordable housing developments.

Greg Hayes, who led United Technologies into its April 2020 merger with Raytheon and remains CEO of the combined company, has already committed to many of Connect Ups goals. In January, the company installed Marie Sylla-Dixon, who previously worked for T-Mobile and Verizon, as chief diversity officer.

Shes going to accelerate our ongoing initiatives, Hayes said in a February conference call. Shes a member of my executive leadership team and she has wasted no time in getting to work.

Raytheons Pratt & Whitney division is located in East Hartford, and Collins Aerospace has a large plant adjacent to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks. The company has roughly 180,000 employees across the globe.

Between 2012 and 2018, UTC had reported $250 million in philanthropic support to some 6,000 organizations worldwide, for an average of more than $35 million annually. Raytheon did not disclose an aggregate dollar investment in the most recent corporate responsibility report it posted prior to the UTC merger.

So much has changed in the way companies think about their role in society, their role in local communities [and] so much has changed about the expectations that employees have for the roles companies will play on serious societal issues, said Randy Bumps, who leads corporate social responsibility initiatives at Raytheon, after holding a similar role at UTCs in its Farmington headquarters. Even before the merger, both companies were working really diligently to fine-tune their giving to a core group of focus areas.

Bumps did not provide an estimate on how much of the $500 million earmarked for Connect Up would benefit Connecticut communities directly, but said Raytheon wants to spend the money where its employees live and work.

Since the start of the pandemic, Raytheon has donated $5 million to Feeding America; Connecticut food banks were among the largest recipients. It has otherwise furnished support to 140 organizations statewide, including the Connecticut Science Center and Junior Achievement.

We looked at the diversity in our workforce and said, OK, if we are ultimately to change the composition of our workforce, we have to figure out how to bridge a pathway for girls and people of color to see themselves in careers at Raytheon Technologies, Bumps said. Not only do that, but provide them the resources and the opportunities they need in order to get to work here.

To advance opportunities for girls and minority youth, Raytheon indicated it will support efforts by the National Academy Foundation, Girls Who Code and SMASH, which derives its acronym from Summer Math and Science Honors. It will also free up funding for community support groups like Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Feeding America.

Raytheon will also deepen its involvement with nonprofits that help veterans transition to private-sector careers like The Mission Continues, Student Veterans of America and American Corporate Partners.

In the case of Girls Who Code, which has grown to three dozen chapters at schools, libraries and youth groups, UTC was among a handful of corporations to donate in excess of $1 million in 2019 along with AT&T, Prudential, Uber and Walmart. Combined, the big infusions boosted the nonprofits total grants and gifts to more than $20 million that year.

Jackie Corricelli, a teacher with Conard High School in West Hartford who is president of the Connecticut chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association and worked at Raytheon earlier in her career, described her own experiences in overcoming classroom challenges in a CSTA interview last year, saying the space did not seem safe to me with a slew of arcane terminology and class discussions.

Right now we still have some significant inequities, Corricelli stated in an email response to a Hearst Connecticut query. We have made some gains. Courses like AP CS Principles have helped and many teachers are working to educate themselves about how to make student experiences better.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
Gardonville was awarded 3 out of 3 Border-to-Border Broadband Grants that they applied for back in September 2020. This means 956 homes and businesses that are currently unserved with adequate internet will receive fiber-optic connectivity. Head on over to their "My Fiber" page to see which neighborhoods were awarded. https://www.gctel.com/myfiber/
FP & Joyas creative partnership started in 2017 while collaborating on a hand-poured candle collection, but Joya founder Frederick Bouchardy and Free Peoples Beauty Development Team continued their musings a year later, now on unique fragrance ideas. Free People and Joya were in sync from the start, sharing a unified passion for premium ingredients, unorthodox pairings, and a mutual love of fragrance and its transformative power.

LOU represents the intersection of Free People and Joyas fan bases: unconstrained, original, fun, and unafraid to try something new.

Focusing on blending concentrated, 100% pure oils--called ethereal oils in homage to their classic, profound beauty and simple production methodseach with a unique profile that, when blended, create a magical and provocative result.

LOU highlights include subtly sweet Benzoin Siam resin, smoky and earthy Guaiac wood, an uplifting citrus medley, and the most precious rare flower, Jasmine Absolute. Additional ethereal oils featured in the Lou perfume: Neroli, Bergamot, Pink Pepper and Valencia Orange. Blended in Organic Sugarcane Alcohol for a vintage perfume experience. The LOU parfum, a 1.7 fl oz concentrated blend of pure aromatic oils, is made locally in NYC.

The brands are excited to launch this genderless perfume both online at FreePeople.com and JoyaStudio.com, as well as via select Free People store locations. The perfume will be on sale for $78 starting Monday, April 5th.

For more information, images, to request an interview, or to discuss a TV opportunity, please email Katerina Patouhas at kpatouhas@freepeople.com

###

About Free People

Free People is a global lifestyle brand defined by femininity, creativity, curiosity and adventure, with offerings in unique apparel, intimate wear, shoes and accessories. As an expansion of our lifestyle FP has moved into wellness, fitness, travel and curation of beauty starting from the inside out. The Philadelphia-based retailer is available via our , UK and China sites, top department and specialty stores, as well as via Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter

About Joya

Established in 2006 by Fredrick Bouchardy as both a fragrance brand and design studio, Joya operates in a 19th century Brooklyn rigging garage turned scented atelier. Joya creates diverse works, including perfumes, candles, diffusers, soaps, and art objects, crafted in-house from beginning to end. Joya is available via Instagram and Facebook
MONROVIA  A witness has told the Finnish court conducting the trial of Gibril Massaquoi that the former rebel commander tortured him while he was imprisoned in 2002.

They tortured me, (tied) me until the rope entered my flesh and electrocuted my penis, the victim identified as GJRP 1 told the court on Wednesday as he showed the scars on his elbow. If I hadnt taken treatment in the United States, I would have been impotent.

He said Massaquoi and men loyal to former President Charles Taylor had accused him and other people of planning a coup detat to overthrow the Taylor regime.

The witness said unknown men had earlier arrested him on June 24, 2002 near his office on Benson Street while walking on the sidewalk with his one-and-the-half-year-old son. He said they took him to Taylors residence in Cogon Town, leaving the toddler alone on the street.

There, the witness said he met Taylor and his top officials, including the head of the Special Security Guard Service (SSS), now Executive Protection Service. He added that Taylor accused him of writing inciting articles in his newspaper and planning an insurrection. He asked me to tell him the truth and that only the truth will set me free, the man said.

The witness further told the court that Taylor grew impatient after he maintained that he was innocent and ordered Yeaten to break him. At Yeatens order, Taylors forces took him to several police stations in Monrovia, continued to torture him and handed him over to Massaquoi in Klay, he told the court.

He said Massaquoi tied his hands, kicked and demanded him to say the truth. Thereafter, a female came into the room and electrocuted him as Massaquoi watched, he said.

Most of his jailers and torturers, he said, are still alive and currently working in the current government. He opted not to openly disclose their names in court for fear of retribution.

I believe Massaquoi was present because it was in the same room the woman electrocuted me, he said.

He said while in Klay, he and other men the government accused of plotting against it were placed in an underground cell filled with water, and were tortured every day.

A month later, he told the court he was flown to Foya, later brought back to Monrovia and released following pressure from the United States embassy and rights groups.

Massaquois trial is held in the District Court of Tampere in Finland for war crimes he allegedly committed during Liberias second civil war between 1999 and 2003.

He denies the charges.

His trial was moved to Liberia on February 23 at a secret location to allow judges to hear directly from more than 80 Liberian witnesses. He faces a life sentence, 15 years under Finnish legal system.

Inconsistencies

Massaquois lead lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, tried to find inconsistencies in the witness testimony over the dates of his alleged torture and imprisonment.

The witness had said in a previous statement to Civitas Maxima, an organisation that prosecutes alleged perpetrators of war crimes, he spent two months after his torture before he was taken to Foya but now told the court one month.

The defence lawyer also raised concern about the witness omission of the female who allegedly electrocuted him in his initial story.

But the witness responded that he was not sure of the date during his written testimony to Civitas but found the actual date of his ordeal after he talked with some of his former prison mates.

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And on the female issue, the witness said he felt uncomfortable to mention that the female electrocuted him in his statement to Civitas but decided to mention it because he was appearing before a court.

Wednesdays proceedings brought the hearings in Liberia to an end.

The court heard 56 witnesses since it began work in Liberia. It will move to neighboring Sierra Leone at the end of this week to hear other witnesses.

This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.
In a file photo from March 4, 20121, supporters rally outside court as Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church appeals his bail conditions after he was arrested for holding church services in violation of COVID-19 rules, in Edmonton. (The Canadian Press/Jason Franson)

Alberta Church Shut Down, Fenced Off for Non-Compliance With COVID-19 Restrictions

An Alberta church has been shut down and fenced off for continuing to hold services in defiance of the provinces COVID-19 public health restrictions.

On April 7, Alberta Health Services closed GraceLife Church and had police and security staff put up metal fencing around the building to prevent people from entering.



The Edmonton church will remain closed until it can demonstrate the ability to comply with Albertas Chief Medical Officer of Healths (CMOH) restrictions, said AHS in a statement released the same day.

AHS said there have been 105 complaints about the church since last July.

With COVID-19 cases increasing and the more easily-transmitted and potentially more severe variants becoming dominant, there is urgent need to minimize spread to protect all Albertans.

GraceLife caught the attention of the Alberta government when it hosted more people than the 15 percent limit mandated for faith services in the province. In December 2020, AHS fined the church $1,200 for violating public health restrictions.



AHS issued a closure order in January, but the churchs pastor James Coates continued holding services, and on Feb. 7, the RCMP told him he would be arrested. Coates turned himself in on Feb. 16.



Coates was charged with multiple Public Health Act offences and a criminal offence related to bail conditions imposed on Feb. 7. He remained in custody in the Edmonton Remand Centre when he refused to comply with his conditions of release to not hold services. Hundreds of protesters rallied outside the jail on Feb. 20 to show their support for Coates and standing for religious and Charter freedoms.



On March 22, after a month in jail, the pastor was released when Crown prosecutors agreed to withdraw all but one charge against him. However, he was fined $1,500 for breaching bail.



Officials said Coates did not stop holding Sunday services after his release. He and the church still face one count each of violating public health measures and were scheduled to go to trial in May.



In a public statement posted to its website in February, GraceLife explained why the church continued opening for its congregants.



Having engaged in an immense amount of research, interacting with both doctors and frontline healthcare workers, it is apparent that the negative effects of the government lockdown measures on society far surpass the effects of COVID-19, the statement said.

The science being used to justify lockdown measures is both suspect and selective. In fact, there is no empirical evidence that lockdowns are effective in mitigating the spread of the virus.

We are gravely concerned that COVID-19 is being used to fundamentally alter society and strip us all of our civil liberties, the church added.

AHS has not said if there have been COVID-19 outbreaks at GraceLife due to their services. The church said it had two cases last summer, but no cases identified after that.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which represents Coates and GraceLife, said it is outraged that the Alberta government entered a private church and erected metal fencing around the building.

Freedom of conscience and religion is the first fundamental freedom listed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is listed first because it is one of the key bedrock principles on which Canada is built, Justice Centre President John Carpay said in a statement Wednesday.

The government has so far refused to justify the limits on worship and gathering.

The Justice Centre said it is in the process of filing a subpoena to require Albertas CMOH Dr. Deena Hinshaw to testify at the trial of Pastor Coates.
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo DankwaAkufo-Addo, has issued a number of directives to Ministries, Departments and Agencies in response to a report compiled by a committee of experts tasked to assess the countrys state of preparedness for the occurrence of earthquakes.



Speaking at a stakeholders conference organised by the Ministry of Interior, on Thursday, 8th April 2021, at Tang Palace, President Akufo-Addo noted that the series of earth tremors experienced by the country in recent times, coupled with the confirmation that Ghana is susceptible to earthquakes along the southern belt and the Akwapim-Togo range, resulted in the establishment of a Technical Committee to prepare A Framework for Refocusing Ghanas Earthquake Preparedness and Response.



Endorsing the report and recommendations of the Committee, together with its action plan, the President noted that it is the collapse of structures during earthquakes that is responsible for human and economic losses.



This means that to avoid or reduce these losses, we need to ensure that buildings, including dwellings, dams and bridges, are structurally competent and resilient to earthquakes of a higher magnitude, he said.



President Akufo-Addo continued, Constructing well-engineered structures, including dams and roads, and retrofitting important lifeline buildings, such as hospitals, schools, churches, and mosques, cannot be compromised. That is why I urge the Engineering Council of the Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure that a comprehensive integrity audit of all public buildings and structures is conducted, and Government appropriately advised.



The President also urged the Ghana Geological Survey Authority to advise Government on the logistical needs and equipment required by the Authority to undertake round the clock monitoring of seismic activities for urgent action.



Knowing what to do, he said, in the event of an earthquake, is crucial to survival, adding that it is important that all Ghanaians know what to do to remain safe and alive should such an unfortunate event occur in future.



I have already instructed the leadership of NADMO to liaise with the Ghana Education Service to help incorporate learning themes on protection against earthquakes and other disasters in the curricula at the pre-tertiary education level. Again, I have encouraged NADMO to embark on a sustained education campaign for the entire population, in this regard. I have requested regular updates from the Director-General of NADMO on progress made, President Akufo-Addo noted.

To the Ministries of Works and Housing and Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, the President urged them to collaborate with the Ghana Institution of Engineers to develop a scheme that will entail home-owners retrofitting their homes to make them resistant to earthquakes, and compelling prospective home-owners to build in accordance with defined standards.



I want to reiterate my total commitment as President to ensuring that Government protects the entire citizenry from the effects of earthquakes and other disasters that might ravage any part of the nation, he said.



Government, according to President Akufo-Addo, has sufficiently demonstrated its determination to make the nation resilient to the effects of disasters, adding thatwe will continue to equip NADMO and, indeed, all response agencies, to enhance their operational effectiveness.



To the stakeholders gathered, he indicated that the only option is to work collaboratively, devoid of turf wars and other counter-productive tendencies. Disaster preparedness and mitigation are a shared and collective responsibility. Let us put our shoulders to the wheels and safeguard Mother Ghana.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

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Eleven years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill devastated the Gulf Coast, one rescued brown pelican has made its way back to Louisiana, flying almost 700 miles from where it was released in Georgia.

The pelican, tagged as Red 33Z, found its way back home to Barataria Bay and was recently spotted in March by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Casey Wright as it perched on a rock jetty on Queen Bess Island, spreading its long wings in the sun.

The bird was one of 582 oil-covered pelicans rescued and successfully rehabilitated in the wake of the disaster, according to LDWF. It was captured on June 14, 2010, at the Empire Jetties in Barataria Bay. After it was rehabbed and flown to a U.S. Coast Guard station in Brunswick, Georgia, and released on July 1, 2010.

Its truly impressive that it made its way back from Georgia, Wright said.

It isnt known exactly when the bird arrived back in Louisiana. His red tag is clearly visible on his leg, identifying him as the same pelican captured years ago.

Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Brown pelicans, like most seabirds, are thought to be hard-wired, genetically, to return to their birth colony to breed, despite moving long distances during the non-breeding season, LDWF ornithologist Robert Dobbs, who studies non-game birds, said. That may be an overly simplistic generalization, but re-sighting data of banded pelicans often support that pattern.

The pelican was one of the many birds captured early after the spill that were released in Georgia, Texas and Florida to prevent them from flying back to areas impacted by the oil spill, LDWF said. Other birds released in those areas have also been spotted back home in Louisiana.

More than $700K from 2010 BP oil spill settlement funds still unclaimed, Louisiana treasurer says BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Louisiana's treasurer says the state is holding more than $700,000 that has so far gone unclaimed by people and busine

More than 5,000 birds were captured in Louisiana following the Deepwater Horizon disaster, both dead and alive, making up 65% of total bird recovery through the Gulf of Mexico. Brown pelicans made up 22% of bird recoveries. Between 51,000 and 84,000 birds were killed in the wake of the spill, according to data.

Queen Bess Island, where the bird was last seen, is a water bird nesting colony that accounts for 15-20% of young brown pelicans hatched in Louisiana each year, according to wildlife officials. It was heavily impacted by the spill and reduced to almost 5 acres at one point. It is now a refuge managed by LDWF and has grown to 36 acres following a restoration project in 2019.
Russia's unlikely to invade Ukraine, but we need to be ready for this  expert

A full-scale Russian invasion into Ukraine is unlikely, but the country's military-political leadership needs to prepare for the worst-case scenario, Andriy Senchenko, chairman of the National Association of Defense Industry Enterprises of Ukraine, has said.

"Each war is a constant comparison every day of its own losses and expenses with the losses and expenses of the enemy. From this point of view, to start a full-scale invasion of our territory today is madness for the Russian Federation, because they understand that they will suffer very significant losses, with which the Russians will disagree. On the other hand, there will be very serious systemic pressure, which, unfortunately, did not exist in 2014 from our Western partners, the civilized world," Senchenko said during the roundtable talk entitled "Aggression of the Russian Federation: Is the Army Ready for New Challenges?" in Kyiv on Thursday.

In his opinion, by aggravating the situation in eastern Ukraine, the Russian Federation is trying to "swing the Ukrainian authorities, frighten the Ukrainian people and resolve internal political issues of the Russian Federation in connection with the approaching elections to the State Duma and other processes."

"But this is not a reason for us to calm down. Therefore, when I assess the likelihood, I believe that all the same, all the military, military-political leadership of the country, starting with the president and further down the vertical, should prepare for the worst possible scenario. Just like that and in no other way," Senchenko stressed.

At the same time, he noted that it is necessary to return to the Budapest format of negotiations at the highest political level and move on to granting loans to Ukraine or the right to buy foreign weapons for Ukrainian money.

"We actually have the right to a completely different level of military-technical assistance and to direct financial investments in strengthening the Ukrainian army, which protects not only our country, but the entire eastern flank of NATO," Senchenko said.
Jesse Plemons was spotted on Wednesday with a leg brace on.

The 33-year-old Breaking Bad actor was seen running errands in Los Angeles while getting around on crutches thanks to his braced leg.

He was on the move a week after he and his fiancee Kirsten Dunst, 38, announced they were expecting their second child together.

Ouch! Jesse Plemons, 33, was the worse for wear when he was spotted running errands in Los Angeles while on crutches and wearing a leg brace

Jesse appeared to have a hard time getting into the passenger seat of his car as he tried to keep his injured leg elevated and straight.

He was was dressed for maximum comfort and mobility due to the brace with a pair of soft gray track shorts. It's not known how he got the injury.

The I'm Thinking Of Ending Things star stayed on theme with a plain white T-shirt, a thin gray jacket and black sandals.

He sported shaggy, tousled hair and wore a black mask to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Relaxed fit: Jesse wore comfortable clothes to keep his leg exposed and mobile, including gray track shorts that he wore with a white T-shirt and a light jacket

Late last month, Jesse's partner Kirsten Dunst revealed she was pregnant with her second child when she posed while visibly pregnant for W Magazine's Directors Issue.

The Marie Antoinette star was styled by her Rodarte designer friends Laura and Kate Mulleavy, who also directed her in their 2017 film Woodshock.

She's slowed down her workload since giving birth to her first son, Ennis, in 2018.

However, she and Jesse will be collaborating again on her next project, The Power Of The Dog.

The film, which will be released on Netflix, continues the couple's streak of working with acclaimed auteurs, this time with New Zealander filmmaker Jane Campion.

Baby on board: Late last month, Jesse's partner Kirsten Dunst revealed she was pregnant with her second child when she posed while visibly pregnant for W Magazine's Directors Issue; seen together in January 2020

Couples project: She and Jesse will be collaborating again on her next project, The Power Of The Dog, directed by acclaimed New Zealand auteur Jane Campion; seen in 2019 in LA

The film, based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage, also stars Benedict Cumberbatch.

He and Jesse play brothers who run a ranch in Montana, but after Jesse's character marries a local widow in secret (played by Kirsten) his brother launches a cruel campaign to destroy her life.

The film will continue Jesse's prolific streak of working on high-profile projects.

In September, he starred with Jessie Buckley, Toni Collette and David Thewlis in Charlie Kaufman's newest film, I'm Thinking Of Ending Things, an alternately hilarious and chilling adaptation of the novel of the same name by Iain Reid.

Creepy: In September, Jesse starred with Jessie Buckley, Toni Collette and David Thewlis in Charlie Kaufman's I'm Thinking Of Ending Things, a darkly comic relationship horror film

On a roll: He previously had a supporting part in Martin Scorsese's Oscar-nominated gangster epic The Irishman, and he's next be featured in Disney's Jungle Cruise; still from The Irishman

He previously had a supporting part in Martin Scorsese's Oscar-nominated gangster epic The Irishman, and he's next be featured in Disney's Jungle Cruise.

Jesse and Kirsten were brought together by their work when they starred as a married couple who find themselves on the wrong side of the law in the second season of FX's anthology series Fargo.

The couple began their relationship in 2016, a year after the show aired, and they got engaged in 2017.

A year later, Kirsten gave birth to their first son, Ennis.
Srinagar: India is witnessing the second wave of coronavirus and caseloads are surging in every state. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered on Thursday (April 8) the imposition of night curfew in the urban areas of eight districts, including Jammu and Srinagar, to check the spread of the soaring coronavirus cases.

The night curfew will come into effect from Friday, the office of the Lt governor said.

"Directed the divisional administration to impose corona curfew from 10 pm to 6 am in the urban areas of 8 districts affected by the recent COVID spike," it tweeted.

Directed the Divisional administration to impose Corona curfew from 10 pm to 6 am in the urban areas of 8 districts affected by the recent #COVID spike. These districts are #Jammu, #Udhampur, #Kathua, #Srinagar, #Baramulla, #Budgam, #Anantnag and #Kupwara.  Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) April 8, 2021

These districts are Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam, Anantnag and Kupwara, it said.

The curfew will be in force in the municipal limits of the urban local bodies of these districts. Reasi district will be under close observation for any possible spikes in cases, it added.

(Inputs from PTI)

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Last night I wrote about United Airlines plan during this decade to train 5,000 pilots for jobs with United, and to have half of the 5,000 be women and people of color. I suggested that, unless United can show that this regime is necessary to make up for past discrimination based on race and gender, the companys plan might lead to unlawful results.

Today, a friend pointed out that in 1976, United Airlines entered into a consent decree with the EEOC after that agency sued the company for discriminating against women and minority group members in the hiring of employees in various jobs, including pilot. United agreed to award back pay to victims of the discrimination alleged by the EEOC and to award retroactive seniority to black pilots and mechanics who earlier had been rejected for employment.

In addition, according to the New York Times report on the agreement:

A substantial number of jobs are expected to go to members of minorities and women under the terms of the decree. About 800 are expected to be in management. The agreement sets hiring goals and; ratios for both members of minorities and women in management positions, pilot, mechanic and higherpaying agent positions.

The article doesnt say what percentage of jobs would go to minority group members and women.

Seventeen years later, the EEOC dragged United back to court. It alleged that the airline violated the 1976 consent decree.

The parties apparently settled the matter a year later (in 1994). Reportedly, United agreed to more backpay, and to offer pilot jobs to 83 previously rejected minority and/or female applicants (the mix is unclear from this report).

A United official told AP that many of the problems that led to the EEOC suit had already been remedied. We think we have done some good things in this area and attracted a lot of pilots who are minorities and also who are female, and we have a very good record in this, the official said. (Emphasis added)

To me, this background suggests that (1) decades ago, United probably did discriminate against women and minorities, including for pilot positions, but (2) it ceased and remedied its discrimination against these groups in the mid 1990s by hiring fairly large numbers of women and minority pilots (indeed, a source in the airline industry tells us that, in the past, United has hired affirmative action pilots who are widely regarded as subpar), and that (3) United has not discriminated on the basis of race or gender in the selection of pilots for decades.

What are the legal implications of this state of affairs for Uniteds plan to set aside half of its 5,000 pilot trainee jobs for women and minority group members? I think it means that if Uniteds plan results in white men being passed over in favor of women or minorities who are less qualified, United will have violated Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

In a 1979 case, Weber v. Steelworkers, the Supreme Court held that Title VII does not prohibit private employers from taking steps to remedy severe cases of past employment discrimination. It therefore upheld a joint employer-union affirmative action-based training program to increase the number of black skilled craft workers at the company (Kaiser Aluminum). Half of the dozen or so eligible positions in the training program were reserved for blacks.

But this was against a background of racial segregation. At the Kaiser plant in question, as of 1974, only 1.83 percent of the skilled craftworkers were black, even though the local work force was approximately 39 percent black.

In upholding the plan, the Court noted that it was a temporary measure and was not intended to maintain racial balance, but simply to eliminate a manifest racial imbalance.

It seems unlikely that United Airlines could defend its ten-year plan along the lines laid out in Weber. There is no relevant background of racial or gender segregation among pilots at the airline. Whatever discrimination United engaged in appears to have been remedied decades ago, to the satisfaction of the EEOC.

Thanks in part to that remediation, Uniteds pilot force includes plenty of women and minority group members. Their numbers dont mirror their representation in the general workforce, but for a highly specialized job like airline pilot, that fact does not suggest discrimination, let alone segregation.

The Supreme Courts ruling in Weber was premised on the view that a major purpose of Title VII was to open employment opportunities for Negroes in occupations which have been traditionally closed to them. This purpose was held to trump anti-quota language in the statute (a mode of statutory interpretation that the current Supreme Court does not favor).

But for decades, the airline pilot job has not been closed to women and people of color. Uniteds plan to set aside 2,500 pilot jobs for members of these groups isnt an effort to break down barriers that deprive them of employment opportunities. Rather, its an effort at woke virtue signaling  and one that might well reduce the quality of Uniteds pilots and thereby create unnecessary risk for Uniteds passengers.

As I wrote last night, any highly qualified white male applicant to Uniteds pilot program who is rejected by the company during the next ten years should consider consulting a lawyer.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is talking to banks about the potential listing of its oil drilling unit on the local stock exchange, Reuters reported on Thursday, quoting three sources with knowledge of the plan.

ADNOC Drilling is the largest drilling company in the Middle East, it says, and operates 63 onshore rigs, 20 offshore jackup rigs, and 11 island rigs. ADNOC Drilling provides drilling rigs and associated services to companies part of the ADNOC Group, and helps the oil firm of OPEC member the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to reach its production targets, the drilling firm says.

According to two of Reuters sources, ADNOC would like to have the initial public offering (IPO) take place this year. The size of the offering could be larger than US$1 billion, one source told Reuters, but added that the talks with the banks were at their early stages.

In recent years, ADNOC has moved to monetize some of its assets and resources by listing its distribution business, selling a minority stake in its pipelines business, and entering in joint ventures in the upstream and downstream.

In December 2017, ADNOC listed its fuel retail unit ADNOC Distribution on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, setting an IPO offer price that valued the unit at US$8.5 billion.

Last year, after oil prices crashed and OPEC+, including the UAE, had to curtail massive production volumes to rebalance the market and prop up oil prices, ADNOC announced a US$20.7-billion deal with six international companies for the acquisition of a minority stake in ADNOC Gas Pipeline Assets.

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

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
BROOMFIELD, Colo., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Bryce Anderson, former Program Director (PD) of the US Army MEDEVAC division credited with helping the Army Active, National Guard, and Reserves modernize and "get whatever they need to be effective as they do the work of saving lives," has joined Vita Inclinata , the company announced today.

LTC Anderson, the Army's first Program Director (PD) for MEDEVAC joined Vita as Senior Director, Federal Accounts, where he works with all Federal agencies that have a hoist and/or sling load requirement.

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bryce Anderson, former PD MEDEVAC and Integrator for US Army's Future Vertical Lift program, joins Vita Inclinata

"Bryce spent his career working across the military, working with and listening to warfighters and MEDEVAC crews, forming the alliances and building the strategies that modernized today's Army. He also shepherded the requirements to suitably equip MEDEVAC for the future," said Caleb Carr, Vita Inclinata CEO.

"We share a mission to 'bring everyone home, every time,' and I am humbled and honored that Vita will benefit from his strategic expertise," Carr added.

One throughline in Anderson's diverse and storied military career is his ability to study the problems, then create coalitions and strategies to deliver whatever is necessary to "make it right," so that problems are corrected thoughtfully and safely.

Among the improvements Anderson directly or indirectly brought to the Warfighter and MEDEVAC communities:



Paramedic requirement for MEDEVAC crews: The Critical Care Flight Paramedic (CCFP)

Modular systems for HH-60M Blackhawks, to provide flexibility to MEDEVAC crews

Designed, developed, and delivered the Blackhawks Advanced MEDEVAC (BAM) window. (according to PD MEDEVAC, BAM is affectionately referred to as the Bryce Anderson MEDEVAC window)

Hemostatic bandages, digital X Rays, and digital microscopes to Afghanistan early in the war.



Anderson joins Vita in part to realize one goal he was not able to bring to fruition while in the Army: hoist stabilization, which became personal after violent oscillations of a hoist cable on a mission in Afghanistan caused two Soldiers to plummet to the ground, killing them both.

"Of course it's all personal, but that one haunted the whole unit. Though I wasn't even there, it stayed with me. I knew there had to be a way to stabilize a hoist in these challenging conditions where canyon winds, enemy, and countless other contributing factors create unmanageable hoist loads," Anderson said.

Anderson met with representatives from across all Army components to create a list of MEDEVAC's top 10 material problems. Hoist stabilization was in the top five. In 2017, the Army Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program published a Request For Proposal through the DoD to solve the problem of hoist oscillation and spin.

"That's how I discovered Vita already had a functioning technical demonstrator and was maturing it with a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the United States Army Aviation Research Laboratory (USAARL)," Anderson said.

"Vita has done it," Anderson added. "They have a suitable solution that controls the hoist load. The operator can precisely spin the load clockwise/counterclockwise to "thread the needle" past obstacles. Vita engineers are even developing a path to fly the load to a target off-axis of the helicopter. It's the right solution with the right technology, and I'm proud to do my part."

About Vita Inclinata

A friend's death during a rescue operationwith a helicopter close but unable to stabilize due to weather and terrainwas the genesis of Vita Inclinata. Founded in 2015 as a way to solve a real problem, Vita today controls chaotic swinging and spin, and adds precision for rotor wing and fixed wing aircraft and cranes. With the mission of "Bring them home, every time," Vita's technology changes the narrative while saving lives, time and money across industries, including search and rescue, firefighting, OPSCOM, construction, wind turbines, and oil and gas. The company is headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, with offices in Washington, DC, and new offices opening in 2021 in Huntsville, Alabama. For more information, please visit www.vitatech.co .

Contact:

Merredith Branscombe

[email protected]

833-600-8482 X707

SOURCE Vita Inclinata Technologies, LLC
'People not wearing masks, need to create atmosphere of fear' Image Source: IANS News

As triple-layered and N95 masks offer best protection from Covid, they must be used where health officials have made it mandatory to prevent aerosol generation, according to a study by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)on Sunday. Image Source: IANS News

Panaji, April 8 : As Covid-19 cases reached a six month high of 527 on Wednesday in Goa, state BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade on Thursday urged government agencies to trigger an atmosphere of fear to some degree, in order to make people wear masks and maintain Covid-19 related norms.

"A lockdown cannot be a solution. There is a need to create at least some atmosphere of fear and convince people (to wear masks)," Tanavade told reporters, while speaking about the rising cases of Covid-19 in the state.

On Wednesday, Goa recorded 527 cases, a six month high in terms of daily cases logged in the state.

Tanavade also said that the government should increase enforcement levels, to force people into wearing masks in public places.

"Initially people were scared, (but) today, cases are increasing in a big way. If we need to bring this down, functions, parties need to be controlled," the ruling party president also said.

The state BJP president also said that the Goa government should focus on vaccinating tourism industry workers on priority basis.
Lucknow, April 8 : In a major setback to the first family of the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, Sandhya Yadav, niece of party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, will be contesting the Zila Panchayat elections on a BJP ticket from Mainpuri, a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party.

Sandhya Yadav is the sister of former Badaun MP Dharmendra Yadav and also the incumbent chairperson of Mainpuri district panchayat.

Sandhya, who had won the last election on a Samajwadi ticket, filed her nomination papers on Wednesday.

The polling is scheduled to take place on April 19.

In 2017, a no-confidence motion was moved against Sandhya just a week after her husband, Anujesh Yadav, who was a member of the Firozabad Zila Panchayat and was close to Shivpal Yadav, was expelled from the party. Anujesh had signed a motion against the local Zila Panchayat president, Vijay Pratap, who in turn, is a close associate of Ram Gopal Yadav.

Later, the motion was withdrawn after 11 members submitted an affidavit disassociating themselves from the decision.

Two years ago, in 2019, Anujesh joined BJP. He told reporters, "If SP members could move a no-confidence motion against my wife (Sandhya), she can also fight the elections on a BJP ticket." Anujesh claimed that his wife would win this election.

Yadav further said, "My mother, Urmila Yadav, had been MLA twice from Ghiror in 1993 and 1996 and we enjoy considerable support among the people." Former Samajwadi MP from Mainpuri, Tej Pratap Yadav, who is a nephew of Sandhya Yadav, said the party will treat her as a political opponent.

"We have our own candidate and we will work for his victory," he added.

BJP district president Pradeep Chauhan said, "Mulayam Singh Yadav himself had praised PM Narendra Modi in Parliament, and if the former's niece is contesting as our party candidate, it means that she also supports the development agenda of the BJP. There is nothing wrong in it. Everyone has a right to choose one's path." However, the SP leaders in Lucknow admitted, albeit on condition of anonymity, that Sandhya's decision to contest on a BJP ticket was a 'huge embarrassment' for the party and also the family.
A Bangladeshi mill bought two cargoes of 30,000 tonnes from the US West Coast at an average price of $465 per tonne cfr for a composite cargo of heavy melting scrap 1&2 (80:20) and shredded scrap last week, Fastmarkets heard.A third US bulk cargo was rumored to be sold to another mill at around $465 per tonne cfr Bangladesh for HMS 1&2 (80:20) in the last week, but further details of the cargo were not available. Meanwhile, a recent sale of Australia-origin HMS 1&2 (80:20) in bulk sold at $455 per tonne cfr also came to light on Thursday.Offers for US West Coast HMS 1&2 (80:20) rose to $470 per tonne cfr Bangladesh by Thursday, while shredded scrap was on offer at $475 per tonne cfr.

The assessment for bulk cargoes of steel...
More than 88 million Americans have prediabetes , and 85% don't know they have it. The National DPP, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a partnership of public and private organizations tackling the growing problem of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes through the evidence-based, structured lifestyle change program that reduces the risk and delays the onset of type 2 diabetes and improves overall public health.

In 2017, the CDC awarded the ADA a five-year cooperative agreement to support the expansion of the National DPP to underserved areas in the United States. The ADA's multi-state network is available to anyone with prediabetes. However, sites focus on serving Hispanic and Latino populations who are more than 50% more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites, and older adults with diabetes who live in communities with high rates of diabetes and have limited or no access to existing National DPP providers. Yumlish, based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, joins the current seven delivery sites focused on serving the Hispanic and Latino community, as well as older adults with prediabetes in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Kansas, and Texas.

"Research shows that CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs can help people cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than half, proving that preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes is possible," said Dr. Robert Gabbay, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer for the ADA. "We look forward to Yumlish's launch as a delivery site, as their virtual format and focus on social determinants of health will benefit participants by focusing on proven approaches to help people prevent or delay type 2 diabetes."

The National DPP has proven to have a lasting impact, with participants having a 34% lower rate of type 2 diabetes 10 years after their completion of the program. Implementing this research-based program has had a significant impact on delaying or preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes and will improve the quality of life for many.

The CDC has recognized more than 1,800 National DPP programs in communities across the United States. Learn more about the National DPP.

About the American Diabetes Association

Every day, more than 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with diabetes in America. More than 122 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes and are striving to manage their lives. The ADA is the nation's leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and helping people living with diabetes thrive. For 80 years, the ADA has been driving discovery and research to treat, manage, and prevent diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. We help people with diabetes thrive by fighting for their rights and developing programs, advocacy, and education designed to improve their quality of life. Diabetes has brought us together, what we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).

Contacts: Daisy Diaz, 703-253-4807

[email protected]

SOURCE American Diabetes Association

Related Links

http://www.diabetes.org


A year after the Race Riot of 1908 in Springfield, Illinois, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored people was born. Known as the NAACP, the organization began fighting to eliminate race-based discrimination that Black citizens faced.

In recent years, videos have been shown on social media and broadcast by news stations of Black men and women being shot by police. Often the officers actions are ruled justified by the courts, much to the dismay of many Black people who feel otherwise. This made way for the Black Lives Matter movement.

While the NAACP addresses many issues by advocating for changes in policy and law, BLM is a more in-your-face movement that brings those issues to the attention of the country through marches, protests and rallies.

On this issue of The Year 2042: an MLive podcast, hosts Dana Afana and Bob Johnson talk to Terry Pruitt, president of the Saginaw chapter of the NAACP and Angela Waters Austin, founder of One Love Global and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Lansing and Michigan chapters.

Listen as Pruitt and Waters Austin give their perspectives on racial equality, social justice and the fight against systemic racism.

Listen to the full podcast below. If you cannot view the podcast player below, click here to listen.

More episodes:

The Year 2042 podcast: Arab Americans fight for Census category

The Year 2042 podcast: Health director talks about why Black people should trust the COVID-19 vaccine

The Year 2042 Podcast: What will Biden do for Michigan? Congresswoman Debbie Dingell shares her thoughts

The Year 2042: Episode 3: Rashida Tlaib talks Muslim ban and post-Trump America

The Year 2042 podcast: Protests, riots, attacks and how law enforcement respond to them

The Year 2042: Episode 2: How the Black vote affected the election in Michigan

New MLive podcast The year 2042 breaks down MAGA vs Black Lives Matter in first episode
CHARLES CITY, Iowa - U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra visited with constituents around North Iowa on Wednesday, a part of his 39 county tour across Iowa's 4th District.

Feenstra first stopped at Golden Grain Energy in Mason City, getting a tour of the World's Largest Grain Bin being constructed, as well as discussing the current state of the ethanol industry. He also met with the owners of Otto's Oasis and community leaders in Charles City about the impact the pandemic has had on small businesses, and to discuss ways on how to revitalize the local economy.

As attention shifts to reopening and restarting the economy post-pandemic, he's highlighting the work Congress is doing to bring the country back, and to represent the people of the 4th District on Capital Hill.

"I want to know what I can do, how I can be a voice. I keep telling everybody that we're a government together. We create the government, we the people. We all pay property taxes, sales taxes, income tax. I need to know how I can help each business on Main Street."

With COVID-19 vaccination efforts ramping up, Feenstra emphasized work on the federal level to get more vaccines to the state and local levels. He believes Iowa is ahead of the curve in beating the coronavirus, and credits the work of Gov. Kim Reynolds for balancing health concerns and opening vaccine eligibility, while also working to reopen the state and get back to some sense of normalcy.

"If you look at Iowa and the numbers and statistics of those who have gotten the vaccine, we're ahead of the curve. It's exciting to see how we're flattening the curve. We're seeing a lot less people with the virus and less people in our hospitals, so we're doing it right. I think in the next month, month and a half, we'll get back to normal."

Rep. Feenstra also took part in a business roundtable in New Hampton as part of Wednesday's tour.
"This collaboration marks a first in the workers' compensation industry." Tweet this

"Value-based provider relationships represent the next step in our now 30-year track record of delivering guaranteed outcomes for individuals and solving the biggest risk management challenges for clients," says Kevin Turner, Chief Clinical Solutions Officer, Paradigm. "We are excited for the opportunity to launch this program in tandem with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, an organization with decades of clinical data that Paradigm will now be able to leverage immediately in the recovery process and integrate with our proprietary outcome-based analytics. Aligning our long-term guaranteed outcomes with early post-acute care results is a key piece of the recovery journey. Partnering with best-in-class providers across the treatment spectrum that are willing to be accountable and manage risk with us, is just one more way that Paradigm will continue to provide the most optimal results possible for patients."

By engaging Shirley Ryan AbilityLab after the initial case assessment, mutual outcome benchmarks can be established related to cost and recovery, with the ultimate goal of restoring patients' lives. The focus of Paradigm and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab will continue to be on patients' long-term clinical results and this collaboration will provide greater transparency for both patients and clients.

"This program marks an inflection point in the workers' compensation industry," said Peggy Kirk, RN, Chief Operating Officer, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. "We are so pleased to partner with Paradigm on this novel initiative, and to help transform the lives of workers with catastrophic injuries so they can return home and, ideally, to work."

About Paradigm

Paradigm is an accountable care management organization focused on improving the lives of people with complex and catastrophic injuries and diagnoses. Paradigm has been a pioneer in value-based care since 1991, offering deep clinical expertise, high-value specialty networks, behavioral health support, payment integrity solutions, and robust data analytics to generate the very best outcomes for patients, payers, and providers.

Paradigm is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, with offices across the U.S. For more information, please visit www.paradigmcorp.com.

About Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), is the global leader in physical medicine and rehabilitation for adults and children with the most severe, complex conditions  from traumatic brain and spinal cord injury to stroke, amputation and cancer-related impairment. The organization expands and accelerates leadership in the field that began at RIC in 1953. The quality of its care and research has led to the designation of "No. 1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America" by U.S. News & World Report every year since 1991. In March 2017, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab became the first-ever "translational" research hospital in which clinicians, scientists, innovators and technologists work together in the same space, surrounding patients, discovering new approaches and applying (or "translating") research real time. This unique model enables patients to have 24/7 access to the brightest minds, the latest research and the best opportunity for recovery. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information, go to www.sralab.org.

Media contact

Ronda Clement

VP of Marketing, Paradigm Corporation

[email protected]

(727) 488-9345

Megan Washburn

Executive Director of Communications, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

[email protected]

(312) 238-6016

SOURCE Paradigm

Related Links

https://www.paradigmcorp.com


KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Taliban fired rockets at Kandahar Airfield, causing no damage or casualties but drawing a swift condemnation from the Pentagon which said the attack was "disruptive" to peace negotiations.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby declined to say whether the Wednesday attack violated last year's U.S.-Taliban peace deal. The attack occurred about three weeks before the peace agreement requires all U.S. troops to have left the country.

"We condemn the attack, and we believe this decision to provoke even more violence remains disruptive," Kirby said. "I can't deliver a comprehensive analysis of what we believe they were trying to achieve or what message they were trying to send."

Massoud Pashtoon, the airfield director, told Stars and Stripes on Wednesday that the attack began around 10 a.m. and ended after four rockets landed in an open field.

Kandahar Airfield has been a key base for the U.S. military throughout the war, housing an estimated 30,000 service members and contractors at its peak. But the Afghan government recently assumed control of operations at the airfield and only a few hundred U.S. troops remain, the military has said.

U.S. troop numbers across the country have steadily decreased since the U.S. signed a peace deal with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, in February 2020. The official total now stands at 2,500.

Under the deal, remaining troops and all other foreign service members could pull out by May 1 if the Taliban meet vague counterterrorism pledges. But a May withdrawal date would be "hard to meet" because of logistical challenges and ongoing violence between the Taliban and Afghan forces, President Joe Biden said last month.

"Clearly, the violence is too high," Kirby said Wednesday. "This attack certainly indicates that's going to be disruptive to the opportunity to achieve a peaceful negotiation, but I'm not prepared today to give an assessment of this attack as balance against the Doha agreement."
During a rare public appearance before lawmakers Thursday, the embattled head of New Jerseys prison system said the federal government will likely begin monitoring the states only womens facility soon.

Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks said negotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice should be finished within weeks. Federal investigators released a report a year ago concluding sexual abuse was rampant at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Hunterdon County.

My administration is changing the perception of corrections from a lock em up and throw away the key mentality to one that focuses on holistic rehabilitation, Hicks said. He said he welcomed federal oversight and called changing the culture at Edna Mahan his number one priority.

Hicks and other witnesses appeared virtually before the state Assemblys Women and Children and Judiciary committees, where lawmakers raised concerns that inmates remain in danger despite recent reforms.

Its unclear to those of us up here whether things have gotten better or worse, said Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, D-Hudson.

Committee members also criticized the corrections ombudsperson, an outside watchdog, for not doing more to prevent abuse.

The all-day hearing was the first scheduled in the wake of new allegations that staff severely beat women in January during a series of late night cell extractions.

In a 3,608-word opening statement, Hicks did not apologize for that incident or take responsibility but laid blame on officers.

Those staff brutally attacked women and tried to cover it up, he said, in an incident that left him with disgust and disappointment.

Hicks largely declined to comment further on the event, but he added that his office is supposed to be notified before any extraction takes place and policy largely prohibits late night extractions.

Over more than three hours, he acknowledged decades of mistreatment at the prison while touting recent reforms like the use of body cameras and an early warning system for officers. The state is also looking at creating a special team to investigate sexual abuse allegations, he added.

The status quo cannot and will not go on, Hicks said. Much change is needed, but we are moving in the right direction.

Gov. Phil Murphy appointed a special investigator two days after news broke about the January incident, although its unclear when Murphy first learned about the allegations.

Hicks said in general hes always in contact with the governors office.

Lawmakers repeatedly expressed concern that inmates cannot safely report abuse, and one cited data showing that Edna Mahan staff delayed responding to complaints at the highest rate in the state.

Hicks responded that unopened grievances had since been addressed.

Lawmakers also laid blame for years of documented abuse at the feet of Dan DiBenedetti, leader of the Office of the Ombudsperson, an independent prison watchdog.

I am very concerned that your office did not really have Edna Mahan on your radar, said Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips, R-Bergen.

DiBenedetti acknowledged that he hasnt personally visited the prison in more than a year, and he said his office has long been short staffed. While he now has nine employees, DiBenedetti said hes told the governors office he needs 15 to effectively oversee all prisons.

When lawmakers asked why he hadnt flagged systematic problems before federal investigators arrived, DiBenedetti said his office had received few reports of abuse from Edna Mahan over the years.

Thats because prisoners believe the ombudspersons office is ineffective, former inmates told lawmakers, echoing others whove raised concerns about the agency.

Nafeesah Goldsmith, who spent years in Edna Mahan and said she was a victim of sexual harassment, said she constantly filed grievances while behind bars, yet she and other prisoners never heard back from the office.

Im still waiting, Goldsmith said.

The ombudsperson can also conduct unannounced inspections in state prisons. The office does lists two recent unannounced inspection reports on its website, yet DiBenedetti acknowledged Thursday that prison staff knew inspectors were coming  they just didnt know every unit inspectors would visit.

Other witnesses raised the possibility of transferring the almost 400 women currently inside Edna Mahan to new, smaller facilities spread throughout the state.

The hearing came a day after officials announced a nearly $21 million settlement with multiple women who said they were sexually abused behind bars in recent years.

During the hearing, several senators released a statement demanding more information about the agreement and renewing their call for Hicks to step down.

Lawmakers also said they planned to tour Edna Mahan on April 19.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 19:09:27|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Yunis Adan rose through the ranks at Pronto Restaurant located in the bustling downtown section of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi at a time when his youthful energy and vitality was a huge asset at his busy workstation.

The suave deputy manager of one of Nairobi's renowned and sleek eateries said that he has nostalgic memories of the pre-pandemic era when the hotel business was booming and career mobility for young employees was guaranteed.

Adan said the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya in mid-March 2020 took a heavy toll on hotels and restaurants amid restricted movements in the virus hotspots like Nairobi combined with reduced operating hours.

"We have been through a rough patch in the last one year and when some light was appearing at the end of the dark tunnel, the third COVID-19 wave of infections that was reported in the country in early March unleashed tremors on our business," Adan told Xinhua during a recent interview.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 26 placed Nairobi and other four counties deemed COVID-19 hotspots on new lockdowns besides suspending the operation of bars, sale of alcohol in restaurants, and extending night-time curfew that impacted negatively on revenue generated by eateries.

Adan said the new and more stringent measures meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 have rolled back modest gains the hotel industry had made in the last couple of months when some normalcy had resumed in the country.

"The business was picking up before the new measures were announced and we had planned to revamp our operations to meet the changing demands of our clients besides improving our employees' welfare," said Adan.

He said that Pronto Restaurant that is renowned for its sumptuous indigenous dishes, ambience and sleek interior design survived the first and second waves of COVID-19 infections thanks to innovation and ability to connect with customers.

According to Adan, the third wave has tested the resilience of the popular eating joint to the limit amid a drastic slump in the number of clients and rising operating expenditure.

"To be honest, our business is struggling. We have five branches in Nairobi's central business district and each employed about 70 people," said Adan.

"Currently, we have scaled down on the number of employees from 70 to only seven in every branch since the new restrictions to combat the pandemic were announced," he added.

Adan said that investors in the hotel industry are fully supportive of the government's efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic but would like some flexibility to enable them to resume business.

"We are ready to abide by the ministry of health protocols on curbing the spread of COVID-19 and request the government to ease some restrictions, enabling us to expand sitting capacity in order to generate enough revenue to pay rent and salaries for employees," said Adan.

Kenya's hospitality sector, described as one of the most vibrant in the East African region, has in the last fortnight struggled to stay afloat amid limited operating hours and sitting capacity.

Five-star hotels, mid-sized restaurants and small eateries located in the five COVID-19 hotspots of Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Nakuru and Kiambu counties, are on the verge of closure amid a drastic slump in the number of clients.

Francis Musyoka, a manager of a new restaurant located at a busy intersection in downtown Nairobi said that more than 70 percent reduction in the number of loyal clients has forced the proprietor to innovate in the face of turbulence.

"It is true the new COVID-19 containment measures announced by the president have shaken our business to the core and we have been forced to look for innovative ways to stay afloat," said Musyoka.

"As I speak, some of our employees are moving from office to office to canvass for orders since even takeaways are not enough to meet our operating cost," he added.

Musyoka said that hoteliers consider themselves loyal allies to the government in the COVID-19 war and are demanding some easing of restrictions to enable their businesses to survive the new headwinds.

"Many of us are ready to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and abide by all the ministry of health protocols to minimize the spread of the virus, flatten the curve and reopen businesses," said Musyoka.

He said that hotels and restaurants in downtown Nairobi have placed sanitizer booths at the entrance, observed social distancing, ensured diners wear masks and their temperatures taken in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Vincent, an employee of a small eatery located in downtown Nairobi said the third wave of COVID-19 infections has placed enormous pressure on Kenya's travel and hospitality sectors.

"We are barely surviving and our only request to the government is to commence gradual reopening of the country soon in order for our businesses to operate at a reasonable capacity," said Vincent who declined to disclose his second name. Enditem
General view of a fire at JOC Galaxy (Myanmar) Apparel Co. in Hlaing Thar Yar township, Yangon, Myanmar (Photo : Fire Services Department/Handout via REUTERS)

Troops in Myanmar opened fire on pro-democracy protesters on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens, the latest victims of a campaign to crush opposition to the ruling military junta, activists and media said.



Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, leader of the army coup that ousted Myanmar's elected government on Feb. 1, said the civil disobedience movement's aim was "to destroy" the country.



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But a London-based research group said the military was losing control.



In other unrest, a series of small blasts hit the commercial capital Yangon and a Chinese-owned factory was set on fire.



About 600 civilians have been killed by security forces in the turmoil since the coup, according to an activist group. Nationwide protests and strikes have persisted despite the bloodshed.



The military was now focusing its crackdown on rural areas, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said on Wednesday.



In the northwestern town of Kale, security forces fired live rounds, grenades, and machineguns on protesters who were demanding the restoration of Aung San Suu Kyi's government, AAPP said. At least 8 people were killed, it said.



They also raided houses and community clinics, AAPP said.



A local resident and the Myanmar Now news outlet said 11 people were killed and several wounded. AAPP also reported two other fatalities in townships in Sagaiang region.



Two protesters were also killed in the town of Bago near Yangon, Myanmar Now and AAPP said.



Reuters could not independently verify the toll.



AAPP also reported clashes in Karen state between the army and insurgents of the Karen National Liberation Army, which has been waging war against the government for decades. One villager was killed, it said.



At least seven small explosions were heard in Yangon, including at government buildings, a military hospital and a shopping mall, residents said. There were no casualties and no claims of responsibility.



The U.S. Embassy in Yangon said it had received reports of "handmade 'sound bombs,' or fireworks meant to create noise and cause minimal damage".



A fire broke out in the Chinese-owned JOC Garment Factory in Yangon on Wednesday, the Fire Department said. There were no reports of casualties and no details on the extent of damage.



In another Yangon neighbourhood, activists set fire to the Chinese flag, according to pictures posted on Facebook.



China is viewed as being supportive of the military junta and last month arson attacks were made on 32 Chinese-invested factories in Yangon.



Details of the blasts and the fire were difficult to obtain because of the junta's curbs on broadband internet and mobile data services.



A spokesman for the junta could not be reached for comment.



'DESTROY THE COUNTRY'



Min Aung Hlaing, who heads the junta, said in a statement the civil disobedience movement, or CDM, had halted the working of hospitals, schools, roads, offices and factories.



"CDM is an activity to destroy the country," he said.



Fitch Solutions said in a report that Western sanctions targetting the miitary were unlikely to succeed in restoring democracy.



It predicted a violent revolution pitting the military against an armed opposition comprised of members of the anti-coup movement and ethnic militias.



"The escalating violence on civilians and ethnic militias show that the Tatmadaw (military) is increasingly losing control of the country," it said.



The vast majority of people backed Suu Kyi's ousted government, it added.



AAPP said that as of Wednesday, 598 people had been killed by the security forces since the coup. The authorities are also holding 2,847 people in detention, it said.



Among those detained are Suu Kyi and leading figures in her National League for Democracy party, which won an election in November that was anulled by the coup.



In Jakarta, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab discussed how Britain and other foreign governments could support a Southeast Asian effort to resolve the crisis in Myanmar.



Indonesia is among several Southeast Asian countries leading a push for high-level talks on Myanmar.



The United Nations' special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, hopes to visit the country in the next few days, a U.N. spokesman said in New York.



Thailand, Myanmar's neighbour and which has close military ties with the junta, said on Wednesday it did not agree with the violence but the problem had to be addressed carefully.



"We cannot really do what we want because we have shared borders and we need to live and rely on each other on many areas," said Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who had himself seized power in a 2014 coup when army chief, before taking on his current civilian role in 2019.


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Diagnosing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) during life is crucial for developing therapies and for determining how common the disease is among individuals exposed to repetitive head impacts from contact sports, military service and physical violence.

While the ability to diagnose CTE prior to death has remained elusive, researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) for the first time have shown that progressive memory loss and issues with executive function, the ability to focus, follow directions, and problem-solve, are more useful for predicting CTE pathology than mood and behavior symptoms.

CTE is a progressive brain disease. Clinically, impulsivity, explosivity, depression, memory impairment and executive dysfunction have been reported to occur in the disease.

This study significantly advances our understanding of how to diagnose CTE in life, suggesting progressive memory and executive function symptoms are particularly valuable for predicting CTE pathology." Jesse Mez, MD, MS, Corresponding Author, Director, Boston University (BU) Alzheimer's Disease Center Clinical Core and a BU CTE Center Investigator

In 2014, criteria for traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) were proposed for use in clinical research settings to diagnose CTE in life. In an effort to assess the reliability and diagnostic validity of TES criteria, a team of clinicians interviewed family members of 336 brain donors exposed to repetitive head impacts from contact sports, military service and/or physical violence who were at risk for CTE. Neuropathologists then evaluated the brains for CTE pathology. An expert panel of clinicians then determined whether (TES) criteria (i.e. proposed criteria to diagnose CTE in life) were met. They found when individual TES criteria components were assessed, cognitive symptoms, but not mood/behavior or motor symptoms, were significantly associated with CTE pathology.

According to Mez, this study moves the field closer to being able to diagnose CTE in life rather than exclusively after death, as is currently the case. "Our study provides doctors with information about which symptoms are most predictive of CTE pathology," he adds.

While having reliable and valid criteria to diagnose CTE in life will improve patient care and accelerate the development of effective therapies, Mez points out that the criteria did not perform well enough to be immediately moved to the clinic. However, these findings were used by an international team of experts to develop improved TES criteria.
CERRO GORDO COUNTY, Iowa - Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals has joined sheriffs from across the country in sending a letter to President Joe Biden addressing the immigration situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Pals is one of 275 Sheriffs across the U.S. that signed onto the letter. The letter points to potential criminal aspects of 'unchecked illegal immigration', like drug and human trafficking. Pals notes that both the previous Obama and Trump administrations recognized the threats and dangers presented by illegal immigration, noting the impacts of the drug trade in North Iowa.

Cerro Gordo Co. Sheriff Kevin Pals Cerro Gordo Co. Sheriff Kevin Pals

"I was elected to uphold the laws of the Constitution of not only the United States, but also the state of Iowa. I'm not sure if we can do that legally and faithfully to my oath of office if we don't stop what's happening at the border."

Sheriffs from the following Iowa counties signed the letter: Carroll, Cerro Gordo, Clayton, Greene, Grundy, Iowa, Lucas, Scott, Shelby and Wayne.

The entirety of the letter is as follows:

Dear Mr. President:

Americas Sheriffs are deeply troubled about the dangerous impacts your administrations border policies are having on our citizens, legal residents and communities.

You must act now before our nations public safety resources are overwhelmed with the criminal side effects of unchecked illegal immigration, including transnational gangs, guns, dangerous drugs and human trafficking.

Americas Sheriffs urge you, Mr. President, to reverse course and help us protect our communities by securing the southern border. Both the Barack Obama and Donald Trump administrations recognized the threats and dangers presented by illegal immigration. It is critically important that you see it as well.

We, the undersigned sheriffs, like you, took oaths and made promises to the American people that we would uphold and enforce the rule of law. The crisis at the border is penetrating our neighborhoods throughout the interior of the United States, thus undermining our unyielding commitment to protect We, the People.

As this situation continues to evolve, more families will be exposed to the violence associated with drug trafficking and transnational gangs. More parents will suffer the loss of their children, not because they were irresponsible, but because of exposure to criminal illegal alien violence caused by the reckless and irresponsible policies of your administration.

Americas Sheriffs recognize that in order for democracy to flourish and remain healthy in our republic, we must uphold and enforce the rule of law. There is no place for injecting political agendas that diminish the safety and security of our nation. We cannot undermine the confidence and faith of the people in our basic precept of equal justice under the law. Our founders established the legislative branch of government to create and amend laws. Neither We, the People nor the founders ever intended for those elected officials chosen by the American people to represent their interests to circumvent the legislature and decide for themselves what special class of individuals will be excused from abiding by our existing laws.

In a myriad of ways, you and your administration are encouraging and sanctioning lawlessness and the

victimization of the people of the United States of America, all in the name of mass illegal immigration.

What is most troubling to Americas Sheriffs is that you and your administration were well aware that this crisis would happen when you ceased construction of the border wall and changed border security policies. Sheriffs were talking with the Obama/Biden administration about these same concerns that we were experiencing at the time based on the lax policies then being implemented. In fact, Americas Sheriffs attended meetings in Washington with then-Undersecretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas, who is now your Secretary of Homeland Security. You and he are fully aware of what illegal immigration does to our citizens, legal residents and our communities.

You may imagine how violated Americas Sheriffs feel that you unleashed a predictable crisis upon our nation that puts those we promised to protect at risk of grave danger. Americas Sheriffs will not defy our oaths. We will not join with those who suggest that we ignore existing laws in collusion with those elected officials who arbitrarily feel that they should be excused from being accountable and required to follow our laws. To do so would violate the promise of Americas Sheriffs to those who bestowed upon us the honor and privilege to represent their safety and security concerns. The people of the United States of America expect us always to uphold and enforce the rule of law.

In the interests of ending the undermining of our laws and the increased risks to the safety and security of the people of the United States of America, we respectfully request that you immediately reverse course on your pro-illegal immigration policies, resume the border wall construction, and embrace the common-sense, public-safety-supporting border policies of the previous administration.

Americas Sheriffs believe that the citizens we serve have an absolute expectation that our efforts will be rooted in public service rather than political self-service. This fundamental distinction is the only path forward to a safer, more prosperous nation.

Americas Sheriffs stand ready to work with you and your administration if you are willing to move in the right direction. Until that time, all of us will continue to uphold our oaths, enforce our sovereign authorities, fight for public safety, and keep our promises to the American people who have placed their trust in us.
Youngsters protest in Algeria in 2019 for fair presidential elections. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

It was once jihadists, now its white supremacists. For years, Islamist terrorism was seen as the major threat to Europe and the United States. But not anymore. Now our worries have shifted to Covid-19 and to white extremist violence.

Terrorism from white supremacists is very real and on the rise. According to FBI Director Christopher Wray, racially motivated violent extremism, specifically of the sort that advocates for the superiority of the white race, is a persistent, evolving threat. The FBI has officially raised the threat level assigned to these groups, putting them at the same rank as the Islamic State. Wray also revealed that while the FBI investigated 850 cases of white supremacist terrorism in the US last year, it now had 2,000 open cases. This terrorism is not just an American phenomenon. In recent years, its presence and violent actions have also increased in Europe and Oceania.

Of course, the fact that jihadists have stopped making headlines does not mean that the conditions that fueled their violence have diminished. Frustration and despair are still all too common among young Arabs. One indicator of the extent of young Arab frustration is that about half of this group has considered emigrating from their home country. In some Arab nations the number of young people wanting to leave is overwhelming  77% in Lebanon, 69% in Libya, and 56% in Jordan, for example.

This data comes from a telling opinion poll conducted by ASDAA-BCW, a public relations firm in Dubai. For 12 years, the company has carried out an annual survey of young people between the ages of 18 and 24 living in 17 countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The results of these opinion polls often clash with deep-rooted perceptions.

The backlash against corruption is one of the factors driving support among young people for the wave of anti-government street protests that have become frequent in countries such as Lebanon, Algeria, Sudan and Iraq

For 40% of those surveyed, religion is the main driver of identity  more than their family (19%) or their nationality (17%). But that religious identity does not translate into support for governments that also define themselves religiously. The young people surveyed want governments that are less corrupt and more efficient, capable of creating jobs, and improving the quality of education. Eighty-seven percent are concerned about unemployment and more than half do not believe that their current government is capable of solving the problem.

Forty-one percent of those surveyed said that corruption is widespread in their country, and 36% believe that there is government corruption. This backlash against corruption is one of the factors driving support among young people for the wave of anti-government street protests that have become frequent in countries such as Lebanon, Algeria, Sudan and Iraq, among others. As in other parts of the world where the streets have become an important scene of political protests, in the Arab world these have been fueled by social media. Five years ago, 25% of young people surveyed reported that social media was their main source of news. Now that percentage has rocketed to 79%.

The near-universal use of the internet by young people makes one of the polls findings especially surprising. When asked about the main determinant of their individual identity, only a tiny 5% said that their gender was the most defining factor. Since the sample of the interviewees was designed so that there was an equal number of women and men, the small weight the respondents gave to their gender identity is striking. However, this is consistent with another surprising result: 64% of the young women surveyed think that, in their country, women have the same rights as men and 11% believe that women enjoy more rights than men. Unfortunately, the survey doesnt offer an explanation for this unusual finding.

Finally, another interesting revelation from this survey is the huge appeal the United Arab Emirates has for the young. Thirty-four percent of respondents think the UAE has increased its influence in the region, second only to Saudi Arabia (39%). The Emirates are  for the ninth year running  the country where most young Arabs want to live: 46% declared it their favorite destination to emigrate to, more than the 33% who prefer the US. This is perhaps the most striking result: it shows that these young people dont want to live in the West, necessarily. They want to live in a country that works.

The frustrations and expectations of these young Arabs present formidable challenges to their respective governments. Even before the pandemic and its devastating economic consequences, these 200 million young people faced the highest unemployment rates in the world and governments that were intolerably corrupt and incapable of undertaking the necessary reforms. Now the situation is much worse.

As a consequence, in many Arab countries, young people will take to the streets to protest. In others they will take planes, boats, and cars to migrate to new countries, because they feel that they cannot change the useless and corrupt governments they are now stuck with.

We will have to see what the polls of young Arabs tell us next year.

Twitter @moisesnaim
Horrifying rape threats allegedly made by pupils at top schools have been exposed in a new campaign against sexual abuse.

Hundreds of abusive messages have been posted on an Instagram page set up by campaigner Zan Moon to 'tackle rape culture in education' and encourage schools to act.

When girls send Miss Moon pictures of their screens showing the online chats with boys, she anonymises the conversation before posting the images to the page, called ScreenGrab Them.

One example is allegedly between an Eton pupil and his girlfriend, in which she accuses him of punching and choking her.

He argues and says things need to be 'back to normal' by the time he sees her or 's*** will hit the fan', before appearing to say he would make the physical abuse 'fun'.

Hundreds of abusive messages have been posted on an Instagram page set up by campaigner Zan Moon (above) to 'tackle rape culture in education' and encourage schools to act

One post shows a boy, claimed to be a private school pupil, asking a girl for sex. When she says no, he replies: 'Even better no consent.'

Eton said in a statement that it 'always takes specific allegations extremely seriously, does all it can to support those directly affected, takes disciplinary action where appropriate and works with the relevant authorities'.

Miss Moon, 24, who attended the 39,000-a-year all-girls boarding school Benenden in Kent, said she was 'trying to force schools into action'.

She said: 'It's on the schools, surely, to bring up those boys to be loving, respectful young boys and there's visual evidence that their behaviour says otherwise.

'Sadly the most compelling and powerful testimonies in terms of exposing rape culture are those with photographic evidence because it's no longer 'he says, she says', it's this is what we're dealing with and here's a picture to prove it.'

Eton said in a statement that it 'always takes specific allegations extremely seriously, does all it can to support those directly affected, takes disciplinary action where appropriate and works with the relevant authorities'. Pictured: Eton College

When girls send Miss Moon pictures of their screens showing the online chats with boys, she anonymises the conversation before posting the images to the page, called ScreenGrab Them

In 2018, 11 students at Warwick University were suspended after a sickening group chat where they discussed raping women was uncovered.

The group chat - which for a time bore the title 'F*** women, disrespect them all' - included threats from one man about his female housemates that he would 'rape the whole flat to teach them a lesson'.

Another joked: 'Sometimes it's fun to just go wild and rape 100 girls'.

Some members of the group later had their suspensions reversed while others were fined as little as 100.
A man with 79 previous convictions has won a bronze Gaisce award, Naas District Court heard on April 7.

The Gaisce awards scheme recognises personal achievement among young people.

Daniel Maughan, 25, whose address was given as Bay 20, St Margarets Park, St Margarets, Ballymun, was prosecuted for an alleged theft offence at the Ralph Lauren store in the Kildare Village.

Sgt Jim Kelly said that two men entered the shop on July 16, 2018 and 220 worth of property was stolen.

He also said that some 20 of the mans previous convictions related to theft.

Barrister Aisling Murphy said the defendant is a very trusted prisoner and is due for release next February.

Read more County Kildare news

Ms Murphy said that it is very rare for someone to turn their life around to the extent that the defendant did.

Ms Murphy said the defendant is now free of drink and drugs and at the time of the offence he had a chaotic lifestyle.. She added that he could not read or write when he went to prison and he has now completed the Junior Cert.

He is taking steps to run his life around, added Ms Murphy.

She added that the defendant is detained at the low security Loughan House and this demonstrates that he is a very trusted prisoner.

Judge Desmond Zaidan imposed ten months in custody.
Kolkata: As per the election commission's announcement, the fourth phase of voting for the West Bengal Assembly elections 2021 will begin from Saturday (April 10). West Bengal is witnessing intense political fight between BJP, TMC and other parties ahead of the fourth phase of assembly elections, in which 44 constituencies will go for polling.

Campaigning is underway in full throttle for the fourth phase of West Bengal assembly elections. In this phase five districts of Hooghly, Howrah, South 24 Pargana, Coochbehar and Alipurduar will go for polling.

Thursday (April 8) marks the last day of campaigning for the fourth phase of voting and all the political parties are gearing up for putting in the final effort ahead of the voting. The citizens of West Bengal are embracing for numerous rallies and public meetings today.

Star campaigners and senior leaders of BJP, Trinamool Congress and Sanyukt Morcha are putting in the last effort to woo the voters in the state.

While BJP National President JP Nadda is scheduled to hold four roadshows today in the poll-bound state, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be addressing three public meetings today. On the other hand, TMC leaders are also going to hold massive roadshows and public rallies today.

Earlier, on Wednesday (April 7) Union home minister Amit Shah held four road shows in poll bound areas of Singur, Domjur, Behala Purvi and Howrah Madhya as a part of BJPs campaign in the poll-bound West Bengal.

Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee also addressed an election rally in Coochbehar Uttar assembly constituency. She alleged that BJP is making false promises to allure people of Bengal.

On the other hand, the Election Commission have issued an notice to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee dated April 3 over violation of election code of conduct while addressing a public rally for muslim voters.

Election Commission has asked Mamata Banerjee to respond within 48 hours or else an inquiry will be initiated.

Responding to this, TMC leader Mahua Moitra taking it to her Twitter wrote, Mamatadi issued notice by @ECISVEEP on @BJPs complaint. What about TMC complaints of: 1. Video evidence of BJP candidate distributing cash, 2. Cash coupons distributed to attend BJP mtng & vote. Gentlemen - at least keep up the farce of impartiality!

Mamatadi issued notice by @ECISVEEP on @BJPs complaint What about TMC complaints of

1. Video evidence of BJP candidate distributing cash

2. Cash coupons distributed to attend BJP mtng & vote Gentlemen - at least keep up the farce of impartiality!  Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 7, 2021

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A laboratory technician supervises the large-scale production and supply of the University of Oxfords AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Italian biologics manufacturing facility in Anagni, Italy, on Sept. 11, 2020. (Vincenzo Pinto/AFP via Getty Images)

European Officials Say AstraZeneca Vaccine Side Effects Should Include Unusual Blood Clotting

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), a regulatory body of the European Union, said that the vaccine producer AstraZeneca should make mention of rare blood clots as a possible side effect.

Emer Cooke, the executive director of the EMA, said in a media briefing on Wednesday that after an in-depth examination of the vaccine, they arrived at the conclusion that the reported cases of unusual blood clotting following vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine should be listed as possible side effects of the vaccine.

The EMA and UKs Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also said that despite the potential side effects, the benefits are greater than the risks.

The reported combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is very rare, and the overall benefits of the vaccine in preventing COVID-19 outweigh the risks of side effects, the EMA said in a statement.

COVID-19 is a very serious disease with high hospitalization and death rates and every day COVID is still causing thousands of deaths across the EU, Cooke said. This vaccine has proven to be highly effectiveit prevents severe disease and hospitalization, and it is saving lives.

The European Unions drug regulation agency on Wednesday said there is a possible link between the AstraZeneca CCP virus vaccine and very rare blood clots but recommended that vaccinations continue and stressed the benefits outweigh the risks.

EMA is reminding healthcare professionals and people receiving the vaccine to remain aware of the possibility of very rare cases of blood clots combined with low levels of blood platelets occurring within 2 weeks of vaccination, the agency said in a statement Wednesday.

The statement continued: So far, most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within 2 weeks of vaccination. Based on the currently available evidence, specific risk factors have not been confirmed.

The Epoch Times has contacted AstraZeneca for comment. The pharmaceutical giant and the World Health Organization (WHO) have previously stated that its studies have found no higher risk of clots due to the vaccine.

EMA officials reviewed several dozen cases that came mainly from Europe and the United Kingdom, where around 25 million people have received the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to EMAs statement.

Last month, more than a dozen European countriesincluding France, Germany, Italy, and Spainsuspended usage of the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of blood clots as well as several deaths in people who had received the shot. Most countries have resumed using the vaccine but some have suspended inoculations in older individuals.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
Another Neighbours star has come forward to make sexism claims about her time on the hit soap - after Aboriginal actress Shareena Clanton accused the show of racism.

Clanton, 30, alleged producers fostered a toxic workplace environment and claimed the show was a 'culturally unsafe space' in a bombshell Instagram post on Tuesday.

Among several complaints, Clanton accused a staff member of making crude remarks and claimed she heard the N-word used on set twice, prompting production company Fremantle to bring in an Indigenous consultancy firm to carry out a review.

Commenting on Clanton's explosive post, Saskia Hampele, who played Georgia Brooks from 2012 to 2015 and has made guest appearances since, claimed sexism was rife during her time on set.

'Whilst I never encountered racism on the show (but am in no way surprised that it existed) I certainly experienced and witnessed a lot of sexism and power structures that protected bullies and bigots instead of calling out and reprimanding abhorrent behaviour. I so deeply respect you for speaking up,' Hampele wrote.

Fremantle Media has launched an independent review of Neighbours after actress Shareena Clanton (pictured) accused the show of racism in a lengthy Instagram post

Commenting on Clanton's Instagram post, Saskia Hampele (pictured), who appeared on Neighbours from 2012 to 2015 said she 'witnessed a lot of sexism and power structures' during her time on the soap

She said she was 'deeply saddened' to hear of Clanton's experience during her six-week stint on Ramsay Street in a guest role, which is now under investigation.

'I'm so incredibly sorry that this was your experience,' Hampele wrote.

'How lucky they were to have you and it is deeply saddening that your bravery in speaking about your experience wasn't validated and used as a catalyst for change.'

In a statement, Fremantle's Asia Pacific CEO Chris Oliver-Taylor said 'all complaints are taken seriously and we are investigating all allegations fairly'.

'Fremantle is committed to providing an environment where employees and others in the workplace are treated fairly and with respect, and are free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and bullying,' Mr Oliver-Taylor said.

'We do not tolerate behaviour that does not align to our Anti-Discrimination, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Harassment and Bullying Policy and take all complaints very seriously, investigating all allegations fairly and thoroughly.'

Clanton (pictured) alleged on Instagram on Tuesday that producers fostered a toxic workplace environment and that the show was a 'culturally unsafe space'

Fremantle has asked Campfire X, creative leaders in Indigenous Cultural Protocols, to 'conduct an independent review of Neighbours and the production process'.

Clanton, who has also starred on Wentworth, vowed to never work on Neighbours again after claiming her stint on Ramsay Street was marred by 'multiple racist traumas' which have required ongoing counselling.

'I'm struggling to post anything positive about the months I endured on Neighbours after multiple racist traumas and navigating ongoing counselling from this highly problematic show,' she wrote on Instagram.

'It's been lonely, triggering and traumatising to work in such a culturally unsafe space.'

While she didn't name specific staff members, Clanton listed several 'racist' and problematic incidents she apparently witnessed during filming.

She claimed: 'A (staff member) thought it funny and appropriate to openly laugh at the word 'cum slut' by a cast member who loudly spoke about 'cum', 'cum', 'cum' in front of other cast and crew.

Among several complaints, Clanton (pictured) accused a staff member of making crude remarks and claimed she heard the N-word used on set twice

'Due to my insistence of engaging a Wurundjeri Elder to be included for ongoing cultural safety reasons like cultural protocols followed and debriefing, I was told "this is not a film production, Shareena" and that "we simply don't have the budget".

'The humble few hundred dollars a week Aunty and I proposed was in contrast to the thousands of dollars actors were receiving each pay. I paid Aunty directly out of my own income to make up for this lack of budget.'

She continued: 'A senior staff member openly laughed whilst using the term 'slave driver' in reference to him "working hard". My management at the time didn't help as they endorsed/encouraged this "office banter". I fired the agent.

'Overt and covert levels of racism were rife, often disguised as "jokes", like a white actress openly calling another actress of colour a "lil' monkey".'

'Twice I endured the N-word openly being used on-set and in the green room. I was even told to "go somewhere else" by staff when confronting the actor directly because I was making others "uncomfortable".

'A white actress openly laughed at the racist N-word to only lie about laughing about it when questioned by HR. She said that I "misconstrued" what she was 'laughing at' and that she was laughing at "something else". That is a blatant lie.

Aboriginal actor Meyne Wyatt (pictured) also took to Instagram to claim he 'experienced racism on set' when he was a regular on Neighbours from 2014 to 2016

'The retaliation for calling out this misconduct and racism often left me ostracised and further marginalised. What was meant to (be an) HR follow-up (to) discuss this led to them saying they were unsure of "what else they could do".'

Abriginal actor Meyne Wyatt, who was a regular on Neighbours from 2014 to 2016, also took to Instagram to claim he 'experienced racism on set'.

'It involved the c-word and I called that sh*t out and it didn't happen around me again,' Wyatt claimed.

'I did walk in on this incident in particular, so I have no doubt things were being said behind my back. I have too much experience to believe otherwise. And it is disappointing, but not at all surprising, to hear that five years later racism continues to be present in that workplace. But what can you say, we are in Australia.'

Clanton's guest appearance on Neighbours is set to air next week.

A Freemantle spokesperson told TV Blackbox: 'Neighbours strives to be a platform for diversity and inclusion on-screen and off-screen.

'Our quest is always to continue to grow and develop in this area and we acknowledge that this is an evolving process.

'Shareena's involvement in the creative process and on set was invaluable and hugely educational and will benefit the series moving forward.

'There have been significant and lengthy discussions with Shareena during her time on Neighbours and we will continue to work with all cast and crew to ensure Neighbours continues to be a fully inclusive environment.'
Minder, Barbara

Barbara Minder, 77, of Paducah, Kentucky passed away at 1:44 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at her residence. She was born in Ledbetter, Kentucky on November 10, 1943. Barbara was retired from Finkles Fair Store and Lourdes Hospital Cafeteria. She was a member of the Holy House of Prayer. Barbara judged and showed Canaries including traveling to London, England and Canada. She enjoyed raising Canaries, cleaning houses, cooking, (especially coconut pies), and raising flowers.

Barbara is survived by her son, Carey Ward of Paducah, Kentucky; step-sons, Paul Minder and Tim Minder both of Houston, Texas; brother, James Joiner of Florida; sister-in-law, Cindy Joiner of Ledbetter, Kentucky; eight grandchildren including, Daniel Jake Ward and Cary Wayne Ward both of paducah, Kentucky; four great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth D. Minder; step-son, David Minder; brother. Rev. O.D. Joiner. Her parents were Robert Joiner and Mary Louise Faughn Joiner.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 11, 2021 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with Bro. Keith Taylor officiating. Burial will follow at Palestine Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon Sunday at the funeral home.

We appreciate your help in maintaining state mandated Covid restrictions. This includes wearing a mask and maintaining the minimum six feet of distancing within our facility at all times.

During this difficult time of Covid, you may show your support by joining the Hugs from Home program where your message will be attached to a balloon in the chapel to remind the family of your love and support. Please go to www.milnerandorr.com to send a hug.

You may leave a message of sympathy and light a candle at www.milnerandorr.com.
Bengaluru, April 8 : Amid surging Covid cases, 1-lakh tests would be conducted daily in this tech city from Friday to check the virus spread, said Karnataka Health Minister K. Sudhakar on Thursday.

"As the epicentre of the pandemic, Bengaluru accounts for about 60 per cent of the Covid cases in the southern state. The city civic body has been directed to conduct 1 lakh tests across Bengaluru per day and identify at least 20 primary and secondary contact for each case to reduce the caseload," Sudhakar told reporters here.

According to the state health bulletin, out of 1,08,757 tests conducted during the day across the state, 8,779 were through rapid antigen detection and 99,978 through RT-PCR method.

"Since January 1, 81,27,534 tests were conducted across the state. From March to December 2020, 1,41,96,065 people were tested. Cumulatively 2,23,23,599 tests were held since mid-March 2020 when the pandemic broke in the state," said the bulletin.

Of the 6,570 new cases registered across the state on Thursday, 4,422 were from Bengaluru, taking the city's Covid-19 tally to 4,64,438, including 38,946 active cases.

Urging citizens to cooperate with healthcare warriors when they visit them for testing, Sudhakar said the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials would conduct door-to-door survey to identify positive cases to contain the virus spread in the city.

"The survey will be conducted in view of the surging cases in the city. A team will be formed in each of the 8,500 booths across the city for the survey. The mandate is to test, spread awareness on isolation guidelines, help the infected with treatment and stamping," said Sudhakar.

Ensuring oxygen for infected patients, the minister said one ambulance would be stationed in every ward of the 198 civic wards across the city, as the BBMP has 250 ambulances to rush Covid patients to hospitals in the city.

"All private hospitals across the city have been directed to reserve 50 per cent of their beds for Covid patients. Guidelines will be issued for referring patients from state-run hospitals to private hospitals for admission and treatment," said Sudhakar, a medical doctor by profession.

The state home department has been directed to provide 2,000 home guards to enforce Covid appropriate behaviour across the city and fine violators.

"Wearing a face mask, maintaining physical distance and sanitising hands are mandatory for every citizen to check the virus spread," asserted the minister.

Though 1,000 beds are available in city hospitals for treating Covid patients, Sudhakar said an additional 4,000 beds would be arranged to admit more if cases rise in the coming days due to the second wave of the pandemic.

"Information on availability of beds in government and private hospitals across the city will be on the BBMP health web portal to ensure transparency in allotting them to Covid patients," added Sudhakar.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New York, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Asia Pacific Electric 3-Wheeler Market by End-use, Range, Battery type, Battery Capacity, Motor Power and Country - Forecast to 2026" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06058048/?utm_source=GNW

Electric three-wheelers are more efficient and ecofriendly than conventional ICE three-wheelers.



With the increasing stringency of government mandates, the focus of three-wheeler manufacturers has shifted to efficiency, emission-free propulsion, innovative technologies, and revised environmental standards. The increasing adoption of electric three-wheelers and improved charging infrastructure (in terms of network and capacity) in countries will change the market scenario in the coming years.



The recent developments in the electric three-wheeler market have introduced batteries with improved specifications that are said to be at the heart of any electric three-wheeler.These advancements in batteries are expected to increase the performance and range of electric vehicles.



The range is one of the most important reasons that users are still a bit hesitant to prefer electric three-wheelers over ICE three-wheelers.However, government bodies are working with manufacturers to provide the necessary charging infrastructure network.



Because of all these benefits, electric three-wheelers are the future of the automotive industry.

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the electric three-wheeler market.Both the production and sales of new electric three-wheeler came to a halt as the whole ecosystem got disrupted.



OEMs had to wait until lockdowns were lifted to resume production, which affected their business.Post the pandemic, the demand for new electric three-wheeler is expected to show an increase as economies are recovering steadily.



Nevertheless, another wave of COVID-19 due to newer strains may hamper the recovery in some countries.Subsequently, electric three-wheeler manufacturers would need to adjust the production volume based on the COVID-19 scenario across different countries.



In addition, component manufacturing too was suspended, and small Tier II and Tier III manufacturers are facing face liquidity issues. Thus, production suspension during the outbreak and lower demand post the pandemic might have an unprecedented impact on electric three-wheeler providers.



GROWING ADOPTION OF EECTRIC THREE-WHEELER BY LOGISTICS COMPANIES TO DRIVE THE MARKET

Various retail, logistics, and courier companies have already started adopting electric three-wheelers on a small scale.With advancements in technology and the development of more vehicles, the adoption rate of electric three-wheeler load carriers will grow exponentially.



For instance, in February 2021, Flipkart announced that it is planning to deploy 25,000 electric vehicles by 2030 in line with its aim to transition its entire logistics fleet across cities to green energy vehicles.Flipkarts EV fleet will comprise two-, three-, and four-wheeler vehicles designed and assembled in India.



The company has partnered with prominent electric three-wheeler manufacturers like Mahindra Electric and Piaggio to make customized vehicles. Also, in February 2021, Amazon India and Mahindra Electric announced a partnership under which the ecommerce company deployed the latters electric three-wheeler in its delivery network as part of a commitment toward strengthening electric mobility in the country.

Although electric three-wheelers have been predominantly successful in short-distance passenger applications so far, these are now being seen as promising transportation modes for last-mile load delivery as well.Several startups are entering the market to provide customized electric three-wheeler load carrier solutions.



This is further driving the growth of the segment.In August 2019, Euler Motors, a Delhi-based automotive tech startup, launched an electric three-wheeler load carrier, targeting fleet operators working for ecommerce companies.



The company has already set out a fleet of some 140 prototype electric three-wheeler delivery vehicles that are on trial runs for over a year in the operations of companies like BigBasket, Blue Dart, Ecom Express, and Udaan.

The supply chain industry is constantly transforming by adopting green technology for transportation.An increased need for efficiency, differentiated routes to market, access to new geographies, and acceptance of digital supply chain solutions are transforming the supply chain.



With transformations in the supply chain, the demand for specialized and customized electric three-wheelers is growing.For instance, in 2021, Omega Seiki Mobility launched an electric three-wheeler with a refrigerated carriage purposely designed for pharmaceuticals and food delivery.



The company also aims to assist in the COVID-19 vaccine drive by providing vehicles for last-mile delivery.Transportation of refrigerated goods will have significant growth in coming years, especially in Asia Pacific.



Goods such as fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, confectionery, and pharmaceuticals require delicate transportation under certain controlled temperatures. This is estimated to drive demand for electric three-wheeler refrigerated load carriers over the estimated period



Last-mile delivery to boost the market of Electric three-wheeler in India

The market for electric three-wheelers in India is the largest in Asia Pacific and is expected to witness high growth in the long term.India is amongst the top consumers of electric three-wheelers.



The low emission vehicle industry in India is developing rapidly with the support of the government and manufacturers such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Atul Auto, Piaggio, and Lohia Auto.India is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gases and has pledged to reduce emissions from petrol and diesel cars during the next few decades.



This initiative by the Indian government is expected to lead to significant demand for electric three-wheelers in the country.The government of India has announced various plans to support the development of electric three-wheeler infrastructure.



For instance, the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and EV (FAME) II Scheme, effective from April 2019, has an outlay of USD 1.4 billion to be used for upfront incentives on the purchase of EVs (USD 1.19 billion) and for supporting the deployment of charging infrastructure (USD 1.9 million). This phase aims to generate demand by supporting 0.5 million electric three-wheelers.

Government policies have encouraged private logistics companies to adopt electric three-wheelers.The motivation for adoption is mostly to reduce carbon footprint.



The shift to electric three-wheelers is also in line with the Government of Indias commitment to reduce carbon footprint, which encourages fuel-based three-wheelers to be replaced with electrically powered vehicles. According to industry experts, the addition of electric vehicles will help cut down last-mile delivery costs by up to 50% and carbon footprint by more than 40%.

Large logistics spaces, mainly for lease, are growing rapidly in India.The drivers of growth for logistics, supply chain, and warehousing include the demand from third-party logistics operators and ecommerce companies.



This is fuelling the demand for electric three-wheelers in intracity transportation.



Favourable government policies in Bangladesh to drive the market

Electric three-wheelers are popularly known as easy-bikes and Tom-Toms in some districts of Bangladesh.They have been in use in the country since 2004 and become one of the most widely used means of transportation for the masses in both urban and rural areas.



The country is significantly focused on the adoption of electric vehicles.The government is rolling out policies to increase the penetration of electric vehicles, which, in turn, will drive the electric three-wheeler market.



In 2020, the government drafted an industrial policy to try and attract electric vehicle production lines and even solar-powered electric-vehicles to the country.

Electric three-wheelers are increasingly replacing ICE three-wheelers in Bangladesh.Conventional three-wheeler is widely used in the country for short distance commuting.



Comfort, lower travel cost than conventional three-wheelers, and no harmful effects on the environment are the prominent drivers of electric three-wheeler adoption in the country.The adoption of electric three-wheelers is expected to increase the physical and social mobility of ordinary people.



Merits of electric three-wheelers as an easy and comfortable means of transportation and suitable government policies are propelling the growth of the market in the country.Automobile Industry Development Policy-2020 focuses on electric vehicles (EVs).



The Bangladeshi government is preparing an auto industry policy that will call for at least 15% of registered vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2030.

The study contains insights from various industry experts, ranging from component suppliers to tier 1 companies and OEMs. The break-up of the primaries is as follows:

 By Company Type: Tier 1 - 57%, Tier 2  29%, Others - 14%

 By Designation: C level - 54%, D level - 32%, Others - 14%

 By Region: India- 57%, Nepal - 14%, Bangladesh - 12%, Sri Lanka -10%, Others-7%

Major players profiled in the report are Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (India), Atul Auto Ltd. (India), Piaggio Group (Italy), Lohia Auto Industries (India), and Kinetic Engineering Limited (India).



Research Coverage

The report segments the Asia Pacific electric three-wheeler market and forecasts its size, by volume, on the basis of country (Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore), by end-use (passenger carrier & Load carrier), range (upto 50 miles & above 50 miles), battery type (lead acid & lithium ion), battery capacity (below 3kWh, 3kWh-6kWh, above 6kWh), motor power (below 1,000 W, 1,000-1,500 W & above 1,500 W). It also covers the competitive landscape and company profiles of the major players in the Asia Pacific electric three-wheeler market ecosystem.



Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

 The report will help market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of revenue and volume numbers for the Asia Pacific electric three-wheeler market and its sub segments.

 This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to better position their businesses and plan suitable go-to-market strategies.

 The report will also help the market players understand the impact of COVID-19 on electric three-wheeler market.

 The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provides them information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06058048/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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The launch of a biography of the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, was attended by many prominent Nigerians including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ex-Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos, Sultan of Sokoto Saad Abubakar and the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi.

The book, Aisha Buhari: Being Different, was written by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs, Hajo Sani.

The book was launched at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.

See photos from the event, as shared by the presidency, below.
AN accountancy firm in Henley has been sold.

Chartered accountants Kench & Co, in Station Road, has been acquired by Ridgefield Consulting, an independent firm based in Oxford.

The acquisition happens as Eric Kench, managing director of the business, retires after almost 40 years.

Mr Kench, who lives in Caversham with his wife Kathy, said: Its a good move for the future of the firm.

It will enable Kench & Co to continue to provide the same services and keep everyone here in Henley as a team.

Im retiring, so if Ridgefield hadnt taken over what would be happening to the staff and to the clients? This is the best move to ensure everything continues as it is.

Born and raised in the town, Mr Kench attended Henley Grammar School and Reading College, where he obtained a BTec in business studies. He set up the firm in May 1982 after managing another practice. He had hoped to become a partner of that company but when this did not happen, he decided to work for himself.

Mr Kenchs father introduced him to Colin Allum, an accountant whose practice, Scott Watson, was in Station Road.

He rented some space in his office and was able to do some work for him while at the same time begin to build his own business. Eventually, the two businesses merged.

Mr Kench said: The firm has never been about me, it just happens to have my name on the door. Its really about our people and I am happy that Im leaving it in good hands.

He said he was looking forward to spending more time in retirement travelling. One of this three sons lives in Brisbane.

Mr Kench also has a passion for flying and has a share in a Piper Arrow, which he flies from White Waltham airfield.

While at school he trained in the Air Training Corps and his ambition was to become an RAF pilot but he had to give it up because of a slight problem with his eyesight.

Mr Kench said: As soon as we are allowed, Ill be travelling to the south of France, where we have a home, and to Australia to see my son.

I also like to fly so it will be good to have more time to do that as I retire.

Simon Thomas, managing director of Ridgefield Consulting, said: We always keep an eye out for firms which share our values and the strong reputation that Eric Kench built in Henley made his business an obvious fit for us.

Its even better that we can expand the area we cover, so that we can serve more clients with our unique brand of partnership and expertise.
Panaji, April 8 : Goa's tourist taxi operators on Thursday went on a daylong strike demanding the withdrawal of the services of app-based taxis operating in the state.

Spokesperson for Goa's taxi unions Bappa Korgaonkar said the strike had been called to demand withdrawal of the Tourism Ministry-backed GoaMiles app-based aggregator cab service and ApnaBhada aggregator cab service.

"We had staged peaceful dharnas in the past to urge the government to withdraw these services. But that has not worked, so we are forced to go on strike today (Thursday)," Korgaonkar said.

Hundreds of taxi operators gathered near the state capital's city square at Azad maidan and chanted slogans against the BJP-led coalition government.

The strike also comes days after the state Transport Ministry said that all taxi operators would have to outfit their public carriers with fare meters.

A large section of Goa's 30,000 odd tourist taxis and the drivers who man them, have often been accused of overcharging, intimidating and operating in an unregulated environment.

Following a slew of complaints, the state Tourism Ministry in 2018 started an outsourced private app-based taxi service GoaMiles, which has been opposed by local taxi unions.

Earlier this week, another private app-based taxi service ApnaBhada was also launched in the state.

Ola taxi services were introduced in Goa in 2014, but were soon stopped by the state transport department following protests by local taxi operators.
A row has erupted between Turkey and the EU, with each side blaming the other for Tuesday's humiliating 'Sofagate' moment that saw Ursula von der Leyen left without a chair at a meeting to discuss women's right.

As Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Council chief Charles Michel took the two available chairs, von der Leyen - the President of the European Commission - was left standing awkwardly, before taking a seat on a sofa.

Turkey strongly rejected accusations that it snubbed von der Leyen because of her gender, while European Council chief Charles Michel blamed Turkey - despite the fact he did not appear to offer his colleague his seat either.

Ursula von der Leyen was left irritated after being sidelined during talks between the EU and Turkey in Ankara on Tuesday after her two male counterparts took the only available seats

The incident took place in Ankara on Tuesday as Von der Leyen met with Erdogan, alongside her European colleague Michel.

Video showed how Von der Leyen was left standing to one side and uttered an audible 'ahem' as Michel and Erdogan took the only two available seats - with neither offering her their chair even after she protested.

She was instead left to perch on a nearby sofa, positioned a distance from the two men, as they held the lengthy talks on Turkey's relations with the EU, including Erdogan's decision to withdraw from a treaty protecting women's rights.

The images drew intense criticism on social media and accusations of gender discrimination with a 'sofagate' hashtag trending. It was quickly pointed out that in previous meetings in Turkey when both EU representatives were male, both were offered seats.

Anakara insisted that the EU's own protocol requests were applied during the meeting at the Turkish presidential palace.

But Mr Michel said late on Wednesday that the embarrassment was the result of the 'strict interpretation' by Turkish services of protocol rules, and he regretted 'the differentiated, even diminished, treatment of the president of the European Commission'.

He said photographs of the meeting gave the impression that he was 'indifferent' to the situation.

'Nothing could be further from the truth, or from my deeply held feelings  or indeed from the principles of respect which I hold so dear,' he said. 'At the time, while realising the regrettable nature of the situation, we decided not to make matters worse by creating a scene.'

Mr Michel stayed seated in the chair next to Mr Edogan for the full two-and-a-half hour meeting, while von der Leyen sat on the sofa.

Von der Leyen's spokesman said afterwards that Turkey had breached protocol by failing to offer her a chair, as it has done to other male commission presidents in the past, but that she decided to 'prioritize substance over protocol' by staying.

But, the spokesman added, 'let me stress that the president expects that the institution that she represents to be treated with the required protocol, and she has therefore asked her team to take all appropriate contacts in order to ensure that such an incident does not occur in the future.'

Diplomatic protocol dictates that the EU commission president and council president, holding equal rank, should be seated in an equal manner.

Von der Leyen, who could be heard uttering an irritated 'ahem' as the men sat down, was left to perch on a nearby sofa during two and a half hours of diplomatic talks

It was pointed out that in previous meetings in Turkey when both EU representatives were male, both were offered seats. Pictured: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, sits together as he holds a meeting with then EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, right and then EU Council President Donald Tusk, left, Monday, November 16, 2015 (file photo)

None of the leaders mentioned the incident in press conferences held after the summit, but Von der Leyen's spokesman opened up about it today after footage of the moment went viral on social media.

'The important thing is that the president should have been seated exactly in the same manner as the president of the European council and the Turkish president,' EU commission chief spokesman Eric Mamer said, adding that Von der Leyen was surprised by the arrangements.

Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu later said Turkey had come under 'extremely unfair' criticism over the visit and alleged slight shown to Ms von der Leyen.

'Turkey is a deep-rooted state and this is not the first time that it has hosted a visitor,' Mr Cavusoglu said.

'The protocol applied during its (international) meetings is in line with international protocol rules as well as the world-renowned Turkish hospitality traditions.'

Mr Cavusoglu insisted that Turkish and EU officials in charge of protocol had held meetings prior to the visit and that the arrangement was in line with EU requests.

'The protocol that was applied during the narrow-scope meeting that was held at our president's office met the requests of the EU side.

'In other words, such a seating arrangement was made in line with the suggestions of the EU side. Period,' he said.

The Turkish minister added that he felt obliged to lay the blame on the EU publicly following accusations against Turkey from even 'the highest levels of the EU'.

EU Commission chief spokesman Eric Mamer said on Wednesday that Ms von der Leyen was surprised by the arrangement and that she should have been seated together with Mr Michel and Mr Erdogan.

'She decided to proceed nevertheless, prioritising substance over protocol, but nevertheless let me stress that the president expects the institution that she represents to be treated with the required protocol,' Mr Mamer said, adding that Ms von der Leyen had asked her team to make contacts ensure that the incident is not repeated in the future.

Mr Mamer also said Ms von der Leyen's protocol team did not travel to Turkey with her due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Von der Leyen was in Turkey alongside EU council president Charles Michel (left) and Turkish president Erdogan (centre) to discuss relations with the EU - including on women's rights

Sophie in 't Veld, a European lawmaker, pointed out that Turkey has previously given chairs to both EU leaders during meetings where all three were male

The diplomatic incident was abundantly commented on social media.

European lawmaker Sophie in t Veld posted pictures of previous meetings between Michels and Von der Leyens predecessors with Erdogan, with the trio of men sitting in chairs next to each other.

'And no, it wasnt a coincidence, it was deliberate,' in 't Veld wrote on Twitter, questioning why Michel remained 'silent.'

Last month, Erdogan pulled Turkey out of a key European convention aimed at combatting violence against women, triggering criticism from EU officials.

The move was a blow to Turkeys womens rights movement, which says domestic violence and murders of women are on the rise.

Von der Leyen called for Erdogan to reverse his decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention.

'Human rights issues are non-negotiable. We were very clear about that. We urge Turkey to reverse its decision because it is the first international binding instrument to combat violence against women and children,' she said.

Asked whether the commission regarded the incident as specifically gender-related, Mamer said Von der Leyen traveled to Ankara as the president of an EU institution.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives for a joint news conference after talks with Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Ankara

'Being a man or a woman does not change anything to the fact that she should have been seated according to the very same protocol arrangements as the two other participants,' Mamer said.

'She seized the opportunity to specifically tackle the Istanbul convention and women's rights. I believe that the message sent was clear.'

Meanwhile Mr Michel used a post-meeting press conference to call on Turkey to resolve disputes with Greece and Cyprus over gas rights in the Mediterranean.

A row between Turkey and EU members Greece and Cyprus over offshore jurisdiction has strained ties, reaching a peak last summer when Turkish and Greek navy frigates escorted vessels exploring for hydrocarbons in disputed waters.

The European Union backs Athens, while Ankara has accused the bloc of bias and of not honouring its pledges under a 2016 migrant deal.

The visit by Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen follows an EU summit last month at which the bloc said work could begin on deeper trade ties and on providing more money for refugees in Turkey.

Despite concerns over what some European leaders call recent Turkish backsliding on human rights, the EU has applauded Ankara's recent withdrawal of vessels operating in disputed waters and restarting talks with Greece.

Neither Von der Leyen nor Michel mentioned the issue at a press conference afterwards, but a spokesman said today that Turkey had breached diplomatic protocol

'In Ankara, ready with (von der Leyen) to start discussion with (Erdogan) on the future of EU-Turkey relations,' Michel said on Twitter.

'Sustained de-escalation is needed to build a more constructive agenda.'

The EU last month opened the door to begin updating a Customs Union as demanded by Ankara.

This would bring EU candidate Turkey into the internal market of the world's largest trading bloc and allow unhindered flow of goods and services.

Erdogan has downplayed EU membership in recent years and few analysts see it as imminent.

The EU chiefs, who last held in-person talks with Erdogan a year ago, were expected to present Ankara with three options if the maritime de-escalation continues, including improving economic ties, a formula to support the more than 4 million refugees in Turkey, and ways to increase contacts.

'We are no longer in an emergency situation so this is more about working for a longer-term perspective,' an EU official said.

At the summit last month, the EU also warned Ankara of sanctions if it restarts energy exploration in disputed waters and voiced concern over Turkey's human rights record.

Michel and Von der Leyen are expected in Ankara to stress that the EU will not approve closer ties without fundamental rights being honoured.

Both the EU and the United States have criticised a move by Turkey to abruptly withdraw from a convention protecting women from violence, as well as a legal case to shut down the third biggest party, the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party.
Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Amazon would be among 100 firms taxed locally with a 21% minimum

A global tax on technology companies such as Google and Facebook has seemingly moved nearer after multinationals and countries welcomed new proposals from US President Joe Biden.

Biden has put forward a plan for a digital tax that would see Americas big tech companies paying more local tax in return for a lower corporation tax rate.

The move is designed to clear the logjam that has seen talks started in 2019 and led by the OECD stall and individual countries such as the UK, France and Spain introduce their own version of a digital sales tax.

The US president is concerned that the developments would see US tech giants taxed twice and has threatened retaliatory measures against goods from countries where a digital tax is imposed.

According to a leaked document in the Financial Times, 100 of the worlds biggest multinationals, including the tech giants like Google ( ), Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Amazon, would be liable for regional tax bills.

Pascal Saint-Amans, the head of tax administration at the OECD, welcomed the US proposals. This reboots the negotiations and is very positive, he told the FT.

It is a serious proposal with a chance to succeed in both the [international negotiations] and US Congress. Peace is more important than anything else and this would stabilise the [international corporate tax] system in the post-coronavirus environment.

According to the US plans, the minimum tax rate to be 21%, which has already led to criticism from low tax rate jurisdictions such as Ireland, where corporations are taxed at 12.5%, a rate that has been hugely successful in attracting businesses to locate there.

The IMF also welcomed the minimum tax suggestion as a way to halt the race to the bottom for corporation tax.

Britain's digital services tax is charged on large businesses that provide a social media service, search engine or online marketplace to UK-based users.

Currently levied at 2%, it raises 400mln a year and a replacement would be expected to generate a similar amount said the report.
A health worker takes the body temperature of incoming passengers at a railway terminus following restrictions imposed by the state government amidst rising Covid-19 coronavirus cases Mumbai on April 7, 2021. (Indranil Mukherjee / AFP)

New Delhi: India registered a record single-day spike of 1,26,789 new COVID-19 cases, pushing its infection tally to 1,29,28,574, while the number of active cases too went upwards to breach the nine lakh-mark again, Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday showed.

The death toll due to the disease in the country increased to 1,66,862, with 685 new fatalities being reported in a day, according to the data updated at 8 am.

Registering a steady increase for the 29th day in row, the count of active cases has gone up to 9,10,319, which is 7.04 per cent of the total infections, while the country's recovery rate has dropped to 91.67 per cent, it stated.

The active COVID-19 caseload in the country was recorded at its lowest of 1,35,926 on February 12, comprising 1.25 per cent of the total infections.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,18,51,393, while the case fatality rate has dropped to 1.29 per cent, the data stated.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 last year, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

It went past 60 lakh on September 28 last year, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and the one-crore mark on December 19.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 25,26,77,379 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in the country so far, including 12,37,781 on Wednesday.

The 685 new fatalities include 322 from Maharashtra, 62 from Punjab, 53 from Chhattisgarh, 40 from Uttar Pradesh, 35 from Karnataka, 22 from Gujarat, 20 from Delhi, 17 from Tamil Nadu, 16 from Kerala, 13 from Madhya Pradesh, 12 from Rajasthan and 11 each from Andhra Pradesh and Haryana.

A total of 1,66,862 deaths due to the disease have been reported so far in the country. This includes 56,652 fatalities from Maharashtra, 12,821 from Tamil Nadu, 12,731 from Karnataka, 11,133 from Delhi, 10,363 from West Bengal, 8,964 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,278 from Punjab and 7,262 from Andhra Pradesh.

The Union Health Ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.
Chad's President Seeks a Sixth Term in a Region for Old Men

President Idriss Deby looks set to be elected for yet another term in Chad following the presidential elections held on April 11, 2021. In power since 1990, this will be the 68-year-old incumbent's sixth term. When he was nominated to be the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement's flagbearer this February, the announcement sparked widespread demonstrations. In the capital N'Djamena and other major cities, protesters took to the streets chanting "no to a sixth term!" and "Leave, Deby!". The government responded with force, arresting hundreds of protesters. They charged several with assault and disturbing the peace. In anticipation of more street action, authorities also imposed a blanket ban on protests and on Internet restrictions.

This determination to cling to power, along with the brutal treatment of opponents, is consistent with the broader picture in Central Africa. Throughout this region, politics has been militarised and electoral periods are characterised by violence and instability. Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang and Cameroon's Paul Biya are two of the world's longest serving presidents, having been in office for 42 and 39 years respectively. The Republic of Congo's Denis Sassou Nguesso is referred to by some as an "Emperor", having ruled for 36 years over two periods. Gabon's Ali Bongo has been president for a comparatively brief 12 years but was preceded by his father who ruled for 42 years before that, writes David Kode for African Arguments. The Atlantic Council's Cameron Hudson says Paris and Washington must decide whether to continue support for Deby in the face of democratic aspirations expressed by citizens in Chad.
Agthia Group, a leading regional food and beverages company, has announced that it has won approval from shareholders to distribute 16.5 per cent of cash dividends, which is equivalent to AED0.165 per share for a total of AED118.8 million ($32.3 million).

The approval came during the company's annual general meeting held virtually today (April 8) under the chairmanship of Khalifa Sultan Al Suwaidi.

Agthia had recently reported that the groups net revenue surged to AED2.06 billion in 2020, which is equivalent to 1.1 percent y-o-y growth compared to the same period last year, while the net profit stood at AED 34.5 million.

According to the food retailer, the consumer business  water, food and beverage  contributed 55 per cent of the groups top-line, while the remaining 45 per cent came from the agri-business  flour and animal feed.

The agri-business registered a 4.9 per cent y-o-y growth, mainly driven by the outperformance of the flour segment, which registered a top line growth of 11 percent.

In the water & beverage category, the 5-gallon business registered a growth at 7.8 percent due to higher demand from homes, while all of Agthias water portfolio  Al Ain Water, Al Bayan and Alpin  maintained their market leadership at respective 27 and 24 percent volume and value shares.

The food segment too recorded a significant y-o-y growth of 32 percent, made possible by the proactive response to the increased at-home consumption and growing e-commerce orders.

On the results, Al Suwaidi said: "Agthias progress over the past year is a positive indicator of the groups resilience and its ability to maintain shareholder confidence despite challenging conditions. As we look towards the future, we will continue our proactive efforts to address consumer demands and unlock new opportunities for growth that will further expand and cement Agthias leadership in the region."

CEO Alan Smith said: "Over the past year, Agthia has rapidly adapted our business to respond to the changing consumer habits and demands, ensuring we are capable of combating the impact of the pandemic in all the countries we operate in."

"We have strengthened the financial resilience of the Group and are well positioned to look to the future. We will continue to build on this momentum and deliver superior shareholder value through prioritising consumer trust and our commitment to sustainable revenue growth," he noted.

A prominent player in the F&B sector, Agthia had last year announced a major shake-up in the organisation replacing its CEO and executive team besides constituting a new board.

Key achievements of the group in 2020 included the acquisitions of Al Foah, the worlds largest dates processing and packaging brand, and Al Faysal Bakery & Sweets, one of Kuwaits leading industrial bakeries, along with the UAE-distribution partnership agreement with VOSS of Norway AS.

On the sustainability front, Agthia launched the regions first plant-based packaging for the Al Ain bottled water while signing an MoU with Veolia to launch a PET water bottles collection initiative in the UAE, it added.
Addis Abeba  Communication affairs bureau of Amaro Wereda, one of the Weredas in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Regional State (SNNPRS), said sustained attacks since last week by armed groups left at least 12 civilians killed, eight injured and more than 11, 000, mainly the local Koore community, internally displaced.

The Bureau blamed the the recurrent violence, deaths and displacement of the civilians on a joint attack mounted by armed groups who are attempting to change the defunct Segen Area People's Zone "into Gumayde Special Wereda" and "Guji armed groups illegally operating inside the Nech Sar National Park."

Amaro Wereda was one of the Weredas along with Konso Special Wereda, Ale, Burji, and Derashe Weredas in SNNPRS which were regrouped to establish the Segen Area People's Zone in 2011. The decision has led to multiple protests including the Konso protests.

The demand by Konso to secede from Segen Area People's Zone and become a Zone on its own, which began in 2014, was accepted and approved by then SNNPRS Council in 2018. The decision also saw the remaining four Woredas: Amaro, Derashe, Ale and Burji to become separate woredas on their own, leading to the defunct Segen Area People's Zone and the Segen City Administration, which had 17 Kebeles.

"The restructuring caused disappointments in those who opposed the "dismantling of the Gumayde Woreda" and a "Gumayde Peoples Special Woreda Return Committee" emerged shortly after. The people who consider themselves "Gumayde Peoples" and who live dispersed across the former 17 Kebeles, oppose the separation or organization along ethnic based boundaries and argue that the "Gumayde Peoples Special Woreda Structure" allowed easy access to social and public services, that the people share a common psycho-social makeup and that they would have been capable of choosing one official/administrative language. They feel that rather than dismantling the Segen City Administration it should be given a Special Woreda status," according to a recent report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

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There has been intermittent violence elsewhere, most notably the recent similar violence in Konso, which are also attributed largely to armed groups who opposed the decision of splitting the Konso zone.

The Amaro Wereda communication bureau further said that civilians living in Bunit, Alfacho and Abulo Kebeles (small districts) of Amaro Wereda were the primary targets of the joint armed groups attacks. Survivors who spoke to DW Amharic said their plight is compounded by the fact that the area is experiencing rainfall and the displaced are in hiding in bushes and forests. Officials of the Wereda said discussions with SNNP and Oromia regions administrations were ongoing, but more needs to be done to dispel the attackers from inflciting more harm on civilians.

According to EHRC, although, for many years, the area has been prone to border squirmishes, the decision to disassemble the Segen City Administration has made the conflicts more complex and drawn out by creating a divide between those who support and those who oppose the move.

"Since the former Segen City Administration is an area that borders the Woredas of Konso, Derashe, Burji and Amaro, any conflict that begins in the area spreads to all other ones and disturbs the peace and security of all the people in the surroundings." AS
Vaccination with CoronaVac in Ukraine will begin after the completion of laboratory testing of the vaccine on April 10, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has said.

According to all our regulatory documents, the vaccine must be tested by our laboratories. Laboratory testing has a specific time frame. It will end after April 10, and then this vaccine will immediately be used for vaccination, Stepanov said.

Laboratory testing of the vaccine is carried out by the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control and the State Expert Center of the Ministry of Health. After that, the drug will be transferred for vaccination against COVID-19.

CoronaVac is a traditional inactivated vaccine based on a 'killed' virus. It is supplied in single-dose syringes ready for injection.

According to the Health Ministry, experts from Bogomolets National Medical University reported that the Chinese vaccine CoronaVac had 83% efficacy.

As reported, the first batch of CoronaVac vaccine produced by the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech arrived in Ukraine on March 25. So far, Ukraine has received 215,000 doses out of the ordered 1.915 million doses of the vaccine.

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Sexual abuse among pupils could be 'happening outside of school' rather than being caused by a culture problem within institutions, Ofsted's chief inspector has said.

Amanda Spielman said testimonials posted anonymously by students on the Everyone's Invited website have shown a 'crossover very often between things happening outside of school bleeding into children's lives within school'.

She says the widespread issues cannot solely be put down to internal culture problems within individual institutions after many were accused of harbouring a 'rape culture'.

It comes after The Department for Education (DfE) ordered the watchdog to launch a probe following concerns about widespread sexual abuse after more than 10,000 reports were posted on the Everyone's Invited website.

Students anonymously sharing their experiences of misogyny, harassment, abuse and assault have so far named top public schools including Eton College.

She told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: 'It is clear that a lot of what's reported concerns incidents that happen outside of school, but they then bleed over into the school, for example because images or videos are brought in on mobile phones.

'I think we're seeing a blurring of in and out of school  we can't see them as separate.'

Amanda Spielman says the widespread issues cannot solely be put down to internal culture problems within individual institutions after many were accused of harbouring a 'rape culture'

Ofsted will conduct a review into safeguarding policies and practices at state and independent schools following concerns about widespread sexual abuse. Pictured: James Allen's Girls School in Dulwich which has been hit by the scandal

She added while speaking to Sky News: 'I think Everyone's Invited is showing quite how much is happening in that blurred space - with friends from school, and not friends from school but outside school - it's the crossover very often between things happening outside of school bleeding into children's lives within school.

'I have such a big concern about the fact so many of these young people have felt unable to tell their school what's been happening to them.

'Many of these schools think that they have good routes - people that children can trust, who they can talk to - and yet somehow it's not always adding up, that's what's clear, so (we will look at) how we make sure the pieces add up to something that gives young people to report and talk about these things.'

Ofsted will be carrying out its review into safeguarding policies and practices by visiting around 25 to 30 state and independent schools.

The review - which should be completed by the end of May - will establish what current safeguarding guidance is place in schools and colleges and whether it is sufficient to allow them to 'respond effectively' to allegations.

It will also examine whether institutions need extra support in teaching students about sex and relationships, and whether current inspection regimes are 'robust enough' around the issue of sexual abuse.

Ms Spielman said the report will 'put together a wider picture' of the problem instead of reporting on individual schools.

The watchdog has said it will talk to headteachers and students on the issue first-hand and it will visit a sample of schools and colleges where cases have been highlighted.

She told Sky News: 'We're doing a thematic review that's going to look at a sample of schools, some of which will be schools which are named on the Everyone's Invited website, but the point is not to investigate individual cases or schools.

'It's to put together this wider picture and say: 'What are the aspects of the problem which are of greatest concern to young people, and what are the things that existing systems do well, and what more could potentially be done?'

It appears Ofsted's remit will include private schools even though they are inspected by the The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.

Indepdent schools are inspected by their own watchdog while Ofsted inspects state-run schools. The ISI is a Government approved inspectorate and the quality of its service is monitored by Ofsted on behalf of the DfE.



Pupils staged a protest against rape culture at Highgate School in London on March 25. The school, has been named in allegations among others including Eton and Dulwich College

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has condemned the alleged assaults listed on Everyone's Invited as 'shocking' and suggested any schools implicated could face government measures.

Accusations of sexual assault have so far named top public schools including Eton College, Hampton and Charterhouse, with both girls and boys among the alleged victims.

More than 11,000 testimonies have now been uploaded to the Everyone's Invited website

Last week, shocked head teachers of girls' private schools said they were talking to current and former students over sex allegations at neighbouring schools.

The Girls' Schools Association (GSA), which represents more than 100 top British girls' private schools, said that in some cases they are referring incidents to the police.

GSA schools include James Allen's Girls' School (JAGS) - attended by some of the girls making accusations about Dulwich College boys.

Last Monday, GSA chief executive Donna Stevens released a statement saying the 'deeply troubling' allegations 'must not be ignored'.

She said: 'Our schools are taking this issue seriously and talking with current and former students as well as parents to bring about positive change.'

A sign reading 'Educate Your Sons' is attached to a gate outside James Allen's School. The school was protesting rape culture at nearby Dulwich College Boys School

The Department for Education had last week ordered the watchdog to launch the probe to understand 'the extent and the severity of the issue'. Pictured: Education Secretary Gavin Williamson

Her words came as a former pupil at JAGS revealed herself to be the co-author of a letter making allegations against Dulwich College pupils.

But some schools have been accused of trivialising sexual violence by boys, with official figures showing the number of pupils suspended for it has almost halved in a decade.

There were 1,866 suspensions for sexual misconduct last year  a 44 per cent decrease on the 3,350 of ten years ago. Exclusions also fell.

Jane Lunnon, the new head of the 20,000-a-year Alleyn's School in Dulwich, south-east London, suggested the solution should see young men become 'part of the conversation'.

'A gender war helps no one, and pitting girls against boys or 'othering' the opposite gender is no solution,' she told The Times.

'Our young people must learn how to tackle these things head on; how to listen to each other generously and with respect, and how to ex-press their concerns and their hopes openly together.'

An investigation by the Mail also found that boys at some private schools embroiled in the sex abuse scandal were having to change out of uniform to avoid street attacks and verbal abuse.

A woman and child walk past placards saying 'it's sexual harassment', 'she is someone' and 'educate your sons' attached to the fence outside James Allen's Girls' School last week

Ofsted (file image) will look at safeguarding policies in state and independent schools and will ensure there are appropriate systems in place to allow pupils to report their concerns

Some of the male pupils also fear including their school name on CVs in case they are turned away by potential employers because of the negative associations.

Others  aged as young as 13  have faced abuse from members of the public and have been branded rapists in the street, prompting some to change out of uniform for journeys to and from school.

One boy at a London independent school told The Mail on Sunday: 'A lot of us are worried our association with the school is going to damage our job prospects. People will just look at us and see a rapist.'

A 46-year-old mother of boys aged 12 and 17 told The Daily Telegraph: 'This is scaring me. What if it's a case of two different perspectives of an event? What if the accusations are false, or exaggerated? How does a young man get his reputation back?

'I know of boys being 'cancelled' by friends they've had since primary school because nobody wants to associate with them in the wake of allegations. They are being branded as rapists without any opportunity to share their perspective  it's frankly terrifying.'

'It's really worrying,' another mother added. 'Very little is said about false allegations and protecting the alleged perpetrator.'

A teenager who on arrival at sixth-form college allegedly had girls screaming at him after a story had circulated has not returned since. None of his friends have been in contact with him, fearing they will be 'cancelled' if they break ranks.
CDC Small Business Finance Program Brings Business Banking Opportunities Directly to the People

Robert Villarreal is the Chief External Affairs Officer for the Los Angeles Branch of the CDC Small Business and Finance Program. Villareal is unapologetic about his passion for creating financial opportunities to local businesses and people in communities of color. He says that this pandemic has disproportionately affected Black and Brown people and as the organizations external affairs officer, he and his team are determined to help turn these disproportionate occurrences in to opportunities for local businesses to rebound.

CDC Small Business Finance is committed to helping local and small businesses succeed. What makes us unique is we meet businesses and business people where they are and help their business get to where they want it to be stated Villarreal.

CDC has been around for over 43 years and has provided local and small businesses with over $18 billion of small business loans. But Villarreal is quick to explain that the focus of helping businesses in communities of color has not always been their focus. He explains that roughly four or five years ago, CDC had to take a step back and said We need to do better. We need to be in lending to African American, Latino and communities of color business, because these are the business that most need our support.

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CDC immediately went to work and created the African American/Latino loan fund here in Los Angeles but soon took the program statewide. Along with the African American/Latino loan fund, CDC then began creating several other initiatives that pushed the lending forward to communities of color. He says that from 2015 through 2019, the CDCs loan fund grew by almost 450%. But he says that while this may sound impressive, but our lending rates were so low when we started (around 23%) that such a large jump is not something me or our team celebrated. Today, we are much closer to where we should have always been which is in the high 40s, this is a lending rate we can be proud of, said Villarreal.

But Villarreal knew that the CDC couldnt make the kind of impacts that made real difference with forming alliances and spreading out. So, he says they formed a partnership, an African American alliance designed with a focus on supporting Black Businesses. Our partner was Capital Pmpact Partners, which he says could now be the largest CFI in the country now that Maurice Wilson has left LISC Alliance. Ellis Carr, an African American, is the head of Capital Impact Partners and together, they went about putting together opportunities for real support and change for African American businesses. They formed this alliance and started off working in three places, based initiatives in Washington, D.C., Detroit and here in South Los Angeles. With this alliance, we are going deep into these communities; we are going to create special programs to create meaningful opportunities. We are not looking to tell people how to run their business, but we see ourselves as an additive to these communities, a resource to help these businesses grow, said Carr.

Every day, we ask ourselves how can we be more supportive of the players and programs that already exist, how can we be the additive to take these businesses and this community to another level? In Los Angeles, this program is led by Marsel Watts, who has done an outstanding job of coming into the community, knowing the businesses, the business leaders and, offering products and services that truly make a difference.

Watts says she works tirelessly with programs like Urban League, Black Business Women Rock, and Inclusive Action for the City. We are partnering with these organizations and partnering with them and have even added a loan program that takes our regular 7A SBA program and makes it more flexible and really serve the entrepreneurs of color, said Watts.

Both Villarreal and Watts say that CDC is doing what traditional banks hate to do. They are funding business start-ups. They say they have created a niche for helping start-ups and so far, that niche has proven to be very successful. Villareal says he knows exactly what he and CDCs goal is, and says we want to try and bridge the racial wealth gap, a gap between our community and other communities for far too long.

Villarreal explains that this compassion for supporting businesses and communities of color, he says. I am a living example of what can happen. My dad came to this country undocumented in 1948, and didnt know a lot about business, but he made a way and because of that, I was able to go to college.

Small business lending is a major key to our business. Ownership is powerful. We all know how powerful homeownership is for building wealth, but what about business? What about owning your business and your building? This is creating long term wealth and passing it on to your heirs. CDC is the largest SBA commercial real estate lender through their program IMPOWER, which is focused on communities of color, so Black and Brown businesses owners can also own their commercial real estate building and hold it. Owning your own businesses building is a fortress against gentrification and unfortunately, here in South Los Angeles, dealing with gentrification and an inability to actually own the brick and mortar we operate our businesses in, is a story we know far too well.

One of the businesses that has prospered from the work of Villarreal, Watts and the CDC team, is Nay Nay Tacos. Nay Nays is one of those success stories that CDC brags about. Nay says that when Marsel was first introduced to her and brought up the idea of working with CDC, it seemed like a really hard and complicated process. But eventually, Nay gave it a try and says, in fact, it was very easy. I already had a fairly successful business but I needed for it to grow, I wanted it to do and be more. CDC made that possible; Marsel made it work for Nay. Since coming to CDC, I have expanded my food truck business; I was able to get more equipment. Now I am opening a sit-down restaurant (which has been delayed due to COVID), she said.

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They helped me with PPP funding, they helped me to get a second truck. I have also recently opened a hair salon. When I started, I had about five employees, now we are up to 17. My books are together my P&L is good. If I wanted to go to a traditional banking institution, I could, and all of this was made possible because of my own hard work and determination and the support and guidance I have been given by CDC. Originally, I was very hesitant, but Marsel kept coming back and encouraging me to try, to take a chance and I am certainly glad I did.

Villarreal was born and raised in Southern California and worked in the restaurant business. His father was the first Latino franchisee for Jack in the Box. But his father decided to leave Jack in the Box to start his own restaurant. Unfortunately, that restaurant venture failed and the fast-food franchise would not allow him to return.

Robert says that business experience was life changing for his dad and for his family, and affected his parents, him and future generations. There was not a CDC to advise him or help him or to advise him on long term business decisions. My dad didnt know about SBA or business financing. No one was prepared to guide him through the business process. No one was at his side to treat him fairly, correctly or even with dignity. That experience is what drives him to do the work he does on a daily basis.

If there are any businesses out there looking to grow, that have an idea that they think can turn into the next big thing Robert says take a chance, he said. At CDC, we hire people in the community, from the community, and who understand the community. We understand that its all about building a level of trust. We need to perform and we need to be out in the community to build that confidence. We are part a lot of initiatives and collaboratives. We are part of Californias State wide small business coalition for racial justice along with other organizations, he said.

We try to be in the community and try to have the credibility that gives us access. If you are looking to be involved in some of these grant programs, weve all been hearing about, if you are interested in finding out about these COVID Relief programs or having access to the states $10 billion dollar state small business credit initiative, CDC is the vehicle for accessing these programs and so much more.

For more information contact at (818) 402-2482 or email [email protected]
Crude oil futures on Thursday fell 0.79 per cent to Rs 4,409 per barrel as participants reduced their positions on low demand.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude oil for April delivery eased by Rs 35, or 0.79 per cent, to Rs 4,409 per barrel with a business volume of 5,938 lots.

However, West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading 0.99 per cent lower at USD 59.18 per barrel, while Brent crude was quoting 0.90 per cent down at USD 62.59 per barrel in New York.

Also Read: IOC, BPCL to buy 36% less oil from Saudi Arabia in May
In a ruling filed in Sullivan County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Chancellor E.G. Moody granted a default judgment against Endo Health Solutions, Inc. and Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in the case of Staubus vs. Purdue, widely recognized as the Sullivan Baby Doe suit.

The judgment details a dozen false statements Endos attorneys made to the court, describes a coordinated strategy between Endo and its counsel tointerfere with the administration of justice, and holds the companies liable for damages sought, an amount that totals $2.4 billion, prosecutors said.

The court has reserved issuing a final judgment on that amount, pending a damages trial. The ruling can be read here.

For years we have worked to hold major opioid producers and distributors accountable for the long-term damage they have caused in our Tennessee communities, said Barry Staubus, district attorney general for Tennessees Second Judicial District. We understood from the start that seeking justice for those babies who were born drug dependent and the rural areas that these companies victimized would constitute a fight on the level of David versus Goliath. All those harmed by this epidemic will now see Goliath face justice.

The Sullivan Baby Doe suit was originally filed June 13, 2017, by the district attorneys general of Tennessees First, Second and Third Judicial Districts in Sullivan County Circuit Court in Kingsport, Tennessee. The complaint originally listed prescription opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma, L.P. and its related companies, along with Mallinckrodt PLC, Endo Pharmaceuticals, a pill mill doctor and other convicted opioid dealers as defendants.

The suit was one of the first in the nation to challenge major opioid producers, and the very first to list a baby born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) as a plaintiff. The suit claims that under Tennessees Drug Dealer Liability Act (DDLA), if a company engages in activities that facilitate over-prescription and diversion of controlled substances, they can be identified as a drug dealer and held accountable for their actions.

A December 2020 opinion filed by the Tennessee State Supreme Court affirmed the validity of that argument and the ability for plaintiffs to sue on behalf of babies harmed in utero by the opioid epidemic.

As part of the national scrutiny brought to bear on opioid producers and distributors, due in part to Sullivan Baby Does arguments, Purdue and Mallinckrodt have both declared bankruptcy, with claims proceeding against them in related courts. Endo remains the only active corporate defendant.

After a four-year fight in which Endo has tried to delay, derail and subvert justice, the court has laid bare Endos attempts to put their thumb on the scale of justice, said J. Gerard Stranch IV, managing partner of Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings, the firm representing Baby Doe and participating cities and counties. The Court laid out their deceptive and predatory actions for the public to see. This includes a dozen false statements made by Endo and their attorneys and what the court describes as a coordinated strategy to interfere with the administration of justice.

As a result, Endo will finally be forced to account for their role in the widespread misery they have knowingly caused in rural counties throughout Northeast Tennessee, which have suffered devastating rates of addiction, overdose deaths and babies being born drug-dependent, attorney Stranch said. We look forward to putting our $2.4 billion damage case to a jury and ultimately seeing funds returned directly to these small communities, which have borne the brunt of Endos focus on financial gain.

A hearing to determine further details in the damage case is scheduled for Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Sullivan County Circuit Court.
(Right to left) Jason Budrow, Roger Reece Kibbe, I-5 Serial Killer) View Photo

Sacramento, CA  The Amador County District Attorney disclosed he will not seek the death penalty against the already convicted murderer accused of slaying the I-5 Strangler.

D.A. Todd Riebe on Wednesday reported filing first-degree murder charges against 40-year-old Jason Budrow while stating he will seek a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. On Feb. 28th, the body of Roger Reece Kibbe, the notorious California serial killer, was found in their shared cell at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione. Budrow is already serving life without parole for the 2011 murder of his Riverside County girlfriend.

The serial killer, 81-year-old Kibbe, was originally convicted in 1991 of strangling a 17-year-old runaway from Seattle and dumping her body west of South Lake Tahoe below Echo Summit in September 1987. Then in 2009, due to new developments in DNA evidence, Kibbe was linked to six other murders in Northern California counties. He then pleaded guilty to those killings in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death penalty. Budrow reportedly admitted to killing Kibbe on the same day they became cellmates, initially so he would have a cell to himself, but then stated it was to avenging Kibbes youngest victim.
A shootout between two groups that erupted on the Northeast Side left two teens injured and led to crashes involving at least two other vehicles, police said Wednesday.

The incident began with an altercation at a car wash about 1 p.m. in the 12500 block of Nacogdoches, San Antonio police said.

Jennifer Rodriguez, a police spokeswoman, said a group of three males in their upper teens began arguing with an unknown number of other males at the car wash.

At this initial stage, and its very early on, we dont believe its road rage, we dont believe it was random, Rodriguez said. We believe it was targeted, and that the parties may have known each other.

More for you News Bexar County medical examiner identifies man, woman found...

The teens got into a white car while the other individuals got in another vehicle, Rodriguez said. A description of the second vehicle wasnt available.

They then drove onto Nacogdoches and began shooting at one another from their vehicles, investigators said.

At least two vehicles driven by bystanders were caught up in the battle and crashed, but neither vehicle was hit by gunfire, investigators said.

The shootout lasted until the white car with the three teens wrecked in front of a gas station in 12400 block of Nacogdoches, police said.

The other vehicle fled the scene, police said.

Rodriguez said two of the three teens were shot. They are in stable condition at area hospitals, she said.

The third teen was detained for questioning, she said.

Police said all lanes of the 12500 block of Nacogdoches will be closed off as investigators examine the crime scene.

Rodriguez said police are working to identify the other individuals involved in the shootout.
REYNOLDS, Ind. (WLFI) - Ray Hanish's family is searching for justice two years after his death. He was found dead in his Reynolds home in March 2019 and there have been no charges or arrests for his death.

"He cared about everybody," said Dottie Hanish, Ray's mother.

She said she had a very close relationship with her son, and that they would text and call each other regularly. Ray's family is remembering him as a loving man.

"He was just a very caring and compassionate person," said Dottie. "Nursing had to have been his calling because he cared about people."

Ray worked as a nurse at Monticello Healthcare. He posted a picture to his Facebook page in May of 2018 with the caption "Proud to be a nurse." Dottie said her son never missed a shift at work.

"He was happy-go-lucky," said his sister, Shar Prentice. "He was just a ball of energy."

Dottie said she was out of town on March 12th, 2019 and was on her way home. She said she had talked to Ray on the phone when he told her he spent the whole day cleaning his home and hanging a family portrait on his wall. He posted a photo of the portrait on his Facebook page on the 12th, the last photo he would ever post.

Shar believes she was the last person to have contact with Ray. Ray was a night-owl and she said she was up late in the early hours of May 13th messaging with her brother. By daytime on the 13th, Ray was no longer responding to Dottie's calls or texts.

On the 14th, Dottie started making calls to various family members to see if they had been in contact with Ray. On the 16th, Dottie called Monticello Healthcare to ask if he had shown up for his shift, which he hadn't. That same day, she filed a missing person's report with police.

His body was found inside his home on the 17th. Dottie and Shar said there were several things that did not add up about his home. They said the inside was trashed. Dottie said there were red solo cups everywhere, multiple cigarette packages, cigarette ashes on the furniture, a bullet on the end table and his TV and car were gone.

Several things didn't add up. Ray had told Dottie he had spent his final day alive spring cleaning. Ray never owned a gun to Dottie's knowledge. Shar said Ray only smoked outside and even had a special ceramic ash pot to put out his cigarette butts in. And who had taken Ray's TV and car?

Two years later, there are more questions than answers surrounding the circumstances of Ray's death. Ray's death was ruled a homicide, death by ligature strangulation. Ray's wallet and phone were also stolen, his phone was never recovered.

"How he met them, I don't know, how much communication he had with, them I don't know," said Dottie regarding the people he may have been interacting with the night he died.

Ray's death is allegedly part of a large web of crime surrounding Garrett Kirts. Ray was killed 15 days before Nicole Bowen died at the hands of Kirts in Newton County. Hanish's family said they have been told that Kirts confessed to killing Ray, but no charges have been filed.

As we previously reported, Kirts received a 55 year sentence for Bowen's death. Hanish's family feel investigators and the White County Prosecutor are intentionally not pursuing Ray's case because Kirts is now serving a lengthy sentence for his crime against Bowen.

"It's heartbreaking because Ray's life matters," said Dottie. "It's not somebody where it's like he was accidentally killed so we'll just forget about it, no."

"It's been really hard," said Shar.

Ray's family believes Kirts targeted Ray through an online dating app. But Ray's phone is the key piece of evidence that has not been found.

"He wants that partner who can share a life with him. Ray was a gay man and he wanted that white picket fence with a husband, he wanted all of those things," said Mel Roberts, a friend of and advocate for the Hanish family. "He was willing to fight against the injustice he saw in his community. He wasn't a fighter by nature, he was a lover and a caretaker."

News 18 talked with White County Prosecutor Robert Guy over the phone. He said that Ray Hanish does deserve justice too, and that he would not stop pursuing one case simply because the defendant had been found guilty and received a long sentence in another case. He said they are following new leads and that the investigation is ongoing, but they need more evidence to bring formal charges against Kirts.

The family wants to see Kirts charged with murder, not homicide.

"We know that he confessed to Ray's murder," said Cheryl Samuels, Nicole Bowen's mother. "Why can't Miss Dottie get the justice and feel the justice."

Cheryl said getting to address Kirts face-to-face and on the record at his sentencing hearing brought her family closure and a sense of justice. She wants that same feeling for the Hanish family.

In the days after Ray's death and before Nicole's death, she said Nicole had reached out to family members saying she needed help and needed to talk with them about something. Nicole's family never got the chance to fully understand her situation before her life was taken. As soon as Cheryl found out Nicole might have been involved in Ray's death, she reached out to Ray's family.

Now the two families, who were once complete strangers, lean on each other and show up for each other. They are connected forever by this tragedy. The two grieving mothers support each other in a way that no one else can.

"We know how each other feels," said Cheryl, while holding hands with Dottie, Shar and Mel. "There's a lot of people who haven't lost a child, and they don't really know what it feels like."

"To watch the grace and the love Dottie and Cheryl have shown to one another and to everyone around them, is something I am so honored to get to see," said Mel. "It truly is the silver lining and is something that I want to pass on to my children."

The Hanish family is now turning to the public for help.

"Any conversation that you may have had even with Ray that would have told you something about the things going on in his life at that time," said Dottie. "All of it could be so important."

Anyone with information regarding Ray's death can contact the Indiana State Police at 765-567-2125. Ray's family has also started a Facebook group and a petition for people to continue to advocate for his death.
The Northern Territory is offering thousands of dollars to fruit pickers who travel to the Top End and help harvest the ripening melon crop.

Coronavirus travel restrictions and closed borders have stopped foreign backpackers travelling to Australia, leaving growers desperately short of labourers to pick their fruit.

The NT government wants Australian workers to fill the shortfall and help harvest the 75,000-tonne melon crop, which includes seeded and seedless watermelons and rockmelons.

The Northern Territory government will pay thousands of dollars to fruit pickers who travel to the Top End and help harvest the ripening melon crop

The $70 million per year NT industry is critical to national melon supply and allows shoppers to buy the fruit all year round.

The NT government is offering $1000 per worker for up to 200 workers to pick the fruit, along with $480,000 for bonuses to help businesses retain them.

A bonus of $200 per week will be available for people that work a minimum of 30 hours per week, for at least five weeks between April 12 and July 12.

'We produce the best melons in Australia and we have to get them off our farms into grocery shops and supermarkets across Australia,' Minister for Agribusiness Nicole Manison said on Thursday.

'Our message is simple, come to the Territory to work in a great place, have a great experience, and pick our melons.'

The jobs on offer include picking, packing, sorting and logistics roles.

Growers in the NT are in desperate need of labourers to help harvest more than 75,000 tonnes of ripened melon crop

Workers with licenses to operate forklifts, trucks and production machinery will be in hot demand.

Ms Manison said the NT's seasonal and overseas workforce has fallen by 73 per cent over the past year.

The NT Farmers Association attempted to arrange workers to come from Timor Leste to help harvest the melon crop, but COVID-19 stopped that.

The association has previously brought two groups of South Pacific fruit pickers to the Territory to help harvest the mango crop in September and October.

About 320 labourers from Vanuatu helped pick about 33,000 tonnes of the fruit, worth more than $100 million.
Dozens of complaints have been made against a Covid-19 test supplier after quarantined travellers were left waiting several days for a kit to arrive.

East Yorkshire-based Latus Health has been accused of providing an 'appalling' service, with customers claiming they received their 175 coronavirus tests late  potentially delaying their exit from quarantine.

The healthcare firm, which is on the Government's official list of test suppliers, said there had been 'some delays' with Royal Mail and that it pays for a 24-hour next day delivery service.

However, some 70 people have joined a Facebook group to complain about the firm, which is listed as a test provider on the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) website.

People returning to the UK from non-red list countries are required to quarantine for 10 days at home and take two Covid-19 tests  one on day two and another on day eight  before they can leave, depending on a negative result.

The East Yorkshire-based healthcare firm, whose managing director is Jack Latus (pictured), has been slammed for its slow testing services

The company is listed on the on the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) website as part of their official list of test suppliers

Latus Health, which is based in Melton, near Hull, sends out 3,000 tests each day and aims to provide results 'within 48 hours' of a laboratory receiving a sample, according to its website

But customers who have ordered through Latus Health have complained of test kits arriving more than a week late, and further delays in receiving test results.

Joanna Earl, 50, from Wandsworth in south-west London, paid Latus 350 to get tested with her husband after returning to the UK on March 25, having been in France with work.

Jack Latus: Former rugby league star turned entrepreneur A former rugby league player, Jack Latus previously played for the Hull Kingston Rovers and the York City Knights. According to his LinkedIn profile, the sportsman turned entrepreneur when he co-founded Whey Box in 2016, a protein powder business. He began working with Latus in 2011 with their training arm. The 32-year-old's professional profile says he is currently managing director at Latus Health - a position he has held since 2016. Advertisement

But 13 days on, they are still waiting for the results of the day eight test, which itself arrived 24-hours late, she said.

Mrs Earl said: 'What incenses me, is that the Government has done such a good job with the vaccination programme, yet this whole mandatory testing process is shambolic because I'm beyond words they can mandate and authorise a company on their website that fails to deliver even the most basic service.

'You can't get through to anyone (at Latus), you can't speak to anyone, and you don't get any responses, they seem to just pass the buck.

'For me, their service is appalling and utterly inefficient. '

Mrs Earl, whose day two test results only came on day six, said she had only managed to speak to someone from Latus Health once  but only after an hour's wait on a premium rate number.

Others on the Latus Health Covid Test Complaints Facebook page, which was created on April 2, said they had been unable to get through to the firm.

Jack Latus, managing director of Latus Health, said on Wednesday afternoon that all orders that were due for dispatch have now been sent for delivery.

He told PA: 'Pre-bank holiday delivery delays can be for a number of reasons, with the main two being delays in delivery service due to pandemic situation.

'We pay for a 24-hour next-day delivery service  we can't do much more than that.

Joanna Earl, 50, from Wandsworth in London, paid Latus 350 to get tested with her husband after returning to the UK on March 25, having been in France with work. She called Latus' service 'appalling and utterly inefficient'. Pictured: With Ed Balls.

'The second is incorrect user input of a delivery address during the booking which means a test kit gets returned to sender and we have to resend to a corrected address.'

Mandatory hotel quarantine: What travellers from 'red list' countries face when arriving in the UK Travellers who come to the UK from 'red list' countries must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days and take multiple tests Mandatory hotel quarantines were introduced for international passengers arriving from 'red list' countries on February 15. This includes high Covid risk countries such as Brazil, Dubai, Portugal and South Africa. The system was introduced in reaction to new variants of Covid that were seen in places such as Brazil and South Africa. Travellers must spend ten days in quarantine at their own cost if they return to the UK on direct flights from any of 'red list' locations. This costs a total of 1,750 for travellers. They must also take a coronavirus test on or before day two and day eight of quarantining, according to the government guidelines. Travellers are not allowed to shorten theor quarantine period if you receive a negative test result, but delays to testing kits and results could mean they face longer in quarantine. The government website states: 'If you receive a positive result from your day-2 test, you must continue your quarantine period restarting the 10 days beginning the day after the test was taken.' Anyone caught breaking the quarantine rules faces a penalty of up to 10,000. Advertisement

Mr Latus said there had been 'some delays' with Royal Mail and that other test providers were having similar issues.

He added that more than 95% of deliveries over the past 12 months were on time.

Latus Health, which is based in Melton, near Hull, sends out 3,000 tests each day and aims to provide results 'within 48 hours' of a laboratory receiving a sample, according to its website.

In regard to customers experiencing long wait times while trying to call the company, Mr Latus said: 'We did receive some feedback that the call lines were costing customers who were having to hold.

'We didn't realise it was a premium line as it is a number we have used for customer care for over a year and not had any issues, albeit when call volumes were lower.'

He said the firm have since stopped using the premium line and invested in a new 'ticketing system' which will launch this week.

One woman from Fulham, who did not want to be named, said she had been left waiting for eight days before her first test arrived in the post.

Meanwhile, a 61-year-old professor, who arrived in London on Saturday from New York, said she was still waiting on her day two test to arrive.

She told PA: 'When I called them (Latus), there was a recording saying the number wasn't being answered and to email instead.

'I've emailed them three times but haven't received anything but an automated response.

'Test and Trace has been calling me every day and I told them about the situation and they said they knew about it already. They said they had been getting a lot of complaints about that company.'

A DHSC spokesman said: 'Tests from all private providers must meet the minimum required standards and are reviewed for safety and quality by the independent United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

'The list of private test suppliers is continually updated to ensure they meet the required standards. We carefully monitor any issues raised by the public about private tests and take action where necessary.'

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: 'We are working hard to maintain as normal a service as possible across the UK, although we may at times experience higher levels of Covid-related absences in some areas. Regrettably, this can impact the delivery times for mail items in those regions.'
Secretary of State for Education Kallas Zoltan on Thursday said that if the coronavirus pandemic lasts too long, the children will lose too much by attending online-only courses."

While paying a visit to Botosani, on the occasion of the launch of the national promotion campaign "Vaccination and testing for learning!," that the main problems that students will have as a result of not attending classes with physical attendance at school will have to do with their capacity for socialization, agerpres.ro confirms.

"Nothing can replace the face-to-face meetings and we want this to happen as soon as possible, so that the physical distance that is talked about in the media does not turn into social distance," the Secretary of State said.

He expressed his support for the campaign promoting vaccination, pointing out that returning to school can only take place after the mass immunisation of the population is achieved.

"We all want this online education to end, to be able to return as soon as possible to the classrooms, to face-to-face education. For this we should get that immunisation. We need to get vaccinated as soon as possible and for that we need to get as many vaccines as possible," said Kallos Zoltan.

The Ministry of Education, in partnership with the National Council of Rectors, the National Trade Union Federation Alma Mater, the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education, the Federation of Education Trade Unions "Spiru Haret," the National Council of Students, the National Alliance of Romanian Organizations, The National Union of Students in Romania, the National Federation of Parents' Associations and the "Save the Children" Organization have launched the National Campaign "Vaccination and Testing for Learning!."

According to officials of the Ministry of Education, the basic principle of this promotion campaign is that education teaches you to protect yourself from unconsolidated opinions, prejudices, false news and manipulation.
NEW DELHI: Cafe Coffee Day (CCD), which is Indias favourite hangout place is possibly at the verge of bankruptcy. According to a Business Standard report, this extremely popular cafe chain is has a whopping debt of Rs 280 crores.

The report quoted the exchange filings by CCD in the March quarter in which it disclosed a debt of Rs 280 crores.

It has also emerg3d that the lenders to CDEL, the parent company of CCD, are taking the firm to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to find a solution for its huge debt crisis.

The company opened its first cafe outlet on Brigade Road in Bangalore in 1996. Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd (CDEL) is also reportedly the largest organized retail cafe chain in the country with a presence in Austria, the Czech Republic and Malaysia.

Besides its cafe chain, the CCD is also into the export business. It is one of the largest exporters of green coffee in India since 1999.

The company exports green coffee to the Middle East, Europe and Japan. The company is also involved in research and development and has successfully applied learning to improve the promotion of various coffee blends and increase its exports.

Significantly, the company ventured into the hospitality business in 2008.

It established the Coffee Day Hotels & Resorts as a subsidiary of Coffee Day Global Limited and opened a resort in Chikmagalur.

In July 2019, CCD founder VG Siddhartha was found dead after which the company named SV Ranganath as the interim chairman of the Board and Nitin Bagmane as an interim chief operating officer.

Siddhartha was found dead, two days after he went missing mysteriously near Mangaluru in Karnataka. His post-mortem report ruled out any foul-play and attributed his death to water in the lungs due to drowning.

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Mask-wearing will continue to be required at all Huntsville Hospital-affiliated facilities, the health system announced Wednesday.

This is to continue to combat the spread of coronavirus.

A mask-wearing order from the state of Alabama expires at 5 p.m. Friday.

Heres more from the hospitals news release:

"Since safety is our core value, we believe that wearing masks contributes to a safer environment for our patients, employees and communities.

Our decision to continue with COVID-19 precautions aligns with recommendations from the Alabama Hospital Association and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In addition, the Alabama Department of Public Health continues to encourage masking in health care facilities. We are thankful that our state is making significant headway in reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations, but there still remain thousands of Alabamians who are waiting to be vaccinated.

As health care providers, we have a responsibility to our patients, staff and our communities. As such, we will continue helping model the way with masking, handwashing and social distancing.
Every company is going to have to make their own decisions, Ein said. My personal belief is that the vast majority of people are only going to feel safe if they know everybody in the office doesnt have COVID, either because theyve been vaccinated or because theyve been tested. People will only come back if they have that assurance.
ATLANTA, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Franklin Junction, an innovative foodservice e-commerce solutions platform that matches underutilized kitchens with proven restaurant brands for incremental revenue opportunities, announced today its partnership alongside Nuchas, an American made but internationally inspired handheld food manufacturing company with up to 18 products in counting. The partnership will broaden Nuchas' reach to all new consumers as the street food brand becomes exclusively available for virtual kitchen consumption through the Franklin Junction platform. Likewise, Host Kitchen brand partners can create Nuchas' product line to optimize their assets while driving revenue through delivery channels.

Behind the Nuchas handheld food evolution is Ariel Barbouth, an entrepreneur and foodservice industry veteran, who is making internationally handheld foods a mainstream phenomenon. Just over 10 years ago, Barbouth moved to New York City with his wife, Leni, and had a vision of bringing traditional Argentine empanadas to their new home. By 2011, the couple launched Nuchas in the middle of Times Square as one of four concepts granted street vendor access in the plaza. From there on, their original dream transformed from just traditional empanadas to building an entirely new category of gourmet handheld foods from every culture. Since then, they've opened two locations, launched a Vendy award winning food truck, debuted in two convention centers, have been featured on Shark Tank, and launched a direct to consumer platform shipping nationwide.

"I was fascinated with Nuchas from the moment I heard about the brand, from their incredible back story to the unique food they create using premium ingredients and knew there was immense potential for the brand to grow. I also instantly knew our platform would provide the perfect complement to their brand goals, seeing as their product is simple, delicious, and convenient to create, package, and deliver," said Rishi Nigam, an executive at Franklin Junction. "It's an honor to work with Ariel and the team to help elevate this emerging brand to the next level as they seek ways to reach an all new audiences in new markets."

Unlike ghost kitchens, a Franklin Junction Host Kitchen does not require new infrastructure to be built. The model utilizes an existing business's own building, equipment, and employees to create an incremental revenue stream. Additionally, Franklin Junction's proprietary technology leverages highly effective business intelligence reporting to execute a data-driven matching process that connects Hosts with Concepts from a carefully curated roster. Overall, the Franklin Junction Host Kitchen model offers ultimate flexibility and can be used within a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, hotels, grocery and convenience stories, as well as non-traditional retail locations such as airports, convention centers, universities, and sporting venues. Nuchas plans to continue their conversion around non-traditional development across stadiums, arenas, and airports with Franklin Junction's support, while also targeting Atlanta specifically for growth in the near future.

"Our carefully crafted empanadas are in good hands with Franklin Junction, considering they understand the passion behind our brand and the potential it offers foodservice operators in markets we have yet to reach," said Ariel Barbouth, founder and CEO of Nuchas.

To find out more about Franklin Junction, follow https://www.franklinjunction.com/.

About Franklin Junction

Franklin Junction is a digital platform that allows kitchens to optimize excess infrastructure capacity by serving as a "Host Kitchen." Hosts are matched with a thoughtfully curated roster of proven restaurant brands, allowing the Hosts to increase revenue, while providing hosted brands a platform to expand geographic reach without capital expenditure. Franklin Junction's proprietary technology includes aggregated order management, revenue reconciliation, and data-driven digital marketing strategies to maintain sustained profits for clients. For more information, visit https://www.franklinjunction.com/.

About Nuchas

Nuchas is an American made but internationally inspired handheld food company that sprung from a kiosk in Times Square, New York City. It became known for its award-winning Nuchas, the ultimate evolution of an age-old concept: the handheld meal known as empanadas.

Perfectly baked and purposefully shaped to put all the flavors, aromas and colors that make up our melting pot, in the palm of your hand. In a frantically-paced society, as digitally connected as it is culturally divided, Nuchas offers a timely marriage of culture and convenience no other handheld meal on earth can.

Contact:

Shana Rosenthal

Fish Consulting

954-893-9150

[email protected]

SOURCE Franklin Junction

Related Links

https://www.franklinjunction.com


Wuhan 'on the rise' a year after lockdown was lifted

China Daily) 09:00, April 08, 2021

People walk on a commercial street in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 28, 2021. Wuhan, once hit hard by COVID-19, has seen its urban life at night return to normal since its lockdown was lifted on April 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

One year after a lockdown was lifted, Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, the city hardest hit by COVID-19 on the Chinese mainland, has recovered from the outbreak and is developing at an even more rapid pace than before, experts and local residents said.

On April 8 last year, the city reopened after a 76-day lockdown brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak. It has reported no local COVID-19 cases for more than 10 months, since May 18.

Mass vaccination of Wuhan residents was launched in December to further strengthen the safety and health of the people. As of Tuesday, 3.7 million vaccine doses had been given, according to the city's health commission.

Vaccination of people over age 60 and in good health has started. Vaccinating people under 18 will be carried out in stages, the commission said.

"Now our city is a healthy, happy one that is on the rise," Liu Huihao, a professor at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, told Changjiang Daily, a newspaper in Wuhan.

When President Xi Jinping made an inspection tour of Wuhan on March 10 last year, he said the heroic people of the heroic city would definitely defeat COVID-19, rise from the ashes and make more glorious achievements in a new era.

Bearing Xi's remarks in mind, the people of Wuhan not only beat COVID-19 but also brought changes to the city after its full recovery from the outbreak.

One example is the ongoing construction of a national medical center for major public health incidents at Tongji Hospital, which is affiliated with the Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

Construction started in July on the center, which covers 105,000 square meters and is meant to improve the city's ability to deal with medical emergencies such as infectious diseases.

The center is expected to be completed in June 2022, when it will become the country's sixth national medical center and the first outside Beijing or Shanghai.

Six provincial-level pandemic treatment centers also are being built around Hubei, including three in Wuhan.

The centers are designed to ensure quick control of any contagion and timely treatment of infectious diseases both on a day-to-day basis and during outbreaks, according to a plan announced last year by the Hubei provincial committee of the Communist Party of China.

The move is part of Hubei's efforts to implement reforms in disease control and prevention.

The centers will be responsible for reacting quickly to outbreaks, having adequate medical supplies and saving critically ill patients, so that successful treatment can be increased and death rates lowered, the plan said.

During the Spring Festival holiday in February, 6.92 million trips were made to Wuhan, making it the fourth most popular tourist destination among all cities in China, after Chengdu, Sichuan province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, and Chongqing, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

In March, with the approach of the cherry blossom viewing season, online searches for "admiring blossoms in Wuhan" soared.

Online travel agency Ctrip said searches on its platforms for "blossom viewing" in Wuhan increased 280 percent compared with February, and the number of such trips to Wuhan that were booked on its platforms grew by 115 percent year-on-year.

Wang Xiukun, a postgraduate student of German language and literature at Wuhan University, said more than 1,000 students from her university volunteered to accompany and offer voluntary services to about 200,000 visitors who came to the university for the cherry blossoms since March.

"There were medical staff members who had assisted Wuhan in the fight against COVID-19. There were also ordinary tourists who were enthusiastic about admiring the flowers," she said.

Seeing that the university and the city have been as full of people as they used to be, Wang said she felt "the city itself is like a cherry blossom that blooms again".

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Highlights HMD Global has scheduled an event for today at 7.30 pm IST.

It is likely HMD may launch Nokia X20, Nokia G20, and Nokia C20 phones today.

These three phones will come under the new naming scheme.

HMD Global is holding what may be its biggest event this year so far. The event begins at 3 pm UK time, which means for people interested in watching the live stream, it is going to be 7.30 pm IST. Nokia Mobile has officially not said what this event will be about, but we have a grand idea. We have been talking about the new Nokia phones for a while. These phones have a new identity and look more streamlined with the smartphone market. And today's launch event is going to be about them.

Rumours are rife that HMD Global is revamping its phone portfolio. That includes renaming its smartphones. So, now, instead of seeing names with double digits separated by a dot, you may see phones known as Nokia X20, Nokia G20, and Nokia C20. Besides these three, there are probably two more phones in the pipeline that HMD may launch at today's event. Specifications of some of these phones are a part of rumours for some time, and they do not look much different from what otherwise named Nokia phones would have brought. Anyway, we are seeing a shakeup in Nokia's phone portfolio and hope that is a good move.

Nokia X20, G20, and C20 launch event

According to rumours, the X20, G20, and C20 will debut at today's event. The event begins at 7.30 pm IST for Indian fans and there will be a live stream on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

Nokia X20, G20, and C20 rumoured specifications

According to a Geekbench listing, the Nokia X20 may arrive with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 processor with a 1.8GHz clock speed inside. There may be 6GB of RAM on this phone, but a different listing suggested we may also be looking at 8GB of RAM. At least 128GB of storage will be there on the Nokia X20. There is no information about this phone besides this. However, as far as the availability of the Nokia X20 goes, it may be available in India as it was spotted on the CEIR database.

The Nokia G20 is the heavily rumoured one. It may come with a 6.38-inch HD+ LCD with a notch. The phone may use a MediaTek Helio G35 processor inside with 4GB of RAM. The phone will come with Android 11 out of the box, which is a good thing. The Nokia G20 will bear four cameras on the back, and of them will be a 48-megapixel shooter. For selfies, the Nokia G20 may come with a 16-megapixel camera. And finally, a 5000mAh battery is expected to power the Nokia G20.

Coming to the Nokia C20, rumours suggest there are going to be at least four variants of the Nokia C20. And these variants will differ by the RAM and storage size, more than anything else. There will be Bluetooth 4.2 support on the phone, which is standard for a smartphone. And then you may see 1GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard memory on the Nokia C20. And 1GB RAM means Android Go, so the Nokia C20 will most likely run on Android 11 (Go edition). There is no information about the processor and the camera right now. There are also rumours that suggest the Nokia C20 will cost EUR 89, which translates to roughly Rs 7,700.
Michigan is at the tip of the spear when it comes to the fourth surge of the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 5, 2021, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Michigan reached 11,317, the highest number since November 27, 2020, during the winter surge.

Autoworkers leave the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Warren Truck Plant in Warren, Michigan [Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya]

The seven-day moving average stands at 6,431 daily COVID-19 cases, up nearly six-fold from its lows in mid-February. The positivity rate on tests has climbed to 17 percent, meaning that 17 of every 100 COVID-19 tests confirm a new infection, up from a low of 3.1 percent more than a month ago.

Based on genetic testing, health officials estimated that 70 percent of new Michigan cases are caused by the B.1.1.7 variant, also known as the UK variant, which devastated southeast England last December and has since crossed the Atlantic and become the dominant variant in Florida and much of the Northeast and Midwest. In every state where estimates place the B.1.1.7 variant as dominant strain, cases are rising.

The surge is so evidently dangerous that even the waffling director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, has suggested that Michigan should adopt stronger restrictions to stem the tide of new infections. During Wednesdays briefing, she said, I would advocate for sort of a stronger mitigation strategies, as you know, to sort of decrease the community activity, ensure mask-wearing, and were working closely with the state to try and work towards that.

With hospitalization in the state rapidly climbing in concert with the rise in cases, far more urgent measures are required. Walenskys statement, a mere suggestion, runs counter to the demands of the public health emergency driven by the new B.1.1.7 variant. What is happening in Michigan amounts to a new pandemic in the US, with a more transmissible and lethal strain of the coronavirus.

The states hospitalizations have jumped 360 percent since February 28, with several regions ICU capacities having reached their limit. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the age group with the highest growth rate in hospitalization has been those 50 to 59 years of age, with a 653 percent increase.

Those between 40 to 49 years of age have seen a 503 percent increase. Though the actual numbers are small, those between the age of 18 and 29 have seen a 400 percent increase. Only pediatric cases and those 70 years or older have had relatively small rises in hospital admissions. In the case of the elderly, this has been attributed to the vaccination campaign.

The first B.1.1.7 variant in Michigan was detected on January 16, 2021. By February 28, the number of cases found in genetic testsa small sample of the totalhad reached 336. This figure rose to 1,237 on April 1 and jumped to 1,998 by April 7, accounting for 70 percent of all cases subjected to genetic testing.

These trends are a byproduct of schools reopening and the lifting of every meaningful restriction in the state. State data showed that for the week of March 22, there had been 65 school-related outbreaks, counting both K-12 and colleges. A week later, there were another 70 and then, on April 5, an additional 84 school-related outbreaks. However, state officials have blamed the rising COVID-19 numbers on school sporting activities, and spring break travels rather than acknowledging that school reopening and lifting restrictions have been the main contributors. Governor Gretchen Whitmer continues to endorse the position that restrictions are no longer the answer and vaccination by itself is the solution.

In a virtual press brief yesterday (revealingly, state officials and journalists will be safer than school children and teachers forced back to classrooms), Governor Whitmer attempted to place a positive spin on the horrific numbers. She claimed that the numbers were going up so quickly now because many people in the state had not previously been infected, due to the states allegedly strong mitigation efforts earlier.

Whitmer claimed that states like Florida, which had high infection rates earlier, were as a result not seeing an explosion in cases now. This rigmarole is exploded by the fact that Florida cases have risen by 23 percent since March 20, and its cases per million are even higher than Michigans, although its death rate is lower. The truth is that no US state, whether Republican-run Florida or Democratic-run Michigan, has a record of public health success. All have subordinated the health of their population to the profit interests of the corporations.

Dr. Walensky added at Wednesdays brief, Based on our most recent estimates from CDC surveillance, the B.1.1.7 variant is now the most common lineage circulating in the United States. Both case numbers and now hospitalizations have been trending upwards, despite the current vaccination efforts underway.

As of the latest figures, the recent seven-day average for hospitals admissions is around 5,000 per day, an increase of 2.7 percent from last week. Adults under 50 have seen the sharpest increase in hospitalizations.

Just across the border from Michigan, in Canada, the province of Ontario has seen a 64 percent increase in coronavirus variants cases. Approximately 90 percent involve the B.1.1.7 variant. Canadas chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, noted that there had been a stream of younger patients being admitted into the ICUs. Those under the age of 60 now make up half of the patients admitted to the intensive care units for COVID-19. Dr. Kashif Pirzada, an emergency physician in Toronto, speaking with CNN, said, its getting pretty alarming here. Its spreading quickly, and its much faster than the last two waves. The people filling the ICU right now are all in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.

Epidemiologists have estimated that possibly 70 to 90 percent of the population will need to be vaccinated or survive a previous infection to achieve genuine herd immunity. However, all these estimates are guesses. Marc Lipsitch, an epidemiologist at Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told the New York Times, You tell me what numbers to put into my equations, and Ill give you the answer. But you cant tell me the numbers, because nobody knows them.

Additionally, the growth of variants like P.1 and B.1.351 will add complexity to this question as their numbers begin to grow.
Series D round led by new investor, Addition, with participation by existing investors including Anthemis Group, Connect Ventures, Mouro Capital, Northzone, and Temasek. Brings total raised to date to $142m.

Additional investors include Visionaries Club, Surojit Chatterjee (CPO Coinbase), Zack Kanter (CEO Stedi), Daniel Graf (ex-Uber, Google, Twitter) and David Avgi (ex-CEO SafeCharge, CEO UniPaaS).

Funding to accelerate global rollout of its open banking-based network and expand premium product offering.

TrueLayer, Europe's leading open banking platform, today announced it has secured a $70m Series D investment round led by new investor Addition. The latest raise reflects the growing demand for its open banking-based services and marks another significant milestone for TrueLayer on its mission to open up finance, building an open banking network that brings together payments, financial data, and identity to redefine how people spend, save, and transact online.

Existing investors, including Anthemis Group, Connect Ventures, Mouro Capital, Northzone, and Temasek, also participated, with a significant increase to the company's valuation. Additional investors in the round include Visionaries Club, Surojit Chatterjee (CPO Coinbase), Zack Kanter (CEO Stedi), Daniel Graf (ex-Uber, Google, Twitter) and David Avgi (ex-CEO SafeCharge, CEO UniPaaS). It brings the total investment to date in TrueLayer to $142m.

The new funding will be used to fuel global expansion and accelerate the development of premium open banking-based services that will continue to drive innovation and revenue growth for clients. It will also be used to expand TrueLayer's engineering, product and commercial teams to meet the increasing global demand for its open banking platform.

TrueLayer's API-first platform accounts for more than half of all open banking traffic in the UK, Ireland and Spain, processing billions of pounds in payments. It powers services for some of Europe's fastest-growing brands, including Revolut, Trading 212 and Payoneer.

TrueLayer has a market-leading payment conversion rate that is 22% higher than other providers, according to OpenBanking UK and other bank sources, and up to 40% higher than cards. Merchants offering TrueLayer as a payment method in their checkout have found that on average, 1 in 3 consumers chose to pay via TrueLayer. As a result, open banking is displacing other payment methods, such as cards, as the default payment option online.

Over the past 12 months, TrueLayer has expanded its services across 12 European markets, growing payment volumes by 600x, and adding hundreds of new customers across digital banking, eCommerce, trading and investment, wealth management, crypto and iGaming. It has continued to innovate, for example, with the recent launch of PayDirect, combining instant pay-in capabilities with instant pay-outs, to deliver a higher converting, lower fraud method for online payments.

"When Luca and I started TrueLayer in 2016, we imagined open banking becoming a new digital channel for solving cost and complexities around payments, digital identity, credit data and much more. We wanted to open up this newly built infrastructure to many businesses and consumers. It is such a joy to see our vision coming alive and open banking based payments quickly becoming the new normal," commented Francesco Simoneschi, CEO and Co-Founder at TrueLayer.

TrueLayer is rapidly expanding as demand for its open banking platform increases, largely driven by consumer demand for digital financial services that work better for them, and give them more control over their financial lives.

"We have achieved this milestone thanks to the hard work of our stellar team. Bringing radical new products into the hands of consumers and businesses is incredibly exciting," explained Luca Martinetti, Co-Founder and CTO at TrueLayer. "This new financial network we are building on top of open architectures has massive long term implications for the whole fintech ecosystem and we won't compromise our vision in any way."

"That is why it is so important to select investors that can help you to plan for the next 15 years, not the next 15 months," added Simoneschi. "The Addition team thinks very long term and it has been such a pleasure working together. They complement the incredibly strong group of experienced backers who align with our vision of how financial services are evolving."

Lee Fixel, Founder of Addition, commented: "TrueLayer is ideally positioned to benefit from the trends shaping the future of financial services as more and more companies embed digitally native payments into their platforms. We look forward to supporting the TrueLayer team as they scale their offering and drive continued innovation."

--ends--

About TrueLayer

TrueLayer provides global financial connectivity through open APIs. Our open banking platform empowers engineers, innovators and enterprises in every industry to create smarter financial services. Founded in 2016, TrueLayer is connected to major banks globally, backed by leading investors including Addition, Tencent, Temasek, Northzone, Anthemis Group, Mouro Capital and Connect Ventures, and trusted by some of the biggest names in fintech including Revolut, Trading 212 and Payoneer.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005064/en/

Contacts:

Geoff Whitehouse

PR and Communications Lead

geoff.whitehouse@truelayer.com

+44 (0)7766 555077
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a phone talk on Thursday.

Both Putin and Merkel voiced concern over the rising tensions in the southeast of Ukraine, the Kremlin said in a statement.

"Vladimir Putin drew attention to the provocative actions of Kiev, which has recently purposefully escalated the situation on the line of contact. The need for the Kiev authorities to strictly implement the previously reached agreements was stressed, first of all, to establish a direct dialogue with Donetsk and Luhansk and to legally formalize the special status of Donbass," it said.

The parties to the conflict were called upon to exercise restraint and intensify the negotiation process to fully implement the 2015 Minsk Agreement as a non-alternative basis for a settlement, it said.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further close coordination of efforts between Russia and Germany, including in the Normandy format through political advisers and the foreign ministries.
ROCKY HILL  State police say they are looking for a woman who is wanted in connection with the killing Monday of a 75-year-old man in Rocky Hill.

Police are seeking Melissa Feliciano, 31, on charges of felony murder, murder, first-degree robbery and sixth-degree larceny, according to state police.

Earlier this week, a 75-year-old man named Robert Iacobucci was found dead in a Rocky Hill residence, according to police. New Britain residents Franklyn Cruz and Madeline Dickey later faced murder, felony murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree burglary and third-degree larceny charges.

A police investigative report released this week showed investigators thought a third person, believed to be Feliciano was involved in the killing.

The report described Feliciano as the victims live-in nurse.

Officers were first called to Iacobuccis home about 7 p.m. Monday when a relative reported a burglary and concern over the mans wellbeing.

When officers arrived, they found Iacobucci dead on the second floor, according to the report.

Iacobuccis hands were bound behind his back and he had what appeared to be significant injuries to his head/face, the report said. Iacobuccis body was in full rigor and showed lividity.

State police said Feliciano has brown hair and eyes, is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 85 pounds.

It is unknown if Feliciano is in possession of any weapons, state police said.

State police are asking anyone with information to contact Troop H in Hartford at 860-534-1000.

Prior reporting from staff reporters Peter Yankowski and Tara ONeill contributed to this report.
Above, from the website of the Clarence Thomas film pulled by Amazon during Black History Month.

By Christian Toto, RealClearInvestigations

April 8, 2021

A documentary film about an African American lawyer who rose from poverty and oppression in the Deep South to the highest court in the land would seem a natural for Black History Month. Yet, in February, at the very time its Prime Video service was featuring films highlighting black history makers, Amazon without explanation stopped offering digital streams of Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words.

While the film was pulled despite having at one time reached No. 1 on Amazons documentary charts, the worlds largest online retailer continued to make available streams of less-popular documentaries, including a favorable one on Anita Hill, the former Thomas colleague who nearly derailed his Supreme Court confirmation.

That was frustrating to Michael Pack, writer-director of Created Equal and a documentary filmmaker for decades. But it was no surprise to him and the small but growing cadre of other conservative documentarians, who say they face obstacles because of their politics and are starting to fight back against the long odds of "cancel culture." Black conservative scholar Shelby Steele saw Amazon initially refuse to carry his documentary What Killed Michael Brown? last year because it challenged the liberal narrative about the 2014 shooting in Ferguson, Mo., that helped spark the Black Lives Matter movement. Amazon, which relented after a public outcry, did not respond to a request for comment.

Justin Folk, director of No Safe Spaces, which focuses on college-based attacks on free speech and features prominent liberals including Dr. Cornel West and Van Jones, along with conservatives such as Dennis Prager, Dave Rubin and Ben Shapiro, said he had a hard time finding a traditional distributor for his documentary because Hollywood saw the film as conservative.

Despite having big names in our film, a big audience, and a very relevant topic, we were mostly ignored, said Folk, who said his film, which eventually grossed $1.3 million, was rejected by the prestigious Telluride Film Festival. In one case, a major distributor actually admitted to us that they think our film is a winner but they cant get behind it because Dennis Prager is in it.

Conservative filmmakers faced little discrimination in the past because there were so few of them. That started to change in 2012, when conservative commentator Dinesh DSouzas 2016: Obamas America became the second-highest-grossing political documentary of all time ($33 million).

The years since have been a golden age for documentaries. Streaming services such as Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu have created major distribution channels, matching content with massive, algorithmically targeted audiences. This, in turn, has led to explosive growth in filmmaking. Documentaries that in the past might never have seen the light of day -- since their economic viability would be tied to packing movie houses -- can flourish today, particularly lately with people more homebound due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Typically it was liberal activists, not conservative polemicists like DSouza, who made documentaries. As Thom Powers, who runs America's largest documentary festival, DOC NYC, told CBS News, the best documentaries try to make a difference. There have been films that have gotten people out of prison, like the 'Paradise Lost' series, or Errol Morris' 'Thin Blue Line.' 'Super Size Me' totally changed the conversation around fast food. 'Inconvenient Truth' totally changed the conversation around climate change. So all over the world, you can see documentaries having an effect.

But the idea of making a difference has generally trended in one direction politically, illustrated lately by Barack and Michelle Obama's film production deal with Netflix, which has already yielded a best documentary Oscar. Virtually ignored is an underserved niche in the market. More than 70 million Americans voted for Donald Trump in the November election, the Hollywood Reporter noted in a March 11 story. And, at the moment, there's little Hollywood content that directly appeals to them. That leaves a big opening for those willing to risk ostracization from the rest of the industry.

Industry support is crucial because it helps in raising money, in earning film festival slots to persuade a distributor to get a film in front of an audience, and enticing journalistic outlets to cover and review it.

If youre on the left, theres a whole infrastructure that enables you to make things very easily, said DSouza, who illustrated his point by citing what he calls the charmed life of left-wing filmmaker Michael Moore. Each new Moore film is considered a pop-culture moment. They are featured at the top festivals, where they often win prizes  to go along with his Oscar for Bowling for Columbine.

Hes on the Today show and The View.  Theres a whole apparatus of publicity in place, DSouza added.

DSouza has succeeded without enjoying such support. But he said the odds against conservatives have worsened in recent years because of suppression by both Big Tech and woke corporations. His 2020 film, Trump Card, scrapped its planned theatrical release for a video-on-demand slate due to COVID-19, but the hurdles didnt stop there.

The radioactive connection wasnt me, but Trump, DSouza says. Trump Card hit video-on-demand services several weeks before the 2020 presidential election, by design. DSouza says Amazon placed a large order of Trump Card DVDs, which his company met. But some Amazon customers were told the product was out of stock and wouldnt be delivered until after Election Day.

Im not used to these kinds of obstacles, he says. I never thought of Amazon as a left-wing company. Hes changed that view after seeing it take part in a concerted takedown of Twitter alternative Parler as well as it removing books such as When Harry Became Sally, which criticized elements of the trans movement.

What Killed Michael Brown?, produced by filmmaker Eli Steele in tandem with father Shelby, faced similar discrimination. Amazon initially rejected the handsomely mounted, jazz-filled work, saying it didnt meet the streaming giants quality standards and that no appeal would be heard. That news brought attention from the Wall Street Journal editorial page and other media outlets, and Amazon quickly reversed course. Eli Steele says that opened his eyes to how much sway Amazon holds over the film marketplace.

The numbers between Amazon and other platforms are not even comparable, Steele says of its sizable audience reach. He says most film festivals lack the backbone to show perspectives outside of their echo chambers, but he doesnt want ideological diversity to be forced into the current system.

Anyone can start their own film festival and they program it however they wish, he says. So why not plan a prestigious film festival that crosses all sorts of lines and invites healthy dialogue and debate?

The conservative film sub-genre is attracting some unlikely participants. Radio talk show host Larry Elder made a splash in 2020 with Uncle Tom, a documentary letting black conservatives like him share their views and discuss how theyre treated by select liberals. The title captures the latter sentiment.

Elder, a best-selling author and nationally syndicated talk show host, says right-leaning documentaries often turn to private sources, like affluent Republicans, to fund their work. His film got little attention outside of conservative outlets at a time when the media invested heavily in telling black stories by black creators.

It was ignored by the Hollywood we want diversity community, including all the film reviewers of the major newspapers and trade publications like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, says Elder, who co-wrote, co-produced and appears in the film. Uncle Tom boasts only three official reviews at RottenTomatoes.com, and no critics'-average "Tomatometer" score, in contrast with a robust 96% fresh rating from users.

Neither The Hollywood Reporter nor Variety would comment on the matter.

Yet none of that stopped Elders documentary from turning a tidy profit. The film's virtual opening weekend last June grossed $400,000. Elder notes the film quickly recouped its costs and ended up earning multiples of its budget of some $450,000 including post-production. It helped that Elder has a hearty social media presence  859,000 followers on Twitter alone -- along with a syndicated radio show to promote the project.

Its commercial success was also aided by the development of alternative distribution platforms, showing that markets can punish discrimination, and that discrimination may serve as the mother of innovation.

Initially, "Uncle Tom was sold exclusively through a partnership with SalemNOW, part of the conservative media company that distributes Elder's radio show. Following that 70-day exclusive with SalemNOW, the films website (UncleTom.com) became the primary sales location, with additional platforms added over the ensuing few months, including iTunes, Amazon and, later, Amazon Prime.

Elder says his team unsuccessfully approached Netflix about carrying Uncle Tom, a platform that features a crush of original, left-leaning documentaries including 13th and Miss Americana, a film that honored Taylor Swifts progressive awakening.

The team behind the film didnt submit it to most major film festivals, save for the boutique USA Film Festival in Dallas. The documentarys conservative bent helped shape that decision, as did restrictions in place from the ongoing pandemic.

RealClearInvestigations reached out to multiple documentary groups for comment on this story, including DOC NYC, the Southern Documentary Fund, the Center for Independent Documentary, Docs in Progress and the International Documentary Association. None responded to those queries. Neither did several major film festivals, including Sundance, Telluride, Slamdance and the Toronto International Film Festival.

Other conservative filmmakers are going outside traditional channels. SalemNOW began streaming Packs Created Equal on March 30 in response to Amazons decision to pull the film. (It's listed on Amazon as a DVD but often out of stock.) Christopher Rufo has used YouTube to distribute his short films, including Chaos by the Bay: The Truth About Homelessness in San Francisco and Mob Rule in Seattle.

I can immediately inject it into the bloodstream of the national conversation, Rufo said. But, he added, coming out as a right-leaning storyteller in the documentary field is complete poison to your career.

People tell me, Youre now conservative. I cant even work with you, says Rufo, who adds documentary organizations that once collaborated with him suddenly stopped returning his calls. Its kind of shocking.  They cant even process how anyone would have another opinion.

Documentary producer Nadia Gill of Encompass Films noted the industrys allegiance to identity politics in a recent column for Persuasion.com:

First-hand experience of a subject has always been considered helpful in documentary filmmaking. But this has traditionally been a genre in which creators are free to engage with material that lies far beyond the boundaries of their own lives. Now, during the entire process  from access to financing and distribution  the filmmakers identity is at least as closely scrutinized as that persons filmmaking aptitude.

Gill, who describes her political philosophy as center left, says modern documentaries can be broken down into two categories  classic and commercial, the latter fueled in part by Netflixs robust documentary lineup. The former, Gill says, isnt just liberal in nature but fringe left, while the commercial market offers some room for right-of-center storytelling. Either way, conservative documentaries rarely grace the film festival circuit.

The vast majority of submissions [to film festivals] are, in fact, going to be from the left perspective, she says. It would be good for our industry to hear those voices [from the right]  and have an honest conversation.

That wont happen unless more independent funders show up to support this brand of art. Left-of-center storytellers can lean on a variety sources, including the Ford Foundation (2017s Whose Streets?) and the MacArthur Foundation (2010s How Democracy Works Now) to finance their work, Gill says.

Progressive institutions have set themselves up for years to make these films, she says. So far, few non-left groups have copied that approach.

Amanda Milius agrees. The donor class of the right has to start acting like the donor class of the left, says Milius, director of the 2020 documentary "The Plot Against the President," based on the book of the same title by Lee Smith, a freelance contributor to RealClearInvestigations. Put that money into issue-based culture  and creators that hold the same values you do. Make something that lives forever.

Youre probably gonna make your money back and more, she adds, plus, youre investing in actual change of the culture.
Erika Dickerson-Despenza quit her last non-theater job in 2019, ready to pursue a full-time career as a playwright in New York. And that career was looking good: she was wrapping up a fellowship at the Lark, starting a residency at the Public Theater, and working on a play inspired by the Flint water crisis.

The Public scheduled a staging of that play  her first professional production  for the summer of 2020.

You can imagine what happened next.

The coronavirus pandemic shuttered theaters across America, and with it, scuttled her debut. But now the play, cullud wattah, is being recognized with the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, a respected annual award honoring work by women and nonbinary playwrights. The prize is a distinctive one  $25,000 for the winner, plus a Willem de Kooning print  and many of its recipients have gone on to great acclaim (among them, the Pulitzer winners Annie Baker, Jackie Sibblies Drury, Marsha Norman, Lynn Nottage, Wendy Wasserstein and Paula Vogel).

Dickerson-Despenza, a 29-year-old Chicago native, is thrilled. Its a really affirming moment, she said, not only for me as an emerging playwright, but also for the way that I am doing my work as a queer Black woman who has intentionally decided to write about Black women and girls.
Around 50 workers from a Phnom Penh garment factory tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, with Phnom Penh reporting more than 100 new cases and raising concerns over the continued increase in the countrys case count.

Dy Rath Khemrun, Phnom Penhs Meanchey district deputy governor, said the workers who had tested positive for COVID-19 are from Din Han Enterprise, a Taiwanese-owned garment factory.

Now we are taking samples from workers to be tested, he said, adding that there were more than 2,500 workers in the factory.

Representatives for Din Han Enterprise could not be reached for comment on Thursday. Or Vandine, Health Ministry spokesperson, and Ngy Meanheng, director of the Phnom Penh Health Department, could not be reached for comment either.

Yang Sophorn, president of pro-worker union Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions, said that once garment workers contracted COVID-19 it would be difficult to control the spread in the community.

Workers are truly worried and afraid. But they have no other choices besides continuing to work at their factory, she said.

The union leader is concerned that the factories will have to temporarily shut down resulting in job losses and no salaries for workers.

I urge the government and factory owners to continue supporting [workers] so they can support their families and pay back loans, she added.

The Health Ministry on Thursday reports 113 new cases, 103 of which were in Phnom Penh. The ministry also announced two new COVID-19 deaths, taking the death toll to 24 as of Thursday.

Cambodia has reported 2,496 cases of COVID-19 since February 20, the most recent community transmission incident, with more than 1,000 active cases.

The government has turned the Great Duke Hotel into a makeshift hospital because of the increase in active cases and had to nationalize the Nokor Tep Womens Hospital with private donations.

World Health Organization country representative Dr. Li Ailan said on Wednesday she was very concerned about the current situation.

More than half (53%) of cases either cannot be linked to the original source of the outbreak or are under investigation. This is a warning sign that the virus is silently spreading within the community, she said in an email.

COVID-19 can spread silently because half of the cases identified in the current outbreak show no symptoms. This means they do not think they are sick, but in fact they are spreading the virus wherever they go, she added.

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday instructed the Health Ministry to prepare guidelines to treat people with mild COVID-19 symptoms in their homes, as the recent surge in cases puts immense pressure on the countrys healthcare system.
Jordan Peterson, the conservative psychology professor and podcast host, has claimed on Twitter that hes inspired the villain Red Skull featured in Ta-Nehisi Coates run of Captain America comics.

In Captain America Volume 9 #28, which was released by Marvel Comics on March 31, Red Skull preaches his Ten Rules for Life as well as Chaos and Order and The Feminist Trap. This appears to reference Petersons self-help book 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos released in 2018, and Petersons contention that chaos is represented by the feminine.

More from Variety

Late on Monday, Peterson posted screenshots of the Captain American issue, asking his followers to verify his suspicion that he was the inspiration for Red Skull in its story.

Do I really live in a universe where Ta-Nehisi Coates has written a Captain America comic featuring a parody of my ideas as part of the philosophy of the arch villain Red Skull? he tweeted. He currently has the tweet pinned on his profile.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

A representative for Marvel Comics did not respond to a request from Variety to comment.

The main theme of the issue alludes to internet influences who use their platforms to radicalize young men online in order to fuel reactionary fires and their own agendas.

What has happened to the men of the world is truly one of the great tragedies of our time. Once, the American man was a conqueror. Now he is but a caretaker, Skull says in one of his online speeches. No more shall women be summoned to fight your battles. I offer steel for your spine and iron for your gut. I offer you the sword of manhood.

Captain America mentions a young boy disappearing into the internet, emerging with a new theory of the world fed to him by Red Skull  what appears to be another reference to followers of Petersons who have taken to his philosophy largely through his YouTube channel.

Story continues

[Skull] tells them what theyve always longed to hear, Cap says. That they are secretly great. That the whole worlds against them. That if theyre truly men, theyll fight back. And bingo. Thats their purpose. Thats what they live for and thats what theyll die for.

Coates issue eludes to other issues that are currently roiling the US. One page depicts a divided rally, with one sides picket signs reading America Forever! while the others read Equality Now and Stop Hate Now. At the end of the issue, Sharon Carter is tending to Captain Americas wounds, while telling him about how the Power Elite, a Hydra-based group inspired by Red Skull, is trying to attack the idea of America, and references attacks at the US Capitol.

Coates is an influential best-selling writer who came to prominence first with a 2014 reported essay in The Atlantic titled The Case for Reparations, followed by his 2015 book Between the World and Me. Hes also written Black Panther comics for Marvel, and started his current run on Captain America in 2018.

In February, Warner Bros. tapped Coates to write the script for a new Superman film with J.J. Abrams Bad Robot.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
A final settlement has been submitted in a federal suit that led to the release of migrants who entered the U.S. without permission, a number from Connecticut, over conditions in a Massachusetts jail.

The Yale Law School Worker & Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic is one of four groups that brought the suit a year ago in March.

The other groups are Lawyers for Civil Rights out of Boston; the private firm of WilmerHale from Washington, D.C., which provided legal services pro bono, and Rights Behind Bars.

Massachusetts U.S. District Judge William G. Young in April 2020 granted class certification to the migrants whose attorneys wanted them released from the Bristol County House of Correction because of the threat of COVID-19 infections and health precautions at the facility.

Kayla Crowell, a spokesperson for the Yale Law clinic, said Youngs class certification is believed to be the first such action for all detainees in a facility that was not tied to medical risk factors.

The agreement signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kanwit in Massachusetts and the plaintiffs asks Young to approve the settlement and set a final Fairness Hearing within 28 days to grant final approval.

Crowell said the clients in the case have been able to wait at home for immigration officials to hear their cases, rather than in jail. She said the advocates hope the suit serves as a template for other attorneys challenging safety in detention centers in the country.

Bristol has a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house individuals being held in civil immigration detention as they await their hearings.

The detainees come from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York, Crowell said. Connecticut has no detention centers of its own.

Young, in granting a preliminary injunction last May, said he did so because of the cavernous holes in the governments mitigation strategy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He said, at the time, Bristol was failing to reduce overcrowding, it lacked COVID-19 testing and appropriate contact tracing. The judge ordered that no additional detainees be sent to the facility, which will continue in effect, until the final settlement has been signed.

Over the past year, the injunction contributed to a reduction in the number of immigrants held in Bristol from 148 to seven individuals, according to the four groups supporting the suit.

The court allowed 43 individuals to post bail; others were granted bond by immigration judges, were voluntarily released, or settled their immigration cases. Crowell said six more clients were released from Bristol last week and the seven remaining will have the option of transferring to another New England ICE facility.

Young, in his ruling on the injunction, said as a judge who has served at both the state and federal levels he was struck that the bulk of the detainees would have been granted bail had they been American citizens facing criminal charges. They were being held because of their immigration status, not on criminal charges.

Jonathan Darling, spokesman for Bristol, offered a different perspective.

Darling said at the time the suit was filed, no detainee at Bristol had contracted COVID. He said the facility has complied with every directive and/or recommendation set out by the CDC or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regarding disinfection and COVID prevention.

The settlement states that nothing in the agreement shall be construed in any way as an admission, presumption, or concession by defendant or ICE of any liability or wrongdoing whatsoever.  It said it was reached to avoid protracted litigation.

Bristol County remains proud of its efforts against the COVID epidemic and commends its officers and staff for their great efforts which resulted in the minimal effect COVID has had on the prisoners and staff, Darling said in a statement.

Emaile Gainey, spokesperson for the attorney generals office, said it welcomed the proposed lawsuit settlement which will go a long way in achieving our recommendation to DHS to curb BCSOs involvement in detaining immigrants and enforcing immigration law.

She said the office would continue to work with regulators on further implementation of our recommendations.

John Mohan, spokesman for the New England Region for ICE and Homeland Security, declined to comment on the lawsuit until its final resolution.

He said the current contract between Bristol and ICE remains in effect and he was not aware of any plans to cancel it.
Following a night spent in his car after being locked out of his embassy in London, Myanmars ambassador has urged the British government to live up to its declarations on upholding universal democratic values and stand by him.

Ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn requested the Foreign Office to act against the coup in central London just as it had condemned the one in Myanmar.

He asked that his deputy, who has taken over the building, should not be recognised as his replacement and be expelled instead, along with other supporters of the military junta which seized power.

The request from the ambassador poses an awkward problem for Britain.

Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary on a visit to countries in the Far East, tweeted: We condemn the bullying actions of the Myanmar military regime in London yesterday, and I pay tribute to Kyaw Zwar Minn for his courage.

Read more:

The UK continues to call for an end to the coup and the appalling violence, and a swift restoration of democracy.

This was followed by widespread praise in social media by opponents of the military regime who interpreted the message as the UK rebuffing the attempt to remove the ambassador.

One, typical, tweet said: Thank you for your support and we expect you to support till the end of this matter. Thanks again.

Another stated: Democracy in Myanmar will be forever grateful to its friends.

But the British government, under diplomatic protocol, cannot in theory pick and choose who other states appoint as their envoy.

The Foreign Office has received a letter from the embassy saying that ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn was removed from his post on 9 March and deputy ambassador Chit Win has taken over as charge daffaires.

The junta fired the countrys ambassador to the UN, Kyaw Moe Tun, following the coup in February after he urged the UN General Assembly to use any means necessary to ensure that Aung San Suu Kyi remains the rightful leader in the eyes of the international community.

On that occasion, Kyaw Moe Tun remained as ambassador after his deputy, Tin Maung Naing, whom the regime had earmarked as his replacement, resigned instead and the UN special envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, called on countries not to recognise or legitimise the junta.

Demonstrators hold banners outside the Myanmar embassy in London on Thursday (AP)

In London a spokesman for ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn said: The ambassador has been recalled by the Myanmar military regime  since then he has stopped following instructions from the Myanmar foreign ministry.

We believe the UK government would not back those who are working for the military junta and we also would like to urge the UK government to send them back.

There has been a coup in Myanmar in February and now the same situation in central London. This is unacceptable and disrespectful not only to the people of Myanmar but it is also clearly disrespectful to all of democratic society in the UK.
[April 08, 2021] Juan Pedro Perez Cozar Joins Evercore as Senior Managing Director and Head of Evercore Iberia

Evercore (NYSE: EVR) announced today that Juan Pedro Perez Cozar has joined the firm as a Senior Managing Director and Head of its advisory business in Iberia. Based in Madrid, he will focus on advising clients across a broad range of sectors on M&A and capital advisory transactions in Spain and Portugal. Mr. Perez Cozar has 23 years of industry experience and joins Evercore from Rothschild, where he was a Managing Director in its advisory business focused on Spanish client coverage. Mr. Perez Cozar joined Rothschild in May 2008 after seven years at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, where he was responsible for Iberian client coverage. He has advised on approximately 100 transactions in the Iberian market, predominantly M&A, but also more than 40 equity capital market deals (mainly IPOs and secondary disposals) and debt advisory transactions. Among recent transactions, Mr. Perez Cozar advised on the partial disposal of Cepsa to Carlyle, the acquisition of Areas by PAI, the acquisition of ITP by Rolls Royce and more than 20 private equity deals in the Iberian market. He also advised on the c. 44bn acquisition of Endesa by Enel - the largest ever Spanish cross border deal. Mr. Perez Cozar will take on the leadership of Evercore's successful Madrid-based team. He will be joined by two additional senior hires, Gorka Irigoyen and Josemaria Beltran, both of whom were previously Directors with Rothschild in Madrid. Additional new hires are planned over the coming months to build out the team. Gustavo Montes will remain an integral part of Evercore's team in Madrid and will continue to focus on the Utilities and Infrasructure sectors.



Ralph Schlosstein, Evercore's Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are delighted to welcome Juan Pedro to Evercore. His client focus, leadership skills and deep experience in advising corporate and sponsor clients on a broad range of M&A and capital advisory transactions make him the ideal person to take on the leadership of our advisory business in Iberia. This is a very important hire for the firm as we look to grow our business in Europe." John Weinberg, Evercore's Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, added, "We have enjoyed considerable success in the Iberian market over recent years in a range of industries such as Technology, Paper & Packaging and Hospitality, in addition to the efforts of our Madrid-based team who focus on the Utilities and Infrastructure sector. The addition of Juan Pedro, Gorka and Josemaria will further strengthen our local capabilities, adding deep expertise in equity capital markets and debt advisory in addition to an array of M&A experience across a broad range of sectors."

Mr. Perez Cozar said, "I am excited to join Evercore and be part of the firm's expansion of its advisory business in Europe. I look forward to working with a team of highly entrepreneurial individuals and to serving Spanish and Portuguese clients with a fresh perspective that leverages both strong local knowledge and superior industry expertise. I am proud to be a part of Evercore and its focused expansion in Europe." Mr Perez Cozar received a degree in Business Administration from CUNEF University in Madrid. About Evercore Evercore (NYSE: EVR) is a premier global independent investment banking advisory firm. We are dedicated to helping our clients achieve superior results through trusted independent and innovative advice on matters of strategic significance to boards of directors, management teams and shareholders, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic shareholder advisory, restructurings, and capital structure. Evercore also assists clients in raising public and private capital and delivers equity research and equity sales and agency trading execution, in addition to providing wealth and investment management services to high net worth and institutional investors. Founded in 1995, the Firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices and affiliate offices in major financial centers in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. For more information, please visit www.evercore.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210407006038/en/

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Cambodia: The Ministry of Labour has announced that employees of factories and enterprises will be issued transportation passes to allow them to travel to work between provinces, while the two-week provincial travel ban is in place after the country witnessed an increase in the number of new coronavirus cases.

The ban took effect from Wednesday with the exception for vehicles transporting goods, officials, healthcare workers, armed forces members and patients, Xinhua news agency quoted Prime Minister Hun Sen as saying.

He added that commuter vehicles transporting garment factory workers will also be exempted from the ban if they hold an approval letter from the Labour Ministry or provincial labour departments.

Minister of Labour Ith Samheng said that all vehicles used for transport to work, whether it is for one worker or a shared vehicle for multiple workers, must have a pass issued by the Ministry of Labour or the relevant provincial department.

"The ban is aimed at combating and preventing the spread of Covid-19 from one province to another," Hun Sen said. He said the capital Phnom Penh and its surrounding Kandal province are considered as one region and travel between them will not be prohibited.

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BALTIMORE  Baltimore voters will get to decide whether the city should take back full control of the Baltimore Police Department from the state for the first time since 1860.

The question will appear on ballots in either 2022 or 2024 after legislation setting up the referendum on the status of the Baltimore Police Department sailed through the Maryland General Assembly.

State senators on Wednesday unanimously approved the bill, sponsored by Sen. Cory McCray and Delegate Melissa Wells, both Baltimore Democrats, sending it to Republican Gov. Larry Hogans desk. The House of Delegates passed the legislation Friday on a vote of 115-21, a veto-proof majority.

Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott, who championed the issue during his time on the Baltimore City Council, drafted the legislation and threw the support of his administration behind it.

Hogan, a Republican, hasnt weighed in on the issue and a spokesman hasnt responded to questions about whether he supports a referendum on local control. The bills broad support in both chambers of the General Assembly would give lawmakers enough votes to override any potential veto.

Baltimore is the only jurisdiction in Maryland where the police department or sheriffs office is officially a state agency. State lawmakers in 1860 seized control of the Baltimore Police Department to wrest control of the agency from the virulently anti-immigrant Know-Nothing Party, which controlled city politics at the time and stacked the police department with loyal followers.

Bloody political street fighting in 1850s Baltimore marred elections in the city. There were pitched gun battles involving the Know-Nothings and the proslavery Democrats, sometimes punctuated by cannon fire, according to Matthew Crenson, an emeritus professor of history at Johns Hopkins University. Fights during the 1856 election left roughly 30 dead.

Baltimore taxpayers have remained responsible for funding the department and the City Council controls its budget. But until 1976, the governor picked the citys police commissioner, who has wide independent authority to run the department.

The state returned the authority to hire and fire the commissioner to Baltimores mayor in 1976 after intense lobbying by Black leaders in the city, who argued the department was in urgent need of reform and unresponsive to community demands.

But the departments official status as a state agency remained, and the lack of full control limits the City Councils ability to directly regulate the agency.

Internal police department overhauls that in other jurisdictions are handled with county council actions require approval from the General Assembly, including tweaks to how officers are selected for promotions. Giving the city control over such matters was part of legislation that lawmakers also sent Wednesday to the governor.

A new advisory board will help craft the language of the proposed amendment to the city charter.

How the charter is amended will have significant implications for how the police department is governed in the future. The charter currently leaves decisions over how to run the department almost entirely to the commissioner, broadly prohibiting the mayor or City Council from directly regulating the agency beyond hiring or firing the departments leader.

Local leaders will decide whether to put the issue on the ballot in 2022 or 2024. If approved, the change would take effect at the beginning of the following year. The next statewide elections in Maryland will be in 2022, while 2024 is the year of the next elections for mayor and City Council.



Bryn Stole of The Baltimore Sun wrote this story.

2021 The Baltimore Sun. Visit at baltimoresun.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Ever noticed the body language of a youngster doing well in life? Theres a spring in his step and a smile on his face. Sundeep Kishan has these and more.

The actor is currently enjoying a break from work on his film Gully Rowdy. But he hasnt planned any activity for this downtime.

I have been working non-stop; after my last film was wrapped up, I started promoting it, and then I straightaway started shooting for this film. So I am deliberately staying home and chilling out. I am feeling so happy about this break; sometimes its amazing to be idle, and not do anything, right? he smiles.

According to the actor, Gully Rowdy has a quirky plotline which is why he was hooked to it from the start. I play Meesala Raju, a boy who wants to pursue his studies. But since his father and grandfather were rowdies, they wanted him to carry on the tradition. I thought the plot was cool, shares Sundeep, adding that the script has a lot of humour.

The films director G. Nageshwar Reddy did everything to make the film a laugh riot. In fact, this is my quirkiest role till date. My mannerisms, gestures, antics, my Vizag slang and dry humour in the film trigger laughter, says the actor.

Sundeep has been known for working on multiple films simultaneously, but he reveals that he isnt keen to do that anymore. I made a conscious decision not to multi-task; thats because in the process of doing so I am missing out on all the fun of being in a character. I feel thats the most significant aspect of playing any role. So I want to take one step at a time, he explains.

His role in his last film, A1 Express, required the actor to transform physically and mentally. But in Gully Rowdy, he had to unlearn much of what he learnt in A1 Express. This role demands spontaneity, he says, adding, I love exploring various roles  thats the beauty of acting.

The actor says working on different films has been a wholesome experience. It gave me so much room to perform, and prove that content is king, asserts Sundeep, who is also bankrolling a film, Vivaha Bhojanambu.
Low vaccination rates in counties that are whiter and more conservative could be impairing Texas ability to quickly reach herd immunity for COVID-19.

Texas counties that are poorer, whiter, less-educated and where former President Donald Trump won a larger than average share of the vote have vaccinated a smaller share of their population than the state average, a Houston Chronicle analysis found.

In the 144 Texas counties that meet these criteria, about 29.4 percent of people aged 16 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Statewide, the average is 33 percent.

If residents in those counties were vaccinated at the same rate as the state average, more than 100,000 additional Texans wouldve received at least one dose.

In Liberty County, just a shade over 20 percent of residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, one of the lowest rates in the state. Whats more, as Harris County residents have begun flocking to rural counties for easier access to vaccines, state data shows that providers in Liberty County  a rural patch between Houston and Beaumont  have put 27 percent more shots in the arms of Harris County residents than they have in residents of their own county.

Meanwhile, in the 22 counties where Joe Biden won a majority of the vote  places that tend to be both more diverse and educated  an average of about 45.6 percent of eligible Texans have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

The vaccination gap between whiter, more conservative counties and the state average may not be cause for concern for the states vaccination efforts yet, said Rice University health economist Vivian Ho, but there is a potential for it to widen over the next two to three months.

MORE COVID NEWS: Heres what doctors expect in Houston as the fourth COVID wave slams the East Coast

As more vaccines become available, that gap is going to widen, because theres still excess demand for vaccines in our cities, where the majority of the population lives, she said. If, for instance, only 50 percent of people in these outlier counties are vaccinated, they will continually be subject to superspreader events that will overwhelm the weakest components of the states health care infrastructure.

While polls have consistently shown that white Republicans are more hesitant about the vaccine, the Chronicles analysis used voting and demographics data, as well as the states own vaccine data, to show that race and political affiliation are tied to lower vaccination rates.

The Kaiser Family Foundations COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor found that nationwide, white, rural Republicans were the groups most likely to say they werent getting the vaccine at all. More locally, a University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll in February found that 59 percent of Texas Republicans either were reluctant to get a shot or would refuse one.

While attention has been focused on Trump supporters, theres also been worry among some that white evangelicals, a massive demographic that largely overlaps with the counties in the Chronicle analysis, will slow the nations path to herd immunity.

In Montgomery County, where only 27.6 percent of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, one religious leader said hes heard many people voice skepticism.

I know that exists here in Montgomery County because I see it on my social media, said Jeff Berger, pastor of First Baptist Church in Conroe. Thats part of the curse of living in this age. Social media, the 24-hour news cycle, the different echo chambers  it gives free rein to voices that push out this conspiracy-type rhetoric, and there are certain people who just get addicted to that content.

Berger said that his congregation included a few vocal skeptics of the pandemic early on but that churchgoers have been generally receptive to safety precautions. The virus killed two First Baptist members, which Berger said made the reality of the pandemic hit home at his church.

The fact that everybody now knows somebody whos had it has helped them see that this is real, he said of his congregation.

White evangelicals have a history of vaccine skepticism dating back decades, said Kira Ganga Kieffer, who researches vaccines and religious movements at Boston University.

But COVID-19 has been particularly worrisome because of how politicized its become, she said. Whereas hesitancy toward other vaccines, such as the one for HPV, have often been rooted in moral concerns, todays skeptics have been fueled by a mix of culture war rhetoric and the proliferation of online conspiracies.

MORE HEALTH NEWS: 14 years later, has the HPV vaccine made a difference in Texas?

She also noted that, historically, the idea of government-mandated vaccinations has fueled hesitancy in a variety of communities, including those that are predominantly white and evangelical.

Such concerns have been bubbling in recent weeks, as some conservative politicians have said Biden planned to institute vaccine passports. A White House spokesperson denied that was the case on Tuesday, the same day Gov. Greg Abbott announced a statewide ban of vaccination passports.

A lot of (skepticism) is coming from a distinct and real strong distrust of authority and of the government in general, and a go-at-it-alone, individualistic worldview, Kieffer said. Thats not new, but Id say its been really hyped up, and Trump really tapped into that anti-establishment, anti-authority mentality.

Craig Matson is among those who say they will likely not take the vaccine. The 70-year-old Boerne resident questioned the severity of the virus, comparing it to the flu. He was suspicious of numbers reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the major vaccines.

If people choose to take a COVID-19 vaccine because they believe that is their best protective option, they ought to have the freedom to do so, he added. Medical freedom is important on both sides of this issue.

Kendall County, where Boerne is located, voted for Trump at a greater rate than the state as a whole and has a higher share of white residents than the state.

On average, support of Trump, coupled with higher shares of the white population, regardless of other factors, is the strongest link to lower vaccination rates, the Chronicles data analysis found. In whiter counties where support for Trump was stronger, an average of 30.2 percent of residents have gotten at least one shot, lower than the states average.

Theres also a positive correlation between education and vaccination rates, regardless of political affiliation. This can be seen in Kendall County, which is wealthier and more educated than the state averages, and where more than 40 percent of residents have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine.

Across the state, health officials are searching for ways to reach and vaccinate people who are reluctant to do so.

State health officials are trying to think through the last mile, said Dr. David Lakey, a member of the Texas COVID-19 Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel. People who are hesitant to get vaccinated may not go to mass vaccination sites or hubs but may go to providers they trust.

On HoustonChronicle.com: There is light shining out of the tomb. Despite darkness, chaplains are hopeful ahead of Easter

In Public Health Region 4/5 North  a group of counties in the northeastern part of the state, around Tyler  officials are working with faith-based communities and hosting vaccine fairs to vaccinate more people in the region with the states lowest average rate. They have also been conducting home visits as part of these efforts to bring vaccines to homebound people.

Ron Nichols, emergency coordinator for Chambers County, said having well-known, local paramedics dole out doses has helped assuage some residents concerns. Nichols said demand for vaccines was initially high but has begun to plateau in recent months because people either are waiting on the single-shot vaccine from Johnson & Johnson or have distrust rooted in misinformation.

There are a lot of people who just dont understand, dont know or dont trust the process, he said. The Facebook misinformation machine has been running rampant.

Hesitancy has also affected the states allocations of vaccine doses. The counties that are whiter, more Trump-friendly, poorer and less educated have been allocated proportionally fewer vaccine doses, according to the Chronicles analysis.

I think hesitancy plays into demand and then demand plays into the allocation, Lakey said. If there is a community that is more hesitant, they go through vaccines slower and therefore they would be shipped less vaccine.

Lakey said he believes that shifting away from allocating vaccine doses to larger providers and sending more to smaller providers will dispel some of the hesitancy.

Leighanne Cobb, 67, was among the skeptics in Chambers County. The retired, Trump-voting Southern Baptist said she had read conspiracies about people being microchipped through the vaccine. More than anything, she was concerned by what she felt was a rushed rollout of the vaccines.

I felt like it got pushed along too fast, she said. Eventually, she and other family members sought out the opinions of medical professionals.

Cobb received her second dose on Tuesday, as did her elderly father.

I feel perfectly fine, she said.

jordan.rubio@chron.com

robert.downen@chron.com
This transport system may be widespread across many Gram-positive bacteria that contain proteins in the WXG100 superfamily. Tuberculosis kills 1 million people each year.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Six years ago, Michael Niederweis, Ph.D., described the first toxin ever found for the deadly pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This toxin, tuberculosis necrotizing toxin, or TNT, became the founding member of a novel class of previously unrecognized toxins present in more than 600 bacterial and fungal species, as determined by protein sequence similarity. The toxin is released as M. tuberculosis bacteria survive and grow inside their human macrophage host, killing the macrophage and allowing the escape and spread of the bacteria.

For 132 years, the lack of an identified toxin in M. tuberculosis had contrasted with nearly all other pathogenic bacteria whose toxins contribute to illness or death. M. tuberculosis infects 9 million people a year and kills more than 1 million.

Now, in another groundbreaking work, the University of Alabama at Birmingham researcher and colleagues describe how two small ESX proteins made by the M. tuberculosis bacteria mediate secretion of TNT by pore formation in the membranes that envelop the bacteria. This finding may have broad application because a distinctive three-amino acid motif found on EsxE and EsxF -- tryptophan/any-amino-acid/glycine, known in shorthand as WXG -- is also found on many other small mycobacterium proteins and on the large WXG100 superfamily of bacterial proteins that resemble EsxE and EsxF.

"Here, we show for the first time that small Esx proteins of the WXG100 family have an important molecular function inside the Mtb cell by mediating toxin secretion," said Niederweis, a professor in the UAB Department of Microbiology. "Our results suggest a dynamic mechanism of pore formation by small Esx proteins that might be applicable to other members of the large WXG100 protein family. Thus, our study not only represents a major advancement in our understanding of secretion of TNT and likely of other proteins in M. tuberculosis, but also describes a biological function for Esx-paralogs in M. tuberculosis and their homologs in the large WXG100 protein family in Gram-positive bacteria."

TNT is one of two domains in the M. tuberculosis outer membrane protein CpnT; activity of the TNT domain of CpnT in the cytosol of the macrophage induces macrophage death by hydrolyzing NAD+. M. tuberculosis has an inner membrane and an outer membrane, and a protein needs to get through each layer to be secreted outside of the bacterium. How CpnT gets to the outer membrane was unknown.

EsxE and EsxF are part of the same gene segment as CpnT, and the UAB researchers hypothesized that the two small proteins might be involved in secretion of the toxin.

By creating different strains that lacked either EsxE or EsxF, they showed that both proteins were necessary for the translocation of CpnT to the cell surface of M. tuberculosis and for the secretion of TNT into the cytosol of macrophages infected with M. tuberculosis. Furthermore, EsxE and EsxF are surface-accessible proteins on M. tuberculosis as a membrane-associated complex.

To learn more about the mechanism of that translocation, the UAB team made mutants of each Esx protein, where the tryptophan amino acid of the single WXG motif on each protein was replaced by the amino acid alanine. The mutants showed that an intact WXG motif on EsxE and on EsxF were required for efficient CpnT translocation to the outer membrane of M. tuberculosis and subsequent TNT secretion into the cytosol of infected macrophages.

Purification of the water-soluble EsxE and EsxF proteins showed they formed EsxE-EsxF dimers, and five of these dimers assembled into star-shaped structures, as viewed by electron microscopy. Each was about 10 nanometers across, with a 3-nanometer central pore.

Experiments with planar lipid bilayers were key to understanding the molecular function of EsxE-EsxF, as they showed that the EsxE-EsxF pores formed channels through lipid membranes.

Finally, the researchers showed that the WXG motifs were required for pore formation and membrane disruption by the EsxE-EsxF complex, and the motifs mediated assembly of functional EsxE-EsxF oligomers. This now defines a biochemical role for the previously enigmatic WXG motif.

"EsxE and EsxF constitute the first known outer membrane components mediating protein secretion in M. tuberculosis," Niederweis said. "However, it is unlikely that EsxE and EsxF are sufficient for TNT secretion, since an energy source is required in all known bacterial protein secretion systems. Therefore, it is possible that EsxE-EsxF associate with other proteins or protein complexes to achieve CpnT export and TNT secretion."

The UAB researchers propose two models for the transport of CpnT by EsxE and EsxF. In the first, the EsxE-EsxF heterodimers form a pore in the inner membrane, and then form another pore in the outer membrane to create transmembrane channels. "Alternatively," Niederweis said, "the inner membrane channel is extended to span the periplasm via filament formation, and connects to EsxE-EsxF pores in the outer membrane, exposing EsxF on the cell surface. In this model, the putative EsxE-EsxF channel tunnel enables export of the CpnT polypeptide to the outer membrane of M. tuberculosis, and subsequent secretion of TNT and EsxE-EsxF."

Co-authors with Niederweis in the study, "Pore-forming Esx proteins mediate toxin secretion by Mycobacterium tuberculosis," published in Nature Communications, are Uday Tak and Terje Dokland, UAB Department of Microbiology.

"This work was a remarkable achievement of an outstanding graduate student, Uday Tak, who did almost all of these experiments by himself," Niederweis said. Uday Tak obtained his Ph.D. in November 2020 and is now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

###

This paper was selected by the editor-in-chief as a highlight and is featured on a special website called "Microbiology and infectious diseases."

Support came from National Institutes of Health grant AI121354. Electron microscopy data analysis was performed on the UAB CHEAHA supercomputer platform, which is supported by National Science Foundation grant OAC-1541310.

At UAB, Niederweis holds the Endowed Professorship in Bacteriology.
(Natural News) The South American nation of Chile was lauded by its neighbors for its coronavirus vaccination program, comparable to that of Israel. The Middle Eastern country managed to emerge from a lockdown with the help of widespread immunization drives. But despite the mass inoculations, Chile has since gone back into lockdown  a stark contrast to Israel, which slowly returned to normal.

More than a third of the countrys population of 18 million have received at least one dose of the Wuhan coronavirus vaccines. Chile approved the Pfizer/BioNTech and Sinovac Biotech jabs for use in its population. But a spike of coronavirus infections that stretched the Chilean health system thin prompted the return of strict lockdown measures. On the other hand, Israel exclusively administered the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to its citizens. It also implemented a green pass vaccine passport system that restricted people who have not yet been inoculated from visiting certain establishments.

According to a Guardian op-ed, Chiles speedy vaccination program may have instilled a false sense of security in Chileans who may have tried to return to normalcy without considering that the risk of COVID-19 is still around. It reopened its borders in November 2020 and introduced permits for citizens to go on summer holiday two months later. The lack of strict controls on inbound travelers and effective contact tracing inadvertently allowed previously undetected infections to enter Chile.

Furthermore, the op-ed mentioned that reopening schools alongside churches and other business establishments would have facilitated the spread of the pathogen. Given the high transmission rates in the country, a far greater proportion of Chileans would need to be inoculated to allow it to keep a step ahead of the infections.

A report drafted by the Chilean Universidad del Desarrollo, which tracked mobile phone data, said there were vast increases in peoples movement in January and February 2021. This period also corresponded with Chileans being allowed to travel for vacation purposes. Because of the loosened restrictions, the virus managed to spread and cause more infections alongside the movement of 5 million people.

Disregard for health protocols exacerbated Wuhan coronavirus infections

Chiles government ordered a full lockdown effective April 1, with health authorities mandating a return to stringent measures. Seventy percent of Chileans were confined to their residences due to the order. It also banned trips to the supermarket on weekends, which were previously allowed before the lockdown. (Related: Firebreak lockdown in Wales sees non-essential items covered in grocery stores.)

The countrys daily case count recorded a new high on March 27 with 7,084 new COVID-19 cases. This broke the previous daily record of 6,938 cases from June 2020. Nevertheless, the amount of new COVID-19 infections per day has brought the Chilean health care system close to its breaking point. Critical care bed occupancy is now at 95 percent and health care workers are now taking medical leave because of exhaustion and stress.

Chileans overconfidence in the coronavirus vaccines caused them to lower their guard. House cleaner Genoveva Fernandez cited an example of this overconfidence when she spoke with NBC News. I see young people everywhere gathering in big groups. Masks are mandatory in Chile, but I see many youngsters with them around their chins, eating food on the subway [and] just not being careful, she said.

The 59-year-old Fernandez lamented: I think they believe the government is trying to manipulate them with the rules, but it just feels like they dont care about protecting  older [persons].

Universidad del Desarrollo Center of Epidemiology and Health Policy Director Dr. Ximena Aguilera also pointed out the role of young people and increased movement in spreading the virus. She said: Young people are drivers of the pandemic, but large increases in mobility over the recent summer also appear to be a major [cause] of the increase in infections.

Aguilera, who also serves as a COVID-19 adviser to the Chilean Ministry of Health, then issued a warning. We are now at a critical stage  and in a race between having enough intensive care units and staff for patients, and the protection we hope will be gained by continuing the vaccines, she remarked. (Related: THOUSANDS of graves dug in Chile in preparation for coronavirus surge.)

Based on Johns Hopkins University data, Chile currently has a COVID-19 caseload of 1.04 million cases with 965,641 recoveries and 23,734 deaths.

Visit Pandemic.news to read more news about coronavirus lockdowns in Chile and other countries worldwide.

Sources include:

TheGuardian.com

NBCNews.com

Coronavirus.JHU.edu
A married couple accused of involvement in a scam that tricked pensioners out of 3million by claiming their loved ones had been in car crashes will be extradited back to Hungary.

Csaba Nemeth, 42, and wife Maria Lakatos, 41, allegedly conned victims into transferring cash over the phone by telling them their relatives needed money to cover damages from motoring accidents.

It is said that 220 people aged between 70 and 96 were convinced their loved ones needed help or had been injured.

The couple are thought to have called pensioners and hired recruits to wait outside their homes and demand money once the conversation ended.

Lakatos, of Manchester, faces 19 counts of swindling, three counts of sexual exploitation, one count of kidnapping, illegal restraint and hostage taking, and one count of participating in organised crime.

Nemeth, of Bolton, faces 19 counts of swindling, five counts of fraud, and one count of participating in organised crime.

Csaba Nemeth, 42, and wife Maria Lakatos, 41, allegedly conned victims into transferring cash over the phone by telling them their relatives needed money to cover damages from motoring accidents

District Judge Angus Hamilton told the couple in separate virtual hearings at Westminster Magistrates' Court: 'You should be extradited back to Hungary.'

If convicted of the alleged con, which took place between January and July 2019, they face up to a decade behind bars.

Lakatos, wearing a grey cardigan over a white shirt and Nemeth, wearing a grey T-shirt, told the judge they planned to appeal the decision.

Prosecutor Amanda Bostock earlier told the extradition hearing: 'There's a large-scale conspiracy in Hungary that has been taking place to defraud elderly victims. The Hungarian authorities term them "grandchild frauds".

'An elderly person is contacted by these alleged persons and others in the UK.

'They are told their relative, usually a grandchild, has been involved in a car accident and that they need money urgently to resolve an incident.

'In some cases it's that they will be injured if the money isn't paid.'

'There's currently 220 victims aged between 70 and 96.

District Judge Angus Hamilton told the couple in separate virtual hearings at Westminster Magistrates' Court (pictured): 'You should be extradited back to Hungary'

'There's a hierarchy in which these alleged persons are said to be at the top in that they make the phone calls, recruited lower individuals who wait outside the property of the person being contacted so that as soon as they make the phone call the money is collected - usually jewellery - before they have time to check with their grandchild the real situation.

'Half a million pounds has been taken from these victims but several attempts have been made so the total loss is much higher and the damages are significant.'

According to a Hungarian media report, victims were called from an English telephone number by someone pretending to be the grandchild, or a relative of the elderly, during the conversation.

The Hungarian news report stated: 'They were called from an English telephone number who pretended to be the grandchild, a relative of the elderly, during the conversation.

'The caller claimed he had caused an accident and needed money immediately to make good the damage.

'Several versions of the urgency of the money were invented by the fraudsters: they were claiming that an expensive car had crashed and no police proceedings would be instituted against him with immediate payment of the damage, but there was also a case where the caller said he would be beaten and shall not be released from the scene until the amount of the damage caused has been paid.

'The mock relatives avoided direct encounters by convincing the victims that they themselves could not go for the money, possibly for jewellery, but would send an acquaintance for it.

'A courier was then directed to the home of the elderly, who took the money and jewellery, and then forwarded the package to those who distributed the money or handed it over to the managers of the organisation.

'Investigators arrested the couriers on several occasions while committing the crime when they went for the money, he told a news conference.'

Peter Bukovics, head of the Budapest police's property protection unit, said it took time to detect the crimes 'as elderly people who became victims were so ashamed that they were deceived that they often concealed what had happened to their loved ones and only reported it weeks later'.

Lakatos, of Manchester, faces 19 counts of swindling, three counts of sexual exploitation, one count of kidnapping, illegal restraint and hostage taking, and one count of participating in organised crime.

Nemeth, of Bolton, faces 19 counts of swindling, five counts of fraud, and one count of participating in organised crime.
TOKYO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IAR Systems, the future-proof supplier of software tools and services for embedded development, today announced that Kazuhisa Harabe has been appointed to Country Manager for IAR Systems Japan. Kiyofumi Uemura, who has served as Director for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and Country Manager for Japan since 2016, will continue to devote his efforts to business expansion as Director for the APAC region, which in addition to Japan also includes supporting the growing IAR Systems' offices in Taiwan, China and Korea.

"Since the founding of the Japanese office in 2001 and with the support of our customers and partners in Japan, we are able to celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2021," said Kiyofumi Uemura, APAC Director, IAR Systems. "During these two decades, we have experienced various changes in the business, but thankfully we have been able to increase revenue continuously over more than 18 years. In the midst of turbulent changes in recent years, leadership drawing on superior analytical skills and problem-solving abilities is essential, and Kazuhisa Harabe has been prominent among the employees who have worked in concert to grow our business. With the elevation of Kazuhisa Harabe to represent our company in Japan, I am certain that we will be able to build better relations with our customers and partners, contributing to expansion of our business into embedded systems in Japan."

"I take great pride in being appointed to a position from which, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Japanese office, I will be able to lead such a great team," said Kazuhisa Harabe, newly appointed Country Manager Japan. "Through my contact with over 300 customers in Japan, from major manufacturers to tech venture businesses, I have witnessed the impressive competitive power in Japanese manufacturing. In order to create revolutionary products while maintaining international competitiveness, it is vital that superior Japanese engineering ability can be made even smarter and faster. To this end, our company considers our grand mission to provide superior development tools with powerful features. In my new role, I will focus on driving our business forward and contribute to the further fortification and development of world-renowned Japanese manufacturing."

Harabe joined IAR Systems in 2010 as an account sales representative, and has contributed to business expansion and strengthened partnerships with semiconductor vendors in the fields of factory automation, medical equipment, and consumer products. Since 2018, he has been responsible for IAR Systems' sales in Japan and has been engaged in the reinforcement of marketing and cultivation of new markets, such as the Internet of Things and robotics. Prior to joining IAR Systems, he served in several roles in the IT industry, and after handling various corporate solution sales in the SoftBank Group and with foreign IT vendors as well as starting up new businesses, he gained further experience in consulting sales to support B2B sales and marketing process improvements, and was involved in business organization innovations.

With headquarters in Sweden, IAR Systems has offices all around the world. In APAC, IAR Systems serves its customers through sales and support offices in Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan, and is also represented in additional countries through distributors.

Editor's Note: IAR Systems, IAR Embedded Workbench, Embedded Trust, C-Trust, C-SPY, C-RUN, C-STAT, IAR Visual State, IAR KickStart Kit, I-jet, I-jet Trace, I-scope, IAR Academy, IAR, and the logotype of IAR Systems are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by IAR Systems AB. All other product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

IAR Systems Contacts



AnnaMaria Tahlen, Content & Media Relations Manager, IAR Systems

Tel: +46 18 16 78 00 Email: [email protected]

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Tel: +46 18 16 78 00 Email: [email protected]

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I think that there are people that recognized the challenges of the pandemic and the decision we had to make, she said. There was no playbook for us to follow. No decision was going to make everyone happy.
in Aurangabad have



threatened to protest against restrictions imposed by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19.

As per the state government's order of 'Break the Chain', all shops under the non-essential category will remain closed till April 30.

Expressing unhappiness over the order, the Nabhik Mahamandal on Wednesday said salon owners here will burn an effigy of the government on Saturday and shave off their heads as part of the 'mundan andolan' on April 22.

They will also stage a 'ghantanaad' (ringing of bells) agitation outside their shops on April 14.

Representatives of the Aurangabad Jilha Vyapari Mahasangh met the district collector on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum, saying they should either be allowed to open their shops or given "permission for self-immolation".

Nearly two lakh labourers are employed with about 40,000 merchants in the district, according to the traders' body.

They also demanded a package from the government to sustain their livelihood.

(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.)
Thiruvananthapuram, April 8 : Congress' Kannur assembly seat candidate Sateeshan Pacheni on Thursday filed a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for violating the model code of conduct.

Pacheni, also is also the district Congress chief, said that soon after Vijayan cast his vote on April 6 at a booth in Kannur, he said thatt all gods, including Sabarimala's Lord Ayyappa, rooting for the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front.

"This is a clear violation of the model code of conduct to be observed during the election. So I have registered a complaint against him," he said.

Vijayan's comments had also drawn ire from other leaders of the Congress-led United Democratic Front, who said Vijayan is taking Hindu believers for a ride as it was he and his government which took the lead to break the tradition and culture of the famed Sabarimala temple by taking two women in the banned age group (10 to 50) to the temple accompanied by the police in 2018, following the apex court verdict.
The park where care worker Alan Willson was brutally attacked trying to save his son from bullies is a no-go area plagued by drug dealers, families claimed today.

Sellers and users were said to openly trade and take drugs, including crack cocaine, making Longcroft Park a menacing place to visit in daylight and completely avoided after dark.

Mr Willson, 46, had to sprint there from his home in Worthing, West Sussex, when he heard a group were throwing his son to the floor on Easter Sunday.

When he tried to intervene he was knocked unconscious - before his head was hit with an object as his horrified son watched.

The victim's wife Annie tonight spoke about the added stress of not being able to see her husband in hospital due to Covid-19 regulations.

She said Mr Willson's condition remained serious five days after the brutal attack.

In a statement, she said: 'We are incredibly grateful for the support shown to us by the community following the assault.

'To know that so many people care has brought us comfort at what has been an extremely difficult time. My husband is still in a very serious condition in hospital.

'This has been made all the more upsetting by the fact we haven't been able to go and visit him as a family due to Covid restrictions.

'We are thankful to all the medical staff who are working so hard to look after him.

'We ask that our privacy is respected and we are given time and space as a family to concentrate on my husband's recovery.'

Alan Willson, 46, (right) sprinted from his home in Worthing, West Sussex, to nearby Longcroft Park when he heard a group were throwing his son to the floor on Easter Sunday

Drug paraphernalia found in Longcroft Park where Mr Willson was attacked next to a notorious spot where dealers congregate

Four youths were arrested on Sunday (police at the scene on Sunday, pictured) and another on Monday. All five have been since been bailed - but are under 'strict conditions' including a ban on meeting each other and curfews

Frightened locals today told MailOnline they rarely see police patrolling the park - a vivid contrast to the crime scene where the savage attack was unleashed on Mr Willson.

One, a pensioner aged 78, said: 'This park should be a safe haven for the kids and for elderly people like me who just wanna get some peace from the area.

'But it's really rough. The big problem is the drug dealers in this park and kids smoking crack and getting out of their heads.

'One doesn't feel safe at all when they're around. We need more police.

'I walk my dog in the morning and afternoon but never in the evening. I wouldn't want to be here in the dark.

'The drug dealers congregate in a kids playground and they bring their music speakers and have some sort of rave parties which annoys the hell out of everybody.'

'We need more police officers in here. A bigger police presence would make sure that there would be no drugs sold. It is almost as if these youngsters feel they are running a legitimate business and the police can't stop them.'

Another resident, a woman who asked not to be identified, said: 'I've got a young daughter and I'm scared to take her into the park.

'There is a kids playground in there with a climbing frame and she should be able to play on that with her friends.

'But I'm not having that when these boys who look like men are around.

'They sit there on a bench near the kids playground smoking their drugs, shouting and playing loud music. This has been going on through the pandemic as well. The police need to arrest the whole lot of them.'

MailOnline can reveal that police carried out several drugs raids at addresses close to the park and arrested suspected dealers late last year.

At least two nearby houses were thought to have been being used as factories to produce cannabis.

Police were pictured at the park on Thursday. Mr Willson sprinted from his home in Worthing, West Sussex, to nearby Longcroft Park when he heard a group were throwing his son to the floor on Easter Sunday.

Mail Online can reveal that police carried out several drugs raids at addresses close to the park and arrested suspected dealers late last year. Pictured: Police on the scene on Thursday

Mr Willson remained in a critical condition in hospital today after the attack last weekend. Pictured: Police on the scene on Thursday

Mr Willson suffered lung trauma, broken bones and fractures to his spine - and had to have surgery on his brain in Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton. Pictured: Police and an air ambulance at the scene on Sunday

A number of arrests have been made over the last few months.

Fundraisers collect more than 20,000 for father seriously assaulted in park More than 20,000 has been raised for a care home worker who was seriously assaulted after he is understood to have stepped in to protect his son in a park. Alan Willson is reported to have been knocked unconscious after he ran from his home in Worthing, West Sussex, to Longcroft Park after his son called him to say he was being attacked on Easter Sunday. The 46-year-old was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton where he is in a coma. Five youths were arrested on suspicion for attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent and have been released on bail under 'strict curfews'. Three fundraising pages have been set up to support Mr Willson and his family, with one organised by friend Cheryl Edwards on justgiving.com having reached 22,659 by Thursday. Rhiann Wiseman, who has set up another appeal on GoFundMe, wrote on the site: 'Alan's son rung him to say he was in trouble in longcroft park, he went round to see what was happening to his young son & was brutally attacked. 'He is now in a coma after being beaten. His son saw the whole thing! We just want to take off any financial stress that is going to effect his wife & children.' And Tracy Bassett, who also started an appeal, wrote on GoFundMe: 'I work alongside this lovely local lady who's husband was brutally attacked when he went to answer a call of help from his son who then saw the whole attack!!' Advertisement

Mr Willson remained in a critical condition in hospital today after the attack last weekend.

A neighbour said the family were extremely close-knit and caring, adding Alan was a 'proper family man who would do anything for his family.'

He said: 'They're a lovely couple, the whole family are. They do everything together. The whole street is shocked by this, everyone is. Alan is a lovely guy and proper family man who would do anything for his family.

'No-one really knows what's gone on but it sounds horrendous. There have been problems with teenagers in the park doing drink and drugs and stuff in the past. I've spoken to friends about it myself.

'We're hoping and praying he's going to be okay.'

Another said: 'The family are at the hospital. They've been there on and off since this happened and they don't want pestering. They're trying to be strong for each other.'

Mr Willson suffered lung trauma, broken bones and fractures to his spine - and had to have surgery on his brain in Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

He is now in a coma fighting for his life.

Five youths - who cannot be named due to their age - have been arrested for attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent.

Four were arrested on Sunday and another on Monday. All five have been since been bailed - but are under 'strict conditions' including a ban on meeting each other and curfews.

The pandemic frontline worker is currently in a coma - with those close to his family terrified that he may wake up with brain damage, The Sun reports.

His horrified wife Annie, 49, described how her husband is 'fighting for his life after brain surgery for multiple bleeds on the brain'.

In a post online, she said he is the most kind and gentle man in the world'.

She said their 11-year-old son has been left traumatised by the ordeal.

Mr Willson's 25-year-old daughter Becky Willson issued a heartbreaking post on Facebook about her father, urging him to not to let his attackers 'win'.

She wrote: 'I just wish i could just see you dad and tell you its going to be okay.

'Please dad fight for your f****** life you are such a strong, caring man who has brought us kids up and loved us like we are your own.

'You have so much life left to live and a granddaughter who needs to grow up with her nan-dad.

Five youths - who cannot be named due to their age - have been arrested for attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent. Pictured: Police at the scene on Sunday

'I wish I could just hold your hand but unfortunately Covid has decided that for us.

'You can do this dad.'

A JustGiving fundraiser has been set up by the Willsons' family friend Cheryl Edwards.

It set out to raise only 500 to 'support the family' with expenses such as travel.

But donations have snowballed with the grand total now standing at 7,603.

To donate to Mr Willson's fundraiser, click here.
Kolkata, April 8 : Anup Majhi a.k.a. Lala the alleged kingpin of the illegal coal smuggling case once again appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday for questioning for the fourth time.

According to CBI officials, Majhi appeared before the CBI around 11 a.m.

A CBI official said that he is being questioned in connection with the case and about his financial dealings.

The CBI had earlier grilled Majhi for several hours on April 1 and 6 and on March 30 in connection with the case.

Majhi's close aide Ganesh Bavaria was questioned on April 3, and Birbhum's former Superintendent of Police Shyam Singh on April 1. The CBI had also questioned former Asanol Commissioner, Laxmi Narayan Meena in connection with the case.

On April 5, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the money laundering part, attached Majhi's immovable assets to the tune of Rs 165.86 crore.

The attached assets include land, factory premises, plant machinery and other assets of two companies -- Ispat Damodar Private Ltd and Sonic Thermal Private Ltd. The manufacturing plants of both these companies are situated in West Bengal's Purulia and Bankura.

Majhi, the director of a company engaged in the purchase and sale of dry fuel, is accused of alleged illegal coal trading in the Asansol-Raniganj belt of West Bengal.

The CBI had registered a case involving alleged illegal coal pilferage in November last year, naming Majhi, Eastern Coalfield Ltd General Managers Amit Kumar Dhar and Jayesh Chandra Rai, ECL chief of security Tan Das, area security inspector Kunustoria Dhananjay Rai, and SSI and security in-charge Kajora area Debashish Mukherjee.

It had also recorded the statement of Rujira Banerjee, wife of Trinamool Congress MP and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee and his sister-in-law Menka Gambhir in the last week of February.

The agency has recently carried out searches at several locations in the state, including at the premises of Amit Agarwal, a close aide of Majhi, raising the heat in poll-bound West Bengal, where the ruling Trinamool and the BJP are engaged in a pitched battle.
Biden halts sale of National Archives center in Seattle View Photo

SEATTLE (AP)  The Biden administration has halted its predecessors decision to sell the federal archives building in Seattle, following months of opposition from people across the Pacific Northwest and a lawsuit.

Washington Democratic Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell announced Thursday that the federal Office of Management and Budget had withdrawn its approval for the sale, which would have forced the transfer of millions of records to facilities in Kansas City, Missouri, and Riverside, California.

A federal judge had already temporarily blocked the sale, pending a lawsuit by Washington, Oregon and more than two dozen Native American and Alaska Native tribes. Last month, 25 of the 26 members of Congress from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska signed a letter by Cantwell and Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski urging the Biden administration to reverse course.

While this process never should have begun in the first place without Tribal and local consultation, Im glad that OMB has listened to local Tribes and reversed their decision to approve the sale of the Seattle Archive building, Murray said in a news release. I will continue working to ensure the generations of artifacts and history stored in the Seattle facility will remain accessible to stakeholders across the Pacific Northwest.

The records at National Archives facility date to the 1840s and include documents key to the histories of 272 federally recognized tribes in Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Idaho. It houses all federal records generated in the Pacific Northwest, including military service, land, court, tax, marriage and census documents.

The documents also include records of Japanese Americans sent to internment camps during World War II. There are 50,000 files related to the Chinese Exclusion Act, which limited the presence of Chinese laborers in the U.S. from 1882 until 1943, including photos and interrogations of Chinese immigrants.

Only a tiny fraction of the records have been digitized, and the facility is frequently used for research related to genealogy, land use and water rights, treaties and other historical topics.

Tom Wooten, chairman of the Samish Indian Nation near Anacortes, Washington, noted Thursday that tribes have often resorted to the archives to vindicate their treaty rights and their oral traditions. He has researched his own family history there, he said.

This material is too important and too valuable to leave this area, Wooten said. You have to know where you come from. Theres no way folks could go to Kansas City or California to do that kind of research.

The little-known Public Buildings Reform Board, which was created in 2016 to help sell off surplus federal property, decided in late 2019 to sell the National Archives building under the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act. OMB approved it in early 2020.

In a letter to the board Thursday, OMBs acting director, Shalanda Young, said that approval was inconsistent with President Joe Bidens direction that federal agencies engage in meaningful and regular consultation with tribes when it comes to decisions that affect them.

Any future sale of the facility would have to begin with a new process, including tribal consultation as well as a new factual record, Young said.

Given that the 74-year-old building has a multimillion-dollar maintenance backlog and that it sits on 10 acres of prime northeast Seattle real estate with water and mountain views, the federal government might well renew its plans to sell it to a developer.

But Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has argued that the Seattle archives is ineligible for sale under the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act, which exempts buildings used for research in connection with federal agricultural, recreational or conservation programs. The archives are used for research under federal historical preservation programs and to litigate land use, water rights and conservation issues, the states lawsuit noted.

In a phone interview Thursday, Ferguson said the Office of Management and Budgets reversal was inevitable after U.S. District Judge John Coughenour blocked the sale in February. He called the governments decision to sell the property without consulting the tribes outrageous.

Cantwell said Thursday she hopes that in the long run the federal government can maximize the propertys value while also ensuring local access to the records.

Hopefully we can come up with a more win-win situation, where we can keep the records in the Northwest and do it in a fashion that works for everybody, she said.

By GENE JOHNSON

Associated Press
Forecasters at a benchmark hurricane research program predict there will be four major cyclones in the Atlantic in 2021, or storms that reach Category 3 or higher.

The prediction comes from the Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University. Researchers there say warmer than normal tropical waters and the expected absence of an El Nino weather pattern point to an above-average season.

The El Nino is otherwise known to suppress storms in the Atlantic.

Other predictions include:

17 named storms

Eight total hurricanes

35 days in which a hurricane is active

Nine days in which a major hurricane is active

The forecast is nearly identical to the Project's early prediction for the 2020 season, also issued in April of that year, when the first signals of tropical activity begin to emerge.

Last year, however, exceeded expectations. There were an unprecedented 30 named storms, including six major hurricanes.

Some areas were dealt a particularly unlucky hand, with two storms hitting the western Louisiana coast about a month apart, and two major storms hitting a stretch of Nicaragua's coastline less than two weeks apart.

Jhordanne Jones, a forecaster at CSU, said the early conditions this year are lining up in a similar pattern to 2020, with warm tropics early in the year and little likelihood that storm-suppressing wind shear will emerge from developing climate patterns.

"We're exactly where we were just a year ago," Jones said. "I'm sure there's going to be a lot of anxiety, depending on how 2021 decides to unfold."

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The 2020 season has had other reverberations into this year.

The meteorology group that names hurricanes decided it will stop using Greek names if the normal list of storm names runs out. The system caused confusion and some storms with Greek names were so destructive their monikers would normally be retired from use.

Additionally, the National Hurricane Center, the gold standard agency for hurricane tracking in the United States, will start issuing tropical weather advisories earlier and is considering whether to start the official "hurricane season" earlier as well.

Right now, hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, but storms have formed in every month of the year.

The exceptional 2020 season will also be incorporated into the new "climate normals" that forecasters use to make comparisons, which are being updated later this year. For the past decade, forecasters have been using hurricane seasons from 1981 to 2010 to compare with their predictions and declare whether they expect a season will be more or less active than the recent past.

CSU, for example, used the dataset ending in 2010 in calling for an "above average" season in 2021. But if they'd compared it with a dataset that ends in 2020, Jones said, their forecast would probably be considered "average."

Recent hyperactive hurricane seasons in not only 2020 but also 2017 and 2005, are pushing the normals higher. At the same time, there still isn't scientific agreement about whether recent years of higher hurricane activity in the Atlantic are being caused by planet-warming climate change, or some other process.
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP)  Former Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that he wasnt sure that he and former President Donald Trump would ever see eye to eye over what happened on Jan. 6 but that he would always be proud of what we accomplished for the American people over the last four years.
On Aug. 5, 2020, Dan Gilbert was worth an estimated $7.5 billion. On Aug. 20, he was worth $45 billion.

Forbes released its annual World Billionaires List this week, noting 86% of the worlds wealthiest people are richer than they were a year ago. The world now has 2,755 billionaires, 660 more than last year.

2020 was a good year to be a billionaire  and Michigans richest were no exception.

Gilbert, co-founder of Quicken Loans/Rocket Companies and owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, was the biggest winner. Most of the increase is credited to his company offering shares on the New York Stock Exchange for the first time in early August.

Gilbert gained more wealth in 2020 than Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Warren Buffet, who ranked fourth, fifth and sixth on Forbes list. Gilbert ranks 23rd, making him Michigans richest person.

While millions struggled through the pandemic, the rich got richer.

Its easier to make money when youre wealthy, said Frank Clemente, executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness. These folks dont make their wealth from their paycheck, they make their wealth from their assets.

Rich people make most of their money on real estate, stocks, businesses they own and other assets. Many of those areas saw big growth in 2020 despite record unemployment and the financial ruin of many smaller businesses.

Is it time for a wealth tax?

Democrats have thrown around the idea of a wealth tax on the richest Americans. Clemente is on board, but says it might take awhile before lawmakers warm up to the idea.

Congress hasnt caught up with where the public is on this, Clemente said. And honestly, Im mystified about it, I really dont understand why.

The proposed annual tax would charge 2% on a persons wealth between $50 million and $1 billion and 3% on all wealth above $1 billion. It would raise more than $2 billion alone from Michigans handful of billionaires, per the Americans for Tax Fairness.

Yes, they take a hit from it, Clemente said. But in a lot of cases, its really a nick from it. Its not killing them at all.

Wayne State University adjunct business professor Matthew Roling said theres a 0% chance of a wealth tax happening. Wealth is a moving target, since much of it is tied up in stocks, which swing on a daily basis, Roling said.

I dont even think its the politics of the matter, Roling said. I think that a wealth tax is incredibly difficult to carry out or execute on.

The more-likely solution is raising the capital gains tax  so people must pay the same tax percentage on gains from stocks and assets as they do from their paycheck, Roling said.

In the minds of a lot of people, its incredibly unfair the way its structured today, because it punishes labor and rewards capital, Roling said. The underlying implication  is that money is more important than peoples time.

President Joe Biden unveiled his plan last month to reverse some of Donald Trumps tax cuts for corporations. A separate plan is expected this month targeting how wealthy people are taxed, Clemente said.

The success of Michigans billionaires

Below is a list of Michigans billionaires, how they fared in 2020 and how much theyd pay if a wealth tax were implemented.

Mat Ishbia, president and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, is new to the list in 2021. UWM went public on the stock exchange in January, elevating his wealth similar to Gilberts.

The net worth numbers, below, come from Forbes latest billionaire list. The wealth tax estimates come from Americans for Tax Fairness.

Dan Gilbert

Forbes billionaire ranking: 23rd (230th in 2020)

Industry: Co-founder of Quicken Loans and owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers

Age: 59

Residence: Franklin

2020 net worth: $6.5 billion

2021 net worth: $51.9 billion (up 698%)

Estimated wealth tax, if passed: $1.3 billion

Hank Meijer speaks at the groundbreaking for the Bridge Street Market in Grand Rapids in this 2017 file photo. (Neil Blake | MLive.com)Neil Blake | MLive

Hank and Doug Meijer

Forbes billionaire ranking: 171st (133rd in 2020)

Industry: The Meijer brothers took over the supermarket chain Meijer from their father in 1990 and remain on the board of directors.

Age: 60s

Residence: Grand Rapids

2020 net worth: $10.2 billion

2021 net worth: $12.6 billion (up 23.5%)

Estimated wealth tax, if passed: $295 million

United Wholesale Mortgage (NYSE: UWMC) Rings The Opening Bell The New York Stock Exchange welcomes United Wholesale Mortgage (NYSE: UWMC), today, Friday, January 22, 2021, in celebration of its listing. To honor the occasion, Mat Ishbia, President and CEO, United Wholesale Mortgage, joined by John Tuttle, NYSE Vice Chairman and Chief Commercial Officer, ring The Opening Bell. Photo Credit: NYSENYSE

Mat Ishbia

Forbes billionaire ranking: 234th (wasnt a billionaire in 2020)

Industry: President and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage

Age: 41

Residence: Bloomfield Hills

2020 net worth: Not available.

2021 net worth: $9.7 billion

Estimated wealth tax, if passed: Not available.

Ronda Stryker, a philanthropist best known for her work in higher education. (Mark Bugnaski | MLive.com)Kalamazoo Gazette

Ronda Stryker

Forbes billionaire ranking: 404th (414th in 2020)

Industry: Director of the medical equipment company Stryker Corp.

Age: 66

Residence: Portage

2020 net worth: $4.3 billion

2021 net worth: $6.5 billion (up 51.2%)

Estimated wealth tax, if passed: $187 million

Marian Ilitch

Forbes billionaire ranking: 807th (484th in 2020)

Industry: Co-founder of Little Caesars Pizza, owner of the Detroit Red Wings and MotorCity Casino Hotel (the Detroit Tigers are now in a family trust, after the death of her husband Mike)

Age: 88

Residence: Bingham Farms

2020 net worth: $3.8 billion

2021 net worth: $3.7 billion (down 2.6%)

Estimated wealth tax, if passed: $111 million

In this Jan. 15, 2020 file photo Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske listens during a news conference at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)AP

Roger Penske

Forbes billionaire ranking: 1,517th (1,851st in 2020)

Industry: Founder, chairman and CEO of Penske Automotive Group; owner of the auto racing organization Team Penske and owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IndyCar Series

Age: 84

Residence: Birmingham

2020 net worth: $1.1 billion

2021 net worth: $2.1 billion (up 90.9%)

Estimated wealth tax, if passed: $45 million

William Young

Forbes billionaire ranking: 1,580th (1,001st in 2020)

Industry: CEO of plastic container maker Plastipak

Age: 80

Residence: Ypsilanti

2020 net worth: $2.1 billion

2021 net worth: $2.0 billion (down 4.8%)

Estimated wealth tax, if passed: $44 million

Donald Foss

Forbes billionaire ranking: 1,931st (1,851st in 2020)

Industry: Founder and former chairman of the subprime auto lender Credit Acceptance Corp.

Age: 76

Residence: Farmington Hills

2020 net worth: $1.1 billion

2021 net worth: $1.6 billion (up 45.5%)

Estimated wealth tax, if passed: $25 million

Alan Zekelman

Forbes billionaire ranking: 2,378th (1,851st in 2020)

Industry: Part owner of the family steel business, Zekelman Industries

Age: 58

Residence: Bloomfield Hills

2020 net worth: $1.1 billion

2021 net worth: $1.2 billion (up 9.1%)

Estimated wealth tax, if passed: Not available.

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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Authorities in the United Kingdom overnight recommended people under 30 be offered an alternative COVID vaccine to the AstraZeneca/Oxford shot.

The recommendation came after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) found a "possible link" between the vaccine and blood clots. The EMA also said blood clots should be listed as a "very rare" side effect of the vaccine.

It's important to note there's still no conclusive evidence the vaccine is causing the clots, as so few have been reported. However, evidence there is a link is increasing, which has prompted more focused monitoring.

The benefits of getting a COVID vaccine still far outweigh the risks. I would still be encouraging everyone to be vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this morning "there's nothing to suggest at this stage that there would be any change" to Australia's current rollout strategy. The Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization are currently reviewing the data and latest advice from Europe and the UK.

Government asks medical regulators to 'immediately' look at EU data on AstraZeneca blood clot link https://t.co/OBwonkaTIV  ABC News (@abcnews) April 7, 2021

What's causing these clots?

Blood clotting events linked to vaccination are being called "vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia" (VIPIT).

In these rare instances, clots are forming in a patient's blood, and not just in veins but in arteries and other rare locations like the brain and abdomen. This is also paired with low platelet counts (cells needed for the blood to clot).

It appears, in these instances, the body's response to the vaccine is triggering an "off target" immune response that is attacking platelets. Limited data that is yet to be peer reviewed suggests antibodies targeting platelets cause them to become activated and trigger clotting. This autoimmune response also targets the platelets for destruction, reducing their level in the blood. So platelets are either tied up in clots or are eliminated. Both processes contribute to "thrombocytopenia" (low blood platelet count).

Like infections, vaccines trigger an immune response, so when receiving any shot that stimulates a robust immune response there's a small but real risk your immune system will generate "off target" effects. In these rare instances, these effects can lead to autoimmunity, which is an immune response that attacks your own cells.

All vaccines and medications come with small risks

The numbers of clots reported after the AstraZeneca are very small, so we don't exactly know how common they are. But they appear to occur at a rate between one in 25,000 and one in 500,000.

The UK's vaccine advisory board said there were 79 cases of blood clotting issues among more than 20 million people given the AstraZeneca vaccine. That's a chance of about 0.0004%, or one in 250,000.

The incidence of serious blood clots from: The Contraceptive Pill: 0.6% The AZ vaccine: 0.00017% How much time did you spend wracking your brain about the first one? I really hope that the media are proportionate in their reporting.  Keir Shiels (@keirshiels) April 7, 2021

Researchers haven't yet identified any specific risk factors so far for the development of blood clots following COVID vaccination. We need to understand as quickly as possible what these are if indeed a causal link is established.

Some have suggested there could be a link with women taking the contraceptive pill having a higher risk of blood clots after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. But there's no evidence for this at all. As far as I know, information on whether women receiving the vaccine are taking the contraceptive pill isn't captured. Perhaps it's something to consider going forward.

Young people don't appear to be at particularly higher risk of blood clots linked to the vaccine. The publicized cases of blood clots have occurred in mostly women under 60 years of age.

Australia shouldn't follow the UK's new recommendation

One reason the UK is able to advise younger people to receive other vaccines is because it has other vaccine options, including the Pfizer and Moderna shots. Offering the under 30s an alternative vaccine isn't really going to hinder the rollout, which is going very well in the UK.

But this isn't the case in Australia. The AstraZeneca shot is the only one we have guaranteed supply of, given CSL is producing it in Melbourne.

It's important to remember the AstraZeneca vaccine is a very safe and effective vaccine. It's also easier to store and distribute than the Pfizer vaccine.

The priority is vaccinating as many people as possible and quickly

It's important to note we're in uncharted territory. This is the first time in modern history we've been in a situation where we've needed to roll out a vaccine to deal with a pandemic.

We're also using new vaccine technologies that we've had to expedite to try and get on top of this virus as soon as possible. These new technologies, including AstraZeneca's, have never been tested at this immense scale until now.

There are a lot of unknowns, but certainly the scale in which were doing this means we're going to see very rare adverse events linked to these vaccines.

At this stage the priority is still to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.

My primary concern is ongoing high levels of transmission across the world. The more cases there are, and longer we delay vaccinating people, the higher the likelihood is of new variants of the virus emerging.

Even though we have very low COVID-19 case numbers in Australia currently, we've seen regular outbreaks stemming from hotel quarantine. We can't predict what's going to happen in the future. The longer the virus is waiting at our doorstep, the greater the risk we'll have another outbreak and end up in lockdown and much worseand nobody wants that.

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

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Police in Hanoi have arrested and begun legal proceedings against two women from Ho Chi Minh City and southern Vinh Long Province for running an illicit surrogacy service.

Colonel Nguyen Binh, head of the criminal police division at the Hanoi Department of Public Security, said on Wednesday that his department had discovered two children born to two mothers on two consecutive days at a hospital in the capital city were registered to the same father in early March.

The incident raised suspicion on the existence of an illegal surrogacy ring.

After verification from databases belonging to multiple Vietnamese localities, officers managed to determine that Pham Ngoc Thao, 40, from Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Anh Thu, 29, from Vinh Long Province, and Nguyen Danh Hoa, 59, from Dong Da District in Hanoi were involved with the surrogacy service.

Thao met Hoa, an obstetrician who worked for different hospitals in Hanoi, during her in vitro fertilization process while Thu sought out people who suffered from infertility and offered them surrogacy services via social media.

While browsing social media groups in 2019, Thu found out Nguyen Thanh Tuan and Dang Minh Trang, who were not in a legal marriage, wanting to have a child together, and seeking a surrogate.

Thao offered to find surrogates for VND400 million (US$17,300) each, which Thu quoted to Trang at an increased level of VND480 million ($20,750) in order to enjoy the VND80-million ($3,460) difference.

Tuan and Trang agreed to Thus price offer and booked two surrogates.

Doctor Hoa performed all of the relevant procedures to get the two surrogates pregnant.

Thao and Thu have been arrested during the investigation into the case while Hoa has been prohibited from leaving his residence.

Surrogacy is a form of assisted reproductive technology in which an embryo is created using an egg and sperm produced by a couple and transferred to the surrogates uterus.

Vietnams Law on Marriage and Family was amended to allow surrogacy in 2015.

It allows surrogacy on humanitarian grounds in cases where the woman, for health reasons, is physically incapable of having children, and prohibits surrogacy for commercial purposes.

In Vietnam, around 20,000 cases of in vitro fertilization are performed each year, according to the Ministry of Health.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Monica Bellucci and Yahya Mahayni in the movie "The Man Who Sold His Skin." (Tanit Films/Samuel Goldwyn Films)

A fascinating true story mixing art and human rights has inspired a regrettably ham-fisted movie in The Man Who Sold His Skin, Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hanias lush but wildly uneven yarn (and Oscar nominee for international feature) about the thorny convergence of art world privilege and real-world woes.

In the late 2000s, a Swiss man agreed to let Belgian artist Wim Delvoye turn his back into a tattooed work (titled after him, Tim), a contract that involved traveling for scheduled gallery appearances and a percentage when it sold (and it did). Ben Hanias topical reworking of this eccentric and questionable bargain is to make the living canvas someone truly in need  and who is more desperate these days for the stamp of freedom, and maybe a certain notable prestige, than a refugee?

We meet Syrian man Sam Ali (Yahya Mahayni) in Arab Spring 2011 when, in an act of impulsive romance, he proposes to his blushing, well-to-do girlfriend, Abeer (Dea Liane), on a train with a giddy speech to passengers that mentions freedom and revolution. When this outburst gets him arrested and threatened with prison time, he escapes and high-tails it to Lebanon. Being cash-poor, Sam haunts Beirut art gallery openings for the free food while bemoaning not being able to get to Brussels, where Abeer has moved (and moved on) with her new husband, a stuffy Syrian diplomat named Ziad (Saad Lostan).

At one of the galleries he crashes, where hes exposed by a coolly condescending art dealer named Soraya (Monica Bellucci, bizarrely letting a wig wear her), Sams plight grabs the attention of controversial Belgian artist Jeffrey Godefroi (Koen de Bouw). A pontificating provocateur, he offers to give the Syrian the visa he so badly wants  but in ink on his back as an artwork owned by Jeffrey, to be displayed at his bidding, wherever he wants. (In a pointed bit of cultural patronization, Jeffrey sells the idea to this powerless Middle Eastern man as his long-awaited flying carpet.) With screenplay speed, Sam agrees, and his tattooed visa is haughtily presented to the public by Jeffrey as a groundbreaking piece that damns the commodification of humans in an unjust world.

Story continues

Sam becomes both an unlikely art star and a human rights flashpoint, but what does this do to the man himself? Thats the naggingly unformed center of Ben Hanias scenario, preventing any of her points about freedom, commerce and creativity from ever landing as satire, fable, tragedy or even issue-driven screed. Mostly, the points are explained to us in awkwardly exclamatory dialogue through over-the-top characters, starting with Jeffrey and Soraya and continuing with other art world stereotypes (the ugly collector, the snooty museum director), rarely in situations that feel alive comically or dramatically.

It doesnt help that Mahaynis performance is thin, Sam being a maddeningly all over the place protagonist  he mugs, he mopes, he rebels, he flirts, he pines, all of which might not be so untenable if the movie itself didnt swing wildly from arch humor to soapy drama. The love story falters as a result, as do the occasional reminders that theres a terrible war going on back home, which leads to a shockingly blase use of horrific violence to engineer a twist ending. Then again, a movie committed to either madcap irreverence or serious melodrama might have made that story point work.

That The Man Who Sold His Skin is still watchable is because the premise is still inherently thought-provoking, and Ben Hanias shot composition and cinematographer Christopher Aouns images have a confident painterliness. But the relentlessly posed nature of everything  even if intended to comment on a constrictive, manufactured world  doesnt always allow for scenes that live and breathe. Between the forced artistry and the confused tones, it leaves this well-intentioned tale of transgressive imagination and transactional humanity more temporary in its effect than permanent.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Oil prices dropped early on Thursday, following a record number of new daily COVID cases in major oil consumer India and a jump in U.S. gasoline stocks estimated by the EIA.

As of 10:55 a.m. EDT on Thursday, WTI Crude prices were down 0.69 percent at $59.33 and Brent Crude was trading down 0.43 percent on the day at $62.87.

Crude oil prices continued to reflect on Thursday a sizeable build in U.S. gasoline inventories reported by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday.

The EIA reported a crude oil inventory draw of 3.5 million barrels for the week to April 2, but a hefty gasoline stock increase and a build in distillates. In gasoline, the EIA estimated an inventory build of 4 million barrels for the reporting period, compared with a 1.7-million-barrel decline a week earlier. Gasoline production averaged 9.3 million bpd last week, a slight decline on the week before.

On Thursday, concerns about U.S. road fuel demand with the bearish gasoline stocks increase were compounded by concerns about fuel demand elsewhere.

India, the worlds third-biggest oil importer, reported a fresh record of daily new coronavirus cases on Thursday. India imposed earlier this week a lockdown on its biggest city Mumbai, while the resurgence of the virus in the country is potentially threatening fuel demand and crude oil imports.

Other parts of the world also saw a resurgence of cases, as Canadas province of Ontario imposed a month-long lockdown as of Thursday, closing all non-essential retailers and issuing a stay-at-home order.

In Japan, a major importer of energy including crude oil, the Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, said on Thursday she would ask the Japanese government to consider new stricter emergency measures amid a wave of new cases of the more infectious strains of COVID.

Commenting on oil prices, Saxo Bank said on Thursday:

While the demand outlook into the second half looks strong, short-term challenges remain to keep Brent stuck in a $60 to $65 range for now.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Dar es Salaam  Tanzanians may have to wait a little longer before prices of cooking oil stabilize as manufacturers grapple with shortage of raw materials from local and foreign sources, The Citizen has learnt.

The shortage, which has occasioned a rise in global prices of crude palm oil, has been so acute that some producers have been forced to suspend production for a period of four months now.

Currently, a five-litre can of sunflower cooking oil fetches between Sh33,000 and Sh40,000 in major shops across Dar es Salaam, a massive jump from only between Sh20,000 and Sh25,000 about six months or so.

Similarly, that of refined palm oil fetches up to Sh25,000, up from about Sh18,000 six months ago.

"The major challenge that local producers are grappling with is raw-materials and not taxation," the deputy minister for Industry and Trade, Exaud Kigahe, told The Citizen yesterday.

Tanzania's annual cooking oil demand currently stands at 600,000 tonnes.

But, locally-produced raw materials only produce 250,000 tonnes.

This leaves a deficit of 350,000 tonnes which is covered by imports.

The ministry of Agriculture, Mr Kigahe said, was undertaking a sensitization programme to encourage farmers to use high-quality seeds to raise their sunflower production.

Also being considered was the introduction of contract farming system in the sunflower sub-sector.

"That way, we will be able to produce the remaining 350,000 tonnes in the next two to three years," he said.

A source at the East Coast Oil Mills who did not want to disclose his name said their company had suspended the cooking oil refining section due to a rise in operation costs, occasioned by high tax charges and global market prices.

"For the past two months, we have completely stopped production of cooking oil as we buy time to monitor global prices," the source said.

G&B Soap Limited's chief executive officer, Mr Godliving Makundi, shared similar sentiments.

"Rising global prices, coupled with high taxes and other running costs, have forced us to suspend our refinery and opt for importing refined ones," he said.

He said it costs them $1,200 (about Sh2.7 million) to buy a single tonne of refined cooking oil from Malaysia and India while transporting the same costs another $50 (about Sh115,600).

As a result, he said, his company was selling a 20-litre can of imported cooking oil at Sh77,000 while a 10-litre one fetched Sh40,000.

"We have sold all the cooking oil that we have ordered the previous time and we have placed another order from Malaysia but I don't think the price will be the same. It could have risen again," he said.

Mr Makundi said the government should reduce the 25 percent tax on crude oil to enable them to import and refine it locally.

According to him, the process to come up with edible oil from crude oil is very expensive because one needs to refine, bleach, separate, do the fortification and pack in containers.

But the government says ministries of Industry and Trade, Investment, Agriculture and that of Finance and Planning would meet to deliberate on issues pertaining to taxation before the government tables its 2020/21 budget in Parliament.

He said the government had provided more permits to import cooking oil to bridge the gap during the past few months, noting however that the exercise was being made complex due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic, he said, was affecting transport logistics.

"But we believe from June or July prices will go down because that's the time farmers will start harvesting their sunflower," said Mr Kigahe.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Tanzania Food and Agriculture By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

A survey in some retail and wholesale shops shows that the 20-litre can was now fetching up to Sh90,000 while a 10-litre fetches Sh45,000.

A wholesaler who runs a shop at Africana known as Mama Samuel said the prices of cooking oil have been going up almost every succeeding month during the past one year or so.

"The edible oil I have in stock is in 10-litre containers, which I sell at Sh45,000 per container... .One year ago, I used to sell same for only Sh28,500," she said.

In the Ubungo and Tegeta areas, a 20-litre can of cooking oil fetches between Sh88,000 and Sh91,000.

That is a rise from the previous price of between Sh57,000 and Sh60,000.

Tanzania spends around $80 million (about Sh184 billion) per year on importing assorted cooking oil brands from countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as from some neighbouring countries.
UK strain behind flare-up

BANGKOK: The fast-spreading British variant of COVID-19 is responsible for the latest cluster of infections that have been detected in entertainment venues across Bangkok, a virus expert said on Wednesday (Apr 7).

COVID-19Coronavirushealth

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 8 April 2021, 09:41AM

A resident of Watthana district in Bangkok is on Wednesday injected with vaccine against COVID-19 at the Sang Thip sports complex on Soi Pridi Banomyong 2 as she is considered as being in an at-risk group after a new cluster of COVID-19 from bars and pubs in the Thong Lor area emerged. Photo: Somchai Poomlard / Bangkok Post

We dont know how it could have been found here given the fact that we have the state quarantine system. If possible, there should not be any travel or movement right now. If thats not possible, it is highly necessary to have strict measures to control the disease, Yong Poovorawan, Head of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, said on Wednesday at a press conference at the Public Health Ministry.

Dr Yong warned against unnecessary travel during the upcoming Songkran period when he estimated the number of new infections could skyrocket, reports the Bangkok Post.

Without sufficient intervention taken to curb these high-risk activities [during the Songkran holiday], the number of new infections could even reach thousands per day, Dr Yong said.

The estimate of the infection rate per day was calculated by taking into consideration both the highly contagious rate of the British variant  1.7 times higher than the original virus  and the currently relaxed COVID-19 control measures in place, about 10 times less strict than those implemented during last years Songkran period, he said.

Since activities aimed at stimulating the economy go against the containment of COVID-19, the government should find a balance, he said.

The reason is that if there are so many new cases of COVID-19, economic stimulus through promotion of tourism wont work as nobody would want to travel to an epidemic zone, he said.

Visiting older relatives during this festival is good, but it wont be good if such visits mean spreading the virus to them also, he said.

The older the people infected with the British variant are, the higher the risk of them developing severe symptoms, he said. If possible, he said the Thai tradition of visiting older relatives during Songkran should this year be conducted online instead.

Currently, most of the new infection cases involve young people who show no or few symptoms, which makes it more difficult to distinguish between those who are infected and those who are not, he said.

The infected people, however, have a heightened concentration of the virus in their throats, which increases the risk of them spreading the virus to older relatives they plan to visit during Songkran, he said.

The renowned virologist also urged the government to speed up vaccinating the population against COVID-19 while dealing with the rise in the number of new infections caused by the highly contagious variant.

Although vaccinated people may still be at risk of contracting the variant, infection after vaccination shouldnt lead to severe symptoms, with immunity induced to some degree, he said.

If Thailand can administer 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines per day, it will take about three years to achieve effective herd immunity against the pandemic, while if up to 300,000 doses are given a day, it will take only one year to achieve that goal, he said.

Britain has the highest rate of COVID-19 vaccination in Europe now and is seeing a significant drop in new infections while it has got its outbreak under far better control than other countries in Europe, such as Germany and France, he said.

Because most new COVID-19 infectees now show no or few symptoms, the spread of the virus could now occur anywhere and at any time as most people have become relaxed and complacent about the need to maintain their guard against the spread of the virus, warned Prof Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, director of the Health Science Centre of Emerging Diseases at Chulalongkorn University.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, however, insisted on Wednesday there would not be a new COVID-19 lockdown this Songkran festival, no matter what happens.

Whatever will be, will be. The reason is its a matter that involves a huge number of people. The government will have to try to cope with that later, he said.

He offered the reassurance that each province now has in place its own COVID-19 screening and quarantine measures.

Of course we can order a new lockdown and make everyone stay home [during the festival]. But the question is will anyone be happy with that? the premier said.

He was responding to concerns raised by medical experts over the possibility of Songkran travel and celebrations exacerbating the spread of COVID-19.

The government is trying its very best to strike a balance between the need to stimulate the economy through tourism promotion and containing the spread of the outbreak, Gen Prayut said.

So far, 323,989 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered to 274,354 people nationwide, with some already having been given two shots.
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A Canadian pastor who kicked police out of his church after they tried to shut down a worship service during Holy Week said the actions of law enforcement bring back memories of communism under the Soviet Union.

Pastor Artur Pawlowski, who was born in Poland and lived under Soviet rule during part of his childhood, received plaudits from people worldwide for his actions in forcefully ordering law enforcement officers  including a police officer and public health officer  off the church's property after they interrupted a Passover mass at Street Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. A video documenting his encounter with the local law enforcement went viral, receiving more than 3 million views.

Throughout the video, Pawlowski is seen telling law enforcement officials to get out. He also commanded that they dont come back without a warrant and called them Gestapo and Nazi psychopaths. About a minute after the video started, they began to depart from the property.

Calgary Police Service released a statement suggesting that their presence at the church was justified because of a concern that people in attendance were not adhering to the governments COVID-19 public health orders, which are in place to ensure everyones safety.

Source:The Christian Post
Judging from my inbox, there are those who want to drag me out of the opinion business and into the solutions industry.

You seem to have a lot of criticism without your solutions, wrote one reader. It is easy to point fingers, but it is difficult to provide attainable answers and solutions.

I hear it from the left when I hammer Democrats: You are a typical conservative: full of criticism and complaint without one single constructive idea.

And from the right when I pummel Republicans: I read your article, which the newspaper said was a position from the right. REALLY? You criticize the right but do not offer any solutions.

Sometimes, the push is sincere. Someone wants to know what I would do to clean up the messes I write about.

They dont come any messier than the question of what to do with immigrants and refugees.

It would be interesting to know what your ideas are about how we can solve the immigration situation, although its been occurring for years, wrote another reader.

I like the word situation as opposed to problem.

Our only problem with immigrants is that we cant get enough of them. There are still plenty of chores that need doing. After all, Americans have succeeded in raising several generations of smug and entitled young people who wont do them. Xers, Millennials, Generation Z, Im looking at you.

As for refugees, the only problem is that they took Lady Liberty at her word when she promised  in the words of the poet Emma Lazarus  to take in the wretched refuse, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Offering sanctuary is what Americans do  at least when it suits us.

These are opinions, insights and observations. But they arent solutions. Thats the point. Solutions are fine  coming from butchers, bakers or candlestick makers.

Journalists should uncover facts, tell stories, fight bullies, follow their curiosity, lift up rocks, make people think, hold the powerful accountable, comfort the deprived and defend the despised. But the one thing we should not do  not ever  is confuse our role with that of policymakers to the point where we suddenly feel pressured or compelled to propose solutions.

It is my job to tell you that youre in a fix and maybe explain how you got into that fix, but not to find you a way out.

Heres the best reason why: Were supposed to analyze the universe of proposed solutions and tell you which ones are worth a shiny nickel. Thats hard to do when you have your own horse in the race. If I came out with my solutions, Id be too busy pushing them to give yours a fair hearing.

Besides, dreaming up solutions to issues, problems and challenges is not all that difficult. In fact, usually, the process seems to be as easy as pie. After all, so many people come up with solutions so effortlessly.

Hey, I didnt say they were good solutions.

The truth is, I do have some of my own, and theyre quite good  and, I think, workable. I didnt say I didnt have them, only that I didnt think journalists should be proposing them. Mostly, I keep them to myself.

I have a 10-point plan for what President Joe Biden could do right now to alleviate the current situation on the U.S.-Mexico border, and a 20-point plan for what any U.S. president could do, with the help of Congress, to create an immigration policy that is better, fairer and more humane.

So what? My ideas are no better or worse than anyone elses. The problem isnt that the American people lack for ideas. Its that our elected leaders in Washington lack the will to implement those ideas because theyre afraid of angering so many people that theyll be voted out of office.

Ours is a land of immigrants that despises immigrants. Its been that way since the mid-1700s when Benjamin Franklin  who was born in Boston but identified as an Englishman  claimed the Germans were invading Pennsylvania. He wanted them out.

That was no solution. And Franklin, in addition to being an author and printer, was also one of the nations first newspapermen.

For journalists  real ones, not podcasters or cable TV hosts  it is enough of a contribution to flesh out an issue in all its complexity and get others to think deeply and critically about it so they can come up with their own solutions. You folks can take it from there.

ruben@rubennavarrette.com
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Violence erupted on the streets of Belfast for the seventh consecutive night as police deployed a water cannon to blast the rioters.

The unrest raging in Northern Ireland has been described as the 'worst in years' and tonight showed no sign of calming as PSNI officers were pelted with petrol bombs, fireworks and rocks.

Fifty-five officers have so-far been injured in a week of clashes between nationalists and pro-British loyalists at the so-called 'peace wall' on Springfield Road.

Despite cross-party pleas from politicians to stay away, around 100 rioters descended on the area tonight and were met with heavily-clad officers with shields and dogs.

They were warned repeatedly they would be targeted with the water cannon if they did not disperse, which most did after the police vehicle started spraying.

Justice Minister Naomi Long tweeted: 'More attacks on police, this time from nationalist youths. Utterly reckless and depressing to see more violence at interface areas tonight.

'My heart goes out to those living in the area who are living with this fear and disturbance. This needs to stop now before lives are lost.'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and even Joe Biden's White House joined calls appealing to the protesters to end the violence, which has involved children as young as 13, purportedly encouraged by their parents.



Violence flared up in Belfast again tonight as youths hurled petrol bombs at police officers in what has been described as the worst riots 'in years

The PSNI use a water cannon on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast tonight

Fireworks explode on police vehicles after being fired at police officers during clashes with nationalist youths in the Springfield Road

They were warned repeatedly they would be targeted with the water cannon if they did not disperse, which most did after the police vehicle started spraying

A row of riot police officers with shields were seen in Belfast amid clashes with nationalist youths

A fire burns in front of police vehicles in Belfast. Protests have been continuing in the city between officers and youths

Fireworks were seen exploding in front of police vehicles in Belfast on Thursday

A rioter reacts as the police use a water cannon in Belfast amid clashes between officers and youths

Police deployed a water canon tonight in West Belfast to disperse a group of nationalist youths. Officers are seen with riot gear

One rioter is seen lobbing an object into the air during the clashes. The demonstrations continued into the evening

The unrest raging in Northern Ireland has been described as the 'worst in years' and tonight showed no sign of calming as PSNI officers were pelted with petrol bombs, fireworks and rocks

Fireworks explode at police vehicles in Belfast. Clashes continued into the evening

People watch a traffic sign burn as Nationalists attack police on Springfield Road near the Peace Wall

Despite cross-party pleas from politicians to stay away, around 100 rioters descended on the area tonight and were met with heavily-clad officers with shields and dogs

Why has violence flared again on the streets of Northern Ireland? The street disorder that has flared in various parts of Northern Ireland for more than a week can be attributed to a multitude of factors. At its heart is loyalist anger at post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK. For loyalism, Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol has undermined their place in the Union. But it took an event unrelated to the Irish Sea border furore to set a match to resentment that has been simmering since the consequences of exiting the EU became a reality at the start of January. The announcement by prosecutors last week that no action would be taken against 24 Sinn Fein politicians, including deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, for attending a huge republican funeral during the pandemic sparked outrage among some loyalists. In several loyalist working class areas, many still in the grip of the malign influence of paramilitary gangs, sporadic rioting has since flared. Belfast, Londonderry, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and Ballymena have all witnessed scenes of violence that many hoped had been consigned to the history books. There have also been bouts of disorder within republican areas in recent days. In the most stark, youths on both sides of a west Belfast peace line pelted petrol bombs and other missiles at each other through Wednesday night. For loyalists, the funeral of former IRA leader Bobby Storey last June hardened a long-standing perception held by many within their community that the institutions of the state afford preferential treatment to republicans. For apparent confirmation, they pointed to police engagement with the Sinn Fein funeral organisers prior to an event that saw around 2,000 people take to the streets of west Belfast when tight limits on public gatherings were in place. This interaction with the planners was one reason why senior prosecutors concluded any prosecution of Ms O'Neill and her colleagues was doomed to fail - the other being the 'incoherent' nature of Stormont's Covid-19 regulations at the time. Criticism of the PSNI approach was not confined to hard-line elements within loyalism and all the main unionist parties subsequently called for chief constable Simon Byrne to resign, claiming he has lost the confidence of their community. DUP First Minister Arlene Foster has said she will no longer engage with Mr Byrne. Her lack of communication with the region's police chief during a time of escalating street violence, and coming only weeks after she met with representatives of loyalist paramilitaries to discuss the Brexit fall out, has drawn sharp criticism from political rivals. Non-unionist parties have accused Mrs Foster and other unionist political leaders of stoking up tensions, not only in relation to the Storey funeral but also in respect of the Irish Sea border. The DUP leader and other prominent voices within unionism and loyalism insist they are only reflecting genuinely held concerns they say must be addressed - specifically by way of Mr Byrne's resignation and the binning of the Protocol. Amid the current unionist clamour for Mr Byrne's head, and claims of 'two tier' policing, it is worth noting that two months ago the PSNI chief constable was facing similar claims of discriminatory behaviour from within nationalism. Those were prompted by a controversial police operation in Belfast that saw a man badly injured in a loyalist gun massacre during the Troubles arrested at the scene of a commemoration event after officers intervened to probe suspected Covid regulation breaches. Following that incident at the site of the 1992 Ormeau Road betting shop murders, Ms O'Neill claimed there was a 'crisis in confidence' in the PSNI among nationalists, albeit she stopped short of calling for Mr Byrne to quit. The Protocol and funeral controversy have not created the loyalist perception that the system is weighed against them, but have built upon a narrative articulated by an increasing number within loyalism that the peace process - particularly the Good Friday accord of 1998 - has handed them a raw deal. They cite underinvestment and deprivation in loyalist working class areas as further proof that they have missed out on the gains of peace. Nationalists and republicans reject this premise, insisting their communities have experienced just has many problems with poverty and unemployment since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Paramilitary elements are undoubtedly involved in much of the disorder witnessed across the region in recent days - either directly or by orchestrating young people to riot on their behalf. However, in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus an added factor is at play. In those areas, the PSNI believes paramilitary involvement is less motivated by Brexit or the Storey funeral and more to do with a rogue faction - the South East Antrim UDA - reacting to recent police operations targeting its criminal empire. Advertisement

Tensions over Northern Ireland's Brexit arrangement and an illegal gathering at the funeral of an IRA member had been mounting in the province before finally boiling over last week.

A 'peace wall' separating the nationalist area of Springfield Road from the neighbouring Shankill Road area has been the epicentre of the clashes.

Mr Johnson and Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin spoke over the phone today and, in a statement, the Irish Government said the two leaders stressed that violence was unacceptable.

'The way forward is through dialogue and working the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement,' the statement said.'

President Biden, who is of Irish heritage, also stressed the need to protect the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement, which the United States helped to broker in 1998.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said: 'We remain steadfast supporters of a secure and prosperous Northern Ireland in which all communities have a voice and enjoy the gains of the hard-won peace.

'We welcome the provisions in both the EU-UK trade cooperation agreement and the Northern Ireland Protocol, which helped protect the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.'

Crisis talks between UK Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and Stormont's leaders were also held in Northern Ireland.

Mr Lewis pledged to do 'all I can to continue to facilitate further constructive discussions on the way forward over the coming days'.

He said he had full confidence in PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne, who the DUP has urged to resign over a decision by prosecutors not to pursue Sinn Fein politicians over alleged coronavirus breaches at Bobby Storey's funeral last year.

Earlier in the day, ministers in the Stormont Executive condemned the violence and MLAs unanimously passed a motion calling for an end to the disorder.

In a joint statement, the five-party Executive said: 'We are gravely concerned by the scenes we have all witnessed on our streets over the last week, including those at the Lanark Way interface last night.

'Attacks on police officers, public services and communities are deplorable and they must stop.

'Destruction, violence and the threat of violence are completely unacceptable and unjustifiable, no matter what concerns may exist in communities.

'Those who would seek to use and abuse our children and young people to carry out these attacks have no place in our society.

'While our political positions are very different on many issues, we are all united in our support for law and order and we collectively state our support for policing and for the police officers who have been putting themselves in harm's way to protect others.

'We, and our departments, will continue to work together to maximise the support we can give to communities and the PSNI to prevent further violence and unrest.' The Stormont Assembly was recalled from Easter recess for an emergency sitting on Thursday to debate the violence, which has mostly flared in loyalist areas.'

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts said the spate of rioting is some of the worst he's seen in years.

He told a press briefing: 'I can't confirm the involvement of paramilitaries but the orchestration of [Wednesday] night's disorder and the previous nights is the subject of investigation.

'The scale of the disorder last night was at a scale that we have not seen in recent years in Belfast or further afield.

'The fact that it was sectarian violence involving large groups on both sides is not something we have seen in recent years. We believe there was a level of pre-planning.'

He revealed that 55 of his officers had so far been injured.

Mr Roberts said multiple petrol bombs and missiles, including fireworks and heavy masonry, have been thrown and it is 'clear there was a degree of organisation' of the violence.

The top officer also lashed out at parents for encouraging their children to engage in the violence.

'We have seen scenes last night of a new generation of young people who have been exposed to scenes that I'm sure we all thought were in generations gone by, and I would encourage anybody in a position of leadership - political representatives, community representatives, parents - take an interest in what young people are doing and to have a united message to prevent further scenes like we witnessed last night.'

DUP First Minister Arlene Foster said the unrest was 'totally unacceptable and had taken the region, which has a history of conflict, backwards.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, of Sinn Fein, said illegal loyalist paramilitaries and criminal elements were influencing young people and orchestrating the violence: 'They are holding back their own people and they are holding back their own community.'

The violence over the past week erupted after prosecutors said no action would be taken against 24 Sinn Fein politicians - Ms O'Neill - for a huge republican funeral during the pandemic.

They went to the service to Bobby Storey - an IRA terrorist from Belfast who died after a failed lung transplant - on June 30 along with about 1,500 people despite Covid rules.

Loyalists are also angry at post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK. They see the Northern Ireland Protocol as undermining their place in the Union.

Fifty-five officers have so-far been injured in a week of clashes between nationalists and pro-British loyalists at the so-called 'peace wall' on Springfield Road

Police officers are attacked by nationalist youths in the Springfield Road area of Belfast on April 8, 2021 as disorder continued in the Northern Ireland capital following days of mainly loyalist violence

A PSNI officer with a dog straining at the leash on the Springfield road tonight

PSNI officers with riot shields line the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast on Thursday evening. The cause of the unrest has been attributed to frustration over a decision not to prosecute members of Sinn Fein over alleged coronavirus regulation breaches at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey

A rioter throws a burning object at the police on the Springfield Road as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 8

A fire burns in front of the police on the Springfield Road as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland on April 8

A rioter reacts towards the police on the Springfield Road as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Thursday evening

A fire burns in front of the police on the Springfield Road as protests continue in Belfast this evening

Nationalists attack Police on Springfield Road just up from Peace Wall interface gates which divide the nationalist and loyalist communities on April 8, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Trouble has flared for a second night running in the Springfield Road area of Belfast. US President Joe Biden joined UK prime minister Boris Johnson and the Irish prime minister Micheal Martin in a call for calm

Northern Ireland's Education Minister Peter Weir has confirmed the reopening of some youth services which operate in areas of heightened community tensions.

Mr Weir said the move is hoped to divert young people from becoming involved in 'risk taking and dangerous behaviours'.

'Youth services play a vital role in supporting young people throughout Northern Ireland,' he said.

'As a society we should all be appalled at witnessing young people and even children being involved in the recent violence on our streets.

'At this time it is even more important that youth services are able to meet the needs of young people in these areas.'

Mr Weir added: 'These measures are intended to safeguard and ensure the welfare of our young people and to divert them from becoming involved in risk taking and dangerous behaviours.'

Yesterday the gates of the peace wall on Lanark Way - which separates Shankill Road from Springfield Road - were forced open, leading to clashes between young members of the two communities.

The 'peace walls' are a hangover from the Troubles and separate loyalist and nationalist communities.

Civilians have been caught up in the protests and horrifying footage of a bus being firebombed was witnessed yesterday.

A spontaneous act of solidarity took place place at Belfast City Hall for the driver of the bus.

Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) assistant general secretary Owen Reidy said it was a demonstration on behalf of the entire trade union movement to support the driver, who has been left shaken by the incident.

He said: 'Theirs is an act of generosity towards their fellow bus driver who was shockingly attacked last evening and towards the brave police officers and journalists who were also assaulted while doing their job and serving the community.

'Workers across Northern Ireland will not accept being the subject of attacks when going about their duties. The Translink workers are standing up and proclaiming this loudly.

'This has to stop and it has to stop now. All public representatives from across the community and every person of goodwill and influence in interface areas have to make clear that all such protests end before we have another night of violence.

'Young people are being treated as cannon fodder. Someone is going to get killed.

'The best public service any decent person of influence can do right now is to prevent the spiral deepening. Politicians need to come together, work together and make politics work in the interest of the entire community.'

Belfast Telegraph photographer Kevin Scott said he was assaulted by two of the rioters.

The newspaper's visuals editor tweeted: 'So much for peaceful - I have just been jumped from behind by two males, masked on Cupar Way.

'One pulled me to the ground and smashed cameras. As I fought this one off I was told to f**k off back to your own area you fenian c**t by the other. Police informed.'

He added 'what happened to me tonight was disgusting, but not on the same level as this' - referring to the bus driver.

PSNI officers with riot shields on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast. Police in Belfast faced a barrage of petrol bombs and rocks on Thursday, an AFP journalist said, as violence once again flared in Northern Ireland despite pleas for calm

Youths pick up stones to throw at PSNI officers on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast. The cause of the unrest has been attributed to frustration over a decision not to prosecute members of Sinn Fein over alleged coronavirus regulation breaches at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey

A police water canon on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast. The cause of the unrest has been attributed to frustration over a decision not to prosecute members of Sinn Fein over alleged coronavirus regulation breaches at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey

Videos circulating online show a bus being pelted with petrol bombs and having its windows smashed where a crowd of people had gathered
Dozens of Honduran civil society organizations on Monday demanded the "immediate" resignation of President Juan Orlando Hernandez and main government officials for having turned the country into a "narco-state."

Hernandez's brother was sentenced to life in prison by a New York judge at the end of March for large-scale drug trafficking. During the trial, US prosecutors said the president had been a "co-conspirator" in Tony Hernandez's crimes.

The organization leaders said they were "filled with indignation" in a statement released to "unconditionally demand... the immediate departure of Juan Orlando Hernandez from the government (and) the replacement of the high military command" that supports him.

They also called for the resignation of the "attorney general, the president of Congress, the head of the Supreme Court of Justice and the attorney general of the republic," and called to convene a transitional government to carry out the general elections on November 28.

"We are witnesses to the destruction of the rule of law and the construction of a party dictatorship that has turned into a narco-state," the civil society groups said in the statement.

The statement's 36 signatories include the United Confederation of Workers of Honduras and Convergence against Continuism, an alliance of non-governmental and political organizations.

Tony Hernandez, 42, was found guilty in October 2019 on four counts -- including conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, possessing machine guns and making false statements.

During his trial in March, the US government successfully argued that the former Honduran congressman was a large-scale drug trafficker who smuggled more than 185 tons of cocaine into the United States.

Judge P. Kevin Castel also said that Tony Hernandez had acted as an intermediary in providing bribes to politicians, including his brother President Hernandez and the ruling National Party.

Earlier in March, a New York jury found Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez, an alleged associate of President Hernandez, guilty of drug trafficking.

During his trial, US prosecutors said the Honduran leader had helped Fuentes smuggle tons of cocaine into the United States.

Hernandez, who has styled himself as a champion in the fight against drugs, has repeatedly denied all allegations of drug trafficking.
Just last month, she revealed her 'beautiful' aunt Nina passed away from coronavirus.

And April Love Geary made sure to protect herself from the infectious disease on Wednesday as she sported a face mask and ombre smock dress for a shopping trip in Malibu, California.

The fiancee, 26, of Robin Thicke, 44, kept a low profile as she was seen wheeling her shopping trolley away from the premises.

Staying safe: April Love Geary made sure to protect herself from coronavirus on Wednesday as she sported a face mask and ombre smock dress for a shopping trip in Malibu, California

Her relaxed dress in a navy blue hue featured a shirred waistband and cropped cuffs.

April completed the look with strappy sandals and a floral orange face mask.

The model swept her caramel tresses away from her face with a black headband as she appeared to go make-up free for the outing.

It comes after April revealed her aunt passed away from coronavirus. She confirmed the news in a heartfelt tribute shared to Instagram last month as she reflected on how her late relative was 'full of life, love and so much laughter'.

Stock up on the essentials: The fiancee, 26, of Robin Thicke, 44, kept a low profile as she was seen entering the grocery premises

In accompanying images, musician Robin's fiancee, with whom she shares children Mia, three, Lola, two, Luca, three months, cosied up to Nina at her home.

A grieving April wrote on her platform: 'Last night I had to say goodbye to my beautiful Nina.

'I am beyond blessed to have spent so much time with her growing up. Most of my favorite memories were made at her house. She was full of life, love and so much laughter.

'Covid took one of my favorite people away from me. I am happy that she was able to come home last night and be surrounded by so much love. I will cherish that last hug & kiss forever. I love you so much my auntie Nina.' (sic)

'Last night, I had to say goodbye to my beautiful Nina': Just last month, April revealed her 'beautiful' aunt Nina has passed away from coronavirus

Tragic: She confirmed the news in a heartfelt tribute shared to Instagram as she reflected on how her late relative was 'full of life, love and so much laughter'

The fashion star and five-time Grammy nominee Robin had also announced they received the COVID-19 jab together.

In a post shared to her account, also in March, the couple did a victory dance following the vaccination.

The mother-of-three captioned the post: 'Couples who get the vaccine together, stay together. Also fellas, getting the vaccine is BDE [big di** energy].'

It's unclear how they were eligible for the vaccine as they have no known underlying health conditions or disabilities.

Los Angeles are currently prioritising the injections for those who are vulnerable, teachers, living in underserved communities, or working in high-risk congregate residential settings.

President Joe Biden recently said he believes every adult could be vaccinated 'by the end of May' during his national address.
Our English language has always fascinated me. The way we use it informs culture and, in large part, sets the mores of society. Our near instant communication, combined with the wokesters' ability to censor us, makes terminology that explains a concept or helps weigh one view or idea over another, extremely significant.

We emphasize things by describing them in a certain way and define our political and social values with the language we use. The internet, the 24-hour TV news cycle, and celebrity punditry amplify the ramifications of these choices. Opinion can become "fact" through lazy, buzzword-filled elucidation and unthinking public acceptance. Truth is hidden just as easily.

When the platforms we use censor words, this curtails normal discourse and the free exchange of ideas. We are kept in a mental box. You cannot go here, there, or even there, because it will be pro forma struck from the discourse, sent down the rabbit hole into the void.

This profoundly affects our culture. Societies cannot learn and grow if people are constantly weighing their words and editing their thoughts to avoid censorship. How do concepts get shared, ideas exchanged, and understanding dawn when only one side of any equation is deemed "acceptable"? How can we debate when there is a foregone conclusion?

The woke "Repressives" have worked hard to eliminate all "unacceptable" context from our discourse  as they define that term. They've systematically rejected our values and injected lies. This is obvious when you look at events versus words.

Showing ID to vote is deemed racist  as long as you ignore the demeaning idea that people "of color" don't know how to get an ID, and they theoretically can't pick up tickets to a sporting event or get on a plane.

Burning down businesses and destroying livelihoods is labeled social justice. That means that the government endorses the perpetrators. Meanwhile, peacefully walk into the Capitol, and we throw 'em in a cell and lose the key.

Did you know that there are people, regular Americans who came to D.C. on January 6, and did nothing more than walk into the Capitol, who are still rotting in the fetid D.C. jail without bail? Yet Kamala had a bail fund for Antifa in Minneapolis, and rarely do they get charged.

Fencing D.C. now is a safety measure. Finishing the border fence is so morally repugnant, they don't want anyone to notice that they might do a little more work on the fence.

One of the most egregious trends is denying history. History is necessary because we weigh what's happening now against the aggregate of our past to gain context. The left wants to erase that best lest we conclude that life has changed for the worse.

It's easier to label Washington a slaveholder and dismiss him than to look at him in the context of his time and learn something about the values underlying our country and the valor and sacrifice of the founders. If Democrats acknowledged history, it might be harder to sell the 1619 Project or their radical social and school agenda. Remember the trite saying, "those who deny history are condemned to repeat it"?

Our media have also redefined the language of outrage. We Boomers remember Ted Koppel's Nightline, which started on the first day of the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979. Each show started with America Held Hostage, Day X (10, 20, 50, 100, etc.). During Carter's presidency, 52 Americans were held for over a year after a group of revolutionary, religiously radicalized Iranian students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran. Koppel and other outlets spent lots of time exposing us to facts. We went from vaguely aware of the region as an oil-producing area to in-depth knowledge about the place.

Compare that to right now. Where is Our Border in Crisis, Day 80? Where are the journalists focusing on the 250,000 people who've poured into the country from parts south in March alone? Media types avoid showing pictures of toddlers being dumped over walls; little children lost in the vast, hot desert alone; or COVID-spreading masses writhing under metallic blankets on the floor. Where is one honest reporter to demand answers from a silent Biden, an absent Harris? Where are the reporters trying to enter the San Diego convention center or the growing number of military bases where children are being warehoused? Where's the report on NASA personnel being re-purposed as childcare workers? Where is the outrage?

We ginned up a huge dose of outrage back in '79 over 52 Americans who couldn't come home and were held in bad conditions. How does that compare to this? These people are humans, with lives, families, a culture they are leaving behind. Among them, children, babies, criminals, drug-smugglers. We have cartels growing rich on human misery, girls raped and ravaged, drugs smuggled. We have lost the language of moral outrage when faced with a genuine outrage. The vapid lullaby of social justice ensures we close our eyes.

Image: Censorship by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Rising land rent and shortages in industrial zones (IZs) may cause multinationals, which are seeking land near Hanoi and HCMC City, to hesitate to come to Vietnam.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and policies on restricted travel, more manufacturers are following the China plus 1 model and seeking places in Vietnam to set up their production facilities. This is why industrial real estate continues to see high growth in rental and occupancy rates.

Savills Vietnam reports that in 2020 the occupancy rate was 88 percent in HCM City, 94 percent in Dong Nai, 99 percent in Binh Duong, 84 percent in Long An and 79 percent in Ba Ria  Vung Tau.

In the north, the figures were 90 percent in Hanoi, 95 percent in Bac Ninh, 89 percent in Hung Yen, 82 percent in Hai Duong and 73 percent in Hai Phong.

The land rent was $129 per square meter in Hanoi (up by 13.1 percent), $95 in Bac Ninh (9.2 percent), $83 in Hung Yen (6.4 percent), Hai Duong $76 (15 percent) and Hai Phong $96 (3.2 percent).

As occupancy rates were high in areas around Hanoi, many investors had to move to Thanh Hoa, where the land rent was competitive, $40-$50 per square meter, compared with key industrial provinces in the north and south.

Thanh Hoa attracted $349 million worth of FDI in 2020, the 20th biggest FDI recipient. Foxconns development plans in Thanh Hoa have attracted electronic component manufacturers which provide materials to big investors.

Competitive land rent and a big labor force are the two biggest advantages of Thanh Hoa.

In southern provinces, the land rent in IZs in 2020 was $147 per square meter in HCM City, $107 in Binh Duong (+ 4.9 percent), $98 in Dong Nai (+ 6.5 percent), $123 in Long An (7.8 percent) and $65 in Ba Ria  Vung Tau (18.1 percent).

Matthew Powell from Savills Hanoi said the surge in land demand and land rent can also be attributed to improved development of infrastructure and better access to roads, harbors and airports.

However, the land rent escalation is a major concern for businesses, especially ones in industries with low profitability such as textiles and garments and interior furnishings.

If land prices keep rising, Vietnams competitiveness in price will be weaker, unless there is more industrial land in key economic zones to satisfy demand and stabilize prices.

As for land supply in the future, the Department of Economic Zone Management is expected to approve 561 IZ projects with a total area of 201,000 hectares.

D. Anh

Attracting multi-billion dollars worth of investments to IZs, tycoon earns big money The real estate firm of Dang Thanh Tam has attracted $1.2 billion worth of investments into its IZs within a short time, projecting a profit increase of 6-7 times in 2021 amid continued foreign capital inflow.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-09 05:10:23|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran reported 22,586 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, pushing up the country's caseload to cross the 2-million mark. Meanwhile, Egypt hailed the "fruitful" cooperation with China in fighting the pandemic.

The tally of coronavirus infections in Iran surged to 2,006,934, while the pandemic has so far claimed 63,884 lives in Iran, up by 185 in the past 24 hours.

A total of 1,684,570 people have recovered from the disease or been discharged from hospitals in Iran, while 4,221 remained in intensive care units.

In Cairo, Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed on Thursday lauded the cooperation between Egypt and China on combating the COVID-19 pandemic as "fruitful and unprecedented."

"I would like to thank China, its leadership, government and people, for their great solidarity with us in this crisis," the minister told a press conference in Cairo on the situation of COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt.

Zayed pointed out that Egypt has received two batches of China's Sinopharm vaccines recently.

Turkey on Thursday reported 55,941 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily record in the country since the start of the outbreak.

Among the new coronavirus cases in Turkey were 2,316 symptomatic patients, as the total caseload in the country reached 3,689,866, according to the Turkish Health Ministry.

The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 258 to 33,201, while the total recoveries climbed to 3,232,892 after 37,914 more cases recovered in the last 24 hours.

In Iraq, the total number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 900,000 as the daily infections continue to rise and threaten to run out of control.

The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported 7,817 new COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours, raising the total nationwide number to 903,439.

It also confirmed 34 new deaths from the virus, raising the death toll to 14,606, while the total recoveries in Iraq climbed by 4,883 to 799,327.

Sayf al-Badr, spokesman of the Iraqi health ministry, warned of the recent dangerous epidemiological situation, saying "Iraq recorded unprecedented numbers during the past few days."

"Like any other health system in the world, the Iraqi health system has a limit in dealing with numbers of infections that occur at the same time," al-Badr added.

Jordan confirmed 4,775 new coronavirus infections, taking its tally of COVID-19 cases to 655,456. The death toll from the disease rose by 96 to 7,565, while the total recoveries in the kingdom soared by 6,444 to 576,771.

In Morocco, 635 people tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, taking the national tally of infections to 500,323, the Moroccan Ministry of Health said.

Six more people died from the disease, taking the death toll in the North African country to 8,873, while the total recoveries increased to 486,913 after 564 more were added.

Israel's Ministry of Health reported 274 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, raising the total infections in the country to 835,437.

The death toll from the virus rose by 15 to 6,277 in Israel, while the number of recoveries surged to 824,666 after 556 newly recovered cases were added.

Lebanon recorded 3,510 new COVID-19 cases, raising its total number of infections to 489,428. The death toll from the virus increased by 37 to 6,549 in Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Joseph Aoun kicked off on Thursday a vaccination campaign for the soldiers in 21 military centers across the country.

The Kuwaiti Health Ministry reported 1,379 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total infections in the country to 242,848.

The ministry also announced four more fatalities, taking the death toll to 1,383, while the tally of recoveries rose by 1,234 to 227,260.

Qatari Health Ministry on Thursday announced 949 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 187,150.

It also reported that 521 more people recovered from the virus, bringing the overall recoveries to 168,001, while the death toll increased by two to 322. Enditem
Louisiana, along with the rest of the country, will receive significantly fewer doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine next week.

The state's allocation will fall from 67,700 doses this week down to 8,000 doses next week  an 88% drop, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The nationwide shortage comes after nearly 15 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine were thrown out following a mix-up in ingredients at a manufacturing plant in Baltimore. The error did not effect doses already delivered.

Louisiana COVID numbers: More than 100,000 more vaccine doses administered In Louisiana, 106,736 more doses of COVID vaccines have been administered this week, according to a noon update from the Louisiana Department 

Demand for the vaccine has waned in Louisiana in recent weeks, even after eligibility was expanded to include anyone 16 and older. The existing glut in doses will likely soften the impact of the Johnson & Johnson drop, though the convenience of the one-shot vaccine has made it easier to inoculate harder-to-reach populations, like rural residents or prisoners.

Dr. David Holcombe, who heads up the public health region centered in Alexandria, said they expect their weekly doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to drop down from 4,000 to just 400 next week. At the Rapides Parish Coliseum last week, they were giving out 500 of the one-shot doses a day.

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

Still, Holcombe said they've sent a "considerable" amount of Moderna vaccines back to the state for redistribution after it was clear the demand wasn't there.

Vaccine appointments in Louisiana are going unfilled -- sooner than officials thought When COVID vaccines first opened to Louisiana residents over 70 in January, there was a mad scramble for appointments. Overloaded phone system

Its starting to take more and more resources to reach fewer and fewer people, Holcombe said. We're reaching a saturation point almost across the entire state.

Gov. John Bel Edwards is scheduled to hold his weekly press conference Thursday at 2:30 p.m. where he's expected to provide updates on the coronavirus pandemic and the state's vaccine rollout.

This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.
Medal of Honor recipient Charles H. Coolidge dies View Photo

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP)  Tennessee Medal of Honor recipient Charles H. Coolidge has died. He was 99.

Coolidge died Tuesday in Chattanooga, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society announced in a statement.

Coolidge received the Medal of Honor for actions he took in October 1944 during WWII. He was assigned to 2d Platoon, Company M, 3d Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division in the U.S. Army.

A German infantry attacked the heavy machine gun unit in France and with no officer present, Coolidge assumed command. Over three days, Coolidge exposed himself to enemy fire to inspire and support others and his leadership enabled the group to stop repeated attacks, the society said. On the fourth day, Coolidge was able to lead the men to an orderly retreat when their position was overrun.

He received the Medal of Honor on June 18, 1945.

After his Army service, Coolidge returned to Tennessee and worked for the Veterans Administration before moving into the family business, Chattanooga Printing and Engraving.

The Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center in Chattanooga is named in his honor and tells the stories of Medal of Honor recipients since the Civil War.

Coolidge will be buried April 16 at the Chattanooga National Military Cemetery with full military honors, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported.

___

The spelling of Medal has been corrected.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8)  For some progressive lawmakers, concrete improvements in the COVID-19 response, not just mere "photo ops," would give people the assurance that the government is indeed addressing the health crisis.

The Makabayan bloc said on Thursday that the recent photo of President Rodrigo Duterte seated on a table cluttered with various documents, as seen in a recent Facebook post of his former aide Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go, should not make up for his absence from the public eye amid the raging pandemic.

Speculations about Duterte's health condition came up again after he canceled his weekly national address twice this week. The hashtag #NasaanAngPangulo (Where is the President?) also trended online as netizens started asking about his whereabouts amid the crisis.

READ: Duterte skips his weekly public address

"Ang daming problema ng Pilipinas ngayon. Ano ba man lang 'yung magresponde sa mga pinakamaiinit na issue na binabato sa kasalukuyan?" said Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas in a briefing.

[Translation: The Philippines is facing a lot of problems right now. Why can't he at least respond to the most pressing issues that we're facing right now?]

She added that the "photo ops" which suggested that Duterte was "swamped" with paperwork did not even provide a clue as to what he was actually working on.

"Malaki ang problema natin lalo sa surge ng cases ng COVID, 'yung ayuda na kailangan, na hindi pa sapat, kailangang pag-usapan ng mabuti at papaano, saan kukuha ng pera," she added.

[Translation: We are facing a big problem brought about by the surge in COVID cases, the people who need aid which remain insufficient, we need to tackle how and where we will get the funds.]

ACT-Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said this was not the first time that Go and Duterte have done such "gimmicks," during times when the public desperately needs concrete action.

"Gumigimik na naman si Sen. Bong Go at si President Duterte. Ilang beses na itong nangyayari na kung may mga masisidhing mga issue na kinakailangan ng intervention ng Pangulo ay nagkakaroon ng ganitong mga gimik, mga photo ops," she said.

[Translation: Sen. Bong Go and President Duterte are doing their gimmick once again. How many times has this happened, whenever there are critical issues that need the President's intervention, they resort to gimmicks, photo ops.]

Go previously said several members of Duterte's security group have caught the virus, prompting the President to postpone his engagements this week. He also revealed that Duterte tested negative for COVID-19 when he took his last swab test during the Holy Week.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement that Duterte remains "fit and healthy for his age" and continues to "discharge his functions as head of the government."

Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar expressed dismay over comments that leadership is lacking in the government's pandemic response.

To say that the Duterte administrations response is on autopilot is to belittle the expertise of those in the recommendatory and implementary bodies who have put in hard work and dedication to address the health issue since day one," he said in a separate statement.

He added that any "unnecessary form" of politiciking only disregards the work of medical frontliners and government officials during this time.

Duterte was last seen by the public on March 29, during a meeting with government officials on the country's pandemic response. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was among those who attended the meeting. He then confirmed on April 6 that he tested positive for COVID-19.
In order to get through the next critical months, a top official revealed Wednesday that Mexican Foreign Minister will soon fly to the United States to request for additional vaccine supply from its neighbor due to shortage.

Based on the information, Marcelo Ebrard, the Foreign Minister of Mexico, will make his trip to the U.S. to thank the Biden administration for the fast delivery of 2.7 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the country.

According to Bloomberg, during an interview, Deputy Foreign Minister Martha Delgado shared that the Mexican Foreign Minister will also push for additional doses for the country's critical time.

Moreover, Delgado added that there was a permanent petition for any available vaccines from the U.S., like the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has not yet received any approval from the regulators in the country. She also added that the U.S. government recognizes the need for Mexico to have access to such vaccines as quickly as possible.

ALSO READ: Mexican President Defends Release of Infamous Drug Kingpin Targeted by U.S.

The Deputy Foreign Minister said the next three months will be vital for Mexico as the shipment from their list of suppliers will start to arrive in the next half of the year. Delgado also added that she was confident that the U.S. would be providing more doses of the vaccine due to their deep ties between the countries in the North American trade bloc.

In addition, she also mentioned that the U.S. would not also want Mexico to fall far behind in battling against COVID-19 as it might be risky in the region. Delgado also emphasized that it is not just about economic integration because it caters to human integration, and she believes that the U.S. understands it very well.

Delgado also shared that Ebrard will be visiting China and Russia as part of the country's vaccine negotiations, Reuters reported.

Mexico in Pandemic

Mexican officials are currently ramping up the pace of their vaccination program, which is presently running around 360,000 doses daily after delivering close to 9.3 million doses of the vaccine. Based on the current rate of the administering of vaccine, it will take Mexico 16 months estimated for the government to inoculate 75% of their total population with two jabs.

Furthermore, Delgado said that the country has also produced its own first batch of AstraZeneca from a factory in their capital, Mexico City. The Deputy Foreign Minister said that the first production of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the country and Latin America will be analyzed. Based on the assessment of health officials, it will be available either at the end of April or the first week of May.

Also, Delgado revealed that the production at their local factory faced delays due to a series of problems, especially from obtaining a type of filter from a subsidiary of Merck & Co.

Mexico became the third country in the world to reach more than 200,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, after U.S. and Brazil, countries that have larger populations, The Guardian reported. But some reports show that the actual number already exceeds the official number of fatalities reported by the government.

RELATED ARTICLE: Biden Admin May Have To Restart Border Wall Construction To Fill Holes

WATCH: Mexico health experts concerned about COVID vaccine supply - Al Jazeera English
If you are hoping to build a dog park in your community or enhance an existing one, PetSafe will soon launch a grant contest, Bark for Your Park, to help.

The annual grant contest will award a total of $150,000 to 10 communities.

The PetSafe brand is committed to creating safe, off-leash areas for pets and pet parents to enjoy for years to come, says Celeste Vlok, marketing manager for PetSafe. For our 10th anniversary, weve added a voting element to the grant contest so more people can join in the fun. We encourage anyone who would like to have a new dog park in their area, or would like to upgrade an existing dog park, to enter.

Entries will be accepted from May 1 to June 30.

But you will need to do some work before entering including:

Contact a local civic leader and request an official letter of support for the dog park project.

Make a list of ways your community will benefit from a dog park.

Confirm that your community has land available for a dog park.

Design a layout for your ideal dog park.

Gather examples to show why the next big dog park should be in your community; like fundraising events, support from local businesses and more.

Entries will be reviewed by judges and 30 finalists will be selected and announced on Aug. 3. Voting will take place from Aug. 3 to Aug. 31 and the winners will be announced Sept. 2.

Five communities will receive $25,000 for the construction of a new park and five communities will be awarded $5,000 to enhance their local dog parks.

READ MORE
HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / BitFuFu, the world's first crypto mining standardization platform, has made an official announcement that Bitmain, the largest mining company in the world, has invested into their platform. The funding will be used to further support the efforts of both companies towards reaching a mutually beneficial collaboration, and facilitating the ongoing development of the mining industry.

Following announcements of their strategic partnership, BitFuFu has officially received investment funding from the world-renowned mining company, Bitmain. Bitmain and BitFuFu.com are joining hands to expand to future markets in mining, as well as the full integration of tools from both sides, such as mining equipment, mining facilities, and industry expertise. This information comes shortly after BitFuFu reportedly made a huge order of 8000 units of the S19Pro Antminers from Bitmain.

The mining giant has been a strategic partner of BitFuFu, and according to the company representatives, Bitmain intends to continue to support the BitFuFu platform through its valuable mining resources and connections, including mining machines, pools etc. BitFuFu and Bitmain aim to openly collaborate with each other to achieve mutual benefits in the long run, and to further bolster the development of the crypto mining ecosystem.

A company representative at Bitmain expressed that the future goals of Bitmain entails heavy emphasis on the enrichment of cloud computing tech and integration of its resources. BitFuFu has currently introduced a joint login function with Antpool. Users now only need one platform account to access both services, eliminating the need to build, login, and maintain multiple accounts. This improves the user experience and adds flexibility for clients to easily switch between cloud computing services and mining through the BitFuFu platform, which allows customers to adjust according to market conditions and sentiments.

BitFuFu, was formally launched on December 15th, 2020 as the industry's first computing power standardization portal. BitFuFu.com adheres to the ideals of transparency and computing power standardization, and in February this year, the platform has reached a strategic agreement with Bitmain and has since established a reliable supply of mining resources and connections to the partner institutions of Bitmain.

For further information about BitFuFu and their collaboration with Bitmain, please refer to their official website.

About BitFuFu

BitFuFu is the world's first platform to offer crypto mining services to users with standardized mining hashrates. The aim of BitFuFu is to provide users access to Bitcoin at a lower cost. By collaborating with Bitmain, its hashrate products have achieved the first-class service through one-click transactions, eliminating complicated steps, such as selecting proper mining and mining machines, maintenance of machines, and connection of mining pools. The BitFuFu Platform allows customers to access the world's top miners, such as Bitmain, Whatsminer, Innosilicon, and international mining farms in Russia, the United States, and China.

Official website: https://www.bitfufu.com/

Media Contact

BitFuFu

Yu Qing

13810393330

contact@bitfufu.com

SOURCE: BitFuFu

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639434/Mining-Giant-Bitmain-Invests-in-Crypto-Mining-Platform-BitFuFu
In the Blackfeet Tribal Reservation, enforcement of stay-at-home orders and mandated use of face coverings in public, with potential fines and jail for noncompliance, were associated with a thirty-three-fold reduction in COVID-19 incidence from its peak of 6.40 cases per 1,000 residents per day on October 5 to 0.19 on November 7, 2020.

COVID-19 has disproportionately affected persons who identify as non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) (1). The Blackfeet Tribal Reservation, the northern Montana home of the sovereign Blackfeet Nation, with an estimated population of 10,629 (2), detected the first COVID-19 case in the community on June 16, 2020. Following CDC guidance,* and with free testing widely available, the Indian Health Service and Blackfeet Tribal Health Department began investigating all confirmed cases and their contacts on June 25. The relationship between three community mitigation resolutions passed and enforced by the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council and changes in the daily COVID-19 incidence and in the distributions of new cases was assessed. After the September 28 issuance of a strictly enforced stay-at-home order and adoption of a mask use resolution, COVID-19 incidence in the Blackfeet Tribal Reservation decreased by a factor of 33 from its peak of 6.40 cases per 1,000 residents per day on October 5 to 0.19 on November 7. Other mitigation measures the Blackfeet Tribal Reservation used included closing the east gate of Glacier National Park for the summer tourism season, instituting remote learning for public school students throughout the fall semester, and providing a Thanksgiving meal to every household to reduce trips to grocery stores. CDC has recommended use of routine public health interventions for infectious diseases, including case investigation with prompt isolation, contact tracing, and immediate quarantine after exposure to prevent and control transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 (3). Stay-at-home orders, physical distancing, and mask wearing indoors, outdoors when physical distancing is not possible, or when in close contact with infected or exposed persons are also recommended as nonpharmaceutical community mitigation measures (3,4). Implementation and strict enforcement of stay-at-home orders and a mask use mandate likely helped reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the Blackfeet Tribal Reservation.

The potential effects of community mitigation measures on changes in the number and incidence of new COVID-19 cases in the Blackfeet Tribal Reservation during June 16December 10, 2020, were assessed using deidentified laboratory and case investigation data. The tribal health clinic, the Indian Health Service, a dialysis clinic, and a long-term care facility performed testing for SARS-CoV-2 and used various data collection tools. Local public health nurses abstracted case investigation data, including patient age, sex, race, ethnicity, test date, and exposure information. A case was defined as receipt of a positive SARS-CoV-2 result from either a nucleic acid amplification test, such as a polymerase chain reaction test, or a rapid antigen detection test by a resident of the Blackfeet Tribal Reservation. Incidence was calculated as the daily number of new COVID-19 cases per 1,000 residents. Analyses were conducted using SAS (version 9.4; SAS Institute). Population estimates for the Blackfeet Tribal Reservation and for Montana were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau (2,5). This activity was reviewed by CDC and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.

During 2020, the Blackfeet Nation implemented three stay-at-home orders; mask use in public was required by all three orders. The first was a mandatory stay-at-home order, which was in place during June 29July 31; violations of isolation or quarantine orders could result in a fine up to $500.,** The second was a recommended stay-at-home order, which began August 19. The third was an enforced stay-at-home order, which began September 28. Under this third order, breaking quarantine or isolation orders could result in up to 3 years in jail and a fine up to $5,000. Patients unable to isolate at home were provided temporary housing in two local hotels. A COVID-19 dispatch team delivered medications and food to community members, as needed.

During June 16December 10, 2020, a total of 1,180 COVID-19 cases were reported in the Blackfeet Tribal Reservation (Table). The median age of patients was 36 years (range = 096 years); 50.5% of cases occurred in females, and 91.9% of patients self-identified as AI/AN. After the first COVID-19 case was reported in the community on June 16, the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council voted not to open the east gate of Glacier National Park, which borders the reservation, through the end of the 2020 tourist season (6). The Blackfeet Tribal Reservation recorded few cases during July, when mandatory stay-at-home orders and ongoing case investigation and contact tracing were in effect, with an average daily incidence of 0.10 cases per 1,000 residents (Figure 1). On July 31, the Blackfeet Tribal Reservation opened its campgrounds to residents when the mandatory stay-at-home orders expired. In August, a slight increase in incidence was observed, to 0.19 cases per 1,000.

The second, or recommended, stay-at-home order commenced on August 19. However, the number of cases increased after gatherings at the Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo (August 1923) in Kalispell, outside of the reservation, and during Labor Day weekend (September 57). Daily incidence peaked at 6.40 cases per 1,000 residents on October 5, which was 63 times the incidence in July.

On September 28, a third stay-at-home order was issued, with strict enforcement and substantial fines for violation. Afterward, incidence decreased to 0.19 cases per 1,000 by November 7. A gradual increase in newly identified cases among persons aged 517 years and 3039 years began the week of August 9, after the campgrounds opened on July 31, and peaked the week of August 16 (Figure 2). During August, the numbers of cases in these age groups were higher than those in other age groups. Incident cases among persons aged 1839 years and 5064 years increased after the Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo (week of August 16) and Labor Day weekend (week of September 6), and peaked during the week of September 27, before the enforced stay-at-home order was issued.

Among 142 (12.0%) of 1,180 patients with available household exposure data, 121 (85.2%) reported at least one household contact with COVID-19. Workplace exposure data were available for 198 (16.8%) patients, 12 (6.1%) of whom reported a workplace exposure. Community exposure data were available for 133 (11.3%) patients; among these, 53 (39.8%) reported known community exposure. Twelve patients (1.0%) reported exposure in an adult congregate living facility.
This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we interview a pair of Oregon State University researchers about the Community Snow Observations project, which encourages backcountry users such as skiers, snowmobilers and snowshoers to submit snow depth measurements using a mobile app.

Such measurements are important for more than just recreation, as they help researchers better understand the snowpack and hazards such as avalanches. They also support water runoff models that inform us about water resources, ecology, tourism and the effects of a changing climate.

Some highlights:

Dave Hill, an Oregon State University professor, and Nina Aragon, a Ph.D. student, describe the project and how the snow measurement data is used.

Nina walks us through what it takes to collect and submit snow depth measurements.

Dave shares information about the popularity of the program: Over 3,000 people, for example, have participated.

He rattles off some things to consider before leaving home for a trip into the backcountry.

Nina gives us a rundown on backcountry safety and how to find good mountain forecasts.

Dave sums up why people should get involved in the Community Snow Observations project.

Jim discusses a trip to Santiam Pass earlier this year, during which Dave and Nina taught him how to take proper snow depth measurements. The trip was captured in the latest episode of the Peak Northwest video series.

Heres the full episode.

Visit the Community Snow Observations website to learn more about the project.

Watch our latest Peak Northwest video.

Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Follow Peak Northwest on Instagram at @PeakNorthwest.

-- Jim Ryan and Jamie Hale
MONTREAL - A 44-year-old man arrested for allegedly uttering death threats to a woman of Asian origin on Montreal's subway system is due back in court April 14, police said Thursday.

The Montreal Police logo is seen on a police car in Montreal on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

MONTREAL - A 44-year-old man arrested for allegedly uttering death threats to a woman of Asian origin on Montreal's subway system is due back in court April 14, police said Thursday.

The victim, a 29-year-old woman, was in a metro car on March 27 when the suspect allegedly approached her. The suspect, who was arrested April 3, allegedly tried to intimidate her, insulted her and made racist remarks, police said.

Police said the victim filmed the incident on her cellphone, which they said angered the suspect, who then gestured like he was pointing a gun and made the sound of a gunshot.

Const. Jean-Pierre Brabant said in an interview Thursday the suspect appeared in court April 4 and faces charges of criminal harassment and uttering threats. The suspect remains detained, Brabant said, adding that he is due in court April 14.

Police said investigators from the hate crimes unit worked with members of the Asian community to identify the victim, adding that with her help, the suspect was identified and arrested.

Brabant said police have reason to believe the suspect may have committed similar acts toward other people of Asian origin and to people of other ethnicities. Police are asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim of the suspect to come forward.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 8, 2021.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Victoria has been dipping into its back-up vaccine supply to ensure people who have appointments are not being turned away as Commonwealth deliveries arrive consistently late, hampering the vaccine rollout in the state.

Health officials said on Thursday that the states rollout was being hindered by uncertainty about vaccine supply.

Victoria is being forced to dip into back-up supplies to ensure vaccination appointments can be kept. Credit:Eddie Jim

Data seen by The Age reveals three batches of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Victoria seven days late on March 26, four days late on March 30 and seven days late on Thursday. The batches included a combination of doses manufactured overseas and at the Broadmeadows CSL plant.

The tension escalated on Thursday when Victoria claimed it had not received its weekly allocation of 40,000 AstraZeneca doses.
Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons and Patrece McLain from the clerks office empty the ballot drop box outside Brookens Administrative Center on Tuesday afternoon. Drop boxes at seven locations in Champaign-Urbana were available for voters to use until 7 p.m. Tuesday. The collection process  monitored by a Democrat and Republican at each site  continued throughout the day.
The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are planning to launch a platform to advise poor countries on funding climate and conservation activities, amid a broader push that could link such spending to debt relief, according to a draft document seen by Reuters.

The advisers would include UN officials, non-governmental organizations, private investors and even ratings agencies with expertise in sourcing investment, including grants, low- or no-interest loans and conditional debt relief, the document says.

The initiative reflects the growing recognition that the economic turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated budget constraints and debt challenges that hamper the ability of some countries to transition to clean energy, protect wildlife or make infrastructural changes to prepare for climate impacts.

"Unlike other initiatives out there that focus on one project at a time, this will focus on systematically changing whole economies," said one source familiar with the initiative, who added that the platform aims for a more holistic approach to "the triple crisis of debt, climate change and biodiversity loss."

In a February interview, World Bank President David Malpass raised the possibility of linking debt relief with investments to combat climate change and reduce fossil-fuel emissions, but provided no further details.

The institutions' discussions toward that goal are detailed in a World Bank paper on debt published on the bank's website on Monday for their annual spring meetings.

It said they are developing an "organizing framework" for connecting debt relief to countries' plans for investing in "green, resilient and inclusive development," or GRID - the bank's newest catchall acronym.

"For countries that are close to their debt limits, financing GRID will require sufficient grants and concessional lending which could be augmented by conditional debt relief or reprofiling," the joint paper said.

The World Bank estimates that over 30 of the world's poorest countries are in or at high risk of debt distress. Three of them - Chad, Ethiopia and Zambia - have requested restructuring of their debts under a common framework agreed last year by China, the world's largest bilateral creditor, and other Group of 20 major economies with the Paris Club of official creditors.

Last month, a separate technical working group began working on the new Debt/Climate/Nature Platform. It will allow public and private sector experts to provide technical assistance and data to countries about possible investments and help them find public and private funding, the paper said.

A second source said planning was still in the early stages, but the goal was to launch the platform late in 2021, with a secretariat to be hosted at the World Bank.

"If unaddressed, or approached in ways that do not take into account macroeconomic vulnerabilities and debt sustainability constraints, climate change and nature loss represent a systemic risk to the global economy," the paper says.

The platform, however, would not replace debt treatment talks under the Group of 20 common frameworks, the document said. Instead, it could provide advice for how to proceed after any debt relief was agreed.

Also read: COVID-19 impact: India's debt to GDP ratio rises from 74% to 90%, says IMF
City by-laws are unconstitutional and discriminatory says Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre

A group of homeless people represented by Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre are taking the City of Cape Town to court over some of its by-laws.

They say the by-laws "criminalise homelessness", infringe on fundamental human rights and unfairly discriminate against homeless people.

Mayor Dan Plato has written that people are only fined when all offers of social assistance are rejected.

Eleven homeless people in Cape Town have gone to court to have several City of Cape Town municipal by-laws declared unconstitutional and discriminatory.

On 31 March, applications were filed at the Western Cape High Court and at the Equality Court to challenge the City by-laws on Streets, Public Places and the Prevention of Noise Nuisances (2007) and Integrated Waste Management (2009).

The applicants are represented by the Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre.

In a statement, Ndifuna Ukwazi said that the by-laws unfairly discriminate against homeless people and they infringe on their fundamental human rights, including the rights to equality, human dignity, freedom and security of the person, privacy, freedom of movement and residence, and property.

"These by-laws criminalise homelessness by making it a crime for persons living on the street to conduct ordinary life-sustaining activities, like sleeping, camping, resting, bathing, erecting a shelter or keeping personal belongings in public," the statement says.

"The by-laws also make it a crime to 'beg'," the statement adds.

The first applicant, Carin Gelderbloem, lived on the streets in the city centre for nine years before moving to a homeless shelter last year. She said she was slapped with a R1,500 fine by a law enforcement officer for "littering and dumping" in 2019 while she was moving her few belongings.

"All I had was my shack and I left nothing like papers or anything behind. As far as I'm concerned, littering is when you drop a piece of paper and you walk on, and dumping is if you leave a load of rubbish on one spot."

"Imagine a homeless person, who has no job or anything, getting a fine of R1,500. And that's on the lower end. There are people who get fined up to R2,500," she said.

It was after this incident that Gelderbloem said she and other homeless people planned to challenge the City's by-laws in 2020, but were unable to pursue it because of the Covid lockdown.

"When we started with the case, I couldn't even sleep on one spot for two nights in a row. I do believe that [law enforcement] targeted me. I used to camp out at Greenmarket Square, and [law enforcement] took all my stuff. They left me one morning while it was drizzling with just the clothes on my back. They took everything," said Gelderbloem.

"They don't regard homeless people as people," she said.

She also criticised the City for holding meetings to deal with homelessness without including homeless people.

Gelderbloem said that she suffered from depression and anxiety because of the laws. "Imagine sitting up every night and just waiting for law enforcement to come, because I expected them to come every night. I'm still battling with that part of my life."

In an open letter, Mayor Dan Plato said, "Law Enforcement officers are duty-bound to apply the law equally, and to respond to the hundreds of complaints from residents each month about anti-social behaviour, breaking of by-laws, and crime committed by some people living on the street."

"When all offers of social assistance are rejected, only then does the City issue compliance notices and fines -- the key legal mechanisms available to enforce by-laws."

"It is no crime to be poor or down on your luck, but every single resident has to comply with by-laws, and the law in general," said Plato.

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A Street People Enumeration report conducted by the City in November 2018 counted about 4,000 individuals living on the streets and just over 2,000 in shelters.

A 2020 study by NGO U-turn, Khulisa Streetscapes and MES estimated that over 14,000 people were living on the city streets.

Ndifuna Ukwazi attorney Jonty Cogger said that as a housing activist organisation, Ndifuna Ukwazi could not ignore by-laws that criminalised homelessness in the midst of a housing crisis.

"These by-laws impose a further barrier to alleviating chronic poverty in circumstances where people are forced to live on the streets. This violates a myriad of fundamental human rights," he said.

The City of Cape Town will have an opportunity to oppose the application in the High Court and Equality Court. The matter is likely to be opposed and will be heard in court in due course, Cogger adds.

The City said it received notice of the application on Tuesday, and the papers are being perused.
(Newser)  Mike Pence has found work. The former vice president signed a deal Wednesday to write two books for Simon & Schuster, the first of which is due out in 2023, USA Today reports. The publisher said readers can look forward to "the definitive book on one of the most consequential presidencies in American history," starting with the moment Donald Trump chose Pence as his running mate. The other book will be more autobiographical, per Axios. Readers will follow his "journey from a small town in Indiana to Washington," Pence said. He also was elected to Congress and the governorship of Indiana. The books, with a focus on Pence's Christian faith, could help keep him in public view in the runup to the 2024 presidential election. The deal pays $3 million to $4 million, per CNN.

story continues below

Kellyanne Conway, former White House counselor, is writing a book, per the Daily Mail. Otherwise, per CNN, publishers are slow in signing Trump administration authors. Some are concerned that the books could spark a backlash or that truthfulness would be an issue. Publishers are most wary of publishing the former president, partly because the cost would be high: a large advance and laborious process. They said Trump might have to go the self-published route. "It's not that the book wouldn't sell, it's that he is impossible to fact-check or do business with," one person in the industry said. Publishers also are worried that employees would quit if they signed Trump. But Trump still might be able to find a publisher. "There is a lot of money to be made, and that is an aphrodisiac," one publishing insider said. (Read more Mike Pence stories.)
Rabat  Morocco and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation signed Tuesday a collaboration agreement aimed at supporting the generalization of a quality preschool in the Kingdom.

The collaboration agreement was signed during a video conference by minister of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research, Saaid Amzazi, and Minister-President of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Pierre-Yves Jehole.

Part of the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation in education and training, the agreement focuses on improving the teaching of languages and cultures, in addition to strengthening skills in Morocco for sustainable co-development, said a joint statement.

In addition, the two ministers discussed ways and means of intensifying collaboration in the areas of initial and in-service training for teachers and pre-school supervisory staff, the teaching of languages and cultures, and the improvement of conditions for the care of children with special needs.

Speaking on this occasion, Amzazi welcomed the start of the joint CAAPPP program (Certificate of Ability to Support Preschool Pedagogical Practices) to train the first 300 Moroccan preschool inspectors.

This program, recalled the same source, is organized by Belgian schools in Morocco, in partnership with the Department of National Education and the 12 regional academies of education and training and led by a team of experts from the inspectorate of basic education, Belgian French-speaking universities and colleges of education.

For his part, Jehole said that the Wallonia-Brussels Federation backs Morocco, since 2000, in the structuring of preschool education, noting that the CAAPPP program, launched in January 2021, is part of the Action Plan of the 7th Joint Permanent Commission between our two governments.

On this occasion, the two ministers commended the exceptional relationship between Morocco and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation in terms of higher education and scientific research.
Trump-Endorsed Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Raises $3.2 Million in First Quarter

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) announced Wednesday that she had raised a jaw-dropping $3.2 million in her first three months in office, calling it incredible support for her reelection campaign.

I am humbled, overjoyed, and so excited to announce what happened over the past few months as I have been the most attacked freshman member of Congress in history, Greene wrote on the messaging platform Telegram. Over 100,000 individual donations poured in over $3,200,000 to support me, averaging $32 per donation. You know why?

I stood my ground and never wavered in my belief in America First policies and putting People Over Politicians! And I will NEVER back down! As a matter of fact, Im just getting started, she said.

Greene has reason to claim that she has been the most attacked freshman member of Congress.

In the second month after she took office, Greene was stripped of two committee positions over past comments and actions. Greene argued that those were words of the past and do not represent her current views.

Greene had speculated that the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks were a false flag event and alleged that deadly U.S. school shootings were staged, among other conspiracy theories.

Last month, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) introduced a resolution to expel Greene from the Congress. She criticized the move saying Democrats were trying to overturn the will of the American people who voted for her.

On Sunday, Greene said that her Twitter account had been suspendedthe second time in two weeksafter she wrote, Hes risen! Happy Easter!

Twitter later confirmed the suspension was a mistake.

Greene further explained why she believes she had received support in the form of over 100,000 individual donations, pointing out that the donations came from all 50 states.

Demanding election integrity, protecting the unborn, defending Second Amendment rights, securing our Southern border, and holding Joe Biden accountable with Articles of Impeachment are exactly what the grassroots of the Republican Party want to see in members of Congress, Greene said in a statement. That desire for a true conservative fighter is clear with Rep. Greenes Q1 fundraising numbers.

Greene introduced impeachment articles against President Joe Biden one day after he was sworn in, alleging abuse of power.

Her $3.2 million is no small amount, especially for a freshman in Congress. To compare, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) raised $728,000 in her first three months in office in 2019, according to Politico.

Last month, Greene met former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago where the former president praised the elected representative.

Shes really a very special person. Shes out there fighting hard, and the people of Georgia love her, Trump said.
San Francisco Is Hiring for Multiple Roles, Including a CDO

Beeck Center Report Examines Intergovernmental Software Co-Ops

Policy Nonprofit Calls on Biden Administration to Create Local Innovation Unit

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has announced a total of $2.2 million of investments to be spread across nine civic projects in Philadelphia, many of which involved tech and innovation.The investments  which were announced by the Knight Foundation this week  will support local programs that advance equitable community development and digital innovation in city neighborhoods, officials noted in the announcement. In doing so, the money will also go toward incorporating residents of the city in the creation of the work.A truly thriving Philadelphia is an equitable Philadelphia, Ellen Hwang, Knight Foundation program director for Philadelphia, said in a statement. Accessible public spaces are critical assets and places for our communities. These new investments will help ensure that as neighborhoods develop, there are opportunities for communities to be drivers and decision-makers of the change and to benefit from the opportunities that come from development.In a more specific sense, the money will go toward programs such as the citys Parks and Recreation department working on a pilot program to test innovative play in public spaces, as well as a series of other projects that tap innovation more directly. These include enabling the Philadelphia Rail Park to use digital tools in the service of accessibility, leveraging an AI data analytics tool to better understand city communications with residents, and more.The unifying factor of the work is that it has largely been born out of lessons learned during COVID-19 about the need to enhance public spaces as well as the digitization of city services for residents.The pandemic taught us that communities need better access to quality spaces and digital services to be more engaged in the community, said Kelly Jin, Knight Foundation vice president for community and national initiatives, in a statement. As we continue to recover from the pandemic, its vital that civic assets continue to serve everyone and adapt to the changing needs of residents. These investments will help ensure that Philadelphia is poised for the future.San Francisco is looking to hire for multiple roles related to tech and innovation, including chief data officer.The full list of four openings can be found on San Franciscos website , beneath the fitting header, Come build a digital city. In addition to a chief data officer, San Francisco is currently looking to hire a front-end developer, a senior design researcher and a senior UX (user experience) designer for housing.The chief data officer role is perhaps most notable, given that San Francisco was one of the first cities in the country to establish that role anywhere within its local government structure. The job would essentially involve leading the way on San Franciscos robust DataSF program. Applications are open now, and the job is ultimately considered a mayoral appointment, enshrined in the citys administrative code. The opening comes after the DataSF team combined with the citys Digital Services team.The position opened up earlier this year after Jason Lally  who formerly held the CDO role  joined the recent migration from San Francisco tech and innovation work to take on similar projects for the state government of California.A new report from the Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation at Georgetown University has taken a close look at the world of intergovernmental software co-ops.Dubbed, the report is authored by Waldo Jaquith and Robin Carnahan, who was just nominated by President Biden to helm the General Services Administration, which houses the federal tech consultancy 18F.The report can be found online via the Beeck Center now.The Day One Project  which is a nonprofit group that works to better democratize policymaking by collaborating with the science and tech communities  is calling on the Biden administration to create a local innovation unit.The call, which the group published on its website , was written by Josh Sorin and Lindsay Zimmerman, and it makes what its asking pretty clear: Essentially, the call wants a federal effort to catalyze and coordinate decentralized, city and county-based experiments focused on the most urgent and complex challenges facing the United States.In terms of reasoning, they note that taking a bottom up approach to solving wider national problems by starting at the local level is best suited for the issues of the day. Indeed, many in local government have long felt the same way. What the proposed local innovation unit would do is legitimize and organize cooperation networks and a digital platform that would make sharing work and best practices easier at the local and county levels.
HMD first made a name for itself by remaking a classic feature phone  and triggering an avalanche of hype in the process. The Finnish company has been dutifully churning out Nokia-branded smartphones ever since, but during an online launch event today, HMD was eager to prove that it's been up to more than business as usual. For one, those numbers-only model names are gone, replaced by three new smartphone ranges: the X, G, and C series. And to make getting connected even easier, the company is making an end-run around its usual carrier partners by lighting up an HMD-branded MVNO in the UK with a global roll-out to follow.

HMD reselling access to its carrier partners' wireless networks is about as unusual as strategy shifts get, but unfortunately, the company's announcement was pretty light on detail. At least HMD was feeling chatty about its new smartphones.

The Nokia X10 and X20 look identical apart from their colorways. HMD

The new Nokia X-series phones are the most powerful of the bunch, though we should be clear neither the X20 nor X10 are flagship-grade devices  the former will go on sale for about 349 next month, followed by the 309 X10 a month later. (For what its worth, HMD hasnt ruled out the idea of expanding the X-series to encompass more premium phones down the road, but theyre not quite ready to talk details yet.)

Both devices share a similar foundation, which includes Qualcomms new Snapdragon 480 5G chipset, a 6.67-inch Full HD+ punch-hole display, a 4,470mAh battery, and a headphone jack but some of their vital particulars differ. The X10, for instance, comes equipped with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of storage, while the slightly up-market X20 offers 128GB of storage across the board along with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. The biggest differences between the two, though, is their camera setups: the X20 is the clear winner with its 64-megapixel main rear camera, which is flanked by a 2-megapixel macro camera, a 5-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The X10, meanwhile, keeps the same auxiliary cameras but instead uses a 48-megapixel sensor as its main shooter.

We haven't yet had the chance to try any of these phones out, but HMD's X-series devices are pretty potent for the price. That said, these things would look a whole lot more interesting if Samsung didn't just reveal a slew of new low-to-mid-range Galaxy A smartphones this week  the Galaxy A42 5G is the X10 and X20's closest competitor, and packs a notably more powerful Snapdragon 750G chipset.

HMD says the Nokia G10 (left) and G20 (right) both offer three-day battery life. HMD

While the differences between the X10 and X20 are fairly subtle, the gulf between HMD's Nokia G10 and G20 are more pronounced. Again, both share the same 6.5-inch HD+ display, but the 159 G20 packs a MediaTek G35 chipset with 4GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of storage, plus a quad rear camera system with 48-megapixel main, 5-megapixel ultra-wide, 2-megapixel macro and 2-megapixel depth sensors. Meanwhile, the 139 G10 uses a slightly slower G25 chipset paired with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of storage.

And the cameras? Well, let's just say you're better off with the G20 if you nab one  the G10 lacks an ultra-wide sensor and relies on a 13-megapixel standard camera for most of its photos. Thankfully, both phones share what is arguably the G series's greatest asset: a 5,050mAh battery HMD says is good for three days of use off a single charge.

The Nokia C10 (left) and C20 (right) both run Android 11 Go. HMD

Finally, there are HMDs Nokia C-series phones  these are by far the least expensive of the bunch, and they might be the hardiest, too. HMD says the 89 C20 and 75 C10 withstood tougher tests for hardware durability than the industry average. Both of these Android Go phones use entry-level Unisoc chipsets and 6.5-inch screens running at 1600x720, along with identical 3,000mAh batteries and 5-megapixel rear and front-facing cameras. It's pretty likely that you won't be able to find both of these phones on sale at the same time where you live, but it'll be worth shelling out the additional 14 on a C20 if you're looking for a basic phone since its 1.6GHz octa-core chipset should offer a little more oomph than the C10's quad-core processor.
Congresswoman Waters Easily Wins Court Battle as LA Superior Court Judge Throws Out Joe Collins Lawsuit Against Her

This week, Judge Yolanda Orozco of the Los Angeles Superior Court threw out Joe Collins baseless defamation lawsuit against Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) and her campaign Citizens for Waters. Collins, the Republican challenger for Congresswoman Waters seat in the 43d Congressional District in the November 2020 election, which he lost by a 2-1 margin, sued over Cong. Waters statements that Collins had been dishonorably discharged from the Navy in 2017. Collins lawyer tried to convince Judge Orozco today that a federal judges previous decision  in which Collins dishonorable discharge was explicitly referenced  was not a reliable source of information. In response to the judges ruling, Cong. Waters released the following statement.

I am so grateful to Judge Orozco for granting our motion to throw out my opponent Joe Collins frivolous case against my campaign, and that the law will require him to pay my attorneys fees. The irony is not lost on me that some of the money Collins raised from Donald Trump supporters across the country will actually be applied to my legal defense against his trash lawsuit. The fact of the matter is Joe Collins was rejected by the 43rd Congressional District because everyone saw him for what he is: a lying, conniving, fraud who has no intention of doing anything to uplift communities he took every opportunity to diminish and disparage in the local press.

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Joe Collins has no respect for our district, no respect for decency, and no respect for the law. I will never stop fighting on behalf of my district and we will never let a Donald Trump Republican come into our communities to divide and slander us. The voters in my district took a stand against Joe Collins and Donald Trump in November, and we will most certainly defeat Joe Collins when he tries to run the same playbook in 2022. We will defeat him because Joe Collins is not actually interested in getting elected to office. Running for office has become his job and a source of income to support a lifestyle as a right-wing troll and not to become a legitimate public servant. Hes not alone in this scheme and perhaps its time local governments and the Federal Elections Commission do something about candidates manipulating and gaming voters in the way Joe Collins and others are doing across this country.

Joe Collins, who was thrown out of the Navy after attempting to run for president as a Green Party candidate while still in uniform, had previously sued the U.S. Navy for $100 million and asked that his discharge be upgraded to honorable. In throwing out that lawsuit, a federal judge in San Diego wrote that Collins had been dishonorably discharged from the Navy  a statement that Cong. Waters relied on in her 2020 campaign. Collins lawyer tried to convince Judge Orozco today that the federal judges decision was not a reliable source of information, but Judge Orozco rejected her argument, commenting that you dont usually dismiss a federal judges pronouncements.

Collins has been using this lawsuit for his fundraising efforts, and vowed to appeal, which will just extend this as a fundraising tactic. Unfortunately for him, the case was thrown out under Californias anti-SLAPP statute  a statute designed to quickly throw out Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. That means that Collins will be responsible for paying the defendants attorneys fees for the motion and for any appeal.

In another frivolous lawsuit that was thrown out, Collins sued the County of San Diego for $100 million to try to get out of paying his child support obligations and said at the time that he only had $180 in the bank. But running for office and raising millions from unsuspecting conservative donors has no doubt helped Joe Collins fund frivolous lawsuits and pay legal fees he couldnt otherwise pay on his own.

In this case, Collins introduced documents showing the VA says he is unemployable because he is totally and permanently disabled  but that did not stop him from running for Congress, speaking and tweeting from Washington, D.C. on January 6, the day of the Insurrection, or from traveling all around on his campaign funds to promote the recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom. This is exactly the type of dishonorable behavior we have seen from Collins before and will see from him again.
Entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy accuses China of hiding behind "woke culture" just so Americans won't call COVID-19 the "China virus."

Ramaswamy, biotechnology entrepreneur and author of "WOKE, INC.: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam" has leveled an accusation against China for using "wokeness" as a geopolitical tool to manipulate citizens of the United States.

In a conversation with FOX & Friends hosts on Wednesday, he argued that China has declared itself "uniquely off-limits" as the country of origin of COVID-19, the coronavirus that has taken the lives of millions worldwide.

According to The Daily Caller, Ramaswamy questioned why the "Zika virus, the Marburg virus, and Ebola were all named after the places of origin," and that MERS was short for the Middle Eastern respiratory virus."

He went on to point out that the new COVID-19 strains were named after the countries in which these mutations were found, namely the U.K. variant, Brazilian variant and South African variant, among others. Yet, the entrepreneur said, it has become "impossible" to even say the words "Wuhan virus" without being attacked by "woke culture" advocates.

"We have to ask ourselves why, and the answer is crystal clear to me. It is that China has mastered the art of using wokeness as a geopolitical tool against the United States," Ramaswamy declared.

The "WOKE, INC." author further cited the reaction of China's leader Xi Jinping when European leaders confronted him about the communist state's human rights violations. Xi responded with a counterargument, citing the Black Lives Matter movement as "a way of saying the U.S. is no better." China's top diplomats even diverted the issue, "falsely claiming that black Americans are being slaughtered."

"[The CCP has] mastered this game and they are using Americans here as pawns by now, deflecting accountability for COVID-19 by claiming that any allusion to China is now racist," Ramaswamy commented. "And that's laughable."

Whether China is using "wokeness" as a geopolitical tool to manipulate Americans and possibly the rest of the world, many more people are now questioning the true origins of COVID-19. Questions like "did the virus jump from bats to humans through a Wuhan market" or "was it a laboratory experiment gone wrong," must be addressed.

Former CDC chief Robert Redfield, who led the health organization under the Trump administration, reportedly reiterated his belief that the "most likely etiology of this pathogen in Wuhan was from a laboratory," Reuters revealed. He added that it was not unusual for such respiratory pathogens that are being explored in a laboratory to infect its very own staff, especially if they are not equipped with proper PPE's.

China continues to deflect blame, saying that scientists should look into other countries that may have been the source of the coronavirus, which they say may have traveled through cold storage. Fortune reported that China insists its testing of food imports is "reasonable and justified" and that COVID-19 outbreaks are tied to the importation of frozen food, "despite scientific evidence that suggests such goods are unlikely to spread the disease."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Mikhtar Tileuberdi in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan.

At the onset of the meeting, Minister Tileuberdi praised Kazakh-Russian bilateral relations which, according to him, develop gradually in all areas in the spirit of strategic partnership and alliance.

The nations enjoy intensive political dialogue as well as deep economic ties and promote the process of economic integration. Kazakhstan and Russia, according to him, also develop bilateral cooperation in military and technical, cultural and humanitarian, and other spheres.

The head of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs also emphasized that Kazakhstan is ready to continue practical implementation of all agreements reached at the top level. Sergey Lavrov, in turn, thanked the Kazakh side for hospitality and warm welcome.

He noted that the ministries have done tremendous work over the past couple of years in terms of implementing the agreements reached at the highest level and that there is a lot to be done in the future, Kazinform reported.
Last week I told you about an immersion-cooling firm called LiquidStack being spun off from its parent company, the blockchain company BitFury. The story mentioned how Microsoft was experimenting with immersion cooling, and now Microsoft has pulled back the curtain on the whole show.

Its been trying out immersion cooling for two years but is now going full throttle, at least at its Quincy, Washington, data center. Situated in the middle of the state, the city of Quincy is tinyjust 6,750 as of 2010but the Columbia River cuts through it, making it ideal for a hydropower-based data center, and there are several data centers in this tiny town.

The company said the initiative started with the same observation everyone has about data-center cooling: With CPUs drawing more than 300 watts per chip and GPUs drawing up to 700 watts per chip it needed something more effective to carry off heat.

Air cooling is not enough, said Christian Belady, distinguished engineer and vice president of Microsofts data center advanced development group in the companys Innovation blog. Thats whats driving us to immersion cooling, where we can directly boil off the surfaces of the chip.

Microsoft uses the Wywinn DataTanks, which they said are each about the size of a couch, filled with equipment submersed in dielectric fluid made by 3M that is non-conductive of electricity. The liquid has a boiling point of just 122 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that CPUs and GPUs under load will hit real fast. The bath boils off and is caught by coils that run through the tank and enable the vapor to condense. The condensed liquid then falls right back into the tank.

Microsoft said that so far its immersion cooling has reduced the power consumption of servers by between 5% and 15%. Under high demand, the servers can even be overclocked, where the processor runs at above its rated speed, without risk of overheating.

Change of Atmosphere

There are other benefits besides more efficient heat transfer, Beladay noted. Because the hardware is immersed in the dielectric fluid, the hardware is protected from the corrosive effects of humidity and oxygen in the data center, leading to fewer mechanical failures in the system.

Microsoft discovered this with its Project Natick, an experimental data center sunk off the coast of Scotland. Project Natick is exploring the potential of underwater data centers that are easily deployed and can operate for years on the seabed sealed inside submarine-like tubes without any onsite maintenance by people.

The underwater data center is filled with dry nitrogen instead of normal air. One of the findings of Project Natick is that the servers on the seafloor experienced one-eighth the failure rate of replica servers in a data center on land, and preliminary analysis indicates that the lack of humidity and corrosive effects of oxygen were primarily responsible for the superior performance.

The immersion tanks could provide the same kind of protection. With immersion, you have a similar thing, Belady said. Essentially, you are displacing oxygen and moisture.
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Labour was today dragged into the Greensill scandal after it was revealed its shadow defence secretary John Healey lobbied ministers to hand the cash-strapped company 200million in COVID-19 loans 'without delay'.

The shadow defence secretary wrote to Business Secretary Nadhim Zahawi in May 2020 urging him to give Greensill, run by Australian financier Lex Greensill and owners of Liberty Steel, greater access to the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme [CLBILS].

Mr Healey said Liberty needed the cash and 'their application for CLBILS remains dependent on their lender, Greensill, being accredited for the higher cap loan scheme, which I trust can now be done without delay'.

But in spite of lobbying by Mr Healey and former prime minister David Cameron, who advised Greensill, Rishi Sunak's Treasury capped the loans at 50million.

Mr Healey told the Financial Times today that he felt his letter was the right thing to do as 'the local constituency MP' for Liberty Steel's Rotherham plant, just as Labour demanded a new law on political lobbying and accused the Tories of being 'consumed by cronyism'.

He said: 'I was doing my job for the big Rotherham plant that Liberty had recently bought and expanded'.

His involvement was revealed by Mr Sunak, who struck back yesterday via an aide who said: 'A member of the Labour front bench was lobbying on behalf of Greensill to be accredited for the higher cap loan scheme'.

Shadow defence secretary John Healey (left) lobbied the Business Secretary Nadhim Zahawi (right) to hand Greensill 200million in COVID-19 loans 'without delay'. He claims he was protecting jobs in his constituency

Australian financier Lex Greensill, 44, (left seen walking his dog in Cheshire on April 5) reassured staff in an internal video on February 15 of the 'incredible strength' of a key set of funds it held with Zurich-based Credit Suisse, just before the plug was pulled

Mr Healey told the Financial Times today that he felt his letter was the right thing to do as 'the local constituency MP' for Liberty Steel's Rotherham plant

The collapse of Greensill has sent shockwaves across the City and Whitehall, dragging in David Cameron, who acted as an adviser to the firm, and raising questions about the access which Mr Greensill was given to top politicians and civil servants.

Plans to stop steel tycoon buying own plants on the cheap Jobs fears: Sanjeev Gupta employs around 5,000 people in the UK including 3,000 at Liberty Steel Liberty Steel boss Sanjeev Gupta will be prevented from buying back his plants at bargain prices if they go bust, under plans being drawn up by the Government. The metals magnate's empire has been left on the brink of collapse after its largest lender Greensill Capital, which David Cameron worked for, imploded. He is scrambling to raise cash after ministers rejected a 170million bailout of Liberty's parent company GFG Alliance last month. Whitehall officials are reportedly now concerned Mr Gupta might declare his steel business insolvent and later try to repurchase it. This is a process known as 'phoenixing'  which company directors are strongly advised against doing. GFG employs 5,000 people in the UK, of which 3,000 are steelworkers spread across 12 sites. Boris Johnson has said he is 'very hopeful' that the Government can save Liberty and all options  including nationalisation  are on the table. To block Mr Gupta from potentially buying back parts of Liberty, officials are considering appointing accounting firm Deloitte to handle a possible insolvency that would carve it out from the rest of the company, according to The Sunday Times. A GFG spokesman said: 'Liberty Steel UK is undertaking significant self-help measures... working with our customers to achieve terms that will bring in cash earlier.' Advertisement

It has also put thousands of jobs across Britain's steel industry at risk, as the GFG Alliance - a network of businesses including Liberty Steel run by tycoon Sanjeev Gupta - relied heavily on Greensill for funding.

James Murray MP, Labour's Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury, responding to the Chancellor's latest deflections over Greensill, said: 'This is desperate stuff from the Chancellor. By trying to deflect attention from his own decisions, he's just reminded everyone that his own department had multiple meetings with Greensill last spring.

'The Chancellor needs to stop trying to pass the buck and start answering questions about why he opened the door to Greensill to lend through the CLBILS Covid loan scheme in the first place, putting hundreds of millions of pounds of public money at risk.

'And he still hasn't explained why the Treasury was planning to expand supply chain financing on his watch.'

Yesterday it emerged that the founder of Greensill Capital boasted that his firm had 'enormous' amounts of money to lend out just weeks before it collapsed.

Lex Greensill, an Australian banker who is now at the centre of a political storm over his ties to the establishment, reassured staff that the firm was in a strong position in a video call on February 15.

But less than a month later, administrators were appointed to the lender as it admitted it could no longer keep running.

On the video call in February, a recording of which was obtained by the Financial Times, Mr Greensill said: 'We've got enormous amounts of liquidity that are available to us.'

He added that the 'markets are very much behind us', and that investors were becoming increasingly interested in his business.

But less than two months later, the majority of Greensill's 1,000-plus staff in the UK were made redundant.

It specialised in supply chain financing, meaning it worked with major corporates like GFG and Vodafone to pay their suppliers quickly, in return for a fee.

Greensill was effectively lending to the companies, and would be repaid at a later date when they had more cash freed up.

Greensill then bundled up these loans and sold packages of them to investors, through major asset managers such as Credit Suisse.

Mr Greensill, 44, told staff in February: 'One of the things that is a really important detail for us to be aware of is just the incredible strength that we've got in our supply chain finance funds.

'Those funds have continued to see robust inflows - indeed we've actually had to slow down the inflows.'

Even Qatar's former prime minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, had invested in Greensill loans to the tune of 145 million, according to Bloomberg. He will now be bracing for heavy losses.

Greensill hit the rocks when it revealed that its insurer had failed to renew a vital insurance policy, and it was not able to find a replacement.

The insurance gave investors the confidence to hand Greensill money - it covered any losses which they would have suffered if any of Greensill's borrowers had failed to repay their loan.

Pressure was growing on Boris Johnson to introduce a lobbying law last night as David Cameron faced more questions about his closeness to a controversial financier (File image)

But when this cover expired, investors such as Credit Suisse refused to give Greensill any more money to lend out.

Mr Greensill told staff on the February call that a one of its insurers, Chubb, was 'very supportive' of agreeing a 'tweak' to its policy which would give investors '100 per cent insurance with no gap in cover'.

He said that top staff at Greensill were doing 'great work with our friends at [insurance broker] Marsh and with Chubb'.

But it seems that the tweak was never made, precipitating the lender's failure just weeks later.

Now GFG, one of Greensill's biggest customers, is teetering on the brink of collapse and has been denied a 170m Government bailout. It is also refusing to make any repayments on its loans owed to Greensill.

A bloody legal battle is expected to ensue over who should bear the losses between Greensill's administrators, its customers such as GFG, its insurers, banks such as Credit Suisse and the end investors who ploughed money into Greensill loans.

The collapse has dragged Mr Cameron back into the public eye, after it emerged he had texted Chancellor Rishi Sunak trying to get Greensill special access to emergency Covid loans.

MPs across the House of Commons have also called for an investigation into what access Mr Greensill was given to senior politicians, after it emerged he had regular meetings with officials in Whitehall and had even helped Mr Cameron's government form a lending scheme for NHS pharmacies.
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Police are investigating a mysterious chainsaw massacre - after a phantom lumberjack cut down dozens of trees along a picturesque stretch of the River Thames.

Officers are stumped in their hunt for the culprit, who has struck up to 30 times over the past ten days in leafy Walton-on-Thames in Surrey.

Extra police patrols have now been set up to get to the root of the problem, and stop whoever is felling the trees with a chainsaw under cover of darkness along a two-mile stretch between the market town and neighbouring Weybridge.

The destruction has seen heavy branches strewn over the road, obstructing traffic, and dumped in the water.

Some of the trees which have fallen victim to the attacks include those planted in memory of deceased loved ones.

Local residents say they don't know why the mystery chopper is targeting the ash, oak and elm trees, but believe the culprit may drive a small, red car.

In a joint statement, Surrey Police and Elmbridge Council today blasted the 'mindless damage' and appealed for anyone with any information - including sightings or CCTV footage - to contact them.

Anthony Cilia, a retired kitchen-fitter from Weybridge, was among the first to spot the damage to the trees, one of which was sliced into several pieces.

He said: 'For some days along the Thames towpath between Walton and Weybridge there has been a phantom chainsaw vandal cutting down trees in the early hours.

'Why this person is doing it is beyond me. There are plenty of wooded areas nearby to go to, but for some reason they are choosing to do it in a public area on the banks of the river.

'Not only is it a blight on an area the council has spent several millions of pounds on improving, but more importantly, it's dangerous.

Police are investigating a mysterious chainsaw massacre - after a phantom chopper cut down scores of trees in leafy Surrey

Officers are stumped in their hunt for the culprit, who has felled at least 20 trees in Weybridge and Walton-on-Thames over the last fortnight

A joint statement from Surrey Police and Elmbridge Borough Council said it was 'following up all relevant information' and continued to investigate, while launching patrols in the areas which have been targeted

A map shows five of the locations where chopped trees have been reported in Walton-on-Thames and Weybridge

Extra police patrols have now been set up to stop the chopper from slicing through trees with a powerful chainsaw and leaving heavy branches strewn over the road, obstructing traffic, and dumped in the Thames

One frustrated local said: 'Why this person is doing it is beyond me. There are plenty of wooded areas nearby to go to but for some reason they are choosing to do it in a public area on the banks of the river'

The phantom lumberjack has made their way through a number of trees along the River Thames in Surrey over recent days

A woman stands puzzled, with her hands on her hips, at the scene of one of the attacks in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey

A chainsaw was reportedly used to cut down the trees near the River Thames in leafy Walton in Surrey over the last few days

The picturesque riverside location in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey where dozens of trees have been chopped down

'Several of the trees have been downed on to the road running past the Thames by Walton Bridge, which has very little light in the evenings so could cause a car accident.

'Other trees have been cut down over the pathway blocking pedestrian access, which is another potential hazard, or left submerged in the Thames in the way of boats that use that particular stretch of water.

'None of the trees look to have been chopped up for firewood, could it be someone with a grudge against the council? I don't know, perhaps this person has mental health issues.

'What is worrying is that whoever they are, they have access to a chainsaw, powerful enough to slice through a 60cm tree trunk.'

Police chiefs and council bosses urged frustrated residents to come forward with information, as they step up the probe following the first reports on March 28.

Elmbridge Borough Commander Inspector Bert Dean, of Surrey Police, added: 'I do not underestimate the impact this mindless damage has on the local community as well as the risk it has posed to motorists by obstructing roads.

'We are looking at every opportunity to identify who is responsible for this and will continue to work closely with Elmbridge Borough Council to tackle this issue.

'If you have any information which could help, and you have not already got in touch, please contact us.'

Grandfather-of-two Mr Cilia said that four trees were cut down over Tuesday night, one blocking the road.

He added: 'I heard the buzzing of a chainsaw early this morning and raced out to confront the culprit but it was actually council workers slicing up one of the trees which had been felled overnight so they could remove it.

'The police and council have been notified by many residents but whoever it is is still out there.'

Another local resident, Christine Elmer, said that trees which had been grown specially in memory of loved ones who had died were also targeted.

She tweeted: 'Really important if anyone has any info on who is going around our town and wider Borough cutting down trees, including Memorial trees, to get in touch with the Elmbridge Police.'

Five were chopped down on Tuesday night directly outside Elmbridge Canoe Club in Weybridge, with at least three of them snapped down into the Thames, potentially posing a hazard to canoeists.

An eyewitness reported seeing two men acting suspiciously near the trees at about 8.30pm.

Local residents don't know why the person responsible is cutting down the ash, oak and elm trees but they may drive a small red car and are operating under the cover of darkness over a two-mile stretch between Walton and neighbouring Weybridge

In a joint statement by Surrey Police and Elmbridge Council, the authorities today blasted the 'mindless damage' as they asked anyone with any information - including possible sightings or CCTV footage - to contact them

Hundreds of frustrated residents have set up a Facebook group to report the incidents, with volunteers also monitoring spots near the river after dark, where several of the trees have been chopped down

A jogger looks on at the modest stump that remains after a tree was chopped down with a chainsaw in leafy Surrey

Heavy branches have been left strewn over the road, obstructing traffic, and dumped in the Thames throughout this month

Two women walk past the scene of one of the mysterious tree attacks, which has left branches floating in the river

The phantom lumberjack has caused carnage with a series of attacks on a picturesque stretch of land near the Thames

Two frustrated locals look at the devastation caused by the phantom lumberjack on the riverbank in a leafy part of Surrey

One local said: 'Not only is it a blight on an area the council has spent several millions of pounds on improving but more importantly it's dangerous'

Elmbridge Borough Commander Inspector Bert Dean, of Surrey Police, added: 'I do not underestimate the impact this mindless damage has on the local community as well as the risk it has posed to motorists by obstructing roads'

A jogger runs past the scene of one of the attacks by the phantom lumberjack in picturesque Walton-on-Thames in Surrey

A cyclist rides past the devastation caused by the phantom lumberjack on the riverbank in a leafy part of Surrey this afternoon

One local said: 'I heard the buzzing of a chainsaw early this morning and raced out to confront the culprit but it was actually council workers slicing up one of the trees which had been felled overnight so they could remove it'

Dwayne Morton, a coach at the canoe club, said: 'The chairman has been informed and is now reviewing CCTV to see if the suspect or suspects have been caught on camera.

'One of the parents who was walking past yesterday evening has said that she saw two men standing outside the club looking suspicious.

'The trees that have been cut down are pretty hefty so it's obviously taken some work to fell them.

'Some of the trees have been sliced through and have snapped forward into the water, which is a bit of a worry if they break loose and cause problems for boats.

'It seems a bit senseless to me, what purpose does it serve?'

Hundreds have joined a Facebook group to report the incidents, with volunteers also monitoring spots near the river after dark.

Several users have mentioned a red car as a potential clue in trying to track down the suspect, but no other evidence appears to have been found yet.

Local resident Moya Tytherleigh fumed: 'It's disgusting. Those trees could have had birds nesting them, it's devastating to nature.

'What has possessed someone to do it? I read on a local Facebook forum that there is a tree-felling task on the game Fortnight so maybe it's some bored gamers cutting down trees in real life as some sort of lockdown dare or prank. Who knows?'

The majority of the trees have been taken down by a stretch of River Thames between Walton and Weybridge.

Walton Lane, a road next to the river path, had to be closed yesterday morning while council workers got rid of a tree that had been cut down across the road.

Roofer Benny Shaw, who lives on a canal boat between Walton and Weybridge, pointed to another tree which had been recently felled in the river.

He said: 'It was a healthy tree so I knew it hadn't been done professionally. Plus who leaves the tree submerged in the water like that? It could hamper the canoeists and boats that use this stretch of water.

'I've not seen or heard anything but if I did I'd grab their bloody chainsaw and throw it in.'

Ivan Lawler, 54, chairman of Elmbridge Canoe Club, where five trees were cut down overnight on Tuesday, next to the devastation

Retired Charles Whetmore, 60, today branded the destruction in leafy Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, as 'sickening'

Local teachers Natasha Blackburn, 24, and 29-year-old Tosh Demirci walked past one of the felled trees by Walton Lane bridge this afternoon

Ivan Lawler, 54, chairman of Elmbridge Canoe Club, where five trees were cut down overnight on Tuesday, said: 'We've looked at the CCTV but unfortunately the cameras don't cover the area where the trees were brought down.

'Whoever is doing it, though, has to be caught because their actions are putting people who use the river at risk.

'Some of the trees have been felled into the water and it's a hazard, particularly for rowers if they are facing the other way and can't see what's coming up behind them.

'We had a litter pick last week, in which a group of club members and locals went round and picked up rubbish from the path, and crisp packets and sweet wrappers which had blown into tree branches.

'Then someone comes along and does this - it's a real kick in the teeth.'

Local teachers Natasha Blackburn, 24, and 29-year-old Tosh Demirci walked past one of the felled trees by Walton Lane bridge this afternoon. Natasha said: 'I think it's absolutely disgusting, just destroying nature like that.

'It's made me really cross because I walk this path all the time and the trees and foliage make it such a nice, peaceful spot. But walking towards Weybridge from Walton today, the path is littered with destroyed trees.

'Apparently the person behind it has a red car and that has been sighted around the area recently. You have to hope the police have him or her in their sights.'

Tosh added: 'I know some of the children at the school where we teach walk this same route and they'd find this vandalism and damage every bit as upsetting as we do.

'The children are taught to look after the area where they live - and this just flies in the face of that.'

Retired Charles Whetmore, 60, said: 'It's sickening at the end of the day.

'A tree like that would've taken at least 40 years to grow but it was probably cut-down in minutes and for what purpose?

'Why would someone do this? Do they have some sort of vendetta? Are they unwell? The latter is a worry because they obviously have access to something like a chainsaw.

'I've seen that some trees nearer to Walton Marina have been cut down that had plaques or floral tributes dedicated to people's deceased loved ones attached.

'There were a couple of trees near there that had been cut down last week and five-foot tall stumps were all that remained.

'I saw that the council had put notices on the stumps warning people that the trees had been cut down illegally.

'I walked past the following day and the vandal had sliced through the stumps so the notices were left on the ground. It was clearly some kind of taunt.'

A message on the Elmbridge Tree Patrol group reads: 'As you all know there's a maniac going around Weybridge, Walton on Thames and Cobham chopping down trees ruining the environment, eco system, habitats and making everyone upset.

'I have set up this group so we can all as a community volunteer to patrol the area at night to try and hunt down and video record this lunatic.

'WE MUST SAVE OUR COMMUNITY!'
[April 08, 2021] Public-Private Collaboration Is Key to Securing Long-Term Care Financing for Middle-Income Americans

The Milken Institute today released a new report highlighting innovative public and private sector solutions that can expand long-term care access and delivery for middle-income Americans. Published in collaboration with Genworth, "New Approaches to Long-Term Care Access for Middle-Income Households" examines financing, technology, and care challenges of the current system and offers recommendations to overcome these barriers. Recent studies have found that more than half of middle-income seniors will not be able to afford the care they need. Meanwhile, though the pandemic laid bare the stark vulnerabilities of the long-term care system, it also ushered in a greater use of technology with telehealth and in-home care. "Middle-income Americans are stuck between being unable to afford private long-term care, and not qualifying for government-sponsored programs like Medicaid. This can lead to a gap in care for a significant portion of the population," said Nora Super, senior director of the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging. The report comes on the heels of a Financial Innovations Lab the Milken Institute organized in fall 2020. The Lab convened an expert group of stakeholders from government, health, long-term care delivery, insurance, finance, and academia to develop solutions that can improve access to quality, affordable long-term care for middle-income households. "The pandemic has brought greater awareness to the fault lines that exist in the current long-term care ecosystem. The concrete recommendations outlined in this report are critical to closing the gaps in providing much-needed, meaningful long-term care solutions for millions of middle-income individuals," said Tom McInerney, President and CEO of Genworth. "It will take collaboration and innovative thinking amongst stakeholders at the federal and state levels, from both the public and private sectors, to take the roadmap established in the report and effect the change that is so desperately needed." Building on the Lab and further research, the Milken Institute proposes specific recommendations for public and private collaboration to successfully finance long-term care, including: Design a large-scale demonstration project to better analyze costs and benefits of various technology solutions that enhance home-based care. There are numerous private sector pilot programs measuring the effectiveness of solutions like telehealth and remote monitoring, but these programs do not employ standardized data an evaluation frameworks. The report offers a roadmap for developing a cohesive demonstration project and outlines specific parameters such as demographic profile, evaluation measures, and potential funding sources for successful program design.

There are numerous private sector pilot programs measuring the effectiveness of solutions like telehealth and remote monitoring, but these programs do not employ standardized data an evaluation frameworks. The report offers a roadmap for developing a cohesive demonstration project and outlines specific parameters such as demographic profile, evaluation measures, and potential funding sources for successful program design. Expand access to integrated care for middle-income Americans who cannot afford specialized private care programs and do not qualify for Medicaid. The report recommends scaling up promising integrated care programs that are already available in the marketplace, such as Special Needs Plans (SNPs) and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Proposed modifications include offering a new community-based SNP or expanded access to PACE via a tiered benefit structure, providing broader access to non-medical supportive services to a much broader cohort.

The report recommends scaling up promising integrated care programs that are already available in the marketplace, such as Special Needs Plans (SNPs) and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Proposed modifications include offering a new community-based SNP or expanded access to PACE via a tiered benefit structure, providing broader access to non-medical supportive services to a much broader cohort. Develop new complementary public-private insurance solutions that offer seamless, affordable coverage and segment risk. Long-term care is too costly for the private or public sectors to tackle alone. In order to mitigate costs and associated risks, the Milken Institute identified a new approach that allows the public sector to develop long-term care insurance programs that address the first couple of years of long-term care costs, followed by complementary private sector long-term care insurance products that provide coverage for additional years. For the most prolonged and expensive cases, Medicaid would continue to act as a backstop. This is a more nuanced approach to risk segmentation than is typical in current models.



Caitlin MacLean, senior director of innovative finance at the Milken Institute, added, "These innovative solutions can improve access to high-quality care for older adults while driving down costs for public and private payers alike." The Milken Institute will continue leveraging our network, engaging policymakers, and providing a platform to advance these solutions. We encourage stakeholders in the long-term care ecosystem to heed these recommendations and advance quality access to care for Americans across the socioeconomic spectrum.

"New Approaches to Long-Term Care Access for Middle-Income Households" is co-authored by Jason Davis and Caroline Servat. The full report can be downloaded here. About the Milken Institute The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that helps people build meaningful lives in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities. For more information, visit https://milkeninstitute.org/. About Financial Innovations Labs Financial Innovations Labs bring together researchers, policymakers, and business, financial, and professional practitioners to create market-based solutions to business and public policy challenges. Using real and simulated case studies, participants consider and design alternative capital structures and then apply appropriate financial technologies to them. About the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging The Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging elevates awareness, advances solutions, and catalyzes action to promote healthy longevity and financial wellness. Through research, convening, advocacy, and partnership with leaders across key sectors, the Center works to improve lives and build a better future for all ages. About Genworth Financial Genworth Financial, Inc. ("Genworth") is a leading Fortune 500 insurance holding company committed to helping families achieve the dream of homeownership and address the financial challenges of aging through its leadership positions in mortgage insurance and long-term care insurance. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Genworth traces its roots back to 1871 and became a public company in 2004. Additional Experts Available to Discuss Long-Term Care Marc Cohen , Co-Director, LeadingAge LTSS Center, UMass Boston

, Co-Director, LeadingAge LTSS Center, UMass Boston Richard Frank , Margaret T. Morris Professor of Health Economics, Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School

, Margaret T. Morris Professor of Health Economics, Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School Jeff Huber , CEO, Home Instead

, CEO, Home Instead Robert Kramer , Founder & Strategic Advisor, National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care

, Founder & Strategic Advisor, National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care Tom McInerney, President and CEO, Genworth Financial

and CEO, Genworth Financial Susan Reinhard , Senior Vice President and Director, AARP Public Policy Institute

, Senior Vice President and Director, AARP Public Policy Institute Katie Smith Sloan , President and CEO, LeadingAge

, President and CEO, LeadingAge Anne Tumlinson, CEO, ATI Advisory View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210407006047/en/

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NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tivian, the leader in intelligent experience management, today launched a new brand identity to innovate the industry, moving from passive experience management to proactive intelligent experience management. The newly-named software company will continue to harness and incorporate the latest in emerging technology, including AI and predictive analysis, to collect, analyze, and interpret data, delivering actionable solutions to improve employee and customer experiences.

"Over our decades of experience, we've taken the pulse of our customers and the wider market to determine that there is a need to reinvent the experience management category and evolve it into something much more dynamic and powerful," said Frank Mllerop, CEO of Tivian. "Tivian enables companies to close the loop, providing the power to act through its unique combination of technology, analytics, vision, and people. Our approach unlocks tremendous competitive advantage and opens up a completely new, growing market for us."

Tivian brings together a strong philosophy of the importance of listening to employees to drive corporate effectiveness, the power to act through advanced analytics capabilities, and a roadmap that will see AI, predictive analytics, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and biometric indicators incorporated within its platform to drive better insight and decision-making. The company has headquarters in New York, with offices in Houston, London, Berlin, Oslo, and Cologne.

About Tivian

Through advanced analytics and cutting-edge AI technology, Tivian helps great organizations capture and harness experience data to drive business listening, deeper insights, and better decision making. Tivian's intelligent experience management platform increases corporate effectiveness and enables a smarter business world, empowered by insight. Built on 20 years of experience in enterprise feedback management, Tivian provides over 400 customers in 35 countries with the ability to take action and achieve their objectives. For more information, please visit www.tivian.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Tivian
An American woman who was left baffled after discovering how Australians wash and dry their clothes has taken to the internet demanding answers.

US TikTok star Miranda Blakeslee, who posts under the account @mirandaknows, was surprised to learn Aussies do not seem to use dryers.

'Here in America when we do our laundry days we put everything in the washer and then take it out and put it in the dryer. And then within 20-30 minutes everything is dry and you just put it away in the closets and stuff,' she said.

'In Australia almost every single influencer I see that does laundry day takes it from the washer and then hangs it up throughout their house on these drying racks.'

US TikTok star Miranda Blakeslee (pictured) posted a video asking Australians why dryers do not seem to be commonly used Down Under

The social media sensation asked whether it was because there were no dryers Down Under or if they were 'not a thing' for environmental reasons.

'Is it like a pollution thing or something? Please let me know if you're like living in Australia and you don't own a dryer, is there a reason for that?' She said.

'I just don't understand.'

The clip rapidly went viral attracting more than 36,000 reactions, as thousands of Australians flocked to the comments section to offer insight.

'We hang it out because it is warm enough to dry quickly and electricity is ridiculously expensive,' one person wrote.

Another added: '1. It is better for the environment. 2. It is better for our clothes. 3. We do have dryers.'

'The real question should be why do Americans use a dryer when the sun and wind is free?' A third said.

Miranda explained that clothes lines were 'not really common' in the Unites States except for in rural areas

'The sun is the dryer mate. It's free and won't make ya clothes shrink,' another Aussie wrote.

Some Australians were just as shocked to learn that clothes-cleaning rituals were very different abroad, with one asking why air-drying lines were not used in the States.

In a follow up video addressing the question, Miranda explained some Americans 'do use a clothes line' but 'it's not really common unless you're living in like a rural area'.

'So most Americans have full sized washers and dryers and we use the washer and the dryer and the electricity bill doesn't really make a difference,' she said.
New Delhi:

Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is a Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navratri every year. The festival marks the victory of good over evil and it is always celebrated on the tenth day of the month 'Ashwin' of the Hindu calendar.

On the Dusshera, enormous statues of Ravana along with his brother Meghanada and Kumbakaran are burnt in open ground which signifies the Rams victory over the Ravana. The celebration of Dusshera also involves organizing the Ramlila performance which involves people enacting the life and glory of Lord Rama.

Muhurat of Dussehra Puja

Dussehra will celebrate till 1st October 2017.

The Dashami Tithi will begin from 11:49 pm on 29th September 2017 and it will end at 1:35 am on 1st October.

The timings of Aparahna Puja starts at 1:21 pm on 29th September 2017 and it will last till 3:42 pm.

Items needed for Dussehra puja

To perform the Dussehra puja, you need a image of Dussehra, cow dung (chuna), Roli, moli, chawal, flowers, Jhuwara which is grown on Navratri day, Banana, mooli (radish), gwarphalli (flat cluster beans), Jaggery, 1-1/4 kg chawal, money for offering, kheer, puri, Bahikhata (account books).



From Bengalis to Gujaratis, each community of India celebrates this festival according to their culture.

Also Read: Dusshera 2017: Know celebration, history and rituals across India on tenth day of Navratri

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

If a robot worker makes a mistake on the job, or annoys customers, businesses may not give it a pink slip and a cardboard box for its office belongings, but companies may be forced to shut down these expensive machines, according to a team of researchers.

Knowing how to better design and manage these robots may help service industry firms both avoid losing their investments in the robots, as well as secure an increasingly necessary source of extra help, the team added.

In a series of studies on robots used in service industry settings, such as restaurants and hotels, the researchers found that people's reactions to robot gaffes may be influenced by whether the robots look like humans, or humanoid; or mostly lack human features, or non-humanoid. The team also uncovered strategies that humanoid robots can use to recover from mistakes with customers, according to Lisa Bolton, professor of marketing and the Frank and Mary Jean Smeal Research Fellow at Penn State's Smeal College of Business.

"One of the things we learned is that what a robot looks like really mattersit's not just window dressing," said Bolton, who worked with Sungwoo Choi, a former doctoral student in hospitality at Penn State and currently a research assistant professor of hotel and tourism management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Anna S. Mattila, Marriott Professor of Lodging Management at Penn State.

According to Bolton, people may assume that humanoid robots always have an advantage over non-human-looking devices, but the team found that humanoid features may not automatically give robots a pass to commit blunders. In fact, a robot's human resemblance may increase a person's annoyance at service failures, especially those involving inattentive or slow service.

The researchers found that people tended to expect greater warmth from human-looking robots compared to non-humanoid machines. However, those warm feelings did not translate to forgiveness for robot errors, as people seem more dissatisfied when the human-looking machine delivers poor service compared to a non-humanoid robot.

"One of the implications of these studies for businesses is that humanoid is not always better," said Bolton. "Businesses should really think about the design of the robot and they should carefully consider the selection of robots that they might use in their business setting. They need to investigate whether humanoid will be the best choice. And, for designers, they also need to be aware of how important it is to build into the programming the socio-relational components that will enable good service."

Although humanoid robots tend to take the brunt of criticism for service failures, the researchers, who report their findings in the current issue of Journal of Service Research, also found that politeness can go a long way for humanoid robots. The team said that when humanoid-looking robots offered sincere apologies, people were more likely to forgive their mistakes.

According to Choi, a robot can use a number of ways to detect its service failures and unhappy customers before issuing a prompt apology. A robot could, for example, analyze delays in its services by computing the difference between the estimated time a service should take versus actual service time.

"Also, with current advanced technologies, robots can use facial expression recognition, voice stress analysis, or natural language processing to detect whether customers are angry," said Choi. "Once a robot detects service failure or customer dissatisfaction with such ways, it should be able to provide a sincere apology by verbal meansvocally, by displaying a message, or bothand through non-verbal means, such as with facial expressions, if possible."

According to the researchers, robot service failures have already made headlines in real life. In Japan, Churi, a virtual assistant robot at Henn-Na Hotel, was dismissed after a number of customers began to complain. Churi mistook snores of snoozing guests as a request for help and repeatedly woke them up. The robot also interrupted when guests were talking and frequently failed at correctly taking room service orders.

Business bots of the future?

Robots may still seem more like science fiction for most people but the researchers suggest that robotic helpers are expected to become even more common in the service industry. The researchers point out that about 70% of hotel managers expect the use of service robots in everyday business dutiessuch as greeting customers and performing check-ins and check-outsto be in mass adoption by 2025.

"There's real growth for service robots," said Bolton. "We may be seeing less of it in North America than in Asia, but it's changing quickly. It used to be just a few businesses experimenting with robots and earning a lot of splashy press. But I think it will become much more common in the future as artificial intelligence gets more powerful."

Robot and human collaboration

Rather than seeing robots as future human replacements in the service industry workforce, Bolton expects that robots will always need some sort of human supervision. But, the study suggests that humans and robots may make a good team if the right robot design is selected and collaborations with humans are managed correctly.

"For example, a non-humanoid robot might require a little bit more monitoring and assistance when things go wrong than a humanoid robot will," Bolton said. The reason is that the humanoid robot, if programmed with the right socio-relational skills, will be able to handle customer interactions better, including apologizing when things go wrong. In contrast, when things go wrong for a non-humanoid robot, humans may need to step in to ensure customer satisfaction.

The researchers conducted the studies through examining the reactions of an online consumer panel to 3D simulated service robot encounters. They recruited 205 participants to investigate how participants respond to humanoid and non-humanoid mistakes in a restaurant context and, in the second study, how the machines could recover from those mistakes. A third study, which included 212 participants, examined how humans might intervene when robots make mistakes.

While the studies were completed in a virtual environment, the researchers expect future studies carried out in real service environments with real robots may yield even more clues on the proper use of robots in the service industry.

Explore further The appearance of robots affects our perception of the morality of their decisions

More information: Sungwoo Choi et al. To Err Is Human(-oid): How Do Consumers React to Robot Service Failure and Recovery?, Journal of Service Research (2020). Journal information: Journal of Service Research Sungwoo Choi et al. To Err Is Human(-oid): How Do Consumers React to Robot Service Failure and Recovery?,(2020). DOI: 10.1177/1094670520978798
Rabat  His Majesty King Mohammed VI sent a congratulatory message to Denis Sasssou N'guesso on the occasion of his re-election as president of the Republic of Congo.

In this message, the Sovereign addresses His congratulations and wishes of full success to Sassou N'guesso while carrying out his new mandate.

"This re-election is a tribute to your high human qualities and your rich experience. It also testifies to the support of the brotherly Congolese people to the efforts you are making to lead your country on the path of economic and social development," said the Sovereign in this message, commending the excellent level of bilateral cooperation relations.

On this occasion, HM the King voices readiness to continue the joint action to deepen the cooperation relations between the two countries and to open new perspectives for the good of both peoples and for the unity and prosperity of the continent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have discussed growing hostilities in eastern Ukraine and bilateral military cooperation, the president's press service said Tuesday.

During their telephone talks, Zelensky briefed Trudeau on the growing number of ceasefire violations along the contact line in Donbas, which lead to the killing of 10 Ukrainian soldiers in less than two weeks.

Zelensky thanked Trudeau for cooperation within the framework of the Canadian military training mission UNIFIER and suggested expanding the training program for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular, increasing the number of Canadian military instructors in Ukraine.

Last week, Zelensky and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed the mounting tension in eastern Ukraine over the phone. Their talks followed at least three high-level calls between the U.S. and Ukrainian officials within the week.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has been escalating since February and the clashes between the Donbas insurgents and Ukrainian government forces intensified despite the ceasefire secured in July last year.

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, which began in April 2014, has claimed some 14,000 lives and left as many as 40,000 wounded.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
The man who allegedly murdered a young nursing student before burying her in a shallow grave can now be identified after a court suppression order ended.

Tarikjot Singh, 21, was charged with killing Jasmeen Kaur, 21, after she was found buried at Moralana Creek, north of Hawker, in South Australia's mid-north, on March 7.

Ms Kaur, a carer and student, was last seen alive when she worked a shift at an Adelaide nursing home on March 5 before being reported missing the next day.

Tarikjot Singh (pictured), 21, was charged with murdering nursing student Jasmeen Kaur, 21, in March

Ms Kaur, a carer and student, was last seen alive when she worked a shift at an Adelaide nursing home on March 5 before being reported missing the next day

Singh, of Kurralta Park, was initially charged with failing to notify police of a reportable death.

He allegedly led police to her grave before his charge was subsequently upgraded to murder, News.com.au reports.

Singh was then remanded in custody after a brief appearance in Port Augusta Magistrates Court on March 9 where his name and image was ordered to be suppressed for 30 days. The order was lifted on Thursday.

The court heard Singh was in Australia on a student visa and had spent time in a short-stay mental health facility.

In mid-March, a memorial was held for Ms Kaur at the site where she was buried, with friends and family laying flowers, teddy bears and candles, and attaching a tribute to a nearby tree.

The scores of mourners then recited prayers in Punjabi, with her uncle Sam Bhardwaj saying they had gathered at the grave to 'show the love'.

Ms Kaur's cousin Ramanpreet Kaur remembered Jasmeen, affectionately nicknamed 'Jasoo' by loved ones, as the 'most polite, kind-hearted and helpful girl'.

'We are feeling very strange as we never thought in the rarest of dreams this could happen to our Jasoo  (and) she would say goodbye to this world in such a tragic way,' she told reporters.

'I'm missing the conversations and the family times we had together.'

Ms Kaur was farewelled in a funeral service in Findon on April 1. Her body has reportedly been sent back to India to be laid to rest alongside her mother and twin siblings.

Singh has been remanded in custody to appear in court again on December 15.
The level of terrorist threat has significantly dropped in the North Caucasus in recent years, Russian National Guard chief Viktor Zolotov said.

"In 2017, the National Guard took command of the Joint Group of Forces in the North Caucasus, formed more than 20 years ago. Since then, our joint activities have led to a significant decline in the level of terrorist threat," he pointed out.

According to Zolotov, small extremist cells are still active in the region "but the activities of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Interior Ministry and the National Guard make it possible to expose them in due time." He emphasized that a notorious ringleader, involved in the 2011 terrorist attack on Moscows Domodedovo Airport, had been eliminated in Chechnya a while ago. National Guard officers were among those who participated in the operation.

Zolotov went on to say that Russias National Guard continued to combat terrorism in Syria. "Its not a secret anymore that National Guard forces are involved in the fight against terrorism in the Syrian Arab Republic, where our units have been deployed since 2018,"TASS cited him as saying.

"Our troops are ensuring the safety of humanitarian missions, escorting convoys and facilitating demining efforts," the National Guard chief specified.
CHICAGO (AP)  A man has been charged with unlawful use of a firearm by a felon in connection with a shooting that critically wounded a 21-month-old boy who was riding in a car with him on Chicagos famed Lake Shore Drive, police said Thursday.

Jushawn Brown, 43, of Chicago, fired shots at another vehicle during a road rage incident about 11 a.m. Tuesday and was arrested later that day, police said. Police have said shots were fired at the car Brown was in, which crashed after the boy was shot in the temple.

It wasnt immediately known whether Brown had a lawyer who could comment.

No other arrests have been reported. Chicago police spokeswoman Karie James said Thursday that police were still searching for the driver of the second vehicle, but she had no other information to release on that person.

The wounded boy was in critical condition Wednesday at Lurie Childrens Hospital, where he was on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma to protect his brain, said Dr. Marcelo Malakooti, the hospitals associate chief medical officer and medical director of its pediatric ICU.

Malakooti said the boy has a severe brain injury and he remained incredibly ill.

The fact that he hasnt worsened, I would say, provides us with a cautious hope, he said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference.

Chicago police investigate the scene of a shooting where a 2-year-old boy was shot in the head while he was traveling inside a car near Grant Park, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune via AP)AP

Tuesdays shooting happened just hours after seven people were shot and wounded Monday night in a fight a few miles away, in what is shaping up to be one of the most violent years for Chicago in memory.

The shooting Tuesday was near Grant Park on the citys South Side. Police have said one driver would not let the other enter a lane of traffic. Police recovered bullet casings over about a two-block stretch of the roadway.

A woman jumped out of the car with the child and someone drove them to Northwestern Memorial Hospital before the boy was transferred to Lurie Childrens Hospital.

Brown was scheduled to appear Thursday in bond court.

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Former NFL player kills 5, including 2 children, then himself

7-year-old boy killed, others hurt in N.J. house blaze
Ashley Cain has revealed that his eight-month-old daughter Azaylia could have just days to live amid her leukaemia battle.

The reality star, 30, took to Instagram on Thursday where he shared a heartbreaking video in which he explained what was happening, revealing to fans that they're taking their little girl back home from hospital to make as comfortable as possible.

Ashley revealed that little Azaylia cannot fly to Singapore for treatment as doctors have discovered tumours throughout her body: in her stomach, liver, spleen and kidneys, in addition to tumours in her brain. And sadly, chemotherapy isn't working.

Devastating: Ashley Cain, 30, has revealed that his eight-month-old daughter Azaylia could have just days to live amid her leukaemia battle

Speaking outside of the hospital, the TV star told his followers: 'Where do I start? Where do I start? A lot has happened. A whole lot. Too much to write in a caption, too much to explain in a picture, so I thought I'd do a video.

'So last week we had the bone marrow test and the lumber puncture and bloods taken to send to Singapore in the hope that they could create a CAR T therapy to save Azaylia's life.

'Then we had to have a CT scan on her head and the results came back the next day, saying that Azaylia's got two very big tumours on her brain.

'They also said that the intrathecal treatment that is usually given to treat leukemia in the spine or the brain will not be available, because she has too much pressure with these tumours. And if they tried to even go through the spinal tap it would kill her. At that point, obviously, our world came down.

Family: The reality star took to Instagram on Thursday where he shared a heartbreaking video in which he explained what was happening (Pictured with Azaylia's mum Safiyya Vorajee)

Heartbreaking: Ashley revealed that little Azaylia cannot fly to Singapore for treatment as doctors have discovered tumours throughout her tiny body

'Because obviously, the current chemotherapy that we were doing was for her blood, not the tumours in her brain.

'Consultants said that they think she's only got one, two days to live, and it could even be that night. So, we took Azaylia home with the palliative care team and stuff.

'It was scary. You walk into your little daughter's room and there's big oxygen tanks and stuff like that and it was horrible.

'We took her home. She was on high levels of pain relief and we tried to enjoy every little bit we could, but it was tough. We got through the first night, we got through the second night, but we noticed that Azaylia wasn't really here properly.

'As a parental instinct, I told my girlfriend, I said: "Let's take her off her pain relief". So we took her off the pain relief and the next morning she was as bright as a button, she had her sharpness back, she was responding to everything.

Poor baby: Doctors have found tumours in Azaylia's stomach, her spleen, her liver and her kidneys, in addition to tumours in her brain. And sadly, the chemotherapy isn't working

'And we sat there, and we thought: "this disease is not killing our daughter. We need to do everything that we can do to save this girl's life."

'And so I rang up the consultant at hospital and said: "We're coming back in, we're carrying on with treatment and we're getting her to Singapore."

Ashley said he told consultants in hospital that he has always been a fighter and always will be, adding: 'My daughter is a product of me: through nature, via nurture. That means she'll be a fighter too.'

The TV star touched on how some parents might be more comfortable at home with their child, but explained that it would 'break him' to stay at home knowing his daughter is dying and he's not doing anything about it.

Fighter: Ashley told consultants: 'My daughter is a product of me: through nature, via nurture. That means she'll be a fighter too'

The father-of-one continued relaying his conversation with doctors, explaining that he told them: 'Azaylia had one in four hundred trillion chance of being Azaylia, and you only get one chance at life...

'So we, I are gonna do everything we possibly can do preserve hers, 'cause when you're gone, you're gone... But it's how you wanna be remembered when you're gone.

'She's fought a hard tough fight the whole way through, so I wanna honour that and give her the best chance of survival.'

Too rare: Ashley revealed to his followers that doctors in Singapore have now said that Azaylia's condition is too rare to treat

Ashley then told his followers that they took Azaylia back into hospital and were exploring treatment options.

He said: 'We've been back in hospital the last three four days. We've been pushing, fighting for options and we made steps forwards.'

'She's currently on the drug that we fought to get. We're talking about potential options of radiotherapy to target the tumours in her head.

'They don't usually get radiotherapy to children under three but they were potentially willing to make an exception potentially, after talks.'

After taking a deep breath, Ashley explained that they had an ultrasound scan yesterday and the results came back today revealing that they found tumours throughout her body.

Going home: Holding back tears, the doting dad continued: 'So that means we're going back home. We're going back home and, we're gonna try and make our baby as comfortable as possible...

Ashley told fans: 'They found tumours in her stomach her spleen her kidneys, as well as the tumours in her brain, and the chemotherapy's not working.

'Her disease is that aggressive that nothing they are doing... Nothing's working.

'And then, to make it worse, the consultants got an email from Singapore, and because Azaylia's literally one in a trillion - she literally is she's so special, she's one in a trillion - but unfortunately so is her disease. In Singapore they can't create a CAR T for her leukemia.

Holding back tears, the doting dad continued: 'So that means we're going back home. We're going back home and, we're gonna try and make our baby as comfortable as possible...

'And we're gonna have as much fun as we can with her as possible. And I thought that...

Fighter! Ashley explained that he told his girlfriend: 'We're gonna smile, we're gonna be strong and we're gonna go out with honour'

Champ! 'She's had a tough, tough life. From eight weeks old she'd been in hospital having chemotherapy, operations, transplants...' said Ashley of his incredible little girl

When you hear of all the other kids in the hospital they just wanna be at home, but azaylia doesn't have a voice yet. I think if she had a voice, she'd wanna be at home to. So we're gonna take her home.'

Ashley told fans that he forced himself and his partner to get up, get dressed, eat and clean up, adding: 'We're gonna smile, we're gonna be strong and we're gonna go out with honour.

At the end of the harrowing video, while on the verge of weeping the reality star said: 'She's had a tough, tough life. From eight weeks old she'd been in hospital having chemotherapy, operations, transplants...

'And I feel like, for the last part of her life I just want to take her home. See her like a baby and give her the best rest of her life that we can give her. And that's it.

Sad news: Safiyya also took to Instagram to share the news in a lengthy caption alongside a photograph of herself and Ashley in hospital with baby Azaylia

Ashley took a moment to collect himself, and then confessed: 'I've been strong the whole way through this, but this last week I've been numb... Numb to the core.

'I've been upset, I've been sad, I've been depressed, I've been heartbroken. Some days I don't even know where I am.

'But I think right about now I've got to step up more than ever and be stronger than I've been the whole time, because I'm doing it for her. She needs to see her daddy smiling, she needs to see her mummy smiling. And that's it.

Ashley ended his video with a message of gratitude for his fans, saying: 'Thank you for all the love and support guys, honestly. I'm gonna go back into hospital now, to take my baby home.'

The media personality and his partner Safiyya Vorajee recently raised more than 1.5 million to fund a trip to Singapore for potentially life-saving transplant, but she was being treated in the UK during the interim.

Honoured: 'I am so proud of my baby girl she has been fighting for so so long... I'm incredibly honoured to have become a mummy to my precious girl' wrote Safiyya

Safiyya also took to Instagram to share the news in a lengthy caption alongside a photograph of herself and Ashley in hospital with baby Azaylia.

She penned: 'With a heavy painful heart I share the saddest news of my life...' before confirming that which her boyfriend had told his followers.

Of the planned treatment in Singapore which is now no longer possible, Safiyya wrote: 'This was our last, our only and our final option to save Azaylia and her disease was even too complex for them.

'So we will be now returning home with our beautiful baby to give her the best possible time left that we can.

Devoted: Beneath Safiyya's heartfelt caption, Ashley wrote of their daughter: 'She has made me a better man, a proud, strong father and imprinted on me for life!'

'I am so proud of my baby girl she has been fighting for so so long, and doesn't deserve for this to happen to her!

'There isn't enough words out there to describe the heartache and pain I'm feeling but I'm incredibly honoured to have become a mummy to my precious girl.'

Beneath Safiyya's heartfelt caption, Ashley commented: 'We have fought an incredible fight. None of us more than our beautiful baby girl. She made us smile, she kept us strong and she always gave us hope.

'I've never ever been happier, more devoted and in love than this last 8 months. She has made me a better man, a proud, strong father and imprinted on me for life! You gave us so much, now it's time to go home!'

Supportive friends: Ashley's celebrity pals rushed to send messages of love and support to him amid what is the most devastating time

Ashley's celebrity pals rushed to send messages of love and support to him amid what is the most devastating time.

Charlotte Crosby wrote beneath his video: 'God ash I am so so so so so sorry. Wow my heart is breaking,' while Holly Hagan added: ' Im so so sorry and sending all the love and prayers in the world.'

Love Islander Shaughna Phillips penned: 'No sense, no reason and no justice in this world at all. Your beautiful darling girl has the heart of a lion, and she could not have been more blessed to have parents like you and @miss_safiyya_ .

'You have both shown the world what the true meaning of love is, everything that was asked of you, you did. I pray so much you that you find strength to enjoy your precious daughter at home, and just know you all have the love of the country and beyond.'

Theo Campbell wrote: 'Really no words,' and Alex Bowen added: 'I'm so so sorry brother sending love to you all.'

Lauren Goodman shared: 'Im so sorry! My heart is broken for you all. Sending you all my love and strength. Youve done the best you could xx she has been so brave and tough!' while her sister Chloe Goodman added: 'No words completely heartbroken for your family.'

New mum Charlotte Dawson commented: 'Ash no Im so so sorry. She is the most bravest little angel, fought so hard. You are the best parents ever.'

Pop star Aston Merrygold wrote: 'So sorry man! sending you guys love,' while Olivia Bowen penned: 'I am so sorry, there are no words. You have all been so brave, sending all my love you and your beautiful baby girl Azaylia - she stole the hearts of us all.'

Other celebs flooded Safiyya's heartbreaking post with messages of love goodwill amid Azaylia's last days.

Lisa Maffia wrote: 'Sending you so much love and strength. I am praying so much for you all. Your beautiful babygirl will be well looked after and I pray to meet her in another life. I hope you get as long as possible together and just know that my whole family are thinking of you every second. Love you all.'

Jessica Hayes shared: 'Im so sorry just no words sending love and strength always . Holding you all in my thoughts xxxxxxxxxx.'

Wayne Lineker commented: 'There are no words. My daughter tia had to have a blood test today as she has bruises to her little finger and as A devoted parent I was naturally concerned but what you guys are going through and have been through is incredible compared. Ashley has been my friend for many years and he is a beautiful man I am just so so sorry.'

Comments from celebs: Other celebs flooded Safiyya's heartbreaking post with messages of love goodwill amid Azaylia's last days

At the end of March, Ashley revealed that his daughter Azaylia would be required to undergo another round of chemotherapy amid her battle with leukaemia.

And in a heartbreaking update, Ashley revealed that doctors have found 'blasts of leukaemia forming in her cerebrospinal fluid'  forcing yet more chemo for his daughter.

Taking to Instagram to share a snap of himself with his daughter, Ashley wrote: 'Azaylia had to go into theatre yesterday, for a bone marrow test to read her leukaemia count, plus, a lumber puncture to extract samples to send off to Singapore.

Treatment: Last month, Ashley revealed that Azaylia would be required to undergo another round of chemotherapy amid her battle with leukaemia

'After that, doctors had to take 60ml of blood from her followed by a 4 hour blood transfusion. Later, she had chemotherapy with two separate drugs: Azacitidine and the drug we've been working tirelessly to get hold of, Venetoclax.

'That was a tough enough because of Azaylia's pain and discomfort from the multiple procedures. Until we got told by consultants, that they had found blasts of leukaemia forming in her Cerebrospinal fluid, which can result in it finding the brain!'

He explained: 'This now means that Azaylia will now have to have another form of chemotherapy intrathecally, through the spinal tap to attack the leukaemia and protect her brain.

Update: In an update, Ashley revealed that doctors had found 'blasts of leukaemia forming in her cerebrospinal fluid'  forcing yet more chemo for his daughter

'This means today she will be having a CT scan on her head to make sure we can go through with this intrathecal procedure tomorrow.'

Touching on the strain of the experience on the family, he concluded: 'With 3 hours sleep in 2 days, the reality is that, there are no days off on this journey, no time out periods and no single second without worry or fear.

'If you asked me a year ago, I would've never imagined how strong I could or would have to be. That being said, you never really know how strong you are, until being strong is your only option. '

A day before, his partner Safiyya Vorajee revealed their daughter Azaylia is 'in a lot of pain' ahead of her planned treatment in Singapore.

Upsetting: Ashley's partner Safiyya Vorajee revealed their daughter Azaylia was 'in a lot of pain'

Keeping her followers updated on their journey, Safiyya detailed the blood transfusion and surgery which Azaylia underwent.

Addressing her followers from the hospital, Safiyya explained: 'We've got a heavy morning today, we are getting a bone marrow test done and then Azaylia needs 60ml of blood taken from her.

'She needs to have a blood transfusion so that they can send the blood over to Singapore. She's very swollen this morning, she's on lots of fluid as that keeps the leukaemia from sticking.'

Determined: Safiyaa and partner Ashley Cain recently raised more than 1.5 million to fund the trip but she was being treated in the UK during the interim

Speaking about the emotional toll it has taken on her, Safiyya continued: 'Watching your daughter being put to sleep, again, really pulls another level of heartstrings.

'These days feel so long and tough, but you'd do anything for your child - you don't care about how you are yourself.

'So many people ask how are you feeling, and we have one destination and that is to get to Singapore and get through this.'

Thankfully, the blood transfusion and operation went smoothly, with Safiyya later updating fans: 'The procedures are all done and we are currently on a blood transfusion. Azaylia has recovered, she had to have blood taken from her.

Update: Keeping her followers updated on their journey, Safiyya detailed the blood transfusion and surgery Azaylia underwent

'60ml can leave you very anemic and your blood pressure and heart rate can go anywhere while blood's being taken from your body but luckily Azaylia was very stable.'

She then wrote: 'What a tough day she's had, bless her. She's been in a lot of pain today.'

While Ashley shared a clip of his little girl captioned: 'The amount this little girl has battled through today.'

He later added: 'One hour sleep with this little one last night. She went through the whole lot of procedures yesterday and she's really feeling it.

Heartbreaking: Ashley later shared a clip of his little girl in hospital captioned, 'The amount this little girl has battled through today'

'Three hours sleep in the last two days. There are no days off or times out on this journey. We're going to get you across that line baby'.

It comes after Ashley revealed pharmaceutical companies were not releasing the life-saving drugs needed to beat his daughter Azaylia's leukemia battle.

Ashley, whose baby girl was undergoing her fourth round of chemotherapy at the time, took to Instagram to admit he's in 'heavy talks' with consultants and doctors in an attempt to change the businesses' decision.

The reality star said: 'We found out today that one of the essential drugs we need tomorrow to bring her leukemia counts down and get her into remission is not being released by the pharmaceutical companies.

Update: The following morning, Ashley revealed it had been a sleepless night for all as Azaylia recovered, with the EOTB star promising to get his daughter 'across the line'

'Not only today have I been looking after Azaylia, but going through heavy talks with consultants, doctors and the companies themselves to try and get this essential drug that Azaylia needs.'

The media personality had previously asked fans for help in donating, explaining the treatment his daughter needs is only available in Singapore.

The total of his fundraiser for his eight-month-old's treatment reached over 1.5million, following donations from Love Island's Molly-Mae Hague and Maura Higgins.

Ashley penned a detailed account of Azaylia's health battle on his GoFundMe page and said that any extra funds the couple receive will be donated to other families in a similar situation to them.

Fighting for her: Azaylia was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia when she was just two months old and her parents have fought to save her life

According to the NHS, it is a 'highly complex and potentially risky treatment' but has been shown in trials to cure some patients when other treatments have failed.

Azaylia was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia when she was just two months old.

Ashley said he has spent the first eight months of fatherhood under Covid-19 restrictions in hospital as his daughter fought the cancer.

Doctors told the TV star and his partner Safiyya that chemotherapy would not be enough to cure Azaylia.
Oil futures inched higher on Wednesday on an improving global economic outlook, but gains were capped by rising gasoline inventories and fears that new coronavirus outbreaks will weaken a global recovery in fuel demand.

Brent crude futures settled at $63.16 a barrel, up 42 cents, or 0.7%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled at $59.77 a barrel, gaining 44 cents, or 0.7%.

U.S. crude stocks fell 3.5 million barrels last week, but gasoline inventories jumped 4 million barrels, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said, compared with expectations in a Reuters poll for a 221,000-barrel gasoline drop.

"If you dont need to make gasoline, then you dont need to use more crude oil," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho Securities.

Also Read | Dollar on defensive as US yields slip on reduced Fed tightening bets

Prices drew support when the Federal Reserve released minutes from last month's meeting that reinforced the U.S. central bank's position that it will refrain from raising rates anytime soon, boosting the fuel demand outlook.

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday said unprecedented public spending to fight COVID-19 would push global growth to 6% this year, a rate not achieved since the 1970s, which also helped the fuel demand outlook and supported prices.

However, rising Covid-19 cases in the Americas, which accounted for more than half of all coronavirus-related deaths last week, capped gains.

"There's concern globally with the rise in COVID-19 cases again and now Canada staring down a third wave, the market continues to be haunted by these demand issues from the outbreaks," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital in New York.

Also, global crude supplies could increase as Iran and major world powers took steps toward reviving an agreement that froze Iran's nuclear weapons development. The parties agreed to form working groups to discuss the possibility of reviving the 2015 deal that could lead to Washington lifting sanctions on Iran's energy sector.

"Iran is the single largest upside supply risk for the oil market," said Stephen Brennock of oil brokerage PVM.

Oil prices dropped earlier this week after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies, a group known as OPEC+, agreed to gradually ease oil output cuts from May.
Its not a matter of if but how much salaries and wages should go up for all Midland ISD employees for the 2021-22 school year.

School district trustees went over a draft of next years budget during a workshop Wednesday. It includes raises for teachers. There will be a $1,000 increase in the salary for entry-level teachers, and the floor will move up for others. Midland ISD documents showed salaries this year were $56,500 for entry level teachers, $59,500 for teachers with five years of experience, $61,250 for teachers with 10 years, $63,750 for teachers with 15 years and $66,250 for teachers with 20 years of experience.

It always goes across the board, said Board President Bryan Murry of the salary increases for all teachers.

The proposed increases  along with calendar changes and teacher STEP plan progressions -- would put the salaries for more experienced teachers ahead of their counterparts at districts across the state, like Alvin, McKinney, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Northwest, Pflugerville and every larger West Texas community.

District officials hope to continue paying for an employees insurance as part of the compensation package.

Board members also said they want to see options for increasing the hourly pay for support staff, which is currently at a minimum of $12 an hour  an increase of 25 percent during the last couple years.

You see the board is intent on taking care of the support staff, Murry said. The intent is to keep moving that up and getting closer to what Midland pays.

Midland ISD board members have been pushing up the salaries for teachers since Ryder Warren was superintendent at the district. Since 2010, the starting salary for an entry level teacher has increased from around $40,050 to $56,500 during the 2020-21 school year.

The salary discussion was part of a budget planning session that showed changes in revenue collected and the recapture payments to the state. At this point, district officials expect the amount of ad valorem taxes to fall from a projected $337.925 million this year to $255.3 million in 2021-22. However, the drop in tax money collected means a dramatic decrease in the recapture payment to the state  from $143.474 million to $65.597 million. Midland ISD as a property rich district sends money to the state to be allocated to property poor districts.

The district showed that around $589.561 million will have been sent to the state in the form of recapture since the 2013-14 school year.

Still, district officials showed district leaders that there was $165.037 million in its reserves this year. That is 37 percent of the $427.84 million in total expenditures this school year and 49 percent of the $336.252 million in projected expenditures during the 2021-22 school year. The district is expecting another $7.142 million to be placed into savings after the 2021-22 school year.

The next workshop is expected to take place May 5. Other important dates include:

Receipt of certified estimates from the Midland Central Appraisal District, April 30

Adoption of the 2021-22 Compensation Plan, May 17

Adoption of the 2021-22 budget, June 28

Adoption of the 2020-21 final budget amendment, June 28

Adoption of the tax rates for 2021-22 tax rates, August.

2021-22 Budget assumptions

Maintenance and operation rate (M&O): $0.9564

Interest and Sinking (I&S): $0.0702

Total: $1.0266

Student membership: 25,579

Budget base scenario

Revenue

2020-21: $431,802,387

2021-22: $343,394,890

Expenditures

2020-21: $425,645,678

2021-22: $336,252,790
(Natural News) The spike protein outer shell of the coronavirus contains prion-like regions that give the virus very high adhesion to ACE2 receptors in the human body. This has been documented by a study entitled, SARS-CoV-2 Prion-Like Domains in Spike Proteins Enable Higher Affinity to ACE2, published by the Human Microbiology Institute:

The presence and unique distribution of prion-like domains in the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domains of the spike protein is particularly interesting, since although the SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV S proteins share the same host cell receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), SARS-CoV-2 demonstrates a 10- to 20-fold higher affinity for ACE2

The mRNA vaccine works by hijacking your bodys cells and causing them to churn out proteins modeled after the spike proteins in the SARS-cov-2 coronavirus. Since that structure includes prion-like regions, random errors in mRNA sequences  which may be truncated by the human immune system before they reach the ribosomes in the cells  could cause mRNA vaccine recipients to churn out prions in their own bodies.

The risk of this was assessed by Dr. J. Bart Classen, who authored a paper in Microbiology & Infectious Diseases: Covid-19 RNA Based Vaccines and the Risk of Prion Disease. You can see the text of the study at this link.

That study concludes, The results indicate that the vaccine RNA has specific sequences that may induce TDP-43 and FUS to fold into their pathologic prion confirmations.

It also explains:

The folding of TDP-43 and FUS into their pathologic prion confirmations is known to cause ALS, front temporal lobar degeneration, Alzheimers disease and other neurological degenerative diseases.

The Mayo Clinic says CJD, the disease caused by prions, is 100% fatal and has no treatment. Some of the symptoms of CJD (prion disease) described by the Mayo Clinic include:

Stroke-like symptoms

Difficulty speaking

Confusion

Odd movements

Other symptoms include emotional changes, a sharp loss of cognitive function and seeming personality changes. It all ends in death. Once the prion symptoms are evident, its already too late. There is no treatment and no reversal possible.

mRNA vaccines may unleash a wave of zombie prion disease deaths, known as Mad Cow Disease in humans (CJD)

Because of the mechanisms revealed above, there is a possibility that mRNA vaccines might unleash a wave of neurological disease over the next several years. Victims of this prion disease would appear to have rapid-onset Alzheimers, dementia or cognitive decline. This condition could affect millions or even tens of millions of people in the United States alone. This wave of prion disease would, in a way, transform people into zombies as the prions eat their brains. (For a full discussion of prion protein folding, listen to the full podcast below. Prions dont actually eat brains, but they destroy brain cells in a morphological way.)

The entire fake news media insists this is impossible. They say prions cant be created by mRNA vaccines. Then again, these are the same dangerously false, misleading and deliberately dishonest media outlets that currently claim the coronavirus wasnt engineered in a Chinese lab, and they simultaneously (and falsely) claim no one has died from covid-19 vaccines. Therefore, the fake news media has zero credibility and is known to lie to cover up the crimes and product safety faults of the vaccine industry. The fact that corporate-run propaganda media outlets claim mRNA vaccines cant cause prions probably means they can.

CNBC is already reporting that 1 in 3 covid survivors now has a mental disorder. Are these post-vaccine people? Or is this more to do with the depression caused by lockdowns? Some of the mental outcomes already documented include dementia and anxiety disorders.

A mysterious brain-wasting disease has also been documented in Canada, demonstrating prion-like symptoms such as, memory loss, hallucinations and muscle atrophy. Doctors there have ruled out CJD, however, but havent yet found the cause.

Todays podcast discusses the vaccine zombie phenomenon in more detail. I wrote the song, Vaccine Zombie over ten years ago. Heres the music video for that song. If you listen to the lyrics, its all 100% true today, more than a decade after it was written:

Brighteon.com/e6c842d1-0388-4dc0-8fd9-c84f23f735c2

Heres the full Situation Update podcast for today:

Brighteon.com/a38639ee-56c1-4d2d-8bcd-868ef7b7ff79

Find a new podcast each day at:

https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport
When trying to solve any problem, large or small, its important to remember that hasty solutions based on poorly diagnosed problems lead to failure and frustration. This is true whether were talking about marketing, medicine, or ministry. And its especially true when it comes to repairing an injustice as complex as slavery and racism in America.

Today, there is a tendency to oversimplify the problem. But anyone objectively examining the history of American racism knows that the problem is far from simple. In his own reflections on American race relations, the Dutch Reformed theologian Herman Bavinck expressed confidence that the resources for a solution existed within Christianity. According to biographer James Eglinton, however, he lamented that this solution would never come to pass unless the American church underwent a profound transformation.

Unfortunately, I see little evidence that such a transformation has taken place. Although pockets of hope and moral clarity exist here and there, white evangelicals have largely glossed over the embarrassing parts of their history and reacted indignantly to any suggestion of needing to make amends.

In Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair, pastors Duke L. Kwon and Gregory Thompson offer something of a crash course in American racial injustice and the churchs complicity in it. They trace the history of white supremacy from the countrys founding to the present day, explaining why overcoming a 400-year legacy of personal and institutional sin requires getting a firm grasp on what happened, knowing why the Bible calls it sinful, and working toward repairing the wreckage.

Words like reparations and white supremacy often ...

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The defense turned the tables this week in the Derek Chauvin case, getting the star prosecution witness, the police chief, to admit that the videos appear to show Chauvin kneeling on George Floyds' shoulder blade, not his neck. The prosecution has also paraded a bunch of police witnesses to say knee-on-neck has never been allowed as part of police training, except it most certainly was. Yet another police witness admitted that a knee to side-of-neck pin should render a person unconscious in ten seconds, yet Mr. Floyd famously resisted for nine minutes.

Add to that the autopsy showed bruises not on his neck, but on his shoulders, right where Officer Chauvin is going to insist, and the video shows, he was restraining George Floyd in a distinctly non-lethal place. In fact, a similar kind of knee to the shoulder pin happens every day on high school wrestling mats without fatalities.

So, we have the prosecution witnesses potentially perjuring and gravely contradicting their own case. In a normal trial, that would be enough to find Officer Chauvin innocent of criminal charges. He simply would not have the intent to injure Mr. Floyd. Some have objected that the defense is confusing the issue by bringing up the crowd distracting the police, saying this shows that the defense is not certain it can prove the police acted by the book, by staying on top of Floyd too long. Well, it certainly looks as though Chauvin and the others lost track of time, partly having to deal with the hostile crowd. But that's a case of civil negligence, not criminal intent.

This is no ordinary trial, and the jurors are being sufficiently frightened to bring in a guilty verdict. BLM is threatening riots if Chauvin is not convicted, and they will likely be worse than those last year.

But this also leads me to what I think is the great untold story so far of the case: the two passengers with Floyd that day and their behavior.

Floyd acted with wild emotion when first confronted by the police but insisted he had not taken any drugs. The police seemed to have acted on this belief, assuming throughout the ordeal that Floyd was some kind of mentally disturbed man having a psychotic episode. Yet the two passengers with Floyd knew better  that he ingested drugs. They often were the ones who sold them to him, according to Floyd's girlfriend .

At no time did either of them, Shawanda Hill or Morries Hall, simply step up to the police and say their friend was a serious drug abuser and probably having an OD. This is crucial, because Minneapolis police routinely give out life-saving naloxone to anyone they think is having a drug overdose.

Apparently, the drugs Floyd took that day came from Mr. Hall, who is refusing to testify, lest he be charged with criminal complicity in Floyd's death.

Instead of helping out their friend when they might easily have done so, these two rotten people quietly watched him die, with the life-saving antidote possibly sitting in the police car next to them, rather than get in trouble themselves for their own petty criminality.

It's not systemic racism or police brutality that plagues America's black communities. It's the many heartless street characters like Hill and Hall who do so much damage every day. Instead of burning down America's cities this last year, we should have had an honest discussion about the small-time thugs and dealers who keep our poor neighborhoods so indecent, where children are sucked into a cycle of crime, abuse, and violence because of the adults in charge there  adults like Shawanda Hill and Morries Hall.

These are the "friends" of George Floyd.

Frank Friday is an attorney in Louisville, Ky.

Image: The Telegraph via YouTube.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Health Data Movers (HDM), today announced the appointment of Monica Gupta and Alyssa Rapp to the HDM Board of Directors, effective April 1, 2021. Following the appointment of Ms. Gupta and Ms. Rapp, the Board will comprise five directors, two of whom are independent.

"We are pleased to welcome both Monica Gupta and Alyssa Rapp to the HDM Board," said Tyler Smith, HDM partner. "Both leaders bring amazing healthcare and strategic experience to our board and company. Alyssas entrepreneurial success as a founder of Bottlenotes and CEO of Surgical Solutions, paired with Monicas public company achievement at DocuSign and prior executive roles in provider organizations like Stanford Health, will bring HDMs leadership to the next level as we grow our business and pursue our mission to improve patients lives."

Ms. Gupta has served as Vice President, Global Operations, at DocuSign, a leading e-signature and agreement cloud company, since 2018. Prior to that, Ms. Gupta served as the Associate Chief Information Officer of Stanford Health Care from 2011 through 2017, an internationally recognized academic health system for providing leading-edge acute and specialty care. Before joining Stanford, she held numerous positions at Oracle Corporations (formerly Sun Microsystems), a multinational computer technology corporation, from 1997 through 2009. She has previously served on the Executive Advisory Boards of Intel Corporation and Imprivata. Ms. Gupta received her Bachelor of Arts with honors in Economics and Psychology from Punjab University and Master of Business Administration from California State University. She brings a track record of over two decades of growth, execution, and driving digital transformation at scale.

The HDM team is immensely talented, said Gupta, and I look forward to supporting the company as they steadily expand their operations in solving the complex challenges in implementations and interoperability of healthcare data and technology.

Ms. Rapp served as a managing partner at AJR Ventures, a strategic advisory firm for Fortune 500, $500MM+ privately-held companies, and private equity firms on their new business unit/new market development, digital, and e-commerce strategies from 2015 to 2018. Prior to this, Ms. Rapp served as the founder and chief executive officer of Bottlenotes, Inc., the leading interactive media company in the U.S. wine, craft beer, and artisanal spirit industries from 2005 to 2015. Ms. Rapp has been the CEO of Surgical Solutions, a company that offers handling of scopes, repair maintenance management, and access to capital to increase physician satisfaction, since 2018. Ms. Rapp was appointed to serve on the Illinois Housing Development Authority board of directors from 2015 to 2019. Ms. Rapp received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History of Art from Yale University and a Master of Business Administration from Stanford Universitys Graduate School of Business.

I am inspired by HDMs vision of moving healthcare forward with better data and tools that empower patients and providers, said Rapp, so I am delighted to support their short and long term value creation drivers in service to their mission of unleashing the potential of healthcare data and technology.

HDMs board expansion beyond the founding members, Brian Battistone, Greg Georgatos, and Tyler Smith, marks a significant milestone in the firms evolution. Following another year of continuous growth and accolades, including #475 on the Inc. 500, a KLAS rating, and Consulting Magazines Best Places to Work recognition, HDMs expanded board lays the foundation for the next phase of corporate maturity. By bringing increased oversight to the company and ensuring enhanced strategic decision-making, HDM strives to continue to embody industry best practices and prepare the company for accelerated growth.

About Health Data Movers (HDM)

Health Data Movers mission is to improve the lives of patients and providers by unleashing the potential of healthcare data and technology. HDM executes data conversions, EHR implementations, and development projects with the nations top healthcare provider organizations, medical device firms, and digital health enterprises. The company works with organizations that put their patients first and strive for the seamless and safe transfer of medical information.

https://www.healthdatamovers.com/
Oliver knows all too well how hard it can be for those going through cancer to afford healthy food. Kristin, who was living in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the time, struggled to buy food after pricey medications, treatments and living expenses. In Kristins case, her mother opened a grocery store account to make sure her daughter had access to what she needed. But Oliver recognizes not everyone has the support or resources to do that.
Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, a Governance lecturer at the Central University, has called on Ghanaians to collectively condemn the decadence in the Ghanaian society.



He stated that the soceity is so broken that the youth have begun to adopt bad habits and that it is about time for discipline to be inculcated into the populace, particularly the youth.



His statement is in connection with the murder at Kasoa in the Central Region.



Two teenagers, on Saturday, murdered a 10-year old child to seek money rituals.



The deceased, Ishmael Mensah, was a Class Four pupil of the Maranatha School.



To Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, the Kasoa incident brings to the discussion table the issue of indiscipline in the society.



Reacting to the issue on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', he stated the society must teach the youth the right values to become good leaders.



"What are the values that we teach them?", he queried.



He asked Ghanaians to use the same momentum they used to condemn the LGBTQ+ community when their issue came up months ago to address the indiscipline in society.



"Let's talk against indiscipline in our society, especially among the the youth...The aggression and the enthusiasm that we used to condemn the LGBTQ+ issue, let's use the same force to talk about indiscipline," he stressed.





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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Postcard of SAC Sign Lincoln AFB NE 1960. ( Wikipedia

Despite its flaws, early deterrence thinking was born out of necessity. The advent of nuclear weapons required scholars and policymakers to discover ways to avoid nuclear Armageddon. Most scholars and practitioners favored deterrence on moral and practical grounds: saving lives and treasure is clearly preferable to expending them, which is why the motto of the U.S. militarys primary deterrence instrument has remained Peace is Our Profession[3] Though deterrence was a significant instrument of statecraft during the Cold War, critics have long challenged that the strategic concept is a blunt tool and incompatible with human or organizational biases, misbehaving or irrational actors, or novel technologies. Instead of contributing to stability, threats of punishment could spiral into escalation. Moreover, skeptics note that empirically testing deterrence is challengingif not impossiblegiven that cases of deterrence success or failure are susceptible to selection bias and peace is largely overdetermined.[4]

HOWEVER, THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF DETERRENCE DESERVES REFINEMENT IF POLICYMAKERS AND SCHOLARS DESIRE TO CONTINUE THE UNPRECEDENTED ERA OF GREAT POWER PEACE.

As the Latin deterre means to frighten from or away, a strategy that manipulates threats of future pain to persuade a thinking adversary from revising the status quo is sure to have theoretical and practical problems.[5] However, the study and practice of deterrence deserves refinement if policymakers and scholars desire to continue the unprecedented era of great power peace. Looking back on the Cold War, Lawrence Freedman observed, deterrence seemed to work, maybe better in practice than in theory.[6] Looking forward, the authors of the next security strategy should incorporate updates in deterrence theory to make the concept work better in practice.

PROBLEMS IN DETERRENCE THEORY: BIASES AND ESCALATION, MISBEHAVING ACTORS, AND NOVEL TECHNOLOGIES

The first concern with classical deterrence theory is that its assumptions of rational behavior belie the misperceptions and biases that could lead to escalation instead of stability. This line of criticism developed during the third wave of deterrence thinking, when scholars questioned simplistic assumptions and game-theoretic models developed by those in the first two waves.[7] These scholars highlighted rational deterrence theorys faulty assumptions through case studies, pointing to several biases that are inherent in human psychology, organizations, and bureaucracies. At the individual level, leaders often turn to prior beliefs and historical analogies to make sense of current crises, which may be flawed comparisons to the present.[8] The limits of human cognition and the inability to accurately interpret an adversary's intentions or signals further undermine classical rationality.[9] Worse, deterrence signals may be misinterpreted as impending attacks, intensifying the security dilemma and resulting in escalation. Even more recent work has explored how the psychology of revengeor the intrinsic pleasure that one expects to experience striking backexplains the willingness of leaders to retaliate even at the risk of their own destruction.[10]

SADDAM HUSSEIN, KIM JUNG IL, AND THE AYATOLLAH TYPIFY THE ROGUE LEADERS THAT CRITICS FEARED WOULD NOT RESPOND RATIONALLY TO INCENTIVES, WILLING TO RISK SURVIVAL TO FULFILL THEIR AGGRESSIVE PERSONAL OR IDEOLOGICAL GOALS.

The second challenge emerges from what Jeffrey Knopf labels the fourth wave of deterrence thinking, which emerged after the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and consumed itself with what to do about asymmetric threats or non-conforming actors who would not behave according to rational deterrence theory.[11] Saddam Hussein, Kim Jung Il, and the Ayatollah typify the rogue leaders that critics feared would not respond rationally to incentives, willing to risk survival to fulfill their aggressive personal or ideological goals. Religiously motivated terrorists were viewed as undeterrable because they would ignore costs, possess little territory or few citizens to hold at risk, and reject the goal of survival (at least suicide bombers), which are all hallmarks of classical deterrence thinking.[12]

IF A STRATEGY OF DETERRENCE BY PUNISHMENT RESTS ON THE ABILITY TO THREATEN TO INFLICT PAIN ON A TARGET, THAT THREAT BECOMES FAR LESS CREDIBLE WHEN THE ATTACK IS ANONYMOUS.

Todays third challenge emerges from disruptive technology and new domains. As Joseph Nye recounts, some have argued that deterrence is challengingif not impossiblein cyberspace given the difficulty in attribution and credibility of potential responses.[13] If a strategy of deterrence by punishment rests on the ability to threaten to inflict pain on a target, that threat becomes far less credible when the attack is anonymous. Ben Buchanan describes how cyber operations are more effective as tools of clandestine espionage, sabotage, and destabilization rather than reliable signals of capability and credibility.[14] Denial is also difficult and expensive in cyberspace, though recent research has pointed out that cyber operations are far less offensively-dominant than assumed since organizational practices and skills make offensive operations difficult.[15]Advances in robotics may also be problematic for deterrence: former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work argued that unmanned weapon systems assuage human fears of casualties in war, undermining the ability to impose costs on an aggressor.[16]

UPDATES IN DETERRENCE THINKING: TAILORED DETERRENCE, CROSS-DOMAIN DETERRENCE, AND DISSUASION

To address the problems of rogue states, terrorists, inadvertent escalation, and novel technologies, deterrence thinkers have introduced three updates: tailored deterrence, cross-domain deterrence, and dissuasion. After the attacks on 9/11 and the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the George W. Bush administration proposed a new strategy labeled tailored deterrence in the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review to manage the threat of states and terrorists wielding weapons of mass destruction.[17] Elaine Bunn notes that this concept moved away from a one-size-fits-all approach from the Cold War by taking into account the adversarys society, culture, and leadership when manipulating the costs and benefits of deterrence.[18] Obviously, U.S. deterrence operations should be applied differently from China to Russia to Al Qaeda to anonymous hackers. This concept grew as additional research enhanced understanding of the role strategic culture plays in a states perception of costs and benefits and developed qualitative profiles of decision-makers to understand how their views of the status quo, what assets they hold dear, how they view an issues stakes, and how they cognitively process deterrent signals.[19] By examining what leaders or organizations say and believe, deterrence thinkers hope to avoid mirror-imaging Western political values that may confuse the logical link between beliefs and actions.[20]

PRESIDENT EISENHOWERS MASSIVE RETALIATION OFFSET STRATEGY THREATENED NUCLEAR WAR IN RESPONSE TO A SOVIET LAND INVASION

The second approach intersects with the desire to tailor capabilities by considering how deterrence could span across domains.[21] Though the concept of cross-domain deterrence is not newPresident Eisenhowers massive retaliation offset strategy threatened nuclear war in response to a Soviet land invasionthe growing salience of cyber, space, and information domains expands the opportunities and risks of aggression. Cross-domain deterrence would include non-military tools such as legal measures to prosecute would-be terrorists and threats of economic sanctions to deter state-sponsored hackers. Policymakers who fear China and Russias ability to undermine US information superiority through anti-satellite weaponry need to consider denial and punishment strategies through cyberspace and on land.[22] Within the challenging domain of cyberspace, defenders could encourage shared norms of appropriate behavior and leverage entanglement to spread the costs of aggression with the challenger.[23]

Finally, dissuasion is the broadening of deterrence to incorporate non-military means as well as rewards and compromises instead of mere threats.[24] Though reassurance is sometimes framed as a direct alternative to deterrence, students will note that even classical theorists considered off-ramps and compromises.[25] Thomas Schelling emphasized the need to reassure an opponent that good behavior would not result in punishment, while others made the case that promises of American compromises and rewardsand not just threatsresolved the Cuban Missile Crisis.[26] Dissuasion reflects a similar logic of a firm but flexible strategy, which Paul Huth argues is more effective in preventing war than an unyielding deterrent posture.[27] Even the current U.S. joint operating concept for deterrence emphasizes the need to encourage adversary restraint in addition to denying benefits and imposing costs.[28] Another form of dissuasion, as laid out in the 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review, is the attempt to convince an adversary not to compete with the U.S. in the first place, such as by deterring the acquisition or enhancement of advanced weapons.[29] The overlap between both forms of dissuasion is the attempt to reduce the intensity of the competition, either through compromises or by avoiding the situation altogether.

UPDATING DETERRENCE IN THE NEXT SECURITY STRATEGY

Despite the centrality of deterrence in the 2017 National Security Strategy, the document focused too narrowly on denial and punishment. For instance, in the domain of cyberspace, the strategy calls for hardening the governments information networks, layering defenses in the public and private sectors, and imposing swift and costly consequences on attackers.[30] However, the document largely downplays deterrence across domains, as well as opportunities to establish institutions that encourage restraint in other states. The new security strategy should continue to prioritize the need to compete against major powers without forgetting the importance of tailoring capabilities to different types of state and non-state actors, including rising powers such as China and Russia. The new strategy should also focus less on military tools and more on expanding the number of instruments to deter across domains. Threats in the cyber domain, for example, may require diplomatic, legal, or economic sanctions instead of mere cyber denial or punishment. Finally, and most importantly, the authors of the next strategy should be willing to offer positive inducements to lower the risk of escalation. Institutions that can codify acceptable behavior with regard to autonomous weapons and in the domains of space and cyberspace may offer opportunities for cooperation to limit the severity of the security dilemma. Without these updates, U.S. strategy may not be up to the task of managing the gravest challenges in international politics.
Ghaziabad: In light of the recent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Ghaziabad district administration on Thursday (April 8) imposed a night curfew in the entire district.

The night curfew will start at 10 pm and will end at 5 am starting tonight. Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said that the authorities, after reviewing the situation with the police and medical department, decided to impose a night curfew in the district.

District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said "To effectively contain the spread of COVID-19 in Ghaziabad, we have decided to impose night curfew in the district. The timing of the curfew will be 10 pm to 5 am."

It has been decided to impose night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am in Ghaziabad district. The order comes into effect from tonight: Ajay Shankar Pandey Ghaziabad DM #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/DwAWPLYw9v  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 8, 2021

Night curfew has been imposed in various districts of Uttar Pradesh as well. There will be a night curfew in Varanasi from Thursday (April 8), from 9 pm to morning. In Prayagraj, a night curfew has been imposed from 10 pm to 8 am on Thursday till further notice. The District Magistrate informed that essential services will be exempted from the curfew.

Uttar Pradesh reported 40 coronavirus fatalities, the highest in recent weeks, and 6,023 new cases on Wednesday (April 7), pushing the toll to 8,964 and the tally to 6,45,930.

The 40 new fatalities in the state include six from Lucknow, five from Kanpur, four from Ballia, three each from Allahabad and Varanasi, and two each from Moradabad, Ghazipur, Amroha and Fatehpur, according to a health bulletin.

Of the 6,023 new cases, 1,333 are from Lucknow, followed by 811 in Allahabad, 593 in Varanasi and 300 in Kanpur, among others. As many as 6.05 lakh patients have recovered and there are 31,987 active cases.

Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday (April 7) reported 4,689 COVID-19 cases taking the total active caseload tally in the state to 27,509. With 30 deaths on Wednesday (April 7), the death toll stands at 8,924.

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As the region and state continues its upward trajectory in coronavirus cases for the second time in less than a year, restaurant owners are facing growing concerns for their businesses.

I am concerned, Pasta House owner Kevin Wiley said. I dont want to see us going another direction. It has been a long haul and I just want to climb out of this.

In a few weeks Wileys restaurant is planning to celebrate its 25th anniversary, but the celebration is overshadowed by the pandemic and the growing likelihood of enhanced restrictions.

Early on in the pandemic, the state and agencies across the country used the slogan flatten the curve in an attempt to describe the need to slow the virus growth. Unfortunately, following a downward trend that would have flattened the curve, around Feb. 20 the state started watching the curve reverse. Since early March, the curve has continued to swing upward, mimicking what occurred in November 2020 leading up to the states second shutdown of many businesses and schools.

Casey Jahn, owner of Hooks Waterfront Resort said he was also concerned about the recent trends and said it may have already started to impact he and his wife's business.

Last weekend was one of the slowest weekends we have ever had, Jahn said. Sunday my guys stood around in the kitchen and shined stainless.

According to Jahn, he has seen a notable decrease in people coming into the restaurant to eat and he believed it could have been further fueled by spring break.

Jahn, who opened Hooks Waterfront less than six months before the states first mandated shutdown amid the pandemic, had previously told the Tribune that the shutdown cost his business tens of thousands of dollars in wasted food, and an immeasurable amount in lost revenue.

Hooks was the recipient of approximately $30,000 in grants and Jahn said there is the possibility of additional support on the horizon. However, if the support is in the form of loans, he has reservations.

I read on the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association website that there are some possible federal grants coming again, he said. That would be a positive for the industry, as long as its not a loan.

Jahn said the last thing a business needed when trying to recover from the damages done by the pandemic was taking on additional overhead in the form of loans.

Jahn said he noticed the recent trends and has begun to prepare for a worst-case scenario.

I told myself, Here we go again, and I started conserving inventory, cutting back on payroll and preparing ourself for another shutdown, Jahn said. I dont want to get stuck with a cooler full of food.

Jahn said the pandemic has also caused doubt for him if the communities will ever fully recover.

We were geared up and ready to get back to normal, Jahn said. I just don't know that we will get back to normal again. I think it will be a new normal.

Jahn said he has been stuck in the middle of the pandemic since it started, with doubts on some of the science.

Most people I know that think they had it dont get tested, he said. Some people that I have talked to that did have it had a sore throat and a running nose, but I know someone with asthma that died.

While some restaurants in the region adapted to state restrictions by offering carryout services while dine-in services were prohibited, The Peppermill Restaurant owner Thomas McCollum said his facility wasnt one of them.

McCollum said he didnt see any way for carryout service to be economically feasible to his business.

I would lose more money by being open and doing carryout than I would being closed and just managing to pay the bills, he said.

According to McCollum, had his business offered carryout service, it would have had even more impact on neighboring restaurants.

The more places that do carryout, the smaller the pie is, McCollum said.

Like the others, McCollum is nervous about the current pandemic situation.

I am concerned about (Gov. Gretchen Whitmer) shutting us down again, he said. It is very hard to deal with that.

McCollum said when he had to shut down his business, he had to lay off staff and when it was time to re-open, it was a challenge getting everything going again.

You finally get your staff all set and everybody is working, and then she shuts you down and you have to rebuild your staff again, he said. Things are running pretty good at 50%, but if we had another shutdown there is a lot of loss. It would hurt us quite a bit. I dont know how we could go through another shutdown.

Unlike McCollum, Wiley maintained carryout business throughout the pandemic, which he said has been beneficial to his business and the community.

We have curbside pickup down to a T, Wiley said. Being in business for 25 years, I think we will try to maintain our curbside for some time to come. It is requested by a lot of our customers. We have been here for 25 years and we have a solid clientele base that has supported us.

Wiley said several times during the pandemic, his carryout business on a weekend exceeded previous years when dine-in was the only option. However, he noted this was excluding the banquet and catering portion of his business, which has suffered severe losses.

Wiley estimated that in usual years he would cater to groups of 250 to 300 people, and last summer that number dropped to parties averaging 50 to 100 people. He said the catering would also be impacted by inclement weather due to restrictions requiring large gatherings be held outdoors.

The Pasta House has been able to maintain its full-time staff at 40 hours per week during the pandemic, Wiley said, but now he has new challenges to face.

Now it is getting our part-time staff back in the loop, Wiley said.

Wiley, who is also the vice president of the North Huron Schools Board of Education, has been diligently following the science for a long time. He said the last thing he wants is for another shutdown to impact his business or the school.

I feel for these kids and I feel for these teachers, Wiley said, noting he has a senior at North Huron Schools. The last thing I want for my kid is to have to learn from home on a screen. I want to be positive that we will go in the right direction, but I dont know what it will take.

Wiley said he and his wife, along the majority of his staff, have opted to get the vaccine, which he believes is key to combating the coronavirus pandemic.

I am hoping people will go in, sign up, and get their vaccination to put a curb on this, he said. Until we do something to remedy this, if this continues, we could see another shutdown.

Wiley said he had mixed feelings on the pandemic early on but he learned to take it seriously.

A good friend of mine lost his life over it," he said. "From that point on I thought Ok folks, this is real.' There are too many people that think this is a myth, or just a cold and flu. If we would just all mask up and abide by what we are supposed to do, we could knock this out.
ALBANY  A budget deal reached Tuesday by state legislative leaders and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo funnels millions of dollars into New Yorks hard-hit nursing home industry to beef up staffing and requires operators to spend more money on patient care.

The deal  a response to pandemic-related concerns over how nursing homes were spending their money  includes a new requirement that nursing homes spend at least 70 percent of their revenues on direct resident care, including at least 40 percent on staff who deal with residents. The union representing the states nursing home workers estimates this change will lead to an extra $500 million being spent on resident care.

Notably, the agreement also caps the profits that nursing home operators can make at 5 percent and requires them to redirect any excess funds into the states nursing home quality pool, which was established a decade ago to reward nursing homes that provide high-quality care to residents.

The reforms, which take effect Jan. 1, 2022, seek to address the chronic understaffing that has plagued the nursing home industry for years, but which became increasingly apparent during the pandemic.

We have taken a huge step forward, but there is more to be done, said Milly Silva, an executive vice president with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. So were in this moment of breathing and of recognizing how this is bittersweet because the reform is so necessary but we also know that there are seniors and workers who are not here to see it and that makes it hard."

Nursing home workers and their union representatives have staged numerous rallies in recent months to call for increased investment in resident care and an end to chronic understaffing. While workers had protested around these issues prior to the pandemic, calls for reform intensified this past year as the pandemics devastating toll on nursing home residents became clear and controversies swirled around the Cuomo administrations handling of the crisis.

A state Attorney Generals report published in January found the administration had publicly undercounted nursing home deaths by 50 percent by excluding those who died in hospitals. The finding spurred the administration to finally release the number who died in hospitals. To date, more than 13,000 nursing home residents are known to have died from coronavirus infections.

The report also found a direct correlation between poorly staffed homes and increased COVID-19 deaths, and condemned the for-profit nursing home industry for practices that bolster their own profits while leaving homes understaffed.

I dont know that absent the pandemic  absent the pain and suffering of our elders, their loved ones and workers in this industry  that the kind of reform we need would have been enacted, Silva said. And, in fact, even with the pandemic we still have a ways to go and thats very sobering news for anybody that cares about whats happening in our nursing homes.

One reform Silva and others are still pushing for would set a threshold for the minimum hours of care that must be provided to each nursing home resident each day. New York is one of only 12 states that has not set such thresholds and the issue is expected to generate debate during the remaining legislative session.

Industry responds

Organizations representing the states nursing home operators had mixed reactions to the budget deal reached Tuesday.

While they were grateful for additional funding earmarked for homes by the state  $128 million over two years  some felt it wasnt enough and many conveyed disappointment with the new mandates around spending.

Stephen Hanse, president and CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association, which represents for-profit and other nursing homes, said the new spending mandates dont take into account the differing needs of nursing homes around the state.

Instead of implementing specific policies to recruit and retain new workers and reverse years of nursing home disinvestment, the state implemented a one-size-fits-all law dictating how all nursing homes are to allocate their financial resources, ignoring the unique nature and resident needs of each nursing home, he said.

Operators also contend the new money for nursing homes doesnt come close to touching years of under-investment by the state. Michael Balboni, executive director of the Greater New York Health Care Facilities Association, pointed specifically to the low Medicaid reimbursement rates New York pays out compared to other states.

Without increasing the revenues to make up for the deficit and just saying, You have to spend the money differently, its really like propping up an already dysfunctional system, an underinvested system and rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, he said.

Balboni was also critical of the deal for what he said is a failure to incorporate lessons learned during the pandemic or mechanisms that would help nursing homes prepare for the next pandemic. He noted how many nursing homes were left without enough personal protective equipment during the first surge.

"We didnt step up for the residents because we failed to imagine this happening ahead of time," he said. "Ive been involved in planning on pandemics for years and yet weve not done anything  at the state level but also the national level  to truly prepare for pandemics. This should have been the moment with this amount of money where we could have institutionalized that forward-looking perspective."
The Board of Supervisors unanimously awarded the contract to build two Community Resilience Centers, one in Groveland and one in Tuolumne, to Sonora based Robert E. Boyer Construction Inc. Deputy County Administrator Maureen Frank reported to the board that the nine companies who qualified to bid all bid prices within about one million dollars of each other. Boyer Construction had the lowest bid at $16,731,476. Frank said, It is exciting because Boyer has done projects for the county before, we have had a great relationship with them, and he is local. The first project Frank worked with Boyer on was the Groveland Ambulance Station.

According to Frank, Lee Moyle of Moyle Excavation Inc. is ready to break ground yesterday on both sites simultaneously and is expected to start before the end of this month. With the approval from the supervisors, the exact date of groundbreaking will depend on a final review of the contract and bond paperwork and then the county will issue a notice to proceed.

Both Community Resiliency Centers are planned to be completed within 14 months. More photos of the two CRCs from the architect firm Lionakis are in the image box. The CRC facilities are approximately 8,775 sq. ft. with a large 200-person conference room that can be divided into two, a small 20 people classroom, four offices, a commercial kitchen, and restrooms with showers. They will have power generators and numerous outlets to offer the public when needed.

One thing that isnt finalized yet is the decision on which of nine additional proposed features for the projects, including a radio tower structure at each site or audio-visual equipment in the classroom and large meeting rooms, and at the Groveland site a pedestrian bridge or crosswalk and an outdoor restroom building.

Funding for two Community Centers almost didnt happen. Frank noted, as difficult as it was to meet all of the California Department of Housing and Community Developments (HCD) requirements, after explaining how much both centers would mean to the communities of Groveland and Tuolumne the HCD reached into another grant fund to secure an additional $5 million for both centers to be built.

Tuolumne County was awarded a total of $24,511,125 in federal grant money after the 2013 Rim Fire. The Tuolumne County Supervisors approved an agreement to purchase two acres in Tuolumne for the Tuolumne CRC from the Tuolumne Band of Me Wuk Indians as reported here located along Bay Street and Cherry Loop Blvd. The Groveland CRC will be located along Ferretti Road just past Groveland Community Service District Office.
ROME - Turkish government sources told ANSA that during the Tuesday visit to Ankara by European Commissio President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, "the standard protocol was followed".



"The president of the European Commission was not treated differently, nor did the EU delegation request a different arrangement. In this situation, we would have expected that the two guests would have found an agreement among themselves," the sources said.



During the visit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had President von der Leyen sit on a sofa, which he and President Michel sat on two chairs with their respective flags at their backs.



Controversy erupted immediately, given von der Leyen's apparent surprise, which was captured on video.



Formally, among visiting dignitaries, European protocol gives precedence to the European Council president over the European Commission president.



Those who speak of "protocol machismo", however, aren't forgetting a precedent from 16 November 2015.



In a meeting at the same level, not in the pharaoh-like presidential palace of Ankara but rather in the lobby of a hotel in Antalya, on the sidelines of the G20 hosted by Turkey, both EU leaders at the time - Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk - were seated in two equally spaced chairs on Erdogan's right and left.
New Delhi, April 8 : Mohalla Tech, the parent company of leading short video app Moj and vernacular social media platform ShareChat, on Thursday said it has raised $502 million (about Rs 3,726 crore) in its Series E funding round, taking the valuation to a little over $2.1 billion.

The latest investment round was led by Lightspeed Ventures and Tiger Global, along with participation from Snap, Twitter and India Quotient and others.

Founded in 2015, Mohalla Tech has successfully raised over $766 million across six fundraising rounds, enabling ShareChat to substantially grow and differentiate itself by delivering a unique, tech-led social media experience.

Moj, which was launched in July last year, has made huge strides towards leadership in the short video space.

Moj and ShareChat together have a 280 million-strong user community, according to the company.

"With ShareChat and Moj, we are well-positioned to build the largest AI-powered content ecosystem in India," said Ankush Sachdeva, CEO and Co-founder, ShareChat.

The company said the new funds will be utilised for doubling down on tech initiatives, supporting user growth, and improving platform safety features.

"With this infusion of capital, we would continue to aggressively grow our user base, build a world-class org in India and US and further strengthen our creator community, AI-powered recommendation engine and platform health," Sachdeva added.

With over 120 million monthly active users, Moj has emerged as India's leading short video destination.

ShareChat is also a leading Indian social media platform, with over 160 million monthly active users, that allows users to share their opinions, record their lives and make new friends.

"Moj is well-positioned to seize the opportunity presented by the growth of short video in India," said Scott Shleifer, Partner at Tiger Global.

"ShareChat's rise to market leadership in India's social media category has been an accelerating journey involving category creation, world-class team building and product-led growth," added Dev Khare, Partner, Lightspeed India.
Border Patrol Apprehends 172,000 Illegal Immigrants in March

'This surge is unlike anything we've ever seen before,' says Border Patrol Council

McALLEN, TexasThe sheer number of illegal border-crossers that U.S. Border Patrol agents are apprehending on a daily basis is overwhelming in itself, but the type of population makes it something never seen before, according to Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council.

I would argue that its the biggest surge that weve ever seen in the history of the Border Patrol, Judd said during a roundtable with Republican members of Congress, Texas landowners, and law enforcement on April 7.

During the month of March, Border Patrol apprehended 172,000 illegal aliens, according to statistics released on April 8 by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). An additional 1,000 per day are evading capture. In February, border agents apprehended 101,000 people.

Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said the increase is not new.

Encounters have continued to increase since April 2020, and our past experiences have helped us be better prepared for the challenges we face this year, he said.

However, Judd said, this surge is unlike anything weve ever seen before.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Border Patrol apprehended up to 1.5 million illegal aliens per year.

Even though we were making 1.5 million arrests, we were actually dealing with about 400,000 to 500,000 individual peoplewe were just arresting the same people over and over again, Judd said. Most were single males from Mexico, who were easy to turn back across the border within a couple of hours.

Today  if we make 1.2 million arrests, were actually dealing with about 800,000 to 900,000 different people.

The addition of so many unaccompanied minors (18,600 in March) and family units (comprising almost 53,000 individuals in March) on top of single adults (96,600 in March) is overwhelming, Judd said.

Family units and unaccompanied minors require a huge amount of resources, including housing, food, transport, and health care while being processed and subsequently transferred or released.

Additionally, most of the family members and unaccompanied minors end up staying in the United States, regardless of whether they have a meritorious asylum claim.

You could cross the border illegally one day and be in Virginia the very next day, Judd said.

I personally have apprehended groups from China, from Bangladesh, from Russia, from Poland, from Brazil. And these criminal organizations are allowed to go into these countries, and theyre allowed to advertise their services and make billions of dollars off of human misery. And its based upon our policies.

Thats wrong. That is inhumane.

The Biden administration has drawn criticism for quickly undoing Trump-era policieswhich had sharply reduced the flow of illegal immigrationand creating the current crisis.

On March 24, President Joe Biden appointed Vice President Kamala Harris to head up the border crisis response. However, she has yet to visit the border, saying that her focus is instead on providing more assistance to Central American countries.

Judd said the only way to stem the flow is to detain people while their immigration case is being adjudicated, rather than incentivizing illegal immigration through catch-and-release.

He said the Trump administrations Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as the Remain in Mexico program, were working to that end.

I would set up courts immediately on the border to hold these people in custody pending the adjudication of their asylum claim. If we did that, we would address this issue and we would stop the fraudulent asylum claims almost immediately, Judd said.

Currently, only about 10 percent of Central Americans who claim asylum are granted relief after their case is heard. Many dont show up for their hearings or apply for asylum once they are released into the country.
Boko Haram attacks on the rise in Cameroon; dozens killed, thousands displaced since December

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A prominent human rights watchdog group is calling for action as Boko Haram attacks have escalated in northern Cameroon this year, leading to the death of at least 80 civilians and the displacement of thousands since December.

Human Rights Watch, an international human rights advocacy group, released a report Monday detailing the rise in violence and killing at the hands of Boko Haram terrorists in Cameroon, especially in the Far North region.

The violence has resulted in a major humanitarian crisis, as 322,000 people have been forced from their homes since 2014 and 12,500 have been forced from their homes since December 2020.

The advocacy group calls for the government to take concrete measures to protect communities subject to the increasing violence.

Boko Haram is waging a war on the people of Cameroon at a shocking human cost, HRW Senior Africa Researcher Ilaria Allegrozzi said in a statement. As Cameroons Far North region increasingly becomes the epicenter of Boko Harams violence, Cameroon should urgently adopt and carry out a new, rights-respecting strategy to protect civilians at risk in the Far North.

The Boko Haram insurgency began in Nigeria in 2009, spreading across the Lake Chad Basin to Cameroon and other countries.

Africa Center for Strategic Studies, a U.S. Department of Defense think tank funded by Congress, released a report in November showing a steep spike in terrorism violence in Cameroon and other nearby countries like Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

According to the November report, the quantity of Boko Haram attacks on civilians in Cameroon in the previous 12 months was higher than Boko Haram attacks on civilians in Nigeria, Niger and Chad combined.

Cameroon experienced the sharpest spike in violence from 2019 to 2020 and ranks just below Nigeria in the number of violent events.

Despite the recent surge in violence, Cameroons territorial administration minister claimed in February that Boko Haram is living in its last days and the situation of the Far North region is under control.

HRW urges the Cameroonian Parliament to hold a hearing to examine the governments approach to thwarting the rise in terror attacks in the Far North and provide recommendations on improving civilian protection.

With Boko Haram attacks on the rise in Cameroon, more needs to be done to effectively protect civilians, including by boosting the military presence and patrols across the Far North region and ensuring that the soldiers respect peoples rights, Allegrozzi said. Cameroons regional and international partners, including those supporting the multinational force, should bolster these efforts and ensure that their assistance does not contribute to human rights violations.

The report detailed allegations of assault committed by security forces against civilians accused of being part of Boko Haram.

The military has deployed thousands of soldiers to the region, but humanitarian workers say the military presence is too sparse to protect civilians from the terrorists. The army is overstretched and it is also confronting a civil war in English-speaking regions of the country.

The army also deals with the threat of cross-border raids by rebels in the Central African Republic.

Soldiers sometimes force or threaten unequipped civilians in the Far North region to perform night duty to guard against Boko Haram, HRW reported.

Rights groups, including HRW, have documented human rights violations and international humanitarian crimes committed by Cameroonian security forces in the Far North. These crimes include extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, incommunicado detention, systemic torture and the forced return of refugees, according to HRW.

Untrained community self-defense groups are often the first line of defense for vulnerable communities since the military is preoccupied with other concerns. This makes communities a soft target for Boko Haram, Africa Center reported.

One of the deadliest attacks occurred in Mozogo on Jan. 8 when Boko Haram terrorists killed at least 14 civilians, including eight children, and wounded three others.

In this January attack, a small girl was used by Boko Haram terrorists as a suicide bomber to blow herself up in a crowded park in northern Cameroon.

HRW spoke to a 43-year-old woman who lost her 17-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter in the suicide tack.

Boko Haram [fighters] fired shots and screamed Allahu Akbar [God is Great], she shared. We ran toward the forest. Minutes later, we heard a loud explosion. I found myself on the ground. When I stood up, I looked for my children. My girl was dead, while the boy was badly injured. They were both covered in blood with wounds all over their bodies. Residents helped me carry the boy to our home, where he died.

Not long after the Jan. 8 attack in Mozogo, additional military vehicles patrolled the town for a few days, but residents said the reinforcements eventually left. This led to many residents fleeing to nearby villages as they live in constant worry of their security.

We live in fear, a 50-year-old man said. We are tired of this situation; we have been economically and psychologically drained.

Cameroon ranks No. 42 on Open Doors USAs World Watch List of 50 countries where Christians experience the worst persecution.

Boko Haram extremism creates a hostile environment for Christians, even though believers make up most of the country.

Because the government is often focused elsewhere, its given an opening for Boko Haram to expand and continue attacks that target Christians, Open Doors stated in a fact sheet on Cameroon.

Cameroon is also included in U.N. Watchs 2020 list of top-10 human rights abusers worldwide for torturing journalist Samuel Abuwe to death and massacring school children in English-speaking schools as part of the Anglophone Crisis.
Two Texas Republicans are attending a Dallas conference organized by a prominent QAnon conspiracy theorist.

Rep. Louie Gohmert and Texas GOP chairman Allen West are set to speak at the conference. And while organizer John Sabal claims it's not a QAnon event, he goes by "QAnon John" online and the logo features a QAnon-affiliated slogan.

SORRY, AUSTIN: Houston is, in fact, the unofficial capital of Texas. And we don't care who disagrees.

Vice News' David Gilbert reports that the Memorial Day weekend conference For God & Country Patriots Roundup features a line-up of speakers including former national security adviser Michael Flynn and Trump's former lawyer Sidney Powell, who have both publicly promoted QAnon-linked conspiracy theories.

West, a former congressman from Florida, was accused of nodding to QAnon conspiracy theorists when he changed Texas GOP's slogan to, "We are the storm." West has denied the slogan links to QAnon.

Gohmert has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump and parroted his lies of a stolen election. Gohmert also opposed a resolution in the House condemning QAnon in 2020.

Sabal built a following under "QAnon John" before he was booted from Facebook and Twitter, the Dallas Observer's Jacob Vaughn reports. He and his wife, Amy, are now trying to rebrand under "The Patriot Voice," which is listed as the organizer for the conference. While Sabal has seemingly tried to distance the conference from QAnon, the logo shows an acronym that stands for Where we go one, we go all, a slogan widely used by QAnon followers.

IN TEXAS: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick lashes out at Harris County, media during presser defending voter security bill

The FBI has identified the QAnon movement as a domestic terrorism threat.

The event is taking place at Gilleys Dallas and Omni Dallas Hotel, which is owned by the city of Dallas. A petition calling for the event's cancellation has garnered nearly 1,500 signatures so far.
STOCKHOLM, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In the three months since it debuted, Bulletin.nu - a digital newspaper based in Stockholm - has gained 9,000 subscribers and a half-million monthly readers, and has become one of the most publicized media startups in Scandinavia.

Bulletin

Bulletin's goal was to provide Swedish news readers intelligent and impeccably accurate accounts of the news, with a clear separation between news and opinion. It was founded by Tino Sanandaji, a Kurdish-Swedish economist, with financial backing from Atta Tarki, an Iranian-Swedish refugee who now owns a recruitment firm in California. Co-founders also include journalist Paulina Neuding, a child of Jewish-Polish refugees, and businessman Pontus Tholin, and the paper collaborates with a number of prominent libertarians and conservative Swedish opinion writers.

While the project was met with enthusiasm by its readers, it was hampered by operational and organizational problems, leading to internal strife. Now, it is time to relaunch and professionalize the news operation and bring it up to the levels intended by the founders and desired by its readers, inspired by the top-tier quality press in the United States.

Bulletin's Swedish journalists will thus be joined by two distinguished American professionals who share its dedication to evenhanded, in-depth reporting. As Adolph S. Ochs, the founder of the modern New York Times, said more than 150 years ago, Bulletin's aim is "to give the news impartially, without fear or favor."

Bulletin's new Interim Editor-in-Chief is Andrew Rosenthal, whose 40 years in journalism have included stints as The New York Times Editorial Page Editor, International Editor and White House Correspondent, as well as Moscow Bureau Chief for The Associated Press. At the Times, Andy was part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2002. As the creator of Times' video opinion series Op-Docs, Andy shared in two Peabody Awards, two Emmy Awards, three Oscar nominations and numerous other prizes.

Another advisor joining Bulletin is academic and businessman Nicco Mele, the Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School from 2016-2019. Nicco Mele is an expert in digital publishing and has pioneered novel revenue models for journalism as well as for political fundraising. He has served as an executive at the Los Angeles Times and is the author of The End of Big: How The Digital Revolution Makes David The New Goliath, published in 2013 by St. Martin's Press.

In a comment, founder Tino Sanandaji says, "Bulletin strives to establish a Swedish version of The New York Times, inspired both by its stringent newsroom standards and innovative use of digital revenue to finance quality journalism. Our democracy relies on informed citizens who, in turn, need unbiased journalism about complex issues such as pandemics, rather than being at the mercy of mere opinion, or even outright disinformation and conspiracy theories."

Bulletin's Chairman of the Board Atta Tarki adds, "The need for quality journalism and market demand for news has never been higher, where Sweden alone has a community of hundreds of thousands strong who yearn for journalism at the level achieved by international newspapers such as The New York Times. We are proud and, frankly, humbled that a seminal American newsman of Andy's stature wants to help our little Swedish newspaper achieve its ambitious and perhaps romantic journalistic dream."

Emphasizing his commitment to helping other countries learn from the NYT's high-quality newsroom tradition, Andy said, "While I'm hardly an expert in Swedish affairs, I am dedicated to the cause of helping journalism to flourish again. Community-based journalism has all but disappeared in some countries, including mine, and is under threat across the world."

Nobel Investments, a family office based out of Los Angeles with a strong tie to Sweden, will be Bulletin's anchor investor for its next funding round. Nobel Investments will be working with other family offices, VCs, and investors to secure an additional ~3M USD to help Bulletin continue its successful newspaper launch.

Contact Information:

Atta Tarki ([email protected])

Bulletin - Chairman of the Board

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SOURCE Bulletin
Social distancing and lockdowns may have reduced the spread of COVID-19, but researchers from Penn State College of Medicine also report those actions may have affected clinical researchers' ability to finish trials. Study completion rates dropped worldwide between 13% and 23%, depending on the type of research sponsor and geographic location, between April and October 2020.

Researchers previously reported that more than 80% of clinical trials suspended between March 1 and April 26, 2020, noted the pandemic as their chief reason for halting activity. Patient enrollment in studies was lower in April 2020, compared to April 2019. Arthur Berg, associate professor of public health sciences, and Nour Hawila, a biostatistics doctoral candidate, investigated how these trends may have affected the completion of clinical trials.

The researchers examined more than 117,000 trials in the United States, Europe, Asia and other regions to study whether the pandemic affected clinical research. Their goal was to assess how the pandemic's mitigation efforts and financial setbacks may have contributed to decreased clinical trial enrollment and completion.

The pandemic has made it more difficult for researchers to recruit and follow up on patients in clinical trials. This analysis revealed that the impact was substantial -; particularly for trials funded by government, academic or medical entities." Nour Hawila, Research Assistant, Department of Public Health Sciences

Hawila and Berg analyzed data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a website that contains information on the status of thousands of clinical trials in the U.S. Pre-COVID-19 enrollment and completion data was pulled from March 2017 to February 2020. The post-COVID-19 period was defined as April through October 2020.

According to researchers, the pandemic reduced the number of new interventional clinical trial submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov by about 10%. Completed trials were down 13% to 23%, depending on the sector and location of the trial source. Clinical trials sponsored by pharmaceutical, biotechnology and therapeutic companies were more likely to complete enrollment.

However, some regions fared better than others during the pandemic. Egypt experienced an increase in both submitted (69%) and completed (73%) clinical trials. Berg explained that the rise is likely in response to the country's recent parliamentary bill governing medical research.

Berg and Hawila also noted that the pandemic caused a shift in research priorities -; 472 (11%) of trials submitted during the post-COVID period were pandemic-related. The results were published in the journal Clinical and Translational Science.

"Clinical research response to the pandemic has been robust," said Berg, a Penn State Cancer Institute researcher and biostatistics doctoral program director. "But the impact of the pandemic on other types of clinical trials will be felt for decades to come. However, as demonstrated in Egypt, timely governmental action may be able to make a difference in reversing the pandemic's impact on research."
Maputo  Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi announced on Wednesday that the government has begun discussions with its international partners to obtain the aid necessary to fight against terrorism in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.

The aid required would not compromise Mozambican sovereignty, he stressed. "It is necessary to respect what should be done by the country itself, and what should be done by its allies", Nyusi said.

Allies from abroad "will not come to replace us", he added. "They will come to support us".

"Our government has already told the international community what it needs to confront terrorism", he said.

Nyusi was speaking at Heroes' Square in Maputo, during the celebrations of Mozambican Women's Day. He confirmed that the Mozambican defence and security forces have recaptured the town of Palma, which had come under terrorist attack on 24 March.

The terrorist group goes under many names. It is known locally as Al Shabaab, but also uses the name Ansar al-Sunna. Since 2019, it has pledged allegiance to the self - styled "Islamic State", leading to its designation as "Islamic State Central African Province" (ISCAP) - even though Mozambique is not in Central Africa.

Islamic State boasted of the attack on Palma on its website, but the terrorists have now been driven out of the town, as witnessed by Mozambican and foreign journalists who have visited Palma three times since the Mozambican forces took control. On the latest occasion, journalists were able to drive from the Afungi peninsula, about 15 kilometres from the town, into Palma, without any mishap.

Nyusi warned against any triumphalism - despite retaking Palma "there is no reason to proclaim victory", he said. He called for firmness and unity among Mozambicans while actions continue to drive the terrorists out of the entire province.

Nyusi added that, as commander-in-chief, he has instructed the defence and security forces to continue their anti-terrorist drive, in order to restore order and security in Cabo Delgado, but without making any grand proclamations about their activities.

"We didn't choose the war in Cabo Delgado - it was imposed on us", he said. The terrorist actions "are intended to intimidate us. They want to be the masters of our fear. Rather than just occupying geographical space, the terrorists want to occupy our souls, robbing us of hope, and sowing discord".

"We are facing an uncompromising war", he warned, "but in this battle we reaffirm our certainty that, if we are united, we are able to win. United, we shall defeat terrorism, We Mozambicans, with the support of our friends, shall overcome this threat. That's why we are modernizing our defence and security forces, providing them with adequate logistics. We are endowing our army with professionalism and specialist equipment".

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"We have no choice but to work to restore public order and tranquillity in the affected districts", Nyusi added.

He announced that the government has created a ministerial task force, which will immediately deal with the problem of perhaps as many as 30,000 people displaced from their homes by the terrorist attack in Palma.

A meeting would be held on Thursday of the Defence and Security "troika" of SADC (Southern African Development Community), and Nyusi has also called a meeting of Mozambique's own National Defence and Security Council.

"We shall put together our experiences to form a united front to prevent and combat terrorism", he declared.
Devastating floods and landslides triggered by cyclone Seroja, which struck a cluster of islands in south-east Indonesia and in Timor-Leste on Easter Sunday, have killed at least 120 people. Caritas and other agencies have swung into action to reach the survivors.

By Robin Gomes

Caritas Indonesia has joined the government, the United Nations and other agencies in reaching out to the affected people following the disaster caused by a cyclone in the southeast of the nation on Easter Sunday.

Floods and landslides

Rescuers were searching for dozens of people still missing on Tuesday after floods and landslides swept away villages in eastern Indonesia and the neighbouring Catholic-majority nation of Timor-Leste or East Timor. At least 120 have been reported dead in the two countries with thousands displaced.

Two days of torrential rains from tropical cyclone Seroja destroyed houses, public facilities, communications, roads and bridges, and turned villages and small communities into wastelands of mud, sending sent about 10,000 people fleeing to shelters across the two neighbouring Southeast Asian nations.

Indonesia's disaster management agency, BNPB, had earlier reported 128 dead and 72 missing. However, on Tuesday, it revised down the death toll to 86 and raised the number of missing to 98. The agency blamed the discrepancy on miscommunication with local agencies.

Rescue operations

BNPB said that with good weather, the military and volunteers arrived on the affected islands on Tuesday and were setting public kitchens, while medical workers were brought in.

The East Flores Disaster Mitigation Agency had reported 61 dead and 30 missing on Monday. At least 61 people lost their lives and more than 30 were reported missing on Indonesias Adonara island in East Flores district.

Father Thomas Labina from Larantuka Diocese in East Flores said hundreds of houses were buried in mudslides that hit three subdistricts. On nearby Lembata island, at least 85 people died and 11 were missing after cold lava flows from the Ile Lewotolok volcano eruption hit four subdistricts, the priest said.

In Adonara, electricity and transport links were cut in many areas, leaving the diocese unable to communicate with priests or laypeople and hampering efforts to distribute aid. We are trying to distribute aid to Adonara but continuing bad weather is making efforts extremely difficult, Father Labina told UCA News.

Caritas

Caritas Indonesia, Karina, the countrys Catholic charity network, said it was working with several local offices in Atambua Diocese in Timor, Larantuka Diocese in Flores, Weetabula Diocese in Sumba and Kupang Archdiocese in Timor to distribute aid to victims. Father Fredy Rante Taruk, Caritas Indonesias executive director, said Kupang Archdiocese was sheltering more than 500 displaced people at St. Simon Petrus Church in Kupang. We are coordinating with the archdiocese and other dioceses impacted by the disaster. Aid will be distributed as quickly as possible, he told UCA News.

Christian Churches

The Communion of Churches, Indonesias national ecumenical body in Indonesia, a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC), has called on all its members to help the victims. The PGI is encouraging all churches in Indonesia to support the emergency response and work with churches in East Nusa Tenggara province to help the victims, vulnerable groups and refugees, Philip Situmorang, the groups spokesman said in a statement.

Timor-Leste

In neighbouring East Timor, where at least 34 people are feared dead, United Nations agencies are supporting response efforts. About 76 per cent of the affected people are in Dili, large parts of which are under water. Severe damage has also been reported to critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges and medical centres, while communication networks and electricity are said to be disrupted in some of the worst affected areas.

Roy Trivedy, UN Resident Coordinator in Timor-Leste said that UN agencies and partners are supporting the national response, adding that as an emergency response measure, they are extending full support to the people and the government of Timor-Leste in this hour of need. We are deeply concerned about the communities, especially women and children, who are often most affected by natural disasters. We will work with the authorities to mobilize all possible resources to support the response, Trivedy added.

There are concerns that the disaster could hit Covid-19 prevention and response efforts, as the national medical storage facility was heavily flooded and many medical supplies damaged or washed away.
Pharmacist Barbara Violo shows off a vial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after providing doses to customers at the Junction Chemist which is a independent pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on March 12, 2021. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccines Rare Blood Clot Risk Sparks Concern in Australian Health Authorities

Australian health authorities are holding urgent talks on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after the European medical bodies issued warnings over the vaccines link to blood clots.

On Wednesday, the European Medicines Authority (EMA) said blood-clotting should be listed as a very rare side effect of taking the jab, while also noting that women and people under 60 were at higher risks of developing the symptoms. The statement came after the drug regulator received reports of 169 cases of a rare blood clot in people who got AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine.

This is compared to 4.8 cases of rare blood clots per million doses administered, said Emer Cooke, the director of the European Medicines Agency. Cooke confirmed her confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying that it is saving lives.

Harry Hoffmann (L), a Volkswagen company doctor, and nurse Nicolle Sprotte (R), vaccinate Steffen Martin, an employee at the Volkswagen Saxony plant, with the AstraZeneca vaccination in Zwickau, Germany, on March 30, 2021. (Hendrik Schmidt/dpa via AP)

In the wake of the EMA announcement, the UK announced they would stop providing the AstraZeneca vaccine to people under 30 and recommended individuals in the age group to get a different jab. Denmark and Norway have also postponed the vaccine rollout until mid-April. Meanwhile, Germany paused the use of the vaccine entirely in March before imposing the latest restriction on people under 60 at the end of the month.

In Australia, where most people are set to receive the AstraZeneca jab, health authorities will discuss the European recommendations on Thursday.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is effective and very safe for most people. There is this extremely rare event which appears to be associated with that particular vaccine in some peoplefour per million, said Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly.

The benefit is that the vaccines are very effective at preventing COVID illness and can be severe and lead to deaths, particularly in older people, he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the EMA announcement is unlikely to affect the national vaccine rollout as the early phases were focused on older Australians. He added that women who take contraceptive pills and common Paracetamol tables face a higher risk of blood clotting.

We have got the best people in the world looking at these issues to give us the medical expert advice, Morrison said.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA  FEBRUARY 05: Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) arrives with Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly (left) during a press conference in the Prime Ministers Courtyard on February 05, 2021 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Morrison suggested it was too early to say whether Australia would offer a different drug to people aged under 30 or add warning labels to the AstraZeneca vaccine like some European countries.

The national cabinet is set to look at the issue at the next meeting on Friday while state and federal health ministers will proceed to discuss the findings.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese slammed the prime minister, saying the issues surrounding AstraZeneca highlighted the danger in Australia failing to lock vaccine deals with other suppliers.

The federal government should have secured more deals. There is no deal for Moderna. There is no deal for Johnson and Johnson, he told reporters.

Meanwhile, the Nationals senator for Queensland Matt Canavan and independent MP Craig Kelly have both declared they would support halting the AstraZeneca jabs use.

Kelly, who was formerly a member of the Liberal party, quit the Liberals in February this year after encountering a strong backlash from segments of the media and political opponents for sharing information about the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine.

On Wednesday the government said they had received 1.3 million locally produced doses, with an estimated 920,334 vaccinations having been administered, The Australian reported.

Were expecting later this week over 470,000 (doses), early next week approximately 480,000, and then late next week or early the following week 670,000, said Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt on Wednesday.

If that third batch were to arrive late next week, that would mean wed passed the million mark for that week. If it were to pass over into the following week, then wed pass it in that following week.
Health officials in Alberta, Canada, made the decision to physically close a local church building until its leaders agree to finally comply with coronavirus regulations.

Police vehicles blocked entrances to the parking lot of GraceLife Church in Edmonton Wednesday morning and temporary fencing was erected around the building. The congregation has met normally since summer 2020, despite requirements that church gatherings limit capacity, require masks, and practice social distancing.

Over the last nine months, the provinces health department fielded more than 100 complaints about GraceLife and conducted 18 inspections, resulting in multiple fines and orders to comply. Its pastor was arrested and spent a month in jail refusing the conditions of bail, that he agree to follow health regulations.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which represents GraceLife and its pastor James Coates, said the move to barricade private church property prevents citizens from exercising their Charter freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, and worship.

As officials surrounded the church, dozens of GraceLife members gathered outside and sang hymns, according to a report by the Globe and Mail.

Please pray for wisdom as our elders navigate this new development! one member tweeted, posting a screenshot of the view of the new fencing from the churchs security camera.

Premier Jason Kenney told Albertans a week ago that the province is in its third wave of COVID-19 outbreaks. He suggested that more stringent enforcement by police may be necessary at this point, saying authorities have been very patient during a difficult time trying to get compliance through education, through voluntary compliance, and using sanctions as a last resort.

The GraceLife case has drawn the attention of those in both Canada and the US who fear government overreach during pandemic. Alberta legislator Dan Williams, a conservative politician and a Christian, spoke up to defend worship as a fundamental freedom. He said while he respects the 15 percent capacity limit for gatherings, it is a different line to cross to barricade a church, a place of God.

GraceLife leaders consider the COVID-19 risks overblown and claim that their ability to continue gathering without spreading the virus is proof.

We believe love for our neighbor demands that we exercise our civil liberties, the church wrote. We do not see our actions as perpetuating the longevity of COVID-19 or any other virus that will inevitably come along. If anything, we see our actions as contributing to its endthe end of destructive lockdowns and the end of the attempt to institutionalize the debilitating fear of viral infections.

Pastor Coates is due in court next month for violating gathering limits at GraceLife.
Mrs Sril Lanka 2021: Mrs Sri Lanka beauty pageant is grabbing the limelight for all wrong reasons after the crown was snatched from Mrs Sri Lanka winner Pushpika De Silva on Sunday. The beauty pageant witnessed a high voltage drama on the stage when the 2019 winner Caroline Jurie seized the from from Silva. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

In the clip, Caroline crowned Silva after she won the Mrs Sri Lanka 2020 title. After some time, Caroline Jurie announced that Silva is not eligible for the honour on account of being a divorce. She asserted that There is a rule that you have to be married and not divorced. So, I am taking my first step saying that the crown goes to the first runner-up. The video that has surfaced on the Internet showed Caroline Jurie pulled up the crown and later placed it on the head of the first runner-up. Soon after, Silva left the stage in tears without saying anything. The entire incident was also telecast on television. Watch the whole incident:

After the incident, the pageant organizers have apologized to Mrs De Silva as she is separated not divorced.

Taking the incident to Facebook, Silva posted that she had sustained injuries to her skull during the brawl.

Also Read: Woman gets whopping amount just by selling pictures of her feet; know the bizarre reason

"As I write this, I responsibly say that I am not a divorced woman. If I am divorced, I challenge them to submit my divorce papers," she wrote in a statement translated from Sinhala.

She also said that she has taken necessary legal action to correct the injustice and insult.

While talking about Mrs Juries actions, she further wrote that A real queen is not a woman who snatches another woman's crown, but a woman who secretly sets the other woman's crown.

The national director of Mrs Sri Lanka World, Chandimal Jayasinghe told the BBC that the crown would be returned to Mrs De Silva. He also said that it was a disgrace how Caroline behaved with Silva on the stage.

An investigation was launched to investigate the matter.

Also Read: Woman changes dress in blink of an eye during dance performance; netizens ask How?
A widespread Facebook breach compromised the personal information of more than 533 million Facebook users from across 106 countries on Saturday.

Over the weekend, a user in a hacking forum published full names, Facebook IDs, phone numbers, birthdays and small addresses. A Facebook spokesperson told Insider that the information had actually been retrieved years prior, in 2019, when the social media platform noticed a flaw that led to the data leak. Facebook subsequently patched the issue that year  but not before millions of phone numbers were scraped from its servers. As a result, the delayed publication of personal data on Saturday has left millions of users vulnerable to potential threats and attacks from cybercriminals.
They announced their relationship to the world in 2020.

And Maura Higgins was ready to turn up the heat with her boyfriend Chris Taylor on Wednesday as she sent him a text, inviting him to join her in the bath tub.

However her Love Island pal turned beau, 30, was left 'disappointed,' as he documented the reality to Instagram.

Ready and waiting: Maura Higgins sent her boyfriend Chris Taylor a text on Wednesday, inviting him to join her in the bath tub, however he was left 'disappointed' as he documented the reality to Instagram

Steamy: Maura, 30, sent Chris, 30 a saucy text stating: 'Your girlfriend is looking very sexy in the bath if you wanna join her' with a suggestive dripping water and heart emoji

Maura, 30, sent Chris a saucy text saying: 'Your girlfriend is looking very sexy in the bath if you wanna join her' with a suggestive dripping water and heart emoji.

But as the reality TV hunk eagerly dashed to the bathroom in hopes of finding the seductive senorita reclined in the water, he discovered the outcome was not as he expected.

Instead, Maura sported a clear hair cap and towel head band with her stunning visage hidden beneath a wrinkled face mask.

She wrapped her arms around her legs and huddled forward to protect her modesty.

Surprise! But as the reality TV hunk eagerly dashed to the bathroom in hopes of finding the seductive senorita reclined in the water, he discovered the outcome was not as he expected (pictured earlier this year)

The lingerie model also sported exfoliation gloves as she gave a nonchalant expression in the photo captured by Chris.

In March, Maura said she felt 'naked' as she made a statement by going make-up free on Loose Women and admitted her beau has to take her phone so she can't read comments from trolls.

On being out of her comfort zone during the TV appearance, the reality star said: 'I feel very naked right now. For me it's not ideal to go on live TV with no makeup. I feel more confident with makeup like any other girl.

'[But this], I'm thinking of the younger generation. They look at picture perfect stuff on social media. But we have glam teams and filters.'

The Ann Summers ambassador went on to highlight the importance of teaching her future children about self-acceptance amid the ease of access to filters and surgery.

Maura explained: 'We should also show the natural side, we all have blemishes and get the odd spot now and again.

'I hope to have a family and I fear for my kids seeing things like that on social media. You can change the shape of your nose and your face, how big your hair is. You can change everything.

'I've always been quite confident, it comes from from my mammy. She brought us up saying be yourself. And you should only care about the people in your life, not trolls.'

Despite being brought up in a strong household, the media personality admitted she still struggles to avoid looking at negative comments from online bullies.

Honest: In March, Maura said she felt 'naked' as she made a statement by going make-up free on Loose Women and admitted her beau has to take her phone so she can't read comments from trolls

The TV star shared: 'I think we can't help but read the negative comments. I don't respond, I actually laugh.

'But I sometimes scroll through and Chris is like, "why are you reading the comments." Like someone said I looked like Michael Jackson. But yeah, we can't help ourselves.'

After months of close friendship and intense speculation, the couple announced their romance on social media in November.

The erstwhile Love Island stars took to Instagram to post identical loved-up snaps, taken by the pool in Dubai, with Maura writing: ''He's mine!' and Chris Taylor captioning his post: 'Turns out I fell in love with my best mate!'
A clinical trial is underway to determine whether people who are highly allergic or have a mast cell disorder are at increased risk for an immediate, systemic allergic reaction to the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines. A systemic allergic reaction to a vaccine occurs in one or more parts of the body beyond the injection site. If such an allergic reaction occurs in study participants, investigators will assess whether the reactions are more frequent in participants who are highly allergic or have a mast cell disorder than in participants with no allergic history. In addition, investigators will examine the biological mechanism behind the reactions and whether a genetic pattern or other factors can predict who is at most risk.

A mast cell disorder is a disease caused by a type of white blood cell called a mast cell that is abnormal, overly active, or both, predisposing a person to life-threatening reactions that look like allergic reactions.

The public understandably has been concerned about reports of rare, severe allergic reactions to the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines. The information gathered during this trial will help doctors advise people who are highly allergic or have a mast cell disorder about the risks and benefits of receiving these two vaccines. However, for most people, the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination far outweigh the risks." Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health

The Phase 2 trial, called Systemic Allergic Reactions to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination, is sponsored and funded by NIAID. The vaccines are being provided by the program led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Defense to develop COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. The vaccines are manufactured by Moderna, Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts and Pfizer, Inc. of New York.

The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are the first two COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use and already have been given to millions of Americans. Most of the rare, severe allergic reactions to these vaccines have occurred in people with a history of allergies. A substantial number of these people had previously experienced a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

The study team will enroll 3,400 adults ages 18 to 69 years at up to 35 academic allergy-research centers nationwide. About 60% of study participants, group 1, must have either a history of severe allergic reactions or a diagnosis of a mast cell disorder, while 40% of participants, group 2, will not. The specific types of allergic reactions in group 1 participants are related to food, insect stings or allergen immunotherapy and require treatment with a drug called epinephrine; or are immediate allergic reactions to a vaccine or to one or more drugs. These reactions will have occurred within the past 5 years. Group 2 will consist of people with no history of any allergic reactions or allergic disease and no history of a mast cell disorder. Approximately two-thirds of participants in each group will be female, because severe allergic reactions to vaccines in general?and to the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines in particular?have occurred mainly in women.

Participants in each group will be assigned at random to receive either the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (one third of the group); the Moderna vaccine (one third); a placebo followed by the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (one sixth); or a placebo followed by the Moderna vaccine (one sixth). Initially, neither the participants nor the study team will know who is receiving a vaccine or placebo, or which vaccine is being administered. All participants ultimately will receive a full two-dose course of either the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or the Moderna vaccine.

The site investigators are allergists trained to recognize and treat anaphylaxis. Emergency medications, oxygen and medical equipment will be on hand to treat allergic reactions as needed. Participants will be observed for at least 90 minutes after each injection in case any type of reaction occurs.

Three days after their first injection, participants will receive a follow-up call from the study team to schedule their next injection in 21 or 28 days. Three days after the second injection, participants who did not receive a placebo will be told during a follow-up call that they received a vaccine and which one, while participants who initially received a placebo will be scheduled for their second dose of vaccine. Study staff will assess participants' health during follow-up calls. All participants will receive their final follow-up call seven days after their last dose.

Investigators will assess the proportion of study participants in each group who have a systemic allergic reaction within 90 minutes after injection with either dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or either dose of the Moderna vaccine. Results are expected in late summer 2021.

Study staff will collect blood, urine and nasal swabs from participants before each injection, and blood and urine after each injection. If a significant number of systemic allergic reactions to either or both vaccines occur during the trial, investigators will analyze these biological samples to examine possible mechanisms for the reactions and whether certain genetic patterns are associated with higher risk.

Investigators will closely monitor participants' safety throughout the trial. In addition, an independent data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) will review blinded and unblinded study data at scheduled review meetings to further ensure the safety of study participants.

The Systemic Allergic Reactions to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination trial is co-chaired by N. Franklin Adkinson, Jr., M.D.; James R. Baker, Jr., M.D.; and Rebecca S. Gruchalla, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Adkinson is a professor of medicine and director of the graduate training program in clinical investigation at the Johns Hopkins Asthma & Allergy Center in Baltimore. Dr. Baker is director of the Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center and is the Ruth Dow Doan Professor of Biologic Nanotechnology at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor. Dr. Gruchalla is a professor of internal medicine and pediatrics and chief of the divisions of allergy and immunology in the departments of internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

For more information about the trial, including a list of sites that are enrolling participants, please go to ClinicalTrials.gov and search under study identifier NCT04761822.

Adults interested in participating in this trial should visit ClinicalTrials.gov and search under identifier NCT04761822 for study locations and contacts. Please do not use the NIAID media phone number or email address to try to enroll in this trial.
The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana.
The fires, which authories suspect were started deliberately early this week, have reached several towns near the foothills of the Andes mountains, and have sonumed about 1,500 hectares of forest

One person has died and 11 are reported missing as forest fires have blazed through Argentina's Patagonia region for days, officials reported Friday.

Dozens of people have been evacuated from the path of the advancing flames, and some 200 houses have been destroyed.

The fires, which authorities suspect were started deliberately early this week, have reached several towns near the foothills of the Andes mountains, and have consumed about 1,500 hectares of forest, local authorities said.

The charred body of a rural dweller, reported missing since Tuesday, was found near the town of El Maiten, they added.

"The fire reached more than 200 homes and there are still 11 people whose whereabouts we do not know," Environment Minister Juan Cabandie told reporters.

Overnight rains brought some reprieve. But several fires, though contained, are still burning, he added.

Dozens of fire fighters, aided by fire trucks and helicopters are battling the remaining fires in the provinces of Chubut, Rio Negro and Neuquen.

"There are people left without a home, with nothing. A lot of people are in need," Marcelo Cardenas, who said he lost his house and a workshop, told AFP.

"I lost my house, my dogs, and 60 chickens," added Rosalinda Muena, 70, who makes a living selling jam and eggs to tourists in the affected region.

Cabandie said the fires started simultaneously in seven different places, leading investigators to suspect arson.

Last year, blazes devoured tens of thousands of hectares of forest in Argentina. These, too, were blamed on humans clearing land for farming or real estate, according to the environment ministry.

mc-dm/mlr/dw
Top companies covered in the unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) market report are ASELSAN A.S., Autonomous Solutions Inc., BAE Systems, Clearpath Robotics Inc., Cobham Limited, FLIR Systems, Inc., General Dynamics Corporation, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, QinetiQ, Oshkosh Defense, LLC An Oshkosh, Corporation Company, Rheinmetall AG, Roboteam and more players profiled

Pune, India, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) market size is projected to reach USD 7,452.2 million by the end of 2026. Applications in defense sector have caught the eye of several investors from across the world. According to a report published by Fortune Business Insights, titled Unmanned Ground Vehicles Market Size, Share and Global Trend by Mobility (Wheeled, Tracked, Hybrid, and Legged) By Size (Small, Medium, Large, Very Large, and Extremely Large) By Mode of Operation (Tethered, Tele-operated, and Autonomous), By System (Payload, Controller System, Navigation System, Power System, and Others) By Application (Military, Commercial, Law Enforcement, and Federal Law Enforcement), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026, the market was worth USD 2,570.2 million and will exhibit a CAGR of 14.95% during the forecast period, 2019-2026.

Report Coverage-

We employ iterative and comprehensive research techniques focusing on minimizing deviance. We use a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches for estimating and segmenting quantitative aspects of the parents market. At the same time, data triangulation is used to look at the market from three perspectives. Simulation models were used to gather data about the market forecasts and estimates.





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List of Companies Profiled in Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) Market Report are;

ASELSAN A.S.

Autonomous Solutions Inc.

BAE Systems

Clearpath Robotics Inc.

Cobham Limited

FLIR Systems, Inc.

General Dynamics Corporation

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

Northrop Grumman Corporation

QinetiQ

Oshkosh Defense, LLC An Oshkosh Corporation Company

Rheinmetall AG

Roboteam





Story continues

Industry Developments:

March 2019: QinetiQ announces that it has signed a contract with the United States Army for the development of a new small UGV. The contract is said to be worth USD 152 million.





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Unmanned ground vehicles are automobiles that do not require a human presence inside the vehicle. These vehicles are incorporated with modern technologies that are integrat6ed with sensors and similar peripherals. Applications of UGVs in diverse industry verticals including agriculture, transport, and military & defense. Technological advancements have been pivotal to the growth of the market. Accounting to this, several companies are looking to invest huge sums towards developing technologically sound UGVs. The demand for these products is rising constantly, owing to the exceptional properties that they possess. The presence of several large scale companies across the world has opened up massive potential for the growth of the market in the foreseeable future.





FLIR Systems Received a $152 Million Contract from the US Army Manufacturing of 350 UGVs

The report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years. Owing to the increasing applications of UGVs in diverse industry verticals, governments of several countries across the world are looking to approach UGV manufacturers with custom requirements. In March 2019, FLIR Systems announced that it has bagged a contract from the US Army. The contract was worth USD 152 million and is aimed at the development of 350 unmanned grounded vehicles. FLIRs latest collaboration with the US Army will not just benefit the company but will have a direct impact on the growth of the market in the coming years.





North America to Emerge Dominant; Presence of Several Large Scale Companies to Aid Growth

The report analyzes the ongoing unmanned grounded vehicles market trends across North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Europe. Among these regions, the market in North America is likely to account for the highest UGV market share in the coming years. The presence of several large scale companies in several countries across this region will aid the growth of the market. As of 2018, the market in North America was worth USD 899.5 million and this value is likely to increase further in the coming years. The market in Asia Pacific will also witness a considerable growth rate in the coming years, accounting to the growing applications of the product in the defense sector.





Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/unmanned-ground-vehicles-market-102525





Detailed Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Key Industry Developments Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships Latest technological Advancements Porters Five Forces Analysis Supply Chain Analysis

Global Unmanned Ground Vehicles Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Mobility Wheeled Tracked Hybrid Legged Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Size Small Medium Large Very Large Extremely Large Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Mode of Operation Tethered Tele-Operated Autonomous Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By System Payload Controller System Navigation System Power System Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application Military Commercial Law Enforcement Federal Law Enforcement Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia pacific The Middle East Rest of the World



TOC Continued!





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Have a Look at Related Research Insights:

Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis, By Type (Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), and Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)), By Application (Commercial Exploration, Scientific Research, Defense), By Product Type (Small Vehicle, High-Capacity Electric Vehicle, Work-Class Vehicle), By Propulsion System (Electric System), By Payload (Camera, Sensors, Inertial Navigation System), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Class (Small UAVs, Tactical UAVs, and Strategic UAVs), By Technology (Remotely Operated, Semi-autonomous, and Fully-autonomous), By System (UAV Airframe, UAV Payloads, UAV Avionics, UAV Propulsion, and UAV Software), By Application (Military, Commercial and Recreational), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027





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Good morning,

Please find below the press release issued today.

Best regards,

Florence Lievre

Global PR Manager | Group Marketing & Communications

Capgemini Group | Paris

Tel.: +33 1 47 54 50 71

Email : florence.lievre@capgemini.com

_____________________

Press contact:

Sam Connatty

Tel: +44

Capgemini brings together its engineering and R&D expertise with the launch of new brand: 'Capgemini Engineering'

Combined under one brand is a unique set of strengths from across the Group: the world leading engineering and R&D services of Altran and Capgemini's digital manufacturing expertise

Paris, April 08, Capgemini unveiled today 'Capgemini Engineering', which consolidates a unique set of market leading capabilities in engineering and R&D. Along with the Group's deep industry expertise and cutting-edge technologies in digital and software, it will support organizations as the digital and physical worlds converge. The global business line1, with its 52,000 engineers and scientists and a presence in all major engineering hubs across the world, builds on the integration of Altran, one year on from its acquisition by Capgemini.

"Today's leading organizations understand that Engineering and R&D is fast-moving and ever evolving.As a result an end-to-end partnership with clients is needed for developing, launching, managing and modernizing breakthrough products," comments Aiman Ezzat, CEO of the Capgemini Group. "The launch of Capgemini Engineering builds on the integration of Altran's capabilities into the Group, a year on from its acquisition. It perfectly complements the Group's already well-established portfolio of business offerings and supports our leadership position in intelligent industry."

Capgemini Engineering helps the largest innovators in the world engineer the products and services of tomorrow, and cope with disruption by embedding into products digital and software technologies.

William Roze, CEO of Capgemini Engineering and member of the Group Executive Committee said: "R&D is the new battlefield. It must be connected and data-driven to optimize innovation and accelerate development. Capgemini Engineering's services have been devised to address exactly that need, to harness the power of data to foster innovation, create new customer experiences and deliver new sources of value."

The capabilities combined under the Capgemini Engineering brand are already recognized as market leading. In January 2021 Zinnov, a leading global management and strategy consulting firm, ranked Capgemini at the top of its 'Leadership zone' for its global Engineering, Research and Development, highlighting that the combined entity has the largest global delivery network with a presence across all major engineering hubs. Numerous clients are also benefiting from Capgemini Engineering's ability to implement technology at scale, its deep product engineering skills and extensive industry expertise. One such organization is Hyperloop TT, an innovative transportation and technology company developing a disruptive high-speed transportation system based on electromagnetic propulsion.

"We work with Capgemini Engineering to develop the first transportation breakthrough in a century and we value their top-tier engineering expertise in aerospace, aeronautics, and systems engineering. They provide us with a broad range of high-end services in mechanical and physical engineering, systems architecture, software development, as well as project management" said HyperloopTT CEO, Andres De Leon.

The global business line's services cover three key domains: product and systems engineering; digital and software engineering; and industrial operations.

For more information on Capgemini Engineering, visit here .

About Capgemini

Capgemini is a global leader in partnering with companies to transform and manage their business by harnessing the power of technology. The Group is guided everyday by its purpose of unleashing human energy through technology for an inclusive and sustainable future. It is a responsible and diverse organization of 270,000 team members in nearly 50 countries. With its strong 50 year heritage and deep industry expertise, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to address the entire breadth of their business needs, from strategy and design to operations, fueled by the fast evolving and innovative world of cloud, data, AI, connectivity, software, digital engineering and platforms. The Group reported in 2020 global revenues of 16 billion.

Get the Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

1 This Global Business Line has been in place since January 1, 2021. Capgemini's Global Business Lines (GBLs) manage key offerings; taking care of pre-sales, solutioning, client focused delivery, and developing talents and expertise in key domains for the Group including high-growth and emerging markets.

Attachment
The visit of a Pakistani parliamentary delegation to Afghanistan has been scrapped just as the plane carrying the officials was about to land in Kabul.

Speaker's visit to Kabul postponed as airport was closed due to security threat. The plane was about to descend when the control tower informed of the closure of airport. New dates for the visit will be decided after mutual consultations, Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistans special envoy to Afghanistan, said in a tweet on April 8.

The five-member parliamentary delegation, led by parliamentary secretary Asad Qaisar, was looking to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries during the three-day visit, as well as support of progress in the war-torn countrys peace process.

Former senator and leftist politician Farhatullah Babar questioned the timing of the trip's mysterious cancellation.

"Security threat arose just when landing. Was visit not cleared beforehand? Visit postponed indefinitely, new date given. No regrets by hosts. Decision conveyed by tower operator. Normal protocol of high level rep of host speaking to guest from tower ignored. Theres more to it," Babar said in a tweet.
This brings the total open pit and underground global mining reserve at the Theta Gold Project in South Africa to 580,000 ounces.

There has been a 63% conversion factor for the maiden underground mining reserve.

( ) (OTCMKTS:TGMGF) traded higher after delivering a maiden underground mining reserve for the high-grade TGME Underground Project in South Africa - 490,000 ounces of gold at 5.49 g/t gold.

The underground mining reserve is the result of a pre-feasibility study for the companys Beta, Frankfort and CDM mines, all in the Central Northern region of South Africa.

As a result, the Theta Project now has a global mining reserve of 580,000 ounces of gold at 3.98 g/t from a total mineral resource of more than 45.5 million tonnes at 4.17 g/t for in excess of 6 million ounces.

Converting to a mining reserve

Theta chairman Bill Guy said the result from the mines, referred to as the TGME Underground Project, showed that a significant portion of the underground 4.5-million-ounce resource can be converted into a mining reserve.

The historical mining techniques of the mineral field in which we operate meant we have traditionally carried a large percentage of our mineral resources in inferred categories, he said.

Now we are showing clearly that modern mining and production methods will allow us to develop this extensive shallow underground reef system.

Investors were excited too, with TGM shares as much as 14% higher to 29 cents, a three-week high, while the companys market cap is approximately $127.7 million.

The details

An impressive 63% of the indicated resource was converted for the maiden underground mining reserve, and 3.5 million ounces of the inferred underground resource remains for future conversion.

The 6-million-ounce Theta global mineral resource includes:

Underground - 4.5 million ounces (26.3 million tonnes at 5.4 g/t in measured, indicated, and inferred categories with 4.87 million tonnes at 6.20 g/t for 969,400 ounces in the measured & indicated categories)

Open pit - 1.3 million ounces (13.02 million tonnes at 3.25 g/t in the indicated and inferred categories.) Of this, there is 9.6 million tonnes at 2.99 g/t (indicated & inferred; 0-130 metres depth) for 917,000 ounces at Theta Project. This includes a probable ore reserve of 2.16 million tonnes 2.31 g/t at a 0.4 g/t cut-off for 161,000 ounces.

Tailings & Rock dumps  174,000 ounces in the indicated & inferred categories.

TGME Underground Project is close to the central processing plant and the Starter Theta Open-pit Project, with the mineral resource inventory sitting adjacent to the TGME Gold Plant Footprint.

The PFS has confirmed the project can be economically mined by modern mechanised long-hole stoping, allowing for on-reef development which reduces development costs, with little development in waste rock.

Steady news flow

Guy said investors could look forward to a steady stream of news flow for the project.

We have shown in a very short period that we can deliver an initial ore reserve, with high grades achieved, and as we go forward with the underground mine development, the Life of Mine (LOM) can be extended as more inferred resources are converted into mine reserve as part of the underground development work, he said.

Later this year, a Rietfontein scoping study will be upgraded to PFS, allowing for another round of mining reserve upgrade, and we are very excited about the potential to follow-up these results with future reserve conversions.

As shareholders are also aware, we are working continuously on securing the permit to commence open pit mining.

The open-pit process is taking longer than first anticipated due to a backlog of applications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which the relevant South African departments are diligently working their way through and any delays in open pit permitting will not affect our ongoing works program.

Theta Gold is pleased to be breathing life into this large goldfield, delivering reserves and showing a path to production.

Next steps

It is exciting for the team and the shareholders as we develop the initial projects and look out to the future to other 39 historical mine sites that require exploration and development work, Guy said.

Following this success of the maiden underground mining reserve, the team is refining the Development Strategy for our 5-Year Plan.

- Daniel Paproth
Africa is on the "sidelines" of the worldwide vaccination drive against Covid-19, with only two percent of the global total to have received jabs, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday, citing supply, funding and personnel shortfalls

Abidjan, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2021 ) :Africa is on the "sidelines" of the worldwide vaccination drive against Covid-19, with only two percent of the global total to have received jabs, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday, citing supply, funding and personnel shortfalls.

WHO's director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, blamed the slow pace of vaccinations in Africa on "inadequate supplies, lack of financing and lack of qualified personnel" as well as logistical problems.

Speaking to an online press briefing, she noted in particular that exports of vaccines from India under the Covax global vaccine-sharing facility had slowed.

Africa has been the least affected by the pandemic, with 4.3 million cases including 114,000 deaths in an overall population of 1.2 billion, according to the latest figures from WHO Africa.

The global death toll is 2.

9 million.

Mohamed Malick Fall, head of the eastern and southern Africa section of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), told the press briefing that delivery has hit transport snags as well as logistical woes over refrigeration requirements.

These problems have led to wastage, he added.

But Fall said vaccines through the Covax programme are now "arriving in all African countries" and appealed for improved efficiency and distribution capacities.

Both Moeti and Fall recognised the "reticence" in Africa over the AstraZeneca vaccine, the most widely used in the Covax scheme, with concerns over side effects making world headlines.

Both stressed the importance of shunning rumour and disinformation.

They recalled that resistance to the polio vaccine had been overcome in many African countries, notably Nigeria.
(Photo : Screenshot From Pexels Official Website) Ransomware Demands Two Bitcoin in Payment Disguising as Security Software While Exploiting VPN Weakness: Two Manufacturing Plants Shut Down

Ransomware operators were able to shut down two essential production facilities that belonged to a European manufacturer shortly after deploying what was seen as a relatively new strain. This ransomware suddenly encrypted servers responsible for controlling the manufacturer's total industrial processes according to a Kaspersky Lab researcher.

Ransomware Attack to VPN Weakness

The ransomware is reportedly known as Cring, and it first became known to the public back in January in a blog post. It also takes hold of large networks by exploiting certain long-patched vulnerabilities in VPNs that are sold by Fortinet. Tracked by its official name CVE-2018-13379, the directory transversal vulnerability would allow certain unauthenticated hackers to be able to obtain a session file that would contain the username as well as the plaintext password for the said VPN.

With an initial toehold, according to Ars Technica, a live Cring operator would perform reconnaissance and would use a customized version of the popular Mimikatz tool in order to try to extract the domain administrator credentials that remain stored within the server memory. Eventually, the attackers would use the Cobalt Strike framework in order to install Cring.

Infection Spread to Hosting Databases

To mask what they are doing, the hackers would disguise the installation files as simple security software coming from Kaspersky Lab or some other providers. Once it is installed, the ransomware would lock up data using the 256-bit AES encryption and encrypt the main key using a different RSA-8192 public key that is hardcoded deep into the ransomware. A note would then be left behind demanding the payment of two bitcoins in exchange for the said AES key which would allow the owners to unlock the data.

During the first quarter of this 2021, Cring infected a certain unnamed manufacturer in Germany, Vyacheslav Kopeytsev, which is a member of Kaspersky Lab's very own ICS CERT team according to an email. The infection was able to spread to a server that was hosting databases that were required for the main manufacturer's production line.

Read Also: $690 Million Netflix Ponzi Scheme Head Now in Hot Water for Lying About Selling Movies to the Streaming Platform

Kaspersky Lab Estimates

As a result of this, processes were actually temporarily shut down inside of two Italy-based facilities that were operated by the manufacturer. Kaspersky Lab estimates and believes that the shutdown lasted a full two days.

Kopeytsev wrote in a recent blog post saying various details of the said attack actually indicate that the attackers had been carefully analyzing the whole infrastructure of the attacked organization. It also said they even prepared their very own infrastructure as well as a toolset that was based on the results of the whole reconnaissance stage.

He then stated that an analysis of the attackers' recent activity shows that based on the main results of reconnaissance that was performed on the attacked organization's network, they actually chose to encrypt those said servers the loss of which the attackers initially believed would cause massive damage to the enterprise's total operations.

Related Article: How to Check if My Facebook Data Have Been Hacked [2021]: 533 Million Accounts Compromised

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Urian Buenconsejo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Residential Assisted Living National Association Speaking Up For Seniors in Assisted Living Legislators in Arkansas, Arizona, and Nebraska are moving forward with bills to form Alzheimers Advisory Committees, but they are leaving out critical smaller assisted living providers RALNA President Brian Pinkowski.

Arkansas has passed legislation creating an Alzheimers Advisory Council, and Arizona and Nebraska are following close behind, said RALNA President Brian Pinkowski. However, there is no one at the table representing the residential assisted living community.

With as many as 70% of the residents in smaller assisted living homes diagnosed with Alzheimers or other forms of dementia, those homes are on the front lines of dementia care and should have a seat at the table.

In Arizona, for example, Senators Lela Alston, Sean Bowie, Sally Ann Gonzales, and Lisa Otando have sponsored a bill that establishes a council to examine the needs of people with dementia and the services available in the state. But there is only one representative from the assisted living industry and no representative from the hundreds of smaller care homes in the state. The proposal is important and needs to engage members from the local residential assisted living community. In Arizona, that starts with the Arizona Assisted Living Homes Association (AALHA).

Similarly, in Nebraska, Senator Wendy DeBoer proposed a bill to establish a council that examines the trends in Alzheimers disease and related dementia and the resources available to handle those citizens. But there is only one seat on the assisted living industry council and no representation for the smaller care homes on the front lines of dementia care.

Arkansas enacted its Alzheimers Disease and Dementia Advisory Council on March 17, 2021. Although the Council includes one caregiver and one home healthcare provider, the remaining 18 members of the Council are government and university appointees, leaving no room for people in the business of providing care for affected residents.

The Residential Assisted Living National Association is the voice for 40,000 small care homes and is working hard to secure a seat at the table for smaller assisted living providers.
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Amazonas Florestal Ltd. (OTC Pink: AZFL) (azflamerica.com), a natural resources company dedicated to innovative, sustainable forest management, the certification and sales of carbon credits, and processing Industrial Hemp, announced today that the Company has completed and posted all of its pending OTC Markets Disclosures and Financial Reports. OTC Markets has acknowledged publication of all of the pending Quarterly and Annual Reports beginning with the 2018 Annual Report and through the 2020 Annual Report.

The Company announced also that today the Company has published the Attorney Opinion Letter on Current Financials that includes a positive review of all of the disclosures posted yesterday 04.07.2021. These filings complete all of the Company's financial obligations with OTC Markets and should bring it back to current Pink Sheets Information Tier status in the coming days once OTC Markets completes their review of the filings.

As previously reported, Green America Laboratories, a subsidiary of AZFL, has secured a facility in NW Miami-Dade County where the company will be building a top-of-the-line Hemp derived products lab that is due to begin operations sometime during the next fiscal quarter of 2021. GAL is due to become the largest Hemp processor this far south in the USA. AZFL further announced that GAL is presently in advancing negotiations to enter into an agreement that will allow the company to build a second cannabinoid bulk extractions lab in the country of Colombia and in partnership with a soon to be disclosed licensee that already operates production and distribution facilities under license to the Colombian government. AZFL will commit to increase their present operations for both Industrial Hemp and Medical Marijuana in that country, with focus on the new emerging markets in the European Union. Colombia is the only Latin American country that is approved by the European Union thus far to import and distribute cannabis products and allows licensing for the production and distribution of Delta 8 and Delta 9 products.

Further, the Company announced that several PCAOB audit firms are being interviewed this week and the Company expects to retain one of the candidates in the coming days to complete PCAOB audits of all of its records to date with the intention of completing and filing an S1 Registration Statement. The Registration will include the registration of an IPO that will allow the company funding channels to fund its present business plans which include extraction and conversion labs in several jurisdictions.

Ricardo Cortez, Chairman of the Board of Amazonas Florestal Ltd. stated: "It took a little longer than expected, completing the 9 reports, but they have been filed as promised to our shareholders. Management at AZFL expects that OTC Markets will accept the reports and remove all warnings posted on our ticker in the coming days. Returning to compliance has been a priority since December and now it is close to reality. Once the stop sign is removed the company will move forward towards PCAOB audits and seek to become fully reporting with the SEC later this year and perhaps apply to OTC QB or QX. We expect to soon have all of the necessary components and requirements. These are very promising and exciting times for AZFL and our shareholders as the company is primed for beginning operations and returning to positive revenues in the coming months." Cortez also stated, "I am also proud to announce that we are building the new management teams both for AZFL and its subsidiaries GAL and soon to include GAC (Green America Colombia). Our teams are effectively executing company plans to complete GAL and bring it into operations and to begin similar projects in Colombia and Mexico. I want to thank our followers and collaborators for their valuable support; without you these new operations would not be possible, and please be assured that our new and very capable operators will bring our company and its new subsidiaries to positive operations."

About Amazonas Florestal Ltd.

Amazonas Florestal Ltd. is a natural resources company dedicated to innovative, sustainable management of large tracts of land in the rainforests of Amazonas, Brazil, that include the certification and sale of carbon credits. In 2017, the Company shifted gears to focus on growing, harvesting, research and development of Industrial Hemp and related products in the U.S.A. and for the U.S. and Latin Markets. In 2021, the Company will build an important Hemp Oil Extraction facility in South Florida dedicated to the production of premium bulk cannabinoid extractions derived from Hemp and products that use these extractions as an active ingredient for Human and Animal Health and Wellness.

Headquartered in Miami, FL, Amazonas' goal is to become a leader in field of Cannabinoid Extractions serving labs that use these chemicals as a raw material for human and animal consumption in health and beauty products.

Contact:

Amazonas Florestal Ltd.

Email: azflorestal@outlook.com

Website: http://azflamerica.com

Disclaimer: Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements in this release regarding Amazonas Florestal Ltd. are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the company's products, increased levels of competition, new products and technological changes, the company's dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79825.


Photo caption clockwise from top left: Dato' Sri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh, Group Managing Director of MMC Corporation Berhad, Mr. P.R Venketrama Raja, Chairman of Ramco Systems Limited and Mr. Virender Aggarwal, Chief Executive Officer of Ramco Systems Limited during the virtual signing ceremony of Memorandum of Agreement on the Enterprise Resource Planning digital transformation.

KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 8, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Leading Malaysian utility and infrastructure conglomerate MMC Corporation Berhad (MMC) announced that it has embarked on a major digital transformation of five ports, in partnership with global software solutions leader, Ramco Systems.The digital transformation will consolidate and standardise processes of MMC's ports, which include Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd (PTP), Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd and Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd. The group-wide transformation was awarded based on the successful implementation of Ramco integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system at one of Malaysia's most advanced container terminal - PTP.This technological transformation programme will propel Malaysia to the forefront of global best-in-class ports - which plays a crucial role in mitigating supply chain challenges, including recent disruptions due to COVID-19.Building on an earlier implementation by Ramco Systems of an ERP system for PTP where about 90% of the system has achieved Go-Live in phases over the past 10 months, the enhanced rollout will digitalise processes, while providing real-time business information. MMC will also be able to consolidate various business support functions (namely Finance, Human Resource, Enterprise Asset Management, Supply Chain Management, and Logistics Management) across ports into a single integrated ERP system - all accessible on an integrated dashboard.Over 8,000 MMC employees across the ports will be plugged into the platform on their computers/mobile devices which now eliminates duplication errors and other bottlenecks, allowing efficient business processes and enhanced data visibility.The system will also include smart features such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), which will provide employees with greater insight as well as predictive alerts and chatbots which can reduce human error and save time. This will lay the foundation for MMC's broader strategy to enhance business experience to our customers and suppliers."The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed several trends into the spotlight, such as e-commerce and strengthening the supply chain. More than ever, we see the importance of ensuring our ports remain efficient and capable of quick turnaround, and we had been looking for a partner which could provide a scalable solution for all our ports.With the support from Ramco Systems, MMC is committed to accelerate digital transformation that delivers efficiency, productivity and reliability within our ports to provide the best-in-class service for our customers. The implementation of a common system and integrated technology platform will further maximise synergies and allow all our ports to share expertise and benefit from economies of scale. We aim to leverage on technology as a key differentiator in order to gain competitive edge and add value to our stakeholders," said Dato' Sri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh, Group Managing Director MMC Corporation Berhad.P.R. Venketrama Raja, Chairman, Ramco Group, said, "It is a great honour to work alongside the MMC Group to help upgrade its ports. The partnership is a significant milestone in Ramco's history; the implementation of Ramco's systems will optimise operational efficiency at MMC Group, thereby translating into faster turnarounds at Malaysian ports and impacting Malaysian trade.""We at Ramco have established a strong Malaysian presence through our many years of engagements with multiple large conglomerates within the country, and this engagement was only possible through the hard work of the Ramco team in providing digital transformation to PTP. We look forward to working closely with the MMC team and am confident Ramco's software will bring great value to MMC's ports," added Raja.About MMC Corporation BerhadMMC Corporation Berhad ("MMC") is a leading utilities and infrastructure group with diversified businesses under four divisions, namely Ports and Logistics, Energy and Utilities, Engineering, and Industrial Development.Its key businesses under the Ports and Logistics division includes the port operations of Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd and Kontena Nasional Berhad, a logistics provider. Internationally, MMC has presence in Saudi Arabia via Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company Limited, a container port terminal within the Jeddah Islamic Port.Under the Energy and Utilities division, Malakoff Corporation Berhad is the largest Independent Power Producer in Malaysia and its subsidiary, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, is one of the leading environmental management companies in the country. Under Gas Malaysia Berhad, we are the supplier of reticulated natural gas in Peninsular Malaysia operating and maintaining 2,468 kilometres of gas pipeline. Through Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad, we provide full-fledge water services using high technology treatment in Malaysia.MMC's Engineering Division has played a leading role as the Project Delivery Partner and underground works package contractor in completing 51 kilometres Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit ("KVMRT") Kajang Line (previously known as Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) including 9.5 kilometres underground works. Currently, we are the main turnkey contractor for 52.2 kilometres KVMRT Putrajaya Line (previously known as Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line). MMC also successfully completed the 329-kilometre Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Tracking Project as well as the innovative Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel ("SMART") motorway, the first of its kind, dual-purpose tunnel in the world. MMC is currently in the final stage of completing the Langat Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant (920,000 Population Equivalent) and Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant (1,130 Million Litres Per Day).MMC's Industrial Development Division develops and manages approximately 5,000 acres of industrial developments namely Senai Airport City ("SAC") and Tanjung Bin Industrial Park ("TBIP") in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor and Northern Technocity ("NTC") in Kulim Kedah. The SAC, TBIP and NTC developments come under the ambit of Industrial Development division's three operating companies - Senai Aiport City Sdn Bhd, Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd and Northern Technocity Sdn Bhd respectively.In other business, through Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd, we are the operator of Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru - the southern aviation hub and an important gateway to Iskandar Malaysia.Enquiries: Please log on to www.mmc.com.my or call Azlina Ashar, Head of Group Corporate Communications, MMC Corporation Berhad, Tel: +603 2071 1124.About Ramco SystemsRamco is a next-gen enterprise software player disrupting the market with its multi-tenant cloud and mobile-based enterprise software in HR and Global Payroll, ERP and M&E MRO for Aviation. Part of the USD 1 billion Ramco Group, Ramco Systems focuses on Innovation and Culture to differentiate itself in the marketplace. On Innovation front, Ramco has been focusing on moving towards Active ERP leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and Event Driven Architecture by building features such as Talk It - which allows transactions to be carried out by simple voice commands, Bot it - which allows users to complete transaction using natural conversations; Mail It - transact with the application by just sending an email; HUB It - a one screen does it all concept built to address all activities of a user; Thumb It - mobility where the system presents users with option to choose rather than type values and Prompt It - a cognitive ability which will let the system complete the transaction and prompts the user for approval.With 1800+ employees spread across 24 offices, globally, Ramco follows a flat and open culture where employees are encouraged to share knowledge and grow. No Hierarchies, Cabin-less Offices, Respect work and not titles, among others are what makes the team say, Thank God it's Monday!- Leader in NelsonHall's NEAT Matrix for Next Gen Payroll Services- Winner of 2020 ISG Paragon Awards Asia Pacific, for 'Transformation' and 'Collaboration'- Winner Global Payroll Transformation Project of the Year - 2019 by Global Payroll Association- Positioned as Major Contender in Everest Group's Multi-Country Payroll Platform PEAK MatrixFor more information, please visit http://www.ramco.com/Follow Ramco on Twitter @ramcosystems and stay tuned to http://blogs.ramco.comFor further information, please contact:Vinitha Ramani+91-9840368048vinitharamani@ramco.comSource: Ramco SystemsMMC Corporation BerhadCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
A former police officer in Bucks County is accused of sexually abusing four teenaged boys 20 years ago, authorities said.

James Carey, 52, turned himself in Wednesday morning to face 122 charges, including multiple counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 16, aggravated indecent assault of a child under the age of 16 and statutory sexual assault.

The offenses allegedly occurred between 1987 and 2009. Wednesdays charges come after previous reports and investigations into Careys behavior did not result in criminal charges being filed, prosecutors said.

Carey was free after posting 10% of $100,000 bail.

He adamantly denies all of (the accusations) and looks forward to the process of being able to demonstrate his innocence, said attorney Thomas Joachim, who represents Carey along with attorney Michael Applebaum.

District Attorney Matt Weintraub said if there are other potential victims, they should come forward and contact his office 215-348-6344, even if the person wants to remain anonymous.

We will help you get justice. We can help you heal, he said.

Carey lives in Cape May Court House, New Jersey. He most recently worked as a school bus driver in southern New Jersey, according to the Bucks County Courier Times.

BREAKING: Retired Warminster Twp. DARE Officer James Carey (blue mask) was arraigned on 200+ sexual assault-related crimes involving four teens from 10-20 years ago. The judge described him a danger to the community & set bail at 10 percent of $100,000. @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/e3PsMz76SY  Joe Holden (@JoeHoldenCBS3) April 7, 2021

Carey previously worked as a Warminster Township police officer, and allegedly abused the boys when he worked as a D.A.R.E. officer two decades ago, a spokesman for the Bucks County district attorneys office said.

The Warminster Township police department declined to comment when asked about Careys case.

D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, and is a national program that began in 1983 to have certified local police officers teach students to avoid drugs and alcohol.

Prosecutors said Carey had unique access to children, and ingratiated himself into the childrens lives, specifically those who were already facing challenges in their life.

Carey invited boys to his house, in his hot tub, on kayaking and camping trips, and one time took a group to Dorney Park, records show. Carey was in charge of a Teen Activity Corp, and worked with the Boy Scouts and a program through the Warminster Township Fire Department, giving him unfettered access to children, prosecutors said.

Carey used his position of power as a police officer to groom the children, and also their caregivers, the district attorneys office said.

One accuser, now 36, reported abuse in May 2020 to Warminster police, and the case was referred to the Bucks County District Attorneys office because the police department previously employed Carey, prosecutors said.

The victim contacted police because he believed the state changed the statute of limitations for prosecuting childhood sexual assault, records say.

The case involved a lengthy investigation by Bucks County detectives and an inquiry by a Bucks County investigating grand jury, the district attorneys office said.

Carey appeared before the grand jury on April 1, and invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, prosecutors said. The tone of the questions was accusatory, Joachim said, and at that point it was clear it was a march toward a predetermined decision.

He has voluntary appeared at every occasion because he is innocent, the attorney said.

Carey allegedly oversaw community service for one accuser, and made the teen boy perform chores at Careys house before sexually assaulting him, records say.

The accuser said when he was 17 and involved in an underage drinking incident, he told another Warminster officer about the abuse, but could not remember the officers name. As an adult, the man called Warminster police to ask about the statute of limitations and reported Carey molested him, but was told the incidents fell outside the statute, court papers say.

A third accuser reported Carey molested him when he was about 15 years old, while they were at Careys home.

While the boy was still a teen, he reported the incident to Warminster police, but nothing happened, court records say. He and his mother reported the incident again in 2006 to Warminster police, after Carey was fired from the department, records say.

Bucks County detectives in 2001 investigated Carey for allegations of sexual abuse, after the Warminster Township Police Department became aware of concerning conduct and referred the information to the county district attorneys office. Charges were not filed in 2001, prosecutors said.

Then-District Attorney Diane Gibbons, who is now a Bucks County judge, wrote a letter that year to the police department advising that Careys behavior and conduct was very concerning, and her office had grave concerns about the communitys safety with Carey employed as a police officer, court papers say.

Her words turned out to be prophetic, Weintraub said.

Five years later, when Carey worked at the Driftwood Campground in Cape May County, New Jersey State Police investigated Carey for reports of inappropriate conduct with minors at the campground. No charges were filed in that case, either.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.

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Chest beating by mountain gorillas - rapidly beating their chests with their hands to produce a drumming sound - may convey information about their body size and allow identification of individuals, a study published in Scientific Reports suggests. These findings demonstrate how non-vocal behaviours may contribute to mountain gorilla communication.

Although it had previously been suggested that gorillas may beat their chests to convey information, the exact nature of that information was unclear. Edward Wright and colleagues observed and recorded 25 wild, adult male silverback gorillas monitored by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, between January 2014 and July 2016. Body size was determined from photographs by measuring the distance between the gorillas' shoulder blades. Using sound recordings, the authors measured the duration, number and audio frequencies of 36 chest beats made by six of the males.

The authors found that the audio frequencies of chest beats made by larger males were significantly lower than those made by smaller males. Larger males may have larger air sacs near their larynx, which could lower the frequencies of sound they produce while chest beating, according to the authors. Variations were also observed in the duration and number of chest beats made by different gorillas. These were unrelated to body size but may allow chest-beating individuals to be identified.

The authors suggest that the sound of chest beating may allow mountain gorillas to communicate across the dense, tropical forests in which they live, where it is often difficult for them to see one another. They speculate that mountain gorillas may use the information conveyed through chest beats to inform mate choice and to assess the fighting ability of competitors.

###

Article details

Chest beats as an honest signal of body size in male mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei)

DOI:

10.1038/s41598-021-86261-8

Corresponding Author:

Edward Wright

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany

Email: edward_wright@eva.mpg.de

Please link to the article in online versions of your report (the URL will go live after the embargo ends):
Houston officials are developing a system for residents to report police misconduct online and will announce changes later this month to the citys body camera policies and Independent Police Oversight Board, Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

Turner responded Tuesday to written questions from the Chronicle, more than six months after his police reform task force released a lengthy report with more than 100 recommended changes to the Houston Police Department, including stricter disciplinary rules for officers and an overhaul of the police oversight board. Though the mayor endorsed almost all of the task forces recommendations at the time they were released, he has yet to announce any major policy changes and has enacted only a handful of the smaller proposals that task force members said could be carried out within 90 days.

The slow pace has unsettled police reform advocates.

We havent made any meaningful progress since the George Floyd protests, just forget about it, said Alan M. de Leon, an organizer with MOVE Texas. Whether the oversight board, union contract negotiation or crisis intervention, on no front are we making meaningful progress, and thats completely disappointing.

The mayor, who controls the City Council agenda and policy changes, said he plans to hire staff within the citys Office of Inspector General  including a deputy inspector general who will likely be announced later this month  to investigate police misconduct allegations, as his task force recommended. Turner also said he supports all of the groups body cameras recommendations, including publicly releasing footage of major incidents within 30 days and installing dashboard cameras in all cop cars, and promised more details later this month.

Those pushing for police reform say they hope the proposals will gain renewed momentum under new Police Chief Troy Finner, who has vowed to meet with and listen to reformers since being appointed. Advocates said Finner appears more receptive to their proposals than his predecessor, Art Acevedo.

You could tell he wanted changes to happen, said Harrison Guy, a police reform task force member who met with Finner twice during the groups meetings last year. I feel like Acevedo) led with a lot of ego, so I felt like he got in the way of a lot of change. I feel like Finner is not as invested in himself, which gives us a lot of opportunity for these changes.

Turner said there has been significant progress on an online dashboard for Houstonians to submit police complaints, which now can only be done in person at police substations, HPDs internal affairs office or certain community organizations. The mayor said he would release more information about the dashboard soon.

Lacy Wolf, president of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, said Turners administration has not updated task force members on the status of their recommendations. However, Wolf said after serving on the task force and getting an inside look at the typical bureaucratic barriers that delay reforms, he is more forgiving than some fellow union members.

I think Im more understanding, Wolf said. But if I put myself back in that place I was at (last summer), I could see why people would be frustrated.

Bobby Singh, another member of the task force, said he believed Turner viewed policing reform as among the most significant policy issues of his administration.

This is going to be a legacy line item for him, he said. These are not easy matters to fix, and thats why it takes a little bit of time.

Police discipline, oversight

The task force also recommended changes to how HPD handles police misconduct allegations, which would need to come through amendments to state law or the Houston Police Officers Union contract. Those include extending the window to discipline officers and requiring officers accused of misconduct to make statements at the start of an investigation, rather than allowing them to review all evidence before speaking with investigators.

Advocates have called for Turner and the police union to break with the citys longtime policy of holding contract negotiations behind closed doors. Some other major cities, such as Austin and Fort Worth, have public negotiations.

Turner, a close ally of the union, suggested he would not open the negotiations, saying in an email he anticipates we will follow the same process as previous administrations.

The mayor declined to say whether he supports any policy changes on officer discipline or would pursue those changes through negotiations.

During contract negotiations, everything is on the table, Turner said.

The mayors task force also called for sweeping reforms to the citys Independent Police Oversight Board, a volunteer body that reviews investigations completed by HPDs internal affairs division. Critics have widely derided the board as toothless.

Turner said he supports reforming the oversight board, but he did not weigh in on most of the task forces numerous proposals for beefing up the board, such as adding paid professional staff and giving board members more access to the police chief. A Turner spokeswoman said the board will be restructured, though she did not provide details.

Crisis intervention

As protests swept the nation last summer, many reform advocates also called for police departments to improve their non-police alternatives to respond to mental health crises. The mayors policing task force made several such recommendations, including hiring more mental health counselors to answer non-violent 911 mental health calls and hiring additional teams dedicated to responding to mental health calls.

De Leon said the lack of movement on non-police alternatives has left advocates skeptical, particularly low-cost recommendations such as increasing the number of call takers specifically tasked with handling mental health calls. The policing task force recommended making that move within 90 days, and pegged the cost at about $270,000.

Turner said he supports the proposed crisis intervention reforms, but the limitation is money and the lack thereof.

Last November, in response to a surge in domestic violence calls and concerns about suicide rates during the pandemic, Turner put $6.2 million of Houstons federal COVID relief funds toward connecting domestic violence victims with local organizations and funding extra patrols of HPDs Crisis Intervention Response Team, which pairs clinicians with officers to handle mental health-related calls. The temporary funding lasted until the end of 2020.

The city also launched a so-called safe harbor court last October for people who cannot afford to pay fines and fees to the city without entering delinquency. The task forces recommendations had included providing alternatives to people who cant afford to pay fines.

A lot of time wasted

In September, HPD joined Harris Countys cite-and-release program, which allows police officers to issue tickets for various low-level crimes instead of arresting people, fulfilling another task force recommendation.

But despite much fanfare, reform advocates say the city has failed to provide requested data that shows whether police are actually using the new rules to arrest fewer residents.

It seems like the police department is completely ignoring the mayors executive order, and has no intention of complying unless the county collects this data, said Nicholas Hudson, a policy and advocacy strategist with the ACLU of Texas.

The mayor appointed his 45-member police reform task force in June, shortly after the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. The group was condemned by some reform advocates as a delay tactic on an issue they said had already been studied.

Members of prior Turner task forces say he often rejects or ignores the vast majority of their policy recommendations. Turner has insisted that he is moving ahead with the police reform measures, blaming the pandemic and recent winter freeze for delays.

Laurence Larry Payne, the chair of Turners police reform task force, said he was optimistic after conversations with Finner.

Hes very committed to moving the agenda forward under his watch, he said.

Guy said it would be beyond disappointing for the recommendations to not go anywhere.

Disappointing doesnt even scratch the surface, he said. The amount of time and research we put into this, it would be a lot of time wasted.

jasper.scherer@chron.com

st.john.smith@chron.com
TEL AVIV - Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh welcomed the decision by the US to resume financial aid to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).



At the same time, he appealed to the US administration to work with the Peace Quartet to "open a new political horizon towards the liberation of Palestine in the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as capital".



"We are not looking only at the resumption of aid, but at the institution of strong political relations with the US," he said.



Israeli Ambassador to the US Gilad Erdan, on the other hand, expressed his disappointment following the US's announcement of resuming aid to UNRWA.



"I expressed my disappointment and my objection to the decision to renew UNRWA financing without first ensuring me that some reforms, including the stop of the incitement and the removal of anti-semitic contents from its educational curriculum, are enacted," the ambassador said in a statement.


A Millersville man was moderately injured when he was hit by a car Tuesday while out on a bike ride, police said.

The 66-year-old bicyclist was riding south on the 2100 block of New Danville Pike in Pequea Township when he was hit by a 29-year-old Denver woman around 5 p.m., according to township police.

Police said the bicyclist was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries. The driver was not injured.

Pennsylvania law dictates that drivers of vehicles must provide at least four feet of distance between their vehicle and the bicyclist and pass at a prudent and safe speed. Also, bicyclists must adhere to all rules of the roadway the same as a motor vehicle.

This includes riding on the right side of the roadway the same direction as traffic, stopping at stop signs etc, Pequea Township police said in a news release. As the weather finally improves more bicyclists will be on our roadways. Please drive (and pedal) responsibly and share the road.

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In an unusual spate of gray whale deaths, yet another animal has been found washed up around the San Francisco Bay, this time at Muir Beach on Thursday morning.

April marks the start of gray whales' northern migration, and so finding dead whales on the shores of the Bay is not unheard of, but four in nine days is an anomaly.

"It's concerning," says Giancarlo Rulli of the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. "The fact that we've responded to four dead gray whales ... is concerning."

The first was a 41-foot adult female gray whale that alarmed beachgoers at Crissy Field on March 31. That animal was towed to Angel Island for a necropsy. The cause of death was unclear  pathologists with the Marine Mammal Center found that the whale's condition was good, no illnesses were found, and in fact, the whale had a full stomach from a recent feeding, ruling out starvation or malnutrition.

The second, another adult female, was found Saturday at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve at Moss Beach. "That animal's cause of death, we suspect, was ship strike," Rulli says. "Our plan is to eventually head back out to that whale and take more samples."

A third dead gray whale was then found in the Berkeley Marina this week, after moving around the bay on the changing tide. That animal was also towed to Angel Island and is currently being inspected near the remains of the first.

"Our team is actually split into two right now," Rulli says, as pathologists inspect and sample both animals at Muir Beach and Angel Island.

2019 also saw a rise in dead gray whales around the San Francisco water, though half of those animals' causes of death were ruled malnutrition, a cause that hasn't been yet been concluded for any of the four whales this week.

"These investigations are so critical, so we can find out why these animals are washing ashore dead and figure out how we can safely co-habitate in their ocean home," says Rulli. "This is an unusual mortality event for gray whales; we've seen increasing numbers of dead whales wash ashore over the last two years."

Human interaction, usually the form of ship strike or entanglement, is a frequent cause of whale death, though only one of the four this week has been ruled dead from that trauma.

The deaths have meant the Marine Mammal Center is facing one of their busiest times while prioritizing human health and safety because of COVID-19.

"Due to the pandemic, we're deploying smaller teams than normal, and these are 40-foot-plus whales, these investigations take hours," Rulli says. "It can take some time to figure out what's happening."

The increased deaths are not the only unusual whale activity in the San Francisco Bay this year. A humpback was spotted near Tiburon in the middle of March, something that's never happened so early in the year before.

The center urges any residents around the bay who spot more dead (or alive) whales to immediately report the sighting to the Marine Mammal Center.

"The data and investigation is so critical, so we can rule or rule out the cause being human interaction," Rulli said.

The cause of death of the two most recent dead whales will likely be reported Friday.

SFGATE reporter Joshua Bote contributed to this story.
ABC's hit sitcom The Goldbergs payed tribute to their beloved star George Segal on Wednesday's new episode, which was his last.

The actor passed away at 87 years of age just over two weeks ago in Santa Rosa, California, after complications from bypass surgery.

The show aired a special video tribute to the actor, who played Albert 'Pops' Solomon on the show, while some of the show's stars paid tribute on social media.

Tribute: ABC's hit sitcom The Goldbergs payed tribute to their beloved star George Segal on Wednesday's new episode, which was his last

Tribute: The show aired a special video tribute to the actor, who played Albert 'Pops' Solomon on the show, while some of the show's stars paid tribute on social media

The Goldbergs typically finishes each episode with throwback footage from series creator Adam F. Goldberg's family that he shot as a child, though Wednesday's episode honored Segal.

The tribute, which was shared on The Goldbergs Twitter after the episode aired, began with, 'Dedicated to Our Friend, George.'

The video featured shots of Segal combing his hair and spraying some Binaca in his mouth before he did a little dance.

Dance: The video featured shots of Segal combing his hair and spraying some Binaca in his mouth before he did a little dance

He was also seen in a full Ghostbusters costume alongside his on-screen grandson, played by Sean Giambrone, as he humorously botches the catch-phrase with, 'Who are you gonna telephone? The Ghost Fellas!'

Pops is also seen having a talk with his grandson, telling him that, 'Some women like a sensitive man.'

The video goes on to show other memorable shots of Pops, ending with him giving everyone in the Goldbergs family a hug.

Ghost fellas: He was also seen in a full Ghostbusters costume alongside his on-screen grandson, played by Sean Giambrone, as he humorously botches the catch-phrase with, 'Who are you gonna telephone? The Ghost Fellas!'

Sensitive: Pops is also seen having a talk with his grandson, telling him that, 'Some women like a sensitive man'

Hugs: The video goes on to show other memorable shots of Pops, ending with him giving everyone in the Goldbergs family a hug

'If you just believe in yourself like I do, you can't lose,' he says, as a final title card reads, 'We will miss you, George' as the video comes to an end.

Wendi McLendon-Covey, who played The Goldbergs matriarch and Pops' daughter Beverly, also shared tributes to Segal on Twitter.

'Tonight's episode was the last that George filmed, but not the last of our season. We had no idea at the time we filmed it, that it would be our last with him,' she said.

Miss you: 'If you just believe in yourself like I do, you can't lose,' he says, as a final title card reads, 'We will miss you, George' as the video comes to an end

No idea: 'Tonight's episode was the last that George filmed, but not the last of our season. We had no idea at the time we filmed it, that it would be our last with him,' she said

McLendon-Covey added in another tweet, 'We had so much fun filming this episode, and George was still game for anything. Always a total pro and a joy to be around! #TheGoldbergs.'

Hayley Orrantia, who plays Erica Goldberg in the series, retweeted the video message, adding, 'We love and miss you so much.'

Series creator Adam F. Goldberg also quote-retweeted another McLendon-Covey tweet where she made it clear they would 'NEVER replace George in the role of Pops. If we get a season 9, we will address it then.'

Fun: McLendon-Covey added in another tweet, 'We had so much fun filming this episode, and George was still game for anything. Always a total pro and a joy to be around! #TheGoldbergs'

Love: Hayley Orrantia, who plays Erica Goldberg in the series, retweeted the video message, adding, 'We love and miss you so much'

Goldberg added in his quote retweet, 'Tonight is Georges last episode. Fans are asking whats planned for Pops. Even though my input and stories have not been used this season, I know the way to address this loss is to use my real experience of losing my Grandpa to honor George and my Pops. Hope Im welcome S9! #JTP'

Goldberg stepped down as showrunner of The Goldbergs, which he created and is based on his childhood experiences with his family, after Season 6.

The Goldbergs writer-producers Chris Bishop and Alex Barnow were named showrunners heading into Season 7 and the current eighth season.

ABC has yet to address the fate of The Goldbergs quite yet, and it's unclear if they will return for a ninth season.

Welcome: Goldberg added in his quote retweet, 'Tonight is Georges last episode. Fans are asking whats planned for Pops. Even though my input and stories have not been used this season, I know the way to address this loss is to use my real experience of losing my Grandpa to honor George and my Pops. Hope Im welcome S9! #JTP
A jury in the sexual assault trial of Sydney chiropractor Riaz Behi has been discharged after it was unable to reach a verdict.

Mr Behi, 45, is accused of removing the patients underwear and performing a number of unwanted sexual acts on her while treating her for lower back pain at his Sydney CBD clinic over the course of 17 appointments between January and April 2019.

Riaz Behi outside Darlinghurst Court. Credit:Steven Saphore

He denied the charges, pleading not guilty to 13 offences in the NSW District Court  five counts of sexual intercourse without consent and eight counts of aggravated sexual touching without consent.

On Thursday, following almost five hours of deliberations and a trial that ran just over five weeks, a jury of five women and seven men indicated to the court that they were unable to reach a majority verdict, or indeed a unanimous decision on any of the charges.
The ED has alleged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's family benefited from illicit funds obtained from certain illegal coal mining in the state under a "deep system" of political patronage driven by a "well-oiled" machinery.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) made these claims Wednesday in a remand note presented before a special court seeking enhanced custody of West Bengal police officer Ashok Kumar Mishra, also the inspector in-charge of Bankura police station.

The police officer, apart from TMC youth wing leader Vinay Mishra's brother Vikas Mishra, was arrested by the ED in a case which has local trader Anup Majhi alias Lala as the prime suspect.

The inspector was arrested by the ED here on April 3 and the court had sent him to custody till Wednesday. The court extended his ED remand till April 12.

The ED case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was filed after studying a November, 2020 FIR of the CBI alleging a multi-crore coal pilferage scam related to the Eastern Coalfields Ltd mines in the state's Kunustoria and Kajora areas in and around Asansol.

The ED, in the remand note, alleged that certain illegal mining instances were flourishing in the state under the "patronage" of the political party in power. The agency connected the policeman to Majhi, Vinay and Vikas Mishra, going up all the way to the Abhishek Banerjee's family.

The Diamond Harbour MP has denied these allegations. "All coal assets fall directly under Centre and are guarded by the Central agencies. If BJP thinks TMC leaders got money from those illegally operating the coal assets, then what's stopping Centre from investigating all culprits who failed to manage these national assets?" he had tweeted earlier this week.

He added, "Also it is ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS that according to BJP, Coal Ministry and Home Ministry officials were more keenly following TMC leaders' orders than listening to their own bosses' (Read Modi-Shah's) commands! Whom are you fooling."

The ED said documents seized from Majhi and Niraj Singh showed the former had "maintained detailed coded records in the form of payments made to various entities from the proceeds of crime generated from illegal coal mining".

"...it is further revealed that in a span of less than 2 years, an amount to the tune of Rs 1,352 crore has been illegally generated by Majhi through illegal coal mining," the agency claimed.

"Investigation also revealed a deep system of political patronage and well-oiled network by which the system was subverted to carry out these illegal activities in a brazen manner."

Quoting the recorded statement of an unidentified "close associate" of Majhi, the ED said the alleged kingpin of this coal pilferage scam did his "illegal coal mining business smoothly by managing senior functionaries of the political party of West Bengal though Inspector Mishra."

The statement of the unidentified "witness" added, "it is known fact that Vinay Mishra collected money from illegal coal mining of Majhi and his associates for his closely associated political boss in present ruling party; that Vinay Mishra is youth leader of TMC and he is very close to Abhishek Banerjee and that he (Vinay Mishra) is the eyes and ears of Abhishek Banerjee."

The ED also annexed the recorded statement of the Inspector where he allegedly stated that "Vinay Mishra was the secretary of TMC and was very close to Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee."

The policeman told the ED that he once transferred about Rs 1-1.5 from the state to Delhi allegedly on the directions of Vinay Mishra and this was done under "political pressure and knowing his (Vinay Mishra) clout in the party, he (Inspector Mishra) has to obey him or his career will be finished.

"He (Inspector Mishra) facilitated in transferring funds through a non-banking channel from India to London for a close relative of Shri Abhishek Banerjee and the funds were transferred by Niraj Singh (Majhi's accountant)."

"The message regarding funds transfer to Thailand from India was forwarded to him either by Vikas or Niraj Singh and that the subject transaction of Thailand was related to Rujira Banerjee who is the close relative (wife) of Abhishek Banerjee," the ED said quoting the statement recorded by it of Inspector Mishra.

According to the scheme under the criminal provisions of the PMLA, a statement made during investigation under the said law is admissible in the court.

The agency claimed that documents it seized show that "Majhi assisted in transferring substantial funds derived from the proceeds of crime to Shri Abhishek Banerjee's close relative (wife and sister-in-law) at London and Thailand."

The ED alleged the police Inspector "became the part of evil axis of coal mafia, corrupt politicians and corrupt government servants...and evidence is there about him receiving tainted funds of Rs 168 crore in just 109 days from Majhi and for his political bosses including Vinay Mishra and for himself."

"He is a government official but worked closely with the coal mafia and involved in transferring the tainted funds collected from illegal coal mining business to the overseas bank accounts of politically influential persons and their close family members of West Bengal," the ED alleged.

The case has picked up political links after Abhishek Banerjee's wife Rujira was questioned by the CBI some time back. The state is in the midst of an eight-phase polling for its 294-seat assembly.

Also Read: Bengal polls 2021: Mamata accepts she called BJP leader; says it's not a crime
Karen people, who crossed into Thailand to seek refuge after air strikes in Myanmars Karen state, are seen in boats on the Salween river, March 29, 2021.

Updated at 7:13 p.m. ET on 2021-04-07

Thailand disagrees with post-coup violence in Myanmar and has told the Burmese junta so, Prime Minister and former coup leader Prayuth Chan-o-cha said Wednesday, in his strongest public statement to date on the killing of close to 600 pro-democracy protesters in the neighboring country.

The former army general and ex-Thai junta leader made the remarks days after Thailands friend China  as well as Russia  threw their support behind a special summit of Southeast Asian nations leaders to discuss the crisis in Myanmar.

Chinas reaction to the coup had been muted, just as when Prayuth, as the Royal Thai Army chief of staff, seized power in a military coup that toppled an elected government in 2014.

It is not that we dont care about humanitarian problems  a life is a life  but the government proposes solutions to the problems via the foreign ministry, Prayuth told reporters, in what appeared to be a defense of his governments relatively muted response on the volatile situation in Myanmar since the military there overthrew a democratically elected government on Feb. 1.

We cannot do anything we want, because we have common borders [with Myanmar] and we rely on each other for many things. But we certainly do not agree with violence and we have said so to them, and have kept telling them to reduce [violence].

The Thai PM further said we have to fix the troubles systemically in Myanmar. He also noted that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was planning to soon hold a special meeting in Jakarta of leaders from across the regional bloc.

Notably, the announcement by ASEAN members Malaysia and Brunei that a leaders summit would be held on Myanmar, came three days after China said it supported such a meeting. However, the bloc still has not yet announced a date for the special summit.

The fastidiously non-interfering bloc has for more than two months not been able to reach a consensus on how to deal with the junta in member-state Myanmar.

Displaced Burmese

Last week, after the single deadliest day in post-coup Myanmar when the military and security forces killed 114 civilians during anti-junta protests on March 27, the Thai foreign ministry for the first time in two months expressed grave concern about the situation in the country next-door.

By contrast, on the day of the Burmese coup, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan had said Its their own business, its their internal affair.

And on March 22, a Thai Army spokesman denied a local media report that a Thai border security agency had supplied 700 sacks of rice to the Myanmar Army base of operations in Karen state, which sits along the Thai-Myanmar frontier. The spokesman said any transaction that took place was part of usual border trade.

The apparent change in the rhetoric from senior Thai officials coincided with an influx into Thailand of people fleeing from the violence in Myanmar.

Thousands of ethnic Karen fled their homes in Karen state after the militarys March 27 air strikes on villages controlled by Karen National Union (KNU) rebels, who hold large swathes of territory in the borderlands with Thailand.

On Wednesday, Prayuth said relevant agencies were helping the displaced people by bringing them critical food and medical supplies.

In the past also, in many cases of people affected by the fighting [in Myanmar] the military has saved people by letting many inside for medical treatment, Prayuth said.

According to Pornsuk Kerdsawang, from Thai NGO Friends Without Borders Foundation, the Myanmar military on Monday allowed a cargo ship from Thailand to deliver aid across the border.

On April 8, the Thai military will take five vehicles to help carry goods from the Red Cross and deliver them to those displaced people. As for us, we assessed this as a breakthrough in assistance, Pornsuk told BenarNews.

Pornsuk said that helicopters and drones were heard on Tuesday flying around on the Myanmar side of the border in Karen state. She said she worried that the unrest along the frontier could threaten the rice season for local farmers.

[I]f the situation is still like this, they will be in trouble. Because they cannot grow rice. They will not have rice to eat, so we insist on our statement that we would like the government to provide assistance that takes into account long-term solutions, Pornsuk said.

Because even if the Myanmar villagers [on the Myanmar side of the border] were given the aid that people sent, its not a success  just a solution to the immediate problems.

On April 2, Prayuth instructed all relevant relief agencies to give medical and other assistance to the 1,200 or so people who had crossed into Thailand, a Thai government spokesman, told reporters.

Earlier last week, human rights and refugee advocacy groups had criticized the Thai PM for allegedly ordering the military to push the refugees back across the border into their strife-torn country.

Meanwhile, Myanmar troops again fired at anti-coup protesters on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and wounding several in the countrys northwest, news agencies reported.

The death toll in the post-coup violence has reached at least 598, according to Thai NGO Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

In addition, Myanmar citizens are struggling with shortages of food and other necessities after 65 days of rule under the military junta, whose troops steal goods and cash from vehicles, stores, and homes, residents told the Myanmar Service of Radio Free Asia (RFA), with which BenarNews is affiliated.

British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab (left) and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi talk during a bilateral meeting in Jakarta, April 7, 2021. [Photo courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia]

Indonesian, British FMs meet

The continuing violence in Myanmar prompted Indonesia and the United Kingdom on Wednesday to reiterate calls for a halt to the brutality.

[I]ndonesia and the U.K. are appalled that hundreds of peaceful protesters have been killed in Myanmar, said a statement issued by Britain, after a meeting of the two countries foreign ministers in Jakarta.

Both countries agreed on the importance of ASEAN as the pre-eminent regional institution and a key part of the Rules-Based International System to find acceptable solutions based on the will and the interests of the people in Myanmar.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said she and her British counterpart, Dominic Raab, had discussed how the U.K. and the international community could support ASEANs effort to help Myanmar resolve the turmoil there.

Kunnawut Boonreak and Ronna Nirmala contributed to this report from Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Jakarta.
Interview: Expert urges global community to avoid vaccine nationalism, unite for vaccine equity

Xinhua) 10:39, April 08, 2021

ADDIS ABABA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The global community should avoid the growing trend of vaccine nationalism and exert concerted efforts to ensure vaccine equity, an Ethiopian expert has said.

"It is very important that vaccines are promoted globally because you can not just stop the virus in any one given country," Costantinos Bt. Costantinos, professor of public policy at the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Costantinos, who also served as an economic advisor to the African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), said some Western countries have been hoarding vaccines more than they need, resulting in a growing trend of vaccine nationalism.

The expert argued that vaccine nationalism has created what is now called "vaccine apartheid," where poor countries, including those in Africa, were going to be denied, even if they could buy vaccines.

Noting the huge cost of the COVID-19 pandemic both in terms of human lives and the global economy, the expert emphasized the crucial imperative for countries worldwide to join hands for vaccine equity.

"Ultimately, health is the main determinant of the wellbeing of humanity. Whether you talk about food security or national security issues, unless people are healthy it's not going to make sense," he said.

The expert cited China's positive contribution to the global anti-pandemic fight in making its COVID-19 vaccines a global public good.

"China's role has become very imperative in promoting what the WHO (World Health Organization) has been saying from the beginning that vaccines should be available to all vulnerable people across the world, regardless of their geographical location," the expert said.

The expert further commended China's global anti-pandemic contribution, which he said is not only reflected in providing the vaccines but also the provision of protective equipment for medical workers and communities across the globe since the early days of the outbreak.

"China's aim is basically what the global scientists are talking about -- if we don't control the pandemic globally, we can not control it anywhere," he added.

According to Costantinos, China's decision to make its COVID-19 vaccine a global public good would also promote long-term trust across the world, because the health of the world population can not be guaranteed unless everybody stays healthy.

Costantinos, citing recent accusations among countries over vaccine diplomacy, stressed that the issue of vaccines should not be used to serve political interests, but should rather be a common agenda among world countries to ensure the wellbeing of humanity.

"The Chinese measure is a very thoughtful one that is able to arrest the pandemic globally, while the West is thinking about its influence," Costantinos affirmed.

The expert, while anticipating China to continue its efforts in making COVID-19 vaccines a global public good, further called upon the developed world to work towards the betterment and wellbeing of humanity despite geographical boundaries.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The World Bank and the Monetary Fund are planning to launch a platform to advise poor countries on funding climate and conservation activities, amid a broader push that could link such spending to debt relief, according to a draft document seen by Reuters.

The advisers would include U.N. officials, nongovernmental organizations, private investors and even ratings agencies with expertise in sourcing investment, including grants, low- or no-interest loans and conditional debt relief, the document says.

The initiative reflects growing recognition that the economic turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated budget constraints and debt challenges that hamper the ability of some countries to transition to clean energy, protect wildlife or make infrastructural changes to prepare for climate impacts.

"Unlike other initiatives out there that focus on one project at a time, this will focus on systematically changing whole economies," said one source familiar with the initiative, who added that the platform aims for a more holistic approach to "the triple crisis of debt, and biodiversity loss."

In a February interview, World Bank President David Malpass raised the possibility of linking debt relief with investments to combat and reduce fossil-fuel emissions, but provided no further details.

The institutions' discussions toward that goal are detailed in a World Bank paper on debt published on the bank's website on Monday for their annual spring meetings.

It said they are developing an "organizing framework" for connecting debt relief to countries' plans for investing in "green, resilient and inclusive development," or GRID - the bank's newest catchall acronym.

"For countries that are close to their debt limits, financing GRID will require sufficient grants and concessional lending which could be augmented by conditional debt relief or reprofiling," the joint paper said.

The World Bank estimates that over 30 of the world's poorest countries are in or at high risk of debt distress. Three of them - Chad, Ethiopia and Zambia - have requested restructuring of their debts under a common framework agreed last year by China, the world's largest bilateral creditor, and other Group of 20 major economies with the Paris Club of official creditors.

Last month, a separate technical working group began working on the new Debt/Climate/Nature Platform. It will allow public and private sector experts to provide technical assistance and data to countries about possible investments and help them find public and private funding, the paper said.

A second source said planning was still in the early stages, but the goal was to launch the platform late in 2021, with a secretariat to be hosted at the World Bank.

"If unaddressed, or approached in ways that do not take into account macroeconomic vulnerabilities and debt sustainability constraints, and nature loss represent a systemic risk to the global economy," the paper says.

The platform, however, would not replace debt treatment talks under the Group of 20 common framework, the document said. Instead, it could provide advice for how to proceed after any debt relief was agreed.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal in Washington; Editing by Katy Daigle and Matthew Lewis)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mumbai, April 8 : Director Arnesh Ghose of the recently-released short film "Offline" says the fact that the human race has become dependent on technology excites and worries at the same time.

The story of the short film, which dropped on the YouTube, revolves around a widow and her dead husband, with whom she still has a conversation.

"I had been spending quite some time thinking about the concept of 'Offline'. What really excited me and also worried me at the same time was the increased dependency that we as the human race have on technology and the kind of relationships that we have been forming with it. That's when I started developing the story of 'Offline". I have also always been inquisitive about the afterlife and death," said Ghose.

"The point is that people live on even after they are physically over. When someone dies their Facebook account, Instagram account, voice notes, messages, are still in our lives. Like in the film, Manvi, the female lead, is replaying the voice notes and it's so eery, to listen to someone's voice who has passed away. It's almost like a telephone call from the afterlife," the director added.
A 53-year-old Asian woman was the target of a failed robbery Tuesday in San Francisco's Portola neighborhood, police said.

While the woman was walking home from the grocery store Tuesday afternoon, a man shoved her to the ground after attempting to nab her purse, KTVU reported. The incident took place near the intersection of Bowdoin and Silliman streets, a residential part of the city, police said. Her identity was not revealed by police.

San Francisco police told SFGATE that the robbery was unsuccessful despite the woman being shoved, and said the suspect escaped into a getaway car. The identity of the suspect was not disclosed to SFGATE because of an ongoing police investigation.

According to footage obtained by KTVU, the woman was heard screaming while the robbery was taking place.

Her step-son told the news station that she sustained a bloody nose and appeared distressed but did not require immediate hospitalization following the attack.

It is unclear if the woman was targeted for her race; still, its yet another incident of violence against members of the Asian community in the Bay Area. A neighbor who witnessed the robbery from across the street told KTVU that another, similar incident took place just a few weeks earlier targeting another Asian woman.
Rabat, April 8 : Morocco has announced a night curfew during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan in an effort to combat Covid-19 spread.

A government statement issued on Wednesday said that a nationwide night curfew will be implemented from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting from the first day of Ramadan, reports Xinhua news agency.

The previous decisions to contain the spread of the virus will remain, said the statement, referring to the closure of all commercial activities from 8 p.m.

The statement said the night curfew is in line with recommendations from the Scientific and Technical Committee.

Morocco has reported a total of 499,025 confirmed cases, while the the death toll hit 8,865 and the total number of recoveries increased to 485,708.
Huawei president of Consumer Business Group hosted a TEDx keynote in Shenzhen, China, revealing future plans for the companys division of mobile and IoT devices. Dr. Wang Chenglu confirmed that many devices will be able to switch to Harmony OS 2.0 by June 2021.

The executive expects 300 million smartphones, tablets, and other IoT devices to have the Harmony OS by the end of the calendar year.

After the announcement a tipster shared on Huaweis fan forum that the P50 flagship series will be postponed to June so it can become the Harmony pioneer. The flagships will launch alongside the MatePad Pro 2 tablet, which will also run the new OS out of the box.

Earlier reports suggested Huawei and Honor devices that are on EMUI 11 and Magic UI 4 can switch to Harmony OS 2.0. However, some Chinese sources claim it will be only for Kirin-powered devices, meaning phones with a Snapdragon or Mediatek chipsets wont be eligible.



Dr. Wang Chenglu, President at Huawei Consumer Business Group

A Honor 9X unit that is testing Huaweis own OS is already on Beta 3.0, meaning the Chinese manufacturer is going strong with the development of its in-house ecosystem. The software package is also available to P40, Mate 30 and MatePad Pro devices, but only Chinese units for now.

Once Huawei is ready with the implementation at home, then we can eventually hope that one day HarmonyOS 2.0 will go global.

Source 1  Source 2  Source 3 (all in Chinese) | Via 1  Via 2
The returning ex-GIs from World War II little expected that they would fight another armed battle when they arrived back in McMinn County in 1946.

Political corruption and improper government had existed in Athens and Etowah for many years. Citizens complaints of election fraud in 1940, 1942 and 1944 had gone unheeded with no action being taken by the United States Department of Justice after investigations.

In 1936, the Democratic candidate for sheriff from Etowah had won the office as part of the Roosevelt landslide across the country and established the political machines that would lead to the violence in the August 1946 election.

McMinn County had a long history of bribe taking by local politicians, the financing of the McMinn sheriff by a fee system based on the amount of fines collected from often illegal arrests and a pattern of voting fraud by both Democrats and Republicans.

Approximately 3,000 soldiers had fought in World War II from McMinn County. Many of them decided to get involved in the 1946 election in an effort to provide an honest ballot count and reform of county government.

They put forth a slate of political candidates in various offices that would oppose the political machine headed by the local sheriff, Pat Mansfield, and his colleague, Paul Cantrell, who had previously served as the chief law enforcement officer in the county and would again run in 1946 for sheriff.

In opposition, the community put forth an all ex-GI non-partisan ticket.

The politicking became heated and it became obvious that the threat of violence loomed over the upcoming August election.

In the local newspaper, the Daily Post Athenian, on June 17, 1946, one GI speaker said, The principles that we fought for in this past war do not exist in McMinn County. We fought for democracy because we believe in democracy but not the forum we are under in this county.

In an effort to intimidate voters (or keep down violence), Sheriff Mansfield swore in some 200 special deputies to oversee the election.

The most vivid historical depiction of the events of the election is described in a book by C. Stephen Bynum. The Battle of Athens; Parker Productions, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1987.

As expected, violence erupted, one African-American voter was shot in the back, ex-GIs were fired upon and the ballot boxes were seized by the sheriffs deputies and taken to the McMinn County jail for counting. This further enraged the citizens and they placed the jail under siege with the sheriff and approximately 25 deputies inside.

In addition to their individual firearms, the GIs borrowed a set of keys to the National Guard and State Guard Armory and seized three M-1 rifles, five .45 semi-automatic pistols and 24 British certified rifles.

Gun battles took place with varying dispositions. Estimates ranged from a few rounds fired up to over 3,000 as later described by participants and witnesses.

Parties on both sides were wounded and around 2 a.m. on Aug. 2, GIs threw dynamite sticks onto the jails porch causing substantial damage. The deputies immediately surrendered and the GIs took possession of the jail and the ballot boxes were secured.

A count of the election results showed that the GIs candidate for sheriff, Knox Henry, had beaten Paul Cantrell 1,168 votes to 789. Other GI candidates for Circuit Court Clerk, County Trustee and Register of Deeds won by similar margins.

In the aftermath, special deputies were appointed to maintain law and order and citizen patrols consisting of both GIs and citizens were appointed until the general election.

The battle attracted nationwide attention with extensive coverage in the New York Times and other publications.

Both Chattanooga newspapers sent reporters to cover the unfolding story and both of them got heavily involved in the activities.

Times reporter Richard Rogers was seen mingling in the crowd as an outsider and was confronted by one of the ex-GIs and asked about his purpose for being in Athens. He was then escorted into a garage where four deputy sheriffs were being detained. One of the veterans used his wartime intimidation and humiliation tactics and threatened to shoot the deputies. Rogers was later released.

Veteran News Free Press reporter J.B. Collins had a less friendly experience. He was carrying a camera and took an incriminating picture of a deputy sheriff removing a ballot box from one of the voting precincts and replacing it with an identical ballot box containing presumed pro-administration ballots. The original boxes were then taken to the jail for storage.

J.B. took a photo of the illegal exchange of the boxes but his camera was abruptly seized and the film was destroyed denying the printing of this historical picture. He also was incarcerated for about two hours in the county jail.

Reports of the National Guard being mobilized proved to be false as there was reluctance by both the Governor and State Adjutant General in calling out troops to possibly engage in combat with the ex-GIs who had just served their country.

The actions of the veterans in McMinn County was a motivating factor in the creation of the Good Government League in Chattanooga by Attorney Jac Chambliss and others to fight similar machine politics in Hamilton County.

* * *

Jerry Summers



(If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com)
HOUSTON - (April 8, 2021) - Chemical and biomolecular engineer Xue Sherry Gao of Rice University's Brown School of Engineering has won National Institutes of Health support for a new strategy to fight cystic fibrosis.

The agency awarded Gao a four-year R01 grant of more than $2 million to adapt tools developed by her lab that increase the accuracy of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing to repair mutations responsible for the disease that affects 70,000 people worldwide.

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that could be caused by single-point mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that normally regulates chloride and bicarbonate transportation.

Medications for the disease merely help treat the symptoms and have to be taken for a lifetime, said Gao, the T.N. Law Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and an assistant professor of bioengineering and of chemistry.

"The problem is CFTR is a huge gene," she said. "Researchers have checked genetic mutations in this specific gene, and they found there are more than 2,000 variations. Not all of them lead to the disease, but it's believed more than 350 of the mutations cause cystic fibrosis."

While gene therapy often aims to replace an entire faulty gene with a good one, Gao's tools are intended to correct single-point mutations. "Because the gene is so large, it's difficult to use gene therapy to deliver a good copy of CFTR and restore the function," she said. "The technology we want to use is called gene editing. Instead of replacing a gene, we are trying to fix it."

Gao has experience with the concept, having developed gene editing to treat hearing loss from genetic mutations, as described in a 2018 Nature paper. Her 2020 paper introduced tools to fix inadvertently adjacent cytosines in DNA. The editor converts these "bystander Cs" to thymine to repair the mutations.

That work led directly to her plan to repair CFTRs. Gao would employ a nickase Cas9 base editor that cuts one side of double-stranded DNA rather than both for the sake of accuracy and to lessen the risk of off-target edits.

"We also want our base editors to be able to do multiplex editing, because in a given patient gene, there are many different single mutations at various positions," she said.

"And it's not just for treatment," Gao said. "It will also allow us to create a library of cystic fibrosis cell lines we can use to study whether small molecule drugs are effective. We want to achieve a more personalized gene therapy for cystic fibrosis as well as for many other genetic diseases."

Rice's Gang Bao, the Foyt Family Professor and chair of bioengineering and a professor of chemistry and of materials science and nanoengineering, and Anatoly Kolomeisky, a professor and chair of chemistry and a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, are co-principal investigators on the grant.

###

This news release can be found online at https:/ / news. rice. edu/ 2021/ 04/ 08/ bioengineer-wins-nih-grant-to-attack-cystic-fibrosis/

Additional Media Contact:

Mike Williams

713-348-6728

mikewilliams@rice.edu

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.

Related materials:

'Bystander' Cs meet their match in gene-editing technique:

http://news. rice. edu/ 2020/ 07/ 15/ bystander-cs-meet-their-match-in-gene-editing-technique-2/

Engineers enlist fungi to advance against disease:

http://news. rice. edu/ 2020/ 08/ 10/ engineers-enlist-fungi-to-advance-against-disease-2/

Hearing is believing in gene therapy's promise:

http://news. rice. edu/ 2017/ 12/ 20/ hearing-is-believing-in-gene-therapys-promise-2/

The Gao Laboratory:

https:/ / gaolab. rice. edu

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering:

https:/ / chbe. rice. edu/

George R. Brown School of Engineering:

https:/ / engineering. rice. edu

Images for download:

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2021/ 04/ 0405_GAO-1-WEB. jpg

CAPTION: Xue Sherry Gao.

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2021/ 04/ 0405_GAO-2-WEB. jpg

Rice University chemical and biomolecular engineer Xue Sherry Gao, with graduate students Qichen Yuan, left, and Zane Zeng, has won a prestigious National Institutes of Health grant to develop personalized gene editing techniques for cystic fibrosis. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,978 undergraduates and 3,192 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
In recent developments China lashed out at H&M, Nike and among other brands over its policies in its Xinjiang region. Chinese TV stations have found a new way to show support for the controversial way to produce cotton - blurring out Western brand logos in their programmes and various shows and censoring everything from T-shirts to shoes.

The ruling Communist Party in China has heavily down on brands after the United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada imposed travel and financial sanctions on officials accused of abuses in Xinjiang in Chinas northwest. In recent developments China lashed out at H&M, Nike and among other brands over its policies in its Xinjiang region.

Amid a huge backlash in China against Western fashion brands including Adidas, Nike and other clothing brands over Xinjiang cotton row, Chinese TV stations have found a new way to show support for the controversial way to produce cotton  blurring out Western brand logos in their programmes and various shows and censoring everything from T-shirts to shoes. Facing its latest wrath the Swedish multinational clothing-retail brand H&M has agreed to change a problematic map online following Chinese government criticism and backlash.

Reports of arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, sexual violence and forced labor in Xinjiang have been coming out to public knowledge which calls for a necessitated thorough and independent assessment. However earlier too H&M was heavily put down upon by Chinas Youth League when the clothing giant claimed in March 2020 it would no longer buy cotton from Xinjiang. Similarly the various stances of Western fashion retailers over human rights abuses in Xinjiang triggered massive outrage on social media. Prominent Chinese celebrities jumped on the bandwagon and severed ties with several Western brands to express support for Xinjiang cotton.

Earlier US has banned cotton imports from an influential Chinese producer citing that it says uses the forced labour of detained Uyghur Muslims. Foreign researchers and governments say more than 1 million people from predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities are held in detention camps there. According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), the government used an expansive data collection project to arbitrarily detain Uighurs in the region. United Nations experts and advocates say at least 1 million ethnic Uighurs, who are mostly Muslim and speak a Turkic language, have been detained at some point in Xinjiang internment camps.

Also Read: As China tempts Paraguay to severe ties with Taiwan, India steps in to defend Taiwan-Paraguay relations

China has stoop down this low several times using its great expansionist influence and huge market shares and resources and often lashed out at international firms who refused to carry out the Chinese narratives and claims. Bowing to such pressures and left with no choice China, often bullies such brands which makes it more than crucial for the International community about an alternative worlds shift of order and possible solutions to check and balance Chinas ever increasing economic and expansionist prowess.
In a strongly worded message to Tehran, Iranian leaders were asked to rein in Iran-backed militias. The two Iraqi officials said that the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi warned that he would confront the factions if his suggestion was not heeded. The talks were held virtually due to the ongoing pandemic.

Talks between Iraq and US

The statement came during the third round of strategic talks between Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and the United States President Joe Biden. Various issues were discussed during the talks including the presence of US combat forces in Iraq and Iran backed groups outside the state authority. The latest rounds of talks were held due to the pressure of Shiite political factions and militias loyal to Tehran.

These groups lobbied for the remaining US troops to leave Iraq. Pressure also comes from cash-strapped Tehran as it sought dollars for crucial gas and electricity supplies. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Under Secretary of State David Hale participated in the meeting. Mustafa al-Kadhimi is negotiating with the Americans while growing pressure from local militants to Tehran.

Last week, a convoy of heavily central armed Shiite militiamen drove through Baghdad denouncing the presence of the US. They had threatened to cut off Kadhimi's ear. Iraqi officials said that the money is sitting idle in an account at the Trade bank of Iraq due to fear of US. al-Kadhimi has sent a strongly worded letter to Tehran and he has also threatened to announce who backs these groups.

US-Iraq ties plummeted after Washington-directed airstrike in Baghdad last year that killed Iranian Quds Force commander Gen Qassem Soleimani. Shiite lawmakers at that time passed a non-binding resolution to end US troops presence in the country. The Biden administration last month permitted a 120-day sanctions waiver for Iraq to continue importing energy from Iran with maximum time frame allowed.

(Inputs and Image from AP)
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The United States has imposed visa restrictions on two Revolutionary Guard Corps interrogators  the first designations of any Iranian official or entity during the Biden-Harris administration.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on April 8, 2021

2021/04/08

RIA Novosti: According to media reports, a construction site in southeastern Nigeria was attacked by unidentified militants. Two Chinese citizens were kidnapped. Could you confirm and give us some details on what measures have been taken? Is there any plan to evacuate Chinese nationals and diplomats in Nigeria? What steps will be taken to protect them?

Zhao Lijian: On April 5 local time, two Chinese employees of a Chinese funded enterprise in Osun state, Nigeria, were kidnapped. Upon learning of it, the Chinese consulate general in Lagos immediately activated emergency response mechanism, urging the Nigerian police to rescue the hostages and ensure their safety, and guiding the enterprise involved to deal with the situation properly.

We have a number of projects and Chinese funded enterprises in Nigeria, even though the local security situation has never been ideal. We will not resort to evacuation because of some occasional individual cases.

Prasar Bharati: It's going to be around two months since the first round of troops disengagement happened between India and China at the border. Also, it's going to be a month since last talks took place for troops disengagement at other friction areas at the Ladakh border. Can you please share any update as to when the next round of talks is likely to take place and any particular reason for the delay in the talks and the disengagement at the Ladakh areas?

Zhao Lijian: China and India are in contact with each other regarding the 11th round of commander-level talks. There is no such thing as delay in talks as you mentioned.

I'd like to stress that the ins and outs of the China-India border issue are very clear. The responsibility does not rest with China. It is hoped that India will meet with China half way, earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strictly abide by the agreements signed by the two sides, and take concrete actions to further ease the border situation.

HRTN: Today is a special day for Wuhan. At 12 a.m. on April 8, 2020, after 76 days of lockdown, Wuhan lifted outbound transport restrictions. What's the foreign ministry's comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: Today marks the first anniversary of the lifting of lockdown in Wuhan, Hubei Province. The heroic people in Wuhan and Hubei, bearing in mind the greater good, made enormous sacrifice for a national victory over COVID-19 and contributed significantly to the global COVID-19 response. With their concrete efforts day in and day out, the people in Wuhan have demonstrated China's strength and spirit as well as the Chinese people's sense of responsibility to the country as they strove to tide over difficulties in solidarity.

Over the past year, Wuhan has emerged stronger from the most trying of times. As its economy bounces back, fresh vigor and vitality is felt in every corner of the city. I read from reports that by the end of last year, Wuhan's annual economic aggregate had enable the city to resume its previous ranking as one of the top ten cities in China. Some media use keywords such as end of lockdown, going back to work, revitalizing, facial masks, health code, "cloud life" and vaccines to record the days when this city, known for its hot-dry noodles with sesame paste, made strenuous efforts to get its life back to normal in the past year. What Wuhan and Hubei have experienced is the epitome of China's extraordinary journey of fighting the epidemic. The recovery of Wuhan also adds strength and confidence to the global fight against the epidemic.

After COVID-19 broke out, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leveraging its unique strength, sent out a working group to Wuhan to coordinate efforts involving foreign countries like sourcing anti-epidemic supplies for Hubei, receiving international assistance and arranging charter flights. Fighting shoulder to shoulder with the heroic people of Hubei, the ministry made its contribution to winning the battle of defense in Wuhan and Hubei. Now, economic and social activities have been basically restored to normal in Hubei. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will once again draw on its advantages and help boost Hubei's post-COVID development. Yesterday, we announced that a special promotion event for Hubei will be held on April 12 to present to the world a province reborn for new glories and help build new bridges of cooperation linking Hubei to the world. It will mark the resumption of our promotion events in post-COVID time, and will also be the first time for the ministry to promote the same province twice.

As we mark the first anniversary of the lifting of lockdown in Wuhan, let's give our best wishes for an even better tomorrow for Wuhan and Hubei. Welcome to visit Wuhan to try its famous hot-dry noodles with sesame paste and enjoy the view up from the Yellow Crane Tower.

Global Times: According to media reports, 24 scientists and researchers from Europe, the United States, Australia and Japan said in an open letter that the joint China-WHO study into COVID-19 has provided no credible answers about how the pandemic began, and that the study was tainted by politics. Jamie Metzl, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, who drafted the letter, said that "China has databases of what viruses were being held... there are lab notes of the work that was being done...there are all kinds of scientists who are actually doing the work and we don't have access to any of those resources, or any of those people". He said China should disclose information that would allow the lab hypothesis to be disproved. I wonder if China has any comment on that?

Zhao Lijian: This reminds me of the previous so-called "open letter of scientists" that came out on March 4. It was also drafted by Jamie Metzl, a former member of the White House National Security Council and signed by almost the same group of people. The purpose of these two so-called open letters, one issued right before the WHO joint study report was to be made public and the other shortly after the report was released, is obviously to mount pressure on the WHO and the joint mission. These signatories can deceive no one as to whether their letters are meant to make a true proposal for scientific and professional origin-tracing or target a specific country with presumption of guilt.

The Chinese side has provided an abundance of manpower and material support to the joint mission for its origin-tracing study in China. We fully respect and have made every effort to meet the requests independently put forward by the mission as to the places they would like to see. China's openness and transparency is well commended by the mission. The origin-tracing study was indeed affected by political factors, but that did not come from China, but from the United States and some other countries, who are bent on politicizing the origin-tracing issue in an attempt to disrupt China's cooperation with WHO and discredit China. By blatantly questioning the independence and research conclusions of real scientists, they will not only cripple international cooperation on origin tracing, but also undercut global anti-epidemic efforts.

As for the lab hypothesis, experts on the mission all agreed that lab leaking is extremely unlikely, after visiting disease control centers in Hubei and Wuhan, the Wuhan Institute of Virology and various biosafety labs, and after having in-depth, frank and science-based exchanges with their Chinese peers from relevant research institutions. That said, if clues and evidence are found in other parts of the world, that will be quite another matter.

We hope that all parties concerned, including the United States, will adopt the same attitude of science-based cooperation as China, carry out origin-tracing cooperation with WHO, and invite WHO experts for origin-tracing study in their own countries.

I noticed that Russia recently expressed concern once again over the bio-military activities by the US on its own territory including at Fort Detrick and in other countries like Ukraine. This concern is actually shared by many other countries. As China has said repeatedly, relevant US activities are not transparent, safe or justified.

We may take Ukraine for example, which was mentioned by the Russian side. According to openly available reports, the US has set up 16 bio-labs in Ukraine alone. Why does it need to build so many labs all over the world? What activities has the US military been conducting in these labs and the base at Fort Detrick? Why does the US stand alone in opposing the establishment of a verification mechanism under the Biological Weapons Convention? Could it be that there are places within these labs and base where the US dare not allow in international verification?

We once again call on the US to adopt a responsible attitude, earnestly respond to international concerns, offer a full clarification on its bio-military activities at home and abroad, and stop obstructing the establishment of a verification mechanism under the Biological Weapons Convention.

Prasa Bharati: You mentioned about the 11th round of talk between the two countries. Is there any date finalized for this talk? You said that the responsibility lies with India, so India has stated its position that both countries should restore the status quo of 2020. Will China consider this proposal by India in this regard?

Zhao Lijian: I have no more information for you about the specific date of the next round of talks. As for India's proposal you mentioned, that's something for the two sides to discuss in the talks. I have just clearly stated China's position on the China-India border issue.

The Paper: According to reports, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on April 7 that the US has "taken note with great concern the pattern of ongoing PRC efforts and attempts to intimidate in the region, including in the context of Taiwan", adding that "The United States maintains the capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security ... of the people on Taiwan." The US Navy also said in a statement that guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain conducted a routine transit of the Taiwan Strait on the same day, and that "The United States military will continue to fly, sail, and operate anywhere international law allows". Do you have a comment?

Zhao Lijian: The US side falsely accuses China of intimidation and coercion, which have nothing to do with China.

First, on the Taiwan question, who's actually guilty of intimidation and coercion? There is only one China in the world and the Taiwan region is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Government of the PRC is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This is a basic fact recognized by the international community. The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations, an explicit commitment made by the US to China in the three China-US joint communiques, and a red line that cannot be crossed. Lately US warships have frequently sailed to the Taiwan Strait to flex muscles, provoke and stir up trouble, sending gravely wrong signals to "Taiwan-independence" forces and threatening peace and stability across the region. I'd like to ask, have Chinese warships gone to the Gulf of Mexico to flex muscles?

Second, who is truly guilty of intimidation and coercion across the globe? When has the US stopped at mere intimidation and coercion? It has fought no war for only 16 of its nearly 250 years of history. It runs over 800 overseas military bases all over the world. Its military expenditure has ranked top in the world for many years in a roll, accounting for 40 percent of the global total. A report shows that the US has launched 228 military interventions and wars during the three decades since the Cold War ended, which equates to 7.6 each year on average. Citing a tube of laundry powder and a staged video as evidence, it struck Iraq and Syria, both sovereign nations, causing massive civilian casualties and wrecking numerous homes. The US also wantonly wields sanctions as a big stick and arbitrarily imposes illegal unilateral sanctions on other sovereign states. A US senior official once said, "we make mistakes... but we confront challenges... not trying to ignore them". So what the US should do first is apologize to the people of Iraq and Syria and shoulder relevant responsibilities. I'd like to ask, if it fails in doing this, how can the US claim that it always confronts challenges instead of trying to ignore them?

Let me stress once again, China has no intention to intimidate or coerce anyone, but we have no fear for intimidation or coercion, wherever it may come from. China won't be found lacking in either will or capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US should fully recognize that the Taiwan question is highly sensitive, abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, avoid the dangerous path of challenging the bottom line and playing with fire, prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues and refrain from sending any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces to prevent serious damage to its own interests and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

RIA Novosti: Hong Kong opposition activist Nathan Law, who was wanted by Hong Kong police on suspicion of breaking the national security law, said that UK Home Office approved his asylum application. I wonder what's the ministry's comment on UK Home Office granting him asylum?

Zhao Lijian: The individual you mentioned is a criminal suspect wanted by the Hong Kong police. We firmly oppose the harboring of criminals in any form by any country, organization or individual. If the UK openly endorses those seeking "Hong Kong independence" and shelters wanted suspects, it will constitute gross interference in Hong Kong's judicial affairs and a breach of international law and basic norms governing international relations. It will also run counter to the principle of rule of law the UK always claims to advocate. The UK should immediately correct its mistakes and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs which are China's domestic affairs.

Bloomberg: Twitter has launched an emoji for the hashtag #MilkTeaAlliance, which it says has grown into a global pro-democracy movement. Does China have any comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: The organization you mentioned has been biased against China all along based on its anti-China position, to which we firmly oppose.

Bloomberg: We also have a question about Taiwan's announcement that India is providing vaccines to Paraguay. I wonder if the foreign ministry have any comment on that?

Zhao Lijian: It is customary practice for the Taiwan authorities to measure other people's corn by their own bushel.

The virus can spread across borders, but mankind's love also transcends borders. At the request of some countries, China has offered them help with vaccination. This is part of our active efforts contributing to international anti-epidemic cooperation. It is completely above-board. There is a huge difference between this and the despicable trick of Taiwan authorities attempting to buy so-called "international space" with money.

A solemn reminder to the Taiwan authorities: Vaccines should be used to fight the pandemic and save lives, not as a tool for political manipulation. Attempts to take advantage of COVID-19 to seek independence or to pursue "cash diplomacy" are both doomed to fail.
(Natural News) With the globalists/democrats mass extermination endgame for America now quite easy to be seen as they set out upon their course of divide and conquer, this new story over at the Daily Mail that Steve Quayle had linked to on his website on Thursday night warned of what is ahead if we keep traveling down the same road were now traveling on.

(Article by Stefan Stanford republished from AllNewsPipeline.com)

Reporting that Joe Biden and the US have declared their unwavering support for Ukraine at a time when Russia is flooding Crimea with trains full of tanks and escalating tensions, well remind you that according to numerous military experts as well explore within this ANP story, Russia has far surpassed the US military in numerous ways, with their unstoppable hypersonic nuclear weapons a threat to our electrical grid, Americas achilles heal that should it be brought down for any lengthy period of time could lead to our destruction.

With Russia surpassing the US in many ways militarily since Barack Obama was in office, a fact that brain-dead Joe clearly doesnt have a clue about or he wouldnt be rushing America into what could be very well be a war that leads to the deaths of 10s of millions of Americans, we also have to remember that Americas near-complete destruction IS the globalists endgame, with a massively depopulated America at war ushering in tyranny upon our shores on the way to our complete destruction.

So well be taking a look within this story back at the unstoppable nuclear weapons that Russia has accumulated since Barack Obama was in office, with hypersonic nuclear weapons a revolutionary way of war that, should such weapons be launched upon America, wed have no way of stopping with the very real possibility of America being sent back to the dark ages.

Lets first take a look at this March 2021 story over at Defense News before we continue.

Hypersonic weapons are a top priority for the Russian government, a defense analyst with the state-run think tank IMEMO has told Defense News, and with two now fielded, the country is looking into further improving the technology.

The so-called hypersonic technology is essentially an evolutionary development. However, it provides new, combined abilities for missile weapons: increased speed and maneuverability, and improved accuracy, Dmitry Stefanovich said. I cant imagine a person who is responsible for the decision-making in the country and who wouldnt be interested in improving all those features.

By creating hypersonic technology that can overcome missile defense systems, Russia maintains strategic stability and strategic balance, President Vladimir Putin once told Russian news agency Tass in March 2020.

For Russia, hypersonic technology is also a way to avoid a quantitative arms race like the Soviet Union went through during the Cold War, said Viktor Litovkin, a retired colonel and military analyst with Tass. We have no money to get involved in a quantitative arms race. You need to have a little, but the highest quality, which will restrain the adversary, he said.

There are currently two hypersonic missiles with the Russian military: the Avangard and the Kinzhal. The former is a nuclear-capable missile reportedly able to fly faster than 20 times the speed of sound. The first Avangard infrastructure was set up in December 2019.

And as Dr. Peter Vincent Pry had warned in this December of 2020 story (saved at archive), these unstoppable hypersonic nukes could be used to hit America hard with the destructive effect of a bolt from the blue. In fact, such an attack could happen so quickly, most Americans would have absolutely no clue what even hit them.

Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com and NationalSecurity.news.
Image: Canva

We are launching a series on Critical Race Theory. Its an important conversation today, since many are using the description and meaning different things. At the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, we are committed to help Christians know and engage the culture with biblical discernment, so we are launching a conversation with, well, different views. As Christians, we want to think through these things together, and the series will include not just one opinion, but several. We started with a positive framing, and will include others who are more negative, and some in the middle. All will come from evangelicals. And, it is important that we hear from people of color, and, in this series, not all people of color will agree. Its a conversation mature, Christ-like, and God-honoring. We hope it serves you and your church well. To start it off, I asked Sitara Roden from my team to give us a framing article. Now, we are dropping articles, pro, con, and others on a continuum, modeling Christian dialogue and learning. Our first contributor, who will be sharing a three-part article, was Dr. Pat Sawyer, with references to be shared at the conclusion. You can read part one here, part two here, and part three here. Then, we heard from D.A. Horton, as he shares a four-part article of his examination of CRT. You can read part one here, part two here, part three here, and part four here. Now, we will hear from Sherelle Ducksworth. Read part one of her contribution here, and part two below. -Ed Stetzer

In Part I, we walked through four precursors about sociological theory to consider before engaging Critical Race Theory (CRT). Those precursors included understanding that:

Sociological theories are suggestions on how to see the world. Sociological theories show us what to look for in the world. Sociological theories morph into a multitude of ideas and assertions. Sociological theories are descriptive but are used with research orientations that aim at prescribing solutions.

Since CRT traces its lineage to critical theory, it will be helpful to grasp some tenets of critical theory that will help use draw conclusions on how to approach critical race theory.

1. Critical theory utilizes an oppressor/oppressed binary in its investigation and interpretation of the social world.

The roadmap for sociological analysis for critical theory is a fixed binary of oppressed versus oppressor. These two groups exist in conflict, tension, and struggle as the oppressed group seeks liberation and the oppressor group seeks to maintain the status quo and their social dominance. Critical theory challenges the notion that society is fixed in hopes of removing the traditional norms and ideologies that allow the oppressor group to maintain power and privilege.

2. Critical theory is rooted in a desire for activism and social change.

John Macionis defines critical sociology as, and activist orientation that ties knowledge to action and seeks not just to understand the world as it exists but also to improve it.[1] Vern Poythress defines critical sociology as research, which endeavors to highlight the injustices and inequities in a society and to suggest or implement change.[2] In accordance with Marxs critical sociology, critical theory finds no real value in sociological observation that refuses to challenge the status quo. Instead, the consequence of social observation is activism and the end goal of critical theory is social transformation.[3]

3. Critical theory rejects objective social analysis.

Unlike other sociological research orientations such as positivist and interpretive sociology, critical theory rejects the idea that one can participate in sociological research objectively. Instead, researchers necessarily take their own agendas and their social background into their research. John Macionis, in his discussion on critical sociology writes, In making value judgements about how society should be improved, critical sociology rejects Webers goal that researchers be value-free and emphasizes instead that they be social activists in pursuit of greater social equality.[4]

4. Critical theory challenges hegemony in hopes of bringing equity and justice.

One of the goals of critical theory activism is to dismantle hegemony. Hegemony refers to the unjust dominance yielded by the oppressive ruling class that marginalizes the subordinate groups and binds them to an oppressive system.[5] For critical theorists, the purpose of sociological research includes resisting the dominant group and actively seeking social transformation for the sake of freedom, democracy, and equity.

Now that we have explored sociological theory and critical theory, what conclusions can we draw concerning how we engage CRT? CRT is the a theory stemming from both sociological theory and critical theory. Thus, it is important to have some insight into both theories before engaging CRT. In light of the precursors we have discussed before engaging CRT, here are my conclusions.

1. CRT can provide valid suggestions but can also propose rigid and fixed interpretations of the social world.

The binary of oppressor/oppressed is an interpretive deadlock that sets the interpretive agenda disallowing researchers to interpret social patterns through a lens other than oppressor/oppressed. If oppressor/oppressed is the fixed structure of the social world, we risk hindering our social observations to one paradigm and thereby missing other possible explanations for social patterns and phenomenon.

2. We can accept descriptions of the social world proposed by CRT while simultaneously rejecting suggested forms of activism and social change made by critical race theorists.

Because the nature of social theory involves description and critical theory involves an authoritative prescription of action, we can accept descriptions from CRT even if we decide to reject the call to social action. In other words, we can agree with ideas and concepts without taking up forms of activism that conflict with the Christian confession of faith. For example, as a sociologist I believe racism in society is expressed through micro aggressions but there are other sociological theories that I believe offer more adequate solutions than critical race theory.

3. Critical race theory includes a number of individuals and is an evolving discipline.

It is important that CRT is not perceived as a monolith, As these writings demonstrate, there is no canonical set of doctrines or methodologies to which we all subscribe.[6] It is also important to recognize that CRT continues to evolve. Both the diversity and constant evolution of CRT is a warning to Christians to use clarity and specificity when expressing his or her support for CRT. Those who are antiCRT should be sure to present the nuance of the discipline and not choose the most extreme theorists as a representative of the discipline to discredit the movement.

To close this article, I want to offer Christians a few admonishments.

Be charitable in your dialogue. Dont villainize those you disagree with. Be consistent in your application of common grace. Use sola scriptura accurately. And finally, love God and love people.

Image: Sherelle Ducksworth Sherelle Ducksworth is a native of Clarksdale, Mississippi and currently serves as a sociology instructor at Louisburg College in Louisburg, North Carolina. She earned an AA degree in general education from Coahoma Community college, her B.A. degree in sociology from Mississippi Valley State University, her M.S. degree in sociology with a concentration on social stratification from Mississippi State University, her M.A. in theology from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently working on a Ph.d in systematic theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Her and her husband Aaron currently live in Wake Forest, North Carolina and attend Christ Our King Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.

[1] John J. Macionis, Sociology, 15th Edition (Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2014), 22.

[2] Vern S. Poythress, Redeeming Sociology (Wheaton: Crossway, 2011) 285.

[3] It should be noted that critical sociology is a research orientation utilized by critical theorist.

[4] John J. Macionis, Sociology, 15th Edition (Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2014), 41.

[5] Dino Franco Felluga, Critical Theory: The Key Concepts (New York: Routledge, 2015), Introduction, Xxiii.

[6] Kimberele Crenshaw et al., eds., Critical Race Theory: The Key Writings That Formed the Movement (New York: The New Press, 1995), Introduction, xiii.

Further Sources:

Delgado, Richard and Harris, Angela. Critical Race Theory: An Introduction. 3rd ed. New York: New York University Press, 2017.

Denzin, Norman K., ed. The Values of Social Science. United States: Aldine. 1970.

Gilbert, Nigel, ed. Researching Social Life. California: New Sage, 1993.

Kendall, Diana. Social Problems in a Diverse Society. 5th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2012.

Denzin, Norman K., ed. The Values of Social Science. United States: Aldine. 1970.

Royce, Edward. Classical Social Theory and Modern Society: Marx, Durkheim, Weber. New York: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015.
Today, my colleagues at The Chronicle published a story about allegations of sexual assault against Dominic Foppoli, mayor of the Sonoma County town of Windsor and owner of Christopher Creek Winery. The account that investigative reporters Alexandria Bordas and Cynthia Dizikes sketch is harrowing, with alleged incidents involving four women, including rape, that occurred between 2003 and 2019. In one case, a 21-year-old who was interning at a nearby Sonoma County winery claimed that Foppoli attacked her after they met at a party he was hosting at Christopher Creek.

For anyone who follows California wine or local Wine Country politics, this is essential reading. Its not just about one alleged bad actor. Its about a system that allows bad behavior to occur and to go unpunished  where an alleged rapist can not only wield influence through his businesses, but can also gain political power.

The investigation into Foppoli is also noteworthy because its one of the few published accounts of alleged sexual misconduct within the U.S. wine industry. When there have been high-profile allegations in the wine world in recent years, they have mostly pertained to the restaurant side of things, not wineries themselves. The New York Times published accusations against the New York sommelier Anthony Cailan in 2019, and last year published a series of claims against powerful players involved in the Court of Master Sommeliers including Geoff Kruth and Devon Broglie.

Jessica Christian/The Chronicle 2020

But when it comes to wineries  the places where wine is made, not served with meals  there have been just a handful of public reckonings. Years before #MeToo, Napa vintner Mike Grgich was sued by three former employees for sexually inappropriate behavior; the lawsuits were settled out of court. In 2018, more than 20 people described instances of sexual harassment by Canadian winemaker Norman Hardie to the Globe and Mail.

And over the last week, Vermont winemaker Krista Scruggs, a star in the natural-wine world, has faced accusations of sexual misconduct, a saga thats mostly played out on Instagram. Scruggs has denied any wrongdoing. (A more detailed account of the Scruggs story can be found in the VTDigger.)

John Storey / Special to the Chronicle 2018

Each of these episodes contains its own uniquely complicated universe. None of them comes close to conveying the full picture of the American wine industry, which, like many industries, has struggled to shake sexist dynamics. Though studies show women and men drink wine at comparable rates, women are less likely to be in leadership positions in the winemaking industry here. Just 4% of California wineries are owned by a woman, according to Santa Clara University.

Ive thought a lot about this over the last few years  about the ways in which sexual harassment or violence, as well as other forms of exploitation, may be able to appear in wine-centric settings. That becomes especially true when vulnerable people are present, like an undocumented worker or a young foreign intern, who may not be able to easily access resources if something goes wrong. There are more stories to tell; were already working on some of them. If you have thoughts or experiences that you think could inform this conversation, feel free to get in touch.

In the meantime, I hope youll read Alexandria and Cynthias investigation into the mayor of Windsor.

What else Im writing

Esther Mobley / The Chronicle

 If youre not drinking rose, is it even spring? This weeks wine pick is a classically Provencal-style pink wine from winemaker Peter Mathis, who farms a Sonoma Valley vineyard thats planted mostly to Grenache. Its not a challenging or boundary-pushing rose; its just a textbook example of delicate floral aromas, creamy, fresh textures and tangy fruit flavors. Read my full review.

 I wrote about a dispute between Staglin Family Vineyard, the famous Napa winery featured in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap, and neighbors who oppose its proposal to increase its visitation capacity. The situation provides an interesting lens into how high-end Napa wines get sold these days, and how thats changed over time.

 In better news: Theres a fabulous new bar in Fairfax, the laid-back, hippie town in Marin County, with colorful cocktails from an S.F. bar alum. I can attest that it makes the perfect end-of-day pitstop after a hike up Mount Tam. Read my review of Stillwater.

What Im reading

 Big news out of Oregon: Ponzi Vineyards, an esteemed producer in the Willamette Valley, has been purchased by the Bollinger family, of Champagne fame, according to Wine Spectator. Its yet another example of high-profile French investments in Oregon wine.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Preston Gannaway / Special to The Chronicle 2017

 Jackson Family Wines is suing Gallo over trademark infringement, and it isnt the first time. In the 1990s, the two corporations were caught in a battle related to Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay; now, Jackson says that Gallos new Cask & Cream line of wines has copied its brand La Crema, which apparently sold 15 million bottles of wine last year. W. Blake Gray explains the suit and provides an entertaining history of Jackson and Gallos legal squabbles.

 Trousseau, a red grape from Frances Jura region, has become a sought-after grape among U.S. winemakers lately, despite the fact that theres very little of it grown on these shores. In SevenFifty Daily, Sophia McDonald explores Trousseaus rising popularity. (For more Trousseau content, heres a story I wrote last year about some winemakers who are planting it in Mendocino County.)

 A TikTok video of an alleged racially motivated attack against an Asian American man at the North Beach bar Gino & Carlo has gone viral, and its led to a flooding of negative reviews of the bar on Yelp. The Chronicles Vanessa Arredondo has the full story.

Nic Coury / Special to the Chronicle 2019

 Have sour beers primed our palates for other types of sour beverages? Emily Cappiello tracks the increasing sourness of cocktails, wines and even mead in this VinePair story.

 In California, criminal charges against business owners for violating COVID-19 safety procedures have been relatively rare. (We reported on one instance in the Bay Area in September.) Now, a Santa Barbara County wine bar owner faces potential jail time or a $1,000 fine for allegedly ignoring lockdown rules earlier in the pandemic, writes Tyler Hayden in the Santa Barbara Independent.

Drinking with Esther is a weekly newsletter from The Chronicles wine critic. Follow along on Twitter: @Esther_Mobley and Instagram: @esthermob
Best Buddies hosting Friendship Weekend

Best Buddies Connecticut is having a Friendship Weekend: An Art + Sole Experience April 24, and April 25, in the parking lot of Staples High School, 70 North Ave. in Westport. Visit www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org for more information. Visit www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/connecticut to register.

Staples High School announces graduates with high honors

The following 19 students are the Class of 2021 High Honors honorees at Staples High School in Westport: Atlas Elana Rose, Bautista, Andrea, Dantas, Emma Alexis, Even, Hannah Carmela, Everett, Carolyn Hyo-Jeong, Lauterbach, Sophia Carine, Lee, Claire Suna, Lu, Gary Keran, Mandayam, Rishabh Chokkamaman, Montoya, Max William, Nordberg, Konur Erik, Portman, Henry Charles, Redmer, Claire Juliana, Rubin,Simon Abraham, Smith, Teagan Rae, Toglia, Alexander Michael, Webster, Samantha Jade, Wynruit, Nasir Isaiah, Zhang, Charlotte Chenyi.

Westport Young Womans League hosting run, walk

The Westport Young Womans League is hosting its 42nd Minute Man Race run and walk, in its first ever virtual format beginning April 25, and going through May 1 from anywhere. Online registration is now open, and may be accessed by also visiting the leagues website, its Facebook page or through active.com.

Visit wywl.com/grants for more information and to see the 25 organizations the league gave to last spring.

HMG Strategy holding second leadership summit

HMG Strategy, a world leading platform located at 191 Post Road West in Westport, is hosting its 2021 HMG Live! Global Women in Technology Summit April 13. Visit https://hmgstrategy.com/events/cio-summits to learn more, and to register.

HMG Strategy is also hosting a digital roundtable powered by the Zylo Saas Management Platorm, April 14. Visit https://events.bizzabo.com/301287 to learn more, and to register.

Trinity Southport presenting New York jazz ensemble

The Curtis Nowosad Quartet is performing a rare local area concert on the Trinity Episcopal Church front lawn, 651 Pequot Ave., at the corner of Center Street in Southport. April 24, at 3 p.m. The event is open to all members of the community regardless of their religious affiliation. Purchase tickets at www.trinitysouthport.org/music. Visit eventbrite.com to register.

Tax credit program accepting applications

The 2021 Neighborhood Assistance Act Tax Credit Program is currently accepting applications for municipal and tax exempt organizations, Westport Director of Human Services Elaine Daignault announced. Visit the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services website at http://www.ct.gov/DRS, and search for 2021 Neighborhood Assistance Act program for further information about the program.

Staples Music presenting Americas Voices

The Staples High School Music Department, and Westport Public Schools are presenting Americas Voices to third grade through fifth grade Westport students this week. It features different contributions in a variety of arts. Visit staplesmusic.org for more information.

Candidates sought for library board of trustees

The Westport Library and Westports Representative Town Meeting (RTM) are seeking candidates for the librarys board of trustees. Visit www.westportlibrary.org for more information about the role of the library board of trustees. Email a resume, and a letter of interest to Robin Powell, library executive assistant, at rpowell@westportlibrary.org by April 19.

Staples free school fund scholarships available

Applications for college scholarships from the Staples Free School Fund for the 2021-2022 school year are available online at www.StaplesFreeSchool.org through May 7. The school is located at 515 Morehouse Road in Easton. Also visit www.StaplesFreeSchool.org for details. Scholarships granted for the 2020-2021 school year totaled $35,000.

Easton Arts Council presenting online art shows

The Easton Arts Councils annual Youth Art Show is available for viewing online at www.eastonartscouncil.org, with 64 total entries.
MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B++ (Good), the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of bbb and the Mexico National Scale Rating (NSR) of aa.MX of CESCE Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (CESCEM), and its affiliate, CESCE Fianzas Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (CESCEF). The outlook of the Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. Both companies are domiciled in Mexico City, Mexico.

The ratings of CESCEM reflect the companys balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

The ratings of CESCEF reflect the companys balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM.

The ratings of CESCEM and CESCEF also reflect their affiliation with Compania Espanola de Seguros de Credito a la Exportacion, S.A. Compania de Seguros y Reaseguros (CESCE), excellent risk-adjusted capitalization and well-structured reinsurance program. Partially offsetting these positive rating factors are CESCEMs historically negative bottom-line results and the intense competition in Mexicos credit insurance segment. With regard to CESCEF, the aforementioned positive rating factors are offset partially by the intense competition in Mexicos surety segment.

CESCEM is 51% owned by CESCEs subsidiary, Consorcio Internacional de Aseguradores de Credito, S.A. (CIAC), and 49% owned by Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior, a Mexican development bank. CESCEM specializes exclusively in credit insurance. As of September 2020, the company ranked No. 4 in Mexicos credit insurance segment.

CESCEF began operations in 2011 and is wholly owned by CIAC. CESCEF predominantly underwrites administrative surety, and as of December 2020, has a small share of Mexicos surety market. The companys business portfolio is almost completely concentrated in administrative surety, consistent with the rest of the participants.

CESCEM and CESCEF leverage their operations through the underwriting and business expertise of their parent company, CESCE, adhering to its policies and procedures, as well as receiving reinsurance support from CESCE and its affiliates, which is supportive of the financial strength of its Mexican subsidiaries. AM Best considers the risk-adjusted capitalization of each company to be at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Their ERM practices are well-established and limit risk exposures substantially through a conservative underwriting and investment policy, as well as a comprehensive reinsurance program mainly placed with its parent and affiliates, with the remainder placed with high quality counterparties.

CESCEMs ratings factor in its inability to meet its profitability targets, in addition to a highly concentrated and competitive market. Nevertheless, the company has consistently surpassed its business projections, and has started to improve its performance and mitigate expenses. In 2019, CESCEM posted a positive bottom-line result for the first time, generating MXN 4.9 million in net income. Claims decreased significantly, allowing the company to produce a loss ratio of 54.8%, compared with its prior five-year weighted average of 145.6% (as calculated by AM Best). In 2020, the company saw gross written premium growth of 27.8% and a marginally negative bottom-line result. Nevertheless, the companys operating performance continues to show an improvement when compared with historical trends.

CESCEFs risk-adjusted capitalization remains at the strongest level and has been sustained through capital injections in the past years. A capital injection in 2019 offset a net loss that was driven mainly by a large claim. The company posted positive bottom-line results from 2014 to 2018, as a result of an adequate premium volume, low loss ratios and strong underwriting practices. However, surety companies are facing a challenging growth environment, given low volume of public works tenders and the effects of the pandemic. These factors, in conjunction with CESCEFs small market share, increase the vulnerability of the companys business model.

Negative rating actions will occur if the strategic importance of both subsidiaries to its group deteriorates.

Positive rating factors that could result in an upgrade of CESCEMs ratings include substantial improvement in its profitability measures as a result of higher efficiency, improvements in underwriting and the successful strategy implementation for healthier premium growth, in line with risk-adjusted capitalization levels that are supportive of the ratings. Additional factors that could result in a rating downgrade for CESCEM include continued deterioration of operating performance, or if the company fails to meet its commercial or underwriting quality targets to levels that affect its capital base and render its risk-adjusted capitalization to levels that do not support current rating levels.

Positive factors that could lead to an upgrade of CESCEFs ratings are consistently positive operating performance metrics while maintaining the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization. An additional factor that could result in a rating downgrade for CESCEF ratings is negative operating performance that significantly erodes its capital base to levels that are no longer supportive of the current ratings.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Bests Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Bests Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005867/en/

Olga Rubo, FRM

Financial Analyst

+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 134

olga.rubo@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Manager, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Alfonso Novelo

Senior Director, Analytics

+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 107

alfonso.novelo@ambest.com



Jim Peavy

Director, Communications

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Source: AM Best
Daily rates for smaller oil tankers have started to recover after OPEC+ and Saudi Arabia announced they would gradually add around 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude production on the market between May and July.

Tanker owners anticipate a more lucrative second quarter compared to the lowest rates in over a decade seen in Q1, Lloyds List reports. Yet, the industry expects still expects difficulties in the coming months, especially in the supertanker segment.

In the first quarter, tanker rates were impacted by the massive production cuts from OPEC+ and the extra 1 million bpd cut from OPECs top producer and the worlds top crude oil exporter, Saudi Arabia.

The cuts from the OPEC+ group were already hurting the oil tanker market at the start of this year amid reduced availability of seaborne shipments from Saudi Arabia and a rising number of oil tankers available on the market after months of serving as floating storage.

Oil tanker owners and shipbrokers continued to suffer in March and were bracing for low rates for longer than expected after the OPEC+ alliance surprised the oil and tanker markets by deciding to keep oil production flat in April.

Related Video: Irans Oil Exports Render Sanctions Irrelevant

Now that OPEC+ has decided to put more crude on the market between May and July, tanker rates for smaller vessels are rebounding. However, some of the larger tankers continue to see negative freight earnings, according to Lloyds List.

As per Lloyds List Intelligence data, exports from the Middle East slumped by 9 percent in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period of 2020. Exports dropped to 17.6 million bpd from 19.3 million bpd for Q1 2020. The exports in Q1 2021 were at their lowest level since 2010, according to Lloyds List Intelligence data.

Tanker firms see better times ahead, compared to earlier this year. Nordic American Tankers Ltd, for example, said this week in comments on the opening of the Suez Canal that Long before the Suez Canal was closed, we saw a strong increase in rates for our Suezmax tankers which can load one million barrels.

There is a strong drive in the market, indicating an improvement in the time to come, said Herbjorn Hansson, founder, chairman, and CEO of Nordic American Tankers Ltd.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

The Coincidence of OppositesThe Only Antidote to War

April 7 , 2021 (EIRNS)The old, macabre joke goes: Do you know how to make Ukrainian chicken soup? You put a bunch of Ukrainians in a pot, and then you feed them to the chickens. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, perhaps unwittingly, is placing Ukraine in a big, steaming pot, getting hotter by the minute, under the illusion that the NATO of 2021 will not behave as the Atlantic Alliance of 1956 did, in the case of Hungary. Not that NATO should even now exist: after all, even the most obsessed geopolitician will concede that the Atlantic Ocean is a long way from the Black Sea.

Russian officials have almost sympathetically observed that Zelensky may not even have control over the crazies from the Ukrainian military now bombing villages near Donetsk. Sen. Vladimir Jabarov, first deputy chairman of the Federation Councils international affairs committee, told TASS: If ( Zelensky) thinks that NATO will agree to defend him, should he enter into a conflict with Russia, he is very wrong. May he give a call to [Georgias former President Mikheil] Saakashvili and ask him for advice. He will tell him how it happens.

Russian President Vladimir Putin not only made Russias position clear to Angela Merkel and Frances Emmanuel Macron in a phone discussion. Putin also held a phone call with Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil. Whatever else they discussed, the two presidents are known to have engaged in the type of vaccine diplomacy that the Schiller Institutes Committee for the Coincidence of Opposites has encouraged. The Brazil coronavirus catastrophe, dealt with by Bolsonaro so far in the same way the doomed Prince Prospero bid defiance to contagion in Poes Masque of the Red Death, may be the single greatest crisis in that nations historyso far. But axioms also fall prey to plagues. A new path forward is required, and available.

Yesterday, Chinas Xi Jinping spoke to Germanys Angela Merkel about his vision of economic development. He elicited her stated intention that strengthening the EU-China dialogue is beneficial to the world. Merkel said that Germany is willing to play a positive role in this regard. Chinas support for El Salvador, sending more than 2 million doses of vaccine to that nation of 6.4 million, and its collaboration with Cuba in the creation of the Pan-Corona vaccine, one of five now being worked on in that terrorist nation of 11 million, is yet another example of Russia and China doing in South America what the United States, in the image of Kennedys Alliance for Progress and FDRs Good Neighbor policy, might have been expected to do.

The potential for a Worldwide Anti-Malthusian Alliance is also in evidence in the recent defense of the continent of Africa by Indias Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh on March 31:

You have 800 million African people who do not have access to electricity. We (India) will achieve whatever has to be achieved because we get investments. What about those (African) countries?... Those countries will develop, and that will require more steel, and they will make that; it will require more cement; and they will make that.... And you cant stop it.... They also want to build skyscrapers. They also want a high standard of living for their people.

His words echoed the words of Fred Wills at the Schiller Institute 1988 New Bretton Woods Conference, regarding the aspirations of the original 1955 Non-Aligned Movement, of which India was a leading part: We believed in those days, and we still do, that life is the fundamental essentiality of natural processes. Life has to come into existence, life has to survive, life has to grow, life has to develop. We were sure then, and I am sure now, that the assumptions of present existence are unacceptable.

From Switzerland, Marc Chesney, head of the department of banking and finance at Zurich University, warned about a coming blowout of the financial system and called for re-introduction of bank separation. Even the Swiss GDP is now mortgaged 26,000 times over in the derivatives markets. How can one believe that bank customers in Switzerland must cover risks for 26,000 times the national output? Chesney also pointed out that perhaps twice the amount of financial liquidity flows into the hands of Amazons Jeff Bezos every day, that circulates in the hands of 1.3 billion Africans in the same 24-hour period. Not real wealth, true, but a manifestation of the true imperial/colonial nature of the financial Great Reset, nonetheless. Productive credit in the trillions, flowing into the physical production necessary to rapidly assemble a multi-tier world health platform, and its coexistent water, power and transportation support capable of defeating the impending outbreaks of disease, including new strains of disease, can and must be organized.

Presidents and representatives of Russia, China, and India have all asserted sovereignty and sanity in the last week. Where is the United States in all this? There must be a change in the prevailing axioms. There are two immediate ways to attack this. First, we must intensify the campaign to deploy retired Col. Richard Blacks courageous JAccuse with respect to the United States militarys collusion in the destruction of Syria through population war, otherwise called sanctions. Cardinal Mario Zenaris full statement is available through Exaudi, a Catholic news agency, and we should continue to collect statements of support for it. Second, the rapid, surgical distribution of The LaRouche Organizations Great Leap Backward pamphlet in the next days prior to the Biden Earth Day April 22-23 Malthusian confab, can catalyze a seismic reaction in this country to the climate change fraud that no one would right now suspect.

Not that the LaRouche effect would peak,  and then decline after April 22. Rather, the intent is to induce an intensifying process of deliberate rejection of the anti-Russia/China propaganda machine operated through the British Joint Threat Research Intelligence Group (JTRIG), a once-secret unit of the signals intelligence agency Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), and its junior partner, the Global Engagement Center (GEC), which has targeted, using updated Tavistock Institute methods, any organization and many individuals that pose a threat to the global depopulation agenda, including the LaRouche Organization. The final words of LaRouches The Science of the Human Mind put our present challenge best: Mental health is, like scientific discovery, always polemical in character. Truth exists only in the form of polemics against Evil and falsehood.
LAKE COUNTY -- FiveCAP, Inc., a rural Community Action Agency serving residents in four Michigan counties, has helped low-income families get running water in their homes through a life-changing Water/Plumbing Assistance Program with funding made possible by the CARES ACT.

A disabled veteran and his school-aged daughter living in rural Michigan lost the source of water to their home in 2019 when the casing on their well failed. It couldn't be fixed and they couldn't afford a new one.

A man who inherited his small home when his father died had no running water because he couldn't keep up with the high cost of fixing broken plumbing and septic issues.

A rural family was still living without running water in their home five years after their well went dry.

These are not isolated cases, says Mary Trucks, executive director of FiveCAP, a community action agency that helps residents in Manistee, Mason, Lake and Newago Counties transition from living in poverty to becoming economically independent. Trucks can tell you stories of at least two dozen more homeowners in her region who were coping with similar problems this fall.

"So many of our rural residents have an annual income of less than $12,880, which is the federal poverty level," she explains. "Often they've inherited their rural home or they bought it on a land contract. They have a place to live, but they don't have the wherewithal to make expensive repairs or to replace things such as the well or septic tank. Most of the residents are elderly or disabled or both, and their only income is social security."

They are resourceful. They haul in jugs of water filled at the homes of friends or relatives who may let them shower there too. Some have access to a shower where they work or they use the facilities at a local senior center.

Others, in warm weather, use the outside faucet at gas stations to shower and wash clothes. Rainwater is often collected for washing dishes, and the left-over wash water is used to flush toilets.

The FiveCAP Community Needs Assessment showed there are an estimated two hundred households in the FiveCAP service area that lack complete plumbing. It's a hardship, to be sure. But when COVID-19 moved into Michigan, living without water or plumbing quickly escalated to a critical matter of health and safety.

In August, FiveCAP received $115,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funds specifically to address plumbing and water issues of low income homeowners. Marisela Lugo-Gonzalez, director of FiveCAP's weatherization and housing program, began making phone calls to well-drillers and plumbers, knowing their schedules were already full and that the grant expired December 31.

"The response from contractors was very gratifying," says Lugo-Gonzalez. "They understood the urgency. They know FiveCAP and what we do for the community's residents. They wanted to make time for the twenty-seven clients living under the federal poverty level who applied for the assistance and were approved, and we were able to reassure contractors that because of the grant, they would be paid quickly."

By October, wells were being dug, septic systems were functioning, and indoor plumbing leaks were being repaired. Some wells had to be dug to a depth of 200 feet, at a cost of more than $9,000 each.

November and December were mild so the outdoor work continued.

January rolled in warmer than average. A blessing Trucks says. She also received notice that the grant was extended to February 15. Racing against time and weather, the work continued.

Then, in early February, a Polar Vortex abruptly pushed Michigan's temperatures into single digits. The ground froze. The work stopped.

Twenty-one grateful households had running water, working septic systems and plumbing up to code.

When the grant expired, $22,000 was left of the funding and had to be returned, and six households remained on the waiting list.

"When we think about water issues faced by people with low incomes, we usually assume they can't pay their monthly water bill," says Trucks, "but rural residents have to maintain a well and septic system or go without. They don't have the option of hooking up to municipal water and sewer lines. They often have conditions of poverty that are hidden, and this program brought to light what they have to do to get by."

"Twenty-one households now have what they need," she adds, expressing gratitude for the contractors who made it happen. "Twenty-one families had no reason to hope for help, but this program came along and changed their lives."

FiveCAP is one of more than 1000 community action agencies in the country established out of President Lyndon B. Johnson's landmark Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, and the advocacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The organization provides a range of services including early childhood education, food and nutrition programs, affordable housing, weatherization of existing homes, and emergency assistance, all aimed at offering individuals and families with limited income the opportunity to become socially and economically self-sufficient.
[April 07, 2021] $ 334.41 Million Growth Expected in Machine Condition Monitoring Sensors Market- Featuring Key Vendors Including AB SKF, Connection Technology Center Inc., and Emerson Electric Co. | Technavio

NEW YORK, April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Technavio announces the release of its latest report on the machine condition monitoring sensors market. The market is segmented by end-user (oil and gas industry, power industry, aerospace, and defense industry, chemical and petrochemical industry, and other industries) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA). The report offers an in-depth analysis of recent developments, changes in market regulations, product approvals, product launches, and the market behavior across various segments. Download Free Sample Report Instantly Machine Condition Monitoring Sensors Market: Key Findings Machine condition monitoring sensors market value to grow by USD 334.41 million at over 4% CAGR during 2020-2024

at over 4% CAGR during 2020-2024 Based on the end-user, the oil and gas segment will offer maximum opportunities for vendors during the forecast period

segment will offer maximum opportunities for vendors during the forecast period Based on the geography, APAC dominated the market with a 32% share in 2019

dominated the market with a 32% share in 2019 The machine condition monitoring sensors market is expected to have a negative impact due to the spread of COVID-19 Machine Condition Monitoring Sensors Market: Growth Drivers The rise in demand for wireless vibration sensors is one of the prime factors driving the growth of the market. End-users in the market are exhibiting high demand for wireless vibration sensors owing to their cost-effectiveness as they eliminate the need for laying cables and wires. They are also capable of operating in remote and hazardous environments. This improves productivity and ensures the safety of both humans and machines. Many such benefits are driving the demand for wireless vibration sensors, which, in turn, is driving the growth of the market. "Surging deployment of sensors in aging infrastructure and rising adoption of machine condition monitoring systems in APAC will further boost market growth during the forecast period", says a senior analyst at Technavio./i>



Develop Smart Strategies for Your Business: Get a Free Sample Report Now! Machine Condition Monitoring Sensors Market: Major Vendors

AB SKF: The company offers products such as CMSS 2100, CMSS 2100T, and other machine condition monitoring sensors. Connection Technology Center Inc.: The company offers temperature sensors, hazardous area sensors and barries, low-velocity sensors, and other products. Emerson Electric Co.: The company offers products such as AMS 9420 Wireless Vibration Transmitter, A0322RM, A0394DI, and others. Honeywell International Inc.: The company offers products for temperature loss, fluid flow, temperature rise, and other applications. ifm electronic GmbH: The company offers a wide range of machine condition monitoring sensors such as systems for vibration monitoring and others. Related Reports on Industrials Include: Global Industrial Vibration Sensor Market  Global industrial vibration sensor market is segmented by product (displacement sensor, acceleration sensor, and velocity sensor), end-user (process industries and discrete industries), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, MEA, and South America). Receive an Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Medium Voltage Motors Market  Global medium voltage motors market is segmented by product (AC motors and DC motors), end-user (process industries, discrete industries, and HVAC), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America). Receive an Exclusive Free Sample Report 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. Contacts

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Website: www.technavio.com/

Report: www.technavio.com/report/machine-condition-monitoring-sensors-market-industry-analysis View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/-334-41-million-growth-expected-in-machine-condition-monitoring-sensors-market--featuring-key-vendors-including-ab-skf-connection-technology-center-inc-and-emerson-electric-co--technavio-301264602.html SOURCE Technavio

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Lev Gottlieb Wins Two GG Spring Festival Events in One Day!

April 08 2021 Matthew Pitt

Most poker players would be content with winning a single GG Spring Festival event. Lev "LevMeAlone" Gottlieb is not one of those players. Gottlieb not only won the $10,300 Super MILLION$ event for $586,074, he took down the $10,300 Super Tuesday for $320,729 on the same day!

The 312-strong Super MILLION$ crowd were whittled to the final table of nine on April 3, with those nine players returning to the action at GGPoker on April 6. Gottlieb held the chip lead as the final table shuffled up and dealt, but he still had a lot of work ahead of him to take the tournament down.

Aliaksei Boika fell in ninth-place at the hands of "ILUCKuHARD" before Andrea Datobusted in eighth-place and collected the final five-figure prize of the tournament.

Follow the GG Spring Festival LIVE Don't miss a beat! Follow ongoing live coverage of the biggest GG Spring Festival events right here on PokerNews. Click Here

Argentina's Damian Salas 10 big blind three-bet all-in with pocket nines did not go to plan because Pedro Garagnani looked him up with the superior pocket tens. Game over for Salas.

The final table became a little less shark-infested when the dangerous Christian Rudolph ran his ace-six into the dominating ace-queen held by Juan Pardo Dominguez. Rudolph's Spanish executioner could not put those chips to good use because he was the next player out of the door.

Each of the remaining four players locked up a quarter of a million dollars and were only three bust outs away from more than $580,000.

Jordan "PiePie" Cristos bowed out with pocket sevens against Gottlieb's nines, and heads-up was set almost immediately after when Lipp ran a triple barrel bluff against Garagnani only to discover his opponent had turned a straight.

The chip stacks were quite even going into heads-up, but Gottlieb won the key hands and soared into the lead. The final hand took place at the 175,000/350,000/45,000a level, and saw Garagnani open-shove for 3,267,450 with queen-jack. Gottlieb woke up with aces, and made the easiest call of his career. Garagnani improved to trips by the river, but Gottlieb's aces turned into a full house. Victory number one was secured.

GG Spring Festival Event H-05: $10,300 Super MILLION$ Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Lev "LevMeAlone" Gottlieb Mexico $586,074 2 Pedro Garagnani Brazil $451,926 3 "ILUCkuHARD" Austria $348,482 4 Jordan "PiePie" Cristos United States $268,717 5 Juan Pardo Dominguez Spain $207,209 6 Christian Rudolph Germany $159,780 7 Damian Salas Argentina $123,207 8 Andrea Dato Italy $95,006 9 Aliaksei Boika Belarus $73,259

Relive the Super MILLION$ Final Day's Action

Gottlieb Takes Down Second $10K Event of the Evening

The $10,300 Super Tuesday attracted a field of 141 entrants and it only took 9.5 hours to see all but one fall by the wayside. Gottlieb was the last person standing once again.

As you can imagine, the final table of this tournament was just as stacked with talent as the Super MILLION$ he won earlier. Fabrizio Gonzalez crashed out in ninth place, and "QuantumKey" of Croatia and the in-form Joakim Andersson followed suit.

Shawn Daniels's exit in sixth-place secured him a $76,057 payout, with David Peters netting $101,423 when he slipped up in fifth.

Christian Rudolph, who earlier finished sixth in the Super MILLION$ for $159,780, scooped an additional $135,250 here when his tournament ended abruptly in fourth.

High stakes guru Timothy Adams bowed out in third for $180,359 to leave Joao Vieira and Gottlieb heads-up. Gottlieb clinched the title and the $320,729 top prize, leaving Vieira to walk away with $240,513.

GG Spring Festival H-15: $10,300 Super Tuesday Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Lev "LevMeAlone" Gottlieb Mexico $320,729 2 Joao Vieira Portugal $240,513 3 Timothy Adams Canada $180,359 4 Christian Rudolph Germany $135,250 5 David Peters United States $101,423 6 Shawn Daniels Mexico $76,057 7 Joakim Andersson Sweden $57,035 8 QuantumKey Croatia $42,770 9 Fabrizio Gonzalez Uruguay $32,073
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Thesis Gold Inc. (TSXV: TAU) ("Thesis" or the "Company") has reviewed historical induced polarization (IP) geophysics against surface geochemistry, drilling, and ground magnetics to produce a geophysical matrix that describes gold mineralization across the Ranch Property, located within the prolific Golden Horseshoe of north-central British Columbia, Canada.

Drilled zones with robust gold mineralization are characterized by coincident linear magnetic lows, strong resistivity, and moderate to strong chargeability responses (Figure 1 & 2). Thesis has identified eight untested target zones within the 6.65km2 IP survey area (50 m line spacing) based on geophysical responses associated with gold endowment that merit follow-up work during the upcoming field program. Less than 4% of the property area has IP coverage, including several of the linear magnetic features that represent gold-bearing structural corridors.

Ewan Webster, President and CEO, commented, "The historical IP data was evaluated over existing drilling to establish a geophysical matrix specific to gold mineralization. There is excellent correlation between the newly delineated geophysical matrix and previously drilled gold-bearing zones. The identification of eight additional targets with the same geophysical fingerprint as existing mineralized zones is well beyond our expectations. The IP survey was acquired in 2007, after the historical drilling on the project, and therefore was never utilized for drill targeting. We look forward to using this IP data during the 2021 drill campaign with much anticipation."

Gold mineralization on the project is associated with silica-sulphate and silica-sulphide bodies that are flanked by argillic alteration zones, typical of high-sulphidation epithermal deposits. The pervasive silica alteration generates a strong resistivity response and the associated sulphide mineralization and argillic haloes in turn provide a moderate to strong chargeability response (Figure 1). This coincident geophysical response has identified eight new targets that extend from surface to a vertical depth of over 300 metres and can have widths in excess of 1,000 metres, these targets may reflect substantial zones of alteration. To evaluate these new targets a field-based exploration program will focus on soil and rock sampling in addition to detailed geological mapping to delineate drill targets for the Company's 2021 program.







Figure 1: 2007 IP Data a) Chargeability response at Bonanza against trench gold assays, b) untested coincident chargeability-resistivity-magnetic anomalies over IP chargeability, c) Resistivity response at Bonanza against trench gold assays, d) untested coincident chargeability-resistivity-magnetic anomalies over IP resistivity

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2191/79788_thesis.jpg







Figure 2: 2007 IP survey area over ground magnetics, with newly identified geophysical targets.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2191/79788_4b50a6433498a9f7_003full.jpg

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc, P.Geol., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Thesis Gold Inc.

"Ewan Webster"

Ewan Webster Ph.D., P.Geo.

President, CEO and Director

About Thesis Gold Inc.

Thesis Gold is a mineral exploration company focused on proving and developing the resource potential of the 17,832-hectare Ranch Gold Project located in the "Golden Horseshoe" area of northern British Columbia, approximately 300 km north of Smithers, B.C. For further details about the Ranch Gold Project, please refer to the Company's current geological Technical Report dated September 18, 2020 available under the Company's profile on SEDAR 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 press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings, and the future plans or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

For further information:

Nick Stajduhar

Director

Telephone: 780-701-3216

Email: nicks@thesisgold.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79788
University police charged James Bowes Higgins with aggravated assault on November 17

A University of Mississippi student was charged with aggressive assault after allegedly spraying cleaning products, potentially bleach, into the mouth of a fraternity pledge during a hazing ritual and damaging his esophagus.

University police charged James Bowes Higgins with aggravated assault on November 17.

Adam Peavy, a lawyer for the injured student, said his client suffered serious internal injuries and may need surgery after a cleaning product, possibly bleach, was sprayed into the 20-year-old's mouth.

The hazing allegedly took place last October where pledges were supposed to receive fraternity pins at the Pi Kappa Alpha house in Oxford.

A student who witnessed the incident told a university police officer that pledges were blindfolded with their neckties and made to sit in a hallway. Active members then 'yelled, screamed, threw liquids and things' on the pledges, and made them squat against the wall while reciting phrases, a police report states.

According to the police report, Higgins, a fraternity member, 'grabbed a bottle of bleach or surface cleaner and started spraying it on a few pledges.'

The report says that some of the pledges began vomiting from inhaling the cleaning product, and one pledge had to go to the hospital when bleach got into his eyes.

According to his attorney, the 20 year-old was sprayed in the mouth and suffered burns to his throat during the hazing.

Peavy said at one point someone asked his client if he wanted water but instead sprayed cleaner into his mouth, with the student swallowing 'two or three gulps.'

The student immediately began vomiting and went to the hospital the next day when vomiting continued.

Since the incident, his attorney says the 20-year-old has gotten 'progressively worse,' and still can not eat most solid foods.

He says the student has dropped 50 pounds since the incident and may have to remove a section of his esophagus and relocate his stomach.

Peavy says as a result of his injuries, the 20-year-old is now at higher risk for cancer and other medical problems.

The alleged victim's mother told WMC 5 Action News 'he has a lifelong battle on his hands'

The hazing allegedly took place last October where pledges were supposed to receive fraternity pins at the Pi Kappa Alpha house in Oxford

The victim, who has not been named, is still enrolled at Ole Miss and currently a member of the fraternity.

His attorney said legal action is being prepared to hold anyone involved in the hazing incident accountable.

According to The Mississippian, Peavy has not determined who will be named as defendants in the lawsuit, but possible defendants include the university chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha, the national organization and the student who allegedly sprayed the bleach in Jackson's mouth.

'No parents send their kid to college thinking they're going to get blindfolded and poisoned  It's unconscionable,' Peavy told the Mississippian.

'I am outraged by this incident, and we extend our heartfelt support and deepest sympathy to the victim,' said Charlotte Fant Pegues, Ole Miss interim vice chancellor for student affairs, said in a statement, adding that hazing will not be tolerated.

Ole Miss officials said they suspended a student in the case, although they didn't name Higgins. The fraternity's international office said the person accused of the assault was expelled from Pi Kappa Alpha.

A grand jury has yet to decide whether to indict Higgins. The next Lafayette County grand jury meeting is scheduled for June. Mickey Mallette, an assistant district attorney in Lafayette County, declined to comment.

The fraternity has been in the spotlight in Ohio after a pledge died in March at Bowling Green State University. School officials said members gave pledges alcohol at an off-campus event on March 4 and encouraged each to finish an entire bottle. Stone Foltz, 21, was found unconscious and died three days later.

The university placed the chapter under interim suspension. Bowling Green State has said it is also investigating individual students and that law enforcement agencies could consider criminal charges.

Ole Miss fraternities have been closed in the past after hazing problems. Sigma Alpha Epsilon indefinitely shut down its Ole Miss chapter in 2017. Ole Miss in 2018 shut down a chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha for three years.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Oct. 13, 2020. (Samuel Corum/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Replace Confucius Institutes With Censorship-Free Alternatives, GOP Lawmakers Urge

Republican lawmakers this week urged the Department of Education to look to Taiwan to provide censorship-free alternatives for teaching Mandarin and Chinese culture on U.S. campuses, in place of Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-funded Confucius Institutes (CI).

In a letter (pdf) to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) led a group of more than 20 lawmakers in calling on the department to pay attention to concerns regarding the presence of CIs at American institutions of higher education (IHE).

Billed as language and culture centers, the Beijing-funded CIs have drawn intense scrutiny over their role in spreading Chinese propaganda and stifling academic expression across college campuses around the world. Theyre funded and largely staffed by Hanban, a nonprofit that claims to be nongovernmental but is directly controlled by the CCP, according to a report by the Senate Homeland Security Committees investigations subcommittee (pdf).

Steel and Blackburn are leading the expansion of the U.S.Taiwan Education Initiative, which was established by the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in December 2020. The initiative seeks to develop more programs to teach the Mandarin language on U.S. campuses.

We urge the Department of Education (DOE) to explore censorship-free alternatives to support the instruction of Mandarin language and Chinese culture, specifically those offered by Taiwan, the signatories wrote.

U.S. officials under the Trump administration criticized CIs over concerns that the institutes spread communist propaganda, restrict academic freedom, and facilitate CCP espionage in U.S. classrooms.

According to the National Association of Scholars (NAS), as of March 25, a total of 50 CIs currently exist in the country, including eight that are scheduled to close. Of these, 44 are at American colleges and universities and one is at a private educational organization, the China Institute. There are also five CIs at K12 public school districts.

Separately, 74 such institutes have so far closed or are in the process of closing, according to NAS.

As IHEs take prudent steps to mitigate the malign aspects of Confucius Institutesoften through their closurein a globalized world, there remains high student demand for studies relating to Mandarin language and Chinese culture and history, the group said.

Taiwan can help the U.S. meet that demand. Learning Mandarin from Taiwanese teachers means learning Mandarin in an environment free from censorship or coercion, according to the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, the lawmakers added.

Boosting the U.S.Taiwan Education Initiative will help safeguard academic freedom at Americas IHEs, they said.

The DOE didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG) Jean Damascene Bizimana, has said that there is overwhelming evidence to indicate that the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was planned years before and narratives aimed at changing this fact will never prevail.

Bizimana said this during an event to officially kick off the 27th commemoration of the genocide. The seven-day official national mourning period ends on April 13 although remembering victims stretches up to July, spanning the 100 days of the massacre.

Bizimana, a legal expert and researcher, said that remembering is important because it aids rebuilding.

"We must remember the history of the atrocities committed against the Tutsi because that will help us to fight those who undermine it," he said.

He reminded that the MRND and Parmehutu political manifestos, which successive previous regimes worked hard to propagate within local communities, was solely based on ethnic divisionism.

"In its planning, (Gregoire) Kayibanda's Parmehutu never had Rwandans in mind. MRND that replaced it in 1973 continued the legacy. The ideology of these parties are the deepest roots of the genocide against the Tutsi," he said.

He gave a chronology of events, some which he said point directly to the genocide ideology stretching as far back as the 70s.

He reminded those in attendance that on May 1, 1998, Jean Kambada who led the government that executed the genocide told the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that his government put into action the plan to kill Tutsis that was planned before the downing of the plane that was carrying President Juvenal Habyarimana.

"He said that as the Prime Minister, he chaired meetings that gave specific instructions to members of the cabinet, the army and senior government officials to execute the genocide and do follow-ups on how it was being done," he said.

Kambada confirmed that he sent ministers all over the country to mobilise locals to hunt down the Tutsi.

Bizimana pointed out another example where two weeks into the Genocide, the President at the time, Theodore Sindikubwabo and Kambanda went to the southern regions of then Butare and Gikongoro prefectures to mobilise residents to participate in the killings since many of the people in those areas were hesitant.

At the time, the residents in this area, especially in Butare, were reluctant to kill.

Another example was delivered in a speech by President Sindikubwabo on April 18, 1994 in Commune Nyakizu and where he used his speech to call on the residents to "work the way they did in 1959" promising to send them a prize for their efforts.

"For a President to call on people to kill others, promising them a prizes for that, is more evidence of the involvement of the government in the planning and execution of the genocide," he said.

He warned those that continue to insist that the genocide was not prepared, trying to find other names to call it to water down its seriousness, and reminded them that they are 'deceiving themselves and lies don't last'.

The reluctance to participate in the massacre, Bizimana said was the work of the Prefet of Butare Prefecture at the time, Jean Baptiste Habyarimana, who openly opposed the killing of Tutsis.

He was later replaced on the orders of Sindikubwabo and replaced by a more virulent Prefet who immediately set the killing machine rolling. Habyarimana was soon after killed with his entire family.

Among the people who were put in charge of supervising the killings in Butare was the then Minister of Women and Family Affairs, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

She remains the only woman to be tried and convicted for genocide crimes by an international court.

Call on youth

Meanwhile, Bizimana pointed out that those who demean and deny the genocide deliberately distort the history which characterised it, because of their own involvement or that of their parents.

"Young people born in a well-governed country are saddened by this history. They do not understand how the previous governments asked people to kill others with whom they shared their motherland," he said.

However, he said that Rwandan youth are today involved in the fight against the Genocide ideology in all its manifestations, and they are participating in a better struggle to support the good governance in Rwanda.

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"This gives us all hope for a better future," he said.

Great opportunity

Earlier in the day, the Executive Secretary of Ibuka, the umbrella body for genocide survivors' organisations, Naphatal Ahishakiye, told The New Times in a telephone interview that though it may be hard to adapt to the new routine, it is also an opportunity for family units to sit and openly discuss what happened.

"Obviously it is tough, but it can also be seen as an opportunity. A man, woman and their children should see this as an opportunity to have frank conversations about how we got here and what to do so that such atrocities never happen again," he said.

Addressing the survivors directly, Ahishakiye said that although they may find it challenging to deviate from the norm of how they usually commemorate their loved ones, it was important that they put their health first in everything.
DENVER, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 2019, the cost of ransomware attacks on businesses nearly doubled[1] to $20 billion per year. Attackers have become more sophisticated and traditional mitigation efforts often fall short in their ability to stop the threats before they hit.

Ransomware has had explosive growth recently, and the demand for skilled infosec professionals far exceeds supply. Tweet this Ransomware attacks on the rise. Lumen's Ransomware Assessment Program designed to fight ransomware attacks before they strike.

To help businesses fight back, Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) has launched a new Ransomware Assessment Program as part of its extensive suite of Professional Security Services. The new ransomware service helps customers assess their security posture, minimize the likelihood of ransomware infections, and improve resiliency and negative impacts in the event of an attack.

Key Features:

The specific features of the Lumen ransomware offering include:

Assessment

Black-, white- or gray-box scanning



Regularly scheduled re-scans of internal and external IPs to monitor progress over time



Designated consultant to advise on technical measures to reduce risk



Evaluation of Security Controls

Visibility and Reporting

Lumen consultant provides regular reporting on open vulnerabilities and progress toward remediation



Information is imported into RiskSense Platform for visual reporting and dashboards



Comprehensive gap analysis and tailored roadmap to reduce risk of ransomware

Ongoing remediation management

Evaluate and refine risk management program



Recommend awareness and training programs for personnel and staff



Conduct incident response tabletop exercises and recommendations for improvement

"Ransomware attacks have had explosive growth over the past few years, and the demand for skilled infosec professionals far exceeds the supply. Companies need an easier, more comprehensive way to identify malware and protect their intellectual property," said Beth Kohler, Lumen senior director of security product management. "The problem we've seen is that many companies limit their efforts to infrastructure scanning, which means they only address a subset of their attack surface. Our program is more powerful because we evaluate technical controls and business processes, and then we provide a dedicated consultant who reviews the results and provides recommendations. It's a more holistic approach."

For more information about the Lumen Ransomware Assessment Program, visit https://www.lumen.com/en-us/security/ransomware-assessment.html

Additional Resources:

About Lumen Technologies:

Lumen is guided by our belief that humanity is at its best when technology advances the way we live and work. With approximately 450,000 route fiber miles and serving customers in more than 60 countries, we deliver the fastest, most secure platform for applications and data to help businesses, government and communities deliver amazing experiences. Learn more about the Lumen network, edge cloud, security, communication and collaboration solutions and our purpose to further human progress through technology at news.lumen.com/home, LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies, Twitter: @lumentechco, Facebook: /lumentechnologies, Instagram: @lumentechnologies and YouTube: /lumentechnologies. Lumen and Lumen Technologies are registered trademarks of Lumen Technologies LLC in the United States. Lumen Technologies LLC is a wholly owned affiliate of Lumen Technologies Inc.

[1] https://www.barrons.com/articles/2020-was-a-bad-year-for-ransomware-2021-will-be-worse-51610124513

SOURCE Lumen Technologies
The initial public offer (IPO) of Macrotech Developers, one of India's largest real estate players , was subscribed 26 per cent on the first day of the bidding April 7. The IPO received bids for 95.91 lakh equity shares, subscription data on exchanges showed. The portion reserved for retail investors was subscribed 15 percent.

Qualified institutional buyers put in bids for 58 percent of their IPO portion and non-institutional investors submitted bids for 11 percent of the reserved portion.

Macrotech Developers Ltd, earlier known as Lodha Developers, launched their IPO on April 7.

The firm plans to raise Rs 2,500 crore through the share sale which will end on April 9. On April 6, the realty firm raised Rs 740 crore from 14 anchor investors including global long only, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds multi-strategy and domestic mutual funds.

The company allocated 1.52 crore shares at Rs 486 per share to anchor investors.

Macrotech Developers IPO opens: Should you subscribe to the issue?

Promoters of the firm hold 100% stake in the firm. They plan to sell 10% stake by issuing 51,440,328 equity shares of Rs 10 face value during the IPO. Lot size of the IPO is 30 shares for which one will have to spend Rs 14,580. A maximum of 13 lots comprising 390 shares can be bought for Rs 1,89,540.

Allotment of shares is likely to be done on April 16, 2021 and the stock is expected to make its market debut on April 22.

Price band of the issue is Rs 483 to Rs 486 per equity share.

The real estate firm plans to raise money for the following purposes; a. To reduce aggregate outstanding borrowings of the company on consolidated basis. b. To acquire land or land development rights. c. To meet general corporate purposes.

Stocks in news: Vedanta, Jindal Steel, Bharti Airtel, Dixon Tech and more

The firm filed draft papers with market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in February. This is Lodha's Group's third attempt to go public. The firm made attempts to launch an IPO in 2009 and 2018 but dropped plans citing challenging times for the realty sector.

Founded in 1995, Lodha Group is one of India's largest real estate players by sales bookings, that develops real estate across the residential and commercial sectors in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (the "MMR"), Pune and London.
The United States is doing better than most nations in delivering vaccines. About 168 million doses have been administered and more than 63 million Americans are fully vaccinated. Thats great news, but before we raise our aching vaccinated arms in triumph, we must realize that none of us will be safe unless we help protect the rest of the world.

Its in the interest of everybody to make sure that as soon as possible and in a fair way, everybody gets vaccinated everywhere and that vaccines are considered to be a truly global public good, said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

That isnt some kumbaya, UN pipe dream. Its a warning. There is an understandable logic to nations smart, lucky or rich enough to score an abundance of shots taking care of themselves first  but with a highly contagious disease in a highly connected world, being self-serving only goes so far, and is ultimately self-defeating.

Effective vaccinations worldwide would slow the spread of the virus  and that could reduce its capacity to mutate. So long as it keeps spreading as quickly as it has, the novel coronavirus will continue to create variants that are likely to spread more easily, be more deadly for those who do get sick, and be more likely to bypass current vaccines, said Maria Elena Bottazzi, associate dean of Baylor College of Medicine.

The U.S., Europe and Canada may reach that 70 percent coverage believed required for herd immunity, she told the editorial board. In the rest of the world, if were going to be stuck in that 10 percent to 20 percent range, it will be a never-ending story.

A recent survey of 77 epidemiologists from 28 countries by the Peoples Vaccine Alliance found that two-thirds of respondents believe we have a year or less before mutations make most current vaccines ineffective. Inoculating as many people as possible may mitigate that risk.

Unfortunately, this is one test the United States is so far failing  and badly. Russia and China have all been aggressively sharing vaccines with poor nations in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America, while Western nations have been hoarding their supplies. Canada has secured options to buy enough doses to vaccinate its population six times over and America is not far behind. Closer to home, Mexico has signed agreements for more than 200 million doses from India, Russia and China.

Meanwhile, President Biden made waves last month by saying the United States would send to Canada and Mexico 4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is effective but not yet approved for use in the U.S.

A focus on Mexico

Just as its first priority was to secure vaccines for Americans, it makes sense that the United States next step is helping vaccinate our neighbors in Mexico.

It needs the help as its having trouble getting vaccines into the arms of its people.

Bidens plan to ship doses to Mexico is a good-neighbor approach that pays dividends for us. Especially for Texas, until Mexico  which has seen more than 200,000 COVID deaths  is adequately vaccinated, border communities will continue to feel the social and economic impact of the pandemic, even as the rest of the state returns to normal.

Border communities are deeply tied together and the steady back-and-forth traffic is a part of everyday life, even with the current travel restrictions that prohibit land travel by Mexican citizens. As long as one half of these sister communities remains unvaccinated, the entire population is at risk.

Global challenge

Helping Mexico  and ourselves  by speeding up the vaccinations is just one small part of the global challenge.

Generating enough doses to vaccinate 7 billion people is an unprecedented undertaking, Bottazzi noted. Resources are scarce and the logistics of producing that many doses, as quickly as possible, are only hindered by a failure to think globally.

I dont think we have a real clarity of who is going to be able to fill that gap, she said.

The world is trying  and, though it got off to a very slow start, the United States is beginning to help.

When many wealthy nations in April 2020 formed an alliance to help fund international distribution of vaccines, the United States refused to join. Since his election, President Biden has reversed that decision and committed $4 billion to the effort.

But even the nations who have agreed to join the group, known as COVAX, have prioritized doses for their own citizens. Recently, the European Union and India have even curbed exports of the vaccine.

COVAX remains billions short of its ambitious fundraising goal, but vaccine sharing remains even more elusive.

We have been appealing to developed countries to share some of the vaccines that they have bought. And in many situations, they have bought more than what they need, said UN Secretary-General Guterres.

Against this backdrop the United States can do tremendous good  for the world and for itself.

Biden has so far declined to send vaccines overseas, a position he must reconsider, but in the meantime the U.S. can lend its international logistics capability and experienced staff  through the military and agencies such as USAID and the State Department  to help deliver vaccines and coordinate distribution efforts. The administration can also continue to push its G-7 allies to develop a health security financing plan to help countries build their own vaccine capacity.

The U.S. should not and cannot shoulder the burden of vaccinating the world alone, but it can lead the way as a model for action. Only by standing together can we hope to defeat this virus.
Vietnam was congratulated by international friends on its vote onto the UNSC in June 2019

The date of June 7, 2019 became a memorable landmark for Vietnamese diplomacy when the country was officially elected during the 73rd session of the General Assembly in New York to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a non-permanent member for the 2020-2021 tenure with 192 out of 193 votes in favour.

Vietnams new term in the UNSC is the second after its successful one in the council in 2008-2009, during which the countrys contributions and performance of the duties were widely recognised and appreciated.

The event in 2019 earned a rain of congratulations from international friends and partners. One of the earliest came from Burhan Gafoor, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Singapore to the UN.

Congratulations Vietnam on being elected to the UN Security Council with the highest number of votes. Honoured to cast for Vietnam, on behalf of Singapore, he tweeted. Singapore has excellent ties with Vietnam and we are confident that they will serve with distinction.

UK Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward also congratulated Vietnam on his Facebook page, saying the UK will strengthen cooperation with Vietnam. Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Norikazu Suzuki shared joy over Vietnams election to the UNSC, and hoped the Southeast Asian country will promote its leading role in ensuring global peace and stability.

The TV channel of the UN also had a live broadcast of the voting, with big salvos of applause congratulating Vietnam with brightening smiles. Many international friends supported Vietnam, showing the countrys increasing prestige in the international arena.

We will do our utmost to successfully fulfill all duties as a UNSC member, stated Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh after the vote. Vietnam is proud to be a responsible member of the UN. Through the four decades that Vietnam has been part of the UN, we have always been committed to its noble goal to build a world of peace, security, and development.

A good performer

"We will boost the implementation of anti-conflict measures, pay more attention to humanitarian issues and protection of civilians, and also address the aftermaths of armed conflicts." Dang Dinh Quy Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations

Last year, after Vietnam and Belgium completed their chairmanship month in January and February, respectively, when the COVID-19 pandemic became serious. The UN headquarters closed its doors, with the UNSC halting its meetings. The issue then was how the council could continue its activities given an expected rise in challenges for international peace and security due to the pandemic, especially in regions with armed conflicts. Then after two weeks of open discussions, the UNSC agreed on a new working method, with all meetings to be held online and flexible and creative activities, such as document-based voting and online negotiations.

Amid complicated economic and political situations in 2020 caused by COVID-19, with fierce strategic competition between powers and escalating tensions in the Middle East, parts of Africa, and Latin America, the UNSC handled a huge volume of work, including nearly 400 meetings at ambassadorial level, and hundreds of working sessions to pass 100 documents on 68 issues set in its agenda.

Realising the consistent foreign policy of independence and self-reliance, and being an active and responsible member of the international community, Vietnam has completed its missions, and attained remarkable achievements at the UNSC.

In its capacity as UNSC chair in January, Vietnam organised an open discussion on promoting compliance with the UN Charter in maintaining international peace and security, and the UNSC meeting on the role of ASEAN in enhancing cooperation between the US and regional organisations.

The events raised the international communitys awareness of the significance of the UN Charter and international laws amidst formidable challenges.

Vietnam also provided leadership when organising a meeting with 10 incumbent and five newly-elected non-permanent members, discussing efforts to develop an effective UNSC, and an international conference on promoting womens role in building and consolidating peace.

Additionally, Vietnam proactively handled issues raised at the UNSC based on its independent, self-reliant, and responsible spirit, and support for compliance with the UN Charter and the principles of international law, including respect for independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and settlement of disputes by peaceful means.

Almost all UN member states and the international community have held that the UNSC has completed a good job in 2020. Within such shared efforts, Vietnam has made very positive contributions to conflict prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, told VIR. Vietnam has also contributed to improving the methods of work of the UNSC: enhancing engagement with regional arrangements in the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the UN Charter, protection of civilians and critical civilian infrastructure in armed conflict, and much more besides.

Quy added that Vietnam has created an imprint via organising an open discussion and adopting the chairmanship declaration on respect for the UN Charter in protecting international peace and security, with the record number of participating member states in the UNs 75-year history.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh also highlighted that in last December, Vietnam also successfully hosted an international meeting on women, peace, and security with the participation of more than 400 delegates from nearly 90 nations and many important inter-government international organisations and non-governmental organisations.

The nations have given special support and highly valued Vietnams strong determination in hosting this big event in the context of the pandemic raging globally. They have also highly valued Vietnams role as host for the compilation of the Hanoi action commitment proposal which enhances and boost the role of women in all processes of peace. The proposal has been co-sponsored by 75 nations from all regions in the world and circulated as the formal document of the UN, Minh said.

Major priorities

In April, Vietnam serves as the rotary chairman of the UNSC for the second time during its 2020-2021 tenure as a non-permanent member.

Vietnam vows to do its best as UNSC chair in this month, contributing to realising the foreign policy set out by the 13th National Party Congress, Minh said.

According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), serving on the UNSC is a serious undertaking. In the 2020-2021 tenure, Vietnam will continue contributing to improving the effectiveness of the council, to foster dialogue to help find peaceful solutions to conflicts, and to make the voices of the small countries heard in the work of the council.

We will give particular focus to conflict prevention, preventive diplomacy, peaceful settlement of disputes, and strengthened implementation of Chapter VI of the UN Charter, said an MoFA document on Vietnams UNSC membership. We will also improve the methods of work of the council, enhancing engagement with regional arrangements in the maintenance of international peace and security, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter.

In January last year, as the UNSC chair for the first time, Vietnam held the first UNSC meeting on cooperation between ASEAN and the UN. Currently, Vietnam plans to organise a meeting with UNSC member countries in both in-person and online formats, chaired by senior Vietnamese leaders from Hanoi on April 19.

The UN secretary-general has confirmed attendance, while leaders of ASEAN, the European Union, and the African Union have been invited. Vietnam will work to build a UNSC document which is expected to be adopted at the event.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy told VIR that in 2021, Vietnam will continue attaching importance to priorities it advanced when it joined the UNSC, especially respect for international law and implementation of the principles of the UN Charter.

We will boost the implementation of anti-conflict measures, pay more attention to humanitarian issues and protection of civilians, and address the aftermaths of armed conflicts, including socioeconomic recovery and tackling consequences caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war, he said.

We will also continue boosting issues related to womens role in peace and security, addressing challenges about climate change in conflicts. Another important issue will be that Vietnam will also beef up peacekeeping operations including those its own ones at the UN, Quy added.
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN (Reuters) -When Prince Hamza visited the relatives of COVID-19 patients who died after a hospital ran out of oxygen, he triggered a rift in Jordan's monarchy that has shaken the country's reputation as a stable country in a volatile region.

The March 14 visit to the city of Salt was, in the words of a senior establishment figure, the "straw that broke the camel's back", coming as it did hours after King Abdullah had visited the hospital and publicly scolded management for the nine deaths.

Hamza made the trip to console the bereaved six days before Prince Hussein went to the city to do the same, a move that some officials said had upstaged his younger rival for the throne.

Reuters spoke to more than a dozen officials, former officials and palace insiders about the events leading to the accusations against Hamza. They spoke on condition of anonymity in order to be able to discuss sensitive issues.

Eight people familiar with the situation said that Hamza's visit had undermined his half-brother the king, and prompted authorities to place him under house arrest and accuse him of involvement in activities aimed at destabilising the country.

While Hamza and Abdullah have publicly buried the hatchet, the dramatic events of the weekend exposed faultlines within a royal family that has helped shield Jordan from the turmoil that consumed neighbouring Syria and Iraq.

Hamza was widely expected to have succeeded Abdullah as Jordan's next king, until the monarch made Prince Hussein his heir instead in 2004, in line with family tradition.

Some experts worry that the feud could re-ignite, given underlying problems in Jordan like poverty, joblessness and rising COVID-19 deaths which they said contributed to tensions spilling into the open.

"The family feud is over, yet we have to address the issues that prompted it ... unemployment, COVID-19 management and poverty," Jawad al Anani, who served as the last royal court chief under the late King Hussein, told Reuters.

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"These are the causes (of) ... the frustration that pushes people to follow their own idols."

Hamza could not be reached for comment on the causes of the palace rift and his motives for visiting the bereaved families.

The palace declined to comment, when asked what had prompted the government to move against Hamza, who has not been seen in public since the feud erupted.

On Wednesday, King Jordan said sedition had been quashed and Hamza was "under my care". Hamza pledged allegiance to the king after mediation by the royal family.

Officials said between 14 and 16 people had been arrested in connection with the alleged plot.

TRIBAL FRIENDS

Hamza, 41, was warmly welcomed by families of the deceased in Salt during his visit in March.

Small protests over the hospital's oxygen shortages had broken out across Jordan, and some participants were chanting the prince's name and calling on him to save the country.

The hospital could not be reached for comment early on Friday, which is a weekend in Jordan.

The monarch, 59, has been pushing his 26-year-old son Hussein increasingly into the spotlight, has been seen at his side on most public occasions and often accompanies him on foreign visits.

Hamza's activities were a concern to the king long before events came to a head last month, according to some prominent politicians.

The prince, son of the late King Hussein and Queen Noor, has nurtured close ties with Jordan's tribes, who dominate the security forces and form the bedrock of support for the kingdom's Hashemite monarchy.

This year he stepped up his trips to rural and provincial areas to meet disgruntled tribal leaders who formed a loose opposition movement called Herak, many of whose members are army and security retirees.

On social media he appeared sitting in Bedouin tents sipping tea and conversing with elders who were critical of the king for failing to provide them with enough jobs or financial security.

Although Hamza rarely voiced his opinion publicly, the palace saw the prince's outreach as a bid to undermine King Abdullah and his son's growing profile as a champion of equal opportunity for the country's youth, several sources familiar with palace thinking said.

It also flouted rules that require any royal to inform the palace of visits to public places, three palace officials added.

Security forces had been following Hamza's every step and informing the monarch more regularly about his activities at a time of rising public discontent over record unemployment and poverty, according to three people familiar with the situation.

When asked about the monitoring, a security official said it was the job of intelligence agencies to protect the country's safety.

Over the last decade, anger with the authorities over worsening living standards and alleged corruption has triggered major civil unrest in Jordan, mainly in the provincial and Bedouin areas where Hamza has reached out to local leaders.

ANGRY OUTBURST

Tribal member Abdullah Huwaitat recalled a visit earlier this year by the prince to a gathering in southern Jordan where Hamza told them his father, who had a strong affinity with tribes, would never have allowed conditions to deteriorate as they had done in Jordan.

Two attendees said Hamza expressed sympathy for their views that the country was being poorly managed. Reuters could not independently confirm their account.

Over the last 20 years, Hamza cultivated loyalty by emulating his father's language, voice, behaviour and even attire. Tribal sources said the well-mannered, Western-educated prince made a point of learning the dialects of every tribe.

As his popularity appeared to grow, authorities felt the time had finally come to step in.

"He left us with no option," said one senior political figure.

Army chief of staff Yousef Huneiti arrived at Hamza's palace in Amman at around 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Hamza was told that mixing with disaffected tribes was a "red line" that he should not have crossed.

In an audio recording leaked by Hamza on social media, the prince reacted angrily: "Sir, forgive me, where were you 20 years ago? I was the Crown Prince in this country by order from my father, may Allah have mercy on him.

"I made an oath to him that I would continue to serve my country and people so long as I am alive."

An army spokesman was not immediately available for comment on the episode.

Prince Hamza also said in a video recording passed by his lawyer to the BBC that he was under house arrest and had been told to stay at home and not contact anyone.

Speaking in English in the video, he said he was not part of any foreign conspiracy and denounced the ruling system as corrupt.

"(Jordanians') wellbeing has been put second by a ruling system that has decided that its personal interests, financial interests, that its corruption is more important than the lives and dignity and future of the ten million people who live here," he said.

(Editing by Mike Collett-White and Michael Georgy)
Kakadu National Park management has asked the Northern Territory government to drop court action over an allegedly illegally disturbed Aboriginal sacred site.

Parks Australia - which is part of the federal government's environment department - says it's immune from prosecution and would prefer to work with traditional owners and the NT government to protect the World Heritage-listed park.

It is accused of building a walking track in Kakadu at Gunlom - a cascading waterfall that appeared in the movie Crocodile Dundee - without permission from the Indigenous custodians.

akadu National Park management has asked the Northern Territory government to drop court action over an allegedly illegally disturbed Aboriginal sacred site

The Northern Territory Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority filed a criminal charge against Parks Australia in September under the NT's Sacred Sites Act 1998 for carrying out the uncertified work.

It says the track was constructed close to a restricted ceremonial feature without an Authority Certificate, which is issued after traditional owners are consulted.

Parks Australia has since penned an open letter to AAPA chief executive Ben Scambary inviting him to consider whether pursuing the prosecution was the best way to protect sacred sites.

'Rather than engage in court proceedings around these issues, I strongly believe it would be preferable to work together with all stakeholders,' Acting Director of National Parks Jody Swirepik said in the letter published on the Parks Australia website.

Lawyers for Parks Australia last month asked the NT Local Court to adjourn the case, saying 'constitutional issues arise with this prosecution and as such, the defendant is required to issue notices to the Commonwealth, State, and Territory Attorneys General'.

Ms Swirepik said constitutional issues were likely to arise in any matter where a State or Territory brings a criminal case against the Commonwealth 'due to the generally understood principles of Crown immunity'.

Parks Australia is accused of building a walking track in Kakadu at Gunlom - a cascading waterfall that appeared in the movie Crocodile Dundee - without permission from the Indigenous custodians

In the letter published on Wednesday, Ms Swirepik also acknowledged the significant distress the Gunlom works had caused traditional owners and other members of the community.

'For this, I am genuinely sorry,' she said.

She said Parks Australia was prepared to express contrition and make a public apology or issue a statement of regret about the importance of sacred sites and shortcomings in the process adopted for the Gunlom works.

Parks Australia staff have been directed to ensure impact assessments are carried out before any work is started at Kakadu, she said.

Any future work that may impact a sacred site will be referred to the Kakadu cultural engagement manager and Authority Certificates will be sought.

Ms Swirepik said the offending section of the Gunlom walking track would be moved and an Authority Certificate had been sought and obtained from the AAPA.

If the court case does proceed, about 18 witnesses are expected to be called and the hearing is expected to run for about eight days.

Before AAPA issues an Authority Certificate it consults traditional owners about the sites to understand how the sacred site should be protected and what restrictions and conditions should be applied to the proposed works.

The maximum penalty under NT law for carrying work on a sacred site without a certificate is $314,000.

The matter will return to court for directions hearing on April 30.

AAPA has been contacted for comment.
In Monument, Colorado, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), labeled as an activist "watchdog" group, wants a monument honoring military men and women removed because the veterans' memorial allegedly included Christian sentiments, a report says.

Per the Christian Headlines, the marker, erected in the Town of Monument cemetery, has a plaque with carved words that read, "Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American soldier. One died for your soul, the other died for your freedom. We honor those who made freedom a reality."

MRFF also called the monument a "wretched, unconstitutional dumpster fire" and an "unconstitutional gambit/scheme," and stated that it was a "violation" of the separation of church and state.

Meanwhile, in a letter addressed to MRFF President Mikey Weinstein, the First Liberty Institute, the legal group representing the town of Monument, explained that the monument was built through the efforts of a young local Eagle Scout Michael Carlson.

"Your letters and public communications to the media seek to disparage his efforts and the private speech of this 16-year-old resident of the Town of Monument," the letter read.

In closing, First Liberty expressed its appreciation for all efforts by the community, including the Boy Scouts, to honor their veterans. It urged MRFF to issue an immediate apology to Carlson and his family.

MRFF responds: no issue with the Boy Scout

In response to the First Liberty letter, Weinstein told the Colorado Springs Indy that they have no issue with Carlson and added "We have issues with the Boy Scout troop and the town of Monument, and government dollars being used to place it and maintain it."

The same Indy report added that, on March 29, Weinstein directed his protestation to First Liberty and the Town of Monument, harping on their alleged "deplorable, cowardly and transparent attempts to use Eagle Scout Michael Carlson as a veritable 'human shield'"

Weinstein also contends the memorial's use of the logos of various military branches, questioning the legality of using trademarked images.

MRFF has an ally

Americans United (AU) for Separation of Church and State, in a letter dated February 25, also took up the cause for removal of the monument.

In a report posted in AU's website, its attorneys sent a letter to Monument town officials, saying, "Displaying a message that indicates that the Town is affiliated with a Christian belief unmistakably sends the message that the Town favors those who follow its preferred religion and that members of other faiths and nonbelievers will be treated differently."

It added that "It is also profoundly disrespectful to the Town's fallen non-Christian veterans and a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution."

The veterans' memorial, completed in September 2020, is also called the "Fallen Soldier Battle Cross." It features a pair of combat boots, a rifle placed upright, and a combat helmet on the end of the barrel. It also includes a flagpole, a "Battlefield Cross" sculpture, a crescent stonewall, and a marker recognizing the project's donors.
The week began on a stylish note in Bollywood courtesy Kartik Aaryan. The heartthrob of the nation bought a brand new car and boy, those hot-wheels took our breath away. The young superstar bought Lamborghini Urus and the car is a sexy beast when it comes to automobiles. The car is so extraordinary that only a handpick of celebrities in our country owns them. While everyone in B-town is a fan of their luxurious cars, only a few own this sexy pair of wheels. Today we list down a small but surely an illustrious list of celebrities who own the best of the best car  Lamborghini Urus.

Kartik Aaryan

What better way to treat yourself post COVID-19 than buying the swankiest and sexiest car in the world? Kartik Aaryan is the latest edition to this family of this expensive car-owners and also the youngest one. The actor bought the car which is worth Rs 4.50 crores and opted for a sexy black colour. Whats more the hunk is so much in love with this fastest racing car in the world that he has shelled out half a crore extra to get the car airlifted from Italy and have a quick delivery to Mumbai. Well now with a BMW, Mini Cooper and the latest edition of Lamborghini Urus, the heartthrob has the most envious fleet of cars. Whats surprising is the fact that Kartik Aaryan owning the car just didnt make the young superstar happy but the entire nation, his hashtag - #KartikAaryan started trending on social media as everyone was proud for him. And of course why not, Kartik Aaryan has paved his path from the small town of Gwalior to becoming one of the youngest superstars in our country. The actor has been complete outsider and only with his hardwork he reached at the top. In 2018 he gave a blockbuster with Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety and then there was no looking back for the hunk. Back-to-back hits (SKTKS, Luka Chuppi, Pati Patni Aur Woh), one of the biggest box-office opener last year and also his careers best performance (Love Aaj Kal) and now a kitty full of big-budget films where there are hit franchise like Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 to a blockbuster South film remake (Ala Vaikunthapuramuloo) to a hard hitting thriller Dhamaka. The hunk has all things at the movies that makes one a complete superstar and no wonder, there has been only rise and rise of Kartik Aaryan!

Rajnikanth

Now would be wrong to say that Rajnikanth didnt buy a Lamborghini, the Lamborghini went to Rajnikanth. The actors first appearance in a Lamborghini in 2020 had broken the internet and a hashtag called #LionInLamborghini started trending on social media. The actor owns a blue Lamborghini Urus and the megastar owning the car just made the cars brand value bigger in India.

Mukesh Ambani

Indias most influential personality Mukesh Ambani owns a dark blue coloured Lamborghini Urus. The luxurious car has rarely made a public spotting and its said that its parked in his sky-rise building Antila in Mumbai. The hot-wheels is surely a favourite amidst the best of the best in India.

Adar Poonawala

This man loves his mean machines and always makes sure that he has some of the most best automobiles in his garage. Adar Poonawala has a Lamborghini Urus in blue colour and this monster-wheels from the Italian car manufacturer has been quite a rage amidst the car-lovers. And looking at this list, looks like every man with a true love for fast-racing-cars surely has a Lamborghini in their garage.

Rohit Shetty

Now this doesnt come as a surprise that Bollywoods biggest filmmaker is a car-lover. While at the movies he loves flying off cars in the air, in real life he loves to have a garage which has several big cars. The director owns a yellow Lamborghini and is often seen driving it to award shows and on the set. Rohit loves his cars and equally enjoys flaunting it. The filmmaker also owns Ford Mustang, Range Rover Sport and Maserati.
The UK has again suspended the funding of Oxfam over fresh allegations of sexual misconduct just weeks after a three-year ban on the charity was lifted.

The Foreign Office (FCDO) issued a statement on Wednesday, saying all organisations bidding for aid from the British government have to meet their high standards for peoples safeguarding.

Given the most recent reports, which call into question Oxfams ability to meet those standards, we will not consider any new funding to Oxfam until the issues have been resolved, they added.

Trouble mounted for the charity as two Oxfam aid workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were suspended last week over new misconduct allegations against senior managers.

Oxfam has said they are working hard to conclude the investigation fairly and effectively, confirming that an external investigation is going on in the case.

Read more:

The three-year ban on funding of the charity by the British government was recently lifted in March. The funding was halted after allegations of sexual exploitation scandal in Haiti in 2018 and its alleged cover-up came to light.

An Oxfam spokesperson said that the charity was aware of these incidents and is seeking further information.

The Charity Commission and FCDO have been notified appropriately and we will continue to keep them informed as the investigation concludes its work, it added.

Broader examinations are underway over allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by humanitarian aid workers helping some of the most vulnerable people in disaster zones around the world.

The Times reported the scandal in 2018 and said that current and former staff wrote a letter to the charitys leadership in February alleging sexual exploitation, bullying, systemic fraud and nepotism against 11 people.

Allegations were also made that the staff exploited survivors of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. It was alleged that child prostitutes were used by staff, including at Oxfam premises on the crisis-hit Caribbean island, and that safeguarding measures to protect the vulnerable were inadequate.

Later the Charity Commission said Oxfam had a "culture of poor behaviour" while it was sent out a warning over its mismanagement.

The New Humanitarian, a Geneva-based nonprofit news organisation, published a report last September citing accusations from more than 50 women of workers sexually abusing them during aid work in Congo during the Ebola crisis between 2018 to 2020.

In February, the Charity Commission lifted the strict supervision from Oxfam after it executed significant reforms and implemented a majority of the 100 recommendations in the wake of an inquiry.
Moscow, April 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2021 ) :A Russian court has handed week-long sentences to several supporters of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny after they travelled to his penal colony to demand he receive proper medical treatment.

Police on Tuesday detained nine Navalny supporters outside his prison in the town of Pokrov around 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Moscow for violating public order.

The supporters had gathered outside the colony to demand access to Navalny, who is on hunger strike and demanding medical treatment for several health issues.

Late on Wednesday, lawyers from the Agora rights group representing them said four of the supporters had received stints in detention centres ranging from eight to nine days.

Three are members of the Alliance of Doctors medical trade union, which is critical of the government and headed by Navalny's personal doctor Anastasia Vasilyeva.

Navalny went on hunger strike last Wednesday to demand proper medical treatment for severe back pain and numbness in both legs, saying he had only been given painkillers.

He has since said he has also come down with a heavy cough and fever.

On Wednesday evening, his lawyer Olga Mikhailova said she had visited the opposition figure, who was moved to the prison infirmary.

She said he is losing sensation in his hands and that an MRT scan had shown that he has two herniated discs in his back, as well as a bulging disc.

Also on Wednesday, several of Navalny's key allies, including key aide Lyubov Sobol and his brother Oleg, saw their house arrests relaxed.

The activists have been under house arrest since late January charged with violating sanitary and epidemiological measures by attending a Moscow protest in support of Navalny.

A Moscow court said they now face a daily curfew from 8:00 pm until 6:00 am, are barred from communicating with each other and cannot use the internet or phones except in the event of an emergency.

Navalny, 44, was arrested in January after returning from Germany where he was recovering from a nerve agent poisoning he blames on the Kremlin.

He was sentenced the following month to two-and-a-half years in a penal colony for breaching the parole terms of an earlier fraud sentence.

Washington and Brussels have called for Navalny's immediate release and imposed sanctions on Moscow over the poisoning.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that Biden's administration was "disturbed by reports" of Navalny's worsening health.
At least 75% of West Feliciana Parish school employees have been fully vaccinated for the deadly coronavirus, putting them close to herd immunity.

The parish, located just north of Baton Rouge, leads the state in vaccinations. Nearly half of its residents having initiated their vaccinations and about a third completing them, according to the latest state data.

The school district reached the 75% milestone on April 1, the final day before Easter break, with a daylong vaccination event at West Feliciana Middle School overseen by West Feliciana Parish Hospital. On that day, about 200 of the districts 400 employees received their second and final shots.

Any employee that wanted the vaccine, we made sure we had a coordinated effort to get them vaccinated, said Superintendent Hollis Milton.

Milton received his second shot that day as well. It was more of a challenge than normal because he spent the day dressed as the Easter Bunny.

Lee Chastang, the hospitals chief executive officer, said the hospital and the school district have a long working relationship, which came into play when the school district reopened for daily, in-person instruction in early August  before many other surrounding districts. Also, many hospital employees have their kids in parish schools, and at least two school nurses work at the hospital, he said.

Chastang said the hospital has also worked closely with other employers on vaccinations, including the River Bend nuclear plant.

Its been a group effort and thats what has made it work as well as it has, Chastang said.

Teachers can get the coronavirus vaccine now. How are districts helping them get it? Effective Monday, teachers and other school employees across Louisiana for the first time began to contact local hospitals and pharmacies and 

Louisiana educators first became eligible for vaccination six weeks ago, on Feb. 21. The state is not tracking vaccination rates among this group and many school districts arent either. So Its unclear how many school employees have gotten their shots.

Nevertheless, the vaccine appears to be having an effect. Last week, only 57 school employees in Louisiana reported testing positive for COVID-19, down from 224 who tested positive right before educators were first eligible for the vaccine.

West Feliciana Parish schools haven't reported a staff member testing positive since the first full week in January, the same week that COVID in Louisiana schools peaked.

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

Milton said he lacks hard data, but he talks informally with other superintendents about how their school districts are faring.

I do sense that we are ahead, but maybe not way ahead, Milton said.

In early January, the school district conducted a survey and found that about half of its employees wanted to be vaccinated, while another 25% were uncertain. Milton said his staff has worked since then to not only vaccinate those who said yes, but also to ease the worries of the fence-sitters and those who said No.

If its seamless and you make it quick and easy, your numbers are going to go up, Milton said.

For instance, rather than having school employees get vaccinated on their off hours, West Feliciana set up a release schedule so that employees could duck over to the hospital to get vaccinated. A substitute was arranged to cover for them while they were gone.

Employees were scheduled for vaccinations based on their date of birth, with older employees going first.

School leader in West Feliciana Parish in hospital for "presumed" coronavirus Hollis Milton, superintendent of schools in West Feliciana Parish, is in the hospital, sick from what hes calling presumed coronavirus, tho

Its personal for Milton. Last March, early in the pandemic, Milton was hospitalized with a serious case of COVID-19.

I felt a real responsibility that we needed to be a part of this process, he said.

Milton said that the school district will continue to set up vaccinations for employees who still want them and do so through at least the end of the current school year.

The 75% figure likely understates matters slightly. Since employees can strike out on their own and get vaccinated without going through the school district, Milton said its possible there are employees hes not aware of who are partially or fully vaccinated.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

An internal investigation found that the executive assistant to the former chief of the Albuquerque Police Department had been using her supervisors log-in credentials to approve her time card and overtime.

However, the investigation could not determine whether she had worked those hours.

Paulette Diaz was hired by Michael Geier when he was appointed chief in 2017. She was transferred to the Animal Welfare Department after she alleged that then-chief of staff John Ross had improperly purchased a laptop computer, gotten a pay raise without Geiers approval and engaged in other unprofessional conduct. An internal investigation cleared Ross of all major wrongdoing, but both he and Diaz left the department after Geier was asked to retire.

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The internal investigation into Diaz began in August, about a month after she made the complaint against Ross  her supervisor.

Thomas Grover, Diazs attorney, said she will be filing a whistleblower lawsuit alleging that she was retaliated against.

He said that not only did Diaz work all the hours she claimed but that she worked even more hours that she did not claim. And, he said, both Ross and Geier had provided her with their credentials to approve timecards.

The notion that she did this without the knowledge, permission and approval by Ross and by Geier is absolutely absurd, Grover said.

The investigation report, which was provided to the Journal by APD, sustained the findings that Diaz had used Ross credentials to log on to Kronos  the electronic timecard system for civilian employees. It found she changed her clock-out times and/or approved overtime 179 times from April to September 2019.

This determination was made because the IP address was the same when Diaz clocked out or logged overtime as when those hours were approved.

This indicates Paulette Diaz, again by her admission, was utilizing her computer to enter timecard entries and would subsequently access the Kronos program, minutes later, from the same device with the manager functionality (C/S Ross credentials) to approve the entries, the investigator wrote. C/S Ross stated he did not permit Ms. Diaz to use his credentials to gain access to the Kronos program to edit/modify her timecard in any way.

The investigation report says that once Ross was notified of this he changed his password and the modifications to Diazs timecard stopped.

The investigation did not explore whether or not Ms. Diaz worked all of the times she claimed, the report says. This is why a supervisor is required to verify the authenticity of the clock-out / overages worked.

A city performance audit of the Albuquerque Police Departments overtime practices and internal controls also mentioned Diaz, although not by name. It said the civilian employee had logged 282 hours of overtime, or $8,830, in about seven months. Diazs salary was $60,000 a year, APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said.

Gallegos said that he doesnt know how often Internal Affairs investigates civilian employees.

For his part, Grover questioned why APD released the investigation to the media at all.

Were talking about the states largest police department preemptively releasing an IA report against a secretary, Grover said. Yeah, they can bring it, and they better get ready.
Simon & Schuster senior v-p and publisher Simon & Schuster Dana Canedy acquired a currently untitled autobiography by former Vice President Mike Pence. The book, S&S said, will tell "the story of Pences faith and public service, covering his trajectory from Columbus, Ind., to his time as the second-highest ranking official in the Trump administration."

Pence is the first major Trump Administration official to sign a book deal with one of the country's biggest publishers. Canedy bought the title in a two-book, world rights agreement from David Vigliano and Thomas Flannery at Vigliano Associates. The book is scheduled for a 2023 publication. The subject of the second book was not disclosed.

Elaborating on the book, Canedy said the book will stand as "the definitive book on one of the most consequential presidencies in American history." The publisher added that, in the title, Pence will "address the many pivotal moments of the administration, from the time he was selected to run as Vice President through Inauguration Day on January 20, 2021."

S&S had huge hits with a string of political books last year, including bestsellers by Mary J. Trump, John Bolton, and Bob Woodward, which were critical of Trump. Sean Hannity's Live Free or Die was also a bestseller last year, published by S&S's conservative imprint, Threshold Editions. The Pence autobiography will be published under the flagship S&S adult trade imprint.

Authors, book business workers, journalists reporting on the industry, and others were vocal on Twitter yesterday in their opposition to the acquisition from both ethical and business standpoints. The acquisition comes three months after a group of publishing professionals wrote an open letter asking publishers not to acquire books by former members of the Trump administration.

This is practically guaranteed to be a commercial failure. You might not get walkouts but you'll get bad press for the next couple of days and bad press when the book comes out. The book itself is going to be bad because Pence wants to be president.  Alex Shephard (@alex_shephard) April 7, 2021

@simonschuster follows the same broken, white hegemonic, corporate capitalist model as the other major publishers. Until they are broken up by the government, these behemoths will keep these practices in place just to make the millions they need to pay white editors' salaries.  David Bowles (hiatus to write GUERO sequel)  (@DavidOBowles) April 7, 2021

Earlier this year, S&S dropped plans to publish Senator Josh Hawley's The Tyranny of Big Tech after the Capitol was attacked on January 6. Hawley was seen by many as playing a role in the insurrection because of his ongoing efforts to question the legitimacy of the presidential election. The Tyranny of Big Tech was picked up by Regnery and will be released next month.
Night curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. would be imposed between April 10-20 in Bengaluru and 7 cities across Karnataka to contain the Covid pandemic, which is seeing a resurgence, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said on Thursday.

"In view of surging Covid-19 cases in the state, corona night curfew will be imposed in Bengaluru, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, Manipal, Mysuru, Tumakuru and Udupi cities from April 10-20 between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.," Yediyurappa said after the virtual meeting of all Chief Ministers with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Covid situation.

Admitting that cases were rising in Bengaluru and 6 other districts across the state, he said the fatality rate, however, remained low.

According to the state health bulletin, positivity rate was 6.04 per cent and case fatality rate 0.54 per cent across the state on Wednesday.

With 6,570 positive cases registered on Wednesday, the state's Covid tally shot up to 10,40,130, including 53,395 active cases.

Bengaluru reported 4,422 cases on Wednesday, taking the city's Covid-19 tally to 4,64,438, including 38,946 active cases.

The infection claimed 36 lives, including 22 in Bengaluru during the last 24 hours, taking the state's death toll to 12,767 and the city's toll to 4,740.

Of the 357 patients in ICUs across the state, 169 are in Bengaluru hospitals, 32 in Kalaburagi, 23 in Mysuru, 17 in Tumakuru, 14 in Dharwad and 13 each in Bidar and Dakshina Kannada, with the rest spread in the remaining 24 districts.
Share This: A man in Maryland is being charged with wire fraud after obtaining multiple COVID-19 relief loans.

The man successfully received a $1.5 million payment from the Paycheck Protection Program and subsequently had $2.2 million and a Tesla Model 3 seized by various law enforcement agencies.

Rudolph Brooks Jr., 45, of Cheltenham, MD, had a criminal complaint filed against him on March 29 and was subsequently arrested on April 2. Law enforcement agencies such as the FBI's Baltimore Field Office and the IRS announced the complaint following several attempts by Brooks to obtain COVID-19 relief loans fraudulently.

It appears Brooks obtained several checks that were aimed toward small business relief, including the Paycheck Protection Program, introduced to help small businesses survive throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. While Brooks is the owner of a small business, he allegedly submitted fraudulent tax forms which allegedly reported $724,469 in payments via Forms 1099-MISC and $7,471,630 in total unemployment payments to employees from Cars Direct, the Department of Justice said in a press release.

Brooks received a $1,556,589 loan and was deposited into the bank account he listed May 9, 2020. One of his purchases occurred July 30, where Brooks initiated a wire transfer to Tesla in the amount of $60,407 for the purchase of a 2018 Tesla Model 3.

The DOJ affidavit indicates Brooks was, in fact, the purchaser of the vehicle. The Model 3 was also registered to Brooks name and to his address in Cheltenham.

In total, $2,296,136.86 was seized from 11 bank accounts, and the 2018 Tesla Model 3 was also recovered by the Department of Justice. The penalties entail a maximum sentence of...
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 21:32:47|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Thursday welcomed the remarks of U.S. President Joe Biden that affirmed the two-state solution as a base to settle the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

In a statement, Aboul-Gheit stressed "what happened in the past years of tightening the economic and political conditions for the Palestinians was a grave mistake."

Now the U.S. administration is correcting that mistake by involving back the Palestinians as the basic partner of the peaceful process, Aboul-Gheit added.

He reiterated that the Biden administration's decision to restore economic, developmental, and humanitarian assistance for Palestinians, including funding for the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA), is "a positive step."

He added that it's important to swiftly work in the coming period on launching a serious peaceful process that has a clear fixed timetable for solving the Palestinian issue in a fairly comprehensive way.

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement introduced a 235-million-U.S.-dollars package of economic, development, and humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, a large portion of which will go to the UNRWA.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump cut hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Palestinians, and during his administration, diplomatic contacts with Palestinians came to a halt.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council last month that Washington will "re-open diplomatic channels of communication" with Palestinians that has been cut off under the previous administration. Enditem
LONDON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AgDevCo is pleased to announce a USD 3.0 million follow-on mezzanine debt investment into Uzima Chicken Limited, a poultry company operating in Rwanda and Uganda.

AgDevCo's first investment in 2017 helped launch Uzima in Rwanda. From a brownfield site, the company has grown rapidly and now reaches customers in over 59,000 households. This investment provides Uzima with further capital to expand its production capacity, vertically integrate into poultry feed and widen its already significant impact reach across the Great Lakes region.

Uzima provides day-old chicks to smallholder farmers through a network of hundreds of small, independent distributors. Distributors rear the birds to six to eight weeks before selling them to smallholder farmers. The Uzima improved breeds are "dual-purpose" which make them ideal for rearing outdoors in backyard conditions, for both eggs and meat.

In addition to providing growth capital, AgDevCo has supported Uzima with technical assistance, including by recruiting and training a network of veterinary staff.

David Ellis, Co-founder of Uzima Chicken, said:

"AgDevCo backed us before our first chick was hatched in Rwanda. Now four years and some five million birds later we are pleased to be deepening our relationship with AgDevCo to drive further expansion."

Chris Isaac, Chief Investment Officer at AgDevCo, said:

"We're delighted with Uzima's progress so far. The company is delivering higher incomes and better nutrition to tens of thousands of low-income households - and doing so profitably. As a long-term partner, we look forward to helping drive further growth and impact in the region."

AgDevCo was supported on this transaction by Trust Law Chambers in Rwanda and BLC Robert & Associates in Mauritius.

ABOUT AGDEVCO

AgDevCo is a specialist investor in African agriculture. We invest to grow sustainable and impactful agribusiness. Our vision is a thriving commercial agriculture sector which benefits both people and planet. We contribute to this by investing in and supporting agribusinesses to grow, create jobs, produce and process food and link farmers to markets. We reinvest our capital to reach higher impact which ensures efficiency and change at scale. We support our partners to work towards climate sustainability, and where possible, regenerative solutions. AgDevCo's current portfolio has $138m of committed funds into 48 companies.

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Australians have been left outraged following news that Netflix will air a scandalous new reality show based in Byron Bay.

The series, titled Byron Baes, will focus on the catfights and love lives of popular young influencers in the coastal town.

'Legitimately the worst idea since Married At First Sight,' raged one Twitter user.

Backlash: Australians have been left outraged following news that Netflix will air a scandalous new reality show based in Byron Bay

'Never had a reason to cancel Netflix... until now,' wrote another, while one user said they were so upset that the announcement had left them feeling 'nauseous'.

'Zero respect for a town being torn apart by influencers chasing the perfect backdrop for crass commercial gain,' added another.

Byron Baes was announced by the streaming giant on Thursday morning.

And according to the Sydney Morning Herald, The Block star and model Elyse Knowles is 'hotly tipped' for a starring role.

The new series will run for eight episodes in total.

'Legitimately the worst idea since Married At First Sight,' raged one Twitter user

'This is absolutely awful!' People couldn't hold back their true feelings about the series on Twitter

'Never had a reason to cancel Netflix... until now,' wrote another, while one user said they were so upset that the announcement had left them feeling 'nauseous'

Netflix's director of content for Australia and New Zealand, Que Minh Luu, said giving the show the green light was a 'no brainer'.

'You've got this cabal, or live feed as we've been calling it, of Instagrammers, who all live up in Byron, and there are a lot of them,' said Ms Luu.

Byron Baes will follow the influencers in their everyday lives, but won't criticise influencer culture.

'I'm not going to judge anyone for having a product to sell. Musicians have music to sell. I have ideas to sell,' Ms Luu added.

Drama: The outrageous series, titled Byron Baes, will focus on the catfights and love lives of popular young influencers in the coastal town

A press release for the program describes Byron Baes as a 'docu-soap series'.

'This is our love letter to Byron Bay,' it states.

'It's not just Chris [Hemsworth] and Zac [Efron]'s backyard; it's the playground of more celebrity-adjacent influencers than you can poke a selfie-stick at.'

There will be 'fights, flings and heartbreak' on offer, too.

Byron Baes is being produced by Eureka Productions.

Emma Lamb, who is known for her work on Married At First Sight and The Real Housewives of Sydney, will serve as the executive producer.
Jorginho has warned Chelsea not to make the big mistake of expecting to stroll into the Champions League semi-finals after Wednesdays 2-0 win over Porto.

England duo Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell fired maiden Champions League goals in Seville to put the Blues in control at the midway point of their two-legged quarter-final.

Chelsea hit back from Saturdays 5-2 Premier League thrashing by West Brom, to produce an eighth clean sheet in nine matches.

But Italy midfielder Jorginho has called on the Blues to guard against complacency in Tuesdays second leg.

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We are all happy with this first result but for the second game we need to stay humble, we dont need to think that we have the advantage because it would be a big mistake, said Jorginho.

We need to stay calm and focused because it is not easy if we do that mistake, we can be in trouble so we need to stay calm, be humble, work hard again, knowing that Porto is a very good team and we need to respect them.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel branded the Blues clean sheet against Porto as the perfect response to Saturdays hefty loss to West Brom, where Thiago Silva was sent off.

Jorginho delivered the ideal personal riposte after a below-par showing against the Baggies, angling a threatening ball to lay on the opening goal for the impressive Mount.

There were things to look at and learn from that mistake (Saturdays defeat) and for us we know it is important to defend well as a team and not concede a goal, Jorginho told Chelseas official club website.

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Everyone worked very hard and we left everything on the pitch so the win was deserved by the whole team, including those who helped from the bench.

Mason was in a good position, he turned the right way. I just saw some space and I gave him the right ball for him to control and score.

Chelsea will face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in Premier League action on Saturday, before returning to the neutral venue of Seville for the second Champions League leg against Porto on Tuesday.

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Stamford Bridge boss Tuchel was delighted to see his players hit back to form after that shock West Brom loss, with replacements Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud adding much-needed second-half impetus.

Timo Werner and Kai Havertz struggled for timing and rhythm, with Tuchel conceding the Germany duo had struggled against Porto.

Timo Werner, pictured, continues to fight for top form for Chelsea (Clive Rose/PA)

I wanted to give the sign that I accepted it was a bit of a tough match for Timo and Kai, said Tuchel.

They had not their best days and the connection between the deep seven players that we needed for the build-up and the front three was a bit lost.

The balls we delivered were not the best and I felt they did not play on their highest level so I wanted to have an impact from the bench because Christian is in a good momentum and Oli waited for so long and has good memories of the stadium.

We wanted to give the sign that we keep on going. This is the mentality in general that I like about the club and about the team, and that we want to implement.
Dar es Salaam  South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Tanzanian business magnet, Mohammed Dewji as one of his advisors on investment issues.

Mr Dewji, popularly known by his admirers as Mo and who is chief executive officer for Mohammmed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (MeTL), will sit on President Ramaphosa's investment advisory council, for a period a three years.

A statement, released yesterday by MeTL, said Mo and his colleagues on President Ramaphosa's investment advisory council, will be responsible for the development and implementation of strategies and programs to attract and retain domestic and foreign direct investment to the Republic of South Africa.

"The appointment takes into consideration the role that Mo Dewji has played through his investments in a number of countries in Africa where his companies have created a lot of jobs," reads the statement in part.

It states that through his letter to Mo, the South African leader believes the Tanzanian tycoon will help his country (South Africa) in its endeavour to attract investors who will put the country's economy on the right footing.

The statement says President Ramaphosa says in the letter that Mo's presence in the council will be a boost to South Africa's efforts in marketing the country's investment potentials across the world, a development that will have a profound impact on growth of Africa's second largest economy.

"The council will specifically be entrusted with the duty of analysing views and bottlenecks that prevent investors from flocking into the rainbow nation and propose best ways to strengthen relationships between the public and private sectors, development partners and investment agents. The utmost aim will be to boost the pace of economic and technological development in South Africa," the statement reads.

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The appointment means Mo will be sitting in various meetings that will be organised in and out of South Africa which will involve members of the business community and government officials where he will have a chance to share his insights into investment, challenges and their possible solutions.

Mo's MeTL has invested massively in agriculture, manufacturing and in transport logistics in a number of African countries, creating over 100,000 jobs in the process.

In 2019, President Ramaphosa announced the appointment of an 18-member presidential economic advisory council, in line with his pronouncements in the state-of-the-nation address in February.

During that time, he appointed a Tanzanian, the late Prof Benno Ndulu as a member of his 18-member Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

In October 2019, President Ramaphosa used the first sitting of his presidential economic advisory council to announce that he would be appointing two more councils - one on investment and another on state-owned entities.

He did not detail what the function of the investment advisory and SOE councils would be.

However, South Africa is not the only country in the world with an investment advisory council. In the United States, this group "advises the Secretary of Commerce on the development and implementation of strategies and programs to attract and retain foreign direct investment.

The gist of it all is that the council solicits advice from the private sector and other key stakeholders on the promotion and retention of foreign direct investment.
Photo: The Canadian Press Chinese Navy aircraft carrier Liaoning.

Taiwans foreign minister on Wednesday said the island will defend itself to the very last day if attacked by China.

Joseph Wu said Chinas attempts at conciliation while engaging in military intimidation are sending mixed signals to the islands residents.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be won over peacefully or by force.

Wu noted China flew 10 warplanes into Taiwans air defence identification zone on Monday and deployed an aircraft carrier group for exercises near Taiwan.

We are willing to defend ourselves, thats without any question," Wu told reporters. We will fight a war if we need to fight a war, and if we need to defend ourselves to the very last day, then we will defend ourselves to the very last day.

China does not recognize Taiwans democratically elected government, and leader Xi Jinping has said unification between the sides cannot be put off indefinitely.

On the one hand they want to charm the Taiwanese people by sending their condolences, but at the same time they are also sending their military aircraft and military vessels closer to Taiwan aimed at intimidating Taiwans people," Wu said at a ministry briefing.

The Chinese are sending very mixed signals to the Taiwanese people and I would characterize that as self-defeating," Wu said.

The vast improvements in China's military capabilities and its increasing activity around Taiwan have raised concerns in the U.S., which is legally bound to ensure Taiwan is capable of defending itself and to regard all threats to the island's security as matters of grave concern."

Speaking in Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Taiwan. The United States maintains the capacity to resist any resort to force or any other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan, Price said Wednesday.

The naval drills being conducted in waters off Taiwan were meant to help China "safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, the army said Monday, using language often interpreted as being directed at Taiwans leadership that has refused to give in to Beijings demands that it recognize the island as part of Chinese territory.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949, and most Taiwanese favour maintaining the current state of de facto independence while engaging in robust economic exchanges with the mainland.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A follow-up meeting here Wednesday brought together officials of the Libyan ministry of Justice of the Government of National Accord and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Libya, to evaluate the progress made within the framework of the joint project for justice and security
In the 50 years since President Richard Nixon initiated the war on drugs, politicians of both major parties have endorsed aggressive police tactics and harsh punishments to combat substance abuse, and minority communities have disproportionately suffered. Black Americans are several times more likely than whites to be arrested for low-level marijuana offenses, despite comparable usage rates. Now with federal marijuana legalization a real possibility, and the drug war widely regarded as a failure, one of the central questions is how to compensate its victims.

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New York and New Jerseys new cannabis laws aim to create paths for entrepreneurs of color to join the industry. Within the cannabis world, this concept is known as equity. In theory, it promises an elegant symmetry: Massive demand for cannabis will pump money into the communities most damaged by drug-war tactics. In recent years, however, as marijuana legalization has made headway state by state, numerous jurisdictions have implemented similar plans with only token success. The people running and profiting from legal cannabis are overwhelmingly rich white guys, and without drastic changes, its likely to stay that way.

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WIth everyone stressed and stuck at home, 2020 was a very good year for the weed business. Legal cannabis sales jumped roughly 50 percent to $18 billion. Only 15 or so states have substantial marijuana markets but they generated almost as much revenue from pot sales as Netflix did globally. Cannabis is arguably the countrys fastest growing industry. Sales will more than double by 2025.

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Legalization has delivered a measure of justice. In legal states, arrests for nonviolent cannabis offenses have generally plummeted. And some have created programs to expunge criminal records for minor pot-related offenses. (Having a record can block access to student loans, public housing, jobs, and other opportunities. Whether equity benefits extend to those with past cannabis convictions varies from state to state.)

The people running and profiting from legal cannabis are overwhelmingly rich white guys, and without drastic changes, its likely to stay that way.

Efforts to support minority-owned cannabis businesses havent gone as well. Despite extraordinary demand for the product, its very difficult to run a profitable cannabis company. State regulations and the complications associated with federal illegality create hurdles and costs that dont exist in other industries.

Increasingly, a group of larger companies known as multistate operators, or MSOs, dominate the industry. While still small compared with, say, liquor companies, the largest MSOs have dozens of stores and hundreds of millions in annual revenue. Leading MSOs such as Curaleaf, Cresco Labs, and Columbia Care have raised money by going public in Canada.

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Left behind are mom-and-pop entrepreneurs, including those who could benefit from equity programs. In the mainstream economy, entrepreneurs of color often struggle to access capital, but in the cannabis world, the entire industry is locked out of the financial system. Some banks are willing to quietly work with pot companies and charge them high fees, but smaller businesses cant afford this option.

For several years, legal-weed jurisdictions have tried to support equity businesses by prioritizing them for licenses, various forms of financial support, and other benefits. The approach, which New York and New Jersey are generally following, hasnt worked, and as the MSOs expand, the odds grow slimmer that they will. (New Jerseys market could open in a few months, while New Yorkers probably have to wait until 2022. In the meantime, recreational marijuana use has now been decriminalized in both states.)

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Cities and states lack the resources and expertise to support small businesses competing against the MSOs. It would seem absurd for a state government to help small-time entrepreneurs compete against Starbucks or Pepsi, but thats essentially what they propose for cannabis. New Jersey hopes to reserve 25 percent of licenses for residents of impact zones, but awarding the licenses to disadvantaged entrepreneurs is not the same as enabling them to compete against far larger and better capitalized companies.

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The preferences inherent to these efforts also attract legal challenges. In marquee markets like Los Angeles and Illinois, lawsuits filed by aspiring licensees have effectively halted the rollout of equity programs, as larger companies gobble up market share.

Further complicating matters, each legal state has had to craft its own cannabis regulations. Politicians and regulators dont necessarily understand that the equity provisions theyre supporting arent going to work. And they have other concerns, like keeping pot away from kids.

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In these situations, the MSOs and their lobbyists are happy to step in with recommendations for how markets should be structured. And they present a reassuringly bland corporate face to wary lawmakers. In Illinois, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker boasted that he signed the countrys most equity-centric cannabis law. In practice, the market functions as what a Chicago investment banker described to me as a state-mandated oligopoly. Regulatory decisions such as limiting the number of licenses, charging high fees to applicants, and setting aside microbusiness licenses for equity companies go a long way to determine who participates and succeeds in a market. Whether or not its the intention, state laws pick winners by amplifying big companies advantages.

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The MSOs arent inherently opposed to equity. On social media, many of them strike a woke pose, just like the giant companies they aspire to be. Far fewer have committed substantial resources to diversity within the industry or their own organizations.

If cannabis is going to steer wealth into the communities ravaged by the war on drugs, MSOs probably have to be enlisted in the effort. The available evidence suggests these companies arent sold on the value of diversity. States could change that by structuring their laws in ways that acknowledge the difficulties equity entrepreneurs have encountered thus far. They could incentivize, for example, MSOs to create executive training programs or invest in equity businesses. Another possibility is for MSOs to franchise or license their brands, like fast food restaurants and hotels, creating entry points for individual entrepreneurs.

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Seventeen states have legalized marijuana and dozens more allow some form of medical use. In coming weeks, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is expected to release a bill to federally legalize, or at least decriminalize, cannabis. He and his co-drafters, Sens. Ron Wyden and Cory Booker, have repeatedly indicated that the bill will make restitutions for the war on drugs. Its not clear whether they will prioritize the needs of equity entrepreneurs (or whether such a bill could pass the Senate).

Steve DeAngelo, an activist and executive whos sometimes called the father of legal cannabis, likes to talk about how cannabis has the potential to be a different kind of industry, one with more humane values than are typically ascribed to major corporations. That will only happen if well-crafted laws force it do so. If they dont, cannabis will look a lot like every other industry.
India is in the grip of a deadly second wave of COIVD-19 and every passing day new 'records are being set for the highest single-day rise in the number of new infections.

This is resulting in a growing call from across the spectrum to make COVID-19 vaccines available for all, unlike the current cap of healthcare workers, frontline workers, and those above the age of 45.

Like all the countries around the world India, which began its COVD-19 vaccine rollout in late January did it in a phased manner.

AFP

The primary reason behind this was the gap in demand and supply.

India which gave emergency use authorization for Covishield also cleared homegrown Bharat Biotech's Covaxin despite it not completing clinical trials at that time.

Even now, those are the only two vaccines that have been approved and as the country is expanding its vaccination programme there is a shortage of the doses in many states.

BCCL

The two manufacturers, Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech have been ramping up their production capacities to meet the rising demand, both domestic and international.

SII, which is the world's largest vaccine maker has been producing around 60-65 million doses per month currently and has delivered more than 100 million to the government so far.

In the coming months, the company aims to scale up the production capacity and by June the target is 110 million doses a month.

AFP

But it comes at a price - the company requires around Rs 3,000 crore to ramp up production capacity.

SII CEO Adar Poonawalla told CNBC-TV18 that he would have to look at other sources of funds  bank loans and advances against supplies  if the government wasnt able to give a grant.

It is not just SII that is looking to the government for help. Even Bharat Biotech which is preparing to increase production of its Covid-19 vaccine by using its Bengaluru plant has sought funds from the government.

Bharat Biotech, in an effort to scale up its production, is planning to convert its plant in Bengaluru which was set up to produce vaccines for animals as Covaxin facility.

BCCL

Bharat Biotech currently produces 5 million doses of Covaxin a month says it can scale up the production by 5-7 times with the new production line.

But it has asked for Rs 150 crore and Rs 75 crore each for both facilities Hyderabad and Bengaluru to achieve this.

"There has to be a systematic increase in vaccinations and Bharat Biotech should also be able to supply 120-130 million doses of Covaxin by August, Professor V K Paul, member of NITI Aayog had said.

The other hopes India has for more vaccines are Novavax, which once again will be manufactured by SII and will be called Corovax in India. The launch which was initially set for June has now been delayed until September.

Reuters

Another possible candidate is the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine.

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) signed contracts with several Indian contractors to manufacture the Sputnik V vaccine to the tune of 700-750 million doses.

One of them, Delhi-based Panacea Biotec on Tuesday said it has signed a deal to produce 100 million doses per year of Sputnik V vaccines in India.

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories already has a tie-up for the distribution of Sputnik V and Phase III trials for the coronavirus vaccine is currently being carried out by the Indian drugmaker.

Recently it was reported that India will manufacture Johnson & Johnsons single-dose coronavirus vaccine as part of the initiative of the Quad group of countries. However, the details, including the scale and how much of it will be available domestically are still unclear.

BCCL

India has administered over 84 million Covid-19 vaccine doses across the country by Tuesday.

In October 2020 Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had said that India is expected to receive and utilise 400-500 million doses and cover approximately 200-250 million people by July 2021.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 22:38:19|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has saluted the Communist Party of China (CPC) for "its support towards African countries political struggle for independence and economic development."

Museveni, according to a State House statement released on Thursday, made the remarks while biding farewell to the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zheng Zhuqiang.

"China has been a friend to Africa since 1950s," the president said.

Museveni's comments come as the CPC is slated to celebrate its 100th founding anniversary this year.

Museveni commended the Chinese ambassador for strengthening the relationship between the two countries and for maintaining high-level exchanges among their peoples, according to the statement. Enditem
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is deploying a technical team in Mozambique in an effort to quell an Islamic State insurgence in the northern parts of the country where more than people have been killed and thousands displaced.

In a communique soon after holding a Double Troika Summit in Maputo on Thursday, SADC leaders said they are concerned about the situation in Mozambique.

Double Troika Summit received a report from the Organ Troika on the security situation in Mozambique, and noted with concern, the acts of terrorism perpetrated against innocent civilians, women and children in some of the districts of Cabo Delgado Province of the Republic of Mozambique; condemned the terrorist attacks in strongest terms; and affirmed that such heinous attacks cannot be allowed to continue without a proportionate regional response.

Double Troika Summit directed an immediate technical deployment to the Republic of Mozambique, and the convening of an Extraordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ by 28 April 2021 that will report to the Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit on 29 April 2021.

They also expressed SADCs full solidarity with the government and people of the Republic of Mozambique, and reaffirmed SADCs continued commitment to contribute towards the efforts to bring about lasting peace and security, as well as reconciliation and development in the Republic of Mozambique.

The Extraordinary Double Troika Summit of Heads of State and Government was attended by President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi of Mozambique, President Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe), President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera (in-coming SADC chairperson), President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, (in-coming chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation), President Samia Suluhu Hassan (SADC chairperson) and Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax (executive SADC secretary).

Meanwhile, Lisa Schlein reports that the United Nations reports more than 11,000 people have fled the coastal town of Palma in northern Mozambiques Cabo Delgado province since jihadist insurgents attacked the town nearly two weeks ago.

Civilians arriving in Pemba, the capital of Mozambiques Cabo Delgado, are telling aid workers that thousands of people are trapped inside Palma and the surrounding area. They also report that people fleeing Mozambique have been refused entry into nearby Tanzania.

U.N. refugee agency spokesman Babar Baloch says it is very worrisome that people fleeing for their lives are being prevented from seeking asylum.

More than 1,000 tried to cross into Tanzania, tried to cross the border from Mozambique into Tanzania, and they were turned back," Balloch said. "At this stage, we do not know how this happened, who did this, but we are trying to seek clarification from the authorities on the other side, inside Tanzania.

The UNHCR is appealing to Mozambiques neighbors to allow entry to people escaping violence and seeking protection.

Dozens of people reportedly were killed by Islamist militants who attacked Palma on March 24. Thousands of people have been displaced and the economic fallout from the onslaught is potentially huge. The French energy giant Total has suspended its multi-billion dollar liquified natural gas project in the area.

Balloch says his agency and others are scaling up relief efforts for the thousands of destitute, deeply distressed survivors of the attacks in Palma.

The majority of new arrivals are women and children who are coming with few belongings. Most showing signs of severe trauma following the atrocities they witnessed and are worried for those relatives who were left behind. The sudden and deadly nature of the attacks have left families torn apart, many still unable to leave," Balloch said.

Balloch notes many children are unaccompanied when they arrive. He says efforts are being made to trace and reunite them with their families.

Balloch adds the needs are immense. They range from basic relief, including food, water, health care and shelter to psychological counseling and protection from gender-based violence and sexual exploitation.

The UNHCR warns it will be unable to properly assist the displaced without more generous support from donors.

It recently appealed for $19.2 million to help Cabo Delgado. To date, the agency says, less than 40 percent of that has been received.
The Spanish firm Grifols helped set off a kerfuffle last year when it, along with other firms, offered nearly double the going price for blood donations for a COVID-19 treatment trial. Brigham Young University in Idaho had to threaten some enterprising students with suspension to keep them from intentionally trying to contract COVID-19. The trial failed, however, and now the Barcelona-based firm is hoping to extract something far more valuable from the plasma of young volunteers: a set of microscopic molecules that could reverse the process of aging itself.

Earlier this year, Grifols closed on a $146 million-deal to buy Alkahest, a company founded by Stanford University neuroscientist Tony Wyss-Coray, who, along with Saul Villeda, revealed in scientific papers published in 2011 and 2014 that the blood from young mice had seemingly miraculous restorative effects on the brains of elderly mice. The discovery adds to a hot area of inquiry called geroscience that focuses on identifying beneficial elements of blood that dissipate as we age and others that accumulate and cause damage. In the last six years, Alkahest has identified more than 8,000 proteins in the blood that show potential promise as therapies. Its efforts and those of Grifols have resulted in at least six phase 2 trials completed or underway to treat a wide range of age-related diseases, including Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

Alkahest and a growing number of other geroscience health startups signal a change in thinking about some of the most intractable diseases facing humankind. Rather than focusing solely on the etiology of individual diseases like heart disease, cancer, Alzheimers and arthritisor, for that matter, COVID-19geroscientists are trying to understand how these diseases relate to the single largest risk factor of all: human aging. Their goal is to hack the process of aging itself and, in the process, delay or stave off the onset of many of the diseases most associated with growing old.

The idea that aging and illness go hand and hand is, of course, nothing new. Whats new is the newfound confidence of scientists that aging can be measured, reverse-engineered and controlled.

Until recently, people working on diseases did not think that aging was modifiable, says Felipe Sierra, who recently retired as director of the Division of Aging Biology, part of the National Institutes of Health. That is actually what many medical books say: The main risk factor for cardiovascular disease is aging, but we cannot change aging so lets talk about cholesterol and obesity. For Alzheimers, aging is the main risk factorbut lets talk about the buildup in the brain of beta-amyloid proteins. Now that is beginning to change.

The result is a flood of investment money, an explosion of research into what precisely goes wrong in our bodies as we get old and the promise of clinical results down the road.

In the months before the pandemic, investors ponied up billions of dollars to fund biotechs aimed at commercializing the new science. Some biotech firms are developing drugs and infusions designed to clean up zombie-like cells and metabolic junk that accumulate with age. Others hope to infuse new vigor into flagging cellular components, such as stem cells, or spur the body into beneficial actions by adding obscure hormones or proteins, that decrease as we get older. The NIA, under its director, Richard Hodes, recently announced plans to spend about $100 million over the next five years on basic research aimed at understanding cellular senescence.

You have no idea how many people are interested to investing money in longevity, said Nir Barzilai, the founding director of the Institute for Aging Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, and the founder of a company aimed at mitochondrial health. There are billions of dollars.

Although the vast majority of these efforts remain in preclinical development, several have recently entered FDA trials and could potentially hit the market in a few years. Some are already appearing on the gray market, raising concerns that hucksters are peddling anti-aging snake oil. Others, meanwhile, worry what might happen if these drugs actually do deliver on their promise: Will poor young people be coerced into selling their blood to elderly billionaires? Will magical anti-aging pills become the province of the Park Avenue and Hollywood rich, like facelifts, hair plugs and botox injections? Will the rest of us senile peasants be forced to watch them age backwards as we are left to wither and die?

Hacking Old Age

Getting old usually doesnt end well. Despite massive gains in human life expectancyover the last 150 years, it has almost doubled in many developed nations, though it dipped in the past year due to the pandemicwe still havent found a way to halt the relentless toll time takes on our bodies.
Nearly 300 cases of highly contagious COVID-19 variants have been detected thus far in Manitoba.

Nearly 300 cases of highly contagious COVID-19 variants have been detected thus far in Manitoba.

Twenty-two more cases had been confirmed via secondary screening as of Wednesday, bringing the total to 299, most of them the B.1.1.7 variant (first identified in the U.K.).

The province announced 109 new COVID-19 cases, and one pandemic death: a man in his 90s from Winnipeg.

The increase in cases is happening primarily in the North. There were 49 new cases in the Northern Health region, 51 in Winnipeg, four in Prairie Mountain, three in Interlake-Eastern, and two in Southern Health.

The province's COVID-19 death toll rose to 943.

Hospitalization rates were relatively unchanged. There were 140 Manitobans in hospital due to COVID-19, and most of them are no longer infectious, officials said. There were 32 patients in ICUs (14 active cases and 18 who are no longer contagious).

A hospital outbreak was declared at Health Sciences Centre unit GD4 in Winnipeg.

The province expanded vaccine eligibility Wednesday to all Manitobans 62 and older, and First Nations people 42 and older. New Manitoba residents who meet the age requirements can receive the vaccine for free, as long as they've been living in the province for at least a month.

Clinics and pharmacies received a new shipment of 54,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Doctors and pharmacists are administering that vaccine to people 55-plus  including those 55 to 64 who have serious health conditions, and anyone over 64, particularly those who can't travel to mass immunization supersites or pop-up clinics.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference (GCBC) on Thursday said the recent murder of the 10-year old boy at Kasoa in the Central Region, allegedly carried out by two teenagers, calls for an urgent intervention to avert further occurrences in the future.



"We live in a country where wealth is celebrated and elevated above everything, where the rich are worshipped without questioning the source of their wealth, where good leadership qualities are equated to donations, where individuals believe they have to make money by hook or by crook, and where the end justifies the means, it said.



"The horrid action of these teenagers should serve as a wake-up call for us to find out what has gone wrong with us as individuals, as a people, as a nation and why we are where we are today. Perhaps, we have lost our moral compass as individuals, a people and a nation."



A statement issued and signed by the Most Reverend Phillip Naameh, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale and the President of GCBC, copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said it was important to see those developments as a national security threat and act speedily to deal with them.



It called on all major stakeholders, especially the regulators of media space, to clamp down on activities of those fraudulent spiritualists, mallams, and pastors among others who continued to propagate evil and the get-rich-quick activities on the television stations and social media platforms.



The statement said it was sad to hear that the decision of those teenagers to kidnap the victim to a spiritualist for rituals was based on some audio-visual content they had watched on television to get rich within a short period.



"It is time for us to begin to chart a new path for ourselves as individuals, as a people and as a nation, if we intend to build a country with people who appreciate the need for hard work, honesty, values, integrity and the desire for genuine acquisition of wealth as opposed to the current situation of thirsting for quick wealth by hook or crook, it said.



"As we look forward to a possible solution to our current situation, we commit the soul of the young Ishmael Mensah Abdallah to the mercy of God and pray for consolation for the parents and the entire family and for divine guidance on these and many other misguided teenagers in our modern world."



Ishmael Abdallah was reportedly murdered by two teenagers on Easter Saturday at Kasoa.



The two suspects have been arrested and assisting the Police CID in investigations.

Source: GNA









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India recorded 1,26,789 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, setting an unprecedented, grim record during the second wave. In the current week, India witnessed more than one lakh fresh COVID-19 cases four times---April 4, April 5, April 7 and April 8. India on Sunday registered 1.03 lakh cases, 1.07 lakh cases on Tuesday; and 1.15 lakh cases on Wednesday. Overall, India has registered a total of 1,29,28,574 cases of coronavirus until April 8.

Active cases have increased to 9,10,319, which comprise 7.04 per cent of the total infections. The recovery rate has declined to 91.66 per cent with 1,18,51,393 people getting cured of the COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 related fatalities have also increased to 1,66,862 or 1.29 per cent of the total cases.

With an unabated rise in coronavirus cases in the country, more states were forced to reintroduced lockdown-like curbs. For example, in Chhattisgarh, which is currently, India's second-largest hot spot after Maharashtra, the state government has imposed a complete 11-day lockdown in the Raipur district. The administration has declared the entire district as a containment zone and restricted several non-essential activities from 6 pm on April 9 till 6 am on April 19.

Besides, the Punjab government also ordered a ban on political gatherings and extended the night curfew till April 30. It also capped numbers at indoor funerals and weddings to 50 guests and 100 for outdoors. These restrictions, coupled with the ones imposed earlier, which include the closure of schools and educational institutions, shall remain effective till April 30.

Two days back, Delhi also imposed a night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am till April 30. The Maharashtra government has imposed both weekend lockdown and a night curfew on weekdays to stem the surge in coronavirus cases in the state.

Also read: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, blood clots link 'plausible' but unconfirmed, says WHO

Also read: Maharashtra closes 109 centres, Odisha 700 due to vaccine 'shortage'
OAKLAND, Calif., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- College Futures Foundation is pleased to announce the newest addition to our team: Theresa Esparrago Lieu joins us as Strategic Learning Officer, a role integral to the Foundation's commitment to systems change.

Esparrago Lieu is a skilled evaluation consultant with deep experience in research design, qualitative and quantitative data collection, and analysis, and the role that learning and evaluation play in strategy development and execution. In her previous role with Informing Change, a strategic learning firm focused on supporting non-profits and philanthropies in using data to inform their change-making efforts, Esparrago Lieu managed a diverse portfolio of engagements with clients immersed in challenging social issues. She is also a passionate advocate for education, equity, and access to quality learning opportunities with a decade of education sector experienceincluding advancing the implementation and scaling of Linked Learning pathways across California through various roles with ConnectED: The National Center for College and Career.

"At College Futures, we take an extremely integrated approach to systems change that utilizes a variety of tools and talents, from thought partnership and grantmaking approaches to strategic communications and influence to public policy. Learning is core to our strategy and our ability to adapt to a complex and changing environment," said Monica Lozano, President and CEO.

"Theresa approaches her work with curiosity, rigor, and compassion, and is deeply committed to equity both personally and professionally," Lozano, continued. "She is well regarded in the field and has previously collaborated with members of our team in a consulting capacity. We are glad to bring her onboard with this position."

Esparrago Lieu steps into her role as Strategic Learning Officer on April 12. In this position she will manage the College Futures Foundation practice of leveraging data and insights to inform decisions about strategy and execution. She will help set Foundation learning agendas, define research and evaluation projects, and lead development and operationalization of the Foundation's measurement, learning, and evaluation (MLE) framework. She will report to Elizabeth Gonzalez, Chief Program and Strategy Officer, and work closely with the Foundation's Program, Policy, and Communications teams.

"Listening, assessment, and reflection are essential to College Futures Foundation as a learning organization," said Gonzalez. "In Theresa, we are fortunate to have a professional already adept in stakeholder engagement, developing well-informed strategies for impact and supportive, equity-informed MLE plans to realize that change. Her work will strengthen ours and ultimately serve students and communities across the state."

Esparrago Lieu holds a master's degree in sociology of education from New York University and a B.A. in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley.

"Although the ongoing pandemic has increased pressures on the state's most marginalized communities, the underlying inequities students face are not new," said Esparrago Lieu. "What is new is the Foundation's approach to systems change. By centering equity and working in partnership to improve essential components of our large and interconnected educational systemfrom leadership and policy to student-centric practices to finance and affordabilitymany more students will have opportunities to succeed."

"As a daughter of immigrants from the Philippines, it was hard to know how to navigate my path to and through higher education. Providing support for other students of color has been a driving force in my career," said Esparrago Lieu. "In this economy, higher education attainment is increasingly vital. Thus it's even more important to create spaces and systems that allow for diverse students to thrive. I'm looking forward to jumping into this role at College Futures Foundation at such a pivotal moment."

SOURCE College Futures Foundation

Related Links

http://www.collegefutures.org


Getty Foundation and American Council of Learned Societies Announce 2021 Postdoctoral Fellowships in Art History This years cohort is once again pursuing a diverse array of international research topics that push the field of art history in new, even more inclusive directions.

The Getty Foundation and the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) are pleased to announce 10 recipients of the 2021 Getty/ACLS Postdoctoral Fellowship in the History of Art. This program is made possible by a generous grant from the Getty Foundation.

Now in its fourth year, this distinguished program has recognized outstanding early-career art historians from around the world whose projects stand to make substantial and original contributions to the understanding of various art disciplines and their histories. The 2021 fellowship cohort was chosen from a pool of more than 180 applicants, the largest number in the programs history. The awardees were selected through an intensive peer review process that includes two panels of senior international scholars specializing in art historical subjects that span temporal and geographic boundaries.

Among the winning research projects are in-depth explorations of the aesthetic continuities between North and South Korea in the Cold War era, sculptural production in Roman Athens, a history of photography in colonial Congo, and the octagon as a symbol of Native American identity in Dine architecture.

Each 12-month, non-residential fellowship includes a $60,000 stipend and an additional $5,000 for travel and research. Awardees are also invited to a convening hosted by the Getty Foundation upon completion of their fellowships designed to help build a community of scholars who share diverse international perspectives.

Support for emerging scholars is always needed, but even more so during this global pandemic, said Joan Weinstein, director of the Getty Foundation. This years cohort is once again pursuing a diverse array of international research topics that push the field of art history in new, even more inclusive directions. We look forward to the results of this research and stand ready to help the fellows as they navigate the continued uncertainty of the year ahead.

Art articulates the diversity of human imagination and helps us visualize new possible futures. Over the past year, when it has been so difficult to travel or experience art in public, we realize just how essential art is to human flourishing, and how much we need to study and understand it in all its variety of type and expression, said ACLS President Joy Connolly. ACLS is proud to support these outstanding scholars and their research, which we believe makes a substantive contribution to evolving conversations about society.

The 2021 Getty/ACLS Postdoctoral Fellows and their planned research topics are:



Monica Bravo, Assistant Professor, California College of the Arts, Silver Pacific: A Material History of Photography and its Minerals, 1840-1890

Kent Cao, Postdoctoral Fellow, New College of Florida, On Their Own Merits: Indigenous Bronze Cultures in the Yangtze River Valley, c. 1500-900 BCE

Sandrine Colard, Assistant Professor, Rutgers University-Newark, Double Exposures: A History of Photography in the Colonial Congo

Douglas Gabriel, Postdoctoral Fellow, The George Washington University, Over the Mountain: Realism, Reunification, and the Resounding Cold War Across the Two Koreas

Ximena A. Gomez, Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Indigenous and Black Confraternities and the Creation of Visual Culture in Colonial Lima

Andrew P. Griebeler, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Southern California, Medusa Underground: An Occult Icon in Byzantium

Lillian Makeda, Independent Scholar, The Octagon: A Symbol of Native American Identity in Dine Architecture

Brian Martens, Postdoctoral Fellow, American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Greece, Sculptors at Work in Roman Athens: Production, Trade, and Economics

Sara Maria Oberg Stradal, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Cambridge, UK, From Manuscripts to Clock Tower: A History of the Volvelle, 1240-1540

Levi Prombaum, Fellow, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, "Disagreeable Mirror Though One May Be": Portraits of James Baldwin, 1945-65

Learn more about the 2021 Getty/ACLS Postdoctoral Fellows and their research projects here.

Learn more about the Getty/ACLS Postdoctoral Fellowships in the History of Art.

The Getty Foundation fulfills the philanthropic mission of the Getty Trust by supporting individuals and institutions committed to advancing the greater understanding and preservation of the visual arts in Los Angeles and throughout the world. Through strategic grant initiatives, it strengthens art history as a global discipline, promotes the interdisciplinary practice of conservation, increases access to museum and archival collections, and develops current and future leaders in the visual arts.

Formed in 1919, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 75 scholarly organizations. As the preeminent representative of American scholarship in the humanities and related social sciences, ACLS holds a core belief that knowledge is a public good. As such, ACLS strives to promote the circulation of humanistic knowledge throughout society. In addition to stewarding and representing its member organizations, ACLS employs its $140 million endowment and $35 million annual operating budget to support scholarship in the humanities and social sciences and to advocate for the centrality of the humanities in the modern world.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  An Omaha police officer has been charged with felony counts and placed on leave after being accused of using a gun to threaten teens who pounded on doors in the officer's neighborhood late at night.
A gun store in Orem, Utah, U.S., March 25, 2021. /Getty Editor's note: Dennis Etler is a current affairs commentator who holds a doctorate in anthropology from the University of California, Berkley. He conducted archaeological and anthropological research in China throughout the 1980s and 1990s and taught at the college and university level for over 35 years. This is the second piece of his series on the U.S. "exporting" chaos to other countries. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The U.S. tries to portray itself as the global champion of "freedom and democracy." But what do those words really mean when used by the U.S.?

History shows that when the U.S. talks about freedom, they are really talking about their own freedom to do as they please, and when they talk about democracy, they actually mean the installation of regimes that cater to U.S. demands and follow U.S. orders.

Let's look at some examples. In America's own backyard, it has stage-managed one coup after another to install military juntas that do its bidding. When the people rise up to demand true freedom and real democracy, the U.S. supports mercenaries and death squads to quell their uprisings. And if all else fails, the U.S. will simply invade and remove from power anyone who stands in its way.

Throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century, we've seen this play out in Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. Only when a pro-American political power is installed is a country considered free and democratic.

What about Oceania? After Western contact in the late 1700s, Hawaii was decimated by disease. From an original native population in the hundreds of thousands, by the time the U.S. annexed it in 1898, the population had fallen to about 30,000 pure-blooded Hawaiians. It is now estimated that only 8,000 full-blooded Hawaiians remain. With statehood in 1960, who gained freedom and democracy? Certainly not the few surviving Hawaiians.

The American conquest of the Philippines in 1898, after victory in the Spanish-American War, led to U.S. troops suppressing the Philippine War for Independence, resulting in the genocide of upwards of 1 million Filipinos.

It was only in 1946, after World War II, that the Philippines gained independence. U.S. influence in the Philippines and other islands it conquered from the Japanese remains very high to this day, another example of American-style freedom and democracy.

The Capitol before the inauguration where Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 2021. /Getty

In East Asia, the export of U.S. freedom and democracy led to the Korean War while in Southeast Asia, it led to the war in Vietnam and the devastation of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Millions died and were maimed in the name of American freedom and democracy. Meanwhile, in 1965, the U.S. supported a coup in Indonesia that resulted in 1 million being massacred.

Next, we can travel to the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. I need not recount the result of the U.S. export of freedom and democracy there. One nation after another was destroyed in order to save them for American-style freedom and democracy. What has the U.S. wrought in its export of freedom and democracy other than war and instability?

It can be seen that the U.S. pursuit of freedom and democracy around the world is simply a cover for its quest for regional and global hegemony. If a country allows U.S. bases, it is considered part of the so-called "free world." If it has a pro-American government, it is either considered democratic or its lack of American-sanctioned democracy goes unnoticed. In fact, the U.S. supports all sorts of governments that lack the most rudimentary aspects of what it considers "democracy," so its support for it rings hollow.

What has been the result of America's worldwide quest for "freedom and democracy?" Nation after nation reduced to ruins and their citizens reduced to poverty. For every American soldier who needlessly lost their lives, 100 "enemy" soldiers and civilians lost theirs.

Rather than receiving the American gift of "freedom and democracy," they received in return death and destruction. While the U.S. mourns its few thousand war dead with solemn ceremonies, the victims of U.S. preemptive wars of aggression number in the tens of millions and go unnoticed and forgotten by the Americans who slaughtered them.

No one but those who act as apologists for U.S. imperialism should take its call for "freedom and democracy" seriously, and those that do are either delusional or stone-cold liars. True freedom and real democracy can only be established by the self-determination of the people of any given nation.

Freedom and democracy cannot be imported or imposed from abroad. It can only develop through the people's own struggles as they seek to forge their own destiny.
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[84 pages report] This market research report identifies Medtronic plc, Abbott Laboratories, Reliant Heart, Inc., Jarvik Heart, Inc., and Berlin Heart GmbH as the major vendors operating in the global ventricular assist devices market. This report also provides a detailed analysis of the market by product (Left Ventricular Assist Devices [LVAD], Right Ventricular Assist Devices [RVAD], and Biventricular Assist Devices [BIVAD]), by design (Transcutaneous Ventricular Assist Devices and Implantable Ventricular Assist Devices), by application (Bridge-to-Transplant [BTT] Therapy, Destination Therapy, Bridge-to-Recovery [BTR] Therapy, and Bridge-to-Candidacy [BTC] Therapy), and by regions (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World).

Overview of the Global Ventricular Assist Devices Market Research

Infoholics market research report predicts that the global ventricular assist devices market will grow at a CAGR of 13.8% during the forecast period. The market has witnessed steady growth in the past few years and development in technology with the introduction of innovative products have increased the acceptance of heart assist devices in the market. The market is fueled by increase in the incidence of heart failure, lack of heart donors for transplantation, and increasing elderly population.

The market continues to grow and is one of the most widely used devices for the functioning of heart in cardiac failure and weakened heart patients. The market is getting revolutionized with the advancement in technology. Vendors are focusing towards new product launches, product approvals, and targeting towards end-users perspective. The market generates the revenue from the key players operating in this field and some of vendors are Medtronic plc, Reliant Heart Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Berlin Heart GmbH, Jarvik Heart, Inc., and ABIOMED, Inc.

According to Infoholic Research analysis, North America accounted for the largest share of the global ventricular assist devices market in 2018 and will retain high position during the forecast period. According to American Heart Association, an estimated 92.1 million population in the US have at least one type of CVD and by 2030 it is projected that 43.9% of the US adult population to have some form of CVD. Favorable reimbursement policies, availability of advanced technologies, and growing cardiovascular diseases will increase the adoption and demand of the devices in this region. The Asia Pacific is expected to grow during the forecast period, owing to factors such as high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, increasing healthcare expenditure, and presence of huge population base.

Ventricular Assist Devices Market By Product

Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVAD)

Right Ventricular Assist Devices (RVAD)

Biventricular Assist Devices (BIVAD)

In 2018, the left ventricular assist devices segment occupied the largest share and is expected to grow at high CAGR during the forecast period. Increasing number of patients suffering from last-stage heart failure, advancement in technology such as effectiveness, high survival rate, and decreased risk of the devices makes the segment the most common among other VAD devices.

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Ventricular Assist Devices Market By Design

Transcutaneous Ventricular Assist Devices

Implantable Ventricular Assist Devices

In 2018, the implantable ventricular assist devices segment occupied the largest share and is expected to grow at high CAGR during the forecast period.

Ventricular Assist Devices Market By Application

Bridge-to-Transplant (BTT) Therapy

Destination Therapy

Bridge-to-Recovery (BTR) Therapy

Bridge-to-Candidacy (BTC) Therapy

By application, the bridge-to-recovery (BTR) therapy generated the maximum revenue, thus accounting for more than 35% of the global ventricular assist devices market in 2018 and the segment is expected to grow at high CAGR during the forecast period. The destination therapy segment is expected to be the second highest growing segment during the forecast period.

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Ventricular Assist Devices Market By Regions

North America

Europe

APAC

ROW

The market is dominated by North America, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. US occupied the major share of the North American market due to the increasing disease prevalence and availability of advanced technologies.

Ventricular Assist Devices Market Research Competitive Analysis

The global ventricular assist devices market has massive growth opportunities in both developed and developing regions. The advancement and upgradation of devices will increase the competition among vendors. Many vendors are focusing on product approvals and developing innovative products to strengthen their product portfolio that intensifies the market competition. In October 2018, FDA approved HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device developed by Abbott, as a destination therapy for patients with advanced heart failure. The approval device supported by the Momentum 3 trial showed a survival rate of 82.8% at two years with rates of suspected pump thrombosis at only 1.1%. Health Canada issued a Class IV License with conditions to HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist system developed by Thoratec Corporation in 2018. In 2018, Calon Cardio-Technology has launched a clinical trial of the UKs first artificial heart pump. In addition, other leading players are focusing in huge investments on research and development activities to develop new products to attain maximum share in the market.

Key vendors

Medtronic plc

Abbott Laboratories

ReliantHeart Inc.

Berlin Heart GmbH

Jarvik Heart, Inc.

ABIOMED, Inc.

BiVACOR

Calon Cardio-Technology Ltd.

LivaNova PLC

Evaheart Medical USA, Inc. (Asahi Kasei Corp.)

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (XENIOS AG)

Maquet GmbH (Getinge AB)

Key competitive facts

The market is highly competitive with all the players competing to gain market shares. Intense competition, rapid advancements in technology, frequent changes in government policies, and the prices are key factors that confront the market.

The requirement of high initial investment, implementation, and maintenance cost in the market are also limiting the entry of new players.

Benefits

The report provides complete details about the usage and adoption rate of ventricular assist devices. Thus, the key stakeholders can know about the major trends, drivers, investments, vertical players initiatives, and government initiatives towards the medical devices segment in the upcoming years along with details of the pureplay companies entering the market. Moreover, the report provides details about the major challenges that are going to impact the market growth. Additionally, the report gives complete details about the key business opportunities to key stakeholders in order to expand their business and capture the revenue in specific verticals, and to analyze before investing or expanding the business in this market.

Key Takeaways
BOURRET TWP, MI  Earlier this week, several homes in a Gladwin County neighborhood sustained thousands of dollars in damage at vandals hands. Though police have identified the three minors responsible  two of whom havent reached their 10th birthdays  they are hopeful they can address the issue with compassion and education.

Between Monday, April 5, and Tuesday, April 6, Gladwin County sheriffs deputies responded to multiple reports of break-ins in the Wildwood Shores area of Bourret Township. They found five residences had been broken into.

A couple of the property owners had come up and discovered the damage, said Detective Sgt. Jim Cuddie. Some of the others were discovered by neighbors. Law enforcement walked through the neighborhood and found additional houses that had been broken into.

The vandals splashed paint on walls, smashed glassware and plates, and poured out some chemicals, Cuddie said. The only thing stolen from the homes was a little marijuana and some clothing, Cuddie said.

Police identified three juveniles as responsible for the depredations: a 13-year-old girl, an 8-year-old boy, and a 5-year-old girl, all siblings.

I believe they did this over a couple of days, Cuddie said.

Cuddie said the childrens single mother had put the 13-year-old girl in charge of her younger siblings while she worked full-time.

The mother has been extremely cooperative with me, Cuddie said. I truly believe she had no idea. Tragically, she thought her daughter was more capable than she was.

Cuddie speculated the events of the past year, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and children forced to attend school from home, may have factored into the kids misdeeds.

I think youre seeing a lot of young people sitting at home, watching a bunch of garbage on their phones, tablets, Wi-Fi or whatever because they dont have school, some of them, he said. You get up into some of these rural northern counties, they dont have a lot to do without school activities.

All three children remain in their mothers custody, the sergeant said.

Cuddie said law enforcements goal is to address the problem by getting the family the resources they need to prevent a repeat occurrence.

We will be working hand-in-hand with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Child Protective Services to do everything within our power to get adequate education and resources to this family, he said. We want to nip this in the bud. I dont want to have to arrest this 13-year-old child when shes 17 or 18 because she didnt learn her lesson or there was no corrective action taken.

He said reports will be forwarded to the Gladwin County Prosecutors Office for review and some criminal charges could be issued, though not against the youngest child. Cuddie cited state and federal guidelines prohibiting children younger than 7 from being charged with a crime.

Theres absolutely no way a 5-year-old could be charged, Cuddie said. The 8-year-old could be charged and put on probation. Its a pivotal age; youre learning right from wrong and youre going to do what others are doing around you.

He went on to described the situation as tragic for all involved.

There are wounds for all the victims that need to be dealt with appropriately, he said. Then you got the wounding of the family making bad decisions that needs to be corrected. Right now, our main thing is to get this family some help.

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Target to Spend more than $2B at Black-owned Businesses

Target will spend a total of more than $2 billion at Black-owned businesses by 2025 as part of its effort to advance racial equity.

Thats a significant increase in overall spending on Black-owned businesses, according to Target, though it declined be more specific Wednesday.

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The Minneapolis retailer will add a broad spectrum of products from more than 500 Black-owned businesses and will increase its spending at more Black-owned companies, from marketing to construction.

It will also introduce new resources, like a dedicated team to help Black-owned suppliers scale their businesses to work with mass chains. The Forward Founders program builds off Targets accelerator program that helps entrepreneurs.

Target and other corporations have been expanding ties with Black-owned suppliers, rethinking marketing and embracing other initiatives in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd last summer that led to protests nationwide against policy brutality and racial inequity.

The trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, charged in Floyds death, continued Wednesday in Minneapolis.

More than 20 companies, including Sephora, Gap and Macys, have signed on to a nationwide campaign called 15 Percent Pledge, which aims to have companies commit to at least 15% of their products on their shelves to Black-owned businesses _ in line with the U.S. Black population. Targets commitment is unaffiliated with that campaign.

Aurora James, founder and creative director of Brother Vellies, started 15 Percent Pledge as a nonprofit advocacy group last year. She said in an interview with The Associated Press this week that the biggest problem for Black-opened businesses is lack of access. James says her group is building a data base of Black-owned businesses that helps retailers and brands connect with Black entrepreneurs.

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Kendra Bracken-Ferguson is a Black digital marketing and brand development specialist in beauty and wellness. She has experience first-hand pitching Black-owned brands to Target and other stores. She believes the spending commitment at Target will make a difference.

Ultimately, Target is creating the pipeline that will fundamentally change how retailers must handle new brands coming into their stores, Bracken-Ferguson said.

But Jeffrey Robinson, associate professor and academic director of The Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development at Rutgers Business School said Target has the right approach, but the number feels low given the size of the retailer. For the fiscal year that ended Jan. 30, Target generated annual sales of $93.5 billion.

I applaud them for making the commitment, but lets see if they can exceed it, he said.

Target said it has actively pursued more connections with minority-owned businesses, but is always seeking to improve operations.

We have a rich history of working with diverse businesses, but theres more we can do to spark change across the retail industry, support the Black community and ensure Black guests feel welcomed and represented when they shop at Target, said Christina Hennington, executive vice president and chief growth officer, in a prepared statement.
The COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) has so far successfully distributed 38 million doses of three brands of coronavirus vaccines to more than 100 countries in 42 days, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), which oversees the program, said in a press release on Thursday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th April, 2021) The COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) has so far successfully distributed 38 million doses of three brands of coronavirus vaccines to more than 100 countries in 42 days, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), which oversees the program, said in a press release on Thursday.

"COVAX reaches over 100 economies, 42 s days after first international delivery," the release said. "The COVAX Facility has now delivered life-saving vaccines to over 100 economies since making its first international delivery to Ghana on February 24."

COVAX is a global initiative aimed at equitable access to coronavirus vaccines led by UNICEF, the release explained.

"So far, more than 38 million doses of vaccines from manufacturers AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech and Serum Institute of India (SII) have now been delivered, including 61 economies eligible for vaccines through the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment," the release said.

Despite the reduced supply availability in March and April in part due to increased demand for coronavirus vaccines in India, COVAX expects to deliver doses to all participating economies that have requested vaccines in the first half of the year, the organization added.
China in Focus (April 7): 8 Times More Soldiers in Taiwans Military Drills

Large-scale annual military exercises are being held in Taiwan. This time, the imagined scenario is a Chinese invasion later in the year.

In an unusually harsh tone, Japan expresses serious concerns over Beijings human rights record and territorial disputes.

South Korea seeks cooperation with the Quad alliancethe United States, Australia, Japan, and India. At the same time, the German chancellor wishes for more cooperation with Beijing.

The real death toll in Wuhan from the pandemic remains a mystery. Videos of packed cemeteries may tell a story different from the official version.

President Joe Biden hasnt spoken with Chinese leader Xi Jinping about virus origins. His Secretary of State says the United States will continue to investigate where the virus really came from.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China.

For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter.
One of Britain's largest landlords hailed a major 'vote of confidence' in the London office market after letting almost one third of a flagship development.

British Land has leased 134,000 sq ft at One Broadgate in the heart of the City to global property agent Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) for 15 years in what is thought to be one of the biggest deals in the capital this year.

JLL will move into its new offices after the redevelopment is completed in 2025.

British Land has leased 134,000 sq ft at One Broadgate in the heart of the City to global property agent Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) for 15 years

The deal covers nearly 30 per cent of the site's available space, spanning three floors.

European investment giant Axa also revealed it has raised hundreds of millions of pounds to plough into new office space across the UK, France and Germany.

HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) DIY investing platform and stocks and shares Isa

Ian Chappell, head of development and value-added funds at Axa IM Alts, said the plan signalled a belief that 'there's a future for offices'.

It represents a major bet that workers will by and large return to working in offices for at least a few days a week, after many have done their jobs entirely from home during the pandemic.

British Land is also seeking to attract law firm Allen & Overy to the Broadgate site, according to Bloomberg, in another lease for potentially 300,000 sq ft.

Boss Simon Carter said: 'We are thrilled that JLL has chosen this fantastic building for its new UK flagship office. The move is a real vote of confidence in London.'

Others seem to agree according to research by property firm CBRE, which found that new offices were the main target of more than one third of investors  and that London was in demand.

David Solomon, boss of Goldman Sachs, has claimed that home working during the pandemic was merely an 'aberration' and that the investment bank will be calling staff back to its buildings as soon as it can safely do so.

However, rival banks HSBC and Lloyds have both said they will slash office space after the pandemic recedes, as well as consultancy firms such as Grant Thornton and PwC.

And on Wednesday, JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon said the investment bank would need 'significantly' less office space under plans to introduce more remote working.

'For every 100 employees, we may need seats for only 60 on average,' he added.

Property experts say offices are unlikely to be ditched altogether, but that investment will now likely focus on modern buildings that are nice to work in and meet high environmental standards.

And on top of this, flexible workspace provider IWG is betting that regional hubs will soon be preferred to big city ones  with workers simply logging in from a town centre building rather than commuting into London.
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Over-80s Covid deaths have fallen by more than 90 per cent since the peak of the second wave in England and Wales, official figures revealed today in yet more proof that the vaccines are working.

Office for National Statistics data showed 379 fatalities were linked to the virus in the most elderly group in the week ending March 26  compared to 5,354 during the darkest period of January.

Deaths for those aged 75-79 dropped 93.4 per cent over the same period, compared with falls of 92.4 per cent among those aged 70-74, 90.8 per cent for those aged 65-69 and 83.7 per cent for those aged 60-64.

Experts today said the promising figures could be pinned on the UK's successful vaccine roll-out, with there now being a greater proportion of Covid-related deaths in younger people than during the second wave.

Around 14 per cent of all Covid victims (98 people) in the most recent week were under the age of 60. For comparison, the figure was around six per cent last autumn (55).

Everyone over 60 has been offered at least one dose of the Covid vaccine in England and Wales, and Department of Health figures show more than 31million Britons  or three in five adults  have received a jab.

The figures come after experts behind a major surveillance study today claimed vaccines were 'breaking the link' between cases and deaths, saying Covid fatalities were falling as infections plateaued  a trend that was not seen during either the first or second wave.

ONS statistics also revealed the number of deaths linked to Covid fell by a quarter in the final week of March, after 719 were recorded compared to 963 in the previous seven-day spell.

And fatalities from all causes  including dementia and heart disease  remained below the five-year average for the third week in a row. Experts warned they would drop below the number expected because the pandemic had caused thousands of people to die early.

Scientists also said Covid vaccines now appeared to be breaking the link between someone catching the virus (black line) and hospitalisations (top red line) and deaths (bottom red line)

Matt Hancock insists UK has 'more than enough' Pfizer and Moderna jabs to offer under-30s instead of AstraZeneca Health Secretary Matt Hancock today launched a media blitz to reassure the public over the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine as he insisted the nation's vaccination drive remains on course to offer all UK adults a jab by the end of July. Mr Hancock said a decision by UK health chiefs to rule the AstraZeneca jab should not be given to Britons under the age of 30 as experts continue to investigate its link to rare blood clots showed 'the safety system is working because the regulators can spot even this extremely rare event'. He said 'people can take confidence that we have a system that we are extremely careful on the safety front' but he insisted that 'when you get the call, get the jab'. The Government's vaccine advisory group yesterday ruled that people aged between 18 and 29 should be offered an alternative to AstraZeneca's vaccine. Mr Hancock said the UK has 'more than enough' Pfizer and Moderna jabs to cover all of the people in that age group who are yet to receive a vaccination - approximately 8.5million. He said 'all three vaccines that are in use in the UK are safe and they are safe at all ages' and that there is simply a 'preference for the under-30s, if they want to have the Pfizer of Moderna jab instead then they can'. The comments came after a series of Government figures, opposition politicians and medical experts rushed to shore up confidence in the vaccine programme amid fears the AstraZeneca decision could damage the public's faith in the jab. Boris Johnson tweeted that the British-made vaccine was 'safe' and that the benefits far outweighed the risks for the vast majority of adults, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'looking forward' to getting his second dose. A review by the drugs watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) found that by the end of March, 79 out of 20million Britons vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine had suffered blood clots in the brain or arteries, a rate of about one in 250,000. Nineteen of the cases died and three were under the age of 30. Advertisement

The ONS weekly report is compiled after statisticians look through mountains of death certificates to identify all those linked to the virus, meaning their estimates lag behind real counts by about two weeks.

The Department of Health, on the other hand, publishes daily estimates of Covid deaths based on figures submitted by hospitals and other healthcare providers  but these do not capture all fatalities linked to the virus.

When the ONS figures were broken down by age, they showed over-80s who are most at risk of hospitalisation and death if they catch the virus have seen fatalities drop by 92 per cent since the peak of the second wave.

For those aged 75 to 79, figures indicated deaths had dipped by 92 per cent since mid-January (from 1,110 to 77 Covid deaths) and among 70 to 74-year-olds they fell by 92 per cent (806 to 61).

Similarly sharp declines were also recorded among 65 to 69-year-olds where they fell by 89 per cent (521 to 56), among those aged 60 to 64 by 82 per cent dip (377 to 65) and those aged 55 to 59 by 87 per cent (257 to 33).

For 50 to 54-year-olds they fell by 70 per cent (134 to 39), for 45 to 49-year-olds by 84 per cent (90 to 14) and among 40 to 44-year-olds by 93 per cent (45 to 3).

The percentage drops in coronavirus deaths were not calculated for younger age groups because the risk they face from the virus is so low that very few fatalities have been recorded.

Reacting to the figures Professor Kevin McConway, a statistician at the Open University, said the figures showed everything was 'moving in the right direction'.

'The largest falls in deaths involving Covid were again in the older age groups, where more people will have been protected by vaccines from the most serious consequences of infection  but deaths involving Covid-19 in people under 50 were considerably down anyway, by 21 per cent compared to the previous week.'

He added: 'The protection of older people by the vaccine means that a greater proportion of Covid-related deaths are in younger people.

'In the latest week, ending 26 March, 98 of the 719 registered deaths were of people aged under 60, thats 14 per cent of all the Covid-related deaths.

'In the week ending 23 October last year, there were many more registered deaths involving Covid-19, 978 of them in all, but only 55 of those were in people under 60 (less than six per cent).'

Vaccines are being rolled out to all over-50s in England, but over-40s in Wales are now entitled to come forward for jabs.

In a major boost to the country's vaccine drive, the Moderna Covid vaccine was dished out in the UK for the first time yesterday.

Britain has ordered 17million doses  enough for 8.5million people  but many of these are expected to be reserved for under-30s, after regulators yesterday said that age group should be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca jab.

It comes after Imperial College London epidemiologists found while Covid infections appeared to have levelled off in early April, fatalities linked to the virus were still falling  which would not have been expected during the first or second wave.

They said this signalled how the successful vaccine roll-out may already be beating the virus.

They modelled their Covid infection rate estimates onto official tallies of deaths and hospitalisations linked to the virus to get the results, revealing that while there was a 'clear association' during the first wave but these appeared to have diverged from January - as the roll-out sped up.

Professor Steven Riley, an infectious disease modeller involved in the study, said: 'From September onwards we get this really nice agreement between hospitalisations and deaths and underlying infections.

'But the thing we are reporting today is if you look at this pattern from January onwards you're seeing a pretty consistent divergence.

'We think this is a signal of how the vaccination programme is breaking the previously strong link between the pattern of infections and the pattern of deaths and hospitalisations.

He added on Times Radio: 'We're getting fewer deaths now than before we started the vaccine campaign.

'The lockdown is certainly contributing to the drop in infections that we're also reporting today, that's for sure, but it's unlikely that that link between infections and deaths is being driven solely by the lockdown.'
(Natural News) Dr. Michael Yeadon, Pfizers former Vice President and Chief Scientist for Allergy & Respiratory who spent 32 years in the industry leading new medicines research and retired from the pharmaceutical giant with the most senior research position in his field, spoke with LifeSiteNews.

(Article by Patrick Delaney republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

He addressed the demonstrably false propaganda from governments in response to COVID-19, including the lie of dangerous variants, the totalitarian potential for vaccine passports, and the strong possibility we are dealing with a conspiracy which could lead to something far beyond the carnage experienced in the wars and massacres of the 20th century.

His main points included:

There is no possibility current variants of COVID-19 will escape immunity. It is just a lie. Yet, governments around the world are repeating this lie, indicating that we are witnessing not just convergent opportunism, but a conspiracy. Meanwhile media outlets and Big Tech platforms are committed to the same propaganda and the censorship of the truth. Pharmaceutical companies have already begun to develop unneeded top-up (booster) vaccines for the variants. The companies are planning to manufacture billions of vials, in addition to the current experimental COVID-19 vaccine campaign. Regulatory agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency, have announced that since these top-up vaccines will be so similar to the prior injections which were approved for emergency use authorization, drug companies will not be required to perform any clinical safety studies. Thus, this virtually means that design and implementation of repeated and coerced mRNA vaccines go from the computer screen of a pharmaceutical company into the arms of hundreds of millions of people, [injecting] some superfluous genetic sequence for which there is absolutely no need or justification. Why are they doing this? Since no benign reason is apparent, the use of vaccine passports along with a banking reset could issue in a totalitarianism unlike the world has ever seen. Recalling the evil of Stalin, Mao, and Hitler, mass depopulation remains a logical outcome. The fact that this at least could be true means everyone must fight like crazy to make sure that system never forms.

Dr. Yeadon began identifying himself as merely a boring guy who went to work for a big drug company  listening to the main national broadcast and reading the broad sheet newspapers.

Continuing, he said: But in the last year I have realized that my government and its advisers are lying in the faces of the British people about everything to do with this coronavirus. Absolutely everything. Its a fallacy this idea of asymptomatic transmission and that you dont have symptoms, but you are a source of a virus. That lockdowns work, that masks have a protective value obviously for you or someone else, and that variants are scary things and we even need to close international borders in case some of these nasty foreign variants get in.

Or, by the way, on top of the current list of gene-based vaccines that we have miraculously made, there will be some top-up vaccines to cope with the immune escape variants.

Everything I have told you, every single one of those things is demonstrably false. But our entire national policy is based on these all being broadly right, but they are all wrong.

Conspiracy and not just convergent opportunism

But what I would like to do is talk about immune escape because I think thats probably going to be the end game for this whole event, which I think is probably a conspiracy. Last year I thought it was what I called convergent opportunism, that is a bunch of different stakeholder groups have managed to pounce on a world in chaos to push us in a particular direction. So it looked like it was kind of linked, but I was prepared to say it was just convergence.

I [now] think thats naive. There is no question in my mind that very significant powerbrokers around the world have either planned to take advantage of the next pandemic or created the pandemic. One of those two things is true because the reason it must be true is that dozens and dozens of governments are all saying the same lies and doing the same inefficacious things that demonstrably cost lives.

And they are talking the same sort of future script which is, We dont want you to move around because of these pesky varmints, these variants which I call samiants by the way, because they are pretty much the same  but theyre all saying this and they are all saying dont worry, there will be top-up vaccines that will cope with the potential escapees. Theyre all saying this when it is obviously nonsense.

Possible end game: vaccine passports tied to spending allowances, thorough control

I think the end game is going to be, everyone receives a vaccine Everyone on the planet is going to find themselves persuaded, cajoled, not quite mandated, hemmed-in to take a jab.

When they do that every single individual on the planet will have a name, or unique digital ID and a health status flag which will be vaccinated, or not  and whoever possesses that, sort of single database, operable centrally, applicable everywhere to control, to provide as it were, a privilege, you can either cross this particular threshold or conduct this particular transaction or not depending on [what] the controllers of that one human population database decide. And I think thats what this is all about because once youve got that, we become playthings and the world can be as the controllers of that database want it.

For example, you might find that after a banking reset that you can only spend through using an app that actually feeds off this [database], your ID, your name, [and] your health status flag.

And, yes, certainly crossing an international border is the most obvious use for these vaccine passports, as they are called, but Ive heard talk of them already that they could be necessary for you to get into public spaces, enclosed public spaces. I expect that if they wanted to, you would not be able to leave your house in the future without the appropriate privilege on your app.

But even if thats not [the] true [intent of the vaccine campaign], it doesnt matter, the fact that it could be true means everyone [reading] this should fight like crazy to make sure that [vaccine passport] system never forms.

[With such a system], here is an example of what they could make you do, and I think this is what theyre going to make [people] do.

You could invent a story that is about a virus and its variations, its mutations over time. You could invent the story and make sure you embed it through the captive media, make sure that no one can counter it by censoring alternative sources, then people are now familiar with this idea that this virus mutates, which it does, and that it produces variants, which is true [as well], which could escape your immune system, and thats a lie.

But, nevertheless, were going to tell you its true, and then when we tell you that its true and we say but weve got the cure, heres a top-up vaccine, youll get a message, based on this one global, this one ID system: Bing! it will come up and say Dr. Yeadon, time for your top-up vaccine. And, by the way, it will say your existing immune privileges remain valid for four weeks. But if you dont get your top-up vaccine in that time, you will unfortunately detrimentally be an out person, and you dont want that, do you? So, thats how itll work, and people will just walk up and theyll get their top-up vaccine.

Govt lies, Big Pharma moves forward, medicine regulators get out of the way, and possible mass-depopulation

But I will take you through this, Patrick, because I am qualified to comment. I dont know what Vanden Bossche is about. There was no possibility at all, based on all of the variants that are in the public domain, 4000 or so of them, none of them are going to escape immunity [i.e. become more dangerous].

Nevertheless, politicians and health advisers (to loads of governments) are saying that they are. Theyre lying. Well, why would you do that?

Heres the other thing, in parallel, pharmaceutical companies have said, several of them, it will be quite easy for us to adjust our gene-based vaccines, and we can hasten them through development, and we can help you.

And heres the real scary part, global medicines regulators like [the U.S. Food and Drug Administration] FDA, the Japanese medicines agency, the European Medicines Agency, have gotten together and announced  since top-up vaccines will be considered so similar to the ones that we have already approved for emergency use authorization, we are not going to require the drug companies to perform any clinical safety studies.

So, youve got on the one hand, governments and their advisers that are lying to you that variants are different enough from the current virus that, even if youre immune from natural exposure or vaccination, youre a risk and you need to come and get this top-up vaccine. So, I think neither of those are true. So why is the drug company making the top-up vaccines? And [with] the regulators having got out of the way  and if Yeadon is right, and Im sure I am or I wouldnt be telling you this  you go from the computer screen of a pharmaceutical company into the arms of hundreds of millions of people, some superfluous genetic sequence for which there is absolutely no need or justification.

And if you wanted to introduce a characteristic which could be harmful and could even be lethal, and you can even tune it to say lets put it in some gene that will cause liver injury over a nine-month period, or, cause your kidneys to fail but not until you encounter this kind of organism [that would be quite possible]. Biotechnology provides you with limitless ways, frankly, to injure or kill billions of people.

And since I cant think of a benign explanation for any of the steps: variants, top-up vaccines, no regulatory studies its not only that I cannot think of a benign explanation, the steps described, and the scenario described, and the necessary sort of resolution to this false problem is going to allow what I just described: unknown, and unnecessary gene sequences injected into the arms of potentially billions of people for no reason.

Im very worried  that pathway will be used for mass depopulation, because I cant think of any benign explanation.

Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com
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While the government of Maharashtra is complaining about an acute shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare says that the state has the highest share in vaccinations done so far in India.

India had administered 9,01,98,673 vaccine doses till today morning, of which eight states accounted for 60 per cent of the total doses. Maharashtra was leading with 89,49,560 doses, accounting for 9.92 per cent of total doses. It was followed by Rajasthan with 82,87,840 doses, or 9.19 per cent of total doses, and Gujarat with 81,47,689 doses, or 9.03 per cent of total doses.

India administered 30 lakh doses in the preceding 24 hours as on Thursday morning. However, daily new cases continued to rise with 1,26,789 new cases. Of this, Maharashtra accounted for 59,907 cases (55.26 per cent of all new cases) and 322 deaths.

Meanwhile, as per reports, many vaccination centres in Maharashtra, including 23 in Navi Mumbai, have been shut due to vaccine shortage, forcing Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to speak to Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan to resolve the issue. Pune also shut over 100 vaccination centres because of vaccine shortage, NCP MP Supriya Sule tweeted, turning the issue into a political battle.

According to Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope, the state has vaccine stock for only three days. He said Maharashtra requires 40 lakh vaccine doses per week and 1.6 crore per month to inoculate its population, which is double of Gujarat. However, he said, both Gujarat and Maharashtra have been supplied 1 crore doses each so far, and called this unfair.

Meanwhile, Harsh Vardhan retaliated saying that the state is making false claims to divert attention from its mismanagement of the outbreak. The country has more than 43 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in stock or in 'pipeline', according to the Union Health Minister.

Serum Institute, which produces 60-65 million vaccine doses per month, has given around 100 million doses to the Centre. According to Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute, the company is under strain to increase capacity and it also has to meet international supply contracts. Bharat Biotech, the only other approved manufacturer in India currently, is also in the process of augmenting its vaccine capacity.

Also Read: 'Maharashtra, Rajasthan, both non-BJP states, got most vaccines,' Harsh Vardhan on bias allegations

Also read: Maharashtra alleges discrimination; says BJP-ruled states get more vaccine doses

Also read: Vaccine shortage in Maharashtra; inoculation centres send back people
International trade fair returns to Malawi this year after authorities cancelled it last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) has confirmed the return of the fair this year.

However, MCCCI Head of Business Linkages and Events, Linda Pete said while they are observing the pandemic trends, holding this year's event will depend on the easing of Covid-19 restrictions that are being enforced at the moment.

And while acknowledging a challenging business environment among local producers, President of the Indigenous Business Association of Malawi (IBAM), Mike Mlombwa feels the event can wait up to next year if the covid-19 pandemic does not improve.
New Delhi, April 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a virtual summit with the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Friday.

A Ministry of External Affairs statement said the forthcoming summit follows the recent victory of Prime Minister Rutte in the parliamentary elections and will sustain the momentum in the bilateral relationship provided by regular high-level interactions.

During the summit, the two leaders will discuss in detail bilateral cooperation and look at new ways of strengthening the relationship. They will also exchange views on the regional and global issues of mutual interest.

India and the Netherlands share cordial and friendly relations underpinned by shared values of democracy, rule of law and freedom. The Netherlands is home to the largest Indian diaspora in continental Europe. Both countries have wide-ranging cooperation including in areas of water management, agriculture and food processing, healthcare, smart cities and urban mobility, science & technology, renewable energy and space.

The two countries also share a robust economic partnership with the Netherlands being the third largest investor in India. There are over 200 Dutch companies present in India with a similar presence of Indian businesses in the Netherlands.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
MEMBERS of the business community have lauded President Samia Suluhu Hassan's directives to reform the business and investment sector, saying the changes if well implemented would play a great role in national development.

Equally, they proposed for a consultation meeting with the authorities such as Investment docket in the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry and Industry and Trade, as well as Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) which is under the ministry of Finance and Planning for effective implementation of President Samia's directives.

Shortly after swearing in new appointees at the State House in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, President Samia ordered reforms in the investment sector for the country to regain an investor trust and stimulate business.

The Head of State was concerned with the unnecessary bureaucracy on handling investors at the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), issuance of work permit as well as use of force in collecting revenues. She said bureaucracies and improper ways of collecting tax were among key reasons for the collapse of businesses in the country.

President Samia then demanded immediate intervention on the challenges, saying the government should continue facilitating investment and business environment, a move that has been highly welcomed by players in the sector.

Speaking to the 'Daily News', the President of Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) Paul Koyi said the president is setting a clear vision of upgrading inclusion of the private sector in the national development. He said, if well implemented, President Samia's directives will end all challenges that have been obstructing business persons and investors, especially tax complexity.

"This country is still growing; we need investors and business for economic growth. TCCIA members have received President Samia's vision with expectation that all the challenges are going to be addressed," he said.

According to Mr Koyi, for the proper implementation of the directives, it was crucial for the responsible institutions to engage key players in addressing the challenges in the business sector.

During her speech, President Samia also called for coordination among heads of the relevant public institutions for the country to continue winning the confidence of investors for the future prosperity of the nation.

Commenting, Mr Koyi said it was high time for the government and private sector to bridge an existing gap, saying this would help to remove the notion that Tanzania is unpredictable when it comes to investment and business climate. For his part, the Policy Specialist at the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) Mr Frank Dafa said President Samia is on the move to build good relationships between the private and public sector.

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He said, to a large extent, the president covered major challenges that hinder growth of businesses in the country. "It is true that the country needs flexible policy and guidelines that would make the country's business environment predictable," he explained.

Mr Dafa seconded the thoughts of TCCIA top official Mr Koyi, on the need for consultation meetings between government institutions and members of the business community.

The Tanzania's business community secretary general, Abdallah Mwinyi, suggested the need of amending the TRA Act on customs tariffs, saying it has been a major challenge especially on the imported goods. He however hailed President Samia's determination to end challenges in business. He said her directives need to be implemented accordingly, for the country to meet all the targets.

"The president has made clear determinations of transforming the business sector, but for effective implementation there is a need to amend the law, since TRA is implementing the law," he said. He added:"The Ministry of Finance and Planning should table the amendments of TRA Act to the Parliament. This will guarantee changes that the Head of State is talking about".

According to President Samia, TRA should collect tax diligently without harassing or scaring businessmen, for the sake of increasing the monthly collections.
A California prosecutor has filed 33 criminal charges accusing troubled Pacific Gas & Electric of inadvertently injuring six firefighters and endangering public health with smoke and ash in a 2019 fire blamed on its equipment.

The nations largest utility denied that it committed any crimes even as it accepted that its transmission line sparked the blaze.

The Sonoma County district attorney charged the utility with five felony and 28 misdemeanor counts in the October 2019 Kincade Fire north of San Francisco, including recklessly causing a fire that seriously injured six firefighters. Among the unidentified firefighters were a member of an inmate fire crew and at least two out-of-state contractors, one of whom suffered second- and third-degree burns to his legs and torso.

Fire officials said a PG&E transmission line sparked the fire, which destroyed 374 buildings and caused nearly 100,000 people to flee as it burned through 120 square miles. It was the largest evacuation in the countys history, prosecutors said, including the entire towns of Healdsburg, Windsor and Geyserville.

The charges and related enhancements accuse the company of destroying inhabited structures and emitting air contaminants with reckless disregard for the risk of great bodily injury from toxic wildfire smoke and related particulate matter and ash, thereby endangering public health. They allege that the utility failed to maintain facilities including transmission lines, among the numerous related misdemeanor charges.

District Attorney Jill Ravitch said she and other investigators went to the fires ignition site as soon as it was safe, and since then have been working with state and independent experts to determine the cause and responsibility for the blaze.

Ravitch said the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported to her office in July that the fire was sparked when a cable on a transmission tower broke in high winds and caused an electrical arc when it touched the tower. That caused molten material to drop into the dry vegetation below and ignite a fire that took 15 days to contain, she said.

She said her offices own investigation included interviews with dozens of witnesses, search warrants and reviewing hundreds of thousands of pages of documents. Prosecutors also consulted with other law enforcement and regulatory agencies and independent experts.

PG&E said in a statement that it accepts the findings that its transmission line in the Geysers Geothermal Field northeast of Geyserville caused the fire in the spirit of working to do whats right for the victims, though it hasnt seen the report or evidence from state fire investigators.

However, we do not believe there was any crime here, the company said in a statement. We remain committed to making it right for all those impacted and working to further reduce wildfire risk on our system.

Tuesdays charges are latest in a series of similar problems for the utility that serves more than 16 million people across much of Northern California.

PG&Es alleged criminal negligence in the Sonoma County wildfire occurred while the company was mired in a bankruptcy triggered by a series of deadly infernos that were ignited by the utilitys crumbling equipment during 2017 and 2018.

The most lethal, in Butte County, wiped out the entire town of Paradise in the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in Californias recorded history. PG&E pleaded guilty to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter for the fire last June.

Although PG&Es then-chief executive Bill Johnson appeared in court to enter the guilty pleas before some of the surviving families, no one from the company went to prison. Instead, the company paid the maximum penalty of $4 million.

PG&E emerged from bankruptcy protection shortly after those guilty pleas and settlements to cover the damages caused by its fraying grid. The settlements include a $13.5 billion fund for wildfire victims that recently started distributing some of the money to help people rebuild their lives.

State investigators last month said a Northern California wildfire that killed four people and destroyed more than 200 buildings last year was sparked when tree branches came into contact with the utilitys power lines. The wind-driven Zogg Fire blazed through rural communities in Shasta and Tehama counties last September and October.

The Sonoma County wildfire also raised the hackles of a federal judge overseeing PG&Es ongoing criminal probation for a 2010 explosion in its natural gas lines that blew up a neighborhood in San Bruno, a suburb south of San Francisco.

U.S. District William Alsup, who has repeatedly lambasted PG&E for its shoddy maintenance of its equipment, is considering ordering changes that could result in the utility being forced to turn off its power lines during dry and windy conditions even more frequently than it has in recent years.

Related:

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

Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Fraud Abuse Molestation Wildfire
UK offers $59 million to help Hong Kong migrants settle down View Photo

HONG KONG (AP)  The British government said Thursday it is setting up a 43 million pound ($59 million) fund to help migrants from Hong Kong settle in the country as they escape increasing political repression in the former colony.

The offer extends to holders of British National (Overseas) passports who have been offered special visas, opening a path to work, residency and eventual citizenship to up to 5 million of Hong Kongs 7.4 million people.

The integration program will provide funding to help arrivals access housing, education and jobs. Around 10% of the funds will go toward establishing 12 virtual welcome hubs across Great Britain and Northern Ireland to coordinate support and give practical advice and assistance, the British Consulate-General said.

China has sharply criticized what it labels British abuse of the passports, saying it will no longer recognize them as travel documents or as a form of identification. Most residents also carry Hong Kong or other passports so its not clear what effect that would have.

The move delivers on the U.K.s historic and moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong who chose to retain their ties to the U.K. by taking up BN(O) status in 1997, the Consulate-General said in a statement, referring to the year Hong Kong was handed over to China.

It provides them with a pathway to live in the U.K. should they choose to do so, the consulate said.

It said that Overseas Passport holders have had their rights and freedoms restricted by the national security law imposed by Beijing, and it is right that we change the entitlements in the U.K. which are attached to their status.

China imposed the sweeping legislation on Hong Kong last year following massive anti-government protests in 2019. and the authorities have used it to virtually end political opposition and severely restrict free speech.

Changes to the electoral system have also closed off routes for political participation, with just 20 of the 90 members of the future Legislative Council to be directly elected. Beijing has also demanded that those running in elections must prove their loyalty to China and the Communist Party and threatens to prosecute anyone for statements regarded as unpatriotic, whether issued in Hong Kong or abroad.

Most opposition figures have either been jailed, intimidated into silence or fled abroad. Political gatherings have been broken up by police and even art exhibitions have been criticized for promoting opposition views.

One prominent opposition figure, Nathan Law, was granted refugee status in the U.K.

The fact that I am wanted under the National Security Law shows that I am exposed to severe political persecution and am unlikely to return to Hong Kong without risk, Law tweeted.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian lashed out at the British decision, calling Law a criminal suspect wanted by the Hong Kong police.

We resolutely oppose any country, organization or individual harboring criminal elements in any way, Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing. This is gross interference in Hong Kong justice, a violation of international law and the basic principles of international relations, and also goes against the consistent British principle of the rule of law.
By Choi Sung-jin





As expected, most policies of U.S. President Joe Biden are "ABT (anything but Trump)," with one significant exception: the hardball tactics against China.



Not only has Biden refused to withdraw the retaliatory tariffs slapped by his predecessor on Chinese imports, but he is doubling down on Washington's offensive against Beijing in economic and technological areas.



However, China is no longer what it was, simply swallowing America's admonition, like it or not. As shown by the tough war of words between the two countries' top diplomats in Anchorage three weeks ago. Alas, China is willing to push back on any issue, including even political institutions or value systems.



Political gurus warn against hastily defining the U.S.-Chinese rivalry as the "Second Cold War," by comparing it to the First Cold War between the U.S. and the former USSR. They point out that the ongoing competition is not between two hostile blocs, but between countries, and that their fight is not about military buildup, but about setting global standards.



Whatever one names it, however, the U.S.-Chinese tug-of-war over global domination is likely to get fiercer and last longer than the original Cold War. Few countries on this planet might feel more embarrassed  and endangered  by the escalating Sino-American tensions than South Korea, because this divided peninsula is still the collision point of the two superpowers' interests as it was some seven decades ago.



"The moment has come, again, for Seoul to make a choice," one right-wing Korean newspaper said in a recent editorial. "We can no longer depend on the U.S. for national security while relying on China for economic growth," wrote another. These pro-American, anti-communist media outlets urge the Moon Jae-in administration to pronounce its support for the U.S. unequivocally. If Seoul keeps trying to curry the favor of both Washington and Beijing, it will end up satisfying no one and be discarded by both, they claim.



For South Korea, the U.S. is its only ally, and China is both its strategic partner and its biggest trading partner, with its import and export volumes surpassing those of America and Japan combined. The nation has only to deal with each country as such. South Korea is the world's 10th largest economy, a global IT leader, and the world's sixth largest military power. It is no longer a kindergartener forced to take one side against his or her wishes.



South Korea should act at least like a university student who, armed with sound ideas and model behavior, can point out the problems of grown-ups and rectify them. If it can form a group with other youngsters and change the old order, it will be better. South Korea needs to create solidarity with other middle powers based on universally plausible and irrefutable principles.



To do so, the country must change itself first by taking the lead on global issues, such as the climate and human rights crises. Seoul should shed its disgraceful image as a climate villain and urge Pyongyang to improve its human rights situation, instead of avoiding the issue under the pretext of geopolitical peculiarity.



Seoul should be able to take sides with Washington or Beijing, depending on the issue. For example, it should make its voice heard against China's possible attempt to dominate the South China Sea  or the "Northeastern Project"  which distorts historical and cultural facts, ranging from food to clothing.



Likewise, South Korea ought to resist excessive economic and military demands from the U.S. if, for instance, Washington seeks to install additional missile bases here or force Korean companies to join the China boycott.



Based on its distinct identity and self-esteem, South Korea should take an independent diplomatic approach, putting its national interests ahead of all else.



I do not like, much less respect, the two former presidents now behind bars  Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye  because of the acts of corruption they committed while in office. However, each made one memorable diplomatic move.



Lee visited Dok-do, the volcanic outcroppings in the East Sea and the source of a territorial dispute with Japan, in 2012. Most, if not all, diplomatic experts here still accuse Lee of aggravating bilateral relationships beyond repair. I am no diplomatic guru, but I think that was the only good move Lee made as a national leader, politically motivated or not. Japan deserves far worse.



Likewise, Park became the target of criticism  especially among pro-U.S. critics  for standing on a Tiananmen Square reviewing stand in 2015 side by side with Chinese and Russian leaders. Transcending ideological differences, it was a good balancing act. The conservative leader practiced what her progressive predecessor, Roh Moo-hyun, preached.



Joe Biden, despite his better response to the COVID-19 pandemic and more humanitarian immigration policy, has made it clear that he will not let China become the world's most powerful country while in office. That means he will use all means to curb the latter's ascent, bringing more turbulence to the planet at the expense of competition, in good faith if necessary.



If the new Cold War is over economy and technology, South Korea does not need to be anxious to take sides, but rather, it should bide its time and make the best decisions amidst the changing circumstances.



The nation should chart its own diplomatic course, and nothing but national interests should be its yardstick. Hindering them is a lack of diplomatic imagination, self-confidence, and internal strife that uses even foreign policy for shortsighted ideological one-upmanship.





Choi Sung-jin (choisj1955@naver.com) is a Korea Times columnist.


Companies have argued against the constitutional validity of arrest provisions under the goods and services tax (GST) laws in their present form in the Supreme Court.

The court took up the matter of arrest provisions and applicability of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to the Customs Act, and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and other allied laws on Tuesday and arguments continued till Thursday too.

Appearing for companies, Abhishek Rastogi said in the court that the sheer magnitude of arrests that are happening in the country raises various concerns.

There are obvious concerns regarding revenue leakage which is understandable, but there are also concerns about whether or not well accepted, judicially tested, fair and proper procedures are being followed during such arrests, Rastogi, partner at Khaitan & Co., said.

"It is therefore imperative for the judiciary to intervene and ensure that fundamental, constitutional rights of citizens are not trampled on, during such arrests. In the absence of specific oversight of CrPC provisions governing arrests, Courts must lay down guidelines for officers to follow, in breach of which citizens can approach jurisdictional courts for appropriate relief," he said.

Assessees have questioned whether they can be branded as "accused" even before investigation and whether an offense can be classified as "non-bailable" without following due process of quantification for determining duty alleged to be evaded.

Arrests therefore cannot precede the process of determination of liability during adjudication process, they said.

The Section 69 of the Central GST Act empowers the GST commissioners to arrest a person if he has reasons to believe that the person has claimed fraudulent ITC. Commissioners can order up to five years of arrest of a person who he has reasons to believe is engaged in fraudulent claims.

"Arrest can only follow post-quantification of offense under due process. Provisions were argued especially in light of the phrase "reasons to believe" used in Section 69 of the CGST Act which in the cases before the Supreme Court were conspicuously absent in the Summons Notices or Arrest Warrants issued, " Rastogi said.

The court heard arguments on the concept of 'supply' and 'deemed supply' in respect of such offenses which is the basic assumption behind the arrests made.

The section 16 of the CGST Act, which deals with ITC, clearly said that movement of goods is not necessary for the supply of goods. This is clearly mentioned in the explanation to section 16 (2) of the CGST Act, Rastogi said.

The explanation says, "For the purposes of this clause, it shall be deemed that the registered person has received the goods where the goods are delivered by the supplier to a recipient or any other person on the direction of such registered person, whether acting as an agent or otherwise, before or during movement of goods, either by way of transfer of documents of title to goods or otherwise."

For instance, if the goods are lying in Kolkata and a company in Mumbai asks a dealer in Delhi to supply the goods to him, the goods may not leave Kolkata but the supply would happen if the person gives money to the dealer and gets invoices. If that is not the case, one should not charge even GST on output, but that is not happening, Rastogi said.
DUBLIN, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Gaming Controller Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Product, Compatibility, Connectivity, Distribution, and End User" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global gaming controller market was valued at US$ 1,663.5 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 2,973.5 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.0% from 2020 to 2027.



North America dominated the gaming controller market in 2019 with a share of 25.86%. The US, Canada, and Mexico are major economies contributing to the gaming controller market in North America. The video game controllers, such as consoles, are going through constant transition over the years. From blocky and basic nature of controllers to new and futuristic look of PlayStation 5's upcoming DualSense controller, the gaming controller is experiencing technological changes. With changing era of consoles, advent of cloud gaming is a sign of evolution in future games.

For instance, GameSir X2 supports various popular cloud gaming platforms such as Google's stadia, Microsoft's xCloud, and Vortex. Similarly, Razer, a global lifestyle brand for gamers has stated about availability of Razer Kishi Universal Gaming Controller for iPhone. The new controller exhibits feature of clickable analog thumbsticks, an 8-way D-pad, and range of face & multi-function buttons. Moreover, Nintendo of America is planning to sell single joy-con switch controllers in the region. Therefore, key steps by companies with respect to gaming controllers in projected to fuel the market growth during the forecast period.



Europe stood second in the gaming controller market with a decent market share in 2019, and it is anticipated to register the highest CAGR from 2020 to 2027. Europe comprises developed economies such as Germany, France, the UK, and Italy. Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and Spain are the prominent markets having high gaming revenues. Germany is a highly valuable video game market of the Western Europe, followed by the UK and France. With over 90% adoption of smartphones in the European region, more than 30% of the European population plays online games on their smartphones. In addition, there are around 2,000 gaming firms in the UK engaged in the business of developing games for escalating gaming market. The high penetration of smartphones in the region is projected to fuel the significance of controllers, such as gamepad, compatible for smartphones.



The gaming controller market players mainly perform several strategies to expand their business and maintain their brand name globally. For instance, in 2020, Scuf Gaming International, LLC, launched high-performance gaming controllers for Call of Duty League to bring fans new, official league controllers, featuring team colors and logos.



Reasons to Buy

Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.

The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the gaming controller market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long-term strategies.

Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.

Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.

Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to component, application and vertical.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Key Takeaways



3. Research Methodology

3.1 Coverage

3.2 Secondary Research

3.3 Primary Research



4. Gaming Controller Market Landscape

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.2.1 North America

4.2.2 Europe

4.2.3 Asia Pacific

4.2.4 Middle East & Africa

4.2.5 South America

4.3 Ecosystem Analysis

4.4 Expert Opinion



5. Gaming Controller Market- Key Industry Dynamics

5.1 Market Drivers

5.1.1 Growing gaming industry

5.1.2 Technological advancements in gaming accessories

5.2 Market Restraint

5.2.1 Use of mobile phones as a console

5.3 Market Opportunity

5.3.1 Adoption of smartphone gaming controllers

5.4 Future Trend

5.4.1 Emergence of advanced gaming products

5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints



6. Gaming Controller Market - Global Analysis

6.1 Gaming Controller Market Global Overview

6.2 Market Positioning - Five Key Players



7. Gaming Controller Market Analysis - By Product

7.1 Overview

7.2 Gaming Controller Market, by Product (2019 and 2027)

7.3 Gamepad

7.3.1 Overview

7.3.2 Gamepad: Gaming Controller Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.4 Joystick

7.4.1 Overview

7.4.2 Joystick: Gaming Controller Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.5 Trackball

7.5.1 Overview

7.5.2 Trackball: Gaming Controller Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.6 Throttle Quadrant

7.6.1 Overview

7.6.2 Throttle Quadrant: Gaming Controller Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.7 Light Gun

7.7.1 Overview

7.7.2 Light Gun: Gaming Controller Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



8. Gaming Controller Market Analysis - By Compatibility

8.1 Overview

8.2 Gaming Controller Market, by Compatibility (2019 and 2027)

8.3 PC and Mobiles

8.3.1 Overview

8.3.2 PC and Mobiles: Gaming Controller Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8.4 Console

8.4.1 Overview

8.4.2 Console: Gaming Controller Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



9. Gaming Controller Market Analysis - By Connectivity

9.1 Overview

9.2 Gaming Controller Market, by Connectivity (2019 and 2027)

9.3 Wireless

9.3.1 Overview

9.3.2 Wireless: Gaming Controller Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

9.4 Wired

9.4.1 Overview

9.4.2 Wired: Gaming Controller Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



10. Gaming Controller Market Analysis - By Distribution

10.1 Overview

10.2 Gaming Controller Market, by Distribution (2019 and 2027)

10.3 Online

10.3.1 Overview

10.3.2 Online: Gaming Controller Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

10.4 Offline

10.4.1 Overview

10.4.2 Offline: Gaming Controller Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



11. Gaming Controller Market Analysis - By End-User

11.1 Overview

11.2 Gaming Controller Market, by End-User (2019 and 2027)

11.3 Personal

11.3.1 Overview

11.3.2 Personal: Gaming Controller Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

11.4 Commercial

11.4.1 Overview

11.4.2 Commercial: Gaming Controller Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



12. Gaming Controller Market - Geographic Analysis

12.1 Overview

12.2 North America: Gaming Controller Market

12.3 Europe: Gaming Controller Market

12.4 APAC: Gaming Controller Market

12.5 MEA: Gaming Controller Market

12.6 SAM: Gaming Controller Market



13. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Gaming Controller Market

13.1 North America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

13.2 Europe: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

13.3 Asia Pacific: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

13.4 Middle East and Africa: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

13.5 South America Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic



14. Industry Landscape

14.1 Overview

14.2 Market Initiative

14.3 New Product Development

14.4 Merger and Acquisition



15. Company Profiles

15.1 Scuf Gaming International, LLC

15.1.1 Key Facts

15.1.2 Business Description

15.1.3 Products and Services

15.1.4 Financial Overview

15.1.5 SWOT Analysis

15.1.6 Key Developments

15.2 Sony Corporation

15.2.1 Key Facts

15.2.2 Business Description

15.2.3 Products and Services

15.2.4 Financial Overview

15.2.5 SWOT Analysis

15.2.6 Key Developments

15.3 Guillemot Corporation S.A.

15.3.1 Key Facts

15.3.2 Business Description

15.3.3 Products and Services

15.3.4 Financial Overview

15.3.5 SWOT Analysis

15.3.6 Key Developments

15.4 HORI USA

15.4.1 Key Facts

15.4.2 Business Description

15.4.3 Products and Services

15.4.4 Financial Overview

15.4.5 SWOT Analysis

15.4.6 Key Developments

15.5 Logitech

15.5.1 Key Facts

15.5.2 Business Description

15.5.3 Products and Services

15.5.4 Financial Overview

15.5.5 SWOT Analysis

15.5.6 Key Developments

15.6 NVIDIA CORPORATION

15.6.1 Key Facts

15.6.2 Business Description

15.6.3 Products and Services

15.6.4 Financial Overview

15.6.5 SWOT Analysis

15.7 Microsoft Corporation

15.7.1 Key Facts

15.7.2 Business Description

15.7.3 Products and Services

15.7.4 Financial Overview

15.7.5 SWOT Analysis

15.8 Nitendo

15.8.1 Key Facts

15.8.2 Business Description

15.8.3 Products and Services

15.8.4 Financial Overview

15.8.5 SWOT Analysis

15.9 Mad Catz Global Limited

15.9.1 Key Facts

15.9.2 Business Description

15.9.2.1 Products and Services

15.9.3 Financial Overview

15.9.4 SWOT Analysis

15.10 Razer Inc.

15.10.1 Key Facts

15.10.2 Business Description

15.10.3 Products and Services

15.10.4 Financial Overview

15.10.5 SWOT Analysis

15.10.6 Key Developments



16. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xv3n7r

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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 Flash

Jordan's King Abdullah II on Wednesday received European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and discussed cooperation between Jordan and the European Union (EU) in various fields, in addition to the latest regional and international developments.

The king appreciated the EU for its support to Jordan, especially for its Syrian refugee response, calling on the international community to continue to provide support to Jordan, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

The meeting also covered means to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences, where the king reiterated the need to make vaccines available for all countries.

The EU chief expressed support to Jordan and its efforts to safeguard its security and stability.
Islamabad, April 8 : Pakistans National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior has approved a Bill that would punish those who intentionally criticise the countrys armed forces.

The committee has approved the Bill to amend the Pakistan Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure 1898, sanctioning punishment to those who ridicule armed forces through intended criticism.

As per the details of the Bill, "anyone who shall be guilty of said offence could face up to two years imprisonment or fine that may extend to Rs 500,000 or both".

The Bill titled Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2020, which was introduced by the ruling party's Amjid Ali Khan, was approved by the committee despite opposition from the political camps.

The Bill proposes amendment to Section 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which currently states "whosoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or both".

The amendment proposes "punishment for international ridiculing of the armed forces etc. Whosoever intentionally ridicules, brings into disrepute or defames the armed forces of Pakistan or a member thereof, shall be guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or fine which may extend to five hundred thousand rupees, or both".

Opposition lawmakers from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) opposed the proposed amendment, stating that there was no need to introduce the Bill, as it is already covered under Article 19 of the Constitution.

Other than the opposition party's concerns, the home department of the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) provincial government, which is led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), also opposed the Bill, stating that its declaration would create conflict among the existing constitutional and stationary provision, adding that its misuse could not be overruled.

The KP government also maintained that the Bill would create differences and discrimination between other law enforcement agencies and public offices.

However, the Interior Ministry maintains that the amendment is being proposed because of the increasing criticism against the armed forces in the country.

"The incidents of defaming the armed forces have increased in the country and some disruptive elements, for furtherance of their political objectives, engage in this undesirable practice, which is very defamatory and demoralising for the armed forces of Pakistan. The Interior Ministry endorses the proposed legislation keeping in view the current situation in the country," read the ministry's explanation.

It should be mentioned here that the opposition party's alliance to topple the government has been giving statements against the interventions of the country's military establishment in political matters, calling for a complete end to what they call 'deliberate interventions' to select political leaders, manipulate voting processes and damage the democratic system of the country.
South Africa: Police clamp down on Cape Town extortion rackets

A Police Ministry intervention to curb extortion rackets in Cape Town has recorded significant progress in clamping down on the crime.

The intervention by Police Minister Bheki Cele came after communities in the metropole in September last year raised the alarm around the growing phenomenon of extortion.

At the time, the extortion rackets seemed to be targeting formal businesses such as eateries, restaurants and bars, said Cele during a briefing on Thursday.

Upon closer investigation, Cele said it became apparent that criminals were also not sparing informal businesses, the transport industry and construction sites.

Crimes committed by the ring included kidnapping and extorting residents and workers coming from work.

What has also becoming even more worrying is the targeting of the poor and ordinary people in the townships by these ruthless criminals. Flat owners and backyard landlords who are trying to make ends meet are not sparred, he said.

The criminals were demanding a percentage of the rental income they receive.

Cele, in response to the outcry, engaged the provincial government, the City of Cape Town, the National Commissioner and the Provincial SAPS management.

An Extortion Priority Committee of the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure was established to deal with the crime trend. It includes role players from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI); the provincial office of the Premier; provincial departments and other law enforcement agencies.

Cele said while there had been teething problems in the last seven months, commendable progress has been made.

While 105 extortion cases have been opened since January last year, 67 cases are still under investigation. During this period, 106 people linked to extortion cases have been arrested and charged.

While seven individuals are currently out on bail, 94 of those arrested remain in custody. Twenty of the cases were opened in Khayelitsha, while the Nyanga policing cluster recorded 13 of the cases, said Cele.

One of the most prominent arrests was that of Shantel Reynecke, who has received stiff sentences of over 20 years for extortion, kidnapping, human trafficking and assault.

Investigations are ongoing and we are expecting more arrests to take place. The intergraded approach and sharing of resources is [responsible for] these arrests, Cele said.

He said the recent addition of 200 police officers, seconded from the ational SAPS to Cape Town, will go along a way in assisting in the fight against crime. The brigade is expected to act as a force multiplier in violence-laden hotspots across the city.

Taxi violence

Turning his attention to taxi violence, Cele said government is concerned by the recent erosion of the industry in the province, particularly in Cape Town.

Celes concerns coincide with the news of the gunning down of Victor Wiwi, the prominent leader of the CATA Taxi Association on Wednesday. Two other people were injured during the attack.

Said Cele: In light of this and other incidents in the transport sector, we will be calling a meeting with the Transport Ministry and other relevant role players to discuss means of curbing this.

He urged communities to work with the police and bring forward information that can assist in any way.

It is also encouraging that the SAPS is continuing with awareness campaigns that seek to educate communities not to pay extortionists, said the Minister.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-04-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Chennai, April 8 : The garment manufacturers of Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur, the knitwear hub of the country, are a worried lot as the second wave of Covid pandemic sweeps across the world. Export orders worth millions of dollars stand cancelled as many European countries see shutdowns in wake of surging Covid cases.

Tiruppur Exporters Association President Raja M. Shanmugham, talking to IANS, said: "The garment industry of Tiruppur is facing a major crisis as several European countries are facing a huge surge in Covid cases.... Already most of the top brands and showrooms are shut in Europe and they can't even take our pending orders, and hence the possibilities of new orders are bleak." Several units in Tiruppur, which has a collective turnover of around Rs 2,500 crore in exports a month, are facing huge losses and seeing factories shut down. Coupled with increase in prices of yarn and threat of Covid, most of the units face the threat of closing down.

Krishnan Menon, owner of Saibaba Exporters based out of Tiruppur, told IANS that he has "more than 500 employees working in my knitwear unit. We are already facing the hike in prices of yarn and now with the international markets shutting down, the possibilities of continuing with the business is remote and we may have no other option but to shut down the unit creating misery for myself as well as my employees".

The state Health Department had conducted a virtual meeting of garment manufacturers and exporters on Wednesday to apprise them of the grave situation arising owing to Covid and to be extra careful in dealing with the Covid patients.

Several units in Tiruppur, however, do not have facilities to house their employees and hence it is difficult to track their movement, and guard against spread of Covid.

The government has already communicated to the manufacturers association to conduct vaccination of all their employees to prevent the disease's spread. Recently 30 workers of a unit tested positive and this has led to its shutting down.

Tiruppur houses around 9,000 garment factories and provides employment to 5 lakh people. Apart from exports worth Rs 2,500 crore a month, it makes an equal amount from the domestic market.

Shanmugam said: "The industry is worth Rs 55,000 crore annually and we employ 5 lakh people. If this market is shut, you can very well imagine the consequences it has and the spiralling effect on the society."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
LONDON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AgDevCo is pleased to announce a USD 3.0 million follow-on mezzanine debt investment into Uzima Chicken Limited, a poultry company operating in Rwanda and Uganda.

AgDevCo's first investment in 2017 helped launch Uzima in Rwanda. From a brownfield site, the company has grown rapidly and now reaches customers in over 59,000 households. This investment provides Uzima with further capital to expand its production capacity, vertically integrate into poultry feed and widen its already significant impact reach across the Great Lakes region.

Uzima provides day-old chicks to smallholder farmers through a network of hundreds of small, independent distributors. Distributors rear the birds to six to eight weeks before selling them to smallholder farmers. The Uzima improved breeds are "dual-purpose" which make them ideal for rearing outdoors in backyard conditions, for both eggs and meat.

In addition to providing growth capital, AgDevCo has supported Uzima with technical assistance, including by recruiting and training a network of veterinary staff.

David Ellis, Co-founder of Uzima Chicken, said:

"AgDevCo backed us before our first chick was hatched in Rwanda. Now four years and some five million birds later we are pleased to be deepening our relationship with AgDevCo to drive further expansion."

Chris Isaac, Chief Investment Officer at AgDevCo, said:

"We're delighted with Uzima's progress so far. The company is delivering higher incomes and better nutrition to tens of thousands of low-income households  and doing so profitably. As a long-term partner, we look forward to helping drive further growth and impact in the region."

AgDevCo was supported on this transaction by Trust Law Chambers in Rwanda and BLC Robert & Associates in Mauritius.

ABOUT AGDEVCO

AgDevCo is a specialist investor in African agriculture. We invest to grow sustainable and impactful agribusiness. Our vision is a thriving commercial agriculture sector which benefits both people and planet. We contribute to this by investing in and supporting agribusinesses to grow, create jobs, produce and process food and link farmers to markets. We reinvest our capital to reach higher impact which ensures efficiency and change at scale. We support our partners to work towards climate sustainability, and where possible, regenerative solutions. AgDevCo's current portfolio has $138m of committed funds into 48 companies.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/737847/AgDevCo_Logo.jpg

SOURCE AgDevCo


SADC will urgently resuscitate and capacitate its Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in order to facilitate deployment in Mozambique, which is presently under siege from insurgents that claim to be affiliated to the Islamic State (IS), President Mnangagwa has said.

Speaking after returning from Mozambique for the Double Troika Summit yesterday, the President said it was now the responsibility of defence and security chiefs to implement the resolution.

First, we had the Troika itself, which sat and adopted the recommendations of the Ministers of Defence and Security which, in the main, included the need to have SADC take responsibility in dealing with the threat in Cabo Delgado, in the sense that SADC, through its Force Intervention Brigade  our SADC force  should be resuscitated and capacitated immediately so that it can intervene, he said.

Later on we had the Double Troika, which then brings on board the outgoing chair, Tanzania, and the incoming chair, Malawi. The Troika submitted its report to the Double Troika, and the Double Troika endorsed the decisions of the Troika.

Yes, what is happening now is that the defence and security chiefs have the responsibility of implementing the decisions of the Double Troika.

FIB was first conceived as an arm of the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). It is composed entirely of troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi.

However, at a key meeting of the Organ Troika convened in Botswana in November last year, the bloc accepted a proposal by the United Nations to realign the current Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) troops strength to create the headroom for the Quick Reaction Forces (QRFs), and generate two QRFs from the SADC Troops-Contributing Countries.

Yesterdays Double Troika Summit was called by Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who is chair of the Organ on Defence, Politics and Security Cooperation, which is responsible for peace and security in the region.

At the key meeting, SADC resolved to immediately deploy in Mozambique as it prepares a proportionate regional response to terrorist attacks in northern Mozambique.

Defence ministers from Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa  which currently make up the Organ Troika  will also meet on April 28 to prepare a follow-up extraordinary meeting of the Organ Troika the following day.

In a communique at the end of the Summit, the SADC secretariat said the heinous attacks, particularly in Cabo Delgado province, could not be allowed to continue. Insurgents attacked the coastal city of Palma on March 24 and displaced more than 11 000 people.

The exact number of people killed in the horrific attacks, which took place close to a multibillion-dollar gas project by French energy giant Total, are not yet known.

Double Troika Summit received a report from the Organ Troika on the security situation in Mozambique, and noted with concern the acts of terrorism perpetrated against innocent civilians, women and children in some of the districts of Cabo Delgado Province of the Republic of Mozambique; condemned the terrorist attacks in strongest terms; and affirmed that such heinous attacks cannot be allowed to continue without a proportionate regional response, read part of the statement released after the key meetings. Double Troika directed an immediate technical deployment to the Republic of Mozambique, and the convening of an Extraordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ by April 28, 2021, that will report to the Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit on April 29, 2021.

Regional countries have resolved to intervene as a collective to deal with the deteriorating security situation in Mozambique, which threatens the whole region and humanity at large.

Officially opening the Organ Troika Summit, President Masisi said there was need to deal decisively with the insurgents to bring SADC back on its development path. The region, he added, would ensure the scourge of terrorism does not find a home in our region.

We all agree that the deteriorating security situation in the northern province of Cabo Delgado in Mozambique is indeed a serious threat to peace and security not only our sister country, but also to the whole region and humanity at large. In particular, the recent attacks in the town of Palma have recently demonstrated the magnitude of the problem at our doorsteps, said President Masisi.

We cannot stay indifferent to the brutal and indiscriminate attacks by these faceless terrorists. Describing the insurgents as inhumane killers, President Masisi said there was need to ensure the scourge of terrorism does not find a home in our region.

He said although Mozambique had commendably fought off attacks from the terrorists, it could not possibly be expected to sustain the operations in the long term.

No member state can deal with the scourge of terrorism alone. Even the most powerful of nations on the planet have not been able to effectively address terrorism on their own.

The Double Troika is made up of Mozambique, the current chair; Malawi, which is the incoming chair; and Tanzania (the outgoing). Other members include Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Herald
A woman poses for a photo amid cole flowers in Longquan Village of Xiushui Township in Anzhou of Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

Building on its experience and success in the poverty fight, China is ready to take on a new challenge.

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- From launching massive reforms to adopting targeted alleviation measures, China has explored a unique course to end extreme poverty and now that a complete victory has been secured, the country is rolling up its sleeves for a new mission to propel rural vitalization.

The world's largest developing country has achieved the complete eradication of extreme poverty, raising more than 770 million people out of poverty since its reform and opening up in the late 1970s.

According to the World Bank standard, this figure accounted for more than 70 percent of the global total over the same period, said a white paper released Tuesday by the State Council Information Office.

A report titled "Chinese Poverty Alleviation Studies: A Political Economy Perspective" released by New China Research, the think tank of Xinhua News Agency, has summarized foreign experts' views on the lessons the world can learn from China's success into the "Five Ds": Determined Leadership, Detailed Blueprint, Development Oriented, Data-based Governance and Decentralized Delivery.

Building on its experience and success in the poverty fight, China is ready to take on a new challenge.

"Removing the label of extreme poverty is not the end, but the beginning of a new life and a new journey," the white paper stressed, vowing to continue to consolidate the results of poverty elimination, dovetail new measures with rural vitalization, and pool more resources to energize the countryside.

In an important move to enable a smooth transition into rural vitalization, China in February unveiled a new government body -- the National Administration for Rural Vitalization -- to shift its policy focus to further boosting rural areas.

Aerial photo taken on June 18, 2019 shows a road on Banshan Mountain in Wuxiang County of north China's Shanxi Province. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

China will roll out more than 30 policies to ensure the resources leveraged for intensive poverty elimination are redirected toward an extensive drive for rural vitalization, Wang Zhengpu, head of the administration, told a press conference on Tuesday.

China is reviewing, adjusting, optimizing and improving existing support policies for poverty alleviation, said Wang, pledging to keep policies consistent and stable as part of efforts to prevent people from falling back into poverty.

Official data show that the final 98.99 million impoverished rural residents living under the current poverty line were all lifted out of poverty over the past eight years. All of the 832 impoverished counties and 128,000 impoverished villages were also removed from the poverty list.

China's counties have been given a five-year grace period from the day they emerged from poverty, during which they will continue to enjoy the main support policies for poverty alleviation.

To prevent any relapses, China has put in place a long-term mechanism for dynamic monitoring of any trends indicating a return to poverty and regular checks on key groups, according to Wang.

Follow-up support will be strengthened for the relocated population, with targeted efforts to develop industries, create jobs and improve infrastructure and public services.

While ensuring those who emerged from poverty see no setbacks, the government work report this year has pledged to advance rural vitalization on all fronts and improve the new urbanization strategy during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

By 2035, China will have achieved basic socialist modernization. With decisive progress in rural vitalization by that time, agriculture and rural areas will be modernized and fundamentally restructured, according to the white paper.

The country will become a great modern socialist country in every dimension by 2050, realizing the Second Centenary Goal and fully vitalizing the countryside.

"At that time, China will have strong agriculture, a beautiful and vitalized countryside, and prosperous farmers, enjoying across-the-board progress in society and the economy, and thriving endeavors in every sector," the white paper said. 

[ Editor: SRQ ]
Ion channels play an indispensable role in cellular physiology, and understanding the physical features that affect ion channel functions is a matter of considerable interest to biologists. Given that mechanosensitivity is an intrinsic feature of cells, the complex set of mechanical stresses acting on a cell at any time represents an important consideration in the field of cellular physiology. In fact, stretching forces created by mechanical stress are sometimes necessary to activate ion channels. As Professor Masayuki Iwamoto and Professor Shigetoshi Oiki of the University of Fukui explain, "Mechanical stresses change the level of cell membrane tension, and stretch-activated ion channels in the membrane mediate tension-related electrical transduction".

Recent experiments have shown that tension sensitivity is a property of ion channels other than those historically classified as "mechanosensitive" channels, and biophysicists are coming to see tension sensitivity as an intrinsic property of ion channels in general. However, efforts to elucidate the physiological relevance and molecular mechanisms of such tension sensitivity depend on the establishment of experimental methods that allow experimenters to evaluate dynamic changes in membrane tension in real time.

To meet this growing need, Professors Iwamoto and Oiki focused their efforts on developing a novel time-lapse system for measuring membrane tension. In their experiments, they formed a bilayer by docking two monolayer-lined water bubbles and evaluated tension using the Young-Laplace principle to measure intra-bubble pressures lower than 100 pascals. This novel experimental method has the advantage of relying on a straightforward model system consisting of purified channels and a simple lipid bilayer. This model allows experimenters to avoid the unmanageable complexity of real cell membranes, which feature a wide variety of ion channels and accessory proteins. The experimental setup permits real-time monitoring of membrane tension.

The KcsA ion channel is the prototypical ion channel used to understand ion channel structure-function relationships. The channel functions in the bilayer, and this is an important advantage given the rapid variability in membrane tension that occurs during actual cellular activity while recording the dynamic responsiveness of the KcsA ion channel. These experiments revealed a novel mode of action for tension sensitivity without precedent in the existing literature. Their results appear in a paper recently published in the peer-reviewed journal JACS Au.

Interestingly, the KcsA ion channels exhibited sensitivity to membrane tension and responded quickly to its fluctuations. One notable observation was that the ion channels' responses to increasing membrane tension differed substantially from their responses to decreasing membrane tension. During the stretching phase, the channels started to activate only when the membrane tension reached high levels. In the tension decreasing phase, they remained active for a while even after returning to a low level of tension. This feature is called hysteresis, and it implies that the channel molecules can "memorize" their active state for a short period.

In conclusion, Professors Iwamoto and Oiki have developed a time-lapse system for measuring membrane tension while recording the dynamic responsiveness of a prototypical ion channel. Their findings revealed a process of hysteresis, which they note "extends existing knowledge of the mechanisms of the tension-sensitive channels that play key roles in various cellular activities."

The present study is thus important both as a demonstration of a new method for fundamental ion channel research and as basic research into ion channel mechanisms. The insights into hysteresis as a functional feature of KcsA ion channels could be valuable for drug discovery research.

###

About University of Fukui, Japan

The University of Fukui is a preeminent research institution with robust undergraduate and graduate schools focusing on education, medical and science, engineering, and global and community studies. The university conducts cutting-edge research and strives to nurture human resources capable of contributing to society on the local, national, and global level.

Website: https:/ / www. u-fukui. ac. jp/ eng/

About Professor Shigetoshi Oiki from the University of Fukui, Japan

Professor Shigetoshi Oiki works within the Biomedical Imaging Research Center at the University of Fukui since 2019 as a Specially Appointed Professor. He worked as a Professor in University of Fukui Faculty of Medical Sciences between 1998 and 2019. He has authored numerous papers on the biophysics of ion channels.

About Professor Masayuki Iwamoto from the University of Fukui, Japan

Professor Masayuki Iwamoto works within the Division of Molecular Neuroscience in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Fukui. He has authored numerous papers on the subject of ion channels.

Funding information

This study was funded by KAKENHI grants from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
The University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hatieganu" of Cluj-Napoca is first in Romania in the SCIMAGO 2021 ranking of academic and research institutions and number 683 worldwide.

"SCIMAGO 2021: UMF "Iuliu Hatieganu", the top university in Romania in the field of research. The University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hatieganu" of Cluj-Napoca is number one in the top 31 higher education institutions in Romania included in the SCIMAGO 2021 ranking, going up by two positions from the occupied position of 2020. In the global ranking, which includes 4126 higher learning institutions, UMF "Iuliu Hatieganu" is among the first 1000 universities in the world, on 683 spot," according to a press release sent on Thursday by UMF Cluj.

In 2020, at UMF "Iuliu Hatieganu" there were over 80 ongoing research projects and 836 scientific articles published in ISI-listed magazines."The research, coordinated with integrated and internationalisation vision, sustainable through projects, is one of the priorities of our activities as an advanced research institution. Through the scientific research projects that we are conducting, we are maintaining and growing national and international recognition, the prestige and competitiveness, in a context in which this aspect is more and more important, on a global scale. Due to the efforts of the staff and researchers of our universities, we are placed among the best of the best and proudly and responsibly contribute to developing scientific, medical and pharmaceutical research," declared the rector of UMF "Iuliu Hatieganu" of Cluj-Napoca, prof. dr. Anca Dana Buzoianu. AGERPRES
The webinar was created by Alex Sogno, CEO & Senior Hotel Asset Manager, Global Asset Solutions, and European Chapter Head of the ILHA. Patrick Whyte, Editor in Chief, EMEA, Questex Travel & Hospitality, moderated the webinar with speakers Marc Dardenne, COO Luxury Brand Europe, Accor; Richard Brekelmans, Area Vice President Southern Europe, Marriott International; and Philippe Roux-Dessarps, General Manager, Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens.

You can view the webinar here

Some of the webinar's topics included the pace of luxury hotel recovery and how it would be dependent on the market and the hotel product, ie, whether it was a resort, urban-based, or located in the north or south. Speakers also discussed potential issues expected during hotel openings or re-openings and how the luxury hotel industry is preparing itself for the future.

Richard Brekelmans of Marriott International has seen Spain improving, specifically the Canary Islands. He also noted that French travelers are now booking travel to the Canary Islands, which they weren't doing prior.

Philippe Roux-Dessarps of Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens has noticed a swift reaction to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. Whether it's Germany or the UK, there is an immediate and very rapid flow of reservations, which shows a lot of pent-up demand for travel. Roux-Dessarps also noted that tourism in Greece is very important since it represents 10% of employment and approximately 40 billion euro for the country.

Marc Dardenne of Accor believes we need to learn from the countries that are currently doing well amid the pandemic and study their strategies. He also noted that Accor kept their hotel rates very flat, taking into consideration that most travelers weren't able to take an extravagant vacation and were mainly looking for a quick and easy getaway.

The speakers all agreed that one of the main challenges they will have to overcome is building the public's confidence to start traveling again. More than ever, work and leisure are intertwined since people are working remotely. Philippe Roux-Dessarps noted that finding a way to offer workspaces within your hotel is something that will be important for future travelers.

Join the next webinar on "Strategies to Transform Hotel Guest Experience" on Wednesday, April 28 at 11:00 pm ET with Bridget Tran, CMO & CDO, The Transformation Groupe moderating, and speakers from hotelAVE, Ritz Carlton and Canyon Ranch.

Learn more about the membership benefits of the International Luxury Hotel Association here and join our chapters and mentorship program so that you can get the support you need to advance your career and grow your business. Save $20 with the code WBSERIES20

Written by CIIC.

About the International Luxury Hotel Association

The International Luxury Hotel Association is the luxury hospitality's preeminent association promoting, unifying and advancing the industry through insight, opinion and research.

ILHA reaches an audience of more than 500,000 hotel professionals in 90+ countries and produces LUXURY HOTELIERS Magazine, A WEBINAR SERIES and the INSPIRE SUMMITS in Europe and North America. They also run LinkedIn's largest hospitality and travel group which ranks in the top 100 of the more than 10 million professional groups on LinkedIn. Connect with us on theilha.com, hospitality and travel forum, ILHA Facebook, ILHA Instagram, ILHA Twitter, ILHA YouTube

SOURCE International Luxury Hotel Association

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http://luxuryhotelassociation.org


ORLANDO, Fla.  A former local official in Florida facing an array of federal charges in an inquiry that is also focused on Representative Matt Gaetz was expected to plead guilty, lawyers said in court on Thursday, an indication that the defendant is likely to cooperate as a key witness against Mr. Gaetz.

A cooperation agreement by Joel Greenberg, a former county tax collector north of Orlando, is almost certain to create legal difficulties for Mr. Gaetz, a prominent ally of former President Donald J. Trump. Investigators are said to be examining their involvement with women who were recruited online for sex and given cash payments, as well as whether Mr. Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old. Mr. Greenberg, who already faces one count of sex trafficking involving the girl, would be able to give prosecutors a firsthand account of their actions.

Mr. Greenberg faces other charges, including stalking a political rival and trying to bribe a federal official; he has pleaded not guilty. Investigators suspect he met the women through a website that connects people willing to go on dates in exchange for gifts and allowances, then arranged for liaisons with himself and associates including Mr. Gaetz.

Mr. Greenbergs potential deal also comes as the F.B.I. has widened its investigation to include questions about a trip to the Bahamas that Mr. Gaetz took with Republican allies from Florida and women who were asked to provide sex for them, according to four people familiar with the inquiry.
STATEMENT OF SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON THE LOWERING OF TARIFFS ON IMPORTED PORK MEAT

It is very disappointing that Malacanang decided to lower tariffs on imported pork to allow for even more pork imports. Clearly, hog revival is not part of its plan. Sa lagay na ito, parang tinalikuran at sinukuan na ang mga lokal nating magbababoy.

First, the Palace only allowed the Department of Agriculture (DA) a measly P200M for its restocking program that will replace pigs that have been decimated by the African Swine Fever (ASF).

Second, while we welcome the increased insurance coverage for ASF-hit pigs as well as the impending price caps on imported pork, in the context of a deluge of imports, zero border inspection and absent biosafety investments in the rural areas, these measures remain futile. These will not neutralize the drowning effect of the flood of pork imports on the local hog industry.

Ikatlo, pinayagan nilang mag-angkat ng P14B halaga ng imported meat pero hindi naman napalakas ang border control para mapigilang makapasok ang ASF sa bansa. May peligro sa imports at papasok na uninspected frozen meats, pati ang mga hog-raisers sa Visayas at MIndanao na hindi tinamaan ng African Swine Fever.

Ikaapat, the Bureau of Animal industry is still relying on local government units which are unprepared when it comes to the scale of the biosafety capabilities needed to battle the virus in rural areas.

Ikalima, wala pang budget proposal for 2022 para sa mass testing ng mga baboy to allow early detection and culling. Wala ring ikakasang financial assistance para sa maliliit na hog raisers na mawawalan ng hanapbuhay dahil sa pagbagsak ng industriya dulot ng massive importation.

We refuse to accept this capitulationist stance.

We continue to demand adequate budgets for 2022 to support bio-safety, restocking and sufficient insurance coverage that will help revive the local hog-industry. We, at the Senate, fervently hope that things can still be turned around.

Kailanman ay hindi maitatama ang mali ng isa pang pagkakamali. Hanggang kailan pa ba kailangang magsakripisyo at magtiis ng ating mga magbababoy at konsyumer bago pakinggan ang kanilang mga hinaing?

We need to be sending signals of hope for our hog-raisers. We don't want the government slaughtering off the industry now, in tandem with, the ASF virus.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC) today announced it will participate in the BofA Securities Virtual Health Care Conference being held May 1113, 2021.

Encompass Health President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Tarr and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Doug Coltharp will participate in a fireside chat at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. The presentation will be webcast live and will be available at http://investor.encompasshealth.com.

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 139 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.

Media Contact

Hillary Carnel | 205 970-5912

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact

Crissy Carlisle | 205 970-5860

[email protected]

SOURCE Encompass Health Corp.

Related Links

http://www.encompasshealth.com


Reforming the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in line with Euro-Atlantic principles and best practices is a key step on Ukraine's path toward NATO.

Charge d'Affaires of the United States in Ukraine Kristina Kvien said this at a meeting with Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence Mariana Bezuhla, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Twitter account of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine.

Excellent meeting with MP Mariana Bezuhla today. Appreciate her leadership on the Rada's draft law on the SBU. Reforming the Service in accordance with Euro-Atlantic principles and best practices is a key step on Ukraine's path toward NATO, reads the report.

As reported by Ukrinform, on January 28, the Verkhovna Rada adopted at first reading the draft law "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine On the Security Service of Ukraine to improve the organizational and legal framework of the Security Service of Ukraine."

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The sole beneficiary of a grazier's estate  now accused of murdering him and casting it as suicide  made a 'really odd' request for ram sedative two months before the death, a jury has heard.

Natasha Beth Darcy, 46, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mathew Dunbar after the 42-year-old sheep farmer was found dead in his home near Walcha, northern New South Wales, on August 2, 2017.

A vet nurse working in the town, midway between Sydney and Brisbane, told the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday Darcy called to book an appointment on June 19, 2017.

Natasha Beth Darcy, 46, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mathew Dunbar after the 42-year-old sheep farmer was found dead in his home near Walcha, northern New South Wales, on August 2, 2017

Darcy, the sole beneficiary of a Dunbar's estate (pictured) - now accused of murdering him and casting it as suicide  made a 'really odd' request for ram sedative two months before the death, a jury has heard

Towards the end of the call, Darcy mentioned she needed to pick up some ram sedative.

'She hadn't asked about it before,' vet nurse Meleika McKinnon told the trial.

'I was unaware she was managing the sheep.'

Ms McKinnon raised her concern with vet Rachel Greig, who took it up with Mr Dunbar when he picked up one of his working dogs the next day.

'He didn't appear to have any idea what I was talking about,' Ms Greig said.

Explaining she was taken off-guard by Mr Dunbar's answer in the clinic, Ms Greig later rang him to clear up any confusion, the court was told.

Mr Dunbar told the vet he didn't need any ram sedative before one of them remarked Darcy's request was 'really odd' and that they didn't know what was going on.

Ms Greig reported the matter to police on June 29.

Darcy has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting suicide but the Crown has rejected the plea, saying Mr Dunbar's $3.5 million estate motivated her to murder

'I was very concerned,' she said.

'I couldn't think of any reason she would ask for it, any legal reason.'

The clinic's records showed the type of ram sedative Mr Dunbar's partner had requested was only ordered once by Mr Dunbar between July 2015 and his death.

That order in December 2016 was for a single-use shot, Ms Greig said.

Darcy has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting suicide but the Crown has rejected the plea, saying Mr Dunbar's $3.5 million estate motivated her to murder.

After dinner and a few wines at Mr Dunbar's farm on August 1, Darcy is accused of mixing a number of sedatives in a blender and giving it to Mr Dunbar in a drink.

At 1.14 am on August 2, Darcy's husband - a paramedic from whom she had been separated for some time - received a text saying: 'tell police to come to house, I don't want Tash or kids to find me'.

After dinner and a few wines at Mr Dunbar's farm on August 1, Darcy is accused of mixing a number of sedatives in a blender and giving it to Mr Dunbar in a drink

The jury has heard a friend of Mr Dunbar's sent police a message in similar terms when the friend killed himself in a back paddock earlier.

Darcy rang triple zero at 2am saying she had discovered her partner in his bed with a plastic bag and a gas cylinder.

Darcy's barrister Janet Manuel SC has told the jury of the grazier's physical health problems, his depression, Mr Dunbar's own suicide threat in June 2017 and his subsequent admission into a psychiatric unit.

Mr Dunbar did not leave a suicide note, but the jury is expected to hear psychiatric evidence that that was 'really common'.

Much of the crown case is centred on internet searches made on various devices on topics such as poisonous mushrooms, toxic plants, suicide methods and 'can police see websites you visit on your mobile'.

Lifeline 13 11 14

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-07 22:21:40|Editor: huaxia

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Aerial photo shows a China-Europe freight train bound for Helsinki, Finland departing from Putian Station of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan)

Noting that China-EU relations are facing new opportunities as well as various challenges, Xi said that the key is to keep to the general direction and keynote of China-EU relations from a strategic perspective, respect each other and remove distractions.

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged Germany and the European Union (EU) to make joint efforts with China to protect and promote the healthy and stable development of their cooperation, so as to bring more certainty and stability to the volatile world.

Xi made the remarks in a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The Chinese president stressed that he and Merkel have communicated for several times last year, which has played an important leading role for the development of China-Germany and China-EU relations.

Enhancing China-Germany and China-EU cooperation could produce major results with significance, he said.

Xi pointed out that China-Germany pragmatic cooperation, despite of disturbance generated by the COVID-19 pandemic among other issues, has made progress while maintaining stability, with China being Germany's largest global trading partner for the fifth consecutive year, which demonstrates the resilience and potential of their cooperation.

Xi said he hopes that both sides will promote their cooperation in various fields in the spirit of mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win, in order to help inject confidence and impetus to the China-EU cooperation and the revitalization of the world economy.

A staff member works in a restaurant at a night market in Shouchang Township of Jiande City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)

China is actively building a new development paradigm, Xi said, adding that China is relying on its own strength for development while sticking to opening up and actively participating in international division of labor and cooperation.

China is willing to share the opportunities brought about by its new round of opening up and development with foreign companies including those from Germany, he said.

Xi said he hopes that Germany will remain open and create more convenience for the enterprises of both countries to expand mutually beneficial cooperation.

He also encouraged the two sides to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Germany diplomatic relations next year and the Beijing Winter Olympics as an opportunity to promote exchanges in such fields as science and technology, education, culture, and sports.

Noting that China-EU relations are facing new opportunities as well as various challenges, Xi said that the key is to keep to the general direction and keynote of China-EU relations from a strategic perspective, respect each other and remove distractions.

Xi said China's development has been an opportunity for the EU and urged the EU to make correct judgment independently and truly achieve strategic autonomy.

China stands ready to work with the EU to ensure the success of a series of important political agendas for the next stage through consultation, deepen and expand practical cooperation across the board, strengthen communication on climate change and other global governance issues, and jointly practice multilateralism, Xi said.

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)

Vaccines are used to prevent diseases and save lives, he said, stressing that China opposes the politicization of vaccines or "vaccine nationalism," and stands ready to work with Germany and the international community as a whole to promote fair and reasonable vaccine distribution, support and help developing countries to obtain vaccines, and contribute to humankind's common fight against the pandemic for an early victory.

For her part, Merkel said that the EU upholds independence in its foreign relations. The world today faces many problems and challenges, which all the more call for Germany-China and EU-China cooperation to address together, she said.

Strengthening EU-China dialogue and cooperation is not only in the interests of both sides, but also beneficial to the world, she said, adding that Germany is willing to play a positive role in this regard.

The German side attaches importance to China's 14th Five-Year Plan, expecting it to bring new and important opportunities for Germany-China and EU-China cooperation, Merkel said.

Germany is willing to work with China to prepare for a new round of Germany-China inter-governmental consultations, resume personnel exchanges at an early date, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in such fields as the fight against COVID-19, climate change and biodiversity, Merkel said, adding that Germany hopes to maintain communication with China on issues such as fair distribution and mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccines.

The chancellor added that her country stands ready to contribute to the success of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to be held this year in Kunming, China. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 18:24:13|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua Writers Yue Wenwan, Yu Pei, Tian Zhongquan and Yao Yuan

WUHAN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Wuhan resident Yuan Baohua carried a sense of responsibility with her when going for the COVID-19 inoculation, which she believed will help boost the city's collective immunity a year after a COVID-19 lockdown was lifted.

"Though I'm old, I'm in good health, and many of my peers have already taken the vaccine," Yuan said while getting the first of two doses after the city expanded COVID-19 inoculation to include elderly residents in late March.

Accompanying her at the vaccination site was her daughter-in-law Celia Esquivel Salguero, who has lived in Wuhan for over 10 years. "I told my parents in Guatemala about my decision to take the vaccine, and they fully supported me," she said.

Yuan's family has faithfully participated in Wuhan's previous mass mobilization that helped the city triumph over the virus, from months-long home quarantines to citywide nucleic acid testing.

"Now the vaccination will add more defense, and I'm looking forward to the day when we are no longer afraid of the virus," Yuan said.

CITY OF SAFETY

On Thursday, the megacity in central China's Hubei Province marked the first anniversary since it ended the 76-day isolation and the 10th month without reporting any locally transmitted infections.

Strict quarantines during the lockdown, the citywide nucleic acid testing drive that tested nearly 10 million residents and enforcement of regular anti-virus measures have made Wuhan a post-pandemic "city of safety" and lifted its "psychological lockdown."

Shopping blocks, pedestrian streets and restaurants in the city are again crowded with people. Li Li queued for nearly two hours on the popular Hanjie Street to taste this year's crayfish.

The 26-year-old local resident was comfortable with dining out in a restaurant packed with people. "Why not? I think we are in one of the safest cities in the world," she said.

Wuhan has reported no new local infections since May 18, 2020. As of Tuesday, nearly 3.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Wuhan, according to the municipal health commission.

About 2 km from Hanjie Street stands the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, one of the first hospitals in Wuhan designated to treat COVID-19 patients and also among the last to resume normal operation.

Zhang Dongdong, a physiotherapist at the hospital, saw the return of his patients as evidence that the city is back on its feet.

"At first, many patients would not dare come for rehab, as our ward had been used to receive COVID-19 patients, but by last September, our department was once again filled with people," the therapist said.

"My job is to help patients gradually stand up, walk and run through physical training, just as Wuhan recovered with help from across the country," Zhang said.

To defend the victory against the novel coronavirus, Wuhan has been empowering its public health sector since last year. It has built four 1,000-member teams to conduct epidemiological investigations, disinfection, testing and epidemic control respectively.

"I barely had a break at the peak of Wuhan's epidemic. During the day, I was busy with epidemiological investigations, and I had to collect and report related information at night," recalled Tan Yefeng, a doctor at Wuchang district's center for disease control and prevention (CDC).

Epidemiological investigations track the routes and sources of new infections, which is vital for official interventions to contain any further spread.

Tan testified to the substantial improvements in the epidemic response system, including the expansion of the district CDC personnel, whose number has doubled since the outbreak and will continue to increase.

"And now not only the CDC but also personnel from hospitals, civil service, police and communities will join epidemiological investigations," he said.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY

During Wuhan's lockdown that saw outbound flights and trains suspended, Zhai Chenfei, a pilot with China Southern Airlines, piloted his car instead of a plane to help deliver vegetables and medicine for residents and medical workers.

It was not until September that Zhai was able to be back in the cockpit.

"Flying through the blue sky made me feel my life had finally returned to the right track," said Zhai. "Though the number of flights and passengers remained sluggish for a long time, I can see the industry pick up steam these days."

According to the operator of the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, the airport handled a daily average of 536 domestic passenger flights and 65,800 domestic passengers in March, up 14.03 percent and 4.99 percent respectively from the same period in 2019.

As the Chinese city hit hardest by the virus, Wuhan's GDP dropped by a moderately 4.7 percent in 2020, compared with a 40.5-percent contraction in the virus-ravaged first quarter. The investments it received last year even rose 6.7 percent to 930 billion yuan (142 billion U.S. dollars).

The uptrend continued this year, with 215 large projects worth 330.54 billion yuan launched in February, and 112 projects inked with a total investment of 346.2 billion yuan in March. Both hit record highs in Wuhan.

The service sector is also in steady recovery. Running a shop selling Wuhan's signature hot dry noodles, Luo Sisi now gets up at 3 a.m. to prepare the food as customers return in large numbers.

"Our sales are even 10 percent higher than that in the year 2019," said Luo.

Reopened on April 15, 2020, Luo's noodles shop also witnessed the city's psychological recovery. He felt relieved, especially when seeing parents taking their children out to eat breakfast.

"People are more tolerant after the epidemic. Everyone is more patient when queuing up to buy noodles, and everything is more orderly," said Luo.

Luo's parent shop operates over 70 branch stores. Although a dozen closed during the epidemic, 27 new shops opened after June 2020.

"The hot dry noodle is not only a popular food but also a spiritual icon of the city," Luo said. "We have not only survived the epidemic, but are now capable of helping more people start a business." Enditem
China recently revealed a new ATGM (anti-tank guided missile) which appears larger than earlier ones and uses top-attack warhead technology. It was later reported that a version of this new missile had been revealed, called the ATF-11, and better photos were provided. It appears that the larger vehicle mounted missile and the new portable version are the same and are in fact a laser guided version of the American TOW (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided). The ATF-11 was is not the first Chinese missile to use top-attack tech. That showed up in the 1980s when they introduced the HJ-8, which is nearly identical to the American TOW 2 in size, weight, range and, according to the users, performance. The ATF-11 appears to be a laser guided version of the HJ-8. There were American and Israeli laser-guided (wireless) TOW missiles but they never seemed to be worth putting into service. That same fate may await a Chinese laser-guided HJ-8.

Both TOW and HJ-8 use SACLOS (Second-generation semi-automatically command guided to line-of-sight) guidance. The big problem with SACLOS is that the operator is often under fire and that sometimes makes it difficult to maintain aim. The following generations of anti-tank missiles were wireless and fire-and-forget which allows the operator to duck as soon as the target is identified by the MGS (Missile Guidance Set) and the missile fired.

After 2000 Chinese HJ-8 ATGMs were widely available in the international black market for arms. If you had the money, there are groups that can get you all sorts of relatively cheap and pretty effective Chinese weapons, which are often pretty good copies of Western and Russian weapons. But sometimes older American weapons are copied. The HJ-8 is the Chinese version of the American TOW system, which has been in service since 1974 while HJ-8 showed up in 1985. Over 500,000 TOW missiles have been manufactured since its introduction, and it remains in service with the United States and many other countries. All versions of TOW are shipped and fired from a sealed launch tube. That tube is placed on a MGS that contains the gunner sight, with night vision, and operator guidance electronics. The MGS weighs 25 kg (55 pounds). The 1970 version of the missile weighed 19 kg (42 pounds) and had a 3.9 kg (8.6 pound) warhead. The latest version (TOW 2B or BGM-71F) weighs 22.7 kg (50 pounds) and has a 6.2 kg (13.5 pound) warhead that can defeat ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) at targets up to 4,000 meters away.

The new Chinese missile was not named, but was shown mounted in a multiple cell launcher on an armored vehicle. No performance details were given but it is similar in size to TOW, and presumably capable and probably using fire and forget tech as well as an advanced target seekers.

China has been producing copies of Western designs for decades. In 2014 they introduced the HJ-12, which is similar to the American Javelin or Israeli Spike. The HJ-12 is portable and its control unit only weighs five kg (11 pounds) so that the entire system weighs 22 kg (49 pounds) and can be carried by infantry.
[April 08, 2021] Government of Canada invests to bring high-speed Internet to 130 more homes in the Pickering communities of Greenwood and Whitevale

Ontarians in rural communities to benefit from increased connectivity OTTAWA, ON, April 8, 2021 /CNW/ - The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how much we rely on our connections. Now more than ever, Canadians across the country need access to reliable high-speed Internet, as many of us are working, learning and staying in touch with friends and family from home. Right now, too many Canadians living in rural and remote communities lack access to high-speed Internet. Through the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) Rapid Response Stream, the Government of Canada is taking immediate action to get Canadians connected to the high-speed Internet they need.

Today, Jennifer O'Connell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for PickeringUxbridge, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, announced over $200,000 in federal funding for two projects to bring high-speed Internet to 130 underserved households in the Pickering communities of Greenwood and Whitevale, Ontario. Bell Canada is investing an additional $273,000. The projects being announced today were approved within five months of the November 2020 formal launch of the $1.75-billion UBF. Projects funded under the UBF, as well as through other public and private investments, will help connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% connectivity by 2030. Today's announcement builds on the progress the Government of Canada has already made to improve critical infrastructure in Ontario. Since 2015, the federal government has approved over 4,060 infrastructure projects, totalling over $2.85 billion in federal investments in Ontario communities with a population of fewer than 100,000 people. These investments mean 481 km of new or upgraded roads that are making our communities safer; more than 938 projects that are providing residents with cleaner, more sustainable sources of drinking water; and more than 5,427 additional housing units hat are being built in rural communities, helping ensure all Ontarians have a safe place to call home.



Quotes "The COVID-19 pandemic has proven how essential it is for all Canadians to be connected to reliable and affordable Internet access, especially for those living in rural communities. Whether you're a student studying in a virtual classroom, an entrepreneur running a business online or a grandparent trying to stay connected with loved ones, this pandemic has highlighted the critical and immediate need for Canadians to have access to high-speed Internet, more than ever before. As a strong advocate for better connectivity in Pickering, I am pleased to see this investment in north Pickering, and I look forward to connecting even more residents and Canadians to this essential service through the government's Universal Broadband Fund."

 Jennifer O'Connell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for PickeringUxbridge "Access to high-speed broadband networks will be a driver of Canada's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and of future social and economic prosperity. Bell has committed to further accelerating our industry-leading capital investment plan over the next two years to connect even more communities across the country. We're proud to invest $273,000 and to partner with the Government of Canada to provide residents of Greenwood and Whitevale with access to the fastest fibre home Internet speeds available."  Bruce Furlong, Senior Vice President, Access Engineering and Deployment, Bell Canada

Quick facts Canada's Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload.

The UBF is a $1.75-billion investment designed to help connect all Canadians to high-speed Internet. Applications to the UBF were accepted until March 15, 2021 , and are now being evaluated.

investment designed to help connect all Canadians to high-speed Internet. Applications to the UBF were accepted until , and are now being evaluated. The UBF is part of a suite of federal investments to improve high-speed Internet. The suite includes the Connect to Innovate program, which is expected to connect nearly 400,000 households by 2023, and the recently announced $2-billion broadband initiative from the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Associated links Backgrounder: Universal Broadband Fund and Telesat low Earth orbit capacity agreement

Universal Broadband Fund

Connect to Innovate Program  Project status updates

Canada Infrastructure Bank announcement

High-Speed Access for All: Canada's Connectivity Strategy Stay connected Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Stills from police body-worn camera video footage allegedly showing Christopher Quaglin (with a red box around him) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. Quaglin was arrested on April 6, 2021. (Department of Justice)

New Jersey Man Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Officers and Spraying Them With Chemicals During Capitol Riot

A New Jersey man was arrested on April 7 in connection with the Jan. 6 the Capitol incident, with federal prosecutors accusing him of assaulting multiple law enforcement officers, spraying them with a chemical irritant, and stealing their riot shields.

Christopher Joseph Quaglin, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, was arrested on Wednesday and is facing charges of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers, civil disorder, and obstruction of an official proceeding, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Quaglin, who was charged with a criminal complaint (pdf) and made an initial court appearance on Wednesday, allegedly assaulted several U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers during the Jan. 6 Stop the Steal protest.

According to court documents and publicly available video, Quaglin was seen repeatedly assaulting multiple law enforcement officers guarding and protecting the Capitol from rioters, the DOJ said in a statement.

An FBI agent detailed the evidence against Quaglin in a 26-page affidavit (pdf), which shows him in numerous stills from security footage wearing a distinctive red, white and blue shirt with the words Make America Great Again on it, as well as a black helmet with a camera affixed to it, and a gas mask.

The agent wrote in the affidavit that, in one incident, Quaglin allegedly approached a police line separated by a fence and started engaging with the MPD officers manning the line.

Seemingly unprovoked, QUAGLIN shouts the following statements towards the MPD Officers: You dont want this fight. You do not want this [expletive] fight. You are on the wrong [expletive] side, the agent wrote.

In another incident described in the affidavit, Quaglin allegedly approached a USCP officer, before holding and pushing the officer by the neck, causing the officer to fall. He also appeared to physically strike a USCP officer in video footage, and later he could also be seen on video attacking officers with a stolen riot shield and spraying them with a chemical irritant.

The DOJ alleged in a statement that Quaglin sprayed chemical irritant directly into the face of an MPD officer who was not wearing a face shield or gas mask.

Hundreds of people have been charged in connection with the Capitol breach, which took place as Congress assembled to count electoral votes cast in the 2020 presidential election.
Presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie, has said that the wailing of some Nigerians will not stop President Buhari from embarking on his medical trips. Lauretta said this while reacting to the criticism that has trailed the president's decision to go to the UK for his routine medical checkup.



In a post shared on her social media handles, Lauretta said the President will continue to embark on the medical trips until he leaves office in 2023.



Her post reads;



''TWO MORE YEARS OF WAILING.



We have been here since 2016. Its been the same wailing. So the response will also be the same.



I do not understand why the pandemic has negatively affected certain people more than the rest of us.



People across the world, have personal physicians. President Buhari is not an exception. People go to wherever their personal doctors are especially one they have seen for decades.



Pres.Buhari won't dump his doctor of about 40 years so that wailers can be happy. That's blackmail. Thankfully, he doesn't pay blackmailers.



When he took ill in 2016, everything was explained. I was running from one media house to the other like a headless chicken, educating us on the psychology of the relationship between a patient and his or her long-standing doctor.



Thankfully, he made a full recovery.



In 2017, 2018 and 2019, he went for #CheckUps. In 2020 he went before the beginning of the pandemic. The same wailing and the same explanations.



I do not know any man who will have a different barber cut his hair when the one he is used to, is not available.



I don't know any lady who would have her hair or nails done by a different hair dresser or technician from her usual, let alone, change her doctor.



But it goes to show that many of us do not go for checkups because we do not understand what it means. We only see doctors when we are unwell. Those who take their health seriously, have annual checkups. That's what President Buhari is attending to.



The same wailers told their gullible followers that the man in the Villa, is not President Buhari. So, why bother?



The fact remains that if President Buhari chooses, he will go for checkups in 2022, and 2023. Then from 2024, when he will not need to inform Nigerians, he will continue to go. Its his choice to go or not to go.



Wailing cannot take away his rights to see his personal doctors. So, wailers must get ready for two more years of wailing.''

Source: LIB









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Released in movie theaters twenty-six years ago, Jumanji became an instant classic. In the movie, an ominous drumbeat called to unsuspecting players as they neared the mysterious game, drawing them into its world. In 2017, the movies success was rebooted with mega-star Dwayne The Rock Johnson, but this time as a video game. The franchise had changed with the times, but one thing remained the same: the drumbeat drew the interest of the unsuspecting, drawing them into playing a game they had been completely unaware of.

What does Jumanji have to do with advocacy? If you think about it, advocacy is like a steady drumbeat, one that draws the people who hear it to a cause. It is the art (and science) of leveraging awareness to create positive social change. But while awareness-raising is a critical component of any advocacy effort, every once in a while we need to roll the dice and bring people together to hammer home the urgent need for change for the nearly four million veterans who have served in the U.S. armed forces since 9/11.

Just as Jumanji evolved from a board game into a video game, the fundraising events mounted by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) have also changed. Late last month, instead of flying veterans to Washington for our annual fly-in event (as we've done every year since 2004), we sought to create the same kind of impact with a series of virtual meetings between the veteran community and members of Congress. Despite the change in format, we were able to share stories from the veteran community, encourage lawmakers to serve as our allies, and advocate for change.

During the virtual meetings, veterans from around the country met with elected officials to persuade them to co-sponsor legislation that can help veterans. Over the past four months, IAVA has worked hard to advocate for legislation that will help curtail the suicide epidemic among veterans, support and recognize women veterans, advance post-service training for veterans to improve their reintegration into civil society, and protect the appropriation of GI Bill benefits for post-9/11 veterans. We have had a lot of success, but there's work to be done.

Most importantly, there are two pieces of veterans-related legislation, the TEAM Act and the WARFIGHTERS Act, both of them related to veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic exposures, that must be passed. When our veterans signed up to protect the country, they didn't expect to be exposed to toxic substances and practices overseas that often lead to long-term ailments. Veterans who are suffering need these bills to be passed into law, and they need other veterans and civilians to join them. Nearly four million veterans have served since 9/11  1 percent of the U.S. population fielding the brunt, and the harmful side effects, of military service. Our veterans need the other 99 percent of the population to empathize with their plight and advocate on their behalf. Grab a drum and start banging until others are listening. Help us help our veterans tell their stories and educate decision makers about the most important issues facing the military community.

And when you hear that drumbeat, dont run away. Join in and help us win this fight.

Sean Ullman is chief operations and chief revenue officer at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a veterans service organization representing four hundred thousand veterans nationwide.
analysis

There is now growing evidence of a dynamic within the ANC in Gauteng which could result in more divisions coming to the surface in the near future. At the same time, the province is an important indicator of how ANC leaders can react when they are under extreme pressure.

The way that the ANC in Gauteng reacts could be a harbinger of how the party as a whole would react should it find itself in a situation in which its hold on political power becomes tenuous, or should it come close to losing an election.

Over the Easter weekend, the City Press newspaper reported on a recording of a meeting that Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi held with departmental officials last year. In the meeting, he appears to be instructing them to ensure that when it comes to tenders, everyone is satisfied. It seems that he also tells them to work through "Mashishi" to ensure that people get tenders.

"Mashishi" is a reference to Abram Mashishi, leader of the SA National Civics Organisation, Sanco, in the Greater Tshwane region.

Mashishi has since denied that he received tenders from Lesufi through this meeting. But he has also said that, as a...
A celebrity chef who opened a vegan restaurant with Pamela Anderson before it collapsed into debt was facing jail in France last night over a 'secret meals' scandal.

The Paris home of Christopher Leroy, 57, was raided by officers who suspect he was cooking 400-plus dinners for selected VIPs including senior politicians during the capital city's strict coronavirus lockdown.

It was part of a criminal investigation opened by prosecutors in the city for 'endangering the lives of others - a charge which can be punishable by up to a year in prison, and a fine equivalent to around 12,500.

Leroy, who denies any wrongdoing, was involved in a disastrous business venture with Canadian-American actress and model Ms Anderson four years ago.

The 53-year-old opened a vegan restaurant in the South of France with Leroy's help, but it closed within weeks with huge debts.

Former Baywatch beauty Ms Anderson said at the time: 'I cannot tolerate the mistreatment of staff - or the total disrespect'.

She did not elaborate, but was said to be angry at Leroy's behaviour, particularly as he was involved in other legal problems.

Christopher Leroy, who denies any wrongdoing, was involved in a disastrous business venture with Canadian-American actress and model Pamela Anderson four years ago

Leroy's Paris home was raided by officers who suspect he was cooking 400-plus dinners for VIPs including senior politicians during the capital city's strict coronavirus lockdown

In the same year, Leroy was successfully prosecuted in Morocco for 'complicity in breach of trust' and financial irregularities in a restaurant he was running in the North African country.

Now Leroy is accused of being the chef at numerous champagne-and-caviar dinners that breached France's Covid-19 regulations.

The astonishing claim was made in a film shot in Paris by undercover investigators from the M6 news channel.

'Once you pass through the door there's no more Covid,' a waiter told them as they entered a venue in the centre of the French capital.

'We want people to feel at ease. It's a private club, we want people to feel like they're at home,' he added.

Leroy was said to be cooking in the Palais Vivienne venue run by Pierre-Jean Chalencon, a flamboyant 51-year-old businessman famous for collecting Napoleon Bonaparte relics.

The 53-year-old opened a vegan restaurant in the South of France with Leroy's help, but it closed within weeks with huge debts. Former Baywatch beauty Ms Anderson said at the time: 'I cannot tolerate the mistreatment of staff - or the total disrespect'

Chalencon is also under criminal investigation but also denies any criminality, saying that what was filmed by M6 was just 'an April Fool's joke'.

The menu for an evening meal started at 136 (160) per diner and then rose to 416 (490) for a feast that included Champagne and caviar - despite restaurants, cafes and bars all being shut in Paris since last year.

It comes as the French government deals with a third wave of Covid-19 cases, with intensive care units currently overwhelmed.

Last Thursday, French Prime Minister Jean Castex told MPs that that anyone who was 'likely to endanger the life of others' by hosting illegal parties faced a year in prison, and a fine of up to 12,750 (15,000).

'Prosecutors will be asked to systematically prosecute perpetrators who organise secret events likely to endanger the lives of others,' he added.

According to figures from the French Interior Ministry, police have prevented 326 illegal events from being held since January 1.

Mr Castex also 'asked the Minister of the Interior to increase the number of police and gendarmes assigned to this task.'
At 66 Storeys, EX3 will be Province's Tallest Geothermal Powered Condominium

MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 7, 2021 /CNW/ - Camrost Felcorp Inc., the developer of the award-winning Exchange District mixed-use new community in downtown Mississauga today announced that the drilling of 186 geothermal boreholes, which will provide an alternative energy source to two of the four towers in the development, have now been completed making way for the commencement of shoring and excavation. The project will bring off-grid energy to the rental tenants in the development's purpose-built rental tower, as well as guests of the planned boutique hotel structure, and, the 650 suites in the 66-storey EX3 condominium tower.

Camrost Felcorp's Exchange District in downtown Mississauga (CNW Group/Camrost Felcorp)

In partnership with Diverso Energy, a Geothermal Energy Service Provider, the buildings will benefit from this low carbon heating and cooling solution which, unlike conventional systems, will not require heating boilers or rooftop cooling towers. Additionally, geothermal eliminates the need for natural gas for heating, ensuring Exchange District is a true development of the future.

The inclusion of EX3 in this power system makes it the tallest residential development in the province to feature this innovative geothermal-based approach to sustainable energy service.

"The Exchange District is an award-winning community, celebrated for its careful urban planning, distinctive architecture, and smart design, not to mention its unparalleled, transit-oriented location in the heart of the Mississauga's City Centre," notes Joseph Feldman, Vice President of Development at Camrost Felcorp. "But in today's real estate environment, we understand that those attributes are simply not enough for our market. Purchasers, renters, retailers and those who care about creating great communities, all agree that today's communities must also be environmentally sensitive, sustainable and conscientious."

According to Diverso Energy's co-founder and partner, Jon Mesquita, the company has partnered "with several real estate developers across the GTA in the last few years, helping them meet ever increasing new energy and carbon targets and purchaser demands for energy efficiency," adding that EX3, at 66-storeys, "will be the tallest condominium tower in the province to benefit from a geothermal heating and cooling system."

Story continues

Further demonstrating Camrost Felcorp's commitment at the Exchange District to sustainability and the pursuit of innovative environmentally-friendly technologies, the developer today has also announced a partnership with Mitsubishi Electric to utilize the company's state-of-art Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system.

Mitsubishi's proprietary City Multi water source VRF system revolutionizes the typical approach to HVAC systems in multi-residential towers, providing a premium HVAC solution typically seen in Class-A commercial settings, with features such as simultaneous heating and cooling as well as heat-recovery capabilities. While the heat recovery system has a greater initial cost, it allows for better zoned thermal control of a building and overall greater efficiencies, ultimately saving residents operating costs in a sustainable manner.

About Exchange District

Exchange District is a new urban master-planned community destination coming to downtown Mississauga. Comprising three condominium towers, a rental residence and hotel, the project has been recognized as critical urban element in the creation of the new Mississauga City Center. A multi-use community, Exchange District will boast more than 2-million square feet of coveted retail, shopping, dining, office and commercial spaces, a boutique hotel, new lush public parks and thoughtfully designed open spaces.

Camrost Felcorp

Camrost Felcorp has established its place as one of the foremost names in the development industry since 1976 by consistently leading the way in creating landmark condominiums, and is behind many of the Greater Toronto Area's most distinctive and memorable residential communities and commercial properties. Unique in design, each is built on a similar foundation of superior craftsmanship, a pre-eminent address, and a timeless style that is ahead of the industry.

Diverso Energy

With over 30 years combined experience, Diverso Energy is an industry leader in the design, construction, and operation of geothermal heating and cooling systems. Helping developers of multi-family and commercial office buildings achieve sustainability and energy reduction targets by offering a unique geothermal utility model converting the upfront costs to long term operational expense.

Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc.

Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. was established in 1979 as a subsidiary of the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Japan. Since then, Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. has been at the forefront of heating, cooling and ventilation technology, sales, installation, and service. With 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products to both corporate clients and general consumers all over the world, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation is a recognized world leader in the manufacturing, marketing and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation and construction.

Geothermal drilling at Camrost Felcorp's Exchange District in downtown Mississauga (CNW Group/Camrost Felcorp)

Camrost Felcorp Corporate Logo (CNW Group/Camrost Felcorp)

SOURCE Camrost Felcorp

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2021/07/c5852.html
Trailblazing Australian fashion designer Carla Zampatti will be farewelled at a state funeral at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral next week.

The general public is welcome to join the 10.30am service, which will also be livestreamed, inside the Catholic cathedral on April 15.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Zampatti was a role model for generations as Australians.

Trailblazing Australian fashion designer Carla Zampatti will be farewelled at a state funeral at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral next week

Zampatti, 78, died on April 3, days after a fall at an outdoor opera performance.

The mother-of-three and grandmother of nine had spent a week in hospital after the accident.

Born in Italy in 1942, Zampatti migrated to Australia with her parents in 1950 at age nine, and set up her fashion famous label at 24.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Zampatti was a role model for generations as Australians

Her designs have been worn by some of Australia's most influential women, including Princess Mary of Denmark, Australia's first female prime minister Julia Gillard, Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman and Ms Berejiklian.

'Carla has long been celebrated for making Australian women feel confident and elegant through her exceptional design, tailoring and understanding of the modern woman,' her family said in a statement.

Zampatti was named Australian Designer of the Year in 1994, awarded the Australian Fashion Laureate in 2008 and a year later was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia, Australia's highest civilian honour.
MASON CITY, Iowa  Two women have now been sentenced for setting two vehicles on fire.

Law enforcement says the vehicles were set ablaze in the 600 block of South Maryland Avenue in Mason City on June 18, 2020. The flames also damaged a garage and court documents state the home where the vehicles were parked was occupied when the fire began. Investigators say other criminal mischief was also done to the vehicles.



Alejandra Rodriguez Alejandra Rodriguez

Aleigha Jean Bakkum, 21 of Mason City, pleaded guilty to second-degree arson and has been ordered to spend five years on supervised probation, complete all recommended substance abuse and mental health treatment, and pay $1,500 in damages.

Alejandra Lizet Rodriguez, 21 of Iowa Falls, pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact for first-degree arson. Rodriguez was given two years of supervised probation and must pay $2,000 in damages.

Both women received a deferred judgment, meaning these convictions will be removed from their records if they successfully fulfill the terms of their probation.
Against the backdrop of intensifying tensions with Ukraine, the Russian government will proceed with previously planned nationwide military exercises, announced Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday. The test of the countrys fighting capacity and readiness will stretch over the course of April, involve both ground and naval forces, and include more than 4,000 separate events conducted across the country, even in its most remote regions.

Map of the Black Sea region (Wikimedia Commons/NormanEinstein)

While the military exercises have been scheduled for some time, Moscows public reaffirmation that they will proceed is clearly intended as a show of force in the face of growing threats of war against Russia over Ukraine. In the last several weeks, these threats have reached a fever pitch, with the danger emerging of a full-blown conflict between Russia and Ukraine, behind which stand the United States and Germany.

Over the last seven days, the Ukrainian government has called on NATO to admit the country to the transnational military alliance, appealed for stepped-up NATO intervention in the Black Sea, and announced that Ukrainian forces will be conducting joint exercises with NATO later this year.

Prior to this, Kiev outlined its intentions to retake by force Crimea, the peninsula extending into the Black Sea that rejoined Russia in 2014. Fighting has also intensified between Ukrainian and Russian-allied forces in the Donbass, where breakaway republics emerged in 2014 after a coup orchestrated by Washington and Berlin brought to power a far-right anti-Russian government in Ukraine.

In calls with the heads of state of Canada and Britain on Tuesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky secured assurances of these nations support for Ukraine. They follow the lead of the US government, the architect of the pro-Kiev, anti-Russian campaign, which has involved the financing, equipping, and training of Ukraines military for years. Writing for the Atlantic Council, American political analyst Stephen Blank appealed Tuesday for the US to go further and upgrade Ukraines air force in order to make clear the hard and tangible long-term strategic costs Russia must bear for its malign conduct.

These events unfold as NATO is pressing forward with war preparations against Russia. It is currently conducting a massive military training exercise that extends across the European continent. DEFENDER-Europe 2021, involving 27 nations and 30,000 troops and unfolding in 12 countries, demonstrates, according to the US Armys Europe and Africa division, our ability to serve as a strategic security partner in the western Balkans and Black Sea regions while sustaining our abilities in northern Europe, the Caucasus, Ukraine and Africa.

Involving ground, maritime, and airborne exercises along the entire stretch of Russias western borders and in areas central to Moscows geopolitical interests, DEFENDER-Europe 21 is gearing up NATO to wage World War III. The consequences of such a conflict would be, at the very least, the loss of tens of millions of lives in Europe and Russia and, most likely, the nuclear annihilation of the planet, as the US military has repeatedly made clear that it is prepared to use atomic weapons to secure American interests.

Not a single person in Ukraine, or anywhere else for that matter, will achieve liberation from Russian aggression under these circumstances. Rather, they will all be dead.

Nonetheless, the Ukrainian government of President Zelensky is careening forwards. Its top negotiator in previous peace accords brokered over the conflict in Ukraines Donbass, Leonid Kravchuk, first president of an independent Ukraine, just declared that he would no longer hold discussions with the leading representative of one of the breakaway republics. He also declared that he would not attend talks if they were held in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, which is allied with Russia.

Ukraines parliament is passing measures that will allow it to more rapidly call up conscripts. Zelensky is creating two new federal agencies charged with combatting disinformation, with the clear intention of scrubbing out any of the widely held anti-war sentiments felt in the population.

The war drive is, in part, a desperate effort to divert attention away from the disastrous situation in the country with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of economic policies the Kiev government is implementing at the behest of the Western powers.

Ukraines population is being hammered by the combined effects of the coronavirus and International Monetary Fund austerity policies. On Wednesday, the country reported an additional 15,415 COVID-19 cases, up from 13,276 the previous day. Deaths from the virus also just reached new records. Hospitals are hitting capacity. Only 0.005 percent of the population has been vaccinated, less than the impoverished countries of Rwanda or Mongolia.

Utility rates for a whole number of services were increased at the start of the year, prompting widespread protests, including street demonstrations and road blockages. Fuel poverty, in particular, is a pressing problem, as households can no longer afford to heat their homes or cook food. Due to increasing costs, 11 million70 percentof Ukraines pensioners have an income below the official cost of living.

Like Ukraine, Russia too is in the grip of domestic crises. In addition to the physical toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has officially infected 4.4 million people and killed nearly 100,000, the virus is hammering the working class economically. There are widespread job losses and wage cuts. Prices for basic foodstuffs are rising, as is household debt.

Disillusionment with the Putin government is growing and, in the lead up to Duma elections in September of this year, the Kremlin seeks to use the conflict with Ukraine to shore up its position by appealing to nationalist sentiment and the well-founded fears of the population that the West is hell-bent on their destruction.

The working class of Russia and Ukraine will not find their way out of this situation either by turning to the war-crazed powers in Washington, Berlin, and elsewhere, or to the Kremlin. The American ruling class, perched on top of a rotting corpse of an economy, has laid waste to society after society since the year 2001 alone, in its desperate effort to secure global hegemony and arrest its economic decline.

The Russian ruling class, having destroyed all of the accomplishments that the Soviet working class won at great cost over decades, has little more than massive oil reserves and a huge nuclear apparatus to fall back on in its attempts to maintain a grip on the people and resources of Eurasia. It cares nothing for the lives of Russias working class and cannot defend them. The future of Ukraine and Russias masses lies in a united struggle against imperialism, capitalism, and their bloody warsand for international socialism.
In the northeast (Hasaka province), American and Kurdish SDF forces are still processing the results of a week-long counterterrorism operation in the al Hol refugee camp. The week-long search ended five days ago and the processing of prisoners and data will go on much longer. About 5,000 armed personnel were used to conduct a tent-by-tent search of the al-Hol camp and its residents. The search force was about ten times the size of the usual SDF security force in the camp. The search was for ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and gangster personnel hiding in the camp. The operation resulted in 125 arrests and seized weapons and illegal drugs as well as paper and electronic documents (from laptops and cellphones). Five ISIL mid and high lever leaders were arrested and several others managed to get out of the camp once the lockdown and search began.

Of particular interest was the ISIL intimidation force inside al Hol, which was responsible for several dozen assassinations and many death threats so far this year as part of the ISIL program to maintain control of the camp. Several of the intimidators were arrested. The identities of the intimidators were widely known in the camps because most of the time they were just threatening camp residents, and resorting to violence (a beating or murder) against those who did not do what ISIL demanded of them

Since 2018 the SDF has been maintaining prison camps for captured ISIL fighters and their families. The SDF kept pointing out that without some help in dealing with the growing number of these captives, the situation would get out of control. By 2019 the SDF had over 50,000 prisoners held in a large refugee/prison camp and various governments were asked to verify who was a citizen of where. The UN has been asked to take custody of those found to be stateless. Iraq agreed to take about 30 percent of the refugees and prosecute those who are suspected of ISIL crimes. That process was slower than expected. There are still over 40,000 of these prisoners at the al Hol camp. Many of the ISIL wives are obviously still active ISIL members and many were caught smuggling weapons into the camp when they were searched before entering. These ISIL women are terrorizing other camp residents and seeking to intimidate the camp guards. The Kurds needed help paying for the camp and wanted the nations these people came from, including Syria, to claim and take custody of them. All of the camp residents claim to be non-Syrian but for many of them that is unclear. In 2019 the ISIL leader released an audio message in which he urged all ISIL members to assist in getting the ISIL men, wives and children out of the SDF camps. Efforts to attack the camp to enable a mass escape have so far failed. ISIL did not want the camp destroyed because they had come to use the camp as a base for some of their key support operations, like managing the millions of dollars in cash and assets ISIL still holds in Syria and elsewhere. ISIL also makes money by smuggling people and goods in and out of Syria. This use of a refugee camp is quite common in areas where war has generated a lot of refugees and refugee camps are established to sustain the dispossessed. It has long been known that local gangsters or members of the armed factions causing all the death and destruction, will eventually become a presence in the camps.

Border War

In the north the Turks have ordered their Syrian mercenaries to increase attacks on Kurdish forces near the border. The heaviest attacks have been in Aleppo province, the most populous of the fourteen provinces with over 20 percent of the population. There is a lot less population to the east in Raqqa province and east of that is Kurdish majority Hasaka province. These two provinces are where Kurdish, Russian, American/NATO and Syrian forces try to coordinate operations against ISIL. Turkey sees more opportunities and less resistance in Aleppo and its western neighbor Idlib province.

Turkey has other distractions. They are having problems with their Syrian Arab mercenaries operating in Syria and in Libya. The mercs are angry over Turkish policies in Syria, where the Turks are not helping much to achieve an end to the ten-year-old civil war there. The Syrian mercs are literally in it for the money, which the Turks provide on time. But when it comes to peace in Syria, the Turks are unsure because Turkish goals in Syria are more about Turkey than Syria.

The current (since 2000) Turkish government is Islamic and increasingly unpopular with Turkish voters. This government is facing reverses in upcoming Turkish elections and many Turks fear their government will rig the elections to remain in power and get Turkey involved in more foreign wars. These are unpopular with most Turks, which is why the Turks do most of their fighting in Syria, Libya and elsewhere with mercenaries. The Turks are increasingly the main obstacle to units and peace in Libya, as well as Syria and elsewhere.

April 7, 2021: In southern Syria (Damascus) an Israeli airstrike near the Damascus airport destroyed an Iranian ammunition storage sites, setting off large secondary explosions and fires which were visible from the city. Four soldiers were wounded. The airstrike was apparently launched from aircraft in Lebanon and the Israeli Golan Heights, where they launched their air-to-ground missiles.

April 6, 2021: In the west (Hama province) ISIL attacked a town and in addition to looting the place, kidnapped over 60 civilians. The kidnappings and threats of more are a means to intimidate local civilians into supporting, or at least tolerating the ISIL presence in the area and not informing security forces about what the Islamic terrorists are up to. At the moment most ISIL factions in eastern Syria are just trying to survive relentless air and ground attacks. So far they are succeeding.

April 5, 2021: In the east (Deir Ezzor province), Russian airstrikes and aerial recon missions continue, especially in the Mayadeen Desert, a thinly populated region near the more populous Euphrates River Valley. The largest town in the area is called Mayadeen as is the largest military base. Since 2018 Deir Ezzor province has been the scene of a multi-sided battle between ISIL, SDF (Syrian Kurds), Syrian army, Iranian and Russian mercenaries as well as smaller numbers of Russian special operations troops and lots of Russian warplanes overhead. For about a year now the Russians have been are using a combination of special operations troops, military contractors and Syrian mercenaries. The Syrian mercs on the Russian payroll include at least one unit comprised of Palestinian refugees, who have lived in Syria for decades. When the civil War began in 2011 most of the Palestinians sided with the rebels, a betrayal the Assads, their long-time host and protector, was understandably bitter about. Signing up as Russian mercs was a way for Syria based refugees to win back the trust of the Assads.

To simplify a bit, in Deir Ezzor its ISIL versus everyone. ISIL survives because it still has access to millions in cash it stole during 2014-17 when the Islamic terrorist groups controlled much of eastern Syria and western Iraq. Another ISIL asset is that Sunni Arabs are the majority in Deir Ezzor and most of eastern Syria. These Sunni Arabs have been ruled since the 1970s by the Assad clan, a Shia group that maintained power using a combination of terror for those who resisted and relative freedom and prosperity for those who cooperated. The Assads were also rather secular and wore their Islamic religion lightly. The Assads allied themselves with Shia Iran in the 1980s. While Iran had become a religious dictatorship, they had few allies in the region and gaining the loyalty of Assad Syria was seen a major win. The Assads secular ways were tolerated as long as they remained loyal to Iran and in control of Syria. Most Syrian Arab Sunnis are disillusioned with ISIL but some are will willing to support these extreme Islamic terrorists.

The fighting in Deir Ezzor is more about ISIL surviving and gaining media attention. Over the last two years there have been about a hundred deaths a month because of ISIL activity in eastern Syria, mainly in Deir Ezzor and the Mayadeen Desert. The Islamic terrorists suffer most from American and Russian airstrikes. The Russians supply the most airstrikes, as many as seventy or more a day for days at a time. The Syrian air force is still active put delivers about at tenth of as many airstrikes as the Russians. The American airstrikes are more selective, concentrating on key ISIL leaders and technical specialists. There is some cooperation between the Americans and Russians in eastern Syria, but no one will admit to how much.

There are not enough Syrian or Russian troops on the ground to go looking for ISIL hideouts in the hill caves or with rural villagers who have been terrorized into tolerating the Islamic terrorist presence. Most of the military aircraft activity is about reconnaissance and surveillance plus moving troops and supplies by air. On the ground ISIL also spends most of its time gathering information on hostile ground forces, manly the Syrian or local militia forces. The Syrian troops, suffering from low morale because of a decade of fighting, are the most vulnerable to ISIL surprise attacks. These attacks are the most certain to gain media attention, which helps keep the new recruits and other support coming. While ISIL suffers losses from all this activity, their losses account for only about 35 percent of the people killed every month in the east. The casualties in the war with ISIL currently account for about a quarter of the nationwide deaths, which are nearly 5,000 a year now. The deaths have been declining in Syria over the last five years. The total for the last decade is nearly half a million. During the first five years the losses were much heavier, sometimes reaching a thousand or more dead a week for months on end. Now deaths are down to about a hundred a week. In other words, nationwide casualties are now between 20 and 25 percent what there were during the early years. A lot of the deaths are assassinations or executions by Islamic terrorists in Idlib or elsewhere as well as by the Syrian security forces. The Assad Method for restoring order depends on the usual suspects being arrested, tortured for information and then disappeared. The many enemies of the Assads remaining in Syria fight back using similar tactics. In many parts of Syria it is very dangerous to be working for the Assad government.

The Iranians are still in Syria, but in reduced numbers because of cash crisis back home. The Iranian mercs and their IRGC (Islamic Revolution Guard Corps) supervisors are more concerned with establishing a military presence near the Israeli border and carry out terror attacks via the use of missiles or rockets. So far this has proved slow going and expensive. The Israeli airstrikes regularly hit weapons shipments from Iran and secret Iranian bases. Israel has more friends in Syria than Iran does in Israel, or Syria for that matter. Israel is not alone in wanting the Iranians to just go home. That sentiment is shared by many Syrians, Lebanese, Turks, Kurds, Iraqis, Russians and Americans.

April 3, 2021: In the northwest (Idlib province) there continues to be a lot of rocket and artillery fire in the southern Idlib de-escalation zone where such attacks are technically forbidden. This zone is near the main Russian Hmeimim airbase in neighboring Latakia province. Latakia is vital to the Assad government because it is the most loyal province and contains the Mediterranean ports and the Russian airbase. Most of the Latakia population is Shia, as is the Assad clan. For years Syrian forces used artillery against Idlib Islamic terrorist bases identified Russian aerial reconnaissance. Recently Russia has reinforced the security around Hmeimim airbase by bringing in an FSB (former KGB) border surveillance aircraft and a detachment of Hezbollah gunmen to increase ground patrol around the base.

The Islamic terrorist rebels in Idlib are losing control of their half of Idlib province. This bothers the Turks the most because that means there is no one group to negotiate with. It also means Idlib will become so chaotic that it can no longer defend itself. Turks, Syrians and Russians can move in a take possession of an area populated by thousands of Islamic terrorists. their families and remaining supporters. Not what you would describe as a victory, but then nothing in Syria is.

April 2, 2021: Syria and Russia signed a long-promised deal for two Russian companies to explore offshore Syrian waters for oil and natural gas. There are already large natural gas deposits being extracted by Israel in an offshore near the Lebanese border. It turns out that these large deposits of natural gas, because of new exploration tech, can be found offshore (and a few on shore) throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, especially coastal areas from Egypt to Greece. This has caused a growing number of disputes about exactly where the maritime borders are and who actually owns which offshore area. The two Russian exploration firms were assigned areas near the Lebanese border and Lebanon has already disputed the Syrian interpretation of the maritime border. Russia and Syria signed the original offshore exploration agreement in 2013 based on the huge proven (with exploratory drilling) fields found and being developed off northern Israel. One reason Russia intervened militarily in Syria during 2015 was to protect their exploration rights off Syria. Israel has confirmed that its offshore natural gas wealth off the coast was enormous and keeps getting better.

In late 2014 Israel announced a third major natural gas discovery off their coast. This one was worth over $100 billion dollars. The two previous ones were worth over a trillion dollars. By 2918 Israel found that their natural gas fields were actually 14 percent larger than earlier estimated. These discoveries make Israel largely energy independent and a major exporter of natural gas. This is a recent development as serious exploration for natural gas off the Israeli coast only got started in the late 90s and since then more and more natural gas has been found offshore in the eastern Mediterranean, from Lebanon to Egypt. Israeli commercial production began in 2013 with the completion of pipelines extending 150 kilometers offshore. Israeli GDP was continuing to grow without the natural gas discoveries but with the natural Israel becomes largely energy independent and an energy exporter as well. Israel went on to signs long-term natural gas export deals with Jordan and Egypt worth nearly $20 billion.

Syria is hoping for a trillion-dollar natural gas bonanza offshore. The Russians firms will earn billions if they find that gas and supervise the drilling and construction of infrastructure to extract, store and distribute, inside Syria and to export customers, the natural gas. Having Russia as a partner in this means Russia has something worth fighting for in the eastern Mediterranean and Syria. This offshore natural gas wealth is another reason why Russia maintains good relations with Israel, even if that angers Iran and Turkey.

March 31, 2021: In the south, in Sweida and Quentera provinces along the Israeli and Jordan borders the Iranian presence has become visibly unpopular. Anti-Iran graffiti is showing up in border villages. The main complaint is the Iranian Lebanese Hezbollah mercenaries. Iran has tolerated Hezbollah raising money by distributing illegal drugs. This is something Hezbollah has done in Lebanon and other countries for decades. This, and large annual Iranian subsidies, have paid for Hezbollah becoming the most powerful armed group in Lebanon and de-facto ruler of southern Lebanon. The drug business has made Hezbollah unpopular with most Lebanese and people in the many countries where Hezbollah is active in the drug trade. This includes some African and South American countries as well as the United States and Canada.

March 21, 2021: In the north (Idlib and Aleppo provinces) several large missiles hit Islamic terrorist locations. The impact explosions were similar to those caused by earlier use of Russian air or ship launched cruise missiles or some of the larger guided rockets Russia has positioned inside their airbase near the Mediterranean coast.

March 16, 2021: In southern Syria (Damascus) an Israeli airstrike near the Damascus airport destroyed two Iranian ammunition storage sites, setting off large secondary explosions and fires which were visible from the city.

March 9, 2021: The fighting in Syria has been going on for ten years and there is no end in sight as long as Iran continues to use Syria as a staging area for a direct attack on Israel. This has turned Iran into the widely accepted bad guy in Syria. This was something Iran sought to avoid but Irans allies Russia, Turkey and the Assads are all working against Iran. Popular opinion and governments in Iraq and Lebanon are now actively hostile towards Iran. Back home most Iranians see the Syrian War as a disaster for them. The cost of the war is pushing more Iranians into poverty and the religious dictatorship that has ruled Iran since the 1980s considers the destruction of Israel as worth any cost. Most Iranians, and everyone in the region, disagrees with this. The Iranian leadership is not dissuaded because they are on a Mission From God which means no earthly power can interfere. This will not end well.

Israel is quietly working on a peace deal with the Assads by first consulting Russia, Turkey and the Arab nations Israel has diplomatic relations with. If Israel can achieve a consensus on how to offer and deliver the the Assads a workable peace deal, Iran could be driven out of Syria. Israel and the Assads have been, since the 1970s willing to leave each other alone and make mutually acceptable deals. The Assads would often threaten another war with Israel but did not pose as determined a threat as Iran. The Assads became allies of and dependent on Iran in the 1980s, mainly for protection from chaos in Iraq and Lebanon. In return the Assads had to at least pretend to support the Iranian obsession with destroying Israel. The Assads knew better but until the Assad police state failed in 2011 and a rebellion got going, the Assads were unable to resist Iranian presence and control of Syria.

The UN is also involved in this stealthy peace effort because Iranian interference has blocked the UN effort to create a new constitution for Syria that would assist efforts to end the civil war. The Assads are also hostile to the new constitution which would mean national elections monitored by the UN. The Assads cannot afford to lose control of the government because that would make them more vulnerable to arrest and prosecution for war crimes. The accusations continue to pile up against the Assads, which always treated Syrians who opposed them with brutality and terror. So far this year, over a hundred Syrians a month get arrested and brutally interrogated, or simply murdered, by the Assad security forces. Yet doing business with Iran can also be fatal for the Assads.

March 14, 2021: This month marks the 66th month Russian forces have been in Syria. Russian intervention, added to the earlier Iranian assistance, enabled the Assad government to survive what at first appeared to be almost certain defeat. In those 66 months Russia also negotiated treaties with the Assad government to obtain Russian use of a major airbase and part of one of Syrias Mediterranean ports. Russia pays modest rent for these bases, because the Assads want Russian forces present in the long term to keep the Assads in power. Russia is also assisting the Assads in persuading the Turks, Iranians and Americans to pull their forces out of Syria and for a long-term peace deal with Israel. That last bit depends on getting the Iranians to leave. Once, and if, that happens it becomes a lot easier to negotiate the departure of Turks and Americans, leaving the Russians as the only legal foreign troops in Syria. Until all this happens, the civil war is not really over and currently Russia carries out lots of airstrikes on the remaining ISIL and al Qaeda forces in the country and operates joint patrols with Turkish, American and Syrian forces, especially in eastern Syria where ISIL is still active.

Russian forces are also active in Libya, Armenia and, as military contractors, in Africa. The Armenian deployment proved effective recently when it played a role is halting the fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan and working out a peace deal acceptable to both combatants.

March 13, 2021: In the east (Raqqa province) Russian troops forced Iran-backed militias out of two small oil/natural gas fields. These two fields have been largely shut down since 2011 and are being brought back into production. Together the two locations produce about 6,000 barrels of oil a day and similar amounts of natural gas. The Kurds control most of the active oil/natural gas fields in eastern Syria. The Kurds depend on the U.S. to supply air support and other assistance to hold on to their oil/natural gas resources.




KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 7, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Ni Hsin Resources Berhad's ("Ni Hsin") food and beverage arm, Blackbixon Sdn Bhd ("BlackBixon"), has signed a brand partnership agreement with Koperasi Tenaga dan Petroliam Berhad ("KTP"), a cooperative for entrepreneurs in the oil and gas ("O&G") industry, to grow the market for the 'BlackBixon' energy coffee drink.The partnership will see BlackBixon retailing its drinks at various onshore and offshore O&G locations owned by members of KTP. This agreement will not only benefit BlackBixon through having more locations to distribute the energy coffee drink, but also benefits members of the cooperative, who will have another source of income through their participation in the BlackBixon business.Present at today's signing ceremony were the Guest of Honour, Encik Yazid Jaafar, President/Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation; Encik Sofiyan Yahya, Chairman of KTP and Mr. Khoo Chee Kong, Managing Director of BlackBixon.Khoo said, "KTP is a cooperative established by professionals from the energy sector in 2019. One of KTP's main mission is to enhance the economic and social well-being of its members through investment and entrepreneurial activities. BlackBixon's business model fits in nicely, promoting small scale business which the members of KTP can participate.""As BlackBixon's Brand Partner, KTP offers extensive networking and marketplace, primarily among the oil & gas and energy sectors. KTP also has an online business platform called edagang. We are optimistic this growing online business platform will further enhance the visibility of and offer business opportunities for BlackBixon. We view this Brand Partnership Agreement between KTP and BlackBixon as synergistic for both parties. Together, we are POWERING THE ENERGY PEOPLE!" he added.BlackBixon represents the first venture by Ni Hsin into the F&B industry, with other plans in the pipeline to grow the business regionally given the heightened interest in energy drinks combined with the coffee-drinking culture of today.Blackbixon recently appointed Red One Network Sdn Bhd, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), to market and retail BlackBixon coffee to its 1.2 million subscribers.Subsequently, Ni Hsin also filed for a patent for BlackBixon's invention, which includes the composition for boosting energy level, anti-fatigue and boosting mental alertness as well as use of the composition thereof, to protect the Company's rights and to secure competitive advantage for its F&B business in selling products using the invention.BlackBixon Energy Coffee is a composition providing the benefits of caffeine and ribose in combination when consumed. The drink accentuates the human body's natural process of energy synthesis while at the same time lessening fatigue and boosting the mental alertness of an individual.Please contact the below for more information:Hakim JuraimiTel: +60 12-318 5410Email: h.juraimi@swanconsultancy.bizSource: Ni Hsin Resources BerhadCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Fiumicino and Ciampino airports in Rome, operated by Aeroporti di Roma (ADR), have achieved the highest level of the Airport Carbon Accreditation program, Level 4+ Transition, becoming the first in Europe to do so.

To achieve this recognition, airports are required to reduce their CO 2 emissions in line with global climate goals, to influence other parties active within the airport site to achieve effective reductions, and to compensate for their residual emissions with reliable carbon credits. Only two other airports in the world have achieved this level of carbon management performance so far: Dallas Fort Worth International in the USA and Delhi Indira Gandhi International in India, while Christchurch International Airport has reached Level 4 Transformation.

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Since 2011, after obtaining the first Airport Carbon Accreditation certification, Aeroporti di Roma has continuously reduced carbon emissions and driven broader reductions within the airport system through an engagement plan involving all stakeholders. Rome Fiumicino Airport has been a carbon neutral airport since 2013 and was joined shortly after by Ciampino Airport.

To accelerate its progress to reach the objectives of the Paris Agreement and achieve Level 4+, Aeroporti di Roma has set out a plan to eliminate all of its own CO 2 emissions and thus achieve net-zero CO 2 emissions by 2030. The airport operator claims that when this target is achieved, its airports will be 20 years ahead of the curve on the global climate neutrality objectives.

This noteworthy recognition testifies to our strong commitment to environmental issues and to our willingness to continue tenaciously on this path, convinced of the need to increasingly integrate sustainability and innovation into our core business, said the CEO of Aeroporti di Roma, Marco Troncone.

In view of the carbon-intensive nature of the aviation sector and to preserve the connectivity of the future, ADRs strategy is oriented toward the rapid decarbonization of the airports it manages. In fact, we are aiming to reach zero CO 2 emissions by 2030, long in advance of the European references for the sector, with a plan mainly aimed at renewable sources and electric mobility.

Some of the specific developments made at Aeroporti di Roma in pursuit of emissions reductions include:

 Making sustainable aviation fuel available to airlines by 2024.

 Promoting electric mobility at the airport, with the installation of 500 charging stations for electric vehicles and completely renewing its own fleet.

 Building large photovoltaic plants at the airport for a total capacity of 60MW.

 Joining the EP-100 of The Climate Groups global initiative on the smarter use of energy, with the ambitious commitment to increase its energy productivity by 150% by 2016.

Discover more about the Airport Carbon Accreditation program in Passenger Terminal Worlds exclusive interview with ACI Europes head of sustainability, Marina Bylinsky, in the April 2021 issue.
After 65% of its population had received one dose of anti-Covid-19 vaccination and nearly 40% both doses, Seychelles reopened its borders on March 25th. Its CEO for tourism and hospitality discusses the issues of surviving with traditional markets hit by a third wave of the pandemic...

On March 25, 2021, Seychelles officially reopened its borders with very low-entry restrictions. On the other hand, the pandemic is still affecting the world. Why this decision? After successfully launching the Covid-19 immunisation campaign on January 10, 2021, Seychelles took the very bold move to announce the opening of its borders to the whole world a week later, an event that was to be effective as from mid-March. The decision was taken, given the country's plan to have achieved herd immunity by then and the fact that our islands needed the relief after a long spell of extremely low tourists' arrival. The government was no longer able to continue providing support to the various relief plans set up at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. In early March, the reopening date was confirmed for March 25th, and ever since, extensive public relations and communications have taken place to ensure that the country reopens with a bang.

The country is mindful that we are still amid a pandemic and that immunisation does not work by itself. Safety of the population and of our visitors remains a priority in the process of easing restrictions for visitors to enter Seychelles and other decisions. For that reason, a negative Covid-19 PCR test within 72 hours from departure is still required for entry in Seychelles. Visitors are not required to quarantine, while in the destination; however, visitors must still observe the various sanitary measures, such as mandatory facemask wearing in all public places, social distancing, and constant hand sanitizing. Tourism establishments must keep on daily monitoring of their guests and send daily updates to the public health authorities as well. The procedures come with punitive measures for those who breach them.

Considering that Europe is still dealing with a third wave of the virus, are you planning on targeting new markets?

The cornerstone of our strategy has always been understanding consumer trends and behaviours and where travel demand is coming from. We are very mindful that our traditional European markets would take a while to become stable because of the evolution of the pandemic and various existing restrictions. Therefore, our efforts were concentrated on tapping tactically into new emerging markets where we see the return will be much faster. So far, the figures are looking promising as for the first six days after re-opening, the destination has managed to attract 3,321 visitors with UAE and Israel in the lead. On April 2, we saw the return of Aeroflot in Seychelles after 17 years with a full flight (402 passengers inclusive of crew members).

Maldives managed to get 200,871 tourists from January 1 to March 4. However, our issues are not the same as Maldives, which can easily contain the virus on one island, if need be. To what extent can Seychelles compete with Maldives? Maldives is a sun, sea, and sand des- tination like Seychelles. So, it is indeed a competition when a visitor is looking for a beach destination. However, we see ourselves differently in many ways. We offer more than just beaches, with amazing pristine nature, heritage, and culture amongst many more features. Being considered as upmarket and exclusive gives us an edge over other beach destinations.

What about Mauritius?

Just like Maldives, Mauritius is a competitor of Seychelles.

The tourism and hospitality sector is an essential pillar of Seychelles' economy. How are your hotels surviving in this crisis?

The government introduced various schemes to support the tourism value chain, as it was understood that the more resilient our operators were, the faster the country would rebound. However, since none of us knew how long this pandemic would last it was important for the country to start thinking of economic recovery in the first half of this year. So far, 552 hotel establishments out of 720 have already been safe certified for reopening.

Amid this border reopening, what is your forecast for 2021 for the tourism sector?

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There is a wave of optimism, which has been created in the tourism sector because of the vaccine development to the point that many advanced economies are forecasting robust Q4 growth for 2021. Furthermore, trends, search history and other market intelligence data give us reasons to believe that, provided travel restrictions ease from both source markets and destinations, travel can pick up almost immediately. Nonetheless, the evolution of the pandemic with a third wave now hitting many countries and new Covid-19 variants emerging are reasons for us not to be overly optimistic.

Based on developing on-trend and airline confidence in the destination, we are forecasting that, as a best-case scenario, we can recover up to almost 50% of our 2019 figure this year and as a worstcase, we are looking at 25% of our 2019 figure. As it looks, we are well on our way to meet our April target, provided all things remain equal, as any economist would say. Of course, the operating environment is highly fluid and as we receive new information on-trend, the assumptions will change; therefore, our forecast will be adjusted accordingly.
NORTH CHARLESTON  Government officials are working together to improve food access in the southern end of the city.

The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments and the city are cooperatively exploring options that would make it easier to access healthy foods in neighborhoods.

Many communities on the city's southern end and in the Neck Area are in "food deserts," where they lack a nearby grocery store.

Officials are asking for public feedback on mobility-focused efforts to provide people with food. The survey can be found at surveymonkey.com/r/NeckAreaFoodSurvey.

Residents who complete the two-minute survey by the April 11 deadline will be entered to win one of five Walmart gift cards.

"The idea with this was to find a mobility-related solution to improving access to healthy foods in those communities," said John Lambert, mobility coordinator with COG.

The Council of Governments obtained a grant from the National Center for Mobility Management to fund the three-phase project.

COG plans to soon decide on a concept, which will be based on public feedback. The selected concept will be piloted this year and last until the fall.

If the pilot program is successful, the project will be implemented for a year.

COG has been given $60,000 to research and pilot the program. The group would get $75,000 to initiate the effort.

North Charleston said it is interested in seeing the public's ideas regarding improved food access.

"I think it's a positive thing that BCDCOG is taking additional research steps to create innovative solutions," said city spokesman Ryan Johnson.

There are three ideas being considered, all of which are mobility-focused.

The first is increasing storage space on public buses for people to carry groceries. This could be a refrigerated unit that holds groceries, Lambert said.

The second idea is to help connect people to a ride service, such as Uber, that would take them to a grocery store. People would pay discounted rates to take groceries home.

The third option would involve refrigerated food lockers. People would order groceries online and have the foods delivered to secured neighborhood locations.

Based on community input so far, increasing storage space on buses seems like a viable option. The lack of internet access for many people on the south end could be a barrier to internet-based solutions, Lambert said.

The Council of Governments conducted in-person surveys with people at corner stores and the CARTA Superstop off Rivers Avenue. Most of those folks favored increased space on the buses for groceries.

A lot of people did talk about not having internet access," Lambert said.

Online feedback has also been steady, Lambert said. So far, 265 have filled out the digital survey.

I think it's really good," Lambert said. "Public outreach isnt always easy to do."

North Charleston has long tried to attract a grocery store to the corner of Rivers and McMillan Avenues, but to no avail.

Attracting one has been difficult because grocery stores look at metrics, such as homeownership, traffic and population, to determine whether a potential store would be profitable, Johnson said.

"There are these boxes you have to check," Johnson said. "If you don't check these boxes, you don't get a grocery store."

North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey has previously talked about building a city-run store as a last resort.

That option is still on the table, Johnson said.
Otero County Commission Chairman and Cowboys for Trump co-founder Couy Griffin rides his horse on 5th avenue in New York City, on May 1, 2020. (Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

Cowboys for Trump Leader Has Partial Firearm Rights Restored: Reports

Couy Griffin, founder of the organization Cowboys for Trump, has had his right to have a firearm reinstatedwith limitationswith the favorable court ruling coming after Griffin complained of receiving death threats, according to multiple reports.

Judge Trevor N. McFadden of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled on April 7 to allow Griffin to keep guns, but only in his home, according to local outlet KOB-TV.

I am going to allow him to have guns at his place of residence, given your lack of criminal record, and your concerns about safety, McFadden said, according to Inner City Press. You live in a rural area where police response is going to be delayed. No guns in the car, though.

Griffin, who is also a county commissioner in New Mexico, was arrested by the FBI on Jan. 17 and charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful entry after video footage showed him breaching the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, according to the Justice Department. He denies federal charges that he knowingly entered barricaded areas of the Capitol grounds with the intent to disrupt government as Congress convened for a joint session to certify electoral votes.

At the April 7 hearing, Griffin addressed the court, reiterating his position that he isnt guilty. He waived his right to a jury trial and instead requested a bench trial.

Im not concerned about being found guilty. I didnt enter the Capitol. I did not partake in what the government is accusing me, Griffin said, Inner City Press reported.

Initially held in pretrial detention, Griffin was released from federal prison on Feb. 5, pending trial, and returned to New Mexico.

In an order (pdf), Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell overturned a lower court ruling, saying she weighed Griffins unrepentant appearance among the crowd at the Capitol against his candid subsequent interactions with law enforcement. She noted repeatedly that Griffin on Jan. 6 didnt carry weapons, commit violence, or enter the Capitol.

I appreciate that the charge here is that he disregarded signage about restricted areas of the Capitol on Jan. 6. But his subsequent cooperation with law enforcement showed that he is not a person who has a categorical disdain and disregard for any and every government act or authority, Howell said at the time.

Griffin told the court on April 7 that he has received death threats. I want my firearms back, to protect my family, according to Inner City Press.

Griffin detailed the threats at an Otero County Commission meeting in February, KOB-TV reports.

I received pictures of my family with crosshairs on each of our heads including my son who was not even a month old, he said, according to the outlet.

Griffins lawyers argued that even if convicted of current charges, they are misdemeanors and wouldnt lead to him losing his gun rights.

While the U.S. attorney representing the government in its case against Griffin objected to restoring his right to possess firearms, McFadden ruled to allow it. He set the next proceeding for April 27.

Under the terms of Griffins release pending trial, he is banned from visiting Washington outside of court proceedings, must surrender his passport, andprior to McFaddens April 7 rulingwas prohibited from possessing a firearm.

According to the Justice Department and an affidavit (pdf), Griffin told FBI special agents that he had traveled to the nations capital on Jan. 6 with another person to participate in a protest over election integrity.

When Griffin arrived at the U.S. Capitol, he noticed a large crowd forming around the barricade and said he was caught up in that crowd, which pushed its way through the barricades and into a restricted area, he told agents.

Griffin said he and his friend didnt enter the U.S. Capitol building at any time and remained on the steps outside the building during the breach. During that time, he led a group of protesters in prayer using a bullhorn outside the Capitol, but up where the president is inaugurated at. Videos of the incident and other open-source materials corroborated Griffins statements, according to the affidavit.

He said that the police never asked him to leave the area, and he and his friend exited the U.S. Capitol grounds peacefully.

Janita Kan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
It's like something out of science fiction. Research led by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences has revealed that a group of microbes, which feed off chemical reactions triggered by radioactivity, have been at an evolutionary standstill for millions of years. The discovery could have significant implications for biotechnology applications and scientific understanding of microbial evolution.

"This discovery shows that we must be careful when making assumptions about the speed of evolution and how we interpret the tree of life," said Eric Becraft, the lead author on the paper. "It is possible that some organisms go into an evolutionary full-sprint, while others slow to a crawl, challenging the establishment of reliable molecular timelines."

Becraft, now an assistant professor of biology at the University of Northern Alabama, completed the research as part of his postdoctoral work at Bigelow Laboratory and recently published it in the Nature publishing group's ISME Journal.

The microbe, Candidatus Desulforudis audaxviator, was first discovered in 2008 by a team of scientists, led by Tullis Onstott, a co-author on the new study. Found in a South African gold mine almost two miles beneath the Earth's surface, the microbes acquire the energy they need from chemical reactions caused by the natural radioactive decay in minerals. They inhabit water-filled cavities inside rocks in a completely independent ecosystem, free from reliance on sunlight or any other organisms.

Because of their unique biology and isolation, the authors of the new study wanted to understand how the microbes evolved. They searched other environmental samples from deep underground and discovered Candidatus Desulforudis audaxviator in Siberia and California, as well as in several additional mines in South Africa. Since each environment was chemically different, these discoveries gave the researchers a unique opportunity to look for differences that have emerged between the populations over their millions of years of evolution.

"We wanted to use that information to understand how they evolved and what kind of environmental conditions lead to what kind of genetic adaptations," said Bigelow Laboratory Senior Research Scientist Ramunas Stepanauskas, the corresponding author on the paper and Becraft's postdoctoral advisor. "We thought of the microbes as though they were inhabitants of isolated islands, like the finches that Darwin studied in the Galapagos."

Using advanced tools that allow scientists to read the genetic blueprints of individual cells, the researchers examined the genomes of 126 microbes obtained from three continents. Surprisingly, they all turned out to be almost identical.

"It was shocking," Stepanauskas said. "They had the same makeup, and so we started scratching our heads."

Scientists found no evidence that the microbes can travel long distances, survive on the surface, or live long in the presence of oxygen. So, once researchers determined that there was no possibility the samples were cross-contaminated during research, plausible explanations dwindled.

"The best explanation we have at the moment is that these microbes did not change much since their physical locations separated during the breakup of supercontinent Pangaea, about 175 million years ago," Stepanauskas said. "They appear to be living fossils from those days. That sounds quite crazy and goes against the contemporary understanding of microbial evolution."

What this means for the pace of microbial evolution, which often happens at a much more accelerated rate, is surprising. Many well-studied bacteria, such as E. coli, have been found to evolve in only a few years in response to environmental changes, such as exposure to antibiotics.

Stepanauskas and his colleagues hypothesize the standstill evolution they discovered is due to the microbe's powerful protections against mutation, which have essentially locked their genetic code. If the researchers are correct, this would be a rare feature with potentially valuable benefits.

Microbial enzymes that create copies of DNA molecules, called DNA polymerases, are widely used in biotechnology. Enzymes with high fidelity, or the ability to recreate themselves with little differences between the copy and the original, are especially valuable.

"There's a high demand for DNA polymerases that don't make many mistakes," Stepanauskas said. "Such enzymes may be useful for DNA sequencing, diagnostic tests, and gene therapy."

Beyond potential applications, the results of this study could have far-reaching implications and change the way scientists think about microbial genetics and the pace of their evolution.

"These findings are a powerful reminder that the various microbial branches we observe on the tree of life may differ vastly in the time since their last common ancestor," Becraft said. "Understanding this is critical to understanding the history of life on Earth."

###

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is an independent, nonprofit research institute located in East Boothbay, Maine. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, Bigelow Laboratory scientists use innovative approaches to study the foundation of global ocean health and unlock its potential to improve the future for all life on the planet. Learn more at bigelow.org, and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
The risk for severe weather has diminished for Alabama today, but the threat of storms isnt going away for long.

The storm threat has increased for Friday and will linger into Saturday as well, according to the National Weather Service.

Rain and storms have moved mostly out of Alabama as of Thursday afternoon, and now attention has turned to whats to come.

The next threat for storms will arrive on Friday, and the severe weather risk has increased for Alabama, according to forecasters. Fridays storms could come in two waves.

The Storm Prediction Center has added and now expanded an enhanced risk area to include more of Alabama as of its latest severe weather outlook for Friday.

An enhanced risk is Level 3 out of 5 and means numerous severe storms will be possible.

A large part of the rest of the state has a slight risk (Level 2). A slight risk means scattered severe storms will be possible.

The rest of the state, mainly eastern Alabama, has a marginal risk (Level 1).

There could be two rounds of storms. The first round could come from the late morning into the evening hours, according to forecasters. Those storms could bring hail and damaging winds.

Then there is the possibility of yet another wave of storms starting late Friday night into Saturday morning, and the tornado threat may increase with this round.

The weather service said the most likely time for storms will be after midnight on Saturday and could last into the early afternoon hours.

The rain and storms are expected to move out of Alabama by Sunday, and drier weather is expected through the first of next week.
New Delhi: Amidst lockdown fears triggered by the imposition of night curfew in the national capital following a surge in COVID-19 cases, several migrant workers were seen leaving Delhi and heading towards their native places.

One of the migrant workers, Pintu, a dry fruits seller at Anand Vihar Bus Terminal said, "Delhi is witnessing a sharp rise in COVID cases. Due to this, a night curfew has been imposed in the city. It is very likely that the government will impose a lockdown soon. Hence, I along with my family are going back to Jharkhand."

Parmila Devi, another tea-seller said, " My family and I are going back to our village in Jharkhand. We want to avoid a situation like the previous lockdown. It is very likely that a lockdown will be put due to COVID. We will come back when the situation normalises."

Another woman who was planning to go to Bihar said, "Had got stuck here during the lockdown, and wanted to avoid any such situation again. It's better to go home for now."

Another migrant worker, Malti Devi said, "Last time, a few people in my family were forced to stay back in Delhi (including me) as there was no transport available. We all wanted to go back to our village in Jharkhand. The buses were all occupied. To avoid such a situation now, it is better for us to go back."

Sunil Gupta, who is a student who came to study in Delhi for his exams said, "I am planning to go back to my hometown now. It is likely that a lockdown will be imposed in Delhi."

The Delhi government on Tuesday (April 6) imposed a night curfew in the national capital from 10 pm to 5 am. The order will be imposed with immediate effect till April 30.

Delhi reported 5,506 new COVID-19 cases and 20 deaths in the last 24 hours. This is the highest single-day spike of coronavirus infections in the national capital this year.

A total of 220 cases were registered in the national capital against the violators of the night curfew guidelines on the first night of curfew which started on Tuesday night from 10 pm and ended at 5 am on Wednesday.

Live TV
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Squaremouth breaks down how summer travel trends are shaping up in 2021. More than one year into the Covid-19 pandemic, travelers are slowly regaining their willingness to take trips ahead of the summer travel season.

Squaremouth.com hosts the largest number of travel insurance providers and policies that offer coverage related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Squaremouth Analytics has compared thousands of travel insurance policies purchased pre-and-post-pandemic to identify changes and trends in travel insurance to unveil how both consumers and travel insurance providers are responding to the impact of Covid-19 this season. The key trends are outlined below.

Travelers Prefer to Stay Close to Home

Domestic trips are estimated to make up 48% of travel for U.S. residents in Summer 2021

This is a significant spike from 2020, when just 19% of travelers were staying in the U.S.

Increased Purchases of Travel Insurance for Covid-19

Nearly 35% of all purchases for summer trips include the Covid-19 filter, which only shows policies offering Coronavirus Cancellation or Coronavirus Medical benefits

Nearly 27% of purchases include the Cancel For Any Reason upgrade, compared to 19% in 2020

Prior to the pandemic, this figure was historically around 8%

Cancel For Any Reason is an optional upgrade that partially reimburses travelers to cancel for a reason that is not otherwise covered by their policy, such as fear of traveling due to Covid-19. This benefit is only available for 10-21 days after the traveler's initial trip payment, and can reimburse up to 75% of their prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses.

Baby Boomers are Willing to Travel

The Baby Boomer generation accounts for 30% of travelers this summer, the most of any generation

This is followed by Gen X at 24% and Gen Z at 18%

The average age of travelers buying travel insurance in March was 41, marking an increase from the onset of the pandemic when the average age dropped as low as 38

Before the pandemic, the average traveler buying through Squaremouth was 50+

"The rise in travel among Baby Boomers is part of a trend we've seen since the vaccine rollout," says Squaremouth Lead Data Analyst, Steven Benna. "This trend is continuing as travelers begin to book their summer vacations."

Squaremouth maintains a large portfolio of travel insurance products that offer coverage related to the Covid-19 pandemic, including cancellation and emergency medical benefits for contracting the virus, and Cancel For Any Reason coverage. Travelers can search for policies that include Covid-19-related coverage, including Cancel for Any Reason, here .

Notes to editors

Available Topic Expert: Steven Benna , inhouse data specialist is available for comment and interview. [email protected] +1 (727) 619-7262

Research Methodology: Squaremouth.com hosts the largest number of travel insurance providers and policies that offer coverage related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Squaremouth Analytics has compared thousands of travel insurance policies purchased pre-and-post-pandemic to identify changes and trends in travel insurance. If you would like a copy of the raw data, please get in touch by emailing [email protected]

Other Relevant Research:

ABOUT SQUAREMOUTH

Squaremouth compares travel insurance policies from every major travel insurance provider in the United States. Using Squaremouth's comparison engine and third-party customer reviews, travelers can research and compare travel insurance policies side-by-side. More information can be found at www.squaremouth.com .

SOURCE Squaremouth

Related Links

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A detailed analysis report of the Global Bale Net Wrap Market has been covered in the report coupled with a thorough description of each company profile with information on the H.Q, future capabilities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial outline, partnerships and new product launches and developments.

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Just a day after Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan's scathing counter at the Maharashtra government's allegations over shortage of COVID-19 vaccine doses, the state's Congress chief Nana Patole has threatened the Centre over vaccine 'politics'. Hitting out at the Centre's vaccine diplomacy, Patole pointed out that the government is providing 'free vaccines' to Pakistan but not Maharashtra. Patole's comments come even after Union Minister Prakash Javadekar listed down the number of doses supplied to the state and the number of doses in transit.

Congress - the third leg of the MVA government in Maharashtra - has been demanding to remove the age bar on COVID-19 vaccines. Patole also remarked that the BJP and central leaders are 'targeting' Maharashtra and that they would face the 'consequences' of it.

Today, our country is providing free vaccines to Pakistan but for Maharashtra, they are doing politics over it. BJPs state and central leaders are targeting Maharashtra and they surely will face the consequences: Maharashtra Congress Chief Nana Patole pic.twitter.com/vdzniKxHU0  ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2021

Amidst claims of COVID-19 vaccines shortage in Maharashtra - a state which has been witnessing an exponential surge in daily cases - government sources have said that over one crore vaccine doses have been supplied to Maharashtra till date. While the actual number of doses supplied by the Health Ministry is 1,06,19,190, the number of inoculations is at 90,53,523, showing a deficit of 1,565,667 doses yet in-hand of the state to be administered.

ANI sources have also informed that the supply of over 7,00,000 doses has been initiated by the Centre and shall be received by the Maharashtra government soon. The aforementioned figures have been corroborated by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, who mentioned the same while countering the Maharashtra government's vaccine shortage claims.

Harsh Vardhan debunks Maha govt's claims

Quashing the demand of state governments to open up vaccination for all, including Maharashtra, the Health Minister on Thursday presented a streamline of facts and figures to prove that the administrations have been unable to vaccinate the priority groups themselves. According to figures highlighted by the Health Minister, Maharashtra has vaccinated just only 86% of health workers with the first dose and 41% of healthcare workers with the second dose.

Countering the Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope's claims of vaccine shortage in Maharashtra, the Union Health Minister said that these were attempts to divert attention from the Maharashtra governments 'repeated failures to control the spread of pandemic.'

"The inability of Maharashtra government to act responsibly is beyond comprehension. To spread panic among the people is to compound the folly further. Vaccine supplies are being monitored on a real-time basis, and State governments are being apprised regularly about it. Allegations of vaccine shortage are utterly baseless. Throughout the last year, as the Health Minister of India, I have been a witness to the misgovernance and utter casual approach of the Maharashtra Government in battling the virus. The lackadaisical attitude of the state government has singularly bogged down the entire countrys efforts to fight the virus," Harsh Vardhan said.
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has described the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, as the voice of the voiceless. Fayem...

Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has described the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, as the voice of the voiceless.

Fayemi, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, also said the frankness of Mrs Buhari endears her to many Nigerians.

He said though the First Ladys candour may appear in a manner of indiscretion, the governors are proud to be associated with Mrs Buhari as the defender of the defenceless.

Fayemi spoke on behalf of his colleagues on Thursday at the public presentation of the biography of Mrs Aisha at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The book, Aisha Buhari: Being Different, was written by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs, Dr Hajo Sani.

Fayemi said, If you are looking for the voice of the voiceless, the defender of the defenceless, if you are looking for candour, courage, for commitment, you have no other place to go than in the direction of her Excellency, the First Lady of the Federal Republic (of Nigeria), Dr Aisha Buhari.

Yes, that candour may appear in a manner of indiscretion. Some might even argue that when you are in this gilded cage otherwise known as the Presidency, you are not supposed to be seen to say some things but I think it is in that candour that we have authenticity of our First Lady and that is what endears her to majority of Nigerians, that is also what being different is about.

He added, When some people say, Oh, why is she speaking? Why is she defending the defenceless? Why does she demonstrate courage of conviction? I will advise that they go and read this book and see the role she played leading up to the process itself, particularly in the aftermath of the 2003 unsuccessful efforts to the presidency and subsequent ones in 2007 and 2011 how she mobilised a very weak and tired supporters and rebuild the movement of our President to the Presidency.

The event chaired by All Progressives Congress chieftain, Bola Tinubu, was attended by many principal officers in government including Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; and his wife, Dolapo.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), was, however, not at the event as he is in London for medical check-up.
The man, who had his drivers side window down on his Tesla because it was so warm, said there were gawkers who drove past and then sped away. But the man, who requested that he not be identified, said his adrenaline kicked in.
There is no way the president on his own could have had the power to turn the Gambia from what it was, to being an Islamic State, said Gaye Sowe, still chocked, before the Gambia Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) on April 1. The former magistrate and constitutional lawyer was one of the five legal experts called to dissect, last week in Banjul, how Yahya Jammeh weaponized the legal system in the small West African country.

That was in December 2015, when Gambias President Jammeh suddenly declared his country an Islamic State, with no changes to the laws and in the Constitution. A news that was particularly disturbing for most of the population. That was very unconstitutional, said Sowe.

Ten years earlier, however, the Constitution had been one of the firsts steps in Jammehs takeover, Sowe described. Jammehs military takeover, in July 1994, was reportedly aimed at ending self-perpetuating rule and corruption. Immediately after, the military council headed by Jammeh and three lieutenants who overthrown President Dawda Jawara, suspended the Constitution and began ruling by decree. In March 1995, a constitutional review commission was set up. The new Constitution was meant to end the Frankenstein monster  as the drafters described the former ruling system of Jawara.

But Jammehs slogans of probity, accountability and good governance may have been taken too seriously by the drafters of the constitution, estimated Sowe. Wary of executive excesses, the drafters ensured a parliamentary approval of major appointments, a security of tenure for key positions like judges, a two-term limit for presidency, an independent Office of public prosecutor, an independent Judicial service commission, among others.

The powers of an absolute monarch

According to Sowe, the drafters have been deceived by the military council. All the progressive clauses, meant to limit the presidential powers, were removed by the Council. Unless, one very obvious addition [it made] is the clause that the sovereign people of the Gambia endorsed the military takeover which took place on July 22, 1994, said Sowe.

The Council went ahead to put in the draft immunity clauses for all official acts done by the members of the military council or people acting on their behalf. Nor the National Assembly nor a court could hear cases relating to them. Only last January, the Gambias Supreme Court declared the immunity clauses unconstitutional.

 Would you say that the 1997 constitution is in fact a roadmap for dictatorship?, asked TRRCs lead counsel Essa Faal.

 I would very much say that because if you look at the Constitution, particularly the powers given to the president, you can comfortably conclude that he is given the powers of an absolute monarch, said Sowe.

Among the series of decrees promulgated by the military was Decree 45, which later becomes the Act establishing the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). The director general of the NIA was given powers to issue a search warrant which is a judicial function, said Sowe. The decrees passed by the military council were made unquestionable before any court of law, he added. If you are aggrieved by the NIA, you cannot go to court. The aggrieved party could only report to the countrys president, who could decide or not to appoint a high court judge.

After the approval of the 1997 constitution by referendum, it was reportedly amended 52 times . Even us lawyers, did not know what (copy of the) Constitution to rely on. A lot of the changes were very self-serving, concluded Sowe.

Brute force and draconian laws

Jammehs 22-year rule was a mixed dose of brute force and draconian laws. In March 2014, the ruler made a statement that exposed unambiguously his personal conception of the separation of powers: I just want you to understand that there is nowhere in the world where the judiciary is independent, said Jammeh, as he swore in a new Chief Justice. We pay your salary, we appoint you, and you are part of the government  how can you be independent?

Section 7 of the 1997 constitution would, in particular, include all decrees taken by the military council, said to the TRRC Cherno Marenah, one of the longest serving solicitor general under the Jammeh regime, on March 25.

Marenah has identified three key legislations that attained notoriety as they were recurrently used against public servants and perceived enemies of the former ruler. The first was a legislation on giving false information to public servants, the second on abuse of office and negligence of official duties, and the third on economic crime.

The economic crimes legislation was a military council decree, which was reportedly meant to address former corrupt employees of the deposed Jawara government. The legislation on giving false information to public servants, according to Marenah, was mostly used against whistleblowers and people who petitioned against Jammeh. The implementation of these laws, said Marenah, was depending on the president whims and caprices.

Non-compliance with court orders

In the past months, several testimonies established that Jammeh did not only have the laws, the courts, the judges, he also had the security institutions that made sure he put his opponents or perceived enemies away. The TRRC heard several testimonies about doctoring of evidences against individuals, paying witnesses even in treason trials such as the caseagainst Lang Tombong Tamba, a former Gambias army chief accused of a coup in 2009.

Another interference with the justice system was refusal to obey court orders, described Neneh Cham, a human rights lawyer who defended several top cases under the former regime, on March 30 before the TRRC. Cham said in cases where Jammeh had interest, her clients could not be granted provisional release.

It could go even further. On one instance, she recalled, a magistrate called Ebrima Jaiteh, now a High Court justice, had dismissed a case on the basis that he did not have a jurisdiction. Jaiteh himself was then arrested and detained. Cham also testified about denial of access to her clients in cases where Jammeh had interest, at the NIA, the police and the prison. She said they could deny having detainees, even in cases where they had them.

Neneh Cham, a human rights lawyer who defended several top cases under the former regime, testified on March 30 before the Gambia Truth Commission.  Mustapha K. Darboe

Intimidation of lawyers

Jammehs relationship with lawyers was not good from the start, recalled Sheriff Marie Tambadou, a senior lawyer who appeared before the TRRC on March 29. Following the 1994 coup, the Bar Association issued a statement condemning the military takeover, asking for a return to civilian rule. That year, in protest of Jammehs defiance, the Bar refused to attend the legal year, a ceremony in the Gambia for the start of a court season after recess.

Jammeh did not like that, said Tambadou. As time progresses, the dictators suspicion that the Bar does not like his revolution grew in strength. It further increased when, in 1996, a senior member of the Bar, Ousainou Darboe, would come to lead the biggest opposition party that will be his main challenger for 22 years, the United Democratic Party.

On April 6, Salieu Taal, the current president of the Gambia Bar Association appeared before the TRRC. He listed the names of the lawyers arrested under Jammehs regime and described how the legal profession suffered under his rule. The long list includes Antouman Gaye, a Gambian criminal lawyer who is currently leading a team prosecuting seven members of the NIA implicated in the 2016 death in custody of opposition activist Ebrima Solo Sandeng. Gaye was arrested in March 2006 and illegally detained for four days, said Taal.

Other lawyers who were arrested include current speaker of Gambias National Assembly Mariam Jack Denton who was illegally for no less than one hundred and eleven days without charge, said Tall. There was a court order for her release, but the government opposed it. The probe into the judiciary continues in the coming weeks. To date, the TRRC does not have decided to call a key witness to the Gambias judicial system abuses: Fatou Bensouda, who during the dictatorship successively held the positions of deputy director of prosecutions, principal state counsel, solicitor general and legal secretary to Jammeh, and, in 1998, attorney general and Minister of Justice, a position she would hold for two years.
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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.

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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.

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WASHINGTON D.C. -- Congressmen from Southern Oregon and Northern California are challenging the Biden Administration today to enact a standing rule related to the endangered Northern Spotted Owl.

Oregon 2nd U.S. House District Representative Cliff Bentz (R-OR) is lead author of a congressional letter sent today, signed by nine House Republicans including California 1st U.S. House District Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), urging the U.S. Department of Interior to immediately enact a federal rule published January 15, 2021, revising the designation of the critical habitat of the Northern Spotted Owl (NSO).

Bentz, LaMalfa and their colleagues say the Biden Administration delayed the rule March 1st, preventing it from taking effect March 16th, 2021. They contend the 2021 rule would allow federal agencies to implement the NSO Recovery Plan that uses active forest management tools to mitigate the risks of wildfire on 1.1 million acres of federal lands in the Pacific Northwest that were illegally designated as critical habitat by the Obama Administration (Weyerhaeuser v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service et al.).

Bentz says, The immediate implementation of this rule means we can sustainably manage a significant portion of our forests in a way that supports jobs in the Pacific Northwest and protects not just rural communities from wildfire but also the Northern Spotted Owl from a staggering level of habitat loss due to wildfire.

The letter by nine Republican Representatives states, The 2021 designation aligns critical habitat for the NSO with a [sic] unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision and with federal environmental law. It represents an opportunity to move past antiquated, ineffective habitat policies that have stymied critical federal forest restoration activities by focusing on the real threats to this species and its habitat, while supporting American jobs and rural communities across three Western states. Science and the law have changed since the NSO was listed 30 years ago, and [Notes: the Department of the Interior] needs to adapt to this as well.

The full list of cosigners on the letter include Representatives Bentz and LaMalfa, Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA).
RTHK: US resumes funding to Palestinians

The cash-strapped UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA on Thursday praised US President Joe Biden for resuming financial support, saying it came at a "critical moment" amid the Covid pandemic.

"UNRWA could not be more pleased that once again we will partner with the United States to provide critical assistance to some of the most vulnerable refugees across the Middle East," the agency's commissioner general, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a statement.

"The US contribution comes at a critical moment, as we continue to adjust to the challenges the Covid-19 pandemic presents."

The Biden administration's decision to restore US aid to the Palestinians to the tune of US$235 million marked a sharp break with the policy of his staunchly pro-Israel predecessor Donald Trump who severed all financial assistance.

Its decision to earmark US$150 million of that for UNRWA drew particular anger from Israel, which argues that the agency serves to perpetuate the idea of a Palestinian refugee problem in a way that undermines the Jewish state.

"We believe that this UN agency for so-called 'refugees' should not exist in its current format," said the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Gilad Erdan.

"I have expressed my disappointment and objection to the decision to renew UNRWA's funding without first ensuring that certain reforms, including stopping the incitement and removing anti-Semitic content from its educational curriculum, are carried out," Erdan said.

Asked about the Israeli criticism, State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the United States took oversight of UNRWA "extraordinarily seriously" and that it would now have "a seat at the table."

The UNRWA chief said renewed US support would help the agency to "fulfil our mandate to educate and provide primary health care to millions of refugees every day".

"There is no other institution that does what UNRWA does, and we are committed to protecting the safety, health and future of the millions of refugees we serve," Lazzarini said.

Trump's decision to sever all aid had left an enormous hole in UNRWA's finances.

Around 40 countries initially helped fill the gap, but contributions have since diminished and the pandemic has also taken a financial toll on donor countries.

The new US aid pledge is still well below the US$355 million contributed to UNRWA in 2016 by the United States, then its largest contributor.

The State Department spokesman did not rule out further US contributions but said the United States was encouraging other donors to do more.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric welcomed the restored US assistance, and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said it "sends the right signal" amid growing needs due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new funding is in addition to US$15 million earlier announced by the United States in Covid assistance to the Palestinians amid criticism that Israel, a leader in vaccinating its own people, has not taken similar initiatives in territories under its occupation. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-04-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Google Maps

An alleged drunken driver on Wednesday hit and killed a bicyclist riding with her bike group just north of downtown, San Antonio police said.

The driver, 24-year-old Samantha Castillo, was arrested at the scene and charged with intoxicated manslaughter.
The Vancouver-based company has launched a referral program with Mortgage Approval Help, which helps to connect interested buyers with mortgage lending partners

Home sales in Canada increased by 25% in February 2021 compared to the previous year to reach a new all-time high

Marble Financial Inc ( ) ( ) (FSE:2V0) has said it is launching its artificial intelligence-fueled MyMarble personal finance platform to Mortgage Approval Help clients.

The Vancouver-based company announced the referral program with Mortgage Approval Help (MAH), a subsidiary of Home Owner Soon Financial Inc that helps to connect interested buyers with mortgage lending partners.

Launched in 2012, MAH has helped numerous Canadians become homeowners through its mortgage comparison platform.

Access to such a motivated consumer base presents a sizeable new growth channel of opportunity for Marble to empower Canadians using its holistic personal finance fintech solution that provides precise expert curated recommendations, insights, and financial literacy, Marble said in a statement.

The move comes at a time of red hot real estate sales in Canada. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, home sales increased by 25% in February 2021 compared to the previous year to reach a new all-time high.

"This exciting new partnership will introduce a high number of potential consumers to our platform and strategically aligns with our mission of helping the underserved population of Canadian consumers, Marbles director of marketing Rich Elliott told investors.

MAHs network gives interested homebuyers access to alternative financing solutions that may not be available elsewhere, according to Terry Hepditch, Home Owner Soon Financials director of marketing.

Having MyMarble available to clients in our network allows us to provide more options for consumers when they need it most, while on their path to home ownership, Hepditch said. While we may not be able to place every consumer into a mortgage product today, our goal is to provide solutions through support from valued partners like Marble and ensure everyone can be on a path today, which leads to homeownership in the future.

Closing of financing

Separately, Marble also said that it has closed a C$1.3 million financing in the form of unsecured convertible debentures.

The debentures have a 15-month term and will accrue interest at a rate of 10% per year, payable semi-annually not in advance. They are convertible at a price of $0.30 per unit, comprised of one share and one-half of one warrant, with a whole warrant exercisable at $0.45 for a period of 21 months from closing.

Marble directors purchased $300,000 of debentures.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
Ahead of what turned out to be one of the worst winter storms in the states history, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas was charged with providing the public consistent updates on power outages, tips for consumers and other important crisis communications.

But as Texas froze and ERCOT called for rolling power outages to manage the titanic demand for power, the agencys main vehicle for providing the public with information was a series of Twitter posts sometimes indecipherable to most residents.

Temperatures in Austin and San Antonio were plunging into single digits early Feb. 15, for example, when an automated ERCOT tweet went out at 1:12 a.m., saying the agency has declared an EEA 2. Consumers are urged to reduce electricity use. Rotating outages may be needed to protect the system.

Thirteen minutes later, ERCOT cryptically declared an EEA 3  the acronym stands for Energy Emergency Alert  and warned that rotating outages were underway.

Some tweets also referred to load shedding, an industry term for the forced outages that left many Texans scratching their heads.

New documents released this week show that the jargon-heavy verbiage was a central feature of ERCOTs improved crisis communications plan, one that was disseminated to the agencys overseers at the Public Utility Commission about a month in advance of the storm.

Even the nonautomated tweets were often difficult to understand.

Weather, more generation outages last night bring load shed to 18,500 MW, read another tweet from about 1:30 a.m. Feb. 16. For today  generators to return, renewable output to increase = increased customer restoration.

That meant ERCOT had cut off enough electricity to power 3.7 million homes in order to keep the states electric grid from crashing.

The selection of Twitter  which is used by an estimated 22 percent of the U.S. adult population  was another questionable call that drew criticism.

IN-DEPTH: How Texas failed people with disabilities during the freeze

The documents were released by the utility commission in response to a request filed by the Houston Chronicle under the Texas Public Information Act.

Texas lawmakers and others have criticized ERCOT for the hard-to-decipher messages and for not putting out warnings that the crisis could endure longer than expected. ERCOT has also been faulted for failing to advise people to gather blankets and jackets and find emergency shelter if necessary.

Then-ERCOT CEO Bill Magness told lawmakers during a hearing in late February that the agency had made a concerted effort to improve crisis communications since winter storm outages in 2011 that affected more than 3 million Texans.

But, he said, the scope and the extent of this event, I think, overwhelmed what we had planned, and thats a failure on our part.

The agency did not pivot fast enough when it realized that outages would be long-lasting, he said. Later in the storm, the agency started using the term controlled outages instead of rotating outages.

We talked to the state operations center about it and realized that the inquiries they were getting were confused, things we were hearing were confused, Magness said. We had to change that messaging, and turning that around wasnt done as effectively, certainly, as it could have been.

IN-DEPTH: This simple paperwork blunder left Texans cold during the deadly freeze

Magness added that the agency planned to review its communications plan and make more improvements.

The agency also repeatedly directed people to its website, mobile app and Twitter. The documents show that the agencys recorded call center messages told people stuck on hold to follow ERCOT on Twitter for the most up-to-date information about grid conditions.

In addition to low Twitter usage rates, almost 2 million Texans do not have access to high-speed internet.

ERCOT spokeswoman Leslie Sopko in an email pointed out that the agency also distributed media releases, hosted daily media briefings  some of which were livestreamed by TV stations  and activated its emergency call center to answer questions.

Lighthearted tweets Feb. 14 urging Texans to unplug the fancy new appliances you bought during the pandemic and only used once and to close the blinds because you already know what it looks like outside  just days before nearly 200 people died during the storm  appear nowhere in the plan.

During legislative hearings about the grid failures, Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville, slammed ERCOT for the tweets that he described as goofy and tone-deaf.

It wasnt things are really serious  please pay attention, Lucio said. Meanwhile, your most substantive press releases, social media posts, were posted at 12:30 a.m., 1:30 a.m., 2 a.m. and not reposted.

Other lawmakers have also expressed their frustration with ERCOTs messaging.

ERCOT was pathetic. The PUC was nonexistent, state Rep. Sam Harless, R-Spring, said during the hearing. We have to answer to our people, and they deserve to know whats going on. And they didnt.

Several bills have been proposed this legislative session to instate a statewide alert system for power outage emergencies, including Senate Bill 3, which passed out of chamber last week and now heads to the House. Others suggest studying a statewide alert system for all disasters.

House Bill 11, which passed out last week as well and heads to the Senate, would require the utility commission to set best practices for ERCOT and power providers when communicating with the public during extreme weather emergencies, in multiple languages and using multiple methods.

taylor.goldenstein@chron.com

twitter.com/taygoldenstein
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The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi, has inaugurated the Police Public Complaints Committee (PPCC) to handle complaints against police personnel in the country.

Inaugurating the committee on Wednesday in Abuja, Mr Dingyadi said the committee was a specialised institution created to deal strictly with complaints against police personnel.

He said the focus was to put in place a permanent structure that would help to effectively check civil unrest.

The minister said the idea was to provide the populace with opportunity to channel their grievances on the misconduct of police personnel to the appropriate quarters for necessary actions.

He said that PPCC had been in existence over the years but had been moribund due to lack of funds.

According to him, if the PPC has been active, it would have provided adequate channel through which affected Nigerians would have been ventilating their grievances on police brutality.

He said the tragedy that befell the country during the #ENDSARS protest would have been averted if the PPCC was active.

Mr Dingyadi said the Federal Government is determined to ensure that such ugly incidents would never occur again.

The Public Complaints Commission deals generally with all kinds of complaints against administrative injustices by public institutions.

The PPCC is created as a specialised institution to deal strictly with complaints against police personnel.

He said the committee had an official of the Ministry of Police Affairs as chairman, officials of the Police Service Commission, Ministry of Justice, the National Human Rights Commission and the National Intelligence Agency as members.

Other members of the committee included the CLEEN Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, the Nigeria Police, Police Community Relations Committee and the Department of State Services (SSS) with the Police Inspectorate Department to serve as secretariat.

According to him, the overriding objective of PPCC is to serve as an institution that has oversight on activities of police personnel viz-a-viz their interaction with the public.

He said the habit of the public lodging complaints against police personnel at police stations had not given the desired solutions to aggrieved Nigerians.

The minister urged the committee to work assiduously in a transparent manner to give confidence to Nigerians that their complaints would be treated by a fair, just and equitable system. (NAN)
New Jersey on Thursday reported another 3,758 cases of the coronavirus and an additional 35 deaths as the state topped 5 million total vaccine doses administered with nearly 2 million fully vaccinated.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced the latest update in the outbreak on social media.

New Jerseys seven-day average for confirmed cases is 3,424, down 18% from a week ago, but up 26% from a month ago. Officials have warned that a surge in cases from variants that are more easily transmissible is likely driving the recent infections.

Murphy loosened restrictions on indoor high school and youth sporting events Wednesday to make sure more parents can see their kids play by removing the 150 person limit on indoor practices and games, though all venues are stilled barred from exceeding 35% of the rooms total capacity.

He also announced grocery stores and some other retail businesses that were forced to shut down self-service food stations like buffets and salad bars can now open them up again.

The states 71 hospitals reported 2,378 patients as of Wednesday night, up three people from the day before and the highest number since Feb. 15. But thats still well below the recent high of 3,873 on Dec. 22.

New Jersey health facilities and vaccine centers have now administered nearly 5,025,957 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since the states first shot was given Dec. 15. That includes more than 3.2 million people with at least one dose, according to state data. More than 28% of New Jerseys adult population has been fully vaccinated.

The governor said Wednesday he will get his shot Friday during a tour of Atlantic Citys mega-site.

The states rate of transmission is 1.02, down steadily from 1.04 on Wednesday, 1.06 on Tuesday and 1.07 on Monday. Any number over 1 indicates that the outbreak is growing, with each new case leading to at least one other case. A declining transmission rate means the spread is slowing.

In all, New Jersey has now reported 827,795 coronavirus cases out of more than 12.5 million PCR tests since the state reported its first case on March 4, 2020. There have also been 114,516 positive antigen tests. Those cases are considered probable, and health officials have warned that positive antigen tests could overlap with the confirmed PCR tests because they are sometimes given in tandem.

The state of 9.2 million people has reported 24,783 residents have died from complications related to COVID-19  22,210 confirmed deaths and 2,573 fatalities considered probable. The probable deaths, which are revised weekly, increased by five on Wednesday.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

VACCINATIONS BY COUNTY

ATLANTIC COUNTY - 163,584 doses administered

BERGEN COUNTY - 564,247 doses administered

BURLINGTON COUNTY - 265,799 doses administered

CAMDEN COUNTY - 298,824 doses administered

CAPE MAY COUNTY - 68,179 doses administered

CUMBERLAND COUNTY - 69,819 doses administered

ESSEX COUNTY - 384,481 doses administered

GLOUCESTER COUNTY - 181,297 doses administered

HUDSON COUNTY - 285,791 doses administered

HUNTERDON COUNTY - 71,292 doses administered

MERCER COUNTY - 196,751 doses administered

MIDDLESEX COUNTY - 431,854 doses administered

MONMOUTH COUNTY - 374,538 doses administered

MORRIS COUNTY - 354,878 doses administered

OCEAN COUNTY - 303,666 doses administered

PASSAIC COUNTY - 228,091 doses administered

SALEM COUNTY - 32,109 doses administered

SOMERSET COUNTY - 205,667 doses administered

SUSSEX COUNTY - 79,547 doses administered

UNION COUNTY - 268,205 doses administered

WARREN COUNTY - 51,396 doses administered

UNKNOWN COUNTY - 20,498 doses administered

OUT OF STATE - 125,444 doses administered

COUNTY-BY-COUNTY NUMBERS (sorted by most new cases)

Essex County: 80,273 confirmed cases (437 new), 2,527 confirmed deaths (291 probable)

Bergen County: 83,146 confirmed cases (428 new), 2,461 confirmed deaths (294 probable)

Middlesex County: 79,826 confirmed cases (405 new), 1,979 confirmed deaths (245 probable)

Hudson County: 74,427 confirmed cases (336 new), 1,942 confirmed deaths (203 probable)

Ocean County: 61,789 confirmed cases (286 new), 1,867 confirmed deaths (155 probable)

Monmouth County: 63,071 confirmed cases (276 new), 1,379 confirmed deaths (137 probable)

Passaic County: 60,139 confirmed cases (226 new), 1,618 confirmed deaths (194 probable)

Union County: 56,415 confirmed cases (209 new), 1,658 confirmed deaths (216 probable)

Morris County: 39,470 confirmed cases (177 new), 945 confirmed deaths (241 probable)

Camden County: 44,575 confirmed cases (164 new), 1,135 confirmed deaths (97 probable)

Burlington County: 35,482 confirmed cases (138 new), 738 confirmed deaths (63 probable)

Gloucester County: 24,185 confirmed cases (128 new), 555 confirmed deaths (30 probable)

Mercer County: 29,650 confirmed cases (112 new), 866 confirmed deaths (43 probable)

Atlantic County: 23,037 confirmed cases (97 new), 591 confirmed deaths (35 probable)

Somerset County: 22,480 confirmed cases (97 new), 705 confirmed deaths (105 probable)

Sussex County: 10,462 confirmed cases (82 new), 221 confirmed deaths (66 probable)

Hunterdon County: 8,019 confirmed cases (49 new), 117 confirmed deaths (54 probable)

Cumberland County: 13,447 confirmed cases (44 new), 375 confirmed deaths (36 probable)

Warren County: 7,929 confirmed cases (33 new), 204 confirmed deaths (25 probable)

Salem County: 4,890 confirmed cases (15 new), 158 confirmed deaths (13 probable)

Cape May County: 4,252 confirmed cases (12 new), 169 confirmed deaths (30 probable)

HOSPITALIZATIONS

There were 2,378 patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases across New Jerseys 71 hospitals as of Wednesday night  three more than the previous night.

That included 447 in critical or intensive care (eight fewer than the night before), with 264 on ventilators (15 more).

There were also 316 COVID-19 patients discharged Wednesday.

By comparison, hospitalizations peaked at more than 8,300 patients during the first wave of the pandemic in April.

SCHOOL CASES

New Jersey has reported 221 in-school coronavirus outbreaks, which have resulted in 1,002 cases among students, teachers and school staff this academic year, according to the states dashboard.

The state defines school outbreaks as cases where contact tracers determined two or more students or school staff caught or transmitted COVID-19 in the classroom or during academic activities at school. Those numbers do not include students or staff believed to have been infected outside school or cases that cant be confirmed as in-school outbreaks.

There are about 1.4 million public school students and teachers across the state, though teaching methods amid the outbreak have varied, with some schools teaching in-person, some using a hybrid format and others remaining all-remote.

Murphy last week announced most New Jersey schools can move classroom desks three feet apart, instead of six feet, under new social distancing guidelines.

The governor also said the states schools will return to full in-person classes for the next school year and districts will not be allowed to offer virtual learning, even for parents who want that option due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns. But Murphy clarified Tuesday that students and teachers who have health issues that could put them at greater risk of a serious coronavirus case will have a virtual option.

AGE BREAKDOWN

Broken down by age, those 30 to 49 years old make up the largest percentage of New Jersey residents who have caught the virus (30.9%), followed by those 50-64 (22.9%), 18-29 (19.8%), 65-79 (10.4%), 5-17 (9.4%), 80 and older (4.6%) and 0-4 (1.9%).

On average, the virus has been more deadly for older residents, especially those with preexisting conditions. Nearly half the states COVID-19 deaths have been among residents 80 and older (46.87%), followed by those 65-79 (32.89%), 50-64 (15.78%), 30-49 (4.05%), 18-29 (0.39%), 5-17 (0%) and 0-4 (0.03%).

At least 7,989 of the states COVID-19 deaths have been among residents and staff members at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

There are active outbreaks at 225 facilities, resulting in 3,676 active cases among residents and 4,366 among staffers. Those numbers have been slowing as vaccinations continue at the facilities.

GLOBAL NUMBERS

As of Thursday, there have been more than 133.3 million positive COVID-19 tests across the world, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. More than 2.89 million people have died from coronavirus-related complications.

The U.S. has reported the most cases, at more than 30.9 million, and the most deaths, at more than 559,200.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com.
Gov. Greg Abbott leveled serious and explosive allegations Wednesday evening of child abuse and poor conditions at a makeshift shelter for unaccompanied minors at Freeman Coliseum.

These allegations must be investigated, but Abbott also has a duty to provide more detail given their seriousness and the intense politicization around all things immigration.

In a statement, Abbott said he has directed the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers to immediately investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect inside the facility. He also said children testing positive for the coronavirus were not separated from the other kids.

Its unclear the source of these allegations. In a hastily called news conference Wednesday outside Freeman Coliseum, Abbott said separate tips were shared that morning with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

He has called for the facility to be shut down. While its hard to see how the facility can continue to operate, we also need to know more about what the investigation reveals. The bottom line is the welfare of these children are the highest priority, a point emphasized by Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

These disturbing reports run counter to descriptions from local officials who have toured the facility in recent days.

For example, Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores has been a volunteer presence there and has said many of the children she has spoken with have been grateful for the shelter.

Likewise, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro have described the conditions at Freeman as spartan but humane.

As Wolff said  before the emergence of these allegations  We need to remember that we are all immigrants  we came from somewhere else. Some people forget that.

After Abbotts news conference, Castro tweeted that Abbott has a responsibility to put forward the evidence.

Until this bombshell news conference, we had viewed the shelter as a local model for how to respond to the border surge with humanity and compassion, honoring asylum laws, and embracing refugees and immigrants.

Abbott has said he would like to see these migrant children moved to other federal facilities. This is a particularly complicated endeavor as its unclear just where they might be placed. The surge of immigrants at the border and the overcrowding at processing centers is still on the rise. As of Monday, there were 15,193 in the care of the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement and another 4,231 in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody.

ABC World News Tonight reported Tuesday the Donna facility was so crowded children were forced to take turns sleeping on the floor  what should be a clarion call to build capacity.

There were about 1,370 teenage boys in the Freeman Coliseum facility as of Monday. The coliseum has a capacity of 2,100 beds, plus 300 medical beds. Bexar Countys contract is supposed to last at least until May 30.

Where do we go from here? First and foremost, we need a clear assessment of the safety and well-being of these children.

And that assessment must be free of the partisan rancor surrounding immigration and border security. Whether these children remain in Freeman Coliseum or are moved to another location, they deserve our protection while seeking asylum and to be connected with families and loved ones.
New Delhi, April 8 : The physical manifestations of diseases in our present life can be linked to cellular memories from the past, including even childhood or early stages of our present life - especially when the stored memories area negative or traumatic, says Natwar Sharma, a member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health who has trained at the Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, in his new book, "Metaphors of Memory" (Westland).

During his studies, he encountered certain anomalies for which mainstream medicine had no answer. This made him probe deeper into the cause and origin of diseases and opened his vision to alternative and holistic therapies of healing. He ended up discovering the science of regression therapy, which he combines with his practice of mainstream medicine. He hopes to bring about a paradigm shift in the field of health by bridging these conventional and non-conventional techniques of healing.

"Regression therapy delves into the sub-conscious mind to explore the link between one's present life and that of their past. Releasing these memories and negative energies (associated with our past or this life), helps understand and articulate the root cause of a problem, be it physical, emotional or mental, bothering us and help with recovery," Sharma explained to IANS in an interview.

"Regression is an age-old practise that is well known, but every one of us rediscovers something or other for ourselves. And as a student of science, when I was not getting the answers, I had to look for answers and that's where the journey began. I began with scepticism and to understand if it actually works, and the journey since then has been amazing - filled with wonder as how to powerful a human mind is," he added.

How does this work on the ground? How is it possible to access powerful subconscious patterns and unlock a curative pathway? "This question can be better answered with the help of an example. I had a client with insomnia - meaning inability to sleep well. She told me that she is unable to sleep well for the last two years and in these two years her diabetes and hypertension have gone out of control and her doctor mentioned that sleep is very important to control diabetes and hypertension and hence put her on sleeping pills. But she was not happy with this fact that she had to take pills to sleep well.

"On questioning, she could not find out anything that was disturbing her either emotionally or psychologically. But when I took her into a trance, her mind took her back into a memory 20 years ago, when her relative had died in a car accident following which she was in shock for almost a week but recovered.

"And then another memory opened up, which was two years ago, when she was asleep and got a call from her son saying that he met an accident and his car has totalled. She was completely shocked, trembling with fear and rushed to the accident site which was not far from home. Fortunately nothing happened to her son, he was fine. But since then a strong thought crept into her mind that something bad might happen when she is asleep. And when we resolved this trauma, within a week she was able to sleep well without medications and her BP and diabetes got better," Sharma elaborated.

"In another case, a person had developed a severe anaphylactic (allergic) reaction when munching on bhakarwadi, leaving doctors perplexed. During regression, he shared that there was, in fact, a fruit fly on his snack while he had been eating it. This could have caused anaphylaxis. But, he had completely forgotten the detail until we did the regression," Sharma said.

At the same time, regression therapy is not a cure-all, he cautions.

"If you have a patient with kidney failure, there is no way that alternative therapy can come to their rescue. I let my patients know that. Yes, if the disease is a progressive one, it can inhibit the speed at which it is progressing," he said.

Sharma also spoke of the long road ahead.

"Unfortunately most medical doctors don't know what regression therapy is. And even, if a medical doctor comes across this mode of therapy, it's looked upon with scepticism. And I don't blame the medical fraternity for this, because the science behind regression is yet to develop and it can be nurtured with the help of well-designed studies to see its benefits. Just because science cannot prove something, it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist - absence of evidence doesn't mean evidence of absence'. Hence this book is to provoke my medical community to approach it with an open mind.

"I respect their choice and I know fully well where the scepticism comes from. For most part, I never even spoke about it with others doctors. It was only three years ago that I started my own website. But, having reaped the benefits of it myself, I somehow felt it's time to share these experiences with everyone else. My own journey has been of one that started with conviction and trust, to becoming a believer, and having great faith in it," Sharma maintained.

This gives him reason to be optimistic.

"I see a wonderful future for people with chronic illnesses if medical science starts combining regression therapy to complement each other," Sharma concluded.

(Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)
A murder investigation has today been launched following the death of a woman in south east London.

Police say the woman, aged 20, was found dead at a property in Belvoir Close, Mottingham, yesterday morning.

A 19-year-old man, who was known to the victim, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, according to the Met Police.

One group of forensic officers was this morning seen searching through a bin bag as part of the investigation

Police say the woman, aged 20, was found dead at a property in Belvoir Close, Mottingham, yesterday morning. Pictured: Police were seen guarding a flat earlier today

The victim's family have been informed and are being supported.

Police were today seen guarding the entrance to a property in Belvoir Close, while forensic teams were also on the scene.

One group of forensic officers was this morning seen searching through a bin bag as part of the investigation.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said: 'Police were called at approximately 5.55am on Wednesday, 7 April to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential property in Belvoir Close, Mottingham.

Police were today seen guarding the entrance to a property in Belvoir Close, while forensic teams were also on the scene (pictured)

A 19-year-old man, who was known to the victim, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, according to the Met Police. Pictured: Police at the scene earlier today

'Officers attended along with London Ambulance Service. A 20-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

'Her next of kin has been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

'A 19-year-old man was arrested as part of the investigation and taken into custody at a south London police station.

'Enquiries to established the circumstances are ongoing.'
London, April 8 : Interbreeding among modern humans and Neanderthals was common in Europe, say scientists who sequenced the oldest Homo sapiens DNA dating back more than 45,000 years from the caves in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

In the first study, Mateja Hajdinjak and team from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI-EVA) in Leipzig, Germany, examined oldest tooth and fragmentary remains of three individuals from Bacho Kiro Cave in Bulgaria, dated to between 45,900 and 42,600 years old.

All showed recent Neanderthal forebears, Hajdinjak reported in the journal Nature.

Neanderthal ancestry was found slightly more: 3.4-3.8 per cent in the Bacho Kiro individuals' genes compared to the modern non-Africans genes that usually carry about 2 per cent.

The Bacho Kiro individuals' chromosome segments -- which shorten in successive generations -- were also considerably longer. This showed that even till the past six or seven generations Bacho Kiro individuals had Neanderthal ancestors. This was probably in Europe, and not in the Middle East, the researchers said.

In the second study, published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, the researchers looked at, over 45,000 years old, the nearly complete skull of a woman from a cave known as Zlaty kun in the Czech Republic.

The woman's Neanderthal ancestry goes back to 70-80 generations, or perhaps 2,000-3,000 years, said Johannes Krause, a palaeogeneticist at the MPI-EVA.

Both the remains are not related to later Europeans, ancient or modern, meaning that their lineages must have disappeared from the region, but, the study showed a connection between Bacho Kiro people and contemporary East Asians and Native Americans.

Moreover, the Bacho Kiro remains reveal that they once lived across Eurasia, but vanished from Europe and lived on in Asia.
Moscow, April 8 : The Russian Foreign Ministry called on Kiev and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to stop military preparations and other actions that could escalate tensions in eastern Ukraine.

"We support a settlement of the conflict in Donbas exclusively by peaceful means," the ministry's spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a statement on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Russia has noticed a disinformation campaign by Ukraine and some Western countries, which are trying to accuse Russia of intensifying the conflict in Donbas and on the Russian-Ukrainian border, she said.

"We view the disinformation and propaganda campaign as means to divert attention from Kiev's own military build-ups in Donbas, its sabotage of the Minsk agreements (on Donbas settlement) and increased military activities of NATO countries in Ukraine," Zakharova said.

According to her, Kiev continues to send new forces and weapons to the contact line in Donbas and violate the ceasefire with the insurgents there, while some NATO countries have boosted military activities on the territory of Ukraine and in the Black Sea close to the Russian borders.

In 2021, Ukraine plans to conduct seven joint exercises on its territory with various NATO countries, the diplomat noted.

She added that the NATO continues financial and logistical support for the Ukrainian armed forces, the supply of lethal weapons, and the training of Ukrainian military personnel.

All this does not contribute to the security in the region or the settlement of the conflict in Donbas, but causes Russia's serious concerns, the spokesperson said.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Justice released Romania's national strategy on the recovery of proceeds of crime designed to increase the efficiency of the National Agency for the Administration of Impounded Assets (ANABI) in recovering and capitalising on proceeds of crime.

Justice Minister Stelian Ion acknowledged at a news conference that the recovery of damages is not an "extraordinary" one at this moment, agerpres.ro confirms.

"We need this strategy, because we need to know where we are and where we want to go. We need to recognise that the situation is not extraordinary in terms of recovering damages and we have a lot to do in that regard. We are in a situation where we have impounded assets that we have no place to store. This strategy comes up with investment measures. We have investment from the national budget as well, we also have requests under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), non-reimbursable funds will be accessed. The strategy also regards legislative changes that we will bring up to Parliament this autumn," said Ion.

Senior official with the Ministry of Justice Mihai Pasca underlined the fact that ANABI is the central point of this strategy, an institution that must get involved from the very early stages of the criminal investigations.

"We are talking about the early capitalisation of some impounded assets that have a degree of perishability or whose value decreases over time. We are talking about the involvement of ANABI in the early stages of investigations, because, as part of joint investigation teams, ANABI can bring its contribution to cut the time and chances of the investigated persons to hide or shelter their proceeds of crime; it is important that ANABI has immediate access to information so that precautionary measures can be taken. We are talking about an integrated approach, with teams of specialists from several institutions with powers of identifying, impounding, takin over, appraising, managing and, finally, capitalising. The activity of ANABI must be efficient. We are not interested in it getting involved in the administration of assets whose costs may exceed what is finally recovered. Efficiency will be one of the keys to this strategy," said Pasca.
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Thursday's vaccination updates: Of Champaign County adults 16 and older, 42.4% have received at least one dose, 30.7% now fully vaccinated; National Guard to assist in 2 Johnson & Johnson clinics in DeWitt County
You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite app including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit!

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | April 8, 2021

The lawyer of a Pennsylvania man charged in the January 6 Capitol riot states that he was viciously and savagely beaten by a corrections officer while in prison. A woman who spat and coughed on food in a supermarket at the start of the coronavirus pandemic has been charged with trespassing at a Luzerne County church. The Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition will hold a commemoration today for Holocaust Remembrance Day. And a bear was spotted in Pittsburgh.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa, consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too.
Editor: Assess the view of the state of the United States from our most dangerous adversaries and how they react. It is naive to think they do not follow closely every event in our country.

They have seen the Keystone XL pipeline canceled and the president added thousands of skilled laborers to the high unemployment population. They notice that the nation cannot police its border, making it vulnerable for infiltration. They notice the new chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff declare a priority to add diversity to the U.S. military.

They see us drowning in debt as the administration hides the fact that only 10% of the $1.9 trillion bill goes for COVID-19 relief. They see citizens taking over sections of cities where police are not allowed and there are calls to defund police.

Iran notices that President Joe Biden has angered Saudi Arabia over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and is reexaming arms sales to the Saudis and the United Arab emirates, both U.S. allies.

All this should be taken seriously. Jen Psaki, Bidens press secretary, can try to deceive the nation but our enemies are intelligent and not misled by her and other administration spokespeople. They see an old, feeble president who needs to go home every weekend to Delaware.

If you read between the lines of our adversaries you can see the respect for Biden and our country. One of his goals is to reenter the Iran nuclear deal and the Iranians refuse to meet. Overtures have been made to meet with North Korea, which has not responded. Russian leader Vladimir Putin mockingly challenged Biden to public debate after Biden called him a killer. He knows Bidens limitations.

NEILL ACKERMAN

SCRANTON

Editor: Its difficult and dismaying to watch the Republican onslaught of voting rights after the 2020 election.

Denying evidence that it was the most fair and participatory election in history, Republicans continue to spew the big lie. The twice-impeached former president and his Republican followers are responsible for the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol and the deaths of five people.

Look at what is happening in 43 states and the 253 voting suppression bills introduced. Georgia passed the biggest Jim Crow voting bill so far. Pennsylvania has a Special Commission on Election Integrity and Reform that held recent hearings. The committee chairman and Republican senators questioned and badgered witnesses trying to get them to say that there was election fraud. Answers revealed there was none.

In view of Georgias voter suppression law I fear Pennsylvania legislators could make it unlawful to use the toilet in addition to giving food or water to voters standing in line for hours at the polls. How about a color chart determining how dark your skin is and if you would qualify to vote? How about two lines at the polls, with separate machines for Blacks and qualified whites? Definitely eliminate mail-in and absentee voting because way too many people would vote and we cant have that. How about requiring 15 forms of identification? Finally, if a Republican loses, he can just demand the election board overturn the results. Losing for Republicans is not an option but cheating is. Dont underestimate their determination.

Its evident state Republicans werent happy that Joe Biden won by 80,000 votes and amassed 302 electoral votes. Thats why dozens of Pennsylvania House members wrote a letter demanding that the 20 electoral votes cast for Biden be overturned in favor of the Republican candidate. The courts denied the request. Stop the madness.

JOHN HAHN

SHOHOLA,

PIKE COUNTY

Editor: I recently helped distribute food to needy folks in Centre County.

Driving home, I thought about how hard volunteers worked to ensure no one went hungry during this trying time. It is heartbreaking to realize so many people out there absolutely need this help, but heartwarming to know there are many who recognize that the need is there and are doing something about it.

I think Republican U.S. Fred Keller, of Snyder County, would benefit from working with those distributing food to the needy for a week or so. Apparently, he has no clue how close to the edge many people are living because he voted against the presidents $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.

In previous years, he joined with other Republicans to try take away health care from millions of Americans and supported a massive tax cut that added $1.7 trillion to the deficit that mainly benefitted corporations and the richest Americans. Yet he wouldnt vote to help local restaurants that have been devastated by the pandemic and wouldnt support a tax credit for kids and low-income families. He wouldnt extend unemployment benefits for those out of work and wouldnt support funding for COVID-19 vaccinations.

The sad part is that we keep voting against our own interests by sending people like Keller back to Congress every year. Just when we needed assistance from our representative to help us during our time of greatest need, he just wasnt there.

EDWARD PERRY

BOALSBURG,

CENTRE COUNTY

Editor: The Times-Tribune editorial page has always been careful to state only the facts and stay center/left in support of your opinions. Nice job.

But using the race card to disparage the recently passed Georgia voter law is disappointing (Jim Crow for 21st century, March 29). The claims of the laws voter suppression and disenfranchisement of Black voters are simply victimhood talking points of the extremist Black Lives Matter movement.

It states that the new law would scale back early voting. ABC News reported that the bill would expand early voting for primary and general elections. The editorial distorted this issue.

Asserting that the laws almost satirical criminalization of providing food and water to voters waiting in line is misinformation. Poll workers can provide self-serve water stations for the parched. Poll workers, that is, can provide water but not Stacey Abrams volunteers or guys with MAGA hats.

But the nefarious and thorough outlawing of Sunday voting just did not happen. What happened there? Please issue a retraction.

The newspaper had been a strong critic of distortion, misinformation and lying up to this point.

TED ZAYAC

DUNMORE
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday (April 8) that she would keep urging voters to vote unitedly against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) even if she was served 10 of such notices, challenging the notice issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Addressing a public rally in Domjur, Mamata Banerjee is quoted as saying by ANI, "How many complaints have been filed against (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi? He does Hindu-Muslim every day, how many complaints have been filed against him? How many complaints have been registered against those people who referred to Nandigram`s Muslims as Pakistanis? Aren`t they ashamed? They cannot do anything against me. I am with Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians as well as tribals."

She said that even if 10 show cause notices are issued against me, my answer will remain the same. I am telling everyone to vote unitedly, there will no division," adding "Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, do not give a single vote to them."

Earlier on Wednesday, the ECI had issued a notice to Mamata Banerjee over her remarks on April 3, where she appealed to the Muslim voters to not let their vote be split among different political parties contesting in the ongoing assembly elections.

The poll panel asked the Chief Minister to explain her stand within 48 hours after receiving the notice, failing which it shall "take a decision without further reference to you".

Ahead of the fourth phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, she lashed out at the BJP for raising fuel prices in the country and accused the party of destroying the country and propagating lies against her and Trinamool Congress (TMC) through national channels. She added, "They have over one lakh thugs in West Bengal to convert it into Gujarat. We will not let our state be turned into Gujarat."

The West Bengal CM said that the BJP has bought several political leaders with money. She hit out at ex-TMC minister Rajib Banerjee, who is contesting from the Domjur constituency for BJP, and said, "I apologise to the people of Domjur for allowing Gaddar Mir Zafar (Rajib Banerjee) to file nomination in the last election from this constituency."

"That traitor stole money. When he was Irrigation Minister I had received a complaint so I removed him from that post and made him Forest Minister, he asked me for an engineering department, so that he could take more commission," Mamata added.

Mamata Banerjee chastised the BJP for not coming to West Bengal during the COVID-19 pandemic, cyclone Amphan and floods, but for turning up in huge numbers before the assembly elections, adding "Bengal will never be yours, this is Rabindra-Nazrul`s Bengal, this is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose`s Bengal, this is Raja Ram Mohan Roy`s Bengal, this is Ambedkar`s Bengal. BJP, you will never get this Bengal."

Notably, the high-decibel campaigning for the fourth phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections came to a close after witnessing an intense tussle between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP.

The fourth phase of the polls will witness 373 candidates contesting for 44 constituencies in five districts - Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, South 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly. The first three phases of the eight-phased elections have already taken place on March 27, April 1 and April 6, while the counting of the votes will take place on May 2.

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Caption: Exoplanet HD 209458b transits its star. The illuminated crescent and its colours have been exaggerated to illustrate the light spectra that the astronomers used to identify the six molecules in its atmosphere. Credit: University of Warwick/Mark Garlick

Astronomers have found evidence that the first exoplanet that was identified transiting its star could have migrated to a close orbit with its star from its original birthplace further away.

Analysis of the planet's atmosphere by a team including University of Warwick scientists has identified the chemical fingerprint of a planet that formed much further away from its sun than it currently resides. It confirms previous thinking that the planet has moved to its current position after forming, a mere 7 million km from its sun or the equivalent of 1/20th the distance from the Earth to our Sun.

The conclusions are published today (7 April) in the journal Nature by an international team of astronomers. The University of Warwick led the modelling and interpretation of the results which mark the first time that as many as six molecules in the atmosphere of an exoplanet have been measured to determine its composition.

It is also the first time that astronomers have used these six molecules to definitively pinpoint the location at which these hot, giant planets form thanks to the composition of their atmospheres.

With new, more powerful telescopes coming online soon, their technique could also be used to study the chemistry of exoplanets that could potentially host life.

This latest research used the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo in La Palma, Spain, to acquire high-resolution spectra of the atmosphere of the exoplanet HD 209458b as it passed in front of its host star on four separate occasions. The light from the star is altered as it passes through the planet's atmosphere and by analysing the differences in the resulting spectrum astronomers can determine what chemicals are present and their abundances.

For the first time, astronomers were able to detect hydrogen cyanide, methane, ammonia, acetylene, carbon monoxide and low amounts of water vapour in the atmosphere of HD 209458b. The unexpected abundance of carbon-based molecules (hydrogen cyanide, methane, acetylene and carbon monoxide) suggests that there are approximately as many carbon atoms as oxygen atoms in the atmosphere, double the carbon expected. This suggests that the planet has preferentially accreted gas rich in carbon during formation, which is only possible if it orbited much further out from its star when it originally formed, most likely at a similar distance to Jupiter or Saturn in our own solar system.

Dr Siddharth Gandhi of the University of Warwick Department of Physics said: "The key chemicals are carbon-bearing and nitrogen-bearing species. If these species are at the level we've detected them, this is indicative of an atmosphere that is enriched in carbon compared to oxygen. We've used these six chemical species for the first time to narrow down where in its protoplanetary disc it would have originally formed.

"There is no way that a planet would form with an atmosphere so rich in carbon if it is within the condensation line of water vapour. At the very hot temperature of this planet (1,500K), if the atmosphere contains all the elements in the same proportion as in the parent star, oxygen should be twice more abundant than carbon and mostly bonded with hydrogen to form water or to carbon to form carbon monoxide. Our very different finding agrees with the current understanding that hot Jupiters like HD 209458b formed far away from their current location."

Using models of planetary formation, the astronomers compared HD 209458b's chemical fingerprint with what they would expect to see for a planet of that type.

A solar system begins life as a disc of material surrounding the star which gathers together to form the solid cores of planets, which then accrete gaseous material to form an atmosphere. Close to the star where it is hotter, a large proportion of oxygen remains in the atmosphere in water vapour. Further out, as it gets cooler, that water condenses to become ice and is locked into a planet's core, leaving an atmosphere more heavily comprised of carbon- and nitrogen-based molecules. Therefore, planets orbiting close to the sun are expected to have atmospheres rich in oxygen, rather than carbon.

HD 209458b was the first exoplanet to be identified using the transit method, by observing it as it passed in front of its star. It has been the subject of many studies, but this is the first time that six individual molecules have been measured in its atmosphere to create a detailed 'chemical fingerprint'.

Dr Matteo Brogi from the University of Warwick team adds: "By scaling up these observations, we'll be able to tell what classes of planet we have out there in terms of their formation location and early evolution. It's really important that we don't work under the assumptions that there is only a couple of molecular species that are important to determine the spectra of these planets, as has frequently been done before. Detecting as many molecules as possible is useful when we move on to testing this technique on planets with conditions that are amenable for hosting life, because we will need to have a full portfolio of chemical species we can detect."

Paolo Giacobbe, researcher at the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and lead author of the paper, said: "If this discovery were a novel it would begin with 'In the beginning there was only water...' because the vast majority of the inference on exoplanet atmospheres from near-infrared observations was based on the presence (or absence) of water vapour, which dominates this region of the spectrum. We asked ourselves: is it really possible that all the other species expected from theory do not leave any measurable trace? Discovering that it is possible to detect them, thanks to our efforts in improving analysis techniques, opens new horizons to be explored."

###

* 'Five carbon- and nitrogen-bearing species in a hot giant planet atmosphere' will be published in Nature, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03381-x Link: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03381-x (to go live when embargo lifts)

This study received funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council, part of UK Research and Innovation, and the Italian Space Agency.

Astrobiology, Astrochemistry,

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American Lending Center Celebrates Successful Opening of Azure Palm Hot Springs

American Lending Center, a licensed non-bank lender, celebrated the opening of Azure Palm Hot Springs on March 25th. An aquifer beneath the city provides the hotel with some of the purest mineral springs in the world via private wells, cementing the hotel as an unprecedented addition to the region's myriad lodging options.

Overlooking the desert landscape along with the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountain ranges, Azure Palm Hot Springs is well-situated for a relaxing getaway. The hotel features spacious indoor areas with airy ceilings along with a day spa, cafe, gift shop, six landscaped acres of cabanas and a 40-by-90-foot main pol.







"Harnessing the benefits of the largest mineral pool in Southern California, we believe Azure Palm Hot Springs will bring unprecedented tourism to the region," said John Shen, ALC's chief executive officer. "We are so excited to see our secured senior loan structure stimulating foreign investment in unique, special ventures such as this one."

With 40 overnight accommodations, 22 of which are outfitted with spa tubs, the oasis has already been extremely well received by locals and tourists alike.

About American Lending Center

American Lending Center (ALC) is a licensed non-bank lender that has provided over 500 million dollars to American ventures and created nearly 40,000 full-time jobs throughout the US. ALC is a small business specialized lender supporting qualified borrowers nationwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005118/en/
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda



Sonowal on Thursday exuded confidence that the would win the just-concluded assembly elections and form a government for the second consecutive term "as people are happy with the positive work undertaken in the last five years."



Sonowal, while addressing a joint press conference with his cabinet colleague Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and state president Ranjeet Dass, thanked people for coming out in large numbers to exercise their franchise during the three- phase elections.

"The will again form government in Assam for the second time. People here are happy with the development work undertaken by our Team Assam for the protection of their land, culture, heritage, language in every part of the state. They have participated in the electoral process with great enthusiasm," he noted.

Sonowal further said that the "value-based politics" practised by the BJP will bear good results for the party this election, and expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, his cabinet colleagues, BJP national president J P Nadda, and alliance partners - AGP and UPPL - for undertaking extensive campaigns.

The CM also thanked the Election Commission of India for smoothly conducting the polls.

Against 260 untoward incidents reported during the 2016 elections, only 119 were recorded this time, 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.)
A sister of the late journalist Lyra McKee has made a heartfelt plea to those engaging in rioting at present to stop before someone is killed.

Nichola McKee Corner knows too well the pain that can be inflicted on families in an instant, when the throwing of stones and petrol bombs escalates to the firing of bullets.

Lyra was shot dead by the New IRA as she observed a riot in the Creggan area of the city on April 18, 2019.

Her sisters comments come after a week of disorder in Derry and just days before Lyras second anniversary.

Last night a bus driver was attacked with a petrol bomb in Belfast and violence subsequently broke out at a peace wall.

Across the North dozens of police officers have been injured and video footage has captured rioters engulfed in the flames of petrol bombs thrown by their friends.

In a strange twist of fate, a billboard with a powerful message from the late journalist has been erected in the Waterside area of Derry just yards away from recent trouble hotspots.

Speaking to the Derry News, Nichola warns: For people involved in riots in a variety of places in our country presently, I would encourage them to stop before someone is killed.

Apart from the people responsible for taking the gun out onto the streets on 18th April 2019, no one present would have anticipated a gunman opening fire during a riot.

Yet this did happen and it killed our Lyra. I would encourage anyone involved in riots and other civil disturbances to stop and to engage in conversations with community leaders and politicians before it is too late.

Destroying property and attacking people does not do anything to further a cause of any kind, in fact it does the opposite.

She asks young people caught up in violence to heed her sisters words which appear on the billboard: "Here's to better times ahead and saying goodbye to bombs and bullets once and for all."

The hoardings were put up at three locations in Derry ahead of Lyras McKees second anniversary on April 18.

It was a conscious decision to jog peoples memories. We had been planning to erect billboards since the end of January in advance of Lyra's anniversary, Nichola explains.

We wanted them to serve three main purposes: to share Lyra's inspiration for a society without violence; to remind people of the consequences of violence on our streets; and to awaken the consciences of those responsible for Lyra's murder and those who have information that could help us to secure justice for Lyra.

JUSTICE

Nichola, who is leading the family campaign for justice, has urged people to come forward with any information they have to the police.

The gunman who shot Lyra has yet face justice. As a family, we are campaigning to bring Lyra's killer - and all those responsible in the events leading up to the murder of our baby sister - before the authorities.

In May 2019, I personally appealed to the gunman at the end of the Belfast to Derry Peace Walk.

I promised to meet him at any police station on this island as he handed himself in. Unfortunately, the gunman has yet to find the courage and moral integrity to take responsibility for killing our Lyra.

Consequently, we have been left with no other option than to ask members of the public with information that could lead to his conviction to come forward and share any information that they have with the authorities.

The McKee family is aware that 150 people shared information in the immediate aftermath of Lyra's death but suspect that in the emotional chaos that followed, some very important information may have been mistakenly retained by witnesses.

We have seen a lot of footage in the public domain which clearly shows that many people were using mobile phones to film the events in the Creggan on the 18th April 2019 and believe that someone must have footage that could assist the police, Nichola adds.

She remains very hopeful that the gunman who murdered Lyra will be brought to justice.

On her sisters second anniversary, Nichola would like people to remember Lyra as an inspirational person who had unlimited potential; a person who would have helped anyone, spoke out for anyone who needed a voice and befriended people regardless of the label that society stamped on them.

The family recently launched their online campaign for information about Lyra's killer on what would have been her 31st birthday.

Justice4Lyra.com includes PSNI video footage from the night of the murder, Lyra's own work and tributes from friends.
The big picture: One of the arguments people make against cryptocurrency is that the difficult-to-trace nature makes it the preferred currency among criminal elements. But engaging in illegal activities on the dark web and using bitcoin for payment doesnt mean youre immune from being caught, as two people recently discovered.

As per a Europol alert, an Italian man has been arrested on suspicion of hiring a hitman on the dark web. The assassin was contacted through a site specializing in murder-for-hire services and paid around 10,000 Euros (~$11,870) to kill the suspects ex-girlfriend.

In working with the Italian Postal and Communication Police, Europol discovered the plan, and the agency carried out an urgent, complex crypto-analysis that allowed it to trace and identify the crypto exchange from which the suspect bought his Bitcoin. The unnamed Italian crypto service provider gave authorities more information on the suspect, leading to his arrest.

ZDNet notes that law enforcement groups are creating new, more advanced tools for tracking and tracing cryptocurrency movements. Interpol is developing Darkweb Monitor, which can gather criminal activity on the dark web, including cryptocurrency addresses. It also helped develop a blockchain-based analytics tool called GraphSense, which allows investigators to search cryptocurrency addresses, tags, and transactions.

In the US, the perpetrator of another attempted murder that utilized the dark web and Bitcoin has been jailed. The DoJ announced that 46-year-old Columbia, Missouri, resident Jason William Siesser was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole.

Siesser paid $150 in BTC for around 30 milliliters of Dimethylmercury, a chemical weapon that theoretically could have killed up to 300 people. He planned to use it to kill his exjust a few drops on the skin can be fatalbut failed to acquire any of the substance on two attempts and was caught in an undercover FBI operation.

Siesser had been the custodial guardian of two minors and had used various combinations of the first, middle and last names of one of them on the orders for the toxic substance, writes the New York Times. The youth said Mr. Siesser had told him that he wanted to be an assassin and kill those who had wronged him in the past, including Mr. Siessers ex-wife and the woman who broke off her relationship with Mr. Siesser after three dates, according to the affidavit.

Image credits: Lubo Ivanko, Motortion Films
Like a lot of us, Jimmy Kimmel has been paying close attention to the ongoing scandal involving U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida). And in his Jimmy Kimmel Live monologue on Wednesday, Kimmel found it particularly amusing that not even Donald Trump is coming through with any real support of one of the biggest Trump loyalists in Congress.

To start the gag, Kimmel brought up the New York Times report Tuesday that in the last few weeks of Trumps presidency, Gaetz tried to convince Trump to give him and several of his associates blanket pre-emptive pardons to cover any crimes they may have committed. At the time, Gaetz was fully aware that he was under investigation by the Department of Justice for possible sex trafficking, an investigation that is still ongoing.

Which, thats not suspicious, Kimmel joked. You know you havent done anything wrong when you check in with the president to ask for a pardon, in case you happen to get accused of a sex crime somewhere down the line. Thats not abnormal.

Also Read: Trump Denies Matt Gaetz Asked for Pre-Emptive Pardon

Of course, as Kimmel noted, according to the Times Trump didnt end up giving Gaetz a pardon after his legal advisers convinced him it would set a bad precedent.

At the time they were only interested in setting terrible precedents, Kimmel joked, possibly referring to the myriad of misdeeds Trump committed during the end of his presidency, which included his involvement in the violent seditious riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Bad President should be the title of Trumps autobiography. That really is  thats got a ring to it, Kimmel continued.

In a statement to the Times, Gaetz denied the report, saying through his spokesperson: Entry-level political operatives have conflated a pardon call from Representative Gaetz  where he called for President Trump to pardon everyone from himself, to his administration, to Joe Exotic  with these false and increasingly bizarre, partisan allegations against him.

Story continues

Right. That makes sense, Kimmel said in response to that statement.

Also Read: Katie Hill Calls for 'Unlikely' Friend Matt Gaetz to Resign if Reports of Sexual Misconduct Are True

Thats when Kimmel got to Trumps meager defense of Gaetz.

Trump weighed in on the story  with a two-sentence statement, Kimmel continued, reading the statement verbatim: Congressman Matt Gaetz has never asked me for a pardon. It must also be remembered that he has totally denied the accusations against him.

Yes, it must, Kimmel added. I guess that was the best Trump could do for Gaetz now that he doesnt have Twitter anymore. His advisers  according to Maggie Haberman of the Times  reportedly talked him out of a full-throated defense of Gaetz. Which is sad because Matt Gaetz really was the son Donald Trump never had even though he had a couple.

Watch the whole monologue above. The Gaetz is brought up about three minutes in.

Read original story Kimmel Is Pretty Amused by Trumps Half-Hearted Defense of Matt Gaetz (Video) At TheWrap
Nigel Tutt

Chief Executive of Priority One

The recent announcement about the opening of the two-way trans-Tasman travel bubble provides us with some interesting implications for the New Zealand economy.

The travel bubble is the first major step in a return to a more normal world, following the elimination strategy that both countries have pursued throughout the pandemic so far, its a step that we must make at some stage. While we can all visualise holidays on the Gold Coast or Queenstown, or visiting relatives on either side of the ditch, the economic implications are more complex and not entirely clear at this stage.

We would expect a bit of a bump up in international tourism spend. This will be less pronounced in Tauranga, but will certainly benefit other areas of the country like Queenstown and Rotorua.

A recent Tourism New Zealand study showed strong intent for Australians to visit our country when borders are opened up, which is great news.

This boost in tourism spend will be somewhat offset by Kiwis travelling to Australia themselves however, and I expect it will take months before we get large volumes travelling either way.

The effect on domestic spend is more likely to cause concern. Consumer spend is doing relatively well considering the pandemic, only about 3 per cent down on the previous year despite serious headwinds. People have tended to spend on higher-end goods, clothes and treats in the absence of being able to splurge on an overseas holiday. That is unlikely to be the case this year.

Migration is another interesting area, with some risk that Kiwis take up opportunities to move across the ditch. Our rapidly increasing housing costs do not help this. Australia is not immune to rising house prices but generally has lower housing costs and higher wages than New Zealand, leading to better affordability. This migration would leave skill gaps and while the bubble should free up MIQ space for external migration from other countries, excess capacity will be decommissioned instead.

Our closed borders and elimination strategy have served us well to this point. While the effects of opening borders up are uncertain, it is a great first step back to normality.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 22:19:37|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A court in the Ugandan capital Kampala has jailed two people including a police officer for 12 years over illegal possession of ivory.

Bashir Hangi, spokesperson of Uganda Wildlife Authority, a state-run conservation agency, told Xinhua by telephone on Thursday that the two pleaded guilty for being in possession of two elephant tusks, which weigh about 45 kilograms.

They appeared before a Special Utilities Court at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Court on Wednesday.

"When they appeared in court, they pleaded guilty to the charges and were sentenced to 12 years in jail or a fine of eight million Uganda shilling (about 2,200 U.S. dollars) each for being in possession of protected species unlawfully," said Hangi.

"They failed to pay the fine in default and were sent to jail for 12 years each," he said.

Under the new law, wildlife offences in east African country, attract a maximum sentence of life imprisonment upon conviction.

Most of the ivory in Uganda is reported to be smuggled from neighboring countries such as Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Uganda is mainly used as a transit point for smugglers of wildlife products as the offenders take advantage of porous borders. Enditem
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wells Fargo has become the latest large energy user to execute a renewable power agreement under Duke Energy's Green Source Advantage (GSA) program  building on the solar expansion in North Carolina.

Wells Fargo will purchase more than 58 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity from the Blackburn Solar project, a planned facility on 600 acres in Catawba County. It will be developed, owned and operated by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. Subject to local and state approvals, the project is scheduled to come online as early as 2022. The power generated will offset about 50 percent of the bank's energy usage in the state.

"As large energy users look to expand their sustainability goals, many are finding Duke Energy's Green Source Advantage program the perfect fit to accomplish that," said Stephen De May, Duke Energy's North Carolina president. "The program's flexibility allows the customer to modify it to best suit their needs. Our state benefits by reducing carbon emissions and using more renewable energy."

"The development of renewable energy projects close to employee and customer centers is one way Wells Fargo is working to meet our net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal in a way that also contributes to the communities where we live and work. Investing in solar energy development in North Carolina will support job creation, tax revenue, reduced carbon emissions, and grid resiliency," said Nate Hurst, head of Social Impact and Sustainability at Wells Fargo. "We appreciate the collaboration with Duke and NextEra to advance our enterprise sustainability goals in a way that benefits the local economy."

"We're excited to work with Duke Energy and Wells Fargo to provide more affordable, renewable energy through the Green Source Advantage program," said Matt Handel, senior vice president of development for NextEra Energy Resources. "The Blackburn Solar project will also provide significant benefits to the economy, creating good-paying construction jobs and generating millions of dollars in additional tax revenue for the local community."

The Green Source Advantage program is a result of 2017's solar legislation in North Carolina. The GSA program allows large customers to offset their power purchases by securing renewable energy from projects connected to the Duke Energy grid. The customer may keep the renewable energy certificates (RECs) of the projects to satisfy sustainability or carbon-free goals.

A similar Duke Energy program is now available in South Carolina.

Participation in Green Source Advantage means Wells Fargo will participate in the development of a new renewable energy source. Wells Fargo and NextEra Energy Resources agreed on the specific project and additional costs associated with energy from the facility.

Duke Energy's GSA program made 600 MW of capacity available for large Duke Energy customers in North Carolina. A substantial portion of the available capacity has already been taken by the city of Charlotte, Bank of America and Duke University in previously announced projects.

Duke Energy maintains more than 3,500 MW of solar power on its energy grid in North Carolina, which could power about 700,000 homes and businesses at peak output. The company also operates more than 40 solar facilities in the state. North Carolina currently ranks No. 3 in the nation for overall solar power.

About Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.

Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit's regulated utilities serve approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states  North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to more than 1.6 million customers in five states  North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2020 "World's Most Admired Companies" list, and Forbes' 2019 "America's Best Employers" list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: Randy Wheeless

Office: 704.382.8379

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

Twitter: @DE_RandyW

SOURCE Duke Energy

Related Links

www.duke-energy.com


- IBS Software provides mission-critical SaaS solutions to support the airline's commercial business and operations

BEDFORD, Mass., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Waltzing Matilda Aviation (WMA) will be launching Connect Airlines, a new airline starting operations in October 2021, connecting Toronto Billy Bishop City Airport with airports in the Northeast and Midwest United States.

Using the Canadian built Q400 turboprop aircraft, Connect Airlines will offer a premium service for day-tripping business travelers direct into Toronto's downtown island Billy Bishop airport. Subject to regulatory approvals, the airline will provide a valuable alternative to business travelers as they start to fly between the United States and Canada again.

John Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of WMA, comments: "We are passionate about how aviation brings people, cultures and business together. Especially in these challenging times, we are committed to delivering the world's most rewarding premium travel experience with safety, service, convenience and reliability."

WMA chose IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, as its strategic launch partner. IBS Software's SaaS model fully supports the needs of the start-up airline minimizing fixed costs.

Thomas continues: "The last year has shown that airlines need to be lean, agile and digital-first. Not only is this important as the industry recovers but passengers are demanding it. Travelers want a seamless digital experience which is why we partnered with IBS Software. We can manage the airline on a single integrated platform, meaning we can spend more time focusing on our customers, rather than IT headaches."

Connect Airlines will be the launch airline for IBS Software's "Airline-in-a-box" set of solutions, enabling them to manage the airline on a single integrated platform, with a simultaneous and seamless implementation and integrated sources of data. The solution includes:

iFly Res, a next generation, customer-centric passenger service solution; the first NDC natively compliant solution in the market, with advanced ancillary management capabilities,

iFlight Lite, an integrated end-to-end fleet and crew operations platform to enable the airline to run efficiently from the beginning,

iFlight MRO, a maintenance and engineering software solution that provides the foundation to implement best-in-class business process to control overall maintenance costs.

IBS Software will also build and host Connect's website and mobile app, using the latest technology to support personalization and serve the needs of the connected business traveler

Jitendra Sindhwani, IBS Software, ?President & Head, Aviation Business at IBS Software, comments: "Connect Airlines is bucking an industry-wide trend. This bold statement is testament to the growing confidence in the aviation industry recovery. Our integrated set of solutions will support Connect Airline's commercial and operational business. This includes reservations, fleet and crew operations, maintenance, and their website and mobile application. We are able to provide all the technology to enable the airline to start flying. We are thrilled to welcome Connect Airlines to the IBS Software family and look forward to our long-term partnership with Waltzing Matilda Aviation."

About Waltzing Matilda

WMA is a Boston based FAA Part 135 jet charter operator (Certificate number 6WZA614N) that has started the process to add FAA Part 121 scheduled and non-scheduled services to its Air Operators Certificate. WMA began private (Part 91) operations in June 2008 and has operated thousands of hours of safe and reliable flying with a focus on delivering superior customer service. WMA owns and operates both its own aircraft as well as managed aircraft. WMA brings together a group of aviation professionals, many of whom have been involved in jet charter operations in the Boston area for over 20 years. WMA is passionate about flying and dedicated to providing a high quality of service. WMA was co-founded by John Thomas. John has been actively involved in the aviation industry for the past 35 years, both as a senior operating executive as Group Executive at Virgin Australia Airlines and as a strategic advisor to the global aviation industry. He advised major airlines around the world as well as OEMs, Business & General Aviation, FBOs, airports, and ANSPs. In addition to actively managing WMA, John sits on the Board of Skyservice, the largest Corporate aviation service provider in Canada, as well as the Board of Icelandair Group, and continues to provide advisory services to the broader aviation industry including as Senior Advisor to Spike Aerospace Inc., ATM Consultants Group, and CAPA Centre for Aviation.

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/

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1483586/IBS_powers_Connect_Airlines.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1169353/IBS_Software_Logo.jpg
A portrait of John Keats (1822) by William Hilton, after Joseph Severn. Keats lost most of his family members to tuberculosis, the disease that would eventually take his own life on Feb. 23, 1821. (Public Domain)

John Keats: How His Poems of Death and Lost Youth Are Resonating During COVID-19

In John Keatss poems, death crops up 100 times more than the future, a word that appears just once in the entirety of his work. This might seem appropriate on the 200th anniversary of the death of Keats, who was popularly viewed as the young Romantic poet half in love with easeful death.

Death certainly touched Keats and his family. At the age of 14, he lost his mother to tuberculosis. In 1818, he nursed his younger brother Tom as he lay dying of the same disease.

After such experiences, when Ludolph, the hero of Keatss tragedy, Otho the Great, imagines succumbing to a bitter death, a suffocating death, Keats knew what he was writing about. And then, aged just 25, on Feb. 23, 1821, Keats himself died of tuberculosis in Rome.

John Keatss grave in Rome. (Piero Montesacro/CC BY-SA 3.0)

Life Sliding By

His preoccupation with death doesnt tell the whole story, however. In life, Keats was vivacious, funny, bawdy, pugnacious, poetically experimental, politically active, and above all forward-looking.

He was a young man in a hurry, eager to make a mark on the literary world, even ifas a trained doctorhe was all too conscious of the bodys vulnerability to mortal shocks. These two very different energies coalesce in one of his best-loved poems, written in January 1818 when the poet was in the bloom of health.

When I Have Fears That I May Cease to Be is a poem of personal worry, according to biographer Nicholas Roe. In it, Keats is anxious that he wont have time to achieve poetic fame or fall in unreflecting love, and these fears and self-doubts take him to the brink.

But as brinks go, this one doesnt seem all that bad. The poem is romantic with a small rwide-eyed, dramatic, sentimentalits vision of finality, of nothingness, gorgeous in its desolation, and all-importantly painless. Who can read the poems final lines without themselves feeling a pull to swooning death, half in love with it, as Keats professed to be?

When I have fears that I may cease to be

Before my pen has gleaned my teeming brain,

Before high-piled books, in charactery,

Hold like rich garners the full ripened grain;

When I behold, upon the nights starred face,

Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,

And think that I may never live to trace

Their shadows with the magic hand of chance;

And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,

That I shall never look upon thee more,

Never have relish in the faery power

Of unreflecting lovethen on the shore

Of the wide world I stand alone, and think

Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.

Thats what I used to think, at any rate. Lately, in the pandemic, Ive begun to read this poem rather differently. Lensed through long months of lockdown, the sonnets existential anxieties seem less abstract, grand, and performative, and more, well, human.

Its a poem that will resonate with the youth who are cooped up indoors, physically isolated, unable to meet and mingle, agonizingly aware of weeks slipping by, opportunities missed, disappointments mounting. This poem has made me almost painfully empathetic toward their plight.

The sonnets fears of a future laid to waste are shared by whole generations whose collective mental health is under siege. In his last surviving letter, written two years after the sonnet while dying in Rome, Keats records a feeling of my real life having past, a conviction that he was leading a posthumous existence. How many of us are experiencing similar thoughts at the moment?

Illness and Isolation

Of all the Romantics, Keats perhaps knew most about mental suffering. He grew up in Moorgate, just across from Bethlem Hospital, which was known to London and the world as Bedlam. Before he turned to poetry, Keats trained at Guys Hospital, London, where he not only witnessed firsthand the horrors of surgery in a preanesthetic age but also tended to patients in what was called the lunatic ward.

It was all too much for him. Traumatized by the misery and pain he felt he could do little to alleviate, in 1816 he threw medicine in for the pen. His experiences at Guys, though, and the empathy he developed there, found their way into his writing. For instance, in Hyperion, his medical knowledge helps him to inhabit the catatonic state of gray-haird Saturn, who sits in solitude, deep in the shady sadness of a vale, despairing after being deposed by the Olympian gods. The vignette is a moving image of isolation and enervation that speaks to us today.

As for lockdown, Keats was no stranger to its pressures and deprivations. During periods of illness in Hampstead in 1819precursor symptoms of tuberculosishe was reluctant to venture out, isolating himself. In October 1820, he set sail for Italy in the hope that warmer climes would save his lungs. On arrival, his ship was put into strict quarantine for ten days. In letters to his friends, Keats described being in a sort of desperation, adding, we cannot be created for this sort of suffering.

Keats was a poet of his age, his own social, cultural, and medical milieu. And yet, on the bicentenary of his death, hes alsomore than ever, perhapsa poet of ours. A poet of lockdown, frustration, disappointment, fears  and even hope.

Because even in those last, scarcely imaginable weeks in Rome, 200 years ago, holed up in a little apartment at the foot of the Spanish Steps, he never quite gave up on the future, never relinquished his dreams of love and fame.

Richard Marggraf-Turley is a professor of English literature at Aberystwyth University in the UK. This article was first published on The Conversation.
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
[April 08, 2021] Tacton Smart Commerce Online Summit Provides Roadmap for Manufacturers to Drive Sales and Accelerate Business Growth

CHICAGO and STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tacton , a global leader in Smart Commerce solutions for manufacturers, announced it will host its Spring 2021 Smart Commerce Online Summit on May 6 at 9:30 a.m. EDT. The event's theme is Drive Sales and Secure Future Business Growth. Audience members will hear from leaders in the manufacturing field including Thomas Wrana, Senior Manager at Accenture, Aaron Craig, Global Marketing Director at nVent, and Bastian Fietje, Head of Group Projects at Plus Pack.

Discussions during the summit will look at how 2020 disrupted typical manufacturing operations and how manufacturers need a new customer-driven business model in order to sell highly customizable products. Practical presentations will provide valuable insights on topics such as: How manufacturers can raise their game in todays marketing, sales, and service revolution The success strategies and critical business capabilities of the sales of the future How manufacturers can tackle the challenges of the new B2B buying behavior





"As I have been interacting with our customers, Ive gained valuable insights on where theyre focusing to differentiate themselves and build sustainable growth, said Bo Gyldenvang, Chief Executive Officer at Tacton. Were excited to invite Thomas (Accenture), Bastian (Plus Pack), and Aaron (nVent) to share their stories about becoming more customer-focused to drive both sales and growth. For more information, or to register to attend, please visit https://www.tacton.com/knowledge/2021-smart-commerce-online-summit/

About Tacton

Tacton enables Smart Commerce for manufacturers by empowering organizations to extend beyond traditional commerce. Tacton Smart Commerce ensures manufacturers always offer optimal solutions to their customers throughout the entire B2B buyer journey. Our industry expertise and leading technology enable a seamless customer experience. Tacton provides solutions to our global customers such as ABB, Bosch, Caterpillar, nVent, Pelco, MAN, Mitsubishi, Siemens, Toshiba and Yaskawa. Tacton is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and Stockholm, Sweden, with regional offices in Karlsruhe, Germany; Warsaw, Poland; and Tokyo, Japan. Contact:

tactonpr@bocacommunications.com





[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) speaks to members of the press during a closed-door deposition of Former Special Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker led by the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill on October 3, 2019 in Washington. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

Rep. Lee Zeldin Announces Run for New York Governor

Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) on April 7 announced his candidacy for governor of New York in 2022.

Ill bring the kind of relentless, fighting spirit towards helping to save our state that [Gov. Andrew] Cuomo reserves for multi-million dollar self-congratulatory book deals, cover-ups, abuse & self-dealing, Zeldin wrote on Twitter.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing intense pressure to resign, including from top Democrats in Washington and New York. Cuomos administration is accused of covering up nursing home COVID-19 deaths and other controversies related to his handling of the pandemic. Several women have also accused the embattled governor of inappropriate conduct. Cuomo has denied wrongdoing on both fronts.

Zeldin served in the New York state Senate for four years before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the states 1st District in 2014.

While in the state Senate, Zeldin voted against a gay marriage bill, supported a $250 million cut to the payroll tax, opposed a gun control bill, and fought the implementation of the Common Core curriculum.

While in Congress, Zeldin received an A-plus grade from the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List. He received a 71 percent rating on the conservative Heritage Action scorecard and a 62 percent rating by the Club for Growth, an anti-tax group that opposes increasing the size of the U.S. government.

In a series of tweets announcing his run, Zeldin accused Cuomo of covering up nursing home deaths and said that 2022 may be the last chance to save the state.

At the helm of NYs downfall is Andrew Cuomo, whose deadly nursing home order & cover-up is part of a long line of scandals, lies, & harassment. Cuomo has abused the power & trust granted to him & its time for him to immediately exit stage left, Zeldin wrote.

Im ready to go all in on this mission and bring New York back from the brink and return it to glory. For many, this feels like a last stand to save our state.

Cuomos approval rating fell to an all-time low in March, according to a poll by Emerson College. The same poll found that two in three New Yorkers wanted someone new to be elected in 2022.

Cuomos office didnt respond to a request for comment.
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Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of e-commerce giant Amazon, topped the Forbes ranking of the world's richest people for four consecutive years with wealth of $177 billion, while Tesla chief executive Elon Musk came in at No 2 at $151 billion, according to the Forbes World's Billionaires List released Tuesday.

The number of billionaires on Forbes' 35th annual ranking expanded to an unprecedented 2,755, growing 660 year-on-year, and 493 were first-timers, including 210 from the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong SAR. Around 86 percent turned out to be richer than a year ago.

Altogether these billionaires were worth $13.1 trillion, up from $8 trillion in 2020.

"Despite the pandemic, it was a record-setting year for the world's wealthiest there were rapid-fire public offerings, surging cryptocurrencies and skyrocketing stock prices," Forbes said.

Bezos's fortune increased $64 billion from a year earlier, as a result of surging Amazon shares. Elon Musk saw his wealth expanding $126.4 billion over last year, when he ranked No. 31 on the list. The huge jump lies in a 705 percent climb in Tesla shares to a great extent, Forbes analyzed.

French luxury brand tycoon Bernard Arnault took the third spot, with an estimated fortune of $150 billion. Bill Gates and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg ranked fourth and fifth, accumulating total wealth of $124 billion and $97 billion, respectively.

Chinese business man Zhong Shanshan, who chairs Nongfu Spring, a bottled water company, sits at No. 13 with net worth at $68.9 billion. Tencent Holding's CEO Ma Huateng saw wealth totaling $65.8 billion and came in at No. 15.

The US still has more billionaires than any other country with 724, followed by China (including the Hong Kong and Macao SARs) with 698 and India in the third spot.

To calculate net worth, Forbes used stock prices and exchange rates from March 5, the magazine said.
Photo: (Photo : Sharon McCutcheon / Unsplash)

When parenting used to be fun, something you are grateful for, and not something you just tolerate and is so exhausting that parents start to withdraw from childrenthis is what parental burnout looks like. Those who struggle with parental burnout may deal with feelings of guilt. But, why do parents burn out with parenting their children, and in which countries are parental burnout more prevalent?

Research on Parental Burnout

A UCLouvain study in Belgium conducted a study on parental burnout in 42 countries. There were more than 17,000 parents who participated in the research collected between 2018 and before the pandemic lockdown in March 2020. The study revealed that Western countries or Euro-American countries had the highest prevalence of parental burnout, Science Alert reported.

The team of researchers collected necessary data through a questionnaire that noted not just the sociodemographic characteristics of the parents, but also their family dynamics. They were also asked if they recently felt emotionally distant, lost pleasure in parenting, emotionally exhaustedcomparing these with their previous parenting.

What is Parental Burnout?

Researchers began to recognize exhausted primary caregivers that have gotten overwhelmed by their role, Indian Express noted. The study was essential as burnt-out parents would start to distance themselves from their children. They may neglect their children, become ineffective caregivers, and become emotionally distant parents.

ALSO READ: How to Stop Arguing and Negotiating With Children and Become a Calmer Parent

Why Parents BurnoutPossibly a Major Reason

The researchers found an interesting link between individualistic cultures and high parental burnout. Studying the burnout rates across countries with different traits and cultural values, the researchers observed that parental burnout was more likely where individualism is adopted.

Lead researcher Isabelle Roskam, a developmental psychologist noted, individualism plays a significant role.

The results of the study showed that the U.S. had the second-highest prevalence of burnout, only next to Belgium and higher than Poland. In contrast, countries with the culture of collectivism, believing that "it takes a village to raise a child", had lower risks of parental burnout.

Further, the researchers determined no other factor that stands out as much as individualism as a risk for parental burnout. Regardless of the number of children the parent has or how many hours are spent alone with the kids, parents are more likely to burn out due to individualism.

ALSO READ: How to Spot Burnout in Children and Get the Help They Need

The Demands of Parenting Nowadays

Sociologists have observed parenting norms particularly in Euro-American countries have become more demanding over the last half-century. Researchers suggested that such high demands on parents have resulted in intense parental investment and psychological pressure.

Even the most basic of parenting have become morally and politically charged, noted the researchers, adding that anything less than optimal is now considered as perilous to parenting.

ALSO READ: 4 Steps to Becoming a More Resilient Parent

How to Prevent Parental Burnout

The researchers suggested the importance of reviving cultures of sharing and mutual aid within a community. Simply, the way out of parental burnout is to accept that parents need not do everything by themselves. Also, it is vital to reduce pressures causing parental burnout. Roskam advised, "abandoning the cult of being the perfect parent." The better route would be to listen to different parenting advice for the purpose of gaining perspective and then choosing which best works for you and your kids.
Ammon Bundy was arrested twice in Boise on Thursday, his fourth and fifth arrests in the past nine months, with four of those coming at the Idaho Capitol.

Idaho State Police took the Emmett resident into custody on a misdemeanor trespassing charge just after noon, according to ISP spokesperson Lynn Hightower, after he was seen on the second floor of the Statehouse. Simply being in public areas of the building is a violation of an Aug. 26 order that barred Bundy from the Capitol for a year.

As I understand, he was not cooperative (with police), Hightower told the Statesman.

Hightower said that Bundy was removed from the Capitol on a cart that is used to safely take out uncooperative individuals and others from the building. Its not known why Bundy was at the Statehouse.

Bundy was taken to the Ada County Jail and booked on a misdemeanor trespassing charge at 12:44 p.m. His bail amount was $300, according to a jail spokesperson.

Less than two hours later, Bundy returned to the Statehouse, with a trooper spotting him on the third floor, ISP said. Police arrested Bundy, who once more was not cooperative, according to ISP. He was taken to the Ada County Jail to be booked yet again on a misdemeanor trespassing charge, and also was charged with misdemeanor resisting or obstructing. He had to be wheeled out on the cart again, according to ISP.

Hightower told the Statesman that as of Thursday, there will be no additional security measures taken in light of Bundys repeated arrests at the Capitol. Additional troopers have been assigned there, however, since the 2021 legislative session began.

Bundy now has been taken to jail in Ada County five times since August, including twice in a 24-hour span that month after arrests at a special session of the Legislature. That led to the one-year ban.

His non-Statehouse arrest took place outside of the Ada County Courthouse on March 15. Bundy and another man, Aaron Schmidt, were set to appear on misdemeanor trespassing charges stemming from their August arrests. The two tried to enter the courthouse without wearing masks, a violation of coronavirus health measures that are part of an order from the Idaho Supreme Court.

Story continues

When the two were not in court as a hearing began, a judge issued failure to appear warrants. Ada County sheriffs deputies arrested Bundy and Schmidt outside the courthouse, leading to a scuffle between Bundys supporters and law enforcement. One man who was not in the confrontation with deputies was injured and taken to a hospital. Another man, Casey Baker, was arrested and later charged with battery on a law enforcement officer.

Afterward, Ada County Jail officials said Bundy refused to go through the jail booking process before a court hearing the next day.

Earlier this month, an Ada County magistrate judge ordered Bundy and Schmidt to go through mediation in an attempt to settle their cases before a trial. Bundy and his supporters have protested outside the judges home and outside the courthouse to condemn the charges against him.
Cher travels to Pakistan to rescue elephant Kaavan in the new trailer for upcoming Paramount+ documentary, Cher & The Loneliest Elephant.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kaavan, who is known as the "world's loneliest elephant," was sent to Pakistan more than three decades ago as a gift from former Sri Lanka dictator Gen. Zia-ul-Haq. Kaavan's mate, Saheli, died in 2012, causing him to be by himself.

The elephant was being held at a zoo in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, where he started to have behavioral issues.

"He was shackled, he was suffering, Cher says in the clip released Thursday.

"Elephants are just like we are. They're so family oriented and emotional and so I wanted to free him," she continues before putting together a team of experts to relocate Kaavan to a sanctuary in Cambodia.

Cher & The Loneliest Elephant will be available on Paramount+ on April 22 in celebration of Earth Day. The documentary also will air on the Smithsonian Channel on May 19 at 8 p.m. EDT.
After the bloodbath when Deliveroo floated, the customers who bought into the issue have nothing to cheer in spite of a 2 per cent rise on the first day when they could trade shares.

Whichever way you cut it, the float was an embarrassment for bankers Goldman Sachs, the other advisers, founder William Shu and non-executives such as Simon Wolfson, who arguably could have hosed down expectations.

The 70,000 Deliveroo customers who bought parcels of shares costing between 250 and 1,000 felt it was worth getting behind an online enterprise which has served them well during the pandemic.

Flexi-time: The idea that the 50000 Deliveroo riders should all be treated as full-time employees when some only work a few hours a week doesnt pass muster

They are more aligned, as is Wolfson, with the world of digital retail than stuffy fund managers engaging in ethical washing.

There is obviously a problem for all companies using staff in the gig economy. One doesnt have to be an enthusiast for union power to recognise that riders, drivers and everyone else in the supply chain must be paid at least the minimum wage and be entitled to pay for down time.

But the idea that the 50000 Deliveroo riders should all be treated as full-time employees when some only work a few hours a week doesnt pass muster.

It is fascinating that Amazon, which has been around for a quarter of century, is still struggling with these issues.

Workers at its Bessemer warehouse in Alabama are currently balloting to form a union amid complaints that working conditions are damaging their health. They are demanding the company embrace better practice.

For most of its history, Jeff Bezos and Amazon have been able to ignore worker complaints because politicians want the investment and jobs, the media loves the service and in the USs freewheeling labour market, imposing tighter rules is seen as putting the brakes on capitalism.

But in the new age of social investing, the balance between profits and properly looking after staff is starting to change.

The more convincing reason for the Deliveroo flop is that the investment case does not add up. Critics argue it is a temporary beneficiary of the online speed-up caused by the pandemic. That doesnt make a great deal of sense.

No one suggests that the high street switch from Topshop and Debenhams to Asos and Boohoo is a flash in the pan or that Wolfsons embrace of online and click and collect will vanish with Covid. Sainsburys saw food delivery firms as a big threat when it sought to convince competition chiefs that it should merge with Asda.

More home and flexible working in the UK and across the world will boost Deliveroo and its competitors. Having its own shares to deploy ought to be of assistance to Shu as the stock market newcomer seeks to mop up overseas and UK competitors.

The task for him and his board is to prove the naysayers wrong.

Tokyo imbroglio

Japan has never liked overseas takeovers. That has not stopped CVC, once the private equity arm of Citibank, from making a prospective bid worth 15billion.

Toshiba is a mixed bag and has been dogged by accounting scandals, governance questions and the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of its US nuclear arm.

Scrape away the rust and underneath there is a series of gems, including a devices operation which makes chip equipment and hard drives powering PCs and laptops around the globe.

It also owns a 40 per cent stake in chip maker Kioxia and is big in railway infrastructure and generators. It looks a little like national champions such as Germanys Siemens or Frances Schneider.

Toshiba is vulnerable given shareholder disquiet about governance and returns. But one suspects Japans Foreign Exchange & Foreign Trade Act passed a year ago, and a 146-year heritage, will prove a huge barrier.

Yellen effect

Something one would never expect to see in the US is a lengthy government paper advocating the issue of $650billion (473billion) of new special drawing rights, the IMFs own reserve currency.

As the biggest shareholder, America would get the largest allocation of the IMF currency, and could almost certainly block it being used to provide resources to bad actors such as Myanmar or a Covid-rebel such as Brazil.

The USs approval at the G20 shows how far Washington has travelled since Janet Yellen arrived at the Treasury.
"After a thirty-year working relationshiptwenty-two of which have been spent as the formidable leaders of GalaxyMatt and Bob's collective contribution to the fine wine community in Oregon is immeasurable," said Rocco Lombardo, President of Wilson Daniels. "Which is why it was of paramount importance that their successor be an individual who has a deeply-rooted passion for fine wine and an authentic connection to the Pacific Northwest. I'm pleased to say that Brooks embodies both of these qualities, and I'm excited to welcome him to the Wholesale team."

Jorgensen was most recently the Vice President and General Manager of the Domaines & Estates division of Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, where he was responsible for sales execution across all business channels. Previously, he served as the Director of Sales for the Pacific Northwest at Moet Hennessy USA, based out of the Seattle area.

With a luxury and fine wine focus spanning his 20-year career, Jorgensen's experience directly aligns with the Wilson Daniels Wholesale commitment to historically significant, family-owned producers, and he will assuredly be the dynamic leader to usher Galaxy into its next chapter.

"For over two decades, Galaxy has epitomized fine wine distribution and marketing in the purest sense," said Jorgensen. "I'm immensely proud to be at the helm of a team that has always displayed such passion and perseverance, and I'm looking forward to working with our exceptional producers and customers to continue expanding the world of fine wine in Oregon."

Jorgensen will relocate to the Pacific Northwest from Texas where he will lead a team of sixty-five. In addition to his senior leadership duties, he will be responsible for recognizing new opportunities to drive business development efforts.

About Wilson Daniels Wholesale

Wilson Daniels Wholesale is a family-owned distributor representing the world's premium wines in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Oregon. Wilson Daniels Wholesale partners with family-owned producers dedicated to crafting terroir-driven, expressive wines with natural methods. Wilson Daniels Wholesale values family, heritage, and wines of distinction. Headquartered in New York City, the company's offices and tasting room are located in Manhattan's historic and architecturally-rich Flatiron District.

About Galaxy Wine Company

Galaxy Wine Company is the third-largest wine wholesaler in a state renowned for a discerning collective palate. Since its inception in 1999 by industry veterans Matt Elsen and Bob Liner, Galaxy is proud to represent more than 400 distinguished producers, introducing them to Oregon oenophiles both in retail and restaurants. Galaxy has garnered a reputation for the quality of the wines offered, the knowledgeable staff, and the unrivaled customer service.

Media Contact:

Claire Gibbs

Media Relations and Communications Manager

[email protected]

212.823.6261

SOURCE Wilson Daniels

Related Links

http://www.wilsondaniels.com


Among 5,000 of their Suite Elite peers, these beauty pros are in a class all their own and have earned this distinction through creativity and dedication. I cant wait to help them grow their businesses even more  with MY SALON Suite, the sky is the limit!

Eleven beauty salon owners from across the nation have been selected as part of MY SALON Suites 2021 Suite Elite Featured Member program. This years theme, Make It Yours: Next Level, will celebrate the winners accomplishments and unique styles with personalized rewards and promotions, and will also position them for continued success through once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to elevate their businesses.

The chosen stylists are members of MY SALON Suite, a co-working style space where salon professionals provide beauty services to their clients in private, fully equipped, custom suites. There are more than 200 franchised MY SALON Suite locations across the U.S. and Canada with more than 5,000 beauty professional members, collectively called the Suite Elite.

This past October, more than 600 suite members sought consideration for the 2021 Featured Member campaign. More than 60 candidates then completed an application asking them to share their personal journeys with MY SALON Suite, how theyve worked to achieve success, and what improvements they would make if given the opportunity to renovate their suites. A panel of judges next narrowed down the winners to 11 extraordinary business owners who represent a wide range of specialties, personalities, and geographies.

Every year, we are amazed by the determination, enthusiasm, and sheer talent of our Featured Members but this year has made their accomplishments even more astounding as they worked day in and out to exceed their clients expectations in a safe, welcoming environment, said Ken McAllister, MY SALON Suites CEO and President. Among 5,000 of their Suite Elite peers, these beauty pros are in a class all their own and have earned this distinction through creativity and dedication. I cant wait to help them grow their businesses even more  with MY SALON Suite, the sky is the limit!

The 11 winners will enjoy luxury experiences and rewards, including a high-end personalized gift for each, throughout the year. Following professional photography and videography shoots, they will be featured throughout the coming year in national marketing campaigns, on social media, and on the companys website. MY SALON Suite will also secure opportunities for each Featured Member to promote their business locally and receive recognition for this honor in their communities.

In addition, aligning with this years theme of Make It Yours: Next Level, the Featured Members will participate in a virtual session with a team of national design consultants who will offer expert advice and practical recommendations to make their visions for their suite and branding a reality. A donation in each winners name will also be made to MY SALON Suites philanthropic partner, St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.

This years Suite Elite Featured Members:



Nicole De La Garza, Hair Cuts and Services, Houston, Texas

Kelby Dimaapi, Hair Services, Las Vegas, Nevada

Karinna Fischer, Hair Cuts and Services, Atlanta, Georgia

Katlyn Hammonds, Hair Cuts and Services, Orange Park, Florida

Amy Hazen, Hair Cuts and Services, Westborough, Massachusetts

Latoya Mincey, Hair Services, Atlanta, Georgia

Darnisha Monson, Skin Care, Highland, Indiana

Valina Patton, Eyebrows, Hair Removal, Hair Services, Niles, Illinois

Tanya Shaw, Hair Services, Orange Park, Florida

Dakota Sullivan, Hair and Lash Services, Scottsdale, Arizona

Joshua Trotter, Hair Services, Olympia, Washington

About MY SALON Suite

MY SALON Suite is a nationwide franchise of turnkey beauty salon suite studios that allows independent salon professionals to provide beauty services to their own respective clients. The co-working style space is the latest concept in the beauty services industry bringing together a collection of independent beauty professionals in one luxurious location.

Ken and Alanna McAllister opened the first MY SALON Suite in Metairie, Louisiana, in 2010 and have since expanded the franchise across North America. In 2015, MY SALON Suite partnered with Salon Plaza to drive expansion and provide knowledge for new and existing franchise partners. There are more than 200 franchised MY SALON Suite locations across the U.S. and Canada.

MY SALON Suite has been recognized as a leading franchise opportunity by some of the most prestigious business lists, including the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 and the Inc. 5000. With industry-leading knowledge, operational processes and support services, MY SALON Suite helps franchise owners successfully build, open and manage upscale private salon suite facilities for highly-qualified, established beauty service professionals, who are ready to make an investment in themselves and their professional success by running their own salon business.

For more information about MY SALON Suite, please visit: https://www.mysalonsuite.com/.
AS Covid-19 deaths show little sign of abating, good news has come to Trinidad and Tobago of a vaccine gift from the United States.

According to Shante Moore, Charge dAffaires at the US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago, this gift comes with no hidden conditions and imposing conditions as other countries are doing.
Islamabad, April 8 : The US Department of State has called on both India and Pakistan to hold direct talks and resolve pending issues with an aim to normalise relations.

Refraining to comment on the recent approval and then cancellation by Pakistan to import sugar and cotton from India, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the US supports direct dialogue between the nuclear-powered neighbours.

"I wouldn't want to comment on that specifically. What I would say is that we continue to support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on issues of concern," he said.

Pakistan cancelled its trade ties with India during August 2019 after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Indian government abrogated Article 370 and 35A and changed the special status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.

Pakistan was quick to respond to Indian actions, as it cut off diplomatic relations with India, sending back the sitting Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, closing the borders, disallowing visas and suspending all trade ties.

Pakistan demanded that there can be no talks with India until the reversal of the decisions Indian government took on August 5, 2019.

However, a change in policy was witnessed recently when the two sides mutually agreed to observe a ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC), ending the escalating tensions.

This was followed by positive hopes filled letter from Modi to his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan, expressing hopes and desire for peace.

Khan responded to the letter with similar sentiments, calling for dialogue to end the longstanding disputes between the two countries.

On March 31, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) announced that it was going to allow import of white sugar and cotton from India for the country's private sector, to cover the shortfall of requirements in the country.

However, the federal cabinet deferred the ECC's decision on April 1, putting the condition that there can be no trade with India until New Delhi reverses its decision to abrogate Article 370 and 35A.

It has been reported that friendly countries have been contacting both countries through backdoor channels, urging both sides to initiate dialogue and explore options to resolve the pertaining conflict and disputes for regional stability, peace and development.

Pakistan had called for the US' intervention in the matter during the tenure of former President Donald Trump's administration.

However, its efforts did not yield fruit as the US clarified that it cannot intervene in a bilateral matter until both sides agree to it.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Page Content

For the next 11 months, Impala Crescent Primary School will have bragging rights after scooping the 2021 Young Creatives Relay Story Competition.







The Lenasia-based school won the top prize in the competition, which was aimed at Grade 6 pupils and involved making a video of songs, dances and theatrical productions while narrating a story.

The competition, initiated by the City of Johannesburgs Library and Information Services, formed part of the National Library form 15 to 30 March 2021.

Second place went to the Randburg-based IR Griffith Primary School followed by Rutegang Primary School in Jabavu, Soweto. Consolation prizes went to Mikateka Primary School in Ivory Park and Tulip Combined School in Roodepoort.





The enthusiastic pupils were asked to contribute parts of the story: the beginning, middle and the end. The topics that were suggested to inspire the stories included A visit to the library; Reading; Bullying, Friendship, Families, Animals, Environment or anything with a lesson. Once they created the story, pupils recorded each other. The presentations were in many forms such as poetry, chants, rhymes, songs, and other playful activities.





City of Johannesburg libraries offered the pupils space to be creative, to share their thoughts, to express their culture and their observations of the world.





We had to reach out. By introducing this competition, we allowed children to play with their smart devices and work as teams to create stories. We are hoping to inspire more children to embrace the culture of reading and creative writing, as well as working with others, said Jeff Nyoka of the City of Johannesburgs Library and Information Services.





Pupils selected team members or a teacher to assist in recording the story using a smart device. Videos were uploaded on the Joburg Libraries Facebook page during the National Library Week. Teachers selected enthusiastic pupils who demonstrated creativity and the ability to capture the audiences imagination





Congratulations to all school learners who participated. This was a small pilot competition that will be expanded to more schools in the next financial year. Experience from this competition gave us an opportunity to plant interest in narrating African stories and connecting with learners using what they like most, their cellphones, said Ms Nobuntu Mpendulo, the Director of Library and Information Services.





For more information Facebook page @JoburgLibraries




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Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

A 32-year-old man who barricaded himself inside a building in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood surrendered peacefully Thursday morning, according to KCBS Radio.

The San Francisco Police Department and crisis and hostage negotiators responded to the situation.
UK-based global conglomerate SRAM & MRAM Group on Thursday said it will invest Rs 100 crore in the PPE products under its flagship brand'Walletz4u' in India.

The company is set to produce premiumNitrile Examination Glovesthat are currently being produced from its factories in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, saidSRAM & MRAM Group in a statement.

"With the series of investments and units in place, the company is gearing up to become the leading OEM (original equipment manufacturer) of medical and industrial grade gloves in East Asia," it added.

SRAM & MRAM Group ChairmanSailesh Lachu Hiranandanisaid the company hasgeared itself up to tackle the PPE shortage by acquiring and leasing a lot of production lines to meet the ever-increasing demand, especially gloves of all types for all industry verticals.

"With the launch of 'Walletz4u', the conglomerate has joined the leading players for selling their branded premium gloves across the globe," 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.)
by Lee Cheuk-yan

One of Hong Kong's main political figures pleads guilty, but says he did no wrong. Political prisoners are pioneers of freedom. I do not want to see Hong Kong rule[] on the basis of such systemic violence.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  Lee Cheuk-yan, a pro-democracy activist and former member of Hong Kongs Legislative Council, was convicted yesterday along with media magnate Jimmy Lai and former Democratic Party chairman Yeung Sum for taking part in an unauthorised protest on 31 August 2019.

According to many analysts, through the National Security Act and electoral reform, Beijing is using every means to crush freedom and stifle any opposition in Hong Kong. Here is Lee Cheuk-yans guilty plea. Courtesy of Apple Daily.

Your Honour, I plead guilty but Ive done no wrong in affirming the rights of people to peaceful procession and I believe history will absolve me. May I give you more on my background so as your honour can understand why I decided to march with the people for the future of Hong Kong.

As a Christian, during Easter when the scripture was read, I was reminded how Christ went to meet his fate on the cross, sacrificing for mankind to reconcile sinners with God. From His arrest to his prosecution to his death sentencing by Pilate, he was a political prisoner who committed no crime apart from seen to be a threat to the Jewish Hierarchy by serving the poor and oppressed and preaching the good news.

Throughout the history of mankind, the rights that humankind now enjoyed were pioneered by political prisoners from Gandhi to Martin Luther King to Nelson Mandela. I was the Chairman of the Hong Kong anti-apartheid movement back in the 80s and I always remember the determination of Nelson Mandela when he said during his trial back in 1963: an ideal for which I am prepared to die for.. His ideal was equality for black South African and then he spent 27 years in jail. I was thrilled that in 1994, he was elected President of South Africa, giving hope to the oppressed all over the world that justice can be achieved through the persistent struggle of the people.

I went to length about his inspiration to me personally because I started my activism starting 1978 for labour rights and democracy. My lifetime ideal is the empowerment of the poor and oppressed to speak out, to rise up for their rights. Whenever the oppressed assert their rights to fight for their dignity, I feel myself also empowered and inspired to continue the difficult struggle and challenges facing Hong Kong. I asked myself, what is my life without the struggle. The struggle is my life, I cannot imagine my life without it. It had been forty-three years of struggle for me and your Honour must understand my deep-felt pain and sufferings to see how the State Power had been using brute force against the people and the sacrifices of so many Hongkongers who were injured, jailed, or exiled, also to witness the deprivation of the basic rights of the people and the regression in democracy. I saw my ideal crumbling but I will continue the struggle even though darkness is surrounding us. It is an ideal for which I am prepared for any sanction.

Your Honour may say the law is the law, I seem not to show any remorse in breaching the law in this trial for August 31st. I hope Your Honour understands the utmost importance I put on the rights to freedom of expression through speech or assembly. This is the only avenue the weak and oppressed can have to right the wrongs on them. If deprived, I will call this systemic violence on the people and I do not want to see Hong Kong rule[d] on the basis of such systemic violence. Therefore I would do my utmost to affirm the rights of people to a dignified and peaceful procession to express themselves.

Your Honour must be passionate about upholding the law and I respect your ideal. I hope I can quote from the late Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

Justices continue to think and can change. I am ever hopeful that if the court has a blind spot today, its eye will be open tomorrow

I was very impressed with her passion for gender equality and how she fought her whole life for gender equality and was able to achieve so much. Her message was time changes and judges should catch up with time. For Hong Kong, the worst may yet to come, and we need the legal profession to open their eyes to the suffering of the people and reflect on which side the law is with and how to changes with time for the advancement of the rights and dignity of the people.

I humbly submit myself to your sentencing and whatever your sentence, I have no regret for standing up for the rights of the people.
NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of BlackBerry Limited ("BlackBerry" or the "Company") (NYSE: BB). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether BlackBerry and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On March 30, 2021, BlackBerry reported fourth-quarter 2020 losses of $315 million, or $0.56 per share, on revenue of $210 million, down from $282 million in the same period last year. The Company attributed part of its revenue shortfall to negotiations to limited patent-licensing, explaining that the Company was in negotiations with an unnamed "North American party for the sale of a portion of the company's portfolio, primarily related to mobile-devices messaging and wireless networking."

On this news, BlackBerry's stock price fell $0.91 per share, or 9.74%, to close at $8.43 per share on March 31, 2021.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com



CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

www.pomerantzlaw.com


reported 4,276 fresh cases and 19 more deaths on Thursday, taking the active caseload further to 9.15 lakh and the toll to 12,840.

The number of active cases stood at 30,131.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Rajeev Ranjan and other top officials attended the meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the country.

Besides Ranjan, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan, state police chief JK Tripathy and others attended the meeting, the government said.

On Thursday, about 1,869 positive patients were discharged in the state following treatment and the cumulative figure of recoveries is 8,72,415, according to a state health bulletin.

Chennai accounted for the bulk of new cases with 1,520 and the recoveries were 515 today besides six deaths due to the virus.

Of the total 19 fatalities today, 14 were due to comorbidities.

About nine people who returned by road from West Bengal, two from Bihar, one each from Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh added to the total of new cases on Thursday.

Chennai's overall COVID-19 tally is 2,59,320 positive cases, with the active cases/those under treatment remaining at 11,633.

The total recoveries in the metro stood at 2,43,395 and toll at 4,292.

Coimbatore reported 427 new cases today, followed by Chengalpattu with 398, Thiruvallur: 199, Tiruppur: 154, Tiruchirappalli: 131, Thanjavur: 125, Nagapattinam: 118, Madurai: 115, Kancheepuram: 107 and Salem: 103.

Barring Perambalur and Kallakurichi which reported four and six cases respectively, the remaining districts in the state reported positive cases in double digits.

(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, April 8 : Hailing the social service by Sikh community and Gurudwaras all over the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stressed the need to do "proper research and documentation" on this aspect of the Sikh tradition.

The Prime Minister expressed his views while chairing the meeting of the High-Level Committee to commemorate 400th Birth Anniversary (Prakash Purab) of Guru Tegh Bahadur--ninth of the ten Gurus who founded the Sikh religion and was the head of the followers of Sikhism from 1665 until his beheading in 1675.

Addressing the meeting via video conferencing, the Prime Minister highlighted that it is important to make the younger generation understand the teaching and lessons from the life of Guru Tegh Bahadur, and noted that through digital means, it is easier to reach out to the younger generation world over to spread the message.

Elaborating on the discussions in the meeting, the Prime Minister said that to connect more and more people to commemorate the 400th Prakash Purab of Guru Tegh Bahadur, various activities will be organized throughout the year.

Modi said that the organisation of activities should be such that not only the life and teachings of Guru Tegh Bahadur, but of the entire Guru Tradition is propagated world over.

He later hailed the social service by Sikh community and Gurudwaras all over the world and said that "proper research and documentation on this aspect of the Sikh tradition should be done".

Prime Minister said that the Sikh Guru tradition is a complete life philosophy in itself. It is the privilege and good fortune of the government that it has got the opportunity to celebrate the 550th Prakash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev, the 400th Prakash Purab of Guru Tegh Bahadur and the 350th Prakash Purab of Guru Gobind Singh.

The meeting was attended by Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh; Union Home Minister Amit Shah; Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla; Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh; Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge; Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar; Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder Singh; Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot; President, Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar, Bibi Jagir Kaur; MPs Sukhbir Singh Badal and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa; Former MP Tarlochan Singh; MD Amul R. S. Sodhi; and Eminent Scholar Amarjit Singh Grewal among others.

The Home Minister said that collective efforts should be made to ensure that the message of Guru Tegh Bahadur reaches out to all.

Culture Secretary gave a presentation on suggestions outlined till now for the commemoration.

The High-Level Committee was constituted by the Central government on October 24 last year to approve policies, plans and programs related to the commemoration of the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur along with supervision of the events.

The High-Level Committee has 70 members including the Prime Minister as Chairman.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Taiwan Cement is planning to build a US$352 million EV battery factory in southern Taiwan. The 1.8 GW facility will produce high-charge-discharge nickel ternary batteries.Taiwan's largest cement company, Taiwan Cement Corporation (TCC), is planning to invest NT$10 billion (US$352 million) in the construction of a battery factory in Kaohsiung, the largest city in southern Taiwan. "The planned capacity is 1.8 GW, equivalent to the volume of long-distance batteries needed for the annual production of 24,000 electric vehicles," the company stated, adding that the factory will be operated by its storage ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern):

The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern):

6:15 p.m.

B.C. is reporting another 997 COVID-19 cases and two more deaths, bringing the total fatalities to 1,491 since the pandemic started.

Of the 330 people in hospital, 105 are in intensive care.

There have been 946,096 doses of the three vaccines administered, about 87,000 of them second doses, covering about 20 per cent of eligible recipients in B.C.

There are 8,728 active cases in the province and another 14,602 people who are under active public health monitoring after being exposed to a known case.

5:30 p.m.

Alberta is reporting 1,351 new COVID-19 infections in its latest update.

There are 575 new cases involving more transmissible virus variants, which now make up nearly 43 per cent of the provinces active cases.

There are 333 people in hospital, with 79 in intensive care.

Alberta Health Services says 755,831 people have received vaccine doses so far.

4:05 p.m.

Health officials in Saskatchewan are reporting 189 new cases of COVID-19 and two new deaths.

They say one of the deaths was someone in the 30-39 age group in the north central health zone and the other was someone over 80 from the Regina zone.

The province says there are 201 people in hospital due to the virus and 159 people are receiving inpatient care.

As of today, 2,830 COVID-19 variants of concern have been identified in Saskatchewan.

3 p.m.

Manitoba is reporting 109 new cases of COVID-19 and one additional death.

The province says 22 new infections are from variants, and all but one are from the Winnipeg region.

There are 140 people in hospital because of the virus, and 32 of them are in intensive care.

1:45 p.m.

Nova Scotia is reporting two new cases of COVID-19.

Both are in the Halifax area with one related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada and the other a close contact of a previously reported case.

The province has a total of 37 active cases of novel coronavirus with one person in hospital.

As of Tuesday, the province has administered 123,166 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, with 30,069 people having received their required second dose.

1:15 p.m.

Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting one new case of COVID-19 today.

Health officials say the case involves a person in their 60s in the western health zone and is related to domestic travel outside of the Atlantic region.

The province now has four active cases of novel coronavirus.

Officials say beginning next Wednesday, high school students will move to a blended model that includes online and in-person learning.

1:05 p.m.

New Brunswick is reporting one new COVID-19-related death today.

Health officials say a person in their 30s in the Edmundston region died of underlying complications including novel coronavirus.

The case brings the number of deaths in the province to 31.

Officials are also reporting 14 new cases of COVID-19, including 11 cases in the Edmundston area, for a total of 163 known active cases of the disease.

12:35 p.m.

Quebec is expanding access to COVID-19 vaccines to Montrealers who are essential workers or who have chronic illnesses.

Essential workers such as teachers and first responders will be able to book an appointment starting Friday and will need to provide proof of employment.

Montrealers under the age of 60 with chronic illnesses will be able to receive a vaccine in hospital starting Monday.

Vaccines will be accessible to people 60 and older across the province starting Thursday, and authorities will open walk-in clinics for those 55 and older wanting to get an AstraZeneca shot.

11:10 a.m.

Quebec is reporting 1,270 new cases of COVID-19 today and 29 more hospitalizations related to the disease.

Health officials say 543 people are in hospital, including 123 people in intensive care, a rise of two.

Officials are also reporting eight more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus, including one within the past 24 hours.

The province says it administered 43,631 doses of vaccine Tuesday, for a total of 1,636,310.

Quebec says almost 20 per cent of its population has received at least one dose of vaccine.

10:40 a.m.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization says it is standing by its emergency recommendation to extend the delivery of second doses of COVID-19 vaccines up to four months.

The panel's "rapid" response recommendation a month ago was followed by further research on the vaccines.

NACI's experts say they still believe that extending the time to give a second dose will bring protection to Canadians more quickly.

The panel says it expects the administration of second doses won't end up taking as long as four months based on Canada's expected vaccine supply.

10:35 a.m.

Ontario reports 3,215 new cases of COVID-19 and 17 more deaths linked to the virus.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says there are 1,095 new cases in Toronto, 596 in Peel Region, and 342 in York Region.

She also says there are 225 new cases in Ottawa and 187 in Durham Region.

Ontario says a record 104,382 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the province since Tuesday's update.

8 a.m.

A new stay-at-home order will be issued in Ontario to try and control a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, sources tell The Canadian Press.

Premier Doug Ford is expected to make the announcement at an afternoon news conference.

Sources say the order will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning and last for four weeks.

Only stores selling essential goods will remain open during the four-week period.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2021.
The City of Perth has dipped into its budget surplus to try and bring the WA Day festival celebrations back into the CBD.

Councillors approved a last minute $150,000 sponsorship grant at a special council meeting on Tuesday night but the offering fell well short of the $500,000 requested by Celebrate WA, the event organiser, which it said was needed to move the event from Burswood.

SOTA could be coming back to the Perth CBD. Credit:SOTA

The Celebrate WA board is now mulling where to hold the $2.6 million event, which runs from June 6 to 7, after not getting all the funding it was after from the local government.

Board member Fiona Kalaf told the special council meeting $150,000 was not adequate.
WILLINGTON, England, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bionical Emas, a global specialist Clinical Research Organization (CRO) has today announced the launch of a Managed Access Program for Jazz Pharmaceuticals' medicinal product JZP-458 for the treatment of patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) and Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (LBL) following hypersensitivity to E. Coli-derived asparaginases. The Managed Access Program provides a mechanism through which unsolicited physician requests, to fulfil the special need of a patient can be supported.

"JZP--458 provides a further therapy option for paediatric and adult patients with ALL or LBL who have not tolerated certain asparaginase treatments and currently have limited treatment options, and we're pleased to support this program," said John Efthimiou, Chief Medical Officer, Bionical Emas.

Initially, the Managed Access Program is being launched in select countries within Europe. Bionical Emas plans to expand the program to include more countries in Europe and internationally over time.

Legal Warning

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction.

About Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing life-changing medicines that transform the lives of patients with serious diseases - often with limited or no options. They have a diverse portfolio of marketed medicines and novel product candidates, from early- to late-stage development, in key therapeutic areas. Their focus is in neuroscience, including sleep and movement disorders, and in oncology, including hematologic malignancies and solid tumours. They actively explore new options for patients including novel compounds, small molecule advancements, biologics and innovative delivery technologies. Jazz is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland and has employees around the globe, serving patients in more than 90 countries.

For more information, please visit www.jazzpharmaceuticals.com [http://www.jazzpharmaceuticals.com/] and follow @JazzPharma on Twitter.

Bionical Emas

Bionical Emas is a specialist CRO combining Clinical Development, Early Access Programs and Clinical Trial Supply.

Its Early Access Programs provide companies a route to allow access to pre-approved medicines to help patients with unmet medical needs.

Access is provided in response to physician requests, where the physician determines JZP-458 is the most appropriate treatment option for their patient and the patient is not eligible for clinical trials for the condition.

https://bionicalemas.com/ [https://bionicalemas.com/]

About JZP-458

JZP--458 is a recombinant Erwinia asparaginase that uses a novel Pseudomonas fluorescens expression platform. It is being developed for use as a component of a multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimen in the treatment of paediatric and adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) or lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) who are hypersensitive to E. coli-derived asparaginase products. JZP-458 was granted Fast Track designation by the FDA in October 2019 for the treatment of this patient population.

Patients, and families/carers of those, with an ALL or LBL diagnosis wanting to know more about JZP-458 should contact their treating physician to discuss the Managed Access Program.

Bionical Emas contact: Tom Watson, Executive Vice President, Early Access Programstom.watson@bionical-emas.com [about:blank], +44-(0)-1462-424-400

Program enquiries: Healthcare professionals wishing to request access to JZP-458 under the Managed Access Program or who would like to find out more should do so by emailing: Patient.Access@Bionical-Emas.com[mailto:Patient.Access@Bionical-Emas.com].

Web site: https://bionicalemas.com//
Kolkata: The campaigning for the fourth phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections ended on Thursday (April 8) after witnessing an intense tussle between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Voting for the fourth phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections will commence on April 10, covering 44 constituencies in five districts - Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, and Hooghly.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was mostly the only big face for the ruling party during the poll campaigns, but the BJP brought out its big guns to give the TMC supremo a tough competition, with UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, national president of the party JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah campaigning all out.

Amit Shah held several high-profile roadshows in West Bengal, which witnessed a massive crowd turning the electoral fever in BJP`s favour. The Home Minister was also seen having a meal at a rickshaw puller`s resident in Domjur. "I visited only one gram panchayat, but the kind of enthusiasm that I saw there I am confident that Rajib Banerjee will win with a majority," he told ANI on Wednesday.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister today announced that after BJP clinches victory in the elections, the party will create `anti-Romeo` squads and put `TMC Romeos` behind bars, adding "To safeguard the interests of sisters and daughters, BJP will create Uttar Pradesh-like anti-Romeo squads in Bengal and put all TMC Romeos behind bars," while addressing a public meeting in Hooghly.

Slamming the Bengal Chief Minister, Adityanath questioned why Banerjee was irritated with `Jai Shree Ram` slogans, saying that "anyone who dares to fight Ram has to face bad results". He further said, "On May 2, Bengal will get freedom from the TMC government. TMC goons will be taken by the law. Surely, the parties like Congress, CPM and TMC will definitely give protection to the criminals, but they will be sent behind the bars."

BJP chief JP Nadda also intensified the attack against TMC by saying that the state has decided to give Mamata Banerjee some rest by giving BJP a chance to serve people here, adding "The gathering at this event indicates that the people are eager to bring BJP into power in the state. They are saying that `Mamata ji ko aaram do... BJP ko kaam do` (Give Mamata ji some rest and let BJP work)."

Nadda also commented that the people of the state have turned against `tolabaaji` (extortion) and corruption and that BJP alone can improve the law and order situation here.

Former TMC minister and BJP`s candidate from the Domjur constituency, Rajib Banerjee also slammed the Chief Minister for betraying the trust of the people of West Bengal, saying that her aim of `Badla nahi badlav` has taken a back seat.

"I was first one to raise voice against corruption in the Amphan relief. Bengal trusted Banerjee (Mamata). When you (Mamata Banerjee) say `Khela Hobe`, what do you mean by that? It means that you will loot the votes just like CPI(M)," Rajib Banerjee said.

On lowering the bar of discourse in campaigns, Rajib Banerjee said the language used by the CM shocked him to the core, adding that BJP will definitely win 12 out of 16 constituencies in Howrah. However, Mamata Banerjee called herself `the Bengal tigress` who would not bend easily. She held several public rallies ahead of the fourth phase, launching a series of attacks against the rival party.

Speaking at a public gathering in Cooch Behar on Wednesday, Banerjee said: "They (BJP) will bring goons from Assam. They will explode bombs and threaten people. Do not be afraid. They do not want our mothers and sisters to vote. Central forces are blocking your mothers and sisters from voting."

She also alleged that BJP will create detention camps like the ones in Assam and urged people to not convert Bengal into Gujarat, adding "We will not let Gujaratis capture Bengal. Bengal will stay in Bengal, we will not let goons from Gujarat take over Bengal."

After the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued her a notice for asking for votes on communal grounds, the TMC supremo challenged the order and said she will continue to ask people to vote unitedly against BJP.

Speaking at a public rally in Domjur, Banerjee said: "Even if 10 show cause notices are issued against me, my answer will remain the same. I am telling everyone to vote unitedly, there will no division. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians, do not give a single vote to them.

"Hitting out at Rajib Banerjee, who is contesting from the Domjur constituency for BJP, Mamata Banerjee said: "I apologise to the people of Domjur for allowing Gaddar Mir Zafar (Rajib Banerjee) to file nomination in the last election from this constituency. That traitor stole money. When he was Irrigation Minister I had received a complaint so I removed him from that post and made him Forest Minister, he asked me for an engineering department, so that he could take more commission."

"Bengal will never be yours, this is Rabindra-Nazrul`s Bengal, this is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose`s Bengal, this is Raja Ram Mohan Roy`s Bengal, this is Ambedkar`s Bengal. BJP, you will never get this Bengal," she proclaimed.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had asked the Chief Minister to explain her stand within 48 hours after receiving the notice, failing which it shall "take a decision without further reference to you".

TMC has also roped in actress-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan, who will do roadshows and rallies from April 8 to 11 for the ruling party. During her visit, she heaped praise on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying the TMC supremo is "fighting against all atrocities" and her rivals have not been able to break her resolve "to make Bengal the best in the world".

The state is witnessing a contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress, the BJP and the `Sanjukta Morcha` of comprising the Left, ISF and Congress.

Although the Sanjukta Morcha has been relatively quieter than the two main parties, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary took a page out of the BJP`s book by saying that after observing the situation, the people had decided that `Ab ki baar, Sanjukta Morcha ki sarkaar` (Next time, it will be Sanjukta Morcha`s government).

A total of 373 candidates will take part in the upcoming phase of polls, out of which over 20 per cent of candidates have declared serious criminal cases against them. The fifth phase of the elections will take place on April 17, while the counting of votes will commence on May 2.

(With Agency Inputs)

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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.


Ahead of another round of high-level military talks with China, India on Thursday said it would like to see disengagement at remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh that could lead to restoration of peace and tranquillity along the frontier and provide conditions for progress of overall bilateral ties.

The 11th round of Corps Commander talks is scheduled to start at 10:30 AM on Friday at the Chushul border point on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, sources in the security establishment said.

The sources said outstanding problems including in Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra will be taken up at the talks by the Indian side.

The 10th round of military parleys took place on February 20, two days after the armies of the two countries concluded withdrawal of troops and weapons from North and South banks of Pangong lake areas. The talks lasted for around 16 hours.

At a media briefing, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi underlined the need for disengagement in remaining areas in eastern Ladakh.

"We would like to see disengagement in the remaining areas which would lead to de-escalation in eastern Ladakh and that would hopefully lead to restoration of peace and tranquillity and provide conditions for progress of our overall bilateral relationship," he said.

At the last round of military talks, both sides discussed ways to take forward the disengagement process in Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang with a larger aim to bring down tensions in the region.

The Indian delegation at Friday's talks is to be led by Lt Gen PGK Menon, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps.

China, meanwhile, said it believed that India's proposal for restoration of the status quo of April 2020 at eastern Ladakh should be discussed in meetings between the two countries.

It also said there is no delay in holding talks with India to discuss the disengagement of troops from the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.

At a media briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian denied any delay in holding of the 11th round of talks. His response came when pointed out that it is going to be about two months since the first disengagement took place and a month since the 10th round of talks on the disengagement of troops.

"There is no delayed meeting as you cited. I want to stress that the merits of the situation at the India-China border are very clear and the responsibility does not rest with the Chinese side," Zhao said.

"We hope the Indian side will work with China to follow through the important consensus of our two state leaders, abide by relevant agreements and treaties to de-escalate the tension at the border," he said.

About India's stand that the status quo of April 2020 should be restored and whether China would consider such a proposal, Zhao said, "for the proposal, you mentioned I believe it should be talked in the meetings and I already made clear my position on the border issue just now."



The border standoff between the armies of India and China erupted on May 5 last following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February in line with an agreement on disengagement.

India has been insisting that resolution of outstanding issues including in Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra is essential for overall ties between the two countries.

Late last month, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said the threat to India has only "abated" following the disengagement in Pangong lake areas but it has not gone away altogether.

He also said that patrolling has not resumed in the region as tensions were still running high and there were always chances of face-offs and inadvertent escalation of the situation when it starts.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Lazarus Chakwera has left Lilongwe for Maputo for the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) Extraordinary Double Troika Summit which seeks to find a lasting solution to the Islamic insurgency in Mozambique.

Speaking on departure at the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe on Thursday morning, Chakwera said Malawi, as a neighbour to Mozambique, has an obligation to finding lasting peace in the neighbouring country.

"We are deeply concerned about the situation in Mozambique," said Chakwera.

He said the attacks were an affront to peace and security not only in Mozambique, but also in the region and the international community as a whole.

The incoming chairperson for SADC also spoke of the need for Malawi to remain steadfast in fostering regional peace for uninterrupted social - economic growth.

"I want to learn more as incoming Sadc chair so we can comprehensively tackle this thing," he said.

Leaders at the Summit will deliberate on measures to address acts of sustained terror attacks by militias in Palma, a town in Cabo Delgado province in Northern Mozambique. The town of Palma seats a few kilometres from Africa's largest natural gas deposit, where France's energy giant Total embarked on a $20bn project.

The militants, also locally known as Al - Shabab, are on record to have pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group.

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Aljazeera is reporting the three - year conflict has forced some 700, 000 people out of their homes, with more than 2,500 killed. The SADC Summit is the overall policy - making institution of SADC. It is managed on a Troika system that comprises the current SADC chairperson, the incoming Chairperson and the immediate previous chairperson.

Among those who have seen off the Malawi leader to Maputo - Mozambique is State Vice President Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chakwera, who is preparing to assume the rotational leadership of Sadc in August to take over from the Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, the current chairperson,is expected to return later this afternoon at 16.30 hours.

The Sadc Double Troika comprises Sadc Troika members namely Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania as well as member States of the Troika of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe).

The Extraordinary Double Troika Summit was preceded by various supporting technical meetings held on Wednesday.
A red alert was issued on Wednesday after it was revealed that a Luxembourger had infiltrated a popular expats Facebook group.

The infiltration was discovered after one of the groups 8000-plus members asked for a cheese suggestion, to which a member named Estephania Makris responded, Kachkeis.

When another member wrote that hed tried kachkeis and found it looks like melted snails, smells like old gym socks, and probably causes mutations, Makris said the description wasnt fair.

Ive been eating kachkeis my whole life and Im fine, she wrote. I love it.

Within seconds, a red alert was issued. Admins launched an investigation and to their horror they discovered that Makris was a Luxembourger. She was promptly expelled and an apology was posted.

This group is meant to be a place where expats can get together and freely air their expat thoughts, expat woes, expat suggestions, and expat concerns, the admin wrote. It recently came to our attention that a Luxembourger slipped into our ranks.

We promise to improve our screening procedures so that incursions like this never happen again, the admin continued. Were considering having new members do something impossible for a Luxembourger, such as making them put mayonnaise on a Gromperekichelcher and eat it.

In an attempt to rejoin the group, Makris pointed out that her mother is Spanish, her father is Greek, and she went to university in London.

However, admins revealed that they knew Makris had grown up near Bettembourg and speaks fluent Luxembourgish.

According to the Expat Code, article one, section four, clause sixty-two, youre a Luxembourger, one admin explained, denying the request.

Read more at wurst.lu
Donahue said she was pleased Taylor-Demming won another four-year term and with the election of Fosdick, and Jain, both of whom have higher education backgrounds. Fosdick is an English professor at Aurora University and Jain is a lecturer at North Central College and the schools Speaking Center director.
Others go further, arguing that regardless of what terminology is used, standardized testing to measure the impact of the pandemic is unnecessary or even actively harmful. Voices as prominent as the former New York City schools chancellor, Richard Carranza, and the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the states largest educators union, have encouraged parents to opt their children out of state tests during the pandemic. We do not want to impose additional trauma on students that have already been traumatized, Mr. Carranza said.

This week, the nations largest school system, in New York City, announced that parents would have to opt their children in to state standardized testing, which could lead to a smaller group of students taking the exams, and results that will be difficult to interpret.

Jesse Hagopian, a Seattle high school teacher and writer, said testing to measure the impact of the pandemic misses what students have learned outside of physical classrooms during a year of overlapping crises in health, politics and police violence.

They are learning about how our society works, how racism is used to divide, he said. They are learning about the failure of government to respond to the pandemic.

Mr. Hagopian said he believed that learning loss research was being used to prop up the multi-billion-dollar industry of standardized testing and rush educators back into classrooms before its safe to do so.

Join Michael Barbaro and The Daily team as they celebrate the students and teachers finishing a year like no other with a special live event. Catch up with students from Odessa High School, which was the subject of a Times audio documentary series. We will even get loud with a performance by the drum line of Odessas award-winning marching band, and a special celebrity commencement speech.

Some of the recent research has been conducted by outfits that create and license academic assessments, but other research has been led by independent scholars. Both types of studies show some students are struggling.

A preliminary national study of 98,000 students from Policy Analysis for California Education, an independent group with ties to several large universities, found that as of late fall, second graders were 26 percent behind where they would have been, absent the pandemic, in their ability to read aloud accurately and quickly. Third graders were 33 percent behind.
Power Co. Edison Is Recruiting Black Californians for Tech Scholarships, Jobs

In an effort to increase Black representation in its workforce and the tech industry beyond it, Edison International (EI), a Los Angeles County-based utility company, has developed a four-year, $1 million program to provide scholarships of up to $25,000 to eligible students.

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The scholarship program is initially focused on Black men and women in California, but military veterans are highly encouraged to apply, according to the company.

We believe a diverse applicant pool and workforce that reflect the communities we serve to make for better business, said representatives of the company that also invests in energy services and technologies in a statement.

EI provides renewable energy and distributes electric power through its main holding company Southern California Edison.

The scholarship award is an annual program and will include tuition and targeted support services while students are enrolled at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College for the Powerline Mechanic Certificate and Class A license programs.

Eligible applicants must enroll at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College for the Fall 2021 semester, enroll in the Powerline Mechanic Certificate program, and have a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) equivalent.

In addition, the applicant must be eligible to work in the United States, possess a valid drivers license, and be eligible to obtain a Class A license.

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Applications must be fully completed as a requirement and they will be accepted through May 17.

The scholarship will cover tuition and needed tools. It will also provide support services, such as transportation and childcare, for the scholarship winners through an agreement with Brotherhood Crusade, a charitable nonprofit.

According to EI, the programs graduates may qualify for a job at Southern California Edison (SCE), and those who pass new employee assessments will be eligible to start as groundsmen, employees who maintain and service equipment and facilities.

EI administrators say the scholarship is being offered in partnership with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 47, which also distributes funding for the program.

For more information, visit https://www.edison.com/home/edison-international-lineworker-scholarship.html?
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  Hospital officials in Muskegon are quite concerned about an increase in patients hospitalized for COVID-19, and believe the situation will get worse before it gets better.

The number of inpatients with COVID at Mercy Health Muskegon has grown by nearly 150% over the past 10 days, according to hospital reports.

Were seeing a very significant elevation in hospitalizations, and that eventually will translate to deaths, Dr. Jerry Evans, chief of staff at Mercy Health Muskegon, told MLive.

The county recorded an additional three deaths due to COVID-19 between April 2-5, said Kathy Moore, director of Public Health  Muskegon County. Those who died were two women over age 80 and a man in his 70s, she said.

Theirs were the first deaths recorded since March 6, and bring the total in the county to 302.

Nearly 500 additional COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed in the county in the past week. And its seven-day average positivity rate was 20 percent between March 30 and April 5.

Of the 42 inpatients at Mercy Health on Thursday, April 8, more than half were under age 60, according to information Mercy provided to MLive. That compares to 17 inpatients Mercy reported on March 29.

Were obviously quite concerned that the numbers are going up  this is true across the state of Michigan, Evans said. Its obviously very concerning. The good news is were not seeing it in the nursing homes, and were not seeing it as much in our older population.

Thats because most older residents, who had been getting very sick from COVID, are vaccinated, he said.

Three-quarters of county residents age 75 and older have had at least one dose of vaccine, and 68% are fully vaccinated, according to data from the health department. Numbers are similar for those ages 65-74 and drops among those ages 50-64, among whom 48% have had at least one dose and 26% are fully vaccinated.

Health officials are concerned about a potential increase in cases as families who traveled for this weeks spring break return to the area.

Certainly, were concerned, Evans said. A lot of people went to Florida this week or another southern destination.  I think anybody who is returning should consider themselves as possibly being exposed.

A free drive-through COVID testing clinic aimed at families returning from spring break will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 11, at Muskegon Community Colleges parking lot off Quarterline Road.

Other testing sites can be found by visiting maskupmuskegon.org.

Related: Free COVID-19 testing clinic at Muskegon college aimed at K-12 students returning from spring break

Its believed a new more contagious variant, known as the B.1.1.7 or the U.K. variant, is behind the recent surge in cases, health officials said. Muskegon County also was one of the first to have a positive Brazil variant, known as P.1.

Not all COVID tests are checked for the variants, so the actual extent of them is not clear, Moore said.

The surge in cases prompted the Muskegon County court system on Wednesday, April 7, to return to electronic court hearings, halt jury trials and close offices at the hall of justice to most visitors.

Most who are presenting at the Mercy emergency room with COVID symptoms  including cough, shortness of breath, nausea, fever and weakness  are relatively younger, and medical staff feel its safe to discharge them to home, Evans said.

Many are being treated with monoclonal antibodies in the emergency room, when previously those treatments were done after hospital admission, Evans said. That has helped reduce the inpatient load, along with the immunization of older residents, he said.

Most of those who are being admitted have such risk factors as heart disease, obesity, lung issues or kidney disease, Evans said. But others are otherwise healthy, he said.

The hospital reported on Thursday that admitted patients with COVID-19 included two in their 20s, three in their 30s, seven in their 40s, 11 in their 50s, eight in their 60s, nine in their 70s, and two in their 80s.

Related: Michigan reports 7,819 new coronavirus cases, 73 deaths Thursday, April 8

The surge in cases was part of the reason Mercy Health declared an emergency in its emergency room on Monday, April 5, said Evans, who is an emergency room physician.

There were 110 patients in the emergency room at one point, and the intensive care unit  as well as those in Grand Rapids and hospitals throughout the region -- were full, he said.

Of the additional 489 cases recorded between April 1-8 in Muskegon County, most were among people in their 20s.

Totals by age group, as reported by the health department, are as follows: 1,299 cases among those under age 20, an increase of 77 from the previous week; 1,945 cases among those in their 20s, an increase of 128 over the prior week; 1,764 among those in their 30s, an increase of 91; 1,794 among those in their 40s, an increase of 82; 1,797 among those in their 50s, an increase of 61; 1,443 among those in their 60s, and increase of 37; 849 among those in their 70s, an increase of 11; and 594 among those age 80 and over, an increase of two.

Nearly 27 percent of all residents in the county over age 16 have been fully vaccinated, according to health department figures. Nearly 40 percent have begun the vaccination process that in most cases requires two doses.

Those seeking a vaccination should check the vaccinatewestmi.com website where there are multiple locations listed to register for the vaccine. Availability has become more widespread even as eligibility for it has opened to all who are age 16 and over.

Both Moore and Evans said they dont foresee the virus completely disappearing, with Evans saying surges in cases are going to continue to come and go.

But those who are vaccinated have incredibly mild symptoms if they do catch the virus, Evans said.

Moore advised those who are hesitant about receiving the vaccine to consult with their doctor.

We just still need to continue to be as cautious as we can, Moore said. I dont think we all need to hide in a closet until it goes away, because its not going to go away. We just need to take more precautions.

Also on MLive:

COVID-19 risk from touching contaminated surface is less than 1 in 10,000, new CDC study says

Will Electric Forest happen in 2021? Organizers say its still a maybe

Charges filed against 5 people in death of Muskegon County Jail inmate
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[April 08, 2021] Trapeze Group Americas Announces New Operating Business, Vontas, to Transform Intelligent Transportation Software - and the Transit Industry

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Trapeze Group Americas (Trapeze) today announced the launch of Vontas, its new business division focused exclusively on meeting the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) needs of transit agencies. The transit industry is experiencing innovation and changes at a rapid speed. Mobility trends, rider experience, new technology, and the indelible stamp of the global pandemic have changed the transit industry forever. To continue to spur innovation and enable agencies to deliver better public transit experiences, Trapeze is excited to launch Vontas, a company focused exclusively on reimagining intelligent transportation systems (ITS) that empower communities to choose transit. Trapeze continues to serve the transit industry with its industry-leading transit technology software. Having Vontas focus exclusively on ITS means its existing customers can expect an even greater focus on product innovation in the ITS space. "In a world where riders have so many transit options, Vontas' vision is to make public transit the desired mode of transportation for every community," said Steve Sawyer, Group Leader, Modaxo. "I'm excited to launch Vonas to focus exclusively on innovating ITS technology and the impact it will have on our transit customers and communities."



Vontas will be led by Peter Aczel, who has over a decade of experience in the ITS space. "I'm thrilled to join Vontas and be part of shaping the future of transit in the Americas," said Peter Aczel. "This marks a big milestone for Trapeze and the transit industry. and the innovation we deliver to agencies."

Trapeze will continue to offer Mobility on Demand (including Demand Response), Mobility-as-a-Service, Mobility Planning and Scheduling, Asset Management, Workforce Management, and Data Analytics solutions as we do today. Moving forward, Trapeze's new business division, Vontas, will focus exclusively on current and future Intelligent Transportation Solutions (ITS) solutions, including Yard Management and Fare Collection. About Trapeze Group Trapeze Group works with public transit agencies and their communities to develop and deliver smarter, more effective public transit solutions. For more than 25 years we have been "here for the journey," evolving with our public transport customers around the world helping them to move people from point A to Z and everywhere in between. Learn more at www.trapezegroup.com About Vontas Vontas helps agencies make public transit the desired mode of transportation in their communities. Through real-time technology, we help create smart, safe, reliable, accessible, and more connected public transit experiences. Learn more at www.vontas.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trapeze-group-americas-announces-new-operating-business-vontas-to-transform-intelligent-transportation-software--and-the-transit-industry-301264546.html SOURCE Trapeze Group

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As schools around the country continue to reopen with full backing of the Biden administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the unwavering support of the unions, doctors have begun reporting a frightening trend: a concerning uptick in the number of MIS-C cases among children and adolescents.

MIS-C, or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, is on the rise among children. It is an acute medical condition observed in children who have either been diagnosed with COVID-19, or who were in close contact with a person who contracted the virus, often appearing weeks after infection. Parents dont often connect their childs symptoms of MIS-C to their previous infection of COVID-19.

Children who develop MIS-C experience symptoms such as fever, heart palpitations, rapid breathing, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, enlarged lymph nodes or redness and/or swelling of the eyes, lips, tongue, hands or feet. Any combination of these symptoms can make diagnosing MIS-C that much more difficult, as it has the tendency to imitate other diseases, such as Kawasaki Disease and Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Four-year-old Alex In hospital with MIS-C(Source: Johns Hopkins All Children's)

MIS-C affects the major organs of the body such as the heart, lungs, kidneys or brain. In some cases, the progression of the condition can cause heart dysfunction and cardiogenic shock, effectively impeding the hearts ability to circulate enough blood to the entire body. Additionally, children can develop cardiomyopathy, a stiffening of the heart muscle, or experience an abnormal heartbeat. Still others require respiratory support from a ventilator or the amputation of limbs.

The most comprehensive study of MIS-C cases in children to date was published April 6 in JAMA Pediatrics. Researchers reported that the vast majority of young children and adolescents who went on to develop MIS-C had only mild or asymptomatic forms of COVID-19. In fact, of the 1,000 cases studied, 75 percent did not display coronavirus symptoms.

As of April 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 3,185 MIS-C cases (an increase of 568 from the 2,617 cases reported as of the beginning of March) and 36 deaths, and over 3 million children have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The initial increase in MIS-C cases arose out of the winter wave of COVID-19 cases, as people began to gather with their families over the holidays.

More recently, the increase in cases is due to a ruthless drive to reopen schools, affecting mostly children and adolescents between the ages of 1 and 14. In Los Angeles, for example, MIS-C cases were up by 35 percent during the first two weeks of February. This trend has been repeating itself throughout the country in such states as South Carolina, Michigan, Illinois and Colorado, to name a few.

Not only has there been a rise in the number of MIS-C cases, but doctors are finding that young patients conditions are more severe than during the first wave. A number of hospitals throughout the country are reporting an increase in cases.

Dr. Roberta DeBiasi, chief of infectious diseases at Childrens National Hospital in Washington D.C., told the New York Times, Were now getting more of these MIS-C kids, but this time, it just seems that a higher percentage of them are really critically ill. During the hospitals first wave, about half the patients needed treatment in the intensive care unit, she said, but now 80 to 90 percent are being treated there.

Of children admitted to Childrens Hospital of Colorado, as many as two-thirds have been treated in the ICU. In Los Angeles, the 35 percent rise in MIS-C cases coincided with an ICU admittance rate of 41 percent. The impact on the children and their families has been devastating. California leads the country in the number of MIS-C cases, with well over 300 to date.

In late February, the WSWS wrote on DaeShun Jamison of Shelby, Michigan, a 10-year-old boy with autism, whose legs and hands were amputated after developing complications from MIS-C. Although DaeShun tested positive for COVID-19 in early December, he was asymptomatic. Symptoms of MIS-C did not appear for approximately two weeks after his initial infection. In one of the latest updates on DaeShuns GoFundMe account, his mother reports that he had to have a feeding tube inserted into his stomach to increase his nutritional intake to aid in his bodys healing process. As of the update, he has spent over three months at the local childrens hospital.

Despite the revelations of MIS-C on the rise, these harrowing facts are not a major issue for President Biden and the financial oligarchy he represents. The administration had as one of its main objectives the reopening of schools by the end of April so that parents can return to work to continue to produce profits for major corporations and the ultra-rich. The push by former President Trump to fully reopen the economy has been seamlessly embraced by the Democratic administration. Speaking to an 8-year-old student and her mother at a town hall meeting, where the mother declared that her daughter was worried about contracting the disease and dying, Biden blatantly lied, saying kids dont get COVID very often. Its unusual for that to happen.

Further distorting the truth, the CDC has fallen in line behind the current administration to falsely claim that, not only do children not contract COVID-19, but that schools can be reopened safely in the midst of this medical and social catastrophe, with little risk to them.

Implicated in this conspiracy against students and their families are the trade unions. In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot spearheaded a campaign along with American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten and Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) President Jesse Sharkey to reopen the schools, against the wishes of the vast majority of teachers, who not only feared for their own lives and the lives of their family members, but of their students and their students families. While corporate media outlets denounced teachers as being lazy or selfish, Lightfoot, Weingarten and Sharkey rammed through a deal that they coerced teachers to accept. Soon after, other school districts throughout the country, whether Democrat or Republican, were pushing through similar contracts.

Dr. Grant Schulert, a pediatric rheumatologist at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, recently told CNN, Most of our children are recovering pretty well, but we dont know whether this is going to have long-term effects, particularly on the heart. Thats what we're most concerned about and most want to understand.

Dr. Larry Kociolek, an associate medical director at Lurie Childrens Hospital in Chicago, warned,I think all children are at risk. Like with every aspect of this pandemic, people just cant get comfortable.

Adding fuel to the fire is the spread of new and more contagious variants such as the B.1.1.7 variant that Dr. Michael Osterholm warned earlier this week is spreading quickly at school sites. Educators and the working class as a whole must organize a fight back against the deadly push into unsafe workplaces and schools. Join and help build our international network of Rank and File Safety Committees at wsws.org/edsafety.
WASHINGTON  Mitch McConnell is adamant that raising taxes on corporations to pay for President Joe Bidens infrastructure package is something Republicans are not going to do.

But the Senate Republican Minority Leader is floating an alternative: Leveraging private sector funds and attaching user fees -- with the potential of adding other types of taxes to keep from adding to the national debt.

The users of our infrastructure, McConnell said on WHAS, a local Kentucky radio station, have always been the ones who have principally paid for it.

Asked by WHAS if that meant levying a mileage tax to cover the new projects,, McConnell did not rule it out.

Credibly paying for it is worth considering, but that doesnt involve spending $2 trillion on this, he replied, advocating for a much smaller proposal than Bidens $2.3 trillion offering.

A McConnell spokesperson stressed that the GOP leader has not endorsed any specific vehicle to pay for infrastructure.

Yet in media appearances in Kentucky this week, McConnell has pointed to former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels 2005 public-private partnership as an infrastructure model. The Daniels plan, dubbed Major Moves, harnessed more than $10 billion to fund more than 100 new highway projects and rehabilitate 1,400 bridges in the Hoosier State over a decade.

But that plan also included a 75-year Toll Road lease to private investors, which in turn relied heavily on significantly higher tolls for drivers. At the outset, a typical passenger car that used to pay $4.65 to travel the length of the Toll Road had to fork over $8 to make the same trip after the lease was implemented, according to Pew Trusts.

While McConnell contends theres ample private money in pension funds and other funds ready to invest in infrastructure, critics of the approach say the federal government can finance the same investments far more cheaply and instill greater accountability over the process.

Its a complete shell game to support privatized infrastructure instead of a federal tax hike to pay for infrastructure, said Phineas Baxandall, a senior budget analyst for the Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center. Its not as if private companies will create infrastructure for free. State and local public-private partnerships would enable the private companies to charge user fees like tolls or to receive long-term public contracts that taxes will ultimately pay for.

On Wednesday, the Biden administration formally announced how it wants to pay for the roads, bridges, electric charging stations, broadband internet and home health aides included in its plan.

It proposes to raise the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%, a hike that would create an estimated $2.5 trillion in revenue over 15 years. Former President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans lowered the corporate rate from 35% to the existing 21% rate under the 2017 tax cut bill.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders said it would be fundamentally unfair to saddle ordinary Americans with the infrastructure tab, rather than businesses -- some of which have signaled support for a higher corporate rate.

At a time when they have been struggling, even before the pandemic, but especially during the pandemic to lay an additional burden on them is completely unfair and its unacceptable, Saunders said. The American people believe, and as a matter of fact the polls show this, that corporations should step up to the plate and share the burden and accept the responsibility of putting the house back in order.

Raising taxes on corporations is popular with most voters, including a substantial slice of Republicans. A national Morning Consult poll found 42% of GOP voters back Bidens proposal to raise corporate taxes, while 47% oppose it. Democrats overwhelmingly support it with 85% approving.

But McConnell has drawn a red line on lifting taxes to pay for the plan and even some moderate Democrats, most notably Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, have pumped the brakes on the proposed increase to 28%.

The White House indicated Wednesday that compromise over the details is a certainty. Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri has signaled that Biden could potentially earn GOP support if he decided to carve out and segment the $600 billion for what has traditionally been called infrastructure.

The question remains how far the Biden administration is willing to negotiate with McConnell and if the GOP leader actually puts forth a substantive alternative with a funding mechanism.

Infrastructure is appealing, McConnell said this week. And if you figure out a way to do and pay for an, arguably, more modest approach, Id be open to it.

At Wednesdays White House press briefing, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo indicated the Biden administration was all ears, but also drew her own line in the sand.

I would say, dont short-change America. Dont come back and say we only need a half a billion dollars of infrastructure, she said.

____

David Catanese of the McClatchy Washington Bureau wrote this story.

2021 McClatchy Washington Bureau.

Visit at mcclatchydc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
BOISE - The Idaho Big Game 2021 Seasons and Rules Brochure is now available online on the Idaho Fish and Game website.

The 2021 brochure, which contains seasons and rules for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion and gray wolf, will be available in print at Fish and Game offices and license vendors in late-April.

Here are a handful of things hunters should take note of for the upcoming season:

Controlled hunt application period for big game is right around the corner: The controlled hunt application period for deer, elk, pronghorn, fall black bear and fall turkey runs May 1 through June 5. For hunters who are still trying to decide which controlled hunt to apply for, Fish and Game's harvest statistics are a good place to start. The harvest stats from the 2020 big game seasons, including both controlled hunts and general season hunts, are now up on Fish and Game's website at idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntplanner/stats.

Reminder for resident elk hunters: Residents who apply for a controlled elk hunt cannot buy a capped elk zone tag until five days after they go on sale, regardless of whether they draw a controlled hunt elk tag. See Page 2 of the Idaho Big Game 2021 Seasons and Rules brochure, and read more about the change, which was implemented prior to the 2020 hunting season, here.

Spring bear hunters: Changes to spring bear hunts go into effect for the 2022 season. Seasons and rules for 2021 spring bear hunts can be found in the Idaho Big Game 2020 Seasons and Rules brochure. Fall black bear hunts for 2021 and spring black bear hunts for 2022 can be found in the updated brochure.

Pronghorn hunters: In a major statewide change for pronghorn hunters, the Commission on March 18 approved changing unlimited archery controlled hunts for pronghorn into first-choice only hunts. Wildlife managers proposed the change in response to steadily increasing numbers of archery pronghorn hunters over the past 10 years and an effort to reduce hunter numbers in these controlled hunts. Going hand-in-hand with that change, the Commission also approved the reorganization of pronghorn units into 10 hunt areas for first-choice only controlled archery hunts.

Nonresident elk and deer hunters: In November 2020, the Fish and Game commission approved changes to nonresident participation in general season deer and elk hunts to address concerns from residents about hunter congestion in some areas, limiting participation in most elk zones and deer units to 10 to 15 percent of total hunters, based on past use. As a part of this, nonresident deer tags are only good for one specific unit, which hunters select (subject to the nonresident limit for that unit) when they buy their tag.

While both nonresident over-the-counter deer and elk tags have sold out for the 2021 season, nonresidents may have another chance to secure a deer or elk tag starting at 10 a.m. MDT on Thursday, April 22, when returned nonresident tags go on sale to nonresident hunters on a first-come, first-served basis. Tags available (if there are any) will be published online at 10 a.m. on the Tuesday preceding the sale. Afterward, returned tags will be sold on these dates: May 20, June 24, July 22, Aug. 5, Sept. 2 and 16, Oct. 7 and 21 and Nov. 4. Available tags will be posted to https://idfg.idaho.gov/tag/returns on the Tuesday preceding each sale.

Other changes: Hunters should check out the Idaho Big Game 2021 Big Game Seasons and Rules Brochure for more detailed information and be sure to check for any changes to seasons for the areas in which they hunt.
The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) ("St. Joe"), Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Inc. ("TMH") and the Florida State University College of Medicine ("FSU") announce their intent to develop a health care campus in Panama City Beach, Florida. The campus is planned to be located on an 87-acre parcel near the intersection of State Highway 79 and Phillip Griffitts Sr. Parkway, just minutes from the Latitude Margaritaville Watersound community, the 55-and-better community which is planned for 3,500 homes.

The parties have executed a letter of intent to jointly plan and develop the campus to initially include an ambulatory and urgent care center. Future development plans include the construction of an Emergency Center and 100-bed inpatient facility offering services such as: gastroenterology, urology, gynecology, cardiology and general surgery among others. The parties intend to create a local fiduciary governance structure for the planned campus.

"Panama City Beach and the surrounding area have experienced tremendous growth over the past several years. We anticipate that trend to continue as more people discover that it is a year-round destination and a great place to live," said Jorge Gonzalez, President and CEO of St. Joe. "Convenient access to quality health care services is vital to the success of a growing region. The creation of this planned health care campus will enhance the quality of life for local residents and provide tremendous opportunities for the entire region."

"This planned health care campus is so exciting as it will allow for a great opportunity for job creation in Panama City Beach and Bay County," said Mark Sheldon, Mayor of Panama City Beach. "I would like to welcome TMH and FSU to the worlds most beautiful beaches and I look forward to this asset for our citizens and visitors alike."

TMH currently serves 17 counties in Florida and Georgia. This would be its first facility in Bay County. "High-quality health care with a focus on wellness is a foundational component of an active community," said Mark OBryant, President and CEO of TMH. "On behalf of Tallahassee Memorial, we are excited to work with St. Joe and FSU on this monumental project. Together, we have the opportunity to create an outstanding training and research platform for the people of Northwest Florida."

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FSU intends to utilize the campus for research opportunities focused on successful aging and senior living technology as well as residency programs and educational rotations for its students and students from FSU Panama City. "We are very pleased to work with St. Joe and TMH to help create and support the health care future for Panama City Beach and the surrounding area including the nearby Latitude Margaritaville Watersound community," said John P. Fogarty M.D, Dean of the Florida State University College of Medicine. "This is an exciting project that capitalizes on the ability of TMH to provide cutting edge care and FSU to expand the educational and research opportunities and to recruit the next generation of health care providers to the region."

The parties intend to break ground on the project as early as 2022.

Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act, including statements regarding St. Joes, TMHs and FSUs plans to develop a health care campus in Panama City Beach, Florida, the anticipated construction, development and timing plans for such health care campus and prospective uses for the health care campus. These forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by cautionary statements and risk factors set forth in St. Joes filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and subsequent current filings as well as the following: (1) the ability of St. Joe, TMH and FSU to collectively agree to definitive documentation with respect to the development of the health care campus, (2) the ability of St. Joe, TMH and FSU to successfully commence and complete the proposed project or phases thereof within the anticipated timelines, or at all, and (3) the interest of prospective users of the health care campus.

About The St. Joe Company

The St. Joe Company, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, is a real estate development, asset management and operating company. The Company owns land in Northwest Florida and has significant residential and commercial land-use entitlements in hand or in process. More information about the Company can be found on its website at www.joe.com. More information on the Companys current project pipeline can be found at www.joe.com/project-updates.

About Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Inc.

Founded in 1948, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare ("TMH") is a private, not-for-profit community healthcare system committed to transforming care, advancing health, and improving lives with an ultimate vision to elevate the standards of healthcare practice, quality and innovation in the region. Serving a 17-county area in North Florida and South Georgia, TMH is comprised of a 772-bed acute care hospital, a surgery and adult ICU center, a psychiatric hospital, multiple specialty care centers, three residency programs, 38 affiliated physician practices and partnerships with Doctors Memorial Hospital, Florida State University College of Medicine, UF Health, Weems Memorial Hospital and Wolfson Childrens Hospital. For more information, visit www.tmh.org.

About the Florida State University College of Medicine

The Florida State University College of Medicine was founded in 2000 with a mission to educate and develop exemplary physicians who practice patient-centered health care, discover and advance knowledge, and are responsive to community needs, especially through service to elder, rural, minority and underserved populations.

The St Joe Company 2021. "St. Joe", "JOE", the "Taking Flight" Design, "St. Joe (and Taking Flight Design) " and "Watersound" are registered service marks of The St. Joe Company or its affiliates.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005892/en/

Contacts

St. Joe Investor Relations Contact:

Marek Bakun

Chief Financial Officer

1-866-417-7132

marek.bakun@joe.com



St. Joe Media Relations Contact:

Mike Kerrigan

Corporate Director of Marketing

1-850-231-6426

mike.kerrigan@joe.com



TMH Media Relations Contact:

Stephanie Derzypolski

Vice President/Chief Communications Officer

1-850-431-5897

stephanie.derzypolski@tmh.com



FSU Media Relations Contact:

Doug Carlson

Director of Public Affairs and Communications

1-850-645-1255

doug.carlson@med.fsu.edu



City of Panama City Beach Media Relations Contact:

Debbie Ward

Communications Director

1-850-233-5100

debbie.ward@pcbfl.gov
This award demonstrates the confidence the Air Force continues to show in Akima as a trusted provider of aviation maintenance, logistics, and supply chain services, said Scott Rauer, President of Akimas Facilities Solutions Group.

Akima today announced that its subsidiary, Akima Logistics Services, was awarded a position on the U.S. Air Force Rotary Wing Maintenance Contract Consolidation indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract vehicle, which has a ceiling value of $835 million and a 10-year period of performance. As the only small business prime awarded a seat on both the small business and full and open competitions of the IDIQ, Akima Logistics Services will provide full spectrum helicopter maintenance operations in support of Air Force operational and training missions.

This award demonstrates the confidence the Air Force continues to show in Akima as a trusted provider of aviation maintenance, logistics, and supply chain services, said Scott Rauer, President of Akimas Facilities Solutions Group. We are immensely proud of the critical missions we currently support, and we look forward to the opportunity to continue supporting our Air Force customers.

The contract consolidates Air Force helicopter programs for the full-time availability of mission-capable aircraft, including UH-1N, HH-60, and MH-139 helicopters, as well as V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft. The scope includes the entire breadth of organizational maintenance, certain types of intermediate maintenance, aircrew flight equipment maintenance, weapons maintenance services, and supply services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

These services will be provided for Pacific Air Forces, AF Global Strike Command, AF District of Washington, and Air Education and Training Command. Work will take place at Kirtland AFB, Andrews AFB, Fairchild AFB, Warren AFB, Minot AFB, Malmstrom AFB, and Yokota Air Base.

About Akima Logistics Services

Akima Logistics Services (ALS) is a premier small business provider of aviation services to the Department of Defense and federal civilian government. From the warehouse to the airfield, our team of experts deliver comprehensive support designed to optimize and maintain all the links in your supply chain. Our services meet the rigid AS9100 and AS9110 certification standards, representing the highest quality in the aviation services industry. Whether your mission is routine or critical, ALS stands ready as a trusted partner. To learn more, visit http://www.akimalogistics.com.

About Akima

Akima is a global enterprise with more than 7,500 employees, delivering agile solutions to the federal government in the core areas of facilities, maintenance, and repair; information technology; logistics; protective services; systems engineering; mission support; furniture, fixtures & equipment (FF&E); and construction. As a subsidiary of NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation owned by more than 14,000 Inupiat shareholders, Akimas core mission is to enable superior outcomes for our customers missions while simultaneously creating a long-lived asset for NANA consistent with our Inupiat values. In 2020, Washington Technology ranked Akima #39 amongst the top 100 government contractors. To learn more about Akima, visit http://www.akima.com.


United Nations: Two UN agencies have warned that over 27 million people in Congo are suffering from acute hunger, a record high representing almost one-third of the conflict-wracked African nation's estimated population of 87 million.

The Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program on Tuesday said those facing acute hunger include nearly 7 million people at the emergency level on the standardized IPC scale which analyzes the nature of a food security crisis.

The estimated 27.3 million Congolese need urgent action to save lives, reduce gaps in food availability, and protect livelihoods, the agencies said. At the IPC emergency level, at least 20 percent of households face extreme food consumption gaps, resulting in very high levels of acute malnutrition and excess deaths.

WFP's representative in Congo, Peter Musoko, said: "For the first time ever we were able to analyze the vast majority of the population, and this has helped us to come closer to the true picture of the staggering scale of food insecurity in the DRC."

Those are the initials of the country's official name, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to FAO and WFP, the Congolese most affected are the displaced, refugees, returnees, host families, those affected by floods, landslides, fires and other natural disasters and the poorest people in landlocked and urban and nearby areas.

The UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Congo after the end of back-to-back wars that destroyed much of the central African nation by 2002. Sporadic violence has continued to plague the vast nation's mineral-rich eastern border region where local militias regularly clash with one another, as well as with Congolese army forces and perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

The FAO and WFP said "conflict remains a key cause of hunger with large swathes of the conflict-affected eastern provinces of Ituri, North and South Kivu and Tanganyika, as well as the central region of the Kasais, the scene of recent conflict, the worst hit." Other key factors include the slump in Congo's economy and the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, they said.

"We need to urgently focus on growing food where it is needed most, and on keeping people's sustenance-giving animals alive," the FAO's Congo representative, Aristide Ongone Obame, said in a statement.

"The main agricultural season is around the corner and there is no time to waste." Expressing great concern at the recurring conflicts in eastern Congo, he said, "social and political stability is essential to strengthen food security and boost the resilience of vulnerable populations."

WFP said it is is providing food to 8.7 million people in Congo and FAO said it aims to assist 1.1 million people in areas of high acute food insecurity with assistance to farm and raise livestock.

WFP's Musoko said Congo should be able to feed its people.

"We cannot have children going to bed hungry and families skipping meals for an entire day," he said in a statement.
Ebele Azikiwe was in the sixth grade last year when February arrived, and it was time to learn about Black history again.

She was familiar with the curriculum: Rosa Parks, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and a discussion on slavery. Just like the year before, and the year before that, she said.

Then came George Floyds death in May, and she wrote to the administration at her school in Cherry Hill to ask for more than the same lessons.

We learned about slavery, but did we go into the roots of slavery? said Ebele, 12. You learned about how they had to sail across, but did you learn about how they felt being tied down on those boats?

Her letter went from the principal to the superintendent and then began to make headlines, leading to pledges to include fuller Black history courses.

In the months since Floyds killing in Minneapolis, educators say theyve heard a demand from students for fuller Black history lessons beyond what was already offered. Lawmakers and states have passed or begun implementing legislation calling for more inclusive instruction.

The previous generation of courses focused on cultural awareness. What schools found, according to Maurice Hall  the dean of the College of New Jerseys arts and communications school and a social justice scholar  was that students still had socioeconomic, cultural and racial blind spots.

Growing up with a majority point of view could mean thinking that the way a particular culture sees the world is in fact the right way, Hall said.

Connecticut implemented a law in December requiring high schools to offer courses on Black and Latino studies. New Jersey, where learning standards already included some diversity education lessons, last month became the latest state to enact a law requiring school districts to incorporate instruction on diversity and inclusion.

A handful of other states have pending legislation that would make similar changes, including Washington and Virginia, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The pandemic is partly credited with the response to Floyds death while pinned by a white police officer, a confrontation that was caught on video and beamed into homes where people were isolating. The effect spilled over into schools, said Michael Conner, the superintendent in Middletown, Connecticut. Students held rallies and helped put race at the top of educators consciousness.

African American and other non-European history tends to focus on how those societies were marginalized, while Europeans get portrayed as culturally competent, Conner said, something he calls a deficit context, as opposed to an asset context.

Like 12-year-old Ebele, he pointed to learning about the same handful of prominent African-American figures.

When I look at my education, the only time I learned about Black history in school was during the month of February, he said. I learned about my culture at the dining room table with my mother and grandmother.

Districts adding diversity to their curricula now have to determine how to do it and what that looks like.

In New Jersey, the education department is required to come up with sample activities and resources for districts. And some schools there and elsewhere are adding books to the curriculum or examining them in new ways.

In Middletown, Dan Raucci, an English supervisor, pointed out how To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has long been a 10th-grade staple. Students and teachers are discussing whether Atticus Finch, the white attorney who defends a Black man accused of raping a white woman, is a hero of today, or of that time period?

But the district has added new books, like Jason Reynolds The Boy in the Black Suit, a novel that follows a Black teenager as he deals with grief.

The changes actually came before the Connecticut laws 2020 implementation, but last years events underscored the imperative to revise the curriculum.

New Jerseys legislation calls for creating a welcoming environment regardless of race or ethnicity, sexual and gender identities, mental and physical disabilities, and religious beliefs. It also seeks to examine unconscious bias, or implicit prejudice.

That raised concerns among some right-leaning groups that the government was forcing students to adopt beliefs. Among those testifying against the bill was the conservative Family Policy Alliance of New Jersey.

Students should learn to be respectful of others beliefs and backgrounds based upon their unique experiences and cultures, said Shawn Hyland, advocacy director, said in a statement last year. However, diversity trainings in public schools are the very opposite of respect.

That criticism suggests conservative states  unlike liberal New Jersey and other states passing laws on curriculum diversity  may balk at such curricula. Already in Iowa, lawmakers have passed a bill to ban school diversity training, and in Idaho, lawmakers voted to kill a higher education budget over diversity programs in universities.

But in New Jersey, Ebeles mother, Rume Joy Azikiwe-Oyeyemi, 38, was surprised her daughters efforts were met with such support. She said she had no idea that so much headway could be made in such a short time.

As her mom I am beyond proud, she said. Whats next?


The HKTDC International Sourcing Show | ONLINE featured more than 1,400 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions and 19 pavilions, attracting some 23,000 buyers from 131 countries and regions to source online.



More than 7,000 video meetings were conducted during the online fair, allowing buyers and exhibitors to make business deals amid the pandemic.



A series of webinars was hosted during the online fair, including "International Sourcing Outlook", "Survive and Thrive: Leveraging End-to-end E-commerce Solutions" and "Utilising Licensing to Expand Your Business". The webinars recorded more than 44,000 views in total, equipping companies with up-to-date insights on the latest trends in sourcing and marketing.

HONG KONG, Apr 8, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - The HKTDC International Sourcing Show is the first online-and-offline trade exhibition organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). The online section of the show, the HKTDC International Sourcing Show | ONLINE, which opened on 17 March, featured more than 1,400 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions, attracting some 23,000 buyers from 131 countries and regions. The show drew buyers from Hong Kong and around the world, including India, Indonesia, Japan, Mainland China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.To help businesses capture new opportunities, the HKTDC mobilised its network of 50 offices worldwide together with its artificial intelligence-powered online business matching platform, Click2Match, to connect exhibitors with buyers. As of 31 March, more than 7,000 online business matching meetings had been successfully conducted, facilitating buyers and sellers to capture new business opportunities and help them overcome the impact of the pandemic.Following a successful debut at HKTDC Autumn Sourcing Week | ONLINE last year, the HKTDC once again offered 3D virtual booths at the International Sourcing Show | ONLINE. It also launched a product video production service to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) design and produce promotional videos, facilitating them to showcase their products in a more eye-catching way and get better prepared for the era of digitalised sourcing. Both the 3D booths and the video service were well received by exhibitors.Exhibitors and buyers positive about hybrid exhibition formatEven though the global pandemic situation is showing signs of improvement in some regions, its impact continues to be profound. Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, believes that global sourcing will become increasingly digitalised and that future trade fairs will be more likely to offer a hybrid model of online and offline sourcing to reap the benefits of both formats. "When physical fairs resume, the HKTDC will continue to organise regular online sourcing events that will feature different themes and will align with the sourcing cycles of different industries. Our goal is to generate even more business opportunities for suppliers and buyers globally," Mr Chau said.As the trend for combining online and offline sourcing gains traction, the HKTDC conducted an online survey to gauge the views of exhibitors and buyers joining the International Sourcing Show. The survey found that the majority of exhibitors surveyed (80%) considered that trade fairs with online elements will become their major promotional channel in the future, while 96% said they would participate in the HKTDC's online and physical exhibitions again. According to the survey results, most buyers (82%) indicated an intention to participate in trade fairs offering online and physical elements to develop both online and offline business opportunities.Regarding business results, more than 80% of exhibitors said they had achieved one of the following objectives through the event, including generating new sales leads, meeting new customers, promoting their company's brands and products, and launching and promoting new products. Over 90% of buyers agreed that the show helped them seek out new products and new suppliers and get a better understanding of market trends.Click2Match helps facilitate business discussions and dealsMany companies taking part in the show were successful in finding either buyers or suppliers through the Click2Match platform. Rachel Chan, Business Development Specialist at Avery Dennison (Hong Kong) Ltd, said the online fair offered her company a good opportunity to introduce its total printing solutions and RFID labels to buyers from different industries. "We are very happy to have video meetings with more than 10 new buyers from different places including Mainland China, India, Malaysia and Thailand. The buyers are keen to develop cooperation opportunities with us, and we hope to continue receiving new sales leads or enquiries. The online show also helped to increase our company's exposure."Atitaya Dechboon, a representative of Fashion Hometex Co Ltd in Thailand, said "We have made four new contacts with buyers from Mainland China, Brazil, Poland and Saudi Arabia. We expect potential orders worth US$100,000 from three new buyers. We are very satisfied with the Click2Match service which allowed us to arrange video meetings as frequently as we liked without any time conflicts."Artem Mykhailyk, Chief Operational Officer at Micon Trade LLC in Ukraine, was interested in sourcing smart wearable devices and DVR cameras. "Through the International Sourcing Show | ONLINE, we have found three potential suppliers from Mainland China and Taiwan. We plan to place orders worth US$280,000 with these suppliers. The show provided a unique and well-arranged online sourcing platform that offered an alternative to physical exhibitions amid the pandemic. I found it easy and convenient to find suitable products and make appointments with potential suppliers."Hanna Touma Bechara, Manager at Modern Electronics Co in Lebanon, found two potential suppliers from Hong Kong and Mainland China through the online fair. "Our budget for buying audio systems is US$30,000. Due to travel restrictions under the global pandemic, online trade shows like this are the only way we can find new suppliers for the time being."Intelligence Hub webinars let companies feel the market's pulseThe Intelligence Hub set up during the online fair hosted 17 webinars which featured more than 60 industry experts sharing the latest industry developments and trends, attracting more than 44,000 views in total. The most popular webinars include "International Sourcing Outlook", "Survive and Thrive: Leveraging End-to-end E-commerce Solutions", "Utilising Licensing to Expand Your Business" and "Toys & Children's Products Safety & Regulations Updates". In addition, the HKTDC launched the "Let's Go Phygital: Power Up for the New Normal" seminar series, helping SMEs adapt to the hybrid online and offline sourcing model, with the first round of webinars held during the online show. The videos of the webinars have been uploaded to the Intelligence Hub webpage (https://isshow-online.hktdc.com/en/intelligence-hub), enabling companies to review insights from industry luminaries anytime, anywhere.The International Sourcing Show is first HKTDC exhibition to adopt an online-and-offline format, integrating the seven HKTDC trade fairs* that were originally scheduled to run in spring 2021. The online part of the show is available from 17 March to 29 July, while the physical exhibition will be staged from 26 to 29 July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. While the Click2Match business matching service for the online show has concluded, buyers can continue sourcing with exhibitors through the upgraded hktdc.com Sourcing platform (http://sourcing.hktdc.com) until the end of July 2021.*The seven fairs are: the HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong Houseware Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong International Home Textiles & Furnishing Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week, HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, and the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair. The latter event is co-organised by the HKTDC and CIEC Exhibition Co (HK) Ltd.Websites:HKTDC International Sourcing Show: https://isshow.hktdc.com/online/en/Intelligence Hub: https://isshow-online.hktdc.com/en/intelligence-hubMedia Centre: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/Photo download: https://bit.ly/3msyefrAbout the HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly SMEs, in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedInMedia enquiriesPlease contact the HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.orgAgnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.orgSource: HKTDCCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday (April 8) that people have become far too casual now and a strict vigilance needs to follow at least for the next two weeks while appealing to people to stress the COVID-19 testing.

Addressing a meeting of the chief ministers on the current COVID-19 situation, PM Modi said, Earlier we did not have the infrastructure to deal with the pandemic and we had to use lockdown as a toolbut today we do not need a lockdown.

There is a need to improve the governance system. I understand that because of the one-year battle, the system can experience tiredness and there can be laxity, but we must tighten it for 2-3 weeks and strengthen the governance, PM Modi added.

The Prime Minister said, "We need to fight the second surge in cases. Many states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Punjab have crossed the first wave of the peak in COVID-19 cases."

"This is a serious concern. People have become complacent. In most states administration has also become relaxed. There is a need to work on war footing again to fight COVID19. Despite all the challenges, we have a better experience, resources, and a vaccine," PM Modi added.

The Prime Minister further said, I appeal to you all to stress on COVID-19 testing. Our target is to do 70% RT-PCR tests. Let the number of positive cases come high, but do maximum testing. Proper sample collection is very important, it can be checked through proper governance. Testing in bulk is very necessary 

Expressing concern over the situation, Modi said, First, the country has crossed the peak of the first wave, and this time the growth rate is faster than before, asking the states to use the term corona curfew in place of night curfew.

PM Modi added, We must concentrate on micro-containment zones. In places where night curfew has been imposed, I would urge to use the word Corona Curfew, to continue alertness about coronavirus. It will be better to start curfew timing from 9pm or 10pm till 5am or 6am.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not attend the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the COVID-19 situation, as she was busy in election campaigning ahead of the fourth phase of the assembly elections. The meeting, held through video conferencing, was attended by West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay.

Notably, the new COVID-19 cases in the country went to an all-time high on Thursday crossing the 1.26 lakh mark. According to the Union Health Ministry, the country recorded 1,26,789 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. With this fresh surge, the total count of cases has reached 1,29,28,574. With 685 new COVID-related deaths in the last 24 hours, the toll in the country has gone up to 1,66,862.

Live TV
...

I don't hate taxi drivers.

I don't hate anybody.

The world is far too confusing a place to hate anybody.

I don't even hate that clown at the bank who tells me I can't cash my check for 10 days.

Or that jerk at the supermarket.

Or those idiots on the subway.

Or these geniuses who broke up the phone company.

Or trendsetters.

I don't hate trendsetters.

People who tell us what is "hot" and what is "not."

[Don't tell me what to do!]

I don't hate them.

I don't hate trendsetters.

[Don't tell me what to do!]

I'm not wearing bellbottoms.

I am not wearing them again!

I don't care if the Prince of Morocco is wearing them.

I know he doesn't have to live here. I do.

I don't hate trendsetters.

Or debutantes!

I don't hate debutantes!

I don't hate young, rich, white, female debutantes!

I don't even care about debutantes.

They spend $1,000 on their hair.

So what? They're debutantes.

They're wearing priceless diamond tiaras.

So what? They're debutantes!

They have opinions on world hunger.

Who cares? They're debutantes!

They're having a coming-out party?

They're coming out of a Rolls Royce.

What does this have to do with LIFE as we know it!? **

I don't hate debutantes!

I don't hate anybody.

I'm not a hate-monger.

I'm more of a ... hate-stylist, if you will.

Thank you very much!

* This was from the last performance of Steve the comedian (by Tom Hanks) in the movie "Punchline," which scores unfairly low at IMDb, in my opinion.

** I changed "life" to "LIFE" here to mean the moral and philosophical sides of life.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Hemostemix Inc. (TSXV: HEM) (OTC: HMTXF) (FSE: 2VF0.F) ("Hemostemix" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it is trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under symbol 2VF0.F and it has engaged HE Capital Markets Ltd. (HE Capital) to design and implement a North American and European multimedia digital advertising campaign on certain investor-focused and financial market websites. HE Capital will also provide other media communications services to raise the company's overall corporate profile in North America and Europe.

Thomas Smeenk, CEO, said: "With the listing on Frankfurt and the engagement of HE Capital, we are deepening our liquidity pools, introducing Hemostemix to a broader investment community. In the USA we are working to up-list the company, and we are exploring how best to reach our audience in Asia."

The cash consideration to be paid by the Company for these services consists of USD $18,000 for an initial three-month campaign. HE Capital acts at arm's length to Hemostemix and does not currently have any interest, directly or indirectly, in the company or its securities. HE Capital may choose to acquire securities of Hemostemix in the future.

HE Capital is a London-based investor relation and capital markets advisory firm, providing comprehensive communications solutions to public company clients in North America and Europe through a combination of investor relations, public relations, and digital and social media services. HE Capital's office address is 6 Hays Lane, London Bridge, London, SE1 2HB, United Kingdom.

About Hemostemix

Hemostemix is a publicly traded autologous stem cell therapy company. A winner of the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Award, the Company developed and is commercializing its lead product ACP-01 for the treatment of CLI, PAD, Angina, Ischemic Cardiomyopathy, Dilated Cardiomyopathy and other conditions of ischemia. ACP-01 has been used to treat over 300 patients, and it is the subject of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trial of its safety and efficacy in patients with advanced critical limb ischemia who have exhausted all other options to save their limb from amputation.

On October 21, 2019, the Company announced the results from its Phase II multi-center randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial of ACP-01 in critical limb ischemia (CLI) abstract entitled "Autologous Stem Cell Treatment for CLI Patients with No Revascularization Options: An Update of the Hemostemix ACP-01 Trial With 4.5 Year Followup" which noted healing of ulcers and resolution of ischemic rest pain occurred in 83% of patients, with outcomes maintained for up to 4.5 years.

The Company owns 91 patents across five patent families titled: Regulating Stem Cells, In Vitro Techniques for use with Stem Cells, Production from Blood of Cells of Neural Lineage, and Automated Cell Therapy. For more information, please visit www.hemostemix.com.

Contact:

Thomas Smeenk

President, CEO & Co-Founder

TSmeenk@Hemostemix.com

905-580-4170

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the financing of Hemostemix, settlement of trade accounts payable with shares. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects Hemostemix's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Hemostemix and on assumptions Hemostemix believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the underlying value of Hemostemix and its common shares; the successful resolution of the litigation that Hemostemix is pursuing or defending (the "Litigation"); the timing of receipt of its full and complete clinical trials data; the results of ACP-01 research, trials and studies being equivalent to or better than previous research, trials or studies as well as management's expectations of anticipated results; Hemostemix's general and administrative costs remaining constant; the receipt of all required regulatory approvals for research, trials or studies as well as the disclosed or any required or desired financings of Hemostemix , including TSX Venture Exchange acceptance and any third party consents; the level of activity, market acceptance and market trends in the healthcare sector; the economy generally; consumer interest in Hemostemix's services and products; competition and Hemostemix's competitive advantages; and,a obtaining satisfactory financing to fund Hemostemix's operations including any research, trials or studies, and the Litigation. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Hemostemix to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the ability of Hemostemix to complete its current CLI clinical trial, complete a satisfactory futility analysis and the results of such and future clinical trials; litigation and potential litigation that Hemostemix may face; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations including the actual results of future research, trials or studies; competition; changes in legislation affecting Hemostemix; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; long-term capital requirements and future developments in Hemostemix's markets and the markets in which it expects to compete; lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals; and risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic including various recommendations, orders and measures of governmental authorities to try to limit the pandemic, including travel restrictions, border closures, non-essential business closures, service disruptions, quarantines, self-isolations, shelters-in-place and social distancing, disruptions to markets, disruptions to economic activity and financings, disruptions to supply chains and sales channels, and a deterioration of general economic conditions including a possible national or global recession or depression; the potential impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on Hemostemix may include a decreased demand for the services that Hemostemix offers; and a deterioration of financial markets that could limit Hemostemix's ability to obtain external financing. A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Hemostemix's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although Hemostemix has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Hemostemix as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, it is subject to change after such date. However, Hemostemix expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79812




Police raided the headquarters of Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH) and five other locations Thursday as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities involving business contracts.







The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said its officers searched the state housing developer in Jinju, about 435 kilometers southeast of Seoul, as well as the offices of its suppliers and the homes of three suspects in Gyeonggi Province near the capital.







The company is suspected to have given favors to suppliers of construction materials that were introduced by a former company official. Police are said to have booked the former official and the chiefs of two subcontractors.







Police said they got the information during a probe into separate allegations that dozens of former and current LH officials purchased land plots, possibly using insider information, before they were designated for development. (Yonhap)


National cabinet will have discussions about the reopening of Australia when it meets on Friday, in light of new advice regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said the issue of border closures will be discussed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory leaders, along with a rethink of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout timeline, which was for all Australian adults to receive their first vaccine dose by October.

Professor Paul Kelly said national cabinet will discuss the issue of border closures on Friday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

There will be specific discussions about the reopening of Australia at the national cabinet today, he told ABC News on Friday morning.

I will not pre-empt those discussions, only to say that the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, with the chief health officer group that I chair, has had really strong and meaningful and very good discussions about our reactions to outbreaks and so forth, including the issue of border closures.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, Jeff Bezos retained the top spot on Forbes' annual list of billionaires, as more people now depend on the online market.

For many 2020 is a year full of challenges brought by the ongoing global health crisis, but for these individuals, it is just a matter of perspective.

According to The Star, based on the Forbes magazine's 2021 list of the globe's wealthiest individuals released on April 6, Jeff Bezos topped the list. His 2020 net worth of US$113 billion from a year ago went up to US$177 billion this year. Bezos managed to have an increase of US$64 billion in just a short period of time. The Amazon CEO took the pandemic as an opportunity for more sales as more people became online-dependent.

Tesla CEO and co-founder Elon Musk grabbed the second spot on the list after making a dramatic climb. Musk ranked 31st in last year's Forbes list with a net worth of US$24.6 billion in 2020 jumping to the second spot with his latest net worth of US$151 billion in 2021.

The stock prices of Tesla soared at the market at some point throughout the year but the enormous demand for goods from Amazon put Bezos ahead by the end of the year.

French billionaire and CEO of LVMH, Bernard Arnault, put his fortune close to double. However, it was not enough for him to climb up out of the third spot. The French billionaire now has a net worth of US$150 billion because of an 86% rise in shares of his companies. Arnault, the chairman, and CEO of the world's largest luxury goods company which houses brands like Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton.

The co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates was also included on the list. He ranked fourth with a US$124 billion net worth. Facebook creator, Mark Zuckerberg, finished at the fifth spot with US$97 billion net worth.

ALSO READ: LG to Leave the Smartphone Industry, Refocusing on Smart Home and Other Products

Mexico's Richest

Carlos Slim, the telecommunications, infrastructure, banking, energy, and mining magnate reached the peak of the list of richest people in Mexico, based on the Forbes magazine list.

Even though the country has been hit hard by the ongoing pandemic, Forbes Mexico revealed that the average wealth of the 36 billionaires in Mexico in the 2021 list had increased by 20% over the past year.

Along with Slim were German Larrea, CEO of Mexico's largest mining corporation. Ricardo Salinas Pliego, the founder and chairman of Grupo Salinas, which has an interest in telecommunications, media, and financial services. Alberto Bailleres, the chairman of Grupo BAL and ITAM. Juan Francisco Beckmann Vidal, the 70% share owner of the Jose Cuervo tequila brand, Mexico News Daily reported.

The Forbes 35th annual billionaires list, which was released on Tuesday, disclosed that there are 2,755 billionaires in the world in 2021. The number is record-breaking as there were 493 additional billionaires on the list.

Forbes' assistant managing editor for wealth, Kerry A. Dolan, shared in his statement on Tuesday that the year was record-breaking as more billionaires rose on the list globally, ABC News reported.

RELATED ARTICLE: Five People Killed in Alaska Helicopter Crash, Including Czech Billionaire Petr Kellner

WATCH: Inside The World's Billionaires List: The Richest In 2021 | Forbes - Forbes
We saw the pandemic accelerate the digital transition process of businesses last year. A year later, the implications of this transition have been significant and wide-ranging  from creating consumer experiences & engagements, to e-commerce, online education, e-payments, online medical consultations  almost all off-line activity is now done in the digital space.

Digital spends have gone up manifold, and brand strategies now incorporate reaching out to consumers in the online space. With this, there has also been the need for upskilling the workforce to tackle the business operational requirements in the new normal.

In the run-up to DIGIXX MEDIA SUMMIT 2021, Adgully will be bringing a series of interactions with Indias leading Digital evangelists as part of our series on DIGITAL DIALOGUE.

Keeping a sharp eye on all the Digital developments and disruptions is Adgullys industry leading premier property  DIGIXX. Like in the previous years, DIGIXX MEDIA SUMMIT 2021 is all geared to discuss, analyse, crystal-gaze and explore the world of Digital trends in a day-long event comprising Panel Discussions, Master Classes, Keynote Addresses and Fireside Chats.

In conversation with Adgully, Nikhil Bakshi, Co-Founder, Dineout, speaks about how Digital has helped companies in scaling up their business operations; how brands are evaluating and measuring their performance on digital as a medium and much more.

With the accelerated transition to digital due to the pandemic crisis, how has this helped businesses scale up their operations? How do you see this shift to digital panning out over the next 5 years?

The pandemic has definitely changed the way businesses have been functioning and digital became the new normal for marketing. The pandemic forced us to cut down our spends and with the limited spends, our objective was completely ROI driven.

Dineout has always led the charge for technology adoption at restaurants. With social distancing the new normal, Dineout realised that customers would be more confident dining out if restaurants adopted tech which would reduce interaction between people and objects while elevating the dining out experience.

Adoption of technology allows the restaurants to operate more efficiently, thus bringing about monetary savings and enhanced customer experience.

With the increase in digital data consumption by the Indian consumers, we moved our 100% spends to digital and started optimising our spends. Initially there was a challenge with quality and scale, but with time our CPA was down by almost 35%. Moving forward, well keep increasing our share on digital with a focus on content/ video creation and delivering the personalised experience to our customers.

Digital and performance go hand in hand. How are brands evaluating and measuring their performance on digital as a medium?

With the ever changing consumer behaviour and everyone & everything moving online, more and more businesses are becoming digital-first brands. Digital as a medium offers businesses cost-effective means to achieve their marketing objectives and hence, lead to increased brand awareness and sales. However, it is equally important for a brand to evaluate and measure the performance of its marketing goals. Setting up campaign goals and timely evaluation of those goals is the key to a successful digital marketing campaign. The well-constructed digital campaign is based on the current trends and users interests. For example, during the lockdown, we saw a significant drop in our app usage, and therefore, to be relevant again, we introduced an in-app gamification  Home TopChef. This campaign helped us build recall amongst users and increased our app engagement by 45%.

Talent has always been a challenge when something new disrupts the media world. How are digital companies scaling their knowledge and imparting training to people?

Learning never stops. Technology is ever changing and one needs to stay abreast of all the new happenings.

For companies to become workplaces of the future, requires that companies hire the right talent and impart that talent with the knowledge and training to overcome and succeed in the ever changing work landscape.

We recently launched a unique program, called Dineout Techpreneurs, to train and mentor software engineers who aspire to be future business leaders. As a part of the program, candidates from a software engineering background would get a chance to work in Dineouts fast-paced environment and get a heads up on the start-up life. This program would offer B-School aspirants a chance to ideate and partner with the sharpest minds in the product domain to convert their ideas into actual product features.

What kind of investments do digital companies need to plan to face future challenges, both in terms of skill and technology?

Effective utilisation of business dollars to maximise ROI is one of the key challenges that digital companies face. The spends have to be optimised and the results are maximised. This can only be solved through employing new strategies on the digital front, improving data quality & analytics, and developing the subject matter experts in using these analytical tools. Only if the team is aware and enlightened can they deal with what lies ahead.
The week before Oregons public schools let out for spring break, nearly 194,000 of the states 580,000 students were attending classes in-person.

Last week, that number neared 230,000, according to the Oregon Department of Education  a 19% jump.

Among the Portland areas 18 largest districts, the number of students regularly visiting a classroom nearly doubled, from nearly 20,000 the week before spring break to just over 36,000 last week. There are nearly 220,000 students enrolled in those districts.

That means although 1 in 3 students statewide regularly saw the inside of a classroom as of last week, it was closer to 1 in 6 in the metro area.

The number of students regularly getting in-person instruction is sure to increase in the coming weeks as schools begin phasing in hybrid instruction. Gov. Kate Brown in late March ordered districts to offer hybrid instruction to elementary students right after spring break, then by late April, expand to every grade level.

Schools in the metro area are taking a phased approach.

Elementary students got first priority and most schools began bringing them into the classroom around March 29. Brown directed middle and high schools to open for in-person instruction by April 19, but not every Portland-area district will do so.

Classroom time is dramatically unequal for students in different Portland area districts.

An Oregonian/OregonLive analysis of plans among the regions largest districts found those serving the highest proportion of Black, Latino and Indigenous students will offer the fewest classroom hours through the end of the academic year.

Those trends bore out in post-spring break reopenings.

The Reynolds and Parkrose districts, both of which enroll a high number of Black and Latino students, got an exemption from Browns order and did not begin classroom instruction for elementary schoolers by her deadline.

In North Clackamas, more than five times as many students got face-to-face time with their teachers last week as the week before spring break, 4,613, up from 844, state figures show.

Oregon City district schools had nearly nine times as many students in classrooms over the same time period: 2,788, up from 326 before spring break.

In Portland Public Schools, the states largest district with 47,000 students, about three times as many students got classroom instruction last week: 5,773 versus 1,758 the week before spring break. In the regions second largest district, Beaverton, those numbers were 658 and 1,463, respectively, of the districts 39,500 enrollees.

Meanwhile, the number of students getting regular in-person instruction did not budge much in the Canby, Lake Oswego, Oregon Trail and West Linn-Wilsonville districts. Those four districts implemented their hybrid plans weeks before spring break.

The districts also enroll a much lower percentage of students of color than those that havent opened for in-person learning on a large scale.

--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.
Ghislaine Maxwell has refuted claims that she doesn't flush the toilet in her cell and said she does so 'frequently.'

The British socialite said that she 'flushes frequently to avoid plumbing problems' at the direction of guards in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Maxwell said if the pipes go unused then 'gases escape from the drains' which causes a 'pervasive stench.'

She blamed the smell on overflowing toilets in the cell block above hers which she said caused an 'overwhelming' odor.

The letter from Maxwell's lawyer Bobbi Sternheim came the day after prosecutors alleged that Maxwell's cell stank because she didn't flush her toilet.

Prosecutors claimed that guards ordered Maxwell to clean her cell 'in response to the smell and the dirtiness'.

Ghislaine Maxwell, the alleged 'madam' for Jeffrey Epstein, was told off by guards at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn for failing to flush her toilet

Prosecutors said, in a letter filed in federal court, that the British socialite 'frequently did not flush her toilet after using it, which caused the cell to smell'

The dispute marks a bizarre escalation in the row about Maxwell's conditions in prison since she was arrested in July last year for allegedly procuring underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein.

In her letter Sternheim said that problems with a smell at the MDC 'long predate' Maxwell's time there.

A picture depicts a typical ADMAX SHU cell and show the bunk bed, shower, seating area, and combination toilet and sink fixture at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn

Using a toilet-related pun, Sternheim said that the claims by the prosecutors gave her the chance to 'flush out the persistent unsanitary conditions at the MDC'.

She wrote: 'This past weekend there was a pervasive stench of sewage in Ms. Maxwell's unit necessitating guards to flush pipes by pouring water down open drains in an effort to trap and disperse gaseous emissions.

'As guards explained to Ms. Maxwell, there are three drains in the day area, and when the plumbing system goes unused, gases escape from the drains and cause the stench.

'At times the stench in Ms. Maxwell's isolation cell has been overwhelming due to overflowing of toilets in the cell block above.

'Due to lack of privacy, Ms. Maxwell refrains from using the toilet in the isolation cell and, as directed by the guards, she flushes frequently to avoid plumbing problems. At times, the stench is apparent upon entering the visiting area.'

The letter did not specify where Maxwell does go to relieve herself, though has access to another part of the prison during the days.

Sternheim said that 'to suggest she (Maxwell) willingly lives in squalor is absurd' and alleged that guards use cleaning as a 'punishment to wield power'.

She wrote: 'The MDC - especially the East Building where Ms. Maxwell is held - is permeated with mold and vermin.

'Cockroaches and rodents are plentiful and glue tracks have been placed in Ms. Maxwell's day area to help remediate the problem'.

Maxwell's lawyers have previously claimed that while in the MDC she has lost weight, hair and hours of sleep every night because she is subject to searches of her cell by flashlight every 15 minutes.

Prosecutors rejected this and said that guards had seen no evidence of hair loss and that Maxwell's weight was within a normal range.

Sternheim claimed that Maxwell's health was 'deteriorating' because she had 'not experienced sunshine and fresh air for the past eight months'.

The dispute marks a bizarre escalation in the row about Maxwell's conditions in prison since she was arrested in July last year for allegedly procuring underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein

The letter complained that calling the interior gated part of the prison that Maxwell could exercise in as outside was unfair because 'barely a breeze permeates that area'.

The letter from Maxwell's lawyer Bobbi Sternheim came the day after prosecutors alleged that Maxwell's cell stank because she didn't flush her toilet

Sternheim also objected to the prosecution revealing that Maxwell had been given the coronavirus vaccine as it was a breach of her privacy.

Other issues include the slow delivery of mail and Sternehim said that Maxwell got a copy of the New York Times dated in October in mid-March.

Sternheim disputed the prosecution claim that Maxwell has an eye mask to shield her eyes from the torchlit searches at night time.

Maxwell was not even asleep as prosecutors claimed and mere 'chooses not to respond to guards' as a 'respite from having to engage with them'

Sternheim dismissed the prosecution update about Maxwell's conditions as 'Yelp-worth', referring to the online review website.

She wrote: 'But it does not justify Ms. Maxwell's inappropriate detention'.

Maxwell was initially charged with six counts alleging she brought girls as young as 14 to Epstein and in some cases took part in the abuse.

She is also charged with perjury in a separate civil case.

Last month she was hit with two new charges, sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking of a minor.

Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to all the first six counts and will be arraigned on the latest two later this month.
A fetish priestess has been arrested in connection with the killing of the 10-year-old boy at Kasoa in the Central Region.



She was arrested at Amanase near Suhum in the Eastern Region by a team of police officers, Graphic Online has gathered.



She is to assist with investigations into the alleged ritual murder of the 10year old boy at Kasoa.



The Central Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ms Irene Oppong told Graphic Online that a case docket has been handed over to Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters of the Ghana Police Service.



Graphic Online's Emmanuel Bonney reports that the two teenagers who allegedly killed a 10-year-old boy at Coca Cola, near Lamptey, a suburb of Kasoa in the Central Region, had initially planned to kidnap him to demand a ransom of GH5,000, according to the prosecutor.



Putting the two teenagers before the Ofaakor District Magistrate Court Tuesday in their first appearance in court, the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Ernest Agbo, said the accused - Felix Nyarko, aka Yaw Anane, 16, a mason labourer, who is the first accused, and Nicholas Kini Kwame, 18, a student and second accused, had planned to take the money and add Ishmael Mensah Abdallah, the deceased, to it to present to a spiritualist for rituals.



Plan



"The accused initially planned to kidnap deceased Ishmael and demand ransom of GH5,000 from his mother, which they would add to send him for the rituals.



On the arrival of Ishmael (at the uncompleted facility), they realised that kidnapping him would be a difficult task and so they decided to kill him, Chief Inspector Agbo said.



The accused persons were last Saturday arrested following the murder of Ishmael, a Class Four pupil, for ritual purposes.



At the court sitting, presided over by Mrs Rosemond Vera Ocloo, the two were remanded in police custody to reappear on April 20, 2021.



This is to allow the police more time to conduct their investigations into the matter.



Facts



Presenting the facts of the case, Chief Inspector Agbo said the two teenagers, who lived at Lamptey, had been friends since 2008.



He said for some time now Felix had been watching Ghana Television channels which entertained Mallams and other spiritualists to promote their prowess in making people instant millionaires.



Felix, according to the prosecutor, made his intention known to Nicholas, who advised that there was a certain spiritualist in the Volta Region who could do it for them.



"The second accused, who does not own a phone, provided the phone number of the said spiritualist to the first accused, who has access to his mother's phone.



"After contacting the said spiritualist, he agreed to help if only they could provide a human being and GH5,000 for the rituals," he said.



Chief Inspector Agbo explained that on Saturday, April 3, 2021, the accused persons settled on Ishmael, 10 years, 11 months, the son of the complainant, Mr Frank Mensah Abdallah, adding that the second accused then went to hide in an uncompleted building near the first accused person's house where they planned to carry out their operation.



"The accused persons armed themselves with a club, a piece of cement block and shovel as their weapons, and the first accused, who is close to Ishmael, lured him to the uncompleted building with convincing words that his friend was selling a video game..



Killing



Nicholas, the prosecutor further said, then picked the club and hit Ishmael hard on the back of the neck, while Felix "used the cement block to hit his head, killing him instantly".



In the course of the act, he said, Felix's younger sister, eight, sensed that something was going on and so she walked towards the direction of the uncompleted building but was driven away by her elder brother.



He said after murdering Ishmael, the accused persons dug a shallow grave, buried the deceased and left the scene, so that they would return in the night to convey the body to the Volta Region for the rituals.



"But luck eluded them when Felix's sister went to inform her father, Mr Nyarko, who is Felix's stepfather, that something had gone amiss in the uncompleted building.



"Mr Nyarko went to the scene and saw that the place had been disturbed, and when he decided to remove the surface sand, he found the body of the deceased covered with sand," he said, adding that Mr Nyarko quickly confronted the first accused, who confessed and mentioned the second accused as his accomplice.



Chief Inspector Agbo said the accused persons were subsequently arrested and handed over to the police.



He said efforts were ongoing to arrest the spiritualist.



He told the court that Felix's parents could not determine his exact age and so they would need some time to do that.



Trial court



Responding, the presiding judge said the court had wanted to hear the case at the Juvenile Section, but when it realised that Nicholas was 18 years, it decided to hear the case in an open court.



She said once the entire process was over, Felix could be taken through the Juvenile Justice System.



She indicated that the actual case would not be tried at the District Court but rather the High Court, due to the gravity of the offence.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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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Maputo  The islamist terrorists who attacked the town of Palma, in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado on 24 March, murdered and beheaded 12 foreign citizens outside the Amarula Hotel, according to a report on Mozambique Television (TVM).

The Mozambican defence and security forces buried the bodies about 100 metres from the hotel, after the terrorists had been driven out of the town last weekend.

"They were 12 whites, 12 white people, but I can't tell you what nationalities they were", said Pedro da Silva Negro, the member of the Mozambican police who was in charge of the burials. "The bodies were here, as you can see from the bloodstains".

The Mozambican forces want a forensic team to be mobilised urgently, so that the bodies can be disinterred for purposes of identification, and then returned to their home countries. "Work is being done on this, but I don't know when the forensic team will arrive". Brig Vidigal Chongo, spokesperson for the Northern Operational Theatre, told the reporters.

If it is confirmed that these bodies are indeed of foreigners, this would bring the number of known foreign dead to 13: a South African citizen, Adrian Nel, died when a convoy of 17 vehicles tried to escape from the Amarula Hotel. The terrorists ambushed the convoy on 26 March, killing Nel and at least six others. Nel's body was recovered and flown back to South Africa.

There is still no estimate of the number of Mozambican dead. Bodies, some of them beheaded, were seen lying in the streets after the attack, and it is feared that others may have died in the bush as they tried to make their way to safety.

The Amarula used to have the reputation of the best hotel in Palma. Now it is largely destroyed. About a kilometre away is the Palma Inn, which the terrorists set on fire. Among the Mozambican state institutions reduced to ashes were the Palma health centre, a police station, and the local branch of the Public Prosecutor's Office. Banks and shops were also destroyed by the raiders.
Myanmar anti-junta protesters participate in a rally on a street in the town of Tanse in northwestern Myanmar's Sagaing region, April 7, 2021.

Military junta forces fired rocket launchers and grenades to dismantle a protest camp in a city near Myanmars border with India Wednesday, killing 12 protesters in a region of northwest Myanmar where civilians have inflicted casualties on troops.

In a heavy crackdown that started before sunrise in the Sagaing region city of Kalay, security forces used heavy weaponry to smash the protester encampment dubbed Fort Tahan built to shield anti-coup demonstrators from gunfire by police and soldiers.

Witnesses said at least 12 local residents, including protesters, were killed, and many others were injured in Kalay. They were among at least 26 civilians killed Wednesday during nationwide crackdowns by Myanmar security forces on Wednesday, witnesses in various locations said.

There are many wounded, said a protester in Kalay, who declined to provide his name for safety reasons.

They were shooting from two sides, he said. There were many trapped who could not escape the onslaught because [the military] had spread their forces across the town. They blocked the roads coming from villages in the south.

Some people were hit in the abdomen, some in the leg, the protester added.

The rising number of casualties forced protesters to evacuate the makeshift protest barricade, giving soldiers and police a chance to clear the huge barrier with bulldozers, witnesses said.

Though the military earlier had an agreement with the young protesters not to use force until 10 a.m., it began strengthening its forces at about 4 a.m. and launched the attack an hour later, residents said.

At least 25 protesters in Kalay, a city of 400,000 people, have died at the hands of security forces since the military seized power in the Feb. 1 coup. In Sagaings Tamu, north of Kalay, 14 soldiers were killed over the weekend in attacks by protesters, local media reported Monday.

There have been nearly 600 deaths since the military junta took over and deposed the democratically elected government of country leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a Myanmar human rights organization based in Thailand, said that as of Wednesday, nearly 2,850 people were currently under detention by the military regime.

Shootings in southern Shan state

In Nyaungshwe township of southern Shan state, security forces entered the town Tuesday night following an electricity cutoff, killing one man, critically injuring another person, and wounding about 10 others, residents said in Facebook posts.

Residents banged pots to register their resistance as police and troops came in cursing and yelling, they said. When the locals went outside to confront them on the streets, the forces opened fire, killing 20-year-old Taing Chitthu with a shot to the head.

A man named Paw Kauk also died from a shot to the head as he attended a funeral wake in Lweliyang village in Kachin states Mogaung township, witnesses said. A second man, Min Thu, was hit in the thigh, they said.

The shots were single shots and took place when the men went outside to look after stones were thrown at their houses from the front. The sound of the gunshots was not too loud, a resident said.

In the town of Myingyan in Mandalay region, a man was shot in the arm near an electric power office when soldiers and police fired indiscriminately into two residential wards, said local sources, who added that the shots came from the towns marketplace and State High School No. 4.

Explosions were heard in five locations in the commercial center and largest city Yangon on Wednesday, with two blasts in the morning near a housing unit for military families on Ziwaka Street near the Shwedagon Pagoda, local residents said.

The three later blasts occurred in front of the Sanchaung township administration office, near Dagon Center in Myaynigone township, and near the Myanma Port Authority headquarters on Strand Road. It is still unknown whether there were any casualties, they said.

In the Bay of Bengal southwest of the strife-torn country of 54 million people, naval forces of the Quad grouping of the United States, Australia, Japan, and India launched a three-day joint military exercise on Monday, joined by two French naval vessels, the U.S. government said.

At the same time, the Myanmar military held a naval exercise on April 4 within the countrys Bay of Bengal waters, while China and Russia warned against international intervention in Myanmars crisis. Beijing and Moscow have joined U.N. criticism of the coup but blocked efforts to impose sanctions on the junta.

On the one hand, you can say its a coincidence, but on the other hand, theres a question about why this is so coincidental, said Htin Linn Aung of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), Myanmars shadow government of democratically elected lawmakers.

Its very difficult to say exactly because America, when it conducts an exercise like this, doesn't declare it so loudly, he said. But now we can say that this is a remarkable event.

Myanmar anti-junta protesters display and burn anti-China signs on a street in Kamayut township, Yangon region, to show their opposition to the country's support for the military coup, April 7, 2021, Credit: RFA





Warning against improper intervention

Miemie Winn Byrd, a Honolulu-based Asia-Pacific security analyst and retired Burmese-American colonel in the U.S. Army, said China, a major investor in Myanmar, should change its stance and play a positive role to prevent further violence.

The U.S. has repeatedly asked China to come along with the international community to speak with one voice to ask for the Myanmar military to stop [and] prevent the killing of unarmed civilians, to release all detainees  the political prisoners  and to respect the voices of the Myanmar people, she told RFA.

That is more likely to stop the action than what China has been doing at this moment, she added.

Earlier this week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Southeast Asian nations to be on the alert for external forces interfering in Myanmars internal affairs and said efforts should be made to stop the escalation of tensions.

At a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that China has appealed for efforts to avoid further bloodshed, conflicts, and civilian casualties in Myanmar, and to prevent the situation from further deterioration.

Repeating comments made earlier by Wang Yi, he said that improper intervention by the U.N. Security Council should be avoided so as to not undermine Myanmars sovereignty and make the situation worse.

The spokesman also said that moves by some external forces to add fuel to the flames and mess up Myanmar in pursuit of selfish gains should be avoided, in an apparent reference to countries like the U.S. that have imposed sanctions on Myanmar military officials and entities.

On April 2, senior U.N. officials condemned ongoing violence by Myanmars security forces against civilians, including children, as the members of the Security Council expressed alarm at the quickly worsening situation in the country.

Southeast Asian leaders announced Monday that they would meet in Jakarta, Indonesia, to discuss the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, but did not set a date.

Christine Schraner Burgener, the U.N. special envoy to Myanmar, warned on March 31 during an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the situation in Myanmar that that the unlawful shooting of protesters by security forces could result in civil war and a bloodbath.

She also called for collective action in addressing the crisis to prevent a multidimensional catastrophe in the heart of Asia.

Reported by RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - Benin's electoral platform of civil society organisations for the 11 April presidential election has denounced acts of violence in some cities during demonstrations announced as peaceful




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India open for stronger trade, investment ties with EU: Union minister (Photo Credit: Twitter/Anurag Thakur)

New Delhi [India], April 8 (ANI): Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur on Thursday met Portugal Minister of State for Internationalization Eurico Brilhante Dias and said India is open for stronger trade and investment with the European Union (EU).

Eurico Brilhante Dias called on Thakur during his visit to India for the forthcoming 5th Joint Economic Commission India-Portugal taking place in New Delhi.

"Wonderful meeting with Eurico Brilhante Dias, Minister of State for Internationalization, Portugal. We discussed the forthcoming 5th Joint Economic Commission India-Portugal taking place in New Delhi. India welcomes and is open for stronger trade and investment ties with the EU," Thakur said in a tweet.

Thakur said discussions were held on the ongoing negotiation process of trade and investment agreements between India and the European Union.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa share a special bond and both nations have strong ties. (ANI)
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An 'Instagram-famous' traveller who appeared to be living a charmed existence with his glamorous girlfriend in a luxury mansion has hinted at the sad reason for their split after five years together.

Manchester-born Jack Morris, 30, aka @doyoutravel, and his Australian partner Lauren Bullen, 28, best known as @gypsealust, earned a six-figure salary from sharing their jet-setting lifestyle on social media and famously used the profits to build a $1.2million Balinese mansion in 2019.

But earlier this week, the couple shocked their legion of fans by announcing they had quietly parted ways in March after 'letting our relationship slip away from under us'.

In an Instagram post uploaded on Wednesday, Jack - a former carpet cleaner who left the UK to travel the world in 2012 - revealed the pressure of capturing the 'perfect' photo had sucked the joy out of what he used to love.

The photographer said he had spent the past year visiting some of the world's most famous sights 'without ever actually experiencing the beauty right in front of me'.

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The truth behind the photos: Jack Bullen (left) appeared to be living a charmed existence with his glamorous Australian girlfriend Lauren Bullen (right), but it seems the pressure of social media took its toll

The 'Instagram famous' travelling couple (pictured at their $1.2million Balinese mansion) shocked fans by announcing their split after five years together

Jack, who is currently travelling alone in Cairo, Egypt, said he is excited for his new solo adventure.

'I flew out here last week on a one way flight and without any real plan. Last time I came here was 2017, and I've been craving to come back ever since,' he wrote.

'Egypt fascinates the s**t out of me, and this time I really want to slow down to take in everything I see and do. Experience new things, learn, appreciate, and then take photos.'

Jack revealed he had been suffering from a 'creative mental block' which left him feeling unmotivated and unfulfilled for more than a year.

'Creating wasn't fulfilling me the way it used to.. prob because I was running around stressing over getting the perfect shot without ever actually experiencing the beauty right in front of me,' he wrote.

In separate posts uploaded late Tuesday night, Manchester-born Jack and Australian Lauren revealed they had quietly parted ways in March

Jack, who is currently travelling alone in Cairo, Egypt, said he is excited for his new solo adventure

The British adventurer said he had returned to Egypt to 'get that spark back' in the hope it would remind him why he had started documenting his travels nine years ago.

His first day involved a visit to the pyramids at Giza, which he described as 'mind-blowing'.

Jack ended his post by thanking his 2.5million followers for sending messages of support after he and Lauren announced their split, adding: 'Your comments and DMs don't go unnoticed, I really appreciate you all!'

Signs of trouble in paradise began to appear on the couple's Instagram feeds in late 2020, with Jack unusually absent from Lauren's photos since December 16.

In a post announcing their separation, Lauren said the decision was 'for sure the hardest' she has ever made, before cryptically adding: 'Sadly the last year, we let our relationship slip away from under us.

The duo famously used their income from social media to build a $1.2million three-storey Balinese mansion (pictured) complete with a sunken lounge room, marble swimming pool, designer kitchen and a home cinema theatre in 2019

Jack (left) said he suffered from a 'creative mental block' for the past year of their relationship while Lauren (right) said one thing was missing: happiness

'I know from the outside it looked like we had everything you could want and more, but one thing was missing, something more important to me than anything, happiness.'

She continued: 'Jack you were the best thing to come into my life.. we had an instant and inseparable connection. I'm so proud of everything we achieved together it's more than I could have ever imagined for my life, which I thank you for.

'You pushed me to work harder and dream bigger and I was always so inspired by your dedication and determination to succeed.'

Lauren revealed the pair had spent the past few weeks in tears, opening up about troubles they had been hiding from one another and reminiscing on the past five years of 'love, adventure and fun' which ultimately led them to agree they should end their romantic relationship.

Jack (pictured with Lauren in happier times) took a leap of faith nine years ago and quit his job as a carpet cleaner after deciding he needed more adventure in his life

'[It] brought us both so much closure and understanding of why we couldn't make it work as a couple any longer,' she wrote.

'Many of you have followed our full journey together but for sure it's the moments no one else sees, just us being us and the Jack that only I really got to see, that's what I'll miss more than anything.'

Jack echoed his ex-love's words, starting his post by saying: 'It was a real difficult decision for both of us, but a decision we know is for the best.

'I spent by far the best years of my life with this girl, and I'll cherish those memories forever. It's pretty rare to find someone you instantly click with, share the same dreams with, and then be fortunate enough to go out and take on the world together.'

Jack addressed Lauren directly, saying while it is difficult for him to understand why they grew apart, he will 'always be there' for her.

News of the split sent shockwaves through the couple's combined 4.5million follower base, with hundreds of friends and fans responding with messages of support

'I remember meeting you and feeling like I hit the jackpot, cuddling up during our first movie night in Fiji, the first time we held hands whilst walking in Sri Lanka, telling you I love you for the first time and you not hearing me... damn, where did the time go?' he wrote.

He paid tribute to their time together, saying that despite the glamorous lifestyle they portray online, it's the 'little day by day moments that aren't shared with the world' that he will miss the most.

'Who knows where this next chapter will take us, wherever it does, I'll always be so thankful for the years we spent together, and for our friendship that we'll always continue to share,' he added.

The exes - who sell Lightroom presets which fans and fellow content creators can use to edit photos, as well as enjoying sponsorship deals with global brands such as Royal Caribbean Cruises, Disney, Air NZ, Airbnb and Tiffany & Co. - ended their posts by promising to remain close friends and business partners.

News of the split sent shockwaves through the couple's combined 4.5million follower base, with hundreds of friends and fans responding with messages of support.

Lauren said the decision was 'for sure the hardest' she has ever made, before cryptically adding: 'Sadly the last year, we let our relationship slip away from under us.'

'I'm sorry to read this, but I think it's strong of you both to take this step - happiness is the most important thing in the world. Thinking of you both & sending lots of love!' one person replied.

'Never easy - have so much respect for you and wish nothing but the best for you both,' said a second.

A third added: 'I didn't expect to read that. All my love to you guys.'

Jack and Lauren last made headlines at the start of the pandemic when they were criticised for 'bragging' about self-isolating in their Balinese mansion while millions in their home countries lined up for welfare payments.

Lauren had wanted to fly home in accordance with government instructions for Australians to return but said she was not prepared to leave her partner and their dog Oreo behind.

Photos of their time in isolation showed Jack playing Mario Kart on a lavish cinema-style screen in a palatial living area that boasts views of their pool outside.

Photos of their time in isolation showed Jack playing Mario Kart on a lavish cinema-style screen in a palatial living area that boasts views of their pool outside

'What our self-isolation looks like here in Bali. Netflix and Mario Kart is pretty much my life right now! What are you guys doing to keep entertained at home? Hope everyone is staying safe,' he wrote in the caption.

A fan quickly lashed out, telling him: 'Things could be worse mate'.

Another wrote 'sick brag' underneath the photo, while a third said: 'Wow, there are different levels of quarantine in the world'.

In Australia alone more than one million were left unemployed when lockdown began on March 23, 2020, with many more suffering psychologically from the effects of isolation.
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A new U.K. campaign is calling for urgent action to support the families of film and TV workers by allocating budget lines for childcare.

Led by childcare facility and mobile nursery The WonderWorks, the Keeping Families in Film campaign has garnered support in the form of an open letter, signed by major figures such as Keira Knightley, Cillian Murphy, Hayley Atwell, Lizzy Caplan, Alfred Molina and Jodie Whittaker, along with organizations including Times Up and union Bectu. The letter (full text below) asks studios, production companies and industry leaders to raise awareness of the lack of childcare within the film and TV industry, and take steps to stop talent leaving the field due to the demands of parenthood.

The campaign encourages productions to become more family-friendly, with the goal of every production putting a line in their budget for childcare by 2024.

The WonderWorks was founded by actor Charlotte Riley (Press, Peaky Blinders) and business partner Mark Radcliffe, who last year launched the countrys first dedicated on-site childcare facility at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden. Both identified the issue after witnessing the effects of a lack of suitable childcare within the film and TV industry.

The WonderWorks nursery was set up to provide flexible, accessible, Ofsted-registered care to the children of those working on productions in the U.K.

According to a report by British org Raising Films, 79% of film workers felt having children had negatively impacted their careers. A separate Womens Progression in the Workplace report by the Government Equalities Office specifically highlighted the film and television industry as one where women with children described the impossibility of obtaining childcare due to the unpredictable nature of their work.

Riley said: The aim of The WonderWorks Keeping Families In Film campaign is to reach industry decision makers, asking them to make childcare a top priority on productions, as well as empowering those in the industry to speak up and have open conversations with their employers. Productions are finding it harder than ever to secure crews due to demand, so its vital that we keep talented people working in order for the industry to thrive.

As an industry we take pride in how well we train our teams. People work so hard in the early years of their career to hone their skills and then, just as they are starting to get established, find that they cant sustain a career in production once they become parents. Its time to address the inequality in our industry  we need to keep families in film, continued Riley.

Read the open letter below:

DEAR STUDIOS AND PRODUCTION COMPANIES IN THE U.K.,

Those who work in film and TV know that life is not always easy. They know that work is unpredictable, often changed at the last minute, and that the hours are often variable. They know they will need to make some sacrifices in order to do the job they love and have worked hard to become skilled at, be that in front of or behind the camera.

What they dont know is that at one point in their career, some will find that they have to make a choice between staying in the dream job or starting a family. We believe that this is not a choice that should have to be made, which is why we are asking for your support to bring change. Without flexible and accessible childcare, equality and inclusion within the film and TV industry cannot be achieved.

This is an issue that affects both men and women within the industry. 79% report feeling that having a child negatively impacts their career progression, with 63% working freelance or self-employed and citing financial stability as a major concern*. This means that regular childcare solutions often do not work.

Our mission is to make the film and TV industry more accessible for families, meaning we do not lose highly talented people over an issue that should  and can  be solved.

We are calling on industry leaders to not only acknowledge that a lack of high-quality, flexible childcare is creating a barrier, but that action needs to be taken by industry decision makers to bring about change.

We are asking industry leaders to make on-set childcare solutions a priority; be they full nursery spaces for major productions, or assistance with childcare provisions for smaller productions. We want to see a line in every budget for childcare, and we need your help to make this a reality.

Many thanks,

THE WONDERWORKS TEAM

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says Joe Biden should shoulder blame amid allegations of child abuse and neglect at an overcrowded San Antonio migrant facility.

Abbott made the declaration at a press conference Wednesday evening, following tips to authorities about the alleged abuse occurring inside the Freeman Expo Center. The facility is currently holding 1,370 migrant children.

'This facility is a health and safety nightmare,' Abbot declared.

'The Biden administration is now presiding over the abuse of children. To end this abuse, the Biden administration must immediately shut down this facility.

In addition to the claims of child sex abuse and neglect, Abbott also claimed that there were reports of understaffing, children not eating and the failure to separate children with or without COVID-19.

'While we wait on the Biden administration to act, I'm directing DPS and Texas Rangers to immediately begin investigation these allegations,' the Gov. stated.

Abbott did not say how many children had reportedly been abused, but he did say that the claims appeared to be 'credible'.

In recent days, the number of underage children being held at the Freeman Expo Center has increased from 500 to 1,370,

President Joe Biden has refused to call the surge in illegal border crossing a crisis, but has tapped Vice President Kamala Harris to take control of the situation.

But Harris has been blasted for failing to head to the southern border. Instead, Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas will head to the area on Thursday.

Mayorkas will meet with local law enforcement and Homeland Security employees as the number of migrants arriving in the country continues to swell.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says Joe Biden should shoulder blame amid allegations of child abuse and neglect at an overcrowded San Antonio migrant facility

Freeman Expo Center is pictured. The facility is currently holding 1,370 child migrants

In recent days, the number of underage children being held at the Freeman Expo Center has increased from 500 to 1,370

Biden has come under fire for dismantling harsh Trump immigration policies, which has prompted a surge of migrants at the southern border.

KSAT reports that 500 boys from the ages of 13 - 17 were bused to the facility on March 25.

It is not known whether they are held separately from migrants of younger ages.

The Expo Center reportedly has an internal potential capacity of 2,100 beds, and officials are scrambling to make them available.

Biden has come under fire for dismantling harsh Trump immigration policies, which has prompted a surge of migrants at the southern border.

Since taking office, Biden lifted the Trump policy that forced migrants to remain in Mexico while going through the legal process to enter the US, narrowed ICE's criteria for arrests and deportations, and stopped the building of Trump's border wall.

Officials from the Biden administration have admitted that their more 'humane' approach to immigration policy has fueled the soaring number of border crossings.

Last month, 170,000 migrants were apprehended trying to cross into the US illegally - the highest number in 15 years

But the Biden administration have been criticized for failing to properly prepare the resources and infrastructure need to cope with the expected surge.

Speaking last week, Biden refused to call the situation a crisis, despite human rights lawyers claiming migrant children were going hungry and showering only intermittently.

He has put Vice President Kamala Harris in charge of dealing with the influx, but she has also been blasted for failing to fly down to the southern border to see the situation firsthand.

She was criticized for this week paying a visit to a Chicago bakery instead of paying attention to the migrant crisis.

Speaking last week, Biden refused to call the situation a crisis, despite human rights lawyers claiming migrant children were going hungry and showering only intermittently. Pictured: Children inside the Donna Migrant Facility in Texas

Last month, 170,000 migrants were apprehended trying to cross into the US illegally - the highest number in 15 years

Biden has put Vice President Kamala Harris in charge of dealing with the influx, but she has also been blasted for failing to fly down to the southern border to see the situation firsthand. She was criticized for this week paying a visit to a Chicago bakery instead of paying attention to the migrant crisis

Since being appointed Border Czar last month, Harris has jetted all over the U.S. without visiting the 'humanitarian crisis' site

The VP was slammed by former Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who appeared on Sean Hannity's Fox News show Wednesday night.

'Kamala Harris has spent more time with an interior decorator redecorating the Naval Observatory that has 33 rooms, than she has at the border,' Meadows stated.

Hannity concurred, stating that 'Harris has yet to hold a single news conference on the topic.'

The conservative pundit then directly addressed the VP looking directly into the camera, stating: 'Kamala, you found the time to make trips to Connecticut. Spent almost a week in California and visited in Chicago. No time to go down and address kids living in the cages you and Joe are building?'

Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Jim Jordan also appeared on Hannity, stating: 'Sean [Hannity], you should remind all the people watching the show tonight, you can't get into your Capitol to exercise your first amendment rights to petition your government, but anybody and everybody can now get into your country.'

Mark Meadows, Jim Jordan on the crisis at the southern border "This is a problem, this is a crisis, this is chaos that could have been prevented." Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Rep. Jim Jordan join "Hannity" to discuss the ongoing crisis at the southern border. Posted by Fox News on Wednesday, April 7, 2021

The VP was slammed by former Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows (left), who appeared on Sean Hannity's Fox News show Wednesday night. He is pictured alongside Republican Rep. Jim Jordan (inset) and Sean Hannity (right)

'Kamala Harris has spent more time with an interior decorator redecorating the Naval Observatory that has 33 rooms, than she has at the border,' Meadows stated

A photograph taken from inside the overcrowded Donna border facility last week

Meanwhile, Harris' trip to a Chicago bakery was also an issue that arose during the White House press conference Wednesday.

New York Post reporter Steven Nelson quizzed Press Secretary Jen Psaki on the issue, stating: 'She [Harris] hasn't visited the border or Central America or spoken with leaders of El Salvador or Honduras'.

'She was traveling this week, took time to visit a bakery in Chicago. I'm wondering, is she still working on this and can you address the perception that she's sort of quietly backing off while Secretary Mayorkas is pursuing some Trump-era policies?

'The Vice President was visiting Chicago, actually, to talk about COVID and the importance of communities getting the vaccine when it's available and accessible to them,' Psaki shot back.

'So, while she was there, like many Americans, she got a snack. I think she's allowed to do that.

Officials in the Rio Grande Valley report that they are now apprehending more than 1,500 migrants in their small area each day

Late last month, the Biden Administration was criticized for refusing to let journalists into overcrowded migrant facilities to document the conditions.

However, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz shared photos from inside the overcrowded Donna Migrant Facility, after he and 18 other Senators took a tour of the southern border.

Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma and others shared heartbreaking images from inside the facility.

Lankford said that 'pods' designed to hold 80 children are packed with more than 700.

'I know why President Biden doesn't want the media to be here - because we do have an open border,' Lankford stated on Friday.

'If you were an unaccompanied minor, you were sent over to the Donna facility, which we went over and visited. That facility is designed for 80 people in a pod, and they had 709 people... literally wall to wall in every one of the little plexiglass cells that they have, and people flooding out into the hallway,' Lankford said.

, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz shared photos from inside the overcrowded Donna Migrant Facility, after he and 18 other Senators took a tour of the southern border
FILE PHOTO: Austria hosts leaders to discuss the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, in Vienna

By Robert Muller and Jason Hovet

PRAGUE (Reuters) -Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Wednesday installed his fourth health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic as a lagging vaccination campaign heightened pressure to use Russia's Sputnik dose.

Babis has gone back-and-forth on potentially buying the Sputnik V vaccine prior to European Union approval, an issue other EU nations are pondering due to shortages of registered vaccines.

President Milos Zeman, who backs closer Russian and Chinese ties, had sought the sacking of Jan Blatny for his opposition to Sputnik.

Zeman reiterated his request to buy Russian and Chinese vaccines when he appointed new Health Minister Petr Arenberger on Wednesday at Babis's request.

However, Babis, whose government is dependent on Zeman's political allies, denied the ministerial change was to clear the Russian vaccine's use and said he would wait for European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval.

"I want to stress (the change) is not about Sputnik," he said at a news conference with Arenberger.

SLOWEST IN EU

Arenberger, a Prague hospital director, has said he would not oppose using Sputnik as part of a clinical trial.

Czech Republic has been among the slowest in the EU to roll out vaccinations.

Two other EU countries, Hungary and Slovakia, have ordered Sputnik and Austria may follow suit. But only Hungary has so far used it, while Slovakia's purchase sparked a government row that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Igor Matovic.

Blatny had joined the cabinet in October just as infections started spiking. He has faced overflowing hospitals and tried to balance what was among the world's highest per capita infection rates in March with pressure to keep factories running.

Central Europe has been hard hit this year after going through the initial wave with relatively few deaths or cases.

The Czech Republic's death toll has climbed to over 27,000 and the country of 10.7 million has had the highest amount of deaths per capita in the world during the pandemic, according to the Our World in Data website.

Story continues

Blatny's dismissal came after Babis reprimanded him for a lack of support for new COVID-19 medicines, among other issues.

He was also criticised for loosening lockdown measures weeks before Christmas, resulting in a resurgence in infections.

Arenberger takes over as cases are falling and hospitals gain some free capacity. From Monday, the government plans to ease some restrictions by reopening some schools and allowing free travel around the country.

(Reporting by Robert Muller and Jason Hovet; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Jan Lopatka and Andrew Cawthorne)
The shocking depths of disgraced fake school principal Neil Lennie's fraudulence has been laid bare - with revelations he also masqueraded as a doctor and even tried to launch his own exclusive private school.

The now 72-year old narrowly avoided being jailed in March for a scam which started in 1976 - 44 years ago - when he scored his first job in a school by lying that he had a degree in teaching.

Lennie was in fact a serial university drop-out who had only finished Year 12.

He was sentenced in the County Court of Victoria to a suspended jail term and community corrections order after pleading guilty to four counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception over the life-long scam.

Lennie was also behind a bid to create a private K-12 school in Melbourne to be named 'Imperial Grammar,' which would target wealthy Chinese students, the Herald Sun reports.

Last month, the now 72-year old narrowly avoided being jailed for a scam that dated back to 1976 when he scored his first teaching job off the back of a lie

Lennie was behind a bid to create a private K-12 school to be named 'Imperial Grammar'

The government said the application for the school 'did not proceed'.

Minutes from a 2019 planning meeting revealed how the scam artist, who called himself 'Dr Neil Lennie' despite having no PhD, planned to open 'a top 20 school' that would be 'highly academic focused' with 'no religion classes or sporting classes'.

Lennie said the school - which he had planned on opening sometime this year - would require kids to sit admission exams.

An unearthed document stated the school would have 'hopefully 4000 students, lots of services and facilities' and would provide accommodation.

It's also understood the intended student body would be made up mostly of local Chinese kids. Lennie even planned on 'tapping into' a sister school in China.

Victoria's education and training regulator was privy to the proposal, but it's unclear if it knew of Lennie's involvement.

Fraud squad detectives arrested Lennie just two months after the planning meeting.

Using his dad's teaching qualifications to score his first teaching job, Lennie enjoyed an illustrious career that saw him teach at Victoria's Mount Scopus Memorial College, Haileybury College and Overnewton Anglican Community College.

He even spent six years as a headmaster at the prestigious Caulfield Grammar School for a period between the 1980s and 1990s.

Fraud squad detectives arrested Lennie just two months after the school planning meeting

Lennie eventually came undone in 2009 when The Victorian Institute of Teaching, which conducts annual audits of teacher and school records to ensure staff are qualified, exposed him as a fraud.

They had discovered discrepancies with Lennie's records when he sought to renew his registration.

It was promptly cancelled that year.

In 2014, the institute charged him over another role as headmaster at a different school, again without qualification.

He was fined $8000 and the following year the institute referred him to police before criminal charges were laid in May 2020.

Busted, Lennie admitted his dodgy deeds had netted him $843,567 in wages up until 2000.

Though it was worryingly easy for Lennie to make his way to the top of the educational tree, authorities have assured the public such a brazen scheme could never happen today.

Back when Lennie first worked in schools all that was required was a teacher registration number.

Lennie also worked for a stint at Overnewton Anglican Community College (pictured)

Lennie would act as principal at Caulfield Grammar School for a period between the 1980s and 1990s

Mount Scopus had been duped by Lennie back in the 1970s when all one needed was a certificate to teach

Mount Scopus - Lennie's first target - had not seen his tertiary qualifications and took him at his word that he was a registered teacher.

Despite the lie, Lennie won praise as actually being a very good teacher, or at least better than he was as a student, or a fraudster.

Former colleagues and students sang his praises in letters referred to the court during his prosecution.

Leading infectious diseases expert and inaugural Doherty Institute director, Professor Sharon Lewin AO, said Lennie had taught her physics and described him as one of the most outstanding teachers she'd ever had.

'I often credit Mr Lennie with my enduring love of science, pursuit of academic excellence and self-belief in my own capabilities in science,' she wrote in a letter to the court.

'I remember him very clearly telling me that I was capable of doing anything in life and to shoot for the stars.

'As a young woman in the 1970s, I now understand that this kind of encouragement for women in science was most unusual.'
JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN, MBR / TNS

An Austin court on Thursday dismissed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons appeal challenging Travis County and Austins New Years holiday curfew, months after it ended  in a perhaps symbolic win for local officials.

The 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin dismissed Paxtons appeal on technical grounds. The case is moot, Justice Gisela Triana wrote in the court's opinion, because the events already passed and Paxtons appeal is contingent on future and uncertain events. The courts lone Republican justice dissented.
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Different leaders in Africa and across the world have joined Rwanda to commemorate for the 27th time the Genocide against the Tutsi that claimed over one million people in 100 days.

For the second time, reflecting on the genocide against the Tutsi happened amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a tweet, Josep Borrell Fontelles, Vice-President of the European Union Commission applauded Rwandans for recovering from adverse effects of the Genocide in which over a million people were killed.

"Today, we commemorate the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. We commend Rwanda and its people for determination to stand up from the ashes, rebuild the country and reconcile their communities, in the spirit of national unity," he said on Wednesday, April 7.

Louise Mushikiwabo, the Secretary-General of Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), an organisation that brings together 88 French-speaking countries, also paid tribute to genocide survivors.

She said: "27 years after the genocide of the Tutsi, a special thought for all the families of victims for whom the memory is still vivid. This year, I also salute the truth-seeking work that continues to advance and allows us to continue our mourning."

"On April 7, let us continue to remember and fight against any denial of the Genocide against the Tutsi. Years go by but the truth remains what it is, and will not be able to suffer from any attempt to distort history," she added.

Meanwhile, Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of the French capital Paris, noted that victims of the 1994 Genocide will never be forgotten.

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"This morning, at the Jardin de la Memoire in the Parc de Choisy, we commemorated the genocide perpetrated in Rwanda 27 years ago. Paris will never forget these women, men, and children killed because they were born Tutsi," she tweeted.

According to Herve Berville, a member of the French Parliament, remembrance is a duty.

"On April 7, the national day of commemoration of the memory of the victims of the genocide against the Tutsi, my thoughts are with all the battered families. 27 years later, we have a duty to remember in order to move forward, to understand history in order to build the future," he said.

The recently appointed Secretary-General of East African Community (EAC) to which Rwanda is a member, Peter Mathuki, also took time off to send a message of comfort to the people of Rwanda.

"We stand in solidarity with the people and leadership of Rwanda during the 27th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi. This will provide renewed determination for a peaceful and prosperous Rwanda and the EAC region," he said.
STOCKHOLM, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Effective May 1, Vanessa Butani, current Head of Sustainability for Business Area Europe, will take on the role as VP Group Sustainability at Electrolux. She will replace Henrik Sundstrom, who is retiring from the company.

Vanessa Butani will lead Electrolux forward in the company's For the Better 2030 framework, which covers the full value chain, from operations and products to helping consumers live more sustainably while using Electrolux products.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity to work across the entire organization to drive our sustainability agenda," says Vanessa Butani. "We have ambitious but achievable objectives and I look forward to the journey ahead to drive positive change both at Electrolux and in the daily lives of our consumers."

In her role, Vanessa Butani will become a member of the Electrolux Consumer Experience Leadership Team and report to Ola Nilsson, Chief Experience Officer at Electrolux.

"I'm very pleased to have Vanessa joining the team," says Ola Nilsson. "She will play a key role in taking Electrolux sustainability agenda to the next level, and ensure we have a strong voice as a corporate sustainability leader as well as connect our sustainability conviction with the consumer."

Vanessa Butani has a strong track record in the sustainability field. During an earlier eight-year period at Electrolux, she held several managerial roles in sustainability and connectivity. After three years outside Electrolux she re-joined the company to lead sustainability for Business Area Europe in January this year. She is replacing the current VP Group Sustainability, Henrik Sundstrom, who will be retiring after 36 years with Electrolux.

"Henrik has been instrumental in establishing Electrolux as a global leader in sustainability. We would not be where we are today without his foundational work in multiple roles across the company. I have no doubt that he will continue to stir impactful discussion with his knowledge and insights going forward," says Ola Nilsson.

The search for Vanessa Butani's successor as Head of Sustainability for Business Area Europe will begin shortly.

CONTACT:

For further information, please contact Electrolux Press Hotline, +46 8 657 65 07.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/electrolux/r/vanessa-butani-appointed-new-vp-group-sustainability-at-electrolux,c3321307

The following files are available for download:
ALBANY  With the Legislature finally passing the state budget after several months of intense effort, advocates for the Adult Survivors Act are hoping for a renewed push to pass the legislation in the remaining weeks of the 2021 session.

I am hopeful as we enter this spring and become more open in our legislative process with vaccinations that this is a moment of rebirth for this effort," said Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, that bill's sponsor in her chamber. She was also the sponsor of the Child Victims Act, which opened up a window for previously time-barred child sexual abuse civil claims. More than 5,000 lawsuits have been filed under that law, many against the Catholic church, the Boy Scouts and other groups that cared for children.

The argument for the Adult Survivors Act  similar to the one for the CVA  is that people who experience abuse are traumatized by the experience, and it often takes them years or even decades to come to grips with what happened, putting them outside of the statute of limitations in many cases.

When youre 18 and this happens to you, your whole world is turned upside down," Rosenethal said. "We need to acknowledge ... how trauma takes a long time to deal with."

If the bill is passed by the Legislature, it would put Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in an awkward position: He stands accused of sexual misconduct by a number of women, with their claims ranging from unwanted hugs and kisses in public to allegedly grooming a staffer half his age for months and then forcing himself upon her, a potentially criminal act.

The spotlight is bright, and its hot right now on topics like this. I think that our immediate concern is not a veto or whether the governor signs it, its getting the bills to the floor in each house," said Sen. Brad Hoylman, that chamber's sponsor, adding that he would expect "given everything thats going on (Cuomo) would be eager to sign it."

The Assembly and Senate versions of the bill have not received hearings yet, but Rosenthal and Hoylman said the measure has broad support and faces less organized opposition than the CVA did. They're hopeful about it receiving a floor vote in the near future. The bill is before the Judiciary Committee in the Senate, which Hoylman chairs, and he said it's expected to take a step forward soon.

I think in previous years it might have been more of an uphill battle," Rosenthal said, "but I think given all the developments in this state with Harvey Weinstein and all the other predators, most people have working knowledge of this."

Advocates held a press conference for the ASA on Thursday morning, joined by Rosenthal and Hoylman and survivors of sexual abuse who called for the bill's passage. Evelyn Yang, who is married to former presidential candidate and current New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang, discussed the abuse she endured a decade ago at the hands of her doctor, who she said targeted hundreds of women.

"I know how it feels to hold a terrible truth and decide to speak it out loud. It takes time," Yang said. "If and when someone chooses to come forward, their pathway to justice should not be time barred or limited to results from a fraught criminal justice system. Survivors deserve an opportunity to be heard in their own time."

Robert Bender said he had been abused about 40 years ago while he was in college. The perpetrator was someone he looked up to, he said, a former Olympic athlete. Bender said his abuser was manipulative and used a variety of efforts to "contort the mind" of his victims; for instance, the man targeted young heterosexual men to take advantage of the confusion they would feel about what happened to them.

It's a mistake to say or believe that just because you turn 18 all of a sudden you have the sophistication or the wherewithal to defend yourself against these professional abusers," Bender said. "I remember thinking 30 years ago, Oh, its been 10 years and theres probably a statute of limitations and theres nothing I can do about it. Maybe now that will change.
Hyderabad, April 8 : Telangana's Minister for Information Technology and Municipal Administration K. T. Rama Rao on Thursday directed officials to expand the Telangana Fiber Grid (T-Fiber) project to all the municipalities across the state.

As part of the project expansion, the Minister directed the officials to conduct a survey in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits and submit a report at the earliest.

KTR, as the Minister is popularly known, on Thursday held a meeting with the Telangana Fiber Grid Corporation Board meeting at T-Hub. He enquired about the work status of T-Fiber.

During the meeting, officials informed the Minister that by August this year every village will be extended fiber connectivity and works were being executed accordingly.

KTR instructed the officials to commence the exercise of extending fiber connectivity to 30,000 government offices on a priority basis from June.

As per Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao's instructions, all the Rythu Vedikas should be extended fiber connectivity, the minister told the officials adding that this would benefit the farmers in accessing internet services.

The officials informed that already connectivity was extended to five Rythu Vedikas under a pilot project.

The minister further wanted the officials to consider examining broadband connectivity as a utility and work out a mechanism for extending connectivity to each household in all the towns across the state.

IT and Industries Principal Secretary Jayesh Ranjan, Mission Bhagiratha Engineer-in-Chief Krupakar Reddy, and T-Fiber MD Sujai Karampuri were present in the meeting.
Bradley Pearce, 50, was drunk after 10 hour session in Western Australia

An unlicensed and serial drunk driver who ran a red light and ploughed into another car killing two young women has been jailed.

Shane Bradley Pearce, 50, was sentenced to 11 years behind bars in the WA Supreme Court on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of newlywed Paige May Ward and her friend Lauren Jane Prothero.

Pearce recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.210, more than four times the legal limit, after the crash at Cooloongup in Perth's south on May 29 last year.

The court heard Pearce was aggressive to witnesses at the scene and rendered no assistance to his critically-injured victims in one final insulting act.

He also resisted arrest when he was detained by police near the crash scene.

Justice Bruno Fiannaca described Pearce's actions after the fatal crash as selfish, egregious and appalling as he handed down the sentence.

Next month will make one year since newlywed Paige Ward and her friend Lauren Prothero were killed

Shane Bradley Pearce (pictured) rendered no assistance to his critically-injured victims after ploughing into their car. He was sentenced to 11 years jail on Wednesday

'Your conduct immediately after the crash was reprehensible,' Justice Bruno Fiannaca told Pearce during sentencing.

'The fact that you drove in such an egregious manner when you were not entitle to be in control of a vehicle at all exacerbates the tragedy you inflicted on the victims and their families.

Ms Prothero, a physiotherapist and Ms Ward, a special needs teacher suffered catastrophic injuries when Pearce slammed his four- wheel drive into their Nissan Micra after running a red light at 123km/h - more than 40km/h above the speed limit.

Ward, who was married just four months earlier, died at the scene, with close friend Prothero dying a few hours later in hospital.

The women's shattered families were in court on Wednesday to hear the sentencing handed down.

Lauren Prothero (pictured right) and Paige Ward (middle) were innocent victims in a double fatality in Perth last year. They're pictured with a friend at Ms Ward's hen's party

'My daughter was all I had, to be honest,' Lauren's father John Prothero told reporters outside court.

'Lauren was it. She was going to look after me in old age. The love we had between us and the affection- that all went in a flash.'

Justice Fiannaca referred to the victim impact statements while handing down his decision.

Ms Prothero was described as 'full of life and out to make a difference in the world' as a physiotherapist.

Her father John suffered a cardiac episode several days after he had to identify her body in the morgue near the hospital where she worked.

Ms Ward's parents also described their 'profound' and 'devastating' loss.

'In short, the pain and suffering of the families of both young women highlights the need for general deterrence,' Justice Fiannaca said.

The confronting scene at Cooloongup last May which killed Lauren Prothero and Paige Ward

When he was interviewed the following day, Pearce told police he 'could not recall' anything about the crash.

In the lead-up to the crash, the scaffolder spent the day drinking for 10 hours after being rained off at the building site where he was working.

Pearce chalked up six previous convictions for driving under the influence dating back to 1992, the court heard.

'He obviously did it seven times so that didn't stop him,' Mr Prothero said.

'I'm not really an angry person. The main thing for me is my daughter's not here anymore  what he gets, I'll let the State worry about that.'

Justice Fiannaca said Pearce had shown a 'reckless disregard for the safety of others'.

'You crashed with enormous destructive force,' he said.

'You cut short the promising lives of two young women. You have also changed forever the lives of their families.'

Lauren Prothero (pictured right) passed away in hospital after suffering catastrophic injuries in the senseless accident

Paige Ward - who died at the scene - was married just four months before the double fatality

John Prothero (pictured outside court on Wednesday) was left a broken man after his daughter Lauren's death

Pearce's lawyer Paul Holmes said his client wanted to be accountable for his behaviour, and at the time of the crime was 'struggling' after the recent death of his brother from cancer.

Pearce also said to police he was 'sorry for what he had done' and that he was a 'coward'.

He has since vowed to never touch a drop of alcohol for the rest of his life and 'he will take the punishment he deserves.'

Mr Holmes read out a remorseful statement on Pearce's behalf after the sentencing was handed down.

'He says' I don't expect the community to forgive me or accept my apologies. I can only hope that people learn from my mistakes of this horrible tragedy,' Mr Holmes read outside court.

Pearce has been remanded in custody since his arrest shortly after the crash.

Pearce must serve another eight years behind bars he's eligible for parole in 2029.

His driver's license will also be disqualified for another 10 years once he released from jail.
CHICAGO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mielle Organics, the #1 fast-growing, Black-owned, and community-focused natural hair care company, announced today that Berkshire Partners, a Boston-based firm, has made a significant investment in the company. Berkshire typically makes equity investments of $100 million to $1 billion in size. The financing will support Mielle's growth plans and help further its mission to educate, empower, and excite Mielle's customers and the broader hair care community. A portion of Berkshire's investment will be used to support Mielle's More Than a Strand program, which is core to the company's mission to strengthen the bond between mothers, daughters, and young girls across the United States, Caribbean, and Africa. Company co-founders Monique and Melvin Rodriguez (CEO and COO, respectively) will continue to be majority owners and maintain control of the company. Additional terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"We are excited to forge this historic partnership with Berkshire Partners," said Mielle CEO and co-founder Monique Rodriguez. "Their investment reinforces our mission for community development and growth of Mielle's vision of global expansion. We are also thrilled to continue this journey with New Voices. They believed in Mielle from the beginning and have truly been a great partner. These are the types of steps it takes to create generational wealth and jobs for people of color. We are truly grateful for their partnership."

This investment caps an impressive period of growth for Mielle, which last year saw category-leading growth rates despite the challenges of a pandemic that led more than 40% of Black-owned businesses to shutter. It also marks a major milestone for Ms. Rodriguez as only 93 Black women founders have secured $1 million in investment funding for their companies, according to ProjectDiane, a biennial report on the state of Black and Latinx women founders by the organization digitalundivided . Through Mielle Organics' historic investment deal with Berkshire, Monique has paved the way for women-led companies to surpass the limits of glass ceilings society has conditioned us to believe are unbreakable for women of color.

"We started this business in our garage, sparked by Monique's passion to build a worldwide community of women," added Melvin Rodriguez, co-founder and COO. "During the past seven years, we've been able to expand our product lines, increase our distribution and invest in our community; we are excited to continue innovating and developing new products, grow awareness of Mielle, and reach even more consumers to give them products that they deserve."

"We are honored to invest behind Monique and Melvin and in Mielle," said Marni Payne, Managing Director at Berkshire Partners. "Mielle is an extraordinary business, but importantly has a larger purpose: to excite, empower and serve the community. Monique and Melvin have built this business from the ground up; we share their vision and are excited to support them as they continue their journey of growth and community."

"When my family and I sold Sundial Brands in 2017, one of our stated missions was specifically to invest at least $100 million in women of color entrepreneurs through the New Voices Fund and other efforts; our vision was that when given the opportunity, Black women entrepreneurs will bring transformative wealth creation to their families and our communities. What Monique and Melvin are accomplishing with Mielle is a powerful example of the impact a successful and purposeful Black woman-owned business can have in driving economic impact to our community," said Richelieu Dennis, founder of the New Voices Fund, Essence Ventures, and Sundial Brands.

Dennis adds, "I am proud that they chose to partner with New Voices in 2019, and I am even more excited to partner with Monique, Melvin and Berkshire Partners on this next leg of their historic journey where I fully expect to help them surpass our successes and impact in the beauty space. This is what creating equity and closing the wealth gap looks like - us investing in us so that there are not just a few of us, but thousands of us creating generational wealth to reinvest in our communities."

William Blair & Company, L.L.C. served as the exclusive financial advisor to Mielle and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP served as legal counsel.

Press Contact:

Martine Charles

(206) 295-9114

[email protected]



Jennifer McIntosh

203-461-4461

[email protected]

SOURCE Mielle Organics
Caldwell Teens Charged After Disturbance

By West Kentucky Star Staff

CALDWELL COUNTY - Two teens face drug and other charges following a reported disturbance Tuesday afternoon in Caldwell County.Just before 4:30 pm, Caldwell County sheriffs deputies were dispatched to the 1200 block of Farmersville Road after a report that a male and female were banging on windows and doors. A deputy located the two individuals and conducted further investigation.Nineteen-year-old Nathaniel Mart of Princeton was arrested and lodged in the Caldwell County Jail. He's charged with public intoxication controlled substance (excludes alcohol), possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to notify an address change to the Department of Transportation.A 15-year-old juvenile was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
"Roe v. Wade" the movie is almost as controversial as the real life case it represents. Written and directed by Nick Loeb and Cathy Allyn, the film follows Dr. Bernard Nathanson (played by Loeb himself), a pioneering abortion doctor in the 1960s who later had a change of a heart and became an anti-abortion advocate.

The film was released direct to video last week and features a star-studded cast that includes conservatives such as Jon Voight, Stacey Dash, and Robert Davi. Now, "Roe v. Wade" actors are freely sharing their thoughts on how abortion was legalized, specifically because of fake news and the lack of scientific data.

In "Roe v. Wade" the film, Robert Davi plays William J. Brennan Jr., the U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice and leader of the liberal wing who supported abortion rights. Davi, who is known as FBI Special Agent Johnson in 1988's "Die Hard," shared to the Christian Post that he did extensive research on his role. He found that the real life Dr. Brennan was a Roman Catholic who argued for women's right to privacy because there was a lack of scientific data and used "fake news" to push their agenda instead.

Davi argued that while people "talk about the backdoor abortion issue," it is important to take a look at it from a "moral" standpoint. He said, "We didn't have the science back then. So now people that are seeing the science are having a little bit of a different feeling, especially from the younger generation."

Loeb also opened up about how abortion was legalized because of fake news back in the 1960s, when there was no Internet or social media. The director shared that there are several "parallels" between that era and today.

"We have this whole notion today of fake media and fake news, and people don't realize that's been existing since the beginning of time. Even back in the '70s, fake news was rampant," the "Roe v. Wade" actor and director revealed. "Essentially the pro-abortion side utilized fake media to move their agenda. They came out and even admitted it years later; they completely made up stuff to get their agenda passed."

In addition, a fact check resource on the "Roe v. Wade" film website showed how the actual number of women who died from illegal abortions annually was just at 250, while the statistic that was being fed to the media was 10,000, a false narrative that willing media companies never verified. They had followed a false narrative for years.

Loeb said the truth behind the movie was so moving that one of the actors was "converted" from being pro-choice to pro-life.

While several leftist media outlets have been quick to condemn the "Roe v. Wade" film for pushing the conservative agenda, some have taken a more open approach to reviewing it. Michael Augsberger, the editor of the International Catholic Film Critics Association wrote for NBC News, "Where 'Roe v. Wade' does shine, it's in the courtroom, where the Supreme Court justices and lawyers volley the most thought-provoking dialogue of the two-hour work."

But instead of picking a fight between sides, Augsberger calls upon both sides of "Roe v. Wade," writing, "We ought to respect our opponents enough to know that both sides approach abortion with intelligence, with compassion if not empathy and with the greater good in mind."
(Newser)  To the usual list of foul trash left behind or washed up on beaches around the world, add these: masks and gloves used by people to avoid the coronavirus and then discarded on the sand. In the past year, volunteers picking up trash on beaches from the Jersey Shore to California, the UK and Hong Kong have been finding discarded personal protective equipment. In Scotland, for instance, discarded PPE was found on nearly a quarter of the beaches cleaned last fall by the Marine Conservation Society. The latest example came Wednesday, the AP reports, when New Jersey's Clean Ocean Action environmental group released its annual tally of trash plucked from the state's shorelines. In addition to the plastics, cigarette butts, and food wrappers that sully the sand each year, the group's volunteers removed 1,113 masks. and other pieces of virus-related protective gear from New Jersey beaches last fall.

story continues below

"Used correctly PPE saves lives; disposed of incorrectly it kills marine life," said Cindy Zipf, the group's executive director. She asked that everyone dispose of PPE properly, in the trash, when they're finished with it. In the second half of 2020, more than 107,000 items of PPE were collected by volunteers around the world, according to the Ocean Conservancy groupa figure its members believe is a vast undercount. "Once in the environment, disposable PPE act like any other single-use plastic, likely never breaking down but rather breaking up into smaller and smaller pieces and persisting indefinitely," said an Ocean Conservancy official. That means the damage is cumulative, he said. Conservationists have reported sea birds becoming entangled in the ear straps of masks, and they worry that marine life could eat masks or gloves, mistaking them for food, and be harmed. Clean Ocean Action's beach sweeps also came across a back scrubber, a home pregnancy test, a bong, a check for $81, a New Orleans Saints flag, and a wooden pig's head.

(Read more littering stories.)
YEREVAN, 8 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 8 April, USD exchange rate up by 0.78 drams to 537.36 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.09 drams to 637.58 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.05 drams to 6.97 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 3.22 drams to 738.28 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 70.27 drams to 30027.46 drams. Silver price down by 0.33 drams to 431.65 drams. Platinum price up by 376.15 drams to 21440.17 drams.
China administers nearly 140 million COVID-19 vaccines

08:55, April 08, 2021 By Shen Shaotie ( People's Daily

A nurse administers COVID-19 vaccine to a senior citizen at a vaccination site in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 31. (People's Daily Online/Zhao Song)

China has administered 139.97 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by April 4, 2021, said the country's National Health Commission (NHC).

China is working to ensure its vaccination efforts in major areas and key industries based on the overall plan of the country, inoculating the eligible population as widely as possible and progressing in stages, said Wu Liangyou, deputy director of the NHC's Disease Prevention and Control Bureau.

The country is gathering resources to ensure inoculation in large- and medium-sized cities, port cities, and border areas with high risks of infection, and priorities are given to key groups including public sector employees, students and faculty of colleges and universities, as well as service staff of large supermarkets, Wu introduced, adding that vaccination for other groups is also in progress.

At present, Beijing, Shanghai and some other places in China have administered COVID-19 vaccines to senior citizens above the age of 60 and patients with chronic diseases who are willing to be vaccinated and in good physical conditions.

He Qinghua, an official with the NHC, noted that the commission will advance the vaccination campaign in an order of priority, following the principle of informed consent, voluntary participation and free inoculation.

The country is coordinating regular prevention and control with its vaccination efforts, ensuring that the regulatory responsibility of local governments and the oversight responsibility are fulfilled, and advancing its vaccination campaign in a more secured, orderly and forceful manner, He said.

Besides, China is also taking steps to include more people in its vaccination campaign to ensure their health, the official added.

So far, China has approved COVID-19 vaccines produced by five enterprises for conditional marketing or emergency use. Phase III clinical trials of three inactivated vaccines and one adenovirus vaccine showed that their efficacy met the requirements of China's National Medical Products Administration and the World Health Organization. Phase II trials of the recombinant protein subunit vaccine approved for emergency use showed the vaccine is safe and can induce a strong immune response.

"COVID-19 vaccines adopted by China have all gone through clinical studies in accordance with relevant standards, approved by national drug regulatory organizations and put into use after passing strict examination," said Li Bin, deputy head of the NHC.

All vaccines must be monitored and have their temperatures recorded at regular intervals to ensure that they meet the requirements regarding temperature environment and transportation.

China's health regulators also enhanced efforts on the training of health workers, requiring them to strictly obey operating instructions, so as to guarantee the efficacy and safety of the vaccines, Li added.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadway legends Gary Morris (Les Miserables & La Boheme) and Rema Webb (The Color Purple, The Lion King, etc.) pulled back the curtain on the DEA Educational Foundation's (DEAEF) 20th anniversary celebration on Thursday, March 25 for a show packed with stars from the theater scene. By the close of the show, more than $71,000 had been donated to support their after-school programs in over 50 cities across the U.S. The show featured performances and appearances by the following:

Max Bartos ( Sing Street )

( ) Alexandra Billings ( Wicked )

( ) Bryan Cranston (2x Tony Award Winner  All the Way & Network )

(2x Tony Award Winner  & ) Danny Gardner ( NY Spectacular starring the Rockettes & Dames at Sea )

( & ) Larry Gatlin ( The Will Rogers Follies )

( ) Kelli James ( Les Miserables )

( ) Chrissie McDonald ( Les Miserables )

( ) Eric Nelsen (Tony Award Nominee - The Inheritance )

(Tony Award Nominee - ) Rachel Resheff ( Mary Poppins , Billy Elliot: The Musical & Shrek the Musical )

( , & ) Michael James Scott ( Aladdin )

( ) Emily Skinner (Tony Award Nominee - Side Show , The Cher Show , Prince of Broadway , etc.)

(Tony Award Nominee - , , , etc.) Elizabeth Stanley (Grammy Award Winner - Jagged Little Pill )

(Grammy Award Winner - ) Rena Strober (Les Miserables)

THE DEA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION'S BROADWAY BENEFIT FEATURING BRYAN CRANSTON, ALEXANDRA BILLINGS & MORE RAISES OVER $71K

During the event, DEAEF President and CEO, Jill L. Roberts, and DEA's Chief of Community Outreach, Sean Fearns gave special remarks. For those that missed the broadcast, you can still view the program and donate to the DEAEF by visiting: http://broadway.deaeducationalfoundation.org/.

As Bryan Cranston stated in the broadcast, "During the Covid-19 pandemic, the DEA Educational Foundation quickly pivoted to reach America's youth and communities virtually, as they felt although nothing beats human-to-human interaction when it comes to education and role modeling, they just couldn't give up making a difference for those that they serve. It's great to see so many Broadway stars giving their all to benefit this worthy cause and I hope that you come to see us in NY as the theater world begins to open back up. I really appreciate your consideration in supporting the DEA Educational Foundation with a generous donation."

The extraordinary event celebrated the DEAEF's two-decade span of making an impact with youth and communities. The DEAEF provides the public with critical information about the dangers of drug abuse and instills hope through its positive and healthy after-school programs.

For more information on the DEAEF, visit www.deaeducationalfoundation.org.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-dea-educational-foundations-stars-of-broadway-shine-on-the-deaef-benefit-raises-over-71k-for-their-after-school-programs-301265342.html

SOURCE DEA Educational Foundation
New Delhi, April 8 : The promoter group of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has informed the company that there has been no violation of SEBI Takeover Regulations and it has complied with the applicable laws.

The RIL promoter group has also said that an appeal will be referred to the Securities Appellate Tribunal and it remains confident of vindicating its position, as per an RIL filing.

As per a regulatory filing, RIL had issued debentures with convertible warrants in the year 1994 and allotted equity shares against the warrants in the year 2000.

SEBI had issued a show cause notice in February 2011 (more than 11 years after acquisition of shares) to the then promoter and promoter group (as in the year 2000) alleging violation of Regulation 11(1) of SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997.

The show cause notice has now been adjudicated (21 years after acquisition of shares) and a penalty in the sum of Rs 25 crore has been levied on the then promoter and promoter group.

"The promoter and promoter group have informed RIL: a) that there has been no violation of Regulation 11(1) of the SEBI Takeover Regulations and they have complied with applicable laws; and b) an appeal will be preferred to the Securities Appellate Tribunal and they remain confident of vindicating their position," the filing said.
A new study shows that several disagreements between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt around Africa's largest hydropower plant, the new Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), could be alleviated by massively expanding solar and wind power across the region. Adapting GERD operation to support grid integration of solar and wind power would provide tangible energy and water benefits to all involved countries, creating regional win-win situations. "Our results call for integrated hydro-solar-wind planning to be taken up in the GERD negotiations," says Sebastian Sterl, energy planning expert at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and KU Leuven in Belgium and lead author of the study, published in Nature Energy.

For several years, political tensions between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have been escalating in a conflict surrounding Africa's largest hydropower plant: the nearly complete Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile. Ethiopia, which started filling GERD's massive reservoir in 2020, says it needs GERD's electricity to lift millions of its citizens out of poverty. But Egypt is deeply concerned by the mega-dam's consequences for the Nile river, since its agriculture depends completely on Nile water -Egypt raised this issue to the UN Security Council earlier in 2020. Sudan, meanwhile, appears caught between both sides. Ongoing African Union-led mediation talks to agree on long-term operation of the dam have so far yielded little fruit. Certain tongues have even invoked the looming threat of a "water war" between Cairo and Addis Ababa.

Seasonal profiles

Sebastian Sterl, energy planning expert at VUB and KU Leuven and lead author of the study, explains: "The Blue Nile is a highly seasonal river. The GERD's reservoir is so large that it can store the river's full peak flow and deliver hydropower at a stable rate throughout the year, removing the flow seasonality. This makes a lot of sense from the Ethiopian perspective, but it overhauls the natural timing of the water reaching Sudan and Egypt. Behind many disagreements around GERD lies the question of who, if anyone, should be allowed to exert such control over the Nile river."

A group of researchers based in Belgium and Germany, led by Sterl, have now identified a surprising method that could solve multiple disagreements around the dam at once and benefit all three countries. The idea boils down to massively deploying modern, clean solar and wind power to serve as a complement to GERD's hydropower. More concretely: the researchers propose that Ethiopia and its neighbours deploy large-scale solar and wind farms, work towards a regionally integrated power grid, and then agree on Ethiopia operating GERD in synergy with solar and wind power. This would mean turbining less water on sunny and windy days, and more water during cloudy, windless spells and at nighttime, to "firm up" the always-fluctuating solar and wind power.

The researchers realised that sunshine and wind in many regions of Ethiopia, Sudan and their eastern African neighbours have opposite seasonal profiles to the Blue Nile flow. In these places, the sun shines brightest and the winds blow strongest during the dry season. This "seasonal synergy" between water, sun and wind lies at the heart of the researchers' findings.

The study found that, if GERD were operated to back up solar and wind power throughout the year - both hourly and seasonally - this would automatically mean producing less hydropower during the dry season, and more during the wet season, without negatively affecting GERD's yearly average power output. The water flowing out of the dam would then have a seasonality somewhat resembling the natural river flow, with a clear peak in the wet season.

According to Sterl, if GERD were operated in this way, "Essentially, Ethiopia would have all the expected benefits of a big dam - but for Sudan and Egypt, it would look as if the Ethiopians only built a modest, relatively small reservoir. There are many such reservoirs already on the Nile, so no country downstream of Ethiopia could really object to this."

Regional cooperation

By reconciling parties around common energy and water objectives, the researchers identified at least five concrete benefits of such integrated hydro-solar-wind planning. First, Ethiopia could become Africa's largest power exporter while reducing its dependence on hydropower and lowering its electricity generation costs on the long term. Second, consumption of polluting fossil fuels in Sudan and other eastern African countries could be displaced by solar and wind power, backed up by GERD. Third, thanks to the proposed operation scheme of GERD, Egypt could receive more water during dry years than before and would not need to change the operation of its own High Aswan Dam. Fourth, Ethiopia would make more efficient use of its mega-dam's more than a dozen turbines by frequently producing at peak power whenever solar and wind would be unavailable. And fifth, Nile river ecology across Sudan would be less affected by the new dam, as flow seasonality is an important component of rivers' ecological sustainability.

According to the authors, the entire eastern African region stands to contribute. "Ethiopia could theoretically go alone, using GERD to back up its own solar and wind power," says Sterl. "But it would work much better if, say, Sudan were to join in - it has better solar and wind resources than Ethiopia, allowing for better hydro-solar-wind synergies and reducing the overall costs of renewable power generation. Egypt has great solar and wind resources too, as do Djibouti, South Sudan and other eastern African countries. Regional cooperation in a common, Eastern African Power Pool could be key."

The results of the study suggest that integrated hydro-solar-wind planning could be a highly interesting option to discuss in the ongoing GERD negotations between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. "You could call it a win-win situation," says prof. Wim Thiery, climate researcher at VUB and co-author of the study. "The entire region would benefit."

Model

The researchers obtained their results by using a dedicated, highly detailed computer model (REVUB) conceived to simulate the operation of hydropower dams alongside other renewables, like solar and wind power. The model was originally created by the same VUB-researchers in 2019 to study renewable electricity scenarios for West Africa. Later, as the GERD negotiations became more and more present in the media, the researchers realised they could directly apply the same tool to study solar and wind power as potential solutions to the GERD conflict.

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As casualties have mounted in their bloody drive on the strategic northern city of Marib, Yemen's Iran-backed rebels have turned to the one form of music they allow -- lyric poetry -- to rouse patriotic spirits

Yemen's Huthi rebels, whose austere interpretation of Islam outlaws most forms of music, are increasingly turning to traditional poetry to woo support in a "soft war" against the Saudi-backed government.

Short-form poems, known as zawamil, are a much-loved part of Yemen's tribal heritage, played or performed at weddings and other social occasions.

In the hands of the Huthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa and most of the north, they have become a vehicle for martial music and propaganda against the government's Gulf Arab and Western supporters.

Zawamil are popular across Yemen -- in the government-held south as well as the rebel-held north.

But the rebel administration in Sanaa has invested greater effort in their production for propaganda purposes and has stepped up its output in recent months.

Six years after a Saudi-led military intervention pushed impoverished Yemen into a protracted war of attrition, the ground fighting has intensified with a bloody battle for the city of Marib, the government's last significant toehold in the north.

The Iran-backed rebels believe their capture of the city and its surrounding oil fields would give them vital leverage in negotiations on ending the war -- talks that US President Joe Biden says must start soon.

As the casualties have mounted, so too has the rebels' production of patriotic-themed zawamil to inspire supporters to head to the front.

- From Marib to Jerusalem -

Earlier this year, they released a song called "Marib is ours", composed by one of their most famous poets, Issa al-Laith, and recorded by their own production company.

"Marib is ours, not for you hypocrites, who sold your religion and nation for (Saudi) riyals," the lyrics say.

It and similar anthems lambasting the government as a puppet of Yemen's wealthy Gulf Arab neighbours dominate the air waves in rebel-held areas.

In addition to the millions of views on YouTube and SoundCloud, such compositions are regularly performed at weddings and at the traditional afternoon gatherings where Yemeni men chew the narcotic qat and talk politics.

Story continues

According to Ahmed al-Arami, executive director of the Arabia Felix Center for Studies, zawamil are "the only form of music which the Huthis can allow".

Since the current conflict erupted in 2014, the rebels have seized large swathes of the country in which they have imposed their strict rules on dress, gender segregation and entertainment.

The Huthis are followers of the minority Zaidi faith, an offshoot of Shiite Islam that incorporates elements of Sunni jurisprudence, and prohibit all other forms of music as un-Islamic.

"This art form is to a large extent similar in its role and purpose to the spirited anthems of jihadist and Muslim groups in general, such as (Lebanon's) Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda and (Palestinian Islamist group) Hamas," Arami said.

- 'Intercontinental weapon' -

A number of composers and vocalists in the rebel-held capital declined to speak to AFP about their poems.

But the propaganda value of zawamil is not lost on the rebels. A long article published on the website of their Al-Masirah television station described the short poems as an "intercontinental weapon" in their "soft war" against the government and its allies.

"A thousand Beethovens could not come up with (zawamil) whose words are sonnets that a thousand Shakespeares could not come up with," it said.

In their lyrics, rebel poets often take up popular Arab causes, like the Palestinian claim to east Jerusalem and its revered Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third holiest site.

In the song "Marib is ours", the vocalist urges listeners to "protect lands to the west and east, and liberate Al-Aqsa from the (Israeli) occupation".

Washington is a frequent target for the poets' anger because of the surveillance and refuelling support it gave until recently to the Saudi-led bombing campaign against rebel-held areas.

"Who else but America has supported strikes on homes?" one popular poem asks.

"Who else has rung the bells of war? How often has it fought us with signals and remotes and, today, it comes to us with Arabs as its guards."

Supporters of the government have responded with compositions of their own, although Arami said their output has been less well organised than the rebels'.

Their anthem, "Free people of Marib", which was released late last year, also appeals to Yemeni nationalism, but portrays the rebels as unpatriotic for taking their ideological lead from Iran.

It refers to the rebels as "grandchildren" of Iran's late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and promises that the Yemeni army will "teach them a lesson".

sy/mah/dm/kir
By Choe Chong-dae





Mother Teresa (1910-1997) was revered by millions as a true mother figure, philanthropist and an extraordinarily special human being. She was an Albanian Catholic sister with neither wealth nor power. She gave herself to others with tireless energy and without expecting anything in return. I am deeply moved by her compassion for the poorest of the poor.



Why am I writing about Mother Teresa? It's an uncommon story.



An old American friend, Dr. Frank Tedesco, was an expat in Korea when he flew to India for research in early 1997. On his way back to Seoul, he volunteered for a week at a disabled children's' home in Calcutta, India run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. Frank was to have an audience with the Holy Mother but could not because she was gravely ill. She passed away later that year. In lieu of meeting her in person, her attending sister gave Frank an envelope with nine small Miraculous Medals which the Holy Mother had blessed.



He was to share them with the Missionary sisters back in Korea. Frank put the envelope in a safe place. So safe he lost it! Twenty-four years later, Frank recently found the envelope in an old suitcase in storage in Florida. To his chagrin, he realized that he had failed to share the medals with the nuns in Korea!



The yellowing envelope included a note to the Indian head sister and an old address and phone number. Being aware of my interest in religious matters, Frank, a Buddhist scholar, called me to find the current address of the convent. Although I am not Catholic but follow of Chondo-gyo (Dong-hak, Eastern Learning), a Korean native religion, the story reminded me of Mother Teresa's universal healing mission.



I managed to contact the Missionaries of Charity in Incheon to trace Sister Drusilla, the "point person" mentioned in the note. Sister Drusilla had returned to the Missionaries of Charity's home in Calcutta years ago. The very busy Mission Home there is hard to reach. Much has changed since Mother Theresa's canonization, but the sisters still adhere to their vows of chastity, poverty, obedience and "wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor."



When the head sister in Incheon learned that Frank, a former U.S. Peace Corps volunteer leprosy worker in 1980 in Korea, has been a long-time end-of-life chaplain, she advised him to give the medals to the terminally ill and staff who care for them. Frank informed me that he had already given a Miraculous Medal to Sangita, the founder of a Hare Krishna hospice in India, who mentioned her awe of Mother Teresa during a hospice care training. The intent of Saint Teresa's gift was not lost after all!



Frank gave a second Miraculous Medal to Saint Teresa of Calcutta Community Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. The priest was elated to display a Miraculous Medal blessed by the Holy Mother in the church's reliquary. You can watch the presentation at. https://vimeo.com/527002531. Dr. Tedesco's story begins about 26 minutes into the Mass. He ends his talk with a short quote from the ancient Buddhist scripture The Dhammapada!



Frank is looking for other recipients whose lives emulate Mother Teresa's selfless service to the neediest. Many, many people today are desperate for spiritual support. Twenty-four years later, and continents away, the Miraculous and Spiritual Medals are again providing the healing of Mother Teresa's love through a compassionate Buddhist teacher in Florida!





Choe Chong-dae is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association. He can be reached at choecd@naver.com


Authorities are asking for the publics help in identifying remains found earlier this week in Birminghams Bush Hills community.

The discovery was made shortly before 3:30 p.m. Tuesday inside a vacant house at 1438 Eufuala Avenue. A nearby resident told authorities that a homeless man, who had not been seen for several months, was known to sit on the front porch of the house and was known by the nickname Jerry Wayne.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said the decomposing remains likely had been there from weeks to months. The adult Black male between the ages of 50 to 70.

He was no taller than 5-feet, 5-inches, had a medium build, black hair and black facial hair. Yates said the man had no restorative dental work, body piercings or tattoos, no healed fractures and no medical or orthopedic implants.

The man was wearing a gray long-sleeve sweatshirt with black horizontal stripes and dark-colored pants.

Anyone who believes that the remains could be those of a missing family member or friend should contact the coroners office at 205-930-3603.
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A letter signed by 275 sheriffs from all across the United States was sent to President Joe Biden on April 7 imploring him to secure the nation's borders and end the illegal migration crisis raging at our southern border. The sheriffs, representing 39 states, expressed their grave concerns about the national security and humanitarian crisis at the border and laid the blame squarely on the president's policies.

"America's Sheriffs are deeply troubled about the dangerous impacts your administration's border policies are having on our citizens, legal residents and communities," they wrote. The elected law enforcement officials, from both political parties, demanded that the Biden administration take immediate action to restore order at the border. "You must act now before our nation's public safety resources are overwhelmed with the criminal side effects of unchecked illegal immigration, including transnational gangs, guns, dangerous drugs and human trafficking," they warned.

Mark Morgan, a Senior Fellow at the Federation for American Immigration Reform and former chief of the U.S. Border Patrol and former acting director of Customs and Border Protection reaffirmed the urgency of the sheriffs' demand for action. "I have just returned from the southern border. What I witnessed was nothing short of an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, and a national security and public health crisis  one which was created by this administration beginning the day President Biden took office.

"The president's open border policies are directly responsible for the abuse and death of children at the hands of criminal cartels, and an invitation to criminals and terrorists to prey on the American people. Hundreds of sheriffs and other law enforcement professionals, as well as local government officials in affected communities are telling the president it is time for immediate action, not words, to end the crisis he created."

Dan Stein, president of FAIR, concurred with the sheriffs' assessment of the dangers of the Biden immigration policies. "These local law enforcement officials have been dealing with the impact of unsecured borders for decades, as criminal cartels have taken root in their communities. Every day, as the Biden administration releases people we know nothing about, into communities all across the nation, the threats to public safety and public health grow evermore grave. President Biden has the obligation and the ability to restore policies that were in place when he took office that had checked the flow of migrants crossing our borders. He has a moral and constitutional obligation to do so immediately."

The full text of the sheriffs' letter and signatories can be found here.

Contact: Matthew Tragesser, 202-328-7004 or [email protected]

ABOUT FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)

Related Links

https://www.fairus.org/


Elon Musk has now said he does support COVID-19 vaccines because the 'science is unequivocal', just one month after he stoked fears about 'negative reactions' to second shots.

The Tesla boss sought to clarify his views to his over 50 million Twitter followers Wednesday insisting 'I do support vaccines in general & covid vaccines specifically' and saying that 'rare' allergic reactions can be 'easily addressed'.

His comments mark just the latest aboutface for the controversial billionaire who has repeatedly drawn ire over his reaction to the pandemic.

Over the last year, Musk has gone from calling fears of the virus 'dumb', to falsely claiming children are 'essentially immune' and branding lockdowns 'fascist' before pledging to make ventilators to support states in bringing the outbreak under control.

Elon Musk has now said he does support COVID-19 vaccines because the 'science is unequivocal', just one month after he stoked fears about 'negative reactions' to second shots

'To be clear, I do support vaccines in general & covid vaccines specifically. The science is unequivocal,' Musk tweeted Wednesday.

'In very rare cases, there is an allergic reaction, but this is easily addressed with an EpiPen.'

Musk stirred up concerns about the safety of the vaccine last month when he suggested the second dose of two-shot vaccines could be harmful.

The 49-year-old was replying to a post someone had shared about their parents' refusing to get the vaccine 'based on stuff they saw on Facebook.'

Musk appeared to add fuel to the so-called 'Facebook brainwashing effect' cited by the social media user when he raised concerns about 'quite a few negative reactions' to the second shot.

'For sure wise for elderly or immunocompromised to take the vaccine. Some debate about the second jab though. Quite a few negative reactions to that,' Musk tweeted on March 12.

After initially backtracking on his comments Wednesday, Musk later appeared to double down on his doubts over the second dose.

'Probably J&J, but BioNtech & Moderna are good too. Some debate imo as to whether a second synthetic mRNA shot is really needed, but the first is a no-brainer,' he replied to a user's comment.

Both the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines approved in the US require a second dose for maximum protection against COVID-19.

The Tesla boss sought to clarify his views to his over 50 million Twitter followers Wednesday insisting 'I do support vaccines in general & covid vaccines specifically'

Musk later suggested he still does not want to be vaccinated so that someone more in need can get it instead

The second Pfizer shot should be administered 21 days after the first and the Moderna 28 days after.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one shot.

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Monday urged Americans to continue to get both doses of Pfizer and Moderna, warning that people may be 'in a tenuous zone if you don't have the full impact' of both doses.

A CDC study this week found both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine was 80 percent effective in preventing infections among health-care and other essential workers, rising to 90 percent two weeks after the second dose.

Separate studies show that side effects are more frequent after the second dose but severe allergic reactions are still very rare with just 4.5 incidents of allergic reactions reported for every million second dose of Pfizer administered, according to CDC data.

His comments come after he stirred up concerns about the safety of the vaccine last month when he suggested the second dose of two-shot vaccines could be harmful (above)

Despite his reservations, Musk suggested he does not want to be vaccinated so that someone more in need can get it instead.

'When you said you weren't getting it since you had Covid was that because you don't want it, or you think someone else would benefit more since you have some immunity to it already?' one person asked him on Twitter Wednesday.

'Latter,' Musk replied.

When another person commented that 'there will be plenty in a few months', the Tesla boss responded: 'A tidal wave of vaccine is being produced!'

It is not clear if Musk now plans to get the vaccine down the line when he believes there are enough doses to go around and when his apparent immunity has decreased.

A third of all Americans have now received at least one dose of the vaccine with 19.4 percent of the population fully vaccinated.

In November Musk said he 'most likely' had COVID-19 after he tested both positive and negative twice

From April 19, all American adults will be eligible to get the vaccine under Joe Biden's updated requirements to ramp up the rollout.

Back in September, Musk vowed he and his children will not get the vaccine when one becomes available to them because he said they are 'not at risk' of the virus.

'No, I'm not at risk for COVID. Nor are my kids,' he said in an interview on the New York Times' podcast Sway.

This came after Musk tweeted in November that he 'most likely' had COVID-19 after he declared 'something extremely bogus is going on' when he took tests and received conflicting results.

'Am getting wildly different results from different labs, but most likely I have a moderate case of COVID,' he said.

Over the last year, Musk has gone from calling fears of the virus 'dumb', to falsely claiming children are 'essentially immune' and branding lockdowns 'fascist' before pledging to make ventilators to support states in bringing the outbreak under control. Pictured Musk with partner Grimes and their son

'My symptoms are that of a minor cold, which is no surprise, since a coronavirus is a type of cold.'

Days earlier Musk claimed to have taken four coronavirus tests in a day, two coming back positive and two negative.

'Was tested for covid four times today. Two tests came back negative, two came back positive. Same machine, same test, same nurse. Rapid antigen test from BD,' he wrote.

Musk has repeatedly downplayed the extent of the virus which has so far killed more than 559,000 Americans.

In early March last year, he fired off a tweet dismissing rising fears over the coronavirus outbreak as 'dumb' as cases mounted across the US.

'The coronavirus panic is dumb,' he wrote.

Days later on March 19, when stay-at-home orders were being introduced across much of America, he incorrectly predicted that the pandemic would be all but over by the end of April.

Last March he incorrectly predicted that the pandemic would be all but over by the end of April

Last month, it emerged that hundreds of employees at the site in Alameda County (above) had contracted COVID-19 after being told to return to work

'Based on current trends, probably close to zero new cases in US too by end of April,' he wrote.

He then incorrectly told his followers that children were 'essentially immune' to the virus and blasted the nationwide lockdowns as 'de facto house arrest.'

Musk then appeared to have a change of heart, however, when he delivered over 1,000 ventilators to a California hospital and vowed to reopen Tesla's New York factory to help make and distribute ventilators to the embattled state.

In May, he announced he was moving Tesla's HQ to Texas from California because of local lockdown rules as he defied officials and reopened his plant anyway.

Last month, it emerged that hundreds of employees at the site in Alameda County had contracted COVID-19 after being told to return to work.

Around 450 of 10,000 workers at the plant contracted COVID-19 between May and December 2020, according to data obtained by The Washington Post.


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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky statred a working trip to Donbas, where he will meet with the Ukrainian military who are serving on the front line, the presidential website said on Thursday.

"The head of state will visit the frontline positions, where the regime of a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire has been systematically violated recently and where Ukrainian defenders were killed and wounded as a result of enemy shelling. Zelensky is going to Donbas as the supreme commander in chief to communicate with the military and maintain the morale of the defenders," the presidential service said.
Australian parents could be offered 26 weeks paid parental leave after the birth of a child in a new proposal that would give dads months more time off.

Boosting the time fathers can spend with their newborns hopes to share caring responsibilities between partners and increase female workforce participation.

Consultancy firm KPMG have flagged the proposal to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, with the aim of getting it implemented through federal parliament.

Australian woman get 18 weeks paid leave after having a child, but new fathers are allocated just two weeks.

A radical proposal could see mums and dads in Australia both offered 26 weeks paid time off following the birth of a child (stock image)

The radical proposal would give both parents 20 weeks off, including same-sex couples, according to the Australian Financial Review.

This would increase to 26 weeks over six years, rising by two weeks every two years.

KPMG Australia chairperson Alison Kitchen said the aim of the proposed scheme was to entice men to be more hands on in raising their own children.

'We think the current leave scheme is a social and economic issue and definitely a women's participation in the workforce issue,' she said.

'We also want men to feel they are thoroughly enjoying the experience and are better set up for their whole parenting career.'

Number crunchers at KPMG believe the proposal would cost the Morrison Government approximately $1.1billion in additional payments to parents.

Leading consultancy firm KPMG will flag the parental leave proposal to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, with the aim to share caring responsibilities between men and women

However, they claim $140billion could be saved over the next two decades by reducing the workforce participation gap between men and women.

KPMG economics and tax centre partner Grant Wardell-Johnson is adamant Australia needs to address and change the participation of men when it comes to children's care.

More than 99 per cent of government paid parental leave for the private sector is snapped up by mothers.

Mr Wardell-Johnson also pointed to the many Australian workers who are self employed or work for smaller business as another reason to alter the current scheme.
WASHINGTON - The Biden administration next week will launch a funeral assistance program that will give up to $9,000 to cover the burial costs of each American who died of covid-19 - the largest program of its type ever offered by the federal government.

The program is open to families, regardless of their income, as long as they show documentation and have not already gotten similar benefits through another program.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has reimbursed for burial costs before, but it has never offered as large a payment to so many people. In 2017, for example, FEMA paid $2.6 million to 976 people for funeral costs of victims of three hurricanes - an average of $2,664 per applicant.

But the novel coronavirus's immense toll means a burial assistance program of an unprecedented scale is now being assembled. More than 557,000 Americans have died of covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Because the number of people who will be eligible is not known, neither is the program's ultimate cost - but it will easily be several billion dollars. FEMA is setting up a dedicated toll-free hotline - 1-844-684-6333 - and a call center to answer questions about the program and take applications starting Monday.

"Although we cannot change what has happened, we affirm our commitment to help with funeral and burial expenses that many families did not anticipate," acting FEMA administrator Bob Fenton said in a statement.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both New York Democrats, have been pushing to help families pay for burials since last spring, when covid-19 was ravaging their state and mobile morgues were needed to handle the surge of deaths.

"To not be able to give a decent funeral and burial to someone who is near and dear to you is outrageous," Schumer said at the time. He said people were losing their jobs and without enough money to eat, at the same time as they needed to pay for funerals of loved ones.

Ocasio-Cortez said the pandemic that disproportionately affected Latinos and Black Americans was "decimating an already vulnerable community. . . . The absolute least we can do is to help these families bury their loved ones. It is the very core, basic measure of human dignity."

Funeral aid was held up during the worst of the crisis last year until then-President Donald Trump signed a nearly $1 trillion covid stimulus bill in the final weeks of his administration. The details were never made clear, but maximum benefit discussed at the time was $7,000 and the funeral assistance program was to be capped at $2 billion.

After President Joe Biden took office and signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan last month, the program was expanded. The funeral aid - even if it doubles from the $2 billion in the measure signed by Trump - is still a tiny fraction of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, which was opposed by all but a few congressional Republicans.

There are significant challenges in administrating a program of this type. Already, the FEMA website describing the funeral assistance program is alerting people to possible scams: "Fraud Alert: We have received reports of scammers reaching out to people offering to register them for funeral assistance. FEMA has not sent any such notifications and we do not contact people prior to them registering for assistance."

According to FEMA, applicants must be "a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national, or qualified alien" who paid for funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020. In addition, the applicant must show a death certificate that states that the death occurred in the United States and "may have been caused by or was likely the result of COVID-19."

If any other assistance was already received - from money available to veterans, or burial insurance, or some other program - the aid "will be reduced by the amount of other assistance the applicant received for the same expenses."

Throughout the pandemic, some people started GoFundMe fundraising accounts online asking strangers to help pay for funerals. Local governments, nonprofits and churches have been pitching in to help families pay funeral bills in many parts of the country, and many will welcome the help from the federal government.

"It's a well-intended program that will benefit many," said Bryant Hightower, a Georgia funeral director who is a spokesman for the National Funeral Directors Association.

But Hightower also said he thought it would be a difficult program to administer. For instance, when an applicant submits a funeral bill that is stamped "paid," he wasn't sure how FEMA officials would know whether burial insurance had been used to pay for it.

Hightower said that when he and other funeral directors first heard about a possible funeral assistance program, he was told that the maximum benefit would be about $7,000. "We thought it might end up being half of that," he said. "Quite frankly, we were really surprised when they came out with $9,000."

The bulk of those eligible have already paid the expenses and must produce receipts and other documentation of what was paid for caskets or urns, burial plots, headstones, funerals, and other costs detailed by FEMA.

David Harrington, a Kenyon College economist who has studied the funeral industry, said the program would likely end up giving more money to wealthier families than poorer ones, at least for funerals from January 2020 until now. Those with more money probably chose a pricier casket and more expensive headstone and have receipts showing they spent $9,000 or more, and so can get the maximum benefit. But the receipts from a low-income family who opted for a no-frills burial will yield a smaller government check.

Harrington said may change after people become aware of this benefit. "There's no reason to get a $1,500 cremation if they'll pay for a $9,000 funeral," he said.

In the early weeks of the pandemic, many victims, especially those in nursing homes, were suspected of dying of covid-19, but testing was limited. In many cases, overwhelmed doctors and nurses were more concerned with caring for the living rather than testing the dead. Many death certificates, therefore, did not mention covid-19.

Now, to be reimbursed, many families may need to seek out doctors or coroners to amend death certificates.

"This is going to cause some issues," Hightower said. "It is really going to fall to the doctors and their comfort levels with amending the death certificates."

Saeeda Dunston, executive director of Elmcor Youth and Adult Activities in New York City, said people were forced to make tough decisions, choosing whether to pay funeral costs or pay rent or buy school supplies for their children. Burying a loved one meant cutting back on groceries and even standing in a food bank line.

"People depleted their entire savings" or put themselves into debt to cover funeral costs, Dunston said. "We should be trying our best to reach the people who need this most to let them know this is available."
Company Intends to Repurchase Up to $500 Million of Common Stock Through Self-Tender Offer

KKRs Head of Americas Technology Private Equity, John Park, to Join Box Board

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Box, Inc. (NYSE: BOX), the leading Content Cloud, and KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced an agreement for KKR funds to lead a $500 million investment in the company in the form of convertible preferred stock. The investment from KKR will advance the companys strategy to deliver the Box Content Cloud and enable customers to modernize how they work and drive digital transformation throughout their organizations.

Box anticipates using substantially all of the proceeds to fund a share repurchase through a Dutch auction self-tender of up to $500 million of its common stock, with specific amount and pricing of the self-tender to be determined based on market conditions and stock prices at the time when the self-tender is launched. The self-tender is expected to commence after Box releases its fiscal first quarter financial results in May 2021. Further details on the self-tender will be included in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at the time of its commencement.

The investment from KKR is a strong vote of confidence in our vision, strategy, and continued efforts to increase growth and profitability, said Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO of Box. KKR is one of the worlds leading technology investors with a deep understanding of our market and a proven track record of partnering successfully with companies to create value and drive growth. With their support, we will be even better positioned to build on Boxs leadership in cloud content management as we continue to deliver value for our customers around the world.

We are pleased to establish this relationship with KKR and bring their teams expertise to Box at this important time in the companys evolution, said Dana Evan, Lead Independent Director of Box Board of Directors. Our Board has been focused on ways to support and accelerate the companys strategy while driving shareholder value. After undertaking a comprehensive review of a wide range of strategic options, the Board unanimously determined that continuing to execute Boxs long-term strategy in combination with a significant share repurchase and the support of KKR, is the optimal path to drive the companys next phase of growth.

Continued Evolution of the Board of Directors and Strengthened Corporate Governance

Upon closing of the transaction, John Park, Head of Americas Technology Private Equity at KKR, will join Boxs Board of Directors. With this addition, Boxs Board will be expanded to ten directors.

Mr. Levie continued, We are thrilled to welcome John, a highly respected voice in the technology industry, to the Board. John brings substantial experience advising and supporting software and other technology companies with a focus on the cloud. We look forward to adding his expertise to our Board as Box continues innovating and transforming how enterprises work in the digital age.

Box has a highly differentiated product platform with a customer-centric vision that makes it an ideal investment for KKR, said Mr. Park. Under Aarons leadership, Box has been transforming and simplifying how people and businesses work, and I look forward to working closely with him, Boxs Board and the broader leadership team to support the company in its next stage of growth.

Box also announced today that current director Bethany Mayer will be appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors, effective May 1, 2021. Ms. Mayer joined the Box Board in April 2020 as an independent director. Ms. Mayer brings more than 30 years of strategic leadership experience driving growth for technology companies, including operating roles as former CEO of Ixia, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Networking Business Unit at Hewlett Packard, and Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Alliances at Blue Coat Systems. Current Board Chair and Box CEO Aaron Levie will remain on the Box Board of Directors.

As we continue to evolve our Board and adopt best-in-class corporate governance practices, we are pleased to name Bethany as Chair, said Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO of Box. Bethanys deep technology experience scaling multi-billion-dollar enterprise businesses at various stages and sizes has been incredibly valuable to me and the entire Board. Were looking forward to working with her in this new role.

Box has pioneered cloud content management and I believe we have the right strategy and right team in place to further cement our leadership position in the market by driving growth, operational efficiency, and shareholder value, said Bethany Mayer. Im thrilled to take on the role of Board Chair and to continue to work closely with Aaron and the rest of the Board as we lead the company forward.

Advancing the Box Content Cloud and Driving Next Phase of Growth

Box today reaffirmed its vision to deliver the Content Cloud and drive profitable growth. Bolstered by the support of KKR, the company is focused on advancing its land-and-expand strategy to generate growth from new and existing customers while driving continued demand for its advanced product capabilities and adoption of Box Suites. To further open up new areas for growth and innovation, the company is growing its product portfolio and expanding its presence in key international markets.

To accelerate its strategy Box has expanded into new market adjacencies like e-signatures with Box Sign, the new e-signature capability that will be natively embedded in Box, while also continuing to double down on product areas like Box Shield and Box Governance for advanced security and compliance, and Box Relay for workflow automation. Box also continues to cultivate strong partnerships with leading technology companies and system integrators, including IBM, Google, Salesforce, Slack, Zoom, Cisco Okta, and Microsoft, to ensure it is delivering its Content Cloud to customers at scale.

As previously announced, Box is committed to achieving a revenue growth rate between 12-16%, with operating margins of between 23-27%, by fiscal 2024. Box remains confident in its ability to achieve these results based on the customer momentum underway, as well as the companys product roadmap and the total addressable market opportunity ahead.

Investment Terms

KKR will lead the purchase of $500 million of convertible preferred stock. The preferred stock will be convertible into shares of Box common stock at a conversion price of $27.00 per share. In the event that the 10-day volume-weighted average price, or VWAP, ending April 21, 2021 is less than a threshold price of $20.77 per share, the conversion price will be proportionately adjusted downward from $27.00. Any downward adjustment will maintain the same ratio of conversion price to 10-day VWAP as the unadjusted conversion price to such threshold price, subject to a minimum conversion price of $24.00 per share. The investment from KKR is being made through certain of its investment funds.

The preferred stock carries a 3% dividend, which will be payable in kind or in cash, at Boxs election. On an as-converted basis, the preferred stock will represent approximately 11% of Boxs shares outstanding after giving effect to the investment and before any share repurchases.

The preferred stock can be converted into common stock at any time, and Box may be required to redeem the preferred stock after seven years.

Conversely, Box can require conversion into common stock after three years if the stock price exceeds certain thresholds and can redeem the preferred stock after five years, subject to a call schedule.

Consummation of this investment is subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Box currently expects the investment to close in May 2021.

Further details will be included in a Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC in due course.

Advisors

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor to Box. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. and Sidley Austin LLP are serving as legal advisors to Box.

About John Park

John Park leads the technology industry team within KKRs Americas Private Equity platform. He is also a member of the Investment Committee and Portfolio Management Committee for Americas Private Equity. Mr. Park is currently a member of the Board of Directors of BMC Software, Calabrio, Corel, Internet Brands, Optiv and Ticket Monster, and was involved with KKR's investments in ASG Technologies, Autodata Solutions, Cylance, Epicor, Exact, GoDaddy, Mitchell International, Ping Identity, Reliance Jio Platforms and SunGard Data Systems.

Mr. Park holds an A.B., cum laude, in Economics from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

About Bethany Mayer

Bethany Mayer is currently an executive partner at Siris Capital Group and serves on the public company Board of Directors of Box, Inc. (BOX), Lam Research Inc (LRC), Marvell Technologies (MRVL), and Sempra Energy (SRE). Prior to joining Siris Capital Group, she was the President and Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Ixia, a publicly-traded company and a leader in test, visibility and security solutions. Mayer served as CEO of Ixia when it was acquired by Keysight Technologies Inc. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Networking Business Unit at Hewlett Packard and Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Alliances at Blue Coat Systems.

Ms. Mayer holds an M.B.A. from California State University, Monterey Bay and bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University.

About Box

Box (NYSE: BOX) is a leading cloud content management platform that enables organizations to accelerate business processes, power workplace collaboration, and protect their most valuable information, all while working with a best-of-breed enterprise IT stack. Founded in 2005, Box simplifies work for leading organizations globally, including AstraZeneca, JLL, and Morgan Stanley. Box is headquartered in Redwood City, CA, with offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia. To learn more about Box, visit http://www.box.com. To learn more about how Box powers nonprofits to fulfill their missions, visit Box.org.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management and capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKRs insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of The Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKRs investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKRs website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If the risks or uncertainties ever materialize or the assumptions prove incorrect, our results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking, including, but not limited to, statements about the contemplated investment and whether and when such investment would be consummated and achievement of its potential benefits; any potential repurchase of shares of Box common stock, whether, when, in what amount and by what method (whether by tender offer or otherwise) any such repurchase would be consummated, and the per share price of any such repurchase; our future financial and operating results, including expectations regarding revenues, deferred revenue, billings, remaining performance obligations, gross margins and operating income; our market opportunity, business plan and ability to effectively manage our growth; our ability to maintain an adequate rate of revenue and billings growth and our expectations regarding such growth; our ability to achieve profitability and expand or maintain positive cash flow; our ability to achieve our long-term margin objectives; our ability to grow our unrecognized revenue and remaining performance obligations; our expectations regarding our revenue mix; costs associated with defending intellectual property infringement and other claims and the frequency of such claims; our ability to attract and retain end-customers; our ability to further penetrate our existing customer base; our expectations regarding our retention rate; our ability to displace existing products in established markets; our ability to expand our leadership position as a cloud content management platform; our ability to timely and effectively scale and adapt our existing technology; our ability to timely and effectively scale and adapt our existing technology; our investment strategy, including our plans to further invest in our business, including investment in research and development, sales and marketing, our data center infrastructure and our professional services organization, and our ability to effectively manage such investments; our ability to expand internationally; expectations about competition and its effect in our market and our ability to compete; the effects of seasonal trends on our operating results; use of non-GAAP financial measures; our belief regarding the sufficiency of our cash, cash equivalents and our credit facilities to meet our working capital and capital expenditure needs for at least the next 12 months; our expectations concerning relationships with third parties; our ability to attract and retain qualified employees and key personnel; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of our partnerships with third parties; the effects of new laws, policies, taxes and regulations on our business; managements plans, beliefs and objectives, including the importance of our brand and culture on our business; our ability to maintain, protect and enhance our brand and intellectual property; and future acquisitions of or investments in complementary companies, products, services or technologies and our ability to successfully integrate such companies or assets. These statements are based on estimates and information available to us at the time of this presentation and are no guarantees of future performance. We assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements or to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

Certain Information Regarding the Tender Offer

The description contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation, an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell any shares of Boxs common stock. A tender offer for the outstanding shares of Boxs common stock has not commenced. If a tender offer is commenced, if ever, Box will file or cause to be filed a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with the SEC. The Tender Offer Statement (including an Offer to Purchase, a related Letter of Transmittal and other tender offer documents) will contain important information that should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the tender offer. Those materials will be made available to Boxs stockholders at no expense to them through Boxs website at www.boxinvestorrelations.com. In addition, those materials (and any other documents filed with the SEC) will be available at no charge on the SECs website at www.sec.gov.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005342/en/

Investors:

Elaine Gaudioso

+1 650-209-3463

ir@box.com

Media:

Denis Roy and Rachel Levine

+1 650-543-6926

press@box.com

OR

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Leigh Parrish / Dan Moore

+ 1 212-355-4449

KKR:

Cara Major or Miles Radcliffe-Trenner

media@kkr.com

Source: Box, Inc.
The Republican governor of Arkansas defended his decision to veto a bill that would ban puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and genital mutilation of children age 18 and younger, arguing that the legislation constitutes government overreach.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson appeared on Fox News Tucker Carlson Tonight Tuesday, one day after he vetoed House Bill 1570, also known as the "Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act." Host Tucker Carlson began the interview by describing Hutchinson as pro-choice on the question of chemical castration of children.

Hutchinson responded by claiming that Carlsons portrayal of the bill that he vetoed did not accurately represent the bill.

If this had been a bill that simply prohibited chemical castration, I would have signed the bill, he asserted.

Source:The Christian Post
MURRELLS INLET  Biker bar Suck Bang Blow will have to pay a $17,500 fine, but will not lose its liquor license, after violating Gov. Henry McMasters executive orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the South Carolina Department of Revenue, the penalty imposed on the South Strand bar is one of the largest penalties imposed by the Administrative Law Court for alcohol-related violations.

SCDOR also accessed one violation of SBBs on-premise beer-and-wine permit and one violation of SBBs restaurant liquor by-the-drink permit.

In July 2020, a Bone Thugs-N-Harmony concert prompted an investigation by SLED and the bar was issued a citation in violation of the governors order. In Aug. 2020, the SCDOR got involved and sought to revoke SBBs permit and license.

A legal notice previously sent to SBB said, SBBs flagrant disregard for the law and for the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Horry County and the state of South Carolina justifies a permanent revocation of its liquor license and beer and wine permits.

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The Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally took place July 13-19, 2020, after it was postponed from May 2020 as a result of the pandemic.

According to the SCDOR, SBB held more than 40 free concerts between April 27 and Aug. 2, 2020, including multiple concerts every day of the spring rally.

William Couch, owner of SBB, declined to comment when asked about the fine.

The 2021 Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally is scheduled for May 7-16.
There are deep-seated anxieties within the Unionist community and a perception that they have been left behind, that everything is geared not to them but to the Republicans, he added, referring to parts of the Roman Catholic population who favor a united Ireland.

With rioting by some as young as 13, the violence has shocked politicians, prompting condemnation from Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain and Northern Irelands power-sharing executive, which on Thursday called for calm to be restored. On Thursday, bus drivers parked outside City Hall to protest an incident in which one of their colleagues had his vehicle hijacked and burned.

Adding to the concerns, the latest violence took place in sensitive parts of Belfast on the border between areas populated by mainly Protestant communities and those where Roman Catholics mostly live, raising the risks of a violent response.

Despite the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that largely ended decades of bloodshed known as the Troubles, neither sectarian violence, nor the paramilitary groups behind it, have ever fully disappeared from Northern Ireland.

Some people believe that shadowy groups are exploiting sectarian anxieties and frustrations with Covid-19 restrictions to cause problems for police officers who have been clamping down on the groups criminal activities.

Though tensions have risen in recent weeks, it was an incident dating back many months that was the catalyst for the most recent violence, which saw rioters burning tires and garbage in the streets.
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South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and 13 of his counterparts in other states are urging federal legislators to oppose a measure they say would gut right-to-work laws that have weakened organized labor, particularly in the South.

The Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act, would force employees in unionized workplaces to pay union dues even if they don't want to become members, allowing organized labor to cover the costs of collective bargaining. That would override right-to-work laws in 27 states, including South Carolina, which let employees opt out of paying dues if they don't want to join a union.

"This bill would ... make it much easier to force employees to join unions and pay dues in order to keep their jobs," Wilson said in a statement. "Coercion to join a labor union is reprehensible and should not be tolerated in any way, shape, or form."

The PRO Act passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last month and is now being considered by the Senate. Its support has largely followed party lines, with Democrats in favor of the measure and Republicans opposed.

Wilson and the others said the bill "would erase important legal protections for employees and send a cascade of money to unions, despite objection by employees."

Labor leaders said the right-to-work laws give employers an unfair advantage by making organizing efforts more difficult and expensive.

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"The PRO Act will empower workers to exercise our freedom to organize and negotiate for better wages and working conditions," Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, said in a statement. "It will remove archaic barriers to organizing, increase worker protections and strengthen the institutions that hold corporations accountable. It will repeal the 'right-to-work' laws that lead to lower wages, fewer benefits and more dangerous workplaces."

The bill's other measures would: make it illegal for employers to hold mandatory meetings to put anti-union pressure on workers; let workers cast union ballots at sites other than the workplace; and allow arbitration to settle contract differences among employers and newly formed unions.

South Carolina has the nation's lowest union membership rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor unions represented 3.8 percent of the workforce in the Palmetto State in 2020. That figure represents workers who are union members and those who are covered by collective bargaining agreements even if they haven't joined a union. The number of South Carolina workers who are members of a union was 2.7 percent last year.

The letter was sent to Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, both Democrats, and Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina.

Along with Wilson, attorneys general in the following states signed the letter: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah and West Virginia. All of those states have passed right-to-work laws.
A New Orleans real estate consultant initiated a drive Tuesday to recall City Councilman Jared Brossett, a new blow to a politician who was arrested in June on charges of driving drunk and crashing his publicly leased vehicle head-on into another car.

Anthony Doby, 39, said he asked the Louisiana secretary of state's office to allow the recall effort because Brossett embarrassed New Orleans and lowered the bar for its political class. In a widely shared video just after the car crash, Brossett was observed slurring his words.

Jared Brossett pleads not guilty to drunk driving charge; here are the next steps in the case New Orleans City Councilman Jared Brossett on Monday pleaded not guilty to drunk driving, the latest development in a case thats lingered ove

"All the elected officials around the city are saying, 'If Jared gets away with it, why can't we?'" Doby said. Thats not exactly the way that I would want future and current politicians in the city to feel, that they can wander around with bulletproof vests on.

Brossett did not return a request for comment.

Doby now has 180 days to collect at least 14,390 signatures from voters in Brossett's District D, or 25% of the current number of registered voters in that district. That target, created by a 2018 Louisiana state law, is lower than the previous one-third minimum that recall efforts for years had to clear.

Examining New Orleans' take-home car policy: See which 72 people use them and who pays the bill When New Orleans City Councilman Jared Brossett barreled down a Gentilly street, jumped the neutral ground and crashed head first into an onco

If enough signatures are gathered, a referendum on whether Brossett must leave office could be held next year.

Brossett was behind the wheel of a city-financed 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe that jumped the neutral ground on Elysian Fields Avenue in Gentilly and careened into a 2019 Nissan Rogue driven by Minghong Lin on June 14. The city -- not Brossett -- leases and insures his Tahoe, which means taxpayers could be left holding the bag for the damages and any possible liability.

The councilman apologized and said he would enter rehabilitation, but was seen back on the job within a week. Last month, he pleaded not guilty to drunk driving. His next court hearing is Oct. 22.

Which city of New Orleans employees get taxpayer-funded take-home cars? See the full list A total of 72 city of New Orleans employees enjoy the perk of driving vehicles funded by taxpayer dollars, according to a review of public rec

He has been arrested for driving drunk before. He pleaded no contest and agreed to take a course on alcohol and substance abuse after an arrest in Miami in 2006.

The latest debacle exposed an oversight in City Hall's management of the taxpayer-financed take-home cars, a controversial perk that has cost taxpayers $1 million in vehicle purchase costs alone. The City Council has no policies for its use of the cars, and Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration would not detail last month how 72 public officials had been using them or whether they had personal insurance on them to cover losses. The council is expected to release a draft vehicle policy in the coming weeks.

The bar for recall elections was lowered in part because the old threshold was considered by political analysts to be almost insurmountable, particularly in more populous cities and parishes. A 2017 analysis by the state House of Representatives found that in the past 40 years, no recall petition had succeeded in a jurisdiction with more than 25,000 voters.

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New Orleans City Council has no rules for city-owned cars, vows to create them after Jared Brossett arrest The New Orleans City Council has no formal rules to govern its use of taxpayer-financed vehicles, an oversight exposed when one of its members

But a successful recall effort, at its outset, should also get the secretary of state's approval to mail postage-paid signature forms to registered voters, said Metairie lawyer Robert Evans III, who led a 2016 push to oust then-Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni after the latter sent sexually explicit texts to a teenage boy.

Evans didn't get the 90,000 signatures that were then required, even though he said he spent $120,000 on the effort. Yenni later chose not to seek a second term.

"Without the postcard, which I did not do because we were told too late, it's hugely difficult and expensive," Evans said.

+3 Councilman Jared Brossett checks into rehab after crash on Elysian Fields, DWI arrest Councilman Jared Brossett checked himself into an inpatient treatment program on Monday, a day after he was arrested for allegedly driving dru

Doby said he has asked the secretary of state's office about the postcard option.

He said friends have encouraged him to run for Brossetts seat, an option he acknowledged he is eyeing. But he said its Brossetts gall and utter irresponsibility -- not his own desire to get into politics -- that is driving his effort.

Any other job in the city where somebody says they took the boss car and crashed it into somebody on the way home, they would have lost their job immediately, he said.

Councilman Jared Brossett completed rehab once before, after 2006 DWI case When New Orleans City Councilman Jared Brossett on Monday announced he was enrolling in rehab after an alleged drunken crash a day earlier, it

Even if the recall is unsuccessful, Doby will likely draw considerable attention to an issue that Brossett no doubt hopes voters will forget.

At three council meetings over the past two weeks, Doby accused Brossett of "creating new issues by drunkenly joyriding across the neutral grounds, and trying to kill people driving home from work," instead of fixing District D's numerous current issues.

"I ask that you please join me in publicly asking Jared Brossett to please step down from the District D office, and save the city the cost and time of the recall," Doby said in a comment read aloud at one meeting. "Hasn't he cost the city enough money? We, and especially Mr. Lin, have already paid for his actions."
Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has rebuked the two teenagers involved in a gruesome murder of a 11-year-old boy in the Central Region.



The two teenagers Felix Nyarko, 16, and Nicholas Kini, 17, reportedly murdered a 11-year-old boy at Lamptey Mills in Kasoa on Saturday.



The deceased, Ishmael Mensah, was a Class Four pupil of the Maranatha School and it's believed the teenagers committed such hideous crime for ritual money purposes.



The murder has provoked discussions on the human quest for quick riches and living a luxurious life.



Reacting to the issue on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Kwamena Duncan was alarmed that young boys could engage in murder but, however, wasn't surprised about the incident.



He stated that Kasoa is a crime zone and, on daily basis, there are reports of criminal activities at the area.



To him, security at Kasoa must be tightened to ensure the safety of the residents.



On the murder act, Kwamena stated; "You must be that heartless. You must have the heart of a monster".





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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Cumulative vehicle registrations across all categories fell year-on-year by 28.64 per cent in March, Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) said on Thursday. The fall comes despite last years low base. Auto sales had come to a standstill owing to a seven-day lockdown last March.

The registration volumes are in stark contrast to the wholesale (dispatches to dealers) volumes reported by manufacturers on April 1. Owing to the low base of last year which came on back of a lockdown and a transition from BS-IV to BS-VI, quite a few auto firms including Maruti, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra, reported a more than 100 per cent year-on-year jump in their March sales.

The dealer body warned that the lockdown in Maharashtra will have a catastrophic impact on April sales, as dealers will not be able to realise the potential of festivities like Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Baisakhi and Poila Boishakh. The state contributes 10-11 per cent of the auto retail. Overall, FADA maintains extreme caution for the month of April as Covid rises to newer highs.

Much like apex bodies from other industries including hospitality, it has made a representation to Uddhav Thakre, Chief Minister of Maharashtra for relaxing the curbs and allow dealerships to function, said a FADA member. The trade bodies are expecting a decision on Friday.

Covid is not only spreading faster but is also trying to destabilize the growth which India has been able to achieve in the last few months. Any lockdown at this point will severely hamper the momentum which is getting built for the auto Industry to come out of the woods, the dealer body stated in the release.

In all, 1,649,678 units were registered during the month, compared to 2,311,687 units in the same month a year ago.

With the exception of passenger vehicles and tractors, whose registrations r0se 28.39 per cent and 29.21 per cent, respectively, all the other segments including two-wheelers, commercial vehicles and three-wheelers reported a sharp YoY fall. Overall registration volumes were dragged down by two wheelers, which saw a decline of 35 per cent to 18,46,613 units over the year ago period.

Global shortage of wafers which is an input for semiconductor, continued to linger around and kept PV waiting period as high as 7 month, said FADA. According to FADA Survey, 47 per cent PV dealers said that they lost more than 20 per cent sales due to supply side constraints.

Tractors continued its dream run as rural incomes saw improvements after successive monsoons and good rabi produce. If experts are to be believed, India will witness a normal monsoon for the 3rd year in a row. This will further see tractors performing well in FY 21-22.

Lower retail numbers indicate inventory built up as wholesale volume was higher in the month. There are clear visible signs of slowdown in the two-wheeler segment. PV segment volumes are impacted by supply constraints of key components, said Mitul Shah, head of research at Reliance Securities.

Rising Covid cases and fear of the second wave started weighing in on the auto industry in the second half of March 2021, he said, adding that the next two months are critical in terms of how the Covid situation pans out and how it impacts various sectors of the economy.

Financial woes brought by Covid-19 have pushed about 32 million Indians out of the middle class, undoing years of economic gains. This had its impact on 2-wheelers as it saw one of its steepest de-growth in the last few months. This coupled with high fuel prices and price increase acted as double whammy, FADA said, citing a finding from Pew Research.
Two siblings in California were arrested Tuesday for allegedly orchestrating a $6million real estate fraud scam.

Adolfo Schoneke, 43, and 38-year-old Bianca Gonzalez - also known as Blanca Schoneke - each pleaded not guilty to nine charges. An indictment charged the brother and sister with one count of conspiracy, seven counts of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Investigators have determined that 'several hundred victims' scammed by the siblings collectively lost $6million, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office Central District of California.

If convicted, the duo could face a statutory maximum sentence of 162 years in a federal prison.

The siblings, along with co-conspirators, 'operated real estate and escrow companies based in Cerritos, La Palma and Long Beach under a variety of names,' including West Coast and MCR.

Adolfo Schoneke, 43, and 38-year-old Bianca Gonzalez - along with co-conspirators - 'operated real estate and escrow companies based in Cerritos, La Palma and Long Beach under a variety of names,' including West Coast and MCR

According to the indictment, Schoneke and Gonzalez would find properties and claim that they were for sale but in actuality, they didn't even have the authority to list them for sale.

The siblings would market the properties as short sales 'providing opportunities for purchases at below-market prices,' the release states.

Schoneke and Gonzalez used other people's broker's licenses to post the listings on Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and other real estate websites.

The indictment alleges that some of the homes were 'marketed through open houses that co-conspirators were able to host after tricking homeowners into allowing their homes to be used.'

Co-conspirators took multiple offers for each property, leading victims to believe that their offers were the only ones accepted. Some victims were strung along for years as co-conspirators told them that closings were being delayed as lenders needed to approve the short sales,according to the release.

A trial date has been scheduled for June 1 and both Schoneke and Gonzalez will remain in custody at least until their detention hearings, the release states. Schoneke's hearing is scheduled for Friday while his sister's is scheduled for April 13.
Daithi O Se invites Offaly to show solidarity with people with dementia and family carers to celebrate Alzheimers Tea Day 2021

RTE star Daithi O Se is calling on Offaly to show solidarity with people with dementia and their family carers and virtually have Tea in Every Town with their friends and loved ones to mark Alzheimers Tea Day which takes place across Ireland on Thursday, 6th May and is proudly sponsored by Fujitsu Ireland.

It is estimated that there are 1,068 people living with dementia in Offaly and for every one person with dementia three others are directly affected. The number of people with the condition will more than double in the next 25 years to over 150,000 by 2045.

This year The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is inviting the public to brew the most important and powerful cup of tea this year and invite your family and friends to join you online. The ASI wants people to now come together virtually to celebrate, remember and show solidarity with people with dementia, their carers and the 500,000 people who are impacted by dementia in Ireland.

Although people cant gather in groups for Tea Day, people can still connect and reach out to friends and loved ones across their communities, around Ireland and abroad  on the phone, on screen, Skype, Zoom and any other socially-distanced way people may choose.

There are 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland today and every day, another 30 people are diagnosed. However, there is one simple and magical thing you can do to help  put the kettle on and connect with friends online over a simple cuppa!

The ASI has listened to concerns of people with dementia and family carers who have been feeling isolated in their own homes lately and many people have contacted The ASI about Tea Day  and thanks to the wonders of modern technology we are delighted that Tea Day can take place.

This year, its more important than ever before that people put the kettle on, pick up the phone and reach out to a loved one or someone in your community to say hello and share a virtual cup of tea and to show people with dementia and carers who are at home, often confused, isolated and struggling without access to usual daily supports that we havent forgotten them.

The ASI needs to raise 3.5 million every year just to keep services running and while the public has been so generous over recent months; the reality is that more funds are needed to plug the gap in funding due to the impact of Covid-19 to support the 64,000 living with dementia in Ireland.

HOW TO TAKE PART IN TEA DAY 2021  FOUR EASY STEPS:

SIGN UP  Join the nation for the most memorable cuppa ever. All you have to do is sign up on teaday.ie and youll be helping to support people in your area living with dementia.

HOST  Share the magic of a cup of tea  online  with the ones you love. Invite family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and loved ones  from home and from all over the world  to join you to share some precious memories over a wonderful cup of tea.

CELEBRATE your Tea Day by sharing it on social media. Post your photos, videos, messages and dont forget to use our hashtags #TeaInEveryTown #TeaDay2021

DONATE Send us back your special Tea Day donation on teaday.ie. Remember, every extra euro you raise funds vital services for people living with dementia and their families.



The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Ambassador, Daithi O Se said: On Thursday, May 6th, join your online gathering to thousands of others all over the country as we share a cuppa with our friends, family and colleagues to chat and celebrate those we love. Youll also be raising much-needed funds to help families living with dementia. Tea Day is The Alzheimers Society of Irelands biggest and most important fundraiser of the year. Over the last year, because of COVID-19, they could only raise a fraction of what is needed to run their vital services. So, this year people living with dementia need our support more than ever. So please join the Tea Day movement. Click with your family and friends by clicking online. Maybe even invite loved ones across the world. Share some precious memories over a cuppa and help change the life of someone living with dementia today. Thank you so much!

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland CEO Pat McLoughlin said: Alzheimers Tea Day has been our biggest fundraising event over the last 27 years and the organisation is so dependent on the funds that it brings in each and every year. However, the Covid-19 health crisis means that Alzheimers Tea Day has to move online, but I am delighted that we can still celebrate the community spirit that makes Tea Day such a great national event through modern technology. This year we cant gather in each others homes to share Tea Day. But there is still something that you can do. You can invite friends and family from all over Ireland  and even all over the world  to join you online or on social media to share some memories and a cuppa. Every person who joins you will be helping to support vital dementia services all over Ireland.

Fujitsu Ireland CEO Tony OMalley said: We are incredibly proud to support this vital campaign alongside The Alzheimer Society of Ireland. People with dementia and their families, carers and supporters have felt the challenges of lockdown and the associated restrictions on travel, household visitors and daily social interactions most keenly and Fujitsu Ireland is committed to helping The ASI continue to deliver its vital support to this amazing community. We invite our staff, clients, partners and the Irish public to sign up on teaday.ie, put the kettle on, and raise much-needed funds for this incredible organisation.
ZoobsThe first trailer for Cher's upcoming Smithsonian Channel documentary Cher & the Loneliest Elephant has arrived.

In the clip, Cher recalls first meeting with Kaavan, the elephant who's been kept in chains for nearly 20 years in a run-down zoo in Pakistan. "He was shackled; he was suffering," Cher says.

Since the death of the zoo's only other elephant, Kavaan also didn't have any company, which led to him suffering from depression, psychosis and obesity. "Elephants are just like we are. They're so family-oriented and emotional," Cher says. "And so I wanted to free him."

"What does it take to relocate a five-ton elephant across the entire continent of Asia?" she asks.

The documentary follows the music legend as she and her newly-launched charity Free the Wild work with an international rescue organization called Four Paws to receive permission to move Kavaan to a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia, and then work out all the logistics. In November of 2020, the journey began.

"We just didn't stop fighting," Cher says.

The documentary launches on Earth Day, April 22, on Paramount+, and will then premiere on the Smithsonian Channel on May 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

By Andrea Dresdale

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration's $174 billion proposal to boost electric vehicles calls for $100 billion in new consumer rebates and $15 billion to build 500,000 new charging stations, according to a U.S. Transportation Department email sent to congressional staff and seen by Reuters.

The EV rebates, part of a $2.3 trillion infrastructure and jobs proposal, could be a big boost to U.S. automakers, especially General Motors and Tesla Inc, which no longer qualify for $7,500 tax credits after they sold more than 200,000 zero-emission models.

The White House declined to say how the $100 billion would be distributed or how much the grants will be.

In 2019, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer proposed awarding $392 billion in subsidies for owners to trade in gasoline-powered vehicles at least eight years old and in driving condition for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid or fuel-cell cars. The old vehicles would be scrapped.

The Biden plan also calls for $20 billion for electric school buses, $25 billion for zero emission transit vehicles and $14 billion in other EV tax incentives.

Treasury said in a report the proposed incentives are "to encourage people to switch to electric vehicles and efficient electric appliances."

Senator Debbie Stabenow and Representative Dan Kildee, both Michigan Democrats, have been working on a bill to revise and expand the EV tax credit, they said in a recent joint interview with Reuters.

Kildee wants to skew the credit in favor of vehicles with more affordable vehicles with longer range, to "democratize the market."

He said they are "looking at ways to make the credit more accessible to middle- and lower-income families, potentially even making the credit refundable."

Kildee said EVs are "where the market is going -- full stop. The only question that we have to answer is are these going to be vehicles made by American workers." Kildee said they could also introduce a credit for used EV purchases.

Stabenow said it was important to give automakers incentives to produce electric vehicles in the United States.

"China has committed $100 billion to grab this market -- both battery cell production but also in other component parts of electric vehicles," Stabenow said. "We better take it seriously."

The Biden plan also calls for $80 billion for rail, including $16 billion for Amtrak's national network and $39 billion to fix the northeast corridor especially infrastructure in the New York City-area.

Politico reported the email earlier.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and David Gregorio)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By JAMES KABENGWAMore by this Author

Prince Arnold Simbwa, one of the survivors of the November 24, 2018 MV Templar boat accident on Lake Victoria, has died.

Ssimbwa, the son of Prince David Ggolooba, the elder brother of Kabaka Ronald Mutebi died on Thursday at Nsambya hospital in Kampala.

He died of a stroke at Nsambya hospital this morning, his close friend and old student of Nkumba Primary School, Mr Godfrey Ssekisonge told this reporter.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. It is considered as a medical emergency, and prompt treatment is crucial.

Read more: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/prince-ssimbwa-dies-two-years-after-surviving-mv-templar-boat-accident3353940
As COVID-19 cases rise across Europe, Spains PSOE (Socialist Party)-Podemos government has pledged to end social distancing measures in order to fully reopen Spains economy.

On Tuesday, Spain reported 6,623 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country up to more than 3.3 million. Another 128 coronavirus deaths were announced, bringing the official death toll to nearly 76,000. The National Statistics Institutes count indicate that the real number of COVID-19 fatalities is far higherover 100,000. The number of daily cases reported is likely a significant underestimate, as testing levels are still inadequate, and infection and hospitalisation rates are rising across Europe.

People line up outside a public ambulatory as they wait to receive a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Nonetheless, PSOE Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez spoke at a press conference after a meeting of the ministerial cabinet to announce that on May 9, the government plans to end the state of alarm. This is the juridical mechanism the government used to justify imposing obligatory social distancing measures such as lockdowns or mask-wearing mandates.

I hope that it will not be necessary to continue the state of alarm and that the Interterritorial Health Council will continue responding to the pandemic, Sanchez said. We want May 9 to be the end, full stop, of the state of alarm.

This demonstrates the PSOE-Podemos governments staggering indifference to human life, as infection rates pick up across Spain and Europe. The seven-day rolling average of new cases and the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants have both been steadily climbing since mid-March. In the middle of March, the seven-day rolling average was just over 4,000, compared to more than 6,500 at the start of this week.

The current countrywide incidence rate stands at 164.71 per 100,000, having risen from the low point of 127.8 in the middle of last month. According to the governments own framework, an incidence rate above 150 puts Spain at high risk. Five of Spains autonomous regionsCeuta, Melilla, Navarra, Madrid and the Basque Countryare now in extreme risk, meaning that the incidence rate there is over 250 per 100,000 people.

Hospital admissions for coronavirus patients are also rising again. Nearly 9,000 people are currently hospitalised with COVID-19 in Spain, occupying more than 7 percent of all hospital beds. This is the highest figure in a month. Across the country, around a fifth of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds are full. Four regions report ICUs are at 35 percent capacity or more: Melilla (41 percent), Madrid (37 percent), La Rioja (35.85 percent) and Catalonia (35 percent).

The risk is increasing that we will reach a moment of saturation [in hospitals] if we have an exponential rise in cases, Pedro Gullon, an epidemiologist and member of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology, told online news site Publico. ICUs and hospitals may not be capable of absorbing the patient demand and it will lead to an increase in mortality.

Meanwhile, the vaccine rollout has continued to be mired in chaos. Only 12 percent of the Spanish population has received at least one dose of the vaccineor 5.9 million peopleand a mere 6 percent (2.8 million people) have had both required jabs.

Due to the PSOE-Podemos governments disastrously organised vaccine strategy and the nationalist controversies surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine, a far greater proportion of 25-49 year olds in Spain (10.6 percent) have received at least one dose of the vaccine than people in the 70-79 age bracket (5 percent), according to Ministry of Health data. This is despite the latter being at higher risk from the disease and nominally being in a priority group.

On Tuesday, Sanchez said that 10 million Spaniards will have been fully vaccinated by the first week of June, declaring, we will only be able to regain full normality thanks to the vaccine. And we have begun to do so. Sanchez also claimed that 33 million people, or 70 percent of the population, will have received jabs by the end of August. At the current rate, however, Spain would not achieve 70 percent vaccination for a year and a half.

Authorities in Spain and across Europe have been warning of an imminent fourth wave of the virus since January. In the middle of February, Fernando Simon, director of the Centre for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES), declared:

Its possible that there will be a fourth wave [which will] largely depend on how we get out of this one, on what level of low transmission we manage to achieve in this one and on how the vaccination [campaign] develops over the next weeks.

But rather than taking the necessary measures to prevent this forecasted outbreak, the PSOE-Podemos government is scaling back social distancing to open Spain up to tourism. Recent weeks have seen wall-to-wall demands in the bourgeois media to save the tourist season.

The PSOE-Podemos government refused to take any measures to restrict tourism during the busy Easter holiday period, even though Spanish inhabitants were themselves prevented from leaving their own regions due to coronavirus restrictions. In response to the ruling class carte blanche to tourism companies, many airlines put on additional flights from countries such as Germany to cater for the anticipated surge in demand.

This led to an influx of holiday-makers at the end of March, including from countries with far higher incidence rates than Spain, such as Germany and France. There has been widespread alarm and opposition among workers to the governments policy of facilitating tourism. Numerous photos and videos circulated on the internet of holiday-makers crowding onto Spanish beaches and streets.

PSOE Prime Minister Sanchez, however, defended this policy, declaring that Spain is following the recommendations of the EU.

The European Commission has been saying for months that closing borders does not guarantee that there will be no virus transmission, Sanchez continued. We will keep the border open [and] ask for a negative PCR from within 72 hours.  Were already getting there with vaccinations and are in the final phase of the pandemic.

At the end of last month, PSOE Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, also emphasised that the governments top priority is to boost tourism revenuewhich contributes to around 12 percent of Spains GDP and employmentno matter the cost in lives.

Perhaps the objective is to reach half the number of tourists we had in 2019 [this summer]. This would be an achievement. This would mean the arrival of at least 40 million holiday-makers into Spain this year, greatly increasing the risk of an explosion of COVID-19.

While acknowledging that Spain was now on the cusp of a fourth wave of the virus, CCAES director Simon sought to blame the population for the rise in cases, claiming that if the population simply behaved themselves it would only be a little wave. At the national level, Simon stated last week, if we have a constant increase [in cases], we will have a fourth wave, but if we maintain full discipline and control measures over Easter, perhaps it does not make sense to talk of a fourth wave and we would speak of a rippling in a short period.

The increase in infections in Spain is not the fault of individuals, but the responsibility of the PSOE-Podemos government, who have consistently prioritised profits over lives.
CADILLAC, MI  A 44-year-old Michigan man died in a car crash last week when he swerved to avoid hitting a train and instead struck a utility pole, causing the vehicle to roll, police said.

Robin Lee Vandewater, 44, of Cadillac, was ejected from the vehicle; he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release from the Cadillac Police Department. A female passenger was transported to a Cadillac Munson Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The crash happened around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, March 29, on Wright Street west of Bond Street in Cadillac where train tracks cross the road, police said. Cadillac police and fire, and Missaukee County EMS responded to the scene.

Witness accounts collected by officers indicate that the vehicle Vandewater was driving was traveling eastbound on Wright at high speeds when the driver presumably noticed a train was blocking the roadway and swerved to avoid hitting it, police said. Instead, the vehicle struck a utility pole and overturned. Vandewater was ejected from the vehicle; he was pronounced dead at the scene. A female passenger also sustained injuries.

A second vehicle in the area and the train were not hit in the crash, which remains under investigation, police said.

READ MORE:

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HARRISBURG  A major Pennsylvania government contractor has been accused of siphoning millions of dollars in retirement and health benefits from its employees, state authorities said Thursday.

Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc., a State College construction and paving company that has been paid more than $1.7 billion for state projects, was charged Thursday with four counts of theft for allegedly violating state and federal labor laws requiring all employers that receive state or federal funding to pay workers the same rate in wages.

The charges, the result of a three-year investigation by the state Office of Attorney General, allege that the company circumvented the states Prevailing Wage Act, as well as federal labor law, by using more than $20 million in retirement and other benefits meant for its employees to lower its costs and increase profits.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Thursday called it the largest prevailing wage criminal case on record.

They fleeced workers to put more money in their pocket, Shapiro said during a news conference to announce the charges. They were engaged in a massive, unprecedented fraud.

In a statement, the third-generation, family-owned company noted said it had cooperated fully since becoming aware of the attorney generals investigation. Shapiro confirmed the company was cooperating with investigators.

While we believe that we have always acted in accordance with all state and federal laws, in an abundance of caution, the company immediately changed its prevailing wage practices, the statement read. These changes remain in effect today as we continue to do whats right for our employees, both past and present. Our company will continue to work constructively with the attorney generals office to reach a swift resolution.

The company declined to answer follow-up questions.

According to its website, the business operates 21 quarries and seven asphalt production facilities across Pennsylvania and southern New York.

Shapiros office said that under state and federal law, contractors who have to provide level wage rates can satisfy a portion of that requirement by instead giving their employees so-called fringe benefits. That fringe benefit credit, as its known, is calculated by determining the hourly equivalent of the value of the benefit to the contractor.

Shapiros office said Hawbaker allegedly stole wages from its workers by using money intended for prevailing wage workers retirement funds to contribute to retirement accounts for all Hawbaker employees, including its owners and executives.

As a result, those workers received less money in their retirement accounts than what was owed.

Hawbaker also allegedly stole funds intended for prevailing wage workers health and welfare benefits, using it instead to subsidize the cost of the self-funded health insurance plan that covers all employees. Authorities allege the company disguised the scheme by artificially inflating its records of benefit spending by millions of dollars each year and claiming credit for prohibited costs.

Those measures created the appearance that it provided employees with benefits that far exceeded the cost of those that it actually did, state officials said.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorneys General Philip McCarthy and Lisa Eisenberg, Senior Deputy Attorney General Anthony Forray, and Chief Deputy Attorneys General Nancy A. Walker and Kirsten Heine.

WHILE YOURE HERE... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
It's a provincial budget that comes in the wake of hundreds of struggling storefronts and companies across Manitoba.

It's a provincial budget that comes in the wake of hundreds of struggling storefronts and companies across Manitoba.

So, how exactly is the government planning to help business owners amidst the massive economic stupor caused by COVID-19 pandemic?

Here's a quick rundown of four business takeaways from the 2021-22 budget:

Cutting red tape, taxes

Manitobans will no longer have to pay the retail sales tax on personal services, as of December, which the province believes is a saving of nearly $8 million annually for customers, and trims red tape for business owners.

Those services include manicures, pedicures, tattoos and haircuts over $50 (visits to the barbershop under that price point were already exempt from retail sales tax).

"It's been stated that I don't like higher taxes, and I think that's probably generally true," Premier Brian Pallister told reporters at a Wednesday news conference, after the budget was tabled and presented to the legislative assembly.

"But what I don't like is unfair taxes; I don't like taxes that place an unnecessary burden on people for essential things."

The new measure will be helpful for Sam Rivait and Cait Bousfields new barbershop, Good Fortune, on Osborne Street in Winnipeg.

"It's been such a tough year for both us as business owners and those who are customers, as well," said Bousfield. "A little bit of savings go a long way and, certainly this way, we're easily helped with focusing ourselves to get on our feet as a barbershop rather than worrying about things like paperwork and whatnot with taxes."

The province is also lowering payroll taxes for small businesses  which it says will help approximately 1,100 firms and exempt 240.

Additionally, the exemption threshold is being raised to $1.75 million of annual payroll (from $1.5 million). The threshold below which employers pay a reduced rate is being raised to $3.5 million (from $3 million).

Sector-specific funding

The province says around $62 million towards COVID-19 recovery funding for businesses are underway for specific sectors, through the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development Winnipeg.

Asked for clarity, a provincial spokesperson said around $6.5 million out of that $62 million has already been used up. The remainder will go toward programs designed by stakeholders instead of the government handing emergency directly to businesses.

Finance Minister Scott Fielding said funds are primarily for pandemic recovery, job creation and workforce training.

"I think stakeholders like the chamber are great voices to know exactly what the business community wants," said Jonathan Alward, Manitoba director for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

"For me, that's why I think they'll best be able to gather feedback, as they already have been, and be able to identify exactly the areas where the community needs help."

Alward suggested some funding should go towards and extension of "successful" programs for small businesses, such as the Manitoba Bridge Grant or the Dine-in Relief Fund.

A provincial spokesperson said, while there are no specific new programs being announced, the budget has set aside amounts for possible future programs coming from within the $1.2 billion dedicated towards COVID-19 measures.

New economic development agency

The province announced the creation of a new, private-sector-led provincial economic development agency, based on recommendations of the premiers economic opportunities advisory board.

Details about who will direct this agency and how it will function are not yet available.

"This agency will lead Manitobas activities to attract new private-sector investment, increase international trade, and act as a single window for businesses and investors pursuing major economic development projects across the province," the finance minister told reporters.

Enhanced small-business venture credit

Manitoba is joining the ranks of provinces such as British Columbia to increase eligible investment under the Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit.

An investors maximum eligible investment will now be increased to $500,000, and the maximum tax credit claimable annually against Manitoba income tax will be almost doubled to $120,000.

"This allows us to help Manitoba companies raise business growth equity," said Fielding, adding this provides a non-refundable Manitoba tax credit of up to 45 per cent to individuals and corporations who acquire equity capital in eligible local enterprises.

The program targets Manitoba companies that want to raise equity from higher-net worth individuals, with a minimum investment of $10,000 per investor. Corporations must be pre-approved to issue shares.

temur.durrani@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @temurdur
Bihar: Man returns to village to start pearl farming; Earn lakhs & employs migrants

by Himanshu Nitnaware

April 08,2021 | Source: The Better India

While farmers in Patna and its surrounding regions of Bihar usually grow maize, pulses, lentils, cereals and rice, a 28-year-old man from the area has decided to head in a different direction. Nitil Bhardwaj from Murera village in Champaran district is earning lakhs from pearl farming. Nitil belongs to a family of traditional farmers, but went to work in a multinational company in Delhi. He started working in early 2017 as a computer professional, and would earn around Rs 30,000 a month. Around the same time, his father came across a news article on pearl farming, and learned how it could be a profitable business. He shared this idea with Nitil, who thought the idea was both attractive as well as unexplored in Bihar. Sometime during his leave later that year, he gave it more serious thought, and decided to pursue it. Nitil signed up for training in Madhya Pradesh at Bomoria Pearl Farm, and worked with the management there for a few months. Once he had picked up the necessary skills, he returned to start pearl farming in his village. The risk paid off in the first attempt itself, and Nitil earned Rs 75,000. He started the Bhardwaj Pearl Farm and Training Centre to employ six migrant workers who had lost their job during the COVID-19 lockdown.



The potential to earn lakhs



Nitil says that undergoing training at the pearl farm convinced him that full-time employment would not help him earn a decent income to support his family. I did not want to enter mainstream farming, and hence decided to try this new alternative. In 2018, I quit my job. In my village, I decided to dig a pond on one acre of my familys land by seeking government subsidies provided for pearl farming, he tells The Better India. He adds that in 2019, he planted 400 oysters in the pond. Ideally, an acre of a pond can accommodate around 25,000 to 30,000 oysters. But I started small, as the risks involved are then less, Nitil says, adding that he invested Rs 25,000 and grew oysters for 8-10 months, which earned him Rs 75,000. Each oyster demands an investment of around Rs 40. One oyster can produce two pearls, and each of them sells at an average cost of Rs 120. The oysters can remain planted for months at stretch  which helps improve their quality. A good quality pearl can fetch Rs 200 a piece. But I decided to harvest them at minimum incubation and scale-up immediately, Nitil explains. In 2020, he planted around 25,000 pearls, from which he expects to earn Rs 30 lakh. He has earned Rs 3.6 lakh so far, and says the income will keep pouring in until October 2021. Additionally, Nitil has been using the pond to cultivate fish through aquaculture. I breed fish that are vegetarian and do not harm the oysters. In one season alone, I earn Rs 2.5 lakh from the fish business, he adds. The farmers success has made him famous, and inspired others in the area to pursue pearl farming as well. The fisheries department has also taken note of his efforts. District fisheries officer Surya Prakash Ram says, The pearl farming initiative has motivated farmers to think beyond conventional practices and demonstrate a solution to multiply income. Surya says that the department is collaborating with Nitil to train other farmers.



A way to stay close to home, and earn a decent livelihood



Nitil says that he is training 15 farmers in one batch. The training is conducted for a small fee and lasts two days. If pursued with discipline, a farmer can earn lakhs from pearl farming, he adds. Apart from training the farmers, Nitil has also employed six migrants who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 lockdown and were forced to return home. Prabhu Yadav is one such migrant earning Rs 7,000 a month by working at Nitils pearl farm. I used to work as a painter in Srinagar and returned in October 2020. Nitil offered me a job to help me in the crisis. The work is satisfying as I dont spend on rent and other expenses. I can live with the family and no longer have to be away from them to earn livelihood, he adds. Nitil says that pearl farming, while lucrative, needs attention throughout the growing process. The health of the oysters has to be monitored every 15 days. It demands providing healthy food and nutrition. The temperature of the water should be favourable at all times. If an oyster dies, it should be removed immediately to save the others and prevent the infection from spreading, he explains. At present, Nitil sells the pearls to traders in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. They also export the produce to China and Japan. The farmer says he is glad to have taken the decision to switch to pearl farming. It is a satisfying feeling to know that I can be close to my family, support them, and earn a better income than living in a city. I appeal to all youngsters to return to their roots and pursue farming or agriculture-related activity. I also feel proud to have supported migrants during the tough times, he adds.

 2021 Vikara Services Pvt Ltd
Oregon high school students would be required to pass at least one semester of civics in order to graduate from a public high school, under a bill approved Wednesday in the state Senate.

Its time that people understand how the sausage is made, said Sen. Fred Girod, R-Lyons during a speech in support of Senate Bill 513, which passed 25-3. Girod said his office routinely receives calls from Oregonians upset at how he voted on a bill approved by Congress, for instance. As a state lawmaker, Girod doesnt get a say in what happens in Washington, D.C.

The measure doesnt define civics, but supporters said its the study of how government works. The goal is to create a more informed citizenry.

Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, said many people think the state legislature functions like what they see on television. Issues are not settled in half an hour, he said. It takes time.

If approved by the Oregon House and signed into law by Gov. Kate Brown, the civics education requirement would take effect for high school students graduating in 2026 or later.

Oregon state law currently requires high school graduates to have at least three credits of math and four credits of English. The Oregon Department of Education has several other graduation requirements created by administrative rule, including three credits in social sciences.

In testimony submitted last month in opposition to the bill, the union representing most Oregon public school teachers argued that the social sciences requirement effectively includes civics. Students will be best served by multiple years worth of interaction with this subject matter, rather than an attempt to stuff multiple years worth of civics into a single semester, wrote Oregon Education Association lobbyist Jared Mason-Gere.

The bill drew support from a wide variety of groups and individuals including Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Portland Democrat; former Rep. Greg Walden, who recently stepped down as Oregons longtime lone Republican in Congress; the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber; the Oregon Cattlemens Association; the Oregon League of Cities; a number of law firms; and Nike.
Keir Starmer apologizes for visiting church that adheres to Christian doctrine on sex after LGBT backlash

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Sir. Keir Starmer, leader of the U.K.'s Labour Party, was forced to apologize for visiting a church on Good Friday that critics have attacked as being anti-LGBT for adhering to biblical sexual ethics.

In a since-deleted video, Starmer praised Jesus House for All the Nations on Friday as being a "wonderful example" of a church serving its community during the coronavirus pandemic, including acting as a vaccination center and running a food bank.

I recently visited @JesusHouseUK to hear about their crucial work in the community, Starmer announced in a tweet that has also been deleted. Churches across the country have played such a vital role in the fight against the virus. I hope everyone has a good, restful and safe Easter weekend.

The London-based church has long been attacked by LGBT activist groups, and some journalists, for refusing to kowtow to secular views on homosexuality, same-sex marriage and sexual orientation.

Following backlash from LGBT activists and Labour Party members who identify as LGBT or allies, Starmer said he regretted his decision to visit the church.

On Monday, Starmer said he accepted critics' assertions that his visit to the church was a "mistake" and stressed that he was "not aware" of the church's views on sexuality.

Starmer issued an apology on Twitter, saying: I completely disagree with Jesus Houses beliefs on LGBT+ rights, which I was not aware of before my visit. I apologize for the hurt my visit caused and have taken down the video. It was a mistake and I accept that.

In 2006, The church's Senior Pastor, Agu Irukwu, joined over 250 clergy in signing a letter expressing their concerns with the then-Labour Party's "Equality Act (Sexual Orientation Regulations)," which they deemed as Christianophobia.

The letter, published in The Telegraph at the time, said in part:

"We write as pastors on behalf of tens of thousands of black British Christians. Many members of our congregations in London left their home countries to come to England to experience the freedom of living according to their Christian beliefs in a Christian democratic country. ... The regulations force Christians in churches, businesses, charities and informal associations to accept and even promote the idea that homosexuality is equal to heterosexuality."

I completely disagree with Jesus Houses beliefs on LGBT+ rights, which I was not aware of before my visit. I apologise for the hurt my visit caused and have taken down the video. It was a mistake and I accept that.  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 5, 2021

Starmers apology came after The Labour Campaign for LGBT+ Rights published a statement describing Jesus House as a church well known for its connections to conversion therapy, and more broadly anti-LGBT+ views. The group noted that Starmer characterized Jesus House as a wonderful example of a church serving their community and slammed his visit to the church as unacceptable.

The Labour Campaign for LGBT+ Rights maintained that as a bare minimum [Starmer's] video should be deleted, and a public apology (should be) made by the Leader of the Opposition himself. They added, We all still believe that the surest way to achieve LGBT+ equality is through the Labour Party, but the events of the last few days have set that cause back.

Our full statement in light of comments today from a Shadow Cabinet Member that attempt to justify Keir Starmer's visit to Jesus House.



The video should be deleted and a public apology made by the Leader himself. We also expect him to attend our meeting with his team this week. pic.twitter.com/HVXYCWkw1P  LGBT+ Labour (@LGBTLabour) April 5, 2021

Following Starmers apology, the group thanked the Labour Party leader for deleting the video and apologizing for visiting the church: We are pleased that you have recognized this mistake. ..."

While Starmers apology drew praise from LGBT activist groups, he received criticism from those on the other side of the aisle. Brendan ONeill, the publisher of Spiked, wrote an op-ed for the Spectator titled Starmer Was Wrong to Say Sorry for Visiting Jesus House.

According to ONeill, The Christians at Jesus House are guilty of nothing more than holding traditional Christian beliefs. He suggested that a headline from The Guardian titled Keir Starmer criticized over visit to church where pastor opposed same-sex marriage might as well read Starmer criticized for visiting a Christian church that adheres to Christian doctrine.

This is crazy. Over Easter I also visited a church that opposes same-sex marriage. The Catholic Church. Just a couple of weeks ago the Vatican reiterated that the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions, because God does not and cannot bless sin. So Starmer should never visit a Catholic institution, either? ONeill asked.

In apologizing for visiting Christians who hold biblical beliefs about homosexuality Starmer has insulted vast numbers of people. It is he who has behaved in an intolerant way, because he has essentially said that he will not associate with any religious group that doesnt agree with his views on same-sex issues. To turn your back on good people because they disagree with you on sexual or social matters is a species of dogmatism, too.

Starmer is not the first politician to face criticism for visiting Jesus House. Last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson stopped by the church to examine the incredible work being done by the vaccination teams  bringing people in from the Brent Cross area. He documented his appearance at Jesus House on Facebook, crediting the efforts of people like these here at Jesus House today for helping vaccinate 21 million U.K. residents.

As The Daily Mirror reported, Johnsons press secretary Allegra Johnson defended his trip to the church as a profitable visit where he was able to meet black community leaders and work to increase vaccine take-up and deal with vaccine hesitancy. She also stressed that this is a government that is fully committed to advancing LGBT rights and championing equality.

In 2017, Theresa May, who at the time served as prime minister and continues to be a member of Parliament for the Conservative Party, visited the church, which she praised as one of the most lively growing churches in the U.K. In response to criticism for visiting the church, a Conservative Party spokesperson touted Mays strong record on LGBT+ equality and commitment to advancing equality for LGBT+ people at home and abroad.

Public opinion polling has indicated that the overwhelming majority of U.K. residents support same-sex marriage, which became legal in 2014. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted from 2015 through 2017, 77% of Britons favor allowing same-sex couples to marry. For comparison, support for same-sex marriage has reached 68% in the U.S., according to a poll released by the Public Religion Research Institute earlier this year.
Savanna Cider, with its crisp, dry and daringly witty sense of humour, is known for uplifting the nation through humour. This light-hearted perspective on life and the introduction of Siyavanna South Africa - "We get you; we are on the same page" - has enabled Savanna to effortlessly tap into everyday situations and bring them to life. Think of Savanna as the social commentator around South Africans' everyday life.

Introducing its latest television commercial, My friend, Savanna is tackling the #MyFriendZone. Not the one you are probably thinking about (sitting on your couch surrounded by wet tissues after your crush rejects you)  the other kind; the multiple friends South Africans tend to make going around their daily business. The barman, the receptionist arriving at the office park at the same time as you every morning, or that regular spotting you a mile away to help you carry your bags. Each person becomes your friend, buddy,, bru or. This is all good and well but one crucial question never gets asked: What is your name?No issue. Lets just put them in the #MyFriendZone. No issue, of course, until a name is required. As a friendly nation, it is hard to imagine that nobody has ever been in this situation  you could also be in the #MyFriendZone. People connect with ads that make them feel something, and subtle clever humour that makes you think is one of the surest ways to cause an emotive response. As South Africans, we dont take ourselves too seriously, so humour is our superpower, explains Steph van Niekerk.Savanna has never wavered in its commitment to nurture, support and encourage comedic talent in this country while remaining culturally relevant and inclusive of a generation that has grown up with the internet. Over the past year, Savanna has taken on many human truths with a crisp and witty perspective. `The ad was shot on location by legendary director Greg Gray of Romance Films. Gray has worked with the brand since its inception in 96, an unusual long-term relationship in a world where nothing is a constant. We love South Africa and its people, but what we love even more is observing national quirks. That was our aim at Romance Films, to capture the nuances that make you giggle as the penny drops and remember how many Savanna and Grey Africa/WPP Liquid friends you have.See the ad here:For more information, follow Savannas social media channels:Instagram: @savannacider Facebook: @SavannaCiderTwitter: @SavannaCider YouTube: SavannaCider #SiyavannaSouthAfrica  We get you!
Develops energy-control software and builds microgrids

Launching mVoult residential microgrid product

Successfully expanded into bitcoin mining with data centers acquisition

What CleanSpark does:

( ), based in Bountiful, Utah, has developed software to help companies and homes become more energy-efficient, and is also now big in bitcoin mining.

The company designs and builds microgrids while providing engineering, consulting and turn-key implementation services. It also offers software for energy monitoring and system controls.

CleanSpark's software - mPluse and mVSO (Microgrid Value Stream Optimizer) - enables a microgrid to be scaled to the user's specific needs and can be used by agricultural, commercial, industrial enterprises as well as the military and municipal governments, and residential users. Customers include not only energy consumers but independent power producers (renewable energy) and energy-storage vendors.

The company, founded in 1987, runs on a software-as-a-service (SaaS) distribution model. CleanSparks mPulse software and control suite operates on-site in real-time, providing economic dispatch controls to maximize performance and resiliency operations to back-up critical energy loads in the event of a utility disruption.

The company says its software is ideally suited for the rapidly expanding distributed energy resource (DER) market, which it has been targeting as a key revenue generator.

The global energy infrastructure is ageing and unreliable due to increases in loads and lack of new large-scale generation facilities (nuclear and coal). Meanwhile, renewable energy resources like solar, batteries, fuel cells and clean-energy generators are connecting to the grid, sometimes intermittently, stressing it and making it more complex to manage.

But, at the same time, consumers such as defense installations, industrial complexes and campuses across the world are turning to virtual power plants and microgrids to decrease their reliance on the grid to tap directly into renewable energy providers and to strengthen their own energy security against blackouts. In a sense, these consumers become their very own utilities.

As a result, CleanSparks mPluse and mVSO software and control solutions are designed to provide consumers of all sizes with the mission-critical technologies that can help integrate and operate DERs as reliable energy generators on the grid.

For those consumers who get energy off the main power grid, the companys technology helps them modernize their own distribution microgrids while replacing fossil fuel generation with clean-energy suppliers. CleanSparks microgrids monitor energy rates continuously in 15-minute cycles, tapping the least expensive source.

How is it doing:

CleanSpark has made a very busy start to 2021, as it predicted in an annual letter to shareholders on December 31, 2020.

The company said then that it was aggressively seeking new acquisition opportunities for 2021 after realizing fiscal 2020 revenue of more than $10.0 million, the third-consecutive year of greater than 100% top-line growth.

The company also noted that it plans to identify partnerships and product enhancements in 2021, which it expects will expedite its growth.

CleanSpark pointed out that one of its significant wins for 2020 was its acquisition of ATL Data Centers in early December, which the firm said will allow it to increase Bitcoin production while lowering total energy costs, thereby maximizing its overall profitability. Since the acquisition, Bitcoin has traded at record highs and CleanSpark has continued to grow the business.

Most recently, on March 26, CleanSpark announced that it had ordered 4,778 additional Bitmain S19 model Bitcoin mining rigs. The company expects to receive 1,298 of the units for deployment this summer and the remaining 3,480 units in twelve equal monthly shipments beginning in November 2021.

It said the rigs are expected to deliver an estimated 740 PH/s (petahashes per second) of additional mining capacity. To house them, CleanSpark has purchased 48 custom mobile mining data centers.

All told, CleanSpark currently operates Bitcoin mining rigs capable of processing approximately 315 PH/s within its Atlanta complex, and it intends to reach between 1 and 1.3 EH/s (exa hashes per second) by the end of the summer.

CleanSpark also said it had updated current energy data on the carbon impact of its facility, progressing towards its stated goal of being the lowest energy cost, cleanest Bitcoin miner in the US. The company's local power supplier provided data this week on the current energy mix provided to its facilities. The power sources include nuclear, hydro-electric and solar, meaning 95% of the electricity utilized for mining qualifies as carbon-free, with only 5% provided by coal.

Within the coming quarter, the company said it plans to reach 98% carbon-free energy by taking certain coal power sources offline and replacing them with carbon-free sources. Additionally, CleanSpark plans to install onsite renewable microgrids to further reduce its carbon footprint with the goal of offsetting the remaining coal sources to effectively mine Bitcoin carbon-free.

Away from bitcoin mining, a few days earlier in March, CleanSpark revealed that it had executed more than 50 new contracts under its residential microgrid initiative in less than one month following the completion of its acquisition of Solar Watt Solutions. The company noted the additional contracts for residential microgrids and battery energy storage solutions executed since February 24 had a face value exceeding $1.7 million.

Solar Watt, based in Carlsbad, California, provides solar and alternative energy solutions for homeowners and commercial businesses throughout Southern California. It has been focused on serving the fire-prone communities throughout California by utilizing the Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), which provides homeowners who have medical needs and reside in vulnerable zones with the opportunity to add energy storage to their homes at little or no cost. Based on the achievement of certain performance objectives, the total consideration for the Solar Watt Solutions acquisition will be up to 477,703 company shares and up to $3,850,000 in cash, the company said in February's completion announcement.

CleanSpark said a substantial percentage of the new contracts announced in March were related to California's SGIP. As well, the company said it and Solar Watt are currently running co-branded marketing campaigns to educate homeowners on the availability of these incentives for home microgrids and battery backup systems.

CleanSpark noted that it has experienced a 10-fold increase in residential microgrid inquiries and is planning additional marketing campaigns in support of both its residential initiative, as well as the launch of its planned mVoult software and controls solution, providing homeowners with a standalone energy management controller on February 17.

Designed for home microgrids, mVoult is capable of directing the operations of both existing and new energy assets. It will be offered as a smart controller and mobile app specifically built for residential applications. The company also said it plans to launch a fully integrated mVoult battery energy storage and control solution which will enable users to select optional add-ons, including solar integration or back-up generators.

CleanSpark said it expects an expansion of government incentive programs to come under the new administration of President Joe Biden. That, along with energy assets decreasing in costs, means a home microgrid has become an even more viable option for homeowners to consider, the company added.

The company's corporate microgrid business has also been growing in 2021. Notably, in early February, CleanSpark said it had received a new purchase order from a Houston, Texas-based microgrid developer.

The group said the end-use customer is the world's largest retail chain, operating more than 11,500 locations worldwide and said the purchase order is expected to result in more than $1,500,000 of additional revenue for the company.

CleanSpark posted its fiscal first-quarter results on February 12, 2021, which saw its revenue more than double year-over-year, thanks to an expanded sales team and a newfound passion for bitcoin mining.

The company reported revenue of nearly $2.3 million, well above the $920,000 it brought in during the same period a year earlier. Its adjusted loss narrowed to $591,975, $0.03 per share, year-over-year from more than $1.7 million, $0.37 per share.

Breaking it down, $1.2 million or 54%, of CleanSparks revenue, came from the companys energy segment, its digital agency segment (p2klabs) contributed $300,000 or 13%, and its bitcoin mining operation (ATL Data Center) accounted for $730,000 (32%).

Looking ahead, CleanSpark said it expects $30 million in revenue for its fiscal year ending September 30, 2021. The company. noted that its current backlog stands at $7.3 million, up from $800,000 at the end of the quarter, which it attributed to an expanded sales team.

In terms of working capital, the company said it had $25.6 million as of December 31, 2020, an increase of $22.5 million quarter-over-quarter, and roughly even year-over-year.

Adding to that on the financing front, on March 18, CleanSpark announced the closing of a previously announced underwritten public offering of 9,090,910 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $22.00 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $200 million.

The company said it intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, including infrastructure expansion, the acquisition of additional cryptocurrency miners and further development of its mVoult product lines, as well as acquisitions or strategic investments in complimentary businesses, products, services or technologies.

Inflection points:

Continuing increase in Bitcoin mining activity

News on mVoult residential microgrid progress

Further corporate microgrid orders

What the boss says:

In the company's March 26 statement, CleanSpark CEO Zach Bradford said: With capital provided by the funding completed last week, we've focused aggressively on securing additional locations, miners and facilities to rapidly expand our Bitcoin operations."

He added: "The CleanSpark mining operations team is led by world-renowned operators, so identifying opportunities close enough geographically to leverage the knowledge base of our team has been a priority.

"We are extremely proud to have CleanSpark achieve what we believe to be the only Bitcoin miner to achieve 95% carbon-free operations at scale in the United States. We have a goal of pushing it further to achieve full carbon neutrality in the coming years."

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
I am very satisfied with the results of the meeting, Pashinian told a group of Russian-Armenian lawyers at the end of his visit to Moscow.

We didnt sign any documents but spoke about the further implementation of a number of documents, including on security, signed in the past, he said, singling out Russian-Armenian treaties on a joint military contingent and air-defense system of the two states.

Echoing statements by other Armenian officials, Pashinian said that Russia is helping Armenia reform its armed forces after the autumn war in Nagorno-Karabakh. This was one of the most important issues discussed by us, he said without going into details.

One thing is clear: the character of Russian-Armenian relations is strategic and this strategic cooperation must be made deeper in view of the existing challenges and situations that we face, added Pashinian.

Pashinian announced plans for forging even closer ties with Russia shortly after Putin brokered an Armenian-Azerbaijani agreement that stopped the six-week war over Karabakh on November 10. He said Armenia needs new security guarantees.

The Armenian Defense Ministry announced late last month that a high-level Russian military delegation will visit Yerevan soon for further talks on defense reforms announced by Armenias government.

Putin also emphasized the strategic nature of Russian-Armenian ties in his opening remarks at the meeting with Pashinian.

The two leaders discussed the implementation of the truce agreement and the restoration of transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan envisaged by it. Pashinian complained that Baku is continuing to hold many Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives in breach of the deal.

Putin had a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday.

Pashinian met, meanwhile, with Ara Harutiunian, the Karabakh president, in Yerevan to brief him on the results of the talks with Putin. He praised Russian peacekeeping troops deployed in Karabakh, calling them the main protagonists of ensuring peace and stability in the conflict zone.
And just as Coca-Colas profits would take a seismic hit if consumers abruptly cut back on sodas, owners of office buildings, many of which are owned by pension funds, insurance companies, individuals and other investors, could be pummeled if many businesses rent less space.

The pandemic has proven that work from home is viable, said Jonathan Litt, chief investment officer of Land & Buildings, a real estate investment firm that has taken a bearish view of the New York office market. Its not going away; businesses are going to adjust, and office real estate is going to take it on the chin during that adjustment period.

Across the country, the vacancy rate for office buildings in city centers has steadily climbed over the past year to reach 16.4 percent, according to Cushman & Wakefield, the highest in about a decade. That number could climb further, even as vaccinations allow some people to go back to work, if companies keep giving up office space because of hybrid or fully remote work.

So far, landlords like Boston Properties and SL Green have not suffered huge financial losses, having survived the past year by collecting rent from tenants locked into long leases  the average contract for office space runs about seven years.

But as leases slowly come up for renewal, property owners could be left with scores of empty floors. At the same time, many new office buildings are under construction  124 million square feet nationwide, or enough for roughly 700,000 workers. Those changes could drive down rents, which were touching new highs before the pandemic. And rents help determine assessments that are the basis for property tax bills.
Whats the most common "people" sight in any public place, anywhere? At this point in our evolution the answer is easy: hunched over individuals tapping away on smartphones.

It doesnt matter one bit if the locale is rich or poor. The gadgets are everywhere.

The other day at the library your writer spied a homeless man, surrounded by presumably all of his worldly possessions. Those possessions included a smartphone. He had it hooked up to a power source outside the librarys main entrance.

Please think about this for minute or two. A homeless American man was charging a communications device that wasnt available in capability and speed to the richest of the rich probably even five years ago. Certainly not ten.

Its a reminder that what the rich enjoy exclusively is always and everywhere a preview of what well all eventually enjoy if markets remain free, and wealth largely stays where its created: in the private sector.

About wealth more broadly, its creation is largely a consequence of entrepreneurs mass producing the former baubles of the rich. Those who wring their hands about inequality unwittingly expose themselves as doltish, and heartless too. In truth, a soaring wealth gap is the surest sign of a shrinking lifestyle gap. See the homeless man at the library in 2021 America.

Which brings us to Janet Yellen, President Bidens Treasury secretary. Without anything remotely resembling a smirk, or a wink, Yellen called for politicians around the world to band together on corporate taxes. She seeks equality when it comes to tax rates. In Yellens words, Together, we can use a global minimum tax to make sure the global economy thrives based on a level playing field in the taxation of multinational corporations. Yellen was serious.

Where do we begin?

Up front, Yellens implicit acknowledgement is that members of the American right were correct all along. Businesses are people, and people respond to tax rates. If they become too onerous, people migrate away from them. It turns out people are mobile, which means corporations are.

Yellen wants to ensnare corporations. This explains her call to allegedly avoid a race to the bottom whereby corporations take their wealth and talent to the tax situations that most protect the wealth of their shareholders. In other words, if non-U.S. countries would just stop competing with the U.S. by lowering their corporate tax rates, Yellen et al wouldn't have to fear U.S. companies exiting the U.S. Yes, Yellen aims to trap U.S. businesses.

It speaks to how simplistic and mean-spirited is her seriously expressed view about taxation. Yellen wants the U.S. Treasury to own more of the profits of U.S. companies, but she doesnt want to have to compete. Better if other countries pursue tax mediocrity of the U.S. kind. If other countries are not dynamic, and arent forward thinking in their approach to taxes, then the U.S. won't have to be.

To be elear, dynamic and correct when it comes to corporate taxation is a zero tax rate. To understand why, never forget that corporations as taxpaying entities are a fiction. Shareholders pay taxes. By definition. They have shares because they saved a portion of their after-tax income. Which means a corporate tax amounts to double taxation of individual earnings.

Yellen wants more of U.S. corporate profits, but doesnt want to work for them. More specifically, Yellen plainly feels individual U.S. tax rates arent high enough, so she seeks global tax harmonization on the corporate level in order to get another swipe at individuals. On their own, Yellens desires rate ridicule. As evidenced by the trillions Treasury collects every year from taxpayers in order to fund a government with powers few and defined, Americans are already overtaxed.

Yellen might respond that the citizens of other countries pay more, but then those countries arent governed by a Constitution explicitly written to limit government. Furthermore, why would we want to emulate the others? They want to be us. Thats why people continue to risk their lives to get to the United States, and its why people in heavily taxed countries have been migrating to the U.S. for centuries.

But wait, Yellens boss in President Biden has things hed like to do with the trillions Yellen aims to vacuum in by equalizing global tax rates. About this, just once it would be nice if a senator or congressmen were to ask Yellen what amazing things government does with the wealth it extracts. It would also be nice if they asked her why people want money in the first place. Odds are she doesnt know. Odds are she would stutter. Which is the point.

This explains why this piece began with smartphone example. Enterpreneurs with expansive minds and who were matched with capital have made it so that the poorest of poor Americans have supercomputers among their meager possessions. Entrepreneurs have made smartphones near universally accessible.

Its all a reminder of what Yellen would stutter about simply because she doesnt know. People want money for what it can be exchanged for, and its increasingly true that very little money can be exchanged for staggering value. See the ubiquity of smartphones yet again.

All of which speaks to the abject foolishness behind Yellens plea to other countries to join the U.S. in overtaxing corporations. Shes calling for the confiscation of the very wealth that is relentlessly pushed to higher uses in order to create more and more once-out-of-reach goods for the masses. The U.S.s poorest have smartphones today, so what will it be tomorrow?

Thats the unknown question. The only thing the mildly sapient know is that if Yellen gets her way, tomorrow wont be as abundant as it should be. It wont be because Yellen believes her boss and his lieutenants in Congress are better at allocating resources than the worlds greatest companies. Thats really sad.
Although yours truly isnt an immunologist, epidemiologist or health policy expert (or at least no more so than the average doctor), and whereas most people clearly want to do the right thing when it comes to managing the spread of COVID-19 infection, to do their part, socially distance, wear masks (when and where appropriate), one can still feel a certain amount of frustration creeping in, even though at-risk people and others are getting vaccinated and amidst precipitously declining numbers.

People are frustrated because this has been going on for over a year and yet continue to hear warnings that social distancing, masks and other restrictions will remain necessary  according to the experts  even after people have been vaccinated. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, studies are underway to determine whether those who have been vaccinated can nonetheless manage to become asymptomatic carriers of the virus, and to what degree clinically would this be important.

There are also concerns about the impact of variant strains of the virus, which, thus far anyway, appear to be reasonably well covered by the vaccines that are available. At any rate, and although rules seem to vary from state to state and city to city, were clearly nowhere back to normal and probably wont be for quite some time. This is a bit of a gut check for those who have patiently been going through an ordeal and desperately yearn for what it felt like 15 months ago.

The ordeal has claimed the lives of 550,000 Americans and, despite all efforts, still paralyzes the country with what has been an undeniable failure to stop cases from escalating and to prevent hospitalizations and death. These efforts have included unilateral government issue decrees, forced closure of businesses and churches, quarantines and so forth, and despite all that, plus reasonable adherence to mobility restrictions and mask-wearing, we still ended up in this predicament. How is that even possible? Before the vaccines were rolled out, nothing seems to have worked, and even President Joe Biden admitted as much during a speech to the nation on Jan. 22.

There is nothing we can do, he said, to change the trajectory of the pandemic in the next several months.

The experts will say that things would have been much worse in the absence of these restrictions  and of course theyre right  but our epidemiologic data are among the worst in the entire world despite broad stroke preventative strategies that are among the most severe and characterized by good public adherence to health policy recommendations. Clearly theres a lot more to the story thats not being talked about so much  and thats frustrating.

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This is not to mention the unintended and negative consequences of certain aspects of policy  including the problems with Americas school-age children and their families, specifically as pertains to children falling off the radar screen, subpar learning, social isolation and depression. Domestic violence and child abuse have skyrocketed  all of which are huge problems with downstream consequences that may last decades. When considering that children are extremely low risk for significant problems affiliated with the virus and are not proven to be significant spreaders to adults, this would arguably be at least one area where lockdown policy has done more harm than good  and thats frustrating.

Its very encouraging that the vaccines are rolled out and that somewhere between 1 million and 3 million are getting vaccinated every day. As of last week, people 16 and older are eligible in South Carolina and several other states. All eligible people should get vaccinated and, yes, continue to practice the usual mitigating measures such as social distancing (6 feet), extra sanitation, masks, group limits (particularly indoors), testing and whatnot. Ive had both my Pfizer shots and have only heard that chip they inject into you beep a couple of times, which isnt bad. (That would be said in jest, by the way.)

Now this would never happen in a fair city such as Charleston, but if an official should walk up to you and your significant other who, for the moment anyway, are not wearing masks but are not really near other people, as you both walk down a city street or sidewalk by yourselves, and that you further have both been vaccinated, and that this same official issues tickets to you both for not being masked, why then youd have a valid excuse to feel  the word of the day  frustrated.

And based on the science as I understand it, you shouldnt be blamed for it. If you were among other people, that would be a different scenario and I get it (somewhat). But as described, no, youre frustrated and I get that, too.
Kathryn Gongaware, a 32-year-old yoga teacher and comedian in Chicago, was always curious about Botox, but it wasnt until she started mentioning it to friends and realized that people she wouldnt have expected (including her au-natural-everything acupuncturist) were getting it that she felt comfortable making the jump at age 30.

The more people were open about it, the more it felt destigmatized, she said.

This forthrightness has been particularly transformative among women of color, who are often left out of conversations and marketing about cosmetic procedures. Theres also a deeply rooted stigma in many communities of color that by opting for cosmetic procedures that have inclined toward European beauty ideals, youre rejecting your roots, said Dr. Onyeka Obioha, a dermatologist in Los Angeles who has been getting Botox since she was 25.

Historically, and even today, the majority of advertisements for cosmetic procedures do not feature or target minorities, Dr. Obioha said. But now with social media, theres more attention given to the fact that women of color also get cosmetic procedures, so the stigma surrounding them seems to be decreasing.

While online sharing has helped reduce the stigma, it has brought with it some downside, too  namely, young people thinking they need to start Botox because their friends are doing it.

Ive had 20-year-olds in college come in without knowing anything about Botox who really dont need it, but they have this sense of FOMO because their friends are doing it, said Dr. Sheila Farhang, a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon in Arizona, who doles out skin-care tips to thousands of followers on Instagram and YouTube. I will not inject someone that age, and I try to explain to them why they really dont need it.

The Difference in Baby Botox

A shift in how Botox is administered has also helped convince younger people to try it. When Botox first came out, people were using it to really isolate and freeze the muscles, so that frozen look was what people associated it with, Dr. Schaffer said. At the time, doctors were using 20 to 30 units in one area or muscle alone, a dosing that has lowered significantly in the last 10 years.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Canopy Growth Corp. has signed a deal to buy the Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. in an agreement valued at $435 million.

The acquisition adds Supreme Cannabis's premium brands, 7Acres and 7Acres Craft Collective, as well as others to Canopy's roster of offerings.

The deal is the latest move by Canopy to grow by acquisition as the cannabis sector has seen a wave of consolidation. Canopy announced last week it had bought Ace Valley, a Toronto company that makes vapes, gummies and pre-rolls.

Supreme Cannabis shareholders will receive 0.01165872 of a Canopy common share and 0.01 of a cent in cash for each Supreme Cannabis share held.

The offer is worth 44 cents per Supreme Cannabis share.

Supreme Cannabis shares closed at 26.5 cents on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Wednesday, while Canopy shares closed at $37.74.
After the Maharashtra government's vaccine shortage claims, health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan in a strongly worded statement has slammed "deplorable attempts by some state governments" to distract attention from "their failures and spread panic among the people".

At a time when the country is witnessing a fresh wave of rising COVID-19 infections, Vardhan said he was alarmed to see many states have failed to take appropriate response measures and apply the lessons the nation learned over the past one year of handling this pandemic.

In an indirect attack on Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Varshan said most concerning of all are the statements being made by a section of political leaders, asking to open up vaccination to everyone above the age of 18, or to drastically lower the minimum age criteria for vaccination eligibility.

He said as long as the supply of vaccines remains limited, there is no option but to prioritise. This is also the established practice around the world, and is well known to all state governments, he said.

"When states ask to open up vaccine supplies to everyone over 18, we must presume that they have done saturation coverage of healthcare workers, frontline workers and senior citizens. But the facts are altogether different," he stressed.

He said Maharashtra has vaccinated only 86 per cent of health workers with first dose. The equivalent numbers for Delhi and Punjab are 72 per cent and 64 per cent. On the other hand, 10 Indian states/UTs have done more than 90 per cent.

Similarly, Maharashtra has vaccinated just 41 per cent healthcare workers with the second dose; Delhi and Punjab are 41 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively; and 12 Indian states/UTs with 60 per cent.

Also read: 'Get your shot soon': PM Modi after getting 2nd COVID-19 vaccine dose

"Doesn't it seem evident that these states are trying to divert attention from their poor vaccination efforts by just continuously shifting the goal-posts? Politicising such a public health issue is a damning indictment of certain political leaders who should know better," he said.

Talking about the issue of shortage of vaccines raised by Maharashtra, Vardhan said this is nothing but an attempt to divert attention from Maharashtra government's repeated failures to control the spread of pandemic. "To spread panic among the people is to compound the folly further. Vaccine supplies are being monitored on a real-time basis, and state governments are being apprised regularly about it. Allegations of vaccine shortage are utterly baseless," he said.

Maharashtra not only has the highest cases and deaths in the country but also has one of the highest test positivity rates in the world. Their testing is not up to the mark and their contact tracing leaves a lot to be desired.

Also read: Vaccine shortage in Maharashtra; inoculation centres send back people

He also said that comments by leaders from Chhattisgarh are intended to spread misinformation and panic on vaccination. He said states like Karnataka, Rajasthan and Gujarat also need to bring their healthcare systems up to the mark. In Punjab, a high case fatality rate needs to be improved by early identification of those needing hospitalisation, he said.

Maharashtra health Minister Rajesh Tope yesterday said vaccination centres in the state had to send back people due to lack of doses of the two approved coronavirus vaccines. Tope said that during a press briefing about the concerns he shared with Vardhan on Tuesday evening. "We do not have enough vaccine doses at various vaccination centres, and people have to be sent back due to a shortage of doses. We have demanded from the Centre that people of age group 20-40 years must be vaccinated on priority," he said.

Rajesh Tope said that the state currently has 14 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses, which will get consumed in three days. He said that Maharashtra has asked for 40 lakh additional doses. While the Centre is giving the doses, the speed of delivery is slow.

Also read: SII chose to prioritise India for 2 months; vaccine exports likely to resume by June: Adar Poonawalla
TBILISI  The jailed leader of Georgia's main opposition force has gone on trial in a case that has deepened a protracted postelection political crisis in the South Caucasus country.

Nika Melia's trial opened in Tbilisi on April 8 at a hearing held behind closed doors due to pandemic measures, with hundreds of his supporters gathered outside the courtroom.

A judge granted the defense team's request to lift a ban on the chairman of the United National Movement (ENM) attending the trial, and set the next hearing for April 13.

Melia is accused of organizing "mass violence" during 2019 anti-government protests, and he could face nine years behind bars if convicted.

The 41-year-old politician rejects the charge as politically motivated, which the ruling Georgian Dream party denies.

Georgia has been in the grip of a crisis since parliamentary elections in October, with opposition parties refusing to enter the new parliament to protest what they call the rigging of the vote.

The crisis deepened in February, when a court ordered Melia sent to pretrial detention after he refused to pay an increased bail fee.

Melia's arrest, along with several opposition activists, has sparked mass anti-government protests in Tbilisi demanding their release and snap parliamentary elections.

Two rounds of EU-mediated talks in March between the government and the opposition aimed at de-escalating tensions have failed to produce any breakthrough.

With reporting by AFP
Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks at a news conference at the CSL facility in Melbourne, Australia, on Feb. 12, 2021. (Diego Fedele/Getty Images)

Those Under 50 Should Avoid AstraZeneca Vaccine: Australian PM

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called an urgent press conference to advise Australians aged under 50 against receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The prime minister instead, recommended they go for the alternative Pfizer vaccine, while those over 50 were clear to receive the AstraZeneca jab.

The advice here today is not to not have the AstraZeneca vaccinethere is not a prohibition on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for persons under 50, Morrison said.

So, this is not a directive. This is not an instruction. This is advice that is being provided to Australians and the broader medical community, who are responsible for administering these vaccines.

The PMs announcement follows a case in Melbournes Box Hill Hospital where a 44-year-old man was admitted with serious thrombosis after he received the AstraZeneca vaccine on or around March 22, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

The mans case fit the description of vaccine-induced pro-thrombotic thrombocytopenia, Norman Swan, a physician told ABC.

His case prompted an investigation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to examine whether there was a causal link between the vaccine and blood clotting, an issue that Australian health authorities are looking into following warnings from European health bodies.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said that blood clots were a very rare event, but conceded that it could occur within 4 to 10 days of taking the vaccine.

It is serious, and it can cause up to a 25 percent death rate when it occurs, he added.

The prime ministers urgent announcement was based off recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group of Immunisation (ATAGI).

The ATAGI made four recommendations.

First, Pfizer would be the preferred vaccine over AstraZeneca for adults under 50-years-old.

Second, immunisation providers should only give a first dose of AstraZeneca to adults under 50, where the benefits clearly outweigh the risk for that individuals circumstances.

Third, those who have their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine without any serious adverse events can safely be given their second dose.

Lastly, the Department of Health will further develop resources for patients to give informed consent on the risks and benefits of the AstraZeneca jab.

Former Australian Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendon Murphy said that all vaccines have adverse effects, including the Pfizer vaccine, which has a risk of anaphylaxis.

But this syndrome, after all of the work weve done with the UK and Europe, does seem to be a real syndrome, and we now feel that, at an abundance of caution, given that this syndrome seems to occur mainly in younger people for whom the risk of severe COVID is not so great, Murphy said.

Murphy added that under Phase 1b trial, those aged over 70 should continue with the AstraZeneca vaccine at their respective GP clinics.

The important thing is that all of the vulnerable peoplethose vulnerable to severe COVIDwill be covered, as we planned, by the middle of the year.

When asked why the elderly are still advised to take the AstraZeneca vaccine, Kelly said, We must say this is preliminary evidence. There are very few cases of this extremely rare event that have happened anywhere in the world.

So, the 50 cut-off is based on what weve seen in these events so farmore common in younger people, less common in older people. We know older people are at higher risk of COVID, he added.

Prime Minister Morrison added that its important for the elderly to be vaccinated because a majority of the 900 COVID-19-related deaths in Australia have predominantly been with older Australians.

Murphy confirmed that Melbourne based CSL will still be producing the AstraZeneca vaccine and will explore with Novavaxone of three companies the Federal Government has struck a deal with to distribute COVID-19 vaccinesthe viability of manufacturing onshore.

Morrison said there were many uncertainties and many variables.

The whole world has gone through a process of relying on expert medical advice to define those vaccines that they would seek to contract and have available to their populations, and Australia has made some very sound decisions on that front, he said.

State and federal health ministers will discuss the early implications of the overall rollout at the National Cabinet meeting tomorrow.

As of April 8, the total administered doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have reached 996,145, including over 361,000 through primary care and 125,260 through aged care.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8)  The World Health Organization is perturbed over the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines, raising alarm over the surge's effect on healthcare capacity.

"We are concerned about the situation in the Philippines," Dr. Takeshi Kasai, regonal director of WHO Western Pacific, said in a virtual media briefing on Wednesday. "We're concerned because the surge is really continuing and moving toward the so-called red line [when] the number of cases exceed or surpass the capacity of healthcare."

He underscored the importance of preventing the country's healthcare capacity from entering the danger zone that may jeopardize the safety and capabilities of medical frontliners to care for COVID-19 patients.

WHO noted that there are several factors for the ongoing spike in coronavirus infections that is not just occurring in the Philippines. Kasai cited the presence of variants of concern, noncompliance to minimum public health standards, increased mobility for nonessential gatherings, and movement of unsuspecting asymptomatic patients in their 20s to 40s as contributing factors to the surge.

He added that in other countries, it is vaccine optimism or complacency after vaccination that lead to spikes in cases. He admitted, however, that this could possibly not be applicable to the Philippines when vaccination rollout has not been widespread.

Kasai urged the Philippine government to improve its healthcare capacity by setting up temporary facilities to accommodate mild to moderate COVID-19 cases so intensive care units in hospitals can take care of critically-ill patients.

He also pressed the national government to strengthen contact tracing efforts to effectively pinpoint the source of infections.

Hospitals in the country are getting filled to the brim with COVID-19 cases, leaving several health facilities in Metro Manila and nearby provinces with no choice but to turn away patients needing emergency assistance. Some patients and their families resort to traveling to different provinces to get medical help.

This week, the government started relocating from hospitals admitted COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic or only experiencing mild symptoms in a bid to decongest overwhelmed health facilities.

Additional tents and modular facilities will also be placed in some hospitals to serve as an extension to accommodate more patients.

The national government is also implementing triaging in all Metro Manila cities and municipality to prevent all those experiencing flu-like symptoms from rushing to hospitals. It will serve as the "midway" point where local health officials can assess if a person needs to go to a quarantine center or be brought to the hospital.

Appeal for more help from WHO

A lawmaker is appealing to the WHO to send more help to the Philippines by prioritizing the release of additional vaccine supplies through the global initiative COVAX.

"Ang panawagan natin sa World Health Organization is unahin tayo dito sa COVAX facility. Tayo ang bigyan ng authority na ma-turn over na 'yung mga vaccines so that we will be able to speed up the vaccine rollout," Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said.

[Translation: Our call to the World Health Organization is to prioritize us in the COVAX facility. Give us the authority to turn over the vaccines to us so we can speed up the vaccine rollout.]

The Philippines has received 525,600 AstraZeneca doses through COVAX, a global initiative led by the World Health Organization, vaccine alliance Gavi, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations that seeks member countries' equitable access to coronavirus vaccines.

The WHO previously said expected delivery of over 900,000 AstraZeneca doses from COVAX, supposedly scheduled in late March, may be delayed further and reduced due to a supply shortage.

CNN Philippines correspondent Melissa Lopez contributed to this report.
Maharashtra on Thursday mounted a scathing attack on the Centre for its discriminatory approach in allocating vaccines to the state. The state government estimates that its stock of Covaxin and Covishield vaccines will be exhausted in two days.

Maharashtra has 900,000 doses in stock. At the current pace of vaccination, it will last just two days, claimed the states Health Minister Rajesh Tope. He added that Maharashtra has been allotted 1.7 million doses of vaccines from the Centre. It requires 4 million doses per week. Of this, the state will get 750,000 doses now, the rest later.

One of the largest government-run vaccination sites in Mumbai on the Bandra Kurla Complex grounds has only 350 vaccine doses left. The site was vaccinating more than 1,000 people daily. Twenty-five vaccination centres had to close down in Mumbai owing to dearth of vaccines in the morning. Another 25 centres ran out of stocks on Thursday evening. Private hospitals like Hinduja said their stocks could stretch till Saturday at best.

Tope and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar had apprised Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan of the situation on Wednesday.

The Centre is taking a discriminatory approach when it comes to vaccine allocation. Maharashtra is leading in Covid vaccination drive, but overlooked by the Centre. States like Uttar Pradesh were supplied with 4.8 million doses recently. Madhya Pradesh got 4 million doses, Gujarat 3 million, and Haryana 2.4 million, rued Tope. In an attempt to highlight the inequitable distribution, Tope said with a population of 60 million, Gujarat got 10 million doses, while Maharashtra with a population of 120 million got just 10.4 million doses. The inoculation drive had to be halted in Panvel, Satara, and Sangli, added Tope.

Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi rule Maharashtra. Tope told reporters that the shortage of vaccines comes at a time when cases are spiking in the state and the case positivity rate (of testing) is 20-25 per cent.

Despite several attempts, Union health ministry officials could not be reached for a comment till the time of going to press.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan tweeted on Thursday denying vaccine shortage of any kind across India. Lets put an end to fear-mongering now. Total administered doses: 90 million-plus. In stock/nearing delivery to states: 43 million-plus. Where does the question of shortage arise? We are continuously monitoring and enhancing supply, he tweeted.

The vaccine shortage, however, has degenerated into a political war of words. Senior NCP leader Jayant Patil tweeted on Thursday: While Maharashtra has the highest number of patients in the country, it should get the highest number of vaccines, but this is not allowed on purpose. It seems, some people in Delhi want the public health system in Maharashtra to not function properly.



States like Karnataka have 2.5-3 million doses and the Centre has already assured another 2.5 million doses soon.
New Delhi: Suspended Mumbai cop Sachin Waze has now dropped a 'letter bomb' and accused Maharashtra cabinet minister and Shiv Sena minister Anil Parab in an extortion racket row. In a letter written to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Wednesday (April 7, 2021), Waze said that a person named Darshan Ghodawat, introducing himself as a close aide of a senior Maharashtra Minister, had asked him to collect a monthly amount of Rs 100 crore from the illegal gutkha sellers.

Waze, who is currently in NIA custody in the Antilia bomb scare, also stated that he had refused to do so and when he initiated action against the illegal gutkha sellers, Ghodawat came to his office and expressed the Minister`s displeasure on Waze's actions against them.

He also claimed that Maharashtra former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had also demanded Rs 2 crore from him to continue his service in the Mumbai police.

The NIA court, however, refused to take the letter on record and asked Waze to follow the required procedure.

Anil Parab refuted the allegations and said that they were incorrect and aimed at maligning his image. He also expressed readiness to face any probe.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has alleged that this was a 'political conspiracy' to topple the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

Raut said, "There have been efforts from day one to topple the Maharashtra government. The faces of those who are trying to topple the government are coming to light. A new tactic has come to light wherein people who are in jail write letters...People in jail write letters and they are considered as evidence. This is substandard politics."

He added, "This is a political conspiracy, I know Anil Parab, he can never indulge in such work. I can assure you that no Shiv Sainik can take a false oath in Bala Saheb Thackeray`s name."

Earlier, Anil Deshmukh, an NCP leader, tendered his resignation amid corruption allegations. Ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh had alleged that Deshmukh fixed a Rs 100-crore collection target for suspended assistant police inspector Sachin Waze.

This is to be noted that the MVA government in Maharashtra comprised of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.

(With inputs from agencies)



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(Reuters) - Diplomats from major powers and the European Union met separately on Wednesday with Iran and the United States to discuss what sanctions Washington might remove and what nuclear curbs Tehran might observe in an effort to bring both back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, a U.S. official said.

Longtime foes the United States and Iran have said they do not expect quick breakthroughs in the talks that began in Vienna on Tuesday, with European and other diplomats as intermediaries because Tehran rejects face-to-face talks for now.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 deal, which lifted economic sanctions on Iran in return for curbs to its nuclear program, and he reimposed U.S. sanctions, prompting Iran to violate the accord's atomic limitations.

The deal's remaining parties - Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia - agreed on Tuesday to form two expert-level groups whose job is to marry lists of sanctions that the United States could lift with nuclear obligations Iran should meet.

Diplomats said the working groups, which are chaired by the European Union and exclude the United States, met on Wednesday. A U.S. official said on condition of anonymity that the U.S. delegation in Vienna had been briefed on the discussions.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy in Vienna, John Irish in Paris and Arshad Mohammed in St. Paul, Minn.; editing by Grant McCool)
[April 08, 2021] Foundation Communities Receives $1.5M to Build Austin Apartments

Wells Fargo (News - Alert) and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) have awarded $1.5 million in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) subsidies to Foundation Communities for two Austin apartment complexes serving low-income individuals and families. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005916/en/ The $25 million Zilker Studios apartments will provide 100 rental units to single adults with high needs, low incomes and housing instability in central Austin. It received a $750,000 AHP subsidy. (Photo: Business Wire) The $25 million Zilker Studios apartments (formerly Armadillo Studios) will provide 100 rental units to single adults with high needs, low incomes and housing instability in central Austin while The Loretta, a $31 million project, will offer 137 units to low-income families and individuals in far north Austin. Each project received a $750,000 AHP subsidy. "We are thankful that Wells Fargo and FHLB Dallas see these two projects as critical in providing affordable housing options at a time when rising rents and home prices are straining the budgets of many Austinites," said Walter Moreau, Foundation Communities executive director. Wells Fargo said the bank is pleased to support the nonprofit's mission. "This is a homegrown nonprofit that has succeeded in providing innovative and affordable housing and opportunities that transform people's lives," said Theresa Alvarez, Wells Fargo senior vice president of Community Relations for Central Texas. AHP funds are intended to assist FHLB Dallas members in financing the purchase, construction and/or rehabilitation of ower-occupied, rental or transitional housing and housing for homeless individuals. AHP funds must be used to benefit households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the median income for the area.



In 2020, FHLB Dallas awarded $19.3 million in grants to 38 affordable housing projects. The grants will help create 2,749 new or rehabilitated housing units. Included in that total is $10.2 million for 1,475 units in Texas. Since the AHP's inception in 1990, FHLB Dallas has awarded more than $323 million in AHP and Homeownership Set-Aside Programs and has assisted more than 57,000 households.

Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas, said Wells Fargo has been a long-time proponent of affordable housing. "We've partnered with Wells Fargo on dozens of AHP subsidies over the years in multiple cities and states; it's been a joy to work with them," Mr. Hettrick said. For more information about the AHP, visit fhlb.com/ahp. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets and proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of all middle market companies in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 30 on Fortune's 2020 rankings of America's largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health and a low-carbon economy. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter (News - Alert) : @WellsFargo. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $64.9 billion as of December 31, 2020, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005916/en/

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Judge Emmet Sullivan denied a request to release Jeffrey Sabol, a Colorado man charged in the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, during a bond hearing Thursday.

Sabol, a 51-year-old geophysicist, is accused of taking a baton from a police officer and dragging another officer down steps to a waiting mob.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, he faces seven felony charges, including assaulting, resisting or impeding officers using a dangerous weapon.

Sullivan did not elaborate on his ruling but said he would be issuing a written opinion soon. Before the hearing, Sullivan expressed his inclination to keep Sabol detained, permitted that there wasnt any significant new information.

Its shocking what these videos depict. It's shocking that this is a battle scene at the United States Capitol, the heart of democracy, Sullivan said during the hearing. I had to watch these a couple of times before it really sunk in what I was watching.  It just chokes me up.

Sabols attorney Jon Norris requested that Sabol be released into house arrest and be allowed to stay at his long-term girlfriends home in New York, next door to his parents, instead of being sent back to Colorado.

Norris argued that Sabol did not need to be detained, portraying him as a law-abiding citizen manipulated into participating in the riot.

Norris pointed to the 30 character letters submitted in support of Sabol and his minimal criminal history, which includes only one misdemeanor from five years ago.

"While detention is permissible in this case, it is not required, Norris said. There is no rebuttable presumption that the government can rely upon for dangerousness in this case.

During the hearing, Norris insisted that Sabol did not hurt anyone during the riot and that he did not attend with riot with the intention of being violent.

He pointed out that while Sabol pulled a baton out of the hands of a police officer, no video footage shows Sabol hitting anyone with it.

Norris even claimed Sabol was protecting officers during the riot, showing clips from the riot that appear to show Sabol waving his hands horizontally like a referee at a group of attackers and an audio file of a man yelling dont hurt the cops which Norris said a witness identified as Sabols voice.

Prosecutor Colleen Kukowski disagreed, showing several clips from the riot that appear to show Sabol participating in violence against officers, identified by his teal backpack, tan jacket and black helmet.

One clip was from a body-worn camera of officer A.W., whos baton Sabol is accused of taking.

It shows the officer on the ground and surrounded by a mob when Sabol approached and pulled the baton out of his hands, so hard that Sabol stumbled backwards down the steps.

That officer ended up with a laceration to the back of his head that required staples.

Kukowski described Sabols actions as methodical and planned, and said he was leaving the officer without any form of self-defense.

To me, this shows his premeditation, Kukowski said. He is choosing to arm himself  and to disarm another individual. An officer standing there tasked to protect the Capitol and those inside of it.

Kukowski also showed clips that appear to show Sabol participating in dragging Officer B.M. down the Capitol steps, away from the police line and into a mob. That officer was then beaten by an American flag.

According to the statement of facts, that video also shows Sabol appear to punch the back of the officer as he drags him. While in the hospital, records say Sabol told federal investigators that he was not punching the officer but patting the officer on the back saying, we got you, man.

Norris continued with this argument, saying the videos do not speak for themselves and its hard to say whether hes dragging the officer down or trying to lift the officer up."

Norris also countered Kukowskis arguments that Sabol came to the Capitol prepared for a fight because he wore steel-toed boots, a bike helmet and had zip ties and a two-way radio.

Norris said, as an engineer, Sabol always carries zip ties and the radio was to communicate with friends in case the phones went out.

Sabol was also portrayed as a flight risk and a danger to himself during the hearing. After the riot, Sabol purchased a plane ticket to Zurich, Switzerland, but before the flight, attempted to kill himself by cutting his wrists and thighs.

Records say police stopped Sabol in Clarkstown, New York, for erratic driving five days after the riot. He was covered in blood and inside his car, police found an airline e-ticket for a trip from Boston to Switzerland, razor blades, his passport and a green backpack and tan Carhartt jacket matching the videos from the riot.

Sabol told police he chose Switzerland because the U.S. could not extradite him from there.

Norris defended this, saying Sabol did not buy the ticket to escape prosecution but to go somewhere where he could sit and not be arrested and do research to find videos of him doing good things at the riot. Norris pointed out that Sabol also bought a return ticket, which Kukowski called part of the ruse.

Kukowski said Sabol admitted to microwaving his electronics and destroying his phone after returning from the riot and that he instructed those he sent photos and videos to that day to delete them.

This is a savvy individual who not only poses a danger to the community and is a flight risk, but also here has shown that he has the foresight to destroy evidence that was related to the events and his criminal conduct, Kukowski said.

Sabols next court appearance is scheduled for May 5.
HOUSTON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE: HHC) today announced that Correne Loeffler has been appointed to serve as the company's Chief Financial Officer, effective April 19, 2021. Ms. Loeffler succeeds David O'Reilly as the company's CFO, a position that he has held since joining HHC in 2016 and has continued to hold on an interim basis since being appointed HHC's Chief Executive Officer in December 2020.

Prior to joining HHC, Ms. Loeffler held the position of Chief Financial Officer for Whiting Petroleum Corporation, where she managed the company's Finance, Accounting, and Corporate Planning organizations, as well as helped restructure $2.4 billion of unsecured debt. She previously served as Vice President of Finance and Treasurer for the Callon Petroleum Company in Houston. In addition, she served as Callon's Interim Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that she spent over a decade at JPMorgan Securities before leaving as an Executive Director in the Corporate Client Banking group. Ms. Loeffler also held positions at Bank of America and Accenture.

"Correne's experience in leading organizations, developing talent and driving performance as well as her financial expertise will make her a valued addition to HHC," said David O'Reilly, Chief Executive Officer, The Howard Hughes Corporation. "Her ability to operate and deliver in complicated and fluid situations as well as work with varied stakeholders will help us continue to accelerate development across our portfolio and achieve our financial goals. Correne makes an important addition to our executive leadership team."

HHC recently announced plans to accelerate growth across the company's acclaimed portfolio of master planned communities and mixed-use small cities, with over 2,000,000 square feet of new developments in Downtown Columbia, MD; Ward Village in Honolulu; Summerlin in Las Vegas; and Bridgeland in the Houston region.

"This is an exciting time to be joining The Howard Hughes Corporation, as the company is poised to accelerate its growth given their robust balance sheet," said Ms. Loeffler. "I am looking forward to being part of the next chapter for HHC and helping to drive long-term value creation across the company's collection of exceptional assets."

Ms. Loeffler graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin.

About The Howard Hughes Corporation

The Howard Hughes Corporation owns, manages, and develops commercial, residential, and mixed-use real estate throughout the U.S. Its award-winning assets include the country's preeminent portfolio of master planned communities, as well as operating properties and development opportunities including: the Seaport in New York; Downtown Columbia, Maryland; The Woodlands, The Woodlands Hills, and Bridgeland in the Greater Houston, Texas area; Summerlin, Las Vegas; and Ward Village in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Howard Hughes Corporation's portfolio is strategically positioned to meet and accelerate development based on market demand, resulting in one of the strongest real estate platforms in the country. Dedicated to innovative placemaking, the company is recognized for its ongoing commitment to design excellence and to the cultural life of its communities. The Howard Hughes Corporation is traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HHC. For additional information, visit www.howardhughes.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements accompanied by words such as "will," "believe," "expect," "enables," "realize", "plan," "intend," "assume," "transform" and other words of similar expression, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's expectations, estimates, assumptions, and projections as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth as risk factors in The Howard Hughes Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly and Annual Reports. The Howard Hughes Corporation cautions you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. The Howard Hughes Corporation does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.

Contacts

The Howard Hughes Corporation

Media Contact

The Howard Hughes Corporation

Cristina Carlson, 646-822-6910

SVP, Head of Corporate Communications

[email protected]

Investor Relations

The Howard Hughes Corporation

David M. Striph, 281-929-7772

EVP, Head of Operations & Investor Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE The Howard Hughes Corporation

Related Links

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ITHACA, N.Y. - Research shows people turn to religion in times of fear and uncertainty - and March 2020 was one of those times.

To find the impact of religion during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Landon Schnabel, the Robert and Ann Rosenthal Assistant Professor of Sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences, analyzed responses from 11,537 Americans surveyed March 19-24, 2020, shortly after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global health pandemic.

Religion protected mental health of members of several faith groups, Schnabel reports in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, but also constrained crisis response among some of the same groups, ultimately undercutting the overall effectiveness of public health efforts to contain the virus.

"Religion limited the negative mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, with highly religious Americans and especially evangelicals experiencing less distress than more secular Americans," Schnabel wrote. "However, that mental health benefit came at the cost of less concern about and support for addressing an important real-world problem: saving lives during a pandemic."

According to Schnabel, "the most obvious explanation for this pattern is the politicization of the pandemic and the fact that ... Republicans and conservatives simply were not as concerned about the pandemic and less likely to think they needed to worry about social distancing, etc."

Intensely religious white people tend to hold conservative values and embrace Republican politics, Schnabel wrote - the same political positions that downplayed the threat of the virus, especially in the early days of the pandemic.

Schnabel based his conclusions on data from Pew Research's American Trends Panel (ATP), made available by the Cornell Roper Center for Public Opinion Research as part of a growing collection of public opinion data related to COVID-19.

The survey asked questions about mental distress, perceived health and economic threats posed by the pandemic, and opinions on public health restrictions and social distancing behaviors. It also collected data about religious affiliation and behavior, and about political party affiliation.

Schnabel's analysis confirmed a documented benefit of religion: increased mental health.

"Regularly attending and evangelical Americans did not experience as much increased distress during the early stages of COVID-19 as Americans who attended less regularly or who were not evangelical," he wrote. "This suggests that religion, typically implicated in rates of distress, mitigated the increased anxiety most Americans were feeling in the early days of the pandemic."

Schnabel's analysis also confirmed previous research documenting the close alignment of religion and politics in the U.S. "In the contemporary United States, religion has become politicized and is now viewed as entangled with conservative politics," he wrote.

"In sum, religion therefore could paradoxically buffer the hardship caused by the pandemic yet structure attitudes and orientations about public health and science in ways that ultimately increase it," Schnabel wrote.

It is within the power of religious people and faith organizations to glean mental health benefits of religion without endangering public health, Schnabel said.

"Religious organizations should consider how they can promote the things that are helpful for mental health and not promote anything harmful for physical health," Schnabel said, such as building community through virtual gatherings and providing virtual tools to provide psychological resources without risk of exposure. "The ideal scenario would be to figure out how to get the mental health benefits while avoiding the things that were unhelpful for containing the pandemic," he said.

The data for this study came from early in the pandemic, Schnabel wrote. "It remains to be seen the exact extent to which religion will continue to protect mental health as we enter the second year of the pandemic."

###
Since the beginning of this day, Russian-occupation forces have violated the ceasefire in Donbas five times, one Ukrainian has sustained injuries that are incompatible with life, the press center of the Joint Force Operation (JFO) headquarters said.

"As of 07:00 on April 8, five violations of the ceasefire were recorded by Russian-occupation forces, four of which were at the positions of the Ukrainian defenders and one shelling of civilian infrastructure. Thus, not far from the settlements of Pisky and Vodiane, on the Azov Sea, the enemy opened fire from a 122-caliber artillery installation, 82-caliber mortars and small arms. As a result of enemy fire, a soldier from the Joint Forces has sustained injuries that are incompatible with life," the JFO headquarters said on Facebook on Thursday morning.

The headquarters said that over the past day, April 7, Russian-occupation forces violated the ceasefire seven times in the JFO area.

"Over the past day, on April 7, seven violations of the ceasefire by the Russian armed formations were recorded. All of them were committed in the area of responsibility of the Skhid (East) task force. In particular, not far from the villages of Pisky and Opytne, Russian-occuaption forces opened fire from mortars of 82 and 120 caliber, and near the settlements of Hnutove, Shyrokine, Talakivka and Vodiane, in the Azov region, the enemy used grenade launchers of various systems and small arms. As a result of the shelling, one member of the Joint Forces was wounded by shrapnel. The soldier was promptly provided with first aid, and he was taken to a hospital," the JFO headquarters said.
opinion

Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) recently released official statistics for unemployment since the national lockdown decimated South Africa, leading to a cumulative 16.4% contraction of the economy.

Concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on employment were confirmed with the disheartening reality that the unemployment rate had climbed to a record high of 32.5% from 28.9% in 2019. The unemployment rate is the highest recorded since 2008. Youth unemployment has reached a seemingly insurmountable 61.3%, and discouraged work-seekers are up by 9.1%.

A focus on immediate and quickly-implemented successes, such as investments in the renewable energy sector, serve as a potential vehicle for revitalising the economy. The reality of South Africa's unemployment crisis is shocking, the mounting youth unemployment rate particularly so, yet the country has recorded a marked decline in infrastructure investment for the third consecutive year.

To effectively achieve equitable turn-around of the economy, the government needs to prioritise absorption of the youth in the workforce by scaling up infrastructure projects that create employment in urban areas. The renewable energy sector is the clear no-brainer solution.

The difficulties and barriers to a renewable energy future seem insurmountable. Public infrastructure investment has continued to fall short of what is necessary for economic recovery since 2016. Public infrastructure investment declined from R251 billion in 2018 to R231 billion in 2019. South Africa's capital expenditure to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio has fallen to 13%, while our counterparts Nigeria and Angola recorded a ratio of 25.4% and 21.5%, respectively.

A survey conducted by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that the decline in public infrastructure investment has contributed to a decrease in private investment, thus improved product market regulation policies and increased market competition could improve South Africa's growth overall.

Eskom's electricity demand has fallen by 0,4% per annum for the past decade; this decrease is attributed to increased uptake of renewable energy by domestic users seeking independency from the unreliable state utility. Eskom is desperate to recuperate this loss in income by imposing tariffs on these households. South Africa has yet to exhaust its renewable energy potential;

Yet public actors such as the Department of Mineral Resources and Eskom continue to stifle the growth of renewables by creating regulatory hurdles with electricity generation licences, which allow for Eskoms's monopoly to thrive. Green jobs in the renewables sector have the potential to create decent jobs, with relatively immediate remedial effects on our ailing economy.

Further, Eskom has infamously delayed necessary maintenance and upgrades for over two decades, compounded with its continued reliance on an outdated coal combustion-driven business model that has contributed to the energy crisis. Renewable energy has proved to be resilient amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to research released by CSIR, renewable energy share in South Africa has grown to surpass nuclear energy, contributing 10.5% to system demand.

Eskom was responsible for an R15 billion reduction in capital expenditure, owing to budget constraints. The South African government has positioned job creation at the centre of its economic recovery plan, committing to creating 800,000 jobs, and endeavours to do this by removing environmental regulatory mechanisms, which are perceived as barriers to economic growth and by procuring major infrastructure projects.

Among the 50 strategic integrated projects and 12 special projects identified by the Minister of Public Infrastructure, the proposed development of energy, water and sanitation, human settlements, agriculture and transportation valued R340 billion could prove to provide the immediate job creation potential while simultaneously providing socio-economic benefits to South Africans, especially if these projects make use of emerging technology geared towards climate action.

Despite these overwhelming odds, South Africa can still write a new story for recovery. Government needs to focus on projects that offer immediate solutions to economic recovery, such as building capacity across the renewable energy value chain and removing barriers to the procurement of renewable energy.

South Africa's existing Concentrated Solar Thermal Power (CSP) capacity sits at 300 MW, and expansion in this regard is doubtful as the 2019 Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) does not allocate capacity for Concentrated Solar Thermal Power technology before 2030.

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Prioritising Distributed Renewable Energy Access (DREA) has proven to be a significant employer in emerging economies and has far-reaching impacts on social, environmental and economic conditions. Investment in mini-grid start-ups globally more than doubled to an astounding $113 billion. DREA accounted for some 95 000 formal jobs in India, and 10 000 in Kenya.

The cumulative impact of these small projects could grant South Africa the necessary revival the economy requires. In the absence of these initiatives to bolster investor confidence, the government's ambitions to attract R1.2 trillion investment by 2023 will remain unattainable.

There has been significant progress on the legislative front with NERSA's concurrence with the ministerial determination, allowing for municipalities to procure additional electricity capacity.

This long-awaited decision will facilitate private investment and spur the creation of more employment opportunities. An emerging renewable energy sector is likely to provide higher returns, significantly increase investment, and has the potential to provide meaningful and decent employment for the youth desperate to join the workforce.
The protest began twenty days ago in Santiago de Cuba and continues today with the hunger strike of 27 members of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu), an organization that declares itself to be fighting against the repressive practices of the dictatorship.

The Organization of American States (OSA), through the Secretary General, officially took a stand in favor of the strikers expressing solidarity because "in defense of fundamental freedoms in the face of a dictatorial regime".

"The time has come - it is a note from the OSA - for the Cuban dictatorship to adhere to the demands of the strikers, who do nothing but claim the fundamental rights and freedoms for human beings recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in legal instruments of the Inter-American System ".

In general, the OSA recalls, organized opposition is not allowed in Cuba, where dissidents are seen as mercenaries in the pay of the US. Cuban TV reportedly referred to the UNPACU protest for the first time as a US-funded farce.

(Unioneonline)
EV

In the meantime, Xiaomi has already confirmed its investing up to $10 billion in EVs , and now it looks like Huawei is ready to make the first step in the automotive business too.The Chinese tech behemoth will unveil its firstbuilt in partnership with BAIC as soon as this week, though, at this point, it looks like Huawei has only been in charge of the software side of the project.The high-end electric car will be equipped with an arsenal of Huawei-powered tech, including Lidar sensors, 12 cameras, 13 ultrasonic radars, and a dedicated chip built by Huawei capable of reaching 352 Tops (Tera Operations Per Second).It would be a Level 3 autonomous car, and Huawei would obviously integrate its smartphones into the overall driving experience with access to some of its products, including navigation solutions and cloud services.The car will be called ARCFOX S HBT and is expected to hit the shelves as soon as the next year, with full availability and pricing information to be shared at a later time.As compared to Huawei, which focuses more on the tech side of the EV, Apple wants to build an electric car from scratch. That is the reason why the company is tempted to work together with Foxconn, its long-time iPhone partner already building its flagship product.Foxconn would be able to manufacture the Apple Car according to Apples specs and requirements in an approach thats similar to the one currently being used for the iPhone.On the other hand, Apple working together with Foxconn for the manufacturing of the Apple Car comes after the company failed to find a traditional automaker for the project. Apple has been involved in talks with Hyundai, Nissan, and others, but so far, no company wanted to play the role of a contract manufacturer for the tech firm.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Missouri Public Service Commission (MoPSC) on Thursday approved an agreement reached by the parties in Missouri American Water's request for a rate review for its water and wastewater operations. The order was approved by the MoPSC on April 7 after parties involved worked together to reach an agreement settling all issues brought forth in the rate review. The rate order includes approximately $620 million in water and wastewater system improvements made since the end of 2017. Most residential water customers will see no change or a slight decrease in their total monthly bill. However, most residential wastewater customers will see a small increase of about $3 to $5 in their monthly bill. New rates are expected to take effect by the end of May this year. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.




Haiti - Agriculture : The agricultural revolution in greenhouses





Earlier this week, Patrix Severe, the Minister of Agriculture visited the Association Solidarite Haitienne pour le Developpement Rural de Kenscoff (SOHADERK) during its 3rd pepper harvest at the Kenscoff greenhouse, in the presence of Jean Elie Philogene Departmental Agricultural Director of the West (DDAO), Pierre-Paul Jules President of SOHADERK and greenhouse growers.



The Minister of Agriculture said he was satisfied to note that, through the Ministry's greenhouse agriculture promotion program, it is now possible to start exporting greenhouse peppers which will optimize farmers income.



For his part, Pierre-Paul Jules, believes that greenhouse farming is important for agriculture in Haiti and that greenhouse farmers in the commune of Kenscoff in particular will reap many benefits from it.



Jean Elie Philogene, explained the importance of greenhouse production in improving the productivity of farmers, highlighting among the advantages, the possibility for farmers to cultivate and harvest even out of season.



Minister Severe promised to continue to work on the creation of new greenhouses for the benefit of farmers with a view to increasing national production.



Read also on greenhouse cultivation in Haiti :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8960-haiti-agriculture-the-greenhouses-revolution.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7718-haiti-agriculture-modernization-of-haiti-s-agriculture.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6507-haiti-agriculture-end-of-the-first-phase-of-training-courses-on-protected-agriculture.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-6421-haiti-news-some-news-here-and-there.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6326-haiti-agriculture-the-ministry-envisages-the-construction-of-2-million-m2-of-greenhouses-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-5442-haiti-social-news-of-the-week-of-the-diaspora.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The Supreme Court stated on Thursday that allegations of corruption and misconduct made against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh are 'serious' and require a CBI probe. These allegations have been levelled by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

"Looking at the personas involved and nature of allegations and seriousness of allegations, it requires investigation by an independent agency. It is a matter of public confidence," a bench comprising Justices S K Kaul and Hemant Gupta said.

"We don't want to interfere with the orders of high court directing preliminary inquiry by CBI," the bench said.

The Maharashtra government and Deshmukh had earlier filed a petition in the apex court, in which they challenged a Bombay High Court ruling that directed a CBI investigation in the allegations levelled against the former Maharashtra Home Minister.

In its petition to the apex court, the state government had questioned the procedure used by the Bombay High Court for ordering the probe into the allegations. The state was heard on question of maintainability of the pleas seeking CBI investigation against Deshmukh on allegation of corruption, and the order too was reserved on that issue, but the court finally ended up directing the probe, read the plea filed by the state government.

Earlier, Param Bir Singh had stated in the plea filed by him on March 25 that the home minister had asked police officers to extort Rs 100 crore from restaurants and bars. Singh has demanded a CBI enquiry against Deshmukh in his plea.

Deshmukh has denied all allegations made by Singh. Hours after the Bombay High Court's judgement, Deshmukh resigned from the post of State Home Minster citing 'moral' grounds.

"The high court asked the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry. In the wake of the court's decision I don't feel morally right to continue on the position of the home minister. Hence, I have decided to step down from this position on my own," read Deshmukh's letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Also Read: CBI initiates inquiry against ex-Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh over corruption charge
The retailer's outlook is cloudy now that restrictions are lifting across its markets

( ) received a lukewarm market reaction after posting some impressive interim results.

A 275% jump in profits wasnt enough to quell investor worries over the pandemic boom coming to an end.

The AIM-listed retailer admitted that some of its customers will move back to stores as restrictions are eased across its markets, while it remains mindful of the widespread economic uncertainty, particularly amid its core 20-something customers.

In fact, group sales surged 25% to 1.9bn driven by growth across its markets but Spain declined because of the financial hit on young people and aggressive local competition.

The market is fierce everywhere, analysts at Liberum noted, with Zalando and boohoo Group PLC ( ) recording higher revenue growth throughout the pandemic.

We continue to prefer brands and platform models over Asoss wholesale model where lead times are long and capital is tied up in inventory making it difficult to quickly change the product mix. Even though our forecasts give them the benefit of the doubt, the outlook is clearly clouded, they commented.

On the bright side, ASOS expects online penetration to remain structurally higher than pre-pandemic levels and to benefit from the return of demand for occasionwear.

The key question is how many of its 24.9mln active customers will remain faithful to the platform, after 2.6mln new users joined over the past year.

The tailwind provided by Covid is expected to unwind as the hospitality and tourism sectors reopen, and ASOS customers have more to do with their time than adding yet another loungewear set to their online baskets, said Sophie Lund-Yates, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

"Its encouraging to see ASOS resonating well with its demographic and continuing to take online share in key markets. Competition out there is fierce, and its working hard to remain flavour of the month with the recent acquisitions of Topshop assets."

Chief executive Nick Beighton noted in the results that the Arcadia brands prompted impressive early customer engagement during a swift integration.

The company bought Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT earlier this year with the rationale that they would resonate well with the customer base, as they used to be part of the roster anyway.

The acquisition seems to have gone well and cheaper than expected, with one-off costs halving to 10mln compared to initial estimates.

The deal didnt include the physical shops themselves but there is speculation Topshops flagship store on Oxford Street might be reopened  which would give ASOS a physical space to showcase its brands, noted AJ Bell financial analyst Danni Hewson.

However, margins remain at stake as the easing of restrictions may mean more returns, as people will feel more confident to go to the post office.

The retailer also said freight rates expected to remain at very elevated levels for the remainder of the financial year.

Operating margins came too close to the ground for comfort in recent years, and if return rates start to spike again, we could see some of the progress in margins come undone. Provided there arent any operational slip ups to boot, this wont be the end of the world, but the comfortable margin position were looking at now should be taken with pinch of salt, Lund-Yates continued.

Whats more, costs may be further pushed up by an investment boost to support global growth and keep pricing competitive.

ASOS has a great proposition and good growth opportunities abroad , Lund-Yates concluded, the medium term will be governed by the degree to which shopping habits change as lockdowns ease, and the extent of any economic damage to its core 20-something customer base.

Shares were trading 1% lower at 5,708.98p on Thursday at midday.
Oh Se-hoon, winner of the Seoul mayoral by-election earlier this week, bows to citizens before he enters Seoul City Hall, Thursday, to begin his third term as mayor. Yonhap



New mayor takes office after by-election victory



By Bahk Eun-ji



New Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has been busy from the first day of his term, Thursday, the day after he won the mayoral by-election the previous day.



The former two-term mayor between 2006 and 2011 returned to City Hall after 10 years, and spent the day meeting city officials, learning about pending issues and visiting the Seoul Metropolitan Council and a vaccination center.



Oh began his first official schedule by visiting the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak District at 8 a.m. to pay tribute to deceased patriots.



He then went to work at Seoul City Hall around 9 a.m. and was welcomed by city government employees.



"From today, Seoul City will move forward again," Oh told the officials. "Although I have only about one year after winning the by-election, I'll do my best to complement what Seoul lacked, and the changes will be possible through your support."









He then took over city affairs from former acting Mayor Seo Jung-hyup, who had led the city government after former Mayor Park Won-soon killed himself last July amid sexual harassment allegations raised against him.



In particular, Oh made a courtesy visit to Seoul Metropolitan Council Chairman Kim In-ho who was at odds with Oh during the by-election, and called for close cooperation to overcome the pandemic and restore citizens' livelihoods.



At the city council, which reviews major policy issues and budgeting for the capital, 101 out of 109 members belong to the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), and Kim and many other councilors had demanded Oh step down from the candidate position in March, calling him a "failed mayor" from 10 years ago.



"Because my political party is a minority in the council, it is not easy to do anything smoothly without full support from the city council," Oh told Kim.



He is likely to reshuffle senior officials at the city government and affiliated organizations soon, as it is usual for a new mayor to bring in their aides.



Restructuring of the city government is also likely, as he is expected to reverse many of the projects led by his predecessor Park, and departments and organizations dedicated to such projects could be downsized or even abolished.





Newly elected Mayor Oh Se-hoon pays tribute at the National Cemetery in Seoul, Thursday, as his first official activity as mayor following his victory in a by-election the previous day. Yonhap
The ABC has been forced to apologise to an Aboriginal leader and campaigner against Indigenous domestic violence after accusing her of spreading 'racist vitriol'.

Alice Springs Deputy Mayor Jacinta Nampijinpa Price had taken legal action against the national broadcaster which was dropped as part of a settlement which included the apology.

The former children's television presenter is a Warlpiri/Celtic woman who rails against the high levels of family violence in remote Indigenous communities.

She has argued to maintain Australia Day on January 26, saying moves to change the date are a distraction from the real plights of disadvantaged Aboriginal Australians.

Ms Price regularly appears on Sky News and her views are cited by conservative commentators including Andrew Bolt and Alan Jones.

The ABC has been forced to apologise to Aboriginal leader and campaigner against domestic violence Jacinta Nampijinpa Price after accusing her of spreading 'racist vitriol'

ABC Coffs Coast breakfast presenter Fiona Poole read an apology to Jacinta Price on Thursday morning after the station broadcast claims Ms Price said were defamatory. Poole lives on an organic garlic farm, according to an online ABC profile

The apology was read on air by ABC Coffs Coast breakfast presenter Fiona Poole, who lives on an organic garlic farm in the Thora Valley, according to an online network profile.

Two ABC regional stations aired segments in September 2019 which included local reactions to news Ms Price was taking a national speaking tour to Coffs Harbour in northern New South Wales.

Ms Price took action in the Federal Court over how the ABC reported Aboriginal groups pushing the Harbour City Council to cancel her Mind the Gap lectures.

In a statement of claim Ms Price said the ABC had defamed her by suggesting she 'spreads racist vitriol about Aboriginal people' and 'vilifies and ridicules Aboriginal people and cultures.'

The segments aired by ABC Coffs Coast and ABC Alice Springs included claims made in a media release published by the Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council had called for a boycott of Jacinta Price's speaking tour. The Land Council's chief executive Nathan Brennan is pictured

Ms Price, whose speech at Coffs Harbour went ahead, has said she was happy with the settlement but could not discuss its details as the conditions were confidential

Court documents say some of that material was repeated by reporter Claire Lindsay during an interview with the land council's chief executive Nathan Brennan.

Lindsay is proud of her Gamilaroi ancestry, according to her online ABC profile.

'The ABC understands that the Land Council has withdrawn and apologised to Ms Price for statements contained in the media release which it accepts were false and defamatory, and which caused hurt and distress to Ms Price and her family,' Poole told her audience.

'The ABC did not endorse the opinions contained in the media release and apologises to Ms Price and her family for the hurt and distress caused by broadcasting those views.'

Ms Price, whose speech at Coffs Harbour went ahead, has said she was happy with the settlement but could not discuss its details as the conditions were confidential.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba informed the foreign ministers of the Slovak Republic and Georgia about the build-up of Russias military presence along the Ukrainian border.

The key topic of the telephone conversations was Russia's escalation of the security situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and in Crimea.

"Kuleba informed [Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia Ivan] Korcok in detail about the build-up of Russia's military presence along the Russian-Ukrainian border, the intensification of shelling of Ukrainian positions and civilian infrastructure near the contact line, Russia's unwillingness to confirm its commitment to the ceasefire," the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs.

The Foreign Minister of Slovakia assured Kuleba of the unconditional support of the newly formed Slovak government for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine against the background of Russia's destabilizing actions.

Korcok also expressed his country's readiness to join the work of the Crimean Platform.

During a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkaliani, Kuleba spoke about the destabilizing actions of the Russian Federation, including Russia's escalation of the security situation in eastern Ukraine and Crimea.

The Ukrainian minister drew special attention to Russia's unwillingness to reaffirm its commitment to the ceasefire, the active concentration of troops on the border with Ukraine, and the intensive spread of propaganda that incites hostility and distorts reality.

Zalkaliani expressed solidarity with Ukraine, reaffirmed Georgia's continued support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, and pointed out his countrys readiness to join various formats of international support for Ukraine to deter Russian aggression.

The ministers discussed preparations for the inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform, which will be held in Kyiv on August 23.

ol
Lawyers based in Russia and in parts of eastern Ukraine held by Moscow-backed separatists have flooded the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) with thousands of complaints against Kyiv for alleged rights violations in the conflict-ridden Donbas, in what appears to be a coordinated campaign to tar Ukraine, an investigation by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service has found.



The investigative TV program Skhemy (Schemes) found that around 6,000 claims related to the conflict in the Donbas, out of a total of 10,000 claims Ukraine faces at the ECHR, were filed by several groups of lawyers from Russia and areas of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions of eastern Ukraine that are under the control of the separatists.



A Moscow law firm that has filed thousands of complaints has substantial experience "defending the interests" of the Russian government, and a lawyer in the Donbas who has also filed claims is under investigation on suspicion of falsifying application forms to international courts.



The number of cases that will ultimately be considered by the Strasbourg-based court, let alone brought to trial, is unclear. Still, the sheer number of filings has bumped Ukraine up to third among nations facing allegations of human rights violations at the ECHR.



Moscow has long asserted that Ukraine violates the rights of Russian speakers in the Donbas. It has used those claims to justify interference in the region, including its backing of the separatists' seizure of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in 2014, and as a potential catalyst for stepped-up military action in the future.



More than 13,000 people have been killed and thousands more wounded in the war that erupted in the Donbas in April 2014, a month after Russia's armed takeover of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Russia denies involvement, despite ample evidence showing it has provided arms, fighters, financing, and other aid to the separatists.



Until 2014, no claims of rights violations had been filed over Kyiv's policies or actions in the Donbas at the ECHR, Ukrainian human rights lawyer Serhiy Zayets told Schemes, a joint investigative project of RFE/RL and Ukrainian public broadcaster UA:First.

"There are several Russian lawyers who started filing complaints only after 2014. They have no complaints against Russia, and only against Ukraine," Zayets said, adding that it is "an extremely large number of cases."

Troop Buildup



The report by Schemes comes amid evidence of a Russian troop buildup -- including heavy armor such as tanks -- in and around Ukraine, primarily in Crimea and in areas abutting the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in what some analysts have argued could portend a major Russian offensive. Others say it's more likely to be a show of force aimed to frighten Kyiv, the European Union, and the United States.

The Schemes report also comes less than two months after Ukraine accused Russia of the "targeted assassinations" of "perceived opponents" in a case filed at the ECHR, the latest in a series of legal complaints against Moscow.



It was the ninth case filed by Ukraine against Russia at the ECHR, four of which are still pending and refer to the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, human rights violations in Crimea, and Russia's seizure of three Ukrainian Navy vessels in the Kerch Strait in 2018.



The Schemes investigation found that lawyers linked to Klishin and Partners, a Moscow-based law firm, had filed more than 5,000 complaints at the ECHR against Ukraine for rights violations.



Asked about the complaints, Klishin and Partners declined to provide a substantive comment, sending a statement to Schemes saying that it had "not registered any public interest in Russia" in the topic.



It also said it was not obliged to reply to an organization deemed "foreign agents," a reference to controversial Russian legislation under which several Russian-language services of RFE/RL have been designated as "foreign agents" by the Russian authorities.

Coordinated Effort?



Whether Klishin and Partners were acting in coordination with the Kremlin is unclear. On its website, the firm states it has "sufficient experience defending the interests of the government."



Also active in filing complaints at the ECHR has been Vladimir Fyodorov, a Russian lawyer who bragged to separatist-run TV in the Donetsk region in 2016 that, thanks in part to his efforts, Ukraine was among the nations facing the largest number of claims at the court.



Without providing specific evidence, Fyodorov asserted that, early in the conflict, the court "did everything possible not to accept these lawsuits from usbut they were forced toin part due to our work, thanks to which, Ukraine is now on top in [terms of] the number of lawsuits at the European Court of Human Rights."



Fyodorov's brother, Grigoriy, is a former member of the Russian Civic Chamber and has also been active in such efforts.



Schemes also found that a significant number of complaints have emerged from lawyers working within areas of the Donbas under separatist control. Vitaliy Galakhov, head of an organization called Fair Protection, claimed to have sent some 2,000 claims to the ECHR in 2018. Schemes was able to confirm that only four claims filed by Galakhov are actually pending at the court now.

Galakhov is wanted by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) on suspicion of falsifying application forms to international courts from residents of areas of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions under the control of the Russian-backed separatists. Law enforcement officers have found about 100 people who contend that they did not actually apply, according to the Schemes investigation.

Also active in filing Donbas-related complaints against Kyiv at the court, Schemes found, has been the Union of Refugees of Ukraine, established by Oleh Tsaryov, a former Ukrainian lawmaker from the Moscow-friendly Party of Regions and a leading separatist figure in eastern Ukraine for a time.



Although no direct link to the Kremlin was discovered in the investigation, Moscow can only gain from such a campaign, said Aleksandr Cherkasov, director of the Russian human rights group Memorial.

"Any decision by an international body that is beneficial to Russia will then be used [by Moscow] either as propaganda or a trump card to be used during negotiations," Cherkasov told Schemes, referring to efforts to resolve the conflict in the Donbas.



"If a decision is made in favor of [Russia], then it was made by wise Western lawyers and politicians," he said, describing how he believes the Kremlin would seek to take advantage of such cases. "And if not in [Russia's] favor, then it's the result of a sellout to the plutocrats who are opposed to [Russia] politically."

Written by Tony Wesolowsky based on reporting by Valeria Yehoshyna of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service
An Accra Juvenile Court C will, on April 29, commence trial of the final year student of the Nungua Kroma Two Junior High School, accused of assaulting a teacher who punished him for failure to do his homework.



He has denied conspiring with 15 other men to assault the teacher and is currently on remand.



The Court on Thursday completed its Case Management Conference after witness statements and disclosures were filed.



The prosecution is expected to call five witnesses during the trial.



It earlier told the Court that the accused (name withheld) refused to do his homework and after he was punished, he dashed home to call 15 other young men who allegedly stormed the school in a Sprinter bus and attacked the teacher, inflicting wounds on his face.



The teacher, Mr Moses Onyameasem, was rescued by his colleagues and rushed to the LEKMA Hospital, Accra, where he was treated and discharged.



After the attack, the mother of the pupil was also alleged to have gone to the school and verbally assaulted the teacher, prosecution said, adding that the development led to the closure of the School.



On Monday, February 22, at about 1215 hours, the teacher, accompanied by Mr Roger Asempa, the Head Teacher, went to the Police Station to report the assault.



The teacher reported that earlier at about 1200 hours, a student in his class and 15 other young men from the Nungua town came to the School in a bus to physically assault him.



Prosecution said a medical form was issued to the complainant to seek medical attention, whilst a joint stakeholder meeting was held over the incident.

Source: GNA









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Stephanie Earls is a news reporter and columnist at The Gazette. Before moving to Colorado Springs in 2012, she worked for newspapers in upstate NY, WA, OR and at her hometown weekly in Berkeley Springs, WV, where she got her start in journalism.
hermosawave/iStockBy Quinn Scanlan, ABC News



(ATLANTA) -- A coalition of civic participation groups have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the provisions of Georgia's new election law that dictate how and to whom non-government entities can mail absentee ballot applications.



The plaintiffs -- VoteAmerica, Voter Participation Center and Center for Voter Information -- allege in the complaint filed Wednesday evening by the Campaign Legal Center that the new requirements are "unconstitutionally vague and overbroad" and violate their First Amendment and due process rights.



They are asking for the provisions to be declared unconstitutional and blocked from being enforced.



This is the fifth lawsuit filed targeting the Peach State's sweeping election overhaul, which Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law March 25. Democrats and voting rights activists have blasted the bill as "Jim Crow 2.0," but Republicans have rejected that characterization and defended the bill amid backlash that's advanced beyond the political realm. Corporate leaders have spoken out in opposition, and the MLB decided to move its 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta to Denver in protest of the new law -- SB 202, the "Election Integrity Act of 2021."



Under the law, third-party groups are still allowed to mail absentee ballot applications, but the rules for doing so have changed.



The bill bans anyone except the secretary of state and local election officials from sending absentee applications to voters who've already requested or received an absentee ballot, or voted. Every duplicate ballot application sent is subject to a $100 fine from the State Election Board, whose members, along with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, are the defendants in the case.



It's also now illegal for third-party groups to send voters applications with their information already filled out.



"These new requirements are not only costly and burdensome on nonprofit organizations who work to encourage political participation and facilitate access to absentee voting for Georgians  in some cases they are impossible to comply with or would present such prohibitively expensive financial burdens that some groups, like (the) Plaintiffs ... may have no choice but to cease their operations in Georgia altogether," the complaint stated.



Several voter engagement organizations mass-mailed applications to Georgia voters ahead of the November election and January runoff, and voters complained about the volume as well as receiving applications after they had already submitted one.



In the weeks leading up to an election, the secretary of state's office publishes and regularly updates absentee voter data spreadsheets, which lists every voter who has already requested an absentee ballot or cast a ballot, either by mail or early in person. This information is publicly available, and organizations sending applications would need to compare these spreadsheets to their list of registered voters.



Applications from a non-government entity also must now "prominently display a disclaimer" on the application that states, "This is NOT an official government publication and was NOT provided to you by any governmental entity. It is being distributed by [insert name and address of person, organization, or other entity distributing such document or material]."



The complaint alleges this provision is "compelling them to engage in misleading and confusing speech mandated by the Government, and limiting their right to freely associate with others."



Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Fishermens boats: Balochistan govt. in Pakistan to install satellite tracking system

April 08,2021 | Source: APP

The Balochistan government has started the spade work on the installation of satellite tracking system in boats to ensure the safety of marine life and fishermen.



Fishing boats would help to comply with environmental and fishing laws, as well as promote the conservation of rare marine life under a modern monitoring system at a command and control centre in Gwadar, an official of Fisheries department of Balochistan said.



The construction will be carried out to monitor the boats and fishermen to stay within the legal limits and not to violate sea borders. The government is also planning to purchase sea ambulance to provide emergency to fishermen.



Giving details about the projects, he said that the project of installation of monitoring system in boats and the plan of purchasing sea ambulances would cost around Rs 426 million.



He said that the government had decided to introduce new technologies in its fisheries sector to boost its business in the province.



Many projects like, fish processing plant at Gwadar, Fisherman Cooperative Housing Society, sea ambulances and other projects were in pipeline that would eventually increase the potential of the sector, he added.



The roads and other Infrastructure were also being upgraded for easy access of the local fisherman to the port to transfer their hunted fish into the markets, he added.



He said the construction of fishing venue had been enforced on the directives of the Chief Minister of Balochistan to boost the untapped sector and provide facilities to the local fishermen.

 2021 Business Recorder

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
A state district judge here has recused himself from handling the criminal case of a former Bexar County constable because of a photo of the two of them that she posted on social media.

Former Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela has been awaiting trial since her indictment in January 2020 on six charges stemming from her time in office, including a complaint that she extracted money from a family for security fees at a picnic area at a West Side park.

Her case was assigned to Judge Ron Rangel in the 379th District Court, where she has appeared for hearings.

On ExpressNews.com: Former Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela faces charges of perjury, official oppression and evidence tampering

Rangel said he decided to recuse himself after learning that a photograph showing both of them at a human trafficking conference in 2018 was posted on Velas Facebook page.

Perception is everything, Rangel said Wednesday. The law said there was no conflict, but I didnt want to add any kind of question. I am careful about wanting to ensure that the public is confident.

Rangel was the keynote speaker at the trafficking conference and organizers asked the attendees to line up to take pictures with him, he said.

On ExpressNews.com: Former Bexar County Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela makes first court appearance in San Antonio

Apparently, she was one of those folks, and she posted her picture on her Facebook page, he said.

Court records indicate that the order to transfer Velas case to Judge Velia Meza in the 226th District Court was signed March 30. Velas trial is set for May 3 but likely will be delayed because jury trials are still on hold as precaution against the coronavirus pandemic.

Vela is facing one count of aggravated perjury and two counts of tampering with or fabricating evidence. Those offenses are third-degree felonies. Vela also is charged with three counts of official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor.

Also indicted was former Precinct 2 Constable Capt. Marc Duane Garcia, who worked for Vela. He faces one count of aggravated perjury and three counts of official oppression.

The charges stem from her three years in office, which were marred by staff problems and allegations of improper collection of fines and security fees.

On ExpressNews.com: Constable squeezed cash from Easter reveler at county park

Vela, a Democrat, found herself dogged by controversy almost as soon as she took office in 2017. Several of her employees filed grievances and lawsuits against her and she clashed with several other elected officials.

One of the charges in the indictment stems from an incident at a picnic pavilion at Rodriguez Park on Easter Sunday 2019. Vela is accused of altering, destroying or concealing a cash log detailing payments she allegedly took from a family having a holiday picnic there.

Vela said the family had canceled their pavilion reservation, and it was hers. A park manager confirmed the family had not canceled.

The family using the pavilion said Vela demanded immediate payment of $50 an hour for security to be paid to her and a deputy constable when they refused to give up the spot. The family said they ran out of cash after paying $300.

Vela was charged with tampering with evidence, but not for taking the money.

Vela and Garcia face official oppression and perjury charges involving the treatment of two constable employees: Leonicio Moreno, once Velas chief deputy; and former Deputy Constable Chris De La Cerda. Both have sued her in state and federal court for discrimination.

Both Vela and Garcia are accused of making false statements while under oath to obtain an arrest warrant against Moreno for allegedly altering training records. Citing a lack of evidence, the Bexar County District Attorneys Office declined to prosecute Moreno.

If convicted, Vela and Garcia could face up to 10 years in prison on each felony count and one year for each misdemeanor.

A defense request to have separate trials on the different charges was granted in February.

ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863
RealTrends has released its 2021 RealTrends 500, an independently verified compilation of the nations leading residential real estate companies. Smith & Associates Real Estate, the largest locally-owned independent real estate brokerage firm in Tampa Bay, ranked in all the categories for the RealTrends 500 lists. The firm ranked amongst the largest brokers by volume with a record-breaking sales volume of $1,606,118,170. The organization also ranked as a Top 500 in the country for largest brokerages by transactions, by volume, top leading RE affiliate, top independent brokerage, and a top 50 firm for average selling price. Smith is the top independent brokerage for luxury sales in Tampa Bay, owning a 15% market share in the segment.

Our average sale in 2020 was $650,250, our sides topped over 2,400, and we had a record year for real estate sales. We are proud of our efforts and our team here in Tampa and while we know we are making a difference locally, it feels really good to also know that we stand in the upper echelon for real estate firms nationally, says Bob Glaser, President and CEO, Smith & Associates Real Estate.

RealTrends has been ranking brokerages for more than 33 years and is the most-trusted brokerage ranking report in the industry. Over 1,750 firms qualified for this years RealTrends 500. According to a research report produced by RealTrends, the 500 largest residential real estate brokerage firms in the nation closed over 3.9 million residential sales transactions in 2020. These transactions were valued at over $1.6 trillion and represented over one-third of all new and resale transactions completed by brokers during the year, yet the RealTrends 500 represented less than 0.5 percent of all brokerage firms.

This year's survey represents the most comprehensive collection of data assembled on the leaders of the residential brokerage industry. Numbers are documented by outside accounting firms and/or MLS reports. It took 2,092 transactions to be included in this year's RealTrends 500, and in 2020 there were 347 firms recording over $1 billion in residential sales, up from 301 firms accomplishing this in 2019.

To view the rankings, go to https://www.realtrends.com/rankings/rt500. RealTrends is offering the RealTrends 500 publication for free!

###

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.

Follow Smith & Associates on Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/SmithAndAssociatesRE/

https://www.instagram.com/smithandassociates/

https://twitter.com/Smith_Associate

http://feeds.feedburner.com/smithandassociates

About RealTrends:

RealTrends has been The Trusted Source for news, analysis and information about the residential real estate industry since 1987. Acquired by HW Media LLC in 2020, we remain a privately-held publishing, communications, and events company in Castle Rock, Colorado. Residential real estate leaders find timely and trusted information and analysis through our yearly eventGathering of Eaglesour newsletters and daily news published on http://www.RealTrends.com.

Additional Press Contact:

Liz Smith

lsmith@realtrends.com

720-219-4272
Sign-ups Open for In-person Unemployment Help

By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Appointment sign-ups are now open for in-person unemployment insurance services at more than a dozen regional Kentucky Career Centers.The Paducah Kentucky Career Center is located at 416 South 6th Street. Other regional locations include Hopkinsville, Owensboro and Bowling Green.While the centers will open April 15, more appointments will be available on April 19.Claimants can schedule an appointment online.Kentucky Career Center locations stopped providing in-person assistance to unemployment insurance claimants in 2017.Last year, Kentuckys unemployment system was hit by massive numbers of claims brought on by coronavirus-related shutdowns.Gov. Andy Beshear said Wednesday that staffing cuts and an out-of-date system also made it harder for Kentuckians to receive jobless assistance.
The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike.

We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve.
BALKHASH, Kazakhstan, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungrow, the global leading inverter solution supplier for renewables, announced today that it will be supplying its inverters to Kazakhstan's 100MW Balkhash solar power project, further strengthening its position as Kazakhstan's number one inverters provider.

The 100MW Balkhash project will be implemented by KAZ GREEN ENERGY LLC and built by local EPC TechnoGroupServices LLC in the Konyrat neighborhood of Balkhash city, Karaganda Region. The station will occupy an area of 140 hectares, deploy 525/530W bifacial modules, and be brought online in two phases. The 50MW phase one will be completed in October 2021 and the remaining 50MW will be completed in June 2022.

"After thoroughly evaluating the site's conditions, we needed a solution that could not only handle the region's hot summers and cold snowy winters but one that also made the most sense from a CapEx standpoint. The SG6250HV-MV became an obvious choice for us with its resiliency, cost-effectiveness and high efficiency," said Kanat Abenov, Technical Director of TechnoGroupServices.

"On top of all, I'd like to commend Sungrow on their willingness to work out all technical configurations and contract terms in order to meet our delivery terms in such a short period of time," Kanat Abenov added.

Despite the country's fossil fuelbased economy with its surplus of energy for domestic consumption, the Government of Kazakhstan is still choosing to support renewable energy and capitalizing on its rich wind, solar and water resources. The government of Kazakhstan has made an official commitment to increase the share of renewable energy in domestic electricity generation from 3% at the end of 2020 to 6% by 2025, 10% by 2030, and 50% by 2050.

Since 2020, the Karaganda regional government has been vigorously promoting the development of new energy projects and the region now has 4 operational solar power plants with a combined installed capacity of 200MW. The Balkhash project is of particular importance due to the fact that all materials for use during the construction process will be provided by local enterprises.

On cooperating with TechnoGroupServices for the first time, James Wu, Vice President of Sungrow, said, "We are extremely honored to work together with local partners in bringing such a landmark project online. Sungrow will be there to offer any technical expertise and services to ensure the success of the Balkhash project. Furthermore, as the leading provider of inverters in Kazakhstan, we will continue to support the leadership's strategic commitment towards more favorable renewables and look forward to forging new ventures."

Once operational, the project is expected to generate 170 GWh of electricity a year, enough to meet the electricity demand of 100,000 households and offset 170,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually.

About Sungrow

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd ("Sungrow") is the world's most bankable inverter brand with over 154 GW installed worldwide as of December 2020. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters, with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions. With a strong 24-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power installations in over 150 countries. Learn more about Sungrow by visiting www.sungrowpower.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1344575/Logo.jpg

Related Links

www.sungrowpower.com



SOURCE Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd
Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds light and variable.
Bobble AI, the Conversation Media Platform making everyday smartphone conversations expressive, smart, and personalized, today announced that it has been certified by Nielsen for Digital Ad Ratings (DAR), an established leader in advertising campaign measurement.

The AI-led tech platform already has an in-house data analytics team that allows brand marketers deeper insights such as measurement of reach and frequency per campaign.

A validation from Nielsen Digital Ad Ratings builds more trust among brands and validates Bobble AIs targeted approach and result-oriented strategy to help them reach their intended audience most effectively.

Elaborating upon the association, Ankit Prasad, Founder, and CEO, Bobble AI said, Audience quality has been a matter of huge concern for most brands today. While we have been offering data-backed analysis for audience engagements, this certification would help bring in transparency in ad distribution and advertiser ROI. This latest integration not only builds further trust among brands but also gives us the opportunity to showcase continued efforts to offer the best measurement tools to brands.

Commenting on the latest development, Vishal Kamath, Head  Digital Solutions, South Asia from Nielsen Media India said, 'Digital Ad Ratings is leveraged by Advertisers in India to measure the Reach delivered by their campaigns. As brands increase their spend on digital, weve seen advertisers demanding greater transparency and cross-platform comparability. Nielsen is committed to providing the industry with the insights they need to understand and connect with audiences across platforms. DAR certification for Bobble AI now also provides a comprehensive measurement of Conversation Media Platform to the Advertisers

Bobble AI is in the process of evolution as far as its brand engagement strategy is concerned. The AI-led tech-enabled platform has witnessed an uptick in conversation media marketing solutions in recent times. The company has worked with a host of marquee brands such Tinder, Adidas, Reebok, Viacom18, Sony Pictures, Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk, Happydent, and Oreo to name a few. It has an in-house data analytics team that had set up a real-time dashboard, which records the data under broader categories such as content visibility, engagement, most liked content, and similar parameters which are crucial for reporting to the brand.
Mumbai, April 8 : A new trend of letter-writing by accused in jails has started in Maharashtra which is a political conspiracy intended to defame and destabilize the Maha Vikas Agadhi government, Shiv Sena MP and Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut said here on Thursday.

In his first reaction after the 'letter-grenade' lobbed by arrested-suspended Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze levelling several allegations against the MVA ministers, Raut said that these efforts to dislodge the government are on since day one.

"The real faces of those who are trying to sabotage the state government are coming to the fore. A new trend has begun of people in jail writing letters which are used to hammer the government. There are many others in jail and a lot can be written from them also. This kind of dirty politics is unprecedented in the history of state and the country," Raut said.

In Vaze's letter, the names of former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Transport Minister Anil Parab and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar have cropped up.

"But who is taking these names. It (letter) is written in prison by a person who is jailed for the crime and is now being trumpeted as 'evidence'. This is nothing by a political conspiracy," Raut added sharply.

He called upon the Opposition to clarify the antecedents of the person writing the letter, how saintly or notorious he is and whether the letter itself is genuine or not.

Defending Parab, the Sena MP said that he could never be involved in such activities and 'then take a false oath in the name of Balasaheb Thackeray'.

"It is unfortunate that the so-called National Investigation Agency (NIA) is laying the red carpet for the opposition to shake the MVA government. But their intentions will not succeed," Raut warned.

The Sena MP's reactions came a day after a letter written on April 3 by Vaze to the Special NIA Judge came into the public domain in which he has made certain allegations of corruption against Deshmukh, Parab, Ajit Pawar as the tainted policeman was sent to NIA custody till April 9.
Dear editor:

Are each of us doing enough to nurture the youngest voices in our community?

Early childhood education protects our childrens futures in Greenwich and across the country. But our industry was already struggling before COVID-19, and we continue to grapple with the effects of the pandemic.

On Friday, March 26, Connecticut seized a chance to become a change agent. Governor Ned Lamont announced plans to make more families eligible for state-subsidized childcare and increase state support for childcare providers. Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona joined him and endorsed our states approach.

They each recognized that we must ensure that early childhood education centers remain open and accessible to the families who so deeply need them.

Many of those families are in the Greenwich and Stamford areas, at the second-largest center-based early childhood education center in Connecticut. Childrens Learning Centers of Fairfield County (CLC) has been a leader in developing and implementing high-quality and affordable early childhood education and care programs since 1902. Serving the catchment area of Greenwich, all of the nonprofit agencys eight locations are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or approved by Federal Head Start.

CLCs comprehensive curriculum, on-site health services, family service workers, and nutrition program are grounded in the mission that together, well shape a generation through early childhood education. Our ability to continue that mission relies on increased state and federal support for the industry.

But even with increased government support, CLC urgently needs private funding from the community to achieve our vision of building a just future where every child and family thrives because of early childhood education.

We hope you will each consider becoming a change agent for CLC, too.

Sincerely,

Childrens Learning Centers of Fairfield County Leadership:

Marc E. Jaffe, CEO

Robert Mattis, Chair  Board of Directors

Dr. Sharon White, Chair  CLC Leadership Council

Ernest Fleishman, Board of Directors

Thasunda Duckett, Board of Directors

Corey Kenyon, Board of Directors

J. David Nelson, Board of Directors
Shoppable Services Tool Shoppable services are nonurgent healthcare services that a patient can schedule in advance, such as cataract surgery, colonoscopies and CT scans. Beginning in 2021, federal regulation requires hospitals to list their prices for 300 shoppable services. While patients can go from hospital to hospital looking for these price lists, formats may differ, making comparisons difficult.

FAIR Health Consumer's shoppable services tool takes a different approach. It allows consumers to browse through more than 300 shoppable services or search for a specific service, then get an estimate of the average cost of that service in the consumer's geographic area or surrounding areas. Both in-network and out-of-network, geographic-specific costs are given. With this information, consumers can plan and budget for the serviceespecially important for those with high-deductible health plans. If consumers are uninsured or going out of network, they can use the cost estimate to negotiate with hospitals. For more on the new tool, see the article Shopping for Shoppable Services.

Shared Decision-Making Website for Providers

Shared decision making is the discussion between patients (and/or their caregivers) and clinicians to decide on care based on clinical evidence, balancing risks and outcomes with patients' preferences and values. FAIR Health has now launched an educational website, fairhealthprovider.org, that supplies providers with free resources and tools to facilitate shared decision making. Funded by a generous grant from The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, the new site complements FAIR Health's consumer-facing tools, which launched last year on FAIR Health Consumer. The tools combine clinical and cost information to support seriously and chronically ill patients and their caregivers in shared decision making with clinicians.

Materials on the new site include:

An explanation and overview of shared decision making;

Guidance and resources for shared decision-making implementation, such as provider- and consumer-facing checklists;

Guidance for engaging in "triadic decision making" when a caregiver or family member is involved;

Discussion prompts and conversation guides;

Suggestions for further reading and resources, such as advance directives and tools to improve health insurance literacy; and

Decision aids that combine clinical treatment options and associated costs for three palliative care scenarios:

Dialysis for people who are seriously ill;



Nutrition options for people who are seriously ill; and



Ventilator for people who are seriously ill.

Lauren Weisenfeld, Deputy Director of the Healthy Aging Program at the Samuels Foundation, commented: "The Samuels Foundation is proud to support FAIR Health's new provider-oriented website that offers educational content and tools aimed at supporting providers and clinicians in shared decision-making discussions with seriously ill older adults and their caregivers in New York City. This initiative is particularly relevant as patients, caregivers and providers are navigating difficult decisions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic."

FH Consumer Classroom Mobile App

Health insurance literacy and health literacy are more important now than ever, due to the impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare delivery system and the need to turn to alternative venues of care such as telehealth. FH Consumer Classroom, FAIR Health's new mobile app, equips the consumer with critical information at this time of notable change. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, FH Consumer Classroom provides easy access to the educational materials also available on FAIR Health Consumer. The app offers FAIR Health's award-winning consumer content on a new educational platform in a concise, user-friendly format.

FH Consumer Classroom enables users to learn about health insurance and healthcare quality through articles, videos and a glossary, and access key resources and interactive puzzles to support learning. Among the educational topics covered is shared decision making. The app also links to FAIR Health's nationally recognized FH Medical and Dental Cost Lookup tools, which enable consumers to estimate the typical costs of medical and dental procedures.

FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd stated: "Now more than ever, consumers are hungry for resources that enable them to navigate the complex world of healthcare and health insurance. FAIR Health has created these three enhancements to its consumer platform to support consumers as they make crucial decisions regarding their health and finances, and the providers who are assisting them."

Follow us on Twitter @FAIRHealth

About FAIR Health

FAIR Health is a national, independent nonprofit organization that qualifies as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. It is dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support. FAIR Health possesses the nation's largest collection of private healthcare claims data, which includes over 33 billion claim records and is growing at a rate of over 2 billion claim records a year. FAIR Health licenses its privately billed data and data productsincluding benchmark modules, data visualizations, custom analytics and market indicesto commercial insurers and self-insurers, employers, providers, hospitals and healthcare systems, government agencies, researchers and others. Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a national Qualified Entity, FAIR Health also receives data representing the experience of all individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A, B and D; FAIR Health includes among the private claims data in its database, data on Medicare Advantage enrollees. FAIR Health can produce insightful analytic reports and data products based on combined Medicare and commercial claims data for government, providers, payors and other authorized users. FAIR Health's systems for processing and storing protected health information have earned HITRUST CSF certification and achieved AICPA SOC 2 compliance by meeting the rigorous data security requirements of these standards. As a testament to the reliability and objectivity of FAIR Health data, the data have been incorporated in statutes and regulations around the country and designated as the official, neutral data source for a variety of state health programs, including workers' compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) programs. FAIR Health data serve as an official reference point in support of certain state balance billing laws that protect consumers against bills for surprise out-of-network and emergency services. FAIR Health also uses its database to power a free consumer website available in English and Spanish, which enables consumers to estimate and plan for their healthcare expenditures and offers a rich educational platform on health insurance. An English/Spanish mobile app offers the same educational platform in a concise format and links to the cost estimation tools. The website has been honored by the White House Summit on Smart Disclosure, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), URAC, the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, appPicker, Employee Benefit News and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. FAIR Health also is named a top resource for patients in Dr. Marty Makary's book The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Careand How to Fix It and Elisabeth Rosenthal's book An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back. For more information on FAIR Health, visit fairhealth.org.

Contact:

Dean Sicoli

Chief Communications Officer

FAIR Health

646-664-1645

[email protected]

SOURCE FAIR Health

Related Links

www.fairhealth.org


Khatib & Alami (K&A), a multidisciplinary design consultancy which operates primarily across the Middle East and Africa, said it has completed the design for a new land port in Safwan on the Iraqi-Kuwait border.

Subject to authority approvals, the project will enhance the passage of commercial goods and people by increasing capacity to around 1,000 vehicles per day, with the seamless separation of traffic between commercial goods and travellers, said a statement from K&A.

The final designs and plans for the 727,500-sq-m site include industry-leading technologies for customs transactions and goods clearance, it stated.

The redeveloped border crossing is set to be a catalyst for economic and commercial recovery of Basra governorate, it added.

Fadi Tannir, K&As project manager for the new land port, said: "This is a strategically important project for Basra Governorate which will stimulate economic growth and long-term prosperity in southern Iraq, while energizing tourism activity between Iraq and other Gulf countries."

"Our design will transform the Safwan border crossing, introducing much-needed infrastructure to enable the swift and efficient entry and exit of goods and people, taking advantage of best practice systems and technologies," he stated.

These will improve the experience of travellers, increase the efficiency of customs revenue collection and reduce overcrowding, while maintaining preventive health measures, he added.

K&A said its team comprising architects, engineers, planners and other specialists has maintained an active presence in Iraq for the last 15 years. Safwan Land Port, it stated, was among several of its high profile infrastructure projects in Basra Governorate which included key water projects which will significantly improve the resilience of the water system.-TradeArabia News Service
[April 08, 2021] With New SVP of Sales, Ushur Adds Sixth Senior Leader in Six Months

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ushur , an early leader in AI-powered customer experience automation, today announced that enterprise sales leader Ron Gupta has joined as Senior Vice President of Sales. Ron will apply his 15+ years sales experience to lead Ushurs revenue generation with its ethos of valuing every customer as a partner. Ron joins from contract lifecycle management platform Conga. He led one of Congas largest revenue engines while simultaneously launching two additional global markets, contributing to a period of growth where Conga more than doubled its annual revenue to over $400M. At billion-dollar enterprise software company TIBCO, Ron led all functions of its government subsidiary and was instrumental in the acquisition of several of TIBCOs largest customers. Other leadership roles include Senior Vice President and Head of Global Sales at Zephyr (acquired by SmartBear) and Sales Director at BPM company Pegasystems. "Ushur has all the ingredients for rapid growth: a stellar team backed by blue chip investors, a battle-tested technology platform and a massive market opportunity, said Ron Gupta. I am honored to be joining Ushur at this juncture as we build a foundation to transfor the way enterprises interact with and serve customers."



Ushur is on a trajectory of unprecedented growth due to the market demand for digital, self-service technology that we deliver through our AI-powered platform, said Simha Sadasiva, CEO of Ushur. I am thrilled to have a leader of Rons caliber and experience join us as we hit our stride to reshape the world of enterprise customer experience through true intelligent automation, purpose-built to transform every aspect of the customer engagement lifecycle. Gupta is Ushurs sixth senior executive hire in the past six months as the company continues its booming expansion on the back of its $30B Series B raise. Guptas appointment follows Kashif Mahbub as Senior Vice President of Marketing, John Lepore as Global Head of Solutions Engineering, Meredith Barnes-Cook as Head of Global Insurance, Janeen Blanton as Director of Customer Success and Kate Gingras as Vice President of Strategic Accounts.

About Ushur

Ushur enables enterprises to intelligently automate and digitally transform their end-to-end customerfacing workflows through its AI-powered, no-code and cloud-native automation platform. Backed by leading investors including Third Point Ventures, 8VC, Pentland Ventures, Aflac Ventures and Iron Pillar, Ushurs intelligent process automation solutions for customer engagement are currently in production at some of the leading insurance providers across the globe including Irish Life, Unum, Aetna, Cigna and Tower Insurance. Media Contact

Theresa Carper

ushur@firebrand.marketing

415 848 9175



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interview

THE National Covid-19 Secretariat (NACOSEC) is one of the few institutions that have heeded the call to appoint women to positions of power. So unique is NACOSEC that it is led by a female chief executive officer Malitaba Litaba who is also deputised by another woman, Catherine Lephoto. The Lesotho Times' (LT) senior reporter 'Marafaele Mohloboli recently spoke to Dr Lephoto about her career, achievements and new experiences in NACOSEC. Below are excerpts of the interview.

LT: Can you tell us more about Dr Catherine Lephoto?

Dr Lephoto: I am a proud Mosotho from Maphotong, Roma. My primary qualification is a Doctorate in Molecular Biology with a specialisation in microbial genetics. My research topic was on cloning the gene(s) responsible for antibiotic resistance in TB-causing bacteria.

I chose this topic because TB is a leading cause of death among my people; my mother was once diagnosed with it and thankfully; she was cured. Beyond Molecular Biology, I have qualifications in Brewing Science and Process as well as Business Management. Further to these, I have completed courses as an assessor and a director and serve on the board of directors of companies in South Africa and the UK.

I am driven by my own development and the empowerment of others, especially women. I believe in lifelong learning and the need to continuously improve myself. In the workplace, I believe in the open sharing of ideas as a way of empowering others and to get the most out of the organisation. I am a results-driven professional and service orientated.

When I lead teams, I have an open-door policy and believe in giving everyone, no matter how low their position might be, an opportunity to contribute to discussions. In my personal capacity, I am involved in a number of community-upliftment projects and contribute to my church. Over the years, I have contributed to the education of many children in my hometown, some of whom (notably girls) have even gone on to graduate from university. Seeing them succeed is a source of great pride and personal gratification.

I am also driven by the need to see the African continent developing. I believe that we must promote the responsibility to be productive while embracing the latest technologies and allowing the youth to assume leadership positions to change the prospects of our continent. It is through embracing each other as Africans, exchanging our skills and knowledge freely, and demanding better of ourselves that we can truly get the most out of our continent for the sake of future generations.

LT: You hold some demanding posts and you are also family oriented. How do you balance these demanding tasks?

Dr Lephoto: Balancing between career and family obligations is one of the greatest challenges for career-driven women like myself. As a mother of two small boys, one aged 13 and another aged seven, I have often found myself dealing with this dilemma. On one hand, one must go out and build a successful career to give the children a better future and on another one has personal fulfilment aspirations. However, social pressures often place unnecessary burden.

In my case, I have always relied on my strong support system - from a great nanny who steps into my shoes whenever work takes me away; which is often - to a reliable transport operator who takes the kids to school and other extra-mural activities. I also have my family and friends who always step in as and when the need arises.

The boys' father, being a specialist anaesthetist, is often in the hospital handling life-saving operations, so even though he chips in as a parent, his own career makes it difficult and the bulk of the load falls on me. Thankfully, I have been blessed with two brilliant, self-assured, and independent kids who are thriving even with a working mom like me.

LT: Do you think women are adequately appreciated in the workplace?

Dr Lephoto: The workplace can be tough place for women. In progressive companies, where the unique challenges facing working women are appreciated by leadership, I have seen supportive environments being created to ensure women succeed. These are companies that tend to thrive. I am and thankful to have benefited from such environments.

Sadly, there are too many places where women still face unnecessary pressures be it of a sexist, ageist, or other nature. The situation becomes far worse when such undue pressures are piled upon women by other women. In my recent experience in Lesotho, I have noted that the country is still lagging behind in terms of advancing women and equity in the workplace.

Furthermore, a culture of shaming successful women is pervasive, and the success of women is often linked with seedy behaviour where they are accused of sleeping their way to the top. This is regrettable. The impact of such allegations can have a lasting impact the target herself and also on younger women who are also starting out and might be looking up to such women as role models. Such behaviour must be rooted out wherever and whenever it occurs by society as a whole.

LT: Would you please give us a glimpse of some of the several posts that you have held in your working career.

Dr Lephoto: Apart from jobs that I worked while I was still in college in the United State of America (USA), my first official job was as Junior Lecturer in the then Department of Genetics at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1999 while I was a PhD student. After graduating with my doctorate in 2002, I was then appointed lecturer in the School of Molecular and Cell Biology at the same University. In May 2003, I was head-hunted by SABMiller to serve as a Senior Research Scientist in the R&D Department of the company.

I later progressed to join the operations side of the business where I served in various roles including Management Trainee, Filtration Manager and Brand Brewer based at Chamdor Brewery in Johannesburg. In 2009, I left the corporate world and started my own training and consulting business offering a variety of services to the food and beverage manufacturing industry in southern Africa. It was a bold move because at the time I had a 14-month baby. But it worked out to be the best decision of my life.

During this time, I had big clients like Heineken, where I trained their brewing operators and Lobels Bread (Zimbabwe). In 2013 I was head-hunted by Krones AG, a German company that is a leading manufacturer of food and beverage manufacturing equipment into a role as Sales Manager & Key Account Manager (Heineken) based in Johannesburg where I had a successful stint and further strengthened my position as a sales professional in the industry.

I was again head-hunted by an American company called Filtec LLC into a position of Key Account Manager - Africa. This saw me travelling extensively all-over sub-Saharan Africa, Germany (where my boss was based) and the company's headquarters in California, USA. My time at Filtec allowed me to build extensive networks across Africa and solidified my love for the continent, its people and the potential that resides in it.

I later decided to leave the world of industrial equipment sales behind and was again head-hunted into the role of Sales and Marketing Director for Kevali Chemicals; a black-owned South African company that was doing exciting things in the chemicals space.

Thereafter, I went back into my own business again as a CEO; this time I had companies from Italy, Switzerland, USA and South-Africa all of which were trying to establish and extend their footprint in Africa as my clients. In this role, I was travelling to Europe and all-over sub-Saharan Africa once again. The Covid-19 pandemic found me doing this work which was being billed in hard currencies - US dollar and Euro.

LT: There are obviously several others who are doing wonders in the Diaspora. How can people like you help change the country's fortunes?

Dr Lephoto: There is no doubt that Lesotho stands to benefit massively from its citizens in the Diaspora. It is no secret that there are Basotho who are highly accomplished professionals and are doing amazing things in the diaspora. The country can benefit not only from the remittances that we send home to support our families and other courses but also from our skills. It is fascinating to me to see the number of foreign skilled workers and professionals that are working in the country when I know for a fact that some of the very skills reside with Basotho in the Diaspora.

It is important for our leaders to recognise that the skills must to be tapped to help the country develop at a more respectable pace. It is also important to understand that once a citizen is established in a more developed country, such professionals start to command a certain market value that might not be aligned to the pay scales at home. It would be totally unreasonable to expect such a person to want to come back home on local pay scales which are significantly lower than the global scale.

It is also important to address the unconscious bias that seems to exist against Basotho in the Diaspora. There are many roles locally where pay rates paid to non-Basotho are competitive on the global scale but do not raise eyebrows. Yet for some reason, when a Mosotho; especially a woman commands the same pay, it becomes a problem to some.

These are the kind of issues that the country must address consciously to start deriving real value out of its citizens in the diaspora, many of whom would love nothing more than to come back home to help develop the country.

LT: Do you, at any point in the future, think that you are going to leave everything and come back home to help develop the country?

Dr Lephoto: I did exactly that in July 2020 when I heeded the call to join the NACOSEC. Having left in 1991 after my O-levels to further my studies in the USA, I always felt a sense of guilt that I never worked in Lesotho. While I was giving back in other ways like educating children in my hometown, I always felt that I could do more by being physically present and sharing my skills and networks. So, when I was head-hunted for the position in the NACOSEC, I figured out that the opportunity had finally come for me to serve my country and my people, especially in the middle of a pandemic.

The nature of the pandemic itself was such that I could use the knowledge and skills I had received in my training as a scientist to help policymakers make evidence-based decisions that would steer the country in the right direction during very uncertain times. This was also the right time to tap into my extensive network of professionals; in sub-Saharan Africa as well as in the western world, to derive benefits for my people.

LT: Tell us about your experience in the NACOSEC since July 2020.

Dr Lephoto: My experience since joining the NACOSEC has been a mixed bag. Working with the original CEO, Thabo Khasipe, was an exciting experience as we built the operational plans to implement the national strategy. I was not involved in the strategy document itself.

The operational plans were further translated into business plans for the specific units of the organisation. This was exciting work and I was able to bring my extensive business management skills combined with my training as a scientist to help develop what has been described as world-class plans for the organisation. The disappointment settled in when we were unable to acquire the required resources to implement the plans.

This is something that left me extremely confused as I was totally lost to the politics of the situation having come here purely as a professional. It became obvious that I had landed myself in an untenable situation when months went by as one continued to work without getting paid, yet weekly basis we kept appearing in front of the Covid-19 taskforce of ministers where the CEO would give updates of progress and challenges encountered.

As you know, the situation did not improve and eventually the CEO resigned in complete disappointment. When he left, I was instructed to assume the position of acting CEO until such a time that cabinet would select a new candidate for the role. It was again an odd situation for me because up until then, three months into my tenure, neither myself nor any other member of the NACOSEC had received appointment letters confirming our status in the organisation.

And yet, we continued working and for the next three or four weeks, I had to be the one assuming the role of reporting at the weekly taskforce meetings. Eventually, the new CEO was appointed, and it was a woman. I was genuinely pleased at such a move as I am a fierce proponent of women empowerment in the workplace.

Sadly, things did not turn out as I had anticipated. It is common cause that the working relationship between us has not been desirable; some of the details have been peddled in the official media and social media pages in recent days. An unfortunate situation that has also led us to the courts of law as well.

LT: Do you think Basotho have been adequately educated on Covid-19 and its impact on their livelihoods?

Dr Lephoto: I think they have but given the dynamic nature of the disease, it goes without saying that the country must adopt a stance of empowering the people with the latest information all the time. It is particularly important at a time where there is so much misinformation and disinformation that is going around concerning the pandemic. Failure to counter these with facts, can have deadly consequences.

When it comes to livelihoods, I think Basotho are feeling the impact in their households daily. There is lasting negative impact on the children who have stayed out of school for over a year. Many of them, especially the girls, may never return to the classroom as they may have become teenage mothers or fallen victim to the practice of child marriages, trafficking, etc.

The boys may have fallen into drug abuse and or trafficking. Many breadwinners have lost their income and food insecurity has increased in many households. The socio-economic impact mitigation work programme, which is the work programme that I currently lead in the NACOSEC, must be championed in earnest.

All stakeholders must come to the table and innovative thought-leaders must be given the space to help us figure out how to steer the country through this lasting storm. These stakeholders include all government ministries, including but not limited to, Gender, Youth, Sport and Recreation; Small Business Development, Agriculture and Food Security, Tourism, Environment and Culture; Police and Public Safety. They also include development partners such as International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), civic society; the youth, the private sector; academia and faith-based organisations.

The pandemic of hunger and poverty brought on by Covid-19 is arguably more dangerous and longer lasting than the health pandemic. Now that at least the country has started vaccinating its citizens, it is high time that the socio-economic impact mitigation agenda takes centre stage. Failure to do so in a comprehensive and convincing manner will have deadly consequences for the country.

LT: Some are of the view that NACOSEC is just an extravagant but useless institution spending tax payers' resources. What is your take on this?

Dr Lephoto: I was not privy to discussions that led to the formation of the NACOSEC therefore, I really cannot speak on the perceived extravagance and/or whether or not Lesotho needed an institution of its nature. What I can address is the assertion that the organisation is a "useless institution". I suspect what most people might not know is that the NACOSEC does not have direct control over the funds that are meant to run the organisation and deliver its mandate.

These funds are exclusively controlled by the officials in the Disaster Management Authority (DMA). From the first time I joined the organisation under the former CEO, Mr Khasipe and as an experienced business professional, I have always found this to be a very peculiar situation that could only spell failure. There is no leadership of any organisation that can deliver anything worthwhile when the same leadership has no control over the OPEX (operating expenses) of the organisation.

The NACOSEC is accountable to lead a credible response against the pandemic, and also to ensure that the public is kept abreast of developments in terms of Covid-19 in the country and globally. It is also supposed to be the think-tank to collect data and come up with innovative ideas to advise the decision-makers in government on the best policies (based on scientific and other evidence) that can help the country deal with the pandemic. When the organisation is starved of resources, delivering on its mandate becomes an untenable situation indeed.

One would recall that in October 2020, the testing programme for Covid-19 came to an abrupt stop because the National Reference Laboratory had run out of testing consumables. This is but one example of the unfortunate situation that arose because those that had the power to sign off on purchase orders for the required materials simply refused to do so despite constant requests by the NACOSEC leadership.

There have been many occasions where one would get the sense that the NACOSEC had become a tool to settle scores. Individuals in NACOSEC became the targets of a narrative that for me; as a new-comer to the operations of the Lesotho public service, has always been difficult to wrap my head around, that everyone forgot that the institution was not set up for the benefit of the professionals assigned to it as individuals, but rather to benefit the nation as a whole.

Another function of the NACOSEC is to raise funds and mobilise resources to assist the country to deliver a credible response against Covid-19. This is one of the areas in which professionals with extensive global networks such as myself would be highly valuable and could raise significant funds from private funders on the global market in an enabling environment. This is one of the areas where a website, simple and/or frivolous as it might sound to some, becomes an extremely powerful tool.

I specifically remember getting a phone call from one of my former colleagues based in New York City, who just happens to work for a major philanthropic organisation. He was seeking information about the Covid-19 response in various African countries and was lamenting the fact that Lesotho did not have any presence on the internet in this regard. As you know, the NACOSEC website has been cut off by the service provider over unpaid hosting fees; a situation that has not been rectified till today. Because of this, the country continues to lose out on valuable donor funds that could have benefitted the most vulnerable in our population.

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LT: There has been controversy around your salary, which is said to be too much. Do you think you are being paid what you are worth?

Dr Lephoto: To begin with, I would like to address the manner in which this so-called controversy was generated. It is telling that it broke out on faceless social media pages on International Women's Day and was riding on manufactured lies where I was even slut-shamed. The narrative was meant to tarnish my professional reputation, and one wonders what the ultimate objective was. The irony is that on International Women's Day, I am maligned on social media and this speaks to that unconscious bias that I spoke of earlier which persists against successful women in Lesotho.

The fact that my manager chose to issue an egregious show-cause letter supposedly on the basis that I had gone AWOL hot on the heels of this defamation, when the truth was anything but that, is also telling.

Firstly, it is really disappointing that details of my salary have been leaked to the media by members of my organisation. These are matters of the strictest confidentiality between an employer and an employee. Specifically, only three entities are supposed to be privy to such matters - myself, my manager and the HR office. So, one would wonder what the motive and/or objective of leaking these details in the media at this stage might have been.

Secondly, when an employer approaches a potential employee with a job offer, it is common cause that a negotiation process occurs between the two parties. The employer reserves the right to not make an offer if they feel the employee's expectations are too high. The question, therefore, is why were my terms accepted and I was brought to Maseru? It is a fact that the salary structure of the NACOSEC appointees was approved by the Covid-19 Taskforce of Cabinet Ministers. It was not arrived at arbitrarily by an individual. And I certainly had no input into the salary structure whatsoever - it was decided before I even arrived in Lesotho.

Finally, and related to above, my career history is an open secret, and anyone can get records of it. With my academic qualifications and experience, my worth on the open market is something that can easily be determined. It is no secret indeed that when one takes on a full expatriate position, there are specific perks that come with the position - accommodation is but one.

The employer has specific obligations to ensure that their side of the bargain is met; in my case, this was not even the case. I worked for a full four months before I was paid a cent by the organisation. I am now in month nine of my service to the NACOSEC and yet not once has my salary been paid on time.

To date, I have never been issued a payslip for any of the monies that have been paid to me so one has no clue how the deductions were even calculated. This contravenes the labour law in any jurisdiction.

On the question of whether I am paid what I am worth; in my initial negotiations with the then CEO before coming to Lesotho, I indicated that the terms at which I signed were highly discounted considering my value on the open market.

I only chose to come because I was prepared to serve my country. As I have indicated before, I am now at a stage in my career where I command a six-figure annual income in US dollar terms on the open market. The salary I am currently earning is in fact the kind of figure I earned over 10 years ago. I am puzzled why this has been made such an issue in my home country and I have struggled to find answers.

The only thing I can think of is that perhaps my being a Mosotho woman is what my sin is - it is somehow believed that a local woman cannot be entitled to earn such a salary. It is indeed a sad realisation.

LT: What's next for you after NACOSEC?

Dr Lephoto: My immediate plans are to re-join my family in Johannesburg and celebrate my birthday, which was on 14 March, with them by going away for a few days to unwind. I am also in the final stages of negotiations for my next role - the details will come out soon enough; all I can share at the moment is that it will be exciting work to do with post-Covid-19 socio-economic recovery programmes for a variety of African countries.

After all, I am an African. This continent is my home.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was taken aback to find her fellow top European Union official taking the only chair available next to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan when the duo visited Ankara this week. Yet, Turkey said that the EU side was responsible for the incident.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu during a press conference with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah touched upon the issue.

"There are unfair accusations toward Turkey. Turkey is a deep-rooted state and is not hosting guests for the first time. The protocol applied in meetings in Turkey is the international protocol and has been carried out within the framework of worldwide known Turkish hospitality," Daily Sabah cited him as saying.

"The EU sides demands were fulfilled. This means that the seating arrangement was made according to their suggestions. Our protocol units came together previously and their demands were realized," Cavusoglu added further.

Social media users were however quick to blame Turkey after footage from their meeting on Tuesday showed the first female head of the EU executive, the only woman in the talks, gesturing in disbelief and uttering a surprised sigh as European Council President Charles Michel took one of the two center-stage seats prepared, relegating her to an adjacent sofa, while others saw the incident as a demonstration of an underlying rivalry within the EU.
Geneva (Switzerland), April 08, 2021 (SPS) - A Sahrawi delegation headed by Sahrwai Minister delegate to Europe and UE, Ubbi Bucharaya along with POLISARIOs representative to to Switzerland, Omeima Mahamud held an extensive meeting on Tuesday with prominent officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at its headquarters in Geneva to discuss the situation in the Western Sahara, particularly in the territories under Moroccan occupation.

They briefed the ICRC on the latests developments in Western Sahara mainly new circumstances resulting from the resumption of the war, which require the urgent intervention of this international organization, taking into account the escalation of the repression and the acts of reprisal of the Moroccan occupation authorities against the Sahrawi civilians.

The meeting also addressed the precarious conditions in which the Saharawi activist Sultana Sidbrahim Jaya finds herself in the city of Bojador, who continues to suffer daily acts of reprisal and mistreatment, as well as the situation of the Saharawi political prisoner of the Gdeim Izik Group, Mohamed Lamin Haddi, who is on the verge of death behind bars in the Tifelt 2 prison, in Morocco, far from his homeland, like his compatriots who are victims of permanent violations of International Humanitarian Law. SPS

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Wilcox Road, as seen from the turnaround at the end, is a small, dirt road. Many of the residents of the road have spoken out against the proposal to buy 420 acres on Red Mountain.
The United States is considering lifting some sanctions on Iran, after two days of talks in Vienna - the first time that Iranian diplomats were in the same meeting hall as their counterparts from the Biden administration.

The move is aimed at restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - the nuclear deal signed under President Obama in 2015 but ripped up by his successor Donald Trump.

Sanctions which were 'inconsistent' with the nuclear deal could now be lifted, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Wednesday.

'We are prepared to take the steps necessary to return to compliance with the JCPOA, including by lifting sanctions that are inconsistent with the JCPOA,' said Price.

'I am not in a position here to give you chapter and verse on what those might be.'

Price spoke after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that talks in Vienna on rescuing the troubled nuclear deal had opened a 'new chapter'.

Ned Price, spokesman for the State Department, is seen on Wednesday discussing Iran

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gives an upbeat assessment to his cabinet of Tuesday's opening round of nuclear talks in Vienna

An Iranian delegation met on Tuesday with representatives of the remaining parties to the agreement to discuss how to bring Washington back into it, and end crippling U.S. sanctions and Iranian countermeasures.

President Joe Biden has said he is ready to reverse the decision of his predecessor to withdraw from the agreement and reimpose unilateral sanctions.

But differences remain over the mechanics of the move as Tehran has since responded by suspending compliance with some of its own obligations under the deal.

The United States was not present at Tuesday's discussions because Iran has refused to meet the U.S. delegation so long as its sanctions remain in place.

Instead, the European Union acted as an intermediary, but all sides gave a positive assessment of the opening talks.

'A new chapter has just been opened yesterday,' Rouhani told a cabinet meeting Wednesday.

'If (Washington) shows it is honest and sincere, that's all we ask... I think we'll be able to negotiate in a short time, if necessary, with the (other parties to the deal).'

Price said that the United States still believed 'this is a constructive forum'.

'The talks so far have been business-like and they are doing what we envisioned they would,' Price told reporters.

Joe Biden, seen on Wednesday, campaigned on a promise to join the Iran nuclear deal

'They are affording us a better understanding of Iran's thinking and we hope that in turn Tehran will leave this round of talks with a better understanding of what we might be prepared to do.'

The US delegation has set up at a different hotel in Vienna, with EU negotiators acting as go-betweens.

Diplomats said the working groups, which are chaired by the European Union and exclude the United States, met on Wednesday and suggested they would know in a matter of weeks whether they might bear fruit before Iran's June 18 presidential elections.

At the same time, two groups of experts - on lifting sanctions and nuclear issues - are working 'to identify concrete measures to be taken by Washington and Tehran' to restore the deal, Russian envoy Mikhail Ulyanov said.
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory is a founding partner of Duality, the first program in the nation that is dedicated to accelerating startup companies focused on quantum science and technology -- a rapidly emerging area that is poised to drive transformative advances across multiple industries.

The University of Chicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Chicago Quantum Exchange, which are co-leading Duality, announced today the launch of the program. In addition to Argonne, the other founding partners are the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and private-sector-led non-profit P33.

"Duality will provide inventors and entrepreneurs from across the U.S. the powerful facilities, tools and talent that are needed to move transformative discoveries into applications." -- Paul Kearns, Argonne Laboratory director

The program's purpose is to help quantum startups bridge the gap between the laboratory and the marketplace that is often a critical barrier to success for emerging technologies.

The launch of Duality comes at a time when countries around the world are racing to unlock the potential of quantum technology, which could transform industries in the same way the internet has reshaped the world in recent decades.

The Chicago area has emerged as a leading global quantum center. Last year, it was announced that three of eight federally funded quantum information science research centers and institutes would be based in the region.

"Duality fills a key need in educating quantum entrepreneurs and promoting investment in development of these technologies," said Vanessa Chan, DOE's Chief Commercialization Officer and director of DOE's Office of Technology Transitions. "Attracting funding is essential in a field that has the potential to radically change technology development itself. Through the launch of Duality, Chicago is showing the world that it has the critical elements needed to incubate and launch these types of ventures."

With a $20 million investment, Duality will help up to 10 quantum startups per year grow their businesses in the Chicago area. The program will be based within the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a global leader in management education. Chicago Booth is widely known for its thought leadership -- with nine Nobel laureates -- and its impact on the global business community.

"Argonne is excited to partner with our academic and industrial collaborators as we make the Chicago region a focal point of quantum innovation," Argonne Laboratory Director Paul Kearns said. "Duality will provide inventors and entrepreneurs from across the U.S. the powerful facilities, tools, and talent that are needed to move transformative discoveries into applications. This will inspire an even more robust environment for future innovations, which will help maintain American scientific leadership in quantum science and technology."

Duality will soon begin taking applications through its website for the first cohort. Companies are invited to apply and will be considered on a rolling basis until May 14, 2021. Actively promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, the program seeks a range of diverse applicants in terms of race, gender, and ethnicity.

The name Duality refers to a core principle of quantum mechanics, in which a single entity may act as both a particle and a wave. The name also evokes Duality's unique role of bringing together the dual expertise from both leading quantum scientists and business partners to grow and scale quantum startups.

Duality will provide entrepreneurs with support from leading quantum researchers, as well as business and entrepreneurial expertise from Booth, the Chicago Quantum Exchange's corporate partners, the Polsky Center's broad network, and the networks, facilities and programming of Argonne, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and P33.

The state of Illinois has made a strong commitment to support quantum research overall, and the new quantum incubator will further enhance the region's ecosystem for technology development and commercialization.

The 12-month program will focus on supporting and advancing companies that are building quantum technologies, products and applications, and related enabling technologies. Starting virtually in July and continuing in person when COVID-19 restrictions lift, each cohort of companies will have the opportunity to access state-of-the-art facilities, office and lab space, and each startup will receive $50,000 in funding.

The quantum science ecosystem in the Chicago region has grown rapidly. In 2020, scientists from Argonne and UChicago launched a 52-mile "quantum loop" that was among the longest ground-based quantum communication channels in the country. DOE officials announced at UChicago in July their plans to build a national quantum internet, which will create virtually unhackable networks to transmit information. The following month, DOE and the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced that three of the eight federally funded quantum information science research centers and institutes would be based in the Chicago area -- including a DOE quantum information science center led by Argonne and another led by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and an NSF quantum leap challenge institute led by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

"The Chicago area has a vital role in generating new science and technology, and Duality will provide critical support to bring quantum science from breakthroughs in the laboratory to practical applications that can foster new businesses, create jobs and improve aspects of the quality of life," said Robert J. Zimmer, president of the University of Chicago. "This program leverages the unique strengths of the University of Chicago and our partners to convene industry, researchers and venture capitalists to realize the potential of quantum science while simultaneously providing mutual benefit to the research and academic mission of the University of Chicago."

About the founding partners:

The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation applies world-class business expertise from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business to bring new ideas and groundbreaking science and technology innovations to market. Originally established at Chicago Booth in 1998, the Polsky Center is a multidisciplinary organization staffed with deeply experienced scientists, business executives, and talented staff responsible for driving technology commercialization through patents and licensing, new venture creation, and commercial partnerships at the University of Chicago. Through education, programming, mentorship, intellectual property and venture support, the Polsky Center provides critical resources to enable the success of entrepreneurs and the establishment and growth of new companies. Learn more at polsky.uchicago.edu.

The Chicago Quantum Exchange connects leading academic talent, top scientific facilities, and prominent corporate and nonprofit partners to advance the science and engineering of quantum information, train the quantum workforce of tomorrow, and drive the local and national quantum economy. Headquartered at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, the Chicago Quantum Exchange is made up of six member institutions: four major research universities and two national laboratories, all within 150 miles of Chicago. Learn more at chicagoquantum.org.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a global leader in quantum science, deep tech, and nurturing new businesses. Along with top physics, computer engineering, and computer science programs, the university is home to the Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center (IQUIST). The university's EnterpriseWorks, meanwhile, was one of Forbes magazine's "10 Technology Incubators Changing the World." More than 150 startups have launched with EnterpriseWorks' support.

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory conducts research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne leads Q-NEXT, a DOE Quantum Information Science Research Center that includes three national laboratories, nine universities, and 10 of the U.S.'s leading quantum technology companies. Argonne is also home to Chain Reaction Innovations, a successful entrepreneurship program focused on energy and science technologies.

P33, a private-sector-led non-profit, builds a thriving and inclusive tech-based economy for Chicago. P33 is focused on areas of the tech economy that can generate outsized benefit for Chicago with a strategy to unlock the commercial potential of quantum information science from within the region.

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 .

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Freelancers and online workers put up more than 20 tents outside the Serbian parliament in Belgrade in a protest against proposed changes to the tax code. The revised code would require self-employed workers earning more than the equivalent of 270 euros per month to pay income tax.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has proposed to implement a smart and energy efficient city project (SEECP) with total investment of more than VND1.56 trillion ($67.29 million) in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

Vehicles move on Quang Trung Bridge in Can Tho City. (Photo: VNA)

At a meeting with local leaders on April 6, an ADB representative said the proposal is based on the outcomes of a working session between ADB and the municipal Peoples Committee in late October last year, as well as the banks following trips for energy auditing in the city.



The project will develop smart city and energy efficient infrastructure with LED lights and smart technology used for public lighting and public buildings, aiming to save energy, reduce carbon emissions, and improve socio-economic benefits.



In particular, the 19 community healthcare buildings entitled to this project can be modernised via the application of many different energy efficient measures, which can help improve the cold supply chain to serve COVID-19 vaccination.



Au Minh Tuan, an ADB senior specialist for energy project development, said the bank is introducing the SEECP to six provinces and cities across Vietnam, namely Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Lam Dong, and Can Tho.



For the project in Can Tho, it suggested two components covering smart lighting and smart buildings that will be carried out at the respective costs of 1.279 trillion VND and 282 billion VND.



The SEECP Can Tho will be co-financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the city, and ADB will manage the GCFs funding sources, Tuan noted.



The first phase of this project is expected to last from April 2022 to December 2025.



Vice Chairman of the Can Tho Peoples Committee Nguyen Van Hong said local authorities will hold meetings to discuss the projects components and capital, and they will notify ADB of the outcomes.

VNA
The unofficial results are in for yesterdays day at the polls for Pike County residents.

Proposition P, which asked voters for a one-half of 1 percent sales tax to fund current and future operations and capital improvements of the Pike County Sheriffs Department, failed by a vote of 775-745.

In Bowling Green, three aldermen seats were up for election. In Ward I, Diane Kirkpatrick was unopposed. In Ward II, Terry Burris ran unopposed. And in Ward III, Kim Luebrecht ran unopposed. All three were voted in for another 2-year term in office.

In Louisiana, four alderman seats were up for election. In Ward I, Nancy Evans ran unopposed. In Ward II, Joshua Mooney ran unopposed. In Ward III, Mike Sherman won against Nick Fregeau. And in Ward IV, Robert Ringhausen won against Delores Patrick. All four were voted in for a 1-year term in office.

Proposition One in Louisiana failed. The proposition asked voters to OK an increase in the general property tax this year and again in 2023 and then again 2025, which would eventually have increased the tax by $1 for every $100 of property value.

In Clarksville, Mayor Jo Anne Smiley was up for re-election. She ran unopposed and was voted in for another 2-year term. There was a write-in candidate that did receive four votes. Smiley won with 65 votes. Also in Clarksville, the South and North ward alderman positions were up for re-election. Angi Grossnickle ran unopposed for South Ward, and Robbert Howland defeated Sue Lindemann for the North Ward. Grossnickle and Howland will be serving 2-year terms.

The question for Curryville residents, asking to forgo annual elections if the number of candidates, who file for a particular office is equal to the number of positions in the office to be filled by that election. This question ended up in a deadlock with 3 votes yes and 3 votes no.

In Frankford, the voters said yes to a 2-year term for Mayor John Schindler. He was running unopposed. There was also an election for a councilperson at-large for two years and for an at-large position for 1 year. Glen Hickerson won against Eddie Heffner for the two-year office, and Susan Ellis ran unopposed.

In the Village of Eolia, Kathleleen Watson defeated John Burbridge for a spot on the Board of Trustees for two years.

In the Village of Paynesville, Lamont Davis defeated Stephen Eisele for a two-year term as trustee.

For the Pike County 911 Board, Eastern District, Thomas Beauchamp and Bill Sterne were elected. In the Western District, Richard Murray and Clarence Henke were elected.
Chennai, April 8 : The Madras University has made Covid-19 negative test reports compulsory for those who would be attending the 163rd convocation of the varsity in view of the rising coronavirus cases.

Tamil Nadu Governor and Chancellor of Madras University, Banwarilal Purohit will preside over the convocation ceremony of the University to be held on Thursday.

Dr. Bhaskar Ramamurthy, Director, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras will be the chief guest for the function.

A senior official with the Public relations department of the Madras University while speaking to IANS said: "The spiralling number of Covid cases has led to make the Covid negative certificate mandatory for all those who are attending the Convocation of the University. Our officials including the Vice Chancellor were tested on Wednesday." The convocation will be attended by 86 rank holders, 100 prize winners, their friends and relatives in addition to the University staff professors, department heads and others.

The university has conducted a free Covid-19 test for those attending and the swab samples were taken on Wednesday itself and to enter into the convocation hall the negative swab sample report is compulsory.

Three candidates will receive their Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) and 683 students will receive their Phd's.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, which got underway last week, has triggered memories, pain and trauma from police-inflicted violence that is occurring too frequently still. It has refocused the countrys attention on racial violence at a time when homicide rates are on the rise almost everywhere and there has been a recent rash of mass shootings, including one that targeted women of Asian descent.Because of this violence and the anticipated escalation of tensions between the police and minority communities once the outcome of the Chauvin trial is known, many Americans are becoming increasingly alarmed and want their local government officials to do something to curb the scourge of brutality, make law enforcement accountable to those it is supposed to be protecting, and redirect some police funding to addressing conditions at the root of racism and inequality. Thats the essence of calls to defund the police, but that terms meaning has been twisted into something else entirely by those whose only solution is to get even tougher on crime.That attitude is driving the actions of too many politicians at the state level, where partisan games are evidenced by Republican lawmakers introducing, and in at least one case passing, legislation that threatens to withhold state funding from local governments that reduce their police budgets. While this move may be welcomed by some, it is bad policy that has an additional disadvantage of pre-empting local governments sovereignty and ability to protect their citizens as they see fit.Not surprising given the partisan nature of seemingly everything these days, this bad idea is catching on. Lawmakers in several states have introduced legislation to this effect. In Iowa, for example, bills in the Senate and the House working their way through various committees would deny all state funding to cities and counties that reduce their law enforcement budgets by a larger percentage than their overall budgets. This comes less than a year after Iowa lawmakers outlawed chokeholds and no-knock warrants In my home state of Georgia, meanwhile, on the last day of this years legislative session, House Republicans slipped through their bill limiting the amount by which cities and counties can reduce their police funding. If signed into law by the governor, local governments would be barred from reducing their law enforcement budgets by more than 5 percent in one year or cumulatively across five years.Data shows this legislation and others like it are unnecessary and superfluous. Bloomberg CityLab reports that while police budgets in the 50 largest cities overall have decreased by just over 5 percent from this time last year, mostly for pandemic-related reasons, law enforcement budgets as a share of general expenditures actually rose slightly, to 13.7 percent from 13.6.To be sure, many cities on their own took a hard look at reforming their police departments and decided against making drastic changes at this time. On the upside, many reforms proposed by groups like Black Lives Matter have been instituted by local governments, such as the banning of chokeholds and other similar techniques and requiring an officer who accompanies another officer on a call to intervene if he or she feels a suspects life is in jeopardy.There also is a new focus on better public safety training. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms recently announced, with the support of the citys police foundation, that she intends to use 150 acres at an old city prison farm to build a state-of-the-art training academy for police and fire cadets.Then there are cities that are taking another look at adopting the Obama-Biden administrations final report on 21st-century policing . These recommendations suggest that police forces should tamp down the warrior approach and emphasize better relations with the community.There are other benefits of police reform that accrue to officers themselves, such as higher salaries for better-trained officers, incentives to provide reduced-cost housing if officers agree to live in neighborhoods where they patrol, and, given the stressful work that police do, greater psychological evaluation at the point of hiring and throughout their careers.Above all, the idea of reforming policing by redirecting funding into other areas that support public safety has been embraced by many police officers and their unions. These include hiring more social workers to deal with domestic abuse, adding youth counselors for restorative-justice programs, and offering job training so underserved young adults can obtain skills to compete for sustainable-wage jobs and not be as available and vulnerable to drug dealers, gang leaders and other criminal elements.Many of these ideas, including ones favorable to police officers, could not be adopted under current state legislative efforts to prevent local governments from revamping funding for their police departments. And it should go without saying that none of these reforms will work in isolation and without tackling systemic racism and economic inequality.The safety of communities and the sanctity of human life are foundational reasons for local governments to exist. The Chauvin murder trial  and the obvious pain it will evoke  should summon public officials and their constituents to reflect on what type of communities they want to live in, how to build them, and what the appropriate role of policing is. These decisions are best made closer to home. State politicians should get out of the way and let the talks and healing begin.GoverningGoverning
Protesters rally against the Iran-China deal in front of the Chinese Consulate in Vancouver on April 3, 2021. (Courtesy of Kei Esmaeilpour)

Iran Not for Sale, China Get Out: Iranians Protest Over Iran-China 25-Year Deal

People took to the streets recently in Iran and other countries to protest an expansive, long-term deal that Iran has signed with China. Outside the Chinese Consulate in Vancouver on April 3, protesters held signs reading Iran not for sale, China get out and Take your hands away from Iran.

On March 27, the foreign ministers of Iran and China signed a 25-year Strategic Comprehensive Partnership Agreement that covers political, economic, and security between the two countries and bring $400 billion of Chinese investment into Iran, state-run CGTV reported.

Though the terms and details of the agreement have not been made public, a leaked draft circulated last July revealed China would invest in Irans 5G network, nuclear energy, ports, and railroads. In return, the communist state would receive a steady supply of Iranian oil and gas at a discounted price for 25 years.

At the Vancouver protest on April 3, organizer Kei Esmaeilpour, an immigrant from Iran who came to Canada in 2002, said the agreement does not have any legitimacy.

Based on the Iranian constitution, every major contract agreement or convention should be present[ed] to the Iranian parliament, and after approval of the Parliament, it proceed[s], Esmaeilpour told the Epoch Times. This agreement hasnt been through any of these steps.



He claims that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei bypassed the government, resulting in no members of parliament knowing anything about the deal.



Iran International reported that many Iranians, including some politicians, have protested the secrecy surrounding the pact and questioned why parliamentarians views were not sought before it was signed.

Activist Bahman Roudgar told The Epoch Times the reason is because the reigning government is like a servant to the Chinese government.

The Iranian government, which is now very weak, they are ready to give all kinds of concessions only to remain in power, said Roudgar, director of a legal service firm in Toronto.

When the Chinese government says Do not reveal the details of this agreement, all they say is Yes, sir.

In February 2020, Chinese ambassador to Iran Chang Hua said in a press conference China was the only country that continues to buy oil from Iran, despite sanctions imposed by the Trump administration that penalize buyers of Iranian oil.

On March 25, two days before the signing of the deal with China, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced the coming inauguration of the Goureh-Jask crude oil pipeline, which will stretch from the southwestern province of Bushehr to Jask Port in southeast Iran. Construction of the 1,000-kilometre pipeline system, which will export Iranian oil from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman, began in late June 2020.

The pipeline fits into the framework of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a massive investment strategy that will extend the communist states political and economic reach across Asia, Europe, Africa and South America. It will also allow the Chinese regime to develop Jask Port, a major port near the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, where most of the worlds oil exports pass. The BRI has been criticized by the U.S. and other countries as a debt trap diplomacy that will saddle developing countries with unsustainable debt burdens.

The agreement also gives China a foothold in the Persian Gulf that undermines U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran, while allowing Beijing to gain greater political influence over Iran.

If China has control of the southern part of Iran and Persian Gulf, we are confident that they are going to use those areas as  a military fortress, so that they can station their soldiers in southern Iran, around the Persian Gulf, Roudgar said.

If tomorrow they want to have any aggression, any attack, or if there is a war in the future, the Persian Gulf will become a base, a military base for Chinese soldiers and submarines, everything. This is a very hideous, fearful image that we dont want to happen in our region.

Another reason Iranians think the government has put the whole country for sale, according to Roudgar, is the renting of islands to China.

They rented the islands in the Persian Gulf, and also the ports, he said. These ports are really important, and they are renting them long-term to China.

Esmaeilpour said countries such as Zimbabwe, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka that entered deals with China as the investing country ended up with nothing. They have just more debt, he said.

A petition in Persian to Stop Selling Iran to China on change.org had received 103,000 signatures as of April 8, with a goal to reach 150,000 signatures.

With reporting from Nicole Hao, Venus Upadhayaya, and Reuters
Senior officials of ASEAN member states called on parties concerned to refrain from further actions to complicate the situation in the South China Sea known as the East Sea in Vietnam, during their videoconference on April 7.

ASEAN senior officials hold a videoconference on April 7, raising concerns about the recent complicated developments in the East Sea. (Photo: VNA)

They expressed concerns over recent complicated developments in the regional sea, including the threats, coercion and violations of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They said such actions affect regional peace and security, run counter to commitments in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and create an unfavorable atmosphere for negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

They emphasised the need to restrain, avoid complicating the situation, promote international law and UNCLOS 1982, continue fully and effectively implementing the DOC, and gradually resume negotiations for an effective and valid COC in conformity with international law and UNCLOS 1982.

During the meeting, the officials reaffirmed their support for the initiatives proposed by Brunei, ASEAN Chair in 2021, including promoting multilateralism, improving the effectiveness of the blocs humanitarian assistance and emergency response, and marine-based economic cooperation.

With regard to the COVID-19 fight, they agreed to continue prioritising efforts to control the pandemic, prevent new waves of infection, overcome the consequences of the pandemic and speed up economic recovery.

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung voiced Vietnams support for ASEANs cooperation priorities and initiatives, and said Vietnam is willing to hold an ASEAN forum on narrowing development gaps between sub-regions for comprehensive recovery and sustainable development.

VOV

Peace in East Sea feasible with cooperation of ASEAN countries Surrounded by a number of ASEAN countries and China, the East Sea has seen disputes and conflicts arise between the countries regarding sovereignty and sea boundaries.
A York man who admitted to killing his wife, children and two other family members 30 years ago is scheduled for execution next month, corrections officials said.

Paul Gamboa Taylor is scheduled to be executed May 14, said Maria Bivens, spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections.

It is, however, unlikely, that this punishment will be carried out on that date, as Gov. Tom Wolf declared a moratorium on capital punishment in 2015. Pennsylvania last carried out an execution in 1999.

Taylor admitted to using a kitchen knife and ball-peen hammer to kill his wife, his children Jasmine, 2, and Paul, 4, his mother-in-law, Donna Barshinger, her son Lance, 2, on May 17, 1991. He did not harm an infant child.

He told authorities he was drinking that night and had used free-based cocaine before voices in his head told him to kill his family and himself.

Afterwards he tried to commit suicide by slashing his wrists, stabbing himself in the abdomen, drinking household chemicals and getting into a bathtub of water in which he placed a running hair dryer.

Taylor pleaded guilty to a first-degree murder charge. His lawyer Matthew C. Lawry later tried to have his death sentence overturned in several appeals by claiming Taylor was severely mentally ill. Lawry said Taylor at one point wanted to be executed.

Before his guilty plea was accepted, a psychologist and psychiatrist evaluated Taylor and found he had some mental illness but was competent.

Staff writer John Beauge contributed to this report.

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by Sumon Corraya

In the north of the country, many tribal catechumens received the sacrament during the rites of Holy Week. In the past, I loved nature, the sun and the trees, said one, but now I can address Jesus directly. For another, A Christians life is simple, and Christians love others.

Rajshahi (AsiaNews)  More than 300 people, mostly adults, were baptised at Easter in several parishes in the Diocese of Rajshahi, northern Bangladesh, where missionaries, local and foreign, are active in promoting the Kingdom of God.

Father Arturo Speziale, a missionary with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), told AsiaNews that he employed seven catechists, including two women, who prepared the new Catholics for about a year.

A total of 46 new believers received baptism in the village of Borshapara on Easter Sunday, he said. Our catechists played a vital role in bringing them to Christianity.

Father Speziale is assistant pastor in Nobai Bottola, a parish in the Diocese of Rajshahi. His seven catechists belong to local tribes and were able to reach local villages, teach the Bible and preach in local languages.

After their passage, nuns and priests visited the catechumens villages and won over their hearts, so little by little, more and more faithful came to Christianity.

Some children from Christian families were also baptised in the same parish at Easter.

Now 80 years old, Father Speziale has been working as a missionary in Bangladesh for 50 years. He said that his catechists are following another 100 families who could receive the baptism next year.

Father Michael Corraya, Nobai Bottolas parish priest, also spoke about his feelings of baptising people of other religions.

I was very happy to see adults receive the baptism from me, he explained. These people freely chose Christianity. In the past they worshipped nature and trees; now they understand the importance of Christianity and eagerly received the baptism.

The new Christians are ethnic Santal, Orao and Paharia from local tribal communities.

Father Swapan Martin Purification, parish priest in Bhutahara, Naogaon district, told AsiaNews that 114 adults were baptised in his parish on Easter eve and Easter Sunday. He confirmed that more than 300 people have been baptised in the Diocese of Rajshahi.

Some new believers spoke to AsiaNews about the reasons that led them to welcome Jesus Christ as the Lord.

In the past, I loved nature, the sun and the trees, said Subash Hembrom, a catechumen baptised in Borshapara. Our thakur (Hindu priest) acted on my behalf; now instead I can address Jesus directly and get an answer in prayer.

He did not know the prayers of his old religion before, but catechists taught him and members of his family the Lords Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and other Christian prayers, which he likes.

Anita Akka, another convert, said she liked the lives of Christians a lot. I saw that a Christians life is simple, that they (Christians) love others, teach love and forgiveness. I learnt that only Jesus Christ can give us salvation. So I received the baptism.
Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (L) is seen talking to Liberty OneSteel owner Sanjeev Gupta (R) at the steel works in Whyalla in South Australia, May 1, 2019. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Future of Thousands of Steelwork Jobs in the Air

Thousands of South Australians are looking to the federal government for assurance as the future of Whyalla Steelworks operations remain uncertain.

Whyallas owner, Sanjeev Gupta, chairman of GFG Alliance, was taken to court by Credit Suisse on Tuesday over the financial collapse of one of its biggest lenders, Greensill. Following its collapse, Credit Suisse is trying to recover a portion of its billions of finance by breaking up Guptas Australian assets.

If the creditor is successful, it could end two operations under Gupta and send OneSteel Manufacturing, which runs Whyalla Steelworks, and Tahmoor Coal into liquidation.

GFG Alliance assured the public and told InDaily on Wednesday that it had received multiple offers of finance from large investment funds and is currently in advanced due diligence.

The term sheets as currently proposed would provide enough cash to repay the creditors, the spokesman said in the statement. GFG Alliance expects the confirmatory due diligence to be complete within weeks before a final offer is accepted.

Sanjeev Gupta, head of the GFG Alliance, speaks during an interview with AFP in London on Jan. 28, 2019. (BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

South Australian Treasurer Rob Lucas tried to reassure OneSteel employees, saying they shouldnt jump to any alarmist conclusions as the legal action had just begun.

GFG has continued to ensure the market, and the government, that they are confident theyre going to be able to manage a refinancing of their relationship theyve got with Greensill, Lucas told ABC. We can only take them at their word at this particular stage, and well have to wait and see the results of their attempted renegotiation of finance.

He also said the company had not sought further financial assistance from the state government, as GFG had said they were confident of refinancing.

Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin also called for calm in the community, telling Whyalla News that GFG had assured the local council that it would vigorously defend the legal proceedings and face the legal challenge head-on.

These are all encouraging signs, so we implore the community to remain positive as this process plays out and to not jump to conclusions based on speculation, McLaughlin said.

South Australian MP Rowan Ramsey said it was too early to panic, noting that GFG had recently announced the strong performance and positive cash flows of their Australian businesses.

We need people to stay calm as we work our way through the issues, Ramsey said. I can assure the residents and businesses of Whyalla we are watching the space closely.

A directions hearing for the legal proceedings will begin on May 6.
The minister for the Office of Public Works (OPW) has appealed to objectors to the Blackpool flood relief scheme to stand down and allow the scheme to proceed.

In recent weeks, an opposition group has voiced concerns about the scheme.

The group, Save Our Bride Otters (Sobo), say they believe the OPWs plans are unnecessarily expensive, will result in more flooding instead of less, and will see a loss of habitat for the European otters, a protected species, which live on the Bride.

They believe the 20.5m project should not have been given the go-ahead by public expenditure minister Michael McGrath earlier this month, and they are mounting a legal challenge to his decision.

A photo of the river before the proposed work (top) and an impression of the way it may appear after the OPW's flood defence work near Orchard Court in Blackpool.

OPW Minister Patrick ODonovan says many potential solutions were considered over the last eight years the scheme has been developing, but assures those who oppose the plans that extensive consultation has taken place with relevant parties  such as Inland Fisheries Ireland, the National Monuments Service, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service  to ensure minimal impact to the environment.

'Rigorous selection process'

He added that all proposed alternatives suggested by opponents have already been considered during the development of the scheme.

The selection of the confirmed scheme has been the result of a rigorous selection process to ensure that the solution brought forward represents the optimum solution for Blackpool having fairly weighed up the relative merits of all of the various constraints, opinions and viewpoints, he said.

For those concerned about the potential impacts of the works to otters, the OPW said that a range of appropriate mitigation measures are already provided in the design of the scheme, including the incorporation of otter ledges and light wells in the culverted section, as well as habitat enhancement measures targeting otters upstream.

Minister's appeal to objectors

Mr ODonovan says he recognises everyones right to appeal planning decisions, but said he appeals to those who oppose the plans to consider the homeowners and businesses of this area, who have been subjected to the nightmare of flooding, who remain at risk today, and who now finally see a solution which can bring this nightmare to an end.

"Nearly 300 properties and businesses will benefit from the scheme, including many traders whose livelihoods are at stake, especially as many cannot get insurance today due to previous flooding in this community, he said.

Construction is due to commence on the scheme in the early months of next year.
New Delhi:

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday hit out at government for implementation of Goods and Services Tax and its alliance with Bhartiya Janata Party.

Thackeray questioned about the uniformity in GST by saying that even Pakistan has cheaper petrol than India.

"Government says GST brings uniform taxation. Where is the uniformity? Even Pakistan has cheaper petrol than us," said Thackeray.

Thackeray reminded BJP that they entered into alliance for the sole purpose of unity of Hindu votes and if BJP thinks that Shiv Sena is no use to them then they will see how to deal with it.

Uddhav said that an atmosphere was created that those who favor demonetisation are "deshbhakt" and those who oppose it are "deshdrohi."

"You are okay with Nitish who abuses you, with Mehbooba Mufti who threatens you but why not us who say 'garv se kaho hum Hindu hain'?" said Thackeray.

"You enjoy power in Kashmir with Mehbooba Mufti. What happened to your 'ek vidhaan ek nishaan'? Would you dare abolish 370?" said Thackeray.

Shiv Sena has been critical of government decisions for a long time now. They opposed demonetiation, GST, governments diplomacy against China and Pakistan and many more.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Cambodian analysts and politicians expect little change in bilateral relations with Vietnam as the countrys closest ally transitions to new leadership with the appointment of a new prime minister and cabinet.

The National Assembly of Vietnam this week appointed the Communist Partys Pham Minh Chinh to succeed outgoing prime minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who currently serves as the President of Vietnam.

According to the state-run Voice of Vietnam, the 63-year-old state security official also made changes to Phucs cabinet on Thursday by naming Bui Thanh Son to succeed long-term chief diplomat Pham Binh Minh as the countrys new foreign minister.

Pham Binh Minh will retain his role as deputy prime minister alongside Truong Hoa Binh and Vu Duc Dam, who is leading Vietnams COVID-19 response. Le Minh Khai and Le Van Thanh, known for their economic expertise, were also named deputy prime ministers.

Chinh also named Vietnam Peoples Army Chief of General Staff Phan Van Giang as the new defense minister.

The Cambodian government expects continuity in the two countries bonhomie, said Suos Yara, a spokesperson for the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party.

Cambodia and Vietnam have a special and traditional friendship with sound solidarity, good neighborliness, and a peaceful border. Regardless of who is leading Vietnam, the people, the state, and the government of Vietnam remain Cambodias friends, Yara said.

Kosal Path, a political scientist at the City University of New York in the United States, said the next five years of bilateral relations would be similar to those of the past five years, as Vietnams ruling party continues to be under the influence of hardline party chief Nguyen Phu Trong.

Pham Minh Chinh is chosen to support Trong's agendas -- continue to fight corruption, focus on economic development and modernization, and accelerate military modernization in the next five years, Kosal told VOA Khmer in an email.

Vu Quang Minh, Vietnams ambassador to Cambodia attested to the countries strong relations in an opinion piece published in the Phnom Penh Post on Thursday.

In fact, Cambodia is among the most important partners for Vietnams foreign policy, development, and national security as a whole, taking into consideration the Kingdoms strategic geographical location, for both political security and economic interests, Vu wrote.

Incoming Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who spent 24 years of his career in the internal and economic intelligence service, had a phone call with Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday.

PM Chinh affirmed his wish to work closely with PM Hun Sen to sustainably and effectively maintain the development of the sound neighborliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and the two Governments, a read-out of the phone call provided by Hanoi reads.

City Universitys Kosal Path said Hanoi aimed to keep Vientiane and Phnom Penh close in light of growing geopolitical maneuvering by China.

I think Hanoi can understand why Cambodia tilts closer and closer to China for economic development, but the historically-minded Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi are increasingly concerned about unchecked Chinese influence in Cambodia which continues to grow, and its implications on Vietnam's national security on its southwest flank, he said.

Cambodias closeness to chief patron China has caused some tensions with old ally Vietnam, especially in light of Chinas ambitions in the South China Sea.

In 2019, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had to personally reassure then-Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc about speculation that China was getting military access to Cambodias Ream Naval Base in the southern province of Preah Sihanouk.

Vietnams decision to unilaterally shut down its land borders and establish patrol tents along its border with Cambodia at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year was also a mark of resentment and suspicion between the two countries, Kosal Path said.
Mothers In Action, LA Urban League, Brotherhood Crusade, And FEMA Surpass 10,000 Vaccinations Along Crenshaw Corridor

Mothers In Action in collaboration with the LA Urban League, Brotherhood Crusade, FEMA, Cal OES and others have been working tirelessly to bring the much-needed Johnson & Johnson Vaccine to the Crenshaw Community. The site, which on March 11, ensured that the African American community would have access and equity to the vaccine and within their own community, has been operating a vaccination site at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall for the past four weeks. On Wednesday, March 31, the testing site, which has been considered a pilot program site, hit a milestone of 10,000 shots to community members. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a one dose vaccination, so all 10,000 participants are now fully vaccinated. Tracy Mitchell, president of Mothers in Action, said I want to thank the Mothers In Actions village of volunteers that have staffed the site from day one, and who have committed to continue supporting this effort until April 10, when the site closes.

On April 1, Governor Gavin Newsom, Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson visited the site to celebrate that the vaccine eligibility threshold had now moved to those 50 and up; they also gave an update on the COVID-19 progress. The overarching theme of every elected official who spoke regarding the progress and status of COVID-19 here in Los Angeles focused on the same message to remain resolute in their safe practices; this is not the time to let our guard down, it is not time to unmask, the elected officials urged the community. And while more and more Californians are receiving the vaccination, there are still far too many amongst us who have not yet been vaccinated. Governor Newsom wanted to make sure that the message was clear that with so many new variants on the scene, Californians needed to remain committed to the principles of getting vaccinated, social distancing and wearing a mask. He also seized upon the moment during his visit to the Crenshaw location to actually received his vaccination shot on April 1.

This site was opened right here in the heart of the African American Community as part of Biden & Harris Administrations commitment to ensure that the communitys most in-need had access to the vaccine, stated Latanga Hopes, Media Relations specialist with FEMA.

Mothers In Action and the Los Angeles Urban League were the community-based organizations that were part of this clinic opening from day one. Brotherhood Crusade joined in the effort shortly after the clinic opened to assist in the community outreach efforts and to get the word out to more people that this was our communitys moment to secure a vaccination.

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The outpouring of support from the local residence has been overwhelming. The opportunity for our community residence to walk out their door and have access to the vaccine has brought so much joy, and a sense of security to our people, has been wonderful, stated Charisse Bremond-Weaver, president of the Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade.

Mothers In Action has been instrumental in daily staffing of the site, as well as assisting in community outreach to get African Americans to the table to be vaccinated. Bonnie Thomas-Jeter from the LA Urban League works night and day, seven days a week, managing the vaccine website/list. She is also onsite every day to register the public. Michael Lawson, president of the LA Urban League said, A large part of the clinics success and kudos, has to go to our staff and the many volunteers who have been working at the registration desk and throughout the clinic. The opportunity for people to see faces they know or organizations they trust have been a big part of the clinics success and our outreach efforts. We have been encouraging those who have come in to tell their neighbors and their family to come and get vaccinated as well. The fact that people can come in and see people they know or people who look like them plays a major role in convincing people to trust the vaccine, and the Urban League is an institution within this community that the people know and know they can trust, he said.

One of the people most credited with bringing this clinic to Crenshaw is Ahmad Page, the site director for FEMA. Page is in charge of the testing process. Being from the Leimert Park area, what inspired me to fight to bring a vaccination center to the Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Mall, was I knew that having a static operation right here in the heart of the community, that was accessible along a major transportation corridor with access routes and services from MTA and DASH, would play a major role in getting people open to the idea of coming to get vaccinated, stated Page. People in this community cant always take off work to travel all the way across town to get access to the vaccine (the other major FEMA location is at Cal State Los Angeles in East Los Angeles). Page said, A lot of people in our community have to arrange a ride, they need time to coordinate transportation, so having [the vaccine] right outside of their door and within their neighborhood was a barrier we could easily overcome by putting the vaccination center right here at the mall, a location central and familiar to most of the people in our community.

The amazing novelty about the success and number of people vaccinated at the Crenshaw clinic site is that many believed African Americans would not show up to take the vaccine. While most of the organizers stated, It has been quite a challenge to get African Americans to the table and finally take the vaccines due to it being such a new drug and for the historical tragedies like the Tuskegee experiment. Many believe that the first-hand experiences that many have gone through with the loss of loved ones due to COVID has played a major role in convincing people to get vaccinated. History has shown that America has earned our distrust, but our people have been dying from COVID at such disproportionate levels that their minds have opened up to the idea of getting vaccinated. The fact that the people organizing the clinic, promoting the safety of the clinic and even manning the clinic has also played a significant role in convincing so many to trust the process.

The confidence or rather willingness of the African American community to take the vaccine is growing tremendously. Reasons given are to protect their families, friends, co-workers and themselves, because they want to travel or spend time with people and do every and anything possible to help bring the world or at least Los Angeles back to some level of normalcy.

Mothers in Action, Urban League, Brotherhood Crusade clinic will remain open through Saturday, April 10, 2021. To schedule an appointment please email your name, cell number, email address and zip code to [email protected]
SANDUSKY, Ohio, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PAO Group, Inc. (USOTC: PAOG) today announced a management update on the company's ongoing CBD Pharmaceutical Development Program progress scheduled to be released next week on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.

Last year, PAOG acquired RespRx from Kali-Extracts, Inc. (OTC Pink: KALY). RespRx is a CBD treatment under development for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) derived from a patented cannabis extraction method - U.S. Patent No. 9,199,960 entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING HERBACEOUS PLANT MATERIALS INCLUDING THE CANNABIS PLANT."

PAOG is working with Veristat, a contract research organization (CRO), dedicated to the clinical advance of therapies and treatments through regulatory approval. PAOG anticipates soon announcing new breakthroughs in its CBD RespRx pharmaceutical research.

Last month, PAOG released a comprehensive update on its CBD Nutraceutical Development Program with the first PAOG CBD Nutraceutical products, packaged by Alkame Holdings, Inc. (USOTC: ALKM), expected to come to market before the end of this year marketed through North American Cannabis Holdings, Inc. (USOTC: USMJ). Next week, on Tuesday, PAOG will release a similar update on its CBD Pharmaceutical Development Program,

Learn more about PAOG at www.paogroupinc.com.

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 future plans and objectives of the company 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.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Contact Us:

Jim DiPrima

888-272-6472

[email protected]

SOURCE PAO Group, Inc.
As more companies lay plans to reopen their offices, the hybrid workplace model looks likely to be a popular option. In a hybrid model, an employer would offer a mix of working at home and in the office.

Nearly half of employees say they want the flexibility to spend some of the workweek in the office and some of it working from home, according to a recent survey by Envoy, a maker of workplace safety tools, including room-booking platforms and sign-in systems. The survey of 1,000 full- and part-time U.S. employees over age 18 was conducted in February.

What's more, nearly half of survey respondents say they would likely look for another job if their employer does not offer a hybrid workplace. Among all respondents, 66 percent say they are worried about returning to work. Among employees of color, the number is higher: 82 percent.

Game maker Zynga is among employers adopting the hybrid model. The company plans to return 10 to 15 percent of its employees to its office full time by September, according to Brian Schmidt, senior manager of global physical security. Zynga, a leading developer of social games such as Words With Friends, has over 3,000 employees across 21 offices. Schmidt spoke about his company recently at a virtual event hosted by Envoy.

"We have a very small population of our company that's incredibly eager to get back to the office," says Schmidt. More than 70 percent of Zynga's employees said they wanted to continue working remotely, either on a full or part-time basis, according to an internal survey.

Zynga plans to fully resume in-person operations in 2022, Schmidt says. Meantime, under its hybrid model, 30 to 40 percent of its employees will work in-person a few days each week, and the rest of the team will stay fully remote, he says.

Zynga also plans to use camera analytics technology that equips cameras with sensors to detect mask-wearing and ensure that employees comply with safety requirements. It is working with JLL Technologies, a division of global real estate services company JLL.

"People are going to naturally gravitate toward each other," says Schmidt. When you haven't seen your friends and your co-workers in more than a year, it may be difficult to maintain social distancing guidelines, especially during meal times when people have their masks off, he says. "There's going to be a natural inclination to hug or to shake hands, or to want to sit with your colleagues and eat and catch up on things."

While Schmidt says he doesn't want to resort to additional security measures, such as cafeteria monitors to watch for mask-wearing, the company plans to remain extra cautious to prevent a company-wide spread.
Washington:

US President Donald Trump has said that America is totally prepared for a military option on North Korea but warned that would be devastating, in a further escalation of tensions between the two nations.

The strong reaction from the US president came a day after North Korea said that it was ready to defend itself by shooting down US bombers.

North Koreas foreign minister Ri Yong Ho, who was in New York early this week, had accused Trump of declaring war against his country.

We are totally prepared for the second (military) option. Not a preferred option, but if we take that option, it will be devastatingI can tell you thatdevastating for North Korea. Thats called the military option. If we have to take it, we will, Trump told reporters yesterday in a joint news conference with the visiting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Responding to a question, Trump said that the North Korean leader (Kim Jong Un) is acting very badly. Hes saying things that should never, ever be said, alleged the US President.

We are replying to those things, but its a reply. Its not an original statement, its a reply. But the things that hes said over the last yearand if you look back to things that hes said to past administrationsNorth Korea is a situation that should have been handled 25 years ago, 20 years ago, 15 years ago, 10 years ago, and five years ago, and it could have been handled much more easily, he said.

ALSO READ | Venezuela: Donald Trump acted like 'the world's emperor' at UN

Various administrations left a mess for him (Trump) and he will fix the mess. So well see what happens with North Korea, Trump said.

He said that North Korean nuclear weapons and missile development threaten the entire world with unthinkable loss of life. As such all nations must act now to ensure the regimes complete denuclearisation.

It is time for all responsible nations to join forces, to isolate the North Korean menace, Trump said as he appreciated the United Nations Security Council voting twice, unanimously, 15 to nothing, to adopt hard-hitting resolutions against North Korea.

I have recently issued tough new sanctions against those who do business with this outlaw regime. And I applaud Chinas latest action to restrict its trade with North Korea, he said and applauded China for breaking off all banking relationships with North Korea. This is something that people would have thought unthinkable even two months ago, he said.

I want to thank President Xi, he said. Responding to a question, Rajoy said no one wishes for there to be a war anywhere in the world.

But its true that the recent events in North Korea, with the implications in the neighbouring countriesvery important countries, means that we will have to be forceful, and those of us who defend the values of democracy, freedom and human rights have to let North Korea know that it isnt going anywhere in that direction, Rajoy said.

For the time being, sanctions have been adopted. Spain will support any political decision which will contribute to putting an end to this situation, which has nothing to do with the principles and values most of Western and global democracies defend, he said.

ALSO READ: North Korea accuses US President Donald Trump of declaring war

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"For Black and Indigenous people, CreateSpace is creating a platform to encourage important and tough conversations." says Residency Advisor Nico Taylor of Black Speculative Arts Movement Canada.

Ten artists will bring public art projects to life with the support of STEPS and multidisciplinary artistic mentors in their communities across five provinces: Amanda Lederle (Toronto, ON), Anna Jane McIntyre (Montreal, QC), Arjun Lal (Halifax, NS), Bruno Canadien (Black Diamond, AB), Charmaine Lurch (Toronto, ON), Jieun June Kim (Toronto, ON), Laara Cerman (Port Coquitlam, BC), Nuff (Toronto, ON), Shelby Gagnon (Thunder Bay, ON), and Yasmeen Nematt Alla (Toronto, ON). Five Toronto-based artists and installations are made possible through a partnership with the City of Toronto, timed with ArtworxTO: Toronto's Year of Public Art.

With nearly 100 submissions from across the country, artists-in-residence were selected by a committee of BIPOC-identifying public artists and professionals from across Canada. Advisor Sean Lee of Tangled Art + Disability shared, "I was really interested in CreateSpace because it aligns with Tangled's desire to create access for a more intersectional conversation, as well as centering the experiences of queer, trans and disabled folks." While Jennifer Smith of the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition reflects that "the residency is about change-making."

Follow @stepspublicart and #CreateSpaceResidency on Instagram and Facebook for program updates.

STEPS is a Canadian-based public art organization that fosters dynamic, inclusive and resilient communities through one-of-a-kind art initiatives and engagement strategies. The CreateSpace Residency is made possible by support from TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment, the City of Toronto, Partners in Art and MAWA.

Digital Media Kit.

SOURCE STEPS Public Art

For further information: For information/interviews: Bebhinn Jennings, 416-366-6565x4, [email protected]
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th April, 2021) US Vice President Kamala Harris and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador discussed aid to Central America as a key to reducing US-bound migration, according to a White House readout of their virtual meeting on Wednesday.

"They agreed to continue to work together to address the root causes of migration from the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras - including poverty, violence, and lack of economic opportunity," the readout said.

Harris updated Lopez Obrador on the US efforts to "surge humanitarian assistance" to the three nations of central America also called the "Northern Triangle," the readout added.

They also discussed ways to crack down on human trafficking, which media reports cite as a key reason for an unprecedented surge of unaccompanied children crossing the US-Mexico border.

US officials reported stopping over 170,000 illegal border crossers in March alone, the biggest one-month total in more than a decade.
The US National Institue of Health on April 7 said a clinical trial is underway to determine the risk of allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer Inc. According to a press release, the study will enroll 3,400 adults between the ages of 18 to 69, with about 60 per cent of participants having a history of severe allergic reaction to food, insect stings or immunotherapy. The study will determine whether people who are highly allergic or have a mast cell disorder are at increased risk for an immediate, systemic allergic reaction to Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

As per the press note, the NIH investigators will additionally also examine the biological mechanism behind the reactions and whether a genetic pattern or other factors can predict who is at most risk. Participants will be assigned at random to receive either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine. Initially, neither the participants nor the study team will know who is receiving a vaccine or placebo, or which vaccine is being administered. All participants ultimately will receive a full two-dose course of either the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or the Moderna vaccine.

News: NIH begins study of allergic reactions to Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines https://t.co/9eXAqa8wUW  NIH (@NIH) April 7, 2021

Benefits of vaccination far outweigh risks

The participants will then be observed for at least 90 minutes after each injection in case any type of reaction occurs. Study staff will collect blood, urine and nasal swabs from participants before each injection, and blood and urine after each injection. If a significant number of systemic allergic reactions to either or both vaccines occur during the trial, investigators will analyze these biological samples to examine possible mechanisms for the reactions and whether certain genetic patterns are associated with higher risk.

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), said, The information gathered during this trial will help doctors advise people who are highly allergic or have a mast cell disorder about the risks and benefits of receiving these two vaccines. However, for most people, the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination far outweigh the risks.

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the study comes after several allergic reaction incidents, including serious episodes, known as anaphylaxis, have been reported in the US after vaccinations of Pfizer and Moderna shots. Back in January, the US CDC had also said that allergic reactions are occurring at a rate of 11.1 per cent per one million vaccinations. A recent report by CDC, on the other hand, said that the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines provide highly effective protection under real-world conditions.

(Image: AP/Twitter)
New Delhi, April 8 : Malayalam actor Fahadh Faasil's new film "Joji" has dropped on OTT. While the National Award-winning actor has belted out a few commercially and critically successful films, Hindi films are still not on the immediate radar.

"I need to get fluent with Hindi, and more than that I need to think in Hindi," Fahadh tells IANS.

The actor, who has been part of hit films such as "Kumbalangi Nights", "C U Soon", "Super Deluxe" and "Athiran", adds: "It's not that I cannot speak in Hindi. I can speak and understand Hindi, but I need to think in Hindi to improvise a scene. I need to feel what I feel when I work here (in Malayalam cinema) to go outside and work. Unless I get the language perfect, I don't think that (Bollywood debut) will happen." Fahadh's film "Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum" won three trophies at the 65th National Film Awards. Besides Best Malayalam Film and Best Screenplay for the film, Fahadh won in the Best Supporting Actor category.

The film is also a commercial success, though not a mass blockbuster. "I cannot complain. The film has been watched by more people than I ever expected. I never expected the film would have such a wide audience at any point and I cannot complain. You don't make films to cater to any particular audience, whether it should go pan India or not. I basically don't think like that when I make a film," says the actor.

He has teamed up again with "Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum" director Dileesh Pothan for his latest release "Joji". The actor talks about how Dileesh viewed the film and told him about their treatment of the film, inspired from Shakespeare's "Macbeth".

"Even before he became a director, he (Dileesh) was a trained actor. He was already familiar with the stage version of Macbeth. After he became director, he called me and said he wanted to try a different take. This is not a direct adaptation but highly inspired. You will see some connect with emotions. It comes and goes. I think this is a very fresh take. I was excited about this deviation that he wanted to try and I love working with him," sums up Fahadh, about his experience of working in his latest film, which dropped on Amazon Prime.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Patricia Hodge has replaced the late Diana Rigg on All Creatures Great And Small.

The Miranda actress, 74, will take over the role of Mrs Pumphrey for series two of the Channel 5 show.

Game Of Thrones star Rigg, who had originally played the character, tragically passed away in September aged 82 following a short battle with cancer.

Replaced: Patricia Hodge, pictured in 2019, has replaced the late Diana Rigg on All Creatures Great And Small

Playground CEO, Sir Colin Callender, told Deadline: 'We were deeply saddened by the passing of Dame Diana Rigg who will always be a treasured member of the All Creatures family.

'Mrs. Pumphrey and her overly indulged Pekingese, Tricki Woo, are such iconic and cherished characters in Herriot's world and we are delighted to welcome the wonderful Patricia Hodge.'

The publication reports that there will also be two new additions to the second season - Call The Midwife star Dorothy Atkinson, who will play Diana Brompton, and The Vicar Of Dibley star James Fleet, who will play Colonel Merrick.

Channel 5 renewed the All Creatures Great and Small reboot for a second series after its debut drew in a record five million viewers, with fans praising the series for its re-imagining of the Yorkshire vet Herriot.

Role: The Miranda actress, 74, will take over the role of Mrs Pumphrey for series two of the Channel 5 show (Diana Rigg pictured as Mrs Pumphrey)

Sad: Game Of Thrones star Rigg, who had originally played the character, tragically passed away in September aged 82 following a short battle with cancer (pictured in 2018)

The original BBC series, based on a series of books by former vet Alf Wight, who wrote under the pen name of Herriot, aired from 1978 to 1990, with Christopher as the Dales vet and Robert as his boss.

In September, Rigg's agent confirmed the actress had died, saying that she had passed away 'peacefully' while 'at home with her family who have asked for privacy at this difficult time'.

The British actress made her name in the cult 1961 TV series The Avengers, before going on to star as the cutthroat matriarch Lady Olenna Tyrell in HBO's Game of Thrones, a show she later admitted she had never watched.

More recently, Rigg appeared as Queen Victoria's Mistress of the Robes - The Duchess of Buccleuch - in ITV's Victoria alongside Jenna Coleman.

Newcomers: The publication reports that there will also be two new additions to the second season - Call The Midwife star Dorothy Atkinson, who will play Diana Brompton, and The Vicar Of Dibley star James Fleet, who will play Colonel Merrick (L-R)

Back: Channel 5 renewed the All Creatures Great and Small reboot for a second series after its debut drew in a record five million viewers

She also starred as eccentric Mrs Pumphrey in the adaptation of All Creatures Great And Small.

The star, who won Bafta, Emmy and Tony awards, also earned worldwide acclaim for her turn as a Bond girl Tracy di Vicenzo in On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969, where she became only the second Bond girl to marry 007.

Hodge, who will take over the role of Mrs Pumphrey, has appeared in several shows such as Rumpole Of The Bailey, Miranda and, more recently, as Jeremy Thorpes mother in A Very English Scandal.

The actress previously bemoaned the lack of roles for older women in television and theatre at Cheltenham Literature Festival in 2012.

Career: Rigg made her name in the cult 1961 TV series The Avengers, before going on to star as the cutthroat matriarch Lady Olenna Tyrell in HBO's Game of Thrones, a show she later admitted she had never watched (pictured)

'It is very difficult for us who are in this age group to talk about it because it makes you sound like an embittered old woman,' she said.

Hodge added: 'Even if you asked every playwright in the country to write a play for older women it still wouldnt be enough. I think it needs to grow, that realisation that there is a whole section of our community which is under represented.'

In All Creatures Great And Small, Rachel Shenton plays Helen Alderson, the love interest of lead character James Herriot, played by Nicholas Ralph, with Rachel's role previously played by Carol Drinkwater and the late Lynda Bellingham.

Filming for All Creatures Great and Small's second series was hit by delays due to the Covid pandemic, but production finally began earlier this year.

Amazing: Hodge, who will take over the role of Mrs Pumphrey, has appeared in several shows such as Rumpole Of The Bailey, Miranda and, more recently, as Jeremy Thorpes mother in A Very English Scandal (pictured in 2019)

The first series focused on young vet James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) who moves to Yorkshire to land a job as a veterinary assistant to Siegfried Farnon, played by Samuel West.

Callum Woodhouse plays Siegfried's errant brother Tristan, while Anna Madeley takes on the role of housekeeper Anna Madeley.

Meanwhile Rachel's character Helen, was previously seen forming a blossoming romance with vet James, which even led to her to fleeing her wedding during a Christmas special.

December's festive episode concluded with Helen and James still unable to reveal their true feelings for each other, even after she ended her romance with handsome landowner Hugh (Matthew Lewis).

Elsewhere widower Siegfried plucked up the courage to finally kiss Dorothy (Maimie McCoy) at the Christmas Eve party, while Anna was devastated when her estranged son Edward failed to turn up for the occasion as he'd promised.

Tristan remains in the dark about the fact that he failed one of his veterinary exams and isn't fully qualified, and whether Siegfried will come clean about hiding the truth from his brother.
(Natural News) Infowars Alex Jones has blown the lid on a massive human smuggling operation taking place right in plain sight at Americas southern border. Local police, however, could not care less.

Jones filmed buses taking children from a makeshift, dirt floor cage camp under the Anzalduas International Bridge in McAllen, Tex., to a processing facility in Donna, Tex. These children were then moved to a Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) processing camp in downtown McAllen before once again being transported, this time to a Catholic charity.

At the Catholic charity, these children were observed being given bus or airplane tickets before being taken to either the airport or a bus station. While at the facility, Jones and his crew observed five children being taken and loaded by an adult into a hatch back car.

Three of these children were loaded into the luggage compartment where no seat belts were present, reports Populist.press.

Watch the video below from Banned.video to see for yourself:

Police stopped, but didnt cite, child trafficker

Investigative reporter Drew Hernandez tweeted that upon arriving at the Catholic charity, which is run by Catholic Charities RGV, he discovered children being smuggled by staff into cramped vehicles without any seats, seatbelts or car seats.

As you may recall from recent headlines, an SUV cram-packed with illegal aliens crashed at the border, a few weeks ago, killing many of its passengers.

Jones says he personally witnessed many carloads of children being taken away from the Catholic charity during the few hours he sat there observing what was taking place.

When Jones attempted to call out the Catholic charity, which appears to have been set up as a fake Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) testing site, police officers did intervene to try to stop one of the vehicles carrying the children from leaving. Law enforcement did not, however, cite the man who was driving.

While the government endorses smuggling, Jones uses the state law to point out the massive abuse to these undocumented children, reported Infowars.

Why is Catholic Charities handing out cash to illegals?

Another thing Jones and the Infowars crew noticed while in McAllen is that Catholic Charities seems to be actively facilitating human trafficking and child smuggling by supporting it financially.

Catholic Charities was caught in the past handing out manila envelopes containing cash to illegal aliens. Vouchers were also included along with instructions for illegals about how to get to their destinations of choice anywhere around the country.

In the following video, you will learn more about the Biden regimes massive illegal alien pipeline, which funnels untold numbers of underage children into the United States:

As expected, the mainstream media has nothing to say about the border crisis now that Resident Biden is running things, purportedly. Under Donald Trump, we were constantly told about those scary border cages, but under Biden none of it matters anymore.

Kinda looks like Catholic Charities is really just a human trafficking front, wrote one Infowars commenter, perhaps stating the obvious.

So the cops let the kidnapped children go back to the Catholic Charities building? asked another. Now they will just sneak them out the back door into a service van. Hmm, Catholic Charity, Catholic Pope, Catholic president  do we see a pattern here?

Others pointed out that the London banks own America, and the Vatican owns the banks. This is thus what pulls the levers of power in our country.

USA Inc. is a corporation and so are you, another wrote. When your name is in all caps it signifies that fact.

More related news stories about child trafficking at Americas southern border can be found at InvasionUSA.news.

Sources for this article include:

Populist.press

NaturalNews.com

Infowars.com
Despite a Covid caseload now totalling more than two million, Iran has avoided imposing a full lockdown on its 82 million people, instead resorting to piecemeal measures, such as temporary travel bans and business closures

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Iran passed the two-million mark Thursday, while the daily caseload set a new record high in what a health official warned amounted to a "meteoric" spike.

As the Islamic republic reached the grim milestone, some health experts called for a lockdown of the capital Tehran to contain the country's fourth Covid-19 wave.

Iran is battling the Middle East's deadliest coronavirus outbreak, and officials have blamed the latest surge on trips made during last month's Persian New Year holidays.

Over the past 24 hours, the country officially recorded 22,586 new cases of infection, reaching a new high, health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said.

This marks an increase of more than 1,600 cases over the previous record, set just the day before.

Iran also recorded an additional 185 coronavirus-related deaths, Lari said, bringing the total to 63,884.

Daily fatalities and infections had remained relatively stable below the 100 and 7,000 mark in January, rising only slightly until a sharp increase in late March.

Iran's conservative and reformist press Thursday blasted President Hassan Rouhani's government for allowing holiday travel in the face of an expected new wave.

It came after a top official said some in the national virus taskforce had opposed a travel ban before the holidays.

"Some prevented us from using the (new year holidays) as a golden opportunity to put out the coronavirus fire," the deputy health minister, Iraj Harirchi, said Wednesday.

He described the Covid infection rate as "meteoric" and said it was now "highly probable" that Iran would suffer 600 deaths a day.

Some officials, including Health Minister Saeed Namaki, have admitted actual virus numbers are likely higher than official figures.

Payam Tabresi, a health expert at Tehran's Masih Daneshvari hospital, told the Ebtekar daily that locking down the capital for "at least two weeks" was the "only way".

"The situation is bad," Tabresi said. "One really cannot imagine it being any worse."

- 'Lack of trust' -

Authorities had warned of a rise in the spread of the more contagious British variant and a fourth wave prior to the holidays, strongly advising against travel.

"We've now lost the reins" of the virus, Namaki said, complaining "no one listened" to him regarding holiday trips.

Quoted by government-run Iran daily, Hadi Khaniki, a university communications lecturer, attributed the disregard for such advice to a "lack of trust and a gap" between the people and authorities.

Dozens of towns and cities including Tehran are classified as "red", the highest rating on the coronavirus risk scale, requiring all non-essential businesses to close.

"They allowed travelling, and Tehran went red again. What else could be the reason?" said Mohsen, a shopkeeper in Tehran, complaining that the shutdown would "ruin people's businesses".

"I think the shutdown should have happened two weeks ago(before the new Iranian year holidays), or even a month ago," a jewelry seller said, identifying himself only by his family name, Gahsempour, whose business was ordered to be temporarily closed as well.

Iran has avoided imposing a full lockdown on its population of 82 million since the pandemic started more than a year ago.

Instead, it has resorted to limited and shifting measures, such as temporary bans on travel or businesses.

The country launched its vaccination drive in February, but the campaign has progressed slower than authorities had hoped.
BLUFF, Utah - In the sandstone canyon where Vaughn Hadenfeldt once saw the bloody tracks of a mountain lion hauling off a mule deer, there are 1,000-year-old cliff dwellings decorated by rock paintings of bighorn sheep where one can still see the ancient footprint of an infant pressed into the wall.

A renowned wilderness guide with decades of experience exploring the Bears Ears area, Hadenfeldt has long argued that this austere landscape teeming with archaeological and cultural treasure in southeastern Utah should be viewed as an outdoor museum. And each time he visits, more of that treasure has been looted.

"Come on, people," he muttered in disgust, as he scanned the sandy soil this week for pieces of painted pottery from the Ancestral Puebloan Indians that used to be so easy to find in this area.

"This whole site was covered with beautiful pot shards," he said. "I guess we're just never going to stop people from pocketing this stuff."

In the three years since President Donald Trump slashed the size of the Bears Ears National Monument by 85%, undoing protections established by President Barack Obama, the pressures on this area have only intensified, according to the residents and scientists who study it. The threats come in many forms - from roaring ATVs to uranium mining to coronavirus-weary tourists seeking outdoor adventure - on land that is considered sacred ground by several Native American tribes.

On her first trip as the new interior secretary, Deb Haaland arrived in this small town perched under bluffs and spires Wednesday for three days of meetings and hikes in the area. The first Native American Cabinet secretary in U.S. history is reviewing what to do with the Bears Ears National Monument and the nearby Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument that Trump also reduced in size. After her visit, Haaland is widely expected to recommend that President Joe Biden restore the Bears Ears boundaries to at least the 1.35 million acres established by Obama near the end of his term in 2016.

On Thursday, Haaland hiked with Utah Republicans including Sen. Mitt Romney and Gov. Spencer Cox as well as tribal leaders to see Native American settlements in an area known as Butler Wash. She planned to meet with mining and drilling executives and business leaders from the recreation industry as well as proponents of the national monument.

"I know that decisions about public lands are incredibly impactful to the people who live nearby. But not just to us, not just the folks who are here today, but people for generations to come," Haaland told reporters during a news conference in the city of Blanding. "It's our obligation to make sure that we protect lands for future generations so they can have the same experiences that the governor and I experienced today."

"This place is filled with cultural heritage," Haaland said. "That cultural heritage belongs to every single American."

Biden's allies see Bears Ears as an early opportunity to prioritize conservation over fossil fuel extraction on public lands while responding to an issue of particular importance for Native Americans, who want to see the monument not only restored butexpanded beyond the Obama boundaries.

Without protection, the remains of thousands of Native American settlements and cultural sites are in "grave jeopardy," said Pat Gonzales-Rodgers, executive director of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, which is composed of five tribes with deep ties to the region.

"At the end of the day, these are the sanctuaries and the cathedrals of worship and cultural practice for these tribes," he said.

But Bears Ears remains a divisive issue in Utah. Republican politicians do not want Biden to use an executive order to restore the monument. Instead, lawmakers say they can build a more durable solution through federal legislation that would allow for negotiations among ranchers, miners, Native Americans and conservationists to balance competing interests.

"If President Biden rolls this out, the likelihood that it will be rescinded by a future president or taken up by the Supreme Court is just extremely high," said Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, whose district includes Bears Ears. "And that's a terrible way to resolve these issues. Nobody wins."

Cox, Romney, and other Republicans stressed the need for legislation that could reach a more permanent compromise for how to use land around Bears Ears.

"The minute we made them a monument, people started coming," Cox told reporters. "The more people who come, the more degradation that happens to the lands. And how do we celebrate these areas and not love them to death, and not overwhelm them."

"All of those things can only be done through legislation. They can't be done through an executive order," he said.

Curtis has asked Haaland to delay the monument decision "just long enough to see if we can reach this consensus."

"How in the world does somebody in Washington, D.C., know where you should be able to hunt and fish, where you should be able to gather wood, where grazing is appropriate?" he added. "Let's leave those decisions to the locals."

- - -

Because Bears Ears was challenged by Trump so soon after it was created, much of the infrastructure that can be found at other protected areas - signs, buildings, management staff - does not exist here. But the crowds came anyway - fueled by social media and the national spotlight on the area.

"Visitation has just really skyrocketed," said Josh Ewing, executive director of Friends of Cedar Mesa, a nonprofit that seeks to protect the area. "You've got all this visitation happening without resources."

More than 420,000 people are estimated to have visited Bears Ears last year, despite the pandemic, and Ewing expects well over half a million visitors this year. Volunteers have seen visitors leave trash, loot fossils and remnants of Native American settlements, and scribble graffiti over ancient rock art. Car campers and RVs can be spotted parked on the rims of canyons and driving through the area, following GPS coordinates posted on the Internet that identify archaeological sites.

"Google is really managing the monument," said Tim Peterson of the Grand Canyon Trust, an environmental group.

One recent tourist rush targeted the spot where an intriguing 10-foot public art "monolith" was found in a canyon last year, at a site that was within the monument boundaries established by Obama and excluded by Trump.

"It was completely overrun," Peterson said. "It's a textbook example of how completely out of control things can get."

The Bureau of Land Management, which oversees what remains of the Bears Ears National Monument and other public land, has just two law enforcement officers in its Monticello field office who are responsible for nearly 2 million acres, according to Friends of Cedar Mesa.

Faced with the shortage of government resources, Friends of Cedar Mesa volunteers opened a Bears Ears visitor center in 2018 to try to orient tourists. The group even resorted to installing portable toilets in one area particularly popular with hikers.

"We're paying for those to be pumped and maintained out of nonprofit dollars just to address the human waste issues that are in that area," Ewing said.

Native American tribes and environmentalists sued Trump over his decision to shrink the monument, arguing that national monuments are permanent and Trump didn't have the authority to revoke Obama's decision. That case is now on hold pending the Biden administration's review.

The five tribes that came together in a historic coalition to fight for the monument more than a decade ago - the Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe and Pueblo of Zuni - are calling on the Biden administration to create a 1.9-million-acre monument, as they had originally requested of Obama, said Matt Campbell, a lawyer representing three of the tribes in the lawsuit against Trump.

"If we saw something that was identical to President Obama's plan, the tribes would be grateful, but there would be some disappointment," he said.

- - -

Less than a year after Trump sliced 1.1 million acres out of the Bears Ears monument, Kyle Kimmerle, a residential contractor from Moab, filed a claim with the Bureau of Land Management to dig for minerals on land that had been within theprotected zone established by Obama.

Uranium mining is both part of his family history - traced back to his great-grandfather - and a hobby for Kimmerle. He called his mine Easy Peasy.

"Some people go fishing on Saturday, I go tinker around on my mining claims," he said.

Trump had been lobbied by a Canadian mining firm before reducing the size of Bears Ears, and an ongoing concern among critics has been that mining or oil and gas companies would rush into the area once protections were removed.

Not much of that has happened so far. There have been six mining claims filed since 2018, according to the Bureau of Land Management. Environmentalists who track the area say that the Easy Peasy mine is the only one that has been actively excavated.

Kimmerle dug up 30 tons of ore, sampled it for vanadium andidentified uranium - a feasibility study, he called it. At the moment, with uranium prices about half what they'd need to be for him to break even, he said, mining here is not feasible.

"Nothing is going right now; the price is just too low," he said.

Environmentalists point out that prices could always change and that without protections, the land remains at risk.

Kimmerle said a restored Bears Ears monument would make Easy Peasy hard - if not impossible.

"There is layer after layer after layer of red tape and regulation in this country," he said. "And that monument will be one more big blanket of red tape."

- - -

Trump's decision to slash the monument already cost Robert Gay some work.

The paleontologist who studies fossils of crocodile ancestors around Bears Ears watched as federal research dollars dried up after Trump shrank the monument.

He had planned to be in Bears Ears this week, digging up what he called a "really amazing site" full of fossils of phytosaurs - a predatory crocodile mimic with a blowhole above its eyes - that all appeared to die off simultaneously in one mass event.

After discovering the site in 2016, Gay had received a $25,000 grant from the National Conservation Lands Scientific Studies Support Program, money Congress sets aside for scientific work on national conservation lands, including national monuments. He had started excavating, but once his site fell outside of the national monument boundaries, he said, he could no longer access the funding.

It is "probably one of the most interesting fossil sites from this time period in Utah," said Gay, who is land programs director at the Colorado Canyons Association. "Because there's no money, it's going to not be excavated again this year."

In his fieldwork, Gay has found ATV and motorcycle tracks crossing the fossil sites he is working on.

Not great for the outdoor museum that is Bears Ears.

"I liken it now to opening the museum and taking away all the docents and security guards. Or just not hiring them there in the first place," he said. "It's sort of like a free-for-all."
Jammu, April 8 : As authorities in J&K battle to find out the best way to keep the Covid-19 spread under check without disturbing tourism, academic and commercial activities, 835 new cases came to light on Thursday.

Health Department officials said that of the new cases, 280 were in the Jammu division and 555 in the Kashmir division, while 246 patients were discharged from different hospitals after recovery.

Another patient succumbed, taking the number of people killed by the dreaded virus to 2,019.

So far, 135,662 people have been infected with coronavirus in J&K out of which 128,020 have recovered. The number of active cases is 5,623 out of which 1,688 are from the Jammu division and 3,935 from the Kashmir division.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- Faculty organized through Oregon Tech - American Association of University Professors (OT-AAUP) have declared their intent to lawfully strike. Their announcement was submitted to the Employment Relations Board and the Oregon Tech administration today, April 8th; a potential strike would begin no earlier than Monday, April 26.

The parties have been bargaining for 16 months and in mediation for almost six, yet still remain far apart on key aspects of compensation, benefits, and working conditions.

If OT-AAUP is forced to strike, it will be the first time any public university faculty has gone on strike in Oregon history.

We could have gone on strike as early as April 19th, but we hope with this additional week the administration will offer a proposal that respects the work of faculty so that a strike can be averted, said Dr. Mark Clark, former President of Oregon Tech AAUP.

Negotiations will continue until an agreement is reached. OT-AAUP remains committed to securing a fair contract and fighting for fair wages, secure benefits, and reasonable, clearly-defined workloads for Oregon Tech faculty.
Burma Fire Services Department staff puts out the flames at JOC Galaxy (Myanmar) Apparel Co. in Hlaing Thar Yar township, Yangon, Burma, on April 7, 2021. (Fire Services Department/Handout via Reuters)

Burma Security Forces Kill 13 Protesters; Small Blasts Hit Yangon

Burma (also known as Myanmar) troops fired at anti-coup protesters on Wednesday, killing at least 13 people and wounding several, media said, as a series of small blasts hit the commercial capital Yangon and a Chinese-owned factory was set on fire.

The countrys military ruler said the civil disobedience movement was destroying Burma.

More than 580 people have been killed, according to an activist group, in the turmoil in Burma since a Feb. 1 coup that ended a brief period of civilian-led democracy. Nationwide protests and strikes have persisted since then despite the militarys use of lethal force to quell the opposition.

Security forces opened fire on Wednesday on protesters in the northwestern town of Kale as they demanded the restoration of Aung San Suu Kyis civilian government, domestic media said.

A resident of the area and the Myanmar Now news outlet said 11 people were killed and several wounded.

Reuters could not independently verify the toll.

Two protesters were killed in the town of Bago near Yangon, Myanmar Now said.

At least seven small explosions were heard in Yangon, including at government buildings, a military hospital and a shopping mall, residents said. There were no casualties and no claims of responsibility.

The U.S. Embassy in Yangon said it had received reports of handmade sound bombs, or fireworks meant to create noise and cause minimal damage.

A fire broke out in the Chinese-owned JOC Garment Factory in Yangon on Wednesday, the fire department said. There were no reports of casualties and no details on the extent of damage.

General view of a fire at JOC Galaxy (Myanmar) Apparel Co. in Hlaing Thar Yar township, Yangon, Burma, on April 7, 2021. (Fire Services Department/Handout via Reuters)

In another Yangon neighborhood, activists set fire to the Chinese flag, according to pictures posted on Facebook.

China is viewed as being supportive of the military junta and last month arson attacks were made on 32 Chinese-invested factories in Yangon.

Details of the blasts and the fire were difficult to obtain because of the juntas curbs on broadband Internet and mobile data services.

A spokesman for the junta could not be reached for comment.

Destroy the Country

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the junta, said in a statement on Wednesday the civil disobedience movement, or CDM, had halted the working of hospitals, schools, roads, offices, and factories.

Although protests are staged in neighboring countries and the international community, they do not destroy businesses, he said. CDM is an activity to destroy the country.

According to the Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) advocacy group, 581 people, including dozens of children, have been shot dead by troops and police in almost daily unrest since the coup, and security forces have arrested close to 3,500 people, with 2,750 still detained.

Among those detained are Suu Kyi and leading figures in her National League for Democracy party, which won an election in November that was annulled by the coup.

Demonstrators display images of detained Burma leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Burma, on Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo)

The mostly youth-led anti-coup movements ability to organize campaigns and share information via social media and instant messaging has been hamstrung by the Internet curbs.

Myanmar has been subject to a stepwise collapse into the information abyss since February, Alp Toker, founder of Internet blockage observatory NetBlocks, told Reuters.

Communications are now severely limited and available only to the few.

With print media also halted, protesters have sought other ways to get their message across, producing their own A4-sized daily news pamphlets that are shared digitally and printed for distribution among the public.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab discussed how Britain and the international community could support a Southeast Asian effort to resolve the crisis in Burma, Indonesias Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said after meeting him in Jakarta.

Indonesia is among several Southeast Asian countries leading a push for high-level talks on Burma.

Thailand, Burmas neighbor and which has close military ties with the junta, said on Wednesday it did not agree with the violence but the problem had to be addressed carefully.

We cannot really do what we want because we have shared borders and we need to live and rely on each other on many areas, said Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who had himself seized power in a 2014 coup when army chief, before taking on his current civilian role in 2019.

Fitch Solutions said in a report on Wednesday that targeted Western sanctions alone were unlikely to succeed in restoring democracy. It predicted in the medium-term a violent revolution pitting the military against an armed opposition comprised of members of the anti-coup movement and ethnic militias.

Fitch said Burma was heading toward being a failed state.

The escalating violence on civilians and ethnic militias show that the Tatmadaw [military] is increasingly losing control of the country, it said, adding that the vast majority of people backed Suu Kyis ousted government.
The NYSOTA Student Conclave is an event run for students by students, says Executive Director at NYSOTA, Michelle Scanlon. Recent OT grads as well as seasoned professionals will be presenting on some of the most frequently asked questions of students on the OT and OTA track.

New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA) is hosting their first annual Student Conclave virtually via Whova on April 18, 2021 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The NYSOTA Student Conclave, titled Spring into Success, is a full-day event devoted entirely to the needs and concerns of occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students. Conclave attendees will have the opportunity to learn and improve upon skills necessary for the field before they graduate.

The NYSOTA Student Conclave is an event run for students by students, says Executive Director at NYSOTA, Michelle Scanlon. Recent OT grads as well as seasoned professionals will be presenting on some of the most frequently asked questions of students on the OT and OTA track. There are so many topics occupational therapy students may have questions about, the Student Conclave is an innovative opportunity for them to get some of the answers they will need before entering the field.

The NYSOTA Student Conclave is open to all Occupational Therapy Students in and around New York State. Interactive learning sessions throughout the event will be dedicated to certification exam preparation, job search and interview skills, professional brand building and the essential elements of occupational balance. Attendees will also be given the opportunity to network with National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) representatives, financial planners, OT Department/Rehab Directors, recent OT and OTA grads, and occupational therapy entrepreneurs to explore all facets of their professional world as students and entry-level practitioners. The event will also include over $1000 in sponsored prizes and discounts such as gift cards to Chipotle and Amazon, and merchandise from prominent blogger Miss Jaime, O.T. Students will also have the opportunity to win a free NBCOT exam, valued at over $500.

Founded in 1959, the New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA) is the primary professional organization representing over 22,000 occupational therapy practitioners and students in New York State. Occupational therapy is a profession that works with individuals of all ages to empower them to participate in the activities of their daily lives as well as activities that bring them joy. NYSOTA collaborates with national professional organizations, New York State professional associations, and New York State governmental agencies to protect the integrity of the occupational therapy profession and assure consumer access to quality occupational therapy services. NYSOTA supports occupational therapy professionals through advocacy, professional development, networking opportunities, and resources. For more information or to become a member, visit nysota.org.

For more information on the Student Conclave and other upcoming NYSOTA events, search and follow NYSOTA on Facebook and Instagram. This event will cost $30 to attend for non-NYSOTA members and only $15 for registered members. For further questions please contact NYSOTA at (518) 301-9187 or by email at nysota@gmail.com.
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Democracies around the world, including the US and India, are facing challenges, Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has said.

"Today, one cannot escape the feeling that America's democratic institutions are facing unprecedented threats," he said on Wednesday commemorating the 'International Day of Conscience', which was on April 5. He was referring to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

"In response to the January 6th insurrection, Americans must rededicate ourselves to upholding the core principle of any secular democracy: that individuals of all races, religions and backgrounds can express their views freely and live in peace, with their rights and safety guaranteed," Krishnamoorthi said.

The recent wave of violent attacks on Asian-Americans, culminating in the mass shooting in Atlanta on March 16, underscores the urgency of defending the rights and security of all, he said.

"Democracies around the world are facing similar challenges, including my birth country of - the world's largest secular Just as in the United States, Indian people of all religious and cultural backgrounds - Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and others, including members of all castes -- must be able to flourish and live safely with the freedom to fulfill their full potential," said the Indian-American Congressman.

The issues that divide the Indian people and its institutions also threaten to hinder needed progress on common challenges, such as vaccinating the global population against the COVID-19 pandemic, confronting the threat of Chinese military aggression, and repairing the economy and allowing it to reach new heights, he asserted.

" is an essential ally of the US on critical challenges such as security issues and climate change. It is crucial that both of our democracies remain strong by remaining true to our shared highest principles, such as treating all people with dignity, fairness and respect," Krishnamoorthi said.

"In addition, in countries ranging from France to Germany, the UK, and other Western democracies, concerns are developing about the erosion of democratic norms and the ability of ethnic, religious, and cultural minorities to prosper. In both France and Germany, for example, recently collected data suggest there was a significant rise in hate crimes and violence against religious minorities in the last year," he added.

Krishnamoorthi said that the horrific events in Washington, DC and Atlanta have served as striking reminders that American can never be taken for granted.

"They also serve as important lessons for our fellow democracies around the globe that the rights and security of all people must always be protected and upheld. I hope this week as we celebrate the International Day of Conscience, we all reflect on how we can do more to promote the culture of peace with love and conscience," 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.)
Pangilinan: Pork importation only stop-gap, declare ASAP State of Calamity due to ASF

TO ENSURE the judicious execution of and to guard against profiteering in the billion-peso pork importation, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Thursday said he will file a resolution for the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food to strictly monitor the implementation of Executive Order (EO) 128.

"Ang ASF ang pinaka-ugat nitong shortage ng baboy. Therefore, pork importation is a stop-gap measure. Pero hindi tayo dapat maging adik sa pag-import ng karne," said the former food security secretary.

Pangilinan was responding to media queries regarding President Duterte's EO 128, which he signed Wednesday evening, lowering tariff rates for imported pork as a means to address pork shortage following the culling of hogs infected with African swine fever (ASF).

"Ang pagdeklara ng State of Calamity ang critical dahil ayan ang daan para matulungan natin ang ating mga magbababoy (A State of Calamity declaration is critical because that's how we will provide meaningful interventions to support our local hog raisers)," he said.

The resolution which Pangilinan is set to file soon will call on the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food "to monitor and exercise its oversight functions over the importation of pork under EO 128."

"Pagtutulungan namin sa Senado na hindi aabusuhin itong pag-iimport ng milyon-milyong kilo ng pork," said Pangilinan, who spearheaded the call of the Senate for the swift declaration of a State of Calamity that will provide the Department of Agriculture the much needed funds to cushion the effects of the ASF.

"Dito sa EO 128, sana isinabay nila yung State of Calamity declaration. Dahil pag pumasok na ang tone-toneladang imported na baboy, ang laking competition at epekto nito sa local hog industry. Maraming mawawalan ng hanapbuhay," Pangilinan said.

"Panawagan natin ay aprubahan na iyong State of Calamity declaration para yung indemnification ng ating mga magbababoy ay magkaroon ng mabilis at agarang tulong. Iyon ang solusyon na dapat sana inuna," he said.

Pangilinan earlier stressed that the government will lose around 11 to 14 billion pesos in revenues if the tariff rates were lowered. He said this amount could have otherwise been used to provide direct aid to ASF-affected hog raisers.

The local hog industry has lost around 60 billion pesos in 2020 due to ASF, with millions of pigs culled in efforts to curb the disease.
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The global hard seltzer market size is expected to reach USD 14.5 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 16.2%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to experience substantial growth during the forecast period owing to the growing popularity of low content alcoholic beverages among the millennials in the developed economies including the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Furthermore, strong marketing campaigns by alcoholic drinks companies on such products is expected to have a positive impact on the industry.

Products launched have played a crucial role in the growing penetration of hard seltzer. In June 2020, Tesco announced to launch dedicated hard seltzer. It will be distributed by Mark Anthony Brands. The launch makes a significant milestone for the category in the U.K. that has been turning into a hotspot for hard seltzer manufacturers. In November 2019, AB InBevs launched Mikes Hard Sparkling Water in the U.K. The increasing demand for the product in the country is attributed to the increasing demand for healthier products with low calorie and sugar and clean labels which are still luxurious.

Similarly, in June 2020, Smirnoff Seltzer also entered the U.K. through various off-trade channels. The product is available in two flavors in the country including Smirnoff Seltzer Orange and Grapefruit, and Smirnoff Seltzer Raspberry and Rhubarb. The product is available in 250ml cans with ABV content of 4.7% and is priced at GBP 1.8 per can.

Browse Details of Report @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/hard-seltzer-market

Australia has been evolving as another major center for the industry. Along with White Claw, Carlton and United Breweries launched Actual Vodka Seltzer in the country in May 2020, in two flavors including pure and lime. The drink contains 4.2% ABV and 100.0% natural ingredients.

Hard Seltzer Market Report Highlights

 Hard seltzer with 1.0% to 4.9% ABV content is expected to register the fastest growth during the forecast years with a CAGR of 16.6% from 2020 to 2027. Low ABV content of such products is expected to attract health-conscious consumers over the next few years

 On-trade is expected to register the fastest growth during forecast years with a CAGR of 16.5% from 2020 to 2027. An increasing number of consumers drinking hard seltzers in bars and restaurants is creating the rising opportunity

 Asia Pacific is expected to register the fastest growth during forecast years with a CAGR of 17.0% from 2020 to 2027. A large number of manufacturers focusing on the Australian market is playing a crucial role in the growth of the market

 North America dominated the market by contributing over 70.0% in the global revenue in 2019. The wide penetration of the product in the U.S., Canada, and Brazil is acting as a catalyst in creating dominance.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Haitham Mattar as Managing Director of India, Middle East & Africa (IMEA), effective April 18.

Mattar is a well-known industry veteran in the IMEA region, with over 25 years of experience in hospitality and tourism and an outstanding network across the industry. In his new role with IHG, Mattar will take on a broad leadership agenda to drive IHGs business in the Middle East, Africa and the South West Asia region, covering both development and operations responsibilities across a portfolio of 165 operational hotels and a strong pipeline of over 100 properties, representing IHGs brands across luxury and lifestyle, premium, essentials and suites collections.

Mattar joins IHG Hotels & Resorts from the Saudi Ministry of Tourism where, as Senior Advisor and a member of the Executive Leadership Committee, he contributed to the development and implementation of Saudis sustainable tourism strategy to become one of the worlds top tourist destinations. Before then, Mattar spent four years as CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, reporting to His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. Guided by His Highness vision, Haitham was responsible for developing and implementing the first ever tourism strategy to position Ras Al Khaimah as a global adventure tourism destination, connecting the world to the emirates natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage.

Mattar previously spent 11 years at IHG Hotels & Resorts from 2000 to 2011 in various operations, commercial and sales & marketing positions based in IMEA. In his new role, Mattar will be based in IHGs Dubai office and will report to Kenneth Macpherson, Chief Executive Officer, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa (EMEAA).

Commenting on the announcement, Macpherson said: I am very pleased to welcome Haitham back to IHG and lead our business in IMEA at such a crucial time for the travel and tourism industry. Haitham has a wealth of experience within the sector and has been at the forefront of several important strategic initiatives in the region over the last decade. I am confident that his knowledge, diverse experience, along with cross-continent and local expertise will be invaluable, as we look to continue driving our recovery

Mattar said: I am delighted to join the IHG family once again and have an opportunity to lead such a diverse region with enormous potential. The tourism and hospitality landscape in IMEA has transformed significantly in recent years, providing us with a tremendous opportunity to offer world-class hospitality options to both domestic and international travellers. Building on IHGs strong performance track record and growth plans, I look forward to working with the team, as well as our partners, as we look ahead to the next chapter of travel in the region.

IHG currently operates 165 hotels across eight brands in India, Middle East, and Africa including: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, vocoand Six Senses with a further 102 in the development pipeline due to open within the next three to five years. - TradeArabia News Service
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CONCORD, N.H.  A former youth detention center worker accused of responding to a bruised and crying teenagers rape allegations by saying, Look little fella, that just doesnt happen, was arrested Thursday in the latest development in a broad investigation into the New Hampshire facility.

Gordon Thomas Searles, 65, of Brooksville, Florida, was charged with one count of rape a day after the arrest of six other former workers at the Sununu Youth Services Center. He was being held without bail in Florida, and it was unclear whether he has an attorney to speak on his behalf.

The Manchester facility, formerly known as the Youth Development Center, has been under investigation since July 2019, when two former counselors were charged with raping a teenage boy 82 times in the 1990s.

Those charges were dropped last year in order to strengthen the expanded investigation, but both men were arrested again Wednesday, along with four others based on allegations from 11 victims from 1994 to 2005.

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Searles was one of several defendants named in a lawsuit filed last year in which more than 200 men and women allege they were physically or sexually abused as children by 150 staffers at the Manchester center from 1963 to 2018.

According to their attorney, children were gang raped by counselors, beaten while raped, forced to compete for food in fight clubs set up by counselors, and locked in solitary confinement for weeks or months.

The lead plaintiff, David Meehan, alleges that in 1998, Searles came into his room and saw that Meehans face was severely bruised, with a black eye and split lip.

Searles asked, in a jocular tone, what had happened, at which point David began to cry and told Searles that he had been beaten and raped, the lawsuit reads. Searles cut him off, responding Look little fella, that just doesnt happen. Then Searles left.

The criminal charges did not indicate whom Searles is accused of raping.

The other six men made initial court appearances Thursday. Bail hearings were delayed until Friday for four of them, while a judge set bail at $100,000 for Lucien Poulette and $50,000 for Bradley Asbury.

Asbury, 66, of Dunbarton, New Hampshire, is charged with being an accomplice to the rape of a former resident between 1997 and 1998. His attorney unsuccessfully argued for personal recognizance bail, saying his client was not a flight risk or a danger.

Assistant Attorney General Timothy Sullivan disagreed, saying, The passage of time in some circumstances might reduce the defendants dangerousness, but this is not one of those circumstances.

Asbury, a supervisor, helped other workers throw a teenage boy to the floor and then held him down while two others raped him, Sullivan said.

This is a child who was placed in the care of this individual, he said. They were sent there to be counseled, they were sent their to receive treatment, and instead they received nothing of the sort, but rather received horrific sexual violence.

Poulettes attorney, James Rosenberg, said his client denies the allegations and was heartened that the court did not order him held without bail.

We look forward to working cooperatively with the Office of Attorney General to better understand the circumstances surrounding the serious allegations in this case, he said in an email.

The center is named after former Gov. John H. Sununu, father of the current governor.

Gov. Chris Sununu said Thursday he expects more arrests are coming.

Were not messing around, he said. Anyone who is involved in perpetrating these crimes these abuse on these these kids  were going after all of them, and were going to charge every last one of them. And this first seven is probably just the first seven. I imagine more charges will come.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 16:06:09|Editor: huaxia

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SAN SALVADOR, April 7 (Xinhua) -- El Salvador announced Wednesday it is ready to distribute more vaccines as part of its national vaccination campaign against COVID-19, after a cargo of doses donated by China arrived late Tuesday.

Following the arrival of the shipment of CoronaVac vaccines, developed by the Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people via a message posted on social media.

El Salvador's Minister of Health Francisco Alabi and Chinese Ambassador to El Salvador Ou Jianhong were both on hand to receive the shipment.

Alabi thanked the Chinese government for its support of the Central American country in fighting the pandemic, saying the vaccines represented hope and opportunity to protect Salvadorans.

"We are receiving much more hope in our country to continue moving forward," Alabi said.

A cargo of Sinovac vaccines bought by El Salvador's government landed several days ago at the same airport, said Ou.

"These important events once again demonstrate the success in anti-pandemic cooperation between China and El Salvador. It also vividly reflects the bonds of friendship ... and partnership that bind us closely," she added.

Alabi said the new batch of donated vaccines would be distributed by the National Biological Center to different parts of the country to boost the vaccination drive launched in February.

On Wednesday, El Salvador began the second phase of its vaccination plan, which targets those with chronic degenerative diseases, adults over 80, and groups at risk from COVID-19.

The first phase of the vaccination plan immunized healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic fight, as well as soldiers, police officers, firefighters and teachers.

The country has so far registered 65,491 COVID-19 cases and 2,037 deaths, according to the Salvadoran government. Enditem
Scott Rudin, a major film, television, and theatre producer known for involvement in films like No Country for Old Men, Lady Bird, Fences, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and The Social Network, has been accused of abusive workplace behaviour in an explosive new article.

The Hollywood Reporter, which broke the story, published an expose on Wednesday (7 April) detailing how Rudin oversaw a frightening culture of abuse at his production company, Scott Rudin Productions. One former assistant alleged that Rudin threw a baked potato at his head in 2018 after Rudin was caught off guard by a meeting with indie film distributor A24.

I went into the kitchen, and I was like, Hey, Scott, A24 is on the way up. Im not sure what its concerning, he recalled. And he flipped out, like, Nobody told me A24 was on my schedule. He threw it at me, and I dodged a big potato. He was like, Well, find out, and get me a new potato.

The article also alleged that in 2012 Rudin smashed an Apple computer monitor on an assistants hand after the assistant failed to get him a seat on a sold-out flight. The assistant had to seek medical attention and went to the emergency room.

Another former assistant, who worked for Rudin from 2018 to 2019 said, Every day was exhausting and horrific. Not even the way he abused me, but watching the way he abused the people around me who started to become my very close friends. Youre spending 14 hours a day with the same people, enduring the same abuse. It became this collective bond with these people.

He threw a laptop at the window in the conference room and then went into the kitchen and we could hear him beating on the napkin dispenser," former employee Caroline Rugo said. Then another time he threw a glass bowl at [a colleague]. It's hard to say if he threw it in the general direction or specifically at [the colleague], but the glass bowl hit the wall and smashed everywhere. The HR person left in an ambulance due to a panic attack. That was the environment.

Rugo, who now works at Netflix, also alleges that she was fired for having Type 1 diabetes: "I one hundred percent could have sued him. But I didn't because of the fear of being blacklisted. But I've worked at Netflix for a year and a half now. And it was such a shock to the system because it's one of the most respectful and progressive workplaces in terms of employee relations. Now that I have established myself here and I am a part of a team where my opinions are respected and welcomed, I have no issue speaking out about Scott. Everyone just knows he's an absolute monster.

The Independent has reached out to Rudin's representatives for comment.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Moneta Porcupine Mines Inc. (TSX: ME) (OTC Pink: MPUCF) (FSE: MOP) ("Moneta") is pleased to announce the results from four (4) holes drilled to test the Gap Zone between the current NI 43-101 South West underground and Windjammer South open pit deposits. The drill holes were drilled as part of the expanded 2020/2021 winter drill program on the Golden Highway Project, 100 kilometres ("km") east of Timmins, Ontario (Figure 1).

Highlights:

Drilling has intersected significant gold mineralization in an area, covering 700 metres ('m") strike length and 200 m width, not currently included in any NI 43-101 resource estimate:

MGH21-174, located outside the current Windjammer open pit and 150 m south of the current South West resource: Intersected 32.00 m @ 1.63 grams per tonne "g/t" gold "Au" including 6.35 m @ 3.21 g/t Au including 1.00 m @ 7.62 g/t Au, plus 6.60 m @ 2.91 g/t Au including 0.85 m @ 8.05 g/t Au Intersected 7.60 m @ 2.04 g/t Au, including 1.65 m @ 6.36 g/t Au, including 0.95 m @ 8.59 g/t Au Intersected 12.00 m @ 1.57 g/t Au, including 1.05 m @ 5.82 g/t Au

MGH21-175, located outside the current Windjammer open pit and 150 m south of the current South West resource: Intersected 9.10 m @ 2.02 g/t Au, including 0.70 m @ 9.24 g/t Au Intersected 19.70 m @ 0.94 g/t Au, including 0.60 m @ 8.43 g/t Au

MGH20-168, located outside the current Windjammer open pit and 200 m east of the current South West resource: Intersected 4.00 m @ 3.54 g/t Au, including 1.00m @ 8.54 g/t Au



"We are pleased to have intersected significant new gold mineralization outside of our current gold resources with our latest drilling," commented CEO, Gary O'Connor. "The drilling has intersected gold mineralization within the Gap area, located between the current South West underground deposit and Windjammer South open pit deposit. Significant gold mineralization has been intersected up to 150 m south of and over a strike length of 700 m between the South West and Windjammer South resources. The drill results highlight the opportunity to significantly expand the open pit and underground gold resources at Windjammer South and South West respectively. The Windjammer South open pit resource currently contains 1.10 million ounces "Moz" gold indicated resources and 1.05 Moz gold inferred resources at a 0.3 g/t Au cut-off and the current underground resource at South West currently contains 0.59 Moz gold indicated and 1.24 Moz gold inferred resources at a 2.6 g/t cut-off within a total project gold resource endowment of 4.00 Moz gold indicated and 4.40 Moz gold inferred."

The latest assay results are from four (4) drill holes for a total of 2,872.0 m of drilling, completed as part of the current 70,000 m 2020/2021 winter drill program. The four reported holes were targeting the Gap zone which occurs between the current Windjammer South and South West resources in an area which has no currently defined gold resources. Drilling was focussed on extending the South West mineralization to the south, where it remains open, and connect the Windjammer South and South West resources. Windjammer South currently hosts an indicated resource of 40.59 Mt @ 0.84 g/t Au in the indicated category for 1.10 Moz contained gold and 29.10 Mt @ 1.12 g/t Au in the inferred category for 1.05 Moz contained gold. South West currently hosts an indicated resource of 4.53 Mt @ 4.07 g/t Au for 0.59 Moz contained gold and 9.61 Mt @ 4.01 g/t Au for 1.24 Moz contained gold in the inferred category. The open pit resource estimate at Westaway was estimated at a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off and the underground resource estimate at South West at a 2.60 g/t Au cut-off. The resource expansion drill program is continuing and further results are pending.

Discussion of Drill Results

Gap Zone

Four (4) drill holes were drilled to test the Gap zone located between, and to the south, of the current Windjammer South open pit and South West underground gold resources. The holes were targeting the extensions of steep high grade Gap veins at South West as well as the western extensions of the wide shallow dipping stacked mineralized veins drilled and modeled at Windjammer South. The drilling was conducted to test a 700 m long and 200 m wide corridor which has not historically been drill tested or included in any resource estimates.

Drill hole MGH20-168 was collared 200 m east of the current South West resource and 300 m west of the current Windjammer South resource and was designed to connect the current resources. MGH20-168 intersected zones of gold mineralization up to 4.00 m @ 3.54 g/t Au including 1.00 m @ 8.54 g/t Au, 12.00 m @ 0.64 g/t Au including 2.98 m @ 1.25 g/t Au, and 11.00 m @ 0.53 g/t Au including 2.00 m @ 1.99 g/t Au and 11.00 m @ 0.47 g/t Au. The drilling confirmed the western extensions of the Windjammer South mineralization and extended the zones to depth.

Drill hole MGH20-172 was drilled over 100 m south of current steep high grade Gap veins at South West and 400 m west of the mineral resource at Windjammer south. MGH20-172 intersected up to 9.50 m @ 1.20 g/t Au including 0.70 m @ 3.17 g/t Au, 10.00 m @ 1.05 g/t Au including 1.00 m @ 2.05 g/t Au and 12.00 m @ 0.59 g/t Au including 1.50 m @ 3.42 g/t Au. The drill holes extended mineralization significantly to the south of South West and to the west of Windjammer South.

Drill hole MGH21-174 was drilled over 100 m south of the current steep high grade Gap veins at South West and 600 m west of the mineral resource at Windjammer South. Drill hole MGH21-174 intersected up to 12.00 m @ 1.57 g/t Au including 1.05 m @ 5.82 g/t Au, 7.60 m @ 2.04 g/t Au including 1.65 m @ 6.36 g/t Au including 0.95 m @ 8.59 g/t Au, 10.00 m @ 1.64 g/t Au including 1.50 m @ 4.20 g/t Au and 1.50 m @3.21 g/t Au and 32.00 m @ 1.63 g/t Au including 1.00 m @ 7.62 g/t Au, 1.12 m @ 6.50 g/t Au and 1.20 m @ 5.56 g/t Au, and 7.00 m @ 1.08 g/t Au including 0.90 m @ 5.19 g/t Au.

Drill hole MGH21-175 was drilled 100 m east of MGH21-174 and 100 m to the west of MGH20-172 to test the southern extensions of the Gap veins and the western extensions of the Windjammer South resource. MGH21-175 intersected up to 19.70 m @ 0.94 g/t Au including 0.60 m @ 8.43 g/t Au, and 9.10 m @ 2.02 g/t Au including 1.00 m @ 5.83 g/t Au and 0.70 m @ 9.24 g/t Au.

Table 1: Selected Significant Drill Results

Target Hole From To Length Au (Name) (#) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) SW MGH20-168 161.00 173.00 12.00 0.64

includes 168.02 171.00 2.98 1.25 SW MGH20-168 517.00 521.00 4.00 3.54

includes 517.00 518.00 1.00 8.54 SW MGH20-172 168.00 177.50 9.50 1.20

includes 168.80 170.50 1.70 2.34

and 176.80 177.50 0.70 3.17 SW MGH20-172 525.00 535.00 10.00 1.05

includes 528.00 529.00 1.00 2.05 SW MGH21-172 543.00 555.00 12.00 0.59

includes 543.00 544.50 1.50 3.42 SW MGH21-174 381.00 393.00 12.00 1.57

and 391.95 393.00 1.05 5.82 SW MGH21-174 634.45 642.00 7.55 0.90

includes 635.50 638.20 2.70 1.88 SW MGH21-174 648.40 656.00 7.60 2.04

includes 653.00 654.65 1.65 6.36

includes 653.70 654.65 0.95 8.59 SW MGH21-174 663.00 673.00 10.00 1.64

includes 663.00 664.50 1.50 4.20

and 667.50 669.00 1.50 3.21 SW MGH21-174 708.00 740.00 32.00 1.63

includes 714.95 721.30 6.35 3.21

includes 716.00 717.00 1.00 7.62

and 720.18 721.30 1.12 6.50

and 729.00 735.60 6.60 2.91

includes 730.75 731.60 0.85 8.05

and 734.40 735.60 1.20 5.56 SW MGH21-174 819.00 826.00 7.00 1.08

includes 819.00 819.90 0.90 5.19 SW MGH21-174 829.45 834.00 4.55 1.44 SW MGH21-175 218.50 235.50 19.70 0.94

includes 220.70 227.25 6.55 1.71

and 226.65 227.25 0.60 8.43 SW MGH21-175 650.90 660.00 9.10 2.02

includes 650.90 651.90 1.00 5.83

and 655.10 657.00 1.90 4.92

includes 655.65 656.35 0.70 9.24

Intercepts are calculated using a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off, a maximum of 3m internal dilution and no top cap applied. All intercepts are reported as drill widths and estimated to be 75% to 95% of true width.

Figure 1: Location Map- Golden Highway Project



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4852/79764_689d1b5aa44c19cb_002full.jpg

Figure 2: Gap Zone - Drill Hole Locations



To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4852/79764_689d1b5aa44c19cb_003full.jpg



Figure 3: Gap Zone - Long Section



To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4852/79764_689d1b5aa44c19cb_004full.jpg

Table 2: Drill Hole Details

Hole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Inclination Depth (#) (mE) (mN) (masl) () () (m) MGH20-168 572703 5369920 328 50 -60 666.0 MGH20-172 571767 5369776 329 50 -60 642.0 MGH21-174 571477 5369536 325 50 -60 900.0 MGH21-175 571625 5369666 327 50 -60 664.0

QA/QC Procedures

All core drilling conducted by Moneta is oriented. Drill core is cut with half sent to AGAT Laboratories Inc. (AGAT) for drying and crushing to -2 mm, with a 1.00 kg split pulverized to -75 m (200#). AGAT is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. A 50 g charge is Fire Assayed and analyzed using an AAS finish for Gold. Samples above 10.00 g/t Au are analyzed by Fire Assay with a gravimetric finish and selected samples with visible gold or high-grade mineralization are assayed by Metallic Screen Fire Assay on a 1.00 kg sample. Moneta inserts independent certified reference material and blanks with the samples and assays routine pulp repeats and coarse reject sample duplicates, as well as completing routine third-party check assays at Activation Laboratories Ltd. Kevin Montgomery, P.Geo. is a qualified person under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this press release.

About Moneta

Moneta holds 26,343 ha of prospective land in the Timmins Gold. The Company's flagship project, covering the Golden Highway and Garrison Gold Projects is located 100 km east of Timmins and hosts a total indicated resource of 3,967,000 ounces gold contained and a total of 4,399,000 ounces gold inferred at a 2.60 g/t Au at South West, 3.00 g/t Au cut-off for the other underground deposits and 0.30 g/t Au for the open pit deposits. The project includes a total of 3,335,000 ounces of open pit indicated resources contained within 116.7 Mt @ 0.89 g/t Au and 2,270,000 ounces of open pit inferred resources contained within 79.4 Mt @ 0.89 g/t Au. The project also includes 632,000 ounces of indicated underground resources contained within 4.9 Mt @ 4.05 g/t Au and 2,129,000 ounces of inferred underground resources within 15.7 Mt @ 4.21 g/t Au.

Preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") studies were completed on the Garrison open pit resources and the South West underground bulk mining resource in 2020. The Garrison PEA highlighted an open pit mining operation consisting of a 12-year mine life with an after-tax NPV5% of C$321MM, IRR of 33% and a 2.3 year payback. The project envisaged open pit mining producing 121,000 oz/pa in years 1 to 8 (94,000 oz/pa LOM), at a strip ratio of 2.7:1 at a cash cost of US$721/oz using a gold price of US$1,450/oz and an exchange rate of US$0.75/C$. The PEA on the South West gold deposit, one of 6 deposits located on the Golden Highway project, highlighted an underground bulk mining operation consisting of an 11-year mine life with an after-tax NPV5% of C$236MM, IRR of 30% and a 3.4 year payback, generating C$371MM LOM after-tax free cash flow. The project envisaged producing 76,000 oz/pa at a cash cost of US$590/oz at a gold price of US$1,500/oz and an exchange rate of US$0.77/C$. The open pit resources and new underground discoveries have not yet been subjected to a preliminary economic assessment study at Golden Highway.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Gary V. O'Connor, CEO

416-357-3319

Linda Armstrong, Investor Relations

647-456-9223

The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.com. For further information on the Company, please visit our website at www.monetaporcupine.com or email us at info@monetaporcupine.com.

This news release includes certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, collectively "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to information with respect to the future performance of the business, its operations and financial performance and condition such as the Company's drilling program and the timing and results thereof; and the ability of the Company to finance and carry out its anticipated goals and objectives.

Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, competitive risks and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in our recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward looking-statements and we caution against placing undue reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79764
FOR Deo Persad, who knew nothing but family, work, and church, life was complete.

That was evident in the trademark grin on his resting face, hence his nickname Smiley Boboy.

Then one day, his heart-warming and comforting smile, even when he was angry, was lost, and the man who never took a vacation day in his life walked out of his familys home on August 6, 2020, leaving confusion, hurt and grief at their doorstep.

On Deos 53rd birthday on December 14 last year there was nothing but hope that he would walk back into their lives.
Haji Abdul Manan, a tribal leader of the Afghan nomads, grows wistful recalling the wandering lifestyle his extended family gave up for a sedentary life a decade ago.

The 70-year-old patriarch, who spent his childhood and much of his adult life on the move, says he can still hear the bells around the necks of camels and goats in their caravan as it migrated between the warmer plains of southern Afghanistan in winter to the cooler green pastures of the central highlands during summer.

I long for the freedom that defined our lives, Manan told Radio Free Afghanistan of the difficult decision his family had to make in settling in the southeastern province of Ghazni. Nothing could beat the sense of freedom where we could just stay anywhere that we liked and leave without worrying.

We are called Kuchis in Afghanistan because we were constantly on the move, he said, referring to his communitys name by the Dari word that denotes their status as nomads. The Kuchis were not restrained by borders, and our lives were truly free.

Kuchis or Pawindas, terms used for Pashtun nomads hailing from more than a dozen tribes of the larger Ghilzai group, were once one of the largest nomadic communities in the world. But decades of war, forced displacement, droughts, socioeconomic and technological changes, and a push toward settlement have rendered them one of the most marginalized communities in Afghanistan.

After attempting to adapt to a sedentary life, Manan says he preferred his familys constant travels, which saw them traverse several hundred kilometers each year between Kandahar and Helmand provinces in the south to Ghaznis mountain meadows.

Our lives were not defined by rivalries and feuds, he noted, referring to the land disputes that are common in Afghan villages. We had few possessions, but we were healthy and happy. I had never even heard of all these diseases that are so prevalent now.

While the Afghan government has attempted to integrate the estimated 1.5 million Kuchis by granting them representation and access to government assistance programs, the group still lacks key services such as health care and education and has received little of the international aid that has helped lift other Afghan communities out of poverty.

The previous century was one of tragedy for the Kuchis, Manan noted. In the Afghan calendar, the 15th century began last month. The Kuchis endured hunger and destruction, and yet no one took pity on us.

Mohammad Siddiq, another Kuchi, agrees. He says natural disasters like droughts and manmade problems such as hard borders and insecurity have destroyed the Kuchi lifestyle.

Wandering around the country, you will often feel that each village is ruled by its own government, he told Radio Free Afghanistan of the widespread harassment of nomads whose cattle he says is frequently claimed by the Afghan security forces. Nomadism was appealing because of the freedom it entailed, but thats gone now.

He says a typical Kuchi herd consisted of 50 camels and some 400 goats and sheep. In good years, these animals delivered enough offspring to bring their owners a sizable profit while ensuring abundant supplies of milk, cheese, meat, and wool.

Siddiq says Kuchi life was the portrait of a hardworking community that cherished its freedom and where men and women shared the burden of work. The close-knit groups loved to celebrate festivities with horseback riding, shooting competitions, music, and dancing. Our hearts are in mourning because this has all been taken away, he noted. How can we now celebrate anything ever again?

Repeated droughts, he explained, have forced Kuchis to give up their camels to buy tractors, which limits their movement to roads.

Building Fences

During the past two decades, occasional clashes between Kuchis and settled Hazara farmers have erupted with each side blaming the other for the violence. Such tensions have come to a head in other parts of Afghanistan, where rapidly increasing settled populations, some of whom were formerly nomads, see the nomads as intruders who threaten their land and resources.

Previously, Afghan nomads paid little attention to international borders, and many groups often traveled into Pakistan. But Islamabads efforts to regulate movement between the two countries with the construction of a fence along more than 2,500 kilometers of its border with Afghanistan have impacted major nomadic migration chains that moved to the plains around the Indus River in Pakistan in winter from their summer destination of Afghanistans Hindu Kush Mountains.

Haji Gulmiran, a Kuchi community leader in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, says the fencing has devastated their community as being cut off from their usual grazing lands has caused a food shortage.

We lost access to pastures on the other side of the fence [in Pakistan] while here we have lost meadows and grasslands to housing and farming, he told Radio Free Afghanistan.

Bor Jan, another member of the community, says the Kuchis have received little assistance from the Afghan authorities, whose actions have only served to compound their suffering.

The government has either usurped our pastures or is keeping us from our traditional pastures, he told Radio Free Afghanistan. We have always lacked access to education and health care, but now we find it difficult to get our national ID cards, he added. Afghanistan is currently issuing electronic ID cards to its estimated 35 million citizens. In addition to serving as an identity document and proof of citizenship, the cards enable holders to access government services.

Noor Jamal Kuchi, a government worker in Ghazni, says he has pleaded with Afghan officials to address his communitys problems. He says he has asked for government help with improving their livestock, employment, and access to land to little avail.

The last century [in the Afghan calendar] saw the Kuchis lose whatever they had gained during the past 1,000 years, he said. The last century in Afghanistan began in 1920. Since then the country has seen violent uprisings, palace and military coups, civil wars, Soviet occupation, and the ongoing war that began with a U.S.-led military attack on the Taliban regime after September 11 attacks two decades ago.

But the government in Kabul is adamant it is committed to supporting the Kuchis. The Afghan Rural Rehabilitation and Development Ministry says that under its Kuchi Development Strategy, a plan it adopted in 2019 after extensive consultations with the community, it is committed to spending $30 million on helping nomadic and seminomadic communities.

The strategy will purportedly set up 902 community development councils, who will help identify and implement water supply and renewable energy schemes.

Lawmaker Nangyalai Lawang, a representative of the Kuchis in Wolesi Jirga, says initiatives to help Afghan nomads have been slow to implement. He cited a presidential order from six months ago requiring the government to purchase meat from nomads for the Afghan security forces.

We have held meeting after meeting on how to put this into action, and yet theres no progress, he told Radio Free Afghanistan.

For some Kuchi leaders, Kabul needs to take urgent practical steps to preserve their way of life.

For Kuchis, our pastures are as vital as water is for the fish, Gulmiran said. Without them, our flocks and tents are unlikely to survive.
A 40-year-old Pakistani has been indicted by an American federal grand jury for allegedly using fraudulent documents and international travel routes to facilitate the entry of unauthorised individuals into the US from and Afghanistan.

Abid Ali Khan, between January 2015 and December 2020, allegedly organised, led, and worked, with others in his Pakistan-based network to facilitate the travel of undocumented individuals to the United States, federal prosecutors alleged on Wednesday.

He is the leader of the Abid Ali Khan TCO, a prolific human organisation based in Nowshera district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Khan and members of his Transnational Criminal Organisation (TCO)operate a global network of human smugglers that are responsible for international of migrants into the United States, it alleged.

A recent Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) revealed Pakistani-based Abid Khan human smuggling network, operating in the Middle East and southwest Asia, is allegedly exploiting systemic vulnerabilities in order to move people into the US and elsewhere.

"Khan allegedly led a global human smuggling operation that used fraudulent documents and international travel routes to facilitate the entry of unauthorised individuals into the US," said Acting US Attorney Raj Parekh for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Simultaneously, US Department of the Treasury designated Abid Khan and Abid Ali Khan TCO.

The Abid Ali Khan TCO is a human smuggling organisation that has facilitated the unlawful smuggling of foreign nationals, including those who may pose a security risk to the US or its interests, into the country using various travel routes through Latin since at least 2015, the treasury said.

Treasury's designation of this human smuggling organisation as a significant TCO is an important step taken alongside our partners, towards disrupting Abid Ali Khan operations based in and around the world, said Andrea Gacki, Director of the Office of the Foreign Assets Control.

According to the Treasury, Khan and members of his TCO coordinate the smuggling of foreign nationals to the US for an average cost of approximately the equivalent of USD 20,000 per individual.

This sum includes, but is not limited to, fees to procure fraudulent or counterfeit documents, make payoffs to corrupt officials, secure lodging along smuggling route, and provide payments to facilitators in various countries, the Treasury said.

Abid Ali Khan TCO often provides travellers with fraudulently obtained passports from different countries to facilitate his clients' global movement and smuggling to the US.

It frequently utilises a common route of travel that begins in or Afghanistan, transiting through certain South and Central American countries, before arriving at the southern border of the US.

(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.)
PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Solange Ludmila Duncan sent a letter to the Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor inquiring about the impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare sector and in particular mental health and social service provision.

Covid-19 has not only had a tremendous effect on our economy but also on the mental health of our people. There has been a visible increase in mentally ill persons walking the roads lately. There also appears to be more homelessness since the onset of the pandemic. Government has a responsibility to ensure that our most vulnerable residents receive the full range of welfare services available to them as per the law, stated Duncan.

On Wednesday 7th April, the Member of Parliament sent a number of questions to the Minister of VSA in order to ascertain the Ministrys current policies and processes for providing support to persons who are in dire need of mental health and social services.

Covid-19 has exacerbated the gaps that already existed in our healthcare sector. For persons who have lost both jobs and loved ones due to Covid-19, it is important that they do not remain in emotional isolation. In addition to food programs, we also need social outreach programs, noted the MP.

I have also inquired whether the Ministry is monitoring and evaluating the provision of telemedicine and teletherapy. Some patients have not physically seen their doctors in a year. Diagnoses are still being conducted through phone conversations. This has increased efficiency on one end but what will be the general policy moving forward? added Duncan.

Duncan has also asked the Minister of VSA about budget provision to the Mental Health Foundation and any other organizations who provide social services to the general public.

With Governments current financial constraints it will be difficult to increase the amount of services being provided. It is important however to collect as much data as possible on the needs of our people including the varying levels of poverty and vulnerability and the capacities of the social systems in place. I would like to see a State of Health report that will paint a clear picture of the impact of Covid-19 on our entire healthcare sector and possible ways forward, concluded the MP.
A LIMERICK man has been remanded in custody after he appeared in court charged in connection with an alleged hijacking on Easter Sunday.

Francis Casey, aged 28, who has an address at Clonlong Halting Site, Southill, Limerick appeared before a special court sitting in Kilmallock yesterday, Tuesday evening.

He faces a number of charges including that he unlawfully seized a Ford S-Max car on the northbound carriageway of the M7 near Portlaoise on Sunday evening.

That offence - under the provisions of the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act, 1976 - is alleged to have occurred at a location between junction 17 and Junction 16 on the motorway.

Mr Casey is also accused of making threats to cause criminal damage at O'Malley Park Southill on Easter Sunday and with stealing 42 worth of diesel from a service station in Portlaoise.

It is alleged the defendant, who was arrested in the Tallaght area of Dublin, had asked another man for a lift from Limerick to Portlaoise earlier at around 5pm on Sunday.

During this evening's brief court sitting, Inspector Padraig Sutton said there would be a garda objection to any application for bail.

However, Solicitor Darach McCarthy told Judge Patricia Harney his client was not seeking bail immediately but that he intends doing so on the next date.

The judge noted this and she adjourned the matter to this coming Friday, April 9, when she will hear the application for bail.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosections..
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 19:25:03|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Three retired senior officials of the U.S. Department of State have urged the current administration to pay the arrears the country owes to the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping budget.

These dues have been accruing for four years and total more than 1 billion U.S. dollars, according to the writers -- former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, and former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering.

"In 1999, the United States' vote at the UN General Assembly was threatened because of lack of payment," they said in the op-ed piece titled "The United States Must Pay the United Nations What It Owes" that was published last week on the Foreign Policy website.

"U.S. credibility was on the line; it appeared hypocritical to advocate for robust multilateral action while also withholding the dues to support such activities," the article read. Enditem
One teen was killed, and another injured when gunfire erupted late Wednesday in Birminghams Inglenook community.

Authorities identified the slain teen as 16-year-old Savion Issabell

Birmingham police East Precinct officers responded shortly before 11:30 p.m. to the 3600 block of 40th Street North. They arrived to find Issabell unresponsive on the couch. Sgt. Rod Mauldin said he was pronounced dead moments later.

A second teen was shot in the face. Witnesses said he was able to walk to the ambulance and Mauldin said his injuries are not life-threatening.

The preliminary investigation shows that the teens were shot in a drive-by. Multiple people were inside the home at the time of the shooting. It did not appear any homes were damaged.

Mauldin said the gunfire came from someone in a small sedan. No arrests have been made.

Roughly 30 minutes earlier, a victim showed up to Birmingham Fire Station 23 on 40th Place North with a gunshot wound to the chest. That victim was transported to the hospital. Mauldin said police dont yet know if the two shootings in Inglenook were somehow linked.

The shooting happened less than an hour after another man was killed in west Birmingham during what appeared to be a domestic incident. That shooting happened inside a home on Avenue G.

As of late Wednesday, there had been seven homicides since April 1 for a total of 29 so far this year in Birmingham. There had been 26 homicides at this time last year. Of this years slayings, two have been ruled justifiable and therefore arent deemed criminal.

In all of Jefferson County, there have been 52 homicides, including the 29 in Birmingham.

Anyone with information on the drive-by is asked to all Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
The National Rifle Association's battle to keep itself in bankruptcy court is heating up, just as President Biden escalates his efforts to tackle gun violence.

Driving the news: NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre said he should have disclosed yacht trips he took that were paid by contractors and vendors. His admission came during virtual testimony in a Dallas bankruptcy court Wednesday when a federal judge heard a motion to dismiss the NRAs Chapter 11 case.

The big picture: Axios' politics reporter Lachlan Markay writes that at precisely the moment that the administration is pushing new gun safety measures, the biggest and most influential gun rights group in the country is consumed by infighting and legal battles.

That will likely have a major impact on any legislative fights. It would be like a fight over abortion rights with a handicapped Planned Parenthood.

Whats happening: New York Attorney General Letitia James wants to dismiss the NRA's bankruptcy case entirely or appoint a trustee, which could result in LaPierre losing control over the organization or be a death sentence to the association.

The gun rights group is seeking bankruptcy protection to reincorporate in Texas after James sued the NRA, LaPierre and other executives last summer to dissolve the organization over alleged illegal use of funds.

James and the NRA's biggest creditor, its former advertiser Ackerman McQueen, argue the protection was filed improperly and in an effort to skirt the lawsuit.

LaPierre acknowledged in a disclosure this week that he sheltered on yachts provided by vendors in 2012 and 2018 following the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School because he and his family were under threat.

Situational awareness: President Biden on Thursday called gun violence in the U.S. an epidemic, and urged a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, among other congressional actions.
Tech Innovation SPOTMYUV Alerts Users When to Re-apply Their Sunscreen Dig It is a lifestyle brand of innovative products for people who care about themselves and their families, notes Claudia Harvey, CEO, and Founder. There has been no other product introduced in recent years that is more important for those who care about their sun safety than SPOTMYUV.

Dig It Apparel Inc. (https://digitapparel.com), a business venture led by Claudia Harvey, has released SPOTMYUV. The latest innovation to the Sun Care category, SPOTMYUV makes it easy to visually know when to re-apply your sunscreen and stay sun safe.

Dermatologist and Pediatrician tested SPOTMYUV, is the only sun awareness product of its kind using Dermatrue technology. Dermatrue is scientifically proven to absorb sunscreen and wear off at the same rate as your skin. SPOTMYUV takes the guesswork out of sunscreen application and reapplication by turning purple, in real time - letting you know that your sunscreen is no longer protecting you and that it is time to re-apply. SPOT will be clear when you are protected and then changes color - to purple - when you are not, monitoring when you need to reapply your sunscreen throughout the day.

Dig It is a lifestyle brand of innovative products for people who care about themselves and their families, notes Claudia Harvey, CEO and Founder. There has been no other product introduced in recent years that is more important for those who care about their sun safety than SPOTMYUV.

SPOTMYUV was invented to create a positive impact around the globe and improve the efficacy of every and any sunscreen product already on the market. Consumers are often left wondering if/when to reapply their sunscreen throughout the day. This product takes the guesswork away. Consumers find that when they know their sunscreen has worn off, they use three times more sunscreen - changing consumer awareness and behavior - while they are enjoying todays active outdoor lifestyle.

About Dig It

Twenty-plus years into her successful corporate career, Claudia Harvey began her first independent venture, Dig It Apparel Inc. The company debuted its flagship product, Dig It Handwear gloves, and soon added sunglasses and body products. Dig It struck a deal with Kevin OLeary, famous venture capitalist of CBC Canadas Dragons Den and NBCs Shark Tank fame. Claudia continues to launch and invest in other businesses, such as Suncayr, making a quantifiable difference in the lives of others.

Suncayr co-founders Andrew Martinko, Chad Sweeting and Derek Jouppi are graduates of University of Waterloos Nanotechnology Engineering program and are passionate about sun protection. With family and close friends impacted by skin cancer, they found a need to bring a product to market that would tell a wearer when to reapply sunscreen and thereby positively affecting sun protection habits. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world and almost 100% preventable when sunscreen is used correctly. Unfortunately, people still use less than 50% of the sunscreen needed to avoid a sunburn. The SPOTMYUV technology has won over 50 awards, including a Dyson Award, grants from Johnson & Johnson, and Buffalo's 43North prize.

For more info, visit http://www.spotmyuv.com or follow along on Instagram, Facebook @spotmyuv
TICKERS: SYH; SA

Source: Peter Epstein for Streetwise Reports (4/8/21)

Skyharbour Resources CEO Jordan Trimble speaks with Peter Epstein of Epstein Research to discuss the uranium market and provide an update on his company's Canadian projects.



Many uranium juniors have had nice share price gains over the past few months. This, despite the underlying spot uranium price being stuck around US$30/lb. The reason for the gains can be traced back to electricity consumption, which is poised to move a lot higher in coming decades as electrifying global modes of transportation really takes off.

And of course, there's also the massive effort to decarbonize the planet's economies. With the possible exception of hydroelectric generation, nuclear energy is the only base load, low-emission, always on power source.

One uranium junior that is attracting more attention in the market lately is Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (SYH:TSX.V; SA:NYSE.MKT). I interviewed Jordan Trimble, CEO of Skyharbour, for a corporate update. Jordan consistently provides some of the best uranium sector commentary, so please continue reading.

Peter Epstein: Jordan, please give readers the latest snapshot of Skyharbour Resources.

Jordan Trimble: Yes, thank you. Skyharbour Resources' projects are located in the prolific Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan, Canada, host to the highest-grade and largest uranium deposits in the world. Saskatchewan is consistently voted a top global mining jurisdiction by the annual Fraser Institute Mining Survey.

During the market downturn of the past five years we have acquired six top-tier uranium projects across the Basin at attractive valuations.

Our company is run by a strong management and geological team who are major shareholders and have extensive capital markets experience, plus uranium exploration expertise. Our goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries and committed long-term partnerships.

We acquired 100% of our flagship, high-grade property, the Moore Uranium Project, from Denison Mines, who remains a large strategic shareholder in Skyharbour. The Moore project hosts the high-grade Maverick Zone, where drilling has returned 21% U3O8 over 1.5 m within 5.9 m of 6.0% U3O8. The project also hosts other mineralized targets with strong discovery potential.

Skyharbour employs the prospect generator model, bringing in partner companies to advance and fund exploration. We have three project partnerships: one with industry-leader Orano Canada Inc. (formerly AREVA), another with Azincourt Energy, and one recently signed with Australian-listed Valor Resources.

These partners fund exploration and pay usin cash and sharesto earn a majority interest in the projects. Skyharbour also owns the Falcon Point Uranium Project, which has an NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource.

Peter Epstein: Lithium, cobalt and silver prices have more than doubled from multi-year lows, copper and tin are at, or near, 10-year highs. Yet, U3O8 prices are down ~60% from the low $70s/lb 10 years ago! What will it take to get the spot uranium price above $40/lb?

Jordan Trimble: Yes, uranium prices are well off the levels of 10 years ago, but the spot price has been trending higher from a low of ~$18/lb in 2016. Still, the current price of ~$31/lb is below the industry average all-in cost of uranium production, and well below the price needed to incentivize new projects to come online.

While some globally significant projects could be viable at $40$50/lb, most need at least $60/lb. Low prices over the past five years led to a major supply-side response, resulting in a primary mine supply deficit of 30-40M pounds of uranium/year.

Fuel buyers and utilities are covering this shortfall by drawing down inventories and acquiring material in the spot market, but this approach is clearly not sustainable. As the market tightens, there will eventually be strong upward pressure on prices, forcing the spot price back above $40/lb.

UxC Consulting reports that U.S. utilities have been contracting at an average of ~75M pounds/year from 2014-2019far below normal. More than 50% of reactor requirements after 2027 are not yet covered by long-term contracts. This is highly unusual.

We're seeing more uranium purchases from mining, development and physical holding companies. Companies like Denison Mines, UEC, Boss, Yellowcake and others have recently raised capital to acquire uranium.

This, in addition to the two largest producers, Cameco and Kazatomprom, that have been purchasing uranium to make up for curtailed production.

In the face of weak prices, Cameco announced production cuts and closed its McArthur River/Key Lake facilities in January 2018. Operations remain suspended. In early 2017, Kazatomprom cut company-wide uranium production by 20%. In May 2017, the state-run producer cut production further. Those substantial cuts have been extended into 2022.

The global pandemic further exacerbated the supply/demand cycle last year as ~50% of worldwide primary mine supply was offline at one point or another. Canada's Cigar Lake, Kazakhstan's operations and the Chinese-owned Husab and Rossing mines in Namibiaall experienced supply disruptionsillustrating that risks to supply far exceed risks to demand.

Peter Epstein: I'm hearing more and more about the prospects for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). What's the latest news on the SMR front?

Jordan Trimble: Most nations with nuclear programs have allocated funding towards developing SMRs. The U.S. has the Advanced Small Modular Reactor R&D subprogram with the goal of reinvigorating and reversing the downward market trajectory of its nuclear power sector. Bill Gates' TerraPower is one of the leading companies in the space.

Canada has recently announced that it will compete to be a global leader in SMR technologies with its December 2020 Action Plan. Some industry pundits strongly believe SMRs are the future of nuclear power. They certainly could help solve the two most challenging issues to the more widespread, eager adoption of nuclear energy; time and money.

Peter Epstein: Analyst's views on the global penetration of EVs for 2026 range from about 1215% vs. just 23% today. How much could EVs move the needle of electricity demand?

Jordan Trimble: The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) recently estimated that electrifying all ~ 251 million light duty vehicles in the U.S. would increase annual electricity demand by ~25%. Nuclear power will have to play a significant role in meeting increased electricity consumption as it's the only source of clean, base load (24/7), reliable, affordable power.

I should add it's not just the electrification of transportation, it's also the 'Internet of Things,' the dynamic where so many devices are being connected to the Internet, each needing more electricity to operate.

Peter Epstein: It appears that the nuclear and uranium mining industries have garnered ESG investor interest; can you comment on this?

Jordan Trimble: Yes, this has certainly been a catalyst in our industry over the past six months or so. We have seen a positive change in sentiment around nuclear energy and uranium mining as ESG-focused investors are waking up to the simple fact that the world needs nuclear power if we're serious about combating climate change.

Many countries have set goals of becoming carbon neutral over the next 3040 years. Furthermore, the U.S. rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, and President Biden's potential $1.7 trillion climate change program, would greatly benefit the nuclear power industry.

Peter Epstein: For the past few years there's been talk about the U.S. government supporting domestic uranium players. Where does that initiative stand? Might Canadian companies like Skyharbour benefit from any action taken by the U.S. government?

Jordan Trimble: Now that we have some resolution to the Section 232 and Nuclear Fuel Working Group as well as the extension and amendment to the Russian Suspension Agreement, those clouds have been lifted. This will allow U.S. utilities to come back to the market to sign long-term contracts.

However, the U.S. does not have the production capacity to meet even a small portion of its annual requirements. It would take more than five years for U.S. producers to ramp up to 20% of the country's annual consumption. Canadian companies have an opportunity to step in as reliable, secure sources of uranium, right across the border.

Canada will continue to be an important source of uranium for U.S. utilities increasingly weary of relying too heavily on supply from Kazakhstan, Africa or Russia.

Peter Epstein: Your team believes you could be close to discovering something meaningful in the basement rocks at your flagship Moore Uranium project. What's your latest thinking on this?

Jordan Trimble: We already intersected grades up to 21% U3O8 in the sandstone right above the unconformity at the Main Maverick Zone. These high-grade uranium lenses or pods at the unconformity are very interesting.

We believe they're the product of feeder zones bringing mineralization up from larger/higher-grade zones in the basement rocks. We intend to drill-test these basement targets this year using a new geological model that will increase the chance of us finding what we're looking for. Our goal is finding a resource of 50+ million pounds of uranium at Moore.

Peter Epstein: What's the total amount of cash that will be spent on the Moore Uranium Project and your other projects in 2021?

Jordan Trimble: We're planning for a 3,000 meter spring drill program at Moore to test targets at the Maverick Corridor, which will cost about C$1M. Once we interpret the results and previous geophysical data, we will choose targets for a summer/fall drill program, of similar size to the spring program, for a total budget of C$2M.

The other projects that we have JV partnerships on are predominantly funded by partner companies. We have JVs with Orano and Azincourt at our Preston and East Preston projects whereby $4.8M and $2.5M has been spent in exploration expenditures, respectively.

Azincourt recently completed a winter drill program at East Preston with results pending and they have plans for a summer program. Over at our Hook Lake Project (previously called North Falcon Point), our partner Valor Resources is planning a multi-phased exploration program.

They hope to complete an 80% earn-in of the project over the next three years by spending C$3.5M in exploration expenditures, paying us C$475k in cash, and issuing Skyharbour 233,333,333 shares of Valor. {currently worth about C$2M}

Peter Epstein: Mobilization has begun for Skyharbour's 2021 geophysical and diamond drilling programs at its flagship 35,705-hectare Moore uranium project. What is the plan for the drilling and which zones are you targeting?

Jordan Trimble: The company has planned a small moving loop EM (electromagnetic) (SML-EM) geophysical program to refine additional drill targets and has begun mobilization of equipment for a 3,000 meter diamond drill program of 10 to 12 holes at Moore.

These fully financed and permitted programs will follow up on existing unconformity and basement-hosted targets along the high-grade Maverick structural corridor and identify new targets at the Grid Nineteen area. Other targets along the 4.7 km long corridor will be investigated, including the Esker target, again with a focus on basement-hosted mineralization.

We've been very pleased with the results to date at the Maverick East zone and we will continue to focus on the expansion of this high-grade zone along strike, down plunge and at depthwith a focus on basement-hosted mineralization.

Some of the better drill hole intersections in the Maverick East zone include ML-202, which returned 1.79% U3O8 over 11.5 m, incl. 4.17% U3O8 over 4.5 m and 9.12% U3O8 over 1.4 m, and the recently announced ML20-09, which hit 0.72% U3O8 over 17.5 m from 271.5 to 289.0 m, incl. 1.00% U3O8 over 10.0 m in the basement portion of the interval (279.0 to 289.0 m).

Peter Epstein: Thank you, Jordan, I look forward to seeing your drilling progress at Moore this year, and the drilling done by your partners on other projects.

Peter Epstein is the founder of Epstein Research. His background is in company and financial analysis. He holds an MBA degree in financial analysis from New York University's Stern School of Business.

[NLINSERT]

Disclosures: The content of this interview is for information only. Readers fully understand and agree that nothing contained herein, written by Peter Epstein of Epstein Research [ER], (together, [ER]) about Skyharbour Resources, including but not limited to, commentary, opinions, views, assumptions, reported facts, calculations, etc. is not to be considered implicit or explicit investment advice. Nothing contained herein is a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any security. [ER] is not responsible under any circumstances for investment actions taken by the reader. [ER] has never been, and is not currently, a registered or licensed financial advisor or broker/dealer, investment advisor, stockbroker, trader, money manager, compliance or legal officer, and does not perform market making activities. [ER] is not directly employed by any company, group, organization, party or person. The shares of Skyharbour Resources are highly speculative, not suitable for all investors. Readers understand and agree that investments in small cap stocks can result in a 100% loss of invested funds. It is assumed and agreed upon by readers that they will consult with their own licensed or registered financial advisors before making any investment decisions.

At the time this interview was posted, Peter Epstein owned no shares in Skyharbour Resources, and Skyharbour was an advertiser on [ER].

Readers understand and agree that they must conduct their own due diligence above and beyond reading this article. While the author believes he's diligent in screening out companies that, for any reasons whatsoever, are unattractive investment opportunities, he cannot guarantee that his efforts will (or have been) successful. [ER] is not responsible for any perceived, or actual, errors including, but not limited to, commentary, opinions, views, assumptions, reported facts and financial calculations, or for the completeness of this article or future content. [ER] is not expected or required to subsequently follow or cover events and news, or write about any particular company or topic. [ER] is not an expert in any company, industry sector or investment topic.

Streetwise Reports Disclosure:

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2) The following companies mentioned in the article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Skyharbour Resources. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. Please click here for more information. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. As of the date of this article, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports has a consulting relationship with Azincourt Energy. Please click here for more information.

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5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Skyharbour Resources and Azincourt Energy, companies mentioned in this article.
Huge changes to Australia's workplace laws are set to alter the office dynamic around the country for good with unwanted flirting becoming grounds for termination.

The Morrison government has released its long-awaited response to the Australian Human Rights Commission's Respect@Work report, accepting all 55 recommendations either wholly or in principle.

The grounds for serious misconduct across all workplaces will be changed to include sexual harassment, meaning it will be a valid reason for dismissal from June.

The coalition has been under enormous pressure to take action to address women's safety after a series of sexual harassment claims rocked federal politics, including the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the changes were about changing the culture of Australian workplaces to keep all people safe.

'Sexual harassment is unacceptable,' he said in Canberra on Thursday.

'It's not only immoral and despicable and even criminal, but particularly in the context of the Respect at Work report, it denies Australians, especially women, not just their personal security but their economic security.'

Daily Mail Australia has compiled the definitive list of everything you need to know about the new changes - and what it means for your workplace.

FLIRTING

If deemed harassment, unwanted flirting or compliments - whether in the office or at a work event - will now be grounds for misconduct.

The prime minister was on Thursday asked about instances where people sometimes 'struggle' to know the difference between flirting and sexual harassment.

He responded: 'I think in many cases, we're dealing with unconscious behaviour and we want to help inform that behaviour.

'I think people will happily change their behaviour if they were aware that some of their unconscious acts could be leading to that sense of hurt or dismissal with their fellow Australians.'

Mr Morrison said there were other instances that are 'malevolent' and 'predatory'.

'In other cases, it's violent and I think those - those lines are a lot clearer and I think what we're doing here today brings further force to deal particularly with those types of behaviours,' he said.

The definition of serious misconduct across all workplaces will be changed to include sexual harassment, which will also be a valid reason for dismissal (stock image)

TWO YEARS TO COMPLAIN

Under human rights laws, the scope for complaints will be extended to two years from six months to give victims more time to come forward.

Senator Michaelia Cash said: 'As you know, victims don't necessarily come forward in that six month period.'

'We're going to extend that out to 24 months to enable them and give them the time they may need to come forward.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured on Thursday) said the changes were about changing the culture of Australian workplaces to keep all people safe

HISTORICAL COMPLAINTS

The Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces report also recommended the establishment of a disclosure process that enables victims of historical workplace sexual harassment matters 'to have their experience heard and documented'.

'As well as this Inquiry, other significant inquiries have demonstrated that outside of any formal complaint handling process, there is a healing power in having one's experience heard,' the report reads.

'More importantly, these inquiries have demonstrated that individual stories provide an understanding of what has happened in the past and present and can enable identification of future reforms so that such incidents and systemic wrongs are not repeated.'

The Australian Human Rights Commission also heard that while listening to victims experiences was 'confronting' it was also 'beneficial'.

The Morrison government has released its long-awaited response to the Respect at Work report, accepting all 55 recommendations either wholly or in principle (stock image)

WORK PARTIES

Work events are extensions of the workplace according to the Commission, meaning unwanted attention at the Christmas party could also constitute serious misconduct.

The 2018 National Survey found that one in four people who experienced workplace sexual harassment in the last five years said the most recent incident happened at a social area for workers.

The Commission was also told about victims being harassed in lunchrooms, cafes during work lunches, at bars during work dinners and after-work drinks and at Christmas parties.

Work events are extensions of the workplace according to the Commission, meaning unwanted attention at the Christmas party could also constitute serious misconduct (stock image)

CHANGING THE WAY WE SPEAK

Senator Cash on Thursday said another aim is to change the way Australians speak about women in daily conversation.

She said phrases like 'don't chuck like a girl' should be stamped out.

'That was one of the ones where growing up people may have said that, but we now know it has connotations. Do not say it,' she said.

Mr Morrison urged Aussies from all walks of life to talk about what is acceptable to say.

'I was recently at a game and there was an older couple sitting next to me watching the game. I heard something the husband said to the wife about what she had said, and he said, ''We can't say that anymore.'' I went, ''That's what we were talking about'' it wasn't angry, it wasn't dismissive, it wasn't  it was respectful, it was positive,' he said.

'I think that's the sort of conversation that we have to have in our relationships, in our communities, in our homes, in our clubs, in our churches, wherever you happen to be. We've just got to have these conversations and people need to understand in our own workplaces what is OK, what's not OK.'

What is sexual harassment? Sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance, unwelcome request for sexual favours or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature in circumstances where a reasonable person, having regard to all the circumstances, would anticipate the possibility that the person harassed would be offended, humiliated or intimidated. Sexual harassment can include: unwelcome touching, hugging, cornering or kissing inappropriate staring or leering suggestive comments or jokes using suggestive or sexualised nicknames for co-workers sexually explicit pictures, posters or gifts circulating sexually explicit material persistent unwanted invitations to go out on dates requests or pressure for sex intrusive questions or comments about a person's private life or body insults or taunts based on sex Unnecessary familiarity, such as deliberately brushing up against a person sexual gestures or indecent exposure following, watching or loitering nearby another person sexually explicit or indecent physical contact sexually explicit or indecent emails, phone calls, text messages or online interactions repeated or inappropriate advances online threatening to share intimate images or film without consent actual or attempted rape or sexual assault Source: Safe Work Australia Advertisement

Australians should also aim to change the way they speak about others, specifically their language when it comes to women (stock image)

MPS AND JUDGES

Politicians and judges will be subject to the same sexual harassment laws as the wider population.

Ms Cash said including MPs and judges in sexual harassment laws would expose them to existing complaints processes.

'We'll be subject to the same law as anybody else, which means you'll be subject to the same consequences,' she said.

The coalition has been under enormous pressure to address women's safety after recent rape and sexual harassment allegations rocked federal politics.

Almost 40 per cent of women and more than a quarter of men experience sexual harassment at work in the past five years, according to the latest data.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins handed her report to the government in January last year.

It sparked a wave of major protests across the country and prompted questions about why the government's response to the report took so long.

Mr Morrison said money to support the recommendations would be included in next month's federal budget.

The government is aiming for a package of legislation to be introduced to parliament this year.

CHANGES TO SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT The Commission recommended the below changes to the Sex Discrimination Act: 'Workplace' includes all people in the world of work, including those who are paid, unpaid and self-employed

Public servants are covered

Creating or facilitating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or offensive environment on the basis of sex is expressly prohibited. Advertisement
The was denied permission to hold a roadshow of Bollywood superstar Mithun Chakraborty, who had recently joined the saffron camp, in Behala area of the city on Thursday, following which a group of party activists held a demonstration in front of a police station.

The agitation was led by actor-turned-politician Srabanti Chatterjee, who is contesting from the Behala Paschim assembly constituency on a ticket, party sources said.

"The Kolkata Police did not allow our leader to campaign for me in the constituency without citing any reason.

"The Trinamool Congress cannot avert its imminent loss by such an undemocratic act of preventing us from campaigning. Is the state government scared of losing power?," the popular Bengali actor said.

The saffron party activists shouted slogans against the ruling TMC in front of the Parnasree Police Station.

sources said the party sought permission to hold a door-to-door campaign by the Bollywood superstar in the Behala area after the city police had cancelled its roadshow plea on Wednesday night.

"The door-to-door campaign by him was also not granted at the last minute," they claimed.

The Kolkata Police declined to make any comment on the issue.

The BJP candidate later took out a roadshow in the constituency where the National Award-winning actor was not present.

The actor-turned-BJP candidate is pitted against TMC heavyweight and West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee who is seeking re-election from the Behala Paschim constituency.

"We have nothing to do with any programme of We know that the TMC has support of the people of Behala. The BJP candidate is doing drama," a leader of the ruling party said.

Chakraborty, however, led a roadshow in Tollygunj constituency for Union minister and BJP's candidate Babul Supriyo.

(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 official death toll of the coronavirus pandemic continues to spiral to staggering heights. In the United States, more than 570,000 lives have been lost to the disease. Worldwide, the number exceeds 2,890,000. Daily case and death counts are rising internationally as the continued spread of new and more infectious variants threatens to exceed last years fall surge.

Moreover, the actual number of deaths attributed to the disease and its consequences is in reality far higher. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently revealed that the number of excess deaths in 2020, those deaths above what was expected based on averages from previous years, exceeded 503,000, 42 percent more than the officially recorded coronavirus deaths from last year.

COVID-19 patient Efrain Molina, center, gets a fist bump from nurse leader Edgar Ramirez at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the Mission Hills section of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

But even this massive death toll is only one reflection of the reality of the pandemic. Just as millions of people have died, tens of millions more have and continue to suffer from what, in a rational society, would be a preventable disease.

Among them are the many children who have lost a parent to the coronavirus. An article in JAMA Pediatrics written by Rachel Kidman and her colleagues published Monday reveals that an estimated 37,300 to 43,000 children in the US now suffer from parental bereavement as a result of the pandemic, three-quarters of whom are adolescents. In contrast, about 20,000 American children lost a parent as a result of the Vietnam War.

And as Kidman notes, these are only children who have lost a parent, not another relative or person who is their primary caregiver, nor did they look at the impact of the many thousands of parents who have lost children, or the broader circle of friends, co-workers and family that knew those who died.

Kidman and her coauthors also note the dangers of failing to contain the disease. If left unchecked, her team estimated that there will be a total of 1.5 million pandemic-related deaths in the US, leaving behind 116,900 parentally bereaved children. In other words, if society is to live with the disease, as is now being promoted by the political, corporate and media officialdom, at least 75,000 to 80,000 more youth must grow up having lost at least one parent to the coronavirus.

It is this arithmetic, however, that is being pushed by the Biden administration as it calls for the full reopening of in-person learning at schools, while at the same time steadily abandoning safety guidelines. Schools have been shown to be among the chief way the pandemic spreads, through both teachers and students, and are especially dangerous now that, according to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, the [more contagious and deadly] B.1.1.7 variant is now the most common lineage circulating in the United States.

Moreover, whatever the cynical claims by the Biden administration of the costs on the childrens education and mental health, that cost is already enormous. New findings published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal found that, among more than 236,000 COVID-19 patients in the US, 34 percent were diagnosed with a neurological or psychiatric condition within six months of their initial infection. Common symptoms included anxiety and mood disorders, while seven percent had a stroke and another seven percent developed substance abuse disorders. For thirteen percent of those in the study, this was their first recorded neurological or psychiatric diagnosis.

Generalizing to all those who had the coronavirus, these results suggest that more than 45 million people have or will acquire a neurological or mental health problem as a result of COVID-19.

Research has also documented further long-term effects caused by the coronavirus well after patients have recovered. Physicians at Danderyd Hospital and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that 11 percent of people who had just mild cases of COVID-19 still suffer from loss of smell, loss of taste or fatigue eight months after contracting the disease, significantly impairing their ongoing health and quality of life.

Other reports have documented different aspects of what is being termed post-viral or Long COVID syndrome. Last summer, more than 87 percent of patients released from hospitals in Italy reported having at least one of the followingfatigue, shortness of breath, joint pain and chest painmore than two months after symptoms of the coronavirus itself began. A study in China found similar conditions for at least six months after COVID-19 patients were discharged. Even those who contracted the disease but were asymptomatic have developed these health problems.

Such studies paint a grim picture beyond the 133 million people that have contracted a potentially deadly illness. They reveal tens of millions of survivors that live daily with the possibility of chronic and extraordinary health problems for months, and tens of millions more wonder if they were unknowingly exposed and will contract, or perhaps have already contracted a debilitating symptom that will be with them for months.

It is also unclear when, or even if, such long-term symptoms will end. This virus is at best estimates only 18 months old, which means no one knows what the long-term effects will be after 10, 20 or 30 years. The physical and mental health of millions have been potentially permanently ruined, with devastating and limitless costs.

In the calculation of the financial oligarchy and the government that serves it, such considerations are of no consequence. The deaths and long-term illnesses are just statistics. But these were in fact hundreds of thousands of living, breathing human beings, murdered by criminal policies of Republican and Democratic administrations, and millions more are now forced to languish.

The argument put forward by every capitalist government in Europe and the United Statesthat society must live with the viruscomes at an unacceptable cost in lives, in health, and in heartache. No, humanity cannot live with this virus, and it cannot live with the capitalist social order that refuses to contain it.
Al Baraka Islamic Bank (AIB), a leading financial institution in Bahrain, has announced a first-of-its-kind financing offer in the kingdom, in partnership with Bahrain's Ministry of Housing and Eskan Bank.

Under this package, Al Baraka Islamic will provide funding to its customers for the purchase of housing plots, while the finance for the construction work will come from the ministry and Eskan Bank.

The partnership between AIB and Ministry of Housing /Eskan Bank will enable valued customers to benefit from this programme to obtain financing for leasing ending with ownership.

Through this scheme, AIB's customers are getting a golden opportunity to purchase the land and construct their homes, it stated.

On the novel offer, Tariq Mahmood Kazim, General Manager (Business Group) said: "Al Baraka Islamic Bank is extremely pleased with the partnership with housing ministry and Eskan and the special package that will provide beneficiaries the unique opportunity to not only purchase residential lands but also build their homes."

"This offer comes in line with our efforts to provide diversified real estate financing solutions that meet the needs and aspiration of the public. We are confident that such solutions will win the satisfaction and admiration of our valued customers," stated Kazim.

"Moreover, we are proud of our fruitful relationship with Ministry of Housing/Eskan Bank and look forward to working with them closely to achieve the housing development goals as outlined in the Economic Vision 2030," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Located about 50 miles south of Sicily in the Mediterranean, Malta is a small archipelago that boasts a Mediterranean climate with over 300 sunny days per year, a top-ranked healthcare system and some of the world's best diving locations. With a primarily English-speaking population it is the perfect location for tourism; shown by its growing popularity year on year.

As of June, eighteen airlines, including Air Malta, are expected to fly to Malta this summer, making up some 70% of the routes the island had back in 2019. Four of these airlines are new, while tourism authorities are also in "advanced talks" with a further four airlines who are interested in opening up routes to Malta. In tandem with airplanes, cruise liners will also continue their service this summer, with no less than 34 port calls scheduled until the end of June.

"We will have 18 airlines coming to Malta this summer, with four of them being new operators. Airlines are the "lungs" of the tourism sector and they cannot be forgotten." - Minister Bartolo announced.

The Maltese government is also in discussions with the European Commission in the hopes of allowing 'green' passports for those who are vaccinated, allowing them to travel within Malta without any restrictions. The plan, as outlined by Minister Bartolo, is that vaccinated tourists will be able to visit Malta free of restrictions by presenting a digital "green passport" on arrival, while non-vaccinated tourists will need to submit a negative PCR COVID-19 test, taken a few hours before their arrival.

Malta has managed to handle the COVID-19 pandemic in a manner which was praised by the World Health Organisation, the EU and even the Commonwealth. As of writing, Malta is one of the highest vaccinated summer destinations in Europe, with over 40 doses of the vaccine carried out per 100 population. The average numbers of daily infections are hitting all-time lows for 2021, with less than 100 daily cases.

"All our decisions strive to find a balance and give priority to the health of Maltese citizens and the tourists who will come into our country", Minister Bartolo concluded in his announcement.

To find out more on the latest travel guidelines and tourist updates for Malta visit: https://www.visitmalta.com/en/home

Note to the Editor:

Please find the photo library under this link: https://webtek-global.com/mta-assets

Kindly include links to visitmalta.com and airmalta.com

SOURCE VisitMalta.com; Maltese Tourism Authority
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Bible Colleges.

Intelligent.com analyzed 201 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 59 making it to the final list for Online Bible Colleges. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-bible-colleges/

2021 Online Bible Colleges featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Appalachian Bible College

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

Baptist University

Barclay College

Belhaven University

Bethel College

Bethel University

Biola University

Brescia University

Bryan College

Campbellsville University

Central Christian College of the Bible

Chaminade University of Honolulu

Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary

Clarks Summit University

Clear Creek Baptist Bible College

College of Biblical Studies, Houston

Columbia International University

Cornerstone University

Crown College

Dallas Baptist University

Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Faulkner University

Florida International University

Gods Bible School and College

Grace Christian University

Grace College

Grand Canyon University

Houston Baptist University

Johnson University

LeTourneau University

Liberty University

Lincoln Christian University

Manna University

Maranatha Baptist University

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary & College

Missouri Baptist University

Montreat College

Moody Bible Institute

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

North Central University

North Greenville University

Oral Roberts University

Ouachita Baptist University

Ozark Christian College

Roberts Wesleyan College

Saint Joseph's College of Maine

South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary

Southeastern Baptist College

Southern California Seminary

Southwestern Christian University

Taylor University

The Baptist College of Florida

The Masters University

Trinity Bible College and Graduate School

Trinity International University

University of the Cumberlands

Welch 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/.
New Delhi:

In a major achievement, Ludhiana Police arrested seven members of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) on Saturday.

It was a combined operation of Ludhiana Police and Counter Intelligence Wing of Punjab Police. Five of the arrested accused are between the age of 18 and 23 years, including a class XI student, a Granthi at a Gurudwara, and a minor.

According to an investigating official, an England-based active member of BKI Surinder Singh Babbar had approached them through social media site Facebook to carry out terrorist activities in Punjab.

Anti-Khalistan and anti-Sikhs groups which are active on social networking sites were their targets and they were planning a big strike in Punjab.

"The Babbar Khalsa International was planning to carry out subversive activities in Punjab for which the active member of BKI in England, Surinder Singh Babbar, picked these seven people from different districts of Punjab. He approached them through social networking sites and emotionally provoked them to be a part of the terrorist organization," said Commissioner of police R N Dhoke.

The arrested accused have no criminal background He added, "Though the arrested accused have no criminal background, and they have joined the terrorist organization couple of months ago, they were preparing for a big strike in Punjab. They had also held a few meetings in Ludhiana for the same purpose."



The police recovered one .32 bore pistol, 20 cartridges, and two .315 bore country-made pistols with 13 cartridges.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-09 01:03:34|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- President Joe Biden's National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan expressed U.S. concern over the crisis in the Tigray region to Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, the White House said on Thursday.

In a Wednesday phone call with Mekonnen, Sullivan "expressed the Biden Administration's grave concern about the continued humanitarian and human rights crisis in the Tigray region," the White House said in a statement.

The two discussed critical steps to address the crisis, including expanded humanitarian access, cessation of hostilities, departure of foreign troops, and independent investigations into atrocities and human rights violations, the statement added.

Sullivan and Mekonnen also discussed the importance of continued dialogue among regional leaders, with the support of the African Union, to peacefully resolve current disputes related to the Fashaga border and the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Ethiopia, which started building the GERD in 2011, expects to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity from the dam project, while Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for its freshwater, are concerned that the dam might affect their share of the water resources.

Since September 2020, the Fashaga area along the Sudan-Ethiopia border has been witnessing rising tensions and deadly skirmishes between the two sides. Sudan accuses Ethiopian farmers, backed by armed forces, of seizing Sudanese lands along the border and cultivating them since 1995.

Fighting that erupted in early November last year in Ethiopia's Tigray between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which used to rule the regional state, and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces has left thousands of people killed and caused immense losses in the region.

According to Ethiopian government figures, the conflict in Tigray has displaced around 2.2 million people, while 4.5 million people are in need of emergency aid. Enditem
Abdullah Abdul-Gawad described gruelling 21-hour days of work on the mission

The workman who drove the Suez Canal digger has said that he is owed overtime after getting by on just three hours of sleep.

Excavator operator Abdullah Abdul-Gawad has told how he and his colleagues worked 21-hour days after the Ever Given, a skyscraper-size container ship, became stuck in the canal on March 23.

According to Abdul-Gawad, he and his colleagues would catch three hours of sleep at night at the most.

Excavator operator Abdullah Abdul-Gawad (pictured) has told how he and his colleagues worked 21-hour days after the Ever Given, a skyscraper-size container ship, became stuck in the canal on March 23

One night, he only took one hour of sleep. Yet he claims he has not yet been compensated financially for working overtime.

Speaking to Business Insider, he said he feared that the lodged ship could destabilize and collapse onto the workers at any moment.

'The thing is, I was terrified that the ship might list too far to one side or the other,' he said.

'Because if it fell onto its side on me, then it's goodbye me, and goodbye excavator.'

He added that the size of the ship compared to the size of the excavator was 'absolutely terrifying'.

A backhoe trying to dig out the keel of the Ever Given, a Panama-flagged cargo ship, that was wedged across the Suez Canal and blocking traffic in the vital waterway on March 25

The vessel was finally dislodged on March 29 after a specialized dredger boat called the Mashhour was deployed.

Abdul-Gawad helped to shift rock and sand material from the ship's bow while the Mashhour dislodged the silt from the canal bed.

The excavator operator said that he and his men were left 'half-dead with exhaustion' by the end of the mission, although he added that he felt immense pride at what had been accomplished during those days.

'It's an achievement for Egypt first, but it's an achievement for me as well.

'This is something that happens maybe once in a lifetime or, you know, maybe twice. It's something to be proud of,' he told the publication.
NEW HAVEN  A mobile COVID-19 vaccination unit for city residents is ongoing on the Green, with a goal to vaccinate a thousand residents Thursday and Friday, according to officials

City Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana said the effort is a collaboration between the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the state, the city and Griffin Health.

Its meant to vaccinate underserved populations that may not have transportation, Fontana said.

He said people should call or schedule an appointment online and it is exclusive to New Haven residents.

Alex Sinha, 37, who was in line Thursday morning, said, Ive been waiting for a while.

Im in the lowest age band with a vulnerable child at home, Sinha said.

Sinha said he will continue to be conservative at home while they wait for a pediatric vaccine.

He and his wife were scheduled through Yale, but Griffin Hospital called them and said there was something closer to them, on the Green.

Joe Carmichael, 52, who also was waiting, said it was his birthday. A news crew learned this and led the line in singing Happy Birthday to him. He said he was scheduled to get a shot in two weeks from yesterday, but I got lucky that Griffin Hospital called him to schedule this. He said he is looking forward to the future after this.

Thats why Im getting this shot: to keep on living, Carmichael said.

Robert OMara, spokesman for Griffin Hospital, said early Thursday afternoon the clinic was expected to administer 500 vaccine doses by the end of the day, and another 500 on Friday.

Hospital and city officials made extensive efforts to spread the word about the event, according to OMara, including email blasts to hard-hit neighborhoods and robocalls from the mayor and the hospital.

One person who heard about the clinic was Etta McKnight, who said she did not make an appointment but decided stop by the Green, where she was able to get her vaccine.

She had been trying on and off for a couple of weeks to get vaccinated without success, she said, adding that the Vaccine Administration Management System was not very easy to use.

But one thing was easy for McKnight: getting the shot itself.

It was simple, McKnight said. I said, youre done? She said, yeah.

With protection against the virus, McKnight looked forward to going to her grandsons college graduation in North Carolina in May, she said.

I had a dream years ago, and the dream is being fulfilled, McKnight said.

As for those with appointments, city spokesman Gage Frank said 840 vaccinations had been scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Despite a 20-minute issue with VAMS, he continued, operations had gone smoothly.

Eighty-eight sign-ups came after a Red Cross canvassing event over the weekend, according to Frank.

Mayor Justin Elicker said at a press conference at the clinic that he had attended the canvassing event, part of an effort to ensure that equity is at the forefront of our response to COVID-19.

Im so proud of the fact that we have focused on historically underserved communities throughout this pandemic, and continue to do so today.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, who also spoke at event, said Connecticut was the first state chosen to host FEMA mobile clinics.

Forty percent of state residents had been fully vaccinated, according to Bysiewicz, who said 60 percent were expected to have at least a first dose by the end of the month.

City, state and federal officials will visit a mobile vaccination unit on the city Green, sharing the news that residents can be inoculated against the coronavirus there.

Health Director Maritza Bond, Dan McElhinney, the acting deputy regional administrator for FEMA, and Patrick Charmel, CEO of Griffin Hospital, also visited the clinic.

Today is a special day because just six months ago we were here testing at this very site, and now we are here, six months later, offering vaccinations without partners, and that right there is celebration-worthy, Bond said.

The site will operate Thursday, April 8, and Friday, April 9, from 10AM to 5PM on the New Haven Green. Vaccinations at this site are for New Haven residents only, Frank said in an email.

To schedule an appointment for the clinics on the Green, New Haven, residents are encouraged to call Griffin Hospital at 855-691-6369 or visit www.griffinhealth.org/newhaven.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
President Trump tried to make a big deal about Joe Biden's plan to federally mandate cheap apartments with low-income residents into suburban single-family zones. The claim was that it would achieve "equality." The unstated plan was "more Democrat voters."

Trump warned of it as a scheme to end the suburbs, and it turns out he was right. Biden's $3.2-trillion infrastructure plan sneaks that leftist dream scheme into its thousands of pages of legislation, instead of letting the bad idea die on its own through a true congressional vote.

The New York Post warned in 2020 that the whole scheme is "disastrous."

Biden and the equality warriors are using accusations of racism to accomplish something different. Their message is: You worked and saved to move to the suburbs, but you can't have that way of life unless everyone else can, too.

The wisdom of tightly packing them in in the Age of COVID is quite an idiocy, but as the summer of 2020 riots demonstrated, COVID precautions are unimportant when the issue is "racism," which this Biden federal takeover of housing zonings was supposed to cure.

Back on the 2020 campaign trail, as Trump went out (and Biden hid in his basement), Trump tried to warn them, though nobody much paid attention.

The Associated Press, in a disdainful piece, reported that Trump tweeted:

The Suburban Housewives of America must read this article. Biden will destroy your neighborhood and your American Dream. I will preserve it, and make it even better! https://t.co/1NzbR57Oe6  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2020

Besides being disdainful, the AP report was dishonest. The AP "fact check" item falsely claimed, in the nut graf, no less, that Biden had absolutely no plan to abolish the suburbs, none, and had plenty to suggest, via convenient quotes, that anyone who thought so was a Trumpy conspiracy theorist and, a above all, a racist.

Biden does not propose banishing single-family homes. Nor would he get rid of the suburbs.

Oh, but he does, he does. He just doesn't say so openly.

Buried deep in Biden's monster $2.3-trillion "infrastructure" stimulus package is a sneaky little notation that would mandate a federal takeover for local zoning for any district that takes the proffered federal money, coming off such zones' already paid taxes.

According to Stanley Kurtz, writing at National Review:

With the introduction of his massive, $2.3 trillion "infrastructure" bill, President Biden's campaign to end suburban single-family zoning has begun. If you think this issue was debated and resolved during the 2020 presidential campaign, you are mistaken. It's true that Biden's campaign platform openly and unmistakably pledged to abolish single-family zoning. As soon as President Trump made an issue of that pledge, however, Biden went virtually silent on the issue and the Democrat-supporting press falsely denied that Biden had any designs on single-family zoning at all. Now that he's president, Biden's infrastructure bill openly includes programs designed to "eliminate" single-family zoning (which Biden calls "exclusionary zoning").

Kurtz's account is a total green-eyeshade number made easily readable, explaining that Biden's plan is to abolish single-family zoning by holding out the carrot of federal funding to suburban towns.

The wildly overreaching Obama-Biden era Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) regulation  which Biden has pledged to revive  works in a similar fashion. The difference is that by adding another gigantic pot of federal money to the Community Development Block Grants that are the lure of AFFH, Biden makes it that much harder for suburbs to resist applying  and that much more punishing to jurisdictions that forgo a share of the federal taxes they've already paid so as to protect their right to self-rule.

In other words, take the king's penny, do the king's bidding. The Biden plan would nationalize zoning in the hands of the feds (just as the feds would take over elections with the congressional Democrats' despicable H.R. 1), meaning that anyone who would like the peace of living in the suburbs, and might enjoy seeing his kids go out and ride bikes without supervision, is s[ooo] out of luck. The feds would take over in what they claim is the name of racial "balancing."

The racial balancing claim is gallingly dishonest. The suburbs are not segregated by race, or because "George Wallace is blocking the door," as Dr. Ben Carson, M.D. noted, but a function of who can afford a single-family home. Unfortunately, that takes education, hard work, degrees, schools that teach, savings, and putting off pleasures. Many lower-income people are deprived of that, particularly if they are stuck in Democrat teachers' unionled zero-excellence schools and can't get out.

But there are many non-white people who nevertheless do. Consistent with what even Biden himself said on the campaign trail in one of his rare, out-of-the-basement appearances, the suburbs are not a bastion of whites. The Atlantic Monthly noted it here. Pew Research noted it in a research study here. The composition of the suburbs, as a whole, comes very close to the racial composition of the U.S. as a whole.

This account, from the lefty Conversation site by an Eastern Michigan U professor, notes with academic rigor these very stats:

Suburbs are being transformed by a number of different forces. For example, white Americans are getting older and having fewer children than non-white Americans. At the same time, more black Americans are moving to the suburbs, thanks to increased income levels and decreasing rates of housing discrimination. These changes mean that both mature and developing suburbs are rapidly becoming less white. Non-Hispanic Asians and Hispanics accounted for the largest percentage increase of residents in both suburban types between 2000 and 2017. In developing suburbs, the number of non-Hispanic blacks also increased slightly during the same time period. Between 2000 and 2017, both suburban types also witnessed an increase in non-white immigrants who have been living in the U.S. for less than 10 years.

It certainly coincides with what anyone who has contact with suburbs would know.

So now Biden wants to rearrange the racial composition of America's neighborhoods through zoning.

I'd like to see them try that in my suburb-like neighborhood in San Diego, which is now majority Asian-American. What are they going to do, kick out some Asian-Americans and their kids to achieve racial balance? Most homeowners here are Vietnamese-American, the high-achieving children of the Vietnamese Boat People of the 1970s. Crime is virtually zero, and kids of all races freely play in the streets together with no hovering parents worried about criminals or perverts. But no matter: In Bidenworld, back in Washington, D.C. among the vast federal bureaucracies, there probably aren't enough black people (though there certainly aren't none, and many of the black people who live here moved in in the 1960s), in line with San Diego's general demographic profile.

San Diego, according to the Biden administration, would need 13% black people in line with the broad national average, even if such people would have to be imported from other parts of the country, or, this being Biden, maybe from abroad. The Vietnamese would have to go; they'd fill some slots in some other city with not enough Asian-Americans, see.

This sounds a lot like what the Soviets called tsentral planning. We all know how that worked out.

It's a pity, because the Democrats are determined to pass this spending monstrosity with all the federal power to meddle with local zoning as its add-on. The suburbs were warned they could kiss their safe neighborhoods goodbye, but many suburban voters who voted for Biden refused to heed it.

Now they're about to be altered by Biden, who's had the suburbs in his gun sights for months.

With racial segregation or "inequality" not a true issue, what could be the purpose of seeding every suburban town with densely packed urban housing and imported residents in the age of COVID? By abolishing local control, the plan was to create a federally mandated densely packed urban hipsterization of every town in America. It would force residents into public transit with zero alternatives, except for the very rich. And it would drive up taxes as suburbs would have to shell out for more roads, bigger water systems, bigger sewer lines, and more electrical infrastructure to accommodate all the non-paying low-income new arrivals. It would force increased budgets for schools, social welfare agencies, and mass transit. More than anything, it would create Democrat voters.

The idea has always been to turn the suburbs blue, washing out those red votes by bringing in indigents forever dependent on permanent government services as one more than whatever a suburb has. There's a surplus of such voters in the big cities, after all, so why not spread them out? A bonanza for developers with new housing contracts should lead to Democrat campaign donations, as well as canceling out conservative voting patterns.

Democrats are always first and foremost about perpetrating their own power, since their actual socialist ideas are no longer persuasive with voters. Even that was known before Biden brought in his Trojan horse for the suburbs. Democrats wrote about how the master plan to end local zoning was all about ending Texas's status as a red state. They knew, and what we can tell by that is that this re-zoning to them is ultra-important, not just for Texas, but for the entire country.

Now the Trojan horse is coming. The leftist ship is sailing. The leftist master plan is not racial inequality, which they thrive on, but to wipe out red suburban counties and turn them all blue.

Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License.
We know that some of our (House) colleagues were involved in that. They were giving speeches to the people that later came into the Capitol carrying the Confederate flag. We saw who did not vote for President (Joe) Bidens election to be certified. Its very difficult to work with people like that who are just being negative to be negative, she said.
Social media giant Twitter on April 8 launched an emoji for the Milk Tea Alliance which is a global online pro-democracy movement uniting anti-China campaigners in Hong Kong and Taiwan with those in Thailand, Myanmar. Marking the first anniversary of the movement, Twitters emoji launch was welcomed by several activists. The emoji consists of a white cup set against a background of three colours that represent the different shades of milk tea in Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Today we are launching an emoji for the #MilkTeaAlliance, an online solidarity alliance first started in April 2020 as a Twitter meme which has grown into a global pro-democracy movement led by activists and concerned citizens in  and around the world.  Twitter Public Policy (@Policy) April 8, 2021

To celebrate the first anniversary of the #MilkTeaAlliance, we designed an emoji featuring 3 different types of milk tea colours from regions where the Alliance first formed online. It automatically appears when you Tweet any of the hashtags below pic.twitter.com/QiIBBbKfQc  Twitter Public Policy (@Policy) April 8, 2021

Basically, the Milk Tea Alliance budded from a Twitter war that struck after Chinese nationalists accused a young Thai actor and his girlfriend of supporting democracy in Hong Kong and independence in a self-ruled democratic island, Taiwan. The pro-democracy online movement is named after a shared love for sweet tea drinks in all three places battling pro-Beijing influence.

In February, the use of the hashtag again sprang on social media following the military coup in Myanmar with demonstrators in the Southeast Asian country using the hashtag and rallying regional support. Apart from Milk Tea Alliance, Twitter has previously shown its support to other social movements with emojis for #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter.

Twitter in a statement said, To celebrate the first anniversary of the #MilkTeaAlliance, we designed an emoji featuring 3 different types of milk tea colours from regions where the Alliance first formed online.

We have seen more than 11 million Tweets featuring the #MilkTeaAlliance hashtag over the past year. Conversations peaked when it first appeared in April 2020, and again in February 2021 when the coup took place in MyanmarFlag of Myanmar, it added.

Activists hail Twitter for the move

Prominent activist including Joshua Wong, who became one of the many faces to lead Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement. One internet user wrote, Thank you Twitter for supporting Myanmar. Since Myanmar military has even imposed overnight internet shutdowns and mobile data restrictions to intensify its clampdown on anti-junta protesters. Myanmar forces have even ordered the local telecom service providers to block access to social media sites which demonstrators are now accessing with the help of reportedly foreign SIM cards.

"We strongly believe that having access to the free and #OpenInternet is an essential right and remain a staunch defender and advocate of free expression and condemn #InternetShutdowns," Twitter said in its announcement of the new emoji.

Always in solidarity, no matter how hard the times.#MilkTeaAlliance #  Joshua Wong   (@joshuawongcf) April 8, 2021

It is law now that I'll be tagging everything with #MilkTeaAlliance https://t.co/OPCK1UaRUd  Annie Lim (@ey_limannie) April 8, 2021

Image credits: AP/Unsplash
Former State Department special advisor for religious minorities under both the Obama and Trump administrations has released the following article on Newsweek, calling on the US to recognize the Armenian genocide:

History matters. It is time the United States calls the systematic murder of Armenians from 1915-23 a genocide. Doing so confirms the historical record and reaffirms the United States' commitment to those suffering from mass atrocities. April 24, the upcoming day remembering victims, provides President Joe Biden the right moment to set the historical record straight.

The history is sound. Based in present-day Turkey, the Ottoman Empire undertook a mass campaign of murder against Armenians, as well as Assyrians and Greeks, starting on April 24, 1915, running for eight years. Historians estimate 1.5 million Armenians died. It was no secret either. The New York Times wrote 145 articles in 1915 alone about the massacres.

The U.S. government knew as well. U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau documented the brutal violence he witnessed when traveling the Ottoman Empire's countryside. Morgenthau's memoirs described the plans of Turkish authorities as "giving the death warrant to a whole race; they understood this well, and in their conversations with me, they made no particular attempt to conceal the fact."

International law buttressed these claims. The U.N. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide defines the term genocide as any "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group" through killing, serious bodily harm and other means1.5 million Armenians killed meets this threshold.

There is no historical question of whether these atrocities happened. There is no legal question about what to call them. But there is a political question about what to say.

Not since President Ronald Reagan has the White House referred to the events of 1915 as the Armenian genocide, although both houses of Congress did vote overwhelmingly to pass the Armenian Genocide Resolution in 2019. As a senator, Biden vigorously supported recognition throughout his more than three decades in office. As a presidential candidate, he pledged to recognize the Armenian genocide, stating that "failing to remember ... only paves the way for future mass atrocities."

In the past, geo-strategic concerns trumped facts. While committed by an extinct empire, modern Turkey is adamantly opposed to the calling it a genocide. Turkey is a NATO ally, sitting at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Its borders touch the former Soviet Union, Iran, Iraq and Syria. It sits opposite Russia across the Black Sea and neighbors the European Union. We gave them a veto.

Regarding the Armenian genocide, President Biden is presented with a unique confluence of events allowing him to set the historical record straight. He leads a new administration while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan implements increasingly problematic policies. With this window of opportunity, now is the time to call a genocide a genocide. Waiting will only make things more complicated for the administration.

International politics aside, it is the right thing to do. A genocide happened. Using the "G" word describes the facts. Sure, some Turks won't like it and Erdogan will huff and puff, but many will agree it is true. The United States should not muzzle itself for short-term, ephemeral gains with an unsteady ally. We should prioritize enduring truth over worthless concessions. As then-candidate Biden said, "silence is complicity.

The Armenian genocide happened. Candidate Biden recognized this and I hope President Biden will say the same on April 24.
The Contra Costa County district attorney has filed murder and attempted murder charges against a 23-year-old man in an El Sobrante shooting last week that killed one person and sent another to the hospital with critical injuries, county sheriffs officials said Wednesday.

Pierre Jackson, who authorities say is from the Antioch and Brentwood areas, was arrested by homicide detectives on a warrant Monday in the shooting that killed Dejante Kennedy, 25, of Pittsburg, and critically injured another person, sheriffs officials said.
West Virginia Attorney General Threatens Lawsuit Against Biden Administration Over Gun Orders

West Virginias attorney general on Thursday threatened to sue the Biden administration over its gun control orders.

Defending the second amendment remains one of the most important priorities for the West Virginia Attorney Generals Office, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a statement. I will not allow the far left to run roughshod over our citizens gun rights. If President Biden follows through on his proposals, we will be in court very quickly.

Gun violence and the senseless death attributed to it should pain all Americans, however, the evil acts of a select few should never be a catalyst for stripping the lawful masses of their constitutional rights, especially their right to self-defense and to bear arms, he added.

The Biden administration moved on Thursday to limit so-called ghost guns, or guns made from kits, along with several other gun control measures.

Nothing Im about to recommend in any way impinges on the Second Amendment, Biden said during a White House press conference. These are phony arguments suggesting that these are Second Amendment rights at stake from what were talking about.

Morrisey, a Republican, expressed concern over Bidens directive to the Department of Justice to publish model red flag legislation, his intent to modify the definition of short-barrel rifles, and to expand background checks for gun purchases.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, another GOP member, has also said he would act to protect the Second Amendment rights of his states residents.
Child Rights International has assisted Tyron Iras Marhguy, one of the Rastafarian students who was refused admission by Achimota School, to affirm his fundamental human right in court.

The applicant who filed the instant action before the Accra High Court is seeking the enforcement and declaration of Tyrons right to education.



Suing through his father, Tereo Kwame Marhguy, the applicant also filed an interlocutory injunction seeking the court to compel Achimota to admit the children to further their education pending the determination of the substantive case.



Injunction



The application for interlocutory injunction will be heard by the court on April 13, 2021.



The issue of refusal of admission to master Tyron Iras Marhguy by the headmistress of the school became the talk of the town a few weeks ago, with the Ghana Education Service, civil society organisations, NGOs and individuals offering divergent opinions about the matter.



But the CRI which supports the cause of ensuring the fundamental rights and development of every child has risen to the defence of the family of the students to pursue the case to its logical conclusion.



The applicant is asking the court to declare that the failure and or refusal of the school to admit or enrol the applicant on the basis of his Rastafarian religious inclination, beliefs and culture characterised by his keeping of rasta is a violation of his fundamental human rights and freedoms guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution, particularly Articles 12(1); 23; 21(1)(b)(c); 26(1)); and 17(2) and (3).



Refusal



Master Marhguy wants the court to declare that the failure and or refusal of the school to admit or enrol him on the basis of his Rastafarian religious inclination, beliefs and culture characterised by his keeping of rasta is a violation of his right to education guaranteed under Articles 25(1)(b),m and 28(4) the 1992 Constitution;



He prayed the court for a declaration that the order directed at him by the representative of Achimota School to step aside during the registration process on the basis of his religious belief characterised by the keeping of rasta is a violation of his right to dignity guaranteed under Articles 15(1) and 35(4),(5) of the 1992 Constitution.



A declaration that there is no lawful basis for the school to interfere with the applicant's right to education based on his rasta through which he manifests or expresses his constitutionally guaranteed right to religion and to practice and manifest same.



He further urged the court for an order directed at the school to immediately admit or enrol the applicant to continue with his education unhindered.



Compensation



The applicant asked the court for an order directed at the respondents to jointly and severally compensate the applicant for the inconvenience, embarrassment, waste of time, and violation of his fundamental human rights and freedoms.









Source: Graphiconline.com









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WHEN Siobhan Shanahan (nee Brosnan) left work in UHL on Holy Thursday, the organ donation nurse manager ensured the person on the desk had her mobile number because there might be organs to be donated over the weekend.

But tragically it was Siobhan who gave the gift of life to four people after she passed away on Easter Sunday. A traffic accident occurred on Good Friday in Adare where Siobhan lived with husband Patrick.

At her moving funeral Mass in Ballybunion this Thursday afternoon, her sister Mary said: "We pray for the recipients of the organs, that they will live on with the verve, happiness and sense of fun Siobhan had."

The Mass was a celebration of Siobhans life, her life-saving work and the love of her life, Patrick.

The Mass was concelebrated by parish priest Fr Sean Hanafin; Fr Austin McNamara and Fr Denis Mullane, from the Limerick Diocese.

Fr Hanafin said there was huge shock in Ballybunion, Adare and Limerick when news of the horrific accident reached those communities on Good Friday and again on Easter Sunday to hear of Siobhan's death.

"We were shocked and saddened to the core. I feel like I am nearly imposing on your grief with my words - that is not my intention. I am just so aware that my words, nobody's words can in any way offer an explanation or can attempt to fill the void that has been caused by this huge grief," said Fr Hanafin.

Born in 1971, the parish priest said Siobhan attended the Convent Primary School before her secondary school education in Mount Trenchard where "lifelong friendships were made".

She went nursing in London before going to work in Dubai. On Siobhans return to Limerick, she initially worked in the ICU in UHL and then became the organ donor coordinator.

Fr Hanafan said Siobhan got married in Ballybunion on July 14, 2017. That joyous occasion in the same church was in stark contrast to today.

"Siobhan had met her soulmate to complete her life, Patrick. He tells me that they met in the Captains Bar in Glin eight years ago. Life changed for both of you. Ye began to dance to life together from then on," said Fr Hanafin.

At the end of the funeral Mass, Patrick spoke beautifully about his beautiful Siobhan. He said that night in the Captains Bar in Glin was when "my life changed for the best".

"Last Thursday night, we sat down and we agreed we had everything we wanted. I am honoured to be her husband and so proud of her amazing work and proud that even in death she has continued to help other people by donating her organs. Siobhan was my soulmate, the love of my life," said Patrick.

The final person to speak was Mary, Siobhans sister and "best friend". Mary said Siobhan adored Patrick.

"She loved him so very much. Everyone knows Siobhan was the happiest she had ever been. She loved their life together, her Whatsapp caption says, 'Living the dream'. She told a friend recently all the boxes in her life were ticked," said Mary. Last year, the couple moved into their "dream home" in Adare.

On Valentines Day, she said Patrick brought a home cooked dinner into ICU for Siobhan.

"On behalf of Patrick and all of us we thank Siobhans colleague and friends in UHL for their expert and tender care; for their kindness and compassion and for the love they showed to Siobhan and all of us on her last days. We pray for the recipients of the organs that they will live on with the verve, happiness and sense of fun that Siobhan had," said Mary.

Siobhan loved Irish history and was passionate about the 1916 Rising. Mary concluded by reading the poem, Lament for Thomas McDonagh by Francis Ledwidge.

So many lament the loss of Siobhan Shanahan (nee Brosnan).

May she rest in peace.
By Tomoyuki Tachikawa, KYODO NEWS - Apr 8, 2021 - 19:44 | World, All, Coronavirus

Thursday marked one year since the 76-day lockdown was lifted in China's central city of Wuhan, the first epicenter of the novel coronavirus pandemic, with many citizens still disgruntled by the government's response to the outbreak.

The leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, which has come under criticism for allowing the virus to spread to the world due to its poor initial handling, is believed to have issued a gag order on health care officials to contain backlash from people in the city.

Across the country, meanwhile, the Communist-led government has been trying to accelerate vaccination rollout in a bid to achieve group immunity, but concern lingers over the safety and efficacy of China-developed COVID-19 vaccines.

As China has been attempting to pursue so-called "vaccine diplomacy," it has also pledged to launch its international health certificate to spur people-to-people exchanges with other nations, saying the move will help prop up the sluggish global economy.

During the Qingming tomb-sweeping festival earlier this month, many citizens visited a cemetery in the city, which used to be known as a major business and transportation hub, and they commemorated victims of the virus, with tight security in place around there.

Since the increase in new infections peaked in Wuhan in early 2020, city life has returned to normal and economic activities have resumed in Wuhan. Downtown areas have been teeming with people.

But local sources told Kyodo News that Chinese authorities warned doctors, who had dealt with the virus in the initial stage of the outbreak in Wuhan, that they could be punished for espionage if they revealed what went on during the period.

"The government must have known that the virus is dangerous in an early phase," a woman who lost her son to the virus said with angry eyes, adding, "If I could be reborn, I would not like to be a Chinese. I wish I could say what I want to say."

In Wuhan, the lockdown that suddenly started from Jan. 23 last year was lifted on April 8, as the authorities suspended all public transportation services and significantly restricted the movements of citizens.

The municipal government also rushed to bolster its capacity to cope with the virus spread, such as building more hospitals. After the lockdown, it carried out virus tests on almost all of the city's 11 million residents.

For the past year, the Chinese government has taken radical "zero corona" measures, including banning people from eating outside and traveling at home without a negative certificate of a virus test, which often has frustrated them.

In early 2020, China introduced a health code system that can confirm whether a person has a high risk of infection.

The system assigns residents multicolor QR codes to register where they went and whether they had contact with infected patients. With a green light shown on their smartphones, they are permitted onto trains and expressways, and into shops and office buildings.

"China and its partners that are promoting regional health code recognition can be pathfinders for a global vaccine passport program in the future," the Global Times, a tabloid affiliated with the ruling Communist Party, reported this week.

South Korea and Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are "eyeing mutual recognition of health codes," the newspaper added.

As for vaccines, Chinese citizens and foreigners living in the nation have begun to receive one of them, but many of them have remained reluctant to do so as they have been worried about potential side effects.

Only 4 percent of 1.4 billion Chinese people have been vaccinated so far, according to the country's media.

"If I do not receive a vaccine, I would be on a black list. This would affect the future education of my child," a Chinese citizen said, while another said, "Explanation of side effects is not enough." A Chinese expert said, "We are far from group immunity."

A local government said it has provided a gift to those who receive a vaccine.

In the mainland, the virus has sickened more than 85,000 people and killed over 4,600, the nation's health authorities said. China does not include asymptomatic cases in its official tally.
BAE Systems senior vice president for communications Caitlin Hayden talks with Doug Simon about the growing role that women are playing at many traditionally male-dominated companies in the latest PRs Top Pros Talk video interview.

As a top executive at major defense company, Hayden has been able to see the progress that women have made from up close. Things are changing, she says. I'm really lucky I get to work in a senior leadership team that is 50 percent women It has been a fantastic experience for me, and that has taken a lot of deliberate work.

Hayden notes that with the emergence of Lockheed Martins Marillyn Houston, Northrop Grummans Kathy Warden, Boeings Leanne Caret and General Dynamics Phebe Novakovic as CEOs, you can start to see the leadership from the top.

She stresses that making strides toward equity is not just something you can give lip service to, not just a choice you can make at the top. The leadership and the businesses have to be invested in it. And it takes constant, constant focus.

At BAE Systems, she tells Simon, we realized that we needed a more sustained amount of work to make sure that women and people of color were in positions of leadership and that that was flowing all the way down.

That included making sure women and people of color are represented on any list of candidates for a position. In every case at a certain level you had to have a woman or person of color interviewed. Not just on paper, interviewed for the role and considered. And if that slate didn't include those people, it got sent back.

While increased sponsorship and mentorship and diversity training at the highest levels of the company on down are key to increasing workforce diversity, she says that flexibility as regards the timing and location of work also plays a big part, especially where female employees are concerned.

Hayden also discusses the need for creating spaces for dialogue in the company. Part of creating those spaces, she says, is taking the time to hear from people all across the business on topics, not just business topics, not just briefings on a program, or a contract win, but about DE&I, and what they want to see us doing, what they want from the leadership team.

View all of the interviews in the PR's Top Pros Talk series. Subscribe to get notified when new episodes are available.

Interested in taking part? Contact Doug Simon at dougs@dssimonmedia.com

D S Simon Media helps clients get their stories on television through satellite media tours and by producing and distributing content to the media. The company also produces live social media events.
(Adds comment from youth activist, former minister)

* Eleven protesters killed in clash with security forces

* Activists hold shoe protests in main city of Yangon

* Junta leader says protest campaign is destroying the country

* U.N. envoy hopes to visit

April 8 (Reuters) - Anti-coup demonstrators in Myanmar fought back with handmade guns and firebombs against a crackdown by security forces in a town in the northwest but at least 11 of the protesters were killed, domestic media reported on Thursday.

Initially, six truckloads of troops were deployed to quell protesters in the town of Taze, the Myanmar Now and Irrawaddy news outlets said. When the protesters fought back with handmade guns, knives and firebombs, five more truckloads of troops were brought in.

Fighting continued into Thursday morning and at least 11 protesters were killed and about 20 wounded, the media said. There was no word of any casualties among the soldiers.

That would take the toll of civilians killed by security forces to over 600 since the junta seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). It had a toll of 598 dead as of Wednesday evening.

Taze is near the town of Kale, where at least 12 people were killed in a similar clash between troops and protesters on Wednesday, according to news media and witnesses. Security forces fired live rounds, grenades, and machine-guns on protesters who were demanding the restoration of Suu Kyi's government, AAPP said.

"Taze, Kale have many hunters in the jungle," said Hein Min Hteik, a resident of the region and a youth activist. "They have handmade firearms. And now they came out with their weapons in order to protect the locals, while the people were under attack by the junta."

A spokesman for the junta could not be reached for comment.

"People will try to defend their own lives and their rights," said a former government minister who is part of the CRPH, a group of lawmakers representing the ousted civilian government.

Story continues

"People will not wait for CRPH to act," the minister said in a video call with Reuters. "The CRPH cannot stop the possible armed resistance by the people, from the people."

The junta on Thursday arrested Paing Takhon, a model and actor who had spoken out against the coup, his sister told Reuters. In Yangon, the country's biggest city, activists placed shoes filled with flowers to commemorate dead protesters.

AAPP has said 2,847 people were currently being held in detention.

In addition, arrest warrants have been issued for hundreds of people, with the junta this week going after scores of influencers, entertainers, artists and musicians.

'LOCKED OUT OF EMBASSY'

Paing Takhon, 24, well-known in Myanmar and Thailand, was one of the latest celebrities to be detained. He had condemned the military takeover and pledged support for Suu Kyi.

His sister, Thi Thi Lwin, told Reuters that the military detained her brother at 4.30 am at their parents' home in Yangon, where he had been staying for several days while unwell, suffering from malaria and a heart condition.

The security forces came with eight military trucks and about 50 soldiers and it was unclear where he had been taken, she said.

The countrys most famous comedian, Zarganar, was arrested on Tuesday, media reported.

Overseas, tussles for control of Myanmar's diplomatic missions emerged again on Wednesday.

Myanmar's ambassador to London Kyaw Zwar Minn said he was locked out of the embassy, with sources saying his deputy had shut him out and taken charge on behalf of the military.

Kyaw Zwar Minn has broken ranks with the ruling junta in recent weeks, calling for the release of detained civilian leader Suu Kyi.

"It's a kind of coup, in the middle of London... you can see that they occupy my building," he told Reuters.

There have also been similar counter claims in embassies in other global centres and at the United Nations.

Meanwhile, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the junta's leader, said in a statement on Wednesday that the civil disobedience movement, or CDM, had halted the working of hospitals, schools, roads, offices and factories.

"CDM is an activity to destroy the country," he said.

Fitch Solutions said in a report that Western sanctions targeting the military were unlikely to succeed in restoring democracy, but said the army was losing control.

It predicted a violent revolution pitting the military against an armed opposition comprised of members of the anti-coup movement and ethnic militias.

"The escalating violence on civilians and ethnic militias show that the Tatmadaw (military) is increasingly losing control of the country," it said.

The vast majority of people back Suu Kyi's ousted government, it added. (Reporting by Reuters Staff; Additional reporting by Devjyot Ghoshal; Writing by Ed Davies and Raju Gopalakrishnan; Editing by Michael Perry & Simon Cameron-Moore)
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / Gratomic Inc. ("GRAT", "Gratomic" or "the Company") (TSXV:GRAT)(OTXQX:CBULF)(FRANKFURT:CB82) is pleased to welcome two new team members to the Company. Stephen Woodhead has joined as as Senior VP Finance, Namibia and Dean Esau has started her new position as HR Officer & Administrative Assistant, Namibia.

Stephen brings experience with late stage exploration, development and operational mining companies, acting as CFO for three out of his last four positions. With dual citizenship in Canada and South Africa and boasting over 25 years' experience, Woodhead offers the knowledge and expertise required to successfully fill the role as Senior VP Finance. Woodhead's impressive resume also includes experience with the Toronto Stock Exchange. Stephen will report directly to the CFO.

His diverse breadth of skills includes overseeing risk management, budgeting and forecasting, insurance, reporting, audits, internal controls, and tax reporting to name a few. Stephen is a hands on team-player and prefers to learn the operations side of the Company in order to better understand the inner workings. Woodhead's positive attitude is rounded out with stellar interpersonal skills and a desire to excel.

"Stephen's background, skill set and interpersonal skills are a perfect fit for what Gratomic needs as it proceeds with the commissioning of its processing facility. He is a great addition to the team," commented Rodger Roden, CFO.

Dean Esau is a highly resourceful, results and compliance oriented professional with experience in Human Resources and Office Administration. Dean possesses strong interpersonal skills and is very much a team oriented individual. She has excellent time management skills, strong organizational skills, strong ethics and reliability. Esau's skillset has been refined over her career.

Esau's experience and expertise in drafting job descriptions, recruitment, interviewing, on-boarding orientation, and scheduling set her apart. She holds expertise in employee benefits programs, employment legislation, recording and implementing HR policies and procedures, payroll, and management of work permit/visa applications. Dean's well rounded practical experience supplemented by practical application makes her the ideal candidate to successfully fill the role of HR Officer and Administrative Assistant.

"Dean is quickly becoming my right hand. I am extremely proud of the team we are assembling and look forward to a very bright future for Gratomic," stated Lynne Brand General Manager and Head of HR Namibia.

"Gratomic is establishing an extremely well-rounded group of team-oriented individuals. It really makes me proud to see the team grow as we add new members. As a company, we are focused on maintaining the strength of a cohesive team with a shared vision which is an integral aspect of building a strong corporate culture," said Arno Brand, CEO & President.

About?Gratomic?Inc. ?

Established in 2014,?Gratomic?is focused on introducing carbon-neutral, eco-friendly, high purity vein graphite to the global Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage supply chains.?Gratomic?is anticipating full operational capabilities in 2021.?

Gratomic?is in the process of solidifying its plans for?the micronization, spheronization, and coating?of its Aukam vein graphite. This significant milestone is a small, additional step in the Company's proposed eco-friendly processing cycle and is intended to allow it to meet ideal battery grade standards for use in Li-ion battery anodes.? The Company's recent collaboration agreement with Forge Nano has advanced developments on its graphite finalization phase.

Forge Nano is a global leader in surface engineering and precision nano-coating technology, using Atomic Layer Deposition. Forge Nano's proprietary technology and manufacturing processes make angstrom-thick coatings fast, affordable and commercially viable for a wide range of materials, applications and industries. Forge Nano's suite of ALD and PALD products and services covers the full spectrum from lab-scale tools to commercial-scale manufacturing systems.?

GRAT plans to deliver mine-to-market traceability and guaranteed quality control. This will be accomplished by providing documented tracking on all graphite generated at its flagship?Aukam?Graphite Project. The tracking will begin at?Aukam?and will be verified at every stage during transport.?

Two off-take purchase agreements are currently held for lump-vein graphite sourced from?Gratomic's?Aukam?Graphite Project in Namibia, Africa. Fulfillment of the contracts is anticipated to begin in 2021. The agreements exist with TODAQ and Phu Sumika.?

TODAQ is an innovative?deeptech?company that can containerize assets, transactions & markets, and will partner with?Gratomic?on its mine-to-market commodity tracking and trading. Containerized assets are verifiably unique, keep an immutable record of who has owned them, have embedded smart logic, can be transferred P2P, and are interoperable with any system.? Asset owners enjoy stronger ownership control, value retention when trading, and ability to prove authenticity in seconds.?

Phu Sumika is a large global graphite supplier to battery and lubrication companies.?

Gratomic?Inc. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GRAT, on the OTCQX under the symbol CBULF and on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol CB82.?

For more information: visit the website at? www.gratomic.ca ?or contact:?

Arno Brand at?abrand@gratomic.ca?or 416 561-4095?

Subscribe at gratomic.ca/contact/ to be added to our email list.?

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."?

Forward Looking 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: Gratomic Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639514/Gratomic-Appoints-Stephen-Woodhead-Senior-VP-Finance-Namibia-and-Appoints-Dean-Esau-HR-Officer-Administrative-Assistant-Namibia
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Armed groups in Burkina Faso committed human rights abuses, including killings and abductions, in the context of the armed conflict in 2020, Amnesty International said in its annual report issued on Wednesday
(Alliance News) - Anglo American PLC on Thursday announced the demerger of its South African thermal coal operations via the transfer to new holding company Thungela Resources Ltd.

The demerger comes as the global mining behemoth pursues a "responsible transition" away from thermal coal.

Anglo Chief Executive Mark Cutifani said: "We are confident that Thungela will be a responsible steward of our thermal coal assets in South Africa, benefiting from an experienced and diverse management team and board. While representing just a small proportion of Anglo American today, we are laying the foundation for South Africa's leading coal business, setting it up for success to deliver value for all its stakeholders.

"Looking forward, we believe the prospects for long-term value delivery are greatest as two standalone businesses, each with their own strategy and access to capital."

The demerger is subject to shareholder approval on May 5, with the demerger expected to come into effect on June 4.

"The proposed demerger recognises the diverse range of views held by Anglo American's shareholders in relation to thermal coal and therefore provides Anglo American's shareholders, including those with specified investment criteria, with the choice to act on such views and, following the implementation of the proposed demerger, to either retain, increase or decrease their interests in Thungela," Anglo said.

The proposal will also allow Thungela to attract new shareholders and to access new sources of capital as an independent company offering direct exposure to thermal coal, Anglo added.

Details of the listing of Thungela on the JSE and LSE will be announced later Thursday.

Anglo American shares were up 2.2% at ZAR611.70 each in Johannesburg on Thursday morning, and were up 2.5% at 3,062.50 pence each in London.

By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Lawton, OK (73501)

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Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 62F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 62F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
[April 08, 2021] Red River Honored on the 2021 CRN Tech Elite 250 List

Red River, a technology transformation company, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, will honor Red River on its 2021 Tech Elite 250 list. This annual list features IT solution providers of all sizes in North America that have earned cutting-edge technical certifications from leading technology suppliers. These companies have separated themselves from the pack as top solution providers, earning multiple, premier IT certifications, specializations and partner program designations from industry-leading technology providers. Businesses rely on solution providers for an enormous number of technologies, services and expertise to help them meet today's IT challenges - whether it's a new implementation or digital transformation initiatives. To meet these demands, solution providers and MSPs must maintain high levels of training and certification from IT vendors and achieve the highest tiers within those vendors' partner programs. Each year, The Channel Company's research group and CRN editors distinguish the most client-driven technical certifications in the North American IT channel. Solution providers that have earned these high honors - enabling them to deliver exclusive products, services, and customer support - are then selected from a pool of online applicants as well as from The Channel Company's solution provider database. Red River holds an array of top certifications from partners and industry-leading OEMs, including Cisco (News - Alert) Master Collaboration and Security designations. In just the past year, Red River has earned the AWS Storage Competency and became an authorized partner in the AWS Well-Architected Patner Program. In 2020, Red River achieved Nutanix Cloud Champion status, the highest partner level with Nutanix and the highest level of partnership with Palo Alto (News - Alert) Networks: Next Wave Diamond Innovator. Red River also holds more than 1,000 individual technical certifications across the company.



"It is always an honor to be named to the CRN Tech Elite 250 list," said Tim Rod, Chief Technology Officer at Red River. "I am immensely proud of our team for their commitment to achieving and maintaining the technical certifications, specializations and expertise needed to deliver leading edge solutions and services to our customers." "CRN's Tech Elite 250 list highlights the top solution providers in the IT channel with the most in-depth technical knowledge, expertise, and certifications for providing the best level of service for their customers," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "These solution providers have continued to extend their talents and abilities across various technologies and IT practices, demonstrating their commitment to really conveying the most exceptional business value to their customers."

Coverage of the Tech Elite 250 will be featured in the April issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/techelite250. About Red River Red River brings together the ideal combination of talent, partners and products to disrupt the status quo in technology and drive success for business and government in ways previously unattainable. Red River serves organizations well beyond traditional technology integration, bringing more than 25 years of experience and mission-critical expertise in security, networking, analytics, collaboration, mobility and cloud solutions. Learn more at redriver.com. 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 Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.  2021. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005587/en/

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Galveston, TX (77553)

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Cloudy skies this evening followed by thunderstorms late. Low near 75F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Cloudy skies this evening followed by thunderstorms late. Low near 75F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
SEOUL  Deputy Foreign Minister Mirwais Nab and South Korea's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Mr. Lee Kyung-Chul discussed the expansion of bilateral and multilateral cooperation at regional and international levels in the first round of political consultations between the two countries.

In a joint press release, both sides underscored the importance of building a peaceful, stable, and democratic Afghanistan and stressed that the political solution arising out of the peace process should "protect the gains achieved since 2001, the rights of Afghan people, including women, youth and minorities."

Mr. Nab and Mr. Kyung-chul also welcomed international efforts, especially the United Nations' role, in advancing peace talks and promoting stability in Afghanistan.

During the Seoul consultation, the two sides discussed the continuation of bilateral cooperation and reviewed the current status and effectiveness of South Korean projects in Afghanistan in combating Covid-19, promoting gender equality, and economic development cooperation. The two sides agreed to continue bilateral consultations to ensure the effectiveness of the development projects.

Representatives of Kabul and Seoul discussed deepening bilateral relations through various frameworks and exploring potential cooperation opportunities, including in trade and investment, capacity building, and reforestation in Afghanistan.

Mr. Nab expressed his sincere gratitude for South Korean assistance to Afghanistan in the political, economic, social, and military areas over the past 20 years. He hoped that political consultations would further expand bilateral cooperation.
EUGENE, Ore. -- Police have identified the man found dead in the Willammette River on April 2.

Eugene Winters, 59, was reportedly found dead at about 2 p.m. near Skinner Butte Park along the South Bank Bike Path. The Lane County Medical Examiner responded and took jurisdiction of the case.

The Eugene-Springfield Fire Department assisted police.
ATLANTA, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Applied Software Technology Inc., a leading systems integrator for the architecture, engineering, construction, and manufacturing industries, has received two Autodesk awards for Autodesk partners located in North and South America.

The first award went to Applied Software Applications Developer Carlo Licea, who received the Outstanding Professional Services individual award. During the awards ceremony, Ken Manoff, Autodesk Senior Director of North American Partner Management, explained that the award is "about the ability to deliver and implement a customer's desired outcomes, workflows and capabilities and complex customer solutions." He added that the award recognizes "efforts focused on increasing customer capabilities leading to great outcomes." A key component of the award is customer collaboration.

Carlo was recognized for his work on a multi-phase project, which challenged the limitations of Autodesk Forge. Mr. Manoff explained that Carlo pushed the envelope with the Forge development team to find a way to meet the customer's needs. Through active collaboration, Carlo came up with a solution that precisely aligned to the customer's desired outcomes.

The Applied Software Marketing Team garnered the Marketing Innovation Award for the Americas. Mr. Manoff explained that Applied Software delivers innovative customer experiences and creatively engages customers with modern, customer-focused digital marketing approaches. The award recognizes that Applied Software has established its staff as industry experts and thought leaders.

"We acknowledge the entire Applied Software family in the achievement of these awards," said Richard Burroughs, President. "Applied Software services and customer engagement opportunities reflect the commitment to accelerate our clients' success by providing process and technology solutions that enable their teams to be more efficient and effective."

About Applied Software

Applied Software, a full-service premier systems integrator for the AEC, MEP, fabrication, and manufacturing industries, is on a mission to transform industries by empowering our clients and championing innovation with real-world expert consultants. With a broad range of world-class solutions, services and training, Applied has been helping clients achieve a competitive advantage since 1982. For more information visit www.asti.com.

For more information:

Todd Weyandt

404-564-1843

[email protected]

SOURCE Applied Software

Related Links

https://www.asti.com


Tech Coast Angels Orange County (TCA OC) today announced that its inaugural annual fund, TCA OC Fund 20, exceeded expectations even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing seed capital to 18 promising early-stage companies in a myriad of industries. Recently closing its nineteenth and final investment in YBVR, TCA OC Fund 20 includes Agtools, Allotrope Medical, Elevate K-12, ExpressCells, Genius Juice, Insight Medical, iPourit, Makani Science, Mobilize Solutions, PercAssist, Razberi Technologies, Saasuma, Shoonya Digital, Sizzle, Strategikon Pharma, Terecircuits Corporation, TrakPoint Solutions, and Virtanza.

TCA OC Fund 20 has already reported its first exit, as Insight Medical Systems accepted an offer that netted investors a 3.5x return on capital in under a year, thus yielding an internal rate of return (IRR) of 251%.

TCA OC is now actively searching for disruptive, early-stage companies and deserving entrepreneurs to provide startup capital and mentorship for TCA OC Fund 21. Like TCA OC Fund 20, TCA OC Fund 21 will typically invest between $100K to $250K per company, with TCA members often investing individually alongside the fund.

Our annual funds offer some importance advantages to traditional angel investing, said Jim Pickell, TCA OC Fund chair. Each fund allows TCA members to diversify their portfolio, reduce risk, and potentially improve returns  while also allowing members to provide additional capital directly to any of our portfolio companies. And startups can access more capital, faster, benefitting everyone.

TCA OC President David Friedman added, We remained steadfast during 2020, when entrepreneurs needed us most and we needed their solutions for the rapidly changing world more than ever. Im proud of our continuing supporting role we provide in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. And looking ahead to this year, TCA OC Fund 21 shows great potential, as our networks experience and pipeline continue to grow. In fact, we have already made our first investment in the new fund.

TCA seeks to connect with investors who may be interested in contributing both industry-specific expertise and capital to early-stage companies as a member of the angel network. For more information, about TCA OC Fund 20 or becoming a member of Tech Coast Angels Orange County, please contact Jim Pickell of TCA OC at jim.pickell@gmail.com or visit http://www.techcoastangels.com.

About Tech Coast Angels:

Tech Coast Angels (TCA) is one of the largest and most active angel investor networks in the nation, and a leading source of funding for seed-stage and early-stage companies. The angel network is comprised of four chapters, consisting of over 450 members in Southern California. Every TCA member is an accredited investor, and companies in which TCA invest go through well-structured, transparent, time-efficient screening and due diligence. TCA members are founders and business leaders who have extensive knowledge in the investment process and world-class business practices, and thus are able to provide companies with more than just capital: they also contribute counsel, mentoring and access to an extensive network of investors, customers, strategic partners and management. In December 2020, TiE named Tech Coast Angels the Most Active Angel Network in the World.

Since its founding in 1997, TCA has invested over $250 million in more than 450 companies and has helped attract more than $1.7 billion in additional capital/follow-on rounds. http://www.techcoastangels.com.

For more information, please contact:

Kimber Smith Fidler

for Tech Coast Angels

+1 (775) 298 5260

kimber@smithfidler.com

###


OPECs leader Saudi Arabia is feeling the heat of its own success at present. By again stabilizing the markets, global oil prices have increased substantially but the pressure is now on. Even though global demand is showing promising signs of improvement, the worlds leading oil nation is struggling to benefit. Higher oil prices have increased not only pressure on OPEC and non-OPEC to consider a more flexible production strategy for the coming months, but members are also vying to gain market share and increase their own production volumes. Riyadhs policy to carry a majority of the current production cuts has proven to be successful, but if others fail to comply it may find itself in a difficult position. Iran, Venezuela, Iraq, and Libya are looking for any excuse to bring more oil to the market, all at the cost of Riyadhs market power. At the same time, the future of the Kingdom still depends on increased oil revenues, as government budgets are heavily reliant on black gold. Saudi Arabia is also in dire need of additional financial injections to support its ongoing grand-scale economic diversification plans, aka Saudi Vision 2030. While the scale and cost of the Vision 2030 plan have led to plenty of negative assessments, it has made some unexpected progress in recent months. Several multi-trillion programs have now been introduced to stimulate the implementation of these economic diversification plans. But even at $70 per barrel, oil revenues are not enough to finance the entire thing. To make matters worse, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has already openly stated that Saudi state-owned companies will have to cut dividends to the government to increase overall capital spending. The strategy of cutting dividends to the government will dramatically cut Riyadhs financial income. MBS reiterated that dividend cuts will also apply to Saudi Aramco, the largest dividend generator for Riyadh, looking at its current $75 billion dividend pay-out. The only way out for the government is to look for higher oil prices in order to increase direct revenue streams. To compensate for lower dividends, Saudi Arabia will be looking to increase oil prices, as this would boost Aramco transfers in taxes and royalties. As there is no other revenue generation option yet for the Kingdom, hydrocarbons will play a pivotal role in Riyadhs strategy targeting 27 trillion riyals ($7.2 trillion) in domestic spending by 2030.

Related: Investors Rush To Oil Stocks Despite ESG Push



The current market situation leaves Saudi Arabia with a very tough decision-making process. To keep Vision 2030s economic diversification plans alive, additional cash needs to be generated or attracted from global financial markets. At the same time, Riyadh will need higher oil prices to keep its overall revenue base in place, especially when dividends are cut. To keep oil prices high, while demand is relatively weak, and competitors are vying for higher production levels, the Kingdom will have to keep unilateral production cuts in place for a much longer time. Unfortunately for the Kingdom, regaining market share will not be easy once other exporters move in. At the same time, Aramco will need to increase production capacity to bring more production online in a market where demand is expected to weaken in 5-10 years. Until now, Riyadh has been committed to keeping the OPEC+ group stable, even as prices rise and pressure to produce grows. To find the right balance between lower oil production and fiscal benefits from higher prices in this environment is no mean feat.

The overall financial situation of Saudi Arabia is not as bad as some might expect, but some reports are warning of higher debt levels. At present, Riyadhs answer to lower dividends and hydrocarbon revenues is to cut into the government budget. For 2021 the government budget has been cut by 7%, due to a much higher deficit last year. Figures show that the government deficit in 2020 was 12% of GDP, in comparison to around 4.5% in 2019.

Related Video: The Conditions Are Ripe for A Second Shale Boom

In its April 8 2021 report IMF: Weakening fiscal balance sheets biggest concern for emerging markets beyond 2021, Dutch bank ING states that the Middle East and Central Asia (+3.7%; +3.8%) and Sub-Saharan Africa (+3.4%; +4.0%) will see a more muted recovery in 2021. That said, both have seen upward revisions for 2021 which we can attribute to the oil price recovery and an efficient vaccine rollout in some places. Among the larger economies, Nigeria ( +1.0ppt to 2.5%) and Saudi Arabia (+0.3ppt to 2.9%) are the beneficiaries. Economic success for these countries seems to be linked with oil prices/revenues rather than economic diversification.

When looking at MBS latest statements, targeting 10 trillion riyals in government spending between 2021-2030, government budgets will stay extremely high, and the local economy will be state-linked. As ratings agency Fitch said in recent days, to have a balanced budget Riyadh will need an average $76 per barrel oil price, based on a normal budget approach. With possible dividend cuts in place, Fitch expects a budget breakeven price of $60 per barrel is possible. Still, looking at current future spending plans in Saudi Arabia, more non-oil revenues are needed or higher oil prices and production to have a fiscal balance. Additional IPOs are being planned, or the sale of Aramco shares, but this will never be enough to counter financial demands in the coming years.

The other option is to attract more foreign investments (FDI). In 2020 Saudi Arabia received around $5.5 billion FDI, but looking at the plans of MBS, another $500 billion is needed, which is no easy task for the kingdom.

As Saudi Arabias hydrocarbon revenues remain low, investments will lag behind. Saudi Arabia is still struggling to shed its rentier-state feathers, also due to the fact that young Saudis are more inclined to work in government than in private sectors due to the higher salaries. The Kingdoms main curse is that it is too easy to go for additional oil volumes and revenues, an easy win approach but with long-term negative repercussions. Still, OPEC+ members should not rely on current Riyadhs willingness to take the burden of cuts. If Vision 2030 programs need to be financed, and international financings fail, the kingdom will be forced to tap oil revenues again. International financial markets will be ruthless in demanding repayments in the future. Government instability due to budget gaps and debt repayments are surely not the road MBS should take.

By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
WASHINGTON  The Border Patrol encountered more migrants at the southern border in March than it had in two decades as the number of unaccompanied children and families seeking refuge in the United States continues to grow.

The Border Patrol reported more than 172,000 migrant encounters last month  a 70 percent increase from February mostly attributable to single adults being repeatedly caught crossing the border. The Biden administration is immediately expelling those individuals under a Trump-era public health order, leaving them free to try again.

There is a much higher number of single adults coming to the border than weve seen in 15 to 20 years because weve returned to a policy of allowing people, effectively, to cross the border multiple times without any consequences, said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy counsel at the American Immigration Council.

At the same time, the number of unaccompanied children  whom the administration is not turning away  roughly doubled from February. The Border Patrol reported 18,890 encounters with those minors in March, the highest number ever recorded.

The surge in encounters at the border, and especially the treatment of children and families in migrant facilities, has emerged as the first major political quandary of President Joe Bidens term. Republicans call it a crisis of Bidens creation, blaming the uptick on his shift away from some of the Trump administrations strictest immigration policies.

IN-DEPTH: In first press conference, Biden blames Trump for stalling response to migrant surge

Biden has said he inherited a mess of an immigration system and has noted that encounters have been on the rise since last April, though the peaks they have now reached have left the presidents administration scrambling to stand up shelters for unaccompanied children while social workers search for sponsors in the U.S. to care for them.

The Biden administration says it is making progress getting children out of crowded Customs and Border Protection facilities more quickly, with an average of more than 500 transferred to the Health and Human Services Department per day in March, up from 276 per day in February. That increased pace comes as the administration has opened 10 emergency intake sites across the state, including in Houston, San Antonio and Dallas.

In many ways, we havent learned any of the lessons we learned from 2019 about how to process families and children safely, and the Biden administration came into office with the previous administration having done effectively nothing to prepare for what everyone knew was going to be a busy spring, Reichlin-Melnick said.

Republicans have pointed to the migrant increases as evidence that Biden isnt acting quickly or doing enough.

The problem is getting worse and worse, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said in an interview with conservative radio host Michael Berry this week. Ive been to the border many, many times, and it is by far the worst Ive seen.

What has caused this crisis is Joe Biden has announced to the world theyre not going to deport people  in particular he announced we will not deport children, Cruz said. If youre not going to deport a kid, guess what? Theyre going to send you kids.

Not a new challenge

Gov. Greg Abbott this week also blasted Biden, saying he failed to plan for the influx of unaccompanied minors.

Experts on immigration have said the situation is more complicated than Republicans have made it out to be. For years, there has been a flow of migration from Central American nations plagued by poverty, violence and political corruption, and the numbers have tended to ebb and flow seasonally, often increasing around this time of year.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated many of those issues, they said.

There is a place where there is absolutely a crisis, but that is not necessarily the U.S. southern border  but (rather) the realities in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, said Oscar Chacon, the co-founder and executive director of Alianza Americas, a network of migrant-led organizations.

Still, the increase from February to March is significant. The administration is increasingly admitting families, especially those with small children, as Mexico has said it doesnt have the capacity to house them.

The Border Patrol encountered 52,904 families in March  nearly triple the number from the month before. The administration said it expelled 17,345 of them under the public health order. The number of families has still not reached a peak of 84,000 seen in May 2019, though it soon will surpass that number if the increases continue at current rates.

This demonstrates the high demand to migrate in the region that smugglers have been able to tap into as they sell the idea that the U.S. is letting kids and families in through the border, said Jessica Bolter, an analyst at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute.

The new data also shows that the flow increasingly consists of families, rather than the unaccompanied children who have been the administrations focus so far. Bolter said the influx is beginning to resemble that of 2019, when families made up more than half of apprehensions at the border.

This just emphasizes that the situation at the border is not a new challenge, and the administration will need to prioritize solutions like having asylum officers adjudicate border asylum claims separately from the existing immigration court backlog so cases are decided in weeks or months rather than years, she said.

The administration has said it is working to stem the tide by addressing the root causes of migration. That will include offering aid to the nations that migrants are fleeing, as well as looking for ways to expand legal avenues for people there hoping to come to the U.S.

cayla.harris@express-news.net

ben.wermund@chron.com
Commentary: China contributes to global anti-pandemic drive by bridging "vaccine divide"

13:27, April 08, 2021 By huaxia ( Xinhua

Staff transport the Sinopharm vaccines donated by China at the Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, April 6, 2021. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

From sharing experience on pandemic control to carrying out vaccine cooperation and promoting fair distribution, China's timely and practical support for other countries, as well as its efforts to safeguard people's right to life and health, the most fundamental part of human rights, has been widely recognized worldwide.

CAIRO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- "Vaccine equity is the biggest moral test before the global community," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said. At a time when COVID-19 is ravaging the Middle East countries, China has withstood the test.

The global pandemic remains in a dire situation, and vaccines have obviously become a powerful weapon against the deadly virus. In many Middle East countries, surging infections, weak medical systems, as well as severe economic conditions have made the demand for vaccines particularly urgent. Even countries in a relatively stable and peaceful environment are running into difficulties in obtaining vaccines, not to mention those afflicted with conflicts and wars or suppressed by Western sanctions.

However, some Western powers who have never stopped interfering in domestic affairs of Middle East countries and creating tensions and turbulence in the region are all in complete silence at this moment.

With strong capacity for vaccine research, development and production, those countries, instead of lending a helping hand to people in need, chose to hoard vaccines and impose export restrictions on these live-saving tools, creating a "vaccine divide" and disrupting the global efforts in equitable vaccine distributions.

According to Duke University's Global Health Innovation Center, as of mid-January, high-income countries, which represent only 16 percent of the world's population, had taken 60 percent of available doses. "More other high-income countries have more than 100 percent coverage, and some can cover their populations several times over," the institute said.

A woman wearing a face mask walks along the street in Istanbul, Turkey, April 5, 2021. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui)

Facing the raging pandemic, many Middle Eastern countries have turned their eyes to the East. As early as June 2020, China and the United Arab Emirates jointly conducted the world's first international phase III clinical trial of inactivated vaccines against COVID-19. Later, Bahrain, Turkey, Morocco and other countries joined the cooperation. So far, Chinese vaccines have arrived in more than 10 countries in the Middle East, playing a leading role in the region's anti-virus fight.

From sharing experience on pandemic control to carrying out vaccine cooperation and promoting fair distribution, China's timely and practical support for other countries, as well as its efforts to safeguard people's right to life and health, the most fundamental part of human rights, has been widely recognized worldwide.

Actions speak louder than words. All sober minds across the world have a pretty clear idea of who always indulge in meddling in others' internal affairs while refusing to take their due responsibilities in global affairs.

Chinese vaccines are unloaded from a plane at the Khartoum International Airport in Khartoum, Sudan, March 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Ma Yichong)

According to a survey polling citizens in six Middle Eastern countries conducted by the Arab Barometer research network, the Arab public view China more favorably than the United States. Researchers believe that China is playing an increasingly important role in the Middle East and North Africa by implementing the Belt and Road Initiative and helping the region fight the pandemic.

Cooperation between China and the Middle East epitomizes China's commitment to the global anti-pandemic drive. China is providing vaccine assistance to more than 80 countries and three international organizations, exporting vaccines to more than 40 countries, and cooperating with more than 10 nations in vaccine R&D and production, and has thus honored its commitment to making Chinese COVID-19 vaccines a global public good and promoted the accessibility and affordability of vaccines.

At this critical moment, the world community should band together to discard "vaccine nationalism" and bridge "vaccine divide" between the rich and the poor, and try its best to deliver vaccines to every corner of the world. To build a global safety net, China is ready to continue working with the rest of the world.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Toronto, ON -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/08/2021 -- DivorceGo is owned and operated by Bluetown law. They are located in the central part of North York at Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue. The firm began with a vision to provide clients with affordable and straightforward pricing for simple divorce cases. Their divorce services include simple divorce; we come to your divorce, uncontested divorce, separation agreement, contested divorce, foreign divorce opinion letter. Also, DivorceGo's lawyers have accredited members of the law society of Upper Canada better business bureau.



In response to a query about their services, the spokesperson of Divorcego commented, "We provide authentic information to our clients who want to know all about handling child custody in an uncontested divorce. In an uncontested divorce, both parties do not have a problem with working together for the child's well-being. In this case, it becomes impossible to lose child custody. Even at that, we still tell them about things they need to have in mind about custody issues. These include: an uncontested divorce can still become contested, and as such, a judge might have to intervene to make decisions for their divorce. The judge must approve the custody agreement even if the divorce is uncontested, as an uncontested divorce is of benefit to the child, and creates a strong bond between the child and the divorced parents".



DivorceGo is a team of divorce lawyers in Toronto that help clients answer questions about divorce on their mind, providing them with critical information about the divorce process. They also help them save thousands of dollars in legal charges when they use their services to complete their divorce cases in Toronto. A 30 minutes free consultation is also provided to clients that want to use their services. Those interested can find family lawyer in Toronto by contacting DivorceGo via their website.



The spokesperson of DivorceGo further commented, "We have a 5-star rating on Google from our clients, and this is a reflection of our excellent services. We also offer flat-rate pricing for our simple divorce process. We are clear about the total cost from the start, and there are no hidden fees. As an extra courtesy, we offer payment plans to our clients to make it convenient for them".



More so, DivorceGo is a family law firm founded by Numan Bajwa, a divorce lawyer. People living in Ontario can access their experienced family lawyers who will help them complete their cases in a timely and efficient manner. They are also quick to tell their prospective clients that they should not allow pricing to make them settle for non-lawyer divorce services. This is because that category are not members of the law society of Upper Canada, and as such, they will not be accountable to clients or anyone if they make mistakes when they are in court. Clients can know how to divorce in Ontario by contacting DivorceGo via their website.



About DivorceGo

Divorcego is a family law firm that provides clients with affordable pricing for simple divorce cases. The firm offers to its client's divorce processes that are seamless and highly professional.



Contact Information:

DivorceGo

Toronto Address

45, Sheppard Ave E #412

Toronto, ON

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Phone: (416) 792-5400

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Web: https://divorcego.ca/
Advertisement

Khloe Kardashian has stripped off for an Instagram video to defend her attempt to kill an 'unflattering' unfiltered viral bikini photo taken by her grandma.

The 36-year-old posted videos of herself showcasing her fabulous body which she said had not been Photoshopped - following the release of an 'unauthorized' photo appearing to show her un-airbrushed and not as flawless as she ordinarily looks in campaign shots.

The reality star also posted a statement about her struggles with her body image, where she described feeling 'unbearable' 'pressure' to be 'perfect' and discussed her lifelong struggle with her body image.

'This video isn't Photoshopped!' Khloe Kardashian stripped off on Instagram on Wednesday, (left) to defend her attempt to kill 'unflattering' unfiltered viral photo taken by her grandma, (right), and claimed she feels unbearable pressure to be 'perfect'

In a slideshow posted to her account, Khloe posed topless in her bathroom mirror as she showed off her body with her hand protecting her modesty.

A second video showed Khloe going on Instagram Live, where she removed her sweatshirt and rolled down her trousers to show off her toned frame.

Kim Kardashian appeared briefly in the video, which was commented on by their half-sister Kendall Jenner.

'PS Yes I did a live to show you all this isn't photoshopped,' Khloe captioned the slideshow.

Showing it off: Khloe posed topless in the bathroom mirror as she showed off her unedited body and declared the clip wasn't Photoshopped

Ab fab: The mom-of-one left little of her toned body to the imagination as she shared the defiant video

Picture perfect: The Good American founder appears unfiltered and un-airbrushed in the leaked snap - and not as flawless as she appears in her social media shots (seen left in a similar bikini in July 2020)

'Hey guys, this is me and my body unretouched and unfiltered...

'In truth, the pressure, constant ridicule and judgment my entire life to be perfect and to meet other's standards of how I should look has been too much to bear. "Khloe is the fat sister." "Khloe is the ugly sister." "Her dad must not be her real dad because she looks so different." "The only way she could have lost that weight must have been from surgery." Should I go on?

'Oh but who cares how she feels because she grew up in a life of privilege. She's also on a reality show so she signed up for all of this. I'm of course not asking for sympathy but I am asking to be acknowledged for being human.

Speaking out: Khloe described her body image struggles in a lengthy statement posted to her account where she spoke of the pressure to look a certain way

Candid: She wrote: 'Everyday I am told by my family and friends who love me that I am beautiful but I know that it needs to be believed from within'

Take it off: In an Instagram Live Khloe removed her sweatshirt and rolled down her trousers to show off her incredible frame

Support system: Kim Kardashian appeared briefly in the video, which was commented on by their half-sister Kendall Jenner

Looking fab: The star worked her toned abs for the camera as she returned to social media after the photo was posted

'I am not perfect but I promise you that I try everyday to live my life as honestly as possible and with empathy and kindness. It doesn't mean that I have not made mistakes. But I'm not going to lie. It's almost unbearable trying to live up to the impossible standards that the public have all set for me.

'For over a decade now in photos, every single flaw and imperfection has been micro-analyzed and made fun of to the smallest detail and I am reminded of them everyday by the world. And when I take that criticism to use as motivation to get myself in the best shape of my life and to even help others with the same struggles, I am told I couldn't have done it through hard work and I must have paid for it all.

'You never quite get used to being judged and pulled apart and told how unattractive one is, but I will say, if you hear anything enough then you start believe it. This is an example of how I have been conditioned to feel, that I am not beautiful enough just being me.

'I love a good filter, good lighting and an edit here and there. The same way I throw on some make-up, get my nails done, or wear a pair of heels to present myself to the world the way I want to be seen and it's exactly what I will continue to do unapologetically. My body, my image and how I choose to look and what I want to share is my choice. It's not for anyone to decide or judge what is acceptable or not anymore.

Proud: Khloe showed all the results of her time at the gym in the video which she shared on Wednesday

Having some fun: The Instagram video was commented on by their half-sister Kendall Jenner

Starting a buzz: The controversy all started after the bikini photo emerged on social media over the weekend

'For those else who feel the constant pressure of not ever feeling perfect enough, I want you to know I see you and I understand. Everyday I am told by my family and friends who love me that I am beautiful but I know that it needs to be believed from within. We are all unique and perfect in our own way. Whichever way one chooses to be seen. I have realized that we cannot continue to live life trying to fit into the perfect mold of what others have set for us. Just do you and make sure your heart is happy,' she concluded.

Khloe's famous sisters Kim, Kendall and Kylie, as well as mother Kris Jenner took to the comment section to send support, with 'momager' Kris writing: 'Khloe you are the kindest most loving, most supportive, most beautiful heart I have ever known, and I adore you and am so proud of you.... you are an inspiration to all of us and I appreciate and love you each and every single day.

'Thank you for teaching the rest of us to be kind and to not judge.... you are one of a kind.... what a blessing you are. You are a gift.'

Friends and family: Khloe's sisters Kim, Kendall and Kylie as well as Ariana Grande showed their support in the comments

Mother's love: Kris Jenner branded Khloe a 'blessing' as she left a poignant comment

The controversy all started after the original bikini photo emerged on social media over the weekend.

The image in question shows Khloe standing by a pool wearing a skimpy leopard print string bikini and appearing unfiltered an un-airbrushed.

Soon after it leaked on various forums online, members of the Kardashian PR team reported the posts as copyright infringement, due to the photo being posted without permission.

In the candid image, which is still up on one subreddit, the mother-of-one appears to be mid-conversation and has her hair pulled up in a ponytail as she holds her phone and flashes a subtle smile at the photographer.

The image seems to have been snapped at Kris Jenner's desert compound in La Quinta, California, where the Kardashian and Jenner clan just spent the Easter weekend.

Soaring temperatures: Earlier this month, Khloe showed off her incredibly taut figure in a purple string bikini while relaxing by the pool in Palm Springs

While most would be proud to look so good in a bikini, it's not hard to see that Khloe looks very different to her highly glamorized Instagram images.

In the alleged unedited snap, her waistline appears less defined, her curves less dramatic and her skin not as impossibly smooth as it looks in her carefully staged glossy fashion shoots.

Tracy Romulus, Kim Kardashian's BFF and chief marketing officer for KKW brands, said in a statement to Page Six: 'The color edited photo was taken of Khloe during a private family gathering and posted to social media without permission by mistake by an assistant.

'Khloe looks beautiful but it is within the right of the copyright owner to not want an image not intended to be published taken down.'

The mistake could well cost the assistant their job, as the Kardashian team have been unable to contain the leak.

After the photo surfaced on Saturday it spread across the internet before quickly disappearing on many sites.

It wasn't long before reports emerged from Reddit users who were asked to take the photo down, with some allegedly receiving legal threats from the Kardashian team because of 'copyright infringement'.

A user named 'Calithetroll' started a subreddit to discuss the Kardashian PR team's attempt to remove all of the posts online. They explained that 'after reposting the picture, the mods confirm that someone reached out to them warning them about potential legal action due to the picture.'

Bare: Noticeably absent from the poolside shots were the enormous diamond sparkler she has been sporting on her left finger in recent weeks

Some people, including subreddit moderators who attempted to share the Khloe photo, were reported for posting 'personal and confidential' information.

It's unclear how the photo originally leaked online. There is some speculation on Reddit that it was Kris Jenner's mom MJ that posted it on her 'finsta' which is the term used for a 'fake Instagram' created by users to share more candid snaps with only with their closest friends and family.

However, screenshots of a Instagram conversation show Romulus contacting one poster and claiming the image of Khloe was 'stolen and doctored and originated from a fake IG account.'

Despite the Kardashian clan scrabbling to take down the photo, much of the Reddit commentary about it was positive.

'Are you kidding? There is one pic of her looking actually natural and gorgeous with some flaws and she wants it gone from the internet?!' one person wrote.

Controversy: Khloe has long been under fire for her changing face and body, with many accusing the KUWTK star of brazenly photoshopping her Instagram posts

Who's that girl? Last year, Khloe has hit out a troll after posting yet another unrecognizable selfie

Hitting out: As a host of her 112million Instagram followers swarmed the comments section, one penned: 'Why do you look so different', before the famously-funny star hit back: 'My weekly face transplant clearly', much to her fans' delight

'I am loving this hot tea. Kinda sad though. Khloe looks so stunning in it.' another added to the discussion.

'Is this the photo theyre talking about or a different one? Because this pic looks good?' another user chimed in.

Khloe has come under fire in recent years for her changing face and body, with many accusing the KUWTK star of brazenly photoshopping her Instagram posts to an extent fans sometimes struggle to recognize her.

Following a slew of questions from fans, cosmetic and injectables specialist Claire McGuinness weighed in on the discussion, offering her opinion on what changes Khloe may have made.

She speculated that the mother-of-one had changed her appearance so dramatically thanks to a combination of 'surgery, injectables, weight loss... and filters, makeup and lighting'.

Comparisons: Khloe chalks her morphing looks up to picture perfect contouring done by shading and highlighting through makeup (Left 2019, right 2008)

However, sources insisted that Khloe is not concerned with the backlash over her changing looks.

An insider told UsWeekly back in May: 'Khloe doesn't care about the backlash she's been getting from fans saying she doesn't look like herself in her recent photos.'

'She thinks she looks great,' the insider adds. 'And actually [she] does not care what people think as long as she's happy.'

She's certainly having a sense of humor about it at least, after clapping back to fans who have questioned her new look.

After being asked by a fan 'Why do you look so different in all your photos?', Khloe hit back: 'My weekly face transplant clearly.'

Khloe's changing appearance has undoubtedly been controversial in recent months, but she has denied going under the knife to achieve her new look.

Change is good: Back in September, the star told People that she thrives on changing her appearance

Changing faces: Khloe has also been accused of going under the knife in recent years and not being honest about it with her fans. In 2019 there was speculation she had a nose job but she has yet to comment on it

In 2016, Khloe admitted to having fillers to change her facial shape, and in the same year she was made the face of Kybella and its Live Chin Up campaign.

Kybella is an increasingly popular new treatment that targets double chins. The FDA-approved injectable, available at Cosmetique Aesthetics in LA, contours and improves fatty areas.

She has admitted to getting Botox and fillers in the past but said she had them dissolved after feeling like she looked 'crazy.'

To this day, Khloe maintains she has never had a rhinoplasty, and says her nose looks slimmer because of contouring.

In 2013, she told Cosmopolitan magazine that she had never had cosmetic surgery but did not rule it out for the future.

'Im proud for losing weight when I wanted to and Ive never resorted to surgery,' she said. 'Im not against it - one day I probably will but it would be on my terms. I wont be bullied into it by social media or anyone else.'

'I love my stripes': In February the E! star got real about her stretch marks as she shared a beach snap of her hips covered in fine lines

Back in September, the star told People that she thrives on changing her appearance.

'I never like to stick with one look for too long. Short hair, major glam, bright lips - you name a look, I've tried it.

'You get to be a different character every single day and experiment. To me, beauty should be anything but boring. It's a form of self-expression. There's really no right or wrong, it's more about how it makes you feel.'

She also spoke about her decision to go back to brunette after a stint as a blonde and she is having 'a lot of fun' with her new look.

She shared: 'I'm having a lot of fun as a "new" brunette. I love to change things up whenever I'm getting too comfortable with a look. It's whatever makes you feel more playful and daring.'

However, in February the E! star got real about her stretch marks as she shared a beach snap of her hips covered in fine lines declaring 'I love my stripes'.
A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Foreign Shipping Traffic 2021, March

Published: 8 April 2021

Sea transport decreased in February

The goods volume of foreign sea transport was in total 7.1 million tonnes in February 2021. Sea transport decreased by 0,2 per cent from last year's February. Exports increased by five per cent and were 3.7 million tonnes. Import volume decreased by five per cent and amounted to 3.4 million tonnes.

Foreign sea Transport by month (tonnes) in 2019 to 2021

General cargo was transported most, in total 1.4 million tonnes, which is 19 per cent of all transport. The second most transported was oil products, 0.8 million tonnes, and crude oil, 0.8 million tonnes.

Container transport

A total of 0.9 million tonnes of containers were transported through Finnish ports in February 2021, which is 14 per cent more than in February 2020. The number of containers transported was 66,746 (119,676 TEU containers) 1) . Exports of containers went up by 20 per cent measured in tonnes and imports went up by one per cent compared to February 2020.

Vehicle transport

A total of 129,898 transport equipment were transported in foreign sea traffic in February 2021. Most transports of transport equipment were trucks. In February, 53,586 trucks were transported. The second most transported were passenger cars belonging to passengers, 37,059 and truck trailers, 36,046.

Passenger traffic

A total of 172,952 persons were transported in passenger traffic in February 2021. In all, 100,274 persons travelled between Finland and Estonia and 69,038 persons between Finland and Sweden and 3,640 passengers between Finland and Germany. Passengers made up only 15 per cent of the number of passengers in February 2020. In February 2021, no passengers of foreign cruise ships arrived in Finland.

Vessel traffic and goods volume in the Saimaa Canal

A total of 6,293 tons of transport were registered through the canal in foreign traffic.

1) TEU, the basic measurement unit of container traffic, refers to one container that is twenty feet long, eight feet wide and 8.5 feet high.

Source: Transport and tourism, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Matti Kokkonen 029 551 3770, Sami Lahtinen 029 551 3207, matti.kokkonen@tilastokeskus.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

Publication in pdf-format (165.6 kB)

Updated 08.04.2021

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Foreign Shipping Traffic [e-publication].

ISSN=2670-2002. February 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 5.6.2021].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/uvliik/2021/02/uvliik_2021_02_2021-04-08_tie_001_en.html
The Catholic Church of Indonesia has called on Catholics to show compassion to victims of the devastating flash floods and landslides that hit the countrys predominantly Catholic province of East Nusa Tenggara last weekend.

By Robin Gomes

Days of heavy rain due to the tropical cyclone Seroja tropical, have affected 12 cities and districts in the province on Easter Sunday, killing at least 138 people, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said on Thursday. About 61 people are reportedly missing, while 271 homes and 99 public facilities were damaged. More than 8,000 people were evacuated to shelters including ones belonging to the Catholic Church.

Indonesian bishops' appeal

On behalf of the Indonesian Bishops Conference, I call on you to show compassion to our brothers and sisters who are suffering in East Nusa Tenggara province and some parts of West Nusa Tenggara province, said Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta, president of the Bishops Conference of Indonesia (KWI). In a video message posted on Wednesday on the YouTube channel of the bishops Commission for Social Communications, he explained that compassion that makes our faith concrete becomes a blessing to our brothers and sisters in need.

The 70-year-old cardinal urged donations through the charitable bodies of the Bishops Conference, such as Caritas Indonesia, the Commission for Socio-Economic Development, the diocesan Commissions for Social Communications and Jakarta Archdioceses Lembaga Daya Dharma.

Caritas

The chairman of Caritas Indonesia, locally known as Karina, also spoke in the video message, encouraging concrete acts of compassion. The Catholic Church in Indonesia will not stay silent. Our care for all those who are suffering is truly a concrete form of our faith, said Archbishop Aloysius Sudarso of Palembang. As a matter of fact, we just celebrated Easter, proof of the involvement of God, through Jesus, in human life, the Dehonian archbishop said.



Father Fredy Rante Taruk, executive director of Karina, told UCA News that they have so far received donations amounting to more than 1 billion rupiah (US$71,400). He said that Caritas would continue to collect donations for a month which would be utilized also for rehabilitation programmes. Caritas is also working with the Commissions for Socio-Economic Development in several dioceses in distributing aid packages to victims. Father Taruk urged dioceses to particularly focus on the needs of babies, pregnant mothers and the elderly.

Maria Gorethy Bria, whose house in Naimana village of Malaka district was damaged, told UCA News that she and her family have taken refuge in a Catholic Church shelter since April 5. We feel so sad. And we still have fears. But we are thankful that some people donate money to help us, the victims. They have pure hearts, she said. (Source: UCA News)


Rep. John Barrett III, D-North Adams, took issue with a comment Gov. Charlie Bakers finance chief made in October about the administration having worked closely with colleagues in the Legislature before announcing a specific program.
-Explains why terrorism persists in W'Africa

-Shrunken lake chad affects 30m people, says Buhari

President of Chad Republic, Marshal Idris Deby Itno, has given an assurance that the new strategies being employed by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) put together by the four countries sharing the Lake Chad Basin will soon put an end to Boko Haram insurgency threat ravaging the area.

Itno spoke with reporters on Saturday after holding bilateral talks with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

This is just as President Buhari revealed that the shrunken Lake Chad basin has adversely affected 30 million people.

The Chadian President emphasised that with the new strategies being deployed and new officers with fresh ideas being assigned to take over commands at both national and regional levels, the defeat of the various terror groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State, West African Province (ISWAP), is imminent.

He said: "With the new security apparatus that has been put in place with the new security chiefs and not only in Nigeria, but even on the Multinational Joint Task Force itself, which also has a new leadership, that we're hopeful now that with new strategies, and new dynamism, that we'll be able to address definitively the issue of Boko Haram.

"All the countries participating and are taking responsibility, none of them are shirking their responsibilities and the military of all the countries also have that sense of responsibility of what needs to be done and what their obligation is, which is to protect all the countries and that they are fully on track for that and that with this new security architecture, we're hopeful that the things will get much better and it will be done all together.

"Boko Haram is indeed an evil that has hampered the four countries of the Lake Chad Basin and it has done many harm to our populations. It would be remembered that since 2013/2014, the four countries put together their means to create the Multinational Joint Task Force, this Multinational Joint Task Force has had good results. Unfortunately, the resilience of Boko Haram and the Islamic State in the Lake Chad Basin has been unprecedented. They are being supplied and being trained and being formed through Libya.

"The MNJTF has done a lot of work and as you have seen recently, we've had exchanges on this with my brother on the way ahead. With the new team of the Chief of Defence Staff and the new Commander that has been appointed at the Multinational Joint Task Force, they were convinced that we can eradicate Boko Haram.

There's a lot of hope on this new team, with this new strategy. I remain confident that the four armies of the four countries can finish this evil and eradicate Boko Haram once and for all".

The visiting President stressed that terrorism remained a major issue in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel region of Africa because the crusade against it has been inadequate.

According to him, the four countries sharing the Lake Chad Basin had put together a formidable military formation, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), to stamp out terrorism in the region.

He said a number of important issues including the challenges facing Nigeria and Chad were discussed at the bilateral meeting adding that the meeting also discussed various bilateral relations between the two countries and how to strengthen those bilateral relations.

The Chadian President further said that they meeting discussed the issue of islamic state and the challenges that they pose to the two countries as well as the lake Chad environment.

He said the issue of transfer of water from the Central African Region Republic was looked into the question of Chad being a landlocked country.

Other areas of discussion centred on transportation from Chad, which is a landlocked country by road and the possibility of constructing roads as well as rail transportation from Chad through Nigeria, and to Port Harcourt, where goods that are coming in will be transferred to Chad.

Speaking earlier while receiving the Chadian leader, President Buhari had stated that

about 30 million people are adversely affected by a shrunken Lake Chad, which is now just about ten per cent of its original size.

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According to him, It is imperative that there be water transfer to the Lake Chad from the Congo Basin, so that the people can resume their normal lives.

He added that with inter-basin water transfer, farming, fishing, animal husbandry would resume, and curtail irregular migration of youths, who now dare the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea, to get into Europe, seeking greener pastures.

His words: "I've been engaging with the relevant stakeholders in Africa and beyond, on why we need to recharge Lake Chad. Nigeria will benefit more, but it is also advantageous to everyone".

He appreciated Chad for its role in curbing insurgency in the region, particularly the Boko Haram challenge.

"We appreciate what you are doing on security. When I first came to office in 2015, I came to see you, as well as leaders of other neighbouring countries, because it makes sense to be in the good books of our neighbours."
[GUN CLICKS] This is a gun I made myself. The government doesnt know I have it, but its totally legal. You can buy a kit online with all the parts you need to build a Glock 19. You dont need a 3-D printer or fancy tools, and you dont need a background check. I purchased the Glock 19 during Glocktober, so I got $100 off. People call these ghost guns. And theyre becoming more popular, especially for people who want a gun, but dont want any record that it exists. Id like to see how easy it is to build one of these guns and to find out what these kits mean for the future of gun regulation. Order is confirmed. All thats left to do is build it. I dont have a handgun license in New York, so I sent the kit to Virginia, where you dont need one. Lets make a gun. I get the appeal of making a gun. I like building stuff. And for a lot of people who buy these kits, thats the point. Theyre fun to make. Hey, guys. Today were going to be going over how to build your Full Conceal Polymer80 frame. So its actually fairly quick to do this. Kind of paint by numbers in a sense. The lower receiver or frame is the only part of the gun thats technically considered a firearm under U.S. law. Gun kits arent regulated like firearms because they come with unfinished lower receivers. So this is the lower receiver, and its in this jig. So what well need to do is remove the extra pieces that are sticking up out of the jig. [SNAPPING] Yeah, instead of shop, I took early childhood development. It was actually really awesome. The finished lower receiver looks almost identical to the unfinished one. You just drill a few holes and remove these extra bits of polymer. Then you assemble and add the rest of the parts. If you do it right, youll have a working firearm. On a factory-made gun, the serial number would go here. But the gun Im building wont have one, so theres no way to trace it. Gun kits arent regulated at all in most states. There are no records of sales. And for a lot of people, thats the appeal. Hey. Hey. Andy Lander. Jeremy White. Andy Lander is a firearms expert who worked for the N.R.A. for 13 years. Hes built guns before. Were still technically a free country. And I think that one of the greatest freedoms is having privacy. To me, if you bought 100 guns, its none of my business. Its impossible to say how many ghost guns are out there or who owns them. Last year, nearly a third of all firearms seized by law enforcement in California were homemade without serial numbers. Still, Andy says the kits arent the problem. A criminal is going to steal a gun. Hes going to either rob somebody and get a gun. Hes going to get a gun anyway. Im not worried about a guy building a Glock 19 in his garage. Nope. Drop it in from the top. Drop it in. Straight down. Oh, it has to be all the way  You have to clear that, yeah. Push down till it pops. Yeah, thats it. [GUN CLICKS] There you go. Youre done. Wow. Thanks for your help. [GUN CLICKS] It took me about six hours to build my ghost gun. [GUN CLICKS] If I had to do it again, I could do it much faster. Still, theres no guarantee that it will work. Scot Thomasson. Jeremy White. Nice to meet you. Good to meet you. How are you? Good. Good. Its the same damn gun. Really is. The difference is right there, serial number. And thats important. Scot Thomasson is a retired A.T.F. agent. Hes letting me try out my new gun on his property. Looks O.K. Looks like its not going to blow up anybodys hand, so thats a good thing. Lets go test it out. [GUN CLICKS] [GUN FIRES] Hit. [GUN FIRES] Hit. [GUN FIRES] O.K. Thats a working gun. Yeah, sure enough is. Listen, I worked violent crime my whole career for 26 years. You want those officers to have every means possible bringing to justice those who use that firearm to commit acts of violence. And without a serial number on that firearm, you cant do it. So if these kits had a serial number and were sold through licensed dealers, do you see any problem with that? No problem whatsoever. So what? Right now we really dont know what we dont know, because these guns are completely untraceable. Jennifer Wexton is a representative from Virginias 10th district and a co-sponsor on two bills that would broaden the definition of firearms to include assembly kits. so you couldnt buy them without the government knowing. Normally the serial number would be here. No. And look, theres nothing there. Theres nothing there. Yeah. Thats part of the allure of these kinds of ghost guns, by the way. So when theyre picked up in crime scenes and things like that, we know that they are out there. And were seeing it happen more and more. What do you say to the Second Amendment advocate that says, these laws are an invasion of my privacy when it comes to gun ownership? I think that guns should be traceable. So I think that weighing the interest in not having a serial number on your firearm versus the overall public safety, I come down on the side of public safety. In the end, the government does find out about my ghost gun. Without a handgun license, I cant bring this gun back to New York, so Im turning it in to the local police. They interview me, do a background check and file a police report. Thats a lot more screening than I went through to get the gun in the first place. For most people, this isnt the easiest way to get a gun. It takes time and skill. Some people may like that challenge. Most people would rather just buy one from a gun shop or a licensed dealer. But if youre a felon, or underage, or you cant legally buy a gun for some other reason, these kits make it remarkably easy to get one anyway.
Another Louisiana State Police trooper has resigned and two more will stop receiving their taxpayer funded salaries after getting arrested earlier this year, accused of mistreating Black suspects.

The case has already raised serious questions about the culture at Monroe-based Troop F, which is the subject of multiple lawsuits alleging troopers used excessive force in encounters with Black people, including one that left a man dead from his injuries. The allegations also include attempts to cover up the beatings.

State Police officials said Thursday that Randall Dickerson, one of the arrested troopers, had resigned from the agency effective March 28. He was the second trooper to resign in recent weeks: Jacob Brown issued his resignation last month while facing criminal charges in at least three separate excessive force incidents.

The Louisiana State Police Commission, which oversees civil service rules for troopers, also voted unanimously Thursday morning to place troopers Dakota DeMoss and George Harper on unpaid leave. But the commission allowed those troopers to first use up their compensatory time, which typically refers to overtime hours that officers accrue as future paid time off.

Commission members said their decision was "consistent with prior practices" and officials said the process is unfolding as usual for troopers placed on leave pending the results of a criminal investigation. After 400 hours of paid administrative leave, State Police can submit a request for unpaid leave moving forward, which is what happened here.

For DeMoss and Harper, the 400 hours will expire April 12, at which point they will start using up their compensatory time. State Police officials declined to provide details about how much time the two have accrued.

Meanwhile, a Baton Rouge judge recently issued a ruling allowing the internal investigations against those troopers to proceed after their attorneys argued the investigations were untimely and invalid.

All four troopers were assigned to Troop F, which patrols the Monroe area and several surrounding parishes. They were arrested in February after investigators found evidence of excessive force in two separate encounters.

The first incident, which involved Brown and Dickerson, occurred in July 2019 during a traffic stop in Ouachita Parish. The second occurred in May 2020 following a car chase in Franklin Parish. In that case, troopers Brown, DeMoss and Harper traded jokes in a group text after booking the suspect into jail, their conversation peppered with abbreviations for "laughing my ass off" and "laugh out loud."

"He was still digesting that ass whoopin," DeMoss said, suggesting the man would "have nightmares for a long time."

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"He gonna be sore tomorrow for sure," Brown added. "Warms my heart knowing we could educate that young man."

Records show that DeMoss and Harper received counseling back in June 2020 after supervisors reviewed their bodycam footage from the incident. The troopers received letters from a supervisor warning them about profane language and noting that it was inappropriate to strike the suspect and lift him up using his hair. But the consequences stopped there  until the troopers were notified several months later of ongoing administrative and criminal investigations against them.

Those notifications came after a change in leadership. Col. Kevin Reeves stepped down as superintendent last fall amid the widening misconduct probe at Troop F, which began with a lawsuit filed by the family of Ronald Greene, the man who died following an encounter with state troopers in 2019. Reeves had served for decades at Troop F before his promotion to agency head.

Col. Lamar Davis was appointed his successor, becoming the fourth African American superintendent in the history of State Police. He has pledged to root out corruption and seek to repair trust with Black communities.

+9 'This is God's plan:' New State Police head surprised and humbled to be leading agency After more than two decades with the Louisiana State Police  a career that spans various divisions from traffic patrols and intelligence gath

Attorneys for the arrested troopers argued in recent court filings that Davis failed to follow the proper timeline for administrative investigations, which must be launched within 14 days of whenever supervisors become aware of the incident. The attorneys claimed that leaders violated that rule by opening new investigations after Davis took charge.

They obtained a temporary restraining order halting the investigations pending a court ruling, but 19th Judicial District Judge Ron Johnson announced March 18 that the investigations could proceed as planned.

State Police officials said Thursday that the investigations have resumed and are set to conclude April 25. Discipline decisions for DeMoss and Harper  which could include demotions or termination  should follow soon thereafter. The troopers could then appeal their discipline before the Louisiana State Police Commission, which would decide to either uphold or overturn the decisions according to state civil service law.

Arrested State Police troopers threw handcuffed man to ground, punched him in head, records say After four Louisiana state troopers were arrested Monday and accused of using excessive force, new court records describe a July 2019 traffic 
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The team of Vinitaly International Academy preparing the tasting packs that were sent to participants Five Italian Wine Ambassadors were certified in this round. They are: Alan Yik Lun Kwok, Valeria Tenison, Alessandro Pesarini, Marzia Gallo, Francesco Giardino.

On March 10th of 2021 VIA students connected online with the team in Verona to finish their Italian Wine Ambassador certification with a remotely invigilated online exam consisting of a blind tasting of 2 wines, 2 short answer questions and 100 multiple choice questions. This exam represented the culmination of the course from 2020 that was reformatted to facilitate online theory and tasting sessions connecting students with VIA Faculty in real time, and also allowing them to review sessions on a newly developed online platform.

One of the great advantages of including tastings in this agile format, was that it opened up the sessions to existing Ambassadors and Italian Wine Educators. This allowed the opportunity for a refresher course for these participants to re-calibrate with the Faculty. Students and Faculty explored together 36 wines from all regions of Italy, and the tastings combined a mixture of guidance from the Faculty and opportunities for blind tasting practice with real-time feedback in order to properly prepare students for the upcoming exam.

12 students chose to take the online exam, which took place on March 10th at 9.00 CET. In the tasting packs that were sent to participants two blind samples were included which were tasted during the exam not only by the students, but by the Faculty, to ensure the samples were tasted at the same time in their development. The process was invigilated by the VIA team in Verona. An advantage of this approach was that each student had the direct support of their own exams officer meaning individual help with set up, correct positioning of cameras and login credentials. Five Italian Wine Ambassadors were certified in this round. They are: Alan Yik Lun Kwok, Valeria Tenison, Alessandro Pesarini, Marzia Gallo, Francesco Giardino.

The next course will be the 18th edition of the VIA Italian Wine Ambassador course, which will be marked by a return to Verona for another flagship edition. This new flagship course will be the first to utlise an agile format with the online theory classes continuing, but students coming together in Verona to be led by Faculty members through guided tastings and Q&A sessions ahead of the exam. Recruitment for this edition has begun and more details can be found by emailing: via@justdothework.it or visiting the VIA website: https://vinitalyinternational.com/wordpress/.

About: Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) aims to be the gold standard of Italian wine education. It offers a complete educational path with standardized courses that will teach professionals and educators to master the diversity of Italian wine in a rigorous, organized manner. VIAs main objective is to foster a global network of highly qualified professionals such as Italian Wine Ambassadors and Italian Wine Experts: in turn, they will support and promote Italian wine throughout the world. VIA was founded by Stevie Kim, Managing Director of Vinitaly International. The new VIA ecosystem avails of the guidance of Italian trade associations Federdoc, Federvini, Vignaioli Indipendenti FIVI, and Unione Italiana Vini as members of the Institutional Advisory Board. Italian vine genetics scholar, Prof. Attilio Scienza, oversees VIAs scientific and educational direction as the Chief Scientist. VIA Faculty Sarah Heller MW and Henry Davar teach the flagship Italian Wine Ambassador course. The following trade associations in the Italian wine industry have also joined as VIA Supporters: Italia del Vino; Italian Signature Wines Academy; Le Famiglie del Vino, Wi-Fi Wine from Irpinia, Consorzio di Tutela Vini del Trentino; Consorzio di Tutela Sicilia DOC; Franciacorta; Consorzio di Tutela Vini dAbruzzo. To date the VIA community comprises 220 certified Italian Wine Ambassadors and 15 Italian Wine Experts. Since its foundation in 2014, over 600 candidates from all over the world have taken VIAs courses.
Putting them at odds with Gov. Charlie Baker and a municipal trade group, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka intend to preserve eligibility for municipal employees in an emergency COVID-19 sick leave program that the Legislature is working to finalize and return to the governors desk.

Baker has proposed several amendments to the sick leave program that the Legislature tried to include in a larger unemployment tax relief package, most of which the governor signed off on last Friday.

Many of the recommended changes remain under review, but Democratic legislative leadership said late Wednesday they do not intend to go along with Bakers proposal to change employee eligibility for the leave program.

One of the governors amendments would exclude municipal workers, including teachers, public works employees, police and others. The administration said the change would align COVID-19 sick leave with the states Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which allows cities and towns to opt in instead.

Democratic leaders on Beacon Hill told the News Service that municipal employees deserve to take advantage of the program, which would provide up to five days of paid time off for full-time employees who are sick with COVID-19, isolating, taking time off to get vaccinated or caring for a family member ill with the virus.Our municipal employees, including our teachers and first responders, have been essential to the states COVID-19 response. We were disappointed to see Governor Bakers amendment to exclude them from paid sick leave benefits, Mariano and Spilka told the News Service in response to questions about the program.

The House and the Senate continue to believe that paid sick leave will protect our communities by preventing the further spread of COVID-19, and our municipal employees deserve the same access to it as other workers. We are committed to returning this legislation back to the Governors desk with municipal employees included, the Democratic leaders said.

The Baker administration defended the amendment, arguing that cities and towns tend to have highly unionized employees with strong leave protections in place already, and many can access federal funds to implement their own leave programs that could align with the state and federal leave guarantees.

The recommendation from the governors office was also made to the Legislature with the blessing of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

When the Governors office consulted with us on the bill, we shared that our preference was that the adoption of expanded leave benefits should be at the option of municipalities, as cities and towns already have generous sick leave policies in place, compared to the private sector, which is where gaps exist for workers, MMA Executive Director Geoff Beckwith said.

But unions, including the Massachusetts Teachers Association, criticized the decision to carve municipalities out of the program that would be offered to other public employees who work for the state, as well as private-sector workers.

The Governors proposed amendments would deny Emergency Paid Sick Time benefits to municipal employees  workers who are on the frontlines of the pandemic response and deserve the same protections as private-sector workers. Thats unacceptable, the Raise Up coalition said after Baker returned that portion of the bill to the Legislature last week.

The coalition of labor, faith and community groups includes the MTA, which has been feuding with the Baker administration over vaccinations and the governors plan to return most students to in-person learning this month.

Raise Up said the new state COVID-19 leave program would fill a gap that existed for many workers between the states earned sick time law and the federal COVID-19 leave program that expired in December, but did not cover as many as 1.8 million workers in Massachusetts, including employees of large companies with more than 500 workers.

The paid family and medical leave law in Massachusetts that took effect on Jan. 1 also has a one-week waiting period to receive benefits, according to the coalition, exposing low-income workers who cant afford to miss a week of pay due to illness.

Each additional day that goes by without Emergency Paid Sick Time legislation in place means that more workers will go to work even when they might be infectious, because they cant afford not to get paid. Many essential frontline workers need paid sick time so they can recover from the side effects of the COVID vaccine, the Raise Up coalition said.

House and Senate leaders are continuing to review other aspects of the governors amendment, and have not set a date for the Legislature to vote again on the legislation, though given the schedule its unlikely that would happen until at least next week.

Activists pressed for the emergency leave programs passage last session and appear to be on the verge of securing it more than a year into a pandemic that has produced more than 611,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts and more than 17,000 deaths.

Baker also proposed changes to more closely mirror the federal emergency leave program so that medium and small employers only have to follow one set of rules, and to ensure that the benefits paid for eligible workers are no less than their regular compensation, up to $850, or two-thirds of the regular rate of pay for family leave.

Baker said this change would raise the floor for many workers to access the emergency COVID-19 leave benefits, and wrote in his amendment letter that the programs aim of providing necessary protections from the spread of COVID-19 for workers and their families is a goal he supports.

The mandate aptly addresses needs -- immunization, isolation, and quarantine -- that were not contemplated when the states Paid Family and Medical Leave program was designed, Baker wrote.

As originally passed, the Legislature proposed a $75 million fund to reimburse companies with more than 500 employees for leave taken by their workers, while smaller companies and government agencies can access tax credits from the federal government to cover the cost through the American Rescue Plan.

Baker proposed instead to convert the funding to a $40 per employee tax credit for all companies unable to access the federal credits, regardless of whether the employee uses the leave benefit. The governor said this would not add to the cost of the program, but would prevent it from abruptly ending when the $75 million runs out and ensure that benefits remain available through September.
ROME, APR 8 - Premier Mario Draghi told local government representatives including regional governors Thursday that the government's 200 billion euro post-COVID Recovery Plan represented a "unique opportunity" and they must spend the money well. He said the National Recovery and Resilence Plan (PNRR) was ambitious and was a special chance to implement an ecological and digital transition. "We must spend and spend well," Draghi told the leaders of Italy's towns, cities, provinces and regions, according to those present. "Challenges are achieved together," he reportedly added. "You are the antennae in relations with citizens." (ANSA).
I was dumbfounded by the synchronicity. Like, the hairs on my head stood up because I felt very affirmed in that the energy I have been putting into the universe was reaching people and being recognized and then being useful, added Mensa, who said he now talks to Jones regularly. As an artist, its a vain pursuit and something that we do much for ourselves, but its really a blessing and a gift to be able to be useful in a meaningful way to the lives of real people. People that can use messages of strength and support and dreams of freedom. To be able to be that fuel for someone in pitch-black darkness is everything to me.
This is the Thursday, April 8, 2021 edition of Today in Slovakia. Learn about politics, business, and other notable events of the day in Slovakia in less than five minutes. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you.

Finance Minister and former PM Igor Matovic travelled to Moscow on April 8 for further negotiations concerning the Sputnik V vaccines.

He wrote on Facebook earlier that he condemns "any punitive and systematic efforts to prevent Sputnik V being used in Slovakia, and will do everything to make them ultimately fail."

Neither his coalition partners, nor PM Eduard Heger provided more information about his trip. The batch of Sputnik V vaccines that arrived in Slovakia on March 1 is still not being used. Matovic believes it to be part of a dirty game.

The official Twitter account of the Sputnik V vaccine wrote that the Russian Direct Investment Fund sent a letter on April 6, 2021, requesting the return the vaccines due to multiple contract violations so they can be used in other countries.

Finance Minister Matovic flew to Moscow for Sputnik negotiations Read more

Kindergartens and the first stage of primary school (first to fourth grades) will be open for children of all parents from April 12.

Until now, schools have been opened based on a regional Covid automat warning system. Some schools also set the rule that only children of parents who cannot work from home could attend.

Parents are still required to have a negative test and students should also be tested if they are in the second stage of primary school or older.

The Ministry has promised more information on April 12, when it will announce how schools should operate from April 19.

Interview for today

"The caution that varies between generations will be even more present. If people are careful in financial issues, they will be even more so in health issues. Caution towards strangers may also increase."

Sociologist Zuzana Kusa explains in an interview, among other things, what Slovak society might look like once the pandemic is over.

Slovak society will be more vigilant after the pandemic is over Read more

Gallery of the day

President Zuzana Caputova welcomed Roma working on the frontline to the Presidential Palace, on the occasion of International Romani Day.

"People should not be evaluated according to their origin or skin colour, but according to the results of their activities," Caputova said.

Coronavirus and vaccination news

The State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL) pointed out that they lack 80 percent of the data required from the producer of the Sputnik V vaccine and cannot evaluate it. They also claim that it is not the same vaccine that the European Medicines Agency has been considering.

required from the producer of the Sputnik V vaccine and cannot evaluate it. They also claim that it is not the same vaccine that the European Medicines Agency has been considering. President Zuzana Caputova signed an amendment concerning social insurance that will increase pandemic benefit for the care of a family member (OCR) and pandemic sick pay. This month, it will be around the level of the net salary.

that will increase pandemic benefit for the care of a family member (OCR) and pandemic sick pay. This month, it will be around the level of the net salary. As of April 7, 795,683 people have received their first Covid vaccine and 269,583 have received their second dose.

Other news

The decline in retail sales slowed only slightly in February compared to January. Sales were 14.7 percent lower y-o-y and for the second month in a row, they reached historic lows. (Statistics Office)

slowed only slightly in February compared to January. Sales were 14.7 percent lower y-o-y and for the second month in a row, they reached historic lows. (Statistics Office) Nine out of ten entrepreneurs consider the enforcement of the law in Slovakia to be an obstacle to doing business . According to a survey conducted by the Business Alliance of Slovakia and the Arbitration Court of the Slovak Bar Association, 80 percent of respondents report the negative impact of anti-pandemic measures on business legal certainty and according to about two thirds of respondents these measures negatively affected law enforcement.

in Slovakia to be an . According to a survey conducted by the Business Alliance of Slovakia and the Arbitration Court of the Slovak Bar Association, 80 percent of respondents report the negative impact of anti-pandemic measures on business legal certainty and according to about two thirds of respondents these measures negatively affected law enforcement. Slovakia entered the proceedings in the case of the death of Jozef Chovanec . A judge in Belgium accepted the proposal of the Slovak government on March 26. By entering the proceedings, Slovakia gains the right to access the criminal file, the right to propose new investigative acts and the right to initiate prosecution in relation to the possible perpetrators.

in the case of the . A judge in Belgium accepted the proposal of the Slovak government on March 26. By entering the proceedings, Slovakia gains the right to access the criminal file, the right to propose new investigative acts and the right to initiate prosecution in relation to the possible perpetrators. The State Secretary of the Economy Ministry, Karol Galek, confirmed that the third unit of the Mochovce nuclear power plant will be put into commercial operation by the end of this year.

will be put into commercial operation by the end of this year. Slovak politicians call for the de-escalation of tensions on the Russian-Ukraine border. They have reassured Ukraine that Slovakia supports its territorial sovereignty.

Do not miss on Spectator.sk today:

Link between AstraZeneca and blood clots confirmed. Early diagnosis important Read more

Blog: Choosing the right university Read more

Mammoths were the first to discover Piestany's thermal springs Read more

If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
(CNN) -- More than a third of the Antarctic ice shelf risks collapsing into the sea if global temperatures reach 4 degrees Celsius (7.2 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels as climate change warms the world, a new study from the UK's University of Reading has warned.

In a forecasting study, scientists found that 34% of the area of all Antarctic ice shelves, measuring some half a million square kilometers, could destabilize if world temperatures were to rise by 4 degrees. Some 67% of the ice shelf area on the Antarctic Peninsula would be at risk of destabilization under this scenario, researchers said.

Ice shelves are permanent floating platforms of ice attached to areas of the coastline, formed where glaciers flowing off the land meet the sea. They can help limit the rise in global sea levels by acting like a dam, slowing the flow of melting ice and water into the oceans.

Each summer, ice at the surface of ice shelves melts and runs into smaller gaps in the snow below, where it usually refreezes. But when there is a lot of melting and little snowfall, this water instead pools onto the ice's surface or flows into crevasses. This deepens and widens the crevasses, causing the shelf to fracture and collapse into the sea.

"Ice shelves are important buffers preventing glaciers on land from flowing freely into the ocean and contributing to sea level rise. When they collapse, it's like a giant cork being removed from a bottle, allowing unimaginable amounts of water from glaciers to pour into the sea," study lead author Ella Gilbert, a climate scientist in the University of Reading's Department of Meteorology, said in a statement.

Gilbert told CNN that low-lying coastal areas, particularly small island states such Vanuatu and Tuvalu, in the South Pacific Ocean, are most at risk from global sea level rise.

"However, coastal areas all over the world would be vulnerable, and countries with fewer resources available to mitigate and adapt to sea level rise will see worse consequences," she said.

In the new study, which used high-resolution regional climate modeling to predict the impact of increased melting and water runoff on ice shelf stability, researchers say that limiting temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius rather than 4 degrees Celsius would halve the area at risk and potentially avoid significant sea level rise.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded in a landmark report that we only have until 2030 to drastically reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and prevent the planet from reaching the crucial threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

Global net emissions of carbon dioxide would need to fall by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach "net zero" around 2050 in order to keep the warming around 1.5 degrees Celsius.

"The findings highlight the importance of limiting global temperature increases as set out in the Paris Agreement if we are to avoid the worst consequences of climate change, including sea level rise," Gilbert added.

In the Paris accord, 197 countries agreed to the goal of holding global temperatures "well below" 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

But we are on track for a world that is 3.2 degrees Celsius warmer by the end of the century.

Gilbert told CNN that increased temperatures means melting occurs more frequently, and more intensely.

Researchers identified four ice shelves that would be threatened by a warmer climate: The Larsen C, Shackleton, Pine Island and Wilkins ice shelves, which are vulnerable due to their geography, and the runoff predicted in those areas.

Larsen C is the largest remaining ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula, and the Pine Island glacier has received a lot of attention in recent years because it has been melting rapidly in response to climate change, Gilbert said.

If these ice shelves all collapsed, which is not guaranteed, the glaciers they currently restrain would flow into the ocean, contributing to sea level rise -- potentially by tens of centimeters, she explained.

The study was published Thursday in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "A third of Antarctic ice shelf risks collapse as our planet warms"
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield looks on during a press conference at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand on Feb. 17, 2021. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

New Zealand Quarantine Worker Tests Positive for CCP Virus

A New Zealand hotel quarantine worker has tested positive for the CCP virus just days after the country announced a two-way safe zone travel bubble with Australia.

The 24-year-old security worker at Grand Millennium managed isolation facility in Auckland returned a positive swab test on Tuesday after complaining of a sore throat.

New Zealand Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield told reporters that the man had not been vaccinated.

The person returned high CT values , which can mean it is either early on in their infection, nearing the end, or the case is historical, the health ministry announced on Thursday. An urgent repeat test is being carried out today to give health officials a better understanding of this persons infection. Whole Genome Sequencing will be carried out.

Today we are reporting 1 new case of #COVID19 in a border worker as well as 19 cases in managed isolation and 4 historical cases . Read the full update at https://t.co/Gx7XNrtc5X  Ministry of Health  Manatu Hauora (@minhealthnz) April 8, 2021

The hotel quarantine worker lives alone and travels to work with a colleague who has been informed and is self-isolating at home, the health ministry said. The close contact will be tested today but has been vaccinated.

Auckland public health officials have this morning carried out scoping interviews with the case to determine any locations of interest, but at this stage, we understand the case was not at work yesterday and did not visit anyone, the health ministry said. If any locations of interest are identified, we will update the Ministrys website and send out push notifications.

This is the second time a worker from the Grand Millennium managed isolation facility in Auckland has contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

A cleaner tested positive on March 22 for the UK variant, with genomic sequencing revealing a match with a returnee who had been in the facility.

The Grand Millennium will now go through an out-of-cycle Infection Prevention and Control audit.

Further to the one new border-related case at the Grand Millennium, there are 19 new positive CCP virus cases in managed isolation.

New Zealand has 95 active cases in total.
Three employees of Imedi hospital in the southwestern Georgian town of Akhaltsikhe have been charged by the Prosecutors Office for providing false information about the recent death of 27-year-old nurse Megi Bakradze.

The Prosecutors Office said in a statement today that two doctors, identified as B.L. and V.I and a nurse, identified as T.G., who previously claimed that V.I. had provided Bakradze with emergency medical care immediately after she felt unwell following the vaccination, have actually lied.

Per the investigation V.I. was not with Bakradze when the latter felt unwell after receiving her first shot of the coronavirus vaccine. Thus she could not have given the patient any medication, Agenda.ge reported.

Bakradze, who went into anaphylactic shock after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine on March 18 died at the First University Clinic of Tbilisi State Medical University the next day.

In an interview with local TV9 media outlet just following the vaccination Bakradze had encouraged everyone to get vaccinated and thus protect themselves from the coronavirus. However, soon after the interview the nurse had an anaphylaxis, which is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that occurs rarely after vaccination.

Following the tragic case, health officials decided that vaccination should continue only in clinics with intensive care units (ICUs). Moreover, individuals receiving any vaccines against Covid-19 in Georgia have to stay at clinics for 45 minutes to be observed if there are any adverse effects.
An End-of-Phase 2 meeting is designed to facilitate dialogue between the FDA and Algernon so that the two can work together on evaluating practices for the next trial, including protocols and endpoints

The company is preparing a briefing package that includes a summary of the study data and a protocol synopsis for Phase 3

Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc ( ) ( ) (FRA:AGW) plans to file an End-of-Phase 2 meeting request for a potential Phase 3 trial using Ifenprodil to treat coronavirus (COVID-19).

The company told investors it will formalize its discussions with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the application, based on the completion of the Phase 2b trial.

Algernon said it had completed its initial review of the full data set and will look for the FDAs guidance on how to move forward with the Phase 3 portion of the study.

An End-of-Phase 2 (EOP2) meeting is designed to facilitate dialogue between the FDA and Algernon so that the two can work together on evaluating practices for the next trial, including protocols and endpoints, Algernon said. The meeting will focus on data from three key endpoints in Phase 2: all-cause mortality, oxygenation and time spent in intensive care, from the 20 mg Ifenprodil treatment arm of the study.

The Vancouver-based company is preparing a briefing package that includes a summary of the study data and a protocol synopsis for Phase 3.

Algernon told shareholders that while the full data set review confirmed no significant changes were observed compared to the untreated arm of the study, the data showed a negative dose-effect trend with some clinical outcomes. According to the company, this could represent a class effect observed at doses higher than those at which a more customary dose-response relationship is shown, and may inform observations on the 40 mg dose data.

Algernon noted that very little historical data existed to guide dosing for the study of Ifenprodil in COVID-19 patients, and the company chose to include a high dose 40mg treatment arm in the study, in view of Ifenprodils considerable safety record.

When we consider the totality of the studys data set, we are very confident that the next appropriate step is a formal EOP2 meeting with the FDA in order to discuss the results and explore the potential of a Phase 3 trial, said Christopher J. Moreau, CEO of Algernon Pharmaceuticals.

We look forward to feedback from the FDA so that we can determine our next steps.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
Zenith Energy Ltd - oil & gas production company - Says its subsidiary Zenith Energy Netherlands BV has signed an extension agreement with KUFPEC (Tunisia) Ltd, a subsidiary of the State of Kuwait's national oil company, for the acquisition of the Sidi El Kilani oilfield. The new purchase completion date is June 30. The extension has been granted amid difficulties caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

"The board is increasingly confident regarding Zenith Energy's establishment in Tunisia, where we are currently assessing certain additional oil production and development opportunities to further enrich our portfolio," says Chief Executive Andrea Cattaneo.

Current stock price: 0.97 pence, down 3.0% on Thursday

Year-to-date change: down 27%

By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
A section of leaders of Bamasaba Cultural Institution (Inzu Ya Masaba) have accused the Energy minister, Ms Mary Goretti Kitutu, of interfering with the gazettement process of the newly elected cultural head (Umukukha), Mr Mike Jude Mudoma.

Mr Mudoma, the head of Buyobo Clan in Sironko District, was on March 20 endorsed as the duly elected umukukha during a reconciliation meeting chaired by State minister for Gender and Culture Peace Mutuuzo at Mbale District headquarters.

The same cultural seat is being claimed by Mr John Wagabyalire.

The controversy was sparked off by the Energy minister arose during a burial ceremony in Bukiabi Sub-county, Namisindwa District, last Saturday when she told mourners of how she had brought the impasse of who should be the cultural leader to President Museveni for redress.

"I told the President that we have two cultural leaders. I also told the minister (Ms Mutuzo) that we should call delegates from Kenya and those from here and organise fresh elections so that we sort out the mess," Ms Kitutu told mourners.

She added: "There are people telling us that we have the elected Umukukha but we will not accept that because we know how the Umukukha is elected."

Ms Kitutu, who is the woman MP-elect for Manafwa District, has since last month been accused of covertly backing Mr Wagabyalire as the new cultural leader.

Mr Wagabyalire was elected in December last year to replace the late Bob Mushikori by a group opposed to the election of Mr Mudoma.

During the recent reconciliation meeting, it was found that Mr Mudoma's election was conducted in the right manner as opposed to that of Mr Wagabyalire.

"The minister is one of the hurdles blocking the gazettement process of the duly elected Umukhuka. Although she has interests, her remarks were uncalled for," Mr James Kangala, the secretary general of Inzu Ya Masaba, said.

Mr Nelson Wedaira, the speaker of the general assembly of the institution, told Daily Monitor, that the minister is opposed to Mr Mudoma's candidature for political reasons.

"The minister was not happy when Mr Mudoma appointed Mr Charles Walimbwa Peke as prime minister because she and Mr Walimbwa have their own political differences," Mr Wedaira said.

Mr Walimbwa, who is the current NRM chairperson for Manafwa District, also contested for the position of Umukukha in 2015 but lost to late Bob Mushikori by one vote. Mushikori died in January this year.

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But Ms Kitutu, while giving her remarks at the burial ceremony, dismissed such allegations and denied to have ever met Mr Wagabyalire.

"There are those people who are saying I support Mr Wagabyalire but this is my first time to see him. I had never met him," she said. Mr Wagabyalire was in attendance.

Mr Mathius Nabutele, the former deputy prime minister in the institution and an ally of Mr Wagabyalire, said he supports fresh elections as long as they are geared towards restoring sanity in the institution.

"I support any approach that is geared towards restoring sanity and that approach must be inclusive," Mr Nabutele said.

Mr Herbet Mulekwa, the chairperson of Sironko District, however, said a call for fresh elections is impossible because the term of office of the delegates expired last year.

The communication officer at the ministry of Gender, Mr Frank Mugabi, on Tuesday said the gazettement process of Mr Mudoma is still on.

Source of trouble

The rivalry within the institution started last year after parallel search committees for the next Umukukha were instituted resulting in the election of two parallel cultural leaders.

One of the groups was affiliated to the late Mushikori, and was headed by Mr Geoffrey Wetpondi as its secretary general, and the other to Mr James Kangala, who also served as secretary general.
Jimmy Nicholson's season of The Bachelor is currently being filmed in Sydney.

And while we're still yet to officially meet the 31-year-old airline pilot's contestants, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that one of them is a former actress.

Holly Kingston, 27, is tipped to be one of ten beauties lucky enough to land a single date with the new suitor.

The Bachelor EXCLUSIVE: New suitor Jimmy Nicholson's mystery girl is revealed to be former actress Holly Kingston - and she already has a connection to him

The Sydneysider was pictured cosying up to Jimmy on a solo paddle-boarding date on March 19.

Things look set to get steamy between the pair, as they were seen wrapping their arms around each other and kissing passionately.

Holly flaunted her toned physique in a white bikini, while a shirtless Jimmy showed off his muscles in just a pair of boardshorts.

Mystery front-runner: The Sydneysider was pictured cosying up to Jimmy on a solo-paddle boarding date on March 19

Holly was encouraged to sign up to the Channel 10 dating show by former Miss Universe Australia Francesca Hung, who also happens to be friends with Jimmy.

Jimmy was instantly attracted to Holly after 'falling for her infectious smile', says a production insider.

Despite boasting 3,800 followers on Instagram, Holly's social media accounts have been switched to private, which is a requirement for all cast members.

Mutual connection: Holly was encouraged to sign up to the Channel 10 dating show by former Miss Universe Australia Francesca Hung, who also happens to be friends with Jimmy. The two women are pictured together on January 25

Mr Popular! As previously reported by Daily Mail, the soon-to-be Bachelor is followed by a bevy of stars, including Hugh Sheridan, Bella Varelis, Samuel Johnson and Mikey Pembroke

Holly is no stranger to the spotlight, having previously appeared in ABC drama series Ready for This, which aired in 2015.

Holly has since given up acting and is now a full-time marketing and social media professional.

Her LinkedIn account says she's 'deeply passionate about fashion, copywriting and content creation'.

Channel 10 is yet to announce an air date for the new season of The Bachelor.
Florida is suing the federal government to demand cruise ships be allowed to resume sailing immediately, as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ban is still in effect more than a year after the start of the pandemic.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced in a press briefing Thursday that the state had filed a lawsuit against the federal government over what he blasted as an 'irrational' delay to getting the cruise industry back up and running.

'We don't believe the federal government has the right to mothball a major industry for over a year based on very little evidence and very little data,' the Republican governor told reporters at the Port of Miami.

The CDC issued new guidelines last week for cruise companies on how to respond in the event of future COVID-19 cases aboard ships but has so far not lifted its no-sail order.

Florida is suing the federal government to demand cruise ships be allowed to resume sailing immediately, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced in a press briefing Thursday (above) surrounded by officials and cruise workers at the Port of Miami

Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked at Port Miami last month. The CDC ban on sailing is still in effect more than a year after the start of the pandemic

DeSantis slammed the no-sail order as outdated and said it disproportionately hurts Florida, with the industry employing tens of thousands of Floridians and generating billions of dollars for the state's economy each year.

'On behalf of the tens of thousands of Floridians who's livelihoods depends on the viability of an open cruise industry, today Florida's fighting back,' he said, as he was joined by officials and cruise workers.

'We don't believe the federal government has the right to mothball a major industry for over a year, based on very little evidence and very little data.'

DeSantis said cruising has resumed in much of the world, forcing Americans to fly to other ports in the nearby Bahamas rather than sail out of Florida.

'People are going to cruise one way or another,' he said.

'The question is are we going to do it out of Florida, which is the number one place to do it in the world, or are they going to be doing it out of the Bahamas or other locations?'

The CDC did not immediately return DailyMail.com's request for comment.

Florida is the nation's cruise capital with three of the world's busiest ports: Miami, Port Canaveral near Kennedy Space Center, and Port Everglades near Fort Lauderdale.

The cruise industry is one of the state's biggest tourism sectors, with 8 million passengers cruising from Florida in 2019, before the pandemic hit.

An estimated 150,000 jobs in the state are created by the industry, including dependent jobs at hotels, restaurants and airlines, generating nearly $8 billion in wages, according to estimates from the Cruise Lines International Association.

When the industry ground to a halt, the state's economy was hard hit with the first six months of the pandemic costing an estimated $3.2 billion in economic activity, according to the Federal Maritime Commission.

DeSantis announced the lawsuit over what he blasted as an 'irrational' delay to getting the cruise industry back up and running

The Republican governor, who lifted all COVID-19 restrictions in Florida back in September, said he believes the state has 'good chance for success' with the suit.

The Cruise Lines International Association welcomed the suit in a statement Thursday saying the industry was 'grateful' for the governor's input.

'Tens of thousands of Floridians rely on cruising for their livelihoods, including longshoremen, taxi drivers, travel agents and tour operators, ports, and numerous suppliers and vendors that make the cruise industry work,' it said.

'Ultimately, the CDC and the entire U.S. cruise community want the same thing - the responsible resumption of cruising from the US this summer.'

DeSantis warned last month that a lawsuit could be in the cards if the government continued with its ban on cruise ships using US ports.

'Is it OK for the government to just idle an industry for a year?' he said in March.

DeSantis argued that people now need to decide for themselves what they are willing to risk and that with widespread testing and vaccines becoming more available, the danger is now no worse than air and train travel, which are both open.

Industry leaders have said there have been no new outbreaks tied to their ships that have so resumed sailing operations around the world.

The CDC shut down sailing last March when several coronavirus outbreaks were tied to ships worldwide, prompting ports to reject docking plans and leaving some passengers and crew members to navigate for an extended time.

DeSantis' announcement came two days after Carnival Cruise Line threatened to move its fleet out of US ports if the CDC continues to hold up sailing.

'While we have not made plans to move Carnival Cruise Line ships outside of our US homeports, we may have no choice but to do so in order to resume our operations which have been on 'pause' for over a year,' Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise president said in a statement.

Carnival cruise line ship Carnival Magic is docked at Port Canaveral in Cape Canaveral, Florida last April after the CDC issued a no-sail order

Duffy said the company wants to work with the CDC to find a 'workable solution' while questioning why the industry was not being 'treated on par' with the likes of the airline industry.

On Thursday Royal Caribbean announced it is extending the suspension of some sailings, including all sailings from the US until June 30.

This includes the group's namesake brand Royal Caribbean International, as well as sister cruise lines Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises trips.

Trips leaving from ports in other parts of the world are still operating to schedule, the group said.

Richard D. Fain, Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO, said the company wanted to resume service safely and believes the Biden administration's goal for more semblance of normal life by July 4 is 'realistic.'

'Safety is the first priority, and we know that cruising can be safe, as we have seen in Europe and Asia,' he said in a statement.

'The rising number of Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, layered on top of the rigorous health and safety measures we are implementing under the Healthy Sail Panel's guidance, enables us to create a safe environment to take a cruise.

'We strongly believe that President Biden's stated goal for society to reopen in time for Independence Day is a realistic goal.'

This comes after Disney Cruise Line announced Monday its trips are also suspended through June impacting its Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wonder trips.

CEOs of the major cruise lines have said the rollout of the vaccine is critical to the industry getting back up and running as they have struggled to stay afloat this last year.

In February, Royal Caribbean Group reported a billion-dollar net loss for the fourth straight quarter, compared with a profit of $273.1 million the year before the pandemic hit.

Last month, the line announced that passengers will only be able to travel on its ships if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, DeSantis has hit out at the suggestion the federal government will roll out vaccine passports, signing an executive order Friday banning public and private businesses from requiring people provide proof of vaccination.

Fears first mounted for cruise ship passengers and crew last February when hundreds tested positive on the Diamond Princess (above) after Japanese authorities imposed a lockdown in Yokohama ordering the ship to stay off the coast for two weeks

A passenger waves as she walks with others on the deck of the Diamond Princess cruise ship in February. More than 700 people tested positive and 14 died after being on board the ship

This order will also apply to the cruise industry in the state.

DeSantis has long railed against COVID-19 restrictions, with some of the most relaxed rules nationwide and no mask mandate in place.

Even as cases were soaring again in December, the governor did not issue stricter requirements.

Last month, he said he welcomed more visitors to help the economic recovery from the pandemic, leading to an influx of partygoers flocking to Miami and Fort Lauderdale for spring break.

The CDC announced the next phase of its sail order Friday, outlining guidance to reduce the risk of the virus spreading on board ships when they resume.

The guidelines include daily reporting of any COVID-19 cases and illnesses and routine testing of all crew members.

It also includes instructions for making plans with ports and local health authorities to ensure cruise lines 'have the necessary infrastructure in place to manage an outbreak of COVID-19 on their ships'.

This comes after cruise ships fast became hotbeds for the virus when it first started ravaging the globe in the spring and several ships were turned away by ports refusing to allow sick patients to disembark.

The cruise industry and the CDC came under fire for their slow response amid the pandemic as ships continued to sail out to sea even after a series of outbreaks on board and repeated warnings that the high numbers of people in contained spaces made them breeding grounds for the virus.

Fears first mounted for cruise ship passengers and crew last February when hundreds tested positive on the Diamond Princess after Japanese authorities imposed a lockdown in Yokohama ordering the ship to stay off the coast for two weeks.

DeSantis has long railed against COVID-19 restrictions, with some of the most relaxed rules nationwide and no mask mandate in place. Fort Lauderdale beaches last month

Last month, he said he welcomed more visitors to help the economic recovery from the pandemic, leading to an influx of partygoers flocking for spring break

More than 700 people tested positive and 14 died after being on board the ship.

Passengers were confined to their cabins during the lockdown but several countries eventually lost patience with Japan and airlifted their citizens home.

Despite the warning signs, on March 7 it was still business as usual with companies citing extra cleaning measures were being taken and then-Vice President Mike Pence told Americans it was 'safe for healthy Americans to travel.'

The next day - around a month after the Diamond Princess outbreak - the CDC issued guidelines that Americans do not travel on cruise ships.

Several ships still set sail after this time, and four days later the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

On March 13, more than 50 cruise lines finally announced they were suspending operations to and from US ports for 30 days and the CDC issued a no-sail order in US waters the following day.

Ports then refused ships permission to dock leaving passengers and crew stranded amid outbreaks.

In August, the US Coast Guard said it was still monitoring 36 cruise ships moored in US ports with 24,300 crew members on board and 42 cruise ships underway in US waters with 36,500 crew members on board, reported ABC News.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A woman was stabbed twice Wednesday morning during a fight with another woman on James Street, according to Syracuse police.

Police responded to the stabbing at 1:49 a.m. in the 3200 block of James Street, Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Malinowski said Wednesday.

Julia Barreto, 23, was taken to St. Josephs Hospital in a private vehicle with stab wounds to her leg and hand, he said.

Samantha Trumble, 29, of Syracuse, was accused of stabbing Barreto during the fight, Malinowski said. Trumble was charged with second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, he said.

Trumble was taken to the Onondaga County Justice Center, Malinowski said.

Police ask anyone with information about the stabbing to call the Syracuse Police Department at 315-442-5222.

Staff writer James McClendon covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach him at 914-204-2815 or jmcclendon@syracuse.com.
This week, Stellantis began its Alternative Work Schedule (AWS) for skilled tradespeople at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP) north of Detroit. This brutal schedule, also known as 12/7, entails 12-hour workdays for seven days straight with no overtime pay, followed by seven days off.

The AWS at the plant is the first of its kind for skilled trades in the auto industry, made possible through concessions granted to the company by the United Auto Workers union in the 2019 contract. It represents a further attack on the eight-hour day in the auto industry, which had already been substantially eroded when the UAW agreed to allow AWS for production workers a decade ago.

Shift change at Sterling Heights Assembly in 2019 (Source: WSWS)

The new schedule creates an inherently dangerous situation by physically exhausting skilled tradespeople who occupy critical positions within the plant. The system also introduces the so-called team concept, forcing workers to perform tasks for which they are not qualified.

This is all the more reckless given the massive spread of new variants of COVID-19 throughout the state of Michigan. Sterling Stamping Plant, which is located across the street from SHAP, recorded its highest one-month total number of infections ever last month. No such figures exist at SHAP, as a result of a UAW-management cover-up of infections at nearly every plant in the country, but workers in the factory have reported an increase in positive cases and workers near their stations being placed under quarantine.

Inside the plant, anger is simmering among both skilled trades and production workers. For months, the plant has been working continuous forced overtime, with production employees working six- and even seven-day workweeks. The auto giant is desperate to make up for lost profits due to both the pandemic and the global semiconductor shortage by keeping the plant, which produces the highly profitable and best-selling Ram pickup truck, running as hard as possible.

The SHAP Rank-and-File Safety Committeeorganized by workers last year independently of the UAWis seeking to mobilize opposition throughout the auto industry to the brutal work schedule and unsafe conditions. Last month, the committee issued a statement demanding the rescinding of the 12/7 schedule and the reinstatement of the principle of the eight-hour day for all workers, the payment of time and one-half after eight hours and for Saturday work.

They are short with people, but they are running any way, one skilled trades worker told the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter. People are in training and working at the same time. This is crazy.

[The overtime is] overbearing for people as human beings, a production worker said. I do overnight. I am on C crew. Its really hectic when we have to do six days but that is usually volunteer-only. But to do it every week for seven days, I dont know, it seems like torture. We feel like we are rats in a lab.

I dont understand the purpose for this schedule. I feel like its unnecessary. The UAW I feel could potentially be a really strong force. But they dont really acknowledge the workers. The higher ups get the best end of the stick. We basically generate most of the money going up to them. They make a lot of decisions without our consent. Our voices are not heard.

If the trucks are rolling off the line, and nothing is wrong with the product, how is our overtime related to the production of the trucks? There is no problem with the truck we make. The Ram is still the highest selling truck. They say demand is high, but two or three Saturdays a month should cover that. Who is even buying the trucks? This is the type of conversation we have on the line.

While SHAP continues to run full blast, the company has been forced to eliminate production at other plants. Stellantis brand-new Mack Avenue plant is reportedly on short shifts due to chip shortages, and Warren Truck Assembly Plant has been taken offline for three weeks, with temporary workers from the plant shifted northward to SHAP. According to unconfirmed reports from workers, the shutdown at Warren Truck has recently been extended to six weeks.

This will trickle down, a production worker at SHAP said. As long as we allow them to impose this on skilled trades, its just a matter of time before it comes down to all production workers. It will happen eventually.

The UAW, he continued, do what the corporation wants. No one likes it. But the union is just allowing it. People are not trusting them anymore. When they get behind closed doors with the company, they will do anything against us.

Autoworkers live under constant threat from both management and the union, he said. No one wants to start over again. We need our jobs. If one of us steps forward, they have a target on their back. The union is putting that fear out there. Anyone who speaks up will be made an example of. They use fear and intimidation. Thats not how it used to be.

The situation at SHAP is being followed closely by workers at other plants, mainly through social media, because they understand it as a spearhead for a broader offensive by the company. Michelle, a worker from Stellantis Toledo Jeep plant, said, What Stellantis is doing to the skilled tradesmen is only the beginning. At some point, they will try and impose this type of schedule on all the workers. The worst thing about this is that the union has allowed it to take place. As far as Im concerned, it is the clearest indication yet that these officials do not speak for the members but are a part of management.

Making workers come in seven days a week and 12 hours a day will put them into an early grave and perhaps thats the intent. That way the company doesnt have to meet its pension obligations or pay for health care once weve retired.

At Toledo Jeep right now they are giving workers an option to work 40-, 50- or 60-hour shifts without overtime pay and optional days off. For those of us who have families, its a real bummer. When do you spend time with your kids, go to a doctors appointment or just relax? I definitely feel that something needs to be done about this.

A Stellantis worker from Indiana said, Its just a matter of time before they force this schedule on all Stellantis workers. If the UAW wont support the skilled trades for this awful schedule now, most likely they wont support us if it trickles down to the unskilled workers. Its just a matter of time.

I think this whole situation is just awful! This will affect marriages, family time and cause more health concerns. People will get sick. People will be getting fired or end up quitting. Workers will be made to choose between money or family. People want to go to their kids concerts, games and recitals. There wont be any quality of life. Not to mention, there are workers that have to care for elderly or sick parents.

I wonder what perks the union is getting for siding with management this time. I know they are getting some type of piece of a pie at our expense. She concluded, We have to get prepared, and be ready to fight for better working conditions and schedules. I think there needs to be a strike.

A parts worker and supporter of the rank-and-file safety committee of Faurecia Gladstone workers in Columbus, Indiana, expressed his solidarity with SHAP workers, saying: The working class has come too far to allow the capitalists at Stellantis, or any other corporation, or even the government, to impose 12/7. That doesnt give anybody time for their family. That doesnt give anybody time to do the things that they need to do to live.

I think what they are doing is barbaric. It is murderous. When it comes to 12-hour days, people are working themselves to death. That is not right to take somebodys life like that just for their profits.

They have a set-up at Gladstone where it is pretty much the same. Its for 11-and-a-half hours a day. But with this shortage of parts they keep you as long as they can, then without warning they tell you to go home.

All the working class is fighting for the same thing. Money is God to the capitalists. They dont care whose lives they take, who they run over, as long as they get that profit.

Giving that $4 trillion in the Cares Act to the billionaires was wrong because all that was personal profit for them. They are not putting themselves on the line. They are not even close to the front lines where they can be contaminated and killed. But yet they expect the working class, the teachers, the miners, the autoworkers, everybody to do this for them.

The only way we are going to be able to stop the pandemic profiteers is to have a general strike throughout the world. We are done with the greediness that has killed 3 million people.

To learn more about getting involved with the SHAP Rank-and-File Safety Committee, sign up today.
NRA boss Wayne LaPierre. He said on Wednesday that he filed for bankruptcy to get the NRA out of 'toxic' New York - where it has been based for years - to move to Texas

NRA boss Wayne LaPierre admitted on Wednesday that he filed a Chapter 11 to get the organization out of 'toxic' Democratic New York and move to Texas where it would be better received by lawmakers.

LaPierre was giving testimony at a bankruptcy hearing in Texas on Wednesday. The NRA filed for bankruptcy in New York - where it has been based for decades - after being sued by the state's Attorney General, Letitia James, for corruption and money mismanagement. The want to move their operation to Texas, where they'll receive a friendlier welcome from Republican lawmakers.

James claims that the bankruptcy claim is improper, inappropriate and merely an attempt to avoid having to pay any kind of settlement if she wins her case against the organization.

On Wednesday, LaPierre started trying to justify some of the exorbitant spending within the organization that James complains about in her lawsuit.

Hunting trips were one of them, he said. He claimed hunting wildlife, including buffalo and elephants, was a business expense so justifiable.

He also admitted to hiding it from colleagues when he planned to file a Chapter 11 in January, but said he did it in the best interest of the organization.

'We filed this bankruptcy to look for a fair legal playing field where NRA could prosper and grow in a fair legal environment, as opposed to what we believed had become a toxic, politicized, weaponized government in New York state.'

LaPierre is shown in the 2014 docu-series Under the Skies with an animal he has just killed

The NRA headquarters are in Virginia but the association has been chartered as a not-for-profit in New York since 1871. The Virginia HQ are shown

James sued the NRA in August 2020. She claims that LaPierre, former Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Wilson 'Woody' Phillips, former Chief of Staff and the Executive Director of General Operations Joshua Powell, and Corporate Secretary and General Counsel John Frazer used the NRA as a 'personal piggy bank' for years.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is suing the NRA. While the bankruptcy hearing goes on, her case is on pause

Her lawsuit alleges that they used NRA funds - built by donations from members - to pay for 'trips for them and their families to the Bahamas, private jets, and expensive meals'.

The NRA denied it, calling it a political attack driven by a Democratic state and collective of liberal lawmakers and prosecutors.

The testimony came on the third day of the trial, which is being held virtually before a federal court in Dallas.

The NRAs lawyers have framed the bankruptcy as a legitimate effort to move to a more friendly political environment and avoid a legal death blow; New Yorks attorneys have argued its an effort by LaPierre and other executives to duck accountability for using the nations most politically influential gun-rights group as a piggy bank.

As the hearing on New Yorks request that the case be thrown out resumed Wednesday morning, Judge Harlin Hale called it 'the most important motion Ive ever heard as a judge.'

The NRA declared bankruptcy five months after New York Attorney General Letitia James sued seeking the groups dissolution. The Democratic official alleged top NRA executives illegally diverted tens of millions of dollars for lavish personal trips, no-show contracts for associates and other questionable expenditures.

The bankruptcy process freezes pending litigation.
Brummer, who bears a passing resemblance to a young Peter OToole, is attractive and enigmatic as a young man finding himself in less-than-encouraging circumstances. The movies story line, adapted from a 2006 novel of the same name by Andre Carl van der Merwe, keeps its feet on the ground, rarely allowing the characters to express desire beyond implying it.

Because, as the movie shows, in the world of this army, merely exchanging a glance with another soldier could kick up enough homophobic fear and rage to start a riot. The director Oliver Hermanus also draws from Claire Deniss Beau Travail in depicting attractive young male bodies. He gets too arty with the soundtrack at times  scoring a Fight Club-like spin the bottle game to Bachs Toccata and Fugue in D minor is a bit much  but in depicting the horrific specifics of this particular mans awful military experience, Hermanus delivers in abundance.

Moffie

Not rated. In Afrikaans and English, with subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 44 minutes. In select theaters and available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators. Please consult the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before watching movies inside theaters.
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NHS England is to cancel all booked first-dose coronavirus vaccinations for adults under 30 from tomorrow after the change in advice over the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

From tomorrow, anyone aged between 18 and 29 who has been scheduled to have the AstraZeneca vaccine will have their appointment cancelled and they will be told to contact their GP to discuss their preference.

It is thought the cancellations will affect several thousand people who were booked for a vaccine, including younger health and social care workers, unpaid carers and people living with relatives who have a compromised immune system.

On Wednesday, concerns about the possible link between the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab and rare blood clots triggered a change in advice from the governments Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which said anyone under 30 should be offered an alternative vaccine as a precaution.

The change was made to reflect the reduced risk from the coronavirus to those under 30. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said the overall risk from the virus far outweighed the risk from the vaccine for most patients. It comes after the MHRA identified 79 cases of rare blood clots in patients who had the vaccine, including 19 deaths.

The JCVI said it was not recommending that any vaccinations be stopped, but NHS Englands decision to cancel all existing AstraZeneca vaccinations for the age group will effectively do just that until those affected can rebook their appointments.

Read more:

In a letter to NHS leaders, NHS Englands director for the vaccine programme, Emily Lawson, said existing appointments from 9 April onwards would need to be cancelled immediately.

She said: For those who have a first dose appointment at a vaccination centre or community pharmacy on or after 9 April, booked through the National Booking Service, these appointments will be cancelled centrally. For those booked via a local booking system, these appointments must be cancelled locally.

Individuals will be asked to contact their GP team to discuss the benefit and risks to them of receiving the AstraZeneca or another vaccine.

She added: If, following a conversation with a clinician, an individual chooses to go ahead with the AstraZeneca vaccination, all vaccination sites should make this option available. If an individual chooses to have another vaccine, the NHS will put appropriate arrangements in place.

In locally led vaccination hubs, patients opting for another vaccine will be rebooked in a clinic using the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in the coming four weeks. For hospital hubs, NHS England said Pfizer jabs should be offered as first doses for anyone in the original nine at-risk groups, those under 30, or anyone with underlying conditions.

NHS England said it would advise local services how to access more Pfizer vaccines in the coming weeks.

The change comes after the NHS stopped social care workers, NHS staff and carers from being able to book a vaccination via the national booking system. In a separate letter, the NHS said that change was being made because of supply issues with the vaccine.

The UK is currently experiencing a drop in supply of vaccines, but the government has said it remains on target to vaccinate all adults by the end of July.
GREENWICH  Greenwich Hospital is preparing to schedule appointments and administer 1,400 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine at its clinic at the Brunswick School, a hospital leader said Wednesday during a COVID-19 update.

The hospital will soon open appointments to get the J&J vaccine on April 16 at Brunswicks King Street campus, where it runs a seven-day-a-week clinic, Greenwich Hospital President Diane Kelly said.

We are definitely poised and ready to keep increasing the number of vaccines provided as we are getting more and more supply from the state, Kelly said.

Since the state opened COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all residents age 16 and up last week, there has been a surge of demand throughout Connecticut, according to Kelly and Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo, who both offered positive assessments on the vaccination efforts.

Greenwich Hospital has already administered more than 22,000 doses of the vaccine, including some second shots, Kelly said.

She also urged everyone to get vaccinated wherever and when they can.

Appointments, which are required, are allotted at all clinics depending on how many COVID-19 vaccine doses are received each week, she said. Overall, operations are going well at the hospitals vaccine site at the Brunswick campus, Kelly said.

Camillo said he has heard great reports about the clinics, with residents amazed about how efficient the operations are being run.

We have received no bad reports, which is great, said Camillo, who got his shot at Brunswick.

Also, the town operates a clinic three days a week at Town Hall, and Family Centers Inc. is operating a clinic at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center.

A total of 4,666 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Greenwich since the start of the pandemic, an increase of 164 cases since last week, Camillo said. But the number of active cases monitored by the town Department of Health is down to 146, a decrease of 27, he said.

Of the active cases, the most affected age groups are 11- to 20-year-olds and 41- to 50-year-olds, Camillo said. Contact tracing found that most cases are coming from household transmissions between family members, he said. That may be due to recent Easter and Passover gatherings, Camillo said.

Also last week, the state loosened restrictions on indoor dining and gathering sizes, but Camillo said it was not clear whether that was a factor.

I think as weeks go on more data will become available, he said. I havent seen anything broken down with regard to being tied to the businesses.

There have been 88 deaths in town associated with the coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic, with one more resident death this week.

At Greenwich Hospital, the number of COVID-19 cases is rather flat, Kelly said. As of Wednesday 20 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19, an increase of two from last week. Two of those patients were in the intensive care unit.

We are watching this very closely, she said of the hospitalization numbers.

Kelly offered a very positive note during the update, announcing the release of Greenwich resident George Kelakos on Tuesday after 146 days in the hospital with COVID-19. He will continue his recovery at a rehabilitation center, she said.

There are a lot of positive emotions when we get to see someone who had been here for so long and had to work hard and suffer through all of that on the other side of it, Kelly said. Were very happy with that.

His monthslong hospitalization was unique, she said, noting that every patient is different.

It really means that whatever the symptoms and difficulties this gentleman had, the medical team was able to manage that and get him over that, Kelly said. I have to say each time that occurs we learn more and more about the best ways to care for the patient.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
A new watchlist has been launched today which warns that a number of the UK's rare native livestock breeds are still at risk of extinction.

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust's (RBST) annual watchlist, published today (8 April), showcases the current standing for the UK's rare breeds.

The outlook for many of the country's native breeds has remained broadly unchanged due to continuing interest from new breeders and societies.

However, it also shows that there remain a significant number of 'Priority' breeds where the outlook is of concern, with ongoing trends of very low populations as well as lack of genetic diversity.

Breeds of notable concern include Gloucester cattle, Tamworth pigs, Cleveland Bay Horse, Eriskay ponies and Old English Goat.

For Gloucester cattle, breeding numbers have been low and consistent for some years, but herd numbers have fallen from 54 herds in 2006 to 27 herds in 2020.

And in 2020, there were only 29 herds of Tamworth pig that registered offspring in the year, down from 66 in 2010.

RBST chief executive Christopher Price said: "Farming with rare and native breeds has become increasingly attractive over the past few years.

"Consumers place a premium on great tasting, locally sourced meat that is kind to the natural environmental and based around high standards of animal welfare.

"At the same time, we have seen government policy starting to reflect the value of our native breeds to maintaining our natural environment and promoting biodiversity.

"There are breeds which remain a Priority and we are working closely with societies and RBST-accredited farm parks to improve their position with vital conservation programmes."

The way the watchlist is produced has also been updated this year to give a more holistic view of each breeds outlook.

It reflects robust measures of the genetic diversity within each breed, not just the numbers of breeding females registered as previously used.
AUG Notice on Convocation of the ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of AUGA group, AB on 30 April 2021

At the initiative and by the decision of the Board of AUGA group, AB (code 126264360, address Konstitucijos avenue 21C, Vilnius, Company) the ordinary general meeting of shareholders of the Company is being convened on 30 April 2021, at 10.00 a.m.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a quarantine has been announced in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania by the Government resolution No. 1226 Regarding the announcement of quarantine in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania of 4 November 2020, which includes a ban on organizing all events and gatherings in open and closed spaces. Quarantine is currently set until 30 April, 2021, 12:00 p.m. In accordance with recommendations of the Ministry of Economics and Innovations of the Republic of Lithuania, all Companys shareholders shall have a right to participate in the general meeting of shareholders only by a single mean foreseen in the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania  by filling the general ballot paper and providing it in advance to the Company. If the quarantine regime will already be revoked on the day of the general meeting of shareholders, it shall take place with no limitations regarding the form of attendance thereof. Only those persons who will be shareholders of the Company at the close of the record date of the general meeting of shareholders may participate and vote at the general meeting of shareholders. The record date of the meeting shall be 23 April 2021. Agenda of the meeting: 1. Consolidated annual report of the Company for the year 2020 and Auditors report. 2. Approval of consolidated set of annual financial statements of the Company for the year 2020. 3. Approval of the profit (loss) allocation of the Company for the year 2020. 4. Appointment of the auditor to audit consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year 2021 and approval of auditors remuneration. 5. Approval of new wording of the Articles of Association of the Company. 6. Election and approval of the board. 7. Approval of the remuneration for newly elected members of the board. 8. Provision of implementation of the Strategy of the Company. Drafts of decisions with related documentation and further information shall be published separately by supplementing this notice. Shareholders of the Company shall have a right to participate and vote at the general meeting of shareholders personally or by power of attorney or represented by the person with whom an agreement on the transfer of voting rights is concluded. The total number of the Companys shares of EUR 0.29 par value each and the number of shares granting voting rights during the general meeting of shareholders is the same and amounts to 227,416,252. ISIN code of the Companys shares is LT0000127466. A person attending the general meeting of shareholders and having a voting right must provide a persons identification document. A person who is not a shareholder must additionally provide a document confirming his/her right to vote at the general meeting of shareholders. Each shareholder shall have a right in the manner established by the laws to authorise other (natural or legal) person to attend and vote at the general meeting of shareholders on his/her behalf. At the general meeting of shareholders an authorised person shall have the same rights as would be held by the shareholder represented by him/her, unless the authorized persons rights are limited by the power of attorney or by laws. The authorized person must provide a power of attorney certified in the manner established by laws. A power of attorney issued in a foreign state must be translated into Lithuanian and legalised in the manner established by laws. The Company does not establish special form of power of attorney. Shareholder shall have the right to authorize through electronic communication channels another person (natural or legal) to participate and vote in the meeting on shareholders behalf. Such authorization shall not be approved by the notary public. The power of attorney issued through electronic communication channels must be confirmed by the shareholder with a safe electronic signature developed by safe signature equipment and approved by a qualified certificate effective in the Republic of Lithuania. The shareholder shall inform the Company on the power of attorney issued through electronic communication channels by e-mail info@auga.lt no later than until the last business day before the meeting at 24:00. The power of attorney and notification shall be issued in writing. The power of attorney and notification to the Company shall be signed with the electronic signature but not the letter sent via e-mail. By submitting the notification to the Company, the shareholder shall include the internet address from which it would be possible to download free of charge software to verify an electronic signature of the shareholder. The shareholders holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes shall have the right of proposing to supplement the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders. Draft decisions on the proposed issues shall be submitted together with the proposal or, if the decisions do not need to be approved, explanations on each proposed issue of the general meeting of shareholders shall be presented. Proposal to supplement the agenda must be presented to the Company sending them by registered mail at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice. The agenda will be supplemented, if the proposal is received not later than 14 days before the general meeting of shareholders. Shareholders holding shares giving at least 1/20 of all votes may propose new draft resolutions on issues that are or will be included in the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders, additional candidates to the board of the Company. Proposed draft resolutions and information on additional candidates must be submitted in writing by e-mail address info@auga.lt or by registered mail to the Company at registered office. Considering that voting on the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders will be held only in written form, by filling in and submitting the general ballot paper to the Company in advance, we recommend proposing the new draft resolutions and additional candidates to the board of the Company as early as possible and we also recommend submitting them no later than 5 business days prior to the date of the meeting for proper inclusion in the general ballot paper in order that the other shareholders would have a real opportunity to vote on them. Due to the applicable quarantine restrictions, the Company's shareholders will be allowed to express their will on the issues of the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders only by filling in and submitting general ballot paper to the Company in advance. Form of the general ballot paper to vote in this meeting shall be provided together with publishing the last update to the notice not later than by 10 days prior to the general meeting date. Upon a shareholders request, the Company, not later than 10 days before the general meeting, shall send the general ballot paper by registered mail free of charge. The general ballot paper shall also be provided on the Companys website at www.auga.lt not later than by 10 days prior to the general meeting date. If no later than 5 business days prior to the general meeting of shareholders the alternative draft resolutions or proposals regarding candidates to the board of the Company will be received, the Company will immediately update and publicise the updated general ballot paper form. Shareholders having completed and submitted the general ballot paper to the Company prior to the publication of the updated general ballot paper form will have the right not to take any additional action or to submit the new general ballot paper completed according to the updated general ballot paper form. The duly filled-in general ballot paper will be considered as valid, which will be received by the Company the latest. The completed general ballot paper and the document confirming the voting right must be submitted to the Company in writing by sending them by registered mail to the Company at Konstitucijos ave. 21C, LT-09306 Vilnius or by email info@auga.lt. Documents sent by e-mail must be signed with a secure electronic signature or by a wet ink signature, additionally sending the original to the Company's registered office address specified in this notice. Only dully filled-in general ballot paper received by the Company no later than on the last business day prior to the date of the meeting, will be considered as valid. The Company has the right not to include the shareholder's vote provided under the general ballot paper if the original of the general ballot paper or the document signed by electronic signature is not received by the Company before the deadline set forth herein. The Company is not providing the possibility to attend and vote at the general meeting of shareholders through electronic means of communication. The shareholders shall have the right to present questions related to the agenda issues of the general meeting of shareholders to the Company in advance in writing, by providing the shareholders personal identification number and consent to process personal data  personal identification number in the letter which should be sent to the Company by registered mail. The Company undertakes to respond if the questions are received not later than 3 business days before the general meeting of shareholders. Responses of a general character shall be posted on the Companys website www.auga.lt. The Company will not respond personally to the shareholder, if the respective information is posted on the Companys website. The shareholders could get familiarised with the documents possessed by the Company related to the agenda of the meeting, including notification on convocation of the meeting, information about the total number of the Companys shares and the number of shares granting voting rights during the general meeting of shareholders, draft resolutions, and other documents to be submitted to the general meeting of shareholders as well as to get information regarding execution of the shareholders rights at the Companys website at www.auga.lt under the heading For investors. In case the quarantine regime shall be revoked in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania the shareholders shall have a right to familiarize with the aforementioned documents at the registered address of the Company at AUGA group, AB, at the address Konstitucijos avenue. 21C, Vilnius, and on the indicated Companys website at www.auga.lt. CEO Kestutis Juscius +370 5 233 5340
(ANSA) - AREZZO, APR 8 - A Muslim girl was held captive by her family to stop her seeing a Hindu boy, Italian police reported Thursday.

The incident happened in the Tuscan city of Arezzo last weekend, they said.

The girl managed to get an email to Carabinieri who came and freed the Pakistani girl, who had been frequenting an Indian boy, sources said.

The family had confiscated the girl's mobile phone and only let her out of the house under family escort. on very few occasions, police said.

She sent the email on a computer she was being allowed to use for distance learning, police said.

The girl has been taken to a children's home.

She told police her family said they would take her to Pakistan if she kept seeing the boy, and even threatened to kill them both.

She had been going out with the boy for about a year and "everything was going well until they found out his religion", she reportedly told police.

Police said they were investigating and might well press charges against the family, especially the girl's father and brothers.

(ANSA).


Namibia's Geingob Trashes New Fishing Corruption Allegations

President Hage Geingob has been implicated in new allegations of corruption involving Namibia's lucrative fishing industry by an investigation released by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and The Namibian. According to a lawyer who allegedly arranged the deal, Geingob instructed his close associates to embezzle millions of dollars from a state-run fishing enterprise in order to bribe electors at the 2017 congress of the ruling SWAPO party, reports the new investigation. The presidency has however maintained there was no iota of evidence linking Geingob to corruption.

In November 2019, WikiLeaks began publishing what it called the Fishrot Files, a collection of thousands of documents and email communications by employees of one of Iceland's largest fish industry companies, Samherji, that indicated that the company had paid hundreds of millions to high ranking politicians and officials in Namibia, to acquire the country's coveted fishing quotas.
[April 08, 2021] ICE Announces That a Record 14,419 Murban Crude Oil Futures Contracts Traded on April 7

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE), a leading global provider of data, technology, and market infrastructure, today announced that a record 14,419 ICE Murban Crude Oil Futures contracts traded on ICE Futures Abu Dhabi ("IFAD") on April 7, marking its highest volume day since the contracts launched on March 29. Alongside ICE Murban Crude Oil Futures, IFAD launched trading in 18 Murban-related cash settled derivatives and inter-commodity spreads, offering the market the broadest range of ways to trade and hedge Murban crude oil. A total of 38,712 contracts have traded on IFAD since the launch. This includes 34,202 ICE Murban Crude Oil futures contracts and 4,510 Murban-related cash settled derivatives, with 38 firms having traded on IFAD since the launch. "The scale of the response from the market to the launch of Murban futures is both encouraging and validating," said Jamal Oulhadj, President of ICE Futures Abu Dhabi. "The energy industry needed the ability to hedge forward price risk for Murban crude and what we are seeing is participants from across both the physical and financial sides of the market coming together to form two-way pricing every day and contribute to the price formation process of Murban crude oil." Murban futures are open for trading for 24 hours a day on Mondays and 22 hours a day Tuesdays to Fridays, with investors from jurisdictions including Abu Dhabi Global Market, United States, Singapore, UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Norway, Australia, Japan and South Korea, able to trade on IFAD. IFAD has 26 Exchange Members and 19 Clearing Members, who are listed in full on IFAD's Membership page. Contracts traded on IFAD are cleared at ICE Clear Europe where they are cleared alongside ICE's global energy futures platform covering oil, natural gas and the evironmental complex, allowing customers to benefit from critical margin offsets to enhance capital efficiency.



For more information on how to clear or trade IFAD markets please contact Membership-AbuDhabi@ice.com or to arrange education sessions on IFAD markets please contact education@ice.com. About Intercontinental Exchange

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE) is a Fortune 500 company that designs, builds and operates digital networks to connect people to opportunity. We provide financial technology and data services across major asset classes that offer our customers access to mission-critical workflow tools that increase transparency and operational efficiencies. We operate exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange, and clearing houses that help people invest, raise capital and manage risk across multiple asset classes. Our comprehensive fixed income data services and execution capabilities provide information, analytics and platforms that help our customers capitalize on opportunities and operate more efficiently. At ICE Mortgage Technology, we are transforming and digitizing the U.S. residential mortgage process, from consumer engagement through loan registration. Together, we transform, streamline and automate industries to connect our customers to opportunity. Trademarks of ICE and/or its affiliates include Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, ICE block design, NYSE and New York Stock Exchange. Information regarding additional trademarks and intellectual property rights of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and/or its affiliates is located here. Key Information Documents for certain products covered by the EU Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulation can be accessed on the relevant exchange website under the heading "Key Information Documents (KIDS)." Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 -- Statements in this press release regarding ICE's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see ICE's Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC (News - Alert) ) filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in ICE's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on February 4, 2021. ICE- CORP

Source (News - Alert) : Intercontinental Exchange View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005490/en/

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CRAZY By Jane Feaver (Corsair 16.99, 320 pp)

CRAZY

By Jane Feaver (Corsair 16.99, 320 pp)

There has been a vogue for autobiographical fiction in recent years, fuelled by the hoo-ha over Karl Ove Knausgaard's My Struggle, drawn in minute detail from the author's own life.

It's a navel-gazing genre, yes, but Feaver's stunning fourth book counts among the most successful experiments in the form.

Crazy follows a creative writing teacher, Jane (you guessed it), whose past is dizzyingly interwoven with her present.

When the book begins, she's visiting Scotland with her grown-up daughter from a failed marriage to a manipulative alcoholic whom she first met as a shy undergraduate at Oxford.

Student flashbacks intersect with scenes from her first job in publishing as well as passages on middle-aged academic life, as she tries to teach while in agony with undiagnosed pain.

Tackling sex, writing and office politics, Jane shrewdly eyes her youthful guilelessness in a satisfyingly rich and complex narrative that rings so messily true to life, it almost feels transgressive.

EARLY MORNING RISER By Katherine Heiny (4th Estate 14.99, 336 pp)

EARLY MORNING RISER

By Katherine Heiny (4th Estate 14.99, 336 pp)

Heiny's extremely likeable novels portray everyday relationships with the warm wit and wisdom we expect from Anne Tyler.

Her new book takes us through two decades in the life of an elementary school teacher, Jane, who has recently moved to a small town in Michigan, when the story starts in 2002.

She hooks up with a smooth-talking carpenter, Duncan, but calls it a day when he humiliatingly dashes her hopes of marriage while flirting with a client.

Yet her subsequent engagement to a steadier man also hits the skids when the increasingly fractious wedding plans lead to a fatal accident that leaves Duncan's learning-disabled employee, Jimmy, without his mum and sole carer.

As in her previous book, Standard Deviation, about a couple navigating their son's diagnosis of Asperger's, Heiny has smart and serious things to say about care and responsibility, even as she keeps things bubbly with a steady stream of comedy provided by the novel's gossipy close-knit community.

THIS ONE SKY DAY By Leone Ross (Faber 16.99, 480 pp)

THIS ONE SKY DAY

By Leone Ross (Faber 16.99, 480 pp)

How to sum up this sizzling, sprawling magic-realist odyssey, set over 24 hours in a fictitious Caribbean archipelago?

A kind of X-rated fairytale narrated in a zesty Jamaican-influenced argot, it follows two would-be lovers on criss-crossing quests.

Xavier is a widowed chef whose superpower (everyone here has one) lets him flavour food with nothing but his bare hands.

Tasked with preparing a feast for the archipelago's ruler, he treks the islands for ingredients while lusting after Anise, a healer on a journey of her own, in search of a philandering husband.

There's a dash of real-world politics in a subplot about government corruption and colonial history, but the novel's atmosphere is chiefly defined by its bizarre goings-on, not least when the body parts of island women start to drop off and take on a life of their own.

Noisy, sexy, profusely inventive, Ross's storytelling crashes over the reader like an invigorating ocean wave.
Rating Action: Moody's upgrades Alpha Bank Romania S.A. - Mortgage Covered BondsGlobal Credit Research - 08 Apr 2021Madrid, April 08, 2021 -- Moodys Investors Service ("Moodys") has today upgraded to A3 from Baa2 the rating of the covered bonds issued by Alpha Bank Romania S.A. (ABR or the issuer) (deposits Ba2 stable, adjusted baseline credit assessment b1, counterparty risk (CR) assessment Ba1(cr)) under its Mortgage Covered Bond Programme.RATINGS RATIONALETodays rating upgrade follows Moodys decision to model the benefit of a senior unsecured claim that covered bondholders would have against the issuer should the cover pool be insufficient to repay covered bonds following issuer default. Based on further analysis of the legal framework and discussions with key market stakeholders, we have concluded that bondholders' unsecured claim is highly likely to share the same ranking as interbank debt. In theory, an unsecured claim that is made at a time when the issuer is not subject to bankruptcy proceedings would rank below interbank debt owed by the issuer. However, in practice, we expect any unsecured claim will be made during the course of bankruptcy proceedings and will therefore not be subordinated to interbank debt.KEY RATING ASSUMPTIONS/FACTORSMoody's determines covered bond ratings using a two-step process: an expected loss analysis and a TPI framework analysis.EXPECTED LOSS: Moody's uses its Covered Bond Model (COBOL) to determine a rating based on the expected loss on the bond. COBOL determines expected loss as: (1) a function of the probability that the issuer will cease making payments under the covered bonds (a CB anchor event); and (2) the stressed losses on the cover pool assets following a CB anchor event.The CB anchor for this programme is CR assessment plus 1 notch.The cover pool losses for this programme are 40.0%. This is an estimate of the losses Moody's currently models following a CB anchor event. Moody's splits cover pool losses between market risk of 31% and collateral risk of 9%. Market risk measures losses stemming from refinancing risk and risks related to interest-rate and currency mismatches (these losses may also include certain legal risks). Collateral risk measures losses resulting directly from cover pool assets' credit quality. Moody's derives collateral risk from the collateral score, which for this programme is currently 13.4%.The over-collateralisation (OC) in the cover pool is 16.4%, of which the issuer provides 2.0% on a "committed" basis. There is some uncertainty as to whether OC in excess of what is needed to pass the statutory tests (including the requirement for coverage on a stressed net present value basis) will be available to covered bondholders. The amount of OC required to pass the statutory tests has remained above 14% since closing. Under Moody's COBOL model, the minimum OC consistent with the A3 rating is 8% (numbers in present value terms). These numbers show that Moody's is relying on "uncommitted" OC in its expected loss analysis.For further details on cover pool losses, collateral risk, market risk, collateral score and TPI Leeway across covered bond programmes rated by Moody's please refer to "Covered Bonds Sector Update", published quarterly.TPI FRAMEWORK: Moody's assigns a Timely Payment Indicator (TPI), which is our assessment of the likelihood of timely payment of interest and principal to covered bondholders following a CB anchor event. TPIs are assessed as Very High, High, Probable-High, Probable, Improbable or Very Improbable. The TPI framework limits the covered bond rating to a certain number of notches above the CB anchor.For Alpha Bank Romania S.A. - Mortgage Covered Bonds, Moody's has assigned a TPI of Improbable.RATING METHODOLOGYThe principal methodology used in this rating was "Moody's Approach to Rating Covered Bonds" published in October 2020 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBS_1234823. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.FACTORS THAT WOULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATING:The CB anchor is the main determinant of a covered bond programme's rating robustness. A change in the level of the CB anchor could lead to an upgrade or downgrade of the covered bonds. The TPI Leeway measures the number of notches by which Moody's might lower the CB anchor before the rating agency downgrades the covered bonds because of TPI framework constraints.Reflecting some uncertainty as to whether OC in excess of what is needed to pass the statutory tests will be available to covered bondholders, the TPI Leeway for this programme is Limited or None. This implies that Moody's might downgrade the covered bonds because of a TPI cap if it lowers the CB anchor, all other variables being equal.A multiple-notch downgrade of the covered bonds might occur in certain circumstances, such as: (1) a country ceiling or sovereign downgrade capping a covered bond rating or negatively affecting the CB Anchor and the TPI; (2) a multiple-notch downgrade of the CB Anchor; or (3) a material reduction of the value of the cover pool.REGULATORY DISCLOSURESFor further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.Moody's did not use any stress scenario simulations in its analysis.For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.The rating has been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent (s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.This rating is solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1243406.The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the UK and is endorsed by Moody's Investors Service Limited, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5FA under the law applicable to credit rating agencies in the UK. Further information on the UK endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating. Luis Romaguera Analyst Structured Finance Group Moody's Investors Service Espana, S.A. Calle Principe de Vergara, 131, 6 Planta Madrid 28002 Spain JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Jose de Leon Senior Vice President/Manager Structured Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service Espana, S.A. Calle Principe de Vergara, 131, 6 Planta Madrid 28002 Spain JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454  2021 Moodys Corporation, Moodys Investors Service, Inc., Moodys Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, MOODYS). All rights reserved.CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S CREDIT RATINGS AFFILIATES ARE THEIR CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDIT RISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKE SECURITIES, AND MATERIALS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY MOODYS (COLLECTIVELY, PUBLICATIONS) MAY INCLUDE SUCH CURRENT OPINIONS. MOODYS DEFINES CREDIT RISK AS THE RISK THAT AN ENTITY MAY NOT MEET ITS CONTRACTUAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AS THEY COME DUE AND ANY ESTIMATED FINANCIAL LOSS IN THE EVENT OF DEFAULT OR IMPAIRMENT. SEE APPLICABLE MOODYS RATING SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS PUBLICATION FOR INFORMATION ON THE TYPES OF CONTRACTUAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ADDRESSED BY MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS. CREDIT RATINGS DO NOT ADDRESS ANY OTHER RISK, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: LIQUIDITY RISK, MARKET VALUE RISK, OR PRICE VOLATILITY. CREDIT RATINGS, NON-CREDIT ASSESSMENTS (ASSESSMENTS), AND OTHER OPINIONS INCLUDED IN MOODYS PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT STATEMENTS OF CURRENT OR HISTORICAL FACT. MOODYS PUBLICATIONS MAY ALSO INCLUDE QUANTITATIVE MODEL-BASED ESTIMATES OF CREDIT RISK AND RELATED OPINIONS OR COMMENTARY PUBLISHED BY MOODYS ANALYTICS, INC. AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES. MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLICATIONS DO NOT CONSTITUTE OR PROVIDE INVESTMENT OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, AND MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AND DO NOT PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PURCHASE, SELL, OR HOLD PARTICULAR SECURITIES. MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLICATIONS DO NOT COMMENT ON THE SUITABILITY OF AN INVESTMENT FOR ANY PARTICULAR INVESTOR. MOODYS ISSUES ITS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS AND OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLISHES ITS PUBLICATIONS WITH THE EXPECTATION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT EACH INVESTOR WILL, WITH DUE CARE, MAKE ITS OWN STUDY AND EVALUATION OF EACH SECURITY THAT IS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR PURCHASE, HOLDING, OR SALE.MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS, AND PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY RETAIL INVESTORS AND IT WOULD BE RECKLESS AND INAPPROPRIATE FOR RETAIL INVESTORS TO USE MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS OR PUBLICATIONS WHEN MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION. IF IN DOUBT YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR FINANCIAL OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVISER.ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS PROTECTED BY LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COPYRIGHT LAW, AND NONE OF SUCH INFORMATION MAY BE COPIED OR OTHERWISE REPRODUCED, REPACKAGED, FURTHER TRANSMITTED, TRANSFERRED, DISSEMINATED, REDISTRIBUTED OR RESOLD, OR STORED FOR SUBSEQUENT USE FOR ANY SUCH PURPOSE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN ANY FORM OR MANNER OR BY ANY MEANS WHATSOEVER, BY ANY PERSON WITHOUT MOODYS PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT.MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY ANY PERSON AS A BENCHMARK AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED FOR REGULATORY PURPOSES AND MUST NOT BE USED IN ANY WAY THAT COULD RESULT IN THEM BEING CONSIDERED A BENCHMARK.All information contained herein is obtained by MOODYS from sources believed by it to be accurate and reliable. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error as well as other factors, however, all information contained herein is provided AS IS without warranty of any kind. MOODY'S adopts all necessary measures so that the information it uses in assigning a credit rating is of sufficient quality and from sources MOODY'S considers to be reliable including, when appropriate, independent third-party sources. However, MOODYS is not an auditor and cannot in every instance independently verify or validate information received in the rating process or in preparing its Publications.To the extent permitted by law, MOODYS and its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, licensors and suppliers disclaim liability to any person or entity for any indirect, special, consequential, or incidental losses or damages whatsoever arising from or in connection with the information contained herein or the use of or inability to use any such information, even if MOODYS or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, licensors or suppliers is advised in advance of the possibility of such losses or damages, including but not limited to: (a) any loss of present or prospective profits or (b) any loss or damage arising where the relevant financial instrument is not the subject of a particular credit rating assigned by MOODYS.To the extent permitted by law, MOODYS and its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, licensors and suppliers disclaim liability for any direct or compensatory losses or damages caused to any person or entity, including but not limited to by any negligence (but excluding fraud, willful misconduct or any other type of liability that, for the avoidance of doubt, by law cannot be excluded) on the part of, or any contingency within or beyond the control of, MOODYS or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, licensors or suppliers, arising from or in connection with the information contained herein or the use of or inability to use any such information.NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF ANY CREDIT RATING, ASSESSMENT, OTHER OPINION OR INFORMATION IS GIVEN OR MADE BY MOODYS IN ANY FORM OR MANNER WHATSOEVER.Moodys Investors Service, Inc., a wholly-owned credit rating agency subsidiary of Moodys Corporation (MCO), hereby discloses that most issuers of debt securities (including corporate and municipal bonds, debentures, notes and commercial paper) and preferred stock rated by Moodys Investors Service, Inc. have, prior to assignment of any credit rating, agreed to pay to Moodys Investors Service, Inc. for credit ratings opinions and services rendered by it fees ranging from $1,000 to approximately $5,000,000. MCO and Moodys Investors Service also maintain policies and procedures to address the independence of Moodys Investors Service credit ratings and credit rating processes. Information regarding certain affiliations that may exist between directors of MCO and rated entities, and between entities who hold credit ratings from Moodys Investors Service and have also publicly reported to the SEC an ownership interest in MCO of more than 5%, is posted annually at www.moodys.com under the heading Investor Relations  Corporate Governance  Director and Shareholder Affiliation Policy.Additional terms for Australia only: Any publication into Australia of this document is pursuant to the Australian Financial Services License of MOODYS affiliate, Moodys Investors Service Pty Limited ABN 61 003 399 657AFSL 336969 and/or Moodys Analytics Australia Pty Ltd ABN 94 105 136 972 AFSL 383569 (as applicable). This document is intended to be provided only to wholesale clients within the meaning of section 761G of the Corporations Act 2001. By continuing to access this document from within Australia, you represent to MOODYS that you are, or are accessing the document as a representative of, a wholesale client and that neither you nor the entity you represent will directly or indirectly disseminate this document or its contents to retail clients within the meaning of section 761G of the Corporations Act 2001. MOODYS credit rating is an opinion as to the creditworthiness of a debt obligation of the issuer, not on the equity securities of the issuer or any form of security that is available to retail investors.Additional terms for Japan only: Moody's Japan K.K. (MJKK) is a wholly-owned credit rating agency subsidiary of Moody's Group Japan G.K., which is wholly-owned by Moodys Overseas Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MCO. Moodys SF Japan K.K. (MSFJ) is a wholly-owned credit rating agency subsidiary of MJKK. MSFJ is not a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO). Therefore, credit ratings assigned by MSFJ are Non-NRSRO Credit Ratings. Non-NRSRO Credit Ratings are assigned by an entity that is not a NRSRO and, consequently, the rated obligation will not qualify for certain types of treatment under U.S. laws. MJKK and MSFJ are credit rating agencies registered with the Japan Financial Services Agency and their registration numbers are FSA Commissioner (Ratings) No. 2 and 3 respectively.MJKK or MSFJ (as applicable) hereby disclose that most issuers of debt securities (including corporate and municipal bonds, debentures, notes and commercial paper) and preferred stock rated by MJKK or MSFJ (as applicable) have, prior to assignment of any credit rating, agreed to pay to MJKK or MSFJ (as applicable) for credit ratings opinions and services rendered by it fees ranging from JPY125,000 to approximately JPY550,000,000.MJKK and MSFJ also maintain policies and procedures to address Japanese regulatory requirements. 
MADRID - Spanish Culture Minister Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes confirmed Thursday on Twitter that a painting possibly by Caravaggio has been declared "not for export".



"The painting is valuable," Uribe told Spanish media, adding, "We were fast".



The painting, titled "La Coronacion de espinas" and attributed to the entourage of Jose de Ribera (17th century), was withdrawn from auction at the Casa Ansorena auction house.



The work was scheduled for sale at an auction on Thursday at 6 pm in Madrid, with a starting price of 1,500 euros.



Madrid's Prado Museum has already said it is "interested" in the painting, in the event that it turns out to be an original by Caravaggio, said a museum source.



The painting has not yet been personally examined by the museum's experts, the source said.



International academics informed the museum's management about the existence of the painting, and the museum subsequently requested that the culture ministry intervene.



The ministry declared it not for export, and the Casa Ansorena auction house withdrew it from auction.



Culture ministry sources said that there needs to be a "thorough technical and scientific study" to verify whether the painting is truly an original by Caravaggio.



The same sources said that immediately after the culture ministry was informed on Tuesday of the painting's existence, it called an urgent meeting of the ministry's Historical Heritage Assets Classification, Valuation and Export Board, which was held Wednesday.



The decision to ban export of the painting was then made as a "precautionary measure".



The ministry asked the Autonomous Community of Madrid to declare the painting an Asset of Cultural Interest, a measure that would allow for the protection of the work while it is being analysed.



The regional administration has not yet responded to a request for information about this.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 06:15:41|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, April 7 (Xinhua) -- World Bank Group President David Malpass said on Wednesday that the bank is working to conclude the International Development Association's twentieth replenishment (IDA20) by December to help reduce global poverty.

"We're continuing to expand the commitment capacity of the Bank. And IDA20, the acceleration of the next replenishment cycle of IDA, will help with that," Malpass told Xinhua at a virtual press conference during the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

"We're looking to complete it by December, which is important for the world's poorest countries, because it's the World Bank's very effective platform to give concessional aid and grants to the poorest countries," he said.

Malpass said the World Bank is trying to "achieve transformative, scalable change" for people that live in poorer countries.

"Critically, access to electricity and to clean water are huge challenges for people in poverty and for people even trying to move up in the income scale. So, we work on all of those and on infrastructure as ways to move forward," he said.

Malpass also said the bank has plans for development, country by country, to "see the developing world do better next year than this year."

"That's what the World Bank does and is all about. That means reducing poverty; that means having a better response to climate change that's underway; that means better education and health care systems," he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic and severe economic contraction have reversed decades of progress in the reduction of extreme poverty around the world.

The pandemic-induced global new poor is estimated to be between 119 and 124 million in 2020. In 2021, the estimated COVID-19-induced poor is set to rise to between 143 and 163 million, according to an analysis from the World Bank.

IDA is one of the largest sources of funding for fighting extreme poverty in the world's poorest countries. Replenishment discussions and negotiations for IDA20 will run from April to December 2021. Enditem
In confidential interrogation reports, Iraqi detainee M060108-01 is depicted as a model prisoner, "cooperative" with his American captors, and unusually chatty. At times he seemed to go out of his way to be helpful, especially when offered a chance to inform on rivals within his organization, then known as the Islamic State of Iraq.

Over several days of questioning in 2008, the detainee provided precise directions on how to find the secret headquarters for the insurgent group's media wing, down to the color of the front door and the times of days when the office would be occupied. When asked about the group's No. 2 leader - a Moroccan-born Swede named Abu Qaswarah - he drew maps of the man's compound and gave up the name of Qaswarah's personal courier.

Weeks after those revelations, U.S. soldiers killed Qaswarah in a raid in the Iraqi city of Mosul. Meanwhile, the detainee, U.S. officials say, would go on to become famous under a different name: Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi - the current leader of the Islamic State.

U.S. officials opened a rare window into the terrorist chief's early background as a militant with the release this week of dozens of formerly classified interrogation reports from his months in an American detention camp in Iraq. Whereas the Defense Department previously released a handful of documents that cast the future Islamic State leader as an informant, the newly released records are an intimate portrait of a prolific - at times eager - prison snitch who offered U.S. forces scores of priceless details that helped them battle the terrorist organization he now heads. The Islamic State grew out of an organization that was once called al-Qaida in Iraq.

"Detainee seems to be more cooperative with every session," one 2008 report says of the man whose real name is Amir Muhammad Sa'id Abd-al-Rahman al-Mawla. "Detainee is providing a lot of information on ISI associates," says another.

As spelled out over 53 partially redacted reports, Mawla's cooperation with American forces included assisting with artists' sketches of top terrorism suspects, and identifying restaurants and cafes where his erstwhile comrades preferred to dine.

In an ironic twist, Mawla appears in the reports to be particularly helpful in equipping the Americans to go after the group's propaganda unit, as well as non-Iraqis in his organization - volunteers from across the Middle East and North Africa who joined the group during the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Foreign terrorism branches and media operations are regarded as the most effective components of today's Islamic State.

"He did a number of things to save his own neck, and he had a long record of being hostile - including during interrogation - toward foreigners in ISIS," said Christopher Maier, director of the Defense Department's Defeat-ISIS Task Force, who discussed in an interview the records released by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, a Pentagon-funded academic institution at the U.S. Military Academy. "With the rise of ISIS, and the desire to form a caliphate with thousands of foreign fighters, that's problematic" for Mawla.

The records, which were released as part of an academic study, have helped U.S. officials fill in blanks in the biography Mawla, a relatively obscure functionary in the Islamic State when he was named as the caliph after the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in October 2019. After some initial uncertainty about the true identity of the new leader, U.S. counterterrorism officials concluded that it was Mawla, an Iraqi figure well known to them from his previous captivity.

The Iraqi, then a 31-year-old midlevel official within the Islamic State of Iraq - later known simply as the Islamic State - was apparently captured in late 2007 or early 2008, and was subjected to dozens of interrogations by U.S. military officials. The precise date of his release is not known, but the interrogation record stops in July 2008. By then, al-Mawla has stopped being cooperative, and reports reveal that he was "anxious" about his status, suggesting that he expected to be rewarded for the quantity of information he supplied.

What is clear from the reports is that over a period of at least two months in early 2008, Mawla was an interrogator's dream, revealing the identities of terrorism leaders and providing map-like directions on how to find them. In one instance, he walked U.S. officials through his personal phone book, a black notebook that was seized when he was captured. In one session, he pointed out the phone numbers of 19 Islamic State officials and even disclosed how much money some of them made.

"Al-Mawla was a songbird of unique talent and ability," Daniel Milton, an associate professor at the Combating Terrorism Center and one of the researchers who reviewed the documents, wrote in an essay published by the national security blog Lawfare. "These [interrogation reports] are chock-full of such details."

The officials who released the documents clearly understood their potential as a source of embarrassment for Mawla, although the Islamic State leader's background as an informant was already known within Islamist militant circles. Prominent commentators on pro-Islamic State social media sites criticized the decision to elevate the Iraqi to caliph, arguing that he was not qualified for the job.

He took the position several months after the liberation of the last of the Islamic State's territorial holdings in Syria, and since that time he has kept a relatively low profile. U.S. counterterrorism officials think he is hiding out in Iraq or Syria, the terrorist group's traditional base. There, he has continued to wage a low-grade insurgency marked by frequent attacks against military outposts and government and tribal officials.

The group's propaganda organs meanwhile have sought to shift attention to the achievements of Islamic State branches in Africa, where well-armed terrorists are regularly killing government soldiers and occasionally seizing territory. Last month, militants seized the town of Palma on Mozambique's northern coast in a brazen operation that killed dozens.

U.S. officials warn that even a tarnished and partially defanged Mawla remains dangerous, given the ample opportunities to acquire money, weapons and recruits in ruined and largely lawless provinces in eastern Syria.

"They're biding their time and waiting for circumstances to change in their favor," said John Godfrey, the State Department's acting special envoy for the global coalition against the Islamic State. "They're conducting just enough high-profile attacks to show that they're still there and still relevant."
A new Anglican Health and Community Network - AHCN - was launched today (7 April) - World Health Day. The creation of a new health network was endorsed by the Anglican Consultative Council at its meeting in Hong Kong in 2019; and since then a group of convenors have been working to bring it to fruition.

The new network was approved by the Anglican Communion's Standing Committee at its meeting in February. It is the Health and Community Network in recognition that Anglican mission in health takes place in communities as well as in hospitals and clinics and that a complex social, community and health system underpins health in many different ways.

The network has three co-convenors: the Church of England's Bishop of Hertford, Michael Beasley, is a former epidemiologist at Imperial College, London, he has extensive international experience in issues of health, nutrition and child development; The Bishop of Namibia, Luke Pato, is a champion of national and regional initiatives for malaria elimination and a lead member and advocate in the Isdell Flowers Cross Border Malaria Initiative; and Dr Janice Tsang, a specialist in Medical Oncology and the Honorary Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong.

"For more than a year the attention of the whole world has been primarily focused on health and healthcare, as countries across the globe respond to the Covid-19 pandemic", the Deputy Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Dr Will Adam, said. "And during that time, the value and appreciation we place on healthcare workers has also increased, as we rightly recognise the incredible hard work they have done - particularly those on the front line in critical care - to support patients with Coronavirus and other illnesses.

"The new Anglican Health and Community Network - launching on World Health Day - will support Anglicans working across the world in health care, whether in clinical settings or in the community. It has long been recognised that, in many parts of the world, Churches are best placed to reach 'the last mile' in hard to reach communities - whether it is in disseminating disease prevention education; or organising community clinics.

"And so on this World Health Day, I am delighted that the new Anglican Health and Community Network is launching, with the backing of the Anglican Communion's Standing Committee, to Connect, prepare and equip Anglicans around the world to provide health care, accompany the sick, and advocate for equitable health-care, combining trust in science and hope in God."

Bishop Michael Beasley, one of the co-convenors, said: "Anglicans around the world contribute extensively to the health and wellbeing of the places where they live, work and worship. In many places, this is through running hospitals and health centres. Just as much is the role that Anglicans play as trusted members of their communities, able to engage with local health issues so that solutions and ways forward can be found.

"As someone with a background in public health I've been enormously encouraged to see the work that local church members and churches are doing in different places to contribute to this work - from supporting mental health in my own area of Hertfordshire, to responding to the outbreak of Ebola that took place in DRC, to supporting efforts to eliminate malaria in Angola and elsewhere in Southern Africa.

"The aim of the Anglican Health and Community Network will be to enable experiences of understanding and everyday practice such as these to be shared, learned from, built on and grown. Our hope is that the work of Anglicans in health around the world can be strengthened and supported."

Another co-convenor, Bishop Luke Pato, said: "There is an African proverb which says: 'if you want to walk fast, walk alone; but if you want to walk far, walk with others'.

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"The decision by the Anglican Communion to initiate the Anglican Health and Community Network affirms this African proverb. One of the many lessons learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic is that we need one another at local and international level to support each other and to exchange experiences.

"We need one another to exchange data - theological, pastoral and spiritual. There is nothing painful and uncharacteristic of the essence and fibre of the Church like lonely suffering and death. It is my sincere hope that this Network will among other things strive to achieve this goal".

More information about the new Anglican Health and Community Network can be found on the website of the Anglican Alliance: anglicanalliance.org; or by contacting the AHCN co-ordinator, Dr Sally Smith, by email: ahcn@anglicancommunion.org.
Lumeda Inc., a medical technology company advancing Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) as an intraoperative adjuvant treatment for patients during lung cancer surgery, today announced the closing of its Series A financing. The round was led by Connecticut Innovations, with participation from Cycle Venture Partners and brings the total amount raised to date to $5.3M. Both firms, along with angel investors, participated in the companys Seed funding round in early 2020. The new capital will be used to further develop Lumedas breakthrough PDT system, which leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and proprietary software and hardware to enable controlled light dosimetry. Lumeda expects first-in-human clinical studies to commence in mid-2021.

This new funding from our current investors shows their confidence in the Lumeda team and the opportunity to improve outcomes for lung cancer patients, said Lumeda CEO, Sandy Zinke. We are excited to begin clinical testing of the DigiLum system and plan to expand testing to other sites in the US, Europe, and Japan.

Lumeda is advancing a medical device innovation, demonstrated by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Roswell Park), for applying PDT to treat Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and other lung malignancies. PDT is a two-stage cancer treatment that involves a photosensitizer drug that preferentially collects within cancer cells and then produces cell death upon light activation. PDT has been shown to significantly improve patient progression-free and overall survival when applied intraoperatively following lung cancer tumor surgical resection. Adoption of PDT to treat lung cancer has been limited due to its manual and time-consuming method of administration. With Lumedas new DigiLum system, thoracic surgeons will be able to use PDT in a shorter, simplified, intraoperative procedure with controlled light delivery and detailed data collection. Two clinical studies to evaluate safety and effectiveness are planned to begin at Roswell Park in 2021.

Pleural malignancies of thoracic origin are difficult to treat and have a significant risk of recurrence, said Dr. Sai Yendamuri, Chair of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Roswell Park and Principal Investigator of the studies. We are excited to evaluate Lumedas new light dosimetry system for intraoperative PDT as a possible adjuvant tool to treat patients with lung cancer, which has the highest global incidence and death rate of all cancers.

About Lumeda:

Lumeda is a medical technology company advancing PDT to treat NSCLC and other thoracic malignancies. The company applies advanced photonics and proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) software to automate and digitize PDT light delivery to improve physician control, reduce procedure time and enable data capture for treatment planning. The multidisciplinary Lumeda team has decades of experience in the photonics industry, with expertise in systems engineering and commercialization of new technology. Lumeda is committed to pioneering the advancement and utility of PDT for improved patient outcomes. For more information, please visit lumedainc.com.

About Connecticut Innovations:

Connecticut Innovations (CI) is Connecticuts strategic venture capital arm and the leading source of financing and ongoing support for Connecticuts innovative, growing companies. CI provides venture capital and strategic support for early-stage technology companies, financial support for innovation and collaboration, and connections to its well-established network of partners and professionals.

About Cycle Ventures:

Cycle Venture Partners (CVP) is a Connecticut-based venture group focused on partnering with management teams to found companies based on proven technologies that can impact peoples lives. CVP delivers the early stage growth capital so that management teams can focus on developing and implementing their strategies to drive growth and create value.
ATLANTA (April 8, 2021)  On April 6, the Israeli police prevented an electoral event planned by Palestinian civil society organizations at the Ambassador Hotel in occupied East Jerusalem. Police placed barriers around the vicinity of the hotel to block participants from reaching it. Israeli security officials detained activists, including a Fatah candidate for the Palestinian Legislative Council, Ghada Abu Rabee. The manager of the Ambassador Hotel, Sami Abu Dayya, was reportedly placed in custody.

Elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council are scheduled for May 22. Israeli authorities have not responded to repeated requests from the Palestinian Authority to discuss the parameters for campaigning and voting in East Jerusalem and to refrain from interfering in the electoral process. Representatives of the Palestinian Authority and civil society have called on the international community to support these appeals.

The Ambassador Hotel incident confirms Palestinian concerns that the Israeli government will prevent Palestinians in East Jerusalem from participating fully in the electoral process.

The Carter Center calls on Israeli authorities to respect the rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, to participate in the upcoming elections. Palestinians must be allowed the fundamental freedoms of assembly and expression as well as the right to vote, participate in civic affairs, and stand as candidates in the upcoming elections.

###

Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org

In Ramallah, Qais Asad, qais.assad@cartercenter.org



The Carter Center

Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
Denpasar, Indonesia, April 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2021 ) :A French man has been sentenced to eight years in jail for molesting a young boy in Bali, prosecutors on the Indonesian holiday island said Thursday.

Emmanuel Maillet, 53, was handed the prison term on Tuesday in a closed-door court hearing held online due to virus restrictions, according to prosecutor Bagus Putra Gede Agung. The sentence was made public on Thursday.

Maillet's jail term is less than the 12 years that prosecutors had demanded for sex offences against a 10-year-old local boy last year, Agung added.

"We are still discussing whether to appeal the sentence," he told AFP.

Medical tests carried out after the incidents confirmed the boy was sexually assaulted, Agung said.

Maillet's lawyer said his client would also consider appealing the sentence, which included a fine of 100 million rupiah ($6,800) or an extra three months in jail.

The Frenchman denied the claims he molested the child or threatened him to coerce the victim not to tell anyone about the incidents.

Last year, another French man detained in Indonesia on suspicion of molesting hundreds of children committed suicide in his cell.

He had faced life in prison, chemical castration or execution by firing squad if convicted on a raft of charges under Indonesia's child protection laws.
UPPSALA, SWEDEN - LIDDS AB (publ) announced today that the journal International Journal of Pharmaceutics has accepted a biomolecule study from LIDDS for publication. The investigation has been performed in collaboration with the Karolinska Institute in Huddinge, Sweden and Truly labs in Lund, Sweden. The study confirms that proteins are released from NanoZolid depots with maintained bio-functionality, illustrated by protein targeting to tumor cell receptors. The investigation was performed with fluorescence-imaging.

The NanoZolid technology has during the last years been shown to enable a controlled release of a wide range of drugs following a single injection, resulting in stable and pharmacologically validated effects over a desired time period. In this study, a fluorescence-labelled model substance, Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) protein, was used and followed longitudinally in mice after subcutaneous injections of the NanoZolid depot implants. The labelled EGF accumulated in tumors that express receptors for EGF in the hind leg. The molecule size of EGF protein is 6 kDa which is similar with other polypeptides and smaller proteins relevant for anti-cancer treatment.

"We are delighted that the study results will be published in this prestigious journal marking an important cornerstone in showing the ability of NanoZolid technology to address the challenges with systemic or local longer-term treatments of larger biomolecules. It also opens up new partnering possibilities as the acceptance of the study is an independent validation of our technology," said Monica Wallter, CEO of LIDDS.

NanoZolid depot formulated biological drugs for slow release offer the possibility to overcome issues with systemic or local frequent treatments and compliance. There is a large need for this type of technology in a diverse range of disease areas, including cancer, psychiatric, endocrine and autoimmune diseases. NanoZolid depot for local release, e.g. intratumoral delivery of drugs, offers less injections, a decreased risk for systemic adverse effects and an increased quality of life.

The publication has the title "Biodistribution of fluorescence-labelled EGF protein from slow release NanoZolid depots in mouse" and will be found at:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/international-journal-of-pharmaceutics

when published, which is expected in a few weeks.

For more information, please contact:

Monica Wallter, CEO, +46

LIDDS AB) For more information, please visit www.liddspharma.com.
Global Onsite and Retail Hydraulic Hose Replacement Provider Expanding Into 24th Country

ROCKLEDGE, Fla., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PIRTEK, a global service provider for on-site hydraulic and industrial hose replacement and related product retailer, is expanding its brand presence into Canada. PIRTEK recognizes the Canadian hydraulic hose industry demand is high, yet the country largely lacks a strong franchise brand's existence to provide service. PIRTEK will concentrate on targeting at least one new location in each province in Canada.

Currently, PIRTEK operates in 23 countries with more than 430 units across the globe. Despite the pandemic, it has continued its growth over recent years, up 7% in sales and 28.5% in unit increase from June 2019 to June 2020. The company's extensive growth and success has led PIRTEK to seek out more international markets. It has set its sights on Canada to meet the hose repair and replacement need, similar to the U.S. demand, yet lacking a strong national franchise brand presence in the country.

"PIRTEK has already expanded into 23 countries, branching out into brand new areas is charted territory for us, and Canada has a healthy need for hydraulic and industrial hose repair," said Kim Gubera, PIRTEK USA's CEO. "Our new Canadian franchisees will help build the PIRTEK brand in the country, and they'll receive comprehensive training and support to ensure they're great ambassadors for more country-wide franchisees to follow. This is a great opportunity where the sky's the limit for wide-reaching territories and revenues."

PIRTEK prides itself on being able to fill customers' needs quickly and efficiently, having the widest variety of unique products and parts to keep essential projects up and running. Its quick turnaround time is also credited to the 24/7 onsite service it offers to hydraulic and industrial based businesses, often enabling customers to be up-and-running again quickly, minimizing equipment downtime.

PIRTEK has more than 40 years' experience in the industry and is actively seeking qualified and passionate franchise partners to capitalize on the emerging market success. PIRTEK hopes to onboard potential franchisees who put customer service at the forefront of their mission, and it welcomes driven individuals from any and all industries, regardless of technical experience. An initial investment for PIRTEK ranges from $386,300 - $869,300. Franchisees can expect to receive access to and ongoing training and support as well as exclusive territories.

To learn more about PIRTEK Canada, visit www.pirtekcanada.ca.

ABOUT PIRTEK:

PIRTEK provides the fastest hydraulic hose replacement and industrial hose repair service with onsite mobile and service centers in 23 countries. It has a 1-hour ETA for on-site hose service, is available 24/7 and is a simple solution that minimizes equipment downtime and eliminates the need for customers to leave their job sites or facilities to locate new hydraulic hoses and hydraulic fittings. Simply, this is how, "We'll Keep You Operating!" To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit http://www.pirtekcanada.ca.

SOURCE PIRTEK USA

Related Links

http://www.pirtekcanada.ca


Highly scalable hemp farming knowledge base

Mission to lead the hemp industry into mainstream consumer markets

Experienced management

What Exactus Inc does:

Exactus Inc ( ) farms and manufactures hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) products.

The company sells its CBD products through its own Exactus brand (Green Goddess) and white label products to third-party resellers.

It is also engaged in producing industrial hemp from farms in Oregon and plans to extract and manufacture directly through certified good manufacturing practice (cGMP) facilities.

Exactus One World is the name of the groups farming and production initiative, which the firm says captures "the expansive and inclusive nature of the vision of a comprehensive seed to sale consumer program".

The seeds (genetics) used at Exactus One World are sourced from Oregon CBD, founded by Seth and Eric Crawford, who are believed to have developed superior strains of hemp seeds and are thought to be one of the world's leading breeding, research and production facilities for CBD seed.

The company has struck a supply and distribution agreement with cannabigerol (CBG) market leader , opening a new revenue source to distribute Hemptowns specialized cannabinoids, including top-flower, biomass and raw materials, namely crude, isolates and distillates.

Found in low levels (usually less than 1%) in most cannabis strains, CBG is considered a minor cannabinoid but it has been found to act on specific human physiological problems, and results for medicinal use have been promising. For example, it has shown promise in fighting cancer.

How is it doing:

Investors last heard from Exactus in November 2020, when the company revealed tenfold revenue growth and its first profitable quarter in its third-quarter results.

In the three months ended September 30, 2020, Exactus brought in revenue of $678,050, up from $60,153 in the third quarter of 2019.

The increase was primarily attributable to a new customer who represented approximately 24% of the company's net sales in the quarter. Gross profit for the quarter was $114,529.

Exactus attributed its first profits in part to a growing digital sales infrastructure and increased investment into its back-end systems. The company recently launched the Exactus Alibaba storefront, which has helped the company automate sales processes for scalable revenue growth.

The company said it believes the hemp ingredient sector is maturing and taking a turn for the positive. The industry as a whole has experienced a major influx of investment into the space resulting in a recent departure of overleveraged companies, the company said. An increase in demand has led to new opportunities for Exactus, including distressed assets and underserved markets.

Net loss for the third quarter was $3 million compared to $2 million in the same period last year. The net loss was primarily due to a non-cash impairment of intangible assets related to farm leases after the company decided not to pursue further farm operations in Oregon.

Inflection points:

Financial reports

Regulatory changes

More contracts and deals

What the boss says:

In the company's third-quarter 2020 results statement in November, Exactus CEO Emiliano Aloi said: "We see renewed energy in the space, from investors to consumer markets. Our processes are streamlined from outreach all the way to fulfillment."

"With these new tools in place, our team can scale up sales and plug in new skus in a much faster, cost efficient, and organized manner. We have a clear direction, expanding supply chain, and growing sales. We look forward to ending the year strong, and on track with our M&A growth strategy as we make Exactus healthier, leaner, and more profitable," he added.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
(Newser)  Crowds from Protestant and Catholic communities hurled bricks, fireworks, and gas bombs at police and each other overnight in Belfast, as a week of street violence escalated. Police and politicians tried Thursday to calm the volatile situation in Northern Ireland, where Britain's exit from the European Union has unsettled an uneasy political balance, per the AP. Several hundred people had gathered on both sides of a concrete "peace wall" that separates a British loyalist Protestant neighborhood from an Irish nationalist Catholic area. Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts said people were attacking police and each other, while nearby a city bus was hijacked and set on fire. Authorities have accused outlawed paramilitary groups of inciting young people to cause mayhem.

story continues below

Northern Ireland has seen sporadic outbreaks of street violence since the 1998 Good Friday peace accord ended decades of Catholic-Protestant bloodshed over the status of Northern Ireland. But Roberts said Wednesday's mayhem "was at a scale we have not seen in recent years." He said 55 police officers were injured over several nights. The recent violence, largely in loyalist, Protestant areas, has flared amid rising tensions over post-Brexit trade rules that imposed customs and border checks on some goods moving between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The arrangement was designed to avoid checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member. But unionists say it amounts to a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The region includes people who identify as British and want to stay part of the UK, as well as others who seek unity with Ireland.

(Read more Northern Ireland stories.)
With a lethal, airborne virus spreading fast, hospitals had to change how they treated patients and policies for how caregivers provided that treatment. But for maternity patients and nurses some of those changes had negative outcomes, according to a new University of Washington study.

"We found that visitor restrictions and separation policies were harming families and nurses. The effects for patients included loneliness, isolation and mistrust, while nurses described mistrust and low morale," said Molly Altman, lead author of the study and assistant professor in the UW School of Nursing.

Importantly, Altman added, both nurses and patients described how COVID "amplified existing racially biased and disrespectful care experiences for Black women and birthing people, in part due to loss of protection and advocacy that support people provide."

The study, published March 31 in Global Qualitative Nursing Research, involved in-depth interviews with 15 patients from Washington state and 14 nurses from Washington, New York, Georgia and Michigan. Nearly half of participants in both groups self-identified as BIPOC and for slightly more than half this was their first birth.

Under COVID-19 restrictions, patients experienced a shift from in-person visits, a source of social and emotional support, to virtual conversations or telehealth and more perfunctory exchanges in offices with physical distancing.

Pregnancy education and group classes all moved online, while family and friends were excluded from patient care when in the hospital or clinic. Meanwhile, nurses experienced shifting policies and procedures that led to a collective mistrust of management and administration.

In the interviews, researchers wrote, patient responses focused on how hospital adaptations "were inadequate to meet their needs" and, in addition to mistrust, nurse responses focused on how inconsistencies in policies and policy implementation affected their ability to "safely care for patients."

Here are a few verbatim transcriptions of statements patients gave researchers (with minor edits):

About telehealth ...

I want to be able to actually have a check-in and actually have a doctor be able to check everything's fine and make sure the baby's heartbeat is still okay or see how my uterus is measuring and things like that that are more concrete. ... I see the phone conversation just more being like, "Is everything okay," and me saying "Yes" and then that kind of being it.

Communication with providers ...

We don't talk about how this is affecting us or what it means for the future. It's just they leave you hanging like, "Okay, well I'm guessing everything's okay so I'm just going to walk on out of here." But if you could just say something nice, concise and brief but meaty it would be perfect.

Education and nursing support ...

I lost ... the classes that we were supposed to need. I was so excited to join those classes because I could get a chance to meet with other mothers that we may build connections, right? But because of COVID we just don't have the chance of doing that.

People were there [in labor] to support me and to make sure I was okay and then I felt like postpartum everyone disappeared.

Racial bias ...

Being [a person] of color, you already kind of deal with the standoffish approach from certain people and so like ... the virus kind of gives [them] that reason to, it's just like that. It's like even though I already feel this way, now I have a reason to act this way.

I'm an educated Black woman. I'm a nurse. I know what's going on with my body and I know how this stuff works and I still feel like so inferior, like to my [birth] team. That's crazy to me.

Following are a few verbatim transcriptions of statements nurses gave researchers (with minor edits):

Lack of planning ...

I was disappointed to see that in the, at least a month, more like six weeks since we'd had just the one COVID patient, that not a lot had been done to prepare in the meantime, both on a national scale and just at our hospital.

Policy changes ...

I felt like at times on my shift, policies would change literally every 15 to 30 minutes. You do something one way and you get an email within the hour that this now has changed and we're doing this procedure this way and it was just constant like nobody knows what they're doing so it was very stressful.

Morale problems ...

I'm just doing everything for this patient and then I'm not thinking about my own family. Even if I [say] let whatever happen to me ... I have responsibilities for my family too. I'm not just a nurse, right? I'm a mother. When I took the oath to be a nurse, before that maybe I took an oath to be a good mother.

[a patient complained and] that stung because I remember going to my manager's room that day and asking for more supplies so that I could go into the room more frequently without having to break the gowns and reuse the gowns and she said, "You use what you have and I'm not giving you anything else."

Racial bias ...

[obstetrical resident physician] went in to go talk to [a patient] about the need for induction and instead of including the father in the conversation or even introducing herself, she went in, completely turned her back on the dad ... I've been there 10 years and I have never seen that with any Caucasian couple.

We need to really center the voices and experiences of marginalized people, especially BIPOC, in policy. We need to ensure that communication is transparent and that we are trustworthy to the groups we develop policies for -- patients, nurses, the public, everyone. We have to stop thinking of policy as a top-down process, because Covid has shown us quite clearly that this doesn't work." Meghan Eagen-Torkko, Study Co-Author and Assistant Professor, Bothell School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Washington
I am absolutely certain that there is bad stuff going on, and its bad for the college, bad for the region and its done in the name of political but also private gain, which is totally inappropriate, Readey told me.
Scott Distler: Finding a way out of 'the cave'
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 14:41:44|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday called on international community to make tangible improvements in the face of injustice and poor governance to create a better future for young people across the world.

Leaders across the world need to "move beyond platitudes" about young people, and deliver a better future for them all, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the 10th Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, which kicked off on Wednesday and concludes the following day.

The UN chief underscored that "tangible improvements" are required in education, employment, environmental protection and digital connectivity - "through a just, inclusive, green and sustainable recovery."

"The UN's first-ever system-wide Youth Strategy, Youth2030, is our commitment to strengthen our work with and for young people," he said, referring to the UN monitoring platform on how it is responding to the needs of youth in the COVID crisis and its work in realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"Yet more must be done (and) we need you to continue showing the way on critical issues, such as racial justice and gender equality. And we need you help us make peace with nature and forge a transition that takes us beyond fossil fuels into a world of renewable energy and net zero emissions," he told the participants.

The UN Youth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake said that more than 11,000 young people from all over the world had converged virtually for the forum, making it the largest gathering of youth at the UN in the organization's history.

She underscored it as an opportunity to celebrate their "resilience, drive, creativity, and leadership in building a more sustainable, just, and inclusive world for all, as envisioned in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."

"We need to show the generations before us that those of us who are Millennials and Generation Z are walking the talk when it comes to inclusivity and equality," said Wickramanayake, urging everyone to "hold decision-makers accountable for their actions" and to advocate for more youth representation where decisions are being made.

The youth envoy said that over 1.8 billion youth face issues "that no other generation has encountered," including the climate crisis, conflicts and systems of inequality that "pose a threat to young people's lives and futures."

"We are at an intersection. Despite the hardships of the past year, we have an unprecedented opportunity to recover better together, reimagine the status quo and build a new normal based on values of justice, equality, intersectionality, and sustainability - with young people front and center," she said.

The ECOSOC President Munir Akram saw the forum as a time to reflect on a decade filled with crises, as well as achievements.

To address the challenges, he outlined the need to defeat the COVID-19 by equitably vaccinating "everyone, everywhere," and maintained that efforts must be made to recover from the pandemic-induced recession and "revive the prospects" of achieving the SDGs by 2030.

"The future belongs to you, the youth," he said. "We need your energy, your ideals, your boldness, your imagination, your innovation, to build the structure of a peaceful, prosperous and equal world order."

The President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, said young people had been hit hard. "Youth is not a homogenous group," he said, imploring each young person to speak up, share their experiences and amplify the voices of "peers who have been silenced."

"We are passing the mic to you," said Bozkir. "But it is your responsibility to pass it along, to the most vulnerable voices" that have not yet reached the UN, to promote the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development during recovery.

"You are the defenders of the equal, inalienable and fundamental human rights for all. You are the keepers of peace, the guardians of the (UN) Charter," he said.

The ECOSOC Youth Forum is an annual initiative of the President of the Council. It has evolved into a key platform where young people can contribute to policy discussions at the UN through their collective ideas, solutions and innovations.

The two-day event features plenary sessions, interactive thematic and regionally-based discussions, and provides an opportunity for a rich exchange of views and ideas on innovative solutions to issues of relevance to young people on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and also on the SDGs under review in the ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum in 2021. Enditem
Travellers who come to the UK from 'red list' countries must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days and take multiple tests

Mandatory hotel quarantines were introduced for international passengers arriving from 'red list' countries on February 15.

This includes high Covid risk countries such as Brazil, Dubai, Portugal and South Africa.

The system was introduced in reaction to new variants of Covid that were seen in places such as Brazil and South Africa.

Travellers must spend ten days in quarantine at their own cost if they return to the UK on direct flights from any of 'red list' locations.

This costs a total of 1,750 for travellers.

They must also take a coronavirus test on or before day two and day eight of quarantining, according to the government guidelines.

Travellers are not allowed to shorten theor quarantine period if you receive a negative test result, but delays to testing kits and results could mean they face longer in quarantine.

The government website states: 'If you receive a positive result from your day-2 test, you must continue your quarantine period restarting the 10 days beginning the day after the test was taken.'

Anyone caught breaking the quarantine rules faces a penalty of up to 10,000.
Nokia has announced it has concluded a multi-year, multi-technology patent cross-license agreement with Lenovo, and while Lenovo will make a net balancing payment to Nokia, the terms of the agreement remain confidential.

Importantly, were told the agreement resolves all pending patent litigation and other proceedings between the two parties, in all jurisdictions.

Jenni Lukander, President of Nokia Technologies, said: We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Lenovo. The agreement reflects Nokias decades-long investments in R&D and contributions to cellular and multimedia standards.

We appreciate, and very much respect, the constructive spirit Lenovo brought to our negotiations and look forward to working together to bring further innovation to their users around the world.

John Mulgrew, Chief Intellectual Property Officer of Lenovo, commented: Our agreement with Nokia reflects the value of both Nokias technology leadership and Lenovos continued investment in 5G innovation.

The global accord struck will enable future collaboration between our companies for the benefit of customers worldwide.

Nokia reminds us its industry-leading patent portfolio is built on more than 129 billion invested in R&D over the past two decades and is composed of around 20,000 patent families, including over 3,500 patent families declared essential to 5G.

In addition to its leadership in cellular standards, Nokia has also contributed significantly to multimedia and video research and the development of industry standards over the course of more than 30 years.

Nokia contributes these and other inventions to open standards in return for the right to license them on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. Companies can license and use these technologies without the need to make their own substantial investments in R&D.
Melbourne workers who produce dipping sauces for some of Australia's biggest fast-food chains have approved a new pay deal, ending a long-running strike.

About 100 workers at the McCormick food factory in Clayton South stopped work for six weeks, demanding better pay and conditions.

They returned to the factory floor on Thursday morning after members voted to accept a new offer from the US-based company, the United Workers Union has confirmed.

Melbourne workers who produce dipping sauces for some of Australia's biggest fast-food chains have approved a new pay deal, ending a long-running strike

Under the new three-year agreement, workers retain all their existing conditions and will receive a three per cent pay rise each year as well as a $5,000 sign-on bonus.

McCormick makes sauces for a number of fast-food chains, including McDonald's and KFC, Hungry Jack's and Nando's.

Over the course of the strike workers camped outside the site for six weeks, hosted federal Labor MP Tanya Plibersek at a rally and protested at McCormick customers' stores.

Susie Allison, Victorian secretary of the United Workers Union, described the campaign as a "David and Goliath story".

"This has been a fight for respect for all essential workers who toiled through the pandemic, while their companies made massive profits, only to be told that there was no money for a pay rise," she said in a statement on Thursday.

"McCormick workers drew a line in the sand and said enough is enough. This win has shown that when workers stand united, they can win."
Earlier this week, new Tanzanian President Samia Hassan announced that media outlets shut down under her predecessor could reopen. But the chief government spokesman said Wednesday that Hassan was only referring to online television. Journalists are confused and not happy with the new administration.

This week, Tanzanian journalists applauded an announcement from President Samia Hassan that media organizations suspended under the late president John Magufuli would be allowed to reopen.

But a day later the mood has changed, as the newly appointed government spokesperson clarified that Hassans announcement applied only to online television outlets.

Neville Meena is a secretary of the Tanzania Editors Forum. He said it appears that the ministry of information is disobeying the presidents order.

He said that earlier, in his press release about the presidents event, the government spokesperson wrote that among the directives that the president made was to reopen all suspended media outlets. Later he comes out and reversed what he has written. In my opinion, Meena said, this contradiction was created by the same people who were there in the ministry of information for a long time under the leadership of the late John Magufuli. He said these are the same people who participated in denying licenses to media outlets.

Issa Mbura is an assistant lecturer in the school of journalism at the University of Dar es Salaam.

He said, the first question I asked myself was that what do we fear? Why were the statement and the order given out by the person in the top position later being clarified by someone with a lower position?

Information Minister Innocent Bashungwa said the government is willing to meet with owners of still-suspended media outlets and discuss the path to reopening.

FILE - A man reads the local English-written daily newspaper "The Citizen" in Arusha, northern Tanzania, March 23, 2017.

Bashungwa said if there are case by case situations with other media outlets, they should go to his office to discuss the issue. He said that if there is another media outlet that wants to reopen besides online television, there were reasons for their suspension, the laws were used to come up with the decision and I believe the law has also given out guidelines to what should be done if those media outlets need to return to work.

Rights activists say there is no partial freedom of the press and it should be granted fully. Anna Henga is the executive director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre in Tanzania.

Henga said if one media outlet is free and the other is not free that is not freedom. Freedom means all people are free and this is the actual meaning of freedom. We take this as the refusal of authorities to implement the presidents instructions. A president gives out instructions and you give them another interpretation -- I think this is not something good for civil servants, she said.

As things stand now, Kwanza TV, an outlet owned by government critic Maria Sarungi, will be allowed to reopen, while four newspapers closed by Magufulis government remain closed.
On May 1, the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center is hosting Franklin County Flavor300 Years of Food, a multi-cuisine and multi-course meal. Take a tasty trip through Franklin County history, from the early foods of Pennsylvania German and Scots Irish immigrants to more current connections of Latin American flavors, plus everything in between: Greek, Korean, Japanese, Italian, and Indian.

April is Spring into History Month at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center. Buds are popping and days are sunny and warm. It is a good time to travel one of Franklin Countys many trails. Pick up the Stitches in Time Barn Quilt Trail to discover acre after acres of farmland, beautiful vistas, and amazing examples of the Cumberland Valley bank barn. Meander across Franklin County and step back to early American forts and settlements on the Frontier Franklin County Driving Tour. Explore military history from the pre-Revolutionary period to present day on the Franklin County Military Trail of History Self- Guided Tour. This trail begins at the Letterkenny Chapel, constructed by Italian POWs during World War II and at the time, situated on Letterkenny Ordinance Depot. It is one of 25 stops across the county.

For the more active explorer, Franklin County communities offer downtown walking tours of the five communities of Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Each communitys downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other active opportunities include a Biking Tour of French & Indian War Sites in Southwest Franklin County or The South Mountain Road to Freedom Hike on a piece of the Appalachian Trail. Download these walks, hikes, and biking routes here.

Spring into History 2021 wants to satisfy all the senses. Touring by car, foot, or bike takes care of four of the five senses--sight, sound, smell, and touch. But, what about taste? Taste is an important part of history and culture because it connects people with food. So, on May 1, the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center is hosting Franklin County Flavor300 Years of Food, a multi-cuisine and multi-course meal. Take a tasty trip through Franklin County history, from the early foods of Pennsylvania German and Scots Irish immigrants to more current connections of Latin American flavors, plus everything in between: Greek, Korean, Japanese, Italian, and Indian. Tickets to this delicious event are $35/person. Seating in the 10,000-sq. ft 11/30 Visitors Center, formerly the National Bank of Chambersburg, is limited to 72. For details and tickets, visit here.

The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore history, arts and architecture, recreation, natural beauty, fresh foods, and the warm hospitality of communities like Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Franklin County PA is located just north of the Mason Dixon Line and is an easy drive from Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. For more information, visit ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com regularly or contact the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at 866.646.8060 for information on 11/30 Visitors Center activities.


PRESS RELEASE  The B-29 Doc History Restored Tour will land at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston, Texas, May 4-9, 2021. Doc will arrive in Houston, Monday, May 3 and will be available for ground and cockpit tours Wednesday, May 5 through Friday May 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

B-29 Doc Flight Experience rides will be available at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9, followed by ground and flight deck tours on those days from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission for the static display event and flight deck tours will be $5 per person in addition to the Lone Star Flight Museum general admission ticket. General admission tickets start at $9.95 with senior and military discounts.

B-29 Doc Flight Experience tickets are on sale now at www.b29doc.com/rides.

The Lone Star Flight Museums mission of preserving history, while inspiring and educating future generations matches our mission with B-29 Doc, said Josh Wells, B-29 Doc general manager and executive director. We are excited to bring B-29 Doc to Houston and partner with the Lone Star Flight Museum to give people an up-close and unique experience with one of the historic bombers that delivered victory and protected freedom during World War II.

B-29 Doc is one of 1,644 B-29 Superfortresses built by the Boeing Company in Wichita, KS, during World War II. Its also one of only two B-29s still airworthy and flying today.

LSFM President and CEO, Doug Owens added, We are looking forward to welcoming B-29 Doc to the museum. Doc is such an impressive aircraft and a WWII legend. This is an amazing opportunity for our members, visitors and supporters to experience the B-29 Doc up close and personal. As supporters of Docs Friends, we are proud to join in their efforts to honor, educate and connect people with the history of WWII and the sacrifices made by those who served. I hope Houstonians of all ages come out and take part in this rare opportunity.

B-29 Doc visitors can enter the event through the Lone Star Flight Museum at 11551 Aerospace Ave., Houston, TX 77034. Museum tickets can be purchased on site or online at LoneStarFlight.org.

The tour stop in Houston will wrap up a nearly four week tour that includes stops in Fayetteville, AR, Monroe, LA, Mobile, AL, and New Orleans, LA.

Click here to purchase original B-29 Superfortress flight manuals.






The United States warns China on Wednesday over its increasingly aggressive moves against the Philippines and Taiwan.

U.S. Commits To Defend Philippines and Taiwan

The United States warned China on Wednesday of its commitment to defend the Philippines and Taiwan. This is after the increasing moves of China against the two countries in the conflicted area.

In a recently published article in AFP, the U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said that an armed attack against the Philippines' armed forces, aircraft, and public vessels would trigger their obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty between the U.S. and the Philippines.

Price added, "We share the concerns of our Philippine allies regarding the continued reported massing of PRC maritime militia near the Whitsun Reef," The statement was released after China deployed its vessels in the conflicted area.

Philippines Warns China of Daily Diplomatic Protests If Militia Continues to Stay

Why the Tension Escalates?

According to a recently published article in Channel News Asia, more than 200 Chinese boats were spotted at Whitsun Reef on March 7. This is around 320 kilometers away from the west part of Palawan island.

Further, the Philippines has been appealing to China for weeks to withdraw the vessels, which the Philippine government said unlawfully entered its economic zone. However, China claims almost the entirety of the resource-rich sea or area.

The U.S. Commits Its Obligation to Taiwan

The tension between Taiwan and China also grew after 15 more mainland planes entered and crossed the island's air defense, according to a published article in ABC News. Beijing also claimed that the area is part of China.

Price said that the United States is obliged to provide and defend Taiwan from any forms of attacks under the Taiwan Relations Act. He explained, "The United States maintains the capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan."

South China Sea Chinese Flights Impose "No Threat" Says U.S. Military

Taiwan Will Defend Itself 'To the Vey Last Day"

Joseph Wu, Taiwan's Foreign Minister, said that it would defend itself 'to the very last day' if China decides to attack the island. He also warned China that Taiwan would shoot down the mainland's drone once it strayed too close to the Taiwanese territory.

Like the Philippines, Taiwan has complained repeatedly against Beijing's military activities in the conflicted zone. This includes the daily deployment of China's airforce in Taiwan's identified air defense zone.

According to the Defense Ministry, fifteen Chinese aircraft, including 12 fighters, reached Taiwan's air defense identification zone, with an anti-submarine plane heading south across the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister said, "We are willing to defend ourselves without any questions and we will fight the war if we need to fight the war. And if we need to defend ourselves to the very last day we will defend ourselves to the very last day."

He also added that the U.S.'s concern over the military activities of China manifests a possible attack. However, China said that its activities only aim to protect the mainland's sovereignty.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
analysis

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, a Cape Town protest movement has sprung up to agitate for services at new informal settlements with names like Level 2, Covid 19, Social Distance, Pandemic and Lock Down.

The newly established Intlungu yaseMatyotyombeni Movement (IYM) is behind a recent wave of service delivery protests in Cape Town, which have affected major roads, including the R300, the N2 and Baden Powell Drive, as well as Mew Way and Spine Road in Khayelitsha.

Recent protests in Kraaifontein, Khayelitsha, Belhar, Kuilsriver and Mfuleni have resulted in some people being injured, buses and cars being torched and traffic delays due to the barricading of roads with rubble and burning tyres. Read here.

Co-chairperson of the IYM, Xoliswa Tsholoba, told Daily Maverick that since the last shutdown on 23 March, the IYM has had ongoing meetings with the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) and various other stakeholders about the way forward.

Plans to meet the City of Cape Town to discuss the prioritising of basic services including water, toilets and electricity in new informal settlements, had not yet materialised.

The IYM is planning a joint shutdown along with its stakeholders, according to Tsholoba. The planned shutdown,...
1st batch of Chinese-made HSR rails arrives at project site in Indonesia

Xinhua) 10:12, April 08, 2021

The first batch of 50-meter rails of the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway were transported to the track-laying base of the Tegal Luar Electric Multiple Units (EMU) in the suburb of Bandung, West Java of Indonesia, April 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)

The arrival marks the rail transport channel from southwest China's Panzhihua city to the project site in Tegal Luar and lays a solid foundation for the early completion and opening of Jakarta-Bandung HSR.

JAKARTA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of 50-meter rails of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) was transported to the track-laying base on Wednesday, the railway's operator said.

The rails departed from Central Java province's port city Cilacap on Tuesday and passed through Indonesia's existing railway line before arriving at the Tegal Luar Electric Multiple Units (EMU) Depot on the outskirt of West Java province's capital Bandung on Wednesday afternoon.

The welcoming ceremony of the first batch of 50-meter rails transported to the track-laying base of the Tegal Luar EMU in the suburb of Bandung, West Java of Indonesia, April 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)

A statement released by KCIC, a joint venture consortium between Chinese and Indonesian state-owned firms that runs the 142.3-km HSR, said the freight created conditions for the next step of rail welding and laying, as well as provided strong support for accelerating the construction of the project, KCIC added.

KCIC said the first batch of rails, made in southwest China's Panzhihua city, was shipped to Cilacap by sea from port of Fangchenggang city in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in December last year.

The first batch of 50-meter rails of the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway are transported to the track-laying base of the Tegal Luar Electric Multiple Units (EMU) in the suburb of Bandung, West Java of Indonesia, April 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)

It said the arrival marks the rail transport channel from Panzhihua to the project site in Tegal Luar and lays a solid foundation for the early completion and opening of Jakarta-Bandung HSR.

KCIC and Indonesia's state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia and related construction units held delivery and receiving ceremonies at the Cilacap port and track laying base respectively.

With a speed of 350 km per hour, the high-speed railway will cut the journey between Jakarta and Bandung, the capital of West Java province, from more than three hours to around 40 minutes.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
DALLAS, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fujitsu Limited and Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cybersecurity leader, have collaborated to focus on the security of private 5G networks. The companies will demonstrate the effectiveness of Trend Micro's security for private 5G using a simulated smart factory environment and an operational Fujitsu environment prior to the product's public availability.

Private 5G network technology will be the catalyst for true smart factories globally. Connectivity and automation will link factory devices and business applications, improving production capabilities and overall factory performance. However, the expanded IT infrastructure within operational technology (OT) environments can lead to exposed risk for cyberattacks. There is an urgent need to implement cybersecurity measures to secure private 5G networks to protect against potential attacks.

Fujitsu and Trend Micro have incorporated Trend Micro's 5G security solution into a private 5G system that simulates an actual smart factory environment equipped with high-definition monitoring cameras and automatic guided vehicles (AGV) at the FUJITSU Collaboration Lab in Kawasaki, Japan. This environment was used to visualize and centrally manage the status and security of systems, as well as correlate threat detection and prevention data from the devices and network.

The security solution, Trend Micro Mobile Network Security, leverages embedded endpoint security within the IoT device's SIM card and network security running on a private 5G system. Benefits of the product include:

Detect and protect against threats at the private 5G network

Authenticate devices trying to connect to the 5G network

Block unauthorized communication in real time

This demonstration shows how the Trend Micro solution protects smart factories from internal threats, such as unauthorized or malware-infected devices, as well as external threats attempting to enter the factory through the 5G network.

"Fujitsu aims to realize a society in which people, goods, and services are connected in real time through 5G technology and to solve problems facing the world," said Tomonori Goto, corporate executive officer, senior vice president and head of 5G vertical service office at Fujitsu. "To this end, we believe that this security solution, created together with Trend Micro, represents a key technology for applying private 5G to mission-critical areas. Fujitsu will continue to cooperate with Trend Micro to create new value through the power of co-creation."

Fujitsu and Trend Micro will conduct a field trial until September 2021 at Fujitsu's Oyama Plant. Based on the results of this trial, the partners will consider commercializing a security solution for private 5G.

"We're delighted to be joining forces with Fujitsu to tackle the immense challenge of cybersecurity for private 5G," said Akihiko Omikawa, executive vice president for Trend Micro. "Together, we are making smart manufacturing more secure to ensure production isn't stopped due to a cyberattack."

For more information on Trend Micro's Mobile Network Security solutions please visit:

https://www.trendmicro.com/tmmns.

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro's cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, the platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,000 employees across 65 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world. www.TrendMicro.com.

About Fujitsu

Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 130,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.9 trillion yen (US$35 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.

SOURCE Trend Micro Incorporated

Related Links

www.trendmicro.com


To the editor,

Why would you allow Fred McKinney to write false claims about Georgias new voting law (April 3 op-ed, In fight over voting, choose more democracy)?

Contrary to what he stated, the law does not add restrictions onto the voters of Georgia. They already have to show photo ID when they vote. This didnt stop record turnout, including record minority turnout, in the 2020 election.

Why do we believe it will do so now? It adds a requirement that absentee ballot requesters supply a Georgia drivers license number or state issued photo id number (available for free) on their requests and submitted absentee ballots.

If someone has neither of these they can use the last four digits of their Social Security number, hardly a severe restriction.

The new law also guarantees early voting access on at least two Saturdays prior to the election. It actually expands voter access by allowing for more early voting by law.

It does prohibit electioneering within 150 feet of a polling place, including offering food or drink to an elector (voter). It does not prevent water being made available to an elector or bringing their own.

Mr. McKinney does all of us a grave disservice by repeating the types of falsehoods promulgated by the Democrats and President Joe Biden. Even worse, Biden becomes the first president to call for an economic sanction against a state because he disagrees with a law they passed.

What other laws are there that he might not agree with? What states will be next up on the list? Interested readers can find the actual text of the Georgia law here: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20212022/201121 . Theres no need to rely on talking points from partisans such as Mr. McKinney.

Paul D. Hunter

Norwalk
A 26-year-old man has been has been charged with shooting and killing a man in the parking lot of a Cherry Hill apartment complex on Easter morning.

Tymere Brown, 26, of Cherry Hill, was arrested Wednesday at an apartment in Wilmington, Delaware by U.S. Marshals, the Camden County Prosecutors Office said.

Brown shot Leopold McKoy, 64, of Bear, Delaware multiple times around 4:30 a.m. Sunday on the property of Sergi Farm Apartments along the 1700 block of Abbey Road, authorities allege.

Brown is charged with murder and two weapons offenses. He is being held in Delaware ahead of extradition to Camden County.

A motive for the shooting has not been disclosed.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has tested positive for Covid-19.

In a post on his social media page, Dr Kidero said he took a test for the Coronavirus on Tuesday, together with his family members after he exhibited Covid-19-like symptoms.

He said the rest of his family members tested negative and that he will now go into self-isolation for the next two weeks.

The former Nairobi governor further said he had been vaccinated for the virus on March 29.

"Fellow Kenyans, I got vaccinated against Covid-19 last Monday (29/03/2021) which was followed by Covid-19 like reaction three days later. As a family, we all had Covid tests done yesterday, whose results I have just received. Everybody else is negative except me," Dr Kidero posted on Facebook on Wednesday.

He appealed to his political team members to go and take Coronavirus tests to ascertain their status after coming into contact with him.

"I advise our team members, whom I've been in contact with to go and have themselves tested for Covid immediately. It's my appeal to Kenyans to continue observing the ministry of health protocols on Covid; wear masks, wash hands with soap and clean, flowing water,use alcohol based hand sanitizers and get vaccinated."
Euro-zone on Catch-Up Mission, Q2 Crucial for Vaccinations, Currency Markets Watching Closely

After a notably disappointing first-quarter performance, the EU is aiming for a much stronger outcome this quarter with a surge in vaccination rates.

According to ING; For lost ground to be made up, promised supply needs to come in, vaccine take-up needs to improve and logistics need to be ready. If thats the case, eurozone re-openings are a lot closer than many think.

The Euros performance in global currency markets is likely to be linked closely with success in meeting this target. Early re-opening would underpin single currency confidence.

EU Targets Herd Immunity This Summer

ING noted reports that the EU Commission has a target of vaccinating 70% of the adult EU population by 14 July.

There are several moving parts to achieving the target and facilitating a re-opening of the economy.

The first and most obvious hurdle is having sufficient vaccine supplies to meet the target.

The EU is aiming to receive at least 350mn vaccine does for the second quarter. There has already been a significant setback with AstraZeneca stating that supplies are likely to be around 60 million compared with the promised 90 million.

Above: EU vaccine supply chart

According to ING; Taking the incoming supplies and an estimate of unused vaccines, there will be enough vaccines supplied by the end of 2Q for 71% of the EU adult population to be vaccinated.

There would, however, be very little margin for error based on these figures.

Logistics Issues Remain Important

Assuming supplies are sufficient to, the vaccination programme will also need a stronger performance surrounding logistics to meet targets.

There are positive developments in this regard though as countries like France and Netherlands have recently made concrete progress in terms of setting up mass vaccination sites that allow for much faster inoculation than has happened until now.

Nevertheless, there is an important risk that there will be further teething difficulties with the efforts to ramp-up vaccination rates.

Momentum Needed to Boost Take-Up Rates

A third issue surrounds the actual take up of vaccines, especially given the recent controversy surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine.

ING notes; Most recently, the willingness to take a vaccine has been declining in all large countries except for Spain.

It will be important to generate a feel-good factor surrounding the factor. If countries do achieve success and are able to re-open economies, this could lead to positive feedback and increase vaccine take-up rates.

ING summarises; Ambitious targets of 70% of the adult population vaccinated in early July would require the most optimistic scenario to materialise, which we deem unlikely. Still, sometime this summer is doable but the latest delay could prove to be the tipping point for a summer re-opening, particularly in Southern European countries.

Given the eurozones rather disappointing track record, the risk of more delays and a further falling behind the US cannot be ruled out.

Further delays would lessen the potential for renewed Euro gains.
"We're always looking for ways to be more responsive to our guests and offer amenities that make travel more relaxing. SFO has been the top-requested Alaska Lounge location by our guests for years," said Sangita Woerner, Alaska Airlines' senior vice president of marketing and guest experience. "So many people are dreaming of travel this year, so we want to open up our newest Alaska Lounge as quickly and efficiently as possible  and renovating this space in Terminal 2 allows us to do that."

The announcement comes as Alaska Airlines continues to expand its presence in the Bay Area. Alaska now operates more than 80 daily flights out of the Bay Area (including SFO, San Jose and Oakland) and has more than 1,700 Bay Area-based employees. In June, Alaska will begin service to Anchorage and Bozeman, Montana, from SFO. Other recent service announcements include:

Recently resumed service to Honolulu and Maui from SFO as of April 4

and from SFO as of Resumed service to Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta from SJC in early April

from SJC in early April New service to Missoula, Mont. , from SJC starting in May

When completed, this new lounge will be the second-largest of the Alaska Lounges at just under 10,000 sq. ft., behind Alaska's flagship lounge in Seattle's North Satellite Terminal. This space is also centrally located in Terminal 2, with easy access to additional dining and shopping options for guests. The Alaska Lounge at SFO joins seven other lounge locations in the Alaska Airlines portfolio, in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; Los Angeles; New York  JFK; and Anchorage.

The Lounge will include an espresso bar staffed by a trained barista, a full bar featuring complimentary local craft brews, West Coast wines and spirits and a wide selection of guest favorites like made-to-order pancakes, steel-cut oatmeal, fresh salads and hearty soups.

"We're thrilled to welcome the opening of the Alaska Lounge at SFO," said SFO Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. "As the recovery of air travel continues, travelers can look forward to more and more amenities at SFO. The Alaska Lounge offers a great way for people to relax, recharge, and enjoy the friendly service that they're known for."

When it opens, Alaska expects the Lounge to create 30 jobs in the Bay Area. More details and timing will be announced over the coming months.

New Alaska Lounge membership pricing

In October 2021, Alaska Airlines will update its Lounge membership structure to give members more options and flexibility. Starting this fall, Alaska will offer two tiers for Lounge memberships: Alaska Lounge and Alaska Lounge Plus. With the standard Alaska Lounge membership, members will receive access to all Alaska Lounges they know and love when flying on any airline. With the optional addition of a Lounge Plus membership, members will also receive access to an extended network of partner airline lounges across the country when flying Alaska  including all American Airlines Admirals Clubs. Pricing will also be updated as follows, remaining as one of the best values for lounge membership in the industry:

Alaska Lounge membership: $450 annually ( $350 for Alaska Airlines MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members)

annually ( for Alaska Airlines MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold members) Alaska Lounge Plus membership: $600 annually ( $500 for Alaska Airlines MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members)

annually ( for Alaska Airlines MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold members) New Lounge membership enrollments and renewals made before Alaska's two-tier structure goes into effect in October will be grandfathered into an Alaska Lounge Plus membership for the year.

As part of Alaska's Next-Level Care, the airline continues to implement measures for the comfort and safety of guests in all Lounges. Alaska is limiting capacity, enhancing cleaning procedures, requiring face masks and adjusting food and beverage services. Updated information on Lounge hours, locations and availability can be found here. Alaska Lounges in Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle Concourse D & N are now open

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines and its regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States and to Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica. The airline emphasizes Next-Level Care for its guests, along with providing low fares, award-winning customer service and sustainability efforts. On March 31, 2021, Alaska became the 14th member of oneworld. With the global alliance and Alaska Airlines' additional partners, guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 20 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).

SOURCE Alaska Airlines

Related Links

http://www.alaskaair.com


U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken holds a virtual meeting with U.N. General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir via videoconference from the State Department in Washington on March 29, 2021. (Leah Millis/Pool/File Photo via Reuters)

US Restores Assistance for Palestinians, Providing $235 Million in Aid

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEMThe Biden administration announced on Wednesday it would provide $235 million in U.S. aid to the Palestinians, restarting funding for the United Nations agency supporting refugees.

The package, including humanitarian, economic, and development assistance, was detailed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The plan calls for $150 million through the United Nations relief agency UNRWA, $75 million in U.S. economic and development assistance, and $10 million for peace-building programs, Blinken said in a statement.

Bidens aides have also signaled that they want to reestablish the goal of a negotiated two-state solution as a priority in U.S. policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

But any further major steps are likely to wait for the dust to clear after Israels inconclusive March election, which will be followed by Palestinian elections scheduled in coming months.

The cuts came after Palestinian leaders decided to boycott the Trump administrations peace efforts over its decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv.

Gilad Erdan, Israels ambassador to the United States and the United Nations, criticized the renewal of funding to UNRWA, saying that it allowed anti-Israel incitement and anti-Semitic activity in its facilities.

We believe that this U.N. agency for so-called refugees should not exist in its current format, he said in a video posted on Twitter.

He said that in conversations with the State Department he had expressed my disappointment and objection to the decision to renew UNRWAs funding without first ensuring that reforms were carried out.

Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously called for the dismantling of UNRWA.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a hearing evidence stage for his trial over alleged corruption crimes, at the Jerusalem district court in Salah El-Din, East Jerusalem, Israel, on April 5, 2021. (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP)

The United Nations welcomed the restart of UNRWA funding. There were a number of countries that had greatly reduced to halted contributions to UNRWA. We hope that the American decision will lead others to rejoin  as UNRWA donors, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

Blinken suggested that the Biden administration would seek reforms in UNRWA, which the Trump administration accused of inefficiencies, overcounting of Palestinian refugees, and perpetuating the decades-old conflict with Israel.

State Department spokesman Ned Price insisted that aid would be allocated absolutely consistent with U.S. law. He pushed back against critics who have expressed concern that funds could fall into the hands of militants, especially in Gaza, where Hamas governs, saying there were safeguards in place.

State Department spokesman Ned Price gestures as he speaks during the daily press briefing at the State Department in Washington, on Feb. 25, 2021. (Nicholas Kamm/Pool via Reuters)

U.S. law also prohibits aid that benefits the Palestinian Authority as long as it continues to pay stipends to Palestinian prisoners held by Israel for anti-Israel attacks or to their families.

Blinken said the United States was also resuming vital security assistance programs with the Palestinians.

The money that will go to UNRWA does not immediately restore contributions to the $365 million level that the United States gave to the agency in 2017.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / Great Atlantic Resources Corp. (TSXV:GR)(FRA:PH01) (the "Company" or "Great Atlantic") is pleased to announce 2021 exploration plans for its Keymet Precious Metal - Base Metal Property, located in northeast New Brunswick. One priority area of focus for 2021 work is the northwest region where the Company has reported high grade gold, silver, copper and zinc, including a drill intercept of 9.04 zinc, 9.19% copper and 1,158 gams per tonne (g/t) silver over 3.00 meters core length.

Great Atlantic's focus since acquiring the property in 2011 has been the northwest region of the property (see news releases on the Company's website). Six polymetallic vein type occurrences with silver, zinc, lead and plus / minus copper and plus / minus gold are reported in the northwest region of the Keymet Property (source: New Brunswick Dept. of Natural Resources and Energy Development Mineral Occurrence Database). Prominent of these are the Keymet deposit and Elmtree 12 occurrence.

By the early 1950s the Number 1 Zone at the Keymet deposit was reported to be traced for 91 meters along strike, to a depth of 137 meters and averaging 3.4 meters in width. The Keymet Mine operated during the mid-1950s, producing lead, zinc, copper and silver. Production at this mine was terminated in 1956 due to a fire at the site. Reported production at the Keymet Mine during 1954-1956 is 59,000 tonnes averaging 2.59% zinc, 2.44% lead, 0.25% copper and 33.94 g/t silver. Two rock dump samples collected by Great Atlantic during 2011 at the historic Keymet Mine site returned:

33.9% lead, 22.9% zinc, 2.55% copper and 549 ppm silver.

1.23% lead, 1.48% zinc, 4.22% copper and 415 ppm silver.



Historic Keymet Mine (1950s)

Great Atlantic discovered gold in float and bedrock in the northwest region of the Keymet Property, highlights including:

A float sample assaying 51 g/t gold (2011 sample).

A gold-bearing zone exposed in a 2012 trench (channel samples averaging 1.09 g/t gold over 11.78 meters).

A gold-bearing zone discovered during 2017 diamond drilling near the Elmtree 12 vein system (0.64 g/t gold over 19.96 meters core length).

Great Atlantic conducted diamond drilling during 2015, 2017 and 2018 at the Elmtree 12 vein system within the northwest region of the Keymet Property, intersecting high grade silver, copper and zinc mineralization in veins within a north-south trending, sub-vertical system. More significant intercepts (core length) include:

Ky-15-3: 16.68% Zn, 1.11% Cu, 0.44% Pb and 152 g/t Ag over 1.80 meters.

Ky-15-4: 8.68% Zn, 0.29% Cu, 0.20% Pb and 44 g/t Ag over 4.28 meters.

Ky-17-6: 7.67% Zn, 1.57% Cu, 0.48% Pb and 209 g/t Ag over 4.95 meters.

Ky-18-10: 7.91% Zn, 0.53% Cu, 0.21% Pb and 77 g/t Ag over 3.27 meters.

Ky-18-12: 8.90% Zn, 3.81% Cu, 0.60% Pb and 157 g/t Ag over 1.20 meters.

Ky-18-14: 9.04% Zn, 9.19% Cu, 2.16% Pb and 1,158 g/t Ag over 3.00 meters.

Ky-18-14: 12.08% Zn, 0.31% Cu, 0.30% Pb and 59 g/t Ag over 4.50 meters.

Ky-18-16: 4.47% Zn, 7.85% Cu, 0.72% Pb and 478 g/t Ag over 0.52 meters.

Great Atlantic discovered a new polymetallic vein southwest of the Elmtree 12 vein system during 2017 diamond drilling. Drill hole Ky-17-8 intersected this vein, returning 18.8% zinc, 3.55% copper, 1.16% lead and 576 g/t silver over 1.27 meters core length.

Planned work in the northwest region of the property includes prospecting, rock / soil geochemical sampling, geophysical surveys, trenching and diamond drilling. Targets for trenching and drilling include the Elmtree 12 silver - base metal bearing vein system along strike and depth; the new silver - base metal bearing vein discovered during 2017 drilling; the area northwest of the Keymet Deposit along its projected strike; gold bearing zones; soil geochemical and geophysical anomalies; and other reported silver - base metal occurrences.

Great Atlantic is also planning exploration during 2021 in the southwest to central regions of the Keymet Property including prospecting and rock / soil geochemical sampling and geophysical surveys. Historic and Company exploration has identified these regions of the property to have gold potential. Reported historic highlights in these regions include:

2.5 g/t gold over 6.1 meters and 1.9 g/t gold over 1.5 metes in historical trench (1980s).

3.3 g/t gold over 0.60 meters in historical trench and 4.3 g/t gold in grab sample (Alcida East Gold occurrence).

Gold soil geochemical anomalies were reported during 2005, including reported high values for gold of 217 and 325 ppb.

The Company conducted a brief prospecting program in the central region of the property during 2020. Three float samples collected during the 2020 program in this region returned anomalous values for gold (0.438, 0.18 and 0.17 g/t gold).

The historic Nigadoo River Mine is located approximately 4 km south of the Keymet Property. Polymetallic massive sulfide veins were mined at the Nigadoo River Mine during the 1960s and 1970s with copper, lead, zinc and silver being produced. The New Brunswick Dept. of Natural Resources and Energy Development Mineral Occurrence Database reports shaft depth and production totals at this historic mine. Production during 1967-1971 is reported as 1.126 million tonnes at 2.2% Pb, 2.1% Zn, 0.24% Cu and 92.57 g/t Ag. Production during 1973-1977 (after a 2- year closure) is reported to be 0.733 million tonnes (only partial metal grades reported). The shaft is reported to at least 470 meter deep. Great Atlantic has no interest in this historic mine site.

Three gold deposits with reported mineral resources are reported west of the southwest region of the Keymet Property within adjacent mineral claims. Great Atlantic has no interest in these adjacent mineral claims. These deposits, referred to as the West Gabbro Zone, Discovery Zone and South Gold Zone, are reported within 2 kilometers of the Keymet Property southwest boundary. Micon International Limited reported 43-101 compliant mineral resources for the West Gabbro Zone (WGZ), South Gold Zone (SGZ) and Discovery Zone (DZ) in the Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate for the Elmtree Gold Property (Effective Date: 4 March 2011) for CNRP Mining Inc. and Gorilla Resources Corp. The reported resources include:

WGZ: Indicated Resources: 1,611,000 tonnes @ 1.91 g/t gold

WGZ Inferred Resources: 2,053,000 tonnes @ 1.67 g/t gold

SGZ: Inferred Resources: 2,367,000 tonnes @ 0.74 g/t gold

DZ: Inferred Resources: 741,000 tonnes @ 1.18 g/t gold

As reported by Micon International Limited, the resources were estimated using a three-dimensional block modelling approach. For each mineralized zone, wireframe models were built up from intersected geologic limits. Grade interpolation for the WGZ was conducted using the inverse distance cubed technique while interpolations for the DZ and SGZ were conducted using the nearest neighbour technique due to limited drill hole information. The cut-off grade used was 0.5 g/t gold.

Readers are warned that mineralization at the West Gabbro Zone, South Gold Zone, Discovery Zone and historic Nigadoo River Mine is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Keymet Property. Readers are also warned 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.

Access to the Keymet Property is excellent with paved roads transecting the property, including a provincial highway. The property covers an area of approximately 3,400 hectares and is 100% owned by the Company.

David Martin, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and VP Exploration for Great Atlantic, is responsible for the technical information contained in this News Release.

The Company also announces it has granted 375,000 options at an exercise price of $0.60. The options are exercisable for five years and will be cancelled 30 days after cessation of acting as director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company. The options are subject to regulatory approval.

On Behalf of the board of directors

"Christopher R Anderson"

Mr. Christopher R. Anderson "Always be positive, strive for solutions, and never give up"

President CEO Director

604-488-3900 - Dir

Investor Relations:

Please call 604-488-3900

About Great Atlantic Resources Corp.: Great Atlantic Resources Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on the discovery and development of mineral assets in the resource-rich and sovereign risk-free realm of Atlantic Canada, one of the number one mining regions of the world. Great Atlantic is currently surging forward building the company utilizing a Project Generation model, with a special focus on the most critical elements on the planet that are prominent in Atlantic Canada, Antimony, Tungsten and Gold.

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of financing, and general economic, market or business conditions.

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: Great Atlantic Resources Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639403/Great-Atlantic-2021-Exploration-Program-High-Grade-Silver-Gold-Copper-and-Zinc-at-Its-100-Owned-Keymet-Precious-Metal--Base-Metal-Property-New-Brunswick
Russia on Tuesday tacitly nudged India to stay away from any move by the United States to turn the Quad into a NATO-like military alliance in order to contain China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Moscow dismissed speculation about a Russia-China military alliance. It, however, also indicated that it was aware of similar speculation about India, Japan, Australia and the United States turning the Quad into a NATO-like entity for Asia. After a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow and New Delhi shared a common stance that such military alliances would be counterproductive.

Jaishankar, however, apparently justified Indias engagement with Japan, Australia and the United States on Indo-Pacific within the framework of the Quad. I shared (with Russian Foreign Minister) our view-point on the Indo-Pacific. As our Prime Minister pointed out at the Shangri-La Dialogue some years ago, contemporary challenges require countries to work together in new and different ways, he told journalists after his meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister.

Lavrov reached New Delhi late at night on Monday  less than a month after India joined Japan, Australia and the United States to elevate the Quad to the level of the Heads of Government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 12 virtually joined his counterparts in Japan and Australia  Yoshihide Suga and Scott Morrison  and the US President Joe Biden in the historic first summit of the coalition, which the four nations had originally forged in 2007, but revived in 2011, ostensibly to build a bulwark of democratic nations to counter hegemonic aspirations of communist China.

Also read: EAM Jaishankar, Russian foreign minister Lavrov hold talks

Russian-Chinese relations have achieved the best level in history, but these relations do not pursue the aim of creating a military alliance, the Russian Foreign Minister said during a joint news conference with his counterpart in New Delhi. He noted that similar speculation was doing the rounds about the possibility of some other military alliances being forged. There have been speculations about pushing ahead with projects for creating a Middle Eastern equivalent of (the) NATO. Lately, some have begun to discuss an Asian NATO, Lavrov said, adding that he and Jaishankar had exchanged opinions on the issue.

He had in December 2020 called the Quad a divisive and exclusivist tool, which was being used by the US to implement its devious policy of engaging New Delhi in games against China as well as to undermine Russias close partnership with India.

Jaishankar told Lavrov on Tuesday that Indias engagement with Japan, Australia and the US had also reflected the multi-polar and rebalanced character of global politics.

India is strongly committed to ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) centrality and this is underlined by the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative that it has been advocating at the East-Asia summit, Jaishankar said, adding: As we implement our Act East and beyond policy, Russia is a very important partner. Whether it is their Far East or whether it is the Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor.

The Quad got a military heft last year amid Chinas growing belligerence, not only along its disputed boundary with India, but also in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. India clinched defence logistics sharing agreements with Japan and Australia on the lines of the similar pact it inked with the US in 2016. The Quad also held the Malabar 2020 naval drill in the Indian Ocean, sending out a strong message to China.

The stand-off between the Indian Army and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) started in April 2020 and it is yet to be completely resolved. Russia played a behind-the-scenes role of a mediator between India and China. A meeting between Jaishankar and the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sideline of a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Moscow on September 10 last year resulted in a breakthrough.

The two sides a few weeks back withdrew front-line troops from the northern and the southern banks of the Pangong Tso lake, but could not yet agree on similar disengagement on other face-off points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)  the de facto boundary between the two neighbouring nations in the western sector.

Also read: Sergei Lavrov, Jaishankar discuss Russian military manufacturing in India

Indias growing strategic convergence with the United States in the Indo-Pacific region in the aftermath of the military stand-off between the Indian Army and the Chinese PLA, however, caused unease in Russia.

India sought to strike a balance and had a separate naval drill with Russia in the Indian Ocean region in December 2020.

Lavrov and Jaishankar on Tuesday discussed a common understanding of the principles of shaping a reliable security architecture in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Government stated.

Lavrov left New Delhi for Islamabad after meeting Jaishankar in New Delhi on Tuesday. Moscow apparently sought to send out a message to New Delhi by clubbing his visits to India and Pakistan. New Delhi has been conveying its concerns to Moscow over increasing Russia-Pakistan cooperation, particularly in the defence sector.


The challenge: Rebooting Africas productive investment strategies



Even before the COVID-19 crisis stopped the continents economic growth in its tracks, Africa was facing a deficit in domestic and foreign productive investment. Levels were too low to either match the needs of a fast growing, increasingly urban, working-age population, or improve the insertion of the continent in the global economy: on the eve of the pandemic, decent jobs remained the exception, and labour productivity had declined to about half the Asian average.



As African governments refine their post-COVID recovery strategies, therefore, they are not only aiming at improving on pre-crisis levels, but also at stimulating more robust, inclusive and sustainable types of productive investment. Given the impact of the crisis on their fiscal space, however, such a reboot requires both innovative policies to mobilise and allocate resources more effectively, and better co-ordination amongst all African stakeholders and their international partners.



Our response: Fast-tracking policy innovation, facilitating dialogue



In order to accelerate those processes, the OECD Development Centre and the African Union Commission are opening a new space for dialogue, mutual learning and the exchange of best practices. It is designed to facilitate joint work by the Member States of the African Union, its Regional Economic Communities (RECs), other major stakeholders and their international partners.



The Platform convened for the first time on the occasion of the 20th International Economic Forum on Africa in February 2021, under the chairmanship of HE Mr Albert M. Muchanga, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining of the African Union Commission, and HE Mr Manuel Escudero, Chair of the Governing Board of the OECD Development Centre and Permanent Representative of Spain to the OECD.





Watch day 1 of the meeting





Watch day 2 of the meeting



People Business Infrastructure Africas primary asset is its young population. The 375 million youth expected to reach working age by 2035 can be the driver of economic prosperity, if equipped with the right education, skills and jobs. Investing in human capital is thus crucial to both meeting labour market demands and providing people with economic opportunities to secure their livelihoods and well-being.



This work stream focuses on ways of enhancing Africas human capital, in the context of the fourth economic revolution, while taking into account the predominance of the informal sector.



Key issues: kills and school-to-work transition; digital skills; informality and social protection; vocational training.



The effective implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is essential to reducing dependence on world markets and strengthening participation in regional and global value chains (GVCs). The aim to triple the volume of intra-African trade from 17% to 52% by 2022 requires ambitious, co-ordinated policies to unleash the continents entrepreneurial potential and increasing the competitiveness of firms. This work stream leverages the OECD Initiative for Policy Dialogue on GVCs, Production Transformation and Development and its Production Transformation Policy Reviews to help participants identify policy reforms that can foster productive transformation in Africa.



Key issues: strategic clusters of firms; regional production networks; local, regional and global value chains. This work stream supports ongoing efforts on regional infrastructure connectivity, notably within the second phase of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) 2021-2030. Africa needs some USD 130-170 billion annually to bridge its infrastructure gap and generate sustainable growth at 5% per year or more. This is an immense opportunity for private investors, and yet their contribution remains notoriously low: African governments have been the largest promoters of infrastructure by far. The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on their revenue makes it indispensable to overhaul existing models.



Key issues: quality infrastructure; renewable energy; regional connectivity; physical and soft infrastructure.



Mandate to act

At their Fifth High-level Meeting (May 2019), members of the Governing Board of the OECD Development Centre reaffirmed the importance of good practices and resource mobilisation for quality infrastructure and social protection. They asked the Centre to leverage its partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and establish a structured policy dialogue amongst relevant partners and stakeholders.



Weeks later, the High-level Dialogue with Africa: Road to TICAD7 in Yokohama (July 2019) stressed the importance of an international policy dialogue on the financing of public policies and infrastructure development on the continent.



In that context, participants in the 19th edition of the International Economic Forum on Africa (November 2019) urged the Centre to support the AUCs priorities for productive investment in Africa through a Platform on Investment and Productive Transformation. These included then AU Commissioner for Economic Affairs, ministers from AU Member States, incl. Ethiopia, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda and Togo, as well as representatives from France, Japan, Korea, Spain, the European Union and China



Finally, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, the Platform was reconceptualised to support the recovery strategies of African Union members.



The OECD Development Centre and the African Union Commission have a longstanding partnership that aims to deepen international co-operation on the pan-African agenda of integration and transformation. Other projects in their joint portfolio include two annual reports, Africas Development Dynamics and Revenue Statistics in Africa, as well as the yearly International Economic Forum on Africa.









For more information, please contact DevEuropeMiddleEast&Africa@oecd.org


Entropy measurements reveal exotic effect in "magic-angle" graphene

Most materials go from being solids to liquids when they are heated. One rare counter-example is helium-3, which can solidify upon heating. This counterintuitive and exotic effect, known as the Pomeranchuk effect, may now have found its electronic analogue in a material known as magic-angle graphene, says a team of researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science led by Prof. Shahal Ilani, in collaboration with Prof. Pablo Jarillo-Herrero's group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

This result, published today in Nature, comes thanks to the first ever measurement of electronic entropy in an atomically-thin two dimensional material. "Entropy describes the level of disorder in a material and determines which of its phases is stable at different temperatures," explains Ilani. "Our team set up to measure the electronic entropy in magic angle graphene to resolve some of its outstanding mysteries, but discovered another surprise".

Giant magnetic entropy

Entropy is a basic physical quantities that is not easy to grasp or measure directly. At low temperatures, most of the degrees of freedom in a conducting material freeze out, and only the electrons contribute to the entropy. In bulk materials, there is an abundance of electrons, and thus it is possible to measure their heat capacity and from that deduce the entropy. In an atomically-thin two-dimensional material, due to the small number of electrons, such a measurement becomes extremely challenging. So far, no experiments succeeded in measuring the entropy in such systems.

To measure the entropy, the Weizmann team used a unique scanning microscope comprising of a carbon nanotube single-electron transistor positioned at the edge of a scanning probe cantilever. This instrument can spatially image the electrostatic potential produced by electrons in a material, with an unprecedented sensitivity. Based on Maxwell's relations that connect the different thermodynamic properties of a material, one can use these electrostatic measurements to directly probe the entropy of the electrons.

"When we performed the measurements at high magnetic fields, the entropy looked absolutely normal, following the expected behaviour of a conventional (Fermi) liquid of electrons, which is the most standard state in which electrons exist at low temperatures. Surprisingly, however, at zero magnetic field, the electrons exhibited giant excess entropy, whose presence was very mysterious." says Ilani. This giant entropy emerged when the number of electrons in the system was about one per each site of the artificial "superlattice" formed in magic angle graphene.

Artificial "superlattice" in twisted layers of graphene

Graphene is a one atom thick crystal of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. When two graphene sheets are placed on top of each other with a small and special, or "magic", misalignment angle, a periodic moire pattern appears that acts as an artificial "superlattice" for the electrons in the material. Moire patterns are a popular effect in fabrics and emerge wherever one mesh overlays another at a slight angle.

In magic angle graphene, the electrons come in four flavours: spin "up" or spin "down", and two "valleys". Each moire site can thus hold up to four electrons, one of each flavour.

Researchers already knew that this system behaves as a simple insulator when all moire sites are completely full (four electrons per site). In 2018, however, Prof. Jarillo-Herrero and colleagues discovered to their surprise that it can be insulating at other integer fillings (two or three electrons per moire site), which could only be explained if a correlated state of electrons is formed. However, near a filling of one electron per moire site, the vast majority of transport measurements indicated that the system is quite simple, behaving as an ordinary metal. This is exactly where the entropy measurements by the Weizmann-MIT team found the most surprising results.

"In contrast to the behaviour seen in transport near a filling of one electron per moire site, which is quite featureless, our measurements indicated that thermodynamically, the most dramatic phase transition occurs at this filling", says Dr. Asaf Rozen, a lead author in this work. "We realized that near this filling, upon heating the material, a rather conventional Fermi liquid transforms into a correlated metal with a giant magnetic entropy. This giant entropy (of about 1 Boltzmann constant per lattice site) could only be explained if each moire site has a degree of freedom that is completely free to fluctuate".

An electronic analogue of the Pomeranchuk effect

"This unusual excess entropy reminded us of an exotic effect that was discovered about 70 years ago in helium-3", says Weizmann theorist Prof. Erez Berg. "Most materials, when heated up, transform from a solid to a liquid. This is because a liquid always has more entropy than the solid, as the atoms move more erratically in the liquid than in the solid." In helium-3, however, in a small part of the phase diagram, the material behaves completely oppositely, and the higher temperature phase is the solid. This behaviour, predicted by Soviet theoretical physicist Isaak Pomeranchuk in the 1950s, can only be explained by the existence of another "hidden" source of entropy in the system. In the case of helium-3, this entropy comes from the freely rotating nuclear spins. "Each atom has a spin in its nucleus (an 'arrow' that can point in any direction)," explains Berg. "In liquid helium-3, due to the Pauli exclusion principle, exactly half of the spins must point up and half must point down, so spins cannot freely rotate. In the solid phase, however, the atoms are localized and never come close to each other, so their nuclear spins can freely rotate."

"The giant excess entropy that we observed in the correlated state with one electron per moire site is analogous to the entropy in solid helium-3, but instead of atoms and nuclear spins, in the case of magic angle graphene we have electrons and electronic spins (or valley magnetic moments)", he says.

The magnetic phase diagram

To establish the relation with the Pomeranchuk effect further, the team performed detailed measurements of the phase diagram. This was done by measuring the "compressibility" of the electrons in the system- that is, how hard it is to squeeze additional electrons into a given lattice site (such a measurement was demonstrated in twisted bilayer graphene in the team's previous work). This measurement revealed two distinct phases separated by a sharp drop in the compressibility: a low-entropy, electronic liquid-like phase, and a high-entropy solid-like phase with free magnetic moments. By following the drop in the compressibility, the researchers mapped the boundary between the two phases as a function of temperature and magnetic field, demonstrating that the phase boundary behaves precisely as expected from the Pomerachuk effect.

"This new result challenges our understanding of magic angle graphene," says Berg. "We imagined that the phases in this material were simple - either conducting or insulating, and expected that at such low temperatures, all the electronic fluctuations are frozen out. This turns out not to be the case, as the giant magnetic entropy shows".

"The new findings will provide fresh insights into the physics of strongly correlated electron systems and perhaps even help explain how such fluctuating spins affect superconductivity," he adds.

The researchers acknowledge that they do not yet know how to explain the Pomeranchuk effect in magic angle graphene. Is it exactly as in helium-3 in that the electrons in the solid-like phase remain at a great distance from each other, allowing their magnetic moments to stay completely free? "We are not sure," admits Ilani, "since the phase we have observed has a 'spit personality' - some of its properties are associated with itinerant electrons while others can only be explained by thinking of the electrons as being localized on a lattice".

###

Prof. Shahal Ilani's research is supported by the Sagol Weizmann-MIT Bridge Program; the Andre Deloro Prize for Scientific Research; the Rosa and Emilio Segre Research Award; and the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

Prof. Erez Berg's research is supported by Irving and Cherna Moskowitz.

Prof. Yuval Oreg's research is supported by the Lady Davis Professorial Chair of Experimental Physics. Prof. Oreg is the Head of the Maurice and Gabriella Goldschleger Center for Nanophysics.

Prof. Ady Stern's research is supported by the Veronika A. Rabl Physics Discretionary Fund and the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program.

This story has been published on: 2021-04-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Japans western region of Osaka will hold the Olympic torch relay in a park without spectators instead of on public roads, as record coronavirus infections prompted its government to declare a medical emergency on Wednesday.

Health authorities fear a virus variant is unleashing a fourth wave of infections just 107 days before the Tokyo Olympics begin, with a vaccination drive still at an early stage.

Osaka governor Hirofumi Yoshimura said the street runs for the relay would be cancelled, adding that the medical system faced enormous strain as a more infectious variant sent cases skyrocketing among young people.

It is almost certain that this mutant strain is highly contagious with a high transmission speed, he said in televised remarks.

I would like to ask all residents of Osaka prefecture to refrain from going out unnecessarily. The medical system is in a very tight situation.

The torch relay will instead take place in the Expo 70 Commemorative Park, a 260 hectare park managed by Osaka prefecture, without any spectators during the event, Tokyo Olympic organisers said.

The Tokyo organising committee will implement all necessary measures to ensure a safe environment for all torchbearers who wish to run there, it said in a statement.

The Osaka leg of the relay is scheduled for April 13-14.
Workers of China Railway 20th Bureau Group Corp receive on-site safety training for a railroad project in Mozambique in September 2019. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Chinese construction companies provide large numbers of employment opportunities in Africa, said a report titled "Chinese firms and African labor are building Africa's infrastructure" in Washington Post on Friday.

The report answered concerns on China's employment practices for large infrastructure projects in Africa.

The report, citing a number of scholars' research and consultancy's survey, showed Chinese companies involved in Africa's infrastructure projects hire more African workers than Chinese expatriates.

For example, 90 percent of employees in Ethiopia and 74 percent of the Angolan workforce for Chinese companies were Ethiopians and Angolans, respectively, during 2016 to 2017, according to SOAS University of London survey of 37 firms working in Angola and 40 companies in Ethiopia.

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology said African workers accounted for 85 percent among 400 Chinese companies they surveyed in Africa.

Moreover, a 2017 McKinsey report said African employees made up 89 percent of the firms' combined workforce based on a survey of 1,000 Chinese firms and factories in eight African countries.

Hiring Chinese expatriates has become increasingly expensive such as higher wages and better living conditions, leading the Chinese companies to hire more local employees, said the report.

The report also pointed out that foreign companies including Chinese, European and American enterprises in Africa prefer filling management posts with their own people due to a lack of trained local employees with appropriate skill sets.

The African governments and other stakeholders should educate the local employees in skills to seek higher-paying management and technical positions, the report suggested.
New Delhi: Amid allegations over the shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has hit out at 'some state governments' for their deplorable attempts to distract attention from their failures.

In an official statement, Harsh Vardhan said that at a time when the country is witnessing a fresh wave of rising COVID-19 infections, he is alarmed to note the fact that many 'State governments have failed to take appropriate response measures' and apply the lessons that the nation has learned over the past one year of handling this pandemic.

He said that politicising the important public health issue of COVID-19 and spreading panic regarding vaccine supply is a damning indictment of certain leaders and their own fallacies.

Politicising the important public health issue of #COVID19 & spreading panic regarding vaccine supply is a damning indictment of certain leaders & their own fallacies Lets focus energies, defeat the pandemic & fulfil our solemn public duty My statement-https://t.co/0nxiNYweiK  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) April 7, 2021

Harsh Vardhan stated, "In particular, I have seen statements made by public representatives in Maharashtra about shortage of vaccines. This is nothing but an attempt to divert attention from Maharashtra government's repeated failures to control the spread of pandemic. The inability of Maharashtra government to act responsibly is beyond comprehension."

Coronavirus vaccine supplies are being monitored on a real-time basis

The Union Health Minister informed that the coronavirus vaccine supplies are being monitored on a real-time basis, and State governments are being apprised regularly about it. "Allegations of vaccine shortage are utterly baseless," he said.

"The lackadaisical attitude of the state government has singularly bogged down the entire countrys efforts to fight the virus," Harsh Vardhan added.

Chhattisgarh government should focus its energies on ramping up health infrastructure rather than on petty politicking

He also attacked the Chhattisgarh government and said that it would be better if the state government focusses its energies on ramping up their health infrastructure rather than on petty politicking.

He added, "The state Government in fact refused to use Covaxin despite it being given Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Drug Controller of India. Not only this, by its actions, the leaders of the state government have the dubious distinction of being perhaps the only government in the world to have incited vaccine hesitancy."

Other states also need to bring their healthcare systems up to the mark

The Union Health Minister said that many other states also need to bring their healthcare systems up to the mark. "For example, quality of testing needs to improve in Karnataka, Rajasthan and Gujarat. In Punjab, high Case Fatality Rate needs to be improved by early identification of those needing hospitalization," Harsh Vardhan highlighted.

He added that mask-wearing and social distancing compliance are slack in a large number of States and that there is a lot that needs to be done, and 'we must do it all with speed and at scale'.

Open up COVID-19 vaccination to everyone above the age of 18?

Harsh Vardhan also talked about statements being made by a 'section of political leaders' asking to open up vaccination to everyone above the age of 18 or to drastically lower the minimum age criteria for vaccination eligibility.

He replied by saying, "The Government of India has been frequently and transparently updating all the State governments about the demand-supply dynamics and the resultant vaccination strategy that has been adopted. In fact, the vaccination strategy has been drawn up after extensive deliberations and consultations in partnership with all State governments. The same has also been a matter of public record for several months now."

"Nonetheless, it bears repeating that the primary aim of vaccination is to reduce mortality among the most vulnerable people, and enable the society to beat the pandemic," he added/

He noted that as long as the supply of COVID-19 vaccines remains limited, there is no option but to prioritize. "This is also the established practice around the world, and is well known to all State governments," he said.



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Marybeth Smith, originally from New Mexico and now residing in Illinois with her fiance, John Nelson, has completed her new book Love Letters to God: a collection of writings from the authors heart about and for God. Readers can expect to be refreshed and uplifted as they turn each page.

Smith says about her work, The book is about love letters to God. I write about angels, love, and hate in the world. I write about my feelings about dying and even respect. It is a small book but a great read!

Published by Page Publishing, Marybeth Smiths honest and heartfelt tale is both thought provoking and interesting. Each page offers a taste of a life spent loving and worshipping God, and provides introspective words about everything from the hate of this world to the love and security of God.

Readers who wish to experience this faith-based collection of letters can purchase Love Letters to God 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 of 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 bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex, and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
OMAHA, Neb., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jet Linx, the leading private jet management and Jet Card membership company in the United States, today introduced two new partners to its Elevated Lifestyle (EL) client benefits program and welcomed nine new luxury properties to its Elevated Lifestyle Preferred Hotel program. SteamLine Luggage, a collection of leather luggage, and luxury jeweler Borsheims , a Berkshire Hathaway Company, join Jet Linx's expansive benefits portfolio, which provides Jet Linx Jet Card members and aircraft owners with exclusive offers from partners in travel, transportation, libations and fare, health and wellness, fashion, and other categories.

"As the travel industry begins to rebound, we are delighted to introduce new partners that offer our clients exclusive access to even more travel-related benefits and luxury experiences," said Jamie Walker, President & CEO of Jet Linx. "Throughout the past year, we have continued to expand our programs in order to provide safe, secure and exceptional offerings that are now available for whenever our clients are ready to travel once again. We are confident that each of our new partners will further elevate the Jet Linx experience  both in travel and beyond  for our members and aircraft owners."

Jet Linx Continues To Expand Its Elevated Lifestyle Client Benefits Program With 11 New Luxury Partners Tweet this

With the addition of SteamLine Luggage, Jet Linx clients will now receive exclusive discounts on every purchase from the luxury luggage company. SteamLine Luggage offers 11 collections of elegant vintage-style cases inspired by travel and exploration, including popular lines such as The Entrepreneur, which features an innovative and eye-catching vegan-leather design, and The Starlet, whose glamourous cases combine a sleek, shiny body and brilliant gold accessories.

Jet Linx clients will also have the opportunity to enjoy exclusive pricing on Borsheims' collection of legendary selection of luxury jewelry, watches and fine gifts, from coveted international designers such as Rahaminov, Roberto Coin, Cartier and Baccarat, as well as priority access to luxury events featuring rare collections and one-of-a-kind jewelry.

The Elevated Lifestyle Preferred Hotel Program, which provides Jet Linx clients with exclusive access to over 80 of the world's finest hotels, has also welcomed nine new luxury hotels and resorts across the United States, Mexico and Caribbean. The newest properties include ESPACIO, The Jewel of Waikiki in Honolulu, Hawaii and eight Auberge Resorts Collection properties: Auberge Residences at Element 52 in Telluride, Colorado; Chileno Bay Resort & Residences and Esperanza Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Commodore Perry Estate in Austin, Texas; Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado; Malliouhana Resort in Anguilla; Mauna Lani on the Kohala Coast, Hawaii; and Solage Resort & Spa in Calistoga, California.

For more information on Jet Linx, the Elevated Lifestyle client benefits program and the Jet Linx Elevated Lifestyle Preferred Hotel Program, please visit www.jetlinx.com or contact a local Jet Linx Base.

About Jet Linx Aviation

Jet Linx Aviation is a locally-focused private jet company founded in Omaha, NE in 1999 as a more personalized approach to national private jet companies. Jet Linx offers two different ways to experience private aviation  a guaranteed jet card and private jet management program  providing its clients with an all-encompassing, local solution to all of their private jet travel needs. Jet Linx is an IS-BAO Stage 3, ARGUS Platinum and Wyvern Wingman safety rated operator, an accomplishment earned by less than one percent of all aircraft operators in the world. In 2019, Jet Linx became the only Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star trained and accredited private aviation company in the world. In addition to establishing the independent global rating system's preeminent and unparalleled service standards for the in-flight experience, Jet Linx also collaborated with Forbes Travel Guide to develop their own customized, proprietary Jet Linx standards of service excellence. Jet Linx is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska and has base locations in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Ft. Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Omaha, San Antonio, Scottsdale, St Louis, Tulsa and Washington D.C. For additional information, please visit the Jet Linx website (www.jetlinx.com).

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Boston Dynamics robotic dog Spot was one of several robots tested by the French army during training sessions at a military school in the northwest of France, The Verge and France Ouest have reported. It was used during a two-day training session with the aim of "measuring the added value of robots in combat action," said school commandant Jean-Baptiste Cavalier.

The exercises aimed to get students thinking about how robots might be deployed in future combat situations. The students designed three offensive and defensive missions, with Spot used primarily for reconnaissance. The scenarios were performed by students first without and then with the aid of the robots. Other bots deployed were a remote-controlled tank-like vehicle called OPTIO-X20 armed with a cannon and Barakuda, an armor-plated wheeled drone designed to provide cover to advancing soldiers.

The robots reportedly slowed the operation down but kept troops safer, with one soldier saying he died in the first exercise without Spot, but survived the second time thanks to the robot's reconnaissance. Battery life was supposedly an issue, as Spot ran out of juice in the middle of one exercise.

The robots were loaned to the army by European distributor Shark Robotics and Nexter Group, according to a tweet by the military school Saint-Cyr Coetquidan. Spot manufacturer Boston Robotics said it knew that its robots were being used by the French government and military, but it had not been alerted about this specific exercise.

Some of Boston Dynamics early robots including Atlas were funded by the US military's DARPA arm, but the company has slowly moved away from its military ties. The company's current terms and conditions bar them from being used to "to harm or intimidate any person or animal, as a weapon, or to enable any weapon."

Still, Boston Robotics isn't necessarily against using robots to take soldiers out of harm's way, the company said, and is still evaluating that idea of using robots for reconnaissance and other more passive duties. The company's rival Ghost Robotics' Spot-like bots have already been deployed by the US Army to patrol Air Force installations.

Update 4/9/2021 2:59 AM ET: The article has been updated to reflect the fact that Boston Dynamics knew it's robots were being used by the French government and military, but not about this particular usage.
LAKE COUNTY, Ohio -- A Michigan man claimed to have a bomb inside a trailer he drove to the entrance of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant property Wednesday, the Lake County Sheriffs Office said.

Law enforcement agencies swarmed the property but did not find a bomb in the trailer, according to a news release. The sheriffs office said there is no threat to the power plant.

Michael Fogelson, 33, of Adrian, Michigan is charged with making false alarms and aggravated trespassing in the incident that happened shortly before 6 p.m. at the power plant on Center Road near Parmly Road in Perry, according to the news release.

Fogelson is being held in Lake County Jail pending his first court appearance. Authorities say more charges could be filed against him.

Sheriffs deputies got a call about a suspicious man, later identified as Fogelson, refusing to leave the area. Deputies learned he drove a pickup truck pulling an enclosed trailer to the entrance of the plant, the release says.

Fogelson claimed to have a bomb in the trailer when plant security approached him, the news release says.

The FBI, the Lake County Bomb Squad, the North Perry Police Department and other law enforcement agencies responded to assist sheriffs deputies at the scene.

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Aide to Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson charged with rape
Pakistan will start vaccination of all its citizens after the festival of Eid to be celebrated next month, a senior minister said on Thursday, as the country recorded 5,329 new coronavirus cases, the highest single day surge during the ongoing third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister for Planning Asad Umar told journalists that more than one million people had been vaccinated.

"We will be able to vaccinate more than 125,000 people per day after Eid," Umar said, adding that China was the main provider of vaccines.

He said the next five to six weeks were critical and urged the people to follow SOPs to help mitigate the cases and the impact of the pandemic.

Umar also said that the single-shot Cansino vaccine of China will also be available after Eid and help to speed up vaccination process.

The vaccination in Pakistan is open for people with more than 50 years of age, as well as all health workers. The vaccination has been going on since February 2 when the first phase was launched for only the frontline health workers.

Pakistan recorded 5,329 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single day surge during the ongoing third wave of the pandemic, according to the official data.

The new cases are also the highest since June last year when the country faced the first wave of the coronavirus. Before this, the highest new cases in a day were 5,234 reported on April 1.

With the new cases, the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country reached 705,501, the Ministry of National Health Services reported.

The data showed that 98 more people died in the last one day, pushing the COVID-19 death toll to 15,124. Another 3,942 were reportedly in a critical condition.

The authorities performed 49,816 tests in the last 24 hours, which showed that the positivity rate was 10.7 per cent, it said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The continued modernization of the nations nuclear weapons is a necessity, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm told reporters Thursday afternoon at the White House.

We have to modernize the nations nuclear arsenal, Granholm said in response to a question in the briefing room. We have to keep and maintain the stockpile to make sure that it is safe and effective, and we will continue to do that to ensure that we can deter nuclear aggression from other countries.

A sizable chunk of the Energy Departments budget is dedicated to U.S. nuclear weapons  a force capable of immense destruction. The departments fiscal year 2021 budget request totaled $35.4 billion, and almost $20 billion was earmarked for the weapons- and nonproliferation-focused National Nuclear Security Administration.

So, our nuclear deterrent is important and it is embedded in the values of that stockpile, Granholm said Thursday. And well make sure that our people are safe.

President Joe Biden's fiscal year 2022 budget blueprint is expected soon.

Since taking the reins at the DOE, Granholm has publicly focused on clean energy, related infrastructure, and jobs and the economy. Her official Twitter profile has cleaved closely to the Biden administrations latest priorities and initiatives.

Granholm earlier this year told a Senate energy and natural resources panel she would focus on three missions, including the security of America through the National Nuclear Security Administration, which stewards the nuclear arsenal, and clean-up of our Cold War legacy, ensuring that we can protect our nation.

Savannah River Site Watch Director Tom Clements in January anticipated Granholm would make tough decisions reshaping U.S. nuclear weapons policy in a way that increases our collective security while reducing financial costs and reducing reliance on nuclear weapons.

Other observers have predicted greater scrutiny under a Biden administration, compared to the Trump administration. Both Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks have said they support a review of ongoing nuclear modernization efforts.
The exit of South Korean smartphone maker LG from the industry on 31 July will benefit at least four other players, the technology analyst firm Counterpoint Research says.

Research analyst Dongkeun Yi said LG's exit would leave a vacuum in the US, South American and South Korean markets and the brands likely to fill it were Samsung, HMD, Xiaomi and Motorola.

"LGs decision to shut its 26-year-old mobile phone business leaves a market share of under 2% to be filled at the global level," he wrote. "The business has been declining since its peak in the 2009-2010 feature phone era."

He said over the years, LG had shrunk its focus to just a few markets  North America, Latin America and South Korea.

"These are mostly carrier-driven markets. Working with carriers had been LGs biggest strength, and not marketing and selling phones in the open market with multi-layer distribution," Dongkeun said. "LG lacked the vision, intensity and scale to take the latter route, where Samsung has been so successful.

"With North America and Latin America accounting for more than 80% of its sales volume, LG was heavily reliant on its major target regions. However, here too, the company was witnessing a continuous decline in its market share."

As to what was likely to transpire next, he said in markets like the US, where LG was the third largest brand with 9% share, Samsung would be doubling down with its affordable A series to capture LGs pre-paid share.

"Motorola, HMD, Alcatel, ZTE and Vinsmart could be the ones in line to capture the rest. In Latin America, Motorola and Xiaomi will fill the gap. In South Korea, it would be Samsung and entry of some Chinese vendors like Xiaomi as carriers look to diversify," Dongkeun said.

"We have high expectations, especially of Xiaomi, since it is planning to re-enter the South Korean market in 2021 and reach out to the global market with its new Mi11 Pro and Mi11 Ultra flagship models and aggressive marketing strategies."

Dongkeun said LG was likely to start licensing its intellectual property of which it possessed a ton.

"LG has announced that 'advanced mobile technologies such as 6G, camera and software will be key competencies in developing TVs, home appliances, automotive electronics and robots'," he said.

"The company added that it would focus on securing 6G technology, which is expected to be standardised in 2025 and commercialised by 2029.

"We believe LG will pivot to developing more innovation across components and lifestyle offerings. ...we expect to see LG to take this as an opportunity to invest in the next wave of technology."
This story as been updated to include a comment from the principal of Mountain View Middle School.

Presley Conway, 11, of Hampden Twp., has been named one of the six winners in the Sun-Maid Board of Imagination contest that will win her money for college and money and snacks for her school.

Presley, a sixth-grader at Mountain View Middle School in the Cumberland Valley School District, was one of 15 finalists in the contest that launched in February. Sun-Maid said it was looking for children ages 6 to 12 to fill seats on its new Board of Imagination.

She will receive $5,000 for her college 529 account, $5,000 for her school and a years supply of Sun-Maid snacks for her school.

Im so excited to be selected as a winner, and I want to thank everyone who took the time to vote for me. Im looking forward to collaborating with the other winners and coming up with some fun new snack ideas that kids will like! Presley said.

Presley was nominated by her mother, Jill.

We are overwhelmed by the support of our family, friends, and community who made this opportunity possible by voting for Presley each and every day. Presley is looking forward to sharing this unique experience with friends and staff at Mountain View Middle School, and cant wait to get started, said Jill Conway.

Jeff Hosenfeld, principal of Mountain View Middle School, said that Presley is an amazing person.

Not only is she an A+ student, but she is a kind, positive, helpful, and happy person. One of her teachers described her as vibrant. She is certainly creative and motivated, which helped her to win this innovation award.

I am excited to see what is in store for Presley as she continues through middle school and beyond. We are very proud of her and excited to have her as a valuable part of our school community!

Five of the winners, according to Sun-Maid, were the result of nationwide voting. One was awarded based on an internal search from kids of Sun-Maid manufacturing employees.

Imagination has always been at the heart of Sun-Maids purpose  we nurture childhood and help Mom find new, better-for-you snacking options that provide both the health benefits that she wants and the delicious tastes that her kids crave, said Harry Overly, President & CEO  and newly-named Chief Imagination Wrangler of Sun-Maid Growers of California.

Parents were invited to nominate their children.

Sun-Maid said during a one-year term, kids on the board will have the chance to share their imaginative ideas about new products and flavors with the Sun-Maid executive team, and even help develop marketing ideas.

The board will hold its first meeting virtually in April.
Hyderabad, April 8 : Allu Arjun feels the success of Telugu cinema has been possible due to the fact that fans across the country have showered love for films in the language.

"I'd like to thank the audiences from the other languages. It could be Tamil, it could be Malayalam, it could be Kannada, it could be the North Indian audience and also from other countries. Thank you so much for watching Telugu films. Thank you so much, you made us all so proud. Today, we have become one of the big markets, not because of our regional market, it is because of you. You made us big," said Arjun.

The Telugu star was speaking at the announcement date event of his upcoming film "Puspa", which has been scheduled to release on August 13, in the Independence Day weekend. The event, which took place here on Wednesday, saw "Pushpa" director Sukumar release glimpses of Arjun's character Pushparaj.

The film pairs Arjun with Rashmika Mandanna for the first time, while this is the third time that Arjun has teamed up with director Sukumar. They earlier worked together in "Arya" and "Arya 2". Based on true events, "Pushpa" revolves around the red sanders heist in the hills of Andhra Pradesh.

"Having a cast of stars such as Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil inspired us to make the reveal of the first glimpse of the movie a grand spectacle. We're thrilled to present viewers a miniature view into the world of Pushpa and we are grateful to have such a loving audience awaiting the release of the film," said producers Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A journalist working with Kenya's state broadcaster was shot dead at her home in the outcasts of the capital Nairobi.



Two gunmen entered Betty Barasa's home as she was driving in from work on Wednesday evening.



They ordered her husband and children to lie on the ground and one of the gunmen took Ms Barasa to her bedroom.



The family later heard two gunshots and the gunman walked out of the bedroom and left with the other one.



Police in Ngong area say Ms Barasa succumbed to injuries to her head.



The motive for her killing remains unclear.



The media council has condemned the killing and called for a speedy investigation:









The @MediaCouncilK has learnt with sadness, the unfortunate death of Ms. Betty Barasa, a Senior Video Editor with @KBCChannel1. The Council expresses it deepest condolences to family, friends and colleagues. #RIPBettyBarasa@CrimeScribesKE pic.twitter.com/k20x5vYqVt

 Media Council of Kenya (@MediaCouncilK) April 8, 2021

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 police in Oyo State have arrested five alleged armed robbery trans-border car snatchers, six ritualists and 45 others for offences ranging from murder to arson and defilement.

The Police Commissioner in the state, Ngozi Onadeko, made the disclosure on Thursday while briefing newsmen on the achievements of the command at its headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan.

Ms Onadeko said the suspects confessed to have moved robbed cars across Nigerias border to Burkina Faso, where they were sold to unsuspecting buyers.

She said the car snatchers had received and moved at least seven robbed cars to the said neighbouring country.

The commissioner said the items recovered from the suspects include a Toyota Corolla car with Reg. No. KTU 453 GE, two locally made guns and 18 live cartridges.

On 29th March, 2021 at about 2130hrs, one Mr Adegbite Oluwasegun was attacked at Arulogun Area, Ojoo, Ibadan and dispossessed of his Toyota Corolla car with Reg. No. Lagos KTU 453 GE and some other valuable items at gunpoint by some members of alleged notorious trans-border armed robbers.

Sequel to the receipt of this information at the Monitoring Unit Office, Ibadan, a team of police operatives attached to the unit led by CSP Olusola Aremu swung into action.

In the process of their discreet investigation, two members of the dreaded trans-border armed robbery syndicate were arrested.

The Toyota Corolla car belonging to the victim was equally recovered from the suspects.

The confessional statements of the armed robbers later led to the arrest of their criminal receivers, Ms Onadeko said.

The commissioner said the suspects, upon interrogation, confessed to the crime and that they were members of an armed robbery gang terrorising Ikolaba, Arogun and other areas in Ibadan metropolis.

Also, the police paraded suspected money ritualists in possession of human parts such as heart, flesh and dried bones.

The suspects were said to have approached one Alfa, now at large, that assisted them in getting the human parts at the rate of N10,000.

Mr Onadeko said the incident happened on March 18 at Saki town, Oyo State.

She said that men of the Federal Highway Patrol team, who were on Stop and Search duty at Forest area along Igbeti/Igboho road on March 19, apprehended the suspects and found them in possession of the human parts.

Ms Onadeko said investigation was still in progress and the suspects would be charged to court after it was concluded.

NAN reports that 31 suspected miscreants terrorising different locations within Ibadan metropolis and attacking innocent citizens, disposing them of their personal belongings, were also paraded.

(NAN)

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Carrie Underwood's gospel album 'My Savior' tops multiple charts; Easter concert raises $100K

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Country star Carrie Underwood celebrated the resurrection of Christ by reaching atop Billboards Country and Christian charts with her new gospel album, My Savior. She also raised over $100,000 for children in need.

The faith-filled release debuted at No. 4 on the all-genre Billboard 200 list and topped the Christian and Country chart.

My Savior is now Underwoods ninth-consecutive album to debut at the top of the Billboard Country charts.

The 13-song release includes classics such as "Softly and Tenderly" and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," which was sung as a duet with gospel legend CeCe Winans.

How Great Thou Art," "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Amazing Grace" are other songs on the album.

Seven songs from the project also debuted on the Country Songs Track chart, including How Great Thou Art, Amazing Grace, Just As I Am, Because He Lives, Victory In Jesus, The Old Rugged Cross and Blessed Assurance.

Underwoods last release in 2020 was a Christmas album titled, My Gift, which also featured some Christian songs.

To celebrate her latest release on Easter Sunday, the "American Idol" alum performed all 13 songs off of My Savior during a livestream performance at Nashvilles historic Ryman Auditorium, known as the Mother Church of Country Music.

The concert has since raised $112,000 for the nonprofit charity Save the Children US, which services over 100 countries to ensure children worldwide receive health and education.

According to a statement from Universal Music Group Nashville, about 2.5 million fans worldwide viewed the show while millions more viewed exclusive performance clips during the 48-hour window.

Underwood wore a white and pink floral gown as she belted out her new songs with her band socially distanced behind her.

The event also included special appearances by Winans, who performed "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" with Underwood. NEEDTOBREATHE frontman, Bear Rinehart, was also in attendance. He and the Grammy-winning artist performed their rendition of "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus."

Clips of the concert can be viewed on Facebook.
Social Commentator, Bernard Allotey Jacobs says the current power cuts in Ghana is not 'dumsor'.



'Dumsor' became a popular term describing the irregular power outages under the erstwhile John Mahama regime.



Ghanaians are currently facing intermittent power outages and it's become a serious concern, particularly when the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo promised to fix the energy sector.



A large section of Ghanaians feel 'dumsor' is resurfacing and have therefore expressed their worry.



The Ghana GRID Company Limited (GRIDCo) has informed the populace about a maintenance work it is undertaking on some lines, hence resulting in the irregular power supply.



The GRIDCo has indicated the power cuts will affect Accra and Winneba.



The company, however, clarified it has no intention to embark on a nationwide load shedding programme.



The assurance came after what it described as heightened perceptions of impending nationwide power cuts (dumsor).



In a statement issued by its Corporate Affairs Department, the company said; "Recent media engagements by the GHANA GRID COMPANY LIMITED (GRIDCo), about ongoing projects in the power sector, appear to have heightened perceptions of impending nationwide power cuts. GRIDCO wishes to assure the general public that it has no intention of embarking on a nationwide load shedding programme. The transmission company is currently carrying out key projects to enhance power supply reliability in Greater Accra".



Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, Allotey Jacobs stated that the challenges in the energy sector under the Akufo-Addo administration is different from what Ghanaians experienced during the Mahama administration.



"There is no dumsor . . . it's a system upgrade . . . the problem faced by the energy sector today is a system upgrade," he stated.



He further stressed; '" . . we're in the modern era, so you will need modern equipment to help you to transmit your power, and already there're independent power producers who are all fed into GRIDCo".



Kwamena Duncan wants GRIDCo to beef up its communication with public



Also touching on the issue, former Central Regional Minister advised GRIDCo to beef up its communication with the public to get them to understand the situation.



"GRIDco must begin to look at their PR section. How much does it cost to have a PR section that will always inform the people ahead of time about what is going to happen?"



''People are getting angry and angry because you're not speaking to them; you're not explaining things out to them. That is something that they must take a note," he said.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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PHOENIX, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Offerpad, a leader in modern home buying and selling solutions, continues business development and market expansion with the announcement of a new major market launch into Indianapolis, Indiana. The Arizona-based company will bring its Real Estate Solutions Center to homeowners and sellers in the Midwest beginning this summer.

Offerpad's first pitch to homeowners and buyers in the Midwest follows on the heels of its expansion into the Denver and Nashville markets last month. With the launch of Indianapolis, Offerpad's coverage is expected to extend the company's total availability nationwide to up to 1,000 cities and towns.

"We've been monitoring Indianapolis for some time now. It's one of the fastest-growing and hottest housing markets in the country," said Offerpad's Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Matt Brohn. "The market's strong economic trends including affordability, employment and population growth, and a burgeoning tech community, are encouraging.

"Indy also has appealing home construction dynamics with a positive outlook and inventory, as well as a large amount of real estate transactions overall  key indicators of support for current and future Offerpad services."

What Offerpad Offers Indianapolis

Indianapolis is a top-level market which Offerpad believes presents opportunity and appetite for the company's flagship iBuyer solution, Offerpad EXPRESS direct cash offers, and its full suite of custom selling solutions, services and benefits the real estate tech innovator is known for. With a Net Promoter Score of 72, and a 93% Customer Satisfaction Rating, based on a Q4 2020 survey of over 360 people who sold a home to Offerpad, the company is set to take innovative solutions and premier services to Indianapolis real estate consumers. Offerpad's exclusive Real Estate Solutions Center will bring new real estate options, including:

Offerpad FLEX, a re-invented home listing experience which enables home sellers to list their home on the open-market with an Offerpad-employed agent and a backup cash offer, plus other customized selling features not offered with a traditional home listing such as home improvement advances and show-ready home services.

60-Day Extended Stay program, so sellers don't have to worry about the stress and rush of closing and moving on the same day.

Home buying options with flexible move-in dates and the services of a dedicated transaction manager to help buyers through the entire process.

Offerpad also offers homebuilders and agents in the Indianapolis area new opportunities for business growth and development through access to its Solutions Center. By partnering with Offerpad's Homebuilder Services program, new home construction builders can use the company's services to facilitate new-home sales at their communities. Through the company's Agent Partnership Program, agents and brokers can receive an industry-high 3% referral fee when assisting their home sellers with a sale to Offerpad.

Offerpad Job Opportunities in Indianapolis

In preparation for its launch and expansion of services to homeowners in the Indianapolis area, Offerpad is currently searching for local experts to work in their community in many real estate-intensive positions. Interested candidates can view career openings and descriptions at [email protected].

About Offerpad

Offerpad is using technology-enabled solutions across its digital platform to remake the home selling and buying experience. With firsthand real estate experience and utilizing powerful proprietary technology, the company provides several consumer-focused options including instant cash offers and superior home listing services. Offerpad is a privately held company headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, operating across the country in 900+ cities and towns. Visit Offerpad.com for more information.

Media Contact: David Stephan, [email protected]

SOURCE Offerpad

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NASA's Curiosity rover team on Wednesday named a hill on Mars in honour of a Mexican mission scientist who died due to COVID-19. The hill along the path of Perseverance was named Rafael Navarro mountain and is located on Mount Sharp in northwest Gale Crater. Gonzalez was an acclaimed researcher at the Institute of Nuclear Sciences (ICN) of the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and had helped NASA in developing a Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) kit onboard Curiosity that is used to analyze rocks, soil samples, and air on the Red planet. The researcher passed away on January 28, 2021, after he caught a severe coronavirus infection, NASA said in a release.

[Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez, an astrobiologist on the Curiosity Mars rover team. Credit: NASA]

NASAs award-winning astrobiologist helped the astronomers identify the organic compounds on the Martian surface and mysterious methane that suggested that the planet could have sustained ancient microbial life. The findings are key for the future Mars mission to ascertain signs of life on Mars. The late NASA co-investigator of SAM also contributed to identifying the role of volcanic lightning in the origin of life on Earth. The Rafael- Navarro mountain is located in the clay-rich region in Gale Carter which is rich in Sulfate minerals. The Sulfate would have helped the scientist to understand the shift in the Martian climate better, from wetter to drier conditions.

Curiositys project scientist based at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, Ashwin Vasavada, told NASA, We think of this hill as a gateway. He added, Rafael Navarro mountain will be constantly in our sights for the next year as Curiosity winds around it.

#BoletinUNAM El nombre del destacado investigador mexicano y #ExpertoUNAM Rafael Navarro fue inmortalizado, luego de que la @NASA decidio identificar con su nombre a una de las montanas de Marte. #GOYA! > https://t.co/JWeyQK4jv7#PontePumaPonte pic.twitter.com/4687vZZZon  UNAM (@UNAM_MX) April 5, 2021

[Hill nicknamed Rafael Navarro Mountain.Credit: NASA]

Children release statement

We are truly honoured to have a prominent hill named after our dad; its his and our dream come true to see this happen, wrote Navarro-Gonzalezs children, Rafael and Karina Navarro Aceves, in a statement to NASA. Ever since our parents met, their dreams merged together and they became a beautiful team, working very hard for 36 years. Our dad was an accomplished scientist, but above all, a great human being who managed to balance work and family. Our mom, Faby, would always tell him that his name one day would be on Mars, and now that is coming true. We all believe that there must be a party in heaven, they added.

The curiosity team had earlier named other features on Mars after the notable deceased scientists. A boulder on Mars Jake Matijevic was named after the deceased rover engineer, and Curiositys first drill hole, John Klein, is named after the missions deputy project manager who passed away in 2011. A co-investigator on Curiositys ChemCam instrument who died in 2017 was honoured after NASA named the Nathan Bridges Dune after him. A rock on Mars similarly is called Heinrich Wanke after the space agencys scientist who contributed to the development of a rover instrument, APXS.
As the Ingenuity helicopter prepares to make history by flying through Mars atmosphere, the Perseverance rover snapped a selfie of the pair to commemorate one of their last moments together.

NASA released the image Wednesday, which is a collection of 62 individual pictures taken by the rover as it looked down on the small copter that stood 13 feet away.

Ingenuity is set to take its first flight April 11, which will see the copter take off, hover in place and then return for landing, and although the event will only last for 90 seconds it is a feat that determines the fate of the mission.

This will be the first vehicle to fly on another planet, which NASA likens to the Wright Brothers moment on Earth.

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As the Ingenuity helicopter prepares to make history by flying through Mars atmosphere, the Perseverance rover snapped a selfie of the pair to commemorate one of their last moments together

Ingenuity made the 239 million-mile journey to Mars inside the belly of Perseverance until it was dropped to the dust Martian ground April 4.

NASA announced the following day that the $85 million drone survived its first night outside of its travel companion, allowing the American space agency to move ahead with their flight plans.

Ingenuity is expected to soar Sunday, April 11 from a 33-by-33-foot piece of Martian real estate that is the first airfield on a another planet.

Once everything is a go, Perseverance will receive information from NASA to relay to the copter.

Ingenuity made the 239 million-mile journey to Mars inside the belly of Perseverance until it was dropped to the dust Martian ground April 4

Ingenuity is expected to soar Sunday, April 11 from a 33-by-33-foot piece of Martian real estate that is the first airfield on a another planet

However, a number of factors have to be perfect for the event, including modeling of local wind patterns informed by measurements taken by the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) system aboard Perseverance.

Ingenuity will run its rotors to 2,537 rpm and, if all final self-checks look good, lift off.

The copter will climb about three feet per second (1 meter per second) and once it hits 10 feet (three meters), it will hover in place for 30 seconds before touching back down on the Martian surface.

A twitter user shared the iconic moment between Perseverance and Ingenuity as if the two were saying 'Until we meet again'

This flight, although short, determines if Ingenuity is capable of carrying out the rest of its mission.

NASA likens first flight on another planet s to that of the Wright Brothers first flight on Earth.

Farah Alibay, Mars Helicopter integration lead for the Perseverance rover, said in a briefing last month: 'Most of all I think of it [Ingenuity] as an experimental aircraft and this started with the Wright Brothers who brought aerial mobility to travel here on earth in the same way we are hoping ingenuity on Mars.'

And to commemorate the first flight on Earth, Ingenuity is carrying a piece from the Wright Brothers' plane.

The copter will climb about three feet per second (1 meter per second) and once it hits 10 feet (three meters), it will hover in place for 30 seconds before touching back down on the Martian surface

Several hours after the first flight has occurred, Perseverance will transmit to Earth Ingenuitys first set of engineering data and, possibly, images and video from the rovers Navigation Cameras and Mastcam-Z, a pair of zoomable cameras.

'From the data downlinked that first evening after the flight, the Ingenuity team expects to be able to determine if its first attempt to fly at Mars was a success,' NASA shared in a statement.

'Flight test results will be discussed by the Ingenuity team in a media conference that same day.'
New Jersey has agreed to pay almost $21 million to several women who said they were sexually abused while incarcerated at New Jerseys only womens prison and to other former inmates, officials announced Wednesday.

The agreement still needs approval from a state Superior Court. If that happens, money will also be set aside for former prisoners who have not yet come forward with claims of abuse, said Oliver Barry, an attorney representing women who filed civil lawsuits.

The settlement would provide more than 20 women who said they were sexually abused in recent years with about $9.8 million, according to Barry.

The agreement will also improve conditions at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Hunterdon County by enforcing officers use of body cameras while allowing women to turn the page on this difficult chapter, according to a statement by several lawyers involved in the case.

The head of the state prison system said the settlement represents New Jerseys commitment to running humane facilities.

My administration is ushering in a new era in corrections, with safety and rehabilitation at its core, Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks said in a statement.

The settlement is unrelated to allegations that staff severely beat several women in January, an incident that has led to charges against eight officers, an outside investigation and calls for the commissioner to step down or face impeachment.

Wednesdays announcement came a day before Hicks is scheduled to appear before lawmakers to face questions about the January incident.

State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg told NJ Advance Media the agreement is just further evidence of an institution in crisis where a culture of abuse has been allowed to fester for years.

Weinberg said shes asking state officials to provide more information about officers accused of misconduct and civil lawsuits facing the prison system.

Documents detailing the $20,835,600 agreement were not immediately available.

In addition to the $9.8 million for sexual abuse claims, inmates who suffered verbal harassment could apply for up to $4,500, and other women who have yet to come forward with at least some evidence of sexual abuse would be able to receive up to $250,000, according to Barry.

New cases would eventually be considered by a mediator known as a special master who has not yet been appointed, Barry said.

Furthermore, anyone imprisoned in Edna Mahan from 2014 through the present could be eligible for more than $1,000, regardless of whether they were personally attacked, he said. The settlement would also cover attorneys fees.

The facility began equipping officers with body cameras this month, and state officials continue to negotiate reforms with the federal government since the U.S. Department of Justice found evidence last year of rampant sexual abuse behind bars.

A prison spokeswoman did not immediately respond to questions about the agreement.

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Blake Nelson may be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 17:04:09|Editor: huaxia

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A man walks past the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 6, 2021. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

Noting that a vaccine policy is an economic policy, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that ending the health crisis faster could add almost 9 trillion dollars to global GDP by 2025, yet the window of opportunity is closing.

"Governments must show the same sense of urgency and collaboration to provide vaccines to everyone, everywhere," she said.

WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday urged policymakers to provide flexible support tailored to varied needs across sectors and economies to foster a fair and inclusive recovery of the global economy.

"The good news is that there is light at the end of the tunnel. After the worst global recession since the second world war, the recovery is underway," said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva at a virtual press conference during the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings.

And yet despite a ray of light the crisis continues to cast a dark shadow, Georgieva said.

"Economic fortunes are diverging dangerously. A small number of economies, led by the U.S. and China, are powering ahead -- while poorer countries are falling behind in this multi-speed recovery," Georgieva said.

"We also face extremely high uncertainty, especially over the impact of new virus strains and potential shifts in financial conditions," she continued, adding that there is the risk of further economic scarring.

Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on April 7, 2021 shows a screen displaying International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaking at a virtual press conference during the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings.(Xinhua/Liu Jie)

In order to give everyone a fair shot in recovery, Georgieva said policymakers should support vulnerable households and viable firms amid the crisis, adopt targeted fiscal measures and maintain favorable financial conditions.

Echoing Georgieva, IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department Director Vitor Gaspar said policymakers should offer more targeted support.

"The pandemic has had a disproportionately negative effect on poor people, youth, women, minorities, and workers in low-paying jobs and the informal sector," said Gaspar in a blog co-authored with colleagues on Wednesday.

Gasper said "policymakers should ensure that social protection is available and spending is sustainable over the duration of the crisis by expanding the coverage of social safety nets in a cost-effective way."

He said government could gradually roll back blanket loans and guarantees, and limit public support to circumstances in which there is a clear need for intervention, he said.

A woman receives the COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Blantyre, Malawi, on March. 26, 2021. (Photo by Joseph Mizere/Xinhua)

Both IMF officials called for all countries to have a fair shot at coronavirus vaccines, with availability and pace of inoculation varying widely, hindering an inclusive global economic recovery.

More balanced vaccination campaigns across the world is the "highest return global public investment project," considering an estimated cost per person is about 30 dollars, said Gasper earlier this week in an interview with Xinhua.

Noting that a vaccine policy is an economic policy, Georgieva said that ending the health crisis faster could add almost 9 trillion dollars to global GDP by 2025, yet the window of opportunity is closing.

"Governments must show the same sense of urgency and collaboration to provide vaccines to everyone, everywhere," she said.

A man walks past a closed Tim Hortons coffee shop in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, on March 2, 2021. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

Once the health crisis is over, she said, governments should gradually scale back support programs -- while scaling up targeted hiring subsidies and retraining and reskilling, which is particularly important for young people and women, who have disproportionately suffered in the crisis.

Looking ahead, the focus should be on scaling up public investment -- in green projects and digital infrastructure, in health and education -- to ensure that everyone can benefit from the historic transformation to greener, smarter, and more inclusive economies, Georgieva said.

Countries will need sufficient public revenues and more efficient spending, said the IMF chief. In many cases, this will mean more progressive taxation, and international agreements on questions like minimum taxation for companies, she added. 
New Delhi, April 8 : The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde met on Thursday, but did not finalise any names for appointment of new judges in the apex court.

According to sources familiar with the development, issues in connection with appointments were discussed, but no concrete solution emerged and the meeting remained inconclusive.

No decision was taken on elevation of several contenders, including Tripura High Court Chief Justice Akhil Kureshi and Karnataka High Court's senior judge Justice B.V. Nagarathna, to the top court.

Since the collegium meeting was inconclusive, Chief Justice Bobde, who will retire on April 23, would perhaps become the only Chief Justice, who could not make any recommendation for the elevation of judges to the apex court.

Justice N.V. Ramana, the second senior most judge, was appointed on Tuesday as the next Chief Justice and he will take oath of office on April 24.

It is a convention that after the President names a Chief Justice-designate, all files are routed through them and the incumbent Chief Justice usually stops recommending names for appointment of judges a month before retirement.

After the Centre's notification of Justice Ramana as Chief Justice-designate, the possibility of Chief Justice Bobde making recommendation to the top court seemed bleak. Besides Justice Bobde, the Collegium comprises: Justices Ramana, R.F. Nariman, U.U. Lalit and A.M. Khanwilkar.

The source added that the collegium meeting was scheduled before the issuance of Centre's notification appointing Justice Ramana as Chief Justice. Top court sources said many collegium meetings were held during Justice Bobde's tenure, but due to difference of opinion between him and the other judges, no name were finalised for top court judges.

Of the sanctioned strength of 34 judges, the Supreme Court is currently working with 29 judges with five vacancies.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 8 (ANI/Mediawire): India's topmost hair specialist, Dr Stuti Khare Shukla, popularly called Hair Growth Queen of India, is a new ray of hope for hair loss patients worldwide.

Dr Stuti Khare Shukla's signature non-surgical, Hair Growth Booster is the future Era & replacing Hair Transplant Surgery. Justa 5 minutes non-surgical and exclusive treatment formulated by Dr Stuti for hair growth is a boon for millions who are suffering from baldness & hair loss issues without the need of undergoing any pain related to surgery.

With her phenomenal non-surgical hair regrowth results, Dr Stuti has also received the renowned Power Woman Award in the Medical field of Hair Sciences and the award for excellence in Non-Surgical Hair Restoration in 2020 in India.

Dr Stuti' s academic qualifications include a post-graduation in Dermatology from India, & fourInternational fellowships from top cosmetic Surgeons and famous hospitals around the World. Fellowship in Advanced Skin Health Treatments at Dr ZeinObagi Centre, Los Angeles, USA. Fellowship in Cosmetic Dermatology- Dr Gold Skin Care Centre, Nashville, United States of America.Fellowship in Dermatosurgery- National Skin Centre, Singapore and Fellowship in Lasers- Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok.

Dr StutiKhare Shukla is also the recipient of the Youngest Dermatologist of India in 2017 by the Indian Leadership Conclave.

She returned to India to create a milestone in Hair Growth Treatment. Her Clinics, The Elements of Aesthetics, is a well-established chain of clinics in cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Jabalpur, & Balaghat. Many Centres are being introduced in major cities like Pune, Chennai & Bangalore on popular demand of her treatment.

Dr StutiKhare Shukla's hair growth treatment has received International acclaim & has evolved multiple lives of patients suffering from the most dreadful hair loss issues across the globe. Her patients are not just from all parts of India but she is very popular amongst International patients from the United States, Canada, Australia, Middle East, Asia reach out to her for the finest & trustworthy work she does in non-surgical hair growth treatment. Even during the current pandemic situation, the International patients & patients from all parts of India are availing the best results through her online consultation.

Andrew Henry, a patient once suffering from advanced baldness from New York, USA was so elated with his hair growth treatment. He had lost all hopes until he met Dr Stuti through the online consultation. He says it was a life-changing experience, he could see a great improvement in hair density could restore the hairline in 4 months. Technology has been a boon & many such hair loss patients from all parts of the world, are being successfully treated by her signature non-surgical hair growth treatment through online consultation.

Many patients in whom hair transplantation surgeries cant be performed due to advance baldness are being treated satisfactorily by Dr Stuti'snon surgical hair growth treatment.

Surely she is one of the most sought Doctor for non-surgical hair growth treatment. Cases of the most advanced grade of baldness, hereditary hair loss, very rare genetic hair loss, hormonal & PCOD related hair loss, have been successfully treated by her.

https://youtu.be/QAEJmVGb4Rc

A mother and son, Mrs Laxmi Kurve and Prashant Kurve, who was suffering from a whole-body hair loss problem, shared their emotional story on how Dr Stuti successfully treated their condition within 2 months. "Dr Stuti has been our saviour and Goddess in disguise. We are now living an equally dignified life," said Mrs Kurve.

Dr Stuti continues to be an Active Researcher working with various top scientist and Doctors globally, she published more than 10 International research publications in top American journals and is also a key opinion leader for many International Companies, she has been representing India in International conferences in Paris, Spain & United States.

Dr Stuti's signature Hair growth BoosterTM treatment has also inspired doctors worldwide to train under her. On very popular demand, she is now accepting fellowships requests of many International doctors to train under her in non-surgical hair restoration techniques.

A sneak peek of Dr Stuti'sInstagram @dr.stutikhareshukla shows extraordinary non-surgical hair growth results of patients who fondly call her "Hair Growth Queen" & also lots of happy testimonials from patients. All patients have such positive stories to share, a quick look at her YouTube & instagram confirms this fact. Besides hair growth treatments, she also holds expertise in various skincare, skin conditions, anti ageing & body contouring treatments.

Dr Stuti managed to ensure that her miraculous treatment remains affordable & shows quick results (as soon as 45 days). Dr Stutihas successfully treated 30,000 hair growth. Despite the ongoing pandemic, Dr Stuti is treating patients with utmost dedication & safety, her daily consultation includes 100-120 patients including the in-clinic & online consultations,.with a lot of clientele from overseas countries- USA, UK, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia and European countries who are also availing the benefits of her results through the online consultations, the trust her patients have in her work. With the mark of her enthusiasm towards her job, she is truly changing the lives of patients suffering from hair loss issues globally.

To know more about Dr StutiKhare Shukla treatment, you can visit her Instagram on @dr.stutikhareshukla & to book an appointment to consult her, you can call or preferably WhatsApp on +916261967835

Dr StutiKhare Shukla

MBBS, MD, Dermatologist

Medical Director, Element of Aesthetics Chain of Clinics, India

Fellowship in Advanced Skin Health Care, ZeinObagi Centre, Los Angeles, USA

Preceptorship in Lasers, Gold Skin Care Centre, Nashville, USA

Fellowship in Dermatosurgery, National Skin Centre, Singapore

Fellowship in Cosmetic Dermatology, Lasers, Siriraj University, Bangkok

Phone No/ Watsapp No: +91-6261967835

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrStutiKhareShukla

Instagram page:https://instagram.com/dr.stutikhareshukla

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrStutiKhareShukla/

Website: www.elementsofaesthetics.com

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=4372P8gAAAAJ & hl=en

This story is provided by Mediawire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Mediawire)

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 11:57:54|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, April 7 (Xinhua) -- There has been substantial improvement in humanitarian access in Tigray region in northern Ethiopia, but continued fighting is driving massive displacement, creating a dire situation, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

With active hostilities reported in several parts of Tigray, tens of thousands of people shifted towards urban areas, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

"Some humanitarian partners have accessed the towns of Gijet and Samre, in the southern and southeastern zone, where they report that most of the population has fled," the office said in a release. "The Alamata-Mekelle-Adigrat-Shire road remains partially accessible."

An estimated 2.5 million people in rural areas of Tigray - Ethiopia's northernmost region - have not had access to essential services over the last five months since the conflict began. A recent assessment report said there could be as many as 450,000 displaced people in the town of Shire.

Humanitarian partners face capacity and resource challenges while scaling up the response, which the UN deems inadequate for the estimated 4.5 million people who need life-saving assistance, citing data from the Tigray interim administration.

"More funding is urgently needed to help all affected people," the UN office said. Enditem
Paducah Rape Suspect Appears in Court

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - A man charged with the rape and assault of an elderly woman appeared in court Thursday for an arraignment.The McCracken Circuit Court Clerk said 39-year-old Gary Pugh was arraigned on charges of rape, sexual abuse, assault, and unlawful imprisonment. A jury trial is set for June 7.Pugh was arrested on July 20 after an 80-year-old woman told authorities he showed up at her house and asked to pray with her. Police say he then forced the woman into a bathroom where he physically and sexually assaulted her.
Khloe Kardashian has opened up about why she edits images of herself on social media, and the public scrutiny she endures.

The reality TV star has responded to an unfiltered photo of herself in a bikini posted online by mistake, that she and her team wanted taking down.

The 36-year-old explained on Instagram the unedited image is beautiful, but she has the right to ask for it not to be shared.

She wrote: In truth, the pressure, constant ridicule and judgement my entire life to be perfect and to meet others standards of how I should look has been too much to bear. Khloe is the fat sister. Khloe is the ugly sister. Her dad must not be her real dad because she looks so different The only way she could have lost that weight must have been from surgery. Should I go on?

Kardashian said she isnt asking for sympathy, but added: Its almost unbearable trying to live up to the impossible standards that the public have all set for me.

She wrote: My body, my image and how I choose to look and what I want to share is my choice. Its not for anyone to decide or judge what is acceptable or not anymore, and ended the statement with a direct message to others who might be struggling: For those else who feel the constant pressure of not ever feeling perfect enough, I want you to know I see you and I understand I have realised that we cannot continue to live life trying to fit into the perfect mold of what others have set for us. Just do you and make sure your heart is happy.

Many of us can relate to her words. The pressure to be perfect while being bombarded with images of unrealistic bodies and beauty standards, can be overwhelming, whether youre famous or not.

According to a survey by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF), over a third of UK adults have felt anxious or depressed because of concerns about their body image. Jane Caro, practising psychotherapist and MHF associate director of programmes, says the impact of this pressure to be perfect is huge.

There isnt a magic cure for any of this; we live in a culture that is constantly feeding us these messages about how we should be, and this idea that there is perfection we need to be aiming for  but its just not true, says Caro.

She suggests we take up good self esteem hygiene and look after ourselves on a daily basis

Remind yourself theres no such thing as perfection

One of the most important things is to use the thinking part of your psyche to remind yourself there is no such thing  there is nobody who is perfect, and actually, who wants to spend their whole time trying to get to something youre never going to reach? asks Caro.

This can undoubtedly be tricky, but Caro recommends identifying some of the common thoughts you might have  including, Im not good enough and, Other people are better than me.

You can then start to think it through a little bit and remember that what youre seeing on the surface with other people isnt whats going on, it isnt the whole picture, she explains. Theres literally nobody in the world whos got a perfect life; its not part of what it is to be human  [so its about] reminding yourself of that.

Take back control of social media

According to the MHF, more than one in five UK adults and almost half of 18-24 year olds said social media had made them worry about their body image.

Caro recommends taking back control  perhaps by limiting the time you spend on certain apps, or being conscious of who you follow and how they make you feel. So say you follow somebody on Facebook but every time you go on you feel that persons life is better than yours, or they look absolutely fabulous  remind yourself that what people are posting are the shiny sides of their life, says Caro  everyone experiences their own unhappiness. And its perfectly ok to unfollow or mute them.

Talk about it

If you can, Caro recommends talking to others about your experiences. One of the worst things with this is feeling isolated, she explains. This is such a common feeling, particularly among young people. If you have got somebody  a trusted friend or whatever  you can say: Do you ever go on social media or look at adverts and not feel good enough?

It can be really helpful and really liberating to do that  it reconnects you with the rest of humanity, because were all imperfect.

You can also call Samaritans on 116 123 to talk through anything youre feeling.

Remind yourself what you like about yourself

On a more positive note, try to put more time into thinking what it is you like about yourself, says Caro. It could be part of your physical appearance, but it might be personal qualities.

Its quite superficial being judged by the way we look  its important to remember you might be really kind, really empathic; you might be a great listener or somebody whos fun to be with. Its about trying not to get fixated on only one aspect of who we are as people, and trying to remember youre a whole human being.
The Federal Trade Commission and a big group of US states asked a federal court on Wednesday to deny Facebook Inc's request to dismiss major antitrust lawsuits filed against the social media giant in December.

The FTC, in its filing, said Facebook bought the photo-sharing app Instagram because Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg believed it was "a large and viable competitor" and purchased the messaging app WhatsApp to neutralize a nascent threat. The FTC has asked the court to order Facebook to sell those assets.

The states, which had filed a separate antitrust lawsuit against Facebook, said in its filing: "Deploying a buy-or-bury scheme of predatory acquisitions and exclusionary conduct, Facebook successfully squashes, suppresses, and deters competition, entrenching its monopoly power to this day."

Facebook had asked the court to dismiss the two lawsuits, alleging that they were brought "in the fraught environment of relentless criticism of Facebook for matters entirely unrelated to antitrust concerns."

It also said that the states, in their case, failed to show that they were harmed by Facebook and that they waited too long.

The FTC and states accused Facebook of breaking antitrust law to keep smaller competitors at bay and snapping up rivals, like Instagram for $1 billion in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion.

All told, the federal government and states filed five lawsuits against Facebook and Alphabet Inc's Google last year following bipartisan outrage overuse and misuse of social media clout both in the economy and the political sphere.
[April 08, 2021] Alyce Raises $30 Million Series B to Personalize Corporate Gifting, Scale More Authentic, Less Wasteful Swag and Direct Mail

Alyce, a Personal Experience (PX) platform, today announced a $30 million Series B financing led by General Catalyst with participation from incumbent investors Boston Seed Capital, Golden Ventures, Manifest, Morningside and Victress Capital. The new financing brings Alyce's total funding to date to $48M and fuels the company's rapid growth through R&D, hiring, increased sales and customer support. The company also announced it has added General Catalyst's Executive-in-Residence Lou Shipley to its board and Managing Partner Larry Bohn will become a board observer. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005192/en/ Alyce founder and CEO Greg Segall (Photo: Business Wire) Alyce's leading Personal Experience (PX) platform takes a recipient-first aproach to corporate gifting, swag and direct mail. Its enterprise software-as-a-service ( SaaS (News - Alert) ) platform provides an interactive physical or digital invitation to a virtual marketplace, and a secure redemption process so enterprises can authentically engage with prospects, customers, and employees in a thoughtful, relevant manner.



According to ASI Market Research, enterprises spend upwards of $24.7 billion annually on swag and promotional items. In 2020, the explosive growth of marketing automation coupled with brands doubling down on making digital connections amidst the work from home environment led to customers becoming inundated with generic offerings, digital noise and unwanted invites to virtual events. "As everyone was flooded with spam last year unsubscribing soared. When a prospect opts out, that's forever. It's clear that both brands and customers crave the same thing - a much more purposeful and relatable way to engage," said Greg Segall, founder and CEO of Alyce. "The Alyce platform puts the relationship at the center of every interaction creating authentic moments rather than impersonal 'touches'. Building Personal Experiences are more respectful and sustainable because investments don't end up in landfill or at the bottom of a closet, brands meaningfully connect with prospects or employees, and recipients greatly prefer being given choice. Those connections are what can convert a prospect to a customer."

Not Your Parents' Gifts and Swag Alyce's Swag Select service was designed to appeal to the more than 77% of brands that currently store and ship their own promotional items. The marketplace consists of nearly 10,000 physical products and experiences and relies on AI algorithms to filter and fulfill requests based on recipients' individual interests. Once those are identified and applied, gifts are sent with personal notes and tracked every step through delivery. Integration with CRM, marketing technology such as Marketo (News - Alert) and Vidyard, sales engagement platforms such as Salesforce, Outreach, and Salesloft combined with built-in analytics, enable sales and marketing teams to scale their outreach, pull insights to inform campaigns, outsource inventory management, and offer a wide variety of choices. Recipients can also choose to forgo gifts or swag altogether and donate to a charity of their choice, selecting from more than 1.4 million charities and growing through Alyce's donation marketplace. Contributions grew 157% in 2020 and because the gifts are personal, the platform achieves a 96% delivery rate. The Gift of Growth Since its founding in 2015, Alyce's annual revenue growth has consistently increased, topping 300% year-over-year growth from 2019 to 2020. The company's growing customer base includes Marketo (an Adobe Company), G2 (News - Alert) , Lenovo, Wex, Invision, DialPad, GrubHub, and 6Sense. "At General Catalyst, we are proud to lead the latest round of funding for Alyce as the company has reimagined the gifting category with technology and impact. The ability to deliver products and experiences that both the giver and recipient feel good about is incredibly powerful," said Larry Bohn, Managing Director at General Catalyst. Led by repeat entrepreneur CEO Greg Segall, Alyce's team brings together operational, technical, sales and marketing and customer experience talent. In the past 12 months, the company strengthened its leadership bench with key executive hires including a Chief Operating Officer, Chief Revenue Officer, General Counsel, Head of Marketing and Head of Product. "Alyce has an impressively diverse workforce - nearly 50% of its team is female. The focus on authentic engagement really starts and expands out from its values and inherent culture of responsibility and respect," said Suzanne Norris, Managing Partner of Victress Capital and Alyce board observer and investor. "Greg built Alyce's model not just in response to an immense market need, but to address a bigger societal challenge of reducing waste and encouraging corporations to give back. Alyce helps corporations do so easily, making personalized engagement and human connection part of everyday operations." Alyce is headquartered in Boston and currently has nearly 170 employees across 7 countries. With the new capital, Alyce anticipates it will double its workforce in the next 12 months and continue its international expansion. ABOUT ALYCE Alyce creates authentic, Personal Experience moments through gifting, swag, and direct mail to help businesses grow at scale. As the only Personal Experience (PX) Platform, Alyce bridges the physical and digital worlds to enable Enterprise companies better engage, connect, and convert prospects and customers while delivering measurable results. We are proud and honored to be recognized by our customers 6 quarters in a row as Best Account-based Execution tool as well as recognition as Comparably's Best Company for Women and Best Company Culture, Bostinno's 50 on Fire start-ups, LinkedIn's (News - Alert) Top 50 start-ups of 2020 and Forbes 2021 Best Start-up Employer. ABOUT GENERAL CATALYST General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that invests in powerful, positive change that endures - for our entrepreneurs, our investors, our people, and society. We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond to build companies that withstand the test of time. With offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto (News - Alert) , New York City, and Boston, the firm has helped support the growth of businesses such as: Airbnb, Deliveroo, Guild, Gusto, Hubspot, Illumio, Lemonade, Livongo, Oscar, Snap, Stripe, and Warby Parker. For more: www.generalcatalyst.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005192/en/

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Leadership often involves taking decisions under conditions of great uncertainty and that is true for the task of administering COVID-19 vaccines to 25 million Australians.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison admitted he faced this dilemma this week as health regulators around the world examine potential serious side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine and the country fell 3 million short of its initial goal of vaccinating 4 million people by the end of March with fewer than 1 million vaccinations to date. There is an expectation, I think, of certainty and of guarantees here that the environment does not provide for, Mr Morrison said by way of an explanation.

While the reasons for the delays in vaccinations are complex, the clear result has been frustration and confusion. State health ministers in NSW and Queensland, and many GPs, have complained that they cannot plan staffing and facilities for vaccine programs until they know how much vaccine to expect at least a few weeks ahead. Patients have been asked to make appointments for a vaccination then told no vaccine is available. The federal government, for its part, says it has provided states and GPs with clear plans for how many doses they are receiving and when.

Mr Morrison must take some of the blame for the unrest because he has over-promised but under-delivered and he has not been transparent with the public. While he always qualified his promises about the timetable for vaccination, it was a stretch to claim that Australia was at the front of the queue.

He should not have let his ministers try to shift the blame for the missed deadlines by spreading the furphy that state governments were stockpiling vaccines and failing to administer them. Agriculture minister David Littleproud even told states to pull their finger out.
Florida has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to force the reopening of Floridas cruise industry, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced at a news conference in Miami.

The suit was filed Thursday morning just before the news conference, Attorney General Ashley Moody said.

Moody said the suit challenges the federal governments authority to prevent cruise lines from sailing from Florida ports. She said the administration has been unwilling to discuss how vaccinations and health protocols introduced by the cruise lines have made the CDCs ban on cruising outdated.

DeSantis said that tens of thousands of Florida workers who depend on the cruise lines have been unfairly harmed by the ban, which has been in effect since March 2020.

I dont think the federal government has the right to mothball an industry for more than a year based on very little evidence and very little data, he said.

___

(c)2021 the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Visit the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at www.sun-sentinel.com

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NASA's Ingenuity helicopter is preparing to take its first flight on the surface of Mars.

The 4-pound helicopter, delivered to Mars by the Perseverance rover, could fly on Wednesday (the flight was previously scheduled for Sunday, but NASA pushed back the test). Ingenuity is expected to climb 10 feet above the Martian surface, hover there for up to 30 seconds and then land. Here's five things you need to know about this flight:

This will be the first powered flight on another planet.

In 1985, the former Soviet Union released balloons in the atmosphere of Venus. But there has never been a controlled, powered flight on another planet. It's the Wright brothers moment for Mars. In fact, the helicopter has a tiny piece of fabric from the Wright brothers aircraft that took the first powered, controlled flight on Earth.

Due to the distance, Earth and Mars will be 173 million miles apart causing a 15-minute lag in communications, NASA can't control the helicopter from Earth. It will fly autonomously, taking images of the ground (about 30 images a second) to track features on the planet's surface and see how it's moving. This will be combined with other sensor measurements to make tiny adjustments to its controls (doing this 500 times a second) that should keep it on the trajectory NASA gives it prior to flight.

Flying on Mars will be hard.

To fly, a helicopter must generate lift. It does this on Earth by pushing air with its blades. Well, the atmosphere on Mars is 1 percent the density of Earths atmosphere. There are fewer molecules for the blades to push.

That means the helicopter must be light  on Mars, Ingenuity weighs just 1.5 pounds  and have blades that are much larger and faster than what's required for an Ingenuity-sized helicopter on Earth. The blades will spin about 40 times a second.

It's also very cold. Nights in Jezero Crater, where the helicopter will fly, can be -130 degrees Fahrenheit. Ingenuity was built with off-the-shelf parts, and these extreme temperatures will push its original design limits. Tests on Earth indicate the helicopter should work  and it has already survived a Martian night  but the team won't know for sure until the helicopter takes flight.

However, there is one thing on Ingenuity's side: gravity. On Mars, the gravity is about one-third of Earth's gravity. NASA says that means slightly more mass can be lifted at a given spin rate.

Ingenuity is an experimental flight test.

NASA has set aside one month for this technology demonstration. If the first flight is successful, NASA expects to fly higher and farther on subsequent flights. Its second flight could occur four days after the first flight. Flights after that could be on a three-day cadence. Below is a NASA illustration on what a later flight could look like:

NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA hopes its Perseverance rover will capture images of the flights. Once these are complete, the rover will leave the helicopter and continue its main mission. Perseverance is looking for signs of ancient life. It's collecting rock and soil samples to leave in caches on the planet's surface. Future missions could collect and return these to Earth.

If Ingenuity is successful, helicopters could be part of future Mars exploration plans.

In the future, helicopters could help explore the Martian surface.

"Ingenuity will open new possibilities and will spark questions for the future about what we could accomplish with an aerial explorer," Lori Glaze, director of NASAs Planetary Science Division, said during a news conference. "Could we image areas not visible from space or that a rover couldn't reach, like shadowy craters with seasonal water flow? Could a helicopter scout ahead for rovers and help plot the most efficient course for the best science? Could we support future human missions with aerial capabilities?"

When will we know if the first flight was a success?

The first flight was previously scheduled for Sunday, but NASA has pushed this back. It plans to set a new flight date next week.

The delay was prompted by a high-speed spin test of the helicopter's blades ending early. NASA said a "watchdog timer," which oversees the command sequence controlling Ingenuity and alerts the system to potential issues, ended the test as Ingenuity was trying to transition its flight computer from Pre-Flight to Flight mode.

NASA has identified a software solution and will send this to Ingenuity.

When Ingenuity does launch, NASA should provide a live video as the helicopter team starts receiving data. This will be available at nasa.gov/nasalive.

This article has been updated with the latest information from NASA.
The French anti-terror prosecutors on April 8 said that they would seek charges against an 18-year-old woman accused of plotting a jihadist attack on a church over the Easter weekend. According to the Associated Press, the woman, identified as LB, was arrested over the weekend at her home in Beziers. She was arrested as part of an anti-terrorist investigation into a suspected attack plot targeting the city of Montpellier.

On Thursday, the anti-terror prosecution unit PNAT said that the 18-year-old will now face an anti-terror magistrate on charges belonging to a criminal terrorist conspiracy and possession of explosive devices. In a statement, the unit said that the investigation had been opening following intelligence concerning the threat of an attack on a church over the Easter weekend. Further, PNAT added that during the raid on her home, police had even found an image of Samuel Paty, the schoolteacher who was killed in October 2020 after showing his class cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

PNAT said that they also seized documents describing several plans for violent action, others referring to the Islamic State group and nazism, and a map of a church near her home in the southern city of Beziers. Earlier this week, Mayor Robert Menard had even said that the 18-year-old had boosted to neighbours about watching Islamic State videos.

Terrorist attacks in France

Meanwhile, the row between France and Islamic nations has escalated over President Emmanuel Macron's strong clampdown on terrorism in the nation. The country remains on its highest terror alert following massacres on its territory carried out by Islamist radicals from 2015 and also a series of attacks in late 2020. The attacks included the beheading of a school teacher by a teenager originating from Russias southern region of Chechnya and also the October 29 knife attack on a church in the southern city of Nice by a migrant from Tunisia that left three people dead.

Back then, French President Emmanuel Macron had said that the teacher, Samuel Paty, "was killed because Islamists want their future" strongly declaring that France would "not give up its cartoons". However, in response, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had alleged that Macron "needed treatment" for his mental condition over his crackdown on terrorism, which he said was a crackdown on Islam and Muslims. Pakistan also reacted sharply by even calling back its French envoy while making a laughing stock of itself, as the country doesn't have any envoy in France.

(Image: AP)


COVID-19 FAQ Tackles Vaccine Hesitancy in the Black/African American Community

This week, President Joe Biden is expected to announce every adult in the country will be eligible to be vaccinated by April 19, two weeks ahead of the original May 1 deadline. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 vaccines distribution eligibility expansion, California rates among Black and Brown communities continue to lag in Los Angeles County, one of the hardest-hit regions in California, and this pattern holds throughout the rest of the state. While vaccinations and vaccines acceptance has increased, hesitancy in the Black/African American community continues to be a hurdle. Black Californians are still receiving COVID vaccines at a dramatically lower rate than other demographics. The state is working hard with the media, medical providers and local community groups to educate all Californians about how critically important it is to get vaccinated.

However, decreasing vaccine hesitancy and increasing vaccine uptake among the Black/African American community is crucial to ensuring everyone is able to keep themselves, their families, friends and other loved ones safe.

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The State of California is committed to providing sufficient, transparent and comprehensive information about the vaccines. Below are commonly asked questions and answers on vaccine hesitancy and distribution focused on educating, equipping and empowering the Black/African American community with information to help them understand the vaccines and make an informed decision regarding getting vaccinated.

Vaccine Hesitancy

Q: Of all the vaccinations that have been given to Californians, how many were Black/African Americans?

A: Black and African Americans currently represent 2.9 percent of Californians who have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines. California has been focused on inoculating residents of long-term care facilities and health care workers who can help vaccinate the general population. As we move into vaccinating more eligible Californians in phase two, this number will increase, but we have more work to do.

Q: Can you address the vaccines development where a Black/African American physician was involved?

A: Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett was part of the National Institute of Health team that worked with Moderna, the pharmaceutical company that developed one of the two mRNA vaccines that have been proven to be up to 95 percent effective.

This mRNA, or messenger RNA, form of vaccine helps our cells make a spike protein that acts to trigger an immune response in the system and does not change our DNA. The technology utilized to make these vaccines has been in development for over the past 20 years. It has also been studied for over a decade for effectiveness in influenza, Zika, rabies, and new cancer treatments.

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Q: Which is the more significant barrier to Black Californians getting vaccinated: people not wanting to get vaccinated because of their concerns over vaccine safety, or the access and hesitancy barriers they face to getting vaccinated?

A: The biggest barrier for everyone is simply lack of supply. When there is a lack of supply, those who are most skilled at navigating the system will be more likely to find a way to get access. The state is working to improve access by 1) rolling out the MyTurn system (sign up or call the hotline: 1-833-422-4255) and 2) working with community based organizations to help those who dont have access to the internet. California continues working to allocate specific blocks of appointments so that people with a history of present illnesses can have free access to the vaccines.

Q: What are the best methods to empower highly marginalized Black/African Americans to trust those making decisions and administering the vaccines?

A: We must acknowledge the mistrust and skepticism that exists between many Black/African American people and people of color with the medical community due to historic injustices. But in the case of the COVID-19 vaccines, everyone can be assured it is safe and up to 95 percent effective in providing protection from the deadly virus. Testing of the vaccine was inclusive and showed positive results for all ethnicities and races.

Q: I am fearful Black/African Americans will lose their jobs if they refuse to be vaccinated. Will the vaccine be made mandatory?

A: The vaccine will be available for anyone who wants one and is free of charge. There is no state or federal mandate requiring that individuals receive the vaccine, though doctors believe its a very safe course of action.

Vaccinations provided by FEMA are available at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw mall until April 6th. Appointments are available for eligible individuals through https://myturn.ca.gov/ or by calling 833-422-4255.

For more information on COVID-19 and the vaccines distribution process, please visit www.covid19.ca.gov.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - RT Minerals Corp. (TSXV: RTM) (OTC: RTMFF) (the "Company" or "RTM") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Stew Carmichael as Chief Geologist of the Company.

Mr. Carmichael, P.Geo. has over 35 years experience in the exploration and mining industry and was named the 2006 Ontario Prospector of the Year with Mr. Michael Sutton, P.Geo., for their discovery and delineation of the South Mine Complex at the Macassa Mine, owned by Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. In addition, Mr. Carmichael spent several years at the Armistice Mine project, including underground development and exploration. The Armistice property is located immediately adjacent to the Kerr-Addison Mine near Larder Lake, Ontario.

Mr. Donald (Dan) M. Clark, Chairman-President of RTM, states: "We are pleased to welcome Stew Carmichael into a new and important position of Chief Geologist. He will have oversight over our current Link-Catharine drilling, as well as for the additional 24,536 acres of prospective geology that RTM plans to acquire through its previously announced acquisition of Catharine Gold Inc. Mr. Carmichael has a significant professional background, including having been an integral part of the discovery of a multi-million ounce gold deposit in this region at the South Mine Complex in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. His deep understanding of Archean gold systems as well as the regional geology of this area will greatly benefit RTM's exploration plans moving-forward."

About RT Minerals Corp.

RT Minerals Corp. is a junior exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "RTM". The Company currently has 43,122,988 shares outstanding. RTM holds 100% interest in the Norwalk gold property located near Wawa, Ontario. The Company also holds an option to acquire 100% interest in the Link-Catharine RLDZ gold property with a total area of 544 acres, and subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, RTM will acquire control of a 100% interest in a further 24,536 acres of mining properties (subject to a 2% GSR) that adjoin the RTM Link-Catharine property, through the issuance of 21,000,000 Tier 2 (TSX.V) Surplus Escrow Shares (subject to a 36 month escrow release format) under the proposed acquisition of Catharine Gold Inc., as announced by the Company by news release dated March 24, 2021.

For more information on the Company and its properties, please visit RTM's website at www.rtmcorp.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Donald (Dan) M. Clark

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

RT Minerals Corp.

Telephone: 604-681-3170

Fax: 604-681-3552

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain 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. 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, actual results of the Company's exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. 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 applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79772
The seven-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine appears to be returning to the boil as peace talks break down, heavy weaponry is built up and explosions are documented all along the 250-mile contact line.

The surge has already taken dozens of lives. On the Ukrainian side, at least 27, mostly young soldiers have been killed this year. The numbers of dead on the Russian-backed side are somewhat hazier but the confirmed death of a five-year-old boy in a village near the frontline has understandably raised stakes and emotions.

That tragedy has been a major focus for Russian propaganda foot soldiers, with state media channelling local claims without evidence that a Ukrainian drone was to blame. The same coverage warned Kiev was preparing for a victorious offensive to punish the long-suffering Donbass region, with President Volodymyr Zelensky supposedly responding to domestic political chaos and low poll ratings.

Things look different from a Ukrainian point of view. Mr Zelensky himself has accused Russia of flexing its muscles, amassing a military force on Ukraines borders and stepping up support of anti-Kiev forces in the Donbass region. More excitable local commentators talk of Moscow hatching invasion plans  perhaps under the aegis of rescuing Donbass residents, thousands of whom have been issued Russian passports in recent years.

Judging by the evidence, Russia has not yet mobilised the kind of forces needed for the worse case  invasion past heavily fortified positions. On another hand, it has certainly amassed the means to do serious damage.

Read more:

Investigative bloggers known as the Conflict Intelligence Team have tracked much of the military build-up using verified social media footage.

Ruslan Leviev, the groups head, says the signs on the ground are troubling enough. It is undoubtedly the most substantial military presence on the Ukrainian border since the early battles of 2014-2015, he says  and it supports the US military commands claims of at least 4,000 new soldiers in the region.

President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in the Donetsk region on Thursday (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service)

Mr Levievs team began documenting a military build-up on Russias western border in early February, with military columns and trains travelling to eastern Ukraine and Crimea. Verified footage shows tanks, artillery units, rocket launchers and other heavy machinery making their way from divisions as far away as Siberia.

The researchers have also found evidence of a temporary military field camp near to the border in Voronezh region, with satellite imaging confirming tents, a field hospital, and kitchens. We are sure that there is more than one such camp, Mr Leviev says.

What is less clear is whether the Kremlin has a clear military aim in sight  or whether it is using the show of force as a lever to advance diplomatic efforts elsewhere. The escalation did not happen in a political vacuum, after all. It began at the time of a hostile US president apparently ready to impose damaging new sanctions and awful, deteriorating relations with Ukraine.

Russia has made little secret of its irritation with Kievs stubbornness on peace talks. Moscow insists on the full implementation of the 2015 Minsk agreement, in which the war-torn territories are legalised within the Ukrainian political system following a ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons, amnesty and the return of border control to Ukraine.

But the agreement is highly controversial from the Ukrainian standpoint, given that the full implementation would mean Russia-controlled territories handed a blocking influence on domestic politics. Kiev has been pushing for their amendment.

In February, the already terrible Russia-Ukraine relations took another battering when Volodymyr Zelensky went after Viktor Medvedchuk, Vladimir Putins closest friend in Ukraine. Mr Medvedchuks TV networks, which had been subjecting Mr Zelensky and the Ukrainian army to criticism, were shut down unceremoniously and largely out of the blue. To add insult to injury, Mr Zelensky then stepped up public calls for Nato membership.

Neither Mr Medvedchuk nor Vladimir Putin expected such a radical turn, says Ukrainian political expert Vladimir Fesenko. Zelenskys motivation was simple enough: war is war.

Ukrainian troops maintain tank positions (AFP via Getty)

Vladimir Frolov, a former Russian diplomat, said that Moscows military posturing probably drew directly from such tensions. It looked like a Minsk enforcement operation, he says; a hardline trade looking to coerce Kiev and western partners to implement Minsk on Russian terms.

The one unknown quantity remains Mr Putin, the expert cautions: The force is large and heavy enough to do some ugly stuff if necessary.

A flurry of high-level exchanges between US officials and the Zelensky administration suggests neither is taking the threat lightly. Mr Zelensky was in the region for an unscheduled visit on Thursday.

For the time being, however, most in Kiev appear inclined to file the developments as psychological escalation and bluff.

We understand its about trading by blackmail, one side scaring the other, says Mr Fesenko.

Of course, theres always a risk with such games, as the start of World War One showed.
We will be heading to the polls again on May 18. At that time, we will be asked to vote yes or no to three amendments to our Pennsylvania Constitution. Two of those amendment changes are of great concern to me. They seek to strip the governor of his power to manage emergency declarations, and give that control to the state assembly.

When we have an emergency, immediate action is important. Think of a time when the legislature ever acted quickly. When a hurricane, flood or any disaster happens, you cant wait for a bunch of politicians to argue for several weeks before you can get results. You need one person, a governor, who can cut through the red tape, and get things done.

Vote No to Constitution Amendment Articles III and IV.

Patricia B. Hancock, Mill Hall, Pa.
Commando Balraj Singh did not think twice before taking off his dastar (turban)  an article of Sikh faith  to bandage the wound of his fellow commando even as he himself had sustained injuries while fighting with Maoist insurgents in Chhattisgarh.

Little did Balraj know that his saintly gesture would earn him accolades beyond his or his relative's imagination back home.

On Thursday, there was a mad rush of people coming to Balrajs house to greet his family and congratulate him not only for bravely fighting the insurgents but also willingly taking off his turban for tying on the wound of his fellow soldier Abhishek Pandey who had sustained the injury on foot and was profusely bleeding.

Yadwinder Kaur, wife of Balraj Singh told ZEE News that last Friday she had a dialogue with her husband who told that he was going for night duty. Balraj Singh often arrives back next day by 8 am but on Saturday she couldnt contact him, she informed. Yadwinder said that at around 8.30 pm her husband called from one of his colleagues phone and informed that he had sustained a bullet injury as well as he had tied his turban to stop bleeding of his colleague. It was terrifying to know that he was injured but at the same time I felt proud of his bravery and how he had kept the dignity of his turban by helping a person in need, she said. Kaur said that her husbands act would set an example before others to help mankind.

Ranbir Kaur, the maternal aunt of Balraj Singh said that all the relatives, friends, acquaintances and those little known to the family were coming to their home to congrats the family on the brave as well as generous act of Balraj Singh. "Its nothing less than making a sacrifice for a Sikh to remove his turban  a Sikhs pride," she said.

A trooper of Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) wing, Balraj Singh took off turban to tie it on the wound of his fellow soldier to stop bleeding of his wound during an encounter with Maoists in Bijapurs Tekulguda village in Raipur district of Chattisgarh.

Balraj Singhs mother Harjeet Kaur said that Balraj was the only brother of three sisters and since childhood, he wanted to join army.

She said she was told that he had got himself vaccinated and due to her poor health nobody told her that he had an encounter with the Maoists. Harjit Kaur said ever since she had come to know her sons act of bravery and a pious act of saving someones life even by removing his turban and tying on his colleagues wound, the family had been receiving congratulatory messages from known and even strangers.

President of the village Gurdwara and member of village Panchayat Captain Surjit Singh (retired) said that it was a festive atmosphere in the village as they were preparing to receive Balraj Singh who was arriving on leave.

Heaping praise upon Balraj Singh, he said a Sikh never let anyone remove his turban and instead, protect it with his life but Blaraj didnt think twice before he removed it and tied it on the wound of an injured soldier.

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SPRINGFIELD  Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal compared Thursday the relief money the city expects from the recently passed American Rescue Plan to the $90 million in disaster recovery funds the city received in the wake of a June 2011 tornado.

At a news conference in City Hall, Sarno said the goal is the same now as it was a decade ago, to  in the words of President Joe Biden  build back better.

The city of Springfield is in line for between $97.5 million and $127.3 million from the American Rescue Plan passed last month. The number will vary according to how the state divides up money earmarked for county government. County government in Massachusetts is extinct.

The Springfield school system is in line for $189 million.

Mayors have an interesting perspective. Because many times you have the ear, the pulse of the neighborhoods and what the needs are, Sarno said to Neal, once also a mayor of Springfield. Anytime I called, or we met or spoke on the phone, he was always there for my cabinet heads.

Declining to give specifics, Sarno gave a broad outline of how the money will be used. The only federal rules the city knows of now are that it cannot be used to lower taxes and cannot be put towards pension liability.

This will allow mayors, department heads , select board members, town managers to fulfil long-dreamed of opportunities, Neal said.

The tornado relief money went to parks, streets, intersections, the South End Community Center, the Clifford Phaneuf environmental center at Forest Park and for major renovations to the former Army Reserve Center for the police and other projects.

Chief administrative and financial officer Timothy J. Plante outlined the financial impact of the pandemic. The city has spent $35.4 million and has lost $9 million to $10 million in revenues, a number that keeps growing.

So the city will spend on capital construction projects, will continue to aid businesses and nonprofits, support housing programs that help residents impacted by the pandemic, pay rent, mortgage and utilities. The city will use the money for job creation, economic development, Sarno said.

We will use it wisely, Sarno said.

Schools Superintendent Daniel Warwick said the $189 million  which will be available over a few years  will enhance technology opportunities for Springfield students.

Urban schools have been underfunded for as long as I can remember, Warwick said. We need to take our students into the future. A lot of our students in the urban center dont have access to broadband.

Expanded broadband internet service is one facet of the new $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan introduced by Biden after the passage of the American Rescue plan.

Neal said hes in daily contact with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on what he says will be a successful effort to pass that plan.

Neals Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction tax policy, that means hell write the bill to get the money. Biden has proposed raising corporate tax rates from 21% to 28%.

The president has indicated there is some room to negotiate, Neal said. The other side has to negotiate.

Related content:
People form a human chain under the motto "The Baltic Way - It's Us" from Gediminas Tower to the City Limits to support Hong Kong pro-democracy activists in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Aug. 23, 2019. (Petras Malukas/AFP via Getty Images)

Lithuania to Leave CCPs 17+1 and Open Trade Office With Taiwan

As a member state of NATO, Lithuania has taken a firm stance against the challenges presented by the Chinese regime when it announced in February it will leave the Chinese-organized 17+1 summit and announcing it will open a trade office in Taiwan.

Why is a small middle-income EU country so keen to challenge giants like Russia and China? Konstantin Eggert questioned in a commentary in Deutsche Welle (DW) on April 5.

The Baltic countrys decision to leave the Beijing-sponsored 17+1 format is a reminder of what trans-Atlantic solidarity will mean in the 21st century, the political analyst answered.

As a member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Lithuania tries to build strong relations with its NATO allies, especially U.S., Poland, Baltic, and Nordic states, the government announced on Feb. 24.

A car operating for Google Street stands in front of the Vilnius Cathedral in Vinius, Lithuania, on June 7, 2012. (Petras Malukas/AFP via Getty Images)

Leaving the 17+1 summit and opening a trade office in Taiwan are against the interests of the Chinese regime, the worlds second-largest economy, which might retaliate.

Beijing treats Taiwan as a breakaway province and interferes with Taiwans diplomatic contacts with other countries, despite the fact that the self-ruled island has its own military, democratically-elected government, and constitution.

Lithuanian media reported that other European countries were also planning to leave the summit.

The 17+1 summit, also called Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (China-CEE), is a platform that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched in 2012 to promote its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and other agendas in Europe via the 17 central and eastern European countries.

BRI, previously known as One Belt, One Road, is a massive global investment strategy started by the CCP aimed at bolstering its economic and political influence across Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. The initiative has been criticized as an example of debt trap diplomacy, as it saddles developing countries with unsustainable debt burdens while allowing the regime to export its technology and governance abroad.

A car operating for Google Street view stands in front of the St Annes Church in Vilnius, Lithuania, on June 7, 2012. (Petras Malukas/AFP via Getty Images)

Leave 17+1

Lithuanias parliament agreed in February to leave the 17+1 summit. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said it had brought almost no benefits to the region.

Andreea Brinza, vice president of the Romanian Institute for the Study of the Asia-Pacific, writing in The Diplomat said the 17+1 mechanism has transformed into a zombie mechanism.

Many state-owned enterprises in China are considered zombie enterprises because they dont generate a profit, and they are instead maintained by financial transfers from the state. Her reference to the zombie mechanism emphasizes that the Chinese regime didnt fulfill its investment and purchasing promises.

Zygimantas Pavilionis, the chairman of Lithuanias parliamentary committee on foreign affairs that recommended the nation withdraw from the 17+1 told local media LRT.It, China has aimed to take over strategic infrastructure in various countries.  Why should we embroil ourselves in these risks?

On March 3, Landsbergis told local media that Lithuania wanted to review its relations with China based on respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

He explained that the 17+1 summit is not useful for Europe. Its dividing Europe, because some countries have a different opinion on China than others.  Lithuania needs to see what is the best way for Lithuanias interests to be reflected.

The same day, the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation announced that the country would open a trade representation office in Taiwan in 2021.

A street in the Uzupis neigbourhood in Vilnius, Lithuania, amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on Sept. 28, 2020. (Lukovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images)

The Chinese embassy to Lithuania revealed in its 2020 investment handbook that China imported 367 million euro ($437 million) in goods from Lithuania in 2019, while it exported 1.43 billion euro ($1.699 billion) in goods to Lithuania. It also said that Chinas trade surplus with Lithuania has been increasing year by year over the past five years.

China invested 19.53 million euro ($23.18 million) in Lithuania in 2020, which is lower than the 24.33 million euro ($28.33 million) investment in 2019. That compares to Swedens 2020 investment in Lithuania of 13.556 billion euro ($16.09 billion), the Netherlands investment of 9.43 billion euro ($11.19 billion), and the United Statess investment of 1.14 billion euro ($1.35 billion), according to the Bank of Lithuania.

A car operating for Google Street drives through the old town in Vilnius, Lithuania, on June 7, 2012. (Petras Malukas/AFP via Getty Images)

Attention From US

In the NATO 2030 report that was published on Nov. 25, 2020, NATO described China (pdf) as a full-spectrum systemic rival, because China is expanding its military reach into the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Arctic; deepening defense ties with Russia; and developing long-range missiles and aircraft, aircraft carriers, nuclear-attack submarines with global reach, extensive space-based capabilities, and a larger nuclear arsenal.

NATO vowed in the report to provide a position of security and strength to contribute to Allies relations with China and guard against any attempts by Beijing to employ coercion against them before 2030.

Last year Lithuania endorsed a plan to ban Huawei in its 5G telecommunication network, and it even announced in November 2020 that it would replace all 4G equipment from Huawei.

In January, Lithuania blocked Chinese firm Nuctech from supplying airport scanners for its three international airports over national security concerns.

By being firm and standing up to the CCP, Lithuania punches well above its political weight and secures attention in Washington, Eggert wrote.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
After more than two months of living in temporary housing, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband are moving this week into the official vice presidential residence on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington after some repairs were completed. (April 7)

Video Transcript

PHILIP DUFOUR: The official name is The Vice President's Residence and it's on the grounds of the US Naval Observatory. So it's actually a house that's owned by the Navy. So they are actually the landlords. It's a Queen Anne style Victorian house.

KAMALA HARRIS: Upon which I am about to enter.

PHILIP DUFOUR: For the vice president, she will get to leave the White House every day and go home to this beautiful property. It's 13 acres inside the fence. There's this beautiful wide veranda that was typical of those Victorian houses.

The Mondale's were the first to live there, 1974. So it's been lived in continuously ever since. It is a typical Victorian home. It's a lot of smaller rooms. It's not a small home by any means, but it's not as big as most people think. It's a great home. It really is a home. It's as much as the White House is stunning and beautiful, this is a place that really becomes the home for the vice president and their families.

I think they will discover how to use it as a home. I think just like the Gore's and the Biden's and the Cheyney's, everyone who has lived there. I think once they settle in it truly becomes their home and it is a wonderful-- wonderful place.
NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestmentNews' ESG Clarity US and its parent organization Bonhill PLC will launch the inaugural Global ESG Summit, streaming live across four time zones on May 27, 2021.

InvestmentNews, Bonhill PLC and the UN Capital Development Fund to Launch Inaugural Global ESG Summit

Partnering with the United Nations and featuring UN Capital Development Fund executive secretary Preeti Sinha as a keynote speaker, each event stream will be tailored regionally across Asia, UK, Europe and the US.

Each regional stream will bring together ESG experts, fund managers, asset owners and data specialists to educate and inform financial advisers and investors across the US, Asia, the UK, and Europe. The program has been designed to help a global audience of professional financial intermediaries, including fund selectors and fund buyers, cut through the noise and gain tangible insights on how to integrate ESG products and principles into their business models and investment solutions.

"This is the ESG event for investors across the globe. The team has worked extremely hard to coordinate timings, panels, discussion topics and speakers for each region to create an informative and educational virtual event for fund buyers and selectors," said Patrick Ponsford, Managing Director at Bonhill's Last Word Media.

Through a combination of independent speakers, adviser views and panel discussions, the ESG Summit will offer some 'clarity' in a complex ESG world to fund selectors and advisers across ESG Clarity, InvestmentNews, Portfolio Adviser, Fund Selector Asia, Expert Investor, and International Adviser.

"The United Nations Capital Development Fund is delighted to partner with InvestmentNews and Bonhill on the inaugural Global ESG Summit in May," said Esther Pan Sloane, head of partnerships, policy and communications at UNCDF. "Capital markets are playing an increasingly critical role in Sustainable Development Goal achievement, particularly for the goal of supporting promising projects in the least developed countries that have both development impact and financial viability. The consistent growth in ESG investing shows the demand for more information and options in this space."

Earlier this year, Bonhill reaffirmed its commitment to dedicated ESG content via its suite of publications, including ESG Clarity in Europe, US and Asia, by enhancing editorial resources, delivering events and sponsored content projects, through social media initiatives, bespoke research and interaction with our audience through a range of multi-media. The Global ESG Summit was born from the creation of the specialist global ESG taskforce, led by Ponsford, and is part of an exciting program of ESG solutions.

If you are an investment manager and are interested in taking part in the event please contact Gareth.Wilde@lastwordmedia.com.

Register for the ESG Global Summit at www.global-esg-summit.com.

About InvestmentNews

Bonhill Group PLC's InvestmentNews (IN) is the most trusted resource for Financial Advisers. IN connects buyers and sellers who are decision makers in the financial services industry and influence over $23T in AUM through multiple media channels including online destinations, magazines, events, research, and data. Learn more at www.InvestmentNews.com.

About Bonhill Group

Bonhill Group PLC is a leading B2B media company providing Business Insight, Events and Data & Analytics propositions to international Technology, Financial Services and Diversity Business Communities.

The portfolio includes iconic media brands 'Last Word Media', 'Information Age', 'Investment News' as well as the widely recognised events and award ceremonies, including 'The Women in IT Summit and Awards Series, 'The Women in Finance Summit and Awards Series, 'Tech Leaders Awards' and 'Future Stars of Tech'.

Media Contact:Katie DowneyInvestmentNewskdowney@investmentnews.com 212-850-7608

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/investmentnews-bonhill-plc-and-the-un-capital-development-fund-to-launch-inaugural-global-esg-summit-301265437.html

SOURCE InvestmentNews
Zurich Insurance and Farmers Exchanges have closed on buying MetLifes U.S. property/casualty business for $3.94 billion.

The business acquired includes 2.4 million MetLife Auto & Home policies, $3.6 billion of net written premiums (2019) and 3,500 employees, according to Zurich.

The deal provides the Farmers brand an opportunity to gain more of a national presence and strengthen its position a major personal lines carriers in the U.S.

Jeff Dailey, chief executive officer for Farmers Group, called the deal a milestone in his companys nearly 100-year history. He said Farmers-branded products will now be available nationwide, providing consumers from coast to coast with more choices and opportunities to engage with Farmers when shopping for auto and home coverage.

It is an acquisition that complements very wellwhat we see on the commercial side where the market is hardening, Zurich Chief Executive Officer Mario Greco said last December in announcing the deal. Reuters was the first to report on Nov. 20 that Zurich was in talks to buy the MetLife business.

The Swiss insurer was to contribute $2.43 billion to the deal through its Farmers Group Inc (FGI) unit, while the Farmers Exchanges will contribute $1.51 billion, Zurich said.

MetLife President and CEO Michel Khalaf said the sale would allow the life insurer to focus on its core strengths.

The MetLife Auto & Home policies will remain the same other than being rebranding with the Farmers name, according to the company.

As part of the transaction, the Farmers Exchanges entered into a 10-year exclusive distribution agreement with MetLife to offer Farmers personal lines products on MetLifes U.S. Group Benefits platform, which reaches 3,800 employers and approximately 37 million eligible employees.

Farmers Group was acquired by Zurich Financial Services in 1998.

The Farmers Exchanges are three reciprocal insurers (Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange) owned by their policyholders, and together with their subsidiaries and affiliates comprise the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies. Farmers Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide administrative and management services to the Farmers Exchanges.

Topics Mergers Auto Agribusiness
MONTREAL, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Dollarama Inc. (TSX: DOL) ("Dollarama" or the "Corporation") announced today that three insiders, namely GRI Investments Inc., a private corporation controlled by the Rossy family, The Rossy Foundation, and Neil Rossy, have agreed to sell respectively 618,369, 1,205,066 and 376,565 common shares of Dollarama in block trades to a financial institution, representing an aggregate of 2,200,000 common shares of Dollarama.

Once the trades are settled, GRI Investments Inc. will hold 3,646,245 common shares, The Rossy Foundation will hold 7,127,657 common shares, and Neil Rossy will hold personally 2,313,183 common shares (in addition to 384,000 options vested and exercisable), representing, in aggregate, 13,087,085 common shares or approximately 4.2% of the Corporation's total number of common shares issued and outstanding.

Proceeds from the sale of shares by The Rossy Foundation will be used to fund existing commitments to charitable organizations. The decision by GRI Investments Inc. and Neil Rossy to sell a portion of their holdings in Dollarama was made for financial diversification purposes. Trades are expected to close on or about April 12, 2021.

About Dollarama

Dollarama is a recognized Canadian value retailer offering a broad assortment of consumable products, general merchandise and seasonal items both in-store and online. Our 1,356 locations across Canada provide customers with compelling value in convenient locations, including metropolitan areas, mid-sized cities and small towns. Select products are also available, by the full case only, through our online store at www.dollarama.com . Our quality merchandise is sold at select, fixed price points up to $4.00.

Dollarama also owns a 50.1% interest in Dollarcity, a growing Latin American value retailer. Dollarcity offers a broad assortment of consumable products, general merchandise and seasonal items at select, fixed price points up to US$3.00 (or the equivalent in local currency) in El Salvador and Guatemala and up to the equivalent of US$4.00 in local currency in Colombia through its 264 conveniently-located stores.

About The Rossy Foundation

The Rossy Foundation is a Montreal-based private foundation that was established in 2004. Its mission is to contribute to civil society and to improve the lives of Canadians with a focus on cancer care, mental health, civic engagement, education and the arts. It is committed to supporting the vibrancy of Montreal and also funds charitable organizations across Canada and internationally within its areas of focus.

SOURCE Dollarama Inc.

Related Links

www.dollarama.com


MONTREAL - Quebec will bring back an 8 p.m. curfew in the Montreal area and extend a lockdown order in three cities and one region as it tightened COVID-19 restrictions Thursday for the second time in three days.

A member of the medical staff draws serum from an AstraZeneca vaccine container at a vaccination centre in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, April 7, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Vadim Ghirda

MONTREAL - Quebec will bring back an 8 p.m. curfew in the Montreal area and extend a lockdown order in three cities and one region as it tightened COVID-19 restrictions Thursday for the second time in three days.

Beginning Sunday, people in Montreal and its northern suburb of Laval will have to remain at home from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. or face fines of more than $1,000, Premier Francois Legault said in Montreal. The curfew in that region currently starts at 9:30 p.m.

Legault said he is imposing the health order on Montreal and Laval as a preventive measure despite the fact new, daily COVID-19 cases in the region have been stable. He said health officials are near-unanimous that the heavy presence of virus variants will soon cause cases to rise rapidly in the densely populated area.

"Like many places in the world, we have to bring back restrictions," Legault said, adding that the curfew will help the government control people's movements and reduce transmission. The government has only offered circumstantial evidence indicating a curfew is successful at slowing the spread of COVID-19.

"Our challenge is to find a balance between mental and physical health, and there is no magical recipe to succeed against the pandemic," he said. Asked how long the curfew will remain at 8 p.m., Legault said: "until further notice."

Last week, Legault placed Quebec City, Levis and Gatineau under the earlier curfew. He did the same on Monday for several municipalities in Quebec's Beauce region. The government also closed schools and non-essential businesses in those areas, and Legault announced Thursday that the measures would be prolonged until at least April 18.

On Tuesday, Legault announced that gyms in COVID-19 red zones, including Montreal, had to close effective Thursday and places of worship had to limit attendance to 25 people.

Quebec reported 1,609 new infections Thursday, the highest daily tally since Jan. 21. The Quebec City region had the most new cases, with 436  a 74 per cent increase from the previous day.

"People must be prudent because the virus is circulating enormously with the variants," Annie Ouellet, a spokeswoman for the Quebec City health authority, said Thursday.

She said Quebec City had conducted 5,044 tests in the past 24 hours  a record. The positivity rate is 7.9 per cent, up from around five per cent in the last week.

The province now has 11,452 active reported cases. Montreal had 370 new cases Thursday, Chaudiere-Appalaches reported 179 while the Outaouais reported 165. Authorities also reported a 23-patient jump in hospitalizations, for a total of 566, including 132 people in intensive care  nine more than a day earlier.

Legault said there are no plans to close schools outside of the four hot spot regions, but didn't rule it out. The situation would have to be "severe" to shutter schools in Montreal and Laval, he said.

"We hope that we don't need to close the schools until the end of June, but it can happen," Legault said. "At this point, we don't know, nobody knows."

The grim numbers came as the province pushed ahead with expanded vaccinations, leading to long lineups outside some vaccine sites early Thursday as walk-in clinics opened offering the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to those 55 and older.

In Quebec City, officials said all doses available at two AstraZeneca vaccination clinics were accounted for within the first hour.

"The response was exceptional, some people were there very early, at 4:15 a.m.," Ouellet said.

Jean Nicolas Aube, a spokesman for the health authority running the mass vaccine site at Montreal's Palais des congres, said demand appeared to be strong, with lines beginning to form 90 minutes before the facility opened.

Early Thursday afternoon, there was a steady flow of people waiting in the atrium of the convention centre to be ushered into the vast vaccination site upstairs.

Richard Cormier, 56, said he felt great after rolling up his sleeve for a shot of AstraZeneca.

I feel its my obligation to get vaccinated for society, my family and myself as quickly as possible, he said.

Bertrand Cesvet, also 56, said he wanted to get the shot not only to protect himself and others, but to set an example for people who might be hesitant. He said he hadnt been swayed by reports of rare side-effects associated with AstraZeneca in younger people.

I believe in science, and I think the data is in favour of this vaccine, he said.

Currently, the AstraZeneca vaccine is only available to those between the ages of 55 and 79, after the government suspended its use in younger people over concerns about rare but serious blood clots.

Health officials also reported nine more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus Thursday. They said the province administered 47,769 doses of vaccine Wednesday, for a total of 1,685,046, just shy of 20 per cent of the population.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 8, 2021.

 With files from Morgan Lowrie
The former governor for Nairobi County Dr Evans Kidero is under complete isolation after he tested positive for Covid-19.

Kidero on Wednesday said he developed Covid-19 like symptoms days after he was vaccinated against the virus.

Fellow Kenyans, I got vaccinated against Covid-19 last Monday (29/03/2021) which was followed by Covid-19 like reaction three days later, the former county chief wrote in a post on Facebook.

After developing the reaction, Kidero and his family got tested for the virus; the politician was the only one who tested positive.

Everybody else is negative except me. I am proceeding on total and complete isolation for the next two weeks, said Kidero.

The Homa Bay County gubernatorial hopeful further advised those who might have come into contact with him to get tested as soon as possible.

Kidero also urged Kenyans at large to keep observing the COVID containment measures to help curb the spread of the virus.

Its my appeal to Kenyans to continue observing the ministry of health protocols on Covid; wear masks, wash hands with soap and clean, flowing water, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers and get vaccinated, he concluded.
The Irish Wheelchair Association branch in Co Leitrim, has become the latest beneficiary of Aldis Community Grants programme, with the charity receiving a 500 grant from the Aldi store team in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Aldis Community Grants programme helps fund local charities and organisations that contribute vital work and services in their local communities. Each local charity supported is chosen by Aldi employees, enabling them to help the local good causes they are passionate about.

The programme has contributed to 750 local projects to date, donating over 375,000 since 2016.

Commenting, John Curtin, Group Buying Director, Aldi Ireland said: We are very proud to have been able to contribute to supporting local charities across the country through the Aldi Community Grants programme and were pleased to see the impact of our donation in the local communities for County Leitrim.

The Community Grants programme is one example of how Aldi is committed to investing and partnering with local communities and charities across Ireland and we look forward to continuing this engagement into 2021.

Operating one store in County Leitrim, Aldi is deeply involved in the local community. To date throughout Ireland, Aldi has donated a total of 2.6m worth of meals to FoodCloud, over 20,000 in vouchers to Barnardos for vulnerable families (since our partnership launch in October 2020) and 375,000 to the Community Grants programme since 2016 and helped raise over 1.5m since partnering with the Irish Cancer Society in 2016.
InvestmentNews, Bonhill PLC and the UN Capital Development Fund to Launch Inaugural Global ESG Summit Tweet this

Each regional stream will bring together ESG experts, fund managers, asset owners and data specialists to educate and inform financial advisers and investors across the US, Asia, the UK, and Europe. The program has been designed to help a global audience of professional financial intermediaries, including fund selectors and fund buyers, cut through the noise and gain tangible insights on how to integrate ESG products and principles into their business models and investment solutions.

"This is the ESG event for investors across the globe. The team has worked extremely hard to coordinate timings, panels, discussion topics and speakers for each region to create an informative and educational virtual event for fund buyers and selectors," said Patrick Ponsford, Managing Director at Bonhill's Last Word Media.

Through a combination of independent speakers, adviser views and panel discussions, the ESG Summit will offer some 'clarity' in a complex ESG world to fund selectors and advisers across ESG Clarity, InvestmentNews, Portfolio Adviser, Fund Selector Asia, Expert Investor, and International Adviser.

"The United Nations Capital Development Fund is delighted to partner with InvestmentNews and Bonhill on the inaugural Global ESG Summit in May," said Esther Pan Sloane, head of partnerships, policy and communications at UNCDF. "Capital markets are playing an increasingly critical role in Sustainable Development Goal achievement, particularly for the goal of supporting promising projects in the least developed countries that have both development impact and financial viability. The consistent growth in ESG investing shows the demand for more information and options in this space."

Earlier this year, Bonhill reaffirmed its commitment to dedicated ESG content via its suite of publications, including ESG Clarity in Europe, US and Asia, by enhancing editorial resources, delivering events and sponsored content projects, through social media initiatives, bespoke research and interaction with our audience through a range of multi-media. The Global ESG Summit was born from the creation of the specialist global ESG taskforce, led by Ponsford, and is part of an exciting program of ESG solutions.

If you are an investment manager and are interested in taking part in the event please contact [email protected].

Register for the ESG Global Summit at www.global-esg-summit.com.

About InvestmentNews

Bonhill Group PLC's InvestmentNews (IN) is the most trusted resource for Financial Advisers. IN connects buyers and sellers who are decision makers in the financial services industry and influence over $23T in AUM through multiple media channels including online destinations, magazines, events, research, and data. Learn more at www.InvestmentNews.com .

About Bonhill Group

Bonhill Group PLC is a leading B2B media company providing Business Insight, Events and Data & Analytics propositions to international Technology, Financial Services and Diversity Business Communities.

The portfolio includes iconic media brands ' Last Word Media ', ' Information Age' , ' Investment News ' as well as the widely recognised events and award ceremonies, including ' The Women in IT Summit and Awards Series , ' The Women in Finance Summit and Awards Series , ' Tech Leaders Awards ' and ' Future Stars of Tech' .

Media Contact:

Katie Downey

InvestmentNews

[email protected]

212-850-7608

SOURCE InvestmentNews

Related Links

https://www.investmentnews.com


The Madras High Court on Thursday advised the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to improve its infrastructure, saying that the fee collected by the latter at toll plazas in Tamil Nadu was high as compared to the facilities provided.

The two-judge bench comprising of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy noted that the introduction of FASTag has not reduced the congestion at toll plazas in Tamil Nadu. The two-judge bench made the observation while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Tiruchirappalli-based advocate A Joseph Sahayaraj.

FASTag is a computerised toll collection system put in place by the central government.

The PIL seeks to restrain NHAI from collecting further toll fees from vehicles going past Paranur toll plaza on the Tambaram-Tindivanam stretch, stating that the concession agreement has already expired.

The petitioner's counsel told the judges that NHAI was entitled to collect only 40 per cent as per Rule 6 ((6)(b)) of NH Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. Only a provisional completion certificate had been issued for the plaza. However, it was allowed to collect full toll. It glaringly exposed very many deficiencies in service, he added.

"There has to be some amount of infrastructural set up prior to introducing FasTag," the bench said, adding that it has resulted in the plazas remaining inaccessible to many and congestion at plazas.

The court adjourned the matter by two weeks.

Also Read: NHAI files draft papers with SEBI for InVIT to raise Rs 5,100 crore
Experience does not always count for much with ageist employers, but some corporations are discovering what many have been missing.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has introduced a career comeback program which is relaunching the careers of women who have taken long breaks from the workplace. In doing so, it is angling for a competitive edge by expanding the diversity and maturity of its workforce.

Kirsten Miller and Jane Absolum are in the first intake of the new CBA program and say it has provided the level of support and confidence they needed to reboot their careers.

Associate director of client analytics, Jane Absolum (left) and associate director of corporate governance, Kristen Miller, of Commonwealth Bank in Sydney. Credit:James Alcock

Ms Miller, 47, is working in corporate governance at the bank. She worked as a corporate lawyer in Sydney and London before moving to the US with her husband at the end of 2006 for eight years when she had three children.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

The Air Forces newest, state-of-the-art combat search-and-rescue helicopter has been putting in some serious miles in New Mexico skies in recent months.

The HH-60W  which bears two names, the Jolly Green II and the Whiskey  arrived at Kirtland Air Force Base late last year. And it quickly become part of the local skyline.

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................................................................

The aircraft has been making about eight training flights out of Kirtland per week, said Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Stewart of the 58th Operations Group. Pilots are also using an HH-60W flight simulator on base nearly every day.

The Whiskey can carry more weight, fly longer and higher, and has significantly upgraded avionics compared to its predecessor, the HH-60G Pave Hawk, Stewart said.

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., visited the base Tuesday to see both the new training simulator and the helicopter, which is the first of what is expected to be a dozen or so that will ultimately be based at Kirtland. Base officials are expecting a couple more Whiskies next month.

Heinrich said hes been working to bring the aircraft to Kirtland for years. Journal reports from 2014 said Heinrich was pushing against terminating the helicopters replacement program, which at one point was being considered.

Kirtland, home to the 58th Special Operations Wing, is a training ground for Air Force combat search-and-rescue operations.

Its just really gratifying to finally see the Whiskies start to arrive. Its a project weve been working on for a really long time and it fills a unique need in the search-and-rescue mission, Heinrich said in an interview. Its a huge part of our economy, and its also part of the culture of this state. Weve had so many important training missions over the years.

Heinrichs tour included a stop inside the flight simulator.

For security reasons, Air Force officials do not allow the training device to be photographed. But Heinrich visited a secure building with high ceilings on base, where the boxy flight simulator  it looks like a tricked-out virtual ride at an amusement park  hovers off the ground and is accessed by stairs.

Inside, the simulator has four chairs for the helicopter pilots and backup pilots who handle the weapons systems. Guns can be mounted on both sides of the aircraft.

Instead of windows, there are large screens in the simulator that, on Tuesday, when the senator visited, showed an airport runway on a sunny day. Stewart said that can change to simulate easy flying on a clear day, raging storms or heated battles.

The simulators basic flying and combat flying (training scenarios) are based off things that weve seen, Stewart said.

Missing from the simulator, the real Whiskey also has space for two or three pararescue specialists who can provide care to service members scooped up during a search-and-rescue mission.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin company, in 2014 received a $1.28 billion engineering, manufacturing and development contract to create the HH-60W.

Lockheed Martins website says the Air Force is calling for 113 of the helicopters.

A Lockheed Martin spokesperson said the company has so far delivered five system demonstration test articles and three engineering and manufacturing development aircraft to Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, and to Kirtland.

The company has so far been awarded two contracts valued at more than $1 billion to build 22 of the helicopters and production is underway. Lockheed Martin expects a third contract for another 19 helicopters later this year, the spokesperson said in an email.

Kirtland Air Force Base officials said it remains to be seen how many permanent jobs on base will materialize as a result of training on the new aircraft.
TORONTO - The federal government's proposed gun-control laws are "toothless and cowardly," victims of gun violence in Ontario said Thursday.

A man stands at a makeshift memorial remembering the victims of a shooting on Sunday evening on Danforth Avenue, in Toronto on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. Danforth Families for Safe Communities have written a letter to Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair saying the Liberal government's proposed gun-control laws are toothless. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch

TORONTO - The federal government's proposed gun-control laws are "toothless and cowardly," victims of gun violence in Ontario said Thursday.

The Danforth Families for Safe Communities advocacy group as well as other families affected by gun violence sent a letter to Public Safety Minister Bill Blair outlining their disappointment as the national Liberal convention gets underway this week.

The group of victims and families affected by Toronto's Greektown mass shooting that left two dead and 13 hurt say the government's plan to allow municipalities to ban handguns should be scrapped and replaced with a federal law banning handguns outright.

"The handgun piece is just a disaster, it's an abdication of their responsibilities," said Ken Price, whose daughter, Samantha, was injured after being shot on July 22, 2018 by a young man on a rampage.

Bill C-21 would give municipalities discretion to ban handguns, if they choose, through bylaws restricting their possession, storage and transportation.

It also proposes a buyback of many recently banned firearms that the government deems to be assault-style weapons, but owners would be allowed to keep them under strict conditions.

The group said Blair, a former Toronto police chief, failed by not delivering a stronger handgun ban.

While the group applauded the federal government for banning military-style rifles, it slammed the optional "buyback" program.

"You must do better," the families wrote to Blair.

Gun violence continues to worsen in Canada.

The rate of violent gun offences increased for a fifth straight year in 2019, according to a 2020 Statistics Canada report.

In Toronto, the number of people killed or injured by guns has increased significantly since 2015, when the Liberals came to power. That year, 24 people died after being shot and 126 people were injured after 288 total shootings.

In 2020, 39 people died and 178 others hurt in 462 shootings in Toronto.

Those who wrote to Blair also criticized a proposed "red flag" portion of the legislation that would allow residents to seek a court order to have someone's guns seized if they think that person is a threat to public safety. The idea is to help women facing domestic violence, or families of those who are suicidal.

"Women already don't trust police or courts to protect them from domestic abuse or sexual assault, so why would we expect police or courts to protect us from guns?" said Alison Irons.

Her daughter, Lindsay Wilson, was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend, who then killed himself in 2013 in Bracebridge, Ont.

"I'm a diehard Liberal but I see this bill as toothless and cowardly," she said.

Irons played an instrumental role in a different piece of gun-reform legislation  Bill C-71  part of which would allow a background check on a gun-buyer's entire life. Currently, background checks are limited to the past five years.

While that bill has been enacted, it hasn't been fully implemented, including the extended background check provision, Irons said.

"My daughter's killer had a criminal record or personal violence that he hid from her," she said.

He had been convicted of forcible confinement and an assault related to a drug deal, Irons said, and received two years probation. The man then applied for his gun license and received it, she said.

"It's an appalling example of how the system is failing Canadians," Irons said.

The group said they will fight the Liberal government on the issue, especially if an election is called this year.

Mary-Liz Power, a spokeswoman for Blair, said the Liberal government seeks to end gun violence in the country.

"We have taken the strongest and most extensive action to end gun violence that our country has ever seen," Power said.

She said "significant elements" of Bill C-71 will be implemented this summer.

Power also said if Bill C-21 is passed, owners of prohibited weapons would need a license and enhanced storage requirements.

"These measures will give our government information about where these prohibited weapons are, and who has them; information that will ensure our buyback program is effective in retrieving these weapons that are too dangerous for our communities," Power said.

"The federal government would like to thank the members of Danforth Families for Safe Communities for their advocacy, and their commitment to a future free from gun violence."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 8, 2021.
Main opposition People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon celebrates after exit polls suggested his victory at the party headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap



It wouldn't be a stretch to describe Oh Se-hoon, the former Seoul mayor who was elected again to the post Wednesday, as a political gambler at heart.



Nearly a decade ago in August 2011, Oh, then a two-term Seoul mayor, threw his job on the line in a high-stakes city referendum he called in opposition to a universal free school lunch program supported by the opposition-led city council.



As the referendum ended up being rejected due to weak voter turnout, the mayor affiliated with the Grand National Party (GNP), the predecessor of the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP), resigned as promised. His resignation led to the advent of the three-term mayoralty of Park Won-soon, a liberal human rights lawyer-turned-politician.



Coming from a family of relatively poor means, Oh, who turned 60 this year, passed the national bar exam in 1984. He first made national headlines in 1993 by successfully handling group litigation around a housing developer's obstruction of the right to sunlight of residents at an apartment in Incheon.



He later entered politics after being scouted by Lee Hoi-chang, former GNP chairman, in 2000, receiving a parliamentary candidacy nomination to run in Seoul's ultra-conservative Gangnam district and winning the race.



Following his abrupt 2011 resignation as Seoul mayor, two years earlier than when his second term was supposed to expire, Oh studied in London and Shanghai and participated in an advisory group for the state-run Korea International Cooperation Agency for the agency's projects in Peru and Rwanda.



Since then and up until the recent by-elections, Oh remained mostly out of the political spotlight for nearly a decade. But it wasn't as if Oh gave up on his ambitions in mainstream national politics.



He ran for a parliamentary seat in Seoul's central Jongno district against Chung Sye-kyun, the current prime minister, in the 2016 general elections but lost. He also competed against and was defeated by Ko Min-jung, a former Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson, in the eastern Seoul constituency of Gwangjin in last year's parliamentary elections.



But as Oh's abrupt mayoral exit opened up the conditions for Park Won-soon's political rise, Park's shocking suicide in July 2020 following allegations of years of sexual harassment against his former secretary ironically ended up providing an opening for Oh to get back into mainstream politics.



In early March, Oh succeeded in securing the PPP's ticket in a surprise victory over Na Kyung-won, the party's former floor leader. He ultimately ended up becoming the unified opposition candidate in an exhausting two-way primary with Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition People's Party on March 23.



Oh's campaign message has largely tapped into the high-level of public mistrust and disappointment toward what's largely considered the failed housing policy of President Moon Jae-in and the explosive land speculation scandal involving employees of the state housing developer Korea Land and Housing Corp.



He also appealed to voters for having nearly two terms of experience under his belt, underscoring his competency to serve as the capital's chief executive on day one with minimal transition. (Yonhap)


WHO inquiry in China slanted by political factors and failed to provide credible responses to the hypothesis of "leak from a laboratory". The WHO compromised to obtain a modicum of cooperation from the Chinese. Investigators did not have access to vital data.

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A new international investigation into the origins of Covid-19 is needed, with or without Chinese government involvement: the one conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in China was not rigorous enough and failed to provide credible answers. This is the request contained in a letter circulated yesterday by 24 US, European, Japanese and Australian scientists and researchers.

The signatories write that the WHO investigative mission to Wuhan (Hubei), where the disease first appeared at the end of 2019, was unduly influenced by political factors. For Jamie Metzl, the Atlantic Council researcher who wrote the letter, WHO has made compromises to obtain a minimum of cooperation from the Chinese authorities.

The WHO published the results of the investigation on March 30th. The most likely hypothesis for the investigative team is that of the transmission of the disease from an "intermediate" species (a bat) to humans. The report also considers the possibility that the virus spread due to an accident at the Wuhan Institute of Virology very unlikely.

To dispel any doubts about this possibility, WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said new investigations with a team of specialists are needed. Tedros pointed out that investigators did not have access to all the raw data and he called on Beijing to share the information requested in a more complete and timely manner.

Tedros' conclusions coincide with those of the 24 scholars. They point out that the WHO report's conclusions are based on Chinese scientific research that was never published, and that the organization's investigators did not have access to vital information and biological samples.

The Chinese regime has always ruled out the "laboratory leak" theory and demands that investigations now focus on other countries. Chinese state media have advanced the hypothesis that Covid arrived in Wuhan through frozen food imported from abroad.

Several governments, especially the Trump administration, have accused Tedros of covering up Beijing's mistakes in the early stages of the pandemic: The WHO delayed the declaration on human-to-human transmissibility of the virus and decreeing a global emergency. Moreover, the international organisation did not insist its experts go to Wuhan at the beginning of the health crisis.
Good news at last. My second jab has successfully negotiated the speed cameras on the M4 and the lane closures on the Surrey section of the M25.

Provided the Dartford Tunnel is behaving itself and there are no emergency roadworks at the M11 interchange, it should arrive in North London next Friday.

Its been a long time coming, via a pharmacy in Reading and a clinic in Raynes Park, but the chequered flag is in sight.

Good news at last. My second jab has successfully negotiated the speed cameras on the M4 and the lane closures on the Surrey section of the M25

Britain's level of new Covid infections is down to a level not seen since late August 2020

With the AstraZeneca jab already considered unsuitable for the under-30s, its probably only a matter of time before the contagion spreads to older age groups. The next thing you know, no one will want the Oxford vaccine. Theres no logic to any of this. In fact, you might as well ban Lemsip

OK, its the same killer Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine which gave me the horrors first time round, but Im prepared to take my chances.

In fact, as of first thing next Friday morning youll find me banging on the surgery door like Fred Flintstone, sleeve rolled up in readiness.

Fortunately, Im far too old to have to worry about the remote possibility of the jab causing potentially fatal blood clots.

But even if I did fall into the at risk under-30 age group  or cohort as we must now call it  I think, on balance, Id bite the bullet.

Despite the Governments lily-livered determination to keep us all locked down for as long as possible, mass vaccination is the only way were ever going to escape the nightmare of the past 13 months.

Yet still the usual siren voices are attempting to scare us rigid. Their latest worst case scenario is hyping-up the unproven link between the Oxford vaccine and an extremely rare condition known as CVST which, when combined with something called thrombocytopenia, can cause clots on the brain.

Nope, me neither. I thought Thrombocyto-penia was a movie starring Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash and Sting. Forgive me for sounding flippant. But the clinical science behind all this sent my head spinning.

And, as the Mail reported yesterday, the jury is still out on the alleged link. There have been four cases and one death for every one million vaccines administered. The World Health Organisation says the link is plausible but not confirmed. Even so, most people have got more chance of being killed in a road accident.

So why seize on it to induce yet another wave of panic? Yes, thrombocytopenia is a recognised blood disorder which can lead to clotting. Those under-30s most at risk are being offered an alternative jab, which is probably only sensible under the circumstances.

But inevitably, the avalanche of hysterical adverse publicity especially on TV  is bound to frighten others into refusing the AZ vaccine. Ministers and their tame experts are busily trying to persuade us that the jabs safe.

But given they have spent the past year fanning the flames of fear and paranoia, there will be plenty of Nervous Nellies unwilling to trust them.

With the AstraZeneca jab already considered unsuitable for the under-30s, its probably only a matter of time before the contagion spreads to older age groups.

The next thing you know, no one will want the Oxford vaccine. Theres no logic to any of this.

In fact, you might as well ban Lemsip.

Now before you think Ive completely taken leave of my senses, allow me to refer to an email I received this week from Mail reader Findlay McClymont, from Sunninghill, Berkshire.

After reading about the potentially fatal side-effects of the AstraZeneca jab, he decided to inspect the contents of his medicine cabinet. Everything you buy from the chemist these days comes with a chunky leaflet detailing correct dosage and safety information. No one ever reads it.

But increasingly litigious Britain is getting like the U.S., where everything from aspirins to haemorrhoid cream comes with a terrifying catalogue of warnings, designed to ward off lawsuits.

The first product Findlay checked out was a box of Lemsip Max Cold and Flu Blackcurrant.

There, along with the usual caveats explaining that Lemsip can cause headache, vomiting, higher blood pressure, increased heart rate, insomnia, skin allergies etc, he discovered that the side-effects can also include:

Blood disorders, such as thrombocytopenia (a reduction in blood platelets which may make you bruise or bleed more easily) . . .

So Lemsip, a widely used over-the-counter cough and cold treatment, carries at least one of the risks of the Oxford Covid jab.

Funnily enough, I dont recall Sky News or the BBC devoting much airtime to the dangers of Lemsip. It would be unfair to single out Lemsip, which most of us consider perfectly harmless.

Many well-known treatments can induce thrombocytopenia, including statins, ibruprofen and penicillin. If you heeded all the small print, youd never take any medicine. Everything in life carries some measure of risk. Just like the Oxford jab, sometimes the benefits far outweigh the dangers.

Take erectile dysfunction remedies, for instance. A few years ago a friend of mine, then in his late Sixties, was bitterly disappointed when his GP refused to prescribe him Viagra. Its for your own good, the doctor told him. Youve got dangerously high blood pressure and a dicky heart. Havent you read the side-effects?

Of course I have, thats why I want to try it. Ive always fancied having a four-hour erection.

Outgoing Left-wing Unite boss Len McCluskeys legacy, apart from hobbling Labour for a generation by backing O.J. Corbyn and Momentum, is a 98 million white elephant in Birmingham.

The magnificent new hotel and conference complex was originally scheduled to cost members of Britains biggest union just 7 million. Questions are now being asked about how the final bill spiralled out of control so spectacularly. The main contract was awarded to a building company owned by Paul Flanagan, a friend of Red Len and a fellow Scouser. A firm run by David Anderson, son of former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson, was in charge of health and safety.

Outgoing Left-wing Unite boss Len McCluskeys legacy, apart from hobbling Labour for a generation by backing O.J. Corbyn and Momentum, is a 98 million white elephant in Birmingham

Mr Flanagan and the Andersons have since been arrested on suspicion of bribery relating to building projects, which they deny. There is no suggestion of any illegality involving the Birmingham scheme or McCluskey. Unite describes Red Lens Folly as a world-class facility.

It does, however, seem woefully short of business right now, with losses reportedly being underwritten by the union for the next two years.

So it is curious that having blown the thick end of 100 mill on the place, Lenny isnt utilising it to the full. His unions annual conference this year is pencilled in for Liverpool. And Unite Executive Council in June is taking place not in Brum but at the plush Metropole Hotel in Brighton.

Still, why should Lenny care? Hes due to retire soon. Perhaps he just fancies holding his farewell party beside the seaside. Or maybe hes a big Quadrophenia fan (see elsewhere) and is planning to go out with a bang by driving his once-proud union off a cliff.

Oh my! It's Burma

A few weeks ago, I wondered why we have to call some foreign countries and cities by their indigenous names, however confusing.

For instance, were all expected nowadays to refer to Burma as Myanmar, which sounds like a budget airline.

Why?

None of us calls Germany Deutschland, Spain Espanya or Paris Paree.

This week Burma/Myanmars ambassador was bewildered to find himself locked out of his own embassy in Mayfair.

This is London, not Burma, he told reporters.

If Burma is good enough for the Burmese ambassador, it should be good enough for the rest of us.

NHS patients in Nottingham are being prescribed paddleboarding sessions to improve their health.

Britain may be 400 trillion in debt, but you can always rely on the public sector to come up with imaginative new ways of wasting money. An alliance of taxpayer-funded bodies, including the Arts Council and Natural England, are bunging GPs 50,000 to spend on outdoor activities, such as canoeing and paddleboarding on the Nottingham and Beeston Canal.

Is it any wonder were up the creek without a paddle?

This columns annual Here We Go Looby Loo Awards, celebrating madwomen, may seem a little, er, misogynist in these enlightened times.

So perhaps its time to redress the balance with a special category dedicated to madmen.

This week, I received a barking mad email objecting in the most splenetic terms to my comparing Wee Burney standing on a box to the late Hollywood star Alan Ladd

This week, I received a barking mad email objecting in the most splenetic terms to my comparing Wee Burney standing on a box to the late Hollywood star Alan Ladd, who employed a similar method to prevent his co-stars towering over him. I cant tell you my correspondents full name, since he only signed himself Davey. But given everything else going on in the world, it takes a special kind of lunacy to get upset over a story about a long-dead, vertically challenged actor.

Davey is worth an award all of his very own. But what to call it? I know . . .

Here We Go Scooby Doo!
Rehema Muthamia, 24, faced a barrage of phone calls, emails, texts, and Whatsapp messages when her jilted lover Lorenzo Dixon, 27, stalked and harassed her

A beauty queen was left 'traumatised and scared' after she endured an 18-month stalking nightmare at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, a court has heard.

Rehema Muthamia, 24, faced a barrage of phone calls, emails, texts, and Whatsapp messages when her jilted lover Lorenzo Dixon, 27, stalked and harassed her.

Dixon also bombarded 'Remi' with letters and cards and gifts, including boxes of chocolates, soft toys and bottles of Prosecco in an 'unrelenting' campaign.

He even boarded a train she was on and travelled almost 100 miles before accosting her as she got off.

The stalking ordeal was so 'stressful' the beauty queen, who was recently crowned Miss African All Colours, was forced to take eight weeks off work.

Last month Dixon, a trainee lawyer, pleaded guilty to a charge of stalking and harassment against Remi between February 2019 to July 2020.

Yesterday the paralegal had faced a maximum six-month jail term but was instead ordered to pay his victim 500 compensation by Brighton Magistrates Court.

He was also sentenced to a 12-month community order, handed a restraining order and will also have to attend 30 hours of rehabilitation to address his behaviour.

The court heard Dixon and Remi, who was a student at Sussex University, had been in a relationship and she was pregnant but had a miscarriage.

When they split up shortly afterwards at the start of 2019, Dixon refused to believe the relationship was at an end and launched a campaign of stalking and harassment.

Dixon (left) also bombarded 'Remi' (right) with letters and cards and gifts, including boxes of chocolates, soft toys and bottles of Prosecco in an 'unrelenting' campaign

She repeatedly told him to leave her alone and reported him to the Metropolitan Police in March 2019 with officers handing him a verbal harassment order.

But the next month he went to Remi's university and boarded the same train as her, following her to her hometown of Luton before demanding she answer questions.

He was again warned by police over his behaviour but persisted in trying to contact her through a number of different channels.

In a statement read to the court Remi said: 'Imagine having being called 30 times in a 24 hour period by an unknown number you are unable to block. The calls were coming in every few seconds.

'Imagine being followed on a train for a two hour period and having to call university security to have your former partner escorted off the campus.'

The court heard she had sought counselling after the stalking and was 'always looking over her shoulder.'

She said: 'I'm scared I will never be able to live like a normal person and will always have to look over my shoulder.'

Eleanor Richards, prosecuting, said: 'She was unable to work for eight weeks due to the stress and trauma she suffered.'

After the case Remi, who graduated with a first degree in genetics from the University of Sussex, said she did not want to comment.

The court heard Dixon and Remi (pictured), who was a student at Sussex University, had been in a relationship and she was pregnant but had a miscarriage

She beat eight other competitors to win Miss All African Colours and will now go on to compete in the Miss England finals.

Rehema was born in Britain but her family are Kenyan and she speaks four languages.

She beat eight other competitors to win Miss All African Colours and will now go on to compete in the Miss England finals.

If she wins that competition Rehema, from Luton, who now works as a recruitment consultant in life science, could compete in the Miss World contest.

After her win she said: 'The work was actually quite a rigorous process in terms of the heat and the idea was as if we were getting ready for the Miss England finals.

'There were catwalk sessions, learning how to speak and present ourselves and also starting to work on our charities and finding a cause we were passionate about.

'My family are so supportive they can't stop talking about it and the Kenyan community has really got behind me and wanted to support me and loved seeing someone from my heritage being represented.'
Also, the ordinance would require the store and the organization providing the animals to be in good standing with the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The ordinance also provides that stores would have to take animals back within 30 days if there was a problem, such as an animal illness.
The history of Black cowboys in America is a story that is often undersold and whitewashed by Hollywood. Their stories are often never explored in movies, so as you can imagine, I was enthralled by the film that included a mostly all-black cast highlighting Black cowboys and cowgirls.

**WARNING: Spoilers ahead!**

Netflixs Concrete Cowboy explores a more recent iteration of this culture, the Black urban cowboysof North Philadelphia. While I'll consistently shout from the rooftops that the originators of the now-celebrated cowboy culture started right here in Texas, the two-hour film was a beautiful introduction into cowboy culture.

MORE ON BLACK COWBOYS: Black cowboys inspired legends in the South. Why are they portrayed as overwhelmingly white?

The film is centered around Cole, played by Caleb McLaughlin. Cole, who has had many discipline issues in school, is shipped from Detroit to North Philly to live with his father, Harp, played by Idris Elba. Harp is an ex-con turned cowboy and leader of the Fletcher Street Stables community.

Cole learns quickly that he, like horses, has to be broken through lessons and discipline.

The film as a whole is an impressive work of art, but I found the film had multiple cinematic highsat the beginning of the film, Harp is seen sitting outside with some of his fellow cowboys trading stories about life in their heyday, and about how America has contributed to the erasure of the original Black cowboy.

In another scene, things get heated between Harp and Cole. Harp's absence from Cole's life as a father causes a rift between the two and emotions run high when Harp delivers a monologue on why he was a no-show in his son's life. He tells his son exactly how he got his nameafter famed musician John Coltrane, "the greatest man to do it without a father."

Cole faces the internal battle of between street life with his older cousin Smush and getting on track working in the stables with his family. Eventually, Smush's life comes to a tragic end as a victim to the street.

Life in the stables proves to be no walk in the park either, as the Fletcher Street Stables fall victim to government and police harassment about the feasibility of their homes for their majestic horses, which are eventually taken away on suspicions of malnourishment. An officer who's particularly invested in the case is played by Method Man, who traded in his saddle for a badge.

Despite warning Cole to stay away from street life, the father and son duo end up stealing their horses back from the city of Philadelphia in retaliation, reclaiming what's rightfully theirs. While dramatized, the gentrification depicted in the film also remains an issue in Philadelphia. The city is building on what used to be Fletcher Street Stable's land to build new developments while pushing out the heritage that once existed there.

An added bonus to the film is that the supplemental characters are the real Fletcher Street Riders, telling their own stories.

Netflix's "Concrete Cowboy" is a beautiful coming of age story that shows cowboys as the foundation of a communitythe resilience of a group of people, who are faced with the burdens of gentrification and racism, but still manage to overcome because "home isn't a place, it's a family."
Directed by Pascal Dangin, esteemed photographer and CEO and chief creative officer at Studio Dangin, the short film takes viewers on a journey to Rosewood's destinations around the world, highlighting the brand's approach to hosting guests as an art form and the leading role that local culture and heritage play in the Rosewood experience. Rooted in the notion that Rosewood is more than just a collection of premier hotels and resorts, but a facilitator of meaningful journeys, gatherings and connections, the film speaks to the soul of today's traveler, igniting the pursuit of exploration, wonder and possibility.

Clips showcasing several of the collection's most iconic properties, as well as the larger land and cityscapes to which they belong, are accompanied by smart text overlays that communicate the wonder of travel and Rosewood's commitment to helping guests to capture them. The film also features a prototype room filmed inside an abstract space as if it were a luxury fashion or beauty product. The serenity of the room is captured in delicate motion, textured with tranquil sounds, and juxtaposed against the film's scenes a fast-moving and busy world.

The stylized model room symbolizes that Rosewood is more than a hotel; the sanctuaries exist to inspire gathering across cultures and experiences  to welcome, to share, to dine and, together, to journey in discovery. The result is a love letter to the countless excursions that await Rosewood travelers.

"Our latest brand film beautifully showcases the vibrancy of cultures and communities that Rosewood is privileged to be a part of," says Sonia Cheng, chief executive officer of Rosewood Hotel Group. "Whether Paris or Phuket, Montecito or Manhattan, each of our destinations encourages a meaningful journey of discovery. As people begin to explore the world once more and look for ways to reconnect with both themselves and one another following this past year of isolation, we are proud to offer inspiration and bring people together over the exceptional experiences that only Rosewood can provide."

Debuting today on Rosewood's official brand and property websites and social media channels, the video can be viewed here.

About Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts manages 27 one-of-a-kind luxury hotels, resorts and residences in 16 countries, with 21 new properties under development. Each Rosewood property embraces the brand's A Sense of Place philosophy to reflect the individual location's history, culture and sensibilities. The Rosewood collection includes some of the world's most legendary hotels and resorts, including The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas and Hotel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in Paris, as well as new classics such as Rosewood Hong Kong. For those who wish to stay a little longer, Rosewood Residences offer a distinct opportunity for ownership or rent in extraordinary destinations within the brand's wide-ranging portfolio.



For more information: rosewoodhotels.com

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Months of hard work during Melbourne's gruelling Covid lockdown have finally paid for one Indian migrant who spent the time in isolation restoring a vintage tractor - even though he doesn't live on a farm.

Jaskaran Brar spent about $20,000 doing up the 1970 Ford 3000 tractor at his home Doveton, southeast Melbourne, over a painstaking period of about 10 months.

Although he loves his new home Down Under the Punjabi native who grew up on a farm in Moga district's Bhaloor village said he misses helping his father in the paddy fields and riding on the tractor.

Jaskaran Brar spent about $20,000 doing up the 1970 Ford 3000 tractor (pictured) at his home Doveton, southeast Melbourne, over a painstaking period of about 10 months

He travelled 400km from his home to pick up the beat up tractor which was in 'terrible shape'

His agricultural upbringing entrenched a strong connection with farming machinery that he sadly lost when he came to Australia in 2008.

'I miss those good old days in the fields. But the thing I miss the most is our Ford tractor that my family back home has been using for many years,' he told SBS Punjabi.

'It is just a tractor for most, but for me, it's an integral part of our family. Our Ford tractor has been instrumental in shaping our lives.'

Armed with basic mechanical engineering and agricultural machinery qualifications, Brar decided to rekindle his passion in the midst of the pandemic.

He travelled 400km from his home to pick up the beat up tractor which was in 'terrible shape'.

Although Mr Brar (pictured) loves his new home Down Under the Punjabi native who grew up on a farm in Moga district's Bhaloor village said he misses helping his father in the paddy fields and riding on the tractor

Mr Brar sourced most of the spare parts he needed from across Melbourne but to keep it as authentic as possible, he also sent away for parts from Nakodar town in Punjab.

Now that it's finally complete he plans to exhibit the DIY beast at farmer trade shows around Australia.

He says his family back home couldn't be more proud of what he's achieved.

'My family, especially my father back in Punjab, is delighted that I am continuing the family tradition of owning a blue Ford here in Australia as well,' Mr Brar said.
Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare is supporting the simplification of Romania's licencing system, a project developed by the Romanian Trade Competition Council and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), according to a press statement released by the Finance Ministry on Thursday.

Nazare participated on Thursday in a final meeting of the project "Complete resizing of the business licencing system in Romania," designed to support Romania with upgrading its business licencing system, strengthening the capacity of licencing bodies and aligning the licencing system with international best practices, agerpres.ro confirms.

He emphasised that he supports the digitisation process in order to eliminate unnecessary approvals, in order to reduce the administrative burdens that affect the business community.

"I want congratulate the implementation team of this project and voice my support for the digitisation and red-tape cut initiative by eliminating unnecessary documents and approvals, in order to reduce the administrative burdens affecting the business community. I believe the Romanian government should co-operate efficiently to support and simplify private initiatives. I would also like to thank the OECD team that worked closely with the Romanian authorities to implement this project and provided useful information on best practice in the area. Romania has made significant progress with joining the OECD. And we enjoy the support of many members. Romania's accession to the OECD is an important goal to Romania and I will make every effort to meet it," said Nazare.

The project addresses the key bottlenecks and systemic issues of the current business licencing system and provides an opportunity for the Romanian government to implement a digital business licencing platform, a platform that could benefit businesses, entrepreneurs and public institutions, according to the Finance Ministry.
"All propaganda forms and content promotion that go against historical facts and international law hold no value and cannot change the fact of Vietnams sovereignty over the Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said Thursday.

Hang was responding to inquiries about fashion brands recently found using maps with the nine-dash line on their websites in China.

The line has been used by China to illegally claim huge swathes of the South China Sea, known in Vietnam as the East Sea. It has been internationally condemned and rejected.

Vietnam has repeatedly affirmed that it has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly islands in the East Sea in accordance with international law as well as its sovereignty, sovereignty rights and jurisdiction rights over relevant sea areas as established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

"Vietnam requests that businesses respect Vietnams sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel islands as well as its sovereignty, sovereignty rights and jurisdiction rights over relevant sea areas in the East Sea," Hang said, adding that businesses operating in Vietnam need to respect Vietnamese law.

Certain businesses, including fashion brands, have been found using Chinese online map service Baidu on their website in China. The map showing the nine-dash line is not used in websites outside China, however.

A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) rejected the nine-dash line by China, saying it has no legal grounds to make such claims.

But China has not recognized the PCAs ruling and has continued to break international laws, creating illegal artificial islands, among other actions in attempts to back up its illegal and false sea territory claims.
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Prosecutor General of Russia Igor Krasnov, who is in Armenia on a working visit, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Pashinyan welcomed the visit of the Russian Prosecutor General to Yerevan and expressed confidence that it will foster the future development and strengthening of relations between the Prosecutor's Offices of the two countries. Pashinyan highlighted the close cooperation between the two law enforcement bodies for fighting against crime and withstanding the existing challenges. PM Pashinyan highly appreciated Igor Krasnovs efforts for returning the Armenian POWs, hostages and other detainees from Azerbaijan for which PM Pashinyan handed a certificate of appreciation to him.

The Russian Prosecutor General thanked the PM for the appreciation and noted that the cooperation with the Armenian partners is trustworthy. According to Igor Krasnov, the Prosecutor Generals Offices of the two countries are in constant touch, which fosters the effective cooperation for the fight against crime. The Russian Prosecutor General highlighted the full implementation of the 8th point f the November 10, 2020 trilateral declaration, according to which exchange of POWs, hostages and other detainees should take place. Igor Krasnov emphasized that he will spare no efforts for the solution of the issue.

Pashinyan noted that the Armenian government attaches special importance to the continuous development of long-term strategic cooperation with the Russian Federation and in that sense effectively assessed the results of the negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 7.
President Joe Biden is set to announce his actions in controlling gun violence in the United States, as well as the nomination of the new director that will take charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The President's declaration of six executive actions on Thursday follows the country's recent mass shooting events, USA Today reported.

It can be recalled that a mass shooting that occurred inside a grocery store in Colorado last month claimed the lives of 10. The tragic incident gathered law enforcement vehicles outside the grocery store, including SWAT teams and at least three helicopters in the area. A law enforcement officer is one of the 10 victims of the devastating mass shooting.

READ NEXT: California Lawmakers Push New Gun Tax Amid Surge in Mass Shootings

President Biden on Gun Violence

The Biden administration's actions regarding curbing gun violence spreading throughout the United States include a directive that the Justice Department will have to issue proposed regulations on "ghost guns" or unregistered guns that could be assembled from parts, The Guardian reported. The Justice Department should issue the regulations within the next month.

President Biden has gone under immense pressure from gun safety advocacy groups and Democrats, pushing him to address gun violence following the mass shooting incidents in Colorado, California, and Georgia.

Moreover, President Biden will also give directives on the Justice Department in developing a model "red flag" law. This will allow individuals to petition a court for police to seize firearms away from people who can be a threat to safety. States will adopt this. However, several other states like Colorado have already enforced this kind of law.

The President is also set to announce investments in community violence intervention programs, according to an Associated Press report. These programs are geared toward reducing gun violence in urban communities across five federal agencies.

President Biden pledged to prioritize new gun control measures during his campaign period. Biden noted that as President, he would enact universal background check legislation, ban the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and online sales of firearms.

During his tenure as vice president under the Obama administration, Biden was tapped to lead the gun violence prevention efforts. However, gun control advocates have been disappointed by the administration's lack of early action.

President Biden's Nomination of the New ATF Director

President Biden is expected to announce David Chipman as the new ATF director. Chipman currently serves as an adviser to a gun control advocacy group. The ATF is presently run by acting director Regina Lombardo.

Gun advocates have noted that the ATF director is expected to enforce gun laws in America. Chipman served as an agent in the ATF for 25 years before joining Giffords' gun control group. He also served in the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Attorney General Merrick Garland will join President Biden on Thursday in announcing their plans of action regarding gun violence. The President has also proposed a $5 billion investment in community violence intervention programs over eight years under his infrastructure package.

READ MORE: 13-Year-Old Boy Arrested for Shooting Younger Sister to Death

WATCH: President Joe Biden: Hope to Start Focusing on Gun Control and Immigration - From CNBC Television
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 19:31:44|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Pfizer coronavirus vaccine is preferred over AstraZeneca for adults under 50, said Australian chief medical officer Paul Kelly on Thursday evening.

At a press conference in Canberra, Kelly said that the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ATAGI) recommended "the use of the Pfizer vaccine is preferred over the AstraZeneca vaccine in adults aged less than 50 years who have not already received a first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine."

"This is based both on the increased risk of complications from COVID-19 with increasing age, and thus increased benefit of the vaccination, and the potentially lower, but not zero risk, of this rare event (blood clots) with increasing age," he said.

It comes after the Australian government asked the nation's medical regulator to further investigate links between AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine and blood-clotting issues.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), a blood clotting case was recorded, in which a 44-year-old man was admitted to the hospital in Melbourne with serious thrombosis and a low platelet count after he received AstraZeneca vaccine last month.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirmed that the occurrence of blood clots with low blood platelets were strongly associated with the administration of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, although it also said that the side effects were rare.

Kelly said that four recommendations were given by the ATAGI, the second of which is that immunization providers should only give the first dose of AstraZeneca to adults under 50 where the "benefit clearly outweighs the risk for that individual's circumstances."

The third recommendation is that people who have already had their first dose of Astrazeneca without any serious adverse events can receive their second jab.

The last recommendation is that the Department of Health further develop and refine resources for "informed consent that clearly convey the benefits and the risks of the AstraZeneca vaccine."

However, Brendan Murphy, secretary of the Health Department, said that people above 50 years of age should still have AstraZeneca vaccine.

"All vaccines have adverse effects. Some serious. Flu vaccines do. The Pfizer vaccine has a risk of anaphylaxis, which we've seen," he said. "I want to reiterate that we are strongly encouraging those 50 and over to take up the AstraZeneca vaccine." Enditem
Over the last year there have been a lot of hard days and some dark days but regardless of the weather outside, there has been a lot of sunshine in Shinrone National School.

On Friday, March 26, the school continued the sunshine by being part of the Irish Cancer Societys most important Daffodil Day yet. The pupils were invited to wear as much yellow as they could, instead of their uniforms, in exchange for a small donation for The Irish Cancer Society. We also raffled some of Tara Dockerys stunning photographs on the day. The kindness and generosity of our entire school community is evident as we hand over 1,500 to The Irish Cancer Society.

The Irish Cancer Society works hard to make sure that nobody in Ireland has to face cancer alone. It is never too early to help children understand the value of empathy and reaching out in charity to those who are suffering in any way. Well done and thank you to all who contributed!
Alone and filled with dread, Jillian Broadbent says she dared not think that this could be the end as she stayed with her long-term friend Carla Zampatti after the fashion designer had catapulted down the stairs at La Traviata on Sydney harbour, a fall which would ultimately claim her life six days later.

Former Wollongong University chancellor and a sitting board member of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Ms Broadbent gave an emotional account to Radio National on Thursday morning of her friendship with Zampatti, which had spanned many decades, and the circumstances of the fashion icons accident.

Ms Broadbent with her friend Carla Zampatti at the designers home in 2018. Credit:James Brickwood

Ms Zampatti, 78, had arrived in her trademark glamour, wearing a navy evening gown set off with a dazzling pearl, aquamarine and diamond necklace.

An avid patron of the arts, Ms Zampatti had enjoyed the opera production and enthused to her friend during the interval as the women reclined on the harbours wall about how beautiful the harbour and Sydney was and how lucky we were that people could come together again.
Radisson Hotel Group is proud to announce the opening of its first serviced apartment property and eighth operating hotel in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam. The 227 all-suite aparthotel Radisson Hotel & Suites Amsterdam South offers the perfect base for families and long-stay visitors. Nestled amidst a maze of canals in a leafy neighborhood, guests will have a quintessential Amsterdam experience with easy access to the citys central business district.

The upscale Radisson Hotel & Suites Amsterdam South is an aparthotel featuring 227 suites within eight suite types, spanning from 21m2 to 106m2. All the suites have a fully-equipped kitchen, individual climate control, free high-speed Internet access and flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Whilst all suites include a walk-in rain shower, guests can also choose suites with designer bathtubs and even a private infrared sauna. A complimentary self-service laundry facility is available and, for guests with busy schedules, the hotel also features a 24/7 Grab & Go market, a fitness studio, underground parking, bike rental, and a restaurant, Keuken & Bar - created by Marije Richards, of RICHARDS Design.





Yilmaz Yildirimlar, Area Senior Vice President, Central & Eastern Europe, Russia and Turkey at Radisson Hotel Group, says, We are delighted to open another highly successful Radisson Hotel Group brand in the city of Amsterdam especially during this challenging time. Our upscale Scandinavian-inspired Radisson brand has seen great traction since the EMEA launch in 2018, and we are thankful to our partners Cycas Hospitality, who operate the property, for being part of this incredible journey. We look forward to welcoming our first guests together in this key European destination.

Radisson Hotel & Suites Amsterdam South also features three modern meeting rooms, all with natural daylight and equipped with the latest high-quality audio-visual equipment. With convenient transport links to the Zuidas central business district (3km), city centre (6km) and Schiphol Airport (8km), the property is well placed to cater to the growing demand for extended-stay accommodation options in this part of the city.





For those looking to combine the best of both worlds  both the Dutch capital and the countryside - Radisson Hotel & Suites Amsterdam South is only a short walk or cycle ride from Amstelpark (2km) and Amsterdam Forest (2.5km), one of the biggest urban parks in Europe and three times bigger than Central Park. The surrounding area is the perfect complement to the pet-friendly hotel, which makes it much easier and more comfortable for pet owners and all members of the family to travel.

Under the commercial umbrella of Radisson Hotels, Cycas Hospitality operates the all-suite property under a leased agreement with ECHO partners.

Wayne Androliakos, Chief Operating Officer of Cycas Hospitality, the hotel management company operating the new Radisson property, said, We are delighted to have opened our first Radisson-branded hotel in Cycass hometown of Amsterdam, and are confident that our extended-stay expertise will make Radissons first all-suite property in Western Europe a popular option for those visiting the city. The events of the last year have really highlighted the benefits aparthotels can offer travelers. By combining classic hotel services with the flexibility of home in one great property, were well-placed to cater for the current demand from essential travellers and, looking ahead, for the growing demand from longer-staying guests.

More than ever, Radisson Hotel Groups highest priority remains the health and safety of its guests and employees. Radisson Hotel & Suites Amsterdam South implemented the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol program of in-depth cleanliness and disinfection protocols developed in partnership with SGS, the worlds leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, which are designed to ensure guest safety and peace of mind from check-in to check-out.

For more information about the hotel, visit our website .

###

MEDIA CONTACTS

Martin Melzer, Director PR & Communication, Central & Southern Europe, Radisson Hotel Group

martin.melzer@radissonhotels.com

Sophie Clarke, Director Consumer PR & Social Media EMEA, Radisson Hotel Group

Sophie.clarke@radissonhotels.com





ABOUT RADISSON

Radisson is an upscale hotel brand that offers Scandinavian inspired hospitality, which enables guests to focus on a work/life balance and find harmony in their travel experience. With nature-inspired design, and unexpected delights, Radisson inspires the art of being in the moment. Committed to building meaningful relationships with guests, Radisson has a Yes I Can! service attitude to ensure the satisfaction of every guest. Radisson hotels can be found in suburban and city settings, near airports and leisure destinations. Guests and professional business partners can enhance their experience with Radisson by participating in Radisson Rewards, a global loyalty program offering exceptional benefits and rewards.

Radisson is part of Radisson Hotel Group, which also includes Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels.

For reservations and more information, visit our website . Or connect with Radisson on:

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube



ABOUT RADISSON HOTEL GROUP

Radisson Hotel Group is one of the world's largest hotel groups with nine distinctive hotel brands, and more than 1,500 hotels in operation and under development in 120 countries. The Groups overarching brand promise is Every Moment Matters with a signature Yes I Can! service ethos.

The Radisson Hotel Group portfolio includes Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels.

Radisson Rewards is our global rewards program that delivers unique and personalized ways to create memorable moments that matter to our guests. Radisson Rewards offers exceptional loyalty benefits for our guests, meeting planners, travel agents and business partners.



Radisson Meetings provides tailored solutions for any event or meeting, including hybrid solutions placing guests and their needs at the heart of its offer. Radisson Meetings is built around three strong service commitments: Personal, Professional and Memorable, while delivering on the brilliant basics and being uniquely 100% Carbon Neutral.



More than 100,000 team members work at Radisson Hotel Group and at the hotels licensed to operate in its systems. For more information, visit our corporate website . Or connect with Radisson Hotels on:

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

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[April 08, 2021] Mr. Christmas Adopts TrueCommerce Foundry Solution to Accelerate Digital Transformation

PITTSBURGH, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TrueCommerce, a global provider of trading partner connectivity, integration and unified commerce solutions, announced today that Mr. Christmas has adopted its EDI integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Mr. Christmas, an industry leader in creating, designing, and marketing innovative mechanical and musical decorations, will leverage the integration to accelerate their digital transformation. The solution, a part of the TrueCommerce Foundry platform, will help Mr. Christmas streamline its supply chain through sales channels integration, as well as compliance and fulfillment processes automation.

Mr. Christmas sees digital transformation as the key to better serve our customers and make our operations more effective, said Gary Ragusa, CFO/COO with Mr. Christmas. Therefore, we went through a rigorous selection process to find the EDI partner who would be able to best serve our unique needs. We looked at many solutions and TrueCommerce Foundry turned out to be the best match. We are confident that the deployment will help us get the most of our Microsoft Business Central investments. TrueCommerces Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central solution integrates sales, purchasing, inventory, and fulfillment interactions with supply chain participants connected through the TrueCommerce Commerce Network. In doing so, the solution allows businesses like Mr. Christmas to gain real-time visibility into their supply chains for improved efficiency, resilience, and customer service. We are excited to see Mr. Christmas adopting our solution, said TrueCommerce Vice President Sales, - New Business and Channels, Mike Berry. Not only is the company getting qualitatively new supply chain management options; theyre lso joining our global trading network, that is opening exciting new opportunities on their digital transformation journey.



TrueCommerces Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Cloud Integration is an extension of TrueCommerce Foundrya broad set of unified commerce services and apps that connects customers, suppliers, channels, and systems. This platform revolutionizes supply chain visibility and collaboration by helping organizations make the most of their omnichannel initiatives through business P2P connectivity, order management, collaborative replenishment, intelligent fulfillment, cross-functional analytics, and product information management. The solution leverages TrueCommerces Global Commerce Network that includes over 120,000 pre-connected retailers, distributors, and logistics service providers. A fully managed services provider, TrueCommerce manages the onboarding process for new trading partners as well as the ongoing management of trading partner specific mapping and labeling changes.

For more information, visit: TrueCommerce Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central EDI Integration About Mr. Christmas For over 85 years, Mr. Christmas has been an industry leader in creating, designing and marketing innovative mechanical and musical decorations. We design each Mr. Christmas piece in great detail to remain a special part of your Holiday Season or home decoration for years to come. The latest technology is incorporated into classic Holiday designs to create magical items that make memorable and treasured gifts. A multi-generational family-owned business, we delight in creating Holiday traditions in homes all over the world. Since 1933, we have been proud and honored to be part of yours. More information on Mr. Christmas can be found at https://mrchristmas.com/ About TrueCommerce TrueCommerce is the most complete way to connect your business across the supply chain, integrating everything from EDI, to inventory management, to fulfillment, to digital storefronts and marketplaces, to your business system, and to whatever comes next. To stay ahead in todays dynamic global market, companies need to be able to do business in a lot of different directions at once. But too often, doing so means too many solutions and too much assembly required. For decades TrueCommerce has helped businesses be more connected, more supported, and more prepared for whats next. Thats why thousands of companies  ranging from startups to the global Fortune 100, across various industries  rely on us. TrueCommerce: Do business in every direction For more information, visit https://www.truecommerce.com . Media Contact Yegor Kuznetsov

Director, Marketing Communications

1-703-209-0167

yegor.kuznetsov@truecommerce.com



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Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i suggests his bodyguard who tragically shot himself after killing his girlfriend in Nairobi on Wednesday was stressed.

The vocal CS alluded to this during his tribute to the two officers namely Hudson Wakise and Pauline Wakasa on his social media pages.

At the time of his death, Wakise was attached to the Interior CS's security team.

"It (their death) is a rude awakening to psychosocial challenges amongst some of our young officers," he said.

The high-ranking civil servant also indicated the government will look into the plight of police officers and the youth in the country.

"We have no choice (other than) to pay greater attention (to the welfare of our officers)," he added,

A police statement seen by Nairobi News indicates a domestic altercation ensued between the deceased officers minutes after he arrived home from work.

"They started exchanging bitter words and the wife accused him of infidelity. As a result, the said husband went out of the house and shortly returned to the sitting room. Suddenly, he drew out his Jericho pistol and fired several rounds at his wife's chest killing her instantly," the statement read in part.

The wife reportedly works as a traffic officer.

The incident comes three days after a separate tussle involving an army officer and his musician wife left him dead.

The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) officer, Daniel Omollo Onyango was not contented with his wife's decision of renting a one-bedroom house in Kasarani which she reportedly uses as her music studio and an argument on the same led to a brawl.
Republicans, Democrats have different opinions about Bidens religiosity: Pew

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A new survey from the Pew Research Center found that while the majority of Americans know that President Joe Biden is Catholic, perceptions about the degree of his religiosity differ based on an individuals partisan affiliation.

The Pew Research Center released the results of an extensive survey last week asking the American people for their thoughts and feelings about the religious faith of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The survey, conducted between March 1 and March 7, included 12,055 respondents who are part of Pews American Trends Panel, which is an online survey panel that is recruited through national random sampling of residential address.

The survey asked respondents to identify the faith of the president and vice president. Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed correctly identified Bidens faith as Roman Catholic.

An additional 31% said they were not sure of his faith, while 6% identified him as Protestant, 3% said he was atheist, 1% said he belongs to an other religion not listed, and 1% thought his religion is something else. A higher number of Democrats and Democrat leaners (63%) knew that Biden is Catholic than Republicans and Republican leaners, just 55% of whom identified Bidens faith as Catholic.

The survey also asked respondents to weigh in on their thoughts about Bidens religiosity. Among all U.S. adults, a majority (64%) said the president is religious, with 37% characterizing him as somewhat religious and 27% describing him as very religious. Meanwhile, 35% of Americans think Biden is not religious, with 21% saying that he is not too religious and 14% believing that he is not at all religious.

An overwhelming majority of Democrats and those who lean Democrat (88%) believe that Biden is religious, with 45% describing him as very religious and 43% agreeing with the characterization of the president as somewhat religious. Nine percent of Democrats thought that the president is not too religious while 3% believed that he is not at all religious.

Republicans are far less likely than Democrats to describe Biden as religious. Just 7% of Republicans and adults who lean Republican thought that he was very religious, while 29% described him as somewhat religious. A plurality of Republicans surveyed (35%) concluded that Biden was not too religious, while 29% characterized him as not at all religious.

The responses to a question about how often people think Biden mentions his religious faith and prayer also illustrated a partisan divide. Overall, 61% of Americans believe that Biden mentions his religious faith and prayer about the right amount. That number rises to 79% among Democrats while dropping to 42% among Republicans.

While just 11% of Democrats thought that Biden mentions his religious faith and prayer too little, 33% of Republicans said the same, along with 21% of the respondents as a whole. A small minority of all U.S. adults (14%) thought that Biden mentions his religious faith and prayer too much. Broken down by partisan affiliation, 8% of Democrats and 5% of Republicans said the same.

With responses broken down among religious groups, white evangelical Christians, a strongly Republican voting bloc, were the least likely to say that they thought Biden is very or somewhat religious. As majorities of all other religious groups agreed with that supposition, just 35% of white evangelicals said that they agreed with the characterization.

White evangelicals were also the most likely group to say that Biden talks about his religious faith too little and the least likely to believe that he discusses his faith about the right amount. Majorities of all other religious groups believed that Biden talks about his religion about the right amount, while a narrow plurality (41%) of white evangelicals said the same. Thirty-nine percent of white evangelicals told Pew that the president talks about his religion too little, a far higher share than all other religious groups.

The results of the survey reflect concerns about Bidens position on abortion among pro-life religious voters, who overwhelmingly support the Republican Party in presidential elections. Biden, who touted his Catholic faith on the campaign trail, was denied communion by a priest in South Carolina because of his pro-abortion advocacy.

Although most respondents correctly identified Biden as a Catholic, the American public remains unsure about Harris religion. When asked to identify Harris faith, the overwhelming majority of respondents (65%) reported that they were not sure. Twelve percent correctly identified her faith as Protestant, while 8% said she belongs to no religion, 5% thought she was Catholic, 4% thought she belongs to an other religion, such as Judaism or Islam, while 3% told Pew that Harris practices Hinduism.

The partisan divide that manifested itself in the question about Bidens religiosity was also on display when respondents were asked about Harris religiosity. Overall, a majority of Americans (52%) thought that Harris was not too religious or not at all religious compared to 46% who described her as either very or somewhat religious.

The share of respondents who saw Harris as not too religious or not at all religious rose to 79% among Republicans, while dropping to 29% among Democrats. Nineteen percent of Republicans described Harris as very or somewhat religious compared to 69% of Democrats. The share of respondents that viewed Harris as very or somewhat religious ranged from 20% among white evangelicals to 78% among black Protestants, a group that overwhelmingly favors Democrats in presidential elections.
In 1952, like a bolt from the blue, came UP chief minister Govind Ballabh Pants order abolishing zamindari. The abrupt drop in prestige and lifestyle caused a relative across the Ganga to hide his arsenal of a few rifles and 12-bore shotguns along with boxes of Eley cartridges.

Whenever courtiers in rags, with some previous pique, stoked his fragile ego with stories of rampant lawlessness in villages because huzoors power had ended, huzoor would come out with his preferred shotgun. This sad, fake dadagiri lasted as long as the boxes of Eleys did.

This trans-Ganga tragic hero came to mind when my eye fell on a bold headline of a piece by Graham E. Fuller, formerly of the CIA, on the aggressive style of Joe Bidens and Anthony Blinkens early outings in Foreign Affairs: Hell Hath No Fury Like A Superpower in Decline.

The subsequent utterances are subdued and moderate but the initial knee-jerk reaction was revealing. Fuller writes: The US leadership must have set some kind of new record in managing to personally insult the powers of the world within 48 hours of each other in these early days of the Biden administration. President Biden called Vladimir Putin a killer and lacking a soul. Blinken was equally insulting on China.

This country has some grounds for pride in its own imperfect democratic order. Still, how much reflection does it take to acknowledge what the Chinese Communist Party has accomplished in the past 30 years? Is it more worthy to bring half a billion people out of poverty into middle-class life in a mere generation? Or more worthy to maintain intact an American electoral system in which mediocre or bad leaders emerge as readily as good ones?

Fullers invective is focused on the Biden-Blinken opening salvos at Russia and China. I would have scoured anything Fuller wrote on the tenth anniversary of the Syrian crisis. Five Western powers observed the occasion with all the fire and brimstone of the past. Fuller knows the area backwards.

A key policy document advising the Reagan administration in 1983 on military action against Syria for strategic reasons was his handiwork. I have had this document ever since it was released in 2008, having been in secret vaults for 25 years.

After visiting Damascus and almost all the trouble spots in Syrias neighbourhood, I had written a paper The Storm in the Arab Spring, the eye of the storm being Syria. I feel qualified to take a critical look at the statement the foreign ministers of the US, France, Germany, Italy and UK issued on the tenth anniversary of the beginning of the tragedy.

One allegation the ministers repeat is straightforward: President Bashar al Assad started the ghoulish operation against his own people who were rebelling against misrule, corruption, economic distress. Not true. I was in Damascus at the outset.

There were reports fairly early in the Obama administration leading the global effort to deploy shadow Internet and mobile systems which dissidents can use to undermine repressive governments that seek to silence them by shutting down communications network. James Glanz and John Markoff of the New York Times described one operation in a fifth-floor shop at Washingtons L Street, where a group of young entrepreneurs, looking like a garage band, are assembling deceptively innocent-looking hardware into a prototype Internet-in-a-suitcase. It was all part of the big push for the Liberation Technology Movement, and how comprehensively it was applied against the Syrian regime.

In Syrias case, the moderate operation the free world was busting its guts to help, in many cases, turned out to be cover for extreme Islamists like Jabhat al Nusra. One such instance defence secretary Lloyd Austin admitted before the Senate Armed Services Select Committee: A $500 million project to train moderates to fight Assad turned into an embarrassment for Washington. Most trainees disappeared, along with the lethal equipment. Mr Austin mumbled four or five of the moderates trained were still with us.

Among the trick sentences in the foreign ministers statement was one on Daesh (Islamic State). Preventing Daeshs resurgence remains a priority, the statement says. Hadnt Daesh, in the administrations words, been destroyed? So why is possible resurrection posed as a threat? Because the threat, when live, can justify airstrikes and other forms of intervention? In Americas sole superpower moment, countries were averse to calling the US names: how can it be accused of nurturing terrorists as possible assets in future contingencies?

The free run the US and regional allies like Saudi Arabia had to alter the ground realities in Syria ended when the Russians arrived in 2015, boots on the ground.

A brief background to place Baghdadi in perspective. President Barack Obama was livid with Iraqi PM Nouri al Maliki for not signing the status of forces agreement before the US troops departure. Washington wanted him out.

Just about this time, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi puts out a video from Mosuls main mosque on July 4, 2014, declaring the formation of an Islamic Caliphate. In August 2014, Mr Obama gave a significant interview to Thomas L. Friedman of the New York Times. Asked why he didnt order airstrikes against ISIS when it reared its head in June-July 2014, Mr Obama admitted that airstrikes on Baghdadi in July would have taken the pressure off Nouri al Maliki, Iraqs stubbornly anti-American Shia PM. In other words, the rapid march of ISIS from Mosul to Baghdads outskirts was facilitated to keep the pressure on the PM. In September 2014, Mr Maliki was shown the door. Moral: Terrorists can be assets in certain circumstances!
Diversified resource group, RioZim Limited, says it has prioritized the completion of the US$ 17 million Biological Oxidation (BIOX) plant at the firm's Cam and Motor mine in Kadoma this year following delays to the project in the past two years due to funding constraints and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The BIOX technology will help the group value-add its precious minerals through processing pure oxide ores to make good grades and high recoveries and this is expected to increase current production levels by at least 50 percent.

As it stands, discussions with potential lenders to secure funding are underway with high hopes of a break-through, the company said in its latest trading update for the full year ended December 2020.

"The completion of the BIOX plant remains a key priority for the Company as we pursue value creation for all stakeholders. The success of this project will be pivotal for the sustenance of the Cam & Motor mine," it said.

External funding for the project remained elusive throughout the year as lenders took a conservative approach in light of the uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. This left the Company primarily dependent on internally generated funding.

Despite the funding and COVID-19 challenges, the Company managed to steamroll the project to bring civil works to near completion and managed to take delivery of the bulk of the equipment by end of last year.

"Installations commenced post year end and are progressing well. As at the reporting date, the Company was engaged in discussions with potential lenders to secure the remaining funding requirements to complete the project and the Company is hopeful of reaching financial closure. The Company remains optimistic of concluding and commissioning the BIOX Plant within the ensuing reporting year," said RioZim.

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The Company will build on its exploration drive from the prior year in order to upgrade and increase confidence levels on all resources across all our mines in light of the declining grades at Renco, One Step and Dalny mines.

The Company's gold production declined by 27 percent from 1.66 tons achieved in the prior year to 1.21 tons.

"Throughout the current year, the Group's flagship operation Cam & Motor Mine carried out mining activities from the nearby One Step Mine hauling low grade ore to the Cam & Motor plant for processing. This resulted in a drastic fall in gold production compared to the prior year when the Mine processed higher grade ore from its Cam pits," the company said.

The gold price maintained a growth trend throughout the year recording a 27 percent growth from the prior year's average price of US$1 395/oz, to an average price of US$1 765/oz in the current year which counteracted the impact of lower production volumes.

Revenue generated during the period was ZWL$3.1 billion in comparison to ZWL$577.1 million in the prior year. The exponential increase in revenue was a direct result of the depreciation of the local currency against the US dollar.
LONDON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AgDevCo is pleased to announce a USD 3.0 million follow-on mezzanine debt investment into Uzima Chicken Limited, a poultry company operating in Rwanda and Uganda.

AgDevCo Logo (PRNewsfoto/AgDevCo)

AgDevCo's first investment in 2017 helped launch Uzima in Rwanda. From a brownfield site, the company has grown rapidly and now reaches customers in over 59,000 households. This investment provides Uzima with further capital to expand its production capacity, vertically integrate into poultry feed and widen its already significant impact reach across the Great Lakes region.

Uzima provides day-old chicks to smallholder farmers through a network of hundreds of small, independent distributors. Distributors rear the birds to six to eight weeks before selling them to smallholder farmers. The Uzima improved breeds are "dual-purpose" which make them ideal for rearing outdoors in backyard conditions, for both eggs and meat.

In addition to providing growth capital, AgDevCo has supported Uzima with technical assistance, including by recruiting and training a network of veterinary staff.

David Ellis, Co-founder of Uzima Chicken, said:

"AgDevCo backed us before our first chick was hatched in Rwanda. Now four years and some five million birds later we are pleased to be deepening our relationship with AgDevCo to drive further expansion."

Chris Isaac, Chief Investment Officer at AgDevCo, said:

"We're delighted with Uzima's progress so far. The company is delivering higher incomes and better nutrition to tens of thousands of low-income households  and doing so profitably. As a long-term partner, we look forward to helping drive further growth and impact in the region."

AgDevCo was supported on this transaction by Trust Law Chambers in Rwanda and BLC Robert & Associates in Mauritius.

ABOUT AGDEVCO

AgDevCo is a specialist investor in African agriculture. We invest to grow sustainable and impactful agribusiness. Our vision is a thriving commercial agriculture sector which benefits both people and planet. We contribute to this by investing in and supporting agribusinesses to grow, create jobs, produce and process food and link farmers to markets. We reinvest our capital to reach higher impact which ensures efficiency and change at scale. We support our partners to work towards climate sustainability, and where possible, regenerative solutions. AgDevCo's current portfolio has $138m of committed funds into 48 companies.

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Republicans in Congress and statehouses threatened legal action Thursday to try to reverse President Biden's new executive actions on gun control  while Donald Trump Jr. went after Hunter Biden for his own gun purchase.

Biden's actions, which the president announced Thursday with Attorney General Merrick Garland standing behind him, would crack down on so-called 'ghost guns,' tighten requirements for pistol braces which improve accuracy, and issue reports on gun trafficking  while pushing for new laws tightening background checks, banning assault weapons, and holding gun-makers liable for their products in court.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy pronounced the new moves, which follow the mass shooting at spas in Atlanta and other tragedies, 'unconstitutional' and vowed to pursue 'every option' to undo them.

Politico reported last March on a 2018 incident where Hallie Biden threw a gun she found in Hunter's car into a trash bin. When Secret Service agents went to the gun store where Hunter had purchased the 38 seeking sale records, the owner refused to hand them over, in a convoluted saga. The gun, which had been missing from the trash bin when Hallie Biden went back to look for it, reappeared days later.

According to Hunter's receipt from the gun purchase, which was obtained by Politico, he answered 'no' to the question: 'Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?'

Hunter Biden was discharged from the Navy after testing positive for cocaine.

President Joe Biden announced new gun control executive actions in the wake of the Atlanta spa attacks and other mass shooting. Republicans are vowing to sue to roll back 'unconstitutional' efforts

McCarthy tweeted: 'President Biden has ordered the [Justice Department] to issue new rules that will surely result in unconstitutional overreach. Republicans will strongly oppose and pursue every optionbe it legislative or judicialto protect the right to keep and bear arms from infringement by this Administration.'

The House has already passed two bills to tighten background checks.

And amid the legal saber rattling, Donald Trump Jr. blasted Biden for seeking to 'disarm' Americans given that his son Hunter was able to 'lie' to get a firearm.

'Biden wants to disarm law-abiding American citizens with unconstitutional gun control measures, but his son Hunter is allowed to break the law and lie on federal background check forms to get a gun with no consequences???' said Trump Jr., a hunting enthusiast.

Republicans will strongly oppose and pursue every optionbe it legislative or judicialto protect the right to keep and bear arms from infringement by this Administration,' said House minority leader Kevin McCarthy

Son vs. Son: Donald Trump Jr. went after the new gun control measures, and said Hunter Biden was 'allowed to break the law and lie on federal background check forms' to get a firearm

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) also called the moves unconstitutional

Donald Trump Jr. brought up a bizarre incident involving a firearm owned by Hunter Biden, and said he lied to get the permit

Other powerful Republicans also dangled legal action over President Biden's actions.

'Today, President Biden announced his attempts to trample over our constitutional Second Amendment rights by executive fiat,' Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) said in a statement.

Also joining the fray was South Dakota Gov. Krisi Noem, a Donald Trump loyalist.

'Taking away guns with Red Flag laws is an infringement,' she wrote. 'Placing new limits on firearms sales is an infringement.'

And West Virginia's Republican attorney general, Patrick Morrisey, also threatened to sue the administration.

Biden Executive Actions on Guns Crackdown on 'ghost guns,' which are built from kits

Tighten requirements on pistol braces that allow for more accurate shooting

Department of Justice will publish 'red flag' legislation for the states

Investment in evidence-based community violence interventions

DoJ will issue an annual report on gun trafficking Advertisement

'Defending the Second Amendment remains one of the most important priorities for the West Virginia Attorney General's Office,' he said. 'I will not allow the far left to run roughshod over our citizens' gun rights. If President Biden follows through on his proposals, we will be in court very quickly.'

The legal threats a reminder of the limits of executive actions as an instrument for long term change. President Trump took a series of sweeping executive actions on immigration and other matters after taking office, only to see many of them tied up in courts or reversed.

Anticipating the legal battle ahead, Biden said at the White House: ''Nothing I'm about to recommend in any way impinges on the Second Amendment. These are phony arguments, suggesting that these are second amendment rights at stake.'

Biden's reliance on executive actions stems in part from the difficulty over decades of getting gun control legislation through Congress, where Republican opposition is strong, some Democrats including those from rural districts are more skeptical than their liberal colleagues, and where the Senate filibuster prevents a majority from acting.

The assault weapons ban, enacted in 1994, expired in 2004. President Barack Obama failed to get significant gun control legislation after Sandy Hook and other massacres.

And Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas argued the answer wasn't more legislation but a crackdown on those who used guns in crimes.

'The right to keep and bear arms is fundamental for preserving our liberty. The answer is not to restrict the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens, the answer is to go after violent criminals and come down on them like a ton of bricks,' he tweeted.

And Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia tweeted a photo of herself with an AK-47, writing: 'The right of the people to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT be infringed!'
Outrage from Democrats, corporations and Major League Baseball about voter identification requirements and Georgia's "Election Integrity Act of 2021" feels like leftovers reheated for the third time. Whenever Republicans propose commonsense voter ID measures to help safeguard our elections, liberals react by shouting that it is voter suppression and Jim Crow 2.0.

These claims are false, and they distract from the real issues of promoting election integrity and preventing fraud.

Hans von Spakovsky, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, notes, "Virtually every person of voting age already has such IDs, and those who do not can easily get them. Every state with an ID requirement issues a free ID to anyone who doesn't already have one. Despite the empty howls of 'repression,' states that have implemented ID requirements have seen turnout go up, not down."

Just muddling the debate

Arguing voter ID is a form of voter suppression is a smokescreen designed to muddle the debate. Instead of lecturing us with false arguments, Democrats should listen to Black and Latino voters who support ID requirements because they understand we need to take simple steps to protect the sanctity of the ballot box.

Instead of debating the merits of voter ID and election regulations, liberals label them  and anyone supporting them  as racist in attempts to shut down any debate. For example, Stacey Abrams calls Georgia's law "a redux of Jim Crow in a suit and tie."

Ken Blackwell, a former Ohio treasurer and secretary of state, is a senior fellow for Human Rights and Constitutional Governance at the Family Research Council. He also served as a senior transition official for President Donald Trumps White House and was appointed to the Presidential Commission on Election Integrity.

This is ridiculous. Abrams herself praised New Jerseys new voting procedures, where voters get up to 10 days to vote early. Under Georgias new law, they get 17 days.

The data doesn't matter, the views of African Americans and Latinos don't matter, the actual text of the new law doesnt matter. The hyperbolic rhetoric ignores the truth.

Liberals are now pushing a federal elections bill, H.R. 1, which they claim will eliminate racist state laws. This legislation sabotages state voter ID requirements by forcing states to allow anyone to vote, with or without an ID, if they sign an unverifiable statement attesting to their eligibility. Plainly stated the bill would eliminate voter ID in 35 states. What could go wrong?

Story continues

Boycott the Georgia boycott: Nine ways to thwart the Georgia 'voting rights' boycott

If H.R. 1 is enacted, our elections will be vulnerable as decades of good governance will be thrown out and replaced with half-baked left-wing talking points. For example, states would be required to implement technology that doesn't exist, couldn't remove ineligible voters from voter rolls and would have to allow paid political operatives to collect absentee ballots.

Listen to the voters who largely support voter ID laws

Thankfully, the American people strongly disagree with a ban on voter ID, as an Associated Press poll found that 72% of respondents support it. Likewise, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll found 74% of Georgians supporting voter ID.

Digging deeper, the Rasmussen Reports found that wide margins of minority voters support voter ID as well: 69% of African Americans and 82% of other nonwhite minorities.

3 reasons it isn't a big deal: No, Georgia's new law is not Jim Crow on steroids

It never ceases to amaze me that Democrats believe African Americans don't have, and aren't capable of obtaining, an ID. Especially since you need an ID to do routine things such as open a bank account, drive a car, board a flight or pick up tickets at the will-call window at Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park. Most Americans have identification, and those who don't can quickly get one, as states such as Georgia provide free IDs to anyone who needs one.

Voter ID is the best election reform that states have adopted; hopefully all 50 will do so. If there was any hint of racism associated with it then Id be the first to lead the charge against it. Likewise, the reforms in Georgia make it easier to vote and harder to cheat.

Ken Blackwell was the first African American to be elected statewide in Ohio  as secretary of state and state treasurer  after serving as mayor of Cincinnati. Follow him on Twitter: @KenBlackwell

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Voter ID laws and racism: Democrats are just muddling the debate
Maybe if Deanna McCloskey had stopped working when her husband asked her to, he wouldnt have died.

But how could she have quit? They relied on her income to pay the bills.

Maybe if she had followed the news as closely as her husband had as coronavirus cases ticked then spiked, he would still be alive.

But no one else had her husbands absolute certainty that the country was at the beginning of a catastrophe. Why would she have been scared?

Maybe it wouldnt have mattered.

She will not ever really know.

Among the coronavirus unique cruelties are the questions it creates for its survivors. It can be impossible to know exactly when and where the disease gets contracted, particularly for those with jobs that force them to interact with others. People are left to wonder if they passed a virus that killed their own friends and family, and how they can live with themselves if they did. That guilt is why Danica Danali thought she would have to quit her job and why Adelina Rodriguez-Mata opened her vanity and looked at her pill bottles and wondered if she could make an overdose look like an accident. They watch vaccines roll out and people lose their caution, they try to make sense of things with strangers from around the country they met in a Facebook group, and they wonder if they will ever be fully back to normal.

Everyone tells Deanna not to feel guilty. They tell her: You couldnt have known you were sick. You cant be sure he got it from you.

Shes sure.

I. The Exposure

Danica, Houston

Danica Danalis daughter did not want to do sixth grade from home (Whats the point of sixth grade if not to socialize?), so she attended school in person.

It looked safe. The students in her Cypress-Fairbanks ISD school wore masks and social distanced. They had put up plastic shields between desks and made the kids skip a seat at lunch. They didnt worry too much.

Danica, 42, did not think of the coronavirus when her daughter came home on a Friday in February, complaining she was tired. On Monday, she had a fever. By Tuesday, she felt fine.

So when Danica felt the exhaustion creeping in herself, she was sure that whatever it was would pass. She went into her job on the Friday before Valentines Day. She works delivering food for a national chain. Everyone wears masks. They take them off for a few minutes to eat or take a drink of water.

She did not think anything of it.

Deanna, Michigan

John Wadens worries began on March 16, 2020.

I think you need to get some of them disposable gloves like at the hospital and keep it in your car at your desk, he texted his wife. He had followed news on the coronavirus since it sprung up in China from his home with Deanna in Allen Park, Mich. It scared him.

John and Deanna, 54 and 45, had met in Georgia. After eight months, he asked, Do you love me? Cause I love you. She loved him. They moved to Michigan in 2011. Everyone called him Big John for his size (6 feet, 2 inches) and his personality (South Carolina polite with a talent for calming upset people during his years as a bouncer at a Georgia bar). In Michigan, they both worked in car shops until John came down with leukemia. He beat it after a stem cell transplant and stopped working in January 2019. A year before everyone donned a mask, John wore them everywhere.

On March 19, Deannas phone buzzed. She had just gotten up from her desk at her job in an auto shop. John had texted: I think Ill leave it up to you if you think financially will be OK take the day off plus I feel the less youre around people the better chance you dont get anything but I know you have to work and we had to pay bills so whatever you choose Im cool with.

And then: if we can afford it Id rather you stay home.

Going and staying till like 11 a.m., she texted back. She did not think they could afford it.

The case counts climbed. Deanna pulled herself out of work. The governor issued a stay-at-home order three days later.

Four days after she stopped working, Deanna got a cough that wouldnt go away.

Adelina, Austin

Adelina Rodriguez-Matas job is cold, but on a Friday in December, she felt hot.

Adelina, 42, works at a grocery store in Austin in the receiving department, with chilled dairy products and cold meats. She called her fiance and said, Im getting sick.

Raymond, 39, was at his regular dialysis appointment and told her he felt fine. They had met in 2005 and watched the sunset off the Capital of Texas Highway in Austin for their first date. She had seen him through a lupus diagnosis. He balanced her. When she would come home from work and tell him rapid-fire about everything that had happened to her that day, he would wait until she finished and say, OK, did you get it all out of your chest?

Adelina went home early and took her temperature. 102. By the time Raymond came home with takeout, their Friday routine, she had chills. She stayed out on the couch in their one-bedroom; he sat and watched TV on the other sofa. On Saturday, she had chest pressure. On Sunday, she told him she needed to go to urgent care.

Because of COVID protocols, he stayed in the lobby while she went and got tested. A nurse shoved the nasal swab up Adelinas nose. She flinched.

Raymond texted: Hows it going?

She told him one of the nurses had hurt her with the swab.

He said: Well, I guess Im not going to get tested.

II. The Illness

Danica, Houston

Danica woke up at 2 a.m. with the worst chills shed ever experienced.

She shook so hard she woke up her husband. Whats wrong with you? he asked. She didnt know.

That morning, she went to urgent care. She had trouble breathing. She tested positive for the virus. She sent her husband for a test. Positive.

She called her manager to tell him her diagnosis.

Were you in contact with anyone? he asked.

Yeah, she said. Everywhere.

On Monday, she asked her manager if anyone else had gotten sick. No, he said, they hadnt.

The answer would change. Five of her co-workers came down with the virus. One of the five was her best guy friend. He quarantined himself  and passed the disease to his wife.

On March 2, 2021, he texted her.

My wife just passed away this morning a lil after 1:30, he wrote at 4:06 a.m. She was sick and think it was COVID.

She read the text when she woke up. She typed back, Oh my God. Im so sorry. Can I do anything for you?

It did not hit her until a few hours later. She was the one who brought COVID to the workplace. She had killed her friends wife.

Deanna, Michigan

A week after she stopped working, Deanna brought her husband home to die.

He had gone to the hospital at 11 a.m. that Saturday in March 2020 with a 100.3 fever. Deanna stayed at their home. She didnt think they could possibly have the virus.

She woke up at 5:30 a.m. and scrolled through Facebook. She paused on his status update: Please pray for me. Im COVID positive.

She grabbed her phone from her nightstand. Hed texted her the news while she slept. When she called him, she cried. She knew he had a compromised immune system. She knew he had stayed home for months. She knew she had given it to him.

On the phone, he told her, My bodys not gonna make it.

The doctors treated his pneumonia with antibiotics and attacked his blood clots with a blood thinner. John kept Deanna posted by Facebook messenger. He heard doctors discuss transferring the most severe cases to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He heard the machines of other patients trill as their hearts stopped. He texted Deanna: It is very scary in here.

At the worst time in his leukemia, Deanna and John had talked about end-of-life options. He had not wanted to rely on a machine to keep him alive. He had not wanted to leave Deanna with the burden of pulling the plug. He made the same decision with the coronavirus: He did not want the ventilator.

The doctors let Deanna into the hospital to pick him up. He had been asleep when she came in. He woke up slowly. She told him he was going home. Still groggy, he asked: Was he better?

She said: No, honey, youre going home on hospice. Remember you and I talked about that?

He did.

She calls the next 36 hours her husbands living eulogy. She set up his bed near their front window in the living room so people could sit on the porch and look at him through the glass. They FaceTimed his family and friends in Georgia and South Carolina. She fed him watered-down Coca Cola and milk. She wiped the crust off his eyes and the snot from his nose with a warm washcloth. She put chapstick on his lips. He responded up until the last few hours.

Just before her husband died, Deanna told him: Im so glad that we met.

He slurred: Im glad I met you too.

She told him: I love you.

He mumbled: I love you too.

Adelina, Austin

Raymond was running late.

Adelina had set an appointment for him Thursday to get a coronavirus test. Her own had come back positive. Raymond had spent the week caring for her, making her grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup that she could barely keep down. Her fever spiked and ebbed and spiked again.

She woke him up at 9 a.m. Gotta get ready, she said. Im going to make some tea, come to the sofa.

He drank his tea. He barely spoke.

You want me to drive you? she asked. Is it because youre tired? Did you take some pills late or something?

He told her he was cold. She brought him a blanket. She would drive him straight to the hospital, she decided. Something wasnt right.

Raymond went to the bathroom and got in bed. He asked her to fix the blanket. She did.

In a little while youre going to get up and were going to the hospital, she said.

OK, he mumbled. He closed his eyes. She went back into the TV room. He did not come out.

She heard a thump.

Raymond had fallen from the bed onto the floor. She was too weak to move him. She called EMS and she sat and she waited with him. She told him she had only a week left of quarantine. She told him he would be home soon. He opened his eyes. He looked at Adelina. He closed them.

The EMTs, geared up in PPE, made their way into the bedroom and reached for Raymond.

Theres no pulse, one of them said.

Adelina screamed.

III. The Aftermath

Danica, Houston

As her first day back at work got closer, Danica lost control of her thoughts.

She could not possibly go in. She would have to go in. Should she go in and quit? Her co-workers would hate her. Everyone would hate her. She had gotten them sick. She had killed her friends wife. How many people got the virus because of her? How many more people did she kill without knowing it? What about the woman with her adult son living at home? What if he had passed it to brothers or sisters she didnt know about? What if he passed it to a grandparent? What if

She pulled into the parking lot. She had not eaten anything all day. She had forgotten what it felt like to sleep through the night. Her lungs felt tight. She told herself: breathe.

She went inside. Everyone welcomed her back. Her manager reminded her: She had not known she was sick. It was not her fault.

Danicas main symptoms lasted 10 days, but she still carries the aftereffects. She gets dizzy randomly. She reaches for words she used to know and cannot find them. When she drives down the streets around her neighborhood, she feels like shes exploring an entirely new place.

She texted her colleague whose wife died: PLEASE let me know if there is anything I can do for you! I understand if youre angry with me :(.

She asked if she could come over and make him food. He agreed. He thanked her for everything she was doing. How could he thank her? Danica wondered. Shed killed his wife.

She told him she felt responsible for what had happened. He understood. But it wasnt her fault, he said. It was his. His wife had deteriorated fast at home. She had refused to go the emergency room, and he had accepted it. He told Danica he cannot stop wondering about what might have been different if he had forced her to go to the ER earlier.

He does not blame Danica. He blames himself.

Deanna, Michigan

On the exact one-year anniversary of her husbands death, Deannas mother got her second dose of the vaccine.

Deanna has been in therapy. She still feels guilt, no matter how many people tell her not to. All she knows is that there were three cases of the coronavirus at her job the week she went home, and that her husband is dead.

Almost a year after John died, Deanna got his medical records. Shed wondered about his quality of care (Did they do everything in their power to save him? Did they give him the opportunity or make him feel like he had no hope?). In his records, she saw that the leukemia they thought John had beaten had come back. She wondered if the doctors had told him.

Deanna found a Facebook support group for coronavirus survivors and those who have lost their loved ones to the virus that has taken more than 560,000 lives in the U.S., 48,000 in Texas. She tells people: You never want to be in that position to know you have brought something home to somebody, and they die from it. Because you carry that for the rest of your life.

Adelina, Austin

On March 12, 2021, 11 days before she would get her first dose of Moderna and 17 days before Texas opened vaccine eligibility to all adults, Adelina and Raymond were supposed to have been married.

They had planned to get married in October 2020. They had picked a venue for 350. With the virus, they had downsized. It would have been the first time their full extended families had met. After he died, she looked at the pills in her medicine cabinet and wondered: If she took enough, would it look like shed just died of COVID?

Her father saved her without knowing it. He texted her at least five times a day after Raymond died. Had she eaten? Had she had water? Had she tested negative yet? Could he see her?

She has not seen Raymond in her dreams. Sometimes she looks for a sign of him. She cant find one. She cant listen to his music (80s hits) or watch his shows (The Walking Dead). She can barely watch TV at all, because TV was an activity they did together. She thinks about how he spent the last week of his life taking care of her. She didnt even see him deteriorate until he was gone.

Adelina has learned to forgive herself. She had the symptoms first, but her group at work is careful. Raymond was the one who went out to do their grocery shopping. Raymond was the one who resented wearing a mask, who sometimes didnt cover his nose. When they were together, she would say, Show me your hands. He would open them, palms up, and she would spray his palms with hand sanitizer.

Adelina still lives in the apartment where Raymond died. On what would have been her wedding day, she woke up before the sun rose. She laid out Raymonds tux and pink tie. She arranged the train of her dress, white lace with a rhinestone belt. She put her shoes by the dress and their rings on Raymonds tux. She wrapped a wreath and white roses around their wedding clothes. Above the gown and tux, she put a curlicue carving: Mr. & Mrs.

sarah.smith@chron.com

twitter.com/sarahesmith23


ESPOO (dpa-AFX) - Nokia said that its Annual General Meeting supported all proposals submitted to it by the Board of Directors. The AGM adopted the Company's financial statements, discharged the members of the Board and the persons who acted as President and Chief Executive Officer from liability for the financial year 2020 and supported the Company's Remuneration Report in an advisory vote.



The AGM resolved to elect eight members to the Board. Sari Baldauf, Bruce Brown, Thomas Dannenfeldt, Jeanette Horan, Edward Kozel, Sren Skou, Carla Smits-Nusteling and Kari Stadigh were re-elected for the term ending at the close of the next Annual General Meeting.



The Board elected Sari Baldauf as Chair of the Board, and Kari Stadigh as Vice Chair of the Board.



The AGM re-elected Deloitte Oy as the auditor for Nokia for the financial year 2022.



In addition, the AGM resolved that the auditor elected for 2022 be reimbursed based on the invoice of the auditor and in compliance with the purchase policy approved by the Audit Committee.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

NOKIA-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
McNeece appointed 5th Judicial Circuit magistrate judge

A new magistrate has been hired for the 5th Judicial Circuit.
After 3-way talks on the contentious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) built on Nile rivers main tributaries hit deadlock in Kinshasa on Sunday, upstream Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan exchanged barbs and traded blames as tensions escalated between the African neighbours. Accusing Egypt and Sudan of obstructing the recent Khartoum-hosted trilateral dialogue post a two-year hiatus about the Nile rivers water, Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesman Meles Alem took aim at the two downstream nations for the failure of a diplomatic resolution.

The meeting failed due to Egypt and Sudan's rigid stance to make the negotiation and the outcome a tool to affirm their self-claimed water share and foreclose Ethiopia's share," Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, Tuesday.

Ethiopia's remarks were followed by Ethiopias declaration that it was going ahead with the second stage of filling of the GERDs reservoir, as scheduled for the upcoming rainy season which will stop the Nile river water flow to Egypt. "Ethiopia cannot enter into an agreement that would foreclose its current and future legitimate rights over the utilization of the Nile," the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry added.

Press Release on the Trilateral Negotiations on the #GERD. 06 April 2021, DRC. @mfaethiopia pic.twitter.com/ttUOZzjMhj  MFA Ethiopia (@mfaethiopia) April 6, 2021

In condemnation of Ethiopia's unilateral move, Egypt's Foreign Ministry issued a retaliatory statement saying that Ethiopia "lacked the political will to negotiate in good faith. Further flaring the transboundary dispute, Addis Ababa alleged that the nations in the basin heavily relied on Nile water, and the binding Entebbe Agreement that led to a geopolitical shift in the region still needed cooperation for appropriate allocation of Niles resources.

The north African nations assertion came even as the delegation of the three countries stalled negotiations hosted by the Democratic Republic of Congo without an end agreement, as they each fired heated rhetorics. Egypts President on Wednesday also threatened Ethiopia of an armed conflict. I say to our brothers in Ethiopia, dont touch a drop of Egypts water, because all options are open, President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi told a live-streamed press conference in Cairo.

'Connect GERD with Aswan dam': Egypt

Egypt had tabled forward a condition that Ethiopia's massive dam must be connected to the Aswan dam to avoid depleting the Nile river to a low level that may impact the country's irrigation and maritime transportation. If the water level diminished, it will affect Egypt's Lake Nasser which accounts for Egypt's electricity. Egypt relies on the Nile for 90 percent of its water supply.

Ethiopia's northern neighbour Sudan, also objected to the consequences of GERD's filling on Blue Nile [Nile draws its water from 3 tributaries Blue, While Nile and Atbara], as it said that the country suffers from serious overflooding that destroys farmlands downstream in August and September. Although, all neighbouring countries of South Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea including Sudan are likely to benefit from the $4bn GERD dam's electricity generation as they are hit with a massive power deficit.

[Map of the Nile Basin with major infrastructure and the three countries' strategic location around the dam construction. Credit: Nature Journal]

The trilateral dialogue between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan were hosted by Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, who became chairman of the African Union in February. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry described the talks as a "last chance at diplomacy" to reach a unanimous agreement on how the Nile water must be allocated between each of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia. The talks, however, broke up in acrimony with no consensus reached between the three African nations on the long-standing impasse of 4 years.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price, meanwhile, said on April 6 the United States will "encourage a productive dialogue" to resolve the Nile dispute. At a presser, Price said that the Biden administration has leverage with all three parties due to good ties. he also informed that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok about the GERD talks and US support for Sudans transition.
They had sizzling chemistry as partners on Strictly Come Dancing last year.

And Giovanni Pernice, 30, and Ranvir Singh, 43, set the rumour mill turning once again with an awkward exchange on Thursday's episode of Good Morning Britain.

The GMB presenter giggled along as she misheard her co-host Ben Shephard, 46, say 'she's a bit of a tease' when he'd actually suggested she'd be good at 'making teas' on the upcoming Strictly tour.

Blushing: Ranvir Singh set the rumour mill turning on Thursday's episode of Good Morning Britain when she misheard Ben Shephard tell Giovanni Pernice she was 'a bit of a tease'

Speaking to Giovanni and the Strictly judge Anton Du Beke, 54, via Zoom, Ben said: 'She's very good with the teas Anton... Don't worry about that.'

Quick to defend his former partner's honour, Giovanni replied: 'She's good at dancing as well Ben,' before throwing out a sassy side-eye look away from his webcam.

Once they'd said goodbye to the two dancers, Ranvir sheepishly revealed: 'When you said "she's good at the teas" I thought you meant "she's a bit of a tease".'

And there had been plenty of discussion about Ranvir and Giovanni's sizzling chemistry throughout the interview.

'She's good at dancing as well': Giovanni was quick to defend his former partner's honour when Ben actually suggested she'd be good at 'making teas' on the upcoming Strictly tour

Speaking of their steamy past performances, the Italian choreographer explained: 'That's what the dance required, intimacy.'

'The judges loved it and we loved it. I think it was one of our best dances together.'

Ranvir then saucily added: 'We were doing the American smooth and Giovanni was wearing a cardigan and I was like no, take off the cardigan, I need to feel his rib cage!'

Thanks to their sizzling chemistry, the couple frequently sparked romance rumours throughout their time on the 2020 Strictly series.

Heating up: The couple frequently sparked romance rumours throughout their time on the 2020 Strictly series thanks to their sizzling chemistry

The television personality, who confirmed her split from husband Ranjeet Singh Dehal just before her stint on the show, has said that there will be a bond between her and Gio for life.

'I think it's because he had to find out a lot about me that went beyond just learning a routine and vice versa really,' she gushed.

It comes after Giovanni recently made a profile on the celebrity dating app Raya where he'll join the likes of Cara Delevingne, Adele and Ben Affleck on the hunt for love.

A source told The Sun: 'Giovanni is a good looking chap and is keeping all his options open at the moment.

'Hes keen to find love again and Raya appears to be the place to do it.'

Ready to mingle? The flirty encounter comes after Giovanni has reportedly signed up to celebrity dating app Raya (pictured in May)

Giovanni has previously coupled up with the Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, who he met during the 2018 series of Strictly.

The pair announced they had decided to go their separate ways in January last year after over a year of dating.

Tweeting of their split at the time, Giovanni said: '@ImAshleyRoberts and I have made the decision to separate as a couple. We remain friends and wish each other well for the future.'
By Juliet Nalwooga

Traffic flow has this morning been disrupted after police diverted some roads in Kampalas Rubaga Division ahead of the Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwangas burial at Rubaga Cathedral.

According to the traffic guidelines issued by the Kampala metropolitan deputy police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, there will be traffic diversions at Nabunya junction, along the Kabusu Round About and Rubaga Hospital at Mutesa Road.

Access to the section of Rubaga Road leading to the cathedral will be restricted to only motorists with stickers coming from Kabuusu round about via Stensera Road and Mugwanya Road via Mutesa Road respectively.

All VIPs will access the cathedral through Kabusu roundabout to Stensera Road and park at Centenary Bank parking yard, and Uganda Martyrs University Social Centre as he clarifies.

Meanwhile the burial will be attended by a few selected persons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Archdiocese of Kampala has ask the faithful to participate in the funeral remotely via broadcast and social media.
ALBANY - State Education Department officials said they are disappointed the U.S. Department of Education has denied their waiver request to forgo state testing this year.

The state has contended that canceling state testing, or assessments, would be the most fair thing to do, given the circumstances the pandemic placed on students, and it reiterated that Wednesday after learning of the federal-level decision. They determined that spring assessments couldn't be "safely, equitably and fairly" administered in schools statewide, and that is why they sought the waivers.
Photo: VPD

A 47-year-old man has been charged in relation to hateful graffiti on Vancouver's Chinese Cultural Centre last year, and a province-wide warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Yves Castonguay, 47, faces two charges: one for public incitement of hatred, and one count of mischief to property, Vancouver Police say, after the Downtown Eastside centre was vandalized on April 2, 2020.

Racist language about the Asian community was written on the windows.

Castonguay was charged March 30, but didn't show up for his subsequent court date. The VPD says it wants to reassure the Asian community that it's working to hold Castonguay and others accountable for hate crimes.

Vancouver Police saw a 717 per cent increase in crimes that contained an element of hate, bias, and prejudice last year, with people of East Asian descent being the primary targets, says Const. Tania Visintin. The criminal charge for public incitement of hatred is a serious, specific charge that is rarely used. We are pleased that investigators were able to secure it.

The VPD is asking anyone who knows of Castonguay to contact them; they can be reached at 604-717-3321. If anyone witnesses a hate crime, the VPD urges them to call 911.
Americans are travelling in the greatest numbers in more than a year, and soon they will have two new leisure-oriented airlines to consider for those trips.

FILE - In this June 24, 2015 file photo, American-Brazilian businessman David Neeleman, right, talks to journalists during a join news conference with his partner Portuguese businessman Humberto Pedrosa, in Lisbon. Two new U.S. airlines are planning on starting service this spring, tapping into the travel recovery that is picking up speed. Breeze Airways is the latest creation of Neeleman, who founded JetBlue Airways more than 20 years ago. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

Americans are travelling in the greatest numbers in more than a year, and soon they will have two new leisure-oriented airlines to consider for those trips.

Both hope to draw passengers by filling in smaller strands on the spider web of airline routes crisscrossing the United States.

Avelo Airlines said Thursday that it will begin flying later this month to 11 destinations from Burbank, California. The startup plans to add other routes in the West as soon as it grows its fleet of three Boeing 737 jets.

Avelo was started by a longtime airline executive who thinks there is room for another low-fare carrier besides the several budget airlines already in the market.

There are too few seats in the United States being offered by low-cost carriers. Thats why we think the opportunity is huge, said Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy. Customers want a really inexpensive way to get from Point A to Point B.

Waiting in the wings is Breeze Airways, the latest creation of David Neeleman, who helped start Canadas WestJet before founding JetBlue Airways and the Brazilian airline Azul.

Breeze plans to fly to neglected, forgotten markets, including many that larger airlines have abandoned. Breeze is currently running proving flights for the Federal Aviation Administration and could announce details around routes and fares as soon as next week and be carrying passengers in May.

The planning for both airlines started before the coronavirus pandemic hit, but they are starting up just as long-homebound Americans look to break out and travel like it's 2019 again. More than 1 million Americans have been flying each day for nearly a month now, and people who kept their jobs through the pandemic have saved more, which they could tap for trips.

The last new U.S. airline was Virgin America, which began flying in 2007 and disappeared after Alaska Airlines bought it in 2016.

It's hard to start an airline because of high costs for planes, fuel, technology, and labour. The pandemic has helped, however, by leading to a glut of planes and available workers, says Jonathan Kletzel, a transportation expert at consultant PwC. Still, start-ups face another risk  fierce pushback if they threaten a market valued by an established airline.

When new entrants show up in a city, the majors can always deploy (flights) there at a low price point and completely crush them, Kletzel says. These entrants need to make sure that they target places that arent going to ruffle the wrong feathers.

AVELO

Levy is a former Allegiant Air and United Airlines executive who has finally achieved a yearslong dream of starting an airline.

Avelos strategy is straight out of the low-cost-carrier playbook first written by Southwest Airlines in the 1970s and copied by others, including Allegiant. Part of that strategy involves sticking to secondary airports that have lower costs and less congestion  planes land, take on new passengers, and take off quickly, spending more time in the air and less on the ground.

Its not that it hasnt been done before, its just that it hasnt been done in a really long time  staying away from the really big airports wherever it is possible, Levy says.

One of Avelos first destinations, Ogden, Utah, is a nice, convenient, easy-to-navigate airport, he says. There are a lot of those around the country that have been unserved or at least underserved. Those are the markets were going to target.

Allegiant is the only airline currently flying to Ogden, and only from Phoenix, while nearly a dozen carriers compete at nearby Salt Lake City.

Avelos first flight on April 28 will be from Burbank to Santa Rosa, in Northern California's wine country. No other airline flies that route, although Alaska Airlines goes to Santa Rosa from John Wayne Airport, about a 90-minute drive from Burbank.

The airline will fly 189-seat Boeing 737-800 planes, which are plentiful and, Levy says, a bargain on the used-plane market. The planes won't have on-board internet access, at least not this year.

Avelo launched with $19 promotional fares. Like other budget airlines, Avelo will charge extra for many options, including an assigned seat and carry-on bags that go in the overhead bins.

Costs at a start-up airline are real easy to forecast; the revenue is the hard part, Levy says. If Avelo hits revenue targets, we will definitely be profitable before the end of this year, and 2022 will be a profitable year. That is roughly the same outlook that analysts have for major U.S. airlines, which are known commodities with established customer bases.

BREEZE

Breeze hasn't detailed where it will begin operations, although the airline has hinted it will be in the Southeast, including Florida, a popular destination for leisure travellers. Neeleman says the timing is right.

Leisure traffic is crazy right now. A lot of people have vaccines, and younger, healthier people are like, Im good,  Neeleman said in an interview. There is a lot of pent-up demand, probably more than the seats that are available.

In contrast to Avelo, Breeze will start out using smaller planes, 118-seat Embraer E-190s that it will lease, including some from Azul. Neeleman said the lower operating costs of the smaller planes will help his new airline succeed on routes that others are passing up or have abandoned.

We can get trip costs that are 20% to 25% below where the other guys are, he said. Because we have a smaller airplane, we can go into markets that may not make sense for them but make all the sense in the world for us.

There are hundreds of such overlooked routes, Neeleman says. He says about 80% of the airline's capacity will be deployed on routes where there is no other nonstop service, only indirect connections.

Like Avelo, Breeze planes won't have a separate cabin for first-class or business-class seating, but Neeleman isn't ruling that out when his airline begins flying slightly larger Airbus A220 jets later this year.

Neeleman figures Breeze needs to fill about 60% of its seats to break even.

We fully expect to be profitable next year," he said.

David Koenig can be reached at www.twitter/airlinewriter
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has signed the law "On People's Rule through the All-Ukrainian Referendum" (bill No. 3612), the Verkhovna Rada said on its website.

"Returned with a signature from the President on April 8, 2021," the information on the passage of this law posted on the website of the Verkhovna Rada says.

As reported, on January 26, the Verkhovna Rada supported bill No. 3612 "On the All-Ukrainian Referendum" at the second reading. Some 255 deputies voted for the document. Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov signed it on February 17 and handed it over to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for signature.

According to the law, the subject of an all-Ukrainian referendum may be issues of approval of the law on amendments to clauses I, III, XIII of the Constitution (General Provisions; Elections. Referendum; Amendments to the Constitution), the issues of national importance, issues of changing the territory of Ukraine, on the loss of the force of the law of Ukraine or some of its provisions.
A united message of condemnation of recent violence in Northern Ireland has been welcomed by the Secretary of State.

Brandon Lewis denied that the UK Government had abandoned unionists through the new Brexit arrangements  one of the concerns inflaming tensions among loyalists that have sparked a week of violence, which police said has been on a scale not seen in recent years.

Mr Lewis arrived in Northern Ireland on Thursday following violent scenes at a Belfast interface on Wednesday evening, to speak to political and faith leaders.

A car on fire at the Peace Gates in Lanark Way, Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

He said there can be no justification for the violence.

I absolutely recognise the challenge and the sense of identity challenges that people in the unionist community have felt around the protocol and the practical outworkings of it, he said.

Thats why we took the actions we took just a couple of weeks ago to help businesses and consumers here in Northern Ireland.

Obviously I also appreciate people have talked about the decision last week by the DPP, the situation with people coming out of Covid and as the PSNI has said today, pure criminal activity and encouraging young people to take up criminal activity.

All of these things come together in a way which is completely unacceptable.

Mr Lewis expressed his confidence in the PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne who the DUP has urged to resign over a decision by prosecutors not to pursue Sinn Fein politicians over alleged coronavirus breaches at a funeral last year.

In the latest violent scenes, which took place in west Belfast on Wednesday night, a bus was hijacked and set on fire, petrol bombs, masonry and fireworks were thrown at police officers and a peace wall gate was set alight.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts said police were investigating whether there was any paramilitary involvement.

Police quelled crowds of 600 people on either side of the peace walls that separate communities in the city and deployed a type of plastic bullet, as well as arresting two men, aged 18 and 28, on suspicion of rioting.

Story continues

Mr Lewis pledged to do all I can to continue to facilitate further constructive discussions on the way forward over the coming days.

I remain in close contact with the Prime Minister to keep him updated, he added.

Earlier in the day, ministers in the Stormont Executive condemned the violence and Stormont MLAs unanimously passed a motion calling for an end to the disorder.

In a joint statement, the five-party Executive said: While our political positions are very different on many issues, we are all united in our support for law and order and we collectively state our support for policing and for the police officers who have been putting themselves in harms way to protect others.

We, and our departments, will continue to work together to maximise the support we can give to communities and the PSNI to prevent further violence and unrest.

The Stormont Assembly was recalled from Easter recess for an emergency sitting following a motion calling for MLAs to unequivocally condemn those involved and support the rule of law.

Speaking during the Assembly debate, DUP leader Arlene Foster said the scenes witnessed were totally unacceptable.

The First Minister said the injuries to police officers, harm to Northern Irelands image and peoples property had taken the region backwards.

Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill said the violence was dangerous and unacceptable.

She said illegal loyalist paramilitaries and criminal elements were influencing young people and orchestrating the violence.

They are holding back their own people and they are holding back their own community, she said.

But Mr Roberts later said during a press conference: I cant confirm the involvement of paramilitaries but the orchestration of last nights disorder and the previous nights is the subject of investigation.

The scale of the disorder last night was at a scale that we have not seen in recent years in Belfast or further afield.

The fact that it was sectarian violence involving large groups on both sides is not something we have seen in recent years. We believe there was a level of pre-planning.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts said police were investigating whether there was any paramilitary involvement in the unrest on Wednesday night (Cate McCurry/PA)

The violence is unfolding at a time of increasing rancour in the political sphere amid tensions over Brexits Irish Sea trade border and the fallout from the polices handling of a mass republican funeral that took place during pandemic restrictions last year.

As rioting has flared across Northern Ireland, all four main unionist parties continue to call for PSNI Chief Constable Mr Byrne to quit over how his service dealt with the funeral of former IRA leader Bobby Storey.

Unionists are furious at a decision by prosecutors not to take action against 24 Sinn Fein politicians, including Ms ONeill, for attending the funeral  a decision partly related to the fact that police had engaged with organisers before the event that drew 2,000 people on to the streets.

Mr Byrne has vowed not to resign and has signalled a desire to engage with people who have concerns about policing in the region.
The U.S. Army has launched clinical testing for its 'next-generation' COVID-19 vaccine that's designed to protect against the pandemic virus, its variants and other coronaviruses.

In early tests, the shot appears to prompt high levels of antibodies that should block the older 'wild-type' coronavirus, three major variants and even SARS-CoV-1, the similar pathogen that triggered the SARS epidemic in 2002.

Developed at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), the shot could have the potential to prevent future viruses from setting off pandemics, the scientists behind it hope.

Its first clinical trial, launched this week, will test the shot in 72 health volunteers between ages 18 and 55.

US Army scientists have launched clinical trials in 72 participants for its coronavirus vaccine which triggered antibodies to multiple variants in early tests - and could even work broadly enough to prevent illness from future coronaviruses and their variants (file)

The three COVID-19 vaccines available under emergency use authorization (EUA) in the U.S. are highly effective against the form that was spreading like wildfire in 2020.

But the UK's more infectious B117 variant is now dominant in the U.S., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials announced Wednesday.

Vaccines still protect against B117, but new threats have emerged.

Variants first identified in South Africa, Brazil, New York, California and India all have mutations that make scientists worry the variants could evade antibodies triggered by the vaccines.

So far, all three vaccines authorized in the U.S. - as well as AstraZeneca's beleaguered shot - appear to be weakened by, but still protective against, variants from South Africa and Brazil, which were the cause for greatest concern.

And data released Wednesday suggests that Moderna's vaccine works against the California variant.

If Moderna's vaccine can stop the variant, it's likely Pfizer's can as well, because the two shots use the same type of technology.

But all of these shots work by targeting the so-called 'spike' protein.

The spike protein sticks out from the surface of the virus, and allows it to break into and infect human cells.

Current vaccines trigger antibodies designed to stick to this spike, deactivating or at least weakening its ability to bind to receptors on the surface of human cells.

But viruses are constantly mutating, and this region of the virus is particularly prone to evolve.

Vaccines can be updated to counter these mutations, but that could mean an infinite loop of booster shots.

And viruses like SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, are making the jump from animals to humans more frequently, raising the global risk of more pandemics.

So the Army is taking a different approach with the hopes of addressing the current pandemic, its evolution, and potentially future ones.

'Thats why we need a vaccine like this: one that has potential to protect broadly and proactively against multiple coronavirus species and strains,' said Dr Kayvon Modjarrad, director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch (EIDB) at WRAIR who leads the Army's COVID-19 vaccine research.

'Even before recent COVID-19 variants were identified, our team was concerned about the emergence of new coronaviruses in human populations, a threat that has been accelerating in recent years.'

Global disease experts have been on elevated alert for years.

So, ideally, universal vaccines against entire types of pathogens could help the world be prepared for virtually any threat, before it reaches pandemic proportions.

To do that, the technology used by the Army - known as a ferritin nanoparticle vaccine platform - allows tiny harmless pieces of a virus or viruses to be attached to the round surface of the vehicle and delivered into the body.

That vehicle is the ferritin nanoparticle, a tiny particle that contains iron. Most vaccines, like those made by Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, use a harmless virus as the vehicle. MRNA shots like Moderna's and Pfizer's deliver a piece of genetic code for coronavirus's spike protein to tech the body to make this protein and antibodies against it.

But the military's vaccine could trigger broader protection and, because it uses a simpler iron nanoparticle, would not need to be stored at temperatures as cold as those required for the currently authorized shots.

And it could be developed much more quickly.

Early tests showed that the same Army-developed vaccine triggered high levels of neutralizing antibodies to the variants, as well as the 2002 SARS virus.

Early research on these types of vaccines suggests that they trigger equally strong, if not stronger immune responses compared to other vaccine platforms - and do so with fewer side effects.

Now, it just has to prove its mettle in clinical trials.

'We are in this for the long haul,' said Dr Modjarrad.

'We have designed and positioned this platform as the next generation vaccine, one that paves the way for a universal vaccine to protect against not only the current virus, but also counter future variants, stopping them in their tracks before they can cause another pandemic.'
Evidence for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones as effective treatment very low': NHS England

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There is little evidence to show that prescribing puberty-suppressing drugs to children and adolescents suffering from gender dysphoria is beneficial in any way, according to a review by the NHS' National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

NHS England commissioned a study into the use of puberty-blocking drugs amid heightened scrutiny of the Tavistock clinic in London, the lone gender clinic in England, and a review of the government health system's gender identity services.

NICEs assessment found that "existing studies of the drugs were small and 'subject to bias and confounding,'" BBC Newsnight reported.

The review studied "the clinical effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues for children and adolescents aged 18 years or under with gender dysphoria. ... GnRH analogues suppress puberty by delaying the development of secondary sexual characteristics," the NHS explained in its review, titled, "Evidence review: Gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogues for children and adolescents with gender dysphoria."

The agency examined the impact of the hormone blockers on gender confusion and mental health  including anger, anxiety, and depression  and general quality of life and concluded that the quality of evidence for these outcomes was assessed as very low certainty."

NICE also found that it was difficult to find evidence from existing literature due to how the studies were designed. The available studies do not have control groups, are all small, and do not describe the physical and mental health comorbidities young people might have in addition to gender dysphoria.

"Any potential benefits of gender-affirming hormones must be weighed against the largely unknown long-term safety profile of these treatments in children and adolescents with gender dysphoria," NICE said.

As to the clinical effectiveness and safety of cross-sex hormones, NICE said they were also of "very low" quality.

The assessment, which was prepared in October and published on March 11, will now help inform a formal independent review that was set in motion last year.



BBC Newsnight's coverage of the issue has received pushback from transgender activists and their allies.

In response to attacks against BBC's coverage, Deborah Cohen, BBC Newsnight's health correspondent, tweeted: "Enoughs enough. In the last 24 hours @hannahsbee & I have been called dishonest journalists, unethical, accused of killing children, liars...All for highlighting the lack of good evidence for an intervention used on kids & reporting on whistleblowing concerns at an NHS service."

The NHS' review comes on the heels of recent legal developments in the U.K. regarding the medical practices used to "treat" children suffering from gender dysphoria.

In a high court decision in December, judges ruled against the Tavistock clinic, finding that youth younger than 16 cannot give informed consent to puberty blockers under the Gillick competency, the U.K.'s standard by which youth can consent to medical treatment.

The ruling also expressed concerns about the experimental nature of the treatment and the profound impact that it has and criticized the clinic for poor record-keeping and its failure to gather other relevant patient data.

A subsequent decision in March held that parents are allowed to consent on behalf of their children for these contested practices without first obtaining a judge's approval, which was seen by some as a partial reversal of the previous ruling.

The Tavistock judicial review was brought about in part because of the efforts of Keira Bell, a 24-year-old detransitioned woman, who identified as transgender during her teen years and took puberty blockers at the clinic. As is the case with most youth who start taking the hormone blockers, Bell continued on with cross-sex hormones. As a young adult, she underwent a double mastectomy.

Bell said in an essay this week that she is now focused on helping troubled young people.

A lot of girls are transitioning because theyre in pain, whether its from mental-health disorders, or life trauma, or other reasons. I know what its like to get caught up in dreaming that transitioning will fix all of this, Bell explained, adding that mental health professionals need to create better models to help young people struggling with gender dysphoria.



I do not want any other young person who is distressed, confused, and lonely as I was to be driven to conclude transition is the only possible answer. I was an unhappy girl who needed help. Instead, I was treated like an experiment, she said.
By Richard Pennington





One of my former professors at Stephen F. Austin State University met with some local Korean War veterans recently. Knowing that I live here and care so deeply about every aspect of Korean history and culture, he invited me to speak to them in absentia.



This is what I wrote: Hello, gentlemen. I was born in December 1952, about eight months before the armistice was signed ending the Korean War. As all of you undoubtedly know, it has sometimes been called "the forgotten war."



This is a vast overstatement, especially in Korea. Even with the passage of 70 years, it is remembered. I moved to Daegu in November 2007 and came north to Seoul in February 2009. Since then, I have traveled all over the southern half of the Korean peninsula.



I have probably been in 250 cities, big and small. In my travels, I have lost count of the Korean War memorials I have seen. I have been to Texas Street in Busan, Dongducheon, Incheon, the Iron Triangle, Imjingak, the Punchbowl, Osan and other such places. The Battle of Osan, you may recall, was the first engagement of U.S. and North Korean forces.



On July 5, 1950, Kim Il-sung's Soviet-made tanks had taken Seoul and were rumbling further south. Thousands of terrified people fled, and in response 400 poorly trained, poorly equipped American soldiers went forward to meet the enemy. It was a hopeless rearguard action. All they did was slow down the North Koreans, but they demonstrated a firm intention to stand by their allies.



The South Koreans remember. They remember the suffering and valor of their own people, both military and civilian. And they surely remember the many men (and a few women) who came to their rescue  some would quibble with that word, but I think it is the correct one  back in the early 1950s.



They know the difference you made. If not for the Americans, British, Canadians, Australians, Filipinos, New Zealanders, Turks, French and others, the war would have been over quickly. There can be no doubt that without their foreign friends, the South Koreans would have eventually capitulated.



The entire peninsula would have been subject to Kim's brand of socialism/communism. The southerners, like their brothers to the north, would have been under the boot heel of the so-called Great Leader who was acting with the support  implicit or otherwise  of Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong.



Nine times, I have stood at the border and pondered the differences between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea. Forgive me if I generalize, but on one side I see darkness and on the other, light; folly (I refer here not to the people themselves but to the government, which is in fact the Kim family) versus wisdom; coercion versus freedom; sorrow versus joy. I could go on and on, but I hope this adequately contrasts North and South Korea or at least my perception thereof.



Last summer, I had the opportunity to accompany a young Korean friend to Okcheon Army Base near Daejeon. He had recently finished his two-year military service and wanted to see some of his buddies. I don't think they get too many foreign visitors at that place. When he introduced me to those husky young men, I gave an impromptu speech. As my bilingual friend translated, I told them that I appreciated what they were doing to ensure a strong and viable future for South Korea.



Furthermore, I reminded them about their allies  the Americans, most of all. I realize that some people view the United States' involvement in Korea, which began in the waning days of World War II, in geopolitical terms. This perception is cynical but understandable.



Nonetheless, the indisputable fact is that without American military support then, this place would be quite different, by which I meant worse. It was not a jingoistic spiel, and I do not wish to go all red-white-and-blue on you today. I merely told them that, in simple terms, the U.S. had saved them!



I have been asked to comment on whether your effort was worth it. We lost a lot in Korea during that conflict: Many billions of dollars, more than 36,000 dead, 92,000 wounded, 8,000 missing in action and another 7,000 prisoners of war. You guys traveled a long distance and sacrificed dearly to help the people of South Korea. My opinion counts less than yours since I did not stand in harm's way; you did. I hope you agree with me when I answer his question affirmatively.



June 25, 2020 was the 70th anniversary of the start of the war. The alliance has endured because of the rightness of our shared cause. I do believe that history has proven it to be so.



If I were there now with you, I would shake each one of you by the hand and say that, quite clearly, what you did here in Korea was of great value. On behalf of the large majority of citizens of this strongly democratic country, I thank you.





Richard Pennington (raput76@gmail.com), a native of Texas in the U.S., works as an editor at a law firm in southern Seoul. He is the author of 23 nonfiction books. The most recent is "Travels of an American-Korean, 2014-2020," published by JisikGonggam.


( ) is on track to become West Africas next gold miner after delivering a "compelling" pre-feasibility (PFS) study for its flagship Abujar Gold Project in Cote dIvoire.

The PFS is targeting 200,000 ounces of gold in the first year of production and estimates production of more than 168,000 ounces of gold annually for the first six years of operations.

Abujar project now has maiden open pit probable reserves of 15.7 million tonnes run-of-mine (ROM) gold ore at 1.7 g/t for 860,000 total ounces, representing a 65% conversion of the indicated resource estimate.

West Africas next gold mine

Tietto managing director Dr Caigen Wang said investors could look forward to a healthy stream of news flow on the 3.02-million-ounce gold project and pointed to upgrades on the base case.

Delivery of this maiden JORC 2012 open pit ore reserve and supporting PFS is a milestone for Tietto and our shareholders, as it moves us closer towards realising our goal of developing West Africas next gold mine, he said.

The PFS metrics are compelling and clearly suggest that the development of Abujar will transform Tietto into a substantial West African gold producer.

Abujar is shaping up as a robust, longlife project based on the openpit mine development, and we believe there is considerable upside to the base case PFS, with a scoping study of the APG open pit and AG underground deposits demonstrating considerable value remains to be unlocked for our shareholders.

PFS economics highlights

Beyond the actual gold production forecasts, the fundamental signs for a long-life producing gold mine are sound.

The company holds life-of-mine ore reserves of 22.9 million tonnes ROM at 1.5 g/t for 1.1 million ounces at average allin sustaining costs (AISC) of $839/ounce.

Tietto expects to pay back the costs of development, estimated at $230 million, in less than three years.

The PFS delivered strong economics of pretax net present value (NPV) of $363 million, internal rate of return 53%, and posttax NPV of $266 million, IRR 42%, based on an average gold price of US$1,506/ounce.

That should lead to free cash flow of more than $509 million (pretax) over the first 10 years, with substantial upside to the project to be considered in the definitive feasibility study (DFS), which is expected to be completed next quarter.

The company has already secured all the requisite mining and environmental approvals needed for the project with negotiations with the Ivoirian Government on Abujar Mining Convention underway and expected to be ratified this quarter.

APG heap leach to add ounces

Early-stage metallurgical test-work has demonstrated the amenability of transitional and fresh material from the AbujarPischonGolikro (APG) deposit to heap leaching, which has the potential to add ounces to the production profile.

Four 10-kilogram closed-cycle column leach tests were conducted on two transitional and two fresh composite samples from APG and excellent recoveries have been achieved from the sighter program.

The initial landform analysis by Knight Piesold indicates potential for first stage 40Mt heap leach (4 by 10 metres lifts).

Test-work is expected to be completed in 2021 with a preliminary economic assessment of the feasibility of heap leaching the lower grade material to follow.

Expanded project

The substantial upside to the PFS base case has been shown by scoping study assessments of APG open pit and AbujarGludehi (AG) underground mine.

The expanded project has the potential to deliver increases in NPV, gold production and mine life with gold production growing to 1,436,000 ounces of gold recovered over 12 years of operation.

Mineral resource update

Dr Wang said the next mineral resource update was expected to be delivered towards the end of the second quarter of 2021, allowing Tietto to complete a DFS for Abujar in the third quarter of 2021.

Our six diamond drill rigs operating at Abujar are now delivering around 11,000 metres of diamond core per month at what are industry-low costs of US$35/metre.

This means that despite having one of the most aggressive exploration diamond drilling programs among companies on the ASX, our drilling has a very low drawdown on the companys cash reserves, giving us flexibility to implement mine pre-development at Abujar.

DFS due in third quarter 2021

The DFS will consider the additional throughput potential and operating costs of processing the oxide and transition material in the mine plan.

This should serve to lower the processing cost per tonne of ore particularly in the first two to three years of operations, where the oxide and transitional material make up a significant portion of the feed to the processing plant.

Tietto will investigate the optimum processing rate to ascertain the correct mill size during the DFS to potentially process some of the lower grade stockpiles earlier, reducing the stockpile inventories on site.

This has the potential to increase the realised value from mining operations earlier in the life of mine

The DFS, which is due in the third quarter of 2021, aims to:

Optimise mining schedule and mill throughput with focus on reducing scale of pre-production mining; and

Model throughput of ox/trans material through mill (currently treated same as fresh).

COO with proven track record

The company has appointed Matt Wilcox to the role of chief operating officer, tasked with progressing studies, followed by construction and ramp-up of Abujar.

This appointment received the stamp of approval from Canaccord, which said: We see this as an excellent appointment, given Wilcox has a proven track record of building gold mines in West Africa.

He was most recently responsible for building West African Resources ( ) Sanbrado mine in Burkina Faso, ahead of schedule and under budget, and has also held senior roles with Nordgold over a 20-year career.

Funding

The production and economic outcomes in the PFS are sufficiently robust to provide confidence in the companys ability to fund the development of the project through conventional debt and equity financing.

Early-stage discussions with a number of potential financiers are already underway.

The company has significant cash reserves of A$52 million, in addition to the potential conversion of up to 77 million options, which are exercisable at various prices between now and January 2023.

If fully exercised, the options would provide up to A$17 million cash.

These funds, in addition to cash reserves, could be applied directly to project funding or to future debt reduction payments.

Pipeline of prospects

Tietto is well advanced with over 25,000 metres of infill drilling completed.

The drilling program is designed to target inferred resources within and beneath current ore reserve pit design, as well as follow-up extensional drilling at AG and APG.

Tiettos six diamond drill rigs operating at Abujar are now delivering around 11,000 metres of diamond core per month, at what are industry-low costs of US$35/metres.

The companys geologists have identified more than 20 exploration prospects within 10 kilometres of the proposed Abujar Plant.

Diamond drilling to define mineral resources at these prospects will continue throughout 2021.
Clifford Chance advises Government of Maldives on the establishment of its US$1 billion sukuk programme and debut issuance

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised the Government of the Maldives on the establishment of its Reg S/144a US$1 billion sukuk programme and debut issuance of US$200 million thereunder. The sukuk is country's first foray into the international Islamic Finance markets.

The Joint Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners for the issuance were The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), Credit Suisse, Emirates NBD Capital and HSBC.

Clifford Chance's team was led by Global Head of Islamic Finance partner, Qudeer Latif, who comments "It has been an honour to work with the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General's office. I am delighted that we have been able to support the Government team during this challenging time where Covid has had an impact on the tourism sector for Maldives. This transaction provides important support and liquidity from Islamic investors as the economy begins to rebound."

H.E. Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of Finance comments On behalf of the Government of Maldives, I am delighted on the successful establishment of the first Sukuk programme and debut issuance. This could not have been successful without the hard work and unwavering support not only our joint leaders and arrangers, but also with our legal counsels. Clifford Chance has been an excellent partner in this issuance. Given the challenging times during this pandemic, this has paved way as a first step to accessing the Islamic finance market and we look forward to more successful issuances.

Qudeer was supported by a cross-office team comprising Johannes Juette (Partner, Singapore), Sarah Cheng (Associate, Hong Kong) and Shahrukh Mian (Associate, Dubai).


New Delhi: Good Samaritan and actor Sonu Sood after getting his first dose of coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday urged the government of the country to start the drive for people as young as 25.

Sonu Sood tweeted: I urge @MoHFW_INDIA to consider 25 years and above getting vaccinated too. With number of cases rising and even kids getting infected in large numbers with virus it's high time we announce the vaccination for 25 years and above. Max number of cases I come across are youngsters.

I urge @MoHFW_INDIA to consider 25 years and above getting vaccinated too. With number of cases rising and even kids getting infected in large numbers with virus it's high time we announce the vaccination for 25 years and above. Max number of cases I come across are youngsters.  sonu sood (@SonuSood) April 8, 2021

The 47-year-old actor, who catapulted to the national spotlight for his work in helping migrants reach their homes during the coronavirus-triggered lockdown last year, said his aim now is to encourage more people to receive the vaccine, reports PTI.

He also launched "Sanjeevani: A Shot of Life" - a vaccination drive campaign to create awareness.

Coming to you for your vaccination.

Biggest vaccination drive begins. pic.twitter.com/yqUx8A9PYy  sonu sood (@SonuSood) April 7, 2021

Previously, actors Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Sharmila Tagore, Mohanlal, Jeetendra, Kamal Haasan, Nagarjuna, Neena Gupta, filmmakers Rakesh Roshan, Rohit Shetty and Anees Bazmee received their first dose of the vaccine.

The COVID-19 vaccine is currently available to all Indians above the age of 45 years.
MIDDLETOWN  The state is considering housing immigrant children who entered the country without permission at the former state-run Connecticut Juvenile Training School, where the governor visited late last week as he reviews options, though a decision not been made, according to his director of communications.

The states beleaguered facility for incarcerated male youths under the charge of the Department of Children and Families, at 1225 River Road, near the Connecticut Valley Hospital campus, closed in April 2018.

No decision has been made at all and nothing is imminent. This is very much in the planning stages, Max Reiss, Gov. Ned Lamonts press secretary, said Wednesday afternoon. There is no guarantee anything will happen at all.

The particulars, including the ages of children, numbers of those possibly to be relocated, and where they would be coming from, are unknown, said Reiss, who offered no further details.

The tour included DCF Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes, first lady Annie Lamont, Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management Melissa McCaw and Chief of Staff Paul Mounds, Reiss said.

The state, just as others around the country have, has been reviewing options for weeks to provide for the safe, secure, compassionate, humane, and adequate care of migrant children potentially traveling to our state, if the need arises, Reiss said. The Lamont administration will only move forward so long as any accommodations are consistent with Connecticuts standard of care for all children.

That includes outdoor space and classrooms, he said. The governor is doing this because its the right thing to do.

A spokesperson for the federal HHS Administration for Children and Families said We will notify state and local officials well in advance of opening any temporary facility.

The detention center originally opened in 2001 under former Gov. John G. Rowland. It cost $57 million to build and millions more in annual costs to operate, according to the state.

Prior to the closure of the River Road facility, the number of youths housed dropped precipitously due to a declining rate of juvenile and young adult arrests, a record low crime rate, the impact of former Gov. Dannel P. Malloys criminal justice reforms, and the enhanced behavioral health services made available by DCF to all of Connecticuts youth, according to Malloys office at the time.

The initiative for immigrant children is in the preliminary stages, and other options are being considered, Reiss said. The governor, with the first lady, wanted to see it with his own eyes what options would look like.

Im glad to see theres some interest in that site, Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim said. The whole campus is a huge part of Middletown. We want to work collaboratively with the state however we can for the future of that site.

John Lugo, community organizing director for Unidad Latina en Accion in New Haven, said he had not previously heard about Lamont looking at the site, but he thinks the former training school site doesnt make any sense. There has to me a more proper place to house them.

Lugo said he thinks it is important that the state cares, but its important which place and in what conditions they are going to be housed.

He said placing them at the former training school site could be just another trauma that they will go through.

They should be with their families as soon as possible, he said. Its not a bad thing but it depends where. The bottom line is that they should be released as soon as possible.

Lugo said the children are supposed to be released to their families, Places where they feel safe and where they feel loved.

When an unaccompanied minor crosses the U.S. southern border, they are processed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and may be held in CBP detention sites near the border for a brief period of time, according to the website .

With children, the U.S. government quickly tries to move children to other facilities run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that are designed to care for children. Then, the government works to reunify the child with family or other sponsors in America, the border protection office said.

In February 2021, more than 100,000 people attempted to cross the U.S. Southern border, a great increase from the month prior, but part of an ongoing upward trend over the past several months, according to CBP data. Most single adults and families are being turned away from the border and denied entry. But the Biden administration is letting unaccompanied minors in.

As of the end of February, about 29,000 unaccompanied children have been encountered along the southern border since October, over 9,000 in the month of February alone, CBP data shows.

HHS is working to increase capacity in its permanent and licensed care provider network by opening new facilities and making adjustments to existing facilities, bringing online more than 200 across the country, a senior administration official said last month. It can take 9 months to 1 year to bring online a new state licensed facility.

In addition to opening new facilities, HHS is using vaccination, increased testing and grouping children into cohorts a strategies to expand the number of beds available in facilities, a senior administration official said. The number of beds have been reduced due to social distancing during COVID-19.

Washington Correspondent Emilie Munson and staff writer Jordan Fenster contributed to this story.
"We're redefining next-generation banking and how we collaborate with customers on their path to financial well-being," said President and CEO, Jim McQuade. "This rebranding effort was the result of an extensive look at our valued, established customers as well as our newer, younger customers. We redesigned our brand with a more modern look, reflecting what Dollar Bank means to customers, employees, and the communities we serve today."

To reflect the importance of its next generation of banking customers, Dollar Bank unveils a new logo which emphasizes the "Do" in Dollar Bank, and the tagline, "Let's get you there." The new branding is the result of one of the most extensive market research efforts undertaken in the Bank's history. It was conducted by Campos, a Pittsburgh-based research and strategy firm.

Rebranding efforts include a social media, online, print, and broadcast media campaign that features a diverse group of younger Dollar Bank customers at work, launching a new business, buying a home, spending time with family, and interacting with their communities. New Dollar Bank signage, logo, and taglines will be appearing at Dollar Bank branches in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia beginning this week.

"Our extensive research shows that younger customers in particular value the guidance and help they receive at Dollar Bank. Whether it's advice about savings, buying a home or starting a new business, Dollar Bank employees go above and beyond to help customers on their path to financial well-being," said McQuade.

In addition to its new logo and tagline, Dollar Bank is relaunching its website next month. The website's improved functionality reflects feedback from customers and employees, making it more responsive, intuitive, and effective. In most cases, accessing relevant information takes no more than two or three clicks. The new site features enhanced information about financial education for individuals as well as resources for small business owners.

Dollar Bank's new branding can be seen here Dollar.Bank/Do

About Dollar Bank

Dollar Bank has assets of more than $10.3 billion. Today, Dollar Bank operates 81 locations throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia and has over 1,400 employees. For more than 166 years, Dollar Bank has grown to become a large, full service, community bank committed to providing the highest quality of banking services to individuals and businesses. Dollar Bank (Dollar.Bank) is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

SOURCE Dollar Bank

Related Links

http://dollarbank.com


WAAY 31 spoke with Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill Wednesday night after he announced that he will not be running for public office in 2022. He was seen as a possible contender to run for retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby's seat.

AL.com is reporting that Merrill's decision was made after revelations of a 16-month affair with a 44-year-old legal aid in Montgomery. Quoting the website, National File, AL.com says the ex-mistress also said Merrill used racist language to describe African Americans, calling them "The Coloreds."

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill

We called Merrill for comment about the allegations. Without denying the affair, Merrill said it was a "personal and family situation," and he would not be saying anything more. However, Merrill denied ever using racist language.

"Well, certainly there's no truth to those allegations. Nobody's ever reported that about me at any time ever. It's another one of the false allegations that were actually made related to me by this individual," Merrill said.

Wednesday evening, Wade Perry, executive director of the Alabama Democratic Party, released a statement saying "With the exception of the use of state resources to facilitate his affair, Merrill's personal life and conduct are just that - personal. The Democratic Party is much more concerned about the allegation that he regularly referred to African American judges and citizens in Alabama as 'The Coloreds.' If true, he must apologize and resign immediately."

You can read Merrill's announcement Wednesday afternoon below:

Since January of 2015, it has been my honor to serve as the 53rd Secretary of State of Alabama. During my time in office, we implemented Americas toughest voter ID law, slashed our office budget and saved Alabama families millions, and made government operate at the speed of business, as opposed to the speed of government.

With the end of my term coming up in January of 2023, I have been presented with a variety of options for where my path in public service could lead. After much prayer, reflection, and conversations with my wife, Cindy, I have decided that I will not be a candidate for any office in 2022.

Life presents us with a series of chapters, some more challenging than others, in our book of life, and when one finishes, another one begins. While I remain fully committed to continuing my service as your Secretary of State through the end of my term, I do not know what the next chapter will present for me and my family.

I am incredibly humbled by the outpouring of support of many Alabamians throughout our great state. I am surrounded by a great team and we look forward to finishing the goals we set out to achieve before our term ends in January of 2023. I will follow the path the Lord puts in front of me to see what happens next. Regardless, I am extraordinarily proud of all that we have been able to accomplish in the last six years, two months, and 19 days that I have had the esteemed privilege of serving as your 53rd Secretary of State.
Ageing and age-related brain disease do not affect women and men in the same way. The adult brain constantly generates new brain cells called neurons from stem cells, a process called neurogenesis. This process is important for learning and cognitive function which declines as the brain ages. Neurogenesis has been extensively studied in animals, but most studies have looked at male animals, raising the question of whether age-related decline in neurogenesis affects both sexes in the same way. To address this, researchers Sally Temple, PhD (sallytemple@neuralsci.org), Kristen Zuloga, PhD (zuloagk@amc.edu) and colleagues at the NY Neural Stem Cell Institute, USA, have now compared neurogenic brain regions in male and female mice in a recent study published in Stem Cell Reports. The research focused on blood vessels, which are known to regulate brain stem cell activity and to guide the migration of newborn neurons in the brain. Unexpectedly, blood vessels of abnormal shape and increased density were abundant in aged male mice, but much less so in aged female mice. Further, brain stem cells were less frequent and had less contact with blood vessels in aged male mice compared to female mice. Researchers found that although numbers of newly generated neurons were comparable between the sexes, migration of newborn neurons, a process where new neurons move along pre-defined paths to their destination area in the brain, was much more disorganized in aged male mice compared to female mice. This difference could be attributable to the higher percentage of distorted blood vessels found in aged males. Collectively, these data suggest that ageing-related changes to stem cells and blood vessels in the brain are more pronounced in male animals. Possible causes for these differences by sex, such as hormonal or genetic influences and their impact on brain function and disease related to ageing, require further investigation.

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Aran and Sharleen Sealey look forward to watching the dairy industry evolve with environmental improvements while still contributing to the New Zealand economy.

The couple were announced winners of the regions Share Farmer of the Year category at the Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry Awards annual awards dinner held at the Awakeri Events Centre on Thursday night.

The other big winners were Hayden Goodall who was named the 2021 Bay of Plenty Dairy Manager of the Year, and Dayna Rowe, the 2021 Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Aran and Sharleen are 50 per cent equity partners with Eric and Margaret Smeith, who are Sharleens parents.

They milk 420 cows on the 160ha Galatea property and won $9,550 and four merit awards.

Farming is an ideal place to raise our family and work alongside our family. Were able to utilize our skills and hobbies to benefit the farm business, says Sharleen.

Aran entered the dairy industry in 2009 after completing a course through Te Awamutu college, managing for Eric until 2013 when he and Sharleen progressed to contract milking on the same farm, and are now in an equity partnership.

Future farming goals include continuing to build their herd, with farm ownership the ultimate goal. Wed like to own the farm we are raising our family on as third-generation owners.

Sharleens grandfather was the original farm owner and is our inspiration during hard times, says Aran. We think about what he did for our country at war and what he did for his community.

We are grateful he chose our farm to raise his family.

Aran holds a Certificate in Dairy Farming Level 4 while Sharleen is currently studying towards a Diploma in Agribusiness Management.

Sharleen and Aran Sealey.

Challenges the couple have faced and overcome include learning about employer responsibilities and the juggle of work and family.

Work/life balance is huge important, say the couple. We have a good team with different strengths that complement each other.

The Sealeys say being able to work alongside family strengthens the business unit. We are able to share goals.

Forming our company is a huge success we are very proud of.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and Westpac along with industry partner DairyNZ.

Runners-up in the Bay of Plenty Share Farmer of the Year category was John and Aleshia Macdonald, who won $3,750 in prizes and one merit award.

The couple are 50/50 sharemilking on Paul and Heather Warnefords 120ha Waimana farm, milking 270 cows.

They enjoy working with cows and in the outdoors. We really enjoy breeding cattle, working together and the career opportunities the dairy industry offers, they say. Its a great place to raise our family.

The MacDonalds identify obtaining their first sharemilking role, improving their herd and increasing cow numbers as some of their biggest successes and would like to change some public perceptions of the dairy industry.

Future farming goals include increasing their profit, growing stock numbers and reducing debt leading to farm ownership.

Jordyn Crouch and Isaac Algar placed third in the Bay of Plenty Share Farmer category and won $2,500 in prizes and three merit awards.

The couple are contract milkers for Robin and Claire Barkla, milking 1150 cows on their 285ha property.

Jordyn and Isaac both hold a Bachelor of Ag Science from Massey University and feel excited about the changing landscapes around environment and regulations.

We are ready to react and see this may open some opportunities for us.

The winner of the 2021 Bay of Plenty Dairy Manager of the Year category won the 2017 Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year and believes the Awards helped him to communicate, develop his self-esteem and self-confidence and increase his farming knowledge.

Hayden Goodall won $8000 in prizes plus three merit awards and is farm manager for Matt Gow on his 215ha Matata farm, milking 700 cows.

Hayden Goodall.

On a relational level, the Awards helped me make connections and network with other farms throughout the country and develop close connections with farmers rural professionals in my own region, says Hayden.

Prior to entering the dairy industry seven years ago, Hayden was in a labouring job and wanted to pursue a career to create a brighter future for his family.

I had no prior background in farming and began as a farm assistant in 2014 and progressed to 2IC over the next four years, he says.

We left this farm to manage a 500-cow property and have found our way back to where it all started to manage this awesome property.

Hayden is proud of how much he has learned and grown as a person, going from a city boy to a farm manager in four seasons.

Ive been able to set personal targets to create a brighter future and explore new and greater possibilities for myself and my families.

After the whirlwind of a year with Covid in 2020, it was awesome to see the agricultural industries being recognised as big providers for New Zealand and its economy, says Hayden.

Its a privilege to be a part of and its great for the dairy industry to get some positive exposure.

Hayden identifies finding a work/life balance as a huge challenge. He and his wife Chelsea have three daughters and trying to find time to spend with family, personal interests and keep on top of day-to-day running of the farm is a perpetual challenge.

Over the past seven years Ive had to learn and grow in an industry totally unfamiliar to me, says Hayden.

Every job has its ups and downs but tomorrow is a new day and job satisfaction outweighs those harder times, he says. Call it character building with light always at the end of the tunnel.

Im grateful for my supportive wife and wonderful family unit  they have made the challenges doable and all play a huge role in helping me overcome times when I have been stressed and fatigued.

Future farming goals include contract milking next season and to continue to gain equity and reach our goals of sharemilking and owning a run-off.

We have a wonderful future ahead of us in the dairy industry.

Hayden Purvis is the runner-up in the 2021 Bay of Plenty Dairy Manager category and won $2,750 and two merit awards.

He is farm manager for Peter Overdevest and Tania Akehurst on their 148ha, 400-cow property at Galatea.

The Awards give you the opportunity to go into detail about what you do on-farm, and gives you a much better understanding of why we do things on-farm the way we do, he says.

Currently in his seventh season dairy farming, Hayden loves the cows and routine of a dairy farm. I didnt want to be stuck in an office all day.

Hayden holds a Bachelor of Agriculture and says moving away from family to begin farming in the North Island was tough to begin with. I now realise it was my destiny to be where I am.

Third place in the Dairy Manager category went to Thomas Houston who is farm manager for Jim and Gill Houston on their 65ha, 160ha Opotiki property. He won $1,750 in prizes and two merit awards.

The first-time entrant was motivated to enter the Awards as a step to becoming more involved in the industry and community. I wanted to learn about what I could work on for the future.

Dayna Rowe is the 2021 Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year and won $6000 in prizes and three merit awards. She was runner-up in the same category in 2020.

Dayna Rowe.

The networking opportunities alone from entering the Awards have been awesome and I believe having your name recognised in the industry and your community for positive reasons is always a good thing, she says.

Entering also gave me a lot more confidence in my capabilities and allowed me to throw myself into the deep end which I believe has sped up the rate Ive learnt things in the industry.

Growing up on the family farm in Pongakawa, Dayna spent a lot of time learning about farming and animals. She had begun studying towards a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Theatre Studies when she realised shed rather be stomping through paddocks than treading the boards.

She is currently herd manager for Grant and Ngaire Rowe on their 289.67ha Pongakawa milking 1000 cows.

Im very passionate about farming and Ive discovered more and more aspects within the industry that Im interested in.

Im excited for the future generation of dairy farmers in New Zealand, says Dayna. I believe we grew up being involved in conversations where we had to think deeper regarding our environment and sustainability.

I think we are extremely capable of facilitating conversations between the right parties to create a more cohesive plan for sustainable dairying.

I plan to continue to be open minded about what we can achieve and to help to encourage people to be comfortable with these conversations and to be part of the solution.

Daynas biggest future farming goal is to get to a point where her parents can completely retire from the farm and hand over to me. Id say thats my dads goal too!

Runner-up in the Dairy Trainee category was Thomas Lundman, who works for Michael and Linda Mexted on their 140ha, 550-cow Whakatane property. Thomas won $1500 in prizes.

The first-time entrant hoped to gain a better understanding of his own skill and development through the Awards programme.

I enjoy the challenge of putting myself to the test and I like to take every opportunity presented to me.

Prior to entering the dairy industry in June 2020, Thomas worked as a nature guide on boats, buses, walking tours, school camps and at the Te Anau Glow-worm Caves.

The stability of the industry appealed to me as does working outdoors with my hands, he says. I was looking for more life experience and a challenge to learn.

Third place in the Dairy Trainee category went to Quinn Morgan who is farm assistant on Peter Laings 155ha property at Otakiri, milking 570 cows.

Formerly working the health and fitness industry, farming presented an ideal lifestyle change from city life in Australia.

Im excited to be part of programmes within the industry such as FarmFit, FarmStrong and The Farm4Life Hub, says Quinn. Id love to be part of anything involving mental health and physical fitness.

Id also like to changed how the dairy industry is perceived, he says. Id heard negative things about the industry before being employed, only to find out the complete opposite.

The Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry Awards winners field day will be held on April 23rd at 260 Whirinaki Road, Galatea S/N Fonterra 22216 where Share Farmers of the Year, Aran and Sharleen Sealey are equity partners. Also presenting at the field day will be the regions Dairy Manager of the Year, Hayden Goodall and Dairy Trainee of the Year, Dayna Rowe. Further details on the winners and the field day can be found at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

Share Farmer Merit Awards:

 DairyNZ Human Resources Award  Jordyn Crouch and Isaac Algar

 Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award  Aran and Sharleen Sealey

 Federated Farmers Leadership Award  Jordyn Crouch and Isaac Algar

 Honda Farm Safety, Health and Biosecurity Award  Aran and Sharleen Sealey

 LIC Recording and Productivity Award  Aran and Sharleen Sealey

 Meridian Farm Environment Award  Aran and Sharleen Sealey

 Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award  Josh and Aleshia MacDonald

 Westpac Business Performance Award  Jordyn Crouch and Isaac Algar

Dairy Manager Merit Awards:

 Bay of Plenty DIA Most Promising Entrant  Brendan Teka

 BlackmanSpargo Rural Law Ltd Employee Engagement Award  Hayden Goodall

 The Business Results Group Ltd t/a Stem Rural Accountants Leadership Award  Hayden Purvis

 Vetora Bay of Plenty Feed Management Award  Hayden Purvis

 DeLaval Livestock Management Award  Hayden Goodall

 Fonterra Dairy Management Award  Thomas Houston

 MyMilk Power Play Award  Thomas Houston

 Westpac Personal Planning & Financial Management Award  Hayden Goodall

Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:

 Bay of Plenty DIA Most Promising Entrant Award  Rachel Billinghurst
Male sex is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness [EDS], and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder [RBD] in patients with multiple system atrophy. 

Being unable to sleep well makes life harder for these patients, who already suffer from the other symptoms of the condition; as such, emphasizing sleep disturbances is important for addressing patient needs.With this in mind, researchers led by Dr. Hui-Fang Shang of Sichuan University in China set out to investigate three specific sleep disorders (Parkinson's disease related sleep problems [PD-SP], excessive daytime sleepiness [EDS], and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder [RBD]) in patients with MSA.Dr. Shang explains, "Our goal was to determine the frequency of these three sleep disturbances in MSA, including in both subtypes. We also wanted to know whether sleep disorders affected how severe MSA was." Their findings have been published in Chinese Medical Journal.After screening for MSA and excluding other neurological disorders, the researchers examined 165 patients using questionnaires to determine the presence of sleep-related symptoms and MSA severity. Dr. Shang and colleagues found that PD-SP occurred in 18.8% of patients, EDS in 27.3%, and RBD in 49.7%, whereas all three coexisted in 7.3% of patients.They also showed that PD-SP and EDS, but not RBD, were more common in the parkinsonism subtype than in the cerebellar subtype. Their analysis adjusted for patient age, duration of MSA, and usage of drug treatment for MSA, meaning these three factors did not help explain the differences in sleep disorders across the two MSA subtypes.And most importantly, greater the number of these sleep-related symptoms a patient had, more severe their MSA was.The location and distribution of degenerating neurons are different between the two subtypes, with a wider range of brain areas affected in the parkinsonism form.Because sleep disorders are associated with loss of dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurons (that is, neurons producing the neurotransmitter chemical dopamine), the results shed some light on the underlying biological causes of MSA."For me, this research emphasizes the need to focus more on sleep disorders when treating patients with MSA," says Dr. Shang , explaining the scientific and clinical contributions of their work, "We are the first to perform such a systematic analysis of sleep-related symptoms in MSA, and any future research can build on what we did here to better understand this serious condition. Currently, MSA has no cure, so a greater emphasis on sleep disorders will help do two things: address the lower quality of life in these patients due to disturbed sleep, and provide scientific data for developing effective treatments."Source: Eurekalert
IM NOT SAYING BURN IT DOWN, YET.  AMBER RUFFIN (THE AMBER RUFFIN SHOW, NBC) THIS WOMAN IS BUTTER!

Amber Ruffin is pure butter. I admit that until I was assigned this story, I knew nothing of Ms. Ruffin or her show  The Amber Ruffin Show (https://www.peacocktv.com) but I am thankful and excited that such a strong, creative, opinionated, dedicated and utterly focused woman of color is shaking it up, doing her thing and getting paid, television money (i.e. stupid money) in her new late-night talk show. I suggest that you download NBCs app and watch (or listen) The Amber Ruffin Show.

I would describe her show as a very funny spin on the late-night talk format that highlights the weeks news, mixing monologue, original music, and sketch.

What makes Ms. Ruffin so wonderfully unique? If I had to choose one attribute that stopped me cold, in awe, it would be the ability to dance through the English dictionary with the dexterity of a double-jointed circus performer. In short  shortie has the it factor that quelque chose de special that cant be duplicated unless shes cloned but thats another conversation for another day.

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But I digress. If you are anything like millions of folks, weve cut the television cord a while ago. But one of the reasons to download NBCs app is to watch (or listen to) The Amber Ruffin Show.

Allow me to lean into Ms. Ruffins accomplishments of late. Lets see, she was made the 2021 TIME100 Next List, TIMEs list of the next 100 most influential people in the world. Ruffin is a familiar face to viewers of NBCs late-night lineup via her continued work as an Emmy Award-nominated writer and performer on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

The Nebraska native started in improv and through hard work, is now living her dream. I find her story inspirational. Besides holding it down in the late-night talk show space, shes co-written a Broadway musical version of Some Like It Hot and recently released her first book, Youll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism, with sister Lacey Lamar. This young powerhouse could never be accused of being lazy because she continues writing and appearing on Late Night With Seth Meyers (when she joined in 2014, she was the first Black woman to write for a late-night talk show). She is also an Emmy and WGA Award nominated writer and performer for NBCs Late Night with Seth Meyers and the first African American female to write for a late-night network talk show in the U.S. She wrote and performed on Comedy Centrals Detroiters and was a regular narrator on the cablers Drunk History. Ruffin was previously a performer at Boom Chicago in Amsterdam, the iO Theater and the Second City in Chicago. In addition, she was a writer/performer for the 2018 and 2019 Golden Globe Awards and has written for the series A Black Lady Sketch Show.

Each week The Amber Ruffin Show showcases Ambers signature smart and silly take on the weeks news. No matter whats happening in the world, Amber responds to it with a charming mix of seriousness, nonsense, and evening gowns. The show is a topical late-night show with just the good parts  the comedy. Amber Ruffin, Jenny Hagel, Seth Meyers and Mike Shoemaker serve as executive producers. The series is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Sethmaker Shoemeyers Productions.

Here is what Amber Ruffin of the The Amber Ruffin Show (https://www.peacocktv.com) had to say about living her best life.

THE LOS ANGELES SENTINEL: Thank you, Amber Ruffin, of The Amber Ruffin Show on NBC for speaking with me. See how I got in all of my plugs, may I say, you are butter lady!

AMBER RUFFIN: (laughing) Thank you.

LAS: I loved listening, and watching your show. The writing is tremendous. Whats it like having your own show.

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AR: It. Is. Very. FUN. I mean its really the dumbest fun you can have. When I dont feel like having all this fun then I can write a show that was less fun and no one could tell me to cut it out  see what Im saying?

LAS: I do. I do. You are the crazy talented African-American woman in charge. You cant see me, but Im tipping my proverbial hat, to you along with a very regal bow. Next question. I love your monologues.

AR: Thank you.

LAS: Do you write your monologues?

AR: Oh no. I have a team of writers.

LAS: There are people funnier than you? Who are they?

AR: Our head writer is Jenny Hagel (@jennyhagel), she also writes for the Late Night with Seth Meyers. We also now have, writing the monologue, Ashely Nicole Black (@ashleyn1cole) from Full Frontal and A Black Lady Sketch Show, and Demi Adejuyigbe.

LAS: Thats a name [Demi Adejuyigbe].

AR: (laughing) You will know him. Wait, hes the guy that puts out a very goofy video every September 21st it was seven years ago, at this point. You should just Goggle.

LAS: I did. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5RotaksnqVMET5E2eFCSgrtQgDnszlQN

https://www.vulture.com/2020/09/demi-adejuyigbe-september-21-interview.html

AR: And then there is Evan Morgan, hes also a writer from Late Night with Seth Meyers. So the four of them  almost always write the monologue. I almost never squeeze out a monologue joke.

LAS: I also loved when you sang: Black Women Are Always Right.

AR: (laughing) Its a song that tells the truth.

LAS: (singing) Black Women Are Always Right. But seriously, what I love about your show is that you make people laugh for sure  but there is education and thats important.

AR: I wouldnt have thought that people would have the capacity for this. There are arguments to be made, its not where these educational pieces go. Its not a school its a comedy show but oddly enough its a real circle of a Venn diagram (https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/venn-diagram.asp). People who like deep dives into legislation and people who like to see a bee in a tutu, who would have thought, its the same people. You know, its funny because Im that person. You wouldnt think there would be two of us.

LAS: Three of us.

AR: Gosh. There are a bunch of us.

LAS: The sketch about the Black Forgiveness Clock. That was a beautiful piece of politics masked as comedy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbU0jRyG9nc

AR: That sketch made me laugh so hard when Demi [Adejuyigbe] brought it in.

LAS: My favorite line that youve uttered  to date  is this: Im not saying burn it down, yet.

AR: Yet (laughing). I cant believe they let me say that.

LAS: (laughing) I cant believe it either.

AR: They were like, write whatever you want to say. And I was like, ok, we will just write this in and know that we will have to take it out. But no. It stayed. No one cared. I said were not going to burn it down, yet  I said it.

LAS: Before I let you go, can we talk about your very handsome side-kick, Tarik Davis. I mean, Amber hes so very easy on the eyes.

AR: You know, Tarik has been my friend since 2003. We got cast together and worked at a theater in Amsterdam. I honestly forget that hes so handsome.

LAS: So you experience temporary blindness. Sorry. Please, continue.

AR: Ive just known him so long, that I am used to the way he looks. But then when you see him on screen, Im like Oh, wow, yes. Hes a whole supermodel.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxej9nPf6TqFyfsiez1_P3w

https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/the-amber-ruffin-show

Social media:

@amberruffin

@peacocktv
Piedmont has the highest COVID-19 vaccine rate of the 14 cities in Alameda County despite reporting among the lowest coronavirus case rates in the county, according to county data.

In the small East Bay city (population 11,000), nearly half of adult (16 and over) residents  47%  are fully vaccinated.

By comparison, in Oakland, the county's largest city with ZIP codes marking the highest rates of COVID, only 29.8% of adults are fully vaccinated. Hayward, another city that has been hammered by the pandemic, has a vaccine rate of 28.6%.

Dublin has the lowest rate in the county at 24.7%. In Albany it's 38.7%, Berkeley 32.7%, Fremont 26.6% and Livermore 29.2%.

Emeryville, with a population size similar to Piedmont, is 27.6%.

Perhaps the biggest factor contributing to Piedmont's vaccine success is that a high proportion of the population was eligible for the vaccine early in the rollout compared with other cities in Alameda County.

In late January, Gov. Gavin Newsom opened vaccination to all seniors age 65 and over. This permitted nearly a quarter of Piedmont's population to book vaccine appointments, and it's likely residents acted on the opportunity. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that seniors in urban counties, especially the Bay Area, are more likely to get inoculated than those in more rural communities, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In Piedmont, 22% of the population is 65 and over compared to 9% in Dublin, 12% in Albany, 13% in Oakland, 14% in Berkeley and 16% in Alameda, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

What's more, while there isn't any data on the number of health care workers living in Piedmont, it's likely many doctors call the community home  and these were at the very head of California's vaccine line. Kaiser Permanente's massive Oakland medical center is only six blocks away from Piedmont's city boundaries. Alta Bates and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital's Oakland campus are also nearby. Primary care doctors in California make on average $240,000 a year and those with specialties $334,000, according to MedScape, and these are the sorts of salaries needed to buy a home in Piedmont where the public schools are among the best in the East Bay.

"Piedmont has the highest vaccine rate because it's clearly the oldest city in Alameda County," said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist at UCSF who lives in Piedmont. "I can also claim it has the most doctors per capita but that's probably pushing it."

Piedmont's high vaccine rate can also be attributed to its other demographics, which reveal a population of mostly white, wealthy residents. In this city with a footprint that's less than 2 square miles, the average home value is $2.45 million, according to real estate site Zillow.

"Its a very wealthy community  the wealthiest in Alameda County and among the wealthiest in the Bay Area  and we know access to the vaccine is facilitated by wealth," said Dr. John Swartzberg, a professor emeritus of infectious disease and vaccinology at UC Berkeley. "Weve seen that over and over again. Its also a highly educated and well-informed community. All of those thing play into its high vaccine rate."

Overall, data shows that white people have more access to vaccines than communities of color who are getting immunized at rates below their representation in the U.S. population because of hurdles to vaccine access, including work schedules that don't provide time to get inoculated and lack of technology to book an appointment.

Piedmont's racial demographics reveal a population of residents more likely to have the time and means to book and go to an appointment. In Piedmont, 75% of the population is white, 18% Asian, 4% Latino and 1% Black, according to U.S. Census data. By comparison, in Oakland, 36% of the population is white, 16% Asian, 27% Latino and 24% Black.

"Piedmont has a low percentage of African Americans and Latinx, two populations that have a lower rate of getting vaccinated," Swartzberg said. "Latinx are not getting vaccinated mainly due to lack of access. With African Americans there's also the long history of abuse by public health in American medicine and that has made them more hesitant to get vaccinated."

The Alameda County Public Health Department didn't respond to a request for comment on this story.
Abhishek Bachchan Responds To A User Who Feels On Gujarati's Can Ace Playing Gujarati's On Screen Ahead Of The Big Bull

Abhishek Bachchan is ready to take over the masses yet again with another OTT release, The Big Bull. The film that is already being pitted against Hansal Mehtas Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story as both the projects are based on the same story but Abhishek is not deterred by the constant comparisons.

The actor whose character in this Kookie Gulati drama, Hemant Shah, is inspired by stock broker Harshad Mehta, recently came across a tweet suggesting that only can do justice to playing another Guajarati on screen. The user showering praises on Scam 1992 had written, "No wonder why one can never match the bar set by team #Scam1992 .. no unwanted rap song, only theme music.. no unnecessary drama, to the point writing.. and most important is the flavour Red heart Gujarati ke upar kahani banane wala, act karnewala, direct karnewala ... Sab Gujarati (sic)."

In response, Abhishek had a classy reaction where wrote, Hey, just came across this tweet. Ive acted in #TheBigBull does it count if I love Gujarati food and my favourite restaurant is @gordhan_thal in Amdavad? Plus my manager is also Gujarati..... please say yes.

Hey, just came across this tweet. Ive acted in #TheBigBull does it count if I love Gujarati food and my favourite restaurant is @gordhan_thal in Amdavad? Plus my manager is also Gujarati..... please say yes   Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) April 7, 2021

This will not be the first time Abhishek is playing a Gujarati businessman on screen. His much appreciated role in his 2007 Mani Ratnam film Guru was based on the Gujarati business tycoon, Dhirubhai Ambani. The movie remains a glowing gem in his filmography.

As The Big Bull hits Disney+ Hotstar we hope that the actor is able to recreate that success once again.
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Digital Editor
July 1

Virginia

Petersburg

General Assembly

Ralph S. Northam

House of Delegates

Senate

(TNS)  Starting, a de facto ban on use of facial-recognition technology will go into effect across, meaning that most police departments will not be allowed to use or buy it without legislative approval first.House Bill 2031, sponsored by Del. Lashrecse D. Aird, D-, had cleared theduring its winter session this year, but Gov.sent it back with an amendment to exclude commercial airport police services. On Wednesday, during its annual reconvened session, both theand stateagreed to the governors amendment, putting a bow on the legislation.Facial-recognition technology converts images into algorithms that is then used to determine if the persons face matches any within specific databases. Some mobile phones use facial-recognition to unlock, but the technology addressed by Airds bill would apply to tech used by police or sheriffs departments, including campus police departments.House Bill 2031 would not allow police departments to buy or use the technology without getting the legislature to approve it.In addition to airport police forces, the ban also would not cover the Virginia State Police.The House agreed to Northams amendment on a 99-1 vote, with the only dissenting coming from Republican Del. C. Matthew Farriss of Campbell County. The amendment passed the Senate unanimously.In its original introduction, the restriction on facial-recognition technology would have been lifted only if local government agreed to do so. In the Senate, however, Republican Ryan McDougle of Hanover County pushed through an amendment to make the approval have to come from the General Assembly rather than a city council or county board of supervisors.Police lobbyists provided little resistance to the measure in both of its legislative journeys.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / Fabled Silver Gold Corp. ("Fabled" or the "Company") (TSXV:FCO)(OTCQB:FBSGF)(FSE:7NQ) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an amended and restated option agreement (the "Amended Agreement") with respect to certain of the Company's copper properties, being Neil Property and the Toro Property, located in the Liard Mining Division in northern British Columbia.

Pursuant to the Amended Agreement, Fabled also now has the right to acquire additional claims covering an additional 3,842 hectares located in the same mineral belt (together with the Neil Property and the Toro Property, the "Muskwa Property") from High Range Exploration Ltd. (the "Optionor").

Under the existing option agreements, the Company was required to pay to the Optionor $5,000,000 in cash or shares by August 17, 2021, and a further $5,000,000 in cash or shares by March 3, 2022 to acquire an additional 50% of Neil Property and Toro Property not already owned by Fabled. In addition, Fabled was required to pay an additional $200,000 per annum to the Vendor in advance royalty payments, and pay a 2% NSR on the commencement of commercial production. Prior to entering into the Amended Agreement, past and unpaid advance royalty payments of $750,000 were to become due on March 31, 2021. Such amounts are not due under the Amended Agreement.

Pursuant to the Amended Agreement, in consideration for the right to acquire the whole and expanded Muskwa Property Fabled has agreed pay to the Optionor, in cash:

(i) $200,000 on the closing date;

(ii) $500,000 on the date that is twelve months after the closing date;

(iii) $750,000 on the date that is twenty-four months after the closing date;

(iv) $1,000,000 on the date that is thirty-six months after the closing date; and

(v) $2,000,000 on the date that is forty-eight months after the closing date.

The Muskwa Property will be subject to a 2% NSR payable to the Optionor but no advance royalty payments will now be due.

The additional claims included in the Muskwa Property (which include the Bronson deposit and additional claims contiguous and to the north of the Neil Property and ChurchKey Property) increase the Company's land package within the same mineral belt which is believed to be 6 miles wide and 40 miles long and that trends north 35 degrees west and contains the Davis-Keays Eagle Vein, the past-producing Churchill Copper Mine Magnum Vein, the Neil Vein, the Toro/Churchill, and Bronson deposits, each of which are now under option to Fabled.

Peter Hawley, President and CEO of Fabled comments "All parties have worked hard on this amended option agreement for a portion of our northern BC copper properties. The amended agreement rationalizes our holdings in the area and expands our land package at a significantly lower total cost to the Company compared to the existing agreements.

The Company now controls 100% of the Muskwa district copper occurrences, which total 50 known copper occurrences, of which no fewer than 5 are classified as deposits."

Future Plans.

In anticipation of these new reasonable terms, the Company has been working with multiple exploration teams, outfitters, and helicopter services to outline, and budget, a proposed July - September 2021 exploration season program. Once approved by the Board of Directors the Company, the Company will provide further details in future news releases.

In conjunction with Research Capital Corporation as its advisor, the Company is also evaluating various corporate strategies to unlock the value of the copper assets to maximize benefits to Fabled's shareholders.

Peter Hawley comments "With our on-going 8,000 meters surface drill program exploring, building and defining the Santa Maria Silver project in Mexico, and now with control of the Muskwa copper district in British Columbia, Canada, at a time where copper is valued at over $4.00 per pound, we are aiming to provide maximum value for Fabled shareholders in both these projects."

About Fabled Silver Gold Corp.

Fabled is focused on acquiring, exploring and operating properties that yield near-term metal production. The Company has an experienced management team with multiple years of involvement in mining and exploration in Mexico. The Company's mandate is to focus on acquiring precious metal properties in Mexico with blue-sky exploration potential.

The Company has entered into an agreement with Golden Minerals Company (NYSE American and TSX: AUMN) to acquire the Santa Maria Property, a high-grade silver-gold property situated in the center of the Mexican epithermal silver-gold belt. The belt has been recognized as a significant metallogenic province, which has reportedly produced more silver than any other equivalent area in the world.

The Company also has holdings in various copper properties in the Liard Mining Division in northern British Columbia.

Mr. Peter J. Hawley, President and C.E.O.

Fabled Silver Gold Corp.

Phone: (819) 316-0919

peter@fabledfco.com

For further information please contact:

info@fabledfco.com

The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Peter J. Hawley, P.Geo. President and C.E.O. of Fabled, who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) does accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that the Company obtains any required regulatory approvals.

Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: impacts from the coronavirus or other epidemics, general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and globally; industry conditions, including fluctuations in commodity prices; governmental regulation of the mining industry, including environmental regulation; geological, technical and drilling problems; unanticipated operating events; competition for and/or inability to retain drilling rigs and other services; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; volatility in market prices for commodities; liabilities inherent in mining operations; changes in tax laws and incentive programs relating to the mining industry; as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.

SOURCE: Fabled Silver Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639392/Fabled-Amends-and-Restates-Copper-Option-Agreements-and-Acquires-Additional-Claims
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong enters the Seoul High Court to attend a retrial of his bribery case held Jan. 18. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han



By Kim Bo-eun



A prolonged leadership vacuum at Samsung Electronics has placed the semiconductor giant in a tough spot with strategic decisions over new investments in the U.S. being delayed. Meanwhile, amid the global shortage of semiconductors, rival TSMC of Taiwan is building a large plant there.



Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong was jailed in January after receiving a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for bribing former President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil. Lee is currently hospitalized after receiving emergency surgery for appendicitis, March 19.



The White House, meanwhile, is inviting executives of companies in the chip industry for a meeting with senior officials, April 12. The U.S. presidential office said earlier this week that the list of participants and companies taking part in the meeting will be unveiled nearer the meeting date.



A Bloomberg report stated that executives of firms including Samsung Electronics, General Motors and GlobalFoundries are set to discuss the chip shortage with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese.



Carmakers as well as manufacturers of electronic devices are struggling to source chips as supplies remain limited while demand has spiked for vehicles and electronic gadgets during the COVID-19 pandemic as people have opted to buy cars instead of using public transportation, while remote work and school education have become the new norms.



Samsung maintained Thursday it could not confirm the White House invitation, but reports stated internal meetings were taking place on who would attend. Samsung Electronics' head of device systems, Kim Ki-nam, is likely to attend the meeting if Samsung does take part.



The conglomerate has yet to decide on the location of a new 19 trillion won ($17 billion) chip plant  an official said Samsung is still weighing multiple sites, including locations in Austin, Arizona and New York.



But talks are known to have progressed with the state government of Texas for Samsung to build new production facilities in Austin, where it already has a plant. Samsung has asked the local government to grant tax breaks of up to $800 million over a 20-year period.



Samsung's decision on the location of the new plant will come as the Jo Biden administration seeks to attract chip manufacturers to the U.S. as a means to secure a safe chip supply and contain the growing influence of China with its technological ascent. The absence of the leader has made Samsung delay this crucial decision for new investment amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.



"It is extremely difficult for Lee to make any strategic decisions while in jail as the visiting times for Samsung executives have been restricted to only 10 minutes, which makes it impossible for such decisions to be discussed," an industry official said. "Risks arising from ongoing litigation will continue to weigh on the company."



There is a sense of crisis at Samsung, as its rival TSMC is building a $12 billion plant in Arizona to ramp up production capacity. Intel also stated plans last month to invest $20 billion to set up two new fabrication plants in Arizona.



Meanwhile, the Samsung heir is set to face more court battles. Lee is expected to be discharged from hospital this weekend to attend another trial to be held later this month over a disputed merger of two Samsung affiliates and alleged accounting fraud.




Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - BluEarth Renewables, through its subsidiary, BER Hand Hills Wind LP, ("BluEarth") today announced the signing of a long-term Power Purchase Agreement ("PPA") with Shell Energy North America (Canada), Inc. ("Shell Energy"). The PPA will directly support the construction of the 130 MW Hand Hills Wind Project (the "Project"), located northeast of Drumheller, Alberta. Under the terms of the PPA, Shell Energy will purchase the electricity and associated emission offsets from 100 MW of the Project's capacity. The Project is anticipated to achieve commercial operations in late 2022.

"Shell is leading the way to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, in step with society," said Grant Arnold, President & CEO of BluEarth. "We're thrilled to work with the company on its journey to address climate change and offset greenhouse gas emissions."

"The Hand Hills Wind Project is the fourth construction project we've announced in Alberta within the last 12 months. The deployment of renewable energy is enabling job creation and economic activity in communities across the province, and we're excited to be part of Alberta's deregulated electricity market which continues to support investment."

"We're pleased to be working with BluEarth to enable the development of the Hand Hills Wind Project in Alberta by purchasing renewable power," said Carolyn Comer, Senior Vice President Shell Energy Americas. "Projects like Hand Hills are integral to the energy transition as businesses, governments and consumers seek ways to lower their carbon emissions."

Dale Nally, Associate Minister of Natural Gas and Electricity, commented, "We are pleased to see this major BluEarth project, and many other renewable energy projects, moving forward in Alberta. Through corporate partnerships like the one between Shell Energy and BluEarth, companies are demonstrating how Alberta's energy-only electricity market can help spur innovation and ensure a low-carbon future. This project adds to the over $2 billion in market-based renewable generation projects announced since July 2019 and shows that Alberta is Canada's leading destination for investment in this fast-growing sector."

Key Project Highlights

Creates approximately 175 jobs at peak construction or 225,000 person hours of employment during construction

Provides indirect revenue to the local municipality in the form of local services and supplies

Contributes significant and stable long-term property tax revenue to the local economy over the life of operations

Energy to be generated is equivalent to powering approximately 65,000 homes annually

Grant Arnold added, "I'm especially grateful for the support of our many local stakeholders, including Starland Country and Special Areas 2, landowners and the broader Delia community who have collaborated and worked with us throughout the long development phase of this Project."

BluEarth has been developing the Project since it was acquired in 2012, including an increase in the nameplate capacity from 78 MW to 130 MW. For more information about the Hand Hills Wind Project, please visit BluEarth's website.

About BluEarth Renewables

BluEarth Renewables brings together extraordinary people with the power to change the future by delivering renewable energy to the power grid every day. We are a leading, independent, power producer that acquires, develops, builds, owns, and operates wind, hydro and solar facilities across North America. Our portfolio includes 658 MW (556 MW net) of nameplate capacity in operation, under construction and contracted pre-construction and over 2,000 MW under development. For more information, visit bluearthrenewables.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

For further information:

Dorreen Miller

Director, Communications

BluEarth Renewables

(587) 324-4238

media@bluearth.ca

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79762
Monrovia  Three executives of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) are calling on the legislators to repeal the Alien and Nationality Law, specifically Section 22, which speaks of the 'Loss of Citizenship.'

According to Mssrs. Alfred Sieh, ULAA Board Chair, Frank Carter, National Executive Vice President, ULAA, and Conrade Nyenkan, Executive Board Member, ULAA, the present law on the book is against diaspora Liberians, who because of some circumstances beyond their controls, made them take up citizenships of another nations.

It seems that the amended 1974 Alien and Nationality Law Section 22, which speaks of 'Loss of Citizenship' is what ULAA thinks is a problem for them and needs to be repealed.

Section 22.1 "Acts causing loss of citizenship. From and after the effective date of this title, a person who is a citizen of Liberia whether by birth or naturalization, shall lose his citizenship by (a) Obtaining naturalization in a foreign state upon his own application, upon the application of a duly authorized agent, or through the naturalization of a parent having legal custody of such person; provided that citizenship shall not be lost by any person under this section as the result of the naturalization of a parent or parents while such person under the age of 21 years, unless such person shall fail to enter Liberia to establish a permanent residence prior to his twenty-third birthday; (b) Taking an oath or making an affirmation or other formal declaration of allegiance to a foreign state or a political subdivision thereof; or (c) Exercising a free choice to enter or serve in the armed forces of a foreign state, unless, prior to such entry or service, such entry or service is specifically authorized by the President; (d) Voting in a political election in a foreign state or voting in an election or plebiscite to determine the sovereignty of a foreign state over foreign territory; or (e) Making a formal renunciation of Liberian nationality before a diplomatic or consular officer of Liberia in a foreign state in such form may be prescribed by the Secretary of State."

Carter disclosed that unfortunately, some Liberians back home, are fearful that their brothers and sisters, who reside in the diaspora, are going to come back some day and take all their "jobs" away and so are discriminating against them that they are not "Liberians" but foreigners. He historicized that this started in the 1950s when foreigners were coming to Liberia and getting lucrative public jobs and there wasn't fear from Liberians until 1974. According to him, this was when ULAA was formed and more Liberians who had gone to school abroad began returning home.

Carter added: "What happened at that time was they wanted to make sure that people are not coming here to take jobs. Unfortunately, at this point, it's Liberians doing it to Liberians. Liberians who are opportune to be here are now saying that since that law was passed, we can start to work with it because we still have fears that our jobs would be taken away."

According to him, only very few Liberians abroad might be thinking about getting a public sector job back home and that most of them have establishments including companies that are directly impacting the lives of their fellow Liberians back home.

The ULAA Board Chairman, Mr. Sieh, who chipped in, gave an example of himself that he was born in Firestone under the rubber trees, was fortunate to leave the country during the war and in exile had to survive, took up the citizenship of his host nation and his parents still know him to be their son but now the law is against him that he is no longer a citizen of the country he was born and grew up in.

Sieh mentioned that Ghanaians, Nigerians or Sierra Leoneans come to Liberia and take up citizenship, but their countries of birth still guarantee them "perpetual citizenship," unlike Liberia.

He and his colleague, Carter, said they have met with some lawmakers concerning repealing the Alien and Nationality Law that will accommodate diaspora Liberians, who have taken up the citizenships of other nations.

This is an advocacy they have been pushing since 2012 and they are hoping to succeed during this President George Weah regime, which has shown interest in their fight for inclusion.

Sieh and Carter's other colleague, Conrade Nyekan, who is a ULAA Board Member and has a law enforcement background, chipped in: "Now, when you look at the naturalization certificate of any Liberian, it carries his place of birth. We accept Liberians home as criminals but we don't want to accept Liberians back home as professionals." He explained that if a Liberian, who has naturalized in the US commits a crime, the US Gov't is definitely going to deport that person back to Liberia; adding: "How can we reconcile us being able to accept our citizens as criminals but Mr. Sieh, who is a professional accountant or Mr. Carter or Nyenkan, who is a law enforcement officer can't come back and contribute to our society."

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Even though there hasn't been a visible or known discrimination against diaspora Liberians, Mr. Sieh feared that there might one day come a leader, who will choose to implement the law on the books to the letter.

"I have always said this, the Pharoah, who persecuted the Israelites wasn't the Pharoah who knew Joseph and was favorable to the Israelites. 'There arose another Pharoah, who knew him not,'" he stated. He further detailed that at the moment, the tension isn't high and hard against them; however, he reminiscence how a former president of Tubman University in Maryland County was denied being the Minister of Education because she carried a US citizenship.

Even though Sieh had forgotten the name of the person, but research done by this newspaper shows that it was Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell and the incident occurred in December 2014.
[April 08, 2021] Voxtur Closes Acquisition of Anow

TAMPA, Fla. and TORONTO, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Voxtur Analytics Corp. (TSXV:VXTR) (Voxtur or the Company) is pleased to announce that, further to the news release issued on March 30, 2021, it has received the approval for the acquisition of Appraisers Now Ltd. (Anow) (the Acquisition) and the Company has completed the Acquisition. Anow is an automated appraisal workflow management platform for the global appraisal market, with significant market share in the U.S. and Canada. This strategic acquisition bolsters recurring revenues and accelerates the development of Voxturs data ingestion engine, allowing clients to achieve optimal efficiency and cost-savings.

Total consideration for the Acquisition was approximately $30.5 million (the Purchase Price), with $20.5 million of the purchase price satisfied by the issuance of 28,571,428 common shares of Voxtur (the Share Component) and $10 million of which was comprised of a cash payment. 7,142,857 common shares of the Share Component will be held in escrow, to be released two (2) years after closing, subject only to reduction in the event of an indemnity claim by Voxtur or an adjustment of the Purchase Price in accordance with the share purchase agreement. In addition, a total of 17,901,866 common shares are subject to a contractual lock up, with such locked-up shares released in equal 2,000,000 common share installments every calendar quarter, with the first such release occurring on June 30, 2021. With this Acquisition, the Company continues to find innovative ways to empower professionals to do their job more efficiently and cost-effectively, said Chairman and CEO Gary Yeoman. The Anow appraiser-first model benefits all value-chain participants from lenders to consumers and reinforces our vision of the uberization of the entire real estate transaction. Together, Voxtur and Anow have an incredible opportunity to bring forward the appraisal and valuation platform of the future. With the technology weve built combined with Voxturs team and other innovative product lines, our offering is now unlike anything elsein the lending space, said Anow President Marty Haldane. The entire Anow team is completely aligned with the growth mentality and vision of the Voxtur team. We all want to be part of the future success of Voxtur and, as a result, decided to take a material component of the consideration in Voxtur shares.



Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP acted as legal counsel to Voxtur on the transaction. Raymond James Ltd. acted as exclusive financial advisor and Dentons Canada LLP acted as legal counsel to Anow on the transaction. About Voxtur

Voxtur is a transformational real estate technology company that is redefining industry standards in a dynamic lending environment. The Company offers targeted data analytics to simplify tax solutions, property valuation and settlement services throughout the lending lifecycle for investors, lenders, government agencies and servicers. Voxturs proprietary data hub and workflow platforms more accurately and efficiently value assets, originate and service loans, securitize portfolios and evaluate tax assessments. The Company serves the property lending and property tax sectors, both public and private, in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.voxtur.com.

About Anow Anow is an appraisal management software that simplifies the way real estate appraisers manage their businesses. Launched in 2011 by multi-generational appraisal professional Marty Haldane, Anow streamlines a wide range of everyday appraisal processes while offering unmatched business insights to help appraisers compete in todays digital environment. Powerful order tracking, job assignment, collaboration, scheduling tools, and mobile apps allow appraisers and administrative staff to save time, assign appraisals more easily and deliver exceptional service to clients and mortgage lenders from any web-enabled device. Advanced reporting enables business owners to manage fee competition and turn times with ease. Cautionary Note 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 Information This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that may not be realized. These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect managements current expectations and assumptions which are based on information currently available to management. There is significant risk that forward-looking statements will not prove to be accurate. A number of factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements discussed in the forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements and information should not be regarded as a representation of Voxtur or any other person that the anticipated results will be achieved and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Voxtur does not assume any obligation to update or revise this information to reflect new events or circumstances except as required in accordance with applicable laws. Voxturs common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol VXTR and in the US on the OTCQB under the symbol ILATF.

Contact: Gary Yeoman, CEO | gary@voxtur.com | 416-347-7707

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The pandemic did not hit everyone in the same way. While, according to data from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), 22 million people joined poverty, 10 billionaires increased their wealth.

This Tuesday, Forbes magazine presented its 2021 World Billionaires List . Globally, the ranking was headed by Jeff Bezos , founder of Amazon , with a net worth valued at 177 billion dollars. It is followed by Elon Musk , CEO of Tesla and SpaceX , with 151 billion dollars.

Bernard Arnault, owner of luxury brands, with 150 billion dollars; Bill Gates , co-founder of Microsoft , with 124 billion, and Mark Zuckerberg , founder of Facebook, with 97 billion close the Top 5 of billionaires in the world.

Overall, the richest people in the world increased their wealth by $ 5 trillion in one year.

The 10 billionaires of Latin America

Image: Carlos Slim Foundation

The region also showed the growth of the wealth of its billionaires.

These are:

1. Carlos Slim : Mexican businessman who owns Grupo Carso and America Movil. It ranks 16th on the list with $ 62.8 billion, about $ 52.1 billion more than it reported in 2020.

2. German Larrea Mota Velasco: Executive Director of Grupo Mexico, the mining company that is the fifth largest copper producer in the world. It is in position 61 of the list, with 25,900 million dollars. In 2020 it registered 11 million dollars.

3. Iris Fontbona: Chilean number 74 on the general list. It owns Antofagasta Plc, which manages copper mines in Chile. It owns $ 23.3 billion, more than double the $ 10.8 billion in 2020.

4.Ricardo Salinas Pliego: Mexican who runs Grupo Salinas and reported a fortune of 11,700 million dollars in 2020 and is now placed in seat 166 of the 2021 list with 12,900 million.

5. Marcel Herrmann Telles: Brazilian with participation in the beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev. It is in position 191 of the general list with a fortune of 11.5 billion dollars. In 2020 it had "only" 6.5 billion.

6. Jorge Moll Filho: Brazilian founder of the Rede D'Or private hospitals that went from 2 billion dollars in 2020 to 11.3 billion dollars to enter position 194 on the general list.

7. Luis Carlos Sarmiento: Chairman of the Board of Directors of the holding Grupo Aval Actions y Valores and owner of the newspaper El Tiempo in Colombia. It ranks 200th on the Forbes list with $ 11 billion in 2020.

8. Alberto Bailleres Gonzalez: President of Grupo Bal and director of Industrias Penoles in Mexico. It is in position 255 of the count with 9.200 million dollars.

9. Safra Family: The widow and children of the recently deceased Brazilian banker Joseph Safra placed 355 on the Forbes list for the $ 7.1 billion inheritance they received.

10. Juan Francisco Beckmann Vidal: President of the Jose Cuervo Group in Mexico. He registered a personal wealth of 7 billion dollars from 4.300 billion in 2020. He ranks 369th on the tally.

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Renters across Victoria are being ordered from their homes by their landlords in a wave of evictions after COVID-19 tenancy protections ended last week.

No hard data is yet available on the after-effects of lifting the state governments rental moratorium, but tenants advocacy groups, legal services and the real estate peak body are reporting an increase in notices to vacate, as well as demands for unpaid rent, and theyre warning of worse to come.

Lorna Berry is one of a large number of Melbourne tenants who have been given notice to vacate. Credit:Joe Armao

The suite of rental protections, which also included a ban on rent increases, ended on March 28 - the same day that JobKeeper payments were cut off.

The end of protections, introduced at the beginning of pandemic to prevent mass evictions during the resulting economic crisis, also coincided with sweeping tenancy law reform granting greater rights to renters.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Ayurcann Holdings Corp. (CSE: AYUR) ("Ayurcann" or the "Company"), an integrated Canadian extraction company specializing in the processing of cannabis and hemp for the production of oils and various derivative products, is pleased to announce that the Company will commence trading at market open today on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") under the symbol "AYUR".

Ayurcann is a market leader within the cannabis extraction business and has created a turn-key post-harvest outsourcing solution for licensed cannabis producers. The Company concentrates on the post-harvest requirements of licensed cannabis producers and other brands looking to enter the cannabis market, and offers end-to-end full outsourcing solutions including extraction, refinement, formulation, packaging, fulfillment and distribution. The Company holds a Processing Licence and a Research Licence issued by Health Canada, and operates primarily out of its facility in Pickering, Ontario, which provides it with easy access to licensed producers and other cannabis market participants in the region.

Igal Sudman, Chief Executive Officer of the Company said, "I am so grateful for our loyal shareholders, strategic stakeholders and the many people who have supported us along in our journey to get to this point. As a public company, we believe that our enhanced profile will improve our access to capital, potential acquisition opportunities, and will vastly accelerate our development in becoming the largest go-to provider of cannabis extraction services in Canada."

"This year has been wild in the capital markets and we can see that investors are now looking to deploy their capital into real operating companies. Ayurcann has experienced significant revenue growth YoY and we plan for further double-digit growth in 2021. Our time to shine is right now, and we are excited to showcase our bright future as a listed company on the CSE," said Roman Buzaker, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.

For additional information, please contact:

Ayurcann Holdings Corp.

Igal Sudman, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Corporate Secretary

905.492.3322 x 301

igal@xtrx.ca

www.ayurcann.com

Investor Relations:

Ryan Bilodeau

Tel: 416-910-1440

Email: IR@ayurcann.com

Neither the CSE nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward- looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward looking statements, including: listing of the common shares of the Company on the CSE. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain regulatory approval, the continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the statements will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79794
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The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed the South-west Zonal Congress earlier slated for April 10-12.

The party has also shifted the venue from Ibadan, Oyo State capital to Osogbo, Osun State.

According to a state statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, the partys publicity secretary, the decision was reached on Thursday.

@OfficialPDPNig NWC after extensively discussing the issues of concern in the South West resolves as follow:

Moves the venue of the South West Congress to Oshogbo, Osun State

The South West Congress is scheduled for Monday, April 12, 2021

Party assures of working with all stakeholders to achieve a seamless and unifying congress.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported moves to postpone the congress to ensure that the party resolves the crisis between Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and an ex-governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

The duo has been engaged in a leadership tussle in the region and over their choice of who becomes the next PDP National Vice Chairperson (South-west).

Mr Fayose said it should be a former Ondo State information commissioner, Eddy Olafeso, claiming an agreement was reached at Mr Makindes house at Ibadan, Oyo State.

The Oyo State governor did not deny Mr Fayoses position, but he is believed to be lobbying for an Oyo indigene.
New Delhi, April 8 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday took a swipe at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for holding public meetings in West Bengal even after coming in contact with a Covid-19 positive person.

Priyanka Gandhi, who is also in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Congress, in a series of tweets in Hindi, said: "According to media reports, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister is going to rallies even after coming in contact with a Covid positive person. His office is giving incorrect figures of deaths from Covid. According to reports, there is a long waiting in the crematoriums and hospitals of Lucknow. There is panic among people." In another tweet, she said that "those who have to show accountability and transparency are behaving irresponsibly". "In times of crisis, leaders should set an example of truthfulness and righteous conduct so that people can build trust in them," she said.

Priyanka Gandhi, who has isolated herself at home after her husband Robrt Vadra tested positive for Covid last week, postponed her public meetings in Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. However, Adityanath addressed three public meetings in West Bengal on Wednesday.

On Thursday, he addressed three more public meetings in Hooghly and Howrah districts of the state.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kathmandu, April 8

In the third week of February, Nepal paid the Serum Institute of India Rs 930 million to purchase two million doses of the Covishield Covid-19 vaccines.

On February 21, the company supplied the first half of the purchase to Kathmandu on an Air India aeroplane. Nepal had expected the second half to be supplied within February, but it has not arrived here yet.

Officials involved in the negotiation now say receiving the remaining supply of vaccines before April end is unlikely.

Whereas the Indian Minister of External Affairs, during its weekly press briefing last week, said the New Delhi government had not banned the export of the vaccines, he also maintained its priority, apparently, was the domestic need. A Nepali official says India has communicated this position to Kathmandu officially also, still assuring the vaccines would arrive soon.

Although it has cited the domestic demand as the major reason for the delay, there could be other reasons also. We have been assured that the vaccines will arrive by the last week of April.

But, many officials view supplying one million doses to Nepal shall not be a big deal for India if it is really willing. Hence, a negotiator says the delay might be the result of geopolitical competition between India and China as Nepal recently received 800,000 donated Vero Cell vaccines from the northern neighbour.

Meanwhile, the delay in the supply has affected the Ministry of Healths preparation to purchase additional vaccines from the same company.
The Supreme Court has often dealt a big blow to presidents in their second term.

Harry Truman was rebuked for claiming the power to seize strike-bound steel mills during the Korean War. Richard Nixon resigned shortly after the court ruled unanimously he must turn over the Watergate tapes.

Bill Clintons impeachment was triggered by the courts decision that he must answer questions under oath in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case. And George W. Bush lost before the court when he claimed his power as commander in chief gave him almost unfettered authority over prisoners held at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

Now, as President Obama begins his last year in office, the court is set to render a verdict on his use of his executive authority. The justices will decide whether he violated the law by authorizing more than 4 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally to come out of the shadows without fear of deportation and obtain work permits.

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There are signs that at least some of the justices are ready to rein in the presidents ability to take such bold action without the approval of Congress.

Never before has the high court ruled that a president violated his constitutional duty to take care that laws are faithfully executed. Yet when justices agreed to hear the immigration case, they surprised many by asking both sides to present arguments on whether Obamas actions violated the rarely invoked take care provision. That question had not even been at issue when lower courts blocked Obamas plan from taking effect.

In a separate pending case this term, the court also will rule on whether the president and his healthcare advisors went too far by requiring Catholic charities and other faith-based employers to formally opt out of providing a full range of contraceptives to their female employees by citing their religious objections.

The faith-based entities argued that by notifying the government of their decision to opt out  which triggers a process under which employees would get contraceptive coverage by other means  they would be complicit in supplying abortion-inducing drugs.

The decisions, both due by summer, will help answer a question that looms over Obamas presidency. Has he properly used his power as chief executive to circumvent congressional gridlock on issues such as immigration, climate change and healthcare, or has he gone too far and violated his duty to enforce the laws as set by Congress?

The cases come before the court with a backdrop of Republican claims that the president has overreached and abused his power. Former House Speaker John A. Boehner said Obama was acting like a king and damaging the presidency when he announced the deportation-relief plan now before the high court.

On the campaign trail, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas promises GOP voters that, if he is elected president, his first task on his first day in the White House will be to rescind every illegal and unconstitutional executive action of Barack Obama.

White House officials and supporters of the president counter that Obamas actions are not only legal and well within his discretionary authority, but that Congress has left him no choice by refusing to take action on pressing national problems.

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Conservative scholars think Obama has left himself vulnerable by announcing broad executive actions on policies that had been considered and rejected by Congress, and which even he once said were beyond his authority.

In his first term, Obama told Latino activists who were pushing him to take unilateral action that he could not waive away the laws Congress put in place regarding the removal of immigrants who entered the country illegally. But later the president decided he did have the power to suspend deportation and offer lawful presence and work permits to as many as 5 million of those immigrants.

So far conservatives have mostly failed to derail Obama in the Supreme Court. Twice, the justices upheld the presidents healthcare law against conservative attacks, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. casting his vote with the courts four liberals.

Four years ago, in a key test of state-versus-federal power, the court ruled for Obama after his administration sued to block Arizona from enforcing a law to crack down on immigrants in the country illegally.

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In 2011, Obama and then-Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. raised ruffles on the right when they announced the administration would not defend in court the Defense of Marriage Act, which recognized only marriages between a man and a woman. House Republicans took up the cause, but two years later the high court agreed with the administration and struck down key parts of the law as unconstitutional.

But the new immigration and contraceptive cases pose a tough test for Obamas lawyers. In last years healthcare case, they were defending a law that had won approval in Congress, when both chambers were controlled by Democrats. We must respect the role of the legislature and take care not to undo what it has done, Roberts said in upholding its system of insurance subsidies.

This year, by contrast, Obama is defending an executive action on immigration that was taken without the approval of Congress and in the face of fierce Republican criticism.

Similarly, the contraceptive mandate was not spelled out in the Affordable Care Act, as lawyers for Catholic bishops often point out. It was adopted later in a regulation issued by Obamas healthcare advisors.

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But Obamas defenders, including immigration law experts, say the critics are missing the crucial point that the deportation laws give the chief executive a free hand to decide how or whether to deport those living here illegally. Contrary to what many assume, the law does not say federal officials must arrest and deport such people. Rather, it says they are subject to removal, based on policies and priorities set by the executive branch.

Obamas administration says it wants to focus on deporting criminals, security threats, gang members and drug traffickers, not parents and grandparents who have children in the United States legally.

The administration can quote a powerful voice to back up its view of the matter. Aliens may be removed if they entered the country illegally and committed crimes, said Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, but a principal feature of the removal system is the broad discretion exercised by immigration officials.... Federal officials, as an initial matter, must decide whether it makes sense to pursue removal at all. As a general rule, it is not a crime for a removable alien to remain present in the United States.

Kennedy spoke for the court four years ago in rejecting Arizonas claim that immigrants who could not prove their citizenship should be arrested, and Roberts agreed. Kennedys explanation of the deportation system may also defeat any claims that Obama is violating his duty to faithfully execute the law.

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The president is not claiming a constitutional authority to not enforce the law. Hes claiming authority based on the immigration statute, said Walter Dellinger, a White House lawyer under President Clinton. And if the court says he is wrong, then he will comply with that.

On Twitter: @DavidGSavage

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The Great American Off-Road Race announced that they are officially launching an all-new dedicated Military Vehicle Class in time for the 2021 Mint 400, this December 1st - 5th in Las Vegas, Nevada. The class will allow manufacturers and owners of historic and modern military vehicles to compete and showcase their vehicle platforms in front of tens of thousands of off-road race fans and enthusiasts, and live to the world via the Mint 400 LiveStream.

Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link



AM General M998 High Mobility Multi Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) (Picture source: The Mint 400)

The creation of the new class comes as Mint 400 owners Matt and Josh Martelli and the Mint 400 Event Director Kilian Hamlin begin planning the second annual Mint 400 Military Challenge, which raised over $100,000 in financial support for veterans and active-duty military in its first year.

Willys-Overland delivered the prototype Jeep (dubbed the Quad) to the U.S. Army in November of 1940. One could argue that was really the birth of the off-road movement. Within thirty years we were racing down in Baja (1967) and at the Mint (1968), and since then there has been remarkable growth in military vehicle technology. Most of us will never get to see these amazing machines up close, let alone in action - but The Mint 400 is the perfect proving ground to showcase these vehicles, which are used by our military to defend our freedom, stated Mint 400 Co-Owner and CEO, Matt Martelli.

Last year, several military vehicles competed at The Mint 400 as part of the Military Challenge including Green Berets with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) who raced their General Dynamics Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1s, and the Warfighter Made organization who entered their Flyer 22 Vintage Military Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) manufactured by Flyer Defense and a 1988 AM General M998 High Mobility Multi Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) aka Humvee. However, their entries came very close to race week and before a full rule set could be structured for the 2020 event. The new class structure will help solidify its place at the storied race, and The Martelli Brothers and Mint 400 Technical Director Bill Savage are now working on class rules.

We had some badass vehicles show up to compete last year, and one of the highlights was seeing a fully loaded GMV leave the start line in combat-ready condition! What we realized in that moment was these guys arent interested in taking parade laps - they want to race! So were investing some more time into structuring the class rules to let them go toe to toe out there this December, stated Mint 400 Co-Owner and COO, Josh Martelli. There are some fantastic US military vehicle makers out there including GM Defense, Flyer Defense, Oshkosh, AM General, and Polaris Defense, and we want them all to get involved with this class! The Mint 400s hundred-mile multi-lap race format lends itself well to challenging the Military Class vehicle platform, and no other off-road event in America offers as much in-person and digital brand exposure in the sport, furthered Martelli.

Companies looking to get involved in the new Mint 400 Military Class should contact Mint 400 CEO Matt Martelli. More information on the new class will be released in the coming months.



Last year, several military vehicles competed at The Mint 400 as part of the Military Challenge including Green Berets with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) who raced their General Dynamics Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1s (Picture source: The Mint 400)

About The Mint 400

The Mint 400 is the oldest and most prestigious off-road race in America and is held each March in the treacherous foothills of Sin City. The multi-day event features a massive vehicle parade down the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, a two-day festival on historic Fremont Street, and two days of grueling off-road racing on a desolate and punishing 400-mile racecourse. Nearly 65,000 off-road and recreational enthusiasts come to watch 500 race teams in 50+ classes from 25 different states and 15 different countries go door to door, while the Livestream coverage is beamed to over 800,000 viewers worldwide. No other off-road race allows fans the thrilling experience of watching the top off-road race teams from around the world battle for fame and glory, in a festival setting  complete with a luxury VIP section. The Mint 400 is The Great American Off-Road Race!
ALBANY  The most contentious and late-breaking policy debate within this week's $217 billion state budget deal is a $2.1 billion "excluded workers" fund designed to provide cash payments to undocumented immigrants who were ineligible for other federal and state benefits such as unemployment insurance or stimulus checks.

The policy  the first of its kind and scope in the nation  was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Jessica Ramos, a Queens Democrat.

It creates a two-tiered system of direct cash payments for workers ineligible for previous state or federal relief  including undocumented immigrants  who are able to provide proof of their New York residency, identity and loss of income. Depending on their lost income, they could receive a payment ranging from $3,000 to $15,600. The program was the subject of a large advocacy push that included coordinated rallies across the state and a hunger strike in Manhattan that ended Wednesday morning.

Although the policy was included in the budgets proposed in the Assembly and Senate last month, it seemed to take political observers and even some lawmakers by surprise when it became clear that there was serious momentum to include the measure in the budget.

The surprise led to a split in the Democratic Party, with state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, chair of the Health Committee, threatening to impede bills from members of the Assembly who did not support the excluded workers fund while state party Chair Jay Jacobs issued a statement decrying supporters of the bill who labeled critics as racist.

The reality is we can show the fund for excluded workers is going to bring millions of dollars for key communities," Ramos said. She questioned where the opponents of the bill were when it was time to debate the matter on the Senate floor. As a senator, when Im really concerned about things, I drill down on anybody, especially when it affects my community.

Murad Awawdeh, co-director of the New York Immigration Coalition, a leading group in the advocacy effort for the bill, said he was surprised by the suddenness of the opposition.

It becoming an issue last week for some legislators is kind of weird considering it was in the" (Assembly and Senate budget bills), he said. "I dont think we as a state should be playing politics with peoples lives. And the fact of the matter is that there were people who were trying to sow division amongst legislators and across the board.  Our communities have been hurting for over a year now and have been receiving nothing in aid and we just weren't going to stand for that.

According to two sources from the Assembly who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the impetus for the policy landing in the final budget deal was because of the Senate. They said the issue was only discussed in closed-door meetings of Assembly Democrats within the last two weeks, and it took many by surprise. The two sources were critical of the process by which the policy was made, although they both said the policy was improved through a question-and-answer process that fleshed out certain details.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins told Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie that she had the votes for the policy and was insistent on it being in the budget, one of the sources said. That put the Democratic-controlled Assembly in the politically unthinkable position of needing to publicly deny help to immigrants. That person added that while they're hesitant on the details of the excluded worker plan, they strongly support a number of other funds and program in the budget.

And this is the problem with the big ugly, right? The big ugly has a lot of good things in there," the person said.

Republicans have uniformly opposed the idea in both chambers, saying it unduly prioritizes undocumented noncitizens ahead of New Yorkers.

I do think this is a well-intentioned idea. I think that everyone has compassion for people and would love to help folks out, but youre talking about a budget here where were already spending 20 percent more than last year, $18 billion to be exact," said Assemblyman Chris Tague, whose district includes Greene, Columbia and Albany counties. He said he feels it's nonsensical the state is not putting away a portion of the billions it has received from the federal government for a rainy day fund.

Were (spending) $2.1 billion and we dont know who this person is or why theyre here or what theyve been doing? I mean everybodys been hit hard by this COVID crisis and we want to help everybody, but it also gets to the point where we have to protect the state of New York, we have to protect the people of the state, we have to take care of them first," Tague said.

Another concern among opponents of the bill  and some supporters  is that it will lead to fraud. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Wednesday that the state attorney general and comptroller will be required to sign off on the plan to distribute benefits to guard against fraud.

"Just because youre undocumented doesnt mean we dont care and we dont have compassion and we dont want to help," Cuomo said. "It is difficult to do it in a way that can be administered without fraud. And thats obviously a major concern for us, that we protect every tax dollar."

Rivera said he felt some of his fellow Democrats were buying into the Republican messaging on the bill, and that was what spurred him to speak out on Twitter.

"My sense at the time was that there was some organizing going on that was not in good faith.  That was kind of buying into the racist propaganda that this is something thats going to be harmful to New Yorkers," Rivera said. "I wanted to make clear that if you stand with the folks who are against this for illegitimate reasons, then I am not going to stand with you," he added, explaining his threats on Twitter to block health-related legislation from Assembly members who opposed the bill.

Heastie, the Assembly speaker, clapped back, effectively telling Rivera to mind his business and not worry about the Assembly's.

"With all due respect senator, the Assembly has had and will have the votes to pass an excluded workers fund bill that covers all workers. Stop worrying about the Assembly and worry about your own house," he wrote.

The Senate passed each of the 10 bills necessary to fund the state government for the near future by early Wednesday morning, and the Assembly convened Wednesday afternoon to finish its own parallel process.
Strengthening cooperation on migration and security issues will be at the center of the talks that Minister Luigi Di Maio will hold today and tomorrow during his two-day visit to Bamako, Mali's capital. Today the Minister's agenda includes meetings with Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zeini Moulaye and Minister of Malians Abroad and African Integration Alhamdou Ag Ilyene. Tomorrow, 9 April, he will meet with Transition President Bah N'Daw and Vice President Assimi Goita.

Mali is Italy's strategic partner in many priority dossiers, such as Libya, the management of migratory flows, and the Sahel's stability. The mission to Mali falls within the priority framework where the African continent is vital for our country, as demonstrated by the special attention devoted to the African continent by the Italian G20 Presidency.
Vientiane [Laos], April 8 (ANI): Chinese dams on the Mekong River have begun unleashing water during the river's normal dry season, posing threats to aquatic life in Laos, along with thousands of people living alongside the river in Southeast Asian country, according to a report by Radio Free Asia (RFA).

The report said fluctuating water levels in Southeast Asia's most important waterway causes trouble for wildlife, farmers and fishermen in Laos.

"The Mekong River water level is up 12 centimetres [4.7 inches] from yesterday," an official of the Natural Resources and Environment Department of Laos' northwestern Bokeo province told RFA on April 2.

Fishermen from northwestern Xayaburi province of Laos are complaining that a sudden change in water level was bad for fish stocks. "The Mekong River has risen about 10 centimetres [four inches]. I'm concerned that the rising water will affect aquatic vegetation and fish," the fisherman said, as quoted by RFA.

Experts have emphasised that the river's water level is not supposed to rise during the dry season.

"The rising water could hurt aquatic species like fish and aquatic vegetation. Some of them could even die. Sparrows lay their eggs on the sand beds too, and when the water level rises these can become flooded," said Montree Chanthawong, a Thailand-based Mekong River expert.

Raising concerns over the dipping water-levels of the Mekong River and upstream dams in China, Senior US Diplomat Atul Keshap last month had pointed out that upstream dams in China that exacerbate droughts are hurting the communities and ecosystems that have relied for countless generations on the Mekong River's natural flood pulse.

"We remain concerned just as we were in October during the conference--that record droughts and the upstream dams in China that exacerbate them are hurting the communities and ecosystems that have relied for countless generations on the Mekong River's natural flood pulse," he had said as reported by the Frontier Post.

This news comes as China has drawn criticism from its downstream neighbours for its building several mega-dams on the Mekong River, with the lower Mekong basin experiencing severe drought over the past year.

Beijing agreed to share data with the Mekong River Commission in October last year, as some 60 million people in MRC members countries use the river for agriculture and fishing. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, April 8 : Actor Akshaye Khanna makes his digital debut with the web film "State Of Siege: Temple Attack". The Ken Ghosh directorial is based on the Akshardham temple terror strike of September 24, 2002, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Akshaye says he feels privileged to wear the uniform for his role and that he is extra careful and respectful towards the uniform.

"To be able to wear the uniform without taking the oath of the ultimate sacrifice is a privilege that only an actor is afforded. My only focus during the making has been to not disrespect that privilege," said the actor, who made a mark playing an armyman in JP Dutta's 1997 superhit "Border".

"Very rarely have we highlighted the role of the Indian commandos in neutralising attacks by our enemies. The 'State Of Siege' series was designed to give their perspective and contribution. The success of 'State Of Siege: 26/11' encouraged us to tell these stories further and the obvious extension for us was to chronicle the events of the temple attack that shook the nation," said producer Abhimanyu Singh.

"State Of Siege: Temple Attack" will depict how, on September 24, 2002, a terrorist attack at Akshardham temple claimed over 30 lives and left 80 injured. The National Security Guard (NSG) arrived at the spot, killed the terrorists, and ended the siege. It is slated to premiere on Zee5.
As of last night, we were successful in lifting some of the sedation medication Kayden required to protect his brain. This procedure provides us with a better idea of his clinical state, Malakooti said in a statement. We are pleased to see Kayden make some recovery as he is demonstrating some return in brain activity. While it is still very early to make any meaningful prediction about his total recovery, we are optimistic about the clinical signs we are seeing.
Vietnam will lure more foreign investment in the high-tech industry by offering more incentives and amending requirements for high-tech businesses.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Vietnams high-tech industry has seen a new investment wave. Last week, the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh held a ceremony to grant a licence for Jinko Solar Technology Ltd of Hong Kong to invest in a photovoltaic cell technology project worth 500 million USD.



Austrian printed circuit board manufacturer AT&S has been studying several locations in Vietnam to build two factories worth 1.5 billion euros (1.78 billion USD).



The company will make a decision on the location in mid-April and start construction at the end of this year. It expects to complete work within a year.



Do Nhat Hoang, Director of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said the new investment wave in the high-tech sector was because tech giants like Samsung, Foxconn, Luxshare, and Intel had ramped up their investment and production capacity in Vietnam.



Hoang said most of the global tech giants already had invested or sought investment opportunities in Vietnam.



He said to welcome this new investment wave, the Vietnamese Government had worked out a series of important requirements. In the middle of last month, then Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc officially issued the new requirements for high-tech enterprises.



Accordingly, high-tech enterprises with a total investment capital of 6 trillion VND (260 million USD) and a number of 3,000 employees or more must commit to spend at least 0.5 percent of their capital for research and development (R&D). Enterprises with a total capital of 100 billion VND and 200 employees or more must commit to at least one percent of their total net revenue.



An anonymous investor said under the new requirements, foreign investors would avoid the heavy burden of commitments for R&D activities. Under the new requirements, spending for R&D will also include depreciation of infrastructure investment, fixed assets, vocational training, recurrent expenditures and royalties.



In the past, after the High-technology Law took effect on July 1, 2009, investors increasingly complained about the high requirements for investment projects to be recognised as high-technology projects. Commonly cited complaints include the limited number of products that were listed as high-technology products, that high-technology enterprises must commit at least one percent of their annual revenue towards (R&D), and that at least five percent of total workers must be involved in R&D activities.



Hoang said the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) was collecting comments from ministries and agencies before submitting to the Government for approval on special investment policies.



He said under the new regulations, special incentives will be given to innovation hub projects, including National Innovation Centre, R&D projects, and large-scale projects.



We have proposed four criteria to determine those eligible to enjoy special incentives or not that include technology, technology transfer, participation of Vietnamese businesses in value chains and value added in Vietnam, said Hoang.



With special incentives, preparation of premises, energy, high-quality human resources, and improvements in the business climate, Vietnam would attract more investment in high-tech projects in the future, he added.

VNA

Start-ups attracting foreign investors Start-ups globally have been in a critical condition recently, as COVID-19 has forced many private equity firms to cut their investment.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Thursday released $5 billion in American Rescue Plan money to fight homelessness, including $200 million for state and local governments in Ohio.

HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge said allocations to 651 grantees around the nation will be used to increase affordable housing and provide services for people experiencing homelessness. She said more than 580,000 people experienced homelessness on a given night before the coronavirus, and the pandemic has only made the crisis worse. She said the funds released Thursday and upcoming emergency rental vouchers will give communities resources to provide homes for people who endured the pandemic without them.

While Americans were told to stay safe by staying home last year, more than half a million individuals and families had no way to do so because they did not have a home, said Fudge, a former Warrensville Heights mayor and member of Congress who says ending homelessness will be a top priority for her at HUD. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored just how important it is for every person to have a safe, stable home.

U.S. Sen Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat who chairs the Senates Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, said the money will be used to get people into safe emergency housing, whether its converting a motel to a socially distant shelter, or whether its breaking ground for new permanent supportive housing. We need to get the word out to cities and towns and counties, and housing organizations.

According to HUD, Cleveland will get $17,735,408 of the money designated for Ohio and Cuyahoga County will get $9,879,339. Akron will get $5,335,558, East Cleveland will get $911,984, Lorain will get $1,729,944, Lake County will get $1,631,860 and Summit County will get $1,535,739. The state itself will get $90,557,128.

The grants are being distributed to communities through a formula, and can be used to build affordable housing, buy and convert hotels that can eventually be transformed to housing, provide short-term rental assistance, fund supportive services, and provide housing for people fleeing domestic violence. Fudge said communities will have until 2030 to use the money.

Theres quite a bit of flexibility, Fudge senior adviser Richard Cho told reporters. Itll be really key for home grantees to work closely with continuum of care and homeless service organizations to really think about the best ways to use these resources to meet both short term and long term housing.

Between the American Rescue Plan and a separate coronavirus relief bill adopted in December, Fudge said theres enough money to provide as many as 30,000 new housing units. She said the jobs package President Joe Biden introduced would create more than 2 million new low income and affordable housing units over the next eight years.

If all of those things work together, then I am very, very confident that we can eradicate homelessness and we can make sure that people have the wraparound services they need to stay in stable housing, said Fudge, who said she hopes that shelters are going to go away as a consequence of what were doing today.

Brown said many cites like Cleveland have thousands of homes available to buy in the $40,000 to $60,000 range where potential homeowners would pay less for a home payment than they would for rent, if they could assemble the necessary down payment and get a mortgage. Brown said it can be difficult to obtain financing for less expensive homes because banks make more money underwriting larger mortgages. He and Fudge say they want to make it easier for people to buy those homes.

If people own their own homes in the Lee-Harvard area and own their own homes in Slavic Village, it will mean were more likely to attract grocery stores and transit stops and all the things that will make their lives better, said Brown.

A statement from Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio Executive Director Bill Faith called the funding an extraordinary opportunity. The organization observed that a count conducted in January 2020 indicated there were a total of 10,655 Ohioans experiencing homelessness at that time. If invested wisely, the group said the money could create more than 1,000 new supportive and affordable homes in the state.

It would be easy to just spend this money on building more shelters, but that wont do anything to solve the root cause of homelessness  the dire shortage of housing that extremely low-income people can afford, said Faith. Were ready to work with our state and local partners to invest these one-time funds on long-term solutions.

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Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva and Foreign Affairs Adviser to the President of Latvia Solveiga Silkalna have discussed the fight against coronavirus, the security situation in eastern Ukraine and support for Ukraine's European integration.

These issues were discussed during online consultations on Thursday, Ukrinform reports with reference to the presidents press service.

The interlocutors discussed the measures taken in Ukraine and Latvia to fight against the COVID-19 spread, as well as the vaccination of citizens with certified vaccines. Ihor Zhovkva informed the interlocutor about the escalation of the security situation in the east of our state. In particular, the number of ceasefire violations has significantly increased, the number of Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded has grown, and further increase of the Russian military contingent along the Ukrainian-Russian border has been recorded, reads the report.

Solveiga Silkalna expressed concern over the escalation of the security situation in eastern Ukraine and stressed the invariability of Riga's position in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In addition, the officials discussed cooperation between the two countries in the context of the implementation of Ukraine's strategic course towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The parties also discussed the algorithm of further bilateral cooperation in the context of the prospect of Ukraine receiving a NATO Membership Action Plan.

As reported by Ukrinform, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office Ihor Zhovkva held a meeting with Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic, who is in Ukraine with a contact mission.

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A video shows the appalling moment a cash handler pretending to be a robber was shot dead by a guard during a role play training exercise for a Russian security firm.

Oleg Korobkov, 23, posed as a robber during a drill in Russian city Nizhny Novgorod as his colleagues were ordered to role play responding to an attack.

One guard overpowered a second pretend robber and stole his gun, say reports.

On the video the guard is allegedly seen through a metal fence pointing the gun at Korobkov who carries 'stolen money'.

But the man 'accidentally pulled the trigger', according to reports, in what was supposed to be a training scenario at the offices of Brink's, a subsidiary of the world leading company in transportation of cash and valuables.

Oleg Korobkov, 23, (left) posed as a robber during a drill in Russian city Nizhny Novgorod as his colleagues - including a guard (right) - were ordered to role play responding to an attack.

Korobkov (left) can be seen moving away from a door while the guard (right) appears to be pointing his gun at him

This is the shocking moment Korobjov (centre left on the floor) was shot dead by the guard (right) during a role play training exercise for a Russian security firm

Victim: Oleg Korobjov

'The bullet hit Oleg in the chest, just below the heart,' said a report, which stated that the victim died instantly.

Another man is seen gesticulating in horror at the shooter, who was later detained.

The Russian Investigative Committee said a murder case had been launched.

'Currently investigators are working at the scene,' the Investigative Committee said.

'Witnesses, including company employees, are being questioned, and the documents are being seized.

'All the circumstances of the incident are being established.'

Korobkov worked as a cash handler at the money transportation company Brink's. The Russian company declined to comment.

But the guard 'accidentally pulled the trigger', according to reports, and killed Korobjov (left on the floor). Pictured: Another man (left) is seen gesticulating in horror at the shooter, who was later detained

It what was supposed to be a training scenario at the offices of Brink's, a subsidiary of the world leading company in transportation of cash and valuables. Pictured: Investigators at the crime scene

While it is rare for people to be killed during role playing exercises - it does sometimes happen.

In 2008, a British police officer was accidentally shot to death by a colleague during a training exercise.

PC Ian Terry was playing the role of a criminal fleeing in a car when he was fatally blasted in the chest with a C.S. gas shell, designed to overpower suspects, in Manchester.

In 2016, A Florida cop dressed as a 'bad guy' shot a 73-year-old mother dead during a role play exercise - because he loaded live rounds instead of blanks.

Officer Lee Coel, 28, killed retired librarian Mary Knowlton by 'mistake' in front of 34 people, including her husband, during the demonstration in Punta Gorda, Florida.

The aim of the class was to teach people when not to shoot.
Customers enter the South Coast Plaza shopping mall on the first day of reopening following a shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Aug. 31, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Full Speed Ahead: Officials React to Californias Planned Reopening

A small business watchdog is encouraging Orange County residents to support locally owned shops in droves when California lifts its COVID-19 restrictions in June.

Were excited about the reopening, and were encouraging as many Californians to get out there and shop at your local toy store, restaurant, auto shop, cafe, John Kabateck, California director of the National Federation of Independent Business, told The Epoch Times.

Give them the business they deserve, because when they start to see their cash registers flowing again, more people will be hired, our communities will get more support, and our public services will thrive the way they had been before this terrible crisis.

State health officials announced on April 6 that California would be permitted to reopen June 15 if COVID-19 data continues to trend downward. The reopening will come two months after California expands its vaccine eligibility to everyone aged 16 and up.

The removal of Californias colored-tier system means business will be allowed at pre-pandemic capacity with personal protective equipment, and there will be no required social distancing. Schools will be able to reopen at full capacity.

The opportunity for the ice to melt and Main Street to get fully reopened again is going to help us and will be a huge boom to not only the mom and pop [shops], but working men and women, and consumers who are desperately seeking greater confidence in recovery, Kabateck said.

He said that he hopes policymakers understand that a thriving Main Street means thriving public services, as small business owners are the leading contributors to health care, education, roads, and other public services.

While the grant programs have been helpful to many small businesses across the state, those businesses need more than a temporary fix, Kabateck said.

We put our faith in our public health officials that the decisions being made are based on the best possible means of reducing sickness and death in our communities, he said when asked if the timing of the reopening was appropriate.

Theres no doubt that our state could have approached small business processes and protocols in a more judicious and deliberate manner, but to be fair, nobodys been to this rodeo and could predict the length or depth or intensity of this horrible pandemic.

A Summer to Remember

Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said the timing is right for the states reopening of the economy.

In a perfect world, we would want [the economy to reopen] months ago, Bartlett told The Epoch Times. But when you consider where we were months ago, running out of hospital beds and ICU beds and such, and COVID numbers of cases going up and death rates going up.  As a state, we werent in a position to really start reopening our economy up fully, but now that weve got several months of vaccinations taking place as we continue, month after month you can see that our metrics or COVID numbers are dropping substantially.

Orange County has embarked on an aggressive vaccination campaign to inoculate as many people as possible, Bartlett said.

Shes hopeful the hard work pays off in June, when restrictions lift.

The timing couldnt be more perfect with mid-June, because Orange County is an international tourist destination, and we were going to have a lot of tourists coming into Orange County, Bartlett said.

The state currently has an unemployment rate of more than 10 percent, Bartlett said, which is why businesses being able to start the rehiring process is a big deal. This is especially true for theme parks, she said.

Now, she said, one of the biggest concerns to watch out for is variants of the disease. Its unclear whether variants will hinder Californias reopening plans.

Were excited to be able to fully reopen our economy, which is a significant step for the state and for every single county, and I think everyone is really looking forward to getting back to that level of normalcy, and we cant really get there until we get to the green tier, Bartlett said. The green tier essentially means full speed ahead.
Charleston, South Carolina--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Charlestowne Premium Beverages Inc. (OTC Pink: FPWM) ("the Company"), seeking to become a dominant presence in the premium cannabidiol (CBD) infused alcohol space, announces it is in negotiation to acquire a US vodka brand. The agreement will allow Charlestowne Premium to expand its portfolio of beverages.

V Georgio Vodka was established in South Beach in 2006. V Georgio Vodka has produced three vodka varieties: a core traditional premium vodka; a vodka infused with natural cranberry and guarana; and an Acai flavored vodka, all with natural flavors.

When the brand was launched its primary focus was on the urban market in Florida. This brand will be modified to become the focus of Charlestowne's CBD infused vodka in the domestic U.S. market when permitted by the TTB, the governing body for distilled spirits in the U.S.

Charlestowne Premium Beverages, Inc. CEO Martin Ustin said: "I am very pleased the effort that has gone into building our portfolio with exciting and unique brands and products. V Georgio is an exciting prospect and would fit perfectly within our current selection of spirits. It matches really well with our ethos and mission."

"Details of the acquisition will be made available when complete," Ustin added.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in hemp - meaning it will not give the user a "high", unlike THC. Since the Farm Bill was passed in the US in 2018, CBD has been experiencing a large growth in use in consumer products and has experienced increased demand in the food and beverage, and health and beauty sectors.

Charlestowne Premium Beverages Inc.'s portfolio includes spirit brands PAPA Vodka and Proprietors Reserve Whiskey. PAPA Vodka, its main product, is an artisanal vodka made from Peruvian potatoes with and without infused hemp oil, which complements and enhances the flavor of the drink in those markets where it is permitted.

Charlestowne Premium Beverages Inc. Logo

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6891/79740_2082932d3409689b_001full.jpg

About Charlestowne Premium Beverages Inc.

Charlestowne Premium Beverages Inc. (FPWM) is a company that develops, produces, markets and distributes alcoholic beverages worldwide. The Company's portfolio showcases spirit brands such as Papa Vodka, Crocodile Tears Vodka, Proprietor's Reserve Whiskey, and Special Reserve Whiskey. Charlestowne Premium also has Wholesaler and Import permits from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau - the governing body for spirits in the U.S. under the Department of the Treasury.

To learn more, please visit www.charlestownepremiumbeverages.com and follow us on Twitter at @CharlestowneCB1

IR Contact: ir@charlestownepremiumbeverages.com

Safe Harbor Statement: This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E and or 27E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are based upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including statements as to the future performance of the company and the risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in reports filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward- looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations or any of its forward- looking statements will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause results to differ include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to raise necessary financing, retention of key personnel, timely delivery of inventory from the company's contract manufacturers, timely product development, product acceptance, and the impact of competitive services and products, in addition to general economic.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79740
Ten suburbs in Melbourne have been put on Covid high alert after fragments of the virus were found in a sewerage catchment.

Victoria's health department on Thursday revealed the fragments were detected in wastewater samples.

Residents from Clayton, Clayton South, Dingley Village, Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley, Mulgrave, Notting Hill, Springvale, Springvale South and Wheelers Hill should get tested if even the mildest symptoms appear.

The warning is especially targeted at residents who live in or have visited the ten suburbs from April 4 to 6.

Residents from Clayton, Clayton South, Dingley Village, Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley, Mulgrave, Notting Hill, Springvale, Springvale South and Wheelers Hill are advised to monitor symptoms

The warning is especially targeted at residents who live in or have visited the ten suburbs from April 4 to 6. Pictured: a sample being taken from a sewer by hydrographers in Melbourne

Affected suburbs Clayton Clayton South Dingley Village Glen Waverley Mount Waverley Mulgrave Notting Hill Springvale Springvale South Wheelers Hill Advertisement

The fragments could have either come from a Covid-positive local being in the early active infectious phase, or from someone who is still shedding the virus after the early infectious period.

The warning comes after Victoria's hotel quarantine program has restarted for a third time, as the state government ramps up its vaccination program despite not receiving the latest allocation of doses.

Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL604 from Colombo touched down at 4.22am on Thursday, with its 11 passengers taken by bus to the InterContinental on Collins Street in Melbourne's CBD, where they will remain for a fortnight.

A total of 106 passengers are expected to arrive on Thursday, with other flights scheduled to land from Doha, Dubai and Singapore. All will be staying at either the InterContinental or the Holiday Inn near Melbourne Airport.

The Novotel Ibis Melbourne Central, Pan Pacific, Holiday Inn on Flinders and Element Melbourne Richmond are also ready for use after ventilation works.

The Holiday Inn on Flinders Street will function as a 'health hotel', taking travellers who test positive to COVID-19, while the Element Melbourne Richmond will take guests with medical conditions and complex needs.

Ventilation assessments are also underway at a further six hotels.

The state hasn't accepted returned travellers since February 13 after workers contracted the UK Covid strain from guests at the Holiday Inn.

The outbreak, which grew to 24 cases, triggered a statewide five-day lockdown.

Victoria's deadly second wave last year also leaked from hotel quarantine and led to a judicial review and overhaul of the program.

The fragments could have either come from a Covid-positive local being in the early active infectious phase, or from someone who is still shedding the virus after the early infectious period

Under the latest changes, returned travellers will be tested four times, have their mealtimes staggered and large family groups will be spaced out to reduce the risk of aerosol transmission.

Hotel quarantine staff have all received at least one dose of the Pzifer vaccine, while 46 per cent have received their second. The majority have also undergone N95 mask fit testing.
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The State Security Service (SSS) has said the late official driver to President Muhammadu Buhari, Saidu Afaka, was not detained or tortured by the service before his death.

A statement by Peter Afunanya, SSS Public Relations Officer on Thursday in Abuja, said reports in some section of the media that the department tortured the late driver to death was a misleading information.

Mr Afunanya said the driver was never arrested nor detained by the department.

According to him, suspect handling method is usually in compliance with the tenets of criminal justice administration system and democracy.

The spokesman, therefore, urged the public to disregard the fake news trending in online platform.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on April 6 announced the death of Mr Afaka.

Mr Shehu said the late driver died after a prolonged illness and extended the condolences of the president to his family. (NAN)
MILAN  Kering is taking a quantum leap to further support the growth of its brands, said Jean-Francois Palus, managing director of the French group, presenting the groups new state-of-the-art global logistics hub in Trecate, Italy.

During a virtual press conference on Thursday, Palus underscored the magnitude of the project first revealed in 2019 and carried forward despite the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

More from WWD

This single new hub, covering more than 1.7 million square feet, equivalent to 20 rugby fields, embodies Kerings omnichannel strategy like never before, said Palus, explaining that it will enable the company to support the further growth of its brands and it is the groups response to a scenario that has dramatically changed.

This growth trajectory and the evolution of the luxury business, notably the rise of e-commerce and the need for faster deliveries, led us to start an in-depth analysis of the adequacy of our worldwide logistics network in Asia, America and Europe, for present and future business requirements, Palus said. We went for a complete redesign from the ground up, investing in ad-hoc facilities in Europe, North America and Asia.

Aiming at enhancing the operational efficiency of its brands in terms of IT, new technology, e-commerce, supply chain management or logistics is key for the group, the executive continued. All the main logistics flows will be concentrated in Trecate, where products will be stored and then distributed globally.

Trecate, near the town of Novara, is less than an hours drive from Milan and 13 miles from Malpensa airport.

Construction began in April 2019 and although the first part of the building has been operating since March last year and the second part  over more than 1 million square feet  is scheduled to be operative by the end of the second quarter of 2021, this was the moment, said Palus, to recognize the efforts of our teams and present you the first achievements as well as give you a clear idea of where were heading.

Story continues

This complex replaces a fragmented and saturated structure of 20 warehouses, offering larger storage capacity, room for scalability and the ability to fulfill the increasing demands of interconnection with key transportation hubs, Palus said.

The site will result in a significant reduction in logistics costs, inventory levels and lead times, ensuring true omnichannel services through faster distribution in all channels, better product availability and optimized inventory, while improving working conditions of employees.

An agile, flexible logistics infrastructure in the situation we are currently facing with the pandemic is essential, he noted, in particular to redirect the flow of pieces to where they are most needed. In a context of a demand-driven supply chain, logistics is a strategic area, in order to make Kering a leader also in terms of scale and agility.

The site will generate strong business benefits, meeting the demand from regional warehouses, retail stores, wholesalers and e-commerce worldwide, allowing to reduce lead times by 50 percent, better servicing brands and customers, and lowering cost per piece by 25 percent.

Palus underscored the importance of Italy for Kering, a country like no other, home to many of its brands, and a country where the group has channeled several important investments in artistic and artisanal competences. To name one as an example, Guccis ArtLab leather goods and shoes industrial complex in Tuscany.

Palus declined to provide a figure for the investment in Trecate, but said it was the largest made in Italy  but this is not only about money, its about skills and competences, building a very efficient team, upgrading competence and technologies.

Sorin Ciocan, group supply chain and logistics director, said shipping capability will increase to up to 80 million pieces and storage capability will be up to 20 million pieces. The hub will be able to ship the products to more than 80 countries and e-commerce orders will be handled in less than three hours.

Transforming its worldwide logistics network in Europe, America and Asia to become fully omnichannel, Kering has also completely redesigned and moved its central warehouse in the U.S. to a new location in Wayne, N.J., in a larger warehouse which is now fully operational. It has created a hub in Dubai for the Middle East and it plans to set up a regional hub to cover Asia in 2021, which most probably will be located in Singapore, Ciocan said.

Sustainability will be in line with Kerings longstanding commitment.

The Trecate site is expected to become one of the largest rooftop solar systems in Europe, with 12.7 MW solar power panels installed on the roof at the completion of the second building, with an estimated saving of 7,500 tons of carbon dioxide a year.

The site will also be the first industrial complex in Italy to produce more energy than it consumes and the energy produced in excess will be transferred to the Italian electricity grid and distributed to Kering stores and corporate offices in Italy.

The buildings will be certified LEED, with a rating expected to achieve Platinum. Offices are also pursuing the WELL certification to guarantee the best work environment for all employees, with the target of achieving Gold rating, Ciocan said. The hub is a truly healthy and pleasant working environment, which is our first commitment, with such features as enhanced ventilation, air quality control, optimal indoor temperature and humidity, ergonomic workstations, individually adjustable lighting, reduced noise, low emissions, areas for relaxation and fitness, and a high-standard healthy canteen.

The hub was also relevant during the peak of the pandemic as it enabled the distribution of the personal protective equipment needed for all Kering employees in Europe, reaching 700 sites in 23 countries, sending out in less than 12 months 9 million surgical masks, 190.000 bottles of sanitizing gel, as well as millions of sanitizing wipes and gloves.

The complex will count around 1,000 employees at full capacity by the end of 2022. There are currently 250 employees and the goal is to hire 180 by the second half of 2021 for engineering, IT and operations roles.

A number of employees who used to work in Cadempino, near the Swiss city of Lugano, have been repatriated to Trecate. Only a number of specific activities and some warehouses will remain in the Swiss town.

The move pertains to all brands under the Kering umbrella, ranging from Gucci and Balenciaga to Alexander McQueen, Bottega Veneta and Pomellato.

The site is operated by XPO Logistics, Kerings longstanding logistics partner, which employs the on-site workforce dedicated to warehouse operations.
(Natural News) Detroit is planning to hire people to go door-to-door to tell city residents to get vaccinated against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

On Tuesday, April 6, the Detroit City Council  composed entirely of Democrats  unanimously approved a $1.2 million contract with the Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation to hire between 50 to 55 additional city employees.

This team will use a strategy similar to what Detroit used to promote its 2020 census. It will go door-to-door to pressure all of the citys residents who are above the age of 16 to get the coronavirus vaccine. The employees will also be working with nonprofits to achieve their goals.

This contract will ensure that ALL Detroiters know the facts about the vaccines and where they can get free shots, wrote City Councilman Scott Benson on his social media account.

We want to make sure everyone is educated and that they know about each of the facilities for them to obtain that vaccination, he added. We just want to make sure that all Detroiters are making themselves aware and avail themselves to these opportunities.

Door-to-door campaign to start by end of April

The initiative will be led by Vicky Kovari, an executive assistant to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. Kovari also spearheaded the citys census outreach campaign last year.

Were going to knock on every residential door in the city, making sure every Detroiter knows how to make an appointment [to get vaccinated], said Kovari.

Were hoping to get started by the end of April, she added. And the first stage of this canvassing, we will knock on  approximately 220,000 doors.

The canvassing groups will spend the first six to seven weeks of their employment with the city conducting an initial round of outreach in all of Detroits neighborhoods. Kovari added that the canvassing teams will pass through the citys most impoverished neighborhoods two or three times by the conclusion of the outreach programs contract with the city.

This is because these low-income neighborhoods, with their high renter turnover, multi-family apartment buildings and a lack of internet access, have the lowest response rates in Detroit while also sporting high COVID-19 infection rates.

Kovari explained that the outreach will be paid for by state funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The city has already been using some of the funding it has received from FEMA to canvass in some city neighborhoods, including near popular churches and around Detroits existing vaccination sites.

But now, we want to step it up and do a more intensive canvass citywide, said Kovari.

Detroit establishes eight more COVID-19 vaccination sites

Approval for the plan to send people door-to-door to urge coronavirus vaccinations comes just one day after Duggan announced the establishment of eight new vaccine sites in neighborhoods all over the city. The establishment of new vaccination sites will work with the outreach program to increase the citys vaccination rates.

From April 12 to 16, at least one additional vaccination site will be operating in each of the citys seven council districts. The city has also partnered with the Detroit Public Schools Community District and the Islamic Center of Detroit to expand vaccination distribution to the citys student and Muslim populations. (Related: Texas teen develops Guillain-Barre syndrome weeks after receiving first coronavirus vaccine dose.)

Furthermore, Duggan previously announced that the city is increasing its daily vaccination capacity from 5,000 to 8,000 doses per day at the citys largest vaccination site, the TCF Center, a convention center in downtown Detroit. The city will also be incorporating a walk-up option on the roof of the TCF Centers garage, where people who have not been vaccinated and have not booked an appointment with the citys health department can simply walk into the TCF Center and get vaccinated.

The only way were going to beat COVID-19 is to significantly expand our vaccination efforts, said Detroit Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair. This is the only city in the entire country where it is so easy to get a vaccine.

Duggan has warned that if the citys vaccination rates dont increase Detroit could become very vulnerable to a massive COVID-19 outbreak in the coming weeks.

Detroit has been experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases in recent weeks. On Saturday, April 3, the city recorded 8,413 new cases of COVID-19, the largest daily case total in the past four months. Fair also noted that the citys positivity rate is 16.3 percent, which is a massive increase from just 2.6 percent four weeks prior.

Over 263 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19, which is more than triple the number of hospitalizations in the previous week, said Duggan. Those hospitalized are primarily people between the ages of 30 to 60.

If this triples again in another two or three weeks, we are talking about the kinds of levels we saw last March and April when people were on gurneys in hallways, said Duggan. This is real and it is hitting our city now in a way we are not properly preparing for.

The next few weeks are going to decide what our summer is like, he added. There is no reason this city cant be reopened and back to normal by the end of the summer, but if our vaccine rate is running far less than the surrounding communities, were not going to make it. The future is in our hands.

Learn more about how governments like the one in Detroit are trying to entice their residents to get the coronavirus vaccine by reading the latest articles at Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

Audacy.com

DetroitNews.com 1

Newsweek.com

DetroitNews.com 2
Iranian authorities say COVID-19 cases have surpassed 2 million, with a new daily record of more than 22,000 infections, following the Persian New Year holiday.

"Unfortunately, with 118 new fatalities since yesterday, we have recorded a total of 63,884 coronavirus deaths," Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari told state television on April 8, adding that the number of infected people had reached 2,006,934 with 22,586 new cases.

Some critics say they believe the government has suppressed reporting and that the actual numbers are much higher.

RFE/RL's Coronavirus Coverage Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region.

Iran is battling the Middle East's deadliest coronavirus outbreak, and officials have blamed the latest surge on trips made by millions of Iranians during the Norouz holiday, which ran for two weeks from March 20, despite health guidelines warning them not to travel.

Last year, officials enacted tight restrictions on gatherings and the movement of people across the country during the Persian New Year.

Iran has avoided imposing a full lockdown on its population of 82 million since the pandemic started more than a year ago, resorting instead to temporary bans on travel or businesses.

The country launched its vaccination drive in February.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Names of some of the victims of the 1994 genocide at the Ntarama Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda (AFP or licensors)

27 years on, Rwanda commemorates the victims of the genocide which lasted for about 100 days between April and July 1994. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlights that to avoid a repeat of this sad moment in history, we must take a hard look at todays world and ensure that we heed the lessons of 27 years ago.

By Vatican News staff writer

This year marks 27 years since the world witnessed the shocking systematic murder of hundreds of thousands of people in the eastern African nation of Rwanda.

An estimated 800,000 to a million people, mostly from the minority Tutsi ethnic group were killed in attacks between 7 April and 15 July, 1994.

The trigger for the violent attacks came on 6 April, 1994 when a plane carrying then-president Juvenal Habyarimana of the Hutu ethnic group, was shot down, killing him and all others on board. Hutu extremists blamed the Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), even though the latter denied the accusation. Attacks spurred by ethnic sentiments against the Tutsis began soon after in a systematic campaign of slaughter which lasted for about 100 days.

By early July 1994, RPF forces launched a broad attack to gain control over most of the country, including Kigali, the capital. After its victory, the RPF established a new coalition government.

The genocide has had lasting effects as, in response, millions of people fled Rwanda for their lives into refugee camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other neighboring countries.

Message from the UN

In a message issued in commemoration of the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres stressed that we must take a hard look at todays world and ensure that we heed the lessons of 27 years ago.

During the 1994 genocide, more than one million people were systematically murdered, he noted. They were overwhelmingly Tutsi, but also Hutu and others who opposed the genocide.

Guterres highlighted that on this day in which we honor those who were murdered, we also reflect on the suffering and recognize the resilience of those who survived.

We saw what happened in Rwanda in 1994, and we know the horrific consequences when hate is allowed to prevail, the secretary-general said. Therefore, we must redouble our efforts, and forge a Common Agenda, to renew and reinvigorate our collective actions going forward.

In doing this, he continued we must defend human rights and continue to push for policies that fully respect members of society.

Even today, the secretary-general noted, people are threatened by extremist groups determined on boosting their ranks through social polarization and political and cultural manipulation and while the technologies and techniques that the extremists use are evolving, the vile messages and rhetoric remain the same.

In this regard, preventing history from repeating itself requires countering these hate-driven movements that have become a transnational threat.

Further adding to the situation is the Covid-19 pandemic which underscores the urgency of addressing deepening dividesfurther fueling discrimination, social polarization and inequalities  all of which can lead to violence and conflict.

Rwanda rising from the ashes

The UN secretary-general went on to note that even though Rwanda experienced one of the most painful chapters in modern human history, its people have rebuilt from the ashes.

Currently, Rwandas women hold more than 60 percent of parliamentary seats, making the country a world leader after suffering unspeakable gender-based violence and discrimination.

Moreover, concluded Guterres, the people of Rwanda have shown us the power of justice and reconciliation, and the possibility of progress.
TAIPEI (AP): Taiwan's foreign minister on Wednesday said the island will defend itself to the very last day if attacked by China.



Joseph Wu said China's attempts at conciliation while engaging in military intimidation are sending mixed signals to the island's residents.



China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be won over peacefully or by force.



Wu noted China flew 10 warplanes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone on Monday and deployed an aircraft carrier group for exercises near Taiwan.



"We are willing to defend ourselves, that's without any question," Wu told reporters. We will fight a war if we need to fight a war, and if we need to defend ourselves to the very last day, then we will defend ourselves to the very last day.



China does not recognize Taiwan's democratically elected government, and leader Xi Jinping has said unification between the sides cannot be put off indefinitely.



"On the one hand they want to charm the Taiwanese people by sending their condolences, but at the same time they are also sending their military aircraft and military vessels closer to Taiwan aimed at intimidating Taiwan's people," Wu said at a ministry briefing.



"The Chinese are sending very mixed signals to the Taiwanese people and I would characterize that as self-defeating," Wu said.



The vast improvements in China's military capabilities and its increasing activity around Taiwan have raised concerns in the U.S., which is legally bound to ensure Taiwan is capable of defending itself and to regard all threats to the island's security as matters of grave concern.



China's military said Monday the new naval drills were meant to help it "safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests," terms often interpreted as being directed at Taiwan's leadership that has refused to give in to Beijing's demands that it recognize the island as part of Chinese territory.



Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949, and most Taiwanese favour maintaining the current state of de facto independence while engaging in robust economic exchanges with the mainland.



China has also created conditions for greater economic integration, while also targeting some communities such as pineapple farmers in hopes of weakening their support for the island's government.



Chinese diplomatic pressure has been growing also, reducing the number of Taiwan's formal diplomatic allies to just 15 and shutting its representatives out of the World Health Assembly and other major international forums.


Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said his government would raise issues of COVID-19 vaccine and Remedisivir drug shortages before Prime Minister in the virtual meet scheduled for today.

"We will raise four issues before the Prime Minister in today's video conference meet. The issues will be; Remdesivir supply and price control, supply of oxygen from nearby states to Maharashtra, shortage of vaccine dosages, and the ventilator operational support," Tope said.

The Maharastra Health Minister added that according to the latest release order of vaccines by the Centre, Maharashtra was only given 7.5 lakh vaccine dosages. While Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana etc, have been given far more vaccines than Maharashtra.

He and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar talked to Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan immediately after the order and asked for more doses.

"I have just been informed that the Center increased COVID-19 vaccine doses from 7 lakhs to 17 lakhs. Even this is less because we need 40 lakh vaccine doses a week and 17 lakh doses are not enough," Tope added.

He further said that instead of supplying vaccines to other countries, supply them to our own states first. Maharashtra wants at least 40 lakh vaccine dosages every week.

"The centre is helping us but it is not helping us in the way it should be," the Minister added.

"We are still waiting. We want 1.6 crore vaccine dosages per month and 40 lakh every week because we are vaccinating 6 lakh people every day," the Minister said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will attend a meeting on the Covid-19 situation in the state with Prime Minister at 6.30 pm on Thursday via video conferring.

Maharashtra reported 55,469 new COVID-19 cases and 297 deaths on Wednesday-- the highest by any state in India. The active number of cases in the state stands at 4,72,283. The death toll in the state has gone up to 56,330.

(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: Assam Health minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday (April 8) ruled out the possibility of night curfew or a lockdown in the poll-bound state.

Sarma appealed to people not to panic and remain alert as COVID-19 cases are on the rise. There is no possibility of lockdown or night curfew in Assam. I request everyone to get themselves tested if they have symptoms. There is no need to panic but we should remain alert, the Assam Health Minister was quoted as saying by ANI.

There is no possibility of lockdown or night curfew in Assam. I request everyone to get themselves tested if they have symptoms. There is no need to panic but we should remain alert: Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (file photo) pic.twitter.com/vbMCEyhXmi  ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2021

Amid surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, many states have started imposing semi-lockdowns or night curfews to curb the transmission of the coronavirus.

Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are among the states and UTs that have implemented night curfews or strict restrictions in the wake of the rising coronavirus cases.

Assam recorded 195 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (April 7), taking the coronavirus caseload to 2,19,027, a bulletin issued by National Health Mission (NHM) said. The active cases rose to 847 while 2,15,722 people recovered from the disease including 31 on Wednesday. While the COVID-19 death toll in the state stood at 1,111.

Meanwhile, Assam saw its third and last phase of polling for the Assam Assembly election on Tuesday (April 6). Around 82.33 per cent of 79.2 lakh electors voted in the last phase held in 40 constituencies, which was more than the first two phases. 337 candidates, including 25 women, were in the fray during the last phase of polling. While 79,19,641 voters, including 40,11,539 males, 39,07,963 females and 139 transgenders, were eligible to vote in the third phase. The counting of votes will be done on May 2.

Live TV
The African Union has dropped plans to secure COVID-19 vaccines from the for African nations and is exploring options with Johnson & Johnson, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.



The institute will still supply the AstraZeneca vaccine to Africa through the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility, John Nkengasong told reporters, but the African Union would seek additional supplies from Johnson & Johnson.



The statement comes the day after European and British medicine regulators said they had found possible links between AstraZeneca's vaccine and reports of very rare cases of brain blood clots, but they reaffirmed its importance in protecting people.



Nkengasong said the possible link had nothing to do with the African Union's decision. The bloc of 55 member states shifted its efforts to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, he said, citing the deal signed last week to secure up to 400 million doses beginning in the third quarter of this year.



"...It was just a clear understanding of how not to duplicate efforts with the Serum Institute, so that we compliment each other rather than duplicate efforts," he said.
Combination will significantly increase global access to those seeking to live, work, or study in Canada

BALTIMORE, April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Prometric Canada Testing Services ("Prometric") announced today that it has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire Paragon Testing Enterprises ("Paragon"), a subsidiary of the University of British Columbia (UBC).

Paragon is Canada's largest provider of high-stakes English language proficiency tests. The company's tests include the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) for Canadian permanent residence and citizenship and the Canadian Academic English Language Test  Computer Edition (CAEL CE) for study at post-secondary institutions across Canada. The acquisition will significantly increase global access to the Paragon tests that are currently administered at 60 test centres across Canada and at 15 locations in the United States, China, India, Philippines, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. Paragon's CAEL Online test is currently available in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Japan.

Roy Simrell, President and CEO of Prometric Canada's parent company Prometric LLC, said, "The addition of Paragon to the Prometric family represents a significant opportunity to leverage our secure, reliable global assessment solutions including in-centre and online remote capabilities, our innovative technologies, and our global presence to increase accessibility to the CELPIP and CAEL CE examinations for people around the world. Paragon has a well-earned reputation for expertise in test research and construction, as well as customer service excellence. These qualities are aligned with Prometric's own corporate culture, values, and strategic focus. We look forward to achieving high levels of growth in collaboration with the Paragon team."

Donald Wehrung, President and CEO of Paragon, said, "We have been delivering tens of thousands of CELPIP and CAEL English proficiency tests annually, representing a leadership position in the Canadian language assessment market. With Prometric's global scale, resources, and experience we believe that we can move faster, reach farther, and aim higher as we compete to expand our English language proficiency tests internationally."

J.P. Heale, Managing Director University-Industry Liaison Office at UBC, said, "This agreement further enhances UBC's track record of creating research-based spinoff companies that generate national and global impacts. The acquisition of Paragon will allow Prometric to further its worldwide reputation as the provider of the most secure and reliable testing network. They are the ideal partner to take Paragon to the next level, especially into international testing."

About Prometric Canada Testing Services

As a global leader in test development, testing delivery, and candidate services, Prometric partners with the world's top credentialing and licensure organizations to design and deliver leading exam programs that help individuals advance their careers and serve their communities. Our integrated, end-to-end solutions provide exam development, management, and distribution that set the industry standard in quality, security, and service excellence. Prometric leverages our proprietary platform, advanced technologies, and vast operational experience to deliver an exceptional user experience on our world-class secure testing network. Today, we are paving the industry's path forward with new solutions and innovation to ensure reliable access to secure assessments anytime, anywhere. For more information, visit https://www.prometric.com or follow us on Twitter at @PrometricGlobal and www.linkedin.com/company/prometric/.

About Paragon Testing Enterprises

Paragon Testing Enterprises was incorporated in 2009 to commercialize UBC's English language proficiency tests, and it has grown rapidly since it was created. This growth is reflected in the increasing number of tests delivered annually from thousands to tens of thousands, the number of its computer-delivered test centres from two to more than 70 worldwide, the number of full-time and casual employees from 16 to over 300, and the scope of its offices that are now in Vancouver, Toronto, and Singapore. For more information, visit https://www.paragontesting.ca/, follow us on Twitter at @Paragon_Testing, @CELPIPTest, @CAELTest, and https://www.linkedin.com/company/paragon-testing-enterprises-inc/.

About UBC

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC's entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff, and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery, and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.

Media Contacts



Tom Warren Michael Holaday Prometric Paragon Testing Enterprises 443.455.8652 236.317.5462 tom.warren@prometric.com mholaday@paragontesting.ca

Related Links

https://www.prometric.com



SOURCE Prometric
Texans are combating dual crises: the ongoing fallout from the energy grid failure and the crippling COVID-19 pandemic that just crossed the one-year mark.

You only need to look around our state and talk with friends and loved ones to know these two disasters did not impact every Texan equally  when disaster strikes, Black, Indigenous and people of color bear disproportionate harm.

Rather than ensuring elected officials across the state have the authority and flexibility they need to protect the well-being of their constituents and position their communities for recovery, Gov. Greg Abbott and his allies in the Legislature are looking for more ways to hoard power and prioritize profits over people.

House Bill 3 is the latest manifestation of this disregard for local decision-making and equity. It would allow for the pre-emption of local measures issued by elected officials if they are inconsistent with state orders. It centralizes more power and decision-making with the governor, and it should alarm every single Texan who cares about the integrity of local governance.

We have reason to be worried: Abbott has a long history of interfering with local democracy while prioritizing power and corporate profits over the best interests of the people. Just recently, Abbott lifted Texas mask mandate and allowed businesses to reopen at 100 percent capacity  even though the threat of the pandemic is far from over. His order makes it exceptionally difficult for localities to enact locally tailored measures that protect public health.

Texas is a diverse state, and the needs and priorities differ from county to county and city to city. The situation and needs in McAllen will be different from those in Fort Worth. This is especially true for Latino and Black communities across the state that are facing the brunt of both the pandemic and the grid failure.

Take the city of El Paso, which is more than 80 percent Latino. In November, the city was so overwhelmed by COVID-19 that it surpassed Bexar, Travis and Tarrant counties  with far greater populations  in the number of cases.

While COVID-19 doesnt discriminate, the pandemic has impacted different communities at different times, from spikes in infection rate to strapped emergency rooms to limited vaccine access. This shows a one-size-fits-all approach does not make sense  and costs lives.

Local leaders know what is best for their communities. Abbott has taken to attacking these officials while imperiling the states recovery and threatening the gains made against the virus. Instead, we need policies that will ensure mayors and judges have the flexibility and authority to keep their communities safe and healthy. HB 3 is not the right policy.

Abbotts actions in the past year illustrate why we need to seriously re-examine the relationship between cities and states, as laid out last year in a new framework for home rule from the National League of Cities and the Local Solutions Support Center. By prioritizing home rule and local control, local governments can be given the freedom to make policies that protect the community and position cities to rebuild after disasters.

The only way to move forward is to understand our mistakes  and allowing Abbott to have overarching authority during this pandemic was a huge one.

We cannot pass HB 3 and repeat our mistakes by allowing governors like Abbott to strip Texans of our democratic rights  especially in times of immense uncertainty, anxiety and vulnerability.

Luis Figueroa is the legislative and policy director at Every Texan.
President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing, China, Dec. 23, 2019. Korea Times file



By Kang Seung-woo



Despite the South Korean government's years-long efforts to contrive Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Seoul, chances of him traveling here before President Moon Jae-in leaves office next year are gradually diminishing, as Beijing seems to be intent on using the trip as a bargaining chip amid a deepening U.S.-Sino rivalry, while the visit itself is losing its charm for China due to a lack of benefits, according to diplomatic observers.



Since Moon last traveled to China in December 2019, the Moon administration has sought Xi's reciprocal visit to Seoul to address remaining economic retaliatory measures imposed by Beijing on South Korea following the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system here and also to discuss the North Korea issue.



During a series of senior-level meetings between the two sides so far, including last week's foreign minsters' meeting between Chung Eui-yong and Wang Yi, the Chinese president's visit was always high on the agenda, according to South Korea. But the meetings have not led to any mention of Xi's return visit yet. Also, the Chinese government has not made contents of the meetings public.



The Chinese government attributes the delay to the COVID-19 pandemic, but experts believe that China is utilizing the Xi trip as a diplomatic bargaining chip in its hegemonic competition with the United States.



"The delay in Xi's visit is part of China's diplomatic strategy to make use of South Korea amid the U.S.-Sino rivalry," said Shin Beom-chul, director of the Center for Diplomacy and Security at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy.



"As South Korea badly wants to restore bilateral economic ties estranged by the THAAD deployment when Xi comes to Seoul, the Chinese government is leveraging his trip to force Seoul away from the U.S."



Ramon Pacheco Pardo, an associate professor of international relations at King's College London, said the Chinese leader has been strategic in his foreign visits, by traveling often to Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa or Latin America, where China and the U.S. are competing for influence.



"In this sense, South Korea would be less of a priority for Xi because bilateral relations are better than they were in the aftermath of the THAAD deployment. But at the same time, South Korea is a U.S. ally and since Seoul will continue to prioritize its alliance with Washington and is not going to side with Beijing, a visit by Xi wouldn't have the same geopolitical impact as his visits to other parts of the world," he said.



Amid the intensifying diplomatic row, the U.S. government is seeking to rally its allies, including South Korea, against the challenges posed by China, through various forms including the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). But the South Korean government has been reluctant to join the coalition due to a possible backlash from the Chinese government.



In response, seeing South Korea as the weakest link in the U.S.' strategy to isolate China, Beijing is also making efforts to have Seoul distance itself from Washington.



Harry Kazianis, senior director of Korean studies at the Center for the National Interest, said scant signs of improvement in inter-Korean ties in the future are also impeding Xi's visit to Seoul.



"Xi most likely does not want to start an engagement process with South Korea  like a major summit  knowing that inter-Korean ties are about to sour even more due to North Korean provocations likely to happen in the coming months," Kazianis said.



"Why would Xi want to put himself out there on the world stage in a way that he will be called to reign in North Korea or feel any diplomatic pressure to do so? Xi will stay away as it is in his interest to do so, or at least until he has some sense of what North Korea might do."



Pundits believe that the Chinese government is skeptical that Xi's visit will create the results it seeks given that President Moon's term is nearing its end on May 22, 2022 and the trip has been shelved. But there is still the chance of another visit to South Korea after a new president takes office, they added.



"Xi not making a promised visit to South Korea is ostensibly because of the pandemic, but probably has more to do with a lack of deliverables," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University.



"China's leader wants a win on international trade or on geopolitically pulling Seoul away from Washington. The Moon administration wants to put China's economic coercion in the past and to make coordinated progress on North Korea. But Beijing will likely save its leverage as it sees Moon entering the lame-duck period of his presidency."



Shin also expressed a similar view, saying that China is likely reviewing whether it is still necessary for Xi to make a belated visit to South Korea, with Moon in his final year in office.



"If Xi plans to come here and end the economic retaliation, China would think that it would be better to do so with a new South Korean government for better bilateral relations. The idea may be under consideration in Beijing," he said.



Pacheco Pardo said, "Xi will only visit Korea if China can gain any benefits from the visit, which in any case is normal for all government leaders around the world. So I think that Xi would see a visit to Korea as a way to try to prevent Seoul from cooperating even more with the U.S. and the Quad countries."


China-funded solar plant powers children's hospital in Gaza

Xinhua) 08:39, April 08, 2021

GAZA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The besieged Gaza Strip on Wednesday inaugurated a China-funded solar power plant in a children's hospital.

The solar power plant project, which can provide 30 KW of electricity to Al-Durrah Children Hospital in Gaza city, was implemented through Give Palestine Association, a charitable organization in the coastal enclave.

At an online ceremony, Guo Wei, head of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine, said China has been committed to implementing "projects that will help Palestinians improve their livelihood in accordance with their needs and bring more benefits to the Palestinian people."

Guo said China is "a trustworthy friend and partner" of Palestine, adding that the project reflects "the deep friendship of the Chinese people towards the Palestinian people."

"China will continue to help Palestine improve its people's livelihood and take concrete actions to build a community with a shared future for mankind and inject new content into the traditional Sino-Palestinian friendship," he said.

For his part, Emad al-Agha, secretary general of Give Palestine Association, said the China-funded project can provide 60 percent of the needed power for the operations of Al-Durrah Children Hospital.

"The Chinese support to the hospital is a continuation of what China provides to the Palestinian people at all levels, especially the needs of Palestinian children," he said.

In recent years, the Gaza Strip has been suffering from a chronic electricity deficit, which undermines already fragile living conditions.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Where do you see yourself after May 17? Somewhere sunny, naturally gorgeous and many miles away from Blighty, no doubt.

From a romantic jaunt to a family getaway, or even an escape into the wilderness away from civilisation, there's one idyllic place where you can live out all of your post-lockdown travel fantasties (and it's only 2 and a half hours away on a plane).

Here's why Croatia, the Adriatic's jewel in the crown, should be top of your list for a post-lockdown holiday.

Get away from it all

Get lost in Croatia's many islands such as those in the Kornati Archipelago, where you'll find hidden caves, ruins and more

Worlds away from staycation holiday rentals and England's green pastures lie the 1,244 lush islands of Croatia; each one filled with its own unique charm and surrounded by clear, balmy waters.

These various archipelagos offer sunshine and unspoilt beaches in abundance for those looking for a dose of nature and escapism in their post-pandemic travels.

Zlani Rat isn't just a gorgeous beach; it's a launchpad for some of the best watersports in Europe

Take the Kornati Archipelago to the north of Dalmatia. This region is renowned as being the home of Kornati National Park. Here, those simply in search of a little solace can wander freely without encountering another person.

Discover mystical caves dotted throughout the park or catch some rays on a secluded cove while keeping your eyes peeled for bottlenose dolphins jumping through the crystal-clear waves beyond.

If your version of a paradise island involves a little more adrenaline, look no further than Brac, the largest island in the Dalmatia region.

Brac has an iconic white pebble beach, Zlatni Rat, which juts out into the Adriatic, a picturesque sunbathing spot to catch water-sport lovers in their element.

Windsurf in the sunshine or dip beneath the waves to get acquainted with Croatia's aquatic residents

Windsurfers, jet-skiiers and scuba-divers will fall in love with the amazing waves as well as the spectacular scenes beneath them, where loggerhead turtles and tropical fish thrive.

Sun and safety in Croatia As desperate as you may be to jet off to foreign climes once again, safe travel is more important than ever - even if you have been vaccinated! Croatia is practising safe travel in line with the Croatian Institute of Public Health and the World Travel and Tourism Council, so you can vacation with peace of mind. Regular disinfection and temperature testing is taking place at all ports and institutions to minimise the spread of Covid-19. For added insurance, plan your Croatian adventure by only using vendors who use the Croatia 'Safe Stay' label, so you and your loved ones can get the most out of your post-lockdown retreat.

Can't settle on one island? Don't worry. There are yacht charters throughout Croatia, so you can sail the sapphire sea and see all the islands from their best angle.

A treat for the taste buds

All that adventuring has probably worked up an appetite (or pehaps your sole motive for travel was always gastronomically led!).

Either way, you're in luck: Croatia's pantry is a foodie's paradise.

Let's start the meal off with a little wine. Croatia's year-round warm climate makes for some truly sensational vino - but Slavonia beats all the regions for the finest offerings.

The white wines are the best - particularly when the sun is shining! - and you'll find refreshing takes on familiar favourites such as Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon.

Don't fail to overlook the nation's own blends. From golden Zelenac with its sharp yet fruity apple and peach notes to fragrant Grasevina, a moreish mix of melon and butterscotch flavours, these wines are a treat for all the senses, especially when enjoyed in the vineyards of akovo and Srijem where they're produced.

Food-wise, there's a rainbow of regional dishes to get your teeth into while you're in town. If you're in Split, you'll want to try the local favourite, pasticada, a subtly spiced beef stew made with dried fruits, cloves, nutmeg and wine.

There are lighter options for especially hot days too, from Dalmatian black risotto, a creamy, wholesome dish best served with fresh cuttlefish or octopus, to typical Mediterannean cuisine such as grilled fish served with nutritious and colourful vegetables.

Unleash your wild side

Head for the peaks in the Dinaric Alps to get the blood pumping and enjoy spectacular views

Laidback jaunts to sun-drenched islands for great views and grub is one thing, but Croatia has a wild side calling for the more adventurous traveller.

The majestic Velebit mountain range, which forms part of the Dinaric Alps, is the go-to place for nature enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike.

Home to two national parks, ancient forests and deep canyons, this natural wonderland boasts some of the world's finest hiking and paragliding environments.

But that's not all. While you're gliding through the clouds or traipsing up through the tree line, keep your eyes peeled for this habitat's largest beasts, such as Balkan chamois, brown bears and lynx. Getting up close to these incredible creatures in their natural home is an experience unlike any other.

From paragliding to wild bear encounters, there are lots of memories to be made in the Velebit Mountains

Perhaps the one of the most exhilarating experiences Croatia has to offer, however is ziplining. Why? Because the landscapes you can fly through are unrivalled for sheer beauty.

In the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Plitvice Lakes National Park, for example, you'll find sixteen breathtaking lakes as well as wild boar, rare birds and deer prancing through the woodlands.

But the real take-home experience is up at the top of the Korana Canyon which overlooks the lakes.

Soar above the beautiful Plitvice Lakes National Park to truly take in the majesty of this secluded paradise

Here, brave travellers can soar across the park on a 300-metre long zipline, taking in the beauty of this secluded paradise. Unlike a normal zipline, this one is fitted with a paragliding seat, so you can fully enjoy the scenery as you through the fresh air at 40mph.

Whatever kind of holidaymaker you are, Croatia promises an unforgettable experience after lockdown and beyond.

Click here to plan your safe getaway to Croatia today
Georgia tragedy brings awareness to spa sex trafficking industry, how churches can help exploited women

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As last months shootings at three Georgia massage parlors gained national media attention, an advocacy group says the tragedy presents an opportunity for churches to raise awareness and help the women being trafficked by illicit massage businesses nationwide.

Illicit businesses masquerading as massage parlors or spas are the second-largest reported form of human trafficking in the United States. With 9,000 establishments across the country, it's a booming $2.8 billion industry for those who prey on vulnerable women, the advocacy group Street Grace has warned.

Street Grace, a faith-based organization that seeks to eradicate sexual exploitation, released a report last year detailing the breadth of the illegal massage businesses in Georgia. The report was published months before national attention turned toward the mass shooting at three Atlanta-area massage parlors by a man who told authorities that he sought to eliminate temptations as he battled sex addiction.

Street Grace President and CEO Bob Rodgers told The Christian Post that they know for a fact there is a nationwide trend among massage parlors and spas operating furtively to offer illegal sexual services under the guise of a legitimate business. Many of them exploit vulnerable women.

These businesses often have tinted windows, concealed parking places, late business hours and a bell to ring before entry.

Though massage parlors are often legitimate, these businesses are sometimes a front for brothels, sex trafficking and illegal sexual activity. Rodgers warned that they fly under the radar.

They are really hidden in plain sight, Rodgers stressed.

They look like they are a legitimate business. They provide cover for the people that would visit them with less than pure intentions because its two doors down from the grocery store. Its next to the drugstore and in between the Hallmark card shop and the beauty salon or nail salon. And so, people just dont pay attention. It gives cover to what in our research is overwhelmingly men who visit these spas, and some, if not a large extent, have less than pure intentions. And they are going there for inappropriate sexual activity.

Street Grace published a report in 2020 focused on illicit massage businesses in Georgia and calculated data from the user-generated reviews on RubMaps.ch and video surveillance.

The report estimated there to be between 1,025 and 1,320 customers each day who visit illicit massage businesses in Georgia. And the annual gross revenue from these businesses is estimated at over $42 million. Nearly 1,100 unique individuals are believed to be victimized annually in the state.

Rodgers said the tragic Atlanta shooting targeting massage parlors brought to light the reality of the illicit massage businesses.

On March 16, Robert Aaron Long, 21, killed eight people in a shooting rampage of three massage parlors. Six of the eight victims were Asian women, and the two others were white, a male and a female.

Long told police he saw women who worked at the spas as temptations he needed to eliminate, referring to his sexual addiction.

He alone is responsible for his evil actions and desires, Longs church said in a statement at the time. The women that he solicited for sexual acts are not responsible for his perverse sexual desires nor do they bear any blame in these murders. These actions are the result of a sinful heart and depraved mind for which Aaron is completely responsible.

Police have not indicated whether the shooting victims were sex workers or human trafficking victims, USA Today reported.

The Washington Post reported that Gold Spa, one of the businesses attacked, had been the subject of prostitution stings by the Atlanta Police Department. The newspaper obtained police reports indicating that police conducted seven undercover stings at Gold Spa and made 10 arrests during a two-year period from 2011 to 2013.

Despite the tragedy, Rodgers believes good will come from the situation since more people are now aware of the reality of illicit massage businesses.

It is a shame, but it is often true that tragedy breeds awareness, Rodgers said. And so, when the Robert Kraft situation came to light, there was a spike in awareness and peoples interest.  Our attention spans are relatively short. And then something like [the Atlanta shooting] that is obviously a horrific tragedy and lives were lost, it was just completely unnecessary. [And] it does draw attention to [this industry].  Good will come from it. I hate that it takes a tragedy sometimes, and that was completely unnecessary. But good, I believe, will come from this.

Rodgers explained how traffickers often lure young Asian women to the U.S. with the promise of a better life and the ability to support their families back home.

They get here, and they immediately find out they are here on false pretenses. They were misled, he said.

Traffickers then use a series of physical threats and deception to trap them, he said. The women are often in debt bondage after accumulating high debts during their passage to the U.S., which forces them to engage in illicit activity to earn money.

They are made to believe speaking to law enforcement will lead to deportation, and traffickers sometimes threaten to harm their family members if they come forward.

The exploited women are often placed in a situation where they have no choice but to respond and comply, he added.

There are people [from all kinds of backgrounds]  [who] may not be held in handcuffs, but they are held in servitude and bondage and psychological bondage in these situations where they are forced to exploit themselves and perform acts that they would not have any interest to do and would not do in any other circumstances, Rodgers shared.

An estimated 40 million people are subjected to some form of modern-day slavery as of 2016, according to the Global Slavery Index. And 71% of all enslaved victims are women.

The most powerful form of bondage is not of ropes and chains, Rodgers detailed. That doesnt really occur that much in the U.S. Its the guilt and the shame that come along with all of this that is so powerful with keeping people from coming forward about this.

To be considered sex trafficking, a situation must include either force, fraud or coercion.

A New York Times article published in March 2019 explained how tens of thousands of mainly foreign women or immigrants are trapped in an underground crime network and a modern form of indentured servitude where they are forced or coerced into performing illegal acts in the shadows at illicit massage parlors.

Many women are forced to work in this industry to pay for enormously high debts accumulated against them by traffickers.

Business regulation loopholes allow traffickers to manage criminal human trafficking networks under the guise of massage parlor businesses. Many of these businesses do not have an actual person listed on their business records at all to avoid blame, according to the Polaris Project.

When law enforcement agencies conduct raids and shut down illicit massage businesses, spa owners re-open elsewhere. The owners often have employees live at the business and spend only a few months at a spa before sending them off to another state to work, The New York Times reported.

The Polaris Project, the organization behind the National Trafficking Hotline, noted that victims of massage parlor trafficking are often immigrants from China or South Korea. They often carry debts or are under extreme financial pressure, speak little English, have no more than a high school education or are mothers.

When criminal prosecution does occur, the victims of human trafficking or massage therapists are charged while the traffickers escape punishment.

In reality, the laws governing business registration are almost tailor-made for massage parlor traffickers to hide behind, the Polaris Project stated in a report.

The Church, Rodgers said, can play an essential role in fighting for this industrys victims.

Ashleigh S. Chapman, a human rights lawyer and founder of Engage Together, an organization that helps churches fight human trafficking, told CP in a February interview that churches are uniquely positioned to make a difference in the fight against human trafficking.

Rodgers said local churches should be supportive of law enforcement and understand their role in the process of investigating and uncovering the illicit massage industry.

He said Christians should become more involved in the legislative process and join city councils to guide laws that can make it improper for such businesses to exist.

Ultimately, the Church must provide hope to those trapped in this industry since the women exploited are often hopeless and see no way to escape.

From a Christian perspective  [those exploited by the illicit massage industry] are people who are in the most likely of circumstances to be without hope, Rodgers explained. We think of all the different things we can do as the Body of Christ. But what we have to bring more than anything else, we have to give hope.

People are often not motivated to change unless they see something that is hopeful, encouraging, something they feel like is better, safer and can lead them to a different place, he added. I think one of the things that is so dark about the illicit massage business  is that theres just such a loss of hope and sense of discouragement and helplessness.

The Street Grace report offered policy recommendations to address exploitation in the illicit massage industry and remove some of the loopholes that allow the industry to thrive.

Suggestions include the mandatory display of business licenses, a record of all activities conducted at massage businesses, mandatory business hours and a complete list of all the establishments services. Raising awareness about the issue is also essential.
Russias COVID-19 cases rose by 8,672 in the past day to 4,614,834, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Thursday.

The growth rate in relative terms reached 0.19%.

The lowest growth rates were recorded in the Nenets Autonomous Region and the Chukotka Autonomous Region (0%), the Tuva Republic (0.01%), the Magadan Region and the Jewish Autonomous Region (0.04%).

Some 2,024 COVID-19 cases were registered in Moscow, 695 in St. Petersburg, 567 in the Moscow Region, 243 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, 239 in the Rostov Region and 197 in Samara Region.

Currently, 273,951 people are undergoing treatment in Russia, TASS reported.

Moscows COVID-19 cases surged by 2,024 over the past day versus 1,585 a day earlier, and the total case tally hit 1,041,799.

Over the past day, Moscow registered 55 deaths from COVID-19, and the total death toll in the Russian capital climbed to 17,082, according to the crisis center.

As many as 1,746 patients recovered in the past 24 hours, and the total number of recoveries reached 955,148. Currently, 69,569 people are undergoing treatment in Moscow.
GROSSE POINTE PARK, MI  A Michigan man suspected of stealing from a religious charity that he led was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint of fraud, embezzling and unlawfully converting funds to his own use, authorities said.

John R. Lynch, 56, of Grosse Pointe Park allegedly stole from Holy Cross, a large charitable organization based in Clinton that receives federal funds, Acting U.S. Attorney Saima S. Mohsin announced in a news release. In March 2012, Lynch became CFO of Holy Cross; in January 2015, he became its CEO.

Lynch is accused of using the organizations funds to repair personal vehicles, install a new roof on his house, pay down a personal mortgage and make payments on a personal credit card account, authorities said. He also allegedly hired his own consulting firm and a security company he controlled to provide services to Holy Cross; he allegedly used bogus invoices to justify some of the payments. Hes also accused of using a corporate credit card for personal expenses.

The release did not say how much money was stolen. The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs did not immediately respond to an inquiry seeking that information.

Holy Cross was established in 1948. It provides welfare services to disadvantaged children and adolescents, behavioral health services to adolescents and adults, and support services to homeless people in Southeast and Mid-Michigan. The organization also includes the Samaritan Center, a large community resource center that provides healthcare, employment services and other support to residents of Detroits east side.

Holy Cross receives federal funds under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. It also receives federal funds under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, which pays for foster care and provides adoption assistance and guardianship assistance.

The complaint alleges that Lynch committed wire fraud, mail fraud, and embezzling and stealing funds under the care, custody, and control of an organization receiving federal funds.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hiyama. The FBI is investigating.

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On April 9, 1942, 75,000 American and Filipino soldiers who surrendered to the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines were forced to march more than 60 miles in the extreme heat of the Philippines. Hundreds of Americans and thousands of Filipinos died in the journey.

The reward for the survivors was brutal treatment in a Japanese prisoner of war camp for the next three years -- if they were lucky to live that long.

Americans back home might never have known about the harsh conditions for POWs in the Philippines if it werent for 12 men who escaped from the enemy prison camp and made an arduous cross-country expedition to tell the world.

Japan invaded the Philippines just a few hours after it struck the Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor. With Japan in control of the Pacific, the American War Department focused on the Atlantic and the loss of U.S. aircraft in the Philippines, the island nation had little hope of repelling the invaders.

American and Filipino defenders did everything they could, but an estimated 75,000 defenders surrendered on April 9, 1942. The sheer number of prisoners overwhelmed the Japanese, who needed to move the POWs north but had no transport to do it. The Japanese Army forced those prisoners to walk 55 miles to San Fernando, hop on a train to Capas, then walk the remaining eight miles to Camp ODonnell.

Not only did the Japanese have no transportation for the POWs, they also had no food, supplies or medicine. As they walked through the intense heat of the Philippines, the Japanese also prevented their prisoners from drinking water from nearby wells, killing anyone who tried to drink from them. Sometimes, they made the prisoners sit in the sun for hours.

If anyone dropped out of line during the march because of heat exhaustion, malnutrition or thirst, they were shot or bayoneted. Sometimes, they tortured, stabbed or outright killed prisoners for no reason.

Only 54,000 prisoners made it to Camp ODonnell, which could be just as brutal as the walk there. There was one spigot of water for all 7,000 Americans at the camp, and the Japanese often turned it off to torture the prisoners. They were given one cup of rice gruel per day to sustain them, American doctors with no supplies and often had to sleep outdoors.

Some were transferred to other camps for use as slave labor, like the 969 POWs sent to Davao on the island Mindanao to work at a maximum security plantation called Dapecol. Ten of these men, representing the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Army Air Forces, were determined to escape the escape-proof prison by any means necessary.

They wanted to tell the world what happened to the prisoners who surrendered in the Philippines.

A photo layout of the Davao Prison Camp. (U.S. Army)

The POWs first recruited fellow prisoners who were natives of the islands. Since the camp was a prison before the war, there were plenty to choose from. The Americans selected two Filipinos who were serving life sentences for murder, Benigno de la Cruz and Victor Jumarong. They would help as guides and translators.

What made the prison escape proof in the eyes of their captors was that no one ever had done it. Getting outside the barbed-wire fence was just the beginning. The camp was surrounded by a deep, crocodile-infested swamp, then a thick, dark jungle allegedly filled with cannibalistic native tribes.

Along the way, escapees would have to contend with the insects, animals and deadly plants that come with the islands geography.

They began by surveilling the movements and habits of their Japanese guards, then they gathered supplies provided by the Filipino civilians who worked the camps. They bolted on a Sunday -- their day off work -- so they wouldnt be noticed as missing until Monday.

On Sunday, April 4, 1943, after the prisoners were sent to work in a rice paddy, the 12 men picked up their hoarded supplies and headed out into the swamps. After three days of moving through the chest-deep swamp and dense jungle, evading Japanese patrols and search parties the whole way, they were free.

It was the only time a large group of POWs escaped a Japanese prison camp in World War II.

Davao escapees from left to right, Maj. Steve Mellnik, Lt. Cmdr. Chick Parsons, Lt. Cmdr. Melvyn McCoy, Capt. Ed Dyess and Capt. Charley Smith pose for a photo before commencing their trek to rendezvous with the USS Trout. (National Archives and Records Administration)

But not only did they escape the prison, they linked up with Filipino guerrillas and made contact with the U.S. Army headquarters in Australia via radio.

Radio contact allowed three of them to connect with the submarine USS Trout and make their way back to Brisbane, where the Army first learned of the Bataan Death March, the conditions at Camp ODonnell and the forced labor camps in the islands.

Only one of the men, Army Air Forces Lt. Leo A. Boelens, was killed by the Japanese. The other 11 men eventually were returned to the United States. The U.S. government kept the information quiet until January 1944, in time to arouse public outrage before the invasion of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands.

The story of the Davao Dozen stunned Americans at a time when they were beginning to get weary of the war without much good news on either front. War bond sales were boosted, as were new enlistments.

The invasion of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands became the first effort at a two-pronged, island-hopping campaign that wrecked Japans ability to defend or resupply islands and put American B-29 bombers ever closer to the mainland.

Gen. Masaharu Homma, the Japanese commander who ordered the Bataan Death March, was arrested after the war and extradited to the Philippines. There, the U.S. Army gave him the most inexperienced lawyers it could find. He was convicted of 48 counts violating the international rules of war and executed by firing squad.

The Davao Prison surgical ward in 1945. (U.S. Army)

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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MIAMI CEO Teresa King Kinney Rentals are more important now than ever. When housing inventory is scarce, rentals are a great safe harbor, and working with rentals is a core part of MIAMI subscribers businesses"

The MIAMI Association of REALTORS (MIAMI) has partnered with real estate technology firm Rental Beast to add more rental-centric tools for its members so they can better serve their clients.

Rentals are more important now than ever. When housing inventory is scarce, rentals are a great safe harbor, and working with rentals is a core part of MIAMI subscribers businesses, MIAMI CEO Teresa King Kinney said. Our focus in Miami has always been bringing the best tools to our subscribers. By integrating Rental Beasts extensive suite of tools and rental inventory into our MLS, we continue to further that mission.

MIAMI, the largest local Realtor Association in the U.S., will use Rental Beasts hosted MLS solution to power rental-centric search, listing ingestion, listing syndication, and listing maintenance systems. Additionally, all MIAMI members gain access to Apply Now, Rental Beasts secure, FCRA-compliant online application processing and tenant screening engine, and Rental Beast University, a comprehensive online learning center for rental education.

Designed by agents, for agents, Rental Beast for MLS seamlessly integrates with Matrix, CoreLogics flagship multiple listing solution, which services MIAMI agents and more than 1.2 million real estate professionals nationwide.

Through this partnership, rental listings will appear on major listing hubs via existing MIAMI feeds and RentalBeast.com. Rental Beast will also power MIAMIs consumer-facing, SEO-optimized rental search portal, instantly marketing rental listings to eager Miami renters, while expanding MIAMIs online brand presence. All generated leads are routed to designated listing agents, with no additional fees or per-lead charges.

Additionally, MIAMI members have the option to upgrade to Rental Beasts premium agent platform, providing members with access to Rental Beasts database of nearly 9 million rental properties not found on any MLS. Premium subscribers also gain access to supplementary listing syndication to some of the nation's largest rental properties, including Facebook Marketplace and realtor.com, a rental-centric CRM, one-click social sharing, their own consumer-facing rental search portal, and direct support and mentorship by seasoned real estate professionals.

This partnership furthers Rental Beasts goal of ensuring MLSs large and small can help their subscribers make money with rentals, and were so excited to offer Rental Beast to MIAMI subscribers, said Ishay Grinberg, Rental Beasts founder and CEO. There are more agents in the U.S. than homes available for sale, and MLSs across the country are adapting to the reality that rentals must make up a core part of their subscribing agents business. We are proud to ensure MIAMI will be the center of excellence for rentals in the Miami-area.

About Rental Beast

Rental Beast is an end-to-end SaaS platform empowering real estate professionals with powerful productivity tools and the nation's most comprehensive database of over eight million off-MLS rental properties. Sourced directly from property owners, updated in real time, and offering a fulfillment-grade rental dataset, the Rental Beast database provides real estate professionals with an unparalleled view of all properties and owner types. Rental Beast for MLS brings the power of Rental Beast to Multiple Listing Services and their subscribing agents and brokers. Utilizing a seamless and secure integration, participating MLSs capture thousands of properties that are normally off-MLS inventory, and leverage essential search, data ingestion, and maintenance systems needed to help member agents capture their share of $12 billion in annual leasing commissions.

About the MIAMI Association of Realtors

The MIAMI Association of Realtors was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 101 years of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of six organizations, the Residential Association, the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Broward-MIAMI Association of Realtors, the Jupiter Tequesta Hobe Sound (JTHS-MIAMI) Council, the Young Professionals Network (YPN) Council and the award-winning International Council, it represents 52,000 total real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local Realtor association in the U.S. and has official partnerships with 223 international organizations worldwide. MIAMIs official website is http://www.MiamiRealtors.com

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Appointment

8 April 2021

True North Hotel Group announced that Karen Steiger has been named general manager for the company's first managed AC Hotel by Marriott, opening late spring in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, at 2585 6th Street.

General Manager Karen Steiger has more than 30 years of hotel experience, 20-plus of which have been with Marriott-branded hotels in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. Most recently general manager of the Courtyard by Marriott at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Steiger before that held general manager and director of human resource positions throughout the state, accruing Circle of Champions, Hotel of the Year, General Manager of the Year and Marriott Silver and Gold performance awards along the way. An Illinois native and graduate of Roosevelt University in Chicago, Steiger lives in the Tuscaloosa area with her husband, daughter and five dogs.
Onyx Coating leaders in automotive protective coating products THE FIRST N1 NANO COATING IN THE WORLD

The team at Onyx Coating are continuing their path of international expansion. Today Onyx Coating has announced new distribution partnerships in multiple countries worldwide; NanoTech Solutions of Norway have been awarded distribution rights over all Scandinavian countries (Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway). In recent weeks Onyx Coating also signed distribution agreements with Kwangilmayeon of South Korea and Clean My Ride 69 of France. The addition of these new distributors brings Onyx Coating to an overall distribution network covering more than 40 countries.

Ahmad Madi, Sales Director at Onyx Coating, announced the new partnerships to the public and welcomed the new distributors to the Onyx Coating family by stating: "We are very excited to announce the newly signed distribution partnerships in Scandinavia, South Korea and France. We are passionate about achieving our mission to bring the quality of our Onyx Coating products to car owners and car care professionals worldwide. We know this can only be possible thanks to our local Distribution Partners' help, who bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Onyx Coating team".

Ceramic coating, the flagship product in the Onyx Coating range, is an innovative technology with the characteristic of being hydrophobic (water repellent) and oleophobic (oil repellent). When applied as a surface layer on car paint, ceramic coating repels dry particles, water, oil, and dirt, making the car paint surface anti-corrosive, UV resistant, high temperature resistant, and resistant to chemical compounds.

Onyx Coating is lifting the standard in car care products with a comprehensive series of automotive care products available to professional users and car owners alike. The Onyx Coating products range includes external ceramic coatings, interior fabric, leather coatings, and paint preparation wax and silicone removers of the highest quality.

For more information, please contact the PR Team at Onyx Coating info@onyxcoating.com.

About Onyx Coating

Onyx Coating was founded in 2015 to provide car care professionals, auto enthusiasts, and car owners with the highest quality car care products at competitive prices. Customer service excellence is at the heart of Onyx Coating's success. The team at Onyx Coating remains dedicated to providing the market with uniquely capable products, accessories, and specialist knowledge.
LAKE, OCEANA, NEWAYGO COUNTY -- Newaygo County's first-of-its-kind entrepreneurial pitching competition, Pitch North, is returning for its third year bigger than ever before.

Entrepreneurs living in Newaygo, Oceana and Lake Counties will once again have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to compete for one of many cash prizes up for grabs.

The competition's third year boasts bigger prizes, with a total of $10,000 in award funds available to cultivate entrepreneurial growth in these rural communities.

The virtual event will take place on June 8th, 2021.

Entrepreneurship continues to be critical to the success of rural communities, especially as they begin recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When people start and grow businesses, they contribute to the economic diversity of their area. These unique local businesses become differentiators for their communities.

Recognizing that individuals living in rural areas often have less access to funding and resources to pursue these endeavors The Right Place, Inc. launched Pitch North in 2019 to change that.

Pitch submissions for Pitch North 2021 are being accepted at pitchnorth.com now through May 10, 2021 at 11:59 pm.

A hand-picked committee will review and score all submissions and select five finalists to present their pitches live at the June 8th event, where cash prizes will be awarded to all five finalists.

The public is welcome to attend this free event, which will be held via Zoom.

Additional information on how to register is available at pitchnorth.com.

Pitch North is hosted by The Right Place, Inc. and made possible through support from The Adama Family Gift Fund, The Fremont Area Community Foundation, Shelby State Bank, Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, River Country Chamber of Commerce, West Shore Community College, Gerber Federal Credit Union and The Lakeshore Fab Lab.

The Right Place, Inc., is a regional nonprofit founded in 1985 and supported through investments from the private and public sector.

The Right Place drives current and long-term economic prosperity in West Michigan through the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies to retain, expand, and attract businesses.

This includes connecting area businesses to national and international resources, identifying emerging growth opportunities, strengthening the competitiveness of area firms, and marketing the region globally.

Find out more by visiting rightplace.org, liking us on facebook.com, and following us on twitter @TheRightPlaceG.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  An Iranian ship believed to be a base for the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and anchored for years in the Red Sea off Yemen has been attacked, Tehran acknowledged Wednesday.

Irans Foreign Ministry confirmed the attack on the MV Saviz, suspected to have been carried out by Israel  though Tehran did not immediately blame its regional archenemy. The assault came as Iran and world powers sat down in Vienna for the first talks about the U.S. potentially rejoining the tattered deal aimed at curbing Irans nuclear program, showing events outside the negotiations could derail those efforts.

The ships long presence in the region, repeatedly criticized by Saudi Arabia, has come as the West and U.N. experts say Iran has provided arms and support to Yemens Houthi rebels in that countrys yearslong war. Iran denies arming the Houthis, though components found in the rebels weaponry link back to Tehran.

Iran previously described the Saviz as aiding in anti-piracy efforts in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a crucial chokepoint in international shipping. A statement attributed to Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh described the ship as a commercial vessel.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported ... and technical investigations are underway, Khatibzadeh said. Our country will take all necessary measures through international authorities.

In an earlier state TV statement, an anchor cited a New York Times story, which quoted an anonymous U.S. official telling the newspaper that Israel informed America it carried out an attack Tuesday morning on the vessel. Israeli officials declined to comment about the assault when reached by The Associated Press, as did Savizs owner.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, while refusing to say if his country launched the attack, described Iran and its regional allies as a major threat.

Israel must continue to defend itself, Gantz told journalists. Any place we find an operational challenge and necessity, we will continue to act.

Story continues

Irans semiofficial Tasnim news agency, believed to be close to the Guard, reported that a limpet mine planted on Savizs hull caused the blast. A limpet mine is a type of naval mine that is attached to the side of a ship, usually by a diver. It later explodes, and can significantly damage a vessel. Iran did not blame anyone for the attack and said Iranian officials likely would offer more information in the coming days.

In a statement, the U.S. militarys Central Command only said it was aware of media reports of an incident involving the Saviz and that U.S. forces were not involved.

At the United Nations, spokesman Stephane Dujarric expressed concern over the Saviz incident and urged concerned parties, including countries in the region, to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from taking any escalatory actions and, in particular, to respect their obligations under international law.

Also Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called the Vienna talks a success while speaking to his Cabinet.

Today, one united statement is being heard that all sides of the nuclear deal have concluded that there is no better solution than the deal, he said.

A European diplomat with knowledge of the talks, speaking on condition of anonymity to frankly discuss the closed-door meeting in Vienna, acknowledged outside events could affect the negotiations.

We hope that every action, whether it comes from (nuclear deal) parties or external parties, wont undermine the dynamic, he said.


Chandigarh, April 8 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clear the state governments proposal for launching various projects worth Rs 937 crore, including the development of Anandpur Sahib as a Smart City, to pay tributes to Guru Tegh Bahadur, whose 400th Prakash Purab is being celebrated this year.

Participating virtually in the high-level national committee meeting convened by the Prime Minister to finalise the plans to celebrate the 400th Prakash Purab, the Chief Minister said, "We are all fortunate to celebrate this great event in our lifetimes and I urge Modi ji to ensure that this historic event is commemorated not only at the national level, but also at the global level." He said Guru Tegh Bahadur, also known as Hind Di Chadar, stands as a shining symbol of the country's great pluralistic tradition and secularism, and his supreme sacrifice forms an important part of India's history.

The Chief Minister said that he was "blessed" as during his present tenure, he got the opportunity to be part of the grand celebrations of the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh as well as the 550th Prakash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev.

"Even during my last tenure, I was fortunate to be part of the celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib ji," he said.

Briefing the Prime Minister on the memorandum sent to the Centre in this regard, Amarinder Singh said his government plans to duly recognise the towns and villages associated with the life of Guru Tegh Bahadur in the state by upgrading their infrastructure.

Besides the city of Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib and Baba Bakala are significant in this regard, he said. In addition, he said that there are 78 villages in the state which were graced by the Guru.

Amarinder Singh said the proposal sent by the state government includes projects for development of infrastructure in and around Anandpur Sahib, Amritsar and Baba Bakala; rejuvenation of village ponds and traditional water bodies for water conservation in 78 villages that were visited by the Guru; and setting up Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur School of Textile Technology and Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Institute of Handicrafts at the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and Sathiala, Baba Bakala, respectively.

The Chief Minister further requested the Prime Minister that the Union government should release a special commemorative stamp on this occasion.

He suggested that the commemorative events should be held across the country, as well as at all Indian missions abroad, in order to carry forward the powerful message of Guru Tegh Bahadur's life.

Amarinder Singh informed the Prime Minister that the details of the main programme on May 1 are being finalised, keeping in mind the Covid situation in the country, particularly in Punjab.

The Chief Minister also thanked Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for making elaborate plans for celebrating this historic event across the country.

"I'm grateful to you for giving such prominence to this event, as normally it is left to the state or communities to manage such celebrations," he said, while also appreciating Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's assurance of organising befitting celebrations in his state too.
The polarising politics of Northern Irelands two main political parties which has reared its head again over recent months is the root cause of current unrest, says a policing expert.

Derry has experienced seven days of disturbances in the Waterside area of the city during which police officers have been attacked, vehicles burned, roads blocked and residents left in fear.

The work of Michael Mulqueen, Professor of Policing and National Security at University of Central Lancashire, has largely focused on Ireland and he is therefore well acquainted with NI politics.

He believes that fundamentally the current disorder is rooted in the absence of effective political and community leadership.

Speaking to the Derry News, Professor Mulqueen explains that in such a vacuum vulnerable people can be preyed upon.

Instead of being valued and supported, they are being drawn within the grip of serious criminal elements; instead of being led on a path to cross-community healing, they are being infused with grubby politicised doctrines of suspicion and hate, and instead of being offered a future, they are being manipulated to ruin their life prospects by engaging in criminal behaviour, he says.

In his view, the two parties occupying the two polarities of Northern Irish politics - Sinn Fein and the DUP - carry a heavy share of responsibility for what has occurred.

Professor Mulqueen (above) sees promise in the neighbourhood policing model, driven by Chief Constable Simon Byrne and his senior team, which seeks to deliver impartial policing to all communities.

That policing model, he says, is set up to be the very opposite of one side or the other asserting political control over Northern Irelands policing.

But because they profit from propagating deeply-rooted tribalism the parties concerned routinely seek to delegitimise the PSNI, resorting to allegations that it is biased and incompetent, even when evidence-led processes internal and external to it conclude otherwise, the Lancashire Professor surmises.

The Sinn Fein leadership have stoked recent tensions by gathering in such numbers at the funeral of Bobby Storey.

But traditional unionism, in its reaction to the subsequent PPS decision on prosecutions, has gone down the same route.

The First Minister, Arlene Foster, by calling on Chief Constable Simon Byrne and his senior team to resign, is targeting the standing of the PSNI chain of command at a time of sustained rioting.

He adds: Proportionate, lawful and accountable public order policing depends upon clear lines of command and control, which the police hierarchy is designed to deliver.

By not fully thinking through the consequences of her antipathy for Mr Byrne, the First Minster is raising risk to officers and creating the wrong controversy  one that overshadows the hurt Sinn Fein inflicted upon many people by gathering in numbers at the funeral.

She is engaging in really hazardous politicking.

WHATABOUTERY

Similarly, he believes, the Pitt Park and Ormeau Road incidents were transformed from moments of potentially useful questioning of police actions into opportunities to delegitimise the police and, arguably, the state.

Professor Mulqueen states: Sinn Fein office holders could have reassured shaken communities that robust impartial mechanisms governed police performance and discipline.

They could have informed public debate by engaging themselves with Authorised Professional Practice (APP), which comprises the evidence-based procedures produced by the UKs College of Policing for everything from an arrest to a riot. Instead, they inflamed insecurity and doubt.

Officer decision making at Pitt Park is recognisable as a moment of adherence to APPs requirement to balance competing risks.

Ormeau Road is both an instance of accountability in action and the severe scrutiny officers face in every aspect of their operational duties. It is a shame when this serious business is trivialised into political whataboutery.

Societal divisions which have persisted for generations in Northern Ireland can be overcome, and a more prosperous NI realised, through the healing of divided communities.

But, he says: Sinn Fein, with a perennially strategic leadership focussed on coherent tactics to deliver their primary goal of a united Ireland, will have no issue with undermining the police as and when doing so serves that goal.

Traditional unionism is caught in a tangle of unfavourable consequences for Northern Ireland, arising from it being on the wrong side of history when a majority of UK voters decided to exit the EU in 2016.

It is under pressure from a growing cacophony for a border poll that even the Irish Government is seeking to quieten.

The rationale for calling upon the Chief Constable and his senior team to resign is remarkably incoherent and, so, may be related to the pressures unionism is under.

All told, traditional unionism and the DUP in particular is a more unpredictable actor but one, current evidence suggests, is more likely to undermine policing, however unwittingly.

Certainly, the spectacle of the DUPs First Minister refusing to meet the Chief Constable is a bad look for moderate unionists and the community generally.

(Below: Graffiti threatening the PSNI in the Waterside area of Derry).

HEALING

Solving these intractable problems can be done through proper community policing, according to Professor Mulqueen.

He says: The neighbourhood policing model, which Chief Constable Byrne and his team are implementing, may not have been designed for this purpose but it is, however uncomfortably, exposing the deficits of Northern Irelands tribal politics.

Neighbourhood policing is about empowering all communities within a functioning country. So, by its nature, it creates tensions with the sectional goals of those who do not wish the country to function as the Good Friday Agreement sets out or who wish it to merge into something else.

He continues: Politicians must reconcile with their voters the harm that their political priorities are doing against the healthy potential of a policing model that serves all people, regardless of allegiance.

This is why I am optimistic: in Northern Ireland right now, there is an excellent policing model and there is a police leadership team clearly wedded to implementing it, despite continuous challenge. PSNI has serious challenges to face, not least of which is its legitimacy among all communities.

The root problem, however, is not with policing. The problem is one of weak politics and the time it takes for that to mature or give way to the business of healing and building communities served by a dedicated police service.
By Rocky Swift

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Thursday she would ask the central government to impose emergency measures in the capital region to stem a surge of COVID-19 infections.

Koike made the comments after a meeting with medical experts who warned of an explosive surge in cases that could exceed the third and most deadly wave of the pandemic so far. Experts also warned of a rise in more infectious mutant strains of the virus.

"This is a very worrisome situation," Koike said. "And we need to be more vigilant of the increase in the number of people infected with the mutant strains."

Osaka, Hyogo and Miyagi prefectures started a month of targeted lockdown measures on Monday to rein in a more virulent strain of the virus.

The new measures are based on a revised infection control law and can be applied to a narrower area than a state of emergency that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared for most of the country in early January.

The controls allow regional governments to order businesses to shorten hours and to impose fines of 200,000 yen ($1,820) or publish the names of those that do not comply. Additionally, residents are being asked to work from home and to refrain from activities such as karaoke.

Cases are on an uptrend in Tokyo, which is due to host the Summer Olympic Games from late July, with Wednesday's 555 new infections the highest since early February. On Thursday, the tally was 545.

Japan has also been relatively slow in inoculating its citizens, with just 1 million people having received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine - the only one approved so far - since February out of a population of 126 million.

($1 = 109.6300 yen)

(Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Michael Perry and Kim Coghill)
As the number of visitors to Vietnams largest island, Phu Quoc, is skyrocketing, domestic airlines have competed to increase the flights, or resume or launch new air route to this island.

The total number of flights to Phu Quoc airport has reached about 40 flights a day.

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has granted transportation rights to 5 routes to and from Phu Quoc and vice versa of Vietjet Air. These are flights from Phu Bai Airport (Thua Thien  Hue Province), Chu Lai Airport (Quang Nam Province), Dong Hoi Airport (Quang Binh Province), Quy Nhon Airport (Binh Dinh Province) and Van Don Airport (Quang Ninh Province) to/from Phu Quoc Airport (Kien Giang Province) and vice versa.

Visitors at Phu Quoc Airport. Photo: Minh Man

Earlier, Vietjet Air announced the opening of a number of air routes from Da Nang, Thanh Hoa, Nha Trang, Da Lat and Vinh to Phu Quoc, operating from March 28, April 2 and April 29. At the same time, this carrier has increased the capacity of air routes from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong to Phu Quoc.

With the five new air routes, Vietjet Air will operate a total of 13 domestic routes to Phu Quoc.

At the same time, Vietnam Airlines has said that it will resume four air routes from Hai Phong, Da Lat, Vinh, and Da Nang to and from Phu Quoc from April 23 and increase the number of seats and flights to serve tourist during the upcoming summer.

Accordingly, the round-trip flights between Hai Phong, Da Lat, Vinh and Phu Quoc will increase from four to seven as of June 1, 2021. The Da Nang - Phu Quoc route will also have four round trips per week.

Meanwhile, Bamboo Airways has flights from Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Thanh Hoa, Can Tho and Vinh to Phu Quoc and vice versa.

The "rookie" of the local aviation market - Vietravel Airlines - operates flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc.

After the Covid-19 pandemic is under control, local tourists have rushed to Phu Quoc. This is the hottest destination in the country since the beginning of the year. With nice weather, discount air tickets, reasonable hotel room fare, the island is very attractive to tourists.

In the first two months of this year, Phu Quoc welcomed 656,000 visitors, accounting for 75-80% of the total number of visitors to Kien Giang province. The figure is still 44.5% down over the same period of 2020 but it is in the increasing trend. The number of visitors to Phu Quoc began rising sharply since March.

This year, Kien Giang province aims to welcome 7 million visitors, 34% up year on year; to earn tourism revenue of more than VND11.5 trillion, up 46.2%.

Ms. Lam Thi Diem Tram, Director of Phu Quoc Island Tourism and Events Co., Ltd., said that on average, this company has 2,000 to 4,000 visitors per month. The number doubles for the upcoming holiday (April 30 and May 1).

In April, flights from Hanoi anf Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc ran out of tickets, so travel firms have asked airlines to increase flights to Phu Quoc, Lam said.

Ng. Ha
Dakar  The opening of the Senegalese Consulate General in Dakhla, a city located in southern Morocco, confirms Dakar's support for the Morocanness of Sahara, Senegalese News Agency (APS) reported on Tuesday, quoting a Consular official in Morocco.

"The opening of this consulate confirms Senegal's supports for the Morocanness of the Sahara", and that the region "belongs to Morocco", Pierre Andre Sene said, on the sidelines of the inauguration Monday by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese abroad, Aissata Tall Sall, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad Nasser Bourita, of the Senegalese consular representation in Dakhla.

On this occasion, APS recalled that "the city of Dakhla is 2,000 kilometers from Casablanca, where the nearest Senegalese consulate was located", stressing that around 2,000 to 3,000 Senegalese are currently living in the city of Dakhla.

According to Sene, Senegalese in the southern region work in the informal sector, where some of them are employed in local industries, including hotels.

"It is a city of the future. Several investments have been made by Moroccan authorities. It is a city of transit," he explained, noting that the new consulate will enable Senegalese to obtain administrative papers without having to go to Casablanca or Rabat.
South Africa: Transformation imperative in aviation: Mbalula

Transformation in the aviation sector remains a challenge, with the 2020/21 financial year aviation statistics showing that no meaningful progress has been made in terms of transformation, particularly for previously disadvantaged individuals.

Virtually addressing the National Aviation Conference on Thursday, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said Africans, Coloureds and Indians represent 11% of licence holders, while at 89%, the proportion of White licence holders is still significantly higher.

"This scenario needs to change. The statistics must reflect the racial demographics of the country. Among other things that must be prioritised is the demystification of the industry from being an exclusive haven that is the sole preserve of a particular class in our society.

We must agree on transformation targets and introduce innovative measures to create access for young people who come from previously disadvantaged communities, Mbalula said.

While the economic impact on local and international operators experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic have been devastating, the Minister has called on the sector to be ready for the lifting of travel restrictions that were brought about by the onset of the pandemic.

"There is no doubt that the aviation industry will eventually take off. However, when it does, the entire value chain must be ready to hit the ground running and take advantage of the opportunities of the new economy.

Moreover, we must be ready to assimilate air taxis and other remotely piloted aircraft systems into the currently well-oiled, well-organised and well-managed conventional airspace.

Very soon, airspaces across the globe will resemble nothing we have witnessed before. We must rise up and be equal to the challenge, he said.

According to a report released by the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) at the beginning of March, the number of departing passengers in 2020 fell by 65.8% compared to 2019, from 21.6 million to 7.4 million passengers.

The decline in domestic departing passengers was 61.9% and the international departing passengers fell by 74.6%.

Seats made available by airlines for destinations within South Africa and between the country and international destinations were 41% of the previous years levels. In 2021, seats published by airlines are at 74% of the 2019 levels. This is the evidence of the serious economic impact on local and international operators, Mbalula said.

The sluggish growth in the passenger numbers remains a source of concern, as this has a direct knock-on effect on the countrys gross domestic product (GDP).

For the local aviation industry to expand and fulfil its potential, government, the regulators and operators must collaborate to ensure that the aviation industry is well positioned to recover and capitalise on the opportunities presented by the pandemic.

Technology and innovation will certainly play a pivotal role in simplifying processes and making air travel more attractive to the masses, the Minister said.

According to Mbalula, aviation skills are in short supply across the world.

In our case, we have seen many of our well-trained and experienced aviators being lured away from South Africa to jobs and opportunities in countries that are offering much better remuneration.

The aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak will only serve to intensify the competition for limited scarce and critical skills. It is critical, therefore, to plan ahead for such a reality, as this may compromise our countrys sterling record in relation to upholding civil aviation safety and security, he said. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-04-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
AMSTERDAM, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Krypt is proud to welcome Frederik Pena-Tolivia to the team as a Solution Director to head the SAP GTS practice for the European region. Frederik comes to Krypt with vast expertise across a plethora of industries such as Retail, Life Science & Health Care, Automotive, Finance, Aerospace & Defense, Manufacturing, and Energy.

Frederik has graduated in Applied Informatics with a specialization in Business IT - SAP. He also has several SAP Certifications including HANA support associate and Technology Associate SAP S/4HANA. His skill set uniquely qualifies him to advise clients with the right technologies & solutions. He specializes in SAP GTS and has worked on over 25 vital GTS projects across the world. These projects have involved multiple full-life cycle SAP GTS implementations across all SAP GTS modules for both SAP & non-SAP Feeder Systems.

His core expertise lies in full-automation projects for clients in performing e-filing without manual intervention, setting-up of e-filing in multiple countries with different authorities, special customs procedures, and setting-up of broker interface for customs solution as standard Broker Enablement functionality from SAP. Most of the projects he has worked on have involved extensive enhancements to SAP GTS in all functionalities & different Middleware.

"Global Trade situation is getting more complex every single day.

Trade Wars, Brexit, FTA's are only a few topics that make companies look into solutions to transform their Global Trade Solution towards an automated system.

With over 25 project implementations of SAP GTS, I am excited to bring my expertise/experience to Krypt and help the clients define the best solution & drive it towards a successful implementation. I firmly believe, with hard work and effort you can achieve anything," said Frederik Pena-Tolivia.

In his free time Frederik loves to travel, read on varied topics or can be seen working for the web shop Bakery Bakingromi, which he co-founded with his fiance.

Krypt has been operating globally as an SAP partner for Global Trade & Supply Chain, since 2008. We have global footprints with offices located in the United States, Germany, India, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Krypt has helped hundreds of customers across 35 countries leverage their SAP investments to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and gain a competitive edge.

To know more about Krypt products/services, please request for a DEMO or do contact us .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1482155/Frederik_Orange_Full_Size.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1443210/krypt_logo_transparent_Logo.jpg
An Iranian threat actor has unleashed a new cyberespionage campaign against a possible Lebanese target with a backdoor capable of exfiltrating sensitive information from compromised systems.

Cybersecurity firm Check Point attributed the operation to APT34, citing similarities with previous techniques used by the threat actor as well as based on its pattern of victimology.

APT34 (aka OilRig) is known for its reconnaissance campaigns aligned with the strategic interests of Iran, primarily hitting financial, government, energy, chemical, and telecommunications industries in the Middle East.

The group typically resorts to targeting individuals through the use of booby-trapped job offer documents, delivered directly to the victims via LinkedIn messages. Although the latest campaign bears some of the same hallmarks, the exact mode of delivery remains unclear as yet.

The Word document analyzed by Check Point  which was uploaded to VirusTotal from Lebanon on January 10  claims to offer information about different positions at a U.S.-based consulting firm named Ntiva IT, only to trigger the infection chain upon activating the embedded malicious macros, ultimately resulting in the deployment of a backdoor called "SideTwist."

Aside from gathering basic information about the victim's machine, the backdoor establishes connections with a remote server to await additional commands that allow it to download files from the server, upload arbitrary files, and execute shell commands, the results of which are posted back to the server.

Check Point notes that the use of new backdoor points to the group's ongoing efforts to overhaul and update their payload arsenal in the wake of a 2019 leak of its hacking tools, which also doxxed several officers of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence who were involved with APT34 operations.

"Iran backed APT34 shows no sign of slowing down, further pushing its political agenda in the middle-east, with an ongoing focus on Lebanon  using offensive cyber operations," the researchers said. "While maintaining its modus operandi and reusing old techniques, the group continues to create new and updated tools to minimize the possible detection of their tools by security vendors."
'Production Association Yuzhny Machine-Building plant named after A.M. Makarov' State Enterprise (YUZHMASH) and Robinson Patman Law Firm signed the Memorandum of Cooperation. The Memorandum was signed on March 3rd, 2021.

The purpose of the Memorandum is to ensure advocacy for YUZHMASH on the national level and globally.

That was informed by Robinson Patman Law Firm.

On the side of YUZHMASH the Memorandum was signed by the General Director Sergii Voyt, and on the side of Robinson Patman it was signed by the Managing Partner Dmytro Vidsota.

As it was informed, the parties agreed to cooperate in order to promote Ukraine's rocket industry development, advance the competitiveness of national space enterprises in the global market and improve regulatory framework in space engineering.

According to the Memorandum, Robinson Patman will advise YUZHMASH on various issues of international economic activities (including expansion of export), protection of economic competition, public procurement, state aid, and will represent interests of YUZHMASH before the Ukrainian state authorities, ss it was informed by Robinson Patman.

'Production Association Yuzhny Machine-Building plant named after A.M. Makarov' State Enterprise ( YUZHMASH ) is a basis of rocket-space industry of Ukraine.

Since 1950s of the 20th century, four generations of strategic missile systems, about 400 space vehicles of 70 various modifications and space launch vehicles of 'Cyclone', 'Cosmos', 'Zenit' series have been created by YUZHMASH.

YUZHMASH is a complete production cycle enterprise. Production of the main body of components and units, assembling and testing under conditions similar to outer space is carried out at its own unique industrial base.

Robinson Patman Law Firm specializes in such practices as international trade, antitrust and competition law, government relations.

Robinson Patman is focused on providing professional legal support in the shortest possible time and on flexible conditions. Robinson Patman provides unique and effective solutions necessary to achieve strategic goals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the country will have to prioritise COVID-19 vaccination as per the availability of vaccines.

Amidst a second wave of coronavirus cases being witnessed in the country, Modi held a virtual meeting with the chief ministers of the state for containment of the pandemic.

The prime minister said the vaccination criteria in India is not different from that in rich countries of the world. While efforts are on to increase manufacturing capacity and development of new medicines, the country will have to prioritise vaccination as per the availability of vaccines, he said.

He also asked states to make efforts to achieve 100 per cent vaccination in the age group of above 45 years, which is currently eligible for vaccination. Saying that April 11 is the birth anniversary of social activist Jyotiba Phule and April 14 of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Modi advised states to observe April 11 to April 14 as 'Tika Utsav' or vaccination festival to vaccinate the maximum number of people.

Also read: Covid-19 vaccination at malls, schools, RWAs? Yes, say healthcare providers

The prime minister highlighted that the country has crossed the peak of COVID-19 cases seen in the first wave, with many states, including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, also crossing the peak. He said many other states are also moving in the same direction which is a matter of concern.

Modi said that people and administration have become casual in their behaviour as compared to the first wave, and asked chief ministers to focus on 'test, track and treat', along with COVID-appropriate behaviour. He said the country has the advantage of experience, vaccines and better infrastructure as compared to the first wave.

PM asked states to endorse night curfew as 'corona curfew'. He advised them to focus on micro-containment zones and ramp up testing. The target should be to do 70 per cent RT-PCR tests, he said.

The prime minister reiterated his appeal for wearing masks and continuing with precautions even after getting vaccinated. He said India had won the battle against the first wave of coronavirus cases without vaccines, and expressed confidence that the country will be successful in defeating the second wave as well.

Also read: Scientists demand probe into COVID-19 origins with or without China's involvement
Erica Robbie is the editor-in-chief of Local Magazine and Local Weekly as well as the arts & culture editor for the Aspen Daily News. She can be reached at erica@aspendailynews.com or on Twitter @ericarobbie.
The British Embassy is reaching out to UK citizens living in Spain who may be wondering if and when they are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine shot.

We know that some of you are concerned about how you will be able to get the Covid-19 vaccine in Spain  particularly those of you who dont receive state healthcare, said the embassy in a message on the Brits in Spain Facebook community. The Spanish government has been very clear that they will provide the vaccine to everyone in Spain as a matter of public health, regardless of nationality or how you access healthcare in Spain, added the embassy note.

Healthcare in Spain is devolved to the regions, which are in charge of the Covid-19 vaccination drive. But the immunization campaign is operating at different speeds and with slightly different rules depending on each region, which means that the way people access the vaccine will differ depending on where you live.

People wait in line for their Covid-19 vaccine at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre on Saturday. Fernando Domingo-Aldama

People who are already registered for state healthcare should expect to be automatically contacted by their regional health service to make an appointment for a shot, whenever their turn comes up based on priority target groups.

As for people who are not registered for state healthcare, the embassy has provided a list of regional websites offering relevant information and even the option of registering for the vaccine. The Spanish authorities are asking insurance companies to coordinate with regional health services in order to provide vaccines to their customers. UK nationals living in Spain with private insurance, who do not live in the areas listed in this post, can contact their local health center or private insurance company for more information, said the embassy.

Support for vulnerable nationals

The British Embassy in Spain has also announced that the UK government is extending support for vulnerable UK nationals applying for residency in European countries. An additional 1 million (1.2 million) in funding is being released for charities and voluntary organizations across Europe to support vulnerable UK nationals applying for residency, bringing the total to 4 million (4.6 million).

Since March 2020, eight organizations have reached 350,000 vulnerable individuals using the UK Nationals Support Fund (UKNSF), said the embassy. In Spain, these include Age in Spain, Babelia and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

I am delighted that more funding has been provided to Age in Spain, Babelia and IOM through the UK Nationals Support Fund, said British Ambassador to Spain Hugh Elliott. These organizations provide vital support to UK nationals who need additional help with their residency application in Spain, so I urge any UK nationals who are struggling with the process to contact them for help.

More information UK Embassy addresses concerns over media reports of Spain deporting Britons

The UK government is extending support for potentially at-risk groups including pensioners, disabled people and those with language difficulties who live in Europe by continuing the activity of the UK Nationals Support Fund and supplementing it with an additional 1 million, said the embassy.

The UKNSF provides funds to eight organizations to support UK nationals who need assistance with their residency applications. These groups operate in 11 EU member states and Norway, and since the launch of the Fund in March 2020, they have provided practical support for UK nationals who need assistance with the process of applying or registering for residency in 12 European countries, following the end of the Transition Period. This funding is in addition to 3 million (3.5 million) announced by the Foreign Secretary in March 2020.

Figures published by the Spanish Immigration Observatory show that as of December 31, 2020, there were 381,448 UK nationals holding a valid residency certificate or card in Spain.
Community Appearance Focus For City Of Hillsboro In recent years under the leadership of former City Manager Frank Johnson, the City of Hillsboro has been addressing a number of community appearance issues, and that is expected to continue under new City Manager Megan Henderson.



These improvements have come in the form of clearing grown up lots, demolishing substandard houses and, more recently, the removal and trimming of downtown trees and the purchase of a building on the west side of the courthouse square.



Mrs. Henderson pointed out, Community appearance is part of the citys program of work that impacts everything we do.



It is part of quality of life provided to current citizens and taxpayers. It affects a business ability to attract customers and the ability for the city to grow.



I am excited at the strides the community has made in recent years and commend all of the city employees who have made it possible.



As part of the effort, city crews and contractors have been focused over the last year or so on an area bounded by Corsicana Highway on the south, Church Street on the west, McDonald Street on the north and Abbott Street on the east for clean-up.



Before his retirement in February, Johnson said that the city has been able to retain ownership of many of the lots in that area.



A combination of city crews and a local contractor have been able to remove debris from the area, which allows a majority of the property to be mowed.



Improving the appearance as people drive down Corsicana Highway, one of the citys main entrances and exits for travelers, has been the main goal of the project, Johnson pointed out.



The city has drawn regional, national and even international attention in recent years through the Hillsboro Department of Public Safetys Fire/Rescue Division fire training program.



The department has been utilizing donated substandard structures for fire training for over 15 years.



Mrs. Henderson said that part of the community appearance effort serves dual purposes. It not only eliminates homes or buildings that were in disrepair, but offers training to local firefighters and police officers with live-burn experience.



The number of structures taken down accelerated about six years ago when Johnson came to town.



The retired city manager agreed to dedicate city resources to not only knock down the structures after fire training, but have the debris loaded in dumpsters through the Public Works Department and hauled to a landfill for disposal.



Hillsboro is one of the few communities in the state that has received permission from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to do live-burn training.



The national and international part of the equation started a little over three years ago, when several local firefighters were taking The Nozzle Forward class in Longview.



Aaron Fields of the Seattle Fire Department developed the class and brought instructors from across the U.S. and Canada to Hillsboro.



The first group, along with a film crew with Pennwell Publishing, made visits in 2018 and 2019.



Firefighters from Washington state, Oklahoma, Colorado, California, Virginia, Minnesota, Alaska, Massachusetts, Canada, Wisconsin, Maine, Idaho and Texas were in that first group.



More recently, firefighters came from Dallas, Austin, Irving, Arlington, Parker County ESD 1 and Highland Park, Michigan for training.



Fire/Rescue Major David Pruitt has coordinated the program since its inception and done all of the deed research on the properties.



The major credited Siddons Martin Emergency Group, parent company of Skeeter Brush Trucks in Hillsboro, with providing equipment for the program over the years.



Since the program started, the Hillsboro Department of Public Safety has trained in over 45 donated structures.



Mrs. Henderson noted that if there are local residents who own or have inherited substandard structures, homes or buildings and have no plans to renovate them, they are welcome to contact the city to discuss options.



She may be contacted by calling 254-582-3271, or call Pruitt at 254-582-2401.



Both parks and street department employees have worked in recent months to either remove or trim trees along downtown sidewalks.



According to Public Works Director Walter Garcia, street department employees removed two trees on both the north and south sides of the courthouse square.



Parks Superintendent John Graham and his parks employees have raised the canopies on trees on South Covington Street from Walnut to Elm streets and along West Elm west of Covington Street.



The final community appearance project to discuss is actually a partnership between the city and Hill County.



Johnson, Mayor Andy Smith and County Judge Justin Lewis coordinated an effort to buy the old laundromat on the west side of the square.



The project grew out of a parking study conducted last year by the county to expand options around the courthouse square.



The two governmental entities split the purchase price and will share the cost of transforming the lot into downtown parking that will be available to anyone.



As part of the sale, the owner was given six months to remove his property.



Unless it is released early, the county and city are scheduled to take possession of the property June 1.



Once demolished and cleared, it will allow the city and county to create approximately 30 new parking spaces for the downtown area.



Mrs. Henderson added that any resident with ideas, concerns or questions about the efforts should give her a call.


Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki speaks during a ministerial meeting to monitor the local real estate market, at the Government Complex in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Ministry of Economy and Finance



By Lee Min-hyung



Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki reiterated his strong willingness to minimize post-by-election instability in the local real estate market amid signs of a bubble in some speculation-prone areas.



"A satisfactory housing supply can never be achieved independently by the central or regional governments," Hong said during a ministerial meeting. "I hope the central government and local ones enhance cooperation in achieving this."



The message came a day after Oh Se-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party won the Seoul mayoral by-election, Wednesday.



For the past few weeks after being named as the sole candidate for mayor by the opposition party, Oh has stepped up criticism against repeated attempts by the government to tame soaring apartment prices by bolstering regulations on mortgages and hiking taxes on multiple home owners.



He pledged to ease tightened regulations on apartment reconstruction projects in Seoul, saying that housing supply  driven by the private sector  was crucial to stabilizing the overheated real estate market in Seoul.



The government, in contrast, has sought to boost the supply of apartments built by state-run enterprises.



Hong delivered the apparent message of warning to Oh that housing supply led by private builders can never be realized without support from the central government.



"There are signs of market instability in some areas due to certain campaign pledges made during the 2021 by-elections," Hong said. "Regardless of the ruling and opposition parties, both sides will share common ground in pushing for their real estate policies, and this is the stabilization of the housing market for the public."



But Hong and Oh are widely expected to escalate their conflict in their push for housing supply.



Oh's housing supply policy centers on providing 360,000 housing units in the capital city over the next five years by deregulating rules on reconstruction and widening redevelopment projects pursued by private builders.



Under the pledge, half of the target supply will be led by the private sector. Oh also pledged to loosen restrictions that limit the maximum height of apartments to 35 floors.



The so-called 35-floor rule was introduced by former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. This raises expectations that Oh will also be able to ease the rule using his authority.



The new Seoul mayor also plans to push for easing restrictions on floor area ratios, which will help speed up reconstruction and redevelopment projects across the capital area.



Oh's housing policy pledges, however, will likely collide with the central government. Hong reaffirmed his pledge to keep carrying out the government's much-hyped Feb. 4 housing supply policy, which will be driven by state-run organizations  such as the Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH).



"We will push for our housing supply policies as scheduled," he said. "The gist of the government's real estate policies  such as deterring real estate speculation and eradication of unfair transactions  should remain in place."



Kwon Dae-jung, a real estate professor at Myongji University, said chances remain slim for Oh to be able to achieve all of his housing pledges.



"It will be tough for the new Seoul mayor to ease tight restrictions on reconstruction or redevelopment during his 15-month tenure," the professor said. "He has to join hands with the government to find a middle ground for balanced housing supply policy."


AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine is once again under the spotlight, amid growing fears it may trigger extremely rare blood clots.

Health chiefs yesterday recommended it should not be given to under-30s because of its link to the potentially deadly complication.

But medical experts insist the jab is safe and the benefits far outweigh any risks for the majority of adults, with the overall risk of dying from a blood clot after getting jabbed being around one in a million.

Here MailOnline answers all of your questions about what is really going on with the vaccine, revealing why you can't ask to get a second dose of Pfizer's jab instead and why you should not be concerned by any link to blood clots.

I DEVELOPED ONE OF THE TELL-TALE SYMPTOMS OF BLOOD CLOTS AFTER MY FIRST DOSE, IS IT SAFE FOR ME TO GET MY SECOND?

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RARE BLOOD CLOTS? MHRA chief executive Dr June Raine said anyone who has one or more of the below symptoms four days after vaccination should seek urgent medical advice. Shortness of breath

Chest pain

Swollen legs

Persistent stomach pain

Severe headache

Blurred vision

Skin bruising beyond the site of injection Advertisement

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation  which advises ministers on the vaccination roll-out  says anyone who has already had their first jab should still get their second 'irrespective of age'.

This is because the second dose 'will be important for longer lasting protection against Covid', the panel says.

Only the handful of Brits who developed major blood clots occurring with low platelet levels after getting their first dose should avoid their second.

Everyone else should attend their second appointment as normal, regulators insist.

No evidence currently exists to say there is any link between getting AstraZeneca's top-up vaccine and getting potentially deadly blood clots.

But anyone who suffered one of the tell-tale symptoms of the rare complication should still speak to their doctor before receiving their second dose, purely out of caution, advisers say.

Severe headaches and blurred vision that last longer than four days after receiving the vaccine are two warning signs of the brain blood clot linked to AstraZeneca's jab, called CVST.

But it has also been linked to blockages in other veins, which can cause swollen legs, bruising beyond the site of the jab, crippling abdominal or chest pain, and feeling short of breath.

The JCVI insisted the clots 'appear to be an idiosyncratic reaction on first exposure' to AstraZeneca's vaccine.

Officials have not recorded any cases of blood clots after a second dose, with all 79 incidents occurring after the first jab.

Professor Adam Finn, of the JCVI, said facts could change but at the moment there is 'no evidence of a problem after the second dose'.

'At the moment we would be voyaging into an evidence-free zone if we recommend people do not have a second dose,' he added.

The EMA, which polices the safety of drugs used on the continent, spotted 169 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVST) and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), from 34million jabs. CVST occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot. It can lead to a stroke. SVT is the same type of blood clot but it occurs in the digestive system

WHAT ABOUT IF I HAD OTHER SYMPTOMS?

HOW COMMON ARE STANDARD SIDE EFFECTS WITH ASTRAZENECA'S JAB? Very Common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people) tenderness, pain, warmth, itching or bruising where the injection is given

generally feeling unwell

feeling tired (fatigue)

chills or feeling feverish

headache

feeling sick (nausea)

joint pain or muscle ache Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) swelling, redness or a lump at the injection site

fever

being sick (vomiting) or diarrhoea

flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, sore throat, runny nose, cough and chills Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) feeling dizzy

decreased appetite

abdominal pain

enlarged lymph nodes

excessive sweating, itchy skin or rash Source: MHRA Advertisement

Brits who suffered flu-like symptoms after getting the first jab do not need to worry, experts say.

Side effects from vaccines are normal and go away on tend to disappear within 48 hours.

They are a sign they are working, with the side effects a result of the jab prompting the immune system to gear up to fight the virus.

Data shows one in ten recipients of the jab will feel unwell after their initial vaccine, or suffer fatigue and joint pain.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which polices the safety of all the drugs, says headaches are also a very common side effect.

Officials say only vaccinated Britons who are struck down with crippling headaches four days after getting jabbed should seek medical help.

They say the headache may not be relieved with painkillers or feel worse when you lie down or bend over. The agony may also occur alongside blurred vision, vomiting, or speaking difficulties.

CAN I 'MIX AND MATCH' AND GET A SECOND DOSE OF PFIZER OR MODERNA?

Drug regulators have yet to approve a mix-and-match policy for jabs, meaning Brits who were given the AstraZeneca jab must stick with it.

JCVI bosses have no reason to believe letting people receive Pfizer or Moderna's jab the second time around would be dangerous.

Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chair of the advisory panel, told Good Morning Britain the safest thing to do at the moment 'would be to receive the same type.'

He said: 'This is an evidence free zone at the moment because all the trials have been done using the same vaccine.

'There is work undergoing at the moment to use different vaccine types but we just don't have that data and we dont have the safety data on that.'

British scientists launched the world's first trial at mix and matching Covid vaccines earlier this year.

The study of 800 patients will look at the effect of giving someone an initial dose of the Oxford University jab, followed by the Pfizer one, and vice versa.

Scientists will trial other vaccine combinations as more are approved and rolled out across the UK over the course of the year-long research.

Experts believe the 'mix and match' approach could stimulate different parts of the immune system and give better, longer lasting immunity.

FAMILY OF 59-YEAR-OLD SOLICITOR WHO DIED FROM BLOOD CLOT AFTER GETTING AZ'S JAB URGE PEOPLE TO 'KEEP SAVING LIVES' Neil Astles, 59, from Warrington, became the UK's first named victim after passing away on Easter Sunday following 10 days of headaches and loss of vision The sister of a married lawyer who died from a blood clot after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine today joined the legion of politicians and health experts encouraging people to continue taking up the jab and said: 'My brother was just extraordinarily unlucky'. Neil Astles, 59, who lived in a 275,000 detached house in Newton-le-Willows on Merseyside, became the UK's first named victim after passing away last weekend following 10 days of severe headaches and a steady loss of vision. Mr Astles, who married his wife Carole in 1993 and worked as a council solicitor in nearby Warrington, died on Easter Sunday. His sister Dr Alison Astles, a pharmacist at the University of Huddersfield, said her brother was a keen runner, was 'fit and healthy' and had no history of blood clots. But he developed a headache about a week after his vaccination March 17. When his headaches and eyesight worsened, he was rushed to A&E at the Royal Liverpool Hospital by his brother, before being admitted to intensive care, where he died more than a fortnight later. Dr Astles told the Daily Telegraph: 'Despite what has happened to our family, we strongly believe that everyone should go for their first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Emotionally, we are completely and utterly furious. We are suffering. But there's nothing in our minds to be really furious about. My brother was just extraordinarily unlucky.' Advertisement

The tactic could also help Britain deal with supply shortages which has held back the UK's otherwise successful vaccination rollout.

CAN ANYONE CHOOSE WHAT VACCINE THEY GET?

Only healthy under-30s are currently being offered the choice of whether they take AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine.

But younger adults can still opt to take the jab, if they would like.

The MHRA has not placed any legal age-restriction on the vaccine, with the decision made out of an abundance of caution.

Advisers argue because young people are at such low risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid, the benefits of the vaccine are not as clear-cut.

The JCVI says 'the benefits of prompt vaccination with AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine far outweigh the risk of adverse events' over-30s and anyone with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of Covid.

WHAT OTHER JABS ARE AVAILABLE FOR UNDER-30S?

More than 20million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have now been given in the UK, with the jab used as the main weapon in the UK's arsenal.

The roll-out is unlikely to move on to under-30s for several weeks, meaning supplies of other jabs could be saved for younger adults.

Moderna's jab was deployed in Britain for the first time today, with ministers having bought 17million doses  enough for 8.5million people.

The chief scientist behind the US-developed Novavax vaccine, which Britain has secured 60million doses of, has said he expects it to be given the green light this month and rolled out in May.

A separate vaccine made by American pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson, which uses the same type of technology as AstraZeneca's but is administered via a single injection, is slated for a summer rollout. No10 has bought 30million doses.

The UK has also ordered 40million Pfizer doses, enough for 20million people, but the majority of the country's remaining stocks are reserved for second doses.

But, given that AstraZeneca's vaccine is the main driver of the campaign, the roll-out could be slowed if the UK's change of heart on giving the jab to young adults knocks public confidence in 30-50 year olds.

WHAT ARE THE BLOOD CLOTS LINKED TO ASTRAZENECA'S JAB?

European health chiefs ruled that AstraZeneca's jab should come with a warning that, in very rare cases, it may cause potentially deadly blood clots.

The EMA, which polices the safety of drugs used on the continent, spotted 169 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVST) and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), from 34million jabs.

Revealed: How many clots have been seen in each age group, according to the MHRA

CVST occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot. It can lead to a stroke.

SVT is the same type of blood clot but it occurs in the digestive system.

Both the EMA and their UK counterparts said the clots had occurred alongside thrombocytopenia  low levels of blood platelets.

WHAT EXACTLY IS CVST AND SHOULD I BE WORRIED?

CVST is where potentially fatal clots form in the veins that run from the brain.

Unusually, this is occurring with thrombocytopenia  abnormally low levels of blood cells called platelets.

Platelets cause blood to clot, so while not unheard of, it is incredibly rare for people with low levels to develop clots.

The most severe signs of CVST include stroke-like symptoms such as weakness of the face and limbs on one side of the body, seizures, coma and ultimately death.

MATT HANCOCK SAYS UK HAS 'MORE THAN ENOUGH' PFIZER AND MODERNA JABS TO OFFER UNDER-30S Health Secretary Matt Hancock today launched a media blitz to reassure the public over the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine as he insisted the nation's vaccination drive remains on course to offer all UK adults a jab by the end of July. Mr Hancock said a decision by UK health chiefs to rule the AstraZeneca jab should not be given to Britons under the age of 30 as experts continue to investigate its link to rare blood clots showed 'the safety system is working because the regulators can spot even this extremely rare event'. He said 'people can take confidence that we have a system that we are extremely careful on the safety front' but he insisted that 'when you get the call, get the jab'. The Government's vaccine advisory group yesterday ruled that people aged between 18 and 29 should be offered an alternative to AstraZeneca's vaccine. Mr Hancock said the UK has 'more than enough' Pfizer and Moderna jabs to cover all of the people in that age group who are yet to receive a vaccination - approximately 8.5million. He said 'all three vaccines that are in use in the UK are safe and they are safe at all ages' and that there is simply a 'preference for the under-30s, if they want to have the Pfizer of Moderna jab instead then they can'. The comments came after a series of Government figures, opposition politicians and medical experts rushed to shore up confidence in the vaccine programme amid fears the AstraZeneca decision could damage the public's faith in the jab. Boris Johnson tweeted that the British-made vaccine was 'safe' and that the benefits far outweighed the risks for the vast majority of adults, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'looking forward' to getting his second dose. Advertisement

But anyone who has suffered headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, abdominal pain and bruising or pinpoint spots below the vaccination site for four days after a jab should seek medical attention.

HAVE THESE CLOTS BEEN LINKED TO ANY OTHER VACCINES?

No cases of CVST with low platelets have been linked to the Pfizer vaccine in the UK, with just two serious clots reported more widely.

Experts suggest this could be to do with the technology in mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, compared to those using adenoviruses, for example, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

Trials of the latter have shown possible clots, although scientists stressed they were incredibly rare with three reported cases in 4.5million jabs administered.

So far, only the Oxford jab has been linked to possible raised levels of clotting. All vaccines will continue to be monitored.

HOW OFTEN ARE THE CLOTS OCCURRING?

Figures presented by the EMA  which took into account data up until April 4  suggested the clots occur once in every 150,000 jabs. They also said most of the cases were in women under 60.

The MHRA, which plays the same role in the UK, found 79 cases of clots in 20million doses by the end of March. Officials said the risk was around one in every 250,000 doses.

They also insisted the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people  but that the ratio was more 'finely balanced' in younger people, who are slightly more prone to blood clots.

LBC claimed that the MHRA revealed the baseline rate of CVST was between five and 16 cases per million people each year. The MHRA has spotted 44 cases of that blood clot  a rate of two cases per million people every three months.

EMA chiefs said that clots occurred more often than expected, prompting them to say the jabs need to come with the warning that it is a rare side effect.

But it said the committee investigating the link did not conclude that age and gender were clear risk factors for the very rare side effects.

HOW COULD THE JAB BE CAUSING BLOOD CLOTS?

Scientists are exploring several possibilities.

European investigators have put forward one theory that the vaccine triggers an unusual antibody in some rare cases, similar to conditions seen in patients treated with the anticoagulant  commonly known as blood thinner  heparin.

The autoimmune disorder called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) leads to plummeting platelet counts and clotting.

Others are looking at whether the cases  which seem more common in women  are linked to birth control pills.

However, at the moment scientists say there is no definitive evidence.

IF I'M PREGNANT, SHOULD I GET THE VACCINE?

The advice on this has not changed, meaning its recommended that those who are pregnant should not be vaccinated, with some exceptions. This is because the vaccines have not yet been tested in pregnancy.

While there is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine would harm the baby, pregnancy is more likely to lead to thrombosis.

Therefore women should discuss with their healthcare professional whether the benefits of having the vaccine outweigh the risks for them.

I'M 29. WHAT IF THEY ONLY OFFER THE OXFORD VACCINE?

Officials say this will not happen unless you have an underlying medical condition and are prioritised.

In such instances, they say the benefit of having the vaccine far outweighs any issues as you have an equivalent risk from coronavirus as 65 to 70-year-olds.

For healthy under-30s, officials are confident there are sufficient supplies of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines coming on stream to vaccinate all 10million 18 to 29-year-olds in the UK.

I'VE HEARD ASPIRIN CAN STOP BLOOD CLOTTING. SHOULD I TAKE IT BEFORE THE JAB?

No. The risks of an adverse clotting event are extremely low. Taking aspirin or anti-coagulants can increase the risk of bleeding and is not
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has justified the 2013 release order of one of the United States authorities' most wanted drug kingpins.

The said drug kingpin was Rafael Caro Quintero, who walked free after he was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the torture and murder of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985. Camarena was a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent.

At the top of the DEA's Most Wanted list with a $20 million reward for his apprehension, Caro Quintero has since reportedly resumed his role as a violent drug trafficker after his release, according to The Washington Post report.

Lopez Obrador said that the legal appeal that led to the drug kingpin's early release was "justified" as supposedly no verdict has been given against him after 27 years in jail.

The Mexican president justified it despite the Mexico's Supreme Court later ruling it as a mistake, according to an Associated Press report.

"Once he was out, they had to look for him again, because the United States demanded he shouldn't have been released, but legally the appeal was justified," Lopez Obrador said on Wednesday.

Presidential spokesman Jesus Ramirez cleared out the Mexican president's statement, saying that Lopez Obrador just meant that the case was a legal aberrating after the judge had not issued a verdict on Rafael Caro Quintero after 27 years. Ramirez stressed that the Mexican president was not defending the drug lord's release.

RELATED ARTICLE: A Four-Part Docuseries About Enrique "Kiki" Camarena's Short Life

Rafael Caro Quintero and Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena

Rafael Caro Quintero is considered the grandfather of Mexican drug trafficking after establishing a powerful cartel in Sinaloa's northwestern area, CBS News reported.

Mexico's relations with the U.S. were widely affected when the drug kingpin ordered Camarena to be kidnapped, tortured, and killed.

Rafael Caro Quintero was allegedly angry about a raid on "Rancho Bufalo," a 220-acre marijuana plantation in central Mexico, by Mexican authorities at Camarena's demand. Mexican authorities seized the plantation.

On Feb. 7, 1985, Camarena was kidnapped in Guadalajara. A month later, his lifeless body was discovered with signs showing that he was tortured.

American officials accused Mexican authorities of letting Camarena's killers getting away. Rafael Caro Quintero was eventually arrested in Costa Rica.

The ruling left many wondered why it took 24 years to determine that the drug kingpin was improperly tried in a court for a crime that should have been treated as a state offense.

Caro Quintero's sudden release angered the U.S. government and surprised some Mexican prosecutors as they were not notified of the said action until it already happened, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Lopez Obrador earlier publicly announced that the Mexican government is no longer eyeing detaining drug lords. The Mexican president has also ordered the release of Ovidio Guzman, a son of imprisoned drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, to avoid further violence.

U.S. authorities also claimed that Caro Quintero continued to launder drug money during his time in prison. He was also believed to have maintained an alliance with drug trafficking organizations such as the Sinaloa cartel. However, Rafael Caro Quintero insisted that he has stopped being a drug trafficker.

In 2019, Lopez Obrador also said the army would no longer prioritize arresting cartel bosses, noting that there was no more war and wanted peace.

READ MORE: Mexican Marines Gunned Down on Hunt for El Chapo

WATCH: $20 million for Capture of DEA Agent's Killer - From ABC 10 News




IMG Model Ashley Graham continued to enjoy her Los Angeles getaway with her husband of a decade Justin Ervin on Wednesday.

The Nebraska-born, Brooklyn-based 33-year-old dressed her curvaceous 5ft9in figure in a cinched tropical button-up, blue jeans, and a Prada purse.

Ashley - who boasts 18.2M social media followers - called it her 'date night done in style.'

West coast vibes: IMG Model Ashley Graham continued to enjoy her Los Angeles getaway with her husband of a decade Justin Ervin (R) on Wednesday

Earlier that day, Graham Instastoried a snap of their 14-month-old son Isaac Menelik Giovanni sporting a Cars-themed helmet while riding on the Venice Beach bike path.

The body positivity activist originally met the 32-year-old cinematographer - whose last gig was shooting PBS documentary Down a Dark Stairwell - at church back in 2009.

'First of all, oh my gosh, [Justin] got hotter when Isaac was born,' Ashley gushed to ET in February.

'I'm like, "Woo! You change that dirty diaper, you are so fine. Woo! You clean up that mess, thank you." Acts of service is my love language so it has been on fleek. It has been so hot, hot, hot.'

'Prada SS/14': The Nebraska-born, Brooklyn-based 33-year-old dressed her curvaceous 5ft9in figure in a cinched tropical button-up, blue jeans, and a Prada purse

Full-length look: Ashley - who boasts 18.2M social media followers - called it her 'date night done in style'

Graham continued: 'Marry your best friend because that's a really big deal. You want to make sure that you guys like each other. Liking each other is such a big deal, and talking through everything. There should be nothing that is left unsaid. Justin and I always say to each other, "Don't assume."'

The Pretty Big Deal podcaster said that motherhood made her softer and more patient, not only with the world, but herself.

'I am starting to see things through a little kid's eyes and not my own, so that can be hard sometimes,' Ashleyy said.

Weee! Earlier that day, Graham Instastoried a snap of their 14-month-old son Isaac Menelik Giovanni sporting a Cars-themed helmet while riding on the Venice Beach bike path

'Thank you @brooklynnets for the custom merch!' The body postivity activist originally met the 32-year-old cinematographer - whose last gig was shooting PBS documentary Down a Dark Stairwell - at church back in 2009 (pictured March 17)

'You've lived a long life and now you have to see it through such innocent and pure eyes. They just seem different. They're more fun and innocent and beautiful.'

On Tuesday, Graham took a mirror selfie wearing $4K Bottega Veneta purse and $351 Gia Couture x Penille 'Teisbaek' Velcro-strap heels while prepping her next shoot.

The brunette beauty's career as a plus-size model first skyrocketed in 2010 after appearing in a controversial Lane Bryant TV commercial.
Tucson, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - ABCO Energy, Inc. (OTC Pink: ABCE), the Arizona provider of integrated energy solutions, is pleased to announce the addition of the solar asset management business to its portfolio of services and construction business. ABCO manages and repairs systems for its own customers over the past twelve years and has been seeing a tremendous increase in request from customers who have lost their solar installers from the economic ravages of the COVID 19 Pandemic.

ABCO has received calls from commercial project owners in several Western states that have requested ABCO's assistance to revive or maintain their solar assets. Many owners of multimillion dollar projects are scrambling for managers because of the large numbers of bankruptcies that have plagued the solar construction industry. Over many years ABCO has been doing the very business that survival has now allowed them to capitalize on with this new market for ABCO.

Solar asset management companies are growing rapidly all over the industry because many solar assets are reaching midlife and starting to need repairs. Inverters often start failing at ten years and many weather related hazards befall the assets. Wind, hail, lightning and fire have often created a need for intense management and ABCO has been taking on these projects. System removal and replacement for roof repairs and other needs has grown over 400% in the past year for ABCO and large system management and repairs has grown even more.







One of ABCO Energy's assets management projects in Tucson Arizona

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6847/79856_ae9c2bb83436da9a_001full.jpg

The solar industry will see $16 billion of unplanned repairs over the next five years. Annual solar plant operations and maintenance (O&M) costs will double from nearly $4.5 billion in 2019 to over $9 billion in 2024 according to new research from Wood Mackenzie, the 100 year old international energy consulting group. "The O & M Companies that manage these assets will reap the benefits of these repair billings and the recurring annual maintenance revenue," says Mr. Shorey, President of ABCO Energy. ABCO is already growing in this industry segment and the future is bright.

About ABCO Energy

ABCO Energy, Inc. is a commercial and residential installer of Photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, LED lighting solutions and HVAC products and services. ABCO Energy, Inc. is a Nevada corporation, which maintains offices located in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. ABCO is a fully reporting public company trading under the symbol ABCE. Since its inception in 2008, ABCO Energy has taken great pride in delivering quality solar installations and has a reputation for outstanding customer service. These qualities have allowed us to grow the business primarily through referrals, many of those based on actual customer reviews.

Safe Harbor Statement

Note: 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-5 under the Securities Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than the statements of fact, included in this press release may include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. ABCO undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances or to reflect unanticipated events or developments.

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A New Orleans man has been sentenced to more than 21 years in prison for trafficking a 14-year-old girl for sex and using pornographic photos of the minor to advertise dates with her, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.

Jon C. Ballay, 61, previously pleaded guilty to producing images depicting the sexual exploitation of children after authorities found him May 23, 2017, with the girl at the Olde Town Inn in Faubourg Marigny. Authorities said he photographed the girl at multiple New Orleans area hotels in the previous week and used those pictures to advertise her services on the Backpage website. An undercover agent who called Ballay's phone was quoted a price of $300 an hour, the FBI said in a sworn affidavit in court records.

The girl's mother had reported her missing April 26. On May 22, after finding her picture on a Backpage ad, her father notified the FBI.

U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey sentenced Ballay to 262 months in prison. Zainey, whom President George W. Bush nominated to the bench, also ordered Ballay to pay the victim $67,300 in restitution.

Another defendant, Pascal Calogero III, son of former Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Pascal Calogero Jr., was sentenced in 2019 to 10 years, 1 month in prison for conspiring with Ballay to traffic the girl.
Hyderabad, April 8 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday said a person not wearing a mask in public will be fined Rs 1,000 and asked the police strictly enforce mask-on rule.

The Chief Minister, who review Covid situation in the state at a meeting with ministers and top officials, said that wearing of masks should be enforced strictly to contain the spread of the pandemic.

If the people do not wear masks they should be fined Rs 1,000 per person. He wanted the Director General of Police (DGP) to instruct the police department to enforce this mask rule stringently.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, urged the people to follow all the Covid guidelines, wear masks, take all precautions, and be alert to contain the spread of Covid. The CM suggested that people in the crowded places like Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Medchal districts and in corporations and municipalities should be more alert.

The CM participated in the videoconference organised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. He later held a review meeting with the medical and health officials on the situation arising out of the pandemic.

He instructed the officials concerned to increase the Covid tests in view of the surge in cases. He said all the front-line workers should be vaccinated cent percent. The CM wanted the entire process should be completed in a week.

He spoke to DGP M Mahender Reddy, Principal Secretary (Panchayat Raj) Sandeep Sultania, Principal Secretary (municipal administration and urban development) Arvind Kumar, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) commissioner Lokesh Kumar, and Principal Secretary (Transport) Sri Sunil Sharma over phone. The CM instructed that the staff and employees in these departments should be vaccinated cent percent. The CM also instructed that the vaccination progress should be reported to the CMO every day by the department heads concerned.

The CM urged all those who crossed the age limit of 45 years to get vaccinated.

He said collectors and other district level officers should hold a videoconference and launch a special drive for vaccinations. He said to increase the testing, in all the districts RTPCR tests should be conducted in large numbers in the districts. The CM instructed the officials to make RTPCR test kits available.

The CM instructed the medical and health officials to set up test centres in Gadwal, Wanaparthy, Khammam, Nirmal, Mancherial, Kamareddy, Sangareddy, Medak, Jagtial, Pedapalli, Ramagundam, Bhongir, Jangaon, and Vikarabad.
Raipur, April 8 : CRPF commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, who was held captive by the Maoists in Chhattisgarh for over 100 hours after the April 3 gun battle, was released on Friday evening, the CRPF said.

Manhas, a constable of the 210th CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), an elite wing of the CRPF, was safely handed over to the state police and to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

"Our CoBRA commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas has reached our camp safely. He is being sent for medical examination," CRPF's IG, Operations, C.G. Arora told IANS.

Manhas is physically fine, he added.

The trooper had gone missing during the fierce gun battle with over 300 PLGAs ultras in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on April 3 in which 22 security personnel were killed and 31 were injured. Over 1,000 security personnel of the CRPF and Chhattisgarh's District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) took part in the operation. The gun battle took place on Saturday noon near Tekulgudem village under Tarrem police station.

The Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of the outlawed CPI-Maoist on Tuesday announced Manhas was "safe" in their custody and sought an interlocutor appointed to for his release.

As the Ministry of Home Affairs, in close coordination with the Chhattisgar government, was busy in scrutinising the names of likely interlocutors, the ultras released Manhas.
With home prices rising just about everywhere, first-time buyers are set to enter one of the most competitive markets imaginable this spring. Across the country, homes are selling within days and after multiple offers, pricing out buyers of all agesespecially millennials, who've made up the majority of first-timers for the past few years.

No getting around it, things are tough out there. So where are the best cities for stressed-out first-time home buyers to nail a deal in 2021? Realtor.com crunched the numbers to find out.

Bottom line: Competition is expected to heat up in the coming months, so buyers looking for affordable homes in places with plenty of good jobs and ample things to do may need to expand their home search outside large urban meccas like New York and San Francisco, and even the newer real estate darling Austin, TX. Smaller, less-hyped cities could offer more options for first-time buyers, especially as more people can work from home or only go into the office a couple of times a week.

"For a first-time home buyer in this generation, the issue of affordability is front and center, and thats especially true for many millennials who moved to big cities to start and build their careers," says George Ratiu, senior economist at realtor.com. "Between student debt, slow-growing wages, and fast-growing home prices, when the pandemic hit they were still in these large cities but no closer to being able to afford a home."

At the top of our list of best markets for first-time home buyers was Bloomington, IL, where the median list price last month was $160,000less than half of the national median price tag of $370,000 in March. Located within two hours of Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, Bloomington offers plenty of jobs, low commute times, and affordable housing, according to Becky Gerig, a real estate broker at Re/Max Choice.

"Because its in the middle of the state of Illinois, its a great little spot," Gerig says. "For young people, there is a lot of opportunity for jobs."

Big employers in the area include State Farm Insurance and multiple colleges, including Illinois State University. Commute times are also low here.

"We can get from one side of the town to another in 20, 25 minutes," Gerig adds.

To help find other places that could be a good fit, realtor.com looked at nearly 800 cities, all with at least 50,000 residents. We took into account six factors, including home prices compared with local incomes; the percentage of 25- to 34-year-olds living in these places; the number of homes for sale; job opportunities; distance to work; and amenities such as bars and restaurants. To achieve geographic diversification, the list was limited to one city per state.

So where are the best places for newbies to take their first splash into the housing market? Let''s take a look.

These cities offer more affordable home prices

Price is one of the most important factors in choosing a home, but as a group, millennials havent exactly been able to bank much cash over the past decade or so. The pandemic-fueled recession is the second economic crisis many in this age group have lived through, and crippling student loan debt hasn't helped matters. According to a recent realtor.com survey, 44% of potential first-time home buyers say they havent saved enough for a down payment.

"Millennials' experience with recessions has taught them that economic success isn't guaranteed and sometimes living below your means makes sense," says Ali Wolf, chief economist at housing research firm Zonda.

All of the top 10 markets had median home prices below the national median price of $370,000. Kalamazoo, MI, has the lowest median home price, at $155,000, while Taylorsville, UT, had the highest, at $350,000.

These cities have plenty of young people and things to do

Young adults, of course, tend to prefer to be around other people their age. Nine of the top 10 cities on this list are home to at least one four-year college or university, which is likely part of the reason why residents in these places tend to be younger than the country overall.

Savannah, GA, has the largest share of adults aged 25-to-34, making up 16.9% of the citys total population. It has a thriving nightlife scene with a mix of live music venues, bars, and dance clubs.

Only two places on this list (Rapid City, SD, and Harrisonburg, VA) had a lower share of younger adults than the national estimate. However, what Rapid City and Harrisonburg lack in their share of younger Americans, they make up for with lower unemployment, more bars and restaurants, and shorter commute times than the rest of the country. Harrisonburg also has more homes for sale, while Rapid City offers more affordable listing prices.

These places have more homes to choose from

A big part of the reason home prices are so high these days is because there arent enough properties on the market for everyone who wants them. Thats leading to bidding wars, and savvy buyers are listing their homes for higher pricessometimes way higherthan they would have just a few months ago.

Several of these markets have a higher proportion of home listings than some of the inventory-squeezed cities. That provides more of an opportunity for first-time buyers to close the deal on a home they can actually afford.

Schenectady, NY, with a median home price of $210,000, tops the inventory list with nearly 18 listings per 1,000 households. Iowa City, IA, offers 13.3 listings per 1,000 households, followed by Savannah, GA, at 13.1 listings per 1,000 households. To be clear, this still doesn't mean there are a ton of homes on the market in these places. (For context, the historical national average number of homes per 1,000 households had been 17 since the year 2000.)

The housing market is expected to remain hot this year

No matter how you slice it, the housing market is expected to remain very heated for the foreseeable future. That's because even as more sellers are vaccinated and feel comfortable listing their homes, housing experts still don't expect enough listings to go up for sale to meet demand.

That's particularly difficult for first-time buyers who can't use the equity in their current house to help pay for their next one. These buyers also often don't have the cash to waive the inspections and contingencies that many sellers are requesting. (In case it needs to be said: It's never a good idea to waive contingencies.)

"Competition for housing is fierce," Zonda's Wolf says. "First-time buyers have to figure out a way to make their bid stand out when competing with all-cash buyers or older buyers bringing a large down payment to the table."

The post These Are the Best Cities for First-Time Home Buyers in 2021 appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Michigan's fourth wave of coronavirus is reaching crisis levels with hospitals filling up and COVID-19 cases doubling over the past week.

It's prompted some experts to suggest the state should receive a 'surge' of vaccines far greater than the allotments it is currently getting.

Doubling the number of doses sent to the Great Lakes state weekly could prevent up to 1,200 COVID-19 deaths, one University of California , Berkeley model suggests.

But so far, the Biden administration is sticking to its strategy of allocating Covid vaccine doses based mostly on states' populations, rather than based upon the more complex calculus of the urgency of states' Covid infection, hospitalization and death trends.

When asked about altering the federal government's vaccine allocation plan during a Wednesday press briefing, senior White House Covid adviser Andy Slavitt said: 'By and large, we are still allocating vaccines based upon population.'

He added that 'nothing is off the table,' and said that the federal government is not 'sitting back and managing this pandemic and the vaccination program according to some formula.'

Both Slavitt and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director insisted that they are in contact with states, including Michigan, to offer support via testing capacity and personnel, but did not signal any immediate intent to shift the allocation strategy, despite some experts' suggestions that a change is in order.

'I would be surging a lot of vaccines to Michigan right now,' Dr Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health told Stat News.

Meanwhile, states will get a smaller supply of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine in the coming weeks after a disastrous error at a contract plant ruined 15 million doses, and officials in Washington state claim they will get fewer doses than they were told to expect next week.

Doubling the number of doses sent to the Great Lakes state weekly could prevent up to 1,200 COVID-19 deaths (green), one University of California, Berkeley model suggests. Combining a vaccine surge supply and putting reopenings on pause could prevent 2,500 deaths (orange)

Senior White House Covid adviser Andy Slavitt said: 'By and large, we are still allocating vaccines based upon population,' rather than adjusting allocations to account for case surges like Michigan's

A Baltimore, Maryland facility making Johnson & Johnson's vaccine mixed up an ingredient for it with one intended for the AstraZeneca vaccine (which was also being manufactured there at the time), ruining a batch of 15 million doses of the J&J shot.

Comments about the decreased supply Wednesday come as state health officials prepare to open vaccine eligibility on April 15 to everyone age 16 and over, The Seattle Times reported.

Taken together, the series of fumbles raise questions about how well federal U.S. officials are responding in real-time to the constant changes of the pandemic.

On the whole, the U.S. is on track for half of American adults to have had at least a first dose by the weekend.

To date, the U.S. has administered nearly 171.5 million doses, covering a third of Americans with one or more doses and fully vaccinating 26.5 percent of Americans.

At the pace of about three million shots given on an average day, the vaccination campaign is rolling full steam-ahead on the national level.

Michigan continues to lead the country in COVID-19 cases, recording 9,369 on Wednesday, which is a 101% increase from two weeks ago

A recent model from Michigan Medicine predicts that as early as April 12, a recored 4,522 Michiganders could be hospitalized with COVID-19

And it is likely helping to keep surges at bay in much of the nation, as states reopen.

But the surge is not being kept at bay in Michigan.

The state continues to lead the country in COVID-19 cases, recording 9,369 on Wednesday - the highest total in the U.S. and a 101 percent increase from two weeks ago.

The Great Lake State also leads the nation in the number of inpatient hospital and ICU beds being used to treat coronavirus patients.

Currently, 11.9 percent of inpatient beds are full, which marks a more than 200 percent increase since late February.

Michigan Live reported that the state is currently treating 3,595 patients with COVID-19, a 32 percent increase from one week ago and a 71 percent increase from one month month ago.

'You know, we're talking to our hospitals every single day just to check in, see what the rates are, see if they're getting concerned,' Whitmer said on Wednesday, according to Michigan Live.

'At this juncture...we do have hospitalizations that have gone up but they're nothing like what we saw last spring, when we were so worried about our health system collapsing.'

However, a recent model from Michigan Medicine predicts that as early as April 12, 4,522 Michiganders could be hospitalized with COVID-19, reported Michigan Live.

That would be a record high figure, even higher than the 4,365 patients hospitalized during the peak of the April 2020 surge.

Next week, the state is slated to get more than 501,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines - inclusive of first and second doses of Pfizer's and Moderna's vaccines as well as a shipment of Johnson & Johnson's single-dose shot.

Over the course of the rollout, Michigan has been allocated about 68,317 doses per 100,000 people, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.

That's considerably fewer than states like Oklahoma, South Dakota and Connecticut, which are each receiving more than 70,000 doses per 100,000 people.

And more than 90,000 doses have been delivered to Alaska per 100,000 residents.

Yet Michigan is seeing 3.5 times more new COVID-19 cases per its population compared to South Dakota.

An unknown factor that could be at play is the vaccine dose orders submitted to the federal government by states.

Simply put, if a state like Michigan ordered fewer doses per 100,000 people than a state like South Dakota, the federal government will not and is not obligated to send more than the number of doses specified in the order.

White House officials however have not signaled any intention of changing the allocation formula on this end to shift away from a population basis any time soon.

'Clearly we will get to a place where more targeted strategies will work, but right now I would commit to you that we're doing both,' said Slavitt during a Wednesday White House press briefing.

Shipping a 'vaccine surge' to Michigan would likely prevent thousands of Covid case, hospitalizations and deaths, according to modeling by Joshua Schwab, a researchers at UC Berkeley.

His model suggests that doubling the number of vaccine doses sent to Michigan in the coming weeks could reduce hospitalizations by about 10,000 and spare about 1,200 lives.

Combining a vaccine surge with a 'pause' on Michigan's reopening could cut hospital admissions by 23,000 and deaths by 2,500 between April 3 to July 1, he estimates.

But Michigan Governor Whitmer does not appear to have any intent to roll back her state's reopening, and the federal government isn't promising any more vaccine doses.

It's not clear whether Michigan's vaccine supply has been cut since the 15 million Johnson & Johnson doses were ruined at the disastrous Emergent BioSolutions incident.

But at least one state has seen its supply be curbed.

Washington health officials had expected the state to receive at least 600,000 doses of vaccine through state and federal programs for each week in April, but now Washington state expects deliveries of at least 500,000 doses next week.

The federal government maintains the expected supply boost will come, but the timeline is not yet clear.

'The three-week forecast is a little bit lower than we hoped for,' said SheAnne Allen, the COVID-19 vaccine director for the Washington State Department of Health. 'These are estimates, they do change '

About 15 million doses were ruined after employees for a contract manufacturer to Johnson & Johnson mixed ingredients incorrectly.

The problem was discovered before any bad doses were shipped and it was widely reported in new outlets last week.

Next week, about 1.3 million people will join an estimated five million Washingtonians already eligible for vaccine.

With more people becoming eligible, State Health Secretary Dr Umair Shah said he hoped that vaccine supply would rise in May, if not later in April 'so we can match that demand.'
A massive stash of allegedly stolen baby formula and vitamins worth $50,000 has been uncovered at a suburban Melbourne home.

Two men and a woman were arrested after police executed search warrants on homes in inner-city Abbotsford and Hawthorn East on Tuesday morning.

Officers unearthed a large haul of baby formula and vitamins at a Victoria Street home Abbotsford.

A large quantity of cash and $10,000 worth of wine was also seized at the home.

Police uncovered a massive stash of baby formula,, vitamins, wine and cash during a search warrant of a inner-city Melbourne home (stock image)

A second home in Montrose Street, Hawthorn East eight kilometres away was also searched.

A South Melbourne man 37, was arrested and charged with seven counts of theft and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

The allegedly stolen stash worth at least $60,000 was unearthed at a home in Victoria Street (pictured) in Abbotsford

He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

A man, 44, and a woman, 34, both from Hawthorn East were also arrested but have been released, pending summons.

Police investigations are ongoing.
But investigations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Drug Administration and the Florida Department of Health couldnt determine with certainty what role, if any, his COVID vaccine played, according to Darren Caprara, director of operations for the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department. There isnt enough evidence to rule out or confirm that the vaccine was a contributing factor, a medical examiners report said.
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Australia's sexual harassment laws will be dramatically toughened up under a series of changes that will make it easier to fire offenders.

Scott Morrison will change the Fair Work Act to categorise harassment as serious misconduct and clarify that an employee can be terminated for harassment offences such as making unwanted sexual advances or suggestive comments or jokes.

It means that what once may have been considered innocent workplace flirting could be a sackable offence if proved to be harassment.

Scott Morrison will move to toughen up sexual harassment laws with a series of changes that will make it easier to fire offenders

The prime minister also wants to include sexual harassment in anti-bullying orders which allow employees to request to work at a different place or time to a bullying boss or colleague.

The government will also change the Human Rights Act to extend the time victims have to make sexual harassment complaints from six months to two years.

Attorney-general Michaelia Cash said the new rules will bring clarity for employers.

'So we are going to ensure they know... that if you want, if sexual harassment is occurring in the workplace and it is proven, you can terminate a person for that,' she told reports on Thursday.

'We will amend the definition of 'serious misconduct' in the Fair Work regulations to include sexual harassment.

'We will also clarify that sexual harassment can be a ground or a valid reason for dismissal.

'This will give employers the certainty they need to take action, but what it also says to employees and victims of sexual harassment is there are consequences for this action in the workplace,' Senator Cash said.

Also under the changes - which the prime minster wants to pass parliament by July with bi-partisan support - MPs and judges will no longer be exempt from the Sex Discrimination Act, meaning they can be subject to discrimination complaints.

Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie tried to make that change in March but the government shut her down.

The changes come in response to the 2018 Respect@Work Report by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.

Attorney-general Michaelia Cash (pictured) said the new rules will bring clarity for employers

Mr Morrison said his government has agreed in whole, in part or in principle to all 55 recommendations.

'Sexual harassment is unacceptable,' he told reporters on Thursday.

'It's not only immoral and despicable and even criminal, but particularly in the context of the Respect@Work report it denies Australians, especially women, not just their personal security but their economic security by not being safe at work.'

'Everyone has a right to be safe at work. Sexual harassment must be prohibited in the work place,' he added.

Mr Morrison described the report, which has been sitting on his desk for year, as a 'game changer.'

'It is changing the very narrative that will drive the appropriate actions needed right across governments and across our society.

'We believe our response a road map for respect, will do the same thing. It is about creating a culture of respectful behaviour in Australian work places,' he said.

The government has been under pressure to take action on harassment after former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleged in March she was raped in Parliament House in 2019.

Senator Cash said another aim is to change the way Australians speak about women in daily conversation.

She said phrases like 'don't chuck like a girl' should be stamped out.

'That was one of the ones where growing up people may have said that, but we now know it has connotations. Do not say it,' she said.

Mr Morrison urged Aussies from all walks of life to talk about what is acceptable to say.

'I was recently at a game and there was an older couple sitting next to me watching the game. I heard something the husband said to the wife about what she had said, and he said, ''We can't say that anymore.'' I went, ''That's what we were talking about'' it wasn't angry, it wasn't dismissive, it wasn't  it was respectful, it was positive,' he said.

'I think that's the sort of conversation that we have to have in our relationships, in our communities, in our homes, in our clubs, in our churches, wherever you happen to be. We've just got to have these conversations and people need to understand in our own workplaces what is OK, what's not OK.'


Wont you be my neighbor? is a famous song from Mister Rogers Neighborhood, a popular childrens television show.

The show, broadcast for 31 years ending in 2001, sought to teach American children the importance of kindness and understanding towards others. The idea was that strong communities need strong relationships between the people in them.

But fewer and fewer Americans seem to know their neighbors and that may be eroding Americas communities.

Marc Dunkelman wrote a book called The Vanishing Neighbor. In it, he examined how American communities have changed over time.

Dunkelman said most Americans have three levels of relationships: The inner circle includes family and close friends. The middle circle is more casual relationships. People in this circle include neighbors and people in community groups. The outer circle includes people who live far away but share a common interest. Today, people in outer circles are easily found through social media and other forms of technology.



In his book, Dunkelman argued that people spend most of their time and attention on the inner and outer circles. But, he said the middle-circle is necessary to strengthening local communities. Relationships with neighbors are important for debate, hearing different ideas and finding compromise.

Brad Birzer is a professor of history at Hillsdale College in Michigan. He said Americans are now more connected with national communities than with local communities.

We used to think of the community good as a local thing, and now we tend to think of it as the whole country, he said.

Americans used to have more middle-circle relationships. Face-to-face interaction was unavoidable without cell phones or the internet. People also felt more of an obligation to join community organizations.

Dunkelman argues that modern life has made middle-circle relationships less important. He said globalization, education and more women in the workforce have resulted in fewer middle-circle interactions. He said the weakening of communities has led to political divisions in America.



Americans now have less interaction with others who hold different political opinions. Less interaction with people who voted for the opposite party means you begin to really be alienated from people who voted for the other side, Dunkelman said.

There are some good results from this change in personal interaction, however. It has become harder for hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan to organize at the local level. Doctors and health experts all over the world have been able to collaborate to deal with the coronavirus health crisis.

However, Americans may be losing what it means to be a good neighbor, as Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers Neighborhood taught.

Today, societys problems like homelessness or poverty are not seen as local problems to solve, but national problems.

Doing good for a neighbor is healthy not just for our neighbor, but for ourselves as well, Dunkelman said. Learning how to be a good citizen can be lost, he said, when we defer the problem to somebody else.

Im Caty Weaver.

Dora Mekouar reported this story for Voice of America. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter Jr. was the editor.

________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

erode- v. to gradually destroy

casual- adj. not formal; having some interest but not a lot ; not serious

unavoidable- n. not able to be prevented or avoided

obligation- n. something that you must do because of a law, rule, promise, etc

division- n. a situation in which different groups, countries, etc., have different opinions, beliefs, or ways of life that separate them from each other

alienate- v. - to cause (someone) to feel that she or he no longer belongs in a particular group, society, etc.

defer v. to permit someone else to decide or choose something
Rating agencies Icra, Fitch and its domestic affiliate India Ratings (Ind-Ra), said today that the recent spike in Covid-19 cases and associated lockdowns, though localised, could adversely impact non-banking companies (NBFCs). It could also act as a dampener for the securitisation market, affecting fund-raising for in the near term and may delay recovery in the sector.

India's non-bank financial institutions (NBFI) face renewed asset quality and liquidity risks amid a second wave of infections. This may postpone the recovery in the sector, according to Fitch Ratings.

The challenges are likely to increase if recent restrictions to contain the pandemic are expanded or prolonged, leading to greater economic and operational disruption. Expanded curbs could derail the fragile recovery in India's NBFC sector.

Ind-Ra said spike in cases and curbs could disrupt supply chains, foreign portfolio investments and domestic credit markets. Various states in the country have taken steps including curbs like curfews and weekday activity restrictions till end of April 2021 with hope to contain spread. The economic impact of these curbs will depend on their duration and severity.

Amid a cautious financial system, the condition was improving, allowing low rated issuers to access capital though at a significantly high cost. Some of these gains could reverse and risk aversion could increase.

India Ratings said a conducive financing option is necessary, and volatile capital market condition impinges on such propositions. However, the enormous banking system liquidity and proactiveness from the Reserve Bank of India will alleviate the risk of a market failure.

Regulators appear keenly aware of the credit and liquidity implications of any broad, extended movement curbs.

Icra said and housing companies (HFCs) securitised loans worth Rs 40,000 crore in Q4 FY2021, similar to volumes seen in Q4 FY2020. The securitisation volumes for FY2021 were Rs 85,00090,000 crore, of which volumes in Q4 itself contributed nearly 45 per cent. The annual securitisation volumes may increase by 40-50 per cent in FY22 compared to FY2021.

The rising Covid-19 cases may again create uncertainty among the investors. An unabated increase in the Covid cases is likely to bring about fears of harsher lockdowns. It could impact the asset quality of retail loans especially for unsecured loans such as in the microfinance sector. This in turn would impact the fund-raising ability of the and HFCs through securitisation of their assets, said Abhishek Dafria, Vice President and Head-Structured Ratings, at Icra.
Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth, right, speaks while President Donald Trump, center, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), second from right, and others listen, at at Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha, Wis., on Sept. 1, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Endorses Sen. Ron Johnson, Encourages Him to Run for 3rd Term

Former President Donald Trump gave an enthusiastic endorsement of Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) Thursday, calling on him to run for a third term in the Senate. The Wisconsin senator has not made his decision public yet.

Even though he has not yet announced that he is running, and I certainly hope he does, I am giving my Complete and Total Endorsement to Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Trump said in a statement released by his political action committee, Save America.

He is brave, he is bold, he loves our Country, our Military, and our Vets, Trump said. He will protect our Second Amendment and everything else we stand for. It is the kind of courage we need in the U.S. Senate. He has no idea how popular he is. Run, Ron, Run!

Johnson has not formally announced his intentions for the next election cycle. The Senators office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trumps endorsement or his plans.

Johnson has been a backer of the America First movement and a staunch Trump ally. He was one of the senators that sought to investigate the Nov. 3 election results and the many irregularities that occurred in key states during the counting of ballots.

In a January press statement, Johnson said, There are so many irregularities here. There are so many allegations that need a full investigation. Thats really why I signed on Ted Cruzs effort. Lets at least do a 10-day emergency investigation. Lets organize this, lets lay it out for the American public.

Two Democrats plan to challenge Johnson during the primary if he decides to run for the Wisconsin senate seatAlex Lasry, on leave from his executive job with the Milwaukee Bucks, and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson.

Ron Johnson has been Donald Trumps most trusted lackey in the U.S. Senate, Lasry wrote of the endorsement on Twitter. Its no surprise that Trump is supporting him for reelection. We need a Senator who will work for Wisconsinites, not for his political allies.

Meanwhile, Nelson wrote in response to Trumps support, Ron Johnson spent four years begging for Trumps approval, from lying about COVID to flying to Russia for 4th of July, to helping him incite the Capitol insurrection. So Congrats, @SenRonJohnson, youve got yourself a pat on the head from the worst president.

While Nelsons comments accuse Trump of insurrection, the former president was acquitted of that charge during an impeachment trial in February. Johnson condemned the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol and has been calling for a more independent investigation into the incident than the congressional effort put forth by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Johnson sent letters in late January to the current and former Sergeants at Arms of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate seeking information about the security planning done prior to the Electoral College certification on Jan. 6.

The breach of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, was totally unacceptable. My sincere condolences to the loved ones of those who died, Johnson wrote in the letter. The American public has the right to know exactly what happened, what actions were and were not taken, and what planning and discussions occurred prior to the breach.
The Portland Trail Blazers and star Damian Lillard are teaming up to promote inclusivity and access to playgrounds in the state of Oregon.

On Tuesday, the team and Moda Health announced theyre building an all-inclusive playground on the riverfront city of Astoria to promote active, healthy lifestyles for children in the community through the Moda Assist Program. Astoria has been selected to receive $25,000 to build an all-abilities playground.

Were thrilled to continue working with our great partners at Moda Health on such an important initiative, Chris McGowan, President and CEO of the Blazers and Rose Quarter, said in a statement. The Moda Assist Program has made a big positive impact on many towns throughout Oregon and were looking forward to continuing the tradition for many years to come.

The six-time All Star Lillard has given back to the community and helped others during his time in Portland. The star guard serves as Ambassador for the Moda Assist Program, which donates $20 to the Blazers Foundation for every assist made by the team this year. The Blazers currently have 1,019 assists on the year, equaling at least $20,380 so far.

The Moda Assist program has provided funding for all-abilities playgrounds in Baker City, Redmond, La Grande, Portland, Medford, Hermiston, Baker City and St. Helens.

-- Aron Yohannes

ayohannes@oregonian.com; @aronyohannes
Abuja  The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied ever detaining and torturing President Muhammadu Buhari's late official driver, Sa'idu Afaka, to death.

LEADERSHIP recall that Afaka had died on Tuesday at the Aso Rock clinic after what the presidency called prolonged illness.

DSS in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, said: "the Department of State Services (DSS) denies the misleading news by Saharareporters that it tortured Sa'idu Afaka, the president's official driver to death.

"While the said driver was never arrested or detained by the Service, it is a known fact that it does not torture suspects. Its suspect handling method is usually in compliance with the tenets of criminal justice administration system and democracy."

The statement further added that: "it may be recalled that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, had on 6th April, 2021 announced the passing of Afaka after a prolonged illness as well as the condolences of the president to his family. The public should, therefore, disregard the fake news spewed by the online platform."

Online news platform, SaharaReporters, had reported how the late driver perpetrated fraud by making the president sign some documents.

According to the report, though the details of the deal are still sketchy, the whole affair was hushed up by the presidency, which did not want another scandal in the press.
The world can't stop talking about Khloe Kardashian's recently leaked unedited and unfiltered bikini photo.

And Good American ambassador Tammy Hembrow appeared to take a swipe at her boss this week, when she shared a series of seemingly untouched body shots.

The social media queen flaunted her toned midriff, her famously pert derriere and her toned thighs in a pair of tiny white gym shorts and a T-shirt knotted at the waist.

Did Tammy just take a swipe at Khloe Kardashian? Good American ambassador Hembrow, left, shared a series of unfiltered photos showcasing her sensational curves amid fallout for the reality star's unretouched bikini shot, right

Tammy ensured fans she was not using a filter as she worked all her angles in the series of attention-grabbing photos.

'Working on me, 4 me,' Tammy wrote.

Khloe launched her clothing line Good American with co-founder Emma Grede in 2016.

Tammy has starred in several campaigns for the brand, and even featured on the website as part of the 'Good' squad.

Meanwhile, Khloe's legal team were scrambling to scrub a leaked image of her in a bikini which was shared online earlier this week.

Natural curves: The social media queen flaunted her toned midriff, her famously pert derriere and her high toned upper thighs in a pair of tiny white gym shorts and a T-shirt knotted at the waist

No filter! Tammy ensured fans she was not using a filter as she worked all her angles in the series of attention-grabbing photos

The unretouched photo looked worlds away from the highly curated image the Kardashian clan has become known for in the past decade.

The photo gained detractors and supporters with the regular brigade of commentators upset over filtered images.

Meanwhile, Tammy silenced naysayers last week, shutting down rumours she underwent a Brazilian butt lift to achieve her famously toned derriere.

Good American! Khloe launched her clothing line Good American with co-founder Emma Grede in 2016. Tammy has starred in several campaigns for the brand, and even featured on the line's website as part of the 'Good' squad

She proved her curves were 'built, not bought' by documenting her fitness journey over the years in before-and-after photos on Instagram.

Posing in skimpy briefs in a trio of images, Tammy told fans it was definitely possible to build muscle by training hard in the gym and eating well.

'Three different stages in my fitness journey over the years. Is it possible to build a booty in the gym? Yes it is, and don't let anyone tell you different!' she wrote.

Natural: Meanwhile, Tammy silenced naysayers last week, shutting down rumours she underwent a Brazilian butt lift to achieve her famously toned derriere

'Work hard, fuel your body with lots of good food, and you really can make huge changes,' she added, tagging her health and fitness app.

The blonde bombshell has previously said she 'hates' it when people falsely accuse her of having undergone a Brazilian butt lift.

She admitted during an interview with Studio 10 in December 2019: 'I hate when people accuse me of doing that.

'I take such offence to it because I worked so hard and it makes me annoyed.'
An ice jam on the Buckland River has sent water over the village of the Buckland in Northwest Alaska. Buckland, a village of about 400 residents, is 75 air miles southeast of Kotzebue. Photo courtesy of Charles Esmailka
Will AI Identify Breast Cancer Better Than Radiologists in Actual Clinical Screening?

A research team at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden will assess the performance of AI startup Lunit's breast cancer AI software as an independent mammography reader in screening

in will assess the performance of AI startup Lunit's breast cancer AI software as an independent mammography reader in screening The prospective study marks first of its kind, aiming to screen 55,000 women with mammography at Capio Sankt Gorans Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden

SEOUL, South Korea, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lunit, a leading medical AI startup, today announced that it will participate in the new study conducted by the research team of Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. According to Lunit, this research is the first prospective study in Europe to validate the performance of AI in an actual clinical trial of screening mammography.

Dr. Fredrik Strand and his research team at Karolinska Institutet will assess the performance of Lunit INSIGHT MMG combined with radiologists in a true screening population, compared to the "double-reading" standard-of-care in Europe, in which two radiologists assess screening mammograms. Lunit INSIGHT MMG is an AI software developed by Lunit to detect breast cancer in mammography images. It is CE marked and currently commercially available in Europe.

"There have been multiple retrospective studies to validate AI performance, but there has not been any prospective studies to assess AI's clinical utility in an actual clinical setting," said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. "Documentational processes such as licensing and regulatory approvals for an AI solution are mandatory, but assessing the actual effectiveness of its performance in clinical trials is of vital importance. We look forward to finding a meaningful result to bring deeper understanding of our AI solution."

The target volume of the study includes 55,000 patients, in collaboration with Capio Sankt Gorans Hospital of Sweden. It is one of the largest screening centers in Sweden with a high cancer detection rate. The expected timeline for the study is two years. Anders Bystrom, head of Radiology at the hospital, is intrigued: "We are truly looking forward to understanding whether AI can make our screening process even more efficient"

Fredrik Strand, principal investigator at the Department of Oncology-Pathology at Karolinska Institutet and a radiologist at Karolinska University Hospital explained "We were impressed by the results of Lunit INSIGHT MMG in our retrospective trials. It will be interesting to see how it plays out in a clinical setting."

Last year, Dr. Strand's research team conducted the first independent comparison of three commercialized AI to identify breast cancer. Among them, Lunit's algorithm showed the best accuracy with around 15 percentage points higher sensitivity compared to the other two algorithms, and also surpassed the sensitivity of one of two radiologists. The study was published in JAMA Oncology.

In April, Dr. Strand will hold an online webinar featuring the findings on the previous studies with Lunit INSIGHT MMG and introduction of the newly initiated prospective study. Details and pre-registration can be found here .

Media contact

Yunyoung Noh, yynoh@lunit.io

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1483581/DrFredrik.jpg
SEOUL, South Korea, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics announced that premium LG smartphones currently in use will receive up to three iterations of Android operating system upgrades.

This promise comes on the heels of Monday's announcement that LG will be exiting the mobile business by the end of July. The three OS upgrade commitment applies to LG premium phones released in 2019 and later (G series, V series, VELVET and Wing), while certain 2020 models such as LG Stylo and K series smartphones will receive two OS upgrades. (Future upgrades will depend on Google's distribution schedule, carrier requirements, as well as other factors such as device performance and compatibility.)

LG will continue to manufacture phones through the second quarter to meet contractual obligations to carriers and partners. This means customers can still purchase LG mobile phones currently in inventory. Service support and security software updates will continue to be provided for a period of time for certain devices.

About LG Electronics Inc.

LG Electronics is a global innovator in technology and consumer electronics with a presence in almost every country and an international workforce of more than 75,000. LG's five companies  Home Appliance & Air Solution, Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Vehicle component Solutions and Business Solutions  combined for global sales of over USD 56 billion in 2020. LG is a leading manufacturer of consumer and commercial products ranging from TVs, home appliances, air solutions, mobile devices, monitors, service robots, automotive components and its premium LG SIGNATURE and intelligent LG ThinQ brands are familiar names world over. Visit www.LGnewsroom.com for the latest news.

SOURCE LG Electronics USA
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One of Britain's richest men has been found stabbed to death in his country mansion, it was revealed today.

Hotelier Sir Richard Lexington Sutton, 83, was attacked inside his 2million home in north Dorset, last night.

The Baronet is estimated to be worth 301million. In total he and his family own close to 7,000 acres of land across the UK - more than double the amount owned by the Ministry of Defence.

A woman, thought to be his partner, named locally as Anne Schreiber, is also believed to have suffered knife injuries in the attack at the home, named Moorhill.

The female victim, who is aged in her 60s, was airlifted to the Southmead Hospital in Bristol. Her condition was today described as 'critical'.

Sir Richard - dubbed an 'old English gentry land owner' - recently ranked at number 435 on the Sunday Times Rich List and owned the five-star Sheraton Grand on London's prestigious Park Lane and the luxury Athenaeum in Piccadilly.

He also owned other hotels in Bath, Cheltenham and Windsor, and had farming and property businesses.

The millionaire landowner, who is divorced from first wife Italian Fiamma Sutton, has two children, son, David, 61, and daughter, Caroline, 55, as well as five grandchildren.

Ms Schreiber is believed to have three children, two daughters and one son.

Last night police arrested a 34-year-old man, known to Sir Richard, on suspicion of murder.

Detectives had earlier tracked a Range Rover more than 100 miles across four different counties to Hammersmith in London, where they made the arrest.

Pictures of a car accident in Chiswick, London, showed a Range Rover driver being carried away in a stretcher after he was found to have received 'a number of serious self-inflicted injuries'.

The man was pulled from the vehicle after suffering five stab wounds, according to an eyewitness.

He received medical treatment for more than an hour, by police with a defibrillator to begin with before paramedics took over.

The motorist was eventually put on a stretcher with an oxygen mask and taken to hospital in an ambulance.

A police statement said: 'At approximately 22.30pm on Wednesday, 7 April, police stopped a vehicle in Chiswick High Road. When they approached the vehicle, officers discovered that the lone male occupant had sustained a number of serious self-inflicted injuries.

'First aid was commenced immediately and the London Ambulance Service were called. The male was taken to a west London hospital. His injuries have been assessed as non-life threatening.'

Hotelier Sir Richard Lexington Sutton (pictured), 83, was found stabbed to death inside his 2million home in north Dorset, last night

A woman, thought to be his partner, named locally as Anne Schreiber (pictured), is also believed to have suffered knife injuries in the attack at the home, named Moorhill

The millionaire landowner, who is divorced from first wife Italian Fiamma Sutton, has two children, son, David, 61, and daughter, Caroline, 55, (pictured) as well as five grandchildren

Police rushed to the scene after receiving a call from a member of the public concerned for the welfare of the occupants of the house. Pictured: Police at the 2million property earlier today

Found: Knife, shoes, jeans and a passport on the ground at the scene of the crash

Sir Richard's partner, named locally as Ms Schreiber (pictured), is believed to have three children, two daughters and one son. She owns and runs The London Road clinic in Sherborne, Dorset, an exclusive clinic with services such as osteopathy, physiotherapy and counselling (Ms Schreiber performing a treatment, pictured)

Police gurad the 2million property. Sir Richard, 83, who owns twice as much land as the Ministry of Defence - is estimated to be worth 301million

Last night police arrested a 34-year-old man, known to Sir Richard, on suspicion of murder. Pictured: A map showing how police tracked the suspect from Dorset to London last night

Police attended an accident involving a Range Rover (pictured) in Chiswick yesterday evening. The vehicle is seen with severe damage

The Ranger Rover had been tailed by two marked police 4x4 cars and an unmarked BMW X5 as it travelled along the Chiswick High Road in west London at about 10.45pm last night. Pictured: A car crash involving a Range Rover in London

A man was stretchered into an ambulance after the crash in west London yesterday

Pictures of a car accident in Chiswick, London, showed a Range Rover driver being carried away in a stretcher after he was found to have suffered 'a number of serious self-inflicted injuries'

Sir Richard is the owner of the luxurious five-star Sheraton Grand (pictured) in London's prestigious Park Lane

Sir Richard also owned the luxury Athenaeum Hotel and Spa on London's Piccadilly Road

The Ranger Rover was tailed by two marked police 4x4 cars and an unmarked BMW X5 as it travelled along the Chiswick High Road in west London at about 10.45pm last night.

One of the Metropolitan Police 4x4s appeared to have clipped the back of the Range Rover as the X5 pulled in front of it to perform a hard stop.

The Metropolitan Police operation involved armed police, police dog handlers and the force helicopter.

An eyewitness told MailOnline this evening: 'I counted about 17 police cars and two ambulances. The whole street was bathed in flashing blue lights.

'There had been two or three large bangs, which drew me to the window.

'I saw what looked to be a Range Rover that had come to a stop between two police 4x4s and a BMW X5.

'The police swarmed around the Range Rover and the driver was brought out and laid out on the road.

WHO IS MILLIONAIRE HOTELIER SIR RICHARD SUTTON - AND HOW MUCH IS HIS FAMILY WORTH? Hotelier Sir Richard Lexington Sutton, 83 - who owns twice as much land as the Ministry of Defence - is estimated to be worth 301million. He is a baronet, a hereditary honour awarded by the monarch. It is the lowest-ranking hereditary title, but baronets are able to use the prefix 'sir. The Sutton Baronetcy of Norwood Park in the County of Nottingham, dates back to October 1772. It was created by King George III for politician Richard Sutton. He was the second surviving son of the distinguished diplomat Sir Robert Sutton. The latter was the grandson of Henry Sutton, brother of Robert Sutton, 1st Baron Lexinton. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the family seat was at Benham Place. However, the house was sold in 1982. Sir Richard Sutton's estates is still worth several million pounds. Advertisement

'He was clearly in some distress, the police crowded around him and began to assess his injuries.

'They cut his clothes off, his shirt and trousers, and then wrapped him in a silver foil wrap as they administered first aid.

'I saw an officer go to the back of the X5 and bring out what looked like a defibrillator. The ambulances showed up a short while later.

'The paramedics took over the medical treatment. The driver of the Range Rover appeared to be conscious as the officers were talking to him and I could see him move slightly.

'After maybe an hour to 90-minutes he was placed on a stretcher with an oxygen mask over his mouth and placed in the back of one of the ambulances.

'The police remained at the scene all night. My flat is directly above the Chiswick High Road and I could see a senior officer briefing his officers afterwards.

'I heard him say "five stab wounds" which I took to be the injuries of the driver they'd stopped.

'It was a big, big operation. There were armed police everywhere and a dog unit. At least two helicopters hovered overhead.

'The forensics arrived in the early hours and were searching the scene of the stop. They were there until about 4am this morning.'

The crash was captured on camera by resident Maureen Kane, 50, whose flat overlooks the street.

Ms Kane, who works in video marketing, told how up to 40 police officer attended the scene.

She said: 'I just heard a loud screech of cars swerving and then crash sounds.

'Then I looked out of my window and saw lots of armed police jumping on top of a car and aiming guns at a man and all around his car.

'He was a white male in his 30s and seemed to be injured.

'It looked pretty bad but I'm not sure if he was injured in a crash or if police shot him.

'He was naked as they ripped his clothes off and pulled him out of the car.

'I was scared as I thought it was a terrorist and there were so many police officer with guns.

'About 10 policemen surrounded him until an ambulance arrived.

'Then I saw another 30 or 40 police cars arrive and lots of people were shouting with guns.'

The ambulance arrived within 30 minutes, Ms Kane said, adding: 'Police were still in the road and had all the roads blocked for hours after this until I went to bed at 2am.

'I've not heard anything about it from my neighbours or anything since.'

Sir Richard was found with fatal stab wounds following the attack at his large detached home near Gillingham, Dorset. He bought the Moorhill country estate, set in the tiny hamlet of Higher Langham, in 2014 for 1.4million.

Sir Richard, who inherited his estate with his baronetcy in 1981, has today been described as an 'old English gentry landowner'.

Alongside his two Park Lane hotels he owned a swathe of property and farms across the country.

A spokesman for the Sir Richard Sutton Limited (SRSL) said today: 'We are deeply saddened and devastated by the sudden death of Sir Richard Sutton, announced this morning.

The property is a large detached home in a tiny hamlet, near Gillingham, Dorset. Pictured: Flowers left at the scene today, as police continue their investigation

A woman, believed to be his partner, also suffered knife injuries in the attack at the home, named Moorhill. Pictured: Police at the scene today

'Sir Richard was a caring, generous and warm family man, who genuinely regarded those who worked for him as part of his extended family.

'Sir Richard was passionately devoted to both his company and its people, setting the highest and standards for quality in the hotels, farming and property interests within the group.

'His loss will be felt by everyone within the company, those who worked with him, and his family who have lost an incredible individual. Our thoughts are with the Sutton family at this tragic time.'

Sir Richard's company has donated more than 240,000 to the Conservative Party in the past 20 years.

Today three police vans were seen at the entrance to a long drive which leads to the remote property, while forensics officers were observed inside.

A neighbour said: 'The Suttons live there. They have two grown up children and grandchildren.

'It is just awful. You would never imagine something like this could happen. They are lovely people.'

A local farmer said: 'I saw a search helicopter with a spotlight overhead last night and then an air ambulance landed.

'The people who live there is an old English gentry landowner and his partner.'

Another neighbour said they were aware of police helicopters flying over the house for a number of hours.

Today three police vans were seen at the entrance to a long drive which leads to the remote property, while forensics officers were observed inside

Sir Richard Lexington Sutton, 9th Baronet, was head of the Sutton family, which owns land in Dorset, Berkshire, London and Lincolnshire and Aberdeenshire. Pictured: Police had taped of the entrance to the property earlier today

A police van was parked at the entrance to the Dorset property earlier today, as they investigated the incident

Their family has been informed and the Dorset coroner has been notified of the death.

Detective Inspector Simon Huxter, of Dorset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team, said: 'Our thoughts are with the family of the man who sadly died and the injured woman at this extremely difficult time and they are being supported by specially-trained officers.

'We will be carrying out a full investigation to establish exactly what happened at the address in Higher Langham and I would appeal to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area on the evening of April 7 to please contact us.

'A cordon remains in place at the address and there will continue to be a heavy police presence in the vicinity as we carry out enquiries.

'Officers can be approached by members of the public with any information or concerns.'

Sir Richard Lexington Sutton, 9th Baronet, was head of the Sutton family, which owns land in Dorset, Berkshire, London and Lincolnshire and Aberdeenshire.

Sir Richard inherited his title and estate from his father in 1981 and was worth an estimated 301m in May 2020, placing him 435th on the Sunday Times' Rich List. Pictured: Police at the scene today

Officers were earlier today seen searching a wooded area of the estate, near to Gillingham in Dorset

He married wife Fiamma in 1959, but the pair are said to have divorced. It is believe she now lives at a farm in a village near Hungerford, Berks.

His partner has been named locally as Ms Schreiber. She owns and runs The London Road clinic in Sherborne, Dorset, an exclusive clinic with services such as osteopathy, physiotherapy and counselling.

Today local MP Simon Hoare, who knew Sir Richard Sutton well, paid tribute to the landowner who he said was a 'country gentleman'.

The Conservative MP for North Dorset described the incident as 'deeply awful' and said he received a 'full briefing' on it from police today.

Mr Hoare MP, 51, said: 'I knew him, strangely enough I knew him before I was an MP as my company did a lot of work for his estate many years ago.

'He was a charming man, he had a very good sense of humour, he was politically astute and genial.

'If you wanted to conjure up a picture of a country gentleman then that was him.

'It is a huge loss for his family in what is clearly deeply awful circumstances.'

Mr Hoare MP also said: 'This is not the sort of thing you expect to see happening in North Dorset nor the sort of thing we are used to seeing here.

'Based on what I have been told by the police there is cause for shock and sadness but no cause or reason for alarm.'

The politician added that he is hoping medics are able to help save the injured woman in her 60s as 'one murder is shocking but a double murder would be chilling'.

Mr Hoare MP said he would not disclose details about the circumstances of the incident nor the identity of the 34 year old man who has been arrested.

Richard Gallop, a retired air traffic controller in his 70s, who is involved in the local neighbourhood watch, said: 'Anne is quite chatty while Richard kept himself to himself.'

A neighbour added: 'It is just awful. You would never imagine something like this could happen.'

A local farmer said: 'I saw a search helicopter with a spotlight overhead last night and then an air ambulance landed.'
[April 08, 2021] Bitcoin Banknote Company Noteworthy Grows Their Team of Industry Experts

Noteworthy, the premier architect of bitcoin banknotes, today announced that it has enlisted several industry experts to add deep design, production, and distribution experience to the Company's rapid growth. Manuela Pfunder, designer of the ninth series Swiss Franc, former U.S. Mint Director Edmund Moy, IDEMIA Executive Vice President Philippe Barreau, and former Pixelworks (News - Alert) CEO and COO Hans Olsen and are among Noteworthy's newest team members. With more than 20 years of experience in visual communication, consulting, and the analysis of banknote design and culture, Manuela Pfunder will join Noteworthy as Chief Design Officer. Ms. Pfunder studied graphic design at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and has since been working as an independent graphic designer, specializing in information design and visual communication. In 2005, she participated in a Swiss National Bank (SNB) competition to design the new Swiss banknote, where she was selected to create the ninth series Swiss Franc. Ms. Pfunder also received the IBNS Bank Note of the Year Award by the International Bank Note Society in 2016. "It is incredibly exciting to work with Larry Felix, the former Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Co-Founder Peter Vessenes, and other remarkable professionals from the fintech industry," said Ms. Pfrunder. "The project presents new challenges and groundbreaking opportunities in the traditional banknote printing industry. Combining the digital world with traditional printing is inspirig and I am honored to bring my experience in conceptualization, design, and printing of banknotes."



Hans Olsen joins Noteworthy as Executive Vice President, where he brings more than 35 years of executive leadership in the semiconductor industry. Mr. Olsen was the co-founder of Electronic Designs Inc and iChips, and served as CEO and COO of Pixelworks (PXLW), Vice President of Avnera, and COO of Indice Semiconductor. Recent C-level experience and board service extends into cryptocurrency markets with a focus on blockchain, Bitcoin mining, and investment advisory with New Alchemy, Capital6, and several others. The team is rounded out by IDEMIA Executive Vice President Philippe Barreau and former U.S. Mint Director Edmund Moy, who will serve as board members and advisors to the project. Mr. Barreau is the Executive Vice President and Head of the Public Security and Identity Business Unit at IDEMIA. He has held leading positions at several global companies in Europe and Asia, and in January 2020 he was elected Chairman of the board of the Secure Identity Alliance (SIA). Edmund Moy served as the 38th Director of the U.S. Mint from 2006 to 2011, where he oversaw the launch of popular modern US coins including the 20th Anniversary Silver and Gold Eagles, the 2009 Ultra High Relief Gold $20, and the America the Beautiful Quarters Program.

"We are thrilled to add these team members to the Noteworthy roster," said Noteworthy CEO Larry Felix. "It's great news for all who want to see Bitcoin trading evolve in a more transparent and secure direction. With Manuela, Hans, Philippe, and Edmund, Noteworthy will be able to deliver on our promise of using next-generation technology to combine the expertise and security from paper, chip, and blockchain to empower our customers to become more involved with this incredibly exciting industry." About Noteworthy Co-Founded by Peter Vessenes and Larry Felix in 2020, Noteworthy is the premier architect of the physical banknote to notate Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Noteworthy allows for digital assets to have the reliability and transparency of cryptocurrency while acknowledging the increased security, familiarity, and trust a physical banknote provides the consumer. For more information, visit www.noteworthy.ag. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005160/en/

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The shock deaths of five young men who swallowed a cocktail of toxic chemicals disguised as party drugs has promoted fresh calls for pill testing services.

Anson, Ilker, Jordan, Jason, and James - aged between 17 and 32 - believed they were taking MDMA or magic mushrooms at separate events in Melbourne between July 2016 and January 2017.

What they actually took was a lethal concoction of two chemicals - 25C-NBOMe, a potent psychedelic drug, and the psychoactive stimulant 4-Fluoroamphetamine.

Following an investigation into their deaths, Victorian coroner Paresa Spanos issued a dire warning to the state government on Wednesday urging it to start a program where people can submit samples of illegal substances to be analysed.

Pictured: People protesting in support of pill testing in 2019. State governments have repeatedly rejected calls for testing facilities

The youngest victim, Ansen, took drugs with friends at a party in July 2016 and began having flashbacks about half an hour later.

The 17-year-old ran around screaming 'boys, stop' and 'no, no, no' before he fell backwards onto a bed and had a seizure, before he started vomiting and banging his head against the bed's headboard.

He died at Sunshine Hospital soon after.

Ilker, 32, died in similar circumstances about five months later.

Jordan, 22, was pronounced brain dead on Christmas morning in 2016, three days after losing consciousness at a friend's house.

James was on a working visa from the UK when he took the drug at a birthday party on January 13, 2017.

At about 4am, the 23-year-old stood on the balcony, said 'f**k this', and jumped off.

Jason, 30, stopped breathing when he took drugs with his girlfriend in January 2017.

Five male victims believed they were taking MDMA or magic mushrooms at separate events in Melbourne between July 2016 and January 2017 (stock image of MDMA)

Ms Spanos recommended the Victorian Government introduce a testing service and an early warning network to alert drug users to contaminated products.

'If we accept that there are unlikely to be any major changes to drug regulation in the foreseeable future, or any changes in individual's preparedness to use illicit drugs, Victorians will continue to be exposed to the risks of unregulated drug markets,' she said in her inquest findings.

'There is broad support for a drug checking service and drug early warning network as evidence-based interventions, at least among those with knowledge and expertise in harm minimisation.'

Drug policy expert from RMIT University Monica Barratt, who gave evidence at the inquest, said permanent testing services were preferable to pop-up facilities at events, such as music festivals.

'I think if we want to reach the majority of people and be equitable than having a static fixed site would be a good model to look at,' she told The Australian.

She also said it was unlikely the men would have taken the drugs if they knew what they were really taking.

Drug overdose-related deaths rose from 341 in 2010 to 542 in 2018.

Pictured: The pill testing facilities during a media walkthrough ahead of the Groovin the Moo 2019 festival in Canberra

Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association spokesman Dave Taylor said drug use has not been eliminated from any nation worldwide.

He also said that introducing testing facilities would take the pressure off health and emergency services.

The Victorian health department in its submission to the inquest said there were no plans to trial pill testing at public events.

Victoria Police re-iterated its opposition to the proposal, saying it could imply authorities condoned drug taking.

A parliamentary committee in 2018 recommended an early warning system for illicit drugs and pointed to the benefits of a testing service.

Ms Spanos noted the Victorian government had not been receptive to these recommendations.

A NSW coroner in 2019 recommended the introduction of pill testing following six MDMA-related deaths at music festivals in that state.

The ACT allowed consecutive trials at Canberra's Groovin the Moo in 2018 and 2019.

Most state premiers have continued to oppose pill testing.

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Two Bay Area agencies have issued warnings to the public this week about telephone scams, one of which is relatively familiar and another that includes a demand to pay a kidnapping ransom.

San Francisco police issued a warning about a string of phone scams in the category of "caller-ID spoofing," in which the phone number displayed looks like it is coming from the Police Department. The caller asks either for donations or cites an outstanding warrant the recipient of the call needs to pay off immediately.

The scam warning from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office described a twist on the familiar approach.

Deputies there had a recent in-person encounter with a man who said he was on the phone with someone who claimed to have kidnapped his daughter. The caller demanded that the man remain on the phone  preventing him from checking on his daughter  and wire $6,000 to Mexico in exchange for the safe return for his daughter.

The man told deputies that the caller demanded he stay on the phone while carrying out the caller's additional demands to drive to a Walmart to complete the wire transfer. The man then drove off to the store.
Five mothers have relived the heartbreaking moments they had to tell family and friends that their sons had been stabbed to death.

As part of a new campaign aiming to tackle knife crime in London, the mothers recalled the 'hardest calls' they had to make following the tragic deaths of their sons.

One described how she was 'breathless, helpless and weak' as she relayed the news to her own mother.

'It was the hardest call - I was out of breath and my stomach was tight,' said Lorraine Jones, whose son Dwayne Simpson was stabbed to death in Brixton in 2014, at the age of 20.

'Even when I was making a call my hands were shaking. I tried it three times, I was just so helpless and weak.'

Lorraine, a pastor who worked alongside her son to feed the homeless, is one of five mothers supporting Crimestopper's 'Hard Calls Save Lives' campaign.

The campaign, supported by the Met Police, aims to tackle knife crime in the capital by encouraging family members to provide anonymous tip-offs to the charity.

The information can be used to help officers crackdown on knife crime.

It comes as figures released in February revealed how offences have doubled in just six years - going above 50,000 for the first time since records began.

The Met Police also investigated 126 killings in the capital last year.

Five mothers of London stab victims (pictured: Lorraine Jones, whose son Dwayne Simpson was fatally stabbed in 2014) have relived the heartbreaking moments they had to tell family and friends about their devastating loss

Dwayne Simpson was stabbed to death in Brixton in 2014, at the age of 20, as he attempted to protect another man from an attack

The Hard Calls Save Lives campaign is being run by charity Crimestoppers and is being supported by the Met Police (pictured: Commissioner Cressida Dick)

Speaking about the launch of the new campaign, Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said: 'Making that one call could literally save the life of someone's son or daughter.

'It felt like I was in another world': Lorraine Jones relives the heartbreaking call after the death of her son Dwayne 'Dwayne had a brilliant sense of humour, but he was also very sensitive. My passion is feeding the homeless and Dwayne was my right-hand man. 'Hed set up the kitchen, make the sandwiches, help do the soups, and pack the stuff in the car. 'I had 20 wonderful years with him, and really good memories. But I didn't realise the impact he had until he passed away. 'I'd just come back from a busy day when the door rang. It was one of Dwaynes friends. 'He said, Dwaynes been stabbed, come quick! 'I just started running but I couldn't run fast enough. I was helpless and weak. My feet were like lead and I was shaking. When I got there I said, I'm his Mom and I pushed through. What I saw was horrific. Every time I speak about it, I need therapy afterwards. 'His clothes were ripped, and Dwayne was lying in his own blood. Just so much blood. Thats my child and there's nothing I could do to help him. 'I kissed his forehead and the top of his cheek. I was kissing his feet, saying, You're not alone, Im here with you. Do you know I love you? 'Later, a young lad came forward and said that a guy had been going to attack him and Dwayne came to help. He stood in the middle. 'This young lad saw the guy take out a sword and stab him, and it went right through his heart. The lad was so grateful that Dwayne had come to help. 'I wouldn't expect anything different from him.' *Rio Julienne-Clarke, 21, was jailed in 2020 for 12 years for the manslaughter of Dwayne Simpson. Advertisement

'We understand this is a difficult thing to ask - but you don't have to name names and even a small piece of information could be vital.'

Becky Beston, whose son Archie Beston was 19 when he was stabbed to death in Kingston in February 2020 on a night out with friends, told how she had to call a stranger about getting him embalmed.

'You should never have to use those words with your son's name. Ever,' she said.

'If somebody would have made that phone call, my Arch would be here now.'

The campaign features short films of the mothers' stories along with adverts on radio, websites and social media and is targeted at people in areas affected by violent crime.

It is particularly aimed at inspiring women - mothers, sisters, aunts - whose children, siblings, nephews or nieces may be on the fringes of knife crime to make a report if they know someone who carries a knife or where a weapon has been hidden.

Lillian Serunkuma, whose 15-year-old son Quamari Serunkuma-Barnes was knifed to death outside his school gates in 2017, recalled calling her aunt to let her know he had been stabbed.

'She just screamed. That was the hardest thing about that day,' she said.

'It can be hard to make the call to say someone is involved in knife crime, especially if it's someone you know or love. But it's so much harder if you don't.

'It's almost as bad to lose a child or a friend to prison as it is to lose them if they're killed. Either way, they're going to suffer as a result of knife crime.'

Yvonne Lawson, whose 17-year-old son, Godwin, was stabbed to death in 2010, said she rang her sister after she was told he had died.

She said: 'I just kept repeating 'died, died, died'. Godwin was stolen away from us in such a terrible way.

'My family is broken into pieces, just missing him. We didn't even get a chance to say goodbye, and he's never going to be there, he's never going to be part of us anymore.

'The least we can do is use his memory to change lives.'

And Jean Foster, whose son Christopher Foster, 34, was stabbed to death outside a London pub in 2010, said: 'They told me Christopher had been murdered.

'We called nine or 10 times. Slowly, we came to the realisation that he was never going to call back.

'People may think that keeping quiet keeps you out of their focus, but it empowers them. No one is safe if we keep quiet.'

As part of a new campaign aiming to tackle knife crime in the capital, the mothers (pictured: One of the mothers Yvonne Lawson) recalled the 'hardest calls' they had to make following the tragic deaths of their sons

Jean Foster (pictured), whose son Christopher Foster, 34, was stabbed to death outside a London pub in 2010

Lillian Serunkuma, whose 15-year-old son Quamari Serunkuma-Barnes was knifed to death outside his school gates in 2017, recalled calling her aunt to let her know he had been stabbed

Becky Beston (pictured), whose son Archie Beston was 19 when he was stabbed to death in Kingston in February 2020 on a night out with friends, told how she had to call a stranger about getting him embalmed

Dame Cressida praised the 'strength and courage' of the mothers 'who have relived the traumatic calls they had to make in hope that it will prevent other families suffering as they have'.

Crimestoppers chief executive Mark Hallas added: 'Hearing the mums speak in such an honest, frank and heartfelt way about losing a son to knife crime is incredibly humbling.

'I truly admire their courage and determination to warn others in their own words about the danger of not speaking up.'

The new campaign comes as it was revealed in February that knife crime offences have doubled in just six years to go above 50,000 for the first time since records began.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that offences involving knives or sharp instruments rose by six per cent from 47,388 to 50,019 in England and Wales in the year before the first Covid-19 lockdown was imposed.

Of these offences, 22,012 (44 per cent) were for assault with injury or assault with intent to cause serious harm, and 21,961 (44 per cent) were used in a robbery.

However, NHS hospitals in England reported an eight per cent fall in admissions for assault by a sharp object between April 2019 and March 2020.

The ONS also found that homicides have risen seven per cent to 695 offences including the Grays lorry incident with 39 homicide victims in the same period.

Recent figures also show that knife crime soared by 25 per cent after the first lockdown was eased last summer and have sparked concerns of an 'eruption' of violence once current Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

According to figures released earlier this year, the Metropolitan Police investigated 126 homicides in London, compared with 150 in 2019 and 133 in 2018.

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at Crimestoppers-uk.org.
Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, a key moderate Democrat, on Wednesday reaffirmed his vow to protect the filibuster in the evenly divided Senate and suggested reluctance to his party repeatedly using a fast-track budget process to advance legislation without Republican votes.

Mr. Manchin has long been one of the most stalwart defenders of the 60-vote threshold needed to end debate in the upper chamber, even as it threatens to derail key elements of President Bidens agenda. Despite previously toying with possible reforms to the procedural hurdle, he has repeatedly swatted away queries about what could drive him to vote to outright abolish the filibuster, even as Democrats have gamed out various scenarios in which he might relent.

In an opinion piece published in The Washington Post, Mr. Manchin vowed that there was no circumstance in which I will vote to eliminate or weaken the filibuster, and he urged party leaders to compromise on legislation instead of trying to work around Republican opposition. Ten Republicans are currently needed to join all Democrats in a 50-50 Senate to pass major pieces of legislation through the regular process.

The comments took on added significance after a key Senate official on Monday issued guidance that could allow Democrats to pursue the fast-track budget reconciliation process at least one more time before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, after they used it to pass Mr. Bidens nearly $1.9 trillion pandemic relief law without any Republican votes.
by Mathias Hariyadi

Heavy rains and six-metre waves hamper rescue work. Basic necessities can only arrive by plane. Sea travel is impossible. Card Suharyo appeals through the local Caritas: Professing the Christian faith implies doing good to others.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  Bad weather, heavy rains and six-metre waves are hampering rescue teams in Adonara, Lembata district, East Nusa Tenggara province (NTT), one of the areas most affected by Cyclone Seroja.

The government has declared a state of emergency in the region. However, boats are unusable because they would put at serious risk the very lives of rescuers and volunteers engaged in first response operations.

Asked by AsiaNews, Sister Wilhelmina Koto, currently in the area most affected by the cyclone, confirms the enormous difficulties in reaching Lembata where only planes are able to bring humanitarian aid.

Augustinus Dharmawan Lie, founder of Doctor Share's Floating Hospital, has not yet received the green light to reach NTT with his own boat.

Ship and crew are still waiting in Mamuju, western Sulawesi, where they are helping the people affected by last Januarys earthquake, he explained.

Another obstacle for rescue teams is the lack of bridges, many of which were swept away by the fury of the waters, especially in Waingapu district (Sumba Island).

AsiaNews has tried to contact residents in Amfoang, the border area between Indonesia and East Timor, so far in vain. In many parts of Kupang, the capital of NTT province, there is no electricity because of frequent power outages.

Archbishop Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo of Jakarta, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI), has urged people, especially Catholics, to show generosity and compassion towards Serojas victims and their families.

The prelate led a fundraiser through the local Caritas (Karina KWI) because professing the Christian faith also implies doing good to others.

Archbishop Aloysius Sudarso of Palembang, who chairs Caritas Indonesia, praised the cardinal's words, urging the faithful to respond positively to the appeal.

The tropical cyclone hit many spots in both East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara provinces.

As days go by, the devastation caused by the cyclone becomes more evident. The most affected areas belong to the dioceses of Kupang, Atambua, and Weetebula on Sumba Island and the Diocese of Larantuka on Flores Island.

Meanwhile, controversy surrounds the allocation of emergency funds by the national government, which so far does not seem to have provided the necessary aid to the affected population.
A person carrying less than an ounce of marijuana in Columbia wouldnt have to worry about being sentenced to prison under a plan proposed by mayoral candidate Sam Johnson.

Tuesday, Johnson released a slew of ideas to reform policing and public safety in South Carolinas capital city, including changes to prosecuting low-level marijuana offenses and releasing Columbia police body camera footage.

We can create safer neighborhoods and save a generation of our kids, Johnson said in a statement. But it takes vision and action.

Johnson wants to eliminate prosecution and incarceration for simple possession of marijuana in the city. Simple possession, which is an ounce or less, is punishable with 30 days to a year imprisonment in South Carolina.

Under Johnsons plan, if a person is caught with an ounce or less of weed in the city, the police officer would write a ticket instead of booking the person in jail. If that person signs up for an intervention or diversion program already offered by the city, they wouldnt have to pay the ticket or go before a city judge, which means the charge would stay off their criminal record.

The goal isnt to penalize, Johnson said. You want to provide folks another option. If we can keep people away from the criminal justice system and rehabilitate them, were all the better for it.

The citys diversion program addresses housing, finances and a host of issues a person could be dealing with, Johnson said. And the programs are free.

Police officers already have the option to write a ticket for simple possession instead of setting a person on a course forprosecution, and the Columbia Police Department has been doing that, according to Deputy Chief Melron Kelly. Johnsons plan would make giving a ticket and offering the option of entering the diversion program the citys policy.

Everyone gets the same treatment, Johnson said.

A State House bill to change South Carolinas drug laws may affect simple possession of marijuana. The bill would change the weight for simple possession from an ounce or less to ten ounces or less of marijuana.

Story continues

Johnson also wants to create a policy to release police body camera footage within 48 hours when its requested. Currently, the Columbia Police Department doesnt have to release body cam footage.

Extenuating circumstances for not releasing footage will likely be written into the policy but those circumstances will be explained to the public. The body cam policy is meant to create more policing transparency.

Johnson was a key aide to Mayor Steve Benjamin from 2010 to 2016.

In 2014, Johnson said he helped Benjamin bring police reforms to Columbia such as expanding training, creating a citizens advisory committee, engaging communities and making a more diverse police department. Those reforms included leading South Carolina by equipping Columbia Police Department officers with body cameras. Former President Barack Obama commended Benjamin on his reforms. The department has also touted itself as a 21st Century agency. With that, Chief Skip Holbrook joined a national group to help end racist policing.

Johnsons public safety plan includes 10 proposals, three of which focus on mental health.

One proposal is hiring mental health professionals who do not wear a badge or carry a gun ... to better de-escalate crisis and everyday situations. Johnson also plans to partner with the Richland County Sheriffs Department when police are asked to respond to someone in a mental health crisis. The sheriffs department recently developed a mental health crisis team with the states Department of Mental Health. Columbia officers would also be provided with annual psychological evaluations under Johnsons plan.

Other proposals include raising officer and firefighter pay and giving them financial assistance to live in the city.
A German Shepherd puppy who nearly died after swallowing a four-inch kebab stick has amazed vets by surviving for eight weeks with the object inside her.

Ten-month-old Bear needed an urgent operation at Abington Park Veterinary Surgery in Northampton to carefully remove the item after swiping it off a plate at a family barbecue.

Incredibly it narrowly avoided damaging Bear's major organs and was only discovered by owner Richard Davidson, from Kettering, when she started limping after it passed all the way through to her leg.

Thankfully Bear has made a full recovery, but the team at Abington Park say they face a worrying number of such incidents as lockdown restrictions ease.

German Shepherd puppy Bear who nearly died after swallowing a kebab stick amazed vets by surviving four eight weeks with the object inside her

Bear needed an urgent operation at Abington Park Veterinary Surgery in Northampton to carefully remove a four-inch-long stick after swiping it off a plate at a family barbecue

'Dogs are so crafty when it comes to food and they are just so quick,' said Richard. 'Because we already have a dog that will eat anything, we always try to be as careful as possible.

'In this instance we didn't even see her take it and don't know if she sneaked it off someone's plate. So, we didn't realise that there was any problem at all.

'Months later she started to limp and then that gradually got worse. It became so bad that she wouldn't walk on her back leg and we took her to the vets.'

Richard initially took Bear to their own surgery, Vets4Pets, where an X-ray found no indication of a fracture but did suspect an obstruction.

Incredibly, it narrowly avoided damaging Bear's major organs. Pictured, an X-Ray showing he stick lodged in Bear's abdomen

Richard initially took Bear to their own surgery, Vets4Pets, where an X-ray found no indication of a fracture

Realising she needed specific attention, she was referred to the team at Abington Park.

'As soon as Bear came in and I did an ultrasound scan I could see the foreign body,' said vet Riccardo Minelli.

'Although the leg was massively swollen, I had still been expecting something like a grass seed, not anything as big as the kebab stick.

'There was no wound or entry point, so it was hard to imagine how something like that had got in.

'The imaging showed that it was very close to large abdominal vessels and the femoral artery. I realised that surgery was required as there was a risk of haemorrhage if we tried to remove it non-invasively.'

Dr Jamie McClement headed the team who carried out the delicate operation to remove the kebab stick.

Owner Richard was stunned at the news of the find, but delighted Bear came through the surgery well. Pictured, Bear following surgery

Owner Richard was stunned at the news of the find, but delighted Bear came through the surgery well.

'We would never have thought that a kebab stick could possibly have been the cause of her limp,' said Richard. 'She seemed to be eating fine and there were no other signs of anything wrong.

'It was such a surprise when we were told what was responsible and we are just grateful that it missed vital organs and passed through the intestine without causing serious damage.

'We know it could have been fatal and we were very lucky. We've become even more careful and even have doggie guards at the kitchen door now to try to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Realising she needed specific attention, she was referred to the expertise of the team at Abington Park. Pictured, Bear's panasonic ultrasound showing a foreign object in her body

'Obviously we didn't see it happen this time, but if you do see your dog get hold of one of these things, get them to a vet just as quickly as possible.'

With a boom in post-lockdown barbecues expected amidst sunnier spring weather, My Family Vets - a nationwide network of vet clinics throughout the UK - are appealing to owners to take extra care and seek urgent help if they suspect anything has been swallowed that shouldn't have been.

Riccardo warned that it is a very real danger for pet owners as they look to enjoy the outdoors again after tough coronavirus restrictions.

'We frequently see swallowed kebab sticks,' said Riccardo. 'It is normally stuck in the mouth, the oesophagus or the stomach.

'But if they do get to the intestine, the animal tends to be unwell quickly, which wasn't what happened in this case, which was very unusual.

'With more people at home at the moment and perhaps having barbecues, there is definitely an increased risk. We'd ask people to be especially vigilant if they have dogs around and to contact their vet right away if they see their pet get hold of one of these things.

'The sooner they get the animal to us the better as we can usually retrieve it without surgery.'
Poking fun at Telstra by stating "You dont need Australias fastest 5G until you do", Optus aggregated its 5G spectrum bands of 3500Mhz and 28Ghz (mmWave) on top of existing 5G spectrum bands to deliver "unprecedented bandwidth and speed."

Optus, together with technology partner Nokia, has claimed "a new 5G record achieving 10Gbps aggregated throughput on a live 5G site in Strathpine, Brisbane further strengthening its ambition to deliver Australias fastest 5G."

Through the use of its "unique spectrum assets" Optus says the 10Gbps throughput "was achieved by aggregating Optus 5G spectrum bands of 3500Mhz and 28Ghz (mmWave) on top of existing 4G spectrum band layers to deliver unprecedented bandwidth and speed, giving customers a glimpse of what they can expect once mmWave is available commercially."

Lambo Kanagaratnam, Optus Managing Director Networks said: Todays accomplishment is yet another 5G milestone for Optus as we push hard to deliver our customers with Australias fastest 5G network. We already know that 5G is fast but what were seeing here is innovative use of spectrum layers to deliver a single site with over 10Gbps throughput.

"This is a fantastic demonstration of how mmWave spectrum, integrated into existing 5G and 4G sites, has the capability to significantly boost overall site capacity  which will be a gamechanger for our customers.

In addition to an increase in total site throughput, this test has demonstrated a significant increase in single user peak speed. We are currently seeing commercial single user peak speeds of around 1-2Gbps on our existing 5G sites, but once the 5G mmWave layer is added we expect to see peak speeds closer to 4Gbps.

"This additional capacity and faster per user speed will be incredibly important for our Enterprise customers, paving the way for a range of low-latency and ultra-high bandwidth services not available today.

Optus says increased 5G site capacity "will also ensure that customers in densely populated areas or locations where there is a large network demand, will be able to access the network without compromising the performance of their applications.

"For example, without the added mmWave layer average peak site capacity is around 3Gbps, which would typically support around 75 individual 4K video streams simultaneously per 5G site. Adding the mmWave spectrum layer and increasing site capacity to 10Gbps has the potential to support around 250 4K video streams per 5G site - an uplift of more than 230 percent.

"The 10Gbps recorded was a consolidated speed across multiple users by harnessing the full capability of such a high capacity network."

Anna Wills, Head of Oceania at Nokia said, This is another milestone in the development of 5G services and demonstrates the confidence operators have in our 5G solutions. Todays achievement with Optus shows the potential of mmWave deployments, particularly at a time when connectivity and capacity are so crucial. Were proud of our long-standing relationship with Optus and the great strides we continue to make together in this new era of connectivity.

Optus reminds us that it currently has "more than 1200 5G sites covering over 830,000 households in Australia."
Joppa's EEI Power Plant To Close Next Year

By West Kentucky Star Staff

JOPPA - An Illinois electric utility announced Wednesday plans to shutter its coal power plant in Joppa by September 1 of next year.The closing affects 115 employees who were told last year that the plant would keep operating until 2025.The Joppa Power Plant opened in 1953. It currently operates six coal units with a combined capacity of 1,002 MW and five natural gas units with a combined capacity of 239 MW.Vistra, who owns Electric Energy Incorporated, said in a press release that it has reached a settlement, after the Sierra Club brought a complaint in 2018 before the Illinois Pollution Control Board concerning allegations of environmental exceedances occurring prior to Vistra's ownership.The company says it is renewing its call for passage of the Illinois Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Act to facilitate Vistra's $550-million repurposing of coal plant sites across central and southern Illinois.If the act passes, Vistra says it intends to build a stand-alone 45-MW battery energy storage facility at the Joppa plant, which does not have the site characteristics to support utility-scale solar. The new battery system would store enough electricity to power about 22,500 homes.Illinois State Representative Patrick Windhorst (R - Metropolis) released a statement on the closure:According to Dr. David Loomis of Strategic Economic Research, during the implementation of the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Act, the state and local communities will benefit from a significant boost to economic activity. His analysis projects that, from 2022 to 2025, the initiative will:-support 2,957 full-time jobs across the state-create $461 million in statewide earnings for workers-generate $1.7 billion in total economic output in the stateThe economic impact study projected that constructing the battery energy storage facility at Joppa would support more than 100 local jobs and spur more than $10 million in economic output in Massac County.
Local News, Crime, Press Releases

By Chris Boyle Published: April 08 2021

The body-worn cameras will be worn by uniform members at the rank of Trooper while they are on patrol.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that the New York State Police has deployed its first body-worn cameras as the agency's new program begins its statewide rollout. The requirement for Troopers to wear body-worn cameras is the result of legislation that was signed into law last June by Governor Cuomo.

"At this highly critical time for the relationship between police and the communities they serve across the state, I am proud that we are implementing this program as police agencies statewide do the important work of reimagining their work and repairing trust in the criminal justice system," Governor Cuomo said. "This step is part of a progressive package of reforms that will increase transparency in policing and accountability among all law enforcement agencies statewide, and we look forward to continuing this important work in the future."

The body-worn cameras will be worn by uniform members at the rank of Trooper while they are on patrol. The first cameras will be deployed in Troop G in the Capital Region and training and cameras will be expanded to NYSP members statewide on a gradual, rolling basis. The full deployment for Troop G should be completed by late April or early May.

The cameras will be then be deployed in Troop NYC, with Troops K, L, F, C, E, A, D and B to follow throughout the summer and fall. Troopers stationed in Troop T on the NYS Thruway will receive cameras at the same time as the Troop in which they are geographically located. The exact order and timing of the deployments will depend on the completion of infrastructure and information technology upgrades and buildouts at each of the 250 barracks statewide.

State Police Acting Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said, "Body-worn cameras are an important tool that will not only reinforce public confidence in the great work our Troopers do each and every day, but will also serve as a critically important investigative tool. The use of this technology will provide real benefits to the communities we serve."

Axon will supply the State Police with a total of 3,000 cameras and will provide secure cloud video storage, software, and technical support at a cost of $7.6 million per year.

Under the law, State Troopers are required to record video immediately before an officer exits a patrol vehicle to interact with a person or situation; for all uses of force, arrests and summonses; all interactions with individuals suspected of criminal activity; all searches of persons and property; any call to a crime in progress; any investigative actions involving interactions with members of the public; any interaction with an emotionally disturbed person; and any instances where an officer feels any imminent danger or the need to document their time on duty. The cameras will automatically start recording whenever a patrol vehicle's emergency lighting is activated, and anytime a member unholsters his or her firearm or taser.

Senator Kevin Parker said, "Too often injustices go unseen and police officers feel emboldened to act as judge and jury. Body cameras will diminish the trust deficit between the police and the communities they serve. I am proud this billalong with other important police reform billswere passed and I thank Governor Cuomo for signing this legislation into law, which will ensure officers are held accountable."

Assembly Member Latrice Walker said, "The community needs to be able to trust the body of law enforcement agents who are tasked with protecting and serving. We have far too many incidents where there are discrepancies with what transpired between officers and civilians, some tragically even resulting in death. Body Cameras are going to assist every interaction that law enforcement and citizens have with each other. I look forward to the implementation of this program with great optimism. I sponsored this bill because I know that communities like mine, the 55th Assembly District, and countless others throughout the state, deserve to know what is happening when their families, friends, and loved ones interact with law enforcement. The transparency that body cameras provides for civilians and troopers will assist in establishing and rebuilding trust with our law enforcement agencies."

Video of State Police training for body-worn cameras, a simulated traffic stop by a Trooper wearing a body-worn camera, and interviews about the program with State Police Field Commander Colonel Steven A. Nigrelli, and Troop G Troop Commander R. Christopher West, can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/nyspolice
Voters will decide in May whether to retain three of the longest-tenured San Antonio Independent School District board members or support a slate of challengers that threaten to undo progress.

We recommend the incumbents in Districts 1, 4 and 7  Steve Lecholop, Arthur V. Valdez Jr. and former Mayor Ed Garza. In the open District 3 seat, we recommend former City Councilwoman Leticia Ozuna.

While disrupting dysfunctional systems is crucial, thats not the story in SAISD. The district is improving, and the incumbents have earned the opportunity to continue serving.

The slate of progressive challengers is backed by the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel union, which says its vision is rooted in community and social justice. But its sharp criticisms of SAISDs policies creates distraction and dissension. Although the challengers told us they would not remove Superintendent Pedro Martinez, their rhetoric indicates otherwise.

The incumbents and Ozuna know the community and the job.

This is not the struggling SAISD of the past. Since Martinez was hired in 2015, the district increased its Texas Education Agency accountability rating from F in 2016 to a B in 2019. The challengers point to an updated state accountability system for SAISDs increase in ratings, but there are other remarkable signs of progress in SAISDs rigor and graduation indicators.

With a pandemic enrollment decline of 6 percent and learning loss, SAISD cant lose momentum. The district is transforming even as COVID-19 poses monumental challenges.

The community sent a powerful message of solidarity with the seven-member SAISD board and Martinez in November when it approved a $1.3 billion bond  the largest in San Antonios history  to renovate schools and fund technology.

In District 1, Lecholop, 39, is running for a third four-year term. A lawyer and former elementary school teacher, he was key in recruiting Martinez.

Lecholops opponent, Sarah Sorensen, 42, has said the board needs to be more transparent in its decision-making, especially in regard to its partnership agreements.

In District 3, Debra Guerrero, 54, who was appointed to the board in 2013, is stepping down to focus on her job with NRP Group. Two candidates are vying for the open seat.

Judit Vega, 42, a food and housing justice advocate and former health equity manager at the Metropolitan Health District, says she doesnt feel represented by the board.

Ozuna, 54, an engineer and San Antonio Water System trustee, served on City Council from 2012 to 2013. Ozuna is proud of the boards accomplishments and says she would work to support their efforts.

Guerrero said she is absolutely endorsing Ozuna.

District 4 trustee and board Vice President Valdez, 73, was first elected in 2013. Valdez is a veteran and retired aircraft engineer who owns an engineering consulting company for airlines. His focus is on being responsive to his community.

Luke Amphlett, 37, is running against Valdez. Amphlett is a Burbank High School teacher and union representative. Amphlett, who is married to Alejandra Lopez, the unions president, has said the district is too fixated on accountability measures.

In September, Amphlett was put on administrative leave after raising health and safety concerns in a faculty meeting. Amphlett disputed administrators who said he was being uncooperative.

District 7 trustee Garza, 52, a former San Antonio mayor and council member and the longest-serving trustee on the board, is running for a fourth term. His goal is for SAISD to move up to an A-rating, which he says will help break generational cycles of poverty in the district.

Running against Garza is Yasmin Parra Codina, 37, an administrative assistant at the University of Texas at San Antonio with nonprofit experience. She wants SAISD to be more inclusive.

Discourse is important, and it is clear the union and challengers care deeply about the district. But its stricts improvement shouldnt be ignored, and it would be a shame to have that progress thwarted.
This 2018 portrait released by the U.S. Department of Justice shows Connecticut's U.S. Attorney John Durham. (U.S. Department of Justice via AP)

CNN Claims to Be the First to Breach Durhams 4-Year-Long Spygate Investigation

Commentary

When former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe declassified a slew of documents in early October last year, one of the key revelations detailed exactly when prosecutor John Durham was tasked to begin investigating the Spygate scandal.

Its not speculating or engaging in conjecture to say it can be known when Durham began probing Spygate. Text messages from several targets of Durhams probe nail it down to a specific month when Durham was given the job.

It was in April 2017. We know this because we can now read unredacted text messages exchanged between former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page.

With a new report on March 30, CNN is claiming that after a silence that began in April 2017, almost four full years ago, at last a media outlet has managed to penetrate Durhams office and get insider leaks from people familiar with the matter for the very first time.

Well, Im not buying this.

Trump Raises Durhams Profile

After former President Donald J. Trump made a statement about Durham on March 26, saying Wheres Durham? Is he a living, breathing human being? Will there ever be a Durham report? just a few days later, CNN is publishing this report providing a slanted Durham update.

Trump knows Durham is a real person, and that every special counsels office, after concluding its investigations and prosecuting targets if it found sufficient evidence to do so, issues a final report to the attorney general.

What Trump did with his brief statement is put Durham in the news again. CNN evidently responded to Trump by sending reporters to try to get leaks out of a group of investigators who havent leaked about their work in four years. And the reporters, Katelyn Polantz and Evan Perez, are claiming they succeeded in their mission.

In their report, Polantz and Perez say:

Investigators with Durhams officehaving been delayed by pandemic restrictions last yearare now arranging witness interviews, according to people familiar with the probe. Grand jury subpoenas also were being used to gather documents in recent months, the sources said.

You know whos familiar with Durhams probe? Just about anybody in Washington who reads the news. Note how purposefully vague that description of the sources is.

What most likely happened here is that CNNs reporters found some low-level staffers at the Department of Justice to parrot back to them the narrative about Durham puttering around that they wanted to run with, assuming these shadowy sources are real in the first place.

Noted Spygate researcher Techno Fog isnt buying this either, as he makes clear in a post on the subject on his Substack.

Why You Cant Trust Fake Newss Anonymous Sources

Does anybody remember the New York Times Miles Taylor fiasco from just a few months ago?

It was back in early 2018 that an opinion editorial by a supposedly high-ranking Trump administration insider writing under the alias Anonymous appeared in the New York Times.

In that op-ed, the writer claimed to be part of an organized group of people inside Trumps administration called The Resistance who were deliberately sabotaging the new presidents policies while seeking to remove him from office.

It was repeatedly claimed when/if Anonymouss name was ever publicly revealed, the name would be instantly recognizable. The public were assured this person was very highly placed within Trumps administration.

The reason so much intense speculation was garnered by the Anonymous story was the medias own excitement at the narrative of Trump being sabotaged right under his nose by one of the people he brought into the White House with him.

The speculation continued for months. Was Anonymous Gen. John Kelly? Was it Vice President Mike Pence? Could it be Reince Priebus? Or Nikki Haley? Columnist and provocateur Ann Coulter caustically wondered if Anonymous was Trumps own son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

And then what happened? The name turned out to be Miles Taylor and about 99 percent of Americans who still bother to read the NY Times went Who?

Theres no question that to hype the Anonymous op-ed, the NY Times vastly inflated Taylors resume. As long as their audience didnt know he/she was only one of hundreds of minor staffers at the Department of Homeland Security, the NY Times could make all kinds of fantastic claims about who Anonymous was.

Had the public known the true identity of the mysterious Anonymous from the beginning, the op-ed would have been an uproarious joke. It certainly wouldnt have been turned into a best-selling book.

The Anonymous Source Is Never Who They Want You to Imagine It Is

Corporate media outlets will never show you whos really giving their reporters these clandestine leaks. And they have a reason for that.

How many times in the past couple of years have reporters found some low-level staffer at a federal agency, got them to parrot back the narrative the reporter and the editors want to run with, and then inflated the anonymous leakers resume to give the story more impact? You dont know, and these media outlets will never tell you.

They want the readers to imagine the intrepid reporters whispering in the shadows to high-ranking people, powerful and important officials, instead of whats often the reality: the reporter is getting office scuttlebutt from some low-level employee who works in a cubicle far from the top floor.

Theres another variation of this sordid fake news tactic: when political operatives approach a media outlet with a story they want to see published to either damage a foe or cover up for an ally.

Want an example of that?

A lawyer from the infamous Perkins Coie law firm named Michael Sussman showed up at the FBI claiming that a Trump Tower server was supposedly in communication with a server in Russia belonging to Alfa Bank. After the FBI began investigating the allegation, Sussmann quickly leaked the story to multiple media outlets to help drive Trump/Russia collusion conspiracy theories in the mainstream press.

Of course the story wasnt true, as the FBI investigation found, but this kind of thing is about launching the narrative and using it for political capital. In that sense, the operation worked beautifully.

If at the time the Trump server/Alfa Bank story was being hyped in the mainstream media it had been known the sources spreading the story around were paid political operatives in the employ of the Hillary Clinton campaign, how far would the story have actually gotten?

For these kinds of anonymously sourced stories, its always either a low-ranking coffee fetcher or its some political operative planting a story with the media on behalf of paying clients.

Anybody whos still falling for this fake news trick is falling for it because they want to. Many people seek out news stories that will confirm their biases. The story fits what they already want to believe, and so they quickly seize on it as some kind of proof when its not.

And its not just media outlets on the left side of the spectrum that are engaging in this kind of journalistic malpractice. Several conservative news outlets have begun the practice of increased use of anonymous sources telling their reporters exactly what they were keen to publish anyway.

Delusions of Grandeur

Present-day reporters are living out a fantasy in which theyre a new generation of intrepid Woodwards and Bernsteins, getting the key inside scoops from highly placed officials within federal agencies about matters of the utmost importance.

As the original Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein helped bring down the Richard Nixon presidency and drive him from office, many of todays corporate media journalists saw themselves helping to drive Trump from office by supposedly catching him in major scandals.

D.C. was full of reporters all chasing their equivalent of The Holy Grail: the scoop that would force Trump out of the White House.

And now that Trump is gone, they still see themselves as new manifestations of Woodward and Bernstein.

But none of this was real. All the juicy leaks from the FBI and the Mueller probe about the supposed Trump/Russia collusion were bogus.

Recall the major journalism awards handed out for supposedly stellar reporting on what turned out to be a hoax allegedly concocted by the Clinton campaign.

Thats why I dont believe Polantz and Perez that they managed to crack the Durham Wall of Silence.

And you shouldnt either.

Brian Cates is a writer based in South Texas and author of Nobody Asked For My Opinion  But Here It Is Anyway! He can be reached on Telegram at t.me/drawandstrikechannel.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
[April 08, 2021] Elevate Brands Raises Additional $12.5M in Funding and is Acquiring its 20th Amazon Marketplace Brand

Elevate Brands, a leader in acquiring and operating Amazon third-party businesses, today announced it raised an additional $12.5 million in committed funds from its existing global group of leading fintech and e-commerce business investors. The additional investment brings the company's funding total to over $67.5 million in 2021. The funding is fueling the company's acquisition plan, enabling it to acquire its 20th Amazon Marketplace brand in April. "There have been a plethora of Amazon Marketplace sellers looking to exit in the last three months, a significant step up from last year," said Ryan Gnesin, CEO of Elevate Brands. "As Amazon FBA sellers ourselves, we can truly relate with these business owners and ensure an efficient and pleasant acquisition process. We have a strong playbook for growing these brands post-acquisition, and this bridge funding will enable us to maintain our momentum." Elevate Brands has quickly gaied traction in the fast-growing Amazon Marketplace and has reported nearly 100% average post-acquisition growth across its portfolio. The company is acquiring sellers at a pace of 3-4 new brands per month and is on pace to acquire 100 category-leading brands by the end of 2022.



The company offers Amazon Third Party sellers clear and compelling exit opportunities with fair, transparent valuations. Elevate Brands uses a data-driven approach to acquiring businesses, finalizes its underwriting process within 30 days and utilizes its global network to provide new brands with a unique ability to scale quickly and achieve sustainable long-term growth. The company recently opened its second headquarters in the growing tech hub of Austin, Texas, and has grown its global team of marketers and operators by more than 200% since January 2021. The company is positioned to be one of the leading platforms in the marketplace and is on track to hit over $150 million in revenue by the end of 2021.

About Elevate Brands Founded in Q4 2016, Elevate Brands taps into the high-growth Amazon Third Party Seller Marketplace, a $300 billion marketplace that is expected to double in the next five years. Elevate Brands specializes in acquiring, launching and operating leading consumer Amazon brands. Elevate Brands has a global team of industry leaders with headquarters in New York and Austin, TX. Its broad network of resources provides a unique ability for brands to scale quickly. The company structures its underwriting process to execute quickly, closing the deal within a matter of weeks, not months. The company founders previously built their own brands on Amazon, bringing valuable insight to the challenges that sellers face. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005229/en/

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Parliament has passed the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Financial Sector Recovery Levy Bill, 2021 to impose special levies on sections of the economy.



While the energy levy will tackle challenges in the energy sector, as well as sanitation and pollution-related matters, the Financial Sector Recovery Levy has been introduced to raise funds to recover the cost of the banking sector clean-up.



The Financial Sector Recovery Levy imposes a five per cent levy on the profit before tax of banks.



The levy is payable in respect of profit before tax for the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 years of assessment.



It is expected to help the government raise about GH219 million in 2021.



The energy levy bill, on the other hand, will amend the Energy Sector Levies Act, 2015 (Act 899) to provide for an Energy Sector Recovery Levy and Sanitation and Pollution Levy.



These were contained in two separate reports that were presented by the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, to Parliament last Thursday.



Proceeds



Per the reports, proceeds from the Energy Sector Recovery Levy will be used to meet the funding shortfall brought about by the inability of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to pay for light crude oil and diesel supplied via the banks to generate power under the terms of the power purchase agreements (PPAs) with independent power producers.



Additionally, the Sanitation and Pollution Levy is being imposed on specified petroleum products to provide funds to support programmes and projects to improve air quality and provide sustainable funding for the collection, treatment and disposal of liquid and solid waste.



Proceeds from the Sanitation and Pollution Levy will be utilised to improve air quality in urban areas, combat pollution and design, construct, reengineer and maintain waste disposal and treatment plants, including landfill sites and medical and other specialised waste treatment facilities.



Proceeds from the levy are also to be utilised for the construction of sanitation facilities to accelerate the elimination of open defecation and provide support for the fumigation of public spaces, schools, health centres and markets.



Proceeds application



Per the committees report on the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Bill, 2021, air pollution and poor sanitation were major drivers of non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks, strokes and lung cancer, which claimed many lives every year.



It said the Sanitation and Pollution Levy would, therefore, be applied in accordance with the objective of the government to make Ghana one of the cleanest nations in Africa, as well as contribute towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals Three and Six.



This is to ensure, among others, sustainable sanitation management for all, protect lives, livelihoods, the most vulnerable populations and improve air quality, it said.



The report estimated that total receipts from the levies would be GH666.2 million and GH311.7 million for the Energy Sector Recovery Levy and the Sanitation and Pollution Levy, respectively, in 2021.



Financial sector



For the Financial Sector Recovery Levy, the report said the government began reforms in the banking sector from August 2017 to December 2018, with the object of cleaning up the financial sector, building resilience and promoting the safety, soundness and stability of the financial system to support the economic growth agenda of Ghana.



This was informed by the asset quality review exercise of the Bank of Ghana carried out in 2015 and 2016 on universal banks, which revealed that some local banks had challenges in respect of inadequate capital, high levels of non-performing loans and weak corporate governance system, it said.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Luanda  The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sanchez Perez Castejon, arrived in Luanda on Wednesday night, for an official visit at the invitation of the Angolan Head of State, Joao Lourenco.

At the 4 de Fevereiro International Airport, in Luanda, Pedro Sanchez Perez Castejon received a warm welcome from the Angolan Foreign Affairs minister, Tete Antonio.

Pedro Sanchez Perez Castejon's work agenda foresees, for Thursday morning, the participation in an Angola-Spain business forum.

On the same day, the President of the Government of Spain goes to the Presidential Palace, where a meeting with the Angolan Head of State is scheduled, followed by official talks between delegations from both countries.

Still within the framework of the visit, Pedro Sanchez will witness, at the Presidential Palace, the signing of several legal instruments to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Still in the Presidential Palace, according to the agenda, the two officials will hold a press conference.

In the afternoon, the President of the Government of Spain will visit some socio-economic undertakings, in Luanda.

Pedro Sanchez is scheduled to leave Luanda on Thursday afternoon en route to Senegal, the second phase of his trip to the African continent.

Development of Bilateral Relations

Bilateral cooperation relations between Angola and the Kingdom of Spain are based on the General Cooperation Agreement, signed on 20 May 1987, and the Additional Agreement to the General Accord, signed in November 1987.

The cooperation between the two countries has been intensified in the business sector with the increase of Spanish companies in Angola.

In 2008, the Kingdom of Spain granted a 600 million euro credit line to Angola, with a view to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

In 2009, the Kingdom of Spain granted a new line of credit to Angola in the amount of 500 million euros, managed by the Spanish Export Credit Insurance Company - CESCE, to encourage exports between the two countries.

The credit lines meant that the cooperation turnover between Angola and Spain reached approximately one billion euros in 2011, compared to 750 million euros in 2010.

At the 4 de Fevereiro International Airport, in Luanda, Pedro Sanchez Perez Castejon received a warm welcome from the Angolan Foreign Affairs minister, Tete Antonio.

Pedro Sanchez Perez Castejon's work agenda foresees, for Thursday morning, the participation in an Angola-Spain business forum.

On the same day, the President of the Government of Spain goes to the Presidential Palace, where a meeting with the Angolan Head of State is scheduled, followed by official talks between delegations from both countries.

Still within the framework of the visit, Pedro Sanchez will witness, at the Presidential Palace, the signing of several legal instruments to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Still in the Presidential Palace, according to the agenda, the two officials will hold a press conference.

In the afternoon, the President of the Government of Spain will visit some socio-economic undertakings, in Luanda.

Pedro Sanchez is scheduled to leave Luanda on Thursday afternoon en route to Senegal, the second phase of his trip to the African continent.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Angola Governance Europe and Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

Development of Bilateral Relations

Bilateral cooperation relations between Angola and the Kingdom of Spain are based on the General Cooperation Agreement, signed on 20 May 1987, and the Additional Agreement to the General Accord, signed in November 1987.

The cooperation between the two countries has been intensified in the business sector with the increase of Spanish companies in Angola.

In 2008, the Kingdom of Spain granted a 600 million euro credit line to Angola, with a view to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

In 2009, the Kingdom of Spain granted a new line of credit to Angola in the amount of 500 million euros, managed by the Spanish Export Credit Insurance Company - CESCE, to encourage exports between the two countries.

The credit lines meant that the cooperation turnover between Angola and Spain reached approximately one billion euros in 2011, compared to 750 million euros in 2010.
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JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  A federal agency announced Wednesday it has awarded a contract to rebuild its port facility in Ketchikan, work state leaders called overdue.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it awarded an $18.8 million contract to Ahtna Infrastructure and Technologies, LLC for the project, which includes upgrades such as a new office building, a floating pier and revamped utility systems for use by visiting ships. The existing pier will be removed, the agency said in a release.





. . .
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The fallout over the AstraZeneca jab continued Thursday with several countries halting its use among younger people, as nations raced to secure much-needed vaccines in the face of fresh virus surges.

Europe's medicines regulator said this week the vaccine could cause very rare blood clots among some recipients, prompting a cascade of countries to pull the plug on giving it to people under a certain age.

Britain sought Thursday to quell fears over the jab, saying potential side effects were extremely rareand the risk of getting seriously sick from Covid-19 was far greater.

The furore over the jab comes as a number of countries battle mounting caseloads and deaths, more than a year into the pandemic that has killed almost 2.9 million people worldwide and ravaged the global economy.

Australia and the Philippines became the latest countries to restrict the use of AstraZeneca to older populations, joining several others, including Spain, Italy, France, Germany and Canada that took the decision earlier.

"It has not been our practice to jump at shadows, it has not been our practice to take unnecessary precautions," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in announcing the measure.

"We've been taking the necessary precautions based on the best possible medical advice."

'Alternative' vaccines

The decision came after the European Medicines Agency said Wednesday that blood clots should be listed as a "very rare" side effect of the jab, though it did not say any particular groups were at greater risk.

Britain said it would offer people under 30 "alternative" vaccines to AstraZenecathe country has also approved Pfizer and Moderna jabsbut on Thursday sought to reassure people about getting inoculated.

"The vaccines are safe, and if you want to have the Pfizer vaccine or Moderna vaccine instead then that is fine," Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC.

"Covid is a horrible disease and long Covid affects people in their 20s just as much it seems as any other age group and can have debilitating side effects that essentially ruin your life."

AstraZeneca has been dogged by controversy since it was rolled outfirst banned by some governments for older people over lack of data, then banned outright over clot fears.

It is stored at a warmer temperature and billed as the vaccine of choice for poorer countries since it can be transported more readily than some of its counterparts.

It has already been given in some 111 countriesmore than its competitors Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna put togetheraccording to an AFP database from official sources.

Governments are hoping vaccines will help them emerge from the pandemic, but with demand far outstripping supply many are scrambling to secure much-needed dosesas fresh waves lash several countries.

'A nightmare'

More than 700 million people across India were facing coronavirus vaccine shortages after stocks dried up, even as the country saw a record 126,000 new infections in the past 24 hours.

And Indonesia said the delivery of over 100 million AstraZeneca doses could be delayed because of export restrictions in Indiawhich produces the jaband company supply holdups.

"This is not something we can accept. We immediately communicated with AstraZeneca," Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said.

Meanwhile Poland reached a grim new record of more than 950 deaths in the past 24 hoursthe highest yetwhile Iran's cases passed the two million mark.

President Hassan Rouhani's government was under fire for allowing travel during the new year holiday, which many blamed for a spike in cases.

"Some prevented us from using the golden opportunity to put out the coronavirus fire," deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi said, describing the infection rate as "meteoric".

And in Venezuela, the government said economic sanctions against President Nicolas Maduro's administration had blocked it from buying the 30 million vaccines it needed.

The crisis has forced some in the hard-hit country to seek support online via crowdsourcing.

"This has been a nightmare, a horror," said 31-year-old Gabriela Rodriguez.

She lost her job at a travel agency due to the pandemic and set up a GoFundMe page to help care for her mother, grandparents and a cousin all hit by Covid-19.

She has so far received $1,075 from donorsmoney without which "I would be burying my mother now", Rodriguez told AFP with a quivering voice.

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

 2021 AFP
MASON CITY, Iowa - An 18-year-old Mason City man was jailed Wednesday for allegedly stealing a vehicle from a Hy-Vee parking lot.

Garret Nelson is behind held on $5,000 bond and is facing a second-degree theft charge.

Nelson was seen on security video taking the vehicle that was left unlocked and running from Hy-Vee East.

Nelson was arrested in March for stealing a vehicle from a salon in Mason City.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- As witness testimony continued Wednesday in the trial of a former Minneapolis Police officer charged in the death of George Floyd, more than 20 people lined a downtown Grand Rapids street for a Black Lives Matter vigil.

I think the verdict will determine what the trial means for the country, said Rev. Colleen Squires, an organizer of the vigil and pastor of All Souls Community Church of West Michigan.

If (Derek Chauvin) is convicted, I think it would be a sign of hope for a justice system that works for everybody. If hes not convicted, then I think it is just more of, Here we go again. When will we ever correct our past?

Chauvin, who is white, faces murder and manslaughter charges in connection with Floyds death on May 25, 2020. Prosecutors allege that Chauvin killed Floyd by pressing his knee in his neck for about nine minutes.

With other officers on scene, Chauvin continued kneeling on Floyds neck when he was handcuffed and lying on his stomach. He was being arrested for allegedly using a fake $20 at a Minneapolis store.

Video footage shows Floyd calling for his mother and saying he cant breathe before he fell unconscious. His death sparked months of nationwide demonstrations for racial justice, including numerous ones in Grand Rapids.

Related: Protestors say targeted arrests made at George Floyd rally, Grand Rapids police deny claim

Everyone has seen the video, for the most part, seen the life just being taken out of this man in front of witnesses, Squires said. And yet theres not a slam dunk with this trial; The prosecution is concerned with getting a conviction. That just tells you how imbalanced the justice system is. Its really hard to prove that Black lives matter.

What were trying to say is George Floyd, regardless of what he was doing, he is a human being and should be treated as such, but he wasnt on the day he was murdered.

Members of the vigil were met with periodic car honks signaling their approval and solidarity.

The demonstration, nor the reception, isnt new: members of All Souls, a Unitarian Universalist congregation, have been doing a once-monthly, 30-minute vigil for Black Lives Matter since 2015 at Rosa Parks Circle. Theyre joined by members of Plymouth United Church of Christ and Fountain Street Church, as well as others in the public.

Most of the Black Lives Matter signs the demonstrators hold have a name on the back of a Black person slain in the U.S., such as Tamir Rice, Ahmaud Arbery and Michael Brown.

It started as a vigil for marriage equality, which ended in summer 2015 with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling gay marriage legal nationwide.

At first, the reception from passing cars to the Black Lives Matter message wasnt always welcoming -- it was sometimes threatening.

It was scary, said Linda Squires, Colleens partner. Guys were going by and acting like they were shooting us with their fingers. And now you hear everybody is honking. Thats true with equal marriage. You just see over the years the tide changing. But unfortunately I think well be doing this for a long time.

Colleen Squires said the point of the monthly vigil is to continue the conversation regularly rather than wait for the next tragedy and, as predominantly white churches, to proclaim Black lives matter as part of their church calling.

The second thing I want to do for the members of my congregation is I tell them to take stock of how they feel coming up to this vigil and if they have any concerns for their safety or if they feel like this is risky business because were met with hostility, she said, and then to think about being white and after a half hour you get to put the sign away and not have to think about it for another month.

But then if you were African-American, you dont ever get to put the sign away.

The Black Lives Matter vigil is held first Wednesday of every month during the lunch hour starting just after noon.

Read more:

Grand jury indicts 5 for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief funds for personal use

Body found in SW Grand Rapids in Plaster Creek

Michigan halts payments on 100,000 unemployment claims likely filed by criminals
Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia:

The middle-market private investment firm Peak Rock Capital has closed its third flagship fund Peak Rock Capital Fund III at its $2 billion hard cap, substantially exceeding its target of $1.3 billion.

The Austin, Texas, firm said in a press release that its predecessor fund, Fund II, closed on $1.3 billion of commitments in 2017, and its inaugural fund closed on over $700 million in 2013.

"Fund III will continue Peak Rock's successful strategy of focusing on making investments in middle-market companies where Peak Rock can support senior management to drive rapid growth and profit improvement through operational and strategic initiatives," said the release.

Peak Rock maintains its focus on companies with resilient demand drivers, especially those within the consumer, industrial, technology, and healthcare sectors, it added.

Anthony DiSimone, Chief Executive Officer of Peak Rock, said, "We are greatly appreciative of the overwhelming support from our existing investors and new investors to our Peak Rock family. We are honored by the quality, sophistication, and diversification of the limited partners who continue to entrust us with their capital."

"The closing of Fund III, at its hard cap, is an endorsement of our team's ability, through hundreds of transactions and various economic cycles, to significantly grow and fundamentally improve businesses across North America and Europe," Anthony added.

According to the ......................

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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.
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  Charges were filed against five people in the death of a Muskegon County Jail inmate.

Jeffery Patterson, Crystal Greve, Jamal Lane, David Vanderlaan and Aubrey Schotts were each arraigned on a felony charge of involuntary manslaughter on Thursday, April 8 in Muskegon County District Court, records show.

Four of those charged are jail staff members and one is an employee of Wellpath, the corporation under contract with the county to provide healthcare services.

The charges stem from the death of Paul Bulthouse, 39, on April 4, 2019, the Muskegon County Sheriff Michael Poulin said in a news release.

The Michigan Attorneys General Office confirmed with MLive that the court records are accurate but declined to provide additional information.

Bulthouse was found dead in a detoxification cell and an autopsy said he died of natural causes due to seizures he experienced in his cell.

RELATED: Family alleges coverup in inmates death at Muskegon County Jail

Bulthouses seizures were triggered by withdrawal of prescription medication that caused severe and fatal withdrawal symptoms that were ignored, a lawsuit filed by Bulthouses family alleges.

Jail officials saw Bulthouse having continuous and numerous seizures through video surveillance and in-person and did not offer medial care, the lawsuit said.

Bulthouse had 15 seizures, starting at 2 a.m., before he died shortly after 5:30 a.m. The seizures were recorded on jail cameras, according to documents obtained by MLive/Muskegon Chronicle in an earlier Freedom of Information request.

The charges come after an independent investigation found the Muskegon County Sheriffs Office staff provided appropriate care and cell checks, Poulin said.

Jail records, video footage, access to witness and more were given to the Muskegon County Prosecutors Office, who then requested an examination by the AGs office, Poulin said.

From the beginning, my office has been committed to getting to the truth of the events surrounding this incident and that all of the facts are clearly documented, Poulin said.

More from MLive:

Homicide suspect arrested after 23-year-old killed in Kalamazoo County

How Michigans downtowns survived the pandemic

Lizards, tarantulas, 22-year-old tortoise among slew of exotic animals seized from Lansing home
Can Ukrainian Crazies Launch the World into War?

April 7 , 2021 (EIRNS)On the ground, Ukrainian army shelling continues to wreak havoc in the breakaway republics in the Donbas region. According to the Donetsk News Agency, shelling knocked out the electricity in the village of Vasilyevka, to the northeast of Donetsk city. The D.P.R. representative in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination this morning reported eight ceasefire violations by Ukrainian forces in the previous 24 hours, involving 89 rounds fired from grenade launchers and mortars. In addition to the power outage in Vasilyevka, a water pumping station in another village was also knocked out.

In light of these provocations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed doubt as to whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky even controls the Ukrainian army along the line of contact, which the ceasefire established. So far, we cant see signs indicating that the Ukrainian side wants to somewhat calm down, drop bellicose rhetoric hidden behind the talk about some imaginary threat and take control of its army units that are deployed directly along the contact line [in Donbas] and that often become a source of provocations, he said, reported TASS. According to the Kremlin spokesman, during a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin clearly worded Moscows concerns over the situation in Ukraine. Other capitals have also been informed about our concerns. Indeed, the situation leaves much to be desired, Peskov added.

Its vital to make sure that nothing incites the Ukrainian Armed Forces to launch hostilities against their own people, the people who live in the self-proclaimed republics, he pointed out. Peskov declined to comment when asked what Moscow could do to protect Russian passport holders in Donbas if tensions continued to escalate, saying it was inappropriate to speculate about possible developments. There are reported to be some 250,000 such passport holders in the two breakaway republics based in Donetsk and Luhansk.

A Ukrainian official, meanwhile, announced yesterday that the Kiev regime would not be sending its representatives back to Minsk to participate in the Minsk Contact Group discussions after the COVID-19 quarantine is over. We explained that the Ukrainian delegation will not send its members to Minsk. We will still have to look for another country, another place to conduct it in real life, said Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov. He explained this position by Russias influence on Belarus today. Ukraine does not trust this territory in this regard. According to Reznikov, pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian opinions are dominating in Belarus now.
[April 08, 2021] My Kitchen and Me Announces the Launch of Their New Online Store

BERKELEY, Calif., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- My Kitchen and Me, an online initiative for those starting on their eco-friendly and green journey, is excited to announce the launch of their new online store. The blog turned one-stop-shop allows readers to get familiar with cleaning techniques, using everyday household items in new ways, as well as learning about new up-and-coming brands in the green household space. Started in late 2020 by Ana Bonifacio, a pioneer in the field of holistic healthcare, the brand began as a way to help educate those interested in finding green and eco-friendly alternatives to the harsh cleaning products that have become household names. While inarguably efficient, household products that we use on our floors, countertops, and even on our dishes can leave behind toxic residue. While ok for most users, these toxins have been known to put those with ailments such as asthma, allergies, and infants at risk for complications and severe reactions. Key studies have found that women using bleach frequently (11%) were more likely to have current asthma as compared to non-users. Shockingly, those at risk from use of common household products can include those with no previous sensitivity. Consistently, among women without allergic sensitization, significant positive associations were found between use of bleach and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, asthma like-symptoms and chronic cough.



"With the launch of this store, we hope to reach communities that may have been shy in the past about switching over to green cleaning products," says Ana Bonifacio, Founder and CEO. "We debunk a lot of the myths associated with turning away from brands we've learned to love and trust, and turning to items we haven't associated with cleaning before." My Kitchen and Me is a bilingual blog that was launched with the hope of extending its reach into the Latino community. The Dominican founder saw a disparity of how and who green products have historically targeted. Our articles are shared in both English and Spanish to ensure that we can take our message to every home and casa in the nation.

Products available on My Kitchen and Me include: Meliora, Jaws, Better Life, Green Heritage Pro etc. More information is available on www.mykitchenandmeonline.com and Instagram. About My Kitchen and Me:

My Kitchen and Me empowers you to make smarter decisions about what you clean with. At the core of everything we do in our kitchen is desire to cultivate a safe haven for our families and ourselves. But at times the products we use to stay safe are actually the ones making us sick. We're here to teach you to gain a powerful clean with green & bio-friendly products. We've curated content from years of expertise to provide you with how-to's, guides, and round ups of our top products. Let's not forget, our recommendations are free from harsh chemicals. Read Spanish press release here. Media Contact:

Eva Valdebenito

306942@email4pr.com

829-537-5737 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/my-kitchen-and-me-announces-the-launch-of-their-new-online-store-301264921.html SOURCE My Kitchen and Me

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Algiers, April 08, 2021 (SPS) - An Algerian delegation withdrew last Sunday from a regional meeting of Middle East and North Africa customs directors in protest at maps displayed that included the map of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic with the territory of Morocco.

In a statement made public by the Director General of Algerian Customs, Nureddinne Khalidi, the Algerian official said that, before the beginning of the meeting sessions, our delegation expressed its categorical rejection of the content of the documents presented by the Regional Office of Communications, which is headquartered in Morocco, and which included several illegal maps showing the map of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as part of Morocco, in clear violation of international legality and relevant UN resolutions .

The Director of Customs of Algeria asked the president of the meeting "to immediately withdraw the maps, as well as the annexes, communications or any other document, whether printed or electronic, that includes the territory of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic with Morocco, as otherwise, the Algerian delegation would withdraw from the meeting .

Given the refusal of the president of the meeting to respond positively to Algeria's request, claiming that the meeting sessions will take this issue into account, and after the Moroccan representative clinging to his false allegations of the legitimacy of the maps, in clear violation of the UN resolutions, the Algerian delegation decided to leave the meeting and inform its president that they will not continue their participation in the meeting.SPS

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Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Communications Degree Programs.

Intelligent.com analyzed 300 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 65 making it to the final list for Online Communications Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-communications-degree-programs/

2021 Online Communications Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Academy Of Art University

Alvernia University

American Public University

Appalachian State University

Arizona State University

Bellevue University

Bemidji State University

California Baptist University, Online

City University of New York

Colorado State University

Columbus State University

Concordia University Wisconsin

DePaul University

Dominican College

Drexel University

Florida International University

Franklin University

Indiana University East

King University

Lamar University

Lasell College

Liberty University

Lynn University

Midway University

Mississippi College

Missouri State University

Montana State University Billings

Northeastern University

Northern Arizona University

Notre Dame of Maryland University

Ohio University

Old Dominion University

Penn State World Campus

Point Park University

Purdue University

Queens University of Charlotte

Regent University

Regis University

San Diego Christian College

Southern New Hampshire University

St. Bonaventure University

State University of New York, Oswego

Thomas Jefferson University

University of Arizona

University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

University of Central Florida

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

University of Colorado Denver

University of Louisville

University of Maryland Global Campus

University of Minnesota, Crookston

University of Missouri

University of Nebraska

University of New Mexico

University of North Dakota

University of Southern Maine

University of Texas Permian Basin

University of West Alabama

Valley City State University

Waldorf University

Washington State University

Webster University

West Virginia University

Wilmington 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/.
New Delhi, April 8 : With India witnessing a rapid surge in Covid-19 cases, technology companies operating in India are betting big on the hybrid work model, while encouraging eligible employees to get vaccinated to fight the pandemic.

While Accenture said it is continuing to monitor and consider the guidance of external experts and groups, Dell Technologies said its entire workforce in India is doing remote work.

"We have the required infrastructure, automation, monitoring tools and network topology, which has been empowering work from home for our team members," said Alok Ohrie, President and Managing Director, Dell Technologies India.

"In fact, in India, our entire workforce is doing remote work with this required infrastructure in place, and we are fully prepared to support this flexible work environment." Dell Technologies said that it is also ensuring that other companies can leverage its technologies to offer the work solutions suited for the current situation.

"While our customers and partners are concerned about the changing environment, we are committed to ensuring that there is no disruption in their ability to serve their customers, societies and employees," Ohrie said.

"Through our multiple initiatives such as our flexible payment solutions, remote working solutions like Unified Workspace, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure and many more, we are serving our customers and partners across the globe during these critical times." Several companies have also come forward to bear the cost of vaccinations for their employees.

"We strongly support the scientific and public health advice that encourages vaccination," said Rekha Menon, Chairperson and Senior Managing Director, Accenture in India.

"For employees who are eligible and choose to receive the Covid-19 vaccination, Accenture will cover the cost for the employee and their dependents who are part of our medical benefits programme." Cloud data services company NetApp has also taken similar initiative to encourage vaccination, while also offering "periodic wellness holidays" to ensure general wellbeing of employees.

"NetApp had announced extended work-from-home for all its employees till January 2022, much before the second wave of Covid-19 hit," a company spokesperson told IANS.

"We are encouraging all our employees to get vaccinated as announced by the government. All vaccination and Covid care related costs are being borne by NetApp." Some organisations feel that while it is important to contain the surge in Covid-19 cases in India, a complete lockdown at this point of time might not be the right solution as the economy is still recovering from the damage it suffered due the restrictions imposed last year.

"To avoid business impact, we at Kodak TV India, are following all the protocols and guidelines and calling workers that cannot work from home. This is to ensure that we continue manufacturing while ensuring their safety and the safety of our consumers as well," said Avneet Singh Marwah, Director, and CEO of Super Plastronics Pvt. Ltd, a Kodak brand licensee.

"I feel another complete lockdown is not a solution, economy is in crisis... we need to have a balance." India recorded 1,26,789 Covid-19 cases on Thursday, the highest single day surge after the pandemic outbreak last year. With this, India's total tally rose to 1,29,28,574, according to Health Ministry data.

According to a Nasscom report released in February, despite the impact of Covid-19, the Indian technology sector rallied round to grow at 2.3 per cent year on year in the financial year 2020-21 on the back of rapid acceleration in digital transformation and tech adoption.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
This wrap-up of International People Moves details recent appointments at Tremor Technologies, Mosaic, AIRMIC and Aeolus Capital Management Ltd.

A summary of these new hires follows.

Tremor Technologies

Boston-based Tremor Technologies, the online reinsurance marketplace, announced that reinsurance executive Emmanuel Clarke has joined its board of directors.

Clarke has had a long and successful career in the reinsurance industry, spending more than 25 years at PartnerRe, most recently leading the firm as president and CEO.

I have always been impressed by Tremor and its products, and today I am very excited to join Tremors board and contribute to its growth acceleration, said Clarke.

I am convinced Tremor represents the future evolution of reinsurance purchasing, where buyers make most informed decisions based on transparent, comprehensive information. Tremors platform brings value to the whole reinsurance placement process  including buyers, brokers and reinsurers, by generating best outcomes through data and expertise, optimized execution and greater efficiency, said Clarke.

Mosaic

William Monat, a prominent mergers and acquisitions insurance market veteran, has joined insurer Mosaic to spearhead the specialty companys transactional liability business around the world.

Based in Chicago as executive vice president, global head of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Monat will oversee underwriting operations in North America, the UK, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions. His focus includes representations & warranties, tax insurance, and contingent liability insurance products.

Monat has more than 20 years experience as a leader in the transactional risk insurance sector as an underwriter, broker and lawyer. Between December 2011 and April 2021, he led the Mergers & Acquisitions Group in North America for Willis Towers Watson. Monat has experience as a practicing attorney and certified public accountant.

The M&A market has seen a dramatic uptick in the last two quarters, with increased demand for capacity across the board, said Mosaic, noting that this recent trend follows a decade of growth in deal volume, with an increasing number of buyers and sellers seeking insurance protection in M&A, restructurings, partnerships, venture capital initiatives and other transactions.

Bermuda-based Mosaic was founded by CEO Mitch Blaser earlier this year. The insurer combines Lloyds Syndicate 1609 with a wholly owned syndicated capital management agency and underwriting hubs in Bermuda, London, the U.S., and Asia. The company is focused on a select number of complex lines of specialty business being launched throughout 2021. To date, Mosaic has built teams who have begun underwriting political risk and cyber security globally.

AIRMIC

Airmic, the UKs risk management association, announced the appointment of Julia Graham as chief executive of the association for risk and insurance professionals, succeeding John Ludlow.

Graham is a former chair of both Airmic and FERMA, the Federation of European Risk Management Associations. Prior to assuming the CEO role, Graham served as deputy CEO and technical director of Airmic since October 2015.

She has more than 35 years experience in senior risk management and insurance positions, including serving as director of risk management and insurance at a global law firm and 30 years in the insurance sector.

Graham is also a board member of IFRIMA, the International Federation of Risk and Insurance Management Associations, and serves as a non-executive director of several captive insurance companies.

Ludlow joined Airmics board of directors in 2012, and served as its deputy chair from 2015 to 2016, before beginning his tenure as CEO of Airmic from June 2017. Ludlow will hand over to Graham during April and continue to serve in several non-executive board positions, including at Airmic.

Aeolus Capital Management Ltd.

Aeolus Capital Management Ltd. announced that Andy Richardson will be appointed as a Portfolio Manager at Aeolus, subject to Bermuda Immigration approval and after fulfilling his obligations with Lancashire Insurance Co. Ltd., where he is currently head of Property Treaty.

Prior to joining Lancashire, Richardson was a broker at Guy Carpenter where he worked for more than eight years in the United Kingdom, Japan, China and New York.

Bermuda-based Aeolus Capital Management Ltd. said it manages capital on behalf of investors seeking the superior risk adjusted returns and diversification benefits available from investing in the property catastrophe reinsurance and retrocession market. Aeolus manages more than $4 billion of assets on behalf of institutional investors globally.

Topics Mergers Willis Towers Watson
Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane will meet with the three service chiefs of the Bangladesh Armed Forces during his visit to the neighbouring country.

MM Naravane on Thursday proceeded on a five-day visit to Bangladesh to enhance defence cooperation and strong bilateral ties between the two nations.

The Indian Army said that the visit will further deepen the bilateral relationships between the two Armies and act as a catalyst for closer coordination and cooperation between the two countries on a host of strategic issues.

The visit comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh. PM Modi paid a visit to Bangladesh from March 26-27, during which New Delhi and Dakha signed MoUs in key sectors including trade and technology to foster bilateral ties and affirmed commitment to eliminating terrorism in all its forms.

"Continuing with the excellent tradition of strong bilateral and defence ties between India and Bangladesh, General MM Naravane, Chief of the Army Staff has proceeded on a visit to Bangladesh from 8 to 12 April 2021," the Army said.

General Naravane will pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by laying a wreath at the Shikha Anirban on Thursday.

"This will be followed by one-to-one meetings with the three Service Chiefs of Bangladesh's Armed Forces. General Naravane will also visit the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi, where he will pay tributes to Bangladesh's founding father," the Army said.

The Army Chief will also interact with Bangladesh's Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on April 11 at Bangladesh Army's Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka where he will attend a seminar on UN Peace Support Operations and deliver a keynote address on "Changing Nature of Global Conflicts: Role of UN Peacekeepers".

General Naravane is also scheduled to interact with the Force Commanders of the United Nations Missions in Mali, South Sudan and Central African Republic and the Deputy Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutanese Army on April 12.

He will also attend the closing ceremony of Exercise Shantir Ogrosena, a multilateral UN-mandated counterterrorism exercise comprising the Armed Forces of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka along with observers from the US, UK, Turkey and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia among others.

The Chief will also witness the innovations of the Bangladeshi Armed Forces personnel during the Hardware Display.

The Chief of the Army Staff will interact with the members of Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support and Training Operations (BIPSOT) during the last leg of his visit.

(ANI)

Also Read: CDS Gen Bipin Rawat says China ahead of India only in Cyber Offensive capability
The new purchase orders include a second order from Ontario Cannabis Store and a third from Yukon Liquor Corporation and these highlight an ongoing shift towards a recurring revenue model.

A new larger one-ounce bag product segment allows consumers to secure product at a competitive price.

s ( ) (FRA:1X8) wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, Mernova Medicinal Inc has secured new purchase orders (POs) with a total value of C$145,192 (A$150,770) from the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) and Yukon Liquor Corporation.

The new POs include a second from OCS and a third from Yukon Liquor Corp and highlight an ongoing shift towards a recurring revenue model for Creso Pharma.

This new PO from the Yukon marks the second order for pre-roll joint range Ritual Sticks, which provides multiple growth opportunities for Mernova and access to a large potential customer base.

It also includes the first order for the new Ritual Green one-ounce bag offering introduced by Mernova so consumers can secure a larger supply of its leading cannabis strains at a volume discount.

Major achievement

Mernovas managing director Jack Yu said: To have secured these new purchase orders is a major achievement for Mernova.

Particularly, the repeat order from OCS is very pleasing and our second order for Ritual Sticks in another new province highlights the significant potential the product has amongst consumers.

The pre-roll market segment is booming and offers Mernova a huge opportunity that we plan to capitalise on to the fullest.

We are very confident that we can leverage our growing reputation as a high-quality, artisanal, craft cannabis producer, to make headway into this market, and establish ourselves as producers of some of the best pre-roll joints in the country with our Ritual Sticks, as were currently doing with our Ritual Green brand, in the dried flower market.

New product

Mernovas new one-ounce bag product segment allows consumers to secure more high-quality product at competitive prices and also streamlines the companys inventory and supply chain.

This initial order is for Mernovas Mimosa strain with other strains to potentially follow.

Yu said: We are also very happy to have launched our new one-ounce bag offering, which will allow consumers to purchase more of their favourite cannabis at competitive prices, by offering a volume discount.

The larger ounce offering will also allow the company to streamline its inventory practices, ensuring we retain the highest standard and quality of cannabis in our range of high-quality offerings.

Ritual Sticks brand

Mernova sells its pre-roll joint range under the Ritual Sticks brand.

The pre-roll products utilise the companys top-quality indoor grown, hand trimmed, hang dried, cured, artisanal, craft cannabis sold under the Ritual Green segment.

The Ritual Sticks range provides products for people that do not know how to roll their own joints, or simply prefer the convenience of having their joints pre-rolled for them.

The pre-roll cannabis segment is a large addressable market for Mernova and also serves as an entry-level product that allows consumers to try Mernovas high-quality strains at an affordable and attractive price point.

Uptake in orders

Mernova is witnessing strong uptake of its products across Canada and shorter intervals between purchase orders.

The company is encouraged as this highlights Mernovas strong brand recognition in a highly competitive market in Canada.

Additional orders are expected in the near term, which underpins a positive outlook for the remainder of the financial year.

Yu said: As the time between purchase orders continues to decrease, Mernova continues on a track towards a stable and recurring revenue model.

We anticipate that this trend will continue and we remain very optimistic about our growth prospects over the coming months.

Creso Pharma shares have been as much as 6.5% higher today to A$0.207 while the company's market capitalisation is approximately A$214.9 million.
Through the Qatar Haiti Fund, we are proud to partner with Hope for Haiti in support of their important work, and we hope our gift has served as a symbol of solidarity from the people of Qatar to show that Haiti is not forgotten and not without hope"

Hope for Haiti and The Qatar Haiti Fund are pleased to share the programmatic impact made possible through The Qatar Haiti Funds $1,890,945 donation to the organization in 2019. The significant donation impacted the lives of 300,000 Haitians through Hope for Haitis programs designed to improve access to quality healthcare, clean drinking water, and education.

Thanks to the support from the Qatar Haiti Fund, Hope for Haiti has been able to improve the quality of life for Haitian children, parents and grandparents, said Hope for Haiti CEO Skyler Badenoch. The support from the Qatar Haiti Fund came at a critical time, as Haitian families faced significant challenges resulting from political unrest and the social, economic, and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the Qatar Haiti Fund, we are proud to partner with Hope for Haiti in support of their important work, and we hope our gift has served as a symbol of solidarity from the people of Qatar to show that Haiti is not forgotten and not without hope, said His Excellency Meshal Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United States.

Hope for Haiti has released a video showcasing the full impact made through this partnership, viewable at: https://hopeforhaiti.info/qhf

About Hope for Haiti:

With experience running poverty alleviation programs in Haiti since 1989, Hope for Haiti has emerged as one of the most trusted non-profit organizations working to improve the quality of life for the Haitian people, particularly children, in southern Haiti. The organizations team and network of partners provide people with better access to education, healthcare, water, and economic development opportunities. Hope for Haiti is a 4-star rated charity by Charity Navigator and is a participant at the Platinum Level through the GuideStar Exchange, two leading independent evaluators recognizing the organizations transparency and careful stewardship of donor resources. To learn more: http://www.hopeforhaiti.com.

About The State of Qatar

Qatar is an independent state in the southern Arabian Gulf. It has a population of approximately 2.7 million people, the majority of whom live in and around Doha, the capital. Diplomatic relations with the United States were established in 1972; in the same year, Qatars first diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C. opened. The relationship between the two countries has always been friendly, highly productive and reciprocal. Qatar is home to many Americans, and the United States is both Qatars largest foreign investor and its largest source of imports. Qatar-U.S. relations are growing continuously in multiple areas: economic, political, military, educational and cultural. Qatar is a close ally of the United States and a strong advocate of building a peaceful, prosperous and stable Middle East. Qatar has provided significant humanitarian and development assistance to countries around the world, including the United States.
Varanasi, April 8 : Nearly 60 per cent of the government vaccination centres in Varanasi, the constituency of Prime minister Narendra Modi, have had to shut down due to a shortage of Covid vaccines.

Of the 66 government-approved vaccination centres in Varanasi, the Covid immunization drive is only taking place at 25 as the other sites have cited a shortage of Covid vaccines.

The district-level vaccine distribution centre in Varanasi, situated in Chaukaghat, has also been shut down.

Shyamji Prasad, a health worker, at the Chaukaghar distribution centre, said that vaccine supply from Lucknow has reduced drastically. He added that there is a high demand for vaccines in Varanasi, leading to a shortfall in doses.

Prasad also said that stocks of both Covaxin and Covishield have been depleted and the shortage is being faced at the divisional level.

A sign at a Covid vaccination centre in Varanasi says, "Covid vaccination facility is not available at this clinic till further orders." Dr. Neelam Gupta, principal of Chaukaghat Government Ayurvedic Hospital, said that while an average of 450-500 people get vaccinated at the site every day, they had to turn back many as they had no doses on Wednesday.

Varanasi immunization officer Dr. Vijay Shankar Rai said that the shortage is because of low stocks at the regional vaccine store.

He said that though there is no paucity of vaccines in Lucknow, it is not able to reach Varanasi.

He also added that instructions have come to reduce the number of vaccination centres in the district.

"I request people to remain patient. The vaccine doses will come soon. Since the government always supplies the stock in advance, we never faced any issue. Earlier, we were vaccinating 2,500-3,000 people daily but we increased that number to nearly 7,000 in April. I cannot give the exact reason for the disruption in supply of vaccines," he said.

Meanwhile, senior officials of the Uttar Pradesh government, when contacted, refused to comment on the situation.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 20:28:31|Editor: huaxia

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-- The megacity of Wuhan on Thursday marked the first anniversary since it ended the 76-day isolation and the 10th month without reporting any locally transmitted infections.

-- Strict quarantines during the lockdown, a citywide nucleic acid testing drive and regular anti-virus measures have contributed to Wuhan's rise as a post-pandemic "city of safety." An ongoing inoculation drive is expected to further beef up the city's defense against the virus.

-- Residents, flight crew and even hot dry noodle shops have testified to the return of economic and social vitality and the end of the "psychological lockdown."





Medical workers who had assisted with the fight against the epidemic in 2020 enjoy the cherry blossom season at Wuhan University in central China's Hubei Province, March 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

by Xinhua Writers Yue Wenwan, Yu Pei, Tian Zhongquan and Yao Yuan

WUHAN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Wuhan resident Yuan Baohua carried a sense of responsibility with her when going for the COVID-19 inoculation, which she believed will help boost the city's collective immunity a year after a COVID-19 lockdown was lifted.

"Though I'm old, I'm in good health, and many of my peers have already taken the vaccine," Yuan said while getting the first of two doses after the city expanded COVID-19 inoculation to include elderly residents in late March.

Accompanying her at the vaccination site was her daughter-in-law Celia Esquivel Salguero, who has lived in Wuhan for over 10 years. "I told my parents in Guatemala about my decision to take the vaccine, and they fully supported me," she said.

Yuan's family has faithfully participated in Wuhan's previous mass mobilization that helped the city triumph over the virus, from months-long home quarantines to citywide nucleic acid testing.

"Now the vaccination will add more defense, and I'm looking forward to the day when we are no longer afraid of the virus," Yuan said.

Photo taken on March 29, 2021 shows a night market in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

CITY OF SAFETY

On Thursday, the megacity in central China's Hubei Province marked the first anniversary since it ended the 76-day isolation and the 10th month without reporting any locally transmitted infections.

Strict quarantines during the lockdown, the citywide nucleic acid testing drive that tested nearly 10 million residents and enforcement of regular anti-virus measures have made Wuhan a post-pandemic "city of safety" and lifted its "psychological lockdown."

Shopping blocks, pedestrian streets and restaurants in the city are again crowded with people. Li Li queued for nearly two hours on the popular Hanjie Street to taste this year's crayfish.

The 26-year-old local resident was comfortable with dining out in a restaurant packed with people. "Why not? I think we are in one of the safest cities in the world," she said.

Wuhan has reported no new local infections since May 18, 2020. As of Tuesday, nearly 3.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Wuhan, according to the municipal health commission.

People visit a commercial street in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

About 2 km from Hanjie Street stands the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, one of the first hospitals in Wuhan designated to treat COVID-19 patients and also among the last to resume normal operation.

Zhang Dongdong, a physiotherapist at the hospital, saw the return of his patients as evidence that the city is back on its feet.

"At first, many patients would not dare come for rehab, as our ward had been used to receive COVID-19 patients, but by last September, our department was once again filled with people," the therapist said.

"My job is to help patients gradually stand up, walk and run through physical training, just as Wuhan recovered with help from across the country," Zhang said.

To defend the victory against the novel coronavirus, Wuhan has been empowering its public health sector since last year. It has built four 1,000-member teams to conduct epidemiological investigations, disinfection, testing and epidemic control respectively.

"I barely had a break at the peak of Wuhan's epidemic. During the day, I was busy with epidemiological investigations, and I had to collect and report related information at night," recalled Tan Yefeng, a doctor at Wuchang district's center for disease control and prevention (CDC).

Epidemiological investigations track the routes and sources of new infections, which is vital for official interventions to contain any further spread.

Tan testified to the substantial improvements in the epidemic response system, including the expansion of the district CDC personnel, whose number has doubled since the outbreak and will continue to increase.

"And now not only the CDC but also personnel from hospitals, civil service, police and communities will join epidemiological investigations," he said.

Zhai Chenfei (C), a pilot of China Southern Airlines, poses with volunteers during his work break in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 22, 2020. (Xinhua)

ECONOMIC RECOVERY

During Wuhan's lockdown that saw outbound flights and trains suspended, Zhai Chenfei, a pilot with China Southern Airlines, piloted his car instead of a plane to help deliver vegetables and medicine for residents and medical workers.

It was not until September that Zhai was able to be back in the cockpit.

"Flying through the blue sky made me feel my life had finally returned to the right track," said Zhai. "Though the number of flights and passengers remained sluggish for a long time, I can see the industry pick up steam these days."

According to the operator of the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, the airport handled a daily average of 536 domestic passenger flights and 65,800 domestic passengers in March, up 14.03 percent and 4.99 percent respectively from the same period in 2019.

As the Chinese city hit hardest by the virus, Wuhan's GDP dropped by a moderately 4.7 percent in 2020, compared with a 40.5-percent contraction in the virus-ravaged first quarter. The investments it received last year even rose 6.7 percent to 930 billion yuan (142 billion U.S. dollars).

The uptrend continued this year, with 215 large projects worth 330.54 billion yuan launched in February, and 112 projects inked with a total investment of 346.2 billion yuan in March. Both hit record highs in Wuhan.

The service sector is also in steady recovery. Running a shop selling Wuhan's signature hot dry noodles, Luo Sisi now gets up at 3 a.m. to prepare the food as customers return in large numbers.

"Our sales are even 10 percent higher than that in the year 2019," said Luo.

Photo taken on April 2, 2021 shows Luo Sisi at his hot dry noodles shop in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Rao Rao)

Reopened on April 15, 2020, Luo's noodles shop also witnessed the city's psychological recovery. He felt relieved, especially when seeing parents taking their children out to eat breakfast.

"People are more tolerant after the epidemic. Everyone is more patient when queuing up to buy noodles, and everything is more orderly," said Luo.

Luo's parent shop operates over 70 branch stores. Although a dozen closed during the epidemic, 27 new shops opened after June 2020.

"The hot dry noodle is not only a popular food but also a spiritual icon of the city," Luo said. "We have not only survived the epidemic, but are now capable of helping more people start a business."

(Video reporters: Yu Pei, Rao Rao, Tu Rui, Yue Wenwan, Tian Zhongquan; Video editor: Hong Ling)
Well, it worked for Brendan Byrne.

So maybe it will work for our current governor.

Byrne was the last Democrat to be re-elected governor in New Jersey. That was back in 1977.

At the time, the governor was known as One-Term Byrne because of his success the prior year in getting the first state income tax enacted. The Republicans believed this would lead to Byrnes loss the following year. But Byrne outsmarted them by sending out some hefty property-tax rebate checks the month before election  all bearing his signature of course.

It was a nice trick. And Murphy is trying it again. This summer the governor, who is up for re-election in November, plans to send out checks for up to $500 to households with incomes up to $150,000.

Like Byrne, Murphy is arguing these rebates will be funded out of the income tax, specifically the extension of the states millionaires tax he got through the Legislature last year.

But state revenues represent a big pot of cash, about $47 billion total. The $320 million for the rebates represents just a small scoop from that pot, which is overflowing at the moment.

One reason the pots so full is that last year Murphy borrowed $4.3 billion to make up for revenue he argued would be lost because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, the head of the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services testified at a state Senate Budget Committee hearing that from todays vantage point, that borrowing was not essential.

Gee, who could have foreseen that?

Steve Oroho, thats who.

The Republican state senator from Sussex County, who serves on that committee, argued last summer that there was no need for borrowing to balance the budget

The income tax is based on a year in which the markets did extremely well before the pandemic even hit, he told me last July. As for the sales tax, that has been better than expected.

So why the race to borrow?

Maybe theyre rushing this because they want to borrow as much money as they can, and once people know the real numbers theyre not gonna have a case, said Oroho at the time.

He argued that the states bond rating was bad enough even without new borrowing. That was borne out in November, when S&P Global Ratings, citing significant structural deficits, lowered the rating on our general obligation bonds out of the A range. Illinois is the only other state without an A rating.

New Jersey sold its bonds anyway. But now that the proceeds are no longer needed to balance the budget, what should we do with the $4.3 billion?

Another Republican on the Budget Committee, Declan OScanlon of Monmouth County, said that Murphy has already answered that question to his satisfaction.

Last year he said that if it turns out we dont need this money well just pay off the debt, OScanlon told me.

He did indeed. In April of last year, Murphy said that if it turned out the money was not needed to balance the budget, We can just pay down the debt immediately, Samantha Marcus reported in Tuesdays Star-Ledger.

She also quoted Murphy as saying that if revenues came in higher than expected, will we be, in our highest priorities, looking at debt reduction? You betcha!.

OScanlon wouldnt take that bet, he told me. First he wants more information on what Murphy plans to do with the bond proceeds.

The bonds sold last year are not callable, but OScanlon and Oroho said theyd like to see Murphy use that $4.3 billion to defease other debt - put the billions in a lockbox and dedicating it to paying off other bonds as they come due.

Whether Murphy will do so remains to be seen. The Republicans say they fear the governor might sink the money into pork projects that would help the Dems in the elections in which all 120 seats in the Legislature are also up for grabs. He cited those rebate checks as an example.

They committed us to borrowing money they didnt need to give us a check for what? OScanlon asked. Their own good will?

But thats just a small part of the negotiations for a budget bill that has to be enacted by June 30. The other wild card is $6.4 billion in federal COVID aid that will be coming our way, he said. As much as $3.2 billion could arrive in June, he said, yet so far Murphy hasnt discussed with the Legislature what how he intends to spend it, he said.

Its such an astounding amount of money that I have no idea how hes going to spend it, OScanlon said.

If I had to make a bet, Id bet the house that Murphy knows.
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation

Bern, 08.04.2021 - Swissnex is Switzerlands international network for education, research and innovation (ERI). It promotes the international exchange of knowledge, ideas and talent, strengthening Switzerlands reputation in research and innovation excellence. Marking its 20th anniversary last year, Swissnex launched its nex20 campaign to explore future opportunities and challenges for Switzerland as a centre for ERI. The Swissnex 2020 annual report, available at annualreport.swissnex.org, presents the many highlights, challenges and ideas which shaped an extraordinary year.

Twenty years have passed since Swissnex was founded in Boston. The incentive behind it was to increase the visibility of Switzerlands enormous potential for innovation by establishing a dedicated local presence. Since then, Swissnex has evolved to become a unique networking platform  a global network with the potential to shape tomorrows ERI landscape through a mutual exchange of knowledge, ideas and talent.

nex20: looking to Switzerlands future as a centre for ERI

Swissnex used its anniversary in 2020 as an opportunity to reflect on a number of topics for the future. How will Switzerland position itself in the world as a centre for ERI in the next 20 years? What tasks will Swissnex face in 2040, and how will it meet its partners changing needs?

As part of its anniversary campaign nex20  connecting tomorrow, a variety of events and activities were held around four individual themes: Learning Tomorrow, Meeting Tomorrow, Working Tomorrow and Living Tomorrow. For example, Swissnex in India organised a 48-hour global hackathon, nexHack Edtech, which brought together 130 participants from 45 countries to collaborate on finding solutions to the challenges facing education today.

In 2020, Swissnex hosted more than 210 events and activities in partnership with some 190 Swiss organisations. It also assisted 53 Swiss start-ups in their internationalisation process and facilitated exchanges between actors on a variety of topics relevant to Switzerlands ERI landscape. These figures highlight the added value provided by the Swissnex locations: in connecting ERI actors in their respective countries with partners in Switzerland, they bring together people whose paths may never have crossed otherwise. Such unexpected encounters, made possible by Swissnex, enable the project partners to explore new avenues and enhance their international competitiveness. A global approach to ERI promotes knowledge-sharing and personnel mobility, both of which benefit Swiss actors in ERI and Switzerlands reputation as a centre for research and innovation.

Swissnex is the global network connecting Switzerland and the world in education, research, and innovation. Our mission is to support the outreach and active engagement of our partners in the international exchange of knowledge, ideas and talent. The five main Swissnex locations are established in the worlds most innovative regions. Together with around twenty Science Offices and Counselors based in Swiss Embassies, they contribute to strengthen Switzerlands profile as a world-leading innovation hotspot.

Swissnex is an initiative of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation and is part of the Confederations network abroad managed by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The Swissnex activities are based on a collaborative approach, relying on public and private partnerships and funding.

Address for enquiries

Communication

State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation SERI

medien@sbfi.admin.ch

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State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation

http://www.sbfi.admin.ch




Damascus, April 8 : A fresh Israeli missile attack targeted positions near the Syrian capital of Damascus on Thursday, injuring four soldiers and causing widespread damage.

Citing a military source, the state media said that the attack was launched by Israeli warplanes flying over neighbouring Lebanon, and the Syrian air defences responded to the attack, shooting down most of the missiles, reports Xinhua news agency.

Residents in Damascus watched the air defences' trace and fire at the Israeli targets in the sky amid sounds of explosions.

According to reports, Israel in recent years has carried out numerous airstrikes against Iranian-linked targets in Syria.
With their belief in Vietnams ability to control COVID-19 and recover from the pandemics economic fallout, Singapore-based Pegasus Investment and Consultancy JSC and Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts have signed a hotel management agreement to open Dhawa Quy Nhon Vietnam upon the projects completion in 2023.

The deal was inked in Singapore on Wednesday as part of the second phase of the Pegasus Education Tourism Complex for Dhawa Quy Nhon Vietnam, an eco-resort project with an estimated total investment of S$100 million (US$75 million).

Pegasus will provide its first resort services during this phase, said Pegasus chairman Ricky Tan.

With COVID-19 vaccination programs underway globally and in Vietnam, we believe Dhawa Quy Nhon Vietnam will benefit from the pent-up demand of leisure travel, especially in nature-based resort environments, when borders reopen and domestic tourism recovers, Tan was quoted by The Strait Times as saying.

The projects first phase broke ground in 2016 with the opening of Outward Bound Vietnam (OBV), a life skill training zone.

Its third phase will include the construction of ecological residences.

Pegasus Education Tourism Complex cements the company's long-term commitment and investments in Vietnam, said Tan.

The latest investment signals the firm's strong confidence in Vietnam's economic development and growth prospects, he added.

Ho Kwon Ping, executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings, said that the agreement marks Banyan Tree Groups second Dhawa resort in Vietnam and reflects the groups continued growth.

Ping also expressed his optimism about Vietnams economic strength as well as the long-term prospects of the countrys tourism sector.

"This strategic partnership highlights the like-minded collaboration and entrepreneurship of two home-grown brands with strong overseas footprints," he told The Strait Times.

Seated on 10.5ha of land in Quy Nhon, the capital city of Binh Dinh Province in south-central Vietnam, Dhawa Quy Nhon Vietnam will have 240 rooms upon its completion.

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BASIC countries or bloc of four newly industrialised nations - Brazil, South Africa, and in a joint session on asked the developed economies to provide climate finance to developing nations.

The 30th session of the ministerial committee was held on Thursday. The committee was chaired by Prakash Javadekar, Union minister of environment, forest & and attended by key ministers from the other three countries.

"The Ministers expressed their deep concern on the insufficiency and inadequacy of the support provided by developed countries to date. The scale and speed of climate finance from developed countries has to increase considerably," said the joint statement issued by the BASIC.

The ministers also urged the developed countries to present a roadmap on their existing obligations at COP26 to mobilize $100 billion per year from 2021 to 2025.

The statement by the BASIC comes ahead of the global climate conference COP26 slated to take place in Glasgow, UK this year in November.

Ministers emphasised the necessity for the Glasgow Conference to "deliver a breakthrough on financing for developing countries, noting that finance is the key enabler of enhanced ambition and climate action, particularly at a time when developing countries are facing multiple developmental challenges and the devastating impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic," said the joint statement.

The ministers also said, developed countries should provide "new and additional, sustained, predictable, adequate and timely" finance, technology development and transfer and capacity- building support to developing countries with a significant public funded component. "Such support must not exacerbate the existing debt crisis confronting many developing countries," they said.

Last week, R K Singh, Union minister for power, new and asked the developed world to not pressure all countries into adopting Net Zero carbon emissions and provide carbon space to developing countries.

BASIC ministers also reiterated the same and Ministers emphasized that developing countries are meeting their climate targets within their limited means.

"Despite the devastating social and economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and multiple development challenges the BASIC countries are implementing ambitious climate actions based on their national circumstances and have achieved great progress, contributing significantly to global efforts in combating climate change," said the statement.

The ministers said key outcome of COP 26 would be be to conclude negotiations on Article 6, which is an essential element to achieve progress towards predictable and at-scale adaptation finance.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (April 8) is scheduled to chair a High-Level Committee (HLC) meeting to commemorate the 400th Birth Anniversary (Prakash Purab) of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who is ninth Sikh Guru.

The meeting is supposed to be held through video conferencing and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will also be attending the meeting.

The meeting will discuss the year-long calendar of events planned to mark this special occasion, according to a release by the Prime Minister's Office.

The High-Level Committee was constituted by the Union Government earlier on October 24, 2020, to approve policies, plans and programs related to the commemoration of the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur along with supervision of the events.

The HLC has 70 members including the Prime Minister as Chairman.

(With ANI inputs)

Live TV
The travel industry was completely gutted by the global pandemic. Hotels were shuttered. Housekeeping staff furloughed. Planes were parked and domestic carriers have reduced routes/service. Public rest stops were closed making road trips improbable. Restaurants remained empty. Travel guidelines changed frequently and with limited notice.

Infection rate, restrictions, and the fear of being stranded crippled international travel. Strict post travel quarantine requirements (14 days) in states like NY, NJ and PA prevented most everyday citizens with limited paid time off from traveling last summer. All of these limiting factors will have a major impact as the travel industry tries to find its footing in the post pandemic era.

A tidal wave of demand is coming and heres why:

Travel Intentions Pulse Survey (November) indicated that 67% of Americans indicate that they plan to take a drive to vacation within the next 6 months resulting in 75 million reservations.

International travel restrictions, reduced routes by airlines and trailing vaccine access internationally, are all significant impediments to Americans traveling abroad. The lack of international travel, combined with both a reduction in the amount of available vacation inventory on the market because of massive hotel closures and pent-up demand from guests who skipped a trip last year, will overrun supply on domestic travel destinations, predicts industry expert, John Dowd, President of Sundance Vacations. Some hotels have permanently closed their doors. There will simply not be enough supply to meet demand domestically this travel season. Customers who got accustomed to a very short booking window will be disappointed by no vacancy messages.

Simple supply and demand economics also indicates that consumers should expect rates to surge as many hotels operate on flexible price models and yield management similar to airline seats. Weve seen this for years with airline pricing, explains Dowd. The last seat on the plane costs more. We believe that domestic carriers, whose profits have been crushed, will be slower to add capacity and therefore we predict limited availability for seats resulting in higher fares.

Rising ticket cost and limited flights add another factor that will drive demand for nearby locations as the 112 million people who live on the eastern seaboard flock to drive to destinations.

The travel industry tracks the booking window; the amount of time between booking and departure. The uncertainty of travel restrictions has caused our average booking window to be reduced to as little as 14 days, states John Dowd. Last summer, people could wait till the last minute and still find an abundance of choices. But all of these factors point to a severe shortage of vacation inventory on the horizon.

Parks and attractions are also operating under capacity restrictions. Dowd advises, Travelers who plan early will be the most successful in securing reservations for top restaurants and popular attractions.

People who have witnessed a tsunami will describe the water being completely sucked off the beach in the moments before the giant wave roars back to crush the shore. Were at that point in time in the cycle, concludes Dowd. As the pandemic subsides, the pent-up demand for travel will come crushing down.

About Sundance Vacations

Sundance Vacations is a national travel company that specializes in destination-based vacation accommodations. Sundance has been a leader in the travel and hotel industry for nearly 3 decades and operates several boutique hotels and manages many vacation properties domestically. Sundance Vacations is headquartered in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, and maintains offices in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Whitehall and King of Prussia. The company also has an office located in Parsippany, New Jersey, and four call centers located throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Sundance Vacations placed in the Best Place to Work in Pennsylvania by Best Companies Group for four consecutive years and was the platinum winner for NEPA Best Places to Work - Working through COVID 2020. The company has also been honored twice as one of the Fastest-Growing Travel Companies in Pennsylvania by Inc. 500/5000.

Contact:

Valerie Burke

Director of Customer Experience & SEO

1-800-220-9400 x 1077

vburke@vacmail.com
MARINA DEL REY, Calif., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LeaseLock , the world's leading insurtech platform for real estate, today announced that Laura Sheldon has joined the company as Vice President of Sales serving the Southwest Region. In this role, she will help enterprise rental housing operators eliminate security deposits through the implementation of LeaseLock's fully integrated lease insurance product, Zero Deposit and expand our footprint in the Sunbelt.

Sheldon has 18 years of experience bringing business-changing solutions to multifamily operators. Her tenure in the industry is marked by a long-standing and progressive career with RentPath, where she most recently served as District Sales Manager. Sheldon oversaw a $6 million sales territory for the ILS agency and established a strong understanding of the multifamily sales life cycle while building high-performing teams.

"Laura has been instrumental in bringing revolutionizing technology and solutions to multifamily operators," said LeaseLock CRO Ed Wolff. "Her ability to cultivate relationships and understand operational pain points will be invaluable as we aim to drive security deposits extinct and modernize multifamily with software-deployed insurance technology."

As the only AI-driven financial technology platform for rental housing providers, LeaseLock deploys through native property software systems and back-office workflows to integrate into the online resident leasing. Operators market their communities as Zero Deposit, creating a seamless resident experience and lead conversion lift. Residents pay a small monthly fee to replace upfront security deposits, while operators receive $5,000 in rent loss and damage coverage on every new lease with the standard coverage plan.

NMHC Top 50 operator LeaseLock clients include Greystar, Cushman & Wakefield (Pinnacle), Avenue5 Residential, Harbor Group Management Co., LMC, and RKW Residential. Top ownership clients include Goldman Sachs, ColRich, GoldCor, Olive Tree, TruAmerica, White Oak, Trinsic, Strata Equity Group, Goodman Real Estate, and Elevation Real Estate and Management.

About Us

LeaseLock is the world's leading insurtech platform for real estate.

Our flagship lease insurance product leverages artificial intelligence to eliminate security deposits from enterprise operating infrastructurepowering a faster, simpler, more affordable rental transaction. LeaseLock seamlessly deploys within the native online leasing checkout, resulting in significant conversion liftwhile instantly generating industry-leading coverage for the property on every lease.

LeaseLock has insured over $1 billion in leases backed by insurance rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. Our global investors include SoftBank Ventures Asia, Wildcat Ventures, Westerly Winds, Vertex Ventures US, Liberty Mutual Strategic Ventures, American Family Ventures, Moderne Ventures, and Mucker Capital.

Media Contact:

LinnellTaylor Marketing

Marlena DeFalco

Account Director

(303) 682-3943

[email protected]

SOURCE LeaseLock

Related Links

http://www.leaselock.com


Former President Trump on Wednesday endorsed Rep. Mo Brooks' campaign for U.S. Senate in Alabama, saying in a statement that "few Republicans have as much COURAGE and FIGHT" as the congressman.

Why it matters: Both Brooks and rival candidate Lynda Blanchard, a businesswoman and Trump's former ambassador to Slovenia, had pushed hard to win the endorsement of Trump, who won 60% of the vote in Alabama in the 2020 presidential election.

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Blanchard described herself as a "proud member of the MAGA movement" in a campaign ad last month, Politico notes.

But former Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) told CNN, "With President Trump's endorsement, it's clearly Mo's race to lose."

For the record: Brooks is a Trump loyalist who objected to the certification of President Biden's election win and helped organize the rally against the results held before the U.S. Capitol insurrection in January.

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ALBANY  Say goodbye to Scott Street.

The city is planning to sell the 245-foot strip of asphalt connecting Leonard and Krank streets to South End Development, LLC, as part of the companys vision to build The Seventy-Six, a massive mixed-use property along Second Avenue.

While the name Scott Street will disappear from city maps forever, the physical street isnt totally going away. Under the developer's proposal, the street would become a privately owned pedestrian walkway to the storefronts planned for the project. The purchase wont displace any city residents  the properties on both sides of Scott Street are already owned by South End Development or 76 South Holdings LLC.

In a city as old as Albany, it's far from the first time a street has had to make way for a new development. The city has periodically sold or conveyed "paper streets"--those that exist only on planning maps but aren't developed--and cut others in half to squeeze in a development. Larger projects, like the Empire State Plaza, Interstate 787 and the Harriman State Campus pushed other physical streets out of existence.

On Monday evening, the Common Council voted to decommission Scott Street, which allows the Planning Department to remove it from city maps. It also gives the citys corporation counsel the ability to negotiate the sale with South End Developments attorneys and for Mayor Kathy Sheehan to sign the sales contract.

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Jahkeen Hoke, chief development officer for South End Development, could not be reached for comment. Hoke was recently named co-chair of the city's COVID Recovery Task Force.

Its still unclear how much the city might agree to sell the land for but a report that South End Development had prepared gives a hint. The report says the roughly 11,000-square foot parcel of land is worth around $272,512, based off sales of similar property appraisals in the city and a price of $22.96 per square foot.

But the report doesnt propose writing the city a check for that amount. Instead, the developers offer to make improvements to city-owned infrastructure in the area that they say are worth over $1.1 million, more than four times the lands appraised value.

Now that we have permission to do that from the council, what well do is enter into some discussions with them on the actual consideration, fair market value and transfer, said Corporation Counsel Marisa Franchini. We havent agreed to anything at this point.

Some of those proposed improvements would likely need to have been made anyway, although the report says theyre not necessary for the projects development.

They include installing more than 1,000 feet of separate storm sewer infrastructure, which would keep more than 8 million gallons of water out of the combined sewer system, more than 1,400 feet of water mains on surrounding streets as well as widening and repaving parts of Leonard, Krank, and Seymour streets around the property, as well as installing new sidewalks and curbs.

The Seventy-Six project is ambitious  an estimated $140 million development that relies on solar arrays for power and will collect rain and wastewater to be recycled and reused.

Were reaching the highest sustainability we can obtain, Corey Jones, of South End Development LLC said when he initially pitched the project to area residents nearly three years ago. It will produce enough energy to go back to the grid.

The city gave conditional approval for the first phase of the project late last year, but the developers still have to meet some requirements with the county and state before they can break ground, due to its unique approach to energy consumption, said Brad Glass, the citys planning director.

Its got to the point where it was sufficient to greenlight the project but there were still details that needed to be worked out on paper, he said. If they pull it off, I think itd be great for the neighborhood and the city, its certainly an area in need of investment.

The first phase includes 184 affordable and market-rate apartments, according to city planning documents. The proposal includes a possible 9,700-square foot grocery, though its unclear if that would be a brand-name grocer or a store run by South End Development.

Though that first phase will include buildings of at least six stories, the developers are taking advantage of the sharp grade in the area and they will appear close to four stories tall.

The developers have said they envision four buildings with up to 250 apartments and 50,000 square feet of retail space.

Councilwoman Sonia Frederick, who represents the area, had heard from business owners looking to open in the planned retail space.

"It's definitely a very ambitious, forward-thinking model that I'm very excited see come to fruition and I'm really hopeful that everything goes forward according to plan," she said.
Law & Order: SVU star Christopher Meloni returns as Elliot Stabler in NBCs new spinoff, Law & Order: Organized Crime. Stablers investigation into his wifes murder led him to mafia boss Richard Wheatley in the series premiere. And according to Dylan McDermott, who plays the ruthless villain, Stabler is now facing one of his most formidable foes.

Dylan McDermott as Richard Wheatley, Ibrahim Renno as Izak Bekher, Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler, Danielle Mone Truitt as Sergeant Ayanna Bell in Law & Order Organized Crime | Virginia Sherwood/NBC

Dylan McDermott joins the Law & Order: Organized crime cast

McDermott is known for his work in popular film and TV projects, including Steel Magnolias, The Practice, and American Horror Story. He joins the cast of Law & Order: Organized Crime as the son of a mafia don, who runs his own illegal business.

McDermott is from New York City. And hes tapping into some of his own experiences with the mob to portray the villainous character.

RELATED: Law & Order SVU: Why Benson and Stablers Reunion Wont Feel Satisfying

I love the crime world, McDermott told TV Line. I grew up in New York, and I was seeing the mafia around town, watching them  So, it was always some elements that I was around. I thought it was infinitely interesting, the social clubs where the mobsters would hang out. I liked that world. Something about that world really intrigued me.

The Law & Order: Organized Crime star says Richard Wheatley is a formidable foe

From the series premiere of Law & Order: Organized Crime, we know that Richard Wheatley has something to do with the murder of Elliot Stablers wife. And to protect himself, he killed his father, leaving a dead body for Stabler to deal with. Hes smart and ruthless, and McDermott says hell prove to be a formidable foe for Stabler this season.

Stabler definitely needs a foe, a formidable foe, the actor said in his chat with TV Line. Otherwise, the show wouldnt work. Because that kind of conflict, that standoff is so necessary on a show like this. So, you have to have somebody who can take him on, and I think that Richard can take on Stabler.

Stabler's story is just getting started. Get a first look at what's ahead for this season of #OrganizedCrime. pic.twitter.com/YYVf3Uor6b  & (@lawandordertv) April 7, 2021

In fact, he looks forward to it, McDermott continued. Thats what turns him on  Hes one of these criminals that like to leave a note to let you know he was there. Theres something about it that turns him on, the getting away with it. I think he looks forward to this challenge.

Dylan McDermott teases Richard Wheatley and Elliot Stablers first meeting

After finding his only lead, Freddie Sinatra (Chazz Palminteri) dead, Stabler must know that the mobsters son has something to do with his wifes murder. According to McDermott, the two will meet. But when they do, Wheatley will continue to provoke the detective.

Benson knows Stabler well enough to know something isn't right. pic.twitter.com/ORLZ0VtoFw  & (@lawandordertv) April 5, 2021

Youll see, itll be the first time that we meet, but hes toying with him to a certain degree, the actor told TV Line. I think that he likes that. I think that he gets off on it. He likes to poke, and hes going to do a lot of that with Stabler.

It will be exciting to see how Stabler  who already messed up by taking the phone off Sinatras body  handles the Wheatleys provocations. New episodes of Law & Order: Organized Crime air Thursdays, at 9 p.m EST on NBC.
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The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has moved to reconcile Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and an ex-governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

The move is to strengthen the party ahead of its South-west Zonal Congress, which was earlier slated for April 10.

Sources within the party also told PREMIUM TIMES that the PDP has postponed the congress until further notice.

The leadership of the party met and they resolved that the best thing to do is to postpone the congress so that Mr Makinde and Mr Fasoye would be reconciled, a top official of the party in Oyo State told our correspondent on Thursday.

A statement by the national publicity secretary of the party, Kola Ologbodiyan, on Thursday also confirmed the move to reconcile the two leaders.

He was, however, silent on the postponement of the South-west Congress.

According to Mr Ologbodiyan, the NWC has scaled up processes for reconciliation and as it affects South-west zonal congress of the party.

He said the leadership resolved that beyond the legal conundrum in our partys formation in the zone, the PDP must win the South West.

Consequent upon this, the NWC further resolved that a meeting comprising of the National Chairman, the Deputy National Chairman, the National Secretary, the Senator Bukola Saraki-led Reconciliation and Strategic Committee, Governor Seyi Makinde and former Governor Ayo Fayose, be held immediately for urgent resolution of all issues concerning the South West.

The NWC will meet on the the outcome of this reconciliation meeting within the next 24 hours, the statement read.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that there has been a feud rocking the PDP in the South-west for months following a leadership tussle between Messrs Fayose and Makinde.

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While some members of the party have argued that being the only governor of PDP in South-west, Mr Makinde should be regarded as the leader of the party in the zone, Mr Fayose objected, saying being a governor does not qualify Mr Makinde as his leader.

Mr Fayose also argued that a former Ondo State information commissioner, Eddy Olafeso, should be the next PDP National Vice Chairperson (South-west).

He claimed that an agreement was reached at Mr Makindes house at Ibadan, Oyo State. Although the Oyo State governor did not deny Mr Fayoses position, he is believed to be lobbying for an Oyo indigene as the next National Vice Chairperson (South-west) of PDP.
French dairy major Lactalis has acquired assets in Brazil belonging to Cativa and has also signed a long-term milk supply contract with the cooperative.

Lactalis will purchase Cativas processing and warehouse facilities in Cerqueira Cesar in the state of Sao Paulo, and those located in Londrina and Pato Branco, both situated in Parana state.

It has also entered a ten-year milk supply agreement with Cativa, with an option to extend the contract for a further decade, and which forms a partnership where the companies will work together to develop the regional milk industry. No financial terms were revealed for either of the initiatives.

Cativa president Paulo Cesar Maciel said: The cooperative will focus on the relationship with the producers, on improving the quality of milk and on the development of the collection, benefiting from Lactalis know-how in the dairy area, a solid and reliable company with whom we build a relationship of trust that we want to maintain over time.

The new deal in Brazil for Lactalis, which produces milk, cream, butter, cheese, and dairy ingredients under brands such as Parmalat, Galbani and President, builds on its purchase of the country's dairy company Itambe Alimentos. That transaction was finally completed in 2019 after drawn out legal proceedings dating back to 2017 with Grupo Lala in Mexico, which claimed the deal infringed on a former shareholder agreement.

Until September 2017, Itambe was co-owned by the Cooperative Central dos Produtores Rurais de Minas Gerais (CCPR) and Brazilian dairy business Vigor Alimentos. However, that month, Vigor was sold to Lala and CCPR exercised an option to buy its co-investor's shares in Itambe. Lactalis' purchase was then conducted through CCPR.

Lactalis said the partnership with Cativa gives the company access to Parana, the second-largest milk producing state in Brazil after Minas Gerais, where it gained a presence through the CCPR deal.

Patrick Sauvageot, president of Lactalis' operations in Latin America, added: "With this win-win partnership, Lactalis benefits from the cooperative's experience and trust with its 4,000 producers, to whom we bring our industrial knowledge and the prospect of developing their production."

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Lactalis do Brasil, the French group's local arm, registered a turnover last year of BRL9.8bn (US$1.7bn) after processing milk volumes of 2.7 billion litres.

Cativa, meanwhile, posted a turnover of BRL1.1bn and volumes of 360m litres. The co-op manufactures a range of dairy products, including fresh and UHT milk, powdered milk, flavoured milk drinks, yogurt, butter and cheese.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama House of Representatives has rejected a proposal to impose fines for using a smartphone while driving.

The bill by Republican Rep. K.L. Brown of Jacksonville failed on a narrow 47-48 vote.

The proposal would have fined drivers for holding, watching or recording with a smartphone while driving. Brown said distracted driving is a deadly threat to roadway safety.

Some lawmakers questioned if the measure would be enforceable. Others expressed concern that the driving law would be used to target minorities for traffic stops.
NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Arlo Hotels, an independent, four-star lifestyle hotel brand, announced the appointment of EVINS Communications and Hall PR as their public relations agencies of record, effective immediately. Together, EVINS and Hall PR will develop and execute a curated marketing strategy to communicate Arlo Hotels' vision and differentiation through strategic brand positioning, media relations, social media and influencer strategy, brand partnerships and bespoke activations.

With more than 50 years of combined experience across travel, hospitality, lifestyle and food and beverage, EVINS and Hall PR will be jointly responsible for delivering a robust marketing communications program that enhances visibility and awareness, drives engagement and advocacy and showcases how Arlo Hotels are redefining the boutique hotel experience, including the debut of its newest outpost in midtown Manhattan.

"We are delighted to be collaborating and partnering with Hall PR to support this innovative lifestyle brand," said Mathew Evins, Chairman of EVINS Communications. "I have known Steven for many years, have the utmost admiration and respect for his work. I am extremely excited that we will be able to work together, and look forward to contributing to the development, growth and success of the Arlo Hotels brand."

"Hall PR is also thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with, and enhance the Arlo Hotels brand" says Steven Hall, president of Hall PR. "Partnering with EVINS Communications was a natural choice, and we anticipate a prosperous relationship with Arlo Hotels as together we enter into and navigate a new world of travel and hospitality. The Hall Evins partnership promises creative storylines focusing on the uniqueness and individuality of the Arlo brand."

With locations in New York City and Miami Beach, Arlo Hotels provide a boutique and quintessential lifestyle hotel experience for urban explorers looking to immerse themselves in the art, relaxation and culture that makes each city unique. From captivating neighborhood locations, acclaimed food and beverage experiences and social-media worthy design and thoughtful wellness programming, each Arlo property has perfected the experience of living like a local while indulging in luxury amenities and exploring the surrounding urban landscape.

For more information on Arlo Hotels, please visit www.arlohotels.com.

About EVINS

EVINS is an award-winning brand marketing communications and public relations firm that specializes in the premium, prestige and luxury sectors. Encompassing four practice areas including Digital Content & Integration; Food, Spirits & Wine; Lifestyle & Wellbeing, and Travel & Hospitality. EVINS balances exceptional creativity with impactful, consequential strategies and tactics to develop integrated multi-platform campaigns, provide consummate business strategic counsel and transform brand potential into brand performance.

Since its founding in 1987, EVINS has played an invaluable role in the development and growth of icons and innovators including American Express, Baccarat, Colgin Cellars, Departures Magazine, Escada, Hotels & Resorts of Halekulani, Inspirato, Jet Linx Aviation, The Fifth Avenue Hotel, The Lanesborough, Leica Camera, Makers Mark, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Rosewood Hotel & Resorts, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Vuarnet amongst many others. In 2020, EVINS was chosen as a Brand Official by Forbes Travel Guide, the global authority on luxury travel.

About Hall PR

Hall PR is a multi-lingual media agency which works with some of the most intriguing hospitality brands in the business giving our creativity and expertise to restaurants, food-preneurs, consumer brands and hotel groups.

Since 1996 we at Hall have guided our various clients through the choppy waters of media and consumer changes; through print newspapers, magazines, television, blogs, e-zines, social media, influencers, podcasts, and google analytics. We are trend forecasters, creators, and spotters, with equal footing in the past and the present. With our friends and colleagues in the industry we have tasted thousands of plates of food, drunk vast amounts of wine, spirits, zero proof cocktails, and kombucha; visited countless farms, and stayed at hundreds of hotels throughout the world, all with one objective in mind - to learn, and experience so we can be the best voice for our clients, and a leader in representing the industry we love.

About Arlo Hotels

Arlo is the essential homebase for urban explorersa launchpad for local experiences; a place to rest up and recharge between adventures. Refined but approachable design elevates everyday occasions. Thoughtful spaces invite visitors to express their creativity. For work, play, or any purpose, Arlo provides guests the foundation and inspiration to reach their goals, their way. With hotels throughout New York City and expanding to other cities across the country, plan your next city stay at arlohotels.com.

SOURCE Evins Communications, Ltd.

Related Links

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Australia's Federal Health minister has urged the body responsible for assessing medicine safety to examine the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine 'frankly and fearlessly' over blood clotting fears.

'If they advise age restrictions or other variations, we'll do it, we'll adopt it,' Greg Hunt said of the Therapeutic Goods Administration's review.

The pointed advice from Mr Hunt comes as Australia is set to pass one million Covid vaccinations administered on Friday.

Australia is expected to consider a banning AstraZeneca for people under 30 in line with Britain recommendations.

British regulators said young people should be offered alternative vaccines while experts investigate its link to rare blood clots.

Most Australians were to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine with the government securing 53.8 million doses, including 50 million to be manufactured locally.

The jab was declared safe by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and is an integral part of the nation's slow-moving vaccine rollout - meaning there is no sure-fire way to demand another vaccine.

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly admitted the link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots was getting stronger

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Health Minister Greg Hunt and state premiers have publicly backed the vaccine and urged Australians to get it.

However, the federal government has at the same time asked the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to review the British findings.

'The government has asked ATAGI and the TGA to immediately consider and advise on the latest vaccination findings out of Europe and the UK,' it said.

'Regulators have already been working with their international counterparts to consider the latest international evidence.'

Advice from the two bodies will be given to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, comprised of the state and federal chief health officers.

The UK government's vaccine advisory group has ruled that people aged between 19 and 29 should be offered an alternative to AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine while experts continue to investigate its link to rare blood clots

Mr Morrison said National Cabinet would also consider the British recommendations when it next meets.

'The Australian Government places safety above all else, as it has done throughout the pandemic, and will continue to follow the medical advice in protecting Australians,' a government spokesperson said.

There were just 79 cases in Britain out of 20 million who received the jab.

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly admitted the link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots was getting stronger.

'This potential link, it is still potential but more looking more likely between the AstraZeneca vaccine in certain people and this extremely rare blood clotting event,' he told Sunrise on Thursday morning.

'But I think very importantly, we need to realise this is an extremely rare event and we will be looking for the advice, the specific advice from our medical expert panel who are meeting today.'

A review by the UK's drugs watchdog the MHRA found that by the end of March, a rate of just one in 250,000 Britons who received the AstraZeneca vaccine had suffered deadly blood clots in the brain or arteries.

Of the 79 cases, 19 died and three were under the age of 30.

Slides presented at a press conference announcing the change in guidance on Wednesday showed that younger people are more prone to blood clots after vaccination than older groups.

The MHRA said healthy people aged 19 to 29 should be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna jabs instead when the programme moves to younger groups in the coming months.

Anyone who has already had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, regardless of their age, is being advised to go for their second appointment as planned.

AUSTRALIA'S VACCINE ROLLOUT Pfizer/BioNTech 10 million doses will be available from early 2021 These doses will be manufactured offshore Australia will have the option to purchase additional doses where supply is available University of Oxford/AstraZeneca Australia has secured 53.8 million doses of this vaccine 3.8 million doses will be delivered to Australia in early 2021 50 million doses will be manufactured in Australia in monthly batches. CSL will manufacture these doses on behalf of AstraZeneca Novavax 51 million doses will be made available in Australia during 2021 Advertisement

AstraZeneca's jab is only being paused for under-30s in Britain because coronavirus levels are getting low, said the nation's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam.

If Covid was still more prevalent, as it is in the rest of Europe, he suggested that the vaccine would still be recommended for all ages, including young people.

The MHRA insisted there was still no concrete proof that the British-made vaccine is causing the clots, but admitted the link was getting firmer.

The review prompted the UK Government's vaccine advisory group, the JCVI, to recommend that people aged 18 to 29 be given an alternative jab.

It comes after a Melbourne man's rare blood clotting disorder was 'likely linked' to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

A nurse administers the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to a patient at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne on March 17

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

The TGA and the ATAGI met on Saturday morning and Acting Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said no changes to the AstraZeneca rollout were recommended.

He said it was likely, given similarities with rare overseas cases, that the man's clotting disorder was related to him receiving the jab.

However, Professor Kidd again emphasised that the risk of serious disease and death from Covid-19 among the mostly unvaccinated Australian population was 'far greater'.

The expert advice is the result of investigations into the illness of the man in his 40s who was admitted to Melbourne's Box Hill hospital after receiving the AstraZeneca jab on March 22.

'While at this time, we don't have evidence of causality, the clinical features of this case are consistent with what we have seen in international reports of similar cases,' Prof Kidd said.

'And it is likely that the case reported yesterday is related to the vaccine. This would be consistent with international experience.'

Four million Australians were due to have jabs by the end of March, a target missed by more than 3.3 million.

The government had aimed for all Australians who want a vaccine to get one by the end of October, a goal critics say is out of reach.

Health Minister Greg Hunt expects more than one million Australians to be vaccinated 'very soon' and anticipates the two million mark will be exceeded not long after that as more general practices join the rollout.

On Wednesday, an elderly woman with pre-existing medical conditions died hours after receiving her Covid-19 vaccine in a Queensland aged care home.

Most Australians will be offered the AstraZeneca vaccine with the government securing 53.8million doses, including 50million to be manufactured onshore

It is understood the 82-year-old received a dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Springwood Yurana Aged Care Facility on Wednesday, before she died in the afternoon.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said 'at this stage there are no signs of any causal link'.

'Any event that happens following vaccination is fully investigated,' Professor Kelly said.

'Sadly more than 1000 people pass in aged care every week. It is inevitable, as the head of the TGA has noted, that this will include people who have been recently vaccinated.

'It can be expected that older and more frail people in an aged care setting may pass away due to progression of underlying disease or natural causes, this does not mean the vaccine has contributed to this.'

The woman had a lung condition.
The renewable energy unit of the Total group expects to energize two solar parks next year.From pv magazine France French energy giant Total, via its Qair renewables development business-formerly Qadran International-has started construction on two solar plants with a combined capacity of 30 MW in Chad. Qair had secured the 20-year PPAs for the two projects from the country's utility, Societe Nationale d'Electricite (SNE), in September. The company plans to invest around 30 million in the two projects, which are planned to be grid-connected in 2022. The plants will be deployed at two sites, ...

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.
Plotting to crash vehicles for the insurance money would be its own felony in Louisiana under a bill backed by Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, amid a federal probe in New Orleans that has spawned a slew of indictments, guilty pleas, and possibly a murder.

The legislation introduced by state Rep. Sherman Mack, House Bill 15, would make it a felony to cause a collision in exchange for anything of value; to scheme to document phantom wrecks; or to help in filing fraudulent insurance claims after staged crashes.

The bill would set a prison sentence of up to five years for those convicted of the charge of staging a motor vehicle collision. If the accident causes death or serious injury, a prosecutor could file aggravated charges. The sentence then would be 5 to 30 years.

Donelons office said it modeled the legislation on laws passed in Florida, Georgia and New York state, as insurance companies and regulators aim to stiffen criminal laws around a fraud they say has grown more rampant, brazen, and costly to ratepayers.

At least 15 people have pleaded guilty so far in New Orleans to charges in a series of federal indictments that describe parallel schemes in which teams of slammers, spotters and local lawyers conspired to create whopping insurance payouts by packing people into vehicles and aiming them at tractor trailers.

Cornelius Garrison, a veteran slammer and ringleader for one of those bands, was gunned down days after a federal grand jury indicted him last year. His death, with no suspects identified, raised the stakes for a prosecution that has promised more indictments to come.

Among more than 30 defendants indicted so far, nearly all were accused of directly participating in the allegedly staged wrecks.

Only one, Danny Keating, is a lawyer. He stands accused of counseling a different slammer, Damian Labeaud, on how to maximize profits. Keating faces a charge of wire- and mail-fraud conspiracy, and a May 10 trial date.

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But other players identified in court documents as participants in the alleged schemes, including more lawyers, have so far skirted prosecution.

Insurance defense attorneys have raised suspicions as well around a cadre of doctors who performed surgeries on many of those who claimed injuries from suspect wrecks.

But former U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser cast doubt before he left office in February that charges were coming against any surgeons, citing a challenge to prove knowledge.

Donelons office argues that Louisianas insurance fraud laws, though they also set a five-year maximum prison term, arent tailored to prosecuting the varied players who may be looking to score off a staged crash.

Prosecutors currently need to rely on a mix of state and federal laws, including federal laws about health care fraud, to handle cases like the recent staged accident case in New Orleans, Donelon's office said in a statement.

The bill is meant to help prosecutors bring legitimate charges against not only those who were directly involved in the staged accident but any third parties who knowingly assist in the planning (planted passengers), fabrication of false evidence (fraudulent doctors) and those who knowingly assist in the filing of false claims (attorneys).

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice.
China willing to maintain strategic communication, deepen pragmatic cooperation with Mongolia: Chinese premier

Xinhua) 09:53, April 08, 2021

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday afternoon that China is willing to work with Mongolia to continue to uphold good-neighborly relationship, equality and mutual benefit, maintain strategic communication, and deepen pragmatic cooperation, especially strengthening cooperation in epidemic prevention and control at present.

Li made the remarks in a phone conversation with Mongolia's Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene.

Speaking highly of China-Mongolia relations, Li said the two sides should strive to accelerate the restoration of the volume of cargo through border ports, ensure the smooth progress of cooperation on major projects, and continuously push bilateral relations to new levels.

Noting environmental problems know no borders, Li said China is ready to cooperate with Mongolia in environmental protection, desertification prevention and control, as well as other aspects to meet challenges.

Pointing out that the foundation for the Chinese economy's overall recovery is constantly being consolidated, the Chinese premier said the Chinese economy has been deeply integrated into the world economy.

China will pay close attention to changes in the international economic situation, create a better environment, further energize market players, Li said, adding that China will keep its economy running smoothly within a reasonable range and maintaining a long-term sound momentum.

That will also provide opportunities for China-Mongolia cooperation and better benefit the two countries and peoples, Li said.

For his part, Oyun-Erdene said Mongolia is committed to developing long-term good-neighborly and friendly relations with China and supports regional economic cooperation and green development.

Mongolia is willing to work with China to strengthen the synergy of their development strategies, deepen cooperation in such fields as the fight against the epidemic, border trade and environment protection, and advance cooperation on major projects, so as to continue injecting new connotations into the Mongolia-China comprehensive strategic partnership, Oyun-Erdene said.

Head of the National Development and Reform Commission He Lifeng was also present at the talks.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Boris Johnson was accused of being scared of Scottish voters today as the country's top Tory admitted the Prime Minister may not visit to support his election campaign.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said today that he was 'not sure' if Mr Johnson would come north ahead of the Scottish parliamentary election on May 6.

Mr Ross, who is himself seeking a Holyrood seat, said he had 'previously expected' the UK party leader to come to Scotland.

But in a BBC radio interview today he said the coronavirus pandemic, and restrictions imposed as a result, made it a 'very different' type of campaign.

However, Mr Johnson visited Scotland in January, when the coronavirus pandemic was raging across the UK at a far higher level than it is today. A 'stay at home' order was in place, with people told only to make necessary trips.

Responding to Mr Ross's comments, the SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown said: 'The fact Boris Johnson is being kept away from Scotland in this campaign, despite previously pledging to visit, shows the Tories know just how unpopular he is with Scottish voters.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said today that he was 'not sure' if Mr Johnson (pictured yesterday in Cornwall) would come north ahead of the Scottish parliamentary election on May 6.

Mr Ross, who is himself seeking a Holyrood seat, said he had 'previously expected' the UK party leader to come to Scotland.

Boris Johnson previously defended his decision to visit Scotland in January (pictured) during lockdown. The Prime Minister said he travelled 'in my capacity as Prime Minister of the whole country'

Salmond's Alba Party could STOP Nicola Sturgeon's SNP gaining an outright majority Alex Salmond's upstart pro-independence Alba Party party could ruin Nicola Sturgeon's chances of an outright SNP majority in the Scottish parliament election, a new poll suggests today. The Savanta ComRes poll for The Scotsman predicts the SNP will return 64 MSPs, one short of the 65 needed for a majority. The poll predicts the Alba Party will return none - meaning no Holyrood return for Mr Salmond himself. But it is forecast to take 3 per cent of the list vote, which would be enough to derail Ms Sturgeon's hopes of governing alone in Scotland. The Scottish Greens are expected to win 10 seats and form a pro-independence coalition with the SNP under the poll results. The poll predicts the Scottish Conservatives will lose six seats, returning 25 MSPs, while Scottish Labour is predicted to return 23, one down on 2016. Advertisement

'We were told just last week by Ruth Davidson that she was 'ringing the alarm bell' for the union, but Boris Johnson must not be hearing it as he cannot even bring himself to come to Scotland to make the case.

'Running scared of the people of Scotland is becoming a theme within the Tories.'

Mr Johnson is notoriously unpopular in Scotland. A poll last October found that Scots' 'loathing' for him was behind a surge in support for independence

JL Partners found he was even more unpopular than Theresa May and David Cameron when they were leaders.

Boris Johnson previously defended his decision to visit Scotland in January during lockdown.

The Prime Minister said he travelled 'in my capacity as Prime Minister of the whole country' after visiting Glasgow to highlight the UK-wide fight against coronavirus.

His flight from London saw him reported to Police Scotland by separatists, with officers clearing him to undertake the 'working visit'.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme about the Prime Minister, Mr Ross said: 'I am not sure he is going to come up.

'I had previously expected him to come up. Clearly as we continue to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic this whole election is very different.

'Clearly it is a different election than any of us have experienced before.'

With four weeks to go until polling day, he said 'we will have to see what happens'.

Mr Ross added: 'Last time he was up here he was supporting our vaccinators, he was looking at how we are getting the vaccine rolled out across Scotland, the successful scheme across all of the United Kingdom.

'Now we are in an election campaign it is very different. He wouldn't be coming up to speak to a big meeting or doing a massive visit as previous leaders have done.

'It is very different. We have seen all the party leaders in Scotland having to tackle this election in a very different way because we are still living under significant restrictions.'

He said: 'The Prime Minister is fully in touch with what we are doing here, but he understands it's my campaign as leader of the Scottish Conservatives, it is our manifesto, he is absolutely behind what we are doing here in Scotland, but he knows our fight is as Scottish Conservatives and he is backing that as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.'

The Scottish Tories are pledging to increase funding for mental health services by hundreds of millions if they win May's Holyrood election.

Mr Ross has revealed his party's manifesto for that vote will include a pledge to ensure mental health care gets 10 per cent of the NHS budget.

Currently just over 8 per cent of health service spending goes to this area, the Tory said, adding that increasing it to 10 per cent could increase funding levels by approximately 325 million.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has already called for mental health care to receive a tenth of the NHS budget - with Mr Ross arguing the coronavirus pandemic meant this was the 'right move at the right time'.

He said there had been a 'massive impact on individuals' mental health over the last year' with the coronavirus lockdown seeing people 'shut away from our loved ones' and others staying inside for long periods as they work from home.

Mr Ross said that this was why his party 'will be putting in our manifesto an increase in funding for mental health services up to 10 per cent of the total health spend in Scotland'.

He told members of the Scottish Parliamentary Journalists' Association that the Conservatives 'believe more has to be done and more support has to be given to mental health services'.

Mr Ross said: 'There was already a problem before we came into this pandemic, I think this pandemic has exacerbated that problem and therefore we need to have the support in place.'

The Tories said this would be part of a 'package of measures' that would also look at how exercise could be used to improve mental health, alongside reforms to help people access services and support more quickly.

Mr Ross said: 'The crucial thing is making sure there is funding available then we would look at the various interventions, measure and projects that could most help people.'
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Mainly clear. Low around 65F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low around 65F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
"Our focus should be on jumpstarting our economic recovery by investing in our workforce and reducing taxes and red tape," Helming said. "This budget does the opposite. It taxes and spends at historic levels, at a time when New Yorkers can least afford it."

For Lemondes, R-LaFayette, he said he "could not, in good conscience, vote in favor" of the budget. He blasted provisions he says give relief to "lawbreakers, illegal immigrants and tax cheats."

"This budget was designed from the very beginning to be a catch-22 for those who want only sensible spending and reasonable appropriation of state funds," he continued.

Unlike his Republican colleagues who panned the budget, Democratic state Sen. John Mannion believes the spending plan delivered "big wins" for central New York.

Mannion, D-Geddes, highlighted the $3 billion increase in state school aid, the continuation of the middle-class tax cut, $100 million more for road improvements and funding for businesses and manufacturers in the region.

This was Mannion's first budget process as a legislator. As a member of the majority party, he played a larger role than the GOP members of the local delegation.

"I feel like my voice was heard," he said. "I did not get everything I wanted. Other representatives maybe feel like they did. But we got a lot of big, big wins here. It was exciting to take part in it. I take very seriously my job of being a steward of New York state taxpayer dollars. And that's where my yes and my no votes fell where they did."

Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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As counsel to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Kapil Longani and his staff tackle significant legal issues that come across the mayors desk. During the coronavirus pandemic that meant coming up with creative solutions to help ameliorate the impact of COVID-19 on the city. Longani spoke with City & State about his upbringing, what influenced his legal career and how his job changed during the pandemic. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Please talk about your background, your influences and how you ended up in the mayors office.

I was born in India, a long way from here in a village just south of New Delhi, the capitol. I came here when I was fairly young, about 6 months old. My parents marriage was arranged. They knew each other for about three hours before they got married. My mother is a school principal at a preschool that she runs in Florida. My father is retired after working 30 years at NASA. He was the person that handled safety and reliability when you hear the countdown and theyre asking people to check off on different parts of the space shuttle. He was a true rocket scientist.

My entire life has been about living a life that is passionate and fulfilling intellectually and which gives a voice to vulnerable people and those without a voice. I think that that comes from my background. My grandfather was a lawyer and he told me, You want to do something with your life that will make the world better every single day that youre at that job. Youre not going to change the world by yourself, but incrementally you want to make the world a better place.

I graduated from Yale, and I called my grandfather, who at that time was closing in on 100 years old. I thought he was going to react very positively. Instead he said something that Ill never forget. He said, You know what that degree with its fancy Latin words on it means nothing. Its just a piece of paper on your wall. It means nothing unless you use that paper to help people.

I also had some great mentors. I worked for Judge Roger Gregory, who is now the chief United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, and I remember him telling me, Dont ever forget, regardless of what position youre in, dont forget your values. Its about justice. Its about equity. But its making sure that you give a voice to people who dont have one.

When I became a federal prosecutor, I worked on the Flint, Michigan, water crisis and the federal governments response to Hurricane Sandy, which again highlighted the importance for me to help the most vulnerable people. Then I became senior counsel for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform under Congress Member Elijah Cummings, who was not only a mentor to me, but really a father figure. When I came here to this job, I remember Cummings telling me, You should take this job because you wont find a more fulfilling job in your life. The opportunity to work on behalf of the mayor of New York City, the one elected representative of 8.6 million New Yorkers, is a privilege that very few people in their life will have. You have to attack that job with a level of passion and commitment that only people in New York can understand, because it is a town unlike any other. I remember that every single day that Im here.

How did your job change after COVID-19 hit New York City last year?

Frankly, there is no law school class called Pandemic Response 101. The scope of our work fundamentally shifted. Weve been working on COVID from March of last year until this very moment, 24/7. And the goal every single minute has been to protect the public health of all New Yorkers. It was about finding solutions to problems that nobody ever envisioned. Creativity was at a premium. How do you legally set up the largest testing and tracing operation in the entire country? How do you legally set up checkpoints to ensure that travelers coming into New York City have filled out all the relevant forms and met quarantine restrictions? How do you set up legal vaccine distribution hubs? How do you govern?

One of the biggest shifts that took place (was) how, all of a sudden, government went from three branches and a system of checks and balances to really a one branch (of) government run by executive order, both at the state and the city level. My office was responsible for drafting every single executive order for the city. My office's job was to make sure that we did everything possible under the law to protect the public health of New Yorkers, but also respect the fact that the Constitution doesnt die during a crisis. Every day its being able to work under extraordinarily tight deadlines and all the while making sure you are accurate.

We were also dealing with the states executive orders, being the primary conduit between us and the state, and making sure that the voice of New York City was being heard, legally speaking.

Look, the virus doesnt sleep. Neither do we. These legal concerns are never static. Youre always weighing them because theres not really a status quo. Circumstances changed so frequently, not just on a daily or weekly or monthly basis, were talking minute to minute, hour to hour. Thats the level of crisis that were dealing with. Like when we were figuring out how to get more personal protective equipment. We streamlined all of our procurement regulations to ensure that we could get contracts done very quickly to enable us to get more PPE into the city as soon as possible. We also relaxed restrictions that helped people who were innovating in the city. The mayor had said we would produce our own PPE and our own ventilators. It was my job to make sure that we got rid of the red tape so that the law didnt get in the way, and in fact supported these incredible inventors.

We also became, from a public-facing perspective, the primary conduit of information to the public. We published frequently asked questions regularly about what these executive orders meant. I thought it was really important that that information got out there, because my mom is a small-business owner and an immigrant. I understood growing up what small businesses go through. I knew very personally what people were going through and how putting these pandemic restrictions on them was going to necessitate a major sacrifice on their part.

Sometimes those executive orders triggered lawsuits, right?

We defended those lawsuits vigorously. Not because it gave us or the mayor any joy imposing the restrictions, but because it was about protecting the public. We in America have an extraordinary freedom and the Constitution they say doesnt die  but the Constitution is also flexible. It recognizes that there are times that the public good necessitates restrictions on our freedoms. But those questions are complex and necessitate a great deal of thought. And thats why our executive orders have to be renewed every five days and the governors every 30 days. Because when you exercise your emergency powers, the idea is that you should have to think about them on a very regular basis. At the end of the day, its always about what is necessary to protect the public, and everything we do is driven by science.

What work lies ahead for your office?

Look, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. A lot more people are taking advantage of the vaccines. Ill just say that the best executive order Im ever going to write and that the mayors going to sign is the one which lifts all the restrictions that remain. And no one wants to get there quicker than the mayor.

Is that going to happen before the end of the mayors final term later this year?

I think trying to predict this virus and trying to put down hard deadlines is really not wise. I think over and over how weve been shown that this virus is a tough enemy, even though the numbers are going down and our businesses are opening up. The mayor has put out a robust recovery plan and were not going to let our guard down. For example the face mask mandate was dropped in other parts of the country. Theres no discussion of that in New York state. Theres no discussion of that in New York City. The mayor has said hes going to continue to follow the advice of our scientists. And when they say we have won this war, well be the happiest people in this town. Thats when well write that final executive order.

What advice do you have for your successor?

If I could talk to my successor, whoever takes this job after I leave, I would just say its the best job youre ever going to have. There is not a more fulfilling job than this job and to be at the center of the citys legal response. It is exhilarating. I was privileged enough to know every day what I could do to help. There were tough times in this job and there continue to be really difficult times and frustrations. To do this job well you have to have a level of passion and commitment that is unrivaled.

You have to remember every single day why youre here, and when there really are tough times, all you have to do is look outside the windows here in City Hall to get inspiration from your fellow New Yorkers. There were many times, especially at the height of the pandemic, that one felt a great deal of uncertainty. But it was this city that ultimately carried us through and understanding that we had to match that with the same passion and commitment, resilience and leadership that the people in this city have.
The Real World Homecoming: New York cast was hopeful that Eric Nies would recover from Covid-19 (coronavirus) and make a surprise appearance in the loft before the reunion ended.

Unfortunately, Nies was still in quarantine as the cast left the iconic MTV loft. But, they stopped by to see him at his hotel. The cast stood in the street and yelled up to his balcony. He managed to see them from afar but was never able to actually be with the cast in person. He and the rest of the cast seemed pretty upset but he promised big hugs for everyone when he finally tested negative.

Eric Nies at a 2006 runway show | Tom Grizzle/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Eric Nies was heartbroken he couldnt physically attend the reunion

Nies was often FaceTimed in for the reunion. He was able to participate in the discussions but it certainly wasnt the same not being there in person with everyone else.

At one point, the cast is told they were going to get a surprise visit from someone. Nies is on the big screen and Heather B. Gardner is convinced Nies was on pre-recorded video and he was going to bust through the door. It wasnt Nies but the cast was elated and surprised when co-creator Johnathan Murray and showrunner George Verschoor arrived.

In last week's episode, Eric got real with his roommates as he opened up about the battles that he dealt with back in season one.



Catch up on The #RealWorld Homecoming: New York right now, streaming only on @paramountplus! pic.twitter.com/wEpQlh8F9i  The Real World Homecoming: New York (@RealWorldMTV) March 22, 2021

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Nies was also overwhelmed, but it was just one more moment he had to experience via video. It was heartbreaking for me, he told ET. I flew all this way 29 years later. We were coming back to be together and to find out that I wasnt gonna be there with them physically  that was just heartbreaking. It was crushing.

Eric Nies ended up quarantined for 2 weeks

Nies was isolated for two weeks and was sad to have missed being in the loft. It felt like I was by myself and I didnt have access to my world, he told ET.

And while he was finally healthy enough to do press and promotions, Gardner said she wished they got more of Nies during the reunion. We only got 50 percent of him, she said.

Despite not being physically on set, Nies was still able to go through the experience. It was really emotional for me, he remarked. I think I cried a few times throughout. There were a lot of feelings and a lot of memories and reflecting on a lot of the different experiences that happened years ago.

If this friendship isn't real, I don't know what is anymore



Catch up on The #RealWorld Homecoming: New York now on @paramountplus! pic.twitter.com/mnr35W4jIN  The Real World Homecoming: New York (@RealWorldMTV) March 29, 2021

RELATED: The Real World: New York Andre Comeau Says the Show Is Very Real

Eric Nies plans to find out more about the virus

Producers flashed back to a clip of Nies from 1992 where he suggests that the cast should get together in 50 years and how funny it would be that they would all be in their 70s. Your whole life comes back into view, he said. Reviewing your entire lifes path [was] really, really emotional stuff.

He also assured fans that he took care of himself during his recovery from Covid. Nies also planned to find out more about the virus in Peru.

Aloha Soul FamilyThis was me back in December filming the Real World Homecoming in NYC, he posted along with a photo on Instagram. Another episode in this hotel room, getting along just fine with Covid. I could feel this foreign entity trying to figure out a way to break me down BUT I stayed calm, fed my body nutrient dense living foods, breathed deep and stayed positive. Dancing and smiling through the discomfort. In 8 days Ill be traveling to Peru to sit with Grandma Ayahuasca to understand more about this virus. I will be sharing what I find.
It is now obvious to me that this by-law, whatever its intent, hits at the fundamental right of citizens to speak and express themselves freely. The provisions of the by-law will not be enforced in the time taken for it to be repealed  probably about 10 weeks. Prosecutions already launched against people for infringing it will be withdrawn. About 15 people sat silently in the Public gallery to hear the debate. They included student leader Harry van Moorst and the secretary of the Save Our Sons movement (Mrs. Jean McLean). Jean McLean, convener of the Save Our Sons movement, holding a flyer promoting a rally and an event to fill-in false registration forms for National Service. Credit:Justin McManus

Unprecedented security measures were taken before the meeting. Council traffic inspectors and police stood at every entrance to the building. Three got gaol At least 70 people have appeared in court for distributing pamphlets attacking conscription, Australias involvement in the Vietnam war and the by-law itself. Three students were gaoled for non-payment of fines imposed for distributing anti-national service leaflets in the city. Federal Labor MHR Dr. Jim Cairns, arrested last Thursday for handing out leaflets outside the Town Hall, said he was prepared under certain circumstances, to go to gaol rather than pay a fine for infringing the by-law.

Last night he still had not received a summons. On the same day, 27 rebel unions decided to ask unionists not to buy Courage beer or shop at Patersons (Australia) Pty. Ltd. It decided to take this action because Sir Maurice, who is chairman of both firms, asked police and council officers to enforce the by-law. Sir Maurice said he had found that council traffic officers had been exposed to venom, contempt and insults from the public for enforcing the by-law. It has lowered morale because these officers believe they are doing the work of others.

Loading It seems the police are armed with adequate powers to deal with obstruction, he said. He said that when the general purposes committee last discussed the by-law it considered only whether the law should be enforced. The committee considered it was not the councils function to deal with moral or social issues. This is the function of the State or Commonwealth, he said.

Sir Maurice said the council was being looked on by the public as top-hatted, frock-coated, striped-pants business idiots. He believed the council should no longer be regarded this way. Cr. Holland said dissent was not a dirty word and dissenters were not degraded, debauched, drop outs from universities under contract to some foreign power. Not one responsible person or group had presented a case for retaining the by-law. He could not recall any other incident when this had occurred  during 17 years with the council. Dr Jim Cairns. Credit:Antony Matheus Linsen

Astonished Dr. Cairns said he was astonished by the councils change of heart. I did not think it was possible. The extent of its reassessment is so great that the council deserves a great deal of credit. It has proved the effectiveness of reasonable demonstration, even if it appeared to be unlawful. It will convince people that something can be done and that we are not impudent.

He said he hoped the gaol sentences imposed on young people for infringing the by-law would not prejudice their careers. Harry van Moorst said he was elated by the decision. A large protest was planned for outside the Commonwealth Centre, Spring Street, at which pamphlets would be distributed, he said. Cr. Ivan Rohrt gave notice that at the next council meeting he would ask the council to take action to have expunged from the record gaol sentences imposed for distributing pamphlets. He also would ask the council to consider refunding fines imposed. THEY TOOK OFF TOP HATS

By John Hamilton Opening of the new Melbourne City Council Chamber, 1910. Credit:The Age Archives The chamber where the Melbourne City Council deliberates is a fusty, musty place. A thick, red-patterned carpet deadens voices. The comfy, quilted black leather seats are the sort you find in a gentlemans club. For quiet meditation and peaceful siestas. Plaster scrolls writhe their way across the ceiling. The solid Victorian look of the place is strengthened by yards of dark wood panelling and the dull gleam of marble facings.

It is no wonder then, to use the words of Councillor Sir Maurice Nathan, that the inhabitants of this place are regarded by the general public as top-hatted, frock-coated, striped-suited business idiots. But yesterday the inhabitants of this place did a remarkable thing. They admitted they had been wrong. They repealed an 80-year-old by-law enacted by their top-hatted forbearers to rid the pavements of the City of Melbourne of hawkers, dodger thrusters and pamphleteers. They admitted they had been wrong in clinging to this law and using their servants to arrest people because now, in the 20th century, these people wanted to exercise their right to dissent by handing out pamphlets. Loading

A breath of fresh air blew through that council chamber yesterday afternoon. It blew away illusions about top hats and stuffed shirts and revealed a group of middle-aged businessmen who had made a mistake and were game enough to face up to a shareholders meeting and admit it. The shareholders were there to see them. A rough cross-section of the citizens who come to the City of Melbourne to work, to buy, to sell, to use it as their centre. They looked down from the galleries on the heads below, and they looked, in particular, at Maurice Nathan. Because he is chairman of the councils general-purpose committee, which upheld the by-law and enforced it. And he had been the target for abuse and threats of violence.

Now he had the guts to stand up and say that he and his committee had been wrong. Perhaps I was naive, he said. I did not realise that this would bring on my head such vitriolic attacks. I looked at the whole matter during the quiet of Easter. I read all the published material on the subject. I spoke to dozens of people. I consulted eminent authorities. On Monday morning at 9.30 1 changed my mind . . . When Maurice Nathan makes a decision and gets the bit in his teeth, he wont let go. When he sat down, the gallery applauded him. There were more speeches and fine phrases about the rights of man and democracy before the matter was put to the vote. But it was Maurice Nathans speech that made the day.

The by-law, he said, is out of date and we shouldnt be enforcing it. And it summed up all the speeches and the thousands of words that were written on the subject. Loading CITY BY-LAW 418 The Age Editorial Opinion, February 5th, 1969. THE strength of a nations commitment to democracy can be judged by the value it places on the free exchange of ideas and opinions. Any needless limitation on such exchanges inevitably weakens democracy because it prevents fully informed decision making by the nations ultimate rulers -- the people. That is why the citizens of democracies must have an inalienable right to publicly discuss (and sometimes to challenge) the actions taken by their law makers. In a large and complex society, the exercise and preservation of this right is hampered by two unavoidable difficulties. The first is the communications problem which faces an individual who tries to make himself heard above the crowd; the second is societys reasonable demands for public order and for protection against slander, sedition and treason. In Melbourne, there is a further it problem. Its technical name is City By-law 418 (24) 1.
YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations reports that several roads are closed across Armenia.

The ministry told Armenpress that the roads leading to the Amberd Fortress and Lake Kari in Aragatsotn province are closed.

The Georgian side informs that the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open for all types of vehicles.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Parents are rushing to take their kids to a futuristic two-storey playground in Sydney that boasts giant slides, a sandpit and a massive ball pit.

Planet Mino, situated in Chatswood, is making waves with parents, thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities, equipment and rides on offer.

Spread across two floors, children can enjoy everything from an augmented reality play wall to a giant pastel ball pit and cafe.

Parents are rushing to take their kids to a futuristic two-storey playground in Sydney that boasts giant slides, a sandpit and a massive ball pit (pictured)

Planet Mino, situated in Chatswood, is making waves with parents, thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities (pictured), equipment and rides on offer

Costs range from $10 for an under-12-month-old child on a weekday to $15 per hour for a child over the age of three at the weekend.

Planet Mino is suitable for a variety of different-aged kids, varying from zero all the way up to the age of 10.

The downstairs level is normally reserved for younger children aged 0-2, where they have their own ball pit and crawling area.

There is also a cafe for parents and children to relax, although Planet Mino does not allow visitors to bring their own food.

Costs range from $10 for an under-12-month-old child on a weekday to $15 per hour for a child over the age of three at the weekend (one of the slides pictured)

Visitors can book party packages at Planet Mino (pictured), which include 90 minutes of free play, a reserved table in front of the playground and kids' food cooked by the in-house chef

Highlights of the indoor playground include a 'ball pit sea', space station, 'volcano slide' and 'climb the rope tower'.

Little girls will love the 'Princess Dome', which is described as the 'perfect place to host a tea party'.

There is also a bouncy castle, Lego table and push cars which are 'ready for racing' at all times.

Visitors can book party packages at Planet Mino.

These include 90 minutes of free play, a reserved table in front of the playground, kids' food cooked by the in-house chef and a host to help throughout the party.

Parents who have been to Planet Mino are almost unanimously in love with the incredible futuristic playground (pictured)

Parents who have been to Planet Mino are almost unanimously in love with the incredible futuristic playground.

'This is the coolest play centre in Sydney - we are all obsessed,' one parent wrote.

Another added: 'Love this place and we will be back soon'.
It may be possible in the future to use information technology where electron spin is used to store, process and transfer information in quantum computers. It has long been the goal of scientists to be able to use spin-based quantum information technology at room temperature. A team of researchers from Sweden, Finland and Japan have now constructed a semiconductor component in which information can be efficiently exchanged between electron spin and light at room temperature and above. The new method is described in an article published in Nature Photonics.

It is well known that electrons have a negative charge, and they also have another property, namely spin. The latter may prove instrumental in the advance of information technology. To put it simply, we can imagine the electron rotating around its own axis, similar to the way in which the Earth rotates around its own axis. Spintronics - a promising candidate for future information technology - uses this quantum property of electrons to store, process and transfer information. This brings important benefits, such as higher speed and lower energy consumption than traditional electronics.

Developments in spintronics in recent decades have been based on the use of metals, and these have been highly significant for the possibility of storing large amounts of data. There would, however, be several advantages in using spintronics based on semiconductors, in the same way that semiconductors form the backbone of today's electronics and photonics.

"One important advantage of spintronics based on semiconductors is the possibility to convert the information that is represented by the spin state and transfer it to light, and vice versa. The technology is known as opto-spintronics. It would make it possible to integrate information processing and storage based on spin with information transfer through light", says Weimin Chen, professor at Linkoping University, Sweden, who led the project.

As electronics used today operates at room temperature and above, a serious problem in the development of spintronics has been that electrons tend to switch and randomise their direction of spin when the temperature rises. This means that the information coded by the electron spin states is lost or becomes ambiguous. It is thus a necessary condition for the development of semiconductor-based spintronics that we can orient essentially all electrons to the same spin state and maintain it, in other words that they are spin polarised, at room temperature and higher temperatures. Previous research has achieved a highest electron spin polarisation of around 60% at room temperature, untenable for large-scale practical applications.

Researchers at Linkoping University, Tampere University and Hokkaido University have now achieved an electron spin polarisation at room temperature greater than 90%. The spin polarisation remains at a high level even up to 110 C. This technological advance, which is described in Nature Photonics, is based on an opto-spintronic nanostructure that the researchers have constructed from layers of different semiconductor materials. It contains nanoscale regions called quantum dots. Each quantum dot is around 10,000 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair. When a spin polarised electron impinges on a quantum dot, it emits light - to be more precise, it emits a single photon with a state (angular momentum) determined by the electron spin. Thus, quantum dots are considered to have a great potential as an interface to transfer information between electron spin and light, as will be necessary in spintronics, photonics and quantum computing. In the newly published study, the scientists show that it is possible to use an adjacent spin filter to control the electron spin of the quantum dots remotely, and at room temperature.

The quantum dots are made from indium arsenide (InAs), and a layer of gallium nitrogen arsenide (GaNAs) functions as a filter of spin. A layer of gallium arsenide (GaAs) is sandwiched between them. Similar structures are already being used in optoelectronic technology based on gallium arsenide, and the researchers believe that this can make it easier to integrate spintronics with existing electronic and photonic components.

"We are very happy that our long-term efforts to increase the expertise required to fabricate highly-controlled N-containing semiconductors is defining a new frontier in spintronics. So far, we have had a good level of success when using such materials for optoelectronics devices, most recently in high-efficiency solar-cells and laser diodes. Now we are looking forward to continuing this work and to unite photonics and spintronics, using a common platform for light-based and spin-based quantum technology", says Professor Mircea Guina, head of the research team at Tampere University in Finland.

###

Financial support for the research has been granted by, among other bodies, the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), the Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University, the European Research Council ERC, the Academy of Finland, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Oregon Department of Transportation building in Salem, Oregon on April 6, 2009. (Gary Weber, Oregon Department of Transportation/CC BY 2.0 via Wikipedia)

State Employee Brings RICO Suit Against Public Sector Union

An Oregon state government employee is suing a labor union under racketeering laws over its refusal to grant her request to opt out of paying dues, claiming the union engaged in a pattern of fraudulent activity that victimized her and other union members.

Staci Trees of Bend, Oregon, who works for the Oregon Department of Transportation, was required to either sign a union membership card or pay an agency fee to Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 503 when she was first hired in 2009. But in June 2018, the Supreme Court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME, disrupting how public-sector unions finance their operations.

The high court held that mandatory union membership, dues, and fees in the public sector are a violation of the employees First Amendment rights. In Janus, the Supreme Court overruled Abood v. Detroit Board of Education (1977), which held that public-sector unions could collect forced agency fees from nonmembers to finance their collective bargaining activities, without infringing the First and 14th Amendments.

After the Janus ruling, Trees contacted the union and requested her release to allow her to opt out of paying the agency fees.

Following several delays, SEIU finally canceled her membership in December 2020. But Trees was advised by email that the union would continue deducting around $100 a month in dues until at least February 2021 because, under the terms of a new agreement she supposedly signed in 2016, all memberships would be renewed automatically unless the worker opted out during an annual two-week window.

Trees said she has no recollection of signing such an agreement and, when she demanded to see it, she formed the opinion that not only had her signature been forged, but important personal details had simply been made up.

The legal complaint in Trees v. SEIU Local 503 was filed in U.S. District Court in Eugene, Oregon, by the Freedom Foundation, a national nonprofit watchdog organization specializing in public-sector union abuses. It names SEIU Local 503, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and its director, Katy Coba, as defendants.

Treess case is the first to invoke the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, according to the Freedom Foundation.

We decided it was finally time to call this what it is and say this is a criminal enterprise, Freedom Foundation attorney Rebekah Millard told The Epoch Times in an interview.

If Staci Trees was the only person this had ever happened to, you could conceivably blame it on inefficiency or incompetence, but this isnt an isolated case.

The state law doesnt actually require the state to verify or to check or even to listen if the employee says, Hey I never authorized this, Millard said.

In Mrs. Treess case, her employer literally said to her, We take orders from the unionthere is nothing we can do to help you.

The foundation is currently in court over four other forgery cases involving SEIU Local 503 and has taken action in more than a dozen total forgery cases involving public-sector unions on the West Coast.

This is a pattern of behavior, Millard said. This is how government unions are responding to Janusby intimidating employees, lying, or suppressing the truth about their rights, and fighting every single attempt to opt out.

And when all else fails, they simply forge their signature on a phony contract, locking employees into new terms they never agreed to.

Millard said SEIUs actions contravene both state and federal RICO laws because the union sent out numerous electronic communications that fraudulently claimed Trees authorized deductions she hadnt.

Its time for the courts to recognize these are not isolated instances and take action to hold SEIU 503 accountable, said Jason Dudash, the Freedom Foundations Oregon director. And thats just what this lawsuit is intended to do.

Andrea Chiapella, communications director for the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, declined to make a statement. We dont comment on matters involving pending litigation, she wrote in an email.

SEIU Local 503 didnt immediately respond to requests by The Epoch Times for comment.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-09 02:14:41|Editor: huaxia

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BUCHAREST, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Romania will continue its national vaccination against COVID-19 with the AstraZeneca jab, the top official for the vaccination campaign in the country said on Thursday.

"Vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine continues for all age groups," said Valeriu Gheorghita, president of the National Coordinating Committee for Activities on Vaccination against COVID-19.

He said it is very important to continue vaccination with all vaccine products and at the highest possible parameters, given the epidemiological context in the country.

"People immunized with the first dose will continue the booster with the same type of vaccine," Gheorghita told a press conference after a working meeting dedicated to the issue of AstraZeneca vaccine.

However, those who have experienced a thrombotic event after the first dose of AstraZeneca are advised not to receive the same vaccine, he added.

The official reminded that the European Medicines Agency had confirmed that the benefit-risk balance of the AstraZeneca vaccine remained positive.

"Thrombotic events that have been reported post-vaccination are possible in very rare cases, and the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks that occur after vaccination related to these potential thrombotic events," said Gheorghita.

There is a high percentage of cancellations and absence in vaccination with AstraZeneca in the country since March, when reports of thromboembolic events surfaced. As of Tuesday, there have been over 207,000 cancellations on the online vaccine platform, while among the people who confirmed their appointment, about 99,000, or 28 percent, did not show up in the end, Gheorghita noted.

Since the beginning of the vaccination campaign on Dec. 27, 2020, 3,413,955 doses have been administered to 2,155,906 people, among whom 897,857 received their first dose and 1,258,049 both.

Currently, three vaccines -- Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca -- have been approved for use in Romania and so far, 11,436 reports of side effects have been registered.

Globally, 269 candidate vaccines are still being developed in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain, and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on Friday. Enditem
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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden put on a modest White House ceremony Thursday to announce a half-dozen executive actions to combat what he called an epidemic and an international embarrassment of gun violence in America.

But he said much more is needed. And while Biden had proposed the most ambitious gun-control agenda of any modern presidential candidate, his moves underscored his limited power to act alone on guns with difficult politics impeding legislative action on Capitol Hill.

Bidens new steps include a move to crack down on ghost guns, homemade firearms that lack serial numbers used to trace them and are often purchased without a background check. Hes also moving to tighten regulations on pistol-stabilizing braces like the one used in Boulder, Colorado, in a shooting last month that left 10 dead.

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The presidents actions delivered on a pledge he made last month to take what he termed immediate common-sense steps to address gun violence, after a series of mass shootings drew renewed attention to the issue. His announcement came the day after yet another episode, this one in South Carolina, where five people were killed.

But his orders stop well short of some of his biggest campaign-trail proposals, including his promise to ban the importation of assault weapons, his embrace of a voluntary gun buyback program and a pledge to provide resources for the Justice Department and FBI to better enforce the nations current gun laws and track firearms.

And while gun control advocates lauded Thursdays moves as a strong first step in combating gun violence, they, too, acknowledged that action from lawmakers on Capitol Hill is needed to make lasting change.

Some of the other big-ticket items are legislative, said Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. And thats going to be very difficult.

Biden mentioned a formidable list of priorities hed like to see Congress tackle, including passing the Violence Against Women Act, eliminating lawsuit exemptions for gun manufacturers and banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. He also called on the Senate to take up House-passed measures to close background check loopholes.

But with an evenly-divided Senate  and any gun control legislation requiring 60 votes to pass  Democrats would have to keep every member of their narrow majority on board while somehow adding 10 Republicans.

Horowitz said its hard to think who those Republicans would be, and though that doesnt mean its impossible to move on gun control were going to have to change some of the people who are in the Senate.

Gun control advocates say the National Rifle Associations legal and financial issues have greatly weakened the once mighty pro-gun lobby and helped turn the public tide in favor of some restrictions on gun ownership. They say a shift in public perception will eventually trickle down to Republicans on Capitol Hill.

But so far that hasnt materialized in votes. The House passed two bills in March largely along party lines that would expand and strengthen background checks for gun sales and transfers, a move that has broad public support. But most Republicans argue that strengthened checks could take guns away from law-abiding gun owners.

A small, bipartisan group of senators is trying to find compromise based on a 2013 deal that would have expanded background checks to gun shows and internet sales but was rejected then by five votes. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said at a rally in his state last week that he is talking to his colleagues every day to come a deal, and that he believes the public is more supportive than ever of changes.

Murphy acknowledged last weekend on NBCs Meet the Press that the background check bill that passed the House isnt likely to succeed in the Senate, but he suggested a more narrowly tailored bill might, and said he was working to build on that legislation to win over Republican support.

You are going to have to make some reasonable accommodations if you want 10 Republican votes. And I am already talking to Republicans who are not unwilling to sit down at the table, he said.

Even some of the limited moves Biden took Thursday had already been making their way through the bureaucracy.

The federal government has been working on a proposed rule that would change the definition of a firearm to include lower receivers, the essential piece of a semiautomatic rifle, in an effort to combat the proliferation of ghost guns and stave off losing court battles on the issue.

The process started in the waning months of the Trump administration, according to four people familiar with the matter. Justice Department leaders and officials at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had been working on language for a proposed rule since at least summer 2020, they said.

The proposal had gone through several layers of review by agency attorneys by last fall, and ATF officials have met with gun manufacturers and others to discuss the possibility of expanding the definition of a firearm, the people said.

They could not publicly discuss the details of the process and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

While Biden said the moves he took Thursday were just the beginning of his administrations actions on guns, its not known what further steps hell be willing  or able  to take.

With Biden already focused on passing his $2.3 trillion infrastructure package, after delivering a massive COVID-19 relief bill, its unclear how much political capital he has to spend to get any gun-control bills across the finish line. Asked last month if he felt he had the political sway to pass new gun laws, Biden told reporters: I dont know. I havent done any counting yet.

Some activists, while they praised Biden for his executive actions Thursday, said they wanted to see him more actively involved in the fight on Capitol Hill.

I think he needs to engage directly and I think he needs to be counting the votes. Im not sure what hes waiting for, said Igor Volsky, executive director of Guns Down America.

Volsky said his group would like to see Biden lay out a comprehensive package of reforms focused on gun violence, similar to what the administration has done on immigration. And he said Biden could do more in using the presidential bully pulpit to communicate with the public about the need for gun control measures and to pressure Congress to act.

As he pointed out on the campaign trail, repeatedly, theres no time to wait to act on this issue. So my view is that this should be a priority for him, Volsky said.

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This story has been corrected to show that the name of the executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence is Josh Horwitz, not Josh Horowitz.
Sister Nisha Sharma, the nurse who administered the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said it was a memorable moment for her to meet the PM and vaccinate him.

Sister Sharma is from Punjab's Sangroor.

P Niveda, who had administered the first jab to the PM, assisted Sharma with the second one.

"I am the vaccinator who gave the first dose of the vaccine to the PM. Today, I got another opportunity to meet him and vaccinate him for the second time. I was elated," Niveda said.

"He spoke to us and we even clicked pictures with him," she added.

PM Modi took his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi on Thursday morning.

"Got my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at today. Vaccination is among the few ways we have, to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon," tweeted PM Modi.

Prime Minister took his first dose of Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN on March 1.

India, in a landmark achievement, has vaccinated over 9 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses till now.

PM Modi flagged off the first phase of the pan-India rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination drive on January 16.

(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.)
Without coming right out and saying it, President seems ready to let lapse a May 1 deadline for completing a withdrawal of US troops from

Orderly withdrawals take time, and Biden is running out of it.

Biden has inched so close to the deadline that his indecision amounts almost to a decision to put off, at least for a number of months, a pullout of the remaining 2,500 troops and continue supporting the Afghan military at the risk of a Taliban backlash.

Removing all of the troops and their equipment in the next three weeks along with coalition partners who can't get out on their own would be difficult logistically, as Biden himself suggested in late March.

It's going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline, he said. Just in terms of tactical reasons, it's hard to get those troops out. Tellingly, he added, And if we leave, we're going to do so in a safe and orderly way.

James Stavidis, a retired Navy admiral who served as NATO's top commander from 2009 to 2013, says it would be unwise at this point to get out quickly.

Sometimes not making a decision becomes a decision, which seems the case with the May 1 deadline, Stavidis said in an email exchange Wednesday.

The most prudent course of action feels like a six-month extension and an attempt to get the Taliban truly meeting their promises essentially permitting a legitimate conditions based' withdrawal in the fall.

There are crosscurrents of pressure on Biden. On the one hand, he has argued for years, including during his time as vice president, when President Barack Obama ordered a huge buildup of US forces, that is better handled as a smaller-scale counterterrorism mission. Countering Russia and China has since emerged as a higher priority.

On the other hand, current and former military officers have argued that leaving now, with the Taliban in a position of relative strength and the Afghan government in a fragile state, would risk losing what has been gained in 20 years of fighting.

"A withdrawal would not only leave more vulnerable to terrorist threats; it would also have catastrophic effects in and the region that would not be in the interest of any of the key actors, including the Taliban, a bipartisan experts group known as the Afghan Study Group concluded in a February report.

The group, whose co-chair, retired Gen Joseph Dunford, is a former commander of US forces in Afghanistan and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs, recommended Biden extend the deadline beyond May, preferably with some sort of agreement by the Taliban.

If the troops stay, Afghanistan will become Biden's war. His decisions, now and in coming months, could determine the legacy of a 2001 U.S. invasion that was designed as a response to al-Qaida's Sept. 11 attacks, for which the extremist group led by Osama bin Laden used Afghanistan as a haven.

Biden said during the 2020 campaign that if elected he might keep a counterterrorism force in Afghanistan but also would end the war responsibly to ensure U.S. forces never have to return. The peace talks that began last fall between the Taliban and the Afghan government are seen as the best hope, but they have produced little so far.

Postponing the U.S. withdrawal carries the risk of the Taliban resuming attacks on U.S. and coalition forces, possibly escalating the war. In a February 2020 agreement with the administration of President Donald Trump, the Taliban agreed to halt such attacks and hold peace talks with the Afghan government, in exchange for a US commitment to a complete withdrawal by May 2021.

When he entered the White House in January, Biden knew of the looming deadline and had time to meet it if he had chosen to do so. It became a steep logistical hurdle only because he put off a decision in favour of consulting at length inside his administration and with allies.

Flying thousands of troops and their equipment out of Afghanistan in the next three weeks under the potential threat of Taliban resistance is not technically impossible, although it would appear to violate Biden's promise not to rush.

Biden undertook a review of the February 2020 agreement shortly after taking office, and as recently as Tuesday aides said he was still contemplating a way ahead in Afghanistan. White House press secretary Jen Psaki stressed that May 1 was a deadline set by the prior administration and that a decision was complicated.

(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.)
There are plenty of excellent reasons to visit Fairfax. The hippie Marin County town has long been a destination for hikers and bikers as the departure point for scenic trails around Mount Tamalpais. As the original headquarters of Good Earth Natural Foods, it was a landmark in the organic-food movement. But cocktails and drinks have rarely ranked among Fairfaxs top attractions  until now.

Quietly, since June, a destination-worthy bar from a veteran of San Franciscos craft-cocktail scene has operated in Fairfaxs laid-back downtown. Its called Stillwater, and it delivers a very of-the-moment kind of drinking experience, with natural wines, limited-edition hazy IPAs and cocktails that arent afraid to embrace bitter flavors.

The owners, David and Margaret Ruiz, are part of a small but growing movement of San Francisco bar folks branching out into Marin County. Isaac Shumway, formerly of Tosca Cafe and Bear vs. Bull in the city, opened the cocktail bar California Gold in San Rafael in 2019, an ambitious, Gold Rush-theme bar with complicated drinks inspired by historical episodes. Meanwhile, Christian Albertson and Nat Cutler, who own Monks Kettle in the Mission, plan to open an ambitious beer bar in Terra Linda this spring. Collectively, they stand to inject a little bit of San Francisco into Marins food-and-drink scene, which may become a selling point for the thousands of city residents who have relocated to Marin County during the pandemic.

Although limited-capacity indoor dining is permitted in Marin County now, the best way to experience Stillwater is by hanging out in its stylish, semi-enclosed backyard patio. Trees peek out from the gap between the beamed ceilings and the rough-hewn wooden walls. Heat lamps and a striking fireplace, which looks like an asymmetrical obelisk, keep the seating area warm enough that you wont mind ordering ice-cold drinks and a platter of oysters on the half shell, which is exactly what you should do here.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

This is the second Bay Area bar for David Ruiz, who is also a partner in the Mission District bar Junior. After he and his wife, Margaret, moved to Fairfax in 2018, it occurred to them that the area could use a serious place to drink. They happened into a space that had housed a number of locally beloved restaurants over the years, like Cafe Amsterdam  where Margaret Ruiz once worked  and the Sleeping Lady.

People in Fairfax have a nostalgic feeling about this space, David Ruiz says. We wanted to make sure we honored the feeling of the town, at least as we perceived it.

At Junior, David Ruiz drew a following for his next-level selection of mezcal, for which he developed a passion while living in Oaxaca, Mexico. As he and Margaret were preparing to open Stillwater, he was careful to avoid getting pigeonholed. Everyone was like, its gonna be a mezcal bar! Ruiz says. But he wanted Stillwater to be an everything bar. I never want it to be just about mezcal, he says.

Still, there is a definite agave influence here, with cocktails like the No Voodoo ($14). It combines mezcal with a syrup infused with loose-leaf dried lemongrass, a complex note that harmonizes with pert lime juice and minty Fernet Branca. The Twist of Cain ($14) employs a different Oaxacan spirit: rum, whose richness is amplified by a pineapple gum flavored with Chinese five spice. Fruity Lillet Rouge, a wine-based aperitif, stands in for bitters.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Regardless of whether Ruiz wants Stillwater to be a mezcal bar, even he would have to concede that one of the best drinks on the menu is a margarita made with both Mero Meros espadin mezcal and Pueblo Viejos blanco Tequila. Bright with citrus, earthy with agave and deliciously salty, its a quenching example of its type.

The food at Stillwater is the work of chef Cameron Meyers. Its a lot of bar-food staples  creamy Kennebec fries coated in Old Bay, a cheeseburger, tacos piled high with purple cabbage  but theyve been updated to look and taste as colorful as the cocktails. A charred segment of lime and a cucumber-horseradish mignonette accompany Hog Island oysters ($40 for a dozen); the presentation almost makes it feel as if youre making a cocktail out of each slurp of bivalve.

A great match for the oysters would be a citrusy cocktail like the Alpine Sour ($12). In it, grapefruit and lemon lift the base notes of gin, allspice dram and rabarbaro, a type of amaro made from rhubarb. Another good move would be to order a glass of Deux Punxs Fizz Lift, a pet-nat made from Muscat grapes ($13/glass). Its the house wine at Stillwater  the bar bought 75% of Deux Punxs sparkling-wine inventory last year  and, though bone-dry, tastes like honey, lychee and orange blossoms.

In a very twee move, the pet-nat is served in a coupe, rather than the customary white-wine glass, because, as Ruiz says, I like a big pour of sparkling.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Wine has become a bigger focus at Stillwater than the team had originally envisioned, thanks to the pandemic. The bar opened in June (six days after the Ruizes had a baby), and in the months leading up to its debut, they didnt know whether theyd be allowed to have in-person dining at all; they were prepared to do a takeout-only model.

Dylan Jones, who oversees Stillwaters wine list, put together a collection of natural wines that they could offer at retail and launched a wine club  a pivot that many new and existing Bay Area restaurants have made during the past year. He leans heavily on local producers, like Deux Punx (whose winemakers live in the Bay Area but source most of their grapes from Humboldt County), Donkey & Goat, Las Jaras and Luuma.

With COVID precautions still in place, the full version of Stillwater is yet to be realized. Its so weird to think that weve never had people sitting at the bar, Ruiz says. Hes slowly stocking up an enviable back bar with rare bottles of whiskey, amaro and, yes, mezcal. If Ruizs track record at Junior is any indication, it will be a very rewarding bar to sit at.

Were still waiting for the chance to really hit the vibe that we want, Ruiz says. But seeing people enjoy the place, even in abbreviated ways, has been enough to make the whole year worth it.

Stillwater. Outdoor and partial indoor seating, plus takeout. 4-9 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 1-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 23 Broadway Blvd., Fairfax. 415-524-8478 or www.stillwaterfairfax.com

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley
The pinata industry, dependent on social gatherings, has seen sales plummet. Some artisans, in a creative bid to survive, have added coronavirus figures to their lineups of superheros and princesses.

MEXICO CITY  The sight is jarring against the backdrop of smog and concrete that marks this part of Mexico City, a tangle of freeways and overpasses with old buses rumbling by and belching smoke.

But there, bursting like flowers amid the ashen buildings, they hang in row upon row: pinatas, painted every color, from bright fuchsia to midnight blue to Baby Yoda green. On the sidewalk, a Spiderman pinata stands beside Batman, while Mickey Mouse leans against Sonic the Hedgehog.

And included among the copyright-be-damned cartoon characters, superheros and doe-eyed Disney princesses is a more recent addition to the Mexican pinata repertoire. Painted lime-green with a gold crown, spikes erupting in all directions, the coronavirus glares at passers-by.
Germany is poised to enter preliminary negotiations with Russia about buying its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, it has been claimed.

Health minister Jens Spahn is believed to have informed other European health ministers of his decision at a closed-door meeting on Wednesday.

Spahn made the call after the European Commission said it would not be entering into preliminary talks with Russia as it had done with other vaccine-makers.

German health minister Jens Spahn is thought to have told European health ministers that he will enter preliminary talks with Russia over its Sputnik V vaccine

Talks will establish how many of the jabs Russia can supply and when, sources said, but Germany would not buy the shots until EU regulators give their approval

The goal of talks will be to establish what quantities of vaccine Russia can deliver and a timetable for delivery, those familiar with the meeting told Reuters.

But Germany will not actually buy any doses until the Russian jab has been approved by the EU's drug regulator, which is currently carrying out a safety review.

Spahn's decision also comes after Bavarian premier Markus Soeder, one of the men in the running to replace Merkel as chancellor when she retires this year, announced that he had struck a provisional deal to buy 2.5million Sputnik jabs from Russia.

The contract means that, if European regulators approve the jab, then his region will be entitled to 2.5million extra doses above whatever Germany as a whole buys.

The vaccines could be imported from Russia, but could also be made domestically at a factory owned by Russian drug-maker R-Pharm in the town of Illertissen.

Soeder who previously urged European regulators to 'speed up' their review of the Sputnik jab, said the purchase will take place in July.

European leaders are desperately trying to speed up their woefully slow jab roll-outs which have been hit by delays, supply issues and regulatory red-tape.

Germany is desperately trying to boost its vaccine roll-out as Covid cases spike with Angela Merkel calling for a new nationwide lockdown

Countries across the continent are being forced to tighten lockdowns once more as a third wave of Covid infections gathers pace, spreading through populations which have been left unprotected due to a lack of vaccines.

Just yesterday, Angela Merkel called for a 'short' lockdown in Germany to reduce infections which have plateaued around 15,000 cases per day for the last week.

Germany has vaccinated about 8.6 per cent of the country, whereas Britain has vaccinated nearly half its population.

At their last meeting in March, Merkel and the leaders of Germany's 16 states agreed national rules including strict shutdowns and possible curfews in areas with more than 100 new infections per 100,000 people over seven days.

But under Germany's federal system, each state can ultimately decide its own rules.

Some have failed to impose more restrictions in the face of more cases and even gone ahead with reopening measures.

The patchwork of rules 'is not contributing to security and acceptance at the moment,' Demmer told reporters.

'The health system is under intense pressure,' she said, noting a five percent increase in occupied intensive care beds in just 24 hours.
HOUSTON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Monzer Hourani, CEO of Medistar and inventor and chairman of Houston-based Integrated Viral Protection, received Engineering News-Record 's (ENR) Top 25 Newsmakers of the Year and ENR's highest honor, the Award of Excellence, at ENR's 2021 Newsmakers of the Year and Award of Excellence Luncheon April 8.

Hourani received the Award of Excellence for his lifetime achievement in structural engineering, architecture, design and real estate development, and for his most recent breakthrough invention, the Biodefense Indoor Air Protection System, proven as the only technology to "catch and kill" COVID-19 and other dangerous airborne pathogens, instantaneously in a single pass, and is also endorsed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

"I am honored to receive this prestigious award and to be in such esteemed company," said Hourani. "As soon as the pandemic began, I knew we would need a solution to bring us back to gathering indoors safely. There is no better time to embrace the significance of indoor air quality to reopen our world safely with a technology that will protect future generations."

IVP's indoor air biodefense technology is being rapidly deployed across the nation in medical centers, office buildings, schools, college dorms, restaurants and hotels, including the Intercontinental Hotel in Houston.

ENR salutes outstanding achievements in construction and engineering with its annual Top 25 Newsmakers, Award of Excellence and Best of the Best Projects teams. Hourani was honored as both a Top 25 Newsmaker and given the Award of Excellence. Past honorees include Vicky O'Leary, Chairwoman of North America's Building Trades Unions, and Cris Liban, Chief Sustainability Officer for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

"The editors of Engineering News-Record have named Monzer Hourani the winner of the 2021 ENR Award of Excellence for his crusade, above-and-beyond the call of duty, to reduce COVID-19 transmission indoors through his virus-killing air filter that boosts indoor air quality  making buildings safer havens during this and future pandemics," said Nadine Post, Editor-at-Large for ENR.

Attending the in-person and hybrid ceremony were elected officials including former Texas Governor and U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry; Senators Marco Rubio and John Cornyn; and former Secretary of Housing Henry Cisneros; global health and business leaders such as Mehmet Oz (Dr. Oz) and Kim Bassett, president of Stewart Medical; and Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp. The gala was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Houston, the first hotel property in the world to install the technology protecting its employees and guests.

"When you've got Texas A&M University, the biocontainment lab in Galveston, MIT, Argon National Lab, and the Superconductivity Institute at the University of Houston all standing up and saying this technology works and it will kill this virus, that you can hang your hat on," said Perry.

About Integrated Viral Protection (IVP)

Integrated Viral Protection Solutions, LP (IVP) was created by Monzer Hourani in April 2020 to respond to the COVID-19 global pandemic and to foster research, development, and deployment of technologies that offer biodefense solutions to mitigate transmission of biological threats in indoor environments. At the heart of this award-winning biodefense design is a proprietary heated mesh that works in conjunction with legacy air filtration found in HVAC systems. The resulting suite of products will offer proven in-line mitigation for the airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors. This technology has been recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as a top innovation of 2020 for fighting COVID-19.

The Biodefense Indoor Air Protection System is first-line prevention technology against environmentally (airborne) mediated transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The heated biodefense filter can be retrofitted into commercial and home HVAC systems and/or deployed as a mobile unit equipped with powerful filtration capability. For more information, please visit www.ivpair.com.

For IVP, contact:

Lauren Velasco, [email protected], 847-567-4322

SOURCE Integrated Viral Protection

Related Links

http://www.ivpair.com


[April 08, 2021] SDR Ventures Advises SCApath and Spinnaker SCS on Acquisition by Black Lake Capital

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SDR Ventures is pleased to announce that Spinnaker SCA has been acquired by Black Lake Capital ("Black Lake"). Spinnaker SCA was formed through the merger of SCA, LLC ("SCApath") and Spinnaker SCS, LLC ("Spinnaker SCS"). SDR served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to SCApath and Spinnaker SCS throughout the transaction process. Formed in 2011 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, SCApath is a leading consulting firm that specializes in identifying, designing, and implementing supply chain solutions that enable omni-channel commerce. SCApath specializes in software applications for order management, warehouse management and transportation management systems. Founded in 2002, Houston, Texas-based Spinnaker SCS is a supply chain consulting services firm that helps clients grow, manage risk, reduce costs, and improve customer service by developing world-class supply chain capabilities. Its services help clients develop the right supply chain strategy for their business challenges and implement organizational capabilities, business processes and technology solutions to improve supply chain strategy and demand/supply planning capabilities. Evan McCaig, President & Managing Principal of SCApathcommented, "The strategic vision and dedication of the SDR Ventures team was integral in aligning the path to shared success for the new partnership of SCApath and Spinnaker SCS. Together, we have formed a partnership that will provide our incredible client portfolio and future customers with best-in-class, end-to-end supply chain innovations and technologies. With the added support of Black Lake, we look forward to capitalizing on the acceleration of e-commerce and omni-channel commerce trends which are only possible through supply chain transformation."



"We are incredibly grateful that SDR was able to recognize the synergies between our firms and present them to the market in such an effective manner," added John Sharkey, Senior Vice President of Spinnaker SCS. "The Spinnaker SCS team is thrilled to work alongside the talented team members at SCApath and Black Lake and look forward to providing our clients with the unrivaled level of service that they deserve." SDR Director, Scott Mitchell, noted, "This transaction was another fantastic example of business owners and operators coming together and working towards a shared goal of reaching new heights. Together, SCApath and Spinnaker SCS provide a comprehensive set of supply chain technology consulting and integrations solutions that would've taken years to build independently."

"Our team is pleased to welcome both SCApath and Spinnaker SCS," concluded Chad Scripps, Managing Partner at Black Lake. "Each of the companies brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table and we look forward to shepherding their growth to become a predominant force in supply chain technology solutions." Media Contact: Zack Przekop

720.221.9220

306902@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sdr-ventures-advises-scapath-and-spinnaker-scs-on-acquisition-by-black-lake-capital-301264541.html SOURCE SDR Ventures

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Eight months after mild COVID-19, one in ten people still has at least one moderate to severe symptom that is perceived as having a negative impact on their work, social or home life. The most common long-term symptoms are a loss of smell and taste and fatigue.

This is according to a study published in the journal JAMA, conducted by researchers at Danderyd Hospital and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

Since spring 2020, researchers at Danderyd Hospital and Karolinska Institutet have conducted the so-called COMMUNITY study, with the main purpose of examining immunity after COVID-19. In the first phase of the study in spring 2020, blood samples were collected from 2,149 employees at Danderyd Hospital, of whom about 19 percent had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Blood samples have since then been collected every four months, and study participants have responded to questionnaires regarding long-term symptoms and their impact on the quality of life.

In the third follow-up in January 2021, the research team examined self-reported presence of long-term symptoms and their impact on work, social and home life for participants who had had mild COVID-19 at least eight months earlier.

This group consisted of 323 healthcare workers (83 percent women, median age 43 years) and was compared with 1,072 healthcare workers (86 percent women, median age 47 years) who did not have COVID-19 throughout the study period.

The results show that 26 percent of those who had COVID-19 previously, compared to 9 percent in the control group, had at least one moderate to severe symptom that lasted more than two months and that 11 percent, compared to 2 percent in the control group, had a minimum of one symptom with negative impact on work, social or home life that lasted at least eight months. The most common long-term symptoms were loss of smell and taste, fatigue, and respiratory problems.

We investigated the presence of long-term symptoms after mild COVID-19 in a relatively young and healthy group of working individuals, and we found that the predominant long-term symptoms are loss of smell and taste. Fatigue and respiratory problems are also more common among participants who have had COVID-19 but do not occur to the same extent." Charlotte Thalin, Ph.D., Specialist Physician and Lead Researcher, COMMUNITY study, Danderyd Hospital and Karolinska Institutet

"However, we do not see an increased prevalence of cognitive symptoms such as brain fatigue, memory and concentration problems or physical disorders such as muscle and joint pain, heart palpitations or long-term fever."

"Despite the fact that the study participants had a mild COVID-19 infection, a relatively large proportion report long-term symptoms with an impact on quality of life. In light of this, we believe that young and healthy individuals, as well as other groups in society, should have great respect for the virus that seems to be able to significantly impair quality of life, even for a long time after the infection," says Sebastian Havervall, deputy chief physician at Danderyd Hospital and PhD student in the project at Karolinska Institutet.

The COMMUNITY study will now continue, with the next follow-up taking place in May when a large proportion of study participants are expected to be vaccinated. In addition to monitoring immunity and the occurrence of re-infection, several projects regarding post- COVID are planned.

"We will, among other things, be studying COVID-19-associated loss of smell and taste more closely, and investigate whether the immune system, including autoimmunity, plays a role in post-COVID," says Charlotte Thalin.
Research led by University of Maine glaciologist Kristin Schild to quantify and predict iceberg melting rates has received NASA New (Early Career) Investigator Program (NIP) in Earth Science funding.

Schild received one of 38 NASA NIP awards and is the first Maine-based researcher to receive the triennial recognition since 2003.

The assistant research professor with the School of Earth and Climate Sciences and the Climate Change Institute will use her $378,446 award to develop universal measuring strategies and a model for predicting how fast any iceberg would melt and discharge freshwater into the ocean. These tools could support remote sensing and iceberg melt studies and enhance how global-scale models forecast sea level rise and climate change as a result of glacial ice activity.

"I'm incredibly honored to be selected as one of the NASA NIP recipients," Schild says. "This is such an exciting project that tackles one of the fundamental questions concerning the changing cryosphere: where is this meltwater going and what is the impact? I'm beyond thrilled to start working on this research."

Freshwater flux, or when freshwater enters the ocean, from tidewater glaciers accelerates sea level rise, and their contribution to it has more than doubled since the early 2000s. According to Schild, icebergs constitute about 50% of that contribution. They also have been connected with abrupt climate events across the globe.

Freshwater flux from melting icebergs also has increased in recent years, affecting local climates, ecosystems and local-scale fjord circulation, and posing challenges to shipping and offshore installations, Schild says.

Despite its various effects, iceberg freshwater flux is not considered in coupled atmosphere-ocean global climate models (GCMs), which are crucial for establishing climate thresholds, or points at which increasing temperatures would alter climate systems. Schild says GCMs forgo evaluating iceberg freshwater flux in part because no all-inclusive parameters for measuring iceberg geometry and quantifying melt rates have been established. By not accounting for it, however, Schild says GCMs neglect at least 50% of freshwater input into oceans from glaciers and other ice forms, which could skew forecasts.

Designing global metrics and a predictive model to anticipate the rate at which freshwater enters the ocean from any melting iceberg, which would give scientists a more comprehensive look at the effects of glacial ice and global warming by allowing GCMs to factor in the contributions of icebergs.

"This project expands the communities' knowledge by taking the first step toward creating a series of iceberg geometries and a freshwater flux module for regular use in GCMs and global ocean circulation models," Schild says. "Through these models, we will be able to promote better decisions about our environment and water."

To establish universal parameters for obtaining iceberg geometry and melt rate figures, Schild plans to use Landsat satellite imagery, a 2D iceberg melt model and 46 years of onsite, full-iceberg geometric data collected on icebergs of varying shapes and sizes. Once she identifies the parameters, Schild can create her model.

Field data Schild obtained from her 2017-19 expeditions to Greenland will validate her parameters and predictive iceberg freshwater flux model.

In addition to identifying metrics for iceberg geometry for remote sensing and modeling studies, Schild also hopes to pinpoint the relation between the speed at which icebergs melt and their geometry, and the spatiotemporal distribution of iceberg freshwater flux.

"By understanding when, where and how much meltwater is injected, we will have a better handle on what type of environment we may see in the future," Schild says.

###
DMX was reported to be hospitalized over a heart attack that may have been related to a substance overdose. The hip-hop community was rocked with the news.

New updates following his hospitalization have been limited on the rapper's current condition after it was reported that he was being pulled off life support.

But not only was the "Party Up (Up In Here) hitmaker suffered the worst health conditions to ever experience, his manager also revealed that he also tested positive for COVID-19.

Because of the result, only certain family members, including his mom and fiancee, have been allowed in the 50-year-old's hospital room.

Over the weekend, members of the Ruff Ryders biker gang showed up at the White Plains Hospital in New York to support DMX's recovery.

DMX Update

DMX remains to be on life support following his alleged overdose and cardiac arrest.

According to his lawyer Murray Richman, DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, didn't confirm that the rapper had overdosed due to substance abuse.

The musician's former manager Nakia Walker revealed that the "Where The Hood At" rapper is already in a "vegetative state" while suffering from "lung and brain failure."

However, People magazine reported that the musician will be scheduled for tests to determine how much brain function and activity he still has.

DMX's current manager Steve Rifkind told the outlet, "We are just waiting on the doctors to tell us what the next steps are."

Over the weekend, it was also reported that he had been tried to revive three times by medical personnel, "twice in the house" and "revived him again in the hospital."

READ ALSO:Kim Kardashian Shares One Important Vow After Reaching Billionaire Status

DMX History of Abuse

DMX was one of the most successful and influential rappers in the 1990s. However, his talent was tainted with substance abuse.

At the age of 14, Earl Simmons revealed in a 2020 interview that it was the first time he used crack cocaine. His mentor Ready Ron passed him a blunt that was mixed with crack.

In that interview, he expressed his sorrow and frustration, saying, "Why would you do that to a child? He knew how I looked up to him. Why would you do that to somebody ho looks up to you?"

This alleged overdose wasn't the first because, in 2016, DMX was spotted unconscious in a New York hotel parking lot. When medics and the police arrived, he was reportedly not breathing.

However, at the time, Page Six reported no substances found at the scene, but witnesses revealed that DMX took a "powdered" substance before it all happened.

He was in and out of rehab after that, even canceling some shows since 2017.

READ MORE: Demi Lovato Reveals 'Survivor's Guilt' After Learning of DMX's Overdose and Critical Condition

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
New York will offer $15,600 one-time payments to undocumented workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic, as lawmakers approved a $2.1 billion fund in the state's budget to help those who missed out on stimulus checks and unemployment benefits.

Governor Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers struck a deal on the excluded workers fund as part of the new $212 billion state budget agreement reached Tuesday - five days after the April 1 deadline.

The fund will provide assistance to around 300,000 New Yorkers who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 but, due to their immigration status, were not eligible for other pandemic-related relief.

The agreement, which was one of the most hotly debated parts of the budget and led to divisions within the Democratic party, comes after protesters held hunger strikes and rallied outside government buildings demanding support for the state's undocumented population.

New York will offer $15,600 one-time payments to undocumented workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic. Pictured excluded essential workers at Washington Square Park in NYC Wednesday after the funds were approved

Lawmakers approved a $2.1 billion fund in the state's budget to help those who missed out on stimulus checks and unemployment benefits

The $2.1 billion program will provide cash payments to workers who suffered income loss due to COVID-19 but were ineligible for unemployment insurance or related federal benefits due to their immigration status.

This works out at $300 per week for the last year since COVID-19 started ravaging the nation and the economy.

Workers will be required to provide documentation to show they live in New York, were ineligible for federal unemployment benefits and lost income due to the pandemic in order to access the funds.

Documents accepted to prove eligibility include driver's licenses, state-issued IDs, birth certificates, school transcripts, utility bills, bank statements, a letter from an employer, pay stubs, wage statements or wage notices, and a previous W-2 or 1099 tax form.

Others may be eligible for a smaller payment of up to $3,200 if they can only prove residency, identity and provide some work documentation.

The fund was sponsored by State Senator Jessica Ramos, a progressive Democrat from Queens, and passed in the Democratic-controlled State Senate and Assembly Tuesday.

Cuomo said Wednesday in a briefing that the state wanted to show 'compassion' to undocumented workers.

'Just because you are undocumented doesn't mean we don't care and we don't have compassion, and we don't want to help,' he said.

However, the governor voiced concerns that the fund could attract attempts at fraud.

Governor Andrew Cuomo (above) and state lawmakers reached a deal on the excluded workers fund as part of the new $212 billion state budget agreement finalized Tuesday

Cuomo had pushed for a requirement that applicants give an individual taxpayer identification number to receive the money but this idea was shelved due to concerns this would exclude a segment of undocumented immigrants without such IDs.

He said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and New York State Attorney General Letitia James will review the scheme before it is rolled out.

'It is difficult to do it in a way that can be administered without fraud, and that's obviously a major concern for us that we protect every tax dollar,' he said.

'We ran an unemployment insurance program for citizens of the state, there was tremendous fraud even through we took significant measures.

'On this program, we'll ask the comptroller to review it before it is administered. The comptroller's job is to audit state funds.

'After a program is run, the comptroller will come back and do an audit and said, you did this wrong, this wrong, this wrong, this wrong.'

He added: 'In this case, we're asking the comptroller to look at the program first to make sure the way it is designed, there are fraud protections.

Undocumented workers contribute billions of dollars in taxes but are not eligible for stimulus checks or unemployment benefits. They were hard hit amid the pandemic with many turning to food pantries in the absence of government aid (people at a food pantry in Queens in March)

'And we're asking the Attorney General to specifically review the program, the guidelines, the rules, to make sure there are anti-fraud protections.'

Cuomo vowed to ensure '100 percent integrity for tax dollars' and said payments will not start going out until the state makes sure taxpayer funds will reach the right people.

'Until the Attorney General reviews and signs off on the program, we will not implement the program, because we want New Yorkers to know, yes, we're compassionate and we're doing the right thing, but we're also doing it smartly and intelligently, and the Attorney General's approval of the program will do just that,' he said.

Cuomo did not give a timeline for when undocumented workers will start receiving payments.

Undocumented workers contribute billions of dollars in taxes to the US economy each year, paying an estimated $11.7 billion in state and local taxes in 2014, according to the most recent data from the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy.

The latest data from the Internal Revenue Service in 2015 shows 4.4 million income tax returns were filed by workers who don't have Social Security numbers, accounting for $23.6 billion in federal income tax that year.

But undocumented workers are not eligible for COVID-19 stimulus checks or for federal unemployment benefits.

And they were especially hard hit by the pandemic, as industries such as construction ground to a halt when the virus started ravaging America and stay-at-home orders were issued.

The $2.1 billion program, sponsored by NY State Senator Jessica Ramos (above) will provide $15,600 cash to around 300,000 workers who lost income to COVID-19 but were ineligible for other pandemic relief

Immigrants were also said to be at increased risk of the virus as they lack the same access to healthcare.

In the absence of government aid, many were forced to turn to food pantries to survive.

Protesters demanding support for undocumented immigrants held demonstrations as the budget was being negotiated by lawmakers.

A three-week-long hunger strike took place outside the governor's Manhattan office to call attention to the plight of undocumented workers.

But the inclusion of the fund has divided opinion among state lawmakers.

New York Republicans opposed the allocation of the budget, which coincided with the hiking of income taxes on the state's millionaires to the highest rate nationwide.

Republican Minority Leader in the State Senate Rob Ortt hit out at the focus on immigrants when other New Yorkers also continue to struggle due to the pandemic.

'Democrats are raising taxes and using your federal stimulus dollars to enact a radical agenda rather than helping veterans, small main street businesses, teachers and senior citizens,' he told the New York Times.

The fund even caused rifts within the Democratic party with freshman Assemblywoman Amanda Septimo accusing Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti of 'disrespect' on Twitter

William A. Barclay, the Republican Minority Leader in the Assembly, agreed saying the billion-dollar price tag would 'resonate' with citizens also hard-hit.

He said many would think: 'Wow, I struggled through this whole pandemic, I've followed all the rules, have paid taxes and done everything I'm supposed to be doing.'

The fund even caused rifts within the Democratic party between progressives and moderates, with five Democrats in the state Senate voting against the bill.

In the run-up to the vote, sources said several had voiced concerns privately.

The infighting spilled over on social media as freshman Assemblywoman Amanda Septimo accused Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti of 'disrespect'.

'Yes, I gave you the finger after you called me a 'smart ass', which many people can confirm. You will not disrespect me & go unanswered,' she tweeted Tuesday morning.

'I didn't misrepresent anything about you, but you chose to call me out of my name. Trust me, we are all seeing your true colors now.'

A protest last July calling for help for excluded workers impacted by the pandemic

Protesters held hunger strikes and rallied outside government buildings demanding support for the state's undocumented population

Abinanti fired back telling her to tell 'the whole story' and said his views on the bill were 'misrepresent[ed]'.

'So why don't you tell them the whole story - that you gave me the finger while I was speaking in the Democratic Conference about people misrepresenting my position on the excluded worker bill?' he said.

Ramos, who led the fund, told the Times the fund would help those who have suffered this last year.

'I've met neighbors who have not been able to pay rent, or put food on the table, or been able to provide their children with a laptop when a public school has not been able to provide one,' she said.

Deputy Senate Majority Leader Michael Gianaris said to deny the funds would be 'immoral and unjust'.

The final budget approved included changes to initial plans being debated and is also lower than the $3.5 billion called for by activists.

Supporters of the fund had called for people recently released from prison to be included but this was left out of the final bill.

Despite the amendments the final fund is still the largest of its kind in America, far greater than a similar scheme in California where undocumented immigrants were given a $500 one-time payment.
San Antonio City Council members were generally pleased with recent changes to the multimillion-dollar Alamo Plaza makeover plan, but several raised concerns about costs, street closures and free-speech access to the historic mission and battle site in the heart of downtown.

I think the team has done great work in putting this back together, said Councilman John Courage, one of two council members who criticized a previous plan that would have relocated the Cenotaph and voted against the city leasing part of the plaza to the state in 2018.

In addition to keeping the Cenotaph where it has been for the last 80-plus years, the revamped plan calls for closing Alamo Street between Houston and Crockett streets but allowing Fiesta parades and other events with traditional ties to Alamo Plaza to continue; preserving the Woolworth Building and two other historic structures on the west side of the plaza; and installing surface pavers to mark the historic Alamo footprint, among other changes.

Councilman Clayton Perry, who also voted against the lease, questioned why the city would fund improvements in the section of the plaza that is leased to the state.

He asked if any of the $13 million the city has spent or committed so far, with another $25 million still left to spend on the project, was for naught.

How much money did we waste on that first go-round? Perry asked.

Assistant City Manager Lori Houston said the city has paid or committed funds for utility relocation; site prep work in the plaza, including removal of a 1970s gazebo; design work for closures of Bonham and East Crockett streets; and scholarly studies, including one on the cultural significance of the Woolworth Building.

None of those expenses were wasted, she said.

We did not waste any time, Houston added We were able to adjust.

The changes resulted from Mayor Ron Nirenbergs March 1 reset of the $450 million public-private Alamo project.

Wednesdays discussion about the new plan was the first for the City Council, which is scheduled to vote on changes to the citys lease with the Texas General Land Office next week.

If the council approves an amended lease at its April 15 meeting, part of Alamo Street would permanently close by June 1. And if a new design is approved for the plaza in the fall, an estimated two-year construction could begin early next year.

On ExpressNews.com: Citizen committee supports Alamo plan changes

A 12-2 vote in September by the Texas Historical Commission to deny a permit to move the Cenotaph monument forced leaders to rethink the project, which also includes construction of a privately funded museum.

The city is having to develop a new repair plan for the 1930s Cenotaph, since the earlier plan had sought to completely disassemble it and rebuild it on a new frame a few hundred feet to the south.

The plan for repairing the Cenotaph will be developed and presented to the Alamo Citizen Advisory Committee and reviewed by the citys Office of Historic Preservation and the historical commission before any work begins.

Other changes would limit demonstrations, and perhaps other activities such as Christmas carolers, in a planned First Amendment zone outside the Alamo footprint, in the south part of the plaza.

Perry had qualms about those limitations and also was worried street closures could upset business owners and hinder access for the elderly and disabled.

City Attorney Andy Segovia said caroling and other non-controversial activities might be allowed within the footprint, depending on the details and the context.

Councilman Roberto Trevino, who had led the citys involvement in the Alamo plan for six years before being removed by Nirenberg last month from two key committee posts, referenced a pending audit not yet released on the project.

Trevino said hed like the audit publicly disclosed, and he took issue with the city agreeing to fund improvements in the city-owned part of the plaza that it wasnt committed to in the current lease.

Were spending money on an area that we werent originally going to spend money on, Trevino said.

Houston countered that the new lease achieves the goal supported by a majority of the council to remain in a partnership with the Land Office and nonprofit Alamo Trust. The Land Office is committed to restoring the Alamo church and Long Barrack  an endeavor that could ultimately lead to replacement of the churchs 101-year-old concrete roof.

The trust plans to privately raise funds for a top-tier museum, possibly repurposing the three state-owned buildings, including the Woolworth Building, in the plaza.

On ExpressNews.com: City taking different approach than state on Alamo cemeteries

Houston noted that the city would have primary control of design and construction in the plaza under proposed changes to the lease.

In a letter this week to Nirenberg, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, former Mayor Phil Hardberger and Phil Bakke, a former member of the Alamo Citizen Advisory Committee, supported the changes. They said the updated plan would provide for interpretation of the plaza, with a focus on the 1836 siege and battle, while keeping the area accessible and open for parades and other events tied to San Antonio traditions, and preserving the historic structures.

The Alamo is an iconic symbol of our liberty and is best commemorated by allowing open access through the plaza as we have done for centuries, the three leaders wrote in the letter.

shuddleston@express-news.net
From tech corporations to academic publications, more business entities are becoming hostages to the Chinese Communist Party, an article reveals.

An analysis published in The Epoch Times covers three events showing that the Chinese Communist Party has gained more ground in its ambition to become the next world power.

First up was telecommunication company Ericsson's backing of Chinese tech giant Huawei in Sweden. In their January report, theLocal, a Swedish newspaper reported that Ericsson's Chief Executive Borje Ekholm is "worried about Chinese reprisals after Sweden banned Huawei from taking part in the rollout of 5G networks."

"China accounts for eight percent of our revenue. For us it has been a strategically important issue to be present in China," Ekholm was quoted saying.

The barring of Huawei and ZTE from Sweden's 5G network last October was prompted by security concerns specially on data sharing. Two days after the ban was placed, Chinese ambassador Gui Congyou said in an exclusive interview that the decision will "negatively affect China-Sweden practical cooperation and the operation of Swedish companies in China."

Elisabeth Braw, from the American Enterprise Institute, explained how China took Western firms hostage in an article in Foreign Policy. In it, she called the CCP's ruse to make Ericsson side Huawei as "corporate hostage-taking."

Luke Patey, the senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, also wrote at length on how China uses economic coercion by "(provoking) large multinationals and business associations to lobby their governments for foreign-policy change."

HSBC Needs China for Its Expansion

The Epoch Times' analysis states that 90% of global banking company HSBC's profits was generated from Hong Kong during the first half of 2019. By February 2020, HSBC announced its expansion in Asia and the cessation of their operations in Europe and United States.

While claiming neutrality over the political upheaval in Hong Kong, HSBC froze the account of Ted Hui, a pro-democracy lawmaker. This was met with criticisms from both camps.

Fan Yu, an expert in finance and economics, wrote that HSBC's dilemma in Hong Kong offers a warning to Corporations "that want a big piece of the mainland Chinese market."

"As of last year, Asia-mostly Greater China-now makes up more than 50 percent of its revenues, followed by Europe, and its presence in North and South America has declined drastically," said Fan.

CCP Extending Its Tentacles on Academic Publications

The Chinese government is also extending its reach to the academic sphere. Using "party control," CCP-backed publishers like Springer Nature deletes "articles from its mainland site with topics the Party considers sensitive, including Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, and human rights," states The Epoch Times' review.

Taiwanese doctors would also risk rejection in the publication of their academic papers under Spring Nature's "Eye and Vision" - a medical journal allegedly working in partnership with and sponsored by Wenzhou Medical University in China - if they refuse to abide to the editorial conditions. Radio Free Asia reported about such a case.

"A Taiwanese doctor, Wu Jo-hsuan, recently reported via Facebook that she had been asked by the editorial team at Eye and Vision, a medical journal published by the group, to add the word "China" after "Taiwan" in her paper, or have her article rejected for publication," reports RFA.

In response to criticisms for "bowing to CCP," Springer Nature claims in a statement obtained by the Associated Press that the less than 1% online contents blocked in China was in compliance to their "local distribution laws."
Presidente @FSagasti: Hago un llamado a todos los partidos politicos para que firmemos un pacto por la mejora de la salud publica en el Peru. Es fundamental que apoyen decididamente este esfuerzo. pic.twitter.com/Dwo2UvBat0
Something rare and creepy recently washed ashore on Mustang Island, and it's best to stay away from them.

On March 29, Jennifer Baltazar didn't notice the eyeball-looking creatures scattered on the shore until her son starting to feel a stinging pain in his foot. When Baltazar traced back their steps to see what he could have stepped on, she saw the jellyfish-like species.

She took pictures and sent them to Mission Aransas reserve director Jace Tunnell at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, who told MySA.com he's never seen the creatures before. After some research, the institute identified them as Rhizophysa eysenhardti  a species related to Portuguese man-of-war.

THE CAPITAL OF TEXAS: Why Houston is the TRUE capital on the Lone Star state

Rhizophysa eysenhardti are sometimes called spaghetti monsters or thread-jellies. They are native to the tropical Atlantic and Indian oceans, making it pretty rare to see down here in the Gulf of Mexico, Mustang Island stated in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

"I've never seen these things wash up before," Tunnell said. "... Certain times of the year these jellyfish and stuff fluctuate coming in, and we randomly find interesting things coming, and this one, in particular, kind of threw me off ... it's an interesting find for sure."

Tunnell noted he doesn't think the sting is as powerful as the man-of-war, but it would be best to avoid the thread-jellies. Baltazar agrees as her son said the sting hurt quite a bit.

"Take pictures but leave the animal there," Tunnell said.

When researching information on this species, we learned there isn't much out there. However, a publication from CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research says the stings of Rhizophysa are painful. If stung, the publication says to rinse it well with seawater to wash away any remaining microscopic nematocysts (stinging cells) remaining on the skin. Freshwater or tap water should not be used, as it will aggravate it. Then, it says to use ice to relieve the pain.
In a setback to government and its former home minister Anil Deshmukh, the Thursday dismissed their pleas challenging the Bombay High Court order directing a probe into allegations of corruption and misconduct levelled against him by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

Looking at the personas involved and nature of allegations and seriousness of allegations, it requires investigation by an independent agency. It is a matter of public confidence, a bench comprising Justices S K Kaul and Hemant Gupta said.

We don't want to interfere with the orders of high court directing preliminary inquiry by CBI, the bench said.

It is only preliminary enquiry and nothing is wrong in it when serious allegations are made by senior officer against a senior minister, the bench said when counsel for Deshmukh alleged that oral allegations were made without any substance and probe was ordered without hearing him.

The bench said that two persons involved in the case were the police commissioner and the home minister and they were working together till they fall apart.

Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Maharashtra, said that it was aggrieved by probe as the consent for it was withdrawn by the state earlier.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Deshmukh, argued that court has to stay on guard when allegations are made and probe is sought against a constitutional machinery.

He said there should be some material for levelling allegations.

After the high court order on April 5, Deshmukh, a veteran politician and NCP leader from Vidarbha, had resigned from the state government.

In its plea filed in the apex court, the government had questioned the procedure adopted by high court saying the state was heard on question of maintainability of the pleas seeking CBI investigation against Deshmukh on allegation of corruption, and the order too was reserved on that issue, but the court finally ended up directing the probe.

In his appeal, Deshmukh had said that the high court order raises issues of seminal importance which impact not just the federal structure of the country, impact on our polity, but also the manner in which, and the institutions through which investigations are to be conducted.

He had said that without lodging an FIR, the court could have directed that an application be filed before the magistrate for investigation under section 156(3) of the CrPC.

He had said that in the annals of judicial history, there has hardly been an occasion when the court has taken the statements made against a sitting minister at face value and proceeded to direct an outside agency, without calling for a response from the minister, to conduct a preliminary inquiry.

That presently, the CBI today is being headed by an interim director, the legality of which is also sub-judice before this court. This also is a factor that should have been taken into account, before the court passed the order that it did, the plea had said.

Deshmukh had also said the court must have been aware of the fact that the government had withdrawn its consent for the CBI to investigate matters in the territory of the state.

Dealing with Param Bir Singh's allegations, Deshmukh had said there is not an iota of substantive evidence that is placed before the court to even prima facie establish that any of the allegations made have an element of truth and is pure hearsay.

Singh, in his plea filed on March 25, had sought a CBI probe against Deshmukh who, he claimed, had asked police officers, including suspended cop Sachin Waze, to extort Rs 100 crore from bars and restaurants. Deshmukh has denied any wrongdoing.

Bombay-based lawyer Jayshree Patil, on whose criminal writ petition the high court had ordered the CBI probe, had on Tuesday filed a caveat in the top court seeking to be heard before any order is passed in the matter.

In its 52-page judgement, the high court had said Singh's allegations against Deshmukh had put at stake the citizen's faith in the state police.

Such allegations, made by a serving police officer, against the state home minister could not be left unattended, and were required to be probed into, if prima facie, they made a case of a cognisable offence, the high court had said.

The high court's verdict came on three PILs including one filed by Singh and a criminal writ petition filed last month, seeking several reliefs as also a CBI probe into the matter.

(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.)
Mumbai: A 55-year-old woman and her daughter allegedly committed suicide by immolating themselves at their home in suburban Andheri here, police said on Wednesday. The deceased Asmita and Srishti Gupta are the wife and daughter of Bollywood filmmaker Santosh Gupta, an official said.

The mother and daughter allegedly set themselves ablaze in their apartment at D N Nagar in Andheri (west) on Monday afternoon and the matter came to light when neighbours alerted the fire brigade, he said.

The duo was rushed to Cooper Hospital, where Asmita was declared dead on arrival, while Srishti, who suffered 70 per cent burns, succumbed to her injuries at Airoli National Burns Centre on Tuesday, the official said.

According to the preliminary probe, Asmita had allegedly taken the extreme step, as she suffered from a prolonged kidney ailment and the daughter committed suicide due to the trauma of her mother's illness.

"We have registered two different accidental death reports in the case and further investigation is underway," senior inspector Bharat Gaikwad from DN Nagar police station said.
An urgent warning has been issued to thousands of Melbourne residents after traces of Covid-19 were detected in sewage.

Anyone who has been in a certain 10 suburbs in the city's southeast between April 4 and 6 is urged to get tested if they have any symptoms 'no matter how mild'.

Clayton, Clayton South, Dingley Village, Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley, Mulgrave, Notting Hill, Springvale, Springvale South and Wheeler's Hill have all been put on high alert.

Residents of and visitors to any one of 10 suburbs in Melbourne's south-east are urged to get a Covid test if they have even mild flu-like symptoms

'Please get tested if you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, and stay home until you have your result,' a Victorian Health alert issued on Thursday night said.

Common symptoms include fever, a cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, and loss of taste or smell.

Covid fragments in waterwater are a warning sign though not a guarantee of active cases

Covid fragments in waterwater are a warning sign though not a guarantee of active cases.

'Fragments of the virus detected in wastewater may be due to a person with Covid-19 being in the early active infectious phase or it could be because someone is continuing to shed the virus after the early infectious period.'

Victoria reported no new coronavirus cases on Thursday.
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The pandemic has had a devastating effect on our finances.

Almost 10 million renter households in the U.S owe an average of $5,586 in back rent.

You might be one of them.

In the time since the world exploded, there have been various eviction moratoriums designed to keep you in your home.

But money is what's really going to help. And you can now apply to a new round of rental assistance programs in California designed to pay off much of what you owe.

Note: the program closes on April 30th so you need to act now to get help. (We've heard from people that it's an involved process, so you may also want to set aside a good chunk of time to do it).

It's stressful to owe money, and it can also be stressful to navigate government-run application processes. We're here to escort you through all of it.

  

WHERE THE RELIEF MONEY IS

In January, California's lawmakers passed SB91, known as the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act. It extended tenant protections and set aside $235.5 million to people behind on rent.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program, as it's known, will pay your landlord 80% of your unpaid back rent -- if your landlord forgives the other 20%.

It's applicable to rent due between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021.

You need to meet certain requirements to qualify, and your landlord has to apply as well. To make it even more complicated, some cities and counties have separate applications, each with different criteria.

We've put it all together, below. If you get stuck or need additional support, at the end we've put together a list of legal assistance organizations who can help for free or at a low cost.

 DO I QUALIFY?

You are eligible for rental assistance if you meet all of the following criteria:

The combined income of everyone in your household is at or below a certain threshold of the median income in your area. Some programs have different requirements, so check below.

You or someone in your household experienced financial hardships due to COVID-19 or qualified for unemployment benefits.

You or someone in your household is at risk of housing instability.

 WHICH PROGRAM DO I APPLY TO?

The specific program you'll need to apply for is based on where you live. Some locations have their own application process. Other places are using the state of California's application.

Take a look at the options below, figure out which applies to you, and read the section on that program.

I live in the city of L.A.

 I live in L.A. County (but not in the city of L.A. or Long Beach)

L.A. County is using the state's rental assistance application. See the California section below for details.

 I live in the city of Long Beach

Long Beach has its own rental assistance application, which opens the week of April 12. See the Long Beach section below.

 I live in Orange County, Ventura County, Riverside County or San Bernardino County

These counties are using the state's rental assistance application. See the California section below for details.

 WHICH DOCUMENTS DO I NEED TO SHOW?

Some documents you may want to gather before you start your application:

Your 2020 tax returns, or documentation that you participate in programs like WIC, Medi-Cal (Medicaid), SNAP (CalFresh), and Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).

Unemployment paperwork or pay stubs.

A driver's license, ID, or passport for everyone in your household.

Your lease, utility bills with your address, or other documents that connect you to your address.

If you have them, a past-due rent notice, past-due utilities, or an eviction notice.

These aren't all required - here are the full document checklists for California and L.A. city. If you don't have documentation to prove you meet some of the application requirements, you can also submit a self-attestation form.

 WHAT DO I DO IF MY LANDLORD DOESN'T WANT TO APPLY?

If your landlord doesn't agree to apply, you may be eligible for 25 percent of past-due, unpaid rent to be paid to your landlord.

Check your specific application for details on how to apply for that assistance.

  

HOW TO APPLY

 CALIFORNIA RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

This is the state's rental assistance program, which is now taking applications until April 30.

If you qualify and are accepted, the program will pay your landlord 80% of your unpaid rent between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. Your landlord has to apply for the program and agree to forgive the other 20%, too. Here's a link to the application and official documentation, and here are some specifics:

You are eligible for California's rental assistance program if:

You live in California, outside of a certain number of locations listed above.

The total income of everyone in your household is below 80% of the median in your area. For one person in L.A. County that's $63,100, for two it's $72,100, and for a household of four it's $90,100.

You or someone in your household qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced other financial hardships, like a reduction in income, due to COVID-19.

 How you can prove eligibility on your application.

You should also know:

You can apply for relief for utilities that are due.

The program can also pay 25% of future rent payments for three months.

Money will be distributed to those who are eligible based on an assessment of need.

Citizenship status is not needed to apply. You won't be asked about it on the application.

How to contact the program:



For general questions, or if you need to view the application in an alternate format, or require other help, call (833) 430-2122 or email support@ca-rentrelief.com

 Apply for California rental assistance and find the complete documentation here.

 CITY OF L.A. RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

This is the city's rental assistance program, which is now taking applications until April 30.

If you qualify and are accepted, the program will pay your landlord 80% of your back rent between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. Your landlord has to apply for the program and agree to forgive the other 20% of your unpaid rent, too. Here's a link to the official documentation, and here are some specifics:

You are eligible for L.A. city's rental assistance program if:

You live in the city of L.A. ( Check here to see if you do)

Check here to see if you do) The total income of everyone in your household is below 50% of the median in your area. For one person in L.A. city that's $39,450, for two it's $45,050, and for a household of four it's $56,300.

You or someone in your household qualified for unemployment benefits, experienced a reduction in income, or experienced other financial hardships due to COVID-19.

 Here's how you can prove eligibility on your application.

You should also know:

You can apply for relief for utilities that are due.

The program can also pay 25% of future rent payments for three months.

The program will choose applicants based on a random selection process, but prioritize paying past-due, unpaid rent.

Citizenship status is not needed to apply. You won't be asked about it on the application.

How to contact the program:



Call 866-557-7368 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. or submit a request here.

 Apply for city of L.A. rental assistance and find the complete documentation here.

 LONG BEACH RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

If you qualify and are accepted, the program will pay your landlord 80% of your unpaid back rent between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. Your landlord has to apply for the program and agree to forgive the other 20% of your unpaid rent, too. Here's a link to the official documentation, and here are some specifics:

The application opens the week of April 12, 2021.

You can apply for relief for utilities that are due.

The program can also pay 25% of future rent payments for three months.

The program will choose applicants based on a random selection process, but prioritize paying past-due, unpaid rent.

Citizenship status is not needed to apply. You won't be asked about it on the application.

 Starting the week of April 12, apply for Long Beach rental assistance here.

 OTHER LOCATIONS

Orange County, Ventura County, Riverside County or San Bernardino County use the state's application.

  

EVICTION MORATORIUM EXTENSION

SB91 not only established rent relief, it also extended eviction protections. The statewide moratorium doesn't give you money, but it does buy you a little time. Here's some general information about it , and here are some specifics:

Not all types of evictions are prevented under the moratorium. It protects you from being evicted if you can't pay rent due to COVID-19. But landlords can still establish "just cause" evictions, meaning there's a reason for evicting a tenant, like a breach in the lease agreement.

Starting September 2020 and ending June 2021, if you pay 25 percent of your rent and submit a declaration of financial distress each month you do not pay the full amount, you can't be evicted. But after that period ends, you will owe your landlord the rent you didn't pay during that time, unless you receive rental assistance or the moratorium is extended again past June.

Landlords must give 15 days' notice for tenants to pay late rent before an eviction can occur, instead of three.

  

ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP YOU

If you still need help, there's several free and low-cost organizations in Los Angeles and around Southern California that offer support.

Reach out and keep reaching out until you find someone to walk you through the labyrinth:

 OTHER PLACES TO TAKE ACTION AND STAY INFORMED

Street Watch LA: https://streetwatchla.com/resources/

KTOWN for All: https://ktownforall.org/

LA CAN: https://cangress.org/

Housing is a Human Right: https://www.housinghumanright.org/

LA Tenants Union: https://latenantsunion.org/en/

WE LOVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and International Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Quarrey discussed the security situation in eastern Ukraine.

The communication took place via videoconferencing within the framework of a working meeting of Ukrainian and British diplomats coordinated by the head of the Presidents Office, Ukrinform reports with reference to the press service of the head of state.

"Andriy Yermak and David Quarrey noted a fruitful and important conversation between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson on April 5, during which the British Prime Minister underscored his support for Ukraine and expressed serious concern over the aggravation of the situation in Donbas," the report reads.

The interlocutors also discussed opportunities for more active involvement of the OSCE mechanisms to resolve the situation in Donbas.

The British side stressed the importance of providing truthful information about the situation in eastern Ukraine. In this regard, Yermak reminded that on April 6, the Center for Countering Disinformation established in Ukraine was presented and its head was introduced.

"Disinformation is a really serious challenge of our time. It is very important for us to convey the position of Ukraine and truthful information," the head of the Presidents Office said.

As Ukrinform reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone conversation with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson during his official visit to the State of Qatar on April 5. The Ukrainian president informed the UK prime minister about the aggravation of the situation in eastern Ukraine, the build-up of the Russian military contingent near the Ukrainian-Russian border, and Russia's attempts to disrupt the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

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China's arbitrary bans and tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Australian goods has not had the desired effect the authoritarian nation had hoped.

A new report has outlined that most exports hit by China trade sanctions have simply found their way into other markets across the Indo-Pacific.

The Communist Party targeted Australian barley, beef, coal, copper, cotton, seafood, sugar, timber and wine over the past year after Scott Morrison's government called for an independent international inquiry into Beijing's bungled handling of the Covid pandemic - which first appeared in Wuhan at the end of 2019.

But Lowy Institute chief economist Roland Rajah said the 'fairly overt attempt at economic coercion' has been 'quite limited thus far'.

Australia has looked to expand an increase into new markets doing deals with big buyers in India, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan and throughout Southeast Asia.

Beijing's arbitrary bans and tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Australian goods has not had the desired effect the authoritarian nation had hoped. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping (left), Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right)

Shoppers wearing face masks line up to buy fresh beef from Australia at a supermarket on July 4, 2020 in Hainan Province of China

Hostilities between Australia and China have soared in recent years after a number of diplomatic spats (Penfolds wine is stacked on a shelf in China)

'Looking at exports of barley, copper, cotton, seafood and timber, sales of these products to other markets rose sharply,' he said in the report.

However, the 212 per cent tariffs imposed on Australian wine are still hurting and beef producers are also still struggling to make up for the losses from China's premium market.

There was an immediate downside for Australian coal exports which fell $6billion after ships were blocked from docking in Chinese ports in October.

Despite the initial slump Australian coal exporters have been quite successful in diverting to other markets.

'By January 2021, Australian coal exports to the rest of the world were running $9.5billion higher in annualised terms than before the ban,' Rajah said.

'Thus, whatever impact China's ban on Australian coal might be having, it doesn't seem to be enough to shift the overall picture a great deal once trade diversion is taken into account.'

The graph shows Australian coal exports sanctioned by China (red line) that have shifted to other markets (blue line)

The graph show barley, copper, cotton, seafood, and timber exports to China that have shifted to other markets

This graph shows barley, beef, coal, copper, cotton, seafood, sugar, timber, and wine products sanctioned by China and redirected to other markets

The Australian coal ban also saw about dozen Chinese cities turn dark in December with residents forced to ration their electricity use due to the politically-inflicted own-goal.

The report also points out that Australia's overall trade with China has barely budged despite about $20billion worth of Australian goods having been affected.

'At the headline level, the effect of China's trade sanctions on Australia's export numbers has been completely swamped by the booming iron ore trade  which China hasn't been game enough to touch,' Rajah said.

The developing country still desperately needs Australian iron ore for steel making and in the wake of the coronavirus crisis the price has skyrocketed from about $61 a tonne in May 2020 to $166 in April this year.

The Chinese government attacked Australia over war crimes allegations by posting this falsified image on Twitter

China's 14 grievances with Australia 1. 'Incessant wanton interference in China's Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan affairs' 2. 'Siding with the US' anti-China campaign and spreading misinformation' 3. 'Thinly veiled allegations against China on cyber attacks without any evidence' 4. 'An unfriendly or antagonistic report on China by media' 5. Providing funding to 'anti-China think tank for spreading untrue reports' 6. 'Foreign interference legislation' 7. 'Foreign investment decisions' 8. 'Banning Huawei technologies and ZTE from the 5G network' 9. 'Politicisation and stigmatisation of the normal exchanges and coorperation between China and Australia' 10. Making statements 'on the South China Sea to the United Nations' 11. 'Outrageous condemnation of the governing party of China by MPs and racist attacks against Chinese or Asian people' 12. 'The early drawn search and reckless seizure of Chinese journalists' homes and properties' 13. Calls for an independent inquiry into Covid-19 14. 'Legislation to scrutinise agreements with a foreign government' Advertisement

The price surge has meant Australia's overall annual trade merchandise exports to China have only fallen two per cent from $145billion in 2019.

Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said on Wednesday he is determined to help 'team Australia win in Asia' as the country pivots to new markets and away from it's largest trading partner.

He told reporters 'we can't sit on our hands' as Chinese trade officials refuse to engage with efforts to end the hostilities.

Chinese ambassador Cheng Jingye defended the Communist Party's stance yesterday when he presented a propaganda video in Canberra in an attempt to downplay the mass detention of Uighurs Muslims in Xinjiang Province.

He said 'the difficulty we now have in the bilateral relationship' is because of Australia.

Packs of beef imported from Australia are displayed for sale at supermarkets on June 17, 2015 in Beijing

Despite the initial slump Australian coal exporters have been quite successful in diverting to other markets
Women represent half of the planets population. Yet tech companies catering to their specific health needs represent a minute share of the global technology market.

In 2019, the femtech industry  software and technology companies addressing womens biological needs  generated $820.6 million in global revenue and received $592 million in venture capital investment, according to PitchBook, a financial data and research company. That same year, the ride-sharing app Uber alone raised $8.1 billion in an initial public offering. The difference in scale is staggering, especially when women spend an estimated $500 billion a year on medical expenses, according to PitchBook.

Tapping into that spending power, a multitude of apps and tech companies have sprung up in the last decade to address womens needs, including tracking menstruation and fertility, and offering solutions for pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause. Medical startups also have stepped in to prevent or manage serious conditions such as cancer.

The market potential is huge, said Michelle Tempest, a partner at the London-based health care consultancy Candesic and a psychiatrist by training. Theres definitely an increasing appetite for anything in the world which is technology, and a realization that female consumer power has arrived  and that its arrived in health care.

She said one reason women-related needs had not been focused on in the field of technology was that life sciences research was overwhelmingly tailored to the male body. In 1977, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration excluded women of childbearing age from taking part in drug trials. Since then, women have been underrepresented in drug trials, Tempest said, because of a belief that fluctuations caused by menstrual cycles could affect trial results and also because if a woman got pregnant after taking a trial drug, the drug could affect the fetus. As a result, she noted, we do lag behind men.

The term femtech was coined by Ida Tin, the Danish-born founder of Clue, a period and ovulation tracking app established in Germany in 2013. In an article on the companys website, Tin recalled how she first had the idea for the app. In 2009, she found herself holding a cellphone in one hand and a small temperature-taking device in the other and wishing she could merge the two to track her fertility days, rather than manually having to note her temperature on a spreadsheet.

Clue allows women to do exactly that with a few taps on their smartphone. Today, the company has a lot of competition in the period- and fertility-tracking area. And plenty of other women-specific tools have come onto the market. Elvie, a London-based company, has marketed a wearable breast pump and a pelvic exercise trainer and app, both using smart technology. Another strand of femtech known as menotech aims to improve womens lifestyles as they go through menopause, providing access to telemedicine, and information and data that women can tap into.

Finally, there are medical technology companies focused on cancer that affects women, such as cervical cancer and breast cancer.

According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer among women around the world. In 2018, about 570,000 women had it, and as many as 311,000 died. The WHO in November announced a program to eradicate the disease completely by the year 2030.

MobileODT, a startup based in Tel Aviv, Israel, uses smartphones and artificial intelligence to screen for cervical cancer. A smart colposcope  a portable imaging device that is 1 1/2 times the size of a smartphone  is used to take a photograph of a womans cervix from a distance of about 1 meter (3 feet). The image is then transmitted to the cloud via a smartphone, where artificial intelligence is used to identify normal or abnormal cervical findings.

A diagnosis is delivered in about 60 seconds  compared to the weeks it takes to receive the results of a standard smear test (which, in developing countries, extends to months.) In addition to this screening, doctors still use smear tests.

The technology was recently used to screen 9,000 women during a three-month period in the Dominican Republic as part of a government-led campaign, the company announced last month. Another 50,000 women are expected be screened in the next six months.

Leon Boston, the South African-born chief executive of MobileODT, said the privately owned company was selling into about 20 different countries including the United States, India, South Korea and Brazil, and is going into a fundraising round to build on its initial seed money of $24 million.

But the leading cause of cancer among women all over the world is breast cancer. One French startup is focused on dealing with its aftermath. Lattice Medical has developed a 3D-printed hollow breast implant that allows for the regeneration of tissue and is absorbed by the body over time.

How it works: Post-mastectomy, the surgeon harvests a small flap of fat from the area immediately around the womans breast and places it inside the 3D-printed bioprosthesis. That piece of tissue grows inside the implant and eventually fills it out. In the meantime, the 3D-printed shell disappears completely 18 months later.

So far, tests on animals have been encouraging, said Julien Payen, the companys co-founder and chief executive. Clinical trials on women are expected to start in 2022, with the aim of getting the product into the market in 2025, he added.

Asked why the global femtech market was so small for technology companies, Boston said it was partly because of the high level of regulation involved in medical technology.

If your technology is incorrect and comes up with the wrong result, a woman who thinks shes not positive for cervical cancer is actually positive, he said. As a result, the world of medical technology is slow to move.

Still, prospects are favorable, according to Boston. Its very rare to have a totally barren market open for full potential as we have today in medical technology, he said.

The data forecasts appear to back that up. According to a March 2020 report by Frost & Sullivan, a research and strategy consultancy, revenue from femtech is expected to reach $1.1 billion by 2024.

Payen explained that for the femtech market to expand and develop, there have to be many more tech companies offering genuine health benefits to women, not just well-being apps crowding the market and adding little in terms of health or medical value. He cited the example of Endodiag, a French medical technology company that allows early diagnosis of endometriosis and a better management of the condition.

Either way, said Payen, the industry showed promise.

Over the last 10 years, thanks to #MeToo and other movements, women are being listened to and heard more than ever before, Payen said. And more and more women are running companies and investment funds, he added.

In 10 or 15 years from now, as a new generation takes over, things will have changed even more radically, he said. Femtech is clearly poised to grow.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-09 03:13:59|Editor: huaxia

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VALLETTA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Malta's medicines watchdog confirmed on Thursday that it planned to continue administering the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine despite findings that thrombosis and blood clots are a rare side effect of the jab.

The Malta Medicines Authority said in a statement that it concurred with the position taken by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine "outweigh the risks of side effects."

"The recommendation is to continue to prevent serious harm and loss of life by using all the highly effective vaccines having an EU (European Union) marketing authorisation," the authority said.

It encouraged vaccinated people and health care professionals to be aware of the possible side effects of all vaccines, especially when these call for immediate action, and to report them immediately.

It said individuals who experience any severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, neurological symptoms, such as severe and persistent headaches or blurred vision, or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of injection between four and 20 days following vaccination, should seek medical attention.

The authority said it was monitoring the rollout of all COVID-19 vaccines and will continue to work with other competent authorities and with the vaccination teams to manage potential risks and use science and data to drive response and recommendations. Enditem
Pro-democracy activist Nathan Law speaks to the media outside the Court of Final Appeal after he and Joshua Wong's (not pictured) bail applications were successful at Hong Kong's highest court on Oct. 24, 2017. Jailed democracy activists Joshua Wong and Nathan Law were released on bail pending an appeal against convictions for their role in the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images)

Hong Kong Democracy Activist Nathan Law Granted Asylum in UK

Hong Kong democracy activist Nathan Law says he has been granted political asylum in Britain, nearly nine months after arriving in London.

After several interviews in 4 months, the Home Office has informed me that my asylum application is approved, he wrote on Twitter on April 7.

1. After several interviews in 4 months, the Home Office has informed me that my asylum application is approved. The fact that I am wanted under the National Security Law shows that I am exposed to severe political persecution and am unlikely to return to Hong Kong without risk.  Nathan Law  (@nathanlawkc) April 7, 2021

The fact that I am wanted under the National Security Law shows that I am exposed to severe political persecution and am unlikely to return to Hong Kong without risk, he wrote.

Law left Hong Kong and arrived in the UK in July 2020, after the Chinese regime imposed a draconian national security law on the former British colony.

The legislation gives Beijing sweeping powers to target individuals for any acts of secession, subversion, and collusion with foreign forces, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Law thanked those who have supported him but expressed concerns for the fate of other Hong Kong asylum seekers who may be less fortunate than he has been.

Some may not have enough evidence to substantiate their claims due to lack of media reports or fleeing before the persecution. Fears over their claims being denied, most of them live in distress and anxiety, he wrote.

He wrote that he hopes his own case could help the Home Office understand more about the complicated situation in Hong Kong.

He suggested that to free more protesters from Beijings authoritarian oppression, the Home Office could consider more comprehensive evidence when coping with Hong Kong cases.

Chinas foreign ministry on April 8 condemned the UKs granting of asylum to Law, calling it gross interference in Hong Kongs judicial system.

Also on April 8, the British government announced the launch of a 43 million pound ($59 million) dedicated support package for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) status holders and their families to help them settle successfully into life in the UK.

After the Chinese regime adopted the national security law for Hong Kong in June 2020, Britain launched a new visa scheme to offer BN(O) status holders a path to citizenship.

According to the UK Home Office, approximately 27,000 BN(O) status holders and their family members had applied for the special visa as of March 19.

The government estimated in 2020 that between 123,000 and 153,000 Hongkongers could take up the route in the first year, and the figure may reach between 258,000 and 322,000 over five years.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 22:45:22|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen were injured on Thursday when a group of gunmen attacked a police station in Nigeria's southeastern state of Imo, said Nigerian police authorities.

The attack on the Mbieri Police Division is the sixth to be recorded in the state so far this year, said Orlando Ikeokwu, the spokesman for the police in Imo.

The gunmen stormed the police division in the early hours of Thursday, shooting sporadically, and engaged the police in a gunfight, said Ikeokwu.

The two police officers who sustained injuries during the gunfight are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital, he said.

"No officer was abducted in the attack and no loss of arms as well," he added.

In the early hours of Monday, unknown gunmen attacked a police command headquarters and a custodial center in Owerri, capital city of Imo, and forcefully released more than 1,800 inmates in custody, according to local police and the Nigerian Correctional Service. Enditem
Excalibur was created in 2005 and since then, the technology and design have evolved a lot. We had gradually updated the model over the years, but it was now time for a more drastic makeover, explains Nicola Andreatta, CEO. Thus, the Excalibur Flying Tourbillion is reincarnated in four new versions: in EON pink gold, including a world-first luminescent diamond version for Roger Dubuis; in a cobalt-chrome blue colour; and in an anthracite-coloured titanium.

Excalibur Single Flying Tourbillon  Roger Dubuis

The Excalibur Double Flying Tourbillon presented in January 2021 is available in pink gold, in diamond set pink gold and white gold.

Excalibur Double Flying Tourbillon  Roger Dubuis

The aesthetics of mechanics

One of our biggest challenges has been to work on our icon, admits Andreatta. The skeletonized movement has been completely reworked to accentuate the impression of depth and three-dimensionality, starting with the iconic star. The revisited design is inspired by architecture, with lines featuring vanishing points that do not touch each other, such as on the indexes, on the points of the star, and on the hands. Finally, the case also has a new refined look.

Excalibur Single Flying Tourbillon  Roger Dubuis

In terms of finishing, the Poincon de Geneve has been given a facelift with a novel combination of decorations, including brushed surfaces and polished edges for a more modern look, along with circular graining and Cotes de Geneve motifs.

A boosted power reserve

A new 72 hours of autonomy is particularly appreciated as it allows you to wear the watch for the equivalent of a weekend without winding it (therefore enabling you to better enjoy the rest of your collection). In comparison, the Excalibur Single Flying Tourbillon only had 60 hours of power reserve. To reach the grail in terms of autonomy, Roger Dubuis reduced the friction of the gear train and lightened the weight of the tourbillon case through the use of titanium.

The madness of a discrete diamond

Spectacular in daylight, Roger Dubuis diamonds now also shine at night. The Excalibur Flying Tourbillon Glow Me Up reveals a world-first for Roger Dubuis  its diamonds emit a blue, green, yellow, or violet luminescence in the dark. Andreatta explains this new Swiss Super-LumiNova that is applied in grooves, It is similar to invisible gem setting, but optimized for phosphorescence.

Excalibur Glow Me Up  Roger Dubuis

Hard and durable materials

Another new feature is the arrival of EON (which means eternity in Greek). This pink gold alloy tarnishes less quickly and is harder thanks to the addition of palladium. In terms of organic materials, the manufacture is now also equipping all of its new models with calfskin straps instead of the traditional alligator leather, in a perspective of social and environmental responsibility.



Finally, Roger Dubuis announced the creation of an Urban Art Tribe, composed of artists such as Dr. Woo, a tattoo artist from Americas West Coast, and the French graffiti artist, Gully. Roger Dubuis has reached a certain stage of maturity, its now time to play, says the CEO. One thing is certain, day or night, the magic of Excalibur will continue to shine!
NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Growing demand for conductor etch across various semiconductor industries is one of the leading driving factors for the growth of the global electrostatic chucks (ESC) market. Semiconductor industries have seen significant growth in past years, and this growth is expected to increase over the coming years.

Growing demand for semiconductor etching is expected to drive market growth substantially through the forecast period of 2021-2031. The United States, Japan, and South Korea are major markets for electrostatic chucks. Manufacturers are highly focused on leveraging their research & development to enhance the surface properties of chucks by using different materials and a variety of coating solutions.

The global electrostatic chucks market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 5.5% over the forecast period of 2021-2031.

Key Takeaways from Market Study

Demand for 6  8 inch chucks has seen prominent growth in recent years and is expected to rise over the forecast period as well.

In the era of digitalization and automation, many industries are adopting new technologies such as Internet of Thing and cloud computing. This is increasing demand for integrated circuit boards, and thereby, electrostatic chucks.

Currently, the United States is the most demanding market for electrostatic chucks due to presence semiconductor manufacturing companies in the country.

is the most demanding market for electrostatic chucks due to presence semiconductor manufacturing companies in the country. Coulomb Force electrostatic chucks are projected to hold high market share through 2031.

Request for Sample PDF of Report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/32382

"Market share of ESCs in conductor etch end-use industries to remain the highest," says an analyst of Persistence Market Research.

Competitive Landscape

The global ESC market has been identified as a significantly fragmented space, with the organized sector occupying a major section of the overall market. Leading players included in the report are Entegris, Inc., SHINKO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES CO. LTD., KYOCERA Corporation, NGK INSULATORS, LTD., TOTO Ltd., NTK CERATEC CO., LTD., TSUKUBASEIKO Co. Ltd., The SEMCO Group, Technetics Group, FM Industries, Inc., Krosaki Harima Corporation, MiCo Co., Ltd., LK ENGINEERING CO., LTD., BOBOO Hightech Co., Ltd., SUMITOMO OSAKA CEMENT Co., Ltd., and TOMOEGAWA CO., LTD. These key players are anticipated to create a tough competitive environment in this market place on the global level.

For Any Other Query Ask an Expert: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/ask-an-expert/32382

Conclusion

The ESC market is anticipated to enhance substantially owing to increment in semiconductor industries and rapid changes in semiconductor technologies. Increasing use of electrostatic chucks in semiconductor industries can be witnessed for holding wafers and absorbing the heat and cold of the wafers.

Get Full Access of Report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/32382

Besides, electrostatic chucks provide other functionalities such as high plasma erosion resistance, metal generation, ultra-low particles, and uniform thermal properties. Variations in the roughness and the contour of work-pieces such as electrostatic chucks can be used for various functionalities such as lithography, etching, coating, and implantation processes. This is estimated to fuel the growth of the market for ESCs over the forecast period (2021 to 2031).

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Browse End-to-end Market: Industrial Automation

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Lathe Machine Chucks Market: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/lathe-machine-chucks-market.asp

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/lathe-machine-chucks-market.asp Switchgear Monitoring System Market: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/switchgear-monitoring-system-market.asp

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 "When Animus Matters and Sex Offense Underreporting Does Not: The Sex Offender Registry Regime" | Main | Spotlighting progressive prosecutor challenges and politics circa spring 2021 

April 8, 2021

"What is Life?" podcast gives voice to people serving LWOP in Pennsylvania

I had seen last month this enticing podcast preview:

What is Life? Through phone calls with men and women serving life without parole in Pennsylvania, What is Life takes you inside the prison walls to answer the question -- what is life to someone sentenced to die behind bars.

Now I see the first three episodes of this podcast are available at this link. Here is how they are previewed:

What is Life? Charles Diggs In this episode you'll hear from Charles Diggs, a man who has spent nearly 50 years in prison serving life without the possibility of parole. Charles discusses the effect the COVID-19 pandemic, which he described as the worst experience of imprisonment, has had on incarcerated people. What is Life? Heather Lavelle In this episode of What is Life? you'll hear from Heather Lavelle, a woman who after more than 20 years of substance use and mental health issues killed her ex-boyfriend. In Heather's poem, "Under the Glass," she discusses living a life feeling separated from others, reckoning with harms she's caused and trying to find redemption in prison. What is Life? David Mandeville In this episode of What is Life? you'll hear from David Mandeville as he discusses the realities of living in prison knowing he, and many others, will die behind bars.

All of the episodes include this program note: "This podcast is sponsored by FAMM, a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safeguard taxpayer dollars and keep our communities safe. Founded in 1991, FAMM is helping transform Americas criminal justice system by uniting the voices of impacted families and individuals and elevating criminal justice issues all across the country."

April 8, 2021 at 12:21 PM | Permalink

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An argument inside a west Birmingham home led to deadly gunfire Wednesday night.

According to Birmingham police, two family members got into a dispute about 10:15 p.m. inside a home in the 800 block of Avenue G. One of the men pulled a gun and shot the other man.

The victim - 38-year-old Howard Johnson - was shot in the chest, according to police radio communications. He was pronounced dead on the scene in the hallway of the home.

The fatal shooting happened in front of several people. Police said a person of interest has been detained for questioning.

Authorities did not say how the victim and person of interest were related, but said the shooting was domestic in nature.

This is Birminghams fourth homicide in four days and the 28th homicide of 2021. Of those, two have been ruled justifiable and therefore arent deemed criminal. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 50 homicides, including the 28 in Birmingham.
Two months after Attorney General Jeff Landry filed a lawsuit to prevent records about sexual harassment accusations against one of his top employees from becoming public, his office has released a new memo that targets the whistleblower who filed the original complaint.

Sandra Schober, deputy director of Landrys administrative services division, sent her boss a memo, dated April 7, that explains how the office handled the complaint against former criminal division Director Pat Magee.

Its unclear what prompted Schober to write the new memo, given that nearly three months have passed since the Attorney Generals Office wrapped up its investigation into Magee, who resigned last month after the office received a second sexual harassment complaint.

But the memo takes clear aim at the whistleblower, who filed a formal complaint about Magees behavior in November of last year. That complaint alleged that Magee often harassed women in his office and affected their career paths, suggesting that one woman be assigned to a criminal trial because male jurors would want to have sex with her and declining to promote another because her attractive looks might cause Magee to lose his self-control.

Was Jeff Landry aide 'joking?' Louisiana sexual harassment training says that's no defense When Attorney General Jeff Landrys office set out to discipline criminal division director Pat Magee over allegations of sexual harassment, i

Landrys office hired the law firm Taylor Porter to investigate the complaint. The investigation found that Magee's actions made others uncomfortable but did not rise to the level of sexual harassment.

How that conclusion was reached remains unknown: Landrys office has only released heavily redacted results of the Taylor Porter investigation. Those documents remain at issue in a lawsuit that Landry filed against a reporter for The Advocate | The Times-Picayune who requested copies of them. A judge last month ordered his office to turn over all relevant records, with names redacted to protect the privacy of victims, witnesses and whistleblowers.

Landry's office did not answer detailed questions Thursday about the purpose of Schober's memo, what led to its production and whether it was meant to make a case for firing the whistleblower.

Landry's spokesman, Cory Dennis, only said that his office produced the document because it was a public record.

The memo contains several curious assertions. While Landrys office eventually concluded that Magee himself did not engage in sexual harassment, Schober's memo suggests that the whistleblower who came forward about Magee could be in violation of the offices sexual harassment policy, based on his failure to report Magees misbehavior.

Aide to Attorney General Jeff Landry resigns in wake of sexual harassment complaint A top aide in the Louisiana Attorney General's Office who was the subject of a sexual harassment complaint has submitted his resignation effec

Magee has denied ever committing sexual harassment and has said that he does not condone it.

Schober also wrote that she had reviewed text messages between Magee and the whistleblower, provided by Magee, and that some of the whistleblowers texts were questionable.

These texts were sent by (name redacted) to Pat and a determination needs to be made if these text messages violate our professionalism and integrity policy, and if these may also constitute sexual harassment, albeit the potential victims are likely unaware of their existence, she wrote.

In addition, it is also a violation of our Sexual Harassment policy for a supervisor not to report inappropriate behavior in a timely manner and the complainant knew about the alleged inappropriate behavior for years before finally reporting it to me, she added.

Pat Magee  aide to Jeff Landry  resigns amid second sexual harassment complaint Pat Magee, a top aide to Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, resigned Thursday as a second sexual harassment complaint against him came to

Schobers memo makes clear that the complainant is a man, and it more or less identifies him by specifying the job he holds. In his initial complaint, the employee expressed fear that Landrys office would retaliate against him for coming forward.

You constantly wonder what will happen if and when you finally have the courage to come forward, the employee wrote. This is especially true when the person you need to report reminds you over and over how he is close personal friends with the Attorney General. This is not Walmart, this is the Louisiana Department of Justice and when someone is close friends with the most powerful law enforcement officer in Louisiana, coming forward is not an easy decision.

The employee who is believed to have written the complaint did not respond Thursday to an email sent to his work account.

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While the complainant now appears to be in Landry's crosshairs, Landry cited the need to protect whistleblowers and victims as justification for suing a reporter who sought records related to the matter. The attorney general's lawyers argued then that providing the records would discourage other employees from coming forward about cases of sexual harassment.

Kevin Vogeltanz, an employment and discrimination attorney based in Mandeville, said the new memo is likely to have exactly such a discouraging effect.

"I would think that opening an internal investigation against a whistleblower, just to punish that person for complaining about illegal discrimination or harassment, could certainly chill other workers from coming forward about similar misconduct in the future," Vogeltanz said.

Attorney General Jeff Landry sues Advocate reporter over public-records request Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry on Friday sued a reporter for The Advocate and The Times-Picayune over a public-records request she fil

Schober's memo analyzed four instances of alleged sexual harassment reported by the whistleblower; she disagreed in some cases with the whistleblower's view of what took place. For instance, she insisted that the woman whom Magee allegedly declined to promote because of her good looks actually had numerous work-related issues that disqualified her for the role.

She also defended Magee over the complaint that alleged he called one attorney old and ugly. The complainant said Magee suggested using a younger, more attractive attorney whom Magee described as f---able on a case, in place of the older woman.

Jeff Landry must release records on aide, as judge rules in favor of Advocate reporter A Baton Rouge judge has ordered Attorney General Jeff Landry to release public records related to a sexual harassment investigation of one of 

Again, Schober wrote that the attorney who Magee allegedly described as old and ugly was under review for potential policy violations, adding that it was reasonable to conclude that Magee did not place her on a high-profile case because of those. She also argued that Magee did not generally discriminate against older employees, citing as evidence that half of the attorneys Magee hired were age 40 and older.

While Schober called for more review into whether Magee made the alleged comments, it's not clear if such a review is occurring. But her memo indicates that she did not regard most of the whistleblower's assertions credible.

The speculations included in the initial grievance complaint were false as there was evidence to the contrary, she wrote.

Schobers memo goes on to say that a confidential informant recently came forward and told her that the whistleblower was known to have falsified information in the past. Most of that section of the memo is redacted.

+2 Inside the complaint against top Jeff Landry aide: 'Jurors would want to have sex with her' A sexual harassment complaint against a top aide for Attorney General Jeff Landry alleges that Pat Magee insisted that one woman should be dep

Schober's memo said there was nothing in the whistleblowers file about such an allegation. But she added that due to the pattern within this matter for misrepresenting information, we  are in the process of investigating this matter further to determine if (name redacted) lacks the requisite judgment, honesty, and integrity required of all LADOJ personnel.

Even if the whistleblower were found to have engaged in some misconduct, Vogeltanz said, it might not protect the Attorney General's Office from a claim of retaliation, which is outlined in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

"Ultimately, the legal issue is not whether one of Mr. Landry's employees committed some wrongdoing in the past that might otherwise warrant investigation," Vogeltanz said. "The issue is whether Mr. Landry's office is investigating a whistleblower just to punish him for complaining about illegal discrimination or harassment. If so, that action is retaliatory and illegal under Title VII."

Bill Corbett, a labor and employment law expert at LSU's Paul M. Hebert Law Center, said Thursday that a few laws could come into play regarding the whistleblower's treatment. He also cited Title VII, as well as the state's whistleblower law and the state's Code of Governmental Ethics, which also includes a whistleblower statute.

An important question in Title VII cases is what prompted an employer to take adverse action against an employee, he said.

"The whistleblower is saying, 'Its because I engaged in protected conduct,'" Corbett said. "Maybe the employers position is, 'No, thats not why theres adverse action; its because you failed to follow reporting procedures.'"
Korea-based Doosan Fuel Cell, a developer of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), will take part in the Korea-China Smart Farm Village project in Pocheon. This complexcomprising smart farms, hydrogen fuel cell generators, logistics systems and housing with leisure facilitieswill sit on a 250,000 m2 (62 acre) parcel of land.





Sookyung Yoo, CEO of Doosan Fuel Cell (3rd from right) in ceremony marking the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Doosan, CJ OliveNetworks and Shinhan Bank for the smart farm project.

Private companies from Korea and China will invest upwards of KRW 80 billion (US$71.4 million) in the initiative.

This agreement will enable Doosan Fuel Cell to employ heat recovered from hydrogen fuel cells in distributed generation system for heating and absorption chillers for cooling for the first time.

Fuel cells provided by Doosan produce electricity and heat simultaneously and the thermal energy can heat and cool smart farms, households, hot springs and community centers while saving heating cost. These applications could unleash the full potential of agriculture communities struggling with limited arable crops due to climate factors. This could lead to cost-effectiveness and crop diversity which play an important role in income growth in agriculture, the company said.

In November 2020, Doosan Fuel Cell signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the joint development of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system for marine propulsion and power generation with Navig8, a Singapore-based major shipping company which operates 140 chemical and oil tankers globally. (Earlier post.)

In March of this year, Doosan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding, a shipbuilding holding company of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, for the joint development of solid oxide fuel cells for ships. (Earlier post.)
The hospital where a seven-year-old old girl died after allegedly waiting to be seen for two hours in the ER had 21 medical near-misses since the start of last year.

Aishwarya Aswath died only 15 minutes after she started receiving treatment at Perth Children's Hospital on Saturday night.

Her parents claim they repeatedly begged staff for help as Aishwarya's eyes clouded over and her hands went cold.

Aishwarya Aswath died after allegedly being made to wait for two hours for treatment in the Perth Children's Hospital emergency room, her parents claim

On Thursday they paid tribute to their 'beautiful, happy child' as they plead for urgent change to prevent another needless death.

'She was happy all the time. She was happy when she was going to school - in fact she always wanted to be a teacher,' her father Aswath Chavittupara told The West Australian.

They said days before her death Aishwarya was beaming after receiving a certificate of merit by her Year 3 teacher for her performance in a geography quiz.

'She was a very creative, imaginative little girl - but she was also very shy,' her father said.

The circumstances surrounding Aishwarya's death will be the subject of an internal investigation. There had been 21 medical near-miss events at the children's hospital since the beginning of 2020

Western Australia Health Minister Roger Cook ordered an urgent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the youngster's death.

Data from the Child and Adolescent Health Service revealed there were 21 'severity assessment code 1' events at the children's hospital since the beginning of 2020.

SAC 1 medical incidents are ones that could have caused 'serious harm or death' to a patient as a result of the healthcare provided - and not because of the patient's condition.

The nursing union also claimed multiple nurses were pulled from the emergency room floor to resuscitate a patient while Aishwarya was waiting to be seen.

'There was resuscitation going on and there were a significant number of nurses tied up in that,' Australian Nursing Federation state secretary Mark Olson said.

CAHS chairwoman Debbie Karasinksi said there were only 14 doctors in the emergency room the night the seven-year-old died after four called in sick.

Aishwarya was triaged as a category four patient, the second-lowest urgency.

Ms Karasinski was unable to provide details about the incident and said she didn't know whether staff shortages had been a contributing factor.

Mr Cook earlier admitted Aishwarya may have been overlooked by hospital staff.

Under-fire staff at the hospital also claimed nurse-to-patient ratios have become dangerous, with cuts to nursing staff putting patients at risk.

A Perth nurse recalled eight nurses trying to care for 93 patients during one recent shift, 7News reported.

The nurse said that ratio was dangerous but it was 'becoming the norm' due to staff cuts made during Covid.

There were also 'several other incidents resulting in significant harm'.

Another Perth mum, Emma, claimed her extremely sick two-year-old - Amanda - was turned away twice from the Perth Children's Hospital ER.

Amanda was later diagnosed with sepsis and was at risk of organ failure, but she miraculously survived.

'I'm angry, you know I was hoping they would have woken up with what happened with Amanda,' Emma said.

A mother who took her one-year-old to PCH the same night as Aishwarya Aswath lay dying in reception claimed the child was 'easily' the sickest when she was there.

'The whole process there on that night was deplorable,' the woman told WAToday.

'This whole system failed that young family and my heart breaks for them.'

Nurses at Perth Children's Hospital have defended themselves saying staff shortages were putting patients at risk

Emergency departments in Western Australia have been 'crying out for help' for months, said Australian Medical Association WA president Dr Andrew Miller.

'We know that bad things happen, we know that people get sick and die, even children, but what families need at this time is to know that everything possible was done, even if the worst outcome was unavoidable here,' Dr Miller told Perth radio station 6PR.

The WA Government blamed extra demand for mental health services, staff shortages, and tough Covid cleaning standards for delays treating patients.

'We were down a few doctors that night,' said Mr Cook told reporters.

'It's obviously part and parcel of running an emergency department in any sort of dynamic environment.

'In a post-Covid world, we are seeing higher volumes and we are seeing greater acuity and complexity.'

Mr Cook acknowledged the WA hospital system was facing 'challenges' and said border closures had made it difficult to hire staff.

Aswath Sasidharan pictured left with the youngster's mother Prasitha Sasidharan. He broke down as he called on authorities to get to the bottom of his daughter's death

WA Health Minister Roger Cook admitted Aishwarya Aswath may have been 'overlooked'

The circumstances surrounding Aishwarya's death will be the subject of an internal investigation by the Child and Adolescent Health Service which is expected to take four to six weeks.

Aishwarya's mother Prasitha Sasidharan claimed she was told a doctor 'would come and have a look' but no one came for two hours.

'I asked them... her eyes are changing, they asked if it's normal and I said 'it's not normal, she didn't have it before',' Mrs Sasidharan told 9News.

'We pleaded with them to have a look. They didn't think it was an emergency.

'I went to the reception maybe four or five times. I was literally begging to them "please help, please help".'

The seven-year-old's father Aswath Chavittupara broke down as he called on authorities to get to the bottom of his daughter's death.

'I loved my daughter. This should never happen to any other child in this country,' he said.

The hospital's management offered the family their 'sincere condolences'.

Her death is also being investigated by the coroner.
India is at the ready to purchase more Iranian oil immediately if U.S. sanctions on Iran are lifted, a government official has threatened in the latest escalation of the India-Saudi spat over crude oil.

Indias refiners have already been instructed to purchase less crude oil from Saudi Arabia after a war of words between the two over oil policies. India has for months pushed its main suppliersSaudi Arabia and Iraqto ramp up oil production to keep oil prices manageable for the worlds third-largest oil importer. The plea came after Saudi Arabia boosted oil prices by agreeing to voluntarily cut an additional million barrels per day on top of its production cut quota.

Saudi Arabia responded to Indias call to action by raising its official selling price. Game on. Indias next move was to tell its refiners to reduce the amount of oil purchased from Saudi Arabia in Mayand indeed they did. Indias refiners are set to purchase 36% less Saudi crude in May than previously planned.

Meanwhile, Indias oil imports from the United States have climbed in recent months, catapulting the United States into position to become Indias second-largest oil supplier behind Saudi Arabia.

Indias purchases of oil from Saudi Arabia already dropped by 42% in February. Indias imports of Iraq oil also droppedby 23%--in February, according to Reuters data. Some speculated at the time that Indias lower purchases in February were because India was holding out for lower prices should OPEC decide to ease its production cuts. Related: UAE Presents Phenomenal Plan To Boost Its Position As Oil Hub

OPEC did, but not by enough to sink oil prices.

But Indias plan to purchase more Iranian crude has flaws. One legitimate concern is that many industry analysts suspect that Iran is already producing and exporting a serious amount of crude oilunder the literal radar. This would leave only a modest amount for Iran to add to its exports should the U.S. sanctions be lifted. Others have suggested that India has already begun to import sanctioned Iranian crude oil under the assumption that trade with Iran will be allowed to continue.

India, which has complied with the U.S. sanctions on Iran, has been hard-hit by the sanctions that have limited its oil purchasing avenues, increasing its reliance on Saudi oil. Meanwhile, the worlds largest oil importer, China, has continued to purchase Irans oil despite the sanctionsat a deep discount, no doubtgiving it a leg up on its more compliant, Asian oil-buying competitor, India.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Green Thumb Industries Expands Independent Governance with Appointment of Swati Mylavarapu to Board of Directors

Green Thumb Industries Inc. (Green Thumb) (CSE: GTII) (OTCQX: GTBIF), a leading national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and owner of Rise Dispensaries, today announced that Swati Mylavarapu has joined its Board of Directors and will serve on the Compensation Committee.

Mylavarapu brings nearly a decade of experience investing, advising and building mission-driven technology companies. Since 2017, Mylavarapu has served as Founder and Managing Partner of Incite.org, a hybrid incubator and investment fund that combines venture capital, philanthropy, and civic advocacy to accelerate bold ideas and solve some of the world's most pressing challenges. She was an investment partner at venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers from 2015 to 2017. Prior to that, Mylavarapu built the early international efforts for the financial services and digital payments company Square. She also served as National Investment Chair for Pete Buttigiegs 2019-2020 Presidential bid.

"Swati's impressive background, stellar credentials and combined experience in technology, innovation, social impact and philanthropy bring a unique and invaluable perspective to our board," said Green Thumb Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ben Kovler. "We could not be more excited to add her voice and skillsets to the team."

"I am honored to join the Board of Directors of Green Thumb, whose mission, values and executive team I deeply respect," said Mylavarapu. "I look forward to making a positive impact for a company that aligns with my principles and prioritizes being good corporate citizens by giving back to communities, creating opportunity and jobs, and advocating for social change."

Mylavarapu is a trustee for the Rhodes Trust, an educational charity that supports exceptional students from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. She is also a board member for Vote.org, which uses technology to simplify political engagement, increase voter turnout, and strengthen American democracy. She previously served on the boards of B Lab and Paid Leave for the U.S.

She has a Master of Philosophy in Economic and Social History from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard. She is a Rhodes Scholar, a Truman Scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Mylavarapu joins the following non-executive Green Thumb board directors:

Wendy Berger: Principal, WBS Equities, LLC., which specializes in ground-up construction, renovation, development, sale lease back transactions and acquisitions.

William Gruver: Senior Fellow at the Open Discourse Coalition, Professor Emeritus at Bucknell University, former Chief Administrative Officer of the Equities Division of Goldman Sachs, decorated Navy veteran and experienced Audit Committee chair. Serves on the Audit Committee of Private Client Bank and Finance Committee of the Lee Health System Foundation.

Wes Moore: CEO of Robinhood, New York's largest poverty-fighting organization, best-selling author and decorated Army combat veteran. Serves on the boards of IAC/Interactive Corp. and Under Amour.

Glen Senk: Chairman and CEO of Front Row Partners, Advisory Director to Berkshire Partners and former CEO of Urban Outfitters. Serves on the boards of Aritzia and Boden.

About Green Thumb Industries:

Green Thumb Industries Inc. ("Green Thumb"), a national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and retailer, promotes well-being through the power of cannabis while giving back to the communities in which it serves. Green Thumb manufactures and distributes a portfolio of branded cannabis products including Beboe, Dogwalkers, Dr. Solomon's, incredibles, Rythm and The Feel Collection. The company also owns and operates rapidly growing national retail cannabis stores called Rise . Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Green Thumb has 13 manufacturing facilities, licenses for 97 retail locations and operations across 12 U.S. markets. Established in 2014, Green Thumb employs over 2,400 people and serves thousands of patients and customers each year. The company was named a Best Workplace 2018 by Crain's Chicago Business and MG Retailer magazine in 2018 and 2019. More information is available at GTIgrows.com.

Investor Contact:

Media Contact:

Jennifer Dooley

Linda Marsicano

Chief Strategy Officer

VP, Corporate Communications

InvestorRelations@gtigrows.com

lmarsicano@gtigrows.com

310-622-8257

773-354-2004

Source: Green Thumb Industries

The post Green Thumb Industries Inc. (GTBIF) Expands Independent Governance with Appointment of Swati Mylavarapu to Board of Directors appeared first on Marijuana Stocks | Cannabis Investments and News. Roots of a Budding Industry.(TM).

COMTEX_384044934/2683/2021-04-07T08:49:04

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RICHMOND, Va., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hilb Group, LLC ("THG") announced today that it has acquired Indiana-based Star Insurance Agency. The transaction became effective on March 1, 2021.

Star Insurance Agency is a full-service agency, providing fast, caring service to clients throughout the region. Star Insurance Agency has both personal and commercial insurance offerings, including both P&C and employee benefits. As a part of the transaction, Leslee Robinson, Billy Davenport, and the Star Insurance team will join THG of Indiana.

"THG offers a unique opportunity to bring more robust services to our clients," said Billy Davenport. "We are excited to grow our business with the resources the THG brings to the agency."

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Star Insurance Agency to our expanding team at THG," said Ricky Spiro, THG CEO. "The firm has long-standing client relationships and a wonderful reputation in the marketplace."

About THG: THG is a leading property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and advisory firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. THG is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. THG seeks to grow through strategic acquisitions and by leveraging its resources and expertise to drive organic growth in its acquired agencies. The company has completed more than 100 acquisitions and now has over 100 offices in 20 states. THG is rated as one of the Fastest Growing Brokers by Business Insurance, a Top P/C Agency by Insurance Journal, and one of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the Inc. 5000. Please visit our website at: http://hilbgroup.com

Media Contact:

Ally Barbour

804-533-0191

[email protected]

M&A Contact:

Ryan Havermann

804-414-6508

[email protected]

SOURCE The Hilb Group, LLC

Related Links

http://hilbgroup.com


RTHK: Australia, Philippines limit use of AstraZeneca jab

Australia and the Philippines limited use of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine on Thursday, while the Africa Union dropped plans to buy the shot, dealing further blows to the company's hopes to deliver a vaccine for the world.

The vaccine  developed with Oxford University and considered a frontrunner in the global vaccine race  has been plagued by safety concerns and supply problems since Phase III trial results were published in December, with Indonesia the latest country forced to seek doses from other vaccine developers.

The Philippines suspended the use of AstraZeneca shots for people below 60 after Europe's regulator said on Wednesday it found rare cases of blood clots among some adult recipients although the vaccines advantages still outweighed its risks.

Australia recommended people under 50 should get Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine in preference to AstraZeneca's, a policy shift that it warned would hold up its inoculation campaign.

The African Union is exploring options with Johnson & Johnson having dropped plans to buy AstraZeneca's vaccine from India's Serum Institute, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters.

AstraZeneca's shot is sold at cost, for a few US dollars a dose. It is by far the cheapest and most high-volume launched so far, and has none of the extreme refrigeration requirements of some other Covid-19 vaccines, making it likely to be the mainstay of many vaccination programmes in the developing world.

But more than a dozen countries have at one time suspended or partially suspended use of the shot, first on concerns about efficacy in older people, and now on worries about rare side effects in younger people.

That, coupled with production setbacks, will delay the rollout of vaccines across the globe as governments scramble to find alternatives to tame the pandemic which has killed more than 3 million. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-04-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A husband and wife from Cherrybrook have been charged with allegedly running a gun and drug syndicate.

David Shen, 77, is accused of directing the group that allegedly had 14 guns, some military grade, in its possession when police swooped.

Police arrested a husband and wife for allegedly leading a drug and gun syndicate. Credit:NSW Police

Police say the mans wife, 41-year-old Lien Ngoc, played a significant role in the syndicate that was also linked to a temporary drug lab discovered last year in Airbnb accommodation in Camperdown.

The pop-up laboratory was dismantled in April 2020 and police found 1.9 kilograms of crystal methylamphetamine or ice with a street value of $1.9 million.
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SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, urged Bulgarians on Thursday to think carefully before voting in Sunday's election, saying the Balkan country needed new faces and ideas.

In a televised address to the nation, Radev said voting will determine whether public money will be spent properly, media freedom improved and fast and fair justice administered in the European Union's poorest member state.

Bulgaria also ranks as the EU's most corrupt member state according to Transparency International. It has been criticised for years by the European Commission over a failure to overhaul its graft-prone judiciary and to put a single high-ranking official behind bars on corruption charges.

Radev supported massive anti-graft protests that sought to topple Borissov last summer. Demonstrators accused Borissov of weakening state institutions for the benefit of local oligarchs and businesses close to his centre-right GERB party.

Borissov has denied such accusations and refused to step down. He maintains that the Balkan country needed a functioning government to lead it through the coronavirus pandemic that has strained hospitals and hammered its small and open economy.

"The time for the regular elections has come and the pandemic is still here...It is time to draw the line. It is time for new ideas, new faces and new trust in the institutions," Radev said in his speech.

The protests weighed on the popularity of three-times premier Borissov, but failed to produce a clear alternative to his rule and his GERB party has slowly regained support even as the number of coronavirus infections has surged.

Polls show that GERB has extended its lead over the opposition Socialists ahead of the election though will struggle to form a working coalition in a fragmented parliament where seven parties are expected to win seats.

In its pre-election campaign Borissov pledged to restart the economy, build more highways, boost the average monthly wages by 35% to 1,000 euros in four years, keep taxes unchanged and lead Bulgaria into the eurozone in 2024.

(Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Australian comedian Adam Hills has downplayed the dangers of cancel culture and urged other comics to be careful about potentially offending people.

The Spicks and Specks host, 50, told News Corp the furore over cancel culture has been taken too far by people on both sides of the argument.

'There is a group of people who would like to think that cancel culture is more than it is and there is a group of people who like to think they can ban stuff,' he said.

Speaking out: Australian comedian Adam Hills has downplayed the dangers of cancel culture and urged other comics to be careful about potentially offending people

'The idea you can't say anything in comedy any more, I'm not entirely sure what is it that you cant say,' he continued.

'If you say it and you lose your audience, then you have probably said the wrong thing.'

He added that if a comedian offends their audience, it isn't the fault of the audience, before urging comedians to act like 'grown-ups'.

Measured response: 'The idea you can't say anything in comedy any more, I'm not entirely sure what is it that you cant say,' he said

'The people who are meant to be the grown-ups and responsible for what they say, aren't being responsible, so we have to be now,' he said.

Adam is best known for hosting Australian TV show Spicks and Specks from 2005 to 2011, and The Last Leg in Britain.

The Last Leg is known for its political satire and social commentary, and often sees the hosts taking aim at conservative politicians and media figures like Piers Morgan, Donald Trump and Katie Hopkins.

Repercussions: 'If you say it and you lose your audience, then you have probably said the wrong thing,' Adam said in an interview with News Corp

He's now preparing to front a new 10-episode run of Spicks and Specks on the ABC.

Adam will be joined by former team captains Alan Brough and Myf Warhurst in the reboot.

Sharing his excitement on Twitter last year, Adam wrote: 'Some people made banana bread in lockdown, we made a new series of #SpicksAndSpecks. Coming to your Aussie screens in 2021.'
MONTEREY, Calif.  Scientists were documenting stranded sea turtles on Californias beaches nearly 40 years ago when they noticed that leatherbacks  massive sea turtles that date to the time of the dinosaurs  were among those washing up on shore. It was strange because the nearest known population of the giants was several thousand miles away in the waters of Central and South America.

Their mysterious presence led researchers to a startling discovery. A subset of leatherbacks that hatches on beaches in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands were migrating 7,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean to the cold waters off the U.S. West Coast, where they gorged on jellyfish before swimming back. The epic journey stunned scientists.

There are birds that go farther, but they fly. Theres a whale shark that might swim a little further, but it doesnt have to come up for air. This animal is actually pushing water all the way across the Pacific Ocean, said Scott Benson, an ecologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations fisheries service in Monterey, who has studied the turtles for decades. Its just a majestic animal.

But now, just as scientists are beginning to fully understand the amazing odyssey, the turtles are disappearing  and fast.

In less than 30 years, the number of western Pacific leatherbacks in the foraging population off of California plummeted 80% and a recent study co-authored by Benson shows a 5.6% annual decline  almost identical to the decline documented thousands of miles away on nesting beaches. About 1,400 adult females were counted on western Pacific nesting beaches, down from tens of thousands of turtles a few decades ago, and there are as few as 50 foraging off California, Benson said.

If nothing changes, scientists say, the leatherbacks  creatures that can weigh half as much as a compact car and have 4-foot-long flippers  could be gone from the U.S. West Coast within three decades, a demise brought on by indiscriminate international fishing, the decimation of nesting grounds and climate change.

The turtles were there and we finally started paying attention, said Jim Harvey, director of San Jose State Universitys Moss Landing Marine Laboratories at San Jose State University and the studys co-author. We got into looking at the story just as the story was ending.

In this aerial photo provided by Joel Schumacher, scientists in a research boat pursue a Pacific leatherback turtle in the Pacific Ocean off California in September 2016. (Joel Schumacher via AP)AP

The study provides critical, but devastating, new population information that doesnt bode well for the leatherbacks, said Daniel Pauly, a fisheries professor at the University of British Columbia and an international expert on reducing commercial fishings impact on marine ecosystems.

If you find the decline in one place, that might have a number of causes, but if you find the same estimate of decline in two places that indicates something much more serious, said Pauly, who was not involved in the study. They are really in big trouble.

NOAA launched an aggressive initiative to save them in 2015 and will now release an updated action plan this month to inspire greater international cooperation in reducing the number of eggs pillaged on beaches and the number of Pacific leatherbacks entangled in commercial fishing gear.

There is an opportunity right now to stop the decline, but we must seize that opportunity immediately and that will require an international effort by all the nations this animals interacts with, said Benson. If nothing is done to reverse this course, this population will become, essentially, extinct in the Pacific Ocean.

The leatherbacks have likely been foraging off the U.S. West Coast for millennia. There are six other distinct leatherback populations scattered around the world but none of them complete such a long migration. As many as 60% of the leatherback turtles that hatch in the western Pacific Ocean make the trip to California  and scientists arent sure why some do and others dont. Some go farther north, to waters off Oregon and even Washington state.

All the worlds leatherbacks are under pressure, but the subset that migrates for months across the vastness of the Pacific faces unique threats that are particularly difficult for conservationists to counter. Leatherbacks in the eastern Pacific, which nest in Mexico and Costa Rica, are also experiencing a population crash from a sharp reduction in nesting beaches.

In the water, commercial fishing boats pursue swordfish in an international no-mans-land, where strict U.S. fishing laws dont apply, and fishing nets and long lines intended for swordfish can injure or kill turtles. They must navigate the fishing grounds of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Japan and other nations to reach the U.S. West Coast.

On land, leatherback eggs on nesting beaches in the western Pacific are frequently wiped out by wild animals or humans, who collect the delicacies to eat or sell. Sand-mining operations and development on private beaches are also encroaching on leatherback nests.

In the U.S., swordfish fishing with long lines has been banned for 20 years from mid-August to mid-November to protect the giant turtles in a 186,000-square-mile (481,787-square-kilometer) zone off the West Coast. Most recently, California is phasing out the only small drift gill net fishery in the state by 2024, and the long-line swordfish fleet in Hawaii and California must shut down if they accidentally catch more than 16 leatherbacks fleet-wide in a season.

Last year, President Donald Trump vetoed a bill co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein, a California Democrat, that would have phased out a type of fishing with large mesh underwater nets known to ensnare sea turtles and other species. She reintroduced it in February.

In this July 5, 2017, photo provided by Kate Cummings, is a leatherback turtle swimming in the Pacific Ocean near Moss Landing, Calif. (Kate Cummings via AP)AP

These measures have been largely successful in driving down harm to Pacific leatherbacks off the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii. Between 1990 and 2000, 23 leatherback turtles were entangled and killed off the West Coast. Between 2014 and 2018, there were zero, according to NOAA Fisheries.

Damien Schiff, an attorney whos sued on behalf of fishermen impacted by the reduction of the swordfish industry, said environmentalists continue to pursue more restrictions on the U.S. fishery when other foreign fisheries are the problem.

Every swordfish that you dont catch in California is going to then be ... supplied by an overseas fishery that doesnt have a good environmental rating, he said. I dont think you can dispute that fact.

Now, with worldwide leatherback numbers plummeting, the pressure is on to replicate these successes outside U.S. waters and spur more cooperation from international fisheries that compete directly with U.S. vessels in far-flung Pacific waters.

Some ideas include requiring swordfish imported to the U.S. to be harvested using the same turtle-sparing equipment thats required of American fleets or to expand the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act to include sea creatures that arent mammals, said Todd Steiner, executive director of Turtle Island Restoration Network, which has pushed for leatherback protections worldwide.

We are one of the largest markets in the world for fish and so once we have our own fisheries having to meet certain requirements, then we can ask other countries to do the same if they want to sell to us, he said. But at what point is it too late? Weve won some battles, but were losing the war.

--The Associated Press
New Delhi, April 8 : The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will hear BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea on April 26 seeking a direction to the Centre to declare 'Ram Sethu' as a national heritage monument.

Swamy, who appeared in-person, submitted before a bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde to consider his plea for an urgent hearing.

The bench also comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian said the matter requires time and let the next Chief Justice N.V. Ramana, deal with it as Justice Bobde will retire on April 23.

During the hearing, Justice Bobde remarked that he does not have so much time to deal with the matter.

Swamy submitted before the bench that the matter has been pending for a long time. After a brief hearing in the matter, the bench scheduled the plea for further hearing on April 26.

Last year in January, the top court said it will examine Swamy's plea on 'Ram Sethu' as a national heritage monument, after three months.

Swamy had submitted that the Centre had already accepted the existence of Ram Sethu, which is also known as Adam's bridge, is a chain of limestone shoals between between Pamban Island, also known as Rameswaram Island, off the south-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu, and Mannar Island, off the north-western coast of Sri Lanka.

However, March 2020, last week onwards the apex court started the hearing of urgent matters only through video conferencing in the backdrop pf Covid-19 pandemic, and the case could not be listed.

Swamy in his PIL challenged the controversial Sethusamudram Ship Channel project, initiated by the UPA-I government. The matter had reached the top court, which in 2007 stayed the work on the project.
PORTLAND, Ore., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "E-health Market by Type (Electronic Health Record (HER); Vendor Neutral Archive (VNA), Picture Archiving, & Communications Systems (PACS); Laboratory Information Systems (LIS); Telehealth; Prescribing Solutions; Medical Apps; Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS); Pharmacy Information Systems; and Others) and End User (Healthcare Providers, Payers, Healthcare Consumers, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192027." According to the report, the global e-health industry was estimated at $74.47 billion in 2019, and is anticipated to hit $230.64 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 14.5% from 2020 to 2027.

Download Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/10531

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities-

Surge in government initiatives toward use of eHealth solutions and services, increase in need to manage regulatory compliance through use of eHealth solutions, large population base, and subsequent rise in the number of chronic diseases drive the growth of the global e-health market. On the other hand, lack of skilled professionals restrains the growth to some extent. However, the untapped market in developing regions is expected to create an array of opportunities in the coming years.

Covid-19 scenario-

The outbreak of covid-19 has augmented the demand for cloud-based solutions offered by e-health technology, thereby boosting the market growth to a significant extent.

As for instance, GE Healthcare protracted its long-term partnership with Microsoft to launch a cloud-based COVID-19 patient monitoring software for health systems.

The medical apps segment to retain its dominance by 2027-

Based on type, the medical apps segment accounted for around two-fifths of the global e-health market share in 2019, and is expected to lead the trail by 2027, owing to upsurge in demand for quality healthcare services & solutions, increase in acceptance of mHealth practices, surge in demand for improved patient safety & patient care, and rise in government initiatives to promote healthcare information technology (HCIT). The same segment would also grow at the fastest CAGR of 21.0% during the forecast period.

Enquiry for Short-term and Long-term Impacts of COVID-19 at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/10531

The healthcare providers segment to rule the roost-

Based on formulation, the healthcare providers segment contributed to nearly three-fifths of the global e-health market revenue in 2019, and is anticipated to rule the roost by 2027. This is due to increase in demand for data accuracy to ensure patient safety through improved clinical outcomes, rise in healthcare reforms, and surge in efforts to control healthcare expenditure. On the other hand, the healthcare consumers segment would also register the fastest CAGR of 16.2% from 2020 to 2027.

North America garnered the major share in 2019-

Based on geography, North America held the highest share in 2019, generating more than two-fifths of the global e-health market. This is attributed to favorable regulatory scenario, high adoption of HCIT solutions to curtail soaring healthcare costs, regulatory requirements regarding patient safety, and the presence of a large number of E-health companies in the region. The market across Asia-Pacific, on the other hand, would register the fastest CAGR of 17.2% throughout the forecast period, due to government investments & reforms to modernize healthcare systems, increase in product launches, rise in medical tourism, implementation of e-health programs, and upsurge in per capita income in the province.

Frontrunners in the industry-

Athenahealth, Inc.

Siemens Healthineers

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

InTouch Health

General Electric Company (GE Healthcare)

Medtronic plc.

UnitedHealth Group (Optum)

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We have also published few syndicated market studies in the similar area that might be of your interest. Below are the report title for your reference, considering Impact of Covid-19 Over This Market which will help you to assess aftereffects of pandemic on short-term and long-term growth trends of this market.

Similar Reports:

Healthcare App Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027

Electronic Health Records (EHR) Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2027

Top 10 Pediatric Healthcare Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2027

Home Healthcare Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192027

Health IT Security Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192027

Women's health app Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192027

Wireless health market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192027

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BEIRUT - A year and a half after the de facto imposition of capital controls by the Lebanese banking cartel, amidst the worst economic crisis in the last 30 years and the country's financial default, banking institutions have begun a massive campaign to fire mid-to-low-level workers, said the union of Lebanese bank workers on Thursday.



The union is calling on authorities to intervene to "put an end" to the campaign of "illegal firings" that Lebanese banking institutions began last fall.



According to banking sources cited by the Lebanese daily L'Orient-Le Jour, the firings began quietly last year and took on significant proportions in November 2020.



As of February 2021, it was estimated there had been a 20% decrease in the entire clerical sector, which numbered about 25,000 people at the end of 2019, when the crisis began to seriously emerge.



In mid-November 2019 the main Lebanese banks, in agreement with the Central Bank, started limiting the access of small and medium-sized savers to their deposits in hard currency, mainly US dollars.



Instead, the banks proposed using the savings in Lebanese pounds, which were exchanged at an increasingly disadvantageous rate.



The local pound has lost nearly 90% of its value since October 2019, with a resulting price spike in consumer goods, mostly imported in dollars and euros, and in essential services, which are largely privatised.



For the past 18 months, the headquarters of Lebanese banks have been targets of vandalism and attacks by fringe groups increasingly supported by a Lebanese populace frightened by the spectre of food insecurity.



The UN estimates that over half the local population is now living under the poverty line.


Press Release

April 8, 2021 De Lima bewails red-tagging of Senate union Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has bewailed the recent red-tagging rampage against the Senate union by National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) director general Alex Paul Monteagudo, which she called a direct attack and affront not only to the employees but also to the Senate as an institution. De Lima, the first prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime, made the statement in reaction to Monteagudo's Facebook post alleging that members of the Senate union, the Sandigan ng mga Empleyadong Nagkakaisa sa Adhikain ng Demokratikong Organisasyon (SENADO), are sympathizers of rebel groups. "Is it just a coincidence that after some Senators called out the government's failed COVID-19 response, the Intel Chief will go on a red-tagging rampage against the Senate and its employees? Or is this a sinister attempt to create a rubber stamp Senate as the Duterte and his minions try to cling desperately to a crumbling regime?" she asked. "Ito ay pag-atake hindi lang sa karapatan ng mga kawani na malayang makapagtrabaho sa panahon ng krisis. Direktang pag-atake at pambabastos ito sa Senado bilang isang institusyon at hindi dapat palampasin," she added. Monteagudo's post, which shows a photo attributed to a Facebook page called Just Philippines, alleged that "the Senate of the Philippines is manned" by an organization for the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People's Army, and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), referring to COURAGE. COURAGE, the Confederation for Unity Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees, is made up of workers' unions from the public sector to which SENADO is an affiliate. Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy and spokesperson for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) even asserted that the task force backs Monteagudo's claim. Having worked closely with SENADO in upholding the rights of Senate employees, De Lima said she stands by its members knowing that the union is pro-employees' rights and not pro-communist. "Kaisa nila ako sa paniniwala na ang laban para sa hustisya ay laban para sa katiyakan sa trabaho, makatarungang sahod, at karapatan na mamuhay ng malaya at may dignidad. I've known Rosel, the union president, for her integrity and dedication in the service of her fellow employees," she said. "SENADO is not pro-communist, it is pro-employees' rights. Wala na bang ibang maisip na gimik ang mga red-taggers na ito at pati Senado ng Pilipinas paparatangan na communist coddler?" she added. Recently, De Lima, along with Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Risa Hontiveros and Francis Pangilinan, also released a joint statement condemning the red-tagging of the Senate's employees. The Minority Senators said that they "vehemently denounce government officials who continue to label, brand, vilify, and harass individuals and organizations such as SENADO as state enemies, left-leaning and subversives." "Like COVID-19, we must prevent red-tagging from further spreading. Thus, we find it unfortunate and utterly deplorable that there are officials who resort to red-tagging," they added.
Apple TV+ today announced a series order for "The Crowded Room," a seasonal anthology that will be produced by Apple Studios and New Regency, with Academy Award winner Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind) set to write and executive produce. On the heels of the premiere of global hit Apple Original film "Cherry," Tom Holland will star in the lead role of the first season and will serve as executive producer alongside Goldsman.

"The Crowded Room" is a gripping anthology series that will explore the true and inspirational stories of those who have struggled and learned to successfully live with mental illness.

The anthologys 10-episode first season is a captivating thriller, inspired by the award-winning biography "The Minds of Billy Milligan" by Daniel Keyes. It tells the story of Billy Milligan (Holland), the first person ever acquitted of a crime because of multiple personality disorder (now known as dissociative identity disorder).

"The Crowded Room" is a co-production between Apple Studios and New Regency. Goldsman will serve as executive producer through his Weed Road Productions banner. The series will also be executive produced by Alexandra Milchan for EMJAG Productions and New Regencys Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer. For more, read Apple's full press release.

Five Days at Memorial

Last month Patently Apple posted a report titled " Emmy Award Winner Vera Farmiga to star in a new Apple TV+ Drama series titled 'Five Days at Memorial.' Today, we're learning that Adepero Oduye has joined Vera Farmiga in Five Days at Memorial, a drama about how the aftermath of the deadly 2005 hurricane played out at a New Orleans hospital. It's based on a nonfiction book by Pulitzer Prize winner Sheri Fink.

Oduye will play Karen Wynn, nurse manager of the intensive care unit at Memorial Hospital and the head of the its ethics committee, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Archive: Apple TV News
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Ministers urged Britons to 'do the right thing for their country' and get vaccinated yesterday as figures revealed the jab has saved 10,400 lives.

Tens of thousands turned up at 'heaving' vaccine centres, calming fears that uptake could be dented by concerns over rare blood clots.

Officials have launched a campaign to maintain confidence in jabs after medical regulators advised that under-30s should be offered an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca inoculation.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that, while getting Covid-19 could 'essentially ruin your life', the small risk of developing a blood clot from the jab was the same as from taking a long-haul flight.

Elle Taylor, 24, an unpaid carer from Ammanford, receives an injection of the Moderna vaccine

Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a thumbs up gesture whilst holding an ice cream during a visit to Haven Perran Sands Holiday Park in Perranporth, Cornwall

... and there's fewer than 100 cases a day in the over-70s By ELEANOR HAYWARD AND STEVE DOUGHTY FOR THE DAILY MAIL Fewer than 100 virus cases a day are now occurring in the over-70s as almost all have immunity to Covid, official figures show. Public Health England found that 93.5 per cent of people aged 70 to 84 tested positive for antibodies by mid-March  up from 41 per cent a month earlier. Department of Health data found infections in the over-70s have fallen below 100 for the past two days  down from more than 6,000 cases a day in January. The number of adults in their 60s with antibodies has trebled to 61 per cent in a month, PHE said. Across all age groups, 46 per cent of the population in England now have antibodies to Covid. Antibodies are made by the body following vaccination or infection and they protect against reinfection and serious disease. The PHE report found weekly case rates and hospital admissions are falling in all regions and age groups. They are lowest among 70 to 79-year-olds at just 7.2 per 100,000. They are highest in children aged 10 to 19, at 54.3 per 100,000, but notably they have not increased since schools reopened. Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director at PHE, said: 'We have come a long way since the start of the year, and the terrible peak we saw during the winter. 'Whatever your plans next week, please remember to follow the rules and take up your vaccine when offered one. Let's not blow it now.' Yesterday another 3,030 cases and 53 deaths were recorded. Data from the Office for National Statistics revealed the number of weekly coronavirus deaths has fallen 92 per cent from the second wave peak. There were just 719 deaths from Covid-19 registered in the week ending March 26, down 24 per cent from the previous week and down from 8,433 in the final week of January. Advertisement

And a new study by Public Health England found the rollout has prevented 10,400 deaths in over-60s since the first jab was given to Margaret Keenan on December 8.

PHE compared the number of Covid-19 deaths until the end of March with the expected number had millions of over-60s not been immunised.

They estimated the vaccine had stopped 9,100 deaths in those aged 80 and over, 1,200 in 70 to 79 year olds and 100 in 60 to 69s.

Mr Hancock said: 'That's more than 10,000 families who haven't suffered the loss of a loved one.

'The science is clear  vaccines save lives. All three of our approved vaccines have been deemed safe and effective by our world-class independent medicines regulator.

'The figures published today show why it's so vital people get their second dose too. When people get the call, they should get the jab.'

On Wednesday UK medical regulators concluded the AstraZeneca vaccine was a 'reasonably plausible' cause of 79 cases of unusual blood clots, including 19 deaths. The NHS has now cancelled thousands of appointments for those aged 18-29 who were booked in to get their first dose of the AZ jab.

Most under-30s are not yet eligible but those who are, such as unpaid carers, will be rebooked with a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

The new advice from medical regulators has led to fears younger adults could shun the jab.

However, Mr Hancock said vaccinations are 'the right thing for them, and the right thing for their loved ones, and ultimately the right thing for the country'.

Professor Jeremy Brown, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, urged the young to get vaccinated so they can go on holiday and see relatives again. Despite the setback with the AstraZeneca jab, the Government is on track to meet its target of offering all over-50s their first dose by April 15.

Yesterday NHS data revealed 90 per cent of people in their 50s have now been vaccinated. So far 31.8 million people in total have had at least one dose of the vaccine, and six million both doses.

More than 500,000 jabs were delivered on Wednesday, despite concerns over a squeeze on supplies.

Officials are trying to ensure those who have had their first AZ dose still come forward for their second. Regulators have found no reports of clots after second doses.

Yesterday, there was little sign that warnings over the blood clots have knocked vaccine confidence. Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the JCVI, insisted 'the vaccination programme is going full steam ahead'.

A volunteer at the Tessa Jowell vaccination centre in East Dulwich, south-east London, said it had been 'heaving'. She added: 'It's been constant all day. We have had really good turnout.'

Those getting their jab yesterday largely rejected fears over blood clots, although some younger adults did reject the AZ jab.

Husband and wife Sue and Eddie Styring received their second Pfizer dose together at Ealing, west London.

Mr Styring, 76, said: 'The benefits of any jab outweigh the risks by a long way. I wouldn't be concerned about the AstraZeneca. It's a tremendous relief to be vaccinated. We'll celebrate by hugging our grandchildren in a short while.'

Health chiefs announced another 53 deaths, which was two more than the same time last week

Pharmacists transport the Moderna vaccine at the West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen

However, one 39-year-old woman walked away from her appointment in Ealing after seeing the only jab was from AstraZeneca.

Veronica, a finance administrator who did not want to give her surname, said: 'I'm scared after seeing the possibility of what could happen. Many of my friends think the same. They are a bit worried.'

And one GP in Surrey, Dr David Triska, said some patients are now cancelling their AZ jab.

He said: 'We have been inundated with consultations relating to headaches and people defaulting their AstraZeneca appointment to try to get another vaccine. We are reassuring them the balance of risk is in favour of receiving the vaccine.'
Italy gave families of two fishermen killed by marines USD1.34 mn in damages

by Utkarsh Anand

April 08,2021 | Source: HT

According to the Government of Indias compliance affidavit dated January 5, which HT has seen and reviewed, the Italian government offered to pay a total of 10 crore (USD1.34 mn) in damages.



The case pending before the Supreme Court is an appeal filed by the two marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, against a May 2012 judgment of the Kerala high court, which held that Kerala had jurisdiction to try them.



The central government on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that the families of two Indian fishermen killed by Italian marines off the coast of Kerala in 2012 have been adequately compensated as it sought expeditious closure of proceedings before the top court and a criminal trial pending before a special court in Delhi. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the matter on April 9.



According to the Centres compliance affidavit dated January 5, which HT has seen and reviewed, the Italian government offered to pay a total of 10 crore in damages. The families of the two deceased fishermen have agreed to a compensation of 4 crore each in addition to the 2 crore already paid by the Italian government. The injured owner of the boat had also consented to receiving damages of 2 crore.



As per the affidavit, the Kerala government also accepted this proposal from the Italian government and the consent letters from the legal heirs of the deceased and the boat owner were sent to the foreign secretary in the ministry of external affairs. On Wednesday, solicitor general Tushar Mehta informed the bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde that the victims families have been paid the compensation, as ruled by an international tribunal in May 2020.



The victims families are also here, as asked by the bench on the last date of hearing. This is a short matter and only requires to be disposed of on the next date, the law officer told the bench, which also included justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.



Mehta requested the bench to take up the matter for hearing on Friday saying there is some urgency since it is between the Indian and Italian government and the bench agreed.



CJI Bobde retires on April 23. The government has sought an urgent hearing so that the matter could be disposed of by the same bench before the CJI demits office.



During the last hearing in August 2020, this bench had said that it will close the proceedings only after the families of the victims are heard and given adequate compensation, after it noted that the victims families were not parties to the case before the Supreme Court.



The case pending before the Supreme Court is an appeal filed by the two marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, against a May 2012 judgment of the Kerala high court, which held that Kerala had jurisdiction to try them. The high court ruled that the marines enjoyed no state immunity since their act of shooting at the fishermen was in defence of neither the vessel nor the state.



The marines and the Italian government moved an appeal before the top court, which shifted the trial to a special court Delhi in 2013 where it went on till the Supreme Court stayed it in 2015 after taking note of proceedings pending before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at the Hague, Netherlands. In the meantime, the marines were allowed to go back home on a personal undertaking by the Italian ambassador that they would come back as and when required.



The arbitral proceedings before the PCA were instituted under the United Nations Convention on Law of Seas (UNCLOS) on June 26, 2015 after Italy served a notice on India under the UNCLOS.



The UNCLOS is an international agreement that defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with regard to their conduct and use of world seas and oceans and management of natural marine resources.



In May 2020, the international tribunal ruled that the marines enjoyed immunity since they were exercising official functions in their capacity as Italian state officials when the incident occurred. It, therefore, ordered India to stop criminal proceedings against them.



At the same time, the tribunal also held that Italy had violated Indias right to navigation by firing at the fishing boat and said that the country would have to compensate India for loss of life and damage to property.



On July 3, 2020 the Centre moved the top court, saying it had accepted the PCAs ruling and wanted the proceedings to be closed.



The Republic of India has taken a decision to accept and abide by the award passed by the (arbitral) tribunal which would have the bearing on the continuance of present proceedings before the Supreme Court. The applicant (central government) is, therefore, placing the award on record with a prayer that the proceedings with regard to the incident dated February 15, 2012 be disposed of in conformity with the Award passed by the tribunal, its application before the Supreme Court said.

 HT Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Theme(s): Others.
TORONTO, April 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mene Inc. (TSX-V: MENE) (US: MENEF) (Mene or the Company), an online 24 karat jewelry brand, is pleased to announce that its debt retirement agreement with a private institutional lender (the Lender), previously announced on March 12, 2021, has closed. The Company has issued an aggregate of 9,920,635 common shares in settlement of $5,000,000 ($0.504 per common share), and made a cash payment of $5,119,166.83 (including all accrued interest to the date of completion of the Debt Retirement), in consideration for the retirement of a total of $10,119,166.83 in principal and accrued liabilities owing to the Lender (the Debt Retirement).

The Debt Retirement received final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange on March 30, 2021. Upon completing the Debt Retirement, the Companys remaining term loan indebtedness to the Lender has been fully repaid and retired. The Company appreciates the support and confidence of the Lender in the Companys management and direction.

All securities issued pursuant to the Debt Retirement will be subject to a four month and one day statutory hold period from the closing date.

Goldmoney Facility Extension

The Company is also pleased to report that Goldmoney Inc. (Goldmoney) has renewed a line of credit facility (the Facility) that enables the Company to conveniently purchase precious metals from Goldmoney under an exclusive supply agreement dated August 20, 2017. The Facility is now evidenced by a new promissory note dated March 19, 2021 (the New Note), which superseded and replaced the promissory note dated March 19, 2020 (the Old Note). All amounts outstanding under the Old Note have been applied as amounts outstanding under the New Note.

The Facility has been made available to the Company up to and including March 19, 2022, at which time it may be renewed by mutual consent for an additional period of time. The Facility has established the maximum amount of credit that Goldmoney extends to the Company.

About Mene Inc.Mene crafts pure 24 karat gold and platinum jewelry that is transparently sold by gram weight. Through mene.com, customers may buy jewelry, monitor the value of their collection over time, and sell or exchange their pieces by gram weight at prevailing market prices. Mene was founded by Roy Sebag and Diana Widmaier-Picasso with a mission to restore the relationship between jewelry and savings. Mene empowers consumers by marrying innovative technology, timeless design, and pure precious metals to create pieces which endure as a store of value.

For more information about Mene, visit mene.com.

Media and Investor Relations Inquiries:

Renee WeiHead of Investor Relationsir@mene.com

Adil SheikhChief Financial OfficerMene Inc.+1 289 748 3702

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statements that involve 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 information and are intended to identify forward-looking information.

This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time it was made, and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others; an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases presenting as major health issues on the price of precious metals, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains; failure to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; operating or technical difficulties in connection with the manufacture, sale and distribution of jewelry; actual audited results differing from reported unaudited results; global economic climate; dilution of the Companys shares; the Companys limited operating history; future capital needs and uncertainty of raising capital; the competitive nature of the jewelry industry; currency exchange risks; the need for the Company to manage its planned growth and expansion; the effects of product development and need for continued technology and manufacturing change; protection of proprietary rights; the effect of government regulation and compliance on the Company and the industry; network security risks; the ability of the Company to maintain properly working systems; theft and risk of physical harm to personnel; reliance on key personnel; global economic and financial market deterioration impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital; and volatile securities markets impacting security pricing unrelated to operating performance. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than 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.

Source: Mene Inc.
ANN ARBOR, MI  Billions of Brood X cicadas living underground for the past 17 years are about to emerge, and Ann Arbor is taking some precautions as it prepares for massive swarms of the red-eyed bugs.

Large parts of the Midwest and eastern United States are expected to experience the 17-year cicada emergence over several weeks in May and June, and Ann Arbors forestry department is expecting the insects to put on quite a show as they take to the trees in Tree Town.

Theyre going to be everywhere, said Tiffany Giacobazzi, the citys urban forestry and natural resources planner. We could see several hundred thousand to a million insects per acre.

While they dont bite and are harmless to humans, they will be flying, landing and crawling everywhere, occasionally landing on humans, and they will pose challenges to young trees while benefiting larger trees, city officials said.

In response, Ann Arbor is suspending its spring tree planting efforts and has created a webpage at www.a2gov.org/cicada to help residents prepare, including tips on how to protect valuable trees, shrubs and other plants with netting.

We highly recommend folks do not spray any kind of insecticides, Giacobazzi emphasized. Its not going to make a difference, the insects are going to be here, and its just going to be detrimental to the pollinators and the beneficial insects that we need (if people use insecticides).

The city gives this explanation of the Brood X phenomenon: Cicada nymphs live underground for 17 years and emerge near the end of their life cycle, when they shed their skins, live for several weeks and mate. Female cicadas lay eggs in small tree branches and trunks. Adult cicadas die as new cicadas hatch and burrow into the ground for another 17 years.

This only happens once every 17 years and its a force of nature, Giacobazzi said. I think its amazing.

Billions of 17-year cicadas are about to emerge and swarm Michigan

While the cicadas can be loud and annoying with their singing  some comparing it to a train coming through when the bugs really get going  they do have ecological benefits and perform an important function by effectively pruning larger trees when laying their eggs in small branches, Giacobazzi said.

So, they do perform a service, as annoying as they are, and Im excited to see it, she said.

The downside is they can hurt smaller trees, and trees planted in the last two to five years have perfect-sized branches that will be susceptible to damage, Giacobazzi said.

When its a small sapling thats planted like the size of trees that the city of Ann Arbor plants ... every branch on there is the size they want to use, she said. So, they end up laying eggs in all the branches on the tree and it ends up girdling them, so it splits the branches open and it kills the whole tree when theyre smaller, so thats why the city has suspended tree planting.

The city expects some of the trees it has planted in recent years will die, Giacobazzi said.

Theres not much we can do about that, she said. We cant go out and net thousands of our trees, but well remove or replace the ones that do die from this.

As part of its annual tree-planting program, the city was going to plant about 500 more trees around town this spring, but its now aiming to do additional plantings in the fall and next spring to make up for the canceled plans.

Many different types of trees will be susceptible to damage or pruning by the cicadas, Giacobazzi said.

Its going to be pretty much all of the hardwoods, so all of the deciduous trees that are out there, she said. The only trees they really dont affect are conifers, so the pines, the spruces, things like that. Every other tree is pretty much fair game. Their favorites are oak, maple, elm, a lot of the big ones we plant.

The cicadas that will lay eggs in Ann Arbors trees are local and are not migrating here from other places, Giacobazzi said.

Theyve been here, theyve been doing this generation after generation, she said, noting the last time they emerged was in 2004, and before that back in the 1980s.

Several states from North Carolina to Connecticut will experience the Brood X phenomenon, but they wont appear everywhere in Michigan.

Theyll be only in the extreme lower southeast peninsula. Ann Arbor is about as far north as they come, Howard Russell, an insect/arthropod diagnostician at Michigan State University, told MLive earlier this year. Nearby, they occur pretty much throughout Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Theyre in Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and quite a few other states. This is the most widespread brood.

While there are both pros and cons to the cicadas, Giacobazzi thinks the good outweighs the bad. Nature generally doesnt continue things that arent beneficial, she said.

You know, wildfires can be destructive and cause a lot of damage to life and property, but nature uses that as a way to thin the forest and it has for millennia, she said. Same thing with the cicadas. Theres good and bad to everything.

Ann Arbors forestry department consulted with MSUs Department of Entomology about what to do about the cicadas and the recommendation was to suspend tree plantings for now and sit back and enjoy the show, Giacobazzi said.

Theyre going to have fun for about six weeks and then the whole cycle is going to start again, she said, referring to their 17-year wait to put on another show.

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern announced on Tuesday that a trans-Tasman travel bubble between the two countries will begin on April 18, less than two weeks away.

Australians will now be able to fly into New Zealand with no COVID-19 quarantine restrictions for the first time in more than a year. Since October 16, New Zealanders have been able to travel to some Australian states without needing to isolate, but have still had to quarantine for a fortnight, at their own cost, when they arrive back in New Zealand.

Air New Zealand flight arriving at Sydney airport (Source: Wikipedia)

Ardern said there are no countries in the world looking to keep COVID-free while opening up such a bubble. We are world-leading ... We are opening at exactly the right time, she declared. Today is a new chapter in our recovery. This is an exciting day.

New Zealands COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins claimed that all the conditions for the bubble have been met and said director-general of health, Ashely Bloomfield, deemed that the risk of transmission between the two countries was low.

Epidemiologist Michael Baker agreed that both countries are pursuing elimination very effectively, and with vaccines coming on-stream weve got another line of defence. In fact Australian governments have explicitly rejected elimination strategies throughout the pandemic, instead insisting that it will be necessary to live with the virus, and stating that further outbreaks are all but inevitable.

Auckland University modelling expert Shaun Hendy warned that travellers plans could be disrupted by new clusters on either side of the Tasman. Both countries have had failures at MIQ [quarantine] facilities from time to time, and when this happens, travel restrictions may need to be brought back in, he said.

While downplaying the health risks involved, Ardern said it was a flyer beware situation, with the government able to pause or suspend flights if an outbreak occurs. In that case, she noted, travellers could end up stuck in either country with no insurance coverage and faced with picking up quarantine costs.

Minimal precautions will be in place, such as a requirement to wear masks on flights, and no positive COVID-19 test result in the previous 14-day period. Australians travelling to New Zealand will have to book on a so-called green zone flight, meaning there will be no passengers who have come from anywhere but Australia in the previous 14 days. How this will be policed is unclear.

Morrison said New Zealands decision to open up two-way travel was an important first step, and that it was tremendous that the borders would be open before Anzac Day, the day the two countries commemorate their joint participation in last centurys wars.

Morrison emphasised the move is bound up with the drive by both governments to revive commercial activities regardless of the dangers. This is the first of many more steps to come, I believe, as we get back to a more normal position, not only over the course of this year but beyond, he declared, adding that there will be more planes in the air, more jobs on the ground and in the air as well for our airlines.

Coming in the midst of a renewed surge of the virus internationally, including across South Asia, the move is highly reckless. Both countries have experienced recent outbreaks of the new virulent coronavirus strains. In Australia, a partial shutdown of the city of Brisbane was imposed for just three days late last month in response to the spread of the highly infectious B117 UK variant, with 18 local cases confirmed. The lockdown was prematurely lifted in order to allow for travel and gatherings over Easter.

Even limited transmission of the strains can quickly mushroom into mass outbreaks. On February 28, Auckland, New Zealands largest city, was placed on a week-long lockdown after 15 cases of the UK variant were found, centred in a school in working class South Auckland. The source was never identified, but the community spread was largely due to government negligence after an earlier lockdown was called off. The same day Ardern announced the travel bubble, 17 new infections were reported in NZs quarantine facilities among passengers from India, England, USA, Ethiopia and the Philippines.

While a number of countries are accepting travellers who can prove they have been vaccinated, in both Australia and New Zealand vaccination programs have barely begun. In New Zealand as of 6 April, 71,013 people, or just 1.4 percent of the population had received their first dose. Just 19,273 people, 0.4 percent of the population, are fully vaccinated, mostly front line workers. Vaccinations for the general community are not due to begin until late May.

Australias vaccine rollout is widely regarded as a complete shambles.

Just 3.37 percent of the population, 854,983 people, have received at least one dose. The national plan to have administered four million vaccine doses during March fell short by 3.6 million with complaints about shortages of the vaccine in doctors surgeries, aged care facilities and other critical places.

The border openings have been dictated, not by the requirements of public safety, but by the demands of big business. New Zealands multi-million dollar tourism industry has lobbied relentlessly since the pandemic struck. Operators received massive financial assistance bailouts last year, including an industry-specific $400 million recovery package. Despite this, thousands of jobs have been shed.

Business owners in the countrys winter ski centre, Queenstown, have been especially vocal, demanding a date when international visits could resume. Australia is New Zealands largest international visitor market, accounting for almost half of all international arrivals. Tourism NZ claims about 800,000 Australians will now visit the country in the next six months and will spend $NZ1 billion this year.

BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope boasted the announcement was a win for businesses on both sides of the ditch and great encouragement that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The Employers and Manufacturers Association said it was a rope up the cliff for its members who had been holding on for travel to resume. The Air Line Pilots Association, which last year collaborated with Air NZ to sack hundreds of its members, declared the union was grateful for the announcement.

The Morrison government is already looking to open Australias border to more countries. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, authorities are currently exploring plans to resume travel to and from Singapore by August, followed by other nations with purportedly low COVID-19 numbers such as Fiji, Vietnam and Thailand, as well as Japan and South Korea, although their daily case numbers are higher.

New Zealand is similarly preparing to declare a Pacific bubble, beginning with the Cook Islands next month. Employers have begun demanding an immediate re-start of the countrys seasonal worker scheme, a highly exploitative program using temporary workers from the Pacific Islands to fill low-paid jobs in the horticulture and farming sectors.

Australia and New Zealand freeing up travel will inevitably set a precedent for governments across the globe as they accelerate their efforts to abandon measures to contain the deadly disease while proclaiming the necessity to live with the virus.

The UK government has recently confirmed it is formalising a system for international travel, which classifies countries in terms of the degree of risk they are deemed to pose, based on criteria such as their vaccination programme, infection rates and access to genomic sequencing. People arriving from designated green-list countries will escape self-isolation requirements, though they may need a COVID test before departure and after arrival in the UK.
PONTIAC, Michigan  A 4-month-old boy is recovering after authorities say he was abandoned Wednesday in a wooded area by his mother, who might have been under the influence of prescription drugs.

A news release from the Oakland County Sheriffs Office says deputies searching for the baby found him in a hypothermic state. They quickly removed the babys wet sleeper and wrapped him in warm blankets.

The boy was expected to be kept in St. Joseph Mercy Hospital overnight for further treatment and observation. He has been turned over to child protective services.

The search for the child was spurred when deputies were called at about 8:35 a.m. by residents who said a woman was ringing doorbells of homes and hiding in bushes. The woman reportedly was distraught and told people that she was being chased by someone with guns, the release says.

The 37-year-old woman had left the area by the time deputies arrived. However, staff at nearby middle school reported there was a frantic woman pounding on the doors of the school, which were locked.

Deputies found her and learned she had an infant son. They noticed there were burrs on her pants and realized she likely had been in a field or a wooded area. They say they also suspected the woman might have been under the influence of prescription drugs.

Thankfully, deputies were able to determine a baby was missing, which triggered an immediate large response and search, and they were able locate the child, Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in the release. Their quick work avoided what could have been an unspeakable tragedy.

Thirteen patrol cars were called in, as well as a K-9 unit, a plane and a drone to assist with the search for the child. The child was found about 30 minutes later. Its unclear how long the child had been left outside.

A warrant is being sought for the mothers arrest on suspected child abuse.

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17-year-old boy fatally shot in drive-by shooting in South Akron, police say
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 05:05:25|Editor: huaxia

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Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi addresses the 62nd General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria, on Sept. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/IAEA)

TEHRAN, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran has increased its uranium enrichment capacity to 16,500 separative work units (SWUs), Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), announced on Wednesday, official Islamic Republic News agency reported.

The AEOI announced that it had plans to boost the capacity of its uranium enrichment to 190,000 SWUs.

SWU is the standard measure of the effort required to separate isotopes of uranium during an enrichment process. One SWU is equivalent to 1 kg of separative work.

Salehi also said that Iran has a stockpile of some 5 tons of enriched uranium, 57 kg of which is 20-percent, according to the report.

He noted that 20-percent enriched uranium capacity would reach 120 kg in a year.



The 20-percent uranium enrichment process has been launched as part of Iran's Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions, which was approved by the Iranian parliament in December 2020. The implementation of the action plan by the AEOI began on Jan. 4.

Salehi also stated that Iran's yellow cake production capacity is currently 35 tons annually, said the report.

An Iranian flag is pictured at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Jan. 8, 2020. (Xinhua)

Iranian authorities have said a boost in uranium enrichment, along with other measures to reduce some commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is a reaction to the U.S. withdrawal from the deal and the failure of European signatories to protect Iran's interests amid U.S. energy and banking sanctions. 
The NRL has come down hard on a Parramatta fan who hit another man in the face during Easter Monday's clash with Wests Tigers, handing him a two-year ban.

Vision appeared online shortly after the Eels' 36-22 win over the Tigers at Stadium Australia on Monday showing an altercation between fans not known to each other.

In the sickening footage, one man approaches another who is sitting down in the stands, striking him in the face and igniting an altercation between several people before security intervened.

A man was captured on camera punching another male in the face in the grandstand of Sydney's Stadium Australia on Monday

The NRL said on Thursday that the man was then involved in an altercation with NSW Police after he was escorted from the ground.

The proposed ban is for a minimum of two years, excluding the man from any NRL fixture in Australia and New Zealand.

'The NRL has a zero tolerance approach to any fan who engages in violence or abuse at NRL games,' a statement read.

'The individual has been advised of his rights to respond to the banning notice.'

It comes after the 25-year-old was issued a 12-month ban from Olympic Park by NSW Police and issued infringement notices for offensive behaviour.

He is also alleged to have damaged a boom gate as he ran from police outside the stadium.

'Following a short foot pursuit, police stopped the man,' a NSW Police statement read.

'OC spray was deployed after he allegedly raised a traffic pole above the head of a male senior constable.

'He was re-arrested and taken to Auburn Police Station where he was charged with resist officer in execution of duty, assault officer in execution of duty, destroy or damage property, and two counts of common assault.'
It is one of those very rare cases when a car that has seen far better days sells for a record price because of its incredibly rich history . This particular car is one of the three Chevrolet Corvettes raced by Briggs Cunningham at the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans, developed with covert assistance from General Motors. It is car #1, or chassis 3535, its been through two severe accidents, has been modified to the point where its no longer recognizable, and its in poor condition. It is also a milestone in motorsports history.When Cunningham entered a partnership with GM in 1959, hed been racing for almost a decade, trying and failing to secure a Le Mans victory. The 1955 Le Mans tragedy that killed 83 spectators and a driver meant that, by 1957, the Automobile Manufacturers Association ban on American car manufacturers was in full effect. But General Motors was still willing to provide racing engines to patriotic privateers like Cunningham, and the result of their partnership was these three Corvette race cars.Each of them would be tested on various tracks ahead of Le Mans, further modified and adjusted. Car #1 was involved in a crash prior to the event and was rebuilt in time. Cunningham raced it at Le Mans, but it was Bill Kimberly at the wheel when it crashed on lap 32, flipping twice and catching fire . It landed on its wheels, so Kimberly could exit without serious injury, but the car was taken out of the race.After Le Mans, which saw only car #3 finish 8th overall, Cunningham returned the engines to General Motors and sold the chassis to racers and private collectors. With its first owner, car #1 underwent so many cosmetic changes that it was barely recognizable anymore; it would go on to change owners until 1974 when it effectively disappeared from the public eye It would re-emerge only 37 years later, by pure accident: the son of the last owner was clearing out a garage and found it under a tarp, listing it for sale as a pre-production, Zagato-bodied, Pontiac prototype, because he had no idea of its racing history. The asking price duly reflected that.Now with a non-working Chevrolet V8 from the 1970 model year under the hood, the 1960 Chevrolet Corvette LM is offered for sale by RM Sothebys as-is and with no reserve. It will go under the hammer on May 22 at the Amelia Island event and is expected to fetch between $900,000 and $1.3 million. That would make it the most expensive Corvette to sell at a public auction in this condition.Corvette restorer Kevin Mackay has comprised an extensive history file for it, including parts that would be needed for a correct restoration.
(Newser)  US military leaders said Thursday that recent problems with the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine have made it more difficult to provide shots for forces overseas, and that vaccines have been offered to service members' families or other Tier 2 beneficiaries in only 40% of the military sites outside the US. Speaking at a Pentagon press conference, they said they are making up for the Johnson & Johnson shortfall by shipping more Moderna vaccines to forces outside the country. The temperature and other requirements for the Pfizer vaccine make it more difficult to send overseas. Johnson & Johnson had to discard 15 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine last month because the batch did not met quality standards. The loss in expected vaccines was a greater problem for the military, the AP reports, because it had targeted the Johnson & Johnson shot for distribution overseas since it only requires one dose and doesn't need the strict temperature controls that others do.

story continues below

Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Place, director of the Defense Health Agency, told reporters that based on President Biden's latest guidance for all adults, vaccines will be offered to all eligible troops, family members, and other beneficiaries beginning by April 19. Some troops and their families overseas have expressed frustration at their inability to get a vaccine, particularly since many are in areas, including around Europe, that have been hit hard by the pandemic. Place said that in many locations, the vaccines are still being offered only to Tier 1 individuals, including troops who are deployed, health care or emergency workers, and beneficiaries 65 and older. He added that while just 7% of the eligible Defense Department population is outside the US, the Pentagon is shipping 14% of the doses it gets overseas. Still, for service members or their families overseas who haven't been vaccinated or told when they will be, "these numbers mean nothing," Place said. "And it's understandably frustrating."

(Read more coronavirus vaccine stories.)
Former House Speaker John Boehner has claimed that former President Donald Trump incited that bloody insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January, in an excerpt from his upcoming memoir.

In Mr Boehners book, On The House: A Washington Memoir, which was obtained by The New York Times, the former House speaker blames Mr Trump for the Republicans losing the Senate, which was decided by two runoff elections lost by the GOP earlier this year in Georgia.

He cited Mr Trumps repeated public refusal to accept Novembers election results, writing that it not only cost Republicans the Senate but led to mob violence, adding that it was painful to watch, according to the Times.

Mr Boehner, 71, a former Republican Ohio representative, also claimed that Mr Trump incited the riots at the US Capitol on 6 January, where five people were killed and several more were injured when a mob of pro-Trump supporters breached the building.

The riots came shortly after Mr Trump gave a speech nearby, with the then president subsequently charged by the House with incitement to insurrection. He faced his second Senate impeachment trial a few weeks after leaving office.

Read more:

However, Mr Trump was acquitted of the charge by the majority-Republican Senate during the week-long trial, despite more than half of the senators voting for it.

According to the Times, Mr Boehner wrote in his book that Mr Trump incited that bloody insurrection for nothing more than selfish reasons, perpetuated by the bull**** hed been shovelling since he lost a fair election the previous November.

The former house speaker added: He claimed voter fraud without any evidence, and repeated those claims, taking advantage of the trust placed in him by his supporters and ultimately betraying that trust.

When asked by the Times for comment about Mr Boehners comments, Mr Trump replied: Was he drinking when he made this statement? Just another RINO who couldnt do the job!

The excerpts revealed on Wednesday are not the first from Mr Boehners book to mention Mr Trump, as short descriptions of US politicians were included on the back cover of the memoir.

The cover includes short excerpts of Mr Boehner describing the politicians he came across during his time in the House from 1991 to 2015 and in the years since he retired, with it teasing details surrounding his relationship with Mr Trump during the first couple of years of his presidency.

Donald Trump: He would call me fairly often when he first took office for advice or conversation, Mr Boehner wrote.

But the calls came in less and less as his tenure went on. Thats probably because he got more comfortable in the job. But I also suspect he just got tired of me advising him to shut up, he added.

The Hill reported that Mr Boehner was friendly with Mr Trump before he ran for president, but the former House speaker has criticised him in recent years.

There is no Republican Party. Theres a Trump party. The Republican Party is kinda taking a nap somewhere, Mr Boehner said in 2018.

He also congratulated President Joe Biden on his election victory late last year, saying: I know youre sincere in your desire to be a president for all Americans, and I know youve got the tools and the heart to get it done.

Mr Boehners memoir, which also features his thoughts on former President Barack Obama and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, is scheduled to be released on 13 April.

A blurb for the book states that Mr Boehner will share colourful tales from the halls of power, the smoke-filled rooms around the halls of power and his fabled tour bus.

The Independent has contacted the Trump Organisation for additional comment.
A large north shore land development at the center of the First NBC Bank's $1 billion collapse four years ago sold for $9 million at auction on Thursday, far below its appraised value.

The Wadsworth Estates development, a tract of just over 92 acres located about six miles northeast of the Mandeville lakeshore by Interstate 12, had been put up for sale by order of a federal bankruptcy court after it had failed to sell on the open market in recent months.

Wadsworth Estates LLC had been owned by former First NBC CEO Ashton Ryan, who was indicted last summer by the federal grand jury and charged with 35 counts of bank fraud, eight counts of filing false bank records along with a charge of conspiracy.

The undeveloped tract was at the heart of the alleged conspiracy that led to the collapse of the bank, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Several other alleged conspirators in the fraud had participated with Ryan in falsifying documents to raise money to develop Wadsworth Estates, according to federal prosecutors. These included Jeffrey Dunlap, a Slidell developer who has pled guilty to fraud and who also claimed in a civil suit that he was stiffed by Ryan on money owed for work his contracting firm did on Wadsworth. Also, Warren Treme, Ryan's former partner in Wadsworth, who pled guilty last September to bank fraud.

Through attorneys, Ryan has said he did nothing illegal related to what is still the largest U.S. bank failure since the financial crisis.

Wadsworth was put into bankruptcy last March by several creditors, including The Azby Fund, which owns about 68 adjacent acres that were originally part of a planned development together with Wadsworth. Other senior creditors include Beverly Construction, based in Bridge City, which also claims to have not been paid for millions of dollars of work done on the site, and First American Bank and Trust.

At the auction on Thursday, which was handled by Baton Rouge firm Henderson Auctions, the development acres had only three bidders who took the price up from $7 million to $9 million.

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"We do have an appraisal that was done in December of 2019, so a recent appraisal, for $16 million," auctioneer Jason Miller told the small gathering of bidders at the Maritime Museum in Madisonville at lunchtime.

Miller, who was conducting a classic livestock-style auction  sometimes called a "cattle rattle"  called an "intermission" when the bidding reached $9 million.

"Now is the time if you have to do some study, if you want to call a quick board meeting in the corner of the room, here's your opportunity to do so," he said. "We'll resume bidding on it momentarily...make your calls, check with headquarters, whatever you want to do."

Miller gave it another two minutes after resuming. "I don't want to sell anyone short on an asset of this nature," he said, but the bid stayed at $9 million and the sale was closed.

The buyer's identity wasn't immediately known. Lawrence Green, CEO of Henderson, said none of the bidders wanted their identity revealed.

It had been expected that there might be more interest in the land, which is a rare north shore tract that is already approved for mixed-use development and has some infrastructure in place, including access roads, electrical and water and sewerage connections, and a man-made lake.

The development of Wadsworth Estates, together with The Azby Fund, originally had parish approval more than 20 years ago to build 210 single-family homes and 65 townhouses, with a mixed-use commercial complex to go up on Azby's acres on the Interstate side of the property.

More recently, in 2013 the parish authorities approved a change of plan to put in a business park on the land, with the possibility to build office towers up to 200-feet tall, which would be twice the height of the largest buildings currently on the north shore.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 23:51:15|Editor: huaxia

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HELSINKI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions reduced demand for accommodation services in Finland to 1990s levels, Statistics Finland said in a press release issued on Thursday.

The number of overnight stays at Finland's accommodation establishments has fallen to the level of 1995. Overnight stays by resident tourists in 2020 decreased by 25 percent and by non-resident tourists dropped by as much as 68 percent from the previous year.

In 2020, a total of 14.3 million overnight stays were recorded at the country's accommodation establishments, according to Statistics Finland.

The weakening demand for accommodation services in Finland was clearly reflected in the available capacity of accommodation establishments. Because of the pandemic, many of these establishments were forced to close temporarily. The number of open establishments decreased by 83 percent year-on-year.

In 2020, overnight stays in hotels decreased by 43 percent in the whole country from the previous year.

Overnight stays in other accommodation establishments by domestic tourists fell by 3.0 percent, while in hotels the drop was 31 percent year-on-year, the agency said, pointing out that domestic demand was upheld by leisure trips.

Overnight stays by foreign tourists in hotels dropped by 69 percent and in other accommodation establishments by 61 percent in 2020 from the previous year.

There were hardly any foreign tourists in Finland last year, Statistics Finland said. Countries of origin with the largest decline in overnight stays were Sweden (82 percent), China (80 percent) and Japan (77 percent). Enditem
Using data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), astronomers from India have detected acetone, disulfur monoxide, and carbon monoxide in the atmosphere of Jupiters moon Io.

Io is the innermost of the four Galilean moons of Jupiter and the fourth-largest moon in our Solar System.

Aside from Earth, it is the only known place in the Solar System with volcanoes erupting hot lava like that on our planet.

Io has more than 400 active volcanoes, which are caused by tidal heating, the result of gravitational forces from Jupiter and other Jovian moons.

The moons yellow-white-orange-red coloration is produced by sulfur dioxide-frost on its surface, elemental sulfur and a variety of sulfur allotropes.

Io has a think atmosphere that can teach us about the exotic moons volcanic activity and provide us a window into its interior.

The thin atmosphere of Io primarily consists of various volatile substances like sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), sulfur monoxide (SO), sodium chloride (NaCl), and the low amount of water, Arijit Manna from Midnapore City College and Dr. Sabyasachi Pal from the Indian Centre for Space Physics explained in their paper.

The volcanic species on Io are mainly formed by the combination of specific sublimation of volcanic frost layer and outgassing.

In the study, the astronomers analyzed the high-resolution interferometric data gathered by ALMA.

They identified the emission lines of acetone (CH 3 COCH 3 ) and disulfur monoxide (S 2 O) and an absorptional line of carbon monoxide (CO).

The formation mechanism of acetone in the volcanic atmosphere of Io is completely unknown but the spectroscopic detection implies that a big amount of methane compounds may exist, the researchers wrote.

The carbon monoxide gas is formed with the photolysis of acetone; disulfur monoxide is formed by the decomposition of sulfur monoxide by the disproportionation method.

The volatile acetone and carbon monoxide are probably rising in the brightness of the Loki hot spot, they noted.

Disulfur monoxide is primarily responsible for the red feature observed in Ios volcanoes.

The detected species in the volcanic atmosphere using ALMA calls for more comprehensive studies of their rotational lines and requires a re-examination of whether they co-exist in the same atmospheric position, and then to get more specific densities to predict the chemical formation process, they concluded.

The teams paper was published March 31, 2021 on the arXiv.org preprint server.

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Arijit Manna & Sabyasachi Pal. 2021. ALMA detection of acetone, disulfur monoxide, and carbon monoxide in the Jupiter volcanic moon Io. arXiv: 2103.17018
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BRYAN, Texas  A man opened fire Thursday at a Texas cabinet-making company where he worked, killing one person and wounding five others before shooting and wounding a state trooper prior to his arrest, authorities said.

Larry Winston Bollin, 27, of Iola, Texas, was booked into the Brazos County Detention Center in Bryan late Thursday, according to a Bryan Police Department statement. Jail records showed Bollin was charged with murder and being held on a $1 million bond. No attorney was listed for Bollin in the jail record.

Bryan Police Chief Eric Buske told reporters he believes the suspect is an employee at the Kent Moore Cabinets location where the shooting happened. He said investigators believe the man was solely responsible for the attack, which happened around 2:30 p.m., and that he was gone by the time officers arrived.

Two of the five people who were wounded at the business were hospitalized in critical condition, while three others were in serious but stable condition, according to a hospital statement. During the manhunt for the suspect, he shot and wounded a state trooper, who was hospitalized in serious but stable condition, the Texas Department of Public Safety said on Twitter.

Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell said about two hours after the attack, the suspect was arrested in Bedias, a tiny community about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northeast of Bryan.

Investigators were still trying to determine the motive for the attack, authorities said.

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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sent agents and dogs to the shooting scene, said spokesman Deon Washington. Police asked people to stay away from the business during the investigation.

Bryan is about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Houston and is near Texas A&M University. With more than 86,000 residents, it is the seat of Brazos County.

A person who answered the phone at Kent Moore Cabinets headquarters in Bryan said she couldnt provide any information on the shooting. The company, which makes custom cabinets, has design centers in nearly a dozen Texas cities and employs more than 600 people, according to its website.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott offered prayers for shooting victims and their families.

I have been working closely with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers as they assist local law enforcement on a swift response to this criminal act. Their efforts led to the arrest of the shooting suspect.
I just fired off an email to Sam, the guy who runs the bakery in town. And Im feeling pretty good about it.

You see, I saw a friends Facebook post saying Sam is switching half his inventory to gluten-free and low-fat items. I dont really shop there, but thats BS, right? Whys he pushing that lifestyle agenda? So heres what I wrote him:

Do me a favor: Go kill your ****ing self, please, you ****ing worthless piece of ****. I hope your building blows up and burns down with all you ******s in it. YOU are the problem. Burn in hell, ******s.

What? Thats not appropriate?

Welcome to the life of a journalist in 2021. Thats a condensed version of an actual comment sent to MLives branded Facebook account last week.

And its not a one-off. Heres an email to a reporter last summer, after the journalist noted that reports of federal agents detaining protesters in Portland were unsubstantiated:

Allegedly detaining protestors? Youre a ****ing coward. **** your ****** apartment and that worthless life of yours that you think you should be protecting, scumbag. Die slow.

Find that shameful? Apparently the author didnt  the email included his real name. Both aspects are growing trends  hateful, angry, vile and threatening harassment of journalists; and people feeling no compunctions whatsoever about putting their real names on that sewage.

Did you notice that personal detail in the example above, about the apartment? Some people have gone so far as to dox our employees  to find and publish personal information like addresses and phone numbers so other people can harass them. In one case, harassers tracked down the parents of one of our journalists.

To my initial point: What on earth possesses people to think its OK  even by todays uncivil standards  to viciously attack someone for doing their job? To track them down in their personal lives? Its happening with alarming frequency, and severity, to journalists.

The abuse is spread around pretty evenly  I am subjected to name-calling and profanity, too  but there is a definite sexist edge to the attacks on women journalists. Just as the public attacks on politicians have misogynist tropes like witch and Mom.

This year has been exponentially worse than anything Ive ever experienced, which is saying something  I covered Trump 16 and Larry Nassar, said one female MLive reporter. (Im) hoping acknowledging it can perhaps encourage people to direct their vitriol elsewhere, especially in instances where journalists are just the messenger.

People, this needs to stop, now. It might be tempting to look for a top-of-the-funnel solution, like hoping that social, business or political pressures will compel Facebook and Twitter to take action to police the most abhorrent behavior, or clean up their spaces. Or that law enforcement will take seriously threats against journalists. Dont hold your breath.

Instead, its going to take the 99.9 percent of us who DONT act this way to do something about it. Dont participate in hateful internet discussions, but dont look the other way, either: Call it out when you see it.

Treat the online boor like crowds do when they have to suffer the idiot whos heckling a performer, or hurling obscenities at a ballplayer in front of children. Confront them, challenge them, put them back in the margins where they long dwelled before the internet gave them a megaphone.

I, and other journalists at MLive, welcome thoughtful questions and critiques of our reporting; we engage daily in reasoned conversations with our readers and sources. Its a necessary part of being thorough and holding our work up to the standards of our customers, and communities. Heres a note from a reader this week, at the conclusion of a long back-and-forth with a reporter:

That clears things up a bit, I know you are not required to respond to every disgruntled reader and the thorough response is commendable. Ill continue to follow MLive and trust that you are not being alarmist for political motives.

When someone starts with **** and *******, theres no room for discussion and theres no reason to lean in for substance. It diminishes us all.

Reasonable and respectful exchanges arent quaint relics of a better time  they are the glue that holds together personal relationships, and civil democratic society. Lets demand better, and lets keep being better ourselves.

# # #

My Behind the Headlines podcast this week is a special edition: I have a great discussion with my cohost and producer, Eric Hultgren, who is the director of social media + content for MLive Media Group. Erics an expert on social media and culture, and has thoughtful observations on how we got where we are, what the cost is to society, and how we can maybe start getting ourselves pointed toward civility. Click the play button, below, to listen to the entire conversation.

John Hiner is the vice president of content for MLive Media Group. If you have questions youd like him to answer, or topics to explore, share your thoughts at editor@mlive.com.
Joseph A Perucca - Overseas operational director, GIVI Vietnam We welcome the positive GDP figures and export growth figures in this first evaluation, but the impacts of COVID-19 may still hold some surprises. Being stuck inside the country without the possibility of starting any interpersonal relationship across the border, both of professional training and on a direct commercial level, would create a serious disadvantage and serious damage to companies hosted in Vietnam, especially towards other neighbouring Asian markets like China, which is already providing vaccinations to allow residents freedom of movement across the border. I hope that with the same wisdom in containing this pandemic, the Vietnamese government will make the most appropriate decisions based on the circumstances, and that in the next quarter Vietnam will continue to work on its objectives. Majo George - Lecturer and researcher, School of Business and Management, RMIT University Many steps have been taken by the government to keep Vietnams GDP on track during this difficult time. Although some sectors such as smartphones, electronics, and agro-forestry-fishery has shown an increasing trend in the first quarter of 2021, many other sectors such as fashion and textiles, mining, tourism, and hospitality have declined due to the pandemic and the difficulties it brings. The government with the support of well-performing sectors has been able to maintain the status as a high growth rated country in the region. Looking to the far future, Vietnam should prioritise to scale up export opportunities and at the same time take measures to attract more foreign direct investment which will assist to gain the set target of 6.5 per cent in GDP growth. David Salt - COO, LOGIVAN Technologies Whilst the pandemics effects continue to cause disruption in localised areas, the overall economy is strong and the percentage of people and businesses that are directly affected is small. There is strong investment activity in the industrial sector. Many of our clients are scaling up their operations, constructing new factories and warehouses, and making capacity upgrades to their facilities. Regional investors are looking to Vietnam as a country that has withstood the pandemic well and has an increasingly safe and attractive business environment. But I feel Vietnams excellent reputation is limited to the Southeast Asian region. The UK and European news surrounding COVID-19 typically centres on countries that have controlled the virus poorly, especially in the Americas and Europe. Linda Liu - Economist, Maybank Kim Eng Vietnams economic recovery this year remains intact. While the most recent wave of the pandemic outbreak briefly dampened growth momentum in the first quarter, it had not derailed the recovery. We remain positive on the exports outlook this year. Vietnams exports have been largely unperturbed by new coronavirus cases and lockdowns in both domestically and across major trading partners. We expect exports to continue to remain robust amid the global demand recovery. Growth will be further supported by a revival in foreign investment. Vietnams participation in recently-concluded free trade agreements will further strengthen its position as an attractive production base. The slow procurement and rollout of vaccines however is a challenge and poses a key risk, especially for the services sector. Alain Cany - Chairman, European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam Growth such as this in the midst of a global pandemic is a remarkable achievement. It is testament to the governments effective handling of COVID-19, safeguarding both lives and livelihoods with effective public health measures. Strong economic growth in the last quarter builds on this success, and suggests that both companies and consumers should be optimistic about the prospects for trade in 2021. Our members are positive about Vietnams trade and investment environment. Each quarter, we ask business leaders about the performance of their companies and their perceptions of Vietnams economic outlook in our Business Climate Index (BCI). Our most recent data, from the fourth quarter of 2020, shows that confidence has rebounded after dipping during the initial outbreak of COVID-19. Hong Sun - Vice chairman, Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam Vietnams economic growth in the first quarter is a successful result, and many countries still report lower growth. With this result, we expect better prospects in the second, third, and fourth quarters. South Korean businesses in Vietnam are now in stable operation after suffering serious impacts in 2020. Aviation, tourism, and hospitality were among the areas that South Korean investors have strong interest in and have made much investment in, and are so still facing difficulties. We expect the resumption of international flights as it is important to attract investment from South Korea and other countries. This enables investors to make the next steps. To make an investment, financiers want to make fact-finding trips to the potential location and directly meet partners to discuss potential issues.
Pakistani National Charged With Smuggling Humans Into United States

Abid Ali Khan allegedly ran a Pakistan-based smuggling network to facilitate the illegal immigration of individuals from Pakistan and Afghanistan into the United States, the Department of Justice said on April 7.

Khan, a Pakistani national, operated the network between January 2015 and December 2020, the DOJ said. He was indicted April 7 by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Khan allegedly accepted payment in exchange for planning and coordinating the international travel for foreign nationals to travel from Pakistan through multiple countries, including Brazil and the United States, allegedly offered or provided false documents for foreign nationals to use for travel through multiple countries, the DOJ stated.

ICEs Homeland Security Investigations in Miami, Panama, and Brazil were involved in the investigation.

The DOJ didnt immediately respond to questions from The Epoch Times about how many people Khans network allegedly smuggled into the United States. The Treasury Department said Khan was charging as much as $20,000 per individual.

This sum includes, but is not limited to, fees to procure fraudulent or counterfeit documents, make payoffs to corrupt officials, secure lodging along smuggling route, and provide payments to facilitators in various countries, the Treasury Department said in an April 7 statement.

In addition to the criminal charges, the Treasury Department has also designated Khans operation as a transnational criminal organization (TCO), which requires the blocking and reporting of all assets held by Khan, his associates, and the Khan TCO in the U.S., or in the possession and control of U.S. persons, the DOJ said.

In a 2018 case, another Pakistani, Sharafat Ali Khan was deported home after serving a prison sentence for facilitating an alien-smuggling operation from Brazil, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Sharafat Ali Khan helped smuggle at least 100 aliens from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh through South and Central America to the United States, according to ICE.

Khan and his co-conspirators charged each alien between $3,000 and $15,000 to facilitate their travel to the United States. Several of the individuals smuggled by Khans organization had suspected ties to terrorist organizations, ICE said.

The United States has a footprint in South and Central America and often the biometrics of migrants are taken on U.S.-bought equipment in both Panama and Costa Rica.

In 2016, six Pakistanis with suspected ties to al-Qaeda were deported after being discovered in Panama en route to the United States.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 13:20:16|Editor: huaxia

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Staff transport the Sinopharm vaccines donated by China at the Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, April 6, 2021. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

From sharing experience on pandemic control to carrying out vaccine cooperation and promoting fair distribution, China's timely and practical support for other countries, as well as its efforts to safeguard people's right to life and health, the most fundamental part of human rights, has been widely recognized worldwide.

CAIRO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- "Vaccine equity is the biggest moral test before the global community," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said. At a time when COVID-19 is ravaging the Middle East countries, China has withstood the test.

The global pandemic remains in a dire situation, and vaccines have obviously become a powerful weapon against the deadly virus. In many Middle East countries, surging infections, weak medical systems, as well as severe economic conditions have made the demand for vaccines particularly urgent. Even countries in a relatively stable and peaceful environment are running into difficulties in obtaining vaccines, not to mention those afflicted with conflicts and wars or suppressed by Western sanctions.

However, some Western powers who have never stopped interfering in domestic affairs of Middle East countries and creating tensions and turbulence in the region are all in complete silence at this moment.

With strong capacity for vaccine research, development and production, those countries, instead of lending a helping hand to people in need, chose to hoard vaccines and impose export restrictions on these live-saving tools, creating a "vaccine divide" and disrupting the global efforts in equitable vaccine distributions.

According to Duke University's Global Health Innovation Center, as of mid-January, high-income countries, which represent only 16 percent of the world's population, had taken 60 percent of available doses. "More other high-income countries have more than 100 percent coverage, and some can cover their populations several times over," the institute said.

A woman wearing a face mask walks along the street in Istanbul, Turkey, April 5, 2021. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui)

Facing the raging pandemic, many Middle Eastern countries have turned their eyes to the East. As early as June 2020, China and the United Arab Emirates jointly conducted the world's first international phase III clinical trial of inactivated vaccines against COVID-19. Later, Bahrain, Turkey, Morocco and other countries joined the cooperation. So far, Chinese vaccines have arrived in more than 10 countries in the Middle East, playing a leading role in the region's anti-virus fight.

From sharing experience on pandemic control to carrying out vaccine cooperation and promoting fair distribution, China's timely and practical support for other countries, as well as its efforts to safeguard people's right to life and health, the most fundamental part of human rights, has been widely recognized worldwide.

Actions speak louder than words. All sober minds across the world have a pretty clear idea of who always indulge in meddling in others' internal affairs while refusing to take their due responsibilities in global affairs.

Chinese vaccines are unloaded from a plane at the Khartoum International Airport in Khartoum, Sudan, March 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Ma Yichong)

According to a survey polling citizens in six Middle Eastern countries conducted by the Arab Barometer research network, the Arab public view China more favorably than the United States. Researchers believe that China is playing an increasingly important role in the Middle East and North Africa by implementing the Belt and Road Initiative and helping the region fight the pandemic.

Cooperation between China and the Middle East epitomizes China's commitment to the global anti-pandemic drive. China is providing vaccine assistance to more than 80 countries and three international organizations, exporting vaccines to more than 40 countries, and cooperating with more than 10 nations in vaccine R&D and production, and has thus honored its commitment to making Chinese COVID-19 vaccines a global public good and promoted the accessibility and affordability of vaccines.

At this critical moment, the world community should band together to discard "vaccine nationalism" and bridge "vaccine divide" between the rich and the poor, and try its best to deliver vaccines to every corner of the world. To build a global safety net, China is ready to continue working with the rest of the world. 
Multiple private hospitals in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh have reported a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines. These hospitals have not been able to carry out vaccinations since April 5. The Centre, on the other hand, has maintained that there is no shortage of COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

Many hospitals in Ghaziabad have no clarity regarding when the next shipment of vaccines will arrive, according to NDTV. These hospitals have resorted to pasting notices at their gates that say that they have run out of COVID-19 vaccine doses. Hospitals have even asked people to call them before they show up to get their shot.

These reports of vaccine shortages have come amid the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the country. Maharashtra, which is the state worst affected by this COVID-19 wave, has also reported vaccine shortages in several parts of the state.

"We don't have vaccine stock since Monday. We could vaccinate only 50 people on Monday instead of the usual 200. We have stopped vaccinations since then. There's no clarity on when next stock will come," Dr Alok Gupta, director Lyf Hospital in Ghaziabad's Indirapuram, told the new channel.

"We are willing to vaccinate but no stock is being sent from the government. People with pre-booked slots are turning up for vaccination and are arguing with us after being told about the unavailability (of vaccines)," he added.

Uttar Pradesh and seven other states account for 60% of the total COVID-19 vaccine doses that have been administered thus far.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had denied claims that there is a vaccine shortage in the country. "There is no shortage of vaccine. States are given vaccines on the basis of their requirement and the stocks are continuously replenished," Harsh Vardhan had said.

Also Read: Maharashtra closes 109 centres, Odisha 700 due to vaccine 'shortage'

Also read: 'Get your shot soon': PM Modi after getting 2nd COVID-19 vaccine dose
Europa League Quarterfinal Preview: Ajax Vs. Roma

Published April 8, 2021 by Sol FH

This will be the third meeting between Ajax and Roma in the European competition and should be an excellent match; this evening at 20:00 GMT.

Ajax and Roma have met on two previous occasions in European competitions, albeit none of the team members who played in those meetings are still with either squad, currently. It was back in the second round of the Champions League group stage in 2002/03, wherein Ajax won the first match 2-1 at home, followed by a 1-1 draw in the second leg.

Since Ajax's win back in 2002, they have not been able to beat a single Italian team at home. Over their last ten matches against Italian teams, Ajax has drawn six times and lost four. Ajax is looking for its third semi-final berth in its last 5 campaigns. They are doing very well in league play with firm control over the Eredivisie and have won its last 4 of 5 games with 4 wins and 1 draw.

Roma, on the other hand, is struggling this season. They picked up yet another loss in league play over the weekend and coming into Amsterdam to take an away win this evening will be no easy task. To make matters worse, Roma must deal with the absence of three starters. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Chris Smalling will again miss the action, while Max Kumbulla and Stephan El Shaarawy have now also been sidelined. Rick Karsdorp has been suspended due to a yellow card leaving the team without two key rotation pieces.

Europa League Odds

At bet365 Sports, the odds in this first leg are very close, which means it should be an outstanding match. Ajax is at home and is in the driver's seat at 1.95, whereas, Roma is not far behind at 3.60. There are dozens of pre-game odds that punters can get in on, moreover, live in-play odds that will be offered throughout today's action.

The odds in this article at the bookmaker mentioned above were accurate at the time of writing, on April 8 at 7:40 GMT.
DusanManic/Getty Images

Ten acres of sunflowers are taking root in San Antonio for a month-long petal party complete with a maze, flower-picking and photo opportunities.

Traders Village, the massive outdoor market on the South Side, typically hosts themed events to coincide with different seasons. There's a Corny Maze in the fall and a holiday market during December. This spring, acres upon acres of wildflowers will be offered for guests to get lost in, pick and take sunshine-filled photos with.
Missouri Supreme Court has ruled that a lawsuit alleging a St. Louis Catholic school allowed sexual abuse against a student should continue.

At issue is a lawsuit filed by a former student who graduated from Chaminade College Preparatory School in the 1970s, known in court records only as John Doe.

Doe alleged that his counselor sexually abused him in 1971 and sued the school for allowing the abuse to happen.

Chaminade removed the guidance counselor, Brother John Woulfe, in 1977 because of allegations of sexual abuse against him. Woulfe died before Doe filed his lawsuit, according to court records.

A lower court ruled against Woulfe and didnt let the civil suit go to trial. But the Supreme Court ruled that theres enough evidence for a jury to possibly find that the school knew about allegations of abuse against Woulfe and hired him anyway.

The high court in its ruling pointed to letters between Woulfe and a Chaminade brother before Woulfe was hired at the school. One expert testified that the letters use euphemisms to refer to previous allegations of sexual abuse against Woulfe.

Supreme Court judges said a jury should be allowed to consider that evidence and sent the case back to the lower court to continue.

Topics Lawsuits K 12 Missouri
Piano teacher Amisi Mubale volunteers at Safe Study every Saturday to give children the opportunity he didnt have growing up. Photos: Julia Evans

Pianist Amisi Mubale teaches children at Lorentzville safe space

Growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Amisi Mubale always loved music. But it was only after he came to South Africa as a refugee that he finally had a chance to learn the piano. Now a trained piano teacher, he devotes his life to giving children the opportunity he didn't have.

Mubale studied as a teacher in the DRC and obtained a diploma, but his real love was music. He used to sing traditional songs with the elders and dreamed of one day accompanying the congregation in church. Then in 2001 when conflict flared in the DRC he fled to South Africa. He was 26.

He knew no English but managed to work as a car guard at shopping centres for seven years, making an average of R150 on a good day. "It was hard, but it was just a matter of survival," says Mubale.

In 2008 Mubale found out about The Outreach Foundation, which offers education and social support to residents of Hillbrow in Johannesburg. Discovering they offered music lessons, Mubale eagerly started learning piano, finding a way to attend weekly lessons in Hillbrow even though he lived over an hour away in Pretoria. Through the foundation, in 2010 Mubale started studying piano through UNISA and in 2018 passed his Grade 8 music theory and practical exam, earning a teaching diploma in piano.

He now works as a teacher at the Outreach foundation, and has made enough money to rent a studio and produce his own music.

And every Saturday he volunteers at Safe Study SA in Lorentzville, teaching children, many of whom come from immigrant families.

A place of greater safety

Safe Study SA was started during the hard Covid-19 lockdown last year. Founders Georgina Bennet and Lungile Hlatshwayo found that children in the Lorentzville and Bertrams areas did not have access to online teaching when schools were closed.

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After meeting children at a soup kitchen who were bored and "just desperate to learn", Bennet and Hlatshwayo decided to offer foundational Maths and English support, music and art lessons, food and a safe space.

The school is in Victoria Yards on the edge of the Johannesburg city centre. The children get food as well as teaching, and though many schools have now re-opened, Hlatshwayo says there is still a great need for Safe Study SA's work.

"The Covid pandemic has widened the gaps of inequalities in our educational system," says Hlatshwayo. Many families are unable to pay school fees, and the children who do go to school spend limited time there because of Covid-19 regulations. "My biggest concern is what effects not having proper school is going to have in the future," says Bennet.

Many of the volunteers at Safe Study live in the area. "A lot of them lost a lot of money and jobs. But they come because they want to help these kids," says Bennet, "It's very humbling to see these people who are wanting to help just because they can."

Mubale is one of them. "These kids, they are also from immigrant parents. I come from the same situation," he says. "I feel like I can help. I didn't get this opportunity growing up."

Every Sunday Mubale also plays at the St Augustine church, finally fulfilling his dream of accompanying the congregation. "Everything I was dreaming of I have accomplished," he says.
Two new studies have revealed the impact the coronavirus pandemic had on death rates in certain U.S. communities and during its early days.

In one study, researchers from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health found that black women died of COVID-19 at far higher rates in Georgia and Michigan than white men did.

Another paper, from Merck Research Labs, found that nearly one in five Americans died of the virus during the first surge in April, then fell, only to rise to one in 10 in November.

It comes as the country recorded 2,570 COVID-19-related deaths on Wednesday, the highest figure seen since February 24, the analysis found.

A new study from Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health found that black women died of COVID-19 at 1.6 times the rate of white men in Georgia (left) and at 3.8 times the rate of white men in Michigan (right)

Another new study from Merck Research Labs found that mortality rates of COVID-19 patients were highest in April 2020 (diamond yellow line), when one out of every five patients died

On Wednesday, the U.S. recorded 2,570 COVID-19-related deaths, the highest figure seen since February 24

For the first study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, the Harvard team looked at COVID-19 mortality data through September 21, 2020, from Georgia and Michigan.

Researchers first looked at differences in death rates among the same race groups across different ages.

They found that, in both states, white men and black men were more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to white women and black women, respectively.

For example, in the 70-to-79 year age group in Georgia, 235 white men per 100,000 died of the virus, 50 percent higher than the 156 white women per 100,000.

Among the same age groups for African Americans, 675 men per 100,000 died, which is 85 percent higher than the 364 women per 100,000 who died.

Overall, in Georgia, the mortality rates were 53.2 per 100,000 for white men, 38.2 per 100,000 for white women, 128.5 per 100,000 for black men and 84.1 per 100,000 for black women.

When comparing different race groups, the researchers found black women died at 1.6 times the rate of white men in Georgia.

Next, when looking at Michigan, they found similar, that men died higher than women across all ages within the same race groups.

Results showed that the overall death rate was 39.1 per 100,000 for white men, 29.7 per 100,000 for white women, 254.6 per 100,000 for black men and 147.1 per 100,000 for black women.

In a cross comparison, they found that African American women died of coronavirus at 3.8 times the rate of white men in Michigan.

Co-author Tamara Rushovich, a PhD student at Harvard TH Chan, told the Huff Post that the findings were 'consistent with what we would expect.'

Hospital rates for coronavirus patients were highest among those aged 65 and older for every month of the study period

In every age group, men diagnosed with COVID-19 were more likely to die than women, with an overall death rate of 12.5% compared to 9.6%

'It's always devastating to see such results and unfortunate that this is what we expect,' she said.

'Black women sit at the intersection of both gender and race oppression. So it wasn't surprising to see these high rates among black women become more visible.'

Rushovich told the Huff Post that she believes part of the reason black women died at higher rates than white men is due to their jobs.

Many African-American women work in roles, such as nurses or health aides, that put them at a greater risk of exposure.

'Because of the long history of racism and structural, gendered racism, I wouldn't be surprised to see similar patterns that exist across the country, but there might be different degrees of magnitude,' in each state, she said.

The two studies show inequities among racial groups and how mortality rates declined as doctors learned how to treat patients. Pictured: A casket carrying the body of Lola Simmons is placed into a hearse following the funeral service at the Denley Drive Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, July 30

In the second study, published in JAMA Network Open, the Merck team looked at patients who were hospitalized for coronavirus for at least one day between March 1 and November 21 at 209 hospitals.

Among about 503,000 admitted patients, more than 42,000 had a confirmed positive coronavirus test within seven days of being admitted to during hospitalization.

For every month of the study period, hospital admissions were highest in the age 65 and older group, from about 40 percent in March to nearly 60 percent in November.

They were also lowest in the age 18-to-49 group, aside from June and July, when rates briefly surpassed the 50-to-64 year old group.

When looking at in-hospital mortality rates, COVID-19 male patients were more likely die than female patients, 12.5 percent to 9.6 percent, and across every age group.

Results also found that morality rates among hospitalized coronavirus patients increase from 10.6 percent in March to 19.7 percent in April.

That means that during the first surge, one in five of all hospitalized patients died.

Rates then declined, rising back up to 9.3 percent in November, during the beginning of the third surge.

For every months, rates were highest among the aged 75 and older group, peaking at 35 percent in April - meaning one out of every three patients died.

'This large, national study is consistent with recently published smaller studies demonstrating decreases in in-hospital mortality and COVID-19 risk-adjusted mortality rates,' the authors wrote.

'Reasons for decreases in mortality since the start of the pandemic may include increased clinical experience in caring for and ventilating patients and use of prone positioning, systemic corticosteroids, and remdesivir.'
carried out a missile attack near the Syrian capital of and its southern suburbs early Thursday, Syria's state media reported with no immediate word on any casualties.

State news agency, SANA, said Syrian air defenses were able to shoot down some of the missiles before they hit their targets. SANA said some of the missiles were fired by Israeli warplanes flying over neighboring Lebanon.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, reported that the Israeli strikes targeted military posts near It gave no further details.

Al-Manar TV of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group said one of the Syrian air defense missiles exploded near the Lebanon- border and was heard in parts of southern Lebanon.

has launched hundreds of strikes against Iran-linked military targets in over the years but rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations.

views Iranian entrenchment on its northern frontier as a red line, and it has repeatedly struck Iran-linked facilities and weapons convoys destined for Hezbollah.

(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.)
Despite a bumpy start, phone makers haven't given up on gaming handsets. Buoyed by the advent of cloud gaming services, such as Xbox Game Pass and Google Stadia, the likes of ASUS and China's Nubia have released powerful devices designed for gaming on the go. Now, Lenovo is returning to the arena with the follow-up to its first gaming phone from last year. The new Legion Phone Duel 2 retains the original's focus on landscape use, but doubles down on controls by adding a total of eight virtual keys to bring it closer to the feel of a gamepad.

Its "octa-triggers" include four ultrasonic shoulder keys, two rear and two in-display touchpoints. These are paired with a 720Hz touch sampling rate (more than double the responsiveness and accuracy offered by the ASUS ROG Phone 5 and the Nubia Red Magic 6). Lenovo says the setup is designed to match a gamer's natural grip when held horizontally, allowing you to perform more actions in battle when speed counts.

Lenovo

Of course, none of those controls would matter if the new Legion didn't have the specs to back them up. Lenovo's device is the latest to join the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 club alongside its gaming-oriented rivals. It also retains the smooth 144Hz refresh rate from the original Legion, which matches the ASUS ROG 5, but falls short of the latest Nubia's 165Hz. (The quirky pop-up selfie camera on the side is back, too, though it's been upgraded from 20MP to 44MP). While the 6.92-inch AMOLED full HD display is just a tad larger than the ASUS ROG 5 and also supports HDR 10+.

The Legion features a cooling system powered by twin turbo-fans for when you're gaming for longer periods. Lenovo has also stuck the phone's processor in the middle, so your fingers don't feel as much heat in landscape mode. The new handset also packs dual batteries that combine to offer 5,500mAh of power  10 percent more than its predecessor  along with quicker 90W fast charging and two USB-C ports.

Lenovo

Prices for the new phone start from 999 ($1,185) for the 16GB/512GB model with charging dock included, while the 12GB/256GB option without the extra accessory costs 799 ($948). The phone will be available in China first starting in April and then make it to select markets in Asia Pacific and Europe the following month. Lenovo says that availability in North America is yet to be determined.
With Vocal For Local having become the new anthem in the mid-COVID era, traditional prints and textiles are seeing a resurgence in mainstream fashion.

From small-scale fashion labels to noted designers, everyone is integrating the universally appealing ethnic prints in their collections. If you are just fascinated enough to try these prints but confused about which one to really pick from the sea of some eclectic graphics, motifs and dyes interspersed on rich Indian weaves, heres help. Try these 10 fascinating ethnic prints to elevate your summer style. 1. Wear Your Ikat As An Insignia Done using the tie-dye technique on the yarn, Ikat print is big on motifs and multicoloured patterns. Though elaborate, Ikat is marked by its blurriness. Perfect to infuse a traditional vibe to your summer wardrobe, a vibrant shirt in Ikat should be a classic print addition to your collection. Team it with a pair of beige linen trousers to get the summer style right.

2. Paint Your Summer Paisley Popular for its undertones of traditional subtlety, textile designs in paisley print mostly make use of buta, keri, and teardrop-shaped motifs with a curved upper end. Paint your summer sky blue with this cotton shirt featuring paisley print, a piece that qualifies to be both, a daytime essential as well as a nighttime wearable.

3. Beautiful Bandhej Something Bandhej also called Bandhani is an ancient Rajasthani art of tying small dots on fabric with a continuous thread and dyeing it to create a figurative texture on the fabric. With the sun shining bright, a bandhani shirt in a summery hue can be a valuable addition to your wardrobe. Comes with all-over hand block prints, pair this delicate beauty with chinos shorts and sandals with criss-cross straps to complete the look.

4. Lehriya For A Breezy Summer Similar to that of Bandhani, Lehriya is a print produced by a type of tie and dye technique creating flowy long stripes. Combining comfort and style, opt for something like this leheriya shirt to make summer feel like a cool breeze. Team it with a pair of white linen trousers and espadrilles to work a winning summer look.

5. Bandana Print For A Boho Vibe Once made popular by the hippies in the 60s in India, Bandana or Scarf print is having a major comeback this season. Crafted with a regular fit silhouette this red shirt with bandana print ticks all the right boxes to qualify for a hippie fashion staple. Combine it with cool white trousers and slip-on sneakers for an on-trend daytime look!

6. Flashy, Bold, Baroque Having its origin in Rome, Baroque is defined by a flashy style of art characterized by curving lines, chains, and gold. A level up of what bandana prints are. Have them in awe this summer season with this beautifully crafted brown baroque print shirt in cotton fabric. The simple silhouette, an urbane charm, and elaborate print make the piece very Versace, we say.

7. Feel Like A Royalty In Tribal Print Having its origin in Western Africa tribal prints look graciously graphic and uber stylish. Originally made for the Royal Families, tribal print symbolises wealth, royalty and fertility. Invest in something like these yellow tribal print boxers to get your summer weekend-look sorted.

8. How About An Aztec Attack Aztec print, also inspired by the tribal culture indigenous to Africa over the years has gained popularity as a quirky print for any wardrobe staple. Consider these suave oxfords lace-up shoes to add a dressy vibe to a rather laid-back summer.

9. Get That Shibori Swag Right An age-old Japanese dye-printing technique involving wring, squeeze, and press, Shibori fabrics mostly use the pleasing indigo-blue colour on cotton cloth So, now when you think of ethnic wear, think of a Shibori kurta to brighten your traditional look. Throw on a pair of Kolhapuris to add thoughtful details to your Indian ethnic look.

10. Vibrant And Buoyant Bagru Print Delicate patterns and lines with bright colours are the defining factors of Bagru print. With many fashion labels giving a contemporary spin to this traditional printing technique, anything Bagru has become a sought after summer style. Consider these cotton Bagru print trousers from the brand Anushe Pirani to incorporate a more minimal print approach to your summer wardrobe.
San Francisco-headquartered conversational messaging platform Gupshup has raised $100 million in its Series F funding from Tiger Global Management, pushing the company's valuation to $1.4 billion. The startup, which began its journey in India 15 years ago, on Thursday said it has attained unicorn status and is also profitable.

Gupshup's messaging platform is used by more than 1,00,000 businesses and developers to build their own messaging and conversational experiences to serve their users. As per Gupshup, its clients send more than 6 billion messages each month.

Gupshup has raised $150 million so far. The company had concluded its Series E financing round in 2011. In its first financing round in 2011, it had raised Rs 50 crore at a valuation of Rs 1,000 crore. CRV, Helion Ventures and Globespan Capital Partners are among Gupshup's investors. It reported an annual revenue run rate of $150 million in 2020.

The startup will use the fresh capital to broaden its product offering and gather more clients in even more markets.

"Gupshup's mission is to build the tools that help businesses better engage customers through mobile messaging and conversational experiences. As we work towards our mission, we are delighted with this investment from Tiger Global, given its incredible track record of making big, bold, successful bets on innovative, category-defining companies worldwide," Beerud Sheth, co-founder and chief executive of Gupshup, said.

In a statement, John Curtius, a partner at Tiger Global Management, said, "The growth in business use of messaging and conversational experiences, transforming virtually every customer touchpoint, is an exciting secular trend."

"Gupshup is uniquely positioned to win in this market with a differentiated product, a clear and sustainable moat, and an experienced team with a proven track record. In addition to its market leadership, Gupshup's unique combination of scale, growth and profitability attracted us," Curtius added.
Film and theater producer Scott Rudin has routinely bullied, abused, and thrown things at his employees, according to a Hollywood Reporter cover story by Tatiana Siegel. Rudins films, including Best Picture winner No Country for Old Men, have racked up 151 Oscar nominations and 23 wins over the years, while his plays have brought him 17 Tony Awards. That may explain why his career has lasted as long as it has, despite the fact that, according former assistant Caroline Rugo, Everyone just knows hes an absolute monster. A spokesperson for Rudin declined to comment on the Hollywood Reporters specific allegations about the producers behavior, which include:

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 Smashing a computer monitor down on an unnamed assistants hand hard enough to break the glass and send the assistant to the E.R.

 Agreeing to allow a modest accommodation for another assistants type 1 diabetesa doctor-mandated 30-minute workout scheduled between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m.then demanding the assistant skip it or work faster.

 Throwing a laptop at a conference room window during a meeting with a publicist, then retiring to the office kitchen and smashing up a napkin dispenser.

 Throwing a glass bowl at an employee, shattering it, in an incident that prompted one of his HR staffers to have a panic attack severe enough to require an ambulance.

 Throwing a baked potato an assistant.

 Throwing a stapler at another assistant.

 Throwing a teacup at yet another assistant, hard enough to punch a hole in the wall.

 Falsely accusing an employee of theft in an attempt to kill a job offer at a different company.

 Removing production credits from former employees as retaliation for quitting.

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Stories about Scott Rudins behavior have been circulating for decadesthe abusive boss in Swimming With Sharks was allegedly based on himbut as the Hollywood Reporter points out, in the past, Rudins abuse was often spun positively. A 2005 Wall Street Journal profile, which ran under the headline Boss-Zilla, included similar tales of bullying and thrown office supplies, noted that caustic rants, shrieking threats, and impulsive firings are routine, and mentioned in passing that Rudin had employed 119 assistants over the past five years (not counting the ones who washed out before their two-week trial employment period was up). And that was a positive story, one that gave Rudin space to describe his office as hard-scrabble and remark, The thin-skinned guys dont like it.  The thick-skinned people  understand that Im working as hard as them. In the Hollywood Reporters story, which Rudin did not comment on, Ryan Nelson, who worked as Rudins executive assistant from 20182019, paints a different portrait of the office environment:

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Every day was exhausting and horrific. Not even the way he abused me, but watching the way he abused the people around me who started to become my very close friends. Youre spending 14 hours a day with the same people, enduring the same abuse. It became this collective bond with these people.

Sign up for the Slate Culture Newsletter The best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered to your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time.

Silently enduring Rudins abuse allegedly came with career benefitsthat 2005 profile is full of former assistants working in high-level Hollywood jobs after a tour of duty in his officeand the Hollywood Reporter story alleges that Rudin quietly settled with those who protested, while using non-disparagement agreements to ensure their stories stayed buried. The unnamed victim of the monitor-smashing incident allegedly received three associate producing credits and a monetary settlement. Meanwhile, Siegel describes an environment of fear among Rudins former employees, several of whom consulted lawyers before speaking to her. Annapurna Pictures founder Megan Ellison, who Rudin called a lunatic in an email leaked back in 2014, alleged on Twitter that there are many more stories to tell:

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This piece barely scratches the surface of Scott Rudins abusive, racist, and sexist behavior. Similarly to Harvey, too many are afraid to speak out. I support and applaud those who did. Theres good reason to be afraid because hes vindictive and has no qualms about lying. https://t.co/0iFSgzJx9T  Megan Ellison (@meganeellison) April 7, 2021

As one of Rudins former assistants noted, however, the harm Rudin has allegedly caused isnt necessarily fixable. Over his long career, there are hundreds and hundreds of people who have suffered. And some have given up their dreams because he made them feel and believe that they cant do whatever it is theyre trying to do.
Digital technologies empower rural rejuvenation in Zhejiang

People's Daily Online) 09:41, April 08, 2021

Jiang Liangzhen, head of an agricultural cooperative, checks the growth of cane shoots in a field in Beiyang township, Huangyan district, Taizhou, east China's Zhejiang province. (Photo/Chinanews.com)

Every day, several tons of cane shoots produced in a town in Taizhou, east China's Zhejiang province enter the market, each with a QR code attached to it to indicate its safety and quality records. However, in the past, this kind of digitalized function was way beyond the imagination of local growers.

"The QR code, together with a mobile application, called 'Farmers' Credibility', record the process for the growing, harvesting, packaging and selling of the cane shoots. This method makes the dealers and the consumers feel more assured of food safety, and makes us farmers delighted that our products can sell better than before because of their fine quality," said Jiang Liangzhen, head of an agricultural cooperative in Beiyang township, Huangyan district of Taizhou.

With the help of digital technologies, Huangyan became among the first places in Zhejiang province to carry out an initiative to trace the quality of agricultural products.

Jiang, who has been growing cane shoots for 13 years, has already grasped how deeply technologies have changed farming. In the past, it took a lot of time and effort to breed cane shoot seedlings. But now, under the guidance of experts, Jiang and her colleagues are trying a new method under which the time and cost of seedling cultivation are greatly reduced.

They have also introduced other technologies, such as cross-breeding, thin films to retain heat in the winter, and the use of fertilizers and nutrients to accurately control the growth and maturing time of the cane shoots.

According to the calculation method developed by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, technologies are contributing 65.15 percent to the development of agriculture in Zhejiang province.

Between 2016 and 2020, Zhejiang had implemented 158 technology-powered agricultural projects and 1,084 projects have since been finished by designated teams, having made some 20 key technological breakthroughs in total, as indicated by local statistics.

At a 20-hectare ranch in Huangyan, a piece of farmland is covered by green manure plants before being planted with crops. The plants will be turned into soil to provide organic matter and nutrients.

Li Jinbo, head of the ranch, said that the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are prohibited here in order to maintain the health of the soil. Inspired by the farming philosophy adopted in Germany, Li began to grow organic crops and vegetables eight years ago.

"The grass from the ranch was turned into food for cows and the green manure plants became nutrients for the soil," Li said, while showcasing a few samples to introduce the independent circulation system adopted for his farmland. He explained that the ecosystem of the ranch has improved so much that more than 35 species of birds have been attracted to return to the ranch.

Since 2015, the products from Li's ranch had been certified by the country and the EU as organic food, and the ranch was granted the title of biodynamic agriculture by an institution in Australia.

In Zhejiang, digital technologies have redefined traditional agricultural production, attracting more people to engage in the industry.

In Xihe Farmland in Taizhou, which covers an area of about 40 hectares, almost all the farm work is being done by machines, with only a few people handling the machines. The environment and the growth of the crops are monitored on a real-time basis.

As a demonstration base for high-quality and green farming technologies in Zhejiang, the farmland now grows some 100 different types of vegetables throughout the year.

"By adopting methods such as intercropping and crop rotation, we've not only enriched the variety of agricultural products, but also raised the utility rate of the soil and prevented plant diseases and insects," according to Zhang Yongfeng, vice general manager of the Xihe Ecological Agriculture Development Company.

The marketing of the agricultural products has also become much easier thanks to the application of digital technologies. Many agricultural bases in Zhejiang have established their own online markets and employed digital tools such as livestreaming to bring their products closer to customers.

As the birthplace of the concept "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" and a giant of the digital economy in the country, Zhejiang aims to cultivate a smarter, and more healthy and more effective agricultural industry by making more technological breakthroughs, and thus striving for rural and industrial rejuvenation.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
By Janice Phelan, April 8, 2021

Dr. Jeremy Bonnesen (far left) leads a tour of the Missouri Innovation Campus during a visit by Governor Kivutha Kibwana (second from left).





The University of Central Missouri is joining local and international partners to present a Kenya-based conference focusing on multi-level governance for climate action May 3-6. Collaborating with the university are Summit Technology Academys International Studies program, the government of Makueni County-Kenya and Global Classroom Exchange.

The seventh annual Devolution Conference will be held at the Makueni Boys High School in Makueni County, Kenya. Among the conferences audience will be the president of Kenya and all the Kenya governors. In addition to helping present the conference, UCM will be among event exhibitors.

The major goal of this event is to strengthen sub-national governments to act on climate change and develop stronger mitigation capacities. Participants can sign up online as a delegate or exhibitor.

UCMs role in this international event is part of the universitys partnership with the Government of Makueni County-Kenya, a member of the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB), and Global Classroom Exchange (GCE) to enhance international workforce development and education opportunities. The partnership officially launched at a Jan. 8, 2021, virtual signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding.

Through the partnership, UCM Extended Studies and the universitys Kenyan peers are leveraging technology to foster global collaboration in resolving local challenges. These organizations are working together to develop real-world sustainable solutions for students and adults. Students from Kenya and the United States are also gaining hands-on experiences in areas such as Internet of Things, virtual reality, telehealth and entrepreneurship while working on industry-recognized certifications and accelerated degree programs.

Business, individuals and organizations also have the opportunity to collaborate on the project, which is actively seeking partners to help with solutions. For more information, contact Joe Mullins at jmullins@ucmo.edu, Dr. Laurel Hogue at lhogue@ucmo.edu or Dr. Brad MacLaughlin at brad.maclaughlin@gloclex.org.
Reports of Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine for Students Draw Ire of Orange County Parents

Hundreds of parents gathered at the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) April 7 over concerns COVID-19 vaccines would become mandatory for students without parental consent.

During a regularly scheduled OCDE board meeting, more than 100 people spoke out against a widely-circulatingand unverifiedclaim that Orange Countys top doctor would force public school students to be inoculated.

Another group of parents remained outside the district building in Costa Mesa to protest.

However, the OCDEalongside Orange Countys top doctorhave said there are no plans to do force vaccines on children.

County health officer Dr. Clayton Chau on April 8 called the accusations leveled against him far from the truth.

Treatment for children is California state law, so a health officer cannot go against the state law, Chau told reporters during a press conference. I certainly do not have the authority to take away the parental rights. I have never believed in not involving the parents.

Concerned Parents

Chaus comments were preceded on April 7 by a rush of comments from Orange County parents, who used the OCDEs board meeting to speak up about their vaccine concerns.

One mother said children have experienced enough hardships as a result of the pandemic, and should not be pressured into getting the vaccine to open up schools.

We are creating so much fear [in our children], she told the board. To come along and say everyone in this classroom must have a vaccine, or everyone must wear a mask and be social distancingwe cannot put that pressure on children. We have put enough pressure on them.

Another parent played a clip for the board from an April 1 Zoom call between Chau and Orange County Superintendent of Schools Al Mijares, which is circulating widely on social media.

In the video, Chau said the vaccine is 100 percent effective for children  Were going to need your support to educate our kids and our parents that they have to accept the vaccine. Because I feel very strongly that without the vaccine, we have no way out of this pandemic.

District Response

The OCDE issued a statement on April 7 prior to the meeting that reads: California plans to open up COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to residents 16 and older on April 15, but all COVID-19 vaccinations remain strictly voluntary.

To put it another way, immunizations against COVID-19 are not mandated in Californiaor anywhere else in the U.S. And in fact they cant be required based on the emergency use authorizations that allowed the current COVID-19 vaccines to enter the market.

It said it had no intentions of breaking away from those guidelines.

The State of California, the County of Orange and local school districts are also not requiring students or staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of resuming in-person instruction, which is already offered at the vast majority of Orange County schools, it stated.

Answering to Allegations

During the OCDE meeting, many parents accused Chau of saying that schools cannot remove their COVID-19 safety measuressuch as social distancing and mask mandatesuntil children are fully vaccinated.

Chau clarified that to return to normalcy, the population as a whole must become vaccinated.

I strongly believe that we need to achieve herd immunity through vaccination, in order for us to get out of the pandemic.  But I dont know how does that fit into all children get vaccinated, I dont know where that came from, he said.

Dr. Jeff Barke, a primary care doctor and co-founder of Orange County Classical Academy, said his school will never be a vaccine center, and we will never vaccinate a child without parental consent.

Barke questioned the vaccines use in children since it is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and they are being used under emergency use authorization with limited safety data and no long-term safety studies.

The parents of Orange County will not stand for this.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani co-chaired the third India-Bahrain High Joint Commission. The two countries on April 7 agreed to work together in key areas such as culture, energy, health, education, defence and digital. The government of Bahrain also thanked India for supplying 100,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine to Bahrain.

MEA Jaishankar meets his Bahraini counterpart

India appreciated the Bahraini side for facilitating flights under the Vande Bharat Mission and also thanked the leadership for the safety of the Indian community during the pandemic. The government of Bahrain expressed interest in setting up pharmaceutical and vaccine production units in Bahrain in collaboration with New Delhi, reported ANI. The Indian side welcomed the decision and agreed to help with the dialogue between stakeholders.

Pleased to welcome FM Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani of Bahrain. pic.twitter.com/AXRbdXDsZ6  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 7, 2021

Co-chaired the third High Joint Commission. Agreed to expand our cooperation in energy, infrastructure, health, defence & digital. Exchanged assessments on the regional situation. Reaffirmed our close & long-standing partnership.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 7, 2021

The Indian side proposed products related to traditional health systems be given official recognition in the Bahraini market. During the meeting, both the leaders reviewed the bilateral cooperation of the two countries over the past years, according to the press release by MEA. Bahrain Foreign Minister appreciated the contribution of the Indian community towards the development and progress of Bahrain. The two sides looked forward to celebrating the golden jubilee of the establishment of their diplomatic relations this year.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar also congratulated Bahrain on taking over as the Chair of GCC and looked forward to working with Bahrain to strengthen the India-GCC partnership. Jaishankar invited the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain for visiting India at an early date. Zayani also handed over a letter to Jaishankar from the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain addressed to Prime Minister Modi. Zayani also met Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu. During the meeting, Naidu extended his gratitude to Bahrain's King for taking care of Indian community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

H.E. Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain called on the Vice President, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas today. pic.twitter.com/amtmrfVMnR  Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) April 7, 2021

(Image Credits: DrSJaishankar/Twitter)

(Inputs from ANI)
This past February for four days and three nights, a dog helplessly stranded on an ice floe in the frozen waters of the Detroit River located between the U.S. and Canada fought to remain alive.

The Dog Hoped For a Miracle

Even though the situation was hopeless, the dog hanged on for a miracle and it got one at last. Initially sighted by a wildlife photographer taking images on the Michigan bank of the river, early enough, parties on both sides of the border that were concerned were fighting to find a way to rescue the endangered pup, but they were opposed by extreme elements.

After tapping too many resources, it appeared no one could help, but rescuers that were determined refused to give up.

Patricia Trevino of the River Rouge Animal Shelter (RRAS) said to WXY -Detroit: "We had to wrestle for him, It was a magnitude of frustration I would never felt because this was a life; it was out there in our presence. We could all spot it."

Also Read: Heroic Dog Won't Stop Barking, Leads Biker to Save Life of Abandoned Baby!

The Dog Was Saved

That is when Jude Mead and his son, who is an owner of a marine construction company located in Windsor, Ontario, literally took the control of the lifesaving operation. Embarking in an airboat lent to them by the BASF Corporation, the both of them were able to make their way across the ice, discovering and saving the dog with relative ease.

After spending such a long time in sub-zero temperatures - most of the time under the strenuous threat of prowling coyotes - the unfortunate pooch was in a pretty bad condition. Once ashore, he was taken instantly to Woodhaven Animal Hospital for a check-up.

Treatment of the Dog

The diagnosis clarified the young dog endured dehydration, frostbite, and pancreatitis due to his misery, however, the veterinarians speculated that the dog's fur was badly matted and was likely a blessing in disguise, keeping him from further danger.

Woodhaven veterinarian Dr. Lucretia Greear said to The Detroit Free Press: "I feel like what rescued him out there is the fact that he was not prepared and his coat was battered, he had literally like a layer of covering that guarded him against the water and the ice and it kept him from freezing to the point of death - but he is a miracle."

Alonso Was Renamed and Put Up for Adoption

After his fortunate treatment and recovery, the lucky pup, who was called by the name Alonso, was properly given another name, 'Miracle', and put up for adoption. While there were many applicants for the role of the new pet parent, when the man who removed him from the ice came forward to lay his claim, the shelter staff concurred that nothing could seem more right than bringing them together again.

Friends of the RRAS announced: "Today the story came full circle. Presently, the young Miracle dog was placed in the care of the hero who saved his life. This dog who held out against ALL THE ODDS will now live happily ever after with the person who saved his life"

Related Article: Sweet Dog Guards Sister's Body After Being Hit By a Car, Won't Let Anyone Come Near

For more news, updates about dogs and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Sitting in a living room in Canada, Sidney Zoltak recalled the early run-up to the Holocaust.

The diabolic plan to annihilate the Jews in Europe was established in small increments, Mr. Zoltak, who survived the Holocaust as a child, says in a video. Way before the establishment of the concentration camps, the ghettos, the death camps, the mobile killing units, it started with words.

The video is one of several in a new digital campaign featuring testimony from Holocaust survivors called #ItStartedWithWords. Amid the recent spate of attacks on Asian-Americans, organizers said, the campaign offers a timely reminder of how hateful words used every day can become part of history.

The Holocaust didnt come out of nowhere, said Gideon Taylor, president of the Claims Conference, the nonprofit dedicated to securing compensation for Holocaust survivors worldwide that created the campaign. It literally started with words.

The announcement by the campaign on Thursday coincides with a week that President Biden recently designated as Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust.
Australian Uighurs are calling for the Chinese ambassador to meet them to help make contact with loved ones missing in Xinjiang.

Several Uighur associations issued the joint request after China's ambassador to Australia called local journalists to his residency in Canberra.

There are several thousand Uighur people living in Australia and many of them have family living in China.

Australian Uighurs are calling for the Chinese ambassador to meet them to help make contact with loved ones missing in Xinjiang

'So many of us living in Australia have lost contact with our loved ones and have no idea where they are,' Australian Uighur Association secretary Bahtiyar Bora said.

'We are asking Mr Cheng to sit down with us to hear our stories and answer our questions.'

Australia has condemned restrictions on the freedom of religion, mass surveillance, extra-judicial detentions, forced labour and sterilisation in Xinjiang, but stopped short of imposing sanctions.

The Morrison government has also not followed the United States in calling events in Xinjiang genocide.

'So many of us living in Australia have lost contact with our loved ones and have no idea where they are,' Australian Uighur Association secretary Bahtiyar Bora said

China's ambassador to Australia denied human rights abuses in Xinjiang in a presentation to local media on Wednesday.

Ambassador Cheng Jingye said it was 'fake news' made up by anti-China forces.

The presentation 'Xinjiang is a Wonderful Land' was also shown in London last month as Chinese missions step up a propaganda offensive to counter the country's damaging human rights record.

Through a translator, Xinjiang Vice-Governor Erkin Tuniyaz said people with ulterior motives in foreign countries were turning a blind eye to people living good lives without the threat of terrorism.

'If yesterday's media conference was not a propaganda exercise then surely the ambassador would welcome an open dialogue,' Uighur leader Ramila Chanisheff said.
LONDON : Italy recommended on Wednesday that AstraZeneca's COVID-19 shot only be used on those over 60 and Britain that people under 30 should get an alternative, due to possible links between the vaccine and very rare cases of blood clots.

More than a dozen countries have at one time suspended use of the vaccine, which has been given to tens of millions in Europe. But most have resumed, with some, including France, the Netherlands and Germany, recommending a minimum age.

Also Read | How Indias banking model has changed

European Union health ministers failed to agree common guidance on the use of the shot, despite calls for coordination across member states to combat public hesitancy over a vaccine set to be a key component of many vaccination programmes.

Italy's health authority recommended that the shot only be used on people over 60 years old but said those under 60 who have taken a first AstraZeneca shot can also take a second one.

An official in Britain said the new advice by a government advisory group that other vaccines should be chosen for those under 30 where possible was "really out of the utmost caution, rather than because we have any serious safety concerns".

European regulators reiterated that they had found possible links between the vaccine and very rare cases of blood clots, but reaffirmed its importance in protecting people against COVID-19.

Rising infections caused by more infectious variants are threatening to overwhelm the hospitals of many EU countries - where the pace of vaccinations lags far behind Britain and the United States - forcing France and others to reimpose lockdowns.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) received reports of 169 cases of the rare brain blood clot by early April, after 34 million doses had been administered in the European Economic Area (EEA), according to Sabine Straus, chair of the EMA's safety committee. The EEA comprises the 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

In comparison, four women out of 10,000 would get a blood clot from taking oral contraception.

In its statement, the EMA said it was reminding health professionals and recipients to remain aware of "the possibility of very rare cases of blood clots combined with low levels of blood platelets occurring within 2 weeks of vaccination".

No new guidelines

"So far, most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within 2 weeks of vaccination," it added.

It did not issue any new guidelines, saying European countries should make their own decisions about how to handle the risk.

AstraZeneca's shot is sold at cost, for a few dollars a dose. It is by far the cheapest and most high-volume launched so far, and has none of the extreme refrigeration requirements of some other COVID-19 vaccines, making it likely to be the mainstay of many vaccination programmes in the developing world.

In Germany, which recommended last week that people under 60 who received one AstraZeneca shot should get a second dose of another vaccine, an official said instances of the rare clotting condition were 20 times higher in those that received the shot.

But experts say that, even if a causal link is proved, the risks of getting a serious clot are vanishingly small compared to the risks from possible COVID-19 infection, which can cause similar clots along with other serious symptoms.

"The risk of mortality from COVID is much greater than the risk of mortality from these rare side effects," said the EMA's executive director, Emer Cooke.

Benefits outweigh risks

Nevertheless, AstraZeneca's shares were down 1.2% at a two-week low.

The shot has faced questions since late last year, when the drugmaker and Oxford University published trial data with two different efficacy readings as a result of a dosing error.

The head of Britain's medicines regulator, June Raine, said the benefits outweighed the risks for the vast majority but were more balanced for younger people - for whom the risks from coronavirus infection are, on average, lower.

Wei Shen Lim, COVID-19 chair for Britain's advisory Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation, said it was preferable for adults under 30 with no underlying health conditions to be offered another vaccine.

AstraZeneca said it was working with the British and European regulators to list possible brain blood clots as "an extremely rare potential side effect".

Among possible causes for the rare cerebral sinous vein clots being investigated are that the vaccine triggers an unusual antibody in rare cases or a possible link with birth control pills. But there is no definitive evidence.

Andreas Greinacher, a scientist from Germany's Greifswald University said his work indicates that neither birth control nor having a clotting factor mutation plays any role.

Many experts say it is not clear whether or why AstraZeneca's vaccine would cause a problem not shared by other vaccines that target a similar part of the virus.

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Appointment

8 April 2021

With nearly 25 years of experience in the luxury restaurant and hospitality industry, Sylvain Delpique has joined The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel as executive chef. He will oversee all culinary aspects of the legendary Upper East Side hotel, including the famed Bemelmans Bar and celebrated Cafe Carlyle.

Delpique joins The Carlyle from the renowned '21' Club, where he spent the last six years as executive chef. Inspired at a young age to pursue a culinary career, he earned a degree at Challes-les-Eaux Culinary School, while working in some of the most celebrated restaurants in France, including two-star Michelin restaurants Pierre Orsi in Lyon and Michel Chabran in Pont de L'Isere in Valence, France. In 2001, Delpique decided to make the move to the U.S. and accepted a position at the Union League Cafe in New Haven, Connecticut as a chef de partie. Within a year at the restaurant, he learned the skills needed to advance to a higher position, which landed him a role as sous chef at Restaurant Jean Louis in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Knowing he was ready for a bigger challenge, Delpique decided to move to New York City and accepted a position as sous chef at French bistro, Artisanal. Under restaurateur Terrance Brennan's supervision, he was able to prepare his native dishes and learned to further refine his skills while adapting his own cooking style. This larger role prepared him for his next position as executive chef at David Burke & Donatella, which re-launched later to become David Burke Townhouse. Impressing Burke with his creativity and drive, Delpique was appointed executive chef of Burke's Fishtail. He then took a position as chef de cuisine at the elegant L'Escale in the Delamar Hotel in Greenwich. In 2014, he relocated back to the city to accept the role of executive chef at the iconic '21' Club in New York City and held this position until its recent closure last year.
Throughout February and March, the pseudo-left Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and its affiliated Jacobin magazine maintained radio silence on the drive to reopen Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), which rapidly escalated and was pushed through by the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) on March 21. Two weeks later, on April 4, Jacobin published an unqualified endorsement of the unions deadly deal to reopen the second largest district in the US, a week before elementary schools are set to begin reopening on April 12.

The article, LA Teachers Won a Safe Schools Reopening by Organizing, states, Despite the obstacles of opening school buildings in a pandemic, UTLA members are preparing to return to school sites in a far safer way than in any other major urban school district in America. This is a result of our social-justice-focused union leadership and school site organizing.

Striking LA teachers in January 2019 (WSWS Photo)

The Jacobin piece was published the same day that several public health officials and epidemiologists appeared on Sunday talk shows to warn of the accelerating nationwide spread of more infectious and lethal variants of COVID-19, identifying reopened schools as major sources of infections.

Speaking on CBSs Face the Nation program Sunday, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb stated, What were seeing is pockets of infection around the country, particularly in younger people who havent been vaccinated, and also in school-aged children. Similar statements were made by Dr. Michael Osterholm and other noted epidemiologists.

With only 16.3 percent of US students still learning remotely, the latest increase is directly attributable to recent school reopenings under the Biden administration, which has distorted science in order to prematurely reopen schools and the broader economy.

Reports continue to emerge revealing that within weeks of a school district reopening, regional coronavirus infection rates begin to skyrocket. The starkest example is Michigan, which this week recorded 357 outbreaks in K-12 schools and another 131 outbreaks at child care facilities, accounting for more than a third of that states total outbreaks. Illinois has also recorded a surge of infections, with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) the primary source of outbreaks statewide, after the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) carried out its miserable betrayal to reopen schools.

The latest Jacobin piece was written by DSA member Betsy Long, who identifies as a teacher and UTLA organizer. This is the first and only article listed under Longs byline, and is meant to give the impression of a rank-and-file teacher endorsing the UTLA in glowing terms. There is not one iota of honest journalism in the article, which reads like a transparent puff piece ghostwritten by the union itself.

The article falsifies the actual history of negotiations that led to the agreement to reopen LAUSD, in order to provide political cover for the UTLA when coronavirus cases inevitably increase as schools reopen. Even the basic chronology of the agreement is presented dishonestly. Long writes, LAUSDs superintendent, Austin Beutner, announced an April 19 elementary campus phased reopening after the Sideletter Agreement with United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), the city teachers union of which I am a member, was finalized.

In fact, the agreement was not finalized before Beutner announced the April 19 reopening date. The agreement shows a signature by UTLA president Cecily Myart-Cruz dated March 9, the same day the April 19 reopening date was announced. Beutner did not sign until the next day, March 10, however, while the agreement lists a further revision made on March 12.

Long omits the fact that once teachers voted in favor of the agreement, Beutner announced that more than 60 elementary schools would actually reopen a week earlier on April 12, a move that produced enormous anger among teachers but not a murmur of opposition from the UTLA leadership.

Long notes that 91 percent of LA teachers voted in favor of three safety measures which were then incorporated into the reopening plan, including full vaccinations for schools staff, returning only when LA County is out of the purple tier, and enforceable safety conditions and protocols at every school. She fails to mention that there are no enforceable mechanisms in place for safety conditions and that the county manipulated infection categories to falsely claim it was out of the purple tier on March 9, the same day that the tentative agreement was announced.

While presenting the vote on the final agreement as widely popular, Long does not inform her readers that more than 12,000 UTLA members abstained from voting on the final plan. Factoring in these abstentions, only about half of all UTLA members actually agreed to return. The vote itself took place after the UTLA presented reopening as a fait accompli, explicitly telling teachers they either had to vote yes to return to schools under the unsafe conditions they negotiated or the district would reopen regardless. In the words of UTLA chief negotiator and secretary Arlene Inouye to angry teachers on the UTLA Facebook page, the [only] option is to return to school.

According to the upside-down narrative presented in the article, the UTLA fought tooth-and-nail for the safe conditions outlined in the agreement, with teachers only having themselves to blame if schools become new hotbeds of coronavirus infections. Moreover, it is the teachers responsibility to push the myth of a safe reopening in order to draw hesitant parents and students back into unsafe classrooms.

Long writes, The next step for UTLA members like me is to prepare our schools and classrooms to be the safest environment possible. Less than half of students plan to return to campus this semester, which means we have a lot of trust to build in the months ahead. We arent just advocating for ourselves, were also advocating for our students and community.

She then states, The safety of schools and the ongoing fight for schools our communities deserve is dependent on our ability to maintain and continue building a strong and militant membership. That membership now has to focus on enforcing the Sideletter Agreement.

One is compelled to ask, if this agreement is very strong and the gold standard of school reopening plans, as claimed by Jacobin and the UTLA, then why are teachers being asked to enforce the agreement provisions themselves? Jacobin is essentially telling teachers to ensure that there are adequate inventories of masks, hand sanitizer and air filters for their rooms. Educators must disinfect surfaces, ensure that students are regularly tested and contact-traced while maintaining six-foot distance between them at all times, all while providing complex mixtures of remote and in-person learning to students.

The Jacobin article speaks as if the pandemic is a thing of the past which should no longer play a role in political decision-making. The article mentions the reckless attitude of city and county governments last year in keeping malls open, maintaining domestic and international travel, and allowing unsafe working conditions to persist at the virus peak. It notes the more than 23,000 COVID deaths in Los Angeles County along with an alarming increase in the numbers of children with the deadly COVID-19-related multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

However, the article studiously ignores the growing numbers of restaurants, gyms, churches, salons and other indoor areas currently reopening for in-person business. On Tuesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state would fully reopen the economy and do away with the tiers system altogether by June 15.

While both big business parties, the corporate media, the teachers unions and the pseudo-left proclaim a light at the end of the tunnel as more Americans receive vaccinations, the reality is that their reopening policies will lead to further needless suffering and death as the deepening surge of more dangerous variants threatens to render existing vaccines ineffective.

Jacobin and the DSA speak for privileged sections of the upper-middle class who seek to stifle working class opposition to the disastrous policies pursued by the ruling elites. They fully place themselves in the camp of Biden, Trump and the fascistic Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro who refuses to take any measures to contain the pandemic spread as Brazils health care system collapses.

Last September, Jacobin interviewed Martin Kulldorff, a prominent advocate of reopening schools as part of the Swedish model based on infecting the majority of the population with COVID-19 in order to achieve so-called herd immunity. The article failed to challenge Kulldorffs arguments, with Jacobin publisher Bhaskar Sunkara later retweeting Kulldorffs claim that, The lockdown is the worst assault on the working class in half a century. After the interview, Kuldorff gloated that, In the United States, there is now a second front against lockdowns, from the left.

In January, Jacobin defended the betrayal of the Hunts Point strike by the Teamsters union, aided by US representative and DSA member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .

The mobilization in support of both the Teamsters and UTLA betrayals is motivated by concern over the growth of rank-and-file committees of workers spearheaded by the Socialist Equality Party, as well as the regular coverage of union betrayals on the World Socialist Web Site. In order to force through their betrayal, the UTLA and their affiliates censored articles by the WSWS and statements from the West Coast Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees calling for a No vote from appearing on their Facebook pages. In Southern California, there is now a coordinated campaign of UTLA and DSA supporters using the April 4 Jacobin article to rebut the SEP and WSWSs call to keep schools closed and learning remote.

Jacobin, the DSA and the UTLA are now actively engaged in efforts to bring students and teachers back to classrooms at the most dangerous phase of the pandemic, which will lead to massive increases in infections and deaths. They are thus culpable in the ruling elites policies of social murder, and must be viewed by educators and all workers as their class enemies.

Enormous opposition to these policies exists and must be mobilized through the expansion of the rank-and-file committees that exist in Los Angeles, San Diego and Northern California, which are part of an international network of such committees fighting to close all schools and nonessential workplaces until the pandemic is contained, while securing full income protection for all workers affected by lockdowns.

The California Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees will be holding a meeting this Saturday, April 10, at 2 p.m. Pacific Time, to discuss the state of the pandemic and outline a fighting strategy for educators, parents, students and all workers. We encourage all those who oppose the drive to reopen schools and wish to save lives over profits to register here and invite your coworkers, family and friends.
Historians have to forgive those who have never heard of the once-bustling waterway. After all, much of the I&M has been dry for decades, and it hasnt carried canal boats for more than 100 years. Yet in the 19th century, the hand-dug, 96-mile passage from Chicago to LaSalle was compared in importance to the Erie Canal, opening up a transportation corridor stretching from New York to New Orleans. Following the I&Ms opening in 1848, Chicagos economy boomed.
Caitlyn Jenner is being helped by Donald Trump's former campaign manager Brad Parscale as she explores running for Governor of California, reports say.

The pair have been friends since 2017 and Parscale is helping Jenner connect to 'the best talent in the country' as she considers entering politics.

A source told Fox News: 'She is very, very, very serious.'

Caitlyn Jenner is being helped by Donald Trump's former campaign manager Brad Parscale as she explores running for Governor of California, reports say

The pair have been friends since 2017 and Parscale is helping Jenner connect to 'the best talent in the country' as she considers entering politics

Parscale was removed as Trump's campaign manager in the run-up to the 2020 election amid dropping poll numbers.

He has since been working on a platform to protect conservatives against cancel culture, called Campaign Nucleus.

In September, Parscale's wife Candice called the cops to their home in Florida, saying he was suicidal and tried to hurt her during a public meltdown in which cops seized 11 firearms from his house.

He was involuntarily detained under Florida's Baker Act for three days and slapped with a risk protection order, and the politico later blamed the outburst on his career and having lost two children.

Jenner is also being assisted by Caroline Wren who previously worked at Trump Victory, a joint fundraising committee for President Trump's 2020 campaign.

She also helped organize the rally he addressed immediately before the U.S. Capitol assault on January 6.

Jenner, 71, who starred on Keeping Up With The Kardashians decades after becoming a gold medal-winning decathlete, is a high-profile Republican and previously supported 45th President Donald Trump.

Not so fast: Jenner's manager, Sophia Hutchins, previously shot down reports of Caitlyn's interest in a gubernatorial run; seen in 2019

Jenner's manager, Sophia Hutchins, previously shot down reports of Caitlyn's interest in a gubernatorial run.

She said in February that Jenner 'has never considered running for governor and is very happy doing the work that she is doing to promote LGBT rights and spending time with her 18 grandchildren and 10 children.'

Jenner said in a PEOPLE interview in 2020 that she's changed her thinking in a lot of ways and no longer solely identifies as a Republican, but is more 'economically conservative, socially progressive.'

In 2017, The Hill reported Jenner showed interested in a political bid and had 'considered' running for California Senate. 'I like the political side of it,' she said.

Caitlyn's potential run also coincides with momentum from the Gavin Newsom recall efforts as opponents criticize his handling of the pandemic.

Possible: In 2017, The Hill reported Jenner showed interest in a political bid and had 'considered' running for California Senate. 'I like the political side of it,' she said

'We're gonna take this extremely seriously  we're gonna get ready  and fight like hell,' Newsom strategist Sean Clegg told Politico in March.

Former U.S. representative Doug Ose and former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer are also in the running to potentially replace Newsom.

Caitlyn, who transitioned at the age of 65, was previously married to Kris Jenner from 1991-2015 and Linda Thompson from 1981-1986.

She shares two children with Kris  Kendall and Kylie  and has sons Brody and Brandon Jenner with ex-wife Linda.

Caitlyn was also previously married to Chrystie Jenner from 1972-1981 and has a son, Burt Jenner, and daughter, Cassandra Marino.
Limited (SEFL) said on Thursday that it has received expression of interest for up to $250 million capital infusion in the company from international private equity (PE) funds, US-based Arena Investors LP and Singapore's Makara Capital Partners.

The company's Strategic Coordination Committee (SCC), chaired by Malay Mukherjee, independent director, will coordinate, negotiate and conclude discussions with the PE investors to bring the capital into the business and advise the management, the company said. Ernst & Young (E&Y) will be advising the committee on the proposed fund raising exercise.

Arena Investors LP is a multi-strategy investment firm with $2.2 billion of committed capital while Makara Capital Partners is a global financial services company specialising in fund management, private equity as well as structuring and financing with a core focus on innovation, infrastructure and energy.

The SCC is running an independent process for investor identification and has got expressions of interest from Arena Investors LP and Makara Capital Partners, SEFL said. The process was being carried out in parallel to the debt realignment plan.

The SCC will engage in discussions with the potential investors to raise fresh capital for the business, which will provide cushion against the pandemic induced stress in the Indian financial services space, the company further said.

Srei had been under stress in the wake of Covid, which had led to an asset-liability mismatch. In the third quarter, Srei Infrastructure had reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 3,810.93 crore on account of higher and accelerated provisioning, which came on the back of a special audit conducted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) into the company and SEFL.

The company has also seen about 200 exits across various levels since December last year as banks capped salaries at Rs 50 lakh a year for senior executives.

The SCC will also be the nodal point for a comprehensive cash flow realignment plan with banks and financial institutions and for all external service providers, including investment bankers, lawyers and consultants, said SEFL
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Market Research Future (MRFR) Has Announced a New Release on the Contraceptive Pills Market highlights the current and future status of market and regional level analysis with the help of industry trends and market performance. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2019 through 2022. Also, a five-year historic analysis is provided for these Contraceptive Pills Market. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research.

Global Contraceptive pills Market  Competitive Analysis

Merck & Co., Inc (US), Pfizer Inc (US), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Israel), Bayer AG (Germany), Allergan plc. (Ireland), Janssen Global Services llc. (US), Mankind Pharma Ltd. (India), Piramal Enterprises Ltd (India), Reckitt Benckiser Plc (UK), Church & Dwight (US), The Female Health Company (US), Mayer Laboratories (US), Cooper Surgical (US) are some of the prominent players at the forefront of competition in the Global Contraceptive Pills Market and are profiled in MRFR Analysis.

Global Contraceptive pills Market  Overview

Contraceptive pills are likely to witness considerable demand in the years to come. The observation offered by Market Research Future (MRFR) unfolds that the global contraceptive pills market is expected to enter a phase of maturity in the foreseeable future. According to the report, the market is prognosticated to record a CAGR of 2.2% across the projection period 2016 to 2022.

Anti-conception medication pills which are also called as oral contraceptive pills are a kind of female hormonal anti-conception medication technique and are extremely viable at avoiding pregnancy. These pills are small tablets that a patient swallow every day. These birth control pills are been used from ancient times but the save and effective methods are introduce and available from 20th century.

Fill Out Details To Receive FREE Sample Here: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2122

Contraceptive drugs are used to prevent the unwanted pregnancy by blocking the normal process of ovulations or by altering the process which support the fertilization of egg. Most pills contain two sorts of manufactured (man-made) female hormones: estrogen and progestin. These are like the estrogen and progesterone regularly made by the ovaries. These pills are called combination oral contraceptives, and there are a wide range of these kinds.

Globally the market for contraceptive pills is growing at a low rate but with increasing prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases will upsurge the growth of this market in coming future. According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future, the Contraceptive Pills Market Share is booming and expected to gain eminence over the forecast period. The market is forecasted to demonstrate a spectacular growth by 2022, surpassing its previous growth records in terms of value with a prominent CAGR during the anticipated period (2017  2022).

Increasing need of population control and increasing incident of abortion has driven the growth of the market. Governmental initiatives for minimizing unwanted pregnancy, increasing awareness and healthcare expenditure, and increasing in use of contraceptives drugs has provided fuel for the growth of the market. While the side effects of the treatment and strict governmental rules in many countries may hamper the growth of the market.

Geographically, North America commands the largest market for the contraceptive drug market. Approximately 3 million women in North America experiences unplanned pregnancy. Beside this 90 % of the women use some of the method of contraception. Thus increasing number of abortion and rate of unplanned pregnancy has driven this market in North America. Major market of North America is contributed by US which is followed by Canada. Increasing awareness and minimizing the healthcare expenses by curbing number of abortion in US encourage contraceptive use among women. North America contraceptives drug market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.9 % during forecasted period.

The market for contraceptive pills is characterised by the presence of several well-established and small players, the global market of contraceptive pills appears to be highly competitive and fragmented. Major players are increasingly expanding their footprint in the emerging nations, making it putting pressure on the regional players, especially in terms of features such as type, product portfolios, and pricing.

The market is witnessing intensified competition which is expected to get more intensified further during the forecast period. The contraceptive pills market appears to be highly competitive owing to the presence of several large and small key players accounting for a substantial market share. Well established players are getting into various product launches in order to gain competitive advantage in this market and to maintain their market position.

For instance, in 2015, Pfizer Inc. has introduced SAYANA, first injectable contraceptive in UK which can be self-administered.

While, in 2015, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has launched Beyaz which is a generic contraceptive drug. It is one of the most successful product of the company and in 2016 it has annual sales of approximately $133 million in the US. Recently, in March 2017, the company has launched a new product Minastrin in the market. Moreover, the company has launched the generic version of Janssens birth control pills Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. Into the brand name of Tri-Lo-Sprintec (norgetimate and ethinyl estradiol) tablets.

Therefore, the growing partnerships and product launches to expand their presence in various parts of the globe for their competitive products has spurred the growth of the market.

Browse Complete Report at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/contraceptive-pills-market-2122 .

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.
A homeless individual sleeps on the streets of Santa Ana, Calif., on Sept. 4, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Santa Ana Partnership Offers Hope for Homeless Students

Santa Ana Unified School District is partnering with a nonprofit organization to provide services to children and teens experiencing homelessness during the current school year.

Project Hope Alliance (PHA) received a $150,000 community development grant from the City of Santa Ana that will go toward helping 50 students experiencing homelessness at Martin R. Heninger School.

Jennifer Friend, chief executive of the nonprofit, said the funding could be a lifeline for students who were forced to grow up fast during the pandemic.

During COVID, many of our kids are working to actually help pay for motel rent, or food for their families Friend told The Epoch Times. Even though theyre the child, theyre contributing to the parental family household.

Before the pandemic, PHA had an 84 percent graduation rate, with 60 percent of its participants immediately enrolling in college.

The pandemic decreased that percentage as many teens took on other responsibilities, Friend said.

A majority of the youth involved in PHA live in motels, shelters, one-bedroom apartments with multiple families, or places that arent meant for habitation.

There are a lot of kids who have lost parents to COVID, and so the work that were doing couldnt be more critical or more necessary to ensure that our kids are cared for and supported, Friend said.

The grant will fund a full-time case manager, and training on how to identify students experiencing homelessness in Santa Ana, where one in four students live in poverty, Friend said.

Case managers are assigned to identify and enroll students experiencing homelessness into a program that helps eliminate the barriers homelessness causes. The goal, officials said, is to enable such students to succeed academically.

Students enrolled in the program will receive support to deal with social and emotional traumas as well as basic services such as food, hygiene products, and clothing.

Eradicating the cycle of poverty involves addressing the underlying issues of homelessness, Santa Ana Unified School District Superintendent Jerry Almendarez said in a statement.

We are hopeful that through this partnership with Project Hope Alliance, we can expand our efforts to provide a multi-tiered system of support for our students.

The program also prepares students to graduate high school and enroll in college or vocational training programs, which allows them to be financially independent and end generational homelessness, Friend said.

A student that has not graduated from high school is almost 400 percent more likely to be homeless as an adult, she said.

PHA has helped more than 1,500 young people throughout Orange County who have experienced homelessness during the pandemic.
After he retired and recuperated, Mills revealed that while he had been setting American tax policy, he had often been consuming half a gallon of alcohol a night and had once hallucinated that buzzards were chasing him.

Now that was a scandal.

Donald Trump may have been a terrible president, but he was a terrific example of how to weather crises like the revelation of his drop-ins on naked beauty pageant contestants and that adultery case argued out in the New York tabloids. Another man might have curled up in a ball under the bed in humiliation. But Trump just measured the headlines and moved right on.

Now, The Times has reported that at the very end of Trumps presidency, Gaetz asked the White House for blanket pre-emptive pardons for himself and some of his allies. Trump, who has been spectacularly silent about his loyal supporters problems, quickly said he had not discussed pardons directly with Gaetz.

Maybe he missed the memo. Gaetz is a huge Trump fanboy who recently proposed to his fiancee (yes!) at Mar-a-Lago. He offered to resign from Congress to represent Trump as his impeachment lawyer. That would have been a touching gesture except that Gaetz is clearly a guy whod be happy to trade in his seat in the House of Representatives for, say, a gig hosting a game show.

If his goal is making it big on right-wing talk shows, Gaetz is certainly going to have to be more careful. During a recent appearance on Fox, he reminded Tucker Carlson about the time they went on a double date. Carlson most definitely did not recall.

While there have been lots and lots of shocking political gossip stories circulated over the years, its a little different when the whole world can just Google everything. In 2019, for instance, a conservative website published nude pictures of Representative Katie Hill, which the freshman Democrat decried as revenge porn leaked by her estranged husband.

Hills story moved into a second chapter when she admitted she had an affair with a campaign staffer and resigned from office. Gaetz sort of congratulated himself for defending her back when her own Democratic colleagues wouldnt, and she recently agreed that he had been a pal at one of the darkest moments of my life.

 Before adding that if there was even a fraction of truth to the current reports  that included showing off pictures of naked women without their consent  he should definitely resign. Immediately.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.
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US, 8 April 2021 There are many business owners and managers who want great security for protecting the business from data loss and fraud. Several approaches are used by the businessmen to make the companys assets secure, and some businessmen also give priority to security operations and overall data security. A majority of businessmen dont get desired security by following various methods, and information-related frauds are increasing at a staggering rate. Some extra support will be needed for every business manager or owner to eliminate all cybercrimes and frauds. To make the companys assets secure, some of the businessmen are seeking the best method, and now they can conveniently make the companys assets safe by hiring a virtual chief information security officer (vCISO). For the security of a company, a vCISO is quite essential because an officer can make the company's assets secure.



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In the industry, he is a very experienced officer who makes your company completely secure. He works in cybersecurity as a vCISO consultant in Wisconsin, and he is responsible for every little thing, like security operations and compliances, strategy, and overall data security of the company. Cyber Risk, Incident Commander, Security Operations, Data loss, and Fraud Prevention, Identity and Access Management, and Security Architecture are some of the major points on which Goetzman gives proper attention. There are many esoteric technological trends, like trust, privacy, and cyber-defense countermeasures that he is learning.Some certificates are also achieved by him, including Microsoft MVP Award, GIAC GSTRT, CISSP, CRISC, CEH, CCNA, Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate, and much more. He is the only officer who works effectively to make the companys assets secure, and he provides the best services. To understand the direction of Wisconsin CISO, people can take a look at this site.





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MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories a national leader in sequencing and identifying COVID-19 variants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 7, 2021

Contact: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112

LANSING, Mich. - Since shortly after the first positive COVID-19 test was diagnosed at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Bureau of Laboratories (BOL) on March 10, 2020, BOL scientists have been busy genome sequencing the virus to identify variants.

More than 10,000 samples have been sequenced by BOL staff to date with over 4,200 of those tests completed in 2021.

"Our lab is a national leader in genome sequencing and our efforts have allowed us to implement rapid public health responses to slow the spread of outbreaks involving more easily transmitted variants," said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. "We will continue to work to identify these variants in Michigan as an important tool in fighting this pandemic back in Michigan."

Viruses are constantly changing, and this includes SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. These genetic variations occur over time and can lead to the emergence of new variants that may have different characteristics.

The SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes instructions organized into sections, called genes, to build the virus. Scientists use a process called genomic sequencing to decode the genes and learn more about the virus. Genomic sequencing allows scientists to identify SARS-CoV-2 and monitor how it changes over time into new variants, understand how these changes affect the characteristics of the virus, and use this information to predict how it might impact health. Some variant viruses are of particular concern because they spread easier, cause more severe disease or may escape the body's immune response.

The genome sequencing process takes about a week after the lab receives the positive test results. The MDHHS BOL is one of two labs in the state currently conducting sequencing and can process about 500-600 samples week. However, not every COVID-19 positive test is sequenced, which means additional cases of the variant could be resent in the state.

Because sequencing of specimens associated with outbreak investigations is a priority, 2021 many of the samples sequenced were from a Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) outbreak with the remainder submitted from a variety of other locations throughout the state. As of April 6, 1,998 B.1.1.7 (U.K.) cases have been identified, with 513 of those (26%) connected to the MDOC investigation. Additionally, eight cases of the B.1.351 or South African variant have been identified, three cases of P.1 or the Brazilian variant and 16 cases of the B.1.427 and B.1.429 or California variant have been discovered.

"The presence of more infectious variants, such as the B 1.1.7 variant, threatens our progress in control of the epidemic and is likely contributing to our current increase in cases," said Khaldun. "It is critical that we not let up now and I urge Michiganders to continue to mask up, wash their hands, social distance, get tested and get vaccinated as soon as possible."

On a daily basis, scientists at the Bureau of Laboratories protect the health and safety of Michiganders by testing for hundreds of microbes, diseases and chemical substances in human, animal and environmental sources.

"The important testing being conducted by our highly qualified, skilled and dedicated scientists protects the health and safety of all Michiganders every day," said Dr. Sandip Shah, BOL director. "Their work is allowing the state to effectively monitor and respond to environmental as well as public health threats and to expand investigation of potential contamination of public water and food sources."

Tests can take from a few minutes to a few weeks and on an annual basis lab staff conduct nearly 6.8 million tests. This includes sexually transmitted diseases, influenza, Salmonella, rabies, lead, measles, newborn screening and hundreds of other tests.

The lab is also responsible for testing fish in the state's lakes, rivers and streams for mercury, PCBs, dioxins and PFAS. These results are published in the Eat Safe Fish Guide which helps protect residents who eat Michigan fish by providing information on which fish are safe to eat and which ones to avoid.

It also completes newborn screening (NBS) where infants blood spots are tested for more than 50 potentially life-threatening diseases. Every year, the NBS program tests more than 120,000 newborns and identifies approximately 250-280 babies afflicted by one of the 54 blood-spot-testable disorders included on the NBS panel. Screening is completed between 24 and 36 hours after birth and lab staff work quickly to identify conditions that require immediate medical or nutritional intervention.

Michigan residents seeking more information about the COVID-19 vaccine can visit Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine. Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

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Key benchmark indices are trading firm in early trade on buying demand in index pivotals. At 9:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 362.82 points or 0.73% at 50,024.58. The Nifty 50 index was up 112.25 points or 0.76% at 14,931.30. The Sensex regained the psychological 50,000 mark in early trade.

The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.51%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.7%.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, is strong. On the BSE, 1573 shares rose and 490 shares fell. A total of 99 shares were unchanged.

Stocks in news:

Bharti Airtel rose 1.11%. Bharti Airtel launched 'Airtel IoT' - an integrated platform that enables enterprises to harness the power of Internet of Things (IoT) and be ready for the emerging era of connected things.

Muthoot Finance gained 1.91%. Muthoot Finance has announced its 25th series of Public Issue of Secured Redeemable Non-Convertible Debentures of face value of Rs. 1,000 each (Secured NCDs). The issue is with a base issue size of Rs 100 crore with an option to retain oversubscription upto Rs 1600 crore aggregating upto tranche limit of Rs 1700 crore.

Ashok Leyland advanced 3.38%. Ashok Leyland through its subsidiary Switch Mobility, the U.K. based EV producer of buses and vans announced its global expansion plans into India and its plan to create two subsidiary companies. The first, Switch Mobility Automotive, is being formed to carry on the EV strategy in India, which forms part of its global entity. The second is OHM Global Mobility, which will focus on providing mobility as a service offering.

Godrej Consumer Products slipped 0.37%. Godrej Consumer Products in its 4QFY21 update said that the company expects to deliver sales growth around the thirties in India, driven by strong volume growth and calibrated price increases. Sales growth was quite broad based across key categories of Soaps, Household Insecticides and Hair Colours.

UCO Bank rose 0.18%. UCO Bank informed that the board of directors of the bank approved the proposal for the issue of equity shares on preferential basis to Government of India against capital infusion of Rs.2,600 crore.

Indian Overseas Bank fell 0.31%. Indian Overseas Bank informed that the meeting of the board of directors of the bank is scheduled on 12 April 2021, to consider and approve issue of equity shares against capital infusion of Rs 4100 crore.

Global Markets:

Asian stocks are trading mixed on Thursday after the S&P 500 nudged higher to a record closing high overnight.

In US, the S&P 500 gained slightly to hit a record high on Wednesday. The moves on Wall Street came as the U.S. Federal Reserve released minutes from its March 16-17 meeting during which it kept its accommodative policy in place. The meeting summary indicated that while officials saw the economy was gaining considerably, they see much more progress needed before ultra-easy policy changes.

President Joe Biden recently unveiled details of his $2 trillion infrastructure plan that includes a corporate tax rate hike to 28%. He said Wednesday that he is willing to negotiate on the proposed tax increase.

Back home, the domestic equity benchmarks ended with strong gains on Wednesday, led by banks shares. Shares climbed after the RBI kept policy rates unchanged but committed to a massive government bond purchase programme. All the sectoral indices on the NSE ended in the green. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, advanced 460.37 points or 0.94% to 49,661.76. The Nifty 50 index added 135.55 points or 0.92% to 14,819.05.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 227.42 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net buyers to the tune of Rs 381.08 crore in the Indian equity market on 7 April, provisional data showed.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A regional Spanish health authority said on Wednesday it had suspended AstraZeneca COVID-19 shots pending a European Medicines Agency (EMA) safety report, though the national government said it would continue to use the vaccine for now.

The Castile and Leon region will review whether to use the vaccine after EU and national health authorities make a decision based on the EMA safety report, the regional health service said on its website.

EMA experts have reviewed to what extent some cases of blood clotting in adults who had recently received the AstraZeneca vaccine may be linked to the injections and the agency expects to hold a briefing on the possible side-effects later on Wednesday.

Spain's national government considers the vaccine to be safe, Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya told reporters.

"For us in Spain, what matters is what the EMA says, and so far they said that it's safe and we will continue to vaccinate with AstraZeneca because we trust the experts and the EMA," she said.

Spain, together with other European countries, suspended the use of the vaccine for a few days last month, but then resumed shots when EMA said the benefits clearly outweighed the risks.

AstraZeneca has said previously its studies have found no higher risk of clots because of the vaccine.

Spain is accelerating its COVID-19 vaccination rollout and seeks to fully inoculate 25 million people, or about 53% of the population, by late July.
Mumbai, April 8 : With the state reportedly left with barely one and half day's doses, a vaccine "war" has been raging between Maharashtra and the Centre in the past couple of days with state Health Minister Rajesh Tope now on Thursday comparing the grim situation in the state vis-a-vis Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

Hours after Tope on Wednesday said that the state had only 3 days doses of the Covid vaccines in stock, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan hit back, virtually blaming Maharashtra for the current spread of the pandemic across the country.

"Throughout the last year, I have been a witness to the misgovernance and utter casual approach of the Maharashtra government in battling the virus. The lackadaisical attitude of the state government has singularly bogged down the entire country's efforts to fight the virus," he had said.

He also deplored attempts by some state governments to "distract attention" from their failures and spread panic among the people, even as the Centre rushed 7.50 lakh doses to the state on Thursday.

Stung by the missive, Tope pointed out that though there is no dispute with the Centre over the vaccine supplies, the situation of the biggest state in the country was grimmer and hence it needed more doses to combat the pandemic.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar also spoke with Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday on the prevailing Covid status in Maharashtra and said the latter had assured all help in tackling it.

As the Centre on Thursday informed that the state would be given 17.50 lakh doses from April 15, but Tope said the state's demand is at least 40 lakh vaccines per week in view of the terrible spread here compared with other states.

"Gujarat with a population of 6 crore with 17,000 active cases, was given 1 crore doses of the vaccine, but Maharashtra with a double (12 crore) population and (now) 5 lakh active cases was given only 1.04 crore doses, of which barely 9 lakh jabs are left. Accordingly, vaccination has been stopped in Satara, Sangli and Panvel in Raigad," said Tope.

Similarly, he sought to know why Uttar Pradesh gets 48 lakh doses, Madhya Pradesh 40 lakh, Gujarat 30 lakh and Haryana 24 lakh - all ruled by BJP - compared with only 7.50 lakh doses from Maharashtra, the worst-hit in the country.

He said this state has the highest number of active patients but also topped the country in terms of the vaccination programme as per the Centre's own figures released this week.

"We shall maintain the level of 6 lakh doses per week and won't go beyond it at this stage. But at least give us 40 lakh vaccine every week," Tope appealed, adding out that the progressive total cases in the state have crossed 30 lakh.

Tope reiterated the demand by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to allow vaccine production at the Haffkine Institute in Mumbai and appealed that the Centre and State must unitedly fight to overcome the challenges of Covid pandemic.

He said that Maharashtra is a big state demographically and geographically with 55 percent of the total active cases in the country, but compared to the deaths per million cases, the fatality rate figure is much lower than other states.

"This has been appreciated not only by the Centre but also taken note of by other global publications and the national media. The state is handling the crises strictly as per the norms of the Centre and the ICMR in all respects," Tope asserted.

At the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Thursday, he said he would be raising four demands - at least 1.6 crore, or 40 lakhs per week, vaccine doses, adequate supply of remdesivir medicine with a price cap, permission to requisition oxygen from neighbouring states, and overcoming the shortages of ventilators as the state grapples with the virus.

The minister said that many developed countries have started vaccinating citizens above the age of 18 and considering the growing number of Covid patients in the state, appealed for giving doses to all in the 18-40 age groups too.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Whatever ultimately caused inhabitants to abandon Cahokia, it was not because they cut down too many trees, according to new research from Washington University in St. Louis.

Archaeologists from Arts & Sciences excavated around earthen mounds and analyzed sediment cores to test a persistent theory about the collapse of Cahokia, the pre-Columbian Native American city in southwestern Illinois that was once home to more than 15,000 people.

No one knows for sure why people left Cahokia, though many environmental and social explanations have been proposed. One oft-repeated theory is tied to resource exploitation: specifically, that Native Americans from densely populated Cahokia deforested the area, an environmental misstep that could have resulted in erosion and localized flooding.

But such musings about self-inflicted disaster are outdated -- and they're not supported by physical evidence of flooding issues, Washington University scientists said.

"There's a really common narrative about land use practices that lead to erosion and sedimentation and contribute to all of these environmental consequences," said Caitlin Rankin, an assistant research scientist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who conducted this work as part of her graduate studies at Washington University.

"When we actually revisit this, we're not seeing evidence of the flooding," Rankin said.

"The notion of looming ecocide is embedded in a lot of thinking about current and future environmental trajectories," said Tristram R. "T.R." Kidder, the Edward S. and Tedi Macias Professor of Anthropology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University. "With a growing population and more mouths to feed, overconsumption of all resources is a real risk.

"Inevitably, people turn to the past for models of what has happened. If we are to understand what caused changes at sites like Cahokia, and if we are to use these as models for understanding current possibilities, we need to do the hard slogging that critically evaluates different ideas," added Kidder, who leads an ongoing archaeological research program at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. "Such work allows us to sift through possibilities so we can aim for those variables that do help us to explain what happened in the past -- and explore if this has a lesson to tell us about the future."

No indications of self-inflicted harm

Writing in the journal Geoarchaeology, Rankin and colleagues at Bryn Mawr University and Northern Illinois University described their recent excavations around a Mississippian Period (AD 1050-1400) earthen mound in the Cahokia Creek floodplain.

Their new archaeological work, completed while Rankin was at Washington University, shows that the ground surface on which the mound was constructed remained stable until industrial development.

The presence of a stable ground surface from Mississippian occupation to the mid-1800s does not support the expectations of the so-called "wood-overuse" hypothesis, the researchers said.

This hypothesis, first proposed in 1993, suggests that tree clearance in the uplands surrounding Cahokia led to erosion, causing increasingly frequent and unpredictable floods of the local creek drainages in the floodplain where Cahokia was constructed.

Rankin noted that archaeologists have broadly applied narratives of ecocide -- the idea that societies fail because people overuse or irrevocably damage the natural resources that their people rely on -- to help to explain the collapse of past civilizations around the world.

Although many researchers have moved beyond classic narratives of ecocide made popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, Cahokia is one such major archaeological site where untested hypotheses have persisted.

"We need to be careful about the assumptions that we build into these narratives," Rankin said.

"In this case, there was evidence of heavy wood use," she said. "But that doesn't factor in the fact that people can reuse materials -- much as you might recycle. We should not automatically assume that deforestation was happening, or that deforestation caused this event."

Kidder said: "This research demonstrates conclusively that the over-exploitation hypothesis simply isn't tenable. This conclusion is important because the hypothesis at Cahokia -- and elsewhere -- is sensible on its face. The people who constructed this remarkable site had an effect on their environment. We know they cut down tens of thousands of trees to make the palisades -- and this isn't a wild estimate, because we can count the number of trees used to build and re-build this feature. Wood depletion could have been an issue."

"The hypothesis came to be accepted as truth without any testing," Kidder said. "Caitlin's study is important because she did the hard work -- and I do mean hard, and I do mean work -- to test the hypothesis, and in doing so has falsified the claim. I'd argue that this is the exciting part; it's basic and fundamental science. By eliminating this possibility, it moves us toward other explanations and requires we pursue other avenues of research."

###
Young people set a hijacked bus on fire and hurled gasoline bombs at police in Belfast in at least the fourth night of serious violence in a week in Northern Ireland, where Britains exit from the European Union has unsettled an uneasy political balance.

People also lobbed bricks, fireworks and gasoline bombs Wednesday night in both directions over a concrete peace wall that separates Protestant, British loyalist and Catholic, Irish nationalist neighborhoods.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts said several hundred people gathered on both sides of a gate in the wall, where crowds ... were committing serious criminal offenses, both attacking police and attacking each other.

He said a total of 55 police officers have been injured over several nights of disorder.

The recent violence, largely in loyalist, Protestant areas, has flared amid rising tensions over post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland and worsening relations between the parties in the Protestant-Catholic power-sharing Belfast government. Britains economic split from the EU last year has disturbed the political balance in Northern Ireland, where some people identify as British and want to stay part of the U.K., while others see themselves as Irish and seek unity with the neighboring Republic of Ireland, which is an EU member.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the unrest, and Northern Irelands Belfast-based government was holding an emergency meeting Thursday on the violence.

Johnson appealed for calm, saying the way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not violence or criminality. Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster, of the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party, and Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill, of Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein, both condemned the disorder and the attacks on police.

The latest disturbances followed unrest over the Easter long weekend in pro-British unionist areas in and around Belfast and Londonderry, also known as Derry, that saw cars set on fire and projectiles and gasoline bombs hurled at police officers.

Authorities have accused outlawed paramilitary groups of inciting young people to cause mayhem.

We saw young people participating in serious disorder and committing serious criminal offenses, and they were supported and encouraged, and the actions were orchestrated by adults at certain times, said Roberts, the senior police officer.

A new U.K.-EU trade deal has imposed customs and border checks on some goods moving between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. The arrangement was designed to avoid checks between Northern Ireland and Ireland because an open Irish border has helped underpin the peace process built on the 1998 Good Friday accord.

That accord ended decades of violence involving Irish republicans, British loyalists and U.K. armed forces in which more than 3,000 people died. But unionists say the new checks amount to a new border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. They fear that undermines the regions place in the United Kingdom and could bolster ties with the Irish Republic, strengthening calls for a united Ireland.

Both Britain and the EU have expressed concerns about how the agreement is working, and the Democratic Unionist Party, which heads the Northern Ireland government, has called for it to be scrapped.

Katy Hayward, a professor at Queens University Belfast and senior fellow of the U.K. in a Changing Europe think tank, said unionists felt that the union is very much under threat, that Northern Irelands place is under threat in the union and they feel betrayed by London.

Unionists are also angry at a police decision not to prosecute Sinn Fein politicians who attended the funeral of a former Irish Republican Army commander in June. The funeral of Bobby Storey drew a large crowd, despite coronavirus rules barring mass gatherings.

The main unionist parties have demanded the resignation of Northern Irelands police chief over the controversy, claiming he has lost the confidence of their community.

You have a very fizzy political atmosphere in which those who are trying to urge for calm and restraint are sort of undermined, Hayward said.
A long brewing disagreement between India and Saudi Arabia over the price of crude oil has spilled out into the open in recent weeks. In February, Saudi Arabia fell out of the top four sources for crude oil imports, with 1.8 million metric tonnes of oil being brought into India from the kingdom.

That means Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Nigeria sent more oil to India in February than Saudi Arabia did. More broadly, it has been reported that the Indian state-controlled refinery companies will cut imports from Saudi Arabia by more than a third in May. While normally ...
NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Internet Services market will register an incremental spend of about USD 311.3 Billion, growing at a CAGR of 7.31% during the five-year forecast period. A targeted strategic approach to Internet Services 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

Internet Services 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 Internet Services market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Internet Services 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 0.5%-2.0%.

Identify favorable opportunities in Internet Services 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 Internet Services suppliers listed in this report:

This Internet Services procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

Story continues

AT&T Inc.

Verizon Communications Inc.

Comcast Corp.

Vodafone Group Plc

China Telecom Corp. Ltd.

CenturyLink Inc.

CCO Holdings LLC

T-Mobile US Inc.

Telefonica SA

Cox Communications Inc.

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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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"A 660 KV HVDC Matiari-Lahore Transmission Project is CPEC Project which has been envisioned to evacuate power from power plants in South of the country", State-run National Transmission Dispatch Company officially announced on Wednesday

MIRPUR (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Apr, 2021 ): "A 660 KV HVDC Matiari-Lahore Transmission Project is CPEC Project which has been envisioned to evacuate power from power plants in South of the country", State-run National Transmission Dispatch Company officially announced on Wednesday.

"It has a designed capacity of 4000 MW and is being built on BOOT basis", the NTDC said in an official statement released to the media Wednesday evening.

The Project will be owned and operated by Pak MLTC for 25 years and after that it will be transferred to NTDC. HVDC is a new technology in Pakistan and is widely being used around the world in long distance transmission, it said.

The statement continued as saying "The Project Agreements were signed between NTDC and M/s. Pak MLTC in Prime Minister House Islamabad on 14th May, 2018, and construction of the Project was started in December 2018. Currently, the construction of the Project is almost complete and the Project is at advanced stages of testing and commissioning, and more than 95% testing and commissioning stands completed.

During the latter part of the testing and commissioning, while the Project was energized on low power testing on 02.12.2020, severe frequency oscillations were experienced throughout the network and to avoid the network outages, HVDC system was blocked after around 14 minutes operation on lower power at 200 MW flow on Line.

Afterwards, NTDC revisited all the technical and contractual details pertaining to testing and commissioning and after a detailed analysis, the testing activities of the Project were halted on 11.12.2020 and a Notice of Dispute was served by NTDC to the Project Company on various technical and contractual grounds.

The Project Company prepared a detailed Root-Cause Analysis Report of the frequency oscillations event and submitted the same for review of Owner Engineer, M/s. Hatch Canada, and Independent Engineer, M/s. CESI. Both recommended some changes, suggested mitigation measures, and highlighted certain pre-requisites to be fulfilled before resumption of testing and commissioning. Apart from that, there were certain contractual obligations which were impacted by Covid-19 pandemic and were considered essential to proceed with testing. Therefore, the process of negotiations between NTDC and the Project Company was started in order to devise a way forward based on good faith between the Parties.

Thereafter, a series of high-level discussions were started between NTDC and Pak MLTC to resolve the issues under the dispute resolution mechanism provided in the contract documents.

Detailed discussions between the Parties to resolve the issues continued for around 2 months and each and every issue was deliberated upon during the said period. Negotiating teams from both the Parties worked day and night to reach plausible solutions on the matters under dispute.

It is also imperative to state that various forums and entities were actively involved in this whole process of negotiations, that is, Ministry of Energy, PPIB, BoD NTDC, Foreign Office, Chairman CET China, and CPEC Authority played vital role during the proceedings of negotiations and provided amicable support to close the issues and reach common grounds to move forward. Resultantly, the MoU was signed between NTDC and Pak MLTC on 18.02.2021, with new targeted COD of the Project on 1st September, 2021, along with outlining a road map for undertaking further testing and commissioning activities of the Project.

As a result of MoU, low power testing of the Project was resumed in the end of February, which continued in the month of March, 2021. Currently, low power testing of the Project is complete, uptil the level of 800 MW, for both Monopole and Bipole, and further trial run at low power will continue till 30th April, 2021, and then high-power testing for 2200 MW and 4000 MW will be started which will be continued till 31st August, 2021, and pursuant to successful completion of high-power testing, the COD of the Project shall be declared on 1st September, 2021, accordingly.

The agreements reached in the MoU by the management of both Parties were translated into amendments in the Contract documents and external counsels were engaged to draft Addendum Agreements to supplement the common grounds agreed upon. The Draft Addendum Agreements, incorporating changes in the main Agreements, were initialed on 18.02.2021 in WAPDA House Lahore by management of both Parties and were thereafter put forth to both CET and NTDC board of directors for approval and were approved by both Board of Directors accordingly and then were approved by BoD of PPIB and were further sent to Ministry of Energy for securing approval of Govt of Pakistan.

The summary for approval of Addendum Agreements was taken up at ECC on 31.03.2021. As per these Addendum agreements CoD of the Project shall be declared on 1st September, 2021, and NTDC will take over partial O&M of Line, limited to patrolling.

It is pertinent to indicate that at the moment HVDC Project is energized at low power and energy is being transferred through the Line as test energy, as per agreed points in the MoU, and the Project will continue to operate on trial run basis on low power till 30th April, 2021 and thereby cheaper energy from southern power plants will be added in the national grid.

The successful and amicable resolution between Chinese company and NTDC speaks the volume of Pak-China long last friendship which will further enhance the cooperation between both the brother counties", the statement concluded. Ends
BESTHESDA, Maryland and CASTRES, France, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The US biopharmaceutical company ValenzaBio and the French pharmaceutical group Pierre Fabre announced today the signing of a license agreement of a preclinical insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) antagonist antibody, for the treatment of Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), an endocrine disease with unmet medical need. ValenzaBio received from Pierre Fabre the worldwide and exclusive rights to develop and commercialize, outside of oncology, the anti-IGF-1R antibody, discovered by Pierre Fabre at its Center of immunology located in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois (France), with the aim of treating patients suffering from TED. Other indications in rare diseases could also be developed by ValenzaBio. In parallel, Pierre Fabre is pursuing the development of its anti-IGF-1R ADC program (W0101) in oncology.

"Pierre Fabre's expertise in monoclonal antibody and on the IGF-1 biology led us to develop a compound with picomolar binding affinity and unique internalization properties. Based on these properties, this monoclonal antibody has the potential to be the best in class product for the treatment of TED. ValenzaBio has demonstrated an ability to apply thoughtful clinical and regulatory strategies to take oncology drugs into autoimmune and inflammatory settings. We are now delighted to work with the highly motivated team at ValenzaBio to bring this antibody to autoimmune patients with medical needs." said Nathalie Corvaia, Head of Immuno-Oncology Research at Pierre Fabre.

TED is a debilitating auto-immune disease associated with eye orbital inflammation and tissue remodeling which can result in significant proptosis, and might lead to vision loss.

Steroids are currently the first-line treatment but present several drawbacks complicating patient journey (lack of long-term efficacy, burden of administration scheme, promote comorbidities).

Current evidence indicates that IGF-1R is a proven target of interest that can bring value to patients.

Under the terms of the License and Commercialization agreement, Pierre Fabre will receive an upfront payment at signature, as well as additional development and sales milestone payments and will be eligible to receive royalties on future ValenzaBio sales. In addition, Pierre Fabre will make an equity investment in ValenzaBio.

Under the planned partnership, Pierre Fabre will have the option to reclaim rights in territories outside North America upon completion of the proof of concept in the TED indication. Pierre Fabre in return would then pay ValenzaBio royalties on sales in these territories.

Patrick J. Crutcher, President and CEO of ValenzaBio, stated : "The Pierre Fabre Group has a worldwide reputation for exceptional products and a mission-driven approach to healthcare. Pierre Fabre has also been a leader in working directly with patients, alongside their health care professionals, to ensure patients play a more active role in treating their illnesses. This patient-centric approach is fundamental to the ValenzaBio mission as well. Together, we believe we can develop transformative treatments for the TED community."

"We are delighted to make this monoclonal antibody, developed under the code name VB421 by ValenzaBio, originating from our oncology research, available to ValenzaBio and thus to contribute to the search for an innovative therapeutic solution for patients with medical need. This agreement is another example of our deliberate strategy to partner with biotechs at pre-clinical, clinical or commercialization stages." commented Eric Ducournau, CEO of the Pierre Fabre Group.

About ValenzaBio, Inc.

ValenzaBio is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing safe and effective therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The company is advancing a pipeline of differentiated monoclonal antibodies targeting clinically validated mechanisms of action, in order to provide improved therapies for patients with limited treatment options. ValenzaBio's lead program, VB119, is being developed for the treatment of membranous nephropathy (MN), followed by VB421, which is being developed for the treatment of thyroid eye disease. ValenzaBio is based in Bethesda, Md.

For more information, please visit www.valenzabiotech.com

About Pierre Fabre

Pierre Fabre is the 2nd largest dermo-cosmetics laboratory in the world, the 2nd largest private French pharmaceutical group and the market leader in France for non-prescription products sold in pharmacies.

In 2020, Pierre Fabre generated 2.2 billion in revenues, 65% of which came from international sales.

Established in the South-West of France since its creation, the Group manufactures over 95% of its products in France and employs some 10,000 people worldwide. Its products are distributed in about 130 countries.

Pierre Fabre is 86%-owned by the Pierre Fabre Foundation, a government-recognized public-interest foundation, and secondarily by its own employees through an international employee stock ownership plan.

In 2019, Ecocert Environment assessed the Group's corporate social and environmental responsibility approach according to the ISO 26000 standard on sustainable development and awarded it the ECOCERT 26000 "Excellence" level.

Further information about Pierre Fabre can be found at www.pierre-fabre.com, @PierreFabre

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From the curve of the mouth to the arch of the dark brows and set of the chin, the likeness between my 21-year-old granddaughter Bonnie and me at the same age is striking.

Children of our time, we differ on the hair and make-up front. I had a Vidal Sassoon straight-cut bob turned a little unruly as the curls took over, while Bonnie has hers fashionably parted near the middle and tames her curls so they lie long and (more-or-less) straight.

But there's the same straightness of gaze, a fearlessness in the eyes  a willingness to take risks that will serve Bonnie well throughout her life, as it did me.

And will no doubt get her in trouble of the kind that I got into myself (no regrets).

That special something in the genes that tells me I'll still be somewhere around when I'm gone. And I can think of nowhere I'd rather be alive and thriving than in the spirit of my granddaughter.

The regeneration game: Elisabeth Luard as a young woman (right) and her granddaughter Bonnie at 19 (left)

Recently, Joan Collins (probably the most glamorous granny who ever lived) revelled in the same thrill. She posted a photograph of her 16-year-old granddaughter Ava, remarking on her likeness to herself just a few years older.

In their case, they share the same feline eyes, high cheekbones and full lips.

It's the magical genes lottery that causes likeness to sometimes skip a generation. We get our genes from both parents in different combinations. Our parents, in turn, from their parents.

The interesting part is that this transmission doesn't eliminate any genes at any step. Only the combination varies.

Blythe's spirit: Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple Martin has inherited her gran Blythe Danner's genes

A hed start: Tippi Hendren passed on her looks through Melanie Griffith to Dakota Johnson

The Pres gang: Actress Riley Keough has the unmistakable cheekbones of her granny, Priscilla Presley

So when your genetic combination resembles that of your grandparents, you end up looking like them, rather than your parents.

That's why Shirley Bassey's granddaughter is her mirror image; so too fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, actresses Tippi Hedren and Blythe Danner (Gwyneth's mum) and their granddaughters.

It's an easy relationship  grandmothers and granddaughters. It works.

There's none of the hustle and bustle of parenting, no reason to take things personally when stuff goes wrong in their lives or yours.

There's a natural compatibility, an us-against-the-world complicity, between the generations on either side of the middle generation  those who feel responsible for our welfare.

If you're lucky, as I was, the relationship starts right at the beginning, with those times when exhausted parents need someone reliable to babysit who'll return their precious newborn fed, changed and reasonably untroubled by wind.

I have five London-based grandchildren, no longer babes-in-arms but mid-teenagers and 20-somethings, plus my son's two New York-based daughters.

I'd never single out one or other as my favourite  I'm far too well aware, as the child of the 'wrong' side of a family (father killed in war, mother married again), of where that leads.

Clone Collins: Ava Newley's likeness was celebrated by her glamourpuss grandmother Joan Collins

Double Reynolds: There's no mistaking the similarity between actress Billie Lourd and gran Debbie Reynolds

Bonnie is the middle child of my middle daughter, Poppy  the only blonde and blue-eyed child in a family of dark-haired, brown-eyed folk.

Funnily enough she resembles my blond, blue-eyed father more than she does me. But Bonnie's likeness to me, of course, comes through her mother.

Bonnie and I loved each other from the moment our eyes first met  mine brown, hers blue  21 years ago almost to the day. She tells me she can see our physical likeness: 'I've always known it, Gran  it makes me happy.'

Despite the similarities, there are differences. In lifestyle mainly. While, aged 21, I was marrying my late husband Nicholas at a big society wedding, Bonnie finds the idea of marrying anyone at her age  or possibly ever  absurd.

Like me, though, she doesn't recognise her limitations.

If she's told what she can and can't do, she just smiles sweetly and does it anyway.

As I remember, Bonnie didn't bother to speak until she was good and ready. But there was never any doubt she understood every word she heard. It happened very suddenly, as if she'd been storing information for a time of need.

We were queuing together for service in a cafe. Bonnie, a toddler of about 18 months, invisible to anyone standing behind the counter, suddenly delivered a full sentence. 'I'll have a croissant, please. With jam.'

Things haven't changed all that much. Our relationship  while food is not the be-all-and-end-all of what we do together  is firmly seated at the kitchen table. I'm a food writer after all  so where else would it be?

Girlie Bassies: Dame Shirley Bassey passed on her famous lip-curl to granddaughter Tatjana Novak

We have history. I was actually her roomy. When I had nowhere to stay overnight in London on a work trip, she'd open a flip-out couch in her bedroom and we'd talk late as we caught up on her life and mine.

And she'd hop on a train to my old home in Aberystwyth  a five-hour journey from London  for a chance to unwind from school for a weekend, bottle-feeding orphan lambs, gathering blueberries for jam and other things you do in the wilds of Wales.

She was always the first to jump in the river where the cousins all swam beneath overhanging trees when the water was peat-brown and still swollen with snow-melt.

And she was always the one to negotiate in sign language for jelly-snakes and pebble-sweets with the old lady in the kiosk when the family was on holiday in Spain.

I recognise the joy Bonnie feels in defying physical limits. I nearly drowned myself as a six-year-old in the salt-water pool on an ocean liner on the way to my stepfather's posting to the British embassy in Uruguay.

There, too, I learned that whatever anyone else found delicious, I would as well.

These links between us are far more than skin-deep.

It's childhood memories shared, or that moment of magic when one of you recognises themselves in the other.

I'm pleased as Punch when people tell us we look alike (give or take the passing years)  but more important is that deeper bond.

And it's that, in the long run, which makes relationships between grannies and granddaughters as good as it gets.
When the swollen Mississippi River threatened to jump its banks and inundate New Orleans in April 1927, an ad hoc group of business people, with the mayors blessing, dynamited the levee downriver at Caernarvon. That displaced 10,000 people in lower St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes  and they were livid - but it relieved pressure on the levee at New Orleans and was thought to have averted riverine flooding in the big city.

Lawmakers quickly concluded there had to be a better way to control the river. In 1928, Congress federalized flood protection along the Mississippi and its tributaries and put the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in charge. The next year, the corps started building the Bonnet Carre Spillway at Norco, the site of a natural crevasse 33 river miles up the Mississippi.

What is it?

The Bonnet Carre  French for square hat - is basically a 5-mile-long ditch between the Mississippi and Lake Pontchartrain. At the river, its 7,700 feet wide, expanding to 12,400 feet at the lake.

At the river, the corps built a weir to hold back water. It has 350 20-foot-wide bays, each closed off by 20 creosoted timbers, called pins or needles, that rest upright in the bays.

How does it work?

Once the river rises to about 12 feet above sea level at New Orleans, water begins to leak through the pins in the weir and flow towards the lake.

When the corps decides water is flowing too quickly past New Orleans  approaching 1.25 million cubic feet per second  and could threaten levees, cranes roll out along the top of the weir and pull the 11-foot-long, 400-pound pins from the bays, allowing river water to rush into the spillway and onto Lake Pontchartrain. The number of bays to be opened varies, depending on the volume and speed of the river and its threat to New Orleans.

When has it opened?

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In its 90-year existence, the spillway has been opened to avert downriver flooding only 15 times. Six of those came in just the past decade, including an unprecedented double opening in 2019.

Only five times have all 350 bays been opened, most recently in 1983.

What happens to the lake?

While the spillway is designed to forestall flooding in New Orleans, operating it introduces more nutrient- and sediment-laced freshwater into the brackish Lake Pontchartrain. The increased nutrients, largely fertilizer runoff from the Midwest, often lead to harmful blooms of blue-green algae that threaten the health of both human beings and animals.

The sediment helped restore the lakes bottom layer after shell dredging there was banned in 1989. But the freshwater often displaces shrimp and other fisheries that prefer more brackish or salty habitats. In years when the diversion is open for months at a time, the effects on fisheries extend into Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne and Breton Sound.

What happens the rest of the time?

Outside of flood season, the spillway attracts tens of thousands of people every year for fishing, crawfishing, hunting, dog training, camping, wildlife watching, ATV and motorcycle riding and model airplane flying.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect length for the pins.
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/08/2021 -- Integrating digital technology in personal protection equipment (PPE) including industrial protective footwear or safety footwear is a potential opportunity. For example, Germany based UVEX Group, a global industrial protective footwear manufacturer is in the process of integrating digital sensors and actuators in industrial protective footwear. Information relayed by the sensors and actuators can be analyzed and necessary actions can be taken by the safety footwear to avoid slipping or loss of control. In October 2017, the Group launched these smart PPE (Smart Insole - uvex 1 techware) at the A+A trade fair in Germany. Thus, integration of digital technologies in industrial protective footwear is expected to create good opportunity for market players.



An industrial accident is always an unexpected, undesirable and a sudden event in an industrial setup that causes interruptions in the orderly progress of any work. It might cause harm to people during the time of his or her employment. Technological progress together with the upgradation of safety regulations and standards is prophesized to drive the growth of the global industrial protective footwear market in the near future. Unwanted incidents like loss of fingers, broken bones, and crushed feet often take place in fishing, forestry, and construction sectors. On the other hand, cutting one's feet, severed fingers, and lacerations often happens when one works in an environment where there is extensive use of scrap metal, blades, chainsaws or nails. To ensure safety of one's feet and legs in such setups, it is necessary to wear protective footwear, which is likely to foster growth of the global industrial protective footwear market in the near future.



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Given the chances of such occurrences, manufacturers have realized and come up with various foot safety protection programs pertaining to machine maintenance, training, inspection, selection, and fit testing so as to protect workers from such foot injuries at various industrial setups. These foot-related safety programs mandate manufacturers to stick to the stringent safety norms as set out by the programs and thus save lives of workers and surplus expenses of the employers. It also reduces or does away with the loss of production time, medical expenditure, and compensations to workers arising out of such situations. These benefits are likely to widen the scope of growth of the global industrial protective footwear market in the near future.



There has been a trend of shifting production facilities from various developed nations to developing countries like India and China. Various favorable conditions, such as low cost of raw materials, labor, and less amount of capital investment than developed regions of Europe and North America have spelled boon for the countries like India and China. In addition to that, governments in these countries are offering financial incentives, such as preferential tax rates for setting up of various manufacturing sites, including protective footwear. Such flourishing business in the Asia Pacific region is likely to add to the growth of the global industrial protective footwear market in the years to come.



However, the ongoing global pandemic, Covid-19, has led to sever demand-supply gap in the market. China being one of the prominent manufacturers of such protective footwear has suffered a blow with worldwide lockdown and restrictions to contain the spread of coronavirus. The market is anticipated pick up after the arrival of a vaccine or a drug for the treatment of coronavirus



Asia Pacific countries also offer opportunities for global industrial protective footwear manufacturers. Presently in Asia Pacific, per capita footwear consumption is low and per capita safety footwear consumption is even lower compared to developed countries. Per capita footwear consumption in the U.S., U.K., China, and India are 7.2, 6.8, 2.3, and 2.1 pairs respectively.



Asia Pacific has the largest population in the world. It also has the largest number of labor and contract workers in the world. The number of work related deaths are also highest in the region. According to ILO and Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Institute, Singapore, Asia Pacific has the largest (almost two-third) work related mortality in the world.All these factors are prompting governments in the region to implement laws related to the safety of their workers. In India, the Factories Act, 1948 protects the health and safety of workers.Rising awareness about occupational safety and increase in industrial safety regulations is increasing the demand for industrial protective footwear in the region. Asia Pacific offers significant opportunity for growth of the global industrial protective footwear market, thus increasing the demand for industrial protective footwear across the globe.



The study provides a conclusive view of the global industrial protective footwear market by segmenting it in terms of product type, density, material, gender, application, end-user, and distribution channel. In terms of product type, the market has been classified into shoes and boots. Based on density, the market has been segmented into single density and double density. In terms of material, the market is segmented into leather, rubber, plastic, and PU (polyurethane). Based on gender, the market has been segmented into male, female, and unisex. Based on application, the market has been segmented into construction, manufacturing, mining, oil & gas, chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, and transportation. In terms of end-user, the global industrial protective footwear market is segmented into residential and commercial. Based on distribution channel, the market is segmented into online and offline.



Developed regions such as North America and Europe already have stringent health and safety regulations for safety of their workers.Safety footwear regulations in Europe must comply with the standard EN ISO 20345:2011. Toecap regulations of industrial protective footwear are SB, S1P, S3, and S5. Any industrial protective footwear that is classified as SB only has a protective toecap. Industrial protective footwear that is classified as S1P is anti-static and made with a protective toecap and midsole only. S3 styles are the most commonly specified standard for the industry. Any industrial protective footwear that is classified as S5 is polymer or rubber molded construction, making them water and leak proof.



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Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is a global testing and certification organization, testing various products including personal protection equipment (PPE) which includes industrial protective footwear. CSA Group estimated that the average annual counterfeit market is worth US$ 500 billion of which share of footwear is 14.0%. CSA Group has alerted consumers about counterfeit industrial protective footwear brands such as Scorpion, Tiger, and TIG sold by Harron Trading Ltd, Markham, Ontario, Canada. These footwear bear the unauthorized CSA registered trademark and pose danger to users. Harron Trading Ltd in collaboration with CSA Group recalled 2,020 pairs of safety footwear of Scorpion safety footwear. Thus, rise in counterfeit industrial protective footwear across the globe is restraining the growth of the industrial protective footwear market.



The report highlights major companies operating in the global industrial protective footwear market including Honeywell International Inc., Dunlop Protective Footwear, VF Corporation, Bata Industrial, UVEX WINTER HOLDING GmbH & Co. KG, Elten GmbH, Rock Fall (UK) Ltd, Simon Corporation, Wolverine, and Rahman Industries Ltd.



Read Our Trending Press Release Below: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pandemic-trends-to-help-fiber-optic-connectors-market-develop-at-8-1-cagr-over-forecast-period-of-2019-to-2027--notes-tmr-301172733.html
New Delhi: Night curfew has been imposed in Gautam Buddh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh from 10 pm to 5 am till April 17 due to rising cases of COVID-19 in the district, following the order issued by District Magistrate Suhas L Y. The order, however, said that there will intensive enforcement of masks and other COVID protocols.

The DM's order said, "there shall be an intensive enforcement of masks and other protocols in public places including workplaces, by police/incident commander and by concerned departments."

According to the order, movement of essential goods, medical and other essential services shall be exempted from night curfew in Gautam Buddh Nagar.

Uttar Pradesh has reported 40 coronavirus fatalities, the highest in recent weeks, and 6,023 new cases on Wednesday, pushing the toll to 8,964 and the infection tally to 6,45,930.

Lucknow district administration said that all educational institutions, barring medical, nursing and para-medical institutes, would remain closed till April 15. District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash said that examinations would be allowed in recognised educational institutes with strict adherence to protocols.

Night curfew will be imposed under the Lucknow Municipal Corporation from Thursday till April 16, the official told PTI, as the coronavirus cases continue to surge.

Six employees, working in the King George's Medical University vice chancellor's office, tested positive for coronavirus despite having received both shots of the vaccine, a doctor told the news agency, adding that this comes a day after as many as 39 KGMU doctors, including the vice-chancellor, were found infected with the virus.

The 40 new fatalities on Wednesday in the state include six from Lucknow, five from Kanpur, four from Ballia, three each from Allahabad and Varanasi, and two each from Moradabad, Ghazipur, Amroha and Fatehpur, according to a health bulletin.

According to the health bulletin, of the 6,023 new cases, 1,333 are from Lucknow, followed by 811 in Allahabad, 593 in Varanasi and 300 in Kanpur, among others. As many as 6.05 lakh patients have recovered and there are 31,987 active cases, it added.
NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) announces a new Holocaust survivor-led, digital campaign, #ItStartedWithWords.

Before local anti-Jewish laws were enacted, before neighborhood shops and synagogues were destroyed, and before Jews were forced into ghettos, cattle cars, and camps, words were used to stoke the fires of hate. #ItStartedWithWords is a digital, Holocaust education campaign posting weekly videos of survivors from around the world reflecting on those moments that led up to the Holocaust  a period of time when they could not have predicted the ease with which their long-time neighbors, teachers, classmates, and colleagues would turn on them, transitioning from words of hate to acts of violence.

"The Holocaust started with words," said Gideon Taylor, President of the Claims Conference. "Hateful words that were yelled in the park, spat on the street, and roared in the classroom. These words alienated, belittled, and shocked; but worse, these words gave birth to the horrific massacre of six million Jews. The #ItStartedWithWords campaign will show through first-hand survivor testimony that the Holocaust didn't come out of nowhere. It literally started with words."

#ItStartedWithWords will use survivor testimony to give context to the origins of the Holocaust -- the foundation of antisemitism that Hitler and the Nazis used to generate support across Europe before a single act of war was undertaken. The goal of the campaign is to show how words of hate can become actions, and how those actions can have unimaginable outcomes.

Greg Schneider, Executive Vice President of the Claims Conference said, "You don't wake up one morning deciding to participate in mass murder. Hate speech, propaganda, antisemitism, and racism were the roots that culminated in genocide. The shocking results of our 2020 U.S. Millennial Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness Survey, which found that 63 percent of Millennials and Gen Z did not know six million Jews were murdered, clarifies for us how important it is, not just to teach the history of the Holocaust, but to provide context for how such a horrific outcome like the Holocaust started.

Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook had this to say, "As the years go by, survivors are getting older and fewer. So, it's important for younger generations to hear their stories and learn about the events that led up to the Holocaust. That's why Facebook is proud to partner with the Claims Conference on their #ItStartedWithWords campaign for Yom HaShoah. Words are powerful. This campaign reminds us to learn from the past and understand how hateful and harmful words used against others can have grave consequences. I am grateful to the Claims Conference for focusing on this lesson so we can remember the stories of Holocaust survivors and ensure that this never happens again."

Several well-known Holocaust survivors from around the world recorded videos to be posted for the campaign.

Holocaust survivor Abe Foxman, born in Poland in 1940, now lives in the U.S. In his campaign video post he shares his thoughts on the origins of the Holocaust, saying "The crematoria, gas chambers in Auschwitz and elsewhere did not begin with bricks, it began with wordsevil words, hateful words, antisemitic words, words of prejudice. And they were permitted to proceed to violence because of the absence of words." LINK TO VIDEO

Holocaust survivor and Chairman, Yad Vashem Council Yisrael Meir Lau, born in Poland in 1937, now lives in Israel. His hometown of Piotrkow Trybunalski had more than 10,000 Jews before the war, but most were deported to Treblinka in 1942 and killed. "They thought they could eliminate a people with words," he says in his video post. "And then it turned out that it indeed happened." LINK TO VIDEO

Holocaust survivor Sidney Zoltak, born in Poland in 1931, now lives in Canada. In his video post, he remembers witnessing hate at a particularly young age: "When I was four years old in 1935, I visited my grandparents in a village where they ran the general store. In front of their store there were young Poles with signs 'Don't Buy From a Jew.' I didn't know what antisemitism was, but that was the first act of antisemitism that I witnessed. Antisemitism in Poland at that time was not only tolerated, but it was encouraged." LINK TO VIDEO

To provide educational resources from partner museums and institutions, as well as the collection of the survivor videos from the campaign, the Claims Conference has also launched ItStartedWithWords.org, a web site that will serve as a resource for educators around the world.

Nearly 50 museums and institutions from around the world are participating in the campaign including: the United Nations (UN); the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM); Yad Vashem; the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA); Fondation Pour La Memoire De La Shoah; the Anne Frank House, Netherlands; UNESCO; the Memorial of the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin; the Anne Frank Center, Argentina; the Montreal Holocaust Museum; Holocaust Educational Trust of the UK; the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust; Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center; the Museum of Jewish Heritage; POLIN, Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw and many more.

About the Claims Conference: The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), a nonprofit organization with offices in New York, Israel and Germany, secures material compensation for Holocaust survivors around the world. Founded in 1951 by representatives of 23 major international Jewish organizations, the Claims Conference negotiates for and disburses funds to individuals and organizations and seeks the return of Jewish property stolen during the Holocaust. As a result of negotiations with the Claims Conference since 1952, the German government has paid more than $80 billion in indemnification to individuals for suffering and losses resulting from persecution by the Nazis. In 2021, the Claims Conference will distribute approximately $625 million in direct compensation to over 260,000 survivors in 83 countries and will allocate approximately $640 million in grants to over 300 social service agencies worldwide that provide vital services for Holocaust survivors, such as homecare, food and medicine.

SOURCE Claims Conference

Related Links

http://www.claimscon.org


The woman behind Oxford's coronavirus jab is in line for a multi-million pound windfall as her company plans to float on the stock market.

Professor Sarah Gilbert stands to make more than 17million when Vaccitech, the firm she co-founded, debuts on Wall Street.

The mother-of-three owns just over 5 per cent of the company and it was recently valued at 327million  although reports suggest that could rise.

Windfall: Professor Sarah Gilbert stands to make more than 17m when Vaccitech, the firm she co-founded, debuts on Wall Street

Co-founder Professor Adrian Hill, who is director of Oxford University's Jenner Institute, holds the same number of shares as Gilbert and could also make 17million, according to filings on Companies House.

The pair founded Vaccitech as an Oxford University spinout in 2016.

Its signature technology, which uses a harmless version of a respiratory virus found in chimpanzees, is the cornerstone of the coronavirus jab being administered to millions of Britons.

Gilbert grew up in Kettering, Northamptonshire. Her father worked at a shoe factory and her mother was a teacher.

She studied biological sciences and did a PhD at Hull University before getting a job at Oxford in 1994.

The scientist  whose triplets took part in trials of the Oxford jab  never meant to become an expert in vaccines.

'I actually came to Oxford to work on a human genetics project,' she said previously.

'That highlighted the role of a particular type of immune response in protection against malaria and so the next thing to move on to was to make a vaccine that would work through that type of immune response  and that's how I got into vaccines.'

Since then, with Hill, she has pioneered the use of genetically altered viruses to make vaccines for diseases such as influenza, Mers, Zika and Ebola.

Astrazeneca was given exclusive rights to sell and distribute Oxford's Covid-19 vaccine. However this is being done at no profit during the pandemic.

This, along with the ease with which the jab can be transported and stored, has led the World Health Organisation to hail it as a 'vaccine for the world'.

After the pandemic, Vaccitech is expected to share in any revenues from continued sales of the vaccine and it is developing booster jabs for variants of the virus.

It has notified regulators in the US of its intention to float  the first step towards becoming a company with publicly-traded shares  according to the Financial Times.
Venzee closes significant Mesh Connector deal with leading Product Information Management Partner

CHICAGO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Venzee Technologies Inc. (TSXV: VENZ) ("Venzee" or the "Company") a smart tech platform that automates the distribution of consumer-facing product information to retailers, announces today a purchase of additional Connectors from a Product Information Management (PIM) partner.

The partner is an industry-leading master data management (MDM) and PIM platform that provides a competitive advantage to large global brands. They engaged Venzee to fully automate the syndication of product information to their client base using the Company's proprietary Mesh Connector product.

According to Peter Montross, COO of Venzee Technologies, "Innovative, next-generation PIM providers like this partner clearly recognize the value and differentiation that Venzee provides to brands, and they seek to leverage Venzee to drive deeper brand engagements and compete more effectively."

Through new clients and deeper penetration across existing engagements, the Company anticipates it will continue announcing, on a regular basis, additional sales of Mesh Connectors within brands and manufacturers who have deeply integrated Venzee's platform capabilities across their retail sales channel operations.

Radically simpler than alternatives, Venzee's Mesh Connectors are unique in the market, system agnostic and infinitely scalable. Venzee's intelligent platform offers partners and brands a reliable, machine-to-machine interface that accelerates the distribution of product information to any retail destination.

With nearly 400 major retail Mesh Connectors available to clients, Venzee has become an important tool in the simplification and automation of syndication processes for brands globally.

About Venzee Technologies, Inc.

Venzee (TSXV: VENZ) is a technology platform used by Global Brands to speed products to market and create competitive supply chain advantages. Venzee displaces costly, labor-intensive last-mile retail processes with a low-cost, intelligent platform solution.

We believe intelligent supply chain functionality is inevitable and will significantly benefit growers, makers, brands, sellers, regulators, and consumers. At Venzee, we're building the foundation for a future where seamless, accurate, automated data flow simplifies processes, removes friction, and creates value for all those that rely on the myriad of data and information surrounding any product, anywhere.

Venzee's mission is to unlock shareholder value by creating intelligent technology that removes friction from the global supply chain. Our products disrupt and displace inefficient manual processes in favor of integrated, machine-driven solutions.

To learn more about the Venzee platform, visit venzee.com

Twitter: @usevenzee

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venzee-inc/

Podcast: https://www.venzee.com/resources/podcast

On Behalf of the Board,

Annie Dysart

Marketing Specialist

Venzee Technologies, Inc.

[email protected]

888-359-8110

Investor Relations

Kin Communications, Inc.

[email protected]

604-684-6730

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the terms of the Offering, the completion of the Offering and the expected use of the net proceeds received by the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; and regulatory risks. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained under "Risk Factors and Uncertainties" in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2018, and the quarter ended August 29, 2019, which are available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.

The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Venzee Technologies Inc.
The new border-related Covid-19 case reported earlier today is now confirmed as a current case after todays test result returned positive.

"Other test results we have today of four members from an adjoining house have returned negative," says a statement from the Ministry of Health.

"A co-worker who often drove the case to and from work has also returned a negative result."

As reported earlier, the case has not yet been vaccinated.

The Ministry understands two appointments for vaccination were missed by the case due to personal reasons.

The employer is being contacted for further relevant information.

"We know that the company employing this case has vaccinated 79 per cent of its MIF workers and 81 per cent of the Grand Millennium staff have received their first vaccination," says the Ministry.

"As part of the follow-up actions in response to the case the testing frequency for staff in the Grand Millennium has been increased to weekly for the next fortnight.

"A spot infection control audit of the Grand Millennium was undertaken today.

"At this stage, there are no locations of interest to report."

The Ministrys overall assessment is that the public health risk to the wider community from this case is low.

The next update will be provided Friday.
A Los Angeles judge has dismissed former Rep. Katie Hill's request for a restraining order against her ex-husband that would have banned him from revealing intimate photos and confidential information about her.

The judgement handed down on Thursday comes a day after the disgraced Democratic congresswoman lost a lawsuit against DailyMail.com over revealing details of her three-way affair with a campaign staffer.

Hill sued the publisher of DailyMail.com, news site Red State, and her ex Kenny Heslep in December, claiming that nude photos of her included in the stories as evidence of her affair were 'revenge porn' and part of 'a revenge vendetta'.

Hill's case was tossed on Wednesday after Judge Yolanda Orozco found the stories about her were of 'compelling public interest' and protected by the First Amendment.

But up until Thursday Hill had remained embroiled in a vicious war with Heslep - whom she had accused of abusing her violently and sexually for years and of destroying her career by exposing intimate details of her sexual history.

Hill had sued her ex-husband Kenneth Heslep in December, accusing him of launching a 'scorched earth attack' on her after she broke up with him by distributing nude photos to DailyMail.com and RedState, a conservative media site

Hill, 33, resigned from Congress in 2019 after shocking nude photos emerged of the politician cavorting with Morgan Desjardins, who was then a 22-year-old junior staffer, (pictured all together) and an ethics probe was launched into her alleged affair with another aide

On Thursday, Judge Lawrence Riff ordered the dismissal after hearing from the former couple's lawyers that the two had reached an out-of-court settlement.

The court action had been postponed several times and was last month scheduled to go to trial after Hill and Heslep failed to reach an agreement.

Judge Riff also dissolved a restraining order imposed last December that ordered Heslep to stay 100 yards away from Hill, her mother and sister, and her pets.

Heslep had argued that the restraining order Hill had taken out against him was an attempt to gag him from speaking to the media.

It came after DailyMail.com published allegations by Heslep in December that his ex-wife had sex with three of her staffers, had been involved in another throuple before Desjardins, used campaign donations for a 'sex-cation', and drank and smoked marijuana excessively while serving as a member of Congress.

Neither Hill nor Heslep were at LA Superior Court today for the 10-minute hearing where details of the private settlement were not revealed.

Hill - who resigned from Congress in 2019 after her 'throuple' sexual relationship with a campaign staff member and Heslep became public - had claimed in her original restraining order application that her former hubby had her living in fear for her life.

'I have been subject to Kenny's physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and psychological abuse for more than 15 years including, but not limited to, the many times Kenny has threatened me with guns, killed and hurt my pets in front of me, choked me until I lost consciousness and publicly released sexually explicit photos of me, solely for the purpose of destroying my life and career in Congress after I had gathered the courage to leave him,' she said in a written declaration to the court.

'While I considered filing a restraining order many times over the years, I was always afraid doing so would simply make matters worse.

'At this point, I am finally seeking a restraining order because I am afraid that he will not give up until I am dead.'

Heslep, 37, fought his ex-wife's restraining order request, vehemently denying her claims in a written declaration to the court.

The pair (pictured at their wedding) quietly settled their divorce in October 2020, a year after Hill was forced to resign after it was revealed she had a 'throuple' with a campaign staffer

Heslep said Desjardins had told Hill she was bisexual when they'd first met, and described how his wife broached the subject of a three-way date about a month later

'There has never been any abuse or domestic violence in our relationship.The allegations are false,' he insisted. He denied leaking sexy pictures of Hill. And also claimed that there has been 'virtually no contact' between him and Hill for about 18 months.

Hill - who met Heslep when she was only 16 and he 20 - said that she had hoped the 'frightening obsession' he has with her would stop when their divorce became final in September last year. But it didn't stop, she added.

'Kenny's continued attempts to publicly humiliate, intimidate and harass me have made it clear to me that Kenny's unhealthy and that his dangerous fixation on me continues, even though our divorce is final.

'I am terrified that Kenny will try to make good on the many threats he made during our relationship that I could never leave him 'or who knows what will happen' because 'neither of us could live without the other.

In an exclusive interview, the 37-year-old Heslep had described a tangled web of trysts that ended in scandal when his wife's throuple and alleged affairs with staff were revealed in 2019

'I fear for my safety, the safety of my mother and sister and the safety of my animals. Every single day I live in terror that Kenny will finally take his obsession with controlling me beyond vicious interviews with newspapers to actually showing up on my doorstep, or one of my family members' doorsteps, with one of his guns.

'I am exhausted by living in fear and even though I still worry that filing for a domestic violence restraining order will set Kenny off, I truly believe it is the only tool I have left to protect myself.'

The openly bisexual former legislator - who had served less than a year in Congress when she stepped down in the wake of the 'throuple' sex scandal involving the 24 year-old female staffer - told a harrowing tale of Heslep's physical and sexual abuse.

'Kenny would grab my buttocks, crotch and/or breasts hard, without permission, often in public or in front of other people, ' she said. 'I was often left feeling humiliated, small and ashamed.

'Kenny began insisting on trying to bring other people into our sex life, exploiting my bisexuality and using that as the reason why we needed to bring other women into our relationship, even if I agreed. Kenny equated my attraction to women with a desire ton have threesomes with him and other woman.'

Hill said that 'the more successful I became, the angrier, more volatile and more abusive Kenny became. On multiple occasions, Kenny backed me into walls when he was angry, pinning me against them and shouting in my face.

'Kenny started choking me during sex, ignoring my attempts to stop him and not letting go until after I passed out or he finished, whether I was conscious or not. On more than one occasion, I was afraid Kenny was going to kill me.'

In her declaration, Hill also complained that Heslep's anger and aggression weren't just directed at her but also at her, pets - including a cat, goat and horse.

She said that on one occasion, Heslep allowed his two husky dogs to attack and kill her cat Bones. And on another, the huskies mauled her pet goat Daisy so badly that he shot the animal to put it out of its misery.

Hill also claimed that Heslep is 'obsessed' with guns and owns 'more than a dozen.' As part of the restraining order, Judge Richardson ordered Heslep to turn in all his firearms to the police or a licensed gun dealer.

Former Democratic congresswoman Katie Hill was intimate with three of her employees, shared a bed with a fourth staffer and had two three-way relationships, her ex-husband claimed in a bombshell interview with DailyMailTV

Heslep said when a 'young, cute' 22-year-old Desjardins (pictured) started working for Hill's campaign in 2017, the two of them couldn't resist a second try at a triad

In his eight-page declaration opposing Hill's restraining order against him, Heslep told the court, 'Ms. Hill alleges that our polyamory (loving more than one person) and involvement with third parties was a form of abuse.

'However, during our marriage, Ms. Hill made it clear that she was not interested in monogamy as she was extremely interested in women.

'Her bisexuality was part of the platform on which she ran for public office. Ms. Hill wanted to remain married but explore her desire for women.

'Shortly after we were married, she began looking for another woman to bring into our marriage. We found our then girlfriend using a variety of online websites geared toward that purpose. Ms. Hill featured herself prominently on these website advertisements/profiles.'

Heslep lashed out at Hill's abuse claims. 'I never choked Ms. Hill or put my hands on her during sex or at any other time,' he declared.

'I have never engaged in anything that could be construed as choking behavior.

'I have never even in a playful way made a gesture or done anything that could be construed in this manner. I have no interest in this kind of sex play or violence.I am not a violent or angry person.'

Of Hill's contention that Heslep is 'obsessed' with guns, he said, 'In multiple interviews while campaigning, she (Hill) talks about owning guns. She ran on a platform of having guns yet also encouraging gun safety.

'Many of the guns in our home belonged to Ms. Hill, others were guns from family members. None of the guns in our home were mine. I never pointed the guns at her or at any other human being or animal for fun or to threaten.'

Heslep dismissed Hill's 'fears' for the safety of her mother and sister, as well as herself, saying, 'In the last two or three years, I do not recall any contact with her mother or sister.I have never had any conflict with her family members.'

While Heslep did admit shooting their pet goat to put it out of its misery, he added, 'The idea that I directed my animals to kill other animals is absurd. Ms. Hill and I acquired the two huskies together. I certainly did not want our huskies to attack..Ms. Hill's goats. I was not at home when one of the huskies killed our cat.'

As for Hill's claim that he released sexy photos of her, Heslep said, 'Ms. Hill alleges that I am responsible for leaking photos of her and ruining her career.

'I am a private personI only appear in one interview to defend myself several months ago after Ms. Hill's book came out making outlandish accusations against me. After over a year and a half of declining interviews, I was fed up.

'I did not knowingly disseminate any private or sexually explicit photographs of Ms. Hill, nor would I. In response to an investigation regarding the same, I voluntarily turned over my computer and many other files requested by the investigating agency.

'A year has passed and I have not been prosecuted or even contacted. I have been fully co-operative and have not even hired an attorney with respect to the matter as I have done nothing wrong.'
OceanaGold provides notice of first quarter 2021 results release date and conference call / webcast

Posted by Publisher Internet

OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC) (ASX: OGC) (the ?Company?  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/oceanagold-corp/) will release its financial and operational results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2021 after the TSX market close on Thursday April 29, 2021 (Toronto, Eastern Daylight Time). The results will be posted on OceanaGold?s website at www.oceanagold.com.

The Company will host a conference call / webcast to discuss the results at 7:30 am on Friday April 30, 2021 (Brisbane, Eastern Standard Time) / 5:30 pm on Thursday April 29, 2021 (Toronto, Eastern Daylight Time).

Webcast Participants

To register, please copy and paste the link below into your browser: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1449908&tp_key=cdfe7d41a8

Teleconference Participants

Local (toll free) dial in numbers are:

Canada & North America: 1 888 390 0546

Australia: 1 800 076 068

New Zealand: 0 800 453 421

United Kingdom: 0 800 652 2435

Switzerland: 0 800 312 635

All other countries (toll): + 1 416 764 8688

If you are unable to attend the call, a recording will be available for viewing on the Company?s website.

About OceanaGold

OceanaGold is a multinational gold producer committed to the highest standards of technical, environmental and social performance.

For 30 years, we have been contributing to excellence in our industry by delivering sustainable environmental and social outcomes for our communities, and strong returns for our shareholders. Our global exploration, development, and operating experience has created a significant pipeline of organic growth opportunities and a portfolio of established operating assets including Didipio Mine in the Philippines; Macraes and Waihi operations in New Zealand; and Haile Gold Mine in the United States of America.

Cautionary Statement for Public Release

Certain information contained in this public release may be deemed ?forward-looking? within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information relate to future performance and reflect the Company?s expectations regarding the generation of free cash flow, achievement of guidance, execution of business strategy, future growth, future production, estimated costs, results of operations, business prospects and opportunities of OceanaGold Corporation and its related subsidiaries. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as \expects\ or \does not expect\, \is expected\, \anticipates\ or \does not anticipate\, \plans\, \estimates\ or \intends\, or stating that certain actions, events or results \may\, \could\, \would\, \might\ or \will\ be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements and information. They include, among others, the outbreak of an infectious disease, the accuracy of mineral reserve and resource estimates and related assumptions, inherent operating risks and those risk factors identified in the Company?s most recent Annual Information Form prepared and filed with securities regulators which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company?s name. There are no assurances the Company can fulfill forward-looking statements and information. Such forward-looking statements and information are only predictions based on current information available to management as of the date that such predictions are made; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks facing the Company, some of which are beyond the Company\-\-s control. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual outcomes or results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The information contained in this release is not investment or financial product advice.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-09 01:11:12|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, April 8 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday highlighted the role of mine action in advancing and underpinning durable solutions to conflict.

"Mine action is an essential first step towards peace and stability," the UN chief told the Security Council Ministerial Open Debate on Mine Action.

"Deminers are often the first to enter cities and villages after ceasefires, clearing schools and hospitals, or allowing for critical repairs to water or sanitation infrastructure," he said. "Mine action enables the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons."

"Mine action can support political and peace processes," said the top UN official, noting that this has been seen in Darfur and Libya.

"In Colombia, mine action has facilitated the reintegration of former combatants, offering a pathway to civilian life," he said.

The UN chief called for efforts to "maximize the opportunities that mine action affords us."

"Whether clearing roads to farmland, routes to alternative youth employment, or access to services for victims and persons with disabilities, mine action can lay the groundwork for sustainable development and inclusion," he noted.

On the threat of explosive ordnance, the secretary-general said that "we need increased political will and cooperation to prevent and respond to the threat."

"More than 160 states are party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention," said Guterres, adding that "I call on those that have not yet acceded to the convention to do so without delay."

"Mine action means working on prevention, to end the threat at its source. It means clearing contaminated land to save lives and enable recovery," said the secretary-general.

"Ultimately, mine action is a national responsibility," the UN chief stressed.

"I welcome efforts by many member states to integrate mine action into their development plans and budgets," he added. "But political will at the national level must be complemented by partnerships and cooperation at the local, regional and international levels."

"Strong cooperation is needed among governments, the United Nations, international and civil society organizations," said Guterres. Enditem
In times of high stress and anxiety, many readers turn to a category of books referred to as gentle reads, a term that describes novels with no sex, violence or offensive language. The stories typically take place in small towns, are upbeat and often contain humorous and/or inspirational elements.

Other characteristics include gentle pacing; no unsettling incidents; laughter and wit; absence of complicated storyline; and a focus on relationships rather than suspense.

One example of a gentle read, available through the library, is "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns. Its considered a timeless, funny, resplendent novel about romance and adolescence and how people lived and died in a small Southern town at the turn of the century. Theres also an unfinished sequel, published after the authors death.

Another example is "The Persian Pickle Club" by Sandra Dallas. Set in 1930s Kansas, this story features a womens quilting circle and a secret involving one of its members. "At Home in Mitford" by Jan Karon introduces readers to a small, charming North Carolina town and its equally charming denizens.

Other gentle reads that can be found on library shelves: "A Can of Peas" by Traci DePree; "Home to Harmony" by Philip Gulley; "Eat Cake" by Jeanne Ray; "Thrush Green" by Miss Read; "Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind" by Ann Ross; "The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love" by Joan Medlicott; "Big Stone Gap" by Adriana Trigiani. Also, most anything by Alexander McCall Smith, author of the series that begins with "The Ladies Number One Detective Agency."

Library staff can help any patron trying to track down a gentle read.

VIRTUAL POETRY: Mark Yakich, English professor at Loyola University New Orleans, will discuss poetry at 6 p.m. April 19, via videoconference. Visit www.jplibrary.net/adults for more details, including how to join the discussion. Yakich is director of the Center for Editing and Publishing. He is the author of "Unrelated Individuals Forming a Group Waiting to Cross," "The Making of Collateral Beauty," "Green Zone New Orleans," "The Importance of Peeling Potatoes in Ukraine" and more. With Christopher Schaberg, he is also co-founder and co-editor of airplanereading.org, a new media project that aims to rejuvenate airplane reading. In spring 2012, Yakich was a Fulbright Fellow in the Faculty of Letters at the University of Lisbon.

COMPUTER CLASSES: Receive free computer training 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 and click East Bank Regional Schedule. Masks must be worn and social distancing is required. Upcoming classes include:
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 01:00:22|Editor: huaxia

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) thumbs up after receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at St Thomas' Hospital in London, Britain, March 19, 2021. (Andrew Parsons/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua)

Britons aged 18-29 will be offered an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine amid concerns over its possible link with reported rare cases of blood clots, the government's vaccination advisory body said Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, the European Medicines Agency confirmed a possible link between the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clotting.

LONDON, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Britons aged 18-29 will be offered an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine amid concerns over its possible link with reported rare cases of blood clots, the British government's vaccination advisory body said Wednesday.

The announcement by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) follows a review of the Oxford jab by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The MHRA said the side-effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine were extremely rare and the vaccine's effectiveness is proven, adding that the benefits of taking the vaccine are still very favorable for the vast majority.

However, it conceded the new approach is more finely balanced for younger people because the risk from coronavirus is much lower.

Photo taken on April 7, 2021 shows AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines in Cornella, Spain. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)

June Raine, chief executive of the MHRA, said at a press briefing that more than 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been given in Britain up to March 31.

According to Raine, 79 cases of rare blood clots were reported in Britain, among them 51 women and 28 men aged 18 to 79 years old.

All these 79 cases occurred after the first dose and 19 people sadly died, said Raine.

She said the risk of this kind of side effect was about four in one million to those who receive the vaccine.

"This is extremely rare and the balance of benefits and known risks of the vaccine is still very favorable for the vast number of people," she added.

While clinical trials allow the scientists to assess relatively common effects, rare side effects can only be identified when vaccines are used at scale, she said.

"The evidence is firming up" but "more work is needed to establish beyond all doubt" the vaccine has caused extremely rare blood clots, she added.

Wei Shen Lim, chairman of the JCVI, said those who have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should continue to be offered the second dose of the same vaccine.

"We are not advising a stop to any vaccination for any individual in any age group," he said.

The advice to offer an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine for younger age groups was "really out of the utmost caution" rather than "any serious safety concerns," he added.

Also on Wednesday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirmed that the occurrence of blood clots with low blood platelets are strongly associated with the administration of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, but should be still listed as very rare side effects.

A medical worker shows vials of the AstraZeneca vaccine at a hospital in Coria, Spain, on March 24, 2021. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

In its latest assessment, EMA experts told the media that the reported combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is very rare, and the overall benefits of the vaccine in preventing COVID-19 outweigh the risks of side effects.

EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee made the conclusion after carrying out an in-depth review of the more than 80 cases reported in the European Union (EU) database.

Currently, Britain is also rolling out the Pfizer jab, and the first doses of the Moderna vaccine were administered in Wales on Wednesday.

More than 31.6 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of a coronavirus vaccine, according to the official figures.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Russia, the United States as well as the EU have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines. 
Bengaluru, April 8 : Night curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. would be imposed between April 10-20 in Bengaluru and 7 cities across Karnataka to contain the Covid pandemic, which is seeing a resurgence, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said on Thursday.

"In view of surging Covid-19 cases in the state, corona night curfew will be imposed in Bengaluru, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, Manipal, Mysuru, Tumakuru and Udupi cities from April 10-20 between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.," Yediyurappa said after the virtual meeting of all Chief Ministers with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Covid situation.

Essential services will, however, be allowed during the night curfew.

Admitting that cases were rising in Bengaluru and six other districts across the state, he said the fatality rate, however, remained low (below 0.5 per cent).

According to the state health bulletin, positivity rate was 6.04 per cent and case fatality rate 0.54 per cent across the state on Wednesday.

Apprising Modi of the Covid situation in Karnataka, Yediyuyappa said more cases (4,422) were reported in Bengaluru and six districts across the state, including 240 in Kalaburagi, 216 in Mysuru, 183 in Tumakuru, 145 in Dakshina Kannada, 142 in Uttara Kannada, 129 in Bidar and 126 in Ballari.

"The Prime Minister stressed upon enhancing testing and advised the state to focus on micro-containment zones, ensure ambulances, oxygen supply and ventilators," said Yediyurappa.

"Modi advised us to intensify vaccine drive from April 11-14 and launch awareness campaign for Covid appropriate behaviour by all citizens, with the help of celebrities and opinion makers, with special focus on youth," he said.

The state government has already banned large gatherings and congregations in public areas, including places of worship, fairs and during festivals.

"Vaccination drive has been stepped up with 6,000 centres across the state. Till April 5, 53 lakh people have received the jab, covering 22.31 per cent of the targeted population above 45 years of age," asserted Yediyurappa.

In view of the surge in cases, the state health department has doubled testing to 1.2 lakh per day, with 95 per cent of them through the RT-PCR method.

"We have also ramped up general beds, oxygenated beds and intensive care units (ICUs)," said the Chief Minister.

There are 42,000 general beds, 30,000 oxygenated beds, 3,000 ICUs and 2,900 beds with ventilators in state-run hospitals across the state.

"As cooperation is must with responsible behaviour, I appeal to people across the state to follow the Covid-induced guidelines to contain the virus spread," reiterated Yediyurappa.

With 6,570 positive cases registered on Wednesday, the state's Covid tally shot up to 10,40,130, including 53,395 active cases.

Bengaluru reported 4,422 cases on Wednesday, taking the city's Covid-19 tally to 4,64,438, including 38,946 active cases.

The infection claimed 36 lives, including 22 in Bengaluru during the last 24 hours, taking the state's death toll to 12,767 and the city's toll to 4,740.

Of the 357 patients in the intensive care units (ICUs) across the state, 169 are in Bengaluru hospitals, 32 in Kalaburagi, 23 in Mysuru, 17 in Tumakuru, 14 in Dharwad and 13 each in Bidar and Dakshina Kannada, with the rest spread in the remaining 24 districts.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The biggest carbon emitter added coal-fired capacity in 2020, offsetting declines elsewhere

LAST YEAR was a bad one for coal in much of the world. As countries went into lockdown, demand for energy plummeted. With many workers obliged to stay at home, and financing for coal projects proving ever more difficult, the development and construction of coal-fired power plants stalled. There was one bright spot, however. According to a report published this week by Global Energy Monitor, an American NGO, China commissioned 38.4 gigawatts (GW) of coal-power plants in 2020. This boost in global coal-fired capacity means that, although the rest of the world idled 37.8GW of coal plants, total capacity actually increased last year for the first time since 2015.

Chinas affinity for coal, the biggest source of greenhouse gases, may be surprising given the countrys recent pledge to cut emissions to net-zero by 2060. There are, however, other mitigating factors. Local government officials, whose performance is often measured against targets for economic growth, have long used infrastructure projectsespecially coal plantsto inflate their GDP figures. In 2020, when China was one of the few countries in the world to register any growth, three-quarters of the coal-fired capacity approved for construction was sponsored by local governments and firms. Regulators did not get in their way. Chinas National Energy Administration gave several provinces the nod to approve new coal power plants.

But just because China has commissioned more coal-fired capacity does not mean that it will use it. Because so many coal plants are built to serve economic targets rather than energy needs, the country has a glut of around 400GW of excess coal-fired capacity. The average thermal power plant in China generates only about 50% of its total capacity. This means that, although China accounted for three-quarters of the worlds new coal plants in 2020, it produced just half of the worlds coal-fired power.

Still, if the world is to reach the goal of the Paris agreement, of limiting global warming to 1.5C by 2100, coal will have to be phased out soon. Last year China was the only country to move further away from the conditions needed to meet the 1.5C target, although OECD and non-OECD countries alike still have a long way to go (see chart). Chinas 14th Five Year Plan, released on March 5th, sets a target of increasing the share of non-fossil energy consumption from 16% in 2020 to 20% in 2025. Although detailed targets for coal consumption will be released later this year, such a modest goal suggests that the energy overhaul needed for China to meet its Paris climate commitments is still a long way off.

China is not the only country still clinging to coal. Joe Biden, Americas president, has called for his countrys power sector to be decarbonised by 2035. But on current trends, only one-third of Americas coal-fired power capacity will have been retired by then. Germany, India and Japan all commissioned a net increase in coal plants in 2020. But China is the land of big numbers, and in ending the worlds dependence on coal it will be China that matters most.

: economist.com
CHESAPEAKE, Va., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sean Garcia has joined Decisions as the new Vice President of Industry Solutions where he will focus on the development of industry solutions for their rules-driven, no-code business process automation platform. Mr. Garcia previously was a Manager at Bain & Company, a leading global management consultancy based in Boston, Massachusetts.

"Sean brings extensive experience to Decisions, and we look forward to his contribution in steering our industry team toward growth," said CEO Bob Irwin. "As a consultant, he's accustomed to looking at opportunities from all angles and can quickly determine their viability."

As Vice President of Industry Solutions, Mr. Garcia will augment the current Decisions platform with pre-built business process solutions that can be implemented quickly, yet also support high levels of customization. He'll also build relationships with key partners and manage industry go-to-market strategies, including sales support and customer-facing activities.

"I see my full-time role at Decisions to be an extension of my consultancy experience," said Mr. Garcia. "I'll have the opportunity to drive new initiatives, helping Decisions' clients quickly achieve higher levels of efficiency and profitability."

At Bain, Mr. Garcia was a generalist who advised clients in multiple industries, including Software, Retail, Consumer Products, and Healthcare. In addition to corporate clients, Mr. Garcia also worked with Private Equity funds on commercial due diligences and strategy for portfolio companies. Prior to Bain, he worked at Galt & Company, a boutique Strategy Consulting firm, and at General Electric, where he graduated from the prestigious Financial Management Program. Mr. Garcia earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

About Decisions

Decisions is the most accessible and most capable no-code automation platform, giving people the power to automate everything so that organizations can adapt quickly to market changes. Decisions technology is deployed as the basis of multiple commercial applications in healthcare, life sciences, finance, logistics, and operations software. It is used directly by companies on almost every continent, ranging from mid-size companies to many Fortune 500 corporations. For more information, please visit Decisions.com .

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Scott Stafford has been a reporter, photographer, and editor at a variety of publications, including the Dallas Morning News and The Berkshire Eagle. Scott can be reached at sstafford@berkshireeagle.com, or at 413-496-6301 and on Twitter at @BE_SStafford.
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced that New Zealand will temporarily suspend the entry for all travellers, including its citizens, from India for about two weeks from April 11 due to a surge in COVID-19 cases among visitors to this country.

Ban till April 28

The ban will begin on Sunday and will remain in place until April 28, she said. While arrivals from India had triggered the risk assessment, Prime Minister Ardern said the Government would be looking at risks posed by other COVID-19 hotspot countries, the New Zealand Herald reported.

AFP

The travel restriction comes after New Zealand recorded 23 new positive coronavirus cases in managed isolation on Thursday, of which 17 came from India, the report added.

"This is not a permanent arrangement but rather a temporary measure," Ardern said, adding that the temporary hold would also help reduce the risk that travellers themselves faced.

The ban covers all travellers, including New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.

While there have been previous travel bans on travellers from some countries, New Zealand has never suspended travel to New Zealand citizens and residents, Ardern said, adding that she absolutely understands the difficulty that this temporary suspension will cause for Kiwis in India.

BCCL

But I also feel a sense of responsibility and obligation to find ways to reduce risks that travellers are experiencing, she said.

New Zealand has not reported any community transmission locally for about 40 days.

COVID-19 cases in India hit a record high. India recorded 1,12,389 new cases on Wednesday, according to a PTI tally, taking the overall count to 1,29,14,174. The single-day rise in coronavirus cases breached the one-lakh mark for the third time in four days. India saw a record daily rise on Tuesday, with over 1.15 lakh new infections.
Hester Biosciences jumped 8.79% to Rs 2190 after the company signed agreement with ICAR-IVRI (Indian Council Of Agri Research - Indian Veterinary Research Institute) for classical swine fever & sheep pox vaccines.

In a regulatory filing made during market hours today, the company said that the agreements are for acquiring technologies for the production and commercialisation of classical swine fever vaccine & sheep pox vaccine.

The technologies were developed by ICAR-IVRI and the commercialization of the technologies was facilitated by Agrinnovate India, a company owned by Department of Agricultural, Research & Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.

Both the vaccines have been extensively tested by IVRI for safety and potency and have been found to provide 100% protection.

Classical swine fever vaccine has been found to induce protective immunity up to 24 months. Sheep pox vaccine has been found to induce protective immunity up to 48 months.

The vaccines hope to prevent economic losses in swine and sheep farming in India. Hester has targeted to launch both the vaccines commercially in approximately 8 months.

"The swine population in India is estimated to be 9.06 million (90 lacs). The sheep population in India is estimated to be 74.26 million (7.42 crores). With a focus on livestock as a source of income, the over-all population of swine and sheep is expected to grow rapidly thereby increasing the demand for vaccines," the company said in a statement.

Hester Biosciences is engaged in manufacturing of poultry vaccines and large animal vaccines, and trading of poultry health products and large animal health products. Its segments include poultry division and large animal division.

The company's consolidated net profit rose 7.20% to Rs 12.35 crore on a 12.23% increase in net sales to Rs 56.89 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20.

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Kathmandu, March 27

The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that the countrys Covid-19 tally has reached 276,750 as of Saturday afternoon.

The ministry says 85 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours.

In this period, 2,745 swab samples were tested. So far, 2 million and 259,045 people have been tested in the country.

As of today, 1,288 cases are active.

Of the total cases so far, 272,435 people have achieved recovery whereas 3,027 died, according to the ministry. In the past 24 hours, 93 people have been discharged whereas three deaths have been reported.

Over 50 people are quarantined across the country.
"E-commerce and omni-channel retail continue to grow, and so does the volume of returned inventory," explains SCI Omni-Channel Retail Vice President, Dave Mack. "As reverse logistics leaders, we are proud to work with B-Stock to reduce environmental impact by giving these items new life, and helping retailers build customer satisfaction and recover revenue."

Founded in 2008, B-Stock provides a technology solution to retailers and manufacturers to offer and sell returned and surplus inventory to a network of vetted business buyers. The company handles inventory from a number of ecommerce leaders and sells it to businesses through more than 60 specialized online marketplaces. Items range from apparel, cell phones, appliances, to consumer electronics.

"We needed a Canadian partner that could set up a scalable end-to-end, reverse logistics strategy for one of our largest retail clients," says Paul Busch, Director of Sales B-Stock. "SCI stepped up with a state-of-the-art facility that could manage everything from inbound staging, palletizing, storage, to inventory management for auction."

In addition to receiving, inspecting and tagging returned merchandise, the SCI reverse logistics team also removes items that cannot be resold and returns them to the manufacturer or arranges for environmentally appropriate disposal. The 12,000 square-foot facility near Toronto receives multiple truckloads each day, with items ranging from clothing to electronics to patio furniture.

"It's a true partnership, and despite the pandemic, our teams were able to get things up and running prior to the holiday season, Busch says. "The client's returns are processed the same day as they are received and immediately made available for auction. Sales cycle time, from when an auction goes live to paid and shipped, is 12 days or less."

"We are really pleased to see this valuable inventory moving through our facility to new buyers across Canada. It's gratifying to keep items out of the waste stream and to help every player in the value chain recover revenue from the returns process," Mack added.

About SCI

SCI is one of Canada's leading providers of strategic logistics and supply chain solutions. Trusted by clients in the omni-channel retail, technology , and healthcare, beauty & wellness sectors, SCI operates the most extensive national distribution and transportation network in Canada, consisting of 30 distribution centres coast to coast along with over 40 critical parts stocking locations and specialized white glove shipping hubs. SCI's tagline "We'll make you even better" is a commitment today from a business that's leading clients into tomorrow.

About B-Stock Solutions

B-Stock is the world's largest online marketplace for returned, excess, and other liquidation merchandise. Our customers range from the world's largest brands and retailers (including nine of the top 10 U.S. retailers) to hundreds of thousands of small businesses. B-Stock believes there is tremendous value in and demand for this inventory  no matter the category, condition, or location. We pride ourselves on empowering the entrepreneurs and innovators of commerce. Having completed over 210,000 transactions in 2020, we give buyers a simple and direct way to buy valuable products and offer sellers a better way to liquidate, boosting pricing and operational efficiency.

SOURCE SCI Group Inc.

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The North Dakota House agreed Wednesday to fund a rail spur to help a troubled shipping center in Minot, but balked at giving more than $8 million in taxpayer money to bail out a trio of banks  including one owned by Republican U.S. Sen. John Hoeven -- that obtained the facility through foreclosure.

The GOP-controlled House voted 84-7 to provide a loan of up to $2.5 million for track improvements for the facility. The bill passed with an emergency clause so that the funding is available to complete the work before a late-summer deadline imposed by BNSF Railway, which is currently allowing intermodal unit trains to be temporarily loaded on its mainline.

The original legislation , sponsored by five Minot-area lawmakers, would have allowed an economic development group to buy the shipping facility from the three banks that bought its assets through foreclosure  the state-owned Bank of North Dakota, First Western Bank and Trust, and the State Bank and Trust of Kenmare.

Hoeven, who served as North Dakotas governor from 2000 to 2010, is part owner and serves on the board of directors of First Western, which was started by his father. Hes also a former president of the Bank of North Dakota, the nations only state-owned bank.

The original bill sailed through the Senate earlier. Just one senator, Republican Nicole Poolman, of Bismarck, voted against it, telling The Associated Press that it smacked of a bank bailout.

Several senators later said they were unaware of the specifics of the legislation, including its ties to Hoeven, until the AP published stories about it. Hoeven also said he did not know about the bill until the AP asked about it last month.

The amended bill passed by the House will return to the Senate for review.

Intermodal service allows producers and processors to directly load containers on rail in Minot to ship to international destinations. State officials have pursued intermodal rail service for more than two decades in North Dakota.

Supporters believe the Minot facility will reduce shipping costs and increase markets for the states farm products and other commodities.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
The Garner Group

Artia Solutions, LLC, today announced the formation of The Garner Group. The Garner Group is a consulting and lobbying firm that uniquely specializes in direct advocacy on health policy issues in the political and regulatory environment.

The Garner Group exists to guide clients by identifying key options and solutions in order for clients to confidently navigate and influence public and governmental healthcare policies and policymakers, while mitigating any risk of policy adoption delays.

Todays Medicaid marketplace demands innovation in order to execute successful pharmaceutical access strategies, said George Kitchens, CEO of Artia Solutions. The Garner Group is part of a strategic initiative that, together with Artia Solutions, will provide pharmaceutical companies with the necessary tools to engage state Medicaid programs both from a pre-launch and post-launch perspective.

The Garner Group was founded in 2020. Michael Garner and George Kitchens, long-time friends and professional partners, came together to bring a combination of their healthcare policy experience, clinical expertise, and advocacy strategies to provide clients with a unique resource for their government relations needs.

The partnership between Artia Solutions and The Garner Group brings together decades of policy, clinical, and analytical expertise, said Michael Garner, CEO of The Garner Group. Were excited to create tailored solutions for our clients to meet their business development goals.

With over 100 years of collective experience among the partners, the team has worked as advocates and analysts on health, environmental, and educational policy issues in both the private and public sectors.

Michael Garner, CEO of The Garner Group, has worked as an advocate and analyst on health, environmental, and educational policy issues for both the private and public sectors since 1992.

Previous to starting The Garner Group, Michael retired as the Senior Director of Government Relations for Anthem Inc. and its affiliates in Florida. In this role, he was the lead lobbyist responsible for advocating legislative and regulatory policies on a wide range of issues affecting health care coverage, professional and facility regulation, prescription drug pricing and distribution, and health information collection and access for consumers.

Michael was also heavily involved in health plan operations, mergers and acquisitions, and participated in developing successful responses to multi-billion-dollar invitations to negotiate/requests for proposals to provide health coverage in Medicaid, Medicare, and Children Health Insurance Programs.

For more information on The Garner Group, please visit http://www.thegarner.group.

ABOUT ARTIA SOLUTIONS

Artia Solutions, LLC specializes in managing pharmaceutical access in the Medicaid marketplace. The organization helps pharmaceutical companies navigate complex and changing government regulations, develop new drug launch strategies, maintain or improve current access, design financial rebate models and resolve clinical or reimbursement issues. From long-term strategic planning to day-to-day PDL bid tracking, analysis, and submission, the services offered are customizable given the needs and goals of the client. For more information on the Tallahassee-based consulting firm, visit http://www.artiasolutions.com.

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One of the countries most vulnerable to climate change has also been revealed as a major contributor of methane, a greenhouse gas thats about 80 times more potent in its first two decades in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. The 12 highest methane emission rates detected this year by Kayrros SAS have occurred over Bangladesh, according to the Paris-based company, one of several that specialize in analyzing satellite observations to locate leaks. It has the strongest sustained emissions we've seen to date where we cant clearly identify the source," said Stephane Germain, president of GHGSat Inc, which also picked up the plumes.

Also Read | How Indias banking model has changed

Bluefield Technologies Inc., which analyzed European Space Agency data to identify a large methane plume in Florida in May, also detected the concentrations over Bangladesh. Our analysis shows that Bangladesh has some of the highest methane emissions in the world that can be detected by satellites," said Yotam Ariel, the companys founder.

Scientists are just beginning to pinpoint the biggest sources of methane. Observations from space can be seasonal due to cloud cover, precipitation and varying light intensity. Satellites can also have difficulty tracking offshore emissions and releases in higher latitudes such as the Arctic, where Russia has extensive oil and gas operations. Because of these limitations existing data isnt yet globally comprehensive.

But the emissions over Bangladesh are drawing attention. Its low elevation and high population density make it particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events and rising oceans. The country chairs the Climate Vulnerable Forum, whose 48 members represent 1.2 billion people most threatened by climate change.

Were aware of the problems," Bangladeshs Environment and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin said in an interview. The bulk of the methane likely came from rice paddies, he said. When farmers flood their fields, bacteria in the waterlogged soil can produce large quantities of the gas. The other source is the landfill gas," Uddin said, released when trash breaks down. Were working to take mitigation measures."Domesticated livestock, leaks from the oil and gas industry, landfills and coal mining are just some of the human activities that result in methane emissions, according to the Global Methane Initiative. At least a quarter of today's global warming is caused by man-made methane emissions, the Environmental Defense Fund estimates.

Methane concentrations in Bangladesh likely originate from a combination of sources including paddy fields, landfills, leaky natural gas pipelines and coal stockpiles, according to Kayrros. The company uses data from the ESAs Sentinel-5P and Sentinel-2 satellites. It ran a dispersion simulation that takes into account atmospheric conditions such as wind, that can move methane plumes away from their source.

Methane is a particular concern for those working to slow the pace of climate change. The gas is odorless and colorless, making leaks extremely difficult to detect. Halting accidental emissions from energy infrastructure is some of the lowest-hanging fruit because companies stand to benefit from cleaning up operations. Theyre losing product that could have been sold and risk reputational damage as investors such as BlackRock Inc. demand higher standards.

The methane concentrations we see over Bangladesh are a signal and deserve more study," said Steven Hamburg, chief scientist at the EDF, which plans to launch its own satellite to track methane emissions next year. It will require more work to make reliable quantitative estimates of emissions and determine sources."

The ability to attribute leaks to individual operators is getting closer as more satellites are launched that offer greater precision and more frequent coverage. GHGSat in February said it tracked methane leaks from at least eight natural gas pipelines and unlit flares in Central Turkmenistan that released as much as 10,000 kilograms per hour.

EDFs PermianMap project, which combines data from satellites and other ground-based observations to attribute and aggregate emissions by operator in one of the worlds most active fossil fuel basins, is a sign of the transparency to come. The ability to attribute methane emissions at an asset level is here now," said GHGSats Germain. The challenge is to increase the frequency of the observations with more satellites."

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Bulgarian officials have announced they are easing restrictions on businesses and other commercial activity, citing improving numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

The Ministry of Health said in guidance published on April 8 that schools and universities would open next week, along with shopping malls, while restaurants will be able to accommodate indoor dining.

As of April 12, the youngest elementary-school grades will return, along with middle- and some high-school grades. Later classes will be allowed if case loads remain low.

Education Minister Krassimir Valchev said that as many as 26 percent of classroom teachers had been vaccinated.

Bulgaria has reported more than 364,000 coronavirus cases and over 14,000 COVID-19-related deaths as of April 8.
Fresh fears have been raised about UK steel jobs after Sanjeev Guptas empire was thrown deeper into crisis.

Two of the tycoons businesses in Australia face being shut down as pressure mounts on his GFG Alliance.

The strain puts his operations in other countries including the UK at risk  he employs around 5,000 people in the UK including 3,000 at Liberty Steel.

Jobs fears: Sanjeev Gupta employs around 5,000 people in the UK including 3,000 at Liberty Steel

The 49-year-old owns steel plants in Rotherham, Stocksbridge, Newport and Hartlepool.

But GFG has been struggling since the collapse of Greensill Capital, which specialised in supply chain finance and was the biggest lender to GFG.

Gupta is scrambling to raise cash to keep his empire, which employs 35,000 staff, afloat. The collapse of Greensill  triggered by its exposure to GFG  saddled backer Credit Suisse with heavy losses.

The lender is now trying to wind up two of Guptas GFG businesses in Australia to recoup cash. GFG has vowed to fight Credit Suisse in the courts, saying it does not conduct any financing with the lender.

Credit Suisse has targeted several GFG firms in the UK. Last week, the Swiss investment bank filed papers to wind up a trading company, Liberty Commodities.

Lenders can apply to a court and ask it to close a company that owes them money. If successful, the assets can be sold to repay the debts.

Although Gupta has pledged not to close a single UK plant, Whitehall officials are lining up administration and other rescue plans.

GFG said: The Australian businesses are performing well and generating positive cash flow, supported by the operational improvements weve made.
Black Leaders: Spending Must Include Minorities as State Prepares for Billions in Fed Cash

Some African American leaders in California are concerned. As the state looks forward to receiving billions in new federal funding this year for development projects, they fear African American and other minority-owned businesses and their workers will be left out.

The leaders say California has not lived up to its commitment to equitably include African American contractors and businesses in the states ongoing infrastructure investments. The state has also failed, they say, to include Black-owned institutions like newspapers and other media when informing the public about open bids for taxpayer-funded contracts, hiring and other economic opportunities.

John Warren, the publisher of the San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, the citys largest African American-owned publication, said that there is little-to-no community outreach when government agencies allocate funds for contracts and announce job opportunities.

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The notices for the jobs are not being advertised in our Black and Brown newspapers, Warren said. If they dont reach out to us from a standpoint of being proactive inclusive, we wont benefit from these jobs.

Last Wednesday in Pennsylvania, Pres. Biden announced a $2 trillion infrastructure federal spending plan called the American Jobs Plan.

He says, if the U.S. Congress approves it, the proposal would create $19 million jobs. In addition, it would invest in research and development that helps the United States out-compete China and other countries around the world.

Biden also promised that his plan would also address existing racial disparities that have resulted from the governments historical neglect or isolation of African Americans and other minorities when undertaking large-scale national development projects.

Inaction is not an option, the President said, chiding the U.S. Congress to pass the bill.

It is an 8-year program that invests in our roads, our bridges, broadband, airports, ports, fixing our water systems. It is going to repair our V.A. hospitals across the country  many of them more than 50-years-old, Biden said.

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Responding to the POTUSs announcement, Gov. Gavin Newsom sounded upbeat.

President Biden put forward a transformative vision for a healthier and cleaner future for our country, with unparalleled investments in infrastructure and clean energy which will create millions of high-paying jobs along the way, said Newsom.

Newsom said California is uniquely positioned to benefit from these investments.

The governor cited how California will likely use some of the federal money, citing projects like expanding broadband access; making the states electric grid more resilient to wildfires and blackouts, improving schools, hospitals and housing; expanding clean transportation; and more.

Newsom said the spending will also lift up opportunities for communities too often overlooked.

To help get the word about the infrastructure plan out, Gov. Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris toured an Oakland-based facility on Monday morning to emphasize the importance of the American Jobs Plan. Vice Pres. Harris held a listening session with local leaders, including a small business owner who received resources and funding from the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.

But even though the California state government has already set aside lump sums of money to invest in the building and maintenance of state highways, bridges, and additional mass transit infrastructure, Black leaders say African American companies have yet to equitably benefit from those projects.

The overall infrastructure budget for Caltrans, for example, includes a $273 million investment from Senate Bill 1, passed in 2017, to repair the states roads and various transportation systems. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is responsible for managing and distributing $491 million in funds, allocated by the California Transportation Commission. Caltrans is also in charge of distributing job opportunities including construction contracts and jobs across the state.

Gene Hale, Chairman of the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce, said the states transport agencies need to increase the spending among minority groups, to make a lasting impression in Black and Latino communities.

Caltrans should also increase their small business goals on state-funded highway projects, and also continue to do more outreach to reach these disadvantaged communities, said Hale.

Toks Omishakin, the director of Caltrans  who Gov. Newsom pointed in September 2019  said his department has opened the Caltrans Office of Race and Equity (CORE), which works closely with the Office of Civil Rights for equity efforts in August 2020.

The transportation agency also hosted a virtual business summit to support local businesses.

The inaugural virtual small business summit included 800 businesses from across the state networking with federal government officials and representatives from banking institutions.

Despite the success of the event, Omishakin said that Caltrans struggled to get participation from Black and Latino business owners.

One of the things we need to do is engage more with the communities, Omishakin said. We need to reach out more to people and businesses to let them know what opportunities exist.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, the unemployment rate for Black Californians in the last quarter of 2020 was 15 %, the highest in the state. Latinos were a close second at 13 % within the same fiscal quarter.

Warren said using trusted messengers like established Black-owned media publications around the state is a practical way to promote equitable hiring processes and distribution of funds.

They have to put money in inclusive media for community outreach  the same way they did with the census, Warren said. There has to be a directive that these jobs be inclusively placed before us and made available to us.

Omishakin, Caltrans director, said that ethnic media is a viable option for community engagement in Black and Latino communities.

Were going to step up even more on this type of engagement, Omishakin said. We know that some communities rely on ethnic media to get our information, so were going to do more to get the engagement we were looking for.

Omishakin said Caltrans is committed to boosting equity in its funding programs and hiring processes.

One important way to address issues of inclusion issues of diversity and equity across the board, is through our business practices, and how we give more opportunity to marginalized businesses, said Omishakin.

Hale, who is also the CEO of G&C Equipment Corporation, a construction equipment, material, and supplies company said the transportation agency must be willing to set up goals that prioritize minority businesses for government contracting jobs in predominantly Black and Latino communities.

Hale says he also supports direct outreach to African American businesses.

The businessman and civic leader said Caltrans needs to design programs that, specifically reach the disadvantaged minority communities and businesspeople.
The Mrs Sri Lanka World contest witnessed a dramatic event. Just when the winner was announced to be Sri Lankan model Pushpika de Silva. However, she wore the crown only for a few moments and was 'uncrowned' later. Caroline Jurie, winner of Mrs World 2020 removed the crown from Pushpika's head and declared the first runner up as the winner of the pageant. This has created quite an uproar online, especially with Jurie declaring a pageant winner based on her assumption that Pushpika was divorced, which she is not.

Mrs World Sri Lanka Pushpika de Silva

Pushpika is a model and a social media influencer who hails from Sri Lanka. She was the winner of the Miss Sri Lanka title in 2011. She also won the Best National Costume award at the Miss Tourism Queen International in 2011. Pushpika is also the winner of the Sri Lanka Bridal Beauty contest in 2020. According to a report by biography.com, Pushpika is married to Thilanka Dabarera. The couple has a son together as well.

Pushpika De Silva's Instagram

Pushpika gives her fans and followers a sneak peek into her life through her social media posts. Her social media is filled with pictures and videos of her son. She also shares photos from her travel diaries and her beauty pageants as well. Recently, she shared a photo of her posing with her son. She is wearing a white saree while her son is wearing a black suit. Her hair is styled in waves and left open. Both are all smiles for the camera. Pushpika captioned the post by writing, My lil angel!, followed by red heart emoji.

Mrs Sri Lanka controversy details

Pushpika De Silva was announced as the winner of Mrs Sri Lanka and was sashed and crowned as well. She came to the centre of the stage and was enjoying the moment and just then, Caroline Jurie announced on the mic that as per the rules of Mrs World, the winner has to be married and not a divorcee. She then rushed to remove the crown from Pushpikas head hastily removing all the pins, hurting her head in the process. Jurie declared the first runner up as the winner of the pageant.

The crown has been returned to Pushpika de Silva. She took to her Facebook to express her gratitude to the jury of the show for supporting her. At a recently conducted news conference, the crown was returned to her after the organisers confirmed that she was not divorced.

Image courtesy- @pushpika_desilva Instagram

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Some of the about 220 Chinese vessels reported by the Philippine Coast Guard, and believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, are pictured at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea, March 7, 2021. (Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea/Handout via Reuters)

Global Military Cooperation Growing Against CCPs Aggression

Commentary

The current international situation is somewhat similar to how it was before the Second World War in that theres tension and conflict over the ownership of islands in the Indo-Pacific around China.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched into 2021 with a new round of wolf warrior diplomacy. At the same time, the PLA military is taking an aggressive posture, flexing its muscles in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and South China Sea and engaging in grey zone conflicts.

In 2020, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), the official name for the CCPs military, flew warplanes into Taiwans airspace 380 times (over one incursion a day). The trend continued into 2021. On March 26 alone, a total of 20 PLA military aircraft entered the southwestern airspace of Taiwan, setting a new record for 2021.

On March 23, the official Weibo (a Chinese social media site) account of the China Coast Guard announced that four Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels cruised in the territorial waters of what they called Chinas Diaoyu Islands. The islands are contested but are controlled by the Japanese, where they are known as the Senkaku islands.

This is the third time that the CCP has officially released such information in 2021.

Since March 7, more than 220 Chinese fishing boats have gathered on the Whitsun Reef (a disputed area between China and the Philippines). The CCP claimed that they were only temporarily sheltering from the harsh weather; the Philippines disputes this claim. On March 21, the Philippine Defense Secretary urged themore than 200 Chinese shipsto leave immediately, and the Department of Foreign Affairs also issued a diplomatic protest to Beijing. On March 28, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had a talk with the Communist ambassador. On March 31, the U.S.-Philippines National Security Advisors discussed the CCPs presence in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, and they both expressed their concern.

These activities of the CCP are not individual, isolated cases. They reflect the CCPs view of the international situation and their ambition.

With the CCPs aggression and expansionist policy, it is inevitable that the United States, Taiwan, neighboring countries, NATO, and U.S. allies would increase their vigilance, strengthen their cooperation, and form military alliances.

Strengthening Military Cooperation

On March 25, the United States and Taiwan signed a memorandum of coast guard cooperation to coordinate bilateral policies, joined by the Department of States Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Acting Assistant Secretary Sung Kim and USCGs Director of International Affairs Ann Castiglione-Cataldo.

After signing the agreement in Washington, Hsiao Bi-khim, the defacto Taiwanese ambassador to the United States, said in a statement, It is our hope that with the new Coast Guard Working Group, both sides will forge a stronger partnership and jointly contribute even more to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

On March 23, Japans Okinawa Times reported that the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force planned to conduct emergency exercises on the Senkaku islands from September to November. This will be the largest exercise in the history of the Japanese Self-Defense Force. The last national exercise in Japan was 28 years ago. The report also noted the severity of Chinas activity around the islands as well as the severity of the security environment.

After the Biden administration was sworn in, the U.S. Secretary of State and the Defense Secretary visited Japan and South Korea. On April 2, national security advisor Jake Sullivan met his South Korean and Japanese counterparts to discuss security issues.

In mid-April, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will visit the United States. He will be the first foreign leader that President Biden will meet face-to-face. The Japanese newspaper Nikkei Asia broke the news that the two sides will issue a joint statement to affirm the importance of stability in the Taiwan Strait.

If the United States wants to transform the two bilateral military alliances of the United States, Japan, and the United States and South Korea into a trilateral military alliance of the United States, Japan, and South Korea, there will be greater difficulties. First, there are deep clashes between Japan and South Korea (for example, the Japan-South Korea trade dispute in 2019, where Japan imposed sanctions on South Korea); secondly, the CCP has vigorously wooed South Korea. For example, the joint statement from the 2+2 talks between the foreign ministers of U.S.-South Korea on March 18 made no mention of the CCP, indicating that Seoul is unwilling to choose sides; this is in sharp contrast with Japan.

Australia and India Join Quad Meeting

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) meeting of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia was upgraded from ministerial level to summit level on March 12, and the military orientation became obvious.

In Nov. 2020, Australia participated in the four-nation joint military exercise for the first time after a 13-year absence. On April 5, the Quad took part in the La Perouse joint naval exercise, organized by France from April 57 in the Bay of Bengal. Compared with previous years, the special feature of this military exercise was the official participation of India. Many Indian media reported that the joint military exercise aimed at countering the CCPs unilateral and expansionist actions in the region, increasing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. After the exercise, the foreign ministers of India and Australia will also hold a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of France.

As the quadrilateral military cooperation develops, the bilateral military cooperation of the four countries has made some major substantive progress. For example, on March 31, Australia announced that it would work closely with the United States to begin building its own guided missiles to strengthen its defense capabilities. Washingtons top diplomat in Canberra also said, during an episode of the National Security Podcast, that the United States and Australia are discussing how they would respond to a range of military scenarios including an outbreak of war in the Taiwan Strait, and the enormous respect for how Australia had stood up to Chinas economic coercion over the past year.

India is the key to whether the talks between the United States, Japan, India, and Australia will evolve into an Indo-Pacific version of NATO. Without Indias participation, it may be unlikely.

NATO Members Strengthen Indo-Pacific Military Presence

On March 23, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and visiting U.S. Secretary of State Blinken mentioned the CCP as a great global challenge in a press conference at NATO headquarters. In fact, as early as Dec. 4, 2019, when the NATO summit ended in London, China was mentioned for the first time in the London Declaration.

Although, as far as the current situation is concerned, it is unlikely that NATO as a whole will have a direct military confrontation with the CCP, this does not rule out that some NATO member states are strengthening their military presence in the Indo-Pacific.

For example, on March 31, the Canadian Ministry of Defense said that the countrys HMCS Calgary had passed through the South China Sea from Brunei to Vietnam.

In February, the French Defense Minister announced that two French navy ships had completed patrols in the South China Sea. A French nuclear attack submarine was accompanied by support ship BSAM Seine for the passage. Frances Minister for the Armed Forces, Florence Parly tweeted Why such a mission? To enrich our knowledge of this area and affirm that international law is the only rule that is valid, whatever the sea where we sail.

On March 3, German officials confirmed with Reuters that a German frigate would set sail for Asia in August and, on its return journey, the warship would not pass within the 12-nautical-mile limits China and rival states claim as territorial waters around contested features in the strategic waterway.

Britain is also scheduled to send its aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to the waters later this year.

In short, military encirclement against the CCP is unfolding; the CCPs wolf warrior diplomacy and expansionist policy are decisive factors in bringing it about.

In the face of this huge network of military cooperation (this article does not fully discuss it, for example, the U.S. military trends in Central Asia have not been discussed, and this has a direct deterrent effect on the CCP), the CCPs power is really limited.

China is [an] authoritarian country that doesnt share our values. They will soon have the biggest economy in the world, said Stoltenberg to the European Parliaments committee on Foreign Affairs on March 15. But together we represent 50 [percent] of the worlds GDP and 50 [percent] of the worlds military market. So if youre concerned about the rise of China, the military and economic strength of China, that makes it even more important that we stand together, Europe and North America in NATO.

However, one thing must be pointed out in particular: the CCPs deceptive nature and its evil and madness are unprecedented in history. Former U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo said that the CCPs threat surpasses the Soviet Union. For example, the former Soviet Union did sit down to negotiate with the United States and signed a series of arms control agreements. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union also formed the iron law of the cold warneither side would directly engage in war because it could very well trigger a nuclear war. However, so far the CCP has never reached any arms control agreement with the United States, and even refused to participate in the China-U.S.-Russia Trilateral Arms Control Negotiations. The CCP has arbitrarily developed its military power, especially its strategic military power.

Any assessment of the CCPs dangers cannot be overstated.

Although at present and in the foreseeable future, the CCPs military strength is far inferior to that of the United States, its madness and evil is a deadly weapon, which is the most difficult to deal with.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A British United Nations official has escaped prosecution for allegedly raping a teenage girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) despite an investigation finding credible evidence against him.

The unidentified male peacekeeper was reportedly working for the UN's mission in the African country in July 2017 when he allegedly gave a 16-year-old Congolese girl 3,600 as well as goods in exchange for sex.

The mother of the alleged victim reported her daughter had been raped to Congolese authorities. When they apparently showed little interest, she subsequently contacted the UN's mission.

The UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the global body's internal affairs unit, then investigated the family's allegations and concluded in a report months later that their claims were 'substantiated'.

The employee was dismissed and the UK delegation to the UN in New York was alerted to the case. His whereabouts and present employment status are unknown.

Dame Barbara Woodward, the UK Ambassador to the UN, told the Times the case was referred by her office to the National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2018.

However, the NCA reviewed the UN report and consulted the Crown Prosecution Service before deciding not to mount a full investigation.

A woman and child in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, August 5, 2019. File photo

It is understood that prosecutors decided there were too many inconsistencies in the evidence and difficulties in operating in the DRC for the case to reach the criminal standard of proof in the UK.

UK authorities have wide-ranging powers to investigate and prosecute alleged sexual offences committed by UK citizens overseas.

But campaigners for alleged victims of sex offences said the case made a mockery of UK claim to be leading the global effort to improve safeguarding in the aid sector.

Paula Donovan of Code Blue told the Times: 'The UK's elaborate public relations conferences and photo opportunities did nothing for the actual child who cried for help after a British UN official raped her and bribed her family with hush money.

'Knowing the public would never find out, the UK decided behind closed doors not to send even one detective to investigate a series of child rapes.'

A summary of the OIOS report into the case said 'a staff member raped a 16-year-old Congolese female and, thereafter, continued to sexually abuse the victim by engaging in transactional sex in exchange for money and goods'.

It concluded: 'The investigation substantiated the report and further substantiated a $5,000 settlement agreement between the staff member and the minor's parent.'

A spokesperson for UN peacekeeping reportedly told the Times newspaper: 'Sexual exploitation and abuse is unacceptable.'

The employee was dismissed and Britain's delegation to the UN in New York was alerted to the case. His whereabouts and present employment status are unknown

A spokesperson for the NCA told MailOnline: 'In February 2018 the FCDO referred a case to the NCA, following a referral from the United Nations regarding an alleged offence committed in the DRC.

'The referral and available evidence were fully reviewed and the NCA assessed that there was no realistic likelihood of an investigation for an offence under the Sexual Offences Act (2003) meeting the criteria where it could be brought before the prosecutor for a charging decision.'

They added: 'The FCDO and NCA are committed to safeguarding and protecting children across the globe from abuse, with our primary aim being to prevent it happening in the first place.

'We apply a range of measures including working closely with international partners to help build in-country capacity to tackle the threat, sharing intelligence, and monitoring offenders' travel.

'Where we are aware of UK nationals sexually abusing children overseas, we will do all we can to ensure offenders are brought to justice, whether that be in the country where offences are committed or back here in the UK.'

UN peacekeeping, the FCDO, the OIOS and Britain's delegation to the UN in New York have all been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

It comes as the UK has halted aid funding for Oxfam following allegations of sexual misconduct against charity staff in the DRC.

Dame Barbara Woodward, the UK Ambassador to the UN, told the Times the case was referred by her office to the National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2018. However, the NCA reviewed the UN report and consulted the CPS before deciding not to mount a full investigation

Oxfam confirmed last week that two members of staff in the DRC were suspended as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of abuses of power, including bullying and sexual misconduct.

In a statement, the FCDO said: 'All organisations bidding for UK aid must meet the high standards of safeguarding required to keep the people they work with safe.

'Given the most recent reports, which call into question Oxfam's ability to meet those standards, we will not consider any new funding to Oxfam until the issues have been resolved.'

An Oxfam spokesperson said the charity is aware of the FCDO statement and is seeking further information, adding: 'The Charity Commission and FCDO have been notified appropriately and we will continue to keep them informed as the investigation concludes its work.'

Oxfam has been active in the DRC since 1961, with its work focused primarily on humanitarian projects such as providing long-term access to clean drinking water.

The Times newspaper reports the allegations against Oxfam staff in the country are outlined in a 10-page letter sent to charity bosses in February.

The letter reportedly details allegations against 11 people and is signed by more than 20 current and former Oxfam staff, with claims ranging from sexual harassment and intimidation to systemic fraud and corruption.

Oxfam has been under the spotlight in recent years after the Charity Commission determined in 2019 it had not fully disclosed allegations staff working in disaster zones had sexually abused children.

In February, strict supervision of Oxfam by the Charity Commission had been lifted after it implemented 'significant' reforms prompted by a 2019 report into conduct by its staff after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Hundreds of Deliveroo riders struck in Britain Wednesday. The union organising the strike, the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), said its members were demanding fair pay, safety protections and basic workers rights.

Around 200 of the gig economy workers protested outside Deliveroos London HQ, with socially distanced protests also held in Reading, Newcastle, York and Leicester. During the day, riders, many with their Deliveroo insulated backpacks on, drove their bicycles and mopeds through the centre of London beeping their horns to publicise their grievances.

Gig economy riders for app-based meal delivery platform Deliveroo demonstrate near the company headquarters in London, Wednesday, April 7, 2021. The strike coincides with the first day of unconditional trading for Deliveroo shares, which went public last week in a stock market offering. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

The day of action was organised to coincide with the first day of unconditional share trading for Deliveroo, which was floated in a multibillion-pound operation last week.

The floatation saw chief executive Will Shu sell 26.2 million worth of shares at the final price of 390p, retaining 115.2 million shares worth just under 450 million. Shu also took more control over the firm, ensuring his shares could not be subject to a hostile takeover until they expire in three years. The firm was valued at around 8.8 billion on floatation but its share price fell by more than 30 percent on open trading. Despite having more than 100,000 riders globally and the company working with more than 115,000 restaurants in 12 countries, Deliveroo has yet to turn a profit.

Protests against working conditions at Deliveroo have been escalating. The latest took place just after the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) found that Deliveroos riders are receiving less than the minimum wage in Britain.

According to a BIJ analysis of riders invoices, one in three riders earned on average less than 8.72 per hour, the national minimum wage, per shift. Many earned much less. One rider in Yorkshire logged in for 180 hours was paid the equivalent of 2 per hour. The BIJ gathered pay data from more than 300 invoices covering 1,812 rider sessions since March 2020a research sample large enough to make inferences about wider wages. The investigation spoke to riders in London, Cardiff, Reading, Newcastle, York and Leicester.

Deliveroo riders are paid according to a complex formula based on factors such as the time of day and the distance to a delivery. Deliveroo riders do not fully understand how their pay is calculated because the system is designed in a deliberately esoteric manner. The BIJ described its research as the first reliable dataset on wages in the British gig economy.

Other media organisations also reported on the conditions of the riders. Deliveroo has relentlessly cut rider fees and even boasts about it to investors. They send us emails telling us how valuable we are while all the time reducing our pay quietly in the background, a Kent Deliveroo rider told the Guardian .

York cycle courier Djamila told Yorkshirelive she often works 14-hour days to get by: Right now its wake up, shower, eat, go to work, get home, eat, shower, bed. She explained the working day of a rider: We pay for our own repairs, we do our own taxes. You used to be able to make 100 from 5pm until 11pm. But now, forget it. Its not happening. On a typical day I start about 12pm and Ill be out until about 10pm or 11pm, Ill make about 80. To make 100 in a day, it can take about 14 hours. I feel like Im stuck in a loop, its just work, work, work. I dont want to do this for 70 years.

UK Deliveroo riders also held protests and a strike to mark Deliveroos floatation on March 26. Fellow Deliveroo workers in Sydney, Australia also participated. IWGB members were encouraged to log off from the Deliveroo app through which deliveries are organised.

The superexploitation of Deliveroo riders and other workers at food delivery companies, together with drivers for conglomerates like Amazon, is considered entirely legal because delivery riders and drivers are classed as self-employed. This status removes any legal obligations upon employers to provide benefits or even pay the paltry minimum wage.

In February, the UKs Supreme Court ruled against Uber, which operates a similar business model to Deliveroo, totally dependent upon grossly overworking and underpaying workers.

The Supreme Court confirmed that Uber drivers should be treated as employees, not self-employed. As such, drivers are entitled to minimum national wage rates and the whole time drivers are logged on and available for work should be counted when calculating gross wages. The decision is not directly applicable in law to workers other than Uber drivers, but employment law experts believe it will have implications for other gig economy firms also reliant upon wafer thin profit margins generated solely by sweating the workforce.

While Uber formally accepted the Courts ruling, in practice it is flouting it and seeking to eke out even more profit from its workforce. The firm said it would calculate working time from the point a trip commences, rather than when drivers log on to the app. Its drivers would receive the minimum wage after accepting a trip request and after any expenses, Uber said in a statement.

The IWGB lost a similar legal challenge against Deliveroo in 2018. The case sought to secure rights such as the UK minimum wage for riders, but the court ruled riders were self-employed. In their floatation prospectus, Deliveroo said, our business would be adversely affected if our rider model or approach to rider status and our operating practices were successfully challenged or if changes in law require us to reclassify our riders as employees. The company have set aside 112 million to cover potential legal costs.

Deliveroo believes a judicial review finding against them is unlikely in the UK and that only changes in legislation would fundamentally impact on their business model. Legislation on workers rights under consideration by the Johnson governmentwhose post-Brexit agenda is driven by deregulating as much of the economy as possiblemakes no mention of changes to gig-economy contracts.

Some of the UK's biggest investment fund managers, including Aberdeen Standard, Aviva Investors, BMO Global, charity fund manager CCLA, Legal and General Investment Management and M&G, said they would not buy shares in Deliveroo, citing a lack of opportunity for investors to make decisions about the direction of the company and, cynically, concerns over some working conditions.

IWGB president Alex Marshall made clear that the union is basing its campaign on appealing to the social conscience of these investors. Marshall told the New York Times that his union was simply asking for better pay rates and terms for Deliveroo workers. He urged investors to avoid buying shares in the company, saying, Investing in Deliveroo means associating yourself with the exploitative and unstable business model that it champions and has set aside millions to defend... it means standing on the wrong side of history with nothing but bad press, litigation and industrial action to look forward to.

In the same vein, TUC general secretary Frances OGrady said, Its a damning indictment of the companys exploitative business model that so many major funds have publicly shunned this float. Instead of setting aside hundreds of millions of pounds to fight legal battles on workers rights, Deliveroo should just treat its riders fairly and pay them properly... It needs to get started by treating its workers decently.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer offered a few empty platitudes while declaring that he personally also would not buy shares in the firm at this stage.

The IWGB was founded in August as a breakaway from the two largest union, Unite and UNISON, and has around 4,600 members, with many of these employed in the gig economy. It presents itself as more radical than the long-established trade unions but it shares the same bankrupt nationalist and pro-capitalist perspective.

Speaking to the Medium website last August, IWGB General Secretary Henry Chango Lopez claimed, contrary to all reality, that the pro-capitalist unions have worked to protect working people during the pandemic. He said of organisations that worked hand in glove with the ruling Conservatives to enforce a mass, unsafe return to work: Unions have put on a lot of pressure in order to improve these conditions that the government have put in place to help workers. Such as furlough, and protective PPE. The unions, including the IWGB, said Lopez, have a big role to play in ensuring that business do the right thing and they dont take advantage of the situation that is happening now, getting rid of workers and just benefitting themselves.

The expansion and unification of the struggles of the working class requires the formation of rank-and-file workplace committees that operate independently of the corporatist unions. A network of rank-and-file committees across the delivery industry, in the UK and internationally, coordinating their actions with committees in other sectors is the only way to defeat the endless driving down of wages, terms and conditions by the multinationals.

On Saturday April 10, the Socialist Equality Party is holding an online public meeting at 2pm (GMT) aimed at establishing a Network of Rank-and-File Action Committees. We urge Deliveroo workers and all others employed in the gig economy to register here to attend this vital event.
A guitar from one of Guns N Roses most famous gigs has a new owner.

The white Gibson ES-175D guitar Izzy Stradlin played during GNRs 1988 Live at The Ritz MTV broadcast has sold for $79,860, Backstage Auctions co-owner Kelli van Gool tells AL.com. The online auction for Stradlins former guitar closed March 29.

The starting bid for the guitar was $50,000. The $79,860 sales figure represents the so-called hammer price, which includes the sold price plus a buyers premium. van Gool did not disclose the buyers name or location. Stradlins ES-175D was a 1987 model. A 1987 ES-175D without fame-appeal can be had for around $3,000 or $4,000.

MTVs 88 Ritz broadcast was the first time many fans outside the bands Los Angeles area saw a raw live performance from Guns N Roses. During the set, GNR blazed through now-classic hard-rock songs like Sweet Child O Mine, Paradise City and Welcome to the Jungle. A blistering cover of Bob Dylans Knockin On Heavens Door was soon excerpted and put into high rotation on MTV. Back then MTV was the most important way for artists to reach new and bigger audiences.

Howie Hubberman financed Guns N Roses and managed 80s glam-metal group Poison early on in their respective careers. He confirmed the ES-175D was indeed Stradlins and appraised it for auction.

The band 'Guns N' Roses', (L-R) Slash, Duff McKagan, Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin, at a press conference announcing the finalists for the MTV Video Music Awards, Los Angeles, July 12th 1988. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Hubberman was the guest on host Brandon Brando Weisslers latest Appetite for Distortion podcast episode, which I cohosted. As soon as I looked at it, there were a couple of key marks on that guitar, Hubberman said, and I wont even say what they are, but I knew that was the guitar and it came out of my store.

I asked Hubberman if he had any information as to whether Stradlin played the ES-175D on GNRs gargantuan 1987 debut album Appetite for Destruction, as the auction listing had inferred. (Timeline wise, its possible it couldve been for overdubs, although AFD basic tracking took place before the guitar was made.)

Id be lying to you if I told you I had any knowledge of that at all, Hubbeman said. I dont. I just know thats the guitar he used on a lot of the live shows, including The Ritz out of New York. I would never put my name on something unless I knew for fact that it did go down.

Stradlin originally obtained the white ES-175D, as well as the black Gibson guitar he played in the Welcome to the Jungle music-video, through Hubbermans now defunct store Guitars R Us in Hollywood.

Hubberman says Stradlin brought the guitar back into the store (I think he owned me some money on some other stuff) after a run of 88 shows including The Ritz. In exchange, Hubberman says he gave Stradlin a credit of around $700, the guitars market price back then. He never had a really big bill with me and Izzy always took care of it pretty promptly, Hubberman says.

During this era, mononymous GNR lead guitarist Slash acquired a couple of Les Paul replicas, built by luthier Peter Max Baranet, from Hubberman. Slash wound up taking care of those a year, two years later, but he did square up with me.

The Backstage Auctions listing stated, after Stradlin sold to Hubberman, Izzys girlfriend at the time - Stacy King - alerted two of her friends who played in a local Sunset Strip rock band. They bought this guitar, as well as a 1987 black Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion, from Howies store and for the past 32 years, the guitars have been in their possession. They sold the guitars in 2020 to a veteran music industry executive. The music exec was the consignor for the recent auction of Stradlins former Gibson ES-175D. (More info on the guitars history and the auction here.)

A 1987 Gibson ES-175D said to have been owned by classic-era Guns N Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin is headed to auction via backstageauctions.com. (Backstage Auctions)

In addition to his songwriting, Stradlin is known for his cool look and vibe. During the podcast interview, Hubberman, who aside from his guitar focus dabbles in rock memorabilia, said hed purchased about 30 pieces of Stradlins old clothes, including vests and Prada shirts.

Guitars R Us was located on Hollywoods Sunset Strip, very near Guns N Roses early rehearsal space. So Hubberman - who also promoted L.A. area concerts including GNR shows at the Roxy and Whisky a Go Go - watched the bands evolution from street-band to superstars.

They were one of the first real rock & roll bands to come out of the glam scene and reinvent themselves in Los Angeles, Hubberman said. When I saw that happen and what they were building as a following  And there was not a lot of money into Guns N Roses at first. We put a little bit into ads and things like that. We got them decent equipment.

When I asked what made Stradlin special as a guitarist and essential to GNRs sound, Hubberman said, I think Izzy and Slash were the ying to the yang of what they created, rock & roll. Without Izzy and Izzys parts, Slash would not have been as strong a guitar player. Izzy allowed, with his playing and writing, Slash to step right in and make it better, bigger, more powerful than it came in.

During the podcast interview, Hubberman also discussed: his belief Stradlin, whos not been part of the ongoing GNR semi-reunion, will eventually rejoin the group; why he saw potential in Guns N Roses and Poison early-on; selling guitars to rock legends like Bruce Springsteen and George Harrison; the status of a GNR biopic once in development with actor James Franco.

The presentation of that movie was going to be Guns N Roses in the absolute best of light, Hubberman said. Because Ive never seen Guns N Roses in anything less than the best of light. There was never a downside. The money from me was paid back in full. The appreciativeness from them, not only platinum and gold records given to me, but also to Guitars R Us.

Post GNR, and a brief tour with his first solo band Juju Hounds, Stradlin has mostly receded from public life. Hubberman said he ran into Izzy at another Los Angeles guitar store, Sam Ash, a while back. As hes walking in the door, Im walking out the door, Hubberman says. He recognizes me and gives me a big hug.

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ATLANTA (AP)  Georgias lieutenant governor is unlikely to run for a second term, his chief of staff said Thursday, after he was among the most high-profile Republicans to openly contradict former President Donald Trumps false claims about fraud in the November election.

Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan may instead take on a greater role with GOP 2.0, a group he co-founded that is trying to help shape the partys path forward in the post-Trump era, said Duncans chief of staff, John Porter.

Duncan has yet to make a final decision, Porter said.

Speaking out against Trump has given Duncan a national platform and won plaudits from moderates and even some Democrats. But it has also made him a target among the conservative base of the Republican Party, with some vowing to back a primary challenger against him.

Elected in 2018, Duncan became one of the first and most prominent Republicans in Georgia to break with Trump and the state Republican Party by pushing back on Trumps baseless claims about election fraud in a series of interviews on national television. Duncan said misinformation spread by Trump would hurt Republicans' chances in two U.S. Senate runoffs held in January, which Democrats went on to sweep, giving them control of the chamber.

Duncan has also broken with other Republicans over changes to Georgias election laws that sprang from Trumps false claims. In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Duncan criticized a sweeping new election bill signed into law last month, calling parts of it punitive.

The law adds restrictions to mail voting, strips the secretary of state from being chair of the state election board and gives the GOP-controlled board the ability to remove and replace local election officials, among many other provisions.

This is really the fallout from the 10 weeks of misinformation that flew in from former President Donald Trump, Duncan said.

In early March, Duncan refused to preside over a state Senate debate on a GOP-backed proposal that would have severely limited who can vote absentee by mail, instead watching it on a TV in his office. The provision was not included in the final version of the bill that became law.

Story continues

Trump lost Georgias presidential contest to Democrat Joe Biden by more than 12,000 votes but quickly mounted a campaign to overturn the results.

Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has also been a critic of Trumps efforts to subvert the election results and has said repeatedly that the election was free and fair. Raffensperger, who is running for reelection, is already being challenged by a candidate backed by Trump.

A website for GOP 2.0, describes it as an independent movement that brings a fresh and reasoned approach to creating Republican majorities," with a focus on policy, empathy and tone.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Duncan's interview with CNN was on Wednesday, not Thursday.
New Delhi, April 8 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday said that it has arrested two private persons in an alleged bribery case of Rs 10 lakh.

A CBI spokesperson here said that the arrested accused have been identified as Anil Mor and Dilbag Singh.

The official said that after their arrest the agency carried out searches at three premises of the accused in Zirakpur in Punjab and Jind and Kaithal in Haryana.

After their arrest, they were produced before a court and sent to two days police custody.

The official said that the CBI registered a case of bribery at Chandigarh on a complaint alleging that a private person was demanding a bribe of Rs 50 lakh for disposing of a complaint in the office of DSP Zirakpur.

"CBI laid a trap and Mor was caught while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 10 lakh from the complainant as part payment. After accepting the said bribe, Mor handed over the same to Singh, who was accompanying him," the official said.

In the FIR it has been alleged that an amount of Rs 12.5 lakh was earlier delivered by the complainant to the accused.
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 08.04.2021 - During his visit to Lebanon, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visited the port of Beirut and a hospital destroyed by the explosion of 4 August 2020, which was rebuilt with Switzerland's help. He also visited a settlement of Syrian refugees. Together with Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe and President Michel Aoun he discussed the economic and political problems in Lebanon. This marked the final stage of Mr Cassis's trip to the Middle East, which also encompassed Iraq and Oman.

In Beirut, Mr Cassis paid a visit to the port which was destroyed by a devastating explosion eight months previously. Switzerland quickly dispatched emergency relief teams to Beirut after the disaster, making CHF 6 million available to aid efforts on the ground. In line with its International Cooperation Strategy 202124, Switzerland has focused on the areas of health and education.

After his visit to the port of Beirut, the head of the FDFA visited one of the two hospitals that have been rebuilt with Swiss aid. "We were all shocked by the magnitude of the explosion that devastated the heart of Beirut. It is a relief to see that, thanks to Swiss solidarity, patients are once again receiving treatment in this hospital," said Cassis. By rebuilding the two hospitals and 19 schools, Switzerland is the first country to have completed fulfilment of the support it had pledged. Mr Cassis later visited the Swiss embassy, which was badly damaged in the explosion, and thanked the staff for their efforts in such difficult circumstances.

In talks with his counterpart Charbel Wehbe and with President Aoun, Mr Cassis underscored Switzerland's solidarity with Lebanon. He expressed his hope that a government would soon be appointed to implement the urgently-needed reforms to help Lebanon navigate out of the serious economic and political crisis it is facing.

Visit to an informal Syrian refugee settlement

Mr Cassis also visited an informal settlement of Syrian refugees, reaffirming in doing so Switzerland's support. "This year sadly marks the tenth anniversary of the crisis in Syria. I am proud of Switzerland's work in supporting these refugees and host communities. Lebanon has shown exemplary solidarity in welcoming almost 1.5 millions Syrian refugees. Switzerland is also committed to assisting the refugees and their host communities." Since the start of the Syrian crisis ten years ago, Switzerland has committed more than CHF 520 million to the region, which makes this Switzerland's biggest ever humanitarian undertaking.

Address for enquiries

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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

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"Not all those who wander are lost ... " --J.R.R. Tolkien

Known as "the lost years," it is a little-understood journey that unfolds over thousands of miles and as much as two decades or more. Now, a Stanford-led study illuminates secrets of the North Pacific loggerhead turtles' epic migration between their birthplace on the beaches of Japan and reemergence years later in foraging grounds off the coast of Baja California. The study, published April 8 in Frontiers in Marine Science, provides evidence for intermittent passages of warm water that allow sea turtles to cross otherwise inhospitably cold ocean barriers. The findings could help inform the design of conservation measures to protect sea turtles and other migratory sea creatures amid climatic changes that are altering their movements.

"For decades, our ability to connect the migratory dots for this endangered species has remained elusive," said study lead author Dana Briscoe, who was a research associate at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment during the research and now works at the Cawthron Institute, New Zealand's largest independent marine science organization. "This work builds on the backbone of exceptional research about these 'lost years,' and for the first time ever we are excited to provide evidence of a 'thermal corridor' to explain a longstanding mystery of one of the ocean's greatest migrants."

Endangered migrants

Wildlife seekers thrill to the sight of sea turtles, but ship traffic, fishing nets and other perils have been less kind. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists six of the seven sea turtle species as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable.

Despite scientific advancements in core habitat use, we still know precious little about the movement of turtles and other long-lived sea creatures between disparate locations. This knowledge gap makes it impossible to effectively assess and protect these species.

The researchers wanted to know how and why some loggerheads travel to the western coastline of North America while others remain in the central Pacific Ocean. How is it that some sea turtles - creatures highly sensitive to temperature - can cross a frigid zone called the Eastern Pacific Barrier between the two ocean regions that normally stops most creatures in their tracks?

To unlock that mystery, the researchers created the largest dataset on satellite-tagged loggerhead sea turtles ever compiled, employed sophisticated remote sensing oceanographic techniques and collected one of the first detailed records of sea turtle aging and stable isotope testing - a bone analysis that can be used to provide information about an animal's life. The work relied upon decades of research by the international team of scientists.

They started by looking at a 15-year study tracking the movements of more than 200 turtles tagged with satellite tracking devices. Six of the turtles caught the researchers' attention because - unlike their peers - they made distinct movements toward the North American coast. Adding to the intrigue, the "sentinels," as the researchers called them, made their journey during the early spring months. A look at remotely sensed ocean conditions for the time period showed that the farthest-roaming of the sentinels swam through water significantly warmer than their peers had confronted on their travels.

A bigger picture analysis involved identifying the years loggerheads arrived in Baja California by measuring stable isotope "fingerprints" in the bones of sea turtles stranded on beaches there. Because like us, turtles are what they eat, these stable isotope signatures can reveal when the turtles transitioned from the open sea to the coast. The analysis showed significantly greater annual numbers of eastward-bound sea turtles during warm ocean conditions.

The likely cause, according to the researchers: the development of a "thermal corridor" from unusually warm sea surface temperatures due to El Nino and other intermittent warming conditions that allowed the turtles to cross the Eastern Pacific Barrier to coastal foraging grounds.

The corridor was present during the late spring and summer, and was also preceded by early warming of temperatures in the months before it opened. Such anomalous conditions, especially if sustained for several months, may provide key environmental cues to sea turtles and other animals concentrated in the eastern edge of the central Pacific that the thermal corridor is opening. Studies combining data from loggerhead aerial surveys, at-sea-sightings, stranding records and tissue samples supported the hypothesis.

A dangerous trend

The phenomenon may be part of a trend. As the planet undergoes unprecedented climate changes, locations once considered impassable obstacles to species movements, like the Eastern Pacific Barrier, are being redefined. This, in turn, is shifting the distributions and migratory pathways of creatures ranging from sea birds to white sharks and presenting new conservation challenges.

For the North Pacific loggerhead, the trend could mean higher exposure to bycatch - unintentional fisheries harvest - off the Baja California coast and other potentially important North American foraging grounds, including the Southern California Bight. The study provides important insights, such as an understanding of how animal movements relate to climate variation, that could help predict when sea turtles and other protected species could be vulnerable to such threats.

The researchers caution that their multi-year dataset represents only a snapshot of an important developmental period for sea turtles. The small number of turtles that moved into the eastern North Pacific limits the ability to fully test the study's hypothesis under varying conditions. To do that, the researchers call for more satellite tagging and stable isotope studies of turtle bones in this region.

"Understanding how and why species like the North Pacific loggerhead move among habitats is crucial to helping them navigate threats," said study senior author Larry Crowder, the Edward Ricketts Provostial Professor at Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station. "Emerging technologies and analyses can help illuminate these journeys."

###

Crowder is also a professor of biology in the School of Humanities and Sciences and a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Co-authors of the study include Calandra Turner Tomaszewicz and Jeffrey A. Seminoff of the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service; Denise Parker and George Balazs of Golden Honu Services of Oceania; Jeffrey Polovina of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa; Masanori Kurita and Hitoshi Okamoto of the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium (Japan); Tomomi Saito of K?chi University (Japan); and Marc Rice of Hawai'i Preparatory Academy.

Funding for this study provided by the Crowder Lab at Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Academy of Sciences, Stanford's Department of Biology and the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.
Rainmaker Worldwide Removes 5.5 Million USD of Debt and Liabilities



Peterborough, CA, April 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. (OTC: RAKR) (Company or RAKR) announced today the completion of an Equity Exchange Agreement (Agreement) with its Dutch Shareholders that transferred 5.5 million USD in debt and liabilities from RAKR to its Dutch Shareholders who have taken an increased equity position in Rainmaker Holland B.V. (RHBV). These same shareholders returned 20 million RAKR shares as part of the Equity Exchange Agreement and the equity expansion of RHBV has reduced RAKRs ownership to 12%. RAKR has been pursuing a strategic restructuring since late 2020 with three main objectives  rejuvenate RAKRs balance sheet, expand corporate finance options and explore a wider spectrum of clean water solutions as part of its development of global Water-as-a-Service (WaaS) projects.

This Agreement and the 5.5 million USD debt and liability reduction (62% reduction) includes obligations under previous royalty agreements of 1.97 million USD. The original Dutch shareholders retain a 16.9% stake in RAKR while RAKR retains a 12% ownership and one of two seats on RHBVs supervisory board. This transaction unequivocally transforms RAKRs balance sheet while significantly improving access to capital for both parties.

This latest restructuring includes 775,000 USD in outstanding promissory notes, loans and debt that were converted into restricted shares previously announced on March 11, 2021. These restructuring actions will substantially improve RAKRs ability to access capital and position the Company to increase water security and decrease poverty on a global scale. At the same time, RHBVs access to capital for research and development, manufacturing and product development will be enhanced as it becomes a privately held Dutch entity with far greater access to European grant programs as a result of this Agreement. These outcomes allow RAKR to expand its global WaaS offering with the highest level of technological standards.

RAKR CEO Michael OConnor stated, WaaS facilitates significant economic opportunity for regions suffering from severe water stress, which will affect nearly half of the global population by 2030. Estimates show that every US dollar invested in clean water generates five dollars in societal and economic value, and RAKR is dedicated to exploring new ways to deliver higher qualities of life for more communities worldwide.

RAKR will maintain its operating name as Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. with related trademarks, and will retain all WaaS contracts including in Sri Lanka, The Bahamas, Jamaica and Turks and Caicos Islands. In addition, it retains the exclusive rights to use Rainmakers (RHBV) Air-to-Water and Water-to-Water technologies for WaaS projects globally. RAKR will purchase products from RHBV using a cost plus 15% formula and in perpetuity on a Most-Favored-Nation basis.

This further restructuring presents huge growth opportunities for RAKR and RHBV, stated Mr. OConnor. Concurrently, Rainmakers exclusivity in the WaaS market with no increase in product costs means that shareholder value is secured for the future as we advance to the OTCQB.

About Rainmaker Worldwide Inc.

Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. (OTC: RAKR) is a leader in affordable water solutions through a Water-as-a-Service business model. RAKR is headquartered in Peterborough, Canada. RHBV will be headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The Company provides economical drinking water at scale wherever its needed. Rainmaker was recognized as the Best Community Impact Water Solutions Global 2020 by Capital Finance International. For latest product information and FAQs please visit www.rainmakerww.com.

Forward-looking Statements:

Certain matters discussed in this announcement contain statements, estimates and projections about the growth of Rainmakers business, potential distribution partnerships and/or clients, and related business strategy. Such statements estimates and projections may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time-to-time. Rainmakers undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The recipient of this information is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 16:08:53|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly Asad Qaiser on Thursday began a three-day official visit to Afghanistan for talks on bilateral relations, focusing on ways to enhance ties between the parliaments of both countries.

The secretariat of the National Assembly, the lower house of Pakistan's parliament, said in a statement that Qaiser is heading a nine-member delegation including Special Representative of Pakistan for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq.

The statement said the Pakistani delegation will hold meetings with Speaker of Wolesi Jirga or the lower house of the Afghan parliament Mir Rahman Rahmani and others.

The visit also aims at exploring the opportunity for a peaceful Afghanistan to ensure regional prosperity, the statement added. Enditem
The United Nations special envoy's office to Burundi will close on May 31, five months after the isolated regime requested it shuttered, the secretary-general announced Thursday

United Nations, United States, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2021 ) :The United Nations special envoy's office to Burundi will close on May 31, five months after the isolated regime requested it shuttered, the secretary-general announced Thursday.

A highly political issue, the UN's presence has been a source of tension for years between the organization and Burundian authorities, which have contested the need for UN Security Council observation mission.

The office was established after the central African nation was plunged into political crisis in 2015, when then-president Pierre Nkurunziza ran for a disputed third term, sparking violence that claimed at least 1,200 lives.

General Evariste Ndayishimiye was elected in May 2020 to succeed Nkurunziza, who died in June. UN investigators said in September that rights abuses have continued under Ndayishimiye.

Burundi notified the UN in November last year that its office would be closed by December 31, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday in his letter to the Security Council. But the two sides agreed that the UN needed more time and settled on May 31.

In a unanimously adopted declaration, the Security Council called on Burundi late last year to "cooperate" with the UN in promoting national reconciliation and the rule of law.

"There is important work ahead to advance national reconciliation, promotion of the rule of law and of an independent and effective judiciary," said the declaration.

After the UN envoy's office closes, the United Nations is expected to continue monitoring Burundi via the special envoy to the Great Lakes region, China's Huang Xia.
General Motors is temporarily halting output at plants or extending shutdowns at several North America plants due to the ongoing semiconductor chip shortage impacting the global automotive industry, a US media report said.

CNBC said the temporary plant closures range from one or two weeks to several additional weeks for plants that have already been idled due to the parts disruption. GM also will restart production Monday of midsize pickups after a two-week shutdown due to the shortage at a plant in Missouri.

The cost of the closures had been factored into the companys earnings forecast for the year, GM told CNBC. The automaker expected the problem would reduce its operating profit by US$1.5bn to $2bn this year.

We continue to work closely with our supply base to find solutions for our suppliers semiconductor requirements and to mitigate impact on GM, the automaker said in a statement emailed to CNBC. Our intent is to make up as much production lost at these plants as possible.

The report said the plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee would close from Saturday until 24 April, according to a message from the United Auto Workers union to workers seen by CNBC. The plant builds the GMC Acadia and Cadillac XT5 and XT6 crossovers and GM confirmed the shutdown.



GM also told CNBC the crossover plant which produces the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave near Lansing, Michigan would halt output the week of 19 April while production of the Chevrolet Blazer at a plant in Mexico would also be axed that week.

CNBC added GM also was extending downtime at plants in Kansas and Canada which produce cars and crossovers until past mid-May.

In brighter news, production of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickups was scheduled to restart on Monday after a two week hiatus, the report added.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  All school buildings across the United States should be open for full in-person learning in September amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a Wednesday interview.

During an Instagram Live interview with ABC News, Walensky anticipated that schoolchildren will be back in classrooms full-time and no longer learning remotely next school year.

We should anticipate, come September 2021, that schools should be full-fledged in-person and all of our children back in the classroom, she said in the interview.

Walensky said that students likely wont be learning remotely from their home when the new school year starts, even if they arent vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Regardless of whether theyre vaccinated -- because we can vaccinate teachers, we can test, theres so much we can do, she told the media outlet.

When asked by ABC News when kids could start getting the vaccine, she predicted by mid-May  as Pfizer recently released promising data on its vaccine safety effectiveness for children ages 12 to 15. Its currently only available to adults 16 years old and older.

Maybe by May, mid-May maybe well be able to have a vaccine from Pfizer that would be able to do down to 12. Moderna will soon follow, because those studies are happening right now -- and so Im hopeful that by summertime, well actually have two... Walensky said during the interview, referring to vaccines for kids under 16 years old.

Johnson & Johnson is expected to start pediatric trials in the months ahead. But Walensky doesnt expect vaccines will be authorized for kids under 12 before the end of 2021, she said told ABC News.

New York City is planning to reopen its public schools for full five-day-a-week in-person learning for all students next school year. The city Department of Education (DOE) referred to Mayor Bill de Blasios comments during his Wednesday press conference, in which he said he felt very confident reopening schools fully based on what the city knows about the virus and ongoing vaccination efforts.

The measures we put in place in schools have absolutely worked, de Blasio said Wednesday. Everyone sees it. Parents want to come back. Yeah, were going to be open five days a week for every kid who wants to be in school.

School Zone: A new newsletter with the updates you need as our schools try to get back to normal. Enter your email address here and hit "subscribe" to receive this weekly newsletter:



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Abnormalities found in the 'standard model of physics' by Fermilab and CERN could reveal a 'universal theory of everything' according to famed physicist Michio Kaku.

In his latest book, Kaku, a leading string theorist from City College of New York, describes the ongoing search to find a 'God Theory' that explains everything.

This is a theory Albert Einstein hoped to discover but failed to find in his lifetime, with Kaku describing it as being able to explain the 'rich diversity of matter'.

Speaking to MailOnline, Kaku describes the Standard Model of physics as the 'Theory of Almost Everything', adding that it was 'inevitable discrepancies would be discovered eventually' as the theory was both 'ugly' and limited in its scope.

That is exactly what has happened in 2021, first with the discovery by CERN showing that muons appear to behave differently than the theory predicts, then with the discovery of a 'wobble' in the movement of muons by Fermilab.

A Muon is a tiny particle similar to an electron and finding a 'wobble' 0.1 per cent off the Standard Model could hint a new force of nature.

Kaku told MailOnline the 'God Theory' would unite all the forces of nature into a single, inch long equation, and 'finding even the tiniest deviation in the Standard Model, might give us a clue to the real fundamental theory.'

Physicist Michio Kaku, pictured, says discrepencies in the Standard Model leave the door open to finding a new unified theory of everything that unites all forces of nature together

The first results of the Muon g-2 experiment that used a 15-ton electromagnet (pictured) to study the behaviour of fundamental particles showed the behaviour of muons contradicts the basic way physicists think the universe works

What is Muon g-2? Muon g-2 (pronounced gee minus two) uses Fermilab's powerful accelerators to study the interactions of short-lived particles known as muons with a strong magnetic field that simulates space. Scientists know that even in a vacuum, space is never empty. Instead, it is filled with an invisible sea of virtual particles that in accordance with the laws of quantum physics pop in and out of existence for incredibly short moments of time, which experts call quantum foam. The Muon g-2 experimenters examine the precession of muons that are subjected to a magnetic field. The main goal is to test the Standard Model's predictions of this value by measuring the precession rate experimentally to a precision of 0.14 parts per million. If there is an inconsistency, it could indicate the Standard Model is incomplete and in need of revision. Advertisement

The US-based physicist can't say what the theory is, but believes it has its basis in string theory, the idea that everything is made of tiny, vibrating strings, too small to be seen by a microscope, with each vibration linked to a sub-atomic particle.

The recent Muon g-2 experiment by Fermilab pushed particles along a 50ft long magnetic track and watched for movement.

They wobbled by 0.1 per cent off from the predictions made by the Standard Mode, which has been in use for 50 years and is the 'current best model' of the universe.

This deviation suggests the muon could be interacting with undiscovered particles or forces, and because they form naturally when cosmic rays strike Earth's atmosphere, these results could change how we believe the universe works.

UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) said the result 'provides strong evidence for the existence of an undiscovered sub-atomic particle or new force'.

In string theory each 'note' on a string is a particle and physics, in turn, is the laws of harmony that describe these vibrations, Kaku said in an interview with MailOnline.

'Chemistry is the melodies we can play on these strings, which can bump into each other. The universe is a symphony of strings. And the mind of God, that Einstein struggled with for so long, is comic music resonating through hyperspace.'

For the past 50 years, the Standard Model has successfully described the behaviour of sub-atomic particles, but it omits any mention of gravity.

It describes the known sub-atomic world, but according to Kaku, the problem, is it is one of the 'ugliest theories in physics'.

'It has 36 quarks and anti-quarks, 20 free parameters, a large number of gauge particles, neutrinos, and Higgs bosons,' he explained.

'It is a theory only a mother can love. But how can Nature, at the most fundamental level, create such an ugly theory. Even its creators admit it cannot be the Final Theory. Its problem is that has been too successful.'

There is a one in a 40,000 chance that the result could be a statistical error and one in 3.5 million chances the observation is a coincidence, which is needed to claim a discovery

Who is Michio Kaku? American scientist Michio Kaku was born in San Jose, California on January 24, 1947. He attended Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley, where he received his PhD in 1972. Kaku's studies focus on theoretical physics, and the continuing search for a so-called 'Theory of Everything' that unites the four fundamental forces of nature  the strong force, the weak force, gravity and electromagnetism. Today he popularises physics for the public as a science communicator, hosting TV specials for the BBC, the Discovery Channel and other outlets. He has also written various popular science books including Physics of the Future, Beyond Einstein: The Cosmic Quest for the Theory of the Universe, and The Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind. Several of his titles have topped the New York Times best-seller list. His latest book is his most personal, drawing on the search for a universal theory of everything, which he calls the 'God Equation'. Advertisement

The current working model of physics states that there are four fundamental forces of nature  gravity, electromagnetism, and the weak and strong forces between sub-atomic particles.

Experiments performed over decades affirmed over and again that its descriptions of the particles and the forces that make up and govern the universe were pretty much on the mark  until now.

Recently, at CERN, a small but crucial anomaly was discovered, and when added to the wobble found in muon movement by Fermilab, Kaku predicts this could be the 'signal of the Final Theory' many physicists have hoped for.

'Einstein once said that if you see a lion's tail, perhaps there might be a lion attached to it. Any tiny deviation from the Standard Model would be a tail pointing to the true theory,' he told MailOnline.

He says finding a universal theory would be the greatest achievement in the 2,000 year history of science, bringing with it enormous ramifications.

It would help answer a range of questions currently plaguing science, including what happens before the Big Bang, what lies on the other side of a black hole and whether time travel is even possible, Kaku explained.

Prominent English particle physicist Professor Brian Cox called the result of the recent Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment 'important and exciting'.

'It is getting close to the discovery of new physics beyond the Standard Model new fundamental particles basically,' he tweeted.

'It would be the biggest discovery in Particle Physics for many years  certainly up there with The Higgs Boson.'

As the muons travel around the Muon g-2 magnet, they also come in contact with a quantum foam of subatomic particles popping in and out of existence

EXPLAINED: THE STANDARD MODEL OF PHYSICS The theories and discoveries of thousands of physicists since the 1930s have resulted in a remarkable insight into the fundamental structure of matter. Everything in the universe is found to be made from a few basic building blocks called fundamental particles, governed by four fundamental forces. Our best understanding of how these particles and three of the forces are related to each other is encapsulated in the Standard Model of particle physics. All matter around us is made of elementary particles, the building blocks of matter. These particles occur in two basic types called quarks and leptons. Each consists of six particles, which are related in pairs, or 'generations'. All stable matter in the universe is made from particles that belong to the first generation. Any heavier particles quickly decay to the next most stable level. There are also four fundamental forces at work in the universe: the strong force, the weak force, the electromagnetic force, and the gravitational force. They work over different ranges and have different strengths. Gravity is the weakest but it has an infinite range. The electromagnetic force also has infinite range but it is many times stronger than gravity. The weak and strong forces are effective only over a very short range and dominate only at the level of subatomic particles. The Standard Model includes the electromagnetic, strong and weak forces and all their carrier particles, and explains well how these forces act on all of the matter particles. However, the most familiar force in our everyday lives, gravity, is not part of the Standard Model, and fitting gravity comfortably into this framework has proved to be a difficult challenge. Advertisement

Theoretical physicist Matthew McCullough of CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, said untangling the mysteries could 'take us beyond our current understanding of nature.'

Wayne State University particle physicist Alexey Petrov, said: 'New particles, new physics might be just beyond our research. It's tantalising.'

A muon is about 200 times as massive as its cousin, the electron, and form naturally when cosmic rays strike Earth's atmosphere.

After it was discovered in 1936 it so confounded scientists that a famous physicist asked 'Who ordered that?'

Like electrons, muons act as if they have a tiny internal magnet and when placed in a a strong magnetic field, the direction of the muon's magnet precesses or wobbles.

The strength of the internal magnet determines the rate that the muon precesses in an external magnetic field and is described by a number that physicists call the g-factor. And this number can be calculated with ultra-high precision.

As the muons travel around the Muon g-2 magnet, they also come in contact with a quantum foam of subatomic particles popping in and out of existence.

Quantum foam stems from Einstein's idea that gravity is caused by warping and curving spacetime.

Experts previously suggested that spacetime is not smooth, but similar to the frothy remains of a bottle of beer  foamy.

The Standard Model predicts this so-called anomalous magnetic moment extremely precisely.

But if the quantum foam contains additional forces or particles not accounted for by the Standard Model, that would tweak the muon g-factor further, which is what appears to have happened in the latest Fermilab experiment.

Researchers need another year or two to finish analysing the results of all of the laps around the 50-foot (14-meter) track. If the results don't change, it will count as a major discovery.

In his new book, The God Equation, Kaku guides us through the key debates in modern physics, from Newton's law of gravity via relativity and quantum mechanics to the latest developments in string theory.

It is a tale of dazzling breakthroughs and crushing dead ends, illuminated by Kaku's clarity, storytelling flair and infectious enthusiasm.

'We already have a theory of almost everything, so many physicists believe there must be a Final Theory,' he told MailOnline.

Researchers at Fermi National Laboratory in Batavia aimed to measure how magnetic muons are by watching them wobble as they travelled around the massive magnet. The study showed the magnetic wobble of muons is 0.1 percent off what the Standard Model predicts

FOUR FUNDAMENTAL FORCES The current working model of physics states that there are four fundamental forces of nature: 1. Gravity Universal force of attraction acting between all matter 2. Electromagnetism Binds molecules together 3. The strong force The force that holds the nuclei of atoms together 4. The weak force Allows the radioactive decay of certain atoms Advertisement

'All of biology can be explained using chemistry. All of chemistry can be explained using physics. All of physics can be explained by relativity and the quantum theory.

'It is truly remarkable that all of physics can be described, at the fundamental level, by 2 sets of equations that can fit on just one page,' Kaku explained.

He said it was a 'remarkable fact' that the universe is much simple than we first thought, that fundamental forces of nature can be unified under a 'God equation'.

'We already have the theory of almost everything, so many physicists have faith that there is a Final Theory from which all other theories can be derived.

'The next goal is to unify the last two great theories, relativity with the quantum theory, to create a true theory of everything. That would be the crowning achievement of 2,000 years of our investigation into this universe of ours.'

Much like Einstein united matter and energy with a simple equation known even to young school children - E=mc2 - Kaku believes a similarly simple equation will unite all of the forces of nature.

He described the universe as being like a giant chess game, and after 2,000 years of searching, humanity appears to have worked out how pawns and knights move.

'If we find the God Equation, we will know all the rules of chess and eventually become Grand Masters. So I think, in some sense, the ultimate destiny of humanity is tied to finding the God Equation.'

The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything by Michio Kaku is now available in hard back published by Penguin Books.
With the U.S. Air Force's plan to keep the long-range B-52 Stratofortress flying into the 2050s, the venerable, Cold War-era bomber is going to need new brakes and wheels.

The service selected Collins Aerospace, part of Raytheon Technologies, to design and develop a new wheel and brake for the bomber, and to retrofit 77 new brake and wheel combinations, including spares provisioning, the company said Wednesday.

To increase the brakes' wear life, the company will use its carbon heat sink material known as DURACARB, which provides "increased thermal absorption" as the aircraft slows and brakes on the runway during a landing, explained Matthew Maurer, vice president and general manager of military programs, landing and mechanical systems.

Read Next: It's Official: The Air Force's New F-15EX Fighter Will Be Called the Eagle II

"Today, the aircraft uses the steel brake, and we're going to be replacing that with a carbon brake," Maurer said in an interview Monday.

The new brake-wheel combination "is going to allow for longer intervals between brake overhauls or longer intervals between inspections on the wheels," he added. "We anticipate being through the design and development phase and supporting flight testing by 2023, and then [retrofitting] the fleet by 2026."

Air Force maintainers will work alongside engineers to learn how to change or update the system; Maurer said the service will run the schedule, choosing which bombers will receive the first upgrades. Collins did not publicize the cost of the contract award.

The Air Force already uses the DURACARB system on the C-130 Hercules, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle. The new wheel is rated for 12,500 miles, a major upgrade from just 1,500 miles for the B-52's current brake system, Maurer said.

The Air Force is also nearing a decision on procuring new B-52 engines.

The service has been pushing for a major engine overhaul for the bomber fleet for years. In 2017, an engine fell off a B-52 while the aircraft was flying over North Dakota. Each aircraft currently has eight Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3/103 turbofan engines.

Three companies are in the running to replace the engines: Pratt & Whitney, which is a Raytheon Technologies' company; General Electric; and Rolls-Royce. But while the Air Force issued a request for proposal, or RFP, last May, it has delayed issuing a contract award.

In 2019, lawmakers insisted that service officials nail down contract specifics before they would provide funding. That year, the Air Force estimated it would spend around $1.3 billion through 2024 on work related to the re-engining.

The RFP stipulated a total of 608 engines for its 76-aircraft fleet.

While officials have said there has been no delay, the service has still not committed to an official award date.

Gen. Tim Ray, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, said in February that it's "too early" to determine whether the award will be announced in June -- the original projected contract announcement time frame.

"We should have this summer the answers back from the competitors to be considered," Ray said during the Air Force Association's virtual Aerospace Warfare Symposium. "And so then, from that process, we'll go from there.

"This is not being [dragged] out," he said, as reported by Defense News. "It is on time. In fact, it is several years early."

He said that digital prototyping, or simulating parts via computer models, has begun on the companies' side, which could shorten the engine production time.

The planes are among the oldest in the Air Force. Three generations of airmen have flown the B-52 in combat, from Vietnam to Afghanistan; the final bomber rolled off the production line in 1962.

The B-52 has been prominent in missions such as Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, as well as the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Affectionately known as Big Ugly Fat Fellow, or BUFF, B-52s have been on rotation for the service's Bomber Task Force, or BTF, missions over the past year, part of the Pentagon's larger "dynamic force employment" strategy. As part of the BTFs, the service sends out two to four bombers for units to test how nimbly they can move from place to place.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: The Next B-52 Bomb Upgrade May Be a Tough Message for China
April 8, 2021 in Music (E)

[prMac.com] Odesa, Ukraine - Indie developer Dmytro Denys is pleased to announce the release of Organ 2.0, his virtual musical keyboard designed specifically for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Organ is a full 88 key virtual organ. New and longtime musicians alike can play four different organs and others 56 musical instruments.



In new version added 48 new musical instruments. In addition to many bug fixes Organ has added record music feature and support of external midi-keyboards (velocity, sustain, volume, pitch bend, modulation, etc). Record and share you music. You can display two keyboards, one upper one lower or face to face, this allows you to play with a friend facing each other.



* Instrument list includes the Organ, Pipe Organ, Tonewheel Organ, Rock Organ, Reed Organ, Grand Piano, 1970s Electro Synth, Electro Synth, Synth Brass, Square Synth, Square Synth 2, and Saw Synth.



* Instruments Added in 2.0 includes the Accordion, Harmonica, Bandoneon, Stereo Grand, Bright Grand, Electric Grand, Honky-Tonk, Tine Electric Piano, FM Electric Piano, Harpsichord, Clavinet, Celeste, Glockenspiel, MusicBox, Vibraphone, Marimba, Xylophone, Tubular Bells, Dulcimer, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Strings Tremolo, Pizzicato Strings, Orchestral Harp, Timpani, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Muted Trumpet, French Horns, Brass Section, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Oboe, English Horn, Bassoon, Clarinet, Piccolo, Flute, Recorder, Pan Flute, Bottle Blow, Shakuhachi, and Irish Tin Whistle.



Features:

* 60 instruments

* Key labels

* Support external midi-keyboards (velocity, sustain, volume, pitch bend, modulation, etc.)

* Duet mode

* Optional double keyboard

* 88 keys

* Universal app for the iPhone and iPad



Organ may be downloaded for free that includes free access to organ instrument, and ads supported access to 59 other instruments. A subscription of $0.99 / month, subscription of $4.99 / year or one-time in-app purchase of $12.99 will give access to all instruments without ads. A one-time in-app purchase of $1.99 will give access for single instrument without ads.



Language Support:

* English, Ukrainian, Russian.

* Age Rating 4+



Device Requirements:

* iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

* Requires iOS 11.2 or later.

* Requires iPadOS 11.2 or later

* 70.1 MB



Pricing and Availability:

Organ 2.0 is free (ads supported, with in-app purchases) and available worldwide through the App Store in the Music category.

Located in Odesa, Ukraine, Dmytro Denys is an indie iOS developer since 2011. Copyright (C) 2011 - 2021 Dmytro Denys. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

###
Goose Creek, SC (29445)

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Are you a current print subscriber? You qualify for online access to the Omak Chronicle. To receive your access, create a website account and then verify your print subscription or e-edition subscription with your subscriber number, which may be found on your bill or mailing label.
Moscow expects Tehran to ratify the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea in the near future, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference following talks with Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi.



"We expect the ratification procedure on the legal status of the Caspian Sea in Iran to end soon. The important convention signed 3 years ago in Aktau will come into force and will strengthen the foundation of our cooperation in the Caspian Sea," TASS cited the Russian diplomat as saying.

Presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, the five Caspian littoral states, met in the Kazakh city of Aktau for the Fifth Caspian Summit on August 12, 2018 to reach a deal on the legal status of the legal status of the Caspian Sea. Despite singing the convention of 2018 it is not in force yet, due to the protracted process of ratification by Iran.
Enteq Upstream ( ) Andrew Law talks to Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam about their trading results for the year ended 31 March 2021 which are expected to be in-line expectations.

Revenues are set to be in the region of $5m with a breakeven adjusted EBITDA despite a 'very challenging year'.

Law says the 'team has done a great job staying safe and operational throughout'.

The cash balance was $8.1m ($10.2m as of 31 March 2020; $8.8m as of 30 September 2020) reflecting planned on-going investment during the year including the rental fleet, engineering projects and product development.
[April 08, 2021] Gupshup Raises $100 Million from Tiger Global to Accelerate Conversational Messaging

Gupshup, the leader in conversational messaging, today announced it has raised $100 million in funding from Tiger Global Management, propelling the company's valuation to $1.4 billion. This funding will be followed by a second close with significant additional funds raised from more investors, to be announced later. This latest round follows years of profitable growth, product innovation, and customer adoption that saw Gupshup emerge as the global leader in conversational messaging. Gupshup's API enables over 100,000 developers and businesses to build messaging and conversational experiences delivering over 6 billion messages per month across 30+ messaging channels. Gupshup will use this investment to rapidly scale product and go-to-market initiatives worldwide in order to accelerate the transformation of business-to-consumer interactions with conversational experiences delivered over messaging channels. "The growth in business use of messaging and conversational experiences, transforming virtually every customer touchpoint, is an exciting secular trend," said John Curtius, Partner at Tiger Global Management. He added, "Gupshup is uniquely positioned to win in this market with a differentiated product, a clear and sustainable moat, and an experienced team with a proven track record. In addition to its market leadership, Gupshup's unique combination of scale, growth and profitability attracted us." Gupshup has long been the incumbent leader in business messaging in India. Most major brands in India across industries use Gupshup API for customer engagement across multiple channels, especially SMS. Over the last few years, business messaging has become more conversational as SMS messages include hyperlinks along with the rise of newer IP-based messaging channels, such as WhatsApp, RCS, and the Gupshup IP (GIP) messaging channel. Gupshup has been a pioneer and first-mover driving this industry transition to conversational messaging. Unlike the telco-based SMS ecosystem that is fragmented by country, IP messaging works exactly the same way globally thereby accelerating Gupshup's global expansion. Gupshup's technology, optimized for a mobile-first economy like India, is seeing great traction in emerging markets with similar dynamics. With a focus on automated, self-serve, developer-centric, partner-friendly APIs and solutions, Gupshup is making it easier and quicker for businesses, large and small, to leverage IP messaging and build conversational experiences for their customers. Gupshup offers a comprehensive suite of solutions including mesaging APIs, bot platform, bot building tools, scripting engine, omni-channel inbox, conversational AI, client-side software and more.



The ubiquity of smartphones and dominance of messaging apps is forcing businesses to go where the consumers are: in their favorite messaging apps. Just like websites during the prior wave of technology-driven transformation, conversational experiences are enabling businesses to better engage, interact with and sell to their customers. Conversations are the new digital storefront for businesses - virtually every business will have to build it. This digital transformation has been further accelerated by the pandemic. "Customers expect to converse with businesses the way they do with friends. They expect the conversation to be simple, easy, quick, contextual, and personalized," explained Beerud Sheth, Gupshup Cofounder and CEO. "Gupshup's mission is to build the tools that help businesses better engage customers through mobile messaging and conversational experiences. As we work towards our mission, we are delighted with this investment from Tiger Global, given its incredible track record of making big, bold, successful bets on innovative, category-defining companies worldwide."

Gupshup's last funding round was in 2011. Gupshup grew rapidly over the last few years, exiting 2020 with annual revenue run rate of approximately 150 million dollars. Additional Resources Chat with our Announcement Bot in any language

with our Announcement Bot in any language Read Gupshup Founder's Note

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an explainer video on Conversational Messaging Listen to our podcast episode on Conversational Messaging

to our podcast episode on Conversational Messaging Download Leader Pictures and the Gupshup Logo About Gupshup Gupshup enables better customer engagement through conversational messaging. Gupshup is the leading conversational messaging platform, powering over 6 billion messages per month. Across verticals, thousands of large and small businesses in emerging markets use Gupshup to build conversational experiences across marketing, sales and support. Gupshup's carrier-grade platform provides a single messaging API for 30+ channels, a rich conversational experience-building tool kit for any use case and a network of emerging market partnerships across messaging channels, device manufacturers, ISVs and operators. With Gupshup, businesses have made conversations an integral part of their customer engagement success. Visit www.gupshup.io. Converse with the Gupshup bot. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005203/en/

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New Delhi: Telugu superstar Allu Arjun upcoming action film Pushpa teaser released on Wednesday (April 7), and has left the fans excited and waiting for his forthcoming action-thriller.

The stylish star, who celebrates his birthday today (April 8) has collaborated with director Sukumar B and music composer Devi Sri Prasad for the third time.

He had previously worked with them in the hit Arya franchise. (Arya in 2004 and Arya 2 in 2009).

The Desamuduru actor, who is known for his spectacular dance performances, is playing the role of Pushpa Raj, a sandalwood smuggler and is donning a rugged look.

The 1 minute 20 second teaser of the film, takes you to another world that is filled with suspense and action.

Take a look at it:

Apart from Allu Arjun, actors Fahadh Fasil, Rashmika Mandanna, Jagapathi Babu, Prakash Raj, Dhananjay and Sunil are also part of the movie.

On Wednesday Allu tweeted the poster of the film and said to his fans that he will see them in movie theatres on August 13, the date of Pushpa release.



#PUSHPA loading in theatres from 13th August 2021. Excited to meet you all in cinemas this year.Hoping to create the same magic one more time with dearest @aryasukku & @ThisIsDSP .@iamRashmika @MythriOfficial #PushpaOnAug13 pic.twitter.com/tH3E6OpVeo  Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) January 28, 2021

Allu Arjun, was last seen in Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020) opposite Pooja Hegde.
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A stillborn baby discovered wrapped in cloth between the legs of a 17th century Swedish bishop has finally been identified as his grandson.

Bishop Peder Winstrup was a prominent Lutheran church member who was buried in 1679 in a crypt at Lund Cathedral, Sweden and experts have tried to determine his relationship to the baby for several years.

Previous analysis found the man of God was buried with the foetus concealed between his calves, and researchers have now used DNA analysis to determine the child was most likely the bishop's grandson.

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Bishop Peder Winstrup (pictured) was a prominent Lutheran church member in 17th century Scandinavia and he was buried in 1679 in a crypt a Lund Cathedral

Previous analysis of the 17th century bishop this man of God was buried with the remains of a human foetus wrapped in cloth and concealed betwixt his calves (pictured), and researchers have been toiling to solve the riddle for more than five years

WHO WAS BISHOP WINSTRUP? Bishop Peder Winstrup was born in 1605 and died in 1679. He was the Bishop of Lund in Scania when it was under the control of both the Danish empire and the kingdom of Sweden. He was a leading theologian at the time and is credited with having persuaded the king of Sweden to open a new university in Lund. His body was not embalmed, but instead was dried out in the dry cold climate in his crypt in the cathedral in Lund. It is thought plants placed in the coffin, the lack of fat on the body after a long period of illness and the burial taking place in the winter months helped preserve the body. The extent of the preservation was revealed using CT scanners at Lund University hospital, which showed individual internal organs could be distinguished still inside the body. Advertisement

Researchers took genetic samples from both the bishop and the foetus and found the child was a boy who was not fully developed. It is thought the mother of the child suffered a miscarriage around six months into the pregnancy, leading to the stillbirth

Scientists found the two individuals share 25 per cent of their genetic material with one another, known as a second-degree kinship.

Experts at Lund University found the baby had a different mitochondrial DNA lineage to the bishop, which indicates he was not related to the elderly man via his mother.

Also, the DNA of the foetus revealed he had the same type of Y chromosome as the clergyman, indicating the two were likely related through the father of the baby.

As a second-degree relative the bishop Winstrup could have been the foetus's uncle, grandparent, half brother or a double cousin.

But when the genetic clues were pieced together alongside analysis of the Winstrup family tree the researchers conclude the most likely explanation is that the foetus is the bishop's son's son.

'Archaeogenetics can contribute to the understanding of kinship relations between buried individuals, and in this case more specifically between Winstrup and the foetus', says Maja Krzewinska at the Center for Paleogenetics at Stockholm University, who was involved in the analysis.

'It is possible that the stillborn baby boy was Peder Pedersen Winstrup's son, and therefore the bishop was his grandfather.'

Bishop Winstrup has been studied by scientists due to his exceptional state of preservation, but the enigma of the foetus interred with him has baffled academics.

Torbjorn Ahlstrom, professor of historical osteology at Lund University, and one of the leading researchers behind the study, says the burial of adults with small children was not uncommon at the time.

'The foetus may have been placed in the coffin after the funeral, when it was in a vaulted tomb in Lund Cathedral and therefore accessible,' he says.

The findings were published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

Bishop Winstrup was one of the most influential church leaders in Europe during his lifespan, torn between the struggle between Sweden and Denmark at the time.

He was the Bishop of Lund in Scania when it was under the control of both the Danish empire and later the kingdom of Sweden.

He was also a leading theologian and is credited with having persuaded the king of Sweden to open a new university in Lund.

His body was not embalmed, but dried out in the dry cold climate in his crypt in the cathedral in Lund.

Experts found he was clothed in a burial costume of a cap and black velvet sleeves, linen embroidered shirts and leather gloves.

He had been laid on a mattress and pillow filled with plants including lavender, juniper berries, hops and hyssops.

The researchers discovered that rather than being removed, the bishop's internal organs were left intact.

Researchers took genetic samples from both the bishop and the foetus and found the child was male and the two individuals shared 25 per cent of their genetic material, a second-degree kinship

Scientists led by Lund University found the baby had a different mitochondrial DNA lineage to the bishop, which proves they are not of the same maternal ancestry and therefore the child is related to the bishop on its his father's side

Experts found the bishop was clothed in a burial costume of a cap and black velvet sleeves, linen embroidered shirts and leather gloves. He had been laid on a mattress and pillow filled with plants including lavender, juniper berries, hops and hyssops

X-ray scans showed the Swedish bishop had dried fluid in his sinuses and had probably been bed ridden for some time before his death in 1679. The X-ray above shows a scan of Bishop Winstrup's head

The body of the bishop was first found to be in an unusually well preserved state when, in 1833, his burial vault was partly demolished, allowing a portrait (pictured) to be made

The body was first found to be in an unusually well preserved state when, in 1833, his burial vault was partly demolished, allowing a portrait to be made.

His body was then sealed back up in the cathedral and the only other glimpse of the body occurred when archaeologists opened his coffin in 1923.

However, in 2013, the Cathedral Parish was granted permission to remove the coffin of Bishop Winstrup and bury him at the Northern Cemetery.

The 17th century Swede was subsequently excavated and analysed for 15 months before being put on display for one day ahead of his eventual reinterment in the cathedral grounds.

Scans of the bearded Lutheran churchman's skeleton suggest he suffered a long illness and was probably bed ridden at the time of his death.

According to staff at the Lund University Historical Museum, the bishop's remains attracted record crowds when on display for one day in December 2015, with more than 3,000 people queueing into the night to get a glimpse of his body.

The museum was forced to extend its opening hours until 10pm to ensure everyone could see the mummified remains.

His coffin was then resealed and put back in the ground with a full Lutheran Christian funeral service.
Policy development expert Dr. Mohid Iftikhar while highlighting importance of China's overseas Port Investments, a comparative analysis in Greece and Pakistan has urged the faculty members and students to come forward and understand changing global economy under the belt and road initiative

HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2021 ) :Policy development expert Dr. Mohid Iftikhar while highlighting importance of China's overseas Port Investments, a comparative analysis in Greece and Pakistan has urged the faculty members and students to come forward and understand changing global economy under the belt and road initiative.

Addressing the participants of popular lecture series held at Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam on "C-PEC", he said Pakistan can emerge as a hub of industrial development that will connect through rest of the world with the development of Gawadar Port.

He emphasized that it was significant to be patient in witnessing economic transformation in Pakistan that will equally create new opportunities for the youth of the country. He said that Pakistani youth can also build their capacity in cultural exchange, language, technology, higher education, entrepreneurship, agriculture, food and fisheries, animal science products and value addition.

Earlier Dean Faculty of Agricultural Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Aijaz Ali Khoharo said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) can provide great opportunity for the students to develop and grow Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for their economic empowerment. The popular lecture series and expert lecture would be helpful for knowledge building for students and faculty members, he added.

The Dean Faculty of Crop Production, Prof. Dr. Qamaruddin Chachar said that youth should focus on knowledge economy through digitalization and researchers should focus to conduct problem oriented research to capture the market needs under CPEC. The quality research and markets of agriculture products to ensure food security may be given priority, he added.

The Coordinator Programmes and Project Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar said that university students should focus on entrepreneurship to capture the market of the CPEC. He said that the students may build their knowledge in hospitality management, value addition of various agricultural products, skills enhancement for technology transfer of various agriculture commodities and should focus on market for research and commercialization. There is a need for harmony in the system and socio-economic policies and the need for better political economy for the socio-economic development of Pakistan, he added.

A large number of Students and faculty members participated in the lecture, exchanged questions and expressed their opinions for the economic development of country.
Nguyen Thanh Nghi, the eldest son of former PM Nguyen Tan Dung, has been appointed minister of construction, making him the youngest member of the new cabinet.

Nghi, 45, was one of 12 new ministers and department heads approved by the National Assembly Thursday morning to take over new roles under the newly-elected Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The construction ministry is responsible for state administration on construction, building materials, housing and office buildings, architecture, urban and rural construction planning, urban infrastructure, public services; and representing state capital in state-owned enterprises.

Nghi, a native of the southernmost province of Ca Mau, has a doctorate in construction engineering.

He used to be vice head of the HCMC University of Architecture from 2008 to 2011.

In 2011, he was appointed deputy construction minister at the age of 35, becoming the youngest official holding the post in Vietnam. In March 2014, he was appointed deputy Party secretary of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang before becoming the youngest provincial Party secretary in the country next year.

He was also Kien Giang deputy chairman from 2014 to 2015.

In October 2020, he was reappointed deputy minister of construction in PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc's cabinet.

Nghi was elected to the 13th Party Central Committee last January.

Nghi is the eldest son of ex-Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who stepped down in 2016 after a 10-year reign.

Dung was the youngest prime minister Vietnam had in 20 years. He has been credited with further opening up of Vietnam's economy and boosting infrastructure development. The General Statistics Office has calculated that the nations poverty rate decreased from 18.1 percent in 2006 to 4 percent in 2015 while Vietnam's per capita GDP rose from $796 in 2006 to $2,106 in 2015. GDP growth, however, slowed down from 8.17 percent in 2006 to 6.68 percent in 2015.

Several cases of corruption during the former PM's tenure have been exposed. A number of top officials in his cabinet have been tried and sentenced, including former political star and Transport Minister Dinh La Thang, former Ministers of Information and Communication Nguyen Bac Son and Truong Minh Tuan, who received life imprisonment under Vietnam's sweeping corruption crackdown spearheaded by Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong.
Patrick Radden Keefe has always been interested in secrets.

I think I have an almost childlike suggestibility where if you tell me you know a secret and you wont tell, Im going to do everything I can to figure out what that secret is, he said in a video interview from his home in Westchester County, N.Y.

But if youve ever read something Keefe, 44, has written, you may already sense that he has a passion for unearthing whats hidden. In his 2009 book, The Snakehead, he reported on a human smuggling operation run out of New Yorks Chinatown, untangling the web of the enterprise and highlighting its victims and its perpetrators. In his 2019 best-seller, Say Nothing, he dove into the decades-long sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland, particularly the mystery surrounding Jean McConville, a young mother who was kidnapped from her home in 1972.

Now hes back with a new book, Empire of Pain, out from Doubleday on Tuesday, that examines the opioid crisis. Its a byzantine topic, but Keefe focuses on the Sackler family, which owns Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin.

I didnt want to write an opioid crisis book per se, Keefe said. The hope is that a certain kind of reader will be interested in this book, primarily as a story about a great American dynasty, and what I would argue is the corruption of a great American dynasty.
March 22, 2021  London - Memory innovator Intrinsic Semiconductor Technologies Ltd (Intrinsic) has announced the close of a 1.35m seed funding round led by investors UCL Technology Fund and IP Group plc.

The funding will enable Intrinsic to disrupt the $60bn non-volatile memory market by partnering with leading semiconductor research foundry, imec in Belgium, to develop prototypes of its proprietary nonvolatile memory devices using industry standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processing on 300mm silicon wafers.

Memory performance is a limiting factor in nearly all current and emerging computing applications and Intrinsics technology will address this through superior performance while adhering to well established and low-cost manufacturing techniques. Non-volatile memory is used in a large and ever-increasing range of electronic products. It is the permanent memory used in smartphones, laptops, USB sticks, cameras, SSD hard drives etc. and today it is based on the technology known as Flash memory.

At the heart of Intrinsics revolutionary technology is a memristor, also known as ReRAM or RRAM, invented by the companys founders, Professor Tony Kenyon and Dr Adnan Mehonic, eminent researchers in the field of nanoelectronics and materials science. Supported by commercialisation arm UCL Business, they spun out their research to create Intrinsic.

Due to the incompatibility with the current manufacturing processes, it is very difficult and costly to integrate Flash memory technology in the same semiconductor chip as the processor. This limitation severely impacts power consumption, increases cost, and is hampering the development of new applications in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial intelligence (AI); areas which require lower power, more performance and higher memory capacity.

Intrinsics novel memory technology is based on the same materials as the CMOS chip itself, such as silicon oxide, which removes a key limitation and changes what is possible. Intrinsics memory is easier to integrate and inherently faster and more power efficient than Flash. This technology will provide a huge improvement to the power consumption and cost of future devices that will drive an increasing range of everyday products and services.

Professor Tony Kenyon, Co-Founder of Intrinsic and Professor of Nanoelectronic & Nanophotonic Materials, said:

Existing memory technologies, such as Flash, are reaching the limits of their capabilities - particularly in embedded systems such as those we need in IoT devices. Intrinsics memristor technology will transform next generation systems by combining high performance with ease of integration in digital CMOS. By basing our devices on silicon oxide, we ensure that they are as simple and as cheap to integrate with silicon-based electronics as it is possible to be."

Mark Dickinson, CEO of Intrinsic, said:

There is a huge potential market for new memristive technologies. Having seen the potential for new memory technologies to disrupt the sector in my time in senior roles at ARM and Imagination, I am excited to be working with two of the most prominent researchers in the field to bring the best memristor technology to market. This is an exciting invention from a leading UK university with the potential for truly global impact.

Dr Adnan Mehonic, Co-Founder of Intrinsic and Assistant Professor at UCLs Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,said:

The overall performance of hardware we use for AI is determined and limited by the bandwidth and energy-efficiency of memory technologies. A fast, energy-efficient, cheap and scalable non-volatile memory that can be incorporated directly on a chip, such as our silicon oxide memristors, will significantly improve the performance, especially for energy-efficient edge computing. Furthermore, our technology could be utilised for analogue AI hardware accelerators currently in development and novel computing paradigms, such as neuromorphic and spiking-based computing.

Lee Thornton, Investment Director, IP Group Plc, said:

The ground-breaking approach to creating digital memory being commercialised at Intrinsic will not only offer a solution to the bottleneck in current systems, but will allow the creation of new computing architectures for emerging sectors including artificial intelligence. IP Group is delighted to be part of Intrinsics journey from the outset.

David Grimm, Investment Director, UCL Technology Fund, said:

Intrinsics technology has been getting us very excited at the UCL Technology Fund. World class academic research with massive transformational potential for a problem plaguing the computing world and an industry leader at the reins is a brilliant setup. Were delighted to be continuing to support the team on its journey!

Steven Schooling, Director of Physical Sciences & Engineering for UCL Business, said:

Were delighted and proud to see that Intrinsic, a UCLB spinout, is taking forward cutting-edge university research and pushing the boundaries of innovation for computer and electronic hardware. We look forward to seeing the company flourish.

About Intrinsic Semiconductor Technologies:

Intrinsic Semiconductor Technologies is a UCL spinout company, established in 2017 to commercialise the novel memristive RRAM devices developed by Prof Tony Kenyon and Dr Adnan Mehonic at UCL Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, using their patented IP. Based in London, Intrinsic Semiconductor Technologies is currently developing commercial prototypes of its new memory devices, with the aim of establishing its proven designs as licensable IP for chip manufacturers. For further information, please visit: https://www.intrinsicst.com/

About UCL Technology Fund

The UCL Technology Fund is dedicated to investing in intellectual property commercialisation opportunities arising from UCLs world-class research base, focusing in particular on the physical and life sciences. The Fund helps UCL academics achieve the full potential of innovations that have prospects for outstanding societal and market impact, right through the development journey from initial proof of concept to practical commercial application. The Fund is managed by AlbionVC, a leading independent venture fund manager in the UK, in collaboration with UCL Business. AlbionVC is a trading name of Albion Capital Group LLP which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For further information please visit: www.ucltf.co.uk

About IP Group

IP Group is a leading intellectual property commercialisation company which focuses on evolving great ideas, mainly from its partner universities, into world-changing businesses. The Group has pioneered a unique approach to developing these ideas and the resulting businesses by providing access to business building expertise, capital (through its 100%-owned FCA-authorised subsidiaries IP Capital and Parkwalk Advisors), networks, recruitment and business support. IP Group has a strong track record of success and its portfolio comprises holdings in early-stage to mature businesses across life sciences and technology. IP Group is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the code IPO. www.ipgroupplc.com.






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Microsoft's going back to the office. Amazon's heading back to the office. More boldface names from the ranks of corporate America have made similar recent declarations, whether by official policy memos or nudges on internal blogs. The timeline for a post-pandemic return to cubicle life isn't set in stone (fall is most usually cited), and no one really knows yet what new balance will be struck between work-from-home (WFH) and back-to-office (BTO).

Even if everyone's safe and vaccinated, there will be worries. And more hand sanitizer, more touchless building controls, more distantly spaced cubicles, more desks reserved (or hoteled) by workers with alternating or varying office schedules. The virus, and its variants, aren't going away.





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We are extremely pleased to have Chris Owen join the PCE team and help PCE establish, not only a stronger presence in the St. Louis market, but throughout the region and nationwide.

PCE announces Chris Owen, CPA/ABV, CEIV, has joined the investment banking services firm to head up the business valuation practice in St. Louis. The expansion marks the fifth regional office for PCE.

Formerly a senior valuation consultant of a Big 4 accounting firm, Owen has nearly a decade of experience assisting middle market and large public and private companies. More recently, Owen served as a valuation manager of a regional St. Louis based accounting firm.

Owens experience includes hundreds of business valuations conducted for public and privately held businesses, business interests, intangible assets, and intellectual property involving financial statement reporting, corporate tax planning, gift and estate tax planning, and mergers & acquisitions.

We are extremely pleased to have Chris Owen join the PCE team and help PCE establish, not only a stronger presence in the St. Louis market, but throughout the region and nationwide, said Paul Vogt.

Among Owens professional certifications are the following:



Certified Public Accountant (CPA)  State of Missouri

Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV)  American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Certified in Entity and Intangible Valuations (CEIV) - American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)  Association of Fraud Examiners

PCE has a wonderful reputation for providing trusted advice and quality service. I am immensely excited to be working with this team,  said Owen.

Owen graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelors degree in Healthcare Management. He also earned a Master of Business Administration in Finance and a Master of Accountancy from Southern Illinois University.

PCE is a leading financial services firm for middle-market companies, offering clients a full range of investment banking, valuation, and advisory services. PCE delivers M&A support, ESOPs, management buyouts (MBOs), bankruptcy advisory, restructuring, and fairness and solvency opinion advisory services. Experienced in all market sectors, PCE has established several specialty practice areas, including Construction & Building Products, Food & Ag, Diversified Industrial, Healthcare, and Transportation & Logistics. Offices in Orlando, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis and New York.

For additional information about PCE, visit us at http://www.pcecompanies.com.

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pce.
While the standard answer to Graham Russells fitted sheet dilemma (C8) was either You dont or With great difficulty, Joy Paterson of Mount Annan recently asked her grand-daughters if they wanted to know her method of folding. They didnt: One said that would be her husbands job and the other declared she would have a housekeeper to do it.

Theres no need for Graham to get the sheets, as long as he follows these instructions from Col Burns of Lugarno: Carefully identify each corner and meticulously fold diagonally opposite corners into the centre of the sheet. Fastidiously repeat this process until the folded fabric measures one square metre. Finally, and most importantly, aggressively scrunch the sheet into a spherical mass and wedge between stacks of towels in the linen cupboard.

A duck has been named grand champion bird of the show at the Sydney Royal Easter Show for the first time in 199 years, reports Graham Lum of North Rocks. Lord, love a duck!

Jenny Lyle (C8) successfully grows passionfruit and produces a glut each season. Arent there any possums in Collaroy? asks Wendy Crew of Lane Cove North.

I clearly remember my father warning me when the choko crop (C8) was full-on to be watchful for anyone approaching with a brown paper bag, writes Richard Stewart of Pearl Beach. Quickly move to the other side of the road because the bearer has excess chokos to give away.
Ruby Bridges to Deliver Tulane Commencement Address Online

A key figure in the New Orleans civil rights movement will deliver the keynote address during online graduation ceremonies at Tulane University.

Ruby Bridges will speak during the universitys unified commencement event on Saturday, May 22, the university announced in a news release.

Bridges was 6 years old when she enrolled in 1960 as the first Black student at a New Orleans elementary school. She was escorted past crowds screaming racist slurs, an event memorialized in Norman Rockwells famous painting The Problem We All Live With.

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Tulanes large, unified commencement ceremony will be online due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Smaller, in-person ceremonies for individual schools and colleges within the university are also scheduled. The school-based ceremonies will take place at Yulman Stadium May 19 through May 21. There will be limited attendance and the ceremonies will be live-streamed, according to the university.
It was 2017 when the purchasing really picked up. Cascade splashed more than half a billion dollars on more than 100,000 acres across nine states. The following year, a further $US171 million went on buying 14,500 acres in those idyllic Horse Heaven Hills, for a total of around $US690 million in just a few months. That sum may only represent about half a per cent of Gatess wealth. And 269,000 acres may only represent about a quarter of a per cent of US farmland. But it is still a staggering space to have bought in so short a time. Which begs the question: what does he want with it all? What does he want with all that land? The obvious answer is money. Larson, after all, was brought in to invest the Gates fortune and grow it, just as surely as a farmer is brought in to grow crops. Land, particularly rich arable land, is in ever growing demand as the globes population rises. As the old saying goes, They arent making any more of it. The value of UK farmland has historically increased at 6 per cent per annum, according to Savills. But after the turn of the millennium it more than trebled in value. So when Gates was asked a fortnight ago, in one of his periodic Ask Me Anything sessions on the online forum Reddit Hey Bill! Why are you buying so much farmland? his answer seemed refreshingly straightforward. My investment group chose to do this, he noted. It is not connected to climate.

All cleared up then. Farmer Bill couldnt care less about hoe and plough, it was all just a smart financial play. Except, in the very next breath, Gates contradicted himself, and suggested that yes, his purchases actually were very much to do with the environmental concerns that he makes plain in his latest book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster. The agriculture sector is important, he wrote. With more productive seeds we can avoid deforestation and help Africa deal with the climate difficulty they already face. Later on in the discussion he added: We have lots of water. The problem is that it is expensive to desalinate it and move it to where it is needed. The cost is prohibitive for agricultural use of water. New seeds can reduce water use but some areas wont be able to farm as much. All of which seems to hint at lines of research that a benevolent billionaire might want to acquire farmland to pursue. In fact, Gatess interest in productive and sustainable ways of feeding the planet does not stop with arable.

He has long had a curiosity in producers of synthetic meat such as Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, in order to replace the carbon intensive business of rearing animals for slaughter. Such companies aim to replicate the taste and structure of meat either by replacing the protein cells of a steak, say, with plant cells, or by growing protein cells in a lab, not on a cow. From this perspective, the Gates Estate makes sense both as investment and personal project to save the world. Loading He is not, after all, the first billionaire to embark on rural empire building for purposes which cynics might write off as vanity eco-burnishing or fantasy kingdom building. Ted Turner, the American media mogul who founded CNN, has acquired 2 million acres of land (not just farmland) on which roam one of Americas last herd of buffalo. All very noble, though critics cant help pointing out his private ranch was once promised to Native Americans. If Gatess motives are to make money and progress, though, who can fault him? He certainly doesnt have a problem giving it away. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation last year set up its own agricultural innovation project, Gates Ag One, driving innovation to help smallholder farmers in developing countries, many of whom are women... sustainably improve crop productivity and adapt to the effects of climate change.

It is one part of an effort that has driven Gates up the charts in another field of endeavour: philanthropy. There too, having given away $US35 billion and counting, he is very much number one. How much land does he own? In total, Mr Gates and his wife Melinda own 269,000 acres of land across 19 states, including 69,071 acres in Louisiana and 47,927 acres in Arkansas. The land holdings are worth more than $US690 million ($906 million), a fraction of his estimated $US128.1 billion net worth. Its equivalent to more than 1000 square kilometres. The USs agricultural land covers 896 million acres in total.

The land is owned through a private investment company, Cascade Investment, which also owns shares in artificial meat company Beyond Meat and tractor company John Deere. Wider trend Mr Gates is not alone in buying up large amounts of agricultural land. Investment from wealthy private individuals and funds surged after the financial crisis, driven by the belief that land is going to be a lucrative asset class. He is part of a wider trend towards investment in farmland by owners attracted by growing demand and productivity gains because of new technology. Experts say the potential financial benefits of restoring degraded land and encouraging biodiversity are tempting investors, as governments consider carbon taxes and financial rewards for boosting nature and tackling climate change.

Some investment funds also have to meet targets around carbon neutrality and other climate goals, and are buying land in an attempt to achieve this. Mr Gates has a particular interest in agriculture and food, having been outspoken about the need to invest in technology to overcome food shortages and tackle climate change, and has argued that high-income countries should switch entirely to synthetic beef. His charitable foundation, which is not linked to the investment fund, has also funded research into technology designed to improve farming productivity. Why is it controversial? Critics of Mr Gates argue that he holds too much power over food and agriculture, and is interested in enriching himself rather than helping the planet.

There are concerns that the purchase of land by corporations and billionaires accelerate the industrialisation of agriculture, depriving smallholders and family farmers of the chance to make a living from land that they may have longstanding connections to. Loading In a piece for the Guardian, academic and indigenous American Nick Estes, of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, argued that it is monopolistic and deprives ordinary people of access to land. The land we all live on should not be the sole property of a few. The extensive tax avoidance by these titans of industry will always far exceed their supposed charitable donations to the public. The billionaire knows best mentality detracts from the deep-seated realities of colonialism and white supremacy, and it ignores those who actually know best how to use and live with the land, he wrote.
Initial Test Results of LED Lighting in Commercial Facility Show Promise for Low Voltage Cannabis Cultivation

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire  Pure Harvest Corporate Group, Inc. (OTC: PHCG), a publicly-traded holding company focused on emerging and high-growth industries, is pleased to report that its portfolio company, DC Energy Group, LLC has completed multiple successful harvests in the initial testing of its LED light fixtures for cannabis cultivation in state-licensed facilities located in Denver, Colorado. The reported results have been favorable in each harvest to date, and it is believed that production will continue to improve as testing continues.

The positive test results are a reflection of the advances in LED technology in agricultural applications and the efficacy of DC Energys commercial fixtures for cannabis cultivation. These LED fixtures are a critical component of DC Energys Infinergy enterprise-level energy management system and these early test results demonstrate that LED fixtures can compete with traditional, high-pressure sodium lights. As commercial tests continue to generate harvest data, DC Energy will continue to monitor the results and attempt to prove the potential of intelligently managed energy solutions that include solar power, battery storage systems, and other highly-efficient alternative energy sources. DC Energy is encouraged by this initial success and believes these tests are a significant step towards reducing the environmental impact of the cannabis industry.

DC Energys Infinergy System allows cannabis cultivators to dramatically reduce their carbon footprint by utilizing solar energy, battery storage, and other tightly integrated efficient energy options to power their lighting fixtures as well as other traditional AC power-intensive systems. The Infinergy System combines cutting edge energy monitoring and control technology with proven agricultural LED fixtures specifically designed to maximize cannabis production. DC Energy management believes that this combination of synergistic technologies represents a paradigm shift in agricultural lighting and overall energy management.

We are excited to see the results from these initial harvests and are optimistic that we can minimize the carbon footprint associated with indoor cannabis cultivation with this technology, said David Lindsey, President and Chief Technology Officer. As the industry continues to grow, we are going to need to look past the existing electrical grid to power cannabis production. These tests are showing that the opportunity to intelligently manage energy usage including, among other options, the combination of solar power and LED lighting is a viable alternative to the current, energy-intensive state of cannabis cultivation.

About Pure Harvest Corporate Group

Pure Harvest Corporate Group, Inc. (OTCQB: PHCG) is a publicly-traded holding company focused on emerging and high-growth industries. The PHCG team is committed to formulating, manufacturing, and distributing high-quality cannabis and hemp-derived cannabinoid consumer products in markets where it is legal to do so. The Company has developed numerous retail brands and product lines that are currently available for purchase in select markets. Pure Harvest intends to grow its cannabis, hemp-derived cannabinoids and Test Kitchen operations and expand globally as the laws regarding cannabis are reviewed and rewritten to repeal their prohibition.

About DC Energy Group

DC Energy Group, LLC (DCEG) is an energy consulting company with expertise in solar, battery storage systems, LED lighting solutions, and energy counseling focused on local utility rebates, incentives, and energy cost mitigation plans. DCEG is in the process of developing an enterprise-wide energy management solution called the Infinergy System. Using proprietary centralized monitoring software, the Infinergy System will be able to efficiently adjust energy sourcing from solar and battery solutions to traditional AC grid power, to alternate energy sources such as fuel-based generators or other integrated energy options. Through these solutions, DCEGs core value proposition is to help its clients intelligently minimize their energy costs while reducing their overall carbon footprint.

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, are subject to Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbors created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Future events and results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements.

Additionally, the Company may from time to time disclose public material events via its website at http://www.PureHarvestGroup.com or its social media accounts at the following locations:

https://www.facebook.com/pureharvestgroup

https://www.linkedin.com/company/49645278/

https://twitter.com/PureHarvestCG

Company Contact:

Pure Harvest Corporate Group, Inc.

Sherry Andersen, Corporate Communications

sherry@pureharvestgroup.com

www.pureharvestgroup.com
LONDON  Myanmars ambassador to Britain was locked out of his own embassy on Wednesday, apparently in retaliation for having criticized Myanmars military, which seized power in February and has since launched a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

The embassy said in a statement that the envoy, Kyaw Zwar Minn, had been recalled to Myanmar on March 9, that his appointment had concluded at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, and that his deputy, Chit Win, had replaced him.

The episode drew a small crowd of protesters outside the Myanmar Embassy in London on Wednesday. And on Thursday, Mr. Kyaw Zwar Minn returned there to denounce the government for which he once worked.

There was a coup in Myanmar in February. Now there is the same situation in central London, said a spokesman for Mr. Kyaw Zwar Minn who read out a statement outside the embassy as he looked on, the BBC reported.
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 08.04.21:

Armenia has received the first batch  15,000 doses - of the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19.

This is a continuation of the large-scale assistance provided by Russia to Armenia in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Thursday morning, Armenia has confirmed 1,231 new cases of the coronavirus, the total number of these cases has reached 200,129 in the country. The death toll is 3,675.

The number of people who have recovered over the past one day is 816, the total respective number so far is 179,043

Second President Robert Kocharyan has sued Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Armenia. The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday and assigned to the court of general jurisdiction of Yerevan.

The lawsuit demands to confirm the violation of the plaintiff's right to a fair trial, to compensate the non-pecuniary damage caused as a result of this violation, to obligate to publicly deny the statements made about the plaintiff, and to compensate the non-pecuniary damage caused to the plaintiff by defamation.

Robert Kocharyan's legal team said this lawsuit is based on Nikol Pashinyan's statements made during his March 1 rally at Yerevan's Republic Square.

The total amount of compensation asked for these violations is 4 million drams - nearly $7,500.

In the first two months of this year, the outflow of money from Armenia to the United States has increased sharplyby about 80%, whereas the inflow from Russia decreasedby about 20%. It is assumed that a new wave of emigration from Armenia will follow them.

The economic crisis of 2020 was unprecedented compared to the last ten years. Amid deep economic downturns, remittances to Armenia also fell, worsening the living standards of the countrys people who are living on remittances. In 2020, individuals in Armenia received $1.84 billion in remittances through banks, which is $116 millionor 6%less than the previous year.

Over 150,000 people have signed a petition calling on the justice ministry to rethink a decision to deport a 13-year-old boy to Armenia, even though he is a Syrian Christian and has never been in the country, DutchNews reported.

Jacob and his mother have lost their right to stay in the Netherlands because the immigration service has decided they can settle in Armenia with distant relatives.

The boy's mother Tina got Armenian passports for herself and her son, so they could get a visa to travel to Europe from Syria.

The final straw had come when Jacob was injured in a bomb blast that killed one of his friends, De Groene Amsterdammer reported.

However, stories about a visa for Armenians proved to be false and Tina and Jacob made the journey to Europe in a small boat over the Mediterranean Sea. But because Armenia is classed as a safe third country, she and Jacob have now been repeatedly refused the right to stay in the Netherlands.

At Thursday's Cabinet meeting, the Armenian government approved the bill on granting amnesty to men who have avoided term military or alternative service, military training, or conscription in the country.

PM Nikol Pashinyan noted that the idea of adopting such a law has been discussed for a long time.

"This is an opportunity for us to fix a point and move forward," Pashinyan said adding that this was a political decision.

At the meeting, the Armenian government also appointed Hayk Ghalumyan as Governor of Tavush Province.

Ghalumyan is the wedding best man of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the acting mayor of IjevanPashinyans hometown.

The relatives of the missing and fallen servicemen have gathered again in front of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) of Armenia.

Arsen Ghukasyan, a relative of one of these missing soldiers, said live on Facebook that the promises that were made during their previous meeting at the MOD had not been fulfilled yet, and therefore they had to come to the ministry again.

After her last visit to Armenia, Poosh founder Kourtney Kardashian shares more posts about Armenian cuisine. Earlier, she has already shared a photo of freshly baked Armenian bread 'matnakash', and today she showed three types of dolma.

All three dishes were prepared by the most famous fan of the Kardashian family Narbeh with his grandmother Hasmik.
There are some watchmakers that require extensive preparations before you go to see them, and I mean that in the best possible sense. Allow me to explain. You know how there are some Netflix shows that you can just play in the background while doing other stuff (cooking, ironing, literally anything) and there are some that need you to clear an entire evening, re-watch the preceding season and have all your favourite snacks within reach? And you know how there are some restaurants like the pizzeria on the corner where you can just grab something quickly when youve only got an hour to eat and nothing in the fridge, and then there are restaurants that you have to get ready for  weeks of researching the menu, reading online reviews, studying the chefs biography and eating only organic raw salad for two days before going? Discovering the new releases of Vacheron Constantin is like the latter option in both those examples. You dont go to see Vacheron Constantin on a day you have to multi-task. You dont go to see Vacheron Constantin when youre on a tight schedule. You go to see them when your day and your mind are clear and focused on nothing else. Because youll need that clarity, that focus, that space when you discover what theyve prepared for you.

Appetiser: Historiques American 1921

Historiques American 1921  Vacheron Constantin

If theres one collection that piques the interest and provokes the desire to dive deeper into what Vacheron Constantin can do, its the Historiques timepieces. Theyre rarely too heavy in terms of mechanical complication, but they are exquisitely made, with a strong aesthetic flair, that lightly demonstrate the history of technical savoir-faire at the brand. The Historiques American 1921 is a niche creation of Vacheron Constantin, certainly, with additional appeal towards those who know of the timepieces origins in Jazz Age America. Its continuous popularity among collectors shows that it represents an essential side of the brand that serves as the perfect introduction for Vacheron Constantins 2021 banquet of new releases.

Soup: Metiers dArt Tribute To Great Explorers

Metiers d'Art Tribute To Grand Explorers  Vacheron Constantin

The next course is a plunge into a complex blend of technique, history and storytelling, infused with one of the most delicate decorative arts in watchmaking. The Tribute To Great Explorers is not a new endeavour for Vacheron Constantin  they began this voyage in 2004, with a second assay in 2008. This year marks the third limited series of Tribute To Great Explorer timepieces, this time focusing on the Portuguese sailors who navigated the coast of Africa. The orientation of the time display has changed to better accommodate the map depicted, such that the wandering hour now traverses the right side, rather than the lower half, of the dial. The dial is executed in miniature painting, using the medium of grand feu enamel, which requires exceptional skill and experience.

Main Course: Les Cabinotiers Le Temps Celeste

Les Cabinotiers Regulator Perpetual Calendar Moonlight Jewellery  Vacheron Constantin

This is the real show of power, the full exertion of horological savoir-faire at Vacheron Constantin, served in three parts (maximum star rating). The Regulator Perpetual Calendar Moonlight Jewellery may appear simple, with a de-centralised hour hand, central minutes, a combined moonphase and date display counter, and three small apertures displaying the day, month and leap year. Of course, the display is a hugely understated representation of the complication within this watch  the perpetual calendar, which automatically shows the correct calendric information despite the variation in number of days from month to month, even during leap years.

Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky Chart Leo Constellation Jewellery  Vacheron Constantin

It isnt a real banquet without musical accompaniment, which is provided by the Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky Chart Leo Constellation Jewellery. A slide located at the 8 oclock position on the watch activates the chiming mechanism of the famous in-house cal. 2755, widely acknowledged to be one of the best-sounding sonnerie movements in production today. A tourbillon rotates once per minute at the 6 oclock position, while a hand-guilloche depiction of the constellation Leo, studded with diamonds to represent the stars, occupies the upper half of the dial. Visible through the transparent caseback, a sky chart makes one complete rotation in one sidereal day, a rare and refined indication of a time that exists outside our familiar 24-hour perspective.

Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Planetaria  Vacheron Constantin

While both the Regulator Perpetual Calendar Moonlight and the Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky Chart Leo Constellation are gem-set and finely decorated, the last of the Les Cabinotiers trifecta of 2021  the Armillary Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Planetaria  is devoid of sparkling stones. Its mechanical splendour alone is dazzling enough to outshine the most prestigious gala evening. The armillary tourbillon, first seen in Vacheron Constantins watchmaking repertoire in 2016, is paired with a host of other complications, including indication of the moon phase in Northern and Southern hemispheres, day/night indication in both hemispheres and a perpetual calendar.

Palate Cleanser: Overseas Perpetual Calendar, Overseas Tourbillon, Traditionnelle Split Seconds Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine

Overseas Tourbillon  Vacheron Constantin

With last years Overseas models finding widespread approbation  most notably demonstrated when the Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Skeleton took the Calendar And Astronomy Prize at the 2020 edition of the Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Geneve  Vacheron Constantin are continuing their hot streak with an expansion of this collection. The perpetual calendar and tourbillon mechanisms are well represented in 2021s crop of Overseas timepieces, uniting the most traditional prestigious mechanisms of the 266-year-old manufacture with its sportiest case design.

Traditionnelle Split Seconds Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine  Vacheron Constantin

Underlining this motif of traditional watchmaking patrimony is the latest addition to the Collection Excellence Platine, which has seen 20 models in total since it was initiated in 2006. The new Traditionnelle Split Seconds Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine presents this high complication in a platinum case (with platinum buckle and leather strap stitched with platinum thread) that fully matches the nobility of the cal. 3500 within  the only split seconds chronograph movement in the world featuring a peripheral rotor. This movement was first shown in 2015 on the occasion of Vacheron Constantins 260th anniversary, housed within the supremely elegant Harmony Split Seconds Chronograph.

Taken together, the new Overseas models and the Traditionnelle Split Seconds Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine dont overwhelm or bewilder the senses; they refamiliarise us with the kind of direct, straight-to-the-point, top-tier watchmaking that Vacheron Constantin does so well. It resets our horological tastebuds for the final course.

Dessert: Egerie Self-Winding Diamond-Pave

Egerie Self-Winding Diamond-Pave  Vacheron Constantin

The launch collection of Egerie included high-jewellery models, fully diamond set, featuring a spectacular moon phase display adorned with smoked sapphire-crystal clouds. This year, Egerie lets its diamonds take even more of the spotlight. Two new fully set, automatic models in pink gold or white gold are available in the dainty case diameter of 35mm. As restrained as they may be in size, these new Egerie timepieces are certainly not shy about catching your attention. Dial, case, bezel and lugs are blanketed with brilliant-cut stones  912 diamonds (just over 4 carats) in total. Those concerned about all the saccharine sweetness of all those diamonds will be reassured by the solid horological nutritional value provided by the automatic cal. 1088 within. There are no empty calories in a Vacheron Constantin feast.
Just about any good story has an other side, and such is the case with Chauncey Clarks recent commentary claiming that a group of Sullivans Island residents is stopping progress on the island by debating yet again the settled accreted-land lawsuit.

His claims that those of us who want to save the maritime forest are using division and fear as political tools deserve special examination since Mr. Clark is a candidate for mayor in the May 4 election.

As is often the case in Charleston, a bit of history is needed to understand the present. The debate Mr. Clark refers to is about the more than 190 acres of beachfront property the town transferred to the Lowcountry Land Trust for preservation.

The public ownership of such a valuable resource on a residential barrier island is unique to Sullivans Island because the military owned much of the island from the 1700s well into the 20th century, when it transferred ownership to the state, which then transferred it to the town.

Fast forward to 1991, when the town placed restrictions on the deed that required the property to be kept in its natural state except that the Town Council could authorize some cutting for views.

The controversy over the amount of cutting quickly arose, with an Oct. 13, 1994 article in The Post and Courier that describes the town as wrestling with the question. Another ran on Jan. 26, 1995, reporting: Sullivans Island residents proved last week that they could reach a compromise on the issue of cutting vegetation in the town-owned dune property.  The compromise was a give-n-take with victories for both sides.

Since that compromise, the cutters have continually demanded more, and the town has allowed more. But in 2010, two adjacent landowners sued to allow essentially unlimited cutting. The lower court ruled against them, but then the S.C. Supreme Court ordered additional review.

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Two new Town Council members were elected, both of whom were less than transparent as to their views on the land-trust issue. Last year, three council members who are adjacent landowners joined with one a real estate agent to approve, on a 4-3 vote, a settlement of the case that allows for massive cutting. They refused citizen pleas to postpone a final vote until residents could register their view in the May 4 election.

The adjacent landowners have falsely argued that this settlement was necessary to prevent the Supreme Court from ultimately ordering the entire area in the land trust clear-cut and the town held liable for enormous damages for denying the adjacent landowners a view. But all the Supreme Court ordered was that the lower court conduct a trial to determine the intention of the town and the Lowcountry Land Trust in creating the trust.

Anyone with the slightest familiarity with the land trusts creation knows the intent was for a natural area. There is overwhelming evidence to prove this, including newspaper articles, Town Council minutes, consultant reports and testimony. There is no evidence to support the plaintiffs position that the intent was to maintain the vegetation at the 3-foot level it was when the trust was created. The town would have won the lawsuit.

While Mr. Clark claims his opponents wont compromise and follow democratic principles, these charges are true as to him. His crowning anti-democratic action was to include in the settlement agreement a provision that no future Town Council could alter the cutting regime without approval of the plaintiffs to the lawsuit  who want unlimited cutting.

Mr. Clarks sweeping allegations simply are not supported by the facts.

Billy Want has been an environmental lawyer for more than 40 years, working for the U.S. Justice Department, in private practice and as a law professor. He is a resident of Sullivans Island.
CBS has ousted two top executives amid an investigation into claims they created a hostile work environment and one was accused of calling a black TV anchor 'just a jive guy' and saying another was 'too gay for Philadelphia'.

Staff were told on Wednesday that Peter Dunn, president of the CBS Television Stations, and David Friend, senior vice president for news at the stations, were no longer employed by CBS.

Dunn and Friend were suspended in January after an external investigation was launched into claims of a hostile work environment for female and black employees at news operations in some of CBS' largest individual stations.

The investigation was launched following a report in the Los Angeles Times that detailed the allegations made by employees at the CBS-owned local stations.

CBS chief executive, George Cheeks, sent an email to staff on Wednesday announcing the company had cut ties with the top executives prior to the investigation concluding.

Staff were told on Wednesday that Peter Dunn, president of the CBS Television Stations, and David Friend, senior vice president for news at the stations, were no longer employed by CBS

'Peter Dunn, President of the CBS Television Stations, and David Friend, Senior Vice President of News for the Stations group, will not return to their positions and will be leaving the company,' he said.

Cheeks added that the probe 'is not over and will continue' and said he appreciated those employees who had already spoken to investigators.

He did not say what the investigation had revealed so far.

'This entire process, while sometimes painful and emotional, is an important step forward in living up to our promise of a safe, inclusive, respectful and equitable workplace for all of us,' Cheeks said.

CBS has since defended its decision to cut ties with Dunn and Friend prior to the investigation concluding.

'While we won't comment on the specifics of an ongoing investigation, it is clear to us that this action is appropriate and necessary at this time,' a CBS spokesperson said in a statement.

'Any decision regarding termination for 'cause' will be made at the conclusion of the investigation.'

Dunn and Friend have both previously denied any wrongdoing.

Dunn's attorney has said his client has been the victim of cancel culture.

'There have been no findings of wrongdoing by Peter Dunn,' his lawyer said. 'The situation has gotten to the point that they are making him a scapegoat. In this heightened age of not wanting to offend anyone, lives and reputations are being sacrificed.'

Dunn and Friend were suspended in January after an external investigation was launched into claims of a hostile work environment for female and black employees at news operations in some of CBS' largest individual stations

Among the allegations being investigated is that Dunn referred to Philadelphia anchor Ukee Washington (pictured above) as 'just a jive guy' and ridiculed his on-air dance moves

Dozens of current and former employees at CBS-owned TV stations from Los Angeles to New York had complained of a hostile work environment that allegedly bullied female managers and blocked efforts to hire and retain black journalists.

Since 2009, Dunn had been head of 28 stations owned and operated by CBS in big cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago.

Dunn promoted Friend, who ran new operations at New York's WCBS-TV, in 2010 to head of the network's local newsrooms nationwide.

Among the allegations being investigated is that Dunn referred to Philadelphia anchor Ukee Washington as 'just a jive guy' and ridiculed his on-air dance moves.

He also allegedly questioned whether a potential candidate for an anchor gig was 'too gay for Philadelphia'.

The head of the Philadelphia newsroom at the time, Margaret Cronan, eventually quit because she couldn't tolerate the culture.

She alleged that Friend had belittled her in a meeting with other senior executives by asking her if she was 'a (expletive) idiot' and that her attempts to hire black male reporters were quashed.

Following the ousting of both Dunn and Friend, Cronan said: 'I prayed that CBS executives would make this decision, and I am relieved that they did.

'There is still much work that needs to be done, but with these two individuals out, there is promise ahead. There's hope - and that's something that those who have worked in that division of CBS haven't felt in a long time.'
The Decatur City Council voted on Wednesday to end the citys mask mandate Apr. 9.

Councilman Billy Jackson was the only member to vote against the mandate being lifted.

Prior to voting at the special session, Councilman Carlton McMasters spoke about his experience with the coronavirus. He said he'll continue to wear his mask until he feels safe.

McMasters said that's the right thing to do as a citizen. The councilman also mentioned the infection rate in Texas, since the state lifted the mask mandate. He said numbers were the lowest Texas had seen in 10 months.

"I'm in support of letting this mandate expire with Governor Ivey's," said McMasters.

Councilman Hunter Pepper agreed with McMasters.

"Me wearing a mask should be my choice," said Pepper.

Many businesses in North Alabama have already received backlash after announcing they'll require people to wear a mask after the mask mandate expires. Both Pepper and councilman president, Jacob Ladner, said Alabamians need to respect the wishes of businesses.

"If a business does require a mask, then I do plan to wear a mask in their business," said Pepper.

Ladner said business owners that he has spoken to all had different opinions on the mask mandate ending, calling it a "mixed bag" of opinions.

The mandate has been in effect since July of 2020.

Alabamas mask mandate will end Friday, Apr. 9.
Nearly one-fourth of patients develop anxiety, a mood disorder such as depression or a psychotic condition six months after having COVID-19, among a number of long-lasting aftereffects of the disease, according to a new study reported in The Lancet medical journal.

Substance use disorder and insomnia also were reported in some patients, as well as bleeding in the brain and strokes.

However, factors not directly related to the infection itself, such as isolation from family and friends, job loss and a death in the family, as well as health conditions such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, also play a role in neurological diseases, according to Dr. Sharon Stoll, a neurologist with Yale Medicine who specializes in the study of the immune system.

Contributed photo

I agree with that hypothesis: Post-COVID is the trigger for the onset and persistence of the neurological and psychiatric diseases mentioned in the article, Stoll said Wednesday. But what needs further study is how much do confounding factors increase either the severity [or] the duration of the diseases.

Would it have resolved after six months if not for everything else? she said, or is it possible the disorder would not be as severe if not for social and other health factors.

Stoll pointed out that patients who were not hospitalized developed neurological symptoms that lasted for months, adding to the urgency for people to get vaccinated, even if they do not believe they are at risk for a serious case of COVID.

The researchers looked at electronic health records for 236,379 COVID patients and found more than one-third had a neurological or psychiatric diagnosis in the next six months.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began on March 11, 2020, there has been concern that survivors might be at an increased risk of neurological disorders, begins the article. Similar concerns have been raised regarding psychiatric sequelae of COVID-19, with evidence showing that survivors are indeed at increased risk of mood and anxiety disorders in the 3 months after infection.

However, we need large scale, robust, and longer term data to properly identify and quantify the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on brain health. Such information is required both to plan services and identify research priorities, the article states.

Patients who required hospitalization were more likely to acquire a post-COVID disorder than those who did not, and those who required intensive care were the most likely, the article states. It says potential mechanisms for this association include the virus effect on the central nervous system, the potential for blood-clotting and the effect on the nervous system of the bodys immune response.

COVID is definitely a factor in developing anxiety and mood disorders, psychosis, substance use disorders, insomnia and other conditions, Stoll said, but we also have to consider isolation, decreased work, working from home, lack of social interaction as part of that picture as well.

For people who are susceptible to neurological issues, COVID may be the straw that broke the camels back or may be the brick that broke the camels back. COVID plays a role, she said.

When looking at increased incidences of stroke, psychiatric disorders, insomnia and other problems, the rate is too high post-COVID for there not to be an association with the virus, but the question is what percentage do the other factors play in it? Stoll said. What factor does isolation, social distancing, loss of a job or loss of work play into it?

A stroke is often caused by high blood pressure, but COVID will increase the risk, she said. Every scientist is used to looking into these mitigating factors.  Nothing is studied in isolation, Stoll said.

Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

As a scientist at heart, it would be interesting to have a study that separates or matches the confounding factors to isolate the effect of COVID itself, she said.

Stoll said she was surprised the study did not examine typical long-term symptoms of post-COVID patients, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, brain fog and muscle aches that can persist several months after a viral illness, including Epstein-Barre virus and Lyme disease. However, were definitely seeing much more of that after COVID than other illnesses, she said.

That could be because when somebody has the flu or somebody has other infections, the world doesnt shut down  youre not isolated for months on end and required to wear a mask in public, Stoll said.

The study also compared the rates of disease of COVID patients with patients who had influenza or other respiratory tract illnesses and found COVID patients were more likely to suffer from almost all the measured neurological conditions, including stroke, brain bleeds, encephalitis and dementia.

It doesnt seem like the COVID virus is really entering the brain, but there does seem to be some central nervous system  effect, Stoll said. Its very much a mystery.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
11-Year-Old Dead in Hopkinsville Hunting Accident

By The Associated Press

HOPKINSVILLE - A Hopkinsville boy was fatally shot in an apparent hunting accident Wednesday night.Christian County Coroner Scott Daniel said that the 11-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the face while hunting alone near his home on Prosperity Lane. He was pronounced dead from the injuries.The boys name hasnt been released.Authorities said no foul play was suspected. The shooting appeared to be accidental and self-inflicted, Daniel said.
Helping Public Sector Organizations Accelerate Their Missions with Deeper Data Insights and Unified Intelligence

Elastic (NYSE: ESTC) ("Elastic"), the company behind Elasticsearch and the Elastic Stack, today announced its speaker lineup for the ElasticON Public Sector user conference, April 13-15, which will bring together customers, partners, and the Elastic community to help mission-oriented organizations stay agile and remove barriers between data and action.

Attendees will hear from Elastic users representing governments and universities from the U.S. and Europe about how they use Elastic to quickly analyze data, unify intelligence, standardize datasets, and achieve their missions faster. Register here for the event.

ElasticON Public Sector will feature an opening keynote session with General Manager of Elastic Security, Nate Fick. Nate was the CEO of Endgame, an endpoint security company acquired by Elastic in 2019, and a former infantry and reconnaissance officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. His book, One Bullet Away, recounting his military experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, was a New York Times bestseller. Nate will discuss how Elastic is helping mission-oriented organizations stay agile by helping users manage cybersecurity threats, bolster their security posture, and do more with their data.

Attendees also have the opportunity to learn about the latest Elastic release updates and gain insight into new capabilities that will help further their public sector projects.

Highlights include:

U.S. Federal, April 13

An executive panel including the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Maryland Innovation Security Institute, and Valiant discussing the value of Elastic Security in action.

and discussing the value of Elastic Security in action. A conversation with Deloitte on how the consulting firm is integrating machine learning with native Elasticsearch functionality to help a large federal agency expedite document review.

on how the consulting firm is integrating machine learning with native Elasticsearch functionality to help a large federal agency expedite document review. Sessions with ECS on how their teams empower government agencies to run Elastic as a service, as well as how Elastic is supporting the Mission Assurance Decision Support System(MADSS) program for the U.S. Navy with observability, data enrichment, and powerful search in a containerized environment.

U.S. State, Local Government, and Education, April 14

Sessions with the State of Arizona and Salt Lake County, Utah on how they are using Elastic to validate their security posture and protect their IT.

and on how they are using Elastic to validate their security posture and protect their IT. A discussion with the Oregon Health Science University about how Elastic is helping them increase performance visibility, proactively detect security threats, and address weaknesses in network infrastructure.

about how Elastic is helping them increase performance visibility, proactively detect security threats, and address weaknesses in network infrastructure. A conversation about product and mission perspectives from two Elastic Security users, Appalachian State University and the University of Oregon

Europe Government, April 15

An executive panel with Naimuri , Mobilise , SVA , and Northrop Grumman on realizing the power of search through their use of Elastic.

, , , and on realizing the power of search through their use of Elastic. Sessions with public sector partners including the UK Parliament's Information Authority, the Swedish Police, CGI, the Netherlands Police, and HM Revenue Customs, UK Government highlighting customer stories across Elastic Enterprise Search, Elastic Observability, and Elastic Security solutions.

Supporting Quotes:

"We used the Elastic Stack and Elastic Security to build out our MSSP offerings, accelerating the detection and mitigation of threats and increasing the stability, efficiency, and resiliency of mission-critical services for our agency partners," said Armando Seay, Co-founder and Director of the Maryland Innovation and Security Institute (MISI) . "Elastic Cloud delivers the flexibility and scalability we need to help secure the defense industrial base with our CMMC offering."

. "Elastic Cloud delivers the flexibility and scalability we need to help secure the defense industrial base with our CMMC offering." "ElasticON Public Sector is designed to bring our customers, partners, and community together to help mission-oriented agencies stay agile and remove barriers between data and action for mission outcomes," said Nate Fick, General Manager, Elastic Security, Elastic. "Making ElasticON Public Sector a dedicated virtual event enables even more of our community to come together to hear how their peers are using the latest capabilities of the Elastic Stack to turn data challenges into opportunities."

About Elastic:

Elastic is a search company built on a free and open heritage. Anyone can use Elastic products and solutions to get started quickly and frictionlessly. Elastic offers three solutions for enterprise search, observability, and security, built on one technology stack that can be deployed anywhere. From finding documents to monitoring infrastructure to hunting for threats, Elastic makes data usable in real time and at scale. Thousands of organizations worldwide, including Cisco, eBay, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, The Mayo Clinic, NASA, The New York Times, Wikipedia, and Verizon, use Elastic to power mission-critical systems. Founded in 2012, Elastic is a distributed company with Elasticians around the globe and is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol ESTC. Learn more at elastic.co.

Elastic and associated marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Elastic N.V. and its subsidiaries. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005263/en/

Contacts:

Chloe Guillemot

chloe.guillemot@elastic.co

415-272-7996
Serdar Celik, PhD, professor of mechanical engineering in the SIUE School of Engineering. Hearing the experiences of the professionals will be a great step for all institutions involved in terms of understanding and enhancing campus sustainability.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SOE) is hosting its third SIUE Energy Symposium at noon Wednesday, April 21. This years theme is Sustainable Campuses.

We have focused on creating an annual event to become the top-of-mind institution when people talk about energy, climate change, and sustainability topics in the region said Serdar Celik, PhD, professor and graduate program director in the SOE Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. We hope to increase understanding of regional and global energy issues and promote awareness on various energy topics. With this years theme focusing on sustainable campuses, we decided to bring together experts in sustainability from both U.S. and European sides.

Celik is also chair of SIUEs Climate and Sustainability Advisory Board, which provides leadership for SIUEs sustainability initiatives.

The Symposium will begin with welcome addresses from SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD, and SOE Dean Cem Karacal, PhD, followed by presentations from the distinguished speakers. The event will conclude with a question and answer session and closing remarks.

The symposium hosts internationally recognized experts from different institutions in the U.S. and in Europe. The panelists are:



Riccardo Guidetti, coordinator of the Citta Studi-Sustainable Campus Project, University of Milan, Italy

Pinar Menguc, director of the Center for Energy, Environment and Economy, Ozyegin University, Turkey

Merry Rankin, director of sustainability, Iowa State University

Ugur Soytas, head of Climate Economics and Risk Management, Technical University of Denmark

Connie Frey Spurlock, director of the SIUE Successful Communities Collaborative

Phil Valko, assistant vice chancellor for sustainability, Washington University in St. Louis

Sustainability awareness and activities at SIUE have been constantly gaining momentum over the past decade. Some of the sustainability achievements of SIUE include:

A 30-kilowatt solar array installed atop the new Science Building

Founding Member, St. Louis Higher Education Sustainability Consortium

Faculty initiated Green Roof Environmental Evaluation Network (G.R.E.E.N.)

Recognized as one of the four Living Architecture Regional Centers of Excellence nationally by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and the Green Infrastructure Foundation

Established bike share program

With the increase in both global population and our changing habits in consuming energy, the need for sustainability has become more important than ever, Celik said. Awareness is the first step to managing these challenges for a more sustainable future."

We decided to focus on campuses this year to approach the problem at a specific scale. I believe hearing the experiences of the professionals will be a great step for all institutions involved in terms of understanding and enhancing campus sustainability. SIUE has been a strong advocate for sustainability in the region and we are proud to be hosting such an event and bringing these experts together.

For more information, contact Celik at scelik@siue.edu.

The SIUE School of Engineering is one of the largest engineering schools in the region. It offers comprehensive and affordable engineering programs with eight undergraduate degrees, five masters degrees and two cooperative doctoral programs. Students learn from expert faculty, perform cutting-edge research, and participate in intercollegiate design competitions. Companies in the metropolitan St. Louis area provide students challenging internships and co-op opportunities, which often turn into permanent employment. Students gain hands-on experience in the Schools state-of-the-art facilities, including the new Fowler Student Design Center.
[April 08, 2021] NGE Announces New Managing Partner

Neal Gerber Eisenberg (NGE) is pleased to announce that Corporate & Securities Group Chair Robert G. Gerber has been named the third managing partner in the firm's 35-year history. Gerber, who began his career with NGE as a summer associate in 1997, is the first managing partner to rise through the firm's associate ranks. He will assume his new role on June 1, 2021, and he will continue to serve on the firm's Executive Committee. He succeeds Scott J. Fisher, who led the firm as managing partner for five years. "I am humbled by the trust that my colleagues have placed in me, and I am honored to lead our incredible organization. I look forward to supporting our talented NGE community as we continue to deliver the highest level of legal services to our clients," Gerber said. "We are grateful for Scott's leadership and vision over the past five years, which have been very successful in large part due to his steadfast focus on building on our unique value proposition, furthering our highly interpersonal client relationships, deepening our talent and diversity, and strengthening our culture." Gerber will continue to work closely with Fisher to ensure a seamless transition. Fisher will remain a partner and resume his active trial practice. Under his leadership, NGE's performance improved ignificantly by every relevant measure and the firm has been an industry leader in focusing on the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and employee engagement. "Identifying and developing the future leaders of the firm has been an integral part of our succession planning, and I am excited for Bobby, a friend of 15 years, to elevate our firm's future as a strategic and thoughtful leader," Fisher said. "My focused mission was to transition the business and leadership of the firm from our founders to the next generation and to develop and execute on a strategic plan that seizes on our unique position in the market. We've exceeded my expectations."



"It has been an honor to serve NGE as managing partner, and it's reassuring to work with a successor who is no stranger to firm leadership and management. I am confident that his mastery of the firm's business, admirable dedication to client care, and strong people skills will guide us to even greater heights and continue our trajectory as the leading alternative for clients looking for world-class counsel from a firm that values a highly interpersonal relationship with our clients." Gerber is focused on the firm's role as a values-driven business and an active corporate citizen. "I am committed to the growth and success of every individual at NGE and I am proud to have been entrusted with the opportunity to lead the firm where I have spent my entire professional career."

Neal Gerber Eisenberg is a leading law firm dedicated to handling sophisticated matters for entrepreneurs, public companies, and private businesses and their owners. More than one-third of the lawyers at Neal Gerber Eisenberg were recognized in 2021 in Best Lawyers, and the firm represents scores of the Fortune 100 and many of the best known private companies. The firm also acts as the trusted advisers to nonprofits, startups, growth companies and entrepreneurs. The firm has built over thirty years of trusted partnerships with clients that span the globe, and we meet each unique client need with the same personalized service and collaboration that provide the most practical solutions for every matter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005908/en/

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Historical movies do not just tell us about kingdoms that existed thousands of years ago. They are based on historical events which were of great importance and value to the people then and have shaped our lives and the world we live in now. These movies are critical as they help us understand how important all these historical events were. Here is a list of the best historical films on the OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar.

Tanhaji is based on one of Shivaji Maharajs most trusted lieutenants, Tanhaji. This movies storyline is set at the time Mughals were trying to invade the Kondwani fort, previously under the command of Shivaji Maharaj. Tanhaji was sent to fight and reclaim the for Kondwani, his king and his county. Was Tanhaji able to achieve this extraordinary feat? Watch Tanhaji and find out! This movie has found itself the title of one of the best Hindi historical movies on Hotstar.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a biopic on the famous Indian athlete, Milkha Singh, otherwise known as The Flying Sikh. This movie depicts Milkha Singhs life as he joins the army after the partition of India and how he changes his life for the better through sheer hard work and determination. This movie shows the love an athlete has for his country and how he fights off his inner demons to see his countrys flag fly high.

Apollo: Missions to The Moon is a documentary movie based on the moon landing achieved by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. These two were the first humans ever to step foot on the moon, and the spaceship Apollo was an American spaceship ever to achieve this extraordinary feat. This documentary movie shows all the trouble that NASA had to go through to achieve this feat and how all the hard work that was put in finally gave perfect results.

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Togo brings to light the story of Togo, a Siberian husky adopted by a man named Leonhard. The dog appears to be weak when first adopted, but with the proper training and care, Leonhard becomes a hero for Nome, Alaska, when he leads the 1925 Serum Run. This movie is a significant historical movie because it highlights one of the most important events for Nome, Alaska, which occurred in 1925.

Bombay Velvet shows the story of a common young man who needs to earn a lot of money and fame to win the love of his life. In the olden days, the best way to get money and fame was to live a life of crime in Bombay, aka Mumbai. This is what the young man does. Does it finally help him win his beloveds heart? Watch Bombay Velvet to find out.

The movie Hamilton is based on Alexander Hamiltons life, the first-ever Secretary of Treasury of the United States of America. This movie shows how Alexander Hamilton, an orphan by birth, goes on to New York City to work for George Washington and the events that led him to become the first-ever Secretary of Treasury of the United States of America. This movie has found itself the title of one of the best Hollywood history movies on Disney+.

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Mohenjo Daro is based on the first society ever known to man - Mohenjo Daro. The protagonist of this movie is a young farmer who arrives in the city looking for work. He realises that the city is being ruled by a tyrant king called Maham. Due to the disturbing history that his family shares with Maham, he, along with others, vows to take revenge. Was the poor farmer able to take revenge for what Maham did to his family? Watch Mohenjo Daro and find out!

The movie All the Way is based on the presidency of President Lyndon B. Johnson. He became president right after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This movie takes its viewers through the problems and conflicts that Lyndon B. Johnson had to face when taking over as the President of the United States of America and filling the shoes of the great John F. Kennedy. This movie is a critical historical movie as it shows the aftermath of JFKs assassination and the challenges the government of the United States of America had to surmount.

The movie Hidden Figures brings to light the story of three women of African American descent who played a pivotal role in the launch of astronaut John Glenns spaceship into orbit. This is a critical historic movie because it shows the three mathematicians skills and determination, which helps them send an astronaut into space. They also fight a lot of gender and racial biases. Movies like these show not just the importance of women in society but also how we as a society have grown. This movie has earned the title of one of the top historical films on Disney+ Hotstar.

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The Favourite is based on Queen Anne of England. The movie follows the storyline of her getting sick and handing over the empires reins to her close aid Sarah Churchill. Things seem to be going good until Abigail, Sarahs cousin, enters the scene and starts aiding the queen. Will Sarah continue ruling the empire under Queen Anne, or will Abigail take over as the new Aid to the queen? Watch the Favourite and find out.

Mangal Pandey: The Rising is about the mutiny of 1859, which was started by Mangal Pandey, a soldier in the East India Company in British India. The story begins with Mangal Pandey befriending an English captain in a war in Afghanistan. The revolt and the mutiny begin when the East India Company introduces rifles with cartridges lined with beef. This leads to Mangal Pandey starting a mutiny and a rebellion against the East India Company. This movie has found itself the title of one of the best historical movies on Disney+ India.

Into the Storm is based on one of Great Britains most influential Prime Ministers, Winston Churchill. Winston Churchill takes charge of his post at one of the darkest hours that Great Britain was going through. As the Prime Minister during World War II, he refused to negotiate with the enemy and inspired the allied forced to go battle it out with Nazi Germany. Winston Churchill is known worldwide for being one of the most fearless prime ministers that Great Britain has ever seen.

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23rd March 1931: Shaheed is based on the life of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. After the death of Lala Lajpatrai, Bhagat Singh was arrested by the British authorities for killing the official responsible for the death of Lala Lajpatrai. Known as one of the most influential freedom fighters that India ever had, Bhagat Singh was later hanged for this deed. He went down as a martyr in has pride of place in history books. He is one of the most influential freedom fighters of the Indian independence movement.

Mantostaan takes place in the period following the partition of India and Pakistan. This movie is a collection of short stories showing how people were affected when the British government left India after dividing it into India and Pakistan. The partition was a period of violence as it pitched two majority communities against each other and compelled people to flee their homes on either side to escape persecution.

31st October is based on the anti-Sikh riots that took place in India after the assassination of the former Indian Prime minister, Indira Gandhi. This movie is the story of a young Sikh man who tries to protect his family from protestors on the prowl. The horror that he has to go through makes this movie unique as it shows how people had transformed and how communal hatred spread in India at that time.

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Indu Sarkar is based on the Emergency implemented by the orders of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This movie follows the storyline of Indu Sarkar, whose husband works in the government. Indus husband wants to take advantage of the Emergency and advance his career. But Indu decides to go a different way and makes morally right choices.

The Finest Hours is based on an oil spill that happened due to a deadly storm. The oil tanker crew is trapped in the oil spill and is about to die when the coast guards come to their rescue. The film shows this amazing feat by the coast guards as it was one of the most challenging operations ever.

Einstein and Eddington is a movie based on the life of Albert Einstein and Sir Arthur Eddington. This movie explores the multiple breakthroughs that this dynamic duo achieved, the most famous one being the theory of general relativity. This movie explored the many external and internal conflicts this duo had to make one of the most important discoveries that changed the way people see modern science forever. This movie has found itself the title of one of the best historical movies on Disney+ Hotstar.

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Dragon Blade is based on Huo An, the fearless captain of the silk road protection squad. Huo An stops Tiberius, the Roman leader, from capturing the silk road with his army. He forms an alliance with multiple Roman troops who defected to help Huo An. This movie is an important historical one as it shows the importance of the silk road in the olden days.

Black Friday is based on the events of the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts that shook the country. This movie shows the efforts by the Mumbai police and the Government of India to catch the perpetrators of the blasts. This movie also gives an insight into the terrible events that led to the 1993 Mumbai blasts. This movie has made its name to the top of the best Bollywood historical movies list.

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PESCARA, APR 8 - An Italian psychiatrist arrested for suspected corruption in health contracts in Pescara on Wednesday night committed suicide in jail, local media said Thursday. Sabatino Trotta, head of the mental health department in the local health agency, hanged himself in his cell, according to the Il Centro and Messaggero dailies. Trotta was arrested along with two managers of a cooperative on Wednesday morning. They were accused of rigging a tender for the management of outpatient psychiatric residences, worth some 11 million euros. Trotta used the laces of his tracksuit to hang himself from his cell window frame, sources said. He was not under suicide watch. (ANSA).
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 16:49:05|Editor: huaxia

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Brunei reported one new confirmed case of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing its total tally to 216.

According to Brunei's Ministry of Health, Case 216 is a 41-year-old man who arrived in the country from Indonesia's capital Jakarta via Singapore on March 26. Investigation and contact tracing have confirmed no close contact for this case, who was quarantined upon arrival.

This new case is being treated and monitored at the National Isolation Center with 10 other active cases, who are all in a stable condition.

With the detection of this case, a total of 75 imported cases have been confirmed since the last local infection case on May 6, 2020. Brunei has recorded 337 days without local COVID-19 cases. Enditem
I have asked the health department to ensure they do everything to deliver these as quickly as possible. But Dr Miller said the new beds wouldnt be able to keep up with the organic increase in demand over the coming years, let alone alleviate the current pressure on the system. We are short a major hospital in Perth. We need another 500 beds and we need them now, right across the system, he said. According to the latest statistics from 2017-18, Western Australia has the lowest number of public hospital beds per capita of any state in the country at 2.31 beds per 1000 people. The next worst state was Victoria at 2.34 beds per 1000 people. Dr Miller said 500 new beds would also require about 2000 extra nurses and a few hundred new doctors on top.

Loading The AMAs comments came the same day Australian Nursing Federation WA secretary Mark Olson revealed a 10-point plan to improve nurse staffing at the Perth Childrens Hospital. Top of the list was the allocation of one nurse for every three patients, which would add about three to five nurses per shift. Over the last few years the staff tell me a busy day was 200 patients down at the Perth Childrens Hospital and now that has become the norm and we need to have some solid regulation of the nursing workloads that is contemporary, he said. That ratio is the ratio that currently exists at the Victorian childrens hospital ... and that is a very good starting point.

The WA government is building a new $1.8 billion womens and babies hospital in the western suburbs to eventually replace the ailing King Edward Memorial Hospital. Opposition leader Mia Davies called on the government to provide greater detail about its 300 beds and a breakdown on daily active beds in the Perth metropolitan area compared to total bed capacity for each hospital. We understand there are hundreds of idle beds, with individual hospitals having as many as 50 unused beds due to staffing or resourcing constraints, she said. We also want more detail about the 300 promised new beds, including the types of beds, where they will be allocated, and a timeline for delivery so we can ensure the Government fulfils their promise. Department gaslighting hospitals

Loading Dr Miller also accused Department of Health director general David Russell-Weisz of gaslighting doctors who raised concerns about staffing levels and safety. Dr Russell-Weisz admitted he was not aware of the staffing concerns raised by nurses as far back as December but scoffed at suggestions management teams at hospitals were scared to raise issues with the department. We have a really robust working relationship with the boards and the chief executives, he said. I would say theres no fear of the interaction between the [hospital management] and the department.
With an array of highly paid jobs since he was sacked as Chancellor  and a new fiancee  he should look like the cat who got the cream.

Instead George Osborne had a rather hangdog expression as he was given the runaround by his new puppy.

Mr Osborne made hard work of taking the mischievous fox-red labrador to the groomers to have its nails clipped.

Former chancellor George Osborne, pictured, struggled with his new puppy outside The Mutz Nutz grooming shop in Notting Hill

The former chancellor was struggling to persuade his dog to go into the grooming

An onlooker said: George was in an alleyway trying to get the lead on. But the pup circled round him.

He crossed the road carrying it and as he got to the door of the shop he put the dog down and it tried to leg it again.

Mr Osborne managed to bundle the pup inside The Mutz Nutz in Notting Hill, west London, and returned to pick it up after a 15 nail trim. He is also believed to have bought some doggie treats.

On Wednesday, Mr Osborne, 49, and his former Treasury adviser Thea Rogers, 39, announced their engagement in the pages of The Times. They are expecting their first child in the summer. Mr Osborne has two children from his 21-year marriage to Frances Howell  they divorced in 2019.

Mr Osborne, pictured had difficulty with his puppy in an alleyway in Notting Hill

The dog appeared to ignore its master who was once one of the most powerful men in the country

At one stage the former chancellor picked up the dog to carry it

The wallpaper empire heir has forged a lucrative career since losing the Chancellors job in 2016. In February 2017, shortly before he decided to stand down as an MP, he started a role as adviser at BlackRock, the worlds largest fund manager, earning 650,000 for a one-day week.

Soon afterwards, he was appointed editor of the London Evening Standard and took on several other academic and advisory roles. Last July he was succeeded as editor by David Camerons sister-in-law Emily Sheffield, becoming editor in chief.

He left the Standard and BlackRock last month to take up a full-time role at investment bank Robey Warshaw.

Miss Rogers, a former BBC journalist, is credited with sharpening up Mr Osbornes image in 2013. She left the Treasury in 2017 to become an executive at Deliveroo and is in line for a multi-million-pound payout following last weeks stock market listing of the food delivery firm.

The Mutz Nutz has been able to open during lockdown to provide services for pets welfare but not aesthetic treatments  it boasts on its website that pampered pooches can enjoy a luxurious spa, Italian baths and even a flat screen TV.
Police are frantically searching for missing twins Poppy and Lily Myers, aged 13, who disappeared five days ago.

Sisters Poppy and Lily are believed to have travelled from their home in Twickenham, south-west London, to Hillingdon on April 3.

Officers believe they may also be in the Northwood area.

It is believed that they have been in contact with friends as recently as this morning.

Detectives investigating their disappearance have asked parents whose children who are friends with Poppy and Lily to ask them if either of the missing girls has been in contact.

Sisters Poppy and Lily Myers are believed to have travelled from their home in Twickenham, south-west London, to Hillingdon on April 3

Lily, pictured, has brown hair, is 5'02" tall, and of slim build. She was last seen on the 3rd April at her home in #Twickenham wearing black platform boots and black trousers

Poppy has blondish, shoulder length hair, is 5'02"tall, is of slim build and was last seen wearing a long, white coat and knee-length riding boots

According to Scotland Yard, Poppy has blondish, shoulder length hair, is five foot two tall, and is of slim build. She was last seen on April 3, at home in Twickenham, wearing a long white coat and knee-length riding boots.

Sister Lily is described as having brown hair, is also five foot two tall, and of slim build. She was also last seen in their home, and was wearing black platform boots and black trousers.

The twins are believed to have travelled to Hillingdon.

Officers have urged members of the public to share the posts, to help to bring Poppy and Lily home safely.

They advised people to call 999 if you see them and quote 21MIS009226 for Poppy and 21MIS009223 for Lily.
Piers Morgan has renewed his call for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to name the Royal Family member who they claim questioned 'how dark' Archie's skin would be.

Morgan, DailyMail.com's Editor-at-Large, made his latest demand for an identification in the second half of his two-part interview with Extra's Billy Bush aired Wednesday.

During Meghan and Harry's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey last month, the duchess claimed that someone in 'The Firm' had raised 'concerns' about 'how dark' Archie's skin would be before he was born because she is mixed-race and Harry is white.

The couple refused to explicitly name the person in question because it would be 'damaging' to them but said it was not Queen Elizabeth or Prince Philip.

Morgan reignited speculation in his interview with Bush, saying: '[Meghan] hasn't named who that person is, so everybody is in the frame, apart from the Queen and Prince Philip, who they magnanimously removed from the frame.

'Was there a problem about the skin color of this child in the eyes of the Royal? If it were, if this is how it was done, then I want to know who that Royal is because I'm paying for them as a British taxpayer. I don't want to be paying for a racist.'

Piers Morgan renewed his call for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to name the Royal Family member who they claim questioned 'how dark' Archie's skin would be in an interview with Extra's Billy Bush aired Wednesday

During Meghan and Harry's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey last month, the duchess claimed that someone in 'The Firm' had raised 'concerns' about 'how dark' Archie's skin would be before he was born because she is mixed-race and Harry is white

Morgan also predicted a frosty reunion of Harry and his brother Prince William when they meet this summer to mark their late mother Princess Diana's 60th birthday.

'I can't see how they can stand next to each other, William and Harry, after what's happened,' he said.

Asked during the Oprah interview how he would characterize his relationship with William, Harry replied: 'Space.'

Meghan had also painted William's wife, Kate Middleton, in a bad light by describing a pre-wedding row with her sister-in-law that ended with her in tears.

William and Harry spoke by phone after the interview, but Gayle King on CBS revealed that the conversation was 'unproductive'.

William was said to be furious that Harry had discussed their private call with a journalist, and has told those around him that he can no longer trust his brother.

He is said to be desperate to give his side of the story, but, constrained by his role and by not wanting to further upset his grandmother and father, unable to do so.

Morgan predicted a frosty reunion of Harry and his brother Prince William when they meet this summer to mark their late mother Princess Diana's 60th birthday

Bush also asked Morgan who he thinks the public has sided with in the wake of the interview, Harry and Meghan or the Palace.

Morgan didn't mince words, saying: 'The Queen is immeasurably more popular, she's been on the throne for 68 years.

'Meghan and Harry are now just a pair of celebrity hucksters trading off their royal titles to sign massive deals with Netflix, Spotify, and so on whilst also saying they hate the institution of the royals and the monarchy... but not enough to give up the royal titles which are making them all this money. I think that's rank hypocrisy.'

At the end of the interview Bush questioned where Morgan's career is headed after he resigned from Good Morning Britain last month amid criticism over his comments about the Oprah interview.

Asked if he has plans to work with Fox News - after sitting down with one of the network's top hosts Tucker Carlson for his first post-GMB-exit interview earlier this week - Morgan said: 'No - but you never know what may happen.'

'I've been gratified by the number of job offers I've had from Britain and America. I'm considering a number of them,' he added.

'I'm going to take my time and then hopefully come back with something fun, exciting, and my message to the cancel culture mob is: "I wouldn't celebrate too long. I don't think I'll be canceled much longer."'

In the first part of his interview with Bush, which aired Tuesday night, Morgan revealed that he's received messages on behalf of members of the Royal Family thanking him for 'standing up for them' in the wake of Harry and Meghan's interview.

'I've had some messages communicated to me on behalf on several members of the Royal Family,' Morgan said.

He would not reveal if it was senior members of the Royal Family who had communicated the messages.

'I'm not going to go into who it was... but gratitude that somebody was standing up,' he said.

He also addressed the backlash he's faced after saying he didn't believe a word of Meghan's interview and slamming her for insinuating that the Royal Family was racist.

'There's been an attempt to cancel me. There've been many attempts like this before, and somehow I remain resolutely uncanceled,' Morgan said.

'In the end, I was required to apologize for disbelieving Meghan Markle, who I don't believe - and I believe, which is ironic, that you should not believe somebody if you don't want to,' Morgan said of his departure from GMB on March 9.

In the aftermath, there were reports Markle had personally contacted the boss of the ITV network, Morgan's former employer, to complain about him.

Morgan said he wasn't aware Markle had contacted the network until after he left.

'It was certainly a very interesting revelation from where I sit, because clearly she was trying to put huge pressure on my bosses to take action against me,' he said.

The network received 57,000 complaints about Morgan following his Markle comments, which he said came from an 'online mob' that made death threats against his family, including his sons.

'My wife's always been completely supportive about this, but she hates the online abuse. The idea my sons had to be targeted by so-called liberals in a way that was threatening to them, abusive to them is completely disgusting,' he said.

Asked by Bush what he was say to Markle now given the chance, Morgan said he would ask her to sit down for an interview so he could put some 'difficult questions' to her.

'I would say to Meghan Markle, 'Look sit down with me with your husband for an equally long interview and let me ask you more difficult questions about all your claims,' Morgan said.

'But let me ask you a wider question, which is this: If you hate the royal family that much, why do you keep your royal titles? Why would you do that if it's just not to make millions and millions of dollars?'

Morgan revealed he has had messages on behalf of members of the Royal Family expressing 'gratitude someone was standing up for them' in the wake of Harry and Meghan's Oprah Winfrey interview last month

His appearance on Extra came after Morgan gave his first wide-ranging TV interview in the wake of the controversy to Fox News' Tucker Carlson on Monday.

During that interview, Morgan doubled down on his criticism of Meghan and Harry, saying he finds their 'smearing' of the Royals and the Queen 'disgusting'.

He also pointed out that the only member of the family forced to apologize for racism has been Harry.

The Prince had made a video diary in 2006, while in the British army, in which he describes an Asian member of his platoon as 'our little Pak* friend'.

Morgan said: 'I have met the Royals many times and I don't believe they are racist at all.

'In fact, the only member of the Royal Family who has had to publicly apologize for being racist is Prince Harry, who a few years ago had to apologize after using a deeply offensive racist term about a Pakistani soldier, that he was working with.

'And he used other racial slurs as well in that story which was published by a British tabloid.

'Which may explain his hatred for the British tabloids.'

A year before, he was forced to make a public apology for wearing a Nazi swastika at a fancy dress party.

'He's the only one. Isn't that ironic? That wasn't mentioned by Oprah Winfrey - and it should have been,' Morgan said.

Morgan also took issue on Monday with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex making allegations of racism without naming the specific individuals involved.

They claimed that someone senior within the family had asked how dark their son Archie's skin would be.

Morgan's appearance on Extra came after he gave his first wide-ranging TV interview in the wake of the controversy to Fox News' Tucker Carlson on Monday (pictured)

Morgan said that he wanted to know more about the context, including whether the remarks were innocent and harmless or with a malicious undertone.

He also noted how both he and his friend Sharon Osbourne, who defended Morgan for voicing his opinions, had been forced from their jobs.

Osbourne left daytime chat show The Talk on March 26 after a heated row on March 10 when she defended his right to air his views.

'If you're going to accuse people of racism - and I have a real vested interest in this debate, because I have been accused of racism simply for disbelieving Meghan Markle, who we now know was not telling the truth throughout that interview.

'And I feel very angry about that, and very aggrieved about that.

'And I have seen friends of mine, like Sharon Osbourne, being removed from their job for defending me, because apparently they were defending a racist.

'I have seen Don Lemon at CNN, the guy who sits in my old office, who I thought was a friend, actually say on his show that I had committed an act of racism by disbelieving somebody. That's an act of racism?

'So you have the Queen, and frankly every member of the royal family, is still smeared with the idea it may have been them who expressed concern over the skin color of Archie. Well, did they? And if so, who was it?

'As a British taxpayer, who helps pay for the royal family, I would like to know, actually, if there is a real racist inside the palace.'

Prince Harry subsequently told Winfrey that it was not the Queen or Prince Philip.

Morgan also called into question Winfrey's conduct during the interview, asking why she didn't press for more answers or clarification.

'My problem with this whole interview is that these incredibly damaging allegations were tossed out there, and none of them were challenged properly,' he said. 'None of them were challenged based on actual reality. None of them were asked, well, who is this person?'

He also went on to say that 17 claims made by the couple have since been proven to be false, exaggerated or are unverifiable.
Architectural Digest brings you to South Florida to visit a maximalist mansion designed to stimulate residents at every turn. Le Sumi at 7170 Ayrshire Lane in Boca Raton is the soaring, candy-colored result of 3 years of design and construction by renowned architect Randall Stofft, currently on the market for just under $13 million. With dramatic, geometrically arranged open spaces bathed in natural light and an interior that needs to be seen to be believed, living in this mansion would bring an undeniable lift to your senses.

Take the complete home tour and see prior home videos below.

Tour an NYC penthouse near Central Park

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Transact Confirms Current Encryption Features Comply With New Nacha Rule on Supplementing Data Security Requirements

Transact, the leader in innovative payment solutions for a connected campus, today confirmed its current encryption features comply with a new National Automated Clearing House Association (Nacha) Rule on Supplementing Data Security Requirements. The Rule requires bank account numbers used in the initiation of ACH transactions to be rendered unreadable when stored electronically. Transact and its payments solutions clients are fully compliant in advance of the June 30, 2021, effective date of Phase 1 of the Rule's two-phase introduction.

Phase 1 of the Rule on Supplementing Data Security Requirements applies to ACH Originators and Third-Parties with more than 6 million ACH payments annually; Phase 2, in effect one year after Phase 1, applies to those same parties with 2 million ACH payments annually. Transact processes 8 million ACH payments each year.

"Transact protects sensitive data at rest and in transit using industry standard encryption technologies and best practices," said Laura Newell-McLaughlin, chief of staff, Transact. "As a result, clients using Transact Payments are already compliant with the new mandate."

Transact recently announced it ha completed preparation for a new Nacha WEB Debit Account Validation Rule, one year ahead of the regulatory requirement. That rule requires bank account number validation to be a mandatory part of fraudulent transaction detection when processing ACH payments.







Last fall, Transact successfully completed its Nacha ACH Rules Compliance Audit that confirmed compliance with Nacha rules for safeguarding customers' sensitive financial and non-financial data and ensuring ACH transactions are handled smoothly and securely.

Follow Transact on Twitter and LinkedIn and join the conversation. For more information, visit www.TransactCampus.com.

About Transact

Transact is the leader in innovative payment solutions for a connected campus. Its highly configurable, mobile-centric campus technology ecosystem simplifies the student experience across the full spectrum of student life. Transact's offerings include integrated solutions for tuition and other student expense payments, multi-purpose campus IDs, and campus commerce. With a long-standing reputation of serving the higher education community, Transact proudly assists millions of students each year with its innovative products and solutions. For more information, visit www.transactcampus.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005693/en/
An electric vehicle (EV) charger is plugged into a vehicle at an Energy Absolute Pcl Anywhere charging station in Bangkok

(Bloomberg) Two of the worlds largest electric-vehicle battery makers have hired top Washington insiders to hold near-daily meetings with the Biden administration in a battle that could affect the electrification plans of Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG.

SK Innovation Co., Fords battery supplier for its upcoming electric F-150 pickup truck, faces a 10-year U.S. import ban on its Korean-made batteries and components after April 11. SK Innovation has engaged such well-connected advocates as former EPA chief Carol Browner and one-time Acting Attorney General Sally Yates to convince the administration to intervene.

LG Energy Solution Co., which won the order against its rival from the U.S. International Trade Commission for what the agency said was an extraordinary effort to destroy evidence in a trade secrets battle, has also brought in hired guns to influence the Biden team. Ernest Moniz, an Obama energy secretary, is advising Seoul-based LG Energy on its strategic plans, while other insiders are lobbying the administration.

The development of the battery supply chain is going to depend on what happens with this case, Moniz said in an interview.

Meetings are being held with at least a dozen agencies, including officials at labor, transportation and energy. Talks, conducted over the internet because of the Covid-19 pandemic, have focused on climate change, electrification of vehicles, the Ford F-150 and jobs, said Browner, Bill Clintons Environmental Protection Agency chief who also served as a White House climate adviser when Biden was vice president.

Biden has until April 11 to intervene. Presidential vetoes, known formally as disapprovals, of ITC import bans are rare. The last one was in 2013, when the Obama administration overturned a U.S. import ban on some older models of Apple Inc.s iPhones and iPads in a blow to Samsung Electronics Co.

The issue is a complicated one for Biden. The president has made the promotion of EVs a cornerstone of his $2.25 trillion infrastructure plan to bolster the economy and combat climate change. Both South Korean battery makers are building plants in the U.S. that would employ thousands of American workers. At the same time, Biden cant be seen as wavering on intellectual property protection considering the long-standing U.S. dispute with China over the issue.

While every ITC import ban undergoes a presidential review, its not often that theres a meaningfully contested one, said LG Energys lawyer, David Callahan of Latham & Watkins LLP in Chicago, whos been coordinating meetings between agency officials and LG Energys senior executives.

SK Innovation rose 1.8% to 232,500 Korean won ($208.29) in Seoul trading, while LG Chem Ltd., the parent of LG Energy, was little changed at 811,000 won.

LG Energy filed its claim against SK Innovation in April 2019 for allegedly stealing trade secrets by poaching scores of highly knowledgeable employees. Since then both companies have spared no expense to employ the services of Washington influencers. In 2020, SK Innovation spent $650,000 on its lobbying efforts and LG spent $531,666, according to data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Lobbyists for LG Energy, SK Innovation, Ford and Volkswagen have been meeting with more than a dozen agencies including Commerce, Justice and Defense departments; the EPA; the National Economic Council, and the National Security Council. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, whos designated to make the decision, has the task of assessing the information and deciding which arguments hold clout.

To lead its effort, SK Innovation has hired former ITC Chairman Shara Aranoff and Dan Spiegel, a former ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, who are both now with law firm Covington & Burling LLP. SK Innovation has also engaged Chartwell Strategy Group, a Washington advisory firm co-founded by former congressional aide Ozzie Palomo, to lobby stakeholders.

The subject matter is right at the heart of what theyve been working on, Spiegel said of the new administration.

LG Energy recruited consultants from Peck Madigan Jones, including Jonathon Jones, who is Delaware Senator Tom Carpers former chief of staff; and Jay Heimbach, an ex-special assistant to former President Barack Obama, according to a federal lobbying disclosure. The firm didnt reply to requests for comment.

Others, while not registered lobbyists, have been making public statements to influence the decision. Moniz, whos advising LG Energy, said the import ban would force SK Innovation to settle quickly. Yates, who was fired for standing up to then-President Donald Trump and was later considered by Biden for attorney general, provided a legal opinion for SK Innovation saying Biden should reject the import ban and let the companies figure out compensation in district court.

Under the ITC order, SK Innovation will be able to import components for four years beginning now for U.S. battery production for Fords EV F-150 launching next year, and for Volkswagens American MEB line for two years, to give the automakers time to transition to new domestic suppliers.

Ford declined to comment for this article. But company officials have said the four-year reprieve isnt long enough. The EV F-150 is a critical project for us, Jonathan Jennings, the companys global commodity pricing vice president, told the Senate Finance Committee on March 16. He said that if the dispute isnt resolved, Ford would have to look to import EV batteries from foreign suppliers for its pickups, instead of having SK Innovation manufacture them at two U.S.-based plants being constructed in Commerce, Georgia.

Scott Keogh, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, said in a LinkedIn post Wednesday that past presidents have overturned the commission and President Biden could do so in this case.

The decision could accelerate the future of zero-emission vehicles and green jobs, or threaten to reduce U.S. battery capacity and delay the transition to electric vehicles, Keogh wrote. There are other mechanisms in place in the legal system to further ensure the protection of IP rights without the devastating impact to unintended victims not party to the case.

The case also has drawn in state lawmakers because of the number of American jobs at stake. SK Innovations Georgia plants  the first of which is due to start commercial production in early 2022  are expected to create 2,600 jobs, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. LG Energy already has a battery plant in Michigan and one planned for Ohio.

I am hopeful these entities can reach a resolution, and am working to make sure Georgians will benefit from the jobs they were promised, Senator Raphael Warnock, a Democrat from Georgia who has been in discussions with the companies, said in a statement.

SK Innovation has warned it may pull out of the U.S. if the government doesnt veto the import ban. The company already has plants in Hungary and Poland, and expects to build more as demand for electric-vehicles increases.

LG Energy, in a March 10 letter to Warnock, said SK Innovations threats lack credibility because the companys unlikely to spend billions of dollars to build factories and then walk away.

The Korean government has tried to get the companies together without luck. SK Innovations audit committee said on March 11 that it cant accept any proposal from LG Energy that would threaten the existence or undermine the competitiveness of SK Innovations battery business. LG Energy said SK Innovation isnt sincere in talks.

SK Innovation said LG Energys announcement of plans to invest $4.5 billion in the U.S. by 2025 is just part of its lobbying effort to prevent Biden from vetoing the ITC ruling. LG Energy claims that it doesnt want to put any of its rivals clients at a disadvantage due to the ruling and plans to provide support.

If Biden doesnt act and the import ban takes effect, SK Innovations next step is the courts. Its already asked the ITC to delay implementation of the ban until it can appeal the underlying decision. Those requests are rarely granted, but are required before SK can turn to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which has issued stays to maintain the status quo while it considers the case.

Contact editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)

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New Delhi, April 8 : A day after arrested-suspended Mumbai cop Sachin Vaze's letter to the Special NIA Court accused the top functionaries of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government of pressuring him to extort money, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said on Thursday that Maharashtra government is working on a common minimum programme (CMP), i.e., 'collect money through police'.

Javadekar, the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, also demanded the resignation of the Maharashtra government.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, Javadekar said, "The Shiv Sena and its government needs to answer several questions. What is your common minimum programme? What is going on under your governance apart from loot?" Javadekar further said that corruption is the new identity of the Maharashtra government. "The Maha Vikas Aghadi has now become 'Maha Vasooli Aghadi'," he said.

"The entire Sachin Vaze-Anil Deshmukh controversy shows the character of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra. They have no right to remain in power and we demand their resignation," Javadekar said.

Javadekar also alleged that the Shiv Sena is defending Vaze so that he doesn't reveal the truth.
Congressman Alcee Hastings Dies after Long Cancer Battle

Alcee Hastings was Floridas first Black federal judge and fought a legendary battle for civil rights. In 1992, Hastings became Floridas first Black congressman since the Civil War ended and served 15 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

After a battle with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, the Democratic congressman died on Tuesday, April 6. He was 84.

I am deeply saddened by the untimely passing of my friend and colleague, Rep. Hastings of Florida, Texas Democratic Congressman Al Green wrote in an email to the Black Press and posted to Twitter.

My prayers are with the Hastings family as well as Alcees staff, friends, and loved ones at this difficult time and in the days to come, Congressman Green continued.

You fought the good fight, dear brother.

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Bobby Henry, a longtime friend of Congressman Hastings and the 50-year-old Westside Gazette newspaper publisher in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said he would miss the representative.

Congressman Hastings has always been more than a person who held an office, Henry stated.

He epitomized what it meant to go through hell and come back again unscathed and to be better from it. His forte was how he made a common person feel extraordinary in the company of those who are considered to be the elite.

Henry continued: No matter where it was, as if we were the number one paper in the country, and he opened the door for us to be in the company of President Barack Obama and to receive an autographed copy of the Presidents speech to the nation.

He did so well to pass on to you what you are supposed to do for others, which is to make them feel great. He did that well.

Congressman Hastings tirelessly advocated for minorities, women, and immigrants.

He served as vice-chair of the House Rules Committee in the 117th Congress.

Just one week ago, Hastings pushed President Joe Bidens American Jobs Plan.

The American Jobs Plan put forth by the Biden-Harris administration creates a robust avenue for progress and opportunity for all Americans, Congressman Hastings noted.

The plan will make a significant investment in broadband, while also investing in long-neglected areas of our infrastructure such as clean water to schools, housing, and childcare facilities to seniors and long-term care and veterans facilities.

This plan will also create millions of good-paying, union jobs for the American people and provide support for our essential caregiving employees, he stated.

In an interview with the Black Press ahead of last Novembers elections, Hastings lashed out at former President Donald Trumps claims that hed done more for African Americans than anyone else. He also took issue with Republicans for trying to suppress voters.

[Trump] said hed done more for African Americans than anybody, Hastings said, shaking his head. I guess Sojourner Truth, Fanny Lou Hamer, Martin Luther King, and others must be turning over in their graves because they gave their lives so that we can have the precious rights that we have. Not it comes about that our voting rights are under attack. Sensible Americans, those who are really patriotic, make sure that everyone has the right to vote.
Associated Press

The short segment, which was never aired, showed Koepka doing an interview with Golf Channel when DeChambeau walks behind him, the sound of his spikes on the pavement. Koepka rolled his eyes and said he lost his train of thought hearing that bull. The security detail following the group of DeChambeau, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Cantlay removed at least two groups of spectators from the tournament on Friday for referring to DeChambeau as Brooksy.
Immediate past Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has diagnosed the motivation behind the murderous act by two teenagers at Kasoa in the Central Region.



Two teenagers named Felix Nyarko, 16, and Nicholas Kini, 17, allegedly murdered their friend Ishmael Mensah, a 11-year-old boy at Lamptey Mills in Kasoa on Saturday.



The deceased was a Class Four pupil of the Maranatha School and according to sources, he was murdered in an uncompleted building in the locality.



There are beliefs the teenagers committed the crime for ritual money purposes.



They have both been remanded into Police custody after appearing before the Ofankor District Court in the Region.



The teenagers' murder act has provoked discussions on the human quest for quick riches.



Some people are of a firm belief that the proliferation of TV stations showcasing money doublers is the main cause of the quick money syndrome in people, particularly the youth.



Discussing the issue during Peace FM's flagship programme 'Kokrokoo', Kwamena Duncan stated that the murder crime at Kasoa isn't a novelty as the place is an ''everday crime spot''.



He revealed that the residents are on daily basis faced with extreme danger.



He opined that the teenagers may have been influenced by the Kasoa crime-related evironment.



"They see this everyday. They live this everyday. Around them, there is violence. As for taking of lives, it's a common place," he said.



The Minister was alarmed that, upon all the crimes going on at Kasoa, little to nothing has been done to make the area a safer place to reside.



"We must take adequate steps in order that Kasoa doesn't continue to pose a security challenge for us as a country," he charged the security agencies.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

Featured Video
2021-04-08

Maeci

Today and tomorrow Minister Luigi Di Maio will visit Mali, a strategic country for Italy where an embassy will soon be opened. On the agenda:

- Meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zeini Moulaye

- Meeting with the Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane

- Meeting with the Minister of Malians Abroad and African Integration of the Republic of Mali, Alhamdou Ag Ilyene

- Meeting with the Vice President of the Transition, Assimi Goita

- Meeting with the President of the Transition, Bah N'Daw

- Statements to the press
Weve been told it is not a good idea to take a photo of our COVID-19 vaccination card and post it on social media.

But, a photo of the sticker you may receive after the vaccination or the bandage on your arm could win you beer money.

Samuel Adams has launched the #ShotForSam vaccine incentive program to give $7 to the first 10,000 people who share evidence on social media of receiving the vaccine.

Sam Adams hopes drinkers will get back to supporting the bars and restaurants they love. So if you get vaccinated against COVID-19, well buy your first beer back!

The incentive starts on April 12 and runs through May 15. Using the hashtag #shotforsam and tag @samueladamsbeer on Instagram or Twitter with a photo of your vaccination sticker or bandage and Samuel Adams will send you $7 through Cash App to use for a beer at your favorite restaurant.

Those entering must have a Cash App account. Samuel Adams gives instructions on the contest page.

The giveaway was announced yesterday on National Beer Day as was an offer from Molson Coors to get a free 12-pack of its new Coors Pure organic light beer. For that contest you must run in the shape of a Coors Pure can and electronically map the run to enter.

The Boston Beer Co. has brewed Sam Adams in the Lehigh Valley since adding a third brewery, after Boston and Cincinnati, with the $55 million purchase of the former Strohs brewery in Breinigsville, Upper Macungie Township, in 2007.

Breinigsville in 2013 became the lone producer of Boston Beer products in cans, before the company last summer announced the installation of canning lines at the Cincinnati facility, redicincinnati.com reports.

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Britons are cancelling appointments for the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine amid fears over its potential link to rare brain clots, GPs warned today.

In what could be a major blow to vaccine uptake, doctors said they had been inundated with patients of all ages requesting to be given an alternative to the British-made jab.

GPs have also been bombarded with people complaining of headaches and 'requesting brain scans' after getting their first dose.

The concerns come amid fears that public confidence in the jab has been eroded after regulators suspended its use in healthy under-30s yesterday while it continues to probe its link to blood clots. The clots have been spotted in just 79 out of 20million Brits vaccinated with the AstraZeneca jab.

Meanwhile, a letter sent by NHS bosses on Wednesday urged all vaccination sites to cancel appointments for young people who don't have underlying health conditions, including NHS workers and carers.

These people will have to wait weeks before being given access to either the Pfizer vaccine, which is currently being rationed for second doses, or the Moderna jab which is due to start being rolled out later this month.

Dr David Triska, a GP partner at Witley and Milford Surgeries in Surrey, told MailOnline today that people are now cancelling their AZ jab in favour of another.

He said: 'We have now been inundated with consultations relating to headaches and people defaulting their AstraZeneca appointment to try and get another vaccine. We are reassuring them the balance of risk is in favour of receiving the vaccine.'

The comments were echoed by the Mail On Sunday's resident GP, Dr Ellie Cannon, who revealed she'd received lots of 'requests for brain scans from well people' who are concerned they may have developed the brain clots.

She said there had been 'mass panic' following yesterday's announcement by British regulators, tweeting: 'Lots of calls from patients thinking theyve had a blood clot or wanting to be checked for one...... Have we handled this reporting correctly? Storm for GPs and A&E colleagues...'

Matt Hancock today warned people under the age of 30 that refusing a vaccine because of blood clot fears could 'ruin your life' due to the risk of catching the disease and developing 'debilitating' long Covid.

The Health Secretary launched a media blitz today as officials scramble to shore up public confidence in the vaccine.

People queue at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Westfield Stratford in London in February

Dr David Triska (left), a GP partner at Witley and Milford Surgeries in Surrey, said people are now cancelling their AZ jab for a different one.The comments were echoed by the Mail On Sunday's resident GP, Dr Ellie Cannon (right), who revealed she'd received lots of 'requests for brain scans from well people'

Dr Triska also pointed to a Public Health England and NHS guidance factsheet on the various vaccines which has been prepared to help alleviate patients' concerns.

It comes as experts working with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on the clot cases said those affected were presenting to doctors 'with the worst headache they've ever had' four days after the jab and sometimes later.

The wider UK picture is not yet clear, with the British Medical Association telling MailOnline today that reports of patients cancelling jabs 'isn't something we've been hearing at this stage', and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association declining to comment.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED THE RARE BRAIN CLOTS AFTER GETTING THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE? MHRA data leaked to ITV shows that, in total, more fatal blood clots have developed in 30 to 39-year-olds than any other age group. According to the regulator's review, by March 31 there had been 79 cases of the side effect and 19 deaths. The 79 cases occurred in 51 women and 28 men, aged from 18 to 79. Some 14 cases of the 19 were cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), a specific type of clot that prevents blood from draining from the brain. The other five cases were thrombosis. An age breakdown of the cases is shown below: Age range 18  29 30  39 40  49 50  59 60  69 70  79 Unknown Cases 11 16 10 12 13 5 12 Fatalities 3 6 2 2 3 1 2 Total 79 19 Advertisement

Today, the Health Secretary said everyone should take a vaccine when their time comes, and the risk of experiencing a brain clot was the same as 'taking a long-haul flight'.

He warned that turning it down could 'ruin your life' because even healthy young people are affected by lingering long Covid symptoms.

During a round of broadcast interviews today, he said: 'Covid is a horrible disease and long Covid affects people in their 20s, just as much it seems as any other age group and can have debilitating side effects that essentially ruin your life.'

Mr Hancock said the UK has 'more than enough' Pfizer and Moderna jabs to cover all of the people in the 18 to 29 age group who are yet to receive a vaccination - approximately 8.5million.

He said 'all three vaccines that are in use in the UK are safe and they are safe at all ages' and that there is simply a 'preference for the under-30s, if they want to have the Pfizer of Moderna jab instead then they can'.

Speaking directly to younger people who may be thinking they do not need a vaccine, Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast: 'The vaccines are safe, and if you want to have the Pfizer vaccine or Moderna vaccine instead then that is fine.

He added: 'The safety system that we have around this vaccine is so sensitive that it can pick up events that are four in a million (the chance of developing a rare brain blood clot) - I'm told this is about the equivalent risk of taking a long-haul flight.'

Mr Hancock said there were almost 10.2million people aged 18 to 29 in the UK, of whom 1.6million have had their first vaccine.

Professor Jeremy Brown, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said that the benefit of vaccinating young people is not just preventing severe disease.

He told Sky News: 'It actually will prevent them catching Covid, and if they don't get Covid then the chance of developing so-called long Covid - the symptoms you get which many people get, about 10 per cent, after they've had even a very mild infection - that will prevent that.

'It also allows younger people to visit their relatives who are elderly and more vulnerable to the disease, without the risk of infecting them.

'Lastly, there are social benefits which have been much discussed over the past few days - travel, for example. I think it's unlikely that people will be allowed to travel out of the country easily unless they have been vaccinated.'

Meanwhile, Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the JCVI, explained that the chance of suffering a clot after a vaccine was much lower than for other medicines or during pregnancy.

'These are extremely rare events - much, much more rare than, for instance, clots due to common drugs that we prescribe such as the contraceptive pill; much rarer than clots during pregnancy; much, much rarer than clots due to Covid itself,' he told BBC Breakfast.

'We still feel this is a safe and effective vaccine where the benefits far outweigh the risks for the majority of people.

'In many ways, it's better to know the known than the unknown, so I would encourage anybody who's been offered either their first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, and certainly their second dose, when there's been no cases (of clots) for second doses, to receive it when offered.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits the AstraZeneca site in Macclesfield, Cheshire, on Tuesday

Leaked delivery schedules reveal the Government is expecting AstraZeneca's vaccine to make up 75 per cent of its Covid jab supplies over the next two months

Risk of blood clots from Covid-19 is 'much higher' than from vaccine, experts say Experts have described the risk of getting severe blood clots from Covid as 'much higher' than the 'extremely small' chance of doing so after having the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. Figures suggest the risk of developing such a clot is 'about four people in a million who receive the vaccine', the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said on Wednesday. Up to the end of March, the UK regulator had received 79 reports of blood clots accompanied by low blood platelet count, all in people who had had their first dose of the vaccine, out of around 20 million doses given. Of these, a total of 19 people have died, although the cause has not been established in every case. Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, has urged people not to lose confidence in the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, describing it as 'a great vaccine'. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Prof Harnden said there is a 'much higher risk of getting severe blood clots from Covid than the extremely small risk from this vaccination'. Chairman of the Commission on Human Medicines Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed said recent research has shown that clots on the lungs occur in 7.8 per cent of people who have Covid-19, while clots in the legs - known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - happen in 11.2 per cent of Covid-19 sufferers. He told a briefing today that almost a quarter (23 per cent) of patients who end up in intensive care with Covid-19 'will have some form of clot'. He added that up to 30 per cent of people who develop Covid-19 will get thrombocytopenia (lowering of the platelet count). 'That puts into context that the risk of clots and lowered platelets is much higher with Covid-19 than these extremely rare events which are occurring with the vaccine,' he said. Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, a statistician from the University of Cambridge, said it is 'crucially important' that the risk is set in context, and said the information given this week 'shows there is a benefit-risk balance'. He said the risk of a young person dying in an accident is around one in 100,000 each month. Advertisement

Prof Harnden insisted 'the vaccination programme is going full steam ahead' across the UK and 'everybody should remain confident in it'.

The risks of Covid and severe illness were highest in older age groups, but when you look down to very young people, 'the risks aren't quite as high', he said.

This meant that the risk of dying from Covid or a clot after a vaccine looked like they might be more similar for young people.

Urging anyone who has had one dose of AstraZeneca to have their second, Prof Harnden said 'we don't know how long that protection is going to last for, and it could well drop off'.

British health chiefs have restricted AstraZeneca's vaccine in under-30s because their risk of dying from Covid is so small and there are early signs they may be more prone to blood clots after the jab.

But EU regulators have decided against recommending the vaccine is withheld from any age group because they can't be sure that young people are definitely most at risk of the extremely rare complication.

The UK's own medical watchdogs confusingly hold the same opinion but acknowledge cases of rare blood clots from the life-saving jab are occurring slightly more often in younger adults.

For this reason, the JCVI  No10's vaccine advisory panel  has acted out of extreme caution to restrict the jab to under-30s because its benefits don't clearly outweigh the risks in younger adults, who face a vanishingly small risk of falling seriously ill or dying from the disease.

EU nations have defied their own regulator's guidance, with Belgium, Germany and Italy shunning the vaccine for under-60s.

But statistical analysis of the risks  done by Cambridge University academics and used to justify the UK's 'course correction' in the roll-out  show the benefits of the jab are much clearer for over-30s, who face a slightly higher risk from the disease and appear to suffer fewer blood clots.

Scientists have still yet to prove the vaccine causes the blood clots and are struggling to untangle the risk factors because young people are also more at risk of suffering the clots. But experts say the evidence is shifting.

'We felt that the benefits outweighed the risk in those above 30 years old. But in those under 30, the benefits and risk look more similar,' said deputy chair of the JCVI Anthony Harnden.

In total, more fatal blood clots have developed in 30 to 39-year-olds than any other age group and more of them have been found in women than men.

But statistical analysis supporting the UK decision was done by eminent statistician Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, who found that the clots were more common in even younger people.

Professor Spiegelhalter said data suggested about one in 90,000 people aged 18 to 29 given the AstraZeneca jab will likely suffer the clots compared to one in 500,000 over-60s.

Highlighting how the benefit-risk balance of the AstraZeneca vaccine swings heavily in favour of even middle-aged people, his team's calculations show people in their 40s are 100 times more likely to be hospitalised with Covid if they refuse jab.

Professor Spiegelhalter said the change in vaccine guidance had been made as precautionary measure because young people were being hit with a 'double whammy'.

He told MailOnline: 'There does seem to be extra risk in younger people of getting this combination of quite really odd particular group of symptoms [brain clots and low platelet counts].

'Younger people are also not benefiting so much from vaccine, so in sense they're getting a double whammy. They are at a higher risk from the vaccine and lower benefit from the vaccine.'

Regulators in the EU, on the other hand, have decided against restricting the British-made vaccine's use in any age group, claiming that age is not a risk factor.

What is the latest data on Covid vaccinations? A total of 31,812,141 Covid-19 vaccinations took place in England between December 8 and April 7, according to NHS England data, including first and second doses, which is a rise of 431,203 on the previous day. NHS England said 26,879,123 were the first dose of a vaccine, a rise of 58,962 on the previous day, while 4,933,018 were a second dose, an increase of 372,241. An estimated 94.3 per cent of people aged 50 and over in England have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Regional estimates range from 85.9 per cent for London to 96.6 per cent for south-west England. The figures, from NHS England, are for first doses of the vaccine up to April 4. Here are the estimated figures for each region: South-west England 96.6%

Eastern England 95.7%

South-east England 95.7%

Midlands 95.1%

North-east England/Yorkshire 94.8%

North-west England 94.4%

London 85.9% NHS England data shows a total of 3,877,259 jabs were given to people in London between December 8 and April 7, including 3,266,747 first doses and 610,512 second doses. This compares with 5,228,177 first doses and 852,899 second doses given to people in the Midlands, a total of 6,081,076. The breakdown for the other regions is: East of England: 3,218,455 first doses and 566,556 second doses, making 3,785,011 in total

North East and Yorkshire: 4,236,697 first and 861,572 second doses (5,098,269)

North West: 3,426,321 first and 668,012 second doses (4,094,333)

South East: 4,384,580 first and 809,317 second doses (5,193,897)

South West: 2,979,362 first and 544,143 second doses (3,523,505) Advertisement

Professor Spiegelhalter said he was 'not sure' how the European Medicines Agency could have come to such a different finding, reiterating that the 'data definitely does show there is an age gradient.'

He admitted that Europe needed the AstraZeneca vaccine more than the UK because the continent is in the midst of battling a third wave and is struggling to get its jab rollout up to speed.

But justifying their decision not to restrict the vaccine by age, Dr Sabine Strauss said: 'Our review has shown that there is a predominance of these rare events of thrombosis combined with thrombocytopenia in certain groups  notably in women and younger women.

'But it is still rather premature to conclude on a specific group because the background risk of thrombosis may be different in various groups and it may also be the case that more people have received this vaccine in certain groups in different countries. The potential for different risk levels is part of our further evaluations.'

The EMA and its UK equivalent, the MHRA, both say the AstraZeneca is safe for every age group, including the under-30s. The EMA has left it to individual countries to carry out their own risk-benefit analysis and decide whether to suspend the jab's use, which has led to nations taking different approaches.

Germany has banned its use in under-60s, while France is not recommending it for under-55s. Britain's JCVI said the benefit versus risk stopped at people aged 30 and below.

Putting the tiny risk of jab-related clots into context, Professor Spiegelhalter said if a cohort of people in their 20s large enough to fill Wembley Stadium was given the UK-made jab, just one person would likely develop clotting.

Professor Spiegelhalter added that he believes the low risk coronavirus directly poses to young people makes their decision to get vaccinated altruistic, because it stops them passing it to vulnerable people, has not been emphasised enough.

It comes after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation ruled yesterday that healthy Brits under 30 should be given an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine while experts probe the clot links.

Professor Spiegelhalter said the UK had the luxury of being able to pivot because it has plentiful vaccine supplies and low levels of Covid infection, which meant the relative risk of the clots was higher than the threat of the virus.

However, should there be a resurgence of Covid transmission or if the UK is hit with vaccine delivery issues, then the relative importance of the risk of blood clots would decrease.

He continued: 'We do know that as we come out of lockdown and as cases in Europe rise during a third wave, we may experience a third wave in this country over the next few months.

'And therefore to be unprotected would be to leave yourself at risk of developing Covid, and of course all the complications that come with Covid, including I might say quite severe blood clots, much higher risk of getting severe blood clots from Covid than the extremely small risk from this vaccination.'

Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said he had woken up on Thursday worrying about the pandemic and how many people are still dying.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'What I did wake up this morning worrying about is the pandemic.

'It's not over, it really does continue to threaten the whole of humanity - today about 12,000 people around the world will be confirmed dead as a result of coronavirus.

'And those numbers are getting worse - in Europe, in our immediate neighbours, in South Asia, in Latin America - and so this really is not the time to waver.

'We just need to put our confidence in the hands of the system which I think really has had a big boost by their ability to pick up an incredibly rare event through the monitoring that's going on, and that really gives me confidence that we can continue with the programme.'

Meanwhile, Professor Beverley Hunt, an expert in thrombosis and haemostasis at King's College London, who has been working with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on the clot cases, said those affected had been presenting to doctors 'with the worst headache they've ever had' four days after vaccination and sometimes later, though prompt treatment could save lives.

Yesterday, the MHRA said the benefits of the vaccine still outweigh the risks overall.

While it has not concluded that the vaccine causes rare brain clots, it says the link is getting firmer.

Up to March 31, the MHRA in the UK has received 79 reports of blood clots accompanied by low blood platelet count, all in people who had their first dose of the vaccine, out of around 20 million doses given.

Of these 79, a total of 19 people have died, with three under the age of 30.

NHS England said today that a further 34 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 86,510.

Patients were aged between 54 and 95 and all had known underlying health conditions.

The deaths occurred between December 26 and April 7. There were 19 other deaths reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Thursday is Holocaust Remembrance Day. It marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

The CANDLES Holocaust Museum in Terre Haute is dedicated to teaching people about the Holocaust.

The museum's founder, Eva Kor, survived the twin experiments at Auschwitz.

To learn more about the CANDLES Holocaust Museum, click here.

Coming up on Sunday, the museum will host a virtual event. Steen Metz will share his story of surviving a concentration camp.

It is free and open to the public. The event starts at 3 pm.

You can sign-up to attend the event here.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Dollar Tree, Inc. has opened thousands of positions for job seekers at its stores and distribution centers across the United States. The discount retailer, which operates around 15,685 stores across 48 states, plans to recruit full- and part-time associates at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores and distribution centers. The company, which operates store under the brands of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree Canada, offers a competitive compensation package and a variety of shifts and flexible schedules. The opportunities include full- and part-time managers at its more than 15,400 U.S. store locations, along with flexible part-time shifts for cashiers and stockers. All Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores offer a monthly Store Manager Bonus Program, which rewards store managers for performance. Positions open in Dollar Tree's 26 U.S. distribution centers include management, as well as full- and part-time order fillers, equipment operators, maintenance, and warehouse associates. The selected associates will get the opportunities to grow into management-level roles and to earn extra compensation through incentive pay, and can promptly earn higher wages upon increasing their productivity. In the year 2021, the company offers all associates its pay-any-day program, which allows associates to advance their payday earnings for flexibility on meeting bills and expenses. In late January, Lowe's Companies Inc. had announced plans to hire more than 50,000 associates across U.S. stores this spring. 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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Former Vice President Mike Pence signed a $3 million to $4 million book deal on Wednesday with Simon and Schuster. The book is set to narrate stories of Mike Pence's tenure under the Trump White House Administration, according to a New York Post report.

Pence is known to be a considered frontrunner of the Republican party for the 2024 Presidential Elections. However, former President Trump is also speculated to run for the same position, according to a report from Mail Online.

READ NEXT: Pro-Trump Lawyer Lin Wood Claims He Has Evidence on 'Traitor' Mike Pence Treachery to Secret Service

Mike Pence on His Book Deal

The tentative release date of Mike Pence's book is set to be 2023. Pence's signing on the two book deals marks Dana Canedy's acquisition of world rights, first serial rights, and audio rights from Dabid Vigiliano and Thomas Flannery from Vigiliano Associates, according to a press release by Simon and Schuster. Dana Canedy is the Senior Vice President and Publisher of the publishing house where Pence has given his signature.

"His revelatory autobiography will be the definitive book on one of the most consequential presidencies in American history," said Canedy. Canedy noted that the book will cover the life, work, and journey of Mike Pence as a public servant.

The book is also said to cover Mike Pence's political trajectory, with insights on the movements regarding the 2016 presidential race until President Biden's inauguration.

"I am grateful to have the opportunity to tell the story of my life in public service to the American people," said former Vice President Mike Pence. Pence added that he will be sharing his journey from Congress to becoming the vice president of the United States.

The announcement of Mike Pence's book follows his another announcement that he will be launching a conservative advocacy group. Advancing American Freedom is the name of the advocacy group that will "defend and build upon a successful policy of the Trump-Pence Administration."

Mike Pence and Former President Trump

Meanwhile, other Trump Administration alumni and Former President Trump himself have not yet signed any book deal. However, a Trump book would likely be an instant best-seller, according to a report from Ex Bulletin.

In an interview with Ex Bulletin, a publisher who expressed an opinion in anonymity said that publishing a book with Donald Trump is a "right thing to do" because as a professional, you hear what "someone has to say." The publisher added that it would be hard to resist taking a book about Trump.

Mike Pence and Former President Donald Trump had publicized falling out amidst their last week as an administration. However, on Wednesday, Pence said that he did not divorce himself from the Trumpworld. The comment was made by Pence before the announcement of his book deal. Moreover, Mike Pence is also known for his enduring loyalty towards former President Donald Trump until Trump claimed that the 2020 elections were a fraud.

Aside from Mike Pence, other former Trump officials like John Bolton and Sarah Huckabee Sanders have published their books with the big houses.

READ MORE: Trump Urges Supporters to Get COVID Vaccine, Says It's Safe

WATCH: How Mike Pence became a villain in Trump world - from BBC News
Something to look forward to: Like many other tech companies, Google put a temporary hold on its annual I/O developer conferences last year, after the Covid-19 pandemic raced across the globe. Instead of repeating the move this year, Google will be taking I/O to the digital realm, hosting its first online-only developer conference.

The event will begin on May 18, and run for a full two days, ending on May 20. Though it's geared more toward developers than average consumers, everyone is free to attend digitally if they so choose.

However, if you want to get the most out of the event, Google recommends you "Register" for it using your Google account. This will grant you access to AMA sessions, "personalized content" (we're unsure what that means), workshops, and the ability to participate in live Q&A periods.

The full I/O schedule is coming later this month, but we know Google will include a broad mix of content this year. There will be the usual developer and consumer-oriented keynotes, filled to the brim with fresh product announcements, as well as more technical, hands-on sub-events for devs.

These will include Interactive Sandboxes (a hands-on way for developers to try new Google features or products) and Technical Sessions, which aim to teach developers how to adopt the company's newest technology for their use cases.

If you're wondering what to expect from this year's I/O reveals, we don't have any clear answers for you. We might start seeing more leaks and teases closer to mid-May but for now, things are pretty hazy. If we look to the past for inspiration, though, I/O events almost always emphasize software announcements.

As such, a full reveal for Android 12 is almost a guarantee. It's also possible that we could see some new hardware reveals, but we wouldn't recommend getting your hopes up -- those only occasionally happen during I/O presentations (see Google Home and the Pixel 3a in 2016 and 2019).
The High Court has quashed a Cork District Court order against the landlord who owns two of the student houses near UCC which had been nicknamed Covid Party House and Party Central last Summer.

The landlord was ordered to take measures to reduce noise levels at the properties. The significance of the order was that any breaches of the order would have been punishable by a fine up to 1,000 and/or a 12-month jail term.

However, Mr Justice Charles Meenan has now quashed that order.

Eamon Murray solicitor for Fachtna OReilly had asked Judge Olann Kelleher not to impose the order on Mr OReilly and simply to adjourn the case last July with no order to see how things would go. Mr Murray urged the judge to do this in light of steps taken by the landlord to remedy the situation and further plans he had in this regard.

Commenting now on the High Court success, Mr Murray said, Needless to say, my client was very relieved to have his position vindicated. The position we adopted in the District Court case was that the Residential Tenancy Board was the appropriate environment in which these issues should have been ventilated.

We are happy that the anomalous situation in which a property owner could find him/herself amenable to a term of imprisonment for breach of an Order similar to the one made in this case, has been overturned.

Mr Justice Meenan ruled in the High Court in Dublin in a written order, The court doth grant an order of certiorari quashing the order of Cork District Court dated July 17 2020. It is ordered that the aforesaid order and all records relating thereto be quashed without further order.

And the court doth grant a declaration that the decision of District Justice Olann Kelleher in District Court proceedings  was ultra vires, irrational and void for certainty, and lacks jurisdiction on its face.

Mr Murray said during the Cork District Court case last July that Fachtna OReilly spoke to the tenants in the so-called party houses and gave them a warning letter. The following day he installed a system for logging noise levels at the houses.

He gave the tenants formal written warnings and he installed CCTV outside both properties. He also paid the costs the local residents incurred in bringing their complaint to court.

Judge Olann Kelleher did impose the order on the landlord last July formally requiring him to take the necessary measures to reduce noise levels.

The judge said in July he was conscious of the fact that Mr OReilly is 80 and recently widowed and accepted he had done the right thing in the past week but wondered why it had taken until then.

This thing has been troubling the area for a considerable period of time I hope this will be the end of it for all parties and that they (residents) will have calm in their homes and everyone will go on and live peacefully and he (the landlord) wont be getting calls at three oclock in the morning, Judge Kelleher said last year.
UPGRADING of Tanga port will attract shippers to the port on the northern coast of Tanzania which boasts of its strategic geographical position to serve the northern regions of Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Manyara and neighbouring Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

Such is the great potential of the longest port in East Africa which is currently undergoing massive upgrading work to enable it accommodate more vessels.

But to make optimal utilisation of its great potential, Tanga port needs a dockyard for repairing and building of ships, says Tanga Regional Commissioner, Martine Shigella.

Currently, ships that call at Tanga port are taken to Mombasa, Kenya for maintenance, meaning exporting jobs and business that could benefit Tanzanians, said the Regional Commissioner when former Vice President, Samia Suluhu Hassan toured the port to inspect construction of a berth and installation of a flow meter last month.

The Regional Commissioner appealed to the government to invest in the construction of a modern shipyard for the port which is expected to make Tanzania a major regional fuel trading hub after completion of the upgrading work.

"There is no reason for continuing exporting jobs and business to our neigbhours while we have big enough land for the purpose. I ask the government to see the importance of making optimal use of the port area so that all the vessels that call at the port are maintained at the port," he said.

The Minister for Works and Transport, Leonard Chamuriho said the government plans to construct a dockyard for repairing and building of ships to retain all the works at the port.

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The Minister said the government continues with major upgrades of ports to improve service delivery and make Tanzania a major regional trading and logistics hub.

"We are going to build a dockyard at the port. There's no need for ships to go outside the country for maintenance, he said.

Tanga port experienced decline of business in recent years where cargo destined for northern regions of Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Manyara were coming through Mombasa port. The upgrading and expanding the port is expected to improve the cost of doing business to northern Tanzania, by reducing the transit time to the northern circuit.

The improvement at Tanga port aims at turning the gateway into a competitive terminal, serving customers in the country, the East African region and the great Lakes region.

The improvement at Tanga port aims at turning the gateway into a competitive terminal, serving customers in the country, the East African region and the great Lakes region.

The first phase of the expansion project of Tanga port was completed last year and afterwards a 200-meter-long vessel, docked at the port in November at a refurbished terminal, making it the largest ship ever hosted at the port.

As the port is expected to start handling larger vessels, it may progressively relieve congestion at the Dar es Salaam port and reduce the period of transport to the northern circuit.
Peter Thiel, the venture capitalist who describes himself as a "pro-crypto, pro-Bitcoin maximalist," had a stark warning for the U.S. government on the cryptocurrency, saying that Bitcoin could be a Chinese financial weapon against the U.S. dollar.

I do wonder whether at this point, Bitcoin should also be thought [of] in part as a Chinese financial weapon against the U.S.," Thiel said at an event held for members of the Richard Nixon Foundation on Tuesday night, according to Bloomberg News which saws a video of the event. "It threatens fiat money, but it especially threatens the U.S. dollar.

[If] Chinas long Bitcoin, perhaps from a geopolitical perspective, the U.S. should be asking some tougher questions about exactly how that works," he added.

Thiel urged the U.S. government to consider tighter regulations on cryptocurrencies.
Peter Thiel, PayPal founder-turned-venture-capitalist, discusses his support for US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at the National Press Club in Washington on Oct. 31, 2016. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Peter Thiel Calls Out Big Techs Collaboration With Chinese Communist Regime

Tech billionaire investor Peter Thiel criticized major U.S. technology companies for being too cozy with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and called on them to undo their Chinese ties.

Since everything in China is civilian-military fusion, Google was effectively working with the Chinese military, not with the American military, Thiel said during an April 6 virtual roundtable hosted by the Richard Nixon Foundation. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former White House national security adviser Robert OBrien also took part in the event.

Thiel is also a co-founder of PayPal and a member of Facebooks board of directors.

He was referring to a decision by Google not to renew a Pentagon contract in 2018, which provides the U.S. military with artificial intelligence (AI) for analyzing drone video footage in a program called Project Maven. Googles reason for not continuing the military project was that it didnt support the use of AI for weaponized systems.

Also in 2018, Google decided to cooperate with Chinas Tsinghua University on a new AI research body.

Tsinghua University was also named in the Pentagons 2020 report (pdf) on Chinas military power for having laboratories affiliated with the Chinese military and ties to the CCPs military-civil fusion strategy, which allows the communist regime to leverage commercial technologies for military development.

The State Department has warned on its website that the CCP strategy involves intellectual property theft in order to achieve military dominance.

Additionally, Tsinghua University is among more than 60 Chinese universities that are under the supervision of Chinas State Administration of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense.

Turning a Blind Eye

Thiel also said that he spoke to Google insiders and was told that the internet search giant decided to work with China because they figured they might as well give the technology out the front door, because if they didnt give itit would get stolen anyway.

In another conversation with some Google people, Thiel said he asked whether Googles AI technology was being used by the Chinese regime to run concentration camps in the far-western Xinjiang region.

Thiel said he was told, We dont know and dont ask any questions.

Its some combination of wishful thinking. Its useful idiots, its CCP fifth columnist collaborators, Thiel said about Google and other tech companies that have chosen to remain quiet on certain China issues.

If you think of it ideologically or in terms of human rights or something like that, Im tempted to say its just profoundly racist. Its like saying that because they look different, theyre not white people, they dont have the same rights.

The CCP is committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, subjecting them to forced sterilization, forced abortion, torture, forced labor, and the removal of children from their families. The Chinese regime rounded up more than 1 million Uyghurs and is holding them in internment campsfacilities China touts as vocational training schools.

Even though we are ahead of basic science of AI, China is willing to apply it and turn the entire society into a face recognition surveillance state that is far more intrusive and totalitarian than even Stalinist Russia was. That is something we are not willing to do, Thiel said.

At Facebook, Thiel said it was difficult for the social media giant to take a tough stance on China because of its employee basemany of them were Chinese nationals. For instance, Thiel pointed to debates among employees about the Hong Kong protests in 2019.

The employees from Hong Kong were all in favor of the protests and free speech, but there were more employees at Facebook who were born in China, Thiel said.

The Chinese nationals actually said that it was just Western arrogance and shouldnt be taking Hong Kongs side, and then the rest of the employees at Facebook sort of stayed out of it.

But the internal debate felt like people were actually more anti-Hong Kong than pro-Hong Kong.

Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement began in June 2019 when millions took to the streets in protest against an extradition bill that would have allowed suspects in Hong Kong to be sent to China for trial. The movement eventually evolved into a greater call for democracy such as universal suffrage, but protests subsided in early 2020 as Hong Kong was hit by the pandemic.

CCP officials and Chinas state-run media have portrayed Hong Kong protesters as a small number of people, among them extremists, rioters, and violent radicals, while touting that the majority of Hongkongers didnt support the movement. Whats more, the Chinese regime has accused Western governments of interfering in its internal affairs for voicing support for the protesters.

Calling Them Out

Pointing to Facebook as an example, Thiel said some U.S. tech companies had a difficult time taking a hard stance against China because of how they saw themselves.

Theres something about the woke politics inside these companies, the way they think of themselves as not really American companies.

To stop Chinas infiltration into the U.S. tech sector, Thiel has one recommendation: Keep putting a certain amount of pressure on Silicon Valley. You need to call people out on that relentlessly.

We need to call companies like Google out on working on AI with communist China not with U.S. military, he said. I think we should be putting a lot of pressure on Apple with its whole labor force supply chain on the iPhone manufacturing in China.

Apple is one that has real synergies with China.

The U.S. smartphone giant has made a number of controversial decisions related to China in recent years, including moving some of its iCloud data to China-based servers, pulling crowd-sourced app HKmap.live from its App Store, and Apples CEO Tim Cook being named the chairman of Tsinghua Universitys School of Economics and Management.

The map app was popular among Hong Kong protesters to avoid direct confrontation with the Hong Kong Police, who have been heavily criticized for their violent handling of protesters.

Google, Facebook, and Apple didnt immediately return requests by The Epoch Times for comment.
The city of Portland has signed a $150,000 contract with a California firm to investigate whether the citys police agency shows racial or political bias or resistance to change.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who believes she and other Black people have been the targets of Portland police bias, announced the contract details Thursday. The studys findings are due by December, they said.

The firm they hired, OIR Group, is the same one the city recently retained to perform a narrower investigation into the leak last month of police and dispatch records related to a mistaken report that Hardesty was the driver in a minor hit-and-run car collision.

The president of the Portland police union, Brian Hunzeker, resigned shortly after the leak occurred, citing an unspecified mistake he made related to it.

The Portland Police Association, which represents the citys rank-and-file officers, did not responded to a request for comment Thursday.

Chief Chuck Lovell said the citys police force would cooperate with the bias investigation, just as it has with other outside audits and reviews over the years.

The Portland Police Bureau expects its members to reflect the values of the bureau and city and regularly adapts directives and training with community or other outside input, Lovell said in a statement. We will continue to serve the community openly and equitably.

OIR Group, based in Los Angeles and headed by a former federal prosecutor, has reviewed police agencies in Iowa, California and elsewhere, including a 2018 review of the Clackamas County sheriffs office.

Its probe into the release of records that erroneously identified Hardesty as a hit-and-run suspect will cost the city as much as $50,000, according to a copy of the contract.

Jim Middaugh, a spokesman for Wheeler, said the mayor would seek to dip into one of the citys strategic reserve funds to pay for the pair of outside reviews, which could total $200,000.

The Portland police and citys Bureau of Emergency Communications have also announced their own internal investigations of the leak, which critics believe was intended to damage Hardesty, a political opponent of the bureau.

The larger independent review of the Portland Police Bureau announced Thursday will examine three broad topics, Wheeler and Hardesty said in a news release.

Racial bias: Are the Police Bureaus policies, culture or actions influenced by racial bias? If so, what is the extent of that bias, what are its root causes and what are the best practices to addresses them?

Political bias: Are the Police Bureaus policies, culture or actions influenced by political bias? If so, what is the extent of that bias, what are its root causes and what should be done about them?

Resistance to change: Are the Police Bureaus policies, culture or actions resistant to change sought by the community? If so, what is the extent of that resistance, what are its root causes and what are the best practices to address that resistance?

-- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com and Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; skavanaugh@oregonian.com
English Lithuanian

Special closed-ended type private equity investment company INVL Technology, identification code 300893533, the registered address Gyneju str. 14 Vilnius, Lithuania (hereinafter  the Company or INVL Technology), informs that on the initiative and decision of management company UAB INVL Asset Management (hereinafter  the Management Company) the General Ordinary Shareholders Meeting (hereinafter- the Meeting) is to be held on 29 April 2021.

The place of the Meeting: the office of INVL Technology, the address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius.

Considering that the quarantine announced in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania by Government Resolution No. 1226 of 4 November 2020, was extended until 30 April 2021 - the management of the Company strongly urges the shareholders of the Company to exercise the right to vote on the issues on the agenda of the Meeting by submitting duly completed general ballot papers to the Company. More information on the rights and obligations of shareholders is provided at the end of this notice.

The Meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. (registration starts at 8.00 a.m.).

The Meetings accounting day 22 April 2021 (the persons who are shareholders of the Company at the end of accounting day of the Meeting or authorized persons by them, or the persons with whom shareholders concluded the agreements on the disposal of voting right, shall have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting).

The total amount of the shares of the Company and the amount of shares granting voting rights during the Extraordinary General Shareholders Meeting is the same and amounts to 12,175,321 units.

Agenda of the Meeting:

Presentation of INVL Technology annual report for 2020 Presentation of the independent auditor's report on the financial statements and consolidated annual report of the INVL Technology Regarding the assent to the remuneration report of INVL Technology, as a part of the consolidated annual report of INVL Technology for the year 2020 Approval of financial statements for 2020 of INVL Technology Deciding on profit distribution of INVL Technology Presentation of the "INVL Technology" company's competence to adopt "INVL Technology remuneration policy Regarding purchase of own shares of the special closed-ended type private equity investment company INVL Technology Regarding the formation of the Supervisory Board of INVL Technology and the election of members of the Supervisory Board Regarding the approval of INVL Technology Supervisory Board remuneration policy Regarding the determination of the remuneration of the independent member of the Supervisory Board of INVL Technology Regarding the amendment of the Articles of Association of INVL Technology, the approval of the new version of the Articles of Association and the appointment of a person authorised to sign the new version of the Articles of Association Regarding the approval of the new wording of the Policy for INVL Technology Transactions with Related Parties Regarding the election of members of the Audit Committee of INVL Technology Regarding the Report of the Audit Committee of INVL Technology

Draft resolutions of the Meeting:

Presentation of INVL Technology annual report for 2020

1.1. Shareholders of INVL Technology are presented with the annual report of the Company for 2020 (there is no voting on this issue of agenda).

Presentation of the independent auditor's report on the financial statements and consolidated annual report of the INVL Technology

2.1. Shareholders of INVL Technology are presented with the independent auditor's report on the financial statements and annual report of the Company (there is no voting on this issue of agenda).

Regarding the assent to the remuneration report of INVL Technology, as a part of the consolidated annual report of INVL Technology for the year 2020

3.1. To assent to the remuneration report of INVL Technology, as a part of the annual report of INVL Technology for the year 2020 (attached).

Approval of financial statements for 2020 of INVL Technology

4.1. To approve financial statements for 2020 of INVL Technology.

Deciding on profit distribution of INVL Technology

5.1. To distribute profit of the special closed-ended type private equity investment company INVL Technology as follows:

Article (thousand EUR) Retained earnings (loss) at the beginning of the financial year of the reporting period (2019); 7,005 Net profit (loss) for the financial year; 4,767 Profit (loss) not recognized in the income statement of the reporting financial year; - Transfers from reserves; - Shareholders contribution to cover loss (if all or part of loss is covered by the shareholders) - Distributable profit (loss) in total; 11,772 Profit distribution: - Profit transfers to the legal reserves; - Profit transfers to the reserves for own shares acquisition - Profit transfers to other reserves; - Profit to be paid as dividends; - Profit to be paid as annual payments (bonus) and for other purposes; - Retained earnings (loss) at the end of the financial year. 11,772

6. Presentation of the "INVL Technology" company's competence to adopt "INVL Technology remuneration policy

6.1. Shareholders are acquainted that in accordance with Article 15 of the Law on Alternative Managers of Collective Investment Undertakings of the Republic of Lithuania, INVL Technology is subject to the Remuneration Policy for Employees Making Decisions on Risk Taking prepared by the Management Company and its approval is within the competence of the Management Company of INVL Technology.

6.2. Taking into account the Company's consultations with the Supervisory Authority, INVL Technology infoms that in the future the Management Company will approve changes of the Remuneration Policy for Employees Making Decisions on Risk Taking without a separate approval (decision) of the General Meeting of Shareholders of INVL Technology and will publish the current version of the Management Company's Remuneration Policy for Employees Making Decisions on Risk Taking on the Company's website.

6.3. On 21 December 2020, the Management Company has approved a new wording of the Remuneration Policy for Employees Making Decisions on Risk Taking, which applies to the Company.

6.4. No decision is taken on this item on the agenda.

7. Regarding purchase of own shares of the special closed-ended type private equity investment company INVL Technology

7.1. To authorise the Management Company to use the formed reserve (or the part of it) for the purchase of own shares and to purchase shares in INVL Technology by the rules mentioned below:

The goal for the purchase of own shares - discount reduction between the net asset value and the market share price of INVL Technology and the possibility to sell its shares to the shareholders; The maximum number of shares to be acquired could not exceed 1/10 of the authorised capital INVL Technology; The period during which INVL Technology may purchase its own shares is 18 months from the day of this resolution; The maximum and minimal shares acquisition price of INVL Technology: the maximum one share acquisition price  the last announced net asset value per share, the minimal one share acquisition price - EUR 0,29; The conditions of the selling of the purchased shares and minimal sale price: the acquired own shares may be annulled by the decision of the General Shareholders Meeting or by the decision of the Board of the Management Company granted the right to acquire the shares for the employees upon conditions of the Rules for Granting Equity Incentives, or sold by the decision of the Management Company on condition the minimum sale price of own shares shall be equal to the last net asset value and the procedure of selling the shares shall ensure equal opportunities for all shareholders to acquire the said shares; The Management Company is delegated on the basis of this resolution and the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania to organise purchase and sale of own shares, to organise purchase and selling procedure of own shares and to determine an order and timing for purchase and sale of own shares as well as the amount of shares and shares price, and to complete all other actions related with purchase and sale procedure of own shares.

8. Regarding the formation of the Supervisory Board of INVL Technology and the election of members of the Supervisory Board

8.1. Pursuant to Article 19(2) of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania, to form a collegial supervisory body of INVL Technology - the Supervisory Board, and to elect the following persons as its members for a term of 4 (four) years:

1) Audrius Matikiunas (personal code and place of residence undisclosed);

2) Indre Miseikyte (personal code and place of residence undisclosed);

3) Gintaras Rutkauskas (independent member) (personal code and place of residence withheld).

8.2. The members of the Supervisory Board will be able to take up their duties only after (i) their nominations are approved by the Bank of Lithuania, (ii) the amended Articles of Association of the Company are entered in the Register of Legal Entities of State Enterprise Centre of Registers and (iii) the amendments thereto are approved by the Bank of Lithuania.

8.3. To authorise the Management Company of INVL Technology to sign, deliver and collect any and all documents and perform all necessary actions in connection with the present Decision.

9. Regarding the approval of INVL Technology Supervisory Board remuneration policy

9.1. In accordance with Article 37(3) of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania, to approve of INVL Technology Supervisory Board remuneration policy

9.2. It should be noted that the Remuneration Policy for Employees Making Decisions on Risk Taking approved by the Board of the Management Company shall remain in force and shall be applied by INVL technology.

10. Regarding the determination of the remuneration of the independent member of the Supervisory Board of INVL Technology

10.1. To set the hourly remuneration of the elected independent member of the Supervisory Board of INVL Technology at EUR 145 per hour (before taxes) for his/her service on the Supervisory Board of INVL Technology.

11. Regarding the amendment of the Articles of Association of INVL Technology, the approval of the new version of the Articles of Association and the appointment of a person authorised to sign the new version of the Articles of Association

11.1. In light of the decisions of this General Meeting of Shareholders on item 8 of the agenda, to approve a new version of the Company's Articles of Association (the draft of the Articles of Association is attached hereto), by replacing the entire text of the Articles of Association (without further approval of the amendments of individual clauses of the Articles of Association).

11.2. To authorise Kazimieras Tonkunas (with the right to sub-delegate) to sign the new wording of the Company's Articles of Association and to register it in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation and the General Meeting of Shareholders.

12. Regarding the approval of the new wording of the Policy for INVL Technology Transactions with Related Parties

12.1. In view of the decision of this General Meeting of Shareholders on item 9 of the agenda and in accordance with Article 32(1)(3) of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania, to approve of a new wording of the Policy for Transactions with Related Parties.

13. Regarding the election of members of the Audit Committee of INVL Technology

13.1. In view of the fact that the term of office of the members of the Audit Committee of INVL Technology expires in 2021, Dangute Pranckeniene (independent member) and Tomas Bubinas (independent member) shall be elected to the Audit Committee of INVL Technology for a new 4 (four)-year term.

14. Regarding the Report of the Audit Committee of INVL Technology

14.1. In accordance with the rules of procedure of the Audit Committee of INVL Technology (approved on 27 April 2017 by decision of the General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company), the shareholders are hereby briefed on the activity report of the Audit Committee of INVL technology (attached)(no decision is taken on this item of the agenda).

The documents related to the agenda, draft resolutions on every item of the agenda, documents that have to be submitted to the General Shareholders Meeting and other information related to the realization of shareholders' rights are published on the Companys website www.invltechnology.lt section For investors, and also by prior agreement available at the premises of the Company, located at Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius (hereinafter  the Premises of the Company) during working hours. Considering that on the day of publication of this notice, quarantine is in force on the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, which was extended until 30 April 2021 - we invite the Company's shareholders to give priority to getting acquainted with the information provided in the "For investors" section of the Company's website. Phone for information +370 5 279 0601.

The shareholders are entitled:

to propose to supplement the agenda of the Meeting submitting draft resolution on every additional item of agenda or, than there is no need to make a decision - explanation of the shareholder (this right is granted to shareholders who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes). Proposal to supplement the agenda is submitted in writing sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14 LT-01109 Vilnius, Lithuania, or, by prior agreement, delivered in person to the representative of the Company at the Premises of the Company on business hours or by sending proposal to the Company by e-mail info@invltechnology.lt (considering that the quarantine is in force - priority is given to submitting tenders by e-mail and/or registered mail). The agenda is supplemented if the proposal is received no later than 14 days before the Meeting. In case the agenda of the Meeting is supplemented, the Company will report on it no later than 10 days before the Meeting in the same way as on convening of the Meeting; to propose draft resolutions on the issues already included or to be included in the agenda of the Meeting at any time prior to the date of the Meeting (in writing, sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14 LT-01109 Vilnius, Lithuania, or, by prior agreement, delivered in person to the representative of the Company at the Premises of the Company on business hours or by sending proposal to the Company by e-mail info@invltechnology.lt (considering that the quarantine is in force - priority is given to submitting tenders by e-mail and/or registered mail) or in writing during the Meeting (this right is granted to shareholders who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes); to submit questions to the Company related to the issues of the agenda of the Meeting in advance but no later than 3 business days prior to the Meeting in writing sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14 LT-01109 Vilnius, Lithuania, or, by prior agreement, delivered in person to the representative of the Company at the Premises of the Company on business hours or by sending proposal to the Company by e-mail info@invltechnology.lt (considering that the quarantine is in force - priority is given to submitting tenders by e-mail and/or registered mail). All answers related to the agenda of the Meeting to questions submitted to the Company by the shareholders in advance, are submitted in the Meeting or simultaneously to all shareholders of the Company prior to the Meeting. The Company reserves the right to answer to those shareholders of the Company who can be identified and whose questions are not related to the Company's confidential information or commercial secrets.

The shareholder participating at the Meeting and having the right to vote, must submit the documents confirming personal identity. A person who is not a shareholder shall, in addition to this document, submit a document confirming the right to vote at the Meeting. The requirement to provide the documents confirming personal identity does not apply when voting in writing by filling in a general ballot paper.

Each shareholder may authorize either a natural or a legal person to participate and to vote on the shareholder's behalf at the Meeting. An authorised person has the same rights as his represented shareholder at the Meeting unless the authorized person's rights are limited by the power of attorney or by the law. The authorized persons must have the document confirming their personal identity and power of attorney approved in the manner specified by law which must be submitted to the Company no later than before the commencement of registration for the Meeting. The Company does not establish special form of the power of attorney. A power of attorney issued by a natural person must be certified by a notary. A power of attorney issued in a foreign state must be translated into Lithuanian and legalised in the manner established by law. The persons with whom shareholders concluded the agreements on the disposal of voting right, also have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting.

Shareholder is entitled to issue power of attorney by means of electronic communications for legal or natural persons to participate and to vote on its behalf at the Meeting. No notarisation of such authorization is required. The power of attorney issued through electronic communication means must be confirmed by the shareholder with a safe electronic signature developed by safe signature equipment and approved by a qualified certificate effective in the Republic of Lithuania. The shareholder shall inform the Company on the power of attorney issued through the means of electronic communication by e-mail info@invltechnology.lt not later than on the last business day before the Meeting. The power of attorney and notification must be issued in writing and could be sent to the Company by electronic communication means if the transmitted information is secured and the shareholder's identity can be identified. By submitting the notification to the Company, the shareholder shall include the internet address from which it would be possible to download software to verify an electronic signature of the shareholder free of charge.

The Company is not providing the possibility to attend and vote at the Meeting through electronic means of communication.

Shareholders of the Company are urged to use the right to vote on the issues in the agenda of the Meeting by submitting properly completed general voting bulletins to the Company in advance. The form of general voting bulletin is presented at the Company's webpage www.invltechnology.lt section For Investors. If shareholder requests, the Company shall send the general voting bulletin to the requesting shareholder by registered mail or shall deliver it in person no later than 10 days prior to the Meeting free of charge. If general voting bulletin is signed by a person authorized by the shareholder, it should be accompanied by a document certifying the right to vote.

Considering the that the quarantine announced in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania by Government Resolution No. 1226 of 4 November 2020, was extended until 30 April 2021 - the management of the Company strongly urges the shareholders of the Company to exercise the right to vote on the issues on the agenda of the Meeting by submitting duly completed general ballot papers to the Company. All alternatives for participation in the Meeting:

__________

Alternative No. 1:

A shareholder or person authorised by them should complete and sign a written voting bulletin and send it to the Company by e-mail ( info@invltechnology.lt ) and send the original bulletin by registered or ordinary post to the address Gyneju str. 14, LT-01109 Vilnius. Properly completed written voting bulletins may be sent by registered or ordinary post to the address Gyneju str. 14, LT-01109 Vilnius without submitting a copy to the e-mail address specified or delivered in person to the Company on business days at the Companys registered address mentioned above (considering that the quarantine is in force - priority is given to submitting tenders by e-mail and/or registered mail). Along with a bulletin, a document confirming the right to vote must also be sent. Those voting bulletins shall be deemed valid which are properly completed and are received before the start of the general shareholders meeting.

__________

Alternative No. 2:

A shareholder or person authorised by them should complete a written voting bulletin, save it on their computer and sign it with a qualified electronic signature. Send the written voting bulletin which is properly completed and signed with a qualified electronic signature to the Company by e-mail at info@invltechnology.lt .

The Company suggests using the following free qualified electronic signature systems: Dokobit and GoSign

__________

Alternative No. 3:

If shareholders of the Company do not have the possibility to use voting alternatives No. 1 or No. 2, the Company will provide conditions for the shareholders or persons duly authorised by them to come on 29 April 2021 to the address Gyneju str. 14 in Vilnius, to the Companys Meeting.

We stress that safety recommendations must be followed by shareholder regarding the use of safety measures and maintaining distance.

The person authorized to provide additional information:

Kazimieras Tonkunas

INVL Technology Managing Partner

E-mail k.tonkunas@invltechnology.lt

Attachments
(ANSA) - CATANZARO, APR 8 - Italian police on Thursday seized around one billion euros in assets in an operation against the Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta mafia.

In the op, some 70 people were arrested for mafia association, money laundering and tax fraud on petroleum products.

Among the assets seized are plants owned by the Made Petrol Italia Srl company, formerly known as Max Petroli.

Anna Bettozzi, widow of oilman Sergio Di Cesare, was among those arrested.

She was said to be running the new company, police said.

The seized assets included property, companies and cash.

Police said 'Ndrangheta clans wanted to seal a deal to import gas and oil from Kazakhstan with the biggest Kazakh oil company, KMG. (ANSA).


Police have tracked down the owner of a severed penis and testicle stocked in a man's freezer after a second victim was mangled in a botched 'surgery'.

Ryan Andrew King was charged with grievous bodily harm with intent to maim in July 2020 after he allegedly cut off a man's testicle at a backpacker hostel in Brisbane.

The 28-year-old's alleged victim, whom he met online, needed emergency medical treatment to stop blood gushing from the wound during the 'surgical procedure'.

Ryan Andrew King was charged with grievous bodily harm with intent to maim in July 2020 after he allegedly cut off a man's testicle at a backpackers in Brisbane

Paramedics were called to the hostel to treat the alleged victim and police searched King's home in West End the day later.

Inside a freezer in his home, officers allegedly found a different, unknown, man's penis and testicle was they conducted the search.

Through their investigations, which included observing King's GoPro footage, police have now tracked down the other alleged victim, The Courier-Mail reported.

King allegedly travelled to Melbourne in 2018 to perform the consensual surgery for that victim.

He allegedly removed the 66-year-old man's penis and one testicle and then travelled home to Brisbane with them, storing them in his freezer for up to two years.

The pair allegedly met up again on September 2, 2019 at accommodation in Loganholme, where King is accused of removing the other testicle.

Through their investigations, which included observing King's GoPro footage, police were able to track down the other alleged victim (stock image)

The 66-year-old man never complained to police about the alleged procedure but visited Logan Hospital for treatment.

He was only found by police after they investigated King's GoPro footage and his online history.

Police allege King used a scalpel at Loganholme, while a Cyropen - which removes skin lesions - was the tool for the procedure at the backpackers.

The man whose genitals were allegedly removed at the backpackers flushed his own testicle down the toilet, police claim.

King was hit with a second charge of doing grievous bodily harm with intent to maim on September 22.
Ms. Desrochers is an experienced consultant with a background in strategic communications and stakeholder engagement for major and complex projects within the mining industry. She studied communications, indigenous affairs, management and holds a Graduate degree in Project Management from the Universite du Quebec en Abitibi-Temiscamingue. She is currently a Public Affairs, Communications and Stakeholders Engagement Consultant for a Quebec company. Her previous work experience includes Director of Government Relations and External Communication for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, Communications and Community Relations Manager for Canadian Malartic Mine, and formerly co-owning a communications firm for several years in which she worked closely with stakeholders from the natural resources sector. Ms. Desrochers is also fluent in French and English.

Mr. Jose Vizquerra, O3 Mining's President and Chief Executive Officer commented: "On behalf of the Board and the Corporation, we are pleased to welcome Melissa Desrochers to O3 Mining. Melissa brings a diverse set of expertise in communications, government relations, and Indigenous and Non-indigenous community relations, which will enhance our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts and complement our existing board members".



About O3 Mining Inc.

O3 Mining Inc., an Osisko Group company, is a gold explorer and mine developer ready to produce from its highly prospective gold camps in Quebec, Canada. O3 Mining benefits from the support, previous mine-building success, and expertise of the Osisko team as it grows towards being a gold producer with several multi-million ounce deposits in Quebec.

O3 Mining is well-capitalized and owns a 100% interest in all its properties (137,000 hectares) in Quebec. O3 Mining trades on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: OIII) and OTC Markets (OTCQX: OIIIF). The company is focused on delivering superior returns to its shareholders and long-term benefits to its stakeholders. Further information can be found on our website at https://o3mining.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 news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

SOURCE O3 Mining Inc.

Related Links

https://o3mining.com/


Alarmed by a rise in online anti-Semitism during the pandemic, coupled with studies indicating younger generations lack even basic knowledge of the genocide, Holocaust survivors from around the world are taking to to share their experience of how paved the way for mass murder.

With short video messages recounting their stories, participants in the #ItStartedWithWords campaign hope to educate people about how the Nazis embarked on an insidious campaign to dehumanize and marginalize Jews years before death camps were established to carry out murder on an industrial scale.

The plan is to release six individual videos and a compilation Wednesday over Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, followed by one video per week. The posts will include a link to a webpage with further resources, including more testimonies and teaching materials.

There aren't too many of us going out and speaking anymore, we're few in numbers but our voices are heard, Sidney Zoltak, a survivor from Poland who turns 90 later this year, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Montreal.

We are not there to tell them stories that we read or that we heard we are telling facts, we are telling what happened to us and to our neighbors, and to our communities, and I think that this is the strongest possible way.

Once the party came to power in in 1933, leaders immediately set about making good on their pledges to Aryanize the country, segregating and marginalizing the Jewish population.

The government encouraged the boycott of Jewish businesses, which were were daubed with the Star of David or the word Jude Jew. Propaganda posters and films suggested Jews were vermin, comparing them to rats and insects, while new laws were passed to restrict all aspects of Jews' lives.

Charlotte Knobloch, who was born in Munich in 1932, recalls in her video message her neighbors suddenly forbidding their children from playing with her or other Jews.

I was four years old," Knobloch remembered. "I didn't even know what Jews were.

The campaign, launched to coincide with Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day, was organized by the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, which negotiates compensation for victims. It is backed by many organizations around the world, including the United Nations.

It comes as a study released this week by Israeli researchers found that coronavirus lockdowns last year shifted some anti-Semitic hatred online, where conspiracy theories blaming Jews for the pandemic's medical and economic devastation abounded.

Though the annual report by Tel Aviv University's researchers on anti-Semitism showed that the social isolation of the pandemic resulted in fewer acts of violence against Jews across some 40 countries, Jewish leaders expressed concern that online vitriol could lead to physical attacks when lockdowns end.

In a statement of support for the new online campaign, the International Auschwitz Committee noted that one of the men who stormed the U.S. Capitol in January wore a sweatshirt with the slogan Camp Auschwitz: Work Brings Freedom.

The survivors of Auschwitz experienced first-hand what it is like when words become deeds, the organization wrote. Their message to us: do not be indifferent!



Recent surveys carried out by the Claims Conference in several countries have also revealed a lack of knowledge about the Holocaust among young people, which the organization hopes the campaign will help address.

(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.)
Indonesian Customs, in its capacity as Vice-Chair of the WCO Council for the Asia-Pacific (AP) region, organized a virtual Regional Meeting of Directors General of Customs on 6 and 7 April 2021. The meeting was chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Vice-Chair for the AP region, Mr. R. Syarif Hidayat and brought together many heads of Customs in the region as well as the Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB), and the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO).

WCO Secretary General Dr. Kunio Mikuriya explained WCO's measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the Secretariat Note on the role of Customs in facilitating and securing the cross-border movement of situationally critical medicines and vaccines, the current status on COVID-19 Action Plan, the development of Guidelines on Disaster Management and Supply Chain Continuity, the establishment of the Passenger Facilitation and Control Working Group, and the implementation of Operation STOP 2, as well as the key outcomes of the latest Finance Committee. He also presented the evolution of WCO meetings and the possible solution for future working methods and priorities, taking into consideration the significant increase of working days and hours due to the expansion of the Working Bodies and the combination of online and document-based meetings.

On behalf of Mr. Askolani, the Chairperson of the Regional Vice-Chair for the AP region and Director General of Indonesia Customs, Mr. R. Syarif Hidayat expressed his gratitude to Customs administrations in the region for their active participation in this meeting to discuss regional challenges and strategy while sharing the experiences and expanding the regional cooperation. He also addressed the importance to fully utilize the WCO tools and guidelines as well as to closely cooperate in the region for taking effective measures in response to COVID-19 pandemic to attain the regional common goal.

The Heads of Customs Administrations listened to the recent update on 2020-2022 Regional Strategic Plan, as well as activity reports by the Vice-Chair, ROCB A/P and RILO A/P. Also the Conference endorsed several issues of key importance to the Region, such as the WCO regional representatives, a proposal from China to be nominated as Regional Customs Laboratory and the Terms of Reference of the Regional Private Sector Group for Asia/Pacific.

The Heads of Customs Administrations exchanged their experiences in maintain Customs relevance and to fight against COVID-19, and discussed regional priorities and strategy such as the facilitation of the cross-border movement of COVID-19 vaccines, passenger facilitation and control, and Electronic Certificate of Origin. They agreed on the importance of expanding and deepening cooperation in the region as well with the WCO, the ROCB A/P and the RILO A/P, particularly during these challenging times.
The benchmark indices were trading near the day's high in afternoon trade. At 13:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, soared 365.86 points or 0.74% at 50,027.62. The Nifty 50 index rallied 146.25 points or 0.99% at 14,965.30.

Larsen & Toubro (up 1.96%) , HDFC (up 1.42%), TCS (up 1.41%) and Reliance Industries (up 0.62%) boosted the indices.

The broader market rallied. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 1.11%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index added 1.17%.

Buyers outnumbered sellers. On the BSE, 1,920 shares rose and 882 shares fell. A total of 162 shares were unchanged.

Investors risk appetite improved after the minutes of last month's meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve suggested that Fed officials were united on the need to see more progress on economic recovery before scaling back their bond-buying program.

Domestic sentiment also received a boost after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday kept its monetary policy accommodative to support economic growth.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 227.42 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net buyers to the tune of Rs 381.08 crore in the Indian equity market on 7 April 2021, provisional data showed.

COVID-19 Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 13,31,31,285 with 28,87,888 deaths. India reported 9,10,319 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 1,66,862 deaths while 1,18,51,393 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

India detected 1,26,789 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the highest so far. Of the total, Maharashtra recorded a new high of 59,907 cases, while Chhattisgarh's count went past the 10,000-mark for the first time. Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, too, reported more than 6,000 cases. The country also recorded 685 related deaths.

Primary Market:

The initial public offer (IPO) of Macrotech Developers received bids for 1.05 crore shares as against 3.64 crore shares on offer, according to the stock exchange data at 13:00 IST on Thursday (8 April 2021). The issue was subscribed 0.28 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Wednesday, 7 April 2021, and it will close on Friday, 9 April 2021. The price band for the IPO is set at Rs 483-486 per share. An investor can bid for a minimum of 30 equity shares and in multiples thereof.

Gainers & Losers:

JSW Steel (up 9.91%), Tata Steel (up 7.04%), Hindalco Industries (up 4.23%), Shree Cement (up 3.97%) and Tata Motors (up 3.38%) were major gainers in Nifty 50 index.

Bajaj Auto (down 0.52%), State Bank of India (SBI) (down 0.39%), Bajaj Finance (down 0.38%) and HCL Technologies (down 0.08%) were major losers in Nifty 50 index.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Bharti Airtel rose 0.84%. The telecom major launched 'Airtel IoT' - an integrated platform that enables enterprises to harness the power of Internet of Things (IoT) and be ready for the emerging era of connected things. Airtel IoT is an end-to-end platform with the capability to connect and manage billions of devices and applications in a highly secure and seamless fashion.

Barbeque-Nation Hospitality hit an upper circuit of 20% to Rs 708.45 after UTI Mutual Fund purchased 0.67% stake in the company via bulk deal on NSE yesterday. As per the bulk deal data on the NSE, UTI Flexi Cap Mutual Fund purchased 2,50,924 shares, or 0.67% stake in Barbeque-Nation Hospitality at an average price of Rs 579.62 per share. Simultaneously, Integrated Core Strategies Asia sold 4,01,815 shares, 1.07% stake in the company at an average price of Rs 545.15 per share. Integrated Core Strategies Asia held 1.89% in the fast-food chain as on 5 April 2021.

Global Markets:

Shares in Europe and Asia advanced on Thursday. Meanwhile, shares in Japan declined amid concerns that Tokyo is reportedly planning stricter steps to curb rising virus infections.

In the US, the S&P 500 gained to hit a record high on Wednesday. The U.S. Federal Reserve released minutes from its March 16-17 meeting during which it kept its accommodative policy in place. The meeting summary indicated that while officials saw the economy was gaining considerably, they see much more progress needed before ultra-easy policy changes.

President Joe Biden recently unveiled details of his $2 trillion infrastructure plan that includes a corporate tax rate hike to 28%. He said Wednesday that he is willing to negotiate on the proposed tax increase.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A total of 19 people from Libyan judiciaries, police and financial institutions participated in a training workshop to combat corruption and money laundering, the European Union Mission in Libya said here Thursday
Go Transportation & Translation Hires Cotta as Vice President of Operations

Go Transportation & Translation (Go T&T), a national transportation and translation company serving the workers compensation industry, has hired Colby Cotta as vice president of operations.

In this role, Cotta guides Go T&Ts day-to-day account management, compliance, information technology and product development operations.

He brings nearly 20 years of experience to the companys management team, most recently serving as senior operations manager at Access on Time. Previously, Cotta worked for Optimal Translation and Transportation as transportation operations manager. At that time, Greg Engelman, who is now the CEO and an owner of Go T&T, owned Optimal.

Go T&T delivers non-emergent transportation, on-site and over-the-phone interpreting and document translation services in the workers compensation industry, serving insurance carriers, third-party administrators and employers. Based in Winter Park, Florida, it provides services nationally. Go T&T was founded in 2014 and owned by Engelman and Brian Westveer, two industry veterans with more than 45 years of experience.

Source: Go Transportation & Translation

Florida Peninsula Insurance Company Hires Williams as VP of Claims, Litigation

The Florida Peninsula Insurance family of companies has hired Michael Williams as vice president of claims and litigation.

In this role, Williams joins the companys executive management team and will be responsible for managing the overall claims process through the use of analytical data and operational metrics to improve customer experience, operational performance and best practice claim handling.

Williams experience spans all major lines of personal and commercial products. Prior to joining Florida Peninsula, he was a claims executive at Aon Reinsurance Solutions, where he worked with more than 60 carriers to improve their claims and litigation operations.

He also served as the chief claims officer of AmWINS Specialty Auto, as well as serving in claims and consulting roles with Nationwide Insurance and IBM Global Business Services.

Founded by a team of veteran insurance professionals and based in Boca Raton, Florida, Florida Peninsula Insurance Company offers multi-peril homeowners and flood insurance. The company insures approximately 150,000 homes, condo and apartment units located throughout the state.

Source: Florida Peninsula Insurance Company

Distinguished Programs Hires Johnson as Regional Sales Executive for Southeast

Distinguished Programs, a national insurance program manager, has hired Brett Johnson to its sales team as regional sales executive for its Southeast territories. He will be based in Atlanta, Georgia, and operate remotely.

Johnson brings 10 years of experience in property, liability and workers compensation insurance to this new role.

In this role, Johnson will work with agents and brokers in the Southeast territory comprised of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee to choose proper insurance programs for clients across the full range of specialized products and services offered through Distinguished.

Prior to joining Distinguished Programs, Johnson served as regional sales manager for SIS Insure, based in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was responsible for revenue and profitability for the Southeast region. In a previous role as territory marketing manager for Trident Public Risk Solutions, Johnson was responsible for sales and marketing efforts across five states in the Southeast.

Source: Distinguished Program Holdings LLC

Topics Florida
The last time I ironed, I was 18 and freshly arrived at university.

'How hard can this be?' I thought, brandishing said implement with a sweeping gesture that began on a blouse and proceeded straight up the tender skin inside my left arm.

Horrified by my wounds, the boy downstairs offered to press things for me. And so began my Oxford romance, as my affair with the ironing board ended.

Since then, I have either ignored ironing (in my 20s) or paid someone to do it (after the age of 35, when one can't get away with bedraggled insouciance).

Then came the pandemic, and I could not have my cleaner come in to iron.

Hannah Betts (pictured armed with the Fridja f10) reveals which handheld steamers are worth buying and which are simply full of hot air

Fed up with looking like a bag lady, but determined not to engage in any domestic drudgery, I decided to invest in a natty, handheld steamer.

And it turns out I'm not the only one to ditch the iron in favour of waving the creases out of my clothes.

Last year, Steamery Stockholm sold more than 120,000 appliances, an increase of 600 per cent since 2017.

My fashion editor friend Cleo raves about them: 'Steaming is effortless and not only wipes out wrinkles, but also kills bacteria, keeping clothes fresh  perfect for anything that's dry-clean only. They're also brilliant at preventing moths.'

Gun-like in design, these steamers are fast, ecologically friendly, and far more fun than being chained to the iron. Simply fill the water cartridge of the steamer, plug it in, then wait a few seconds for it to heat up, at which point a light tells you that you are good to go.

Most people steam clothes from the outside, but you can also steam inside like a pro  wear a protection glove for extra leverage  or use against an ironing board for a super-pressed look.

With the best devices, though, simply dangling the garment in mid-air and waving the steamer in its direction should work.

So, which are worth buying and which are full of hot air? Read on to find out.

Fridja f10 Handheld Clothes Steamer, now 59.99, fridja.com

POWERFULLY EFFICIENT

Fridja f10 Handheld Clothes Steamer, now 59.99, fridja.com

WHAT IS IT? The Fridja f10 is a well-thought-out piece of kit.

Freestanding, it can be locked into constant use and comes with a water-bottle adaptor (for lightness of travel), collar press, portable hanger and fabric guard.

For safety, it will cut out after eight minutes' continuous use so it doesn't become too hot, requiring 15 seconds before it can be re-started.

THE VERDICT: The Fridja f10 benefits from a big, easy-to-fill tank, and feels as if it will carry on working for ever.

Its fierceness can feel slightly scary, but it makes short work of my partner's shirt, even with my random technique. Sweep it in the vicinity of something and that thing loses its creases  even a battered trench coat. Plus it really feels as if it's steam-cleaning.

I seem to have dissolved part of the fabric guard (a mesh shield over the steamer to protect delicates) in a single use, but otherwise this is a cracker. 4/5

Logik Handheld Garment Steamer LGSB20, now 14.99, currys.co.uk

CHEAP AND CHEERFUL

Logik Handheld Garment Steamer LGSB20, now 14.99, currys.co.uk

WHAT IS IT? Its blue- and-white design makes it look a bit like something from the 1980s, but this Logik steamer is cheap as chips, conveniently freestanding, can be locked into on-mode and boasts a long-lasting water trough that is good for around eight items.

I'd still want to use it on an ironing board  defeating some of the ease  but it is powerful and consistent.

THE VERDICT: Switch on the Logik steamer, and one feels in safe hands.

Think: broad-brush successful rather than suitable for the absolute perfectionist.

It is pretty good with cotton shirts, provided you brush up against them with its bristle attachment, and even better against lighter fabrics such as silks  not least those that come out of the wardrobe crumpled.

Don't look now, but I'm almost enjoying myself. 3/5

Philips Steam&Go Plus, 65, philips.co.uk

PRETTY INEFFECTIVE

Philips Steam&Go Plus, 65, philips.co.uk

WHAT IS IT? While the black and rose gold Steam&Go looks good, the device manages to be both heavy and unwieldy, with a ridiculously tiny water capacity.

The water cartridge slots into place, then slots straight out of it during use, in a way that makes the implement feel cheap.

Even when it is working, it emits an ominous growl and harsh blasts of steam.

THE VERDICT: The miniscule water tank means the tool runs out of steam before completing one item.

To work best, it still requires an ironing board to operate against, which seems a bit of a shame.

Even after a time-consuming refill, it renders my partner's shirt Zoom-passable rather than office-ready.

For something that spits boiling water everywhere, the Steam&Go Plus is curiously ineffective.

All in all, this gives steamers a bad name. 1/5

SteamOne EUDTC120B, 50, steam-one.com

CREASE BUSTER

SteamOne EUDTC120B, 50, steam-one.com

WHAT IS IT? SteamOne creates steamers for professionals, for amateurs who imagine themselves professionals, and 'for anyone for whom ironing is an unbearable chore', which is surely all of us?

It is French-made, so using it requires hunting out a continental plug adapter.

However, I manage to save some time elsewhere because of its simple instructions and practical rubber suction hook for hanging garments.

THE VERDICT: Being French, it becomes hot at the touch of a button, is aggressive and is prone to spitting.

It's also fairly weighty, lacks a lock-on button and stays hot for quite a while.

Given that it can't stand safely upright, I ended up laying it on the wooden floor while anxiously waiting for it to cool.

It's undoubtedly impressive  no ironing board required, merely a wave of the gun  but I wonder whether the spitting would cause white flecks to appear on my outfits over time? 3.5/5

Steamery Stockholm Cirrus No 2, 110, steamery.co.uk

FASHIONISTA FAVOURITE

Steamery Stockholm Cirrus No 2, 110, steamery.co.uk

WHAT IS IT? The ultra-cool, ultra-coveted fashion favourite is brilliant: the iPhone of steamers. You can't lock it 'on' or stand it safely upright between steams like some of its rivals, but it is so light and easy to use that one doesn't miss these features.

Despite a small-seeming water tank, it easily supplies ten minutes' use. Within two seconds, I am in love, not least when it magically erases otherwise indelible bright blue ink stains from two new, white blouses.

THE VERDICT: This emits a reassuring hum and Nordic mist, while feeling so safe that I even waft it at the top I am wearing (not recommended) with no burns ensuing.

Yet there is nothing it cannot take in its stride, even my beloved's sturdy outdoor trousers. I'm having so much fun, I have to remind myself that it is a sunny bank holiday and I am indoors ironing.

Only, I'm not ironing, I'm Stockholm steaming and loving every minute of it  finally feeling like a fabulous fashionista. For once, one should believe the hype. 5/5
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling 119 Illegal Aliens in Refrigerated Trailer

A Houston man has pleaded guilty to smuggling 119 illegal aliens into the United States, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas said on April 7.

Brodrick Keith Rhodes, 32, had claimed on Jan. 12 after having arrived at the Freer Border Patrol checkpoint that he was carrying lettuce in his semi-truck with a refrigerated trailer, officials said.

Border Patrol authorities noticed that the trailer was set to 30 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 1 degree Celsius) but had an internal temperature of 68 F (20 degrees C). They also noticed there were some discrepancies with his bill of lading, a document issued by a carrier to confirm receipt of cargo for shipment.

While Rhodes said he worked for a business in La Porte, Texas, the document said he was transporting lettuce from a produce company in Laredo to a destination in Sugar Land.

The business that Rhodes claimed to work for told officials that he wasnt an employee and that the company doesnt send produce outside the Houston area. The other two companies confirmed they had no record of the shipment.

When authorities inspected the cargo area, they found the illegal immigrants, who told them that they were taken to the truck and told to get into the trailer, after which the truck began moving and didnt seem to stop until the border checkpoint.

Sentencing for Rhodes is expected on July 27. He faces a maximum federal prison sentence of 27 years and a fine of up to $250,000. He remains on bond pending the court date.

Texas in recent months has stepped up its response to a recent surge in the influx of illegal aliens, including by human smuggling, across the southern border.

At the start of March, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the launch of Operation Lone Star to combat the smuggling of people and contraband. The operation has led to referrals for more than 16,000 illegal aliens to Customs and Border Protection and the arrests of 598 criminals by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
It didnt take long for word of the tragedy to spread quickly around the city of Rock Hill  there was a mass shooting that left five people dead, a sixth wounded.

Dr. Robert Lesslie, who had practiced medicine in York County for decades, and his family were shot at their home on Wednesday.

Lesslie, 70; his wife, Barbara Lesslie, 69; grandkids, Adah Lesslie, 9; and Noah Lesslie, 5, were killed, as was James Lewis, 39, of Gastonia, N.C., who was found dead outside the home. A sixth person was shot, and was airlifted to a Charlotte hospital; that person has not been identified.

Prominent Winthrop University professor Scott Huffmon sat in the barber chair in disbelief and spoke about what hed heard Thursday morning. Then, his barber piped in, Huffmon said. He knew Lesslie, too.

Some random mass shooting is, to many of us, simply a tragic story, and its one we see with a 10,000-foot view, Huffmon said. But we are standing in the midst of this tragedy.

And because Dr. Lesslie  and that his whole family is prominent and involved in the community  theres going to be no one in Rock Hill whos not, at minimum, one or two degrees separated from someone whose life has just been flipped upside down, Huffmon said.

Sources told The Herald Thursday morning that the alleged shooter was Phillip Adams, a former Rock Hill High School basketball and football player who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2010.

York County Coroner Sabrina Gast confirmed that police found Adams dead Wednesday night from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Its just human nature when something this callous and evil happens to want to know why, Huffmon, who runs the Winthrop Poll initiative, said. And of course its going to be politicized. In fact, I know it already has been. It spurs the gun control debate. Thats just true of every tragedy...

But when its this close to home, you know, seeing it politicized immediately is uncomfortable. But I think we all knew it was going to happen.

Story continues

Beloved colleagues

Lewis, 38, appears to have been doing heating-and-air conditioning work at the Lesslie home when he was fatally shot.

His employer, GSM Services of Gastonia, described Lewis and another unnamed company employee involved in the shooting as longstanding, beloved members of our family at GSM.

These men embody the values we strive to achieve at GSM and are family-focused, upbeat and wonder team members who cared about all the people they encountered.

Public records show Lewis came to the Charlotte-area from Flint, Mich., and that he formerly lived in Charlotte and Mount Holly.

2 homes, a mile apart

Officials have not said what the motive was in the case.

Thursday afternoon, two York County sheriff cars were stationed outside the Lesslie family home in Rock Hill, home, blocking multiple driveway entrances.

The home wasnt visible from the street because the familys yard extended for acres. A large wooden cross stood in the yard among several short trees, as if it protected the property.

Less than a mile down the road, news trucks swarmed Adams house. Three pollen-covered vehicles were parked in a line down the driveway. A basketball hoop stood over them.

SC politicians speak out

U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, and his wife, Elaine, were close friends of the Lesslie family, the congressman said in a statement Thursday morning.

I cannot begin to describe the heartache and pain Elaine and I are feeling this morning  To know the Lesslie family is to love them, Norman said. Through the decades, they made such an incredible impact on our area and the lives of countless people  more than they could have ever known.

Norman said Lesslie and his wife, Barbara, had a tremendous impact on the Rock Hill area.

There is a huge hole in our hearts this morning, Norman said. Though we are overwhelmed with sadness and confusion, I thank God for the blessing of Robert and Barbaras friendship, and what their family has meant to so many people throughout our community.

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, on Twitter Thursday morning, called the mass shooting very sad.

My deepest sympathies and prayers are with Dr. Lesslies family and the Rock Hill community, Scott wrote.




State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc takes the oath of office on April 5 (Photo: VNA)

In his congratulation letter sent to State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni expressed his belief that under the leadership of the new President, Vietnam will harvest greater achievements to obtain development and progress in all aspects and play an important role in the region and the world.

He also voiced his wish that the relations between Vietnamese and Cambodian people will become closer and closer to help maintain peace, stability, cooperation, and development.

The new President of Vietnam also received congratulatory messages from President of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and Kuwaiti Emir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Meanwhile, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin sent a message of congratulations to his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh, noting that the two countries are bound to each other by their friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership, and they are implementing major cooperation activities in terms of economy, trade, investment, energy, industry, infrastructure, science, and culture.

He voiced his belief that the two governments will work closely together to consolidate Russia-Vietnam ties, with new initiatives and orientations, for the sake of both countries.

Algerian PM Abdelaziz Djerad also offered congratulations to the new Government leader of Vietnam.

The same day, WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab sent congratulatory letters to President Phuc and PM Chinh./.
Simon Bird has paid tribute to his late co-star Paul Ritter, following his death from a brain tumour on Monday, aged 54.

The Inbetweeners actor, 36, shared a touching message via his onscreen sibling Tom Rosenthal's Twitter on Thursday, writing that he will 'always aspire to be like' Paul and went on to heap praise on him.

Simon, who played Adam on the Channel 4 comedy, wrote: 'Not even going to touch the acting. That goes without saying. He was the best in the business.

'I'll always aspire to be like him': Friday Night Dinner star Simon Bird (R) paid tribute to Paul Ritter on Thursday, after his death from a brain tumour aged 54 (pictured with Tom Rosenthal)

'What's less well known is that he was also the Platonic ideal of a green room companion: unfailingly generous (with praise, snacks, the Guardian Sport section);

'Unendingly thoughtful (he would set up shop on the floor if he knew there were going to be more actors than chairs in that day);

'And undeniably cool (calm and collected in his flat cap, but an absolute coiled spring if there was a game in the offing).'

High praise: Simon, who played Adam on the show, wrote: 'Not even going to touch the acting. That goes without saying. He was the best in the business' (pictured with Tamsin Greig)

Tribute: The Inbetweeners actor shared a touching message via his onscreen sibling Tom Rosenthal's Twitter, writing that he will 'always aspire to be like' Paul

The actor went on: 'He was such a peaceful presence but throbbing with intelligence and  let's not beat around the bush  entirely capable of a hilariously indiscreet and filthy broadside when in the mood.

'I think I'll always aspire to be like Paul. I guess that'll happen when someone pretends to be your Dad for 10 years.

'I feel unbelievably fortunate to have spent so much time in that green room and hope his real bambinos know how much his fake bambinos loved and looked up to him.'

Paul, who passed away at home with wife Polly and sons Frank and Noah at his bedside, was best known to thousands of TV viewers as the affable father Martin Goodman in the Channel 4 sit-com, alongside Tamsin Greig, Simon and Tom.

Sweet: He gushed, 'I feel unbelievably fortunate to have spent so much time in that green room and hope his real bambinos know how much his fake bambinos loved and looked up to him'

On Tuesday, a spokesman for the actor said of his passing: 'It is with great sadness we can confirm that Paul Ritter passed away on Monday night.

'He died peacefully at home with his wife Polly and sons Frank and Noah by his side. He was 54 and had been suffering from a brain tumour.

'Paul was an exceptionally talented actor playing an enormous variety of roles on stage and screen with extraordinary skill.

'He was fiercely intelligent, kind and very funny. We will miss him greatly.'

Paul's chilling turn in HBO drama Chernobyl saw him as one of the Ukrainian disaster's villains, deputy chief engineer Anatoly Dyatlov, a world away from the light-hearted patriarch in Friday Night Dinner.

The two roles encapsulated an actor who was today widely praised for his huge range and versatility on stage and screen, balancing comedy roles with heavyweight parts in critically-acclaimed dramas.

He was in films including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Quantum of Solace, as well as the lauded mini-series about the Ukranian nuclear power station meltdown.

His final role in WWII film Operation Mincemeat as Bentley Purchase is understood to have been completed but has not yet been released.
With a travel bubble opening up shortly, you may be tempted to hop over to New Zealand for that long overdue break.

But beware the waters of Pelorus Sound / Te Hoiere, which sit at the northern tip of the South Island. If Acorn TVs new original drama The Sounds is anything to go by, they are postcard perfect to look at, but home to a murky mystery swirling around 2 visiting Canadians.

Rachelle Lefevre (Twilight, White House Down) plays Maggie Cabbott who meets up with husband Tom (Matt Whelan) as he launches a salmon farm company in a coastal town.

This place is so charming its breathtaking, she observes.

But while Tom seemingly has the towns business backing, some Maori locals arent happy with what it means to the environment.

When these two arent lip-locked all the time, they board a yacht (appropriately named Maggie) and sail into picturesque waters. But after Tom fails to return from a kayaking afternoon, Maggie calls local copper Jack (Matt Nable).

With the search on for Tom, writer Sarah-Kate Lynch (The Brokenwood Mysteries, 800 Words) begins to sow seeds of doubt as to an ambiguous backstory. Is this an accident, murder, suicide. who was out to get him and why, or is Maggie complicit in the whole thing? Flashbacks, including some staged as Vancouver, are also in the mix.

The always-watchable Aussie Matt Nable (Bikie Wars, Mr. Inbetween, Barracuda) anchors this 8 part tale by again under-playing his role as the cop looking for truth. And when in doubt as to his suspicions, a good cup of NZ tea offers sufficient respite.

Also in the cast is the great John Bach (Lord of the Rings, Janet King, Jack Irish) as a family patriarch.

Acorn TV loves a good mystery yarn, even if its not too mentally demanding and comes with some escapist scenery. The Sounds fits the bill to a tee.

Come for the mystery, stay for the scenery.

The Sounds premieres Monday on Acorn TV.

Related
Metrolink Receives Federal Railroad Administration Grant to Stem Suicides on the Tracks

Today, Metrolink announced it was awarded a $59,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to address the issue of suicides along its system through outreach and training with key railroad staff, first responders and community members.

According to Metrolinks internal safety records, 40 percent of Metrolink pedestrian train strikes between 2017 and 2019 were caused by people wanting to end their lives. The $59,000 grant funds an outreach campaign to deter suicides through training, public engagement, and awareness at four identified hot spots in north Orange County between Anaheim and Santa Ana, south Orange County from San Juan Capistrano through San Clemente, in the San Fernando Valley between Van Nuys and Burbank and in the San Fernando/Sylmar area.

Metrolink displays the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1.800.273.8255, on posters and its electronic signs at rail stations.

ADVERTISEMENT

From 2019-2019, there were 93 incidents of pedestrian train strikes against a person. Of that number, 37 were declared suicide by the local county coroner after investigation. Due to the nature of suicide investigations, the actual number of suicides might be higher.

An ongoing crisis of homelessness results in people living alongside railroad rights of way, putting them very near trains passing by, sometimes at speeds of 70 miles per hour. Research indicates that availability of a means of death is a major factor in suicide and, in the case of homeless encampments near tracks, trains become the means.

Metrolink is eager to work with law enforcement and community groups to help in any way we can to educate individuals homeless encampments about options available to them, said Metrolink CEO Stephanie Wiggins. This grant is a force multiplier for our efforts to keep people safe in the vicinity of our tracks.

The grant is part of the Suicide Prevention Project funded by the FRAs Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention Grant Program. It will be directed by a steering committee with Metrolink staff working closely with a team of psychologists from the University of Denver Transportation Research Center, skilled in training mental health professionals and working with the transportation industry. The Project will last 12 months.
Every day, Dr. Leslie Miller of Fairfield thinks about selling her practice to a hospital health system.

Everybody who is in this environment thinks every day of throwing in the towel and joining a hospital, said Miller, a sole practitioner in primary care for 20 years.

The business side is the problem, she said, referring to expensive and time-consuming requirements of medical insurance and government regulations.

Dr. Khuram Ghumman took the unusual route of working in a hospital system first, then going into private primary care practice because he objects to the corporatization of health care. He said conflicts of interest can arise if an owner and its employed physicians have different objectives.

I wanted to be responsible to my patients, Ghumman said.

Nationally and in Connecticut, hospital systems and private businesses are increasingly buying private medical practices and taking over their business operations. American Medical Association statistics show just 46 percent of physicians owned their own practices in 2018, down from 75 percent in 1983.

In Connecticut, hospital health systems range from large groups, such as Yale New Haven Health Services and Hartford Health Care, to systems owned by one hospital, such as UConn Health. They are all non-profit except Prospect CT Medical Foundation, a for-profit company that owns Waterbury, Manchester and Rockville hospitals.

There are other medical systems as well, such as ProHealth Physicians, owned by Optum, a division of the company that owns the insurer United Healthcare. Private equity firms have also invested in medical practices, including orthopedic and emergency medicine groups.

An area of active practice acquisition is primary care, at a time when demand for preventive health care is rising along with an aging population.

Primary care practitioners in hospital systems practices of 30 or more doctors increased from 1,100 in 2016 to 1,441 in 2019 - a 31 percent rise, according to data from the state Office of Health Strategy. At Yale they rose from 368 to 491, (33 percent); Hartford Health Care from 73 to 198, (171 percent); and Middlesex Health System from 32 to 38, (19 percent). The acquisitions include doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Hospital health systems say that they provide improved, streamlined and coordinated care because primary care providers and specialists can work together and have easier access to patients medical records.

But studies report that acquisitions are driving up the cost of health care and doctors lose the freedom to manage their own scheduling.

Ghumman, who practices in East Granby, said he spends an hour with patients on physical exams and a half-hour on follow-up visits. I just want to pose the question to physicians: who do you work for? he asked.

Miller said she prefers her autonomy, is comfortable with the way she runs her practice, likes the intimacy of it and the ability to give patients the choice of going to a solo practitioner.

Dr. Andrew Wormser, a New Haven internist affiliated with Yales Northeast Medical Group, said there is some lack of autonomy, but added they still give us enough that we can practice the way we want to.

Wormser is part of the Connecticut Medical Group, established by a group of physicians in the 1990s to pool resources. He explained that a more complex regulatory climate and the resultant need for investment in electronic medical records prompted the sale of the practice to Yale in 2012. Under the arrangement, the 31 physicians are contractors, not employees, but Yale owns the business. The hassles of running the office are no longer there, which is a lot, Wormser said.

C-HIT requested interviews with officials of Yale New Haven Health, Hartford Health Care, Trinity Health of New England and the Connecticut Hospital Association; none were granted. CHA provided a statement, saying: Partnerships between hospitals and health systems and physician practices preserve and expand access to care, support care improvement and often enable new value-based care arrangements.

Isaac Kastenbaum, vice president of the nonprofit Primary Care Development Corporation, said that primary care practices are particularly ripe for acquisition or merger.

Whats required of a primary care practice today is very different from what was required 20 years ago, he said.

Regulatory and insurance requirements necessitate an amount of staffing, technical expertise and capital that independent practices just cant raise by themselves for the most part, or its very difficult, said Kastenbaum, whose organization provides loans and technical assistance to primary care providers.

Financial losses and costs connected to practicing medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated pressures on private practitioners, said Dr. Gary Price, president of the national Physicians Foundation and a Clinton plastic surgeon. COVID made a bad situation much, much worse, he said.

Independent practices are also threatened because young physicians dont want to run businesses. They want to be employees focused on practicing medicine and having a balanced lifestyle, said Victoria Veltri, OHS executive director.

States Effort: Improve Health Care, Control Costs

The OHS is spearheading a project to increase spending on primary care in an effort to improve health, control long-term health costs, improve access to and quality of preventive care, and address social determinants of health. A 2019 report on 29 states put Connecticut at the bottom of primary care spending, defined as physician care in offices and outpatient settings. The report by the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative and the Robert Graham Center found Connecticut spent 3.5 percent of its health care spending on such primary care between 2011 and 2016.

The states goal is for primary care to account for 10 percent of overall health care spending by 2025. A better-resourced primary care system can create a better outcome for patients and lower overall health care spending over time, Veltri said.

She said that there is growing interest in team-based care to address a range of patient needs. That means that primary care practices could include, for example, social workers and pharmacists in addition to medical practitioners.

Thats how primary care is evolving, she said. Were trying to keep people healthy. Were trying to intercede early in health care issues and address things like social determinants of health, social drivers of health, she said.

This is occurring at a time when shortages of primary care physicians are projected through 2033, new doctors are turning to more lucrative specialties to help pay for medical school debt, and Connecticut is having a difficult time attracting doctors. According to an Association of American Medical Colleges report using 2018 data, Connecticut ranked 41st in the country in retaining doctors who either attended medical school or trained as residents in the state.

Meanwhile, a proposed law would give the state more oversight over medical practice acquisitions by allowing state review for acquisitions of any size, instead of the current minimum of eight physicians. It would also remove the existing presumption of approval.

You could be a Yale or Hartford Health Care or Nuvance and could acquire a practice of seven, another practice of seven, another practice of four, another practice of five and it isnt subject to state review, Veltri said, explaining that lack of review prevents opportunities to limit increases in health care costs. Costs for patients and the Medicare program are higher in hospital-owned practices, according to the Physicians Advocacy Institute.

Hospitals and physicians opposed the proposal at a recent legislative hearing. Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, head of clinical services for Hartford Health Care, said his system acquired 30 practices with less than eight physicians in the past three years, adding that there are few medical practices with eight. He warned that independent doctors could go out of business waiting for the reviews to be conducted.

In a statement, the Connecticut State Medical Society said that many small group medical practices are barely surviving, but said, it is not in the purview of the legislature to dictate under what circumstances physicians may decide to sell their practices. The medical society said that the state should focus instead on issues that burden independent physicians, such as insurance coverage contracts that dont allow doctors to negotiate rates, exclusionary policies and high malpractice rates.

Managing His Own Practice

Ghumman said he is spared many administrative tasks because of his practices structure, with seven physicians, five nurse practitioners, a physicians assistant, and sufficient office staff to handle business operations. If you have systems in place that are working for you and your patients, you can still do without having to be a part of a large corporate system, he said.

He compared the current health care landscape to when most independent pharmacies were pushed out of business by competition from chains, eliminating the choice of going to a small pharmacy.

If you lose the ability to make choices in health care, thats a sad day for everyonenot just doctors, but patients, he said.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team ( c-hit.org ), a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting.
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Walter Olkewicz, who played the bartender Jacques Renault on Twin Peaks, died Tuesday in Reseda. He was 72.

His son, screenwriter Zak Olkewicz, confirmed his death. He had been struggling with health issues for the past 20 years.

The character actor also played oil refinery worker Dougie Boudreau on the first four seasons of Grace Under Fire and a mafia lawyer in Joel Schumachers The Client.

On David Lynchs groundbreaking Twin Peaks series, he played Jacques the French-Canadian card dealer at One Eyed Jacks and bartender on the first season of the ABC series. A drug runner who is arrested for the murder of Laura Palmer, Jacques is suffocated in the hospital by Laura Palmers father after he is shot during the arrest.

He returned for Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces and again for the Showtime reboot as Jean-Michel, although by then he was no longer able to stand.

His other appearances included a role as Nick the cable guy on the Seinfeld episode The Cadillac and a character named Bubba on Dolly Partons ABC variety show.

Olkewicz starred as Marko opposite Jeff Conaway on CBS Wizards and Warriors and appeared on NBCs Partners in Crime in 1984, playing opposite Lynda Carter and Loni Anderson. He also played Tiny McGee on Whos the Boss and Walter Plimp on NBCs Night Court.

He made his screen debut in Futureworld and went on to appear in films including Steven Spielbergs 1941, The Big Picture, Stuart Saves His Family and Par 6.

He is survived by his son and two grandchildren.

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Brazil has recorded more than 4,000 Covid related deaths in 24 hours for the first time, as a more contagious variant fuels a surge in cases. Hospitals are overcrowded, with people dying as they wait for treatment in some cities, and the health system is on the brink of collapse in many areas.



The country's total covid-related death toll is now almost 337,000, second only to the US. But President Jair Bolsonaro continues to oppose any lockdown measures to curb the outbreak.



He argues that the damage to the economy would be worse than the effects of covid-19 itself, and has tried to reverse some of the restrictions imposed by local authorities in the courts.



Speaking to supporters outside the presidential residence on Tuesday, he criticised quarantine measures and suggested without evidence that they were linked to obesity and depression. He did not comment on the 4,195 deaths recorded in the previous 24 hours. To date, Brazil has recorded more than 13 million cases of coronavirus, according to the health ministry. Some 66,570 people died with Covid-19 in March, more than double the previous monthly record.



"Brazil now... is a threat to the entire effort of the international community to control the pandemic," Dr Miguel Nicolelis, who has been closely tracking cases in the country, told the BBC.



"If Brazil is not under control, then the planet is not going to be safe, because we are brewing new variants every week... and they are going to cross borders," he said.



What is the situation in Brazil?



In most states, patients with Covid-19 are occupying more than 90% of intensive care unit beds, according to the health institute Fiocruz (in Portuguese). Several states have reported short supplies of oxygen and sedatives. But despite the critical situation, some cities and states are already easing measures limiting the movement of people.



"The fact is the anti-lockdown narrative of President Jair Bolsonaro has won," Miguel Lago, executive director of Brazil's Institute for Health Policy Studies, which advises public health officials, told the Associated Press. "Mayors and governors are politically prohibited from beefing up social distancing policies because they know supporters of the president, including business leaders, will sabotage them," he said.



The far-right president - who has played down the virus, raised doubts about vaccines and defended unproven drugs as treatment - has seen his popularity plummet amid heavy criticism of his handling of the crisis. He has shifted his tone on immunisations recently, pledging to make 2021 the year of vaccinations. But the country has struggled with the rollout of its programme.



Critics say his government was slow in negotiating supplies. Only around 8% of the population has been given at least one dose, according to the Our World in Data tracker.



Epidemiologist Ethel Maciel said Brazil was in a "dreadful situation", telling AFP news agency: "At the rate we're vaccinating... the only way to slow the extremely fast spread of the virus is an effective lockdown for at least 20 days."













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
Alabamas Secretary of State said he will not seek a US Senate seat after he admitted to having an affair with a woman who released racy texts and audio describing their sexual encounters when he tried to break off the tryst.

John Merrill, a Republican, acknowledged that he carried on a three-year extramarital affair with Cesaire McPherson, a 44-year-old legal assistant from Montgomery, from November 2017 until November 2020.

McPherson revealed the affair to the online blog National File.

She described in vivid detail her sexual encounters with the secretary of state in his marital bed. One at least one occasion, she recorded the two of them having sex.

John Merrill, Alabama's Republican secretary of state, acknowledged that he carried on a nearly one-year extramarital affair with Cesaire McPherson, a 44-year-old legal assistant from Montgomery, from November 2017 until November 2020. Merrill and McPherson are photographed together at the State Capitol in November 2018 - a year after the affair started

McPherson said that she and Merrill, 57, would have sex in his marital bed. Merrill is seen right with his wife, Cindy Benford Merrill, in this November 2019 photo

McPherson (pictured above in December) released audio recordings of phone conversations as well as sexts between her and Merrill

The text messages released by McPherson describe explicit sexual acts involving accessories

McPherson said that Merrill asked her to buy clothespins because he wanted me to put them on his nipples.

She also claimed he liked the top of his c*** to be bit and that he always liked a finger up his a**.

When Id s*** his c***, hed want me to put both of his b**** in my mouth and put my finger up his a**, she told National File.

And his left b*** is smaller than his right one, and its weird. Its so weird.

She also described using a b*** plug, saying: Yeah, he liked stuff up his a**, yeah.

McPherson said that she initiated the relationship with Merrill by contacting him through social media.

I started it, sending messages For some reason I just got bored one night and I was sending the text messages and I said maybe we should go have lunch or something, she said.

And he said, or something? And I was like, okay. So, it was from like November until January, wed just send text messages back.

Then in January we started to just like over Facebook video just showing each other our body and doing things, and then when he met me for the second time in person and realized that I really am, Im a very sexy kind of person, and I cant help it.

I just am.

It was July 2019, and then wed just, hed come over Sunday night, Monday night, sometimes Tuesday nights if she (his wife) didnt come into town and stay in the apartment with him because he would have to be there with her.

And mostly Wednesday and Thursday. Sunday, Monday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and then if he had a weekendI stayed at his house twice.

I went and spent the night, and then I slept in her bed and had sex in her bed.

McPherson also alleges that Merrill would often make racist remarks about African-Americans.

He might act like he likes black people, but hes really racist. Real bad racist(He would say) The colored folks. He was loved by all the coloredsAnd they go around thinking everything is supposed to be theirs, and given to them, and all this and thatthe black people should be appreciative.

Merrill, who initially denied allegations of an affair and accused McPherson of stalking and harassing, reversed himself and admitted that they did indeed have an inappropriate relationship, according to AL.com.

John Merrill married his wife, Cindy Benford Merrill, in 1985. They have two children - Brooks Merill and Allie Grace Merrill. The image above was posted in December 2020

Its clear that I had an inappropriate relationship with her, and it is not something that I am proud of or something that is something that - Im very disappointed in myself, Merrill (pictured above with his wife) said

John Merrill married his wife, Cindy Benford Merrill, in 1985. They have two children - Brooks Merill and Allie Grace Merrill.

On their 28th wedding anniversary, John Merrill tweeted: '28 years ago today, Cindy Benford & I were married @ Calvary Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa.

'That decision has made all the difference for me.'

DailyMail.com has sought comment from McPherson, John Merrill, and Cindy Merrill.

John Merrill was expected to run for the US Senate seat from Alabama that is being vacated by the retiring Senator Richard Shelby in 2022. Merrill was likely to compete against the pro-Trump congressman, Mo Brooks.

I will obviously not be a candidate for the United States Senate nor will I be seeking any other elected position in 2022, because I think its important to me to make sure that I become the man that I have been before and that I am working to put myself in the position to be the leader that I have been before, as a husband, as a father, as a friend and as an elected official, Merrill said in a statement.

Merril was elected secretary of state of Alabama in 2014 and then re-elected in 2018. Alabama law places a two-term limit on the office.

With the end of my term coming up in January of 2023, I have been presented with a variety of options for where my path in public service could lead, a statement from his office read.

I have decided that I will not be a candidate for any office in 2022.

McPherson leaked audio of a 17-minute phone conversation she had with Merrill in October 2020.

McPherson released a 17-minute recorded phone conversation with Merrill in which the secretary of state is heard saying that he needed to summon 'help from the Lord' to end the affair

McPherson also alleges that Merrill made racist comments about African-Americans

In the recording, the two discuss several sex acts that they performed during the dozens of encounters they had over the course of three years.

Merrill heard a portion of the recording. He told AL.com that theres no excuse for his affair.

Its clear that I had an inappropriate relationship with her, and it is not something that I am proud of or something that is something that - Im very disappointed in myself, Merrill said.

Im also disappointed that I allowed my family to be embarrassed by this action, he said.

And its something that I certainly will always regret because of the pain that it has caused my family.

In the recording, McPherson asks Merrill if the last time that he had sex was the last time ever?

Well, it was a pretty good day, Merrill is heard telling her.

When she asks if thats the last time ever, he replies: Its supposedly the last time ever.

McPherson then asks Merrill about specific acts they did in several locations, including a local inn, her house, and his apartment.

Merrill said that he hoped to draw strength from God to end the affair.

During his career, Merrill has made several controversial statements denouncing homosexual activities and wife swap shows that were supposedly responsible for degradation in America

I am not able to stay away from you, so thats the reason why I have to have help in order to do that  the help is coming from the Lord, Merrill said.

You already went against your marriage  So youve already done it, you cant take that back, you cant change it, McPherson said.

Cant take anything back. Cant change anything. All I can do is what I can do from today forward, he responded.

After Merrill confirmed the affair, Governor Kay Ivey released a statement on Thursday saying: It is always unfortunate when someone in public life, especially an elected official, betrays the trust of his family, his constituents and those who have supported him.

My thoughts and prayers are with all who have been negatively impacted by these poor decisions and bad choices.

In 2015, Merrill denied allegations made by a woman that she performed oral sex on him five years earlier - though he did admit to kissing her and allowing her to fondle him.

During his career, Merrill has made several controversial statements denouncing homosexual activities and wife swap shows that were supposedly responsible for degradation in America.

In 2010, he was elected to the state House of Representatives, where he served until he won the secretary of state seat in 2014.

In reflecting on how the affair has essentially destroyed his career, Merrill told AL.com: I hope someone can use me as an example of how they have the opportunity to accomplish things, but because of poor choices and poor decisions in things, it can result in a negative impact for a lot of people that you did not intend to impact.

Thats because I exercised poor choices and poor discipline. Maybe some good can come out of this for somebody else.
Victorias Acting Police and Emergency Services Minister Danny Pearson apologised on Friday morning for any confusion encountered by people aged under 50 at vaccination sites. Josh De Bono, a cardiothoracic registrar at the Epworth hospital, was among a number of under 50s who arrived at the Royal Exhibition Building vaccination centre on Friday morning, only to be refused entry. Josh De Bono, centre, was among those turned away in Victoria. Credit:Jason South The 34-year-old said security guards told him he was too young to proceed. Despite taking the morning off to attend his pre-booked appointment, he said no one from the Health Department had made contact to tell him he should not attend. Timely and effective communication, thats been the biggest let down throughout COVID, Mr De Bono said.

I think this will hurt public confidence in the vaccine, and its already wavering. Athena Stathoulis described it as a mess. Credit:Jason South Athena Stathoulis, a St John Ambulance volunteer, arrived at the same Carlton vaccination site about 10.30am only to be told she also no longer qualified for the AstraZeneca jab. The 20-year-old from Malvern East booked earlier this week, but like Mr De Bono received no notice that her appointment would be cancelled. I knew about the blood clot risk but its low, there is more of a risk taking the contraceptive pill, she said.

Theyre not even taking front-line workers in anymore, I was really confused by it. Now its going to take months. Its a mess. Under 50s trying to go in for their vaccination were being turned away at the Carlton Exhibition center. Seen here Michael Bramhill. Credit:Jason South Michael Bramhall, an immunologist at the nearby Peter Doherty Institute, was less fazed about being turned away from the vaccination centre on Friday morning, saying he would continue to get vaccinated once it was safe to do so. When I arrived they said they were just turning away people under 50. I thought it was still optional, so I was still up for getting the jab but its just one of those things, Ill get vaccinated eventually, he said. Im not super at risk of getting COVID-19, its more about helping shield other people from it.

Loading I know people in my lab who got vaccinated yesterday, but I understand theres not lots of community transmission here like other places, so we can afford to wait a bit longer. Despite the new advice, 27-year-old University of Melbourne student Georg Tamm received the AstraZeneca jab in NSW on Friday. Mr Tamm received a call to check if he still wanted to get the first dose in light of the changed health advice. After some deliberation, he said yes. It was a little scary but the idea of a rich country like Australia buying AstraZeneca supplies and then telling its people not to get vaccinated while there are developing nations grappling with a rampant spread of infections and no ability to access that vaccine supply is just gross, he said.

Others being turned away from the Carlton site were front-line workers, including firefighters, police and paramedics. One police officer aged over 50, who asked not to be named, was permitted to continue with his appointment. He and his wife said others in the force had been discouraged overnight from getting the AstraZeneca vaccine, but had decided to persevere because they felt it was important. Im the only one from my station to come down today, the officer said.

The force is going to be scrambling to vaccinate its members now, his wife said. We really want to see every single Victorian vaccinated as soon as we can, he said, adding that he would be comfortable receiving the AstraZeneca shot as a 48-year-old. Mr Pearson revealed a small group of workers employed to work in quarantine hotels were also refusing to be vaccinated. He said reasons for refusing a jab included being pregnant or having underlying health conditions. Loading

More than 90 per cent of hotel quarantine workers have now received their first dose and about half have received their second. Workers who have not yet received a dose are not permitted to work shifts, meaning they are effectively on leave with pay. If youre not vaccinated you cant work in the hotel, Mr Pearson said. A spokeswoman from COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria said 65 travellers were transported to the InterContinental quarantine hotel and five were taken into a complex care hotel at Element Richmond. No Victorians were taken to the health hotel. She also confirmed that front-line workers, who currently receive the Pfizer vaccine, had been stood down with pay if they refused to be inoculated. Loading
Supplier News

8 April 2021

INTELITY, the provider of hospitality's broadest guest experience and staff management platform, has signed a deal with Hutton Brickyards to implement the full INTELITY platform at the new retreat located in Kingston, New York. Opening in May 2021, Hutton Brickyards will provide mobile, in-room, and staff capabilities that optimize operations and eliminate friction within the guest experience in order to foster genuine relaxation and deep connections to nature.

Hutton Brickyards is the culmination of a years-long restoration and reimagining of the The Hutton Brickworks Company, a family-owned brick manufacturer that operated for over 100 years as a cornerstone of the Kingston community in the Hudson Valley. Perched on the banks of the Hudson River, the hotel features 31 thoughtfully-designed guest cabins on a sprawling 73-acre campus that offers stunning river views and industrial architecture. To help guests become immersed in their surroundings and enjoy each part of their stay, Hutton Brickyards will also offer technology that puts guests in control of their stay and serviceallowing them to bask in the resort's tranquility without disruption while effortlessly connecting with staff as needed.

"Everyone has a different definition of what makes for an unforgettable stay, and it's essential that guests can tailor their experience to their preferences," remarked Jenni Loughman, COO of Salt Hotels. "Some would rather relax at the spa while others are looking for adventurous experiences. Some still have safety concerns and would like contactless service while others want to be greeted by staff members at the front desk. The INTELITY platform delivers digital convenience, contactless options, and personalization at every step in the guest journeywe couldn't be more excited about how it will elevate experiences at the property for years to come."

With both a mobile app and in-room tablets in place, contactless service and digital amenities will be available at every step in the guest journey. While preparing for their arrival, guests can download the property's app to get more information about the hotel, check-in from their phone, or even order food in advance of their arrival. Then, once they've arrived, they'll be able to skip the front desk and head straight to their room, activating a mobile key that gives them access to their private cabin. Once inside, an in-room tablet will greet them and offer yet another link to staff and service throughout their stay.

"Hutton Brickyards is not just preparing unforgettable accommodations, but also potentially the most ambitious slate of local activities and outdoor experiences we've ever seen from a property," said Robert Stevenson, INTELITY CEO. "With so much happening each day, we're excited that the INTELITY platform will serve as a critical connection point for guestsensuring they're only ever a few taps away from everything Hutton Brickyards has to offer."

Meanwhile, the technology will also allow staff to stay in contact with guests wherever they are on propertyutilizing in-app and SMS messaging to notify them of special events and activities available to them as well as keeping them up to date on any service they've requested. At the same time, the INTELITY platform will source real-time feedback from guests that can lead to better service recovery and a smoother stay for everyone. Finally, automation and deep business insights will save staff time and propel constant process improvements, freeing up employee time so staff members can keep their attention focused on providing memorable, standout service to guests.

For more information on the INTELITY platform or this deal, please visit www.intelity.com.
SAN DIEGO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Berger Montague is investigating potential securities violations, breaches of fiduciary duty, and other claims against Zachary J. Horwitz ("Horwitz"), 1inMM Capital, LLC ("1inMM"), and other parties arising out of an alleged Ponzi scheme through which these parties defrauded investors by approximately $690 million over the course of more than five years.

If you purchased promissory notes issued by 1inMM, made investments with Horwitz or 1inMM, have questions concerning your rights or interests, or would like to discuss Berger Montague's investigation, please contact our office at (619) 489-0300 or www.bergermontague.com/zachary-horwitz-ponzi-scheme, or attorneys Andrew Abramowitz at [email protected] or (215) 875-3015, or Donnell Much at [email protected] or (215) 875-4667.

On April 5, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") sued Horwitz and 1inMM in the United States District Court for the Central District of California for violations of the federal securities laws, alleging that, from at least March 2014 through December 2019, those defendants raised $690 million by selling promissory notes issued by 1inMM. According to the complaint, Horwitz and 1inMM represented to investors that their funds would finance 1inMM's acquisition and licensing of distribution rights in movies to major media companies such as Netflix and HBO. Falsely describing Netflix and HBO as "strategic partners" and fabricating fictitious movie distribution agreements and other documents, Horwitz and 1inMM promised investors returns of more than 35%.

Instead, Horwitz and 1inMM misappropriated investors' monies for such improper purposes as paying putative returns on earlier investments and buying a personal residence for Horwitz for $5.7 million. According to the SEC lawsuit, Horwitz transferred funds into his personal bank accounts with City National Bank. The alleged misconduct has resulted in investors in 1inMM promissory notes being defrauded out of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Berger Montague, with offices in San Diego, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C., has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States.

Contact

Berger Montague PC

12544 High Bluff Drive, Suite 340

San Diego, CA 92130

(619) 489-0300

www.bergermontague.com/zachary-horwitz-ponzi-scheme

Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel

Berger Montague

(215) 875-3015

[email protected]

Donnell Much, Associate

Berger Montague

(215) 875-4667

[email protected]

SOURCE Berger Montague

Related Links

https://bergermontague.com


What is grace? The simplest definition is unmerited favor. To receive grace is to gain what is undeserved; it is to obtain what can never be earned or gained by our own efforts.

The world has its own idea of what defines grace, but like all virtues, grace is rooted in the character of God. He is the original author and only true source of grace. All our human efforts of extending grace to one another are either poor imitations performed in our natural flesh, or an overflow of the grace weve received through salvation in Jesus Christ, who is Himself, full of grace and truth. Jesus is the gift of grace God gave to the world  the highest standard and greatest example of grace.

Moses  A Perfect Example of Gods Grace

Moses was a man who walked with God, speaking to Him as a friend, face to face. The name Moses might not come to mind immediately if were talking about grace; after all, it was Moses who received the Law as he led the children of Israel through the wilderness, and in our minds, grace and law are two separate, distinct things which cannot be reconciled. The Jews considered Moses a highly respected prophet, so much so that the book of Hebrews addresses what was essentially worship of Moses because of his intimacy with God and connection to the laws that governed their religious observances.

On closer examination, Moses is the perfect example of Gods grace. During the time of his birth, his people were enslaved in Egypt. Fearing that the Hebrews would become too numerous and decide to overthrow him, the Pharaoh ordered that all male Hebrew babies were to be murdered by the Egyptian midwives who delivered them. By Gods grace, the midwives feared God more than the Pharaoh and chose to disobey this wicked command, and so Moses arrived safe and sound, delivered into his mothers arms.

By Gods grace, his mother hid him for three months. By Gods grace, he was placed in a basket and floated on the river. By Gods grace, his sister watched him be drawn from the water by an Egyptian princess, and by Gods grace, was able to suggest his own mother as a wet nurse when the princess decided to adopt him. By Gods grace, Moses was well-educated as an Egyptian son, but also told of his Hebrew heritage. By Gods grace, he escaped with his life after slaying an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. By Gods grace, he became a shepherd for forty years away from the Egyptian influence, where he was able to hear and learn what God wanted to do in, and through, his life.

Up until this point, Moses experienced the grace of God without pursuing it. Gods goodness and benevolence protected him until the time when he would meet the God of grace in a very personal way. An unusual meeting with God would grow into an intimate relationship that caused a deep hunger in him to know the grace of God more fully.

Isnt that how it happens with many of us? Once our eyes are opened spiritually and we come to faith in Jesus, we look back over our lives and see the hand of Gods good grace at every turn, in every crisis that we faced and every good thing that brought us any kind of joy. Once we recognize this, we desire more and more of Gods grace and goodness.

The Bible describe two separate encounters between Moses and God that give us a more complete picture of grace. In the first event, Moses discovers what grace looks like practically: what God does. But in the second event, he discovers an even greater truth: grace is who God is.





Photo credit: Getty Images/buburuzaproductions

Moses Discovered Grace When God Asked Him to Go

Exodus 3:7-8a  The LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey.

While pasturing his father-in-laws flocks in the wilderness, Moses comes upon a bush that is burning with fire, yet it is not consumed. He knows this is a marvelous thing and stops to investigate further. To his surprise, he hears God speaking to him, telling him to remove his shoes, that he is standing on holy ground.

The first thing God does is to identify Himself as the God of Moses forefathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). Moses people are enslaved to the Egyptians, but God is reminding Moses that He has not forgotten them, nor His covenant with them. Gods grace had been working for generations to carry out His sovereign plan to build a nation out of Abrahams descendants.

Gods grace chose Abraham to bear a son in his old age, Isaac.

Gods grace chose Rebekah to be Isaacs wife.

Gods grace chose Isaacs son, Jacob, the younger twin.

Gods grace chose Joseph to suffer in Egypt so that his family could be saved during a famine.

Gods grace chose the children of Israel to greatly multiply, even under slavery.

Now Gods grace was going to act once more. His words to Moses are simple, profound, and prophetic, and they define for us what the grace of God is all about.

I have seen their affliction.

I have heard their cry.

I am aware of their sufferings.

I have come down to deliver.

I will bring them up.

In Grace & Glory: 50 Days in the Purpose & Plan of God, I explained it this way:

Has not God seen our affliction, our sin-sickness? To see is to observe, to give attention to, to gaze at. God looks at us, even in our unworthiness and unholiness. Grace does not turn its face away, but looks us directly in the eye, assuring us, He sees.

Has God not heard our cry? He hears with attention, with the intent to listen. Our prayers are not simply the background noise of heaven. Grace does not tune us out, but focuses on the cry of our hearts, for He listens.

Is God not aware of our sufferings? To be aware is to know, to recognize, and to consider. Grace identifies with our pain and sorrow. Grace feels what we feel. He knows.

Has God not come down to deliver us? Christ on the cross is the One who rescues. Grace stoops low to show kindness to the lowly. He delivers.

Has God not raised us up, seating us in the heavenlies at the present time? Our citizenship is in heaven, and one day grace will carry us into the presence of God, for He will bring us up.

Gods grace is practical and real, and acts on behalf of those whom God has chosen. God chose Moses to go and be His servant to rescue the children of Israel out of slavery, a vivid and practical illustration of the time when Jesus would go at His Fathers request to rescue Gods children from the slavery of sin.





Photo credit: Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio

Moses Discovered Grace When He Asked to See Gods Glory

Exodus 33:18-23  Then Moses said, I pray You, show me Your glory! And He said, I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion. But He said, You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live! Then the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.

Exodus 34:5-6  The LORD descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the LORD. Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.

A few verses earlier we see that Moses has recognized that God has found favor with him and knows him by name. In response, he asks God, Let me know Your ways that I may know You. What is Gods answer? My presence will go with you. Yet, Moses is hungry for more. He has experienced Gods favor but persists. I want to see Your glory. God graciously walks by, covering Moses with His hand, lifting it just as He passes, allowing Moses a glimpse of His back. And as He passes, the LORD proclaims His name:

The LORD (Jehovah).

The LORD God (Jehovah God, the self-existent One).

Compassionate.

Gracious.

Slow to anger.

Abounding in lovingkindness.

Abounding in truth.

The Old Testament Hebrew word for gracious (chanan) means to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior. It is to bestow favor, to show kindness or pity. It is to have mercy on the object of ones favor.

God is not only the giver of grace; He is grace. Moses begged to know God, and when he caught a glimpse of the goodness and glory of God, it was named grace (Grace & Glory: 50 Days in the Purpose & Plan of God).

Do you see that grace is not just a New Testament concept? Gods grace is woven throughout all of Scripture, from the moment He spoke our world into existence. Gods works were finished from the foundation of the world (Hebrews 4:3); He knew from the beginning that we would need grace. The Old Testament law was evidence of Gods grace, as it revealed mans innate sinfulness and need of salvation. The corresponding requirements of the sacrificial laws were also grace, as God provided a temporary covering for their sin and a way to live in relationship with Him until the once-for-all sacrifice was made on the cross by Christ.

The New Testament word for grace, charis, contains the similar idea of kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved, but also carries the additional sense of that which affords joy and delight. We understand the joy grace brings to us, but did you know that God gets pleasure and delight in showing us grace?

Salvation by grace is evidence of Gods favor in choosing us and His mercy in forgiving us, but it also reveals His delight as He carries out His sovereign plans and purposes which reveal His glory. As Moses learned, Gods glory and His grace are intimately connected. The gracious God of the Old Testament who chose Noah and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Joseph and Moses is the same God of the New Testament who freely bestows grace on us, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:6).

God is the source of grace, for God is gracious.

God is the giver of grace, for His every action is motivated by grace.

Moses met the God of grace on the back side of a wilderness mountain when the voice of God called out to him from a burning bush. He encountered Him again on another mountain, hidden in the cleft of the rock as God walked by and declared His name: Jehovah God, gracious and compassionate.

We too, can meet the God of grace on the mountain, as we kneel at the cross of Mount Calvary. Jesus is God, full of grace and truth, acting on our behalf with unlimited, incomparable grace that redeems and saves.

Related articles

What Makes God's Grace So Amazing?

God's Grace Isn't Fair, and That's a Good Thing

3 Remarkable Lessons in Grace from Jonah



Photo credit: Pixabay/jeffjacobs1990

Author Sheila Alewine is a pastors wife, mother, and grandmother of five. She and her husband lead Around The Corner Ministries, which serves to equip Christ-followers to share the gospel where they live, work and play. She has written several devotionals including Just Pray: Gods Not Done With You Yet, Grace & Glory: 50 Days in the Purpose & Plan of God, and her newest one, Open The Gift, as well as Going Around The Corner, a Bible study for small groups who desire to reach their communities for Christ. Their ministry also offers disciple-making resources like One-To-One Disciple-Making in partnership with Multiplication Ministries. Sheila has a passion for Gods Word and shares what God is teaching her on her blog, The Way of The Word. Connect with her on her blog, Facebook, and Instagram.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Social networking behemoth Facebook Inc. (FB), on Wednesday, said it will not notify the 530 million users about the data breach of their account. Last week, Business Insider revealed that data of more than 530 million users, including information like their phone numbers and dates of birth, were made freely available in a public database. The data was obtained using a loophole in the social media platform's system for synchronizing contacts. The data was breached before 2019 and recently made public in a database. However, the company, through a blog post, reported that the vulnerability was fixed in September 2019. 'It is important to understand that malicious actors obtained this data not through hacking our systems but by scraping it from our platform prior to September 2019,' the company said in the post. Scraping is a common tactic that often relies on automated software to lift public information from the internet that can end up being distributed in online forums like this. Facebook assured that the data breach did not include financial information, health information, or passwords. The company also added that since it was not something that the users could alter, they deemed informing the users unnecessary. The EU's lead regulator for Facebook, Ireland's Data Protection Commission also accused Facebook of 'no proactive communication' about their action on the data leak. 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.
When Teni Tayo, a Nigerian and an African development expert, tweeted about her experience in the hands of authorities in Cape Verde, she had little idea that her message would become something big.

She had only felt appalled by how her intended easter vacation to the archipelago West African country with her friend, whom she convinced to join her, was controversially scuttled.

Border authorities in Cape Verde had barred her alongside two other Nigerians, a Guinean, a Cameroonian, a Jordanian, a Kenyan, an Ivorian, all on board the same flight from Dakar, the capital of Senegal, from entry into the country.

They, however, allowed travellers bearing Western passports in, she alleged, while she and the other seven were deported to Dakar.

She noted that authorities told them it was due to COVID-19 restrictions.

We asked why whites and those with European passports were left behind, she explained, and (they) replied that it was their decision.

The incident which happened at Praia International Airport, on the island of Santiago in Cape Verde, triggered national angst in Nigeria and among other African nationals who alleged that treating travellers with African passports poorly was a regular occurrence in Cape Verde.

Ms Tayo said she had filed a complaint to the Nigerian government upon the request of the countrys diaspora commission. She told PREMIUM TIMES Friday morning that the Nigeria diaspora commission had contacted her to say they were investigating the incident.

It is also not fair that the rules are applied selectively. It was very painful to be so mistreated in a West African country, compared to white passengers, while traveling with an ECOWAS passport, her complaint read in part.

She has had to field questions from the media both in Nigeria and other African countries.

There are reports that her account has also sent ripples across the political landscape of the West African neighbour.

PREMIUM TIMES request for comment from Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva was declined. Although, the government has denied wrongdoing in a statement by the police.

Cape Verdes response

The Cape Verdean National Police said Ms Tayo and the other seven tourists were prevented from entering the archipelago because they did not present a document justifying/proving the purpose of the trip.

The police particularly singled out the Nigerian citizens, whom they said were disparate and contradictory with each other during their interviews for border control formalities.

This, they said, led to suspicions of false declarations, aggravated by not confirming hotel reservations and livelihoods. in national territory.

Among them, there was a citizen who would have previously been denied entry to the national territory, for the same reasons, the police added in its account.

But Ms Tayo countered the allegations, saying the polices account was inaccurate.

She said she had all her documents but was never asked to present any of them other than her Nigerian passport.

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This newspaper is in possession of her travel documents, one of which showed she had slated her return flight for Monday for the three-day vacation.

All they asked for was my passport, which was taken from me for examination, she told PREMIUM TIMES over the telephone Wednesday.

The police issued a statement and accused us of lying. Its not accurate. They didnt ask us for any document. What they told us is that we are not open to tourists.

I think it is fine that a country says it is not open to tourism, but that information should be widely disseminated and passed through the airlines, she added.

Moreso, she noted, as long as Cape Verde is a part of ECOWAS, they need to continue to play by the rule governing travelling within the region.

This newspaper also saw a copy of the result of the COVID-19 test she took in Dakar dated April 1 which certified her as negative and it was appended by Papa Diaw, a virologist who manages the Institute for Health Research, Epidemiological Surveillance and Training (IRESSEF) labs in Dakar.

The centre is where Senegals health ministry designated travellers flying out of Senegal to have their COVID-19 test.

Ms Tayo said the experience has been psychologically disturbing for her and more so for her friend, but she has taken the bravery to speak about it and continue to demand justice.
The fatal shooting of 30-year-old Jenoah Donald earlier this year started out as a relatively standard traffic stop that sharply escalated when he refused a Clark County deputys commands to keep his hands where she could see them, according to newly released investigative records.

That drew in another deputy, Sean Boyle, who ended up shooting Donald once in the head as they all struggled inside Donalds car on the evening of Feb. 4 in Hazel Dell, an unincorporated area outside of Vancouver.

In an interview with investigators, Boyle said he was in his patrol car checking Donalds information when he heard Deputy Holly Troupe calmly and repeatedly direct Donald to show his hands.

Donald was sitting in the drivers seat of a 1999 Mercedes that the Boyle had pulled over for a bad taillight after deputies got a call about a neighborhood disturbance.

Boyle said he heard Troupe say: Keep your hands where I can see them. Stop reaching.

Boyle heard her say it again.

Boyle, a K-9 handler, then dropped the ID that Donald had handed him moments earlier and hustled back to the Mercedes.

Boyle said he really wanted just to calm everything down.

Instead, he opened the drivers side door to Donalds car and the situation quickly deteriorated. In the ensuing scuffle and as Donalds car started to move, Boyle reached for his Glock 9mm handgun and fired.

Donald never regained consciousness and died at an area hospital eight days later.

Investigators have previously released the broad outlines of the encounter, but the granular details of the circumstances surrounding the shooting are part of nearly 1,400 pages of investigative records released Wednesday by the Clark County Prosecuting Attorneys Office in response to a public records request from The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Donald, a Black man who grew up in Clark County, was shot in an area less than a mile away from the Oct. 29 shooting of Kevin Peterson Jr., a 21-year-old Black man from Camas. Clark County deputies fatally shot Peterson as he ran from an undercover Xanax pill sting.

Attorney Mark Lindquist, who represents Donalds mother, said his initial reading of the investigative report confirms three basic facts.

One, Jenoah was unarmed, he said in a text message to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Two, Jenoah never threatened anybody. And three, the deputies needlessly escalated a chippy traffic stop.

Donald died early Friday from a gunshot wound. He was shot in the head during a traffic encounter with Clark County Sheriff's deputies.

A team of detectives from other police agencies conducted the investigation, led by Vancouver Police Detective Dustin Goudschaal.

Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Golik has said he will ask an outside prosecutor to review the investigation for potential criminal charges to ensure an independent review. Golik on Wednesday didnt respond to a message asking if he had identified which agency will take on the job.

Boyle, who had been on leave pending the investigation, will return to duty next week, said Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins.

No video or audio recordings exist of the encounter with Donald.

Neighbors canvassed by investigators said they did not see what happened. One woman told investigators she heard deputies yell for someone to get out of the car or get on the ground, followed by a warning to stop or you will be shot.

The only witnesses were the three deputies who responded to the initial call.

Deputies had been dispatched to a traffic complaint involving two vehicles that were revving their engines loudly and circling the neighborhood in the 6500 block of Northwest Jordan Way.

Deputies told investigators that the target residence was the source of drug activity, had a history of police contact and that the people associated with the house were so hostile to law enforcement that police did not respond to calls to the property alone.

In an interview on Feb. 9, five days after the shooting, Boyle told Goudschaal that he decided to respond to the suspicious circumstance call while on patrol and recognized the address from previous calls.

He said he reached Jordan Way but waited for two other patrol cars to show up before proceeding so they could all pull up at once.

He said he saw one of the cars described over the police radio. It was the Mercedes driven by Donald.

Boyle noticed the Mercedes had a defective or modified exhaust that was extremely loud, he said. He watched as the car came to a stop and noticed the right brake light was out.

Boyle said he followed the car briefly, then initiated a traffic stop.

Donald pulled over immediately, appeared calm and answered his questions, Boyle said.

Donald told him that his license was suspended and handed over a state-issued identification card. Donald told the deputy he didnt have paperwork for the car.

About that time Troupe pulled up.

Troupe was the most junior of the three deputies at the scene; she graduated from the police academy last spring. Boyle has been with the Sheriffs Office as a full-time deputy since 2000. The other deputy, Greg Agar, has been with the agency for about six years.

Troupe walked over to the front passenger side.

She waited while Boyle walked back to his patrol car to run Donalds information through the patrol car computer.

By this time, Agar arrived. Boyle asked Agar to stick around because he was not sure if Donald was in a stolen car.

Troupe, meanwhile, peered into Donalds car and saw a mess of garbage and tools in the front passenger seat.

She told investigators that she saw a three to five inch metal spike with an end on it and a ball handle. She said she was focused on the item as a potential weapon.

She said she told Donald to show his hands.

She said he responded by asking, Am I being detained?

She told him he was the subject of a traffic stop and she wanted to see his hands.

Troupe said Donalds body shifted in his seat and he pulled out pliers from behind him and a cellphone.

At that point, Boyle returned to the drivers side door and Troupe walked over from the passenger side door.

I feel like the suspect is -- this guy is -- hes gonna get aggressive, and I feel that way because hes not like calm in the face, and hes not -- doesnt look scared, she told investigators. He looks eerily content.

Troupe said she worried Donald was reaching for the item she had identified as a potential weapon.

My only thought was, Hes grabbing that thing and hes gonna stab (Boyle) in the neck, she told investigators.

She said the item could easily be used to penetrate, to cut, to slice, to stab, to club.

Investigators have since said the item Troupe saw was likely a screwdriver.

Boyle told investigators he opened the drivers side door and Donald, still sitting in the car, reached over, grabbed him by the vest and pulled him deep into the Mercedes.

He is pulling me directly to his chest, Boyle said in his interview.

I have no way to defend myself, so I was totally vulnerable, he said.

Boyle said at 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds, he was larger than Donald.

Agar described to investigators that Donald was about the same height as Boyle and very skinny.

Boyle said Donalds strength suggested that he was high on something.

A toxicology analysis on Donald is still pending, according to the investigative reports.

Troupe said she tried to help pull Donald from the car and used a pain compliance technique on the mans jaw that was ineffective.

Both Boyle and Troupe told investigators that at one point during their struggle to remove Donald from the car and to free Boyle, the car started.

Troupe said she was stuck in the car and so was Boyle.

You hear the car, and you think, Life, life, life, life, life, she told investigators. And that might be the end of it.

Boyle had a similar reaction.

Once the car started, I thought that was it, he said. I thought I was gonna get killed, that (Troupe) was gonna get killed and that (Agar) was gonna get hurt, and, uh, I was terrified.

Agar told investigators that he saw Troupe and Boyle engaged in some sort of struggle with the motorist. Agar was standing at the drivers side door as well.

It appeared that they were trying to remove the driver from the vehicle, he said. They were reaching into the car. It appeared that they were grabbing on to the suspect.

He said Donald was resisting the deputies efforts.

Agar thought he would intervene by using a Taser to help subdue Donald but gave up on the idea when he heard the car turn on. He said he then decided to draw his gun but Boyle was able to get his firearm out quicker than I was.

This had now transitioned into potentially a scenario where Deputy Boyle was going to be drug by the vehicle with the suspect holding on to him, Agar told investigators. And I feared that him as well as myself and Deputy (Troupe) were going to be placed in severe danger.

Boyle, too, said he heard the cars engine revving and the sound of wheels spinning on the pavement. The car lurched forward, he said.

Boyle was still in the car, with Donald holding onto his vest, he said.

He said his right arm was pinned in the car. He said he reached his left hand for his gun. Thank God he is left handed, he told the detective.

Boyle said he lifted his gun to about 4 to 6 inches from his own face and fired as Donald was about a foot away.

The first shot missed, he said. The second struck Donald in the head.

After the  the second shot and I was able to get finally out of the car and stand up, he physically had, still had a hold of my vest, Boyle said.

He pulled himself free and the car went forward, he said. It moved fast enough that the car door slammed shut, he said. It crossed two yards before slamming into a fence, he said.

Donald, the reports noted, was estranged from his family due to his drug use. He had a mental disorder, according to the reports.

Washington Court records show Donald had a criminal record and had been accused last year of robbery and methamphetamine possession and had convictions for attempting to elude police and driving with a suspended license.

Donalds mother, Sue Zawacky, said her son had a learning disorder and fell through the cracks at schools in the Evergreen and Vancouver school districts. She said he also had a history of mental illness.

-- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie
Hosted by Yext's Christian Ward, Chief Data Officer, and Josh Grau, Chief Marketing Officer, The Next Wave will cover an array of topics on the growing influence of digital on legacy models  from the transformation of local businesses online to best practices when designing for audiences with disabilities.

In the first episode, Ward and Grau will introduce the series and discuss why website search hasn't evolved since 1999, how NLP and AI will shape the search industry, and more. Subsequent episodes will be released each week, featuring the following guests:

Seth Godin , bestselling author, Akimbo podcast host, and founder of the altMBA, on the next wave of marketing.

, bestselling author, Akimbo podcast host, and founder of the altMBA, on the next wave of marketing. April Underwood , Founder and CEO of Nearby and former Chief Product Officer of Slack, on the next wave of empowering local businesses.

, Founder and CEO of Nearby and former Chief Product Officer of Slack, on the next wave of empowering local businesses. MJ DePalma , Head of Global Multicultural & Inclusive Marketing at Microsoft, and Kelli Kemery , Senior Market Research Manager at Microsoft, on the next wave of accessible digital design.

, Head of Global Multicultural & Inclusive Marketing at Microsoft, and , Senior Market Research Manager at Microsoft, on the next wave of accessible digital design. Sarah Robb O'Hagan , CEO at EXOS and former President of Equinox and Gatorade, on the next wave of digital and connected fitness.

, CEO at EXOS and former President of Equinox and Gatorade, on the next wave of digital and connected fitness. Steve Kalifowitz , Chief Marketing Officer of Crypto.com, on the next wave of digital currency and assets, like NFTs.

"As a search company, we know that so many of the questions businesses are getting online are related to people trying to figure out the new normal in a post-pandemic world," said Josh Grau, Chief Marketing Officer at Yext and co-host of Yext Talks: The Next Wave. "While there are still many unknowns, the one thing we can count on is that even more of our time will be spent online. Our podcast aims to reveal what tech innovations are on the horizon to make our digital lives that much better  and what's already here."

Listeners can find The Next Wave podcast on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , and the Yext Talks page . Soon, they will also be able to listen on additional platforms like Google Podcasts and Stitcher.

Listen to the first episode of The Next Wave podcast here , and learn more about the Yext Talks content series here .

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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The Vegan Delight sandwich at Merri Cafe. Credit:Eddie Jim The plan had been for Ballard and his brother to live together, but then his brother and his fiance got pregnant during lockdown. They were going to get married but they did something else with the time instead, says Ballard. Now Ballard is sharing with his partner of a year. Hes a circus acrobat, he says. Evidently I look disbelieving at this, even before he tells me his partner is 22.

Hes real, ok? Hes very mature  and hes turning 23 soon. I promise you, other people have met him; hes a real human being. The spanakopita and grain salad. Credit:Eddie Jim The pair met at last years Adelaide Fringe festival, came back to Melbourne and then spent lockdown together. And fell in love because we had nothing else to do. But yeah, comedian and circus acrobat  a really solid income. Although Ballard says he spent lockdown watching Tiger King like everyone else, he also managed to start working on a book.

I did manage to get a book deal, but its been an absolute shitshow  which is entirely my own making, he says. The deadline was the end of December but its an evolving process! And its still on my list  the Comedy Festival sort of took over, but it has been a big focus. But its also really hard. And what is it about? Thats a great question. No, I have started it, really! Basically, in the madness of last year, it was me trying to write down why everything is so f---ed up, particularly for Millennials. Its me trying to be funny and informative about all the reasons everyones so angry, why this kind of neoliberal reality we live in is so shit, and trying to articulate that Boomer v Millennial thing and determine where were coming from. Ballard regularly uses his comedy to advocate on political issues and he says the book will look at issues through the prism of 2020 and COVID, which underscored how bad many things are. Like when Virgin collapsed and there was talk about nationalisation and that got dismissed immediately, the aged care, the privatisation of everything, the housing market continuing to boom, education, the way workers were f---ed over  each of these is a different chapter, he says. Im trying to chart that, my life and the political history of the past 40 years  within 80,000 words.

But funny? Tom Ballard is excited and a bit terrified to be back on stage. Credit:Eddie Jim I hope its funny! Theres lots of jokes because politicians are f---ed and theres a lot of very funny things that Australian politics comes up with. I guess Im trying to explain to someone my age, in a way they would understand. I use a lot of hashtag youth references! I think its something new, and a book I wish had existed five years ago  because Ive spent the past five years trying to figure out all this stuff myself. Ballard didnt go to uni  technically he did, but only for six weeks of a law degree  and says hes catching up, in a sense.

Ive since learnt that lots of people go to uni and they go through their radical student politics stage and learn all this shit then they leave uni and go, ah, thats all a bit silly  so I just hit at about 28. Ballard is a Millennial himself at 31, although hes managed quite a career already. Loading From being the youngest ever recipient of the Comedy Festivals Best Newcomer Award for his debut show in 2009, to Best Show at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards and even a Helpmann for Best Comedy Performer in 2016, by 2018 hed even managed to have a national TV program, the nightly satirical program Tonightly, axed. The day we have lunch the latest government scandal (you know the one), has just kicked off, and we are both agog that several politicians have retained their jobs in the circumstances.

And when I was doing Tonightly, you had this ... moralising from these people who thought the greatest crime in the world was a bunch of comedians saying the c-word, he says. You look at their personal behaviour, the workplace in which theyve cultivated this horrific culture plus all the policies and decisions they make which are far more consequential and important than anything we do and yet they dont clutch their pearls over that stuff. Such hypocrisy makes the politically motivated Ballard  who has recently joined The Greens (I joined last year, kind of a walk the walk thing. I talk a lot, I tweet a lot of stuff and I realised I should probably actually just do something)  genuinely angry. Much like his upcoming book, Ballard hopes his new show for this years festival, We Are All In This, is entertaining while also having something of an impact. The big question among comedians has been, do people want to hear about lockdown stuff for an hour  particularly if they see lots of different shows at the festival  or is it the last thing people want to think about? Ive taken a risk that they want to hear about the plague but also structural racism and climate change for an hour. Hes using a slideshow to look back on all the shit that happened last year, and while hes angry, its not, he says, as bleak as it might sound. Ill also be making fun of Gina Rinehart!

In 2016, Ballards show Boundless Plains to Share explored Australias refugee policies, and the new show is similar in tone. Receipt for lunch at Merri Cafe, CERES. There are moments when I am genuinely pissed off, but there are heaps of jokes, he says. If you get some really good jokes in a row, that buys you a little bit of licence to say this is what I really think. Every now and then, that might have a bit of impact  without being too worthy, which is always the line Im conscious of. The most satisfying comedy, he says, is making people laugh but also saying what he thinks, and making a decent satirical point. Thats the sweet spot, he says. Ideally if it doesnt cross that line of being boring or worthy  thats the dream.
POLITICAL analysts have once again warned that the opposition risks being annihilated by Zanu PF ahead of the 2023 polls, unless they change strategy and pursue national dialogue.

In addition, the analysts also told the Daily News yesterday that MDC Alliance leaders needed to ditch their student politics and stop dithering about whether to stick with the current name or come up with a completely new outfit.

This comes as the myriad troubles stalking the coalition on multiple fronts are escalating  including the threat of the pact losing its name to the main opposition MDC that is now led by Douglas Mwonzora.

It also comes as political tension is rising again in the country, amid fresh fears of violence after the recent conviction and Tuesdays subsequent jailing of MDC Alliance activist Makomborero Haruzivishe.

Amid all this, political analysts told the Daily News yesterday that Nelson Chamisa and his allies also needed to pursue national dialogue with more vigour, rather than attempt to take the government head-on.

Renowned Professor of World Politics at the University of Londons School of Oriental and African Studies, Stephen Chan, said Chamisa needed to reinvent both himself and his party and pursue dialogue to enhance his chances in the countrys fast-approaching next elections.

You cannot confront Zanu PF and at the same time confront the other MDC, complaining that you are the real MDC  a situation of circular futility arises.

He (Chamisa) needs to rebrand his party, ensure that there is national dialogue along the issue of reforms by engaging Zanu PF without necessarily being combative.

I hate to say this, especially as many people think I am overly critical of him but, in fact, I extend my admiration to him, for he has great courage.

However, it seems he uses exactly the same confrontational strategy that he used as a student leader, Chan told the Daily News.

Instead of being confrontational towards Zanu PF, he added, Chamisa needed to concentrate more on building his party in preparation for the 2023 elections.

Above all he needs to concentrate on fighting for by-elections for those seats lost by his followers and setting out alternative detailed policies, not just visions and sound-bites.

And, in doing so, be seen very publicly to be engaging with technocratic figures in the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and in the Chinese banks, portraying himself as a leader-in-waiting.

He must start re-assembling his people into a nationally-organised force to contest the next general elections, establishing a model of smooth party organisation and transparency that everyone can see as an example to all others, Chan further told the Daily News.

Respected University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer, Eldred Masunungure, weighed in saying it would be foolhardy for Chamisa to expect that Zanu PF would agree to any reforms, as some of his advisers were arguing, when he continued to dispute President Emmerson Mnangagwas legitimacy.

The MDC Alliance leader should search for a viable solution through non-combative means given the nature of the ruling party. Confrontational battles are its area of specialisation and one does not walk into a lions den and expect to come out unscathed.

There is a need for a serious paradigm shift in the oppositions approach because they cannot afford to be blind to the reality of a vicious response to confrontation by Zanu PF, Masunungure told the Daily News.

If he hopes for an all-inclusive dialogue, it is only possible if he (Chamisa) discards the strategy of confrontation and uses persuasion by dropping the legitimacy demand as a sign of goodwill.

He should put to the fore issues that affect the people  be they political, economic or social. That way, he stands a better chance of persuading Zanu PF to dialogue outside Polad, which is not really a good platform, Masunungure said further.

This would give him room to ensure that issues such as electoral reforms are on the table because, in any case, whether Mnangagwa is illegitimate or not, he has already served half of his term.

He must drop the legitimacy demands because Zanu PFs position is clearly rigid and the current approach is not yielding any dividends, he added.

Meanwhile, former Zanu PF youth leader, Godfrey Tsenengamu, has also exhorted the countrys political leaders to ditch politics of hate and unite for their own good and that of the nation.

We need to change the way we do our politics. We may differ, but there is a need to find a common ground and move forward.

I do not condone lawlessness, but politics of hate is not good. Let us open a new chapter so that we can end toxic politics.

Let us unite as Zimbabweans and solve our differences peacefully. Political problems can be solved politically without violence, Tsenengamu said.

Reacting to several arrests of opposition figures, Tsenengamu also called on Zanu PF supporters to condemn arbitrary arrests of activists  the same way they condemned the persecution of Mnangagwas supporters during the reign of the late former president Robert Mugabe.

During Mugabes time many people who are in the current Zanu PF were not happy with the move to arrest Mnangagwa and (vice president Constantino) Chiwenga, and now they are happy with the current arrests.

This is not good for the country. We must learn to sit down and solve our issues without attracting the attention of outsiders.

Its high time we end the politics of bitterness. Lets find ways to solve our issues together as Zimbabweans, Tsenengamu also said.This comes as political tension is rising again in the country, amid fresh fears of violence as a reeling MDC Alliance feels the pressure on new fronts, including the threat of the coalition losing its name.

On Tuesday, police had to be called in to disperse agitated alliance supporters in Harare, after Haruzivishe was sentenced to an effective 14 months in prison for inciting public violence.

The sentencing witnessed rowdy scenes involving MDC Alliance supporters who had thronged Harare Magistrates Court in solidarity with the youthful activist  leading to clashes that left one freelance photojournalist, Sam Takawira, injured after he was caught up in the melee as he was filming proceedings. Daily News
On Tuesday, a 12-year-old boy killed himself by jumping from the roof of an Upper East Side building in New York City.

Boy died after jumping in 15-story apartment building in New York

When the unidentified boy jumped from the 15-story apartment building at 1045 Park Avenue, he landed on a parked car. According to DailyMail, the NYPD rushed to the scene at 3:45 PM after receiving a 911 call.

While the NYPD investigates, no further information can be released. While no specifics have been released by the authorities, the alleged suicide occurs at a time when mental health experts have voiced concern about the impact of a year of lockdown with no school on children.

Officers discovered an unconscious and unresponsive boy atop a car with body injuries. According to the New York Post, the boy jumped on a parked vehicle, breaking the front windshield.

The officers said that EMS was sent to the scene and transferred the boy to Lenox Hill Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The cause of death will be determined by a medical examiner.

The victim's age has not been revealed by the NYPD while the case is still pending. The 12-year-old boy's death is eerily close to another death that occurred in Manhattan on October 19.

Boulder Massive Shooting Suspect: Probe Reveals He Has a Mental Condition, Family Issues

Almost same case happened in October 2020

Matthew Pierre, 13, was discovered shirtless on the ground about 6 AM outside an apartment building on West 43rd Street near Ninth Avenue in Hell's Kitchen after plunging 20 feet down a terrace to his death. Police were investigating Pierre's death as a suicide after discovering mysterious writing on the teen's device.

A GoFundMe page dedicated to Pierre's family raised over $35,000 in honor of a 'sweet and loving child.' 'Matthew was a source of pride and excitement for his parents Jeri and Edwin, as well as his older sister Nyla,' according to the fundraiser.

Capitol Police Officer Dies, Another Injured After a Suspect Rammed Vehicle Into Them at a Barricade

Mayor Bill de Blasio has previously voiced concern for children's mental wellbeing as a result of the pandemic, and has pushed to reopen schools with that in mind. According to NBC New York, de Blasio said in February, "The fact that these kids have been through this tragedy, the pain they've endured, many kids have lost, loved ones. In the absence of, you know, the daily routines of their lives, many kids feel very isolated.

The suicide rate amongst New York students is quickly doubling, said then-Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza at a town hall meeting. The NYC Department of Education said one out of every five children has a mental health issue.

Girl, 3, Dies After Falling Into a Septic Tank in New Jersey

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12500 N.E. Tenth Place  Bellevue, WA 98005  JPFO.org  800-869-1884  info@jpfo.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  April 8, 2021  Contact: Floyd Neeland

Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 8, 2021

JPFO's calls to "officials" to respond have gone unheeded. That's unacceptable.

Today, April 8, many of the people in the world will take a moment out of their busy lives to quietly reflect on how cruel we humans can be to each other, as we recall the Shoah, the WWII Holocaust, when Germany and its allies attempted to erase an entire religion and its followers from the face of the planet. They failed. They died more horrible deaths and destruction than they planned for their victims, while we thrive, bringing monumental bounty and prosperity to the world.

Genocide is a tool basically of governments, but also of societies and religions, that must never be sanctioned, endorsed, tolerated or endured with a blind eye as it is, even now, in dark corners of the world. Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists and other swaths of society, hated with intensity are the targets of the atrocity. The haters believe they are right, even approved, and proceed with glee.

Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, jpfo.org, understands there is no one you can reach out to when you are the target of organized slaughter and enslavement, which is why we endorse and teach individual responsibility and an armed public. History unequivocally shows that only a balance of power maintains freedom, and on this, Holocaust Remembrance Day, we ask again, could Germany have slaughtered six million Jews if they had all been armed and trained? We answer our own question: No! And we repeat our battle cry: Never Again!

#####
CBS has ousted two powerful TV station executives following allegations of racist and abusive behavior.

Peter Dunn, who served as president of the TV Stations group since 2009, and David Friend, the senior vice president of news for more than a decade, are no longer part of CBS, the company's chief executive, George Cheeks, said Wednesday in an email to staff.

The move comes two months after an investigation by the Los Angeles Times alleged that the pair cultivated an environment that included bullying female managers and blocking efforts to hire and retain Black journalists.

Dunn allegedly made racist comments about Ukee Washington, a beloved Black anchor at the CBS-owned television station in Philadelphia. In addition, staff members in Philadelphia and at the flagship station WCBS-TV in New York complained of inappropriate behavior and news coverage decisions that neglected communities of color. The men have previously denied any inappropriate conduct.

CBS suspended the two executives a day after The Times' report was published.

"We have determined that CBS Stations President Peter Dunn and SVP of News David Friend are not returning to their positions and will be leaving the Company," Cheeks said in the email. "Until we have new leadership in place, Bryon Rubin will continue to run the Stations group while Kim Godwin will continue her oversight of Stations' news operations. I will be sure to update you with information about permanent leadership for the group as soon as it is finalized."

With 2,800 employees, the CBS Television Stations group is an influential part of the broadcasting giant. It provides local news for millions of viewers who live in cities where CBS owns a TV station, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago and New York.

Cheeks also said the investigation into alleged wrongdoing at the TV stations group will continue.

So far, dozens of current and former executives have met with Keisha-Ann Gray of the Proskauer Rose law firm as part of that investigation. Several told The Times they have complained about the alleged abusive work environment inside the TV stations group.

"I want to be very clear that the external investigation under the direction of Keisha-Ann Gray at Proskauer Rose is not over and will continue," Cheeks said. "We appreciate those who have already provided information to the investigators. This entire process, while sometimes painful and emotional, is an important step forward in living up to our promise of a safe, inclusive, respectful and equitable workplace for all of us."
President Moon Jae-in / Yonhap



Voters' frustration and rage towards the Moon Jae-in administration's policy missteps, particularly blunders in trying to curb skyrocketing housing prices, were heard loud and clear in Wednesday's by-elections results in both Seoul and Busan.



And as the mayoral elections, especially in Seoul, which is home to nearly 10 million of the country's total 52 million population, are seen as harbingers of public opinion ahead of next year's presidential election, the result is expected to speed up the onset of lame duck status for President Moon in his final year in office.



For the time being, Cheong Wa Dae will undoubtedly reflect on its key policies. Moon is expected to face increased pressure to veer away from some key initiatives, including the signature policy drive to improve inter-Korean ties and pave the way for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.



The ruling Democratic Party (DP) is also expected to face calls for a complete overhaul of its policy direction and leadership.



Perhaps the most stinging aspect of the election result is the fact that voters in their 20s, 30s and event 40s  who have traditionally sided with the liberal bloc  have turned their backs on the DP, a number of earlier opinion polls showed.



Since last year, the DP, which won a controlling National Assembly majority in last year's landslide general election victory, has faced criticisms of being carried away by its control of parliament and seemingly abandoning its self-professed core values of anti-corruption, justice and fairness.






[April 08, 2021] Sungrow Strengthens Position as Kazakhstan's Number One Inverter Solution Provider with Another 100MW Added

BALKHASH, Kazakhstan, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungrow, the global leading inverter solution supplier for renewables, announced today that it will be supplying its inverters to Kazakhstan's 100MW Balkhash solar power project, further strengthening its position as Kazakhstan's number one inverters provider. The 100MW Balkhash project will be implemented by KAZ GREEN ENERGY LLC and built by local EPC TechnoGroupServices LLC in the Konyrat neighborhood of Balkhash city, Karaganda Region. The station will occupy an area of 140 hectares, deploy 525/530W bifacial modules, and be brought online in two phases. The 50MW phase one will be completed in October 2021 and the remaining 50MW will be completed in June 2022. "After thoroughly evaluating the site's conditions, we needed a solution that could not only handle the region's hot summers and cold snowy winters but one that also made the most sense from a CapEx standpoint. The SG6250HV-MV became an obvious choice for us with its resiliency, cost-effectiveness and high efficiency," said Kanat Abenov, Technical Director of TechnoGroupServices. "On top of all, I'd like to commend Sungrow on their willingness to work out all technical configurations and contract terms in order to meet our delivery terms in such short period of time," Kanat Abenov added.



Despite the country's fossil fuelbased economy with its surplus of energy for domestic consumption, the Government of Kazakhstan is still choosing to support renewable energy and capitalizing on its rich wind, solar and water resources. The government of Kazakhstan has made an official commitment to increase the share of renewable energy in domestic electricity generation from 3% at the end of 2020 to 6% by 2025, 10% by 2030, and 50% by 2050. Since 2020, the Karaganda regional government has been vigorously promoting the development of new energy projects and the region now has 4 operational solar power plants with a combined installed capacity of 200MW. The Balkhash project is of particular importance due to the fact that all materials for use during the construction process will be provided by local enterprises.

On cooperating with TechnoGroupServices for the first time, James Wu, Vice President of Sungrow, said, "We are extremely honored to work together with local partners in bringing such a landmark project online. Sungrow will be there to offer any technical expertise and services to ensure the success of the Balkhash project. Furthermore, as the leading provider of inverters in Kazakhstan, we will continue to support the leadership's strategic commitment towards more favorable renewables and look forward to forging new ventures." Once operational, the project is expected to generate 170 GWh of electricity a year, enough to meet the electricity demand of 100,000 households and offset 170,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. About Sungrow Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd ("Sungrow") is the world's most bankable inverter brand with over 154 GW installed worldwide as of December 2020. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters, with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions. With a strong 24-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power installations in over 150 countries. Learn more about Sungrow by visiting www.sungrowpower.com. SOURCE Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd

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BEDFORD, England, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Richardson International Limited is pleased to announce a significant investment in their Bedford, England oat mill to expand the facility and increase capacity by upwards of 35%. This latest investment will improve upon all operational aspects of the plant, from intake and warehousing capabilities to logistics and distribution. A full overhaul of the site footprint will result in greater operational efficiencies, modernization, and enhanced storage capacity.

When completed, the Bedford mill will boast a high-speed receiving system, providing a fast and effective means for inbound oats delivery. Extensive modernization of the plant will significantly increase storage capacity and ensure efficiencies in production and processing capabilities. In addition, the site will include a new expanded warehouse to allow for improved transportation and logistical functions. Construction will begin later this spring with no anticipated disruption to current operations and is expected to be completed in 2025.

These specifics and other features of the multi-phase project will allow the plant to rapidly meet an ever-growing demand for oats and oat-based products. "The global oats segment is thriving as shifting consumer behaviours drive market growth," said Benoit Soucy (Vice-President, Milling Operations, Richardson International). "A significant investment such as this will enable us to fulfill the incremental demand of our customers as we continue to efficiently meet current requirements and anticipate their evolving needs."

Now, more than ever, consumers worldwide look to quality plant-based products when making their purchasing decisions. Located in the heart of the country's key growing region, the Bedford mill occupies a geographic position integral to meeting the needs of these informed consumers, both domestically and abroad. "The growth demand for our oat products has consistently increased through the years and we are committed to taking the business to a higher level," said Carl Smith (Plant Director, Bedford).

"As a world class oat milling operation, we are incredibly excited by our new plans. Consumer interest in healthy oat products continues to grow and we see this as a great opportunity to supply existing and new customers with quality oat products," added David Jordan (Board Director, Richardson Milling U.K.). "The outlook is positive for all industry participants - from the farming community and our facility staff to our suppliers and valued customers."

About Richardson International

Richardson International Limited is Canada's largest agribusiness and is recognized as a global leader in agriculture and food processing. Richardson is a worldwide handler and merchandiser of all major Canadian-grown grains and oilseeds and a vertically-integrated processor and manufacturer of oats and canola-based products. Over the past two decades, Richardson has become a significant player in the global food business, producing a wide variety of food products and ingredients for the retail, food service, and industrial markets. One of Canada's Best Managed Companies, Richardson has over 2,900 employees across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.

Contact: Kelcey Vossen, Communications and Public Relations, kelcey.vossen@richardson.ca, P: +1 204 934 4118, M: +1 204 880 9384

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One of several laughable aspects of the Biden administrationliterally, God only knows how much poor decrepit Joe Biden has to do with itis the way in which it claims credit for the Trump administrations accomplishments. On Twitter, Omri Ceren illustrates the phenomenon while ridiculing the Washington Post:

Lol the Washington Post. pic.twitter.com/aJLWvoayvq  Omri Ceren (@omriceren) April 7, 2021



One of the dumbest of all the anti-Trump conventions was the without evidence trope. This was a single-use smear, analogous to an old-fashioned Derringer. The Democratic Party press fired it once, and we will never see it again. Certainly not while a Democrat is in the White House.

The concept was stupid, since politicians say things all the time for which they do not, at that moment, provide evidence. Over the last four years, it was even worse than that, since Democratic Party news outlets like the Washington Post ritually repeated the without evidence claim even though such evidence had been provided, often in copious detail, but not in the same sentence.

Will the Washington Post admit that President Trumps prediction about the availability of vaccines in April 2021 has come true? Heh. Just kidding. Nevertheless: from those of us who have some idea what is going on, thank you Donald Trump for Operation Warp Speed!
Hong Kong-based Coherent's digital platforms are helping insurers break away from legacy systems

LONDON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a video published on Business Reporter, John Brisco, CEO and Co-founder of the insurtech company, Coherent, explains why the insurance industry needs to transform itself and how it can achieve this. Covid-19 has accelerated the need for change amongst insurers, such as forcing face-to-face selling to go online. Additionally, changing consumer trends mean insurers face more individualistic demands from customers which mean that insurance products need to become more modular and capable of customisation.

To do this, insurers need to streamline their processes. These include:

Product development Customer acquisition and engagement Sales enablement Policy management

All processes benefit substantially from Coherent's innovative suite of platforms, which are powered by Spark - the company's core proprietary logic and rules engine.

Coherent's Spark-powered flagship platform, Coherent Product Factory, turns complex spreadsheets into deployable code within seconds, allowing insurers to push products out to market faster. With Coherent's platforms, marketers can engage with prospects, upsell or cross-sell to existing customers in a timely fashion using social media. Sales teams can also use Coherent's online sales platforms to walk customers through products, model scenarios and deliver instant quotes. Once sold, policies can be managed automatically with integrated communications to enable efficient policy notifications for renewals and claims.

The flexibility of Coherent's platforms mean that they can be deployed together or separately. They can also easily plug into existing insurer systems or third-party platforms through API.

To learn more about how Coherent helps insurers break away from legacy systems, watch the video.

About Business Reporter

Business Reporter is an award-winning supplement published in the Sunday and Daily Telegraph, City AM and online, delivering news and analysis on issues affecting businesses to a global audience. It also hosts conferences, debates, breakfast meetings and exclusive summits.

www.business-reporter.co.uk

About Coherent Group

Established in 2018, Coherent Group is a Hong Kong headquartered insurtech company that creates digital platforms that help insurers transform key stages in their business lifecycle including product development, sales, customer acquisition and engagement, and policy management. Coherent employs more than 150 team members across Hong Kong, USA, Japan, Singapore, India, Mainland China, Thailand and the Philippines who are passionate about helping the insurance industry evolve to its full potential. For more information please visit: www.coherent.global

Sources

https://business-reporter.co.uk/2021/03/25/helping-insurers-break-away-from-legacy-systems-with-future-ready-technology/
Military operations by the Central African Republic government troops and their allies remain key to regaining full control over the country, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission told Sputnik

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th April, 2021) Military operations by the Central African Republic government troops and their allies remain key to regaining full control over the country, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission told Sputnik.

"National defense and security forces and their allied foreign forces have been and remain instrumental to the extension of the car control over its territory," Mankeur Ndiaye said.

Tensions flared in the country ahead of a general election in December when a rebel coalition accused the president of vote fraud. Only one in three voters were able to cast their ballots, as most of the CAR was under militant control.

CAR forces have since driven rebels out of dozens of towns with the help of Russian instructors and Rwandan troops, allowing the war-torn nation to hold a more inclusive legislative poll in March.

"Alike MINUSCA, they contributed, in their respective areas of responsibility, to the creation of a more conducive environment for the holding of the second-round legislative elections with an increased participation rate," Ndiaye said.

The official, who also represents the UN boss in CAR, said that the mission was not allowed by the rules of engagement to cooperate directly with the Republic's international allies but reached out to Russia through the government in Bangui.

"The Government is our main interlocutor. However, MINUSCA maintains a framework for regular engagements and information exchange with the Government, which is extended to Russian Ambassador to avoid unnecessary confusion on the ground," he said.

Ndiaye insisted that the government needed to seek a comprehensive political dialogue with all forces on the ground to complement military gains and restore peace in CAR. He welcomed a presidential initiative toward this goal as a means of addressing root causes of the crisis.

"Military operations are necessary and key to establish the state full control over its wide territory, but it won't be self-sufficient alone to bring the stability that all central Africans are expecting," he said.

The UN refugee agency estimates that 742,000 people had been forced out of their homes as of late February, the highest number since 2014 and an increase of 19 percent since October. From mid-December to mid-March, 336,000 people were newly displaced because of election-related violence and 115,000 people fled to neighboring countries.
Black America Needs a New Normal: Equitable Credit Access to Build Wealth

Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed dual crises. Over 542,000 Americans lives were lost and continue to increase. At the same time, the rippling effects of a massive economic downturn has caused the nation to lose 9.5 million jobs  more losses than even those of the Great Recession, finds the University of New Hampshires Carsey School of Public Policy.

Although many officials have called for a return to normal, millions of small businesses and communities need something new instead. In Black America especially, the old normal never delivered equitable access to wealth-building opportunities as those that well-served served much of white America. Instead, a lengthy history of public policies designed to create and sustain a burgeoning middle class systemically excluded Blacks and other people of color.

Now, while federal lawmakers seek to understand how best to bring the nation out of health and financial crises, many advocates are calling for a new paradigm: intentional inclusion of all who have been shut out, knocked down and underserved. Recent testimony before Capitol Hill committees focused on different issues but led to the same conclusion: the time for change is now.

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For example, comments during a February confirmation hearing for Adewale Adeyemo, nominated by President Biden to become Deputy Treasury Secretary, the nominee said, Until we contain the pandemic, economic policy must remain focused on providing relief to those harmed by the public health crisis, especially those disproportionately impacted: low-income communities and communities of color. The pandemic has exacerbated inequality, strained families, and exposed disparities in opportunity throughout our country that existed long before COVID-19. Without additional relief, this hardship will become even more acute and will inflict long-lasting pain on countless Americans.

At press time, the Senate was set to act on the Adeyemo nomination. If confirmed, he would become the agencys point-person to implement the executive order requiring all federal offices to submit diversity and inclusion plans to the office of Management and Budget. In the interim, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, as reported by the New York Times, announced plans to invest $9 billion into Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions as they look to step up lending.

Concurrently, the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee has convened multiple hearings that featured expert witness testimony echoing the calls of Mr. Adeyemo.

On March 10 the full committee held a hearing entitled, Justice for All: Achieving Racial Equity Through Fair Access to Housing and Financial Services.

Rep. Maxine Waters, a California Congresswoman and committee chairs opening remarks set the tone of the forum.

Today we are here to discuss steps that this Committee can take to create justice and achieve racial equity through access to fair housing and financial services. And no matter where you areand who you arein America or around the world, institutional racism based on skin color creates barriers that impact social and economic outcomes, noted Ms. Waters.

Testifying on behalf of the Center for Responsible Lending, [crl-testimony-nikitra-bailey-hfsc-hearing-10mar2021.pdf%20(responsiblelending.org)]Nikitra Bailey, Executive Vice President recounted the legacy of federal housing policies whose sum created todays financial inequities.

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A 1933 federal housing program, the Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC), supported redlining through its underwriting guidelines. As a result, Black and other communities of color, were denied access to mainstream financing. During the first 35 years of this program, only 2% of FHA insured mortgage loans went to Black and other homebuyers of color.

Similarly, the 1944 GI Bill, continued the same systemic discrimination. In Mississippi, for example, the 3,329 VA -approved mortgages included two Black servicemembers.

Fast forward to more recent times, by the early 2000s, half of all mortgages made to Black and Latino families during the run-up to the foreclosure crisis were unsustainable subprime loans  despite these consumers having credit records that qualified for cheaper, safer and more responsible loans.

Because of these lending practices, testified Bailey, Black and Latino families lost over $1 trillion dollars in wealth during the crisis. Moreover, Black homeownership has been the slowest to recover from the Great Recession. In fact, there would be 770,000 more Black homeowners if the homeownership rate recovered to its pre-crisis level in 2000 The racial wealth gap contributes to the fact that in the 46 largest housing markets in the country, a median income Black household could only afford 25 percent of homes on the market last year in comparison to the 57 percent that a median income white household could afford.32 It will require focused and bold action to reverse these inequities.

The following day, a subcommittee of House Financial Services convened yet another hearing. Entitled, Slipping through the Cracks: Policy Options to Help Americas Consumers during the Pandemic the session spanned access to affordable credit or small business capital, debt collection, and stained credit all became inevitable and further complicated the financial disadvantages faced by communities of color.

Without a safety net or a cushion to fall back on, people of color are far less able to weather financial calamities, testified Carla Sanchez Adams, Managing Attorney with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Inc. With fewer assets to draw on, people of color find are more prone to poverty traps.

Debt collection activities increased in 2020, continued Sanchez Adams, as did profits for debt collectors. Auto repossessions were prevalent, and consumers were left at the mercy of their lenders. Consumers would benefit if all debt activity ceased during the pandemic. The problems with our credit reporting system continued and revealed the need for reform around what consumer information is reported and how it is reported during a pandemic.Consumers would benefit from a moratorium on the negative reporting of unpaid debt during the pandemic. Scams and fraud also surged.

Speaking on behalf of minority lenders and small businesses, Robert James II, president of Carver Development CDE and chair of the National Bankers Association, emphasized the importance of minority-owned small businesses, the lack of convenient access to mainstream banking as well as the dwindling number of minority depository institutions as issues demanding attention and correction.

Minority-owned small businesses are the lifeblood of their communities, testified James II. The pre-pandemic 1.1 million minority-owned small businesses employed more than 8.7 million workers and annually generated more than $1 trillion in economic output. Women own nearly 300,000 of them, employing 2.4 million workers. Despite their significance, these businesses face underlying challenges that make them vulnerable during normal times.

Black-owned businesses, overall, also tend to start out with far less capital, whether from investments or bank loans, than white-owned businesses do, continued James II. And only 1 percent of black business owners get a bank loan in their first year of business, compared with 7 percent of white business owners. The COVID-19 crisis has compounded this issue: 42 percent of minority-owned small businesses responding to McKinseys US Small Business Pulse Survey reported that obtaining credit was becoming increasingly difficult, compared with 29 percent of all respondents.

But credit terms and a pronounced shortage of accessible credit, according to James II, are equally lending conditions that must become more inclusive.

Limited access to credit is a compounding factor that hurts the underlying health of minority-owned small businesses, said James II. Research has found that black small-business owners were significantly more likely to be asked to provide more information about their personal financialsincluding personal financial statements and personal W-2 formswhen applying for small-business loans than white small-business owners were, even when controlling for credit score and business characteristics.

At the same time, as noted by James II, from 2009 to the second quarter of 2018, nationally, the number of Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) dropped from 215 to 155. MDIs are also much smaller in assets than the average non-MDI bank.

Black and Hispanic MDIs have average assets of $245 million and $2.7 billion, respectively, said James II, compared to an average of $3.1 billion for all US banks.

Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, US household debt was on the rise, reaching over $14 trillion, testified [crl-testimony-ashley-harrington-hfsc-hearing-11mar2021.pdf%20(responsiblelending.org)]Ashley Harrington, CRLs Federal Advocacy Director. While much of this debt stems from mortgages, a growing amount stems from non-mortgage consumer debt, including student loans, credit cards, installment loans, and auto loans. As people continue to lose jobs and have hours cut, and as deferred rental payments and other debts come due, we can expect to see an uptick in delinquencies and defaults on these non-mortgage debts.

Harrington offered a key recommendation to federal lawmakers that could begin to allow consumers to have more control over their own financial management.

Allowing every adult to save and hold onto at least $1000 per week in wages, and $12,000 per bank account, urged Harrington, will help families avoid eviction and afford essential costs like medicine and food. While family savings cannot replace the social safety net, it is critical that families be able to provide for themselves at a minimum, basic level. These protections are more urgent than ever: recent research has established that 8 million more families have fallen into poverty since May 2020.

Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at [email protected].
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with several dozens of members of the Armenian Lawyers Association in Moscow, as reported the Government of Armenia.

Pashinyan touched upon the results of his talks with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and stated that they discussed all the issues and subtleties of the agenda during the three-and-a-half-hour meeting. Pashinyan added that, in general, he is very content with the results of the meeting and that they touched upon all the issues, including global and regional issues.

The meeting was fruitful. We didnt sign a document, but we talked about a number of documents, including documents on security and further implementation of previously signed documents. There is an agreement on the Armenian-Russian joint contingent and an agreement over the general system of air defense in the region, he said, adding that the reforms in the Armenian army are being made with the support of Armenias partners in the Russian Federation and that this was one of the major issues discussed during the meeting.

Of course, we also talked about the return of Armenian prisoners of war and the agenda of regional communication links. I consider the discussion very fruitful. The agenda is so broad that I might miss something, but one thing is clear  the nature of Armenian-Russian relations is strategic, and it is necessary to further deepen the strategic cooperation, taking into consideration the current challenges and the current situation at the same time, Pashinyan said.

In response to a question about the return of captives, Pashinyan underscored the need for full implementation of point 8 stated in the trilateral statement signed on November 9, 2020 according to which prisoners of war, hostages and other persons being kept and the bodies of deceased are being exchanged. The head of government stressed that he and President Vladimir Putin fully understand the ensuring of return of captives and that both of them have agreed to work more intensively with respect to the return of the captives.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister answered several questions from the participants of the meeting that concerned the war unleashed against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), the situation created after the war, the assistance that the Government of Armenia is providing to the Armenians of Artsakh affected by the war, the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the situation in the region, the domestic political situation in Armenia, the upcoming parliamentary elections, the opportunities for full use of the potential of the Armenian Diaspora in the context of laying the institutional foundations for that, etc.
ORLANDO, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / Tompkins Robotics is pleased to announce its partnership with SI Systems, a global provider of the fastest and most proven picking dispensing systems for order fulfillment and kitting. The partnership was formed to create faster, space optimized "no pick labor required" solutions designed to outperform even the best in the emerging uni-channel fulfillment ecosystem.

Tompkins Robotics' cutting-edge robots combined with SI Systems' broadest portfolio of Robotic A-Frame dispensing technologies create optimized order flow. These sortation solutions can be up and running in weeks and can be reconfigured throughout a shift. The short implementation cycle time is a credit to the engineered flexibility of the Robotic A-Frame and tSort. The systems are shipped ready to pick up to 36,000 units/hour with the ability to efficiently sort to 1,000's of destinations. This partnership promises clients a fast return on Investment and is a cost-effective means to reduce labor, improve accuracy, and extended order cut-off times. Retailers and brands will also appreciate the combined solutions' compact footprint. These units can even be utilized in the backrooms of stores and easily moved into position for short fulfillment runs.

"Combining tSort with SI robotic dispensing technology provides significant reductions in investment and operating costs for both brands and retailers in their own facility via Tompkins Robotics. A demo system is currently installed in the Tompkins Robotics headquarters in Orlando, Florida for interested parties to visit,' stated Mike Futch, President & CEO of Tompkins Robotics.

"Tompkins Robotics is pleased to be a part of this unique and truly innovative integration of cutting-edge robotics solutions," added Mike. "This is an exciting time as robotic solutions become a reality in order fulfillment facilities."

"We are very excited to partner with Tompkins on this exciting endeavor," said Sham Gad, President and CEO of SI Systems. "The combination of SI's robotic dispensing technology along with the technology of Tompkins Robotics tSort system will undoubtedly provide a flexible and affordable robotic fulfillment solutions in support of operations large and small. The automated supply chain is no longer an option, but a necessity to support today's same day and next day customer service level demands. The SI Systems and Tompkins solution creates a compelling, cost-cutting, best in the industry material handling system."

Tompkins Robotics will be presenting at the virtual PromatDX 2021 April 12-16. Register today for free and come see how Tompkins Robotics and SI Systems can help your company reach your goals! Once registered, you can visit the Tompkins Robotics PromatDX showcase page here.

About Tompkins Robotics: Tompkins Robotics is a leading provider of autonomous mobile robot (AMR) solutions to global customers. The company has developed and deployed the world's most flexible, automated robotic sortation system, tSort, a revolutionary unit and parcel sortation system. tSort uses technology that is unique and proprietary for our large customer base which includes 9 of the top 30 US retailers. This new and innovative robotic technology helps build world-class supply chains while providing unmatched flexibility and throughput. Our systems accomplish volumes ranging from small operations in the backroom of retail store to large fulfillment centers processing millions of units a day. For more information, please visit www.tompkinsrobotics.com or contact us at info@tompkinsrobotics.com

About SI Systems:

SI Systems has been an industry leader in providing automated and robotic material handling solutions to order fulfillment and distribution centers, warehousing, manufacturing, and assembly facilities for over 60 years. Our products and services include Systems Robotic Dispensing, Mobile-Matic dispensing and picking units, A-Frames, the industry's longest-serving and most robust Towline Conveyor Systems, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and a full suite of software, engineering, and integration services. We have served numerous industry sectors across the globe including pharmaceuticals, auto, heavy-duty machinery, food products, beauty and more. Our systems are designed to easily integrate with many existing fulfillment systems. For more information, please visit www.sihs.com or contact us at contact@sihs.com

SOURCE: SI Systems

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639475/Tompkins-Robotics-Partners-with-SI-Systems-to-Create-the-Fastest-Most-Flexible-Robotic-Order-Fulfillment-Automation-Solution
Pennsylvania 'church' founder sentenced to 12 years in prison for labor trafficking, fraud

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A Pennsylvania woman who founded her own ministry and appointed herself a bishop has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for forced labor of church members and defrauding hotels.

Tracie Dickey, a 57-year-old woman who's also known by the name Tracie Williams, was a bishop of Deliverance Tabernacle Ministries, which had branches in Pennsylvania, Florida and North Carolina.

United States District Judge Sara L. Ellis of the Northern District of Illinois imposed the 12-year sentence Monday on Dickey, who had been found guilty by a jury in 2019.

According to a Department of Justice press release, Dickey ran a hotel scheme in which she forced church members to work at various hotels, bringing in more than $66,000 in fraudulent proceeds while also collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars earned by ministry members.

Dickey emotionally and physically abused the members and coerced them into following her rules, stated the DOJ. Several of Dickeys victims testified at trial about their ordeals.

Dickeys tactics included starving and humiliating church members, forcing some of them into homelessness, and threatening that God would harm their families if they did not comply with Dickeys rules.

In February 2019, a federal jury found Dickey guilty of wire fraud and forced labor, due to her hotel scheme and the mistreatment of ministry members.

Judge Ellis rejected a motion to dismiss by Dickey at the time, explaining that the ministry leader was late in filing her motion and, even if timely, it would still lack merit.

This included a claim by Dickey that her treatment of the ministry members was protected by the First Amendment and the ministerial exemption from federal law.

Dickey contends that the First Amendment precludes the Government from prosecuting Dickey for this crime because her conduct was religiously motivated or protected. Dickey cites no other authority to support this argument, nor does she explain why the ministerial exception would apply to criminal law. Dickey's argument on this issue is undeveloped, and as such the Court will not consider it, concluded Ellis in 2019.

From the jury decision to the recent sentencing, Dickey continued to promote her ministry efforts, including a press release in May 2020 in which she was identified as an Apostle, Prophetess, Evangelist, Author, and Educator, as well as a God-appointed Bishop with a divine calling to spread His gospel throughout the nation and the world.

Like Jesus Christ himself, Bishop Tracie Williams Dickey of Pittsburgh has a great heart for the people of God, stated the press release. From her seat in Pittsburgh and numerous guest spots the world over, she delivers her prophesy and life-changing messages of hope, empowerment, and deliverance.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- FAW Group, Mazda and Changan Automobile are in talks with the attempt to make the business of FAW Mazda Motor Sales Co. Ltd. (FMSC) merge with that of Changan Mazda, according to a local media outlet.

Mazda CX-4; photo credit: FAW-Mazda

Aside from the combination on the level of dealership, the production of vehicle models like the Atenza will be taken over by Changan Mazda as well, and the restructuring is expected to be finished before June 2021, said the media channel, citing sources briefed on the matter.

After being reached for comment, FMSC said it has not received any relevant information yet, while Changan Mazda said it has still been unaware of this matter.

The collaboration between FAW Group and Mazda can date back to 2003, while both parties only built a joint venture dedicated to sales business in 2005, rather than founding a joint venture working on both sales and production. Up until now, FAW Besturn has served as the contract manufacturer of the vehicles sold by FMSC after being authorized by Mazda.

If the information was formally confirmed by all parties later, the Japanese automaker's China business will be fully operated by Changan Mazda in the future.

Mazda's annual deliveries in China for the first time surpassed 300,000 units in 2017, while afterwards went downward year by year. In 2020, the automaker's China deliveries reached 214,575 units, sliding 5.8% from the year-ago period, while plunging 30.7% compared to 2017. Changan Mazda logged a year-on-year growth of 0.2% by delivering 77,907 vehicles last year, while FAW-Mazda faced a decline of 14.8%, which directly led to the drop in overall Mazda China sales.


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More than 5,000 people gathered last weekend in the Tonto National Forest northeast of Phoenix for an illegal party that was broken up by US Forest Service personnel, according to authorities.

The Tonto National Forest requires a permit application to be submitted and approved for all gatherings of over 75 people.

Officers patrolling in the Sycamore Creek area Saturday night came across the unauthorized gathering.

Images showed what appeared to be a band performing on a stage area in front of the massive crowd. Many people were seen without wearing masks while waving glow sticks.

Scroll down for video

More than 5,000 people gathered last weekend in the Tonto National Forest northeast of Phoenix for an illegal party that was broken up by US Forest Service personnel, according to authorities

People were seen dancing in front of what appears to be a band during the illegal activity

Officers patrolling in the Sycamore Creek area Saturday night came across the unauthorized gathering (pictured)

Many people were seen without masks while holding up glow sticks during the gathering

According to a Facebook from the US Forest Service, the incident put ' the public, Forest Service personnel and first responders at risk'

Partygoers are seen in front of what appears to be a stage area as a band plays during the illegal event

According to a Facebook from the US Forest Service, the incident put 'the public, Forest Service personnel and first responders at risk'.

Scott Garlid with the Arizona Wildlife Federation told KPHO that 'off-roading is something that we support as an organization. It's something that a lot of Arizonans enjoy'.

'But when you get that many people in one place, you're doing it to the detriment of other people who want to enjoy it and of course the wildlife itself.'

Officials said campers and partiers restricted access by taping off sections of the main road to designate the party area and vehicles were parked all along the main roads.

Authorities said violations included DUI, double riding, speeding, reckless vehicle operation, staging camps in illegal areas, blocking roadways, illegal use of fireworks and target shooting.

By the end of the night, there had been seven vehicle accidents reported and multiple reports of stolen off-highway vehicles.

Officials said campers and partiers restricted access by taping off sections of the main road to designate the party area and vehicles were parked all along the main roads

A performer is seen playing a guitar during a performance at the illegal gathering

Authorities said violations included DUI, double riding, speeding, reckless vehicle operation, staging camps in illegal areas, blocking roadways, illegal use of fireworks and target shooting

Revelers flouted COVID-19 guidance and went without wearing masks during the massive event

People were seen dancing while waving glow sticks during the illegal gathering on Saturday

Deputies from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office responded to the event but no arrests were made

Authorities said one person was airlifted to a hospital after getting injured when two quads collided. A vehicle is seen turned onto its side following the incident

Authorities said one person was airlifted to a hospital after getting injured when two quads collided.

Deputies from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office responded to the event but no arrests were made.

Susan Blake with the Tonto National Forest told KPHO that the incident was likely the largest unauthorized gathering they've ever had in the forest.

The 2.9-acre Tonto National Forest is the seventh-largest national forest in the United States.

Arizona Gov Doug Ducey never issued a statewide mask mandate, but state officials 'encouraged personal responsibility', which prompted many cities and towns to implement their own mask requirements.

In a new executive order, Ducey said all city and town mandates 'will be phased out'.

On Wednesday, Arizona added 750 cases and 27 deaths. The state's health department encouraged residents 'wear a mask, physically distance, wash your hands frequently, stay home when you are sick, and get vaccinated'.

More than 2.3 million have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Arizona with 1.4 million having received both doses.
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The 1,590 miles that make up El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro is full of rich history from Mexico Cityd to Ohkay Owingeh.

Bernalillo County has partnered with city and state entities to present El Camino Real Trade Fair.

The month-long event begins on Friday, April 9  virtually.

The event is back after being canceled last year, said Catherine R. Lopez at the Office of Community Engagement and Outreach for Bernalillo County. Were so excited to bring it back in 2021. Of course, wed love to have it with an in-person audience, but having it virtual changes your audience and changes your reach mostly in good ways.

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Beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday, there will be virtual events such as Camino Cooking, which will showcase Pueblo-style cherry pies with Brenda Tafoya.

There will also be a presentation by Marlon Magdalena of Jemez Pueblo about the journeys of the Jemez people.

And a junior ranger activity presented by the National Park Service.

Weve worked with our partners in order to provide a well-rounded group of events each weekend, Lopez said.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 10, Joseph P. Sanchez, will give a lectures on El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro y La Ruta de Onate.

Blacksmith Dave Sabo will give a demonstration of his craft.

The event will finish off with Teresa Salomon Salazar as she gives a lecture called The Kitche as a Meeting of Two Worlds.

Lopez said the event videos will be premiered on the El Camino Real Trade Fair Facebook page  facebook.com/elcaminorealtradefair  at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and 9 a.m. on Saturdays.

Once the videos have premiered on Facebook, the videos will also appear on an interactive digital story map. The El Camino Real Trade Fair Story Map produced by Bernalillo County is a standalone website  storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/af8dfebdfd3a41669750da8601ac267c  that combines geographic information system (GIS) mapping with digital multimedia to add spatial context to storytelling.

Lopez said by having the event virtually, visitors will be able to see the events when they have time.

A lot of people dont realize how important this trail is, Lopez said. Its right in our back yard. Isleta Boulevard is part of El Camino Real and it runs all the way up through Santa Fe. The events will be available on YouTube and Facebook for visitors to watch at their leisure, so it takes the pressure off of actually watching it in real time.

Additional learning

To supplement the virtual offerings, partners have put together El Camilo Trade Fair grab and go activity packets. The activity packets can be picked up in person at one of three sites along the Camino. The packets are available on a first come, first serve basis and while supplies last. One packet per family, please.

The packets include:

 Camino Real Junior Ranger activity sheet

 Cookie Excavation activity

 What do Archaeologists Find? activity

 Tools of an Archaeologist activity

 The Traditional Dichos Sayings of New Mexico activity

 Camino Real Paraje puzzle activity

 Community Voices Storytelling coloring pages and activities

 Make Your Own Papel Picado kit including paper, scissors, string, and instructions

 Stickers, temporary tattoos, pencils, and more

Also included are brochures and information for families to plan their own adventure along the Camino, provided by the National Park Service, New Mexico Historic Sites and Bernalillo County Open Space.

Many of the activity sheets will also available for download on the Camino Real Trade Fair story map. The Grab and Go Activity Packets are available at the following locations. We recommend calling ahead to confirm supply.

 Bernalillo Town Hall, 829 Camino del Pueblo, Bernalillo, NM 87004

Community members can pick up the grab and go packets between 8 a.m. and noon Monday through Friday at the front desk in the lobby. (505) 771-5885

 West Side Community Center, 1250 Isleta Blvd. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105

Packets are available during grab and go lunch pickup hours, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please request an activity packet from staff at the meal pickup area. (505) 314-0176

 Coronado Historic Site, 485 Kuaua Road, Bernalillo, NM 87004 Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note that the facility is closed Monday through Wednesday. (505) 867-5351
Hooghly: Campaigning for BJP for the ongoing assembly elections in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday (April 8) said that if his party comes to power, it will create anti-Romeo squads in the state.

Addressing a public meeting in Hoogly, Adityanath said that the BJP would put TMCs Romeos behind bars.

To safeguard the interests of sisters and daughters, BJP will create Uttar Pradesh-like anti-Romeo squads in Bengal and put all TMC Romeos behind bars, Adityanath was quoted as saying by ANI.

Exuding confidence in his partys win in the polls, Adityanath said that on May 2, the day the votes are counted, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee would start saying Jai Shree Ram.

He also accused TMC of instigating violence during the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in the state.

During CAA protests, TMC people were supporting those who were instigating violence. In UP, we put up hoardings of rioters and confiscated their properties. Mamata Didi can`t do this as she sees them as TMC vote bank, he said.

Mamata Banerjee has time and again accused the BJP of bringing goons from outside the state to create disturbance in the state.

She said that pan-chewing, saffron-clad goons from Uttar Pradesh were brought in to destroy the state's culture.

The first three phases of the eight-phased West Bengal polls have already taken place. The fourth phase of the elections will be held on April 10. Counting of the votes will take place on May 2.

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Olivier Binyingo, Ivanhoe Mines' Vice President Public Affairs DRC, also appointed to Kamoa Copper's Board

Louis Watum appointed General Manager of the Kipushi zinc-copper-silver project; also serves as President of the Chamber of Mines at the Federation of Enterprises of Congo

Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) Co-Chairs Robert Friedland and Yufeng "Miles" Sun are pleased to announce that Kamoa Copper SA has appointed Ben Munanga as Chairman of its Board of Directors. Kamoa Copper is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) operating company of the joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining Group, Crystal River and the Government of the DRC that is developing the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine.

Mr. Munanga has been the General Manager of Ivanhoe Mines Energy DRC (IVEN) - a sister company of Kamoa Copper that is responsible for delivering reliable, clean, renewable hydropower to the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine - since August 2015.

About Ben Munanga





Ben Munanga

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Mr. Munanga has served as the General Manager of Ivanhoe Mines Energy DRC (IVEN) since August 2015.

Prior to joining IVEN, Mr. Munanga was the Head of Power, Infrastructure & Bulk Services with Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) since 2009.

Mr. Munanga is an electrical engineer. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Mons, Belgium. He currently is Chairman of the Energy Commission of the Chamber of Mines. Before joining the mining industry in 2006, he held various senior positions in Eskom, South Africa for 11 years.

In a concurrent move, Olivier Binyingo, Ivanhoe Mines' Vice President Public Affairs DRC, was appointed to the Board of Directors of Kamoa Copper to further enhance Kamoa Copper's collaboration with government partners and local communities.

Mr. Munanga replaces Louis Watum as Chairman of Kamoa Copper's Board of Directors. Mr. Watum has been appointed General Manager of Ivanhoe's Kipushi zinc-copper-silver project, a joint-venture with the DRC state-owned mining company La Generale des Carrieres et des Mines (Gecamines). Mr. Watum also serves as President of the Chamber of Mines at the Federation of Enterprises of Congo (FEC).

"We would also like to acknowledge Ben for his excellent work in upgrading the Mwadingusha hydropower plant; a private-public partnership with the DRC's state-owned power company La Societe Nationale d'Electricite (SNEL) that is providing clean hydro-generated electricity to the national grid for Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 1 and Phase 2 production, as well as local communities," Mr. Friedland said. "During his six-year tenure at Ivanhoe Mines Energy DRC, Ben has become a trusted leader. His knowledge of our businesses and proven ability to partner across the industry make him ideal to advance our efforts at Kamoa Copper."

"We are thrilled to have Ben and Olivier join Kamoa Copper's board of directors as we pursue our goal of building an enduring, responsible, multinational mining company. Both Ben and Olivier are passionate advocates of the DRC mining industry, and we believe they will provide valuable perspectives as Kamoa Copper continues its journey to becoming the world's greenest, major copper producer," Mr. Friedland continued.

"We're immensely proud of Kamoa Copper's outstanding commitment to social and environmental responsibility, as well as its significant investments in the development of policies and programs for workplace safety, diversity, community development, and education. We expect that this commitment will continue to strengthen under Ben's leadership," Mr. Friedland added.

"Mr. Watum's appointment as head of the Kipushi Project is evidence of Ivanhoe's intention of developing the mine in a timely fashion with the cooperation of our government partners and our host communities," said Mr. Friedland.

About Olivier Binyingo





Olivier Binyingo

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Olivier Binyingo, Ivanhoe Mines' Vice President Public Affairs DRC, also was appointed to the Board of Directors of Kamoa Copper. Mr. Binyingo joined Ivanhoe Mines in November 2020 with a focus on enhancing relationships with the DRC's public sector stakeholders of both the Kamoa-Kakula and Kipushi projects.

Olivier holds a Master of Laws from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) and a Master in Security and Defence from the Universite Grenoble Alpes (France).

Before joining Ivanhoe Mines, Mr. Binyingo held senior positions in a number of professional services firms, advising clients on their projects and operations on the African continent. Legal directory Chambers Global has consistently recognized Olivier as an expert on the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition, he was ranked as one of the most influential lawyers in Francophone Africa in 2019 by Jeune Afrique.

About Louis Watum





Louis Watum

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Louis Watum joined Ivanhoe Mines in December 2014 as Managing Director of the company's operations in the DRC. In March 2015, he was appointed to the additional role of General Manager, Kamoa Copper SA.

Prior to joining Ivanhoe Mines, between 2010 and 2014, he successfully led the development and commissioning of Randgold's Kibali Project (Randgold's interest in Kibali subsequently sold to Barrick Gold), which followed his work on the launch of Moto Gold Mines' Moto Project from 2006 to 2009. He was the Operations Manager at the Yatela Gold Mine in Mali from 2001 to 2005.

Kamoa Copper Board of Directors

Mr. Binyingo joins Marna Cloete, Ivanhoe's President and CFO, as Ivanhoe's appointees on the Kamoa Copper board. Zijin Mining, Ivanhoe's equal partner, also has two appointees on the board Abraham Li and Chen Yong and the Government of the DRC has one appointee Bernadette Mpundu Mpia. Mark Farren, Kamoa Copper's Chief Executive Office, and Ben Munanga are the two appointees from Kamoa Copper's management team.

The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine is a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines (39.6%), Zijin Mining Group (39.6%), Crystal River Global Limited (0.8%) and the DRC government (20%). Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining are co-funding development of the project. Initial copper concentrate production from the Kakula Mine, the first of multiple mines planned on the 400-square-kilometre Kamoa-Kakula mining licence, is scheduled to begin this July.

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal joint-venture projects in Southern Africa: the development of major new, mechanized, underground mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper discoveries in the DRC and at the Platreef palladium-platinum-nickel-copper-rhodium-gold discovery in South Africa; and the extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC.

Kamoa-Kakula is expected to begin producing copper in July 2021 and, through phased expansions, is positioned to become one of the world's largest copper producers. Kamoa-Kakula and Kipushi will be powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity and will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of metal produced. Ivanhoe also is exploring for new copper discoveries on its wholly-owned Western Foreland exploration licences in the DRC, near the Kamoa-Kakula Project.

Information contacts

Investors: Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834 / Media: Matthew Keevil +1.604.558.1034

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79770
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Witness testimony continued yesterday in the trial of Derek Chauvin. The former Minneapolis police officer is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd in May 2020.

Los Angeles Police Sergeant Jody Stiger, a use-of-force expert, testified in court that Mr. Chauvin used deadly force when he knelt on Mr. Floyds neck for a restraint period of nine minutes and twenty-nine seconds. He also stated that no force should have been used by Mr. Chauvin once Mr. Floyd was handcuffed and lying on his stomach on the ground.

Many of us will never forget the horrendous video of Mr. Floyds arrest and the news of his tragic death. The trial now underway is dominating global headlines, as it should. Bloomberg expects at least 22 other trials of international significance to occur this year as well.

Meanwhile, another kind of trial is occurring every day all around the world, one that most do not recognize for the eternal significance it possesses. Every day, Christians are on trial for their faith. Every day, skeptics attack our beliefs and seek to undermine the Christian movement. As we have seen this week, such attacks are growing in frequency and severity.

However, there is another way to view this trend: it is actually Jesus who is on trial. Satan is the prosecuting attorney; the Holy Spirit is the defense attorney. The nonbeliever is the jury. You and I are simply witnesses called to the stand by the defense attorney so we can tell the jury what we have experienced and know to be true.

'Asking a person to leave their mind at home'

So far this week, we have discussed three steps in sharing our witness effectively:

Seek the leading and courageous strength of the Lord, knowing that the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say (Luke 12:12).

Present your witness in conversation. Tim Keller is right: All evangelism requires immersion into the various cultures greatest hopes, fears, views, and objections to Christianity.

Show what is wrong with the prosecutions case, the apagogic task that prepares the way for biblical truth.

The fourth step is to defend the truth of Gods word.

In Acts 17, Paul announced that God made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth (v. 26). Then he quoted the Greek poet Epimenides of Crete, who wrote, In him we live and move and have our being (v. 28a). The apostle followed this with a citation from the Stoic poet Aratus, For we are indeed his offspring (v. 28b). By citing authorities his audience accepted, he used evidence from their culture to defend the reasonableness and relevance of biblical truth.

You dont need a seminary degree to be used by God to do the same with those you influence.

It is important to know and be able to defend the essential truths of the Christian faith. (For more, see my articles on the authority of Scripture, belief in God, the virgin birth, the existence and divinity of Jesus, and miracles.) It is also good to be familiar with vital issues we are facing such as the Equality Act and rising animosity against Christianity. (For more on the Equality Act, please see my recent conversation with Greg Baylor of the Alliance Defending Freedom.)

But know that the Holy Spirit will lead you to those he has prepared for your message and will use your life, influence, and words to help them trust in your Lord.

The first key is to be available: In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15). The second key is to resist the temptation to keep your faith personal and private: It is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be Gods will, than for doing evil (v. 17).

In Living in Truth: Confident Conversations in a Conflicted Culture, apologist Mary Jo Sharp writes: Christians currently face much cultural pressure to leave their religion at home. However, the request is irrational. Christianity is a worldview; so are atheism, Buddhism, Islam, etc. No way exists for people to leave their worldview behind when they go somewhere. The idea is akin to asking a person to leave their mind at home.

'The first bishop of the church in Athens'

Seek Gods strength and help in standing for Jesus; present biblical truth; show others why they need what God offers; defend your faith with courage and clarity. Last, trust the results to the Lord.

After Pauls apologetic presentation in Athens, we read that some mocked while others said, We will hear you again about this (Acts 17:32). However, some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them (v. 34).

Damaris was apparently so well-known in the day that Luke could identify her merely by her name. Others were unknown to him but known to our Savior. And early historian Eusebius states that Dionysius became the first bishop of the church in Athens (Ecclesiastical History 3.4), the intellectual center of the Greco-Roman world.

Jesus told us that some seed we sow will fall on pathways and be devoured by the birds; others will fall on shallow soil and produce no roots; others will fall among thorns that will choke them; but others will fall on good soil and produce grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matthew 13:39).

Our job is to testify as the Spirit leads us, then trust the results to the Lord. Sometimes we will be the first witness in the courtroom to testify, never hearing how the jury decides. Sometimes we will be the last witness and present when the jury decides, hopefully for Jesus. Often, we will be somewhere in the middle of the trial.

The key is to be used by Jesus as he continues his earthly ministry through us. If we will meet with him at the start of the day and surrender ourselves in communion with him through the day, he will author our thoughts, words, and actions in ways that draw others to himself.

What I do for those I love

I have learned that the more I love someone, the more I want to please them and the more I want others to know them. Frederick Buechner noted: To sacrifice something is to make it holy by giving it away for love.

What will you make holy for Jesus today?

NOTE: The life of prayer is the way God makes us holy by shaping us into the image of Jesus. This is why Ive written my newest book, Every Hour I Need Thee: A Practical Guide to Daily Prayer. This brand-new resource is to thank you for your donation to help more believers discern the news differently, so please request your copy when you give today. As we spend the day practicing Jesus presence, to that degree we experience his power and joy. This is my prayer for you as you read Every Hour I Need Thee. May it truly enrich your life as you learn to walk in greater intimacy with your Creator.

Originally published at the Denison Forum
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

I thought the $2,000 check controversy could be allowed to recede into the disconsolate mists of time, as just one more Democrat betrayal, until I heard on The West Wing Thing that Snopes, the internets definitive fact-checking resource, had rated this claim:

In late December 2020 and early January 2021, President-elect Joe Biden and Georgia U.S. Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock misled the public with claims that winning both Georgia races would allow the immediate passage of $2,000 checks for COVID-19 relief.

Mostly false. Since I remembered Warnock running on an actual image of a check with $****2000.00 printed on it, in authentic-looking IBM printer-style type, I wondered what sort of gymnastics Snopes had gone through. Before getting to Snopes, however, lets ask ourselves  as ordinary voters  what Biden, Ossoff, and Warnock actually said.[1]

What did we mean by a check for $2000?

I think all but a vanishingly small percentage of voters believes that this is what a check for $2,000 means: A $2000 check is a check with $2000 written on the amount line (and signed, dated, not, at least in the United States, scrawled upon a napkin. Lets put this and other proposals for amount line in the form of productions. The dull normal believes that the amount line reads like production (1):

$2,000(1)

While the amount line could theoretically be an arithmetical formula, Ive never seen or heard of one:

$1,400 + $600(2)

Nor have I heard an amount line with a portion of the amount from one account, and another portion from a second account:

$1,400 Account A + $600 Account B (3)

Nor have I ever heard of an account line with an asterisk (or a bank paying attention to an asterisk if present).

$2,000*(4)

* Terms and conditions apply

And for the sake of completeness:

$1,400(5)

I am compelled to add Production (5) because of how matters turned out.

As we shall see, Biden, Ossoff, and Warnock all used Production (1) on the campaign trail. So did the press, So did voters. Subsequently, some Democrats proposed that Productions (2), (3), (4), and (5) were equivalent to Production (1), and that it is possible to mean Productions (2), (3), (4), and (5) while saying Production (1). So, absurdly, does Snopes. Thats not possible, because checks dont work that way. But only Production (1)  a check with $2,000 in the amount line  is, in fact, a check for $2,000.

Did Biden, Ossoff, and Warnock promise a a check for $2000?

They did, using the terms of Production (1). Weve quoted them before, but for the record, lets quote them again. First, here is Warnock, from one of his campaign ads:

Simple, direct, and to the point. Notice the amount line. Warnock and Ossoff ran as a joint ticket, so Warnocks image is on Ossoff too. Nevertheless, heres Ossoff on the Twitter, the day before the election:

We can pass $2000 relief checks for the people, but we have to win this Senate election.  Jon Ossoff (@ossoff) January 4, 2021

And in print, on election day:

[OSSOFF:] We will be able to pass $2,000 stimulus checks for the people next week.

And Biden on the campaign trail on election day:

[BIDEN:] By electing John and the Reverend, you can make an immediate difference in your own lives, the lives of people all across this country, because their election will put an end to the block in Washington of that $2,000 stimulus check, that money that will go out the door immediately to help people who are in real trouble. Think about [? what it ?] will mean, to your lives, putting food on the table, paying rent, paying your mortgage, paying down the credit card, paying the phone bill, the gas bill, the electric bill. And thats not an exaggeration. That is a literal thats literally true. If you send John and the Reverend to Washington, those $2,000 checks will go out the door , restoring hope and decency and honor for so many people who are struggling right now. And if you send senators Perdue and Loeffler back to Washington, those checks will never get there. Its just that simple. The power is literally in your hands.

By that $2,000 stimulus, Biden clearly means a check with $2000 written on the amount line. There is one check, going out the door, not a $1,400 check to top off the $600 check that went out the door before, or the money Trump already sent plus additional money from Biden. None of that. One check, in the amount of $2,000. The text could not be more clear.

Did people believe that Biden, Ossoff, and Warnock promised a check for $2000?

We know that the press did, both before and after election day. In all cases, the text self-evidently means what normal people think it means: A check with $2000 written on the amount line (Production 1).

(December 30, 2020) Distribution of $600 coronavirus stimulus check started Tuesday; senators to revisit $2,000 Wednesday New Orleans Advocate. (These are Trumps checks, opposed by McConnell, supported by Schumer)

(January 1, 2021) Senate Democrats push for $2,000 stimulus checks as clock winds down on 116th Congress CNN. Schumer took to the Senate floor, saying, The Senate can start off this new year by adding to that sense of hope by sending $2,000 checks to struggling American families. He then pushed for a vote on $2,000 checks, but was blocked when a GOP senator objected.

(January 2, 2021) Congress wound down without $2,000 stimulus checks. Heres what could happen next. USA Today. The House on Monday approved giving Americans weathering the coronavirus pandemic $2,000 stimulus checks, but the measure never came to a vote in the Senate.

(January 4, 2021) Georgia runoff could hold key to Biden stimulus checks Atlanta Journal-Constitution

(January 5, 2021) $600 stimulus payments on the way; Where we stand on $2,000 check AL.com. The $600 stimulus may be arriving but many people were hoping the second round would bring more  a lot more. Congress has been considering a $2,000-per-person stimulus payment backed by the odd combination of both President Trump and Democrats.

(January 5, 2021) In Georgia, Democrats close with populist pitch vowing $2,000 stimulus checks NBC. Their calibrated closing arguments centered on a pocketbook pitch to approve $2,000 stimulus payments to Americans, a popular issue backed by Democrats and President Donald Trump but opposed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. In the days between Christmas and New Years Day, McConnell torpedoed the checks in the Senate, though they had been approved with a bipartisan vote in the House.

(January 5, 2021) Biden says electing Georgias Ossoff and Warnock would lead to $2,000 stimulus checks CNN. No qualifications in the text.

(January 5, 2021) Biden says if Warnock and Ossoff are elected, those $2,000 checks will go out the door Yahoo News. Ditto

* * * January 5, 2021: Election Day * * *

(January 6, 2021) Democrats retake the Senate with Georgia sweep Politico

Ossoff and Warnock campaigned vigorously on additional Covid-19 relief measures. And at a news conference on Capitol Hill, Schumer acknowledged that we sure did not take the most direct path to be here  a nod to the partys failures in a few Senate races from November. He added that once Warnock and Ossoff are sworn in, his first priority will be to move a bill that would provide $2,000 stimulus checks to Americans.

(January 6, 2021) Biden gets to dream bigger with likely Democratic victories in Georgia Politico

Party members were jubilant about Warnocks and Ossoffs presumed victories, and they were already mapping out the legislative opportunities that control of both chambers of Congress allows. Bidens Cabinet nominees are likely to get swift confirmation, and $2,000 stimulus checks and expanded funding for states to distribute coronavirus vaccines are far more probable.

(January 7, 2021) With control of Senate, Democrats to act fast on $2,000 checks Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With Democrats on the cusp of controlling both houses of Congress and the presidency, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will prioritize additional coronavirus relief for working Americans, including $2,000 checks that were left out of the most recent stimulus.

(January 8, 2021) $2,000 stimulus checks on the table after Dems win control of Senate FOX. One of the first things that I want to do when our new senators are seated is deliver the $2,000 checks to the American families, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who will become majority leader, told reporters on Wednesday.

(January 11, 2021) Joe Bidens $2,000 Stimulus Check Push Might Not Satisfy Calls for Relief Newsweek

(December 29, 2020) $2,000 Stimulus Checks Are Poorly Targeted and Thats Fine Eric Levitz, New York Magazine. Liberal critics of $2,000 stimulus checks need to get realistic and stop letting the perfect be the enemy of the good.

(January 12, 2021) $2,000 Stimulus Check Calculator: How Much You Could Receive? Forbes. Millions of Americans have received their $600 stimulus checksbut hopes remain high for a $2,000 stimulus check being sent out next.

(January 13, 2021) $2,000 stimulus checks: Heres who might qualify WREG (Memphis, TN). President-elect Joe Biden is expected to unveil a coronavirus relief plan Thursday that includes the largest direct payment yet: $2,000 for most Americans. While a $2,000 check might sound nice, many people are left wondering whether theyd qualify.

We also know that Democrat activists on the campaign trail believed that Biden, Ossoff, and Warnock said, and mean, Production (1). From the Daily Mail, reactions after $2.000 in the amount line morphed into $1,400 (Production 5):

Some Georgia voters have been left unimpressed by what they see as semantic trickery, with one person who canvassed for Democrats saying he felt he had lied to people when he promised them $2,000 payments. Im a man of principle and morals and I feel like s**t. I lied to them, Rogelio Linares told Mediaite. Accusing the Democratic leadership of a betrayal of the working class, Linares said that people are very mad about it after the $1,400 plan was unveiled. At the doors, I was literally telling people, $2,000 checks, you can rely on this he said. Another voter who supported Ossoff and Warnock, Rachel Kahn, said she felt the $2,000 promise had been misleading.  In my opinion as a person who does marketing, advertising, and public communications as my job, I would confidently say their messaging implied an additional $2,000, not $2,000 minus $600 , she said. Oscar Zaro, another Democratic voter, said many people in his district had turned out for Ossoff and Warnock because of the promised $2,000. They really underestimate just how much people are hurting economically, Zaro said of congressional Democrats.

Kahns implied is far too weak. Biden, Ossoff, and Warnock did not imply that checks with $2,000 in the amount line would go out; thats what they said, because what they promised couldnt have possibly meant anything else to any normal person. Having laid the groundwork, lets turn to Snopes.

How does Snopes perform its gyrations?

Nobody was confused but everybody was wrong, until Snopes after the fact straightened them out. Apparently. The Snopes post is lengthy, but to its credit, clearly laid out. First, their gyrations conclude:

Whats False However, these promises [from Biden, Ossoff, and Warnock] were always made in the context of legislation blocked by the Senate in late December that attempted to raise the per person payment from $600 to $2,000. Because $600 checks were already being distributed by the time Biden and the others entered office, the addition of $1,400 would fulfill the campaign promise of $2,000 per person COVID-19 stimulus payments.

In other words, Snopes urges that Production (1), a check with $2,000 in the amount line, and Production (2), a check with $1,400 + $600 in the amount line, are equivalent. Try that the next time you make a deposit at your bank, and let me know how using a formula instead of a number works out for you. Further, if you will look at the examples I gave, you will see the Ossoff and Biden both promised $2,000, with no qualifications, the day before the election, and on Election Day itself. The promises were in no sense made always made in the context of legislation blocked by the Senate in late December, unless you believe that a context where Congress is in session is the same as the context where Congress is in recess, a proposition as absurd as the proposition that $2,000 = $1,400.

It takes a lot of labor to go so wrong, so here are some of the ways that Snopes contorted itself to each this conclusion.

First, Snopes sets up a straw man:

Those arguing that Biden et al. broke a political promise by proposing $1,400 checks on top of the already approved $600 ones misrepresent the political debate surrounding COVID-19 relief efforts. Until the broken promise talking point emerged, the two political camps were the $600 advocates (most congressional Republicans) and the $2,000 advocates (Trump and most congressional Democrats). At no point was there ever a $2,600 camp.

Whoever made the claim that there was a $2,600 camp? And since when did a promise depend on the existence of a camp? Beyond the debaters points, what matters when a promise is made is understanding of the parties that make it. The political debate in Washington is completely irrelevant to the promise that Biden, Ossoff, and Warnock made ($2,000 check) and the promise that voters, and the press, understood (a check with $2,000 in the amount line). Here, Snopes proposes that Production (1) and Production (4)  $2,000*, where the asterisk is not Terms and conditions apply but subject to the political debate in Washington. Come on, man.

Snopes goes on to handwave:

Looking back at the statements made by Biden and others, references to $2,000 checks must be to these legislative efforts  including those advocated for and voted on by Ocasio-Cortez. Because the Senate cannot block legislation that has not yet been proposed, Bidens reference to the block in Washington of that $2,000 stimulus check clearly refers to the Senates unwillingness to take up the House amendment upping the $600 checks to $2,000.

No, the block in Washington does not clearly refer to the Senates unwillingness to take up the House amendment upping the $600 checks to $2,000. First, no voter on earth would believe that. Snopes assumes that Georgia voters and canvassers are following a complex legislative process in detail, as if they were Beltway wonks. Second, the and others besides Biden, novice Senators Ossoff and Warnoff, are as likely to have followed the debate in detail while consumed by campaigning as voters were. Third, Biden must have known that there is no reason a new bill could not be introduced, given Democrat control over both the House and the Senate; past legislative history is irrelevant. Fourth, Snopes proposes that Production (1) and Production (3)  $1,400 Biden + $600 Trump  are the same. Come on, man. How does a $1,400 check topping off a $600 check translate to a check going out the door? All of the messaging was for a singular, $2000 check under a Biden presidency, not $1400 from Biden and $600 from Trump.

And finally Snopes obfuscates completely:

Because Biden and Ossoffs statements are consistent with the package Democrats ultimately proposed, but because their timeline for getting those payments out the door was too optimistic, we rank the claim that Bidens proposed $1,400 checks are a broken promise as Mostly False.

(Biden and Ossoffs statements. Whats Warnock? Chopped liver?) First, their timeline for getting those payments out the door was too optimistic translates to I couldnt deliver what I promised, at least for the out the door part. Glad weve got that clear. Second, voters didnt vote for an ultimate proposal; they vote for what candidates put before them; what Biden, Ossoff, and Warnock actually promised, in their own words. Third, once again Snopes is claiming that Production (1), $2,000, and Production (4), $2,000* are the same; in this case, the asterisk is consistent with the package Democrats ultimately proposed, which turns out to  surprise!  Production (5), $1,400, in the amount line. Its not complicated[2]:

$1,400 = $2,000  Cori Bush (@CoriBush) January 15, 2021

Conclusion

Back in the day, before The Platforms and private equity combined to destroy the news business, we didnt need standalone fact checkers like Snopes; each institution was strong enough to check facts all on its own, without outsourcing anything to a tiny outfit like Snopes. I cant imagine why Snopes went to all this trouble to obfuscate promises that were perfectly clear when they were made. Except, possibly, for threats of censorship or deplatforming by liberal Democrats newly enamored of such things.

NOTES

[1] To be fair, Snopes doesnt omit any of the evidence Im about the present; its their interpretation I take issue with.

[2] See, e.g., Kieran Healy, F*ck Nuance.
BEIJING, China, Apr 8, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned Honda subsidiary in China, today announced the overview of Honda and Acura exhibits for the 19th International Automobile Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai 2021), which will take place in Shanghai, China (Media days: April 19-20, Trade days: April 21-23, Public days: April 24-28, 2021).The exhibit will include the world premiere of a prototype model of the first Honda-brand electric vehicle (EV) in China, as well as the world premiere of a new plug-in hybrid model.The Honda exhibit at its automobile booth will showcase the comprehensive lineup of Honda's electrified vehicles consisting of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EV models. The technology presentation booth will exhibit the third-generation Honda CONNECT recently announced in China and Honda's omnidirectional ADAS,* the next-generation advanced safety and driver-assistive system, enabling visitors to experience new technologies that contribute to safety and comfort of everyday mobility.The Honda motorcycle booth will exhibit the lineup of Honda's FUN-filled motorcycle models. This will include new models that further enhance the lineup sold through Honda Wing, a dedicated sales channel for Honda's mid-size motorcycles, which was newly launched last month (March 2021) in China, as well as the announcement of new models to be introduced to Honda DreamWing, a dedicated sales channel for Honda's large-size motorcycle models.* Advanced Driver Assistance SystemFor more information, visit https://global.honda/newsroom/news/2021/4210408eng.html.Source: HondaCopyright 2021 JCN 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.
PALO ALTO, Calif., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF), the leader in financial education in middle and high schools in the U.S., launched the Mission: 2025 Challenge. The goal of the Mission: 2025 Challenge is that 100% of high school students will have access to a personal finance course by the year 2025.

U.S. high schools that launch new one-semester personal finance courses in the next school year will receive $1,000 grants with $1 million to be awarded.

"1 in 3 U.S. high schoolers does not have access to a personal finance course in school today. Given the eagerness of educators to increase access to this essential course, I expect we can achieve this goal together," said NGPF co-founder Tim Ranzetta.

Ranzetta added, "our success in the Mission: 2025 Challenge is an important stepping stone on the way to the longer-term Mission: 2030, when all students are not only offered but guaranteed to take a personal finance course before they cross the graduation stage. Access has to come first."

This spring, 25 states have introduced legislation that would increase access to financial education, including 18 that would guarantee all students take a standalone personal finance course. Legislators note that the momentum and interest in financial education is being driven by the economic crisis brought on by COVID-19. The Mission: 2025 Challenge will help educators capitalize on this increased awareness.

Teachers can use NGPF's course proposal, syllabus, course description, and course name templates to make their case to their school leadership to offer personal finance, all on the Mission: 2025 site: ngpf.org/mission2025

About Next Gen Personal Finance

Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF), has become the "one-stop shop" for more than 45,000 educators looking for high-quality, engaging personal finance curriculum to equip students with the skills they need to thrive in the future. NGPF curriculum has a broad reach, with more than 7 out of 10 U.S. high school students attending schools where a teacher uses the NGPF curriculum. NGPF invests in teacher professional development with live virtual sessions, 10 certification courses and 27 asynchronous On-Demand modules. The non-profit has been recognized by Common Sense Education as a "Top Website for Teachers to Find Lesson Plans" and "Best Business and Finance Games ."

Contact: Christine Yoo, [email protected]

SOURCE Next Gen Personal Finance
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th April, 2021) Twitter will not allow preserved tweets from permanently suspended @realDonaldTrump account belonging to former US president Donald Trump to be published again on its platforms by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the social media giant told Politico on Thursday.

"Given that we permanently suspended @realDonaldTrump, the content from the account will not appear on Twitter as it did previously or as archived administration accounts do currently, regardless of how NARA decides to display the data it has preserved," Trenton Kennedy, a Twitter spokesman, said.

The response came following reports that the NARA plans to create an official online archive of Trump's tweets as president, including those that prompted Twitter to ban the account for what it believed were threats to public safety in January 2021, so that users can interact with them on Twitter.

NARA traditionally maintains archived social accounts from each presidential administration, including institutional and personal accounts of many former Trump administration officials. However, according to Twitter, the archived administration accounts already available on the platform have not been violating Twitter rules, Politico said.

The National Archives acknowledged Twitter's right to decline to host accounts on its platform, but stated that was still looking into ways to make the @realDonaldTrump archival content public, possibly by posting the tweets to the Donald J. Trump Presidential library website, Politico noted.

Twitter permanently suspended Trump's personal account in January 2021 on accusation of repeatedly glorifying violence and encouraging riots after his supporters stormed the Capitol. The ban has been harshly criticized by the Republicans as violating constitutional freedom of speech rights.
An Australian man will face child exploitation charges in court after tip-off from US authorities.

The 35-year-old is due to face court on Thursday after being arrested at a home in Gailes, southwest of Brisbane, on January 28.

Australian Federal Police swooped on the man after being tipped off by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the United States.

An Australian man will face child exploitation charges in court after tip-off from US authorities

The NCMEC said someone was allegedly uploading child abuse material using a Google account in Queensland

AFP officers found two laptops, an iPad and five USBs, allegedly containing child abuse material at the man's home.

Three mobile phones and two external hard drives were also seized during the raid.

The man was charged with three counts of possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service and five counts of possessing child exploitation material.

AFP officers found two laptops, an iPad and five USBs, allegedly containing child abuse material at the man's home

He is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday morning.

AFP Detective Superintendent Child Protection Operations Paula Hudson said the arrest and charges highlighted the importance of international police cooperation.

'It takes a network to break a network and this arrest is an example of our strong relationships with international law enforcement,' she said in a statement.

'Our message to offenders accessing, transmitting and exchanging child abuse material is that the AFP will not stop investigating those responsible for spreading this abhorrent material and bringing them before the court.'
Kick off a conversation about bygone restaurants in Mobile and youll hear about some COVID casualties. But its likely to go far deeper than that.

A longer look back finds some legendary places with stories that grew with Mobile after (or even through) its World War II boom. Some are intertwined with the decline and slow rise of Downtown. There is, as one would expect, a heck of a lot of seafood on the menu. Theres also a conspicuous Greek influence.

Here are a few restaurants where we wish we could get just one more meal.

Constantines

Constantine Nicholas Panayiotou, aka Mr. Gus, opened his namesake restaurant on Royal Street in the 1930s and for many who remember it, it always will stand as the prime example of the Greek influence on Port City Cuisine. Its not just that the restaurant operated until 1982, carrying on through at least one relocation and its founders death in 1970. Its that Panayiotous descendants, relatives and trainees have kept the flame alive ever since, in countless other venues. As one of them told the Press-Register 1997, Panayiotous counsel was that love really was the secret ingredient. He recalled Mr. Gus telling him, If you dont love it, if you dont love cooking, then itll show in what you cook.

Drayton Place

To recall this establishment at the corner of Dauphin and Royal streets is to revisit a time when downtown Mobile was still struggling to find the energy it has today. Royal street was pretty much a dead zone when it opened in 1996: There was no Serdas Coffee, the old Battle House Hotel was boarded up and the Van Antwerp Building, the restaurants home, was a landmark of faded glory, years away from a restoration funded by Retirement Systems of Alabama. But in the Van Antwerp Buildings still-elegant ground floor, you could get a sublime crab dib followed by one of the best filet mignons you ever had, accompanied by live jazz. Drayton Place moved to the beltline in 2003 and was gone in a year or two. Its old downtown space is now mostly a pristine bank lobby. There are plenty of upscale dining options in the area and unrestored buildings have fallen into the minority, but well always miss that crab dip.

Korbets

George and Kate Kordomenos had operated Victory Cafe in downtown Mobile but in in 1949 they made a leap to what probably was considered west Mobile at the time: The Loop, the area so named because thats where streetcars had turned around at the end of their run. Over the next four decades Korbets was a bastion that served generations of customers, as the city limits marched westward and the Loop became a part of Midtown. In late 1994 the Kordomenos son-in-law, Nick Catranis, wrote a three-page goodbye letter to customers, explaining that changing times had made it harder and harder for a humble family-owned business to hold on and that Korbets would close in January 1995. The property where the restaurant stood is now the Korbets Square shopping center.

Willis Robinson, owner of Nan Seas Restaurant, surveys the damages inside his restaurant Wednesday Sept. 7, 2005 in Mobile, Ala. following Hurricane Katrina's landfall.John David Mercer/Press-Register

Nan Seas

Joe McGovern opened this seafood venue on Bay Front Road not far north of Dog River after World War II, and it was bought by Willis Robinson in 1993, according to archival Press-Register reports. Its location and style -- a rambling complex of interconnected buildings on the edge of Mobile Bay -- was both a strength and a weakness: It was wrecked by Hurricane Katrina and never recovered. It later had a short run at a new location in west Mobile. All these years later, some still swear by Nan Seas soft-shell crabs.

Steve Chronas, owner of Pier 4 Restaurant, sits at a windowside table in the restaurant overlooking Mobile Bay on Friday, Jan. 25, 2002.Mike Kittrell/Press-Register

Pier 4

Greek immigrant Steve Chronas bought a fairly new restaurant on about four acres of Causeway property in 1981 and ran it for more than 20 years along with his son and daughter and their spouses, offering a mix of Greek and local favorites, with a big menu that was heavy on seafood but included steaks, soups, salads, sandwiches and more. I believe in consistency, quality and quantity,' Chronas told a Press-Register writer in 1997. And service. If youve got those, you are doing pretty good. In 2002, Chronas sold Pier 4 to the locally owned Cooper Restaurants group, which transformed it into Felixs Fish Camp, a mainstay of Causeway dining ever since. You can bet even a lot of its fervent fans dont know it was called Felixs Fish Camp at Pier 4 in its early days.

Queen G's Cafe is shown Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, on Old Shell Road in midtown Mobile, Ala.Mike Kittrell/Press-Register

Queen Gs

The Rebel Queen had been just a little drive-up joint on Old Shell Road, but things changed when a real-life Mardi Gras queen, Gaynell Mathers, took over the site in 1989 and transformed it into a very cozy sit-down cafe. The menu varied from day to day, with home-cooked Southern entrees, a choice of sides and plentiful cornbread. Partisans staunchly defended Queen Gs as the purveyor of the finest fried oysters in town. The Queens daughter, Carolyn Mathers, took over in 2004 though her mother remained on the scene until the end. Queen Gs closed in 2016, the building slated for destruction as a grand new Publix shopping center was built. Some of us still get a craving for chicken and dumplings every Wednesday.

"Nothing but the slab and the sign" were left at the initial Causeway location of Roussos Restaurant after Hurricane Frederic.Press-Register file

Roussos

To really be a Mobile legend, you need a good hurricane story. George and Zenia Roussos opened their restaurant on the Causeway in 1974, near the current-day site of Felixs Fish Camp. After Hurricane Frederic passed through in 1979, George Roussos arrived to find nothing but the slab and the sign left. Years later, Zenia Roussos told a Press-Register report that a fisherman had returned a prominent dining room fixture -- a chandelier-sized bronze WWII navigation light -- that hed found miles north in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Roussos reopened on South Royal Street in downtown Mobile in 1981 and had a great run there in a big brick building with a menu legendary for its breadth. (Favorites included stuffed flounder, deviled oysters and some of the areas best gumbo.) The next generation of the family relocated the restaurant to the Eastern Shore Centre in 2004 and later to Daphne, finally closing in 2009 as a sweeping economic downturn cut traffic.

The Sea House

This small eatery opened next to the Dauphin Island Marina in 1969 and was kept going by his wife, Margie, after his death. Nautical decor and a hole-in-the-wall vibe were a given. Despite its small size, the Sea House packed an extensive menu and even, at times, a buffet. While the menu was dominated by excellent seafood options, the Sea House also offered one of the areas finest burgers and a legendary Saturday night prime rib special. It closed in late 2000.

Shrimp Basket

In summer 2020 the Gulf Shores-based seafood chain announced it did not plan to reopen eight restaurants closed after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That included a store on Old Shell Road in midtown Mobile and one in Tillmans Corner -- as well as one in Montgomery and one in Birmingham. The good news is that there are still plenty of Shrimp Baskets in operation: A cluster along the coast in Baldwin County and the Florida Panhandle, plus more scattered northward in places like Evergreen, Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Homewood, Cullman and Madison.

Texas de Brazil

This restaurant didnt have a long run in Mobile, but from summer 2018 until the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, it offered Mobilians a chance to see if the meat sweats was really a thing you could get. The store at the Shoppes of Bel Air mall closed due to statewide recommendations and has been dropped from the companys website. The mall also lost its P.F. Changs in early 2020.

Tommies

The story of Tommies Cafe, which for a time was officially named the Terminal Cafe and remains widely known as Tommies Terminal, goes all the way back to 1916, when it was founded by Tommie Lakos. A couple of World Wars later it was bought by Lakos nephew Steve Clikas and George Hartzes, and it stayed in the Clikas family until Greg Saad sold the franchise to Becky Blocker in 1995. In the golden era of the Clikas-Hartzes partnership, Clikas wife Ms. Sophia was the face of the business. Its Water Street location near the GM&O rail terminal (actually, two locations due to a move in the 70s) made it a hub of business activity, where waterfront workers mingled with city officials, judges and politicians. Its Caucus Room was legendary. Every politician worth his weight in truth not in gold was there,' Sophia Clikas said in a 1995 Press-Register interview, citing the early days of Jeremiah Dentons political career as one example.

Tiny Diny owner Trudy Shackelford, better known as Miss Trudy, poses in the restaurant with one of her famous lemon icebox pies Friday, April 17, 2009.Bill Starling/Press-Register

The Tiny Diny

This cafe on Halls Mill Road already had a couple of decades of history when Trudy Shackelford, aka Miss Trudy, took over in the 1970s. Highly regarded for its meat-and-three menu, the Tiny Diny was even more famous for its breakfast. A review in 2009 noted that the Hungry Man Special, featuring sausage, egg or ham plus three eggs, grits and bacon, was a princely $5.75. Miss Trudys pies were legendary, with her coconut cream pie one listed among the 100 dishes to eat before you die by the Alabama Department of Tourism. Structural problems led to a temporary closure and a sale to a new owner in 2010; despite considerable investment, the restaurant closed a couple of years later.

Vrazels Mostly Muffins

Mostly Muffins, a downtown storefront on Dauphin Street, was about as unpretentious as you could get. But it was reliable, economical and light if you wanted a bagel or a muffin for breakfast, or a straightforward sandwich for lunch. On Sept. 11, 2020, it closed with a short, to-the-point notice: We want to thank you all for your patronage over the last 30 or so years. Unfortunately, our small shop could not make it through the economic slow down due to Covid. Today was our final day serving Mobile. We wish you all the best. God Bless. The COVID era has left some uncertainty about which restaurants are closed indefinitely and which are gone permanently, and which owe their ends mainly to the pandemic rather than other factors. Though the news was sad, at least Mostly Muffins gave its clientele a clean sense of closure.

Claire Zitsos, left, and her mother Ariadne of Zitsos Cafeteria serve food to customers on Friday, August 31, 2001, in downtown Mobile, Ala.Mike Kittrell/Press-Register

Zitzos Cafeteria

Pete Zitsos founded this restaurant in the basement of a downtown bank building in 1979 and it became a mainstay through the 80s, when downtown didnt have a lot going for it, and on through the slow-moving recovery of the 1990s and early 2000s. It was a true cafeteria that continued to be a true family business after its founder died in 1993. It offered downtown workers a quick and thrifty option for breakfast and lunch, with a menu of down-home fare accented by the Zitsos familys Greek heritage -- and a mean bowl of chili. It closed in 2008.

More:

Restaurants we miss in Tuscaloosa

15 Birmingham restaurants that are gone but not forgotten
No companies based in the greater Aiken and Savannah River Site area formally pursued a contract to design and build the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, a futuristic footprint planned for the USC Aiken campus, according to the Department of Energy.

No local firms submitted a so-called capability statement when the department, which oversees the Savannah River Site, in September 2020 published a request for information, a preliminary step in the federal contracting process.

The Energy Departments nuclear cleanup office, Environmental Management, on April 1 selected North Wind Construction Services LLC as the team to handle the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative project moving forward. North Wind Construction Services is headquartered in Idaho.

A department spokesperson on Monday said an assessment of North Winds capabilities determined they have a proven track record of working with DOE and successfully completing projects similar to the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, a years-in-the-making partnership between USCA and the Savannah River National Laboratory.

The April 1 announcement naming North Wind used similar wording.

The department expects the Idaho Falls-based contractor to examine the use of local resources, including small businesses, to the maximum extent practicable to ensure cost efficiencies and good community relations, the spokesperson said.

Anne Smith, North Wind Group's director of communications and marketing, in a Tuesday email said the plan is to expand Aiken-area engagement by hiring local first, as we have staffing needs. A subcontracting strategy will prioritize the local SB community, Smith continued, and we are exploring options for a virtual vendor outreach.

North Wind has an office in Aiken. It was set up in 2014.

The contract to design and build the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative  a potentially $50 million facility, offering a bevy of research-and-development space  is bound by the Davis-Bacon Act. The law requires contractors and subcontractors to pay laborers and mechanics employed under the contract no less than the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits for corresponding work on similar projects in the area, according to the Department of Labor.

DOE cannot dictate who North Wind employs, but the contractor will have to comply with the act, the Energy Department spokesperson noted.

Environmental Management received eight total capability statements related to the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative contract.

Construction of the AMC is expected to wrap in 2024. The initial turning of shovels could happen this year, in the fall, according to USC Aiken Chancellor Dr. Sandra Jordan.
Johnson&Johnson vaccine may be used for patients who cannot get to vaccination centres

The first batch should arrive in Slovakia in mid-April.

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For those of advanced age, who live alone in a remote place, it can not only be problematic registering for the Covid-19 vaccination but also to physically get to the centres. These people could be vaccinated with the new American Janssen (Johnson&Johnson) vaccine, the Sme daily reported.

Johnson&Johnson vaccine Monodose vaccine

72 percent effective, 66 percent in the case of the South African strain.

Needs only to be refrigerated.

Is suitable for mobile vaccination, but will also be used in hospitals and mass vaccination centres.

Seniors over 65, those at risk and marginalised groups will be vaccinated with it.

First 26,400 doses will arrive by the end of April.

Vaccination could start at turn of April and May.

It does not have to be kept in a freezer, the manipulation is easier and it is possible to use it anywhere. Besides that, only one dose is required to gain immunity against coronavirus. Experts hope it could speed up the vaccination process.

The first batch of more than 26,000 vaccines could arrive in Slovakia by the end of April. By the end of the year, 1.4 million doses of the Johnson&Johnson vaccine could be available.

In order for herd immunity to be achieved in Slovakia, at least 3.3 million citizens must be vaccinated. Altogether 795,683 people have received their first Covid vaccination and 269,583 had received their second dose as of April 7.

Vaccine for mobile vaccination

Vaccines could be delivered by mobile vaccination teams, said a spokesperson for the Health Ministry Zuzana Eliasova.

8. Apr 2021 at 18:13 | Compiled by Spectator staff
We are happy about it, McCain said. The bill will be heard for a second reading by the full Senate on Monday. If approved, it would go for a third and final reading possibly as early as Tuesday. If there are any amendments added at the last minute, the bill would go back for reconciliation before the House and Senate committees before a final vote.
Qatar sent Wednesday aid support valued at around USD 711,747 for 15,000 needy families in three Tunisian governorates, for the month of Ramadan, Webdo Tunis reports.

The aid, the media notes, will be distributed respectively to 4,000 families in Tozeur, 4,000 in Tataouine and 7,000 in Kebili.

The holy month of Ramadan marked by fasting, is expected to start early next week. The World Bank allocated to the North African country last month $300 million to help support more than one million Tunisian families living under the poverty line.

The countrys economy has been timidly rising from the ashes of the 2011 revolution that swept President Ben Ali but the ongoing pandemic has further dealt blows to its  living more people in poverty.
A Bethlehem man faces charges from the police department where he previously worked, on allegations he illegally snooped through a womans cellphone.

Victor Alpizar, 30, of the 800 block of Hayes Street, previously worked as a part-time police officer in Nesquehoning, Carbon County.

Nesquehoning Police Chief Sean Smith on Thursday said Alpizar had not worked for the borough department since December.

Alpizar was charged last week with unlawful use of a computer and computer theft in connection with the September incident. He was released on $2,000 unsecured bail.

Alpizars attorney Glenn Goodge declined to comment about the accusations. Smith also declined to comment about the case.

Back in September, Alpizar arrested the woman on a mental health warrant and took her iPhone before driving her to the St. Lukes Hospital campus in Lehighton, Carbon County, for a mental health evaluation, records say.

Alpizar went back to the police station, called the womans girlfriend and claimed he needed the phones passcode because a nurse said the woman did not remember the code, court papers say.

The girlfriend gave Alpizar the passcode, and an hour later he went back to the hospital to give the woman back her phone, investigators said.

The woman was released from the hospital, and Alpizar returned her cellphone and drove her back home, investigators said.

Afterward, police were called about the womans phone and Alpizar was interviewed on Sept. 9, court papers say.

Alpizar reportedly told his superiors he forgot to return the womans phone, and that he called the womans girlfriend to get the passcode in case police needed to do a search of the phone.

Alpizar said a crisis worker called looking for the passcode, and he initially denied accessing the womans phone, police said. At the end of the interview, Alpizar allegedly said he entered the passcode once to turn off the phone.

The womans phone was sent to the Pennsylvania State Crime Lab for a forensic evaluation.

The evaluation found the womans cellphone was unlocked twice while in Alpizars possession, for 18 minutes and then again for 4 minutes, according to court records.

During those times, the womans personal photos, videos, Snapchat account and email account were accessed, the records say.

Alpizar faces a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled April 29 before District Judge Casimir T. Kosciolek to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the charges toward trial in Carbon County Court.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
U.S. troops and military families stationed abroad should have access to at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by mid-May, Pentagon officials said Thursday.

The Defense Department is working through supply chain challenges presented late last month when 15 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the single-dose immunization that the department planned to use overseas along with the Moderna vaccine, were ruined in manufacturing.

While the DoD plans to expand eligibility for the vaccine to all beneficiaries by April 19, in line with the nationwide expansion announced earlier this week by President Joe Biden, the department is working to ensure that overseas personnel and family members will have access to at least one dose in May.

Read Next: Navy Destroyer Hoppers Commander Fired Over Morale Problems

According to Lt. Gen. Ronald Place, director of the Defense Health Agency, the DoD has, by proportion, shipped more vaccine doses to overseas locations than within the United States -- 14% of its doses to a population that makes up 7% of those eligible under the DoD.

But in many locations, vaccinations continue to be available only to high-priority groups, and appointments for second doses have been canceled.

During a press conference Thursday, Place and service medical officials sought to validate the frustrations over vaccine distribution that have been expressed by military personnel, family members and civilians stationed across Europe, Africa and Asia.

"If you're a service member stationed overseas or a family member likewise stationed overseas, and you haven't received a vaccine, and you don't know when you'll be able to, these numbers mean nothing," Place said.

Even before the mishap at a Baltimore production facility, military families were frustrated by the distribution process to overseas locations. Last month, they began reaching out to their congressional representatives for answers on the slow pace of U.S. vaccine distribution in Europe and elsewhere.

Officials at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany acknowledged that they were trying to make sure everyone who had received a first dose of Moderna got a second dose within the recommended 42-day window.

Landstuhl assured patients that it would prioritize those who had received one dose in the event of further delays.

"We understand the frustration many in our community are facing," officials wrote this week on Landstuhl's Facebook page. "While we've been hesitant to make predictions on future vaccine deliveries we are confident that vaccine allocations to Europe will increase throughout April."

Place said the overseas community was slated to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and the loss of the doses during a mix-up at a Baltimore plant "affected the DoD allocations, as is true for all U.S. jurisdictions."

The Baltimore facility, operated by Emergent BioSolutions, accidentally mixed ingredients of the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson shots, and all of them had to be destroyed. The Biden administration subsequently put Johnson & Johnson in charge of the plant, which also will no longer make the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Meanwhile, the DoD is "actively exploring other means to offset this temporary shortage," Place said.

To date, the DoD has administered roughly 2.25 million vaccines, he said, and it plans to open up eligibility for vaccinations to all military personnel and beneficiaries beginning April 19.

He added, however, that even when eligibility opens up, those who had priority earlier and declined to get the vaccine will have priority should they decide they want one.

In Europe and Africa, roughly 37,000 of 150,000 eligible Army personnel and family members have received at least one dose, while 17,000 have been fully vaccinated, according to Army Maj. Gen. Jill Faris, Interim G-3/5/7 for U.S. Army Medical Command.

Faris added that the Army should be able to vaccinate 100,000 people "in the coming weeks."

According to Rear Adm. Gayle Shaffer, the Navy's deputy surgeon general, 50% of eligible sailors, Marines, beneficiaries and civilian employees across Europe have been vaccinated.

Roughly 35% of the 53,000 eligible Air Force personnel in Europe have received at least one dose, and 22% have been fully vaccinated. In the Pacific, 26% of 109,000 eligible airmen and dependents have received at least one dose, while 20% have been fully vaccinated, according to Maj. Gen. Robert Miller, the Air Force's deputy surgeon general.

According to service officials, the Department of the Navy has vaccinated roughly 35% of its active forces, including Marines, and the Air Force has administered at least one dose to 11.1% of its force and fully vaccinated 7.2%.

Faris said the Army has administered 688,000 doses. She declined to say what percent of the force has been vaccinated.

Officials said that acceptance rates are on the rise as those who took a "wait and see" attitude are now seeking the vaccine.

"There has been an overall trend from more people accepting the vaccine. It appears the educational efforts are working," Miller said.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the DoD has logged more than 271,000 cases of COVID-19, including 177,359 among U.S. service members. More than 330 people, including troops, civilians, contractors and family members, have died.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime

Related: Military May Revisit Making COVID-19 Vaccines Mandatory Once FDA Grants Approval
DUBLIN, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Car Sharing Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2020-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global car sharing market grew at a CAGR of around 8% during 2014-2019. Carsharing refers to a car rental service wherein individuals rent cars for a short time. It supports community transit, helps achieve environmental goals, decreases personal car ownership, reduces total distance traveled by the vehicle, improves urban land use and development, and provides affordable access to vehicles. At present, the rising need for cost-effective and convenient mobility services, in confluence with advancements in technology that facilitate simplified access to shared mobility platforms, is positively influencing the demand for carsharing.



There is a significant rise in the demand for carsharing services on account of the rising greenhouse emissions, growing environmental concerns and the increasing adoption of novel mobility solutions. As a result, governments of numerous countries are undertaking initiatives and conducting awareness campaigns to curb emissions and reduce the ownership of private vehicles. Consequently, carsharing services have emerged as an effective solution. Apart from this, the market growth can also be accredited to the expanding share of peer-to-peer (P2P) lending services, which allow private car owners to rent personal cars.

Furthermore, various organizations are relying on corporate carsharing as it enables employees to stay punctual, reduces fleet management costs of the company and eliminates the requirement for large parking spaces. However, due to the sudden outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and consequent lockdowns imposed by governments of several countries, the market has been adversely impacted. It is anticipated to witness growth once normalcy is regained. Looking forward, the publisher expects the global car sharing market to exhibit moderate growth during the next five years.



Competitive Landscape:



The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Autolib (Bollore), Cambio Mobilitatsservice GmbH & Co. KG, Car2Go Ltd., CarShare Australia Pty. Ltd., Cityhop Ltd., Communauto Inc., DriveNow GmbH & Co. KG (BMW AG), Ekar FZ LLC, Getaround Inc., HOURCAR, Locomute (Pty.) Ltd., Lyft Inc., Mobility Cooperative, Modo Co-operative, Turo Inc. (ICA) and Zipcar Inc. (Avis Budget Group).



Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global car sharing market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global car sharing market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the car type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the business model?

What is the breakup of the market based on the application?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global car sharing market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology

2.1 Objectives of the Study

2.2 Stakeholders

2.3 Data Sources

2.3.1 Primary Sources

2.3.2 Secondary Sources

2.4 Market Estimation

2.4.1 Bottom-Up Approach

2.4.2 Top-Down Approach

2.5 Forecasting Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.1 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Car Sharing Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Car Type

6.1 Economy

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Executive

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Luxury

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast

6.4 Others

6.4.1 Market Trends

6.4.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Business Model

7.1 P2P

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Station Based

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast

7.3 Free-Floating

7.3.1 Market Trends

7.3.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by Application

8.1 Business

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Private

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Region

9.1 North America

9.2 Asia-Pacific

9.3 Europe

9.4 Latin America

9.5 Middle East and Africa



10 SWOT Analysis

10.1 Overview

10.2 Strengths

10.3 Weaknesses

10.4 Opportunities

10.5 Threats



11 Value Chain Analysis



12 Porters Five Forces Analysis

12.1 Overview

12.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers

12.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

12.4 Degree of Competition

12.5 Threat of New Entrants

12.6 Threat of Substitutes



13 Price Analysis



14 Competitive Landscape

14.1 Market Structure

14.2 Key Players

14.3 Profiles of Key Players

14.3.1 Autolib (Bollore)

14.3.1.1 Company Overview

14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.2 Cambio Mobilitatsservice GmbH & Co. KG

14.3.2.1 Company Overview

14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.2.3 Financials

14.3.3 Car2Go Ltd.

14.3.3.1 Company Overview

14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.4 CarShare Australia Pty. Ltd.

14.3.4.1 Company Overview

14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.5 Cityhop Ltd.

14.3.5.1 Company Overview

14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.6 Communauto Inc.

14.3.6.1 Company Overview

14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.7 DriveNow GmbH & Co. KG (BMW AG)

14.3.7.1 Company Overview

14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.8 Ekar FZ LLC

14.3.8.1 Company Overview

14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.9 Getaround Inc.

14.3.9.1 Company Overview

14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.10 HOURCAR

14.3.10.1 Company Overview

14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.11 Locomute (Pty.) Ltd.

14.3.11.1 Company Overview

14.3.11.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.12 Lyft Inc.

14.3.12.1 Company Overview

14.3.12.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.12.3 Financials

14.3.12.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.13 Mobility Cooperative

14.3.13.1 Company Overview

14.3.13.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.14 Modo Co-operative

14.3.14.1 Company Overview

14.3.14.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.15 Turo Inc. (ICA)

14.3.15.1 Company Overview

14.3.15.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.16 Zipcar Inc. (Avis Budget Group)

14.3.16.1 Company Overview

14.3.16.2 Product Portfolio



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/csv2oc

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

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The sister of a married lawyer who died from a blood clot after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine today joined the legion of politicians and health experts encouraging people to continue taking up the jab and said: 'My brother was just extraordinarily unlucky'.

Yesterday health experts at the JCVI announced the vaccine created by Oxford University and produced by AstraZeneca would not be used for those under 30 following extremely rare cases of clotting - despite there being no proof that the vaccine causes the clots.

Boris Johnson also declared the jab was safe and will save lives after 79 clots were found in patients out of more than 20million doses delivered - and over-30s are still being given the jab because they are less prone to the clots.

Neil Astles, 59, who lived in a 275,000 detached house in Newton-le-Willows on Merseyside, became the UK's first named victim after passing away last weekend following 10 days of severe headaches and a steady loss of vision.

Mr Astles, who married his wife Carole in 1993 and worked as a council solicitor in nearby Warrington, died on Easter Sunday.

His sister Dr Alison Astles, a pharmacist at the University of Huddersfield, said her brother was a keen runner, was 'fit and healthy' and had no history of blood clots.

But he developed a headache about a week after his vaccination March 17. When his headaches and eyesight worsened, he was rushed to A&E at the Royal Liverpool Hospital by his brother, before being admitted to intensive care, where he died more than a fortnight later.

Dr Astles told the Daily Telegraph: 'Despite what has happened to our family, we strongly believe that everyone should go for their first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Emotionally, we are completely and utterly furious. We are suffering. But there's nothing in our minds to be really furious about. My brother was just extraordinarily unlucky.'

Yesterday Britain's medical regulator the MHRA announced the vaccine created by Oxford University and produced by AstraZeneca would not be used for those under 30 following extremely rare cases of clotting. Boris Johnson also declared the jab was safe and will save lives.

According to the MHRA the risks because the chances of suffering blood clots after receiving the AstraZeneca jab was 0.000095 per cent. The BMJ said the risk is the same as being killed by a plane falling from the sky and crashing on your house.

Dr Alison Astles agreed and said: 'If we all have the vaccine, a few of us might have a blood clot but the evidence is that fewer people will die.'

But there are concerns public confidence will have been damaged by the change in policy, made worse by chaos in Europe where EU health ministers have failed to agree joint guidelines for who should be given AstraZeneca jabs as many nations reserved the use of the vaccine to the over-55s or over-60s while Germany has placed restrictions in all age groups.

The curbs came despite the head of the European Medicines Agency declaring there is 'no evidence' to support restricting the use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine.

As the public was urged to retain confidence in the AstraZeneca jab:

Coronavirus vaccines are 'breaking the link' between cases and deaths, experts behind a major surveillance study tracking England's outbreak revealed today;

Matt Hancock says Britain will hit its target to vaccinate all adults by the end of July - and says there is enough Pfizer and Moderna vaccine for the under-30s;

EU nations are limiting use of the AZ despite the head of the European Medicines Agency declaring there is 'no evidence' to support it;

Scientists said the UK was on track to achieve herd immunity at 74 per cent protection by Monday;

A major study found that infections in England have more than halved in the past month and the return of schools had little effect on the outbreak;

Infections fell by a third on last week to 2,763 daily cases recorded yesterday, while there were 45 deaths.

Neil Astles, 59, from Warrington, became the UK's first named victim after passing away on Easter Sunday following 10 days of headaches and loss of vision

His sister Dr Alison Astles, a pharmacist at the University of Huddersfield, said her brother was a keen runner, was 'fit and healthy' and had no history of blood clots

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RARE BLOOD CLOTS LINKED TO ASTRAZENECA'S VACCINE? MHRA chief executive Dr June Raine said anyone who has one or more of the below symptoms for longer than four days after vaccination should seek urgent medical advice. Shortness of breath

Chest pain

Swollen leg

Persistent stomach pain

Severe headache

Blurred vision

Skin bruising beyond the site of injection Advertisement

Mr Astles, who ran regularly, was fit and healthy with no history of blood clotting, according to Dr Astles.

Dr Astles, the subject lead for pharmacy at the University of Huddersfield, said: 'He had a headache which didn't go away and he felt a bit sick.

'But he carried on doing his work, went to the shops, driving around. And then on Friday night, his symptoms had become a great deal worse. And my other brother took him to A&E.

'At three o'clock the next morning, they transferred him over to the Royal Liverpool hospital to ICU.

'There was a strong suspicion right from the very beginning that it was the Astra vaccine because of his very low platelet levels.

'So he had a clot and a subsequent bleed on his brain, which was compressing his brainstem.

'He was probably brain dead on Saturday afternoon, but he was declared dead at 22 minutes past five on Sunday evening, when they turned off his ventilator.

'We were all around him at that point. The clot just compressed his brainstem such that his breathing wouldn't function.'

Dr Astles urged people to seek medical attention if they experience lasting headaches or sickness after taking the jab.

She added to the BBC that her brother was a 'much loved brother, husband and son'.

While the coroner has not yet reported the official cause of death, Mr Astles's diagnosis was 'cerebral sinus thrombosis and subarachnoid haemorrhage' with 'low platelets and extraordinarily high d-dimer' - a protein present in the blood when a clot has formed.

Britain will pass threshold for Covid herd immunity on MONDAY when more than 74 per cent of people will have protection against the virus, scientists say Britain is set to pass the threshold for herd immunity on Monday, scientists say. Modelling by University College London (UCL) suggests that 73.4 per cent of the population will have protection against Covid by April 12. The figures outdo pessimistic estimations by Imperial College this week - which suggested that just 34 per cent would have the vital antibody protection by the end of last month. Herd immunity is when an infectious disease stops naturally spreading in a population because enough people are protected against the disease. Scientists disagree on what the exact herd immunity threshold is but top US medical official Dr Anthony Fauci has previously suggested it could be as high as 90 per cent. The UK government's Chief Scientific Advisor Sir Patrick Vallance quoted a figure of 60 per cent back in March 2020 but scientists now believe it is much higher than that because the virus is more transmissible than previously thought. Imperial College's results formed part of data by SPI-M - whose calculations feed into the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE). SAGE released modelling in documents this week suggested that lifting lockdown curbs fully in June could lead to more than a thousand deaths a day this summer and push the NHS to the brink again. But UCL's data suggests Britain could be well on its way to lifting lockdown fully by June 21, the date set out in Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown. Advertisement

Ministers, MPs, watchdogs and health officials yesterday blitzed the public with messages to try to shore up support for the AstraZeneca vaccine amid fears the new advice could dent confidence.

Boris Johnson said: 'As the regulators have said, this vaccine is safe, effective and has already saved thousands of lives  and the vast majority of people should continue to take it when offered.

'We will follow today's updated advice, which should allow people of all ages to continue to have full confidence in vaccines, helping us save lives and cautiously return towards normality.'

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock said everyone should take a vaccine when their time comes, and the risk of experiencing a brain clot was the same as 'taking a long-haul flight'.

He urged the under-30s, who will be offered an alternative vaccine to AstraZeneca, to take a jab to protect loved ones and avoid the risk of long Covid, adding there were was 'more than enough' Moderna and Pfizer for this age range.

In a round of broadcast interviews, Mr Hancock said vaccines are clearly breaking the link between Covid cases and deaths in the UK and were saving 'thousands of lives'.

He told Sky News: 'The number of people dying from Covid halved in the last nine days... and is down 90% from the peak.'

All vaccines in use in the UK were 'safe for all ages', but the 'extremely rare' risk of suffering a rare brain blood clot, and the tipping of the balance of risk for the under-30s, means they could be given other jabs instead.

Speaking directly to younger people who may be thinking they do not need a vaccine, Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast: 'The vaccines are safe, and if you want to have the Pfizer vaccine or Moderna vaccine instead then that is fine.

'Covid is a horrible disease and long Covid affects people in their 20s just as much it seems as any other age group and can have debilitating side effects that essentially ruin your life.'

He added: 'The safety system that we have around this vaccine is so sensitive that it can pick up events that are four in a million (the chance of developing a rare brain blood clot) - I'm told this is about the equivalent risk of taking a long-haul flight.'

Mr Hancock said there were almost 10.2 million people aged 18 to 29 in the UK, of whom 1.6 million have had their first vaccine.

Boris Johnson said: 'As the regulators have said, this vaccine is safe, effective and has already saved thousands of lives  and the vast majority of people should continue to take it when offered'

Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam underscored the improbability of suffering blood clots because of the AstraZeneca jab

In low Covid levels, every 100,000 vaccines prevents 0.8 ICU admissions from coronavirus in people under 30 but 1.1 people will suffer blood clotting after having the jab, making the threat higher than the virus itself

When there is medium prevalence, the threat of Covid still outweighs the chance of clots after AZ vaccine in every age group

When coronavirus is prevalent in society, 100,000 AstraZeneca vaccines prevent 127.7 Covid ICU admissions among 60 to 69-year-olds. For 20 to 29-year-olds, every 100,000 vaccine administered stops seven people in that age group from being admitted to intensive care with the disease

EU vaccine shambles continues as health ministers FAIL to agree a joint response to blood clot fears despite European regulators saying benefits far outweigh risks Europe's health ministers have failed to agree joint guidelines for who should be given AstraZeneca jabs - leaving each country to set its own rules as experts warn the patchwork approach could further undermine confidence in the vaccine. EU health ministers had met to discuss Europe-wide guidelines after the continent's medical regulator found that blood clots are a 'very rare' side effect of the jab. But the summit broke up on Wednesday without agreement, leaving member states to chart their own way forward with inconsistent rules. Spain, Italy and the Netherlands have restricted use of the jabs to those aged over 60, while in France the age limit is slightly lower at 55. Germany has also restricted routine use of the jab to over 60s, though those aged under 60 can still receive it if a doctor approves. At the same summit, German Health Minister Jens Spahn also said he is opening bilateral talks with Russian to buy its Sputnik V vaccine - though only if it receives approval from Europe's medical regulator, sources said. Meanwhile Belgium has placed a four-week ban on those aged under 56 getting the AstraZeneca shot. In Britain, the government has advised that those aged under 30 should be offered an alternative to AstraZeneca if one is available minimise risk from clotting, but added that all age groups will still be routinely offered Astra. Dr. Peter English, who formerly chaired the British Medical Association's Public Health Medicine Committee, said back-and-forth over the vaccine could have serious consequences and prolong the pandemic - causing thousands of deaths. 'We can't afford not to use this vaccine if we are going to end the pandemic,' he said. Advertisement

Professor Jeremy Brown, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said that the benefit of vaccinating young people is not just preventing severe disease.

He told Sky News: 'It actually will prevent them catching Covid, and if they don't get Covid then the chance of developing so-called long Covid - the symptoms you get which many people get, about 10%, after they've had even a very mild infection - that will prevent that.

'It also allows younger people to visit their relatives who are elderly and more vulnerable to the disease, without the risk of infecting them.

'Lastly, there are social benefits which have been much discussed over the past few days - travel, for example. I think it's unlikely that people will be allowed to travel out of the country easily unless they have been vaccinated.'

Meanwhile, Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the JCVI, explained that the chance of suffering a clot after a vaccine was much lower than for other medicines or during pregnancy.

'These are extremely rare events - much, much more rare than, for instance, clots due to common drugs that we prescribe such as the contraceptive pill; much rarer than clots during pregnancy; much, much rarer than clots due to Covid itself,' he told BBC Breakfast.

'We still feel this is a safe and effective vaccine where the benefits far outweigh the risks for the majority of people.

'In many ways, it's better to know the known than the unknown, so I would encourage anybody who's been offered either their first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, and certainly their second dose, when there's been no cases (of clots) for second doses, to receive it when offered.'

Prof Harnden insisted 'the vaccination programme is going full steam ahead' across the UK and 'everybody should remain confident in it'.

Sir Keir Starmer said: 'The AstraZeneca vaccine is safe, effective and saving thousands of lives. Trust in our doctors and scientists. When it is your turn to get the jab, do so. My first dose was AstraZeneca and I look forward to getting my second dose when it is offered.'

Professor Wei Shen Lim, coronavirus chairman for the vaccines committee, said: 'The Covid-19 vaccines have already saved thousands of lives and the benefit for the majority of the population is clear  if you are offered a vaccine, you should take it.'

The blizzard of messages came after the MHRA announced at a press conference that those aged 18-29 will be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca jab - either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines that are currently on stream.

England's deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam described the change of tack as a 'course correction that was 'quite normal'.

He told the briefing: 'This is a massive beast that we are driving along at enormous pace with enormous success, this vaccine programme.

Covid vaccines are 'breaking the link' between cases and deaths: Experts behind major surveillance study tracking England's outbreak say fatalities are still dropping despite infections levelling off Coronavirus vaccines are 'breaking the link' between cases and deaths, experts behind a major surveillance study tracking England's outbreak revealed today. Imperial College London epidemiologists found while Covid infections appeared to have levelled off in early April, fatalities linked to the virus were still falling - which would not have been expected during the first or second wave. More than 31million Britons - or three in five adults - have already received a jab, with separate experts today suggesting the speedy roll-out could see the UK hit herd immunity - when the virus stops spreading - next month. The REACT-1 study - which randomly swabbed 140,000 people in the latest round - also suggested Covid cases had more than halved in a month and fallen in every age group, adding the reopening of schools had little impact on the epidemic. They estimated 0.2 per cent of England's population, or one in 500, were infected between March 11 and 30 compared to 0.49 per cent in February, a fall of 60 per cent. The biggest drops were recorded in the South East, where prevalence went from 0.36 per cent in February to 0.07 per cent in March, in London (0.6 to 0.16 per cent), and in the East of England (0.47 to 0.15 per cent). They also suggested cases may have 'flattened off' in early April. But experts said this was nothing to worry about and insisted this was actually 'good news' because it means the slight easing of restrictions in late March has not caused a spike. Advertisement

'If you sail a massive liner across the Atlantic then it's not really reasonable that you aren't going to have to make at least one course correction during that voyage.'

The MHRA has not yet established a causal link between the cases of clotting and the AstraZeneca vaccine, although the regulator said the evidence was becoming 'firmer'.

The MHRA's chief executive, Dr June Raine, said there is a 'reasonably plausible' link between the AstraZeneca jab and rare blood clots.

She said: 'The evidence has accrued not only in numbers and kinds of cases but the pattern of those cases. So we feel it's a much more solid basis in our regulatory world to put in the side effect into our product information and that tells us it is a reasonably plausible link.'

However, she said the clots were 'extremely rare', adding: 'Based on the current evidence, the benefits of the Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca against Covid-19 and its associated risks - hospitalisation and death - continues to outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people.

'Our review has reinforced that the risk of this rare suspected side effect remains extremely small.'

The 79 cases occurred in 51 women and 28 men, aged from 18 to 79. Of the 19 who died, three were under the age of 30, the MHRA said.

Some 14 cases of the 19 were cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), a specific type of clot that prevents blood from draining from the brain. The other five cases were other kinds of thrombosis in major veins.

Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, chairman of the Commission on Human Medicines, said: 'The early evidence suggests that this constellation of symptoms is caused by an immune response against platelets which allows the platelets to then lead to clotting in different parts of the body.

'But what we don't have clearly is the link between the vaccine and how the immune response becomes activated against the platelets.'

He said any risks from the jab had to be set against the fact around 30 per cent of people with Covid suffer low blood platelet counts, while Covid also 'causes clotting'.

Some 7.8 per cent of people with Covid suffer blood clots on the lungs, while 11.2 per cent will suffer deep vein thrombosis (DVT), he added.

He said there appears to be a 'slightly higher risk in the younger age group' of clots after the AstraZeneca vaccine, but the reason is 'not clear' with further work required.

Separately, a review by the European Medicines Agency concluded on Wednesday that 'unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects' of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

Emer Cooke, executive director of EMA, said its review 'confirmed that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19 overall outweigh the risk of side effects', adding: 'Vaccination is extremely important in helping us in the fight against Covid-19.'

The EMA, which polices the safety of drugs used on the continent, spotted 169 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVST) and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), from 34million jabs. CVST occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot. It can lead to a stroke. SVT is the same type of blood clot but it occurs in the digestive system

Is it safe for me to get my second dose of AstraZeneca's jab? What if I had blood clot symptoms first time round? Can I get mix-and-match to get Pfizer's instead? What are the alternatives for under-30s? And what are the tell-tale symptoms of blood clots?

Britons were once again left with a raft of questions over the safety of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine after health chiefs today recommended it should not be given to under-30s because of its link to potentially deadly blood clots.

No10's jab advisory panel says healthy people aged 18 to 29 be offered either Pfizer or Moderna's vaccine instead, when the programme moves to younger groups in the coming months.

The Government, opposition politicians and medical experts tonight rushed to shore up confidence in AstraZeneca's vaccine, insisting that it was safe and the benefits far outweighed any risks for the vast majority.

Here MailOnline answers all of your questions about AstraZeneca's jab, revealing why it is safe for you to still get your second dose and what the alternatives are for under-30s.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to do more domestically to increase tax revenues and improve the quality of spending.

Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of IMF, made this known in Washington D. C. on Wednesday at the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings news conference.

Ms Georgieva also assured that the region would enjoy the funds support in improving governance, transparency and accountability to their citizens.

According to her, the fund, in 2020 increased 13 times, the financing, especially on emergency basis to Africa.

We have advocated for debt service suspension and that has provided up to now, some seven billion dollars to low income countries.

A big chunk of this is for Sub-Saharan Africa. We have provided debt relief to our most vulnerable members, so Sub-Saharan African countries that fall in this category benefited from it.

We are looking for ways to reform our concessional lending programme, the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, so we can do more concessional financing on a larger scale for longer, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

She said the fund now had a big support from the G20 and was very optimistic it would get a new SDR allocation which for Sub-Saharan African countries with depleted buffers, would be a very welcome injection.

The MD, however, called on wealthier members who might not need an injection of reserves to lend through it on highly concessional terms funding that could go to countries that needed it.

On the global front, Ms Georgieva said economic fortunes were diverging dangerously.

According to her, a small number of advanced and emerging market economies, led by the U.S. and China are powering ahead.

She added that weaker and poorer countries were falling behind in this multi-speed recovery.

We also face extremely high uncertainty, especially over the impact of new virus strains and potential shifts in financial conditions.

There is the risk of further economic scarring from job losses, learning losses, bankruptcies, extreme poverty and hunger.

Policymakers must take the right actions now by giving everyone a fair shot, not just into peoples arms, but also in peoples lives and in vulnerable economies.

Recommendations

She gave three policy recommendations that should help boost the recovery of economies.

First, All should get a fair shot at the vaccine, which means ramping up vaccine production and distribution and steering clear of export controls.

It also means fully funding the COVAX facility and ensuring that surplus vaccines are transferred to poorer countries.

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Vaccine policy is economic policy. Faster progress in ending the health crisis can add almost nine trillion dollars to global Gross Domestic Product by 2025, best value for public money in our times, but this window of opportunity is closing fast.

The scientists have given us vaccines in record time, now governments must show the same sense of urgency and collaboration to provide vaccines to everyone, everywhere.

Secondly, she hoped that there is a fair shot at recovery.

According to her, the key is to support vulnerable households and viable firms for as long as the crisis is around.

This would require targeted fiscal measures and maintaining favorable financial conditions.

She added that given diverging recoveries, careful communication by major central banks and prudent policies in emerging and developing countries to minimise harmful financial spillovers was needed.

Thirdly, there was a fair shot at the future.

Ms Georgieva said it was perhaps the most consequential decision that any government could make in 2021 as the focus should be on scaling up public investment.

This should be in green projects and digital infrastructure, in peoples health and education to ensure that everyone could benefit from the historic transformation to greener, smarter and more inclusive economies.

To unlock this potential, countries will need sufficient public revenues and more efficient spending.

In many cases, this will mean more progressive taxation and an agreement on questions like minimum taxation for companies and international tax rights.

This has to be coupled with stronger support for poorer countries as they fight the crisis and seek to invest in the future.

She added that low-income countries had to deploy 450 billion dollars over the next five years.

She said that as part of a comprehensive effort, they needed more domestic revenue mobilisation, but also more external concessional financing and more help to deal with debt.

The MD added that further extension of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative that was just announced by the G20 and the new Common Framework for orderly debt restructuring would help.

The virtual Spring Meetings which began on Monday would end on Sunday. (NAN)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 09:36:03|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A fresh Israeli missile attack targeted positions near the Syrian capital of Damascus early Thursday, wounding four soldiers and causing damage, Syria's state TV reported.

Citing a military source, the report said that the attack was launched by Israeli warplanes flying over neighboring Lebanon, and the Syrian air defenses responded to the attack, shooting down most of the missiles.

Residents in Damascus watched the air defenses' trace and fire at the Israeli targets in the sky amid sounds of explosions.

According to reports, Israel in recent years has carried out numerous airstrikes against Iranian-linked targets in Syria. Enditem
South Africa: Spectrum improves lives for Matatiele residents

By Mish Molakeng

The release of temporary spectrum is changing the lives of the community of Matatiele, which straddles the border between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Sister Mofokeng of the Matatiele Community Clinic is among those who have seen an improvement in her internet connectivity.

Ive seen an improvement in internet connectivity around here. The faster speed of connectivity enables us to transfer patient files, carry out statistical reporting and conduct medical analysis. We are now able to do all of this quickly and more effectively, she said.

In March last year Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams gazetted directions that enabled the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to make additional radio frequency spectrum available to operators.

At the time, this was to ensure that mobile network operators would be able to cope with increased higher rates of internet connectivity as a record number of employees started working from home as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

I must say I didnt know that the improvement was because of the temporary release of spectrum, says Mofokeng.

For community health centres, faster internet connectivity means better prospects for providing quality healthcare services to a greater number of patients.

Matatiele, Kokstad and Mount Fletcher are some of the areas where mobile network operators have deployed temporary spectrum to overcome historical capacity constraints.

Improving access to information is at the heart of our deliverables as a department. The reality that we are dealing with and that we are trying to provide solutions for, is growing inequality when it comes to accessing information.

We all know that access to information can play a transformative role in peoples lives. We must remember that universal access to information is a fundamental human right, said Ndabeni-Abrahams.

For entrepreneur Johan Kruger, the owner of a filling station in the busy main road in Matatiele, the additional spectrum has resulted in visible change in the operations of his business.

Previously operating his point of sale device he says, was a nightmare, due to poor connectivity.

Transactions would be routinely declined, and this was a source of endless frustration to us and customers, said Kruger.

He notes that there has been visible improvement in transaction speeds.

Its not only data traffic that has seen an improvement as a result of the release of temporary spectrum, the quality of voice calls has also gotten better.

Mme Mokoena an elderly granny living with her grandchildren, is an active user of voice calls to communicate with her daughters who work in Gauteng.

The network between and Mount Fletcher and Matatiele used to be a big challenge. But now there is improvement, she said.

Meanwhile, as part of COVID-19 interventions, Ndabeni-Abrahams is working with her counterparts in the Departments of Basic and Higher Education in a partnership that includes mobile network operators and internet service providers, to make data available for learning purposes.

These companies have approved hundreds of local websites to be zero-rated for educational purposes.

Zero-rated websites include, among others, those of TVET colleges and universities, as well as sites that provide information which can help South Africans mitigate the risks that come with the Coronavirus.

In addition to more than the 1000 websites which are already zero-rated, there are additional sites which are pending approval, thanks to the intervention of Minister.

Zero rating of telecommunications and data services for specified public services like health and education are important interventions to empower communities and the youth.

Back at the Community Health Centre Aphiwe Mtongana, an unemployed youth, walks in to access free Wi-Fi.

I come here often to access the internet to apply for jobs. The experience is different now. Previously it would take forever to access just one website, sometimes I would even give up. But its a lot faster now. Im hopeful that eventually one of my applications will land me a job, said Mtongana. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-04-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Aliko Dangote and Abdul Samad Rabiu, Africas richest and sixth richest men respectively according to Forbess estimate, have squabbled over compliance concerns relating to the backward integration policy of the Nigerian sugar industry, compounding an already messy dispute over the ownership of a cement site.

Mr Dangote, chairman of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, told the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, in a letter seen by PREMIUM TIMES that the establishment of a sugar plant by BUA International Limited, owned by Mr Rabiu in the Port Harcourt free trade zone was out of tune with export laws.

The mid-term review conducted by the NSDC (National Sugar Development Council) was clear in its conclusions  BUA has failed to invest substantively in local production or comply with its undertakings under its BIP, Mr Dangote said in a letter jointly signed with John Coumantaros, chair of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, a fellow maker of the product.

BUA intend only on importing and refining raw sugar whilst claiming to be investing in developing sugar plantations in order to qualify for quotas to import raw sugar.

Relations between both men became frosty in June 2020 when BUA Cement, majority owned by Mr Samad, got a restraining order against Dangote Cement, where the Africas wealthiest man wields the majority stake, after the police invaded its three sites in Obu Okpella, Edo State.

BUA Group said Dangote Cement initiated the action.

BUA takes serious exception to the ludicrous claims by its two major competitors that it aims to circumvent the BIP of the sugar industry  an initiative in which it has invested billions of Naira and is almost nearing completion, it said in a rejoinder to the sugar policy contravention indictment.

To thus claim that the BUA PH export focused refinery in an Export Zone will amount to an undermining of the NSMP (National Sugar Master Plan) is false.

President Muhammadu Buhari gave the go-ahead for developing the Port Harcourt plant, according to Mr Rabiu.

BUA entered a pact with Frances hydrocarbons group, Axens, in September 2020 for the development of a 200,000 barrels per day refinery and petrochemical plant Akwa Ibom State, a little more than a year to the start of Mr Dangotes own 650,000 bpd refinery in Lagos.

Mr Dangotes fortune comes to $12.1 billion, while that of Mr Rabiu, Nigerias third most affluent person, stands at $5.5 billion, according to Forbes.
HALIFAX  Former federal cabinet minister Scott Brison has been tapped to head a new body that will advise Nova Scotia's Liberal government on the economy.

Premier Iain Rankin said today in a news release Brison will lead the 10-member Economic Growth Council, which will focus on making the province "Canada's startup capital."

Rankin says the council will advise the government on policy options and on ways to attract capital to the province.

The government says council members have been selected to reflect Nova Scotia's diversity, its regions and several economic sectors.

Members include Membertou First Nation Chief Terry Paul; Matthew Martel, COO of Nova Scotia's Black Business Initiative; and Lise Despres, an executive with Comeau's Sea Foods Limited, in the Acadian region of Clare, N.S.

Brison was a Nova Scotia MP between 1997 to 2019 and is currently chancellor of Dalhousie University and vice-chair Investment and Corporate Banking at BMO Capital Markets.

He says he believes the province can become a "magnet for talent and knowledge-based industries."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2021.

The Canadian Press
Aqueous film-forming foam, a fire suppressant, is currently being phased out of use by the U.S. military. The foam is a major source of PFAS contamination in drinking water around the country.
Facebook has been the topic for several weeks now, especially after the recent attack on its data servers where it was breached without their knowledge, and having 533 million user's data leaked online. The recent hack has affected users, with their personal and sensitive information that has surfaced over the web, as directed by the threat actors.

The attack took the social media company by their blind side, especially as the hack has also taken the phone number of Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, which was discovered to be linked to a SignalMessenger account. The recent hack was a nasty one, especially as it threatened the ownership of people's accounts as passwords were revealed online.

In the recent discoveries and disputes, Facebook was criticized for its poor handling with regards to security and protecting its users' information and data online. With this, users were advised to change their passwords for better security in their social media experience, with users still waiting on Facebook to improve their security to avoid these happenings.

Read Also: Tom Brady Debuts 'Autograph' NFT to Produce Digital Art Together with Other Athletes, Artists, and MORE

Facebook Does Not Plan In Notifying the Public

According to Reuter's report, a Facebook spokesperson that remained anonymous regarded that the social media company has no plans to divulge information or inform the public affected by the hack, whatsoever. The spokesperson revealed that Facebook was even blindsided by the attack, and had no confidence that they were aware of the attack.

With this, notifying users of the server breach and data leak was not done by the social media company, or will it ever be brought up for the time being. Currently, Facebook was said to "plug the hole" where the breach occurred to stop threat actors from gathering more information, aside from the leaked data from the 533 million users online.

While most companies address or notify their users, both affected and not, whenever there was a breach, it seems that the Menlo Park giant has no plans or intentions to do so, and keeps quiet on this issue. The company has been receiving a steady stream of threats and criticisms, especially for the way it handles user data.

Facebook Boycott Rises Again After Recent Hack

Facebook has been at the bad end of the stick as users raise their concerns and speak against social media for the way they handled this crisis, with people yet again moving to boycott Facebook and its apps. Users have taken their grievances against the social media company to Twitter, saying that they express more here as they have removed their accounts on the recently hacked platform.

Leave or Boycott Facebook - its a detriment to our democracy  Thomas Wojick (@twojick) April 5, 2021

Related Article: Facebook Hack: Mark Zuckerberg's Phone Number Links to a Signal Messenger Account-Boycotts WhatsApp?

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The boss of AstraZeneca was criticised last night for failing to defend his company's vaccine as its safety was questioned.

Pascal Soriot, who is currently staying in Australia with his family, was accused of not properly explaining the benefits of the jab to the public as it was linked to rare blood clots.

Regulators have stressed that the benefits far outweigh the risks but they have recommended alternatives for people aged under 30.

Pascal Soriot, who is currently staying in Australia with his family, was accused of not properly explaining the benefits of the jab to the public as it was linked to rare blood clots

But EdenTree Investment Management, a top AstraZeneca investor, said Mr Soriot had failed to properly defend the jab in public and should be doing so more forcefully.

Ketan Patel, a fund manager at the firm, said the chief executive 'hasn't been that public and being halfway around the world doesn't give the right signal or message'.

'Perhaps it is right to say where is the chief executive in terms of articulating the healthcare benefits? It's OK to work remotely but if you are the boss of a multi-billion pound healthcare company with a vaccine, I can see why people would be thinking 'why isn't Pascal here',' he said.

It comes after another top shareholder, Royal London, rallied to Mr Soriot's defence saying his efforts during the pandemic have been 'heroic'.

EdenTree Investment Management, a top AstraZeneca investor, said Mr Soriot had failed to properly defend the jab in public and should be doing so more forcefully

Mr Patel told the Daily Telegraph: 'Pascal has done hugely well, the company is delivering good growth, but that success is being overshadowed by negative sentiment over the vaccine.

'If we were grading the PR effort, they could do better.

'If you look at the data, and see that the chances of getting a blood clot with this vaccine is about four in one million, compared to four in 10,000 for the contraceptive pill, that perspective needs to be highlighted.'

It comes after another top shareholder, Royal London, rallied to Mr Soriot's defence, saying his efforts during the pandemic have been 'heroic'.

Insiders at Astrazeneca have previously stressed that Mr Soriot is working European business hours and keeps in regular contact with colleagues and clients via videoconferencing.

They said current restrictions mean he would still have to do much of his work remotely even if he was in the UK.

However, the company has said he plans to return as soon as travel restrictions are lifted.

Last night an Astra spokesman said: 'Travel restrictions and local lockdowns mean it makes little sense to be travelling right now, particularly given that many countries require quarantine.

'Mr Soriot will continue to empower his team of experts and remain in regular contact with operational leaders in the many sites across the world.'
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 21:58:00|Editor: huaxia

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JAKARTA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The fifth ASEAN-China-UNDP symposium was held online on Thursday, discussing how to harness the potential of young people in the Asia-Pacific region to contribute to the realization of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The symposium themed Enhancing the Roles of Youth in Achieving the SDGs was part of a long-term partnership to work together to support the acceleration of the SDGs, said a press release from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, which jointly held the symposium with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretariat and the Chinese Mission to ASEAN.

The symposium also discussed the key trends and challenges faced by young people in the region, such as unemployment, education and social and political exclusion, especially within the context of the struggle to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the press release.

In his opening speech for the symposium, Deng Xijun, the Chinese ambassador to ASEAN, said China is willing to work with ASEAN and other parties to strengthen the synergy of their sustainable development strategies and practical cooperation, enable a stronger role of youth in related efforts, find new impetus for China-ASEAN cooperation in sustainable development and build more solid foundation for realizing the 2030 agenda in the region.

"We need to put more efforts to provide youth with the most up-to-date skills, reliable digital infrastructure, and enabling ecosystems for youth to reach their potentials," Kung Phoak, deputy secretary-general of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, was quoted as saying in the press release.

According to the press release, the symposium focused on amplifying the involvement of young people in the region with the SDGs, providing a platform for policy makers and stakeholders to share experiences, and exchanging views and lessons learnt on how to enhance the roles of youth in SDGs implementation.

The ASEAN and Chinese youth themselves presented their views on sustainable development and spoke directly about their hopes, needs and the support they seek to foster entrepreneurship and to take on leadership roles, it said.

The one-day meeting, attended by youth, government officials and other stakeholders from the Asia-Pacific region, was the fifth in a row, but first to take place online. Enditem
Australias blue-chip companies did the heavy lifting on Thursday as the S&P/ASX 200 extended its post-pandemic high with the best session in five weeks and briefly reached 7000 points.

Gains for miners BHP and Rio Tinto, the Big Four banks, biotech CSL, Fortescue Metals and Telstra helped the benchmark index add another 1 per cent to close at a new 13-month high of 6998.8.

It was the markets fifth rise on the trot, and still the longest winning run since early December.

The ASX 200 hit a new post-pandemic peak on Thursday. Credit:Louie Douvis

Thursdays barnstorming session also saw the local benchmark nudged an intraday peak of 7012.4 and move within 3 per cent of the all-time high set on February 20 last year.

It was the first time the market had risen above 7000 since the early stages of the coronavirus-driven market plunge.

The ASX again shrugged off an indifferent Wall Street performance to start higher.

OANDAs Asia Pacific analyst Jeffrey Halley said the lack of any hawkish surprises in the US Feds latest minutes had helped sentiment, though investors were sure to be closely watching Jerome Powells speech overnight for signs of a change in Fed guidance.

With the US economic risks weighted to the upside as their recovery gathers momentum, a slip of the tongue, deliberate or not, will likely see bonds and equities punished and the US Dollar rally, Mr Halley said.

GSFM investment consultant Stephen Miller said central banks the world over had their pedal to the metal and made it clear they would not be shifting their extraordinarily accommodative policy settings until inflation targets were met.

Central banks are banging the drum, they are saying to markets with a loudhailer we are not for turning, he said.

Sometimes markets get a bit jittery when there is a bit of inflation and there are fears they will have to taper earlier.

But every time a central banker opens their mouth - be it Philip Lowe or Jerome Powell - they are saying they are not going to withdraw any bit of these historically accommodating levels of stimulus, and theyre not doing it soon.

Rising iron ore prices continued to power Australias mining triumvirate of BHP, Rio Tinto Fortescue Metals, with each firm gaining strongly on Thursday.

The mining team at RBC Capital Markets said climbing steel prices and strong Chinese demand had translated into strong margins, increasing the ability to pay higher prices for iron ore.

The bulk metal climbed 1.6 per cent to hit $US173.63 a tonne, with BHP adding 2.6 per cent to close at $47.06, Rio rising 2.2 per cent to $115.88, and Fortescue Metals up by 2.5 per cent to finish at $21.

Westpac was the best of the Big Four banks, up 1.3 per cent to $25.16, followed by NAB and ANZ, which each added 1.1 per cent, and Commonwealth Bank, which lagged the wider ASX 200 with a 0.7 per cent rise.

Macquarie Group climbed by 1,3 per cent to $153.61 and CSL finished 1.1 per cent higher at $265.94.

Telstra rose by 1.2 per cent to $3.43 and Woolworths added 1 per cent to close at $41.76.
CVS MinuteClinics are offering coronavirus antibody tests throughout Connecticut for those who wonder whether they have had COVID-19, especially back when testing for the disease was not common.

I think its useful to have that information because it lets them know, said Mara Chamoures, a nurse practitioner at the MinuteClinic in Southbury. I think people are eager to know whether they had COVID or not.

Chamoures said the antibody test, which is done using a finger stick to collect blood and gives results in fewer than 15 minutes, can answer questions for people who have had symptoms they believe may have been from a case of COVID. Maybe somebody lost their taste and they havent gotten it back yet, or have a lingering cough or fatigue, she said.

However, she said an antibody test should not be used to decide whether to get vaccinated. Regardless of whether they show antibodies to COVID-19, they should still get the vaccine, Chamoures said. We do tell them, just because you have the positive results showing you have the immunity to COVID, we dont know how long that immunity lasts.

She also said getting an antibody test should not prevent anyone from continuing to wear a mask and keeping socially distant from others.

Dr. Marie Louise Landry, director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Yale New Haven Hospital, also cautioned about relying too much on antibody tests for the coronavirus, formally known as SARS CoV-2, which she said vary in their accuracy, especially if someone has had a mild case of COVID.

Landry also is a professor of laboratory medicine and of infectious disease medicine at the Yale School of Medicine. She said the only clinical use for antibody testing recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to diagnose multi-inflammatory syndrome in children because those patients may not come to the hospital until after a viral PCR test has turned negative.

Landry also warned against deciding not to get vaccinated based on a positive antibody test.

Right now, theyre recommending that people who have had COVID infection still be vaccinated to boost immune response and not to use antibodies to make that decision, she said.

Landry said an antibody test also should not be used to decide whether to return to work or school or whether to travel. Antibodies appear 11 to 14 days after infection, so an antibody test cannot be used to determine whether a person is infected, she said.

Having antibodies in the bloodstream also does not mean a person is immune to the virus or for how long immunity may last. We dont have enough information yet to know what level of antibodies might be protective, Landry said. For other vaccines, such as rubella, the level of antibodies that provides protection is known. We dont know what that level is yet for SARS CoV-2 or COVID, Landry said.

Added to that, were seeing viral variants and that is a big concern, as well, because it is not certain that antibodies will protect as well against them, she said. However, we still do feel that the vaccines have a benefit against variants, she said.

Landry said, although there may be a slight reduction in protection against variants, vaccines are encouraged, most importantly to protect against severe disease and hospitalization and mortality, and thats key.

MinuteClinics antibody test costs $38 and is covered by Medicaid and Medicare but not by private insurance, Chamoures said. No appointment is necessary. CVS also offers PCR tests and vaccines for COVID-19.

CVS Health, based in Woonsocket, R.I., operates MinuteClinics in 1,100 CVS stores in 33 states and Washington, D.C.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
The Red Sox have officially activated Eduardo Rodriguez for his much-anticipated first start of the 2021 season, the team announced. He will take the hill for todays ballgame against Baltimore. Rodriguez, of course, will be making his first start since 2019 after missing last season due to myocarditis brought on by COVID-19. Rodriguez began this season on the injured list because of elbow inflammation.

Its somewhat appropriate that Rodriguez be able to make his return against the Orioles, with whom he spent many of his development years. He came to the Red Sox in a deadline deal for Andrew Miller in July of 2014. He would make his debut for the Red Sox the following season, and hes been a key piece of their rotation ever since.

The corresponding roster move was made yesterday when Tanner Houck was optioned to Bostons alternate training site. He appeared in two games, starting one, totaling six innings. He gave up two earned runs on seven hits, but also managed an impressive 10:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Houck will almost certainly be back this season, potentially as early as next week as the Red Sox kick off a 16-game stretch without a day off, beginning this Saturday.
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Im sad to say that despite the excruciating pain of the administration of former President Donald Trump, it has enabled us to become aware of the extent of the ugly pale underbelly of America. It will have cost us a half-million unnecessary deaths, an insurrection that nearly toppled our democracy, the emboldening of hate, the recognition that the extremist gun culture is less about hunting or home protection and more about militant aggression, and the reduction of the office of our presidency to a cesspool of vicious tweeted lies, bullying, power-grabbing, scapegoating and threats.

For the last two national elections, nearly half the nation bought into a cold-hearted, mean-spirited approach for making America great. It was accompanied by denials of reality and the warping of justice. I can only imagine what would have become of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s with a Trump presidency. Like many great empires, the United States will topple from within based on our greed, hate, ignorance and the silence of those who could have made a difference.
There will be no live concert in Slane Castle this year with the owner saying with the owner of the famous venue saying 2021 is 'dead' in terms of hosting a live show.

However, Lord Henry Mountcharles has committed to bringing live music back with a bang with a double summer concert in 2022. He is also considering a live-streamed gig later this year to celebrate 40 years of rock at the famous Co Meath venue.

But he has given up the ghost on 2021.

This year is dead for a live show, I was holding out hope that something could happen, but it looks nigh on impossible.

We are looking at a show - and very possibly two  next year. I see it returning in the summer of 2022 and I want to come back with a big show, he said in a statement.

Lord Henry, 69, was speaking ahead of a major auction in Kells, Co Meath, next week, which includes antique flags from his main residence Beauparc House, located just 10 minutes from the castle.

The Slane peer, who has bounced back from a gruelling cancer battle and celebrates his 70th birthday next month, says he is eager to see a return to live music at his 80,000-capacity venue by the River Boyne.

The last double gig at the castle in the same year saw Bon Jovi and Eminem headline two months apart in 2013.

U2 brought their Elevation tour to the grounds twice in 2001 - two decades after supporting Thin Lizzy at the inaugural gig in 1981. US rockers Metallica were the last to play in 2019.

We will come back next year with a big one and I am certainly looking at the possibility of two separate acts, said Lord Henry.

Im always very selective and careful about Slane - not everyone gets to play here. There are world-class acts out there and a wealth of Irish talent too, which I am keeping my eye on.

Later this year, he is considering a live-streamed, behind-closed-doors concert from the castle to mark the 40th anniversary of the first gig.

It remains to see what all this means for other festivals like the Electric Picnic. The promoters have yet to commit to a 2021 even in Stradbally, Co Laois.

Meanwhile, a little piece of Slane history is included in the Easter Interiors and Historical Sale next Tuesday and Wednesday, co-ordinated by antiques dealer Niall Mullen and streamed online by Cavan-based Victor Mee Auctions.

The flags and banners, originally from Beauparc House and which sold at a previous auction in 1985, include a large, red Welcome Home banner, a Union flag and a Commodores flag from Royal St George Yacht Club in Dublins Dun Laoghaire, dating back to 1847.

I dont think theyve been in Slane Castle in my lifetime, said Lord Henry.

But the connection to the flags came from the second Marquess Conyngham, Francis Nathaniel Conyngham, who was Commodore of the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dublin.

The Commodores flag has a guide price of 1,000-2,000, with the banner and Union flag each expected to sell for 200-400.

The auction will be streamed live at victormeeauctions.ie.
Australians could potentially skirt around the ban on globetrotting the world for a holiday when the travel bubble with New Zealand begins in less than a fortnight.

Since March 2020, Australian citizens and permanent residents have been prohibited from leaving the country for a short break.

But from April 19 when the trans-Tasman travel bubble begins, Australians will be allowed to travel to New Zealand, which unlike Australia allows its citizens to travel overseas for leisure.

Australian Border Force, an agency of the Department of Home Affairs, admitted New Zealand Customs authorities would be unlikely to stop Australians travelling to another country beyond the trans-Tasman travel bubble.

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Australians could potentially skirt around the banning on globetrotting the world for a holiday when the travel bubble with New Zealand begins in less than a fortnight. Pictured is Raglan Beach on New Zealand's North Island

'Currently, New Zealand does not prevent Australian citizens leaving New Zealand and travelling onwards overseas, however anyone arriving into Australia or New Zealand from any other country must enter into quarantine or mandatory isolation as directed by the relevant Government departments and Health authorities,' a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.

Home Affairs on Thursday morning updated their website to advise Australians they would need to special permit to travel beyond New Zealand to another country.

'If you are transiting through New Zealand to another destination you must apply for an outward travel exemption,' it said.

Daily Mail Australia contacted New Zealand Customs to ask if their officials would be asking Australians to produce a permit granting them permission to travel outside the trans-Tasman travel bubble.

Australian Border Force, an agency of the Department of Home Affairs, admitted New Zealand Customs authorities would be unlikely to stop Australians travelling to another country beyond the trans-Tasman travel bubble

Under existing Covid rules, Australians can only leave if they get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs for reasons including work visa purposes requiring a longer stay abroad.

The ban on Australians going overseas was introduced a year ago as non-citizens and non-residents were also stopped from entering the country in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Former home affairs minister Peter Dutton introduced that travel ban policy, which his successor Karen Andrews is now in charge of.

A human biosecurity emergency was also declared giving federal Health Minister Greg Hunt the power to issue orders to combat the outbreak of COVID-19.
Ana Hernandez fights back tears as she explains why she and her two-year-old-son, Matteo, made the hazardous journey from Honduras to seek asylum in the United States.

'There is no work in my country,' she says in Spanish. 'You cannot find food. My family wants a better life.'

The petite 25-year-old and her toddler were transported by people-smugglers known as 'coyotes' in lorries, buses and vans during a long and gruelling journey through Guatemala and Mexico, before crossing the Rio Grande river by raft under cover of night and surrendering to officers of the U.S. Border Patrol.

It's hard to hear Ana amid the bedlam around us. We're in a migrant respite centre run by the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings into America.

Many of the new arrivals are taken to an overcrowded Border Patrol holding facility  a giant 'tent city' in Donna, Texas. Designed for a capacity of 250, it is stretched far beyond its limits and now holds about 4,000 people, including some 3,300 children. Inside are overcrowded pods with plastic walls and floors covered in a sea of silver foil blankets

There is a cacophony of crying babies, while dozens of small children are running around, playing or clinging to adults. Fatigued mothers sit in chairs breastfeeding or changing nappies on the painted concrete floor. Exhausted fathers lean against walls, keeping a wary eye on older children.

In the chaos, a boy of about three becomes hysterical when he loses his mother. 'Hola, chiquito!' ('Hi, little lad!') says one of the volunteers, trying to comfort him, but the panicked boy backs away. He calms down only when he sees his mother again.

Every day, hundreds of migrants are pouring into this shelter in McAllen, Texas. A former nightclub, its windows are blacked out and the rooms are lit artificially, casting a gloomy pallor over the 700 or so occupants, of whom about half are children.

In adjacent rooms, people doze on thin, blue, plastic mats spread out on the floor. Others queue for food or a shower. Instead of alcohol, the nightclub's former bar is stocked with bottles of shampoo, body wash, baby cream and nappies.

Volunteers wearing green smocks dole out donated clothes to adults and children.

Signs in Spanish say 'Welcome!' and 'In hard times, put on a good face'  but the arrivals seem tired, stressed and anxious.

America is grappling with a new and alarming immigration crisis  fast becoming a humanitarian emergency.

Some of the youngest unaccompanied migrants, as young as three, sleep, eat and play in separate rooms, corralled by a plastic baby gate. Human rights groups have criticised the decision to hold children in such unsuitable accommodation

The number of migrants crossing the U.S.'s southern border, including unprecedented numbers of children arriving alone without their parents, has surged.

According to the most recent figures, some 171,000 migrants were caught at the U.S. border last month alone  the highest monthly total since 2006. About 18,740 of these were unaccompanied children, far more than the previous record monthly high of 11,861 set in 2019.

On Tuesday night, Border Patrol officials detained no fewer than 200 migrants crossing the Rio Grande into a single city, La Joya.

A further 276 were detained in the nearby cities of La Grulla and Roma. The new surge started two months ago after President Trump, who largely dismantled the country's asylum system, left office.

Trump was known across Central and South America for his hardline approach to immigration: the 'beautiful' Border Wall on which he had first been elected was a potent symbol of his presidency.

Trump's successor, the Democrat 'Uncle Joe' Biden, is widely perceived as being softer on illegal immigration.

As a result, false rumours of an 'open border' under him have been circulating in the poverty-stricken and politically unstable countries to America's south.

Less than a week after he was inaugurated as President in January, Biden opened the U.S. border to the asylum-seekers living at a makeshift migrant camp in the Mexican border city of Matamoros.

Trump's successor, the Democrat 'Uncle Joe' Biden, is widely perceived as being softer on illegal immigration. As a result, false rumours of an 'open border' under him have been circulating in the poverty-stricken and politically unstable countries to America's south

Even more crucially, the new President indicated he was willing to grant entry to unaccompanied minors and families with children who were seeking asylum.

This, experts believe, has led to a surge in the number of unaccompanied children and young families attempting to start a new life in America  yet it has also created a crisis as the numbers have become overwhelming.

The sudden influx of children and young families has swamped immigration authorities, who are now struggling to process tens of thousands of undocumented families and to find suitable temporary accommodation for unaccompanied youngsters.

The Biden administration has said it wants to implement 'more humanitarian' immigration policies, but is still turning back nearly all single adult migrants under a pandemic-related public health order.

Nevertheless, families with young children and unaccompanied children (under the age of 18) are being allowed to enter the country while their claims are processed. This more generous approach has infuriated conservative opinion in America.

Texas Congressman Ronny Jackson declared recently: 'The situation at our southern border is a public health crisis, a haven for criminal activity and a threat to our national security. It's time for President Biden to admit that his decisions created this crisis and return to effective Trump-era immigration policies before this situation gets any worse.'

Certainly, footage of recent migrant crossings has been particularly disturbing.

A remote surveillance camera recently captured images of smugglers dropping two little girls, aged three and five, over the 14 ft-high Border Wall near Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

A man lowered the smallest child by her arm before dropping her like a ragdoll. The toddler fell on her feet and then slammed face-first into the dirt.

The smuggler did the same with the older girl before he and another man ran off, abandoning the children in the desert in the middle of the night.

A remote surveillance camera recently captured images of smugglers dropping two little girls, aged three and five, over the 14 ft-high Border Wall near Santa Teresa, New Mexico

The sisters, from Ecuador, were rescued by the authorities and are in good health, despite their ordeal.

Sister Norma Pimentel, who runs the migrant respite centre in McAllen, tells me she has heard of adults dropping their own children over sections of the Border Wall.

'Some of them come here after they've been treated for a broken leg or a broken arm,' she says, adding: 'Children are easily kidnapped and recruited to gangs. There is constant danger.'

Last Thursday, a ten-year-old Nicaraguan boy was found wandering alone on a road east of Rio Grande City.

Video recorded by a Border Patrol officer showed the child crying and begging the agent for help because he was afraid he would be kidnapped.

Once they are in the country, many migrants manage to disappear. In the street outside the former nightclub in McAllen, an ambulance  the second of the day  pulls up to whisk a sick baby and its mother to hospital.

A new batch of bedraggled migrants, their clothes and shoes covered in the dust of the desert, with babies in their arms or trailing toddlers, prepare to enter.

These parents with small children have already been processed by the U.S. authorities  photographed, fingerprinted and tested for Covid  and are being released to await their asylum hearings in court. Many will have paid between $5,000 and $8,000 (3,600 and 5,800) to make the crossing.

They will stay here for a day or two until relatives in the U.S. transfer money for their bus or plane tickets and joyful family reunions can take place.

With her toddler Matteo, Ana Hernandez tells me her husband, Joseth, is working in New Jersey and is sending funds for her and the boy's air fares.

'I was five months' pregnant when my husband left, so he hasn't seen Matteo in the flesh,' she says, ruffling the hair of the boy, who is clutching a grubby teddy bear.

A Border Patrol guard tells me that the Rio Grande is about a mile beyond the Border Wall and only about 150 ft wide, so it can be crossed in minutes on inflatable rafts operated by people smugglers.

'You can't blame people for wanting better lives,' he says.

'But are undocumented people going to show up at their asylum hearings? I don't think so.' He shakes his head.

President Biden insists this latest spike in immigration is 'cyclical'. Sister Norma agrees. 'Families will continue to come because they don't see any other way,' she says

Countries such as Australia have shown that a hardline approach to immigration can yield results and avert a humanitarian disaster.

Soon after Australia implemented Operation Sovereign Borders in 2013  as arrivals by boat had soared to 50,000, with many migrants dying in the process  the numbers of such migrants 'plummeted', according to the BBC. After 2013, boat migrants to Australia were automatically turned away or processed in distant offshore facilities.

Republicans argue that America could avoid its own humanitarian catastrophe by taking a similarly tough stance on migrants, most of whom come from the three 'Northern Triangle' countries: Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

In Granjeno (population 418), where a rusty section of America's Border Wall is surrounded by rugged scrubland, I watch as a bus filled with men, women and children makes its way towards a processing centre. Up to five buses a day are filled with new migrants from just this area, I am told.

Many of the new arrivals are taken to an overcrowded Border Patrol holding facility  a giant 'tent city' in Donna, Texas. Designed for a capacity of 250, it is stretched far beyond its limits and now holds about 4,000 people, including some 3,300 children.

Inside are overcrowded pods with plastic walls and floors covered in a sea of silver foil blankets. Some of the youngest unaccompanied migrants, as young as three, sleep, eat and play in separate rooms, corralled by a plastic baby gate.

Human rights groups have criticised the decision to hold children in such unsuitable accommodation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says it is working to provide more suitable shelters and to reunite these vulnerable children with relatives.

Back in McAllen, Sister Norma blames the surge in young families on Mexico. The Central American country has an agreement with the U.S. to take migrants back while they wait for their asylum hearings to be processed, but now the Mexican government is refusing to take back families with children under the age of six.

'Every parent you see here has one or two children,' she says. 'This is the 'hole in the wall' and why you see families with small children increasing in great numbers.

Traffickers are adept at changing the narrative and exploiting whatever situation comes up in the U.S. They say to these people that this is their ticket  if they have a child under the age of six, they will not be turned away.'

President Biden insists this latest spike in immigration is 'cyclical'. Sister Norma agrees.

'Families will continue to come because they don't see any other way,' she says.

'We need to offer them safe space, legal pathways for asylum and immigration reform. I hope this new administration will also focus on stabilising these countries, so people don't feel they have to leave.'

Yet, for now, there is no end in sight for the latest surge in migrants  with all the risk to vulnerable children that entails.
Bodega Brands has expanded the footprint of its Hecho Tequila Soda RTD.

The Canadian company announced this week that, in addition to its home market, the 5% abv brand is now available in California, Michigan, Tennessee, Missouri, Florida, Nevada and Massachusetts. The expansion is being handled by a range of national distributors including Mexcor International and Breakthru Beverage Group.

Additionally, Bodega Brands plans to announce further distribution agreements for these states in the coming weeks.

Necho Tequila Soda can be purchased at selected on-premise locations throughout the states, as well as through the companys online store at an SRP of US$11.99 (CAD15.12) per 4x35cl can pack.

We are excited about the positive response and brand validation weve seen thus far, and attribute the success to the quality Hecho Tequila Soda brings to the RTD category and the global drinks industry, said founder & CEO Zack Lister. In a rapidly growing space, we feel that we are poised for growth given the brands position within the context of the RTD and premium Tequila markets.



Last month, Beam Suntory unveiled a hard seltzer extension of its Hornitos Tequila brand in the US in the hope of both categories continued success.

Why Diageo is winning the slow-and-steady Tequila race  click here for a just-drinks comment
Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 66F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 66F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
As Sullivans Island prepares for elections in May, I was quoted in Steve Baileys March 28 column.

The quote is accurate, but the context needs clarity.

When I wrote to The Post and Courier some years ago and described Sullivans Island as a community, not a commodity, real estate taxes were rising beyond the means of many longtime residents.

Was it fair to assess property at fair market value if the property was not on the market?

A community benefits when its homes are not commodities or investments.

To the relief of many, our legislators eventually capped reassessments at 15% as long as the property was not put on the market. This is an incentive to community stability.

I am not sure how the community vs. commodity debate applies to the current angst over what to do with the forestation on the islands accreted land.

Likewise, the income level of people on the front beach need not be a source of division.

Our communities and country can be united despite differences if we can overcome identity politics and hold to higher values.

Over the years, front-beach property owners also have been concerned about the undergrowth and trees in the accreted land.

Both sides make good arguments.

Of greater concern to me is the movement toward paid parking.

The recent restriction of parking to one side of each street was sensible and welcome as necessary for public safety.

I fear that paid parking will be but another step in the commodification of a community.

Enforcement, especially on weekends for churches with off-street parking, would be a nightmare.

I take this opportunity to thank all who are willing to serve as elected officials and as candidates for office on our beloved island.

Rev. LAWRENCE B. MCINERNY

Middle Street

Sullivans Island

Target store a mistake

As a recent arrival to Charleston, I was dismayed by the news that Target is opening along King Street.

It seems to me that the nature of such an entity is antithetical to what is, or at least what should be, cultivated from the climes of this city.

Instead of gathering the fragments, nurturing and making new what remains, allowing Target to the strip will likely bring more such boredoms.

It is a breach of unsaid things, only visible to those who wish to see.

Perhaps when the gaudy sign is raised, its red circle and the surplus of items coming off its shelves, we may see it for the mistake it is.

THOMAS ELLEN

Queen Street

Charleston

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Left-lane bill a waste

The state Legislature once again is wasting our time and our tax money.

The proposal for left-lane drivers is ridiculous.

Who is going to give these drivers a ticket? The nonexistent police who ticket speeders on I-26?

On the evening TV news, the traffic report shows the time from Charleston to Summerville as 29 minutes with an average speed of 69 mph.

So, if there are 30 drivers, 10 are doing the speed limit of 60 mph, 10 are doing 69 mph and 10 are doing 79 mph.

And none are being ticketed.

NAOMI RADCLIFF

Market Street

Charleston

Don't work, get paid

I recently went to dinner at a local restaurant and wondered why it was taking so long to get our food.

I had an enlightening conversation with the waitress.

It turns out that this particular restaurant is having issues with being understaffed in both the kitchen and waitstaff.

When I asked why, the answer was that her former coworkers find it more rewarding to be on enhanced unemployment rather than return to work.

JEFF WEINER

Pier View Street

Daniel Island

Don't repeat Iran error

President Joe Biden must make better nuclear deals with Iran and North Korea.

It is essential, however, that he does not repeat the fatal flaw of the first Iran deal, which imposed a waiting period for the inspection of suspected sites.

This would have allowed the materials for making a nuclear weapon, such as enriched uranium, to be moved to a second site during the waiting period for the first site.

Then, when the second site would come under suspicion, it would have a waiting period during which the material could be moved to a third site, and so on.

ALVIN BLAKE

Elm Street

Charleston
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 15:40:51|Editor: huaxia

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Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam attends the question and answer session in the Legislative Council (LegCo) in Hong Kong, south China, April 8, 2021. Lam Thursday said that subject to endorsement of the Executive Council, the amendment bill to improve the HKSAR's electoral system will be tabled to the LegCo next Wednesday. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

HONG KONG, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Thursday said that subject to endorsement of the Executive Council, the amendment bill to improve the HKSAR's electoral system will be tabled to the Legislative Council (LegCo) next Wednesday.

Lam said at a LegCo meeting that the bill covers five main ordinances, namely the Chief Executive Election Ordinance, the Legislative Council Ordinance, the Electoral Affairs Commission Ordinance, the District Councils Ordinance, the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance, and relevant subsidiary legislation.

The bill will also revise the date of the LegCo general election, Lam said, adding that the HKSAR government will strive to cooperate with the LegCo's Bills Committees with the deliberation as time is tight.

Lam said that through local legislation, the HKSAR government will define the Election Committee subsectors and the statutory bodies, advisory bodies, relevant bodies of the LegCo functional constituencies and eligible corporate electors.

Boundaries of the directly elected seats of the LegCo's geographical constituency will be reset, methods of nominating candidates, voting methods, composition of the candidate eligibility review committee will also be handled, Lam said.

Meanwhile, the HKSAR government will take measures to deal with election manipulation and sabotage in accordance with the law. After the passage of the bill, preparations for three elections in the coming year will begin immediately, she said. Enditem
1. President Biden took his first steps to address gun violence, saying, Weve got a long way to go.

With legislation stalled by Republican opposition in Congress, the president ordered a crackdown on ghost guns  firearms assembled from kits  and said the epidemic of shootings in the U.S. was an international embarrassment.

His announcement came after two mass shootings, in Georgia and Colorado, that again focused public attention on the issue.
Srinagar: Acting on reliable inputs, the security forces in Jammu & Kashmir on Thursday (April 8) busted a Pakistan-sponsored narco-terror module.

In a joint operation by the police and the army, one person was arrested while 9 kg of heroin worth Rs 50-60 crores in the international market was recovered from him.

Police identified the terrorists associate as Mukhtar Husain Shah who hailed from Kupwara.

The other persons involved have been identified and efforts are being made to arrest them, a police official said.

We have busted Pakistan-sponsored narco module. One person namely Mukhtar Shah is arrested. We recovered 9kg heroin worth Rs 50-60 crore international market value, SSP Kupwara Dr. G.V. Sundeep said.

We were tracing this group from last one week. Mukhtar was in touch with Pak-sponsored terrorists. Those drug smugglers provide financial assistance to terrorist groups in Kashmir, he added.

The module was in close connection with Pakistan-based terror handlers and was involved in the drug trade and assisting financially to active terrorists of the valley, the police said, adding, The recoveries also exposed the interconnection between drug dealers and terrorists.

According to the police, the module was working for terrorists to strengthen their activities in the valley and was misguiding and motivating the local youth of the valley to join militant ranks.

A case has been registered at Police Station Karnah in Kupwara district and an investigation has been started.

A special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to ascertain the details of the accuseds ties with terrorist outfits, radicals, smugglers, and other anti-national elements, said the police.

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Charles Coolidge, one of the nation's most storied World War II veterans and a Medal of Honor recipient, has died at the age of 99.

Coolidge passed away Tuesday at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, while surrounded by his family, the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center announced.

"Tennessee has lost a beloved son and one of its bravest men," Coolidge's grandson Brad wrote in the obituary posted by the center, also located in Chattanooga.

Read Next: Alwyn Cashe's Medal of Honor Package Is Headed to the White House, Family Says

Before his death, Coolidge was the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient. There is now only one other living recipient who was recognized for actions during World War II, Iwo Jima veteran Marine Cpl. Hershel "Woody" Williams. According to the National World War II Museum's website, there were 473 Medal of Honor recipients from that war.

Coolidge, who was born in 1921 in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, served with the Army's 36th Infantry Division in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany as a technical sergeant during WWII. He received the Bronze Star and Silver Star in 1944 and the Medal of Honor the following year; in 2006, he was awarded France's highest honor, the Legion of Honor.

U.S. Army TSgt. Charles H. Coolidge, a World War II soldier from the 36th Infantry Division, received the Medal of Honor for valorous actions east of Belmont-sur-Buttant in France from October 24-27, 1944. (Photo courtesy of the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center)

He joined the Army in June 1942, trained in Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina, and then deployed to the European front in spring 1943.

Coolidge was part of the first American division to invade Europe during the war. He took part in the ill-fated attempt to cross the Rapido River, and the fierce Battle of Monte Cassino in early 1944, as the Allies sought to take Rome from the Axis powers.

That May, he landed at Anzio along with the rest of the 36th and helped open the gates of Rome for the 5th Army, earning the Silver Star. His division was then pulled out of Italy. In August, they redeployed to southern France and began marching toward the Siegfried Line, a notorious German defensive line riddled with thousands of bunkers and pillboxes.

In October 1944, Coolidge stepped up and took the lead during a fierce, four-day forest battle near the French village of Belmont-sur-Battant, for which he was later presented the Medal of Honor.

The fighting erupted on Oct. 24, as Coolidge led a section of heavy machine guns, supported by a platoon from Company K. His force was ordered to support the 3rd Battalion's action and cover its right flank, according to the citation for his award.

Coolidge and a sergeant from the company moved forward in the woods to reconnoiter positions to coordinate machine gun fires, when they ran into a large force of enemy infantry -- perhaps as much as an entire company, the citation states.

Vastly outnumbered and outgunned, Coolidge thought quickly -- and boldly. He tried to bluff the Germans with a show of confidence and called on them to surrender.

His audacious gambit didn't hold, though; the Germans opened fire. Coolidge returned fire with his carbine and wounded two of them.

With no officer present, Coolidge assumed command of the force, and they fought back. Many of those troops in the force were fresh replacements and were under fire for the first time. But Coolidge -- unfazed by the close-range enemy fire erupting around him -- rallied his jittery men, walking along the position, calming and encouraging them and directing their fire until that attack was repulsed.

The Germans hadn't given up, however. Later that day, through Oct. 26, they launched one attack after another on the group's position. All were foiled under Coolidge's leadership.

But on Oct. 27, the Germans began their most determined attack yet on the Americans' position, sending infantry supported by two tanks. The area was swept by small-arms, machine gun and tank fire.

Once again, Coolidge took the lead. According to his citation, he armed himself with a bazooka and advanced to within 25 yards of the tanks. But his plan of attack hit a major snag: The bazooka failed.

Coolidge threw the busted bazooka aside and improvised. He grabbed as many hand grenades as he could carry and crawled forward, hurling grenade after grenade and inflicting heavy casualties on the advancing German infantry.

But Coolidge's men could hold out against the superior, tank-supported German force for only so long. When it became clear the Germans would overrun their position, the citation states that Coolidge -- "displaying great coolness and courage" -- organized his men into an orderly withdrawal. He was the last to leave the position.

"As a result of TSgt Coolidge's heroic and superior leadership, the mission of his combat group was accomplished throughout four days of continuous fighting against numerically superior enemy troops in rain and cold and amid dense woods," his award citation reads.

After the war, Coolidge returned to Tennessee, got married and started a family. One of his three sons is retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Charles Coolidge Jr., who flew in Vietnam and served as vice commander of Air Force Materiel Command before his 2004 retirement.

Coolidge is also survived by multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He briefly worked for the Veterans Administration after the war, according to his obituary. But he soon returned to his family's business, Chattanooga Printing & Engraving, where he had also worked as a bookbinder before the war. He retired from the business, which his father Walter Coolidge founded in 1910, at the age of 95.

Coolidge was honored multiple times in his final years. The Medal of Honor Heritage Center in downtown Chattanooga was named for him, as was a highway and a park. In 2013, he was one of 12 Medal of Honor recipients to be featured on the cover of the U.S. Postal Service's Medal of Honor stamp sheet. And last month, he was named the winner of the 2021 George Marshall Award by the State Funeral for World War II Veterans organization, in recognition of his service to the country.

His funeral will be held April 16 at First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga, with burial following at the National Cemetery of Chattanooga.

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

Related: World War II Vet's ID Tag Found in France
A rough and tough road in the Cullohill area has attracted a lot of complaints, according to Cllr Ollie Clooney.

He wants Laois County Council to re-surface the road near Boston, Cullohill.

Ive got a lot of complaints about this. It is very rough and tough in places. Lorries use it on the way from Manor Stone. I would

be very grateful if something was done, he said at the recent Borris in Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District meeting.

Mr. Edmond Kenny, District Engineer replied Laois County Council will assess this road in the overall context of the development of a future roads programme.
In one video, Sparks explained how she had tracked down the name of a pharmacy technician in Illinois who had nabbed several cards for herself and her husband and then posted about it online. The pharmacy technician had not disclosed her identity but had linked the post to her social media accounts, where she used her real name. The video has 1.2 million views.
The actor reportedly was offered a guest role for 3-5 episodes

According to a recent report, Rege-Jean Page turned down a significant pay raise when he decided to skip Bridgerton season 2.

As TheGrio reported on Monday, it looks like The Duke of Hastings will not return to grace our screens when Bridgerton returns for its highly anticipated second season. Pages brooding leading man was a breakout character on the show, with many fans devouring Simons love story with Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest daughter in the Shondaland series.

Pages absence from the upcoming second season was a blow to some fans, although his character is barely in the book, The Viscount Who Loved Me, that the second season will be based on.

In this screengrab, Rege-Jean Page, winner of Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series category speaks at the 52nd NAACP Image Awards Virtual Press Conference on March 27, 2021 in Various Cities. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)

Read More: Rege-Jean Page announces his departure from Bridgerton: The love is real

Now, according to recent reports, Page turned down a hefty amount to return to Bridgerton in a limited capacity. Sources close to The Hollywood Reporter told the magazine that Page was offered a guest star contract for the shows second season, including three to five episodes, with a rate of $50,000 per episode. Per the magazine, Page declined the role for a multitude of reasons, as the actor is laser focused on his burgeoning film career.

The actors film career is certainly beginning to heat up. From the latest Dungeons and Dragons flick and the upcoming big-budget Netflix film, The Gray Man, Page has been nonstop since the series premiered in December.

Rege-Jean Page attends the Vanity Fair EE Rising Star BAFTAs Pre Party at The Standard on January 22, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Page recently spoke to Variety on his decision to skip out on the second season. Detailing his early conversations when first joining the Bridgerton family, Page explained, Its a one-season arc. Its going to have a beginning, middle, end  give us a year[I thought] Thats interesting, because then it felt like a limited series. I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit and then the Bridgerton family rolls on.

He continued, I have nothing but excitement for Bridgerton continuing to steam train off and conquer the globebut there is also value in completing these arcs and sticking the landing.

Story continues

Page also took to Twitter to speak directly to his followers as the news broke on Friday. He wrote in a tweet, Pleasure and a privilege! An honour to be a member of the family  on and off screen, cast, crew and incredible fans  the love is real and will just keep growing.

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Read More: Rege-Jean Page wins Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series at NAACP Image Awards 2021

As theGrio reported earlier this year, Bridgertons second season was announced in an official statement from the series mysterious narrator, Lady Whistledown. The statement read, The incomparable cast of Bridgerton will return to production in Spring 2021, before diving into some teases of the plot for the second season, which is believed to focus on Daphnes brother, Lord Anthony Bridgerton.

While an official release date has yet to be announced for Bridgerton season 2, production officially began in late March for the sophomore season.

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The post Rege-Jean Page turned down $200K offer to appear in Bridgerton season 2 appeared first on TheGrio.
By Laila Bassam, Ellen Francis and Tom Arnold

BEIRUT/LONDON (Reuters) - Foreign lenders including HSBC and Wells Fargo are cutting ties with Lebanon's central bank, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, underlining the country's international isolation as it reels from economic crisis.

In a letter to Lebanon's public prosecutor last week, Governor Riad Salameh warned that foreign correspondent banks were starting to curtail their business relationships with the local financial system, while Wells Fargo had closed a central bank account in dollars, and HSBC had shut its British sterling account, according to three sources from the banking sector and the judiciary.

Salameh described "negative shocks" in the relationship between the central bank and foreign correspondent banks, which he said would make it tough for Lebanon to transfer foreign payments and purchase basic goods from abroad, a judicial source said.

The central bank didn't respond to a request for comment. Wells Fargo and HSBC declined to comment.

Those two banks, along with Bank of America and Deutsche Bank, were among lenders that had also reduced their activities with Lebanese banks in areas such as cross-border payments and letters of credit, banking sources said.

However, other banks such as JPMorgan, Bank of New York Mellon, Citi and Commerzbank were still active, the sources said.

Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan declined to comment. The other banks didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

CAUTIOUS

Foreign banks turned cautious on Lebanon when the government defaulted on its debt last year, becoming even more wary as its currency crashed and a standoff over the make-up of a new government deepened in recent months, dashing hopes for a revival of funding talks with the International Monetary Fund.

"At these banks, when they Google 'Lebanon' and they see the low levels of foreign reserves, the default ... the reputational damage and corruption, and this whole disgusting state we're in, what do they say? They say of course it's better not to deal with them," said one of the sources, a senior banker.

Story continues

Bankers' estimates of reduced activity by foreign lenders since 2019 ranged from 20% to 80%.

Salameh's warnings come as he faces growing scrutiny for his role in the financial crisis both at home and in Europe, with a Swiss investigation tied to Lebanon's central bank under way.

President Michel Aoun blamed the central bank, in a speech late on Wednesday, for the financial collapse and for stalling an audit that is key to unlocking foreign aid.

The central bank has not responded to Aoun's remarks.

Salameh's letter said JPMorgan was still offering letters of credit needed to help Lebanon import fuel and other goods, a judicial source added. JPMorgan declined a request for comment.

But basic subsidies, drawn from critical foreign reserves, are already precarious. Money to fund imports of wheat, fuel and medicine will run out by the end of May, the caretaker finance minister told Reuters last week.

"Given the situation, it is not surprising that some banks are withdrawing from Lebanon," said Khaled Abdel Majeed, MENA fund manager at London-based SAM Capital Partners, an investment advisory firm.

"The question is ... more about not having any money to buy anything. I think that stage will be reached before other banks withdraw."

RISK

Deposits held by Lebanese banks with internationally active banks stood at $16.7 billion at the end of September 2020, less than half of what they were two years prior, according to the latest Bank for International Settlements data.

It also showed the largest chunk of deposits were held by banks from Switzerland, then Britain, the U.S. and Germany.

Lebanon's predicament echoes that of Venezuela, also increasingly shunned by international lenders as the South American country grapples with economic crisis and sanctions.

The role of Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon means some of the country's banks have long been deemed risky for international lenders, some of whom have faced U.S. penalties for dealings with Iran.

That risk aversion intensified after Lebanon's sovereign credit rating was cut deeper into junk territory in recent years as concern grew about the sustainability of its public debt. Its debt-to-GDP ratio is now teetering close to 200%.

The heavily indebted state and the central bank have since traded blame for the crisis, Lebanon's worst in decades.

Paralyzed banks -- the state's biggest creditor -- have locked people out of their deposits under informal capital controls imposed without legislation since late 2019, shattering the image of Lebanon's banking sector as a pillar of stability.

Some smaller banks had already been shorn of correspondent banking ties, making them reliant on Lebanese peers that still held such relationships if they wanted, for example, to clear an international transfer of dollars, a senior banker said.

And many banks were restricted from opening letters of credit with foreign lenders since they had to provide collateral against the full amount of the facility, the same banker said.

Still, a source from one of Lebanon's largest banks told Reuters it had not faced any difficulties with its correspondent banks. "So far we're OK," said another banking source. "But if a large number of correspondents stop working with Lebanese banks, we will have serious problems."

(Additional reporting by Samia Nakhoul, Dominic Evans, Karin Strohecker, Nikolaj Skydsgaard and Nichola Saminather; Editing by William Maclean)
Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk.

Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen.

If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned.

I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country.

It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously.

Vote

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New Delhi:

Father Tom Uzhunnalil, a Vatican priest from Kerala who was abducted by Islamic State militants and held in captivity in Yemen, returned to India on Thursday, ANI reported. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Thursday.

His return comes as a major diplomatic breakthrough for the external affairs ministry as Omani ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said played an instrumental role in the priests release from Islamic State in coordination with parties from Yemen.

After his return to Delhi, Father Tom was quoted by ANI as saying, "I thank the Almighty for making this day possible. I am grateful to all people who worked in their own ways." Father Tom was released on 13 September, after which he went to Muscat.

The Islamic State held him for 18 months after he was abducted from an old age home run by Missionaries of Charity at Aden in Yemen.

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Using the Canadian built Q400 turboprop aircraft, Connect Airlines will offer a premium service for day-tripping business travelers direct into Toronto's downtown island Billy Bishop airport. Subject to regulatory approvals, the airline will provide a valuable alternative to business travelers as they start to fly between the United States and Canada again.

John Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of WMA, comments: "We are passionate about how aviation brings people, cultures and business together. Especially in these challenging times, we are committed to delivering the world's most rewarding premium travel experience with safety, service, convenience and reliability."

WMA chose IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, as its strategic launch partner. IBS Software's SaaS model fully supports the needs of the start-up airline minimizing fixed costs.

Thomas continues: "The last year has shown that airlines need to be lean, agile and digital-first. Not only is this important as the industry recovers but passengers are demanding it. Travelers want a seamless digital experience which is why we partnered with IBS Software. We can manage the airline on a single integrated platform, meaning we can spend more time focusing on our customers, rather than IT headaches."

Connect Airlines will be the launch airline for IBS Software's "Airline-in-a-box" set of solutions, enabling them to manage the airline on a single integrated platform, with a simultaneous and seamless implementation and integrated sources of data. The solution includes:

iFly Res, a next generation, customer-centric passenger service solution; the first NDC natively compliant solution in the market, with advanced ancillary management capabilities,

iFlight Lite, an integrated end-to-end fleet and crew operations platform to enable the airline to run efficiently from the beginning,

iFlight MRO, a maintenance and engineering software solution that provides the foundation to implement best-in-class business process to control overall maintenance costs.

IBS Software will also build and host Connect's website and mobile app, using the latest technology to support personalization and serve the needs of the connected business traveler

Jitendra Sindhwani, IBS Software, President & Head, Aviation Business at IBS Software, comments: "Connect Airlines is bucking an industry-wide trend. This bold statement is testament to the growing confidence in the aviation industry recovery. Our integrated set of solutions will support Connect Airline's commercial and operational business. This includes reservations, fleet and crew operations, maintenance, and their website and mobile application. We are able to provide all the technology to enable the airline to start flying. We are thrilled to welcome Connect Airlines to the IBS Software family and look forward to our long-term partnership with Waltzing Matilda Aviation."

About Waltzing Matilda

WMA is a Boston based FAA Part 135 jet charter operator (Certificate number 6WZA614N) that has started the process to add FAA Part 121 scheduled and non-scheduled services to its Air Operators Certificate. WMA began private (Part 91) operations in June 2008 and has operated thousands of hours of safe and reliable flying with a focus on delivering superior customer service. WMA owns and operates both its own aircraft as well as managed aircraft. WMA brings together a group of aviation professionals, many of whom have been involved in jet charter operations in the Boston area for over 20 years. WMA is passionate about flying and dedicated to providing a high quality of service. WMA was co-founded by John Thomas. John has been actively involved in the aviation industry for the past 35 years, both as a senior operating executive as Group Executive at Virgin Australia Airlines and as a strategic advisor to the global aviation industry. He advised major airlines around the world as well as OEMs, Business & General Aviation, FBOs, airports, and ANSPs. In addition to actively managing WMA, John sits on the Board of Skyservice, the largest Corporate aviation service provider in Canada, as well as the Board of Icelandair Group, and continues to provide advisory services to the broader aviation industry including as Senior Advisor to Spike Aerospace Inc., ATM Consultants Group, and CAPA Centre for Aviation.

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
Detecting and analyzing breast cancer goes beyond the initial discovery of the cancer itself. If a patient has a tumor removed and it needs to be analyzed to determine further treatment, it might be OK for the results to take 24 hours. But if the patient is still on the operating table and clinicians are waiting to make sure no cancer cells are present along the edges of the removed tumor, results need to be nearly immediate.

A paper titled, "Breast cancer histopathology using infrared spectroscopic imaging: The impact of instrumental configurations," was published in Clinical Spectroscopy, an extension of previous work by Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellow Shachi Mittal and Rohit Bhargava, bioengineering professor and director of the Cancer Center at Illinois. Two alumni of the Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows program, Michael Walsh and Tomasz Wrobel, are co-authors. It seeks to advance breast cancer detection methodologies when using spectroscopic imaging.

They conducted the research at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Because time is of the essence in breast cancer detection, the research identifies how clinicians can choose the right detection methods and tools during the correct scenario to still drive accurate results.

"The goal of the study was to give people a roadmap of how to plan and design an infrared imaging-based study for clinical work like digital histopathology," Mittal said. "In one scenario, you determine what instrument configuration will be better, and then you determine what types of methodologies you can use to develop accurate models with that instrument."

The team set out to examine the tradeoffs between using a standard Fourier transform infrared image or a high-definition Fourier transform infrared image.

"We wanted to see how the different types of instruments, especially different resolutions and how it impacts the capability of that data set to be used for different diagnostic purposes," Mittal said.

Instead of determining that one method is always superior, the researchers uncovered that the answer is much more complex. While high-definition imaging may seem like the best option regardless of the circumstances, sometimes standard definition infrared spectroscopy suffices in accuracy in instances when clinicians need a speedy result, for example.

"As technology expands and provides more capabilities with new features, it becomes more difficult to choose the optimal technology from the many options available," Bhargava said. "This study provides a nice comparison and guidelines to design a more useful and practical technology."

For Mittal, the research is an important step towards better dissecting, understanding, and curing cancer.

"Cancer is something we understand very little about," she said. "It's not only about the journey of battling the disease, but also the mental burden. Patients oftentimes don't understand, and they recognize the doctor may not fully understand either."

Mittal began her focus on breast cancer during her first graduate project, and continues to specialize her research in hopes to achieve something impactful that she can then apply to other types of cancers later in her academic career. She notes breast cancer has one of the highest mortality rates when looking at cancers that affect women.

"For females, it's not about just battling the disease, it also comes with a lot of cosmetic and life changing challenges," she said.

The interdisciplinary work that resulted in the paper was made possible by the Beckman Institute, Bhargava said.

"Developing new technology for human use requires a breadth of expertise that places like Beckman can bring together," he said. "I note that this study involves one current (Shachi) and one former (Tomasz) Beckman fellow as well as a Carle-Beckman Fellow (Michael). Together, these academicians' work is helping incubate a new community that provides chemical imaging technology to address human disease."

###
The head of the Junta de Andalucia has said that if the supply of coronavirus vaccines from central government doesnt improve the region will consider going it alone and sourcing its own vaccines.

Juanma Moreno was speaking in Cadiz on Wednesday, 7 April, when he admitted he finds the slow arrival of doses to the region "infuriating".

Moreno called on the prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, to pressure the European Union to get more doses, and said he cant understand that "in other parts of the planet they are vaccinating at a better rate than in Europe".

"Our Moroccan neighbours have more people vaccinated than Andalucia and the whole of Spain; it does not make any sense," he pointed out.

"Europe is one of the leading and most prosperous regions in the world and that leadership has to be demonstrated in the field of vaccines," he said.

The president of the regional government pointed out that, since the beginning of the health crisis, the Andalusian government has agreed that the acquisition of vaccines should be done centrally by the European Union, since with the economies of scale it is easier to do it for a population of 370 million.

"But now," he warned, "given the exasperating pace with which vaccines are arriving, this is forcing some countries and regions to individually negotiate the purchase of vaccines," and he said that that Junta could take the initiative to contact the pharmaceutical companies.

"We have to remedy this situation, because if the European and national authorities do not do it urgently, the possibility that many regions will unilaterally negotiate for vaccines, will probably multiply," he said.
Maputo  The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged the Tanzanian authorities not to turn back Mozambicans fleeing over the border in the wake of the terrorist attack against the town of Palma, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, on 24 March.

According to a UNHCR press release, teams from the agency in the Cabo Delgado provincial capital, Pemba, "have received worrying reports from displaced populations that over 1,000 people fleeing Mozambique and trying to enter Tanzania were not allowed to cross the border to seek asylum".

"We are following up on these reports in Tanzania", the release added. "UNHCR calls on Mozambique's neighbours to provide access to territory and asylum procedures for those escaping violence and seeking protection".

Although it should be obvious that the Palma survivors are fleeing from violence and terrorism, the Tanzanian authorities have treated them as "illegal immigrants".

This problem is recurrent. Last October Tanzania deported about 1,000 displaced Mozambicans at the Negomano border post. At the time, the Secretary of State for Cabo Delgado province, Armindo Ngunga, declared "these Mozambicans are being returned compulsively. This isn't coordinated repatriation, it's compulsion".

Tanzanians certainly know what is happening in Cabo Delgado, for Tanzanian citizens living in Mtwara, some 85 kilometres north of Palma, have called on their government to evacuate any Tanzanian citizens caught up in the violence.

According to the German agency DW Africa, Mtwara residents who have relatives in Palma are worried because they have no idea whether they are alive or dead. The terrorists cut all phone communication on 24 March, and it has not yet been re-established.

Some people with relatives in Palma sought help from the Tanzanian police, who were less than helpful. One Mtwara resident, Rukia Ngomeke, said police had demanded that she send the names of her relatives to the immigration office for an investigation "into whether they went to Mozambique legally, or were hiding there".

An Mtwara civil society activist, Mustafa Kuyumba, urged the Tanzanian government "to present a strategy and ensure that our brothers and sisters come back from Mozambique".
Advocate Capital Inc. has created a new insurance agency called AdvoCap Insurance Agency Inc. to serve plaintiff attorneys needs.

Both Advocate and AdvoCap aim to support their law firm partners as they pursue justice on their clients behalf.

The AdvoCap Insurance team, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, offers various insurance products, including professional liability, fiduciary liability insurance and commercial insurance, such as property and workers compensation insurance.

AdvoCap Insurance Agency Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Advocate Capital Inc., a provider of strategic financial products and accounting services for trial law firms since 1999.

Source: Advocate Capital Inc.
Amaravati, April 8 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo and former chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu wrote to Andhra Pradesh director general of police (DGP) Gautam Sawang alleging that police are harassing the opposition party cadres in the latest temple attack case.

Naidu alleged that instead of arresting the culprits involved in the desecration of Subramanya Swamy temple at Petagunta village in Gonuguru gram panchayt, 40 TDP leaders have been picked up by the police.

"Police instead of arresting the culprits are harassing opposition TDP leaders for seeking justice. On Tuesday evening, police had lifted 40 leaders from TDP and moved them from one police station to another without even giving them food," claimed Naidu on Wednesday.

According to the TDP chief, only late in the night did police serve a notice under section 160, even as all the 40 belong to four villages who command respect, including some of them working as sarpanches earlier.

He highlighted that some of the rounded up cadres are contesting the MPTC polls.

"While such notice itself is ridiculous, registration of cases against TDP leaders under FIR No. 69/2021, Kuppam police station is risible. Additionally, TDP leaders who came to the police station to apprise the police about the gruesome happenings were also booked in the above case," he claimed.

He alleged that Satyendra Sekhar, former AMC director, Raj Kumar, Kuppam urban TDP president and Kanipakam Vekatesh were also taken away by the police.

Naidu claimed that such filing of cases against opposition party leaders is reminiscent of the colonial raj.

"This action by the police is only illustrative of political vendetta being pursued by the ruling YSRC in connivance with a section of police," claimed the former chief minister.

He appealed to Sawang to unilaterally remove the alleged false cases against TDP leaders and strive to nab the 'real' culprits.

Naidu also demanded an inquiry against those police personnel who allegedly acted highhandedly against the TDP cadres.

Meanwhile, the TDP national president alleged that ever since June 2019, increased attacks are occurring on religious places in the southern state.

"It appears that the miscreants and anti-social elements are encouraged by the lukewarm response from the government with regard to temple attacks," Naidu alleged, referring to the Pentagunta incident.

Pentagunta incident was cracked by police within 24 hours, with the identification of a drunk mentally unstable woman indulging in the desecration of idols.

However, irrespective of the government of the day or the political party in power, temple offences occurred in Andhra Pradesh almost every year in the past five years, as per the statistics shared earlier by Director General of Police (DGP) Gautam Sawang.

Under the TDP government, 163 temple offences were reported in 2015, 139 in 2017, 123 in 2018 and 177 in 2019, when the government transitioned to the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

In 2020, a year which saw an uproar following the chariot burning at the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Antarvedi, there were 143 alleged temple offences.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 22:04:21|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The allegation of China transfering pollutive production enterprises to Kazakhstan goes against the facts and has ulterior motives, a Ministry of Commerce (MOC) spokesperson said on Thursday.

Kazakhstan is among the first members of the Belt and Road Initiative. In recent years, economic and trade cooperation between China and Kazakhstan has yielded fruitful results and benefited the two peoples, MOC spokesperson Gao Feng said at a press conference.

By the end of 2020, China's outstanding direct investment in Kazakhstan topped 7.83 billion U.S. dollars, playing an important role in promoting local employment and economic development, said Gao.

He added that China-Europe freight trains made nearly 10,000 trips between China and Europe via Kazakhstan last year.

Gao also highlighted the steady progress in green economy cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the new energy, ecological agriculture and health care sectors.

He used a 100-megawatt wind power plant in Kazakhstan as an example of the cooperation, noting that it can help reduce local emissions of sulfur dioxide by more than 1,000 tonnes and carbon dioxide by nearly 300,000 tonnes.

China will continue to work together with Kazakhstan to deepen practical cooperation in various fields following the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, as well as extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, said Gao. Enditem
NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Access to affordable healthcare is a hot topic in the United States with politicians battling over how to solve the problem for millions of Americans. Healthcare and business expert Todd Furniss reveals his solution with the release of The 60% Solution: Rethinking Healthcare .

With over 30 years of global experience in private equity, management consulting and senior-level operations, Furniss grew profits in 10 industries. Now, he's dedicating his expertise to the healthcare industry with his groundbreaking book.

The 60% Solution outlines a return to consumerism, and a decreased interdependence on insurance as a solution to society's approach to healthcare. Called The 60 Percent Solution due to the exclusion of 20 percent of the population in Medicaid and the additional 20 percent using Medicare, the goals are to reduce the cost of healthcare for all and help lift many out of poverty.

Furniss shares actionable measures individuals can take to become financially capable, educated, and engaged enough to demand the far-reaching reform necessary. It's based on five critical components:

Emphasizing primary care Clarifying pricing Standardizing accounting and IT Modifying Health Savings Accounts Changing governance

"In writing this book, I wanted to provide solutions for patients that would create a healthier and more streamlined healthcare industry," says Todd. "The goal is to create a system that not only works well, but also serves the greatest number of people at the lowest cost over time."

The 60% Solution is available to order on his website: https://www.thesixtypercentsolution.com/

It is also available to order at Amazon and Barnes and Noble .

ABOUT TODD FURNISS:

Todd Furniss is the CEO of gTC Group, a private equity firm that also performs macroeconomic research. Furniss helped create the Healthcare Inequality Index to measure the disparity in the access to healthcare. He then established the Impact Investment Fund to raise capital and deploy capital to narrow the inequality gap, starting with 207 underserved geographies identified by the Healthcare Inequality Index. Furniss is often featured in media as a subject-matter expert on political and economic issues and has been quoted discussing healthcare issues and real estate projects in the Wall Street Journal, Dallas Business Journal, The Dallas Morning News, Becker's Hospital Review and D Magazine, among others.

SOURCE Todd Furniss
Kathmandu, April 7

International human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has reported that Nepals human rights situation remained poor through the year 2020.

In its annual State of the World Human Rights Report released on Wednesday, the rights watchdog says the Nepal government was not responsible for protecting individuals rights during the lockdown and other times whereas impunity was rife.

Likewise, the state failed to secure justice in relation to the human rights violations committed during the 1996-2006 war, according to the report.

The Nepal section of the report has been summarised as:

Legislation limiting the rights to freedom of expression and privacy remained pending. Security forces detained individuals for spreading misinformation and criticising the government during the Covid-19 pandemic. Protesters were detained and security forces continued to use excessive force to disperse protesters and enforce lockdowns. Efforts towards securing justice, truth and reparation for crimes under international law and human rights violations committed during the 1996-2006 conflict remained grossly inadequate. Indigenous families were forcibly evicted and their homes destroyed. Sexual and gender-based violence continued with impunity. Gender-based discrimination continued in both law and practice. Dozens of abuses against Dalits were reported and abuses were often carried out with impunity. The government did not take adequate measures to protect Nepali migrant workers stranded and otherwise affected by the pandemic abroad.
Absa has launched a cloud incubator initiative in collaboration with Amazon Web Services to enhance its cloud computing skills across its operations in Africa. The bank is promoting cloud fluency as part of its broader efforts to promote learning, experimentation and innovation across the organisation.

Andrew Baker | image supplied

AWSs Skills Guild initiative

By migrating to the cloud, companies can eliminate the expense of building and managing on-site data centres while gaining the ability to reduce infrastructure costs and scale up and down rather than paying for excess on-premises capacity.Cloud is rapidly becoming the norm for large companies, a trend that was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted a step-change in digital solutions, said Andrew Baker, Absa group chief technology officer.Using cloud allows us to store much more data cost-efficiently, compared with physical data centres. Cloud has already improved our ability to manage and access data and will enable us to bring products to market faster.World Wide Worxsreport reveals that 84% of African organisations surveyed viewed cloud computing as cost-effective. Cloud investment is expected to increase significantly this year, with 56% of respondents estimating that a quarter of applications will have moved to the cloud by the end of 2021, according to the report.To support its cloud transformation, Absa has launched an internal cloud incubator programme to participate in AWSs Skills Guild initiative, a comprehensive cloud skills training programme designed to help large enterprise organisations accelerate their cloud adoption journey and build cloud fluency for their employees. The cloud incubator initiative will equip more than 1 500 staff across Absas African operations with advanced cloud computing skills this year.The AWS Skills Guild offers enterprises a comprehensive approach to organisation-wide cloud enablement, and is designed to not only impart cloud skills, but create excitement, momentum, and accelerate paths to innovation. AWS Skills Guild is based on our experience building enterprise-wide skills transformation plans for our customers across the globe, including National Australia Bank, Deloitte, Kmart Group, and many more, explained Chris Erasmus, commercial sector leader for AWS in South Africa.Accelerating cloud adoption will have a significant impact on Absas ability to innovate, offer new value propositions, and play a meaningful role in our customers and clients experiences, said Baker.
He was previously married to Tessy and the pair share two sons, aged 14 and 12

Former princess Tessy of Luxembourg has congratulated her ex-husband Prince Louis on his engagement to Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue.

The Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg announced on Tuesday that Louis, 34, is engaged to Parisian lawyer Scarlett-Lauren - just over one month after ex-wife Tessy revealed she's expecting her first child with her Swiss businessman fiance Frank Floessel.

Prince Louis and Tessy Antony de Nassau, 34, share two sons Prince Gabriel of Nassau, 14, and Prince Noah of Nassau, 12, and divorced in 2019 after 13 years of marriage.

Taking to Instagram, Tessy sent well-wishes from herself and her fiance, as well as the two children she shares with Louis, insisting that she 'only wishes the best' for the couple.

Former princess Tessy of Luxembourg has congratulated her ex-husband Prince Louis on his engagement to Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue in an Instagram story posted yesterday

Tessy Antony, 34, was previously married to Prince Louis and has Prince Gabriel of Nassau, 14, and Prince Noah of Nassau, 12 with the royal. She is pictured with her children and new fiance Frank Floessel

Sharing the couple's engagement photo, she wrote: 'Finally it's out too. Gabe, Noah, Frank and I are so happy for you both and wish you only the best and much happiness.'

The official Royal Family Instagram account shared three new photographs to celebrate the happy news last week.

The newly-engaged couple opted for a relaxed-look in knitwear as Prince Louis holds Scarlett-Lauren's left hand, which features a gold engagement ring.

In the other two more formal portraits, Prince Louis dons a smart suit jacket and pastel blue-coloured shirt, which coordinates perfectly with his 29-year-old fiancee's pale blue top and trousers.

The Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg has announced that Prince Louis, 34, is engaged to Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue. Pictured, the happy couple showing off Scarlett's engagement ring

A more formal portrait shows the couple smiling alongside Prince Louis' parents, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg (pictured)

In another portrait, Prince Louis dons a smart suit jacket and pastel blue-coloured shirt, which coordinates perfectly with his fiancee's pale blue top and trousers (pictured)

The third image shows the couple smiling alongside Prince Louis' parents, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.

Scarlett-Lauren first made her first public appearance at the side of Prince Louis - the third son of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess - during an award show one year ago.

A date for the wedding has not yet been set.

In a statement, the royal court commented: 'We are happy to announce the engagement of our son, Prince Louis, to Miss Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue.

'Princes Gabriel and Noah join us in surrounding the new couple with all our affection. We wish them immense happiness.'

Former princess Tessy of Luxembourg, 34, announced she is expecting her first child with her hunky Swiss businessman boyfriend online in February

Born in Bordeaux on 8 August 1991, Scarlett-Lauren is the youngest child of lawyers Pierre Sirgue and Scarlett Sigrue.

At the beginning of her career, she worked alongside her mother in Family Law, before decided to focus more specifically in Victims' Law.

Scarlett-Lauren works for the firm which was founded by her parents, which is also where Prince Louis works as a mediator.

The happy news comes over one month after former princess Tessy of Luxembourg announced she is expecting her first child with her hunky Swiss businessman fiance.

Taking to Instagram, the ex royal shared a snapshot of her blossoming baby bump as she snuggled up with financier and CEO Frank, writing: 'Spring is the perfect time for delicate flowers to grow.'

She is believed to have known businessman Frank for several years, and announced her engagement to him on New Year's Eve.

The couple, who are believed to have known each other for years, announced their engagement on New Year's Eve

In the photograph, Tessy and Frank could be seen cuddling up with one another, while the businessman's hands gently rested on the mother-of-two's growing baby bump.

The former royal did not reveal how far along she is or when her due date is expected in her post.

It comes after the couple announced their engagement to one another at the end of last year, with Tessy posting on Instagram : 'Yes to 2021 and many more years together.'

Frank also shared his own joy over the big news, telling RTL Today: 'After having mastered the extraordinary and difficult last year together, I took my chance to take the next step in our relationship and I am overjoyed that Tessy said yes.'

Tessy became a princess in 2006 when she married Prince Louis, with the couple sharing two sons and going on to divorce in April last year

Last year, she told Hello magazine that it 'took a long time' after her divorce, when she was stripped of her royal titles, explaining: 'After every relationship it takes a while to heal when the heart has been broken. It has been really, really wonderful for me to realise that I am able to trust and love again. It's nice to see that life goes on.'

Tessy went on to reveal how she is 'very happy' that her ex-husband Prince Louis maintains a close bond with their sons, despite the fact they can't see each other during quarantine.

She said her son's 'love and trust' with their father had 'become stronger' because of the separation during the pandemic.

Tessy has previously told how her family 'suffered greatly' when she became a princess in 2006 after marrying Prince Louis, whom she met in 2004.

Speaking on Sky News special report The Meghan Effect, Tessy explained: 'My little cousin needed to change schools twice. My twin brother was incredibly bullied at work  he still is today.

'My sister, my parents suffered, my oldest brother doesn't talk to me anymore because of that, because it was too much for him to handle.

'That was when I married in, and when I got divorced, oh my gosh the same.'

Born a commoner, Tessy joined the Luxembourg Army in 2002 at the age of 18, rising to the rank of corporal. Two years later, when she was one of a handful of female UN peacekeepers in Kosovo, she met Prince Louis, who was visiting the army.

His family only became aware of their love affair when Tessy fell pregnant and gave birth aged 19, and unmarried, in September 2005, providing Grand Duke Henri with his first grandson.

It infuriated the royal family, and Prince Louis renounced any claim to the title of Grand Duke due to the constitutional crisis they had created by having a child out of wedlock.

When Tessy married Prince Louis in September 2006, six months after giving birth, in a modest country church wedding, the Grand Duke stripped her of any claim to his title.

The couple's fairytale marriage broke down in 2016, and they were granted a decree nisi in February last year.

Tessy, who in 2017 was named Woman of the Decade by the Women Economic Forum for her work in women's empowerment, now lives in London with Gabriel and Noah, while Louis lives in Paris - though she appears to be in isolation somewhere more rural.

The philanthropist is the co-founder of social enterprise Professors Without Borders which aims to improve access to higher education across the globe.

She also works as a consultant, public speaker and is a UN Association patro
Ankara, April 8 : A Turkish court has sentenced 32 people, including former soldiers, to life imprisonment for their involvement in the 2016 failed coup, according to state media.

Wednesday's verdict by the 19th Ankara Heavy Criminal Court for 497 defendants was made after four years of trial that saw 243 hearings, reports Xinhua news agency.

The defendants, including the presidential guards, were accused of attempting to seize the military headquarters in Ankara, and raiding the state broadcaster TRT, whose news anchor was forced to read out a statement on behalf of the coup-plotters.

In the massive trial, the court sentenced 32 defendants to life imprisonment, including six that received aggravated terms with no parole, one person to 61 years in prison, and 106 to terms ranging from six to 16 years.

The rest were either acquitted or not given any prison terms.

A total of 104 are already behind bars while 11 are on trial in absentia.

Ankara blames the US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen for orchestrating the failed coup, and has designated his movement as a terrorist group.

The cleric denies charges.

Turkey arrested tens of thousands and dismissed more than 100,000 from public service since the failed coup, 21,000 of them from the armed forces alone.

Out of a total of 289 trials into the coup attempt, 14 are still ongoing.
BEIJING, Apr. 8 -- Brunei, the rotating chair country of ASEAN, held a video conference of the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials Meeting Plus (ADSOM-Plus) on April 8. Representatives from China and 17 ASEAN member states as well as the ASEAN Secretariat, attended the conference.

At the event, all parties exchanged views on international and regional security situation and other topics. The Chinese military representative endorsed the ASEAN 2021 theme of "We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper " and expressed firm support to the ASEAN Centrality.

The Chinese military representative proposed that since the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is far from complete, all parties should work together to promote international anti-pandemic cooperation and take pragmatic measures under the guidance of real multilateralism, so as to continuously enhance the capabilities of regional countries to deal with various security challenges and lay a solid safety barrier for regional prosperity.
With the local launch of Apple Pay at the end of March 2021, South African banking customers now have wide selection of digital payment wallets to choose from.

The service is the fourth device-based payment app to go live in the country, following Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, and Garmin Pay.

These wallets allow users to load their bank or loyalty cards to an app on a smart device  such as a smartphone, tablet, or smart watch  which they can then use to make contactless payments.

It uses the NFC technology of a device to support tap and go at payment terminals  similar to how contactless bank cards can process payments.

Given that South African banks recently reported that the majority of their payment terminals now offer NFC, the functionality will likely work at most retailers.

These payments wallets can therefore provide great convenience by allowing bank customers to leave their wallets at home when they go the shops or have to pay for transport on services like the Gautrain.

In addition, they offer robust security, with the user required to provide a PIN, pattern, fingerprint, or facial ID scan before the payment can be processed.

Apple Pay allows iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and MacBook users to make payments with their device.

For the time being, this digital wallet is limited to Absa, Discovery Bank, and Nedbank.

Its primary rival in South Africa is Samsung Pay, which has been around since August 2018.

The latter is now supported by all of the major South African banks  with the exception of Capitec  and allows users to make payments with many Galaxy smartphones or smartwatches.

The service surpassed two million transactions in South Africa in April 2020.

This is not surprising, given that Samsung leads smartphone sales in South Africa, and Samsung Pay is supported on a variety of the companys mid-range smartphones.

Fitbit Pay and Garmin Pay are limited to smartwatches, accessories which fewer consumer can afford in South Africa.

The other major international digital payment wallet which remains to be supported by any bank in South Africa is Google Pay.

This service allows Android-based devices capable of running Android version 5.0 (Lollipop) or greater to perform tap and go payments.

Given the popularity of Android as an operating system on mobile devices in South Africa, it could see significant uptake.

Unfortunately, according to the latest update from South African banks, there are no set dates for its launch in the country.

The table below shows the digital wallets available in South Africa, which banks support them, and what device you will require to use the payment feature.

Digital payment wallets Supported banks Devices Apple Pay Absa

Discovery Bank

Nedbank All iPhone models with Face ID or Touch ID, except iPhone 5s

All iPads with Face ID or Touch ID

All Apple watches

MacBook Fitbit Pay Absa

Discovery Bank

FNB

Investec

Nedbank

RMB Private Bank Charge 3 Special Edition

Charge 4

Ionic

Sense

Versa Special Edition

Versa 2

Versa 3 Garmin Pay Absa

Discovery Bank

FNB

Investec

Nedbank

RMB Private Bank

Standard Bank Vivoactive 3

Vivoactive 3 Music

Vivoactive 4s

Vivoactive 4

Vivomove Style

Vivomove Luxe

Venu

Legacy Saga Series

Legacy Hero Series

Approach S62

Forerunner 645

Forerunner 645 Music

Forerunner 945

Fenix 5S Plus

Fenix 5 Plus

Fenix 5X Plus

Fenix 6S/6

Fenix 6 Pro Series

Fenix 6X Pro Solar

Fenix 6 Sapphire Series

MARQ Athlete

MARQ Aviator

MARQ Captain

MARQ Adventurer

MARQ Driver

MARQ Commander Samsung Pay Absa

Discovery Bank

FNB

Investec

Nedbank

Standard Bank

RMB Private Bank

Virgin Money Galaxy S21 series

Galaxy Fold and Z Fold2

Galaxy Z FlipGalaxy Note 20 series

Galaxy S20 series

Galaxy Note 10 series (including Lite)Galaxy Note 9

Galaxy S9+ and S9

Galaxy Note 8

Galaxy S8+ and S8

Galaxy S7 Edge and S7

Galaxy A9

Galaxy A80

Galaxy A8

Galaxy A72

Galaxy A71

Galaxy A70

Galaxy A7 (2017)

Galaxy A52 LTE and A52 5G

Galaxy A51

Galaxy A5 (2017)

Galaxy A32 LTE and A32 5G

Galaxy A31

Galaxy A30s

Galaxy Watch 3

Galaxy Watch

Galaxy Watch Active

Galaxy Watch Active2

Galaxy Gear S3

Galaxy Gear Sport

Other payment apps and features

It is important to distinguish these services from other Tap to Pay and Scan to Pay apps provided by banks and other providers which are typically software and not hardware based.

Absa, FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank, and others offer various of their own Tap to Pay features within their banking apps.

Scan to Pay, meanwhile, lets users point their cameras at a QR code to complete a payment.

This is supported natively in a number of banking apps as well as by third-party apps like Snapscan and Zapper.

Huawei Pay also uses Scan to Pay rather than Tap To Pay and requires a merchant to support Zapper.

Now read: You can now tip car guards even if you do not have cash
Resting B!@*h Face, should be called Safety Face. We need to see it for what it is and categorise it correctly. This is the outcome of observations I have made after working in hospitality for four years. Because everyone does a version of this, especially women.

In the current discussion on women in the workplace, I wish to add my five cents. In my working environment, I have watched on as fellow workers force themselves to be polite. At the same time, I watch customers act in the most impolite and outlandishly aggressive ways.

The worst often occur to young women who have not learned to wear the visual and verbal tones required. They are not hardened up to the abuse that will come their way. When it does occur it eventually brings them to tears.

Crying on the Telephone

I can tell you a tale which I was a part of. Between the customer ordering over the phone, and myself delivering to the customer a mistake was made. Food was either not packed or not prepared at all.

Arriving back from the delivery the young woman who was taking phone orders that night was crying. I was given the food to deliver and told to be quick about it. The customer accepted the remainder of his order (chips and a coke) and I returned to the store.

That same customer had abused the young woman for a mistake she did not make. Meanwhile, I was only greeted gruffly. He abused her over chips and a drink, said nothing to me. It was my first experience of the double standard expected of hospitality workers and customers. One that in my experience inflicts its venom on women more than men.

Defense Tactics

How do women survive this treatment? The woman who was on the phone that night does not work hospitality anymore. Those who have survived their share of abuse, both male and female have defensive tactics to ward off the abuse.

For some, it is a polite sing song voice. Others use a curt tone suggesting you better not cause any trouble. It runs the gamut from the Australian standard How ya goin! and the monosyllabic yeah mate.. All with differing physical and vocal attributes to suggest familiarity, apathy, neutrality, right up to vailed aggression.

While for some women the sing song voice is the default. Eventually most gain a variant of resting b!@*h face. Of course, this does not occur to just those working in hospitality. Because we have all seen and used resting b!@*h face in one form or another.

For a while, I thought about where and when I use similar tactics. I would like to think that I am not alone here in analysing the use of safety faces. We use them every day. It is just that some safety faces are there for reasons other than everyday social interaction.

Safety Face Survival

Women use the blank, neutral, sneer, and scowl facial modes as a default because it works. They dissuade and negate certain types of people. You know the type. Those who think a smile means more than a smile. The kind who think a little poke and a nudge will end up in the right direction.

A safety face is something you gain as you grow up. An extra defense in social survival, especially when confronted with certain people and how they expect the interaction to go. How we respond to these advances is vital to a safe conclusion.

It is good to struggle over how to remove misogyny, racism, and other forms of oppressive behaviours. Yet there are little parts of our social world that we also need to acknowledge. Changing resting b!@*h face to safety face in my opinion is one of them. Not just because of the slur on women it so easily insinuates, but the assumption that only women or those who are not in control or powerful need to use it.
360Civic has been a leader in protecting judges across multiple Superior Courts in the state of California by ensuring that their personal information is removed from websites.

360Civic is proud to announce the addition of two California counties  Sacramento and Yolo  to its Superior Court clients receiving protection through the companys online security monitoring service.

For almost 10 years, 360Civic has been a leader in protecting judges across multiple Superior Courts in the state of California by ensuring that their personal information is removed from websites.

Were delighted to be able to extend this important service to the judges in these counties, as well as their families, said 360Civic CEO Ron Zayas. Judges must be able to perform their vital societal function without fear of reprisal. Our program has removed millions of pieces of individual information for the people we protect, from addresses and phone numbers to the schools that judges children attend.

The program includes protection for judges and residing family members, daily searches of any instances of privacy violations protected by statute, and actions to ensure information removal, including referral to the California Attorney Generals office and additional legal action. Enrollees may also attend seminars created to help judges and court officers learn how to protect themselves online.

In 2021, 360Civic has extended this same monitoring and protection service to police departments, sheriffs departments and police unions, as well as to individual judges and law enforcement officers.

About 360Civic

360Civic provides website design and development services, content management, security services and ADA review for public sector websites. The company also works with superior courts, justice departments and law enforcement agencies as a legally-contracted agent, to formally remove any personal information from any website in violation of state and federal restrictions. 360Civic is part of 360 BC Group, Inc. a family of companies serving Fortune 500, startup and civic organizations since 2004. For more information, visit https://360civic.com/.
Machine Condition Monitoring Sensors Market: Key Findings

Machine condition monitoring sensors market value to grow by USD 334.41 million at over 4% CAGR during 2020-2024

at over 4% CAGR during 2020-2024 Based on the end-user, the oil and gas segment will offer maximum opportunities for vendors during the forecast period

segment will offer maximum opportunities for vendors during the forecast period Based on the geography, APAC dominated the market with a 32% share in 2019

dominated the market with a 32% share in 2019 The machine condition monitoring sensors market is expected to have a negative impact due to the spread of COVID-19

Machine Condition Monitoring Sensors Market: Growth Drivers

The rise in demand for wireless vibration sensors is one of the prime factors driving the growth of the market. End-users in the market are exhibiting high demand for wireless vibration sensors owing to their cost-effectiveness as they eliminate the need for laying cables and wires. They are also capable of operating in remote and hazardous environments. This improves productivity and ensures the safety of both humans and machines. Many such benefits are driving the demand for wireless vibration sensors, which, in turn, is driving the growth of the market.

"Surging deployment of sensors in aging infrastructure and rising adoption of machine condition monitoring systems in APAC will further boost market growth during the forecast period", says a senior analyst at Technavio.

Develop Smart Strategies for Your Business: Get a Free Sample Report Now!

Machine Condition Monitoring Sensors Market: Major Vendors

AB SKF: The company offers products such as CMSS 2100, CMSS 2100T, and other machine condition monitoring sensors.

Connection Technology Center Inc.: The company offers temperature sensors, hazardous area sensors and barries, low-velocity sensors, and other products.

Emerson Electric Co.: The company offers products such as AMS 9420 Wireless Vibration Transmitter, A0322RM, A0394DI, and others.

Honeywell International Inc.: The company offers products for temperature loss, fluid flow, temperature rise, and other applications.

ifm electronic GmbH: The company offers a wide range of machine condition monitoring sensors such as systems for vibration monitoring and others.

Related Reports on Industrials Include:

Global Industrial Vibration Sensor Market  Global industrial vibration sensor market is segmented by product (displacement sensor, acceleration sensor, and velocity sensor), end-user (process industries and discrete industries), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, MEA, and South America).

Receive an Exclusive Free Sample Report

Global Medium Voltage Motors Market  Global medium voltage motors market is segmented by product (AC motors and DC motors), end-user (process industries, discrete industries, and HVAC), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America).

Receive an Exclusive Free Sample Report

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.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

Report: www.technavio.com/report/machine-condition-monitoring-sensors-market-industry-analysis

SOURCE Technavio
Photo: (Photo : What are the types of domestic violence?)

The prevalence of domestic violence in the United States is a public health problem. Everyone in the home is a victim where domestic violence occurs. Females, males, and children can become victims of violence in a household. Domestic abuse is identified as one partner having control over another. Symptoms of an abusive relationship may include:

Isolation from friends, family, and co-workers

Manipulation

Physical and emotional violence

Victims experience anxiety, depression, and a general sense of helplessness.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse includes:

Verbal abuse

Humiliation

Isolation

Victim-blaming

Psychological abuse is very difficult to recognize. Symptoms of domesticated violence are very subtle. Manipulation to gain control of the other leads to greater harm inside a household.

An example of emotional harm is gaslighting. The perpetrator uses tactics such as manipulating their partner into believing they are always the guilty party casting doubt on their own judgment. This makes the victim feel confused and irrational.

Emotional abuse against children leads to worthlessness and child neglect. Abusers may belittle the child's feelings. A child at risk from domestic abuse has a difficult time building healthy relationships. Psychological abuse can cause great harm to the emotional and physical well-being of a child. Mental abuse usually escalates to physical harm.

Physical Domestic Violence

Physical attacks inside the home usually include intimate partner violence (IPV). Studies show that IPV can lead to great physical and emotional consequences. According to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 4 women have experienced a form of domestic abuse during their lifetime. 38 million men have suffered psychological aggression during their lives. Males are at greater risk of long-term effects of domesticated violence. Oftentimes, males are denied help from shelters created for females.

Children exposed to this type of prolonged abuse experience anxiety, difficulty in school, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Stalking

The act of stalking violates a person's privacy and safety. The transgressor causes their target to suffer emotional distress. These are recurring unwanted acts. This may include showing up at your work, calling, or texting you multiple times.

One common form of stalking is cyberstalking. This pattern of behavior occurs with the use of technology. This is when the abuser uses technology to:

Harass

Terrorize

Or an act that leads to violence against the sufferer

Stalking usually occurs when a partner tries to end the relationship. Victims of domestic abuse often experience stalking.

Getting Help Is Possible

Some of the reasons why people have a difficult time leaving an abusive relationship include family, social expectations, and financial burdens. Another issue is the threat of violence. Many times there are children involved. Once a person identifies the abusive situation they are in, getting help is the next step to moving on.

A person who experiences domesticated abuse may not want to pursue legal matters but it may help to seek advice from a domestic violence attorney. Getting help to extricate oneself from an abusive situation is important such as seeking legal advisement. A lawyer who specializes in these types of cases can offer guidance on getting a restraining order, issues with child custody, and other legal matters.
Baltimore Prosecutor-Travel (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Last year, the city of Baltimore took a novel approach to fighting low-level crime: it stopped.

In an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus through the city's prisons, Baltimore State Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced the city would no longer prosecute low-level crimes, like prostitution, outdoor alcohol consumption, drug possession, and minor traffic infractions, among others.

The plan appeared to mirror a plot line in HBO's acclaimed crime series, The Wire, which portrayed the gritty and often desperate lives of police, criminals, and the public living and working on the city's streets.

In the show's third season, the Baltimore PD designates a neighbourhood in the city as a prosecution-free zone for drug use and possession, which comes to be known as "Hamsterdam".

Despite the series' gritty realism  provided by creator and former Baltimore Sun journalist David Simon's exhaustive time embedded with police and the communities they patrolled  The Wire is still a work of fiction. Could such a project actually achieve a positive change in the city?

Read more

It appears so.

According to data provided by Ms Mosby, the change in policing resulted in a marked drop in incarcerations. That is to be expected.

What surprised many people  including Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison  was that the reduction in low-level prosecutions appears to have triggered a decline in nearly all categories of crime in the city.

The officers told me they did not agree with that paradigm shift, Mr Harrison told The Washington Post.

He expected crime to rise. But it did not.

Property crime dropped 36 per cent, and there were 13 fewer homicides in the city than in the previous year. There were 20 per cent fewer individuals who entered prison over the year long span, and 39 per cent fewer people who entered the city's criminal justice system in one way or the other.

Story continues

Mr Harrison could not deny the data.

It continued to go down through 2020. As a practitioner, as an academic, I can say theres a correlation between the fact that we stopped making these arrests and crime did not go up, he said.

As violent crime skyrocketed in cities across the nation, those crimes in Baltimore  a city that is still among the most violent in the country  did not.

After a year of falling crime, Ms Mosby announced on Friday that the changes to Baltimore's policing  called The Covid Criminal Justice Policies  would be implemented permanently.

A year ago, we underwent an experiment in Baltimore, Ms Mosby said in an interview. What we learned in that year, and its so incredibly exciting, is theres no public safety value in prosecuting these low-level offences. These low-level offences were being, and have been, discriminately enforced against Black and Brown people.

As a result, she said the changes would stay.

The era of tough on crime prosecutors is over in Baltimore, Ms Mosby said. We have to rebuild the communitys trust in the criminal justice system and thats what we will do, so we can focus on violent crime.

Ms Mosby said Baltimore police would instead focus on drug trafficking and violent criminals, and would work in tandem with a nonprofit, Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc, to address mental health issues, people struggling with drug addiction, and homelessness.

Kobi Little, the head of the city's NAACP chapter, said during a press conference that the move was recognition of decades of heavy handed policing causing more problems than it solved.

We want to see more elected officials stand up on these issues, he said.

With the programme permanently in place in Baltimore, the question now is whether or not it will be  or can be  replicated in other cities across the US.

Like Ms Mosby, prosecutors around the country worked to thin out the crowds in prisons in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus among inmate populations. Both Boston and Seattle implemented similar policies regarding low level crime, and in certain parts of California in and around Los Angeles, prosecutors have stopped taking low-level drug offenders to court.

While it's currently unclear if prosecutors will continue those policies once the pandemic has been brought under control, some recently elected prosecutors have vowed their pullback on low-level crimes will remain permanent.

Cook County's State Attorney Kim Foxx has already reduced penalties for minor offences and worked to funnel some individuals facing drug charges into treatment programmes rather than jail.

She ran on a platform of reforming the criminal justice system in a way to stop the disproportionate focus on people of colour and mentally ill individuals.

Jose Garza, the newly elected district attorney of Travis County, where Austin, Texas is located, said he was also going to turn his focus away from prosecuting low level drug offences.

"We also know that those kind of offences are one of the greatest drivers of racial disparities in our criminal justice system," Mr Garza told NPR. "So we have made clear that when we take office we will end the prosecution of low-level drug offences."

They may just be the start of a broader wave of prosecutors turning away from minor crime policing, particularly now that Baltimore's data can serve as a precedent.
Taste of Thai will reopen this week after relocating from the former spot at the gas station off exit 3 to Black Mountain Square. The food truck is hoping to be open to the public on Thursday.
PARLAMENTUL REPUBLICII MOLDOVA

 2010

The Moldovan Parliaments website design was supported by the Democracy Support Programme in Moldova"  an initiative financed by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe
Hong Kong: Govt holds more election briefings

Chief Executive Carrie Lam and principal government officials today met representatives from different sectors to explain the improvements to Hong Kongs electoral system and render their support.

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung hosted two briefings for Hong Kong members of national organisations. Mrs Lam attended one of the sessions during which she addressed the questions raised by participants.

Mr Cheung emphasised that the amendment of Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law approved by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has significant and far-reaching meaning.

Apart from the resolute, full and faithful implementation of "one country, two systems", ensuring the implementation of "patriots administering Hong Kong" and safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, it also allows Hong Kongs political system to gain a foothold at a new starting point, driving constitutional development to new heights and opening up new horizons for the city, he said.

The Chief Secretary reiterated that the Election Committee (EC), the core element of the improvements to the electoral system, will not only nominate and elect the Chief Executive, but also be endowed with the new function of nominating candidates for the Legislative Council election and electing some of the legislators, which is conducive to enhancing and ensuring the community's balanced and orderly political participation.

All in all, the enlarged EC will cover more representatives from different sectors and all walks of life, better representing the overall and fundamental interests of society, he added.

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip also gave briefings on the improvements to the electoral system to relevant sectors.

Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang chaired two briefing sessions for Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress and Hong Kong members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Mr Tsang noted the purpose of improving Hong Kong's electoral system is to develop a democratic system that suits the city's actual situation, meets the requirements for the implementation of "one country, two systems", and manifests Hong Kong's characteristics.

This is to ensure the comprehensive implementation of "patriots administering Hong Kong" and enhance the governance efficacies of the Government, thereby achieving good governance, allowing Hong Kong to develop the economy, improve people's livelihood and resolve various deep-seated problems, he added.

Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui and Secretary for Security John Lee held briefings with district committees, with Mr Tsui also meeting representatives of the New Territories Association of Societies and the Hong Kong Island Federation.

The home affairs chief told the relevant committees of Eastern District, Tai Po, North District and Kwai Tsing that through the improvement of Hong Kong's electoral system, the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" can be fully implemented with institutional safeguards, which are conducive to the stable development of the city's democracy.

Mr Lee said to the relevant committees of Yuen Long, Yau Tsim Mong and Wong Tai Sin that improving the electoral system can plug the loopholes in the existing system, thereby bringing Hong Kong back on the right track and enabling effective governance.

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau and Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui held separate sessions with the wholesale, retail and financial sectors.

Mr Yau highlighted the importance of improving the electoral system in creating a stable business environment and ensuring Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, while Mr Hui said the improved electoral system will bring Hong Kong back on the right track, allowing its unique advantages under one country, two systems to continue developing the economy and improving people's livelihood.

This story has been published on: 2021-04-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
It might not surprise our regular readers that the top performing funds of the first quarter of this year were focused on the UK and small caps. And the topmost on the intersection of the two.

Britain has organised a strong vaccine rollout, and despite some debate about the speed of reopening allowed to businesses  particularly compared to the other frontrunner, the US  investors are betting that its companies have been given a headstart.

That has been benefiting the more domestically focused FTSE 250 - which hit record highs yesterday - rather than the more global FTSE 100. But it is small caps both here and abroad that are set to reap the biggest benefits from the recovery, being nimble and full of rapid growth potential.

Best and worst performing Investment Association fund sectors in the first quarter

Investors considering their new Isa year's options might look to short and medium-term trends when choosing funds. But they must be confident that the narrative will persist into the long term.

There's no reason to think that UK small caps will not continue to prosper (EU trade wrangles and exchange rate issues aside perhaps), but a fair amount of that future success might already have been priced into funds and trusts.

There are other obvious pitfalls of basing investments on momentum. A look at the best performing investment companies of the year so far - in the same article (table reproduced below) - reveals a few.

In top place is All Active Asset Capital with an impressive year-to-date gain of 185 per cent. It is an eight-year-old UK-listed investment company, although not a member of the Association of Investment Companies and based in the British Virgin Islands.

According to online information it operates in Asia Pacific and Europe, with a focus on early-stage firms in technology, agriculture, forestry and plantation, mining, natural resources, and property.

But a closer look on the Morningstar website shows that it holds 43 per cent of its portfolio in cash, 37 per cent in UK-listed tech investor Asimilar Group and 18 per cent in Myanmar Allure, which is a travel company.

The latest Morningstar data shows AIM-listed All Active is trading at a premium of 3,500 per cent.

Best performing investment companies during the first three months of 2021 All Active Asset Capital Limited 184.9% Agronomics Limited 135.8% Drum - Income Plus Reit 73.6% Drumz Plc 44.3% Tirupati Graphite PLC 43.9% Tiger Royalties And Investments PLC 42.9% Hammerson PLC 40.8% Seneca Growth Capital VCT PLC 39.6% New City Investment Managers - Geiger Counter 38.3% Miton UK MicroCap Trust PLC 37.1% Source: AJ Bell / FE Total return 31/12/2020 to 31/03/2021

That's because its current share price gives it a market capitalisation 510m, whereas its estimated net asset value is 14m. Now the latter is out of date as it only reports NAV semi-annually.

But still, all this shows that even the risk-tolerant investor must do plenty of research, so they are happy with what they're getting into. What it also shows is that some investment companies can be very different beasts from funds - whether closed or open-ended.

Big investment trusts might operate in a similar fashion to OEICs but some investment companies are small, niche affairs and at the extreme just a vehicle for backing a particular firm or project.

The latter are often not members of the AIC, and while this is not a signifier that there's anything wrong with a company, it means it's probably not a large, diversified investment fund. And it makes it more difficult to compare with peers: the AIC website has some excellent resources for analysing and comparing the 392 investment trusts that fall within its remit.

Second up is Agronomics Ltd with a YTD return of 136 per cent. According to Morningstar it invests in 'the nascent industry of modern foods, which are environmentally friendly alternatives to the traditional production of meat and plant-based sources of nutrition'.

Investors considering their new Isa year's options will often look to medium-term trends when choosing funds. But they must be confident that that trend will persist into the long term.

The Isle of Man-based company, which has been around for 10 years, has a market cap of 144million and is not in the AIC. It's also a hot AIM stock, as noted recently by our print colleagues.

For adventurous investors wanting a thematic play as a satellite holding in their portfolio, it could be an interesting choice. The average Isa investor might want to proceed with caution.

There is after all the possibility that shares in a fashionable sector have been bid up to frothy valuations, with the danger that you are coming late to the party. Renewable energy companies and trusts recently suffered something of a correction - although that does not necessarily damage the long-term outlook for the sector.

Next up are two similarly named vehicles that are not to be confused. Drum Income Plus is a real estate investment trust with 'a diversified portfolio of commercial real estate, retail and industrial sectors' that is 74 per cent up on the year. It is however nearly 25 per cent down over 12 months, suggesting a certain amount of volatility.

Drum REIT's performance charts do show a sudden boom recently although it is hard to detect why in news sources. It is also very small with a market cap of just 20m - but it is an AIC member and is running at a near-29 per cent discount to NAV.

That might give some investors comfort, as it does after all offer a yield from its property investments of 5.7 per cent.

Drumz meanwhile (LSE ticker DRUM, not in AIC) is a tech investment company with a particular interest in software firms across Europe. It's tiny with a market cap of just 2.3m and is running at a hefty 127 per cent premium, as its latest estimated NAV is just 1m. It also levies an ongoing charge of nearly 7 per cent.

That's not to say there is anything wrong with Drumz but these are signs it's really not one for the vast majority of retail investors.

Three months is obviously far too short a timescale to judge any sort of investment. But what these sorts of list can do is highlight themes and trends, and give you ideas.

So, intrigued by small growth and tech firms? Then consider something with a great track record like Herald IT.

Excited by UK small caps of all sorts? Consider established performers like Blackrock Throgmorton, Henderson Opportunities, or Miton UK Micro Cap.

Want some exposure to property to diversify your portolio and earn some income? There are some big name investment trusts with excellent recent performance like Ediston and BMO Real Estate.

While investing should rightly be a long-term pursuit there's no harm in favouring the better performers of the last year or three - as long as you know who they really are and what they do.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

An Italian navy captain arrested last week on charges of spying for Russia did not have full access to national or NATO military secrets, Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini said on Thursday

Rome, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2021 ) :An Italian navy captain arrested last week on charges of spying for Russia did not have full access to national or NATO military secrets, Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini said on Thursday.

Walter Biot, who worked in the office of the Chief of the Defense Staff, was placed in custody after police caught him allegedly passing confidential documents to a Russian military officer in return for 5,000 Euros ($5,930).

According to Guerini, the captain had access to "classified documents" but was not senior enough to have detailed information on military operations.

He could see documents and assessments on military policy but not material concerning "the management of operations, or details on national and NATO capabilities", the minister said during a hearing before the joint defense committees of the two houses of parliament.

Last week, Italian media cited a court document indicating that police found 181 pictures of confidential documents on the memory card that the captain was seen handing over to his Russian contact.

Following his arrest, Italy summoned the Russian ambassador and expelled two officials from the Russian embassy's military attache office.

Biot's wife, Claudia Carbonara, told the Corriere della Sera newspaper that her husband was "desperate" for money as his 3,000-euro monthly salary was not enough to support his family of four children.
The domestic equity benchmarks ended with minor gains after a volatile day on Thursday. Metal stocks surged while banks and financials corrected. The Nifty closed below the 14,900 mark.

As per provisional closing data, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, gained 84.45 points or 0.17% to 49,746.21. The Nifty 50 index rallied 56.70 points or 0.38% to 14,875.75.

The broader market rallied. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.60%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index added 0.73%.

Buyers outnumbered sellers. On the BSE, 1873 shares rose and 1046 shares fell. A total of 166 shares were unchanged.

Investors risk appetite improved after the minutes of last month's meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve suggested that Fed officials were united on the need to see more progress on economic recovery before scaling back their bond-buying program.

Domestic sentiment also received a boost after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday kept its monetary policy accommodative to support economic growth.

COVID-19 Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 13,31,31,285 with 28,87,888 deaths. India reported 9,10,319 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 1,66,862 deaths while 1,18,51,393 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

India detected 1,26,789 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the highest so far. Of the total, Maharashtra recorded a new high of 59,907 cases, while Chhattisgarh's count went past the 10,000-mark for the first time. Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, too, reported more than 6,000 cases. The country also recorded 685 related deaths.

Primary Market:

The initial public offer (IPO) of Macrotech Developers received bids for 1.09 crore shares as against 3.64 crore shares on offer, according to the stock exchange data at 15:20 IST on Thursday (8 April 2021). The issue was subscribed 0.30 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Wednesday, 7 April 2021, and it will close on Friday, 9 April 2021. The price band for the IPO is set at Rs 483-486 per share. An investor can bid for a minimum of 30 equity shares and in multiples thereof.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Metal index jumped 4.13% to 4,504.10, extending gains for ninth day. The index has added 21.16% in nine sessions.

Jindal Steel & Power (up 7.38%), SAIL (up 6.68%), Tata Steel (up 5.42%), Hindalco Industries (up 3.92%), Welspun Corp (up 3.68%), NMDC (up 3.33%), Mishra Dhatu Nigam (up 3.20%), Hindustan Zinc (up 3.07%), National Aluminum Co. (up 2.28%), APL Apollo Tubes (up 2.01%) and MOIL (up 1.15%) advanced.

JSW Steel gained 9.42% to Rs 615.25. The steel major's crude steel production jumped 6% to 4.19 million tonnes (MT) in Q4 FY21 from 3.97 million tonnes (MT) in Q4 FY20. The company's average capacity utilisation improved to 93% for Q4 FY21 from 91% of Q3 FY21. However, the capacity utilisation during the month of March 2021 stood at 96%.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Muthoot Finance rose 2.66% at Rs 1236.55. The NBFC announced its 25th series of public issue of secured redeemable non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of face value of Rs 1,000 each. The issue is with a base issue size of Rs 100 crore with an option to retain oversubscription up to Rs 1600 crore aggregating up to tranche limit of Rs 1700 crore. The funds raised through this issue will be utilized primarily for lending activities of the company. "The issue opens on 08th April, 2021 and closes on 29th April, 2021 with an option to close on such earlier date or extended date as may be decided by the board of directors or NCD committee, the non-banking finance company said in a statement.

Kalyan Jewellers India jumped 4.01% to Rs 72.70. The jewellery maker witnessed a robust increase in consumer demand in Q4 FY 2021, resulting in a revenue growth of approximately 60% for India operations, as compared to the same quarter in the prior year. The company believes a significant driver of recent revenue growth momentum in India has been a meaningful shift in consumer demand from the unorganized to the organized segment, which has been evident in the increase in footfalls seen across the company's store network.

Cadila Healthcare added 1.99% to Rs 470.45. The pharma company announced that it has received final approval from the USFDA to market macitentan tablets, 10 mg. The drug is used to manage the symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Ashok Leyland jumped 5.61% to Rs 123.30. The commercial vehicles maker's subsidiary Switch Mobility, the U.K. based EV producer of buses and vans, announced its global expansion plans into India and its plan to create two subsidiary companies. The first, Switch Mobility Automotive, is being formed to carry on the EV strategy in India, which forms part of its global entity. The second is OHM Global Mobility, which will focus on providing mobility as a Service offering.

Minda Corporation rose 1.24% to Rs 101.90. the company announced its partnership with Israel-based Ride Vision, a leading ADAS (rider assistance systems) solutions company, to bring its range of artificial intelligence-enabled collision avoidance technology products for the Indian two-wheeler market.

Hester Biosciences jumped 9.92% to Rs 2212.70. The company announced signing of agreement with ICAR-IVRI (Indian Council of Agri Research - Indian Veterinary Research Institute) for acquiring technologies for the production and commercialisation of classical swine fever vaccine & sheep pox vaccine.

Global Markets:

Shares in Europe and Asia advanced on Thursday. Meanwhile, shares in Japan declined amid concerns that Tokyo is reportedly planning stricter steps to curb rising virus infections.

In the US, the S&P 500 gained to hit a record high on Wednesday. The U.S. Federal Reserve released minutes from its March 16-17 meeting during which it kept its accommodative policy in place. The meeting summary indicated that while officials saw the economy was gaining considerably, they see much more progress needed before ultra-easy policy changes.

President Joe Biden recently unveiled details of his $2 trillion infrastructure plan that includes a corporate tax rate hike to 28%. He said Wednesday that he is willing to negotiate on the proposed tax increase.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-09 00:46:57|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The export of coconut oil and its derivatives have continued to generate huge revenue for Nigeria, as the country recorded at least 150 million U.S. dollars in 2020 alone, said an official on Thursday.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Sabo Nanono said in a statement reaching Xinhua in Abuja that coconut has so far proved to be a major non-oil export foreign exchange earner for Nigeria.

Coconut, Nanono said, currently accounts for 10 percent of Nigeria's agricultural exports, and by the end of this year, it is expected to generate more than 250 million dollars.

It is also the means of livelihood for more than 500,000 households, as well as women and youths, in the country, he said.

The West African country has now increased the volume of production of coconut to an average of 250,000 metric tons per annum, the minister explained.

"In 2016, Nigeria produced 283,774 metric tons and the demands for the crop have been on the increase, growing upwards to more than 500 percent in the last decade," he added.

Coconut is grown in 22 out of Nigeria's 36 states, with Lagos being the largest producer, according to official data. Enditem
A pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic Thursday was a welcome site for students, teachers and local residents near the Rowan University campus in Glassboro.

Two-thousand injections of the one-shot, Johnson & Johnson vaccine were administered to recipients who were lucky enough to schedule internet appointments over the weekend. A school official said the doses were an unexpected surprise but he hopes it will continue.

As they started to look at how do we roll out more vaccinations, they said, Rowan, heres 2,000 does. Do you want to try this with the university population and the city of Glassboro since youre so intermingled to see how this goes? The Department of Health asked us and we took up the challenge.

Cardona said part of the challenge was to show that the university could do it in an effective way. Rowan has a school of medicine in Camden and a school of Osteopathic medicine in Stratford. Over 25,000 doses have been administered to emergency responders, teachers and other designated groups at the Stratford campus. The school also has an affiliation with the Rowan College of South Jersey community college, which hosts a state regional mega vaccination center.

Mary Anne Wilson, a Rowan employee, receives the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a 12-hour pop-up clinic at Rowan University, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Department of Health has been working with vaccine providers across the state to provide access to vaccines for persons experiencing or at risk of homelessness and those living in shelters, including domestic violence shelters, Donna Leusner, director of communications for the Department of Health told NJ Advance Media in a statement Thursday. The Rowan site [Thursday] was a closed vaccination site specifically to provide vaccines for these vulnerable populations. We will continue working to provide additional vaccines to reach these groups.

The shots Thursday were the first administered on Rowans main campus in Glassboro.

We have been a special population vaccine center, Cardona said. Whenever there is a new special population we tend to get the first go at it to see how things go. We were the first ones with police officers and emergency responders. We were the first with school teachers, we worked with all of Camden County schools.

Cardona said other universities and colleges are keeping an eye on how Rowan performs. He said they all want to be part of the solution.

More than 80 volunteers from Rowan Medicine administered the vaccines at the clinic. They were assisted by 90 non-clinical volunteers from across the university who helped greet and check-in patients.

Rowan University senior Jack Brennan, 21, receives the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a 12-hour pop-up clinic at Rowan University, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

A Band-Aid is put on after a single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine shot during a 12-hour pop-up clinic at Rowan University, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Suzanna Hosein, a family doctor, puts alcohol on Rowan University senior Nasir Nichols, 21, before he receives the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a 12-hour pop-up clinic at Rowan University, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

People check in to receive the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a 12-hour pop-up clinic at Rowan University, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com.
SILVER SPRING, Md. - The U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP) at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research last week launched a Phase 2 clinical trial in Thailand to evaluate an interleukin-15 (IL-15) superagonist, ImmunityBio's Anktiva (also called N-803), administered during acute HIV infection as an experimental therapy to target establishment of the HIV reservoir at a very early stage.

The trial's participants are identified through MHRP's RV254 acute HIV infection cohort, which identifies individuals in the earliest post-infection stages. Volunteers will receive their first dose of IL-15 agonist and initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) within days of the diagnosis of acute HIV infection.

A critical barrier to curing HIV is the reservoir of latent virus that remains hidden and infects cells throughout the body, and previous studies have shown that the reservoir is established very early in HIV infection.

"We hope that administering an IL-15 agonist alongside traditional ART will reduce the HIV reservoir in lymphoid tissues," said Dr. Denise Hsu, MHRP's associate director of therapeutics. "Ultimately this trial will help inform a strategy towards inducing long-term HIV remission."

In previous preclinical and clinical testing, ImmunityBio's Anktiva was shown to boost immune activation of natural killer cells and CD8+ T cells.

The study, called RV550, will enroll 15 participants who will receive three total doses of Anktiva, at weeks 0, 3 and 6 of the study. Researchers will compare levels of HIV RNA and DNA in lymph node samples pre- and post-treatment and evaluate the therapy's effects on CD8+ T and natural killer immune cells.

The study is conducted at The Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre in Bangkok.

"We're grateful to the many committed volunteers in this study and the larger acute infection cohort, and also to our dedicated clinical study team," said Dr. Kiat Ruxrungtham, professor of medicine at Chulalongkorn University and principal investigator of the trial. "Their contributions are vital to ongoing research to find a cure for HIV."

The RV254 acute HIV infection cohort provides insight into critical early days after infection. The cohort serves as a foundation to help MHRP researchers conduct investigations into long term remission of HIV and tools that can serve to accomplish "functional cure," controlling the virus without the need for long term antiretroviral treatment. RV254 is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.

###

This trial is registered on clinicaltrials.gov: https:/ / clinicaltrials. gov/ ct2/ show/ NCT04505501

About MHRP

The U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP), part of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, is at the forefront of the battle against HIV/AIDS to protect U.S. troops from infection and reduce the global impact of the disease. MHRP has been recognized as a leader in HIV diagnostics, epidemiology and vaccine research for over three decades and, more recently, has built an international reputation for pioneering discoveries in acute infection and remission. Its research is supported by a cooperative agreement (W81XWH-18-2-0040) between the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. (HJF), and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be construed to represent the positions of the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense, or HJF.
A California governor takes the stage of a Los Angeles ballroom to denounce the recall election he faces. As supporters cheer him on, he warns that the drive to remove him from office is part of a national effort by Republicans to steal elections they cannot win.

This right-wing power grab is something we wont get over, he says. It would do lasting damage to our state, our environment and the very fabric of our democracy. This is a fight worth making.

In August 2003, two months before he became the second governor in American history to be recalled, this scene kicked off Gray Davis crusade to save his job. It didnt work, but nearly two decades later, the early weeks of Gov. Gavin Newsoms own recall defense campaign have played out like a remake.

After months of publicly ignoring the threat, the Democratic governor launched his Stop the Republican Recall committee last month with an ad that labeled it a power grab and linked the campaign to extremist groups that supported former President Donald Trumps bid to overturn the results of the 2020 election. His fundraising missives consistently focus on national Republicans and Trump donors as recall instigators.

Im fighting for the values of this state, and theres a lot at stake. Because in these elections, who knows what could happen? Newsom said during a recent appearance in Alameda. Just learn about who these folks are. Its just anathema to who we are as Californians.

Recall organizers characterize his strategy as condescending and dismissive of hundreds of thousands of Democratic and independent voters who they say signed their petition. But some veterans of the Davis campaign believe the message could be effective for Newsom in a state that has shifted dramatically to the left in the 18 years since the last recall election.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle 2013

Democrats hold a 22-point voter registration advantage over Republicans in California, nearly triple the gap leading into the 2003 election. In November, Trump received only 34% of the presidential vote.

So why wouldnt you go with a highly partisan argument in California? It would be insane not to, said Garry South, a former adviser to Davis. The whole idea of stop the Republican recall is playing to the crowd.

Mired in energy and budget crises that tanked his popularity, Davis also looked to national Republicans for a boogeyman in 2003. He portrayed the recall as a Bush administration ploy in line with the disputed vote count in Florida during the 2000 presidential election.

California was already trending Democratic  the party swept all the statewide offices in 2002  and, while not as contentious as it would later be under Trump, its relationship with the White House was unfriendly. The Davis campaign believed that drawing the distinction would give Democratic voters something to rally around.

One consultant even told the New York Times that the state budget battles between Davis and Republican lawmakers were nothing more than a conservative coup attempt to rile voters up for the recall. (In an echo of that moment, California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks dismissed the recall drive in January as a California coup and attempted to link the organizers to the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, stirring up a fierce backlash.)

But then-President George W. Bush refused to engage Davis, South said, and never endorsed the recall. The Republican National Committee also stayed out of the race, which made it hard to paint the election as a sinister GOP plot.

Our strategy of trying to blame this on evil national Republican forces, including those in the White House, didnt parse. It didnt resonate, South said.

With the Republican power grab argument a bust, the Davis campaign pivoted to what South acknowledged was a largely uninspiring case based on the cost of the election.

Trump himself has yet to weigh in on whether Californians should dump their governor, but other recent developments play into Newsoms hand. Prominent conservatives like former House Speaker Newt Gingrigh and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee have promoted the recall, the Republican National Committee donated $250,000 to help collect signatures and the Republican Governors Association plans to get involved in the campaign.

It adds to the power of strategic messaging when it is unassailably true, said Dan Newman, an adviser to Newsom.

Michael Macor / The Chronicle 2003

He said that by turning the focus around on the organizers and what they stand for  Newsom has repeatedly highlighted a Facebook post one of them made about microchipping undocumented immigrants  the campaign was trying to flip the recall from a referendum on the governor to one on the values of California.

Its essentially patriotic to reject the recall and defend the progress that weve made, Newman said.

Davis partisan case in 2003 was further undermined when Arnold Schwarzenegger jumped into the race. As a movie star entering the campaign from outside the political establishment  one married to a Kennedy, practically Democratic royalty  his image did not match Davis rhetoric. Schwarzenegger had also sponsored a successful state ballot initiative the previous year setting aside funding for after-school programs, a classically bipartisan cause.

If you spend all your time saying the other guy is X and he turns out not to be X, then youve lost real credibility, said Duf Sundheim, who was chair of the California Republican Party at the time.

Sundheim said its understandable that Newsom is pursuing a similar strategy, because its the easiest argument to make. But he said it shows the lack of a strong message, which could allow an opponent to capitalize on frustration and anger in the electorate, something Schwarzenegger managed to do in his victorious 2003 campaign.

They really are leaving the door wide open for a candidate who has wide support to come in and be that alternative, Sundheim said.

Dave Gilliard, a strategist for the campaign to recall Newsom who also worked on the 2003 recall, said Newsom was resorting to scare tactics about Republicans taking over California to generate enthusiasm among Democrats because nothing gets their base more upset than Trump. But he said the governor would have to come up with a better message to reach the broad swath of voters that will decide the election, expected to take place late this fall.

When you dont have a great defense for what happened over the past year, youve got to turn to guilt by association, Gilliard said.

Thats especially true if a fellow Democrat ultimately runs, as then-Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante did in 2003, shattering any illusion that it was all a Republican conspiracy. Democrats still blame Bustamante for giving liberal voters a reason to support the Davis recall, and they have worked hard this year to discourage a repeat.

But with only a parade of Republicans signaling their intention to challenge him for now, Newsom is taking the right approach, said Roger Salazar, who served as a spokesperson for Davis re-election and recall campaigns  and made the conservative coup attempt comment.

None of Newsoms potential replacements so far  including his 2018 gubernatorial opponent John Cox, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and former Rep. Doug Ose  is as well known as Schwarzenegger, providing Newsom more of an opportunity to define them for voters.

Elections are about choices. If youre going to have a recall, while the recall is a referendum on the incumbent, youve got to be able to show what the alternative is, Salazar said. If you look across the field and see Kevin Faulconer and John Cox, Id absolutely play this card.

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
The World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday the inequity of COVID-19 vaccine distribution is being felt most acutely in Africa where only a fraction of the worlds 600 million doses has been administered.

Speaking during a virtual news briefing from the agencys Africa headquarters in Congo-Brazzaville, WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said vaccination is a lifesaving tool in the response to the pandemic, but distribution inequities have left a billion Africans marginalized in what she called this historic march to end the pandemic.

Moeti said nations like Ghana, Rwanda and Angola have successfully delivered a significant amount of vaccine within a short time, thanks to good staff training and preparation, prelisting of priority groups and early community communication.

But she said 10 African nations that have delivered most of the vaccinations on the continent have used up more than two-thirds of their supply. She said countries like Benin, the Comoros, Liberia, Sierra Leone and South Sudan have faced delays in rolling out vaccines due to a lack of funding, planning and human resources.

The WHO Africa chief did say deliveries are expected from the WHO-managed global vaccine cooperative COVAX in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Niger, Cameroon and the Comoros. And they are working with manufacturers and non-governmental agencies to scale up production.

Moeti appealed to pharmaceutical companies to support wider manufacturing of the COVID-19 vaccine, and urged wealthy countries to move quickly from pledges to action in sharing surplus doses so that all at-risk populations can be protected globally."
[April 08, 2021] American Lending Center Celebrates Successful Opening of TownePlace Suites in Downtown Indianapolis

American Lending Center (ALC), a licensed non-bank lender, celebrated the official opening of TownePlace Suites in downtown Indianapolis on March 12th. This marks one of several ALC investments that have recently reopened as the hospitality industry recovers from the economic effects of COVID-19. With 146-rooms, all equipped with a full kitchen, complementary WiFi (News - Alert) and access to the Something Borrowed section, where guests can find appliances such as blenders and grilling tools, TownePlace Suites' set up lends itself well to extended-stay guests. Further, guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast, fitness center, in-lobby bar and boardroom. "It has been a quiet year for the hospitaity industry, but we are very excited to hit the ground running with this opening," said John Shen, ALC's chief executive officer. "We are hopeful that via strategic foreign investment we can help boost tourism and stimulate economic growth in downtown Indiana and beyond."



Since opening their doors, TownePlace Suites has increased capacity daily. Ideally situated among several of Indianapolis' most notable attractions, some of which include Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center, hotel leadership expects demand to increase throughout the rest of the year, especially with the fall bringing an influx of conventions to the area. About American Lending Center

American Lending Center (ALC) is a licensed non-bank lender that has provided over 500 million dollars to American ventures and created nearly 40,000 full-time jobs throughout the US. ALC is a small business specialized lender supporting qualified borrowers nationwide. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005122/en/

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Councilmember Monica Rodriguez Secures $1.1 Million for the First Ever Youth Development Dept. in the City of Los Angeles

The Invest in Youth Coalition is proud to announce that on Thursday April 1, Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez secured $1.1 million for the Citys first ever Youth Development Department. Councilmember Rodriguez celebrated this victory with dozens of youth activists who have pushed for the last 7 years for the City to fund a department focused solely on providing services and resources for youth. These young people from the Invest in Youth Coalition represented more than fifty (50) youth groups and community-based organizations from every corner of Los Angeles.

Councilmember Rodriguez is incredibly grateful to Mayor Garcetti for his pledge to put $1.1 million aside for the department in the City of Los Angeles budget. This department will allow the City of Los Angeles to provide services to youth aged 10-25 that focus on violence prevention, youth counseling, financial literacy, job preparation skills, technology assistance and other services that will better prepare them for the future.

Theres always been Oh, we cant do it. We shouldnt apologize for having to be forced to play to the rules of a system that were not developed by the people who are now living here, Rodriguez said, acknowledging the city has been slow to act. This is an opportunity for us to lead systemic change in this city.

The Invest in Youth Coalition, led by Lou Calanche, is comprised of non-profit educational groups, community leaders, community-based organizations, parents, neighborhood groups and young people from the San Fernando Valley to East LA, from Koreatown to South LA. Calanche thanked Councilmember Rodriguez for her focus on the youth of Los Angeles and her dedication to the creation of the Youth Development Department. Calanche also thanked Mayor Garcetti for his enthusiastic support for the department and his $1.1 million commitment in the City budget.

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I hope that this is just the beginning, Calanche told officials and youth activists gathered at City Hall Park. We want to fill this park with thousands and thousands of young people that are empowered, that are employed, that have access to all the resources that they need to succeed.

Jackie Vargas, one of the youth speakers at the press conference, has been a member of Legacy L.A. since middle school. I can honestly cry right now, because its been years, said Vargas, now 21. Its been years and years of struggle.

Starlyne Vargas, a 10-year-old youth member of the Invest in Youth Coalition and Jackie Vargas younger sister, said, I want to grow up in a city that cares about me and cares about my future.

Christian Wimberly, another youth member said, The youth of this City have worked so hard to finally see the creation of a youth department. We are incredibly grateful for Councilmember Rodriguezs support and with this new funding from the Mayor, we cant wait to hear that the City Council has voted to approve the department.

The Invest in Youth Coalition looks forward to keeping up the momentum and working with the Los Angeles City Council to formally establish the Youth Development Department. Councilmember Rodriguez made the motion to create the department in February and it is still in the approval process at City Hall.
Americans have a growing appetite for digital assets, as evidenced by a February 2021 survey of over 30,000 U.S. adults by research group PIPLSAY that reported more than one quarter of Americans (27%) are planning to invest in cryptocurrency this year. 1 Furthermore, interest remains even higher among MoneyLion's members, as a recent survey of more than 2,000 MoneyLion members found that nearly 60% are already investing in cryptocurrencies today. 2 Of those not yet in the market, 77% say they would be interested in owning cryptocurrencies in the next year.

MoneyLion's new suite of cryptocurrency offerings will be integrated across the company's digital financial platform, empowering members to:

Invest by buying and selling digital assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.

by buying and selling digital assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. Earn cryptocurrencies through found money strategies, including:

cryptocurrencies through found money strategies, including: A crypto-based rewards program offering members the option to earn digital assets in the same way they earn "cash back" today, which can then be traded or invested through the MoneyLion platform.

offering members the option to earn digital assets in the same way they earn "cash back" today, which can then be traded or invested through the MoneyLion platform.

Spending roundups allowing members to round up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar via investments in digital currencies.

"We're seeing exploding interest in the utility and investment potential of digital currencies, but one of the top reasons our members say they haven't yet acquired cryptocurrencies is because they lack knowledge of the asset class," said Dee Choubey, MoneyLion co-founder and CEO. "We want to empower people with the tools and education they are looking for to feel confident when they decide to enter this market. The MoneyLion crypto offering will provide members an intuitive way to own digital currencies within a seamless and secure environment and, through our strategic investment in Zero Hash, we're confident that we're advancing our mission to increase access to previously exclusive financial services."

Edward Woodford, Zero Hash co-founder and CEO, commented: "We're excited to be partnering with MoneyLion at a critical time in the cryptocurrency market, as month-over-month user growth suggests impending mainstream consumer adoption. We look forward to playing a critical part in MoneyLion's ability to provide cutting-edge access to the next generation financial system."

MoneyLion's new cryptocurrency offerings are expected to launch in the fall of 2021.

As previously announced, on February 12, 2021, MoneyLion entered into a definitive agreement with Fusion Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FUSE), that will result in MoneyLion becoming a publicly listed company in the first half of 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Join the waitlist

New and existing MoneyLion members interested in the company's new cryptocurrency offerings are invited to join the waitlist by visiting www.moneylion.com/crypto.

About MoneyLion

MoneyLion is a mobile banking and financial membership platform that empowers people to take control of their finances. Since its launch in 2013, MoneyLion has engaged with 7.5 million hard-working Americans and has earned its members' trust by building a full-service digital platform to deliver mobile banking, lending, and investment solutions. From a single app, members can get a 360-degree snapshot of their financial lives and have access to personalized tips and tools to build and improve their credit and achieve everyday savings. MoneyLion is headquartered in New York City, with offices in San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Sioux Falls, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. MoneyLion has achieved various awards of recognition including the 2020 Forbes FinTech 50, Aite group best digital Wealth Management Multiproduct offering, Finovate Award for Best Digital Bank 2019, Benzinga FinTech Awards winner for Innovation in Personal Finance 2019 and the Webby Awards 2019 People's Voice Award. For more information, please visit www.moneylion.com or download the app.

About Zero Hash

Zero Hash's mission is to empower innovators by delivering access to the financial system 2.0. Zero Hash enables developers and businesses to focus on building experiences and products. We power your favorite brokerage app or neo bank to offer BTC, provide the rails to the 2.0 payment processors, give platforms the ability to facilitate instantaneous cross border payments and eliminate complexity for moving assets for the world's largest liquidity providers.

Zero Hash provides the complete turnkey solution to allow platforms to launch digital assets and own the client experience, without any regulatory overhead and a light technical lift (a matter of API endpoints). Zero Hash's clients include Neo-banks, broker dealers (and payment groups. Zero Hash is a FinCen-registered Money Service Business as well as a regulated Money Transmitter that can operate in 51 US jurisdictions. Zero Hash is also regulated as a Canadian MSB.

Zero Hash was voted Innovator of the Year by the 2019 Profit & Loss Readers Choice Awards.

Media Contacts:

MoneyLion:

[email protected]

Zero Hash:

[email protected]

Additional Information About the Proposed Business Combination and Where to Find It

The proposed business combination will be submitted to shareholders of Fusion Acquisition Corp. ("Fusion") for their consideration. Fusion intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") with the SEC which will include preliminary and definitive proxy statements to be distributed to Fusion's shareholders in connection with Fusion's solicitation for proxies for the vote by Fusion's shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination and other matters as described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to MoneyLion's shareholders in connection with the completion of the proposed business combination. After the Registration Statement has been filed and declared effective, Fusion will mail a definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents to its shareholders as of the record date established for voting on the proposed business combination. Fusion's shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, once available, the preliminary proxy statement / prospectus and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive proxy statement / prospectus, in connection with Fusion's solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of shareholders to be held to approve, among other things, the proposed business combination, because these documents will contain important information about Fusion, MoneyLion and the proposed business combination. Shareholders may also obtain a copy of the preliminary or definitive proxy statement, once available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC regarding the proposed business combination and other documents filed with the SEC by Fusion, without charge, at the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to Cody Slach and Matt Glover, (949) 574-3860, [email protected].

Participants in the Solicitation

Fusion, MoneyLion and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be participants in the solicitations of proxies from Fusion's shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Fusion's shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination will be set forth in Fusion's proxy statement / prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find more information about Fusion's directors and executive officers in Fusion's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the "Annual Report"), filed with the SEC on March 25, 2021. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests will be included in the proxy statement / prospectus when it becomes available. Shareholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the proxy statement / prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from the sources indicated above.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this communication includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of financial and performance metrics and expectations and timing related to potential benefits, terms and timing of the transaction. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of MoneyLion's and Fusion's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of MoneyLion and Fusion. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed business combination, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed business combination or that the approval of the shareholders of Fusion or MoneyLion is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to MoneyLion; future global, regional or local economic and market conditions; the development, effects and enforcement of laws and regulations; MoneyLion's ability to manage future growth; MoneyLion's ability to develop new products and solutions, bring them to market in a timely manner, and make enhancements to its platform; the effects of competition on MoneyLion's future business; the amount of redemption requests made by Fusion's public shareholders; the ability of Fusion or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the proposed business combination or in the future; the outcome of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; and those factors discussed in Fusion's Annual Report, under the heading "Risk Factors," and other documents of Fusion filed, or to be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither MoneyLion nor Fusion presently know or that MoneyLion and Fusion currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect MoneyLion's and Fusion's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. MoneyLion and Fusion anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause MoneyLion's and Fusion's assessments to change. However, while MoneyLion and Fusion may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, MoneyLion and Fusion specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing MoneyLion's and Fusion's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of section 10 of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom.

1 PIPLSAY, "The Growing Crypto Universe: How Interested are Americans?" 18 February 2021 https://piplsay.com/the-growing-crypto-universe-how-interested-are-americans/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Text&utm_campaign=CryptowaveUStowaveUS

2 MoneyLion member survey, March 2021

SOURCE MoneyLion
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Sin Chew Daily



The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project is definitely not a very lucrative business, if we were to look at it purely from the perspectives of economic and investment returns. But, if we were to look at it from the country's overall development, we must have faith that this project will eventually bring development to the east coast while generating more job opportunities for the people.

ECRL was a major infrastructural project by the former BN government. Due to the enormous construction cost, when Pakatan Harapan took over the federal administration, the project was shelved for almost a year and was later reinitiated thanks to Tun Daim's effort in renegotiating the terms.

Following the negotiation, the 688km railway was shortened to 640km while the construction budget was trimmed from RM65.5 billion to RM44 billion, with the construction cost per km of rail track cut down to RM68.7 million from RM95.5 million, a good 32.8% reduction.

At the same time, the route would also be realigned southward, passing Kuala Klawang and Nilai in Negeri Sembilan before terminating in Port Klang.

That was what we called ECRL 2.0.

After the re-evaluation of the project, the Perikatan Nasional government decided to revert to the original northern route alignment. Transport minister Wee Ka Siong said the cabinet had on March 31 decided to restore ECRL's Section C to the original route from Temerloh to Port Klang via Bentong and Serendah, and remove the two stations in Negeri Sembilan.

The PN government has dismissed the possibility of powerful backlash from local residents as well as politicians for its decision to bypass Negeri Sembilan. However, Selangor executive councilor Teng Chang Khim has threatened that the state government would not cooperate with the federal government on land acquisition issue, while Negeri Sembilan exco Teo Kok Seong urge spoliticians on both sides of the divide to exert pressure on the federal government to "defend ECRL's route in Negeri Sembilan".

Back to the reality, Malaysia's annual budget stands at around RM300 billion, while the ECRL project itself will cost RM50 billion, which to the country is a massive public investment project. In view of this, its implementation will invariably force out other important projects. As such, we cannot afford to see the project fail in any way.

And since BN, PH and now PN administrations all have agreed to start the mega project, government departments charged with the duty of implementing the project make sure it produces maximum spinoff effects once it is completed and goes into full operation.

Construction must therefore be carried out only after thoughtful planning and evaluation of the project's overall impact on the country from the economic, environmental and social perspectives. Politics must never be the priority consideration.



According to Wee Ka Siong, the 655km northern route will be more economically feasible than the 640km southern route.

He said when the railway becomes operational in 2027, cargo will make up 70% of the revenue, with the rest coming from passenger traffic.

It has been estimated that passenger volume during ECRL's first year of operation will be 5.03 million, as compared to 4.07 million if the southern route is adopted. As for cargo volume, the northern route will be much more superior at 26.12 million tons compared to only 9 million tons projected for the southern route.

Based on the above estimates, the operational revenue of the northern route will be 2.5 times higher than the southern one.

Where real estate development is concerned, the northern route will offer a significant boost to Bentong's commercial and tourist industry development. As for Serendah, it will become a transshipment hub that is poised to buoy the development of the local steel and automobile industries.

On environmental impact, about 180 hectares of forest reserve land will be affected by ECRL's northern route, much smaller than the 490 hectares if it passes Negeri Sembilan.

On social impact, some 4,302 plots of land will be acquired, affecting 11 estates and two bumiputra settlements, while 6,038 plots of land need to be acquired for the southern route, affecting 19 estates and seven bumi settlements.

As of March this year, the construction progress of ECRL stood at 21.4%, meaning there is no way to turn back the project now. What the administrators can do is to ensure that the project can be completed in time and create the maximum spinoff effects once it becomes operational.

Hopefully, ECRL will turn out to be an asset to the nation, not liability!
CANTON, MI  A Michigan man pleaded guilty this week in a federal case involving the production of child pornography.

Defendant Shailesh Patel, 53, of Canton, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh on Wednesday to one count of sexual exploitation of children, Acting U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin announced in a news release. He will be sentenced on July 20.

Patel previously pleaded guilty to several counts of criminal sexual conduct of varying degrees in a Wayne County case, the release said. The two cases have a victim in common. The victims in both cases were abused over a period of years, beginning when they were children; they are now adults.

The sexual assault of children and the production of child pornography are heinous crimes and those who prey upon our children and commit these acts of violence will be vigorously prosecuted and brought to justice, Mohsin said in a statement.

As part of his plea in the federal case, Patel agreed that around 2010, on at least one occasion, he gave a 10-year-old girl his cell phone and instructed her to make a video that constituted child pornography, the release said.

Patel pleaded guilty on March 19 in Wayne County Circuit Court to first-degree criminal sexual conduct, punishable by 15 to 35 years in prison; two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, punishable by 9 to 15 years in prison; and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, punishable by probation, authorities said. His sentencing is set for May 28.

The women in this case were sexually assaulted for years by Shailesh Patel, Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy said in a statement. They were children when the abuse began, and they were courageous to come forward as adults to report this behavior to the authorities.

The charges are the result of a joint investigation by the Canton Police Department and the Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as cooperation between the Wayne County Prosecutors Office and the U.S. Attorneys Office, the release said.

READ MORE:

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A hotelier has been taken to court on murder charges after the naked bodies of a young couple were found dead inside a shower while they were staying with him as guests.

Kevin Pretorius, 47, was apprehended on April 6 and was taken to court in the South African town of Humansdorp on the day of his arrest.

He is accused of the murders of Jean Vosloo, 25, and Mari Hoon, 28, whose lifeless bodies were found in their ensuite shower of his small hotel around 11 miles from the town of Kareedouw in the Eastern Cape in April last year.

Mari Hoon, 28, and her fiance Jean Vosloo, 25, who were found dead in a shower in Kliphuis Guesthouse on Zuuranys farm in Kareedouw, on April 26, 2020

He is accused of the murders of Jean Vosloo, 25, and Mari Hoon, 28, pictured above, whose lifeless bodies were found in their ensuite shower of his small hotel around 11 miles from the town of Kareedouw in the Eastern Cape

Mari Hoon, who was found dead with her fiance Jean Vosloo in a shower in Kliphuis Guesthouse on Zuuranys farm in Kareedouw

The engaged couple from Gauteng had been staying at the Kliphuis Guesthouse, located on a farm, for a mini-break with a friend, who was the one who found their dead bodies.

The police launched an investigation into the death of the couple, who had no apparent injuries. A toxicology report later found they had succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning and their blood levels contained upwards of 70 per cent of the gas.

Carbon monoxide, known as the silent killer, is odourless and is produced when there is not enough oxygen during combustion, for example from a gas boiler or a fire. It poisons the body by blocking the red blood cells from being able to transport oxygen.

The police launched an investigation into the death of the couple, who had no apparent injuries

A toxicology report later found they had succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning and their blood levels contained upwards of 70 per cent of the gas. Mari Hoon is pictured above

The engaged couple from Gauteng had been staying at the Kliphuis Guesthouse, located on a farm, for a mini-break with a friend, who was the one who found their dead bodies. Jean Vosloo is pictured above

Following statements from witnesses and experts, the police charged Pretorius with murder, though specific details of the breakthrough that led to the charges have not been revealed.

It is unclear why the charge is murder, which means there was intent to kill, as opposed to manslaughter, which would normally be attached to cases where there has been a death as a result of faulty equipment, and where police initially said they believed a faulty gas boiler was to blame.

Mari Hoon pictured in a photo with an unidentified woman. Following statements from witnesses and experts, the police charged Pretorius with murder, though specific details of the breakthrough that led to the charges have not been revealed

However, the charges followed police interviews with several people including experts when the investigation started on 26th of April last year.

Pretorius paid ZAR 1,000 (GBP 50) bail and the hearing has been postponed to May 24.

He has so far refused to comment on the case, refusing to speak to reporters who contacted him by phone.
Sundyne employs more than 400 people in its Arvada, Colorado headquarters Sundynes Arvada location is an OSHA VPP Star-rated site, which is OSHAs official recognition of exemplary occupational health & safety.

Sundyne, a global leader in the design and manufacture of mission critical pumps and compressors, announced that it has been named a finalist in the 2021 Colorado Manufacturing Awards (CMAs). Co-hosted by CompanyWeek business media, Manufacturer's Edge, and supported by trade associations such as the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association (CAMA), the awards recognize innovative manufacturers in a region steadily emerging as a leader in North America.

In January of this year, Sundyne was nominated in the Industrial Group category. In Late March, Sundyne was named a finalist for the Industrial/Equipment Manufacturer of the Year. Winners for the 6th annual CMAs will be announced on April 29 at the CMA Winners virtual event.

With more than 400 employees in Arvada Colorado, Sundyne designs and manufacturers highly-engineered pumps & compressors for natural gas, power, chemical, petrochemical, and agro-chemical businesses in more than 100 countries around the globe.

Sundyne can trace its roots back to 1957, when the companys engineers developed the first water injection pump for the Boeing 707. In the 1960s Sundyne engineers leveraged the companys innovative high-speed gearboxes (with different impeller configurations) to make the worlds first gas compressor for Union Carbide. Sundyne established Colorado as its Headquarters in 1968, and the company moved to Arvada in 1977.

Over the last 70 years, Sundyne has grown its core business segments and expanded its operations in the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Japan and India  however the majority of its manufacturing (as well as half of the companys 800 employees) work in Arvada, Colorado. More recently, Sundyne has leveraged the expertise gained from its core businesses to play key roles in the development of emerging technologies, such as:



Electric Vehicles: Sundynes pumps are uniquely designed to handle the harsh & aggressive chemicals that are required to coat the surfaces of the electrodes on lithium ion battery cells.

Hydrogen Fueling Stations  Sundynes compressors are specifically designed to compress Hydrogen in a safe & reliable manner (from 20 bar to 700 bar), to address the requirements of Hydrogen fueling stations for material handling vehicles.

COVID 19 Vaccines  Sundynes pumps have a proven track record with the worlds largest pharmaceutical companies  pumping cooling mediums for industrial-grade freeze driers that store vaccines  including COVID-19 vaccines.

Sundyne combines a rich legacy of highly engineered technical products that have solved complex problems for decades - and today, were growing our core businesses and leveraging our expertise to tackle new problems in emerging markets that will propel our growth for decades to come, said Sundyne Arvada General Manager Mark Rauenzahn. Were honored to be recognized as a finalist for the Colorado Manufacturing Awards. Were proud of Sundynes role in the Colorado economy, and we stand behind the products we manufacture in Arvada - which help many of the largest companies in 100 different countries around the globe.

Sundyne is committed to providing a 100% safe-working environment for its employees. Sundynes Arvada location is an OSHA VPP Star rated site. OSHAs Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) promotes effective worksite-based safety. To be VPP Star Rated, management, labor and OSHA establish cooperative relationships that are based on a comprehensive safety & health management system. Approval into VPP is OSHAs official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees that achieve exemplary occupational safety and health.

To learn more about Sundynes 6-sigma manufacturing expertise in Arvada, Colorado, please visit: https://www.sundyne.com.

About Sundyne:

Headquartered in Arvada, Colorado with operations and presence in Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia, Japan and China, Sundyne is a leading manufacturer of precision-engineered highly reliable, safe, and efficient centrifugal pumps and compressors for use in chemical and pharmaceutical applications, hydrocarbon processing, power generation, industrial, and high-pressure water applications. Sundyne is the world leader in delivering low-flow, high-head integrally geared centrifugal pumps and compressors as well as a leader in the supply of safe and leakage-free sealless magnetic drive centrifugal pumps and diaphragm compressors. Sundyne pumps and compressors designs are compliant with the industrys most stringent API, ANSI/ASME, and ISO standards. To learn more about the Sundyne family of precision-engineered pumps and compressors, please visit http://www.sundyne.com.

Contact:

Mike Dean

303-521-5713

mike.dean@sundyne.com
Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned Ethiopia of the risk of conflict over its giant dam on the Blue Nile after talks involving the two countries and Sudan ended without progress.
Advertisement

Hunter Biden's 'tell-all' autobiography promised the unvarnished story of his struggles with drugs, family turmoil and his controversial love life.

But there were many shocking details of his debauched life that the president's son chose not to share with readers, including details of his fragile relationship with his father.

Now DailyMail.com can reveal the secrets Hunter chose not to divulge, exposed in the contents of his abandoned laptop and verified by top forensics experts.

The bombshell cache of 103,000 text messages, 154,000 emails, more than 2,000 photos and dozens of videos are packed with revelations conveniently missing from the memoir, including:

How he begged his father to run for president in 2019 to salvage Hunter's own reputation

How he repeatedly dodged police action against him, despite constantly dealing with drug pushers and prostitutes and having multiple run-ins with law enforcement

Hunter was guarded by a Secret Service agent while on a 2018 drug and prostitute binge in Hollywood, despite not being entitled to protection at the time and amid denials from the federal agency

Joe Biden was afraid his text conversations with Hunter were being hacked even as they discussed his White House bid

How Hunter's laptop is brimming with evidence of apparent criminal activity by Hunter and his associates including drug trafficking and prostitution

Hunter Biden released his 'tell-all' memoir Beautiful Things on Tuesday, but left out shocking details. DailyMail.com can reveal those secrets after contents of his abandoned laptop - including a cache of 103,000 text messages, 154,000 emails, more than 2,000 photos - were verified by top forensics experts

The texts reveal how Joe was sucked into his son's torrid love life, became a punching bag for Hunter's drug-fueled rants, and paid his grandchildren's bills when Hunter had drained his bank accounts with prostitutes and crack cocaine

In texts from February 2019, Hunter begged his father Joe to run for president to salvage Hunter's own reputation. 'H is wrong,' Joe writes, referring to Hallie Biden

Hunter's laptop is brimming with evidence of apparent criminal activity by him and his associates including drug trafficking and prostitution. This photo of him grabbing a woman's hair was recovered from his laptop

Hunter left his MacBook Pro laptop at a Wilmington, Delaware computer repair shop in April 2019 and never returned for it. The report said the data on the drive 'appear to be authentic', and that after an extensive search of its contents for any tell-tale signs of tampering, Maryman and Greenfield found 'no evidence' of fabrication  by Russians or anyone else

On Hunter's laptop he had his own profile on porn site Pornhub where there was content of him in bed with two woman with a small dog nearby. Hunter photographed and filmed himself, often with two prostitutes at a time, in explicit videos

MORE BOMBSHELLS TO COME FROM HUNTER'S LAPTOP ON DAILYMAIL.COM Hunter's laptop is a pandora's box of shocking revelations, explicit photos and intimate communications.In the following days, DailyMail.com will publish more shocking stories from Hunter's laptop, including: How Hunter blew hundreds of thousands on prostitutes, drugs and luxury cars, leaving him scrambling to avoid jail for $320k in unpaid taxes

How five members of the Biden family have been to rehab for drug or alcohol abuse  and a stunning admission by Joe to his son

The OTHER Biden family member planning to buy and cook crack, after falling into the disastrous addiction with Hunter

Hunter's unconventional and unlikely relationship with his well-known psychiatrist

The whispered bedroom conversation with a prostitute caught on Hunter's webcam, in which he confesses he had a previous laptop stolen  by Russians for blackmail Advertisement

The president's son left his 2017 MacBook Pro laptop at a Wilmington, Delaware computer repair shop in April 2019 and never returned for it.

Emails leaked from the computer sparked a scandal before the 2020 presidential election in October, but were dismissed as Russian disinformation by the Bidens and other senior Democrats, social media giants Twitter and Facebook, and several major media organizations.

After obtaining a copy of the hard drive, DailyMail.com commissioned top cyber forensics experts Maryman & Associates to analyze its data and determine whether the laptop's contents were real.

The firm's founder, Brad Maryman, is a 29-year FBI veteran Supervisory Special Agent who served as an Information Security Officer and founded its first computer forensics lab.

Maryman and his business partner Dr. Joseph Greenfield used the same forensic tools to pick apart the drive as federal and state law enforcement use in criminal investigations, and prepared a report for DailyMail.com.

The report said the data on the drive 'appear to be authentic', and that after an extensive search of its contents for any tell-tale signs of tampering, Maryman and Greenfield found 'no evidence' of fabrication  by Russians or anyone else.

'The data on the system before April 2019 appears to be related to Mr. Biden, with timestamps appearing to be between 2016 and 2019,' the Maryman and Associates report said.

'The operating system timestamps appear to be authentic, and no evidence was found to suggest that the timestamps or data were altered or manufactured. No indications were found that would indicate the data was manufactured.'

In a presidential debate in October, Joe Biden referred to the leaks of Hunter's emails as 'a bunch of garbage.'

But in an interview with CBS on Sunday to promote his new book, Beautiful Things, Hunter said the laptop 'could be' his.

'There could be a laptop out there that was stolen from me. It could be that I was hacked. It could be that it was the  that it was Russian intelligence. It could be that it was stolen from me or that there was a laptop stolen from me,' he said.

When Joe texted him a typically doting message 'Good morning my beautiful son. I miss you and love you. Dad' on February 24 that year, Hunter raged at his father for 'having made clear to the world that the only reason for not [running for president is your] family problems im glad to be the f***ing bullseye you painted on my back'

In March 2019, Joe Biden offered to pay his granddaughter Maisy's dentist bills when Hunter ran out of money

A shocking photo obtained from Hunter's laptop shows his badly damaged and worn down teeth - also known as 'meth mouth' - as he sits in a dentist chair

Among the 103,199 text messages on the hard drive dating from 2016 to March 2019 are fraught conversations between President Joe Biden and his son.

The texts reveal how Joe was sucked into his son's torrid love life, became a punching bag for Hunter's drug-fueled rants, and paid his grandchildren's bills when Hunter had drained his bank accounts from his spending on prostitutes and crack cocaine.

Joe, Hunter, Halle and Joe's grandkids are pictured in a photo obtained from Hunter's laptop

When the former Delaware senator was elected Vice President in 2008, it put an end to Hunter's lucrative career as a lobbyist to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest.

Hunter then embarked on a series of controversial business ventures and fell into a cycle of crack and prostitute binges, scandal and rehab.

By 2019 his texts appeared to be seething with resentment.

When Joe texted him a typically doting message 'Good morning my beautiful son. I miss you and love you. Dad' on February 24 that year, Hunter raged at his father for 'having made clear to the world that the only reason for not [running for president is your] family problems im glad to be the f***ing bullseye you painted on my back.'

Hunter complained that his father's advice to not defend himself in the media over stories about his expensive divorce from his ex-wife Kathleen Biden or his affair with his brother's widow Hallie had backfired, and added sarcastically: 'Oh good morning from f***ing rehab.'

'Your team just made me the uncontrollable troubled tax cheat philanderer sex and drug addict that you tried so hard to fix but couldn't yt. They just totally wrote my life away,' he wrote.

'If you dont run ill never have a chance at redemption.'

Joe replied, promising his son he would run for President but adding that he was worried his texts were 'a target' for hacking.

'I'll run but I need you,' he wrote. 'H[allie] is wrong. Only focus is recovery. Nothing else... When you can and feel like it call. Positive my text etc a target. Love.'

He declared his candidacy two months later.

After another rant from Hunter in September 2018 Joe wrote: 'Be careful what you text. Likely I'm being hacked.'

The future president had good reason to worry, as his phone was filling up with incriminating and embarrassing texts as his son's relationship with Hallie disintegrated, according to Hunter's messages to him.

Hunter Biden describes falling in love with his grieving sister-in-law Hallie Biden (pictured) after his brother Beau's death, in his new memoir

In July 2018 Hunter sent a recording to his father of himself talking on the phone arguing with Hallie. Joe responded: 'Got your text. Can't say I'm surprised. Going to bed I'll call you tomorrow morning. Love you. Be strong. Love Dad'

After obtaining a copy of the hard drive, DailyMail.com commissioned top cyber forensics experts Maryman & Associates to analyze its data and determine whether the laptop's contents were real

When Hunter's controversial affair with Beau's widow was publicly revealed in March 2017, Joe reluctantly released a statement giving the couple his blessing.

But a year later he was already being drawn into the couple's meltdown by his erratic, addict son.

In July 2018 Hunter sent a recording to his father of himself talking on the phone to Hallie.

Joe responded: 'Got your text. Can't say I'm surprised. Going to bed I'll call you tomorrow morning. Love you. Be strong. Love Dad.'

AUTHENTICATING THE LAPTOP DailyMail.com commissioned cyber forensics experts at Maryman & Associates to examine the hard drive to determine its authenticity. The firm's founder, Brad Maryman, was a 29-year veteran of the FBI, served as a Chief Information Security Officer and founded the bureau's cyber forensics unit. His partner, Dr. Joseph Greenfield, is an associate professor at the University of Southern California and helped write their degree program in intelligence and cyber operations. After an extensive analysis of the hard drive, Greenfield and Maryman produced a report for DailyMail.com detailing their findings. Using the same forensic tools as federal and state law enforcement in criminal investigations, they found a total of 103,000 text messages, 154,000 emails and more than 2,000 photos. - They found emails for multiple accounts on the laptop dating back to 2009, and other data which 'appears to be related to Mr. Biden' between 2016 and 2019. - The report's findings were consistent with the known timeline for the hard drive. A Wilmington, Delaware computer store work order with Hunter's signature shows he left his 2017 MacBook Pro laptop there on April 12, 2019. - The Maryman & Associates report said the original 'Macintosh HD' drive was created on March 28, 2018 - Hunter's iCloud email address was added to the laptop's system on October 21 2018, as well as his work email at his firm Rosemont Seneca on February 2 2019. - The same day, a Gmail address he used to log onto sex cam sites, and another personal Gmail address belonging to Hunter, were also added. - Beau Biden's old Gmail account was added on February 7 2019. - Emails addressed to Hunter's various email addresses dating from December 2009 to December 2020 were found on the system. - An iPad with the name 'Hunter's iPad' and three email addresses associated with the Biden family was backed up on the laptop and on iCloud in January 2019 and again a month later. - Greenfield found 818 call logs in this iPad backup with timestamps from June 2016 to February 2019. - There were 8,942 entries in the iPad's contacts book, created between April 2016 and January 2019. - In February 2019 an iPhone XS was also synced with the laptop. Its serial number was consistent with the timestamps of the data on the phone. In conclusion, 'The operating system timestamps appear to be authentic, and no evidence was found to suggest that the timestamps or data were altered or manufactured,' the report said. 'No indications were found that would suggest the data was manufactured.' Advertisement

The president's continued forgiveness and offers of money via text to his son after his crack binges  are at odds with his long history of tough stances against drug users and suppliers.

Joe criticized George Bush Sr's 1980s War on Drugs for being 'not tough enough' and wrote punitive laws with harsher sentences for drug crimes when he was head of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

His son's drug-fueled calamities have resulted in multiple run-ins with law enforcement that would usually result in criminal charges or investigation, but Hunter has so far avoided the dock.

His laptop, which was handed over to the FBI in 2019, is brimming with evidence of apparent criminal activity by Hunter and his associates including drug trafficking and prostitution.

Photos also show Hunter with cracked and badly damaged teeth - known as 'meth mouth' - as he sits in a dentist chair, and another photo showing him visibly balding.

Texts show Joe Biden was afraid his conversations with Hunter were being hacked even as they discussed his White House bid

Hunter is seen in a photo cuddling a small pet as he visibly appears to be balding

Hunter appeared to be obsessed with making and starring in porn films with prostitutes, videos and photos on his laptop show.

The hard drive contains hundreds of pictures of naked women and naked selfies of Hunter, as well as dozens of videos.

Hunter photographed and filmed himself, often with two prostitutes at a time, in explicit videos that he then posted on adult website Pornhub under the username 'RHEast'.

Hunter filmed himself with the women from his laptop webcam, sometimes shooting at different angles using an iPad and cell phone.

The sex tapes and shots with hookers are mixed in with family photos, business documents and selfies from his then-lover and brother's widow Hallie in his laptop's photos folder.

Hunter's new memoir, Beautiful Things, came out Tuesday and promised to give a candid account of the president's son's addiction

Texts show he would often order drugs to hotel rooms and take them with the women before or after sex  and photos include bottles of 100mg Viagra pills, the highest dose prescribed by doctors.

His Pornhub account had 66 award badges, including a badge for reaching 50 subscribers, watching 500 videos, and watching porn in high definition.

Hunter would sometimes leave on the webcam after filming his sex scenes, and captured himself hunched over his computer, intently watching back through the footage.

In one video on the laptop, Hunter recorded his screen and can be heard speaking to a woman about his favorite porn stars as he browsed an adult website with her.

Texts from February 20, 2019 appear to show Hunter coordinating with a woman called Dianna Pagano to transport other women in Ubers to his hotel room in New Haven, Connecticut.

A month later Pagano texted Hunter offering to 'hang' with him for '100 or 200 for the night', as well as appearing to offer him drugs, saying 'My guy is giving me 2500qorrh of work cuz he is going on vacation. I just gotta give him 200$; and 'I got some good work if u need anything hun its fire'.

Pagano was charged in November that year with violating her probation by allegedly running a drug ring out of her home in East Haven.

Police told the New Haven Register that items 'believed to be the fruits of a narcotics and prostitution operation, [were] found within the residence.'

Pagano was not charged with a prostitution-related offence.

Hunter may have narrowly avoided a tangle with law enforcement, as six of Pagano's alleged customers were also arrested in the police raid.

Hunter had a second close shave with the law in March 2019 according to his texts, when police allegedly showed up at a Naugatuck, Connecticut, motel where Hunter was taking drugs and entertaining hookers.

When the president's son left his Comfort Inn room to get cash from an ATM, one of the panicked prostitutes, Crystal, texted him 'U called the cops???'

Returning to his room a confused Hunter texted their dealer and pimp 'Where is she? She said the cops came to the room????? WTF man? I went to bank. Call me back.'

Naugatuck Police Department told DailyMail.com they had no record of officers attending the Comfort Inn on March 7.

Hunter had a close shave with the law in March 2019 according to his texts, when police allegedly showed up at a Naugatuck, Connecticut, motel where Hunter was taking drugs and entertaining hookers. When the president's son left his Comfort Inn room to get cash from an ATM, one of the panicked prostitutes, Crystal, texted him 'U called the cops???'

Naugatuck Police Department told DailyMail.com they had no record of officers attending the Comfort Inn on March 7. Returning to his room a confused Hunter texted their dealer and pimp 'Where is she? She said the cops came to the room????? WTF man? I went to bank. Call me back'

Hunter's laptop, which was handed over to the FBI in 2019, is brimming with evidence of apparent criminal activity by Hunter and his associates including drug trafficking and prostitution

Hunter did come under investigation after he dropped off a rental car in Prescott, Arizona, leaving behind a crack pipe and white powder, his drivers license and his late brother Beau's attorney general badge.

Hunter allegedly used a fake name to call the Hertz rental the next day to tell them he left the keys in the car's gas tank compartment.

The police report said they called in the FBI and Hunter was 'located by Secret Service' and found to be 'well.'

Prescott Police Department said they couldn't find fingerprints on the pipe. It is unclear whether the department tried to extract DNA from the pipe.

Despite being dubbed the state's 'foremost pot prohibitionist', County Attorney Sheila Polk declined to prosecute.

Hunter was investigated but again not prosecuted in 2018 after Hallie left his .38 caliber handgun in a Wilmington, Delaware grocery store trash can.

In texts to his therapist, Hunter claimed that when Delaware cops found the gun 'the FBI and the Secret Service' got involved, and that Hallie told officers she took the weapon because she was 'afraid for the kids' and 'because she was scared I would harm myself due to my drug and alcohol problem'.

A copy of a police report obtained by news site Politico confirmed the October 23, 2018 incident.

The site reported that Hunter may have lied on his background check to obtain the gun, which would be a felony if true.

In texts obtained by DailyMail.com, Hunter messaged his therapist to tell him about Hallie dropping his gun in a grocery store trash can. 'She stole the gun out of my truck lock box and threw in a garbage can full to the top at Jansens. Then told me it was my problem to deal with,' Hunter wrote

Hallie wrapped the gun in a plastic bag and put it in a trash van outside Janssen's Market in Wilmington, Delaware

One question on the background check document is: 'Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?'

Hunter reportedly checked 'No' on the form, despite photos and texts from his laptop showing heavy drug use at the time, including crack cocaine.

Prosecutions for lying on such forms are very rare, and police did not pursue Hunter over the apparent infraction.

According to Hunter's texts to his therapist about the incident, the Secret Service were also involved in the investigation.

The Department of Homeland Security agency claimed they had no record of agents investigating the incident, and Joe Biden, who was not under their protection at the time, said he had no knowledge of their involvement.

But Hunter's texted claims that the agency was involved are echoed by two sources who spoke to Politico.

One source said Secret Service agents asked the Wilmington, Delaware gun store owner where Hunter bought the .38 for the sale paperwork.

The source, who the site reported had firsthand knowledge of the episode, said that the store owner, Ron Palmieri, refused to hand over the papers as he feared the agents wanted to hide Hunter's ownership of the gun.

The source said Palmieri instead later turned over the documents to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

A second source who was reportedly briefed by the Secret Service confirmed the story to the site.

Texts from earlier that year show Hunter was being guarded by a Secret Service agent while he went on a week-long drug and prostitute binge in a Hollywood hotel.

The texts raise questions for the federal agency, which has claimed that no Bidens received protection in 2018.

The agent added that he was working on 'Celtic's account', an apparent code name for a senior politician under protection, and told the president's son 'DC is calling me every 10.' The Bidens lost their protection by federal agents after Joe ended his term as Vice President in January 2017, and did not officially regain a detail until congressional officials approved his application in Spring last year

In the messages, a Los Angeles-based Secret Service officer warned Hunter he would 'have to assume you are in danger' and commandeer keys to the room if he didn't come out.

The agent added that he was working on 'Celtic's account', an apparent code name for a senior politician under protection, and told the president's son 'DC is calling me every 10.'

Press releases by a private security firm published a week after the text exchange with Hunter, announced the agent left the Secret Service after a 25-year career and joined the firm as CEO.

The Bidens lost their protection by federal agents after Joe ended his term as Vice President in January 2017, and did not officially regain a detail until congressional officials approved his application in Spring last year.

A bill from The Jeremy Hotel in West Hollywood obtained by DailyMail.com shows that Hunter stayed in a third-floor suite for seven days from May 19 2018, holed up ordering room service each night, drinking at the hotel bar and racking up a $5,195 bill  including a $400 fine for smoking in his room.

Texts on the laptop show that during his lavish stay Hunter sought refills for prescriptions of Viagra generic equivalent sildenafil, an antidepressant Lexapro, and anxiety medication Clonazepam, a similar drug to Xanax.

Emails from May 24 show Hunter added a prostitute as a wire transfer recipient on his bank account and wired out $25,000.

DailyMail.com obtained a copy of Hunter's laptop hard drive from former Steve Bannon podcast co-host Jack Maxey.

John Paul Mac Isaac, the owner of the computer store where Hunter abandoned his laptop, gave a copy of its hard drive to Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani in September last year.

Giuliani reportedly leaked documents and photos from the drive to the New York Post, and also gave a whole copy of the drive to Trump's former advisor Bannon and his podcast co-host Maxey.

Hunter, the Secret Service, their agent who now works for a private company and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
As states grapple with the need to collect revenue while supporting their residents who have been hardest hit by the economic fallout, all but 12 states have now waived taxes on the first $10,200 of unemployment compensation.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has told taxpayers that have already filed their taxes with unemployment benefits not to amend their tax returns, barring those taxpayers are now eligible for additional federal credits and deductions that werent included on the original tax return.

How long do states have to decide whether they will apply the tax break?

Just as the IRS has been taxed over the past year to process new tax provisions and send out direct stimulus payments with staffing shortages and complications due to the covid-19 pandemic, so too have the states. For two consecutive years the IRS has had to push back the deadline for filing taxes putting a strain on states to either follow suit or go back and adjust state tax filings after the fact. Some states have already synchronized their filing dates with the federal date and/or implemented the federal tax waiver on unemployment benefits collected by over 23 million Americans.

At the beginning of the month Massachusetts changed how it will treat jobless aid for tax purposes. Although the state will not follow the federal rule, the state will offer an unemployment compensation exclusion under state law for qualifying taxpayers. Currently, West Viriginias legislature is mulling over conformity legislation to follow the federal rule. If it becomes law, taxpayers may have to file an amended tax return to receive the tax break.

Generally speaking, its frowned upon to make a new tax retroactive if it penalizes a group just to fill the coffers, but it can and has been done. However, if a new tax could be beneficial to taxpayers at the expense of the state, its possible that the states that havent yet adopted the waiver could do so in the future, even after tax returns have been processed. That said the onus could be on the taxpayer to take advantage of the tax break.

Who is eligible for the $10,200 tax break?

The American Rescue Plan passed in March gave an extra bit of help to those who were unemployed in 2020 and collected jobless aid. The law waives federal tax on up to $10,200 of unemployment compensation per person received in 2020.

The waiver is available to individuals and couples who have an adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $150,000. The IRS updated its guidance and now allows workers to exclude unemployment compensation from AGI calculations.

Which states are taxing unemployment benefits?

There are 12 states that tax unemployment payments that have yet not followed the federal lead to extend a waiver to the first $10,200 in unemployment benefits claimed in 2020 according to H&R Block.

They are: Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina and West Virginia (which is currently legislating conformity).

Will handle waiver administratively:

Another group of states dont conform to the federal rule but will let taxpayers file as if the state does, effectively giving filers the waiver.

They are: Arizona, Ohio and Vermont

Partial unemployment benefits exclusion:

Three states offer partial unemployment compensation exclusions under state law.

They are: Indiana, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin

States that have adopted the federal waiver:

There are 14 states and DC that have adopted the new federal waiver. In those states, up to $10,200 of benefits are excluded from tax, but amounts in excess are taxable. The income-eligibility limit of $150,000 for individuals and married couples also applies.

They are: Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah, as well as Washington, DC.

States that havent adopted the American Rescue Plans tax break may still opt to do so. To check whether your state is ready for you to file your state income tax now check here.

Which states dont tax unemployment benefits?

The remaining states either dont tax income or dont tax unemployment benefits.

States that dont tax unemployment benefits:

They are: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia.

Which states dont tax income?

There are nine states that don't have income tax, but two of them still require taxpayers to file a tax return under certain circumstances. In New Hampshire and Tennessee, if an individual taxpayer receives more than $2,400 or $1,250, respectively, in interest and dividend income, they have to file. In the other seven states taxpayers technically only have to file a federal income tax return.

They are: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming, but you might not be off the hook completely.

In the remaining taxable 42 states and the District of Columbia, you will need to file a tax return if you reside there or are a resident. Some states have already changed their filing deadlines to synch with the extended federal deadline of 17 May, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas have until 15 June. The IRS provides a list of state tax agencies to check what the filing deadline is where you are a resident.

You must file a return where you are a resident and where you reside, in addition to your federal tax return

Americans move around to go where the work is, but that doesn't mean that they stop residing in their home state. So, for example, if you work in Nevada but you are a resident of California, you still need to report the income you earned in Nevada to the tax agency in California as well as your federal tax filing. Likewise, if you are a resident of Florida but work in Georgia, you will need to file a non-resident Georgia return even though Florida is a tax-free state.
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She grew up in Hungary, daughter of a butcher. She decided she wanted to be a scientist, although she had never met one. She moved to the United States in her 20s, but for decades never found a permanent position, instead clinging to the fringes of academia.

Now Katalin Kariko, 66, known to colleagues as Kati, has emerged as one of the heroes of Covid-19 vaccine development. Her work, with her close collaborator, Dr. Drew Weissman of the University of Pennsylvania, laid the foundation for the stunningly successful vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

For her entire career, Dr. Kariko has focused on messenger RNA, or mRNA  the genetic script that carries DNA instructions to each cells protein-making machinery. She was convinced mRNA could be used to instruct cells to make their own medicines, including vaccines.
(CNN) -- AstraZeneca's vaccine is key to ending the global economic slump caused by the coronavirus. But a series of missteps by the drugmaker and new concerns over blood clots risk undermining public confidence in the shot and delaying the recovery.

European drug regulators confirmed a link between the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot and rare blood clots on Wednesday, but stopped short of recommending its use be limited. UK authorities recommended that people under 30 take alternative vaccines.

It's the latest setback for AstraZeneca, which has faced criticism over its communication with the public and regulators, the design of its vaccine trials and severe production delays that have slowed the rollout of shots in Europe.

Authorities maintain that the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks for most age groups. Yet shifting guidance and blood clot worries risk snarling distribution efforts in many countries. Germany suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine last week in people under 60 years old, while Australia said Thursday it will not give it to people under the age of 50.

The safety questions could have even bigger implications for developing and middle-income countries, many of which are relying on the shot to unlock their economic comebacks because it's cheaper than other vaccines and can be stored more easily. Many are accessing it through Covax, a global vaccine-sharing program, which has secured more than half its supply from AstraZeneca as of March.

Overall, orders for an estimated 2.4 billion doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine have been confirmed, according to the Duke Global Health Innovation Center. That's roughly 28% of the global total.

"There's a lot of uncertainty here," said Ben May, director of macro research at Oxford Economics. He said the AstraZeneca developments weren't enough to revise near-term growth forecasts, but that he would keep monitoring the situation closely.

The World Health Organization said in a statement Wednesday that "based on current information, a causal relationship between the vaccine and the occurrence of blood clots with low platelets is considered plausible but is not confirmed."

AstraZeneca said that nearly 200 million people around the world have already received its vaccine, and that reviews by EU and UK regulators "reaffirmed the vaccine offers a high-level of protection against all severities of Covid-19 and that these benefits continue to far outweigh the risks."

A rough start

AstraZeneca received emergency use authorization from the United Kingdom in late December and the European Union one month later. Because the vaccine was less expensive and could be stored at higher temperatures than ones developed by Pfizer and Moderna, it was heralded as a breakthrough, particularly for less affluent countries that lack sophisticated logistics networks.

The company also generated lots of goodwill by pledging to supply its vaccine at no profit during the pandemic, and by partnering with the Serum Institute of India, which agreed to produce more than 1 billion doses for low and middle-income countries. AstraZeneca has already provided over 30 million doses to more than 58 countries through Covax.

However, a series of missteps generated a string of bad headlines for the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker.

The first issue cropped up in November, when the company faced questions about data from large-scale trials. Volunteers received different doses due to a manufacturing error, creating confusion about its actual effectiveness.

AstraZeneca did not mention that a mistake caused the dosing discrepancy in its initial announcement, generating concerns about a lack of transparency.

"I hate to criticize fellow academics, or anyone for that matter, but releasing information like this is like asking us to try and read the tea leaves," Dr. Saad Omer, a vaccine specialist at the Yale School of Medicine, said at the time.

More stumbles followed. Germany's vaccine commission said in January that AstraZeneca's shots shouldn't be given to people older than 65, citing insufficient data for the age group. France also initially limited AstraZeneca vaccines to those under 65. Both countries changed course last month.

Jeffrey Lazarus, head of the health systems research group at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, previously told CNN Business this was an "easily avoidable" issue tied to trial design.

Had the vaccine rollout been smooth, such stumbles may have been forgotten. But continued shortfalls in supply of the AstraZeneca shots in Europe, which is now mired in a third wave of coronavirus infections, have triggered huge political blowback in the bloc. Leaders have imposed restrictions on vaccine exports.

"If we had received the 100% of AstraZeneca's vaccines that were contracted to us, the European Union would be at the same level today as Great Britain in terms of vaccines," European Commissioner Thierry Breton said in a recent interview with Le Parisien newspaper. "So I can say that the pocket of turbulence we have experienced is solely due to AstraZeneca's failure to deliver."

AstraZeneca's future role

The company also ran afoul of US regulators last month when it submitted trial data from the country. The US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases expressed concerns that the efficacy information submitted was "outdated." AstraZeneca quickly sent in revised data, but Dr. Anthony Fauci, the agency's director, called it "an unforced error."

Now, as fears about rare blood clots force governments around the world to reassess the risk-benefit analysis of providing shots to all age groups, the United States has indicated it does not need AstraZeneca's doses.

"We have enough very good vaccines," Fauci, who also serves as chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, told CNN on Wednesday.

Not all countries will have that luxury, however. India, for example, is leaning heavily on AstraZeneca's shot as it tries to fight back against an alarming spike in cases.

Lazarus said Thursday that if wealthier nations decide they want to reduce their reliance on AstraZeneca, he hopes shots can be sent to other nations in need, since the data still indicates it's safe and effective.

"There are plenty of other countries that don't have other options because of the logistics ... and because of the cost," he said.

He does worry, however, that all the bad publicity could affect people's willingness to accept an AstraZeneca vaccine when it becomes available.

"This is definitely going to impact the reputation of the AstraZeneca vaccine," Lazarus said. "[It] will lead to lower uptake."

That could be bad news for the global economic recovery. This week, the International Monetary Fund upgraded its forecast for global growth this year to 6%. But that estimate depends in part on the pace of the vaccine rollout.

"Anything that might effectively reduce vaccine availability is obviously not good news," said May of Oxford Economics.

The vaccine "is still usable for the most vulnerable sections of the population," he noted. But coupled with supply shortages, new restrictions could complicate the recovery in countries where AstraZeneca's vaccine is central to pandemic exit strategies, May said.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "How AstraZeneca's latest vaccine troubles could slow the global recovery"
MARQUETTE, MI  A chemical used to extract THC from marijuana plants caused a fire that sent one person to the hospital in Michigans Upper Peninsula.

WLUC-TV reports that a 24-year-old Marquette man suffered burns in the fire, which occurred in a detached garage at Summit Street and Fitch Avenue in Marquette on Tuesday evening.

Police say the man was using a flammable chemical to extract THC from marijuana plants, which caused the flash fire.

He was severely injured and later transferred from UPHS-Marquette to University of Michigan Hospital for further burn treatment, the TV station reported.

Officers found marijuana wax and oil on the premises. The investigation is ongoing.

The Marquette City Fire Department was assisted on scene by the Marquette City Police Department and UP Health System EMS.
Opinion Article

8 April 2021

In any industry, hiring, training, and effectively onboarding new staff is a significant undertaking that is often wrought with nuanced challenges. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, however, we find ourselves in an entirely new landscape.

Over the past 12 months, rapid digital transformation has enabled organizations to reimagine how they work and manage talent completely. By 2028, 73% of all departments will have remote workers (Upwork), and internal communication and support processes across organizations have been placed under a critical lens. Workflow breakdowns and lapses in best practices have come to the forefront while employees struggle to leverage digital tools in a way that mimics real-time collaboration and communication.

Those in leadership positions are faced with more responsibility than ever before as they grapple with the limitations of the work from home model. How can managers ensure staff remain engaged and supported from afar? Do employees receive adequate peer-to-peer recognition within this new model? Are productivity levels remaining consistent? Are workflows optimized? Are staff receiving the support they need during a historically stressful time?

More importantly  as company leadership looks to hire back and effectively onboard staff in a post-pandemic world, what will that process look like? How can managers ensure that critical learnings, especially those relating to company security, remain accounted for? Furthermore, for those industries, such as hospitality, that rely on in-person experiences, what pandemic-specific protocols must staff be trained to execute?

As our team at VENZA continues to grow during uncertain times, we find our leadership striving to answer many of these questions in real-time. We know first-hand that, in the coming months, training and awareness throughout the onboarding process should be top of mind. From an IT perspective, specifically, companies that pay attention to detail when considering and reforming their onboarding and mentorship programs will help to onboard a workforce that is not susceptible to ransomware and attacks.

New Hires in a New World

Whenever a new employee joins the team, a company has their work cut out for them. Over the course of their onboarding/orientation, managers must address all crucial elements of working within the company, from culture to workflow expectations, team introductions, security considerations, training, and so much more. In many ways, every employee's early experience informs and shapes their likelihood of success within that company in the future. Let's consider the following statistics:

A negative onboarding experience doubles the chances of an employee seeking other opportunities

A great onboarding experience ensures 69% of employees stick with a company for three years.

A poor onboarding program was reported by 32% of global executives.

Only 12% of employees would strongly agree their organization does a great job of onboarding new employees

Organizations with a standard onboarding process experience 50% greater new-hire productivity

The cost of replacing the average employee is around 16-20% of their annual salary

The case for a great onboarding process is undeniable, but we are relying on an onboarding process that is mainly virtual in a post-pandemic world. Despite the challenges associated with the remote infrastructure, managers still have a responsibility to personally guide new hires through any potential barriers and immerse them in the business in both an engaging and detail-oriented manner. This program's creation should be focused on compliance, clarification, company culture, and connection, which demands buy-in from all organization levels.

A Digital Welcome

A company's onboarding program should be delivered through an onboarding portal that allows new hires to access company information and interact with customers and customer data. To this effect, companies should have clear standard operating procedures related to the software and access rights, how to share and request information (including customer information), documents, and keep data safe. Here is a list of tools to consider:

Phone (cell phone, office phone, apps)

Pitt mail (email client, web browser, phone, tablet, etc.)

Group messaging tools (Slack, Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams, etc.)

Video conferencing software (Go-To-Meeting, Zoom, etc.)

File-Sharing (Box, Dropbox, etc.)

Point of Sale

Ecommerce platforms

Email platforms

Prior to a new hire's first day, make sure you have completed the following tasks:

Communication outreach from HR and management

Approval from the senior management team to set up new accounts

Invite new hires to log-in to the onboarding portal, along with all necessary log-in details

Invite new hires to join corporate accounts

Send new hires a clear breakdown of any security protocols associated with their daily role and access rights, including internal and customer information

Communicate the impending arrival of the new hire to the rest of the organization

Before their first day, new hires should have a complete picture of the organization at large, the department they work in, the teams they will engage with, and the expectations associated with their role.

Post-Pandemic Security

In the coming months, organizations are encouraged to consider security from both an external and internal perspective. Externally, businesses are expected to invest extensively in their health and safety protocols, ensuring that public safety remains at the forefront of their offering. For many industries, this will require an enhanced emphasis on cleanliness, capacity limits, hands-free technology, and PPE regulations. Understandably, communicating these protocols and expectations will be a critical component of onboarding programs moving forward, as a brand's reputation can be severely impacted by an employee's inability to comply with current regulations.

Internally, organizations must recognize the increase in ransomware attacks across industries since the onset of the pandemic. As the world collectively shifts to embrace an online experience, attackers are honing in on unsuspecting employees who are poorly protected (or simply poorly trained) in the realm of digital security. In fact, research shows that the number of ransomware attacks has jumped by 350% since 2018. In July, Garmin, the multinational technology company, was hit with a $10m ransom from attackers. Since then, cybercriminals have expanded their exploitative efforts beyond the traditional world of commerce to include healthcare organizations, hotels, travel brands, and more.

With this in mind, organizations should emphasize online security protocols during the onboarding process, ensuring their growing team can grasp current cyber hygiene practices.

The Importance of Mentorship in Onboarding

Beyond the administrative housekeeping associated with bringing on a new employee, companies should also look to give new hires a sense of belonging and adequate one-on-one training and mentorship to cement their position and elevate the onboarding experience.

In fact, mentorship is a key part of the onboarding processes offered by high-performing companies. Quora, a popular question-and-answer website, allocates a personal mentor to each new hire. The start-up also "pushes new hires towards making meaningful contributions and tackling a manageable project by the end of week 1" and organizes ten onboarding talks over the first few weeks of a new hire's employment. Twitter is also a notable leader in the onboarding space, with over 75 steps facilitated across recruiting, HR, IT, and Facilities. Simultaneously, Buffer, a fully remote workforce, provides new hires three "Buddies" who play different roles in their six-week onboarding 'boot camp experience.' With the help of a 'Leader Buddy,' a 'Role Buddy', and a 'Culture Buddy,' new hires are seamlessly guided through their onboarding experience with frequent communications, check-ins, and tangible support  even from afar.

Onboarding allows a brand the perfect opportunity to tell their story and, more importantly, clarify each new hire's role in continuing that story. Taking the time to connect directly with each new hire and relay its history, values, best practices, and big-picture vision helps ensure that the employee assimilates meaningfully into the corporate structure.

Although IT and security may seem, at first glance, like a separate world from company culture, it's important to marry these two areas together. An employee who buys-in to the company vision and values is an employee who approaches their work with care and precision. An employee who takes their work and their place within a company seriously is an employee who doesn't make needless mistakes or falls victim to security-related threats. Trust is a two-way street, and earning the trust and appreciation of incoming employees helps to ensure that they, in turn, can be trusted to fulfill their potential within the company.

Ultimately, a great employee onboarding process leads to well-adjusted, invested, and accountable employees that are well-positioned to become long-term, valuable team members. Setting your new hires up for sustainable success, in turn, sets your organization up for success with heightened security and IT protection, improved retention, strong organizational commitment, reliable employees, higher performance, and happy clients.
MIAMI and FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nisk Real Estate, a privately held brokerage founded by Matthew Aniska, has begun servicing real estate clients in Florida specializing from Miami to Palm Beach. Although a new brand to South Florida, the broker has spent adequate time in the tropical state's real estate industry before solidifying arrival of the company.

What a time to arrive; to launch a brokerage during a global pandemic pairs a most improbable obstacle with a laborious feat. As a response to this suggestion of difficulty, the founder paraphrased a quote from former Intel CEO Andy Grove, "Weak companies are destroyed by crisis. Good companies endure crisis. Great companies thrive in crisis." Aniska added "the same could be said for people".

Although a difficult time for many, Miami proves to be a hotspot for those looking to relocate to a warm climate with much to offer. Miami-Dade County total home sales jumped 33.5% year-over-year in February 2021, from 1,862 to 2,485. Miami single-family home sales rose 23.6% year-over-year, from 884 to 1,093. Miami existing condo transactions increased 42.3% year-over-year, from 978 to 1,392. (Source: Miami Association of Realtors)

The newly launched company, Nisk Real Estate, founded by the 26-year-old broker, will continue to generate a presence in the luxury real estate industry for decades to come.

About Nisk Real Estate

Founded in 2021, Nisk Real Estate specializes in trading unique waterfront assets with a service tailored for sophisticated clientele who enjoy qualities of Western "Art de Vivre" (The Art of Living). The brand offers a birds-eye view of opportunities for investment, accelerated information delivery, and reductions in search, information, and delivery costs.

Follow Nisk Real Estate

Contact:

[email protected]

Photos:

https://www.prlog.org/12865036

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Nisk Real Estate

Related Links

https://www.niskrealestate.com


The mother of a teenage girl who was murdered by her abusive boyfriend has said she is 'serving a life sentence of her own' as she branded her daughter's killer a 'twisted animal' saying that he 'took two lives' the day he killed his pregnant girlfriend.

Jayden Parkinson, 17, was strangled to death by her abusive partner Ben Blakeley, now 30, who buried her in his uncle's grave after she told him she was pregnant in December 2013.

Then 22, he regularly beat Jayden and in the month leading up to her death, had threatened to post dozens of naked pictures and videos of her online which were taken without her consent.

Blakeley was found guilty of murdering Jayden and handed a life sentence at Oxford Crown Court in 2014, but Jayden's mum Samantha Shrewsbury, 54, says that his punishment will 'never be enough'.

In new MTV series True Life Crime UK, Samantha branded the killer a 'pig' and said she's living a 'life sentence of her own' as she is unable to escape memories of her late daughter.

Scroll down for video

Jayden Parkinson, 17, was strangled to death by her abusive partner Ben Blakeley, now 30, who buried her in his uncle's grave after she told him she was pregnant in December 2013

In new MTV series True Life Crime UK, Samantha, pictured in 2014, branded the killer a 'pig' and said she's living a 'life sentence of her own', unable to escape memories of her late daughter

'It will never be enough, ever,' said Samantha, 'Life should mean life. He's an animal, he's a pig. He is twisted in the head.

'Mine is a life sentence, I'm in my own prison. I'm in my house sat around things that remind me of Jayden. I talk about her everyday, she's there everyday, she's there everyday in my thoughts, it's never going to stop for us.

'She was pregnant, she was 17, she was a child. He took two lives that day. Like all abusers he was charming, she loved him. Out of anybody she could have fallen in love with, it just happened to be him.'

Jayden had a turbulent childhood before meeting Blakeley. She grew up in Folkstone before moving to Oxford, where her parents split up.

Blakeley (pictured right in 2014) was found guilty of murdering Jayden (left) and handed a life sentence at Oxford Crown Court in 2014

After a two-year custody battle, she again moved to Manchester with her father, but made the decision to move back to Oxford when she was 13.

Samantha says this was when her daughter's behaviour quickly took a turn for the worse.

'She was forever being excluded, one year she had 22 different exclusions,' she explained.

Samantha said she was often left 'worried sick' as her daughter would bunk off school and running away from home.

When she turned 17 social services stepped in and helped Jayden move to the One Foot Forward in Oxford.

Pete Hughes, a local journalist who covered the case in 2013, said: 'That hostel definitely had a reputation in the area.

'When Jayden was there it was a place people of already troubled backgrounds were staying, bringing elements of their lives to that hostel that were unhelpful may have got her in trouble and may have made her situation worse than it was before'.

Pictured, CCTV of Jayden leaving her hostel in Oxford to walk half an hour to meet Ben Blakeley

Blakeley was captured on CCTV at Oxford train station with Jayden. Both arrived at Didcot train station in December 2013

Jayden had met Blakeley at 15 through an acquaintance, though the pair didn't start dating until a year later, and friends of the teen said she was 'besotted' by him.

But Samantha says she was always suspicious of Blakeley, who had already been arrested for an array of crimes including assault and theft.

'There was something about him you couldn't quite put your finger on it,' she said.

Paige, one of Jayden's friends from Oxford, said that soon after the pair started dating the teen's appearance changed, with Jayden wearing less make-up and starting to cover up her body.

'Everything started changing, to see her then with him it was the trackies, the covering up, not doing her hair and make-up, so to see her like that I was shocked.

'I didn't hear from her, I saw her walking past and she blanked me, I thought, "okay leave it for a couple more weeks and talk to her again".'

The murder of Jayden Parkinson Jayden, 17, disappeared after being spotted on CCTV leaving Didcot train station in Oxfordshire with her violent ex-boyfriend Ben Blakeley, then 22, on 3 December 2013. He was seen returning to the station later that day - and she was never seen again. Blakeley strangled the teenager and initially dumped her body in a countryside ditch. He later moved her, digging up his uncle's grave in Didcot, Oxfordshire, dumping her body inside the grave. Her body was found in buried in Blakeley's uncle's grave two weeks later and he was arrested, charged and convicted of her murder at Oxford Crown Court in 2014. He regularly beat her and was often controlling and obsessive. She plucked up the courage to leave him and move into a hostel a month before she died, but had got back in touch to say she was pregnant with his child. Advertisement

Another friend of Jayden's, Remi, told of the threats that Blakeley made when she and Jayden had attended Remi's grandmother's funeral together.

'She just wasn't herself in any way shape or form,' said Remi, 'It was really, really sad to see. He was constantly ringing her phone, every five minutes it was ridiculous.

'She was on the phone to him, he was telling her she was lying, that she wasn't where she said she was and I got on the phone and I said "Leave her alone she's at a funeral" and he said "Don't you think I've hurt women before?" You'd just be another one.

'He was vile. He was vile. I was so shocked she took the phone back and he continued to give her abuse, she was frightened even though she wasn't there, it was like someone had sucked the life out of her. '

A month before she died, Jayden found the courage to report Blakeley, who had taken naked photos of her without her permission and threatened to send them to her friends and family.

She had told police she was terrified of Blakeley, but after discovering she was pregnant had arranged to meet up with him again.

The teen disappeared after being spotted on CCTV leaving Didcot train station in Oxfordshire with her then ex-boyfriend Blakeley in December 2013.

He was seen returning to the station later that day - and she was never seen again.

Samantha spoke of the treatment she received from police after reporting her daughter missing, claiming she was 'treated like a neurotic mum that couldn't keep her child in check'.

The documentary also showed unseen footage, released by Thames Valley Police, showing the murderer refusing to comment during his police interview.

'This is f***** crazy,' he said, 'Like she's my ex-chick. She's not even my girl anymore. I'm talking to a new girl, she's not even my girl this has f*** all to do with me.'

As the investigation continued, the police spoke with staff at One Foot Forward, who said Blakeley was 'very controlling' towards Jayden.

He isolated her from other residents in the hostel, becoming angry if she spoke to anyone, or even left her room to use the toilet, resulting in her urinating in containers in her bedroom.

Pictured, a Police tent in the Great Western Cemetery by All Saints' Church in Didcot, Oxfordshire in 2013

With new witness information suggesting that Jayden had been murdered, the police broke the news to Samantha that her daughter had been killed.

'They came and told me, and my world collapsed. It broke, anything I ever had, I didn't want to believe it and know it was true.

'I remember them saying that they'd found her, not alive, and everything went black. They knew it was her because we have matching tattoos on our arm, never a failure always a lesson, words she picked.'

A jury at Oxford Crown Court in 2014 found Blakeley guilty of murder following a five-week trial by a majority decision of 11-1 after more than 20 hours of deliberations.

Blakeley, of Reading, Berkshire, denied murdering Jayden but admitted her manslaughter.

The court heard how he was obsessive and controlling and threatened to post intimate videos and photographs of Jayden on Facebook after their break up, hoping she would kill herself as a result.

His brother, Jake Blakeley, 17, admitted a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice by helping to dig the grave in which Jayden was later buried.

True Life Crime UK continues Wednesday's at 10pm on MTV.
Parliamentarians sent to the Constitutional Court a submission to appeal against the presidential decrees on the dismissal of Oleksandr Tupytsky and on the release of him and Oleksandr Kasminin from their posts as judges of the Constitutional Court, representative of the Verkhovna Rada in the Constitutional Court Olha Sovhyria ( from the Servant of the People faction) said.

"The Constitutional Court received a constitutional submission of MPs, which challenged the constitutionality of the decrees of the President of Ukraine on the dismissal of Tupytsky and Kasminin," Sovhyria said on Facebook on Thursday.

In the comments, the MP said the submission was sent by the MPs from the Batkivschyna and European Solidarity factions.

Later, the communications and legal monitoring department of the Constitutional Court confirmed this information.

"On April 8, 2021, the Constitutional Court received a constitutional submission from 49 MPs of Ukraine on the constitutionality of presidential decree No. 607/2020 on the dismissal of a Constitutional Court judge dated December 29, 2020; decree No. 79/2021 on the dismissal of the Constitutional Court judge dated February 26, 2021; decree No. 124/2021 on some issues of ensuring the national security of Ukraine dated March 27, 2021. The authors of the petition ask that the contested acts of the President of Ukraine be recognized as inconsistent with a number of norms of the Constitution of Ukraine," the court said.
Travel firms are experiencing a spike in bookings for trips to nations with advanced vaccination programmes, it was claimed today, ahead of the rollout of the Government's traffic light system.

The new scheme for resuming international travel will see countries rated green, amber or red based on criteria like vaccination take up, coronavirus case numbers and prevalence of variants.

As a result there has reportedly been an increase in bookings for summer holidays to countries like the United States, Israel, Malta and Dubai where jab rollouts have been conducted at pace.

Ministers are looking at prioritising travel to countries where at least 50 per cent of adults have had one vaccine dose, according to The Times, as they prepare to unveil further details of the scheme potentially as early as tomorrow.

It came as Boris Johnson faced calls from Tory MPs to ditch any 'costly' testing requirements for travel to and from 'green' countries.

Boris Johnson's plans to resume international travel from May 17 will use a traffic light system to determine which countries can be visited without quarantine

Travel firms are experiencing a spike in bookings for trips to nations with advanced vaccination programmes

Mr Johnson is targeting a return to non-essential international travel from May 17.

Trips to 'green' countries would be quarantine-free but people will still have to be tested before departure and on arrival back in the UK.

The importance of vaccination levels in the traffic light system has prompted travellers to target nations with high levels of jab take up.

EasyJet reportedly said it had experienced a rise in demand for trips to Israel and Malta.

Meanwhile, Brits are also targeting travel to Greece and Turkey - countries which have made clear they want to welcome back UK holidaymakers as soon as it is safe to do so.

The Government is still advising people not to book holidays yet and booking numbers are still way down on pre-pandemic levels.

Restricting 'green' status to countries where at least 50 per cent of adults have had one dose would result in only a handful of destinations being available to Brits.

But it is hoped that many European nations will hit the benchmark by the summer, potentially adding many more destinations to the list.

The Government has said that travel from 'green' countries will require testing but it is as yet unclear what sort of tests will be required.

Travel chiefs have warned that using laboratory-based PCR tests which can cost 100 would price many people out of foreign travel.

They have called for the testing requirement to be ditched for the safest countries or for cheaper lateral flow tests to be used instead.

Mr Johnson said earlier this week that he wanted to make travel 'as flexible and as affordable as possible'.

Henry Smith, the Tory chairman of all party Future of Aviation Group which has 100 MPs as members including 40 Tories, has written to the PM to urge him to scrap the 'costly' testing plan.

Mr Smith told The Telegraph: 'I am not against testing but I do question the need for PCR tests.

'Any testing in terms of cost needs to be kept to a minimum otherwise it is a big disincentive.'
A magistrate court in Mzuzu has adjourned a case in which former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regional governor Reverend Christopher Mzomela Ngwira and others are being accused of assault.

Ngwira and others are accused of injuring President Dr Lazarus Chakwera's bodyguards and MCP supporters when they were in opposition.

The incident took place at a political rally which Chakwera addressed at Chibavi ground in Mzuzu in 2016 when he waa an opposition leader.

Defense lawyer Mr Christon Ghambi asked the court to discharge the suspects, accusing the state of failing to parade witnesses.

Senior resident magistrate Mr Paul Kandulu has since given state to April 22, 2021 to bring witnesses, failing which he will discharge the accused persons.

Ngwira, who is saving a jail sentence at Mzimba prison was not present at the court as he is reportedly admitted at the Mzuzu Central Hospital.
New Delhi:

Death sentence of 15 Indians, lodged in Kuwaiti jails, have been commuted to life imprisonment by the Emir of Kuwait, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Saturday.



Swaraj said the Emir has also directed that the sentences of 119 Indian nationals be reduced.

HH the Emir of Kuwait has been pleased to commute the sentence of 15 Indian nationals from death to life imprisonment. /1  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) September 30, 2017



The minister thanked the Emir of Kuwait for his kind gesture.

HH the Emir has further directed the reduction in sentence of 119 Indian nationals. /2  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) September 30, 2017



In a series of tweets, she said "the Emir of Kuwait has been pleased to commute the sentence of 15 Indian nationals from death to life imprisonment".

We are grateful to the Emir of Kuwait for this kind gesture./3  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) September 30, 2017



Indian mission in Kuwait will provide all possible assistance to the Indian nationals being released from the prison, she tweeted.

Indian mission in Kuwait will provide all possible assistance to the Indian nationals being released from the prison. /4  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) September 30, 2017



However, it was not clear that under what charges these Indians were put behind bars.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Putin in phone talk with Merkel tells about the need for direct dialogue with ORDLO, legal status of Donbas

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the issues of resolving the situation in Donbas by phone, the Kremlin press service said on Thursday.

"The need was emphasized for Kyiv authorities to strictly implement the previously reached agreements, first of all, on establishing a direct dialogue with Donetsk and Luhansk and the legal registration of the special status of Donbas," the press service of the President of the Russian Federation said.

"The parties to the conflict were called upon to restrain and intensify the negotiation process in order to fully implement the Minsk Package of Measures of 2015, as an uncontested basis for settlement. The commitment to further close coordination of efforts by Russia and Germany has been confirmed, including in the Normandy format, through political advisers and foreign ministries," the message says.
Ishmael Abdallah, the 10-year-old boy, who was allegedly murdered at Kasoa for ritual purposes, was on Thursday buried at the Amanfrom Muslim Cemetery after Islamic rituals.



Sheikh Yousiph Saeed Ankomah, Imam for Taifa, who conducted the burial service, prayed for the soul of the deceased and asked the bereaved family to take heart and trust God for better times ahead.



He asked parents to develop interest in what their children did outside home, in their friends and what they used mobile phones for, to avert such calamities.



Sheikh Ankomah said the incident should be a lesson to all parents and emphasised the need to bring up children in the fear of God so they could become responsible citizens.



He said what was needed now was forgiveness and appealed to the bereaved family and residents of the community to be tolerant.



Two teenagers have appeared before the Ofaakor District Court for allegedly murdering Abdallah at Coca-Cola, near Lamptey Mills, at Kasoa in the Central Region.



Felix Nyarko, aka Yaw Anane, a 16-year-old labourer, and Nicholas Kini Kwame, an 18-year-old student, has been charged with conspiracy to murder and murder of Ishmael Mensah Abdallah.



The court, presided over by Mrs Rosemond Vera Ocloo, preserved their pleas.

The accused persons are to reappear on April 20 as investigations into the matter is ongoing.



The alleged murder shocked and saddened the nation, with many calling for restrictions on the activities of spiritualists on television.



It also attracted statements from the Gender Ministry and civil society organisations.



On Wednesday, April 7, a government delegation and personnel from the Counselling Unit of the Ghana Police Service visited the bereaved family to commiserate with them.



The burial was mainly attended by males and attracted relations and sympathisers across the country, especially from the Oti Region, where the deceased hailed from.

Source: GNA









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Nikki Rao "Nikki's passion for client advocacy will serve as a valuable resource to help design, develop, and build the facilities needed for our communities to thrive," noted Tom Thrasher, senior vice president of Gilbane's Florida business unit.

Nikki has a comprehensive background in architecture and construction with over ten years of industry experience developing influential relationships and delivering value. Her career began in construction operations that have traversed public and private sector projects and will directly benefit our clients as she expands Gilbane's presence across multiple market sectors throughout Southeast Florida.

Ms. Rao holds a Master of Science degree in architectural engineering and construction management from Carnegie Mellon University. She is active in her local community as a volunteer with Best Buddies, supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

"There were two things that attracted me to Gilbane. First, I appreciate the 150-year history of this family-owned company and its proven dedication to its clients. Second, the Gilbane team recognizes Florida and the Southeast's strong future and the importance of investing in the resources necessary to serve as a dynamic partner in the region's continuous expansion," said Nikki.

"Southeast Florida is a vital region for businesses, organizations, and educators. Nikki's passion for client advocacy will serve as a valuable resource to help design, develop, and build the facilities needed for our communities to thrive," noted Tom Thrasher, senior vice president of Gilbane's Florida business unit.

About Gilbane Building Company

Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services  from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build and facility management services  for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 45 office locations worldwide.

Since 1972, Gilbane has been delivering construction services in Florida for clients across various market sectors including commercial office, multi-unit and high rise residential, cultural, education, healthcare, public sector, mission critical and life sciences. Our established relationships with local contractors and vendors, local and state authorities and top professionals in Florida's construction industry has resulted in satisfied clients and repeat business. Gilbane has five permanent Florida office locations in Boca Raton, Tampa, Sarasota, Jacksonville, and Orlando. For more information, visit http://www.gilbaneco.com.
Washington, April 8 : The US and Iraq have agreed to redeploy the remaining Washington-led coalition combat troops outside the war-torn country to contribute in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) terror group, an official statement said.

The joint statement issued on Wednesday said the decision was made following the US-Iraq Strategic Dialogue, Xinhua news agency.

The Iraqi delegation was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein, while the US side was headed by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

The strategic dialogue via video teleconference, which was held in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement signed in 2008 between the two sides, also covered security and counter-terrorism, economics and energy, political issues, and cultural relations, according to the statement.

It said the two sides "reaffirmed their mutual intention to continue bilateral security coordination and cooperation", stressing that the redeployment of the US and coalition forces is based on "the increasing capacity of the Iraqi forces".

"The mission of US and coalition forces has now transitioned to one focused on training and advisory tasks, thereby allowing for the redeployment of any remaining combat forces from Iraq, with the timing to be established in upcoming technical talks," the statement added.

The Iraqi government in turn committed to protecting the international coalition personnel, convoys, and diplomatic facilities, it said, adding that the two sides emphasised that the current military bases, on which US and coalition personnel are present, are Iraqi bases and their presence is only for supporting Iraq's efforts in the fight against the IS group.

The relation between Baghdad and Washington strained after January 3, 2020, when an American drone struck a convoy at Baghdad airport, which killed Qasem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces.

The Iraqi parliament passed a resolution on January 5, 2020, requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in Iraq.

The US airstrike also pushed unidentified militias to launch a series of rocket and mortar attacks on Iraqi military bases housing US troops across Iraq, as well as the American embassy in the Green Zone in central Baghdad.

The tension pushed the two sides to launch sessions of strategic dialogue starting from last June 12, and the US pledged to cut its troops in the country.

The US-led coalition forces have been deployed in Iraq to support the Iraqi forces in the battles against IS militants, mainly providing training and advising to the Iraqi forces.
[April 08, 2021] Former FDA Psychiatry Division Director Dr. Thomas Laughren Joins BetterLife as Regulatory Advisor

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BetterLife Pharma Inc. (BetterLife or the Company) (CSE: BETR / OTCQB : BETRF / FRA: NPAU), an emerging biotechnology company developing second generation psychedelics for neuro-psychiatric disorders, today announced that Dr. Thomas Laughren will join BetterLife as a Regulatory Advisor. Dr. Laughren was formerly Director for the Division of Psychiatry Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA. Prior to joining the FDA in September 1983, Dr. Laughren was affiliated with the VA Medical Center in Providence, RI, and was on the faculty of the Brown University Program in Medicine.

Dr. Ahmad Doroudian, CEO of BetterLife, said, "We are thrilled to have Dr. Laughren join the Company as Regulatory Advisor. He brings invaluable psychiatric drug regulatory and development experience for our pipeline as we ramp up our IND-enabling activities. As Director for the Division of Psychiatry Products, Dr. Laughren oversaw the review of all psychiatric drug development activities conducted under INDs and the review of all NDAs and supplements for new psychiatric drug claims. He has authored and co-authored many papers and book chapters on regulatory and methodological issues pertaining to the development of psychiatric drugs, and is a frequentspeaker at professional meetings on these same topics. Dr. Laughren has received numerous awards for his regulatory accomplishments.



About BetterLife Pharma Inc. BetterLife Pharma Inc. is an emerging biotechnology company engaged in the development and commercialization of next generation psychedelic products for the treatment of mental disorders. Utilizing drug delivery platform technologies, BetterLife is also refining and developing drug candidates from a broad set of complementary interferon-based technologies which have the potential to engage the immune system to fight virus infections, such as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and human papillomavirus.

For further information please visit www.abetterlifepharma.com. Contact



Ahmad Doroudian, Chief Executive Officer

Email: Ahmad.Doroudian@blifepharma.com

Phone: 604-221-0595 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements No securities exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, licensing, commercialization and regulatory compliance issues and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as will, may, should, anticipate, expects and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.



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The Easter break was a perfect time for a declutter, yet the bag of old letters wasnt getting any smaller. To measure the letters only by whether they sparked joy would be to have misunderstood their significance. They sparked all kinds of emotions that made them worthy of retention.

There were hundreds of them, written by friends in their twenties, reporting on adventures abroad or romances in various stages of complexity, against a backdrop of study.

Letters exchanged by friends can spark all sorts of emotions and are worth holding onto. Credit:Erkki Makkonen

The Black Forest in Germany was enchanting, plans were in train to visit Peru ... for lots of unknown adventure including taking the famous Inca Trail to the ancient city of Machu Picchu. Study was planned in Italy, or a trek through Turkey and Syria to Cairo. Voices, full of curiosity and enthusiasm, tumbled out of the letters.

The subject of love featured prominently. Sadly, only one friends conviction that she had found her Gilbert (a reference to L. M. Montgomerys much-loved Anne Shirley novels) proved to be correct. The signs were already present in other letters, reporting that the future had become a taboo subject or on some betrayal, that other romances would not last. Maybe that was the purpose for which the letters were written: to clarify the writers thoughts.
NTU Regarding convocation of the general meeting of shareholders of Public limited liability company aNovaturasa

On April 30, 2021, the general meeting of shareholders of Public limited liability company Novaturas, code 135567698, registered at A. Mickeviciaus str. 27, Kaunas, the Republic of Lithuania (the Company), is being convened (the Meeting) upon the initiative and decision of the board of the Company.

The place of the Meeting  premises of Vilnius branch of Public limited liability company Novaturas, address: J. Jasinskio str. 16, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania. The Meeting commences at 12 a.m. (registration starts at 11.00 a.m. and ends at 11.45 a.m.). Please note that on the day of publication of this announcement, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a quarantine has been announced in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania by the Government (the Quarantine), which includes a ban on organizing all events and gatherings in open and closed spaces. Quarantine is currently set until April 30, 2021, 12:00 p.m. (midnight). In the event that Quarantine and the aforementioned restrictions on organizing events and gatherings will still be in force, shareholders and their representatives will not be given the opportunity to come and participate in the Meeting in person. In this case, shareholders and their representatives will be given the opportunity to participate and vote at the Meeting in the way allowed by law and permitted in such circumstances  to vote in advance in writing by filling in the general ballot paper and submitting it to the Company prior to the day of the Meeting at Vilnius branch, address J. Jasinskio str. 16, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania. The Meetings accounting day  April 23, 2021. Only persons who are shareholders of the Company at the end of accounting day of the general meeting of shareholders or persons authorized by them, or persons with whom shareholders concluded the agreements on the transfer of voting rights, shall have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting. The Board of the Company initiates and convenes the Meeting, which on 7 April 2021 has approved the following agenda of the Meeting: 1) Approval of the audited annual financial statements and the Annual Report of 2020 (will be published not later than April 20). Draft decision proposed: To approve the audited annual financial statements and the Annual Report of 2020. 2) Election of the auditor of the Company. Draft decision proposed: 1. To approve the election of the audit company Deloitte Lietuva, UAB (the Auditor) to audit the Companys financial statements for the years 2021 and 2022. To approve the payment terms for Auditors services by establishing that the remuneration for audit of the Companys annual financial statements per year shall not exceed EUR 86,000 (excluding VAT). 2. On the initiative of the Board the auditor of the Company for year 2022 may be re-elected by the Meeting approving the same or electing other audit company. 3. The general director of the Company is hereby authorised to execute on behalf of the Company the audit services agreement with the Auditor, as well as to determine other terms and conditions of its services, which are not established in this shareholders resolution. The total number of the Companys shares with the nominal value of EUR 0.03 each and the number of shares granting voting rights during the general meeting of shareholders is the same and amounts to 7,807,000. ISIN code of the Companys shares  LT0000131872. A person attending the general meeting of shareholders and having a right to vote must provide a persons identification document. A person who is not a shareholder must additionally provide a document confirming his/her/its right to vote at the general meeting of shareholders. Each shareholder shall have a right in the manner established by the laws to authorise other (natural or legal) person to attend and vote at the general meeting of shareholders on his/her/its behalf. At the general meeting of shareholders an authorised person shall have the same rights as would be held by the shareholder represented by him/her/it unless the authorized persons rights are limited by the power of attorney or by laws. The authorized person must provide a power of attorney certified in the manner established by laws. A power of attorney issued in a foreign state must be translated into Lithuanian and legalised in the manner established by laws. The Company does not establish a special form of power of attorney. Shareholder shall have the right to authorize through electronic communication channels another person (natural or legal) to participate and vote in the meeting on shareholders behalf. Such authorization may not be approved by the notary public. The power of attorney issued through electronic communication channels must be confirmed by the shareholder with a safe electronic signature developed by safe signature equipment and approved by a qualified certificate effective in the Republic of Lithuania. The shareholder must inform the Company on the power of attorney issued through electronic communication channels via e-mail tomas.staskunas@novaturas.lt not later than until 12.00 a.m. (noon) of the last business day before the meeting. The power of attorney and notification must be in writing. The power of attorney and notification to the Company must be signed with the electronic signature but not the letter sent via e-mail. By submitting the notification to the Company, the shareholder must include the internet address from which it would be possible to download free of charge software to verify an electronic signature of the shareholder. A shareholder or a person authorised by him/her/it shall have a right to vote in writing in advance by filling in the general ballot paper. Upon shareholders request, the Company, not later than 10 days before the general meeting, shall send the general ballot paper by registered mail free of charge. The general ballot paper is also provided on the Companys website at www.novaturasgroup.com on the menu item For investors. The filled-in general ballot paper and the document confirming the voting right (if any) must be submitted to the Company via registered mail or providing them against signature at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice and received by the Company not later than on the last business day prior to the meeting. The Company is not providing the possibility to attend and vote at the meeting through electronic means of communication. The shareholders holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes shall have the right to propose to supplement the agenda. Draft decisions on the proposed agenda items must be submitted together with the proposal or, if the decisions do not need to be adopted, explanations on each proposed item of agenda of the general meeting of shareholders must be presented. Proposal to supplement the agenda must be presented to the Company via registered mail or by providing it against signature at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice. The agenda will be supplemented if the proposal is received not later than 14 days before the general meeting of shareholders. Each shareholder holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes at any time before the general meeting of shareholders or during the meeting shall have the right to propose draft resolutions on the issues already included or to be included in the agenda of the Meeting, as well propose additional candidates to the members of the supervisory council of the Company (if elected). The proposed draft decisions must be presented to the Company in writing via registered mail or by providing them against signature at the address of the Company indicated in the notice. The shareholders shall have the right to present to the Company in advance and in writing questions related to the agenda of the Meeting, by providing the shareholders personal identification number and consent to process personal data  personal identification number in the letter which should be sent to the Company via registered mail or delivered against signature. The Company undertakes to respond if the questions are received not later than 3 business days prior to the general meeting of shareholders. Responses of a general character shall be posted on the Companys website www.novaturasgroup.com on the menu item For investors. The Company will not respond personally to the shareholder if the respective information is posted on the Companys website. By arriving at public limited liability company Novaturas, address at A. Mickeviciaus str. 27, Kaunas, or by visiting the Companys website at www.novaturasgroup.com on the menu item For investors, the shareholders may get familiarised with the documents possessed by the Company related to the agenda of the Meeting, including notice on convocation of the Meeting, information about the total number of the Companys shares and the number of shares granting voting rights during the general meeting of shareholders, draft resolutions and other documents being submitted to the general meeting of shareholders, as well as to obtain information regarding exercise of the shareholders rights. Attached: 1. General voting ballot. Contacts: Tomas Staskunas CFO A. Mickeviciaus str. 27, LT-44245 Kaunas, Lithuania Tel. +370 37 750856, mob. +370 687 10426 fax. +370 37 321130 E-mail: tomas.staskunas@novaturas.lt
The hugely successful Johnny Magory children's books are to come to life on the television screen in a new animated series.

The good news comes as Kildare author and entrepreneur, Emma-Jane (EJ) Leeson gets set to release her seventh book in the series - Johnny Magory and the Farmyard Feasta - to her audiences in Ireland and around the world on April 23.

The 7th Johnny Magory book, I can't actually believe it. These books started as a hobby and to see where we are now, celebrating two years in business, is unreal. To obtain this funding from Screen Ireland, which I know is no simple task, is a true testament to the work and love that has gone into this book series. I could not be more excited by what the future has in store," said EJ.

The Prosperous resident's books are a celebration of Irish wildlife and heritage, which is reflected in her own life with the author living on a farm and wildlife reserve. Taking inspiration from her own life has seen EJ garner success with her books, a success she looks to share with fellow creatives through her online courses in writing available for both children and adults.

The creative entrepreneur developed her Virtual Hedge School to support and uplift fellow writers aiming for the same levels of success she herself has obtained. One such success has been the recent receipt of elusive funding from Screen Ireland to

produce an animated series based on the Johnny Magory books. This exciting development will see EJ join forces with the incredible team at Elk Studios, who have worked with giants such as CBeebies and Disney Junior, to bring her characters, and Irish heritage, to life on screen.

This latest accomplishment is one in a list of continued achievements for the humble author. Recently, EJ signed up with literary distributors OBrien Press and Gill Books to bring Johnny Magory onto more bookshelves nationwide.

For now, readers young and old can enjoy a trip to the farm with Johnny, Lily-May, Ruairi and their farmyard friends in Johnny Magory and the Farmyard Feasta available to order online now for delivery by the end of April.
With Connecticuts travel restrictions no longer mandatory, local schools vary on how strict theyll be on students who leave the state over spring break.

Despite concerns about an increased risk of COVID-19 spread due to next weeks vacation, most schools plan to stay open after break and are not requiring travelers to get tested.

The exception is New Milford, which will switch to full remote learning for April 19 through 23, the week after break.

Our district data shows that having a week of remote learning after a school vacation has been very successful as a mitigation strategy for New Milford Public Schools, Superintendent Alisha DiCorpo said in a letter to families and staff. It is anticipated that many families will be traveling and socializing during the April break. Out-of-school socializing contributes to exposure and our community herd levels won't be at a protective level.

Danbury schools are worried about the break leading to an uptick in cases, too, but plans to return on they hybrid model on April 19.

Keeping our schools open while keeping our community safe requires an ongoing partnership between the district, teachers, families, and civic leaders, Superintendent Sal Pascarella told families. The district has concerns regarding travel that may occur during spring break, especially to destinations with fewer restrictions and mitigation strategies than Connecticut has.

Connecticuts travel advisory became recommended instead of required beginning March 19, which means travelers are no longer mandated to test or quarantine. Still, the state encourages school families and staff to do so.

The responsibility lies with individuals and families to take the steps necessary to protect themselves, their school communities, and others before, during, and after travel, as it would not be reasonable to expect schools to investigate or enforce recommendations related to private activities, the state health and education departments wrote in a joint memo.

New Fairfield is letting students and staff return to school after break unless they have a known exposure.

While there are no longer requirements for quarantine or testing following out-of-state travel, we encourage all members of our school community to continue to practice mitigation strategies while traveling, including mask wearing, social distancing, and proper hygiene, Superintendent Pat Cosentino said in a letter to families.

Newtown schools do not plan on monitoring travel, Superintendent Lorrie Rodrigue said. But she urged families to follow state and federal guidelines on travel, masks and social distancing. The district directed families to COVID testing sites in the state.

April break may include travel and group gatherings, and this does pose some level of risk, Rodrigue wrote.

Brookfield, however, is requesting students that travel out-of-state test negative for the virus before returning to school. The schools will accept a rapid or PCR test. Students who test positive or do not get tested will need to quarantine for 10 days before returning to school.

We will continue to monitor the local health metrics and collaborate with our medical and public health advisors, Superintendent John Barile said in a letter to families. As has been our practice all year, we may need to change the in-person learning model based upon Brookfields health metrics and/or staffing levels.

Ridgefield, which will open full-time for grades six through 12 the week after break, is asking travelers to get tested before returning to class. The Easton, Redding and Region 9 superintendent urged traveling families to consider testing.

Most Brookfield faculty and staff will be fully vaccinated by the end of break, Barile said. But employees who travel and dont have both doses must arrange a COVID test before returning to work. Staff who are at least two weeks after their second dose do not need to get tested, he said.

Fully-vaccinated people can travel safely in the United States, although they must still wear masks and practice social distancing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Travelers without the vaccine should get tested before and after their trip, as well as quarantine for seven days afterward, among other CDC recommendations.

In Bethel, students who travel are allowed to learn remotely the week after break in order to get tested and quarantine, but this is not required.

Again, the guidance is a recommendation but will aid in keeping our schools open and safe, Superintendent Christine Carver told families.
- By GF Value





The stock of Hollysys Automation Technologies (NAS:HOLI, 30-year Financials) is estimated to be modestly undervalued, according to GuruFocus Value calculation. GuruFocus Value is GuruFocus' estimate of the fair value at which the stock should be traded. It is calculated based on the historical multiples that the stock has traded at, the past business growth and analyst estimates of future business performance. If the price of a stock is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued and its future return is likely to be poor. On the other hand, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, its future return will likely be higher. At its current price of $12.69 per share and the market cap of $772.3 million, Hollysys Automation Technologies stock gives every indication of being modestly undervalued. GF Value for Hollysys Automation Technologies is shown in the chart below.





Hollysys Automation Technologies Stock Is Believed To Be Modestly Undervalued

Because Hollysys Automation Technologies is relatively undervalued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be higher than its business growth, which averaged 5.5% over the past five years.

Link: These companies may deliever higher future returns at reduced risk.

Companies with poor financial strength offer investors a high risk of permanent capital loss. To avoid permanent capital loss, an investor must do their research and review a company's financial strength before deciding to purchase shares. Both the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage of a company are a great way to to understand its financial strength. Hollysys Automation Technologies has a cash-to-debt ratio of 30.05, which which ranks better than 84% of the companies in Industrial Products industry. The overall financial strength of Hollysys Automation Technologies is 8 out of 10, which indicates that the financial strength of Hollysys Automation Technologies is strong. This is the debt and cash of Hollysys Automation Technologies over the past years:

Story continues

Hollysys Automation Technologies Stock Is Believed To Be Modestly Undervalued

Companies that have been consistently profitable over the long term offer less risk for investors who may want to purchase shares. Higher profit margins usually dictate a better investment compared to a company with lower profit margins. Hollysys Automation Technologies has been profitable 10 over the past 10 years. Over the past twelve months, the company had a revenue of $534.8 million and earnings of $1.12 a share. Its operating margin is 19.28%, which ranks better than 92% of the companies in Industrial Products industry. Overall, the profitability of Hollysys Automation Technologies is ranked 7 out of 10, which indicates fair profitability. This is the revenue and net income of Hollysys Automation Technologies over the past years:

Hollysys Automation Technologies Stock Is Believed To Be Modestly Undervalued

One of the most important factors in the valuation of a company is growth. Long-term stock performance is closely correlated with growth according to GuruFocus research. Companies that grow faster create more value for shareholders, especially if that growth is profitable. The average annual revenue growth of Hollysys Automation Technologies is 5.5%, which ranks in the middle range of the companies in Industrial Products industry. The 3-year average EBITDA growth is 4.7%, which ranks in the middle range of the companies in Industrial Products industry.

One can also evaluate a company's profitability by comparing its return on invested capital (ROIC) to its weighted average cost of capital (WACC). Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. If the return on invested capital exceeds the weighted average cost of capital, the company is likely creating value for its shareholders. During the past 12 months, Hollysys Automation Technologies's ROIC is 13.97 while its WACC came in at 6.80. The historical ROIC vs WACC comparison of Hollysys Automation Technologies is shown below:

Hollysys Automation Technologies Stock Is Believed To Be Modestly Undervalued

In summary, the stock of Hollysys Automation Technologies (NAS:HOLI, 30-year Financials) is estimated to be modestly undervalued. The company's financial condition is strong and its profitability is fair. Its growth ranks in the middle range of the companies in Industrial Products industry. To learn more about Hollysys Automation Technologies stock, you can check out its 30-year Financials here.

To find out the high quality companies that may deliever above average returns, please check out GuruFocus High Quality Low Capex Screener.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, has ordered the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to pull down a structure erected on a waterway at Lashibi in Accra.



The facility, which has been earmarked for a washing bay, has been under construction since 2020, restricting the free flow of water in the community.



During a visit to the site by the Minister and a joint team of police and NADMO officials, he ordered authorities to ensure the structure is demolished by Wednesday to prevent flooding in the area.



The Engineer has said he has not authorised this structure to be here. I do not have a problem when people are building but especially with the rains about to set in, we cannot allow these things to go on. NADMO, you will get the machines, National Security will assist you, and it has to go down, he ordered.



Meanwhile, the Municipal Engineer of the Tema West Assembly, Vincent Blah Quarshie, said several attempts to halt the construction of the washing bay have proved futile.



The Tema Metropolitan Director of NADMO recently recommended the demolition of unauthorised structures around the Tema Community Seven Post Office because of the risk they pose to life and property.



The Tema NADMO Regional Director stated that the structures were constructed indiscriminately to obstruct the free flow of water.



NADMO urged the Tema city authorities to pull down the structures to avert a possible disaster in the future.

Source: adomonline.com









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

Featured Video
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --The Albuquerque-based law firm of McGinn, Montoya, Love & Curry is celebrating the selection of four of its attorneys to 2021 Super Lawyers and one of its early career attorneys to 2021 Rising Stars. With only a mere margin of United States legal professionals obtaining Super Lawyers and Rising Stars recognition (no more than 5% and 2.5%, respectively), it is a great achievement to have a total of 5 attorneys at a single firm honored in one edition.

Super Lawyers listed McGinn, Montoya, Love & Curry attorneys as follows in the 2021 edition for their work in Albuquerque, New Mexico:

A. Elicia Montoya (Super Lawyers 2015-2021; Rising Stars 2012-2014)

(Super Lawyers 2015-2021; Rising Stars 2012-2014) Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff



Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff

Randi McGinn (Super Lawyers 2007-2021)

(Super Lawyers 2007-2021) Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff



Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff



Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff

Kathy Love (Super Lawyers 2014-2021)

(Super Lawyers 2014-2021) Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff

Katie Curry (Super Lawyers 2019-2021; Rising Stars 2014-2016)

(Super Lawyers 2019-2021; Rising Stars 2014-2016) Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff



Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff



Civil Rights

As for 2021 Rising Stars, the firm's early career lawyer who obtained this recognition was Attorney Michael Sievers. He was listed for the following areas of legal practice in Albuquerque:

Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff

Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff

Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff

Attorney Sievers was first recognized by Rising Stars in 2017 and has been reselected for every new edition since.

A Thomson Reuters company, Super Lawyers is a directory of top-rated attorneys from more than 70 practice areas throughout the U.S. Aiming to assist individuals in search of skilled legal help close to home, it ranks attorneys by state, region, and firm size. Super Lawyers is also behind Rising Stars, which is a recognition reserved for attorneys no older than 40 or who have been in practice for no more than a decade.

To determine Super Lawyers listees and Rising Stars honorees, attorneys are put to a rigorous review of their careers, hitting on "12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement." Among these 12 indicators are settlements and verdicts, representative clients, accolades, pro bono work, and more. They are then reevaluated in a "Blue Ribbon Review" conducted by the highest-scoring Super Lawyers candidates. No matter how many times an attorney has been recognized by the organization before, they are evaluated again for each new edition to ensure they have kept up with the high standards of Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.

McGinn, Montoya, Love & Curry serves clients in a range of practice areas and always fights on the side of the plaintiff. The firm accepts cases involving civil rights violations, catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, industrial accidents, product liability, premises liability, auto and truck accidents, and much more. To learn more about the firm and schedule a free consultation with one of its attorneys, visit mcginnlaw.com. For Super Lawyers and Rising Stars inquiries, please direct them to superlawyers.com.

SOURCE McGinn, Montoya, Love & Curry, P.A.

Related Links

https://mcginnlaw.com


With former Prez Trump safely removed from the White House and social media feeds, local "enthusiasm" for Democracy suffered a dramatic decline if last night's election returns are any indication of voter commitment.



Local journalists are content to gloss over the vote . . . However, many TKC readers contend that the paltry numbers deserve a bit more consideration.



Here's a very simple formula for how KC metro pollsters calculated the voter turnout drop-off of about 83% . . .



In the 2020 November vote: Jackson, Platte, Clay & KCMO election boards boasted around 60% turnout. Last night those very same election authorities reported anywhere from 8 to 10 percent of registered voters casting a ballot.

Reality check: Most polling places were horrific ghost towns and we'd dare to guess that the majority of people occupying the territory were paid for their participation.



Accordingly . . .

CHECK KANSAS CITY SPECIAL ELECTION WINNERS AND LOSERS DESPITE MOST RESIDENTS IGNORING THE VOTE!!!

As always, we're open to more suggestions but most locals simply aren't curious about the behind the scenes moves that will dictate the future for city hall coffers and local schools.



THE WINNERS



Dr. Cokethea Hill & Blaque Spark Radical Kansas City School Board Change



Dr. Hill is the architect of one of the most successful school board power plays we've seen in more than a decade. Her ticket earned a surprising sweep and now she's the leader in the upcoming contest to replace termed-out 5th District Councilman Lee Barnes.



Mayor Q Declares E-Tax Victory An Endorsement Of His Administration



Without acknowledging that there was no organized opposition to the tax . . . Today the mayor proudly visited with local media in order to champion his agenda and continued social justice reforms that take quite an EPIC chunk out of KCMO's largest single revenue source.



Election Dark Money Rules Kansas City



School board voting was powered by nonprofit groups who are not required to disclose their funding sources. The "dark money" paid for a nearly endless supply of social media messages and helped with mobilization efforts. The perfectly legal strategy is often lamented when right-wing conservatives use the tactic. HOWEVER, local media ignored progressives and urban communities now utilizing this formerly controversial strategy.







THE LOSERS



School Board Member Manny Abarca, Latino Students And Families Destined To Suffer Under Rule Of Blaque



Mr. Abarca won an uncontested election this week but his volunteer school board career will be seriously hampered by new election power players. Already his political opponents have visited his home without invitation in order to "discuss" political disagreements  Complaints and concern about threatening behavior voiced by Mr. Abarca were universally denounced as racist by local activists from throughout Kansas City.

Make no mistake, Blaque will make Mr. Abarca pay for his opposition and the growing population of Latino students in Kansas City Public Schools will suffer the same fate.

Kansas City E-Tax Renewal Reveals Hatred Of Johnson County Commuters



The campaign rhetoric pitted the urban core against the suburbs. Some of our readers contend: KC wants JoCo to pay the bills. Overall this isn't such a ridiculous position given that local stadiums are packed with our Golden Ghetto neighbors despite urban subsidy. Still, the idea of "regionalism" has always been a sham and the E-tax vote elucidates worsening metro economic rivalry.



EPIC $282K Salary Bump For Dr. Mark Bedell Lost Votes & Will Cost Him His Job



Don't get it twisted, we give a great deal of credit to the activists from Blaque for their upstart campaign. They wisely exploited an egregious salary spike for the superintendent. Word of the EPIC payout inspired voters from a vast cross-section of Kansas City to reconsider support of pro-public leaders and question the glacial pace of full accreditation.

Dr. Bedell will be out of a job soon.

Leadership switcheroos and political intrigue are just the beginning of the changes coming to Kansas City Public Schools.



Meanwhile . . .



KCMO abandoning Democracy and overlooking crucial decisions doesn't bode well for the future of this cowtown and the destiny of the electorate at the outset of the Biden Presidency.



Developing . . .


The Employee Ownership Expansion Network (eoxnetwork.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and education around the benefits of employee stock ownership, today announced the appointment of Tracy Till to its Board of Directors. Till brings more than 25 years of leadership and employee-owned business experience to the Board. She will play a key role in expanding employee ownership programs across the United States by helping EOX build a network of state centers to provide outreach, information, and support to employees and business owners interested in exploring employee ownership.

Research shows that employee-owned firms tend to outperform their competitors, exhibit more resilience, and have more engaged workplace cultures that lead to higher productivity and retention rates. Employee-owned companies also tend to have higher wages and better benefits, empowering employees to build personal wealth and strengthen their communities.

Till is the co-founder of Butler/Till (https://butlertill.com), an employee-owned media and communications agency and one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States. Till and her co-founder sold the firm to their employees in a series of transactions that created a 100% employee-owned corporation. The firm is well known for its unique culture and dynamic growth, largely attributed to its employee ownership. Till served as the Co-CEO at Butler/Till until 2014 and as Vice Chairman and Chairman of its Board of Directors until 2020. She also serves as an independent board member for other employee-owned firms in the USA; as an advisor to Certified Employee-Owned; is an active member of The Lodis Forum, a unique group of female Chair or Vice-Chairs in Private firms in the United States; and serves as National Co-Chair of Marketing for the Private Directors Association. She is passionate about private board excellence, the influence of independent board members for employee-owned firms, especially those recently transitioned to an employee ownership model, and is a frequent speaker on the topic. She has also won several awards for her achievements.

Tracys depth of experience in founding and leading a very successful, well known employee-owned media and marketing agency will be extremely valuable to EOX as we continue to develop our grassroots efforts to spread the word about the power of employee ownership, says EOX Board Chair Cecil Ursprung. Whats more, she has been through the process of selling her firm to her employees and knows what other business owners in her situation need from our network of State Centers for Employee Ownership.

I am honored to be appointed to EOXs Board of Directors and passionate about my commitment to spreading awareness and support for employee ownership as an effective tool for exit planning, empowering workers, increasing community wealth, and creating a more vibrant, participatory economy, said Tracy Till, EOX Board Member.

##

About The Employee Ownership Expansion Network

The Employee Ownership Expansion Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in Philadelphia, PA in 2018. Its mission is to significantly expand employee ownership in the United States by establishing and supporting a network of independent non-profit Centers for Employee Ownership. EOX has provided funding and technical assistance to support the opening of seven state centers for employee ownership. The organization aims to help create one million new employee owners by 2025 by having at least 70 percent of the US population living in a state with a center for employee ownership. Learn more at http://www.eoxnetwork.org.

Media Contact

Shannon Wojcik

585-831-6267

shannon@rkgcomms.com
DUBLIN, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Shipping Containers Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Implications and Growth" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global shipping containers market.



This report focuses on shipping containers market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the shipping containers market which will be shaping and changing our lives over the next ten years and beyond, including the markets response to the challenge of the global pandemic.

The global shipping containers market is expected to decline from $8.16 billion in 2020 to $8.36 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.48%. The change in growth trend is mainly due to the companies stabilizing their output after catering to the demand that grew exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The market is expected to reach $10.73 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 6.46%.



Reasons to Purchase

Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 12+ geographies.

Understand how the market is being affected by the coronavirus and how it is likely to emerge and grow as the impact of the virus abates.

Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis.

Identify growth segments for investment.

Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market.

Understand customers based on the latest market research findings.

Benchmark performance against key competitors.

Utilize the relationships between key data sets for superior strategizing.

Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis

Where is the largest and fastest growing market for the shipping containers? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The Shipping Containers market global report answers all these questions and many more.



The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography. It places the market within the context of the wider shipping containers market, and compares it with other markets.

The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market.

The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, the influence of the COVID-19 virus and forecasting its growth.

Market segmentations break down market into sub markets.

The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth. It covers the growth trajectory of COVID-19 for all regions, key developed countries and major emerging markets.

Competitive landscape gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.

The trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it emerges from the crisis and suggests how companies can grow as the market recovers.

The shipping containers market section of the report gives context. It compares the shipping containers market with other segments of the shipping containers market by size and growth, historic and forecast. It analyses GDP proportion, expenditure per capita, shipping containers indicators comparison.

Major players in the market are Hoover Container Solutions, CXIC Group, Shanghai Universal Logistics Equipment, Maersk Container Industry, Charleston Marine Containers, Hoover Container Solutions, CIMC, Sea Box, TLS Offshore Containers International Pvt Ltd, and China International Marine Containers Co. Ltd.



The shipping containers market consists of the sales of shipping containers and related services by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that are engaged in manufacturing shipping containers with suitable strength to withstand handling, storage, and shipment. Shipping containers range from ubiquitous corrugated boxes to large steel boxes used for intermodal shipments. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.



The shipping containers market covered in the report is segmented by product type into dry storage container, flat rack container, refrigerated container, special-purpose container, open top container, double door container, others; by container size into small container, large container, high cube container; by end-use into food and beverages, consumer goods, healthcare, industrial products, vehicle transport, others.



The Asia Pacific was the largest region in the shipping containers market in 2020. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.



The high costs associated with shipping containers is expected to restrain the growth of the shipping container market. The price of shipping containers depends on their size and condition. The bigger the container, the higher the price. And, the newer the unit, the more expensive it could be. For instance, in the USA, the average cost for a used container is around $2,000. The larger 40' unit that could be altered for houses ranges from $3,000 to $4,000 for the used one and is approximately $6,000 for a brand-new unit. Moreover, there are other costs such as shipping container home plans, foundation costs being involved which make them less affordable for purchase. Thus, the high costs of shipping containers are projected to limit the growth of the shipping container market over the forecast period.



In May 2019, COSCO SHIPPING Development Co., Ltd, a China-based containerized marine shipping company acquired five Chinese units of Singamas Container Holdings Ltd., for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is expected to enhance COSCO SHIPPING Development Co., Ltd.'s container market. Singamas Container Holdings Ltd. is a China-based shipping container manufacturer that produces dry freight containers, foldable flat rack containers, tank containers, offshore containers, other comprehensive containers, and container parts.



An increase in demand for cargo transportation through ships contributed to the growth of the shipping container market. The demand for the transportation of cargo through waterways is growing owing to factors such as cost-efficiency and secured way of moving goods as compared to other means of transportation. For instance, in 2018, a larger amount of goods was moved between the UK major ports and the EU (European Union) than any other region accounting for 44% (206.2 million tons) of entire critical port traffic. In 2018, the total gross weight of goods transported was estimated at almost 1.8 billion tons as part of the EU short sea shipping. However, Italy was the major short sea shipping country in the EU in 2018, surpassing the Netherlands, with a share of approximately 15% of the total tonnage of EU short sea shipping. Moreover, ships can carry more cargo from one place to another within a short period. This in turn is projected to boost the growth of the shipping containers market.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. Shipping Containers Market Characteristics



3. Shipping Containers Market Trends and Strategies



4. Impact of COVID-19 on Shipping Containers



5. Shipping Containers Market Size and Growth

5.1. Global Shipping Containers Historic Market, 2015-2020, $ Billion

5.1.1. Drivers of the Market

5.1.2. Restraints on the Market

5.2. Global Shipping Containers Forecast Market, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

5.2.1. Drivers of the Market

5.2.2. Restraints on the Market

6. Shipping Containers Market Segmentation

6.1. Global Shipping Containers Market, Segmentation by Product Type

6.2. Global Shipping Containers Market, Segmentation by Container Size

6.3. Global Shipping Containers Market, Segmentation by End Use

7. Shipping Containers Market Regional and Country Analysis

7.1. Global Shipping Containers Market, Split by Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

7.2. Global Shipping Containers Market, Split by Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

8. Asia-Pacific Shipping Containers Market

9. China Shipping Containers Market

10. India Shipping Containers Market

11. Japan Shipping Containers Market

12. Australia Shipping Containers Market

13. Indonesia Shipping Containers Market

14. South Korea Shipping Containers Market

15. Western Europe Shipping Containers Market

16. UK Shipping Containers Market

17. Germany Shipping Containers Market

18. France Shipping Containers Market

19. Eastern Europe Shipping Containers Market

20. Russia Shipping Containers Market

21. North America Shipping Containers Market

22. USA Shipping Containers Market

23. South America Shipping Containers Market

24. Brazil Shipping Containers Market

25. Middle East Shipping Containers Market

26. Africa Shipping Containers Market

27. Shipping Containers Market Competitive Landscape and Company Profiles

27.1. Shipping Containers Market Competitive Landscape

27.2. Shipping Containers Market Company Profiles

27.2.1. Hoover Container Solutions

27.2.1.1. Overview

27.2.1.2. Products and Services

27.2.1.3. Strategy

27.2.1.4. Financial Performance

27.2.2. CXIC Group

27.2.2.1. Overview

27.2.2.2. Products and Services

27.2.2.3. Strategy

27.2.2.4. Financial Performance

27.2.3. Shanghai Universal Logistics Equipment

27.2.3.1. Overview

27.2.3.2. Products and Services

27.2.3.3. Strategy

27.2.3.4. Financial Performance

27.2.4. Maersk Container Industry

27.2.4.1. Overview

27.2.4.2. Products and Services

27.2.4.3. Strategy

27.2.4.4. Financial Performance

27.2.5. Charleston Marine Containers

27.2.5.1. Overview

27.2.5.2. Products and Services

27.2.5.3. Strategy

27.2.5.4. Financial Performance



28. Key Mergers and Acquisitions in the Shipping Containers Market



29. Shipping Containers Market Future Outlook and Potential Analysis



30. Appendix

30.1. Abbreviations

30.2. Currencies

30.3. Research Inquiries

30.4. About the Publisher

30.5. Copyright and Disclaimer

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/wuys16

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

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TORONTO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- d1g1t Inc., the first provider of an enterprise wealth management platform powered by institutional-grade analytics and risk management tools, today announced the company has significantly grown its business over the last 12 months, doubling its revenues during that time and continuing to increase headcount by over 50%.

"The success we have enjoyed over the past year is a testament not only to the strength of our platform but the quality of our entire team, which has worked tirelessly since the coronavirus outbreak turned our world upside down," said Dr. Dan Rosen, co-founder and CEO of d1g1t. "In today's landscape, more than ever, having a premium, end-to-end technology platform that is accessible to everyone in the firm is essential. That's exactly what d1g1t provides, and as evidenced by our current growth trajectory, an increasing number of firms throughout the industry are coming to this realization."

Launched in 2016, d1g1t's now over 60 employees support relationships with some of the top wealth management firms, multi-family offices, RIAs and broker dealers in North America serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth investors. In all, its current clients manage more than $70 billion in assets.

This announcement comes as prominent Canadian high-net worth wealth management firm KJ Harrison Investors is fully live with the company's single, integrated enterprise platform. The move modernizes the firm's technology resources and further enhances its overall capabilities, including client relationship management, as well as investment, risk and business management analytics.

"We are delighted to solidify our partnership with d1g1t," said Joel Clark, CEO at KJ Harrison. "After carefully scanning the market and considering many other potential providers across Canada and the U.S. to help us improve our operations and client engagement, we believe that d1g1t is the best partner for us moving forward. Its platform is a game-changer, boosting our ability to meet our growth goals and allowing us to demonstrate our steadfast commitment to offering high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients unmatched transparency and value."

The partnership with KJ Harrison underscores both the strength of d1g1t's management team and the appeal of the company's unique offerings. Despite some of the pandemic-induced obstacles stifling business activity across the globe, d1g1t continues to attract top talent and has plans to grow the team by at least another 50% in 2021.

Rosen concluded, "KJ Harrison is a modern, forward-looking firm, and we are excited to support its continued success. In providing each of its professionals  executives, advisors and client-service teams  with the most advanced analytics, portfolio management capabilities and digital tools, d1g1t helps KJ Harrison provide an elevated service experience for clients, as well as more efficient operational and compliance processes. While d1g1t was very fortunate to enjoy an extraordinarily strong 2020, this year promises to be even better as we continue to expand our capabilities, and cement strategic partnerships and relationships with firms across North America and achieve more growth."

About d1g1t Inc.

d1g1t is the industry's first enterprise wealth management platform powered by institutional-grade analytics and risk management tools that allows firms to elevate the quality of their advice and demonstrate its value to clients. Through a single integrated solution that covers the entire advisory lifecycle, d1g1t provides wealth management firms with a whole new set of capabilities they've never had before. Headquartered in Toronto, the company was founded and is led by an experienced financial technology team who have developed leading enterprise portfolio systems for many of the world's banks, institutional asset managers, hedge funds and regulators. Visit d1g1t.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn.

About KJ Harrison

Established in 2001, KJ Harrison is an independent investment firm located in Toronto. KJ Harrison provides advice and investment strategies to high-net-worth individuals and families. The firm focuses its efforts towards two key objectives: generating solid long-term, risk adjusted rates of return and delivering exceptional client service and advice around the complexities of wealth.

For more information, please contact:

d1g1t, Inc. Media Contacts

Michael Dugan or Joseph Kuo

Haven Tower Group LLC

424 317 4852 or 424 317 4852

[email protected] or [email protected]

KJ Harrison

Philip Lieberman

Partner and Portfolio Manager

[email protected]

Christine Fulsang

CFO & COO

[email protected]

SOURCE d1g1t Inc.
By Dean Norman

I was playing pool with Pvt. Morgan in the company rec room at Ft. Miles, Delaware, in July 1954. Sgt. Day had given us a two-hour break from KP duty between breakfast and lunch.

I'm taking two weeks leave and going home, said Morgan. Sgt. Day is taking leave at the same time. He said I could ride with him, because he is driving through Atlanta on his way home.

That's nice, I said.

But there's a problem. I think maybe I should ask Sgt. Day to drop me off two blocks from my house. Not right at the curb in front of my house.

Why?

Because I don't know how my parents will react if they see I rode in a car with a black man.

I said nothing.

I don't have any prejudice against Sgt. Day or any other black man, said Morgan. Before I was drafted, it was so different. I mean I never had anything to do with black people. A lot of them live in Atlanta, but black kids went to different schools. Different everything. If I was walking on the sidewalk, and a black person was walking toward me, he would step off of the sidewalk to let me pass. I just never really met a black person until I was drafted into the Army.

The first day when we got off the bus for basic training, it was lunch time. I went into the mess hall, and I was really hungry. The food looked good. Then I sat down at a table and saw a black man sitting across from me. My stomach clenched up. I couldn't eat a bite. I picked up my tray, and dumped the food into the garbage can.

What was the black guy doing to scare you so much? I said. Was he looking angry at you, or eating his food so sloppily that it grossed you out?

Oh, no, said Morgan. It wasn't him. He was fine. It was me. I just had never associated with a black person in that way. As if he was the same as me. Eating at the same table. They couldn't eat at the same restaurants back home. It was such a shock.

Well, I got over that. Being in the Army where all of us draftees and recruits go through the same training. Living in the same barracks, eating at the same mess hall. Sgt. Day is a good boss. I will enjoy riding with him. But my parents have never...well, I don't know if I can explain it to them.

How will you explain to Sgt. Day why you want him to drop you off two blocks from your home?

I don't know, said Morgan. I don't want to hurt his feelings. But my parents...I don't know what I will do.

Pvt. Morgan leaned over the table to make his next shot. The white cue ball was close to the black eight ball. He was being very careful not to bump the eight ball into a pocket.

Three weeks later Morgan and I were shooting pool again.

How did it go when you went home? I asked.

I told Sgt. Day to park in our driveway, said Morgan. My parents came out, and I introduced them to Sgt. Day. They invited him in for coffee and apple pie. We had a nice long talk before he left. We had a nice talk again when he picked me up to come back to Ft. Miles. There was no problem.

 Dean Norman

Dean Norman is a cartoonist and humor writer, whose work has appeared in greeting cards, The New Yorker, MAD Magazine, The Cleveland Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine and The Kansas City Star. He's also written comedy for cartoon shows and written and illustrated children's books. He illustrated a cartoon book for Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland Metroparks Adventures.
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The U.S. is considering dispatching Navy warships to the Black Sea to show support for Ukraine amid a Russian buildup that the White House warned Thursday it was 'increasingly concerned' about, as U.S. potential new sanctions on Russia loom.

A Pentagon official told CNN about the potential move amid a buildup of Russian troops along its border with Ukraine.

The Navy is also flying reconnaissance planes in international airspace in the area to monitor the buildup and Russian naval moves.

The USS Porter (DDG-78), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the United States Navy, is pictured at the Maritime Terminal, Odesa, southern Ukraine, July 8, 2018. The U.S. is considering moving additional warships to the Black Sea

Russia's Defense Ministry said on Thursday it was moving more than 10 navy vessels, including landing boats and artillery warships, from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea to take part in exercises, Interfax news agency reported.

A backdrop to the military maneuvers is the political situation. The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia had to be ready for the worst-case scenario in terms of U.S. sanctions because of what it called President Joe Biden's hostile and unpredictable policy towards Moscow.

That statement came after it was reported the Biden Administration has completed its security review of Russia following a series of efforts to counter to U.S. interests  with potential new sanctions being prepared for close associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin over the jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and other rows.

The Kremlin said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had to be ready for the worst-case scenario in terms of U.S. sanctions after U.S. completed a review of Moscow-related actions. Russia is also making military moves on the Ukrainian border

The Russians cited what they called the 'hostility and unpredictability' of President Joe Biden's administration as they said they were preparing for potential sanctions

The one of three US navy ships sails through the Bosphorus waterways in Istanbul taking relief supplies to Georgia on August 22, 2008

The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter DDG 78 conducts advanced maneuvers with the Romanian navy ship ROS Regina Maria F 222 in the Black Sea in 2015

With the review's completion, Bloomberg News reported, the administration could impose additional sanctions or even expel Russian intelligence officers it has identified.

Western nations and Ukraine have voiced concern over a Russian military buildup near Ukraine. Moscow has said its forces will stay put as long as it sees fit and that they pose no threat.

On Tuesday, it said it was beginning a planned combat readiness inspection of its forces that would involve more than 4,000 drills this month.

'As part of the winter training check, more than 10 amphibious and artillery boats and vessels of the southern military district are conducting an inter-fleet move from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea,' the ministry was quoted as saying on Thursday.

It said they would take part in drills.

Russia's Black Sea fleet is based in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Kyiv wants the peninsula back.

Russia has more troops on Ukraine's eastern border than at any time since 2014, when it annexed Crimea and backed separatist territory seizures, and the United States is concerned by growing 'Russian aggressions,' the White House said on Thursday.

The United States is discussing its concerns with its NATO allies, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told a briefing.

The Russian buildup has become the latest point of friction in icy relations between Moscow and U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, adding to disputes over arms control, human rights and other issues.

Biden last week expressed 'unwavering support' for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in his confrontation with Russia, which in 2014 annexed the Crimea peninsula and backed separatists who seized large parts of the eastern Donbas region.

Russia has said its troops are no threat and are defensive, but they would remain as long as the Kremlin sees fit.

Psaki said that the United States 'is increasingly concerned by recent escalating Russian aggressions in eastern Ukraine, including Russian troop movements on Ukraine's border.'

'Russia now has more troops than at any time since 2014,' Psaki added, saying that five Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the past week.

Psaki did not elaborate on the number of Russian troops deployed on Ukraine's border. But it was the first time that the Biden administration has given a description of the scale of the buildup.

In March 2014, as the conflict in eastern Ukraine escalated, Western estimates put the number of Russian troops, militia or special forces on Ukraine's border at 25,000 to more than 30,000.

Psaki's comments followed by hours a telephone call in which Chancellor Angela Merkel of NATO member Germany demanded that Russian President Vladimir Putin pull his troops back to de-escalate the situation.
[April 08, 2021] Comet Raises $13M Series A to Become the MLOps Standard for Model Development & Monitoring

Comet, a leading provider of MLOps solutions, today announced that it has raised $13M in Series A funding led by Scale Venture Partners and existing investors including Trilogy Equity Partners and Two Sigma Ventures. Driven by more than 500% revenue growth over the past year, the new funds will be used to accelerate and scale Comet's product development, sales, marketing, and engineering functions. In addition to the funding, Comet announced the acquisition of Stakion, a model production monitoring company based in the U.K. The acquisition supports Comet's newest product innovation, Comet Model Production Monitoring, which will enable organizations to track and monitor the quality of models after they have been deployed in production. Series A Funding "Comet's focus is helping enterprises achieve success with machine learning, and we've seen tremendous success supporting some of the world's foremost machine learning platform teams at organizations like Uber, Etsy (News - Alert) , and Ancestry," said Gideon Mendels, CEO and co-founder, Comet. "By partnering with Scale Venture Partners for our Series A, we'll be able to double down on that success and deliver best-in-class solutions for machine learning model development and monitoring." Machine Learning teams across the industry recognize the need for best-of-breeds solutions that can fit and integrate into their overall platform. Comet is the only solution in the market that supports "Code Panels," an ecosystem of plugins, extensions and visualizations built by the community and industry teams. "ML teams recognize that end-to-end platforms are not a panacea and choose Comet because it integrates seamlessly with their existing ecosystem, allowing them to customize the product to their specific use case," continued Mendels. "Machine learning and AI will drive the future of enerprise software, and ensuring that organizations have full visibility and control of a model's lifecycle will be imperative to it," said Andy Vitus, partner, Scale Venture Partners. "Comet's ability to drive successful enterprise deployments and scale at the largest companies, as well as its focus in AI and ML, make it an ideal addition to our portfolio."



Including this round, Comet's total funding is $19. 3M (News - Alert) from Two Sigma Ventures, Trilogy Investments, Amazon Alexa Fund, and Scale Venture Partners. Andy Vitus of Scale Venture Partners will be joining Comet's Board of Directors. Introducing Comet Model Production Monitoring

In addition to the new funding, Comet announced its newest product, Comet Model Production Monitoring (MPM), which enables organizations to track and monitor the quality of models after they have been deployed in production. When used in tandem with Comet Enterprise, data scientists will have visibility into model quality and performance throughout the model's lifecycle - from creation and experimentation, to production and iteration. This innovation has been supported by the acquisition of Stakion, a model production monitoring company based in the U.K., that took place earlier this year. As part of the acquisition, the Stakion team will be joining Comet and will continue innovating with production monitoring. Comet MPM is a key innovation, as data science teams do not have full visibility across a model's entire lifecycle. That means even if a model is successfully deployed to production, it can still struggle to meet its business KPIs once it's live. The core issue is a gap in model development and monitoring tooling - today's tools are either focused on training or on getting models into production, making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get full visibility. "If you're only focused on the training or the production performance, you're missing a key feedback loop for your data science teams to continue iterating," continued Mendels. "By combining knowledge on the model from both training and production environments, you can unlock significant value in areas such as concept drift and out-of-distribution detection." Comet MPM is available to existing Comet customers today. Comet is headquartered in New York, NY. Comet is free to try and for academics, with startup, team, and enterprise licensing available. Learn more at www.comet.ml. About Scale Venture Partners Scale is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in the future leaders of enterprise software. We were early investors in SaaS pioneers like Box, DocuSign, HubSpot, RingCentral (News - Alert) , and Bill.com and continue that tradition with investments in transformational business software from companies like JFrog, WalkMe, CircleCI, KeepTruckin, BigID, and Lever. Our Scale Studio platform leverages an unrivaled dataset of 1,000+ successful startups to give founders benchmarks on their company's "Vital Signs" -- the growth and operating metrics that matter most. Learn more about our people, portfolio, and perspectives at www.scalevp.com. About Comet Comet provides a self-hosted and cloud-based MLOps solution that enables data scientists and teams to track, compare, explain and optimize experiments and models. Backed by thousands of users and multiple Fortune 100 companies, Comet provides insights and data to build better, more accurate AI models while improving productivity, collaboration and visibility across teams. Learn more at www.comet.ml. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005146/en/

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We had mentioned in Wednesdays closing report that Nifty, Sensex continue to trend up. On Thursday, the indices opened higher and closed with decent gains. On the NSE, there were 1,237 advances, 705 declines and 87 unchanged.

The trends of the major indices in the course of Thursdays trading are given in the table below:

Infosys won a contract for digital transformation of steel maker ArcelorMittal's IT operations. Infosys will work with the London-based steel and mining firm's European arm and share its best practice to optimise, stabilise and transform its IT landscape.

Hester Biosciences has signed two agreements with ICAR-IVRI (Indian Council of Agricultural Research  Indian Veterinary Research Institute) for acquiring technologies for the production and commercialisation of classical swine fever vaccine and sheep pox vaccine.

Muthoot Finance is planning to raise Rs 1,700 crore through the public issue of secured redeemable non-convertible debentures.

Kalpataru Power Transmissions Brazil subsidiary completed the acquisition of a 51% stake in Fasttel along with management control on 7 April 2021.

Alembic Pharmas JV with Aleor Dermaceuticals received tentative approval from the US FDA for its new drug application for Efinaconazole Topical Solution.

Cadila Healthcare received the US drug regulator's approval for Ibrutinib capsules that are used in cancer treatment.

NBCC and Suraksha Realty have submitted fresh resolution plans for Jaypee Infratech. The Committee of Creditors (CoC) are scheduled to meet on April 12 to discuss both the resolution plans. This is the fourth time that both the companies have submitted their bids for the bankrupt company.

Bharti AXA Life Insurance has partnered with Fincare Small Finance Bank for distribution of life insurance products through the bank's pan-India network.

The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below:

The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below:
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo speaks as White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki looks on during a daily press briefing at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House April 7, 2021 in Washington. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

US Adds Chinese Supercomputing Entities to Trade Blacklist Over Chinese Military Ties

The U.S. Commerce Department said on April 8 that it was adding seven Chinese supercomputing entities to a U.S. economic blacklist for assisting Chinese military efforts.

The department is adding Tianjin Phytium Information Technology, Shanghai High-Performance Integrated Circuit Design Center, Sunway Microelectronics, the National Supercomputing Center Jinan, the National Supercomputing Center Shenzhen, the National Supercomputing Center Wuxi, and the National Supercomputing Center Zhengzhou to its blacklist.

The Commerce Department said the seven were involved with building supercomputers used by Chinas military actors, its destabilizing military modernization efforts, and/or weapons of mass destruction programs.

This is the first time the Biden administration has taken action to penalize Chinese companies on national security grounds.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington didnt immediately respond to requests by The Epoch Times for comment.

Supercomputing capabilities are vital for the development of manyperhaps almost allmodern weapons and national security systems, such as nuclear weapons and hypersonic weapons, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement.

Companies or others listed on the U.S. Entity List are required to apply for licenses from the Commerce Department and face tough scrutiny when they seek permission to receive items from U.S. suppliers.

The new rules take effect immediately but dont apply to goods from U.S. suppliers already en route.

During the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, the United States added dozens of Chinese companies to its economic blacklist, including the countrys top smartphone maker Huawei Technologies, top chipmaker SMIC, and the largest drone manufacturer, SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd.

Those companies were sanctioned for a range of reasons, including their role in aiding the Chinese military and supporting the Chinese regimes repression against ethnic Musim minorities in the region of Xinjiang.

The Biden administration is still formulating its China policy and has broadly indicated that it will continue the Trump administrations tough-on-China posture. President Joe Biden has repeatedly said the United States is in extreme competition with the Chinese regime.

By David Shepardson. Cathy He contributed to this report.
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable.
[April 08, 2021] HUAWEI CLOUD Internet-Oriented Carnival - First Stop: Shenzhen, with More Cities around the World Coming Soon

SHENZHEN, China, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 2021 HUAWEI CLOUD TechWave Global Technology Summit, Ms. Jacqueline Shi, President of Global Marketing and Sales Service Dept,Cloud&AI, today announced the launch of the 2021 HUAWEI CLOUD Internet-Oriented Carnival, a program dedicated to advancing cloud & intelligent transformation of Internet companies in cities around the world, with Shenzhen as the first stop. HUAWEI CLOUD TechWave 2021, the second year of this event, include an offline global technology summit and a number of online "special days", with the mission to drive industry upgrade by sharing and spreading the latest innovations. The HUAWEI CLOUD Internet-Oriented Carnival in Shenzhen will provide a cloud support fund of CNY100 million to accelerate the cloud journey of Internet companies in Shenzhen. <>The HUAWEI CLOUD Internet-Oriented Carnival will be launched all over the world, including Beijing , Shanghai , Guangzhou , Shenzhen , and cities in Sichuan , Jiangsu , Fujian , Zhejiang , Hunan , and Hubei in Mainland China, plus Hong Kong , Singapore , Latin America , and South Africa .



During the HUAWEI CLOUD Internet-Oriented Carnival, HUAWEI CLOUD will be working with partners to develop tailored solutions to empower Internet companies, by leveraging the leading technologies and practices showcased during the TechWave summit. HUAWEI CLOUD will also be providing Internet companies with a range of dedicated support, including services, resources, and platforms, to help them reap the benefits of technology and advance intelligent upgrade. In terms of technological innovation, HUAWEI CLOUD has launched dedicated joint innovation programs under which they can join forces with partners and startups to develop new applications and solutions. In terms of product promotion, HUAWEI CLOUD provides dedicated channels on Featured Products Mall and Huawei AppGallery to help partners quickly reach a larger market. In terms of service support, HUAWEI CLOUD provides dedicated services, including cloud roadmap recommendations and technical trainings, to smoothen the cloud journey for Internet companies.

HUAWEI CLOUD Internet-Oriented Carnival @Shenzhen will offer the following to businesses in Shenzhen: First, solid discounts on three major categories of resources, dedicated enablement programs, and a cloud support fund of CNY100 million. Second, dedicated packages for AI development, audio and video, and game development. Third, discounts on five of the most commonly used cloud product packages. Last but not the least, dedicated programs that support innovation and technology upgrade, through which you can communicate and work with HUAWEI CLOUD and experts in the industry to develop joint solutions. HUAWEI CLOUD Internet Carnival started in July 2019, and, so far, it has been launched in 10 cities in China with robust local Internet industry. Joined by over 200 industry organizations, the program has empowered over 2,500 medium and large Internet companies and over 230,000 SMEs, plus over 1 million developers. SOURCE HUAWEI CLOUD

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WINNIPEG, MB / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / DELTA 9 CANNABIS INC. (TSX:DN) (OTCQX:DLTNF) is pleased to announce that it will be presenting at the Virtual Planet MicroCap Showcase: on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 3:30/PM EST. John Arbuthnot, Founder and CEO of Delta 9 will be hosting the presentation and answering questions from investors.

To access the live presentation, please use the following information:

Planet MicroCap Showcase: VIRTUAL 2021

Date: Wednesday/Thursday, April 21, 2021

Time: 3:30 EST or 12:30 PST

Webcast URL Link: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2059/40628

If you would like to book 1on1 investor meetings with Delta 9's Founder and CEO John Arbuthnot and to watch Delta 9's presentation, please make sure you are registered for the virtual event here: https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/signup

1on1 meetings will be scheduled and conducted via private, secure video conference through the conference event platform.

The Planet MicroCap Showcase: VIRTUAL website is available here: https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/

If you can't make the live presentation, all company presentations "webcasts" will be available directly on the conference event platform on this link under the tab "Agenda": https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/agenda

For more information contact:

Investor & Media Contact:

Ian Chadsey VP Corporate Affairs

Mobile: 204-898-7722

E-mail: ian.chadsey@delta9.ca

About Delta 9 Cannabis Inc.

Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company focused on bringing the highest quality cannabis products to market. The company sells cannabis products through its wholesale and retail sales channels and sells its cannabis grow pods to other businesses. Delta 9's wholly-owned subsidiary, Delta 9 Bio-Tech Inc., is a licensed producer of medical and recreational cannabis and operates an 80,000 square foot production facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Delta 9 owns and operates a chain of retail stores under the Delta 9 Cannabis Store brand. Delta 9's shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "DN" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "DLTNF". For more information, please visit www.delta9.ca.

About SNN.Network

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SOURCE: DELTA 9 CANNABIS INC.

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[April 07, 2021] KUSHCO INVESTOR ALERT by the Former Attorney General of Louisiana: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Adequacy of Price and Process in Proposed Sale of KushCo Holdings, Inc. - KSHB

Former Attorney General of Louisiana Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq. and the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") are investigating the proposed sale of KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTC: KSHB) to Greenlane Holdings, Inc. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, shareholders of KushCo will receive only 0.2546 shares of Greenlane common stock for each share of KushCo that they own, subject to certain adjustments. KSF is seeking to determine whether this consideration and the process that led to it are adequate, or whether the consideration undervalues the Company. If you believe that this transaction undervalues the Company and/or if you would like to discuss your legal rights regarding the proposed sale, you may, without obligation orcost to you, e-mail or call KSF Managing Partner Lewis S. Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) toll free at any time at 855-768-1857, or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/otc-kshb/ to learn more.



To learn more about KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General, visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210407006017/en/

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[April 08, 2021] Cybint Partners with Houston Baptist University to Bring Cybersecurity Training to The Greater Houston Region

HOUSTON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cybint , a global leader in cybersecurity education, partners with Houston Baptist University (HBU), to offer Cybint's Cybersecurity Bootcamp and Cyber Essentials Workshop in HBU's new Houston Cyber Education Center. Through the partnership, Cybint and HBU aim to reskill the Greater Houston region's workforce and upskill incumbent employees beginning Spring 2021. Both parties have existing relationships with large companies, and HBU's employer and corporate involvements stretch across the cybersecurity and engineering industries. The cybersecurity market experienced exponential growth in the past decade. The U.S. workforce demands over 520,000 cybersecurity professionals, with a demand for more than 47,000 cybersecurity professionals in the state of Texas. Yet Cyberseek reports the availability and supply of such professionals as "Very Low" in the Houston metropolitan area. Cybersecurity education is needed to close the employment gap in the region. HBU, which has built a reputation as a cyber education leader, is working toward closing this gap by offering Cybint's programs at the Houston Cyber Education Center. HBU's location in the global hub of Houston creates opportunities for students, ho often intern with Houston's Fortune 500 Companies, to get essential hands-on experience.



The Bootcamp and Workshop are structured to future-proof workers on a global scale with cyber skills, ensuring they can protect themselves and their organizations from emerging cyber threats. The collaboration with HBU is unique to the region and will create highly sought-after graduates in the field of cybersecurity. "HBU has recognized the need for cybersecurity education and training for the Houston metro area by establishing BS degrees in Cyber Engineering, Computer Science, and Electrical Engineering in 2017. That commitment is now expanded through the Houston Cyber Education Center, through which credit and non-credit learning of cybersecurity skills and principles will be facilitated. We are aiming to make the Houston Cyber Education Center a resource to the greater Houston community for all cyber education and training needs," said Dr. Stanley Napper, HBU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. "We analyzed labor market data intelligence and collected information from industry partners to determine areas of growth within cybersecurity. It became clear that the first step toward efficiently building a cyber-able workforce would be through an intensive bootcamp that offers an immersive, hands-on learning experience. It is an honor to partner with Cybint and be able to offer that experience and training to our students."

Roy Zur, Founder and CEO of Cybint, said, "Our partnership with HBU is a natural fit. Numerous high-paying job opportunities in cybersecurity await in Houston, and it's exciting to know that in less than a year, many of these positions will be filled by graduates of this program." Umesh Verma, Founder of Cyber Houston and CEO of Blue Lance, said, "The ability to avail of credit and non-credit learning of cybersecurity skills and principles through the Houston Cyber Education Center will be a game-changer for companies such as ours as we prepare our workforce to face cyber-related challenges and turn them into opportunities in the coming years." For more information about Cybint's programs in the Houston Cyber Education Center, please visit Houstoncybered.org. Interested cybersecurity professionals should register for the Cybersecurity Bootcamp hosted by HBU. About Cybint

Cybint is a global cyber education company with a commitment to reskilling the workforce and upskilling the industry in cybersecurity. With innovative and leading-edge education and training solutions, Cybint tackles cybersecurity's two greatest threats: the talent shortage and the skills gap. The Cybint team is comprised of military cyber experts, industry professionals, and educators united under the vision of creating a safer digital world through education, training, and collaboration. For more information, visit www.cybintsolutions.com About Houston Baptist University

HBU is a Christian university in Texas with classes online and on campus. HBU is one of the most diverse Christian universities in Texas. The University is considered a Title V, Hispanic-serving institution because at least 25 percent of students are Hispanic or Latino. Houston Baptist University offers an intimate college environment in the heart of one of the most vibrant and diverse cities in the United States: Houston, Texas. Coming to HBU as a student is about more than books, tests and lectures. It is about stepping into a community where each person is recognized as a distinct individual. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cybint-partners-with-houston-baptist-university-to-bring-cybersecurity-training-to-the-greater-houston-region-301264741.html SOURCE Cybint

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UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP)  The 100th Miss America will be crowned before a live audience at the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut following a year of virtual appearances and delayed competitions due to the pandemic, organizers announced Thursday.

"To be standing here today is exciting, especially with what everyone has been through over the course of the last 12 months," said Mohegan Sun President and General Manager Jeff Hamilton.

The organizers had to postpone the planned 2020 broadcast and competitions until 2021 and extend the reign of the current Miss America, Camille Schrier, for a second year. This year's event and broadcast are planned for December, with specific dates yet to be announced.

The Miss America organization said Thursday it had reached an agreement to hold the multiday competition's events and nationally televised finals for three years at Mohegan Sun, a resort casino in southeastern Connecticut that is owned and operated by the Mohegan Tribe.

In 2019, the organization had announced it was leaving Atlantic City, New Jersey, for a second time.

Schrier, a former Miss Virginia who gave a colorful chemistry demonstration at Mohegan Sun in 2019, performed virtual demonstrations in her backyard during the pandemic to get kids interested in science and made appearances from a studio in her basement, discussing drug safety and opioid awareness, said Shantel Krebs, chair of the Miss America Board of Directors.
AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot has come under fire from investors for failing to defend its coronavirus vaccine amid questions about its safety.

Investors said that the Frenchman, who has been in Australia visiting his wife and children since Christmas, had not adequately communicated the benefits of AstraZenecas vaccine following fears it could be linked to rare brain clots.

Pascal Soriot has been supervising the global rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine from Sydney since December. Credit:Nine

AstraZeneca suffered a setback to the global rollout of its vaccine on Wednesday when the British Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warned over the possible link between the jab and brain blood clots in a small number of patients. A number of European countries suspended its use due to the concerns.

Australias medical experts decided after a lenghty meeting on Thursday that Pfizer is now the preferred vaccine for people aged under 50 because of the rare but serious blood clotting side effect linked to the AstraZeneca jab.
(di Massimo Lomonaco) (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, 08 APR - King Abdullah of Jordan has written the last word on the turbulent episode of his half brother Hamzah, which shocked the kingdom and the royal family.



In a message to Jordanians that was read out on TV, the monarch - son of King Hussein, as is Prince Hamzah - reassured his citizens that the crisis is over and that the kingdom was never in danger.



At the same time, he admitted with sincerity how the dispute with Hamzah weighed on his family.



"The challenge of these last days was not the most dangerous for the stability of the country, but it was the most painful for me, because parties behind the sedition came from within our house and outside it," his address said.



In a key country for regional and global equilibrium, the accusation against a member of the royal family of having attacked, together with others, "security and stability" is no small thing.



The event of a prince who declares on Twitter that he has been placed under house arrest, who rejects all charges and publicly announces that he wants to disobey military orders to not use social media had such a strong echo that it brought Jordan to the front pages of world news.



The political episode was immediately discoloured, moreover, in a royal family saga, with a queen, Noor (Hussein's fourth wife), who spoke out in defence of her son, branding the charges against him "wicked slander".



The nighttime arrests of a dozen people and two high dignitaries of the royal court, Basem Awadallah and Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, seemed to take the country back to other times.



The mix could have had devastating effects on a social fabric already undermined by a difficult economic situation aggravated by the pandemic, and which Prince Hamzah denounced as prey to corruption and inefficiency.



King Abdullah instead chose to react with poise, aiming at a compromise, and he advocated for the resolution of the conflict with the same family that the rebel prince is a part of.



The mediation was entrusted to an uncle, Hassan bin Talal, who obtained a pledge of loyalty from Hamzah.



"I decided to face the issue of Prince Hamzah in the context of the Hashemite family and I entrusted the path to my Uncle Talal," the king said in his message.



"Hamzah has committed before the family to follow the path of his parents and grandparents. Now Hamzah is with his family at his palace, under my care," King Abdullah said.



This, he said, doesn't preclude Hamzah, "regarding other aspects" from being "under investigation, according to law".



But the thorniest part of the dispute seems to be over.



"Our country," Abdullah said, seeming to have in some way recognised his half brother's claims, "must face economic challenges exacerbated by the pandemic, and we are well aware of the weight and the difficulty faced by our citizens. But we will measure ourselves against them and with the other challenges, as always, united". (ANSAmed).


Richard Flamio, a doctoral student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, holds a rare pallid sturgeon at one of SIUs fishery labs. Flamio recently worked with scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey to manipulate the DNA of the endangered fish in order to improve conservation tactics to save it. (Photo by Russell Bailey)

SIU doctoral student studies endangered pallid sturgeon DNA to save it

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill.  A doctoral student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale recently helped federal scientists manipulate the DNA of an endangered fish in order to improve conservation tactics to save it.

Richard Flamio, a research assistant at SIUs Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, worked with researchers at U.S. Geological Surveys Columbia Environmental Research Center to produce offspring of federally endangered pallid sturgeon with DNA from only a single parent. Researchers hope the work might lead to developing new genetic markers that make it easier to distinguish between pallid sturgeon and the more common but closely related and nearly indistinguishable shovelnose sturgeon.

The results were posted in a paper at ScienceDirect.com.

An ancient species, endangered

With its fierce, bony appearance betraying its prehistoric roots, sturgeon are one of the oldest living species on the planet, with ancestors appearing in the fossil record dating back to the time of dinosaurs. Its presence in North American rivers and around the world has made a great impact on human culture. It is also prized for its eggs  caviar  to the point of being overfished in most of the world.

Ever since overseas beluga sturgeon populations crashed, prompting the United States to restrict caviar imports, demand for Mississippi River shovelnose sturgeon eggs has soared. A mature female can yield about a half-pound of eggs, which in turn can fetch prices of $300 an ounce, creating a strong incentive for those whose livelihoods depend on bringing the delicacy to market.

Pallid sturgeon, in particular, were listed by the federal government as endangered in 1990. But they often are mistakenly taken by fishers, because of their close resemblance to their coveted shovelnose cousins.

A complex scientific riddle

In its native habitat of the Mississippi and Missouri River basins, pallid sturgeon are now a rare species, so scientists say theres no time to lose. But unraveling the pallid sturgeons genetics is even more difficult than usual.

To start, millions of years of evolution has equipped the species with twice as many paired chromosomes as most others. Further complicating the issue is the fact that pallids breed with shovelnose, creating a hybrid that is able to reproduce. These hybrids are not endangered.

The complexities mean existing genetic markers cannot always indicate the difference among pure pallid sturgeon, shovelnose and the hybrid. This challenges genetic studies, but thats where Flamio helped bring a novel strategy to fruition: Working at SIUs labs, Flamio helped create many more  hundreds of thousands more  genetic markers for the fish, which will give scientists the specific information they need to make that critical distinction.

SIUs track record draws collaboration

Researchers like Ed Heist and James Garvey at SIUs Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences have been engaged in monitoring and finding mitigation strategies aimed at arresting the problem for 15 years or more. The SIU Conservation Genomics Laboratory has been working on several projects for many years with USGS, Flamio said.

We are one of the primary laboratories in the country working on conservation genetics of the endangered pallid sturgeon, he said.

Hacking the system

In this effort, scientists used deactivated sperm from distantly related male paddlefish, and eggs from a female pallid sturgeon, to successfully create pallid sturgeon embryos that carry the genetics of only the female parent. Flamio traveled off-site to assist in this process and then, under the direction of Heist, conducted all genetic analyses at the SIU Conservation Genomics Laboratory at Life Science III.

This involved isolating DNA from the samples and testing the samples for sturgeon and paddlefish genetic markers, Flamio said. This is an innovative method for developing genetic tools for organisms, such as the pallid sturgeon, with unusually large genomes.

The work Flamio is doing is in support of his doctoral research. He currently is using the offspring  called haploid individuals  to continue finding better genetic markers that will differentiate pallid from shovelnose. He also is building a genetic linkage map, that will provide a blueprint of the sturgeons DNA including genes that are spatially mapped into individual chromosomes.
London: The company manufacturing the AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia is showing little interest in changing its plans to produce 50 million doses, as the federal government moves to minimise the fallout from a decision to not offer the jab to most people aged under 50.

A panel of medical experts on Thursday night concluded Pfizer should be the preferred vaccine for under-50s given concerns the AstraZeneca product may cause a rare but serious blood clotting.

The first AstraZeneca heard of the Australian governments decision was via a late-night Parliament House press conference held by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Health Minister Greg Hunt.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces that Pfizer is the preferred vaccine for Australians under 50. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The decision has thrown the vaccination program into doubt because there will not be enough alternative doses to vaccinate everyone by October as planned.
(Newser)  Former Congresswoman Katie Hill has lost a legal battle with the Daily Mail over the publication of nude photos that derailed her political career. A judge in Los Angeles dismissed Hill's suit against the British tabloid, ruling that the publication was within its rights to print the images, reports the Orange County Register. After they surfaced, Hill acknowledged having an inappropriate relationship with a female campaign staffer. She has blamed her now former husband, Kenneth Heslep, for leaking the images. Judge Yolanda Orozco said the photos were a matter of "public interest" because they spoke to Hill's "character and qualifications for her position." Hill's attorney had argued, unsuccessfully, that the Daily Mail could simply have summarized the contents of the photos.

story continues below

Hill categorized the photos as "nonconsensual porn" and said news outlets don't have the right to "sexually degrade and expose public officials," per the Hill. The suit named the Daily Mail, Heslep, and Salem Media Group, owner of the conservative RedState blog, which also published the images. Hill herself responded to the verdict on Twitter while vowing to appeal. "We lost in court because a judgenot a jurythinks revenge porn is free speech," she wrote. "This fight has massive implications for any woman who ever wants to run for office, so quitting isn't an option." (Earlier this week, Hill recounted her unlikely congressional friendship with Matt Gaetz but said he must resign if the allegations against him are true.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi got his second dose of Bharat Biotech's coronavirus vaccine -- Covaxin -- at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) today. The Prime Minister urged people to get all those who are eligible to get the vaccine to do so as soon as possible by registering on the CoWIN app.

While sharing an image of himself getting vaccinated, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, "Got my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS today. Vaccination is among the few ways we have, to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon. Register on CoWin.gov.in."





Got my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS today.



Vaccination is among the few ways we have, to defeat the virus.



If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon. Register on https://t.co/hXdLpmaYSP. pic.twitter.com/XZzv6ULdan  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 8, 2021

The Prime Minister got his first shot of the life-saving jab on March 1 when the second phase of India's vaccination programme began. Prime Minister had then applauded the scientists and doctors for finding a quick solution to the contagion. Prime Minister Modi tweeted, "Took my first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS. Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked quick in time to strengthen the fight against COVID-19. I appeal to all those who are eligible to take the vaccine. Together let us make India COVID-19 free!"

Took my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS.



Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19.



I appeal to all those who are eligible to take the vaccine. Together, let us make India COVID-19 free! pic.twitter.com/5z5cvAoMrv  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 1, 2021

Meanwhile, more than 8.70 crore people have been vaccinated against the coronavirus as of April 7, i.e., Wednesday. Out of these, over 7.59 crore got the first shot of the jab whereas more than 1.11 crore people received the second shot of the vaccine.

Also read: COVID-19 vaccination: India surpasses US; 8.70 crore shots administered so far

Also read: Why COVID-19 cases suddenly spiked across India? Harsh Vardhan explains
New Delhi, April 8 : The Supreme Court on Thursday said Rohingyas, detained in Jammu, will not be deported to Myanmar without following law.

An application has been filed by Mohammad Salimullah, a Rohingya refugee, through advocate Prashant Bhushan, seeking direction from the top court to the government to refrain from implementing any orders on deporting the Rohingya refugees who have been detained in jail in Jammu. The petitioner also sought their release.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde said that the Rohingyas detained in Jammu cannot be deported without following the due process prescribed in the law.

On March 26, the Centre had told the Supreme Court that India is not capital of illegal immigrants contesting a plea seeking release of about 150 Rohingya reportedly detained in a Jammu jail.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan vehemently argued about atrocities Rohingyas may face if they were deported to Myanmar, as the current military government in Myanmar is unfavourable to them. "We are not in any way called upon to condone or condemn genocide in Myanmar, though we believe genocide anywhere is condemnable," said a bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde had then told Bhushan.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, had said Rohingya, who had fled persecution in Myanmar to India, were deported only after confirmation of their nationality from the government of that country.

"They are illegal immigrants...We are in touch with Myanmar and once Myanmar confirms their nationality, then they will be deported," Mehta clarified.

The bench also compromising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V.Ramasubramanian queried Mehta, "Will you deport them only after Myanmar confirms?" Mehta explained the government will not deport a person hailing from Afghanistan to Myanmar.

The top court observed, "The fear is that once they are deported, they may get slaughtered. But we cannot stop it".
A Pennsylvania woman lost her life after being stabbed by a man she met on Facebook Marketplace. Authorities identified the victim as Denise Williams, 54, who was trying to get a fridge to give as a gift to her boyfriend, according to a WJAC report.

Authorities noted that Williams' family reported her missing on Monday, the day she checked out the refrigerator.

READ NEXT: Asian Woman Dies After Being Caught in a Stabbing Incident in California

Pennsylvania Woman Stabbed to Death

Geistown Borough police said the lifeless body of Denise Williams was found inside the suspect's apartment on Tuesday, according to a Crime Online report.

Authorities identified the 26-year-old suspect as Joshua Gorgone. The Pennsylvania woman's body was found with multiple stab wounds inside the bathroom of the apartment at 206 Old Scalp Ave.

Authorities noted that they were able to find Williams' body by tracking her phone. Police also used the information that William's family provided from her Facebook account.

Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees said defensive wounds were also found on the Pennsylvania woman's body, indicating that there was a struggle before she was killed. Lees described the death of Williams to be violent.

"She did put up one heck of a fight," Lees noted. An autopsy was performed on Tuesday, and it revealed that the Pennsylvania woman died due to a massive blood loss caused by the stab wounds.

Authorities confirmed that Williams' death stemmed out from an argument regarding the cost of the refrigerator.

"When you lose someone like this or have incidents of this nature, it's a shock to us all," said Geistown Borough Police Chief Nicholas Zakucia.

Zakucia further noted that the crime scene was "a tough scene" for the police officers. Denise Williams is the sister of Robert "Bobby" Williams Jr., who was shot and killed by two men who forced their way into his home in Richland in 2013, Tribune Publishing reported.

Denise Williams, a mother of two, was a Conemaugh Health System employee who worked in the nursing field before she was killed.

The Suspect Who Used the Facebook Marketplace

Joshua Gorgone reportedly confessed to killing the Pennsylvania woman with a kitchen knife. He said they argued over the price of the refrigerator.

Police arrested Joshua Gorgone in a Richland Township shopping center parking lot on Tuesday afternoon. Authorities said Gorgone is facing criminal homicide charges and two counts of aggravated assault. He is being held without bond as homicide is a nonbailable offense in Pennsylvania.

Investigators believed that Denise Williams and Joshua Gorgone did not know each other before arranging to meet through Facebook Marketplace.

Because of the incident that killed the Pennsylvania woman, authorities have issued a warning in using platforms like the Facebook Marketplace when purchasing items.

"Use caution when you're dealing with anybody or anything involving purchasing something through internet," said Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer.

Neugebauer noted that when meeting up with someone you do not know, "don't go alone" or don't invite them "to your house alone to look at something."

"Always have someone with you or if possible, meet in a public or well-lit place," he added.

READ MORE: Maryland Mom Arrested After Stabbing Toddler Daughter in the Neck With Scissors

WATCH: 3 Facebook Marketplace Scams To FEAR in 2020 - From Start Starting Up
An environmental school that has served tens of thousands of teens and teachers will reopen following an uncertain year, thanks to an agreement between a conservatory group and the state.

The 72-year-old New Jersey School of Conservation will open its Stokes State Forest campus in May with limited programming, an advocacy group, The Friends of the School of Conservation, announced.

Montclair State University shuttered the school last spring and returned it to the state Department of Environmental Protection, its original operator. The lockdowns to combat the coronavirus outbreak had ravaged the universitys budget, the school said, prompting it to give up the 240-acre school.

But The Friends of the School of Conservation launched a letter writing campaign last spring and drafted a management plan for the property. Their work paid off, and they have announced an interim agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection.

We are grateful to the Murphy administration and to the leadership of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for working with the Friends to reopen the NJSOC for the residents of New Jersey, Kerry Kirk Pflugh, the groups president, said in a statement.

In less than a year, we were able to forge this extraordinary agreement thanks to the help of our advisers, Friends members, and the thousands of students, teachers and researchers across the state, nation and world who lobbied on behalf of the NJSOC.

The school can access more than half its allotted acres for day programs, research, service projects and fundraising efforts, according to the group. It will also offer virtual courses pending their development.

The agreement is effective through the end of the year and could be renewed for two additional years. The group said it expects the DEP to seek proposals for a long-term lease agreement in the future.

A spokesperson for the DEP did not immediately confirm the details of the agreement or provide a statement Wednesday afternoon.

Science teachers and environmentalists were devastated from Montclair State announced it would sever ties with the school. Some said they became inspired to study environmental science after attending a field trip to the school decades earlier.

About 5,000 students took field trips to the school for hands-on courses in environmental science each year. They came from 15 of the states 21 counties, from Bordentown, Jersey City, Ho-Ho-Kus and more, to do field and lab work with environmental scientists. They canoed and hiked, shot arrows and worked together in team-building exercises.

The school also conducted research on endangered species and the effects of climate change on certain animals prior to its closure. It cost around $2 million to operate annually, but took in only about $600,000 from the educational programs each year. It had 18 employees.

When the school opened in 1949, it sought to educate the states future science teachers. But it began bringing teens to the grounds for experiential education and held professional development programs for teachers.

Now, it plans to continue professional programs for teachers and host family programs on climate change and other scientific topics. It will hold up to five programs per month, the group said.

This temporary agreement is a first step in fully reopening the NJSOC, Bernard Weintraub, an adviser to the group and lead negotiator for the access agreement, said in a statement. He expressed gratitude to the Department of Environmental Protection for helping us to fulfill the promise made to the residents of New Jersey that they would have an environmental education field center in perpetuity.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Amanda Hoover may be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj.
The government has launched a 43 million pound (USD 59.6 million) package to support British National (Overseas) families that settle in the country, funding local councils nationwide to help the new arrivals from with housing, education and employment who are escaping the region since imposed the draconian security law.

According to South Morning Post (SCMP), the scheme, announced on Thursday, comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to four families that moved to the country on a special visa for those with BN(O) status last month.

Under the new integration programme, 30.7 million British Pounds will go to councils across England, to provide help for the arrivals, covering English language and housing support for those in need. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will deliver similar policies with a budget of 5.8 million British Pounds.

A further 5 million British Pounds will be used to establish 12 "virtual" welcome hubs across the country, with funding for projects such as local helplines giving advice and assistance on issues related to daily life, such as school admission, registering with a doctor, and starting a business.

SCMP further reported that The government will also provide dedicated educational resources for schools to teach pupils about the historic connection between and its former colony.

The UK introduced the new visa last year in response to Beijing's imposition of the repressive national security law on Hong Kong, an act London described as a breach of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, the agreement that paved the way for the city's handover in 1997.

The news outlet reported that close to 5.4 million Hongkongers out of the city's 7.5 million population are eligible under the visa programme to stay in for up to five years, with the right to work and study, and to apply for citizenship after six years. As of mid-March, the British government had received 27,000 applications since the scheme was launched in late January.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the government would live up to its responsibilities to the people of Hong Kong and do everything in its power to ensure their success and happiness in He also established an interministerial group which would consider issues including access to public services, opportunities and safety for new arrivals.

"This programme will ensure BN(O) status holders and their families have the very best start as soon as they arrive, and support to help them find a home, schools for their children, opportunity and prosperity," said Jenrick, who spoke with four Hong Kong families through a video call on Tuesday, as quoted by SCMP.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the scheme was another important step in helping the new arrivals integrate and contribute to society. "It reflects our commitment to the people of Hong Kong - and those who have now chosen to start a new life here," he added.

The visa's launch in January sparked a diplomatic row, with saying it would stop recognising BN(O) passports as travel and identification documents. Beijing also accused Britain of "obstinately and repeatedly hyping up the BN(O) passport issue to interfere in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs".

The national security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong criminalises any act of secession (breaking away from China), subversion (undermining the power or authority of the central government), terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, with punishments of up to life in prison. It came into effect from July 1.

(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.)
Not every Republican has signed on. Debbie Dooley, a conservative activist in Georgia, said that the Republican base remembered Mr. Kemps denying Mr. Trumps request to call for a special session to address the presidential election results, and that it remained eager to punish him for what it views as failing to fully investigate claims of fraud.

He is hoping Trump voters forget he was a coward, she said. He undermined us at every turn during investigation of election fraud, and now because he is talking tough in regard to M.L.B., Delta and Coke, he thinks we will forgive him. We wont.

The most recent polling, conducted before Mr. Kemp signed the voting bill, showed that 15 percent to 30 percent of Georgia Republicans disapproved of his time as governor, largely because of his performance during the 2020 election.

The new law Mr. Kemp is championing makes it harder to acquire an absentee ballot, creates new restrictions and complications for voting and hands sweeping new power over the electoral process to Republican legislators. It has drawn harsh criticism from local companies like Coca-Cola and Delta, and prompted Major League Baseball to move its All-Star Game out of suburban Atlanta as a form of protest.

Mr. Kemp has used the rebukes to fire up the Republican base. He made little effort to calm tensions with some of his states most prominent corporate leaders, and said that baseball executives had caved to fear, political opportunism, and liberal lies in deciding to relocate the All-Star Game. Through it all, he has positioned himself as a fierce defender of Georgias sovereignty, saying, Georgians will not be bullied.

Mr. Kemps embrace of the voting law appears to have helped his standing among Georgia Republicans. Former Representative Doug Collins, Mr. Trumps preferred intraparty rival for the governorship, is now leaning toward a 2022 Senate bid instead, according to strategists and activists in the state. The two remaining Republicans weighing a bid are not as well known and would face a tougher time mounting a serious challenge to Mr. Kemp, who has already banked more than $6.3 million for his re-election campaign. Hes now fund-raising off the voting bill, wrapping his re-election website in a plea for funds to help defend election integrity.
Two Derry women are to feature in the latest series of a TV series, described as 'Googlebox in a car', which returns next week.

Series 4 of Turas Bothair on TG4 sees cars across Ireland rigged with cameras allowing viewers to eavesdrop on what people are really talking about.

The series puts its finger on the pulse of the Irish psyche giving us a unique slice of life normally hidden behind closed doors.

As well as an array of engaging drivers and their passengers, it features moments of joy and sadness, comedy and tragedy, love and loss, friendship and romance, regret and reflection, despair and hope as drivers and passengers share their personal stories and views on love, relationships, sex, drag queens, drugs, illness, death, scams, the environment, childhood obesity, and 2020 and the first lockdown.

Amongst the characters viewers will meet will be university students Sorcha and Seoirshin, school friends Caoimhin and Niall, sisters Nora and Una, taxi driver Grace with a number of different customers, and the 'Chuckle Brothers' Muiris and Gabriel.

Derry women, Allanah Furlong and Cara Park, are the two colourful characters who will keep viewers entertained throughout each of the six episodes.

In the first episode, being screened on TG4 at 8pm on Thursday, April 15, participants chat about the 'birds and the bees,' our drinking habits, who is going to start World War 3 and from Seamus in Donegal telling taxi driver Grace of how he experienced a stroke at the age of 26.

Turas Bothair was filmed on location in Counties Derry, Donegal, Mayo, Kerry, Galway, Waterford, and Antrim in January and February last year.
Washington: Joe Biden has announced a series of policies aimed at curbing gun violence in the US, a phenomenon the President described as an epidemic and international embarrassment.

An estimated 100 people die from gun violence each day in the US, according to Bidens Attorney-General Merrick Garland.

Recent mass shootings at massage parlours in Atlanta, Georgia, and a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, have reignited debate about gun control in the US.

President Joe Biden announced new measures to tackle gun violence on Friday (AEST) Credit:AP

Gun violence in this country is an epidemic and an international embarrassment, Biden said at a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden.
Notice is hereby given that on the initiative and by the resolution of the Board of AB Klaipedos nafta, legal entity code 110648893, with the registered office at Buriu str. 19, Klaipeda (hereinafter - the Company), Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company will be held on 30 April 2021 at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Company's office at Buriu str. 19, Klaipeda, in the administrative office of the Company (in the hall of the meeting on the 2nd floor).

Agenda of the meeting:

Announcement of the Auditor's Report regarding the Financial Statements and Annual Report of the Company for the year 2020 to the shareholders; Announcement of the Annual Report of the Company for the year 2020 to the shareholders; Approval of the audited Financial Statements of the Company for the year 2020; Approval of the appropriation of profit (loss) of the Company for the year 2020; Approval of Report on the remuneration of the Company; Election of the audit firm that shall perform the audit of the set of Financial Statements for the year 2021 and 2022 and set conditions for payment for audit services.

In light of the fact that a lockdown has been intoduced in the Republic of Lithuania in accordance with Resolution No 1226 of 4 November 2020 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, it is recommended that all shareholders participate in the meeting by completing the general ballot paper and submitting it in advance to the Company.



Please inform us about the need to physically attend the General Meeting of Shareholders no later than 3 business days before General Meeting of Shareholders via below specified emails. In all cases, Shareholders of the Company without personal protective equipment will not be allowed to participate in to the General Meeting of Shareholders. The Company reserves the right not to allow participation in to the General Meeting of Shareholders for those shareholders whose health condition are reasonably doubtful.

The shareholders will be registered from 12:00 a.m. to 12:55 p.m. The persons intending to participate in the meeting shall have a personal ID document (an authorized representative shall have an authorization approved under the established procedure. The natural person's authorization shall be notarized. An authorization issued in a foreign state shall be translated into the Lithuanian language and legalized under the procedure prescribed by the laws).

A shareholder or his proxy shall have the right to vote in writing in advance by filling in a general ballot paper. At the request of the shareholder, the Company shall send a general ballot paper to the shareholder by registered mail free of charge at least 10 days before the meeting. The filled-in general ballot paper and the document attesting the voting right shall be submitted to the Company no later than until the meeting, sending by registered mail or providing them at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice.

The shareholders who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes may propose additions to the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders by submitting with every proposed additional item of the agenda a draft resolution of the general meeting of shareholders or, when no resolution is required, an explanation. Proposals on addition to the agenda shall be submitted in writing or sent by e-mail. Written proposals shall be submitted to the Company on business days or sent by registered mail at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice. Proposals submitted by e-mail shall be sent to the following e-mails: info@kn.lt and i.berzauskas@kn.lt . The agenda shall be supplemented if the proposal is received no later than 14 days before the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. If the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders is supplemented, the Company shall notify on the additions no later than 10 days before the meeting in the same ways as in the case of convocation of the meeting.

The shareholders, who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes, at any time before the general meeting of shareholders or during the meeting, may propose new draft resolutions on items which are or will be included in the agenda of the meeting. The proposals may be submitted in writing or sent by e-mail. Written proposals shall be submitted to the Company on business days or sent by registered mail at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice. Proposals submitted by e-mail shall be sent to the following e-mails: info@kn.lt and i.berzauskas@kn.lt .

The shareholders shall have the right to submit to the Company in advance questions relating to the items on the agenda of the meeting. The shareholders may submit their written questions to the Company on business days or send by registered mail at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice no later than 3 business days before the meeting. The Company will reply to the questions by e-mail or in writing before the meeting, except the questions which are related to the Company's commercial (industrial) secret, confidential information or which have been submitted later than 3 business days before the meeting.

The Company does not provide the possibility of participating and voting at the meeting by means of electronic communications.

The shareholder shall have the right to authorize through electronic communications means another personand i.berzauskas@kn.lt no later than until the last business day before the meeting at 1:00 p.m. The proxy and the notice must be issued in writing. The proxy and the notice to the Company shall be signed with the electronic signature but not the letter sent by e-mail. By submitting the notice to the Company, the shareholder shall include the internet address from which it would be possible to download software free of charge to verify the shareholder's electronic signature.

The record date of the meeting shall be 23 April 2021 (only those persons who will be shareholders of the Company at the close of the record date of the general meeting of shareholders or their authorized persons, or persons with whom an agreement on assignment of the voting right has been executed, may participate and vote at the general meeting of shareholders).

The record date which entitles shareholders to receive a portion of the Company's profit (dividend) - 14 May 2021.

The shareholders of the Company may familiarise with the draft resolution of the meeting and the form of the general ballot paper under the procedure prescribed by the laws in the registered office of the Company at Buriu str. 19, Klaipeda. The following information and documents shall be provided on the abovementioned internet website of the Company:

- The notification on convocation of the meeting;

- Total number of the Company's shares and the number of shares with voting rights on the convening day of the meeting.

Jonas Lenksas, Chief Financial Officer, +370 694 80594.

Attachments
Peter Thiel is pro-crypto and pro-Bitcoin maximalist, but he also thinks the cryptocurrency may be undermining America.

The statements seemed to represent a change of heart for Thiel, who is a major investor in virtual currency ventures as well as in cryptocurrencies themselves.

I do wonder whether at this point, Bitcoin should also be thought [of] in part as a Chinese financial weapon against the U.S., Thiel said during an appearance at a virtual event held for members of the Richard Nixon Foundation. It threatens fiat money, but it especially threatens the U.S. dollar. He added: [If] Chinas long Bitcoin, perhaps from a geopolitical perspective, the U.S. should be asking some tougher questions about exactly how that works.

Thiel was joined by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Advisor Robert OBrien. The conversation between Thiel, who has frequently criticized American companies that do business with Beijing, and two hawkish former members of the Trump administration, was largely focused on U.S.-China relations. It was moderated by Hugh Hewitt, the talk radio host and the chief executive of the Nixon Foundation. Forbes previously reported some details of the event.

ALSO READ: Singapore warns public against crypto as world warms to Bitcoin

During the talk, Thiel expanded upon previous criticism of Alphabet Inc.s Google, which he accused of working against American interests in a 2019 speech. On Tuesday, he added that hed pressed employees in the companys artificial intelligence division about whether their technology was being used in Chinas Xinjiang region, where the U.S. says the country has detained ethnic Uyghurs in internment camps, which some U.S. officials have said amounts to genocide. The answer, Thiel said, was, Well, we dont really knowand dont ask any questions. Thiel continued: You have this almost magical thinking that by pretending that everything is fine, thats how you engage and have a conversation. China has denied mistreatment of ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang, and Google has said it doesnt work with the Chinese military.

ALSO READ: A 33-year-old fueling crypto boom is worrying Thai regulators

Thiel, who left Silicon Valley in dramatic fashion in 2018, complaining that it had become a one-party state, didnt confine himself to criticizing Google. He suggested that the U.S. scrutiny of American tech companies should also include Apple Inc., noting that the company makes most of its devices in China, where labor standards are laxer than in the U.S. and Europe. Apple is probably the one [tech company] thats structurally a real problem for U.S. interests, he said. Apple is the one that has real synergies with China.

Thiel also suggested that the U.S. should follow India in banning TikTok, the social app owned by Chinese company ByteDance Ltd., and which he called this sort of incredible exfiltration of data about people. Thiel noted that if it were banned, TikTok would likely be replaced by similar apps, as has happened in India. I dont think it was like a tremendous, tremendous loss in India, he said.

Thiel also criticized Facebookalong with other tech companiesfor de-platforming President Trump, a reference to the companys decision to ban President Donald Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol. Theres been outright censorship, Thiel said. And when you do it with the President of the United States, that does feel like you have really crossed some kind of Rubicon.

The appearance with Pompeo could have implications for the 2024 presidential race. The former secretary of state is widely seen as a possible candidate for the Republican nominationand Thiel has signaled a willingness to back figures closely aligned with Trump. He was a major backer of Trump in 2016, and recently donated $10 million to a PAC supporting the potential Senate candidacy of J.D. Vance, an author and conservative political figure who previously worked at a Thiel-backed venture capital fund.

By Max Chafkin
A former Quebec judge convicted of first-degree murder in 2012 in the death of his wife will get a new trial, the Department of Justice said Wednesday.

Former Quebec judge Jacques Delisle, left, walks into court on Thursday, June 14, 2012 in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

A former Quebec judge convicted of first-degree murder in 2012 in the death of his wife will get a new trial, the Department of Justice said Wednesday.

Federal Justice Minister David Lametti decided it is reasonable to conclude a miscarriage of justice likely occurred in the case of Jacques Delisle, the department said in a news release.

That decision, the department said, came after Lametti reviewed the facts of the case and "is the result of the identification of new information that was not before the courts at the time of Mr. Delisle's trial or appeal."

Delisle was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Marie Nicole Rainville, and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. His appeal was dismissed in 2013, and the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear his case.

The Justice Department says the case has been transferred to the Quebec Superior Court for a new trial.

"This is not a decision about the guilt or innocence of the applicant," the department said. "Rather, the decision leads to the case being returned to the justice system, where the relevant legal issues may be determined by the courts according to the law."

James Lockyer, a lawyer with a non-profit that advocates for people wrongly convicted of crimes, said in a statement Wednesday he is confident new evidence will prove Delisle did not kill his wife.

Lockyer said Innocence Canada, which was called the Association In Defense of the Wrongly Convicted when it took on Delisle's case in 2014, zeroed in on ballistics analysis from a gun found at the scene.

"In an application to the Department of Justice, Mr. Lockyer argued that proper reanalysis of the gun by independent ballistics experts would rule out the possibility that Mr. Delisle fired the weapon," the statement said.

Lockyer noted that former Court of Appeal judge will turn 86 next month. "I never doubted Mr. Delisles innocence," he said. "It is terrible that he has been in prison for nine years. I hope he will be back with his family in the next few days."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2021.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 15:59:18|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- After a 76-day lockdown against COVID-19, China's central megacity of Wuhan was finally reconnected with the rest of the world on April 8, 2020. One year on, China has made enormous efforts to contain the pandemic and contributed to the global battle against the virus.

"It was a very bold, timely and wise step which resulted in quick decline in COVID-19 cases, thus more than compensating the loss to the economy," said Omera Naseer, a public health specialist at National Institute of Health in Pakistan.

"Being a public health specialist, I really admire China's step of lockdown as it has major contributions in containment of COVID-19 not only in China but across the world," he told Xinhua.

Specifically, he pointed out that Wuhan's resilience, determination and responsible manner, punctuated by the over 10 million residents who abided by the government's strict lockdown orders, is "an example for the world to follow."

"It has shown the world that if government and society act with responsibility together, major challenges can be faced rather easily," Naseer said.

China's overall anti-pandemic measures could be pigeonholed into three main categories of responses, according to Costantinos Bt. Costantinos, a professor of public policy at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia.

The first is China undertook active case surveillance immediately after the deadly virus was reported. Massive testing was launched as soon as laboratory equipment was made available from global and Chinese sources.

"This enabled China to embark on speedy identification of and response to all COVID-19 cases that emerged in Wuhan," he said.

Secondly, the measures were supplemented by a strict lockdown of cities and quarantine of persons with close contact to COVID-19 patients, he noted, adding that public institutions also provided instantaneous information and guidance on COVID-19 prevention measures.

Finally, China provided swift and operative policy guidance while expanding the capacity of its public health system. "This was grounded on active citizen participation in the management of the COVID-19 epidemic in China," Costantinos said.

China's response to COVID-19 has been "impressive" and the country has once again managed to do well in the face of a major crisis, Tobias Adrian, director of the International Monetary Fund's monetary and capital markets department, told CNBC on Tuesday.

"China is really an impressive example of an outlier in the positive sense," Adrian said, adding that China has defeated the pandemic "very aggressively, very early and the economy really already came back to normal levels at the middle of last year, so way ahead of any country in the world."

Speaking about the origins of the virus, Naseer noted that its epicentre remains unknown.

"China controlled the virus when it was fastly spreading in European countries and American states," he said. "The world had witnessed that most of the cases which later spread in the world were transmitted from other countries, not from China."

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a report on the global tracing of COVID-19 origins, after a total of 34 experts from the WHO and China jointly conducted a 28-day on-site investigation from Jan. 14 to Feb. 10 in Wuhan to study the likelihood of possible pathways.

The findings showed that "some of the suspected positive samples were detected even earlier than the first case in Wuhan, suggesting the possibility of missed circulation in other countries," said the report.

"Don't think about national boundaries if we really want to defeat pandemics. We have to come together with other countries to focus on how they emerge and try and stop them for the future," said British zoologist Peter Daszak, a member of the WHO team, during a briefing on the report.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Professor Dominic Dwyer from the University of Sydney stressed that origin tracing of the coronavirus needs to be done not only China but other parts of the world.

Dwyer, also a member of the WHO expert team to China, said that further studies are needed to investigate the animal origins, or potential animal origins of the raging virus. Enditem

(Xinhua writers Hao Yalin in Sydney, Liu Qu in Geneva, and Huang Zemin in Beijing also contributed to the story.)
Police officers behind shields stand behind a police vehicle on Springfield Road as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 7, 2021. (Jason Cairnduff/Reuters)

Northern Irish Leaders Set Aside Bickering to Urge End to Violence

BELFASTNorthern Irelands power-sharing government put aside factional differences on April 8 to appeal for calm after more than a week of nightly violence partly fuelled by frustration among pro-British unionists over post-Brexit trade barriers.

Hundreds of youths in the British provinces capital Belfast set a hijacked bus on fire and attacked police with stones on April 7 in scenes reviving memories of decades of sectarian strife that claimed some 3,600 lives prior to a 1998 peace deal.

The latest violence has injured 55 police officers and seen boys as young as 13 and 14 arrested on rioting charges.

We are gravely concerned by the scenes we have all witnessed on our streets, said the compulsory coalition, led by rival pro-Irish Catholic nationalists and pro-British Protestant unionists.

While our political positions are very different on many issues, we are all united in our support for law and order and we collectively state our support for policing, its statement added.

A rioter near a burning car at the peace wall gate into Lanark Way as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 7, 2021. (Jason Cairnduff/Reuters)

Britains Minister for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis was traveling to the province for talks, the BBC broadcaster said. To the south, Irelands government had urged the provinces leaders to come together after days of blaming each other.

Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein and others accused First Minister Arlene Fosters Democratic Unionist Party of inflaming hostilities with their opposition to the new trade barriers that their supporters feel erase part of their UK identity.

After London left the European Unions orbit at the start of this year, checks and tariffs were introduced on some goods moving from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland as the province was now bordering the bloc via EU member Ireland.

Irish nationalists near peace wall gates into Lanark Way as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 7, 2021. (Jason Cairnduff/Reuters)

The DUP has pointed to a police decision last week not to prosecute Sinn Fein for a large funeral last year that broke COVID-19 regulations. They called for Northern Irelands police chief to step down over the matter.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said a number of factors were responsible for the anger, and that the post-Brexit trading arrangements were clearly one of them.

Foster said on April 8 that it wasnt the time to rehearse those arguments.

Its safe to say we should all know well that when politics fail or are perceived to be failing, those who fill the vacuum offer destruction and despair, she told the regional assembly, which was recalled to discuss the clashes.

We cannot allow a new generation of our young people to fall victim to that path or be preyed upon by some who prefer the shadows to the light.

Protesters at the peace wall gate into Lanark Way as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 7, 2021. (Jason Cairnduff/Reuters)

Police said on April 8 that in some instances, adults had stood clapping while youngsters committed crimes of violence.

Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill of Sinn Fein said the spreading of trouble to an interface between unionist and Irish nationalist communities was a dangerous escalation and that it was a miracle nobody had died.

Large groups threw fireworks, bricks, and petrol bombs at each other late on April 8 from either side of one of Belfasts so-called peace walls that have divided the two communities in parts of the city since the so-called Troubles began.

Parts of the region remain deeply split 23 years after the Good Friday peace deal. Many nationalists aspire to unification with Ireland while unionists want to stay in the UK.

The European Commission, which is in talks with the British government to try to ease some of the trade barriers, condemned the violence.

This needs to stop before somebody is killed or seriously injured, added Irelands Coveney on national Irish broadcaster RTE. These are scenes we havent seen in Northern Ireland for a very long time; they are scenes that many people thought were consigned to history.

By Jason Cairnduff. Additional reporting and writing by Padraic Halpin in Dublin.


Colombo police on Wednesday arrested Mrs World Caroline Jurie for injuring beauty pageant Pushpika de Silva on charges of assault, CNA reported. Jurie plucked the Mrs World crown off De Silvas head with coercion over her marital status dispute that caused Mrs Sri Lanka head injuries. During the Sundays gala that streamed live from Colombo's Nelum Pokuna theatre, Jurie shocked the spectators after she angrily snatched the crown from De Silva in an on-stage bust-up at Mrs Sri Lanka crowning ceremony alleging that de Silva lied that she had separated with her husband, where as a matter of fact, she was divorced.

In the footage of the incident that emerged online, Mrs World Jurie yelled during the on-stage altercation that Mrs Sri Lanka is a part of Mrs World beauty pageant for the "married women", and each countrys title would then be qualified to contest for Mrs World title. The eligibility criteria stated clearly that only married women were qualified to participate in the country-level beauty pageant competition. Jurie alleged that de Silva made false claims about her marital status to achieve the crown and therefore, she was going ahead to offer it to the runner-up. As she brutally pulled the crown off the tearful de Silva, in the presence of the shocked onlookers in the packed theatre, de Silva was reportedly injured and needed hospital intervention later.

'Should have been disqualified,' says de Silva

De Silva explained in a Facebook post, that she was not a divorced woman, and if at all there were doubts surrounding her marital status, she should not have been allowed to come so far," and should have been disqualified during initial rounds. She added that it was a moment of great insult for her as a single mother to have the crown, which was placed by Mrs. World 7 minutes ago snatched from her head in front of everyones eyes. Even though my crown has been snatched in front of everyone, I will keep my head straight at this moment, de Silva said. She added, This is a historical moment for me as a single woman when women and men all over the world have raised their voice for me. Social media raised calls for honouring De Silva once again and she was given the crown back in a small ceremony organized after the incident.

Sri Lanka'da duzenlenen bir guzellik yarsmasnda birincilik odulunu kazanan Pushpika De Silva sahnede yasanan arbedede basndan yaraland. pic.twitter.com/kQGpTIAv9r  HUSEYIN AVNI KEMAL (@Hak2861) April 6, 2021

(Image Credit: Twitter/@Hak2861)
NSW Police investigators have taken a formal statement from a former boyfriend of the woman who accused federal cabinet minister Christian Porter of rape.

James Hooke, a senior managing director with Macquarie Group who has known Mr Porter and the accuser for decades, met with detectives twice in March and made a statement on the rape allegation after he released a statement publicly through the media.

Christian Porter strenuously denies the rape allegation. Credit:Trevor Collens

The revelation about Mr Hookes statement to police was contained in responses to questions taken on notice during a NSW parliamentary estimate hearing that were published on Thursday. The responses also revealed the woman who made the allegation had asked NSW Police to conduct an interview with her via Skype two months before her death.

Police closed the investigation last year, citing a lack of admissible evidence, and it remains closed despite the statement provided by Mr Hooke, who described the woman as a dear friend in public comments last month.
Jonathan Morris (left), Mayo Clinic, and Hans Langer, EOS Group, are featured guests in the AMUG Conference program. Those in attendance will walk away with valuable insights that assist in advancing additive manufacturing excellence

Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) today announced that Jonathan M. Morris, M.D., director of the 3D Printing Anatomic Modeling Lab at Mayo Clinic, and Hans J. Langer, Ph.D., founder of EOS GmbH and chairman of EOS Group, will be featured at the AMUG Conference. The conference runs from May 2  6, 2021, and will take place in Orlando, Florida.

Dr. Morris will take the stage for a keynote presentation on point-of-care manufacturing, and Dr. Langer will share his experiences and insights during the Innovators Showcase. Both Dr. Morris and Dr. Langer will take attendees through their multi-year journeys towards achieving success.

Carl Dekker, AMUG president, said, The journeys of both men are fascinating. But more importantly, those in attendance will walk away with valuable insights that assist in advancing additive manufacturing excellence. Having conquered challenging situations, their stories provide insightful guidance for professional development.

Dr. Morris expertise is in the use of point-of-care additive manufacturing for preoperative planning and custom surgical guides. That expertise was developed over a 16-year period in which he championed efforts to make additive manufacturing a standard of care. In his Thursday, May 6, keynote titled The Rise of Point of Care Manufacturing: 16 years of Additive Manufacturing at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Morris will describe the endeavors, obstacles and achievements when integrating the technology into medical practices.

Clinically, Dr. Morris focuses on minimally invasive thermal ablation of tumors in the neuroaxis. He is a Board Certified Radiologist, CAQ Neuroradiologist, and medical director of Center for Biomedical and Scientific Visualization, Division of Experiential Learning at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Morris is also a consultant in the Department of Radiology at Mayo Clinic. Additionally, he is focused on the development and deployment of extended realities, VR/AR in medical education, intraoperative guidance, and medical capital equipment training.

On Wednesday, May 5, Dr. Langer will be the honored guest for a casual, relaxed interview in the Innovators Showcase. As the 2020 AMUG Innovators Award recipient, he will respond to questions with the intents of getting to know the man behind the innovations and offering guidance from his experiences. The Innovators Showcase is unique in that it is structured to be an intimate conversation between two acquaintances that is witnessed by all that attend the AMUG Conference. However, due to travel restrictions, this years conversation will be in a hybrid formatDr. Langer will appear via pre-recorded video while Todd Grimm, the host, will appear on stage.

Dr. Langer is chairman of the EOS GROUP, a family-owned business. As chairman, he is in charge of the strategic alignment of the EOS GROUP of companies. In 1989, he founded EOS with the vision to produce three-dimensional objects directly from CAD data, using laser technology. With a pioneering spirit and an in-depth knowledge of market requirements, Dr. Langer expanded the company into an independent and world-leading manufacturer of high-end solutions in the field of additive manufacturing. Prior to the founding of EOS, Dr. Langer was active in research at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics and managing director at General Scanning. He studied Physics at the Technical University of Munich and was awarded a PhD in laser technology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich.

Designed for both novice and experienced additive manufacturing users, the AMUG Conference agenda topics range from technology basics to advanced applications to business considerations. AMUG anticipates having over 100 presentations, workshops, and hands-on training sessions. The AMUGexpo will have over 90 exhibitors, and the event is supported by more than 70 sponsors. AMUG Conference details and registration are available at http://www.amug.com.

ABOUT ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING USERS GROUP (AMUG)

AMUG is an organization that educates and advances the uses and applications of additive manufacturing technologies. AMUG members include those with industrial additive manufacturing/3D printing technologies and materials used for professional purposes from companies such BASF 3D Printing Solutions, DMG MORI, Dyndrite Corporation, Essentium, ExOne and LuxCreo. AMUG meets annually to provide education and training through technical presentations on processes and new technologies. This information addresses operation of additive manufacturing equipment and the applications that use the parts they make. Online at http://www.amug.com.


A Queensland couple have been left shocked after discovering a huge two-metre python living in their bathroom drain.

The terrified homeowners discovered the intruder after their en-suite began to flood during a shower.

When the couple began to investigate what could be blocking the drain, they noticed an eye staring back at them from the tiny hole in the floor.

A Queensland couple have received the fright of their lives after discovering a two-metre python living in their bathroom drain

Professional snake handler Bryce from Snake Catchers Brisbane and Gold Coast was called to the Tarragindi property, south of Brisbane, to remove the snake.

Footage showed the moment the snakes was carefully removed from the tiny drain on the bathroom floor.

'Okay I'm going to move back a bit', a man is heard saying as the snake takes in its new surroundings.

The terrified home-owners discovered the scaly intruder after their bathroom began to flood during a shower

'This is not what I was expecting but I'm glad it's okay', a woman says.

The incredible footage has attracted hundreds of comments from social media users with some describing it as their 'worst nightmare'.

'True fear of mine... I always keep a heavy bath mat over my bathroom floor drain for this reason', one user shared.

'Cementing my drains up now', another joked.

Others questioned how the snake managed to get into the tight spot, one suggesting the python entered a drain from the footpath.

Another said the snake may have slithered in through a break in the drain pipe, or through an inspection hole cover.

In amazing footage captured of the removal, the python is seen bursting upwards from the small hole and slithering quickly across the bathroom floor

Others said the video had made them think twice about visiting Australia.

'Australia is not okay. Leave this island to the animals', one user commented.

'Go to Australia they say, itll be fun, you'll love it. Nah that's ok', another said.

Residents in New South Wales and south-east Queensland have been warned to be extra vigilant of snakes as they seek higher and drier ground after the floods.

The wet conditions have prompted the cold-blooded reptiles to seek safety in residents homes and are commonly found in rafters, sheds and backyards.


In recent weeks, several women have reported demeaning and sexualized workplace behavior by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. In response, Cuomo has issued a combination of denials, defenses and apologies.

Much of the public analysis of his statements has focused on the adequacy of these apologies  whether he took sufficient responsibility or expressed enough remorse.

Apologies deserve attention. They can help right wrongs and heal relationships.

Yet in the focus on apologies, an opportunity is missed to learn something about power. Power, after all, is at the heart of sexual harassment.

As Catharine MacKinnon, the architect of modern sexual-harassment law, has argued, sexual misconduct at work can be defined as the unwanted imposition of sexual requirements in the context of a relationship of unequal power.

If responses like Cuomos are viewed through a power-informed lens, different patterns emerge. In my own study of more than 200 such statements, I found many references to the accuseds own long careers, to their many professional accomplishments, and to their excellent reputations. In short, when challenged, the men in my study (and all but three were men) did what came naturally: They reached for their power.

This pattern is connected to another theme that I discovered in the statements I studied: repetition of explanations and defenses centered on the accused persons own subjective intent and perceptions.

Its me being funny. Im not trying to sexually harass people, for example, or I come from a very different culture, or I remember trying to kiss [her] as part of what I thought was a consensual seduction ritual.

However, the accuseds intentions, thoughts or beliefs  so central in the statements I studied  are only peripheral under sexual harassment law.

Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the main federal law that covers workplace discrimination and harassment, an employee may sue her employer when she has experienced severe or pervasive workplace harassment.

Story continues

Severity and pervasiveness are judged subjectively, from the harassed persons point of view, and objectively, in the view of a theoretical reasonable person. The law also requires that the conduct be unwelcomed by the harassed person.

Though different courts have interpreted these requirements differently around the edges, sexual-harassment cases do not turn on whether the harasser thought his conduct was a joke, or culturally acceptable, or ritualized seduction.

Instead, the laws subjectivity and welcomeness requirements ask a superior  like Cuomo  to evaluate his own conduct from his subordinates point of view. Superiors who want to avoid committing harassment to begin with (before anything gets to a judge, jury or media story) need to step outside their own perspective.

This requires empathy. And the more power that a person wields in the workplace, the more difficult it may be to step outside ones own position and consider the circumstances from another persons perspective.

Here is where Cuomos responses are revealing.

In his first official statement, released on Feb. 28, out of 18 I statements, over half were versions of I never intended, I was being playful or I do, on occasion, tease people.

Cuomo followed suit in his press conference on March 3, repeating over and over variations on the I never intended or I never knew or I didnt mean it that way theme.

These statements suggest that, over his long career, Cuomo did not pay attention to the effects of his words and actions on his subordinates, and that the power of his position may have reinforced his heedlessness.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission warns about just this type of scenario in its list of harassment risk factors: High-value employees may perceive themselves as exempt from workplace rules or immune from consequences of their misconduct. Workplaces with significant power imbalances, too, make the risk factor list.

If the movement sparked by #MeToo focuses only on taking down individual bad actors, it will leave intact the workplace structures that enable and protect the powerful  and that produce statements like Cuomos. Ending sexual harassment requires a critical rethinking of workplace power, whether it flows from ownership of a company, management of an office, supervision of a shop floor or the office of the governor.

Charlotte Alexander is associate professor of law and analytics at Georgia State University.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 7, 2021) - Destiny Media Technologies Inc. (TSXV: DSY) (OTCQB: DSNY), the makers of Play MPE, wishes to clarify the date of the earnings release date published in the original news release captioned "Destiny Media Technologies Schedules Fiscal 2021 Second Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call" published earlier today on April 7, 2021.

Below is the corrected news release in its entirely with the relevant updates.

Destiny Media Technologies Schedules Fiscal 2021 Second Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call

Vancouver, BC April 7, 2021 - Destiny Media Technologies Inc. (TSXV: DSY) (OTCQB: DSNY), the makers of Play MPE, a cloud-based SaaS solution for promotional music marketing, today announced that the Company will hold a conference call on April 14, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) to discuss financial results for its second quarter ended February 28, 2021. The Company plans to release financial results for the second quarter before market opens on April 14, 2021.

The conference call will include comments from President, Chief Executive Officer - Fred Vandenberg, Director of Business Development - Glenn Mattern, and Chief Financial Officer - Sam Ritchie.

Date: April 14, 2021

Time: 2:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time)

Direct dial in: 1-416-764-8688

North America toll-free participant dial in: 1-888-390-0546

Conference ID: 59112630

A replay of the call will be available until April 21, 2021.

Direct replay: 1-416-764-8677

North America toll-free replay: 1-888-390-0541

Replay passcode: 112630#

A transcript will also be available on Destiny's corporate site at https://investors.dsny.com/investors/financials/

About Destiny Media Technologies Inc.

Destiny Media Technologies Inc. ("Destiny"), provides software as service (SaaS) solutions to businesses in the music industry solving critical problems in distribution and promotion. The core service, Play MPE (www.plaympe.com), provides promotional music marketing to engaged networks of decision makers in radio, film, TV, and beyond. More information can be found at www.dsny.com.

Contacts:

Fred Vandenberg

CEO Destiny Media Technologies, Inc.

604 609 7736 x236

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79771
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 10:58:45|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Most of the capital goods monitored by the government posted lower prices in late March compared with mid-March this year, official data showed.

Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 25 saw their prices drop, while 24 posted higher prices, and the price of one remained unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Hog price went down 6.8 percent during the period.

The reading, released every 10 days, is based on a survey of nearly 2,000 wholesalers and distributors in 31 provincial-level regions. Enditem
Hiring activities rose marginally with job listings rising to 2,436 in March compared to February this year, according to a report.

The increase of three per cent in job listings on a month-on-month basis was mainly led by IT-software and retail sectors.

In February, the job listings stood at 2,356.

As per the latest Naukri JobSpeak Index, given the wave of digital transformation, the IT-software sector remains shielded and hiring continued to grow by 11 per cent in March.

The retail sector, which was severely impacted by the pandemic, is also seeing robust revival, with sequential hiring activities seeing an uptick of 15 per cent last month, as per the report.

The Naukri JobSpeak is a monthly Index that calculates and records hiring activity based on the job listings on Naukri.com website.

Key sectors such as oil and gas (7 per cent), accounting/ taxation/ finance (6 per cent) and telecom/ ISP (5 per cent) showed an uptick in hiring in March compared to February.

On the other hand, sectors such as BPO/ITES (1 per cent) and BFSI (1 per cent) witnessed a flat sequential trend.

With the second wave of COVID, education/ teaching (13 per cent), FMCG (10 per cent) and hotels/ airlines/ travel (8 per cent) sectors experienced a decline in sequential hiring in March, the report said.

All six metros and key tier-II cities witnessed sequential growth in hiring in March, except Kolkata (3 per cent) and Vadodara (2 per cent) that saw a slight decline in hiring.

Ahmedabad registered the highest hiring growth of 13 per cent amongst tier-II cities in March compared to February, the report noted.

Naukri.com Chief Business Officer Pawan Goyal said that overall hiring activity showed a robust growth of 23 per cent in the January-March 2021 quarter compared to the October-December 2020 quarter.

According to him, the IT sector has been at the forefront of fueling this growth and it is encouraging to see sectors like retail and accounting/ finance also showing promising recovery over the past few months.

"With the economy opening up, recruiters are ready to hire again, and 83 per cent confirmed this in our latest Naukri Hiring Outlook survey," he added.

The demand for professionals in marketing/ advertising (10 per cent) and HR/ administration (8 per cent) roles also saw an uptick in March, while the demand in sales/BD (6 per cent) roles saw a sequential decline.

Hiring for professionals with 4-7 years' and 8-12 years' experience saw the highest sequential growth of 6 per cent in March this year. However, leadership hiring (those having over 16 years' experience) declined by 3 per cent last month compared to February.

On a year-on-year basis, there was a notable growth of 25 per cent in hiring in March compared to the same month last year, led by sectors including IT-software, medical/ hospital and retail, the report said.

Job opportunities in the IT-software (42 per cent), medical /hospital (33 per cent) and retail (24 per cent) sectors showed year-on-year growth. However, hospitality and travel sectors registered a decline of 11 per cent in hiring in March compared to the year-ago period.

(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 following is excerpted from Dr. Meryl Nass' blog with permission.



The Astra-Zeneca "cheap and easy to store" "workhorse" vaccine causes blood clots in general, and in particular clots in the venous sinuses of the brain, which have killed or wounded a number of people, especially women under 55.

From StatNews:

Disorders caused by blood clots, including heart attacks, vein thromboses, and strokes, are common. But the types of clots that may be linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine are exceedingly rare. They have been marked by low levels of platelets  the blood cell fragments that normally cause clotting.

The types of clots seen include cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, or CVST, a type of blood clot that occurs in the veins that drain blood from the brain, and a similar condition in the abdomen, known as splanchic vein thrombosis. The clots sometimes occur in combination with bleeding.

From the Washington Post:

The European Medicines Agency, the European Unions regulator, said it is investigating at least 44 cases of the rare brain clots and at least 14 deaths among about 9.2 million vaccinations in 30 European countries...

As of March 29, Germanys regulator has reported 31 cases of the unusual blood clots in 2.7 million people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, nine of whom have died.

The J and J vaccine was also associated with blood clots in the clinical trial data presented to FDA. Both vaccines use an adenovirus vector to deliver DS DNA that codes for spike protein, and human cellular machinery produces this protein, for an uncertain period of time in uncertain quantities. So blood clotting may be due to the adenovirus vector, or to the spike protein, or to something entirely different.

The mRNA vaccines use mRNA to code for the spike, also using cellular machinery to produce the spike protein. The end result of all 4 vaccines is similar, and again, we do not know for how long the body makes this protein.

If the spike itself induces clotting, which is a reasonable hypothesis scientists have put forth, but is unproven, then all 4 vaccines would be thrombogenic (induce clotting). Dr. Patrick Whelan tried to warn the FDA about this possibility, but was ignored. He wrote:

Meinhardt et al. (Nature Neuroscience 2020, in press) show that the spike protein in brain endothelial cells is associated with formation of microthrombi (clots), and like Magro et al. do not find viral RNA in brain endothelium. In other words, viral proteins appear to cause tissue damage without actively replicating virus.



Is it possible the spike protein itself causes the tissue damage associated with Covid-19? Nuovo et al (in press) have shown that in 13/13 brains from patients with fatal COVID-19, pseudovirions (spike, envelope, and membrane proteins) without viral RNA are present in the endothelia of cerebral microvessels.

This is frightening information, providing a strong hint of the spike protein's potential toxicity. Read more HERE.
South Carolina reported 495 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 20 new deaths April 8.

Here's the latest on the pandemic in South Carolina.

Biker bar Suck Bang Blow fined $17K after violating COVID-19 executive orders Myrtle Beach-area Biker bar Suck Bang Blow will have to pay a $17,500 fine but will not lose its liquor license after violating Governor Henry McMasters executive orders last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

3:15 p.m.  From Murrells Inlet: Biker bar Suck Bang Blow will have to pay a $17,500 fine, but will not lose its liquor license, after violating Gov. Henry McMasters executive orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the South Carolina Department of Revenue, the penalty imposed on the South Strand bar is one of the largest penalties imposed by the Administrative Law Court for alcohol-related violations. Read more.

DHEC reports nearly 500 new COVID-19 cases in SC, 20 more deaths The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported nearly 500 new cases of the coronavirus on April 8 and 20 more deaths.

1:50 p.m.  More than 460,000 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the Palmetto State since the start of the pandemic last year. But health care agencies are continuing efforts to increase testing and make vaccines available to all individuals who want them. Read more.

Understand SC: Charleston restaurants are busy again. Now, they face a staffing crisis. This week, food editor and critic Hanna Raskin shared an update on the current state the food and beverage industry in Charleston, which is thankful for record sales but wrangling with an increasingly urgent staffing crisis.

1:30 p.m.  This week, food editor and critic Hanna Raskin shared an update on the current state the food and beverage industry in Charleston, which is thankful for record sales but wrangling with an urgent pandemic-induced staffing crisis. Listen to the podcast now.

12:15 p.m.  Two candidates vying to be Columbias next mayor disagree on the need for a city health chief for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Read more.

Columbia mayoral candidates Devine, Johnson disagree on need for city health chief City of Columbia mayor candidates Tameika Isaac Devine and Sam Johnson participated in the first forum of the 2021 election as they seek to replace Mayor Steve Benjamin.

Survey: Even as schools reopen, many students learn remotely Large numbers of students are not returning to the classroom even as more schools reopen for full-time, in-person learning, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Biden administration. The findings reflect a nation that has been locked in debate over the safety of reopening schools during the coronavirus pandemic. Even as national COVID-19 rates continued to ebb in February, key measures around reopening schools barely budged.

Wednesday, 3:47 p.m.  Large numbers of students are not returning to the classroom even as more schools reopen for full-time, in-person learning, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Biden administration. Read more.
A number of cattle and sheep breed societies have paid tribute to a popular young farmer and stocksperson who has died aged 26.

Hannah Brown, who farmed at Dufton near Appleby, Cumbria, passed away last month following an illness.

Numerous farming organisations have paid tribute to the keen stocksperson.

The British Limousin Cattle Society said Hannah was a 'young, enthusiastic professional woman in the agricultural industry'.

"She was a bubbly, bright, happy person with a positive competitive streak in cattle showing," the society added.

Hannah will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Our thoughts go out to her fiance, Ben, daughter Millie, her parents and all her family and friends."

The Northern Beltex Club said Hannah's love for sheep and cattle was 'second to none' and her stockmanship skills 'some of the best'.

A life of a young lady taken far too early who frankly could have achieved anything and who has many achievements already under her belt that some could only dream of.

Her smiling face, loud shout, and willingness to help anyone will be missed forever. Our thoughts are with Ben, Millie, Martin, and Val at this very sad time."

Hannah often helped on the North of England Mule Sheep Association (NEMSA) show stand at local and national events.

A NEMSA spokesperson said: Hannah was raised up full of NEMSA. Her mum Val was branch secretary and dad Martin branch chairman.

Hannah from a young age loved the Mule sheep, showing her parents sheep, and grandads, then buying and showing her own with great success.

I like to believe there is such a thing as heaven, so God you have gained one true stock person.
Lalitpur (Nepal), April 07 (ANI): A man-eating tiger that has attacked many people has been transferred from Bardiya National Park to the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel of Lalitpur District in Nepal. The Nepal authorities took the tiger via road to Lalitpur from Bardiyawhich lies at distance of about 400 kilometers from capital Kathmandu. Earlier this week, the tiger attacked and killed a 34 year old mahout working for the Rhinoceros census at the Bardiya National Park. As per the official data, about 10 people already have fell prey to Panthera Tigris in recent years. Government officials said the increased tiger population in Nepal was one of the reasons behind the rise in tiger attacks on humans. Official data showed there were 87 tigers in 2018 in Bardiya National Park, compared to 50 in 2013.
PTI

Amidst lockdown fears triggered by the imposition of night curfew in the national capital Delhi following a surge in COVID-19 cases, several migrant workers were seen leaving Delhi and heading towards their native places. Read more

Here's more top news of the day:

1) Now AstraZeneca Sends Legal Notice To Serum Institute Over Vaccine Delays: Here's What Happened

FIle Photo

British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca which has been going through a rough patch over its COVID-19 vaccine's safety concerns and anger in the EU over failing to fulfil its promise has sent a legal notice to Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) over its delay in shipments. Read more

2) After IIM-Ahmedabad, 88 Students Of IIT-Roorkee Test Positive For COVID: What We Know So Far

IIT-Roorkee

Sonika Shirivastva, a spokesperson of the institute, said all the 88 students have been kept in the Ganga hostel within the IIT premises which has been converted into a special Covid care centre. Read more

3) Karnataka Mothers Who Adopt Newborns Below The Age Of One To Get 180 Days Of Maternity Leave

Representational Image

In a significant move, the Karnataka government has issued an order allowing its employees who adopt children to avail maternity and paternity leaves, as stipulated for biological parents. Read more

4) New Zealand Suspends Travel From India To Combat Surge In COVID Cases: All You Need To Know

BCCL

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced that New Zealand will temporarily suspend the entry for all travellers, including its citizens, from India for about two weeks from April 11 due to a surge in COVID-19 cases among visitors to this country. Read more

5) Doctors Getting Infected With COVID Even After Both Vaccines Is Worrisome, One Even Reinfected

File Photo

In the initial days of the COVID-19 outbreak, early studies had suggested that those who got the infection once were unlikely to be infected again due to the presence of antibodies. Read more
[April 08, 2021] Entwistle & Cappucci LLP Investigative Alert: Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (EBS)

Entwistle & Cappucci LLP ("Entwistle & Cappucci") is investigating potential federal securities law violations on behalf of clients that invested in Emergent BioSolutions Inc. ("Emergent" or the "Company") (NYSE: EBS) based on: (i) the Company's contamination of at least 15 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine; (ii) Emergent's failure to fix known manufacturing quality issues identified by federal regulators and internal audits; (iii) the Company's repeated misstatements concerning its quality control, manufacturing process, compliance with applicable regulations and delivery schedule of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine; and (iv) the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' ("HHS") resulting announcement that it was directing Johnson & Johnson to assume full responsibility for manufacturing its vaccine on a going-forward basis. Emergent is a biopharmaceutical manufacturing company headquartered in Maryland. For years prior to the pandemic, Emergent generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from lucrative contracts with the U.S. government to manufacture anthrax vaccines for the national stockpile. In April 2020, as part of the national COVID-19 vaccine program, Operation Warp Speed, Johnson & Johnson and the federal government contracted with Emergent for the production of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine using hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds. Several months later, on July 27, 2020, Emergent announced the Company had signed an agreement to provide development and manufacturing services for AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine. The contract was valuated at $174 million through 2021. To date, Emergent's Baltimore facility has produced approximately 150 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, but the doses are currently unusable due to long-standing quality control issues identified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"). Reports on April 1, 2021 disclosed several production lots, including up to 15 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, have been discarded due to potential cross-contamination and other FDA compliance issues. Entwistle & Cappucci's investigation to date has revealed: Just two weeks before Emergent executed its contract to produce Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, an inspection by the FDA revealed the Company had "deficient" containment areas for holding rejected manufacturing components to prevent cross-contamination and employees were "not iven training in the particular operations they perform as part of their function and good manufacturing practices;" Emergent has a history of alleged manufacturing problems. For example, in 2019, one of Emergent's partners, Soligenix, Inc., revealed in a securities filing that Emergent supplied it with drugs that were out of specification and participants in a study had already been given doses before Emergent caught the error; FDA inspectors have been critical of Emergent since at least December 2017, when inspectors found uncorrected problems with mold in the Company's Canton, Massachusetts manufacturing facility. In 2018, FDA inspectors found Emergent had a policy of not conducting routine compliance audits at multiple manufacturing facilities; Audits conducted by Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and federal agencies during 2020 revealed significant issues at Emergent's Baltimore facility, including: (i) risks of viral cross-contamination, (ii) inadequate disinfectant equipment, (iii) improper testing of raw materials and (iv) inadequate training of employees. Federal regulators also determined that Emergent failed to properly follow-up on audit findings; and Officials at Operation Warp Speed and HHS received a government report in June 2020 that concluded the Company's vaccine manufacturing plan was inadequate and Emergent's problems hiring and retaining skilled workers meant it could not guarantee success in producing doses.



During Emergent's July 30, 2020 earnings call held to discuss second quarter financial results, the Company's Chief Executive Officer Robert Kramer boasted about the Company's drug manufacturing capabilities and industry expertise, stating the Company's "ability to manufacture on a large scale has positioned us to contribute to the COVID-19 pandemic response like no other organization;" On November 5, 2020, Senior Vice President Syed Husain told investors "we have an extremely successful track record of development and manufacturing abilities;" During the Company's earnings call on February 18, 2021, Kramer stated the Company was "right on schedule to support" Johnson & Johnson's deliverable of 100 million vaccine doses to the U.S. government in the first half of 2021. Kramer also bragged about Emergent's "eight and counting CDMO COVID-19 partnerships" to manufacture COVID-19 drugs and vaccines; and Emergent's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission included materially false and misleading risk factors, such as warning that its products may not be approved "if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements." These warnings were inadequate because Emergent allegedly knew its facilities were not in compliance with regulatory requirements. Following the disclosure that Emergent would be forced to destroy 15 million vaccine doses, the Company's stock price fell $12.45 per share, or 13.4%, to close at $80.46 per share on April 1, 2021, causing approximately $590 million in market capitalization losses.

If you invested in Emergent BioSolutions, or have additional information about the issues discussed herein, please contact attorneys Robert N. Cappucci or Joshua K. Porter at 212-894-7200, or via e-mail at rcappucci@entwistle-law.com or jporter@entwistle-law.com. About Entwistle & Cappucci Entwistle & Cappucci is a national law firm providing exceptional legal representation to clients globally in the most complex and challenging legal matters. Our practice encompasses all areas of litigation, including securities, antitrust, corporate transactions, general corporate and commercial, creditor's rights and bankruptcy, corporate governance and fiduciary duty, government affairs, insurance, investigations and white-collar defense. Our clients include public and private corporations, major hedge funds, public pension funds, governmental entities, leading institutional investors, domestic and foreign financial services companies, emerging business enterprises and individual entrepreneurs. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005728/en/

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Two of the five people who were wounded at the business were hospitalized in critical condition, while three others were in serious but stable condition, according to a hospital statement. During the manhunt for the suspect, he shot and wounded a state trooper, who was hospitalized in serious but stable condition, the Texas Department of Public Safety said on Twitter.
OLMSTED COUNTY, Minn. - National Public Health Week is April 5th-11th, and KIMT News 3 is highlighting some Olmsted County Public Health workers who play important roles in the community.

Public health agencies work year-round every year to keep our communities safe and healthy. But public health is sometimes invisble work, with many hands working behind the scenes. Over the past year during the pandemic, the importance of public health has been brought to light.

"I'm just excited post-pandemic for this new world for public health," says epidemiologist Meaghan Sherden. During the pandemic, a key part of her job is collecting, recording, sharing, and analyzing COVID-19 data. Because of all the planning and training OCPH does for major health threats, she feels the transition into COVID response has been pretty seamless. Sherden is excited the pandemic has created an awareness of just how prevalent public health work is in our communities. She's even been speaking with college students interested in a career in the field because they learned about it over the course of the last year.

While you may recognize public health's role in testing for, vaccinating against, and collecting information on the Coronavirus, emergency preparedness and response is just one facet of the job. Public health has a hand in everything from food insecurity, to walkability in our cities, to environmental hazards, and more. "It will be really interesting to see as we move through this, the more interest, the more understanding, and I think it just benefits our community that people know what public health is and what we're here to help with," says Sherden.

We have all learned how to work differently, interact differently, and go to school differently during the pandemic, just to name some examples. For Olmsted County Public Health workers, some of their job roles have completely changed during the pandemic.

"It was a quick pivot, that's for sure," chuckles Christa Seymour. Pre-pandemic, she worked with area schools as a public health nurse. With less than 24 hours noticed, she learned she'd be trained as a contract tracing investigator. Her team interviews people who have tested positive for the virus, finds out where they've been and who they've been around, and provide any resources they may need for food or housing while they quarantine. Seymour hopes when the pandemic is behind us, people will still recognize that public health is here to keep the community healthy and safe. "To be that face that the students recognize and know. 'I remember my public health nurse, she came in and taught us about whatever it may be... I need help. I want to reach out and connect and see if she can help me with a situation i'm currently in,'" she explains.

Community health specialist Abby Tricker has also shifted to a new role. She's a part OCPH's health promotions team, but has mainly been working on the covid information line during the pandemic. Answering calls and questions was at times stressful early on in the pandemic, because information was changing often. Sometimes callers needed answers, and sometimes they just needed to feel heard by someone. Tricker is proud of the work she and fellow public health employees have done over the last year. "I feel even more proud of the work we're doing throughout this response just knowing that we saved lives and that we're doing is making an impact and it's being recognized," she says.

Collaboration has also been key to successfully responding to COVID-19 in Olmsted County. "One important thing I've learned is that we can't do it on our own," says Tricker. The call line was first run by solely public health employees, but they quickly became overwhelmed.

That's when the Rochester Public Library and other community partners came in, to help take some of the burden off of OCPH. The library has always been involved in the city's emergency operations planning. In 2020, that plan had to go into effect.

"People had questions. Lots of questions. And who can they trust the most to answer those questions? Your local librarian. It gave meaningful work for people to do at home and some of us were medically vulnerable and being able to work frontline really wasnt an option. Instead, we're working frontline on the phones," explains Kimberly Edson. She's head of reader services at the Rochester Public Library, but has been managing the COVID information line during the pandemic. Librarians are skilled at scouring the web and other resources for information, making them a great option to help with the call intake.

Since the call line's inception, library workers have handled roughly 6,500 calls. County workers have managed around 3,100. The call line has helped thousands of individuals get important information.

Though the workers we spoke to hope the next health crisis our community may face is not in the near future, they feel they've learned invaluable lessons over the last year that will help them respond to future emergencies.

As we move closer to a new normal, public health will help with pandemic recovery and addressing issues like mental health and delayed care. Once the threat of COVID-19 is behind us, these workers hope Olmsted County citizens remember public health is a resource to keep them healthy and safe, even when we're not fighting a global pandemic.
After the civil court in on Thursday gave its approval for survey of Kashi Vishwanath temple and Gyanvapi Mosque complex by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Sunni Central Waqf Board has decided to challenge it.

The chairman of Sunni Board Zufar Ahmad Faruqi said that the order of the Civil Judge, Varanasi, ordering a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India would be challenged before the High Court. The order was issued after a petition was filed by a local lawyer VS Rastogi who had demanded that the land entailing the Gyanvapi Mosque be restored to Hindus. The petitioner claimed that Mughal Emperor in 1664 pulled down a portion of the 2000-year-old Kashi Vishwanath temple to build the mosque in its place. The management committee of Gyanvapi mosque had opposed the petition.

Soon after the court verdict, the Sunni Board chairman said that this case is barred by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The Places of Worship Act was upheld by a five judge Constitution Bench of the in the judgment. He said that the status of Gyanvapi Masjid is, as such, beyond question. He however said that, as per legal advice, the order of survey is questionable because technical evidence can only supplement certain foundational facts. No evidence has been produced before the Court that suggests that there was a prior existing temple at the site of the mosque.

Faruqi said that even in the judgment, the ASI excavation was ultimately of no use. The ASI did not find proof that the Babri Masjid was built upon demolition of a temple and the has specifically observed that there was no such evidence. He said that this practice of mosques being investigated by the ASI has to be stopped. 'We will be approaching the High court immediately against this unwarranted order said Faruqi.
Earlier this week LG announced that it will exit the smartphone market by the end of July. At that time the company confirmed that it will provide service support and software updates for customers of existing mobile products for a period of time which will vary by region. Today it has confirmed 3 generations of Android OS updates for its premium models released in 2019 and later and 3 generations of OS updates for other models released in 2020.

According to LG, the companys G series and V series smartphones released in 2019 and later that includes the G8 series, V50, V60 series, and the VELVET and Wing phones will get 3 OS updates, while the 2020 models such as LG Stylo and K series will receive two OS updates. The company added that future updates will depend on Googles distribution schedule as well as other factors such as device performance and compatibility.

Last month the company announced its Android 11 roadmap that revealed that the company will start rolling out the update for its phones starting from this April.

LG once again confirmed that it will continue to manufacture phones through the second quarter to meet contractual obligations to carriers and partners. It assured that customers can still purchase LG mobile phones currently in inventory and service support and security software updates will continue to be provided for a period of time for certain devices.

LG has asked consumers to contact their local LG customer service center for additional details.
SolGold PLC - Australian gold & copper mining company - Makes "good" progress studying potential of Alpala copper-gold porphyry mine in northern Ecuador, while addressing a number of mine development and metallurgical enhancements. Given the size and geometry of the deposit, the company says it is quite optimistic that the pre-feasibility study will demonstrate that it is amenable to underground caving mining methods. This could result in potentially significant cost savings. SolGold says it is also investigating options that could provide further upside to the value of the project.

Current stock price: 27.40 pence, up 9.4% on Thursday

Year-to-date change: down 15%

By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
New Delhi, April 8 : Smartphone brand realme which has 32 million C-series users globally said on Thursday that the new C series devices will transform the entry-level segment with top-of-the-line specifications.

The C series continues to be a strong growth driver for the brand, contributing 28 per cent-30 per cent of realme India's revenues.

Madhav Sheth, Vice President, realme and CEO, realme India and Europe, told IANS that the company is set to disrupt the sub-Rs 10,000 segment again with C20, C21 and C25 smartphones.

"realme C series, our entry-level product line, has always received a strong response from our customers resulting in over 32 million C series users worldwide. realme C11 was the top selling model in the online segment in September 2020 with 5 per cent market share and grabbed the top spot on Flipkart," Sheth said.

In addition to the three new C-series devices, the company aims to launch one-two more smartphones under C series this year.

"realme C20 is the entry-level smartphone killer with a large display and a massive battery. realme C21 is the most versatile and stylish entry-level king with a massive 5000mAh battery with 47 days super-long standby feature," Sheth informed.

realme C25 is offering a large display for better viewing with a fantastic screen to body ratio for an immersive experience.

"Also, this is the first time the highly acclaimed TUV Rheinland Smartphone High-Reliability Certification will come in realme C series with realme C21 and realme C25. This certification will serve as the leading industry standard for major markets around the world," Sheth informed.

The TUV Rheinland smartphone High Reliability Certification process encompasses 23 major tests, including 10 daily use test scenarios, such as drop, wear, and tear; seven extreme environment test scenarios, including super extreme temperature, extreme humidity, voltage fluctuation, button life, static electricity, air pressure; and six component reliability test scenarios.

realme C series was introduced at the end of 2018 with the launch of realme C1. The company has so far launched six models in the entry-level segment.

-IANS na/
According to CNNIC, a national IT think tank, China had more than 989 million Internet users by the end of 2020, accounting for approximately 70% of the country's total population, whereas the figure only stood at 909 million a year ago. The COVID-19 crisis has clearly contributed to an accelerated penetration rate of Internet users in China. The user behavior changes have not only burdened the workload of the network but, at the same time, further inspired the development of the cloud industry.

From cloud to 'edge cloud'

Compared with the global market, China's cloud landscape is primarily led by the Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) segment. Dominated by the public cloud service and IDC service providers, the rising IaaS has developed several verticals to meet the evolving needs: cloud security, content distribution network (CDN), docker, cloud storage and so on. Simultaneously, innovative technologies such as AI and those enabling the Internet of Things (IoT) urged the cloud providers to adapt to the scaling technology deployment; edge computing came into the public sight. As estimated by GSMA, connected devices may reach 24.6 billion by 2025 while the IoT market size may exceed USD 1.1 trillion at the same time.

Standing for a decentralized form of cloud computing, the so-called 'edge' networks can promptly respond to regional service requests. Forecasted by MarketsandMarkets, the edge computing market size is expected to grow from USD 3.6 billion in 2020 to USD 15.7 billion by 2025 (a 34.1% CAGR). Driven by the expansion of IoT applications and increasing network traffic and low-latency processing demands, edge computing is appreciated for strengths like a fast response, higher efficiency and improved security.

Edge computing is at an early development phase, and pioneers in the field are mostly found to be network service providers, along with CDN vendors. CDN is a geographically distributed group of services that provides fast delivery of content. The services aim to provide a smoother Internet experience for users via storing cached contents at the end servers, instantly responding to nearby users' visiting requests. Thanks to their decentralized nature, CDN companies are inherently fitted to explore edge computing practice.

CDN transcends to edge computing and edge cloud in China

In the US, leading CDN players such as Cloudflare and Fastly are in the front of the edge cloud business. CDN's Point of Presence (PoP) and the capability to allow users to define their use of the CDN lay a foundation for the edge cloud business. Fastly has determined to dive into the edge cloud business as an extensive IoT future is foreseeable and edge computing demand will rise with the scaling deployment of IoT.

Echoing the US edge cloud market, the domain in China is also led by public cloud providers as well as CDN players. In China, the CDN market is dominated by major public cloud providers, including Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud, Huawei Cloud and traditional CDN companies ChinaNetCenter and BaishanCloud. Due to the trending of the 'Mobile Internet' and ICT technology upgrades, the CDN business has advanced. While AI, IoT and Industrial Internet started to be adopted in China, the change in business demand prompted the emergence of edge computing and cloud companies, as these began to shape their profiles in the field.

Currently, some take edge cloud as a nice-to-have business while others choose to go all-in with edge cloud. China's public cloud market size has been scaling rapidly and public cloud providers focus on making the 'cake' bigger in order to get a mouthful slice. Although in an early stage of development and not yet the main revenue pillar, the Edge cloud market is increasingly drawing the attention of big public cloud providers and top CDN vendors. It is being treated as an essential and integral part of their cloud strategies.

The public cloud business is based on the concept of centralization. Large IDCs with cabinets and huge computing power are centered and public cloud providers make profits from growing client clusters. They can internally allocate and optimize cloud resources depending on clients' plans or actual use. Edge cloud is not about the size of use but the instant response. Traditional centralized network architecture sacrifices response speed and network latency may reach 800ms or even longer, but edge cloud can reduce latency to as low as 50ms, which is critical for some IoT scenarios like autonomous driving and manufacturing.

A mirror to edge cloud market through BaishanCloud

The difference in business nature and interests yields opportunities for CDN companies in the edge cloud area. Owning more than 600 PoPs worldwide, BaishanCloud is a top 5 CDN vendor in China in terms of business size and technical capabilities. With such a legacy, the company has gradually engineered and matured its edge cloud product matrix since 2017. In response to regional/local cloud service demands, edge cloud services call for similar fundamental functions including cloud security, storage, computing, analytics and other services, which are not necessitated on traditional CDN business but with more agile and loosely coupled architecture compared with the centralized cloud.

Technologies like 5G and IoT sensors accelerate the generating of data  thus data security has been addressed more frequently than ever. As edge cloud is closer to where data is generated, security solutions of edge cloud services are in demand. In 2019, BaishanCloud acquired Shanghai YUNDUN, a top cloud security company in China, to enhance the security product feature in its edge cloud functions.

Meanwhile, the cloud industry has been emphasizing usefulness rather than blindly developing 'white elephant' services  this represents a change in enterprise value: customer first. For BaishanCloud, helping clients benefit from cloud capabilities is the top priority and the cornerstone of the company's long-term cloud strategy. At the same time, the fine line between IaaS and PaaS is diminishing after integrating cloud services into practical solutions and BaishanCloud's edge cloud platform, consolidating many IaaS and PaaS services into one.

IT upgrades and adoption of the cloud create a diversified technological environment  the heterogeneous IT infrastructure is common. The diversity in the IT environment requires cloud vendors to offer compatibility. Therefore, edge cloud providers are also making efforts to guarantee users a smooth experience.

Infrastructure Services, Security Services and Developer Services altogether form the pillar of BaishanCloud's edge cloud platform. The full-stack services and one-stop solutions enable clients to develop their applications at the edge and be capable of integrating edge cloud services into their system and business. Edge infrastructure carries functions including collecting and processing data locally, and the responsibility to transmit data safely to other edges or the central management on demand.

While CDN business remains a strong revenue pillar of the company, BaishanCloud's other infrastructural services are perfecting edge cloud functions. Container-as-a-Service and SD-WAN products are in favor to boost programmability on the client-side, which can help users to tailor the network and environment based on their practice.

BaishanCloud rolled out its initial security services back in 2017, with an emphasis on Advanced Threat Detection services. The company's scaled-up security product suite through acquisition also brought WAF, Anti-DDoS, IAM to its service scope and made edge cloud more reliable for users.

Adding to the Security Services are the Developer Services, an innovative business part of the company and it plays a significant role in empowering enterprise developers with their digital transformation. The Developer Services include [email protected] and Orchsym iPaaS. Given the serverless nature, [email protected] improves the DevOps experience by offering a platform for users to run function code on edge nodes. Orchsym iPaaS allows users to manage API through API integration, API gateway and API orchestration. Developer Services make digital transformation more approachable for enterprises via serverless solutions and API management platforms.

BaishanCloud in real practice

The company's edge cloud solution for one of its clients in the energy sector may be enlightening to illustrate how it can facilitate traditional companies to transform. The client is a state-owned enterprise that has gone through several mergers and acquisitions. The massive group operates nationwide, owning most of the electricity plants in China, which also creates difficulties in central IT management: all the acquired plants had their legacy IT infrastructures and operating systems.

Each plant's operation data was an information silo needing to be processed and integrated. Data integration is critical for the client to grasp the overall picture of the business, so as to make a next-step plan. The client's geographically scattered plants are reachable for BaishanCloud's edge cloud network.

Through full API integration across nationwide plants, the client's data became consolidated and interoperable. Without replacing pre-existing systems, the edge services improved the compatibility within a hybrid IT environment. With BaishanCloud's API-based iPaaS product at the edge, the client is now able to amalgamate data generated by heterogeneous systems into the central system to create business insights.

Similarly, traditional large enterprises with distributive business networks may encounter the same problem when the IT environment becomes more hybrid and complex during the IT upgrading period. Besides, for SMB companies, BaishanCloud's edge cloud is a more feasible option with a better data security guarantee. Since the edge cloud can process requests locally, the data transmit path is much shorter, with less exposure to potential attacks.

BaishanCloud edge cloud platform serves as an enabler for enterprise clients in accelerating their digital transformation. The legacy cloud is a product originating from the Internet business. It inherits a few advantages, which include its centralized nature, scalability and power. Traditional industries are not like the Internet sector and the productivity of brick-and-mortar businesses has long been seeking better approaches to synergize with the cloud power. This use case of BaishanCloud client can demonstrate how edge cloud services can help traditional enterprise businesses in their process of digital transformation.

Data will be everywhere, and the edge service is essential

With different features and capabilities, legacy cloud and edge cloud are rather complementary. The scale and centralization of legacy cloud bring it ultra-strong computing power and the ability to process complex information; the distributive network determines the edge cloud's fast and agile response to instant requests.

With the adoption of 5G and maturing IoT, more data will be generated at the edge and the exponentially growing data will inevitably load up the network. As estimated by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China has already built 718,000 5G base stations, accounting for 70% of the global figure. By the end of 2025, China is projected to deploy over 7.6 million 5G base stations. With improved network accessibility, more data will be generated at the edge and will be transmitted faster.

Although the legacy cloud is capable of processing massive data, the energy consumption and costs generated during the transmission burden users. With edge cloud, time-sensitive data can be processed in time and more related innovations can be inspired. Moreover, edge cloud can free companies from high bandwidth costs when edge services are able to meet their demand within specific application scenarios.

Data security concern risks increased by mobile office demand and expanded corporate networks; thus, a dynamic and accessible control system based on identity trust has become even more crucial. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of cyberattacks saw an increase of 154% and the global losses expanded to nearly USD 1 trillion in 2020. Observed by NETSCOUT, 2020 was also a break-out year for DDoS attacks  May 2020 recorded the largest single number of monthly DDoS attacks, at 929,000. The number will keep rising in the digital shift, but losses can be contained amid the development of the edge cloud. A shorter path and stronger security protection at the edge will be a must. Edge cloud companies are making efforts to protect clients from cyberattacks on the edge network.

Edge cloud services providers must consider thoroughly what clients need in the end-to-end service cycle: computing, security, interoperability, programmability and more. As a full-stack edge cloud service provider, BaishanCloud has positioned itself ahead of the competition in creating edge cloud solutions for different industry clients. The edge cloud market is almost a virgin land in China and the quality layout of its infrastructure services can spur more ideas and greater ambition in real practice.

SOURCE EqualOcean
RED SEA (April 3, 2021) An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter attached to the "Swamp Foxes" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 prepares to land on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in the Red Sea, April 3, 2021. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sawyer Haskins)

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New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (April 8) dismissed media reports quoting Taiwan foreign minister Joseph Wu that Taipei's intervention led to Paraguay getting vaccines from India.

In response to a question, the MEA spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, said, "I would like to confirm that no third party was involved in" New Delhi sending vaccines to the south American country.

India on the 26th of March sent one lakh doses of India-made COVID vaccines to the South American country. This came in the backdrop of a request from Paraguay during a telephonic conversation between its foreign minister and India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. Earlier this year, India announced that it will open its embassy in the country.

Media reports quoting Taiwan's foreign minister said that its intervention and working together with "like-minded countries" led to Paraguay getting vaccines.

Paraguay has ties with Taiwan and doesn't recognize the People's Republic of China. It is the largest country, in terms of size to recognize Taiwan. Taipei, keen to help its ally reached out to New Delhi, the foreign minister indicated.

Live TV
By Colin Packham and Jonathan Barrett

CANBERRA/SYDNEY (Reuters) - said on Thursday it now recommends people under 50 should get Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine in preference to AstraZeneca's shot, a policy shift that it warned would hold up its inoculation campaign.

The move, a day after European regulators reiterated they had found possible links between AstraZeneca's shot and reports of very rare cases of blood clots, is a huge hurdle for Australia's programme, which had relied on that vaccine.

Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly, told reporters the risk of clots was extremely low.

"It's only been found in the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, usually within 4 to 10 days after that vaccine. But it is serious, and it can cause up to a 25% death rate when it occurs," he said.

would advise health providers to only give a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to adults younger than 50 when the benefit clearly outweighs the risks, he added.

Italy and Britain on Wednesday joined other countries in suggesting age limits for AstraZeneca's vaccine. But the European regulators reaffirmed the importance of that shot in protecting people against COVID-19.

Those who have already had a first AstraZeneca dose without any serious adverse events "can safely be given their second dose," Kelly said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the updated advice will delay Australia's inoculation timetable, but it was too soon to say when Canberra would now vaccinate its adult population.

"There will be a recalibration of how the programme will need to be adjusted," Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

has ordered 20 million doses of the vaccine and Morrison said Canberra was in talks to increase the order.

Authorities will continue to give the AstraZeneca vaccine to people over 70. Those over 50 who opt for the vaccine will have to wait, the government said.

Australia - which had planned to use the AstraZeneca vaccine for the vast majority of its near 26 million population - expected to give all adults at least one shot by October.

But its immunisation campaign was already heavily behind schedule.

It had pledged to administer at least 4 million first doses by the end of March, but could only deliver 670,000, with the government blaming the delay on supply issues in Europe.

It had been looking to ramp up the immunisation effort, underpinned by plans to make 50 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia, produced by CSL Ltd.

Australia began vaccinations much later than some other nations because of its few infections, which stand at just under 29,400, with 909 deaths, since the pandemic began.

(Global vaccination tracker: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/vaccination-rollout-and-access)

(Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps)

(Reporting by Colin Packham and Jonathan Barrett; Editing by Michael Perry, Clarence Fernandez and Andrew Heavens)

(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 senior U.S. State Department official has said it is time for Ukraine to tackle corruption and weak institutions, including going after Dmytro Firtash, whose natural-gas holdings have made him one of the country's most notorious, and powerful, oligarchs.

The April 8 comments by George Kent, the deputy U.S. assistant secretary of state who oversees Ukraine, come as President Joe Biden makes Kyiv's progress on reforms a greater priority in the bilateral relationship.

Speaking at a meeting of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council, Kent said graft and a weak judiciary made up an "internal threat" in Ukraine, and he compared it with the external threat Kyiv faced from Russia.

Russia has massed a substantial number of forces on its border with Ukraine, and moved others into the occupied peninsula of Crimea. That has raised alarms among Western observers who fear an escalation of the seven-year conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Kent said that seven years after Ukrainian citizens drove from power the corrupt administration of President Viktor Yanukovych, the judiciary system remained "flawed," while oligarchs continue to call the shots.

"The time has now come...to start making the tough decisions to rein in the influence of oligarchs and the systemic corruption," Kent said.

In his speech, Kent highlighted Firtash, a tycoon who made his initial wealth trading Russian natural gas in the 1990s, as an example of Ukraine's flawed justice system.

Firtash became the official partner of Russian state-controlled gas giant Gazprom in trading firm RosUkrEnergo, the monopoly importer of natural gas to Ukraine during the late 2000s. He made hundreds of millions of dollars during the short lifespan of RosUkrEnergo, which analysts called an unnecessary middleman.

U.S. officials have also alleged thatFirtash has ties to Russian organized crime.

"Everyone knows that he started out as the front for Russian gas interests," Kent said.

In March 2014, U.S. prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging Firtash with corruption in connection with an Indian titanium project that the U.S. aerospace giant Boeing was studying.

U.S. officials have sought Firtash's extradition from Vienna since then. He has denied the charges, saying they are politically motivated.

Ukraine has never charged Firtash with a crime. He continues to make millions of dollars a year in the country's graft-ridden energy industry through his control of gas-distribution companies.

"Why is it that it is the U.S. who indicts and goes after corrupt Ukrainians?" Kent said.

"It's time for the Ukrainian leadership and the justice system -- rather than not making decisions against corrupt oligarchs -- to use Ukrainian institutions to go after corrupt Ukrainians and hold them to account," he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has recently made moves against other powerful business interests, including imposing sanctions on Viktor Medvedchuk, a tycoon close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelenskiy's administration has also gone after former officials at PrivatBank, the lender once owned by tycoon Ihor Kolomoyskiy, who is considered to be one of Zelenskiy's main benefactors.

Kolomoyskiy is under criminal investigation in the United States for money laundering. The Justice Department is seeking to seize three U.S. office buildings he allegedly bought with laundered money.

Kolomoyskiy denies the allegations.

But Firtash, unlike Kolomoyskiy, has so far avoided official pressure from the Zelenskiy government.

Firtash has also had a part to play in the political drama surrounding the final years of President Donald Trump.

According to U.S. court filings, in September 2019, Firtash allegedly wired $1 million to the American wife of a Soviet-born businessman named Lev Parnas. Parnas is a former donor to Trump and an associate of Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer.

According to Parnas, and other legal filings, Firtash allegedly provided key documents that Giuliani used to further a discredited claim that Biden engaged in wrongdoing in Ukraine. That claim was a key point of Trump's losing 2020 election fight against Biden.

Parnas has said that in exchange for Firtash's help in the effort to damage Biden, he told Firtash they would make his U.S. legal troubles disappear.

In his speech, Kent also appeared to back a recent move by Zelenskiy to fire two judges from the country's Constitutional Court.

Zelenskiy's decision sparked concern in the West he was reaching beyond his powers and interfering with the independence of the judiciary.

Kent said the integrity of institutions was just as important, adding that corrupt judges lead to "corrupt independent institutions."

The two judges were believed to be beholden to oligarchic interests and blocking critical reforms necessary to put Ukraine on the path toward European integration, Ukrainian anti-corruption advocates claim.

In response to a question on whether the West was failing to stop the flow of corrupt Ukrainian money into its banking system, Kent said recent Justice Department actions against Kolomoyskiy showed the United States is taking a tougher stand on the issue.

As for the external threat, Kent reiterated the Biden administration's stance that the Russian military buildup near Ukraine "is worrisome." He also commended Kyiv for its "restrained and responsible" response to those actions.
Hess Corporation (NYSE: HES) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell its Little Knife and Murphy Creek acreage interests in the Bakken in North Dakota to Enerplus Corporation for a total consideration of $312 million, effective March 1, 2021.

The sale consists of approximately 78,700 net acres, which are located in the southernmost portion of Hess' Bakken position and not connected to Hess Midstream infrastructure. Net production from this acreage averaged 4,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day net to Hess in the first quarter of 2021.

"The Bakken is a core asset in our company's portfolio," CEO John Hess said. "Sale of the Little Knife and Murphy Creek acreage the majority of which we were not planning to drill before 2026 brings material value forward and further strengthens our cash and liquidity position."

The sale is expected to close in May 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.

Hess Corporation is a leading global independent energy company engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. More information is available at www.hess.com.

Cautionary Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "guidance," "could," "may," "should," "would," "believe," "intend," "project," "plan," "predict," "will," "target" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which are not historical in nature. These forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, the expected timing and completion of the proposed sale and use of proceeds. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our current projections or expectations of future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The following important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements: the ability of our contractual counterparties to satisfy their obligations to us, the ability to satisfy the conditions to the proposed sale; contract and other laws, regulations and governmental actions applicable to our business; and other factors described in the Risk Factor section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and any additional risks described in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As and when made, we believe that our forward-looking statements are reasonable. However, given these risks and uncertainties, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements since such statements speak only as of the date when made and there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will occur and actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement we make. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005483/en/

Contacts:

Investor Contact:

Jay Wilson

(212) 536-8940

jrwilson@hess.com

Media Contact:

Lorrie Hecker

(212) 536-8250

lhecker@hess.com
Jen Shah is at the center of a legal storm as The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City continues to film season 2. The Bravo reality series was hit with one of the major shocks to rattle any franchise. Shah was indicted along with her assistant Stuart Smith for their roles in a long-running telemarketing fraud scheme. Fans have been asking if this drama will be featured on the show and an insider reveals that producers are planning on it.

Jen Shah | Gabe Ginsberg/Bravo

Was Bravo filming RHOSLC when Jen Shah was arrested?

RHOSLC Season 2 has been filming in the state of Utah for the better part of the year. All of the main cast members from the inaugural season will be returning including Lisa Barlow, Mary Cosby, Heather Gay, Meredith Marks, Whitney Rose, and Shah. The housewives were getting ready to go on their cast trip when production was swarmed looking to arrest Shah.

Theyre filming today because the ladies are going to [Colorado] on a cast trip, an insider told Two Judgey Girls, which was verified by Variety. All [of a] sudden, Jen had to leave filming quickly because of an emergency with her husband. [Five] minutes later swat and the feds were there looking for her. They believe she was tipped off but obviously caught up with her just after that.

In a second post from the same blog, the anonymous insider said that federal agents had gone to Shahs home first. However, when they did not find her there, they went looking for her at the location RHOSLC was filming at. As authorities made their way over, Shah was allegedly tipped by her husband they were looking for her.

Jen Shah | Heidi Gutman/Bravo

RELATED: RHOSLC: Jen Shah Maintains Her Innocence After Being Arrested for Fraud, Attorney Says

The film crew filmed [redacted] and two other agents walking up to [the] van, searching the van, and talking to producers, the source claimed. They have a ping in Jens phone so they got a hold of her in the car with her and arrested Jen on [the] side of [the] road.

Will Jen Shahs arrest be featured on RHOSLC Season 2?

As the agents looked through the van where they thought Sha was, Barlow and Rose were in there.

Kate Aurthur from Variety said that cameras were rolling as federal law enforcement swarmed production. However, the source wasnt sure whether law enforcement had forced them to stop filming.

Another source is now saying that production is willing to use any footage they have as long as authorities allow them to use it.

Production sees this as a great storyline, the insider told Us Weekly. One that everyone will want to see unfold.

Jen Shah | Fred Hayes/Bravo

RELATED: RHOSLC: Andy Cohen Finally Breaks Silence on Jen Shahs Arrest for Fraud Scheme

The source also said that Shah still intends on filming with the cast, despite the big problem she is facing with federal authorities.

When it comes to producers, the tipster said that they feel this is ratings gold and that they would use as much footage as they can that theyre legally allowed to use.

Shahs trial is scheduled to start later this year in October, around the same the second season of RHOSLC should be premiering on Bravo.
She gave birth to her first child six weeks ago.

And it's clear that model Elsa Hosk has snapped back into shape.

The 32-year-old showed off her incredible post-pregnancy figure as she posed up a storm Wednesday in a bright green suit.

Stopped traffic: She gave birth to her first child six weeks ago. And Elsa Hosk was back at work Wednesday, posing up a storm on a LA street as she modeled a bright green pantsuit

Hosk recently shared via social media that she has returned to work after welcoming daughter Tuulikki with her partner Tom Daly.

And the in demand beauty certainly stopped traffic as she modeled her tailored ensemble on a Los Angeles street.

Her long blonde hair was styled in long loose curls and she added inches with a pair of white heels.

The Swedish-born star was in full glam makeup and posed with her cell phone on the photo shoot.

Flawless: The 32-year-old was in full glam makeup and her long blonde hair was styled in loose curls. She added inches with white heels and posed with her cell phone on the photo shoot

On set: The Swedish-born star recently shared she was back at work after welcoming daughter Tuulikki with her partner Tom Daly

Mirror selfie: A week ago, the former Victoria's Secret Angel showed off her post-pregnancy body in a tummy-baring gray knit crop top and matching drawstring skirt

Hosk and Daly relocated from New York to a multi-million dollar home in Pasadena, outside of Los Angeles.

They decided to move to Southern California after discovering they were going to be parents and so that the former Victoria's Secret Angel can explore opportunities in Hollywood.

Hosk gave birth in February and has kept her Instagram followers updated on her motherhood journey.

She shared the news of her daughter's arrival with a sweet photo showing her newborn sleeping on Daly's chest.

'Happiest day of my life meeting you. Proudest moment in my life giving birth to you,' she wrote on Instagram.

'Named after two strong women, my mom and my grandma-in-law, you came into this world like super-woman with your fist next to your face. We will love you forever, baby Tuuli'.
San Francisco, April 8 : Micro-blogging platform Twitter reportedly tried to acquire the invite-only audio chat app Clubhouse for nearly $4 billion but the talks failed, the media reported.

According to TechCrunch which "confirmed the discussions took place from a source familiar with the conversations," the talks occurred over the past several months but they're no longer taking place.

Alarmed at the growing popularity of Clubhouse, several tech giants are working on a rival app and Twitter has started testing 'Spaces' on Android.

The Twitter Spaces tool is currently available on iOS Beta with a host of iOS-exclusive features such as voice tweets, which is yet to arrive on Android devices.

In the feature, users can create a 'Space' that their followers can join to participate in a conversation. Anyone on Twitter can listen in on the conversation, though only the host can control who gets to speak.

Clubhouse is currently available on Apple App Store and has been downloaded more than 8 million times. The company is working on an Android version.

Facebook is also working on to build its own social audio app like Clubhouse.

Even Microsoft-owned LinkedIn is working on a similar app for over 740 million members in more than 200 countries.

The leading professional networking platform confirmed the move to TechCrunch, saying that it is working on an audio networking feature.

"We're doing some early tests to create a unique audio experience connected to your professional identity," LinkedIn had said in a statement.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-09 05:37:15|Editor: huaxia

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RABAT, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita on Thursday discussed during a teleconference meeting with French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian the bilateral ties and regional issues.

The two officials lauded the excellent relations between Rabat and Paris, and their will to consolidate this exceptional partnership, the official news agency MAP reported.

Le Drian praised the France-Morocco security cooperation, especially in the fight against terrorism, the report said.

He welcomed the recent political advances in Libya and reiterated his country's support for the political process leading to the general elections on Dec. 24.

Le Drian reaffirmed Morocco's strategic role as a partner of the European Union.

The two sides also reiterated their willingness to continue consultation and coordinate their actions within multilateral and international bodies, the report said. Enditem
CHICO, Calif. - Doctors recently found the first U.S. case of the new "double mutant" COVID-19 variant in a patient in San Fransisco. The double variant has both the California and South Africa strains combined.

Dr. Troy Cline a virologist who is a professor at Chico State said we could see this variant in Chico.

"I know Butte County is doing genome survey links," Cline said. "So virus isolates are being collected from patients. They are doing full genome surveillance on some isolates that are collected from patients. They are able to determine and will be able to determine which variants are showing up in Chico. "

Cline said this variant is so new they're still working to figure out if it's more contagious or causes a more severe case of COVID-19. They're working to see if and how the two different mutations will interact when they are put in the same virus.

SIGN UP: Receive email updates on the Coronavirus pandemic

Scientists believe the California variant increases the virus's ability to bind human cells, making it more infectious.

The South Africa variant might be harder for antibodies to detect and destroy, but health experts said the COVID-19 vaccines are still effective against these emerging variants.

"The most sure way of heading off an additional surge of COVID-19 cases and heading off and preventing the emergence, or further emergence of other virus variants is for everyone to get vaccinated when it is their turn," Cline said.

"You know it is unfortunate that things like this happen but we can't be afraid, and we can't live in fear because if we live in fear it causes stress on our bodies, it breaks down our immune systems and we become a prisoner in our own minds," said Chico resident, Chantelle Hall.

Cline said California could see another shutdown as more variants emerge. Besides getting vaccinated, Cline said people need to continue wearing their masks and practice social distancing.

Older adults and people with chronic health conditions are more vulnerable to this double mutation variant.
HOLYOKE  The Holyoke City Council will hold a special meeting Monday at 6 p.m. to appoint a new acting mayor.

City Council President Todd McGee took over as acting mayor March 26, but said he could only perform the task for a few weeks. He succeeded Mayor Alex B. Morse, who resigned to become town manager in Provincetown at $185,000 annually.

On Wednesday, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a home rule petition that permits the City Council to appoint any councilor as acting mayor. The petition also eliminates the need for a special mayoral election and runoff estimated, at $75,000 to $100,000.

State Rep. Patricia Duffy, D-Holyoke, who hand-delivered the petition to the Legislature, praised the efforts of acting City Solicitor Crystal Barnes, House and Senate leadership, and the governor for expediting the process.

We as a city have an important transition coming up, and the elimination of a special election and the ability to appoint an Acting Mayor who can focus on that job in the coming months will be crucial while the candidates for our next mayor run their campaigns and we as Holyokers consider who best will serve us in the years to come, Duffy stated.

Councilor at Large Peter Tallman and Ward 2 Councilor Terence Murphy are openly pursuing the acting mayors job. As of Thursday, McGee said no other councilor had stepped forward to express interest.

Candidates need a simple majority, or 7-6 vote, to win the acting mayor spot. McGee expects the appointee would be sworn in the Tuesday morning. McGee will remain as City Council president.

The home rule petition also allows the winner of the November mayoral race to enter office immediately, with a second ceremony conducted during the traditional January inauguration at City Hall. City Councilors Rebecca Lisi and James Sullivan and School Committee member Devin Sheehan have announced bids for mayor in the November election.

McGee said Duffy and state Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, kept him apprised of the home rule petitions progress in the Legislature and governors office.

The cities of Boston and Lawrence had similar home rule petitions approved before Holyokes submittal.

It helped us in the process because we were following what other communities were doing in a similar situation, McGee said. They (Boston and Lawrence) had set the groundwork for us.

House counsel recommended minor changes to Holyokes petition, which the City Council agreed with and approved March 30.

Everyone working together was able to make this possible, McGee said.

Related content:
Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has commiserated with the family of the 10-year-old boy who was murdered at Kasoa in the Central Region.



Two teenagers named Felix Nyarko, 16, and Nicholas Kini, 17, allegedly murdered Ishmael Mensah, a Class Four pupil of the Maranatha School.



According to sources, the teenagers lured Ishmael Mensah to an uncompleted building and struck him with a rod and brick, killing and burying him to later exhume the mortal remains for ritual money purposes.



Following the gruesome murder, the teenagers were reported to the Police who arrested and prosecuted them.



They were arraigned before the Ofankor District Court on Tuesday and remanded into police custody.



Kwamena Duncan expressed his grief over the murder of the young boy.



"It's not easy. The experience that women have to go through to be delivered of a child is painful," he said on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo'.



"I extend my condolences to the mother and family of the deceased," he stressed.





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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People read a recruitment notice in front of a company in Vietnam-Singapore industrial park in Binh Duong Province, March 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tuyet.

Despite offering high salaries and attractive benefits, many firms in HCMC and nearby industrial hubs like Binh Duong and Dong Nai are finding it hard to recruit new employees.

Needing to expand its production, Taiwanese-invested Virtue King Vietnam Company, which produces backpacks and other bags at the Song Than Industrial Park in Binh Duong Province, has been looking to hire 2,000 employees since late last year.

The company offers a minimum monthly salary of VND5 million ($215.98), plus a VND1 million allowance. High performance will be rewarded with an additional VND5 million each month.

Despite this recruitment policy, considered attractive among businesses in the area, the company has so far only recruited over 600 people.

South Korean textile firm Taekwang Vina in Dong Nai, home to 35,000 workers, is also looking for 2,000 people to work on four additional production chains this year.

The company offers a minimum monthly salary of VND7 million ($304) and bonus and welfare policies but it has not yet recruited enough workers.

According to official data, over 600 companies in Binh Duong, a major industrial hub in southern Vietnam, need to recruit about 100,000 workers in the first quarter. In HCMC, the estimated need is for 300,000 workers this year while neighboring Dong Nai Province wants to hire around 40,000 employees.

However, very few businesses in these localities are able to recruit enough people as planned despite hosting a bunch of industrial parks.

Explaining the recruiting difficulty, Nguyen Thanh Can, chairman of the labor union of Virtue King Vietnam Co., Ltd., said several localities have built industrial parks in their own neighborhood, giving priority given to locals.

Recently, more than 300 workers of the company returned to their hometown for the Tet break but did not return. Some chose to stay put in their hometown and apply for jobs in factories near their home even though the salary would be not as high as in major industrial hubs; while others shifted to farming work, tired of paying high house rents while not having stable jobs.

Several localities have boosted investments in industrial parks and related infrastructure in order to prepare for new foreign investors looking to shift their operation to Vietnam.

Le Tran Thanh Hai, a senior official of a major garment firm in HCMC, said with the latest Covid-19 outbreak under control and increasing orders, many companies are in dire need of new employees.

However, the pandemic has also seen workers lose their jobs and other means of livelihood. Many have returned to their hometown to find new jobs. Now, they are fearful of returning to major industrial parks because of possible outbreaks.

Ngo Duy Hieu, vice chairman of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, said that in order to attract workers, businesses need to continue to boost working conditions, adjust wage policies and improve workers welfare.

The unprecedented impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic saw an estimated 32.1 million Vietnamese workers aged 15 or above either lose their jobs or have their working hours reduced in 2020. The average monthly income last year was just VND5.5 million ($236.52), down 2.3 percent over the previous year.
James Reyerson, senior special agent with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, answers questions during the eighth day of the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 7, 2021. (Pool via Reuters)

Agent Tells Chauvin Trial That He Heard George Floyd Say I Ate Too Many Drugs, Then Changes Answer

A law enforcement agent told the court during the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on Wednesday that he heard George Floyd, the man who died after being in police custody, say he ate too many drugs.

James Reyerson, a senior special agent with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, was being questioned by the lawyer representing Chauvin, who is on trial for second-degree murder and other charges in Floyds May 25, 2020, death.

Did it appear that Mr. Floyd said, I ate too many drugs?' Eric Nelson, the lawyer, inquired.

Yes, it did, Reyerson said.

But the agent later changed his mind under cross-examination.

A prosecutor played a longer clip and asked Reyerson if he wanted to give a different answer due to having heard the utterance in context.

I believe Mr. Floyd was saying, I aint do no drugs, Reyerson responded.

In this courtroom sketch, LAPD Sgt. Jody Stiger is cross examined by defense attorney Eric Nelson as Judge Peter Cahill and Derek Chauvin listen on the eighth day of the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 7, 2021. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)

In this image taken from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson questions witness Los Angeles police department Sergeant Jody Stiger, as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides in the trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 7, 2021. (Court TV via AP/Pool)

Nelson also presented video of when Floyd uttered a phrase he said seemed to be an acknowledgement of eating drugs to another person on the stand, Jody Stiger, who was paid to testify as a use of force expert for the prosecution.

Does it sound to you like he says, I ate too many drugs?' Nelson asked.

I cant make that out, answered Stiger, who is a sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Stiger also said that Chauvin would have been able to use a Taser when Floyd resisted being placed in the back of a patrol car.

Stiger described Floyd as actively resisting the attempts to place him in the car. Nelson then wondered whether, at that point, according to a Minneapolis Police Department model of when use of force is deemed necessary, whether Chauvin, theoretically, based on what he sawactive resistancehe could have come up and dry stunned him or tased him.

That would be within the active resistance struggling use of force continuum? Nelson asked. Yes, Stiger said.

The expert had told a prosecutor earlier in the day that based on his analysis, Floyd was not actively resisting at the time he was in the prone position on the ground. Floyd was placed on the ground after officers failed to force him to get into the police car.

My opinion was that no force should have been used once he was in that position, he said.

The trial, in its eighth day, is scheduled to continue on Thursday.
Asianet News Network CEO and board member Abhinav Khare has resigned after four years from the organization. According to the sources, Khare has resigned but the board hasnt formally accepted his resignation. He is planning to start his own AI venture and is exploring for the same.

Khare joined Asianet News Network in 2017 as the CEO, and led a team of 2000 tech, media, and internet professionals at the digital news platform with 75M MAUs and 1.4B Monthly PVs backed by the market-leading broadcast news channels, print, and radio. He also manages various media brands like Suvarna News, Kannada Prabha, Radio Indigo, and others.

The groups revenue from last three years has jumped to Rs 313 crores, EBIDTA from - Rs2.4 crores to + Rs75 crores under his leadership. The traffic on the platform increased from 3 million MAUs to 75million MAUs. Khare is a tech entrepreneur with a passion for Product Design, Interaction Design, Information Architecture, Mobile UI & HCI, UX & Technology. His areas of interest includes the intersection of Revenue Scaleup, P&L, Cashflows, Investment, Engineering, Design, Analytics, Cognitive Psychology, and Usability.
The trial of Derek Chauvin grinds on. Currently, the prosecution is still putting on its case, but it may want to stop doing so before the court is forced to dismiss the case altogether. As Andrew Branca, at Legal Insurrection, explained after the eighth day of the trial, "once again, the defense weaponizes prosecution 'expert' witness against the prosecution case." But if you want the full flavor of the madness in Minneapolis, you must read Ann Coulter's case summary.

A brief rundown here to orient you: George Floyd, a convicted violent felon, passed a fake $20 bill. When the police arrived, Floyd was clearly under the influence and complaining that he couldn't breathe. The police tried to get him into the back of their car, at which point he went wild.

Concluding that Floyd was suffering from excited delirium (i.e., a probable drug overdose), Derek Chauvin restrained Floyd in textbook fashion, by placing him on his stomach with Chauvin's knee across Floyd's shoulder. The police also called 911 for a paramedic. While all this was going on, a crowd gathered, filming what was happening and hurling angry, threatening imprecations at the police. Then Floyd died.

You know the rest: America caught on fire; Black Lives Matter got in the driver's seat of the American political, social, and economic establishment; every white person who wasn't bowing to the mob became a racist; Trump was driven from office; and we now have an administration dedicated to "equity," which means enshrining racism into federal law and regulations, something that's highly unconstitutional, but our quisling Supreme Court probably won't care.

Meanwhile, the coroner's report established that Floyd died not from suffocation, but from a massive fentanyl overdose (on top of the other drugs in his system). Nevertheless, the BLM mob wanted blood. That's how Chauvin ended up being tried for murdering a man who died from an overdose.

Finally, to spice things up, right before the trial began, Minneapolis handed $27 million over to Floyd's family. As Shakespeare said, "nothing in his life became him like the leaving it." Alive, Floyd was worth little; dead, his family is now one of the richest in America, and Minneapolis has less money to keep its crime-ridden city safe.

But about that trial. The trial is a show trial, and if the jurors wish to live, the mob has already told them they'd better find Chauvin guilty. The problem is that the prosecution's witnesses are destroying the case. And no one tells that tale better than Ann Coulter, the master of sardonic snark:

Apparently, no one is watching the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer on trial for the murder of George Floyd. Otherwise, the media couldn't get away with their spectacular lying to the public about how the prosecution is killing it. It's quite the opposite. In fact, in less than a week, the prosecution's theory of the crime has subtly shifted from MURDER! to "failed to provide what we would say, in retrospect, would be a full and complete duty of care during the one- to three-minute interval between Floyd's resisting the police to his dying, as a hostile crowd screamed obscenities at the police officers." The defense hasn't even begun to make its case, but the prosecution's witnesses keep helping Chauvin. (The only exception to the wild media lying is Headline News, where the lawyer commentators go the extra mile by watching the trial.) Week One was chock-a-block with weeping bystanders wailing about how they felt watching Chauvin restrain Floyd. This would be tremendous evidence if the charge against Officer Chauvin were "first-degree upsetting bystanders." But that's not the charge. That's not even a crime.

You can read the rest here because Coulter's description of events only gets better. Just wait until you get to her take on Genevieve Hansen, a paramedic and witness. I was laughing out loud as I read it.

Image: Genevieve Hansen. YouTube screen grab.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Xi stresses modernizing agriculture and countryside, boosting rural vitalization

Xinhua) 09:33, April 08, 2021

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged carrying forward the momentum of poverty elimination to accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, and promote the rural vitalization in an all-round way.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Erin Molan has broken her silence after her politician father revealed he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.

Jim Molan, the Liberal Senator for NSW and former Army major general, announced on Monday he would be stepping back from work following the shocking diagnosis last week.

'Whilst this news has come as a shock, I have many reasons to be positive,' he said in a statement.

'I am receiving the best possible care from my clinicians and have the love, support and prayers of my family.'

On Thursday, Molan shared a message on behalf of her mother Anne, sisters Sarah and Felicity and brother Mick.

Jim Molan, the Liberal Senator for NSW and former Army major general, announced on Monday he would be stepping back from work following the shocking diagnosis last week. Pictured with Erin

Jim Molan (left), the politician father of TV and radio personality Erin Molan (right) has been diagnosed with an 'aggressive' form of cancer

On Thursday, Molan shared a message on behalf of her mother Anne, sisters Sarah and Felicity and brother Mick

'We wish to express heartfelt thanks for the thousands of messages conveying good wishes, thoughts and prayers we have received in the past few days,' the television and radio presenter wrote on Instagram.

'Along with Jim, we have been particularly heartened and inspired by those who have shared their own person cancer experiences with us.

Pictured: Jim Molan

'We thank every single person who has reach out. We are overwhelmingly grateful for your kindness.'

Mr Molan will begin treatment as soon as possible, vowing to fight the disease.

'I have never been afraid to fight the battles that need fighting and this is no exception,' he said.

Mr Molan also shared the message to his Instagram account.

The 70-year-old will undergo further testing this week to determine the exact prognosis and best treatment plan.

Mr Molan first entered politics in 2016 after a successful 16-year military career.

Following his retirement in 2008, he released a biography titled Running the War in Iraq, which detailed his experience as Chief of Operations in Iraq between 2004 and 2005.

Despite announcing he would step back from politics to focus on his physical health, Mr Molan said his office would remain committed to 'working on the issues that matter' alongside the Morrison government.

Jim Molan, the Liberal Senator for NSW and former Army major general, announced on Monday he would be stepping back from work following the shocking diagnosis last week

'I am receiving the best possible care from my clinicians and have the love, support and prayers of my family,' Mr Molan said in a statement

Mr Molan first entered politics in 2016 after a successful 16-year military career

Molan previously discussed the pair's close relationship during an interview with Stellar Magazine in 2020, crediting her tough-as-nails father for helping her through her first years as a television journalist, when she claims she was mercilessly trolled.

After an onslaught of particularly nasty trolls attacked her on Twitter, she called her dad, hoping for a pep talk.

What she received instead was far more important.

'I remember him saying, ''Have you been shot at by the infidel in Iraq? No, so toughen the f*ck up. Who cares?'',' she recalled.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- A Klamath Falls man is now in jail after multiple reports filed with police.

According to the Klamath Falls Police Department, officers were called to High Lakes apartments on Shasta Way in Klamath Falls at 10:58 P.M. on April 4th. A woman reported that her ex-boyfriend tied her up, beat her and forced her outside of her apartment. She identified her ex-boyfriend as 25-year-old Zachary Brennan. She told officers Brennan had a gun and had driven away before they responded.

Police searched the area for Brennan but did not find him.

Two days later, on April 6th, police were again called to the High Lakes apartments, the same woman reported that Brennan fired several rounds into her apartment. The two people inside were not hurt.

Police later found Brennan's car left empty in a nearby alley. Officers continued to search for Brennan that evening but were unable to find him.

The next day, April 7th, police set up surveillance in areas Brennan was known to go. Just before 3:00 P.M. police saw Brennan get into a car in the 2500 block of Applegate Ave. The car was driven away and Klamath Falls Police Department and Oregon State Police conducted a traffic stop.

Brennan was taken into custody without further incident. He is now facing 12 charges, including two counts of Attempted Murder, Strangulation, multiple counts of Assault and Felon in Possession of a Weapon.
She's no stranger to showcasing her incredible physique on social media.

And Gabby Allen was at it again on Thursday as she posed in a tiny white dress during her sun-soaked Maldives getaway.

The Love Island star, 28, flaunted her toned frame in the skimpy number as she posed on the decking of her villa while the sun set.

Wow! Gabby Allen showed off her incredible figure in a backless white dress as she continued her sun-soaked Maldives getaway on Thursday

The reality star showed off her impressive holiday tan after months of living in Dubai with her beau Brandon Myers.

She completed her vacation look with some statement orange dangly earrings as she fixed the camera with a sultry stare.

The fitness fanatic wore her blonde tresses in a sleek cropped do and opted for a natural makeup look to show off her pretty features.

Holiday: The Love Island star, 28, flaunted her toned frame in the skimpy number as she posed on the decking of her villa as the sun set

Radiant: The reality star showed off her impressive holiday tan after months of living in Dubai with her beau Brandon Myers

Gabby also took to her Instagram story to show off more pictures of her in the dress as she revealed she was nervous to post them because she was worried people would say 'mean things' about her looking 'hench'.

She wrote: 'Bit of honesty for you. Couldn't believe my back on these pics.. I didn't like them at first, I feel like I look a bit hench. I was worried about people judging me and saying mean things.

'I slept on them and came back to them and I'm trying to convince my eyes to see the work of someone who trains hard!'

Honest: Gabby also took to her Instagram story to show off more pictures of her in the dress as she revealed she was nervous to post them because she was worried people would say 'mean things' about her looking 'hench'

On Wednesday Gabby demonstrated her impressive flexibility as she did the splits in mid-air before falling into the turquoise sea at her holiday villa.

Gabby oozed confidence as she stood in her flesh-flashing two-piece while preparing to dive into the sea.

The fitness fanatic stretched her arms into the air before smoothly diving into the water.

Flying high: On Wednesday Gabby demonstrated her impressive flexibility as she did the splits in mid-air before falling into the turquoise sea at her holiday villa

Vacation: She displayed her peachy posterior and toned figure in a red thong bikini as she soaked up the sun

She displayed her peachy posterior and toned figure in a red thong bikini as she soaked up the sun.

Captioning her post, she penned: 'Wake up early. Drink coffee. Work hard. Be ambitious. Keep your priorities straight, your mind right and your head up. Do well, live well and dress really well. Do what you love, love what you do. 

'P.S. couldnt believe I could still do this tbh! #stillgotit landing needs work though.'

Gabby has swapped her base of Dubai for the Maldives this week and last month turned up the heat as she displayed her incredible physique in sizzling swimwear while relaxing on the beach in the influencer hot spot.

Flaunt: The fitness fanatic stretched her arms into the air before smoothly diving into the water

The star, who moved to Dubai last year, showcased her toned stomach and sun-kissed glow in a minuscule pastel two-piece, adorned with silver studs.

Her blonde tresses were tucked back and she appeared to go make-up free, but Gabby made sure to add a touch of glamour with delicate gold jewellery.

She shielded her eyes from the scorching sun with oversized shades from Fendi as she captioned her sultry Instagram upload: 'Do you think I could get any shinier jeez haha.' (sic).

The reality star and her boyfriend Brandon Myers appeared to be making the most of their sun-soaked lifestyle the previous week as they enjoyed an afternoon on the beach once more.

Gabby wowed as she showcased her gym-honed physique in a skimpy white bikini while chilling with her model beau, 24.

The reality personality lounged on a sun bed as she soaked up the rays, wearing a tiny two-piece, which featured a top with knot detailing and matching bottoms.

Gabby wore her blonde locks slick back off her pretty features, which appeared to be make-up free as she showed off her natural beauty.

The Celebrity Big Brother alum accessorised her poolside look with a delicate gold bracelet and chain, which she wore around her neck.
I used to believe that the remedy for bad speech is more speech. Now that seems archaic. Just as the founders never envisioned how the right of a well-regulated militia to own slow-loading muskets could apply to mass murderers with bullet-spewing military-style semiautomatic rifles, they could not have foreseen speech so twisted to malevolent intent as it is now.

Cyber-libertarianism, the ethos of the internet with roots in 18th century debate about the free market of ideas, has failed us miserably. Well after the pandemic is over, the infodemic will rage on  so long as it pays to lie, distort and misinform.

Just recently, we saw the malignancies of our premier freedoms on display in the mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado. At the center of the horror was a deeply disturbed man with a gun created for war, with the capacity to kill large numbers of humans, quickly. Within hours of the slaughter at the supermarket, a Facebook account with about 60,000 followers wrote that the shooting was fake  a so-called false flag, meant to cast blame on the wrong person.

So it goes. Toxic misinformation, like AR-15 style weapons in the hands of men bent on murder, is just something were supposed to live with in a free society. But there are three things we could do now to clean up the river of falsities poisoning our democracy.

First, teach your parents well. Facebook users over 65 are far more likely to post articles from fake news sites than people under 30, according to multiple studies.

Certainly, the I dont know it for a fact, I just know its true sentiment, as the Bill Maher segment has it, is not limited to seniors. But too many older people lack the skills to detect a viral falsity.

Thats where the kids come in. March 18 was MisinfoDay in many Washington state high schools. On that day, students were taught how to spot a lie  training they could share with their parents and grandparents.

Media literacy classes have been around for a while. No one should graduate from high school without being equipped with the tools to recognize bogus information. Its like elementary civics. By extension, we should encourage the informed young to pass this on to their misinformed elders.

Second: Sue. What finally made the misinformation merchants on television and the web close the spigot on the big lie about the election were lawsuits seeking billions. Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, two election technology companies, sued Fox News and others, claiming defamation.

Lies have consequences, Dominions lawyers wrote in their complaint. Fox sold a false story of election fraud in order to serve its own commercial purposes, severely injuring Dominion in the process.

In response to the Smartmatic suit, Fox said, This lawsuit strikes at the heart of the news medias First Amendment mission to inform on matters of public concern. No, it doesnt. There is no mission to misinform.

The fraudsters didnt even pretend they werent peddling lies. Sidney Powell, the attorney who was one of the loudest promoters of the falsehood that Donald Trump won the election, was named in a Dominion lawsuit. No reasonable person would conclude that the statements were truly statements of fact, her attorneys wrote, absurdly, of her deception.

Tell that to the majority of Republican voters who said they believed the election was stolen. They didnt see the wink when Powell went on Fox and Newsmax to claim a massive voter fraud scheme.

Dominion should sue Trump, the man at the top of the falsity food chain. The ex-president has shown he will repeat a lie over and over until it hurts him financially. Thats how the system works. And the bar for a successful libel suit, it should be noted, is very high.

Finally, we need to disincentivize social media giants from spreading misinformation. This means striking at the algorithms that drive traffic  the lines of code that push people down rabbit holes of unreality.

The Capitol Hill riot on Jan. 6 might not have happened without the platforms that spread false information while fattening the fortunes of social media giants.

The last few years have proven that the more outrageous and extremist content social media platforms promote, the more engagement and advertising dollars they rake in, said Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., chairman of the House committee that recently questioned Big Tech executives.

Taking away their legal shield  Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act  is the strongest threat out there. Sure, removing social medias immunity from the untruthful things said on their platforms could mean the end of the internet as we know it. True. But thats not necessarily a bad thing.

So far, the threat has been mostly idle  all talk. At the least, lawmakers could more effectively use this leverage to force social media giants to redo their recommendation algorithms, making bogus information less likely to spread. When YouTube took such a step, promotion of conspiracy theories decreased significantly, according to researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, who published their findings in March 2020.

Republicans may resist most of the above. Lies help them stay in power, and a misinformed public is good for their legislative agenda. Theyre currently pushing a wave of voter suppression laws to fix a problem that doesnt exist.

I still believe the truth may set us free. But it has little chance of surviving amid the babble of orchestrated mendacity.

TIMOTHY EGAN is a columnist for The New York Times
Former Burmese Ambassador to the UK Kyaw Zwar Minn listens to a statement being read on his behalf as he stands outside the Burmese Embassy in London on April 8, 2021. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Burmese Ambassador in UK Locked Out of Embassy

Burmese ambassador to the UK Kyaw Zwar Minn was locked out of the Burmese Embassy on Wednesday.

Burma, also known as Myanmar, has been controlled by the military since a coup on Feb. 1, when civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was detained in an early morning raid.

The ambassador has broken ranks with the ruling junta in recent weeks, calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

He reportedly spent Wednesday night in his car outside the embassy after being denied entry.

A spokesperson for Kyaw Zwar Minn said on Thursday morning that the ambassador had been recalled.

Due to his announcement in March, the ambassador has been recalled by the Myanmar military regime, the spokesperson said outside the embassy.

Since then, he stopped following instructions from the Myanmar foreign ministry, and he has been meeting with many diplomatic counterparts and the Myanmar community to discuss the current situation in Myanmar, hoping to find a peaceful solution, he said.

Due to his stance, the Myanmar Embassy in London has been seized by the military attache yesterday evening. The ambassador has been locked out since then. There was a coup in Myanmar in February, now a similar situation in central London, he added.

We believe the UK government would not back those who are working for the military junta and we also would like to urge the UK government to send them back.

British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab condemned the actions of the Burmese military.

We condemn the bullying actions of the Myanmar military regime in London yesterday, and I pay tribute to Kyaw Zwar Minn for his courage, Raab wrote on Twitter.

The UK continues to call for an end to the coup and the appalling violence, and a swift restoration of democracy, he added.

According to Burmas state-run MRTV, the military had recalled Kyaw Zwar Minn because he did not conduct himself in accordance with given responsibilities.

The BBC said that although Raab condemned the bullying actions, the UK has accepted the change.

AFP also cited an anonymous source saying that the Burmese military has given official notice to terminate Kyaw Zwar Minns tenure, and that the UK government would have no choice but to accept it.

The Epoch Times hasnt been able to independently verify this information.

In an email to The Epoch Times, a spokesperson for the British Foreign Office said: We condemn the way the Myanmar military in London barred their Ambassador from entering the Embassy yesterday evening.

We pay tribute to the courage of Kyaw Zwar Minn in standing up for the people of Myanmar. Given the bullying behaviour towards Mr. Minn, we are seeking to ensure he can live safely in the United Kingdom, while he decides his long-term future.

We continue to call for an end to the coup in Myanmar and a swift restoration of democracy.

Reuters contributed to this report.

This article has been updated with the response from the UKs Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
How a former street kid who lived a miserable life overcame it all  and is delivering true hope to at-risk kids

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Foster care advocate Peter Mutabazi was born and raised in Uganda in some truly unimaginable circumstances. He faced intense poverty, abuse and hopelessness, but decades later he is helping transform at-risk kids lives and perspectives.

LISTEN: HEAR THE JESUS IS ALL WE NEED PODCAST

I didnt really have a good childhood  most kids who were born would die before the age of 2, Mutabazi told Jesus Is All We Need podcast host Jason Sautel of his upbringing in Uganda. I was not given a name until I was 2.

Food was scarce and Mutabazis family could never afford to eat two meals a day, consuming either beans or potatoes  but never both. They also had to trek hours to secure clean water.

Life was miserable in every shape or form, he said. No one ever told me to dream  or even hope.

Listen to Mutabazi share his overcomer story:

In addition to intense poverty and a dearth of resources, Mutabazi also had an abusive father who drove him to run away at age 10. Living on the streets for four years only worsened Mutabazis circumstances.

At home, I was told I would never amount to anything, he said. On the streets, I was treated like a stray animal.

But when a kind man started feeding Mutabazi and speaking words of affirmation to him, his perspective  and life  began to change. He recalled how he suddenly started saying to himself, Wow, Im not alone, wow, Im a gift  wow, Im chosen.

Those positive words and the help from that man catapulted Mutabazi into a new life. He ended up going to a boarding school before later moving to America and finding success.

Mutabazi never forgot what he went through and has worked diligently over the years to help other kids find hope and inspiration amid challenging life circumstances.

He eventually decided to become a foster dad  a move he felt compelled to make after pondering the past assistance he was given as a child.

I had one extra bedroom. I wanted it to be a source of a blessing for a kid, Mutabazi said, explaining his journey into fostering and adoption. I could not sleep knowing there was a kid in the neighbood who didnt have a place to go.

Mutabazi has fostered 14 children and has an adopted son; he continues to speak affirming words into the lives of kids who  like he once was  are lost, confused and in need of love.

He also founded Now I Am Known, an organization that delivers stuffed animals to at-risk kids around the country, offering them inspiration and a reminder: that they matter.

Mutabazi lives out his belief that telling kids you belong, youre chosen, youre not a mistake will have a profound, life-altering impact.

That will take them miles and miles ahead, Mutabazi said. I was a street kid, but [God] made me known  and thats what Im doing for kids in foster care. You are not alone, you are special, you are seen.

Want more uplifting stories like this? Listen to The Edifi Podcast Network today.
TANZANIA may reap more benefits from economic diplomacy following new directives by the President Samia Suluhu Hassan to the Ministry of Foreign and East African Cooperation, according to diplomatic analysts.

President Samia, on Tuesday, directed her new appointees in the ministry to strengthen international relations, saying Tanzania needs to keep good connection with other nations across the world. She said that was a reason behind appointing a veteran diplomat Amb Liberata Mulamula to head the ministry, saying the long serving diplomat is competent and comfortable in the area.

In telephone interviews yesterday, commentators on diplomatic issues argued thimproving international relations was crucial if the country wants to prosper in its economic diplomacy agenda. Amb Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar said even before her directive to the ministry's new heads, President Samia had already sent the message to the world about her policy direction on foreign affairs and regional cooperation by appointing Ambassador Mulamula, a seasoned diplomat who is well known regionally and internationally.

Amb Maajar explained that economic diplomacy is Tanzania's long-established foreign policy which requires diplomatic engagement with states and nonstate actors.

"Economic diplomacy calls for friendly engagement with all players and it must be complemented by the local economic policy where the private sector is allowed to thrive. Economic diplomacy and domestic economy policy go hand in hand complementing each other," she argued.

She added: "There is no door in the region that Amb Mulamula cannot open because of her work as Executive Secretary of the Great Lakes Organisation, and globally she is well known." Dr Kitojo Wetengere, who spent years teaching diplomacy, supported President's directive because the economic diplomacy agenda which Tanzania now insists on, requires good relations with other nations.

"This is due to the fact that economic diplomacy is all about trade, investments and technology-which needs as many friends as possible in order to achieve," Dr Wetengere argued.

He pointed out that in order to succeed in economic diplomacy; a country should have good relations with any nation without regarding ideology.

"The sea is big because it accepts any river, so for Tanzania to become big it should also accept any nation," Dr Wetengere emphasized. However, he said, of recent years Tanzania was rising up to become economically strong, something which unpleased other nations that considered it as market for their industrial products.

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"Tanzania was considered a market, but during the fifth phase government many industries emerged and the country started producing several products, this annoyed other countries and perceived Tanzania as their opponent. When we refuse to be market for their products they say we don't want good relations," he explained.

University of Dar es Salaam lecturer Dr Consolatha Sulley also nodded to the President Samia, saying the directive has good aim considering the globalisation.

"Her directive is appropriate because Tanzania can't separate itself from the globalisation since what happens in the world can also affect Tanzania. We must have good link with other nations," she stated.

Speaking over economic diplomacy, she said the concept means nations need each other in exchanging goods and services, which requires good relations. However, Dr Sulley cautioned that as the country seeks establishing good relations for economic diplomacy it is necessary to consider interests of the nation.

When swearing in new permanent secretaries and heads of government's institutions at the State House in Dar es Salaam, President Samia said Amb Mulamula is one of the best diplomats in the country who has served in and outside the country in various capacities and that she is expected to utilise her experience in bringing positive changes in the country's diplomatic arena.
(Natural News) Small Business Rising (SBR), a national coalition of groups representing small businesses across America, has launched a campaign calling on Congress to pass stricter antitrust laws that would abolish tech monopolies such as Amazon.

The coalition cited a 15-month House Judiciary Committee investigation released back in October that highlighted restructuring as the solution to Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and other monopolies. The report concluded that Congress must break up these companies to protect competition and healthy markets.

SBR is composed of several small business groups including the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, the American Booksellers Association, the National Office Products Alliance, and the National Grocers Association. The group says that stricter measures need to be imposed by the government to stop the abusive tactics of monopolistic corporations such as Amazon.

Today its harder than ever to grow a business, no matter how great your idea or how hard you work, the coalition explains in a statement on its website.

Thats because monopolistic corporations, backed by Wall Street, have seized control of many industries and are blocking small businesses from competing. Their outsized power threatens to corrupt not only our markets, but also our government.

Amazon says it is a good and honest monopoly

The reason why SBR has chosen to focus its call to action around Amazon has to do with Amazons unique gatekeeper role over commerce. Retailers who sell their products through Amazons marketplace platform incur massive fees because the company knows they have limited other options for selling their wares.

To make matters worse, Amazon also directly competes against its own marketplace sellers by ripping off their products and selling them at a discount under the private Amazon label. This is like a monopoly within a monopoly.

Amazon of course denies all claims that it operates unfairly. Jeff Bezos and his minions insist that any attempt by Congress to break up its operations would be a misguided intervention because Amazon would never do anything to harm anybody else  except for making its employees pee in bottles, of course.

Amazon and third-party sellers complement each other, and sellers having the opportunity to sell right alongside a retailers products is the very competition that most benefits consumers and has made the marketplace model so successful for third-party sellers, an Amazon spokesperson reportedly told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

According to Amazon, its monopoly is benefitting consumers

In Amazons demented view of itself, it is the perfect little corporate angel. Its near-total monopoly is somehow fueling a competitive paradise, it claims, and everyone should be happy it exists.

As you will notice, though, the canned statement from Amazon focuses on alleged benefits to consumers, not retailers and sellers. To Amazon, cheap prices  cheap is in quotes because more often than not, the same products available on Amazon are available somewhere else for less  are enough to justify its existence as a monopoly.

Healthy markets cannot exist when just one place sells all the goods, even if that place claims to sell all the goods at the cheapest prices. Healthy markets exist when there are many places selling goods from a position of equal footing, creating optimal economic conditions.

They care not for this nation, even though America is the key to their wealth, wrote one WND commenter about Amazon. Trust busters need to rise up in Congress and in the states.

This has always been the problem with investing with Wall Street and not knowing (OR CARING) what your money is being used to commit, wrote another. Investing in a lot of these companies now is akin to being a traitor.

More related news about Amazon and other tech monopolies can be found at Tyranny.news.

Sources for this article include:

WND.com

NaturalNews.com
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA encourages researchers to develop and study unexpected approaches for traveling through, understanding, and exploring space. To further these goals, the agency has selected seven studies for additional funding  totaling $5 million  from the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. The researchers previously received at least one NIAC award related to their proposals.

"Creativity is key to future space exploration and fostering revolutionary ideas today that may sound outlandish will prepare us for new missions and fresh exploration approaches in the coming decades," said Jim Reuter, associate administrator for NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD).

NASA selected the proposals through a peer-review process that evaluates innovation and technical viability. All projects are still in the early stages of development, with most requiring a decade or more of technology maturation. They are not considered official NASA missions.

Among the studies is a neutrino-detecting mission concept that will receive a $2 million Phase III NIAC grant to mature related technology over two years. Neutrinos are one of the most abundant particles in the universe but are challenging to study since they rarely interact with matter. Therefore, large and sensitive Earth-based detectors are best suited to detect them. Nikolas Solomey from Wichita State University in Kansas proposes something different: a space-based neutrino detector.

"Neutrinos are a tool to 'see' inside stars, and a space-based detector could offer a new window into the structure of our Sun and even our galaxy," said NIAC Program Executive Jason Derleth. "A detector orbiting close to the Sun could reveal the shape and size of the solar furnace at the core. Or, by going in the opposite direction, this technology could detect neutrinos from stars at the center of our galaxy."

Solomey's previous NIAC research showed the technology could work in space, explored different mission flight paths, and developed an early prototype of the neutrino detector. With the Phase III grant, Solomey will prepare a flight-ready detector that could be tested on a CubeSat.

In addition, six researchers will receive $500,000 each to conduct Phase II NIAC studies for up to two years.

Jeffrey Balcerski with the Ohio Aerospace Institute in Cleveland will continue work on a small spacecraft "swarm" approach to studying Venus' atmosphere. The concept combines miniature sensors, electronics, and communications on kite-like, drifting platforms to conduct around nine hours of operations in the clouds of Venus. High-fidelity simulations of deployment and flight will further mature the design.

Saptarshi Bandyopadhyay, a robotics technologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, will continue research on a possible radio telescope within a crater on the far side of the Moon. He aims to design a wire mesh that small climbing robots could deploy to form a large parabolic reflector. The Phase II study will also focus on refining the capabilities of the telescope and various mission approaches.

Kerry Nock, with Global Aerospace Corporation in Irwindale, California, will mature a possible way to land on Pluto and other celestial bodies with low-pressure atmospheres. The concept relies on a large, lightweight decelerator that inflates as it approaches the surface. Nock will address the technology's feasibility, including the riskier components, and establish its overall maturity.

Artur Davoyan, an assistant professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, will advance CubeSat solar sails for exploring the solar system and interstellar space. Davoyan will fabricate and test ultra-lightweight sail materials capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, examine structurally sound methods for supporting the sail, and investigate two mission concepts.

Lynn Rothschild, a scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, will further study ways to grow structures, perhaps for future space habitats, out of fungi. This phase of research will build on previous mycelia production, fabrication, and testing techniques. Rothschild, along with an international team, will test different fungi, growth conditions, and pore size on small prototypes at environmental conditions relevant to the Moon and Mars. The research will also assess terrestrial applications, including biodegradable plates and rapid, low-cost structures.

Peter Gural with Trans Astronautica Corporation in Lakeview Terrace, California, will research a mission concept to find small asteroids faster than current survey methods. A constellation of three spacecraft would use hundreds of small telescopes and onboard image processing to conduct a coordinated search for these objects. Phase II aims to mature and prove the proposed filter technology.

NIAC supports visionary research ideas through multiple progressive phases of study. In February 2021, NASA announced 16 new NIAC Phase I proposal selections. STMD funds NIAC and is responsible for developing the new cross-cutting technologies and capabilities needed by the agency to achieve its current and future missions.

For more information about NASA's investments in space technology, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/spacetech

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


"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
An aged care worker has been left bed-ridden after she allegedly received the wrong second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The worker reportedly received the Pfizer vaccine for her first dose but was given the AstraZeneca vaccine for her second injection at the Health Matters Karalee medical clinic in Queensland today.

The woman, aged in her 50s, only realised the mistake after receiving a pamphlet from doctors and nurses following her second jab.

The woman, aged in her 50s, only realised she was given the AstraZeneca vaccine after receiving a pamphlet from doctors and nurses following her second jab.

The clinic told her to go home, watch for symptoms and call an ambulance if she has an adverse reaction (pictured: stock image of AstraZeneca vaccine)

The clinic allegedly kept the woman under observation following the injection for an hour while checking her blood pressure twice.

She was later sent home with an ice-pack to help with an ongoing headache.

The woman has reportedly suffering with nausea, dizziness and body aches since the late afternoon.

The woman reportedly received the wrong dose at the Health Matters Karalee medical clinic in Queensland

Health workers at the clinic are 'not sure' what the potential side effects for the mix-up will be for the woman allegedly, as she is the first person in Australia this has happened to.

The clinic told her to go home, watch for symptoms and call an ambulance if she has an adverse reaction.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Health Matters Karalee Clinic for comment.
Myanmars ambassador to Britain has been locked out of his London office over his support for deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Kyaw Zwar Minn told reporters he was barred from entering the embassy Wednesday under orders from Myanmars military junta.

In a statement read on his behalf Thursday in front of the building, Kyaw Zwar Minn said that embassy personnel were being threatened with severe punishment if they refused to work for diplomats loyal to the military government.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, in a tweet Thursday, condemned the bullying actions of the Myanmar military regime, while paying tribute to Kyaw Zwar Minn for his courage.

The development comes a day after Myanmar security forces killed at least 11 civilians and wounded at least 10 others when they fired on government protesters in the northwestern town of Kalay, according to reports received by VOAs Burmese service.

One protest organizer told the service that troops tasked with removing barricades set up by the demonstrators opened fire indiscriminately. The protesters are demanding that Suu Kyi's civilian government be returned to power.

The organizer said an undetermined number of protesters, some armed with homemade weapons, were arrested in the town known for fiercely resisting government forces.

Video of the pre-dawn attack included the sounds of gunfire and grenade explosions. Social media posts said rocket-propelled grenades were fired.

A young man who lives in Kalay and escaped arrest told VOA the security forces fired at least 20 rocket-propelled grenades to destroy the barricades and fired bullets at the protesters.

Protesters in Kalay, who previously armed themselves with homemade hunting rifles and had established neighborhood strongholds, inflicted casualties on security forces during an earlier assault on the town and nearby villages on March 28, according to the Myanmar Now news service.

The demonstrators, who have organized what they call the Kalay Civil Army, inflicted more casualties on junta forces in the following days, the online news site reported.

The March 28 attack occurred one day after government troops killed more than 110 civilians throughout the Southeast Asian country, the highest one-day death toll since the February 1 military coup that ousted the democratically elected government.

Regular anti-government protests continued in other cities and towns Wednesday, including in Bago, northeast of Yangon, where a resident confirmed to VOA that government forces killed two men and injured five others.

One person was killed in a protest crackdown in Monywa, the capital of the Sagaing region, and another was killed in the town of Nyaung Shwe in the southern Shan State, VOA confirmed. At least nine arrests were reported in the southern city of Dawae.

Nearly 600 civilians, including dozens of children, have been killed by government troops and police since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Of the 3,500 people who have been arrested, 2,750 are still detained, AAPP said.

Actor and model Paing Takhon was arrested this morning. He has been actively speaking out against the military coup since early February. The junta is now arresting medics, engineers, students, workers, and finally actors. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/fPXj2Pp3T0  Civil Disobedience Movement (@cvdom2021) April 8, 2021

The National League for Democracy, led by Suu Kyi, had governed Myanmar since its first open democratic election in 2015, but the military contested last November's election results, claiming widespread electoral fraud, largely without evidence.

Suu Kyi and President Win Myint were detained in the coup. Martial law has been imposed in townships across Myanmar.

On April 1, the U.N. Security Council repeated its call for the immediate release of all detainees in Myanmar, including Suu Kyi and Win Myint, and an end to violence.

In a statement, the council expressed its deep concern for the rapidly deteriorating situation in Myanmar and strongly condemned the use of lethal force by security forces and police against peaceful pro-democracy protesters and the deaths of hundreds of civilians, including women and children.

The council also called on the military to exercise utmost restraint and on all sides to refrain from violence.

The Security Council reiterated the need for full respect for human rights and the pursuit of dialogue and reconciliation in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar.
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Former NFL player Phillip Adams (left) has been identified as the gunman who allegedly carried out a mass shooting in Rock Hill, South Carolina, that killed five, including two children

The prominent South Carolina doctor who was shot dead along with his wife and two grandchildren by former NFL player Phillip Adams on Wednesday had been treating the gunman and had stopped giving him medication, a US congressman who was friends with the victims alleged.

Adams, 32, a cornerback who played six seasons in the NFL and suffered multiple concussions, killed himself with a single shot to the head early Thursday, hours after shooting six people, five of them fatally.

Rep Ralph Norman, a Republican from South Carolina, told WISTV that it is his 'understanding' that Dr Robert Lesslie was treating Adams and had stopped giving Adams medication.

Norman, who described himself as a close friend of Lesslie and his wife, said he was told by law enforcement that withholding medication from Adams led to the deadly attack.

A person briefed on the investigation also told The Associated Press earlier that Adams had been treated by Lesslie - however authorities have yet to confirm that claim.

Adams' father, Alonzo Adams, told WCNC that his son's being a football player was to blame for the tragedy.

'I can say he's a good kid,' the father told the station. 'I think the football messed him up.'

Adams had only recently moved in with his parents in Rock Hill, just a two-minutes drive from Dr Lesslie's home. The athlete had a criminal history, which included assault and weapons charges.

York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson held a press conference on Thursday afternoon and confirmed that Adams used two firearms, a .45 caliber and a 9mm gun, to fatally shoot Lesslie, 70, and his wife, Barbara Lesslie, 69, along with their grandchildren Adah Lesslie, 9, and Noah Lesslie, 5, and James Lewis, 38, from Gastonia, who is unrelated to the family.

Adams' former doctor, Robert Lesslie ( left and right), was killed at his home in Rock Hill, South Carolina on Wednesday afternoon, along with his wife, two grandchildren and a man who was working on the family's property at the time

Dr Lesslie, his wife Barbara, their two grandchildren, Adah Lesslie, 9, and Noah Lesslie, 5, were killed in the shooting on Wednesday. The four victims are circled above in red in a family photo

The graphic above shows where the five victims were killed at the Lesslie home, compared with where Adams killed himself

Police were called to the home in the Rock Hill area at around 4.45pm after gunshots were heard. Pictured above are some members of the victims' family, including Dr Lesslie and wife, Barbara (circled in red), who were killed

Adah, 9, and her brother, Noah, 5, were the children of Dr Lesslie's son, Jeff (pictured above). Both were shot dead at their grandparents' home on Wednesday by their neighbor Phillip Adams

A SWAT vehicle is seen outside the gate at the Lesslies' property on Marshall Road after Wednesday's mass shooting

NEW: @RepRalphNorman tells me his understanding is that Dr. Robert Lesslie was treating Phillip Adams and had stopped giving Adams medication - he says he was told that triggered the killings - Norman says he was told this by law enforcement. @WBTV_News pic.twitter.com/5u7TzOY3iP  Alex Giles WBTV (@AlexGilesNews) April 8, 2021

Tolson said investigators still have a lot of questions about the shooting and had not yet determined a motive.

'There's nothing right now that makes sense to any of us,' he told reporters.

TIMELINE OF ROCK HILL SHOOTING: April 7, 4.44pm - two 911 calls are made 4.52pm - Deputies respond to Dr Robert Lesslie's home in Rock Hill, SC Officers discover the body of AC repairmen James Lewis in the driveway 4.56pm - K-9 support is requested 4.59pm - Helicopter support is requested 5.00pm - Officers enter the Lesslie home and find bodies of doctor, his wife and two grandchildren Wounded AC repairman Robert Shook is taken to the hospital in critical condition Officers find evidence linking shooting to Ex-NFL player Phillip Adams 9.30-10.30pm - Adams' home is cleared using robot and his parents are removed from the premises April 8, 2.37am - Adams is found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head Advertisement

The sheriff opened the press conference by reading a statement from the Lesslie family, which said in part: 'While we know there are no answers that will satisfy the question "why," we are sure of one thing: we do not grieve as those without hope. Our hope is found in the promise of Jesus Christ, and we are enveloped by peace that surpasses all understanding. To that end, our hearts are bent toward forgiveness and peace. Toward love and connectedness. Toward celebration and unity.'

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster released a short statement on Twitter, calling the killings 'tragic and heartbreaking'.

Just before 5pm Wednesday the Lesslies were found suffering from gunshot wounds in one room at their home and were pronounced dead, while Lewis, an air conditioning repairman who had been working at the property, was discovered in the driveway.

A sixth person, identified by local news outlets as Lewis' colleague Robert Shook, survived despite being shot multiple times.

During the news conference, Sheriff Tolson said Shook was in a 'very critical' condition.

Tolson played several 911 calls reporting the shooting, including one that was placed by man who said he'd heard about 20 gunshots.

'I think we've had some trouble,' the caller said. 'I think there's been a bad shooting. Maybe four people.'

Another call came from a man who identified himself as a colleague of Shook and Lewis.

He told an emergency dispatcher that he had just received a frantic call from Shook, saying: 'I've been shot, call 911!'

The caller said Shook was slurring his speech, and speculated that the air conditioning installer had been hit in the head or face.

Family members told WBTV Shook is a married father of three from Cherryville. He has undergone multiple surgeries and was fighting for his life.

'He is a hard-working man who put himself through school to become a certified hearing and air service worker, to provide for his family,' Shooks cousin, Heather Michele, told the station. 'He is just a wonderful, wonderful man.'

WSOC reported that both Shook and Lewis worked at Gaston Sheet Metal Services in Gastonia.

Lewis' parents told the local station that he was their only child and was a single father of three children, a 16-year-old and 13-year-old twins.

'I keep on expecting to wake up, "Oh, it was just a bad dream," but its not. Its real,' Tom Lewis, James' father, said. said. 'I would like to find out why this guy did what he did.'

James' mother said he was working as an HVAC technician to provide for his three children.

'He helped anybody, he was a kind guy, a great dad. Its just so stupid,' mom Linda Tucker said.

Robert Shook, an HVAC technician, was shot multiple times outside Lesslie's home while doing work along with his colleague, James Lewis, who was killed. Shook is a married father of three

James Lewis, 38, was an HVAC technician who was working at Lesslies' property when he was shot and killed by Adams. He is an only child to his parents and was a single father of three

This map shows the location of Lesslies' home where Robert, Barbara and their grandchildren were found dead; their property where James Lewis was killed, and the home of Phillip Adams' parents a short drive away

Gaston Sheet Metal Services shared a post on its Facebook page on Thursday morning addressing the shooting involving two of its employees.

'Both men involved in this incident are long-standing, beloved members of our family at GSM. These men embody the values we strive to achieve at GSM and are family focused, up-beat, and wonderful team members who cared about all the people they encountered,' the post read.

Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene within eight minutes of getting the first 911 call and found unspecified evidence that helped them identified Adams as the gunman.

They spent the next several hours searching for him with police K-9s, before locating him at his parents' home on Marshall Road, about a quarter of a mile away from the Lesslies' residence.

Adams' father Alonzo Adams (left) said his son was 'a good kid' and that 'football messed him up'. The father also revealed that Adams (right) had only recently relocated to Rock Hill, South Carolina

While playing with the Oakland Raiders, Adams sustained two concussions in 2012, but missed only one game that season

Adams' father Alonzo said his son had recently moved to Rock Hill from Fort Mill.

'I don't think he ever did anybody any harm,' he said of his son. 'He didn't talk much and he didn't bother nobody.'

Alonzo added that he knew the Lesslie family, and that Dr Lesslie had treated him in the past.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster tweeted on Thursday about the 'tragic and heartbreaking' shooting

'All I can say is we pray for the family,' Alonzo said. 'He used to be my doctor a long time ago. I know they were good folks down there. We're gonna keep them in our prayers.'

Alonzo said officers came to his house on Wednesday night and led him and his severely disabled wife out of the residence, where Adams killed himself.

Allison Hope, who lives across from the Adams' modest one-story brick home, about a quarter of a mile down the road from the Lesslies, said police allowed her to return home around 9pm Wednesday. Moments later, a vehicle pulled into their driveway and law enforcement quickly surrounded the property.

She said officers spent hours negotiating with Adams, using a loudspeaker and sending in a robot to scan the house. She said authorities repeatedly asked Adams to come out, and promised to get his disabled mother out safely, before Adams shot himself.

'This is something I can't grasp yet. I can't put it all together and I'm trying to, and I witnessed it,' Hope said. 'I feel bad for him because if it was mental or something going on in his life or whatever, you know, he needed help, and that's the sad part.'

York County Sheriff's spokesman Trent Faris said deputies were called to the Lesslie home in the Rock Hill area around 4.45pm.

'We are shocked that this type of incident happened here,' Faris said.

Faris said a motive for the shooting has not been determined.

'None of us can figure out why,' he said. 'It doesn't happen here. It's one of those strange things that a lot of people are going to have a hard time understanding and we just hope that everybody understands that we're going to do everything we can to try to figure out why this happened here in Rock Hill, South Carolina.'

Faris said Dr Lesslie was a prominent figure in Rock Hill.

'I've lived in Rock Hill my entire life and Dr Lesslie was my doctor growing up,' Faris said. 'Dr Lesslie has been one of those people that everybody knows. He started Riverview Medical Center in Rock Hill and it's been a staple in Rock Hill for years.'

York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson held a press conference on Thursday, during which he played multiple 911 calls reporting the deadly shooting and read a statement on behalf of the Lesslie family

Lesslie, a well-respected doctor who had treated Adams, is pictured playing the piano with his granddaughter Adah, who was among the people killed on Wednesday. No motive has been determined

The Lesslies' lived in a spacious home on a large tract of land with an estimated value of more than $1million (pictured)

A York County sheriff's deputy is parked on Thursday outside the Lesslie residence where multiple people, including a prominent doctor, were fatally shot a day earlier in Rock Hill, South Carolina

Police used helicopters and drones to look for the shooting suspect on Wednesday. They also sent a robot inside Phillip Adams' home and negotiated with him through a loudspeaker before he took his own life

An ambulance is seen at the scene, where one person was found with serious gunshot wounds

Adams (left and right) was an football cornerback who played in the NFL. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers

Adams, a cornerback out of South Carolina State, was a seventh-round NFL Draft pick in 2010. Although he was never a standout in the league, he did play in 78 games over five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, and Atlanta Falcons.

FULL STATEMENT FROM LESSLIE FAMILY: 'On behalf of the Lesslie, Alexander, and Kulbok clans, we would like to address the outpouring of heartbreak, shock, grief, and support from our family, friends, and community. We are truly in the midst of the unimaginable. The losses we are suffering cannot be uttered at this 'time. 'While we know there are no answers that will satisfy the question why, we are sure of one thing: we do not grieve as those without hope. Our hope is found in the promise of Jesus Christ, and we are enveloped by peace that surpasses all understanding. To that end, our hearts are bent toward forgiveness and peace. Toward love and connectedness. Toward celebration and unity. We honor all of those involved in this story with prayers and compassion specifically for the Shook family, the Lewis family, and the Adams family. 'As Robert Lesslie would say, when peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, it is well with my soul. 'If you would like to do something for the family, 'Adah and Noah would want you to stock the free pantries and libraries in your community. 'Barbara and Robert would want you to be good stewards of what you are given, leaving every place better than it was before you got there.' Advertisement

His best seasons came in his two years in Oakland, where he appeared in 31 games and recorded a pair of interceptions.

Rarely a starter, Adams finished his career with the Falcons in 2015.

Adams earned just over $3million over parts of his six NFL season, according to Spotrac.com.

Adams suffered multiple injuries over the course of his football career, including a pair of concussions, which he sustained while playing for the Oakland Raiders in 2012. Despite that, he only missed one game that season.

Raiders spokespeople in Las Vegas did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment on Thursday.

Whether he suffered long-lasting concussion-related injuries wasnt immediately clear. Adams would not have been eligible for testing as part of a broad settlement between the league and its former players over such injuries, because he hadnt retired by 2014.

Adams often isolated himself, even as a player, his agent, Scott Casterline, told the AP. Casterline said he spoke regularly with Adams father, who left him a voicemail Wednesday morning.

'He was part of my family. I loved him. Hes a great kid, a great guy. This is so unlike him. He had to not be in his right mind, obviously,' Casterline said.

'All of us who knew Philip are shaking our heads. He struggled away from the game. I tried to get him to come to Texas. I was going to find him a job, but he wouldn't leave South Carolina because he had a son. He was a good father.

'Seeing Philip shoot two kids, it's not him. I can't fathom it. It's devastating for the victims and the families,' Casterline said.

As a rookie late in the 2010 season, Adams suffered a severe ankle injury that required surgery that included several screws being inserted into the leg. He never played for the 49ers again, getting released just before the 2011 season began and signing with New England. Only in 2013 with the Raiders was he on a roster for a full season.

Adams had a criminal record, which included an arrest in 2009 on charges of misdemeanor assault and battery, although he was not convicted. He was also arrested in Charlotte for carrying a concealed gun in 2016.

In 2009, Adams' mother, Phyllis Adams, was involved in a horrific car wreck that has left her severely disabled and wheelchair-bound.

In an interview with The Times and Democrat in 2010, Phillip was quoted as saying: '[My mother] is my motivation, he said. We can look through life, and you go through adversity. This is one of the biggest things I have had to deal with.'

Former Cowboys cornerback Kevin Smith, who trained Adams leading up to the 2010 draft and after he entered the league, said he was a hard worker. He and Casterline both said Adams had opened a shop selling smoothies and juice before COVID-19 hit, and emphasized he didnt drink or do drugs.

'He didnt drink not one bit of alcohol,' Smith said. 'He was a bit of a neat freak. In his house, everything was precisely placed.'

Adams was arrested for assault and gun charges prior to moving back to South Carolina hometown and wiping out doctor neighbor and his family - before turning .45 caliber on himself

Adams suffered several concussions during his football career and was also arrested for assault and carrying a concealed weapon, according to records.

Before turning pro, Adams was arrested for misdemeanor assault and battery in 2009, although he was not convicted. He was also arrested in Charlotte for carrying a concealed gun in 2016.

Court officials in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for more information.

On Thursday, Adams's father Alonzo told Charlotte news station WCNC that he blames football for what happened to his 32-year-old son.

'I can say he's a good kid,' Alonzo said. 'I think the football messed him up.'

Alonzo did not go into further detail, but Phillip suffered at least two concussions while playing for the Oakland Raiders in 2012, although he curiously missed only one game because of the brain injuries.

Adams suffered several concussions during his football career and was also arrested for assault and carrying a concealed weapon, according to records. He is pictured arriving for a game with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015

Adams suffered a concussion while recording an interception against the Browns in 2012

One of those concussions occurred in a game against Cleveland when Adams collided with a teammate while hauling in an interception.

He was later asked by Raiders.com to describe what was going through his head on the play.

'I don't know,' Adams said. 'I couldn't tell you, but my teammates, the whole secondary we're all going for that ball in the heat of the battle. I was kind of woozy, but, we got the turnover and I was happy about that.'

Raiders spokespeople in Las Vegas did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for more information about Adams's concussion history.

Adams, a cornerback, was drafted out of South Carolina State in the seventh-round of the NFL Draft in 2010.

Although he was never a standout in the league, he did play regularly over six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Raiders, New York Jets, and Atlanta Falcons. His best seasons came in his two years in Oakland, where he appeared in 31 games and recorded a pair of interceptions. He also had success as a punt returner.

Adams earned just over $3million over parts of his six NFL season, according to Spotrac.com.

As a rookie, Phillip Adams suffered a significant leg injury while returning a punt for the 49ers

As a collegiate player, Adams credited his mother as his motivation.

An auto accident left Phyllis Paden Adams in a wheelchair in 2010, according to multiple reports. Her current condition is not know, but at the time, Adams said he believed she would walk again.

'She will walk one day,' he told theTandD.com. 'That's what we believe. You know, there is always hope.'

Outside of telling a few coaches and teammates, Adams kept the accident private for most of his final season at South Carolina State while he prepared for the NFL Draft Combine.

Throughout that process, he explained, Adams focused on his mother's perseverance.

'(My mother) is my motivation,' he said. 'We can look through life, and you go through adversity. This is one of the biggest things I have had to deal with. Right in the middle of football season. God was basically like, 'Are you going to fall or get back up and keep pushing?' I think I got back up, and my momma stays on me and is a big inspiration.

'We have to motivate each other,' he added. 'I motivate her. She motivates me. Come on, let's go. She's a trooper. A real trooper. I have no doubt that she is going to build her strength back up.'

In May of 2010, after Adams had signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent, several NFL players helped put on a fund raiser for Paden Adams, a longtime teacher.

Ultimately the group raised $15,000 for her care.

'I'm just speechless,' Paden-Adams said from her wheelchair, as quoted by HeraldOnline.com. 'I've gotten more kisses than a pig at a kissing contest. It's been wonderful.'

The Associated Press reported that Adams's parents lived near his victims, who included Dr. Robert Lesslie, 70, and his wife, Barbara Lesslie, 69, as well as grandchildren Adah Lesslie, 9, and Noah Lesslie, 5.

Adams was reportedly a patient of Lesslie, who worked for decades as an emergency room doctor. It is not known publicly why Lesslie was treating Adams, or if any head injury was involved.

Concussions have not been definitively linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the degenerative brain disease believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head.

CTE can only be diagnosed posthumously.

Several former NFL players who were diagnosed with CTE died by suicide, including Adams's former Patriots teammate, Aaron Hernandez, who hanged himself in prison following a murder conviction.

'We don't know why people get CTE,' Manning told DailyMail.com in 2018. 'I think the most that it's been looked at is in football players, but all that we know is what the brain looks like after they die. We don't know what happens during people's lives. We also don't know how the findings correlate with people's symptoms.'

As Manning explained, there is no established connection between football and CTE, nor is there a proven link between concussions and CTE: 'There's a lot of research that needs to be done to fill in the blanks there.'

To many, the 2017 Boston University CTE Center study that posthumously diagnosed 110 out of 111 former NFL players with the disease seemed rather convincing, if not conclusive.

According to Lee E. Goldstein, a professor at Boston University School of Medicine and College of Engineering, concussions may not be an indicator for CTE, which can lead to lead to behavioral or cognitive issues, and even dementia.

'We have a substantial number of cases in the [brain] bank who have died and meet the neuropathological diagnostic criteria for CTE, and have never had a concussion,' Goldstein told DailyMail.com in 2019.

'We see these young people17-year olds with evidence of CTE,' he continued. 'There shouldn't be any evidence of any neurodegenerative disease at that age. We know that we have quite a number of cases in people of that age, early 20s or late teens, who have never had a witnessed, documented concussion in their life.'

Goldstein was a part of the Boston University research team that published a ground-breaking study showing that exposure to repeated head trauma  and not necessarily concussions  was the root cause of CTE.

Dr Lesslie practiced medicine for four decades and was a pillar of his community as well as a published author and father of four

A biography page of Dr Lesslie stated he and his wife of 35 years raised four children, including son Jeff, who is the father of Adah and Noah. He works as an administrator at his father's practice, Riverview Hospice and Palliative Care.

Robert described himself as a 'believer, husband, father, grandfather, physician, friend and caretaker of golden retrievers, donkeys, ponies & goats, gardener and lover of the outdoors, bagpiper, golfer (significantly handicapped), author.'

Dr Lesslie had been practicing in Rock Hill since 1981, according to the Riverview website.

He received his degree at the Medical University of South Carolina and had worked as an emergency room doctor, board-certified in both emergency medicine and occupational medicine and serving as emergency department medical director for nearly 15 years at Rock Hill General Hospital.

Dr Lesslie founded Riverview Housecalls and Riverview Hospice and Palliative Care, wrote a weekly medical column for The Charlotte Observer, and also wrote several books, including Angels in the ER, collecting what he termed 'inspiring true stories' from his work.

'I know without a doubt that life is fragile,' he wrote in his book. 'I have come to understand that humility may be the greatest virtue. And I am convinced we need to take the time to say the things we deeply feel to the people we deeply care about.'

Robert and Barbara had been married for more than 35 years. Both were pronounced dead at their home

Lesslie described himself in his bio as, among other things, a caretaker of donkeys and goats

Lesslie was an author who had written several non-fiction books, including Angels in the ER

Lesslie (left and right) had been practicing medicine in Rock Hill since 1981. He and wife Barbara are survived by their four children

The Lesslie family lived on a large property with an estimated value of more than $1million, according to Zillow.com. They bought the home in 2002.

Phillip Adams' parents reside in a home located just a 2 minutes' drive from the Lesslies. That property has an estimated value of just over $170,000.

Rock Hill is a city in northernmost South Carolina about 25 miles southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina. Boasting a population of more than 66,000 people, Rock Hill is the largest city in York County.

Rock Hill is a manufacturing city that offers scenic riverfront views along the Catawaba River, and it is home to three colleges, including Winthrop University.

According to the latest data, Rock Hill's crime rates were 61 percent higher than the national average.

Wounded AC technician who was sole survivor of Rock Hill shooting was 'wrapping up a job' when ex-NFL pro neighbor showed up with two handguns and killed five

The only survivor of Wednesday's mass shooting was Robert Shook, an air conditioning repairman who was about to finish a job at Dr Lesslie's home when he was shot multiple times before the physician was massacred alongside his wife and two of their grandchildren.

Shook, 38, of Cherryville, South Carolina remained hospitalized in critical condition on Thursday after he was among six people shot in Wednesdays massacre just before 5pm.

Shook and his co-worker, James Lewis, 38, of Gastonia, were called to Dr Lesslie's home in Rock Hill to tend to an air conditioning problem.

Lewis is a single father of three young children.

'He was very close to his kids,' James' father, Thomas, told WCNC-TV. 'He was doing a great job.'

'They are going to miss him,' Thomas said of his grandchildren. 'The oldest is 16, and the twins will be 13 soon.'

Thomas said that his son was going to night college to earn a degree while working to provide for his family. He is trying to make sense of the tragedy.

'Don't shoot an entire family, or whoever happened to be there,' said Thomas Lewis.

'His beef was not with my son. He had never met my son, never laid eyes on him.'

Robert Shook, 38, of Cherryville, South Carolina is the only survivor of Wednesday's mass shooting in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Shook and his co-worker, James Lewis (seen far left with his three children), 38, of Gastonia, North Carolina, were called to the home of Dr. Robert Lesslie, 70, in Rock Hill to tend to an air conditioning problem

Lewis and Shook, employees of Gastonia-based GSM Services, were working outside on the doctors air conditioning unit at the time the shooting started.

The home in Rock Hill, South Carolina is just 30 miles from Gastonia.

The two men were wrapping up their assignment when the gunfire started, Shooks family told WBTV-TV.

Lewis was found shot to death outside, and Shook, a father of three children ages 7, 13, and 18, was hospitalized with serious gunshot wounds, York County Sheriffs Offices spokesperson Trent Faris said.

'He is a hard-working man who put himself through school to become a certified hearing and air service worker, to provide for his family,' Shook's cousin, Heather said.

'He is just a wonderful, wonderful man.'

At a news conference on Friday, investigators said Shook suffered a gunshot wound to the face and head area.
Male teachers and boys must be taught about sexism to support women and girls facing 'overwhelming levels' of sexual harassment and abuse, a union conference was told today.

The National Education Union's (NEU) annual conference heard that a 'toxic laddish culture' pervades the country's secondary schools and sexism 'stalks the corridors and classrooms'.

A motion passed at the conference said schools should have 'robust sexual harassment and abuse policies' in place so teachers and students feel safe.

It noted the thousands of testimonials posted anonymously by students on the Everyone's Invited website, documenting sexual harassment and assault in schools and colleges.

Male teachers and boys must be taught about sexism to support women and girls facing 'overwhelming levels' of sexual harassment and abuse, a union conference was told today. Pictured: Dr Mary Bousted

Earlier, Ofsted's chief inspector Amanda Spielman suggested that sexual abuse among pupils could be 'happening outside of school' rather than being caused by a culture problem within institutions.

She said testimonials posted on Everyone's Invited show a 'crossover very often between things happening outside of school bleeding into children's lives within school'.

Ms Spielman added the widespread issues cannot solely be put down to internal culture problems within individual institutions after many were accused of harbouring a 'rape culture'.

The Department for Education (DfE) ordered Ofsted to launch a probe following concerns about widespread sexual abuse after more than 10,000 allegations were posted on the Everyone's Invited website.

The National Education Union's (NEU) annual conference heard that a 'toxic laddish culture' pervades the country's secondary schools and sexism 'stalks the corridors and classrooms'

Ofsted's chief inspector Amanda Spielman suggested that sexual abuse among pupils could be 'happening outside of school' rather than being caused by a culture problem within institutions

Students anonymously sharing their experiences of misogyny, harassment, abuse and assault have so far named top public schools including Eton College.

Ms Spielman told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: 'It is clear that a lot of what's reported concerns incidents that happen outside of school, but they then bleed over into the school, for example because images or videos are brought in on mobile phones.

'I think we're seeing a blurring of in and out of school  we can't see them as separate.'

At the National Education Union's (NEU) annual conference, Amy Kilpatrick, from Newcastle, said it is 'absolutely the case' that the 'overwhelming levels of sexism and sexual harassment' in schools need to be addressed.

She added: 'In order to achieve the drastic changes we want to see, then we must educate our boys, our male teachers and support staff.'

A sign reading 'Educate Your Sons' is attached to a gate outside James Allen's School. The school was protesting rape culture at nearby Dulwich College Boys School

Pupils staged a protest against rape culture at Highgate School in London on March 25. The school, has been named in allegations among others including Eton and Dulwich College

She warned the conference of a 'toxic laddish culture that pervades' secondary schools.

Ms Kilpatrick added: 'We need to ensure that no boy growing up now can say 'but it was just banter' and that starts with education and having men as allies.'

She said: 'Let's all work together to tackle this crisis in our society.'

Ofsted said it would be visiting a sample of schools and carrying out a review into whether institutions had effective safeguarding measures in place.

Delegates voted for male teachers and boys to learn about sexism and its roots - and to develop methods to challenge their peers - in order to 'proactively support women and girls'.

Richard Rieser, from Hackney in east London, called on men to 'own up and take responsibility' for sexism.

Ofsted will conduct a review into safeguarding policies and practices at state and independent schools following concerns about widespread sexual abuse. Pictured: James Allen's Girls School in Dulwich which has been hit by the scandal

A woman and child walk past placards saying 'it's sexual harassment', 'she is someone' and 'educate your sons' attached to the fence outside James Allen's Girls' School last week

He told the conference: 'It isn't something where you can sit on the sidelines. You are either anti-sexist, anti-misogynist and do it as part of your professional work. Or, if you are silent, you are acquiescing to the dominant sexism that stalks the corridors and classrooms of our schools throughout this country.'

Mr Rieser added: 'We have to make sure that the response in our schools is not just the women and the girls. It has to be the men challenging sexism and standing shoulder to shoulder with our sisters.'

Delegates called on the union's executive to campaign for Initial Teacher Training to include learning about anti-sexist education.

They also called on the NEU to develop a model policy on sexual harassment in schools for students and staff before the end of 2021.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: 'It is overwhelmingly clear that sexual harassment and sexual violence is still normalised and widespread in our society and that it's therefore commonplace in schools.

'We've got to find better ways to listen to girls' voices and to talk actively in schools about sexism, because boys don't 'grow out of' the sexist stereotypes pushed onto them.

More than 11,000 testimonies have now been uploaded to the Everyone's Invited website

'Sexism has real negative consequences for girls and for female staff, who disproportionately experience sexual violence and harassment. If we want different outcomes for girls, we need to start doing things differently.'

She added: 'But schools cannot stop sexism and misogyny on their own. The Government must show long-term leadership and create a strategy to use the potential of education to address sexism and sexual harassment.

'Bringing in Ofsted to review safeguarding policies is not the answer, because high-stakes, tick-box pressure on schools is precisely what teachers say is squeezing out all the time and space for curriculum work on sexism, pastoral work and social skills.'

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has condemned the alleged assaults listed on Everyone's Invited as 'shocking' and suggested any schools implicated could face government measures.

Accusations of sexual assault have so far named top public schools including Eton College, Hampton and Charterhouse, with both girls and boys among the alleged victims.

Last week, shocked head teachers of girls' private schools said they were talking to current and former students over sex allegations at neighbouring schools.

The Girls' Schools Association (GSA), which represents more than 100 top British girls' private schools, said that in some cases they are referring incidents to the police.

GSA schools include James Allen's Girls' School (JAGS) - attended by some of the girls making accusations about Dulwich College boys.

Last Monday, GSA chief executive Donna Stevens released a statement saying the 'deeply troubling' allegations 'must not be ignored'.

She said: 'Our schools are taking this issue seriously and talking with current and former students as well as parents to bring about positive change.'

Her words came as a former pupil at JAGS revealed herself to be the co-author of a letter making allegations against Dulwich College pupils.

But some schools have been accused of trivialising sexual violence by boys, with official figures showing the number of pupils suspended for it has almost halved in a decade.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson (above) has condemned the alleged assaults listed on Everyone's Invited as 'shocking' and suggested any schools implicated could face government measures

There were 1,866 suspensions for sexual misconduct last year  a 44 per cent decrease on the 3,350 of ten years ago. Exclusions also fell.

Jane Lunnon, the new head of the 20,000-a-year Alleyn's School in Dulwich, south-east London, suggested the solution should see young men become 'part of the conversation'.

'A gender war helps no one, and pitting girls against boys or 'othering' the opposite gender is no solution,' she told The Times.

'Our young people must learn how to tackle these things head on; how to listen to each other generously and with respect, and how to ex-press their concerns and their hopes openly together.'

An investigation by the Mail also found that boys at some private schools embroiled in the sex abuse scandal were having to change out of uniform to avoid street attacks and verbal abuse.

Some of the male pupils also fear including their school name on CVs in case they are turned away by potential employers because of the negative associations.

Others  aged as young as 13  have faced abuse from members of the public and have been branded rapists in the street, prompting some to change out of uniform for journeys to and from school.

One boy at a London independent school told The Mail on Sunday: 'A lot of us are worried our association with the school is going to damage our job prospects. People will just look at us and see a rapist.'

A 46-year-old mother of boys aged 12 and 17 told The Daily Telegraph: 'This is scaring me. What if it's a case of two different perspectives of an event? What if the accusations are false, or exaggerated? How does a young man get his reputation back?

'I know of boys being 'cancelled' by friends they've had since primary school because nobody wants to associate with them in the wake of allegations. They are being branded as rapists without any opportunity to share their perspective  it's frankly terrifying.'

'It's really worrying,' another mother added. 'Very little is said about false allegations and protecting the alleged perpetrator.'

A teenager who on arrival at sixth-form college allegedly had girls screaming at him after a story had circulated has not returned since. None of his friends have been in contact with him, fearing they will be 'cancelled' if they break ranks.
New Jersey released its annual School Performance Report on Wednesday, but the volumes of data fall notably short on one key element.

School performance.

COVID-19 wiped out standardized testing last spring, leaving the state with no data on how schools fared on those exams, no indicators of student growth and no ratings assigning a 0-100 score to each building.

Yet there is still plenty to digest, even though many statistics from 2019-20 might not be comparable to previous or future years, state officials say.

We have always stated that the annual School Performance Reports serve as a springboard for discussion, said Angelica Allen-McMillan, the acting commissioner of education. These discussions are more important now than ever before as students, staff and others in the school community navigate this difficult time.

Here are four takeaways to launch that discussion. And here is how to find out more about your local schools.

1. Public school enrollment dropped by 3%

The state had already made it clear that public school enrollment declined in 2020-21, but now we know the specifics.

Enrollment declined by 41,285 students, from 1,375,829 in the fall of 2019 to 1,334,544 in the fall of 2020. Class sizes naturally fluctuate among the school-aged population, but the decrease this year is the largest in the past decade, according to an NJ Advance Media analysis of state data.

Exactly where those students went is somewhat of a mystery.

State Department of Education data indicates private school enrollment was also down about 5% this school year (that data, like the public school statistics, was gathered in the fall). The state does not track homeschool enrollment, which could have increased as parents worked from home or were pushed from the workforce.

2. Theres no record of how many students were chronically absent last year

Stories of students dropping off the map last spring are legion, and some schools said they continue to struggle with attendance this year.

The state usually publishes data on chronic absenteeism  the rate of students who miss 10% or more of their time enrolled  and factors that statistic into a schools overall rating.

The data was not published this year because the state requirement to report on chronic absenteeism was waived by the federal government.

3. High school graduation rate rose (slightly)

The four-year graduation rate for the Class of 2020 inched up to 91.0% from 90.6%, according to state officials.

Some students may have benefitted from one of Gov. Phil Murphys emergency decisions last spring. He waived a graduation requirement that students must pass a standardized test in English and math.

That decision allowed about 7% of students to bypass the test in English and 9% to graduate without proving proficiency in math. Its entirely possible, though, that some students would have eventually passed the exams anyway or made use of the alternative portfolio process for graduating.

4. Average SAT scores dropped (marginally)

Seniors graduating in 2020 averaged a 536 in reading and writing and a 536 in math for a statewide SAT average score of 1,072, down just a bit from 1,080 the year before.

Those tests were taken before the pandemic forced the nationwide cancellation of the exams in the spring and summer of 2020.

The statewide SAT participation rate dropped from 72.1% in 2018-19 to 71.1% last school year, so there wasnt a dramatic decline in seniors taking the exam despite the pandemic. However, the data did not reflect results from seniors who wanted to take the SAT one final time to improve their scores or students who decided at the last minute that they wanted to attend college.

Despite the insights, making judgments about data from school years disrupted by the pandemic is a challenge, said Steve Baker, a spokesman for the New Jersey Education Association, the states largest teachers union.

That is going to have to be taken with several grains of salt, Baker said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Adam Clark may be reached at aclark@njadvancemedia.com. Have a news tip or a story idea about New Jersey schools? Send it here.
New Delhi, April 8 : The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued directions that in respect of AGR dues, there shall be no reassessment, nor the telecom operators be allowed to raise any disputes.

The DoT issued the directions through an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court following an earlier order of the apex court.

The telecom operators will make a payment of 10 per cent of total dues by March 31, 2021. The operators have to make the payment in annual instalments from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2031 payable by March 31 of every succeeding financial year.

As per DoT directions, various companies through their Managing Director/Chairman or other authorised officers will furnish an undertaking within four weeks to make payment of arrears as per the order.

The existing bank guarantees that have been submitted regarding the spectrum will be kept alive by the operators until the payment is made.

In the event of any default in making payment of the annual instalments, interest would become payable as per the agreement along with penalty and interest without reference to the court. Besides, it would be punishable for contempt of court.

The compliance of the order has to be reported by the telecom service providers (TSPs) and the DoT by the April 7 of each succeeding year.

As per the affidavit, DoT had raised a demand with Bharti Airtel to pay the AGR dues of Videocon Telecommunications Limited (VTL). VTL had traded its entire spectrum to Bharti Airtel in 2016.

Bharti Airtel has responded via letters that "DoT has no basis in law" and "Bharti Airtel cannot be held liable for VTL's past dues".
New Delhi, April 8 : India and China will hold 11th round of Corps Commander talks on Friday at Chushul to iron out differences for the next phase of disengagement in Eastern Ladakh.

After nearly a two month gap, the Corps Commander level talk is again happening between the two countries. The focus of the talk would be disengagement on other friction points. After Pangong disengagement, both the countries have planned to carry out disengagement on other friction points like Gogra, Hot Springs and Depsang.

"Important that before the onset of summer, de-escalation is discussed. Both sides need retreat to original positions for things to ease," said a senior Indian Army officer.

On February 20, Indian and Chinese militaries held 10th round of military dialogue to de-escalate tension at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Indian military delegates were led by Lieutenant General PGK Menon, Commander of 14 Corps based in Leh.

They had met to discuss disengagement at friction areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and 900 square km Depsang plains.

The build-up in Depsang was not being considered part of the current standoff that started in May last year as escalations here took place in 2013, India has insisted during recent military commander meetings to resolve all issues across the Line of Actual Control.

"The initial attempt will be to resolve Gogra and Hot Springs. Finding a solution to Depsang might be tricky and take longer," said the officer.

So far disengagement process at both banks of the Pangong Lake has taken place. It was on February 10 that China made an announcement that New Delhi and Beijing had agreed to disengage at Pangong Lake.

Indian Army team along with Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) team physically verified and re-verified disengagement at Pangong Lake.

As per the agreement, Chinese troops moved back to Finger 8 and Indian troops pulled back to the Dhan Singh Thapa post between Finger 2 and 3 of the north bank of Pangong Lake.

A temporary moratorium on military activities, including patrolling to the traditional areas was placed.

The mountain spur jutting into the lake is referred to as Finger in military parlance. The north bank of the lake is divided into 8 Fingers. India has claimed its territory till Finger 8 and China disputes it and claims its own territory till Finger 4.

India and China are engaged in a year long standoff at the Line of Actual Control. The confrontations began on the north bank of Pangong Lake, both in the waters and the bank as Chinese incursions increased in early May last year.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Transition Metals Corp (TSXV: XTM) ("Transition", "XTM", "the Company") is pleased to announce exploration activities commencing with a high-resolution airborne magnetic survey over its newly acquired Jolly Gold project approximately 75 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Company has contracted New-Sense Geophysics Limited to conduct the 1,066 line kilometre survey at 50 metre spacing over the entire 4,560 hectare property.

The close line spacing of the survey will help to delineate geological trends, and cross-cutting structural relationships that are pertinent to potential gold and base metal mineralization in preparation for upcoming field programmes. The Company is planning to follow up survey results this summer with prospecting, geological mapping, geochemical sampling, and trench mapping to highlight targets with potential to host large scale gold systems.

Company CEO and President Scott McLean, P.Geo. commented, "We think the rocks of Jolly property are a western continuation of the Beardmore-Geraldton belt, and have the same potential to host gold mineralization. Gold in the Beardmore-Geraldton Greenstone belt is often found with quartz  carbonate veining associated with brittle ductile structures interacting with iron rich rocks such as gabbroic/mafic units or iron formations containing sulfur. This airborne survey will assist in the identification of similar structures on the Jolly Property."

About the Jolly Gold Project

The Jolly Gold project hosts 4 of historic gold (Au), and 7 base metal (Cu, Zn, Fe) occurrences. Grab samples collected by XTM in September 2020 returned assay values of 14.35 g/t Au with 0.7 g/t Ag at Trench 1, and 3.96 g/t Au, 7.9 g/t Ag and 0.64 % Cu at Trench 2. The two historic trenches lie in the southwest portion of the property along a 1.3 kilometre northeast trend (see news release dated November 24, 2020).

The property is underlain by Archean metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks considered to be stratigraphically associated with an extension of the Beardmore-Geraldton Greenstone Belt (BGB) of the Eastern Wabigoon terrane. Like the Jolly Gold Project, the BGB is composed of a northeast-trending sequence of mafic metavolcanic flows, intermediate pyroclastics, and iron formations. Gold deposits in the BGB include the 4.6 Moz Hardrock deposit, under development by Greenstone Gold near Geraldton, the Brookbank (0.6 Moz M&I), the Sand River and Leitch Mine (past production of 0.9 Moz), the Northern Empire Mine, and Sturgeon River Mine (Figure 1).

 https://www.greenstonegoldmines.com/upload/documents/ni-43-101-hardrock-2016-12-21-final-for-.pdf

 https://www.premiergoldmines.com/premier-gold-releases-trans-canada-property-resource-estimates-on-four-deposits

 http://www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/mdi/data/records/MDI52H09SE00004.html

Qualified Person

The technical elements of this press release have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Greg Collins, P.Geo. (PGO), a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101.

About Transition Metals Corp

Transition Metals Corp (TSXV: XTM) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity project generator that specializes in converting new exploration ideas into Canadian discoveries in Canada. The award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience in established, emerging and historic mining camps and actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, which often allows the company to acquire properties inexpensively. The team is rigorous in its fieldwork and combines traditional techniques with newer ones to help unearth compelling prospects and drill targets. Transition uses the project generator business model to acquire and advance multiple exploration projects simultaneously, thereby maximizing shareholder exposure to discovery and capital gain. Joint venture partners earn an interest in the projects by funding a portion of higher-risk drilling and exploration, allowing Transition to conserve capital and minimize shareholder's equity dilution. The Company has an expanding portfolio that currently includes more than 25 gold, copper, nickel and platinum projects across Canada.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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.

Further information is available at www.transitionmetalscorp.com or by contacting:

Scott McLean

President and CEO Transition Metals Corp.

Tel: (705) 669-1777

Figure 1: Regional Geology and Beardmore-Geraldton Greenstone Belt Interpreted Extension

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2766/79778_c614df5aa4338970_002full.jpg

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79778
India and Maldives recognized the critical threats that terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation pose to peace and security in the region.

New Delhi [India], April 8 (ANI): India and Maldives on Thursday held the first meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism, Countering Violent Extremism and De-Radicalisation, wherein they both emphasised the need for strengthening international cooperation to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner.

According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere that symbolised the India-Maldives ties and the energy, ambition and scale acquired by the bilateral relations under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terrorism and emphasised the need for strengthening international cooperation to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner.

They also stressed the need for concerted action against all terrorist networks and underlines the urgent need for all countries to take immediate, sustained, verifiable and irreversible action to ensure that no territory under their control is used for terrorist attacks on others.

The two sides also recognised the critical threats that terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation pose to peace and security in the region. The Indian delegation led by MEA Secretary (West) Vikas Swarup appreciated the clear-eyed stance taken by the Government of President Solih to counter such threats and the concrete steps taken by the Maldives in this regard, according to the MEA.

India and Maldives also exchanged views on various areas of cooperation in the sphere of counter-terrorism including countering radicalisation and violent extremism, combating financing of terrorism, preventing exploitation of the internet for terrorism and more, while also discussing bilateral cooperation against narcotics and drug trafficking.

Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation that will include assistance and capacity building for the security and law enforcement agencies and other relevant agencies of the Maldives as well as collaboration and the exchange of best practices in the areas of counter-terrorism, preventing and countering of violent extremism and de-radicalisation.

According to MEA, the Maldivian delegation, led by Foreign Secretary Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed, will also visit the training facilities of the National Security Guard and the Bureau of Police Research and Development during its stay in New Delhi. (ANI)
Tim Cook envisions a world where people can do everything on their phones, particularly sending votes through a digital platform and electing the next government officials for the country from across the world. However, this feat was not supported during the 2020 Presidential Elections despite the alarming case of COVID-19 in the country.

Tim Cook Envisions a World of People Voting on Phones

According to the recently concluded New York Times podcast entitled "Sway" with Kara Swisher, the Apple CEO has been asked to tackle different issues in society, and one of these led to national politics. Initially, it was a discussion about the surprising turn out on Georgia's political landscape, for which Cook has expressed opinions.

The Apple CEO then mentioned that many of the processes in a person's life like health and banking were already done on the phone, and he mentioned that "why not" vote on phones instead. Cook mentioned that a smartphone has held integral and sensitive data or information of a person more than their homes, and this could someday be a possibility.

Cook then furthers states that voting participation can encourage more people to partake in the country's affairs if it were taken to the digital platform, particularly with the use of smartphones on these matters. The Apple CEO firmly envisions a future where people can vote freely through their smartphone, and yield an honest result in the process.

Read Also: Tom Brady Debuts 'Autograph' NFT to Produce Digital Art Together with Other Athletes, Artists, and MORE

Why the US Did Not Allow Phone Voting or Online

A cybersecurity expert that was invited by Face the Nation on CBS initially shared his thoughts and concerns regarding the state of digital voting in the current era, and it is something which he cannot recommend. Initially, Dmitri Alperovitch, CTO of CrowdStrike Holdings, regarded that in terms of elections, the paper ballot is still the safest method.

Alperovitch regarded that paper is the most foolproof media, as it could be verified of a person's handwriting and leave traces, which is also a way to track people down once it proves to be erroneous or botched. On the other hand, the US 2020 Presidential Elections have disregarded the use of smartphones for voting despite the alarming case of COVID-19 due to election hacking concerns.

What is the Safest Voting Method?

Currently, even cybersecurity experts believe that the safest voting method for the country is through paper ballots, may it be carried out via the mail system or through voting networks that are spread across the region. The National Election Defense Coalition still believes that paper is the "state-of-the-art" public election method to use.

Related Article: Tim Cook Reveals Apple Car is Autonomous like a Robot, Hopes Parler Returns to App Store in Sway Podcast

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
LEWISTON - Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recently announced CCI/Speer as one of 30 finalists for the 2021 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, in recognition of the organizations support for its National Guard and Reserve employees.

I am honored to congratulate these 30 outstanding employers, who have distinguished themselves in supporting their Reserve Component employees, said Mr. Ron Bogle, ESGRs National Chair. Employers play a critical role in the readiness and success of our National Guard and Reserve forces, and by valuing and supporting their employees military service, they are making a direct contribution to our Nations security.

CCI/Speer, along with 29 other finalists were selected from 3,382 nominations received from Guardsmen and Reservists highlighting how their civilian employers went far beyond what the federal law requires to support them. The finalists represent large and small employers, as well as public sector organizations. Celebrating its 25th year, the Freedom Award began in 1996 under the auspices of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to recognize exceptional employer support, with 295 honorees to date.

CCI/Speer supports their military employees by offering differential pay, actively recruits service members and have done hiring events at the local National Guard Armory, and have done amazing job at taking care of the deployed service member and family. CCI/Speer contributes significantly too many military related organizations.

CCI/Speer has been incredibly supportive of me during my time away as a Naval Reservist. They have not only committed to ensuring I have the tools and opportunities to succeed within my civilian career, but also consistently asked and made sure that I had enough time available to be successful within my military career as well, said Senior Chief Petty Officer Robert Berthiaume, who nominated CCI/Speer for the award. On top of this, my leaders and colleagues at CCI/Speer have always ensured my family was taken care of and supported during my time away from home. For all of this, I cannot thank CCI/Speer and the many amazing leaders, colleagues, and friends of mine at this company enough.

CCI/Speer Senior Director of Operations, Bill Mackleit, underscored how important National Guard and Reserve members are to their work force. The CCI Speer family is deeply honored by the nomination said, Mackleit. but, the true honor is earned by our service members each and every day. We are grateful to be able to support them in any way possible.
The attorney generals office has added to their original argument against excluding evidence of Limestone Sheriff Mike Blakelys gambling habits from their case, saying its relevant to many of the counts with which hes been charged, records show.

The supplemental opposition to a motion filed by the defense was submitted last week because a new judge had been assigned and the original opposition and motion were more than a year old, according to state attorneys. Blakelys defense attorney had filed a motion to exclude any evidence of his gambling and drinking practices under seal in January 2020, the supplement reads.

However, the state claims that such evidence applies to five of the 11 counts in Blakelys indictment, which accuse him of theft, using his office for personal financial gain and soliciting money from an employee outside the ordinary course of business. According to the supplement, Blakely was at casinos in Las Vegas; Biloxi, Mississippi; or Atmore, Alabama, when the crimes occurred.

The State does not expect that defense counsel will deny that Blakely visited these places or that Blakely solicited or received cash from the ( Limestone County Sheriffs Office) or a subordinate, the supplement reads. The parties instead will debate the circumstances and the intent underlying these actions.

For the states part, those circumstances are that he was not conducting official business when he asked an employee to wire him $1,000, and being able to say whether or not he was gambling at the casino is necessary.

Alternatively, the jury would not hear evidence tending to show Blakely was not conducting official business ... when he received LCSO wire transfers; it would not hear evidence that Blakely was in a casino in another state during an Alabama Sheriffs conference the LCSO paid him to attend; and it would not hear evidence showing that Blakely gambled away LCSO funds rather than applying that money to law enforcement objectives, the supplement reads.

In other words, the absence of this evidence would make it less probable  nay, impossible  that the jury could return guilty verdicts on these counts, it says.

The motion to exclude the evidence that was filed by Blakelys defense team in January 2020 remained under seal Tuesday despite a later order by Judge Pride Tompkins against such filings. The state has said Blakelys argument for excluding the evidence is that he is a 10-term sheriff facing a highly publicized trial and having gambling or drinking evidence made public would risk unfair prejudice from jurors.

Blakely would have a stronger argument if the States intention was to paint Blakely as an unrepentant gambler by introducing evidence of gambling trips bearing no connection to the charged crimes or by gratuitously introducing gambling evidence for the purpose of disparaging his character, the supplement reads. The State intends to do no such thing.

As for his drinking, the State does not expect Blakelys drinking habits  whatever they may be  to be a significant part of its case, according to the supplement. However, it noted a majority of the prosecutions witnesses are closer to Blakely than the state attorneys, so they have limited control over whether any of its witnesses may mention drinking.

Jury selection

Blakelys trial was initially set to begin a year ago but only got as far as selecting a jury before the pandemic began and all trials were placed on hold. Judge Pamela Baschab, who was assigned to the trial after Tompkins recused himself, said a jury questionnaire used for that selection process could be modified and reused for a new jury.

The questionnaire, along with a possible schedule for distributing it, was filed by the AGs office March 30. In the unopposed motion, state attorneys proposed that Limestone County distribute jury summons May 10, distribute the questionnaires May 24 and require the questionnaires be returned by June 8.

The original five-page questionnaire sought general information about potential jurors, including employment information, military history and experience with law enforcement. The new one asks about ones level of comfort serving on a jury during an ongoing pandemic.

The previous jury selection required the use of an Athens City Schools facility due to lack of space at Limestone County Courthouse to accommodate the hundreds of individuals summoned as potential jurors. Officials have not said publicly where they will conduct the new jury selection.

About the case

Blakely, who was elected sheriff in 1982, pleaded not guilty to a 13-count indictment at a November 2019 arraignment. Two of the counts were later dismissed.

Of the remaining counts, four charge him with thefts from his campaign account, totaling $11,000; three are theft or ethics charges stemming from money taken from Limestone County funds; another charges him with soliciting $1,000 from an employee; and the final two charge him with using his position as sheriff to obtain interest-free loans, including from a safe that held money belonging to Limestone County Jail inmates.

The trial is due to begin July 12, with a final virtual hearing for pretrial motions set for April 12.

___

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Visit The News Courier (Athens, Ala.) at enewscourier.com

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GUILDERLAND  Mixed Breed Brewing, founded by five friends who all live in Guilderland, will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and soft opening at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15. The brewery is located at 457 State Route 146 in Guilderland Center.

Guy Bucey is the majority owner and has 15 years of experience brewing beer, a career he launched following military service in Iraq.
Why Cal Broadband-for-All Advocates Are Praising Pres. Bidens $2 Trillion Jobs Plan

Advocates for universal broadband access and internet affordability are lauding Pres. Bidens American Jobs Plan.

They praise the plan for recognizing the important of internet access, pointing out that broadband has become as necessary as electricity. The push for more access to affordable internet comes as families across the United States are having to adjust to remote work and learning due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

On Mar. 31, the Biden Administration announced the American Jobs Plan, a $2 trillion jobs, infrastructure and green energy proposal meant to reshape the U.S. economy. In his announcement, Biden said the plan would create the most resilient, innovative economy in the world, through multiple projects intended to upgrade the nations infrastructure and create millions of jobs.

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This is not a plan that tinkers around the edges. It is a once-in-a-generation investment in America, unlike anything weve done since we built the Interstate Highway System and the Space Race, in the 1950s and 60s, said Biden.

Though the proposal is widely referenced as an infrastructure plan, funding would go beyond traditional federal government spending on bridges and roads, public transit, clean energy and water systems to include unprecedented levels of investment in electric vehicles, affordable housing, community colleges and childcare facilities. It also includes large investments in innovation, including $100 billion in workforce development programs for underserved communities and $400 billion for home or community-based care for the elderly and people with disabilities.

The $2 trillion plan would be funded by tax increases on corporations, including raising the main corporate tax rate to 28 %. The current tax rate, which was lowered in the Trump tax cuts of 2017, is 21 %. The proposal says that these corporate tax changes would raise the estimated $2 trillion needed over 15 years to fund the initiative.

One of the key provisions of the infrastructure plan is $100 billion going toward high-speed broadband. The goal for the funding is to give all Americans access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet by promoting competition and lowering prices, as well as building out high-speed broadband connections to Americans in rural and low-income areas who dont have broadband. In addition to access, affordability was emphasized in Bidens speech announcing the plan. He referenced efforts during the pandemic to help low-income Americans keep their internet access when they couldnt afford the bills.

When I say affordable, I mean it. Americans pay too much, Biden said.

As the federal push to fund universal broadband works its way through Congress, efforts to widen broadband access in California continue.

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The day before the announcement of Bidens infrastructure plan, Mar. 30, a coalition of organizations including the California Hospital Association, California School Boards Association, California State Association of Counties and Rural County Representatives of California called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to designate $8 million in funding for high speed 100 Mbps broadband infrastructure. The proposal stated figures based on a California Public Utilities Commission December 2020 broadband cost report.

By investing in broadband, we are investing in our communities, our economy and the future of our state. We can no longer afford inaction and the California Forward Action Fund is proud to join this broad coalition in requesting a one-time investment that is a critical start to building the infrastructure needed to serve all Californians, said Micah Weinberg, CEO of the advocacy organization California Forward Action Fund.

The California Department of Education has launched a number of programs to designed to ensure that all children in the state have access to computers they need for learning and to the internet, but advocates say more work needs to be done across all age groups.

The coalition also stated that their funding request complements several broadband bills currently making their way through the California Legislature (AB 14, SB 4 and AB 34) rather than competing with them.

On Apr. 1, California Forward hosted a conference called Building Equitable Economies: Broadband Funding Innovations, where presenters shared information on current broadband access efforts and the challenges that affect broadband access and affordability. Participants shared data from a 2021 broadband adoption survey conducted by the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) and USC researchers. The survey found that affordability was the largest self-reported reason for the lack of internet among unconnected and under-connected households.

To combat affordability concerns, panelists said that internet service providers, who typically offer low-cost broadband services for lower-income households, need to raise awareness about their affordable internet packages.

There is a clear need for the ISPs to significantly increase advertising. They have to expand partnerships with community-based organizations, [who] are the trusted messengers and honest brokers. The practices at the call centers need to be those such that the digitally-disadvantaged are valued as customers, said John Chiang, Co-Chair of California Forward and former State Treasurer and Controller.
The program of inoculating Russians against the coronavirus may meet its target figures by autumn when a new increase in incidence is possible, Head of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing Anna Popova said on Thursday, TASS reports.

"We would like this [vaccination of 60% of adult Russians - TASS] to happen by autumn for several reasons: first of all, the country has the relevant capabilities and, secondly, as we said earlier, by autumn there will be an increase [in incidence]," she said in an interview with the Komsomolskaya Pravda radio station.

At the same time she recommended getting vaccinated as soon as possible without putting it off until autumn.
Japan's government is considering bringing in a four-day working week aimed at improving people's quality of life, the country's Chief Cabinet Secretary has said.

It is hoped that the scheme would also boost the country's tourism industry that has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, in a nation known for long working hours.

Katsunobu Kato said on Monday that he intends to consider the introduction of a 'selective three-day weekly holiday system', based on initial recommendations made by the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, within the month.

'It is important to promote diverse work styles from the perspective of balancing life and work, such as childcare, long-term care, and fighting illness,' he said.

As Chief Cabinet Secretary, Kato coordinates policies of ministries and agencies in the executive branch, serves as the government's press officer, conducts policy research and prepares materials to be discussed at cabinet meetings.

Katsunobu Kato (pictured in Tokyo on Tuesday, April 6) said on Monday that he intends to introduce a 'selective three-day weekly holiday system', based on initial recommendations made by the Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters, within the month

He said he would like to 'examine what the government can do' about implementing a 'voluntary three-day holiday', which would mean not only would Japan's workers be permitted a three-day weekend, but they could choose which three days to take off.

Kato stressed the need for people to have a healthy work-life balance, and that three days off a week would help people when it comes to childcare, caring for elderly relatives or fighting illnesses.

It would also likely result in people staying in their jobs for longer, and lead to people travelling more, and thus helping Japan's ailing tourism industry.

Last month, it was announced that spectators from abroad would be banned from attending the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to be held this summer due to the potential spread of Covid-19, striking another blow to the industry.

According to SoraNews24, Microsoft Japan carried out a three-day weekend experiment in 2019, which showed improvements in worker productivity, with reports suggesting that workers got 40 percent more work done.

But despite the apparent success of the trial, no new policy was forthcoming.

It is hoped that the scheme would also boost the country's tourism industry that has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, in a nation known for long working hours. Overseas fans will be barred from this year's pandemic-postponed Tokyo Olympics because of ongoing coronavirus concerns, organisers announced last month. Pictured: Interior view of the new National Stadium, venue of the opening and closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in Tokyo

Some have expressed concern that a three-day weekend could potentially decrease people's wages, while others are worried companies could increase working hours on non-holiday days to make up for the lost day.

Japan's rule Liberal Democratic Party, in which Kato is a minister, has reportedly already begun discussing the idea of a three-day weekend in the Promoting Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens department.

As its next step, it is expected to submit proposals after consulting with experts.

Suicide is a major issue in Japan with one of the highest rates in the world, with its long working hours often cited as a reason behind some people's unhappiness.

In February, Japan appointed its first Minister of Loneliness after suicide rates rose for the first time in 11 years.

Following the example of a similar appointment in the UK in 2018, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga appointed minister Tetsushi Sakamoto to the role.

Suga's administration considers the issue to be an urgent, with the loneliness amongst Japan's population being put into the spotlight again due to the pandemic.

Isolation is seen as the cause of a number of other social issues, such as suicide, poverty and social reclusiveness.

Pictured: People wearing protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walk at a pedestrian crossing Monday, February 22 in Tokyo, Japan

Preliminary figures released by Japan's National Police Agency showed that 20,919 people took their own lives in 2020 - 750 more than in 2019.

Sakamoto - who is also in charge of tackling the nation's falling birth rate and revitalising struggling regional economics - said he hopes to 'carry out activities to prevent social loneliness and isolation and to protect ties between people.'

In October, Japan saw more people die from suicide than had died from Covid-19 in all of 2020, the data shows.

There were 2,153 deaths from suicide in October alone, while Japan had seen 1,765 coronavirus-related deaths by the end of October 2020 for the whole year.

As of February 22, 2021, 7,541 people have died from Covid-19 in Japan since the start of the pandemic, still far fewer the number lost to suicide in 2020.

The increase marked the fires year-on-year rise in 11 years, and is largely attributed to a surge in suicides among women and young people, according to the Japan Times.
Here's the backstory of Pastor Artur Pawlowski's rage in his standoff with several officers during their church's Passover service in Alberta, Canada.

Speaking to the Daily Caller, Pastor Pawlowski said that the officials "entered the church building uninvited on its holiest, most anticipated day for parishioners." For 13 months, he said that he had been harassed by the authorities. Throughout that period, he had repeatedly asked them to tone down their presence as law enforcers if they plan to enter the church building so as not to intimidate the parishioners.

"If they want to talk or inspect the building, they can call me and we can arrange that," he said.

The pastor explained that "they (officers) preferred a method of storming" and that "they just wanted to walk in in the middle of worship," thereby treating the church like "their own home."

At the beginning of his now viral video, Pawlowski could be heard yelling repeatedly at the authorities before they finally left the church's premises.

"I asked them to get out, and they would not move," said Pawlowski. When the officers refused, the pastor started filming with his phones.

"So everything started to intensify. And I raised my voice, and I said it again and again and again, and they just didn't want to go," he added.

In their officially released statement, the Calgary Police Department states that "the organizer of the gathering was uncooperative with the health inspector, and repeatedly raised his voice asking all parties to leave the premises, which they did approximately one minute after entry and in a peaceful manner."

Additionally, there were no tickets issued against the pastor for his demeanor.

Concerning his labeling of the officers as "communists," Pawlowski said that he uttered those because he's seeing a repetition of history.

"I grew up in Poland under the boot of the Soviets, behind the Iron Curtain. What I see right now, I see everything escalating and moving to the new level. They're acting just like the Communists were acting when I was growing up when the pastors and the priests were arrested, and some were murdered. Many were tortured," remarked Pawlowski.

Pawlowski also told the Daily Caller that after the incident, some police officers approached him on the street and were apologetic. He said that they "(feel) ashamed for their colleagues," and told him, "this was bad, there was no need for something like this."

The pastor clarified that he's willing to make arrangements for inspecting officers, but under the condition that they will not come with "their guns, tasers and handcuffs."

"This is unacceptable," he said. "Even during the times of the Middle Ages, the knights were commanded to leave their swords outside the church, they were not allowed to enter the church. But these days, nothing is holy for those people. They just walk in like it's a restaurant."

Also amused that the video he uploaded on Facebook went viral, Pawlowski said that "he hopes it gives others hope and courage to stand up to the authorities."

People also extended their support to Pawlowski for his courage to act on behalf of his parishioners.

"From my point of view, I'm not afraid of the disease. Because my God is bigger, and I pray for the people that are still sick and that they recover. I don't live a life of fear, because I have hope," he declared.
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Paris, 8 April 2021, 7.35 pm - Ecoslops, the cleantech company that brings oil into the circular economy, announces its results for the year ended 31 December 2020, as approved by the Board of Directors at its meeting on 8 April 2021.

Significant commercial acceleration on the Scarabox  project (formerly Mini P2R): Signature of 3 letters of intent in 2020, including one converted into a sales contract in 2021;

Solid balance sheet allowing the continuation of investments and development projects;

Revenues of  5.75M and EBITDA of  (3.0) M, mainly impacted by the effects of the health crisis and its repercussions on activities in Portugal.

Key highlights of the 2020 fiscal year

The group as a whole was strongly impacted by the Covid-19 health crisis and its repercussions on the price of oil products.

After the first two months of very good activity at the beginning of 2020, following on from 2019, the health crisis quickly had the following consequences for the rest of the year:

In addition to the usual planned maintenance shutdowns, the Sines unit in Portugal was forced to stop for 37 days due to the shutdown and subsequent sharp slowdown in customer activity in a country that was very badly hit, particularly in the second half of the year. As a result, the P2R unit produced 21,639 tonnes and sold 18,737 tonnes in 2020 (compared to 25,796 and 23,048 tonnes in 2019), i.e. decreases of 16% and 19% respectively. Apart from these impacts, the yields and quality of the products were in line with expectations and confirm the technical excellence of the facility, which has processed nearly 120,000T of residues since its launch;

As regards the Marseille unit, in addition to the total closure of the site from 17 March to 11 May 2020, the health crisis had the effect of disrupting many suppliers and subcontractors and limiting the number of people working on the site. Commissioning is scheduled for the 2nd quarter of 2021.

Another effect of the health crisis was the sharp drop in the price of petroleum products from the beginning of March 2020 until the end of 2020. The average Brent price for 2020 was 37.9/bbl, 34% lower than the 2019 average price of 57.3/bbl.

For these reasons, the group recorded a significant drop in turnover of -35% in 2020, from 8.83m in 2019 to 5.75m in 2020. This decrease is broken down into a -44% decrease in Refined Products (-20% volume effect and -24% price effect) and -7% in Port Services.

At the same time, the group has decided to maintain or even increase its resources on current projects (Marseille, Scarabox, design studies) in order not to jeopardise the future. The decrease in turnover, and the corresponding gross margin, therefore results in an equivalent loss in EBITDA.

The groups EBITDA thus changed from +0.4M in 2019 to (3M) in 2020. This decrease breaks down as follows:



M EBITDA 2019 0,4 Non-recurring items 2019 * (1,3) Savings at the head office 0,2 Impact of the drop in activity in Portugal (2,3) EBITDA 2020 (3,0)

*: Non-recurring items in 2019 consisted of 0.6m of capitalised production related to the Marseille unit (project management assistance contract), 0.6m of investment subsidy on previous years (IAPMEI subsidy) and 0.1m of FASEP subsidy (Egypt Project).

The group managed to limit the impact of this drop in activity on its cash flow. Despite an EBITDA of (3) million, it was able to contain its operating cash flow to (1.4) million.

On the other hand, and in preparation for the future, the year 2020 was also marked by major advances in the development of the groups strategy and its growth levers:

The renewal of the operating permit for the Sines unit (obtained on 25 February 2021). This renewal was accompanied by the granting of a Seveso Haut storage permit allowing Ecoslops Portugal to increase its capacity from 5,000 m3 to 20,000 m3. This will enable the company to take a much more opportunistic and flexible approach to procurement in the future;

Significant acceleration of the technical and commercial development of the Scarabox (new commercial name of the Mini-P2R) in its final version. The group signed 3 letters of intent in 2020 (plus one in February 2021), one of which has already been converted into a sales contract in March 2021 for a customer in Cameroon. With many other prospects, the Scarabox is a new strategic growth area that is likely to rapidly achieve as much turnover as our own factories in Portugal and France;

Continued investment in Marseille with 9M disbursed over the period and financed by bank drawdowns in 2020: 5M from the European Investment Bank and 6.5M from the BNP Paribas/HSBC/Banque Populaire Mediterranee banking pool;

The continuation of studies on the three P2R projects in progress: Antwerp, Egypt and Singapore.

Strengthening of the Ecoslops business model

With the launch of the Scarabox, the groups development is now based on 2 activities instead of one. The P2R and the Scarabox have in common that they offer technical and economical solutions to the problems posed by the pollution of air, water or land by various hydrocarbon residues. They are the result of the groups unique know-how in vacuum distillation and regeneration of residues into genuine petroleum products, substitutes for the import or manufacture of such products from crude oil. Because of their 100% circular nature, these solutions are both synonymous with C02 savings when compared to what exists.

The P2R business (for which Ecoslops designs, builds, finances and operates the industrial facility) is aimed at mature markets, typically in developed countries with high regulatory barriers, benefiting from large residue sources (30,000 T/year or more).

The Scarabox activity (for which Ecoslops manufactures and sells equipment to the final customer as well as a 5 to 10 year operating and technical assistance license) is particularly adapted for developing countries or countries far away from industrial treatment centres (e.g. islands), with smaller quantities of waste (around 7,000 T/year or scattered waste deposits, including waste oils.

These two activities are complementary (know-how, teams, references, etc.) but largely independent in terms of development. P2R revenues are linked to oil prices, while Scarabox revenues are based on the number of units sold and in service (largely or totally independent of oil prices).

Consolidated income statement 2020 (in k)

(Audited accounts and reports being issued)

In 000 31/12/2020 31/12/2019 Var. k Var. % Turnover - Refined products 3 768 6 689 (2 921) (44)% Turnover - Port services & other 1 985 2 142 (157) (7)% Total Turnover 5 753 8 831 (3 078) (35)% Other income 1 335 1 665 (330) (20)% Operating Income 7 088 10 496 (3 408) (32)% Cost of good sold (3 046) (3 331) 285 (9)% General (3 206) (3 313) 107 (3%) Taxes (69) (88) 19 (22)% Staff costs (3 492) (3 249) (243) 7% Other expenses (247) (69) (178) 258% EBITDA (2 972) 446 (3 418) (766)% Depreciation and provision (1 578) (1 357) (221) 16% Financial income (loss) (657) (546) (111) 20% Extraordinary income (loss) 0 0 0

Corporate tax 66 (234) 300 (128)% Net result (5 141) (1 691) (3 450) 204% Net result - Part for the Group (5 067) (1 650) (3 417) 207%

The decrease in operating income of (3.4)M is broken down into (3.1)M of lower turnover, (1.3)M related to non-recurring items 2019 (see above) and +0.9M of inventoried production (construction of the Scarabox).

Purchases of goods and raw materials consist of slops for 2.3m and supplies for the manufacture of the Scarabox for 0.7m.

The 7% increase in personnel costs is mainly due to the full-year impact of the recruitments made in 2019.

Financial expenses increased by 0.1 million, directly related to the bank loans drawn down during the year.

Corporate income tax represents an income of 0.1m and breaks down into a tax income of 0.5m relating to the research tax credit and tax credit for business development expenses, a current tax charge of (0.1)m for Ecoslops Portugal and finally an impairment charge on the deferred tax assets of Ecoslops Portugal of (0.3)m in order to take into account the impact of the health crisis on the future use of tax loss carryforwards.

Consolidated balance sheet as at 31 December 2020

(Audited accounts and reports being issued)

In 000 31/12/2020 31/12/2019 Var. k Var. % Intangible fixed assets 1 209 534 675 126% Tangible fixed assets 32 811 26 024 6 787 26% Financial assets 175 175 0 0% Deferred tax asset 1 023 1 353 (330) (24)% Fixed assets 35 218 28 086 7 132 25% Inventory 1 391 1172 219 19% Trade receivables 486 1 490 (1 004) (67)% Other receivables 1 785 1 826 (41) (2)% Cash or cash equivalent 7 955 5 979 1 976 33% Prepaid expenses 1 071 1 234 (163) (13)% Current assets 12 688 11 701 987 8% Total Assets 47 906 39 787 8 119 20%





In 000 31/12/2020 31/12/2019 Var. k Var. % Capital & Reserves 18 676 20 327 (1 651) (8%) Subsidies 1 654 1 751 (97) (6)% Minority shareholders 1 134 1 208 (74) - Net result - part for the Group (5 067) (1 650) (3 417) 207% Equity 16 397 21 636 (5 239) (24)% Prov. for Risks and Charges 250 129 121 94% Financial debt 26 552 13 186 13 366 101% Trade payables 3 071 3 252 (181) (6)% Social and tax payables 1 155 879 276 31% Other payables 481 705 (224) (32)% Current liabilities 4 707 4 836 (129) (3)% Total Liability & Equity 47 906 39 787 8 119 20%

Financial position and cash flows

As at 31 December 2020, the Group had almost 7.9m of cash (+2m compared to 31 December 2019) and net debt of 18.6m (vs 7.2m as at 31 December 2019). The change in cash flow can be broken down as follows:



FY 2020

FY 2019 EBITDA (2 972)

446 Investment subsidy recognition (126)

(735) Inventory production variance (127)

(258) Corporate tax 342

335 Operating working capital variance 1 513

207 Operating Cashflow (1 371)

(5) Capital expenditure (8 756)

(8 626) Investing working capital variance (608)

1 645 Investing Cashflow (9 364)

(6 981) Ecoslops Provence SHL 550

975 Ecoslops Provence paid-in capital



1 249 BSPCE subscription



230 Debt issuance costs



(1 175) Loans 12 610

4 240 Interests (449)

(463) Financing Cashflow 12 711

5 056 Cash variance 1 976

(1 930)







Opening cash balance 5 979

7 909 Closing cash balance 7 955

5 979 Variance 1 976

(1 930)

The increase in net debt should be seen in the context of the 9.4m of capital expenditure incurred during the year (including 9m for the construction of the Marseille unit). In addition, despite an EBITDA of (3) million, the company was able to contain its operating cash flow at (1.4) million.

Outlook and subsequent events

Regarding P2R, Ecoslops is engaged in discussions on possible locations in the ports of Antwerp, Singapore and the Suez Canal (for the latter, the prerequisite is the installation of a collection station for maritime residues). These design studies were impacted by the health crisis and the travel ban. Ecoslops will select the most profitable and robust project(s) and will favour the association with well-established local partners in order to reduce the need for equity financing and to secure the aspects related to construction and operation (access to the source of residues, qualified personnel, operating licenses, etc.).

Concerning the Scarabox, Ecoslops aims this year to commission the first unit in Cameroon on behalf of its customer SCIN and to convert a second letter of intent into a sales contract (for delivery in 2022). The opportunity pipeline is growing strongly and the visibility given by Cameroon will be an additional accelerating factor. The company plans to reinforce its human and material resources to support this development, both in terms of ongoing R&D efforts and in the manufacture and sale of units (with associated technical support). The financial resources for these reinforcements are currently being studied.

For the Sines unit in Portugal, the company expects to produce around 21,000 tonnes in 2021 and is targeting a turnover of between 7 and 8 million, based on current Brent prices. It should be noted that the beginning of 2021 was used for the inspection and repair of storage tanks (regulatory ten-year inspection), which resulted in a two-month shutdown of the unit.

For the Marseille unit, the effective start-up is planned before the end of the second quarter. The aim is to produce around 10,000T over the rest of 2021. The half-year activity will not be able to contribute positively to profitability given the start-up and fixed costs.

Financial Agenda

General Assembly : June 10th, 2021

Publication of semestrial results: September 23rd, 2021

ABOUT ECOSLOPS

Ecoslops is listed on Euronext Growth in Paris

Code ISIN : FR0011490648 - Ticker : ALESA / PEA-PME eligible

Investor Relations : info.esa@ecoslops.com - 01 83 64 47 43

Ecoslops brings oil into circular economy thanks to an innovative technology allowing the company to upgrade oil residues into new fuels and light bitumen. The solution proposed by Ecoslops is based on a unique micro-refining industrial process that transforms these residues into commercial products that meet international standards. Ecoslops offers an economic and more ecological solution to port infrastructure, waste collectors and ship-owners through its processing plants.

Attachment
Two central New York universities are requiring students to get COVID-19 vaccinations before the fall semester.

Cornell and Syracuse announced this week that students must get vaccinated before returning to campus. Both universities say that medical and religious exemptions will be accommodated.

In a letter posted on the university's website, Cornell President Martha Pollack said with expanded eligibility and increasing production, faculty, staff and students can get vaccinated in the spring or summer. It's expected that most members of the campus community will get vaccinated, which Pollack noted will reduce the risk of infection.

Cornell is also require registration of vaccination status. The university has a proof of vaccination tool that faculty, staff and students can complete once they have been fully vaccinated. The requirement takes effect April 15.

"Once we have better data about the degree of community protection that has been achieved, we will offer additional details regarding full campus reactivation in a safe and responsible manner," Pollack wrote.
All of the hundreds of Australian companies studied during the course of a week were targeted by supplier domain cyber attacks, with hackers turning their attention to the supply chain, a new report has found.

Cybersecurity company Proofpoint monitored nearly 3,000 organisations in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia over seven days in February.

It found that 98 per cent of these businesses received a threat from a supplier domain.

For the Australian companies studied, this number was 100 per cent.

This signals that cyber attackers have turned to the supply chain and partner ecosystem into another threat vector, sending all types of threats through this avenue.

These attacks include phishing for credentials and malware, and imposter threats such as business email compromise.

Nearly 75 per cent of these supplier domain attacks were from impersonated and compromised suppliers using phishing or imposter threats, based on social engineering and hoping for human error. Less than a third of the identified attacks were malware-related, the study found.

The research shows that threats from impersonated and compromised suppliers are more likely to lean on social engineering to prey on human nature, the Proofpoint report said.

This is further evidence that attackers are targeting people rather than the vulnerabilities of the infrastructure of an organisation.

The high level of attacks were consistent across company size, industry and country, meaning all businesses are at risk of the new avenue of attack.

Supplier threats have previously been focused on invoicing fraud, but the study revealed that they can encompass all types of threats.

And the cyber attackers are also following legitimate suppliers to the cloud and exploiting popular platforms such as Microsoft 365, Google G-Suite and Dropbox to host or send threats at an alarming rate, the report found.

As part of the study, Proofpoint observed and stopped supplier invoicing fraud attacks that would have potentially cost millions of dollars, the company said.

All companies in the construction sector that were studied received these types of threats, compared to 99 per cent of those in utilities and communications, and 98 per cent of those in financial services.

Theres no simple fix to this type of cyber threat, the report said.

Theres no silver bullet for supply chain threats, the Proofpoint report said.

To better defend against threats from impersonated and compromised suppliers, organisations need a holistic, multi-layered solution.

In February last year it was revealed that an Australian ice rink company had lost more than $77,7000 in a supplier email scam that tricked a director into sending the money into a cybercriminals bank account in Hungary.

The company first received a legitimate invoice from the company it had purchased a new ice resurfacer machine from, but soon after received an amended invoice that appeared to be from the same address.

This invoice had different banking details linking to the Hungary account.

Last year saw cybercriminals up their game, being able to penetrate corporate networks twice as quickly compared to 2019.

It was found that it took just 4 hours 28 minutes on average for attackers to gain entry into a new organisation, half as long as the average time in the previous year.

The report also found that two out of three Australian organisations had been hit by ransomware attacks in 2020.
UN Refugee Agency calls for equitable access to coronavirus vaccines for refugees

Xinhua) 10:12, April 08, 2021

Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the outside view of the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

GENEVA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- On the occasion of World Health Day, April 7, the United Nations (UN) Refugee Agency (UNHCR) called for "concerted international action and solidarity" to secure access to COVID-19 vaccines for refugees, and for forcibly displaced and stateless people.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the UNHCR regretted that unequal access to vaccines and limited capacity of health systems could compromise the immunization of refugees, even if 153 countries included them in their vaccination strategies.

"The blatant imbalances observed in vaccine-sharing among states are counter-productive and short-sighted," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said.

"A 'my country first' approach just cannot work in a pandemic that knows no borders," he added.

According to the UNHCR, only 20 nations are known to have vaccinated refugees on an "equal footing" with their citizens. Recent examples include Serbia, Nepal, Rwanda and Jordan.

These countries, along with many other low and middle-income countries, host 85 percent of the world's refugees, the UNHCR said.

The Geneva-based organization said that while these nations continue to "generously host" to bulk of refugees, they are being plagued with "financial challenges and fragile health systems."

"We commend these countries (those that vaccinate refugees) for their exemplary dedication and leadership," Grandi said. "By including refugees in their vaccine distribution, they mitigate the risks associated with exclusion and discrimination."

Reiterating its support for the COVAX Facility -- the World Health Organization-led (WHO) initiative that aims to provide vaccine doses for low and middle income countries -- the UNHCR said that it needs an additional 455 million U.S. dollars but to date it has received only 13 percent of that sum in contributions and pledges.

The WHO said that as of Monday, more than 604 million COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered, mostly in high-income nations.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday called it a "travesty" that not all countries had enough vaccine doses to protect their health workers and at-risk groups.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Dehradun, April 8 : Nearly 88 students of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district have tested positive for coronavirus, an institute official said on Thursday.

Sonika Shirivastva, a spokesperson of the institute, said all the 88 students have been kept in the Ganga hostel within the IIT premises which has been converted into a special Covid care centre.

"These students are being kept under the observation of the Haridwar medical officials," said Shrivastva.

Nearly five hostels have been sealed.

However, there is no disruption in the online classes of the institute, she said.

Shrivastva made it clear that the institute was strictly adhering to all the Covid-19 guidelines of the state government. "We are very strict on covid guidelines," she said.
1. Dont just like, react!

The Facebook algorithm prioritizes posts that look like they start a conversation so take the extra second to give a love heart over the like. It also helps businesses know that youre enjoying what they post and thats always a bonus!

2. Comment more than four words.

Say something encouraging about their post or even what you personally like about their products. If you read a comment that absolutely raved about how much another customer liked it, that would entice you to also buy it! You arent only helping the small business with the algorithm but helping other people make the decision to shop small.

3. Write a positive review.

There are so many Karens in the world that only have negative things to say about a business. Tomorrow is an opportunity to create some positive changes! A positive review can make a sale especially if they dont have many reviews.

4. If you have a negative review, talk to the business directly

Good businesses never want their customers walking away unsatisfied. If you communicate to the business that you didnt enjoy the product or service they have a chance to create a solution for you. You wont be damaging future business and who knows? Maybe youll make a new friend!

5. Rave about your favourite small businesses!

Repost their posts on your Instagram stories, create your own post or recommend it to your close friends. This is one of the most effective ways to help small businesses out! Sometimes it gets tough finding businesses that suit you, so tell your friends about it because theyll probably enjoy it just as much as you do!
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The two Chinese expatriates kidnapped at a gold mining site in Osun State on Monday have regained their freedom.

The spokesperson of the police in the state, Yemisi Opalola, disclosed this to PREMIUM TIMES in an interview on Thursday.

This newspaper reported how Zhao Juan, 33, and One Wen, 50, were whisked away at a mining site located in Okepa/Itikan village in Ifewara, Atakumosa-West local government area of the state.

Also, two local guards securing the site were shot during a gun duel with the kidnappers.

On Wednesday, Ms Opalola said the kidnappers had demanded 10 million for the Chinese expatriates release.

But on Thursday, she said police had rescued the victims. She did not disclose whether ransom was paid or not.

Ms Opalola simply said efforts are ongoing to arrest the devil in human clothing.

It is with great delight to inform the members of the public that the above named Chinese Nationals have been rescued at about 9pm yesterday unhurt.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police enjoined members of the public to support, co-operate, and collaborate with the Police in fighting crime to bring it down to the barest minimum, by providing us with credible and prompt information as this will always help in forestalling future incidents.

Kidnapping for ransom is fast becoming the order of the day in Nigeria following the deterioration of security.

Southwest governors in 2020 launched Amotekun, a regional security operative. Despite their efforts, kidnapping and killings still rampant in the region.
IRL Notice on convocation of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of AB INTER RAO Lietuva, code 1261 19913, registered address at A. Tumeno g. 4, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as the Company), is convened by initiative of the board and following the decision of the board adopted on 29 March 2021 (hereinafter referred to as the Meeting).

The Meeting will be held at at A. Tumeno str. 4 (Block B, 9 floor), LT-01109 Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania, at 10.00 am on 29 April 2021. Registration will take place from 09.00 am till 09.40 am. The agenda of the Meeting approved by the Board: 1. Regarding the Consolidated Annual Report of the Company for the year 2020; 2. Approval of the Audited Annual Financial Statements of the Company for the year 2020 and the Audited Consolidated Annual Financial Statements of the Group for the year 2020; 3. Distribution of profit (loss) of the Company for the year 2020; 4. Selection of the audit firm and approval of conditions of payment for audit services; 5. Election of member of Supervisory Council; 6. Approval of Remuneration policy of the Company; 7. Approval of the new wording of Articles of association of the Company. Draft decisions of the Meeting: 1. To take note of the Consolidated Annual Report of the Company for the year 2020, which has been approved by the Board and has been analysed by the Supervisory Council of the Company; 2. To approve the Audited Annual Financial Statements of the Company for the year 2020 and the Audited Consolidated Annual Financial Statements of the Group for the year 2020; 3. To distribute the profit (loss) of the Company for the year 2020 according to the draft distribution of profit (loss); 4. To select UAB Ernst & Young Baltic, legal entitys code 110878442, address Subaciaus str. 7, Vilnius, as the audit firm to perform the audit of the financial statements of the Company for the year 2021 and to establish conditions on payment as follows: not exceeding EUR 26,000 (without VAT) for the audit services; 5. To elect the following persons as the member of the Supervisory Council: Alexey Levchenko 6. To approve the Remuneration policy of the Company; 7. 7.1) To approve the New Wording of Articles of association of the Company according with the actual Wording of Republic of Lithuania Law on Companies. 7.2) To assign the General Director of the Company Mr Giedrius Balciunas, to sign the New Wording of the rticles of ssociation of the Company and any other necessary documents for the registration of the New wording of the rticles of ssociation of the Company with the Register of Legal Entities of the Republic of Lithuania; prepare, sign and submit to the Register of Legal Entities of the Republic of Lithuania and other entities or institutions all and any necessary documents and perform any actions related therewith. The Meeting record day, i.e. the fifth business day before the Meeting, is 22 April 2021. Shareholders who at the end of the Meeting record day, i.e. at the end of 22 April 2021, will be shareholders of the Company have a right to participate and vote at the Meeting. Persons, who at the end of the tenth business day following the Meeting that will adopt a respective decision, i.e. on 13 May 2021, (rights accounting day) will be shareholders of the Company, shall have proprietary rights (to get dividends). Shareholders who at the end of the Meeting record day will be shareholders of the Company have a right to participate and vote at the General Meeting of Shareholders personally or by proxy, or to be represented by the person with whom an agreement on the transfer of voting rights is concluded. Shareholders of the Company that will hold the shares through securities accounts maintained by the participants of the National Depositary for Securities in Poland will be given the opportunity to participate in and vote at the Meeting either by proxy or personally, by requesting the participant of the National Depositary for Securities (i.e. brokerage firm where the shareholder holds its shares), to register him/her for the Meeting. This request should be submitted before or on the Meeting record date. A person attending the Meeting must present a persons identification document. A person who is not a shareholder must additionally present a document confirming his/her right to vote at the Meeting. Each shareholder shall have a right to authorise another (natural or legal) person on his/her behalf to attend and vote at the Meeting. At the Meeting an authorised person shall have the same rights as would be held by the shareholder represented by him/her, unless the authorized person's rights are limited by the power of attorney. The authorised person must provide a power of attorney or a copy certified in the manner established by the laws. The Company does not establish special form of power of attorney. We hereby draw your attention to the fact that on the day of this notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic a quarantine has been imposed in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania by a decision of the Government (hereinafter referred to as the Quarantine), which includes a ban on organizing all events and gatherings in open and closed spaces. Currently the Quarantine is imposed until 24:00 (end of day) of 27 April 2021. It has been declared publicly, that the Quarantine can be prolonged. If on the day of the Meeting, i.e. on 29 April 2021, the Quarantine and abovementioned ban on organizing all events and gatherings is still in place, shareholders and their proxies will not have the possibility to attend and participate in the Meeting in person. In such case shareholders and their proxies will have the possibility to participate and vote at the Meeting by the only way, which is mandatory under the laws and allowed under such circumstances  to vote in writing in advance by filling in the General Voting Ballot and submitting it to the Company before the day of the Meeting. If on the day of the Meeting, i.e. on 29 April 2021, the Quarantine and the abovementioned ban on organizing all events and gatherings will no longer be in place, the shareholders and their proxies will have the possibility to attend and participate in the Meeting in person. However, considering the threat posed by the COVID-19 coronavirus, in such case the Company strongly recommends that the shareholders and their proxies do not attend the Meeting in person, but vote in writing in advance by filling in the General Voting Ballot. A shareholder or a person authorised by him/her shall have a right to vote in writing in advance by filling in the General Voting Ballot. The sample of General Voting Ballot together with instructions is provided hereby and on the Companys website at www.interrao.lt under the heading For Investors. The General Voting Ballot, duly filled in and signed by the shareholder or an authorized person, and the document confirming the voting right (if any) must be submitted to the Company at A. Tumeno g. 4, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania in writing before the Meeting. If the shareholder so requests, the Company, no later than 10 days before the Meeting, must dispatch a General Voting Ballot by registered mail or present this against signature free of charge for a shareholder. The Company is not providing the possibility to attend and vote at the Meeting through electronic means of communication. Shareholders holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes shall have the right of proposing to supplement the agenda of the Meeting. Proposal to supplement the agenda must be presented in writing by sending it to A.Tumeno g. 4, LT-01109 Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania. The agenda will be supplemented if the proposal is received not later than 14 days before the Meeting. Together with the proposal to supplement the agenda of the Meeting draft decisions must be presented to the Company. Shareholder holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes shall have the right at any time before the Meeting or at the Meeting (the latter option does not apply, if the person participates in the Meeting by filling in the General Voting Ballot in advance) to propose in writing draft resolutions on the issues already included or to be included in the agenda of the Meeting, to nominate candidates to the bodies of the Company, the audit company. The proposed draft decisions must be presented to the Company at A.Tumeno g. 4, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania. The shareholders shall have the right to present questions related to the agenda issues of the Meeting in advance at A.Tumeno g. 4, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania by not later than 3 days before the Meeting. Responses of a general character shall be posted on the Companys website www.interrao.lt under the heading For Investors. The Company will not respond personally to the shareholder if the respective information is posted on the Company's website. The shareholders could get familiarized with the documents possessed by the Company related to the agenda of the Meeting, including draft resolutions, and other documents to be submitted to the Meeting as well as to get information regarding execution of the shareholders rights at the registered address of the Company at A.Tumeno g. 4, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania or on the Companys website at www.interrao.lt under the heading For Investors. The total number of the Companys shares of 0,29 Euro par value each and the number of shares granting voting rights during the Meeting is the same and amounts to 20,000,000. ISIN code of the Companys shares is LT0000128621. Annexes: 1. Example of General Voting Ballot; 2. Draft distribution of profit (loss) of the Company for the year 2020. 3. Draft Remuneration policy of the Company; 4. Draft Articles of Association of the Company. Legal grounds: Article 17.1 of the EU Regulation on market abuse No 596/2014.
After attending half a dozen agoras, I can say with some confidence that the rewards are slim from an audience perspective. The format is barely even agitprop, as occupiers are trying hard not to do anything overtly theatrical  a necessary compromise, perhaps, yet one that makes for arguably limited visibility.

If agoras start to look like actual performances, they are at risk of falling foul of the rules, which preclude all cultural events. Only demonstrations are allowed, and organizers must apply for permission. Some local authorities have been more amenable than others. Last Saturday, the Odeons daily agora was forbidden by the Paris prefecture, which declared it a concealed cultural event. Agoras were able to resume the next day, but without live music. (In the end, musicians were granted permission to return beginning last Monday.)

Then there is the fear of public disapproval. On March 21, an unauthorized street carnival that drew thousands in Marseille prompted widespread condemnation, with some participants now facing legal action. Carla Audebaud, one of the drama students occupying the Theatre National de Strasbourg, in eastern France, said in a phone interview that practicing their craft wasnt the goal. Were trying not to make it look like a show, she said.
PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel on Tuesday slammed Google and Apple for being too close to China and warned that bitcoin could be used as a 'Chinese financial weapon against the US'.

Thiel was participating in a virtual event called The Nixon Seminar that was hosted by the Richard Nixon Foundation when he doubled down on his criticism of Google before calling Apple the 'real problem'.

'You know, I criticized Google a few years ago for refusing to work on its AI technology on Project Maven with the US military, but working with Chinese universities and Chinese researchers.

'And since everything in China is a civilian- military fusion, Google was effectively working with the Chinese military, not with the American military. And there was sort of this question, Why Google was doing this? And one of the things that I was sort of told by some of the insiders at Google was they figured they might as well give the technology out the front door, because if they didnt give it  it would get stolen anyway,' Thiel explained.

Thiel then gave his thoughts on Apple, saying: 'Apple is probably the one [tech company] thats structurally a real problem because the whole iPhone supply chain gets made from China. Apple is the one that has real synergies with China.'

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PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel (pictured) on Tuesday slammed Google and Apple for being too close to China and warned that bitcoin could be used as a 'Chinese financial weapon against the US'

The venture capitalist and conservative donor went on to say that he believes the US should 'keep putting a certain amount of pressure on Silicon Valley' and 'call companies like Google out on working on AI with Communist China not with US military'.

'I think we should be putting a lot of pressure on Apple with its whole labor force supply chain on the iPhone manufacturing in China,' he added.

And while he has invested in Bitcoin companies and considers it the 'digital equivalent of gold', Thiel said it could threaten the US dollar.

'Even though I'm a pro-crypto, pro-Bitcoin maximalist person, I do wonder whether if at this point Bitcoin should also be thought of in part as a Chinese financial weapon against the US,' Thiel said.

His remarks seemed to represent a change of heart toward bitcoin as he urged the US to consider tighter regulations on cryptocurrencies.

'It threatens fiat money, but it especially threatens the U.S. dollar,' Thiel said. '[If] Chinas long bitcoin, perhaps from a geopolitical perspective, the US should be asking some tougher questions about exactly how that works.'

The seemingly unstoppable rise of Bitcoin continued this year when the cost of a single unit of the digital currency rose above $50,000 for the first time in February

The price of Bitcoin rose almost 200 per cent between December 2020 and February 2021

In February, the electric car company Tesla sent a tremor through the digital currency markets, saying that it was buying $1.5billion in Bitcoin as part of a new investment strategy. This chart depicts Bitcoin's price as of Thursday

The seemingly unstoppable rise of Bitcoin continued this year when the cost of a single unit of the digital currency rose above $50,000 for the first time in February.

The price of Bitcoin rose almost 200 per cent between December 2020 and February 2021.

And just this week, the value of the cryptocurrency market topped $2trillion for the first time.

Bitcoin accounts for more than 50 per cent of the entire cryptocurrency market capitalization.

Bitcoin is rallying as more companies signal the digital currency could eventually gain widespread acceptance as a means of payment.

The vast majority of those who have acquired Bitcoin have treated it as a commodity, like gold, with few places accepting it in exchange for goods or services.

Companies have been leery because of Bitcoins volatility and its use by parties who want to avoid the traditional banking system for a myriad of reasons.

In February, however, the electric car company Tesla sent a tremor through the digital currency markets, saying that it was buying $1.5billion in Bitcoin as part of a new investment strategy, and that it would soon be accepting Bitcoin as payment for its cars.

BNY Mellon, the oldest bank in the US, followed a day later, saying it would include digital currencies in the services it provides to clients.

Mastercard said it would start supporting 'select crypto currencies' on its network.

And Blue Ridge Bank of Charlottesville, Virginia, said it would allow cardholders to purchase and redeem Bitcoin at 19 of its ATMs.

Overstock.com appears to accept Bitcoin for most listings on its website, including cameras, vacuums and clothes.

PayPal allows its accountholders to buy, sell and hold four cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin  but you cant use it to pay people, at least not yet.

The payment company Square bought $50million worth of Bitcoin in October at about $10,600 each, and allows users of its cash app to buy Bitcoin from their mobile devices.
Itanagar, April 8 : The Army's Eastern Command chief, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan, has visited the units deployed in the forward locations of Arunachal Pradesh, officials said here on Thursday.

Defence spokesman Lt Col P. Khongsai said that Lt Gen Chauhan, during his two-day visit to Arunachal on Tuesday and Wednesday, interacted with the troops and urged them to demonstrate professionalism in their conduct during maintenance of peace and tranquillity along the borders, while being well-prepared for all eventualities simultaneously.

Chauhan commended the achievements of the units for maintaining high level of operational preparedness and appreciated their untiring endeavours towards assisting the local populace and civil administration in the development of far-flung and remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh, a defence release said.
I love Northern Ireland and most of its people, and find it heartbreaking to see the province in the news today not in commemoration of its centenary year but once again because of vicious communal violence.

The law-abiding majority feel betrayed, and a new generation of young people is being encouraged by criminals to run amok, setting fire to buses and cars, throwing petrol bombs across the peace walls at neighbours with whom they disagree politically, and injuring anyone in uniform who is trying to stop them from wrecking the place.

Until the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement this kind of violence was so normal that it was often called recreational rioting. But, although it may have become less frequent, it has never gone away.

I love Northern Ireland and most of its people, and find it heartbreaking to see the province in the news today not in commemoration of its centenary year but once again because of vicious communal violence, writes historian and commentator Ruth Dudley Edwards. (Above, youths unleash fireworks in Belfast tonight)

The law-abiding majority feel betrayed, and a new generation of young people is being encouraged by criminals to run amok, setting fire to buses and cars, throwing petrol bombs across the peace walls at neighbours with whom they disagree politically, and injuring anyone in uniform who is trying to stop them from wrecking the place. (Above, the scene at Springfield Road, Belfast today)

Two years ago, as she covered dissident republican violence in Derry, for example, the young journalist Lyra McKee was murdered by a bullet intended for police.

This time, the riots are led by loyalists  and while the instigators have almost no political support, many Unionists share their grievances. Where dissident republican rage is driven by a desire to tear down British rule, loyalist anger comes from a belief that the British state is an appeaser of republicanism and abandoning them to the enemy.

The Unionist politicians who wanted Northern Ireland to work after the Good Friday Agreement agreed to share power with Sinn Fein  many of whose political leaders are ex-convicts, all of whom eulogise IRA terrorism, and none of whom apologise for past atrocities. But they now feel the country is being run from the shadows by IRA veterans whose aim is to destabilise the province.

The immediate trigger for this week's violence is the failure of the justice system to deal with the arrogant flouting by the Sinn Fein leadership of the Covid rules everyone else is expected to obey.

Until the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement this kind of violence was so normal that it was often called recreational rioting. But, although it may have become less frequent, it has never gone away. Two years ago, as she covered dissident republican violence in Derry, for example, the young journalist Lyra McKee (pictured) was murdered by a bullet intended for police

Last June, Sinn Fein leaders, including Michelle O'Neill, the Deputy First Minister, joined 2,000 others to attend the funeral of the intimidating ex-convict, prison-escapee and IRA 'Director of Intelligence' Bobby Storey. They even held a public meeting along the way addressed by Gerry Adams.

At the time, the limit for the number allowed to attend funerals was 30 people  which meant the republican party was spectacularly disregarding the restrictions they themselves set for the rest of society.

Yet, last week, after nearly a year of deliberation, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) decided not to recommend any prosecutions of the rulebreakers. And it was this decision that maddened the loyalist rioters.

But while the PPS announcement may have been the trigger, the main driver of this anger is the fallout from Brexit.

The immediate trigger for this week's violence is the failure of the justice system to deal with the arrogant flouting by the Sinn Fein leadership of the Covid rules everyone else is expected to obey. Last June, Sinn Fein leaders, including Michelle O'Neill (right), the Deputy First Minister, joined 2,000 others to attend the funeral of the intimidating ex-convict, prison-escapee and IRA 'Director of Intelligence' Bobby Storey

During Brexit negotiations, the EU, encouraged by the Irish government, cynically set out to weaponise Northern Ireland to scupper a deal or at the very least heavily punish the British.

There was a perfectly feasible way through smart technology and a Trusted Trader scheme to have a virtually invisible border on the Irish/EU side.

But Theresa May and her negotiating team caved in to the ludicrously exaggerated warnings about how a land border would lead to a resumption of violence and the death of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

By the time Boris Johnson took over in December 2019, the pass had been sold. And, to get a Brexit deal that worked, he had to agree to an arrangement known as the Northern Ireland Protocol which impedes trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Out of sheer spite, the EU has chosen to interpret the rules as inflexibly as possible and cause maximum disruption. And, to make it even worse, Sinn Fein have been crowing mendaciously about how this leads inexorably to a United Ireland.

During Brexit negotiations, the EU, encouraged by the Irish government, cynically set out to weaponise Northern Ireland to scupper a deal or at the very least heavily punish the British. There was a feasible way to have a virtually invisible border on the Irish/EU side. But Theresa May and her negotiating team caved in to the ludicrously exaggerated warnings about how a land border would lead to a resumption of violence and the death of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement

By the time Boris Johnson took over in December 2019, the pass had been sold. And, to get a Brexit deal that worked, he had to agree to an arrangement known as the Northern Ireland Protocol which impedes trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain

Brexit negotiator Lord Frost is working to ameliorate the damage but Unionists have a genuine fear that Northern Ireland is being cut off from the rest of the United Kingdom by an internal border because, once more, the Government has caved in to threats of republican violence.

Though the scenes of violence this week are sickening and no one could condone them, it is hardly surprising that some angry loyalists decided to follow suit.

Unionists don't much trust British governments and constantly fear being sold out.

Urgently sorting out the scandal of the protocol is the least Lord Frost and the Prime Minister can do to give the law-abiding and loyal Northern Irish people the centenary present they deserve.
The U.S. military veteran population is known to have abnormally high rates of suicide, so health officials have been concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic might elevate risk of psychiatric disorders, particularly among those suffering from post-traumatic stress and related disorders.

A recent national study of more than 3,000 veterans participating in the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study did find that 12.8% reported post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to COVID-19 and 8% said they had contemplated suicide during the pandemic.

However, the same survey, published April 8 in JAMA Network Open, revealed another, startling finding. A full 43.3% of respondents -- more than three times the number of those reporting COVID-related PTSD symptoms and five times the number of those who had contemplated suicide -- said that they have experienced positive psychological benefits during the pandemic. These veterans reported greater appreciation of life, closer interpersonal relationships, and an increased sense of personal strength.

"Yes, there have certainly been many negative mental health consequences of the pandemic, but we are also seeing that a considerable proportion of people may experience positive psychological changes," said Robert Pietrzak, director of the Translational Psychiatric Epidemiology Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' National Center for PTSD, associate professor of psychiatry and public health at Yale, and lead author of the paper. "This suggests that the experience of stress and trauma related to the pandemic can lead to positive personal growth."

Over the past decade, Pietrzak and Steven Southwick, the Glenn H. Greenberg Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Yale and senior author of the new paper, have been studying veterans who experience what is known as "post-traumatic growth" following a traumatic experience. Scientists have long been fascinated with the concept of resilience -- how people who endure trauma find a way to bounce back. The concept of post-traumatic growth posits that while trauma can increase risk for mental disorders such as PTSD, it may also spur positive personal growth.

For the latest findings, Pietrzak and Southwick initially asked veterans about their psychological health between November of 2019 and March 2020. The advent of the pandemic motivated them to follow up that survey with another, of the same group, a year later. In this second survey, they asked questions about PTSD symptoms and possible positive psychological changes related to the pandemic.

Of the 3,078 veterans who responded to both surveys, 43.3% reported that the pandemic led to positive psychological changes in their lives. Among veterans who screened positive for COVID-related PTSD symptoms, more than 70% reported experiencing these changes.

"Post-traumatic growth is a process that often happens naturally and is stimulated by reflective processing about a traumatic event," Pietrzak said. "Sometimes you need to be sufficiently shaken by an experience and even experience symptoms of PTSD to begin to process it at a deeper level and ultimately be able to grow from it."

Greater post-traumatic growth -- particularly an increased appreciation of life and improved interpersonal relationships -- was also associated with a 40% lower likelihood of contemplating suicide during the pandemic. This finding suggests that psychological interventions to promote post-traumatic growth may be a helpful measure to prevent suicide among veterans.

While the scientific study of post-traumatic growth is relatively new, the concept is not. Ancient religious and spiritual traditions, philosophers, and scholars have long expressed the potentially transformative power of suffering.

"The saying 'Grow through what you go through' captures the essence of post-traumatic growth," Pietrzak said.

He and his colleagues plan to continue to follow their cohort of veterans over time to examine the longer-term course of post-traumatic growth and whether it may help promote resilience to subsequent traumatic events.

###

The National Health and Resilience in Veterans study is supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD.

Jack Tsai, an adjunct associate professor of psychiatry at Yale who also serves as campus dean and professor of public health at the University of Texas School of Public Health in San Antonio, co-authored the paper.
The Education Ministry has issued a draft guideline designed to protect minors from sexual harassment, assault and bullying at primary and secondary schools and has asked schools to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to such incidents.

The detailed regulation on protecting minors at schools also bans romantic or sexual relationships between teachers and students. It forbids teachers from molesting, giving verbal or physical sexual suggestions and showing obscene materials to students.

The guideline, issued on Tuesday, is open for public comment until April 23.

Schools should conduct routine anti-sexual assault education for students and their parents to improve the awareness of students and their self-protection capabilities, it said.

Teachers should immediately intervene and stop students from bullying others via physical or verbal assaults, giving insulting nicknames, damaging others' property, isolating classmates and spreading rumors, the guideline said.

They should report instances of bullying to school authorities, who should launch an investigation and punish culprits if allegations are verified.

Schools should not conceal serious bullying incidents and should report them to local police and education authorities. When instances of bullying involve students at different schools, local education authorities should launch an investigation, it said.

They should conduct rigorous background checks and annual reviews of faculty, volunteers and social workers to determine whether they are fit to work with minors. Education authorities should work with other departments to improve a black list of those banned from being teachers and make the list more accessible.

Teachers who have received criminal or administrative punishment due to prostitution, molestation, drug use and gambling should be fired, and those who have history of alcohol or psychiatric medicine abuse should receive psychological evaluations to determine whether they are suitable for their job.

The draft guideline also requires teachers to treat all students equally and prohibits them from discriminating against students on the basis of their family conditions or their parents' professions or educational backgrounds.

Xiong Bingqi, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute in Beijing, said the guideline will help eliminate gray areas in teacher-student relationships by banning all romantic interactions between teachers and minor students.

Previously, the ministry only forbade inappropriate relationships between students and teachers but did not define what was regarded as inappropriate, leaving room for teachers to sexually harass students under the age of 18 using the pretext of being involved in a romantic relationship, he said. The age of consent in China is 14.

"Any romantic relationship between students and teachers should be banned as they are not in equal positions," Xiong said.

Teachers might exploit their authority over students and coerce them into entering relationships with them, and students might also take advantage of such relationships to gain better treatment than their peers, he said, adding that universities should also ban such relationships.






With viruss origins still murky, the WHO and its critics look to next steps

Critics of the report have sought more consideration of the possibility that a laboratory incident in Wuhan could have led to the first human infection. A group of scientists and who have been meeting online to discuss the possibility of a lab leak released an open letter this week, detailing several ways to conduct a thorough investigation. Read more Japan considering vaccinating Tokyo Olympic athletes before rest of population The Japanese government is considering prioritising Covid-19 vaccines for athletes taking part in the Olympics and Paralympics, which start at the end of July, according to a report in the local media. Japans vaccination drive is far behind that of most major economies, with only one vaccine approved and roughly 1 million people having received a first dose since February, even as the country struggles with a rising number of new cases. The report provoked outrage on social media, with many commentators noting that the original government plans for vaccinations gave priority to medical workers, elderly people and those with chronic conditions, with ordinary citizens unlikely to get theirs before the summer. Read more New Zealand suspends travel from India after jump in Covid-19 cases New Zealand has temporarily suspended entry for all travellers from India, including its own citizens, for about two weeks, following the spike in positive cases arriving from the South Asian country. The move comes after New Zealand recorded 23 new positive coronavirus cases at its border on Thursday, 17 of which were from India. We are temporarily suspending entry into New Zealand for travellers from India, the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said in a news conference in Auckland. India is battling a deadly second wave of Covid-19 with daily infections this week passing the peak of the first wave seen last September. Read more
A driver who killed two young women when he ran a red light after drinking for 10 hours straight and left them to die has been jailed for 11 years.

Unlicenced drunk driver Shane Bradley Pearce, 50, pleaded guilty to killing Lauren Prothero and her friend Paige Ward on May 29 last year.

Justice Fianacca in the Western Australian Supreme Court jailed Pearce for 11 years and imposed a 10-year driving ban.

Pearce recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.210, more than four times the legal limit, after the crash in Perth's south.

Lauren Prothero (pictured right) and Paige Ward (middle) were innocent victims in a double fatality in Perth last year

Shane Bradley Pearce was unlicenced and four times over the limit when he killed the women in Perth - he was also travelling at 123km in a 80km zone at time of offence

Ms Prothero and Ms Ward, both 27, suffered catastrophic injuries when Pearce slammed into their car after running a red light at 123km/h - more than 40km/h above the speed limit.

In the lead-up to the crash, the scaffolder spent the day drinking after being rained off at the building site where he was working.

Seconds before the deadly crash, Pearce's co-worker, who was in the passenger seat of his 4WD, repeatedly yelled 'red light, red light' as the car sped towards the intersection - but Pearce failed to slow down.

The court also heard Pearce was aggressive to witnesses at the scene and rendered no assistance to the two women.

'In contrast to the conscientious and heroic efforts of other concerned citizens, you made no attempt to render any assistance to either Ms Prothero or Ms Ward,' the judge said in the WA Supreme Court.

'In general, your attitude to those people can best be described as belligerent and involving denials that anything was wrong or that anyone was hurt.'

Pearce was later arrested in the car park of a nearby fast food outlet.

Ward, who was married just four months earlier, died at the scene, with close friend Prothero dying a few hours later in hospital.

When he was interviewed the following day, Pearce told police he 'could not recall' anything about the crash.

Pearce chalked up seven convictions for driving under the influence dating back to 1992, the court heard.

Lauren Prothero (pictured right) passed away in hospital after suffering catastrophic injuries in the senseless accident in Perth last year

Paige Ward - who died at the scene - was married just four months before the double fatality

Defence lawyer Paul Holmes said his client wanted to be accountable for his behaviour, and at the time of the crime had hit 'rock bottom' after the recent death of his brother from cancer.

Pearce also said to police he was 'sorry for what he had done' and that he was a 'coward'.

He has since vowed to never touch a drop of alcohol for the rest of his life and 'he will take the punishment he deserves.'

Pearce will be eligible for parole after serving nine years behind bars.
We really wanted to give them an opportunity to sell their wares so we went in that direction with probably about a third of our merchandise. It worked out really well and I met so many people. I really enjoyed supporting these small businesses and I loved the idea of the mix of talent thats out there.
Nacogdoches, TX (75965)

Today

Showers and thundershowers this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 67F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 67F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Investigators are on the lookout for two men who caused about $200,000 damage to a small medical practice with just the flick of a switch.

Queensland Police released CCTV footage showing the pair turning off the chiller unit at the back of the Queensland Radiology Specialists clinic in Springwood, south of Brisbane, at about 1am on February 20.

The mysterious figures both dressed in blue jeans and black shirts are now wanted for 'willful damage' as their actions caused an MRI machine to 'explode'.

Investigators are on the lookout for two men (pictured) who caused about $200,000 damage to a small medical practice with just the flick of a switch.

Patrick Bergin, the owner-director of the clinic described the ordeal as 'unsettling'.

'We have no idea why we were targeted or if they will come back,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Perhaps it's just a couple of drunks that were looking for something to do but we really don't know. We are pretty baffled.'

The clinic which performs radiology procedures for cancer patients, pregnant women and those with serious injuries was out of action for four days before experts from Sydney flew in to repair the machine.

The MRI's chiller unit keeps the helium inside the machine cool.

When its not functioning the gas expands until it eventually explodes through the ducted quench pipe - a built-in safety mechanism.

Queensland Police released CCTV footage showing the pair (pictured) turning off the chiller unit at the back of the Queensland Radiology Specialists clinic in Springwood, south of Brisbane, at about 1am on February 20

The mysterious figures both dressed in blue jeans and black shirts (pictured) are now wanted for 'willful damage' as their actions caused an MRI machine to 'explode'

Despite the damage done, Mr Bergin said it's lucky there wasn't more damage done to the $1.8million facility.

It took eight hours for the machine to fail meaning the clinic had patients inside when the helium burst.

Fortunately the quench pipe did its job and absorbed the explosion but Mr Bergin warned if there had been any faults with the machine's piping the helium gas could have been released in the unit creating a potentially deadly scenario.

'The staff have been stoic and all our patients were all very understanding and supporting about the disruption,' he said.

Police are appealing for the two men depicted in the CCTV video to come forward and for anyone who may recognise them to contract police immediately.
Vladyslava Mahaletska, the Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, and Adel Benissa, Charge d'Affaires at the Embassy of the State of Libya in Ukraine, have discussed the expansion of cooperation and increase in trade between Libya and Ukraine.

Adel Benissa said that Libya is interested in the export of sunflower oil from Ukraine to Libya, Ukrinform reports with reference to the press service of the State Service for Food Safety.

The parties discussed also the possibility of exporting grain, fruit and berry products of Ukrainian producers to Libya. Vladyslava Mahaletska stressed that the State Food and Consumer Service fully supports the expansion of the list of goods in bilateral trade.

"We receive relevant requests from Ukrainian manufacturers. I am sure that the cooperation between Libya and Ukraine has great potential," she said.

Earlier, both countries agreed on forms of international veterinary certificates for exports of cattle, poultry and poultry products from Ukraine to Libya. In addition, the parties are holding talks on a veterinary certificate for the export of milk and dairy products.

As Ukrinform reported, the new rules of exports and imports between Ukraine and Azerbaijan will be in force from April 13, 2021, after the expiration of the Agreement on Cooperation in Veterinary Medicine, signed within the CIS in 1993.

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Twitter will not allow Donald Trump's tweets to be restored to its platform, despite work by the National Archives to preserve the former President's account, it has been revealed.

The social media company permanently banned Trump's personal account, @realDonaldTrump, two days after the deadly U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, claiming that his tweets violated policies against the 'glorification of violence'.

The National Archives and Records Administration, which already maintains archives for many official and personal accounts from the former Trump administration, has been working to create an archive of Trump's tweets, Politico reported.

It is the job of the National Archives to preserve records of each president's time in office, for the benefit of future generations.

Official archives are normally hosted natively on the platform they were made on for the public to interact with.

But Twitter have insisted they will not restore Trump's tweets to their platform.

The National Archives told Politico it would instead post the preserved tweets to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library website.

Twitter will not allow former President Donald Trump's tweets to reemerge on its platform as it works with the National Archives to preserve his account

'I can confirm that our teams have been working with NARA on the preservation of Tweets from @realDonaldTrump, as is standard with any administration transition and as we've done previously,' Liz Kelley, a Twitter spokesperson, told DailyMail.com.

'We have a long-standing, collaborative partnership with NARA on a number of issues, including to preserve records in accordance with appropriate laws.'

Kelley continued: 'Given that we permanently suspended @realDonaldTrump, the content from the account will not appear on Twitter as it did previously or as archived administration accounts do currently, regardless of how NARA decides to display the data it has preserved.'

'Administration accounts that are archived on the service are accounts that were not in violation of the Twitter Rules,' she said.

NARA spokesperson James Pritchett told Politico that federal archivists are 'working to make the exported content available  as a download.'

'Twitter is solely responsible for the decision of what content is available on their platform,' Pritchett told the outlet.

'NARA works closely with Twitter and other social media platforms to maintain archived social accounts from each presidential administration, but ultimately the platform owners can decline to host these accounts.'

He continued: 'NARA preserves platform independent copies of social media records and is working to make that content available to the public.'

Some of former President Donald Trump's tweets referencing the coronavirus

Pritchett said that the National Archives will include all tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account 'including any blocked or deleted Tweets that have been transferred' to the agency.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Office of Donald J. Trump for more information and additional comment.

After Twitter banned Trump's account, CEO Jack Dorsey claimed he 'did not celebrate' removing the former Commander-in-Chief's account.

'I do not celebrate or feel pride in our having to ban @realDonaldTrump from Twitter, or how we got here. After a clear warning we'd take this action, we made a decision with the best information we had based on threats to physical safety both on and off Twitter. Was this correct?' Dorsey tweeted,

'I believe this was the right decision for Twitter. We faced an extraordinary and untenable circumstance, forcing us to focus all of our actions on public safety. Offline harm as a result of online speech is demonstrably real, and what drives our policy and enforcement above all.'

Some of former President Donald Trump's tweets are seen over the years before his account was banned by Twitter

Dorsey, however, acknowledged that the ban 'has real and significant ramifications.'

'I feel a ban is a failure of ours ultimately to promote healthy conversation. And a time for us to reflect on our operations and the environment around us,' Dorsey said.

Last month, Sen. Bernie Sanders told The Ezra Klein Show in an interview that he did not 'feel particularly comfortable' with Twitter's permanent ban of Trump and did not like 'giving that much power to a handful of high-tech people.'

'Look, you have a former president in Trump, who is a racist, a sexist, a homophobe, a xenophobe, a pathological liar, an authoritarian, somebody who doesn't believe in the rule of law. This is a bad news guy,' Sanders said.

'But if you're asking me, do I feel particularly comfortable that the president, the then-president of the United States, could not express his views on Twitter? I don't feel comfortable about it.'
Former CPP Stalwart, James Kwabena Bomfeh, has called on the Police handling the murder case involving two teenagers at Kasoa to hasten investigations into the issue.



The teenagers Felix Nyarko, 16, and Nicholas Kini, 17, reportedly murdered a 11-year-old boy at Lamptey Mills in Kasoa on Saturday.



The deceased, Ishmael Mensah, was a Class Four pupil of the Maranatha School and it's believed the teenagers committed such hideous crime for ritual money purposes.



The murder has provoked discussions on the human quest for quick riches and living a luxurious life.



James Kwabena Bomfeh, popularly called Kabila, hoped the ''Police handling this crime will do it with truth and see to the swift prosecution of the culprits".



''Immediately, investigations should be down swiftly . . . Let us not treat this with noise but rather they should do thorough investigation for us," he stressed.



Kabila called for a discourse to address the security issues at Kasoa and the country at large.



"The intelligence community of this country should have been engaging and discussing. If they are, we should be seeing signs of a conversation going on that are responding to certain things . . . but if it hasn't happened, His Excellency the President of the Republic who is the National Security Council Chairperson should trigger an internal backroom conversation around these issues.



"What has happened is a lesson . . . it's drawing our minds to something. There is something amiss in Ghana. Let's look for it!", he stated on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme.







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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[April 08, 2021] WELL Health Enters into Agreement to Acquire ExecHealth Inc., a Leading Omni-Channel Health Service Provider in Ontario

ExecHealth, a provider of primary care and executive health services in the Ottawa region, signifies WELL's first acquisition of clinical assets in the province of Ontario .

region, signifies WELL's first acquisition of clinical assets in the province of . For the 12 months ended February 28, 2021 , ExecHealth had unaudited revenues of approximately $3M , of which greater than two-thirds is considered recurring membership revenue with EBITDA (1) Margins exceeding 50%.

, ExecHealth had unaudited revenues of approximately , of which greater than two-thirds is considered recurring membership revenue with EBITDA Margins exceeding 50%. ExecHealth is expected to be a highly accretive acquisition, representing WELL's continued expansion into the premium margin corporate and executive health services market.

ExecHealth is a high growth operation that has organically grown both its revenues and EBITDA at growth rates of over 20% over the past three years.

ExecHealth has over 1,000 clients, with greater than two-thirds being recurring membership clients. As a result of the COVID pandemic, currently more than 50% of its patient visits are delivered via telehealth. VANCOUVER, BC, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL) ("WELL" or the "Company"), a company focused on consolidating and modernizing clinical and digital assets within the healthcare sector, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of ExecHealth Inc. ("ExecHealth"). ExecHealth is an omni-channel healthcare provider located in Ottawa, Ontario specializing in corporate and executive health, primary care and integrated health services. "We are pleased to announce our agreement to acquire ExecHealth and expand our network into Ontario, Canada's largest healthcare market," said Hamed Shahbazi, Chairman and CEO of WELL. "This proposed acquisition represents another milestone in the execution of our plans to further grow our presence in the premium margin corporate and executive health segment, building on our recent acquisition of ExcelleMD, a leading provider of such services in Quebec. We look forward to completing this acquisition and working with the ExecHealth team to continue to provide the outstanding service and care their patients have come to expect." Since 2005, ExecHealth has provided medical care to professionals and families, including executives, diplomats and other professionals in the Ottawa region. In addition to providing primary care services, ExecHealth provides corporations and other organizations with executive health, employee wellness, pre-employment and periodic medical exams as well as other integrative services such as physiotherapy and counselling services. For the 12 months ended February 28, 2021, ExecHealth had unaudited revenues of approximately $3M with EBITDA(1) Margin greater than 50%. ExecHealth is a high growth operation that has organically grown both its revenues and EBITDA at growth rates of over 20% over the past three years. ExecHealth has over 1,000 clients and greater than two-thirds of its revenues are attributable to recurring membeship fees. As a result of the COVID pandemic, over 50% of ExecHealth's patient visits are currently delivered via telehealth vs. in-person consultations.



"We are thrilled to join the WELL group of companies. WELL's focus on the use of technology to provide the most advanced care possible is fully in line with our strategic vision," said Sanjay Shah, Founder and President of ExecHealth. "By leveraging WELL's expansive portfolio of medical technologies and clinic network, we believe this opportunity will allow us to seek further growth and enhance our patient offering." Transaction Details:

Pursuant to the agreement, the Company will acquire all of the outstanding shares of ExecHealth for the following consideration: (i) $6,523,175 in cash on the closing date, subject to customary closing adjustments and holdbacks; (ii) $4,208,500 through the issuance of common shares of the Company on closing based on the volume weighted average price of the Company's common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the five trading days preceding closing; and (iii) a multi-year performance-based earn-out of up to $1,893,825. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in early May 2021. Footnotes: Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and EBITDA Margin are each Non-GAAP measures. EBITDA should not be construed as alternatives to net income/loss determined in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). EBITDA does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company believes that EBITDA is a meaningful financial metric as it measures cash generated from operations which the Company can use to fund working capital requirements, service future interest and principal debt repayments and fund future growth initiatives. For EBITDA reconciliation to Net income, please refer to the Company's most recent Management Discussion and Analysis on Sedar.com. EBITDA Margin is EBITDA as a percentage of total revenue. WELL HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES CORP.

Per: "Hamed Shahbazi"

Hamed Shahbazi

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director About WELL Health Technologies Corp. WELL is an omni-channel digital health company whose overarching objective is to empower doctors to provide the best and most advanced care possible while leveraging the latest trends in digital health. As such, WELL owns and operates 27 primary healthcare clinics, is Canada's third largest digital Electronic Medical Records (EMR) supplier serving approximately 2,200 healthcare clinics, operates telehealth services in both Canada and the United States and is a provider of digital health, billing and cybersecurity related technology solutions. WELL is an acquisitive company that follows a disciplined and accretive capital allocation strategy. To access the Company's telehealth service, visit: tiahealth.com, and for corporate information, visit: www.well.company. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release related to the Company are forward-looking statements and are prospective in nature including the statements regarding the completion and timing of the proposed acquisition, the Company's expansion plans and the expected impact of the acquisition on the Company. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "could", "would", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe" or the negative thereof or similar variations. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including: risks that the conditions to completion of the acquisition will not be satisfied as contemplated or at all; business disruption risks relating to COVID-19; regulatory risks, including those related to healthcare, privacy and data security; integration risks relating to the acquired business on a post-closing basis; and other risks outlined in the Company's publicly filed documents available on SEDAR. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/well-health-enters-into-agreement-to-acquire-exechealth-inc-a-leading-omni-channel-health-service-provider-in-ontario-301264880.html SOURCE WELL Health Technologies Corp.

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ALBANY, Ore.--Greater Albany Public Schools announced Wednesday they are putting a pause on having police officers welcome students on their first day back to school.

Superintendent Melissa Goff said in a statement this decision comes after some parents raised concerns they had with police officers on campus. She said the pause is to make all students feel welcome and included at their schools. However, Goff said firefighters will still be allowed to welcome students.

This decision is not sitting well with other parents in the school district. Some expressed their disapproval on social media saying the district made a bad decision to stop the tradition of having officers welcoming students to campus.

Goff also clarified rumors going around social media the district canceled their contract with the Albany Police Department to have School Resource Officers. She said that's not true. According to Goff, the police department went to the district and notified them APD could not afford School Resource Officers for the time being.

"Sometime in May, we should have a good idea of where our budget stands," Harnden said. "If the SRO positions remain in our budget, we will want to talk further about what that may look like and get you all engaged in the selection of new SROs moving

forward."
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with NATO Military Committee Chairman Stuart Peach and thanked the Alliance for its attention to Ukraine and support.

"We are grateful for NATO's serious interest in the situation in Ukraine, the east and the occupied Crimea. We are grateful to our partners for their constant support for our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Unfortunately, we really see complications now in the east of Ukraine, in Donbas. We really see an increase in the number of gunshots," Volodymyr Zelensky said during the meeting on April 7, the press service of the Head of State informs.

The President noted that Ukraine had taken significant steps to de-escalate the situation in the east, when a permanent ceasefire was introduced on July 27. Those steps took effect. From the beginning of the ceasefire regime until December 2020, there were only a few shots and a significant decrease in the number of fallen defenders, he said.

However, the Head of State noted that complications began in December, and so far Ukraine has lost more than 20 of its soldiers. In this regard, Ukraine constantly calls for compliance with the ceasefire in the format in which it operated last year after July 27.

The President of Ukraine also raised the issue of disinformation as a powerful tool in hybrid warfare.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Taran, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ruslan Khomchak, Deputy Head of the President's Office Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the President's Office Roman Mashovets, Head of the NATO Representation to Ukraine Alexander Vinnikov and representative of the NATO International Military Staff in Ukraine Ferdinand Dycha.

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Kissing his partner goodbye on a normal day before heading to work changed the life of 32-year-old Estuardo Cifuentes forever. It was mid-2019 when he stepped out of his front door in Guatemala City and said goodbye to his boyfriend before getting into a waiting Uber. A police patrol that witnessed the scene approached to carry a supposed routine check, and one of the officers started to hit Cifuentes while shouting insults about his sexual orientation. Cifuentes complained about the incident but all he achieved was to invite further harassment. According to Cifuentes, his identification was taken from him at the police station and he was placed under 24-hour surveillance. In fear for his safety, he decided the best thing he could do was leave the country and seek asylum elsewhere, even if this meant leaving behind his comfortable life in the Guatemalan capital.

Despite the fact that the LGBT community is discriminated against in Guatemala, I had managed to live with it. I had been with my boyfriend for eight years and we had a marketing and publicity firm that we had been running together for seven years. At times we were blackmailed by the gangs and we had to make some adjustments. But we had managed to make a life for ourselves in spite of all the bad conditions in Guatemala. We had adapted, he says. Like the hundreds of thousands of Guatemalans who try to make their way to the United States every year, Cifuentes sought the aid of a coyote, the name given to people who take money to smuggle migrants across borders. Cifuentes embarked on a 17-day odyssey, sometimes walking 12 hours a day, sharing a trailer with dozens of other migrants and eventually being kidnapped and held for 21 days in Reynosa, in the north of Mexico.

We havent done anything wrong, but because of who we are people treat us badly. For being who we are people prefer not to see us Valery, Honduran transgender woman

When he was able to gather together the money to pay for his release his kidnappers handed him back to the coyotes, who helped him to cross the Rio Grande where he turned himself in to the US Border Patrol for protection. But his nightmare journey was far from over. It was July 2019 and the Donald Trump administration had just implemented its Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), legislation that gave the US authorities the power to return asylum seekers to Mexico while their immigration applications were being processed. After seven days of detention, Cifuentes was sent back over the border to Matamoros.

While he was waiting for his turn to state his case to the US authorities, Cifuentes worked as a taxi driver, a waiter and a cleaner until, in March 2020, the Trump administration closed the border and placed an indefinite halt on all asylum hearings. Being in that situation made me realize that I was a privileged person and there were others who needed more help than me, so I used a little of what I have to help out, he says. Together with Resource Center Matamoros, an NGO that had helped him to find somewhere to stay and provided legal aid on his arrival in Mexico, Cifuentes set up Rainbow Bridge, an organization to help migrants from the LGBT community.

Double discrimination against LGBT migrants

Estuardo (left) with migrants staying at the Rainbow Bridge refuge in February 2021. Hector Guerrero

During the months he spent in Matamoros, Cifuentes noticed that gay and transsexual people in the MPP system were subjected to double discrimination, as migrants and because of their sexual orientation, which made them more vulnerable to violent attacks. The situation was particularly tough for those who were living in the refugee camp on the banks of the Rio Grande, which housed over 2,000 people before the coronavirus pandemic and where several instances of threats and violence toward transgender women were recorded.

Rainbow Bridge started offering legal and medical assistance to migrants. The organization also helped a transgender asylum seeker at the camp who had been forced into prostitution by the cartels. Terrified and with the re-opening of the border with the US still on hold, she asked Rainbow Bridge to help her return to El Salvador. After learning of her experience, Cifuentes organization decided to create a refuge of its own for LGBT migrants to stay until they were able to find work and a place to rent in town, while awaiting a verdict on their asylum applications from the US authorities. We came up with a comprehensive plan in which we took care of health, housing, food, security, mental health and leisure time to keep people engaged to a certain point, and to try and make the process easier, Cifuentes says.

The refuge has a capacity of nine migrants. During an EL PAIS visit at the end of February there were three transgender women, two Honduran women and a Cuban woman, all of whom had been persecuted in their home countries because of their self-identification, and five homosexual men from Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. For all of them, the refuge was a kind of life vest against the discrimination and insecurity they had been subjected to when they were living in the camp and at other places along the border.

We havent done anything wrong, but because of who we are people treat us badly. For being who we are people prefer not to see us, says Valery, a Honduran transgender woman who arrived in Matamoros in March 2020. Estuardo has treated me very well. He got me out of the camp when I had given up hope, when I told him I couldnt take being there any more, that I didnt know what to do. He brought me here and he has always looked out for us.

He has been like a guardian angel for all of us, Noel, a migrant from Nicaragua who says he has been left traumatized by being kidnapped in Matamoros, concurs. He has been someone to lean on throughout this situation. With what you earn out there, there isnt enough to rent an apartment or to buy food.

Over the past few weeks, some of the migrants who were staying at the refuge have managed to cross the border thanks to the program implemented by the Joe Biden administration, allowing asylum seekers sent back to Mexico under the MPP to enter the United States. Cifuentes himself has benefitted from the shift in policy: on March 3 he crossed into Texas. Although his original plan was to head to Las Vegas with a relative while he prepared his asylum case, he has decided to remain in the frontier town of McAllen to continue his work with the running of the refuge in Matamoros, helping others migrants to reach the US.

We want to carry on assessing cases with the legal assistance group and monitoring their progress as they wait to be presented in the courts, seeing that the necessary documents are provided and continuing to help people with the legal advice they need, he says. While he admits that starting from zero again is not proving easy, Cifuentes wants to continue using his voice to draw attention to the reality that migrants live through, those who as he did exist in a state of limbo on the border for years. I want people to know what has happened here because the previous administration blocked the asylum process, he says. The former president, Trump, didnt want to do it, but I want to show people the damage he caused with his policies.

English version by Rob Train.
A Miami doctor's death two weeks after he received a Pfizer vaccine was due to natural causes, a medical examiner's office has found.

Dr Gregory Michael, 56, died in January from a condition that can cause internal bleeding but experts found no link to the shot.

An email from Darren Caprara, director of operations for the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department, said there is no medical certainty the vaccine caused his death.

Dr Gregory Michael, who died two weeks after getting a Pfizer vaccine died of natural causes, the medical examiner's office has found

Mr Michael's death in January was investigated by the Florida Department of Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Samples from an autopsy were sent to the CDC.

'Scientific and clinical expertise in vaccine safety, immunology, infectious diseases, hematology, pathology, and laboratory science were part of the investigating team or consulted frequently,' Caprara said.

The investigative team concluded that Dr Michael died from complications of immune thrombocytopenia, otherwise known as ITP, a disorder that can prevent blood from clotting and cause internal bleeding.

Dr Michael, an obstetrician with a private practice at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, was active, healthy and had no pre-existing conditions before getting the jab on December 18, his wife Heidi Neckelmann, 58, said.

She told DailyMail.com at the time: 'In my mind his death was 100 percent linked to the vaccine. There is no other explanation.

The mother-of-one said: 'In my mind his death was 100 percent linked to the vaccine. There is no other explanation.' Pictured: Dr Michael with his wife Heidi and daughter

'He was in very good health. He didn't smoke, he drank alcohol once in a while but only socially. He worked out, we had kayaks, he was a deep sea fisherman.

'They tested him for everything you can imagine afterwards, even cancer, and there was absolutely nothing else wrong with him.'

Pfizer told DailyMail.com Wednesday that it was aware of Dr Michael's 'highly unusual' death and was investigating further.

However a spokesman cautioned: 'We don't believe at this time that there is any direct connection to the vaccine.'

The father-of-one suffered no immediate reaction to the injection but three days later he was taking a shower and noticed petechiae - spots of red that indicate bleeding beneath the skin - on his feet and hands.

Michael's death in January was investigated by the Florida Department of Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

When he checked himself into Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, the hospital where he works and had the vaccine, medics discovered he was suffering from an acute lack of platelets.

'All the blood results came back normal except for the platelets which came back as zero,' Heidi said.

'At first they thought it must be a mistake. So they did the test again and this time did a manual count which is supposed to be more accurate. This time it showed just one platelet.

'He felt 100 per cent, he was normal, energetic, happy. But they said you cannot go home, this is incredibly dangerous, you could suffer a brain bleed and die.'

Normally doctors would expect a range of between 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood.

According to a harrowing account posted on his wife's Facebook, blood tests revealed the popular medic had a platelet count of zero

Neckelmann did not disclose any allergies or pre-existing conditions which may have contributed to her husband's death

Their primary function is to help the blood clot and prevent bleeding.

Heidi says doctors tried frantically to reverse what they diagnosed as an acute immune disorder known as ITP - idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

In people with ITP, also known as severe thrombocytopenia, the immune system mistakes platelets for foreign objects and instructs the spleen to destroy them.

Dr Michael was active, healthy and had no pre-existing conditions before getting the jab on December 18

It can be acute or chronic, lasting six months or more, striking on its own or in conjunction with other autoimmune conditions, certain cancers or during pregnancy.

Kids can get ITP after a viral infection such as the flu or mumps, while in adults, triggers can include HIV, hepatitis or H. pylori, a type of bacteria that causes stomach ulcers.

Mr Michael's wife insisted, however, that he had none of these illnesses.

One solution to ITP is to remove the spleen but Heidi says he wasn't a candidate because his blood wasn't able to clot, making the operation too dangerous.

After two weeks of infusions and experimental treatments that failed to raise Dr Michael's platelet count, doctors decided they had no choice.

However he died from a hemorrhagic stroke - when blood from an artery bleeds into the brain - before he could undergo the surgery.

'They gave him medicine. They gave him an incredible amount of platelet infusions, I'm told all the platelets in Miami Dade County,' Heidi said.

'But no matter what they did, nothing helped. The blood tests came back with zero platelets every time.

Heidi said the couple's 15-year-old daughter was struggling to comprehend that her doting father is gone

'My husband had conversations with the doctors who said it was highly probable that the vaccine was the cause.

'It seems possible to me that somehow it instructed his body to attack the wrong thing, the platelets.'

She met her husband 28 years ago when they were neighbors and he was in pre-med, about to embark on a successful career as an obstetrician.

Heidi was so smitten she immediately told friends 'this is the man I'm going to marry.'

When Dr Michael checked himself into Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, the hospital where he works and had the groundbreaking vaccine, medics discovered he was suffering from an acute lack of platelets

'That's exactly what happened, we fell in love, we were married for 21 years,' she recalled, fighting back tears.

'It was exactly as you see it in the movies, only that doesn't normally happen in real life. I'm not just saying this because he is dead, but it was the perfect marriage. I cannot think of a time that we fought.

'He was adored and loved by his patients. He delivered hundreds of healthy, beautiful babies. You have no idea how many texts I have received and the number of people calling me crying. He was just a special soul.'

Heidi said shortly after his death that the couple's 15-year-old daughter was struggling to comprehend that her doting father is gone.

'They were both musicians. They would play the guitar together. They had the greatest connection ever,' she added.
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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology, Mr Philly Mapulane, notes with disappointment and frustration the student protest that is taking place at the Durban University of Technology today.

According to media reports the protest erupted after the university issued a media statement today communicating its decision to immediately suspend on-campus support for online registration after it noted that there were a number of unauthorised social media posts inviting all applicants to come to the campuses yesterday.

Many potential applicants arrived at the university gates today, expecting to be registered. The persons were not invited by the university to register, nor given any indication that they were to arrive at the university. All along, the university has been using a strict Covid-19 compliant system where those struggling with online registration would report their experiences via the telephone, and where necessary, be invited and granted permits.

Mr Mapulane has called for constructive engagement between the university management, university council and students through their representative council to ensure that both parties reach an amicable solution to challenges that face the university. Furthermore, Mr Mapulane said no challenge can be beyond their capacity to resolve.

Mr Mapulane added: "The committee appeals to all the leaders at the university to maintain peace at all the university campuses. We are appealing to everyone to avoid the use of force and violence at the university."
Acting Energy Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Vitrenko, who is currently on a visit to the capital of Qatar, Doha, denies information that has appeared in the media that he allegedly wrote a letter of resignation and says that he continues to serve as head of the department, the Energy Ministry's press service said on Thursday.

"Rumors about complaints from the government, the President's Office, international partners about the work of the Energy Ministry under my chairmanship are manipulative. [...] Now I continue to serve as Energy Minister and prepare for a trip as part of the official Ukrainian delegation within the foreign visit of the President of Ukraine, which is scheduled for the coming days," Vitrenko told journalists.

"We have enough external threats, which require the teamwork of government authorities to effectively combat them, and in the position of the Acting Energy Minister I am making efforts precisely for this," the acting minister said.

The ministry's press service said that Vitrenko went to Doha on March 29 for talks with CEO of Qatar Petroleum, Minister of Energy in Qatar Saad Sherida al-Kaabi to form agreements in the energy sector and to prepare the official visit of the President of Ukraine to Qatar. The agreements reached between the states were recorded this week: a number of bilateral documents were signed on April 5; Vitrenko returned to Kyiv on April 7.

On April 7, the media reported with reference to sources in Vitrenko's entourage that the acting minister allegedly wrote a letter of resignation after returning from Qatar. Moreover, he allegedly started talking about his dismissal two weeks ago and then took his personal belongings out of the ministry.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome has rejected the appointment of Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, as the new Acting Inspector General of Police (IG) by President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as unconstitutional and nepotistic.

In a statement issued yesterday and titled, 'Buhari's Northernisation of The Nigeria Police Force, ' Ozekhome, who had also kicked against the extension of the tenure of the former IG, Mohammed Adamu, said going by "paragraph 7 to the 3rd Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, the President cannot single-handedly appoint an IG, as he has again unconstitutionally and illegally done.

"He can only do so in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Council comprising of Mr. President as chairman, all the 36 state Governors, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission and the IG.

The senior lawyer said: "Such an appointment as just happened before the new Acting IG is capricious, arbitrary, whimsical, unconscionable, illegal, unlawful, wrongful and unconstitutional. It eulogises strong men rather than strong institutions.

"Today, Buhari has again appointed DIG Usman Alkali Baba, a northern muslim, as Acting Inspector General of Police, to replace Adamu Mohammad, another Northern Muslim. With Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, another Northern Muslim as the Minister of Police Affairs, the circle of policing in Nigeria is complete.

"By the way, can't President Muhammadu Buhari for once, just for once, in his opaque appointments look beyond his religion and immediate and forsake sectionalism, cronyism, prebendalism, tribalism, favouritism, and act as a true statesman?

"Is he truly saying he cannot trust any of the other over 15 million Nigerians who voted for him, or that he cannot find any of them that is qualified to be made an IG? I thought gleefully told Nigerians on 29th May, 2015, while taking his first oath of office, that he was for "everybody and for nobody"? So, Buhari had actually deceived Nigerians and is desecrating his solemn oath of office?

"Is Buhari telling Nigerians that under his governance, Nigerians are indeed living in the Federal Republic of the North, or Northern Republic of Nigeria, or Republic of Northern Nigeria, or Northern Nigeria Republic, Republic of Northern Nigeria and Other Vassal States ? I can't decode Buhari's defiant refusal to respect the Federal Character principle enshrined in section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution. Or, can you?"
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Hans Kung, controversial theologian censured by John Paul II, dies at 93

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Hans Kung, a controversial Swiss Catholic theologian, professor and priest, who was once censured by the late Pope John Paul II, has died at age 93.

Kung, who was known to be critical of Catholic theology, passed away at his home in Tubingen, Germany, on Tuesday, according to a report by Vatican News.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, himself the subject of critique by Kung, released a statement quoted by Vatican News commending the late theologian for trying to revive the dialogue between faith and the natural sciences and to assert, with regard to scientific thought, the reasonableness and necessity of the Gottesfrage (the question about God).

Roger Haight, a Jesuit and scholar in residence at Union Theological Seminary in New York, wrote Tuesday that Kung was no passive pietist, nor did he lack self-confidence.

Like the course of emergent complexity in evolution, one can detect an expanding capaciousness in the tasks that Hans Kung undertook in the course of his amazingly productive career as theologian, ecumenist, religionist and finally a moral leader of humanity, wrote Haight.

 the Catholic Church, Christianity, other religions and all humanity in a recognizable way are his beneficiaries.

Born in Sursee, Switzerland, on March 19, 1928, Kung became a priest in 1954 and then a professor of Catholic theology at the University of Tubingen.

He participated in the Second Vatican Council, where he first dialogued with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI.

Kung garnered much controversy in the Catholic Church for his criticism of certain teachings, notably the concept of Papal Infallibility, which claims that when speaking on matters of faith the pontiff cannot err, as well as mandatory clerical celibacy.

In December 1979, not long after Pope John Paul II became head of the Catholic Church, Kung was censored by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Kung, in his writings, has departed from the integral truth of Catholic faith, and therefore he can no longer be considered a Catholic theologian nor function as such in a teaching role, declared the Congregation at the time.

Despite the differences with high-ranking Church authorities, Kung continued to write, teach and critique the Catholic Church, all while remaining a priest.

Many Catholic theologians have no longer critically examined the infallibility ideology for fear of ominous sanctions as in my case, and the hierarchy tries as far as possible to avoid the subject, which is unpopular in the church and in society, wrote Kung for the National Catholic Reporter in 2016.

That is why the following question is more urgent than ever: Where is the church  which is still fixated on the infallibility dogma  heading at the beginning of the third millennium?

In 2017, as the start of the Reformation turned 500, Kung advocated for reconciliation between the Catholic Church and Protestant denominations.

This included a call to overturn Reformation era excommunications of Protestant leaders, to formally recognize Protestant ministries, and to advance mutual Eucharistic hospitality.

May the pressure exerted by theologians, grass roots Christians, Christian communities and many committed men and women help the church leadership in Rome and elsewhere, which is so often hesitant and afraid, not to miss this historic opportunity but to wake up, he wrote, as quoted by The Tablet.

In todays world, Christianity will only come across as credible if it presents itself in truly reconciled diversity.
Researchers have developed a new algorithm capable of identifying features of male zebra finch songs that may underlie the distinction between a short phrase sung during courtship, and the same phrase sung in a non-courtship context. Sarah Woolley of McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS Computational Biology.

Like many animals, male zebra finches adjust their vocal signals for their audience. They may sing the same sequence of syllables during courtship interactions with females as when singing alone, but with subtle modifications. However, humans cannot detect these differences, and it was not clear that female zebra finches could, either.

For the new study, Woolley and colleagues first conducted behavioral experiments demonstrating that female zebra finches are indeed highly adept at discriminating between short segments of males' songs recorded in courtship versus non-courtship settings.

Next, they sought to expand on earlier studies that have focused on just a few specific song features that may underlie the distinction between courtship and non-courtship song. Taking a "bottom-up" approach, the researchers extracted over 5,000 song features from recordings and trained an algorithm to use those features to distinguish between courtship and non-courtship song phrases.

The trained algorithm uncovered features that may be key for song perception, some of which had not been identified previously. It also made predictions about the distinction capabilities of female zebra finches that aligned well with the results of the behavioral experiments.

These findings highlight the potential for bottom-up approaches to reveal acoustic features important for communication and social discrimination.

"As vocal communicators ourselves, we have a tendency to focus on aspects of communication signals that are salient to us," Woolley says. "Using our bottom-up approach, we identified features that might never have been on our radar."

Next, the researchers plan to test whether manipulating the acoustic features they discovered alters what female finches think about those songs. They also hope to evaluate how well their findings might generalize to courtship and non-courtship songs in other species.

###

Peer-reviewed; Simulation / modelling; Experimental study ; Animals

In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS Computational Biology:

https:/ / journals. plos. org/ ploscompbiol/ article?id= 10. 1371/ journal. pcbi. 1008820

Citation: Paul A, McLendon H, Rally V, Sakata JT, Woolley SC (2021) Behavioral discrimination and time-series phenotyping of birdsong performance. PLoS Comput Biol 17(4): e1008820. https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1371/ journal. pcbi. 1008820

Funding: This work was funded by grants from the National Science and Engineering Council of Canada (RGPIN 2018-05267 to SCW; RGPIN 2016-05016 to JTS; https:/ / www. nserc-crsng. gc. ca/ index_eng. asp ), the Fonds de recherche Nature et Technologies (206494 SCW; http://www. frqnt. gouv. qc. ca/ en/ accueil ), and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation Canadian Foundation for Innovation (27936 to JTS; https:/ / www. innovation. ca/ ). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
English French

Full power at VSM 2 and first kilowatthours produced at VSM 3, Voltalias new wind farms in the Serra Branca cluster

Voltalia (Euronext Paris ISIN code: FR0011995588), an international player in renewable energies, announces today the full commissioning of the VSM2 wind plant (128 megawatts) and the production by VSM3s of its first turbines (VSM3 will total 152 megawatts). Both wind plants are located in Voltalias Brazilian wind-and-solar complex of Serra Branca, the worlds biggest (2.4 gigawatts).

The full commissioning of VSM2 and the start of operations of VSM3s first turbines are new successful steps in the development of our Serra Branca cluster. The cluster has now 897 megawatts in operation including 624 owned by Voltalia and 273 sold to third parties. This power generated today at Serra Branca is equivalent to the consumption of more than 4.9 million people, and this number will increase soon when projects in construction and ready-to-build will be completed says Sebastien Clerc, CEO of Voltalia.

VSM2 (128 megawatts) was progressively commissioned in 2020 and the last turbines have started producing electricity in April 2021. The power produced by the wind plant is sold at fixed prices to various Brazilian utilities through 10- to 20-year contracts.

VSM3 (152 megawatts) benefited from strong synergies with VSM1 and VSM2 during the construction phase. The wind farm has now 7 turbines in operation (24 megawatts) and will include a total of 44 turbines. It is expected to reach full power in June 2021. The new Collector Substation Mel 2, where the project will connect is already operational since March 2021. The power produced by the wind plant will be sold at fixed prices through short term contracts until June 30th 2021 ant through a 20-year power sale contract with a Brazilian utility, starting July 1st 2021.

The Serra Branca cluster in detail as of today :

Ownership Technology Status Capacity (in MW) Developed and owned by Voltalia Wind Operating 624 Developed and sold with services by Voltalia Wind Operating 273 Sub total 897 Developed and owned by Voltalia Wind Construction 187 Developed and sold with services by Voltalia Wind Construction 301 Sub total 488 Developed & Owned by Voltalia Solar Ready to build with PPA 530 Under Development by Voltalia Solar & Wind Development ~500 Grand Total ~2 400

Next on the agenda: Q1 2021 revenues on April 21, 2021 (after market opening)

About Voltalia (www.voltalia.com) Voltalia is an international player in the renewable energy sector. The Group produces and sells electricity generated from wind, solar, hydraulic, biomass and storage facilities that it owns and operates. Voltalia has generating capacity in operation and under construction of more than 1.4 GW and a portfolio of projects under development representing total capacity of 9.7 GW.



Voltalia is also a service provider and supports its investor clients in renewable energy projects during all phases, from design to operation and maintenance.



As a pioneer in the corporate market, Voltalia provides a global offer to private companies, ranging from the supply of green electricity and energy efficiency services to the local production of their own electricity.



The Group has more than 1,130 employees and is present in 20 countries on 4 continents and is able to act worldwide on behalf of its clients.



Voltalia is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris, compartment B (FR0011995588  VLTSA) and is part of the Enternext Tech 40 and CAC Mid & Small indices. The Group is also included in the Gaia-Index, an index for socially responsible midcaps. Voltalia

Investor Relations: invest@voltalia.com

T. +33 (0)1 81 70 37 00 Actifin

Press Contact: Jennifer Jullia

jjullia@actifin.fr . T. +33 (0)1 56 88 11 11

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US technology company Neuralink could create 'novel exotic species' of dinosaurs in just 15 years, according to Max Hodak, one of its co-founders.

Hodak is an American entrepreneur and technologist who co-founded the contentious neurotechnology firm with Elon Musk.

The firm, known for putting a computer chip in the brain of a pig, could 'probably build Jurassic Park' if it wanted to, Hodak said, in reference to the 1993 blockbuster film.

Neuralink is currently working on technology that aims to allow people to hook their brains up to a computer and effectively become cyborgs.

Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Laura Dern and Sam Neill watch dinosaur eggs hatch in a scene from the film 'Jurassic Park', 1993

NEURALINK: ELON MUSK'S PLAY FOR COMPUTER-BRAIN INTERFACES Elon Musk's latest company Neuralink is working to link the human brain with a machine interface by creating micron-sized devices. Neuralink was registered in California as a 'medical research' company in July 2016, and Musk plans on funding the company mostly by himself. It will work on what Musk calls the 'neural lace' technology, implanting tiny brain electrodes that may one day upload and download thoughts. He said 'neural laces' will help people with severe brain injuries in just four years. And in eight to ten years, the Matrix-style technology will be available to everyone, he added. Advertisement

'We could probably build Jurassic Park if we wanted to,' Max Hodak tweeted.

'Wouldn't be genetically authentic dinosaurs but [shrugging emoji]. Maybe 15 years of breeding + engineering to get super exotic novel species.'

Hodak didn't elaborate on how the firm's own version of Jurassic Park would be built, but went on to suggest that it could help biodiversity.

'Biodiversity (antifragility) is definitely valuable; conservation is important and makes sense,' he also tweeted.

'But why do we stop there? Why don't we more intentionally try to generate novel diversity?'

Hodak appeared to be undeterred by the events of the film, based on the 1990 novel by Michael Crichton and starring Sam Neil, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum.

It depicts the disastrous results of genetic scientists bringing dinosaurs back from extinction at the eponymous park on an island near Costa Rica.

In the film, dinosaur cloning was accomplished by extracting dinosaur DNA from prehistoric mosquitoes preserved in amber.

But due to a breakdown in the park's security system, dinosaurs including a fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex and a venon-spitting Dilophosaurus go on a rampage.

The billionaire philanthropist and creator of the park, played by the late Richard Attenborough, is ultimately responsible for several fatalities, as well as the near-deaths of his two grandchildren who presumably lived with the traumatic experience of being nearly mauled by raptors for the rest of their lives.

Hodak said the firm, known for putting a computer chip in the brain of a pig, could 'probably build Jurassic Park'

Neuralink, founded in 2016, is probably best known for its work on making a 'whole brain interface'  essentially a network of tiny electrodes linked to your brain that the company envisions will allow us to communicate wirelessly with the world.

It would enable us to share our thoughts, fears, hopes and anxieties without demeaning ourselves with written or spoken language, the firm claims.

Neuralink already has courted criticism, partly for its experiments on living animals  last year, Elon Musk unveiled a pig with an implant in its brain.

Max Hodak (pictured) founded Neuralink with billionaire Elon Musk and others back in 2016

Innocent humans ran for their lives in the film thanks to the mad experiments of a philanthropist with too much money

In a webcast, Musk showed off the animal, named Gertrude, with the coin-sized neural implant, called Link, which the firm wants to implant in humans.

While Gertrude snuffled around in a pen, viewers saw her brain activity on a large screen.

Earlier this year, Musk claimed in a wide-ranging online question and answer session that he put a Neuralink implant in a monkey's brain and that the animal can play video games 'with his mind'.

In a Q&A on Clubhouse, a private social app, Musk claimed the implant builds a digital link between the brain and a computer, describing it as 'like a fitbit for the skull'.

Musk believes allowing human brains to interface with computers will help humans avoid being outpaced by artificial intelligence (AI).

He has previously called AI 'potentially more dangerous than nukes' and has called the lack of AI regulation 'insane'.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had a heated exchange during a press brief after Vice President Kamala Harris was asked why she had time to visit a Chicago bakery when needed at the US border.

Jen Psaki shot back at a reporter about VP Harris.

The verbal exchange between Psaki and New York Post reporter Steven Nelson came during a press briefing at the White House, as Fox reported.

Nelson said that despite being put in charge of President Biden's border crisis, Vice President Harris's only action is speaking with the Guatemalan President. Until now, her presence at the US border had been zero or going to Central America to meet with leaders, face to face. Then asked why Harris prioritized a visit to Chicago this week and went to a bakery instead of leaving for the border.

One of the questions asked by the reporter as quoted by Fox. "Is she still working on this and can you address the perception that she's kind of quietly backing off while Secretary Mayorkas is pursuing some Trump-era policies?"

Immediately Psaki retorted a remark that Harris is at Chicago to talk about the coronavirus and accessibility for vaccines.

On Tuesday, Vice president Kamala Harris visited Windy City; she was touring Union workers' vaccination sites to get vaccinated. She made her way to the Brown Sugar Bakery on the South Side of Chicago. The owners and employees met the vice president, and she left with pastry.

She was quote to say the following statement to Nelson, to the question which made her snippy, reported by the Daily Mail thru MSN.

Biden Believes He Can Change the Way People See the Crisis at the Border

"So, like many Americans, she had a snack while she was there. I believe she is permitted to do so "Psaki explained. "However, she was there to speak about COVID and play a role in our efforts to overcome vaccine hesitancy, engage with the public about how we can do this, and it's important to get the vaccine when it's safe," she said. Psaki shot back to avoid the question about VP Harris.

Last Thursday, Kamala Harris went to California and stayed there until Monday. Ironically, to get to the border is only a few hours away, close to the U.S.-Mexico border, yet she still avoided going there. One question thrown at Psaki is why neither the president nor the vice-president visited the wall through the border crisis.

Kamala Harris appointed as the frontman for the administration

A month ago, President Biden made a statement, as he appointed Harris as the lead in the border situation. He said, "Harris has agreed to lead our diplomatic effort and work with those nations to accept the returnees, and enhance migration enforcement at their borders."

One of the criticisms against her last month was when she laughed about whether it would be her or president Biden going to the border.

She answered the reporter's question with a laugh and replied, "not today." She said that she had gone before and won't be returning. Jen Psaki shot back in this press conference, explaining why VP Harris was laughing at a serious question.

Joe Biden's Policies to Blame for Sending Children to U.S. Border

Biden Administration to Use Taxpayers' Money to Pay for Migrants' Hotel Accommodations

Biden Promises Migrants Entry at the Border

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Alliance News) - The UK Prime Minister and Irish premier have made a joint call for calm after days of unrest in Northern Ireland.

Boris Johnson and Taoiseach Martin spoke over the phone on Thursday about the violent clashes in mainly loyalist areas over the last week.

In a statement, the Irish government said the two leaders stressed that violence was unacceptable.

"The way forward is through dialogue and working the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement," the statement said.

"They agreed that the two governments would continue to stay in contact."

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis welcomed a united message of condemnation of the violence by the Stormont parties.

He denied that the UK government had abandoned unionists through the new Brexit arrangements, one of the concerns inflaming tensions among loyalists that have sparked a week of violence, which police said had been on a scale not seen in recent years.

Lewis arrived in Northern Ireland on Thursday to speak to political and faith leaders, as well as the police.

He said there could be no justification for the violence.

"I absolutely recognise the challenge and the sense of identity challenges that people in the unionist community have felt around the protocol and the practical outworkings of it," he said.

"That's why we took the actions we took just a couple of weeks ago to help businesses and consumers here in Northern Ireland.

"Obviously, I also appreciate people have talked about the decision last week by the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions), the situation with people coming out of Covid and as the PSNI has said today, pure criminal activity and encouraging young people to take up criminal activity.

"All of these things come together in a way which is completely unacceptable."

Lewis expressed his confidence in PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne, who the DUP has urged to resign over a decision by prosecutors not to pursue Sinn Fein politicians over alleged coronavirus breaches at a funeral last year.

In the latest violent scenes, which took place in west Belfast on Wednesday night, a bus was hijacked and set on fire, petrol bombs, masonry and fireworks were thrown at police officers and a peace wall gate was set alight.

Police quelled crowds of 600 people on either side of the peace walls that separate communities in the city and deployed a type of plastic bullet, as well as arresting two men, aged 18 and 28, on suspicion of rioting.

Lewis pledged to do "all I can to continue to facilitate further constructive discussions on the way forward over the coming days".

"I remain in close contact with the prime minister to keep him updated," he added.

Earlier in the day, ministers in the Stormont Executive condemned the violence and Stormont MLAs unanimously passed a motion calling for an end to the disorder.

In a joint statement, the five-party Executive said: "While our political positions are very different on many issues, we are all united in our support for law and order and we collectively state our support for policing and for the police officers who have been putting themselves in harm's way to protect others.

"We, and our departments, will continue to work together to maximise the support we can give to communities and the PSNI to prevent further violence and unrest."

The Stormont Assembly was recalled from Easter recess for an emergency sitting following a motion calling for MLAs to unequivocally condemn those involved and support the rule of law.

Speaking during the Assembly debate, DUP leader Arlene Foster said the scenes witnessed were "totally unacceptable".

The First Minister said the injuries to police officers, harm to Northern Ireland's image and people's property had taken the region backwards.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the violence was dangerous and unacceptable.

She said illegal loyalist paramilitaries and criminal elements were influencing young people and orchestrating the violence.

"They are holding back their own people and they are holding back their own community," she said.

But PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts later said during a press conference: "I can't confirm the involvement of paramilitaries but the orchestration of last night's disorder and the previous nights is the subject of investigation.

"The scale of the disorder last night was at a scale that we have not seen in recent years in Belfast or further afield.

"The fact that it was sectarian violence involving large groups on both sides is not something we have seen in recent years. We believe there was a level of pre-planning."

The violence is unfolding at a time of increasing rancour in the political sphere amid tensions over Brexit's Irish Sea trade border and the fallout from the police's handling of the mass republican funeral that took place during pandemic restrictions last year.

As rioting has flared across Northern Ireland, all four main unionist parties continue to call for Byrne to quit over how his service dealt with the funeral of former IRA leader Bobby Storey.

Unionists are furious at a decision by prosecutors not to take action against 24 Sinn Fein politicians, including O'Neill, for attending the funeral a a decision partly related to the fact that police had engaged with organisers before the event that drew 2,000 people on to the streets.

Byrne has vowed not to resign and has signalled a desire to engage with people who have concerns about policing in the region.

By Rebecca Black, Cate McCurry and David Young

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8)  The Biden administration remains steadfast in its support for the Philippines amid its ongoing diplomatic protest against China over the continued presence of Chinese vessels at Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, in light of Chinese incursion in Philippine waters, has assured the activation of the mutual defense treaty between the two states if necessary.

"As we have stated before, an armed attack against the Philippines armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea, will trigger our obligations under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty," Blinken's spokesperson Ned Price said on Thursday.

The decades-old military agreement between Manila and Washington states that each country would come to the defense of the other in case of an attack by a foreign country.

The US State Department quoted Blinken, "'United States stands with our ally, the Philippines, in the face of the PRC's [People's Republic of China's] maritime militia amassing at Whitsun Reef. We will always stand by our allies and stand up for the rules-based international order.'

The Philippines on Wednesday started its plan to fire off daily diplomatic protests for each day Chinese vessels believed to be maritime militia refuse to leave Julian Felipe Reef. The country's officials have issued stern statements regarding their presence but the vessels still would not leave the area.

Forty-four Chinese vessels are moored at Julian Felipe Reef, based on latest information from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea. China claims the ships are not militia but fishing vessels taking shelter from bad weather. The DFA in a statement on Monday said these are "blatant falsehoods."

The Julian Felipe Reef, also known as Whitsun Reef, is a shallow coral reef 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza town in Palawan, well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. It is part of Beijing's vast claims in the South China Sea, which includes areas Manila considers the West Philippine Sea.

On March 20, the task force reported spotting over 200 Chinese vessels in the area, a figure that slightly went down to 183 days later. Aerial and maritime patrols last week showed that 44 Chinese vessels are still at Julian Felipe Reef while over 200 others are dispersed in different areas in the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, an arbitral tribunal recognized Manila's sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone that Beijing contests, invalidating the East Asian giant's historic nine-dash line claim to almost the entire South China Sea. It also ruled that Chinas island-building activities on several reefs in the Kalayaan Island Group constitute violations to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS and have caused devastating and long-lasting damage to the marine environment. China rejects the landmark ruling.

Aside from China's presence at Julian Felipe Reef, the military also spotted "illegal" man-made structures around the area, which is part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the disputed Spratlys. Lawmakers and maritime experts say the Philippines should band together with other countries to rally international pressure against China.

The US has also expressed support for other Asian nations that are being bullied by China. After reports that China's armed forces conducted simultaneous military exercises to the west and east of Taiwan, Blinken warned that Washington and Tokyo are prepared to push back against Chinese threats to stability and order in Asia.
Mumbai, April 8 : Bharti AXA Life Insurance has partnered with Fincare Small Finance Bank for distribution of life insurance products through the bank's pan-India network.

Under this arrangement, Bharti AXA Life Insurance will offer its comprehensive suite of life insurance products, including protection, savings and investment plans, to the customers of Fincare Small Finance Bank across its 747 branches and digital network presence across the country.

This alliance will make life insurance solutions reachable to over 26.5 Lakhs customers of Fincare Small Finance Bank and provide financial security to them.

Fincare Small Finance Bank has presence across 19 States/UTs and serves its customers through 747 branches.
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush said Thursday he is "seriously considering" running for attorney general in 2022  and detailed how he would challenge the incumbent, embattled fellow Republican Ken Paxton.

"There have been some serious allegations levied against the current attorney general," Bush said in an interview with Dallas radio host Mark Davis. "Personally I think that the top law enforcement official in Texas needs to be above reproach."

USING FORCE: Paxton sues Biden administration to deport more people convicted of crimes

Bush, the grandson of former President George H.W. Bush and nephew for President George W. Bush, went on to say a Paxton challenge would not be centered on "conservative credentials" but how the incumbent has run his office. "I think character matters and integrity matters," Bush said.

The land commissioner, currently in his second term, has for months kept open the possibility of running for another statewide office in 2022  including attorney general  but his remarks Thursday offered the starkest indication yet that he is focused on Paxton. Bush did not give a timeline for a decision on the race beyond saying he is currently focused on the legislation session and will visit with voters afterward. The session ends May 31.

Paxton has repeatedly said he plans to seek a third term next year despite a series of new and old scandals. Last year, seven of Paxton's top aides accused him of accepting bribes and abusing his office to assist a wealthy donor. Those aides were subsequently fired or resigned, and it has since come out that the FBI was investigating the claims against him. And for almost his entire time as attorney general, he has been under indictment on state securities fraud charges.

"Attorney General Paxton is focused on keeping the Texas border secure, holding the Biden Administration accountable, and taking on Big Tech," Paxton campaign spokesperson Ian Prior said in a statement responding to Bush's interview. "It is unfortunate, but not surprising, to see a potential opponent more interested with the narrative being set by the liberal media than on the real and important issues facing Texas families and small businesses."
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been awarded $38.2 million from the National Institutes of Health to continue to lead the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) as the study focuses on aging.

Based at the Carolina Population Center, Add Health is the nation's largest most comprehensive long-term study of adolescents from across the country. The study began with more than 20,000 adolescents surveyed in 1994-95. Since then, data have been collected about their educational experiences, employment, children and parenting, genetics and health.

The new grants will enable researchers to follow the group into their 40s, and better understand how early life - during adolescence and young adulthood - matters for health and well-being in middle age and beyond.

UNC-Chapel Hill professor Kathleen Mullan Harris directed Add Health from 2004-2021 and this year UNC-Chapel Hill professors Robert Hummer and Allison Aiello assume leadership.

"Research on the early signs and symptoms of health conditions that usually manifest in older age, such as cognitive impairment, age-related loss of physical functioning and dementia, are rarely studied in early midlife, particularly at the national level," said Aiello, Add Health deputy director, epidemiologist at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and faculty fellow at the Carolina Population Center.

"The new measures of cognitive and physical functioning will provide an opportunity for researchers to study the accumulation of risk or preventative factors in later-life health, decades before conditions emerge in older age," Aiello said.

Add Health researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill work closely with those at RTI International, the University of Vermont and Exam One to conduct the study. The team of sociologists, psychologists, epidemiologists, physicians and research methodologists collaborate on study design, data collection and distributing data across the world.

Their focus in the new, sixth wave of data collection is on the cognitive, mental and physical health of Add Health participants, with particular attention given to disparities in health outcomes across racial and ethnic, socioeconomic and gender groups.

The newly funded research will also facilitate data collection surrounding rising health risks in middle age.

"Add Health has evolved because of a trusted, lengthy partnership between researchers, participants and funders," said Hummer, Add Health director and the Howard W. Odum Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the UNC-Chapel Hill. "It's astounding how this ground-up effort has evolved over many decades and continues to impact the way we understand human health."

More than 3,500 articles have been published using Add Health data. Those studies have exposed the obesity epidemic, raised awareness of high blood pressure in young adults and pioneered work on how the social environment interacts with genetic markers to influence behavior and health in adulthood.

Add Health data have also been instrumental in helping the scientific community better understand health disparities in the United States.

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A San Antonio classic that predates Southtown will get a reboot thanks to the minds behind The Friendly Spot.

The spot at South Alamo and Cedar where B&D Ice House was opened by Bruno and Dianne Dzanski in 1961 is now Bruno's Dive Bar, as an ode to the original owner. The soft opening will last from Thursday to Monday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. A grand opening date is pending.

Steve and Jody Bailey Newman are breathing new life into the storied spot. The Dzanskis opened the business as a place to pick up ice for iceboxes in the 1960s. Eventually, the operation was extended to include essentials and became a corner store and hangout.

RELATED: Downtown staple reawakens with Tony's Siesta, a new spot 'that screams San Antonio'

"Generations gathered at the bar to have a brew and chat with Bruno. His stories and service brought visitors from far and wide," the team said in a release.

Bruno Dzanski retired from the business in 2014, handing over the lease to the Newmans, who own The Friendly Spot directly across the street. The building housed a barbecue joint for a stint, but pandemic woes challenged the owners to rethink what the business should be.

Jody Bailey Newman said she's excited to bring the nostalgic feel back to the spot. The dive bar will have beer, well drinks, an IPA on tap, games, jukebox music and special appearances.

READ MORE FROM MADALYN: Couple behind popular Little Em's Oyster Bar has another 'sexy' Southtown spot in the works

"Don't be surprised to see Bruno around the bar checking in on all of us," she said.

Mel Ramos, the first employe of The Friendly Spot, is working with the Newmans on the new venture.

"Jody, Steve and I have spoken for years about opening a spot together," Ramos said. "During the stay-at-home order, we had an opportunity to make it a reality. Bruno's Dive Bar is authentic and a staple in the neighborhood."

Bruno's Dive Bar is located at 1004 S. Alamo St. Updates will be shared on the bar's new Instagram page.
Close

Scientists, through the use of the Spitzer Space Telescope of NASA, have recently identified the three fastest-spinning brown dwarfs ever discovered.

Brown dwarfs, according to NASA, objects with a similar size between that of a gigantic planet like Jupiter, and that of a small star.

More gigantic than most planets although not quite heavy enough to flare up like stars, brown dwarfs are described as cosmic 'in-betweeners.'

And even though they are not as popular as planets and stars to most people, brown stars are thought to number in the billions in the galaxy.

In a study entitled, Weather on Other Worlds. V. The Three Most Rapidly Rotating Ultra-Cool Dwarfs and published in the Astronomical Journal, the researchers that made the new speed measurements contend that these three rapid rotators could be reaching a speed limit for all brown dwarfs, outside which they would break apart.

ALSO READ: Astronomers Discover an 'Unusual' Star, a Celestial Occurrence They've Never Seen Before

Three Fast-Spinning Brown Dwarfs

These three fast-spinning brown dwarfs are all about a similar diameter to Jupiter's although from 40 to 70 times more massive.

Each of the brown dwarfs rotates about once every hour while the next-fastest known brown dwarfs are rotating about once every 1.4 hours and Jupiter is spinning once every 10 hours.

Based on their size, that means, the largest brown dwarf of the three, is whipping around at over 60 miles per second or approximately 220,000 miles every hour.

According to a Phys.org report, the speed measurements were made through the use of data from Spitzer which NASA retired in January last year.

The same report also specified that the brown dwarfs were first discovered by 2MASS or the ground-based Two Micron All Sky Survey, which ran until 2001.

Then, the team verified their findings through observations using the ground-based Gemini North and Magellan telescopes

Brown dwarfs, akin to planets or stars, already spin when they are forming. As they cool down and contract, they are spinning faster, just like when a spinning ice skater is drawing her arms into her body.

In connection to this, scientists have quantified the spin rates of around 80 brown dwarfs, and they differ from less than two hours which include these three new discoveries to tens of hours.

Spin Speed Limit Reached

Having so much variety in speeds already measured among brown dwarfs, it surprised the researchers of this new study that the three fastest-spinning brown dwarfs ever discovered have nearly the similar spin rate, roughly one full rotation each hour, as each other.

This cannot be credited to the brown dwarfs having formed together, or being at a similar stage in their development as they are physically different-one is a warm brown dwarf, the second is cold, while the third is falling between the first two.

Since brown dwarfs are cooling as they age, the temperature differences are suggesting these brown dwarfs have different ages.

The study investigators are not chalking this up to coincidence. For them, the speedy trio's members all have reached a spin speed limit, outside which a brown dwarf could break apart.

Considering that brown dwarfs have the tendency to speed up as they age, there is now a question of, if these objects are exceeding their spin regularly and if they are being torn apart.

In other rotating cosmic objects similar to stars, there are there, natural braking mechanisms that preempt them from destroying themselves. It remains unclear though if similar mechanisms are present in brown dwarfs.

A similar report on the three fastest-spinning brown dwarfs is shown on JPLraw's YouTube video below:

RELATED ARTICLE: Rare White Moose Found Dead in Canada Outrages Many People





Check out more news and information on Brown Dwarfs on Science Times.
Armenians, who have been occupying Azerbaijani lands for almost three decades and who have carried out ethnic cleansing of the Azerbaijani population of the areas, have also tried to expropriate the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan In Focus reports. Armenians have historically been known to have a tendency to appropriate Azerbaijani cuisine and dishes and portray them as Armenian, continuing this fraud to this day.

The Azerbaijan National Culinary Center (ANCC) is at the forefront of Azerbaijans fight against Armenian appropriation tendencies, carrying out very important activity at international culinary events, researching the history of cuisine and publishing books on Azerbaijani national cuisine to expose Armenian falsifications. The book Regional Cuisine of the Irevan Khanate, published in Istanbul, is a logical continuation of the success of the ANCC, headed by Tahir Amiraslanov, in disseminating the realities of Azerbaijan in the international arena.

The Regional Cuisine of the Irevan Khanate, the product of many years of research, is dedicated to the issue, which, today, is both historically and ethnographically, of great interest as it covers the ancient culinary culture of the Azerbaijanis of Irevan khanate, who were local residents of the territory now called Armenia. The book contains numerous historical and ethnographic facts that belong to the cuisine of the western Azerbaijanis and show the richness of the material culture created by the people of this region. This publication, which is based on historical facts and ethnographic research, proves the groundlessness of Armenian claims, is a valuable encyclopedic source on the material and spiritual culture of the ancient Irevan region of Azerbaijanis.

The research sheds light on the Armenian Cuisine book published by the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR back in 1960, where Armenian experts falsified the names of food products and dishes and their cooking methods collected from Azerbaijani villages and settlements in Goycha and Zangazur districts in order to restore Armenian cuisine.

However, as you turn the pages of the book Regional Cuisine of the Irevan Khanate, it becomes clear that despite the efforts of the Armenians to appropriate the food and drinks in cuisine of the Azerbaijani people of the Irevan Khanate and to portray them as Armenian dishes, the names of most of the dishes, food products, fruits and vegetables, spices (boran, arishta-(rist), khashil, kufta, dolma, govurma, bozartma, kata, lavash, penir, goguplov-(goguplov), odplov, muammarplov-(mummrplov), imam bayld, etc.) nevertheless are in Azerbaijani.

Armenians aimed to create a fake culinary culture by making some literal changes to the names of food and drink in the terminology of Azerbaijani culinary. The international community is already seeing Armenian fakes geeting exposed and removed. Despite Armenian claims, in 2016, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage included lavash in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage as the bread of the Turkic people. And since 2017, dolma, as an item of Azerbaijani cuisine has been part of the honour list of UNESCOs Intangible Cultural Heritage.

One of the assets of the book Regional Cuisine of the Irevan Khanate is the inclusion of historical photos reflecting the cultural heritage of the Irevan Khanate, Azerbaijani and Islamic religious culture, showing the process of destruction of Sardar Palace, Irevan mosques, caravanserai and other medieval architectural sites. Historical documents presented by the National Museum of Georgia and Georgian scientists, photographs taken by Russian orientalist-photographer Yermakov (1845-1916), archive evidence regarding the restoration of Sardar Palace endorsed by Tsar Nicholas II are undeniable facts that the Irevan Khanate was an ancient territory inhabited by Azerbaijanis.

The book lists many food products of Irevan cuisine, a wide range of kitchen utensils, 413 types of food and drinks and the methods of their preparation, which gives a clear idea of the cuisine and table culture created by Azerbaijanis in the historical territory of the Irevan Khanate now called Armenia. The Regional Cuisine of the Irevan Khanate takes every Azerbaijani on a spiritual tour to his native land and reminds them once again of its beauty, the aroma of tandoor and the taste of its dishes.

As the publication of the book Regional Cuisine of the Irevan Khanate coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, its presentation had been held online through the E-Academy project of the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora. The merits of the book and its promotion in the international arena were discussed at the video conference with the participation of representatives of the Azerbaijani Diaspora and international organizations. Information about the publication of the book had been released in the Turkish and French media and it is currently on display in the Alfred Nobels museum (Alfred Nobels Bjorkborn in Karlskoga, Sweden). The planned presentation of the book Regional Cuisine of the Irevan Khanate in European countries has been resceduled and will take place after the post-pandemic period.
US Marshals and York authorities have arrested a man previously considered a dangerous fugitive, believed to be the shooter in a Valentines Day killing of a York-area man.

West York police are looking for Ronald C. Boyd, Jr., charged in the killing of Angel Perez II on Feb. 14, 2021. Photo provided by the West York Borough Police Department

Ronald Boyd Jr., 29, is charged with criminal homicide, according to online court dockets. West York Borough police have named him as the suspect in the shooting death of 30-year-old Angel Perez II, of Springettsbury Township.

Perez was killed just before 4 a.m. on Feb. 14, according to the York County coroner. He was shot mulitple times in the 1400 block of Market Street.

Police previously said Boyd was considered armed and dangerous.

Members of the US Marshals Task Force and the York County Drug Task Force took Boyd into custody on Wednesday night, police said. He has been interviewed by West York investigators and is being arraigned on Tuesday.

Homicide is considered a non-bailable offense in Pennsylvania due to the severity of the crime. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 21.

Read more on PennLive:
They have needed additional money so they chose to close. Theyre already strapped, and this bill will not allow them to sell or lease for the fair market value of their buildings. They need dollars and they have access to resources that would generate dollars, but this bill prohibits them from helping themselves.
AMSTERDAM, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Krypt is proud to welcome Frederik Pena-Tolivia to the team as a Solution Director to head the SAP GTS practice for the European region. Frederik comes to Krypt with vast expertise across a plethora of industries such as Retail, Life Science & Health Care, Automotive, Finance, Aerospace & Defense, Manufacturing, and Energy.

Frederik has graduated in Applied Informatics with a specialization in Business IT  SAP. He also has several SAP Certifications including HANA support associate and Technology Associate SAP S/4HANA. His skill set uniquely qualifies him to advise clients with the right technologies & solutions. He specializes in SAP GTS and has worked on over 25 vital GTS projects across the world. These projects have involved multiple full-life cycle SAP GTS implementations across all SAP GTS modules for both SAP & non-SAP Feeder Systems.

His core expertise lies in full-automation projects for clients in performing e-filing without manual intervention, setting-up of e-filing in multiple countries with different authorities, special customs procedures, and setting-up of broker interface for customs solution as standard Broker Enablement functionality from SAP. Most of the projects he has worked on have involved extensive enhancements to SAP GTS in all functionalities & different Middleware.

"Global Trade situation is getting more complex every single day.

Trade Wars, Brexit, FTA's are only a few topics that make companies look into solutions to transform their Global Trade Solution towards an automated system.

With over 25 project implementations of SAP GTS, I am excited to bring my expertise/experience to Krypt and help the clients define the best solution & drive it towards a successful implementation. I firmly believe, with hard work and effort you can achieve anything," said Frederik Pena-Tolivia.

In his free time Frederik loves to travel, read on varied topics or can be seen working for the web shop Bakery Bakingromi, which he co-founded with his fiance.

Krypt has been operating globally as an SAP partner for Global Trade & Supply Chain, since 2008. We have global footprints with offices located in the United States, Germany, India, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Krypt has helped hundreds of customers across 35 countries leverage their SAP investments to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and gain a competitive edge.

To know more about Krypt products/services, please request for aDEMO or do contact us.

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April 08 : Janhvi Kapoor, who was recently in New York and Los Angeles, now landed in the beach destination, Maldives, for yet another vacation. A hot favourite of Bollywood celebs, Janhvi has been, in fact late to visit the picturesque location.

After checking into the island nation Maldives, the Gunjan Saxena actress shared a series of pictures, giving a glimpse of the fun moments she is experiencing with her friends. From sun-kissed selfies to mesmerising sunset, and the food, Janhvi has given a sneak peak into her holiday. Her sassy caption to the post reads, Last to get on the Maldives bandwagon but I fully get the hype.

The Roohi actress joined a brigade of Bollywood actors who have flocked to the island destination since the lockdown was relaxed in 2020. Recently, Madhuri Dixit was in Maldives along with her husband Shriram Nene and her sons Arin and Ryaan. Before her, Dia Mirza along with her husband Vaibhav Rekhi and stepdaughter Samaira were holidaying in Maldives. Currently, Shraddha Kapoor is also in Maldives, and it is rumoured that her boyfriend Rohan Shrestha is also with her.

Janhvi is surely enjoying a little break from work as recently she had travelled to Los Angeles. She shared pictures from her vacation on Instagram, and wrote, Its been a minute LA but you still feel like home. Before that she was in New York with her sister Khushi Kapoor.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Janhvi was recently seen in Roohi, the first major Hindi film that was released in theatres after they were allowed to operate with 100 per cent capacity. Before that, Janhvi was seen in the Netflix film Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl. The actress is awaiting the release of her film Dostana 2, where she has shared screen space with Kartik Aaryan and Laksh Lalwani. Janhvi has recently wrapped up her forthcoming film Good Luck Jerry, which was shot in Punjab. Janhvi plays a small town girl in the comedy film. She also has Karan Johar's period epic Takht in her kitty.
With the shortage of semiconductors leading to an increase in waiting period for passenger vehicles (PVs) to seven months, vehicle registrations during March fell 29% compared with last year, but witnessed a growth of 10% over that in the past month.



Data shared by Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), shows on yearly basis, registration of two-wheelers (2W), three-wheelers (3W) and commercial vehicles (CVs) unrelentingly fell in March 2021 by 35.26%, 50.72% and 42.20%, respectively.

In a release, FADA says, "Passenger vehicle waiting period continued to hold its ground and remained as high as seven months as scarcity of semiconductors remained put. About 47% PV dealers said that they lost more than 20% sales due to supply side constraints."

"According to Pew Research, financial woes brought by Covid-19 have pushed about 32 million Indians out of the middle class, undoing years of economic gains. This had its impact on 2W as it saw one of its steepest de-growth in last few months. This coupled with high fuel prices and price increase acted as double whammy. It not only created a havoc in entry level customers mind but also kept them away from visiting showrooms," says Vinkesh Gulati, president of FADA.

He says, commercial vehicles continued to degrow on yearly basis. "High prices for Bharat Stage (BS)-6 vehicles, low finance availability, repayment pressure due to moratorium period getting over, were the few reasons for non-performance. The category showed growth in some markets or sub categories where government infrastructure spending has begun. Bus segment continued to suffer due to ongoing pandemic.

According to the FADA president, 3W marketing is witnessing a tactical shift from internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric vehicles (EV). "While prices of vehicles are increasing due to BS-6 and metals prices, customers coming from lower income category are not able to re-pay equated monthly instalments (EMIs) due to poor income. This coupled with social distancing norms and educational institutions still closed are keeping riders away," he added.

According to data shared by the apex body of automobile retail industry in India, during March, vehicle registrations fell 28.64% on yearly basis, but grew 10% over those in February 2021. During the month, registrations for PVs increased 28.39% on low base from the same period last year when India started transitioning to Bharat Stage (BS)-VI emission norms from BS-IV and when the country went under lock-down. Tractors maintained their outperformance compared with the broader market and recorded an increase of 29.21% in registrations.

There was no significant change in dealer inventory days as PV and 2W inventory remained in the range of 10-15 and 30-35 days, respectively, FADA says.

While the second wave of COVID is not only spreading faster, it is trying to destabilise the growth which India has been able to achieve in last few months, the apex body of automobile retail industry says adding, "Any lockdown at this point will severely hamper the momentum which is getting built for auto industry to come out of the woods."

According to FADA, increase of COVID and fear amongst consumers is keeping them away from making high ticket purchase. It says, "The effects of the same can be seen in 2W category where inquiry levels are low. This coupled with semiconductor shortage will continue to hamper not only passenger vehicles but also two wheelers as anti-lock braking system (ABS) shortage is currently ringing alarm bells."

Commenting on registrations in April, the apex body of automobile retail industry says, this month comes with festivities like Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Baisakhi and Poila Boishakh. "This coupled with marriage season is generally a high sales period. At this juncture, the second wave of COVID is not only spreading faster but is also trying to destabilize the growth, which India has been able to achieve in last few months. Any lockdown at this point will severely hamper the momentum which is getting built for auto industry to come out of the woods," it says.

Since Maharashtra contributes 10-11% of the auto retail, the current Lock-down will have catastrophic effect on overall sales for the month of April. Overall, FADA says it maintains extreme caution for April 2021 as Covid rises to newer highs.
A Montgomery police officer has been arrested, the second officer facing charges by his own department in less than a week.

Meshach Franklin, 29, is charged with third-degree criminal trespass, Capt. Saba Coleman announced Thursday. Details of the allegations against Franklin were not released.

Coleman said police launched an investigation Wednesday after receiving notification of the charges from the Municipal Court Magistrates Office.

Franklin, who joined the department as a patrol officer in 2019, has been placed on administrative leave.

Montgomery police on Saturday announced 36-year-old Officer Nathaniel Miles is charged with using his official position for personal gain. Lt. Jarrett Williams said the investigation was launched Friday and Miles was immediately placed on administrative leave. He was on duty when the alleged crime happened.
The Facility acquisition positions Havn Life to quickly expand its product portfolio and reach additional NHP categories.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / Havn Life Sciences Inc. (CSE:HAVN)(OTC PINK:HAVLF)(FSE:5NP) (the "Company" or "Havn Life"), a biotechnology company pursuing standardized extraction of psychoactive compounds and the development of natural healthcare products, is pleased to announce, further to its news release dated January 26, 2021, that it has completed the acquisition of GCO Packaging and Manufacturing Ltd. ("GCO"), acquiring 100% of the outstanding shares of GCO (the "Acquisition") in exchange for an aggregate of 6,000,000 common shares of Havn Life (the "Consideration Shares"). GCO operates a large-scale manufacturing, packaging and distribution facility ("Facility").

The Acquisition is expected to enhance three key elements to Havn Life's retail strategy:

Facilitate expanded product portfolio with strong revenue generation potential;

Expand ability to enter new Natural Health Product ("NHP") categories; and

Reduce third party manufacturing burden.

Havn Life CEO, Tim Moore, noted, "Acquisition of this Facility represents a pivotal step forward for us, as we ramp up production of the seven natural health products we're launching this spring in retailers such as Nesters Market. Our team continues to work towards formulating and developing new and innovative products to bring to market. Looking to the future, it will also enable us to produce a range of new products, from functional teas to other natural health product formulations."

With over 16,000 square feet of space, the Facility features a large warehouse with multi-level inventory racking, fully-equipped and functioning production and packaging rooms, and modern, fully-furnished boardroom, laboratory, and offices. The Facility currently holds USDA Organic, Canadian Organic, and Kosher certifications, and includes a large loading area for ease of delivery-vehicle access. The 2.11-acre freestanding Facility is strategically located in the lower mainland near several key transportation hubs, providing an excellent access point for the distribution of Havn Life's forthcoming retail product line.

Transaction Details

The Company notes that 1,214,954 of the Consideration Shares will be issued to a creditor of GCO in connection with the settlement of certain outstanding indebtedness (the "Debt Settlement Shares"). The Debt Settlement Shares are subject to resale restrictions which, in respect of one-half (1/2) of such Debt Settlement Shares, expire in four (4) months, and which, in respect of the remaining Debt Settlement Shares, expire in five (5) months.

Release and delivery of the Consideration Shares to the Vendors are subject to the terms and conditions contained in the share purchase agreement between the Company and the Vendors, including an escrow arrangement whereby one-sixth (1/6) of such Consideration Shares will be released to the Vendors every three (3) months following closing, commencing three months from the closing date.

The completion of the Acquisition triggered the vesting of an aggregate of 9,000,000 outstanding performance warrants, all of which have been exercised, resulting in the issuance of 9,000,000 common shares of the Company to the holders thereof (the "Performance Warrant Shares"). One-half of the Performance Warrant Shares are subject to resale restrictions which, in respect of 50% of such Performance Warrant Shares, expire in 45 days, and which, in respect of the remaining 50% of such Performance Warrant Shares, expire in 90 days.

On Behalf of The Board of Directors

Tim Moore

Chief Executive Officer

About Havn Life Sciences Inc.

Havn Life Sciences is a biotechnology company on a mission to unlock human potential using evidence-informed research. The Company is focused on standardized, quality-controlled extraction of psychoactive compounds from plants and fungi, and the development of natural health care products from non-regulated compounds. Learn more at: havnlife.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube

Contact:

Investor Relations: ir@havnlife.com 604 687 7130

Media: savi@emergence-creative.com 647 896-8078

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, such as statements regarding the benefits of the Acquisition, the intended use and benefits of the Facility, the ability of the Facility to facilitate an expanded product portfolio with strong revenue generation potential, expand ability to enter new NHP categories and reduce third party manufacturing burden, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's expectations and are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, nor that the Acquisition will provide the Company the expected benefits, that the Facility will be utilized as intended, or at all, that the Facility will be able to facilitate an expanded product portfolio with strong revenue generation potential, expand ability to enter new NHP categories and reduce third party manufacturing burden. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release

SOURCE: Havn Life Sciences Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639418/Havn-Life-Completes-Acquisition-of-Strategic-Manufacturing-Packaging-Facility-for-its-Retail-Division
The Islamic State groups self-declared caliphate has fallen, its fighters have dispersed and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has been killed.

But two years after it suffered stinging defeats in Syria and Iraq, the terrorist group has found a new lifeline in Africa, where analysts say it has forged alliances with local militant groups in symbiotic relationships that have pumped up their profiles, fundraising and recruitment.

Many of those homegrown insurgencies are only loosely connected to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Still, over the past year, as violence from Islamic extremists on the African continent reached a record high, the Islamic State has trumpeted these battlefield wins to project an image of strength and inspire its supporters worldwide.

Most recently, the Islamic State claimed credit last week for a dayslong rampage in war-afflicted northern Mozambique, where militants with distant ties to the terrorist organization ambushed a key port town. The attack left dozens of people dead, including at least one South African and one British citizen, and set off talk on the Islamic State groups online forums of the establishment of a new caliphate there, according to researchers.

As an organization more broadly, ISIS is hurting, said Colin Clarke, a counterterrorism analyst at the Soufan Group, a New York-based security consulting firm. To improve morale among its supporters, its leadership is seeking to elevate regional branches showing the most promise in launching attacks and maintaining a robust operational tempo.

The siege on Palma, the town in Mozambique, was the most brazen attack yet by the local insurgency and is part of an alarming rise of brutal clashes involving militant Islamic extremists across the continent. Violence associated with those groups spiked 43% in 2020 compared with 2019, according to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, a U.S. Defense Department research institution.

In recent days, tens of thousands of people who fled the assault in Mozambique have arrived in neighboring provinces and described scenes of devastating violence from the bloody ambush.

Ricardo Elias Dario, who worked in the gas-rich port town as a heavy equipment operator, could hear the gunfire from inside his red-clay home. Within seconds he grabbed his black leather jacket and sprinted with a friend, Benefica Taou, toward the nearby bush to take cover.

But as they fled, his friend was fatally struck by a stray bullet, he said, and fell to the ground. Dario barely made it.

They were shooting everywhere, shooting everyone, even the dogs, Dario, 35, said Thursday in a phone interview from Mozambique. I was just running, thinking, Maybe I will survive, maybe I wont survive, but at least if I run maybe I will survive.

Read: ISIS group says seized Mozambique town of Palma

For over a decade, U.S. military and counterterrorism officials have warned that Africa was poised to become the next frontier for international terrorist organizations like al-Qaida and more recently the Islamic State. Both organizations have forged alliances with local jihadi groups in recent years and established new strongholds in West, North and Central Africa from which they can carry out large-scale attacks, according to experts and officials in the United States and Europe.

More recently, U.S. officials have warned that even in its weakened condition, the Islamic State remains a cohesive organization in its former strongholds in Iraq and Syria, with perhaps 10,000 fighters who have gone underground.

While battlefield defeats and the coronavirus have dented its vaunted online propaganda and recruiting operations, the Islamic State still has a war chest of $100 million and a global network of cells outside the Middle East, from the Philippines to Afghanistan, according to U.S. and U.N. counterterrorism officials.

Iraqi security forces and their Western allies continue to hunt down pockets of fighters. Over two weeks in March, Iraqi security forces backed by U.S. and British warplanes conducted 312 airstrikes against Islamic State strongholds, in one of the largest operations against the insurgents since 2019.

Even as political leaders in Europe and the United States grapple with a new threat of domestic terrorism  from right-wing extremists and white supremacists  the fear of a suicide attack in a Western city by a lone individual inspired by Islamic State ideology lurks just beneath the surface.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and foreign ministers from the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, a group of more than 80 nations, met virtually March 30 to address what they said was increased activity in areas once controlled by the groups fighters.

The threat remains, the ministers said in a statement.

But as the Islamic State tries to claw back in the Middle East, it has turned to new footholds in Africa where anger against corrupt governments and ill-equipped local security forces have given rise to armed groups, according to analysts.

Across the Sahel region, stretching from Senegal to Sudan, armed groups have pushed into areas previously untouched by extremist violence. Along the Indian Ocean coastline in Somalia, al-Qaida-linked militants have established control over large sections of rural areas. And farther south in Mozambique, an insurgency with just a few dozen fighters three years ago has escalated into full-fledged war.

None of these groups are extraordinarily powerful. Its just that they have enough capacity to destabilize these fragile states which are not able to maintain a security presence, said Joseph Siegle, director of research at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

The Islamic State has forged ties with many of these local insurgencies in what analysts have described as a marriage of convenience: For the militants, the Islamic State brand brings legitimacy and recognition from local governments that the homegrown guerrilla movements have long craved. The Islamic State , in turn, has been able to broadcast the local militants attacks as proof that their global jihad is alive and well.

The number of attacks that the Islamic State claimed credit for in Africa grew by more than a third between 2019 and 2020, according to U.S. and other Western counterterrorism officials.

Right now one of the principle dividends  if not the main benefit  is perception, the ability of ISIS to say, Yes, weve lost our territory in Iraq and Syria, but look at us expanding in Africa, said Charlie Winter, co-founder of the conflict tracking system ExTrac.

In some places like northeast Nigeria, the Islamic State exerts influence over its local affiliate, the Islamic State in West Africa, and has provided it with trainers and financing, according to the International Crisis Group. But researchers say the Islamic State maintains much looser ties to other militant groups like the insurgency in Mozambique, which remains a largely homegrown movement born of local grievances.

For decades there, impoverished locals watched as elites in the capital plundered the resource-rich region of Cabo Delgado, along the Indian Ocean, which has served as a hub for illegal timber as well as drug and ivory smuggling.

Then in 2009, one of the worlds largest known ruby deposits was discovered in the province, and two years later, oil companies uncovered a natural gas deposit worth tens of billions of dollars. Speculators flocked to the area, locals were forced off their land, and some small-scale miners were beaten and killed.

By the time the nascent insurgency launched its first attacks in 2017, targeting police stations and local government leaders, it had widespread appeal among petty traders at the ports and disenchanted youths, local researchers say.

The violent crackdown from the Mozambican military, which was implicated in serious abuses against civilians, may have also helped the insurgency gain more traction with locals.

But over the past year, the nature of the war has changed. The militant group has destroyed entire towns, displacing 670,000 people, killing at least 2,000 civilians and kidnapping scores of others, monitoring organizations say.

People in Cabo Delgado have come to realize this group is not a solution. Its destroying the local economy and its become very, very violent with the population, said Joao Feijo, a researcher at the Observatory of Rural Areas, a Mozambican research institute. Nowadays the group is pretty isolated.

Since the insurgency pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019, the conflict has also garnered international attention. Last month, the United States formally designated the group as a global terrorist entity and imposed sanctions on its leader, identified by U.S. officials as Abu Yasir Hassan.

U.S. officials sent a dozen Army Green Berets to train Mozambican marines for the next two months. Portuguese officials said they would soon send 60 troops to Mozambique, a former colony. A Mozambican military official declared on Sunday that insurgents had been flushed out of Palma.

But hundreds of thousands of displaced people from Cabo Delgado are living in limbo, relying on the hospitality and humanitarian aid to survive. Others who migrated to the province for jobs related to the huge gas project have returned home after international energy companies suspended operations.

We were afraid of the situation there, but there was work and we have families we need to feed, Dario said.

After fleeing last months attack, he hid in the bush with dozens of people for days  surviving on raw maize and water from a marsh  before a boat evacuated them to Pemba, a town 155 miles south. Dario plans to return home to Beira, a city in the south, and find work to support his wife and five children.

I saw old people, young people, children dying, pregnant women suffering. Even if there is no job for me at home, I would rather stay there with my family, Dario said. But go back to Cabo Delgado, to Palma, never.
Facebook is sharing a new and diverse dataset with the wider AI community. In an announcement spotted by VentureBeat, the company says it envisions researchers using the collection, dubbed Casual Conversations, to test their machine learning models for bias. The dataset includes 3,011 people across 45,186 videos and gets its name from the fact it features those individuals providing unscripted answers to the company's questions.

What's significant about Casual Conversations is that it involves paid actors who Facebook explicitly asked to share their age and gender. The company also hired trained professionals to label ambient lighting and the skin tones of those involved according to the Fitzpatrick scale, a dermatologist-developed system for classifying human skin colors. Facebook claims the dataset is the first of its kind.

You don't have to look far to find examples of bias in artificial intelligence. One recent study found that facial recognition and analysis programs like Face++ will rate the faces of Black men as angrier than their white counterparts, even if both men are smiling. Those same flaws have worked their way into consumer-facing AI software. In 2015, Google tweaked Photos to stop using a label after software engineer Jacky Alcine found the app was misidentifying his Black friends as "gorillas." You can trace many of those problems back to the datasets organizations use to train their software, and that's where an initiative like this can help. A recent MIT study of popular machine learning datasets found that around 3.4 percent of the data in those collections was either inaccurate or mislabeled.

While Facebook describes Casual Conversations as a "good, bold first step forward," it admits the dataset isn't perfect. To start, it only includes people from the United States. The company also didn't ask participants to identify their origins, and when it came to gender, the only options they had were "male," "female" and "other." However, over the next year, it plans to make the dataset more inclusive.
(TNS)  The newly enacted state budget requires nearly all internet providers to sell broadband service for $15 a month to low-income customers who qualify for food stamps, Medicaid or similar benefits.Internet providers have 60 days to start offering minimum internet speeds of 25 megabits per second for $15 a month to qualifying customers. They have the option to provide 100 Mbps service for $20.The mandated service is similar to what state regulators already require from two of the states largest providers, Spectrum and Optimum. Since 2017, for example, Spectrum has offered qualifying low-income customers 30 Mbps service for $14.99.But the new law will make low-cost broadband available to many more of the states 1.7 million low-income households, said Richard Berkley, executive director of Public Utility Law Project, an advocacy group for low-income utility customers.For one thing, the eligibility requirements in the new law are more expansive than what the Public Service Commission imposed on Spectrum. And the new law applies to all of the more than two dozen internet providers in New York, unless they have fewer than 20,000 customers and can show hardship.The law aims to close the digital divide, which loomed large during the past year, Berkley said. Some kids lacked broadband service needed for remote schooling. Some senior citizens were unable to obtain telemedicine services for want of high-speed internet.This is vital, Berkley said. The pandemic showed us that affordable, comprehensive access to high-speed broadband is vital.The wider availability of low-cost service could have a significant impact in cities like Syracuse. One-quarter of the 54,000 households in Syracuse had no internet service as of 2019, according to a report by Syracuse.com . Only 58% had high-speed broadband.Under the budget bill passed Tuesday, households can now get the low-cost broadband service if they qualify for Medicaid Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (food stamps); free or reduced-price school lunch; affordability benefits from a utility; or a senior citizen rent increase exemption.Under a 2016 order approving the merger of Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications, the state Public Service Commission required Charters service brand, Spectrum, to offer a low-income broadband option for $14.99. The service had to reach speeds of 30 Mbps by 2017.Eligibility was limited to households that qualified for free school lunch or to seniors who qualified for Supplemental Security Income. A similar PSC order applied to Optimum, a downstate provider, after its owner merged with another company.The new law will extend the requirement to provide service to low-income consumers to other major internet providers like Verizon and RCN and to the roughly two dozen smaller internet companies. Outside of company mergers, the state does not typically exercise that level of control over internet service.If an internet provider has fewer than 20,000 customers and can show that a low-income service would cause undue hardship, the PSC can excuse it from the requirement.
Jesse Reyes, energy sector litigator There is a great deal of interest and energy around Womble Bond Dickinson right now, so I am very excited to bring my practice to the firm and extend Wombles international energy practice in the Northeast.

Womble Bond Dickinson has added to its Boston office a third major lateral in less than three months, announcing this week the addition of energy regulatory litigator Jesse Reyes. Reyes is also the third lateral partner this year to join the firms energy sector team.

There is a great deal of interest and energy around Womble Bond Dickinson right now, so I am very excited to bring my practice to the firm and extend Wombles international energy practice in the Northeast, Reyes said.

Reyes represents electric transmission companies, independent power producers, energy suppliers, project developers, and investors in disputes and regulatory matters. His work over the last 18 years includes distribution utility rate cases and other rate proceedings, power purchase agreements for renewable energy and renewable energy certificates, mergers and acquisitions, siting, interconnection agreements, FERC gas and electric transmission rates, wholesale market rule development, reliability standards, and regulatory compliance.

Reyes joins Womble from Brown Rudnick where he worked closely with fellow litigator and energy industry advisor, Jed Nosal, who moved to Womble in early March. Litigator and former Providence, Rhode Island Mayor Angel Taveras also joined the Boston office in February. Reyes and Nosal join capital markets attorney Jose Luis Vittor as the newest additions to the firms energy sector team as well. Vittor brought his practice to the firm two months ago and is based in the Houston office.

Earlier this year we announced our intention to establish in Boston the kind of top-shelf litigation team Womble is known for throughout the country. Jesse, Jed, and Angel will be the bedrock of that team, said Sarah Keefe, Boston Managing Partner. New England is at the forefront of energy innovation and transformation and our team in Boston, as part of Wombles international energy and natural resource practice, is poised to help our clients prepare for the future and achieve sustainable growth and success."

In addition to his law firm experience, Reyes also served as Chief of the Energy and Telecommunications Division in the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office. He earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and speaks fluent German.

About Womble Bond Dickinson

Womble Bond Dickinson is a transatlantic law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers based in 27 UK and US office locations serving clients across every business sector. The firm provides core legal services including: Commercial, Corporate, Employment, Pensions, Dispute Resolution, Litigation, Finance, Banking, Restructuring, Insolvency, IP, Technology and Data, Private Wealth, Projects, Construction and Infrastructure, Real Estate and Regulatory Law.

Womble Bond Dickinson, the law firm or the firm refers to the network of member firms of Womble Bond Dickinson (International) Limited, consisting of Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP and Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP. Each of Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP and Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP is a separate legal entity operating as an independent law firm. Womble Bond Dickinson (International) Limited does not practice law. Please see http://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/legal-notice for further details.
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China urges U.S. to improve its own human rights - Xinhua | English.news.cn

China urges the United States to face up to its own serious human rights problems and take concrete measures to improve its own human rights situation, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

This came after U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price's remarks over China's Xinjiang Tuesday.

In response, spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the so-called "genocide" in Xinjiang is the most preposterous lie of the century. By smearing others, the United States is trying to distract attention away from its own blatant human rights violations.

Noting that history has recorded all the crimes committed by the U.S. side in violating human rights, Zhao listed five kinds of crimes at the press briefing.

The first is colonialism. U.S. history has recorded the horrific systemic ethnic cleansing and slaughter of Native Americans, which constitute genocide and crimes against humanity. Over nearly 100 years after the United States was founded, Native Americans were expelled and killed during the Westward Expansion. Their population dwindled from 5 million at the end of the 15th century to 250,000 at the beginning of the 20th century.

The second is racism. In the United States, racism is a systemic and persistent problem covering every aspect of society. As pointed out by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, African Americans face systemic racism in terms of their health, employment, education, the legal system and beyond. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, hate crimes against Asians soared by 150 percent from March last year in the United States. When the UN Human Rights Council was reviewing the report on the United States this year, over 110 countries criticized the United States on its human rights issues, urging the country to take concrete measures to solve systemic problems such as discrimination against minority groups.

The third is exporting unrest. Since 2001, the United States has launched wars and military operations under the pretext of "countering terrorism" in about 80 countries around the world, which have claimed more than 800,000 lives, including about 330,000 civilians, and tens of millions of people have been displaced in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and many other countries. The United States and the West supported and instigated the "Arab Spring," which plunged countries across West Asia and North Africa into turmoil from which they have yet to recover.

China urges U.S. to improve its own human rights - Xinhua | English.news.cn

The fourth is interference. Hiding behind the banner of human rights over sovereignty, the United States has ignored the principles of respecting national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs in the UN Charter, and imposed unilateral sanctions on relevant developing countries, triggering serious humanitarian crisis.

The fifth is double standards. The United States has turned a blind eye to the fact that Xinjiang enjoys prosperity and development and that the 25 million residents of all ethnic groups in the region live in harmony and solidarity, and arbitrarily slapped the label of "genocide" on China based on nothing but the accounts of a few fake academics and false witnesses. However, after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, extreme acts such as smashing and looting mosques occurred in some Muslim neighborhoods in U.S. cities. In 2017, the previous U.S. administration put in place the anti-Muslim ban, making the U.S. the only country in the world to have issued a ban targeting Muslim community specifically. According to one poll in the United States, more than 80 percent of respondents believe that Muslims face discrimination in the country.

"We urge the United States to put aside its arrogance and prejudice, face up to its own serious human rights problems and take concrete measures to improve its own human rights situation," Zhao said.
The Citadel began a three-day competition on April 8 hosted by the National Security Agency that pits the country's military colleges and service academies against each other in intense cyber security simulations.

The NSA's National Cyber Exercise allows future service members and cadets to experience real-life examples of digital problems the military faces. This marks the first year The Citadel has been invited to compete for the title and trophy.

At least 36 cadets are participating in the event. It involves exercises on forensics, cyber policy, cryptography and reverse engineering, and ends with a real-world defense challenge where they have to detect and protect a network system from hackers.

The events take place over the course of three days and range anywhere from eight to 12 hours in length.

"Through NCX, NSA helps to educate, train and test the cyber skills of U.S. service academy cadets and midshipmen, as well as teams from the senior military colleges and select NSA employees," Diane Janosek, commandant of NSA's National Cryptologic School, said in a statement.

"NSA has an incentive to ensure the nation has a competent cyber-smart workforce," she added.

In recent years, the U.S. military and the federal government have put more emphasis on training young service members to combat increasing cyber threats from terrorists and other countries.

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For example, the Department of Defense announced that as recently as July indictments were issued against two malicious cyber actors associated with with the Chinese Ministry of State Security for stealing terabytes of data, including data related to COVID-19 vaccination research.

Since 2001, the NSA has hosted the team-against-team competition that tests teamwork, planning, communication and decision-making skills.

Last year's NCX competition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the event is typically held in person, the 2021 competition is taking place virtually with team's competing from their own campus.

Schools participating in this year's exercise include the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Norwich University, Texas A&M University, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech, University of North Georgia and The Citadel.

Shankar Banik, professor of cyber and computer sciences, said activities like NCX will help prepare these students for careers in the real world.

"These exercises reinforce the learning they're getting in the classroom," he said. "When they go to the real world, they're going to be applying that. These challenges exist in the military, the private sector and, well, everywhere."

The exercise will end April 10.
Lauderdale County kicked off its mass coronavirus vaccination drive-thru clinic on Wednesday and gave doses to almost 300 people.

"It was very, very convenient and I appreciate it so much. I would have had to go to my doctor's office and waited, and waited. This way, I just drove through," said Martha Orick, who got her shot at the drive-thru clinic on Wednesday.

Lauderdale County Emergency Management and the North Alabama Medical Center partnered up to make this clinic with mobile vaccination units happen.

"We have been working with EMA and the Lauderdale County Commission for awhile to get this up and going, and we're so excited that we're finally here and in the outreach, administering vaccines to people who might have transportation issues and haven't been able to participate in the vaccine clinics in town," said Casey Willis, an administrator with NAMC.

The plan is to vaccinate 300 people a day. All you do is drive up and fill out some paperwork, get your shot and wait in an observation area.

"The longest thing about the line is filling out the paperwork, and then, we pull you around. You get your shot and you wait 15 to 30 minutes. It's that quick," said Willis.

This clinic will be there Thursday and Friday.

The county will have another drive-thru vaccine site set up on the east end of the county this Friday at Joe Wheeler State Park. The clinics are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The state's eligibility rules do apply.
For example, Fajman testified as the original bill was being considered Tuesday and shared the story of her daughter, who applied online for an absentee vote by mail ballot. Her daughter had her drivers license nearby assuming thats what she used to registered to vote, Fajman said, but after typing in the 10-digit number, the system prompted her asking for the last four numbers of her Social Security number.
Rising number of surgical conditions due to trauma and chronic diseases such as diabetes, chronic respiratory, neurological, and renal diseases are expected to increase demand of medical intubation procedures, and subsequent use of. For instance, increase in number of surgical procedures will have a direct impact on the sale of intubation products. According to a WHO study, in, aroundmillion surgical procedures were carried out to address the burden of different diseases for a global population ofbillion.

Moreover, rising global adoption of intubation-based surgical procedures, extensive clinical research, and increasing launches of highly sophisticated intubation medical devices are responsible for the growth of the intubation market.

Get Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/samples/15676

Companies covered in Intubation Market Report

Medtronic

Deas S.R.L

Medis Medical

Smiths Medical

Flexicare Medical Limited

Get To Know Methodology of Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/methodology/15676

Persistence Market Research predicts that the global intubation market will exhibit a 5% CAGR during the forecast period (2020-2030).

Key Takeaways from Intubation Market Study

By product, the endotracheal tubes segment is expected to dominate the global intubation market during the forecast period, owing to high volume of surgical procedures that adopt the endotracheal intubation technique.

In terms of usage, the disposable intubation segment is expected to gain more than 3/4 of the intubation market share. Preference for disposable intubation medical devices is due to lower infection risk and convenience during intubation procedures.

Under the end user segmentation, hospitals and ambulatory surgical centres are expected to collectively gain more than 3/4 of the market by 2030.

North America is the highest revenue generating market by region, due to the launch of new products with rising adoption of intubation in surgical procedures, and an increasing elderly population. North America is expected to be followed by Europe in the global intubation market.

Lack of skilful workforce to perform intubation procedures and poorly developed healthcare infrastructures in developing economies are major challenges for the growth of the intubation market in these regions.

The COVID-19 pandemic will have a short-term negative impact on the global intubation market, owing to supply chain disruptions, reduced hospital-based procedures, and hampered research & development activities by companies in the intubation market. Due to the outbreak, many companies are focusing on finding a possible treatment option for COVID-19. Manufacturing industries around the world have been hampered due to global restrictions, causing unusual technology and business model disruption.

Rising burden of surgical procedures and technological advancements are expected to drive the growth of the global intubation market, says a PersistenceMarketResearch analyst.

Access Full Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/15676

Disposable Intubation Products Dominate Market

Use of disposable medical devices in intubation and surgical procedures is increasing rapidly. Risk of infection with reused intubation devices and high cost associated with sterilization for reused products are projected to drive higher preference for disposable intubation devices. In addition, use of highly advanced biodegradable material for the manufacturing of intubation devices that facilitate the disposal of single-use intubation devices is pushing the trend of disposable intubation devices in the market.

What Does the Report Cover?

Persistence Market Research offers a unique perspective and actionable insights on the intubation market in its latest study, presenting historical demand assessment of 2015  2019 and projections for 2020  2030, on the basis of product (airway management tubes and intubation accessories), usage (reusable and disposable), and end user (hospitals, ambulatory surgical centres, clinics, and research & diagnostic labs), across seven key regions.
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.
[April 08, 2021] Insurity Analytics to Enable Property & Casualty Insurers to Write More Profitable Policies, Optimize Claims, and Deliver Better Combined Ratios, Built on Snowflake

Insurity, a leading provider of cloud-based software for insurance carriers, brokers, and MGAs today announced a new data application, built on and powered by Snowflake, the Data Cloud company. Insurity Analytics delivers insights in the property and casualty (P&C) marketplace to more than 100 leading insurance companies. With Snowflake's powerful data platform capabilities as the infrastructure for Insurity's software platform, insurance customers will have a fully integrated, modern software platform, fueled by an advanced analytics offering. P&C insurers are awash in data, but it is often housed in silos, making it challenging to use that data to answer key questions, such as: How can underwriters quickly quantify the full life cycle of a policy before writing it? How can we reduce skyrocketing expenses? Which claims will become runaway or "jumper claims"? And where do opportunities exist to introduce new insurance products based on emerging but underserved needs? Insurity Analytics accepts data from any policy, billing, claims, reinsurance, or MGA or TPA sources. It provides out-of-thebox support for 31 Commercial, Personal & Specialty Lines of Business (LOBs), and is empowered by more than 16,000 data attributes. Drawing from the broadest and deepest data repositories in the industry based upon non-proprietary ACORD standards, Insurity Analytics delivers insights beyond what is available from any other data solution in the property and casualty marketplace.



Snowflake delivers an easy-to-use, powerful platform where users can easily unify, integrate, analyze, and share their data within the Data Cloud. Snowflake leverages the power of the cloud to scale in real time to support nearly any number of users across regions as they execute diverse analytic workloads, making it an ideal platform for building data applications. "No other software provider is bringing a data model proven at more than 100 major insurers into Snowflake's Data Cloud. This is a game changer for not just us, but the entire P&C industry," said Kirstin Marr, Head of Insurity Analytics. "With Insurity Analytics in the Data Cloud, insurers can optimize every aspect of their workflow and organization. Insurity Analytics in Snowflake will provide a single source of truth for all data, so underwriters can evaluate changes in portfolio performance in real-time to derive relevant insights into risks and exposure. Insurers can also compare how similar claims would behave in comparable environments, to automate decision-making with smart, prescriptive recommendations. Using these types of insights, insurers can quickly adapt to emerging needs, with new products that enhance the policyholder experience and increase profitability."

"We're excited that Insurity has chosen Snowflake as the platform for their data products," Snowflake VP of Customer Product Strategy, Matt Glickman said. "With Snowflake, they have a platform that scales nearly infinitely and instantly, and Snowflake Data Cloud delivers a powerful data network for Insurity's customers to achieve deeper data insights that can optimize decision making for the P&C industry." To learn more about Insurity Analytics in Snowflake Data Cloud, please reach out to Laura Krause at Laura.Krause[at]Insurity.com About Insurity Insurity is a leading provider of cloud-based software and analytics for insurance carriers, brokers, and MGAs. Insurity is trusted by 15 of the top 25 property and casualty carriers in the US and has over 250 cloud-based deployments. Through its best-in-class digital platform and with unrivaled industry experience and thought leadership, Insurity is uniquely positioned to deliver exceptional value, empowering customers to focus on their core businesses, optimize their operations, and provide superior policyholder experiences. For more information, visit www.insurity.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005609/en/

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A blue Raleigh Traveller bicycle that once belonged to Princess Diana is up for auction. She owned it before her marriage, when she was working as a nanny. Three years ago, it sold for 9,200, and it is now expected to fetch 20,000 or more.

If this sounds a little steep, you should remember that the see-through dress Kate Middleton was modelling when she caught Princess Williams eye at a St Andrews University fashion show sold for 78,000 back in 2011.

A few months earlier, Tommy Coopers fez fetched 4,750 at Christies. Compared with Dianas bicycle and Kates dress, it was a snip.

I myself am the proud owner of a selection of Tommy Coopers stage flowers, which I bought at auction soon after he died, in 1984. Back then, two suitcases full of Tommy Coopers flowers cost me just over 100. What a bargain! One bunch is particularly special  with a discreet push of a lever, it bursts into bloom.

Those in search of celebrity memorabilia should not be put off by the high price of Princess Dianas bicycle. There are plenty of cheaper options (and all available online). For instance, this week in Hertfordshire, Excalibur auctions are offering a hand-signed Christmas card from Christopher Biggins, with the caption Have you stuffed yours yet! I have! And a Very Happy 1995 (Batteries not included) All my love Biggins, for an estimate between 20 and 40.

If Biggins is not your cup of tea, there are plenty of other bits and pieces from the same year on offer at the same price, including a signed photograph of an awkward-looking Monaco royal family  Prince Rainier, Prince Albert, Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie.

Others might prefer the less pricey option of a pair of Rolf-a-Roo cartoons of Rolf Harris as a kangaroo, signed by Harris himself, with an opening bid of just 5.

In these days of selfies, autographs are a thing of the past. At the same auction, a job lot of signed cards from eight notable politicians, four of them former prime ministers (Harold Macmillan, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, John Major) is estimated at just 30 to 50. A batch of autographs of fairly minor comedians  among them Charlie Drake, Derek Nimmo, Stanley Unwin and Ray Allen  is on offer for more than the politicians at 40-60.

Are these different auction prices an indication of societys priorities? If so, its worth taking a look at the catalogue for next weeks spooky auction, billed as Out of the Ordinary, run by Sworders in Stansted Mountfitchet in Essex.

Personally, I wouldnt know what to do with a stuffed bat, also known as a Malaysian Flying Fox, 69cm wide with its wings outstretched. But clearly others do: it has an estimate of between 350 and 450.

Even more costly is a hideous stuffed Hammerhead Fruit Bat  scientific name Hypsignathus monstrosus  which has an estimate of 500-700.

A 19th-century replica shrunken head, adorned with shells and feathers, mounted on an ebonised base, under a Victorian glass dome, is going for 400-600. Judging by the catalogue picture (left), its long hair and know-it-all expression make it a dead ringer for Russell Brand. I dont know if its worth mentioning, but its been a long while since Brand was last seen in public.

Even less savoury objects are on offer, including a 19th-century mantrap (100-200), a 17th-century mummified hare found on the Beverston Estate in an outbuilding (400-600), and a stuffed cobra, mounted in an upright position (150-200).

Perhaps creepiest of all is a 17th-century mummified cat (600-800), which comes with an explanatory note: It was the custom in Britain in the 16th and 17th centuries to place the body of a cat inside the walls of a newly-built home to ward off witches, evil and occult spirits.

What will the proud new owners of these lots do with their purchases? A ride on Dianas bicycle or a twirl in Kates saucy dress both have a certain cachet, but the line Anyone want to stroke my mummified cat? is hardly an ice-breaker.

But perhaps that is the point. When your guests have exhausted you with their talk of Brexit, Boris Johnson and box sets, and you start longing for bed, what better time to reach for the shrunken head?
Hyderabad, April 8 : The Telangana High Court on Thursday directed state health authorities to conduct Covid-19 tests on those coming from other states.

It also suggested that only those who have undergone RT-PCR tests be allowed into the state.

The high court orders came in the wake of surge in Covid cases, especially in the districts bordering Maharashtra, which is witnessing a massive spike.

The court also asked the government to constitute a committee of experts to suggest measures to check the spread of Covid-19.

It observed that while the state may not impose a lockdown, it should create containment zones wherever cases were detected to check spread of the virus.

On the direction of the court two days ago, the Health Department submitted its report on testing and treatment while the Director General of Police submitted a report on action taken against the violators of Covid-19 guidelines.

The DGP, in his report, informed the court that 22,000 cases were booked against those violating Covid-19 guidelines. The report says 2,416 cases were booked for not following social distancing, and six cases for spitting on roads.

The court expressed surprise that only 1.16 lakh people were fined for not following the Covid guidelines, observing that action against those not following guidelines is only for name's sake.

A bench of Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy once again voiced its displeasure over fewer RT-PCR tests at a time when the second wave of the pandemic is sweeping across the country. It asked the health authorities to increase RT-PCR tests to 70 per cent of all Covid tests as per guidelines issued by the Central government.

The court expressed concern over crowds at liquor shops, bars, pubs and cinema theatres, remarking that the liquor shops have turned into corona sources. It directed that criminal cases be booked against those wine shops, pubs, bars and restaurants violating Covid guidelines and their license be cancelled.

The court also asked the health authorities to ensure that social distancing is followed at the meetings of political parties and marriages.

The Health Department informed the court that sero surveillance will be completed in six weeks, and the court asked it to submit the report.

The court also wanted the government to spell out its plans for giving Covid vaccine to various groups of beneficiaries, especially inmates of old age homes. It directed the government to provide details of the number of doses received by the state, doses administered, wastage etc.

The court asked the government to submit a report by April 14 and adjourned the hearing to April 19.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Weve been told it is not a good idea to take a photo of our COVID-19 vaccination card and post it on social media.

But, a photo of the sticker you may receive after the vaccination or the bandage on your arm could win you beer money.

Samuel Adams has launched the #ShotForSam vaccine incentive program to give $7 to the first 10,000 people who share evidence on social media of receiving the vaccine.

Sam Adams hopes drinkers will get back to supporting the bars and restaurants they love. So if you get vaccinated against COVID-19, well buy your first beer back!

The incentive starts on April 12 and runs through May 15. Using the hashtag #shotforsam and tag @samueladamsbeer on Instagram or Twitter with a photo of your vaccination sticker or bandage and Samuel Adams will send you $7 through Cash App to use for a beer at your favorite restaurant.

Those entering must have a Cash App account. Samuel Adams gives instructions on the contest page.

The giveaway was announced yesterday on National Beer Day as was an offer from Molson Coors to get a free 12-pack of its new Coors Pure organic light beer. For that contest you must run in the shape of a Coors Pure can and electronically map the run to enter.

READ MORE
Flower Rains along the Silk Road is staged at Dunhuang Grand Theater on Thursday. [For chinadaily.com.cn/Wang Binyin]

The classic dance drama Flower Rains along the Silk Road was revived in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, on Thursday evening.

In 1979, the directors of the Gansu Opera House brought the magnificent and colorful Dunhuang murals to the stage in the form of a dance drama. With meticulous polishing over time, Flower Rains along the Silk Road has endured for 42 years, praised by the media as "a living Dunhuang mural with beautiful artistic enjoyment". While winning the affirmation and recognition of audiences, a quality brand gradually appeared.

Flower Rains along the Silk Road is staged at Dunhuang Grand Theater on Thursday. [For chinadaily.com.cn/Wang Binyin]

After 42 years on stage, Flower Rains along the Silk Road returned to Dunhuang, a city with countless artistic treasures engraved with beliefs about eternity. Regular performances of the drama at Dunhuang Grand Theater, one of the main venues of the Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, is recognized by tourists at home and abroad and receives considerable acclaim.

It conveys the rich historical and cultural atmosphere to the Silk Road through majestic, dreamlike expressions. It is currently listed as a Chinese classic of the 20th century. It contains the soul of Dunhuang culture, becoming a model of the integration of culture and tourism and achieving win-win economic and social benefits.

Flower Rains along the Silk Road is staged at Dunhuang Grand Theater on Thursday. [For chinadaily.com.cn/Wang Binyin]

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)
An Alabama work release inmate is dead after leading authorities on a chase in a stolen vehicle.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said authorities were notified at 1:27 p.m. Wednesday that an inmate with the Covington County Work Release program had cut off an electronic ankle monitor and escaped.

The inmate, whose name has not been released, then reportedly stole a vehicle from the Covington Center Arena before ultimately stealing a second vehicle.

At some point, a chase was launched by the Covington County Sheriffs Office and Alabama State Troopers. Additional details were not made available, but a statement released by ALEA said this: Deputies with Covington County Sheriffs Office exhausted all less lethal options before forcibly stopping the suspect on Highway 55, approximately two miles south of Andalusia. The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene.

Authorities did not say how the suspect died. The investigation is ongoing.
On its website, Purdue advises students and employees to document whether they have received the vaccine, similar to its flu shot policy. The university said it may ask for documentation, if students decline to get the vaccine for medical or religious reasons.


Senior Software Engineer, Big Data & ML Austin , Texas , United States Software and Services Summary

Posted: Apr 5, 2021 Role Number: 200236578 Apple is a place where extraordinary people gather to do their best work. Together we craft products and experiences people once couldn't have imagined - and now can't imagine living without. If you're motivated by the idea of making a real impact, and joining a team where we pride ourselves in being one of the most diverse and inclusive companies in the world, a career with Apple might be your dream job. The Engineering Solutions team is looking for an experienced Software Engineer for their Big data platform. In this role you will be partnering with cross functional teams across Apple. You will work closely with our business leaders and other partners to implement these new solutions. The candidate must be able to work independently, understand the needs and build the solutions for sophisticated architecture and comfortable working under pressure at times. Key Qualifications * Extensive experience in software design and development; Working knowledge of the full SW development lifecycle

* Hands-on with architecture, design, development and deployment of large scale distributed computing systems in a large organization

* Experience with Java, Java11 related technologies, Spring Framework, JUnit / TestNG. Strong knowledge and understanding of data structures, algorithms, design patterns, concurrency, multi-threading, scalability, fault tolerant designs, enterprise architecture and software engineering principles

* Solid understanding of data modeling and database systems including Oracle, Cassandra, other NoSQL technologies

* In-depth knowledge of technologies such as Web Services, Avro, JSON, HTTP, SSL, Caching solutions, application performance tuning

* In-depth knowledge and experience in one or more of the following technologies: Hadoop ecosystem, Kafka, Flume, HBase, Cassandra, Spark, Solr, Zookeeper

* Deep understanding of key algorithms and tools for developing high efficiency data processing systems

* Validated software engineering experience and discipline in design, test, source code management and CI/CD practices

* Strong software development, problem-solving and debugging skills with experience in one or more of the following languages: Java or Python

* Proficient in working with Linux or other Posix operating systems, shell scripting, and networking technologies Description - Architect, design and implement highly available and scalable enterprise solutions that can match Apple volumes - Ability to distinguish/combine relevant SQL and NoSQL technologies to architect the right solution - Utilize the expertise in Java frameworks including Spring, REST - Interface with Business, application owners, developers and project managers - Be responsible for promised deliveries in time - Collaboration with Project Management team and cross functional teams - Review technical designs and perform code review Education & Experience BS degree in computer science or information management plus 7-10 years of experience, or MS degree plus 5-7 years, or equivalent. Additional Requirements * Understanding of encryption algorithms and technologies.

* Exposure to functional programming

* Some experience in statistics and machine learning.

* Familiarity with Compute and/or Machine Learning offerings from Amazon AWS

* Familiarity with Kubernetes






Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor is an actress who looks after everyone from her work to her photos. Janhvi has joined the celebrities who have reached the Maldives these days in the summer season to celebrate the vacation. Recently, many of his photos have come out which you can see. In fact, recently, the actress has shared her very glamorous photos from the beautiful location on social media, which is very attractive.

You can see his best avatar in these photos is making everyone loaded. As you can see, Janhvi posted these photos on Instagram and wrote in the caption, "I am behind the Maldives in joining this bandwagon but I am getting this hype." In the photos, Janhvi is seen posing in her different style. By the way, these pictures of her are becoming viral very fast on social media. In all these photos, she is seen enjoying herself with her friends.

By the way, recently, many abstract celebrities including Shraddha Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Mouni Roy, Hina Khan shared more than one photo with their fans from the Maldives. By the way, Janhvi was seen for the last time with Rajkummar Rao in the film 'Roohi.' Now Janhvi Kapoor is going to be seen soon in the film 'Dostana 2.' She has been cast for this film for quite some time. According to the news, she will be seen opposite Kartik Aaryan in this film.

Also Read:

Kartik Aaryan bows in front of his car, fans react to video

Kareena Kapoor wearing Rs 26028 mask speaks- 'Wear mask, not propaganda'

Salman Khan's fans to suffer major setback if lockdown continues, 'Radhe' will release next year
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Kim Kardashian caused quite a frenzy on Wednesday afternoon as she made a surprise visit to her SKIMS pop-up shop at the Grove shopping center in Los Angeles, California.

The 40-year-old KUWTK star, who launched the successful shapewear line in September of 2019, posed for a slew of snapshots in front of a giant SKIMS backdrop upon arrival.

Kim's public outing comes just days after she was officially declared a 'billionaire' by Forbes following the success of her reality show and business ventures.

Surprise! Kim Kardashian caused quite a frenzy on Wednesday afternoon as she made a surprise visit to her SKIMS pop-up shop at the Grove shopping center in Los Angeles , California

Kim put her famous assets on display in an olive toned SKIMS bodysuit and a pair of striking snakeskin trousers which highlighted her peachy posterior.

The brunette beauty completed her ensemble by slipping her feet into a pair of open toed heels which displayed her white pedicure.

Kim looked radiant and glowing following her recent Palm Springs getaway with her mother Kris Jenner, as well as her sisters Kylie and Khloe.

The SKIMS CEO wore her lengthy raven tresses in voluminous waves that flowed down her back and chest from a neat middle parting.

SKIMS: The 40-year-old KUWTK star, who launched the successful shapewear line in September of 2019, posed for a slew of snapshots in front of a giant SKIMS backdrop upon arrival

Ka-ching! Kim's public outing comes just days after she was officially declared a 'billionaire' by Forbes following the success of her reality show and business ventures

Branding on point: As she posed for photos in front of her massive SKIMS backdrop, Kim showcased her bright white manicure and matching pedicure

Sensational: Kim put her famous assets on display in an olive toned SKIMS bodysuit and a pair of striking snakeskin trousers which highlighted her peachy posterior

Amplifying her enviable features, Kim undoubtedly decked out her eyelids and plump pout with products from her KKW Beauty cosmetics line.

As she posed for photos in front of her massive SKIMS backdrop, the reality star royalty showcased her bright white manicure and matching pedicure.

Kim appeared to be in a jovial mood as she smiled for the cameras, despite currently being in the midst of a divorce from her estranged husband Kanye West.

Gorgeous: The brunette beauty completed her ensemble by slipping her feet into a pair of open toed heels which displayed her white pedicure

Radiant: Kim looked radiant and glowing following her recent Palm Springs getaway with her mother Kris Jenner, as well as her sisters Kylie and Khloe

Jovial: Kim appeared to be in a jovial mood as she smiled for the cameras, despite currently being in the midst of a divorce from her estranged husband Kanye West

In between shots, the reality TV sensation could be seen getting her make-up touched up by one of her go-to artists.

Making sure her hair remained intact through the duration of the event, one of Kim's hair techs rushed to her side to give her strands some extra bounce.

After posing up a storm, the entrepreneur retrieved a nude face mask - courtesy of SKIMS - and carefully placed it over her mouth and nose as not to disrupt her make-up.

Mermaid hair: The SKIMS CEO wore her lengthy raven tresses in voluminous waves that flowed down her back and chest from a neat middle parting

Beauty team: Making sure her hair remained intact through the duration of the event, one of Kim's hair techs rushed to her side to give her strands some extra bounce

Along with her team of hair stylists and makeup artists, the estranged wife of Kanye West was joined by a team of security guards that escorted her around the shopping center.

As she passed excited fans and photographers, the KKW Beauty founder offered friendly waves and beamed for the cameras.

The SKIMS pop-up shop featured attendants rocking the brand's latest pieces in a nude tone that coordinated with the shop's exterior.

Represent: Kim's mask also happened to be a SKIMS product as she promoted the brand during the event

Beauty: Amplifying her enviable features, Kim undoubtedly decked out her eyelids and plump pout with products from her KKW Beauty cosmetics line

Patrons were able to survey all of the line's popular pieces through glass displays in order to keep things sanitary amid the coronavirus crisis.

Orders were packaged in sleek SKIMS boxes, which coordinated with the colors chosen by customers.

During her visit to the Grove, Kardashian was seen entering through a Nordstrom's EBar, which leads directly into the department store.

Security: Along with her team of hair stylists and makeup artists, the estranged wife of Kanye West was joined by a team of security guards that escorted her around the shopping center

As Kim strutted around the Grove, fans and shoppers could be seen snapping photos and videos of the star while she made her surprise debut.

One of such shop patrons happened to be Rumer Willis, who went on to praise KIm's pop-up shop on her Instagram Story.

'@KIMKARDASHIAN THIS POP UP IS SO CUTE,' captioned the 32-year-old daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis.

Ready for you! The SKIMS pop-up shop featured attendants rocking the brand's latest pieces in a nude tone that coordinated with the shop's exterior

Color coordinated: Orders were packaged in sleek SKIMS boxes, which coordinated with the colors chosen by customers

In the brief clip, she slowly panned around the pop-up shop, which rocked the famous flesh-toned SKIMS aesthetic.

Kim's presence at the SKIMS pop-up on Wednesday comes just one day after she followed in estranged husband Kanye's footsteps and made it onto the Forbes Billionaires List for the first time.

Kim ranked at 2674th place with an estimated $1 billion net worth while Kanye was ahead of her at 1750th as he is reportedly worth about $1.8 billion.

She has a $225million stake in Skims and in January last year, sold 20 percent of KKW Beauty to Coty for $200million while retaining 72 percent of the company - a stake worth $500million.

The reality TV star also earns at least $10million a year through her TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians (now in its last season), ad campaigns, social media posts and through her game app, Kim Kardashian: Hollywood.

She also holds an impressive stock portfolio that includes shares in Amazon and Disney. Kanye gave her the portfolio as a Christmas gift in 2017. At the time, it was worth $100,000.

Big fan: Rumer Willis happened to stop by the SKIMS pop-up on Wednesday, which prompted her to praise Kim on her Instagram Story

So cute! '@KIMKARDASHIAN THIS POP UP IS SO CUTE,' captioned the 32-year-old daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis

Before Kim wound up on the list her younger sister Kylie Jenner, her 23-year-old sister, was the first in 2019 when, aged 21, she was named the youngest self-made billionaire in history.

She earned her fortune through her own make-up empire, Kylie Cosmetics, which she promoted entirely on social media.

However the magazine later published an investigative report into Kylie's finances and she was not included on the list this year.

The day her billionaire news broke Kim posted an album of celebratory bikini snaps from her beach hideaway which she captioned: 'Bliss.'

Kim is also reportedly planning to expand her business empire, following in the footsteps of Kylie, once again, by launching a skincare line.

Festive: The day her billionaire news broke Kim posted an album of celebratory bikini snaps from her beach hideaway which she captioned: 'Bliss'

The E! star recently filed a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office to trademark her new venture 'SKKN BY KIM'.

According to TMZ, Kim is looking to release a range of skincare products for skin, hair, nails, fragrances and cosmetics.

Kim and Kanye's split was revealed in January before Kim filed for divorce in February, leading to the rapper, 43, reportedly 'cutting-out' his estranged wife and insisting they only communicate through security and aides.

The former couple share children North, seven, Saint, five, Chicago, three, and 23-month-old Psalm, they have reportedly agreed to split custody of their four kids.

In her February 19 split filing, Kim cited irreconcilable differences for the split, noting that they have a prenuptial agreement in place.

Kim's divorce documents were filed by Laura Wasser and reportedly don't list a date of separation, instead claiming the date is 'to be determined'.

It was later reported that the couple are only only communicating through security after Kanye changed his number in his cut-off from Kim.

The couple were reported to have hit a rough patch in their romance late last year, and it was recently claimed that Kim was keen for Kanye to keep a constant presence in his children's lives.
Man Arrested Last Week Charged in Another Burglary

By West Kentucky Star Staff

BENTON - A Benton man arrested last Friday for burglarizing a home has been charged with another burglary, this time at a local business.The Marshall County Sheriff's Office says deputies responded on March 29 to a report of a burglary at the Gold-N-Gun Pawn Shop on US Highway 641 North.Deputies said 38-year-old Jason Alexander broke a window and stole several items from the business.Alexander was charged on Wednesday with third-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools, and theft by unlawful taking over $500.Alexander also faces a third-degree burglary charge for his alleged role in the burglary of a vacant home in Benton earlier last month. He's being held in the Marshall County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond.On the Net:
Azaleas return to the Spanish Steps in Rome this spring.

Rome's Spanish Steps, which link Piazza di Spagna with the church of Trinita de Monti, are once again decorated with hundreds of flowering azalea plants.

The time-honoured spring tradition, which was interrupted last year during Italy's covid-19 lockdown, dates back more than 80 years.

Photo Keats-Shelley House

The plants are cultivated in the capitals nurseries at S. Sisto where for around a century 3,000 azaleas of the Rhododenron Indicum variety have flourished.

Once the azaleas cease flowering they are usually returned to the city nurseries until next spring.


Olympus opens global headquarters for Therapeutic Solutions and Medical Business in Westborough, MA, U.S.



New facility features Olympus Continuum Training and Education Center and Olympus OR Innovation Center Showroom



Global Therapeutic Solutions headquarters opening in the U.S. is part of Transform Olympus initiative

TOKYO, Apr 8, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Olympus Corporation ("Olympus" - Director, Representative Executive Officer, President and CEO: Yasuo Takeuchi) announced today the opening of a new facility in Westborough, MA, to serve as the global headquarters for its Therapeutic Solutions Division (TSD) and its medical business in the United States.Olympus has identified TSD as a strategic focus for growth and shifted its global head of TSD from Tokyo to the U.S. to have better access to a key medical industry cluster and generate growth through stronger business opportunities. Since the Transform Olympus initiatives were unveiled in 2019, many U.S.-based executives have been leading TSD growth; Olympus has dramatically expanded the business with acquisitions, as well as through organic growth.The new 150,000-square-foot facility in Westborough will accommodate both the U.S. TSD employees and those formerly reporting to Image Stream Medical (ISM) facility located in Littleton, MA, with the exception of the manufacturing employees who will remain in Littleton. The facility will serve as one of several R&D hubs for Olympus, while enabling coordinated and agile management processes to support a global medical technology enterprise. At Olympus Westborough, the Olympus Continuum Training and Education Center will offer hands-on learning opportunities led by top medical experts using advanced medical equipment in a wetlab setting, both in person and virtually via the MedPresence telecollaboration platform. For interactions with customers and prospects, the Olympus OR Innovation Center showroom, also outfitted with the MedPresence platform, will provide an immersive environment for in-person or virtual integrated OR demonstrations.The new Westborough facility will also provide enhanced opportunities for Olympus to build relationships with potential future employees. Olympus will facilitate relationships with potential job candidates, as well as continued partnerships with universities, colleges, and technical schools in the greater Boston area to bring world-class skills and capabilities to the company.Nacho Abia, Chief Operating Officer of Olympus Corporation, said, "The U.S. market continues to be the largest in the world because of growing demand for minimally invasive treatment and surgery and the need for remote collaboration under COVID-19, so it's natural that we decided to combine all functions in Massachusetts in one place to facilitate agility and collaboration. This agile and globally-connected way of business will enhance our overall business competitiveness."About Olympus' Medical businessAs a leading medical technology company, our Medical business uses innovative capabilities in medical technology, therapeutic intervention, and precision manufacturing to help healthcare professionals deliver diagnostic, therapeutic, and minimally invasive procedures to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs, and enhance the quality of life for patients and their safety. Olympus' Medical portfolio includes endoscopes, laparoscopes, and video imaging systems, as well as surgical energy devices, system integration solutions, medical services, and a wide range of endotherapy instruments for endoscopic and therapeutic applications. For more information, visit www.olympus-global.com.For questions or additional information, please contact:United StatesJennifer Bannan+1 412-403-8742jennifer.bannan@olympus.comEurope, Middle East and AfricaMatthias Gengenbach+49 15142369420matthias.gengenbach@olympus-europa.comJapan and APACYuka Horimoto+81-90-2490-1071yuka.horimoto@olympus.comSource: OlympusCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Bengaluru, April 8 : One of India's largest real estate conglomerates, Embassy Group, has partnered with the Bettahalasur Panchayat as part of its flagship environment initiative EcoGram to build a dry and wet waste collection centre benefiting 18 villages which are part of Bengaluru North Suburb.

Aditya Virwani, COO at Embassy Group; Pradeep Lala, CEO and Managing Director, Embassy Services; Myriam Shankar, Managing Trustee - The Anonymous Indian Charitable Trust (TAICT); and panchayat officials performed the 'bhoomi pooja' for the project on Thursday.

The Bettahalasur panchayat has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Embassy Group and TAICT, allocating two acres of land dedicated to collection and segregation of dry and wet waste.

According to a statement, over 268 tonnes of dry waste and 289 tonnes of wet waste are collected and disposed of in the area, reaching a segregation level of 92 per cent at source.

"The collected organic waste is then converted into compost, and the recyclable waste is sorted within the gram panchayat. The Embassy Group currently funds the day-to-day operations at the cost of around Rs 60 lakh annually, including door-to-door waste collection, utilities, equipment for waste segregation, the salaries of the staff and vehicles," the statement said.

Myriam Shankar said that it was truly an uphill task to implement waste management in a locality, which never saw a dustbin, let alone three-way segregation at source.

"We undertook several intensive awareness campaigns among all the stakeholders, be they local government representatives, villagers or commercial establishments. It requires setting up solid operations of men, machinery and infrastructure," she explained.

She added that in addition to creating employment for the marginalised communities, the new dry and wet waste collection centre will provide required infrastructure to process the waste of two panchayats in the future.

The statement released by the Embassy Group stated that the Bettahalasur panchayat had requested the group to build the dry and wet waste collection centre with a greater capacity for gathering and sorting waste of 18 villages in both the Bettahalasur and Meenakunte panchayats.

"With the current operations spread across eight villages in the Bettahalasur panchayat benefiting 1,811 households and 10 bulk generators, Embassy has invested Rs 2.25 crore over the last four years towards the de-centralised solid waste collection, reaching a segregation level of 92 per cent at source," the statement said.

Rajeswari, a resident of Tarahunise village, pointed out that her village looks very clean with little to no garbage on the streets.

"Earlier, however, the situation was very different. There used to be garbage everywhere, there was no systemic way to dispose of the waste. TAICT and Embassy came together to initiate daily collection of waste from every household and got us to separate our dry and wet waste, as well as provide us with buckets and bags for segregation. Due to their commitment, we have become a model village now," she explained.
The Nevada College Kick Start Program helps kindergarteners begin their path to college and gives families a kickstart in saving for post-secondary educational expenses. "We are proud to have over 275,000 students enrolled to-date in the College Kick Start Scholarship program, but we still have work to do. We encourage all Nevada families to take advantage of this important resource to support their child's future educational goals," stated Nevada State Treasurer Zach Conine.

Parents and guardians with a kindergarten child enrolled in a public school in Nevada can claim their child's 2020-2021 Nevada College Kick Start account. All 2020-2021 College Kick Start accounts that are claimed by the deadline will automatically be entered into the Nevada College Kick Start Scholarship Giveaway. No action is needed for families with 2020-2021 accounts that have already been claimed. 2020-2021 Nevada College Kick Start accounts must be claimed by midnight on April 30, 2021 to be entered in the Giveaway.

How to Claim Your Child's Account:

You will need your child's Nevada College Kick Start ID to complete the claiming process. Click here to look up your child's Kick Start ID number . If you need assistance finding your child's Nevada College Kick Start ID, please call (702) 486-4141. Claim your child's account by clicking the "Register Account" button on our participant portal at www.vistashare.com/p/nv/kickstart. You will be able to choose a portal username and password. You will use this username and password to log into the portal to view your child's Nevada College Kick Start account. Once you have your portal username/password and have logged in, you are done! Congratulations  you have claimed your child's account!

How to Access an Existing Account:

If you already have an existing account visit the Nevada College Kick Start website for more information and to access your account here.

For more information on the giveaway and to view the full terms and conditions visit https://nvigate.gov/programs/nevada-college-kick-start/ . For questions email [email protected] or call 702-486-4141.

About Nevada College Kick Start Program

The Nevada College Kick Start Program awards every Nevada public school kindergartener with a free $50 scholarship. The program helps Nevada's kindergarteners begin their path to college and assists Nevada families with saving for post-secondary educational expenses. The Kick Start scholarship is provided at no cost to eligible Nevada families. The College Kick Start Program began in 2013 in 13 of Nevada's rural counties and expanded statewide in 2014. Today, over 275,000 students have program accounts.

About Nevada's 529 Plans

Nevada sponsors five (5) different 529 plans, also known as Qualified Tuition Programs, which provide Nevadans with a flexible education investment account to save and pay for higher education costs, including tuition, books, fees, and room and board. SSGA Upromise 529 accounts can be funded with as little as $15 per month and can be used for any accredited college, university, public, private, undergraduate or graduate school. Visit NVigate.gov for more information.

About Nevada State Treasurer's Office

The Office of the State Treasurer was created in 1864 by the Constitution of the State of Nevada. It is responsible for several critical State functions including cash, banking, and transaction management; investment and debt portfolio management; collecting and returning unclaimed property; and administering various college savings and scholarship programs. The State Treasurer is elected by the people to a four-year term. Zach Conine is the current State Treasurer. For questions or more information email [email protected] or call 702-486-3889.

SOURCE Nevada State Treasurer's Office
ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- The Almaty-based human rights group Dignity, Spirit, Truth says a well-known Kazakh political prisoner Aset Abishev, who is serving a four-year prison term for his links with a banned political group, was placed in solitary confinement after he slit his wrists in protest at his treatment by guards.

A leading member of the rights group, Bakhytzhan Toreghozhina, told RFE/RL on April 8 that inmates in the LA-155/14 correctional colony near Almaty had informed her the previous day that Abishev's condition is very serious.

According to Toreghozhina, Abishev, who has been placed in the colony's medical unit for an unspecified illness, cut his wrists on April 7 protesting poor medical assistance and lack of medicine.

"What triggered Aset's move to maim himself was the rude response to his demands by guards who intimidated him, searching his personal belongings on that day. After he cut his wrists, instead of providing him with necessary medical assistance, they locked him in solitary confinement. His life is in danger," Toreghozhina said, adding that her group had called on Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry, the Prosecutor-General's Office, and the Penitentiary Service to immediately intervene in the situation.

Abishev's relatives told RFE/RL that in recent days he was severely beaten by Interior Ministry troops after his belongings were searched during prison-riot drills.

An officer on duty at the LA-155/14 penitentiary, who introduced herself as Alia Kakenova, told RFE/RL that she was not aware of the situation, adding that "all bosses are out of the office."

Abishev was sentenced to four years in prison in November 2018 after a court in Almaty found him guilty of participating in the activities of the banned opposition Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) movement and financially supporting it.

Abishev has rejected the charges, denying the DVK movement or its founder -- fugitive former banker and a vocal critic of Kazakhstan's government, Mukhtar Ablyazov -- were extremist.

In recent years, many activists across the Central Asian nation have been convicted for their involvement in the activities of DVK and its associate, the Street Party.

Inmates in Kazakh prisons very often maim themselves to protest conditions in penitentiary facilities or violations of their rights.
Taipei: Taiwan's foreign minister has said the island will defend itself "to the very last day" if attacked by China.

Joseph Wu said on Wednesday China's attempts at conciliation while engaging in military intimidation are sending "mixed signals" to the island's residents.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be won over peacefully or by force.

Wu noted China flew 10 warplanes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone on Monday and deployed an aircraft carrier group for exercises near Taiwan.

"We are willing to defend ourselves, that's without any question," Wu told reporters.

"We fill fight a war if we need to fight a war, and if we need to defend ourselves to the very last day, then we will defend ourselves to the very last day."

China does not recognise Taiwan's democratically elected government, and leader Xi Jinping has said "unification" between the sides cannot be put off indefinitely.

"On the one hand they want to charm the Taiwanese people by sending their condolences, but at the same time they are also sending their military aircraft and military vessels closer to Taiwan aimed at intimidating Taiwan's people," Wu said at a ministry briefing.

"The Chinese are sending very mixed signals to the Taiwanese people and I would characterize that as self-defeating," Wu said.

The vast improvements in China's military capabilities and its increasing activity around Taiwan have raised concerns in the US, which is legally bound to ensure Taiwan is capable of defending itself and to regard all threats to the island's security as matters of "grave concern."

Speaking in Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price reaffirmed the US commitment to Taiwan.

"The United States maintains the capacity to resist any resort to force or any other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan," Price said Wednesday.

The naval drills being conducted in waters off Taiwan were meant to help China "safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests," the army said Monday, using language often interpreted as being directed at Taiwan's leadership that has refused to give in to Beijing's demands that it recognize the island as part of Chinese territory.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949, and most Taiwanese favour maintaining the current state of de facto independence while engaging in robust economic exchanges with the mainland.

China has created conditions for greater economic integration, while also targeting some communities such as pineapple farmers in hopes of weakening their support for the island's government.

Chinese diplomatic pressure has been growing also, reducing the number of Taiwan's formal diplomatic allies to just 15 and shutting its representatives out of the World Health Assembly and other major international forums.

Taiwan has responded by boosting its high-tech industries and unofficial foreign relations, particularly with its key partners the US, Japan and others, and by building up its own defense industries, including a submarine development program, while buying upgraded warplanes, missiles and other military hardware from the US.

Meanwhile, the US Navy says the carrier Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group reentered the South China Sea on Saturday to "conduct routine operations." It is the second time the strike group has entered the waterway this year as part of its 2021 deployment to the US 7th Fleet area of operations.
Congrats on the Betas and good luck in Baja @LordstownMotors! % https://t.co/1h1bp7SEIr  Guy Fieri (@GuyFieri) April 6, 2021

Thank you for the support. We're happy to have you #RideWithLordstown.  Lordstown Motors (@LordstownMotors) April 6, 2021

In March this year, short-seller Hindenburg Research published a very damning report on Lordstown, claiming it built a mirage around the Endurance electric pickup truck based on lies, misreported facts, and non-binding reservations. Lordstown has denied the claims , saying theyre either misleading or downright false and insists the Endurance is real and on track for a September delivery.The company, now based in Ohio, restated the September delivery date with the announcement that the first Endurance Beta trucks had rolled off the production line. Theyre just the first two of a planned 57-unit batch of Betas. Meanwhile, the Endurance Skateboard is getting ready to be shown and tested at the 2021 SCORE International San Felipe 250 in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.Guy Fieri, world-famous restaurateur, chef, television personality, author, and unlikely style icon for his frosted tips that he will not let live in the 90s only, is with Lordstown. Seemingly out of the blue, he tweeted words of encouragement to the startup in the form of a congratulatory message. Lordstown responded with a thank-you and a were happy to have you #RideWithLordstown, which could mean that Fieri is one of the many private individuals to have booked a reservation on the Endurance . Lordstown says the Endurance is a better fit for fleets.Of course, Fieri is a car guy himself, so it wouldnt be that strange for him to show support to a fellow Ohioan while backing the electric revolution. Fieris collection includes mostly a mix of American muscle and American trucks, mostly in a very on-brand yellow colorway. That last part aside, it would feel totally natural for him to back a company that tries to deliver another American truck.
As of 7 a.m. on April 8, the Russian-occupation troops violated the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine five times, including four attacks on Ukrainian positions and one shelling of civilian infrastructure.

The enemy opened fire from 122mm artillery, 82mm mortars and small arms near Pisky (11km north-west of Donetsk) and Vodiane in the Sea of Azov area, the press center of the JFO Headquarters informs.

A member of the Joint Forces received fatal injuries in the enemy shelling.

In the area of Vodiane, the invaders shelled civilian infrastructure, using artillery.

Ukrainian defenders fired back in response to Russian-occupation troops attacks.

Over the past day, April 7, the armed formations of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire seven times. All the attacks were launched in the area of responsibility of the operational and tactical group East.

In particular, Russian occupiers fired 82mm and 120mm mortars outside Pisky and Opytne (12km north-west of Donetsk); different grenade launchers and small arms  near Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol), Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), Talakivka (17km north-east of Mariupol) and Vodiane in the Sea of Azov area.

A Ukrainian soldier received a shrapnel wound and was promptly taken to a medical facility.

The Ukrainian side of the Joint Control and Coordination Center (JCCC) informed the OSCE SMM about the violations committed by the armed formations of the Russian Federation.

The Ukrainian military continues to control the situation in the JFO area and adheres to the ceasefire.

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DENVER, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kentwood Real Estate is proud to announce their 2020 top producing broker associates and real estate teams. With 44 transactions in sales, Dotson Skaggs, a Broker Associate at Kentwood Real Estate DTC, ranked as No. 1 in total 2020 "Transaction Sides for Individuals."

Dotson Skaggs

"The Kentwood team has supported me professionally for many years now and I am proud to be affiliated with this remarkable team," Dotson Skaggs commented. "2020 was a groundbreaking year for the Denver real estate market and it has been an overall great experience to be part of the history-making in this city. I am thankful to my clients for putting their trust in me to handle these big life decisions, and I'm honored to stand beside them in every real estate transaction."

"Dotson Skaggs continues to show the real estate market what hard work and dedication can manifest," said Gretchen Rosenberg, president and CEO of Kentwood Real Estate. "Our top individuals and teams are exceptional professionals who abide by the Kentwood purpose and mission to serve and stay rooted in the community. Congratulations to Dotson for maintaining his dedication to the Denver real estate market and his professionalism in serving our clients."

As one of Denver's elite real estate brokers with 2,100+ homes sold and over $950,000,000 in sold volume, Dotson is annually one of the top 15 agents out of 7,000+ members with the Denver Metro Association of REALTORS. Living in Denver continuously since 1960, Dotson has witnessed The Mile High City mature to become one of the nation's top metropolitan statistical areas. In order to better serve his clientele through this transition into such a sought-after city, Dotson left his own independent real estate company after 20 successful years and joined the nationally acclaimed Kentwood Real Estate in 2005. Among his numerous accolades, he has also been nominated as a 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Wall Street Journal "Top 100 Producing Agent" in the Denver metro area.

In 2020, Kentwood Real Estate closed an impressive $2,130,687,919 billion in total sales volume and 2,831 residential real estate transactions. To learn more, visit www.Kentwood.com.

About the Dotson Skaggs

As a top-ranking REALTOR Dotson Skaggs brings over 30 years of real estate experience in negotiating the sale, purchase and leasing of property in the Denver metro region. In addition to his consistent ranking at Kentwood Real Estate, Dotson is annually one of the top 15 agents out of 7,000+ members with the Denver Metro Association of REALTORS. For more information, Dotson Skaggs can be reached at (303) 550-4566, at http://www.wearecolorado.com/ or on Instagram @dotsonskaggs.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lindsey Hall

[email protected] | 303.242.5855

SOURCE Kentwood Real Estate

Related Links

http://www.Kentwood.com


Hilaria Baldwin shared a snap on Wednesday with her ever-expanding brood of children that currently stands at six.

The 37-year-old wife of Alec Baldwin most recently welcomed newborn Maria Lucia via surrogate in late February but has remained mum on the details, with a source telling People 'it's no one's business.'

Referring to her Baldwinitos as her 'squad,' the yoga instructor shared a glimpse at the chaos that comes with trying to wrangle so many young kids for a photo.

'Squad': Hilaria Baldwin, 37, shares a snap with her ever-expanding brood of six kids and refers to them as her 'squad'

Fresh from a workout at Physique57 she returned to she and Alec's NYC apartment in pleather leggings and a blue T-shirt.

She strapped Maria to her chest and six-month-old Edu was seated in a stroller. Other kids Carmen, seven, Rafael, five, Leonardo, four, and Romeo, two, stood in front of her.

Hilaria's news that she and Alec had welcomed a sixth child mere months after she gave birth to Edu rocked the internet, coyly announcing the news on Instagram with a caption that said '7.'

As it was inconceivable she could have welcomed another child just six months after Eduardo's birth, fans deducted that she must have used a surrogate.

Maria: She and Alec had tried to have a second daughter back in 2019 but she suffered a miscarriage

Eduardo: She had welcomed Edu in September and quickly welcomed another newborn just six months later

Double duty: As a mom to two infants she has been simultaneously breast feeding both of them

Though she and Alec have yet to confirm anything, internet sleuths noticed she followed a surrogacy agency on Instagram called Alcea surrogacy.

In a now-deleted Instagram post Alcea had written: 'Congratulations to H and A, with carrier B, on the amazing birth of their daughter M - New York's first birth under the Child-Parent Security Act.'

The initials seemed to confirm that the Baldwins were the family in question with many wondering why they would be hesitant to validate the seemingly apparent means of conception.

Additionally some ascertained her choice to move forward with a surrogate (despite nearing the end of her pregnancy with Eduardo) after she had suffered a miscarriage in 2019 while trying for a girl at four months in.

Growing family: The pair have remained mum on the details surrounding Maria's birth though a surrogacy agency seemed to confirm the news congratulating an 'H and A on their daughter M'; pictured April 3

Daddy's girl: Alec has daughter Ireland from a previous marriage and now has Carmen and Maria Lucia with Hilaria; pictured March 12

Hilaria  who has disabled all comments on her Instagram following the scandal surrounding her fabricated Spanish-heritage  candidly revisited that loss in a recent post.

'The Baldwinitos craved so much to have a little sister. Many of you may remember the loss of their sister at 4 months in the end of 2019. There isn't a day that goes by where we don't ache for our daughter. When I found out our baby had died, I told our children that their sister was going to come, just not at that time,' she wrote on March 4.

The Mom Brain podcast host lightly alluded to having outside help with the birth adding: 'We are living each day, bonding, and grateful for all of the very special angels who helped bring Lucia into the world.'
Amid reports of rapidly growing military deployments by the Russian Federation in and around Ukraine, senior OSCE Parliamentary Assembly officials warned of the risk of escalation and reaffirmed its full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

The relevant statement was posted on the OSCE website.

We are deeply concerned by reports of provocative and destabilizing Russian actions in and around Ukraine that could lead to grave escalation of this ongoing conflict. While Russian aims are not fully clear, there should be no doubt that that the international community is watching closely. We urge the Kremlin to de-escalate, withdraw, and fully respect Ukraines territorial integrity," the statement reads.

The statement was signed by Congressman Richard Hudson (United States), Costel Neculai Dunava (Romania), and Laurynas Kasciunas (Lithuania), the Chair, Vice-Chair and Rapporteur, respectively, of the OSCE PA's General Committee on Political Affairs and Security.

The PA leaders recalled the Assemblys consistent support to the restoration of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and its condemnation of Russian violations of its commitments under the Helsinki Final Act.

As Ukrinform reported, the Russian armed forces have recently been building up troops near the state border of Ukraine in the north, east and south, as well as in the occupied Crimea. In addition, the number of ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine by the armed formations of the Russian Federation has increased; there are losses among the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In parallel, the Russian Federation is conducting a propaganda campaign to justify possible aggression against Ukraine.

On April 6, it also became known that, against the background of a buildup of troops to the Ukrainian border, Russia had begun a control check of the army's combat readiness.

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International sharing of sovereignty-protected data expected to support decarbonization, etc.

NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com), the ICT solutions and international communications business within the NTT Group, announced today that it has succeeded in a trial sharing of production-line data related to CO2 emissions via a prototype platform that enables interconnection via IDS standards which support data sovereignty in GAIA-X data ecosystem. The trial data, which normally would not be available for sharing due to its high confidentiality even though partners engaged in actual business would need to perform CO2 emissions calculations, was transmitted securely to designated sites in Germany and Japan from Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne in Switzerland.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210407006040/en/

Flow chart of recent data-sharing trial (Graphic: Business Wire)

GAIA-X is an initiative announced by the German and French governments in October 2019 to support data sharing via infrastructure that ensures data protection, transparency, reliability and interoperability to protect the rights of European companies, governments, institutions and citizens.

NTT Com conducted the trial under the assumption that such data will be used by companies engaged in actual business to review their manufacturing methods to achieve greater decarbonization. The prototype platform, which enables interconnection with IDS Connectors, also is equipped with DATA Trust, a mechanism for the secure sharing of highly confidential data.

The trial involved the sharing of electricity-consumption data that business partners typically would use to calculate CO2 emissions generated during the manufacturing of specific products. The trial confirmed that NTT's platform can share such data securely with only those parties permitted by law or contract.

The prototype was developed using Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (Software Innovation Center)'s business-to-business data distribution technology, in cooperation with Robot Revolution Industrial IoT Initiative (RRI), International Data Spaces Association (IDSA), Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne and Japan Innovation Park.

NTT Com plans to exhibit the trial results at the joint booth of IDSA and RRI during the Hannover Messe industrial fair in Germany from April 12-16.

"Japan is very close to Europe in the field of industry, with a strong experience in automotive, steel, or manufacturing," said Hubert Tardieu, Chairman of GAIA-X AISBL. "The main objective in every industry is nowadays data sharing and service orchestration like in GAIA-X. NTT Communications starts with a first run in data sharing between, Japan, Germany and Switzerland, using the IDS standard which supports data sovereignty in GAIA-X data ecosystems. We are proud at GAIA-X AISBL to strongly support the launching of the japan Hub trough NTT Communications and start more use cases around GAIA-X."

Going forward, NTT Com will build a test environment in Japan to connect with GAIA-X and start interoperability tests with multiple partner companies around the world this summer. If all goes well, NTT Com hopes to launch an official platform within the fiscal year ending in March 2022. The launch would be coordinated with organizations and groups involved with international data distribution, including Data Society Alliance, OPC Foundation Japan, RRI, GAIA-X AISBL and IDSA.

Data utilization has become indispensable for initiatives such as global decarbonization, the early achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and the strengthening of industries. At the same time, however, legal systems and technologies to regulate and manage data use are being developed around the world, one of which is GAIA-X, to prevent the leakage of corporate and national secrets and to protect data sovereignty.

In the future, it is expected that companies will be required to use GAIA-X to send and receive highly confidential data to and from business partners in European countries. This means that companies unable to use GAIA-X would not be able to do business with European partners if sensitive data sharing were involved. NTT Com's envisioned platform, however, would enable such companies to easily connect to GAIA-X without have to spend valuable time and money on an acceptable data-sharing solution.

About NTT Communications

NTT Communications solves the world's technology challenges by helping enterprises overcome complexity and risk in their ICT environments with managed IT infrastructure solutions. These solutions are backed by our worldwide infrastructure, including industry leading, global tier-1 public and private networks reaching over 190 countries/regions, and more than 500,000m2 of the world's most advanced data center facilities. Our global professional services teams provide consultation and architecture for the resiliency and security required for your business success, and our scale and global capabilities in technology world are unsurpassed. Combined with NTT Ltd., NTT Data, and NTT DOCOMO, we are NTT Group.

www.ntt.com Twitter@NTT Com Facebook@NTT Com LinkedIn@NTT Com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210407006040/en/

Contacts:

For more information

Akira Sakaino, Takashi Horikoshi, Hideaki Niitsuma

Smart Factory Office

Business Planning, Business Solution Division

NTT Communications

smart-factory@ntt.com
Hundreds of civilians in Myanmar - including activists, members of former de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy and villagers in the ethnic areas being bombed by the army - have gone into hiding. Some are seeking refuge in Kayin state, opposite Thailand.
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The most recent incarnation of the Equality Act is also the most radical version we have yet seen. Its worth noting as well that its closer to becoming law than any version so far put forward.

As a friend of mine would say, this isnt magic; its math. This congressional term, the Equality Act passed the House of Representatives. Though unlikely at this point, a 50-50 tie in the Senate broken by a Democratic White House is feasible, making the Equality Act a live option. Last year, it simply wasnt. Who knows what the next round of midterms will do to these numbers?

In light of the very real threat posed by the Equality Act, a number of Christians have offered compromise solutions, most notably the Fairness for All Act. FFA would carve out exemptions for churches and certain religious organizations, though its unclear which ones, but it would not protect the religious freedoms of private Christian citizens who are medical professionals, business owners, bakers, florists, photographers, and so on.

These attempts to preserve legislatively whatever religious freedoms we can, while well-intentioned, are, in reality, premature attempts at deal-making. Tactically unwise, such compromise solutions will almost certainly make things more difficult in the future. Rather than carving out a place for Christians in an increasingly hostile culture, this appeasement shrinks the space available to believers, both now and in the future.

Even so, political gamesmanship is only part of the problem with compromise solutions such as Fairness for All. In fact, there are at least three reasons not only to oppose just the Equality Act but all attempts to compromise in its direction.

First, the Equality Act, even in a compromised form, says what is not true about the human person. Specifically, the Equality Act suggests that when it comes to human beings, questions of sexual and gender identity are equivalent to categories race and ethnicity.

In other words, something largely determined by behavioral choice and personal expression is treated as an essential characteristic of a person. (Though in the past, LGB advocates may have used the born this way argument to explain sexual identity, that argument does not serve the new letter, T, in the acronym. Therefore, it has been largely abandoned).

Attempts to compromise with the Equality Act not only affirm this same, false way of thinking about who we are for everyone else but us, it relegates Christian belief in this area to subjective personal opinion.

Second, by hijacking the history and categories of the Civil Rights movement, the Equality Act says things that are not true about the plight of those who are LGBT. The Civil Rights Act ensured that African Americans could participate in civil society, at a time when they could not fully do so.

Decades ago, for example, an African American family could not easily take a cross-country trip since so many hotels, gas stations, and restaurants refused service. Effectively, an entire segment of the population was excluded from society.

This is not the case for LGBT people. When Jack Phillips refused to bake a cake celebrating a same-sex marriage (in a state that, at the time, didnt even recognize 'same-sex marriage') dozens of bakeries nearby would have gladly taken the business. To compare the refusal to participate in a same-sex marriage or a gender-affirming surgery with the Jim Crow South is obviously false, given the wide availability of services in any of these arenas. In fact, this reveals the Equality Act for what it is  an attempt to force citizens to comply with the governments point of view.

This brings up a third way in which attempts to compromise with the Equality Act fail.

Compromise solutions wish to protect ministers and Christian institutions from being forced to comply with the governments point of view, but everyone else is left entirely unprotected. While advocates of compromise might say we should secure whatever protections we can, we ought not stand for anything short of the full dignity and full rights every human possesses to hold to and live by their deeply held convictions.

As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote decades ago, we dont have to join every protest or hold every sign. However, at the very least, we must not say what is not true. Thus, even for a good cause, we cannot lend voices in support of our cultures falsehoods about what it means to be human.

And, we should tell our religious and political leaders not to, either.

Originally published at BreakPoint
NATO Military Committee Chairman Stuart Peach reaffirmed solidarity with Ukraine and the Allies' condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine during his visit to Kyiv and Lviv on April 6-7.

This was said in a press release following the visit, published on the NATO website.

The Alliance commends President Zelenskyys commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. NATO Allies are united in their condemnation of Russias illegal annexation of Crimea, and its aggressive actions in eastern Ukraine. We call on Russia to end its support for militants in eastern Ukraine and withdraw its forces from Ukrainian territory. Ukraine is one of NATOs closest and most important partners, Sir Stuart Peach emphasized.

The chairman attended briefings on the NATO-Ukraine partnership, international training missions progress, as well as the security situation in and around Ukraine.

Meeting with President Zelensky, he reaffirmed NATOs valued partnership with Ukraine and its full support of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Discussions centred on Ukraines wide-ranging defence reforms, the developments in Ukraine and the Black Sea region, Ukraines continued support to NATOs Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, the Kosovo Force in Kosovo, as well as NATOs Response Force.

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More than 240 people from Michigan allegedly turn out to be positive for COVID-19 with three reported dead despite completing their vaccinations.

The Epoch Times reported that data from Michigan shows 246 residents turn up positive for COVID after two weeks of full vaccination. While Fox 2 Detroit said that the 246 was out of the 1.7M fully vaccinated residents by end of March.

Those who still caught on the virus were asymptomatic or showed milder symptoms compared to those who have not been vaccinated. This means, according to Fox 2, that .0001 will recur getting sick with the virus despite being vaccinated.

Fox 2 went on to explain the rate of efficacy of the vaccines which are 94% for Moderna and 95% for Pfizer. The media outlet went on to say that Governor Gretchen Whitmer's statement of no vaccinated people being hospitalized was rather contradictory to actual data available.

"Zero percent of the people in our hospitals right now have been vaccinated, which tells you the vaccines work," the governor said as per Fox 2.

KATV added that of the 246 vaccinated, there were 11 hospitalized and 129 incomplete cases since health departments were either early or late into the investigation. KATV cited Michigan health expert Dr. Joneigh Khaldun in stating that those vaccinated who get infected with COVID-19 afterwards are unlikely to die or be hospitalized.

"It is not a failure at all if someone does get COVID-19 after they've had the vaccine. They're likely gonna be not as sick and they're also likely gonna not pass it to other people who can also get very sick," Khaldun told KATV in an interview.

As per KATV, the three reported dead were aged 65 years or older with the two dying within three weeks of completing vaccination.

The World Health Organization in January held a meeting to review reported deaths of vaccinated individuals. In their website, the WHO's GACVS COVID-19 Vaccination Safety subcommittee used data on "frail, elderly individuals "who had received the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, BNT162b2 (hereafter, BNT162b2)."

The meeting included the European Medicines Agency and the Uppsala Monitoring Center who presented data from Europe on the matter and used "careful scientific review of the information made available" to them to come up with conclusions on the issue.

"The current reports do not suggest any unexpected or untoward increase in fatalities in frail, elderly individuals or any unusual characteristics of adverse events following administration of BNT162b2. Reports are in line with the expected, all-cause mortality rates and causes of death in the sub-population of frail, elderly individuals, and the available information does not confirm a contributory role for the vaccine in the reported fatal events. In view of this, the committee considers that the benefit-risk balance of BNT162b2 remains favourable in the elderly, and does not suggest any revision, at present, to the recommendations around the safety of this vaccine," WHO said.

WHO then suggested to continue in monitoring the safety of the vaccines and to "promote routine after-care following immunization" as commonly practiced in medicine for any vaccine. They also enticed all data regarding the matter to be forwarded to their agency while the GACVS subcommittee continues its monitoring efforts on the safety of the vaccines.
(Newser)  The Trump and Biden administrations were warned about a Maryland plant that has had to destroy enough vaccine doses to inoculate a small country. In an assessment seen by the New York Times, the expert who has overseen COVID vaccine production for the government since last May warned in June that it would be risky to rely on the Emergent BioSolutions plant unless major improvements were made. Carlo de Notaristefaniwho visited the plant days after it was awarded a $628 million contract under Operation Warp Speedwarned that it didn't have enough trained staff and would have to strengthen quality controls before it could make large amounts of vaccine. The plant already had a history of FDA violations.

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The report, which said the company "will have to be monitored closely," was shared with senior Trump administration officials and was handed over to the Biden administration in the transition, sources tell Politico. The sources say Trump administration officials suggested J&J send employees to improve operations at Emergent, but the company sent far fewer than the administration wanted. Former plant supervisors tell the Times that with heavy workloads, unrealistic timetables, and a shortage of trained staff, shortcuts were often taken. The plant, which made Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines, had to destroy 15 million doses of the J&J vaccine after it was contaminated with AstraZeneca ingredients. None of the 150 million doses of both vaccines it had produced have been distributed yet. (Read more coronavirus vaccine stories.)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)  An atheist group is ending a federal lawsuit since the state of Alabama has revised voter registration forms that include a religious oath.

Court documents show the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the secretary of state's office asked a court Wednesday to dismiss the case.

The atheist organization had sued over Alabama's voter registration form, which has an oath that includes the words so help me God.

The foundation argued that the wording violates the rights of atheists.

A new statement has been added that allows registrants to opt out of the religious oath.
Mumbai, April 8 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed chargesheet against 45 individuals, bank officials and companies in three separate cases pertaining to Rs 150-crore bank fraud, before the Special CBI Court here, an official said on Thursday.

The accused include senior officials of Union Bank of India (UBI), private companies and their top directors, financial consultants and others.

Following a complaint from UBI, the CBI had lodged three separate cases in June 2019 and later in March 2020 involving the individuals and companies in collusion with bank officers who allegedly perpetrated the huge fraud.

It was carried out by the borrowers of the private companies in connivance with the UBI officers vide opening of Letters of Credit without processing, appraisal, assessment, internal rating, regular sanction from the Competent Authority and without proper mortgage.

After the first complaint, a chargesheet was lodged against 13 accused of an alleged fraud of Rs 57 crore, in the second complaint against 16 accused the fraud amount was around Rs 50 crore and in the third case it was against 16 more accused for the fraud to the tune of around Rs 50 crore.

The CBI investigations revealed that the borrower companies allegedly connived with fake suppliers to submit false and fabricated tax invoices, bills of exchange, forged lorry receipts, etc while discounting the LCs from various banks.

It was alleged that the Topworth Group of Companies Chairman Abhay Lodha, who are among the accused, played a major role and arranged for availing credit facility from the UBI for all the three accused borrowers by submitting fake financial data through one of his staffers.

Lodha also allegedly made his employees as 'directors' in various name-sake supplier companies to issue fabricated documents and siphoned off the loan amounts through them.

Among the accused bankers are - Ashok Dhabai, the former DGM and UBI Regional Head, Mumbai, Sanjay Sharma and the ex-GM and Zonal Head and a financial consultant Bajrang Kankani.

The prime accused individuals include - Narendra Phatkare, Kundan Setia, Abhay Lodha, Ashok Mehta, Vinod Jatia, Rupesh Gupta, Kunal Gupta, Vishwanath Agarwal, Alkesh Parekh, Mohammed Kutbuddin Khan, Gajendra Sandim, Nilesh Parekh, Wali Mohammed Chaudhary, Hemant Sanghvi, Mahavir Jaiswal, Imran Khan, Rajkumar Goel, Dilip Bhimraj Shah, Mohammed Iqbal Khan, Siddharth Madanlal Bagrecha and Vijay Babulal Jain.

They are the top directors, owners, executives of the accused companies' list comprising: Suparna Trading, Asuti Trading, Excel Metal Processors, Navmi Steel Traders, Ratnesh Ispat, Geeta Mercantile, Sanjar Steel, Maheep Marketing, Jalpac Traders, Metcraft Alloys, and Deepstar Alloys & Steels, and further investigations are underway.
Supreme Court Justice Andrew Beech has encouraged a resolution to the ongoing feud between Perth Childrens Court Magistrate Catherine Crawford and the courts state president, Hylton Quail.

As a district court-appointed judge overseeing the Childrens Court, Judge Quail is being sued by Ms Crawford over an alleged push to move her back to the Perth Magistrates Court, citing a letter on December 8 and an email on January 21.

Childrens Court of WA President Hylton Quail has yet to file a defence against claims he pushed out magistrate Catherine Crawford. Credit:Online

Ms Crawford has claimed under the Magistrates Act of 2004 that it was the role of the Chief Magistrate Steven Heath to order her alleged transfer to the adult court and Judge Quail has no power to transfer her to Perths central law courts.

Judge Quail has yet to file a defence, with his lawyer Eric Heenan telling the court that he was awaiting advice over a potential strikeout application from a senior counsel who was currently before the High Court of Australia.
Transforming Company Priorities, Decision-Making and Culture in A Post-COVID-19 World

TORONTO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ONR, a leader in the transformation of Fortune 500 companies' Customer Experience (CX), today announced the launch of CEO and Founder Jason Ten-Pow's first and much-anticipated book Unbreakable: A Proven Process for Building Unbreakable Relationships with Customers. Ten-Pow shares insights from years of experience leading CEOs, C-Suite executives and well-known companies on the journey of CX Transformation, providing a playbook on how some brands appear to magically attract a large group of faithful customers, while other businesses--no matter how hard they try--struggle to maintain a loyal customer base. The book is now available at Amazon.

In this new book, Ten-Pow pulls back the curtain on brands that seem to effortlessly build and maintain strong relationships with customers, laying out a path for any company to do the same. Ten-Pow provides a proven process for creating unbreakable relationships with customers. He argues that too many businesses have become enamored with the technology-solves-everything mantra of the past 20+ years, disproportionately relying on I.T. for solutions and putting too great a focus on operational efficiency and cost-cutting to create profit growth. Meanwhile, many of the most successful giants in the business worldincluding Apple, Starbucks, Costco, and Adobehave stayed focused on what is important to their customers: the things that keep them committed, loyal, and even passionate advocates for their brands.

"In today's environment, every company says, 'We know our customers; we love our customers and they love our brand,'" Ten-Pow said. "But they equate having a lot of data about customers to knowing customers. In truth, most companies don't actually understand their customers, much less nurture long-lasting relationships with them. Especially now, post-pandemic, the customer's relationship with brands and their journey has changed. Differentiation, preference and loyalty  they're all up for grabs  and the brands that adapt and lead by prioritizing customer relationships and transforming the customer experience will have customers faithfully following. In my book, I share with readers the 'secret sauce' to building and prioritizing the unbreakable customer relationships that help brands increase revenue and profit."

Unbreakable is Ten-Pow's illuminating explanation of how any business can differentiate itself, grow, and create a more sustainable and profitable brand through ONR's tried-and-true process of CX Transformation. Ten-Pow has written a comprehensive and eye-opening playbook with steps on how to build a loyal customer base, with additional examples and observations with conversations from top executives from Intel, Adobe, and JPMorgan Chase. Engagingly written and full of real-world examples, the book examines how we got here, how bottom-line business models are negatively impacting companies, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted customer experience as we know it.

Unbreakable: A Proven Process for Building Unbreakable Relationships with Customers launched today April 8, with downloads available on Amazon.

About the Author

Jason Ten-Pow is the CEO and President of ONR, the CX consulting firm he founded in 2001. He has a B.A. in political science from the University of Toronto and an M.A. in quantitative methods from York University. He is a regular keynote speaker and a leader in transforming CX Experience for Fortune 500 companies.

Media Contact

The Rose Group

Elana Weiss

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New Delhi:

Muhamad Mahmoud Al-Farekh, an American al-Qaeda member involved in a terror attack at a US military base in Afghanistan has been convicted by a federal court in the United States.

According to the Acting Assistant Attorney General Boente, the trial evidence showed that he was involved in a variety of terrorist activity, including a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack on a US military installation in Afghanistan in 2009.

In a bid to fight against American forces overseas, Farekh and two fellow students traveled to Pakistan. Before joining al-Qaeda, Farekh was a student at the University of Manitoba in Canada.

Through the access of the video recordings which encourages violent jihad, jihadist lectures, including lectures by now-deceased al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula leader Anwar al-Awlaki, Farekh and his co-inspirators had radicalized.

Farekh and his friends traveled to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, an area in the northern part of Pakistan that borders Afghanistan and is home to al Qaedas base of operations, where they joined and received training from al Qaeda, federal prosecutors alleged.

During the trial, Ahmedzay testified that Imam as his weapons trainer. Zazi and Ahmedzay pleaded guilty pursuant to cooperation agreements and have yet to be sentenced. Medunjanin was convicted after trial and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Imam has been indicted for his role in the plot. The government proved Farekhs participation in the building of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) that was used in an attack against Forward Operating Base Chapman (FOB Chapman) on January 19, 2009, in Khost, Afghanistan.

(With PTI inputs)

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President Biden will nominate David Chipman, an adviser to the gun control organization founded by former Representative Gabrielle Giffords, to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or A.T.F., according to two people with knowledge of the move.

The appointment of Mr. Chipman, a former agent with the A.T.F.  the embattled agency tasked with enforcing firearms laws  comes after a wave of recent mass shootings and after weeks of pressure by the Giffords group and other organizations for Mr. Biden to pick a director.

While Mr. Chipmans selection came as welcome news to gun control groups, few nominees put forward by Mr. Biden have faced steeper odds of confirmation in the Senate, although his allies think he may be able to win narrow approval given the anguish over recent massacres in Boulder, Colo., and Atlanta.

Mr. Chipman's prior advocacy of an assault weapons ban and other restrictions could make it hard for him to muster the 51 votes needed for confirmation, and Senate Republicans have successfully blocked potential A.T.F. directors who were much more in line with their pro-gun base.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 8 : Following the brutal murder of a Muslim League worker that took place at Kuthuparamba, near Kannur, hours after the Tuesday's assembly election, the bastion of the CPI-M continues to be tense.

While the local police have termed this as a political murder, the CPI-M has denied this.

A special team has been formed to probe the murder.

As soon as the voting ended in Kerala on Tuesday night, violence broke out at Kannur -- between the Left workers and members of the Indian Union Muslim League that led to the death of 22-year-old Manzoor, an IUML worker, while his brother is being treated at a hospital in Kozhikode.

One CPI-M worker Shinoz was arrested on Thursday morning, while the police have registered a case against 20 others, who were part of the gang which after first throwing bombs attacked the brothers with swords and knives.

On Wednesday night when the body was brought for the last rites, angry IUML workers attacked and damaged a few CPI-M offices in and around the house of the deceased.

The police has taken 21 IUML activists into custody for vandalism.

On Thursday morning the Kannur CPI-M district secretary M.V. Jayarajan and veteran party leader P. Jayarajan went around the offices which were damaged and condemned the incident.

"The murder that took place is really unfortunate, but in the name of that the IUML workers went on a rampage and such an act should not have taken place. This was an organised attack and that too with the blessings of the IUML leadership. This was done to destroy the peace in the area," said M.V. Jayarajan.

Meanwhile, the district administration has called for a peace meeting and all the leaders of the leading political parties will take part in this and it is expected to bring down the tension in the area.

The Kuthuparampa Assembly constituency witnessed a spirited poll battle between the CPI-M led Left candidate -- K.P. Mohanan of the Loktantrik Janata Dal and the IUML candidate P. Abdulla, while the BJP has fielded C. Sadanandan.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Loading However Clun wrote beyond international shipment issues, there has been growing concerns about the lack of communication around the rollout, scant forewarning about deliveries or cancellations, and also questions raised on why existing state-run systems for vaccine rollouts werent utilised. The federal government chose to take on the bulk of the rollout, Clun, who covers health from The Age and the Heralds Parliament House bureau, wrote. Its kept responsibility for distributing vaccines to GPs and aged care facilities, as well as handing out supplies to states and territories. Later in the rollout, the government will send vaccines to pharmacies as more people become eligible. Many readers share the frustration - and put the blame squarely on the federal government.

Elf1911: Unfortunately when the federal government put all its eggs into one basket by relying heavily on the AstraZeneca vaccine, and GPs to administer, it was always bound to lead to problems. Rather than setting up mass vaccination sites and providing oversight, they have relied on a business as usual model without considering the logistics required. Poor planning and delivery is to blame. SteveP: I remember Morrison chastising Dan Andrews, wheres the roadmap out of quarantine Dan?. Well, where is the roadmap to vaccinating all of Australia Scott Morrison? Patrick Weaver: The source supply problem is not the governments fault (blame the EU). Deciding to use a federal organisation with zero experience in mass logistics to deliver the available vaccine was an idiotic decision by a Minister on an ego trip. The over promising and total failure to adjust plans to deal with the reality of the low supply was even more inept and the federal government should accept the blame for their bad decisions. grumpyon: Morrison began last September with almost daily announcements of vaccine deals and vaccination plans...A master class in spin and media manipulation. The end result is that Australia may have fewer infections but will be much later than necessary in opening international borders. A serious hit to the economy from the self-styled economic managers. Others readers joined the debate by responding directly to the question posed in the headline on Cluns article.

Scott55: How did Australia go from a country with no cases to one that cant get the vaccine rollout right? A certain government treated it as a marketing exercise rather than a medical logistics challenge. Loading pete: Does that really need an explanation? The states took charge of one. The federal government took charge of the the other. Nothing to see here. adrianross000: Answer- we have competent state governments to thank for our low rates of COVID-19 community transmissions. We have an inept federal government to thank for the vaccine rollout stuff-up. D Martin: In answer to the question - the states did a magnificent job to achieve zero cases. But then inept federal government decided there was spin to be had with the vaccine rollout. Except they bungled it.

Clun says since she wrote her article more information has come to light about just how hard it has been to secure AstraZeneca doses from overseas. Local production of the vaccine by CSL has also been slower than expected. The Prime Minister has gone some way to explaining some of the delays, but there hasnt been a lot of clarity around vaccine data so far, so I think it will take more time for doctors and states to feel happy or confident about how its all being handled, Clun says. A prime example, she says, is the October target. The Prime Minister and Health Minister Greg Hunt both keep saying everyone will have their first vaccine by October, but they havent been giving start dates for phases 2a or 2b beyond saying phase 2 will start in the middle of the year, Clun says. Its a very rough guide, and leaves them open to changing dates if they need to, but that would also mean their October goal will have to change.

Some readers felt the concerns were premature - and most issues were beyond the federal governments control. skatters2: I dont know why everyone is bagging the government that guided us through this pandemic to the envy of the world. Everyone will get the jab, be patient and this will happen. sajmks: So what happened? Gee the blocking of millions of overseas vaccine doses that were expected to be delivered, you know, from legal contracts made in good faith, might be the root cause of the slow rollout. Not really the federal governments fault. Interested Party: In case no one had noticed, protests about slow vaccine rollout are occurring in multiple global jurisdictions. Im not justifying anything Australia has or has not done, but check what is happening in Europe and parts of North America. Its the exact same refrain. And just like here, no mention of such issues elsewhere. The insular nature of the complaints are fascinating - dare I say myopic? Life-long learner of Sydney: Isnt it a bit early in the program to declare Australia cant get its vaccine rollout right?

Other readers felt complaints about the speed of the local rollout were indulgent given the enviable position Australia is in with so few coronavirus cases. Loading MotorMouth: I think its somewhat disgraceful, and embarrassingly selfish, that we have the vaccine at this time, given how few new cases we have compared to many other parts of the world. Seriously, we should be exporting vaccines to places like the UK and happily waiting until they are all vaccinated before we put up our hands for any supply at all. Matt: Too many people getting into a lather when some perspective is required. Australia is the envy of the world in COVID suppression. We are living a very normal life - even without the vaccine. Soapbox: It is also pretty unfair to criticise Europe for blocking export of vaccine when they have people dying in serious numbers and we have virtually no infections let alone deaths.
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To learn more about The Alabama Education Lab and to get alerts about future work and events, sign up for its newsletter, Ed Chat. See recent stories here.

More and more students in Alabama are back in classrooms, but questions of how to keep track of students who miss in-person or remote school during the pandemic remain.

Alabama does not have a statewide estimate of absenteeism or how many students have silently left classrooms at some point during the school year during the pandemic. An estimate that 9,800 fewer students enrolled in public school this fall does not capture the scale of a potential dropout, truancy or absentee problem  or lack thereof.

In order to know how to help students after the pandemic, you have to know who is missing and why  the solution for missing kindergarteners is very different from an 18-year-old who didnt finish high school, said Hailly T.N. Korman, a senior associate partner at Bellwether Education Group. In October, the group published a paper that estimated as many as 3 million children nationally had not received meaningful education since March 2020.

Even after children are back in school, there are long-term consequences for those who missed extended periods, and we have to be ready to help them, she said.

There is no reporting requirement for absentee numbers at this point in the year, but AL.com reached out to a cross-section of districts within central Alabama to see how they are tracking absences.

School leaders told AL.com that they are using various methods to track remote learners attendance.

Most districts told AL.com that they count all students enrolled as a remote learner as present, whether or not they log on to every class, which fits the letter of the 2015 state virtual school law.

Shelby County officials said fewer than one-half of 1% of its 20,000 students have missed more than seven days of school without an excuse so far this year. Jefferson County and Hoover City have not yet tallied their absences for this school year. St. Clair County said they currently have no students that have missed more than seven unexcused absences.

Some are tracking absences differently; as of Feb. 12, Birmingham City Schools, which has been remote for much of the year, has identified 2,900 students who missed 20% or more of their learning opportunities, which could be an online class or submission of a virtual assignment. Those students were referred to the districts attendance officer, who then works with the student success office to offer support.

Read more: Alabama public schools missing 9,800 students this year

Jennifer Spain Williams directs the office of student success for the district. She said that while Birminghams school year wasnt normal, her work remains the same.

Our job is to serve students, Williams told AL.com. We are always going to work from a stance that we need to provide support. The district enrolls roughly 20,800 students.

When a student misses school and is referred to Williams, her department sends a letter to notify families, which is sometimes the only nudge needed to get the student back to class.

In other cases, the letter helps unearth what a student might be struggling with, beyond trouble logging in to class  maybe their family lost their house, or moved to a different district, or the student is struggling with mental health or is working during the school day to help support relatives.

The district employs four attendance officers for the whole district, which means counselors and social workers must pitch in as well.

Absences from school are often the tip of the iceberg, just an indicator of something going on in the family, said Melissa Niven Sherer, who oversees the Birmingham office of the Helping Families Initiative. The organization HFI and helps find resources for students and families that might address underlying reasons for absenteeism and keep students out of truancy court and juvenile detention.

There is so much grief and trauma this year, Sherer said. We are finding lots and lots of families who had lost loved ones due to COVID, and those who have experienced domestic violence. She said families are very, very overwhelmed.

If a student misses seven or more days without excuse, they might be referred to truancy court, which can have long-term impacts for the student and their family. Its hard to estimate how many children have been referred to court because of absences during remote learning periods, because truancy cases are not publicly reported and because judges have great discretion in how to handle them.

In a 2017 report, the states Juvenile Justice Task Force said truancy is the largest driver of complaints entering the court system, and its proportion of all complaints has nearly doubled over the last ten years to more than 30 percent, despite data showing that the truancy rate has not increased.

Conversely, the states annual Student Incident Report shows a decline in the number of students reported truant by school districts over the past five years:

2014-15: 6,990 truancies, with 4 referred to law enforcement

2015-16: 6,688 truancies, with 9 referred to law enforcement

2016-17: 6,575 truancies, with 3 referred to law enforcement

2017-18: 5,472 truancies, with 1 referred to law enforcement

2018-19: 5,346 truancies, with 5 referred to law enforcement

Keeping kids and families out of court is top priority for the Helping Families Initiative, which operates in 42 school districts in 12 counties. During the 2019-20 school year, HFI served 35,379 families.

This year, Helping Families team in Birmingham added a self-referral program, allowing parents and families to reach out directly and ask for help, instead of waiting for the school to give advocates a list of students who meet the absence criteria. Sherer said the self-referral option has proven effective and is something the organization plans to keep after the pandemic.

Since September, the team, with a staff of nine, has made 510 resource referrals to families, which could look like sending the children and mother in one family to a mental health agency that conducts an evaluation and provides counseling.

In February, we had 115 active cases with families, she added, and those are rotating in and out all of the time.

How should school officials count absences?

In the absence of a state-mandated policy on attendance in remote learning, local school boards can and should set their own policies, according to the Alabama Association of School Boards.

Schools should consider special circumstances caused by the pandemic, AASB Executive Director Sally Smith told AL.com in an email, and focus on supporting students regardless of why they are absent.

At the proper time, Smith wrote, school officials will have to consider the impact and consequences of willful absences. But burdening our school administrators, under-resourced, overburdened court system, not to mention struggling families, with possible truancy cases now is at best misguided and potentially harmful.

State education officials hope updating the states attendance manual, last updated in 2019, will help local districts know how to count attendance for remote learners, and better separate students who need help accessing school from students who arent interested in more school.

Kay Warfield leads the education departments attendance efforts and said the group should have recommendations for the state school board to consider in the next couple of months.

I think because it is our mindset that if a child is not in attendance, there has to be a reason why, Warfield said. Its more important to us to find the reason why than be punitive and mark them and take them to court.

The court is the last resort.

Updated: 4/12 1 p.m. to clarify the circumstances surrounding the 2,900 students referred to the attendance officer in Birmingham City Schools.
The key equity indices came off the day's high in mid-afternoon trade. At 14:23 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 294.65 points or 0.59% to 49,956.41. The Nifty 50 index rallied 118.40 points or 0.80% at 14,937.45. Pharma shares extended their wining streak for third day.

The broader market rallied. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.91%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index added 1.05%.

Buyers outnumbered sellers. On the BSE, 1897 shares rose and 949 shares fell. A total of 162 shares were unchanged.

Investors risk appetite improved after the minutes of last month's meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve suggested that Fed officials were united on the need to see more progress on economic recovery before scaling back their bond-buying program.

Domestic sentiment also received a boost after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday kept its monetary policy accommodative to support economic growth.

Numbers To Track:

In the foreign exchange market, the partially convertible rupee rose to 74.4750 compared with its previous closing of 74.4775.

The yield on 10-year benchmark federal paper fell to 6.050% as compared to its previous close of 6.082%.

MCX Gold futures for 4 June 2021 settlement added 0.19% to Rs 46,450.

The US Dollar index (DXY), which tracks the greenback's value against a basket of currencies, shed 0.13% to 92.34.

In the commodities market, Brent crude for June 2021 settlement shed 20 cents to $62.96 a barrel. The contract gained 0.67% or 42 cents to settle at $63.16 in the previous trading session.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Pharma index rose 0.63% to 12,696.35, extending gains for third day. The index has added 2.96% in three sessions.

Cadila Healthcare (up 2.98%), Lupin (up 1.96%), Divi's Labs (up 1.38%), Aurobindo Pharma (up 0.80%), Cipla (up 0.78) and Dr. Reddy's Labs (up 0.69%) advanced.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Minda Corporation rose 2.14% to Rs 102.80. the company announced its partnership with Israel-based Ride Vision, a leading ADAS (rider assistance systems) solutions company, to bring its range of artificial intelligence-enabled collision avoidance technology products for the Indian two-wheeler market.

Hester Biosciences jumped 10.78% to Rs 2230. The company announced signing of agreement with ICAR-IVRI (Indian Council of Agri Research - Indian Veterinary Research Institute) for acquiring technologies for the production and commercialisation of classical swine fever vaccine & sheep pox vaccine.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New York adults over the age of 21 can now possess and use marijuana  even in public  under a legalization bill signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, though legal sales of recreational-use cannabis wont start for an estimated 18 months until regulations are set.

Passed after several years of stalled efforts, the measure makes New York the 16th state to legalize adult use of the drug, though South Dakotas measure is in legal limbo.

New York becomes the second-most populous state, after California, to legalize recreational marijuana. Legalization backers hope the Empire State will add momentum and set an example with its efforts to redress the inequities of a system that has locked up people of color for marijuana offenses at disproportionate rates.

By placing community reinvestment, social equity, and justice front and center, this law is the new gold standard for reform efforts nationwide, said Melissa Moore, New York state director of the Drug Policy Alliance.

The legislation provides protections for cannabis users in the workplace, housing, family court, schools, colleges and universities, and sets a target of providing half of marijuana licenses to individuals from underrepresented communities. And police could no longer use the odor of cannabis as a reason for searching someones car for contraband.

New York will start automatically expunging some past marijuana-related convictions, and people wont be arrested or prosecuted for possession of pot up to 3 ounces. A 2019 law already expunged many past convictions and reduced the penalty for possessing small amounts.

In a unique provision, New Yorkers 21 and over can now smoke cannabis in public, including on sidewalks. No other state allows that, said Paul Armentano, deputy director of pro-legalization group NORML.

Still, New Yorkers cant smoke or vape marijuana in locations where smoking is prohibited by state law, including workplaces, indoor bars and restaurants and within 100 feet of a school. And stricter local smoking rules apply: New York City bans smoking in parks and on beaches, for instance.

Local governments can pass stricter rules on marijuana use, prohibit retail dispensaries or cannabis lounges, and impose small civil penalties  as long as they dont completely or essentially prohibit a person from lawful marijuana use.

Mackenzie Stevenson, a portrait photographer and dental assistant in central New York, was thrilled at the news. She has a relative with epilepsy whos been greatly helped by medical marijuana.

Ive seen the benefits its had for her, so Im excited for more people to be able to benefit from it, the 20-year-old said.

Once Im 21, Im going to be very excited to go out and be able to use it myself, added Stevenson, who said she has tried it occasionally.

Law enforcement organizations, parents groups and many Republican lawmakers opposed the new law.

They suggested legalization will encourage kids to use marijuana and will increase impaired-driving crashes, among other concerns.

For 27 years in the military, I fought drugs, every single year What will we do to our children here? Republican state Rep. John Lemondes Jr., a retired Army colonel, asked as lawmakers debated.

Legalization supporters say that its already easy for young adults to get pot and that theres no clear link between marijuana legalization and traffic accidents. Officials plan to study the driving issue, and the law also lets state police get money to train more officers as drug recognition experts, though University at Buffalo professor R. Lorraine Collins said theres no evidence those experts can tell whether someones high.

The trade publication Marijuana Business Daily estimates New York could become the East Coasts largest recreational marijuana market  generating a potential $2.3 billion in annual sales by its fourth year.

Cuomo, a Democrat, said annual tax revenues could eventually total $300 million, though Republicans are skeptical. California was forced to cut $223 million from state budget projections in 2019 due to slower-than-expected pot sales.

After covering the states costs of regulation and enforcement, tax revenues would go to schools, drug treatment and prevention programs and a fund for investing in job skills, adult education, mental health and other services in communities that bore the brunt of the national and state drug war.

The taxes are considerable: a 9% statewide sales tax, an additional 4% county and local tax and another tax based on the level of THC, marijuanas active ingredient.

Sen. Liz Krueger, a Democrat and the legislations senate sponsor, estimates the total tax rate will come out to about 20%.

The state will provide loans, grants and incubator programs to encourage cannabis entrepreneurs from minority communities, as well as small farmers, women and disabled veterans. Krueger said the state cant mandate giving 50% of licenses to such applicants because it could be unconstitutional.

Instead, the law sets 50% as a goal.

Fifty percent is a very high bar to try to reach, but if it happens, it would be amazing, said Hillary Peckham, chief operator of Etain Health, a women-owned New York medical cannabis company that is considering applying for a recreational marijuana license.

The next step is to see how the regulations and the program are stood up to actually provide those opportunities, added Peckham, whose company has four dispensaries around the state.

Social equity emerged as a key theme in marijuana legalization in recent years, with newly legal states trying to build it in and others seeking to make up for a lack of diversity in the businesses they approved earlier. But plans havent always played out as intended.

Illinois, for instance, was touted for the equity provisions in its 2019 law. But that has drawn criticism and legal action from some Black-owned businesses that were passed over. Illinois has since revised its process to try to address those issues.

Associated Press reporters Jennifer Peltz and Karen Matthews contributed reporting from New York.

Topics New York Cannabis
POLL SHOWS AMERICANS LESS FEARFUL OF CATCHING VIRUS: Pools and beaches to open early; doctors fear Easter/Passover surge, and numbers. (Hot Zone) Posted by Staten Island Advance on Wednesday, April 7, 2021

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - American fears about COVID-19 may be abating, according to one poll, while doctors on Staten Island expressed concern about a possible coming surge.

Gallup said that a recent survey of nearly 4,000 Americans showed that just 35 percent were very or somewhat concerned about catching the virus. That number, a record low for the pandemic, was down from 57 percent three months ago.

Meanwhile, doctors on Staten Island told the Advance that they were concerned that social gatherings during the recent Easter and Passover celebrations could cause a surge in cases. But despite concerns about youth COVID cases, physicians here said they have not seen an increase in pediatric hospitalizations.

Borough hospitals on Wednesday reported that eight fewer patients overall were being treated for COVID than there were on Tuesday. Along with that were two new confirmed deaths from or with the virus as well as 200-plus new cases.

The coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside-down, and we need information like we never have before.

How many new cases were there on Staten Island today? How many deaths? How many people have been released from the hospital?

What are out elected officials, federal, state and local, doing to keep New Yorkers safe?

What other news is top of mind?

More importantly, when are we going to get back to normal, whatever normal is?

Its almost too much to keep up with.

So every day around 4 p.m., Mark and I take to Facebook Live to give you all the information you need. You can then look for this written wrap-up on SILive.com at the end of the day.

Well give you the numbers and all the latest news. Well answer your questions. Well follow up on your news tips.

Well share the good news too, the way that the Staten Island community is coming together in this time of crisis. Or well just share this strange and unique pandemic moment with you, as fellow Staten Islanders.

Were all in this together. Well all get through this together.
The Ukrainian government has approved the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on mutual abolition of visa requirements.

The relevant resolution was adopted without discussion at a government meeting on April 7, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"To approve the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on mutual abolition of visa requirements, which was concluded in London on November 25, 2020," the document reads.

According to an explanatory note, the adoption of the resolution will allow the Ukrainian side to perform the internal procedures required for the entry into force of the Agreement.

According to paragraph 1 of Article 12 of the Agreement, it shall enter into force on the 30th day after the date of the receipt of the last written notification through diplomatic channels informing the completion of domestic legal procedures.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Government of Ukraine at its meeting on October 9, 2020 approved a draft agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on mutual abolition of visa requirements. The document provides for the mutual abolition of visa requirements for visits of citizens of Ukraine and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines of up to 90 days in 180day period.

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As COVID cases surge in the country, crossing one lakh daily infections since the beginning of the pandemic, some states have complained of vaccine shortage, which they fear, will lead to rise in cases.

Maharashtra faces vaccine shortage

Bogged down by the second wave of Covid-19, Maharashtra is now left with only three days of vaccine stocks. The state is also plagued by shortages of oxygen and remdesivir medicine to combat the surge, as it sees above 50,000 new infections daily, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday.

Reuters

"We have around 14 lakh doses left available... That is the stock sufficient for only three days. Our weekly requirement is around 40 lakh doses to enable us to vaccinate up to 500,000 people. In the current surge, the vaccine is the only 'Ram-baan' available," a grim Tope told media persons here this afternoon.

We do not have enough vaccine doses at various vaccination centres, and people have to be sent back due to a shortage of doses. We have demanded from the Centre that people of age group 20-40 years must be vaccinated on priority: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope

(file pic) pic.twitter.com/7ZmwJOBX5A  ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2021

There is a shortage of COVID19 vaccine doses in Mumbai. Yesterday, we had 1,76,000 vaccine doses but in the coming days we will require more vaccines: Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar pic.twitter.com/LXa12YNGPd  ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2021

He said that he has already informed Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan of the prevailing scenario at a video conference of the Health Ministers of nine worst-hit states.

Owing to the shortage of vaccines at various vaccination centres, the people are being sent back and the state has demanded that people in the vulnerable 20-45 age groups should be given the life-saver jab on priority, he said.

Six other states complain of vaccine shortage

At least six states  Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Odisha and Telangana  are staring at a coronavirus vaccine shortage.

Reuters

Most of these states have already apprised the Centre of the situation.

The Centre has refused to open up coronavirus vaccinations for all age groups, saying that the aim is to vaccinate the most vulnerable first.

In Andhra Pradesh, vaccine stocks will run out by Thursday, states commissioner (health and family welfare) Katamneni Bhaskar told The Economic Times.

He said the state has only 3.5 lakh vaccines left in their stock.

Centre Says No Scarcity Anywhere'

Hours after Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh sent an SOS alert over a scarcity of coronavirus vaccines, the Union Health Ministry reiterated on Wednesday that there is no shortage of vaccine stock anywhere in the country.

Timesnow

The Centre will not allow any state to face vaccine scarcity, said Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.

Dr Harsh Vardhan had reacted to some concerns on Tuesday, adding that no state is facing vaccine scarcity and neither will the Centre allow them to face it.
Acwa Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor and operator of power generation and desalinated water plants in 13 markets, has finalised the project agreements for the 200MW Kom Ombo PV (photovoltaic) plant in Egypt.



Construction of the plant is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2021 and upon completion, Kom Ombo PV will cater to the power needs of 130,000 households and offset 336,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.



The signing of the 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA), network connection contract and usufruct agreement was conducted via a virtual ceremony held with senior government officials and representatives from the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC); The New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), and Acwa Power.



The agreements were signed by Sabah Mashaly, Chairman of EETC; Dr Mohamed Al-KHayat, Chairman of NREA; Rajit Nanda, Chief Portfolio Management Officer and acting CIO of Acwa Power; and Hassan Amin, Country Development Director- Egypt, Acwa Power.



Dr Mohamed Shaker El Markabi, Egypts Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy said: Egypt is home to a wide range of untapped renewable resources particularly, wind and solar energy. The electrical capacities that can be generated from renewable sources can reach up to nearly 90 GW.



In line with Egypts Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy, our aim is to produce 42% of Egypts electricity using renewable sources by 2035. Currently necessary studies are being conducted to increase this percentage, stressing on maximizing the utilization of renewable energy in many areas, including water desalination and green hydrogen production.



Paddy Padmanathan, President & CEO of Acwa Power, said: The signing of the final project agreements for Kom Ombo PV reflects our longstanding relationship with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) and The New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), as well as our shared commitment to advancing the countrys renewable energy landscape and decarbonisation efforts. Playing a key role in accelerating the energy transition globally, Acwa Power is proud to be a trusted partner in supporting Egypts sustainability ambitions through environmental stewardship, social responsibility and good governance



Financial closure of Kom Ombo PV is scheduled for the third quarter of 2021, following the obtainment of a $40 million senior debt financing and a $14 million equity bridge loan from the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in addition to a $27.2 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to finance the construction, development and design of the 200 MW solar PV project.



The Government Guarantee for the project was signed in January 2021 between Acwa Power and Mohamed Maait, Egypts Minister of Finance. Kom Ombo PV is part of Acwa Powers established energy portfolio and proven track record in Egypt, which currently includes three solar PV projects located in the Aswan province (Benban 1, Benban 2 and Benban 3) with an aggregate capacity of 120 MW, as well as the 2250MW Dairut-Luxor CCGT IPP in the Luxor Governorate.



Kom Ombo PV will be one of the largest privately developed utility scale solar plants in Egypt and will support the country in increasing its renewable energy capacity in line with the national targets to generate 22% of Egypts power from renewables by 2022 and 42% by 2035.  TradeArabia News Service
(Alliance News) - Prime Minister Boris Johnson has sought to reassure the public the Oxford/AstraZeneca PLC vaccine is safe after UK regulators said there was a possible link between the jab and "extremely rare" blood clots.

The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said the benefits still outweigh the risks overall but while it has not concluded that the vaccine causes rare brain clots, it said the link is getting firmer.

Regulators have recommended that people aged 18 to 29 should be offered the Pfizer, Moderna or other vaccines that come on stream as the programme continues to rollout across the UK.

It comes as the family of a solicitor who died from a blood clot after receiving an AstraZeneca vaccine urged the public to "keep saving lives" by taking up a jab when offered it.

The prime minister sought to boost public confidence in the Oxford-developed shot as he said the changes in its use would not force a change in the road map out of lockdown.

Johnson told reporters in Cornwall: "These vaccines are safe, they've saved many thousands of lives and people should come forward to get their jabs and we'll make sure that they get the right jabs."

MHRA's chief executive Dr June Raine told a press conference that there was a "reasonably plausible" link between the AstraZeneca jab and rare blood clots, but stressed these were "extremely rare".

She said: "Based on the current evidence, the benefits of the Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca against Covid-19 and its associated risks a hospitalisation and death a continues to outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people.

"Our review has reinforced that the risk of this rare suspected side effect remains extremely small."

Meanwhile the family of Neil Astles, 59, who died in hospital on Easter Sunday after receiving his first AstraZeneca jab dose on March 17, told the Telegraph that they wanted the public to continue taking up the vaccine.

Dr Alison Astles told the newspaper: "If we all have the vaccine, a few of us might have a blood clot but the evidence is that fewer people will die.

"We trust the process, we trust the regulator, and despite what has happened to our family, we don't want people to be scared off. That's the message we want to get across."

A separate review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded on Wednesday that "unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects" of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The MHRA said that up to March 31, across the UK it had received 79 reports of blood clots accompanied by low blood platelet count, all in people who had their first dose of the vaccine, out of around 20 million doses given.

Of these 79, a total of 19 people have died, the regulator said, although it has not been established what the cause was in every case. Of the 19 who died, three were under the age of 30.

The figures suggest the risk of rare blood clot is the equivalent to four people out of every million who receive the vaccine.

The MHRA said that those who have had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should still get their second dose.

Only those who suffered a rare blood clot after the first dose should not get vaccinated.

Anyone with blood disorders that leave them at risk of clotting should discuss the benefits and risks of vaccination with their doctor before going for a jab.

In Europe, the EMA has carried out an in-depth review of 62 cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and 24 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis, in which 18 people died.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Twitter that the findings by the MHRA and EMA had confirmed that the AstraZeneca jab was "safe" and that the benefits of the jab "far outweigh the risks for the vast majority of adults".

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Cold case detectives have charged a 58-year-old man with the murder of an elderly man and his sister more than 30 years ago.

Doris McCartney and Ronald Swann were found dead in their Moorabbin home on October 22, 1989. There were no signs of forced entry and nothing had been taken.

Ronald Swann and Doris McCartney.

Last week, Victoria Police offered a $1 million reward for information, and on Thursday Glen William Nash was arrested in Rowville, in Melbournes south-east.

Detectives from the homicide squad charged him with two counts of murder.
Imperial Valley News Center

Berkeley Graduate Federal Immigration Official Originally from Nigeria Charged with Illegally Obtaining U.S. Citizenship under Fake Identity

Santa Ana, California - An immigration services officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services was arrested this morning in Maryland on a federal charge that alleges he obtained U.S. citizenship under a false name.

The defendant is charged under the false name of Karl Nwabugwu Odike Ifemembi, but the criminal complaint in this case notes that his real name is Modestus Nwagubwu Ifemembi, originally of Nigeria. Ifemembi, 48, who previously resided in Aliso Viejo, but relocated to Rockville, Maryland, last year, has worked for USCIS for seven years. Ifemembi is charged in the complaint with one count of unlawfully procuring U.S. citizenship.

Ifemembi made false statements on various government forms to obtain U.S. citizenship, as well as employment with USCIS, according to the affidavit in support of the complaint, which was unsealed this morning.

Ifemembi first entered the United States in 2000 when he flew from France to Chicago with a British passport that had been issued to another person but had been altered to display Ifemembis photograph, according to the affidavit. While immigration officials in Chicago caught Ifemembi  who admitted his fraudulent use of the U.K. passport, the affidavit states  he ultimately was granted asylum after falsely claiming his real name was Karlos Mourfy and that he was a native of Sierra Leone.

After being granted asylum, Ifemembi attended the University of California, Berkeley, which granted him a bachelors degree in 2004, and then obtained J.D. from the University of Oregon, School of Law. Then, in late 2010, Karlos Mourfy applied for U.S. citizenship and asked to change his name to Ifemembi  requests that were granted in May 2011. Two years later, in 2013, Ifemembi was hired by USCIS, according to the affidavit.

During the investigation into Ifemembi, federal investigators traveled to Africa  including his hometown of Akuma, Nigeria  and searched his Orange County residence in 2019, obtaining evidence about his true identity, including baptism, school and financial records, the affidavit states.

Ifemembi is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The charge of unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, and upon conviction, U.S. citizenship is automatically revoked.

The investigation into Ifemembi is being conducted by the United States Department of Homeland Security  Office of Inspector General, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services  Office of Investigations, and the United States Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).

This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles E. Pell of the Santa Ana Branch Office.
True North Hotel Group has announced the companys first managed AC Hotel by Marriott will be opening in late spring.

The five-story, 120-room hotel, located at 2585 6th St., will feature the 5th on Sixth rooftop bar with a view of downtown Tuscaloosa. The hotel will also have media salons, a 24-hour fitness room and European-inspired breakfasts for guests.

The first AC Hotel by Marriott opened in Huntsville in 2019.

Karen Steiger has been named the hotels general manager, and Darren Segura director of sales.

A native of Illinois, Steiger has more than 30 years of hotel experience, 20-plus of which have been with Marriott-branded hotels in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. She was most recently general manager of the Courtyard by Marriott at UAB. During her career, she has won Circle of Champions, Hotel of the Year, General Manager of the Year and Marriott Silver and Gold performance awards along the way.

Segura worked for six years as senior account executive for Marriotts U.S. Account Sales and held director and manager-level sales positions at several resort and full-service hotels in Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.
[April 08, 2021] Wondershare Launches Creative Campaign on Social Media: 21 Ways to Express Yourself

VANCOUVER, BC, April 8, 2021 /CNW/ -- Creativity can be expressed in different ways. Words, terms and objects can have different interpretations and meanings for different people. To inspire creators to bravely share their original works, Wondershare has launched the #WondershareChallenge campaign on social media which runs from March 22nd until April 11th. Participants can choose one or all of the prompts they're inspired by, and craft something. The creation could be a photo, video, food, sketch, macaroni art, etc. After that, people must show their work with the #WondershareChallenge hashtag on social media, so they enter the giveaway of grand prizes. Every day during the challenge, Wondershare will release the creative version of one of the prompts on its official accounts: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. "Wondershare makes creativity accessible for everyone, with tools so that help creators bring to life their creative vision," said Hanna Liu, General Manager of Wondershare Marketing Center. "With this campaign, we hope to inspire the community to explore what creativity means to them and encourage them to express it on their own unique way." According to the challenge list, the topic for March 28 was "Fear". A participant posted a photo on Twitter that showed her stnding at the edge of a mountain. "How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. I am slowly overcoming my fear of heights and let myself experience the adventure that I've never had," she said.



Since the launch of the campaign, more than 500 posts have been made with the #WondershareChallenge hashtag and the brand has received over 5.5k interactions on social media. Instagram is the most popular entry channel. A creator from Manila, Philippines accepted the challenge on Instagram since the first day of the campaign. When looking at his entries, there is a special one that stands out. In order to follow the theme "yellow" of that day, he used all yellow emojis to make a self-portrait.

In addition to the photos, many participants have opted for video as their means of expression. For example, a father from Fresno, California made a video showing the audience how he had fun dancing with his children for the topic of Abstraction. "The involvement of the campaign is beyond our expectations! So far, we've already published half of the topics such as sky, animal, holiday, etc., and seen original and creative content on the social media platform," Liu said. "We are thrilled to see more and more people participating and can't wait to see who the final winner is". Once the campaign ends, Wondershare will select the top 2 winners to get an iPad Pro and a DJI Pocket 2 respectively. Ten participants will be selected as the third prize and will get a $100 Amazon Gift Card, while the 21 best submissions for each topic will get a Wondershare Fan Box. For more information about the #WondershareChallenge campaign, please visit the website: https://www.wondershare.com/creativechallenge/ or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. About Wondershare Founded in 2003, Wondershare is a global leader in software development and a pioneer in the field of digital creativity. Our technology is powerful, and the solutions we provide are simple and convenient. That's why we're trusted by millions of people in over 150 countries worldwide. We help our users pursue their passions so that, together, we can build a more creative world. www.wondershare.com Media Contact Ellen Cheng

Wondershare

ellenc@wondershare.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wondershare-launches-creative-campaign-on-social-media-21-ways-to-express-yourself-301265074.html SOURCE Wondershare

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Lome, Togo (PANA) - Togo on Tuesday recorded 61 new cases of coronavirus contaminations, second consecutive day of drop after several days of record figures of infections, the sources told PANA here Wednesday
The European Commission (EC) has approved the Council's draft decision for the signing of the Agreement on the Common Aviation Area with Ukraine, said representative of Ukraine to the European Union, Ambassador Mykola Tochytsky.

"Long awaited good news: today EU Commission has re-approved the draft Council Decision on the signing of the Common Aviation Area Agreement. Looking forward to member-states' support and swift conclusion of the Agreement," the Ukrainian diplomat wrote on Twitter.

Next steps are the approvement by the Council of the EU and actual signing of the Agreement. The agreement will be signed between Ukraine, the EU and the member states.

The conclusion of the Agreement will contribute to the creation of a common aviation space between Ukraine and the EU based on common and reliable EU standards in the field of flight safety, air traffic control and consumer protection, the press service of the Mission of Ukraine to the EU reported on Facebook.

"It will also open new opportunities for our citizens and business as well as investments into Ukrainian aviation.Common Aviation Area will ensure the air operation in Ukraine in line with the EU standards on aviation safety, air traffic management and aviation consumer protection," the Ukrainian diplomats said.
China can disrupt systems by launching cyber attacks on India and a mechanism is being readied to combat any such move, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, said at an event here on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Vivekananda International Foundation on shaping the armed forces to meet the likely current and future challenges, General Rawat said, "We may not be able to fully catch up with China. So we are trying to develop some kind of a relationship with the western nations and see how better we can get some support from them, during peace time at least, which will help us overcome this deficiency."

Rawat said that China has the first movers advantage as India was slow to adopt cyber warfare capabilities, which has led to the gaps.

"The biggest differential lies in the cyber field. We know that China is capable of launching cyber attacks on us and it can disrupt a large number of systems," he said.

According to the official data presented in the Parliament, India witnessed a nearly 300 per cent spike in cyber attacks last year in comparison to 2019, from 3,94,499 cases in 2019 to 11,58,208 in 2020, which is alarming for the government.

"What we are trying to do is create a system which will ensure cyber defence. We have been able to create a cyber agency within the armed forces and each service also has its own cyber agency, so that even if we come under a cyber attack, the downtime of the attack doesn't last long," Rawat said.

The CDS said while China has a lead in this respect, India is evolving its technologies to match up.

"While we are trying to create firewalls for cyber attacks, someone may break through them. We are trying see how long your systems will be down and how will you be able to operate through the phase of cyber attack that we have been put through. That is what we are seriously looking at."

The CDS said the key for combating such attacks is to integrate the resources of the three services. "The Navy is far ahead of the Army and the Air Force in the way it has imbibed technology," he said.

On other security challenges, BIpin Rawat said that India faces multiple and varied security threats and challenges across the full spectrum of conflict - from proxy war to hybrid to non-contact, conventional and collusive wars under a nuclear overhang.

"There is an emergent need to develop a vision for the region. However, one must be careful to not 'bite more than one can chew'. The vision for the region or even our global vision must be intrinsically linked to our national interests, which are directly linked to national security," the CDS said.
In an incident that would perhaps make Pablo Escobar turn in his grave and facepalm himself insanely hard, Jammu & Kashmir police recovered an unbelievable number of bottles of cough syrup, hidden in a tunnel.

 ANI

A police party in Tulkhan village apprehended two people after stopping and searching them on a routine drive. The reason? Both of them were carrying 15 bottles of prescription-strength cough syrup between the two of them, with no legitimate cause.



Police party at Tulkhan crossing apprehended two persons in possession of 15 Codeine bottles. Interrogation led to the search at a location in Tulkhan Bijbehara (Anantnag district from where 1715 bottles of Codeine were recovered: Jammu and Kashmir Police pic.twitter.com/gNs8zebCuS  ANI (@ANI April 7, 2021

For people who have been living under a rock all these years full strengthened cough syrup, also known as codeine, is highly addictive, and highly intoxicating, and is often used as a substitute for drugs and alcohol. Consuming high dosages of codeine concentrate leads to a solid high, that often lasts for hours.



That is the reason why most over the counter cough syrups are diluted by pharmaceutical companies. This is also the reason why pharmaceutical companies warn against driving or operating heavy machinery after having regular dosage of cough syrup.

Upon interrogating the two apprehended men, Jammu & Kashmir Police were led to a rudimentarily made tunnel in Tulkhan Bijbehara, from where they recovered 1715 bottles of prescription-strength bottles.

 ANI

On one hand, we have a city like Mumbai, which has been dubbed as the drug capital of India by the NCB, and then, on the other, we have the district of Anantnag in Jammu & Kashmir, which has to depend on cough syrup, to get their buzz on. Saste Nashe indeed.



All jokes aside, Anantnag has been infamous for being a district where drug trafficking is rampant. Local newspapers often run reports of police seizing unbelievable quantities of narcotics.

Upon reading this people on Twitter, had some hilarious reactions.

Udta Kashmir  John Wick (@udbeast April 7, 2021

Meanwhile a user from Bihar -

Every nook and corner of Bihar you will find these bottles  rahul shankar roy (@rahulsroy95 April 7, 2021

In punjab nashedi often buy 6-7 syrup and drink it in one go there are strict restrictions on buyinh from chemist.  Suraj Gupta (@Suraj__leo April 7, 2021

Hmmm.

Deliberate game plan of known external forces.  ashesh kumar (@ashesh065 April 7, 2021

Not gonna lie, from the pictures it does seem like it.
by Francis Khoo Thwe

In a demonstration in Kalay, soldiers "fired in all directions" and ambushed demonstrators. Three of the killed were not part of the protest. In Bago two killed in a residential area. In the villages there is forced recruitment of men or young people. Anyone who refuses is arrested. Many villages are abandoned because people flee. Kyaw Zwar Minn, the Burmese ambassador to Britan and former military officer speaks in favour of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Yangon (AsiaNews) - The regime's security forces have killed at least 20 other people in the Saigang and Bago area. Most of the killings - 11 - took place in Kalay, in the northwestern area. Local eye-witness reports say the soldiers "fired in all directions" and even ambushed the demonstrators. Three of the killed were not part of the protest.

Seven other people were killed in Taze, also in the Sagaing region, during a demonstration (photo 1). It was the first time that the military had attacked a mass demonstration in Taze. In the clashes there were a few dozens injured, including a Buddhist monk.

In Bago (80 km northeast of Yangon), armed troops entered a residential area and opened fire, killing two people, 20-year-old Chan Myae and 48-year-old A Nge Lay. Both were shot in the head. The body of the eldest was not found. The military are now being accused of hiding and stealing corpses out of contempt for families and (perhaps) to harvest them for the organ trade.

The Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners (Aapp) confirmed that until last night the total number of civilians killed had reached 606.

A constant problem for the population is constituted by night roundups in residential areas and villages where the military thinks there are activists and members of the National League for Democracy, the party of Aung San Suu Kyi. Soldiers break into houses, kill people even indiscriminately, destroy what is found. Then they arrest militants and non-militants.

In the villages military leaders are also conscripting men to enlist them in combat or only as "pack animals", to carry weapons and materials. In the 70 years of military dictatorship, this style was widely used and condemned by the international community, especially because it involved child soldiers.

Those who refuse are arrested, or flee. Inhabitants of several villages flee into the forest and the villages remain deserted.

The App census says that at present there are at least 3 thousand prisoners, but there are many arrests that are not documented.

Last night the Myanmar conflict spread to London: Burmese ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn was shut outside the embassy and spent the night in his car (photo 2). According to sources, his deputy, Chit Win, took power on the mandate of the junta, expelling him from the diplomatic seat.

In recent weeks, Kyaw Zwar Minn, a former soldier himself, had spoken out in favor of the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint and had warned the junta of a possible civil war.

So far, Britain has condemned the coup and implemented sanctions on some junta generals, blocking some trade. It is not yet clear what the next move by the London government might be. A Foreign Office spokesman said he was awaiting "clarification on the current status of the Myanmar ambassador to Britain.
A council in an affluent area of Melbourne has copped fierce backlash from locals for spending $200,000 of taxpayer's money to prove it supports the LGBTI+ community.

Port Phillip Council plans to fork out the 'obscene' amount of money for a Rainbow Tick accreditation to show it is 'committed to safe, inclusive practice for LGBTQIA+ people'.

Greens councillor Katherine Copsey is behind the time consuming and costly proposal, which could take up to two years to get accredited by the Quality Innovation Performance.

Taxpayers would foot the $200,000 bill, which will go towards a project facilitator, training and temporarily replacing staff while they are receiving the training.

Port Phillip Council is forking out the money for a Rainbow Tick accreditation to show it is 'committed to safe, inclusive practice for LGBTQIA+ people'. Pictured: Mayor Bernadene Voss (centre) and her councillors unveil the city's rainbow road in St Kilda in 2018

Greens councillor Katherine Copsey is behind the timely and costly proposal, which could take up to two years to get accredited by the Quality Innovation Performance

The proposal has been slammed by locals as 'rate payer theft' and putting 'woke' causes before residents' needs.

'How on earth are they allowed to get away with this offensive rate payer theft?,' one local said.

'The council should do the right thing and resign, they [are] out of touch with what rates are to be used for,' said another.

'What an obscene waste of tax payers money and in no way justifiable on any level,' said another.

'A small minority being pandered to by a Left Wing Green dominated council paid for by the majority who do not want this,' a fourth resident wrote.

'Whoever made this decision should be sacked or forced to repay these fund. Delusional rubbish when a lot of people are struggling to keep the lights on.'

Institute of Public Affairs' Bella d'Abrera said the plan is 'nothing more than empty virtue signalling'.

City of Port Phillip forks out about $180,000 every year on its Pride March through Fitzroy Street

'While the city is still recovering from coronavirus lockdowns during which local residents have lost jobs, including council employees themselves, it is outrageous that Port Phillip Council would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on (this),' she told the Herald Sun.

'It reveals that the council's priorities are so warped and out of touch with reality, that it would rather spend money on woke causes than reducing rates for locals.

City of Port Phillip forks out about $180,000 every year on its Pride March through Fitzroy Street.

In 2017, The council splashed $13 million towards Australia's first Pride Centre - a hub for the LGBTI community.
PLANO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / iDocsWeb, the developer and distributor of a proprietary telemedicine platform targeted specifically for Long Term Care, makes a vast improvement in remote treatment by partnering with the leader in LTC Electronic Health Records vendor, PointClickCare. This partnership creates a seamless integration between the two platforms allowing remote providers to access critical patient information during the video driven medical consultations. Prior to the integration, healthcare providers were faced with limited patient information often times resulting in limited treatment potential.

"This has been a long time in the making and we are very happy with the results. Our remote treatment abilities have greatly increased. Prior to the integration, doctors and other healthcare providers were unable to access the patient's chart (patient's electronic health record) unless he/she was on site at the facility. This greatly limited the treatment ability as this is critical information in the assessment process.

Now that the PCC / iDocsWeb integration is complete, users of the platform are reporting an increase in the amount of successful telemedicine consultations and a decrease in the amount of patients who must go to the hospital to receive treatment. The two platforms work seamlessly together and users are able to access both platforms using a single login," said Dr. Anton Georgiev, Chief Medical Officer of iDocsWeb.

As the penalties and costs associated with unneeded hospitalizations continue to increase, LTC facility operators and their healthcare providers must find new ways to increase their on-site treatment abilities. Often times there is no doctor in the facility. The iDocsWeb telemedicine platform addresses these challenges by connecting nurses within the facility to doctors who are often working remotely. Users of iDocsWeb often times report a significant decrease in the amount patients who must leave the facility to receive their medical treatment.

The company's Chief Technology Officer, Bharath Rayasam, added "We knew doctors needed access to the patient chart to treat more effectively but this was not possible prior to our complete integration with PointClickCare. We worked tirelessly with the PCC team to make this very important information available during the telemedicine consultation. We even took it a step further and included it in the iDocsWeb Provider mobile application, meaning doctors can now treat their patients for more conditions from anywhere using their smartphones. We knew doctors also needed it to be easy to use as well as efficient with their time. We were able to accomplish both."

About iDocsWeb: iDocsWeb is a telemedicine company founded in 2013 that specializes its services to residents in long-term and post-acute care facilities, throughout the United States The iDocsWeb cloud-based and HIPAA compliant Telemedicine solution provides consultation with a doctor within minutes. It is striving to bring comfort to patients without the agony of long, tedious and costly visits to the hospital emergency department, while avoiding the potential exposure to various healthcare associated infections. iDocsWeb offers a specifically tailored telemedicine platform that allows RN's, Nurse Practitioner and Board-Certified Physicians to consult with its client facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information contact Al Forcella, Senior Vice President, at 727-492-4679, or aforcella@idocsweb.com, or info@idocsweb.com.

SOURCE: iDocsWeb LLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639130/iDocsWeb-Telemedicine-Is-Now-Integrated-With-PointClickCare-Electronic-Health-Record




[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.]

KENT, UK  Apr. 8, 2021  Experience classic railroading moving heavy coal and manifest freight through the heart of Virginia's coalfields with Train Sim World 2: Clinchfield Railroad.



Fabulous and famous: The Clinchfield Railroad was one of Americas most extraordinary railroads. Often called The Rio Grande of the East for its spectacular scenery and challenging mountain railroading, the Clinchfield (which is now CSXs Kingsport Subdivision) was both an extraordinary coal hauler and a busy and vital bridge line for manifest freight traffic, providing a link between the Chesapeake & Ohio on its north end and the Seaboard Coast Line in the south.



Its your job to take charge of the heavy coal and manifest freight services through the rugged Appalachian Mountains. Load coal from one of several mines in peaks of Virginia, and explore not only the main line, but the various local branches, each with its own challenges and character.



Take control of the instantly recognizable EMD F7 diesel locomotive, dressed in the vibrant and coal dust-coated Clinchfield Railroad livery. Alternatively, get a taste of something then-new, the EMD SD40, before its more recent upgrades to become the loco that exists today.



Train Sim World 2: Clinchfield Railroad is out now, priced at $29.99/24.99. The route features: 37 mile Route - Between Elkhorn City, Kentucky and Dante, Virginia. It also includes the 5-mile Haysi branch, 14-mile Fremont branch, 2-mile McClure spur and 6-mile Nora spur!

Between Elkhorn City, Kentucky and Dante, Virginia. It also includes the 5-mile Haysi branch, 14-mile Fremont branch, 2-mile McClure spur and 6-mile Nora spur! Iconic Locos - Drive the CRR F7A & B and SD40 diesel locomotives featuring highly detailed driving cabs with accurate true-to-life performance and handling

- Drive the CRR F7A & B and SD40 diesel locomotives featuring highly detailed driving cabs with accurate true-to-life performance and handling In-depth Tutorials  Learn how to drive the F7 & SD40 with training modules that introduce you to the braking and safety systems.

 Learn how to drive the F7 & SD40 with training modules that introduce you to the braking and safety systems. Journey Mode  Featuring over 24 hours of activities to master, including unique scenarios with changing weather and real-world services.

 Featuring over 24 hours of activities to master, including unique scenarios with changing weather and real-world services. Collectables  Walk around the route on foot and complete tasks like clearing fallen logs and refilling fire buckets.

 Walk around the route on foot and complete tasks like clearing fallen logs and refilling fire buckets. Customization Tools  Use the Livery Designer to create your own unique designs, and the Scenario Planner to build your own service.

For further information please visit www.trainsimworld.com.



About Dovetail Games

Dovetail Games was launched in 2013. Previously trading as RailSimulator.com Ltd, the business launched in 2009 initially producing and marketing PC game Train Simulator. Today Dovetail Games is responsible for train, flight and fishing simulation games and is developing for PC and leading consoles. http://www.dovetailgames.com.



About SimuGraph

Developed by Dovetail Games, SimuGraph Vehicle Dynamics Engine is a powerful visual modeling and simulation framework for the construction and real-time simulation of electrical, mechanical and hydraulic systems in the context of vehicle dynamics.



About Unreal Engine

Developed by Epic Games, the award-winning Unreal Engine is known for world-class graphics, tools and scalability across PC, console and mobile platforms. Unreal Engine technology is designed to accelerate developers productivity for creating high quality games, applications, training simulations, visualizations, digital films and animated entertainment. To access UE4, visit www.unrealengine.com and follow @UnrealEngine.
AKRON, Ohio, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) has partnered with Alvernia University in Reading, Pa., and Pierpont Community and Technical College in Fairmont, W.V., to expand an innovative program that allows employees to pursue college degrees after work hours at company facilities.

The Educate to Elevate program, launched last year for the company's customer service employees in Ohio, helps FirstEnergy develop a highly skilled workforce and allows employees to take charge of their own career and personal development by earning degrees that could lead to advancement opportunities.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person classes were successfully transitioned to an online learning environment that is still in place today. Due to the Ohio program's success, the company is now offering the program to any employee located at its Reading and Fairmont offices.

"FirstEnergy is proud to partner with accredited schools that share our vision for fostering employee personal growth and career success," said Michelle Henry, vice president, Customer Service, FirstEnergy. "Our employees' progress in Ohio and the interest from others throughout FirstEnergy prove that continuing education is important, and we're happy to provide the opportunity for as many employees to do so as easily as possible."

FirstEnergy's Educate to Elevate partnership with Alvernia University offers employees in Reading, Pa., the option to pursue associate or bachelor's degree programs in business. A similar partnership with Pierpont Community and Technical College allows employees in Fairmont, W.V., to work toward associate degrees in business with the option to later pursue bachelor's degrees through Fairmont State University. Tuition reimbursement is based on letter grades achieved and successful completion of the coursework.

To date, 18 FirstEnergy employees have enrolled in the Alvernia University Educate to Elevate program, which started virtual courses on February 1. Another 13 FirstEnergy employees have enrolled in the Pierpont program, where courses began January 18. This makes a total of 51 students enrolled in the program companywide, adding to the 20 students enrolled in Ohio's program that began last year.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,500 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com. Follow FirstEnergy and its utilities on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp, @ToledoEdison, @IlluminatingCo, @OhioEdison, @MonPowerWV, @JCP_L, @Penn_Power, @Penelec, @Met_Ed, @PotomacEdison, @W_Penn_Power.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Related Links

http://www.firstenergycorp.com


KYODO NEWS - Apr 8, 2021 - 00:36 | All, Japan

British private equity firm CVC Capital Partners has proposed a buyout of Toshiba Corp. to take it private, the Japanese firm's president said Wednesday, in a deal likely worth around 2 trillion yen ($18 billion).

The investment firm will discuss terms with the management of the Japanese electronics and infrastructure conglomerate and engage in talks with the Japanese government about screening the proposed acquisition, sources familiar with the matter said.

Toshiba has faced pressure from activist shareholders who invested in the conglomerate when it was struggling to get back on its feet, and taking the Japanese firm private could speed up management's decision-making, the sources said.

If the proposal goes through and CVC's tender offer is successful, it would help shield Toshiba from outside pressure from vocal shareholders and prevent their interference. But going private also raises the bar for Toshiba, a household name with a history dating back to 1875, to ensure transparency and proper governance.

"It is true we received a proposal, and we will discuss that at our board meeting," Toshiba President Nobuaki Kurumatani told reporters. Prior to taking the helm of Toshiba, Kurumatani served as chairman of CVC's Japanese unit.

Established in 1981, CVC has $117.8 billion worth of assets under its management, according to its website. In February, Japanese cosmetics maker Shiseido Co. said it would sell its personal care products business, known for brands such as Tsubaki, to CVC for 160 billion yen.

Following media reports of the proposed buyout, Toshiba shares met a flood of buy orders on Wednesday to finish up 18.3 percent at a daily-limit high of 4,530 yen. Based on the closing price, Toshiba is capitalized at 2.06 trillion yen.

A buyer typically pays a premium in a tender offer, likely pushing the value of a full acquisition of Toshiba shares further above 2 trillion yen.

The purchase of Toshiba, which has nuclear power and defense businesses, would need to be screened and approved by the Japanese government under the country's law regulating foreign investment in Japanese companies dealing with sensitive technology and products due to national security reasons.

Toshiba said in a statement that it received an initial proposal on Tuesday, adding that it will ask for more details and examine it "carefully."

"With regard to businesses that are key to our economy and society, we believe it's important to establish a management structure that can be stably sustained," Katsunobu Kato, the top government spokesman, said about CVC's buyout proposal for Toshiba.

Last month, Toshiba held an extraordinary meeting at the request of foreign activist investors. A proposal by Singapore-based Effissimo Capital Management Pte. Ltd. was approved, a rare victory for shareholder activism in corporate Japan.

The fund called for a fresh investigation into whether Toshiba's general shareholder meeting last year was held fairly since shareholder services provider Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank mistakenly omitted some mailed-in votes.

Kurumatani, who joined Toshiba in 2018 as chairman and CEO, has seen shareholder support for him dwindle. At the general shareholders meeting in July 2020, 57.96 percent were in support of Toshiba's move to keep him in the post. It stood at 99.43 percent a year earlier, according to Toshiba.

In recent years, Toshiba has undergone sweeping restructuring after an accounting scandal in 2015, followed by the bankruptcy of its U.S. nuclear plant subsidiary in 2017.

It has exited from unprofitable TV, personal computer and U.S. nuclear power businesses while selling its chip-making subsidiary to a consortium led by U.S. private equity fund Bain Capital in 2018.

Although no formal decision has been made, CVC's potential buyout of Toshiba would match or surpass Bain Capital's 2.3 trillion yen purchase of the semiconductor unit, Toshiba Memory Holdings Corp., making it one of the largest deals by a foreign investment fund in Japan. The Toshiba unit is now known as Kioxia Holdings Corp.

Toshiba is now shifting its focus more to infrastructure and renewable energy for future growth.

Mitsushige Akino, a director at Ichiyoshi Asset Management Co., said shareholders are concerned about a lack of business vision for the future under the current management.

"It would be meaningless to go private just to avoid the influence of activist shareholders," Akino said.

In January, Toshiba returned to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, more than three years after it was demoted to the Second Section as the conglomerate's financial health deteriorated due to huge losses incurred at the U.S. nuclear unit Westinghouse Electric Co.
MONTREAL - Over the past two to three weeks, Dr. Francois Marquis, head of intensive care at Montreal's Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital, says he started noticing the average age of COVID-19 patients dropping.

Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital is seen in Montreal on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014. People being hospitalized with COVID-19 are getting younger, according to Dr. Francois Marquis, the chief of Intensive Care at Montreal's Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

MONTREAL - Over the past two to three weeks, Dr. Francois Marquis, head of intensive care at Montreal's Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital, says he started noticing the average age of COVID-19 patients dropping.

People arriving at the hospital are on average, about 10 to 15 years younger than earlier patients in need of medical care after contracting COVID-19, he said in an interview Wednesday.

"We are starting to see what was very unlikely during the first wave: 30 or 40-year-olds without any previous medical history, people in good health," Marquis said.

"They're not seeing a doctor, they're not taking any kind of medication, they don't have diabetes, they don't have high blood pressure  they just get sick."

Marquis's observations echo a warning earlier this week from Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, who said health officials across the country are reporting rising numbers of younger patients in hospitals who soon need intensive care.

"Many of them deteriorate quite quickly and have to be admitted to the ICU," she said.

Dr. Gaston De Serres, an epidemiologist with Quebec's public health institute, said the proportion of Quebecers over 80 in hospital with COVID-19 has been declining since mid-March  largely due to vaccination.

He said it's not just the proportion of hospital patients who are younger that's increasing, the overall number of younger patients is rising as well. De Serres said there were 40 people between 50 and 59 years old who were hospitalized the week of March 7. During the week of March 28, there were 54.

But hospitalizations are still not rising significantly among people under 30. "It's younger," he said of the average age of patients. "It's not young."

Ten people between 20 and 29 years old were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Quebec the week of March 28, up from five two weeks earlier, De Serres said.

"If you have more cases, you will clearly have more hospitalizations, but the proportion of all hospitalized cases will remain small because these younger age groups are very low risk of being hospitalized."

De Serres said he thinks more younger people are getting sick because the coronavirus variants of concern are more transmissible and they lead to more severe illness more frequently.

Mike Benigeri, director of the data bureau at the Institut national d'excellence en sante et services sociaux, a Quebec government health-care research institute, said that over the past two weeks, there has been a 40 per cent increase in the number of people aged 40 to 69 who have been infected with COVID-19.

In a report released Thursday, the institute said the number of new cases among people aged 18 to 30 rose by 47 per cent the week of March 27, when compared to the week before.

According to the report, patients over 70 accounted for 60 per cent of COVID-19 hospitalizations in January, but for the week ending April 2, they accounted for 30 per cent of COVID-19 patients. Patients under 70 also accounted for 70 per cent of intensive care patients for that week.

Marquis said older people and those with other medical conditions may notice a COVID-19 infection sooner. People who are healthier may not seek medical attention until they're very ill, he added.

"They will push the limits of endurance up to the point when they say, 'OK, it's enough, I really need to go to the hospital,'" he said.

Despite the odds of dying being low among younger people, that doesn't mean the consequences among the small group who do get severely ill are any smaller, he said.

"If you're that unlucky guy, well, you're going to die  and you're not going die 1.5 per cent, you're going be fully dead."

Quebec Premier Francois Legault has repeatedly said that with vaccination protecting older people, the province will be able to tolerate more COVID-19 cases.

Dr. Quoc Nguyen, a gerontologist at the Universite de Montreal hospital centre, said while that may be true when it comes to deaths, it may not be the case for ICU capacity.

"When we look at one case in December versus one case in March, it seems that for a single case we have more intensive care than we used to before, but we don't necessarily have more hospitalization," he said.

It's ICU capacity that worries Marquis. His ICU is supposed to have 24 beds, but because staff members have left the health-care system  particularly nurses  it now has a capacity of 14: seven beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients and seven for everyone else.

"I am really afraid that in two weeks we're going to be in the same place as Ontario is right now and I don't think that we can deal with that many patients," he said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has imposed a four-week stay-at-home order after a third wave of COVID-19 started to overwhelm the health system.

"They're going to saturate the ICU availability very, very quickly for a very long time," Marquis said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 8, 2021.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
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New Delhi: Amid the Covid-19 resurgence across the nation, Delhi government has imposed seven hours of night curfew in the city (effective from Tuesday, April 7) till April 30 during which everything will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

People will require a soft or hard copy of the e-pass to travel during curfew hours. The e-pass can be obtained from the Delhi government website -- www.Delhi.Gov.In.

Meanwhile a TOI report said that owing to heavy demand for e-passes people were left disappointed due to technical glitches and logjam. Several people faced difficulties in getting the e-pass as heavy demand overwhelmed the website.

As per a PTI report, the highest number of applications were received in New Delhi district at 13,139, followed by 11,661 in South West, 9,947 in South, 7,673 in West, 6,560 in North West, and 6,065 in East Delhi. New Delhi district also saw the highest number of rejected applications at 6,074, followed by 5,603 in East, 5,580 in West, 4,637 in South and 3,431 in West Delhi. A total of 6,132 applications were accepted and verification was pending for 51 others. The highest pendency of applications was seen in New Delhi at 6,525. As many as 5,093 applications were pending in South and 4,102 each in North West and South West. In Shahdara district, 1,110 applications were received and 1,105 were pending, the data showed. East Delhi district, which received 6,065 applications, had the lowest pendency at 42.

How to check status of e-Pass for Delhi night curfew

If you have already applied for e-pass, click at the following link

https://epassdocs.epass.jantasamvad.org/epass/status/

Now enter the 7 character ePass ID to check status

Enter the check status button

Who can get e-Pass for Delhi night curfew

e-Pass is being issued for those who are engaged in providing essential services, but do not have a Government ID.

This form is being launched only for such people.

Others kindly DO NOT submit this form.

You are required to carry an e-Pass only if your work requires travel in the night (from 10PM - 5AM)

If your work-related travel is limited to day-time, you DO NOT have to apply for this e-Pass
Boulder, Colo., USA: Gale Crater's central sedimentary mound (Aeolis Mons or, informally, Mount Sharp) is a 5.5-km-tall remnant of the infilling and erosion of this ancient impact crater. Given its thickness and age, Mount Sharp preserves one of the best records of early Martian climatic, hydrological, and sedimentary history.

In this paper, published today in Geology, William Rapin and colleagues present the first description of key facies in the sulfate-bearing unit, recently observed in the distance by the rover, and propose a model for changes in depositional environments.

The basal part of this sedimentary sequence is ahead of the Curiosity rover traverse and was recently analyzed with unprecedented resolution by the rover cameras. The telescopic imager of the ChemCam instrument was used here in particular, and its images show sedimentary structures that reveal evolution of environments on Mars during the Hesperian age (3.7-2.9 billion years ago).

Analysis of the structures shows that on top of the ancient lake deposits currently explored by the rover (Murray formation), vast aeolian deposits were formed by a dune field during a prolonged dry climatic episode. Yet, higher up, the stratigraphy reveals the resumption of wetter climatic conditions.

The climate of Mars appears therefore to have fluctuated several times at high order between dry conditions and wet conditions in the Hesperian age, a period during which Mars' environment is thought to have changed globally due to the gradual loss of its atmosphere to space.

###

FEATURED ARTICLE

Alternating wet and dry depositional environments recorded in the stratigraphy of Mount Sharp at Gale crater, Mars

William Rapin et al., william.rapin@irap.omp.eu, Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planetologie, Toulouse, France

URL: https:/ / pubs. geoscienceworld. org/ gsa/ geology/ article/ doi/ 10. 1130/ G48519. 1/ 596028/ Alternating-wet-and-dry-depositional-environments
COLUMBUS, Ohio - It's one thing to decide among two or three snacks available at a friend's house. But what do people do when they're faced with a vending machine offering 36 different options?

A new study using eye-tracking technology suggests that the amount of time people spend looking at individual items may actually help them decide. Findings showed that people tended to choose snacks they spent more time looking at, sometimes even over snacks that they rated more highly.

"We could do pretty well predicting what people would choose based just on their ratings of the snacks available to them. But we could do an even better job by accounting for how much they looked at each item," said Ian Krajbich, co-author of the study and associate professor of psychology and economics at The Ohio State University.

But the amount of time people spend looking at individual items isn't the whole story of how people decide when they have many alternatives, Krajbich said.

"It's a little more complicated than that," he said.

Krajbich conducted the study with lead author Armin Thomas of Technische Universitat Berlin and Felix Molter of Freie Universitat Berlin. The research was published this week in the journal eLife.

The study involved 49 people who said they were fans of snack foods and who agreed to fast for at least four hours before the study - to make sure the task was relevant to them.

On a computer screen, the participants were shown sets of 9, 16, 25 or 36 different snack foods and asked to choose which snack they would like to eat the most at the end of the experiment.

They did this multiple times over the course of the experiment. An eye tracker recorded exactly where they looked while making these choices.

After the experiments, participants rated how much they liked all 80 snacks that were part of the study.

The results showed that people didn't look carefully at all the items before making a choice, or even just look at each item until they found one of their favorites. Instead, they looked around in a way that at first glance looked random, but depended on the physical location of the items as well as how much they were liked.

"There is this peripheral screening process where people learn to avoid even looking directly at the snacks they don't really like," Krajbich said.

"This is not something that we see in studies where participants only have two alternatives. It only occurs when they have lots of options."

One of the leading theories among researchers is that when people are presented with many choices, they scan until they find something that is "good enough" - in this case a snack they will enjoy, regardless of whether it is their favorite.

But that's not what happened, Krajbich said. If this "satisficing" model were true, people would quit looking as soon as they found a snack that was good enough. But results showed that participants chose the last snack they looked at only about 45% of the time.

Instead, what seemed to happen most often is that people would look through the items, often going back and forth between them, until one item stood out from the others - often the snack they looked at the most.

"People made a choice when they concluded the best option was sufficiently better than the next-best option," he said.

Where the snacks appeared in the display - left or right, top or bottom - didn't play much of a role in people's decision-making. Participants often started searching in the top left of the display and then looked left to right, top to bottom - but only to a limited extent.

"Pretty quickly their attention gets drawn to their higher-value options. That influences their search process and their gaze starts to jump around less predictably," he said.

###

Contact: Ian Krajbich, Krajbich.1@osu.edu

Written by Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu
The battle over election integrity came to Minnesota today. The states Republican-controlled Senate passed a modest reform bill that includes provisional ballots. This is how the Senate GOP described the bill:

Improvements to election security will significantly increase integrity and transparency in Minnesota elections. Minnesota is one of only three states in the nation that do not provide provisional ballots on Election Day. These ballots are for individuals who have not registered and would not otherwise be able to register same-day due to lack of identification but still want to vote. Individuals deemed by the courts, Secretary of State, or Department of Public Safety as challenged voters would also be included in the group to use provisional ballots. The voter is allowed to register and cast a ballot but given one week to prove eligibility in order for their vote to be counted. Provisional ballots are a safe, easy measure, broadly accepted across the nation, to ensure each vote is treated equally and counted in a timely manner. A 2018 audit of Minnesotas voter registration highlighted provisional ballots as a simple measure to prevent voter fraud. Perhaps most importantly, provisional ballots still allow eligible voters to register and vote on election day and their ballots receive the same protections as those who were registered ahead of time. Provisional ballots also prevent ineligible individuals, such as those serving a felony sentence, non-U.S. citizens, or those who do not meet residency requirements, from participating in the election and marginalizing their neighbors ballots. I want all Minnesotans to be encouraged to participate each election cycle, regardless of party, Senator Mary Kiffmeyer, Chair of the State Government Committee, said Wednesday Studies show that individuals from each party have concerns about the security of tactics like vouching at the polls because there is almost no way to track that. Commonsense measures like this are key to providing fair, free, and open elections in Minnesota.

So the Republicans dont want Minnesota to be one of only three states that dont have provisional voting. What happened next? Within hours, the DFL party blasted out a hysterical email, in the name of left-wing Governor Tim Walz:

BREAKING: MN Senate GOP passes voter suppression bill on party-line vote Following the lead of Trump, the My Pillow guy, and right-wing Republicans in Georgia, the Minnesota Senate GOP Majority today passed an atrocious voter suppression bill, advancing it to the Minnesota House. This shameful Republican legislation would end same-day voter registration as we know it and force Election Day registrants to cast provisional ballots that could later be challenged. Governor Walz and the House DFL Majority are fighting back, but they need our help RIGHT NOW to prove that Minnesotans are rallying in overwhelming numbers to protect their voting rights. Add your name and tell the MN GOP Senate Majority: Stop attacking our democracy!

Our democracy, in Democratic Party lexicon, means voter fraud. But most people dont buy it: My organizations polling shows that 69 percent of Minnesotans support requiring individuals to show a form of government-issued photo identification when they attempt to vote, which actually would go beyond the current GOP bill. Further, 32 percent of Minnesotans say they are not confident in the integrity of our elections. The Democrats are apparently happy to ignore one-third of the state, but by any normal standard the fact that so many voters are concerned about the legitimacy of our elections is a serious problem.

My guess is that in many states, those numbers would be even higher. But enabling voter fraud has become a central goal of the Democratic Party, and they wont let up until the voters make them stop.
A Florida man who spent 30 years in prison for murder before having his convictions overturned nearly three years ago has finally been released from prison after lawyers argued he was closer to dying from COVID-19 than when he was on death row.

Crosley Green, 63 was convicted of murdering Charles 'Chip' Flynn Jr, who was found by police dying from gunshot wounds in a Florida citrus grove in 1989.

Green was picked out of a lineup by Flynn Jr's ex-girlfriend, Kim Hallock, who had been with him on the night he died.

She claimed a black man had hijacked a truck and kidnapped both of them, before driving to the grove and shooting him, CBS News reported.

Police arrived to find Flynn Jr dying from gunshot wounds, but he refused to tell them what had happened.

Green always maintained his innocence, and his conviction was overturned in July 2018 after an appeals court found prosecutors withheld evidence from defense attorneys at his initial trial.

The state appealed the verdict, and Green had languished in prison while the state's 11th Circuit Court of Appeals decided whether he should have to stand trial again.

Green's law firm Crowell and Moring made a fresh appeal for his release 'before COVID-19 potentially renders his quest to prove his innocence moot'.

Crosley Green, 63, has been released from a Florida prison after spent 30 years in side - 20 on death row

Green was arrested in 1989 for the murder of Charles 'Chip' Flynn, who was found shot dead in an orange grove

Flynn Jr, left, was just 22-years-old when he was murdered. His ex-girlfriend Kim Hallock, right, was with him on the night he died and later picked Green out of a lineup

After contracting tuberculosis and being placed in medical quarantine, his lawyers told the court Green was closer to death than he had been on death row.

On Tuesday, federal judge Roy B. Dalton granted a motion to release Green based on concerns about the pandemic, the length of time Green has remained in prison and his conviction being overturned.

The judge said Green 'poses no danger to public safety' and had been described as a 'model prisoner' by the warden of Calhoun Correctional Institution, where he was incarcerated.

'Additionally, the public has a strong interest in the release of a prisoner whom the Court has found to be incarcerated in violation of the Constitution,' Judge Dalton said.

Green had recently been exposed to tuberculosis, and was receiving treatment for the illness, his lawyers said.

He will be released to live with a brother in Mims, Brevard County, and will be monitored by ankle bracelet.

Green's law firm Crowell and Moring, who succeeded in having their client removed from death row in 2008, welcomed his release.

They said there was no direct evidence tying Green to the murder, and that newly discovered evidence demonstrates he was wrongfully convicted.

Green was a model prisoner at Calhoun Correctional Institution, according to Judge Roy B. Dalton

Green, pictured in the 1980s, has always maintained he was at a party on the night Flynn Jr was murdered

Green spoke to CBS's 48 Hours in 2020 as he awaited developments in his appeal

This gun was presented in evidence in Green's 1990 trial. An all-white jury convicted Green of kidnapping, robbery and murder despite no physical evidence linking him to the crime

CBS News reported that Flynn Jr's former girlfriend Kim Hallock had told police that his truck was hijacked by a black man on the night he was shot.

Law enforcement arrived at an orange grove to find a mortally-wounded Flynn Jr. He refused to tell them how he'd been injured, only that he wanted to go home.

Investigators felt her story 'didn't add up', according to CBS.

Hallock had said that Green drove the truck, but no fingerprints were found anywhere on the vehicle.

Florida Today reported that prosecutors did not provide the defense with statements from responding officers saying they though Hallock was responsible for the fatal shooting.

Witnesses had been pressured to testify and four later recanted their evidence, it emerged during the appeal.

In a segment for the channel's flagship investigative program 48 Hours in 1999, his family said Hallock had been upset that Flynn Jr had a new girlfriend.

It reported that Hallock later picked Green, who had recently been released from prison, out of a lineup.

Hallock has never been a suspect in his death, the program reported.

Green maintained he had been at a party on the night Flynn Jr was killed, spoke to 48 Hours in April 2020 as he waited for his appeal to be finalized.

'It's unbelievable,' he said when asked how he felt about the possibility of release.

'I'm just hopin' and prayin' that day comes soon.'
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Lift Above Poverty Organisation, (LAPO), has called for concerted efforts to ensure proper nutrition for Nigerian children in order to protect their overall well-being.

Mr Honestus Obadiora, Executive Director, LAPO made the call while speaking at the 2021 International School Meals Day (ISMD) organised by LAPO at Bejide Group of Schools in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Obadiora, represented by Mrs Sandra Asowata, Head, LAPO NGO, Western Region, said the ISMD was commemorated annually on the second Thursday in the month of March.

He said its objective was to assemble stakeholders to discuss and raise awareness on the importance of quality nutrition for children, draw attention to the connection between healthy eating, education, and better learning, ensure that children inculcate healthy eating habits, and promote their well-being in schools.

Obadiora said the theme of this year's celebration, Eat for the Health of it, was very apt because childhood malnutrition was one of the major causes of childhood morbidity and mortality in Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria losses about 2,300 under-five-year-olds and 145 women of childbearing age every single day.

"We strongly believe that with the support of all stakeholders, we can achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births and end the preventable death of newborns and children under five years of age to as low as 25 per 1000 live births," he said.

Vanguard News Nigeria
An old friend is back at the Manitoba Museum.

The Bison Diorama, a longtime favourite display of three bison being charged down by a Metis hunter that has been under wraps for much of 2020, will again greet visitors when the Main Street landmark opens Thursday morning.

The return of the eye-catching, 15.5-metre work created by Manitoba artist Clarence Tillenius highlights the completion of a four-year, $20.5-million capital renewal project at the museum.

The museum is also lifting the curtain on a revamped Prairies Gallery, which had been called the Grasslands Gallery before renovations began in 2019.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Kevin Brownlee, curator of archaeology at the Manitoba Museum, welcomed visitors to a revitalized Prairies Gallery Wednesday morning.

It features Manitoba archeology everywhere you look and a far greater emphasis on Indigenous history and stories, the lack of which had been a source of criticism of the museum prior to the renos.

Kevin Brownlee, the museum's curator of archeology who gave the Treaty 1 territorial acknowledgement at a press conference at the museum Wednesday, said the statement "transcended how we did our renewal of the galleries."

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A beaded moss bag from the 1850s or '60s, Denesuline/Metis, which was used by mothers to carry their babies; the Metis infinity symbol is incorporated in a beaded rose.

The new gallery goes back to the basics, telling stories of the Dakota and the Metis and how the land and their lives were transformed when settlers moved in and mechanized agricultural practices took over, says Maureen Matthews, curator of cultural anthropology and part of the nine-member curatorial team for Prairies Gallery.

"It starts with the Prairies, the way they were before contact, and the last picture is a photograph looking down, and it's just all little squares," Matthews says. "It goes from this organic thing to being an endangered ecological space.

"The trajectory is the same for many of the people. Indigenous people suffered terribly when land was taken over for agriculture."

There are displays on Indigenous agriculture, which archeologists discovered took place long before European explorers ventured into what became Western Canada; centuries-old Aboriginal leather garments that are encased in climate-controlled display cases that allow the fragile items to be viewed by the public; and a replica of a one-room schoolhouse that offers a lesson into the history of Indian residential schools in Manitoba.

"It is really a hard, raw history that's being presented, but we also wanted to have the hopeful side of it, and talk about survivors' stories." Amanda McLeod

"It is really a hard, raw history that's being presented, but we also wanted to have the hopeful side of it, and talk about survivors' stories," says Amanda McLeod, an Indigenous curatorial assistant who comes from Sagkeeng First Nation.

"How many times do you ask somebody to relive what they've already shared? So I did go to stories that already had been shared in the process of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission."

Visitors will eventually get to use touchscreens built into students' desks  because of pandemic guidelines, they're currently turned off  that include a constant scroll of the names of those who died at the schools, as well as memories from the likes of artist Jackson Beardy, a former employee at the museum and also one of the Indigenous Group of Seven who had been at the residential school in Portage la Prairie.

About the only things that remain from the Grasslands Gallery are an old Red River cabin and a giant teepee, donated in 2007 by the Hall family from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in western Manitoba. It now has a new lining, concealing speakers that offer a 20-minute audio loop for those who venture inside the traditional Aboriginal shelter.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The lining of the tipi in the Prairies Gallery was made by the Hall family in collaboration with Dr. Maureen Matthews, curator of cultural anthropology at the Manitoba Museum.

"To see that we managed, in spite of all the chaos of renovations, to maintain the connections between our museum and the family means a great deal to us," Matthews says. "You walk in, you hear them talking. It feels like you're hanging out with them, and that their teepee is your teepee."

The chronological look at the Prairies winds up with settlers' stories: the transformation of the Prairies into the world's breadbasket during the early part of the 20th century; the hardship of the Great Depression; the depopulation of rural Manitoba that has turned villages into ghost towns.

The removal of a wall at the gallery's entrance gives greater prominence to Indigenous artist Daphne Odjig and her mural The Creation of a World, which was painted in 1972 for the museum's opening. It now is paired with a new mural, Rhythmic Movement in the Grasslands by Winnipegger Dee Barsy, who is also a member of Skownan First Nation, near Lake Winnipegosis.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Amanda McLeod inside a schoolhouse display in the new gallery.

The museum takes pride in Odjig's mural, having recognized her talent before she became known as one of Canada's top artists and a member of the Indigenous Group of Seven. There are high hopes for Barsy as well.

"Dee Barsy's work was beautiful; we loved it," Matthews says. "We really hope that 50 years from now we'll be able to say 'We knew her back when she was just a student.' "

The museum, including the Prairies Gallery, is open Thursdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (The Science Gallery and the Planetarium remain closed, owing to the pandemic.)

alan.small@freepress.mb.ca Twitter:@AlanDSmall
By MARGIE MASON and ROBIN MCDOWELL, The Associated Press

It was the same every night. A list of names was posted on the Rev. Richard Daschbachs bedroom door. The child at the top of the roster knew it was her turn to share the lower bunk with the elderly priest and another elementary school-aged girl.

Daschbach was idolized in the remote enclave of East Timor where he lived, largely for his role in helping save lives during the tiny Asian nations bloody struggle for independence. So, the girls never spoke about the abuse they suffered. They said they were afraid they would be banished from the shelter the 84-year-old from Pennsylvania established decades ago for abused women, orphans and other destitute children.

The horrors of what they said happened behind closed doors over a period of years is now being played out in court  the first clergy sex case in a country that is more solidly Catholic than any other place aside from the Vatican. The trial was postponed last month due to a coronavirus lockdown, but is expected to resume in May.

At least 15 females have come forward, according to JU,S Juridico Social, a group of human rights lawyers representing them. The Associated Press has spoken to a third of the accusers, each recalling their experiences in vivid detail. They are not being identified because of fears of retribution.

They told AP Daschbach would sit on a chair every night in the middle of a room holding a little girl, surrounded by a ring of children and staff members praying and singing hymns before bed.

The way that you determine who sits on his lap is by the list that hed have on his door, one accuser said. And that meant that you were the little girl that was going to go with him.

Later in his room, they said Daschbach would strip down to white boxer shorts and a T-shirt and then undress the girls, giving them deodorant to put on before fondling them and quietly guiding their hands to touch him. Then, they said, there would often be oral sex. One accuser also alleged she was raped.

He would sometimes ask the children with him on the lower bunk to switch places with one or two others sleeping on the mattress above, they said, adding abuse also occasionally occurred during afternoon naps.

Daschbach faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. He and his lawyer declined to be interviewed by the AP.

The church defrocked Daschbach in 2018, saying he had confessed to sexually abusing children. But he maintains strong political ties and is still treated like a rock star by many, especially at the Topu Honis shelter, which means Guide to Life.

Former President Xanana Gusmao attended the trials opening in February. A month earlier, the independence hero visited Daschbach on his birthday, hand-feeding cake to the former priest and lifting a glass of wine to his lips, as cameras flashed.

Daschbachs lawyers have not made their legal strategy public, and court proceedings are closed. But documents seen by AP indicate that they will argue he is the victim of a conspiracy.

In January, however, the former priest appeared to be preparing his supporters for the worst. He told local reporters that his message to the children who remain in the orphanage is this: Be patient. We wont meet again because I will be detained for life, but I will still remember you and you have to be happy there.

This 2007 photo provided to The Associated Press shows now-defrocked Catholic priest Richard Daschbach's private chapel at the Topu Honis children's shelter in Kutet, East Timor. (AP Photo)AP

Pittsburgh roots

The son of a Pittsburgh steelworker, Daschbach began his religious studies as a teenager. In 1964, he was ordained by Divine Word Missionaries in Chicago, the Catholic churchs largest missionary congregation, with around 6,000 priests and brothers serving in more than 80 countries.

When he arrived in Southeast Asia a few years later, the nation now known as East Timor was under Portuguese control. That colonial rule would last until 1975 when the country was almost immediately invaded by neighboring Indonesia. A bloody, 24-year independence struggle followed, leaving as many as 200,000 people dead  a quarter of the population  through fighting, famine, and starvation.

Daschbach started the shelter in 1992 and earned his reputation during the conflict. He often told visitors about defending the women and children living in Topu Honis and surrounding areas, sheltering them in a cave, and leading a ragtag group armed with spears to stave off attackers.

Stories about the charismatic priest who joined in traditional dances with bells on his ankles, spoke local languages fluently, and gave mass where he blended Catholicism with the areas customs and animist beliefs, spread far beyond East Timor.

Foreign donors, tourists, and aid workers who made the three-hour hike up the steep, narrow jungle path to Kutet village were met by the grandfatherly priest who was often surrounded by laughing kids playing hopscotch in matching uniforms. In many photographs of Topu Honis taken by visitors and posted online, young girls are seen by Daschbachs side, on his lap, or with his arm pulling their tiny shoulders against him.

Some visitors stayed on the mountain for weeks or even months, so impressed by what they saw that they sent tens of thousands of dollars to support the shelter or pay for college scholarships.

Jan McColl, who helped fund Topu Honis, said she was devastated after she and another longtime Australian donor, Tony Hamilton, flew to East Timor and asked Daschbach point-blank whether he was a pedophile.

He said, Yes. Thats who I am. And always have been, said McColl, adding he responded calmly while continuing to eat his lunch. So, we just got up and left the table. We were just absolutely distraught.

Hamilton said the exchange was jarring and surreal, and he has struggled to make sense of it while continuing to support some of the children. He and McColl have given affidavits.

I think in some crazy way, he recognizes that what he has done is a crime, he said. But he reconciles it somehow with the good that hes done.

In this 2017 photo provided to The Associated Press, a young girl clips the toenails of now-defrocked Catholic priest Richard Daschbach at the Topu Honis children's shelter in Kutet, East Timor. (AP Photo)AP

Supporters remain

The global clergy sex abuse scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church for more than two decades, has led to billions of dollars in settlements and the establishment of new programs aimed at preventing further abuse. But experts have seen a growing number of victims coming forward in developing nations like Haiti, Kenya, and Bangladesh, where priests and missionaries deployed by religious orders often operate with little or no oversight. Even if theyre caught, they rarely face consequences. For some, the idea of ever jailing a priest, no matter the crime, seems blasphemous.

Many supporters in East Timor insist the accusations against Daschbach are lies and part of a bigger plot to take over the shelter and other property, including a beachside boarding school. After the trials opening, dozens of mostly women and children waited outside the courtroom, wailing as the ex-priest waved goodbye to them from a vehicle.

Law enforcers must see which one is better: Omitting one person or eliminating the future of many? said local resident Antonio Molo, one of the doubters, who worries that hundreds of children may lose a chance at a better life if Daschbach is gone.

Though the Vatican acted swiftly to investigate and remove the priest when accusations were leveled three years ago, the local archdiocese was more accommodating.

It agreed to lodge him under informal house arrest at a church residence in the town of Maliana. But Daschbach still moved around with relative ease, including taking an overnight ferry to Oecusse enclave where he returned to the childrens home, infuriating accusers and their families. Despite being stripped of his priestly duties, local media reported he continued to perform mass while there.

Monsignor Marco Sprizzi, Vatican ambassador to East Timor, stressed that Daschbach should not be allowed to be among children, but said theres little the church can do now.

Once hes defrocked ... hes no more a priest. He is no part of the clergy, he said. And, of course, that house for children was not  since the beginning  was not belonging to his religious congregation. He did it by himself, and it was in his own name.

Zach Hiner, executive director of the U.S.-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, said the church had a moral responsibility to do more and should have recalled Daschbach to the U.S. before laicizing him.

We fear for the vulnerable children that he may still have access to, he said.

But Daschbach still has strong support within factions of the church, locally.

Late last year, the Archbishop of Dili sacked the president of the churchs Justice and Peace Commission and publicly apologized following the publication of a report naming the victims and implying prosecutors, police, and NGOs investigating the allegations had sexually abused the accusers, themselves, by carrying out forensic exams. The report also alleged human trafficking, referring to seven accusers who had been moved to a safe house.

This 2010 photo provided to The Associated Press shows children sifting rice at the Topu Honis children's shelter in Kutet, East Timor. (AP Photo)AP

Former donors and the accusers were outraged, saying the report put the lives of those who came forward in danger. Threats of violence have been made against anyone who speaks out against Daschbach.

The ex-priest faces 14 counts of child sexual abuse, one count of child pornography and one count of domestic violence. He also is wanted in the U.S. for three counts of wire fraud linked to one of his California-based donors, which accused him in a court case of violating an agreement to protect those under his care. An Interpol Red Notice has been issued internationally for his arrest.

The accusers who spoke to AP described systematic abuse and inappropriate behavior, including Daschbach regularly overseeing the girls showers. They said all of the children removed their clothes and stood together around a large concrete water basin outside, with the nude priest going from girl to girl shampooing their hair and splashing water on their private parts. They said he also took photos of them naked as they played in the rain, and that some girls were told he didnt want them to wear underwear.

His accusers said they were filled with hope when they arrived at the shelter. For the first time, they, along with many others, had clean clothes, time to play, and an emphasis on school. Most importantly, they had food. The meals were basic but steady.

The adoration and respect for the white American missionary was so commanding, the accusers said they did whatever he wanted without question.

One recalled first arriving at the shelter still distraught after her father had died and said the priest raped her that same night. She said he continued to do so frequently the entire time she was there.

She said he would lock the door and pull the curtains, telling her they had to be careful and that no one could know. She said he typically chose young children, but for those like her who were nearing puberty, Daschbach exercised caution.

He would pull out and say, I have to stop, otherwise youll be pregnant, she said.

Now, accusers say they struggle to process how someone who appeared so kind and selfless could ask them to do things that felt so wrong.

When I was getting abused, I was like, Is this sort of like the payment? one accuser said. Thats what I was computing in my head  this must be the price that I have to pay to be a part of this. You know, like those shiny little dresses that these girls are wearing to church. Thats not free. This is the price tag.

Associated Press reporter Raimundos Oki contributed to this report from East Timor.
Lauren Sanchez's ex-husband is claimed to be the source who leaked her affair with billionaire Jeff Bezos, according to court documents.

Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell was still married to TV host Sanchez when the National Enquirer broke the news two years ago that she and Amazon boss Bezos were having an affair.

At the time, the tabloid and its parent company AMI claimed Sanchez's brother Michael Sanchez was the one who leaked private texts and racy photos of the affair, ending Bezos's 25-year marriage to wife MacKenzie Scott.

But now the National Enquirer reporter who reported on the story claims in court documents that it was Sanchez's jilted husband Whitesell who discovered the affair and turned to the media because he wanted out of the marriage, The Daily Beast reports.

Lauren Sanchez's ex-husband Patrick Whitesell reportedly outed her affair with billionaire Jeff Bezos to tabloid the National Enquirer

Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell was still married to TV host Sanchez when The National Enquirer covered the news two years ago that she and Amazon boss Bezos were having an affair

The journalist who covered the story in 2019 is Nikolaos Tzima Hatziefstathiou, a reporter with a checkered past of his own.

The reporter who covered the story Nikolaos Tzima Hatziefstathiou claims that Whitesell first brought the affair to the tabloid's attention

Hatziefstathiou claims that Whitesell first brought the affair to the tabloid's attention and was his main source for the story.

He makes these claims in a defamation lawsuit brought by Michael Sanchez against AMI.

Michael claims that the tabloid lied when it claimed he was their main source in outing the affair.

The filing obtained by The Daily Beast claims, 'Mr. Whitesell discovered the Affair, and by serving as AMA's (then the name of the National Enquirer's parent company) secret, undisclosed source, literally turned the divorce into a ''get out of divorce free'' card via a pre-divorce, in which he appears blameless and scandal-free, just months before WME's planned initial public offering.'

Whitesell is a top Hollywood agent who reps A-listers Matt Damon, Gal Gadot, Matt Damon, Keanu Reeves, Ben Affleck and more at William Morris Endeavors. He and Sanchez were married for 13 years before the affair ended their marriage.

A spokesman for Whitesell said in a statement to the Daily Beast: 'This is categorically untrue, and unfortunately not the first time we have seen this desperate attempt from Michael Sanchez to perpetuate this odd and tiresome circus.

'The fact that Patrick has been implicated in this bizarre series of lawsuits and incriminations is a direct result of the character of those involved and is completely disconnected from reality. Any suggestion to the contrary is malicious and libelous.'

The tabloid and its parent company AMI claimed Sanchez's brother Michael Sanchez was the one who leaked private texts and racy photos of the affair. The siblings are pictured together

Whitesell is a top Hollywood agent who reps A-listers Matt Damon, Gal Gadot, Matt Damon, Keanu Reeves, Ben Affleck and more at William Morris Endeavors. He and Sanchez were married for 13 years before the affair ended their marriage and are pictured with Bezos in 2016

While Hatziefstathion claims in the filing that he has 'ten terabytes' of data filled with documents about AMI's coverage of the affair, none were included in the filing beyond his statement.

Hatziefstathiou has a questionable past of his own after being charged in 2019 with tampering with public records and forgery, among other charges.

Prosecutors accused him of posing as a Good Morning America producer and a New York Times reporter to obtain government documents.

He also reportedly sent dozens of prostitutes to his neighbor's home and then reported a disturbance to the police.

The question of who leaked the affair has been an ongoing international saga, with some reports pointing to the Saudi Royal Family.

Bezos himself has long pushed the suggestion that Saudi Arabia was involved as the Enquirer's source. Bezos' investigators, endorsed by U.N. officials, indicated that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia had sent malicious code in a WhatsApp message that compromised the cell phone of Bezos, the CEO of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post.

But last year federal prosecutors in Manhattan revealed they had evidence Sanchez provided intimate text messages to her sibling Michael, who sold them to the National Enquirer.

Prosecutors obtained a May 10, 2018 text message sent from the phone of Sanchez to her brother Michael containing her intimates texts with Bezos. The Wall Street Journal reviewed the text messages as well as a $200,000 payment Michael received from the Enquirer under an October 2018 contract.

Prosecutors obtained the documents in the ongoing investigation into Bezos' allegation that the Enquirer tried to extort him by threatening to publish his nude pictures, as well as whether his phone was hacked.

Whitesell has meanwhile moved on from Sanchez with actress Pia Miller - pictured together

Miller announced her engagement to Whitesell in November and the 37-year-old Australian actress has now convinced fans she's secretly married the multimillionaire agent, 56

Whitesell has meanwhile moved on from Sanchez with actress Pia Miller.

Miller announced her engagement to Whitesell in November and the 37-year-old Australian actress has now convinced fans she's secretly married the multimillionaire agent, 56.

She posted a picture on Instagram on Wednesday in which Patrick appeared to be wearing a wedding ring.



Last month Bezos was awarded a small portion of the $1.7 million in legal fees he wanted from Michael and got $218,385.

A judge ruled that the number of hours billed and the use of eight lawyers used was 'not reasonable.'

In November Judge John P. Doyle of the Los Angeles County Superior Court dismissed the case, saying Sanchez's allegations were relying heavily on hearsay.

Bezos said in a filing that Michael betrayed his sister, and him, by selling their private communications to the tabloid for $200,000.

Bezos accused him of then doubling down by filing a lawsuit, intended to harass Bezos into a settlement 'by threatening discovery and public disclosure of private matters.'
(Corrects quote in paragraph 10 and number of MONUSCO personnel in paragraph 11)

By Erikas Mwisi Kambale

BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Congolese police fired live rounds on Thursday to disperse protesters demanding the departure of the United Nations peacekeeping mission from the city of Beni, its mayor and witnesses said.

Hundreds of youths have been protesting in several cities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo since Monday, angry that the U.N. mission, known as MONUSCO, has failed to prevent a wave of civilian killings by armed groups.

So far this year around 330 people have been killed in the violence, an unresolved legacy of a civil war that officially ended in 2003, according to the Kivu Security Tracker, which maps unrest in the region.

"Young people have barricaded almost all the roads to ask the U.N. mission to leave this region plagued by massacre," Beni mayor Buhindo Bakwanamaha Modeste told Reuters.

"This morning the police are clearing the blocked roads, that's why there is shooting all over the city," he said.

A local police spokesman confirmed that they were clearing blocked roads and "re-establishing order".

Heavy gunfire started around 7:00 am local time (0500 GMT) and was continuing three hours later, a Reuters witness said.

At least one protester was seriously injured by gunshot, said Clovis Mutsova, a member of youth activist group LUCHA.

"We only demand two things: for MONUSCO to leave and for the Congolese government to take its responsibility so that we can have peace," Mutsova said.

Responding to the protests, MONUSCO spokesman Mathias Gillman said on Wednesday: "We are here at the invitation of the government. It is not us who decides that we stay."

MONUSCO took over from an earlier peacekeeping mission in 2010 and has more than 12,000 troops deployed.

Congo's mineral-rich east has been plagued by violence for decades but killings have more than doubled in the last year, the United Nations says.

(Reporting by Erikas Mwisi Kambale; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Syracuse, N.Y.  New York threw the gates wide open Tuesday for all adults in New York to get Covid-19 vaccines, but tens of thousands of local appointments remain unused.

The state-run site at the fairgrounds still has more than 1,000 slots a day unfilled from April 27 to May 31, the last day for which appointments are available. Onondaga Countys vaccine website is taking new appointments. You can sign up for vaccines in the next week at Walgreens and Wegmans, among other sites.

As supply for the vaccine begins to outstrip demand, public health experts say we need to change our approach: Rather than bringing people to the vaccine, we need to bring the vaccine to the people.

Instead of just opening it up, we need to take a more active vaccine strategy, said Brittany Kmush, a public health professor and infectious disease epidemiologist at Syracuse University. We need to get to the people who have transportation problems, who dont know they can they get an appointment, who have to work or have childcare issues.

The mass vaccination sites like the fairgrounds have given us a jump start on vaccinating the public, experts say, but now were past that first wave of people who were motivated and able to get the vaccines. Those mass sites wont get us to the 60% to 85% needed for herd immunity, when the virus has a hard time spreading because so many people are immune.

We could have the fairgrounds open for the rest of the century, but if you dont have a car youre not going there, said Brian Leydet, an epidemiologist and infectious disease professor at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. If you park a bus right in their neighborhood, they could walk over while the pasta is on the stove, get their shot, and go back and finish dinner.

What needs to happen now, they say, is a census-tract-by-census-tract offensive that targets areas with low vaccination rates and brings the syringes to those neighborhoods. Its labor-intensive, but it works, said David Larsen, an SU public health professor and epidemiologist. It means digging through the data to find neighborhoods with low vaccination rates, flooding them with information and encouragement, and deploying mobile vans and knocking on doors.

Thats how polio vaccines are administered in the few countries where the disease still lingers, he said, and how residents in malaria zones are encouraged to use insecticides to combat mosquitoes.

This becomes what I would consider the hard work of public health, to get the vaccine into the people, Larsen said. The best way to do that is to take it to the people.

Its a race against time as new coronavirus cases continue to climb in New York state and the more contagious variants, particularly the one first discovered in the United Kingdom, become the dominant strain.

New York state is reaching out to SUNY campuses, offering all students the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccines before summer break. The state has also set up pop-up clinics in New York City ZIP codes with low vaccination rates.

Onondaga County, where about 40% of the population has gotten their shots, is taking syringes to the streets. The county has conducted pop-up clinics at churches and public housing. McMahon is diverting some of the countys vaccine supply to SU and joining with Le Moyne College to vaccinate students on campus. (More than three-quarters of new cases are in young people, McMahon said.)

Hes also planning to convert the countys mobile Covid-19 testing lab into a mobile Covid-19 vaccination site. And the county plans to set up vaccination clinics in high schools as early as this week, now that anybody 16 years and up can get the Pfizer vaccine. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have been approved for 18 and up.

Persuading people to get the vaccine will be another public health hurdle. About 20% of American adults say they definitely or probably wont get the vaccine, according to an analysis of national polls by the polling website FiveThirtyEight.

Polls show slightly greater vaccine hesitancy among Blacks and evangelicals, among other groups. The demographic group most likely to say they wouldnt be vaccinated, however, was Republican men. Nearly half of them said they dont plan to get the vaccine, according to a Marist-NPR poll conducted in mid-March, compared to 6% of Democratic men.

Carrying vaccines door to door and trying to persuade the vaccine-hesitant along the way is a time-consuming process compared to running the efficient assembly line of a mass vaccination clinic. Its also complicated by the need to monitor anyone who gets a shot for 15 minutes to make sure they dont have a severe allergic reaction. But its the one that will ultimately help us control the pandemic, Larsen said.

The key to getting more vaccines into arms is to reduce obstacles and make the vaccines convenient for everybody, Leydet said.

You have students who say, I dont want to go to the fairgrounds or the OnCenter, but Ill go to the (campus) health center to get a shot, he said. Ease of access is important.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

As more Covid-19 vaccines roll out in CNY, hesitancy and refusal could loom large

Ryan McMahon sends 1,500 Covid vaccine doses to SU. Next up, high schools

Nearly half of new US Covid-19 infections are in just 5 states, including NY
Leave no Tigrayan: In Ethiopia, an ethnicity is erased

The atrocities have been seared into the skin and the minds of Tigrayans, who take shelter by the thousands within sight of the homeland they fled in northern Ethiopia.

They arrive in heat that soars above 38 C (100 F), carrying the pain of gunshot wounds, torn vaginas, welts on beaten backs. Less visible are the horrors that jolt them awake at night: Memories of dozens of bodies strewn on riverbanks. Fighters raping a woman one by one for speaking her own language. A child, weakened by hunger, left behind.

Now, for the first time, they also bring proof of an official attempt at what is being called ethnic cleansing in the form of a new identity card that eliminates all traces of Tigray, as confirmed to The Associated Press by nine refugees from different communities. Written in a language not their own, issued by authorities from another ethnic group, the ID cards are the latest evidence of a systematic drive by the Ethiopian government and its allies to destroy the Tigrayan people.

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The Amhara authorities now in charge of the nearby city of Humera took Seid Mussa Omars original ID card displaying his Tigrayan identity and burned it, the soft-spoken nurse said. On his new card examined by the AP, issued in January with the Amharic language, an Amhara stamp and a border of tiny hearts, even the word Tigray had vanished.

I kept it to show the world, Seid said. He added that only 10 Tigrayans remained of the roughly 400 who worked at the hospital where he had been employed, the rest killed or fleeing. This is genocide . Their aim is to erase Tigray.
UWs Shepard Symposium on Social Justice Outlines Schedule

Healing Communities is the theme for the annual Shepard Symposium on Social Justice at the University of Wyoming.

A number of sessions and speakers are scheduled daily for the annual event, set Tuesday through Saturday, April 13-17. Events will be offered virtually. Registration is free, but organizers urge participants to sign up for online events to receive links to take part in live events or to access a recording later.

To register, go to www.shepardsymposium.weebly.com/registration.html.

The Shepard Symposium has grown from a local grassroots event to an internationally recognized conference. Originally named The Symposium for the Eradication of Social Inequality by former UW College of Education faculty members Omowale Akintunde and Margaret Cooney 25 years ago, the annual event was renamed to honor the work of the Shepard family and the memory of their son, Matthew Shepard, a UW student who was murdered in 1998.

Earlier this week, as part of the symposium, UWs Good Mule Project and Multicultural Affairs hosted speaker Pattie Gonia, an advocate for the environment; for inclusivity and diversity in the outdoors; and for the LGBTQ+ community.

Among the highlights of this years Shepard Symposium are:

-- Wednesday, April 14, 5 p.m.: Multicultural Affairs Speaker Series Presents: Continental Divide with Author Alex Myers. His novel Continental Divide tells the story of a transgender Harvard student who is cut off from his family, journeys west and finds adventure, danger and romance in Wyoming.

The novel explores gender and masculinity in the West, and the experience of navigating across geographies and cultures as a transgender person. The book is based, in part, on Myers own real-life experience in Wyoming, where he lived and worked for a summer outside Cody in 1997.

-- Thursday, April 15, 12:15 p.m.: Speaker Rinku Sen is the former president and executive director of Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation, and the publisher of Colorlines, the award-winning news site. Race Forward brings systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity through research, media and practice.

-- Friday, April 16, 1 p.m.: Speakers Chip Brantley and Andrew Beck Grace are co-creators and co-hosts of White Lies, an investigative podcast from National Public Radio that explores the 1965 unsolved murder of James Reeb in Selma, Ala.

Brantley is the author of the book, The Perfect Fruit, and his work has appeared in Slate, Gourmet, the Oxford American, The New York Times and The Washington Post. He was the creative producer of Whitman, Alabama, an experimental documentary that was a 2018 Emmy nominee in the New Approaches in Documentary category.

Graces nonfiction film work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and on PBS Independent Lens. His interactive documentary, After the Storm, has been exhibited internationally and was nominated for an Emmy Award in the New Approaches in Documentary category.

Other workshops, wellness programs, music and awards will be presented during the event. For a full list of events, visit the Shepard Symposium on Social Justice website at www.shepardsymposium.weebly.com/.
A breakthrough that enables practical semiconductor spintronics

It may be possible in the future to use information technology where electron spin is used to store, process and transfer information in quantum computers. It has long been the goal of scientists to be able to use spin-based quantum information technology at room temperature. A team of researchers from Sweden, Finland and Japan have now constructed a semiconductor component in which information can be efficiently exchanged between electron spin and light at room temperature and above. The new method is described in an article published in Nature Photonics.

It is well known that electrons have a negative charge, and they also have another property, namely spin. The latter may prove instrumental in the advance of information technology. To put it simply, we can imagine the electron rotating around its own axis, similar to the way in which the Earth rotates around its own axis. Spintronics - a promising candidate for future information technology - uses this quantum property of electrons to store, process and transfer information. This brings important benefits, such as higher speed and lower energy consumption than traditional electronics.

Developments in spintronics in recent decades have been based on the use of metals, and these have been highly significant for the possibility of storing large amounts of data. There would, however, be several advantages in using spintronics based on semiconductors, in the same way that semiconductors form the backbone of today's electronics and photonics.

"One important advantage of spintronics based on semiconductors is the possibility to convert the information that is represented by the spin state and transfer it to light, and vice versa. The technology is known as opto-spintronics. It would make it possible to integrate information processing and storage based on spin with information transfer through light", says Weimin Chen, professor at Linkoping University, Sweden, who led the project.

As electronics used today operates at room temperature and above, a serious problem in the development of spintronics has been that electrons tend to switch and randomise their direction of spin when the temperature rises. This means that the information coded by the electron spin states is lost or becomes ambiguous. It is thus a necessary condition for the development of semiconductor-based spintronics that we can orient essentially all electrons to the same spin state and maintain it, in other words that they are spin polarised, at room temperature and higher temperatures. Previous research has achieved a highest electron spin polarisation of around 60% at room temperature, untenable for large-scale practical applications.

Researchers at Linkoping University, Tampere University and Hokkaido University have now achieved an electron spin polarisation at room temperature greater than 90%. The spin polarisation remains at a high level even up to 110 C. This technological advance, which is described in Nature Photonics, is based on an opto-spintronic nanostructure that the researchers have constructed from layers of different semiconductor materials. It contains nanoscale regions called quantum dots. Each quantum dot is around 10,000 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair. When a spin polarised electron impinges on a quantum dot, it emits light - to be more precise, it emits a single photon with a state (angular momentum) determined by the electron spin. Thus, quantum dots are considered to have a great potential as an interface to transfer information between electron spin and light, as will be necessary in spintronics, photonics and quantum computing. In the newly published study, the scientists show that it is possible to use an adjacent spin filter to control the electron spin of the quantum dots remotely, and at room temperature.

The quantum dots are made from indium arsenide (InAs), and a layer of gallium nitrogen arsenide (GaNAs) functions as a filter of spin. A layer of gallium arsenide (GaAs) is sandwiched between them. Similar structures are already being used in optoelectronic technology based on gallium arsenide, and the researchers believe that this can make it easier to integrate spintronics with existing electronic and photonic components.

"We are very happy that our long-term efforts to increase the expertise required to fabricate highly-controlled N-containing semiconductors is defining a new frontier in spintronics. So far, we have had a good level of success when using such materials for optoelectronics devices, most recently in high-efficiency solar-cells and laser diodes. Now we are looking forward to continuing this work and to unite photonics and spintronics, using a common platform for light-based and spin-based quantum technology", says Professor Mircea Guina, head of the research team at Tampere University in Finland.

###

Financial support for the research has been granted by, among other bodies, the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), the Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University, the European Research Council ERC, the Academy of Finland, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

The article: "Room-temperature electron spin polarization exceeding 90% in an opto-spintronic semiconductor nanostructure via remote spin filtering", Yuqing Huang, Ville Polojarvi, Satoshi Hiura, Pontus Hojer, Arto Aho, Riku Isoaho, Teemu Hakkarainen, Mircea Guina, Shino Sato, Junichi Takayama, Akihiro Murayama, Irina A. Buyanova and Weimin M. Chen, (2021), Nature Photonics, published online on 8 April 2021, doi: 10.1038/s41566-021-00786-y

https:/ / dx. doi. org/ 10. 1038/ s41566-021-00786-y

This story has been published on: 2021-04-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
WICHITA, Kan., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Koch Agronomic Services, LLC (Koch) reached agreement with Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP) to purchase Compass Minerals' North American micronutrient assets, the global intellectual property rights, with trademarks and patents, and certain other assets associated with the Wolf Trax, Rocket Seeds and Hydro Bullet product platforms.

Through the acquisition of the micronutrient assets, Koch, a global leader in nitrogen management additives, will expand its ability to help growers across the world improve efficiency, utilization, and uptake of nutrients beyond nitrogen.

"At Koch, we strive to provide solutions to make every ton of nutrient applied more efficient than it is today, and this agreement allows us to offer a platform of innovative, efficiency solutions complementary to our existing products," said Steve Coulter, senior vice president of Koch. "We are excited to enter the micronutrient business with three product lines that fit our customers' desire to improve distribution of micronutrients across the field in conjunction with dry fertilizers, as seed treatments and as foliar applications."

Koch currently markets and distributes a proven portfolio of enhanced efficiency fertilizer products in more than 55 countries and looks forward to continuing the growth and innovation of the micronutrient product portfolio.

"Compass Minerals has been proud to grow the Wolf Trax product line and introduce both Rocket Seeds and Hydro Bullet into the specialty plant nutrition market," said Kevin S. Crutchfield, Compass Minerals president and CEO. "We're excited to see how these three innovative micronutrient product lines can continue to develop in the hands of a strong sector leader like Koch."

The transaction is expected to close in April 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.

About Koch Agronomic Services, LLC

Koch Agronomic Services, LLC and its affiliates produce and market a proven and expanding global portfolio of plant performance technologies for agriculture producers and turf and ornamental professionals. With a commitment to creating real, sustainable, long-term value for customers and society, Koch Agronomic Services, LLC focuses on developing customer-driven solutions to maximize plant performance and minimize environmental impact. Koch Agronomic Services, LLC is a subsidiary of Koch Ag & Energy Solutions, LLC. www.kochagronomicservices.com

About Compass Minerals

Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP) is a leading provider of essential minerals focused on safely delivering where and when it matters to help solve nature's challenges for customers and communities. Its salt products help keep roadways safe during winter weather and are used in numerous other consumer, industrial and agricultural applications. And its plant nutrition business manufactures an innovative and diverse portfolio of products that improve the quality and yield of crops, while supporting sustainable agriculture. Additionally, its specialty chemical business serves the water treatment industry and other industrial processes. The company operates 21 production and packaging facilities with more than 3,000 personnel throughout the U.S., Canada, Brazil and the U.K. Visit compassminerals.com for more information about the company and its products.

SOURCE Koch Agronomic Services

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According to market research firm Enlightent, the Show scored the top position among online domestic variety shows during the first quarter. It was also ranked number one on other leading third-party lists including Endata, Guduodata Popularity Index, Vlinkage Play Index, Piaofang, Baidu Index, and Wechat Index.

As the Show is aired, the trainees and mentors' stage performances and fashion have been heatedly discussed on many Chinese social media platforms. On Weibo, topics related to the Show have been among the top 992 most-searched terms and the hashtag #YouthWithYou has reaped over 64.31 billion views. Whenever a new episode goes live, the trainees' stage performances will instantly become topics of discussion. On other Chinese video platforms such as Douyin, Kuaishou, Douban, Zhihu, and QQ Music, each episode has ranked in the 10 most-searched terms.

The Show's success spreads abroad, driving increased views and engagement

Following the Show's instant success in China, it has quickly amassed a growing legion of fans abroad. The Show has become the most popular variety show among users from the Philippines, Vietnam, North America, Singapore, the Middle East, South Korea, and other countries and regions. On several occasions, the Show has been the top trending topic on Twitter worldwide, with hashtags such as #YWY3WithLisa and #MentorLisalsBack ranking in the top three of Twitter's global trending lists.

The dance mentor LISA's performances and comments on trainees', stage performances and fashion sense, are topics that have garnered much attention at social networking platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Along with the Show's massive global success, there has been a significant rise in engagement across all key metrics with increased viewership, audience voting, and merchandise purchases.

International audiences are able to watch Youth With You in 10 subtitled languages, including traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, English, Thai, and Bahasa Melayu. Without the language barrier, international audiences have been introduced to Chinese youth idols who have a strong sense of their own styles and personalities.

As the Show proceeds under new rules designed for season three, the trainees are garnering numerous overseas fans for their distinctive personalities and stage performances. On iQIYI International, the viewing time is the longest of users from the Philippines, Vietnam, North America, and Singapore. In the Middle East, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, the program ranks in the top three in terms of popularity. The Show has also become a much-discussed topic in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, USA, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Cuba, making it onto their trending lists.

Since this season's theme song "We Rock" was released, many YouTube bloggers have re-created the difficult dance moves and performance of the trainees, further boosting the popularity of the Show. Currently, Youth with You's official YouTube channel has many videos that have garnered over five million views including "Dance Mentor LISA Show Time: 'Lover' & 'Intentions'" and "Clip: LISA's Online Tutoring Of "Hero Kick It". On TikTok, a series of derivative videos have been viewed over 30 million times and more than 350,000 users have liked the video "I finally get LISA's number".

Since the release of its first episode, season three of the Show has continued to surprise viewers with a range of features including its decision to forgo accompaniment music, its new theme song and innovative stage performances. At the same time, Youth With You is injecting new momentum into China's burgeoning idol industry, transforming it into a global sensation. As the Show progresses, the trainees will continue to reveal their personalities and talent, enriching China's idol industry and exporting Chinese culture and values to an increasing number of viewers worldwide.

SOURCE iQIYI
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The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has said that the federal government will leave no stone unturned in fishing out the criminals who attacked law enforcement agencies in Imo State last Monday, while also promising to further secure custodial facilities across the country.

Mr Aregbesola stated this when he inspected the Nigeria Correctional Service, NCoS, Owerri Custodial Centre which was attacked by unknown gunmen who forcefully released a total of 1,844 inmates in custody.

The federal government will react appropriately by going after these criminals and make them face the full wrath of the law. We will leave no stone unturned in fishing them out.

Make no mistake, they will be hunted to the ends of the earth. They can only run, but they cannot hide. We shall bring them to justice, or in the alternative, take justice to them, Ogbeni Aregbesola fumed.

The minister was accompanied to the centre by the Acting Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, John Mrabure, and other heads of security agencies in the state. The minister who also visited the command headquarters of the Service stated that additional security will be provided for all custodial centres from now on, for the safety of personnel and inmates and security of the facilities.

In his short statement titled, the Criminals will be brought to justice, the minister commiserated with the government and people of Imo State and Imo State Commissioner of Police on the sad and unfortunate developments. Recall the gunmen had also sacked the Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, which is a stone throw distance from the NCoS headquarters during the early morning attack.

During the #ENDSARS riots of late last year, there were coordinated attacks on custodial centres in Edo State, while an unsuccessful attempt was made in Lagos. Thus, a pattern of syndicated attacks on custodial centres is emerging.

From the preliminary report on the attacks, it is the worst of such ever witnessed in living memory. Unprovoked attacks on the institutions of state, especially the law enforcement institutions are nothing short of a declaration of war on the Nigerian state and her people.

Attacking police headquarters could only have been intentioned to cripple the Nigerian state and stop it from its duty of protecting the lives and property of the people. While the attack on a custodial centre and forcible freeing of inmates was meant to imperil law abiding citizen with possible harm that could come to them from hardened criminals on the loose.

These acts therefore are capable of unleashing anarchy and gravely imperil the lives and property of the Nigerian people. The perpetrators are without doubt the enemies of the people and should be treated as such.

The minister advised all escaped inmates to voluntarily return to custody. Those who heed this call will be given amnesty on the possible consequences of escaping from lawful custody.

He also urged all correctional officers to be vigilant and take the security of the facilities and the inmates seriously, more than ever before while assuring the people of Imo State, and indeed all Nigerians, of the commitment of the federal government to the protection of lives and property and maintenance of law and order.

Mr Aregbesola also called on citizens with useful information on the perpetrators of the dastardly acts and escaped inmates to inform the nearest law enforcement agency post nearest them.
[April 08, 2021] Sycamore Tree Capital Partners Signs United Nations Backed Principles for Responsible Investment

Sycamore Tree Capital Partners (Sycamore Tree),an asset manager with private and alternative credit investment expertise, today announced that it is a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), an investor initiative focused on responsible investment. With support from the United Nations, PRI is an independent network encouraging investors to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in their investment approach. "At Sycamore Tree, we believe that incorporating non-financial factors, including responsible investing and ESG principles, are important in making both good business and investment decisions," said Mark Okada, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sycamore Tree. "As an emerging manager and a minority-owned company, we are building systems and processes to identify, monitor and implement ESG investing principles from the earliest stage of our firm's development," adds Trey Parker, co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Sycamore Tree. Fiona Reynolds, CEO of PRI said, "We are honored to have Sycamore Tree Capital Partners become a PRI Signatory. Through their commitment to responsible investing, Sycamore Tree will strengthen investors' positive impact on the global financial system." To earn more about Sycamore Tree's investment approach, including its philosophy on socially responsible investing, see here.



About Sycamore Tree Capital Partners Sycamore Tree Capital Partners is a value-oriented, durable-alpha investment firm specializing in alternative credit. Founded by industry veterans Mark Okada, Trey Parker and Jack Yang, the firm has deep experience across economic and market cycles. Headquartered in Dallas, TX with an office in New York City, the firm's investment expertise includes bank loans, high yield bonds, structured credit and special situations. For additional information, please visit our website at http://www.sycamorelp.com/.

About PRI The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) is a world leading proponent of responsible investment. The PRI is an independent investor initiative with support from the United Nations. Launched in 2006, PRI has become a leading network of investors committed to responsible and long-term investment strategies that enhance returns through their focus on environmental, social and governance issues. To learn more about PRI visit their website at https://www.unpri.org/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005638/en/

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Two COVID-19 vaccines Nano Covax and Covivac, which were studied and developed in Vietnam, have proved to be safe and effective in the first and second clinical trials.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

A total of 551 volunteers were given the second Nano Covax shots in the second stage, including 280 in Long An and 271 in Hanoi while 66 received the first Covivac shots in the first stage. The remaining nine in Hanoi will be vaccinated this week.



Nano Covax trial ahead of schedule



According to the Military Medical University, all volunteers receiving two Nano Covax shots in the second stage are in normal conditions. Only some of them suffered slight reactions such as swelling and muscle and joint pain, but the reactions quickly disappeared after resting.



At the end of the first clinical trial of Nano Covax, all participants were safe and produced a high concentration of antibodies. The vaccine proved effective on new variants of SARS-CoV-2 like those found in the UK.



In the current second stage, the vaccination is expanded to the elderly and those with underlying diseases. As many as 108 senior citizens were inoculated, with the oldest 76 years old. After vaccination, they had only slight reactions and showed no abnormal symptoms.



Results of the second stage of Nano Covax clinical trials are scheduled to be announced in late April, with optimistic prospects. The vaccine is expected to enter the third clinical trial in early May.



Based on results of two stages of trials so far, all experts said with optimism that the third stage will be completed at the end of the third quarter, three months ahead of the initial plan.



Covivac trial: first stage to end soon



Covivac, which was developed by the Health Ministrys Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, is in the first stage of clinical testing by the Hanoi Medical Universitys Centre of Clinical Pharmacology.



Since March 15, 66 volunteers have been vaccinated. Their slight reactions like swelling in injected area and headache disappeared within 24 hours after injection.



The remaining 54 volunteers will get the first shots from now to April 18.



The interval between the first and second shots is 28 days.



Six volunteers, who received the first shots on March 15, will become the first to be given the second shots on April 12.

VNA
Equatorial Guinea to Launch Vision on Post-COVID Energy Transition Plans with Report and Film
Web Hosting Services Market Innovative Technologies, Segmentation, Trends and Business Opportunities 2020-2027

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The web hosting services market is supported by the rise of internet based companies and growing mobile internet connectivity. The population growth around the world and increasing demand of web hosting services market based services and products also support the market growth. However, the web hosting services market growth can be affected due to concerns regarding data protection. The report covers all such details which will help companies in the web hosting services market to strengthen their business plan and improve their product portfolio. The web hosting services market research report also provides company profiles of major companies. The company profile of organizations operating in the web hosting services market discusses strategies, growth plans, size, revenue, and mergers and acquisition details of top companies in the web hosting services market. New entrants and established players can plan their strategies based on this data provided in the web hosting services market research report.

Industry News

Liquid Network, LLC, the leading provider of managed hosting and digital business cloud services to SMBs and entrepreneurs, confirmed recently about their purchase of the Modern Tribe\-\-s WordPress Events Calendar, the number one event calendar plugins. The takeover further deepens the global trading room for Liquid Network.

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Chandigarh, April 8 : Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday said all those 'arhtiyas' whose commission and labour wage dues have been pending since the last procurement season would get interest on them for the delayed amount.

"The process of payment of interest will start from today and the 'arhtiyas' have been asked to get their accounts verified. Necessary directions in this regard have been issued to the Food and Civil Supplies Department," an official statement quoting Khattar said.

He said while presiding over a virtual review meeting of the crop procurement in which all Deputy Commissioners and officers concerned were present.

Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala and Agriculture Minister were also present.

The Chief Minister said recently a meeting with 'arhtiyas' or commission agents was held during which important issues were discussed and the government had assured them that they would not face any problem during the current wheat procurement season.

At the meeting, the Deputy Commissioners were told that regular talks should be held with the 'arhtiyas' so as to ensure that they do not face any problem.

For the farmers, there should be hassle-free procurement that commenced on April 1.

This season the state has announced that there would be 100 per cent direct online transfer of minimum support price (MSP) in the accounts of the farmers.

Last year, the state had transferred over 50 per cent of the payments directly to the accounts of the farmers and the rest was made through 'arhtiyas'.

Earlier, the government was transferring the amount into the accounts of 'arhtiyas', which would later be released to farmers.

'Arhtiyas', who were charging 2.5 per cent as commission earlier, will no longer be the recipient of the money in the present scenario.
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Global Anesthesia Drugs Market

The global anesthesia drugs market stood at USD 3.1 Bn in 2015 and is anticipated to catapult to USD 4.9 Billion by the end of 2022. As per the analysis of market Research Future (MRFR), the global anesthesia drugs market is likely to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% over the forecast period of 2015-2022.

Anesthesia drugs are used during surgeries for loss of sensation to alleviate pain. The rise in global surgical volume across the globe has added to the growth of the global anesthesia market. There has been an increase in the number of surgical procedures to manage diverse health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, malignancy, infections, injuries, etc. Such operative procedures require anesthesia drugs for pain management and induce high demand for anesthesia drugs. Moreover, post-operative pain management is also likely to contribute to the growth of the global anesthesia drugs market.

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Rise in global geriatric population is another factor contributing to the growth of the global anesthesia drugs market. The elderly populace is at more risk of acquiring cardiovascular, respiratory and other degenerative changes which often requires surgical treatments which boosts the growth of the market.

Competitive Landscape

The global anesthesia drugs market is led by some prominent players such as

AstraZeneca PLC (BritishSwedish)

Baxter International Inc. (US)

Fresenius Se & Co. Kgaa (Germany)

Abbott Laboratories (US)

Hospira Inc. (US)

Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (UK)

Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland)

and AbbVie Inc. (US).

Expanding healthcare sector in the emerging economies is expected to drive the market for anesthesia drugs. Growth in healthcare facilities would increase the number of surgeries in developing countries which would subsequently generate more demand for anesthetic drugs.

A high incidence rate of emergency medical procedures is also a crucial factor in driving the market for anesthesia drugs. Besides, the rise in the number of cosmetic surgeries, and dental procedures also add fuel to the growth of the market.

Segmentation

The global anesthesia drugs market has been segmented based on type of anesthesia, type of drugs and route of administration.

By type of anesthesia, the market has been segmented into general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, and others.

By type of drugs, the market has been segmented into general anesthetics, local anesthetics, and others.

By route of administration, the market has been segmented into inhalation, intravenous, and others.

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Advancements in anesthesia drugs in terms of improved efficiency, additional and new mode of administration and decreased price has considerably augmented the growth of the market. However, the growth of the market might be hindered by side effects associated with anesthesia drugs such as temporary confusion, hallucination, elevation in heart rate and blood pressure, amnesia and memory loss, which is more prevalent in elderly patients. Other side effects include nausea, vomiting, sore throat, bladder problems, sleepiness, and others. Lack of skilled anesthesiologist is another crucial factor which might restrain the growth of the anesthesia drugs market.

Regional Analysis

The Americas (North America & South America), Europe, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the world (RoW) are the key markets for anesthesia drugs. The Americas is the largest market for anesthesia drugs led by North America. Advanced medical facilities, growing geriatric population, the prevalence of chronic diseases and rise in a number of surgical procedures drive the market in the Americas. Moreover, the presence of key players in the region also contributes to the growth of the General Anesthesia Drugs Market

Europe is the second largest market led by Germany, Italy, Spain, France, and the UK. Asia Pacific is slated to be the fastest growing market for anesthesia drugs. Expansion of medical facilities in the region coupled with high demand for medical facilities in the region assists the growth of the market in Asia Pacific.

Intended Audience:

Hospitals and Clinics

Anesthesia Drugs manufacturers and suppliers

Government and Independent Regulatory Authorities

Research and Development (R&D) Companies

Market Research and Consulting Service Providers

Medical Research Laboratories

Potential Investors Study objectives:

To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.

To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective

To provide country level analysis of the market for segments by type and its sub-segments.

To provide overview of key players and their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market

To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Anesthesia Drugs Market

Contact:

Market Research Future
Many have balked at the $2.3 trillion price tag, but Americans spent nearly as much on the Iraq War with nothing to show for it. We are quick to scrutinize spending on ourselves but far less likely to scrutinize how military spending delivers for our people. At over $700 billion a year, the military budget still accounts for over half of our nations discretionary budget, exceeding federal spending on education, health, transportation, civilian foreign affairs, and science and technology combined. This disparity has left us playing catchup in areas that affect American citizens every day.
Exclusive: The Wiz will return to UK stages with a brand-new production at the Hope Mill Theatre.

Based on L Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz , the piece follows Dorothy as she is whisked away to the land of Oz where she encounters a cavalcade of characters.

Originally opening on Broadway in 1975 and running for four years, The Wiz has music and lyrics by Charlie Small, Timothy Graphenreed, Harold Wheeler, George Faison and Luther Vandross, with a book by William F Brown. It was adapted for the big screen in 1978 starring Diana Ross as Dorothy.

Directed by Matthew Xia, the creative team features musical supervisor and orchestrator Sean Green, choreographer Leah Hill, assistant producer Chuchu Nwagu, with poster photography by Dujonna Gift- Simms and poster design by Christopher D Clegg. Full creative team and casting to be announced at a later date.

The show will play from 24 November 2021 to 16th January 2022 and is produced by the Hope Mill in association with Ameena Hamid Productions.

Xia said: "I can't wait to return to Manchester, my former home, to create the all singing all dancing extravaganza that is The Wiz at the exceptional Hope Mill Theatre. We're pulling together an outstanding team including musical supervisor Sean Green and choreographer Leah Hill to reimagine this classic funk, soul (and now afrobeat!) infused story of self-discovery, determination and Black joy. Everybody rejoice!"

Audiences can register for priority access to tickets via the Hope Mill website.
TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwans foreign minister on Wednesday said the island will defend itself to the very last day if attacked by China.

FILE - In this April 23, 2019, file photo, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy aircraft carrier Liaoning participates in a naval parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's PLA Navy in the sea near Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong province. China says it is holding naval drills involving the battlegroup of the aircraft carrier Liaoning in waters near Taiwan. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool, File)

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwans foreign minister on Wednesday said the island will defend itself "to the very last day" if attacked by China.

Joseph Wu said Chinas attempts at conciliation while engaging in military intimidation are sending "mixed signals" to the islands residents.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be won over peacefully or by force.

Wu noted China flew 10 warplanes into Taiwans air defence identification zone on Monday and deployed an aircraft carrier group for exercises near Taiwan.

"We are willing to defend ourselves, thats without any question," Wu told reporters. "We will fight a war if we need to fight a war, and if we need to defend ourselves to the very last day, then we will defend ourselves to the very last day."

China does not recognize Taiwans democratically elected government, and leader Xi Jinping has said "unification" between the sides cannot be put off indefinitely.

"On the one hand they want to charm the Taiwanese people by sending their condolences, but at the same time they are also sending their military aircraft and military vessels closer to Taiwan aimed at intimidating Taiwans people," Wu said at a ministry briefing.

"The Chinese are sending very mixed signals to the Taiwanese people and I would characterize that as self-defeating," Wu said.

The vast improvements in China's military capabilities and its increasing activity around Taiwan have raised concerns in the U.S., which is legally bound to ensure Taiwan is capable of defending itself and to regard all threats to the island's security as matters of "grave concern."

Speaking in Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Taiwan. "The United States maintains the capacity to resist any resort to force or any other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan," Price said Wednesday.

The naval drills being conducted in waters off Taiwan were meant to help China "safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests," the army said Monday, using language often interpreted as being directed at Taiwans leadership that has refused to give in to Beijings demands that it recognize the island as part of Chinese territory.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949, and most Taiwanese favour maintaining the current state of de facto independence while engaging in robust economic exchanges with the mainland.

China has created conditions for greater economic integration, while also targeting some communities such as pineapple farmers in hopes of weakening their support for the islands government.

Chinese diplomatic pressure has been growing also, reducing the number of Taiwan's formal diplomatic allies to just 15 and shutting its representatives out of the World Health Assembly and other major international forums.

Taiwan has responded by boosting its high-tech industries and unofficial foreign relations, particularly with its key partners the U.S., Japan and others, and by building up its own defence industries, including a submarine development program, while buying upgraded warplanes, missiles and other military hardware from the U.S.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy says the carrier Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group reentered the South China Sea on Saturday to "conduct routine operations." It is the second time the strike group has entered the waterway this year as part of its 2021 deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.
The Royal Australian Air Force has announced it is replacing the term airmen with aviators as its marks a century since its establishment. Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld announced the change at a private dinner of past and present RAAF members last week at a 100th anniversary event. The Roulettes helped the Royal Australian Air Force celebrate its 100th anniversary last month with a flyover of Canberra. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen An airman is traditionally a general term which refers to any member of a nations air force - male or female - regardless of rank. Air Marshal Hupfeld said that as the Air Force charted its path forward in its second century he wanted to instil a stronger sense of identity among the ranks.

Of all the work that has been done in developing our Air Force culture, the most challenging dilemma has been fully explaining who we are, Air Marshal Hupfeld said in a statement on Thursday afternoon. We understand well enough what we are and what we do  but have never quite managed to successfully articulate WHO we are. We are ALL aviators. Women have been eligible for flying roles in the RAAF since 1987, with the first pilots Flight Lieutenant Robyn Williams and Officer Cadet Deborah Hicks who graduated from the same flying course in June 1988. The RAAF had set a goal to achieve 25 per cent female representation in the Air Force by 2023, which it surpassed last month two years ahead of schedule. As at February 2019, women represented 22.9 per cent of Air Force personnel, 38 of whom were pilots in the trained permanent Air Force, and 126 were Officer Aviation Cadets undergoing training. There has been a strong push in Britain, the United States and Australia during the past five years to change the language used in defence forces such as referring to female pilots and ground crew still as airmen, female sailors as able seamen or a using term such as manned or unmanned or manpower.
Designing selective membranes for batteries using a drug discovery toolbox

Membranes that allow certain molecules to quickly pass through while blocking others are key enablers for energy technologies from batteries and fuel cells to resource refinement and water purification. For example, membranes in a battery separating the two terminals help to prevent short circuits, while also allowing the transport of charged particles, or ions, needed to maintain the flow of electricity.

The most selective membranes - those with very specific criteria for what may pass through - suffer from low permeability for the working ion in the battery, which limits the battery's power and energy efficiency. To overcome trade-offs between membrane selectivity and permeability, researchers are developing ways to increase the solubility and mobility of ions within the membrane, therefore allowing a higher number of them to transit through the membrane more rapidly. Doing so could improve the performance of batteries and other energy technologies.

Now, as reported today in the journal Nature, researchers have designed a polymer membrane with molecular cages built into its pores that hold positively charged ions from a lithium salt. These cages, called "solvation cages," comprise molecules that together act as a solvent surrounding each lithium ion - much like how water molecules surround each positively charged sodium ion in the familiar process of table salt dissolving in liquid water. The team, led by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), found that solvation cages increased the flow of lithium ions through the membrane by an order of magnitude compared to standard membranes. The membrane could allow high-voltage battery cells to operate at higher power and more efficiently, important factors for both electric vehicles and aircraft.

"While it's been possible to configure a membrane's pores at very small length scales, it's not been possible until now to design sites to bind specific ions or molecules from complex mixtures and enable their diffusion in the membrane both selectively and at a high rate," said Brett Helms, a principal investigator in the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) and staff scientist in Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry, who led the work.

The research is supported by JCESR, a DOE Energy Innovation Hub whose mission is to deliver transformational new concepts and materials for electrodes, electrolytes, and interfaces that will enable a diversity of high-performance next-generation batteries for transportation and the grid. In particular, JCESR provided the motivation to understand how ions are solvated in porous polymer membranes used in energy storage devices, Helms said.

To pinpoint a design for a cage in a membrane that would solvate lithium ions, Helms and his team looked to a widely practiced drug discovery process. In drug discovery, it's common to build and screen large libraries of small molecules with diverse structures to pinpoint one that binds to a biological molecule of interest. Reversing that approach, the team hypothesized that by building and screening large libraries of membranes with diverse pore structures, it would be possible to identify a cage to temporarily hold lithium ions. Conceptually, the solvation cages in the membranes are analogous to the biological binding site targeted by small molecule drugs.

Helms' team devised a simple but effective strategy for introducing functional and structural diversity across multiple length scales in the polymer membranes. These strategies included designs for cages with different solvation strengths for lithium ions, as well as arrangements of cages in an interconnected network of pores. "Before our work, a diversity-oriented approach to the design of porous membranes had not been undertaken," said Helms.

Using these strategies, Miranda Baran, a graduate student researcher in Helms' research group and a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry at UC Berkeley and lead author on the paper, systematically prepared a large library of possible membranes at the Molecular Foundry. She and co-authors experimentally screened each one to determine a leading candidate whose specific shape and architecture made its pores best suited for selectively capturing and transporting lithium ions. Then, working with Kee Sung Han and Karl Mueller at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a DOE user facility at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Baran and Helms revealed, using advanced nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, how lithium ions flow within the polymer membrane compared to other ions in the battery.

"What we found was surprising. Not only do the solvation cages increase the concentration of lithium ions in the membrane, but the lithium ions in the membrane diffuse faster than their counter anions," said Baran, referring to the negatively charged particles that are associated with the lithium salt when it enters the membrane. The solvation of lithium ions in the cages helped to form a layer that blocked the flow of those anions.

To further understand the molecular reasons for the new membrane's behavior, the researchers collaborated with Artem Baskin, a postdoctoral researcher working with David Prendergast, another investigator in JCESR. They performed calculations, using computing resources at Berkeley Lab's National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), to determine the precise nature of the solvation effect that occurs as lithium ions associate with the cages in the membrane's pores. This solvation effect causes lithium ions to concentrate more in the new membrane than they do in standard membranes without solvation cages.

Finally, the researchers investigated how the membrane performed in an actual battery, and determined the ease with which lithium ions are accommodated or released at a lithium metal electrode during the battery's charge and discharge. Using X-ray tools at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source, they observed lithium flow through a modified battery cell whose electrodes were separated by the new membrane. The X-ray images showed that, in contrast to batteries that used standard membranes, lithium was deposited smoothly and uniformly at the electrode, indicating that the battery charged and discharged quickly and efficiently thanks to the solvation cages in the membrane.

With their diversity-oriented approach to screening possible membranes, the researchers achieved the goal of creating a material that helps to transport ions rapidly without sacrificing selectivity. Parts of the work - including component analysis, gas sorption, and X-ray scattering measurements - were also supported by the Center for Gas Separations Relevant to Clean Energy Technologies, a DOE Energy Frontier Research Center led by UC Berkeley.

Future work by the Berkeley Lab team will expand the library of membranes and screen it for enhanced transport properties for other ions and molecules of interest in clean energy technologies. "We also see exciting opportunities to combine diversity-oriented synthesis with digital workflows for accelerated discovery of advanced membranes through autonomous experimentation," said Helms.

###

- By Rachel Berkowitz

The researchers also received support from the DOE Office of Science and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy's (ARPA-E's) IONICS program.

The Molecular Foundry, the Advanced Light Source, and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center are DOE Office of Science user facilities at Berkeley Lab. Respectively, these user facilities support polymer synthesis and characterization; single crystal measurements; and computation.

The Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (https:/ / www. emsl. pnnl. gov/ ) is a DOE Office of Science user facility at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest scientific challenges are best addressed by teams, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (http://www. lbl. gov/ ) 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.

This story has been published on: 2021-04-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Jaione Cambordas The Rye Horn, Enrique Buleos Still Life with Ghosts and Eva Saizs Casa de fieras feature among a bevy of new Spanish film projects to be offered at the 4th Madrid-based Incubator.

A mentorship program hosted by Madrids ECAM Film School, the Incubator has fast consolidated as one of the foremost development labs in Spain targeting producers of first and second features.

The 4th Incubator runs from April through October.

Projects were chosen from a preselection made from over 200 submitted projects led by The Screen program manager Gemma Vidal. All Incubators projects receive 10,000 ($11,820) for development. As valuable, however, will be the tutorship led, among directors, by Arantxa Echevarria (Carmen & Lola), Rodrigo Sorogoyen (May God Save Us), Juan Cavestany (Spanish Shame) and director-producer Alberto Marini (Summer Camp).

Producer mentors, packing a large experience and multiple hits, take in Simon de Santiago (While at War), Sandra Hermida (The Impossible), Marisa Fernandez Armenteros (Oscar-nominated The Mole Agent) and Xavier Granada (The Europeans).

Past Incubator projects have been picked up for production by Netflix (David Casademunts The Beast), won three Spanish Academy Goya Awards (David Perez Sanudos Ane is Missing), made the cut for San Sebastians New Directors competition (Lucia Alemanys The Innocence), or segued from the Incubator to Berlins Co-production Market (Alvaro Gagos Matria).

The five projects looking to follow suit this year:

The Rye Horn (Jaione Camborda)

The second feature from Camborda, a rising star on the burgeoning Galician arthouse cinema scene, whos debut, Arima, took the New Waves Award at the 2019 Seville European Film Festival. Produced by Andrea Vazquez at Miramemira  the company behind Oliver Laxes Cannes winner Fire Will Come)- as well as Galicias Esnatu Zinema and Rodrigo Areias Bando a parte in Portugal), the project was selected for San Sebastians Ikusmira Berriak residency last year. Contextualizing maternity, femininity and identity in an early 70s rural Galicia, it centers on Maria, a stocky woman in her 40s who helps women during labor with dedication and tenderness. But Maria is forced to go on the run after a fatal event. The film departs from traditionalism and delight in depicting period custom by incorporating aesthetics that at times might be mistaken with the present, Camborda told Variety.

Still Life with Ghosts (Enrique Buleo)

Produced by Alejandra Mora at Valencia-based Quatre Films, Ghosts is multi-part black comedy in which ghosts and live humans in a Spanish village come to one anothers aid to try to end problems haunting them.

Mora underscores Buleos absolutely original sense of humor and mise-en-scene, adding that he loves to mix comedy and drama in almost macabre ways in equally absurd and hostile universes. Selected for the Sources 2 development and training program, Ghosts won the Albacete local prize at Spanish projects market Abycine Lanza.

Casa de fieras (House of Beasts, Eva Saiz)

A homage to childhood, understood as a different way of seeing the world, Saizs project follows eight-year-old Pablo during what may prove to be the last summer of his childhood. Pablo takes refuge from a reality he doesnt understand by inventing an imaginary friend who lives in an old Madrids menagerie. When his friend disappears one night, the kid runs away from home to find him. A vivid portrait of childhood and childrens reality coping mechanisms, said producers Raquel Pedreira and David Moreno, at Almaina Producciones, Casa de fires marks the first feature from Saiz who took bet short and an Audience Awards at 2019s Malaga Film Festival.

In the Flesh (Ainhoa Menendez)

Produced by Nuria Landete and selected for development at Coofilm, a Spanish female residence program and Greeces MFI Script 2 Film, Menendezs feature debut depicts a love story filtered through a fantastic genre prism. Exploring the search for identity, a recurring theme in my shorts, said Menendez, it turns on Mara, a lonely girl used to abandonment all her life and who, in order to get people to stay with her, has no choice but to eat them, she added. When Mara, a supermarket stocker, meets Sandra, a girl who radiates life and joy,the question is whether her life could take on a new turn.

The Dashed Lines (Anxos Fazans)

Produced by Silvia Fuentes at Setima Media, The Dashed Lines marks Fazans second feature. It turns on a seemingly unlikely complicity between 50-year-old Bea, mother of a little girl, a kindergarten teacher and former rock band member, and Denis, a 25-year-old transgender boy desperately seeking employment. With Anxos, we tried to developing the type of cinema that excites us: European cinema with a markedly arthouse feel, but capable of reaching audiences, Fuentes said. Project was also selected for 2020s Sources 2.

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The Athens community has found companionship through the adoption of pets due to spending more time at home because of COVID-19, bringing to light the important role that pet shelters are playing during the pandemic.
The 13th Gwangju Biennale exhibition shows Outi Pieski's "Beavvit II/ Rising Together II," left, and Min Joung-ki's landscape painting, "Poetical Circles' Pavilions in Mudeung Mountain," Buk-gu, Gwangju, April 1. Yonhap



By Lee Gyu-lee



GWANGJU  The coronavirus pandemic has changed so much of people's lives and the ways things are done. The Gwangju Biennale is no exception.



The Biennale, one of the largest art events in Asia, has had its fair share of challenges in bringing the much-anticipated show to art lovers.



The exhibition got pushed back twice  from last September to this February, and then to this April  and the organizers had to arrange and install most of the artworks without having the international artists present in Korea.



However, such limitations caused by the pandemic did not stop the 13th Gwangju Biennale from expanding its theme beyond existing boundaries, and from exploring the wide-ranging spectrum of the mind under the title, "Minds Rising, Spirits Tuning."



Helmed by co-artistic directors Defne Ayas, a curator-at-large of the V-A-C Foundation in Moscow, and Natasha Ginwala, an associate curator at the Gropius Bau in Berlin, the exhibition presents 450 artworks by 69 artists and groups from 40 countries, from April 1 to May 9 in Gwangju. The works are displayed in four venues throughout Korea's sixth-largest city: the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall, Gwangju National Museum, Gwangju Theater, and Horanggasy Artpolygon.



"'Minds Rising, Spirits Tuning' delves into a broad set of cosmologies, activating planetary life-systems, queer technologies, and modes of communal survival," the directors described the exhibition in their curatorial statement.



"It is a collaborative initiative to harness and channel the modes of spherical thinking toward a socially and ecologically desirable world ethic, striving for a deeper understanding of the intrinsic relationship between healing, dissent, and renewal."





John Gerrard's "Corn Work (Corrib)" on display / Courtesy of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation



Exploring different forms of intelligence



The Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall, the biggest venue of the four, hosts five galleries, of which, the ground floor one is open to the public for free for the first time in the Biennale's history.



When visitors walk in, set along a black wall, they are greeted by photographer Lee Gap-chul's "Conflict and Reaction Series," which delves into Korea's spiritual life and shamanism, with a series of black-and-white photos.



Korean painter Min Joung-ki, a pioneer of the pro-democracy Minjung art movement, presents the map-style landscape paintings, "Byeokgye Nine Banded Stream" and "Four Seasons in Seohoori," which show hidden parts of the country's geography through a sociopolitical lens.





Kim Sang-don's work, "Carts" / Korea Times photo by Lee Gyu-lee



Irish artist John Gerrard's media artwork, "Corn Work (Corrib)," utilizes motion matching and neural networks to portray the changing seasons of the Corrib River. With the river as the backdrop, four folk figures, dressed in straw suits, dance in a circle.



"When there was no scientific knowledge, people relied on shamanism and rituals," Park Bo-na, the exhibition coordinator, said. "So this piece demonstrates what it is like to combine modern-day science, or technology, with something of the old ritual."



The exhibition also explores matriarchal systems, with one gallery entirely dedicated to them. German artist Angela Melitopoulos' essay film and New Zealand artist Vivian Lynn's installation acknowledge female power.



Dutch artist Femke Herregraven's newly commissioned work, "Twenty Birds Inside Her Chest," takes visitors underwater in the perspectives of Haenyeo  the traditional profession of female free divers  in Jeju. The multi-sensory installation includes larynx-shaped sculptures and sound recordings of Haenyeo taking breaths when they come up from a long dive.





Theo Eshetu's video installation, "Ghostdance" / Courtesy of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation



Artist Kim Sang-don encompasses death and living with his work, "Carts," in which he used shopping carts to build boats symbolizing the journey to the afterlife. The art piece was originally planned to be presented with a performance by samulnori and dancers, but the performance will be substituted with a video online, instead.



British video artist Theo Eshetu's "Ghostdance," displayed in the Gwangju National Museum, also ushers visitors through an audiovisual journey of metaphorical death and life. In the video, two choreographers dance around an empty museum space that housed Asian and African collections. As they resonate with the spirituality of the space, the artist taps into the ongoing debate around the possession of goods taken from colonized territories.



Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuna's radiant painting, "Camilo Torres," which portrays Colombian revolutionary fighter Camilo Torres Restrepo, is displayed alongside paintings by Gwangju-based artist and activist Lee Sang-ho.



The two artists' works displayed at an angle adjacent to each other express parallel resilience to authoritarianism and yearnings for democracy, in two different countries across the globe.



Vicuna's contribution also includes the sound installation, "Rain Dreamed by Sound," located in a park by the Gwangju National Museum. With the composer, Ricardo Gallo, the artist recorded a poem commemorating the late Korean American writer, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, who was raped and murdered in New York in 1982 at the age of 31.





Liliane Lijn's kinetic work, "Gravity's Dance" / Yonhap



Walking through the exhibition hall, observing artworks that jump from topic to topic, one might wonder about the relevance of the pieces and how they come under the umbrella of the central theme, "Minds Rising, Spirits Tuning." The Biennale's overenthusiasm to incorporate "dynamic aspects of the communal mind"  from shamanism and postcolonial oppression to queer identities  can get overwhelming, leaving the viewers occasionally mystified.



However, the exhibition still manages itself to keep the visitors busy with visually intriguing installations that consist of video, sculpture and even LED structures.



The UK-based American artist, Liliane Lijn's kinetic work, "Gravity's Dance," put together a textile skirt and LED lighting whirling in a circle to invoke a metaphor of the feminine archetype.



Finnish visual artist Outi Pieski's hanging thread work makes reference to the indigenous life practices of the Sami community.





Korakrit Arunanondchai's "Songs for Dying" / Courtesy of Gwangju Biennale Foundation



This year's biennale welcomes the new venue, Horanggasy Artpolygon, located by sacred Yangnim Mountain, a multi-layered symbol  of anti-colonial resistance during the Japanese colonial era and Christian evangelization in Korea, among other histories.



New York-based Thai artist Korakrit Arunanondchai's "Songs for Dying" uses a whole cabin there to display single-channel video, large-scale painting, and props in serene resonance. His work sheds light on the recent demonstrations in Bangkok, connecting them to the pro-democratic uprising suppressed during Jeju's April 3 incident, where government forces killed an estimated 30,000 people in 1948.



Across from the cabin, Berlin-based Norwegian artist and chemist Sissel Tolaas presents a unique piece called, "_EQ_IQ_EQ_." The work walks through the violence and suppression of Jeju on April 3 with personal journals from a victim's family and 37 scented pumice stones, the smells of which were developed to match each journal entry.



This artwork is one of the many that were installed by the exhibition team in communication with the artist, as many artists couldn't travel from abroad due to the pandemic.





Sissel Tolaas's "_EQ_IQ_EQ_," displayed at Horanggasy Artpolygon / Courtesy of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation



Lim Ji-in, the exhibition coordinator of Horanggasy Artpolygon, explained that she had to communicate with the artist via phone and video chat to assist her in everything from conducting additional interviews with the victim's family to selecting the stones.



"It was pretty difficult and strange to work remotely with the artist," Lim said, adding that she did feel overwhelmed at one point when arranging the artworks. "But once they were all put together, I felt like it was worth it."



Remembering the founding of the Gwangju Biennale



The original date of the 13th Gwangju Biennale marks the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, also known as the Gwangju Uprising. In remembrance of the tragic event and in the spirit of the biennale itself, founded in memory of the 1980 event, the Gwangju Biennale Foundation organized the special exhibition, "MaytoDay," to highlight Gwangju citizens' resistance and struggles for democracy.





Moon Seon-hee's "Un/asked  Voice," which is part of the special exhibition, "MaytoDay" / Hankook Ilbo photo by Chae Ji-sun



The exhibition takes place in the former Armed Forces Gwangju Hospital and invites 12 Gwanju-based artists who lived through the tragedy or indirectly experienced it due to the legacy of its history.



"The artworks incorporate various artistic perspectives of the things that we witnessed but could not tell, and that we have heard about but could not see," exhibition co-curator Lee Sun said.



One of the notable works from the exhibition is Moon Seon-hee's "Un/asked  Voice." The installation decorates an incline to the second floor intensive care unit of the hospital with white daisies.



The artist collected testimonies from 80 people who went through the uprising as a child. The interviews were then recorded with the voices of children, which can only be heard from the top of the incline.



The field of daisies, blanketed with the sunshine from the large windows and the children's voices, echoing innocence, offers a different perspective on such a brutal event.



One of the GB Commission's work, "The 49th Hexagram," by Singapore artist Ho Tzu Nyen, also spotlights the significance of Gwangju's democracy movement.



Using clips and stills that depicted the uprising, Ho assembled a set of storyboards and sent it to an animation company based in the so-called "Nation of Morning Calm" for production. The name of the country remains anonymous to the viewers.



The figures in the animation are depicted wearing costumes and masks, and the background is completely blacked out. The blackout is because the animation team was reportedly restricted from directly referencing Korean history.



The two-channel animation work uses what the artist calls, "digital occult," to mesh two tracks of low-pitched vocal renditions, recreating frightening scenes of the democracy protests.



A total of nine artists took part in the GB Commission, including Mike Nelson's and Kader Attia's works restaged from the 2018 biennale. The works are spread across three venues: the former Armed Forces Gwangju Hospital, the Asia Culture Center, and the Gwangju Cultural Foundation.



Korean artist Kim Sung-hwan's "Hair is a piece of head" is a single-channel film that explores the Korean immigrants in Hawaii. As the artist tries to study if those immigrants find the Gwangju Uprising to be relevant to their lives, the film also reflects the feelings of isolation and anti-Asian discrimination that they experienced, which resonate with the current atmosphere in the United States.



Bridging Korean and international art networks





Video substitute for the performance of Swiss and Korean dancers, led by the Swiss choreographer, Anna Anderegg, for the Swiss Pavilion, "ALONE TOGETHER" / Korea Times photo by Lee Gyu-lee



For this year's biennale, the Swiss and Taiwan pavilions take on dramatically different themes in cooperation with Korean artists.



The Swiss Pavilion, co-organized by Kunsthaus Pasquart and the Eunam Museum of Art in Gwangju, presents "ALONE TOGETHER," a video installation of a performance by the Swiss choreographer, Anna Anderegg, with a team of Swiss and Korean dancers.



The work captures humans' dependence on technology and electronic devices to the degree that we lose autonomy in our actions.



"Anna expresses, 'What does it mean for people and for a society to be constantly in a fragmented state of consciousness,'" said Francoise Gardies, a senior cultural program officer from the Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Korea.



The Taiwan Pavilion, co-organized by Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab, the National Human Rights Museum, and the Taipei Performing Arts Center, connects Taiwan and South Korea by exploring the two countries' democratic developments and pursuit of human rights, freedom, and other universal values.





"The Monument Made of the Body  The White Scars and Repercussions during the Cold War," by the Taiwanese group, The Libera Work-Gang, part of the Taiwan Pavilion project. Korea Times photo by Lee Gyu-lee
One Iranian producer booked 30,000 tonnes of billet, scheduled for delivery at the end of April, at $570 per tonne fob southern Iranian ports.Another steelmaker in Iran sold 30,000 tonnes of billet, to be delivered at the end of May, at $571 per tonne fob.Sources said both cargoes were heading for Asia.Market sources said there had been lively demand for import billet in China because of the reduced availability of domestic material caused by production cuts and surging finished long steel prices.Imported billet prices were much more attractive than domestic offers, sources told Fastmarkets.

Fastmarkets daily assessment for...
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 19:50:58|Editor: huaxia

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COLOMBO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry has lifted the COVID-19 restriction for dual citizens and spouses of Sri Lankans holding foreign passports to obtain its approval before entering the Asian country by air, local media reported Wednesday.

A government statement was quoted as saying that according to the revised procedure, Sri Lankan citizens, dual citizens who travel with Sri Lankan passports, spouses and unmarried children of Sri Lankans who are foreigners, and Sri Lankan seafarers arriving by air will be permitted to enter Sri Lanka without the prior approval of the Foreign Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL).

The responsibility of maintaining a manageable number of passenger arrivals has however been entrusted with the CAASL, which will, through the respective airlines, regulate the numbers in a manner that can cope with the local capacities of quarantining and other logistics required, the government statement said.

All arriving passengers will be required to strictly adhere to health protocols and guidelines that are effective at the time of arrival, the statement added.

Sri Lanka enforced new regulations since March last year which required all overseas citizens and locals residing overseas to obtain the Foreign Ministry's permission due to a rising COVID-19 pandemic as they had to undergo a 14-day quarantine at a government-run center or a paid allocated hotel.

Following a decrease in the COVID-19 infections, Sri Lanka has now relaxed those guidelines but requires all those entering the country to still undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) coronavirus test.

Sri Lanka has to date recorded over 93,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 591 deaths. Enditem
Authorities on Wednesday said two sisters were found dead at a Union County restaurant, a day after the eaterys co-owner was found fatally shot nearby.

The homicides of the women and the shooting death of the eaterys co-owner, 45-year-old Akanni A. Martin, are connected, according to acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo.

Police on Monday morning found Martin shot in the head in a vehicle parked behind a rental car business in the 1700 block of Morris Avenue in Union Township, Ruotolo said.

A weapon was recovered near his body, the prosecutor said in a statement. Investigators do not believe foul play was involved. The prosecutor did not immediately release more details about Martins death.

Detectives went to Martins Hillside home to inform his relatives, according to Ruotolo.

After further investigation, detectives determined two individuals close to Martin were missing, the prosecutor added.

On Tuesday, police went to the eatery Martin co-owned, K & K Jamaican Restaurant, in the 1500 block of Summit Avenue in Hillside, the prosecutor said.

At this location, detectives discovered the bodies of 39-year-old Karen A. Lemaitre, the mother of Martins children, and her sister, 41-year-old Wanita A. Joffer, Ruotolo said.

An autopsy Wednesday revealed both women were the victims of homicide, according to the prosecutor. A cause of death was not released.

At this time, there is no known further threat to the community, Ruotolos statement added.

It was unclear why authorities waited until Wednesday to disclose that the homicides occurred and the prosecutors office did not detail how the deaths were linked.

Police in Hillside and Union Township did not comment and referred inquiries to the prosecutors office, which did not answer questions beyond a Wednesday night statement.

Anyone with information can call prosecutors office Lt. Johnny Ho at 908-403-8271 or Det. Lamar Hartsfield at 908-451-1873.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
More than 1,000 digital builders gather to share proven strategies for the digital-first era

SAN FRANCISCO and DENVER and BERLIN, April 08, 2021, the leading content platform for digital business, today announcedthe release of new features and partner-built apps at its second annual Blueprintsuser conference.



Contentful helps "digital builders" - developers, designers and content creators - work together to assemble content and deliver digital experiences across a wide range of channels, including websites, mobile apps, wearables and digital displays. Today at Blueprints, Contentful will debut the new Tags and Permissions features that will provide content teams greater flexibility and control over how they organize, find and edit content, and manage permissions across the organization.

"Tags and Permissions are a part of our ongoing commitment to advancing the native capabilities of the Contentful platform and supporting builders as they create digital experiences," said Benjamin Keyser, Vice President of Engineering for Contentful.

These platform enhancements build on the recent releaseof Compose + Launch - two new Contentful apps that allow content authors, editors and planners to adapt and publish content independently, without having to rely on developer resources.

Growing Partner Ecosystem and Apps Marketplace

Contentful also announced the release of several partner-built apps in the Contentful Marketplace- including an app built by digital services provider Portaltech Replythat connects Contentful with SAP Commerce Cloud - that enable businesses to adapt quickly to changing market conditions to deliver direct-to-consumer and omnichannel experiences.

Other recently released partner-built apps for Contentful extend the capabilities of the platform across personalization, ecommerce, translations and video, including Uniform Optimize, Saleor Commerce, GlobalLink Connect by Translations.com and Qencode Video Transcoding.

These apps and others in the Contentful Marketplace provide off-the-shelf, ready-to-go integrations and result in less build time for digital builders and faster time to market for the business. Nearly one-quarter of Contentful's enterprise customers have installed at least one app from the marketplace.

The company's growing ecosystem of technology and solutions partners, including Appnovation, EPAM and Valtech, help Contentful customers accelerate their digital initiatives to become digital-first businesses. Contentful recently earned the highest score possible in the partner ecosystem criterion, along with 5 other criteria in the recent report, The Forrester Wave: Agile Content Management Systems

"Our partner ecosystem is incredibly strong and continues to thrive," said Kevin Zellmer, Vice President of Partnerships for Contentful. "Our placement in the Forrester Wave is evidence of this, and we have our extraordinary partners to thank for that. We are excited to strengthen our existing partnerships while growing the ecosystem - which ultimately will bring even more valuable integrations and implementations for our customers."

Sharing the blueprints for success

Today's Blueprintsconference for North America - along with an accompanying event for EMEA audiences on April 15 - brings together Contentful customers and partners to share their proven strategies for leveraging the platform and partner ecosystem to build compelling digital experiences and speed time to value.

Each of these half-day virtual events will bring together more than 1,000 digital builders from around the globe. Attendees will gain actionable information (including use cases, real-world solutions and step-by-step guidance) to put to use in their own digital projects.

"Contentful has been a game-changer for us in how we build websites as a global team," said Marcos Mellado, Technical Lead at AKQA Amsterdam for Danone. "Building Danone's YoPro website, we had a few unique challenges including complex localization requirements and a tight timeline. But Contentful is super flexible and allowed us to do everything we needed, quickly."

According to Mellado, he and his team were able to build a working website from day one and then customize from there. They have saved both time in development as well as time in training content creators. Danone previously worked with Contentful to build its Activia site.

Danone's team from AKQA will speak at the EMEA Blueprints session. Other speakers at the events include Swarovski Optik, and Contentful partners Huge and Kin + Carta.

About Contentful

Contentful, the leading content platform for digital-first business, helps 30% of the Fortune 500 and thousands of brands around the world create and manage digital experiences for their customers across any channel. It enables greater speed and scale than traditional CMS solutions. Contentful unifies content in a single hub, structures it for use in any digital channel, and integrates seamlessly with hundreds of other tools through open APIs. Companies such as Chanel, Bang & Olufsen, Shiseido, Peloton, BP and many others rely on Contentful's platform. For more information, visit https://www.contentful.com/.



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Media Contact

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Offleash PR for Contentful

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707.529.6139
Russian fined $200 for failing to undergo COVID-19 test after returning from Tanzania

 flickr.com/ Ivan Radic

12:47 08/04/2021

MOSCOW, April 8 (RAPSI)  A court in Russias Kemerovo Region has fined a local resident 15,000 rubles (about $200) for the failure to comply with the requirement to pass the coronavirus test after arriving from Tanzania, the press service of the court informs RAPSI on Thursday.

The court, taking into account the nature of the offense, the full admission of guilt by the offender, as well as the fact that the man had been brought to administrative responsibility for the first time, limited the punishment to an administrative penalty in the form of a minimum administrative fine, according to the statement.

The court found that the man arriving at the end of February by air from Tanzania, did not undergo a laboratory test for COVID-19 within three calendar days from the date of arrival and did not post information about its result on the State Services portal. Thus, he failed to comply with the established sanitary-hygienic and anti-epidemic measures.
Chinese green energy plan comes with human cost

Geographer examines the links between mining and climate change mitigation strategies

If youve been even halfway minding the news, youve seen the dire consequences of climate change: rising seas, more frequent flooding and droughts and hotter temperatures already in play around the world.

Climate change policy strategists acknowledge the steep but necessary pricetag for reducing greenhouse gases, the chief culprit. But there are hidden costs besides, and a University of South Carolina political geographer says we must account for those, as well, in the global push to go green.

Meredith DeBoom has conducted extensive research on the geopolitics and consequences of Chinese-backed uranium mining in Namibia. The country's Rossing uranium mine, pictured at top of page, is majority-owned by China.

Africans have contributed just 3 percent of historical carbon dioxide emissions, but scientists project they will experience some of the worst effects of climate change, says Meredith DeBoom, an assistant professor of geography who studies the intersection of geopolitics, mining and development. Much of her recent research has focused on Chinese investments in uranium mining in the southwest African country of Namibia.

If China uses nuclear energy to phase out coal, the global carbon reduction benefits could be significant, DeBoom wrote in a recent op-ed piece for The Washington Post. But she adds that Namibians who live near the uranium mines that will fuel Chinas expansive use of nuclear energy are negatively affected by the intensive water demands of the mines. They also experience negative health outcomes associated with radiation and chemical exposure from mining operations.

When we think about green energy technologies, we're often thinking of windmills and solar panels and nuclear reactors, DeBoom says. We dont necessarily think of the extractive processes that underlay them and how they affect those living nearby.

Green technologies such as wind turbines and electric cars reduce the worlds carbon footprint, for example, but themselves require large quantities of copper wiring. Copper mining, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, produces some of the largest amounts of mine processing waste in the United States.

This is not an argument against climate change mitigation because many of these same communities that experience the negative effects of mining are going to benefit from climate change mitigation or be harmed if we don't act, DeBoom says. But we have to realize those mining communities are both experiencing the effects of climate change itself and bearing the costs of its mitigation. It is important to alleviate that double burden.

If you want to understand green energy transitions, you can't just look at who is emitting the carbon and who is implementing the technologies. Meredith DeBoom, geography assistant professor

DeBoom came to South Carolina in 2018 with an extensive background in environmental policy work at the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department. It was with that latter agency that DeBoom first went to Namibia and began learning more about the geopolitics of uranium mining.

She uses her research as the foundation for teaching undergraduate political geography courses, which help students to understand the larger scope of climate change policy.

If you want to understand green energy transitions, you can't just look at who is emitting the carbon and who is implementing the technologies, she says. You have to look at where all those raw materials are sourced from and how benefits and costs are distributed along those commodity chains. It's a great way to illustrate for students the value of geographic education and the value of thinking across multiple scales at the same time.

DeBoom says academic researchers can help drive the policymaking process that undergirds climate change mitigation efforts.

We have the ability to go out to the field and interview people. People in the State Department don't have time to go out and interview hundreds of people in rural Namibia, she says. I think it's a really fruitful partnership in that we can provide the long term analysis and the data. And then the challenge is for us to not just publish that in academic journals, but also to translate those findings to a broader audience so that they can actually be used by policymakers.

Whats next on DeBooms radar? She has a new project underway looking at marine phosphate mining for the fertilizer industry and lithium iron phophate batteries, which are used in elecric vehicles. That research likely will take her back to southern Africa.

I always tell my students, if you want to understand the world in the next 20 to 30 years, study China, India and Southeast Asia in general. But if you want to understand the long-term trajectory of global change, you need to learn about Africa. Our world is increasingly an African world."

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I apologize to the older readers by using the term Blue Ribbon when I am not referring to the low-priced brewed beer product originally made in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1844 and now in Los Angeles, California in this article.

Englands King Edward IIIs favorite color was blue and in 1348 was created the highest Royal Order of the Knights of the Garter.

Its membership was and still is the most senior order of knighthood in the British honors system, outranked in precedence only by the Victoria Cross and the George Cross.

Its membership was and is limited to the kings and princes of England, as well as a very few knights of distinguished service.

The insignia of the Royal Order is a blue garter, and blue ribbons have come to be a reward for any superior achievement.

Those hoping to connect some racy tale of possible debauchery with the product will be disappointed to find that the current name of the beer comes from the blue ribbon that was tied around the bottle neck during the period 1882 to 1916.

(Excerpts from The Little Book of Answers  Author  Doug Lennox  (2003)  MJF Books  New York, NY 1001.)
In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, WTTW-Ch. 11 will present the 11th annual broadcast of Prisoner of Her Past, produced by Kartemquin Films in association with the Tribune. The documentary traces the journey of former Tribune critic Howard Reich to understand why his mother, Sonia Reich, is reliving her unspoken Holocaust childhood. During his research for the film and the Tribune story of the same name, Reich learned that of the 12,000 Jews who lived in his mothers hometown of Dubno, Poland (now in Ukraine), less than 100 are believed to have escaped mass executions. Sonia Reich never discussed her childhood in flight, but in 2001 she began to believe that her life was in danger again. She was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and recently turned 90. To this day, she believes a yellow Star of David has been sewn onto all her clothes.
MELVILLE, N.Y., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brian F. Knapp, an experienced securities trader who has led and built teams at large as well as boutique investment firms, has joined American Veterans Group as the company's director of global equities.

Knapp comes to American Veterans Group after heading energy and utility trading for SunTrust Financial Services. He has more than 20 years of equities trading experience working for such high-profile firms as Solomon Smith Barney, JP Morgan, Susquehanna International Group and Cornerstone Macro.

"Brian's addition to the team expands the best of class capabilities of our equity line of business," said Ben Biles, president and chief executive officer of American Veterans Group. "He is a proven professional who has contributed to the growth and success of large and small firms. He is a perfect fit for our growing business."

Knapp is a U.S. Army veteran and United States Military Academy graduate. A Captain in the 4th Infantry Division, he was deployed with his unit to Kuwait from 1995 to 1997 as a force deterrence following the first Gulf War. After graduating from West Point, Knapp attended the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga., and completed the field artillery officer's basic course at Fort Sill, Okla.

Knapp began his financial career at Solomon Smith Barney, where he was accepted into an associate training program after leaving the military in 1999. The program provided Knapp with broad exposure across all areas of equity and fixed-income trading. He was selected to join Solomon Smith Barney's equity listed trading desk and in 2004 was promoted to senior equity trader to co-manage the firm's energy pad.

In 2006, Knapp joined JP Morgan where he was responsible for trading and capital commitment of domestic energy and utility related equities. He left JP Morgan for Susquehanna's equity trading desk to focus on the energy and industrial super cyclical U.S. sectors. He was promoted to head trader, leading a team of seven and having oversight responsibility of all daily operations of the firm's trading desk.

In 2014, Knapp joined Cornerstone Macro as head of sales and trading to build and operate the equity trading business for the macro research boutique. At SunTrust Financial, Knapp headed energy and utility trading.

"American Veterans Group combines its worthy social-impact mission with best of class investment banking services, providing a truly unique value proposition for corporate and public financial managers," Knapp said. "I'm looking forward to working with the AVG team to help accelerate the company's rapid growth and further it's support of U.S. military veterans."

Knapp graduated from West Point in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and minored in mathematics. He earned his master's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix in 1998.

About American Veterans Group

American Veterans Group, PBC, is a military veteran-owned, social impact-focused broker dealer that delivers value to institutional clients while providing meaningful philanthropic support to the military veteran community. The company reinvests 25% of its earnings in national and local military veteran nonprofit organizations that provide worthy services and support to one of America's most vulnerable, at-risk populations. As Wall Street's only public benefit corporation, American Veterans Group empowers institutional clients to partner in its social mission while enabling them to remain focused on key business objectives and goals. To learn more about American Veterans Group, visit their website at www.americanvetsgroup.com.

Media Contact:

Mark Kroeger

The Boldsquare Group

(513) 236-3109

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The casting company that is actively looking for extras for a Netflix movie filming in Stamford has also posted a call for extras in Hartford to appear in the movie "Call Jane."

The film stars A-listers Elizabeth Banks, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Mara and Chris Messina. The site describes the movie as a "womens rights indie drama." The synopsis from IMDB reads: "A married woman with an unwanted pregnancy lives in a time in American where she can't get a legal abortion and works with a group of suburban women to find help."
[April 08, 2021] GRC, Forward Thinking Management Company, is Newest Addition to 5G LLC's 'High Tech' Rooftop Portfolio

5G LLC, one of the largest privately-owned wireless infrastructure companies in the U.S., announced that it has signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with GRC (Grenadier Realty Corp) for their sites in New York City and surrounding areas. With this agreement, 5G LLC expands its portfolio of urban rooftop assets to gain a significant foothold in one of the nation's largest markets. "GRC's portfolio of buildings along with their excellent landlord relationships enables the current 5G technology a full-suite of equipment deployment options in the densely populated urban areas of New York and New Jersey. We are excited to partner with GRC as we play a crucial role facilitating the 5G deployment in these markets and beyond," said Matt Davis, CEO at 5G LLC. "When assuming management of a property, we undergo key reviews to identify the best operations and procedures to adopt to optimize collections, improvements, profit and the general quality of life. Our detailed property management process allows us to be extremely responsive to carrier requirements and requests," said Ryan Moorehead, President & CEO at GRC. "We chose 5G LLC for their industry expertise and look forward to working with the team to drive revenue for our landlords and expand our geographic footprint." 5G LLC's "rooftops" allow the carriers to quickly deploy and expand the newest technology and presents the opportunity to ensure the availability of an amenity that is rapidly becoming an absolute necessity for multi-family and commercial tenants. 5G promises more connected devices, faster speeds and highly resilient service levels driving new business sectors like connected vehicles, healthcare, gadgets, and public transportation. 5G LLC's executive carrier and high-tech relationships provide GRC with n immediate on-ramp to the carrier's national deployments.



"Carriers continue to need new sites, many of which will be in urban locations. 5G LLC's role as an infrastructure provider makes us ideally placed to help expand and protect GRC and the carriers. Our innovative solution ensures that we provide the best possible sites to drive and simplify 5G deployment," said Rick Varnell, EVP, Sales and Strategy at 5G LLC. About GRC

Grenadier Realty Management LLC ("GRC") is a full-service property management company based in the NYC Metropolitan Area since 1976. Today, GRC has a wide range of properties under management, which includes market rate, affordable housing Section 8, Section 202, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to several thousand rent stabilized rentals. Our experience includes properties that fall under numerous government programs. These programs include Project-based Section 8, Section 236, Senior Housing Programs, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Mitchell-Lama, Low- and Moderate-Income Rentals and Section 8 RAD. GRC also manages properties with tenants who have portable Section 8 Housing Vouchers. GRC has always been a leader in the property management industry and we continually strive to maintain that level of quality. We also provide a full range of real estate management services, from on-site administration, accounting, construction management, purchasing and capital budgeting to resident initiatives and community relations programs. We are based in New York with offices in New York City and Connecticut. Our reach extends from the Bronx, Manhattan, Yonkers, Brooklyn, and Jersey City, New Jersey. GRC Highlight Location | Manhattan Park | New York, NY 10044 Minutes from Midtown Manhattan is one of New York City's most perfectly balanced neighborhoods containing 1107 units and rising 22 stories in height. Set in the green space and tranquility of Roosevelt Island, yet with all the energy of the city just one subway stop away. Featuring stylish renovations to apartments and building interiors by leading designers and artisans as well as the addition of exciting new amenity spaces coupled with spectacular views. Discover Manhattan Park's luxurious rental apartments on Roosevelt Island for life and style you will not find anywhere else. About 5G LLC 5G LLC is bridging the gap between institutional and corporate owners of commercial real estate portfolios and technology providers including wireless carriers through cutting-edge solutions and services. 5G LLC's mission is to work closely with the CRE environment and Technology providers to deliver substantial new rent roll, cost efficiencies, amenity benefits resulting in higher NOI and capped value at no capital expense to the real estate owners. To find out more, visit www.5gllc.net and follow 5G LLC on LinkedIn (News - Alert) . View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005738/en/

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Sputniks successful launch in 1957 marked a milestone in human history as the first time a man-made object had ever orbited the Earth. But little we understood of the space-based SNAFU we were courting with the advent of satellite technology. In the 64 years since, our planets night skies have become increasingly congested. Today more than 3,000 satellites circle the Earth and they are joined by millions of pieces of space debris  such as bits of broken satellite, discarded rocket parts and flecks of spacecraft paint. NASA estimates that theres around 6,000 tonnes of debris in Low Earth Orbit alone.

This orbital refuse doesnt just create navigation hazards for astronauts, it also reflects sunlight down to the surface, interfering with ground-based telescope observations. A study recently accepted by Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters suggests that there is now nowhere on Earth free from the light pollution produced by overhead debris and satellites. Even more concerning, researchers expect the amount of debris in orbit to increase by an order of magnitude over the next decade as mega-constellations of internet-beaming mini-satellites, like SpaceXs Starlink program, take off.

Astronomers  and casual viewers of the night sky  must expect a future in which the low Earth orbit population includes tens of thousands of relatively large satellites, Jonathan McDowell at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics warned in a 2020 study. The impacts will be significant for certain types of observation, certain observatories and at certain times of year.

Until a couple years ago, humanity had launched fewer than 10,000 objects into orbit since the start of the Space Age. However, with the advent of low-cost commercial rocket launch technology  which has seen the price per pound of launching cargo fall from $24,800 during the Shuttle era to just $1,240 today  the rate at which we put satellites into orbit is set to increase exponentially.

In total, more than 18,000 satellites are expected to be launched into LEO by 2025  roughly ten times the total number of satellites active in 2018. SpaceX alone has permission from the US government to launch 12,000 Starlinks into orbit (with plans to have as many as 42,000 of them), while Amazons Kuiper project is authorized to send up 3,236 satellites of its own in the coming years. Both of these programs seek to create an orbital network in Low Earth Orbit capable of providing high-bandwidth, low-latency internet connectivity accessible from anywhere on the planet. Though their intentions are noble, the unintended consequences of packing that many spacecraft into our skies could fundamentally change our view of the surrounding solar system.

NOIRlab

If the 100,000 or more LEOsats proposed by many companies and many governments are deployed, no combination of mitigations can fully avoid the impacts of the satellite trails on the science programs of current and planned ground-based optical-NIR astronomy facilities, a 2020 report from the American Astronomical Society noted.

When the first 360 Starlinks were launched in May of 2019, for example, their presence in the night sky was immediately noticeable. Their highly reflective design made each mini-satellite about 99 percent brighter than surrounding objects during the five months it took them to chug up to their 550 km operating altitude. This effect was especially pronounced at sunrise and sunset when the Sun's rays reflected off the satellites solar panels. SpaceX's attempt to reduce that reflectivity using a darkening treatment in early 2020 proved only partially successful.

Were detecting roughly a 55 percent reduction in the reflective brightness of DarkSat compared to other Starlink satellites, Jeremy Tregloan-Reed from Chiles University of Antofagasta, noted in a 2020 study.

A celestial objects brightness is measured along the scale of stellar magnitude  that is, the brighter an object is, the larger and more negative its corresponding rating will be. For example, the Sun is rated at -26.7 magnitude while the North Star is rated at +2. Any object rated above +6 is effectively invisible to the human eye, though survey telescopes and other sensitive observation systems can spot objects as dim as +8. According to Treglon-Reeds study, the treated Starlink satellite exhibited a magnitude of +5.33 at its operating altitude, compared to +6.21 for an untreated satellite.

Thats better but not good enough, Treglon-Reed told Forbes last March. Its still way too bright, he said. More still needs to be done. The idea is to get these numbers out to the policymakers [and astronomical societies] who are in talks with SpaceX [and mega constellation companies] and then try and improve this further.

The overall impact these satellites will have depends on a number of factors including the type of telescope being used, the time of day and season the observations are being made, and the height of the satellite constellation. Wide area surveys in both the visible and infrared spectrums (like those conducted by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile) are especially vulnerable to this interference, as are those conducted during twilight hours. And while constellations orbiting in LEO generally go dark once they pass into the Earths shadow, those in geosynchronous orbit at 750 miles and further  such as the short-lived OneWeb program  would "be visible all night during summer and significant fractions of the night during winter, fall and spring, and will have negative impacts on nearly all observational programs," according to the AAS.

Higher-altitude satellites must be inherently less reflective than lower-altitude satellites to leave a comparable streak [in professional detectors]. This is due to two factors: orbital speed (lower altitude satellites move faster so spend less time on each pixel) and focus (lower altitude satellites are less in-focus, so the streak is wider but has a lower peak brightness, University of Washington astronomer Dr. Meredith Rawls told Forbes.

In response to the growing problem, astronomers from around the world, as part of the National Science Foundations SATCON-1 workshop last July, have assembled a list of potential corrective actions and policies. These include limiting constellations to a maximum altitude of 550 - 600 km, requiring individual satellites to have a stellar magnitude of +7 or higher, and sharing orbital information regarding these constellations with the research community so that astronomers can avoid those areas of the sky.

SpaceX has shown that operators can reduce reflected sunlight through satellite body orientation, Sun shielding and surface darkening, the SATCON-1 workshop found. A joint effort to obtain higher accuracy public data on predicted locations of individual satellites (or ephemerides) could enable some pointing avoidance and mid-exposure shuttering during satellite passage. Alternatively, operators could design their satellites to actively deorbit when they reach the end of their service life span  as Starlinks satellites do  or they could just launch fewer constellations in general. Whether national or international regulators will actually adopt these recommendations remains to be seen.

But even if satellite operators do manage to turn down the brightness of their constellations, we are still faced with an increasingly dense orbital graveyard of broken satellites and overhead space junk. NASAs Orbital Space Debris Office estimates that there are half a million marble-sized bits of junk zipping around LEO at 22,300 mph  fast enough to chip even the ISSs heavily reinforced windows upon impact  and as many as 100 million pieces measuring a millimeter or less.

NASA became the first national space agency to develop a comprehensive space debris mitigation plan in 1995. Those guidelines were later adapted by the 10-nation Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) and eventually adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007. The US government also established its Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices (ODMSP) in 2001, in a renewed effort to limit the generation of new, long-lived debris by the control of debris released during normal operations, minimizing debris generated by accidental explosions, the selection of safe flight profile and operational configuration to minimize accidental collisions, and post-mission disposal of space structures. Additionally, the Department of Defense operates the Space Surveillance Network, which is charged with cataloging and tracking objects between 0.12 and 4 inches in diameter using a combination of ground-based visual telescopes and radar arrays.

Tracking this debris is only the first step. A number of space agencies are in the process of developing systems to actively capture and dispose of orbital refuse. JAXA, for example, is considering a 2,300-yard long electrodynamic tether which, when deployed, would smash passing debris back towards the planet where it would burn up during atmospheric reentry. In 2018, a consortium led by the UKs Surrey Space Centre successfully demonstrated its RemoveDebris device  essentially a huge space net designed to capture dead satellites and rogue spacejunk up to 10 meters in length.

ESA

Come 2025, the ESA hopes to launch its ClearSpace-1 mission wherein a four-pronged capture device will attempt to snatch space debris like an oversized claw game prize, then dispose of itself and its derelict bounty in the Earths atmosphere.

Space debris is a global problem as it affects all nations, Airbus mission systems engineer Xander Hall told CNN in 2018. Each piece of junk in space is owned by the original operators and orbital debris is not addressed explicitly in current international law. An international effort must be made to claim ownership of the debris and help fund its safe removal.
HELSINKI (AP)  Bad weather conditions have postponed efforts to salvage a Dutch cargo ship thats been drifting off the coast of Norway for two days after its crew was evacuated, Norwegian maritime officials said Wednesday.

Norwegian and Dutch salvage experts are now expected to try again Thursday.

Life and health are always the first priority during an incident like this, and it must be safe to carry out the rescue, said Hans Petter Mortensholm, emergency director at the Norwegian Coastal Administration.

The agency has published several videos on YouTube showing the wave-tossed ship.

The weather in the region has improved slightly and the ship was no longer in immediate danger of capsizing  even though it was listing at a 40-50 degree angle  Norwegian officials said.

However, its slowly being carried landward by the waves, and there is a risk that it could run aground later Wednesday. The vessel has substantial quantities of diesel and fuel in its tanks, which could cause an environmental disaster if released into the sea.

The Eemslift Hendrika, a Netherlands-registered special ship designed to carry boats on its deck, is adrift in an area where the North Sea and Norwegian Sea meet, some 40-50 kilometers (25-31 miles) off the shore and the city of Alesund.

The crew of 12 was evacuated to shore by helicopter after the ship sent a distress call following a power outage in its main engine in heavy seas late Monday.

Norwegian news agency NTB said that under a salvage plan four Dutch rescue experts would be lowered onto the Eemslift Hendrika by helicopter, after which they would attach towing ropes to secure the vessel to two waiting tug boats.

One large boat aboard the deck of the 6-year-old Eemslift Hendrika fell off the vessel in heavy seas Tuesday, helping to stabilize the ship.

About the photo: The unmanned Dutch cargo ship Eemslift Hendrika rolls in heavy seas, carrying heavy oil and diesel on board in the Norwegian Sea about 130 kilometers (80 miles) off the coast of Alesund. The crew was evacuated following a distress call from the vessel, and the Norwegian Coastal Administration said Tuesday they have dispatched a coast guard ship to inspect the situation. (Coast Guard Ship Sortland / NTB via AP)

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Lawrence made reference to Fred's dapper dress sense and joked: 'Not all heroes wear capes, they wear perfectly tailored suits'

Fred Sirieix rushed over mistakenly thinking Hattie was choking on her food

Barmaid Hattie was matched with Lawrence, from London, and they hit it off

First Dates Hotel viewers were left in hysterics after maitre d'Fred Sirieix rushed to the rescue of a singleton and asked if she wanted to be 'choked' while she was on a date - after mistakenly thinking her food had gone down the wrong way.

In last night's episode of the Channel 4 show, barmaid Hattie was matched with Lawrence, from London, and the pair hit it off instantly - with the latter making her laugh so much over a comment about a courgette, it appeared as if she was choking on her dinner.

Fred, who caught a glimpse of the action out of the corner of his eye, rushed over to Hattie, and asked: 'Shall I choke you?'

While an amused Hattie was quick to point out she was breathing normally, her date Lawrence joked that he should've been the one to have done the gentlemanly thing and saved her.

First Dates Hotel viewers were left in hysterics after maitre d'Fred Sirieix rushed to the rescue of singleton Hattie (pictured) and asked if she wanted to be 'choked' while she was on a date in last night's episode of Channel 4's First Dates Hotel

Taking to Twitter, one person commented: 'Fred very calmly and politely asking 'Shall I choke you?' to a diner. What a gent' (pictured)

'That was my job, Fred,' he enthused, to which Fred replied: 'But you were slow to react.'

The maitre d' went on to joke that Lawrence had just sat there laughing and watching the drama unfold rather than actually do anything to help Hattie.

'You were laughing and she was dying,' maitre d' Fred teased.

Taking it in good humour, Lawrence laughed and as Fred walked off, made an amusing reference to his dapper look and joked: 'Fred to the rescue man. Not all heroes wear capes, they wear perfectly tailored suits.'

After Fred offered to 'choke' Hattie, her date Lawrence (pictured) joked: 'That was my turn, Fred'

Taking to the comments section, many people told how they were left amused by Fred mocking Lawrence for 'laughing' while his date was 'dying' (pictured)

And fans of the show were quick to take to social media following the amusing exchange.

'I love Fred. "Your laughing and she's dying,"' wrote one, while a second penned: 'Fred very calmly and politely asking "Shall I choke you?" to a diner. What a gent.'

A third added: 'You're laughing and she's dying' i f*****g love fred.'

The incident aside, the couple admitted they felt a spark between them, before sharing a kiss on the poolside beds and spending the night together.

However, come the end of the episode, it was revealed Hattie and Lawrence were yet to meet up back in the UK.

Hattie (pictured) started laughing over a comment about a courgette, that it looked as if she was choking on her dinner

Hattie's laugh turned into a real throaty cough, causing Fred to come to the rescue from across the room
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / Idaho Champion Gold Mines Canada Inc. (CSE:ITKO)(OTCQB:GLDRF)(FSE:1QB1) ("Idaho Champion" or the "Company") is pleased to report the results from its 2020 geochemical soil sampling program at the 100% controlled Champagne Gold Project ("Champagne") near the city of Arco, Butte County, Idaho.

2020 Soil Sample Program Highlights:

Analytical results of 534 samples from seven (7) reconnaissance soil lines including five (5) soil lines overlapping with the previously announced Induced Polarization (IP) survey (See Press Release Dated February 2, 2021).

Anomalous gold (to 19 ppb), silver (to 12.1 ppm, the highest value in the survey), arsenic, tellurium, bismuth, and base metals overlie the large NW Anomaly (Figure 1); an IP chargeability anomaly identified 800 metres northwest of Mine Hill.

The highest gold value in the survey (456 ppb) and three additional samples greater than 100 ppb gold overlie the Mine Hill IP chargeability anomaly.

The Mine Hill Anomaly is inferred to represent the fault-displaced upper portion of the NW Anomaly. Drill testing of the NW Anomaly is a priority in 2021.

"Our Champagne soil geochemical results show elevated gold, silver, and base metals values over the large anomaly that we discovered during our IP program in 2020, which suggests an intact and zoned hydrothermal system," stated President and CEO, Jonathan Buick. "The NW Anomaly remains undrilled and open to the north. The 2020 IP and geochemical soil sampling program covered only a small portion of the area controlled by Champion. We are excited to expand our exploration program in 2021."

Soil Sampling Results

Gold values in the soils range from below detection limit (1 ppb) to a maximum of 0.456 ppm (456 ppb). Six samples assayed greater than 100 ppb gold. Four of these samples overlie the Mine Hill IP chargeability anomaly, including the highest gold value of 456 ppb (Figure 1). A total of 75 samples assayed 10 ppb gold or greater.

Silver values in the soils range from below detection limit (0.03 ppm) to a maximum of 12.1 ppm. A total of 18 samples assayed 1.00 ppm silver or greater, of which 8 samples overlie the Mine Hill IP chargeability anomaly. The highest silver value of 12.1 ppm and an additional 5 samples that assayed greater than 1.0 ppm silver overlie the NW IP chargeability anomaly (Figure 1). A total of 91 samples assayed 0.25 ppm silver or greater.

Significant base metal enrichments in soil samples are reported. The highest values within the survey include 3,810 ppm lead, 522 ppm zinc, and 77 ppm copper. Elevated values for zinc are particularly widespread, with 185 samples reporting 100 ppm or greater.

Additionally, strongly anomalous values are reported for bismuth (to 29 ppm), arsenic (to 113 ppm), mercury (to 15 ppm), antimony (to 10 ppm), tellurium (to 3 ppm), and selenium (to 4 ppm). The area overlying the NW anomaly is particularly enriched in these elements, including the highest reported values for bismuth and mercury (Figure 2).

Technical Summary

The induced polarization (IP) survey completed by Idaho Champion Gold in 2020 established the presence of a shallow zone of increased chargeability at Mine Hill ("Mine Hill Anomaly") and a deeper, larger chargeable zone approx. 800 metres northwest of Mine Hill ("NW Anomaly"). Based on detailed geologic mapping also completed in 2020, the Mine Hill Anomaly is interpreted to represent the upper portion of the NW Anomaly that has been severed and displaced to the southeast by low-angle detachment faulting (Figures 2 and 3).

At Mine Hill, historic surface and underground mining and significant mineralized intercepts from Idaho Champion's 2020 Phase I drilling establish the spatial coincidence of gold-silver-base metal enrichment near surface and chargeable zones at depth (Idaho Champion news release 16 February 2021). Results of the reconnaissance soil geochemistry lines confirm this spatial coincidence at both the Mine Hill and NW chargeability anomalies.

Overall, soil geochemical results are interpreted to represent a gold-silver-base metals -enriched hydrothermal system with strong affinities to a magmatic source. Further, zonation patterns apparent in the distribution of elevated values for bismuth, arsenic, antimony, and tellurium (Figure 2) suggest this hydrothermal system may be centered on the NW Anomaly, which remains open to the north.

The seven widely spaced soil geochemical orientation lines occupy less than 25% of the area controlled by Idaho Champion at the Champagne Project. Follow-up soil grids are planned for 2021 to both expand and in-fill the soil geochemical coverage.

Drill testing at the NW anomaly and additional exploration targets is planned for Q3 2021.

Soil Sampling Methodology

Soil sampling was completed during the period August-November 2020. A total of 534 soil samples was collected along seven reconnaissance lines at a sample spacing of 30 metres. Survey lines were oriented generally east-west and approximately perpendicular to the strike of mapped faults and breccia zones. Five of the soil survey lines coincided with portions of previously completed induced polarization (IP) lines (Figure 1; see also Idaho Champion news release of 2 February 2021). Field duplicate samples were collected at a rate of roughly 1 in 20 samples. Duplicates were taken from a separate hole dug within 5m of the original sample hole. Field duplicates showed very good repeatability for low levels of gold and expected minor variability for other key trace elements and the base metals.

Soil sample holes were excavated using pickaxes. Samples were collected from the C soil horizon at an average depth of 28 cm. Physical properties of the sample sites were recorded including level of disturbance, color of soil, depth of soil profile, and lithology of loose rock. Samples were sieved in the field using a 10-mesh sieve. The average weight of soil samples collected was 0.70 kg.

Samples were analyzed by ALS Global in Reno, NV. All samples were analyzed for gold by fire assay with an ICP-AES finish (ALS code Au-ICP21: 1 ppb gold detection limit), and 51 element ultra-trace level analysis by ICP-MS with an aqua regia sample digestion (ALS code ME-MS41).

Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QAQC) blanks and sample pulps were inserted into the sample stream and lab performance was validated by company geologists. QAQC standards from Shea Clark Smith / MEG, Inc, Reno, NV were used. Pure silica pool filter sand was used as blank material.

Figure 1. Plan maps indicating gold-in-soil and silver-in-soil overlying IP chargeability grids. A-B and C-D are cross section lines used in Figures 2 and 3, respectively. IP Chargeability grid represents IP response at 1800 mRL.

Figure 2. East-West cross sections looking North, showing the zonation of surface soil geochemistry distribution of silver, gold, lead, arsenic, antimony, and tellurium, and the strong relationship with the NW Anomaly.

Figure 3. Oblique 3D section showing the relationship of surface silver-in-soil geochemistry values, 3D IP chargeability model, and drill hole results from holes DDH-CC-20-01 and -02 (refer to Idaho Champion news release dated 16 February, 2021).

About the Champagne Project

The Champagne Mine* was operated by Bema Gold as a heap leach operation on an epithermal gold-silver system that occurs in volcanic rocks. Bema Gold drilled 72 shallow reverse circulation holes on the project, which complement drilling and trenching from other previous operators. The property has had no deep drilling or significant modern exploration since the mine closure in early 1992.

The Champagne Deposit contains epigenetic style gold and silver mineralization that occurs in strongly altered Tertiary volcanic tuffs and flows of acid to intermediate composition. Champagne has a near surface cap of gold-silver mineralization emplaced by deep-seated structures that acted as conduits for precious metal rich hydrothermal fluids. Higher grade zones in the Champagne Deposit appear to be related to such feeder zones.

* The Company cautions that the information about the past-producing mine may not be indicative of mineralization on Champion's property, and if mineralization does occur, that it will occur in sufficient quantity or grade that would result in an economic extraction scenario. The historic data were simply used to evaluate the prospective nature of the property. The Company has not yet conducted sufficient exploration to ascertain if a mineral resource is present on the property.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Karelse P.Geo., a consultant to the Company, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Karelse has more than 30 years of experience in exploration and development.

About Idaho Champion Gold Mines Inc.

Idaho Champion is a discovery-focused gold exploration company that is committed to advancing its 100%-owned highly prospective mineral properties located in Idaho, United States. The Company's shares trade on the CSE under the trading symbol "ITKO", on the OTCQB under the trading symbol "GLDRF", and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "1QB1". Idaho Champion is vested in Idaho with the Baner Project in Idaho County, the Champagne Project located in Butte County near Arco, and four cobalt properties in Lemhi County in the Idaho Cobalt Belt. Idaho Champion strives to be a responsible environmental steward, stakeholder and a contributing citizen to the local communities where it operates. Idaho Champion takes its social license seriously, employing local community members and service providers at its operations whenever possible.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Jonathan Buick"

Jonathan Buick, President and CEO

For further information, please visit the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com or the Company's corporate website at www.idahochamp.com.

For further information, please contact:

Nicholas Konkin, Marketing and Communications

Phone: (416) 477- 7771 ext. 205

Email: nkonkin@idahochamp.com

THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION OF SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

Cautionary Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Company, including suggested strike extension. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Idaho Champion Gold Mines Canada Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639391/Idaho-Champion-Gold-Reports-Gold-Silver-Soil-Anomalies-Correlating-with-Large-Geophysical-Drill-Target-at-Champagne
The Biden administration has encouraged Israel to agree to a Jordanian request for additional water, Israeli officials tell me.

Why it matters: Israeli-Jordanian relations have recently sunk into a new crisis after a period of slow improvement, and the water supply is another point of tension.

The backstory: Israel has committed under past agreements to supply Jordan with water. Every year, Jordan asks for an additional amount, and Israel typically agrees right away.

Driving the news: But when a joint water committee met last month and the Jordanians asked for additional water, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately consent.

Haaretz reports that this was retaliation for Jordan scuttling his plans to travel to Abu Dhabi last month.

Flashback: Last month, a visit by the Jordanian crown prince to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem was canceled at the last minute due to Israeli security restrictions.

The Jordanians retaliated by not allowing Netanyahu to fly to Abu Dhabi from Amman, which led to the cancellation of the trip.

Netanyahu intended to escalate further by shutting down Israeli airspace to Jordanian planes but backed down at the last minute.

Around 10 days ago, Jordan's foreign minister raised the water issue with the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Israel-Palestine, Hady Amr, according to a U.S. official.

Last Friday, Secretary of State Tony Blinken raised it in his phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.

Blinken complimented Ashkenazi for his efforts to improve relations with Jordan, stressing Jordan's importance to regional stability, but asked why Israel had not approved the Jordanian request for more water, Israeli officials say.

The state of play: As of Tuesday night, Netanyahu still hadn't signed off. Israeli officials say political turmoil in Israel is delaying many national security decisions, including this one.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8)  The Philippine economy contracted worse than initially reported last year, revised estimates released Thursday by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.

In a statement, the PSA said the growth rate in 2020 shrank by 9.6%, slightly more than the -9.5% reported in January.

The drop in the fourth-quarter gross domestic product, meanwhile, was kept at -8.3%, the revised calculations said.

"Revisions on the estimates are based on the updated data submissions/releases by the data source agencies," the PSA added.

The revised GDP estimates came ahead of the PSA announcement of the 2021 first quarter economic performance on May 11.

This economic contraction in 2020 was the Philippines' worst since World War II due to pandemic woes. The impact of the eruption of Taal Volcano and strong typhoons also dampened the economy.

Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua blamed the poor economic performance to the pandemic which crippled consumer spending and business activities.

"Economic growth will be hard-pressed to make a stronger economic recovery if children and families are restricted from participating in the economy, as up to 50% of non-essential retail sales are driven by family spending," Chua earlier said.

The government continues to implement strict quarantine controls in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces to address surging COVID-19 cases, forcing many industries to reduce their operational capacity or completely suspend their operations during the hard lockdown period.

RELATED: ECQ extended in Metro Manila, 4 provinces for at least one more week

This development raised red flags over the capacity of the Philippine economy to bounce back quickly, Moody's Analytics said in its Asia Pacific Daily Briefing released late in March.

READ: Surge in new cases, rising inflation bring PH economy in "worrisome state" Moody's Analytics
Harris County residents were far more likely to have lost electricity and water during Februarys winter storm and blackout crisis than residents of other Texas counties, a survey by the University of Houstons Hobby School of Public Affairs found.

The findings may help explain why Harris County residents account for a third of the almost 200 deaths so far attributed to the storm, while only accounting for 16 percent of the states population. Most froze to death in their homes or while exposed to the elements, succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning or died when medical devices failed without electricity.

During the week of the winter storm, Harris County residents were significantly more likely than other Texans to lose electrical power, lose internet service, lose access to drinkable water, be without running water, lose cell phone service, have food spoil, suffer economic damages, and experience difficulty finding a plumber, the survey authors wrote.

Ninety-one percent of Harris County survey respondents said they lost power during the blackouts, compared to 64 percent of respondents from the other 212 counties on the states main power grid. Asked if they had lost water, 65 percent of Harris County residents said yes, compared to 44 percent of those in other counties. Thirty-eight percent of local respondents said they suffered burst pipes.

On average, Harris County respondents were without electricity for 49 total hours and 39 consecutive hours, confirming that the outages were not rotating as the grid operator, ERCOT, had hoped. CenterPoint Energy, the Houston areas electricity distributor, said during the crisis it could not rotate blackouts because the drop in available power to distribute was so severe.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, 72 percent of Harris County respondents said they somewhat or strongly disagreed that the power outages were distributed in an equitable manner.

The online survey polled 1,500 Texas residents in 213 counties, excluding Harris, between March 9 and March 19. It has a margin of error of 2.5 percent. A separate sample of 513 Harris County residents also answered the questions; this portion has a margin of error of 4.3 percent.

Of the Harris County respondents, 38 percent identified as Democrats, 36 percent as independents and 17 percent as Republicans.

Renee Cross, one of the principal authors of the study, said Texas is accustomed to many disasters, but a winter storm affecting all regions of the state is rare.

That being said, if you look at the numbers, those of us in Harris County had it quite a bit worse, Cross said. And so that leads to the question of why? Is it just because were so large and the population has had its major booms? Is our infrastructure just not keeping up and a disaster like this just shows the weaknesses?

State Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, said she also wondered whether Harris Countys massive population and aging infrastructure may help explain the storms disproportionate impact here compared to other areas. Within the county, however, she said the storm appeared to be mostly unsparing.

At first, when people saw the downtown skyscrapers were all lit up and downtown looked like a Christmas tree while we were all in the dark, they thought that was inequitable and I certainly agree with that, Alvarado said. But it seemed like everybody I know, no matter where they were, lost power for some time.

Of those who lost power in sub-freezing temperatures, 34 percent of all respondents used a gas range or oven for heat while another 34 percent used a fireplace. Nine percent said they used a grill or smoker indoors, despite the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Twenty-six percent of Harris County respondents and 22 percent across the state said a family member became sick or injured during the storm. There were at least 500 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning in the Houston area.

The survey also measured how Harris County respondents rated the performance of government officials and entities during the storm. President Joe Biden and County Judge Lina Hidalgo scored the highest, with more than 45 percent of respondents somewhat or strongly approving of their handling of the crisis.

Gov. Greg Abbott and state government as a whole were rated poorly, with about 21 percent somewhat or strongly approving of their performance. ERCOT polled the worst, with 78 percent of respondents somewhat or strongly disapproving of the power grid operators performance.

The survey found broad support among Harris County residents who identify as Republicans, Democrats and independents for a series of reforms. More than 70 percent of these respondents said they supported requiring the electric grid and natural gas pipelines to fully winterize and giving the Public Utilities Commission greater oversight over the electric grid.

To prevent Harris County from suffering the brunt of the blow next time, Alvarado said lawmakers should rely on recommendations federal officials made following a 2011 storm, most of which went unheeded.

Winterizing. That has to be the No. 1 thing, and it has to be mandatory, Alvarado said. You saw in the last report, that was one of the recommendations. ERCOT and PUC have to mandate that.

Fifty-three percent of respondents, however, said they were unwilling to have higher utility bills to ensure the grid is better-prepared for severe weather.

Alvarado said, based on committee testimony from energy officials and cost estimates she has reviewed, power companies can afford to take on the cost of winterization themselves.

It shouldnt be a cost that they have to pass on to the consumer, she said.

The greatest partisan divides in the survey responses were around climate change and fuel sources. Ninety-three percent of Harris County residents agreed a changing climate has caused Texas to experience more severe weather than 30 years ago, compared to 52 percent of local Republicans.

Asked to choose the most important priority for addressing the countrys energy supply, 85 percent of Harris County Democrats said developing alternative sources such as wind, solar and hydrogen; 62 percent of local Republicans said expanding oil and gas use.

Jasper Scherer contributed to this report.

zach.despart@chron.com
Islamabad, April 8 : The recent statement by the Pakistani premier Imran Khan about the increasing rape and sexual cases in the country has sparked uproar not within the country but also from across the globe. To add more to his criticism, his former wife Jemima Goldsmith has also slammed him over his rape remarks.

In a response to Khan's comments, Jemima did not mince words and blasted her former husband for stating that it is the women's dress and vulgarity that has given rise to rape cases.

"Say to the believing men that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts." Quran 24:31. The onus is on men", maintained Jemima, citing a verse from the Holy Quran to school the Pakistani premier.

Jemima also went on to express her surprise over what she called 'a transformation' in the viewpoints of her former spouse, hoping that it was a mistranslation.

"I'm hoping this is a misquote/mistranslation. The Imran I knew used to say, put a veil on the man's eyes not on the woman," she said.

Pakistani Prime Minister has come under serious criticism on social media outlets along with local and global media, after he linked fahashi (vulgarity) being practiced in female attire as the reason behind the rise in the cases of sexual violence, including rape.

"The whole concept of pardah or covering up or modesty, in Islam, is to keep the temptation in check. There are many such people in society who cannot keep their willpower in check and that it had to manifest itself in some way", he said responding to a question about his government's planned steps to curb the increasing sexual violence, especially against children.

"Divorce rates have gone up by as much as 70 per cent due to vulgarity in the society. There are some fights that government legislation alone could not win. The society must join in", he added.

Khan's comments putting the blame on females attires, linking it to vulgarity and the root cause of rise in rape and sexual assault in the country, sparked a widespread condemnation by the locals, who declared the statement of premier as 'irresponsible' and 'insensitive'.

Khan's comments however, are not new, as he has given similar reasons for banning apps like TikTok, which he said were harming the society's values. However, Khan has badly failed in addressing the root cause to the problem.

Last year, Imran Khan had said that India'a capital New Delhi, had become the rape capital of the world due to obscenity and indecent content shown in Bollywood films.

While Khan may have the habit of ignoring the root cause of increasing cases of sexual abuse and rape in Pakistan, locals are up in arms to put his statement to rest.

"Such suggestions reflect a warped sense of morality, and insensitivity towards a serious problem. More dangerously, they try and provide justifications for the increasing incidence of sexual crimes in Pakistan", stated senior journalist Zahid Hussain.
A fed-up farmer has slammed Easter holidaymakers for leaving behind a 'Great Wall of Trash' behind at a pristine campground.

Angela Hocking, who lives on a nearby farm with her husband David, was in disbelief at the recent volume of rubbish discarded at the popular Dandos site in The Otways, in Victoria's south-west.

'I couldn't believe it, the foul smell and amount of rubbish left by people was just staggering,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'My husband and I spent the weekend picking up trash along the side of the road down towards our paddocks... it definitely wasn't what we had in mind over the Easter break.

Farmer Angela Hocking was in disbelief at the volume of rubbish left at the Dandos site in The Otways, located in Victoria's south-west, over Easter

Piles of rubbish were left at the campsite in The Otways National Park, in Victoria's south-west over the Easter break

Farmer Angela Hocking would love to see skip bins installed and regular rubbish connections at the camping site in Victoria

'People just packing up and leaving their mess is completely unacceptable.'

Mrs Hocking complained to her local council - the Colac Otway Shire - about the continual hordes of rubbish.

But the council told her it is an issue for Parks Victoria to resolve.

The Dandos campground boasts multiple swimming areas, fishing spots, and scenic bushwalks, so it is used year round.

Numbers intensify around public holidays, notably Australia Day, Easter and the Christmas to New Year break.

Hocking would like to see permanent skip bins on display as well as regular rubbish collections.

'I've reached out to Parks Victoria, and they have told me no plans are in place to install bins,' she said.

'That makes no sense to me, seeing all the discarded rubbish is an eyesore and someone has to collect it eventually.

'To be honest, my husband and I probably wouldn't have bought the farm if we knew the dramas that would follow, some weekends and public holidays in particular, Dandos resembles a freeway, there are that many cars.'

David Roberts, the district manager of Forest Fire Management Victoria, said the instances of repeated dumping were puzzling.

'Leaving rubbish behind at campsites is at odds with why we go to these beautiful locations  to enjoy the natural surroundings,' he said.

'The time and cost of cleaning up rubbish also diverts our crews from other important maintenance tasks.'

The Dandos campground, which boasts swimming areas, opportunities to fish as well as a number of scenic bushwalks, sees guests utilise the facilities all year round
[April 08, 2021] Introducing Tasktop Viz VSM Portfolio Insights, Bridging the IT-to-Business Gap for Value Stream Management at Scale

VANCOUVER, BC, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tasktop , the company creating the universal integration and visualization standard for value stream management (VSM), today announced the new Tasktop Viz VSM Portfolio Insights dashboard. Built to deliver tangible and quantifiable value for the business, VSM Portfolio Insights arm IT and product leaders and C-level executives with end-to-end visibility into digital transformation successes and areas for optimization. The new VSM Portfolio Insights help software teams release products that have a greater impact on their business and enables executives to drive better business strategies. Tasktop today also announced $100 million in new funding to fuel further VSM innovations and company growth. "So many digital transformation initiatives struggle due to the sheer complexity of the teams, tools and metrics within IT organizations  we remove that complexity and replace it with the actionable visibility needed for rapid innovation," said Mik Kersten, CEO at Tasktop. "Executives and senior leaders need a more agile way to drive systemic improvements over local optimizations and must ensure lurking problems aren't hidden by averages that don't take each product value stream into account individually. No business or technology leader can respond quickly enough to the market without a unified and universal way of understanding and communicating the metrics within these value streams. That's what VSM Portfolio Insights deliver." Tasktop Viz VSM Portfolio Insights Dashboard VSM Portfolio Insights Dashboard rolls up metrics and analytics generated at the individual product value stream level to the executive plane. The interactive dashboard presents consolidated insights into the performance, quality, value and impact of delivery including: The progress of the shift from project to product-based IT

The ability to respond rapidly to the market

The business processes capable of acceleration, namely: featue to cash, defect to resolution, risk to mitigation or debt to pay-off

The value creation and value protection areas currently lacking appropriate investment



Bryan Fleming , former SVP, Product & Technology T-Mobile. "Tasktop's insights dashboard promises to solve this massive issue and save millions with a data-driven approach rolled up across product portfolios directly to our IT leaders. This expansion on the transparency that has always been at the core of Viz is extremely valuable in setting business priorities and tying those directly to product delivery and performance." This go-to view for executives and senior leaders helps quickly hone in on the areas requiring attention and support, while highlighting exemplary value streams that can be harnessed to mentor others.

"We repeatedly hear customers are looking to better cultivate and improve the IT and business management relationship. The new portfolio-level VSM insights highlight what's working and what still needs improvement, so leaders can drill down to the product level as needed and work with their direct reports on progressing toward business goals and continuous improvement," explained Nicole Bryan, CPO at Tasktop. "The emphasis on business impact and long-term value also shifts perceptions from IT being seen as a cost center to what it actually is  a profit center." New Tasktop Viz Product Improvement Insights VSM Portfolio Insights include: "Shift to Product" insights that enable CIOs and IT leaders to measure the shift from project to product-based IT and inform which products are:

that enable CIOs and IT leaders to measure the shift from project to product-based IT and inform which products are: Measuring the flow of business value through their end-to end value streams



Prioritizing the right set of features to achieve tangible business goals



Actively taking action to improve flow and focus on high value business initiatives

Agile Improvement insights that identify where high workloads are straining resource capacity and diminishing the return from transformation efforts. These insights point out:

that identify where high workloads are straining resource capacity and diminishing the return from transformation efforts. These insights point out: Where products are biting off more work than they can complete, causing work-in-progress to grow stale and time-to-market to increase



When products will realistically have capacity for new work, based on their current workloads



Which business processes can anticipate longer Flow Times: feature to cash, defect to resolution, risk to mitigation or debt to pay-off

Product Management Improvement insights that help leaders cultivate new product management skills within existing staff and shift the focus from short-term gains to long-term value. These insights highlight products that are experiencing:

that help leaders cultivate new product management skills within existing staff and shift the focus from short-term gains to long-term value. These insights highlight products that are experiencing: Low feature delivery, indicating a slow-down in new capabilities necessary to drive business growth



High defect distribution, where quality issues are endangering customer satisfaction



Increased exposure to fines and breaches, by neglecting risk



Diminished capability to accelerate innovation in the long-run, by neglecting debt "Our organization has been undergoing a shift toward a more product-focused approach. During this process, Tasktop Viz and Hub have been crucial in driving efficiency in our delivery," said Dan Hedstrom, Chief Information Officer at Cubic Corporation. "As leaders, the visibility through our value streams have helped us learn and improve. This success is allowing us to scale more rapidly, focus on innovation and ultimately deliver more value to our customers." Tasktop Viz launched in March 2020 to enable traditional businesses to transform their software development to compete with high-performing digital natives by instantly providing an outside lens focused on business outcomes. For more information about Tasktop Viz, visit www.tasktop.com/viz . About Tasktop:

Tasktop's value stream management platform enables enterprises to master software at scale. Leading brands, including half of the Fortune 100, use Tasktop to provide real-time visibility into the health of product value streams, allowing them to make better decisions and align with business goals. Tasktop plugs into existing tools and overlays the end-to-end value stream to provide the abstractions, automations, visualizations and forensics needed to practice value stream management on a daily basis. For more information, visit us https://www.tasktop.com/ . Media Contact:

Kevin Brown

Kevin@clarity.pr

(512) 917-8744 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/introducing-tasktop-viz-vsm-portfolio-insights-bridging-the-it-to-business-gap-for-value-stream-management-at-scale-301264715.html SOURCE Tasktop

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Moderna's coronavirus vaccine is effective against the Californian variant spreading in the US, scientists say.

And researchers also found the jab sparks Covid-fighting antibodies that stay in the blood for at least six months following a second dose.

Evidence already shows the vaccine  deployed in Britain for the first time yesterday  works against the Kent variant, which is dominant in both the US and UK.

But experts say the jab may cause more side-effects than Pfizer's similar one, with up to three-quarters of recipients experiencing pain at the infection site or headaches.

One Duke University study found the Moderna jab triggered fewer antibodies against the Californian strain  dubbed B.1.429. But experts said this did not mean it was less effective, and pointed out there were other parts of the immune system.

Separate research from academics at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Emory University discovered levels of neutralizing antibodies remained at high levels for at least six months after the top-up dose.

Britain has ordered 17million doses of Moderna's jab  enough for 8.5million people. Supplies are expected to be earmarked for under-30s after regulators said yesterday they should receive an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Californian variant carries mutations to its spike protein and has been detected almost 14,000 times in the US  but it is yet to be spotted in the UK.

In one study, researchers from Duke University exposed blood samples from people who had received both doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine to the California variant. Pictured: A vial of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, April 7

Protectiveness only slightly declined with antibodies having two times less neutralizing power (center), enough to still be very effective at preventing infection

WHICH VACCINES ARE BRITAIN USING? AND HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THEY? Pfizer-BioNTech Approved: December 2, 2020 Doses dished out: 10.8million* Doses ordered: 40million Phase 3 trials data Efficacy at blocking symptoms : 95%

Efficacy against severe illness: 100% Real world data: Efficacy at stopping transmission : 66%

: 66% Efficacy at blocking symptoms (one dose) : Between 57 and 61%

Efficacy against severe illness: 80% How it works: mRNA vaccine  Genetic material from coronavirus is injected to trick the immune system into making 'spike' proteins and learning how to attack them. Oxford-AstraZeneca Approved: December 30, 2020 Doses dished out: 15.8million* Doses ordered: 100million Phase 3 trials data Efficacy at blocking symptoms (one dose) : 70%

Efficacy against severe illness (one dose): 100% Real world data: Efficacy at stopping transmission : 70%

: 70% Efficacy at blocking symptoms : Between 60 and 73%

Efficacy against severe illness: 80% How it works: Adenovirus vaccine  To make the vaccine, the common cold virus is genetically modified to trigger it to make the Covid spike protein  which the virus uses to invade cells. When the vaccine is administered the patient's immune system attacks the spike protein by building antibodies, priming it to fight off Covid before it leads to an infection. Moderna Approved: January 8, 2021 Doses dished out: Zero Doses ordered: 17million Phase 3 trials data Efficacy at blocking symptoms : 94.1%

Efficacy against severe illness : 100 % Real world data: Efficacy at stopping transmission : Not known

: Not known Efficacy at blocking symptoms : 90%**

Efficacy against severe illness : Not known How it works: mRNA vaccine  both Moderna's and Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccines work in the same way. * the latest data goes up to March 21 ** data taken from a US study, joint with Pfizer. Other real world data comes from Public Health England in the UK Advertisement

For the first study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the Duke team looked at blood samples from 26 people who had received both doses of the Moderna vaccine.

The serum was then exposed to the California variant.

The mutant strain was first identified in May 2020 and was virtually nonexistent until October.

In a recent study, the University of California, San Francisco looked at 2,172 samples of the virus collected between September 2020 and January 2021 across California.

By January, the new variant accounted for more than 50 per cent of all the genetically analyzed coronavirus samples.

In short order, it had become the most common strain in the California and may account for up to 90 per cent of the state's infections.

Lab studies performed by USCF found that B.1.427/B.1.429 produced a viral load that was twice as that triggered by other variants.

That suggest the homegrown variant is better at copying itself more quickly once it gets inside the human body and hijacks its machinery.

The new study found that protectiveness of the Moderna vaccine against the California vaccine only slightly declined, with about two times fewer neutralizing antibodies.

However, against the South African variant, antibodies generated by the vaccine had 6.7 times to 9.7 times less neutralizing power.

The team says this is good news because while the California variant is prevalent in the most populous US state, the South African variants is not very widespread.

'The good news is the California variant does not appear to be a problem for our current vaccines,' said study author Dr David Montefiori, professor and director of the Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine Research and Development in Duke's Department of Surgery.

'That's important to know because this variant is now as prevalent in the US as the UK variant, both of which appear to be more contagious.'

For the second study, also published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the team looked at blood samples from 33 healthy participants.

All had been dosed in the phase one trial and researchers looked at levels of binding and neutralizing antibodies more than 200 days after the first dose.

Among all age groups, antibody activity level remained high at the six-month mark.

'[A]ntibodies that were elicited by [the vaccine] persisted through six months after the second dose,' the authors wrote.

'Ongoing studies are monitoring immune responses beyond six months as well as determining the effect of a booster dose to extend the duration and breadth of activity against emerging viral variants.'

The report echoes what Pfizer-BioNTech reported last week about their coronavirus vaccine, which works in a similar way to Moderna's jab.

However, despite reports about Moderna's protectiveness, recipients report more side effects than those who got the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.

In another study, published in JAMA, CDC researchers looked at reports collected through V-SAFE, which uses text messages and web surveys so immunization recipients can write down if they are experiencing any side effects.

After the first dose, people who got the Moderna inoculation were more likely to report side effects.

For example, 73.9 per cent of Moderna recipients reported an injection site reaction, such as pain or redness, compared with 65.4 per cent of people who received Pfizer.

The team says this is good news because it shows that the Moderna vaccine is protective against the most prevalent variant in California

In a second study, researchers found that antibody levels remained high across all age groups six months after receiving the first dose

A new CDC report find Moderna recipients were more likely to report reactions after getting either dose compared to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Pictured: A healthcare worker receives the Moderna Inc Covid-19 vaccine in Tucson, Arizona, January 2021

Britain today saw its Covid cases dip by a third week-on-week after recording 2,763, compared to the 4,052 from last week

But deaths rose slightly after 45 were recorded, which was two more than the same time the week before

More than 31.7million Britons - or three in five adults - have now received their first dose of the Covid vaccine. A 24-year-old carer became the first person to get the Moderna Covid vaccine in the UK today

Elle Taylor, 24, today became the first person to receive the Moderna jab in the UK. She said it would help her care for her grandmother 'properly and safely'

Additionally, 51.7 per cent for those given Moderna reported reactions such as headache, fever or chills compared to 48 per cent of Pfizer recipients.

The disparity between the two vaccines increased after the second dose.

A total of 81.9 per cent of Moderna recipients reported a reaction at the injection site and 74.8 per cent reported other side effects.

Comparatively, 68.6 per cent of those given the Pfizer jab reported injections sire reactions and 64.2 per cent had other symptoms.

It's unclear why more people who get the Moderna shot report side effects.

The National Institutes of Health is now launching an investigation looking at why some people have suffered allergic reactions from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

A 24-year-old carer yesterday became the first person in Britain to get Modernas Covid vaccine as the roll-out was expanded in Wales and Scotland.

Elle Taylor, from Ammanford, revealed she was 'very excited and happy' to receive the jab, adding that the nurses were lovely and it 'didn't hurt'.

'Im an unpaid carer for my grandmother so it is very important to me that I get it, so I can care for her properly and safely,' she said. 'My grandmother has had her first dose and she is going for her second dose on Saturday.'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was 'delighted' the first dose of Modernas vaccine had been administered in the UK.

Britain is only expected to get 100,000 doses of Moderna's vaccine in April.

Around five per cent of that supply has already been sent to one Welsh hospital trust, covering three regions.

Ministers have bought 17million doses in total  enough for 8.5million people  and have planned for deliveries of the jab to 'significantly increase' in May.

Leaked supply projections suggest No10 anticipated it would receive around 160,000 doses every week next month.
Kim Chong-in, the interim leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), shakes hands with Ahn Cheol-soo, who chose to drop out of the mayoral by-election race to help the PPP's candidate Oh Se-hoon, at the party office in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
Enters Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Forest Service and Engages Environmental Review Consultant

VANCOUVER, BC, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - KORE Mining Ltd. (TSXV: KORE) (OTCQX: KOREF) ("KORE" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the United States Forest Service ("USFS") and has engaged a third party consultant to complete the environmental review for KORE's proposed exploration drilling program. KORE is currently accepting bids from drill contractors and working closely with the USFS to commence drilling in safe and responsible manner. KORE remains on track to commence drilling the exciting resource expansion and underlying feeder zone targets in mid-2021.

KORE's CEO Scott Trebilcock stated: "Prospecting and geophysics have shown the potential to significantly grow the gold endowment of the Long Valley gold-silver project. With the proposed program we are testing gold oxide resource expansion targets and testing the underlying epithermal boiling zone for higher-grade gold deposits. A major discovery could bring significant long term economic benefits to the region. As KORE explores for such a discovery, we are committed to safety and working in a responsible manner."

KORE's proposed drill program could realize up to 15,000 meters of drilling with multiple holes planned from each of the 14 proposed drill pads. Pads were located largely off existing USFS roads, to minimize disturbance and impacts to the surrounding environment. KORE is working closely with the USFS to ensure that the Company meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements to protect the area resources and deliver a safe, low impact program.

About Long Valley Gold Project

Long Valley is 100% owned epithermal gold and silver project located in Mono County, California. The 15,965 acre land package is district in scale and covers all deep-rooted fault structures of similar genesis to the Hilton Creek fault, the primary 'conduit' for the current Long Valley deposit.

A total of 896 holes have been drilled on the Project, the majority being completed by reverse circulation with lesser core, rotary and air track. The current mineral resource estimate is 1,217,000 ounces of Indicated gold and 456,000 ounces of Inferred gold from 63.7 million tonnes of 0.58 grams per tonne and 22.0 million tonnes of 0.65 grams per tonne, respectively. The mineral resource consists of oxide, transition and sulphides. The estimate was prepared Neil Prenn, P.E. of Mine Development Associates with an effective date of September 15, 2020.

A Preliminary Economic Assessment for a shallow, low-strip heap leach Au-Ag project was filed October 27, 2020 with the following highlights:

US $273 million NPV5% post-tax with IRR of 48% at US$ 1,600 per ounce gold;

NPV5% post-tax with IRR of 48% at per ounce gold; Significant leverage to gold: US$ 395 million NPV5% at spot US$ 1,900 per ounce gold;

NPV5% at spot per ounce gold; 102,000 ounces gold per year over 7 years mine life;

Technically simple: shallow open pit, heap leach with nearby infrastructure;

Unmodelled silver potential from metallurgical test-work; and

Shallow oxide and sulphide feeder exploration potential to further enhance project.

More information is available in the technical report filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on KORE's website at www.koremining.com.

About KORE Mining

KORE is 100% owner of the Imperial and Long Valley gold projects assets in California. Both projects have positive economic assessments that put KORE on the path to produce up to 350,000 ounces of gold production per year. KORE is supported by strategic investor Eric Sprott who owns 26% of KORE's basic shares. KORE management and Board are aligned with shareholders, owning an additional 38% of the basic shares outstanding. KORE is actively developing its Imperial Gold project and is aggressively exploring across its portfolio of assets.

Further information on Long Valley and KORE can be found on the Company's website at www.koremining.com or by contacting us as [email protected] or by telephone at (888) 407-5450.

On behalf of KORE Mining Ltd

"Scott Trebilcock"

Chief Executive Officer

(888) 407-5450

Investor Relations

Arlen Hansen, KIN Communications

1-888-684-6730

[email protected]

Technical information with respect to the Long Valley Gold Project contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Marc Leduc, P.Eng, who is KORE's COO and is the qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 responsible for the technical matters of this news release.

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 Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects", "intends", "indicates" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the actual timing and implementation of the 2021 exploration plan and strategy for the Long Valley Project, the actual timing of completion of the 2021 exploration plan for the Long Valley Project, the opportunities of expansion at the Long Valley Project, the results of the PEA, including future Project opportunities, the projected NPV, permit timelines, the current mineral resource estimate, and the ability to obtain the requisite permits, the market and future price of and demand for gold, and the ongoing ability to work cooperatively with stakeholders, including the all levels of government. Such 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. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information.

Additional risks and uncertainties are described in the "Risks" section of the Company's management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019 prepared as of April 27, 2020 available under the Company's issuer profile on www.sedar.com.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted into mineral reserve. It is uncertain if further exploration will allow improving the classification of the Indicated or Inferred mineral resource. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

SOURCE Kore Mining

Related Links

http://www.koremining.com


Spending on tech is expected to increase by 4.1 per cent in Australia this year. Photo: Shutterstock

Tech spending across the board in Australia is expected to skyrocket this year following a decline in 2020 and knee-jerk purchasing due to COVID-19, and will likely exceed pre-pandemic levels too, according to a new Gartner report.

The Gartner global IT spend forecast for 2021 found that global spending on IT is expected to exceed $US4 trillion this year, an increase of more than 8 per cent from 2020.

In Australia, IT spending is predicted to grow by 4.1 per cent to $98.3 billion in 2021.

This comes after a 1.1 per cent decline last year, and is also an increase from 2019, with tech spending hitting $95.5 billion in that year.

The growth will be driven by increases in all IT spending segments this year, the report found.

In Australia, the biggest growth segment will be from devices, which are expected to grow by 9 per cent, while enterprise software is also predicted to rise by 7.3 per cent.

This is driven by the focus of companies shifting to providing a comfortable, innovative and productive environment for their workforce, the Gartner report found.

Spending on enterprise software by Australian businesses was down by 2.2 per cent last year to $18 billion.

This is predicted to increase to $19.6 billion this year, and to increase a further 10 per cent in 2022.

Businesses spent $13.9 billion on devices last year, a decrease of 1.7 per cent year-on-year. This figure will increase by 9 per cent this year to $15 billion, the report predicted.

Gartner research vice-president John-David Lovelock said that 2020 saw ad-hoc tech spending from businesses focused on ensuring they could continue to operate during the pandemic, with 2021 to bring more consistency.

Last year, IT spending took the form of a knee-jerk reaction to enable a remote workforce in a matter of weeks, Lovelock said. As hybrid work takes hold, CIOs will focus on spending that enables innovation, not just task completion.

There was a sharp drop in business spending on data centre systems last year, with a fall of 8.6 per cent.

This spending is expected to slightly increase in 2021.

Australias IT spending is still not increasing as quickly as the rest of the world, with worldwide tech spending forecast to jump by 8.4 per cent this year.

The report demonstrates how IT spending is now an element of all business operations and decisions, Lovelock said.

IT no longer just supports corporate operations as it traditionally has, but is fully participating in business value delivery, Lovelock said.

Not only does this shift IT from a back-office role to the front of business, but it also changes the source of funding from an overhead expense that is maintained, monitored and sometimes cut, to the thing that drives revenue.

The Gartner report relies on the rigorous analysis of sales by thousands of vendors across the entire range of IT products and services.

It uses primary research techniques along with secondary research sources in order to build a comprehensive database of market size data on which it bases its forecasts, the company said.

A Gartner report last year found that Australian government IT spend slumped in 2020. It was expected to fall by 7.6 per cent across state and federal governments, following another slight downturn in 2019.

This decline was driven by reduced purchasing of devices primarily, the report found.
New Delhi: CoBRA jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas who was abducted by Naxals in Bijapur ambush on April 3 was released on Thursday (April 8). However, the manner in which he was treated has left the nation fuming.

After spending five days in captivity when Rakeshwar Singh was finally freed, he was humiliated by the Naxals who tied him with ropes and paraded in a village in Bijapur.

Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary on Thursday (April 8) strongly condemned the insult meted out to the brave soldier and demanded stern action against the Naxals.

The tribal leaders and media were informed before Singh was released. It was after the crowd gathered in the village that the soldier was untied and let go.

After Singhs release, his family also breathed a sigh of relief. His five-year-old daughter and his wife thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Today is the happiest day of my life. I always remained hopeful of his return. I thank the government," Meenu, wife of the CRPF jawan said.

Why did Naxals release Rakeshwar Singh Manhas?

There are two main reasons why the cruel Naxals agreed to release Rakeshwar Singh Manhas so easily.

The biggest reason was the fear of the government. After the martyrdom of 22 soldiers, there was anger among the people of the country. And these Naxalites knew that the Modi government was not going to spare them for it.

Therefore, the Naxalites prepared a plan. They kept sending messages to the government that Rakeshwar Manhas is safe. First, the letter was released, after which the jawans photo was released. That is, they kept trying to give the message to the government that they want to talk.

The second reason was that the Naxalites feared that if they held the jawan captive for too long, the government would strike a huge blow on them. They feared that such a move would see them lose the trust of the local people as well as their own cadre.

It is undoubtedly great news that Rakeshwar Singh has finally returned safely. However, we feel that the Naxalites have challenged the entire country by treating the jawan in such a manner. Hence, we demand strict action against the Naxals.

Live TV
Shrimp Insights: India, Indonesia, and Vietnam all poised for continued growth

by Toan Dao

April 08,2021 | Source: SeafoodSource

Despite setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing competition from Ecuador, Asias top shrimp exporting nations should expect continued growth, according to a top shrimp market analyst.



Willem van der Pijl, who founded the Seafood Trade Intelligence Portal (STIP) in 2013, formed Shrimp Insights, a consultancy aimed at the shrimp sector, in June 2020. He recently published a series of blogs on his site looking deeper into the shrimp industry in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.



India, the worlds top shrimp exporter, had a difficult year in 2020, with production and export performance severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The South Asia nation is estimated to have produced between 650,000 and 700,000 metric tons (MT) of shrimp last year, down from 780,000 to 800,000 MT in 2019.



According to data from the Society of Aquaculture Professionals (SAP), production in Indias shrimp-farming states of Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat, all fell in 2020.



And Indias shrimp exports dropped 14 percent year-on-year to 575,000 MT in 2020, with the U.S., China, and the E.U. remaining the countrys primary markets. Its sales of raw peeled products dropped 12 percent to 21,200 MT, though its overall exports of cooked and other value-added products to the U.S. increased last year. Its drop in production was replaced in the global marketplace by Ecuador, which boosted sales of raw peeled products by 15,000 MT. Ecuador sharply increased its shipments of mid-sized shrimp to the U.S. last year, while India dropped 14 percent of its U.S. market share. India also lost a portion of the shell-on market in the U.S. to Ecuador and Indonesia.



Indias exports to China performed even worse, falling 35 percent, or more than 100,000 MT in 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19 and trading uncertainties caused by a border dispute.



With China being Indias most important market for smaller-sized shrimp, Chinas recovery will be crucial for Indias 2021 outlook, van der Pijl said.



India will struggle to improve production in the first half of 2021 due well-stocked inventories in the U.S. and Chinas heightened food security checks, van der Pijl said. Nonetheless, Indias outlook is bright, given its potential to expand its capacity and its low production costs.



I am sure that, in the long run, India will be a major contributor to the expected surge of global farmed shrimp production, he said. I even believe that under the right conditions, Indias own surge in production might come sooner than we expect.



Elsewhere in Asia, van der Pijl projected Indonesia, which increased its vannamei exports by 24 percent last year to 209,000 MT, will continue its significant shrimp-sector growth.



Indonesias overall shrimp exports totaled 239,000 MT in 2020, 15 percent higher than 2019, with vannamei accounting for 75 percent of the total, black tiger shrimp 16 percent, and wild-caught shrimp 9 percent, according to data from Indonesias Department for Competitiveness of Marine and Fisheries Production.



Discrepancies between the two data-sets could be due to the fac that Indonesian exporters were forced to stockpile some product as a result of a shipping container shortage that grew more acute at the end of 2020. Additionally, Indonesias improved 2020 figures could possibly be the result of lower domestic consumption, van der Pijl surmised, pointing to the fact that shrimp feed sales dropped by 12 percent to 309,000 MT last year  a figure that suggests the countrys 2021 shrimp production might decline, he said.



The U.S. was Indonesias top export market for shrimp, followed by Japan. Higher demand from the retail sector in the U.S. was the main contributor to the growth of the Indonesias exports last year. However, many U.S. buyers have shifted over to purchasing smaller sizes from other suppliers, such as Ecuador, as Indonesia processors sold larger sizes, according to van der Pijl.



Indonesia has set an ambitious goal of growing its shrimp industry by 250 percent by 2024. Van der Pijl said he skeptical of Indonesias ability to reach that target, but said the country does have potential to increase its production significantly.



I expect that improved availability of consistently high-quality post-larvae, combined with more biosecure farms and sustainable production practices, will result in an increase in Indonesian vannamei production in 2021 and beyond, he said.



Another Southeast Asian nation making moves in the shrimp segment is Vietnam, which grew its farmed shrimp exports by 8 percent in 2020 to USD 3.3 billion (EUR 2.8 billion), supported by the growth of vannamei sales due to higher demand from the retail sector during the pandemic. Van der Pijl said Vietnam has an advantage in its Best Aquaculture Practices- and Aquaculture Stewardship Council-certified farms producing vannamei shrimp, which will help meet rising global demand for ecolabel-certified raw peeled and cooked peeled products.



I think in terms of demand the situation might be quite good for Vietnam due to continued retail consumption during the first and probably also second quarter of the year at the cost of foodservice, van der Pijl said.



According to van der Pijl, Ecuador remains the biggest threat to Asias shrimp export trade, and evidence of that can be seen in the fact that it increased its share of the U.S. and European markets as compared to its total exports last year, especially challenging Asian competitors in the retail sector. In the U.S. market, Vietnam had an advantage in cooked shrimp but trailed Indonesia and Ecuador in exports of raw peeled and headless shell-on (HLSO) shrimp, according to the Vietnam-focused Shrimp Insights report. And prompted by the loss of the Chinese market and encouraged by a free trade agreement with the E.U., Ecuador has increasingly targeted Europe to drive up sales.



In doing so, Ecuador may have taken some raw peeled retail business away from Vietnam, which used to be northwestern Europes favorite supplier, van der Pijl said.



Lower demand due to the pandemic and possible more competition from Ecuador have together contributed to the moderate growth in Vietnams shrimp exports to Europe last year, despite the support from its new free trade agreements with the European Union and the United Kingdom.



But van der Pijl said he believed Ecuadors aggressive moves into the U.S. and E.U. markets are just a temporary tactic and that Ecuadorian shrimp exporters will return their focus to Asia  and specifically China  once the COVID-19 pandemic comes under full control.

 2021 Diversified Communications. All rights reserved.

Theme(s): Post Harvest Technology and Trade.
Huntsville officials on Thursday shared new strategies for securing an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccination shot as the statewide mask mandate expires Friday.

Huntsville Hospital plans to launch a new online signup portal to schedule appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, an update designed to better facilitate the availability of the vaccine without some of the pitfalls of people skipping appointments.

The Madison County Health Department is also encouraging phone calls to see if missed appointments could be immediately filled by those wanting to get inoculated.

We think the more shots we can give in arms, the better it is for everybody, said Tracy Doughty, chief operating officer at Huntsville Hospital.

Related: Fewer Black residents getting COVID vaccine in Alabamas largest county

Related: In Alabamas Trumpiest county, only 7.3% have received COVID vaccine

Meanwhile, as the statewide mask ordinance ends, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle continued to encourage people to get the vaccine while continue to follow long-familiar health protocols to combat the spread of the virus.

We still have to do the same things weve done thats got us to this stage  separate, sanitize, wear a mask and make sure you get vaccinated, Battle said. If you go get vaccinated, it will take us a long way down the road so we can be looking at this in the rear-view mirror by summer. Lets not spike the ball on the 5-yard line and make sure we get over the goal line.

In announcing the new Huntsville Hospital online vaccine registration at huntsvillehospital.org, Doughty said it will streamline the process and allow patients to tailor appointments to their daily schedule. Patients can choose a day and a time to receive their vaccine with the hope that it will help eliminate the cumbersome process of phone calls back and forth between the hospital and those who missed appointments.

Those who are on the vaccine waiting list at Huntsville Hospital will still be called when an appointment is available, Doughty said.

Madison County EMA Director Jeff Birdwell outlined a sort of standby vaccine process at the Madison County Health Department. Those interested in getting the vaccine should call the health department either mid-morning or late in the afternoon to see if there are unfilled appointments. If so, shots may be immediately available.

Birdwell said those interested should call the health department at 256-582-3174.

Another option, Birdwell said, is to visit vaccinefinder.org or the Alabama health department website at ALcovidvaccine.org.

About one-third of Madison Countys 16-and-above population have received at least their first vaccine shot, Birdwell said. That adds up to 93,812 people.

Across north Alabama in the Huntsville Hospital Healthcare System, Doughty said about 135,000 people have received at least their first shot.

The number of COVID cases and hospitalizations continues to dwindle in north Alabama. There were 35 inpatient cases in Madison County hospitals on Thursday and, across the Huntsville Hospital Healthcare System outside of Madison County, only 11 hospitalized.

Easter and spring break will be a tell-tale sign with us, Battle said. We would expect to see some spike. If we dont see much of a spike, well know were on the right track.
Australia will consider banning the AstraZeneca vaccine from being given to people under 30 in line with Britain recommendations.

British regulators said young people should be offered alternative vaccines while experts investigate its link to rare blood clots.

Most Australians were to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine with the government securing 53.8 million doses, including 50 million to be manufactured locally.

The jab was declared safe by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and is an integral part of the nation's slow-moving vaccine rollout - meaning there is no sure-fire way to demand another vaccine.

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly admitted the link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots was getting stronger

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Health Minister Greg Hunt and state premiers have publicly backed the vaccine and urged Australians to get it.

However, the federal government has at the same time asked the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to review the British findings.

'The government has asked ATAGI and the TGA to immediately consider and advise on the latest vaccination findings out of Europe and the UK,' it said.

'Regulators have already been working with their international counterparts to consider the latest international evidence.'

Advice from the two bodies will be given to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, comprised of the state and federal chief health officers.

The UK government's vaccine advisory group has ruled that people aged between 19 and 29 should be offered an alternative to AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine while experts continue to investigate its link to rare blood clots

Mr Morrison said National Cabinet would also consider the British recommendations when it next meets.

'The Australian Government places safety above all else, as it has done throughout the pandemic, and will continue to follow the medical advice in protecting Australians,' a government spokesperson said.

There were just 79 cases in Britain out of 20 million who received the jab.

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly admitted the link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots was getting stronger.

'This potential link, it is still potential but more looking more likely between the AstraZeneca vaccine in certain people and this extremely rare blood clotting event,' he told Sunrise on Thursday morning.

'But I think very importantly, we need to realise this is an extremely rare event and we will be looking for the advice, the specific advice from our medical expert panel who are meeting today.'

A review by the UK's drugs watchdog the MHRA found that by the end of March, a rate of just one in 250,000 Britons who received the AstraZeneca vaccine had suffered deadly blood clots in the brain or arteries.

Of the 79 cases, 19 died and three were under the age of 30.

Slides presented at a press conference announcing the change in guidance on Wednesday showed that younger people are more prone to blood clots after vaccination than older groups.

The MHRA said healthy people aged 19 to 29 should be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna jabs instead when the programme moves to younger groups in the coming months.

Anyone who has already had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, regardless of their age, is being advised to go for their second appointment as planned.

AUSTRALIA'S VACCINE ROLLOUT Pfizer/BioNTech 10 million doses will be available from early 2021 These doses will be manufactured offshore Australia will have the option to purchase additional doses where supply is available University of Oxford/AstraZeneca Australia has secured 53.8 million doses of this vaccine 3.8 million doses will be delivered to Australia in early 2021 50 million doses will be manufactured in Australia in monthly batches. CSL will manufacture these doses on behalf of AstraZeneca Novavax 51 million doses will be made available in Australia during 2021 Advertisement

AstraZeneca's jab is only being paused for under-30s in Britain because coronavirus levels are getting low, said the nation's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam.

If Covid was still more prevalent, as it is in the rest of Europe, he suggested that the vaccine would still be recommended for all ages, including young people.

The MHRA insisted there was still no concrete proof that the British-made vaccine is causing the clots, but admitted the link was getting firmer.

The review prompted the UK Government's vaccine advisory group, the JCVI, to recommend that people aged 18 to 29 be given an alternative jab.

It comes after a Melbourne man's rare blood clotting disorder was 'likely linked' to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

A nurse administers the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to a patient at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne on March 17

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

The TGA and the ATAGI met on Saturday morning and Acting Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said no changes to the AstraZeneca rollout were recommended.

He said it was likely, given similarities with rare overseas cases, that the man's clotting disorder was related to him receiving the jab.

However, Professor Kidd again emphasised that the risk of serious disease and death from Covid-19 among the mostly unvaccinated Australian population was 'far greater'.

The expert advice is the result of investigations into the illness of the man in his 40s who was admitted to Melbourne's Box Hill hospital after receiving the AstraZeneca jab on March 22.

'While at this time, we don't have evidence of causality, the clinical features of this case are consistent with what we have seen in international reports of similar cases,' Prof Kidd said.

'And it is likely that the case reported yesterday is related to the vaccine. This would be consistent with international experience.'

Four million Australians were due to have jabs by the end of March, a target missed by more than 3.3 million.

The government had aimed for all Australians who want a vaccine to get one by the end of October, a goal critics say is out of reach.

Health Minister Greg Hunt expects more than one million Australians to be vaccinated 'very soon' and anticipates the two million mark will be exceeded not long after that as more general practices join the rollout.

On Wednesday, an elderly woman with pre-existing medical conditions died hours after receiving her Covid-19 vaccine in a Queensland aged care home.

Most Australians will be offered the AstraZeneca vaccine with the government securing 53.8million doses, including 50million to be manufactured onshore

It is understood the 82-year-old received a dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Springwood Yurana Aged Care Facility on Wednesday, before she died in the afternoon.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said 'at this stage there are no signs of any causal link'.

'Any event that happens following vaccination is fully investigated,' Professor Kelly said.

'Sadly more than 1000 people pass in aged care every week. It is inevitable, as the head of the TGA has noted, that this will include people who have been recently vaccinated.

'It can be expected that older and more frail people in an aged care setting may pass away due to progression of underlying disease or natural causes, this does not mean the vaccine has contributed to this.'

The woman had a lung condition.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, April 6th, 2021, representatives of various entities responsible for the treatment & care of persons with mental health concerns on the island met at the request of the Minister of Justice, Ms. Anna E. Richardson. The meeting was requested by the Hon. Minister as an urgency due to an evident rise of mental health reports and sightings on the island. In attendance were; Clinical Psychologist; Dr. Judith Arndell, Chief Corps Police Sint Maarten; Mr. Carl John, President of Board & Interim Director of Turning Point; Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Ministry of VSA Legal Advisor; Lyndon Lewis, Interim Director of Mental Health Foundation; Ms. Kitty Pelswijks, Drug Addiction Counselor; Mrs. Tasheena Thomas, Board Member of Directors of Turning Point; Mr. Clarence Richardson and support staff of the Minister.

Over the past weeks, the Minister has been made aware of multiple reports and sightings of persons engaging in violent conduct and wandering the streets in a disorientated manner as a possible result of substance abuse. The Minister stated that it was brought to her attention that a new drug is known as Fentanyl - a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent  has now become an available drug being used by substance abusers on the island. I am not an expert in this area, which is why I requested this meeting with all the relevant parties to build a better understanding of what were dealing with and figure out what needs to be done to mitigate the situation that has been plaguing the community for a long time, stated the Minister. The Minister recognizes work executed by the Mental Health Foundation, Turning Point, and independent Professionals  have been doing over the past years and the impact that theyve had on our community. The Minister further stated that while I do know, and we all know, that financial limitations have been a driving force as to why a lot more cant and hasnt been done yet, its imperative that we solidify a unification of all entities along with the support of the Ministry of Justice.

Chief John indicated that in the past months there has been a surge in calls to the Police related to mental health. Over a span of 4 months, the police received over 65 phone calls reporting incidents and sightings of persons that appeared to be under the influence of some form of hallucinogen. A breakdown of the numbers showed that in January 2021, the Police received 23 calls, 18 calls in February, 21 calls in March, and 6 calls in April thus far, triggering an urgency for measures to be taken. Chief John emphasized that one of the shortcomings that officers are facing is not being properly equipped and trained to handle persons with mental health issues. Having the appropriate training and being properly equipped is essential for the safety of both the officers and the person(s) living with a mental health disorder. Whenever an officer is confronted with such a person, the Mental Health Foundation is contacted to provide assistance and their expertise. The Police Force and Mental Health Foundation have been building a working relationship over the years and thus far has proven to be an effective one, concluded Chief John. Chief John hopes that in time all officers will be trained to properly manage situations when confronted with a person with mental health issues.

Mental health issues and disorders have been increasing on Sint Maarten since 2020 due to COVID-19. There are a number of factors that influence this increase in cases over the past year, most of which are a direct impact of the current pandemic. Whats to note is that the Mental Health Foundation is not only recording challenges with known clients, but also noticing an increase in new clients. One of the biggest challenges we face as an institute with new clients is not being able to issue medication or treatment due to lack of their medical history. Not being able to test if the person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol makes it difficult to administer any form of medicated help which results in a delay in the start of the medicinal treatment process. Another related issue is the lack of secure space for clients to effectively provide proper health service, stated The Mental Health Foundation. Currently, the Mental Health Foundation is limited to one facility in which there is only one crisis room, making it a complex process when dealing with different forms of mental health issues & crisis clients.

The Interim Director of Turning Point, Dr. Lloyd Richardson, also emphasized the issues that Turning Point has faced and is still facing over the years. Because of laws and financial constraints, Turning Points faces limitations that prohibit them from acting in their full capacity, stated by Dr. Richardson. Turning Point currently faces obstacles that prohibit them from being able to fully care for their clients as an entity and which also obstructs a working relationship with the Mental Health Foundation. Dr. Lloyd hopes that this meeting will be a start to something good for their clients: a structure designed in such a way that it guarantees continuity.

On behalf of the Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labor (VSA), Mr. Lyndon Lewis, the Cabinet Legal Advisor, has expressed the concerns shared also by the Ministry of VSA. Mr. Lewis reiterated on the fact that it is imperative that the Police Force is trained to be able to professionally handle encounters with mental health persons. The Ministry of VSA is committed to addressing the issue at hand and supports the idea of revisiting laws that can be amended to facilitate the effective functioning of the Mental Health Institutes.

The Minister was pleased with the discussion that took place. Having all the respective entities at the table allowed for a constructive dialogue to manage this current crisis we are facing in our community. It was made clear that all parties involved shared the same concerns and interest to tackle the problem at hand. As stated by the Mental Health Foundation, what is important is that we look further than just fixing the problems of now. We need to focus on finding out the causes of the problem so that we can implement preventative measures.

As the final point of the meeting, the Minister emphasized the importance of forming a committed alliance between all entities present at the meeting, stating that a lack of finances cannot and should not be our limitation. We need to work together, for this is a priority. All entities were then tasked by the Minister to research within their expertise the current mental health issues on the island along with advice as to how these measures can be tackled  amending laws to facilitate the entities being the main step.

Another agenda point brought up by the Minister was focusing on drug & alcohol abuse by youths. All entities came to a unanimous agreement to creating a task force proposed by the Minister which reinforces a commitment by all parties. The topic of youth drug & alcohol abuse will be discussed during the next meeting along with a formal agreement being recognized. At current, this new alliance will be meeting at least once per month to discuss mental health issues along with providing solutions on how to mitigate this problem.
Optus has introduced what it calls "a game changing Australian first innovation" that gives its customers "the freedom to ensure they enjoy the time that matters most by opting to pause notifications and connectivity distractions they often face everyday."

Although some home Wi-Fi routers let users and/or parents pause Internet connectivity, Optus is the first telco and Internet provider to offer this feature via its own My Optus app.

We're told that whether its study time, bed-time, dinner time or personal time, Optus Pause lets you "temporarily pause connectivity on all, or some, Optus home and Optus mobile devices simultaneously."

Optus Pause is free and exclusive to Optus customers on selected postpaid, prepaid and home plans.

Clive Dickens, VP of TV, Content & Product Development at Optus said: As a technology company, we know the positive role that connectivity plays in the everyday lives of Australians, but we also understand that sometimes our love of staying connected 24/7 can create distractions for ourselves, our families, our friends, our work colleagues.

Optus Pause empowers our customers to balance their connected time so a face to face business meeting can be social-media-update-free or family dinner time can be about the conversation not missed snaps, or sleep time can be absent pings."

Optus Pause is available now through My Optus app and allows our home and mobile customers to easily manage their time online by deciding when they would like to pause and take a connectivity break.

Dickens continued: Optus is pioneering digital and customer innovation through a one click solution that works across mobile and home WiFi connections; across Optus connected services and all devices connected via WiFi on Optus nbn plans with the latest Optus supplied modems, on the same account and household.

Optus Pause customers can set a timer for how long they would like to pause their connectivity and on what device, or devices, and if they decide to re-connect earlier. Its manageable at a press of a button so best of all, its quick, easy and free to use.

We've listened to our customers who've asked us to develop a product that gave them a right to disconnect. We are delighted we can now bring you real family dinnertime or moments of peace and quiet for reflection  If thats what you want!

Optus Pause will be available to eligible customers in a phased approach rolling out from today, with more information here.
With Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test dates approaching, a group of students in Belchertown is making it their mission to let fellow students know they can opt-out of the test.

In Massachusetts, not all families are aware that they can opt their child out for the yearly assessment. These Belchertown High School students are trying to spread the word, aligning themselves with campaigns from the Massachusetts Teachers Association and other groups that feel the test should not be required this year as students still grapple with COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and continue to adjust to an academic year that has been anything but ordinary.

Supporters of the test, however, argue that a common assessment is needed to determine exactly how much learning has been lost across the state and to develop a plan to move forward.

Advocates for it say we need a way to measure learning loss and to see how students are doing but this is not a comprehensive assessment despite the C in MCAS standing for comprehensive, said senior Ben Schrenzel. The best way to learn how students are doing is to ask teachers.

Freshman Nora Dyer-Murphy said she heard about the MTAs push to cancel this years test and brought the issue to fellow members of Belchertown High Schools student union for equity. Dyer-Murphy said she feels its inequitable to administer the test as some students who have primarily been learning from home are struggling with school. Its a sentiment shared by her peers, who said there has been less time to prepare for the test this year and who noted that in addition to struggling with school, some students are suffering the loss of loved ones who succumbed to the virus.

But, Edward Lambert, the executive director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, said he feels the MCAS is more important than ever this year because it will provide objective and comparable data as the pandemic continues.

Where we certainly understand it could not be administered last year, its all the more important for us to get back to that so we can have a roadmap to recover and thats, we think, essential in this pandemic and hopefully soon post-pandemic era as kids return to school, Lambert said. Its standards-based, it gives us the opportunity to determine how much learning has been lost not only individually for students but collectively, across districts, within districts and schools, that kind of information is incredibly valuable for students and families.

Proponents of the MCAS say data from the test is necessary to create a recovery plan to address learning loss. They also say that the test is only high-stakes for students who need to pass to graduate, and not for the younger students.

In that sense, you could argue its even less stressful than the math final or the science exam which dictates a students grades and potential promotion, Lambert said.

Typically, 10th graders are required to pass the exam to graduate. When the MCAS was canceled in 2020 as all schools were remote learning, those sophomores did not get a chance to take the assessment.

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education last week announced that Commissioner Jeffrey Riley plans to recommend to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education that they modify the state graduation requirements for the Class of 2022. If approved, that will mean current juniors would not be required to take the MCAS test. Though, current juniors and seniors can still take the test this spring to qualify for scholarships, and juniors can also retest in the fall.

Additionally, the timeline for administering the MCAS in grades 3-8 has been extended until June 11 to give districts more flexibility. And, DESE said it will offer remote administration of the English language arts, mathematics, and science tests this spring for grades 3-8 for families that are using remote learning through the academic year.

The MTA last week said the states MCAS flexibilities are a step in the right direction but fall short of the calls to cancel the test. MTA President Merrie Najimy noted that Massachusetts is one of 11 states that still has a testing requirement for graduation. The MTA is urging the state legislatures to get rid of the requirement.

Local education officials should inform families of their opt-out rights, and pledge to give non-tested students meaningful activities to do during the testing periods, Najimy said.

For students in grades 3-8 taking the test, MCAS supporters question whether any student stress about the exam comes from pressure from teachers and principals. This year, the test will be shorter for students in grades 3-8 and DESE has said it will not name any new schools or school districts as underperforming or chronically underperforming.

Federal law requires states to test grade 3-8 students annually in math and English and in one grade level in high school. Testing in science is also required once in elementary, middle and high school.

DESE has maintained that the MCAS test is a crucial diagnostic tool to promote student success.

The Department continues to believe the MCAS test is a crucial diagnostic tool to promote student success and educational equity and we remain committed to administering the assessment this spring, while recognizing the need for adjustments and flexibility, read a memo from Riley issued in January, announcing initial MCAS flexibilities for this year. The MCAS tests will give Massachusetts educators and families critical insight into academic losses that need to be addressed this spring and summer, and data on which students and districts have been most impacted by the disruptions in schooling. Administering the MCAS will make it possible to reliably assess students progress in relation to curriculum standards.

While one side of the argument says a common assessment is needed, the other side argues that teachers can determine what students need moving forward.

If its not a common assessment, which MCAS is, if its not based on the states standards, then its no better than the kinds of assessments that took place 30 years ago, that left kids from disadvantaged backgrounds behind, Lambert said. We think its more than ever important that there be objective, comparable data.

One of the Belchertown students noted that theres no question there has been learning loss.

We dont really need this assessment to tell us that students havent learned that much. You can just ask the teachers and Im sure thats what the teachers would like, said senior Raghav Surya.

Fellow senior Abigail Rothstein said she doesnt believe the test will help in determining how to make up for lost learning.

Focus needs to be placed on next year and it needs to be placed on how are we going to make up for the lost learning time and I dont think that answer is giving them a test and saying recount this information and then well see, she said.

Lisa Guisbond, the president of the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance board and executive director of Citizens for Public Schools, feels the test should not be administered this year because children across the state have received varying amounts of in-person learning while enduring the pandemic.

Many people have commented on how the pandemic has both revealed and exacerbated any inequities in access to learning so there would not be any valid or useful results from administering the MCAS this year and it would just add trauma onto a lot of students who have been traumatized to varying degrees by the pandemic, Guisbond said.

The debate over this years test is not the first time MCAS has gone under scrutiny. Guisbonds organization, Citizens for Public Schools, for years has been urging the state to move to a different system of assessment and accountability.

Because MCAS results would not be in until the fall, Guisbond said she doesnt think the test will actually be helpful in recovery and addressing learning loss. Teachers can assess students now, she said, to more urgently determine students needs.

Learning loss during COVID is more nuanced and local assessments are a better diagnostic of missing learning progression, Guisbond said. If the focus is on helping students recover, first of all, a lot of people have commented on the mental health, the social-emotional impact of the pandemic. So thats a really a crucial thing to take into consideration and focus on when kids come back versus bringing them back and immediately administering a standardized test thats going to be really stressful and traumatic for some kids and, as I said, not produce any useful information or results.

This year, Guisbond and other MCAS opponents are also informing parents of their right to opt-out of the MCAS test.

Roughly a dozen school committees have sent letters to DESE asking the department to cancel or postpone MCAS this year. Many committees voted in support of a resolution from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees calling more a moratorium on MCAS testing.

Stephen Bannon, chair of the Berkshire Hills Regional School District wrote in a letter to DESE that MCAS should be canceled this year so individual districts can decide if testing is the best way to evaluate learning loss.

Simply reducing testing stakes is not enough, Bannon wrote. The use of standardized tests in public education has long raised concerns and with the addition of disruptions caused by COVID-19, these concerns only become more apparent.

A February letter from the U.S. Department of Education, however, said blanket waivers of assessments were not invited this year and urged states to offer flexibility in its assessments, like a shorter exam, remote administration and extending the testing window.

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DUDLEYVILLE, Ariz.  A wildfire that led to the evacuation of all homes in the small Pinal County town of Dudleyville on Thursday was 20% contained after burning at least 12 structures authorities said.

Its unclear how the fire started, but it quickly grew to about 150 acres and forced the evacuations.

County sheriffs officials said 74 structures were within the evacuation zone with 243 residents living in that area.

There were no immediate reports of any injuries and an emergency shelter was set up at Ray High School in Kearny for the evacuees.

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Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management officials said the wildfire was burning thick tamarisk in a river bottom.

About 75 firefighters were battling the flames from the ground while air tankers were dropping gallons of water and fire retardant.

Dudleyville is a census-designated place with a population of about 1,000 located off Highway 77 about 60 miles north of Tucson.

The mining town was the site of a July 2017 wildfire that charred almost 1,200 acres and destroyed several structures, including homes.
 Spotlighting progressive prosecutor challenges and politics circa spring 2021 | Main | Ninth Circuit provides yet another ruling on post-FIRST STEP Act federal compassionate release authority 

Last week brought a number of notable Tenth Circuit opinions regarding compassionate release authority after the FIRST STEP Act, as discussed in posts here and here. A helpful reader made sure I did not miss the latest circuit ruling of note in this arena, this one coming from the Fifth Circuit in US v. Shkambi, No. 20-40543 (5th Cir. April 7, 2021) (available here). Here is the start and some key parts of the ruling (with some cites removed):

The question presented is whether the U.S. Sentencing Commissions compassionate-release policy statement binds district courts in considering prisoners motions under the First Step Act (FSA). The district court said yes and dismissed Francesk Shkambis motion for lack of jurisdiction. That was wrong for two reasons. First, the district court did have jurisdiction. And second, the policy statement is inapplicable. We reverse and remand....

The district court nevertheless thought itself bound by the old preFSA policy statement that appears in  1B1.13. That was error for three reasons.

First, the text of  1B1.13 says it only applies to motion[s] of the Director of the Bureau of Prisons. U.S.S.G.  1B1.13. That makes sense because in 2006 (when the Sentencing Commission issued the policy statement) and in November of 2018 (when the Commission last amended it), the BOP had exclusive authority to move for a sentence reduction. When Congress enacted the FSA in December of 2018, it gave prisoners authority to file their own motions for compassionate release; but it did not strip the BOP of authority to continue filing such motions on behalf of its inmates. So the policy statement continues to govern where it says it governs  on the motion of the Director of the Bureau of Prisons. U.S.S.G.  1B1.13. But it does not govern here  on the newly authorized motion of a prisoner.

Second, the text of the commentary confirms the limited applicability of  1B1.13. Application note 4 of the commentary makes clear that a reduction under this policy statement may be granted only upon a motion by the Director of the Bureau of Prisons. U.S.S.G.  1B1.13 cmt. n.4 (emphasis added). That note expressly limits the policy statements applicability to motions filed by the BOP.

Third, the district court cannot rely on pieces of text in an otherwise inapplicable policy statement. See United States v. McCoy, 981 F.3d 271, 282 (4th Cir. 2020) (refusing to do some quick judicial surgery on  1B1.13 . . . [and] assume that what remains . . . applies to defendant-filed as well as BOP filed motions). Its true that application note 1 defines extraordinary and compelling reasons by articulating four categories of reasons that could warrant a sentence reduction. But this text may not be divorced from context. United States v. Graves, 908 F.3d 137, 141 (5th Cir. 2018).... And the context of the policy statement shows that it applies only to motions filed by the BOP. Just as the district court cannot rely on a money-laundering guideline in a murder case, it cannot rely on the BOP-specific policy statement when considering a non-BOP  3582 motion.

For these reasons, we conclude that neither the policy statement nor the commentary to it binds a district court addressing a prisoners own motion under  3582. The district court on remand is bound only by  3582(c)(1)(A)(i) and, as always, the sentencing factors in  3553(a). In reaching this conclusion, we align with every circuit court to have addressed the issue. See United States v. McGee, --- F.3d ---, 2021 WL 1168980, at *12 (10th Cir. Mar. 29, 2021); United States v. Gunn, 980 F.3d 1178, 1180 (7th Cir. 2020); McCoy, 981 F.3d at 284; Jones, 980 F.3d at 1111; Brooker, 976 F.3d at 234.
Sidney, Nebraska  Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC),is excited to announce a new video series, Entrepreneurial Journey.

In 2016, Bass Pro Shops purchased Cabela's in Sidney, Nebraska. Unfortunately, this left the region with significant job loss. A3-year grant from theSmall Business Administrationprovided the resources for NBDC to provideconsulting and training to Sidney residents to choose entrepreneurship as their next chapter in life. NBDC met with leaders in Sidney, Nebraska to look for additional ways to help residents see themselves as small business owners.

NBDC decided to create a video series that highlights the success of small business owners, specifically in western Nebraska. The industries featured in the Entrepreneurial Journey video series are businesses Sidney residents considered desirable for continuing economic growth in their community.

"Deciding to take the leap to start a business brings about numerous questions," said Sara Bennett, SBDC Associate Center Director. "The stories shared in the Entrepreneurial Journey video series are intended to help prospective Sidney business owners gain a greater understanding of what small business ownership is like from peers who are already owners."

Videos will be released at 11:00 AM CDT/10:00 AM MDT for viewing with the following schedule:

April 20th Flyover Brewing Company of Scottsbluff

April 27th Double Dips Ice Creamery of North Platte

May 4th Noyes Irrigation/Route 61 Roller Dome of Grant

May 11th Nexgen Outfitters of Sidney

The videos can be viewed on the following page:nbdc.unomaha.edu/journey

NBDC will also be sharing on social media and through email: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Subscribe

To help take the guesswork out of starting one of the featured businesses in Sidney, NBDC includes links to additional resources at the bottom of each video.Bennett hopes the videos provide motivation toprospective entrepreneurs to take advantage of the no-cost, confidential consulting NBDC provides to help individuals start their Nebraska small business.
The victim aged about 16 years is a resident of Qazigund area of Kulgam

The police sources said that the accused have been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and sections 342, 109 and 376D of IPC along with a woman.

SRINAGAR: Four-person including a policeman and a retired Army jawan-one report said he too is a policeman- are among four persons arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir police on charge of raping a minor girl from the Union Territory's Kulgam district. More shockingly, the girl has been found to be pregnant during the medical examination.

The police sources said that the accused have been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and sections 342, 109 and 376D of IPC along with a woman. The victim aged about 16 years is a resident of Qazigund area of Kulgam.

Confirming it, a police spokesman said that police station Qazigund received a written complaint from a local resident alleging therein that her daughter (name withheld) was raped by three persons at Bonigam, Qazigund with the help of a woman of Damjen area of the same district. "The said offence as per the complainant surfaced during the course of a medical examination where she was found pregnant," the police said.

After registering the FIR under relevant sections of the law, the police arrested the accused identified as Zahoor Ahmad Mir, Aejaz Ahmad Shah, Kifayat Ahmad Malik and Shabrooza. The police claimed that during investigation, it surfaced that the accused policeman Zahoor Mir was not on duty when the crime took place "nor was it committed inside police premises''.

The police also said that in addition to criminal proceedings, departmental inquiry has been initiated against the accused policeman. It assured the people that "strict action" will be taken against offenders, regardless of their position or placement.
CHICAGO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sikich announced Thursday that it will acquire the assets of Process Stream, a leader in digital transformation services for regulated industries, including life sciences and insurance. Process Stream specializes in quality management, IT compliance, and insurtech systems implementations and consulting.

"Increased regulation, more exacting customer demands and enhanced competition will force organizations across industries to improve their quality management efforts in the coming years," said Ryan Spohn, CFO and leader of Sikich's business advisory services. "The addition of Process Stream expands our existing technology services and industry expertise and enables us to meet these evolving needs for clients across regulated industries."

Process Stream offers holistic support for organizations' digital transformation roadmaps. The company implements, manages, and optimizes quality and claims systems and their associated processes for innovative global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and insurance organizations. The Process Stream team includes system engineers, software developers, quality management and claims systems administrators, and industry subject-matter experts.

"We're thrilled to join Sikich," said Bobby Roy, CEO of Process Stream. "The company's national footprint and extensive technology and consulting talent will strengthen our ability to assist clients along their digital transformation journeys. This move will also enable us to bring our best-in-class services to a wider audience."

Process Stream complements its consulting services with proprietary technology solutions that help organizations achieve their digital transformation goals by managing data migrations and conversions, data archival, and more.

"The acquisition of Process Stream advances our efforts to support businesses with end-to-end technology-enabled professional services," said Sikich CEO Chris Geier. "Process Stream's quality management expertise will complement our existing enterprise resource planning and validation capabilities. Our combined teams will offer clients sophisticated technology implementation support and business consulting rooted in deep industry expertise."

Approximately 60 employees from Process Stream will join Sikich and continue to work from their office in Princeton, New Jersey. The transaction is scheduled to close on April 30.

About Sikich

Sikich LLP is a global company specializing in technology-enabled professional services. With more than 1,000 employees, Sikich draws on a diverse portfolio of technology solutions to deliver transformative digital strategies and ranks as one of the largest CPA firms in the United States. From corporations and not-for-profits to state and local governments, Sikich clients utilize a broad spectrum of services* and products to help them improve performance and achieve long-term, strategic goals.

*Securities offered through Sikich Corporate Finance LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Sikich Financial, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor.

SOURCE Sikich

Related Links

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New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin announced Thursday that he is running for governor against Gov. Andrew Cuomo, blasting him for what he called a 'deadly nursing home order and cover-up' and saying the Democrat is vulnerable.

'Listen, on so many different levels, everyone is coming to the conclusion -- whether you're Republican, Democrat, anywhere in between -- that this guy has been there too long. It's time to go,' Zeldin told Fox & Friends Thursday morning.

Zeldin, who took office in 2015, represents a Long Island district, and is seeking to take on Cuomo in the Democratic-leaning state in 2022 where Republicans have struggled in statewide elections.

He called his race 'a last great opportunity to save New York.'

New York Rep. Lee Zeldin announced he is running for governor against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo

He is a Trump loyalist who opposed both impeachments of the former president, and who often put himself on cable news to defend Trump against attacks and investigations.

'This is the first time in my entire life that we have had one-party democratic rule in New York City, Albany, and D.C., and they're all doing their part to destroy their levels of government. We have to -- we can't get complacent,' he told the network.

He also tweeted about his run, describing New York as a city suffering under Democratic rule that was 'forcing its own to leave'  as Trump did during his presidency when he moved his official residency to Florida, a lower tax state.

Zeldin's embrace of Trump could be a challenge in New York, a state Joe Biden carried with 61 per cent of the vote. Here Trump, right, greets Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., center, and his wife Diana Zeldin for a fundraiser in the Hamptons in 2019

'The New York that was once a magnet for the worlds best and brightest is now forcing its own to leave under the crushing weight of skyrocketing taxes, lost jobs, suffocating regulations, and rising crime resulting from dangerously liberal policies,' he said.

Cuomo is seeking a fourth term at a time when numerous women have come forward to accuse him of sexual harassment. He is also under fire for his handling of the state's coronavirus crisis over his order to send COVID-19 patients back to nursing home care facilities early in the outbreak.

Last month, while publicly mulling a run, Zeldin refused to say that President Joe Biden won the election.

Zeldin voted against counting votes January 6th in two states carried by Joe Biden. He pushed back when Politico interviewer Ryan Lizza asked if he could state 'unequivocally' that Biden won.

'Yeah, Joe Biden's the president of the United States,' Zeldin responded. 'And that's how you become the president of the United States,' Zeldin said.

Lizza tried again to get him to state directly that Biden won. 'Is or was?' he pressed.

'I ask it very intentionally that he won the presidential election,' Lizza explained.

Zeldin then shot back: 'Yes. And then I went on to continue an answer. If you would like to give my answer for me, you can go ahead and do that. But I thought I was going to be here to answer my own questions,' he said.

Cuomo faces a host of personal and political challenges, but among his first political plays if he were to face Zeldin would be to try to link him to Trump, who is not popular in his former home state. Joe Biden beat Trump there by 61 to 38 per cent in 2020.

The state attorney general's office is conducting a probe of allegations of harassment, groping, and bullying behavior. Should Cuomo resign, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul would be the party's standard bearer.

In yet another blow to Cuomo, the Washington Post reported his administration had provided special access to state coronavirus testing to Cuomo family members and other figures.

The state's last Republican governor was George Pataki, who decided not to seek reelection in 2006.

The final word from Zeldin that he is running comes days a day after Andrew Giuliani, a former Trump White House advisor and son of former New York Mayor Andrew Giuliani, said he was pondering his own run.

He told the New York Times he was 'strongly considering' making what would be his first run for elected office, with a decision coming by month's end. Another potential candidate is 2014 GOP nominee Rob Astorino, the former Westchester County Executive.
Narok County is mourning the loss of a senior local government official, who succumbed to Covid-19 complications on Thursday morning.

County Roads Executive John Marindany died while undergoing treatment at a Nairobi hospital, becoming the first high ranking official in the county to die of the disease.

According to Angata Barrikoi chief Joseph Kirui, Marindany developed breathing problems while he was in his rural home for the Easter holiday.

"He was rushed to Lolgorian Hospital and was later referred to Tenwek Hospital in Bomet County.

"While there, he was diagnosed with Covid-19 and further referred to a Nairobi hospital. Yesterday, at around 3pm he developed more breathing problems and died minutes later," said Mr Kirui, who confirmed the death.

The Nation learnt that the CEC had also been diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes.

After the Covid-19 diagnosis was confirmed on April 6, his immediate family members and other people who had interacted with the CEC were placed on quarantine.

Dedicated and selfless leader

Governor Samuel Tunai condoled with Marindany's family, describing the leader as hardworking, dedicated and selfless.

"I have learned with shock and difficulty of the very untimely death of John Marindany, who until his death, served as a devoted County Executive Committee Member for the Department of Roads and Public Works.

"My administration has suffered a big blow following the death. He was a dedicated member of the County Executive, whose services were a major knob in service delivery," said the governor in his condolence message.

He said his diligence, attention to detail and sacrifice were all evident in the responsibilities he held within the county executive since 2013.
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Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper is finally home after spending more than a year in intensive care following a battle with coronavirus.

The TV presenter, 53, has had their family home adapted so that Derek, also 53, could come back and receive round-the-clock care at their North London property.

Former lobbyist Derek has now been taken off all hospital machines, but his family have been warned he still has a long way to go to recover from the virus.

Happy news: Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper is finally home after spending more than a year in intensive care following a battle with coronavirus (pictured left in 2018 with Kate and children Darcey, 15, and Billy, 11)

An insider told the Sun that the family they have wept tears of joy, adding: 'Kate's dreamt of this day for so long, and can't thank wonderful NHS staff enough.'

Kate and Derek share daughter Darcey, 15, and son Billy, 11, who recently appeared on an ITV documentary about Derek's illness, Kate Garraway: Finding Derek, which aired last month.

A family friend declared Kate has been 'dreaming of this day', and said: 'The children, who have been so resilient, have been so, so happy to have their dad home. There have been a lot of happy tears from everyone.

'This past year has given Derek and Kate an absolutely unbreakable bond  she has been such a rock, and a total inspiration to everyone in Britain battling their own horror stories with the pernicious disease.'

Health:The TV presenter, 53, has had the family home adapted so that Derek, also 53, could come back and receive round-the-clock care at their property

It was reported by the publication that Derek was taken by ambulance back to his home on Wednesday after he began regularly responding while under the care of doctors in hospital.

Experts are said to have agreed that being surrounded by Kate and the kids would be beneficial to Derek's recovery, after medics noticed setbacks while his wife was unable to visit him during lockdown.

Their theory is that by aiding Derek's mental health it will also help his physical health.

A friend of the family told the Sun they have wept tears of joy, adding: 'Kate's dreamt of this day for so long, and can't thank wonderful NHS staff enough'

It has been confirmed that Derek is Britains longest surviving Covid hospital patient after he was first admitted with breathing difficulties on March 30 last year.

Derek was put on a ventilator and spent months in a form of coma before uttering his first word - 'pain' - in October last year.

The father of two's body has been 'universally affected' by the condition, which means that it has targeted his lungs, heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas.

Kate's Good Morning Britain co-host Ben Shephard appeared to be trying to fight back tears as he spoke about the news Derek would be returning with co-host Ranvir Singh on Friday.

Ben and his co-host Ranvir Singh were keen to discuss the wonderful news that Derek Draper has returned home to Kate and their two kids over a year after he was hospitalised.

Ben revealed: 'We are all smiling this morning, arent we? The news that he has been able to travel home and is living at home now with Kate, Darcey and Bill.

'Honestly this means an awful lot to us because weve shared this with Kate personally, but when we come in and see the messages from you guys and how pleased you are.

'Its the first step in a very, very long journey for Derek and Kate and for the family trying to work out how its going to unfold. There is 24 hour care for him at home.'

Ranvir added: 'Its a progress thing isnt it. Now doctors are saying he is responding regularly which is an amazing thing, but theres going to be a lot of help needed for Kate and the family.'

'Its a God send,' Showbiz correspondent Richard Arnold added. 'Having been with her through this journey, its been absolutely heartbreaking. Its not so much joy unconfined, but its a relief, palpable relief for all of us.'

Finances: Kate has been handed more than 50% of the firm to give her the controlling interest to make decisions on her own

Kate has reportedly spent 'thousands' on renovating their family home to support Derek's return. It was revealed last week that Kate has taken control of her husband's business affairs, a year after he contracted Covid.

12 months on after he was first admitted to hospital, Kate, was made the director of a firm founded by Derek.

Documents filed to Companies House show she's been named on the books of his Astra Aspera Ltd firm. The company's name is a take on the Latin phrase 'ad astra per aspera' which means 'to the stars through hardship'.

She has been handed more than 50% of the firm to give her the controlling interest to make decisions on her own and notes on the company's listing show that it is late in filing accounts for 2019 due to Derek's illness.

Books for 2018 revealed it paid more than 128,000 in tax meaning the firm was taking in a healthy income. Derek  the firm's other director  founded the outfit in 2011.

A source told MailOnline: 'It's been an incredibly tough year for Kate and the family and she's been left with a lot of financial decisions and complications on top of it all.

'Making Kate the director for Derek's company for the time being, was the best decision for everyone to try to manage things while Derek is unable to. It's been a lot for Kate to handle but she's determined to tackle it.'

Last month, Kate revealed she had to rely on friends for financial support while off work during Derek's Covid battle.

The Good Morning Britain host explained how although those in TV are 'paid a good wage compared to the nurses keeping Derek alive', she had to stop earning 'quite suddenly' last March and turned to pals for support.

Kate said: 'Working in television, everybody does get paid a good wage compared with the nurses who are keeping Derek alive. But that obviously stopped quite suddenly last March.'

The star said she worried she'd sound like she was 'pleading poverty' and added that she's had to think about things she never contemplated before Derek's illness.

Sad: Kate (pictured in 2019) admitted it is 'shocking' to see his current state, including his eight stone weight loss

Kate admitted a major learning curve was the legal side of things, saying: 'I haven't really got my head round the legal situation.

'I've been in a continual survival mode. Just thinking, let's get through today.'

She explained that since Derek's been in hospital she's not been able to access his credit card accounts or their joint savings.

Kate even revealed she's not allowed to see her husband's medical notes because of data protection and them not giving each other power of attorney.

The mother-of-two said she recalled having a chat with Derek about how they should do this, however it never came about, with her saying she probably brushed it off by saying some joke like: 'Youre not being mine'

Kate also reflected on how she's been faced with a long-line of problems to fix at home as well as working out childcare for her two children on her own.

She detailed how during the past 12 months their family car has broken down and the replacement was stolen. And while self-isolating to visit Derek in hospital the familys fridge-freezer broke followed by a flood and failed heating.

Adding to the list of bad luck, just two days before Christmas Kate even had to call her agent, who also reps Emma Willis who works for Marks and Spencer, to sort some food for Kate and her children to have over the festive period.

It comes after Kate stated she has been 'absolutely overwhelmed' by the positive reaction to her documentary, and admitted the 'battle' for her husband Derek goes on as he faces a 'challenging fortnight.'

Kate returned to GMB after the emotional Kate Garraway: Finding Derek documentary aired and said: 'It's been absolutely overwhelming in a really wonderful way.'

She said: 'We spoke on Tuesday morning about how it was quite a difficult decision to think about filming it, but you hoped it would bring some comfort to some people or perhaps shine a light on a situation that... or for a group of people who might be suffering away in a way that hasn't been focused on.

'I've had so many comments from people. The reaction has been extraordinary. I've had so many messages from people talking not just about COVID, but about experiences in their own life, where some of the things we touched on have impacted.'

Emotional: Kate admitted that she might have to 'fall in love again' with Derek Draper while she later comforted her sobbing husband who said he wanted to 'die'

During the documentary, Kate said she might have to 'fall in love again' with Derek while she later comforted her sobbing husband who said he wanted to 'die'.

Kate filmed every step of Derek's year long battle with COVID-19 following his hospitalisation with the respiratory illness with the fly-on-the-wall programme.

During the emotional hour-long documentary, Kate planned for an uncertain future with Derek, as she admitted: 'There's been times where I've thought: "Am I actually grieving for the person I'm married to or am I fighting to hold onto that person?"'

While later, in a heartbreaking video call with her husband in November, Derek broke down in tears and said he wanted to 'die' to which Kate insisted: 'I promised you I will save you and I'm going to save you.'

The documentary, filmed at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, focused on Derek's plight after falling gravely ill with the virus and Kate's desperate battle to care for her husband while planning for an uncertain future.

Battle: Kate filmed every step of Derek's, pictured, year long battle with COVID-19 following his hospitalisation with the respiratory illness in March 2020 with the fly-on-the-wall programme aired on Tuesday

In heartbreaking footage filmed from November 2020, Kate was asked whether she would be okay if her husband is 'not her Derek' anymore once he is out of hospital.

To which the presenter admitted: 'Well, he is still Derek, he is still him he is still that person that you love, but he will behave differently and will be physically different.

'Will I be okay? I won't be delighted because I wouldn't wish that on him, very tough on us both, but he is for better or worse'

Reflecting on their future, Kate continued: 'It might be a rather beautiful thing, trying to look at it as a rather beautiful thing. I feel as though we might have to fall in love again  find out who each other are now a little bit.'

Heartbreaking: The documentary, filmed at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, focused on Derek's plight after falling gravely ill with the virus and Kate's desperate battle to care for her husband while planning for an uncertain future

Kate then met with a clinical psychologist who works in intensive care units as they discussed what the future could look like for Derek and what he might go through as he adapts to life back home.

The medical professional noted that from a 'psychological perspective', a quarter of patients have trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), low moods and anxiety, as well as memory, attention and concentration difficulties.

Kate admitted that she was trying to 'piece together' the life they had before but it was 'quite complicated' to which the psychologist noted there is no 'straight answer' during recovery.

Reflecting on the challenging time, Kate said: 'There's been times where I've thought: "Am I actually grieving for the person I'm married to or am I fighting to hold onto that person?" Should I be trying to fight to hold onto that person or should I be trying to adjust?'

To which the psychologist noted that loved ones are in a 'powerless position' as they are looking for things they recognise in patients to 'give them hope'.

Future: In heartbreaking footage filmed from November 2020, Kate was asked whether she would be okay if her husband is 'not her Derek' anymore once he is out of hospital, to which she said: 'It might be a rather beautiful thing, trying to look at it as a rather beautiful thing. I feel as though we might have to fall in love again'

Later during the documentary, a heartbreaking moment filmed in November saw Kate speak to husband Derek over FaceTime where he broke down in tears and said he wants his life to end.

Kate said: 'In many ways Derek is showing signs of improvement, but his mental state is worryingly unpredictable.'

During an emotional video call in November, the former lobbyist and political advisor said: 'There's no way out...' to which Kate replied: 'What do you mean, there's no way out of what?'

Derek added: 'I'm at the point, f**k it, just f**k it' with Kate asking: 'As in die? No, no,' to which her husband emotionally admitted: 'Yes.'

With Derek adding: 'I don't know how to cope, I don't know how to cope.'

Advice: Kate then met with a clinical psychologist who works in intensive care units as they discussed what the future could look like for Derek and what he might go through as he adapts to life back home

Comforting her husband, the presenter continued: 'You don't know how to cope with it? Okay... I know you feel like you're trapped in your head and it must be terrifying.

'But you're coming home, you're coming back to your life and you will be the person even better than you were before. You will be.

'I will find a way to make it better, okay? I promised you I will save you and I'm going to save you. I will find a way but you just have to hang in there, okay?'

Talking after the emotional moment, Kate said: 'You'll have a step forward, two steps back, you'll have what seems like a huge breakthrough, and then the next minute, he sort of mouths: "Sorry, goodbye." I'm saying: "You're not going to die, you're not going to die, you're not going to die." We've just got to get through it.'

Prior to this, Kate had shown footage of Derek following his return to consciousness in July, four months after his admission to intensive care, where he had mouthed the word 'pain - his first verbal communication since being stricken with coronavirus.

In a different emotional part during the documentary, Kate also showed a video of Derek crying as he 'responded' to his wife to which she said of the milestone: 'We've got him back!'

Worrying: Later, in a heartbreaking moment filmed in November during the documentary, Kate spoke to husband Derek over FaceTime where he broke down in tears and said he wanted to 'die', to which she insisted: 'I promised you I will save you and I'm going to save you.'

During the fly-on-the-wall documentary, Kate and Derek's children, also spoke about their father's recovery as it showed emotional footage of them FaceTiming their dad in hospital.

In footage filmed over the summer, Darcey admitted that she has not 'thought the worse' during her father's recovery while Billy noted that they don't know whether their dad will 'get better or not'.

Darcey said: 'I've not really thought the worse, Ive always said he's going to get better, hes going to get back  all of this stuff.

'They say that we've heard rumours he will get back, hopefully, before the end of next year but we really don't know at all.'

Billy then showed off his Lego collection from his birthday, he said: 'Dad usually does Lego with me the most but since dad is not here... I've started to do it myself.'

Children: During the fly-on-the-wall documentary, Kate and Derek's children also spoke about their father's recovery as it showed emotional footage of them FaceTiming their dad in hospital

'I really want him back': In footage filmed over the summer, Darcey admitted that she has not 'thought the worse' during her father's recovery while Billy, pictured, noted that they don't know whether their dad will 'get better or not'

Billy joked that Derek is a 'big kid', he emotionally added: 'I really want him back but we don't know if he's going to get better or not. So...'

Darcey was then asked whether they expected their father to return home for Christmas. Later during the documentary, the family were able to visit Derek over the festive period, it was the first time they had all seen him since he was hospitalised.

The teenager said: 'I hope so... it's hard, he might still be hooked up to things he needs to help him survive.'

Darcey was asked by the interviewer whether it was 'scary' seeing her father in hospital, to which she said: 'I mean it's not really scary, it looks scary. It's just scary in the way of thinking we might lose him.'

While Kate added: 'Derek is probably the cleverest person I've ever met with a kind of incredible ability of precise thinking, analysis, humour and everything. You just think... is that gone? Is he going to be able to come back or will he be alive but no longer the person he was?'

Later in the documentary, in scenes filmed in February, Kate reflected on their Christmas time together, she said: 'We were very lucky that Darcey and Billy and I got to spend time with Derek.

'Scary': Darcey was asked by the interviewer whether it was 'scary' seeing her father in hospital, to which she said: 'I mean it's not really scary, it looks scary. It's just scary in the way of thinking we might lose him.' (pictured together in 2019)

'Lucky': Later in the documentary, in scenes filmed in February, Kate reflected on their Christmas time together, she said: ' We were very lucky that Darcey and Billy and I got to spend time with Derek.'

'Really good, we played Frustration [game] and he remembered the rules. He remembered the rules of Frustration, you played it with him [Billy]. Quite unbelievable, Bill didnt let him win!

'It was really lovely, lots of things we used to do with him that can still be done, but its also a reminder of how far there is to go.'

Elsewhere during the documentary, footage filmed in August 2020 when Kate first returned back to work at Good Morning Britain amid Derek's battle was shown.

Kate was reunited with her co-host Ben Shephard as he praised her for her 'positivity' but admitted he was scared that she could 'crash' at some point in the future.

Ben, 46, said: 'Our relationship goes back 20 years when we first started working together at GMTV and we have been through everything together.'

Return to work: Elsewhere during the documentary, it showed footage filmed in August 2020 when Kate first returned back to work at Good Morning Britain amid Derek's battle

Praise: Kate was reunited with her co-host Ben Shephard as he praised her for her 'positivity' but admitted he was scared that she could 'crash' at some point in the future

He continued: 'Kate is brilliant at sharing what she is going through, she has always been really aware that people could very easily think she's looking for sympathy, that she's looking for support, she's not at all.

'It's not just her going through this. But if her voice can represent some of those families that can't be heard like she can be heard, hopefully it can make a huge difference down the line.'

'It's testament to who she is, her strength of character, positivity, her brilliance she has got this far and managed it so well.

'I just keep thinking at some point there's going to be a huge crash, that at some point, maybe, hopefully... we have a big move in how Derek is with his recovery or Derek comes home. It's going to hit her, what she has been through.'

Later in the documentary, it showed footage of Derek breaking down in tears and mouthing the word 'pain' after waking from his coma with Kate left crying over the milestone.

Worries: Ben said: 'I just keep thinking at some point there's going to be a huge crash, that at some point, maybe, hopefully... we have a big move in how Derek is with his recovery or Derek comes home. It's going to hit her, what she has been through.'

Milestones: Later in the documentary, it showed footage of Derek breaking down in tears and mouthing the word 'pain' after waking from his coma with Kate left crying over the milestone

Derek was overcome with emotion after Kate video-called him following his return to consciousness in July, four months after his admission to intensive care.

'He's back,' Kate said. 'We've been waiting a long time to speak to you. I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of you.'

The political advisor was also given the opportunity to speak to children Darcey and Billy via FaceTime, with his youngest showing off a Millennium Falcon constructed from Lego bricks especially for his return.

Kate said: 'So that's the first time he's showed any emotion, which is huge. He's got to find that confidence he can do it now, he can claw his way out of it. He's definitely present, you can see it in his eyes... every time a little bit more of him.'

In further scenes filmed in October, the heartbroken presenter could only watch powerlessly as Derek mouthed the word 'pain' - his first verbal communication since being stricken with coronavirus.

Emotional: Derek was overcome with emotion after Kate video-called him following his return to consciousness in July, four months after his admission to intensive care

Proud: 'He's back,' Kate said. 'We've been waiting a long time to speak to you. I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of you.'

Another moving clip from the documentary saw Kate meet with a community nurse who contracted coronavirus in May 2020 and is still unable to work due to the impact of the virus on their body.

Talking after meeting up, the presenter reflected: 'I just fear for a future and pandemic of mental ill health. Anxiety in itself makes you ill. A very tough future ahead I think at this point.'

Kate also spoke to a woman called Julie, whose husband Steve contracted coronavirus in March 2020, as well as his twin brother Bobby. Steve is still in hospital nearly a year on while Bobby has been discharged.

Giving his advice to both Julie and Kate over a video call during their husbands' recoveries, Bobby said: 'The only medication is love, it's the most powerful thing you can have.'

Family: The former lobbyist and political advisor was also given the opportunity to speak to children Darcey and Billy via FaceTime, with his youngest showing off a Millennium Falcon constructed from Lego bricks especially for his return

Elsewhere during the documentary, Kate admitted she was stunned after a well meaning friend suggested she could back out of her marriage to Derek because his current predicament 'wasn't what she signed up for.'

Addressing the camera, she revealed: 'Somebody said to me the other day, "You are allowed to say this isn't what I signed up for and get out." And I was like, "Oh my god."

'I mean, I know they meant it weirdly kindly, as if almost giving me license. But I said, "I can't think that! He's in there!"'

In scenes filmed in November, Kate met with an occupational therapist as they discussed the layout of their home and prepared it for Derek's return.

The footage showed the presenter making their North London property wheelchair accessible and installed a hospital bed in the lounge as the virus has damaged the former lobbyist's muscles.

Sad: Kate spoke to a woman called Julie, pictured, whose husband Steve contracted coronavirus in March 2020, as well as his twin brother Bobby. Steve is still in hospital nearly a year on while Bobby has been discharged.

Stunned: Elsewhere in the documentary Kate admitted she was stunned after a well meaning friend suggested she could back out of her marriage to Derek because his current predicament 'wasn't what she signed up for.'

The broadcaster transformed the ground floor of their house last year as she hoped the author would have recovered before the third lockdown, but sadly, his condition hasn't improved.

Talking about the works at their home, Kate said: 'If I have to give up work to care for him, then best to do it now while I'm earning money.

'If he needs 24hr care, I will be the primary carer, I have a fear of the reality of that life it's a completely different dynamic to our relationship.'

However it's understood that the presenter has no plans to step down from her role at Good Morning Britain as Derek continues his slow recovery.

A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Kate will not be giving up her role on GMB, in fact, her job has been something of a lifeline and really kept her spirits up over this past year and she has no plans to change that.'

Preparations: In November, Kate met with an occupational therapist as they discussed the layout of their home and prepared it for Derek's return

Accessible: The footage showed the presenter making their North London property wheelchair accessible and installed a hospital bed in the lounge, pictured, as the virus has damaged the former lobbyist's muscles

During the end of the documentary, Kate was surprised with a phone call from Elton John as he sent love to the presenter's family and Derek.

Elton, 73, said: 'I pray for him every night. He's in my prayers and you, your family. He's an amazing man, please give him my love.'

Kate revealed that her son Billy has picked Elton's 1972 hit Rocket Man as a 'really good' song for Derek's recovery as the family resonate with the lyrics.

Elsewhere, in further footage from February, Kate admitted that she has to be 'forcefully positive' towards Derek, she said: 'Ive never loved Derek more or feared losing him more.'

She added: 'I say to him, you believe you'll get better don't you, because you will, very forcefully positive and he says: "Yes."

'So I say: "What is it then?" and he says: "It's the how, it's the how." I know completely what he means by that, he has a sense he's in there, he has Derek in his head but how to get it out. How to go back to the life.'

At the end of the documentary, it offered viewers an update in Derek's recovery with the former lobbyist's rehabilitation continuing and doctors extending 'the option of keeping him in hospital until December 2021.'

Support: During the end of the documentary, Kate was surprised with a phone call from Elton John, pictured right in 2019, as he sent love to the presenter's family and Derek

Recovery: At the end of the documentary, it offered viewers an update in Derek's recovery with the former lobbyist's rehabilitation continuing and doctors extending 'the option of keeping him in hospital until December 2021'

In an emotional ending, it showed a sweet recent FaceTime between Derek and Kate where he said: 'Thank you, I love you forever and a day,' to which Kate replied: 'Oh darling, I love you.'

Myleene Klass led the stars praising Kate, taking to Twitter after the documentary, Myleene praised her 'courageous' friend Kate while fellow stars Piers Morgan, Alison Hammond and Charlotte Hawkins shared their support for the presenter.

Myleene, who has spoke about her close friendship with the star and threw a garden party for Kate's son Billy over the summer, tweeted: 'Thinking of my lovely friend @kategarraway tonight with her documentary #FindingDerek on @ITV at 9pm.

'Its so heartbreaking, were all just praying Derek will find a way back. Please watch & send love to Kate & her family.'

Sweet: In an emotional ending, it showed a sweet recent FaceTime between Derek and Kate where he said: 'Thank you, I love you forever and a day,' to which Kate replied: 'Oh darling, I love you.'

Elsewhere, Piers tweeted: 'This is heart-breaking. #FindingDerek @kategarraway.' while Alison commented: 'This is heart breaking but also so inspiring #FindingDerek How amazing is @kategarraway @ITV.'

Kate's GMB co-star Charlotte shared: 'Thinking of my lovely friend @kategarraway tonight with her documentary #FindingDerek on @ITV at 9pm.

'Its so heartbreaking, were all just praying Derek will find a way back. Please watch & send love to Kate & her family.'

Lorraine Kelly noted: 'Heartbreaking but such courage, humanity and strength @kategarraway - you are incredible! #FindingDerek.'

While Coronation Street star Samia Longchambon added: 'Oh @kategarraway you are so strong of spirit.. sending much love to you and your beautiful family. Heres hoping you all have many brighter days together ahead #FindingDerek.'

Love: To which Kate replied: 'Oh darling, I love you.' as the camera showed footage from the couple's wedding day in 2005 and over the years in their life together

Kate's Good Morning Britain co-star Ben, who also appeared on the documentary, also shared his support.

He tweeted: 'So proud of my friend @kategarraway she continues to surprise, delight, occasionally infuriate but always inspire me.

'Thinking of Kate, her family and anyone who is battling Covid or has lost someone close to them to the virus. #FindingDerek.'

Viewers were also left in tears over the programme as they took to Twitter to praise Kate for being 'brave' and 'resilient'.

One person said: 'Heartbreaking to watch #FindingDerek What a resilient, strong woman @kategarraway is. Thoughts are with her and her kids, they're all so brave having to deal with this tragedy.'

Sweet: Myleene Klass led the stars praising Kate on Tuesday night after her 'heartbreaking' documentary Finding Derek

A different person put: '@kategarraway Kate you are beyond brave! An inspiration to us all and proof that love can conquer all! #findingderek.'

Another viewer commented: 'Watching #FindingDerek omg my heart goes to you Kate , what an incredible and brave woman u are i am in tears watching it you are truly an amazing lady ! Keep fighting for Derek ! @kategarraway.'

While a different documentary watcher added: 'What a brave lovely girl Kate Garraway is .Love will find a way #FindingDerek we truly hope.'

Kate discussed her new documentary on Good Morning Britain ahead of its airing, where she admitted it was important for her to remain upbeat for the sake of her husband.

She said: 'The footage you see was recorded by me personally. After six months we got an iPad into the hospital with the idea of bringing him out so I could talk to him while he was in the coma and have some sort of voice recognition.

Lovely: Kate's Good Morning Britain co-star Ben, who also appeared on the documentary, also shared his support

He tweeted: 'So proud of my friend @kategarraway she continues to surprise, delight, occasionally infuriate but always inspire me.'

'It was so emotional for me. It was all I could do not to fall apart, and give him a positive energy, not a sad energy.'

She added: 'The moments you see are the moments where he is getting more conscious and can react, and also Derek has devoted his life to mental health since leaving politics because he's a psychotherapist, so I feel that he would want his journey to be told. He would like to be here telling it with me. '

Reflecting on her decision to film the documentary, Kate admitted she wanted to use her platform as a presenter to help those who have been most affected by the virus, which has so far killed 126, 172 people across the United Kingdom.

She said: 'First of all I do have a job that puts me on the TV and radio and there were many months where I was locked in that bubble that we all have been in because of COVID restrictions and that was a very private time.

Tears: Viewers were also left in tears over the programme as they took to Twitter to praise Kate for being 'brave' and 'resilient'

'When I got back to work I was moved by people's reactions. I was contacted by people who said youre talking about what Im going through and it's so great to hear, not just with COVID but with other long term situations that they are facing with potentially a life loss at the end of it. So this story, I thought I have a chance to tell it where they don't.'

The presenter also reiterated that she will not walk away from her day job in order to provide round the clock care for Derek when he is released from hospital.

She said: 'I'm not going anywhere! In fact the reality is, is that ITV and Global and Smooth radio, everybody has been so supportive and to be honest being here has kept me sane.

'Not just because you're all amazing supporters but people at home are so supportive and it's a slice of normal, it's a slice of life before.

'The truth is as much as I like to think I have all the answers sometimes, Derek doesn't need me, I'm not the person to care for him.

DEREK DRAPER'S CORONAVIRUS BATTLE March 30, 2020: Derek is admitted to a London hospital after testing positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19, little more than a week after Britain enters its first national lockdown April 3, 2020: Derek is admitted to intensive care four days after his hospitalisation. As his condition steadily worsens, he falls into a coma. May 28, 2020: Kate reveals that Derek remains in a coma and is continuing to be cared for by NHS professionals. June 5, 2020: The presenter tells Good Morning Britain viewers that Derek is "Covid free", although the family are unsure if he will ever recover from the ravages of the illness. July 5, 2020: Kate reveals that Derek has finally woken from his coma and has opened his eyes - her first communication with her husband since March July 13, 2020: Kate resumes her presenting role on Good Morning Britain after taking time off amid Derek's ongoing illness. July 14, 2020: Kate tells viewers she is preparing to visit Derek in hospital for the first time. July 21, 2020: Derek hears Kate's voice after nurses play Good Morning Britain in his hospital room. During her appearance on the show Kate confirms she is preparing to visit him for a second time. August 19, 2020: After being absent for three days Kate tells viewers she has tried not to break down after being kept apart from Derek on his 53rd birthday. September 10, 2020: Kate and Derek remain apart during their milestone 15th Wedding Anniversary , with the presenter unable to visit her husband. September 11, 2020: Kate reveals Derek is still unable to speak but admits plans to visit him in hospital for a belated anniversary celebration. September 29, 2020: Derek's six-month long battle against COVID-19 becomes one of the longest known cases in the United Kingdom. October 30, 2020: Derek is finally able to communicate verbally after 214 days in hospital. His first word - "pain." January 7, 2021: Kate reveals her two children saw Derek for the first time since he fell ill during the Christmas period Advertisement

Speaking out: Kate discussed her new documentary on Good Morning Britain ahead of its airing, where she admitted it was important for her to remain upbeat for the sake of her husband.

Let's talk: Reflecting on her decision to film the documentary, Kate admitted she wanted to use her platform as a presenter to help those who have been most affected by the virus, which has so far killed 126, 172 people across the United Kingdom

'I will obviously be there completely, 100% if that would make a difference but actually what Derek needs is specialist, professional, medical support ongoing because there is a good chance he can improve but we need to make sure that support is there now for that to happen.

'Whether that be remaining in hospital or whether that be something else - I would like to be home - but it is not just a case of you know I would want to sit there and hold his hand but people in this situation need expertise and I'm not an expert.'

Despite radical changes to his physical appearance, Kate admitted those who know Lancashire born Derek will be able to see that his personality is still very much present.

She said: 'There are moments where I think people who know Derek will know he's there, and for a while that was part of the horror... is he still there? Theres even some Chorley in there. Even COVID cant take Chorley out of the man!'

Staying on: The presenter also confirmed she has no plans to step down from her day job in order to provide round the clock care for Derek when he is released from hospital

Kate also praised the couple's children for their ability to cope with the unexpected and abrupt change to their home-life over the last 12 months.

'They are fundamentally extraordinary,' she said. 'They have coped tremendously well. They cope with it in their different ways. They've both seen the documentary. I was comforted by the fact that they've seen a lot of things that may be a shock to others as they've spoken to him on FaceTime.

'They watched it back, and Billy said ''I can't believe they got me on the trampoline before I mastered a backflip!'' When he said that, I realised we were OK. It's a compliment to Derek as he's instilled so much confidence in them.'

She added: 'This time yesterday last year, terrible things happened. It's affected everyone in different ways. We've all been through something, so hopefully we can stick together. Please realise we are still smiling. Love to all of you, and love to Derek.'

Old times: Kate and Derek exchanged vows in Camden in 2005. The presenter was previously married to ITV Meridian boss Ian Rumsey from 1998 to 2002

Kate previously recalled the 'devastating' moment her husband told her he feared he couldn't go on while he was in hospital with coronavirus.

The presenter told The Mirror: 'After that call, it was then time to go into GMB and go on air, having been up all night, it was a tough night actually.

'But everyone at ITV has been so incredibly supportive. I managed to get through. During this whole time, working on GMB and Smooth Radio has helped me to keep going and keep my spirits up.'

While Covid is no longer in Derek's system, the virus left him battling kidney failure, liver failure, heart failure and damage to his pancreas.

Kate added: 'And in the end, I said to him, "Just stay with me, Im going to keep talking to you". And he was obviously exhausted. Because thats the other thing, is that the tiniest thing completely exhausts him.'

She's off: Kate smiled at onlookers as she arrived at Global radio studios following her appearance on Good Morning Britain

The broadcaster said that even Derek voicing his feelings like that would have taken a huge amount out of him as he has such little energy.

Kate spoke to her husband on the drive into work that day and then told the doctor's to put on Good Morning Britain so he could see her.

The presenter first invited a film crew into her home last September with the hope that the film would end with Derek returning home.

But seven months later, the documentary instead focuses on Derek's year in hospital as well as the many months of recovery that are left.

Derek has lost eight stone amid his health battle with Kate revealing the children have not seen him in person at all this year.

She added the kids did visit Derek over Christmas and described it as a 'shock' to see the physical change in him.

Kate has made the ground floor of her home wheelchair accessible and is looking ahead to visiting Derek in hospital as soon as lockdown is eased.

Kate, who acknowledges there is still a long way to go in Derek's road to recovery, thinks the couple's relationship may be changed forever.

During an appearance on The One Show on Thursday, Kate said Derek is 'trapped in the middle ground' as he is sometimes able to communicate with her before slipping out of consciousness.

Kate said: 'One of things I'm here to talk about is the documentary and what you will see is that this time last year, I was, like a lot of us, wondering what was coming our way.

'I was fearing the worst, on air reading headlines about the earliest cases of people contracting coronavirus and then I suddenly found myself right in the middle of it.

Tragic: Derek was admitted to hospital in March after contracting the respiratory illness and was subsequently placed in a medically induced coma before he awoke in July (pictured in hospital)

'And I'd say there was weeks and months of living minute by minute, wondering if I was going to get the call to say whether he lived or died.'

Kate went on to explain that while Derek has survived COVID, he is 'trapped in the middle ground'.

Derek was admitted to hospital in March after contracting the respiratory illness and was subsequently placed in a medically induced coma before he awoke in July.

She said: 'Derek is an extreme case, he has a prolonged disorder of consciousness which means that there is some reaction.

'It's not like what we see in movies where people are lying in a vegetative state, you know you can look at his eyes and before Christmas there was a lot of progress with some words and communication.'

Sad: Kate  who shares Darcey and William (pictured in 2019) with her husband of 15 years  admitted it is 'shocking' to see his current state, including his eight stone weight loss

Derek is considered to be the longest surviving COVID-19 patient in the country. On more than one occasion his heart stopped beating, he battled bacterial pneumonia and fought multiple infections which punctured holes in his lungs.

Kate said: 'What I feel like is that I'm on a life boat somehow and he's coming up and down. You're on this precipice trying to hold onto him.

'There'll be moments where he bubbles up and you have contact with him on FaceTime because of the Covid restrictions. It feels like you're going to have to fill him with so much positivity because he's going to sink down.'

The GMB host said there will be 'heartbreaking moments' in the documentary, as when he does regain consciousness, viewers will see 'what must be agony for him'.

Kate continued: 'His brain has always been his best friend. Suddenly his brain is no longer his best friend and he's fighting to get out.It's very, very tough. But if it's tough for me, it must be tougher for him.
Chinas Ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye at a press conference at his residence in Canberra, Australia, on April 7, 2021. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Chinese Embassy in Australia Downplays Rumors of Uyghur Abuses in Xinjiang

The Chinese Embassy in Australia on April 7 painted a rosy picture of life in Xinjiang Province during an extraordinary press event, while warning the government in Canberra against joining the EU, UK, and the United States in sanctioning Chinese officials over the oppression of the Uyghur ethnic minority group in the northwestern region.

Local media outlets were treated to a two-hour presentation, titled Xinjiang Is a Wonderful Land, featuring testimonials from Uyghurs and Xinjiang officials promoting the regions economic growth and religious harmony.

Erkin Tuniyaz, vice chairman of Xinjiang Province, claimed foreigners with ulterior motives were turning a blind eye to the positives of the region and were spreading rumors about concentration camps, forced labor, religious conversion, and the sterilization of women.

Turnisa Matsedik-Qira, of the Vancouver Uyghur Association, demonstrates against Chinas treatment of Uyghurs while holding a photo of detained Canadians Michael Spavor (L) and Michael Kovrig outside a court appearance for Huawei Chief Financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou at the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver, on May 8, 2019. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images)

These allegations cannot be more preposterous, and they are downright lies, he said. The video was also aired in London last month as part of a global propaganda push.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye said the event was organized to help Australian journalists understand the situation in Xinjiang after there had been distorted coverage about Xinjiang in certain Western media.

Those reports are basically based on disinformation or misinformation, he added.

The Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Womens Association said the Chinese Communist Party must have been in a state of desperation to hold the event.

The Australian community is already aware of the harsh realities of human rights abuses and genocide being committed, it wrote in a Facebook post.

Liberal Sen. Eric Abetz called the video a sickening display of propaganda, saying there was ample evidence of human rights abuses in the province.

Sen. Eric Abetz in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 10, 2014. (Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

From the inquiry by the Canadian House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights, the horrific report from the BBC, and the recent and first independent expert application of the 1948 Genocide Convention, the truth of what is occurring in Xinjiang is slowly revealing itself, he told The Epoch Times in an email.

The senator also pointed to the dropping birth rate in Xinjiang, from 15.88 percent in 2017 to 8.14 percent in 2019, as evidence of forced sterilization.

Though the CCP tries to hide and obfuscate information from Xinjiang and the human rights abuses committed there, increasing evidence reveals the CCPs intention to commit genocide against the Uyghur people, he said.

Cheng also warned Australia against adopting similar sanctions to those introduced by the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union against Chinese officials involved in human rights violations in the region.

We will not provoke, but if we are provoked, we will respond in kind, he said.

Ahead of the press conference, Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated the government would continue speaking out on human rights issues.

We want a positive relationship, but we will have a positive relationship that is consistent with Australia acting in accordance with its values and its national character, he told reporters in Canberra.

That would never be something that we would yield for the sake of a relationship.
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - White Metal Resources Corp. (TSXV: WHM) ("White Metal" or the "Company") is pleased report that it has received the second batch of assay results from an additional 7 reverse circulation ("RC") drill holes from its January-February 2021 drilling program (28 drill holes totalling 3,226 m) (Table 1). The Company previously announced results from the first batch of 6 RC drill hole results and the re-sampling of core from four historical diamond drill holes (see Company news release dated March 23, 2021). All drill holes from the current program targeted the historical Okohongo Cu-Ag Deposit ("Okohongo"). The 95% owned Taranis Copper-Silver Project (the "Project" or "Property"), which includes the historical Okohongo Copper-Silver Deposit, is located in northwestern Namibia and is defined by Exclusive Prospecting Licence ("EPL") 7071, covering about 19,850 hectares.

Michael Stares, President & CEO of the Company stated, "The results from the RC drilling program has again confirmed that the historical RC drill holes do contain significant copper grades and gives us further confidence that the Okohongo Cu-Ag Deposit is a great asset to have in the Company's portfolio. With these latest assay results, we will continue to look for the right partner to advance this project. With the demand for copper and silver rising I think this will bring even further value to the Taranis Property. In the meantime, the Company will remain focused on its flagship property, the Tower Stock Gold Property, located in northwestern Ontario, Canada."

Table 1. RC chip sample assays from the second set of drill holes, Okohongo Cu-Ag Deposit, Namibia.

Type/

Historical Hole Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Int. (m) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) Pb (ppm) Zn (ppm) New RC Drilling/

INVR-035 OK20-P07 175.00 183.00 8.00 0.77 14 260 183 incl. 178.00 182.00 4.00 1.22 20 263 168 incl. 180.00 181.00 1.00 2.39 34 546 183 New RC Drilling/

INVR-007 OK20-P06 72.00 75.00 3.00 0.32 9 19 53 and 80.00 85.00 5.00 0.60 12 13 60 incl. 82.00 83.00 1.00 1.98 47 10 79 New RC Drilling/

INVR-072 OK20-P08 no significant assays New RC Drilling/

INVR-006 OK20-P05 21.00 66.00 45.00 2.02 33 511 91 incl. 23.00 35.00 12.00 2.20 18 1202 71 incl. 26.00 35.00 9.00 2.46 23 1409 62 incl. 30.00 33.00 3.00 3.64 46 329 41 incl. 36.00 40.00 4.00 2.38 43 322 76 incl. 41.00 44.00 3.00 3.60 91 291 92 incl. 42.00 44.00 2.00 4.25 114 236 75 incl. 45.00 52.00 7.00 2.27 44 313 93 incl. 54.00 65.00 11.00 2.20 39 137 112 New RC Drilling/

INVR-037 OK20-P012 12.00 51.00 39.00 0.58 5 315 50 incl. 37.00 49.00 12.00 1.68 14 748 114 and 78.00 87.00 9.00 0.60 10 21 111 incl. 84.00 85.00 1.00 1.43 29 7 124 New RC Drilling/

INVR-009 OK20-P011 54.00 58.00 4.00 0.33 5 140 183 New RC Drilling/

INVR-017 OK20-P023 42.00 57.00 15.00 0.71 8 50 86 incl. 44.00 45.00 1.00 2.35 15 186 57 incl. 51.00 56.00 5.00 1.41 17 18 113

The recently completed RC drilling program (OK20-P series holes) on the Property was aimed at twinning, as close as possible and as reflected in Table 1, many of the RC drill holes that were used to calculate the 2011 historical mineral resource estimate (Table 2).

Once the Company receives all the results from the recently completed drilling program it will begin the process of updating the historical mineral resources from the Okohongo Cu-Ag Deposit to a current National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") mineral resource estimate and technical report.

The Taranis Copper-Silver Project, located in a very prospective area of northwestern Namibia. Although the primary target is the historical Okohongo Copper-Silver Deposit, the Company will be conducting reconnaissance work over the entire EPL, including follow up on a number of historical copper showings.

The historical Okohongo Cu-Ag Deposit has been outlined by historical drilling which shows that it extends for 600+ metres in strike length, 400 metres down-dip, and is open in all directions (see INV Metals news release dated August 3, 2011). The Okohongo, situated within the Kaoko Belt of northwest Namibia about 700 km northwest of Windhoek, is hosted by metasedimentary stratigraphy and is considered to be analogous with the stratiform sediment-hosted Central African Copperbelt deposits of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This deposit contains historical Inferred Mineral Resources of 10.2 million tonnes grading 1.12% Cu and 17.75 g/t Ag, using a 0.3% Cu cut-off (Table 2; INV Metals Inc. NI 43-101 Technical Report, Effective Date March 31, 2011).

Table 2. Historical Mineral Resources for the Okohongo Copper-Silver Project, Namibia.

Cut-off Specific Gravity Tonnes Cu (%) Ag (g/t) Cu (tonnes) Ag (ounces) Category 0.0 2.45 11,691,539 1.01 15.85 117,645 5,957,874 Inferred 0.1 2.45 11,682,796 1.01 15.86 117,640 5,957,640 Inferred 0.2 2.45 11,453,414 1.02 16.13 117,219 5,940,047 Inferred 0.3 2.45 10,196,456 1.12 17.75 114,046 5,818,534 Inferred 0.4 2.45 9,535,538 1.17 18.66 111,731 5,719,226 Inferred 0.5 2.45 8,705,239 1.24 19.73 107,993 5,522,454 Inferred 0.6 2.45 8,142,684 1.29 20.50 104,877 5,366,572 Inferred 0.7 2.45 7,366,110 1.35 21.61 99,810 5,116,714 Inferred 0.8 2.45 6,379,793 1.45 23.16 92,402 4,750,190 Inferred

Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Okohongo Copper-Silver Property in Northwest Namibia, INV Metals Inc.; Prepared By: Caracle Creek International Consulting (Pty) Ltd., South Africa, Effective March 31, 2011.

The Company is treating the tonnages and grades reported in Table 2 as historical mineral resources. The Inferred Mineral Resource estimate reported in Table 2 for the Okohongo Copper-Silver Deposit was prepared by qualified authors in 2011, conforming to CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as outlined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and the Company is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. Investors are cautioned that the historical estimates do not mean or imply that economic deposits exist on the properties. The Company has not undertaken any independent investigation of the historical estimates or other information contained in this news release nor has it independently analyzed the results of the previous exploration work in order to verify the accuracy of the information. The Company believes that these historical estimates and other information contained in this news release are relevant to continuing exploration on the Property.

Sample Analysis

Drill core and RC chip samples were sent to the Activation Laboratories Ltd. ("Actlabs") preparation lab in Windhoek, Namibia and once prepared were sent to Actlabs in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada for analyses. The samples were first analysed with 4-Acid "Near Total" Digestion (1F2) with ICP-OES finish for Ag, Cu and a suite of 33 other elements. Subsequently, samples with Ag greater than 100 ppm (above Ag upper detection limit) were analysed with Fire Assay Gravimetric (8-Ag) and Cu greater than 10,000 ppm (above Cu upper detection limit) were analysed with sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-OES finish (8-Peroxide ICP). A Quality Control/Quality Assurance ("QA/QC") program consisting of the regular insertion of Certified Reference Material copper standards and blanks into the sample stream by the Company was in place as was the industry standard internal QA/QC practices used by Actlabs.

Qualified Person

Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans (P.Geo.), Vice President Exploration and a Director of White Metal, who is a Qualified Person under the definitions established by the NI 43-101.

About White Metal Resources Corp (TSX-V: WHM):

White Metal Resources Corp is a junior exploration company exploring in Canada and southern Africa. For more information about the Company please visit www.whitemetalres.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of White Metal Resources Corp.

"Michael Stares"

President & CEO, Director

For further information contact:

Michael Stares

President & CEO, Director

684 Squier Street

Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, P7B 4A8

Phone: (807) 358-2420

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. 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. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections

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Why it matters: LGs announcement that it will be leaving the phone business has worried owners of its recent handsets, but there is some good news: the company has promised three years of Android updates for its premium devices launched in 2019 or later.

LG has been watching its share of the mobile market shrink during the last few years. The company was the worlds third-largest phone maker in 2013, but its slice of the pie has shrunk to around 2%. After six years of losing moneytotaling approximately $4.5 billionthe company in January warned that exiting the business was a possibility. That scenario became a reality after Germanys Volkswagen AG and Vietnams Vingroup JSC pulled out of negotiations for a buyout.

Companies leaving the phone business are often quick to end support for their handsets, but LG has pledged up to three iterations of Android updates for its premium devices released in 2019 or later. These are:

LG G8 ThinQ

LG G8x ThinQ

LG G8s ThinQ

LG V50 ThinQ

LG V60 ThinQ

LG Velvet

LG Wing

In the case of the LG Velvet, for example, it launched with Android 10, so owners should receive updates right up until Android 13.

Additionally, some of LGs recent non-premium phones will be getting the latest versions of Android. It names certain 2020 models such as LG Stylo and K series as devices set to receive two OS updates.

LG adds the caveat that these future updates will depend on Googles distribution schedule and other factors such as device performance and compatibility.

LG expects to wind down its phone business on July 31. It will continue to manufacture devices throughout the second quarter, and people can still buy current LG handsets. Service support and security updates will continue to be provided for a period of time for these models.

Masthead image: Grzegorz Czapski
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is quoting at Rs 434.25, up 1.41% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 25.91% in last one year as compared to a 63.97% jump in NIFTY and a 53.47% jump in the Nifty Energy index.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is up for a third straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 434.25, up 1.41% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.82% on the day, quoting at 14940.5. The Sensex is at 49954.08, up 0.59%. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd has slipped around 2.61% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is a constituent, has slipped around 5.1% in last one month and is currently quoting at 18333.35, up 0.35% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 23.79 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 213.29 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark April futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 436.05, up 1.17% on the day. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is up 25.91% in last one year as compared to a 63.97% jump in NIFTY and a 53.47% jump in the Nifty Energy index.

The PE of the stock is 12.92 based on TTM earnings ending December 20.

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Rome's birthday celebrations for Natale di Roma move online for the second year due to covid-19.

Rome celebrates its 2,774th birthday on 21 April 2021. Known as Natale di Roma, the annual birthday celebration is based on the legendary founding of Rome by Romulus in 753 BC.

Traditionally the celebrations include historical re-enactments such as costumed parades and gladiator fights however in 2021, for the second year in a row, events will be moved online due to Italy's covid-19 restrictions.

Events are usually centred in the Circus Maximus and include gladiator fights and the trench-digging ritual, known as the tracciato del solco, which recalls the founding of ancient Roman towns when a trench or mundus was dug and offerings thrown into it to encourage the gods to watch over the inhabitants.

Other re-enactments include the agricultural Palilia ceremony. Dating back to before the founding of Rome, the ceremony was held in honour of the goddess Pales, protector of flocks and herds, and involved vestal virgins distributing straw and the ashes and blood of sacrificed animals before jumping over a bonfire three times.

The highlight of the Natale di Roma festivites, the grand parade, usually includes more than 1,500 costumed participants processing to and from the Circus Maximus, via the Colosseum.

The pageant is organised by the Gruppo Storico Romano, an historical dramatic society which, for more than 20 years, has brought history to life by re-enacting battles, historic events, and displays of ancient theatre and dance in the city centre.

Photo credit: Corina Daniela Obertas / Shutterstock.com

Under the slogan "We won't give up," this year the group's re-enactments will be streamed on Sunday 18 April from Italy's National Etruscan Museum at Villa Giulia.

The online programme of events, dedicated to Emperor Nero, will begin at 14.00 and conclude with gladiator fights live from Villa Giulia.

The historical re-enactments can be watched via the Gruppo Storico Romano Facebook page.

Last year the city of Rome also organised some online events to mark Natale di Roma. We will update this article accordingly if and when there is news on that front.
Odisha: Why fishermen in Ganjam are protesting plan for Blue Flag beaches

by Hrusikesh Mohanty

April 08,2021 | Source: Down To Earth

Odisha governments plan to get Blue Flag certification for five beaches hit a roadblock as the local fishermen opposed the move. Several fishermen staged a protest in Ganjam district around a fortnight ago demanding an alternative sea mouth to anchor their boats before being removed from the beaches. Blue Flag is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by the Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark. Beaches with the certification are eco-tourism models to provide clean and hygienic bathing facilities for tourists, safe and healthy environment along with sustainable development of the area. The label is based on environmental education and information, water quality, environment management and conservation and safety and services at the beaches. Odisha planned to develop five more beaches in three districts to meet international standards after receiving the certification for Puris Golden Beach on October 11, 2020. The proposed beaches are Niladri in Puri district, Gopalpur and Pati-Sonapur in Ganjam district and Talasari-Udayapur in Balasore district.



In Ganjam district, fishermen use the proposed land to anchor around 300 fishing boats. When the 500 metre land is developed to get Blue Flag certification, where will we anchor the fishing boats, asked P Daneya, a fisherman. The Odisha government has sanctioned Rs 2.53 crore and Rs 36 crore for redevelopment of the proposed Blue Flag beaches in Ganjam and Talasari, respectively. Environment and forest departments will work with the tourism department to give the beaches a facelift. After redevelopment of the beaches, we will submit the proposal to the central government for the Blue Flag certification, said a senior officer in the forest department. But fishermen, especially those at Gopalpur and Pati Sonapur, want their demands met before they are evicted from the beaches. The general-secretary of Odisha Traditional Fish Workers Union said: Protection of livelihood should be given first priority for any development, said Abani Kumar Gaya, a human rights activist. The livelihood of fishermen needs to be protected before trying to get Blue Flag certification.



Ganjam collector Vijay Amruta Kulange said they were discussing the proposal with the local fishermen. One suggestion is to reopen the fishing jetty at Gopalpur, which became unusable because it would be covered in sand though the year, Kulange added. Gopalpur Port Ltd has been asked to conduct a technical study. We will press a report to the government for dredging the jetty, said the collector. Fishermen at Pati Sonapur are convinced of the idea, he added. Seven other beaches across the country have received Blue Flag certification on October 11, 2020 along with Puri. These include Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Diu, Kasaragod, Kappad in Kerala and Padubidri in Karnataka, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Radhanagar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

 Down To Earth 2021.
21. Je deploie le robot pour reconnaitre OSCAR3.

Retour en images sur lexercice de recherche appliquee organise les 30 et 31 mars par lEMIA et le centre de recherche. Robotisation du champ de bataille : sensibiliser les eleves aux enjeux de demain. #CapaciTERRE #Robots pic.twitter.com/HiZ2BFOZPY  Saint-Cyr Coetquidan (@SaintCyrCoet) April 6, 2021

The headless dog-like robot cooked up in the Boston Dynamics laboratories has been a solid media presence for years. It has been on the market for only under a year, but it is already tested in various roles, some scarier than others.Weve seen the Spot since it was released last summer in a variety of circumstances, from dancing in the rain to shooting paintballs. The New York Police Department has one too, called Digidog, and is testing it as a reconnaissance tool. But until now, the robot was not involved in any military activities that we know of.That changed in late March when a group of 80 students from the French Ecole militaire interarmes (EMIA) fielded one during a two-day exercise at the Coetquidan military camp. Spot was not the single robot involved in this, as it had to simulate fighting alongside the Nexter Nerva observation robot and the Nexter Optio, a 20-mm cannon-armed heavy ground drone.There were three scenarios for the exercise, offensive (taking a crossroads), defensive (holding ground in day and night), and urban combat. Each of these scenarios was played twice, the first time without the robots assistance and the second time with them deployed.Spot was fielded by Shark Robotics, which according to French publication Lignes de defense , is the European distributor for Boston Dynamics.This being a military exercise and all, its details are not all public, but we know the goal was to assess the robots reaction time, aggressiveness, and vulnerabilities. According to the source, one of the soldiers taking part couldnt help from noticing the difference between being killed without the robots aid in urban combat and walking away unharmed once they were on the ground.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LabCentral , a network of premier laboratory and co-working facilities for high-potential biotech start-ups, today released its annual Impact Report detailing the influence of its resident and alumni companies on the local and national life sciences and biotech industry in terms of funding, job creation, economic development, IPOs and new programs from the past year. The 2020 Impact Report is available to view and download from LabCentral's website, in addition to reports from previous years .

The 2020 Impact Report also details the technical and scientific pivots made by several LabCentral resident and alumni companies to address the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as LabCentral's role in the formation of the Cambridge Consortium for Rapid COVID-19 Tests (CCRCT).

Key statistics from the LabCentral 2020 Impact Report include:

Economic Development  Since its opening in 2013, LabCentral has supported 201 early-stage companies that have added 3,132 new jobs to the Massachusetts economy. In 2020, the companies added 737 new jobs, an increase of 56% over the previous year. In addition, 70% of LabCentral alumni companies are located within five miles of LabCentral's original space at 700 Main Street.

 Since its opening in 2013, LabCentral has supported 201 early-stage companies that have added 3,132 new jobs to the economy. In 2020, the companies added 737 new jobs, an increase of 56% over the previous year. In addition, 70% of LabCentral alumni companies are located within five miles of LabCentral's original space at 700 Main Street. Funding  LabCentral companies have raised a total of $9.15 billion since 2013. In 2020 alone, LabCentral resident and alumni companies secured $3.68 billion in funding. For venture capital, LabCentral companies secured 33% of all early-stage (seed and Series A) bio-pharma financing for the state of Massachusetts and represent 12% of all the national early-stage financing.

 LabCentral companies have raised a total of since 2013. In 2020 alone, LabCentral resident and alumni companies secured in funding. For venture capital, LabCentral companies secured 33% of all early-stage (seed and Series A) bio-pharma financing for the state of and represent 12% of all the national early-stage financing. IPOs and M&A  In 2020 there were 21 IPOs of Massachusetts based bio-pharma companies and seven of these companies  or 33% of the total  got their starts within the LabCentral network and they are collectively now valued at $8.3 billion .

 In 2020 there were 21 IPOs of based bio-pharma companies and seven of these companies  or 33% of the total  got their starts within the LabCentral network and they are collectively now valued at . Patents  Since 2013, LabCentral resident and alumni companies have been issued 113 patents based on their scientific research and technical innovations.

 Since 2013, LabCentral resident and alumni companies have been issued 113 patents based on their scientific research and technical innovations. STEM Education and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Outreach  In 2020, LabCentral launched LabCentral Ignite with the purpose of broadening the talent base for the biotech industry by developing a platform for investors, corporations, and organizations to coalesce their efforts in supporting systemic change and hiring diverse talent. As part of the effort, LabCentral Ignite awarded $185,000 in grant monies to 10 local organizations to coordinate, support and connect STEM and workforce education non-profits with biotech start-ups, investors and sponsors for larger impact.

 In 2020, LabCentral launched LabCentral Ignite with the purpose of broadening the talent base for the biotech industry by developing a platform for investors, corporations, and organizations to coalesce their efforts in supporting systemic change and hiring diverse talent. As part of the effort, LabCentral Ignite awarded in grant monies to 10 local organizations to coordinate, support and connect STEM and workforce education non-profits with biotech start-ups, investors and sponsors for larger impact. COVID-19 Response  The CCRCT was formed in the fall of 2020 to combine resources for the validation of fast, affordable diagnostic assays to provide SARS-CoV-2 screening for asymptomatic populations as part of a strategy for safely returning to work, school or other aspects of daily life. In addition to validating the efficacy of the Direct Antigen Rapid Test (DART) developed by E25Bio, the CCRCT allowed for LabCentral to continue to operate while at reduced capacity. The CCRCT administered a total of 6,442 COVID-19 tests to the LabCentral and BioLabs communities last year.

"While a challenging and painful year for people around the world, 2020 will also be remembered as a year of extraordinary scientific breakthroughs illustrating the power and potential of biotech and life sciences for advancing human health on a massive scale," said Johannes Fruehauf, co-founder and president of LabCentral. "Once again, the LabCentral community rose up to meet these challenges head on as 31 companies in our network quickly pivoted to address the pandemic with new vaccines, therapies, diagnostic tests and other advances. As the 2020 Impact Report details, through our network of facilities, diversity and inclusion program, testing initiative and engaged community, we are expanding the economic, scientific and community potential of the Massachusetts biotech engine."

About LabCentral

A private, non-profit institution, LabCentral was founded in 2013 as a launchpad for high-potential life sciences and biotech start-ups. Operating a total of 100,000 square-feet in the heart of Kendall Square in Cambridge, Mass., LabCentral offers fully permitted laboratory and office space for as many as 70 start-ups comprising approximately 500 scientists and entrepreneurs. More information is available at www.labcentral.org.

SOURCE LabCentral

Related Links

http://www.labcentral.org


But on Tuesday, in a televised debate, McAuliffe faced attacks from a unified team of rivals, and things boiled over when Fairfax, the states lieutenant governor, criticized him for calling in 2019 for Fairfaxs resignation. As Northam was engulfed in his own scandal, two women publicly accused Fairfax of sexual assault. Fairfax denied the allegations and, like the governor, managed to remain in office, mostly by just moving on.

At the debate Fairfax went all the way after McAuliffe, reminding voters of the long and disgraceful history in America of false accusations and violence by white people toward Black men.

He treated me like George Floyd, he treated me like Emmett Till  no due process, immediately assumed my guilt, Fairfax said. I have a son and I have a daughter, and I dont want my daughter to be assaulted; I dont want my son to be falsely accused. And this is the real world that we live in. And so we need to speak truth to power, and we need to be very clear about how that impacts peoples lives.

But even before that, Fairfax had partly undercut his own argument by pointing out that it wasnt just McAuliffe: All of his Democratic rivals onstage had called for him to resign in 2019.

Besides, as the Times reporter Astead Herndon observed on Twitter, what happened to me is like what happened to George Floyd and Emmett Till is not a thing a living person can say.

McClellan, a state senator, picked up on the theme of racial justice but went after McAuliffe on substantive policy grounds. She said he had underfunded the states parole system as governor, and called him a latecomer to the movement for justice reform.

McAuliffe pushed back by pointing to his order restoring voting rights to more than 200,000 felons in 2016, and said he supported equipping all police officers in the state with body cameras  two major goals of civil rights advocates.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy ("CSSDP") announce the next phase of their Get Sensible cannabis education campaign with the launch of their website getsensible.org and two recently hosted youth-focused cannabis roundtable discussions, facilitated on March 24th and 25th.

The discussions were co-led by 4 newly hired Peer Leaders and attended by 35 youth (17-25 years of age) from across the country and included dialogue on a variety of topics related to cannabis: criminalization, harm reduction, education, mental health and wellbeing. Get Sensible plans to host additional roundtables throughout 2021-22 that will focus on specific communities with deeper examination of topics relevant to their experiences.

"It's an amazing opportunity to create spaces to talk about this stuff. I was a teenaged stoner, and experienced a lot of shame and stigma because of it- especially navigating mental health challenges" said Heath D'Alessio, Get Sensible's Project Facilitator. "I only learned about harm reduction in college- I wish I knew about it sooner. Now we have this chance to share information and evidence with young people, but also sit with them and say 'it's okay if you smoke weed- let's talk about it.'"

Most recent statistics from the 2020 Canadian Cannabis Survey revealed that "people between the ages of 16 to 24 years reported cannabis use in the past year at a percentage that was approximately double that of those 25 years and older." So while one of the key priorities for Canada's cannabis legalization continues to emphasize protecting youth from the harmful effects of cannabis use, the Get Sensible campaign provides opportunities for young people to be engaged in co-creating and co-leading cannabis education, and supporting harm reduction in hard-to-reach youth communities.

"I am incredibly proud of the work our team has accomplished thus far. Prioritizing evidence-based cannabis education projects that are youth-led, to us, is the way forward", said Get Sensible Program Manager, Sean Bristowe. "Although COVID-19 has presented us all with unique challenges, our team of young people are finding creative ways to engage Canadian youth in conversation that promote informed decision-making when it comes to cannabis use."

The Get Sensible team strives to support all Canadians in having conversations about cannabis and encourages utilizing the Sensible Cannabis Education toolkit to help kickstart these important discussions (available for digital download at getsensible.org, now in English, French, Punjabi, Spanish and Mandarin). For more information on the campaign please see their first press release.

All inquiries can be directed to the Get Sensible team via email or phone.

If you would like to read more about CSSDP please visit their website or if you'd like to support their work please visit their Patreon .



Figure 1



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7902/79795_cssdp.2.jpg





Figure 2

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7902/79795_cssdp.4.jpg

For Media Inquiries:

Sean Bristowe, CSSDP Get Sensible Program Manager

403-669-3864

For more information:

sean@cssdp.org

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79795
Police guards stand in a hallway inside the No.1 Detention Center during a government guided tour in Beijing on Oct. 25, 2012. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Regime Lowers Age of 80-Year-Old Believer in Order to Jail Her

The Chinese regime recently sentenced an 80-year-old Falun Gong practitioner to one and a half years in jail by claiming she was five years younger.

In China, the law provides more leniency for minors and the elderly, and the age of 75 sets the bar.

The woman, Chen Guifen, received the court verdict at the hospital bed as she underwent treatment for half paralysis and cerebral thrombosis, both of which she developed in September last year during her detention.

Chen was arrested while distributing materials about the regimes ongoing persecution of her faith in a residential compound in her hometown Chongqing, a city in southwestern China, according to U.S.-based website Minghui.org, which tracks the oppression campaign.

Chen had defended herself in a July 2020 court hearing by explaining how she had benefited personally from the practice. On Sept. 17two weeks after she was hospitalizedthe local court conducted a show trial at the patient room and proclaimed her guilty.

The witnesses listed on the court document were five police officers from Degan Police Station, the same facility that had ordered Chens arrest, according to Minghui. She was also fined 1,000 yuan (around $153).

The Chinese spiritual discipline Falun Gong teaches five sets of slow-moving exercises and asks adherents to improve their moral character by following three core tenets: truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. An estimated 70100 million people took up the practice by 1999, when the regime deemed its popularity a threat and began a ruthless campaign designed to wipe it out.

Definitely Illegal

Wu Shaoping, a former human rights lawyer in Shanghai, believed that the authorities had deliberately changed Chens age with the goal of inflicting harsher punishment.

Under Chinese criminal law, seniors who are 75 or older should receive more leniency. Drawing on his experience, Wu said that authorities have typically given suspended sentences under similar circumstances unless the case falls into eight most egregious categoriesintentional homicide, arson, spreading hazardous substances, robbery, rape, kidnapping, bombing, and aggravated assaultnone of which applies to Chens case.

The courts action was definitely illegal, said Wu in a phone interview with The Epoch Times.

Manipulating peoples date of birth is in itself a breach of the law, he said. Especially given that their goal is to throw innocent persons into jail.

In past political campaigns, Chinese police were often under pressure to fulfill quotas, according to human rights watchers. To appease their bosses and get monetary rewards, police sometimes would make arrests without caring so much about evidence, according to Wu.

Even when there isnt a case, they would come up with one. Its quite scary, he said.

He added that in China, normal citizens are no better than ants.

When facts are missing, they just make up the facts. If they can do this to one person, they can do the same thing to another, he said.

[They] can fabricate any facts at will to frame you and get you into prison.

Chen had been a regular target of police harassment prior to her arrest, with her house raided at least twice in 2016 and 2019. In one house visit in 2017, the police and local officials asked her to write repentance statements to renounce her faith and stop spreading literature about the practice, threatening to send her to the brainwashing center if she refused to comply.

In 2020, at least 114 Falun Gong practitioners were sentenced over their belief, including Chen. The oldest among them was 88.

The year saw 42 elderly deaths under the persecution. Nearly 1,200 othersa great majority of them aged between 70 and 94reported arrests or harassment.

Sherry Dong contributed to this report.
Local Workers and Local Labor Unions Unite in Support of Heather Hutt for Californias 54th Assembly District

In a time when African American women are fighting for a voice in Sacramento, local labor unions say Heather Hutt is the leader we need in Sacramento to fight for the working class.

Heather Hutt comes from a working-class family in the Leimert Park neighborhood, right off of Crenshaw Blvd. She is a single mother who has raised three sons on her own and has worked her entire life towards a better life for her community.

Now, Heather Hutt, the former State Director for Senator Kamala Harris, is looking to bring her hard work, drive and determination to Sacramento. Now local unions, labor leaders and those members who Hutt wants to represent in Sacramento have all started aligning in support of Hutt, the front runner seeking to replace now, Senator Sydney Kamlager Dove, in the 54th Assembly.

Local Unions including the International Union of Operating Engineers (I.U.O.E.) Local 12, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 18, the Ironworkers Local 433, the United Association Local 761 Plumbers and Steamfitters, LIUNA Local 300 and the United Association Local 250 Refrigeration Fitters and Steamfitters have all aligned to endorse Heather Hutt for the Assembly.

Hutt has always been committed to working for and with local labor unions and for the benefit of working-class families. She has been working with and volunteering her entire life with organizations such as Brotherhood Crusade and SEIU 2015 at their recent Black History Day Food Give a Way on Crenshaw, and has always been a union supporter, advocate and ally.

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Heather Hutt is the clear labor candidate for Assembly District 54. Through her work as the Statewide Director for then-Senator Kamala Harris and in the State Legislature, Heather has proven herself dedicated to safeguarding and uplifting the rights of workers across the state of California. We need Heather in Sacramento standing with working families in the fight for critical relief and to protect our wages and benefits. International Union of Operating Engineers Local 12 is proud to endorse Heather for Assembly and looks forward to helping her get elected, stated Political Director Matt Gaines.

IBEW Local 18 is made up of thousands of essential workers that provide safe delivery of clean water and reliable power for millions of Angelenos. For our members and their families, its critical to have representation from voices that have a dedicated track record of protecting our wages, our rights, and our safety, time and time again. Heather Hutt has fought for working Californians throughout her career in public service, and were extremely confident she will continue to fight for us in Sacramento. IBEW Local 18 is excited to support Heathers campaign for State Assembly District 54, stated Brian Darcy Business Manager

Iron Workers Local 433 are proud to endorse Heather Hutt for State Assembly. We know she will be a champion for good union jobs, infrastructure investments, protecting our healthcare and ensuring our members can retire with dignity. We are with Heather 100%, stated President Piedmont Brown

Especially in this unprecedented time, its critical we elect more proven champions of working families to the State Legislature to defend and expand protections for workers statewide. Thats why the members of UA Local 761 are proud to endorse Heather Hutt for the 54th Assembly District. For years, Heather has been a dedicated leader on behalf of working people, fighting to improve wages and conditions for hard-working Californians. Were with Hutt, stated Greg Lewis UAL 761 business managers.

The working men and women of UA Local 250 Steamfitters-Refrigeration are proud to give Heather Hutt our strong support and endorsement, because shes been a forceful leader on behalf of working people. As a public servant, Heather worked tirelessly to improve wages and working conditions for the hard-working people of California, as well as ensuring working men and women had the resources and PPE they needed during the COVID-19 crisis. Heather Hutts experience and proven track record are unrivaled in the race for 54th District, and were excited to support her campaign. Stated PAC Chairman Rudy Rodriguez.

Heather Hutts experience and qualifications are unrivaled in the 54th Assembly District Race. Shes been a forceful leader on behalf of working people, fighting to increase access to affordable healthcare, invest in infrastructure that improves our working conditions, wages and benefits. Thats why the men and women of LiUNA 300 are proud to stand with Heather Hutt for State Assembly stated Sergio Rascon LiUNA Local 300 Business Manager.

The overwhelming majority of community and political leaders see Heather Hutt as the candidate most qualified to replace Kamlager-Dove in the Assembly in a state of over 40 million people, but the lack of African American female representation is eerily scarce with only Autumn Burke in the Assembly and Sydney Kamlager-Dove in the Senate. We need a voice for working families, for women and for those in need of real help as we try and overcome the devastation of the pandemic. Heather Hutt is that voice, that women with the experience, knowhow and understanding of the issues that can bring real leadership to Sacramento.
Mary McLaughlin, 58, (pictured) who was found dead in Glasgow in October 1984

The 'friendly and trusting' nature of a mother-of-11 strangled to death inside her own flat 'ultimately brought about her death', a court has heard.

Mary McLaughlin, 58, was found dead at her flat in Partick in Glasgow's west end in October 1984 after enjoying a night out at bars playing dominoes, the High Court in Glasgow has heard.

Graham McGill, 59, denies murdering her and fastening a belt from her dressing gown around her throat with intent to rape on September 26 or 27 that year.

Summing up the case on Thursday, prosecutor Alex Prentice QC said: 'She trusted people.

Mary McLaughlin, 58, was found dead at her flat (pictured) in Partick in Glasgow's west end in October 1984 after enjoying a night out at bars playing dominoes, the High Court in Glasgow has heard

'That may be an interpretation you have of Mary McLaughlin, someone who was friendly and trusting and I suggest that ultimately brought about her death.

'You might form the impression she was someone perhaps a little lonely, someone who would go out and meet with people to gain some happiness in her life.

'People went back to her flat, it was part of her trusting nature.'

He told jurors, who are watching proceedings virtually from a cinema in Braehead: 'This is not a film or play taking place, it's a very real issue for you to determine.

'I suggest there's really no question that Mary McLaughlin was murdered, she was strangled.

'I suggest you can conclude this was a sexual attack the evidence in this case I suggest provides a body of cogent evidence which points toward the guilt of Graham McGill.'

The trial was told on Wednesday that DNA samples found on her dress, inside the knot of the dressing gown cord, a cigarette end, and a black bra found near her third-floor flat in Crathie Court on Laurel Street are all attributable to McGill.

An elderly neighbour, Isobel Barnes, told police at the time that the light in Ms McLaughlin's flat was on and the cupboard door ajar for several days after the night of September 26, Mr Prentice added.

Summing up the case at Glasgow High Court (pictured) today, prosecutor Alex Prentice QC said: 'She trusted people. That may be an interpretation you have of Mary McLaughlin, someone who was friendly and trusting and I suggest that ultimately brought about her death'

On Thursday morning, two charges against McGill were withdrawn.

They are: stealing a set of keys from Ms McLaughlin's flat, and threatening to murder his ex-partner Suzanne Russell and children at a house in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, between 1985 and 1988.

Judge Lord Burns said to McGill: 'Since the Crown have withdrawn charges two and three, I formally acquit you of those charges.'

Defence counsel Sarah Livingstone is due to deliver her closing submissions to jurors on Thursday afternoon.
Gandhinagar, April 9 : Gujarat on Thursday saw its daily Covid tally cross the 4,000 mark, to reach 4,021, taking its tally to 3,32,474, while its death toll also climbed to 4,655 with 35 more succumbing to the disease.

In April so far, Gujarat has registered 24,776 cases with a daily average of 3,097, while in March, it had added 37,809 cases at an average of 1,220 per day.

A total of 2,197 patients were discharged, taking the total to 3,07,346, while there are 20,473 active cases.

Ahmedabad registered its highest spike, with 977 cases, closely followed by Surat with 960, while Rajkot saw 520, Vadodara 490 and Jamnagar 203.

Patan saw 99, Bhavnagar 84, Gandhinagar and Junagadh 77 each, Mehsana 74, Kutch 41, Mahisagar 38, Morbi 37, Panchmahals 33, Kheda 29, Banaskantha 27, Dahod and Bharuch 26 each, Amreli 24, Sabarkantha 21 and Anand and Valsad with 20 each.

Fourteen deaths were reported from Surat, 9 from Ahmedabad, four from Rajkot, three from Vadodara, and one each in Bhavnagar, Mehsana, Bharuch, Jamnagar, and Amreli.

Till now, a total of 83,32,840 have been vaccinated out of which 74,04,864 persons received their first dose, and 9,27,976 their second shot. Also over 2.6 lakh senior citizens over 60 and comorbid patient between 45 and 60 were also vaccinated with 2,17,929 receiving the their first shot, and 47,100 the second.
GEORGETOWN  Affordable housing has been a topic of conversation in Georgetown County for months and even years, but the term "affordable" does not have a universal, numerical value.

Technically, "affordable" is supposed to be 80 percent of median wages in the county, said Brian Tucker, director of economic development for the county.

"But if you're a two-income household and you make 120 percent of that average, your definition of affordable is different than somebody that makes the average," Tucker said.

Based on the most recent census data, the average household income was just above $48,000 per year, making the technical definition of "affordable" housing in the county $800 a month. But, according to the county, average monthly rent in the county is between $1,000 and $1,500.

To address the differing definitions of affordable housing, and ensure residents are not overburdened by housing costs, Bowen National Research president, Patrick Bowen, presented a study on county housing needs to county and city officials on April 8.

The main takeaway from the study is there is a dire need for housing options for low to middle income earners. Targeting these earners can encourage younger residents to stay and join the workforce, the county said.

The study found, though, that more than half of the projected growth in the next five years will be in the Waccamaw Neck, where most of the available housing in the county exists.

But these homes have a median sale price of $389,000  well out of the price range of the average earner, who can only afford rental housing with rents of up to $994 per month or purchase a home less than $125,000, according to the study. As of right now, options for these residents are few and far between.

"Whats happening is we have a huge demand for lower and middle income housing. Every single subsidized apartment available to lower income residents in Georgetown proper is full with long waiting lists for occupancy," Tucker said.

"Then the middle income earners  our nurses, teachers, police officers, firefighters  struggle to find a place to live anywhere except on the Waccamaw Neck, and on the Waccamaw Neck theres no inventory in their price range."

Additionally, senior households are expected to increase by more than 17 percent in the next five years, while households under 35 are expected to decrease by almost 7 percent. In the state of South Carolina, senior households are expected to increase by 18 percent while households under 35 are expected to remain stagnant.

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The study also found that of homes sold over last two years had a median sales price of $290,000. The highest prices  and 80 percent of the sales  came from the Neck, with the lowest prices coming from the southwest portion of the county, just outside Georgetown city limits.

Tucker said solving this issue will be a matter of both developing new property and investing in rehabilitating properties that already exist  but the high cost of new developments presents its own problems.

The study says an apartment would have to rent for a minimum of $1,100 per month and a house would have to sell for $300,000 to generate an average return on investment. In order to make the cost of development more affordable for developers and enable them to create affordable housing opportunities for residents while still making a profit, government would need to offer some type of incentive or assistance.

Potential incentivizing is something Tucker hopes to discuss with city and county officials going forward.

Tucker also noted that the study is not a solution, only an assessment of a problem.

"We know that we are a destination for retirees. We also know we have been losing the younger demographic for a number of years. We need to determine a path forward that allows us to attract the younger generation and maintain the quality of place that our retirees love, Tucker said.

The study recommends the following:

Broad base of housing development alternatives

Initiatives that help offset the costs of residential development, particularly the development of affordable housing

New housing product in most areas of the county due to its diverse needs

New residential product, as the lack of available and affordable housing appears to be limiting economic growth and hurting local employers

Product design considerations should take into account the growing and desired household segments to be served

Invites to the presentation were sent to policy and investment stakeholders such as county and city council, county and city planning commissions and real estate developers. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, public attendance was not allowed, though press was.
Outraged protesters are intensifying calls for dismissals and other official actions one day after the bodies of a young woman and her suspected abductor were discovered in a case that highlights the ongoing -- but banned -- practice of "bride kidnapping."

One of the bodies, found in a car near a remote field in the Chui district of Bishkek on April 7 after a two-day search, showed signs of strangulation and the other had knife wounds.

Authorities said they suspect a murder-suicide.

Civil society groups and other Kyrgyz have responded with reminders of past tragedies and with urgent calls for authorities and society to crack down on the persistent practice of such kidnappings.

Demonstrators assembled in several cities on April 8, including in front of the Interior Ministry in the capital, Bishkek, and outside a police station in the southern city of Osh.

In the capital, where the kidnapping took place, protesters are demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Ulan Niyazbekov.

Niyazbekov has not responded to the protesters.

Prime Minister Ulukbek Maripov met with the protesters and said that the activities of Interior Ministry officials in the situation that led to Kanatbekova's death will be investigated.

When Deputy Interior Minister Erkebek Ashirkhojaev visited parliament after noon on April 8 to report on the case, some lawmakers also demanded Niyazbekov's dismissal.

Police said the car at the center of a search since 27-year-old Aizada Kanatbekova was abducted by several people on the streets of Bishkek on April 5 was found in another part of the city two days later.

A surveillance camera caught the moment of the abduction -- in broad daylight at a major intersection -- and the failure of passersby to assist Kanatbekova.

The same car, with the bodies inside, was found by a shepherd.

"A local shepherd saw the car on April 5 and 6 and thought it was stuck in the mud," police said. "Only on April 7 did he approach the car and see the corpses of a woman and a man in the cabin, after which he immediately reported it to the police."

A case was opened under Article 175 of the Kyrgyz Criminal Code on "kidnapping for the purpose of marriage."

The suspect who hoped to press her into marriage is reported to have been 31 years old.

Bishkek police on April 8 identified the suspect as Zamirbek Tenizbaev, who has been convicted in Russia three times on charges of theft, robbery, and extortion.

President Sadyr Japarov condemned bribe-snatching in Kyrgyzstan, saying in a Facebook statement that "all those who take part, or allow a young woman's abduction, must face punishment in accordance with law."

"What happened to Aizada is a tragedy and there's pain not only for her family but for our country in general," he added.

"I want to separately address the Interior Ministry -- law and order in our society must be above everything. Nobody should forget about that.... I am taking Aizada Kanatbekova's case under my personal control. This case must be taken care of to its conclusion," Japarov said, expressing his condolences to the victim's relatives.

Interior Ministry spokesman Ulan Jumakov told RFE/RL on April 8 that three men suspected in taking part in Kanatbekova's abduction had been apprehended.

Meanwhile, Kanatbekova, the only child of a single mother, was buried on April 8 in her native town of Balykchi in the Issyk-Kul region.

Kyrgyzstan sees thousands of bride kidnappings each year despite its criminalization in 2013.

One of the most notorious cases involved the stabbing death in 2018 of 20-year-old university student Burulai Turdaaly Kyzy by a man who authorities said abducted her for a forced marriage.

Prosecutions for such abductions are rare, but Turdaaly Kyzy's 29-year-old killer was convicted and sentenced to prison.

A women's rights researcher for Human Rights Watch (HRW) complained a year later that "it's outrageous that the government hasn't done everything possible to enforce laws that could save women's and girls' lives."

"Passing laws is a good first step, but it is far from enough to ensure real protection," researcher Hillary Margolis said.

Activists say that in addition to occasional deaths, the practice often leads to marital rape, domestic violence, and other traumas.

The UN Development Program estimated in 2019 that about 14 percent of Kyrgyz women under the age of 24 were married under some form of coercion.
Tickets to tourist attractions, shopping coupons, and report cards naming and shaming stores where staff haven't been vaccinated: China is veering from compulsion to persuasion in its bid to inoculate its population from Covid

Beijing (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2021 ) :Tickets to tourist attractions, shopping coupons, and report cards naming and shaming stores where staff haven't been vaccinated: China is veering from compulsion to persuasion in its bid to inoculate its population from Covid.

The country has administered around 140 million doses -- most people will require two shots -- since vaccinations began last year and aims to fully inoculate 40 percent of its 1.4 billion people by June.

But many in China have been slow to sign up for jabs, feeling they are no longer at risk of catching the virus as the country has largely brought domestic outbreaks under control.

China reported just 11 domestically transmitted cases on Thursday, while life has returned largely to normal in most parts of the country, where most malls, nightclubs and amusement parks have been open for a year.

Keen to meet vaccination goals, local officials have had to get creative.

Walls across the narrow alleys of Beijing's Xicheng district are now plastered with green, yellow and red signs, indicating the vaccination rate of people working and living in roadside stores and courtyard homes.

"I feel it's a little strange," said Wang Ying, a barista at a cafe that had received a red sign right by its door -- the lowest grade of less than 40 percent vaccination.

"I originally thought vaccination should be based on individual wishes but now it seems like everyone must get the vaccine." Wang told AFP she had reservations about the safety of the vaccines, but that she and her colleagues would eventually all get jabs.

"In the food and beverage business, doing so will put everyone more at ease," she said.

Meanwhile, Daxing, a suburban district of Beijing, is handing out shopping coupons to people who have received the full two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Neighbourhood committees in another district have promised boxes of eggs to older residents who have been inoculated, while others who receive their jab have been promised free visits to the popular Lama Temple tourist site.

But elsewhere, Chinese authorities and employers have opted for compulsion rather than persuasion to vaccinate millions of people.

Officials in southwestern China's Yunnan province, which recently discovered a small outbreak, last week launched a push to vaccinate all residents of Ruili city within five days, state media reported.

It's unclear how easy it will be to opt out of having the jab in the city, which borders Muse in neighbouring Myanmar, where escalating unrest since a February 1 military coup has raised fears that people may try to cross into China if the violence intensifies.

National vaccination numbers have shot up in recent weeks, with a long line of residents waiting outside one inoculation centre in Beijing's Chaoyang district on Thursday.

"I'd been thinking about it for a while, because this is a new thing, but now more and more people have been getting the vaccine," Zhang, a young man waiting in line to register for a shot, told AFP.

tjx/rox/oho
Britain on Wednesday said it will adopt new medical advice to offer most people aged under 30 an alternative to the AstraZeneca coronavirus jab if possible, due to heightened concerns over blood clots

London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Apr, 2021 ) :Britain on Wednesday said it will adopt new medical advice to offer most people aged under 30 an alternative to the AstraZeneca coronavirus jab if possible, due to heightened concerns over blood clots.

A potential blow to the UK's highly successful Covid-19 vaccine programme, it comes after the country's medicines regulator reassessed the shot's safety following dozens of clotting incidents among people who had received it.

The MHRA regulator said its "rigorous scientific review of all available data" had found 79 blood clots and 19 deaths among people who had received one of the 20 million AstraZeneca doses administered in the UK.

It insisted such incidents after having the jab remained "extremely rare" and that its benefits continue to outweigh any risks.

However the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the government, said given the lower risk posed by the virus to young people, it would change its guidance for them.

"Adults who are aged 18 to 29 years old who do not have an underlying health condition... should be offered an alternative Covid-19 vaccine in preference to the AstraZeneca vaccine," Wei Shen Lim of the JCVI said at a press conference.

He noted that alternatives, which in Britain currently are vaccines developed by US firm Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, should be offered "if available".

- 'Full confidence' - Britain has administered nearly 32 million first vaccine doses to people, around 60 percent of the adult population in one of the world's most successful inoculation drives.

But the country has relied heavily on the AstraZeneca shot, developed in partnership with Oxford University.

It has faced a host of issues in Europe and beyond since it began to be rolled out in the UK in early December.

The European Medicines Agency said Wednesday that clots should be listed as a "very rare" side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine, but agreed that its benefits continue to outweigh the risks.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the latest reviews and new guidance from the JCVI, noting the vaccine is "safe, effective and has already saved thousands of lives".

"We will follow today's updated advice, which should allow people of all ages to continue to have full confidence in vaccines, helping us save lives and cautiously return towards normality," he said on Twitter.

England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam described the new advice as "a course correction" in the vaccine drive.

"There's no question about that, but it is in a sense, in medicine, quite normal for physicians to alter their preferences for how patients are treated over time," he said.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock insisted Britain remained "on track" to offer a first dose to all adults by the end of July and urged people to take whichever shot they were offered.

- First Moderna jab - The developments came as the UK began rolling out the first of 17 million Moderna vaccines ordered, its third approved jab and which is already being delivered in Europe and the United States.

The first shot of the two-stage Moderna inoculation was given at a hospital in Wales to 24-year-old Elle Taylor.

"I'm an unpaid carer for my grandmother so it is very important to me that I get it, so I can care for her properly and safely," she told reporters.

Taylor said she would have been happy to take the AstraZeneca jab despite the adverse publicity about blood clots.

"I had heard, but it doesn't concern me too much. And I guess if it happens, it happens, and I am in the right care if I need it, and I feel happy that I've tried the new one," she said.

The arrival of the Moderna inoculation represents a timely diversification of Britain's vaccine rollout, with AstraZeneca hit by supply problems as well as the clot controversy.
A suspect has been indicted in last years slaying of a 71-year-old Birmingham woman.

A Jefferson County grand jury this month issued a capital murder indictment against 37-year-old Kartavius Vines, according to court records made public Wednesday. He is charged in the shooting death of Javanna Midge Cotton Owens.

The shooting happened shortly after 9 p.m. Sept. 13, 2020 on Brussels Circle in Birminghams Harris Homes community. Police responded to a report of a person shot and found Owens unresponsive in the roadway. She was taken UAB Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m.

Authorities said Owens was walking down the street and approached the vehicle as if she knew the occupants. Thats when a single shot was fired from the vehicle and Owens was struck.

Javanna Cotton "Midge" Owens (Contributed)

The suspect vehicle then drove away. With the help of the FLOCK LPR cameras  license plate readers  police were able to locate the vehicle and took Vines into custody.

The killing stunned the victims daughter - Vekimba Carter  who lost her son to gun violence two months before her mother was killed. She said her mother had been at her house that morning and was supposed to come back over when she finished doing the laundry. Instead, she got a call from a friend that lives in Harris Homes telling her that her mother had been shot.

She doesnt understand why anybody would hurt her mother. Owens did odd jobs around the community for her elderly neighbors, washing their clothes or cleaning for them, her daughter said.

She tried to help everybody she could,' Vekimba Carter said after her mothers killing. She didnt bother nobody.

She was so sweet and humble, a little bitty thing,' she said. She only weighed 120 pounds soaking wet. She just turned 71 two weeks ago.

Authorities have not released a motive in the slaying. Vines has been held without bond since his arrest on Sept. 15, 2020.
Regulatory News:

Sopra Steria Group (Paris:SOP):

The General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Wednesday, 26 May 2021 will be held in closed session on an exceptional basis.

Taking note of the restrictions on travel and gatherings currently in force, in particular in the Paris region, and the decision to extend them to the rest of mainland France, Pierre Pasquier, Chairman of the Board of Directors, making use of the authority delegated to him by the Board of Directors, decided on Thursday, 1 April 2021 that the Combined General Meeting of Wednesday, 26 May 2021 would be held exceptionally in closed session, at the Company's head office, without shareholders and other persons with the right to attend being physically present.

In the absence of proven alternatives that can ensure the reliability of voting results, shareholders are invited to vote or to appoint the Chairman of the General Meeting or another person as their proxy PRIOR TO the General Meeting either: (i) by electronic means or (ii) by post, using the remote voting form.

The notice of meeting published in the Bulletin d'Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO) on 7 April 2021 reflects this decision and provides details on the procedures governing participation in the General Meeting.

The Company recommends that shareholders make use of the Votaccess platform whenever possible.

Sopra GMT and the Sopra Steria Actions company mutual fund (FCPE), both shareholders of the Company, have been named as scrutineers.

The General Meeting will be live streamed on the Company's website Investors Sopra Steria unless technical issues prevent or seriously disrupt the live stream.

The recorded video of the General Meeting will remain available on the Company's website

Investors Sopra Steria for the period required by regulations in force.

In addition to the application of the legal framework pertaining to written questions submitted in advance, shareholders will also have the opportunity to ask questions during the General Meeting. The procedure to be followed for these questions, which is to be implemented in connection with the live stream of the General Meeting, will be announced as soon as possible.

Shareholders are therefore requested to regularly consult the specific section of the Company's website devoted to General Meetings: Shareholders' Meetings (soprasteria.com)

This section will provide any updates or details to be made available after the publication of the notice of meeting, in particular any possible developments affecting the procedures for taking part in the General Meeting due to new public health measures and/or legal decisions as well as technical constraints.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005844/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations

Sopra Steria Group

Olivier Psaume

investors@soprasteria.com

+33.1.40.67.68.16

Press Relations

Image Sept

Caroline Simon-Phelip

caroline.simon@image7.fr

+33.1.53.70.74.65
Twenty-six years ago, a comic strip in this newspaper called Nacho Guarache mocked the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation while it was waging a battle against a renovation of Alamo Plaza. The issue was how human remains uncovered at the site would be handled.

The remains are those of Tap Pilams tribal ancestors.

At the time, most Texans didnt know or, frankly, care about the graves  at least 1,000 burial sites that also hold the remains of Tejanos, Canary Islanders, Black slaves and others.

Up to that point, Native American human remains were largely treated as akin to animal remains. Natives Americans were viewed almost as extinct.

Attitudes have changed, especially in educational settings.

Still, in San Antonio progress has been slow.

Amid a new renovation plan for the state-owned Alamo and the city-owned Alamo Plaza, a reset ordered by Mayor Ron Nirenberg on March 1 will try to rescue both the renovation and the citys relationship with Tap Pilam.

As the plan moves ahead, Tap Pilam is venting steam.

Tribal leader Raymond Hernandez had hoped his children wouldnt have to fight the same struggles his generation waged to bring recognition to Indian cemeteries and to safeguard graves at the Alamo, the citys four South Side cemeteries and other public spaces.

Instead, his granddaughter Destiny Hernandez has been among those holding prayers and rituals in front of the Alamo every day since Tap Pilam was denied access to the Alamo Chapel in 2019. The group had held annual remembrances for ancestors at the site for 25 years during its Semana de Recuerdos, or Week of Remembrance.

In 2019, state troopers barred them from holding the ceremony in the chapel. The nonprofit Alamo Trust, which operates the site for the Texas General Land Office, declared that the chapel was available only for public tours.

I dont have much faith or trust in these present negotiations, the elder Hernandez said Wednesday.

My generation dedicated themselves to resolve these differences in a positive manner, so as to avoid future generations experiencing these abuses.

He was referring to historic tensions between Tap Pilam and a host of entities, including the Catholic Church, educational institutions, and local and state governments over the treatment of Native American remains. Some of those institutions have returned human remains to the tribe for reinterment or have included the tribal community in reinterment services.

Speaking of the Alamo, Hernandez said it was a good start for Nirenberg to remove City Councilman Roberto Trevino from two positions of leadership on the renovation project and replace him with Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, a descendant of the Tejano Alamo defender Toribio Losoya.

As part of the project reset, city officials committed to working with the Tap Pilam and other descendant groups to identify the locations of mission-era cemeteries at the Alamo.

A protocol for treatment of human remains will be developed for bone fragments and other burial remains uncovered in the city-owned portion of Alamo Plaza.

But because Tap Pilam is not a federally recognized tribe, the General Land Office and the Alamo Trust have denied the group a voice in the handling of remains found on the Alamo grounds.

The GLO and the trust replaced Tap Pilam on the states portion of the renovation project with members of federally recognized tribes that had little or no connection to the Alamo.

The latest renovation of the plaza will limit excavations, thus preserving graves. The city will conduct archival investigations and create an archaeology committee to guide interpretations of Alamo cemeteries.

In its March reset, the city extended an olive branch to Tap Pilam and brought it back into the fold.

Early every morning, a few members of Tap Pilam meet at the Alamo to pray. They leave small offerings: a flower or some tobacco. Some run from the Alamo to the citys South Side missions in reverence.

Every time we do the prayer, the same ritual we do every morning, theres this feeling that overcomes me, Destiny Hernandez said Wednesday, her voice cracking. Its an intense emotion. I can feel the ancestors, and I can feel their sadness.

Copies of the 1995 Nacho Guarache cartoon by the late Leo Garza have been making the rounds among members of Tap Pilam. It makes fun of Native American concerns over their ancestors graves, suggesting they dont exist.

It depicts a stereotypical Native American character who sees a bone and says, That there must be Indian remains of a sacred Indian ancestor!

Tap Pilam says that a couple of weeks after the cartoon was published, human remains were found and were re-interred by Tap Pilam, forming the basis of its annual remembrances in the Alamo chapel every fall.

In the final panel, Garza depicted a bone found at the Alamo as that of a turkey, circa Fiesta 76. His Indian character calls it sacred Indian leftovers.

So, yes, the city will have to work hard to convince Tap Pilam its intentions are noble and that it will use whatever power it has to persuade the GLO and the Alamo Trust to follow its lead.

Its the only way.

Unfortunately, history repeats itself, said Tap Pilam attorney Art Martinez de Vara. Raymond Hernandez is always speaking of the need to set this matter to rest once and for all, so that future generations do not have to fight the same battles over and over.

eayala@express-news.net
04/07/2021

By Edwin L. Aguirre

Two researchers from the Department of Mechanical Engineering  Asst. Profs. Yan Gu and Marianna Maiaru  were recognized by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Air Force, respectively, with faculty early career development grants totaling $1,015,000. The funding will help advance research on robot walking and the process modeling of composite materials.





Gu received a five-year NSF CAREER grant , worth nearly $565,000, for research that would develop new methods in modeling, analyzing and controlling the movement of legged robots to keep them stable and upright while walking on nonstationary surfaces.





The CAREER grant is the NSFs most prestigious award in support of early-career faculty who demonstrate strong potential to lead research breakthroughs in their organizations.





Maiarus three-year, $450,000 Young Investigator Program (YIP) grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research will support her work to advance the development and processing of high-strength, high-temperature structural materials for the next generation of aerospace vehicles.





Asst. Prof. Marianna Maiarus Air Force-funded research will lead to advances in the development and processing of high-strength, high-temperature composite materials. The Air Force awards the grant to faculty researchers who show exceptional ability and promise in conducting creative, fundamental research in science and engineering. The Air Force awards the grant to faculty researchers who show exceptional ability and promise in conducting creative, fundamental research in science and engineering.





Maiaru is one of two UML faculty researchers who have won YIP grants. Physics Asst. Prof. Archana Kamal also won the award for her research on quantum information processing.





They are among the 36 scientists and engineers from 27 research institutions across the country selected by the Air Force for the recognition. Aside from UMass Lowell, the other awardees include researchers from Johns Hopkins University, Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, Virginia Tech, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of California San Diego.





Legged Robot Locomotion





Using her CAREER grant, Gu will draw upon dynamic modeling, state estimation, feedback control and theory of hybrid systems to advance the control theory of legged robots in order to realize and prove stable, legged locomotion on dynamic rigid surfaces  that is, surfaces that move but do not deform.





Photo by Edwin L. Aguirre Yan Gus NSF-funded research will help keep legged robots stable and upright while walking on nonstationary surfaces. Shown here is NASAs R5 Valkyrie humanoid robot. While todays legged robot systems have shown remarkable capabilities in traversing stationary surfaces like stairs, ramps and sandy or grassy ground, walking on moving rigid surfaces, such as the pitching and rolling decks of ships and rocking floors of aircraft and trains, has not been addressed fully, according to Gu. While todays legged robot systems have shown remarkable capabilities in traversing stationary surfaces like stairs, ramps and sandy or grassy ground, walking on moving rigid surfaces, such as the pitching and rolling decks of ships and rocking floors of aircraft and trains, has not been addressed fully, according to Gu.





Empowering legged robots with such new functionality will allow them to negotiate complex, dynamic human environments, which are very challenging for robots equipped with wheels or tracks, Gu explains.





This will enable them to assist in critical, high-risk situations such as fighting fire aboard ships as well as cleaning and disinfecting public transportation vehicles to contain the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, she says.





In addition to the CAREER grant, Gu has also received NSF funding for other projects. In 2019, she was awarded a three-year grant totaling nearly $384,000 to control a robots movement in various stationary surroundings. The goal is to improve the robots capabilities, safety and reliability, especially in conducting search-and-rescue tasks and emergency response, as well as home assistance and health care.









Faster than the Speed of Sound





Maiarus YIP project focuses on ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials, which consist of reinforcing ceramic fibers embedded in a ceramic matrix. They are used for high-temperature, high-strength applications, such as components for gas turbines and heat shields for hypersonic aircraft, missiles, rockets and spacecraft.





Photo by NASA In 2004, the X-43A, NASAs uncrewed, experimental hypersonic aircraft, shown in this artists rendering, was able to reach nearly 10 times the speed of sound, or about 7,000 miles per hour, on its final flight. For example, a vehicle flying through the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds (more than five times the speed of sound, or about 4,000 miles per hour) will experience surface heating of up to 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit due to friction with air molecules. The vehicles CMC heat shield is designed to withstand extreme temperature, thermal shock and vibrations during flight. For example, a vehicle flying through the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds (more than five times the speed of sound, or about 4,000 miles per hour) will experience surface heating of up to 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit due to friction with air molecules. The vehicles CMC heat shield is designed to withstand extreme temperature, thermal shock and vibrations during flight.





Maiaru will use experimentally validated process modeling to understand the mechanisms for the formation of residual stress induced by pyrolysis-infiltration-pyrolysis processes. Pyrolysis is the degradation of the ceramic at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen.





My goal is to establish a correlation between processing conditions, microstructure and mechanical performance of the composite, which currently is not clearly shown, she says. This work strongly supports ongoing research efforts at the Air Force Research Laboratory and NASAs Langley Research Center.





According to Maiaru, process modeling for CMCs manufactured through the pyrolysis-infiltration-pyrolysis cycle is a relatively undeveloped field.





This project will help enhance the performance of high-temperature composites, optimize their manufacturing process and lead to the discovery of new materials that would establish U.S. leadership in hypersonic applications, she says.





It has great potential for advancing materials research for extreme environments and for overcoming the costly and time-consuming trial-and-error design that is being used today.





Maiaru is currently working on process modeling of advanced composites for structural applications under the sponsorship of the NSF, NASA and the Air Force Research Laboratory.
In agreement with the government of Sint Maarten, members of the Regiment of Engineers will operate on the island from 10 until and including 24 April 2021. The engineers will form a current map of the islands terrain and infrastructure. This map will serve as an aid in reconstruction in the event of a future natural disaster. The Royal Netherlands Army will perform this work to ensure that, in cooperation with Netherlands Forces in the Caribbean, it can provide assistance more rapidly if its assistance is required.

In September 2017, the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, particularly Sint Maarten, was battered by Hurricane Irma. Government institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the defense organization have since contributed substantially to the provision of emergency assistance and reconstruction. While Irma was not the first natural disaster (hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis) to strike the Caribbean, it was by far the worst in recent years.

At the request of the government of Sint Maarten, the engineers, led by 13 Light Brigade, will conduct reconnaissance to map the islands terrain and infrastructure. If a natural disaster occurs in the future, the map will make it possible to rapidly and efficiently determine the damage and effectively provide the emergency assistance required.

The Regiment of Engineers of the Royal Netherlands Army is taking this opportunity to practice skills in a real-life setting. The military objective is to train those who are tasked with engineer reconnaissance. This training will take place under the name Engineer RECCE. The military personnel involved will travel in military uniform using civilian vehicles. They will therefore be recognizable because of their military clothing but, in order minimize any inconvenience to people and the environment, will not use heavy military vehicles. Tactical training will not take place. Therefore, weapons and (training) ammunition will not be used.
The Director General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has hailed the federal governments decision to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt refinery.

He also kicked against the idea of privatising the refinery. This, he said, is because state-owned enterprises that have been privatised do not advance Nigerias economic development as canvassed by World Bank and IMF in 1986.

His comment comes barely 24 hours after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) signed a contract with Italys Maire Tecnimont for the rehabilitation of the refinery.

The $1.5 billion contract, which was signed by the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refinery, Ahmed Dikko, and the Vice President of Tecnimont, Sub-Saharan Africa, Davide Pellizola, respectively for NNPC and Tecnimont, is the latest indication that the contract for the repairs of the 210,000 barrels per-day-refinery has taken off.

The Federal Executive Council had on March 17 approved the contract for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery.

The government also said funding of the repairs will be from many components including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), budgetary provisions and Afreximbank.

Nigeria currently imports virtually all its refined petroleum products despite owning four refineries.

The recent approval for rehabilitation has been greeted with mixed feelings as the country had, in the past, spent billions of dollars on refinery maintenance which failed.

Many, including former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; founder of Stanbic IBTC, Atedorefineries and the Trade Union Congress have opposed governments plan for rehabilitation of the refinery.

In his interaction with journalists on Tuesday, Mr Okechukwu said Nigeria needed efficient and functional public owned refineries.

Yes, NNPC had disappointed us in the past with failed Turn-Around-Maintenance (TAM), which consumed mind boggling billions of Naira. Yes, NNPC reported operational losses running into billions over the years; however the gigantic Dangote Refinery, a worthy private enterprise needs strong competition to avoid monopoly, he said.

When asked if it is not preferable to privatise the refineries and save funds for other competing items like social infrastructure in the budget, he expressed his regrets for similar projects in the past like the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) and its malcontent outcome like privatisations which had led to exit of local industries, gross unemployment, abject poverty and hunger in the land.

He added, For example, we privatised our cement factories, did it reduce the cost of cement in Nigeria? Or did cement manufacturing in private hands accelerate the building industry in Nigeria?

He dismissed the insinuation that there is no need to pump more public funds into the refinery since nothing good will come out of the rehabilitation because of the age of the facility.

The 119 years old Chevron Richmond Refinery in San Fransisco, California is still functioning, let alone the 32 years old Port Harcourt Refinery. The Chevron Richmond Refinery was completed in July, 1902, was processing 10,000 barrels of crude per day, with a tank capacity of 185,000 at inception, later 250,000 barrels. And it is still in operation, he argued.

Located at Alesa Eleme, the Port Harcourt refinery was the largest refining company in Nigeria before the coming of the Dangote Refinery,

It is made up of two units: the old refinery commissioned in 1965 and the new one commissioned in 1989.

The former has a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day while the latter has a capacity of 150,000 barrels per day, bringing its combined crude processing capacity to 210,000 barrels per day.

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City Editor

Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has cover statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids.
The National Investigation Agency



on Thursday took suspended police officer Sachin Waze to the government-run J J Hospital here for a medical check-up, an official said.

Waze (49) was arrested last month by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the case of an explosives-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in south Mumbai and the death of businessman Mansukh Hiran.

The took him to the hospital around Thursday noon, the official said.

Hospital sources later said Waze was examined and then sent back.

"Report given to authorities concerned," a source said.

This was second time that Waze was taken for the medical-check up to the J J Hospital since his arrest.

Waze in a letter on Wednesday claimed former state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had demanded Rs 2 crore from him to continue his service in the and another minister Anil Parab asked him to collect money from some contractors in Mumbai.

Parab, a Shiv Sena leader, has rubbished Waze's claim.

Deshmukh, a senior NCP leader, resigned as home minister on Monday after the Bombay High Court ordered a CBI probe into corruption allegations levelled against him by former commissioner Param Bir Singh.

The special court here on Wednesday allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to question Waze in connection with its preliminary enquiry (PE) into the allegations of corruption against Deshmukh.

(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.)
CAMPAIGNS by both the British and Spanish governments in Spain calling on British expats to get their paperwork in order are proving successful. There are now 381,000 British citizens living legally in Spain, according to figures from the British Embassy yesterday. In September 2019 this figure stood at 365,967.

The rise is even more pronounced if you take into account that a considerable number of British expats have returned to Britain over recent years because of fears over Brexit and other issues.

To be honest I am quite amazed at the relatively large number of expats who were living here who didnt have their paperwork in order eventhough the process was very simple. Spain had made it clear (politely) that anyone who didnt have their paperwork in order after Brexit could be invited to leave.

Many news outlets including the Bulletin reported that up to 500 Britons across Spain were facing deportation because they did not have a residence permit or that it had been rejected by the Spanish government. The fear factor has finally pushed some Britons into action and they have applied for their TIE residence cards.

Overall, the whole process has run relatively smoothly. There have been some teething problems but it must be remembered that Spain has issued thousands of TIE cards to British citizens. The days of the so-called legal population and those who were floating have gone. If your paperwork is not in order you have a problem.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry urged Lebanese officials to quickly form a new government on Wednesday, in order to help the country emerge from its worst economic and financial crisis in decades.

Shoukry met with senior politicians including President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-Designate Saad Hariri in Beirut.

Lebanon has been without a government since former prime minister Hassan Diab and his Cabient resigned on Aug. 10, six days after the massive blast at Beirut's port which killed more than 200 people.

Hariri was appointed to form a new Cabinet in October but has so far failed amid political bickering by rival groups.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-09 01:05:16|Editor: huaxia

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CHANGCHUN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 participants attended an international conference on human rights in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, on Thursday.

The International Conference on the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Progress on Human Rights in China drew online and offline participation of experts, researchers and representatives from countries such as the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Austria and Egypt as well as international organizations.

Qiangba Puncog, President of China Society for Human Rights Studies, said the 100-year history of the CPC is a glorious history of striving for people's liberation, safeguarding people's rights and devoting itself to well-rounded human development.

Jiang Jianguo, Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said the centenary of the CPC is a centenary of the great practice of respecting and safeguarding human rights, and also a centenary of great contributions to the global human rights progress.

The international society shall jointly promote the development of global human rights governance in a more just and rational direction, he said.

Hans Kochler, professor of philosophy at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, and president of the International Organization for Progress, said the CPC has won international recognition. Countries have the right to decide on their own internal affairs, and prioritize different types of rights, he said.

Sandrine Nduwinana, director of the International Liaison Department of the China-Africa Business Council, acknowledged the CPC's ingenuity in eradicating poverty and expects more exchange and cooperation with the Chinese side in poverty relief.

Participants also focused on topics such as the human rights theory of the CPC in the new era, the CPC's human rights concept, human rights protection in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and the relationship between poverty reduction and human rights.

The conference was sponsored by the China Society for Human Rights Studies and the Publicity Department of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee. Enditem
Its been creeping more and more and more and more, and then when it culminated in the shooting, its like, this is not right, its never been right, Parekh said. And we need to at least stop, and take a moment, and recognize it.
English French

Paris, France and Madrid, Spain - April 8, 2021 - Atos today announces that it is coordinating and actively contributing to the European project  FlexiGroBots . This initiative aims to empower robot-makers, engineers and service providers to build and deploy multi-robot systems for the agri-food industry to support farmers in their daily work. Within the framework of the Horizon 2020 program, the project will develop an innovative platform to facilitate the use of robotics through three large-scale pilots across Europe.



The adoption of new technologies in the agricultural sector has increased in recent years, unleashing a new paradigm: agriculture 4.0 where robotics, AI and automation play a fundamental role in crop management and precision agriculture1 by addressing real-time decision making and monitoring needs. However, current robotic systems are lacking flexibility as they are built to carry out very specific missions and are not able to handle other tasks nor cooperate with other robotic technologies, leading to a lack of ROI for farmers.

The FlexiGroBots project will run over 36 months with the aim of developing and validating an open platform which supports the creation of flexible and heterogeneous multi-robot systems that enable multi-robot cooperation and autonomy. Robots include UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and UGVs (unmanned ground vehicles).

Within FlexiGroBots, the Atos research and innovation group acts as the project coordinator, guaranteeing the execution of the planned activities and the overall monitoring and supervision of the project. Atos will help provide the architecture and requirement analysis, lead the reference architecture and synchronize the three pilots. It acts as a technical leader and main contributor in the development of robotic mission control center capabilities for the design, planning and supervision of heterogeneous multi-robot operations, including robotic services enabled by Computer Vision techniques and in geospatial data analysis. As a member of the International Data Space Association (IDSA), Atos also works on the development of data space enablers for the data management of an industrial data space tailored to the agricultural context, allowing secure data exchange across various stakeholders within the agri-food sector.

"This project fits perfectly with Atos objective to contribute to the digitization of European industries, including agriculture, through the development of innovative applications and services based on AI, data and trusted robotics, comments Daniel Calvo Alonso, Head of the AI, Data and Robotics Unit in the Atos Research and Innovation department and coordinator of the FlexiGroBots project.

The FlexiGroBots platform will be validated in three real pilot projects:

Vineyards (Spain): Demonstrate the high capacity and versatility of robots to perform different tasks in vineyards, contributing to the quality of grapes for wine production and to overall economic profitability.

(Spain): Demonstrate the high capacity and versatility of robots to perform different tasks in vineyards, contributing to the quality of grapes for wine production and to overall economic profitability. Rapeseed fields (Finland): Demonstrate time-critical pest management and robotization of heavy machinery fleets in grassland management.

(Finland): Demonstrate time-critical pest management and robotization of heavy machinery fleets in grassland management. Blueberries fields (Serbia and Lithuania): Demonstrate the potential of innovative robotic solutions  with advanced remote sensing techniques, deep learning and decision support  to grow blueberries.

Funded by the European Commission with 7 million euros, FlexiGroBots brings together a multidisciplinary consortium made up of 16 different organizations and companies from 8 different countries. For more information, visit https://flexigrobots-h2020.eu/

###

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 105,000 employees and annual revenue of over  11 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 71 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos operates under the brands Atos and Atos|Syntel. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.

The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

Press contacts

Spain: Christian Suell - christian.suell@atos.net  91 038 98 27

Other countries: Lucie Duchateau  lucie.duchateau@atos.net  +33 7 62 85 35 10

1 Precision agriculture is a farming management concept based on observing, measuring, and responding to inter and intra-field variability in crops







Attachment
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took his second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at the AIIMS here, and asked those eligible for the shot to take it soon to defeat the virus.

He had taken his first jab on March 1 at the hospital.

Got my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS today.



Vaccination is among the few ways we have, to defeat the virus.



If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon. Register on https://t.co/hXdLpmaYSP. pic.twitter.com/XZzv6ULdan  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 8, 2021

"Got my second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at AIIMS today. Vaccination is among the few ways we have, to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon. Register on "http://CoWin.gov.in"CoWin.gov.in," he tweeted.

The prime minister also posted a picture of him receiving the jab.

Modi has taken Covaxin, India's homegrown vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech.
(CNN) -- The US will resume the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars in aid for Palestinians that was previously halted by the Trump administration.

Over $200 million will soon begin to flow to economic, development and humanitarian programs for the Palestinian people, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Wednesday -- a move hailed by both the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which supports displaced Palestinians, and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh.

The money will go to UNRWA as well as to Covid-19 recovery efforts, support for basic needs such as food and water, support for civil society and the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, Blinken said.

"The United States is committed to advancing prosperity, security, and freedom for both Israelis and Palestinians in tangible ways in the immediate term, which is important in its own right, but also as a means to advance towards a negotiated two-state solution," Blinken said in a statement.

This announcement reverses the Trump administration's 2018 decision to halt almost all US assistance to Palestinians.

Israel's Foreign Ministry responded carefully on Wednesday, refraining from outright criticism of the Biden administration and instead aiming its fire at UNRWA: "Israel's position is that the organization in its current form perpetuates the conflict and does not contribute to its resolution. The renewal of aid to UNRWA should be accompanied by substantial and necessary changes in the nature, goals and conduct of the organization," the Ministry said in a statement.

UNRWA was founded in 1949 as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. When it began operations the following year it was responsible for about 750,000 people who had been driven from or had fled their homes during fighting in territory that became the state of Israel. The agency is also responsible for the descendants of those original refugees, meaning some 5.6 million people are currently eligible for UNRWA services, according to the UNRWA website.

Palestinians assert the right of return, and point to UN General Assembly resolution 194, passed in 1948, which states that 'refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date.'

The right of return has always been seen as one of the biggest sticking points in efforts to solve the conflict because Israel argues that, among other issues, granting the right of return would mean the end of the Jewish character of the state.

UNRWA hailed the US announcement Wednesday saying the United States had "restored its role as a decades-long friend and supporter of the UN agency," adding that the news came at a crucial moment.

"The restoration of funds comes after recent years of severe financial crisis for UNRWA. The Covid-19 pandemic has only worsened the situation forcing the Agency to respond to a public health crisis amid the most serious financial crisis in its history and manage its resources on a month to month basis due to unreliable funding," a statement read.

UNRWA's West Bank director Gwyn Lewis told CNN the agency had been forced to delay payments to staff at the end of last year, as well as scale back on investment programs, such as expenditure on new garbage collection equipment in refugee camps.

Lewis added the agency was hopeful Wednesday's announcement would open the door to increased US contributions so that it might get back to pre-Trump funding levels of 360 million dollars per year.

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh also welcomed the US policy switch and expressed the hope it could lead to renewed US efforts to try to resolve the conflict.

"We welcome the resumption of US aid to UNRWA and Palestine, and we call upon the American administration to create a new political path that meets the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people based on international law and UN resolutions," PM Shtayyeh tweeted.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "US reinstates hundreds of millions in funding to Palestinians, reversing Trump decision"
[April 08, 2021] TA Associates Announces New Hire in Mumbai

TA Associates, a leading global growth private equity firm, today announced the recent hiring of Ritej Bachhawat as a Vice President in its Mumbai office and as a member of the firm's Strategic Resource Group. "It is a great pleasure to welcome Ritej to TA," said Dhiraj Poddar, head of TA Associates Advisory Pvt. Ltd. and a Managing Director at TA. "Ritej brings a wealth of advisory experience on topics such as growth strategy, cost optimization, digital transformation, sales acceleration and new business building. With this skill set, and an extensive knowledge of the Indian marketplace, Ritej is well-suited to lead our Strategic Resource Group's efforts in India." "TA has partnered with fast-growing companies across the Asia-Pacific region since 2007," said Ajit Nedungadi, Chief Executive Officer of TA. "Our Strategic Resource Group plays a central role in helping to build additional value in the high-quality growth companies in which we invest. With many years of consulting experience across multiple industries, we believe Ritej will be a key contributorin helping to identify growth opportunities and improve performance for TA portfolio companies across the region."



Prior to joining TA, Mr. Bachhawat was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company (News - Alert) in India. He began his career at ZS Associates, India Pvt. Ltd as an Associate Consultant. Mr. Bachhawat received B.Tech and M.Tech degrees in Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow. About TA Associates

TA is a leading global growth private equity firm. 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/20210407005780/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
He's giving the gift of new music nearly five years after his untimely death.

And Prince's estate is releasing a previously recorded album titled Welcome 2 America in July, with its title track now streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.

The late legendary performer  who died at the age of 57 on April 21, 2016  compiled the 12-track catalog at his Paisley Park Studios in Minnesota and the full album will be available on July 30.

Let's Go Crazy: Prince's estate is releasing a previously recorded album titled Welcome 2 America in July

His estate has partnered with the Sony label Legacy Recordings to release the archived material.

In the melody of spoken word, he describes the US as being 'where everything and nothing that Google says is hip.'

He notes that people are 'distracted by the features of the iPhone  Hook up later at the iPad / or we can meet at my place.'

Icon: The late legendary performer  who died at the age of 57 on April 21, 2016  compiled the 12-track catalog at his Paisley Park Studios in Minnesota and the full album will be available on July 30

Purple Rain: Prince is known as one of the best-selling music artists of all time with multiple hit records under his belt through decades of success

The album is described as 'a powerful creative statement that documents Prince's concerns, hopes, and visions for a shifting society, presciently foreshadowing an era of political division, disinformation, and a renewed fight for racial justice.'

'Throughout the powerful song, Prince delivers a searing, spoken-word soliloquy set to music about golden parachutes, the superficial nature of social media, reality TV-fueled celebrity culture, and corporate monopolies in the music industry, ultimately concluding that America is the "Land of the free / home of the slave,"' according to a news release.

The deluxe edition of Welcome 2 America will include the complete studio vault album on both CD and black vinyl.

RIP: He died from an accidental opioid overdose at his home in Paisley Park on April 21, 2016

In addition, a never-before-released full concert video of Prince's April 28, 2011 show at The Forum from his 21 Nite Stand series will be included.

Prince is known as one of the best-selling music artists of all time with multiple hit records under his belt through decades of success.

He died from an accidental opioid overdose at his home in Paisley Park.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Zbigniew Rau have begun an extraordinary meeting in Kyiv.

"I am pleased to welcome Zbigniew Rau on his extraordinary visit to Kyiv. It is important to enhance the Ukraine-Poland strategic partnership as Russia counties to elevate security threats for Ukraine, Europe and the Transatlantic community," Kuleba posted on Twitter.

He noted that Poland is Ukraines long-standing ally and trusted friend.

As Ukrinform reported, the Polish Foreign Ministry called this visit "extraordinary and urgent" in connection with the threat to peace near the borders of Ukraine.

ish
By Rachel Silberstein | Times Union, Albany

Albany, N.Y.  Pot may be legal now in New York, but buying, selling and consuming the drug is still prohibited on campuses, which are bound by federal laws.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on March 31 signed a bill legalizing the use of recreational marijuana in New York for those age 21 and older, but federal law still classifies cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug.

The federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act requires any institution that receives federal funding to have a drug policy that addresses marijuana use.

State University of New York students caught dealing or using marijuana on campus will be subject to disciplinary action under the university systems code of conduct, according to a notice that went out to University at Albany students Monday.

This prohibition covers all SUNY property in public as well as campus residence halls, University apartments, and offices, University-owned and leased buildings, housing, parking lots, and all SUNY events, UAlbany Dean of Students Clarence McNeill wrote. Throughout this challenging year, UAlbany students have repeatedly demonstrated a commitment to following our campus code of conduct, and I trust this will continue.

McNeill added that UAlbanys tobacco- and smoke-free campus policy also prohibits smoking or vaping marijuana on campus.

SUNY has no position on students legal marijuana use off-campus. During the month of April, UAlbanys Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research will offer educational programs focused on cannabis and marijuana.

Private schools also receive federal money in the form of financial aid but are less reliant on those funding streams.

If a college or university knowingly permits possession, use, or distribution of marijuana, it is at risk of losing or having to repay Title IV funding, although its unclear if any institutions have ever been required to do so.

In other legal states like Colorado and Massachusetts, campus marijuana policies largely reflect the federal ban on cannabis use.

Local private schools, including Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs and Loudonvilles Siena College, say they have not updated their marijuana policies since New Yorks legalization, but the implications of the new law are currently being discussed by senior officials.

Cornell University last week emailed students emphasizing that the drug is illegal on campus under federal law.
By Chen Xiaoru

Over the past half month, Philippine warplanes flew over the waters around the Niue reef in the South China Sea, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken accused the so-called Chinese maritime militia of gathering around the Niue reef and Philippine Defense Secretary also expressed a tough stand over this issue. All of these signaled that the tension over the Niue reef between China and the Philippines once again heated up. Some even conjectured that the reef spat might cause military conflicts between the two countries.

In response, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made a statement on this issue for the first time for about two weeks, saying that it will not impact Philippines-China relations.

We will continue to resolve the issues through diplomatic channels and through peaceful means.Whatever differences we have with China will not define our bilateral relations.  Rodrigo Dutertes spokesman Harry Roque said at an online press conference on April 6, reading a statement from the president on the presence of over 200 Chinese ships in the area.

As reported by the Philippine News Agency on April 6, Roque said that President Duterte believes any differences between the Philippines and China will not change their relationship, and the issue will neither affect the positive trend of bilateral relations nor hamper the two countries cooperation in areas like pandemic control.

Since President Duterte took office, the Philippine government has constantly expressed a willingness to conduct peaceful cooperation with China. The two sides have reached a consensus on joint exploration in the South China Sea. However, the Niue reef issue that has recently arisen between the two countries is closely associated with the hyping-up moves by pro-West forces in the Philippine government, especially the military. The most representative figure is Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

This issue was evoked by a piece of news released by Manila on March 20, saying that the Philippine Coast Guard found over 200 Chinese vessels gathering in waters around the Niue reef, about 320 kilometers west of Palawan Island in the South China Sea, on March 7. The following day, Lorenzana said in a statement that more than 200 militia-controlled Chinese fishing vessels illegally moored in that area, calling this a provocation against the Philippines, despite the fact that Niu'e reef is part of China's Nansha Islands and the waters around the reef are a traditional fishing ground for Chinese fishermen.

On March 22, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines issued a statement on its official website, noting that Niu'e Reef is a part of China's Nansha Islands. "Chinese fishing vessels have been fishing in its adjacent waters for many years. Recently, some Chinese fishing vessels take shelter near Niu'e Jiao (Reef) due to rough sea conditions. It has been a normal practice for Chinese fishing vessels to take shelter under such circumstances. There is no Chinese Maritime Militia as alleged. Any speculation in such helps nothing but causes unnecessary irritation. It is hoped that the situation could be handled in an objective and rational manner ," the statement said.

However, Lorenzana refused to accept the Chinese statement and continued to hype the matter of the Niue reef. In a subsequent statement, he demanded Chinese vessels to leave the area.

On April 3, Lorenzana told the media that at least 44 Chinese vessels were still moored in waters around the Niue reef while the sea conditions have greatly improved.

On April 5, Lorenzana said that the Philippine Navy would carry out a new round of patrol to check if the remaining Chinese vessels have left.

It seemed that Lorenzana has long prepared to hype the matter of the Niue reef. According to a report by the Philippine News Agency on March 29, when interviewed by CNN, Lorenzana announced that a Coast Guard ship might be stationed off the Niue reef to perform the sensitive mission to monitor Chinese vessels, and a naval ship may await orders at a farther location to support the Coast Guard ship. He added that the Philippine military is considering a suggestion to copy what was previously done in Renai reef where a Philippine naval landing ship was deliberately ran aground for occupation.

At present, China and the Philippines are working together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 29, the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines purchased by the Philippine government from China arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Manila. Before that, China donated two batches of vaccines to the Philippines on February 28 and March 24, respectively, helping the country start inoculations against COVID-19. In this context, why did Lorenzana and some others in the Philippine government still hype up the matter of the Niue reef?

First, the Philippines will kick off its general election in the second half of this year, and the tenure of President Duterte will end next year. It remains uncertain whether he will be re-elected. Therefore, some Philippine politicians aspire to earn greater domestic support by hyping up the South China Sea issue for the upcoming general election. Philippine officials expressed different voices on the matter of the Niue reef, which is probably an internal strategy.

Second, after US President Joe Biden took office in January this year, the US may redefine its relationship with the Philippines. The Philippine government, especially the traditional pro-American military is eager to make clear the Biden administrations policy toward the South China Sea issue. That US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan committed the applicability of the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty in the South China Sea was probably a goal for the Philippines who hyped up the matter of the Niue reef.

Third, 2021 is the last and crucial year for the negotiations of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. Currently, China and ASEAN are negotiating on specific contents of the COC, and the negotiation is planned to be completed by the end of this year. Despite their differences, reaching a binding COC meets the expectations of all parties. In this context, some people in the Philippines hyped up the matter of the Niue reef, perhaps just for earning more bargaining chips in the COC negotiation. A clear understanding of the true intentions of the Philippine side is conducive to stepping up the COC negotiations.

Editors note: This article is originally published on cyol.com, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
An off-duty Lower Saucon Township police officer grabbed a man by the neck and punched him in the mouth during a dispute about 6 p.m. April 1 in the parking lot outside a Hellertown restaurant, borough police and a Northampton County official report.

James M. Connell, 46, who lives in Lower Saucon, gave up his right Thursday to a preliminary hearing on charges of simple assault and harassment, court papers say. District Judge Alan Roger Mege forwarded the charges to Northampton County Court.

The next step is a formal arraignment scheduled July 8 at the county courthouse in Easton. Connells attorney, James Burke, told Mege when asked why Connell was waiving the preliminary hearing that he would try to get Connell into Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD), Mege confirmed. ARD is a probationary program that if completed successfully could lead to the charges being expunged.

Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck said any such application would put the case on hold until his office has time to investigate the request, speak to the victim and witnesses and make a determination on whether ARD is appropriate in this case.

This will be treated exactly the same as any other case, Houck told lehighvalleylive.com. No different.

Since the lead charge is a misdemeanor, Connell is eligible to apply to the program, Houck said. ARD typically takes a year or two to complete, Houck said, and requires the applicant to admit their wrongdoing and stay out of trouble.

Connell is currently is not being paid, Lower Saucon police Chief Thomas Barndt said in an email.

Officer Connell has been suspended pursuant to the Pennsylvania Confidence in Law Enforcement Act, Barndt wrote. The suspension was paid until charges were filed, now it is unpaid.

Hellertown police spoke with the victim and witnesses, court papers say, but Connell declined to an interview with investigators at the advice of his attorney. The victims version of events, however, is backed up by surveillance footage from the restaurant at 605 Main St., court papers say.

The incident began as the victim was leaving the restaurant, police said. He saw a man he knew as Jim Connell in a red Dodge Ram pickup, police said. Connell raised his middle finger toward the victim and the victim returned the gesture and they exchanged words, police said. The victim got into the passenger side of his Ford Explorer and shut the door, police said. Connell allegedly walked up, opened the door and asked, You got a problem with me? Connell then put both his hands around the victims throat before punching him in the mouth, causing minor injuries, police said. Other people there forcibly dragged Connell away from the victim, according to the police report.

Connell is free on $5,000 unsecured bail, records show. Mege said that Northampton County Pre-Trial Services, which did a risk assessment on Connell, recommended recognizance bail, but there has to be a money figure attached to require the defendant to stay away from the victim as a condition of bail.

The first call for police help went to Lower Saucon rather than Hellertown, but it was quickly referred to borough police, court papers say.

We were initially dispatched and upon learning the incident occurred in the Borough of Hellertown, the Hellertown police were notified, Barndt said Thursday.

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.
SEOULThe global semiconductor shortage, snarling the availability of everything from cars to refrigerators, hasnt crimped big techs profits.

Churning out products around the clock, semiconductor giants cant keep pace with demand, as vaccines roll out, economies reopen and people keep spending.

An early barometer of the tech industrys ongoing financial strength came Wednesday, as Samsung Electronics Co. forecast a 44% rise in operating profit despite its U.S. chip production getting wiped out for weeks due to severe weather in Texas. If not for that, Samsungs semiconductor operating profit would have matched, if not topped, last years first-quarter performance, industry analysts said. But the surprise driver of Samsungs expected bottom line was a resurgence in sales of its smartphones and home appliances.

The companys mobile-business operating profit, aided by a weakened Huawei Technologies Co. hit by sanctions, rose roughly 50% from the prior year, while it doubled in its consumer electronics division, which includes appliances, according to estimates by CW Chung, a Seoul-based analyst at Nomura Securities. Basically the consumer spending and sentiment appears to be very strong, Mr. Chung said. People cant travel, so theyre spending money on durable goods, smartphones, TVs, home appliances.

Global smartphone shipments of all brands slid 8% in 2020 over the prior year, according to market researcher Strategy Analytics, as consumers rode out the pandemic as with prior downturns by curbing spending on flashy gadgets. But this year, as people feel more confident about an economic rebound, smartphone sales should rise about 7%, the firm projects.

In the opening months of this year, Samsungs mobile phone business prospered by moving up the launch of its flagship Galaxy S21 model by roughly a month from its usual timetable. It also benefited from a weakened Huawei Technologies plus LG Electronics Inc.s signaling in January that it would exit the mobile-phone industry, which the South Korean company made official on Monday.

Samsung likely avoided the worst effects of any component shortages because of its standing as the worlds biggest smartphone maker and the fact it makes many of the key parts itself, from memory chips to flexible displays, said Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics.

Theres a post-Covid recovery going on, Mr. Mawston added, and when people get more spare cash they want more gadgets.

As a supplier, Samsung is likely to reap even greater benefits in the months ahead, as the full effects of the chip shortage materializeand that hands manufacturers like itself greater pricing power. After boom years in 2017 and 2018, major semiconductor makers ended up with a glut of excess supply and responded by pulling back on multibillion-dollar investments that boost capacity.

Only in recent months have chip makers aggressively ramped back up their capital expenditure plans. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. last week said it would invest $100 billion over the next three years to boost production capacity, following Intel Corp.s planned $20 billion on two new chip factories. Samsung previously earmarked about $116 billion by 2030 to further diversify its chip production, and is considering an investment of up to $17 billion to build a new facility in the U.S.

But those moves will take months, if not years, to resolve the widespread shortages. In the U.S., companies ranging from auto makers to home appliance makers have urged the Biden administration to craft measures to boost domestic chip production. Roughly $50 billion of President Bidens $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan will go toward the American semiconductor industry, offering production incentives among other moves.

The Biden administration is expected to meet later this month with chip makers and other manufacturers, with Samsung a likely participant. In the first three months of the year, prices actually slid for NAND flash memory, which gives devices their storage capacity, while prices for DRAM chips used in computers and servers rose in the modest single digits, said Sanjeev Rana, a senior analyst at CLSA, a Seoul-based brokerage. But in the coming months, NAND prices will rise and DRAM prices should grow 15% to 20%, he added. Samsung is the largest maker of both types of chips.

About the chip shortage, why should it be terrible for semiconductor companies? Itll be terrible for the customers, but not necessarily for the producers, Mr. Rana said. Its actually positive for them. Supply crunch or not, chips are becoming more ubiquitous. Total semiconductor unit shipments are expected to increase 13% this year to a record 1.13 trillion devices, according to IC Insights Inc., a semiconductor-market researcher. Shipments grew just 3% in 2020.

The PHLX Semiconductor stock-price index, which includes large chip makers and suppliers, is up 17% this year. The chip shortages may not be resolved for another two to three years, with virtually no shot of showing improvement through 2021, said Hui He, the principal analyst of semiconductors at market-research firm Omdia. The backlog is exacerbated by newer demand for chips, such as the shift to remote working, plus existing customers stockpiling extra inventory over fears of price increases or product unavailability, she added.

The heavy investments into new manufacturing sites will also take years to become operational: Building up new foundries will not be easy, Ms. He said. Its not a short amount of time.

Timothy W. Martin

: wsj.com
Community Groups Distribute 15,000 Pounds of Free Food in Compton

Free groceries, facemasks and hot meals were distributed to more than 500 individuals and families during a food drive held on April 3, in Compton.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Social Change, Compton Chamber of Commerce and several grassroots organizations sponsored the three-hour event, which took place in the parking lot of Calvary Baptist Church. Attendees either drove up or walked up to receive an array of free food, including fresh produce as well as confidential HIV tests and an opportunity to win a $50 Ralphs gift card.

According to the organizers, an estimated 15,000 pounds of food was given out to assist people in need. The majority of the recipients were African American and Latinx families who experience hunger at greater rates than White, non-Hispanic households based on studies by Feed America. Also, a report by the California Association of Food Banks indicated that one out of every four Californians doesnt know where their next meal will come from.

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Food insecurity is an epidemic that is plaguing our nation, and AHF is committed to work with organizations in communities across the U.S., to take an innovative and impactful approach to addressing this critical issue, said Imara Canady, AHFs national director of Communications and Community Engagement and chair of the Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition powered by AHF.

Canady also acknowledged the other groups that co-hosted the giveaway. They included the Compton Initiative, Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Los Angeles Stentorians, Elevate Culture, Academia Avance, Project Giving Kids, Stus, Dominguez High School and City Church.

Todd Belcore, executive director of Social Change, emphasized how the event focused on African Americans and occurred during a significant holiday observance. Its important that the world understands that saying Black Lives Matter isnt a political statement, its a cry for help, he noted.

Thats why I cant be more grateful for all the leaders of every color, sector and belief who have come together on this Easter weekend to respond to their neighbors cry by meeting some of our neighbors urgent needs and honoring the life, legacy and contributions of Black people in America. This is the sort of energy that creates the space for understanding and  with that  real progress, stressed Belcore.

In response to AHFs motivation for co-sponsoring the event, Canady explained that the effort was part of an ongoing effort of the organization to assist those in need. He added that AHF and BLACC have donated more than 60,000 pounds of fresh produce and food to communities of color across the United States.

For over three decades, AHF has a legacy of arising and responding to the needs of vulnerable populations. Recognizing the on-going issue around food insecurity in urban cores across this country, AHF has made a commitment to work with community partners to innovatively address closing the gap in food insecure communities, said Canady.

We believe that just as access to quality affordable healthcare and housing is a basic human right that should be available to all, so is access to healthy food. The food drives, are just one way that AHF, through a new subsidiary to be launched as a part of the organizations work, will be doing to combat this critical issue.

In addition, Canady shared that AHF, through BLACC, plans to partner with Social Change to host healthy food drives in communities of color across the nation. To learn more about AHFs activities, visit aidshealth.org.
Ellen DeGeneres and more celebrities are stepping up to help get a word that was invented in Central New York added to the dictionary.

The Ellen Show featured Syracuse University alumnus Jonathan Krieger and his sister Hilary Krieger on an episode Thursday talking about the word orbisculate, which their late father made up as part of a class assignment while he was a student at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., in the 1950s. The word means to accidentally squirt juice and/or pulp from foods, such as a grapefruit, into ones eye, or onto someones body, clothing or elsewhere.

Neil Krieger died of complications from Covid-19 last year, and his children have been trying to celebrate his memory by trying to make the word  which he used so often, they thought it was real for most of their lives  universally known. The easiest way to get it into the dictionary is for more people to use the word, so DeGeneres helped them out by putting up a huge billboard outside the Warner Bros. building where she tapes her daytime talk show.

The only thing worse than missing Ellen is having a grapefruit orbisculate in your eye, the sign said.

DeGeneres then further surprised Jonathan and Hilary with a video featuring other famous people using the word, including Girls Trip star Tiffany Haddish, CNN anchor Jake Tapper, comedian Sarah Silverman, and chef Jose Andres.

Yeah, the problem with making yourself a drink that has some kind of like twist of lemon in it is - the risk is that the lemon could orbisculate into your eye, Silverman said, imitating a squinting face. And that always causes you to kind of do that. This is like a good reaction of orbisculation.

Andres demonstrated such a mixed drink with a lemon, stepping back as he squeezed the fruit.

Remember, you can always be orbisculated with a lemon! Andres said before taking a sip. Orbisculation or not, this is great.

Jonathan, who graduated from SUs Newhouse School in 2007, and Hilary, who graduated from Cornell like their dad, are also trying to raise money to benefit Carsons Village, a Dallas non-profit that helps families after the loss of a loved one. DeGeneres announced Thursday that Shutterfly is donating $5,000 to the cause in memory of Neil Krieger.

Thats wonderful, Jonathan Krieger told DeGeneres. Thank you so much.

For more information on orbisculate and their efforts to get it in the dictionary, visit orbisculate.com.
Protestors march across the Brooklyn Bridge to demand funding for excluded workers in the New York State budget, in New York City on March 5, 2021. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

NY Allocates $2.1 Billion for Illegal Immigrants, Other Excluded Workers

New York state legislators this week agreed to establish a $2.1 billion fund that will give money to illegal immigrants and other so-called excluded workers who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic but were ineligible for federal stimulus checks, unemployment aid, or other benefits.

The Excluded Worker Fund will extend a one-time payment to workers who lost jobs or income during the pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, essential workers across the state risked their lives to keep our state moving and our families safe, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat, said in a statement. When unemployment rates skyrocketed last summer, many of those selfless workers were excluded from any type of federal assistance during this pandemic and we must take care of all New Yorkers.

People can receive up to $15,600 total; taxes will be deducted before they receive the money. Workers wont be eligible unless they were making less than $26,208 in the 12 months prior to the bill taking effect and unless they can prove they can still work. People must show a valid taxpayer number and a letter from an employer, along with other papers, to get the maximum payments.

People who cant meet the more stringent documentation requirements can still receive a $3,200 payment, provided they prove their identity and residency.

Approximately 290,000 people will get money from the fund, according to the Fiscal Policy Institute.

Illegal immigrants and supporters engaged in a weekslong hunger strike to push for the inclusion of the fund in the states budget. The community group Persist Brooklyn shared a story with state lawmakers during a recent public hearing about Ana, a pseudonym, a Honduran mother who entered the United States from Mexico in early 2020.

Ana was denied asylum and, during the pandemic, lost what meager profits she was making selling goods in the street, Cole Edick of Persist Brooklyn told lawmakers.

Pursuing asylum should be Anas right, not a privilege reserved only for those who can pay for it. But because this government has not yet found the courage to ensure the basic needs of people like Ana during a national crisis, she has had to put her rights on hold, he added.

California established a similar fund in February, giving a one-time $600 or $1,200 payment to illegal immigrants.

People take a selfie during Valentines Day in Times Square in New York City, on Feb. 14, 2021. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters)

The Excluded Worker Fund was ultimately included in New Yorks record $212 billion 2021-2022 budget, which will be financed with funds from the federal government and higher taxes on the wealthy and large corporations.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, pushed for the eligibility restrictions.

Just because you are undocumented doesnt mean we dont care and we dont have compassion and we dont want to help. It is difficult to do it in a way that can be administered without fraud. And thats obviously a major concern for us, that we protect every tax dollar. We ran an unemployment insurance program for citizens of the state. There was tremendous fraud, Cuomo told reporters in Albany on April 7.

Major proponents of providing money to illegal immigrants criticized the requirements.

The assertion that some of  my neighbors are just waiting for the opportunity to commit fraud is disgusting, Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, a Democrat, told reporters.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, said her office would verify whether the regulations and the process being established by the fund are constitutional.

The tax increases also drew critiques.

Despite having $22 billion more in funds available over the next two years than when the governor proposed the budget in January, leaders agreed to raise personal income and business taxes and to use some portion of federal funds to inflate spending that likely cannot be supported in the out-years, Citizens Budget Commission President Andrew Rein said in a statement. The tax increases simply are unnecessary and economically risky.

New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said that she was proud that the budget will fund schools, help businesses rebuild, and protect the states most vulnerable.

Working and middle-class taxpayers will receive the relief they desperately need, while the wealthiest New Yorkers will help their neighbors. This budget makes New York better for all, she said.

But Republicans criticized major portions of the budget.

Rather than helping families, veterans, teachers, and senior citizens, the Democrats in Albany have made it their priority to push their radical agenda by giving a $2.1 billion taxpayer giveaway to illegal immigrants, Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt said in a video message. Instead of giving people a reason to remain here in our state, this budget drives ever more families, seniors, and young New Yorkers away.

Instead of helping Main Street businesses recover from the pandemic, this budget increases taxes on our small businesses and makes it even more difficult for them to survive.
Rockwell Automation, one of the worlds largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has announced that it is donating its Arena Simulation Software to nonprofit organisations, governmental organisations, and public health partners to plan Covid-19 vaccination clinics in their communities.

The software can be used to monitor patient flow, staffing, shift changes, and maintenance of social

distancing guidance for patients in queue, a statement said.

A nonprofit health system will use the donated software to help manage more than 30 vaccination clinics with several planned in Wisconsin, and a public health department will use the software to plan future vaccination efforts in northeastern Ohio. Conversations with other healthcare providers are ongoing, it added.

We recognise this software is a potential game changing tool in helping our healthcare partners to better address supply and staffing needs, and ultimately help expedite the vaccination process, said Patricia Contreras, vice president of public affairs for Rockwell Automation. We look forward to joining forces with more hospitals, health departments and other community organizations to help as many people as possible get vaccinated safely, efficiently, and quickly.

At the start of the pandemic, Northwell Health in New York and ChristianaCare in Delaware both used Arena to manage Covid-19 inpatient care. The software is ideal for vaccine clinic planning because it helps decision-makers understand the flow of systems and the constraints of resources in an environment where every day might bring a different scenario.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Friday, March 12, more than 100 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had been administered, with 13.5% of adults US population now fully vaccinated. As vaccine supplies change and more people gain access to schedule a vaccination, better and more efficient tools will be needed to support vaccine distribution.

Arena Simulation has been used in healthcare for more than 30 years, helping hospitals and health zcare systems to plan for improved patient flow and realise cost efficiencies.TradeArabia News Service
Editors note: This story has been updated on April 8 to correct which elements of the project are off schedule.

State Department of Transportation officials still havent determined a cause of the March 25 collapse of an I-295 retaining wall and have hired a forensic engineer to independently determine a reason.

That was one of the revelations from Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scacceti during a Zoom conference Wednesday evening with South Jersey drivers, residents and officials over the incident that has resulted in demolition of part of the wall.

The retaining wall was under construction at the time of the collapse. Its part of the larger $900 million I-295 Direct Connection project, which is meant to build a better and safer junction between I-295, 76 and Route 42. It was started in 2014 and was scheduled to be completed in 2028 before the collapse.

The commissioner showed photos taken on March 24 when large, long cracks appeared in the pavement on top of the wall.

They obviously raised concerns on the part of the department and we started conversations with our contractor and consultants about what was causing the cracks, she said. Before we were able to do that, this is what happened in the overnight, early in the morning of the 25th, the retaining wall failed.

The failure is where the soil that was bracing it, just fell out, it just let go. It was certainly not what we expected when saw the cracks, she said.

Demolition of the wall started on April 1 and was continuing on Wednesday, she said.

We need to take the wall down to a point where the soil (behind it) is secure. We are in the data collecting mode and taking down the affected part of the wall, Gutierrez-Saccetti said. This is a very serious collapse. Were thankful none of our contractors or employees working there were hurt.

The wall will be torn down until experts find to a point where they know the soil is secure, Gutierrez-Scacetti said.

We will work with soil borings and with geotechnical engineers to determine when we get to that spot where the wall is no longer in danger of collapsing, she said.

Officials were alerted about two years prior by U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, D-NJ, that some of the retaining wall tiles started to bulge, which she said was because water got behind the wall, froze and pushed out walls. That issue was addressed with the DOTs contractor, she said.

While the DOT still doesnt have a definitive answer for the cause of the collapse, the commissioner said it is working with the contractor, the design engineer and the construction inspection firm to determine it.

The department has retained a forensic engineer, an independent third party, that will review the testing data to determine what was the issue, she said. I dont want to speculate (about a cause).

Some answers about the cause may be known in the next 20-30 days, and will be made public then, she said. We will be very candid with you when we know what happened, Gutierrez-Scaccetti said. Realistically we have to accept that theres going to be some lost time. Were going to do our best to minimize that.

Other parts of the I-295 project have not been impacted by what was seen here, she said. It is not something affecting the whole project.

The Direct Connection project was estimated to cost $900 million and is expected to be completed on budget, said Stephen Schapiro, NJDOT spokesman.

The completion date has been pushed back because of a delays related to utilities, right-of-way acquisition, and revisions to some elements of the project such as the pier system for the new ramp that will carry Route 42 northbound to I-295 northbound, he said. Prior to the wall collapse the expected completion date was late 2028.

Gutierrez-Scaccetti said the missing moves part of the project will remain on budget and on-time, responding to questions about it. That $180 million project is building new ramps connecting Route 42 north to I-295 south, and I-295 north to Route 42 south to allow for the direct movement of traffic between the two highways. The project is expected to be completed in late 2023, Schapiro said.

Costs to repair the retaining wall are not known.

The forum answered a request by State Senator Nilsa I. Cruz Perez, Assemblyman William F. Moen, Jr., and Assemblyman William W. Spearman, all D-Camden, who wrote a letter on March 29 about holding a public meeting to answer questions from drivers and residents after the collapse.

In addition to answering questions, the commissioner committed to providing more public information about the I-295 project, following a model used during a viaduct replacement project on the Route 495 approach road to the Lincoln Tunnel, which will be completed this year.

Drivers could sign up for email and text alerts about the Route 495 project, traffic pattern changes and other information. The communication was credited with helping prevent the traffic nightmare that was predicted before work started.

She also committed to regular meetings with district 5 legislators to pass on information to constituents, and more frequent updating of the Direct Connection website.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
A Daly City police officer fatally shot a man on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

Daly City police released few details about the fatal police shooting, but said in a statement that a police officer contacted people in a vehicle on the 700 block of Niantic Avenue in Daly City at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday.

Police said During the contact, a Daly City Police Officer fired his service weapon, striking an unidentified man. Officials did not say what prompted the officer to shoot.

The man who was shot was taken to a local trauma hospital, where he died.

One officer sustained a non-life-threatening injury during the incident, but police did not say what it was.

Police said the San Mateo County district attorneys office will investigate the shooting, following the San Mateo County Officer Involved Critical Incident Protocol. The Police Departments investigations unit will support the district attorneys office, police said.

Earlier Wednesday afternoon, Daly City police said on social media that there was police activity on Niantic Avenue near Westlake Avenue and asked people to avoid the area. They did not provide details at the time, only saying that there was no threat to the community.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
Terrestrial Energy has contracted with ENGIE Laborelec in Belgium for technical services. This contract is part of Terrestrial Energy's nuclear fuel salt qualification program for the Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR), a Generation IV nuclear power plant.

OAKVILLE, Ontario, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ENGIE Laborelec will perform confirmatory electrochemical and thermophysical measurements as well as confirmatory corrosion testing. The tests will be performed under conditions compliant with quality assurance protocols of nuclear codes and standards, as is required to advance a nuclear power plant design through the regulatory process. To perform this wide range of testing, ENGIE Laborelec will work in close collaboration with its partners, John Cockerill, CRM Group and IJCLab-CNRS.



ENGIE Laborelec, part of ENGIE's Tractebel Business Unit, has provided technical consultancy services to the electrical power sector for over 55 years. Supported by 300 highly specialized engineers and technicians, ENGIE Laborelec provides operational assistance and technical consulting for nuclear operators. This initiative is part of a combined Tractebel and ENGIE Laborelec program to become leaders in Small Modular Reactor development.

"Terrestrial Energy is engaged in a program of nuclear fuel qualification for its IMSR, a small modular reactor power plant that uses molten salt technology. With our expert knowledge, operational experience, and state-of-the-art measurement and analysis capabilities, we can greatly assist," said Michael Marique, CEO of ENGIE Laborelec. "We are eager to support Terrestrial Energy in this area and play our role in ensuring its success."

"Our relationship with ENGIE Laborelec reflects an important feature of our nuclear fuel supply chain strategy. That is to leverage existing world-class expertise to support our early deployment schedule. Nuclear fuel qualification is a key element to the commercial deployment of any nuclear power plant technology," said Simon Irish, CEO of Terrestrial Energy. "We recognize ENGIE Laborelec's considerable capabilities in this area and look forward to working closely with its specialist team to complete this work."

About Terrestrial Energy

Terrestrial Energy is a developer of Generation IV advanced nuclear power plants that use its proprietary Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) technology. IMSR technology represents true innovation in cost reduction, versatility and functionality of nuclear power plants. IMSR power plants will provide zero-carbon, reliable, dispatchable, cost-competitive electric power and high-grade industrial heat for use in many industrial applications, such as chemical synthesis and desalination, and in so doing extend the application of nuclear energy far beyond electric power markets. They have the potential to make important contributions to industrial competitiveness, energy security, and economic growth. Their deployment will support rapid global decarbonization of the primary energy system by displacing fossil fuel combustion across a broad spectrum. Using an innovative design, and proven and demonstrated molten salt reactor technology, Terrestrial Energy is engaged with regulators and industrial partners to complete IMSR engineering and to commission first IMSR power plants in the late 2020s.

About ENGIE Laborelec

ENGIE Laborelec is a leading expertise and research center, part of ENGIE's business unit Tractebel. ENGIE Laborelec has over 55 years of experience in providing worldwide life-cycle consultancy and engineering in power, nuclear, gas, industry and infrastructure sectors. Drawing on its workforce of 300 highly specialized engineers and technicians, ENGIE Laborelec covers the entire electricity value chain and helps its large customer base in the generation, transmission, distribution, storage and end use of electricity. The company is also focused on the energy transition and decarbonization.

About ENGIE

ENGIE group is a global reference in low-carbon energy and services. Our purpose is to act to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions, reconciling economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet. We rely on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. With our 170,000 employees, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are a community of Imaginative Builders, committed every day to more harmonious progress. ENGIE Group is represented at Terrestrial Energy's Corporate Industrial Advisory Group.
The Speaker of the Senate, Anca Dragu, had a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Bucharest, Kim Yong-ho, on which occasion the two officials discussed, among other things, the investment opportunities in the automotive industry and infrastructure, agerpres.ro confirms.

"When it comes to investment, South Korea can be a partner with significant capital infusion capacity. I discussed with (...) Mr. Kim Yong-ho, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Bucharest, about investment opportunities in the automotive industry, infrastructure or energy and how we can generate added value in the economy through these areas", Dragu wrote on Thursday on Facebook.
Governments have poured trillions of dollars into fighting the COVID-19 pandemic on a host of fronts, and rightly so. But theyve also wasted billions in the process.

Admitting that doesnt make government spending all bad, or any less necessary, of course. If waste, fraud and abuse were reasons to simply cancel federal programs, the U.S. would have long ago stopped having a military.

But with Washington now spending another $1.9 trillion for pandemic relief, President Joe Biden proposing a multi-trillion dollar infrastructure package, and states like New York putting their own taxpayer funds into relief and stimulus programs, its critical that they learn the lessons of the past year.

Even in a crisis in which trillions of dollars are going out the door, the numbers are startling when it comes to waste and outright fraud.

The Small Business Administrations inspector general has identified at least $81.7 billion in potentially fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Paycheck Protection Program claims so far. And watchdogs tell Congress thats likely just a fraction of the abuse in the pandemic relief and stimulus programs.

At the state level, too, problems abound. The state Labor Department is estimated to have approved $114 million in unemployment and federal relief benefits to people who were ineligible for the money. Now the state is telling people to pay it back  people who likely spent it already and who in many cases didnt realize the state had made a mistake. Some lawmakers propose to forgive benefits for people who honestly didnt know they were not entitled to them.

Its a compassionate gesture and arguably a necessary one. After all, the state shares much of the blame here. Overwhelmed with applications for unemployment last year when the pandemic took hold and the economy largely shut down, the state lowered its safeguards, dispatching several thousand newly hired and hastily trained people to process claims in order to get help to people more quickly.

It cannot be overstated how necessary all this was to keep millions of suddenly unemployed people and shuttered businesses in New York and across the country from going under. And how necessary it continues to be. The pandemic isnt over.

Similarly, President Bidens push for a $2 trillion national infrastructure program is the kind of vital federal response this country needs right now to speed the recovery, not to mention to undertake long-overdue work on Americas aging roads, bridges, communications and energy systems. The country wasted the past four years waiting for former President Donald Trump to deliver a plan he was forever saying hed have ready any day now and never did. Meanwhile, other nations, particularly China, are investing big in the kind of ways America once did before political gridlock became, for too many politicians, preferable to progress.

America cant afford to waste another four years, nor can it afford to waste billions upon billions of dollars. In both Albany and Washington, we need a full and unflinchingly honest appraisal of how much was misspent, and assurances that realistic, credible safeguards are in place to minimize waste in the future. In short, we need to know our government recognizes its mistakes, and has learned from them.
BAGHDAD: The Iraqi aircraft, in coordination with the Counter-Terrorism Service, conducted airstrikes on IS group hideouts in Himreen mountain range, leaving 60 IS militants killed, spokesman of the Iraqi military, said on Wednesday.

On March 24, Rasoul said that the security forces, backed by US-led coalition, launched the offensive on March 9 and continued for two weeks in the Makhmour mountain range in Nineveh province, destroying 120 IS positions and killing 27 terrorists.

According to Rasoul, March's offensive forced the Islamic State militants to flee to alternative hideouts in Himreen Mountain in Salahudin province.

The mountains and vast rugged areas north of Baghdad have witnessed intense activities of the terrorists during the past months, despite repeated military operations to hunt them down. The security situation in Iraq has been improving since security forces fully defeated the IS across the country late in 2017.

However, sporadic deadly incidents still occurred in the war-ravaged country as IS remnants have since melted into urban areas or deserts and rugged areas, waging frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.

Cambodia: Inter-provincial travel permitted for enterprise workers, 2-week provincial travel ban

Pakistan, Russia take pledge to boost bilateral ties in diverse fields

New Zealand bans people coming from India, know reason here!
Intellitec Solutions today announced it has attained a Microsoft Gold Enterprise Resource Planning competency, demonstrating a best-in-class ability and commitment to meet Microsoft Corp. customers evolving needs in todays dynamic business environment. A portfolio of competencies showcases that Intellitec Solutions is committed to focusing on in-demand, business solution areas, along with ensuring it can meet the evolving needs of customers because of market changes.

To earn a Microsoft competency, partners must successfully complete exams (resulting in Microsoft Certified Professionals) to prove their level of technology expertise and, for gold competencies, designate these certified professionals uniquely to one Microsoft competency, ensuring a certain level of staffing capacity. Partners must also submit customer references that demonstrate successful projects and pass technology and/or sales assessments. For gold competencies, partners must also implement a yearly customer satisfaction study and meet a revenue commitment.

Intellitec Solutions provides implementation, customization, and support for the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics GP and Dynamics SL products. Intellitec works with a variety of industries, and has developed specialization catering to the needs of Long Term Care facilities, Distributors and Facilities Management groups. Intellitec Solutions will now be in a better position to serve their clients moving forward, by receiving the enhanced benefits included as Gold partner. The certification also represents a continued commitment by Intellitec to the Microsoft family of products. Intellitec Solutions is also a Tier One Cloud Solution Provider, and provides their clients with Azure and Office 365 licenses.

These Microsoft competencies showcase our expertise and commitment in todays technology market and demonstrate our deep knowledge of Microsoft and its products, said Rick Sommer, President of Intellitec Solutions. Our plan is to accelerate our customers success by serving as technology advisors for their business demands.

About Intellitec Solutions

Intellitec Solutions is a leading ERP and CRM provider strategically located along the influential business corridor between Washington and Philadelphia. Specializing in Microsoft Dynamics GP, Dynamics SL, Dynamics 365 and Sage Intacct, they have conducted thousands of engagements helping companies in diverse industries choose and implement software solutions to improve financial or customer relationship management. Using a proven system designed to maximize efficiency and business insight, Intellitec Solutions team of seasoned professionals provides value-added expertise to their clients. For more information or to schedule a demo, please visit http://www.intellitecsolutions.com or call 866-504-4357

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All company and product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.


Workers are seen inside the P4 laboratory in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 23, 2017. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)

Scientists Issue Open Letter Detailing Incorrect and Contradictory Claims in WHO Origins Report Used to Downplay Lab Leak Theory

A group of 24 scientists issued an open letter Wednesday demanding a full investigation into the origins of COVID-19 that includes a thorough examination into the possibility the virus could have escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China.

The scientists said the World Health Organizations report on the origins of the pandemic, which concluded the lab leak hypothesis was extremely unlikely, failed to reach some most basic standards of credible analysis and assessment, noting that the report contained 12 incorrect, disputed, contradictory and imprecise statements used to downplay the theory.

Well over a year after the initial outbreak, critical records and biological samples that could provide essential insights into pandemic origins remain inaccessible, the letter stated. This withholding of key resources that could and should have been made available undermined the credibility of the joint study team work.

The scientists said that a new investigation should be convened that strips China and any other government of veto power over the scientists selected to probe the pandemics origins. The Chinese government had such veto powers over the WHOs recently-concluded origins investigation.

They added that whistleblower processes need to be in place to ensure Chinese scientists can share relevant information without fear of retribution.

The scientists flagged multiple comments from Chinas top bat-based coronavirus researcher Dr. Shi Zhengli that the WHOs report used to downplay the lab leak theory as being incorrect or contradictory.

Shi was quoted in the report saying all fieldwork is done with full PPE, which the scientist said was in contradiction with photographic and video records showing limited PPE use by Shis colleagues at the WIV.

The letter (pdf) also highlighted that the WHO report relied on incorrect and contradictory statements Shi had issued regarding a deleted WIV database in September 2019 that contained samples of at least 16,000 virus samples it had studied prior to the pandemic.

The WHO report said the deleted database was an excel spreadsheet, but the scientists said it was in fact a MySQL database. The report also said the database was taken offline after being attacked by hackers. The scientists noted that Shi has explicitly stated that the hack occurred during the pandemic, but the scientists noted in their open letter that the database was taken offline months before the official start of the pandemic.

The WHO team did not even ask to review the deleted WIV database during their investigation because the sole U.S. member of its delegation, Dr. Peter Daszak, had personally vouched for the lab and said there was no relevant information in the database.

Daszaks inclusion in the WHOs investigation mired the probe with allegations of conflicts of interest. Dazsak worked closely with the Wuhan Institute of Virology prior to the pandemic and his nonprofit group, EcoHealth Alliance, funneled $600,000 in taxpayer funds to the WIV to study bat-based coronaviruses in China prior to the pandemic.

The open letter was first published Wednesday in The New York Times.

The letters co-organizer, Jamie Metzl, told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a statement that interested governments should develop a new and independent process for investigating the origins of the pandemic if the Chinese government refuses to cooperate and the WHOs governing body refuses to revamp its investigatory processes.

Although most people would be stunned to learn that a year and a half after the pandemic began, with millions dead and the lives of billions disrupted, there is no process in place for comprehensively investigating all origin hypotheses, that is unfortunately the case, Metzl said.

As we state in the open letter, Calling for a full investigation into the origins of the pandemic by the best available means is not intended to point fingers at any one country. Its purpose is to leave no stone unturned in seeking to understand how this catastrophe began so we can prioritize efforts to address our greatest shortcomings for the benefit of all people and all nations, he added.

Our Open Letter on #COVID19 origins just out. We fully support @DrTedros that all hypotheses must be investigated & call for revamping the @WHO-organized cttee, a new World Health Assembly resolution, & a parallel investigation if #China not forthcoming. https://t.co/YmdPpCVcCn  Jamie Metzl (@JamieMetzl) April 7, 2021

The scientists arent alone in calling for a new investigation into the pandemics origins.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on March 30 his organizations mission in Wuhan did not sufficiently investigate the lab leak theory and said further studies are necessary.

And President Joe Bidens State Department issued a joint statement with 13 democracies on March 30 expressing concerns over the WHOs origins investigation.

Together, we support a transparent and independent analysis and evaluation, free from undue influence, of the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, the statement read. In this regard, we join in expressing shared concerns regarding the recent WHO-convened study in China.

By Andrew Kerr

From The Daily Caller News Foundation
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - An invention from Purdue University innovators may provide a new option to use directed energy for biomedical and defense applications.

The Purdue invention uses composite based nonlinear transmission lines (NLTLs) for a complete high-power microwave system, eliminating the need for multiple auxiliary systems. The interest in NLTLs has increased in the past few decades because they offer an effective solid-state alternative to conventional vacuum-based, high-power microwave generators that require large and expensive external systems, such as cryogenic electromagnets and high-voltage nanosecond pulse generators.

NLTLs have proven effective for applications in the defense and biomedical fields. They create directed high-power microwaves that can be used to disrupt or destroy adversary electronic equipment at a distance. The same technology also can be used for biomedical devices for sterilization and noninvasive medical treatments.

"We created a new NLTL device that reduces the bulkiness of current options and offers new opportunities to protect our country and help patients in a man-portable form factor," said Andrew Fairbanks, a Ph.D. student and graduate research assistant in Purdue's College of Engineering. "In engineering, we are concerned about size, weight, power and cost. Our invention helps address all of these."

Allen Garner, an associate professor of nuclear engineering, led the Purdue team. The researchers created a novel device using composite-based NLTLs as complete high-power microwave systems, encompassing high-voltage pulse and high-power microwave formation. The Purdue device combines the elements of traditional NLTLs into a composite-based system and eliminates typical bulky auxiliary equipment.

The system is charged using a DC high-voltage supply and discharged using a high-voltage, gas-based switch. The system eliminates the need for external pulse generation and is more rugged due to the solid-state construction.

This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research (Grant No. N00014-18-1-2341).

Fairbanks presented the Purdue technology in March at the Directed Energy Professional Society annual Science and Technology Symposium.

The innovators worked with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization to patent their technology.

"It has been very beneficial to our team and our advancement of this technology to have OTC here at Purdue," Fairbanks said. "OTC and other resources from Purdue Research Foundation provide support to take our technology and push it out to the world through patenting and commercialization."

###

The innovators and OTC are looking for partners to continue developing their technology. For more information on licensing and other opportunities, contact Matthew Halladay of OTC at mrhalladay@prf.org and mention track code 69397.

About Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization

The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. The office is located in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in Discovery Park District, adjacent to the Purdue campus. In fiscal year 2020, the office reported 148 deals finalized with 225 technologies signed, 408 disclosures received and 180 issued U.S. patents. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. In 2020, IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation and in the top 20 for patents. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org for more information.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today's toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu.

Writer:

Chris Adam,

cladam@prf.org

Source:

Andrew Fairbanks,

ajfairba@purdue.edu
TAIPEI (dpa-AFX) - Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (SIMO) said, based on preliminary first quarter results, revenue is estimated to grow approximately 25% sequentially, well in excess of the original 7% to 12% guidance range which the company previously issued. Non GAAP gross margin is projected to be at the high-end of the original 48.0% to 50.0% guidance range. The company will release its first quarter results after the market closes on May 5, 2021. Shares of Silicon Motion Technology Corp. were up 5% in pre-market trade on Thursday. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The Romanian government will provide partial financial support for the organization of the 2023 Solar Decathlon Europe competition that will take place in Bucharest, Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests Barna Tanczos told a press conference on Thursday.

"If we have such [eco-home building] initiatives, if we have young people who dream high and universities that provide them the necessary support, if we have rectors who believe in these initiatives and universities from various fields come and look for new solutions for this new world, Romania will most definitely succeed. We will succeed in organizing such international competitions in Romania. Together with our colleagues from the other ministries, the Ministry of Environment will support this team and this initiative," Tanczos said.

"In order to achieve an 80 percent cut in the buildings' energy consumption across the EU by 2050, every member state must make extraordinary efforts. The targets are challenging. Saving 80 percent of energy consumption through technology, research and innovation is an extremely ambitious target, but it will become mandatory at some point for us as well," the official underscored.Romania will be represented at the Solar Decathlon Europe 21 competition due in Wuppertal - Germany by the team of the NGO EFdeN with a new solar-powered house project that will be developed in the next two years.A recipient of over 35 awards, the EFdeN team is the only Romanian competitor that made it to three Solar Decathlon editions: Versailles (2014), Dubai (2018) and Wuppertal (2021).In 2012, PRISPA was the first Romanian team to break through to the Solar Decathlon (Madrid), and in 2014 the EFdeN team participated in the Versailles edition with the house project which is currently a Research Center for Comfort Conditions.EFdeN is the only Romanian NGO that develops solar housing for educational and research purposes, along with sustainable products and educational modules for both students, experts and the general public. The volunteer project operates based on strategic partnerships and sponsorships.The NGO was founded in 2013 by a group of passionate young people, together with the Bucharest Technical University of Civil Engineering and the "Ion Mincu" University of Architecture and Urban Planning. According to the information on its website, over 550 students, graduates, master's students and doctoral students have been part of the EFdeN team in the last five and a half years.The entity is organized in 11 departments that include: urban planning, architecture, engineering, communication, partnerships and horticulture and boasts more than 350,000 volunteer hours put in in recent years in research and the design and building of two solar energy-efficient houses.EFdeN and the Energy Endeavor Foundation (EEF) organized today a press conference where they officially announced the success of Bucharest's bid for hosting the Solar Decathlon Europe 2023 international competition for renewable energy houses. AGERPRES
JAMNAGAR:

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi invoked Sardar Patels legacy as he took his campaign through Patidar dominated areas of Saurashtra region in the poll-bound state on Tuesday.

Rahul Gandhi seeks to court Patel community, a section of which is up in arms against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat.

Hitting out at the BJP on the second day of his three- day tour, Gandhi accused the state government of perpetrating atrocities on the members of the Patel community during their quota stir.

On his arrival at Dhrol town enroute to Rajkot, Gandhi even wore the signature 'Patidar cap', with the slogan "Jai Sardar-Jai Patidar" emblazoned on it, given to him members of the 'Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), an organisation of politically influential Patel community led by Hardik Patel.

Also read| Rahul Gandhi's Gujarat visit 'dramatic and laughable', will benefit us: BJP



"It was you (the Patel community) who gave the country Sardar Patel. But the BJP government committed atrocities on you. Bullets were also fired on Patels. This is not the style of Congress. We believe in moving ahead by keeping all the communities together," said Gandhi.

At Falla village in Jamnagar, people greeted him with the slogan 'Jai Sardar, Jai Patidar'. Many in the crowd wore caps with the slogan.

Interestingly, Gandhi's assault on the saffron party came on a day when the state government invited quota stir leaders and representatives of other communities to the state capital to try and reach a compromise formula to mollify them ahead of the Assembly polls due later this year.

A large number of PAAS members, along with others, gathered at Dhrol to listen to Gandhi.

Also read: Rahul slams PM Modi, says BJP govt has failed to provide employment to youth



Gandhi paid brief visits to several villages and towns having concentration of Patels.

The Congress vice president was greeted by Hardik Patel as he began his campaign yesterday.

"A warm welcome to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat," Patel tweeted in Hindi soon after Gandhi landed in temple town Dwarka.

Hardik had recently said the community should give a chance to the main opposition party if it promises to recognize Patels as OBC give quotas for them in government jobs and educational institutions if voted to power.

After his speech at Dhrol, Gandhi stopped for a while at Latipur and Otala village, where he stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his government's policies and also took a jibe at the Gujarat model of development.

"Vikas Gando Thayo Chhe (Vikas has gone crazy)," replied the crowd when Gandhi asked them what has happened to 'Vikas' in Gujarat.

"It seems that vikas (development) has gone mad because some people lied too much about it. We all need to develop Gujarat in the real sense," said Gandhi.

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Chennai, April 8 : VCK leader and Chidabmabaram MP, Thol Thirumavalavan on Thursday called for protest marches across Tamil Nadu over the murder of two Dalit youths in Ranipet district, alleging that PMK members were involved.

The incident in Aarkonam in Ranipet occurred on late Wednesday night when two Dalit youths, identified as Arjunan, 26, of Soghanur village and Suriya, 25, of Sembedu village, allegedly made gestures at Vanniyar community youths, leading to a brawl.

Sources in the Police Department said that there were talks for a comprise between the groups initially, but later the matter went out of hand and a brutal attack took place in which the two youths lost their lives, while three others were grievously injured.

A group of Dalits blocked the roads late on Wednesday, bringing the traffic to a standstill.

Talking to IANS, Thirumavalavan said: "We have called for protest marches across Tamil Nadu over the killing of two youngsters by the goons of PMK who are members of a sand mafia at Guruvarajapet. We will not allow Dalits to be butchered like this and will evoke the consciousness of the people of Tamil Nadu by organising protests across the state." On the other hand, the PMK has denied any involvement.

The party's district chief, R. Shamugham told IANS that the matter was "between two rival gangs and the PMK does not have any involvement".

"We demand strong action against the culprits and this has nothing to do with any political rivalry." The bodies of the two youths were taken to Government Medical College, Vellore for post-mortem examination while the injured are admitted at Ranipet district hospital.

A strong contingent of police personnel led by Rannipet SP, Sivakumar and Aarkonam DSP, Manoharan are camping at in the area where there is high tension.

However, Sivakumar told IANS said that there was tension but police had already taken into custody two youths and "the situation is now turning normal".

The arrested were identified as Madhan and Ajith and three police teams have been set up to nab the other members of the gang involved.
A Texas mother launched an awareness campaign about child trafficking, empowering parents with the necessary information by writing a book and creating a website.

Speaking to Abby Johnson in her Politely Rude podcast, Christian mom Amanda Florczykowski detailed her experience when her own daughter was almost snatched from her in 2016. She believed that it was a failed abduction attempt for child sex trafficking. Her story was also featured by Intercessors for America.

Florczykowski took her two-year-old daughter and infant son when she went to shop in a local Walmart. Then an unknown man approached them, telling her that her kids are cute. After a while, she transferred to stand in line for checkout. But she noticed that the same man who spoke to her earlier, continued to look at her and the children. He was with a woman. Then the woman started a conversation with Florczykowski.

"Her first words are, 'How old is your daughter? She's so cute. How old is your daughter?' And she wants to talk about my daughter. She asked me again, like 10 seconds later, 'OK, she's so cute. How old is your daughter?'" Florczykowski remembered.

She noticed that the woman turned to the man behind her, stiff-looking and was facing an opposite direction. Florczykowski observed that the woman was actually communicating with him in another language, talking about her children. The woman asked her again about the age of her daughter.

Realizing the situation, she held her daughter as the woman moved closer, putting her hand on Florczykowski's grocery cart.

Then, the woman asked her if she can hold her daughter. When Florczykowski turned down her request, the woman grabbed her daughter's wrist and started to leave the store while telling the little girl to say goodbye to her mother.

"I lunged forward, grabbing my child. It's like slow motion. At that same time, the couple is exiting the store. I finally have my daughter back. I'm like slumped over the register. My knees are shaking," she further recalled.

Still in shock, she then spoke to the woman behind the register, talking about the incident. She told her that what happened to her daughter was an attempted abduction by a "sex trafficking ring." When she said the word about "trafficking", she noticed another man staring at her, looking "pure evil" and terrifying. Florczykowski said that the man caught her attention, seemed to be telling her that he would not want her to say anything else.

When she got home, she immediately did her own online investigation about sex trafficking. She also posted her experience on Facebook, which went viral.

Not wanting anyone to fall into trafficking, Florczykowski wrote a book, "Unraveled: Mothering Fiercely in a World Full of Fears." She also launched a website, "Vigilant Families," providing parents with relevant information to fight human traffickers.

UNICEF USA says that child trafficking happens all across America. Statistics showed that cases of human trafficking rose to 25% from 2017 to 2018, including sex and labor trafficking.

The case about Jeffrey Epstein reportedly triggered the discussion about child trafficking for sexual purposes.

Town and Country Magazine said Epstein was a wealthy financier with ties to powerful people, such as Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew and Donald Trump, who had a "falling out with him" more than a decade ago. Epstein was arrested in July 2019, charged with sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy to commit such. He died in jail in an apparent suicide in August 2019.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has described reports that board members at the Mater Hospital were offered a Covid-19 vaccine as completely unacceptable.

Mr Donnelly told Newstalks Pat Kenny show that the vaccine roll-out programme was going really well but that completely unacceptable situations with the board of the Mater, for example, with the Beacon Hospital, for example, schools in south Dublin and north Wicklow CHO

Mr Donnelly said these incidents were "a tiny, tiny fraction of the million doses that will be administered - but they do undermine confidence.

The Health Minister said that in the European Union (EU), Ireland had the highest rate of over-80s vaccinated.

He said the programme at national level continues to be very successfu.

It's not perfect, obviously, there are issues - but when you compare to the rest of the European Union, we're doing really well, said Mr Donnelly.

'Very disappointing' that Mater hospital board received Covid vaccine ahead of frontline workers - GP

Earlier, Dr Mary Favier, former President of the Irish College of GPs (ICGP) and member of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet), expressed disappointment that people in positions of leadership had taken the Covid-19 vaccine out of sequence.

Former ICTU general secretary David Begg yesterday confirmed that he received a Covid-19 vaccine as chair of the Mater Hospital board - however, he claims that he was offered the vaccine, and did not ask for it. Picture: RollingNews.ie

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Dr Favier said that as a general rule they should "stick to the science and show that they believe in it."

When asked about the case of directors at the Master Hospital receiving the vaccine, Dr Favier said she did not know details of the specific case, but that it was very disappointing.

She said people in positions of leadership needed to show that they believed in the system of prioritisation.

Sometimes that would mean stepping back and saying that they would leave the offered vaccine to those who needed it, she said.

Responding to a report on RTE radios Liveline on Wednesday when Limerick GP Kieran Murphy told of the intimidation experienced by his practice from people upset that they or relatives had not received the vaccine, Dr Favier said hes one of the good guys.

GPs around the country had experienced similar upset, she said.

While she understood peoples frustrations it was never an excuse to abuse reception staff for something that could not be changed.

Its really not ok and we ask people to be patient, she said.

Dr Favier also encouraged anyone due to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine to go ahead and keep the vaccination appointment as the blood clot risks were truly tiny compared to the risks from Covid-19.

The risk of clots from a long-haul flight was way higher, she said, We balance those risks.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) would meet this week to review the issue of clots from AstraZeneca, she said, but hands down it was safer to take the vaccine than risk Covid-19.

There was a remote possibility that AstraZeneca would not be approved for young women at a later stage, she said.

But by the time that cohort would be eligible for vaccination in Ireland, it would be late summer and much more would be known by then.
by Kristina Knight

Kristina: We are a year into the pandemic - how are marketers and retailers coping at this point?

Stephanie Cegielski, Spokesperson, ICSC: After a year of the pandemic, we've seen retailers fully embrace and adapt to new trends that have emerged. While the sector still needs support, retailers have been remarkably adaptable and resilient. Two top trends in particular included the growth of click-and-collect services and safety measures. Our recent B2B survey found nearly three-quarters of smaller retailers implemented click-and-collect offerings as a result of the increased demand for safe shopping experiences. Similarly, in 2020, 72% of retailers and CRE owners saw increased operational costs due to implementing safety protocols. Another ICSC survey found 85% of consumers will continue to wear a mask in public and social distance even once they're fully vaccinated - suggesting many of those measures will remain in place even as consumers return to stores. Overall, retailers have seen years of change condensed into a few short months - and while the retail landscape is challenging, many are poised to succeed in the long run.

Matt Ramerman, President, Sinch for Marketing: Surviving this past year has meant focusing on strengthening existing customer relationships at a time when consumers are inundated with brand communications on every channel, from email to SMS to social media and back. This ushered in an extremely accelerated adoption of digital marketing solutions to deliver 24/7, always-on engagement, ensuring seamless customer service without sacrificing the user experience. Customers in 2021 expect connections with their favorite brands to be instantaneous, personalized and easily accessible on their preferred channels. This is a permanent change, and brands must adapt their strategies to provide greater customer personalization than ever before.

Kristina: Where do you see retail going over the next 6-12 months?

Stephanie: Over the next 6 months to a year, we anticipate the retail industry returning to somewhat normal levels of activity, as do nearly 60% of Americans. Following the rise in digital services, it's expected that retailers and CRE owners will continue to invest in these offerings. ICSC's B2B survey found roughly 50% of retailers and CRE owners have invested in technology and digital infrastructure - and as many have found success with click-and-collect and other strategies, we expect these to remain a huge factor moving forward. Additionally, we anticipate a continued rebound in retail sales as vaccinations increase and the pandemic subsides.

Kristina: Matt, what about marketing?

Matt: The biggest shift will be to two-way conversational marketing, the process of activating two-way channels (i.e. SMS, or messaging apps such as Instagram or Facebook Messenger) to support marketing campaigns and programs so customers can respond directly to brands. With a few clicks, customers can open chat sessions with brands to customize offers, shop for the right product and resolve customer service inquiries. It's been a step in the right direction to see brands meeting customers where they are in their SMS inboxes. However, without allowing for a true back and forth between the customer and the brand, marketers aren't getting the most out of customers' most-used mobile channels. It's time for brands to surrender some control in the marketing process by incorporating consumers' specific needs into personalized conversations and allowing them to drive the back-and-forth.

Kristina: What implications do you see, moving forward?

Matt: Despite the evolution of consumer preferences when it comes to how they access products, services and information, brands are still relying on one-way, high-frequency "spray and pray" campaigns to drive conversions. It is critical for brands to change their mindset from one-way push to conversational, as relinquishing some control to customers can in turn create stronger relationships and yearslong loyalty, bringing this new kind of omnichannel engagement and customized, two-way communications to the mainstream.

Stephanie: Moving forward, we anticipate the convergence of digital and physical retail to continue. According to ICSC's B2B survey respondents, there will also be a rise in click-and-collect demand. Over the next 12 months, 62% of retailers expect an increase in the number of online orders to be fulfilled in-store, 61% expect an increase in retail floor space to be used for warehousing, 63% an increase in parking lot space for online order fulfillment, and 61% plan to increase staffing dedicated to accommodating online order fulfillment. We also believe safety measures at retail and CRE locations will continue including social distancing, click-and-collect options, hand sanitizing stations, and more.

Our recent economic survey uncovered 82% of consumers expect businesses to continue health and safety precautions. Therefore, despite mask mandates being lifted in several states and vaccine rollout fully underway, retailers must still prioritize safety to draw consumers back.

Tags: advertising, covid-19 business, covid-19 trends, ecommerce, ICSC, mobile marketing, pandemic marketing, Sinch for Marketing
Imperial Valley News Center

Man and His Sister Charged in Multimillion Dollar Real Estate Scam Involving Fake Open Houses at Not-for-Sale Homes

Los Angeles, California - A Southern California brother-and-sister team were arrested Tuesday on federal charges alleging they orchestrated a $6 million real estate fraud scam in which they listed homes without the owners consent and collected money from multiple would-be buyers for each of the not-for-sale homes.

Adolfo Schoneke, 43, of Torrance, and his sister, Bianca Gonzalez, a.k.a. Blanca Schoneke, 38, of Walnut, each pleaded not guilty to nine charges contained in an indictment unsealed after their arrests. The indictment charges Schoneke and Gonzalez with one count of conspiracy, seven counts of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment, Schoneke and Gonzalez, with the help of co-conspirators, operated real estate and escrow companies based in Cerritos, La Palma and Long Beach under a variety of names, including MCR and West Coast. The indictment alleges Schoneke and Gonzalez found properties that they would list for sale  even though many, in fact, were not for sale, and they did not have authority to list them for sale  and they then marketed the properties as short sales providing opportunities for purchases at below-market prices.

Using other peoples brokers licenses, Schoneke and Gonzalez allegedly listed the properties on real estate websites such as the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). In some cases, the indictment alleges, the homes were marketed through open houses that co-conspirators were able to host after tricking homeowners into allowing their homes to be used.

As part of the alleged scheme, the co-conspirators accepted multiple offers for each of the not-for-sale properties, hiding this fact from the victims and instead leading each of the victims to believe that his or her offer was the only one accepted. The co-conspirators allegedly were able to string along the victims  sometimes for years  by telling them closings were being delayed because lenders needed to approve the purported short sales.

The indictment also alleges that Schoneke and Gonzalez directed office workers to open bank accounts in the office workers names. Those accounts were used to receive down payments on the homes and other payments from victims who were convinced to transfer the full purchase price to these bank accounts after receiving forged short sale approval letters. Schoneke and Gonzalez also allegedly directed the office workers to withdraw large amounts of cash from these accounts and give it to them  a procedure that allowed Schoneke and Gonzalez to take possession of the fraud proceeds while hiding their involvement in the scheme.

Investigators estimate that several hundred victims collectively lost more than $6 million during the scheme.

During the arraignments this afternoon, a trial was scheduled for June 1. Both defendants will remain in custody at least until detention hearings scheduled for Friday for Schoneke and April 13 for Gonzalez.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted of all charges, Schoneke and Gonzalez each would face a statutory maximum sentence of 162 years in federal prison.

This matter was investigated by the FBI and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General. The investigation was initiated by numerous complaints to the Long Beach Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, both of which provided substantial assistance during the federal investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kerry L. Quinn of the Major Frauds Section.
Phnom Penh, April 8 : Cambodia has imposed a two week ban on inter-provincial travel after the country witnessed an increase in the number of new coronavirus cases.

The ban took effect from Wednesday with the exception for vehicles transporting goods, officials, healthcare workers, armed forces members and patients, Xinhua news agency quoted Prime Minister Hun Sen as saying.

He added that commuter vehicles transporting garment factory workers will also be excepted from the ban if they hold an approval letter from the Labour Ministry or provincial labour departments.

"The ban is aimed at combating and preventing the spread of Covid-19 from one province to another," Hun Sen said.

He said the capital Phnom Penh and its surrounding Kandal province are considered as one region and travel between them will not be prohibited.

The Prime minister also ordered the closure of all tourism resorts across the Southeast Asian country for 14 days from April 7 to 20 in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

By Tuesday, Cambodia had reported 2,824 confirmed coronavirus cases with 22 fatalities and 1,794 recoveries, according to the Ministry of Health.

Cambodia began a Covid-19 vaccination drive on February 10.

As of Monday, more than 635,000 people in the priority groups had been vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to a government report.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Sierra Wireless, Inc. ("Sierra" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:SWIR). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Sierra and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On March 23, 2021, Sierra Wireless issued a press release announcing that the Company "discovered it was the subject of a ransomware attack on its internal IT systems on March 20, 2021." The Company stated that "[a]s a result of the ransomware attack, Sierra Wireless halted production at its manufacturing sites" and that its "website and other internal operations have also been disrupted by the attack." Further, the Company stated that "[d]ue to these disruptions, Sierra Wireless is at this time withdrawing the First Quarter 2021 guidance it provided on February 23, 2021."

Following this news, Sierra Wireless's stock price fell $2.07 per share, or 11.95%, to close at $15.25 per share on March 23, 2021.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/639465/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-Pomerantz-Law-Firm-Investigates-Claims-On-Behalf-of-Investors-of-Sierra-Wireless-Inc--SWIR




COMPANY NEWS: Theres a myth that data integration doesnt deliver immediate results. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Data integration is like fitness: its a journey, and organisations can make big gains quickly by focusing on different areas; just like at the gym where you might have leg day, chest day and so on.

So what is data integration? Too often, businesses silo their data. Data integration collects and interprets multiple datasets across the organisation, removing silos. This integration then creates a pipeline and a unified data environment, which enables organisations to respond to change and innovate more quickly.

Data integration: Its about the journey

To build on the analogy, data integration is like bringing all your fitness goals together into one place. Just like we track weight, heart rate and blood oxygen levels in the gym, data integration uses business metrics like profit, employee engagement and customer satisfaction to measure the fitness of the organisation.

But as we have seen, too often these business health measurements are locked up in different parts of the organisation, and its not possible to get an overall picture. To put it simply, its hard to know which organisational muscles need extra work, and why certain parts of the business, to use a fitness term, cant seem to shred.

To bring all these parts of business data together, Qlik has created a 90-day (three months) data integrationor business fitnessprogram. The program is designed to get all the data in your organisation in one place and deliver benefits within weeks, not years. Breaking down the data integration project into smaller steps will let you develop data products that demonstrate their direct impact on the businessearly and often.

The first 30 days

As any gym-goer will tell you, fitness is always more fun with a friend. They keep you motivated and accountable, and the same thing goes for the first 30 days of your data integration project.

The key here is to engage senior stakeholders who have a shared vision for data integration and reframe the data integration project as a key goal for business success. Just like working out, you need to understand why youre undertaking the project. Take time to get a handle on the business challenge thats driving the need for data integration, and gain an understanding of what the outcomes of the project will be.

Its also critical to look inwards and understand what the barriers to success are. What are the pain points of your internal data consumers? According to recent research by IDC, 97% of Australian business leaders reported difficulties in identifying potentially valuable data sources. Only 53% of Australian organisations believe they have captured most of this data.

Looking at these two areas is a good place to start and once you understand those pain points, you can develop an engagement plan to get them excited about your new data product.

The final step in your first 30 days is to communicate. Make sure your stakeholders understand what the data integration vision is, which will help with future adoption and success.

60 days in

After the first month, its time for some new goals - just like in the gym. Except with data integration, youre going to be defining project scope and trimming any fat that might be causing delays or unhappy stakeholders.

Youll also be setting realistic timelines for hitting achievable goals; doing so means that all your stakeholders will stay motivated for the journey ahead. Finally, focus on simple wins. Identify and clean your initial data points and get the testing and reconciliation process underway. You can also think about adding more data points as your project becomes fitter.

90 days and beyond

Once youve been at this data integration project for a while its time to begin the development of your data product. Now is the moment to integrate the data you previously identified and cleaned.

Youll also need to stay flexible when youre writing your code because this will let you add additional data points more easily in future.

And like any fitness fanatic, its also time to see the benefits of your work. Engage with stakeholders and highlight how your project is addressing business needs and creating business value. This will also let the stakeholders share their feedback, informing future versions of the data integration project as the business grows.

More than anything, dont be afraid to show off! By measuring common ROI metrics such as adoption, operational efficiency and performance, you can validate your fitness efforts and get the business support you need for future data integration projects.

As we have seen, data integration is a journey. But its a journey that, like fitness, delivers benefits early and oftenand with a big payday the longer you keep at it. Dont settle or get complacent because data integration, like fitness, is a living concept.

If you are a Chief Data Officer that is dealing with data that is looking aged and bloated, youre not alone. Download Qliks full 30-60-90-day data integration fitness plan today to see how other Chief Data Officers around the world have managed to get their data fit.
There are times when realizing youre not alone provides no comfort whatsoever.

There are times when realizing youre not alone provides no comfort whatsoever.

Current lamentations over Manitobas painfully slow  and, some argue, woefully inadequate  rollout of COVID-19 vaccines certainly qualifies as one such time. A report in Wednesdays Globe and Mail outlined in detail how several provinces are experiencing severe difficulties in shifting their vaccination programs into sufficiently high gear to meet ramped-up dosage distribution from the federal government as concerns mount over the spread of virulent new strains of the COVID-19 virus.

There is nothing resembling reassurance to be drawn from this.

Various problems have plagued Winnipeg's vaccination supersite at the convention centre. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

As in Manitoba, officials in provinces such as Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have for months laid blame  rightfully, in many instances  for their lower-than-pledged distribution of vaccines on the federal governments insufficient and unreliable deliveries of doses. But with vaccine supplies finally increasing sharply in the last few weeks, several provinces  Manitoba among them  have failed to accelerate their vaccination rates and suddenly have compounding thousands of doses languishing in freezers rather than being injected into arms.

With variants of concern becoming exponentially more prevalent, leading some jurisdictions to reimpose harsh but necessary lockdown restrictions, fears are rising over the inability of lagging vaccination programs to pre-empt a catastrophic full-blown third wave.

"On the present course, the pandemic will blight the spring and shorten the summer for millions of Canadians," said David Naylor, co-chair of the federal governments COVID-19 Immunity Task Force.

Despite these mounting concerns, government and health officials in Manitoba  which this week remained tied for second-last (at 58 per cent) in terms of percentage of received doses administered  remain resolute in their insistence the plan here is working.

With consecutive stories in the Free Press outlining the frustrations of underworked vaccination staff at the RBC Convention Centre supersite, the former head of Manitobas emergency management system calling for military intervention to support the provinces faltering vaccination effort, and Manitobas stockpile of unadministered doses topping 155,000 as of Tuesday, one cant help wondering if such insistences carry faint echoes of former health minister Cameron Friesens ill-considered "The people in charge have got this" comment last November in response to local physicians warning of a looming second wave.

Vaccination sites should be going seven days a week, says former Emergency Measures Organization executive director Chuck Sanderson. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

"Vaccination sites should be going seven days a week, full-tilt, and none of this business of lazy Sundays," said former Emergency Measures Organization executive director Chuck Sanderson. "Its just incomprehensible to think of the way theyve rolled this out."

In neighbouring Saskatchewan, which leads the country in percentage of doses administered (at 78 per cent), the provincial government has opted for a more dispersed vaccine-delivery strategy that includes drive-thru and walk-in vaccination sites. Despite having received 87,000 fewer vaccine doses from the federal government, as of early this week it had administered 11,000 more shots than Manitoba.

Adjustments on the fly have been the hallmark of every governments response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, but the results to date of this provinces plan suggest the moment has arrived for a rapid and deliberate reset. "Urgent" might be an outworn descriptive at this stage of the pandemic, but it most assuredly applies here.

Encouragement might be found in the otherwise tax-cut-focused provincial budgets inclusion of a $1.2-billion commitment to the COVID-19 response. The $100 million specifically apportioned to the vaccine program should be unleashed  accompanied by a much-improved and accelerated plan  with something significantly more than all due haste.
Zac Efron is charming his way around Australia.

The Baywatch star, who moved Down Under last year, has been dubbed the 'nicest celeb she's ever met' by a Dubbo motel worker, according to Deuxmoi.

Per the gossip outlet's sources, the High School Musical actor, 33, 'smells nice too'.

Aww: Zac Efron is charming his way around Australia, having been dubbed the 'nicest celeb she's ever met' by a Dubbo motel worker

A woman, known only as Huntergirl, told Deuxmoi her mother works at the Dubbo motel Zac stayed at with his girlfriend Vanessa Valladares.

Her mother said that model Vanessa 'was also lovely' and did the couple's washing while staying at the venue over Easter.

Zac was likely in Dubbo, a city in the Orana region of New South Wales, filming his Netflix travel series Down to Earth.

He gets around: Zac was likely in Dubbo, a city in the Orana region of New South Wales, filming his Netflix travel series Down to Earth

On Tuesday, Zac shared a post on Instagram after stopping by Jonai Farms and Meatsmiths in Eganstown, Victoria.

The photo showed the actor crouching down near a trio of black piglets, and was imaginatively captioned: 'Three little pigs.'

On the official Down to Earth Instagram page, Zac and his co-star Darin Olien can be seen patting a large pig and speaking to a farmer.

Too cute: Zac visited the Jonai Farms and Meatsmiths in Eganstown, Victoria, on Tuesday as he continues his tour of Australia while filming Netflix travel series Down to Earth

'Jonai Farms raises the animals on their farm with love,' the post stated.

'Using regenerative and ethical farming methods, they're reframing the standards of agriculture by learning from the past.'

Zac is exploring some of Australia's most iconic tourist attractions for his new series Down to Earth.

Loving it: The High School Musical star, 33, who is seeking out more sustainable ways to live on his Netflix docu-series, was enamoured by the 'three little pigs'

On Saturday, he shared an incredible video of himself jumping into a waterfall in the New South Wales Blue Mountains.

'One way down,' he captioned the impressive boomerang clip.

The Blue Mountains is about 100km west of Sydney.

'One way down': On Saturday, Zac shared an incredible video of himself jumping into a waterfall in the New South Wales Blue Mountains

Zac is being joined on his travels around Australia with wellness expert Darin Olien, the co-host of Down to Earth.

The docu-series will follow their search for healthy and sustainable ways to live.

He also embraces local food, culture and customs while exploring the land Down Under.
LOS ANGELESThe Adult Performance Artists Guild (APAG) will host a special town hall meeting this Sunday, April 11, with guest speaker Eliza Orlins, a candidate running for District Attorney of New York County.

As a public defender for the Legal Aid Society, Orlins has represented more than 3,000 New Yorkers who typically would not otherwise have been able to afford a lawyer. She has consistently advocated for sex work decriminalization, and The Daily Beast called her plan "one of the most detailed policy positions on the full decriminalization of sex work ever put forward by a major candidate at any level of U.S. politics." As part of her platform in her bid for District Attorney, she has promised to establish a dedicated Worker Protection Unit to work closely with community organizations and labor unions to combat labor violations. She has been a union member of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys Local 2325, part of UAW 9A, since 2009.

While many may be familiar with Orlins from recent headlines concerning her positions on sex worker rights, they may also recognize her as a former contestant on two different seasons of smash hit reality show Survivor.

The APAG town hall meeting with Orlins will be held Sunday at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. Members of the adult industry community may RSVP here to attend. For more information about Orlins, visit ElizaOrlins.com. For More information about APAG, visit www.APAGUnion.com.
A single mother who thought her 'foggy memory' was just a symptom of 'mum brain' has been diagnosed with cancer as her friends rally to raise money for treatment.

Tessa Keane, 31, began suffering from anxiety attacks and gradual memory loss two years ago but put it down to her busy schedule, studying a teaching degree and looking after daughter Evie, six.

But in February, just days after starting work as a primary school teacher, the Melbourne mother's health took a sharp decline, with her cognition, memory and speech becoming impaired.

Her family rushed her to hospital where they learnt the devastating news - her anxiety and memory loss were in fact symptoms of a growing brain tumour.

Tessa Keane, 31, (pictured with daughter Evie, six) was diagnosed with brain cancer on February 22 after suffering from gradual memory loss over the past two years

'[She was] shocked and devastated,' Tessa's sister Hannah and close friend Sian Upstill told Daily Mail Australia.

'You go through phases of shock, numbness, adrenaline rushes, and emotional turmoil as you try and process the information.'

Three weeks later Tessa underwent neurosurgery for 9.5 hours to remove the tumour, and will require another within a month.

The impacts of the operation have compromised her ability to function, as doctors warn she has a long road to rehabilitation ahead.

On top of the stress of her diagnosis, Tessa was forced to undergo surgery by herself as Covid restrictions prevent loved ones from going with her past the front desk.

'Entering the potentially life changing surgery preparation alone, and furthermore, waking up alone is something no one should ever have to do,' Sian and Hannah said.

Tessa had just completed a degree in teaching and had started working at a Victorian primary school when she received the shocking diagnosis. She is pictured with friend Sian Upstill

Tessa's siblings (pictured together) and her parents have been helping her carry out daily tasks and care for her little girl

As she braces for the next operation, she has fears over the uncertainty of how each stage of treatment will affect her brain function and how they will impact her life.

Friends and family are now rallying to raise funds to support the single mother through her treatment and ongoing support needs, as the life-changing effects of surgery mean she will be unlikely to return to her career.

'After only a handful of days working in her newly qualified passion, Tessa's diagnosis and prospective future care plan impacts her ability to work in the field.'

Joss Holdsworth, the owner of Pulse8 fitness centre and Tessa's long-time friend, has launched a fundraiser offering a monster workout through his gym with entry via a donation to a GoFundMe page.

The session will be held at on Friday April 9 at 6pm at the Pulse8 Centre, 16-17/993 North Rd, Murrumbeena.

Tessa's parents are commuting from regional Victoria to help with daily tasks and care for Evie as the young mother recovers from her first surgery.

Despite the current challenges she is facing, friends say she remains positive.

[She is] taking the treatment journey ahead one step at a time. Her focus is now on preparing physically and mentally for surgery,' Sian said.

'[But] she is feeling very overwhelmed by the support from friends and family.'
Amanda Burke covers Pittsfield City Hall for The Berkshire Eagle. An Ithaca, New York native, she previously worked at The Herald News of Fall River and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise. Find her on Twitter at @amandaburkec.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Inselspital (University Hospital of Bern) and the University of Bern have conducted a major study on pain treatment in children at twelve centers in four European countries. Analysis of the data revealed a need for optimization in nearly one in four children. The research team has discovered possibilities to reduce the use of opioid analgetics after surgery as a precautionary measure.

A great need for better pain treatment

After an appendectomy, a quarter (24.8%) of all children wanted a stronger pain treatment in the first 24 hours after their operation. Among children who had a tonsillectomy, this was one-fifth (20.2%). Analysis of the data showed that this desire was primarily associated with sleep impairments and with movement pain. The lead author of the study, Prof. Ulrike M. Stamer, explained: "We are dealing with a large number of affected patients. Appendectomies and tonsillectomies are the most common operations performed on children overall. Just under a quarter of these cases strongly signal a desire for improvement".

A comprehensive, multicentre study

This study is based on the international pain registry "PAIN OUT infant", which was established in 2015 to track the quality of postoperative pain management in children. The study included 472 children with appendectomies and 466 children with tonsillectomies. More pain-related impairments and side effects were reported in children who wanted a stronger pain treatment. They also received more opioids postoperatively (on average 81 versus 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight).

Surprising result shows the way to optimisation

A surprising result emerged from the analysis of the survey data and a comparison with the medication used before and during the operations. It was found that children who had been given at least two different classes of non-opioid analgesics (NSAIDs, metamizole or paracetamol) as a precautionary measure were significantly less likely to ask for a stronger pain treatment when questioned 24 hours after surgery. Prof. Frank Stuber, head of the Department of Anesthesiology at Inselspital (University Hospital of Bern) is optimistic: "We have been able to identify a promising path with these study results. Precautionary administration of at least two different classes of non-opioid analgesics appears to be a way to reduce the use of higher doses of opioids after surgery".

More information: Ulrike M. Stamer et al, 'Desire for more analgesic treatment': pain and patient-reported outcome after paediatric tonsillectomy and appendectomy, British Journal of Anaesthesia (2021). Journal information: British Journal of Anaesthesia Ulrike M. Stamer et al, 'Desire for more analgesic treatment': pain and patient-reported outcome after paediatric tonsillectomy and appendectomy,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2020.12.047

Provided by Inselspital, Bern University Hospital
Airtels Kenyan and Sri Lankan units are bolstering their coverage via 5G upgrades and new site deployments respectively.

Airtel Kenya has already installed 5G upgrades at 600 sites across three main locations  Nairobi, Malindi and Mombasa.

Local outlet Business Daily quoted the operators Managing Director Prasanta Das Sarma as saying: These 600 sites are now 5G-ready. We dont have to make any further modifications to the network. We will just get the spectrum and decide when to switch on.

The operator expects its commercial launch to take place within the next two years, by which time 5G devices will become more affordable and therefore widespread in the market.

Meanwhile, CommsUpdate reports that Airtel Lanka is deploying 37 new cell sites across Ratnapura, the provincial capital of Sabaragamuwa Province. The deployment is part of the first phase of a regulatory initiative aimed at connecting dark spots on the island nation.

Sri Lankas regulator, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), has launched the Gamata Sanniwedanaya project in a bid to bridge the countrys digital divide and connect all Sri Lankans.

Airtel CEO and managing director, Ashish Chandra, said of the project: Airtels mission is centred on enriching lives for all Sri Lankans. With [connectivity] expanding to cover every facet of daily life at an exponential rate, it is essential and empowering to ensure that reliable mobile connectivity is available to all our citizens. We are therefore proud to partner with TRCSL on this vital and visionary initiative.
BROOKLYN, N.Y., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council (PHHPC) approved a Certificate of Need (CON) application which allows the affiliation between Maimonides Medical Center and New York Community Hospital (NYCH) to continue to move forward. Maimonides and NYCH expect to satisfy the sole contingency the Council put forward for approval and to formally conclude the transaction this summer, at which time NYCH will become a subsidiary of Maimonides.

This approval marks an important milestone following the signing in December 2020 of an affiliation agreement between the two organizations. The affiliation draws on the historic strength of both hospitals, facilitating further collaboration among clinicians and more convenient patient access to a broader array of medical and surgical specialty services at NYCH.

Through their existing clinical collaboration agreement, Maimonides and NYCH have already demonstrated ways in which the relationship benefits patients. Maimonides physicians from over ten specialties have begun to provide services at NYCH. The two organizations are also in the process of jointly developing an infusion suite at NYCH to serve cancer patients. The clinical affiliation has enabled Maimonides to work with NYCH to further enhance medical services and programs it provides to its patients, including cancer care, cardiovascular care, surgical services, and advanced imaging.

About Maimonides Medical Center

Maimonides Medical Center is a 711-bed non-profit tertiary care provider in Brooklyn, New York. It operates the largest hospital in Brooklyn as well as the borough's only full-service Cancer Center. Maimonides physicians are nationally known for clinical excellence, innovation and groundbreaking research. An independent teaching and research institution, Maimonides is a major clinical training site for the SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Founded in 1911, the Medical Center continues to grow and adapt to the needs of Brooklyn's patients and families. Maimonides is an affiliate of Northwell Health. For additional information on the nationally recognized clinical services at Maimonides Medical Center, please visit www.maimo.org.

About New York Community Hospital

New York Community Hospital is a 134-bed non-profit acute care hospital located in the Midwood and Madison Park section of Brooklyn. Known for its outstanding physicians, use of advanced technology, and ongoing support of the health of local residents, New York Community has been an asset to southern Brooklyn since 1929.

Press Contact:

Emily Walsh

[email protected]

SOURCE Maimonides Medical Center

Related Links

https://maimo.org


"Despite the surge in demand for CBD products, many traditional advertising channels still restrict brands from promoting their products online. We used our extensive industry experience and knowledge to develop a strategy that enabled Wisdom Essentials to overcome these limitations and launch a highly successful online advertising campaign that resulted in greater brand awareness," said Josefine Nowitz, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Cannabis Creative.

The goal of the campaign was to drive online traffic to Wisdom Essentials' e-commerce website, which sells innovative wellness products with CBD. Cannabis Creative helped Wisdom Essential place ads that ran on Google Shopping, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and a variety of other social media channels. The campaign included more than 100 unique creatives that were used for banner ads on websites, mobile and social media ads, content promotions, etc.

"We want to thank the Web Marketing Association and the Internet Advertising Competition for recognizing Wisdom Essentials. Online advertising is an important part of getting our brand and quality message to our community of Modern Midlifers ," said Denis Keane and Tom Lamb, co-founders of Wisdom Essentials.

Founded by Web Marketing Association (WMA), which established the high standard for internet marketing and corporate web development, the IAC is the first and only competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising. The awards cover a variety of industries and online formats including, online ad, video, mobile, newsletter, email, and social media. A complete list of 2021 winners can be found here.

About Cannabis Creative

Cannabis Creative Group is an award-winning digital marketing agency specializing in Cannabis and CBD. Headquartered in Boston, MA, Cannabis Creative Group has client partnerships in 20+ U.S states, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Their goal is to support clients to expand their market share and grow their business through creative digital marketing campaigns. With decades of experience in digital marketing, the Cannabis Creative Group team of marketing professionals work with publicly traded cannabis companies, multi-state operators, hemp & THC brands, and ancillary businesses. For more information visit: cannabiscreative.com

About Wisdom Essentials

Wisdom Essentials is on a mission to help Modern Midlifers be well in mind, body and spirit. Through natural botanic and CBD formulas and holistic education, we aim to help people live their best lives.

Started by co-founders Tom Lamb and Denis Keane. Wisdom Essentials set out to pursue wellness regimens to maintain and preserve health and future-proof it for years to come. Their first 5 products (DREAM, FOCUS, SOOTHE, CALM, and CALM GUM DROPS are made in America and blended with nutraceuticals, nootropics, proprietary terpene blends with high quality CBD to support and enhance sleep, calmness, focus and muscle relief. For more information please visit: www.wisdomessentials.com

SOURCE Cannabis Creative

Related Links

https://cannabiscreative.com/


Regulatory News:

AudioValley (Paris:ALAVY) (Brussels:ALAVY), an international specialist in B2B solutions in digital audio, (ISIN code: BE0974334667 mnemonic: ALAVY), is launching a capital increase with qualified investors by issuing new ordinary shares with no preferential right for existing shareholders.

The capital increase will be formally decided by AudioValley's Board of Directors, acting in connection with its authorized capital powers as renewed and extended by a decision of the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of 15 February 2021, on 12 April 2021.

The funds raised through this capital increase will make it possible to:

support the international expansion of AudioValley, which recently signed several partnerships with leading players. Since the beginning of the year, an agreement with Bauer Media has made it possible, for example, to market Targetspot's inventory in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway (press release of 11 March 2021). In 2020, Targetspot also entered into agreements with Sonos, Stingray, TuneIn and Radio France. Once all these contracts become 100% operational, their impact could represent an overall amount of more than 10 m of the Group's annual revenue.

support the commercial launch of Jamendo Rights Management, the new business activity dedicated to the collective management of music rights, which will enable Jamendo to expand its scope in terms of managing and monetizing rights on behalf of the 45,000 artists on the platform. The liberalization of collective copyright management in Europe opens up huge growth opportunities for Jamendo, which acquired Independent Management Entity (IME) status in February 2019. The weight of this market in Europe is estimated at around 10 billion euros in revenue per year. The first revenue from the deployment of Jamendo Rights Management is expected in 2021.

The transaction (the "Transaction") will be carried out exclusively with qualified investors (within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended).

The Transaction will be carried out through an accelerated bookbuilding process, after which the number and price of the new shares issued will be determined. The accelerated bookbuilding process starts immediately and is expected to close before the markets open on 09 April 2021, subject to any early closing or extension.

Through a press release, AudioValley will announce the outcome of the Transaction as soon as possible after the bookbuilding closes.

The shares will carry dividend rights and will be admitted to trading on the Euronext Growth market under code ISIN BE0974334667 ALAVY.

TP ICAP EUROPE is acting as lead arranger and bookrunner for the Transaction. Allegra Finance, the listing sponsor, is the Company's advisor for this Transaction.

Detailed information concerning the Company, in particular relating to its business activity, results and corresponding risk factors, can be found in the Annual Financial Report for the year ended 31 December 2019, which can be consulted, along with other regulated information and all of the Company's press releases, on its website (www.audiovalley.com).

FUTURE UPDATES

Release of annual financial report

Friday 30 April 2021, after market close

2020 half-year revenue

Tuesday 27 July 2021, after market close

About AudioValley

AudioValley, based in Brussels in the heart of Europe, has been a pioneer and leader in digital audio since 2007. Active throughout the value chain in its sector, and with a global network, AudioValley offers its customers partners solutions to develop their business through digital audio, both locally and internationally.

The Group is home to iconic brands: Targetspot for the monetization of digital audio content, Jamendo for music sales and music rights management, Shoutcast for streaming technologies and podcast management, and Winamp, the iconic audio player.

The audio sector is undergoing an unprecedented digital revolution with ultra-connected consumers who want access to the best audio content wherever and whenever they want. To cater for these new consumer trends, AudioValley is developing technologies that allow people to instantly enjoy the benefits of digital audio and services that create links between brands and consumers, between publishers and their audience, between publishers and brands, and between artists and music lovers. AudioValley is present in 9 countries and employs around 100 employees worldwide. www.audiovalley.com

Notice

Financial securities may only be offered or sold in the United States following registration under the 1933 US Securities Act, as amended ("US Securities Act"), or in connection with an exemption from this registration requirement. The Company's securities covered by this press release have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act, and the Company does not intend to offer to the public the financial securities covered by this press release in the United States.

This press release is for information purposes only. This press release does not constitute, and shall not be deemed to constitute, an offer to the public, an offer to subscribe or an invitation to the public with a view to a transaction through an offer to the public of financial securities.

The Transaction is not subject to the requirement to publish a prospectus previously approved by the Financial Services and Markets Authority, the Belgian competent authority within the meaning of Article 2, o) of Regulation 2017/1129 (as amended), designated in accordance with Article 31 of said Regulation (the "FSMA"), in accordance with the exemption laid down in Article 1(4)(a) of Regulation 2017/1129.

However, pursuant to Article 10, 3, 1 of the law of 11 July 2018 on offers of investment instruments to the public and the admission of investment instruments to trading on regulated markets, and Article 2 of the Royal Decree of 23 September 2018 on the publication of an information memorandum in the event of an offer to the public or admission to trading on an MTF and containing various financial provisions, the admission of the new shares issued in connection with the Transaction to trading on the Euronext Growth market shall require the publication of an information memorandum filed with the FSMA. This information memorandum shall be available on the websites of both AudioValley and the FSMA. This information memorandum shall not constitute a prospectus and shall not be verified or approved by the FSMA.

The distribution of this press release in certain countries may constitute a violation of the legal provisions in force.

This press release is not to be published, transmitted or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. This document does not constitute an offer to sell AUDIOVALLEY shares in the United States.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005802/en/

Contacts:

Investor relations: Sebastien Veldeman investorrelations@audiovalley.com

Press relations: Emilie Dehan press@audiovalley.com
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has issued a statement on the finding from the European Medicines Agency regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine and statements from the UK.

The EMA has advised of finding a possible link between the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine and rare blood clotting issues in adults who had received the vaccine.

The regulatory agency concluded that the overall benefits of this highly effective vaccine in protecting recipients from severe Covid-19 disease, hospitalisation and death outweigh the risks of this very rare event.

NIACs current advice regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine still applies. As previously advised, healthcare professionals and vaccine recipients should be informed that very rare, complicated clotting events have been reported in a small number of people who have recently received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The HPRA highlights the importance of reporting suspected side effects associated with vaccines to www.hpra.ie.

NIAC will meet to discuss the EMAs statement and consult with EU colleagues. NIAC will also consider whether any further advice is required which will be issued to the Department of Health if that is warranted.
GBP/EUR Exchange Rate Rangebound on Positive German Factory Orders Figure

The British Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate held steady on Thursday, April 8, with the pairing currently fluctuating around 1.15.

The EUR/GBP stabilised following the publication of Germanys latest Factory Orders figure for February, which rose by 1.2%.

AP news commented on the data:

Germanys economy did better than several others in the eurozone as it was supported by manufacturing, which has taken less of a hit than services during the pandemic. German authorities havent imposed any shutdowns on industry during the crisis, but many restrictions on businesses such as restaurants, bars, hotels and leisure facilities remain in place.

As a result, Euro investors are becoming more confident about the Eurozones powerhouse economy, with the nations manufacturing sector being its largest and most lucrative.

However, Europes continuing Covid-19 crisis has dampened mood in the Eurozones economy going forward.

Now that France is under lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 and prevent an overwhelm of the nations hospitals, EUR investors are becoming increasingly cautious.

Pound (GBP) Struggles Following AstraZeneca Course Correction

The Pound (GBP) failed to rise today following concerns over the UKs course correction on the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. The vaccine will now be optional to those under-30.

Dr Chris Papadopoulos, principal lecturer in public health at the University of Bedfordshire, commented on the change of course:

[Yesterdays] decision is a severe blow to the publics vaccine confidence, which is already fragile.

As a result, GBP investors are becoming concerned about the public perception of vaccines, which could potentially limit the uptake of vaccines going forward.

In UK economic news, today saw the release of the latest Construction PMI for March, which beat forecasts and rose to 61.7.

Tim Moore, the economics director at IHS Markit, commented:

March data revealed a surge in UK construction output as the recovery broadened out from house building to commercial work and civil engineering. Total activity expanded to the greatest extent for six-and-a-half years as residential spending remained robust, commercial projects restarted and infrastructure contract awards moved ahead.

Pound Euro Forecast

Euro (EUR) exchange rate traders will be awaiting tomorrows publication of the final German Industrial Production figure for February.

Any further improvement in the outlook for the Eurozones powerhouse economy would be EUR-positive.

Tomorrow will also see the release of the French Industrial Output gauge for February. If this shows signs of improvement, then the EUR to GBP exchange rate could continue to head higher.

Pound Sterling (GBP) investors will continue to monitor the UKs Covid-19 situation.

The Pound Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate could head higher, however, as the UKs Covid-19 situation is showing signs of flattening off before the easing of further lockdown restrictions on April 12th.
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - President Kais Saied on Wednesday received the minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Libyan Government of National Accord, Najla Al-Mangoush, who is making her first visit abroad since her nomination to that position
If youre an avid tennis fan like me, then you would not have missed one of the biggest stories to rock the sport.

If youre not a tennis fan and could not care less whether Rafael Nadal breaks the record for most Grand Slam titles, you should still be aware of what Im about to discuss because it concerns your life.
"Corporates and private equity firms use sale leasebacks as an attractive capital allocation tool. Private equity firms in particular are looking to pull all strategic and financial levers to drive returns." Tweet this

Commenting on the utility of sale leasebacks, SLB Co-Founder and Managing Partner Scott Merkle said, "Corporates and private equity firms use sale leasebacks as an attractive capital allocation tool. Private equity firms in particular are looking to pull all strategic and financial levers to drive returns. Many have valuable capital tied up in the real estate of their portfolio companies, and most private equity firms prefer to be business investors rather than real estate investors. Sale leaseback capital can be redeployed by operating businesses to fund M&A or internal growth initiatives, and importantly can create real value."

At the Convergence of Real Estate and Corporate Finance

SLB Co-Founder and Partner Matt Wrobleski noted that, "SLB Capital Advisors operates at the convergence of real estate and corporate finance. Differentiating from other general players in the space, our team uniquely brings the corporate finance and M&A experience needed to comprehensively analyze a sale leaseback and its impact on a company."

Wrobleski added, "Given institutional investors are entering into a long-term financial arrangement with a sale leaseback counterparty, the sale leaseback is really more akin to a financing than a typical real estate sale. The expertise required to identify arbitrage opportunities, as well as to develop financial impact and credit analyses, requires specialized expertise not found in the typical real estate intermediary's business model."

Specialized Expertise and Rising Importance

Regarding the firm's formation, SLB Capital Advisors Co-Founder and Partner Stephen Cheng said, "We leverage our team's extensive investment banking and corporate finance experience to focus exclusively on the advisory and execution of sale leasebacks and M&A-driven real estate engagements."

Cheng continued, "In this current market environment, sale leasebacks are even more topical, as businesses seek attractive means of raising capital. Our broad fluency in sale leasebacks, real estate, corporate finance and M&A enables us to provide a distinct advisory perspective to every engagement."

Bringing a Holistic View to the Sale Leaseback

Merkle said in most property transactions, the asset is held by a real estate investor and sold to another real estate investor. Sale leasebacks differ in that the seller is not a traditional investor, but rather an operating business, and is selling it to achieve corporate objectives such as enhancing earnings or unlocking value.

In addition to the traditional capital allocation decision, Merkle noted that a key element of a sale leaseback process is structuring an optimal lease. "The time frame over which a sale leaseback has an impact typically exceeds the holding period of private equity investors. As such, a sale leaseback should be properly structured to be amenable for a future liquidity event."

Further sale leaseback considerations include the pro forma credit impact, optimal rent structure and tax impact. "Any company contemplating a sale leaseback should be as concerned about the credit, coverage and tax impacts of an associated real estate transaction as they are about how they will deploy the capital they have extracted from the sale."

A Strategic Advisor to Corporates

SLB Co-Founder and Partner Malik Franklin said, "We are at an interesting point where corporate real estate owners are looking for creative, cost-efficient capital sources, re-evaluating their strategic footprints, and looking to proactively demonstrate their ability to deliver value to their shareholders. A sale leaseback allows a company to unlock capital trapped in operationally important assets and reinvest into other areas of the business where it can earn a higher return for shareholders. Partial sale leasebacks can also be a particularly effective tool for unlocking value from underutilized facilities whereby the company sells the facility to a real estate investor and leases back only the portion needed to support their operations."

He continued, "On the other hand, you also have corporates interested in on-shoring segments of their traditionally international supply chain, acquiring businesses with domestic facilities, in essence expanding their footprint. Sale leaseback capital can be used to finance that acquisition cost."

Experienced Key Personnel, National Footprint

SLB Capital Advisors is headquartered in New York City and has a national presence with six founding Partners and Principals across the U.S.

Scott Merkle, SLB Capital Advisors Co-Founder and Managing Partner, has more than 20 years experience in real estate and investment banking. Prior to SLB, he was with RBC Capital Markets and Stan Johnson Company.

Matt Wrobleski, SLB Capital Advisors Co-Founder and Partner, has more than 15 years experience in M&A and corporate development. Previously he was with Leggett & Platt, Inc. and Stan Johnson Company.

Stephen Cheng, SLB Capital Advisors Co-Founder and Partner, has more than 16 years investment banking and real estate experience. Previously he was with Oppenheimer, RBC Capital Markets and Stan Johnson Company.

Malik Franklin, SLB Capital Advisors Co-Founder and Partner, has more than 15 years in real estate, healthcare and technology investment banking and five years as an advisor and independent sponsor in private equity. Previously served as CFO of First Capital REIT, and an investment banker at RBC Capital Markets, Bank of America and Salomon Smith Barney.

Stewart Riggs, SLB Capital Advisors Co-Founder and Principal, has more than 12 years of real estate and advisory experience. Prior to SLB, he was at Stan Johnson Company, LBMC and Ernst & Young.

Dave Rosenberg, CFA, SLB Capital Advisors Co-Founder and Principal, has more than 12 years of investment banking and real estate experience, focused on M&A and corporate advisory. Prior to SLB, he was at Santander, Janney Montgomery Scott and RBC Capital Markets.

About

SLB Capital Advisors is a real estate advisory firm focused on sale leaseback and M&A related real estate transactions. SLB Capital Advisors leverages its expertise in sale leasebacks and corporate finance experience to help private equity investors and corporations recognize value arbitrage opportunities, enhance returns and strengthen balance sheets. SLB Capital Advisors is headquartered in New York City with an office in Oakland, CA.

Media Contact: Company Contact: Tony DeFazio David Rosenberg DeFazio Communications SLB Capital Advisors Ph: 484-534-3306 Ph: 646-971-8681 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

SOURCE SLB Capital Advisors
By Kate Kelland, Gavin Jones and Francesco Guarascio

LONDON (Reuters) - recommended on Wednesday that AstraZeneca's COVID-19 shot only be used on those over 60 and that people under 30 should get an alternative, due to possible links between the vaccine and very rare cases of blood clots.

More than a dozen countries have at one time suspended use of the vaccine, which has been given to tens of millions in Europe. But most have resumed, with some, including France, the Netherlands and Germany, recommending a minimum age.

European Union health ministers failed to agree common guidance on the use of the shot, despite calls for coordination across member states to combat public hesitancy over a vaccine set to be a key component of many vaccination programmes.

Italy's health authority recommended that the shot only be used on people over 60 years old but said those under 60 who have taken a first shot can also take a second one.

An official in said the new advice by a government advisory group that other vaccines should be chosen for those under 30 where possible was "really out of the utmost caution, rather than because we have any serious safety concerns".

European regulators reiterated that they had found possible links between the vaccine and very rare cases of blood clots, but reaffirmed its importance in protecting people against COVID-19.

Rising infections caused by more infectious variants are threatening to overwhelm the hospitals of many EU countries - where the pace of vaccinations lags far behind and the United States - forcing France and others to reimpose lockdowns.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) received reports of 169 cases of the rare brain blood clot by early April, after 34 million doses had been administered in the European Economic Area (EEA), according to Sabine Straus, chair of the EMA's safety committee. The EEA comprises the 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

In comparison, four women out of 10,000 would get a blood clot from taking oral contraception.

In its statement, the EMA said it was reminding health professionals and recipients to remain aware of "the possibility of very rare cases of blood clots combined with low levels of blood platelets occurring within 2 weeks of vaccination".

NO NEW GUIDELINES

"So far, most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within 2 weeks of vaccination," it added.

It did not issue any new guidelines, saying European countries should make their own decisions about how to handle the risk.

AstraZeneca's shot is sold at cost, for a few dollars a dose. It is by far the cheapest and most high-volume launched so far, and has none of the extreme refrigeration requirements of some other COVID-19 vaccines, making it likely to be the mainstay of many vaccination programmes in the developing world.

In Germany, which recommended last week that people under 60 who received one shot should get a second dose of another vaccine, an official said instances of the rare clotting condition were 20 times higher in those that received the shot.

But experts say that, even if a causal link is proved, the risks of getting a serious clot are vanishingly small compared to the risks from possible COVID-19 infection, which can cause similar clots along with other serious symptoms.

"The risk of mortality from COVID is much greater than the risk of mortality from these rare side effects," said the EMA's executive director, Emer Cooke.

BENEFITS OUTWEIGH RISKS

Nevertheless, AstraZeneca's shares were down 1.2% at a two-week low.

The shot has faced questions since late last year, when the drugmaker and Oxford University published trial data with two different efficacy readings as a result of a dosing error.

The head of Britain's medicines regulator, June Raine, said the benefits outweighed the risks for the vast majority but were more balanced for younger people - for whom the risks from infection are, on average, lower.

Wei Shen Lim, COVID-19 chair for Britain's advisory Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation, said it was preferable for adults under 30 with no underlying health conditions to be offered another vaccine.

said it was working with the British and European regulators to list possible brain blood clots as "an extremely rare potential side effect".

Among possible causes for the rare cerebral sinous vein clots being investigated are that the vaccine triggers an unusual antibody in rare cases or a possible link with birth control pills. But there is no definitive evidence.

Andreas Greinacher, a scientist from Germany's Greifswald University said his work indicates that neither birth control nor having a clotting factor mutation plays any role.

Many experts say it is not clear whether or why AstraZeneca's vaccine would cause a problem not shared by other vaccines that target a similar part of the virus.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio, Kate Kelland, Alistair Smout, John Miller, Toby Sterling, Bart Meijer, Anthony Deutsch, Pushkala Aripaka, Stephane Nebehay and Josephine Mason; Writing by Nick Macfie and Philippa Fletcher; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Peter Cooney)

(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 first batch of 15,000 doses of Russias Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine has been delivered to Armenia, Russian Embassy Counselor Pavel Kurochkin said.

"Today, we have met the first batch of the Sputnik V vaccine purchased by Armenia at Zvartnots Airport together with the leadership of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention of Armenias Health Ministry. These are 15,000 vaccine doses, which, as far as I understand, will be used to inoculate the population groups at risk. This is a continuation of a large-scale support provided by the Russian Federation to Armenia," the office of Russias Federal Agency for CIS Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation in Armenia quotes Kurochkin as saying.

According to the latest data, the number of infected people in Armenia has reached 198,898, 3,647 people have died from COVID-19 complications, TASS reported.
An attorney for jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny says the Kremlin critic has two herniated disks in his back and has started to lose feeling in his hands.



Olga Mikhailova told the Dozhd television channel that Navalny has refused the prison paramedics prescription of the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac and a nicotinic acid -- remedies that she said have not been used in medicine for 30 years.



Navalny, 44, has complained of severe back pain and leg numbness for nearly three weeks, his allies have said. He had an MRI scan on March 24, and prison authorities told the Interfax news agency the next day that his condition was deemed stable, satisfactory.



Navalny, who fell critically ill last August after a poison attack that his doctors say he has yet to fully recover from, relayed the result of the MRI scan to his attorneys during their visit on April 7, and Mikhailova said they show he has two herniated disks and a bulging disk.



She added that Navalnys high fever has subsided since he was moved to the prison sick ward on April 5 with symptoms of a respiratory illness. He still has a cough, she said.



An initial test for exposure to coronavirus came back negative, Mikhailova said, but the results from a second test have yet to be given to Navalny.



Mikhailova also said Navalnys condition may have been exacerbated by the poor medical care provided to him in the prison colony, one of Russia's most notorious. She said she believed that prison authorities were afraid that a visiting specialist would show that their awful treatment led to the deterioration in his health.

Mikhailova and Vadim Kobzev, another member of Navalny's legal team, confirmed that Navalny remained in the medical unit of the colony.



"Aleksei walks by himself. Feels pain when walking. A very disturbing factor is that the disease is clearly progressing in terms of loss of sensitivity in the legs, palms, and hands," he wrote on Twitter.



Navalny declared a hunger strike last week, raising even more concerns about his overall health. He is losing about 1 kilogram a day, Kobzev said.

On April 6, Anastasia Vasilyeva, Navalny's personal doctor, who is the head of the Alliance of Doctors union, was rebuffed by prison officials in her efforts to see her patient in the correctional colony in the Vladimir region, some 100 kilometers from Moscow. She was later detained outside the prison, along with at least nine other supporters.

Vasilyeva and most of the Navalny supporters were released after several hours, but on April 8, a local court in the Vladimir region sentenced four of the detained supporters of Navalny to several days in jail. The former leader of Navalny's team in the Siberian city of Kemerovo, Ksenia Pakhomova, was sentenced to nine days in jail, while representatives of the Alliance of Doctors union -- Aleksandr Generalov, Artyom Boriskin, and Valeria Merkulova -- were handed eight-day jail terms each.

Navalnys imprisonment set off a wave of national protests and, in turn, a violent police crackdown against his supporters.

The European Union, the United States, and Canada imposed a series of sanctions against Russia over the Navalny poisoning, his jailing, and the treatment of protesters by security forces.

"We are worried by reports that Mr Navalnys health in the penal colony continues to deteriorate," Nabila Massrali, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, said in a written statement on April 8.

"The EU calls on the Russian authorities to grant Mr Navalny immediate access to medical professionals he trusts. The EU will continue to call for Aleksei Navalnys immediate and unconditional release as we consider his sentencing politically motivated and running counter to Russias international human rights obligations. The EU will continue to call on the Russian Federation to urgently investigate the assassination attempt through poisoning on Mr Navalny in full transparency and without further delay, and to fully cooperate with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to ensure an impartial international investigation," she added.

The White House said on April 7 it is "disturbed" by reports that Navalny's health is deteriorating, and urged Russian authorities to ensure his safety and health.



"So long as he is in prison, the Russian government is responsible for his health and well-being," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.



The White House also reiterated that it considers Navalny's imprisonment "politically motivated and a gross injustice," and urged Russian authorities to "take all necessary actions to ensure his safety."

Navalnys health condition is potentially precarious because of his exposure to a nerve-agent last August in Siberia. He has accused President Vladimir Putin of ordering security agents to assassinate him, something the Kremlin denies.

He was imprisoned after returning to Russia in January from his recuperation in Germany.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Navalny would receive the necessary medical care but no preferential treatment.



A lawyer who has gained wide popularity for his investigations into official corruption and his slashing wit, Navalny was arrested at a Moscow airport in January on charges of violating his parole, sparking large-scale protests.



A Moscow court found him guilty of violating the terms of his parole from an older embezzlement case that the European Court of Human Rights in 2017 ruled was "unfair." His 3 1/2 year suspended sentenced was converted to prison time.

With reporting by TASS, Reuters, AFP, The Washington Post, The Guardian, RFE/RL's Russian Service, and Idel.Realities.
Strong involvement of individual investors and participation of new foreign fund would help offset the net selling trend of foreign investors.

Vietnams benchmark Vn-Index could reach its all-time high of 1,300 points in April, with new foreign cash flows and domestic individuals as key market drivers.

The new capital inflow would help offset the net selling trend of foreign investors, said the Viet Dragon Securities Company (VDSC) in its monthly report.

According to the VDSC, the stock market in April will maintain their upward movement from March, with the Vn-Index ending the month with a gain of 1.23% month-on-month to 1,191.44.

Capital inflow pumped by foreign funds and domestic investors, along with positive business performance outlook in banking stocks are two main catalysts. However, inherent risk would be the unsolved issue of overloaded trading system in short-term, stated the report.

In the past year, foreign investors maintained net selling position with large value of VND29.3 trillion (US$1.27 billion).

However, we did not recognize it as considerable risk thanks to the strong involvement of individual investors and participation of new foreign fund, stated the VDSC.

On March, the new ETFs from Taiwan - Fubon FTSE Vietnam ETF by Fubon Financial Holdings was established. A few days later, Fubon FTSE Vietnam ETF conducted an IPO and raised TWD5.28 billion (US$185.3 million), while planning to mobilize further TWD10 billion (US$350.8 million) to invest in Vietnam stocks.

As this fund uses the base of FTSE Vietnam 30 Index, it is expected to supplement new inflows to VN30 group and possibly uplift the market, said the VDSC.

Banks to serve as main driving force supporting the market in April

VDSCs report predicted the growth of banks profit-before-tax (PBT) to be 26% in 2021. The performance of the banking sector in the first quarter was even more optimistic with the three-digit growth of 115% in PBT thanks to the contribution of non-interest income, and negative growth in provision costs.

Therefore, VN-Index would be likely to go further with the force from banking stocks, it added.

In April, one significant event will be the review of ETFs benchmarked VN30, VN Finlead and VN Diamond. In this restructuring period, banking stocks including ACB, EIB, MSB and VIB are expected to benefit from VN Diamond ETF Fund's cash flow when they meet the conditions to be added to the index basket.

Local investors at a securities center in Hanoi. Photo: Viet Linh

Picky approach is prioritized when VN-Index surpassed 1,200 points

After the end of annual general meeting (AGM) season, market would fall into information scarcity time. Therefore, the driving force of the market in the end of April and May may not be the same and the market could be subject to correction, especially when the issue of trading system has not been fully solved.

The report urged investors to adopt a bottom-up approach and focus on stocks having better than expected result in 2021.

At the close today [April 6], the Vn-Index rose by 0.32% or 3.91 points to 1,239.96, with foreign investors being net buyers of VND21 billion (US$910,000) on the market.

Hanoitimes
New Delhi, April 8 : Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the fuel prices and said that he should also discuss it and not just the exams.

"Getting your vehicle refueled is no less than an exam due to higher central government taxes, then why the Prime Minister does not discuss it? Discussions should be held on the issue of expenses too," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

His swipe came a day after Prime Minister Modi held discussions with students over exams.

The prices of petrol and diesel have hit the common man in the country. Even after the reduction in the prices of crude oil in last eight days the prices of diesel and petrol have remained unchanged.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A trip Matt Gaetz allegedly took to the Bahamas with a marijuana entrepreneur over two years ago is reportedly being scrutinized by federal officials investigating sex trafficking allegations against the Florida congressman.

CBS News reported the development on Wednesday, citing multiple sources with knowledge of the Justice Department's investigation of Gaetz.

The sources said Gaetz took the trip to the Bahamas with Dr Jason Pirozzolo, a hand surgeon and co-founder of The American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association (AMMPA), in late 2018 or early 2019.

Pirozzolo footed the bill for the travel expenses and accommodations - as well as female escorts, the sources said.

Investigators are allegedly looking into whether the escorts were illegally trafficked across state or international lines for the purpose of having sex with Gaetz.

A trip Matt Gaetz (left) allegedly took to the Bahamas with a marijuana entrepreneur Jason Pirozzolo (right) over two years ago is reportedly being scrutinized by federal officials investigating sex trafficking allegations against the Florida congressman

Dr Jason Pirozzolo (right) is a hand surgeon and co-founder of The American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association. He is pictured with his partner at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' State of the State address in 2019

Gaetz, a Republican congressman from Florida, is pictured with his fiancee Ginger Luckey

'Traveling across state lines is what creates a federal hook for a prosecution,' Arlo Devlin-Brown, a former prosecutor and partner at Covington & Burling, told CBS.

'It doesn't matter that [Gaetz] personally paid them as long as he knows someone is doing that.'

Investigators are also working to determine whether Gaetz accepted the escorts in exchange for political access or legislative favors, the sources said.

'If there's evidence of a quid pro quo that the congressman was provided with benefits in return for him sponsoring some legislation that's of interest to the donor, that's a federal crime,' Devlin-Brown said.

Pirozzolo spoke about his ties to Gaetz in a July 2018 Ganjapreneur podcast, where he said he was working with the congressman to draw up federal legislation to bolster medical research of cannabis.

'Congressman Matt Gaetz is in the process of working on legislation up in Washington, DC, that will help facilitate research on the nationwide level. And we should see a lot of good benefit from them,' Pirozzolo said.

The podcast came three months after Gaetz introduced the Medical Cannabis Research Act in Congress. He introduced the bill again in January 2019, but both times it was not brought to a vote.

Gaetz was a speaker at two conferences hosted by AMMPA, the organization Pirozzolo founded and serves as chairman of the board.

The first conference Gaetz spoke at in October 2017 was followed immediately by a fundraiser for his congressional campaign, according to the Central Florida Post. The second conference was in May 2018.

FEC records show that Pirozzolo made two separate $1,000 donations to Gaetz' campaign in 2016 and 2017.

Gaetz is seen speaking at an American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association conference in May 2018. Pirozzolo is a co-founder and chairman of the association

Pirozzolo is pictured (right) at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' inauguration in 2019

Pirozzolo (left) is pictured meeting Donald Trump by Air Force One in Orlando in 2019

Reports of the investigators' interest in the Bahamas trip came as Gaetz was already facing a string of lurid allegations, including claims he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, was involved in a Harry Potter-themed sex game, paid for sex using Apple Pay and showed Congressional colleagues on the House floor photos of naked women.

The Florida Republican has denied all allegations and gone on the offense, rapidly responding to the hits and appearing on conservative news networks to claim he's the victim of a conspiracy.

He claims he was targeted in an extortion plot involving former Justice Department official David McGee, who was trying to extort $25million from his family to help rescue American hostage Robert Levinson from Iran. McGee denied Gaetz's charge.

As with the previous allegations, Gaetz' office denied the claims in the CBS report about the Bahamas trip.

'Rep. Gaetz has never paid for sex, nor has he had sex with an underage girl,' a spokesperson for the congressman said.

'What began with blaring headlines about "sex trafficking" has now turned into a general fishing exercise about vacations and consensual relationships with adults.

'Yesterday, we even learned of some nonsense "pardon" story that turned out to be false, and today it's just more euphemism.

'It's interesting to watch the Washington wheels grinding so hard every time one of their falsehoods gets knocked down.'

Donald Trump on Wednesday said Gaetz 'never' asked him for a pardon and offered a tepid defense of the embattled Florida Republican

Trump insists Gaetz 'never' asked him for a pardon and says 'remember he has denied the accusations' in first statement on GOP Rep's sex scandal

TIMELINE OF THE GAETZ SAGA MARCH 30: The New York Times reports that Gaetz is under investigation for a sexual relationship with an underage girl. Details are sparse but the relationship is said to have happened two years ago. Gaetz went on Tucker Carlson's FOX News show that night to deny the allegations and claim he was the victim of an extortion plot. He names David McGee as a DoJ official who is extorting him. McGee denies it. MARCH 31: Gaetz's father Don tells Politico that the extortion plot is real and that he was working with his son and the FBI to expose it APRIL 1: Texts emerge to support Gaetz's claim that he was being extorted and they introduce a new element to the saga - that the extortion plot was part of a ruse to rescue American hostage Robert Levinson from Iran. WHO'S WHO Rep Matt Gaetz Gaetz, 38, is the representative for Florida's 1st congressional district. He is a Trump ally who has ties to Roger Stone and he's been known to fan the flames of controversy in the past. He has DUI convictions, has been accused of inciting violence on Twitter and claimed that facial recognition technology proved some of the January 6 Capitol rioters were not Trump fans, but 'antifa' masquerading as them. Don Gaetz Gaetz's father who was a well-liked Senator. He sold his company with his partners for $406million in 2004. They had founded VITAS Healthcare in the 1980s. He was a senator for ten years from 2006 until 2016. David McGee McGee was a prosecutor with the Department of Justice but he is now a private practice attorney. According to his bio on his law firm's website, he spent six years as the First Assistant at the United States Attorneys Office and for seven years as the Lead Attorney for a United States Department of Justice Organized Crime Task Force. Bob Kent Kent is an Air Force intelligence officer whose involvement in the alleged plot was only revealed on Wednesday night through the texts. Robert Levinson Levinson spent 22 years working for the FBI before he vanished in Iran in 2007. The government claimed they knew nothing about it but later admitted he had been working there for the CIA. The last time he was seen alive was in 2011, when he appeared in proof of life photos. His family say that this month, they were given reason to believe he was dead. Advertisement

Donald Trump on Wednesday issued his first statement on Matt Gaetz, saying the embattled congressman 'never' asked him for a pardon.

The former president also offered a tepid defense of Gaetz, pointing out the Florida Republican has 'totally denied' the accusations against him, including that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl.

'Congressman Matt Gaetz has never asked me for a pardon,' Trump said in his statement. 'It must also be remembered that he has totally denied the accusations against him.'

Trump was commenting on a report in The New York Times that claimed Gaetz asked officials in the White House for a 'blanket' pardon for himself and his congressional allies for any crimes they may have committed, just months before he was revealed to be under federal investigation for sex trafficking.

Gaetz will speak this weekend at a conference being held at Trump's Doral golf club and resort near Miami.

The 'Save America Summit' is being organized by Women for America First, the same organization that paid for the federal permit for the Jan. 6 'Save America' rally outside the White House that ended with thousands of people storming the U.S. Capitol.

Gaetz, on Tuesday, tweeted confirmation of his appearance at the conference.

It will be the congressman's first public appearance since news of the federal investigation broke.

Meanwhile, two sources with knowledge of the situation told the New York Times that Gaetz, one of Trump's fiercest defenders, approached the White House with the extraordinary request in his final weeks in office.

Aides told the president of Gaetz's request but it was unclear if the two men ever had a direct conversation about it.

It came as investigators with the Department of Justice began questioning Gaetz' associates about allegations against him, including that he'd had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, according to the newspaper.

The Times noted that it is unclear whether Gaetz or the White House knew about the DOJ investigation at the time that he approached Trump, as the sources said he did not make any mention of allegations when making the request.

Some Trump associates have now begun to speculate that Gaetz made his request for a group pardon because he knew of the trouble heading his way, the Times reported.

Gaetz in November had publicly called for Trump to issue blanket pardons for all of his allies - including himself - to protect from the 'bloodlust' of political opponents.

'President Trump should pardon Michael Flynn. He should pardon the Thanksgiving turkey. He should pardon everyone from himself to his administration officials to Joe Exotic if he has to,' Gaetz told Fox News.

'You see from the radical left a bloodlust that will only be quenched if they come after the people who worked so hard to animate the Trump administration with the policies and the vigor and the effectiveness that delivered for the American people.'

Trump ultimately issued 116 pardons in his last month in office, but none of them were pre-emptive, even though he technically had the power to do so.

Approached by the Times this week, a spokesperson for Gaetz denied that he had privately asked Trump for a pardon.

'Entry-level political operatives have conflated a pardon call from Representative Gaetz  where he called for President Trump to pardon 'everyone from himself, to his administration, to Joe Exotic'  with these false and increasingly bizarre, partisan allegations against him,' the spokesperson said.

'Those comments have been on the record for some time, and President Trump even retweeted the congressman, who tweeted them out himself.'
Shortly after completing the Welcome 2 America album, Prince embarked on a tour of the same name that included multiple performances in several U.S. cities, capped off by the historic 21 Nite Stand at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The Deluxe Edition of Welcome 2 America includes the complete studio vault album on both CD and black vinyl (accompanied with a hi-res digital download) plus a never-before-released full concert video of Princes April 28, 2011 show at The Forum. All vinyl editions will have music on three sides with a collectible etching on the fourth side. In addition, there will be two special color variant vinyl editions of the album - gold vinyl available exclusively from the official Prince store and clear vinyl from Target.
Photo: The Canadian Press The Montreal Police logo is seen on a police car in Montreal on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

A 44-year-old man arrested for allegedly uttering death threats to a woman of Asian origin on Montreal's subway system is due back in court April 14, police said Thursday.

The victim, a 29-year-old woman, was in a metro car on March 27 when the suspect allegedly approached her. The suspect, who was arrested April 3, allegedly tried to intimidate her, insulted her and made racist remarks, police said.

Police said the victim filmed the incident on her cellphone, which they said angered the suspect, who then gestured like he was pointing a gun and made the sound of a gunshot.

Const. Jean-Pierre Brabant said in an interview Thursday the suspect appeared in court April 4 and faces charges of criminal harassment and uttering threats. The suspect remains detained, Brabant said, adding that he is due in court April 14.

Police said investigators from the hate crimes unit worked with members of the Asian community to identify the victim, adding that with her help, the suspect was identified and arrested.

Brabant said police have reason to believe the suspect may have committed similar acts toward other people of Asian origin and to people of other ethnicities. Police are asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim of the suspect to come forward.
A retired Union County police sergeant was indicted by a Somerset County Grand Jury on several new charges stemming from an alleged drunk driving crash last summer in Raritan Borough that left a 60-year-old woman dead, authorities announced Wednesday.

Kevin D. Betyeman, 56, of Bridgewater Township, was charged with reckless vehicular homicide, strict liability vehicular homicide and two charges of hindering apprehension or prosecution, according to a joint statement from the Somerset County Prosecutors Office and the Raritan Borough Police Department.

The crash happened on Sept. 18, 2020 when Betyeman was driving a a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado east on Old York Road and fatally struck Celeste Andresen, 60, of San Manuel, Arizona, police said.

Andresen was using a well-marked crosswalk as she attempted to cross the road near Woodmere Street when she was hit, the office said.

Betyemans blood-alcohol concentration was above the legal limit of .08% several hours after the collision, police said. The two counts of hindering apprehension are based on allegations that he denied having anything to drink before the crash, police said.

He was arrested the day of the crash and was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving and failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, authorities said at the time.

Happy Retirement Sgt Kevin Betyeman. Thank you for your 25 years of service. The pleasure has been all ours. We'll take it from here sir! Posted by Mountainside Police Department on Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Betyeman is a former police sergeant who worked until recently for the Mountainside Police Department in Union County. He retired in July 2019 after 25 years of service, according to the police departments social media pages.

Hes retired (and) were really not going to comment further, Mountainside Police Chief Joseph Giannuzzi told NJ Advance Media last year.

It was not immediately clear if Betyeman had an attorney representing him.

During his time with the Mountainside Police Department, Betyeman received commendations for work in solving crimes, according to news clips.

In 2005, Betyeman was one of several officers who received a certificate of recognition for helping to arrest three people wanted for stealing vehicles. In 2017, he received a commendation for his role in the arrest of a burglary suspect.

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.
Governor Anyang Nyong'o has requested the traffic police department in Kisumu to urgently investigate why the Nyamasaria flyover on the Nairobi-Kisumu highway has become a blackspot.

This comes after an accident at the spot claimed three lives on Wednesday.

Three people died in the grisly road accident involving a truck ferrying sugarcane, which veered off a flyover and landed almost 20 metres down, crushing two saloon vehicles.

The driver of the lorry and a passenger died on the spot in the noon accident that happened at the Kachok interchange in Nyamasaria.

The truck was transporting sugarcane from a yard in Awasi to a sugar factory for milling.

According to Kisumu County Commander Mr Samuel Anampiu, while the driver of the truck died on the spot, the two other occupants succumbed to injuries on their way to the hospital.

The tragic accident left two stationary vehicles, which were at a makeshift carwash below the fly-over, destroyed. Luckily, there were no occupants in the two vehicles.

Steep hill

A witness, Mr Bernard Otieno, said the truck approached the steep hill at a high speed making it difficult for the driver to control it.

"It was at this point that the truck hit the barrier walls toppling over it and crushing with a thud several feet below," said Mr Otieno.

Some men who wash vehicles a few meters below the flyover had to scamper to safety as the truck came down, crushing two of the vehicles that they were cleaning.

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It is not the first time such a truck toppled down from the flyover. In 2016, three people died at the same spot in a similar accident.

Residents are now questioning why there are no guard rails to prevent such incidences.

"It is not only limited to such trucks. We have also seen motorcycle operators hit the wall and fall off the fly-over," said Mr Otieno.

They asked Governor Nyong'o to review his earlier directives barring heavy trucks from the Central Business District and forcing them to use the fly-over as an alternative route.

"The flyover is very narrow to accommodate the trucks. Its winding nature makes it difficult for the truck drivers to negotiate corners," said Oscar Odhiambo, a resident.

The bodies of the deceased were taken to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and referral hospital morgue.

The lorry and the two damaged cars were towed to Nyamasaria police station.

Governor Nyong'o, in a message of condolence to the bereaved families, said the area has become a black spot, especially for cane hauling trucks, hence the need for traffic officers to establish the cause.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Igor Morgulov has presented Russias Order of Friendship to Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh in recognition of his contributions to promoting the relations between the two countries.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Igor Morgulov confers the Order of Friendship on Ambassador Ngo Duc Manh.

The Order was conferred under decree #182 signed on March 29 by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This is the first time the Russian President has presented the honour to a Vietnamese diplomat, said Morgulov at the awards ceremony held on April 6.

Morgulov noted that during Manhs working term both Russia and Vietnam have maintained reciprocal visit exchanges and increased bilateral cooperation in various areas, especially in economics and trade, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For his part, Ambassador Ngo Duc Manh thanked Russian leaders, organizations, partners and friends for their support and assistance, which he said helped him perform his duty well during the term. He expressed his belief in the promising future of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia in the coming years.

The same day, Ambassador Manh bid farewell to Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party of Russia (KPRF) at its headquarters in the State Duma.

Zyuganov congratulated Manh on the successful completion of his term, and affirmed the KPRF always attaches importance to and stands should to shoulder with the Communist Party of Vietnam to overcome difficulties in all circumstances.

The KPRF leader awarded the Vietnamese diplomat the Order of Lenin, the KPRFs noble award to those who have made important contributions to the Partys activities.

Ambassador Manh presented the KPRF leader a book featuring 70 years of Vietnam-Russia diplomacy compiled by the diplomat.

VOV

ASEAN Week 2020 promotes ASEAN-Russia cooperation The ASEAN Week 2020, with a series of cultural, scientific and educational events, concluded on December 11, helping to strengthen ASEAN-Russia exchanges and cooperation.
Dar es Salaam  A former Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) Director General, Dr Edward Hoseah, yesterday promised to fight for the rule of law if elected to become the next President of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS).

Dr Hoseah also said that, if elected TLS President, he will focus on building good relations between the law society and all government organs and the general public, while prioritising those with special needs within the rule of law. The former anti-graft chief also plans to reduce fees for new members from the current Sh600,000 to Sh400,000, saying the former were too high for lawyers who are fresh from college. He would also introduce insurance for members - and fight all repressive laws.

Dr Hoseah - who was dropped from PCCB by the late President John Magufuli in 2016 due to what the latter described as slow pace of the fight against graft - is set to face four other contesters at the ballot box on April 16 and 17 this year.

Speaking in an exclusive interview at Mwananchi Communications Ltd (MCL) headquarters yesterday, Dr Hoseah said that - based on his experience in government and all the positions he has held elsewhere - he believes the current environment, which is full of legal challenges, needs someone of his calibre.

"I have decided to run for this position not because I need to be paid or elevated further. My motivation is to serve the community.

TLS needs someone who is experienced and able to deal with the axis of Parliament, Government and the Judiciary," he said.

"I'm not saying the previous ones were incapable... But I have also been asked to provide my services to my fellow lawyers so that we can defend the rule of law in the country," Dr Hoseah explained. Before leaving PCCB - which he had led the for nine years - the man believed in the two ways to defend the rule of law: Parliament to review the relevant laws, and Courts.

"I would prefer not to use Courts first by persuading Parliament to, among other things, revisit all suppressive laws. It's all about being able to persuade," said Dr Hoseah.

Referring to his ouster from the PCCB, Dr Hoseah - who previously had served as its director of Investigations for almost a decade - said he was not fired by President Magufuli.

It was actually the result of a new leader organizing his own leadership squad," he said...
FoxP2 ranks as number 1 agency two years running For the second year in a row, FoxP2 has been ranked as South Africa's most creative agency on the medium-sized agency list, according to the Loeries Official Rankings 2020...

Sello Leshope

Leshope joins FoxP2 from Ogilvy Africa where he was previously the regional strategic planning director for the group and deputy managing partner and head of strategy for Geometry, its shopper marketing agency.FoxP2 was recently ranked as South Africas most creative medium-sized agency on the Loeries Official Rankings 2020 for the second year running."I'm excited to join FoxP2 and be part of their narrative, said Leshope. I've always admired them for their remarkable creative work but its been amazing to see them mature into the well-balanced powerhouse they are today while not only retaining, but sharpening their creative edge.Joining them is an honor because it's not just a job, its about being part of a living legacy, especially when your partners are the founders of the business," he said.As the most effective creative agency in South Africa, according to Scopen, our fierce belief in powerful insights that can transform business and unlock consumer attention is why we're hiring someone who's the real deal, said FoxP2 creative partner and MD Grant Jacobsen.Someone whose view on our industry is progressive and whose talent is razor sharp. Someone who knows how to find the narrative in the data and exploit the gap in the market. Someone who is as comfortable sparring with Grant Sithole as our executive creative director, as he is holding a boardroom full of CEOs. Someone whose experience across both decades and the continent tempers his passion with wisdom and pragmatism. Sello is that someone, Jacobsen said.Leshopes experience as lead of a cross-functional strategy team overseeing disciplines including shopper, brand, digital and consumer insights across multiple markets and categories is impressive.A specialist in brand, shopper, trade, customer experience and behavioral change disciplines and campaigns, he has worked on global and regional campaigns in financial services, FMCG, retail and telco. sectors as well as on social campaigns addressing gender-based violence, malnutrition, HIV/Aids and Covid-19.Not only has Leshope worked on a number of single-market blue-chip accounts such as, SABMiller, Diageo, Distell, Unilever, British American Tobacco South Africa, Volkswagen South Africa, Safaricom, WWF Kenya, Mondelez, P&G, Old Mutual South Africa and Capfin, his regional planning experience includes a multi-market portfolio across East, West, Central, Southern Africa and Francophone Islands, working on Coca Cola, Airtel, British American Tobacco East Africa, NCBA Bank, Ecobank, Hygiene and Behaviour Change Coalition (HBCC), PSI (Population Services International) as well as Africa CDC amongst others.
Shooting of kangaroos has sparked fears of eradication of the species. (Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Growing Push to Save Kangaroos on Death Row

Victorias plan to cull 17,250 kangaroos after population numbers grew by 40 percent has led environmental groups to fear that it could eradicate the animals in Victoria.

The cull has also placed agricultural and environmentalist groups at odds with the farmers regarding kangaroos mobs as agricultural pests.

Victorian orchard owner Gary Katerelos said kangaroos are a nuisance to farmers on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and a threat to his livelihood.

Early shoots from grapevines are eaten; apples are taken off trees and discarded after a few bites, Katerelos told Southern Peninsula News. Trees are damaged as they attempt to pull fruit from them, and they can strip a pear tree of most fruit in a week, he added.

However, many environmentalists argue that the beloved Australian marsupial ought to be protected, with animal rights groups pushing Victorian lawmakers for the wild population of eastern grey kangaroos on the Mornington Peninsula to be saved from being culled.

The Kangaroo is the only large animal that hops to get from place to place. (Fred J. Eckert)

Peter Hyland, president of the Australian Wildlife Protection Council (APWC), wrote in an article for the councils website in November 2020 that despite dire environmental conditions, including vast scale bushfires, the Victorian state government is still allowing the killing of Australias wildlife in Victoria.

Permits to kill Kangaroos on a very large scale have been issued across Victorias regions (including Central Victoria), and populations are declining rapidly, region by region, as remaining populations are targeted by commercial and non-commercial shooting activities, Hyland said.

As is the case for the rest of Australia, the Victorian Government Kangaroo population estimates are exaggerated, he said

This means that commercial quotas are most often not met (because the Kangaroos are not there in the numbers stated) and in at least one case in Victoria, and for one species of Kangaroo (it is now coming close to being more than one species), the number of permits being issued and the number of animals covered by these permits is likely to exceed their entire state population for that species.

Nevertheless, the Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning (DELWP) considers controlling kangaroo numbers humane and ecologically sustainable, saying their numbers have significantly risen in recent years.

The latest statistics show the states eastern grey kangaroo numbers had increased by 40 percent since 2018, according to Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research.

The Victorian Farmers Federation also considers kangaroos an invasive animal, and the group continued to lobby for increased harvest quotas for overabundant populations of kangaroos in its 2019-2020 annual report (pdf).

Federations president Emma Germano said that the high kangaroo numbers impacted the agriculture sector, preventing the two from co-existing sustainably.

People have to understand in some areas kangaroos are in plague proportions, she told The Age.
HelioCampus, a technology-enabled services company that provides colleges and universities with the decision support services they need to operate more strategically and sustainably, has entered into a partnership with North Carolina A&T University (NC A&T). HelioCampus originally partnered with the University of North Carolina System office in 2017 to provide a new model for how a state system and all constituent campuses can work together on data initiatives. Since that time, their partnership with the system office has grown, as well as its relationship with individual campuses, including NC A&T.

HelioCampus is partnering with NC A&T to provide business intelligence and analytics capabilities to make consistent and effective use of data to assist institutional leadership with strategic and tactical decision making. HelioCampus data scientists are working in tandem with the NC A&T Student Success and Academic Support teams to provide support for student retention and graduation initiatives and programs on campus. In response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the move to online instruction, NC A&T was one of the first institutions to make effective use of Learning Management System data through HelioCampus, to assist with providing students the support they needed during the transition to ensure success

NC A&T is dedicated to the success of its students. We recognize not only the value of using data effectively to achieve this but also that, by partnering with HelioCampus, we can accelerate our ability to make a difference more quickly with predictive analytics and decision support, said Dr. Regina Davis, Assistant Provost for Student Success and Academic Support.

HelioCampus is honored to be working with the NC A&T team. Its always great to partner with an institution that recognizes the importance of leveraging data to the greatest extent possible to identify programs and approaches to advance student success, said HelioCampus CEO, Darren Catalano.

For more information about HelioCampus, visit http://www.heliocampus.com. To see the HelioCampus platform in action schedule a demo here: https://www.heliocampus.com/heliocampus-demo-request

About HelioCampus

HelioCampus accelerates the path to financial sustainability by enabling institutional transformation and helping institutions deliver on their mission. With data from every corner of campus, HelioCampus provides strategic decision support and insights for institutions to drive student success and grow revenue, maximize returns of academic programs and manage costs & streamline operations through an enterprise analytics platform and ongoing services.

Originated within the University System of Maryland and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, HelioCampus offers a unique perspective on using data to facilitate meaningful conversations that spur action, leading to greater institutional health and performance.

For more information about HelioCampus visit http://www.heliocampus.com or follow them on Twitter.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning against all travel to Canada due to the '"current situation" in the country.

The United States CDC issued a Level 4 or "very high" warning against all travel to Canada, stating: "Because of the current situation in Canada even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants."

If they must travel to Canada, U.S. residents are advised to "get fully vaccinated before travel." Further, all travellers are instructed to wear a mask, stay six feet from others, avoid crowds, and wash their hands.

The advisory also notes that there is a "very high level of COVID-19 in Canada."

Travel Health Notices in the United States

The United States CDC uses Travel Health Notices to alert travellers and other audiences to health threats around the world and advise on how to protect themselves.

The 4-level system categorizes destinations, including international destinations and United States Territories, into the following levels:

Level 4: Very high level of COVID-19. Travellers should avoid all travel to these destinations.

Level 3: High level of COVID-19. Travellers should avoid all nonessential travel to these destinations.

Level 2: Moderate level of COVID-19. Travellers at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should avoid all nonessential travel to these destinations.

Level 1: Low level of COVID-19. All travellers should wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet/2 meters from people who are not from your travel group, avoid crowds, wash their hands often or use hand sanitizer, and watch their health for signs of illness.

The CDC uses COVID-19 data reported by the World Health Organization and other official sources to make determinations about THN levels. If a destination does not provide data, their THN level is designated as unknown and travellers are advised to follow THN Level 4 recommendations.
After an 11-year-old girl was found dead by California police last month, authorities are now accusing her father and stepmother of torture and child abuse.

The girls father, Rene Diaz, 30, and stepmother, Crystal Diaz, 29, have been charged with torture, mayhem and four counts of child abuse dating back to November 2020, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorneys office.

The girl, whose name hasnt been released and is referred to as Jane Doe in court documents, was found dead on March 23 after paramedics were called to a home in Rodeo , located in the San Francisco Bay area, The Mercury News reported.

The Contra Costa Sheriffs office has conducted an autopsy and is still determining how she died, prosecutors said, according to the publication.

The couple is accused of causing permanent disability and disfigurement and deprivation of a limb, organ and body member to the girl. Authorities said the girl was subjected to torture with the intent to cause cruel and extreme pain and suffering.

Both Rene and Crystal Diaz are being held on $1.4 million bail, district attorney spokesperson Scott Alonso told McClatchy News. Theyre scheduled to appear in court on April 14.
Guwahati, April 8 : In all, 41 political parties, including seven national parties, put up candidates in the recently concluded three-phase elections to the 126-member Assam assembly, five more than the 36 outfits that contested the previous polls in 2016.

Out of the eight national political parties in India, only Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) headed by former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati did not field any candidate in Assam elections, which ended on April 6.

Three allies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) -- the Janata Dal (United), National People's Party (NPP) and Republican Party of India (Athawale) -- had fielded 33, 11 and seven candidates, respectively, against the nominees of dominant party the BJP.

The Janata Dal (United) is led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while Union minister Ramdas Athawale heads the Republican Party of India (Athawale). The NPP is under the command of the Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad A. Sangma.

The RPI (Athawale) fielded 26-year-old Krishnamani Das from the Patacharkuchi Assembly constituency against Assam state BJP chief Ranjeet Kumar Dass.

The candidates of two local parties with their political base among the indigenous people -- Rabha Joutho Mancha and Anchalik Gana Mancha -- contested the elections under the symbols of the BJP and the Congress, respectively.

Jailed activist and prominent peasant leader Akhil Gogoi and other candidates of his party, Raijor Dal, fought the elections as Independents.

According to Election Commission data, few prominent and registered unrecognised parties that contested the 2016 polls skipped this year's elections.

These parties include the Shiv Sena, Indian Union Muslim League, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, Bharat Vikas Morcha, Jharkhand Disom Party, Jai Maha Barath Party, Jan Congress Party and Rashtriya Pragati Party.

The spaces of these parties were, however, apparently managed by some little known outfits -- Asom Jana Morcha, Bahujan Maha Party, Bharatiya Tribal Party, National Republican Congress, Political Justice Party, Rashtriya Ulama Council, Swarna Bharat Party and Voters' Party International.

Political commentator Sushanta Talukdar said that to raise the local and regional issues vigorously, more local and regional parties contested the elections this time.

"Maintaining the multi-lingual and multi-ethnic character of Assam, more numbers of regional and local parties joined the electoral battle this time," Talukdar, the editor of multi-lingual online portal 'nezine', told IANS.

BJP ally and Bihar's ruling party Janata Dal (United) campaigned this time against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act passed by the NDA government.

"We are in line with those opposing the CAA in the state," said Assam JD-U President David Rongpi, adding that they are hopeful of winning 28 seats in the Assembly elections.

After the Bodoland Territorial Council polls in December last year, the BJP had forged an alliance with two local parties -- United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) and Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) -- discarding its old ally Bodoland People's Front (BPF). The AGP is the BJP's second important ally.

During the last Assembly elections in 2016, the BJP had allied with AGP and BPF, which have three ministers in the Assam Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

Similarly, to take on the ruling BJP in the elections, the Congress, which governed Assam for 15 consecutive years (2001-2016), formed a 10-party 'Mahajot' (grand alliance) with three Left parties -- CPI (M), CPI and CPI (ML) -- and six regional and local parties -- All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the Anchalik Gana Morcha, BPF, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Jimochayan (Deori) People's Party and Adivasi National Party.

The results of the Assam Assembly polls will be declared on May 2.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)
Half Moon Bay, CA (94019)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Pennsylvanias 16-year-long beleaguered effort to modernize its unemployment compensation computer system is said to have reached the final stage with the plan to go live on June 8.

Acting Labor & Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier announced on Thursday that is the target date when Pennsylvanians will begin using the new web-based system that is billed as user-friendly for unemployed individuals and employers alike.

It will be accessible on mobile and tablet devices, she said. And it will allow for claimants and employers to receive and respond to alerts from UC staff, files claims, check the status of a payment, among other features.

But Berrier made it clear that the transition from the antiquated mainframe system that has been in use for nearly half a century to the new web-based one will cause a disruption in services.

Over the course of two weeks while information from the old system is moved to the new one, Berrier said bi-weekly claims for unemployment benefits will not be able to be filed and that will lead to a delay in the payments benefits.

The department is still working out the logistics of that transition but Berrier said the department intends to inform claimants of the pause on payments so they can prepare for it.

On a more reassuring note, she said, The data that were transferring over is the most up-to-date data so that we wont have any problems resuming payments on benefits.

The department has been working on modernizing the backbone of its unemployment compensation computer system since before the Great Recession but hit many roadblocks along the way.

IBM was hired in 2005 to develop the new system. They were expected to take three or four years to complete it. By 2013, it was still not completed and the project was $60 million over budget and nearly four years behind schedule. Then-Gov. Tom Corbetts administration decided to pull the plug on that contract.

By then, the state had spent $170 million on the project. Litigation to try to recoup some of that money is still ongoing, Berrier said.

In 2017, the state hired Florida-based Geographic Information System to develop a modern computer system for the unemployment compensation program at a cost of about $35 million, not counting the more than $850,000 spent monthly to keep the old mainframe operational.

GIS initially was expected to complete the project in 18 to 24 months but obstacles were encountered pushing back the go-live date. Last October was the most recent date when it was supposed to be up and running. But then-Labor & Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak told lawmakers in September the system wasnt ready.

He said staff members that had been working on it got diverted to assist with the record pandemic-related unemployment claims and building from scratch new information technology systems to implement four new pandemic-related jobless benefit programs the federal government created.

Further, he said the system hadnt been fully tested, staff hadnt been trained, and the public had not been educated on how it works.

The series of delay for the systems implementation makes Sen. Cris Dush, R-Jefferson County, skeptical that come June 8, the new system will finally be up and running.

I dont believe it, said Dush, who has been following the projects progress since he first began serving in the House in 2015. Every time they tell us [its ready to go] they end up rolling it back.

But Berrier said with the decrease in the number of initial claims being filed for unemployment benefits these days, We feel right now with the progress that weve made, were very confident that we can live on June 8.

She said the next two months will be spent educating the public and groups that work with unemployed workers on how to use the new system through training materials, user guides and live workshops.

Whats more, she said with the departments recently announced customer service initiative of doubling its staff in its call center from 500 to 1000 employees, this will help with the potential influx of calls that come in once the new system is implemented.

While we believe that most Pennsylvanians will intuitively understand how to use the system, Berrier said. We also recognize that any time you make a change of this magnitude people will need help.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said tonight he did not use racist language as alleged by Cesaire McPherson, the woman he has admitted to having an extramarital affair with.

AL.com asked Merrill about the allegation after the Alabama Democratic Party issued a statement on it.

With the exception of the use of state resources to facilitate his affair, Merrills personal life and conduct are just that - personal, Wade Perry, executive director of the Democratic Party, said. The Democratic Party is much more concerned about the allegation that he regularly referred to African American judges and citizens in Alabama as The Coloreds. If true, he must apologize AND resign immediately.

Merrill said the allegation about racist language was false.

I never referred to African Americans and Black folks as coloreds, he said. I dont do that. Ive never done that.

As for whether he used state resources to facilitate the affair, Merrill said he had issued a statement earlier today and would not be commenting further.

I dont have any other things to say about this particular incident, now or in the future, he said.

Related: Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill admits affair, wont run for U.S. Senate: Theres no excuse
A medical staff in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province receives his first shot of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, March 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Hac Minh.

All 63 provinces and cities in the country and the military and police are set to get the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine Vietnam has received under the Covax program.

The Ministry of Health on Wednesday approved a detailed plan for the distribution under which 317,550 of the 811,200 doses received last week in the first batch of vaccines through the global program will be distributed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 28 northern localities, 68,700 doses to 11 central localities and 245,350 doses to 20 southern localities.

HCMC will get the highest number, 56,250, and Hanoi, 53,350. Hai Duong, a former Covid hotspot, will get 43,700 doses.

The military and the police will receive 80,000 and 30,000 doses while the National Expanded Vaccination Program will get 20,000 doses.

The rest will be sent to the National Institute for Control of Vaccine and Biologicals for quality testing.

The ministry has said the recipients should use the vaccines immediately, completing the first dose by May 15.

The shots will be given to groups prioritized by the government.

Besides medical staff and other frontline workers, others in the priority list include teachers, diplomatic personnel, customs and immigration officers, those working in essential services like transport, people aged 65 and above, the poor, and those with chronic diseases.

People seeking to study or work abroad or are living in pandemic-hit areas are also in the list.

Vietnam aims to secure around 150 million doses this year to cover 70 percent of its 98 million population from the EU, the U.S., Japan, China, India, and Russia.

It has approved AstraZeneca's ChAdOx1 vaccine and Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine for use.
The amount of COVID-19 vaccine that is wasted in Manitoba is well within an acceptable range, the provincial government reports.

The amount of COVID-19 vaccine that is wasted in Manitoba is well within an acceptable range, the provincial government reports.

About 0.9 per cent of doses in Manitoba have had to be tossed after opening.

A provincial spokesman provided figures to the Free Press that stated as of Wednesday afternoon, 222,130 doses had been administered provincewide, while 1,994 doses were thrown out. The province uses five per cent of total administered as an acceptable limit for wastage. That's the standard set by the World Health Organization for what it calls "avoidable open vial wastage."

Each vial of COVID-19 vaccine contains several doses which must be used within a limited time after the vial has been opened. In a statement, the provincial spokesman said Manitoba is trying to avoid throwing out doses that are leftover in a vial at the end of the day, and that vials have to be disposed of for other reasons, too, such as if they look cloudy or if the syringe comes into contact with anything else before injection.

"Staff in clinics closely monitor the amount of vaccine on hand, particularly towards the end of every clinic, to minimize any loss of vaccine that remains in a vial. However, there are other reasons that vaccine may not be used and it is critical to recognize that an immunization campaign without waste would not be a safe campaign," the province's statement said.

Manitoba has not established guidelines for immunizers to decide who should be vaccinated when opened vials need to be used at the last minute, including at the end of the day at vaccine clinics, or in cases of no-show appointments. The vaccine task force advised doctors and pharmacists not to bypass the province's current eligibility criteria if they have leftover doses, and to instead vaccinate clinic or pharmacy staff with extra doses.

Pharmacists and doctors have been tasked with creating their own waiting lists for vaccine appointments, and it's up to them to deliver thousands of doses. Of the initial shipment of 18,000 AstraZeneca doses that doctors and pharmacists received last month, 95 per cent of it has been administered.

Another shipment of 54,600 doses is on the way to doctors and pharmacists. The rollout in doctors' offices and pharmacies is for people aged 55 to 64 with serious health conditions (a list of which was set by the province), while older Manitobans were expected to visit vaccine super-sites in urban centres. But the province quietly granted permission for clinics to also immunize Manitobans 65 and up before publicly announcing the change Wednesday, stating priority was supposed to be given to people who couldn't travel to super-sites. A provincial spokesperson didn't respond to Free Press inquiries asking when that change was made.

The AstraZeneca vaccine can be refrigerated for 48 hours, but must be used within six hours at room temperature.

When the province was getting ready to start distributing vaccines to pharmacies, Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of Manitoba's vaccine task force, faced a question from pharmacists about what to do with extra doses, and whether it was preferable to waste doses or disregard the province's set age eligibility. In the Feb. 25 webinar for Pharmacists Manitoba, Reimer said it was "very unlikely" the task force would allow bypassing age restrictions. At that time, she said they were still working on a plan for what to do with leftover doses.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay
U.S. scours files for more Trump-era migrant family separations than previously known

Unaccompanied minor migrants wait to be transported by the U.S. Border Patrols after crossing the Rio Grande River into the United States from Mexico in La Joya (Photo : REUTERS/Go Nakamura)

The Biden administration said on Wednesday it is examining 5,600 previously unreviewed cases of migrant children to see whether they were separated from parents at the U.S.-Mexico border under former President Donald Trump.



A U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official told reporters the review seeks to find any separated children beyond those already identified through litigation. The official said the aim is ultimately to reunite any families who remain apart.



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The effort is expected to uncover a small number of additional separations on top of thousands that have already been reported, the official said.



The whereabouts and status of the 5,600 migrant children whose cases are being reviewed remains unclear. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



President Joe Biden, a Democrat who took over from the Republican Trump on Jan. 20, issued an executive order in February to create a task force to reunite children and parents still separated by Trump's "zero tolerance" border strategy.



Thousands of children were separated from their parents at the southwestern U.S. border under the policy, which charged parents with federal immigration offenses and sent them to jails, while children were labeled "unaccompanied" and placed in shelters.



Jeff Sessions, who spearheaded the effort as Trump's attorney general, defended the prosecutions in an interview with Reuters in March, saying a person traveling with a child "shouldn't be given immunity." Sessions expressed regret, however, that the Trump administration could not quickly reunite the parents and children afterward.



A Biden administration task force has yet to reunite any of the still separated families, the DHS official told reporters on Wednesday, requesting anonymity to discuss the matter.



The task force aims to build a comprehensive database of families that were separated under Trump's zero-tolerance policy and related measures during the four years he was in office, the DHS official said.



The Biden administration is scouring government records to search for additional separations and information that might help unify families, according to the official.



"There is also a lot of misinformation in the files - wrong dates, confusion in names, doubled up cases," the official said. "Those are just a few of the issues we are discovering."



The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) through litigation has identified around 4,000 children who were separated from their parents under the zero-tolerance policy.



Some families have already been reunited as part of litigation challenging the separations, while other families remain apart, including some whose parents were deported.



In addition, there were about 1,500 children split apart from parents because the U.S. government found the child might be in danger, the ACLU said.



Parties in the ACLU lawsuit have been unable to reach the parents of about 500 children subject to the Trump-era separations.



Lee Gelernt, the lead ACLU attorney in the litigation, said on Wednesday his organization does not know how many children remain separated from parents, but that he believed it was likely more than 1,000.


Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Joel Lion has called on the Cabinet of Ministers to enshrine in Ukrainian law the legal definition of anti-Semitism developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

According to Ukrinform, Lion said this in a video message, posted on the Facebook page of the Israeli Embassy in Ukraine, on the occasion of Yom HaShoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day.

"I am calling upon the Ukrainian government to adopt the definition of anti-Semitism of IHRA. By understanding what anti-Semitism is, you can fight it. But if you don't understand what anti-Semitism is, how can you fight it?" he said.

Yom HaShoah is Israel's day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews killed who perished in the Holocaust as a result of the actions carried out by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, and for the Jewish resistance in that period.

IHRA defines anti-Semitism as a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews; rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

According to IHRA, the definition has been adopted by 29 countries, including Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

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A New York woman was arrested after harassing workers in a Chinatown salon and yelling anti-Asian slurs at an undercover NYPD officer.

Police say Sharon Williams, 50, stepped into Good Choice for Nails Salon near Manhattan's Chinatown on Tuesday afternoon and began cursing out workers, at one point telling the employees 'you brought Coronavirus to this country!'

According to Daily News, Williams then continued her hateful tirade on the sidewalk where she allegedly harassed an Asian pedestrian who turned out to be a plainclothes officer.

Police say she called the officer a 'monkey' and a 'Chinese mother f***** who brought COVID to this country!' as she was taken into custody.

Since the coronavirus shutdown in the US last march, a report from Stop AAPI Hate has documented at least 3,795 racially motivated attacks against Asian Americans in the last year alone.

Police arrested 50-year-old Sharon Williams on Tuesday after she harassed and yelled anti-Asian slurs at employees in a Chinatown salon

Police Williams called the officer a 'monkey' and a 'Chinese mother f***** who brought COVID to this country!' as she was taken into custody

Police charged Williams with aggravated harassment as a hate crime and criminal trespass.

Her arrest is part of a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the city. The NYPD reports that New York City alone has at least 35 anti-Asian hate crime reports since January, as opposed to 28 in all of 2020.

Raised awareness of anti-Asian hate crimes in the US has led to the popular 'Stop Asian Hate' movement online and in rallies across the nation.

The movement gained traction after the high profile March shootings at three spas in Georgia, where a gunman killed eight people, including six Asian women.

Last week surveillance footage caught an elderly 65-year-old Asian woman viciously attacked by a stranger who hurled anti-Asian statements in a random attack in New York City.

Raised awareness of anti-Asian hate crimes in the US has led to the popular 'Stop Asian Hate' movement online and in rallies across the nation

In 2020 the United Nations brought attention to the issue, attributing 'alarming level' of racist attacks in the US due to COVID -19, the coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China.

'Racially motivated violence and other incidents against Asian-Americans have reached an alarming level across the United States since the outbreak of COVID19' the report said.

The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, reported that anti-Asian hate crimes in America's largest cities rose 149% in 2020, while overall hate crimes dropped seven percent.

The report found that the hugest surge was in New York, where anti-Asian hate crimes rose from just three in 2019 to 28 in 2020, a 833% increase.
The COVID-19 tally in Odisha



mounted to 3,45,526 on Thursday, as 879 more people tested positive for the infection, the highest single-day rise this year, a health department official said.

Of the new cases, 518 were reported in quarantine centres and 361 detected during contact tracing.

Khurda district comprising the state capital Bhubaneswar reported the highest number of new cases at 144, followed by Sundargarh (131), Nuapada (61), Bargarh (53) and Cuttack (50).

With the sudden rise of infections in the state, the health department has asked the district authorities to strengthen infrastructure in COVID Care Centres and hospitals.

Active cases in jumped to 4,888 from just 665 on March 8, and 3,38,662 patients have so far recovered from the disease, the official said.

The death toll remained at 1,923 as no fresh fatality due to the infection was reported in the last 24 hours.

Fifty-three other COVID-19 patients have died due to comorbidities.

The state has so far conducted over 92.75 lakh sample tests for COVID-19, including 31,057 on Wednesday, and the positivity rate stands at 3.73 per cent.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Natural News) A new report revealed that social distancing measures currently in place are based on outdated science. According to scientists, the so-called six-foot rule was based on experiences with past viruses that circulated before the pandemic.

A meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal determined that the concept of social distancing is oversimplified and outdated. Scientists who published the paper claimed that it overlooks the physics of respiratory emissions. The paper also added that other factors such as ventilation, specific airflow patterns and activity type also play a role in spreading the virus once the droplets dissipate.

Furthermore, it mentioned that the infected persons viral load, the susceptibility of other individuals near the infected person and the duration of their exposure to infected droplets should also be considered.

The meta-analysis noted that 80 percent of studies found that respiratory droplets expelled when sneezing could travel as far as 26 feet. Given these findings, the scientists posited that the Wuhan coronavirus could go beyond the minimum six-foot distance mandated by authorities.

Even former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb derided the concept of social distancing. The Trump administrations FDA head admitted during a March 20 CNBC Closing Bell interview that the six-foot rule applied in the U.S. and the world wasnt based on clear science. He remarked: The six-foot distancing requirement has probably been the single costliest mitigation tactic weve employed in response to [COVID-19], and it really wasnt based on clear science.

According to Gottlieb, health authorities initially assumed that the Wuhan coronavirus would spread in the same way as influenza. Prior research on the flu virus indicated that it mainly spread through droplets  and standing six feet away from someone with influenza reduced droplet transmission.

Six feet isnt as effective as it would be if this was purely droplet transmission, the former FDA head commented. He continued that health experts over-reliance on a flu-based model caused them to overlook other modes of transmission such as aerosols and contaminated surfaces. We should have re-adjudicated this much earlier, Gottlieb lamented. (Related: US may need to practice social distancing until 2022 to reduce coronavirus spread, say Harvard researchers.)

Even countries around the world do not agree on a standard measurement for safe distance

According to the BMJ meta-analysis, the droplet theory first emerged in the 19th century. German bacteriologist Carl Flugge initially proposed a safe distance of 1 to 2 meters in 1897, based on the distance where visible droplets contained pathogens. Fifty-one years later in 1948, a study that looked at the spread of hemolytic Streptococci bacteria found that 65 percent of participants produced large droplets only. Fewer than 10 percent of participants expelled droplets beyond 5.5 feet (1.7 meters).

But pathogen samples were collected from 10 percent of participants whose droplets fell 9.5 feet (2.9 meters) away. Large droplets falling close to an infected person nevertheless bolstered the scientific basis of the safe distance rule, now applied in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Different countries around the world interestingly have a varying definition of social distance. China, Denmark and France peg the distance at 1 meter. Germany and Australia peg it at a slightly linger 1.5 meters, while the U.S. follows 1.8 meters or 6 feet. With the different standards for safe social distance followed by different countries, it appears that such regulations are based on educated guesses instead of actual, sound science. (Related: For social distancing to truly work, people would need to stand 26 feet apart, say researchers.)

Furthermore, social distancing may protect against purported disease-causing respiratory droplets  at the cost of potential human connections. A March 2020 article published in Science magazine looked at this little-known consequence of this public health measure.

Yale University social scientist and physician Nicholas Christakis remarked that the spread of COVID-19 worldwide causes people to suppress  profoundly human and evolutionary hard-wired impulses for connection. Social distancing undermines the basic actions of seeing friends, congregating in groups and touching others, he continued. Christakis commented: Pandemics are an especially demanding test  because we are not just trying to protect people we know, but also people we do not know or even  care about.

Christakis noted that texting, email and video chatting apps such as Skype and FaceTime can alleviate the effects of prolonged distancing. We are fortunate to live in an era where technology will allow us to see and hear our friends and family, even from a distance, he said.

But technology cannot replace face-to-face conversations entirely. This is because elements of nonverbal communication such as body language, facial expressions and gestures can get lost with communication done via apps. University of Arizona behavioral scientist Chris Segrin explained: When we interact with other people, a lot of the meaning conveyed between two people is actually not conveyed in the actual words  but in nonverbal behavior.

Visit Pandemic.news to read more news about social distancing and other public health measures to stop COVID-19.

Sources include:

NaturalHealth365.com

BMJ.com

TheBlaze.com

ScienceMag.org
Hollywood icon Hugh Jackman gave a thumbs up as he received his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this week.

On Thursday, the 52-year-old was seen smiling underneath his protective mask while being jabbed in his muscular arm with a needle in photos posted on Instagram.

In the caption, the X-Men actor wittily wrote: 'Wolverines healing ability cant save me from Covid. But the vaccine can. Get it!'

Jabbed: Hollywood icon Hugh Jackman [pictured] gave a thumbs up as he received his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this week

Hugh - who donned a T-shirt advertising his charitable coffee company Laughing Man - even did his famous Wolverine pose for one image, raising his eyebrow to the camera while the medical professional smiled beside him.

The actor joins a long list of stars who have been given the vaccine - including Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, who Hugh has had a 'fake feud' with for years.

Ryan, 44, used his caption to cheekily blast anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists, who believe the coronavirus pandemic is part of a strategy to implant microchips into humans with tracking chips that would later be activated by 5G.

Happy: Hugh - who donned a T-shirt advertising his charitable coffee company Laughing Man - even did his famous Wolverine pose for one image, raising his eyebrow to the camera while the medical professional smiled beside him

'Finally got 5G,' he mused of the biologically impossible theory, which was debunked by scientists, according to the BBC.

Ryan's fans on Twitter couldn't get enough of his joke, including YouTuber Sean William McLoughlin, known as Jacksepticeye.

'At least you have great reception everywhere now,' the 31-year-old video game commentator tweeted at the Canadian actor.

Vaccinated: Ryan Reynolds bared his muscular arms in a plain white t-shirt as he received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine last week

Another quipped: 'If you stand next to any TV you'll get HBO Max and Hulu!'

Meanwhile, another follower peculated: 'Is this the real story on how you become Green Lantern?'

Just a few hours later, his wife Blake Lively confirmed she also got vaccinated on social media with a very sweet caption: 'Find you someone who looks at you like I look at the heroic nurse vaccinating me.'
Berlin, April 8 : German flag carrier Lufthansa is converting an Airbus A350-900 into a climate research aircraft, the airline announced.

The work in a hangar in Malta already started, Xinhua news agency quoted the country's largest airline as saying on Wednesday, preparations were made on the lower fuselage for a "complex air intake system".

The centerpiece of the flying research laboratory would be a 1.6-tone container with measuring equipment.

"Predicting the weather even more accurately, analysing climate change even more precisely, researching even better how the world is developing. This is the goal of a globally unique cooperation between Lufthansa and several research institutes," Lufthansa noted.

The research aircraft is expected to take off from Munich at the end of 2021 for its "first flight in the service of climate research", measuring around 100 different trace gases, aerosol and cloud parameters at an altitude of 9-12 km, according to Lufthansa.

"We are helping to ensure that particularly important climate-relevant parameters are collected just on that altitude where the atmospheric greenhouse effects are largely generated," Annette Mann, head of Corporate Responsibility at the Lufthansa Group, said in a statement.

The conversion of the Airbus A350-900 which was named "Erfurt" was preceded by a planning and development phase of around four years involving more than ten companies as well as the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) as representative of a larger scientific consortium, according to Lufthansa.
[April 08, 2021] HUAWEI CLOUD Announces Its Product Release Plan in 2021, Providing Ubiquitous Cloud and Intelligence for All

SHENZHEN, China, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 8, 2021, the second HUAWEI CLOUD TechWave Global Technology Summit, with the theme, "Inclusive Innovation", was held in Shenzhen. Participants discussed cutting-edge technologies, including cloud-native, distributed cloud, and audio-video technologies, sharing ideas about industry innovation. Bruno Zhang, CTO of HUAWEI CLOUD, introduced the upgrade of full-stack cloud-native technologies, the HUAWEI CLOUD 2021 product release plan, and the distributed cloud product portfolio, providing ubiquitous cloud and intelligence for all. "At the end of last year, HUAWEI CLOUD released the Cloud Native 2.0 concept and solution, which were widely recognized by customers and partners. In 2021, HUAWEI CLOUD will continue to innovate and upgrade the full-stack cloud-native technical capabilities. By combining cloud-native and distributed cloud technologies, we will help enterprises deliver full-stack cloud-native capabilities wherever needed by services, providing ubiquitous cloud and full-stack intelligence," said Bruno Zhang, CTO of HUAWEI CLOUD. Jacqueline Shi,President of Global Marketing and Sales Service Dept,Cloud&AI, announced the launch of the international HUAWEI CLOUD Internet-Oriented Carnival. The carnival starts in Shenzhen, with technical support and 100 million coupons ready to be given out to local Internet and cloud-native enterprises. The HUAWEI CLOUD Internet-Oriented Carnival will be held all over the world. It will be held in 10 cities in Chinese mainland, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and cities in Sichuan, Jiangsu, Fujian, Zhejiang, Hunan, and Hubei. It will also be held in Hong Kong, Singapore, Latin America, and South Africa. Announcing the New Product Release Plan in 2021 to Provide Ubiquitous Cloud and Intelligence Services At the summit, HUAWEI CLOUD announced the new product release plan in 2021. HUAWEI CLOUD released a distributed cloud product portfolio (including Intelligent EdgeSite [IES]), next-generation compute instance, Operator Service Center (OSC), SoftWare Repository for Container (SWR), Container Insight Engine (CIE), ultra-low latency live broadcast, free view, and cloud webinar. Dozens of services in the cloud infrastructure, AI enablement, application enablement, data enablement, and audio-video fields will be released as well. HUAWEI CLOUD is the first in the ndustry to provide the Cloud Native 2.0 solution and is continuously upgrading its full-stack cloud native capabilities. HUAWEI CLOUD and China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) jointly released the Cloud Native 2.0 White Paper, facilitating the prosperity of the cloud-native industry. HUAWEI CLOUD and partners jointly released OSC to implement unified governance of cloud-native services throughout the lifecycle. CIE can comprehensively check application health. SWR is upgraded to quickly deploy images and elastically scale services.



"With distributed cloud products, HUAWEI CLOUD delivers full-stack cloud-native capabilities to be close to services and supports all scenarios, providing ubiquitous cloud and full-stack intelligence for new cloud-native enterprises," said Bruno Zhang, CTO of HUAWEI CLOUD. HUAWEI CLOUD Combines Distributed Cloud with Cloud-native Technologies to Create a New Paradigm for Cloud Infrastructure

"By combining distributed cloud with cloud-native technologies, HUAWEI CLOUD has created a new paradigm for cloud infrastructure to help industries quickly complete full cloudification and gain full-stack intelligence capabilities. Based on the QingTian architecture, we provide efficient, agile, and open cloud-native infrastructure. On the distributed cloud, services can be delivered to wherever needed. AI is used throughout the service process," said Gao Jianghai, President of HUAWEI CLOUD Infrastructure Services. The distributed cloud product portfolio consists of the distributed cloud infrastructure and cloud services. The two parts fully collaborate to serve many Internet enterprises and large- and medium-sized governments and enterprises. Distributed cloud infrastructure includes the central region, dedicated regions, Intelligent EdgeCloud (IEC), deployed in hotspots; Intelligent EdgeSite (IES), deployed in enterprise equipment rooms; and Intelligent EdgeFabric (IEF), which supports a wide range of edge devices. Collaborative distributed cloud services include basic services, audio-video, data, AIoT, and office collaboration services, as well as a unified enterprise IT governance framework. All these enable enterprises to use a single distributed cloud for all business scenarios. Users can easily and securely access a distributed network, and can enjoy a stable experience in a consistent runtime. On a ubiquitous cloud, enterprises can implement refined management with a single management system. Cloud-native Video Services Improve User Experience and Accelerate Innovation Many industries are raising high requirements for video cloud services. Cloud-native video services are developed to meet such requirements. Based on cloud-native technologies and incorporating years of experience with audio-video services, HUAWEI CLOUD has constructed a new type of audio-video media network for innovative new services, for example, real-time audio-video services, ultra-low-latency live broadcast services, and webinars. This new network is accelerating enterprise service innovation and intelligent upgrade. "Cloud-native video services are born and developed on the cloud, and benefit from the cloud. Cloud-native video service features include full process cloudification, high resource efficiency, excellent SLAs, and AI integration. They deliver the ultimate experience and drive innovation in the video industry," said Xue Hao, Director of Connectivity and Collaboration Product Dept. Inclusive Innovation Accelerates Intelligent Upgrade At the summit, Huawei customers, including the Mengxiang Group, Chinafocus.net, Vanke, and Aixuexi shared their experiences with innovation and intelligent upgrade based on HUAWEI CLOUD. Mengxiang Group: By using more than 50 cloud-native services, such as HUAWEI CLOUD containers, databases, AI, and big data, the company greatly reduced O&M costs, improved development efficiency, and developed more innovative services. HUAWEI CLOUD provides real-time monitoring and alarms, and efficient service recovery capabilities to ensure service continuity and stability. Chinafocus.net: The company provides an immersive reading experience based on HUAWEI CLOUD IES, which is locally deployed to minimize latency. Advanced VR capabilities on the cloud can be provisioned to devices within minutes. Devices can obtain the latest VR content from the cloud in real time, improving the reading experience. Vanke: Vanke's AI-assisted drawing review service is based on HUAWEI CLOUD. To handle peak-hour traffic, the service can be scaled fast, launching 1,000 new containers in 30 seconds. Intelligent task scheduling based on HUAWEI CLOUD containers improves AI image review efficiency and accuracy. Different containerized services have different peak and off-peak hours, so they are deployed together to maximize resource utilization. Aixuexi: Based on the HUAWEI CLOUD real-time audio-video service CloudRTC, Aixuexi built an all-scenario, fully interactive, real-time video platform. Users can take part in interactive online courses with ultra-low latency. An online classroom can have tens of thousands of guests and support interaction between thousands of learners. Video content is clear and smooth, regardless of the network conditions. In addition to keynote speeches, the summit included five sub-forums on topics including distributed cloud, cloud-native, data service, hybrid cloud, and audio-video services. Customers from multiple industries, such as China Merchants Bank, Bank of Beijing, Shenzhen Metro, and Henan Electric Power, attended the summit to discuss the latest trends in cutting-edge technologies and new ways of enabling intelligent upgrade for their respective industries. The HUAWEI CLOUD TechWave Global Technology Summit will be held in more cities, including Shanghai and Beijing, to promote inclusive innovation. SOURCE HUAWEI CLOUD

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The and the Monetary Fund are planning to launch a platform to advise poor countries on funding climate and conservation activities, amid a broader push that could link such spending to debt relief, according to a draft document seen by Reuters.



The advisers would include U.N. officials, nongovernmental organizations, private investors and even ratings agencies with expertise in sourcing investment, including grants, low- or no-interest loans and conditional debt relief, the document says.



The initiative reflects growing recognition that the economic turmoil of the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated budget constraints and debt challenges that hamper the ability of some countries to transition to clean energy, protect wildlife or make infrastructural changes to prepare for climate impacts.



"Unlike other initiatives out there that focus on one project at a time, this will focus on systematically changing whole economies," said one source familiar with the initiative, who added that the platform aims for a more holistic approach to "the triple crisis of debt, and biodiversity loss."



In a February interview, President David Malpass raised the possibility of linking debt relief with investments to combat and reduce fossil-fuel emissions, but provided no further details.



The institutions' discussions toward that goal are detailed in a paper on debt published on the bankas website on Monday for their annual spring meetings.



It said they are developing an "organizing framework" for connecting debt relief to countries plans for investing in green, resilient and inclusive development, or 'GRID', the bank's newest catchall acronym.



"For countries that are close to their debt limits, financing GRID will require sufficient grants and concessional lending which could be augmented by conditional debt relief or reprofiling," the joint paper said.



The World Bank estimates that over 30 of the world's poorest countries are in or at high risk of debt distress. Three of them - Chad, Ethiopia and Zambia - have requested restructuring of their debts under a common framework agreed last year by China, the world's largest bilateral creditor, and other Group of 20 major economies with the Paris Club of official creditors.



Last month, a separate technical working group began working on the new Debt/Climate/Nature Platform. It will allow public and private sector experts to provide technical assistance and data to countries about possible investments and help them find public and private funding, the paper said.



A second source said planning was still in the early stages, but the goal was to launch the platform late in 2021, with a secretariat to be hosted at the World Bank.



"If unaddressed, or approached in ways that do not take into account macroeconomic vulnerabilities and debt sustainability constraints, and nature loss represent a systemic risk to the global economy," the paper says.



The platform, however, would not replace debt treatment talks under the Group of 20 common framework, the document said.

Instead, it could provide advice for how to proceed after any debt relief was agreed.


Kolkata, April 8 : A couple of days after two women candidates - one from the BJP and the other from the Trinamool Congress - were physically assaulted during the third phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal, the Election Commission is thinking of increasing the security of the women candidates from the next phase of polling.

The commission has instructed all the district administrations to review the security aspects of the women candidates and increase their security if needed.

"The commission is worried over the security aspects of the women contestants in the ongoing polls. In the last phase, two women candidates were physically harassed. The commission has reviewed the situation and it is of the opinion that the security of the women candidates needs to be reviewed. The commission has instructed all the district administrations to review the security aspects of the women candidates and if needed, provide additional security to them," said a senior official of the state poll panel.

The commission was referring to BJP candidate from Uluberia in Howrah district, Papiya Adhikary, and Trinamool nominee Sujata Mondal Khan from Arambagh in Hooghly district.

Adhikary was allegedly manhandled by a mob when she went to inquire about the health condition of an injured BJP supporter at the Uluberia sub-divisional hospital after he was attacked with swords by a group of goons in Uluberia.

In the other incident, Trinamool candidate Sujata Mondal Khan was allegedly heckled by a group of villagers, supposedly supporters of the BJP, at Arandi village in Arambagh in Hooghly district on Tuesday.

Mondal, who is contesting the elections from Arambagh, had said that saffron party men chased her and hit her on the head when she was out visiting polling booths in the Arandi area of the constituency, after having received reports that "voters were not being allowed to exercise their franchise".

Presently, the women candidates are provided with a security guard during the elections, but the commission has asked to review the situation and provide more security personnel to them if required.

The commission clarified that this security restructuring is applicable to all the candidates and it should not be restricted to the high profile or party nominated candidates.

"The commission has asked the district administrations to speak to the candidates personally and increase the security cordon. If they want, they can take one more security personnel and also women security personnel if needed. However, the commission has left it on the choice of the candidates," the official added.
Paducah Man Arrested on Burglary Charge

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - A Paducah man was arrested Tuesday after police said he entered a home without permission and locked himself in a bedroom.Tuesday morning, Paducah Police officers were called to a home on Meadow Lane where a woman told them that a man, later identified as 29-year-old Jeremy Priddy, had entered her home through an unlocked door then locked himself in an upstairs bedroom.Police said Priddy was still in the bedroom when they arrived and was wielding a screwdriver.Priddy was detained without incident and taken to Baptist Health for treatment, then arrested and lodged in the McCracken County Jail.Priddy is charged with second-degree burglary and public intoxication of a controlled substance.
A campaign has been launched to see a black South African Second World War hero who blew up a Nazi ship with a homemade bomb be awarded a Victoria Cross.

British generals nominated Job Maseko for a VC but his South African commanders found the idea of a black man receiving such a prestigious medal ahead of his white peers alarming.

Instead, he was awarded the Military Medal - the lowest bravery honour at the time - for his 'ingenuity, determination and complete disregard of personal safety' after he sank the German ship in Tobruk harbour in 1942.

Now a Somerset man, Bill Gillespie, is fighting to right what he sees as a massive injustice and has started a petition.

Job used his experience as a miner before the war to make the bomb himself - out of a tin of condensed milk, a long fuse and gunpowder.

A campaign has been launched to see a black South African Second World War hero be awarded a Victoria Cross - Britain's highest military honour. British generals nominated Job Maseko for a VC but his South African commanders found the idea of a black man receiving such a prestigious medal ahead of his white peers alarming

Job, who died in 1952 at Springs in the province of Transvaal, served with South African forces as the Allies fought against Rommel's troops in North Africa.

Job came from a humble background - when the war broke out he was working as a delivery man 30 miles from Johannesburg, South Africa's capital.

Africans were not allowed to enlist in South Africa's armed forces but the need for large numbers of men to fight prompted a change.

Even though black, Indian, and mixed-race troops were then allowed to enlist from 1940 onwards, their roles were strictly non-combatant.

It meant that only the white troops were initially given military training with actual firearms and rifles.

The only weapons the African troops of the Native Military Corps were allowed to handle were spears - which they used while on guard duty.

South Africa was then a self-governing dominion of the British Empire, meaning it had full control over its armed forces.

Instead, he was awarded the Military Medal - the lowest bravery honour at the time - for his 'ingenuity, determination and complete disregard of personal safety' after he sank a German ship. Now a Somerset man, Bill Gillespie (pictured), is fighting to right what he sees as a massive injustice and has started a petition

Black men were later given rifles and ordered to fight on the frontline despite having a lack of ammunition and training.

When Tobruk, in Libya, fell to the Germans in June 1942, Job and his comrades were taken prisoner and were tortured by camp guards.

The Germans separated their prisoners by race - the white troops were sent to Prisoner of War camps in Europe and non-white prisoners were held in Italian camps in Africa.

They were forced to work as manual labourers under horrific conditions.

The VC is the highest and most prestigious award in the British honours system (file photo)

Job hatched his bomb plan when he was sent to Tobruk harbour to offload German ships laden with military hardware, ammunition and vehicles.

He persuaded three fellow prisoners to distract guards while he went below decks to make his bomb.

Mr Gillespie, of Milverton, Somerset, said: 'Job created a bomb using a condensed milk tin, some cordite and an extremely long fuse.

'On the evening of July 21, 1942 and before they were due off the still overloaded ship, Job placed his home made bomb deep in the hold.

'He lit the fuse and ran to join his friends on the dock.

'Job waited and a few hours later there was an almighty explosion, Apparently, the ship almost sank immediately.

'It was a large vessel and would have resulted in a significant depletion of German equipment destined to oppose Montgomery at El Alamein.

'It is anyone's guess, but this small act by a very brave man could well have assisted in the decisive Allied victory by Mongomery's troops barely three months later.

'I think this incident concerning Job Maseko requires addressing and redressing.

'I am therefore starting a petition for him to be posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.'

The VC is the highest and most prestigious award in the British honours system.

It is given for bravery 'in the presence of the enemy'.

Job later escaped from the Italian POW camp in Tobruk and walked for three weeks though the desert and enemy lines to El Alamein.

In October 1942, he became a stretcher bearer with the 1st South African Infantry Division in the Second Battle of El Alamein.

He attained the rank of lance corporal during his service.

After the war the Apartheid system, which began in 1948, meant he received a much smaller military pension than his white colleagues.

Maseko was struck and killed by a train on March 7, 1952.

An extract from Job's Military Medal citation details how Job 'sank a fully laden enemy steamer - probably an 'F' boat - while moored in Tobruk harbour'. Pictured: A file photo of a German F boat

At the time of his death he was so poor that his funeral was paid for by borrowed and donated funds.

He was buried in the Payneville Township Cemetery in Springs, South Africa.

In his honour, the township of KwaThema near Springs has a primary school named after him. The main road linking Springs to KwaThema is also named in his honour.

In 1997, the South African Navy renamed the missile attack craft SAS Kobie Coetzee as SAS Job Masego.

In 2007, South African director Vincent Moloi made a documentary about Job and the South African 2nd Infantry Division called 'A Pair of Boots and a Bicycle'.

An extract from Job's Military Medal citation details how Job 'sank a fully laden enemy steamer - probably an 'F' boat - while moored in Tobruk harbour'.

It adds: 'This he did by placing a small tin filled with gunpowder in among drums of petrol in the hold, leading a fuse therefrom to the hatch and lighting the fuse upon closing the hatch.

'In carrying out this deliberately planned action, Job Maseko displayed ingenuity, determination and complete disregard of personal safety from punishment by the enemy or from the ensuing explosion which set the vessel alight.'
Police appealing for help to identify a man accused of snatching handbags from shopping trolleys got more than they bargained for from 'helpful' Australians.

Tweed Heads detectives put out a call to Facebook - and it didn't take long for many people to playfully 'uncover' the man in question.

Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett, former NRL star Willie Mason, and AFL footy player turned radio presenter Brendan Fevola were just some of the suggestions.

Plenty on Facebook also compared the wanted man to infamous 'rave guy' Shaun Jackson from the UK.

The man (pictured above) Tweed-Byron Police want to speak to - he stands accused of taking personal belongings out of other shopping trolleys

A number of 'helpful' suggestions from the public said the man accused of stealing handbags could be musician Peter Garrett, ex footy players Brendan Fevola and Willie Mason, or even UK party animal Shaun Johnson (pictured above)

Jackson became an overnight internet sensation in 2014 after footage of him dancing at a nightclub called Bounce By The Ounce went viral.

His image has since been used for countless animations by social media users.

'Tweed-Byron Police District need to bringing the communities attention to an opportunistic thief in the Tweed Heads area,' the post read.

'The thief is taking personal belongings out of shopping trolleys when victims are not watching.'

One Facebook user said the wanted man looked like a 'zombie version of Peter Garrett', with another suggesting it was 'Willie (Mason) on a bad day.'

A third wrote the man looked like he was 'dressed following a recent court appearance' and other people intimating the man had little or no teeth due to a possible crippling meth addiction.

As of Thursday afternoon, police were said to be still attempting to track down the suspect.

Others on Facebook said the man bore resemblance to Midnight Oil front man Peter Garrett (left) or former NRL star Willie Mason (right)
Jason Kelk in hospital. (SWNS)

A man believed to be one of the UKs longest-suffering Covid patients, who is marking a full year in hospital, has urged people to be cautious as lockdown restrictions ease.

Jason Kelk, 49, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, was rushed into hospital on 31 March last year and believes he will never fully recover from the disease as he remains in intensive care.

As a type II diabetic with mild asthma, the virus destroyed Kelks lungs and kidneys and left him with such severe stomach issues he has to be fed intravenously.

For the last two weeks, he has remained off the ventilator completely and is now having dialysis three times a week instead of being hooked up to a 24/7 kidney filter.

Now, as restrictions ease and the nation takes its first tentative steps out of lockdown, Kelk is urging people to take care.

Most people wont end up bed-ridden for a year with regular dialysis and breathing through a pipe but it can happen," he says.

Im never going to fully recover from this, dont let yourself get caught up in the same boat.

Read more: Long COVID patient, 57, 'has good and bad days' nearly a year on from coronavirus

Jason Kelk is believed to be one of the UK's longest-suffering COVID patients, pictured with hospital staff and his granddaughter Felicity Wager, five. (SWNS)

Kelk's warning comes as up to six people or two households were allowed to meet outside from Monday (29 March).

His wife Sue, 63, said seeing so many people taking advantage of the good weather and mingling outside was a worry.

I think people assume because we have the vaccination rolling out and rates have dropped, that everything is fine," she says.

But how much of the low rates has to do with the vaccination and how much of it is because people havent been mixing for months?

It could also be the natural flow of the virus and it could rear its ugly head again down the line.

I think if everyone sticks to the rules as they are it wont have much effect.

But its when the weather is nice and lots of people meet up outside and people dont take precautions, that will cause problems.

I think theres a lot of young people who havent had their vaccinations yet and theyre the people who will most likely want to go out and have fun.

Read more: Up to 89% hospitalised with coronavirus endure long COVID months later

Jason Kelk has been bravely fighting the effects of long Covid after the virus ravaged his lungs and kidneys and left him unable to walk on his own. (SWNS)

Kelk first fell ill in March 2020. Having struggled with a continuous cough, his wife called 111 on Saturday, 28 March when he became breathless.

He was given antibiotics but his condition continued to worsen so an ambulance was called on Tuesday, 31 March.

Kelk was rushed into St Jamess Hospital the day after Kate Garraways husband Derek Draper, who doctors believe is the longest-suffering Covid patient.

Three days later, on 3 April, Kelk was moved to an intensive care unit (ICU) where he has remained ever since.

Watch: Tear-jerking video reveals the special friendship between long COVID patient and his nurse.

While Kelk, who works in IT at a local primary school, is now showing signs of recovery, he has lost more than six stone.

A lot of the time has been spent worrying about the future and when, or perhaps more if, I could go home," he explains.

I think the lowest point for me was in the earlier days when I didnt know much of what was going on or indeed what had happened."

"I've lost hope on a few occasions, mainly because even now the destination Im working towards seems so far away.

Right now I feel pretty good, theres still a lot of work needed to get me home but, when visiting restarts after lockdown, Sue and my family can come in to visit."

Read more: Scientists get grasp on long COVID's cause

Sue and Jason Kelk on their wedding day with her daughter, Claire Griffin. (SWNS)

But Kelk says it hasn't all been dark moments and describes the nurses looking after him as "wonderful".

Whats kept me going is the thought of getting home to my wife Sue," he continues.

My family is what has kept me fighting. It would have been a very different year without them there.

Once he gets home, Kelk says hes simply looking forward to some normality.

Im looking to go home, sit on our sofa and eat take away fish and chips with Sue while we watch telly. Something normal like that, he says.

Sue, a former nurse, added: Hes full of self-doubt - even now. He doubts he can do things and I say to him: Jason, look at what you have achieved.

He has been through so much and its been a real struggle for him for a lot of that time.

Hes proved everybody wrong. They said he might never get off the ventilator - and hes off the ventilator. He might never get off the kidney filter - and hes off that.

"I just think hes amazing".

Additional reporting SWNS.

Watch: Inside a long COVID clinic: 'I look normal but my body is breaking down'.
CHICAGO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Michael Horowitz, president and founder of TCS Education System, has joined the Forbes Nonprofit Council, an invitation-only community for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations. TCS Education System is a nonprofit system of colleges serving more than 11,000 students nationwide by advancing student success and community impact.

Dr. Horowitz was selected by the review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience and success in leading TCS Education System from its 2009 founding through a period of tremendous growth.

"I am delighted to join the Forbes Nonprofit Council to connect and collaborate with other respected nonprofit leaders across the country," Dr. Horowitz said. "TCS is centered upon the value of radical cooperation, which means working together to deliver excellence. There is no better forum to engage in cooperation and collaboration than with my peers at Forbes."

As a Council member, Dr. Horowitz will have access to a community of other proven thought leaders and access to an important business platform to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com. He will also be able to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other respected thought leaders.

"We are honored to welcome Dr. Horowitz into the community," said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Nonprofit Council. "Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world."

ABOUT TCS EDUCATION SYSTEM

TCS Education System (TCS) is a nonprofit system of colleges that was launched in 2009 to advance student success and community impact. Currently, the System spans five colleges, campus locations across 12 cities and a community of more than 30 global academic partners to fulfill the aspirations of approximately 10,000 students. The TCS model provides its colleges with a number of strategic resources, including admissions and enrollment operations, finance and accounting, information and learning technology, marketing, strategic planning, compliance and legal services, human resources, and global engagement among other areas of professional expertise. The System was founded on the belief that by sharing administrative resources and allowing colleges to concentrate on providing students with quality, social change-focused education, it can give each member of its collective community the power to change the world. TCS colleges include The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Pacific Oaks College & Children's School, The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law, Saybrook University, and Kansas Health Science Center. To learn more, visit www.tcsedsystem.edu.

ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS

Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive.

For more information about Forbes Nonprofit Council, visit forbesnonprofitcouncil.com . To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com .

SOURCE TCS Education System

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Slovak society will be more vigilant after the pandemic is over

Not everyone has the luxury of washing their hands 20 times a day, says sociologist Zuzana Kusa.

Zuzana Kusa, a sociologist from the Slovak Academy of Sciences, researches solidarity and cohesion of society. In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, she also addressed how the state aids its inhabitants, quarantine in marginalised communities, and how she expects the pandemic to change Slovak society.

The Slovak Spectator (TSS): When the pandemic first hit Slovakia one year ago, you said the crisis situation is an opportunity to realise the importance of the state and its institutions. The state should now show citizens that it is functioning and will not abandon their lives to uncertainty. Has the state and its institutions succeeded?

Zuzana Kusa (Source: TSS archive)

Zuzana Kusa (ZK): It depends on what area we are talking about. The government recently said that they want to allocate another 120 million for tourism and gastro businesses, which are certainly in a very hard situation.

Compared with the economic crisis in 2010, the state is offering more massive help and support to people now.

So if we disregard the stories and critical voices we hear everyday and only look at statistics, we must admit that the state is doing very well. There has been no slump in the rate of people depending on the very last safety net  allowances. In fact, fewer people depend on this form of help than the number from a year ago, and six times fewer people than during the 2010 economic crisis.

On the other hand, people in Slovakia know in what way and how quick the state helps and how help functions in other countries.

People are right to expect the state to function properly and behave like in a democratic society, where the welfare of citizens is important.

TSS: The proper functioning of the state was hindered by the coalition crisis in March, which brought yet more tension to society. How does it affect people in combination with the ongoing pandemic?

8. Apr 2021 at 16:04 | Nina Hrabovska Francelova
NEW HAVEN  The campaign finance figures for the 2021 mayor race are rolling in.

Mayor Justin Elickers campaign raised more than $120,000 from 600 separate donors in the first quarter of 2021, which when coupled with matching funds received through the citys clean elections public financing program would give him a total of more than $160,000, he said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, potential Democratic primary challenger Karen DuBois-Walton raised nearly $70,000 from more than 400 donors in the first 23 days since announcing that she had formed an exploratory committee for a possible run against her fellow Democrat.

Both sides immediately sought to show, in dueling statements, that their fundraising indicates overwhelming interest from supporters.

The first-quarter filing period ended March 31. Campaign finance reports are due to the State Elections Enforcement Commission by Saturday.

Our team is still putting the finishing touches on our first campaign finance report, but I just received the preliminary numbers from them, and I wanted to share them with you right away, Elicker said in an email to supporters.

Elicker, who defeated incumbent former Mayor Toni Harp in both a Democratic primary and the general election in 2019, announced his bid for reelection Jan. 21.

DuBois-Walton, president and CEO of the New Haven Housing Authority - Elm City Communities, announced the formation of an exploratory committee for a possible run for mayor March 8.

Her campaign said Tuesday in a statement that she had raised $69,652, saying that the figures break a ten-year record  even if they fell well short of what the Elicker campaign raised. The amount represented a fundraising milestone not achieved since 2011, the statement said.

These figures, in just three weeks, are nearly double what the 2019 mayoral candidates raised in the first month of their campaigns, it said.

DuBois-Walton, who launched her exploratory committee for a 2021 run for the New Haven Mayoral seat on International Womens Day, has been strategically working behind the scenes meeting with small groups of constituents to listen to community concerns and engage residents on a personal level, the statement said.

The speed with which the DuBois-Walton exploratory committee has reached this fundraising milestone is evidence that New Haven is primed for a debate on new leadership, it said.

Were so honored and proud to receive this kind of widespread support while still exploring a run, DuBois-Walton said. This level of excitement and engagement shows just how ready New Haven is for new leadership.

As I continue to explore a run for mayor, well continue to work to ensure that folks all across this city get a chance to express what theyre looking for from their citys government and commit to identify new ways to ensure our citys leadership works for and with the community it serves, she said in the statement.

The contributions, which exploratory committee Treasurer Donald McAulay said ratify the desire for the conversation about new leadership, came from all 30 city wards, with 17 percent of them being less than $50, 36 percent coming from New Haven proper and 83 percent coming from Connecticut.

DuBois-Waltons largest donation was $375 and the average donation was $171.98, the campaign said.

Elicker said in an interview Tuesday that 70 percent of his donations came from New Haven residents.

Its clear that so many New Haven residents donating to our campaign is a strong indicator that people are excited in the direction that the city is headed and its response to the COVID 19 epidemic and everything that has happened in the last year, Elicker said.

He said in the email, I want to say thank you. You stepped up when we needed you most and helped put this campaign in a very strong position out of the gate.

... This is going to be a long campaign and weve got a lot of work to do in the coming weeks and months, but you stepped up and built a strong foundation, Elicker said.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
The email in question dates back to 2017 when Mortimer (right), the son of Mortimer Sackler Sr, who co-founded Purdue Pharma, requested a $10million loan because he was 'falling significantly behind financially'

Members of the billionaire Sackler family, who own OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, reportedly complained in emails about 'falling behind financially' after being blamed for fueling the opioid crisis in the US.

Purdue filed for bankruptcy back in September 2019 in the face of more than 2,900 lawsuits accusing the company of fueling the national opioid crisis through deceptive marketing.

Last month, the Sackler family agreed to pay nearly $4.3billion to resolve the lawsuits.

Now, in his new book Empire of Pain, Patrick Radden Keefe has revealed details from a private email reportedly sent by Mortimer David Alfons Sackler, according to The Daily Beast.

The email in question dates back to 2017 when Mortimer, the son of Mortimer Sackler Sr, who co-founded Purdue Pharma with his two brothers, requested a $10million loan and 'a possible additional $10 million...MAX' from the family trust.

According to the Daily Beast, the younger Mortimer wrote: 'Start off with saying I am not happy. I am falling significantly behind financially.'

The email is said to have been sent to Kerry Sulkowicz, a psychiatrist and 'leadership confidant'.

Mortimer explained that he was ready to sell 'artworks, jewelry, stock positions' to catch up, but noted it wouldn't be enough to get him into the black.

'I have been working for years on Purdue at what I consider to be a considerably discounted value relative to what MY TIME IS WORTH. I am LOSING money by working in the pharma business,' he reportedly wrote.

He also apparently wanted to keep his request for financial assistance a secret.

Mortimer wrote that the funds could be 'reported in the trust accounts as loan/cash flow assistance to family members but not be specific... I don't want to hear my siblings' opinion on this and I don't need more stress for this'.

Scroll down for video

The Sacklers are one of the wealthiest families in the US. Pictured above is some of the Sackler family: Dr Richard Sackler, standing second from left and Jonathan Sackler standing second from right. Seated is co-founder Raymond and his wife Beverly Sackler

He continued: 'I need to have this resolved... This needs to happen, the only question is how much DRAMA will be needed for this to happen.'

Mortimer then shared that his father, who died in 2010, had been 'more than willing to help me'.

Keefe also noted another email dated for June 2015 that was reportedly sent by David Sackler, the grandson of co-founder Raymond Sackler. In the email that was sent to his parents, David is said to have complained that as the assistant to his father, Richard, he had worked hard to 'manage the family fortune' and 'make the family richer'.

David griped that it was 'quite literally the hardest job in the world' to work for his dad who had 'little understanding of what I do'.

According to the Daily Beast, the email was sent after David's father wouldn't help him get a new apartment.

In addition to the complaints about money, Keefe revealed that Mortimer also ranted in a February 2019 email that prescription opioids 'are NOT the CAUSE of drug abuse, addiction, or the so called "opioid crisis"'.

'I also don't think we should use the term "opioid crisis" or even "opioid addiction crisis" in our messaging,' he added.

A $4.3billion payment from the members of the Sackler family who are involved with Purdue is part of a larger restructuring plan filed by Purdue which intends to get the Connecticut-based pharmaceutical giant out of bankruptcy.

Purdue's $10billion plan to emerge from bankruptcy calls for it to be transformed into an entity that would see the Sacklers relinquish control of the company and steer revenue directly to plaintiffs.

The $4.3billion contribution from members of the Sackler family, who have denied any wrongdoing, would see them freed from opioid-related litigation.

Purdue's(file image) $10billion plan to emerge from bankruptcy calls for it to be transformed into an entity that would see the Sacklers relinquish control of the company and steer revenue directly to plaintiffs

WHO ARE THE SACKLERS? Purdue Pharma, which is run by some members of the wealthy Sackler family, has made tens of billions on opioid sales. Here is a breakdown of who the Sacklers are, including those who have and haven't been involved in Purdue Pharma: ARTHUR SACKLER Arthur, a doctor and psychiatrist, founded a research laboratory in 1938, but Arthur's real genius was in marketing and he leveraged it to sell a number of medications, including the anti-anxiety drug, Valium. He and his younger brothers Mortimer and Raymond owned a small pharma company called Purdue Frederick that they purchased in 1952. That company produced betadine and earwax. Arthur remained a relatively silent partner in the old Purdue and died in 1987 before it became the company we know it as today. He never saw any of Purdue's OxyContin profits. He donated the funds to open a number of medical education programs, libraries and museums. Arthur was inducted into the Medical Marketing Hall of Fame upon his death in 1987. After his death in 1987, his brothers bought Arthur's portion of the company. One of his four children, daughter Elizabeth, has largely taken over his philanthropy work. Arthur and his heirs have had no involvement in Purdue Pharma or with OxyContin. MORTIMER SACKLER Mortimer was an American physician and psychiatrist. He and his brothers, the older Arthur and the younger Raymond published prolific medical research before buying a number of pharmaceutical companies, including, in 1952, Purdue Frederick. After Arthur's death Mortimer and Raymond bought out his descendants' share of Purdue Frederick, and in 1991 they created the company that would become a pain management giant we now know, Purdue Pharma. Mortimer became a lavish arts patron, known for equally extravagant donations and parties, beginning in the 1970s. He died in 2010. RAYMOND SACKLER Raymond was a doctor like his older brothers, and the three were partners in all things until each of their deaths. Together with Mortimer, Raymond found success with their opioid painkiller, OxyContin, which became the Purdue Pharma's signature drug. Raymond was milder and more private than his brother, Mortimer. Raymond had two children, Richard and Jonathan, before his death last year. ILENE SACKLER Mortimer's eldest daughter with his first wife. She was listed as a director of Purdue's sister company, UK-based Napp Pharamaceutical Holdings, as of December 2016. She lives in an apartment in an iconic Upper West Side which she owns. Its total value is estimated to be more than $122million. KATHE SACKLER Kathe is one of the directors of Napp, a UK-based company which also sold OxyContin. She owns two suburban properties in Connecticut which are separated by another owned by someone else and she lives in an Upper East Side townhouse with her wife, Susan Shack Sackler. The house was owned by both Raymond and Mortimer. Their children share it. Kathe and Ilene had a brother, Robert, is deceased. JONATHAN AND RICHARD SACKLER Raymond's two son by wife Beverly. Jonathan formerly lived with his wife in Greenwich, Connecticut, in a property next to his mother's. Richard's former family home is not far away in neighboring Stamford. They have a cancer research center named after them at Yale and have both held positions at Purdue. RICHARD SACKLER Richard Sackler followed in his father's footsteps, getting his medical degree at New York University School of Medicine. He came to Purdue after medical school, leading the research and development that ultimately produced the extended release form of OxyContin that would elevate the family's fortune to previously unfathomable. He became president of Purdue in 1991, pioneering marketing campaigns that enticed droves of medical professionals to buy Purdue's opioid. Richard became co-chairman in 2003, by which point $1.6 billion in OxyContin had been sold. His marketing schemes sparked suspicion, and in 2015, Richard was deposed before his company paid out a $24 million settlement. The company appealed in 2017, but the case has not moved forward. ELIZABETH SACKLER Arthur's daughter has publicly and persistently attempted to distance herself from branch of her family that has profited from OxyContin. Elizabeth is a licensed psychiatrist and well-known philanthropist. She is the founder of an eponymous Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. She has previously expressed disgrace for her uncles' business. Elizabeth has previously told DailyMail.com: 'I, nor my siblings, nor my children have ever owned or benefited from Purdue Pharma or OxyContin or oxycodone. 'It's another branch of the family.' BEVERLY AND THERESA SACKLER Theresa, 69, owns a $45million Upper East Side apartment building but lives mostly in the UK on a 10-acre estate in the Berkshire countryside. She is known in the UK as Dame Theresa Sackler, a title she was awarded for her sustained philanthropy and support of the arts. Theresa is more visible than her sister-in-law. Beverly, 94, is Raymond's widow. She lives on a Greenwich, Connecticut waterfront estate which has an estimated land and property value of almost $50million. She also owns a 17-floor Fifth Avenue building in Manhattan. When her husband was still alive, they donated the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Institute for Biological, Physical and Engineering Sciences at Yale. It now employs 50 people across 20 departments. MORTIMER DAVID ALFONS SACKLER Mortimer the only son of founding brother Mortimer, Mortimer II's mother is Gertraud Wimmer, Mortimer's second wife. Mortimer David owns a luxury condo building in Boston and lives in New York City with his 42-year-old wife Jacqueline. The couple are a regular fixture on the Manhattan social circuit. DAVID AND JOSS SACKLER David is intensely private but his wife, Joss, is not. She runs the members-only women's social club, LBV. Among its events are group workouts at the model haven gym Dog Pound and talks such as 'how to have the money talk with your kids.'



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More than 470,000 deaths in the US since 2000 have been linked to opioids, including both prescription drugs and illegal ones such as heroin and fentanyl.

The US topped 50,000 opioid-related overdose deaths for the first time in 2019 and several states last year reported a record pace of overdose deaths due to all drugs.

The plan, which marks the company's formal offer to settle the lawsuits, sets up trusts that would indirectly control the new entity to distribute money to states, local governments and tribal organizations for opioid abatement programs.

It also establishes trusts to pay out to private entities and individuals that have brought opioid-related lawsuits against Purdue, including hospitals, insurance carriers and legal guardians of children born with addiction-related issues.

In its proposal, the company said the Sackler family members would contribute nearly $4.3billion over a decade, the company would kick in $500million upfront and its sales would generate another $1billion through the end of 2024.

The company says additional money would come from insurance claims.

Individual victims and their families would share $700million to $750million over time.

With nearly 135,000 such claims, that would work out to average payments under $5,600. Personal injury payments are expected to range from $3,500 to $48,000.

The new entity will be overseen by a board comprising independent managers selected by states and local governments in consultation with Purdue and its unsecured creditors' committee, according to its plan.

The Sacklers will not be part of that selection process.

Purdue said the new entity will not promote opioid products to healthcare providers.

The Sacklers are one of the wealthiest families in the world but the true size of the family's fortune is unclear.

An earlier court filing said family members received transfers of $12 billion to $13 billion from Purdue over the years, though a lawyer said much of that went to taxes or was reinvested in the company.

Raymond and Mortimer Sackler founded Purdue in 1991. They, along with their children, profited from the development of OxyContin.

Other members of the Sackler family - including Arthur Sackler, who died in 1987, and his children - are not involved with Purdue.

Until the opioid crisis became a national talking point, members of the Sackler family lived a largely unaffected life. As the issue plagued them, they had their name - which once carried them through high society around the world - stripped from museums and school scholarships.
MIAMI, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cano Health (the "Company"), a leading value-based primary care delivery platform for seniors, today announced that it will administer COVID-19 vaccines to eligible individuals in Florida on April 10, 2021 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Cano Health will offer the vaccine to Florida residents 18 years and older with Florida state-issued photo identification or proof of Florida residency. Vaccines will be administered at six sites across Florida on a first-come, first-served basis:

4160 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL 33607

33607 1507 N. John Young Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34741

34741 110 Century Blvd., Suite #200, West Palm Beach, FL 33417

33417 680 N. University Dr., Pembroke Pines, FL 33024

33024 8300 W. Flagler St., Suite #210, Miami, FL 33144

33144 4201 Palm Ave., Hialeah, FL 33012

Cano Health has vaccinated thousands of its patients and continues to contact its highest-risk patients to schedule appointments and transportation to those medical centers prepared to administer the vaccine.

About Cano Health

Cano Health operates value-based primary care centers and supports affiliated medical practices that specialize in primary care for seniors in Florida, Texas, Nevada, and Puerto Rico, with additional markets in development. As part of its care coordination strategy, Cano Health provides sophisticated, high-touch population health management programs including telehealth, prescription home delivery, wellness programs, transition of care, and high-risk and complex care management.

The Company's personalized patient care and proactive approach to wellness and preventive care sets it apart from competitors. Cano Health has consistently improved clinical outcomes while reducing costs, affording patients the opportunity to lead longer and healthier lives. Cano serves a predominantly minority population (80% of its patients are Latino or African American) and low-income population (50% of its patients are dual eligible for Medicare and Medicaid). The Company was recognized in August 2020 by Inc. Magazine for the second consecutive year as one of the fastest-growing health care companies in the country, ranking 39th among all U.S. privately held companies as part of its annual 5000 ranking. For more information visit www.canohealth.com.

SOURCE Cano Health, LLC

Related Links

https://www.canohealth.com


Kansas City medical workers are at the epicenter of a vicious healthcare debate over employee compensation.

Last month we talked about a tough story wherein a Research Hospital worker struggled to make a living whilst the CEO earned a bonus that brought his salary to nearly $30-MILLION a year.

This week national news picks up the story and focuses on the cowtown pandemic front line.

"NBC News' Cynthia McFadden speaks with one Missouri hospital worker who worked especially hard amid the pandemic without an increase in pay while the CEO who owns the hospital got a 13 percent raise."

Take a look:

You decide . . .
US-Mexico asthma study examines hygiene hypothesis amid pandemic

TUCSON, Ariz. -- A cross-border investigation of children's susceptibility to asthma and other childhood illnesses in the United States and Mexico is the focus of a new study led by researchers in the Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center at the University of Arizona Health Sciences.

The study is funded by a $15.3 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The Binational Early Asthma and Microbiome Study, or BEAMS, will recruit 500 Mexican-American and Mexican children - 250 in Tucson, Arizona, and 250 in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico - before the mothers have given birth. The mothers will be evaluated while pregnant and the children will be followed from birth to age 5 to examine how the "hygiene hypothesis" affects them and their risk of asthma.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the hygiene hypothesis suggests reduced exposure to germs keeps a child's immune system from developing the ability to naturally fight infectious organisms.

"Paradoxically, in the middle of all the poverty and underdevelopment in many 'barrios' and 'colonias' in Nogales, Sonora, there is less asthma," said Fernando Martinez, MD, study principal investigator, director of the UArizona Health Sciences Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, the Swift-McNear Professor of Pediatrics at the UArizona College of Medicine - Tucson and a BIO5 Institute member. "There is four times less asthma there than here, and our studies show the main reason is because, although children in Nogales, Sonora, are exposed to harmful bacteria that cause many infections, they are also exposed to a lot of protective bacteria that train their immune system to distinguish between dangerous and innocuous microbes."

BEAMS is the latest in a series of UArizona-led respiratory studies - anchored by the Tucson Children's Respiratory Study, ongoing since 1980 - that have yielded revelations and remedies on asthma, the hygiene hypothesis and respiratory disease progression from infancy to adulthood.

This current study seeks to provide a better understanding of the early origins of asthma and to offer new asthma prevention strategies to improve respiratory health for the Mexican-American community in Southern Arizona, and potentially for all Americans.

"One of the reasons why it is so important for us to be a Hispanic Serving Institution is because our unique location in the Sonoran Desert creates incredible opportunities for transborder research and collaboration that could have worldwide benefits," said University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins, MD. "Asthma is the most common noncommunicable disease among children, and Dr. Martinez's research could have far-reaching impact for our most vulnerable populations. I am very excited to follow the results of this study to better understand what causes asthma and to develop therapies that will provide respiratory relief for our borderlands region and nearly 340 million people worldwide."

BEAMS takes three approaches to analyzing asthma susceptibility: a population study on subjects' immunological and epidemiological risks, including family health history; a microbiological study to look at environmental exposures and the microbiome; and a mechanistic study to try to re-create that microbiome in animal models.

Environmental samples to be collected include water and dust from the home, while blood, stool and airway swabs will be gathered from participants. These will be evaluated to learn how microbes dictate - or don't - the development of allergies and asthma, as well as what genetic influences may result in better preventive therapies.

"It is this three-pronged approach - the population, microbiological and mechanistic studies - that gives BEAMS its edge," said Donata Vercelli, MD, professor of cellular and molecular medicine, associate director of the Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center and one of several principal investigators. "We are going to do something absolutely novel and, to some extent, revolutionary. We will have a microbiological picture of whatever is happening in the lives of these children and their mothers at very high resolution."

Both Drs. Martinez and Vercelli are interested to see if the social isolation and enhanced hygiene of the COVID-19 pandemic will affect children participating in the study.

"These changes in lifestyle related to COVID-19 might also prompt differences in how the developmental trajectory in these children occurs," Dr. Vercelli added. "This could be an enormous confounding factor. Whereas, because we are proposing this in-depth analysis, we have an opportunity to actually see if, whether and how these differences in behavior and lifestyle impact these children and their mothers."

###

Other BEAMS principal investigators include: Anne L. Wright, PhD, a UArizona pediatrics professor specializing in pulmonology, allergy and immunology, and co-founder of the Children's Respiratory Study and Infant Immune Study; Cecilia Rosales, MD, professor and chair of the Division of Public Health Practice and Translational Research, and associate dean for community engagement and outreach at the UArizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health; and Susan Lynch, PhD, professor and director of the Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

BEAMS is supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a unit of the National Institutes of Health, under Award No. P01AI148104.

This story has been published on: 2021-04-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination notices have appeared along the Grand Canal Greenway in Tullamore.

A series of different notices have been posted along the route and all have links to the Telegram Channel, jointhewhiterose.

Click the > arrow above the photo or 'Next Story' below to go through the gallery of pictures of the notices

The anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination channel has close to 14,000 followers across the world with two groups in Ireland, one of which is specifically for the Midlands.

The messages appeal to the public to refrain from wearing masks, likening face coverings to 'muzzles'; cast doubt on vaccinations and claim the media is the virus which is telling people what to think.

For more information from the HSE on Covid-19 and the vaccine rollout in Ireland CLICK HERE

You do not require anybody's permission to breathe freely. Take off the muzzle, said one sticker.

Another described obedience as Doing what you're told, regardless of what is right, and added that resistance is Doing what is right, regardless of what you're told.

The Channel gives a selection of posters to print and offers advice on printers to use saying it is possible to print hundreds of stickers per minute 'for dirt cheap'.

Following the storming of the Capitol in Washington DC in January, Telegram surpassed 500 million active users across the world adding over 25 million in just three days as more main-stream social media channels removed users from their platforms including former US President Donald Trump.

Tullamore-based councillor Declan Harvey has condemned the proliferation of stickers which have been placed on bins, signs and lifebuoy poles along Fiona's Way near the town.

Cllr Harvey, a local Fianna Fail representative and regular user of the Grand Canal walkway amenity, said the great majority were observing the public health advice and abiding by the Covid-19 regulations in an effort to get rid of the virus.

Without most of the people doing their best we'd all be a lot worse off. Without them doing that and continuing to do that the whole country would be in a terrible state, said Cllr Harvey.

The councillor also hit out against those who drop their litter on the canal bank and asked them not to leave their coffee cups on the greenway and in the vicinity of the dog foul bins.

We had a clean-up there and will filled nine bags of rubbish. I'm calling for more dog pooh bins on both sides of the canal like the ones that are at the entrance to Fiona's Way.
A first of its kind Disability Rights Moot Court meant to identify gaps within Zimbabwean legal frameworks that hinder women with disabilities, survivors of sexual abuse and violence from accessing justice will be launched in Masvingo this month, 263Chat has learnt.

A brainchild of the Institute for Community Development in Zimbabwe (ICODZIM), the moot court competition will see four higher learning institutions taking part.

The University of Zimbabwe, Ezekiel Guti University, Midlands State University and Great Zimbabwe University's Herbert Chitepo School of Law, who will play host, will be taking part in the pioneering project.

ICODZim Communications and Advocacy Officer, Elinera Manyonga TOLD 263Chat that the organisation seeks to improve access to justice for women with disabilities who are often sidelines or frowned at when their cases are brought before the courts and in the end, their rights to equal justice are not realised.

"The aim of the moot competition is to try and bridge the gap in access to justify by women with disabilities. Hence why law students from the mentioned universities will be participating.

"(The idea was brought about) after the realization that women with disabilities still face numerous barriers such as communication barriers (most if not all health facilities in Zimbabwe do not have sign language interpreters and IEC materials in braille), distance barriers, attitudinal barriers, building barriers (some health facilities have stairs but do not have elevators as well as ramps) in accessing their Sexual Reproductive Health Rights services," Manyonga said.

The intersection between the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), both address legal capacity, access to justice, equal recognition before the law, gender and disability stereotyping, state due diligence obligations, among other issues.

CRPD Article 6 adopts a gendered lens recognizing the multiple and intersecting dimensions of women's lives and Article 12 requires equal recognition before the law or legal capacity.

Article 13 includes the right to access justice, requiring States to provide procedural and age-appropriate accommodations, to facilitate effective participation.

CEDAW Article 15 requires states to ensure that men and women have equal access to the legal system, ensuring legal autonomy.

Because women with disabilities have rights under both CEDAW and CRPD, State Parties have a due diligence obligation to afford them the full and fair legal capacity, and access to the justice system.

ICODZim, Manyonga said, designed a project to promote the uptake and access of SRHR services by women and girls with disabilities.

"Seven months into the project now, ICODZIM discovered that women with disabilities suffer from sexual violence and abuses but most of their cases go unreported and in most cases do not receive fair justice because law officers stigmatize and stereotype them. One other major challenge which barricades women with disabilities from fully enjoying their constitutionally granted rights to health services and justice is poor inconsistent policies," she added.

Despite Zimbabwe having made progress in promoting women's rights over the years, Manyonga said there are still gaps that need special attention in order for the country to fully realise its mandate of emancipating women.

"The main reason is to unravel and bring to attention the sad, uncouth and uncivilized reality that even after the Beijing conference, 41 years of Independence and an amended Constitution, WWDs ars still not getting fair access to justice and their SHR rights are severely compromised," she noted.

The Best speaker at the competition will get his or her semester fees paid for by the ICODZim and will walk away with books on Disability Rights and a floating trophy while the winning university will also get a trophy, prize money and books on disability rights.

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Manyonga said ICODZim remains committed to lobbying, advocating and championing the rights and fair opportunities for people and women with disabilities.

"We will leave no stone unturned in achieving this and we will roll out more dynamic, progressive and inclusive programs in our endeavour to achieve our vision and consolidate it," she added.

According to UN Women, worldwide, women and girls with disabilities are up to three times more likely to be raped, twice as likely to experience other forms of gender-based violence, and more likely to suffer worse injuries and more prolonged abuse than women and girls without disabilities.

In addition to the types of abuse faced by all women and girls, those with disabilities are also at risk of forced or coerced institutionalization; forced abortion and/or sterilization; denial of medication, mobility aids or communication equipment; and intentional neglect or the threat of withdrawal of care, among other risks.
TAMPA, Fla., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Syft, a leading national provider of healthcare inventory control and end-to-end supply chain cost management software and services, today released findings from a survey of 100 hospital frontline nurses and nurse leaders that sought to understand their perspectives of hospital supply chains. The findings reveal that nurses face significant supply chain management problems that impact efficiency, patient safety, and hospital margins.

Conducted in February 2021 by Sage Growth Partners, a healthcare consultancy, the full results are included in Syft's new annual market report: "Nurses: The Secret Factor for Better Supply Chains."

Key findings include:

Nurses encounter significant supply chain documentation problems, and 80% want more supply chain automation tools

Eighty-five percent of nurses said they encounter challenges documenting supplies

Ninety-five percent said inaccurate physician preference cards decrease their efficiency

Sixty-five percent said their current supply documentation system is too time consuming

Many nurses said supply chain challenges impact patient safety

Eighty-six percent of nurses said they leave procedures to hunt for supplies at least occasionally, and 61% said this increases patient safety risks

Twenty-five percent said they don't always check product expiration or recall information, which increases risk of patient safety issues; 48% attributed this to lack of time

Supply chain problems take a significant toll on nurse stress and burnout

Eighty-six of nurses said their supply chain documentation system causes them stress

Thirty-three percent said hospital leadership is not working hard to reduce OR nurse stress

Eighteen percent said they have considered leaving their current role due to supply chain problems

Nurses say supply chain problems result in excess waste and lower margins

Seventy-six percent of nurses said supply shortages are common, and 23% said that the greatest impact of this is reduced revenue

Thirty-three percent lack access to waste-reduction tools like barcode scanning

Twelve percent said their OR wastes supplies in more than a quarter of cases

"Hospitals are taking steps to improve their supply chains after seeing vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19, but these findings show that they won't be successful until they start factoring in the nurse experience," says Todd Plesko, CEO of Syft. "Nurses are experiencing pervasive and troubling challenges related to efficiency, patient safety, waste, and mental health due to supply chains not recognizing their needs. Creating a more nurse-centric supply chain is critical to every hospital's success."

Methodology

Syft commissioned Sage Growth Partners , a healthcare consultancy, to conduct the independent survey of 100 nurses in February 2021. Respondents included licensed practical nurses/registered nurses (45%), nurse managers (39%), chief nursing officers (5%), directors of surgery/surgical services/perioperative services (5%), nurse practitioners (5%), and directors of nursing (1%). For more demographics and methodology, download the full report.

About Syft

Syft enables enterprise-wide inventory management and disaster recovery solutions through a powerful combination of services, automation tools, and real-time data analytics. The comprehensive Syft Synergy platform eliminates the need for multiple point solutions and facilitates immediate supply savings with a range of capabilities including master data management, inventory services, supply chain management software, analytics, and advanced reporting. Founded in 1999, Syft is used by more than 245 customers (970 U.S. hospitals) to control costs, processes, and productivity across the entire organization. For more information, visit Syft at www.syftco.com .

Media Contact

Boh Hatter

(410) 790-9570

[email protected]

SOURCE Syft

Related Links

https://www.syftco.com


Minneapolis, April 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2021 ) :The police officer accused of murdering George Floyd used inappropriate "deadly force" when kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes, an expert told a court in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

Jody Stiger, a use-of-force specialist testifying for the prosecution, was questioned at the trial of Derek Chauvin, the white officer seen in phone footage kneeling on Floyd, who was Black.

The harrowing images of Floyd's arrest in May 2020 touched off protests against racial injustice and police brutality in the United States and around the world.

Stiger, a Los Angeles police officer, said that Chauvin's actions were "deadly force" because Floyd "was in the prone position." "And the pressure... being caused by (Chauvin's) body weight could cause positional asphyxia, which could cause death," Stiger said, after being shown pictures of the scene.

Asked how much force was reasonable when Floyd was lying on his front, handcuffed and not resisting, Stiger said "no force should have been used once he was in that position." "An officer is only allowed to use a level of force that is proportional to the seriousness of the crime, or the level of resistance," he said.

Defense attorney Eric Nelson asked Stiger if use-of-force sometimes "looks bad, but it's still lawful." Stiger agreed, saying "yes, based on that department's policies or based on that state's law." Prosecutors are seeking to prove that Floyd's death was due to asphyxiation, while Chauvin's defense claims it was due to illegal drugs in Floyd's system.

- 'Bad, but still lawful' - Stiger said video footage suggested that the small crowd gathered at the site was not a hostile threat or a distraction for the officers -- challenging one apparent defense strategy to explain Chauvin's actions.

He also testified that Chauvin squeezed Floyd's fingers and pulled his wrists using a technique to force people to comply to orders, but that Chauvin continued when Floyd offered no resistance.

And Stiger said police were trained to avoid the neck when handling people, and to always put them on their side or seated when handcuffed.

Another officer taking the stand Wednesday, James Reyerson, a lead investigator into the death, estimated that Chauvin weighed about 140 lbs (63 kilograms) and carried 30-40 lbs of equipment when he knelt on Floyd.

Minneapolis police chief Medaria Arradondo testified on Monday that Chauvin violated the department's training and its "values." Chauvin, 45, who was sacked from the police force after the incident, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and manslaughter.

Floyd was arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill in a nearby store.

A paramedic testified last week that Floyd, 46, was already dead when an ambulance arrived and that Chauvin was still kneeling on his neck.

Chauvin, who has been in court every day taking meticulous notes and consulting with his attorney, faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge -- second-degree murder.

Floyd's family gathered in Minneapolis for the trial have said they are braced for further grueling evidence including images from the autopsy.

"We talk about different things that we might see in court," his brother Philonise Floyd told the local StarTribune.

"We know that autopsies are getting ready to show, so we're prepping each other." Their lawyer Ben Crump said that he was not aware of any plea negotiations between the prosecution and Chauvin.

"The family wants him to be held accountable in the court of law to the full extent," Crump said.

Police officers are rarely convicted in the United States when charges are brought and a conviction on any of the counts against Chauvin will require the jury to return a unanimous verdict.

Three other former police officers involved in the arrest are to be tried separately later this year.
The Chief Executive Officer of leading steel manufacturing company in West Africa B5 Plus Limited, Mukesh Thakwani has been honoured at this years edition of the Business Executive Excellence Awards.



The awards, organised by the Business Executive, a Pan West African media, communications and events management company, was to recognise businesses and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) who have excelled in their business fields.



Mr. Thakwani has bestowed the honour for his exceptional and excellent contributions to the business sector in the country.



About Mukesh Thakwani



He stood against all odds to build the leading steel company- B5 Plus Limited in Ghana, which most industry watchers say is one of the fastest-growing steel companies in West Africa.



Today, Mr. Mukesh V. Thakwani is the Chief Executive Officer of B5 Plus Steel Industry, located in Tema in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. He started the business in a small office with small staff.



Founded in 2002, he aims at providing highly customer-centric product with excellent relationship building skills to customers.



The company succeeded because he served the needs of the indigenous building and construction industry, plethora of distributors and retailers, as well as business organizations/people not catered for by other steel companies in Ghana and beyond.



From a very humble beginning, B5 Plus Ltd has grown by leaps and bounds and become one of the premier steel industries in the West African region.



Currently, B5 Plus Ltd with several subsidiaries including DPS International has staff strength of over 1,200.



As an avid and astute businessman, Mr. Mukesh V. Thakwani has a rich experience of 25 years in steel industry in the African business landscape. A bead roller is a tool that makes rigid lines in sheet metal to make surfaces more rugged and durable.



He is the proud recipient of the European Award for Quality and Excellent Services award, 2013, and was recently crowned the West African Personality of the Year 2015 by the Business Executive Magazine, a leading international magazine in West Africa.



His personal journey has taken him from India to West African countries like Liberia, Togo, and Benin since 1988, before settling down in Ghana to highly-successful, and multiples award-winning entrepreneur. That journey has helped him to acquire an incredible business expertise.



The soft-spoken entrepreneurs career with B5 Plus Ltd as well as other endeavours such as his role the Managing Director of Young Industries Limited, Tema, Ghana; Young Industries Limited, a Steel Manufacturing and a Trading Company; the Managing Director of F.G. Developers Limited, Tema, Ghana; F.G. Developers Limited, a Warehousing and Real Estate Development Company in Ghana; and the Managing Director of Steel Mali S.A., Bamako, Mali, has been characterised by a desire to encouraging entrepreneurial spirit in the West African sub-region.



Mr. Thakwani is referred to by his plethora of admirers and colleague captains of industry as the Doyen of West Africas Steel Industry.



AWARDS



Mr. Thakwanis sterling leadership and entrepreneurial skills has won him and his company a number of laurels. Among his awards are:



Pillars of Modern Ghana Awards Presented to B5Plus Limited, Category: TNG, Steel Fabrication Company in Ghana for the year 2014



The Biz 2014  Mr Mukesh V Thakwani in recognition of Excellence in Business Management, with all its rights and privileges given in the city of Abu Dubai, UAE, 2014



AGI Ghana Industry Awards  Certificate was presented to B5Plus Limited for being best company in the metals, buildings & construction sector in the 3rd AGI Ghana Industry, 2014



Head of state awards Scheme certificate of Appreciation presented to B5 Plus for sponsoring the 3rd Annual Award Gala & HoSA Ghana Business Award 2015 held at the banquet hall, State House, Accra.



Global Trade Leaders Club  awarded to B5 Plus Limited with International Europe Award for Quality in recognition of its commitment to the quality and excellence of its services, 2013.



Ghana Revenue Authority  awarded for the most improved Taxpayer, Custom Division 2013



MISE Foundation  Certificate of Appreciation presented to B5 Plus Limited in recognition for their unreserved commitment for supporting Mathematical sciences Education in Ghana through the work of MISE Foundation.



Biz 2014  WORLD Leader Business Person Awarded to Mr Mukesh V Thakwani for being successful leader who works in an innovative Knowledgeable and systematic manner, given in the city of Abu Dhabi, UAE on September 28th 2014.



The Socrates Committee Oxford,UK  2014  B5 Plus Limited has been recognized as one of the best enterprises in the field of steel Industry. Ghana.



The recipient of the European Award for Quality and Excellent Services award, 2013; and Recently crowned the West African Personality of the Year 2015 by the Business Executive Magazine, a leading international magazine in West Africa.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

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Skyrmions  tiny magnetic vortices  are considered promising candidates for tomorrows information memory devices which may be able to achieve enormous data storage and processing capacities. A research team led by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) has developed a method to grow a particular magnetic thin-film material that hosts these magnetic vortices. A central aspect of this new method is the abrupt heating of the material with short, very bright flashes of light, as the international team, consisting of scientists from HZDR, the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, TU Dresden (TUD), and Chinese partners, describes in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

In 2009, a research team had made a remarkable discovery: They found that tiny magnetic vortices can form in a material called manganese silicide  an alloy of manganese and silicon. Since then, these skyrmions, named after British physicist Tony Skyrme, have been considered promising candidates for future magnetic storage devices. They can be easily formed on and erased from surfaces and are no larger than a few nanometers (billionths of a meter), which makes them much smaller than the magnetic bits on todays hard drives that measure about 50 nanometers.

In addition, skyrmions can be better targeted with electricity than with magnetic fields, as is done with current hard drives, explains Dr. Shengqiang Zhou, a physicist at HZDRs Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research. Targeting with an electric current allows us to achieve better scalability, which might enable us to build much denser and faster storage devices in the future. But there are still some obstacles to overcome along the way. Among other things, silicon and manganese present an unfavorable property when they form crystals of manganese silicide: Instead of consistently producing one specific, well-defined phase, the two elements can form many different crystal phases. Thin films of an Mn-Si alloy, known as the B20 phase, are particularly suitable for the formation of skyrmions.

Undesirable crystal phases

Producing this alloy is anything but easy, though, because another undesirable crystal phase, called MnSi 1.7 , inevitably forms during the production process, impeding or preventing the formation of skyrmions. Specifically, lower temperatures and slower cooling of the material favors MnSi 1.7 . Shengqiang Zhous team has now developed a method that prevents its formation, leaving only thin layers of flawless B20-MnSi.

The core element of the new process is a special heat treatment. Its a bit like making a pancake," Zhou explains. It tastes best when it is crispy on the outside and as soft as possible on the inside. When you pour the batter into a hot pan, it bakes so fast that the inside stays nice and soft. When you bake the batter in the oven, however, it heats up much more evenly and hardens all over  and you get a rather mediocre pancake.

Heating with flashes

So the experts used this pancake strategy of rapid, intense heating as their model. When we heat a thin manganese film placed on top of a silicon wafer very briefly, we introduce very little energy into the material, Zhou explains their rationale. This means it will cool down fast  so fast, in fact, that the unwanted MnSi 1.7 wont have time to form. The challenge is how to heat something rapidly and vigorously at the same time. The research group found the solution in bright, intense flashes of white light.

Such flashes can be generated at the "BlitzLab", a Helmholtz Innovation Lab located on the Rossendorf campus. Various series of measurements confirmed the assumption: By varying the power of the flashes, we were able to adjust the ratio of the different crystal phases with great precision, reports Shengqiang Zhou. When we applied relatively strong powers, thin films of pure B20-MnSi formed as we had hoped.

As a result, the skyrmions that can be generated in these layers are now stable over a much wider temperature and magnetic field range than previously observed in this material. Manganese silicide itself is unlikely to be suitable for practical use since it only works at very low temperatures. But it could serve as an important model for other, more practicable materials. Many alloys pose the problem that they have different phases, Zhou explains. And our approach could help separate these phases in the future.
Governance Analyst, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah has called on parents to monitor the behaviour of their children.



According to him, the laxity in disciplining children is the reason for the bad habits that children exhibit in society.



He was commenting on the gruesome murder of a young boy at Kasoa in the Central Region.



A 11-year old pupil was murdered by his friends aged sixteen and eighteen in an uncompleted building last Saturday.



The murder suspects allegedly used a rod and brick to strike the 11-year old boy to his death, buried his body and planned to later exhume the body for money rituals.



The suspects were arrested by the Police, arraigned before the Ofankor Circuit Court and have been remanded into police custody.



Addressing the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, Dr. Otchere-Ankrah was utterly shocked that teenagers could harbour thoughts of killing human to enrich themselves.



However, to him, just as the teenagers' act is condemnable, so should their parents take a blame for their children's attitude.



He believed the parents and family of the suspects cannot be left off the hook.



"What training did the parents give to the children?", he asked.



To him, the parents must play their roles effectively by taking keen interest in their children's acquisition of material things and disciplining them.



"If you wake up at 4/5 am and toil for your money, you won't misuse money", he stated.



"If we have bad children, then we equally have bad parents. How did the parents bring these children up? . . . where are their parents? Where are their siblings? What is their moral upbringing? . . . What is the role of rewards and punishment?" he queried.



Dr. Otchere-Ankrah also charged the society to play its key role in shaping the behavior of the youth.



''If we say future leaders, then we have to train up our children well to become good children'', he stressed.











Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

Featured Video
[April 08, 2021] Quarterhill to Host Virtual AGM on April 14, 2021

TORONTO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Quarterhill Inc. ("Quarterhill") (TSX: QTRH) (OTCQX: QTRHF), is providing details of its upcoming Annual Meeting of shareholders ("AGM") to be held virtually on Wednesday April 14, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). TO VOTE AHEAD OF THE VIRTUAL AGM

As in prior years, shareholders have multiple options to cast their vote ahead of the AGM, which include on-line, via telephone or via mail. Details on using each method are included in the Management Information Circular (the "Circular") and the form of proxy. Quarterhill's Notice of Meeting, Circular, form of proxy and a Computershare Virtual AGM Guide (collectively the "Meeting Materials") were mailed on or about March 18, 2021. If you have not received your Meeting Materials, please immediately contact your broker if you are a non-registered shareholder or contact Computershare if you are a registered shareholder. Shareholders who are planning to vote ahead of the AGM must submit their proxy voting instructions to Computershare no later than 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on Monday, April 12, 2021. LISTENING TO THE VIRTUAL AGM

All shareholders will be able to listen to the AGM and view the Company's slide presentation as guests via audio webcast. To do so, login online at: https://web.lumiagm.com/471788589, click "Guest" and then complete the online form. Please log in at least ONE HOUR prior to the start time of the AGM on April 14, 2021.



TO VOTE OR ASK QUESTIONS AT THE VIRTUAL AGM

For registered shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders to vote their proxies and/or ask questions at the AGM, please follow the instructions set out in our Circular. All shareholders wishing to have a question addressed at the virtual AGM can avoid the registration requirements set out in the Circular by submitting them in advance to ir@quarterhill.com. Questions will be collected, organized by theme and posed to management at the AGM. Quarterhill is committed to addressing all appropriate questions submitted by shareholders either live during the AGM or in advance, as timing and circumstances permit.

Shareholders who have questions on how to vote their proxy in advance of the AGM, or on how to register to vote at the AGM, can contact Quarterhill's strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent, Kingsdale Advisors, at 1-877-659-1822 or, from outside North America, by collect call to 1-416-867-2272, or by Email at:

contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com About Quarterhill

Quarterhill is a growth-oriented company in the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) industry as well as a leader in Intellectual Property licensing. Our goal is to execute an investment strategy that capitalizes on attractive growth opportunities within ITS - and its adjacent markets - to become a global leader in that industry. Quarterhill is listed on the TSX under the symbol QTRH and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol QTRHF. For more information: www.quarterhill.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quarterhill-to-host-virtual-agm-on-april-14-2021-301264760.html SOURCE Quarterhill Inc.

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Former Maharashtra Chief Minister on Thursday slammed the state government for not curbing the black marketing of COVID-19 drug Remdesivir and said the government should procure the drug from states where the situation is under control.

"Remdesivir injections are being sold in the state through black market. The government should get injections from the states where the situation is under control. It should also take strict action against all those who are involved in black marketing," Fadnavis said.

He added that the Maharashtra government should stop doing politics over vaccines.

"Uttar Pradesh has near double the population than Maharashtra and still they have got fewer vaccines than Maharashtra," he added.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said the state is facing a COVID-19 vaccine shortage and demanded 40 lakh doses every week from the Centre.

Speaking on the issue of Waze's letter to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said that the contents of the suspended police officer's letter must be probed by either the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or another competent authority.

The police officer had written a letter to the NIA court on Wednesday claimed that another Maharashtra Minister had also asked him to illegitimately collect money for him.

The court did not accept the letter, stating that it was not submitted in a proper format.

Waze, who is being probed by the NIA in the Antilia bomb scare, was produced by the agency for further custody when he attempted to submit this letter. The court, however, told him to follow due process and did not accept it.

(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 YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Magnesium market will register an incremental spend of about USD 781.29 Million, growing at a CAGR of 3.11% during the five-year forecast period. A targeted strategic approach to Magnesium 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:

Magnesium 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 KPIs to evaluate incumbent suppliers.

Get a free sample report for more information

Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers:

Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Magnesium market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Magnesium 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%-4.00%.

Identify favorable opportunities in Magnesium 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 Magnesium suppliers listed in this report:

This Magnesium procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

China Magnesium Corp.

Dead Sea Magnesium

Luxfer MEL Technologies

Magnesium do Brasil SA

Ningxia Hui-Ye Magnesium Marketing Co. Ltd.

POSCO

Regal-mg (Shanghai Regal Magnesium Ltd Co.)

VSMPO-AVISMA Corp.

Wenxi YinGuang Magnesium Industry (Group) Co. Ltd.

Zhejiang Dun An New Energy Co. Ltd.

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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SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

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The Ministry of Health on April 7 issued a decision on the allocation of 811,200 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to all 63 cities and provinces, and other agencies.

By April 6, a total of 19 cities and provinces had rolled out the vaccinations, administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to 53,953 people. (Photo: VNA)

They are the first vaccine doses supplied by the COVAX Facility through UNICEF, which arrived in Hanoi on April 1.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will receive the highest numbers, with 53,350 doses for the capital city, and 56,250 doses for the southern largest economic hub.

Meanwhile, the northern province of Hai Duong which has recently borne the brunt of the third wave of COVID-19 outbreaks will get 43,700 doses.

The ministry has asked the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation and the Regional Expanded Programme on Immunisation to immediately transport the vaccine to the target localities and agencies in order to conduct the injections in line with regulations.

The inoculation must be completed before May 15, 2021, and the vaccination outcomes will then be reported to the ministry and relevant institutes, it said.

Vietnam began its COVID-19 inoculation drive on March 8. By April 6, a total of 19 cities and provinces had rolled out the vaccinations, administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to 53,953 people who are frontline medical workers, and members of community-based anti-COVID-19 groups, and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Earlier, the ministry asked localities nationwide to promptly compile a list of individuals prioritised for COVID-19 vaccinations as guided by the Government.

The ten prioritised groups in the free vaccination programme include frontline medical staff, army and public security officers, diplomatic officials and their families who are about to be sent abroad, diplomats and members of UN bodies in Vietnam, teachers, aviation and transport staff, people suffering chronic diseases, people above 65 years of age, those living in pandemic-hit areas, poor people, and social policy beneficiaries.

COVAX has pledged to give Vietnam an additional 4.17 million doses by the end of May.

Vietnam aims to provide COVID-19 shots to 20 percent of its population by the year-end.

VNA
The Northern Ireland Executive is to meet on Thursday morning to be briefed on the ongoing unrest seen over the last week.

Leaders will meet for the briefing at 10am, an hour before the Stormont Assembly is to be recalled to discuss the recent scenes of violence in mainly loyalist areas.

News of the meeting was confirmed late on Wednesday night as trouble continued to rage on the streets of Belfast, with Executive members scheduled to debate a motion condemning the recent attacks on police.

Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill tweeted: The Executive will meet tomorrow morning to be briefed on the violence and street disorder which is causing huge distress in local communities at this time.

Those involved in violence, criminal damage, manipulation of our young people and attacks on the police must stop.

Violent scenes including attacks on police, petrol bombings and rioting have taken place repeatedly on the streets of Belfast and Derry throughout the past week.

A car bursts through the Peace Gates in Lanark Way on Wednesday night (Liam McBurney/PA)

Wednesday night saw a bus hijacked and set on fire, a press photographer assaulted and clashes between loyalists and nationalists at peace line street that links the Shankill Road with the Springfield Road in west Belfast.

The scenes of violence flooded social media and prompted UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to appeal for calm.

He tweeted: I am deeply concerned by the scenes of violence in Northern Ireland, especially attacks on PSNI who are protecting the public and businesses, attacks on a bus driver and the assault of a journalist.

The way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not violence or criminality.

The unrest has been attributed to tension in loyalist communities over the Northern Ireland Protocol on Brexit and the PSNIs handling of alleged coronavirus regulation breaches by Sinn Fein at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey.

People stand next to a fire in a street in Belfast on Wednesday night (Liam McBurney/PA)

First Minister Arlene Foster condemned the attacks on Twitter, saying: There is no justification for violence. It is wrong and should stop.

This is not protest. This is vandalism and attempted murder. These actions do not represent unionism or loyalism.

They are an embarrassment to Northern Ireland and only serve to take the focus off the real law breakers in Sinn Fein. My thoughts are with the bus driver.

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Irish premier Micheal Martin also condemned Wednesday nights events, tweeting: I utterly condemn the violent attacks on police, a journalist, and bus driver over recent days in The North.

Now is the time for the two Governments and leaders on all sides to work together to defuse tensions and restore calm.

Plans to recall the Assembly were already underway after Alliance Party leader Naomi Long secured the required support of 30 members to force a return.

Ms Long  who serves as Justice Minister  said it is her partys intention to get all parties at Stormont to unite around a call for calm and the cessation of violence.

Some 41 police officers had been injured and 10 people arrested over the disturbances, prior to the events on Wednesday night.

Ms Long told RTE that she also wants to hear all elected representatives express confidence in policing structures and in the rule of law.

Over the last number of weeks we have heard increasingly inflammatory public comments around policing in Northern Ireland, political comments that have been deeply and profoundly unsettling and we have then seen this spill over into violence on the streets, she said.

A car drives past the wreckage of a Translink Metrobus on fire on the Shankill Road (Liam McBurney/PA)

These situations and intentions of course then will be exploited by those in paramilitary organisations, so it is incumbent on all of us who are in leadership at a time like this to come together and to speak with one voice to say that this violence must stop and irrespective of our various political views, that we do not support it, that we do not want to see it continue but more than that, that we are absolutely committed to the rule of law and to fair and equitable policing across our society.

The violence has been blamed on anger in response to a decision by the Public Prosecution Service not to pursue prosecutions against members of Sinn Fein who attended the funeral of Mr Storey last year despite restrictions over gatherings, as well as Brexit and localised issues in the south-east Antrim area.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday they had not received an official response from the United States regarding the Open Skies Treaty that Russia is in the process of withdrawing from.

The treaty between the US and Russia had allowed each country overflight rights to inspect military facilities.

"I didn't see the diplomatic note (of the United States position about the return to the Open Skies treaty)," Lavrov said during a visit to Kazakhstan.

"Nobody wrote to us, despite the fact that we warned everybody with diplomatic notes that we are starting the procedure to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty."

Russia said in January that it will withdraw from the international treaty allowing surveillance flights over military facilities after the US exit from the pact, compounding the challenges faced by the Biden administration.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
President Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Sept. 24, 2017. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Trump: Arkansas Governors Veto of Bill Blocking Minor Sex Surgeries The End of Him

The decision by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson to veto a bill that blocks gender reassignment surgeries for minors spells the end of him, according to former President Donald Trump.

The governor just vetoed a Bill that banned the CHEMICAL CASTRATION OF CHILDREN. Bye-bye Asa, thats the end of him! Trump wrote in a statement on Thursday.

Fortunately for the Great State of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders will do a fantastic job as your next Governor! he added.

Hutchinson, a Republican, early this week vetoed the state bill that would bar doctors and other healthcare workers from providing any so-called gender transition procedures to minors.

The Republican-led legislative chambers then overrode the governors veto, meaning the bill will become law later this year.

On April 6, in a combative interview on Fox Newss Tucker Carlson Tonight, Hutchinson defended the veto.

I made it clear that if this was about prohibiting procedures, sex reassignment surgery, absolutely, I would have signed that bill. But this, again, is the first law in the nation that invokes the state between medical decisions, parents who consent to that, and the decision of the patient, he said.

Asked to answer to people wondering whether chemically castrating children is a conservative value, he added: You have parents involved in very difficult decisions. You have physicians that are involved in these decisions and I go back to William Buckley, I go back to Ronald Reagan, the principles of our party, which believes in a limited role of government.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson in the Senate Chamber of the state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., on April 8, 2020. (Tommy Metthe/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP)

Hutchinson, one of the more moderate GOP governors in the country, is term-limited from running for another term.

Sanders, the former Trump aide, is among those seeking to replace him in 2022. Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is also running.

Neither have appeared to comment on the bill blocking sex surgeries for minors. Their campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Mombasa bar and restaurant owners have moved to court to challenge the current county Finance Act, claiming that the county is using it to collect taxes, levies, and charges for last year.

Through the Mombasa County Bars, Hotels, Restaurants and Guest House Association, they claim that the county government is coercing them to pay charges, levies, taxes and penalties for last year, before being issued with operating licenses for 2021.

In a petition at the High Court in Mombasa, the association argue that the county government has ignored a fact that the National Government had ordered closure of their businesses last year due to Covid-19 and they have not fully re-opened to date.

The association which has filed the petition together with Coast Legal Aid and Resource Foundation (Clarf), have sued the County Government of Mombasa, Clerk of the Mombasa County Assembly and County Executive Committee Finance and Economic Planning.

Public participation

According to the petitioners, there was no public participation in the enactment of Mombasa County Finance Act.

"The respondents denied residents of Mombasa a chance to participate in the process of enacting the Mombasa County Finance Act 2021," argues the petitioners.

They are seeking a declaration that the respondents' actions have violated their rights and the constitution to an extent that there was no public participation in the process of making and enacting the Act.

According to the petitioners, they also want a declaration that the respondents' action to impose payments and taxes for last year, before receiving payments and issuing licenses, is illegal.

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The petitioners accuse the county government of deliberately increasing levies or taxes affecting its members and the public, without following due process of the law.

The association and Clarf also argue that the Act illegally introduced bed levy in hotels payable to the county, despite payments of two per cent on Tourist Fund being made, thus amounting to double taxation.

They further argue that consultations on creation and enactment of the Act should be conducted at ward levels to ensure equality and equity for all residents.

The petitioners further accuse the county government of failing to provide vital data, documents, and relevant information to the public regarding items which were bound to have their taxes increased.

"In enacting the Finance Act 2021, the respondents relied on information from third parties or people who are not affected by the enactment," argues the petitioners.

The petitioners claim that the County Finance Bill 2021 was published in the Kenya Gazette before it was presented in the County Assembly for deliberation and approval and that it was not published in the county Gazette.

They also argue that increase of tax by 100 per cent as a result of the enactment of the Act will interfere with the economy of the county as the cost of doing business will rise.

The petitioners are also seeking for an order of permanent injunction to be issued to suspend the implementation of the Act.
(ANSA) - STRASBOURG, APR 8 - Italian jails are the most overcrowded in Europe, the Council of Europe said Thursday.

At the end of January 2020 were were 120 inmates for every 100 beds in Italian prisons, the human rights body said in its annual Space report.

By comparison, Belgium had 117 inmates per 100 places, France and Cyprus 116, Hungary and Romania 113, and Greece and Slovenia 109.

Space chief rapporteur Marcelo Aebi said Italy could solve overcrowding in two ways: cutting prison terms and building more prisons.

He said amnesties like one introduced in 2002 "do not solve the problem".

Outside the EU but still within the CoE's ambit, Turkey was the worst with 127 prisoners per 100 places, and an average of 11 prisoners per cell compared to 1.9 in Italy.

Italy is also the country with the most over-50s in its prison population, some 26% of the total.

Italy has topped the CoE's European jail overcrowding charts for years. (ANSA).


She relocated Stateside from the UK five-years-ago to pursue an acting career.

And Danielle Bux looked every inch the chic star as she stepped out to pick up some flowers at a market in LA on Wednesday.

The model, 41, wowed in a thigh-split black and white floral dress with spaghetti straps, which showcased her toned legs as she strolled in the sunshine.

Wow: Danielle Bux looked every inch the chic star as she stepped out to pick up some flowers at a market in LA on Wednesday

The dress teased a glimpse of her cleavage and flowed loosely over her toned figure.

Danielle kept the look casual with tan sandals and accessorised with a black leather handbag.

Her brunette tresses were pulled into a chic bun and a radiant palette of make-up enhanced her pretty features.

Taking precautions against COVID-19, she donned a grey face mask.

Floral: The dress teased a glimpse of her cleavage and flowed loosely over her toned figure

Leggy: The model, 41, wowed in a thigh-split black and white floral dress with spaghetti straps, which showcased her toned legs as she strolled in the sunshine

Colourful: Danielle kept the look casual with tan sandals and accessorised with a black leather handbag

The move came shortly after her 2016 separation from the Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, 60, after nine years of marriage.

She re-located with her daughter Ella, 19, and confirmed her relationship with US lawyer Nate shortly after.

The happy couple then welcomed a daughter Romy Wren, three, in August 2017.

Shortly after announcing her pregnancy, ex-husband Gary was said to be one of the first to congratulate the couple on their happy news.

Danielle and her long-term partner then later tied the not at a secret summer wedding in Nantucket, Massachusetts in 2019.

Brunette beauty: Her brunette tresses were pulled into a chic bun and a radiant palette of make-up enhanced her pretty features

Sources revealed the couple enjoyed a low-key service on the picturesque island, a popular summer destination off the coast of Cape Cod.

An insider said at the time: 'It was a quiet family ceremony. She kept it on the down-low.'

It is not known if Gary, who maintains a close relationship with his ex-wife, attended the nuptials.

A source claimed: 'Danielle and Gary remain great friends and will continue seeing each other in that capacity with Nate's full blessing.'

Relocation: The model, 41, moved Stateside five-years-ago to pursue an acting career and confirmed her relationship with US lawyer Nate Greenwald shortly after (pictured together in 2019)

Speaking to the Express, Gary admitted he frequently socialises with Nate during his trips to visit Danielle in California.

He revealed: 'He's not got a jealous bone in his body,

'We get on really well. We go out for dinner when I'm in LA. It might be unusual and people might go, "That's weird" but, frankly, I don't care. What is normal?

'Is it better to get divorced and end up fighting, screaming and shouting? Or is it better to get on if you can?'
Mumbai: Swedish-Greek actress Elli AvrRam has travelled to Sweden, and she has taken her own COVID-19 test at the airport because the process is not compulsory in that country.

Elli posted a video on Instagram on Wednesday night, where she is seen wearing a PPE kit and a face shield. In the video, she is seen taking her own nasal swab.

"COVID SELF TEST How you do it at the airport in Stockholm! You do it yourself and ONLY if you want to. Testing yourself is not compulsory in Sweden, but I wanted to do it, since I'm going home to my parents and grandma," she wrote alongside the clip, which currently has 51.9K views.

Elli recently featured in a song with superstar Aamir Khan titled "Har Funn Maula" that the two actors shot for the film "Koi Jaane Na".

Aamir features in the song for the film directed by his friend Amin Hajee, best known for his role of Baagha the mute drummer in "Lagaan". "Koi Jaane Na " stars Amyra Dastur and Kunal Kapoor.
A cyclist has filmed the moment a driver furiously threw his takeaway coffee at their bike while they were riding in the middle of the road.

The rider captured the incident through a camera on the back of their bike as they cycled through the inner Sydney suburb of Waterloo on January 22.

Adult cyclists are required to ride their bicycle on the left side of the road in New South Wales, and are not allowed on footpaths.

The VW driver, seemingly frustrated by the cyclist in the centre of the road, is seen flinging the coffee cup out his window.

The moment a driver throws a coffee cup and flipped off a cyclist riding in the middle of the road has angered riders and divided motorists

Poll WHO IS IN THE WRONG? DRIVER CYCLIST WHO IS IN THE WRONG? DRIVER 72 votes

CYCLIST 113 votes Now share your opinion





'Man throws object at cyclist. Man is on camera. Man is in trouble now!' the video uploaded to Upride is captioned.

The clip showed the car driving behind the cyclist as they both travelled through inner city streets.

The motorist failed to halt at a stop sign before going through a roundabout.

They then flung what appeared to be a coffee cup at the cyclist, before coming up behind the bike as it slowed for a pedestrian crossing.

Just before turning right at a street, the driver said goodbye to the bike rider by flipping them the bird.

The cyclist caught the moment on through a camera on the back of their bike as they rode through the inner south Sydney suburb of Waterloo on January 22, 2021

In New South Wales, a bicycle is considered a vehicle and is subject to the same road rules as cars plus additional regulations.

'[Only] children under 16 years of age are allowed to ride on a footpath [unless accompanying a child],' Transport for New South Wales stated on its website.

'Bicycle riders must use a bicycle lane where one is available. If there is no bicycle lane, ride to the left of the road but avoid grates, debris and parked cars.'

There must be at least one metre between a car and bike on the road.
New York, US (PANA)- Leaders across the world need to move beyond platitudes about young people, and deliver a better future for them all, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the 10th Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum on Wednesday
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Colleges For Associate Degree Programs.

Intelligent.com analyzed 149 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 61 making it to the final list for Online Colleges For Associate Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-colleges-for-associates-degrees/

2021 Online Colleges For Associate Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Albany Technical College

Arkansas Northeastern College

Atlantic Cape Community College

Bethel University

Bucks County Community College

Campbellsville University

Central Texas College

Cerro Coso Community College

Chaminade University of Honolulu

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Colorado Technical University

Cornerstone University

Cowley College

Craven Community College

Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Wyoming College

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Forsyth Technical Community College

Georgia Military College

Georgia Northwestern Technical College

Georgia State University

Great Basin College

Hinds Community College

Hutchinson Community College

Indiana Wesleyan University

Iowa Western Community College

Ivy Tech Community College

Jefferson College

Keiser University

Laramie County Community College

Limestone College

Lone Star College

Mesa Community College

Middle Georgia State University

North Central Missouri College

North Hennepin Community College

Northeast Community College

Northwest Iowa Community College

Northwest Nazarene University

Peninsula College

Purdue University

Regent University

Sessions College for Professional Design

Shoreline Community College

Shorter University

Sinclair Community College

South Texas College

Southern New Hampshire University

Southwestern Assemblies of God University

State Fair Community College

Tallahassee Community College

Taylor University

Tulsa Community College

Tyler Junior College

University of Alaska

University of Alaska Fairbanks

University of Toledo

Vincennes University

Wake Technical Community College

Waldorf University

Western Kentucky 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 day after the Monetary Fund forecast a global growth of six per cent for this year, Managing Director Christine Georgieva has said that after the worst global recession since the Second World War, the recovery is underway.

The outlook, she asserted, is brighter because millions of people are benefitting from vaccinations and because of further policy support, especially in the US.

Georgieva said this is adding to the exceptional and coordinated actions taken over the past year.

"Without them, without those fiscal and monetary measures, the global contraction last year would have been three times worse. This could have been another Great Depression," she noted.

"We have a good news that there is light at the end of the tunnel. After the worst global recession since the Second World War, the recovery is underway. As you know, yesterday we lifted our global growth forecast to 6 per cent for this year, 4.4 per cent for 2022," Georgieva told reporters at the start of the annual Spring Meeting of the and the World Bank on Wednesday.

Yet, while there is light, the crisis continues to cast a dark shadow. Economic fortunes are diverging dangerously. A small number of advanced and emerging market economies, led by the US and China, are powering ahead. Weaker and poorer countries are falling behind in this multi speed recovery, she rued.

"We also face extremely high uncertainty, especially over the impact of new virus strains and potential shifts in financial conditions. And, there is the risk of further economic scarring from job losses, learning losses, bankruptcies, extreme poverty, hunger. Policymakers must take the right actions now by giving everyone a fair shot - not just into people's arms, but also in people's lives and in vulnerable," the MD said.

The Global Policy Agenda released by the IMF, she said, focusses on three things: a fair shot at the vaccine, a fair shot at recovery and a fair shot at the future.

"This is perhaps the most consequential decision that any government can make this year. The focus should be on scaling up public investment in green projects and digital infrastructure, in people's health and education, to ensure that everyone can benefit from the historic transformation to greener, smarter, more inclusive economies," she argued.

"To unlock this potential, countries will need sufficient public revenues, and they would need more efficient spending. In many cases, this will mean more progressive taxation and an agreement on questions like minimum taxation for companies and tax rights. This has to be coupled with stronger support for poorer countries as they fight the crisis and seek to invest in the future," Georgieva said.

She said the IMF will propose a new Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation of USD 650 billion.

"This will help address the long term global need for reserve assets and provide substantial liquidity boost to all our members, especially the most vulnerable. What this crisis has shown us is just how inescapable our shared destiny is. Now, we must build on this broader sense of common responsibility to foster a fair recovery and a resilient post pandemic world," she said.

Responding to a question, Georgieva said after the global financial crisis, the most important lesson the world learned was that we needed to boost the resilience of the banking system.

"And we did it. After this crisis, our understanding of the importance to work together to build resilience to future shocks is definitely much more profound, and it is that concentration within communities, countries, and internationally, on building resilience of people, investing in education, health, social protection, building the resilience of our planet," she said.

Georgieva said many of us were worried that the pandemic would push aside concerns about this other crisis, the climate crisis.

"That did not happen. On the contrary, we are much more understanding of this interdependence and also our dependence on nature," she added.

"A more comprehensive resilience of the even going back to the global financial crisis, now we recognise that we worked on the banking system but not on the non-banking financial institutions, and we are seeing that we have to expand this resilience building more broadly towards them as well," she said.

Georgieva said that she thinks this is a change we all have to integrate in our thinking, and hopefully it would help us to be much more proactive as a world community, as countries, as businesses and families, towards this more resilient world.

"It is not by chance that we all recognise that digitalization, climate resilience, the transition to the new climate economy, more attention to equality, these are lessons we are taking with us," 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.)
New Delhi:

During her visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday visited forward locations of Leh, Ladakh and Siachen. Sitharaman reviewed security situation and also interacted with soldiers.

Defence Minister inaugurated Pratham-Shyok bridge in Leh which will connect the region to Karakoram in north eastern Ladakh.

Earlier on Friday, Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday reached on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir where she would review the security situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Valley and Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh region.

She was received by Northern Army Commander and the Chinar Corps Commander at the Old Airfield. Sitharaman also visited one of the forward posts on the LoC in Kashmir.

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EDWARDSVILLE  A new Cross-River Crime Task Force to has been created to sustain a countywide focus on crime flowing across the Mississippi River into Madison County.

The groups first meeting is scheduled for Friday, April 9 and includes Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly, Madison County Sheriff John Lakin, Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine, U.S. Marshal Brad Maxwell, U.S. Attorney Steven Weinhoeft, police chiefs from multiple Madison County communities and regional agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
The nurses union has issued a 10-point plan to address the strain on the Perth Childrens Hospital emergency department following the tragic death of a seven-year-old girl who waited two hours before getting treatment.

Australian Nursing Federation WA state secretary Mark Olson sent the plan to Health Minister Roger Cook on Thursday morning, calling for a ratio of one nurse for every three patients.

There were about 200 patients at the PCH emergency department on Saturday when Aishwarya Aswath was initially considered a non-urgent case before she rapidly declined despite pleas for help from her distraught parents. Four of 18 emergency department doctors were off sick at the time.

The nurses new plan also calls for a rapid recruitment turnaround of four weeks maximum from advertising to getting boots on the ground.
Cacuso (Malanje)  The Quitota Mine, located in Quizenga commune, Municipality of Cacuso, in the north-central Malanje Province, will begin this month the exploration of manganese in the open, with an average monthly production of 10k tonnes.

As part of the National Development Programme, the mining project expects to reach around 40k tonnes of manganese by the end of this year (a product used in the production of special steels, taking into account its resistance, anti-wear and stiffness).

Owned by the company MN-Kitota Exploracao Mineira e Comercio Ltd, the mine was licensed in 2020, in a concession of 576 square kilometers, in the area located between the municipalities of Cacuso, Calandula, in the Province of Malanje, extending up to Samba Caju area (Cuanza Norte Province).

In order to assess the preparations for its start-up, a delegation from the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, headed by the national director of Mineral Resources, Andre Buta Neto, worked on Tuesday in the region.

The head of the mine, Miguel Sergio Teixeira, guaranteed that everything is being done so that the project is inaugurated on the 19th of this month.

"We are carrying out work on the exploration fronts, setting up the crushing and ore extraction lines", he said, adding that the project will have two exploration phases, the first in the open and the second underground, with a reserve of 12 million tonnes.

According to Miguel Teixeira, the level of manganese to be explored in the Quitota Mine ranges from 43 to 48%, and the steel companies in the country will be the main destinations for the production, before considering export.

He said that, in this first phase, manganese will be transported to the processing plant located in Luanda, via road, and afterwards by train, through the Quizenga Station, which is 15 kilometers from the mining project.

Miguel Teixeira revealed that around US $15 million was spent to reactivate the mine, which, from 1969 to 1974, was operated by a Dutch company.

In the area of social responsibility, the project, which employed 20 local youths and 6 expatriates, foresees the construction and equipping of a school with 6 classrooms, a health post, as well as support for peasants in the municipality of Cacuso.

As part of the National Development Programme, the mining project expects to reach around 40k tonnes of manganese by the end of this year (a product used in the production of special steels, taking into account its resistance, anti-wear and stiffness).

Owned by the company MN-Kitota Exploracao Mineira e Comercio Ltd, the mine was licensed in 2020, in a concession of 576 square kilometers, in the area located between the municipalities of Cacuso, Calandula, in the Province of Malanje, extending up to Samba Caju area (Cuanza Norte Province).

In order to assess the preparations for its start-up, a delegation from the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, headed by the national director of Mineral Resources, Andre Buta Neto, worked on Tuesday in the region.

The head of the mine, Miguel Sergio Teixeira, guaranteed that everything is being done so that the project is inaugurated on the 19th of this month.

"We are carrying out work on the exploration fronts, setting up the crushing and ore extraction lines", he said, adding that the project will have two exploration phases, the first in the open and the second underground, with a reserve of 12 million tonnes.

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According to Miguel Teixeira, the level of manganese to be explored in the Quitota Mine ranges from 43 to 48%, and the steel companies in the country will be the main destinations for the production, before considering export.

He said that, in this first phase, manganese will be transported to the processing plant located in Luanda, via road, and afterwards by train, through the Quizenga Station, which is 15 kilometers from the mining project.

Miguel Teixeira revealed that around US $15 million was spent to reactivate the mine, which, from 1969 to 1974, was operated by a Dutch company.

In the area of social responsibility, the project, which employed 20 local youths and 6 expatriates, foresees the construction and equipping of a school with 6 classrooms, a health post, as well as support for peasants in the municipality of Cacuso.
A Brooklyn man was arrested on Wednesday for three separate hate crimes aimed at Asian people, police said.

Joseph Russo, 27, allegedly attacked an elderly man, shoving him to the ground, on Monday in his third motiveless assault in two months.

Footage shows Russo grabbing a bouquet of flowers from an outdoor display and hurling them toward the road, before seeing his victim - a 77-year-old man.

Joseph Russo, 27, was arrested on Wednesday for three Asian hate crimes

Russo reportedly pushed the elderly Asian man who was shopping for vegetables in Sheepshead Bay, southern Brooklyn.

The victim was left with bruises to his left arm after the assault. Investigators believe it was a random attack and no words were exchanged between the pair.

On March 22, in a second daytime attack, Russo is accused of assaulting a 32-year-old woman by pulling her hair as she walked along Kings Highway in the Homecrest neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Police released footage of the March attack, hoping to catch Russo, who had not been identified at the time.

In the grueling footage, Russo can be seen dragging his victim by the hair for several feet before suddenly letting go, smacking the wall twice with his hand, and walking away.

The woman was left with pain in her head and neck, but refused medical treatment.

Russo is accused of shoving a 77-year-old man to the ground in an attack on Monday and assaulting a 32-year-old woman by yanking on her hair on March 22

Late on Wednesday, police charged Russo over a third incident, which took place on March 5, ABC7 NY reported.

In that attack, the suspect allegedly approached a 64-year-old Asian woman and shoved her to the ground.

Russo has been charged with assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment as a hate crime.

The three incidents come amid a surge in hate crimes against Asians in America.

Russo's alleged attacks come amid a surge in hate crimes against Asians in America

In mid-March, the NYPD revealed that it had recorded a 1,300 per cent increase in anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic

Activists have taken to the streets to demand an end to anti-Asian violence (pictured, a protest against rising numbers of hate crimes in New York)

Last week, a 65-year-old Asian woman was knocked to the ground and viciously beaten while on her way to church in Manhattan.

A video shows the victim, 65, being pushed to floor and kicked in the head by an unidentified passer-by during the daylight attack March 26.

The suspect can be seen stomping on the women's head and face at least three times during the unprovoked attack.

Two doormen who witnessed the incident were fired after failing to intervene, it emerged this week.

Brandon Elliot, 38, was formally indicted during a court appearance on Monday in the case, according to the New York Post.

The homeless man was out on parole in the death of his mother, who he murdered in the Bronx in 2002.

He was sentenced to 25 years to life for the crime but was released from prison on lifetime parole in 2019.

He is scheduled to be arraigned April 21 and faces two counts of felony assault as a hate crime, as well as a count of attempted assault in the first degree.

Elliot faces 25 years in prison, plus further penalties for violating his parole if he is convicted.

In mid-March, the NYPD reported a 1,300 per cent increase in anti-Asian hate crimes during the Covid pandemic.

On April 4, thousands of people participated in a protest to demand an end to anti-Asian violence in New York City.

The group of at least 3,000 people, made up of activists, residents and local politicians, marched across the Brooklyn Bridge.

People are increasingly speaking against anti-Asian violence and hate crimes after statistics showed a surge in reports in the last 12 months.

A 28-year-old man in southern California was charged, accused of throwing rocks at an Asian woman and her six-year-old son as they drove down the street in late March.

Roger Janke, 28, of Fullerton, faces up to six years in jail if found guilty of violating civil rights, vandalism, hate crime enhancement, and a misdemeanor count of throwing a substance at a vehicle.
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.
Prime Minister on Thursday said night curfew has been an accepted experiment globally to contain the COVID-19 spread and called for popularising such restrictions, which have already been imposed in various parts of the country, as 'corona curfew' to spread awareness among people.

He also dismissed the "intellectual debate" about only having an effect in the night and said such a curfew helps in spreading awareness about the deadly virus with minimal impact on daily lives of people.

Night curfew has been imposed by local administration in several places including Mumbai, Delhi, Noida, Lucknow and other parts of the country amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.

"Where ever night curfew is in place, there the phrase 'corona curfew' should be used so that awareness regarding is maintained," Modi said during his interaction with chief ministers to discuss the COVID-19 situation and the ongoing vaccination drive.

"Some people have this intellectual debate that 'does corona only come in the night'. In reality, the world over night curfew has been an accepted experiment because every person during the curfew time is reminded that I am living in Corona-era and lifestyle is not affected to a large extent," he said.

The prime minister said, however, it would be better that the 'corona curfew' starts at 9 PM or 10 PM in the night and goes on till 5 AM or 6 AM in the morning so that other activities are not affected.

"It should be popularised as 'corona curfew'. Corona curfew is helping make people aware (about the virus)," he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The simmering conflict in Eastern Ukraine has threatened to boil over the past few days, with Russia massing troops near the border and pro-Kremlin media raising the specter of war.

Why it matters: U.S. European Command went into high alert in light of the Russian movements, which some experts speculated could presage an active Russian military intervention in the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine, where Ukraine has been fighting pro-Russian separatists for seven years.

The backstory: Kremlin hopes that Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky would cut a peace deal on Russia's terms have faded, leaving a diplomatic deadlock.

Direct intervention in the Donbas could give Putin leverage, bolster his standing ahead of parliamentary elections this year, and potentially help secure a much-needed water source for occupied Crimea.

But the costs of such a war likely exceed any benefits for Moscow, removing all plausible deniability from Russia's war in Ukraine and risking a strong Western response.

The other side: Zelensky tweeted Thursday that he was heading to the Donbas because a Ukrainian soldier had been killed overnight and he wanted "to be with our soldiers in the tough times."

The crisis has sparked a burst of patriot fervor and a strong show of support from Washington, both of which have strengthened the embattled Ukrainian president, notes Dmitri Trenin of Carnegie Moscow.

President Biden and virtually his entire top team called their Ukrainian counterparts over the past week, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called Zelensky on Tuesday.

While Kiev was dismayed when the French and German leaders met with Putin (and not Zelensky) during the crisis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel Thursday "demanded" in a call with Putin that "this build-up be unwound in order to de-escalate the situation," her office said.

What to watch: Russian officials and pundits have been warning that Russia's hand might be forced if separatists in Donbas are slaughtered by Ukrainian troops. There's no clear factual basis for such fears, but they could provide a pretext for intervention.

The bottom line: The flare-up is a reminder that the war in Ukraine is far from over and could deepen dramatically, now or some day down the line.
The Navy medic accused of shooting and injuring two other U.S. sailors at a Maryland military facility Tuesday was stationed in San Antonio in 2012 and 2018.

Fantahun Girma Woldesenbet, 38, served at the Navy Medicine Training Support Center in JBSA-Fort Sam Houston between Dec. 22, 2012, and April 19, 2013, and then again between May 25, 2018, and Dec. 16, 2018, according to Randy L. Mitchell, director of public affairs at Fort Sam Houston.

He had also been assigned to the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command in Corpus Christi between 2013 and 2015.

Woldesenbet was a Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class and had collected a number of awards and decorations since joining the military in 2012, including the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, according to Mitchell.

READ ALSO: Navy medic shoots 2 US sailors; is stopped, killed on base

He had been assigned to the Naval Medical Research Center at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland since August 2019.

Officials say they don't know what led to the shooting inside a military facility at the Riverside Tech Park.

After shooting the two sailors, Woldesenbet then drove to the base nearby, military officials said. Guards, who had been given advanced noticed, attempted to pull Woldesenbet over to conduct a search but he sped off before he was finally stopped a half mile into the base by Fort Detrick police, said Brig. Gen. Michael J. Talley in a news conference Tuesday.

Talley said police then shot Woldesenbet after he pulled out a weapon. Officials don't know why Woldesenbet returned to base.

The two sailors who were shot were also assigned to Fort Detrick and airlifted to the hospital. One of the sailors is in critical but stable condition while the other is in serious condition.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 16:23:05|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A solar power generating project with the capacity of producing 22.82 kilowatt power has been completed in Mohammed Zahir village of Spin Boldak district in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province, said a statement of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development released here Thursday.

Funded by the ministry and constructed at a cost of 8.5 million afghani (110,000 U.S. dollars) in 1,513 working days, the project will provide electricity to 206 families, the statement added.

The statement also noted that the ministry would continue to build similar projects, solar power generating systems to illuminate villages in the countryside.

The militancy-plagued Afghanistan has been facing power shortage as the country including the capital of Kabul only has limited hours of power during day and night times.

To overcome power scarcity, the government has imported power from neighboring Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, but the imported energy is still too little to meet domestic need. Enditem
Taiwan authorities have charged an alleged Chinese spy and his wife with money laundering after they were identified by self-confessed Chinese intelligence operative Wang Liqiang who defected to Australia.

Businessman Xiang Xin and his wife Gong Qing, both directors of the company Wang says employed him to run interference operations, were detained at Taiwans main airport in November 2019 as they tried to leave the country after reports in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes identified Xian as a Chinese spy.

Wang Liqiang defected to Australia. Credit:Steven Siewert

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office announced on Thursday it had filed charges of money laundering against the couple, while they were also under investigation under the countrys National Security Act.

According to a report in Taiwan publication United Daily News, the prosecutions investigation found Xiang and Gong received $HKD203 million in illegal profits. The prosecution also said they were suspected of violating the National Security Act and travel bans had been placed on them.
In the first nine months of the pandemic, around 116 million babies were born worldwide, according to Unicef estimates. This left researchers scrambling to answer a critical question: Could the virus be transmitted through breast milk? Some people assumed it could. But as several groups of researchers tested the milk, they found no traces of virus, only antibodies  suggesting that drinking the milk could protect babies from infection.

The next big question for breast milk researchers was whether the protective benefits of a Covid vaccine could be similarly passed to babies. None of the vaccine trials included pregnant or breastfeeding women, so researchers had to find lactating women who qualified for the first vaccine rollout.

Through a Facebook group, Rebecca Powell, a human milk immunologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in Manhattan, found hundreds of doctors and nurses willing to periodically share their breast milk. In her most recent study, which has not been formally published, she analyzed the milk of six women who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and four who had received the Moderna vaccine, 14 days after the women had received their second shots. She found significant numbers of one particular antibody, called IgG, in all of them. Other researchers have had similar results.

There is reason to be excited, said Dr. Kathryn Gray, a maternal fetal medicine specialist at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, who has conducted similar studies. Wed presume that could confer some level of protection.

But how do we know for sure? One way to test this  exposing those babies to the virus  is, of course, unethical. Instead, some researchers have tried to answer the question by studying the antibodies properties. Are they neutralizing, meaning they prevent the virus from infecting human cells?

In a draft of a small study, one Israeli researcher found that they were. Breast milk has the capacity to prevent viral dissemination and block the ability of the virus to infect host cells that will result in illness, Yariv Wine, an applied immunologist at Tel Aviv University, wrote in an email.

Research is too premature for vaccinated mothers who are breastfeeding to act as if their babies cant get infected, however, said Dr. Kirsi Jarvinen-Seppo, the chief of pediatric allergy and immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Jarvinen-Seppo has been conducting similar studies. There is no direct evidence that the Covid antibodies in breast milk are protecting the infant  only pieces of evidence suggesting that could be the case, she said.
DALLAS - April 8, 2021 - New research has uncovered a surprising role for so-called "jumping" genes that are a source of genetic mutations responsible for a number of human diseases. In the new study from Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI), scientists made the unexpected discovery that these DNA sequences, also known as transposons, can protect against certain blood cancers.

These findings, published in Nature Genetics, led scientists to identify a new biomarker that could help predict how patients will respond to cancer therapies and find new therapeutic targets for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the deadliest type of blood cancer in adults and children.

Transposons are DNA sequences that can move, or jump, from one location in the genome to another when activated. Though many different classes of transposons exist, scientists in the Xu laboratory focused on a type known as long interspersed element-1 (L1) retrotransposons. L1 sequences work by copying and then pasting themselves into different locations in the genome, which often leads to mutations that can cause diseases such as cancer. Nearly half of all cancers contain mutations caused by L1 insertion into other genes, particularly lung, colorectal, and head-and-neck cancers. The incidence of L1 mutations in blood cancers such as AML is extremely low, but the reasons why are poorly understood.

When researchers screened human AML cells to identify genes essential for cancer cell survival, they found MPP8, a known regulator of L1, to be selectively required by AML cells. Curious to understand the underlying basis of this connection, scientists in the Xu lab studied how L1 sequences were regulated in human and mouse leukemia cells. They made two key discoveries. The first was that MPP8 blocked the copying of L1 sequences in the cells that initiate AML. The second was that when the activity of L1 was turned on, it could impair the growth or survival of AML cells.

"Our initial finding was a surprise because it's been long thought that activated transposons promote cancer development by generating genetic mutations. We found it was the opposite for blood cancers, and that decreased L1 activity was associated with worse clinical outcomes and therapy resistance in patients," says Jian Xu, Ph.D., associate professor in CRI and senior author of the study.

MPP8 thus suppressed L1 in order to safeguard the cancer cell genome and allow AML-initiating cells to survive and proliferate. Cancer cells, just like healthy cells, need to maintain a stable genome to replicate. Too many mutations, like those created by L1 activity, can impair the replication of cancer cells. Researchers found L1 activation led to genome instability, which in turn activated a DNA damage response that triggered cell death or eliminated the cell's ability to replicate itself. Xu believes this discovery may provide a mechanistic explanation for the unusual sensitivity of myeloid leukemia cells to DNA damage-inducing therapies that are currently used to treat patients.

"Our discovery that L1 activation can suppress the survival of certain blood cancers opens up the possibility of using it as a prognostic biomarker, and possibly leveraging its activity to target cancer cells without affecting normal cells," says Xu.

###

Xu is an associate professor of pediatrics at UT Southwestern and a Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Scholar in Cancer Research. Lead authors from the Xu lab include Zhimin Gu and Yuxuan Liu. Other collaborators include John Abrams and Alec Zhang from UT Southwestern, and Wenfeng An from South Dakota State University.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01CA230631 and R01DK111430), CPRIT (RR140025, RP180504, RP180826 and RP190417), a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Scholar award, an American Society of Hematology Scholar award, a Leukemia Texas Foundation research award, a Welch Foundation grant (I-1942), and donors to the Children's Medical Center Foundation.

About CRI

Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) is a joint venture of UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Medical Center Dallas, the flagship hospital of Children's Health. CRI's mission is to perform transformative biomedical research to better understand the biological basis of disease. Located in Dallas, Texas, CRI is home to interdisciplinary groups of scientists and physicians pursuing research at the interface of regenerative medicine, cancer biology and metabolism. For more information, visit: cri.utsw.edu. To support CRI, visit: give.childrens.com/about-us/why-help/cri/.

About UT Southwestern Medical Center

UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution's faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 23 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 17 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 2,800 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in about 80 specialties to more than 105,000 hospitalized patients, nearly 370,000 emergency room cases, and oversee approximately 3 million outpatient visits a year.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed a law Wednesday that eliminates a legal defense known as qualified immunity, making it easier to sue government employees, including police officers, for civil rights violations.

Why it matters: New Mexico is now the third state to eliminate qualified immunity as a national debate unfolds on legal protections for police officers sparked by the 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

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Context: Qualified immunity shields government officials from liability in civil rights lawsuits unless they violated a clearly established constitutional right.

That generally means public officials are shielded from an overwhelming majority of civil rights lawsuits.

New Mexico's bill allows victims to sue the employer of the individual who violated their rights for damages capped at $2 million.

What they're saying: New Mexicans are guaranteed certain rights by our state constitution, Gov. Lujan Grisham said. Those rights are sacred, and the constitutional document providing for them is the basis of all we are privileged to do as public servants of the people of this great state."

"Indeed, good public servants work tirelessly every single day to protect those rights, to ensure them, to safeguard New Mexicans. But when violations do occur, we as Americans know too well that the victims are disproportionately people of color, and that there are too often roadblocks to fighting for those inalienable rights in a court of law."

In response to some of the commentary surrounding this measure, I will say: This is not an anti-police bill. This bill does not endanger any first responder or public servant  so long as they conduct themselves professionally within the bounds of our constitution and with a deep and active respect for the sacred rights it guarantees all of us as New Mexicans.

The big picture: Steve Hebbe, chief of police in Farmington, New Mexico, and president of the states police chiefs association, told the Wall Street Journal that the law will only "get a few people some justice in state court" and that it won't address more pressing issues, such as police training.

"Communities and taxpayers are going to have to pay for it. It will be easier to sue the police, but it wont bring about police reform," Hebbe said.

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ARLINGTON, Va. and NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The ALS Association and Project ALS are pleased to announce that their jointly sponsored pilot program has resulted in this week's announcement by Ionis Pharmaceuticals of FUSION, a Phase 3 clinical trial of ION363 (also known as jacifusen), a novel antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) for ALS patients with a mutation in the fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene.

In February 2020, the two ALS non-profits joined forces to support a pilot clinical research programled by Neil Shneider, MD, PhD, director of the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Centerwhich allowed several patients with this rare and aggressive form of ALS to receive treatment with jacifusen.

"The Ionis trial of ION363 is evidence that by working together at a very early stage, non-profits that are passionate about treating and curing ALS can pay forward more and better opportunities for patients," said Kuldip Dave, PhD, Vice President of Research, The ALS Association. "This pilot program with Project ALS is part of a larger strategy toward providing treatments for all genetic forms of ALS, including rare types."

The ION363 trial has its deepest roots in Valentine's Day, 2019, when Jaci Hermstad, a 25-year-old Iowa woman, was diagnosed with FUS-ALS, eight years after losing her identical twin sister to the same disease at age 17. The Hermstad family contacted Project ALS and Dr. Shneider, who had been investigating the potential of ASOs in treating patients with FUS-ALS, to ask if there were any therapies that might help Jaci.

"The Hermstads' story became an instant magnet for so many talented and caring people, from Ionis and Dr. Shneider, an expert in the FUS gene, to volunteer regulatory experts, manufacturers, and academic advisers," said Valerie Estess, Project ALS director of research. "Jaci's courageand the teamwork she inspiredcan now pay off for all patients with FUS-ALS.

Funding from the ALS Association and Project ALS made it possible for Dr. Shneider and his team at Columbia to offer jacifusen to ten additional FUS-ALS patients over the last two years while tracking safety data on the drug and disease-relevant biomarkers in parallel. "The ALS Association and Project ALS came together at a critical moment, allowing us to learn more about the safety and potential efficacy of jacifusen," said Dr. Shneider, who will lead the Phase 3 trial. "I believe that their steadfast support of this early-stage clinical research provided Ionis with the data needed to further develop jacifusen in the current pivotal trial."

"Jaci Hermstad's spirit inspired us from the start," said C. Frank Bennett, PhD, Ionis' chief scientific officer and franchise leader for neurological programs. "Ionis will take this program forward because everyone involved in this experience shares the same goal: better medicine for ALS and other devastating neurological illnesses."

About The ALS Association

The ALS Association is the largest private funder of ALS research in the world. The Association funds global research collaborations, provides assistance for people with ALS and their families through its nationwide network of chapters and certified clinical care centers, and advocates for better public policies for people with ALS. The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while urgently searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about The ALS Association, visit als.org.

About Project ALS

Project ALS identifies and funds the most promising scientific and medical research that will lead to the first effective treatments and a cure for ALS. We recruit the world's best scientists and doctors to work togetherrationally and aggressivelyto develop a better understanding of the ALS disease process and, in parallel, better therapeutic strategies. To learn more about Project ALS, visit projectals.org and follow on Twitter @projectALSorg.

About The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center

The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center at Columbia University provides comprehensive clinical care to ALS patients and families. We are an ALS Association Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence Center and an MDA/ALS Care Center. In addition, The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center leads an integrated ALS research program at Columbia University that spans basic, translational, and clinical efforts throughout our institution. Through a greater understanding of disease mechanisms, our efforts focus on the development of novel therapeutics for individuals and families with ALS. For more information about the Center, visit alscenter.cuimc.columbia.edu.

About Ionis Pharmaceuticals

For more than 30 years, Ionis has been the leader in RNA-targeted therapy, pioneering new markets and changing standards of care with its novel antisense technology. Ionis currently has three marketed medicines and a premier late-stage pipeline highlighted by industry-leading neurological and cardiometabolic franchises. Our scientific innovation began and continues with the knowledge that sick people depend on us, which fuels our vision of becoming one of the most successful biotechnology companies. To learn more about Ionis visit ionispharma.com and follow on Twitter @ionispharma.

SOURCE Project ALS
New Delhi, April 8 : Facebook is in no mood to notify those who were affected in a massive data breach involving 533 million users, including over 61 lakh Indians.

The company, however, said that it has "made changes to the contact importer" to stop the scraping of the data which is old.

"We have teams dedicated to addressing these kinds of issues and understand the impact they can have on the people who use our services. It is important to understand that malicious actors obtained this data not through hacking our systems but by scraping it from our platform prior to September 2019," Facebook said in a statement this week.

Scraping is a common tactic that often relies on automated software to lift public information from the internet that can end up being distributed in online forums like this.

"As a result of the action we took, we are confident that the specific issue that allowed them to scrape this data in 2019 no longer exists," the company said.

The company said that it believes the data in question was scraped from people's Facebook profiles by malicious actors using its contact importer prior to September 2019.

This feature was designed to help people easily find their friends to connect with on our services using their contact lists.

"When we became aware of how malicious actors were using this feature in 2019, we made changes to the contact importer. In this case, we updated it to prevent malicious actors from using software to imitate our app and upload a large set of phone numbers to see which ones matched Facebook users," Facebook explained.

There are third-party platforms that can still tell you if you were part of the Facebook data breach.

One such website that tracks data breaches is "Have I Been Pwned".

Put in your email address or phone number and it will not only tell you if you've been part of the latest Facebook breach but also breaches in the past.

The Facebook leaked data includes Facebook ID numbers, profile names, email addresses, location information, gender details, job data, and other details.
Fleet managers can rest easy knowing that theyll know instantly if anything goes wrong, and so will be able to resolve it quickly.

Your smartphones probably monitoring something remotely -- and for good reason. For many years, weve been able to get instant and often crucial updates on our health, homes, and even cars via remote monitoring and diagnosis.

Now you can keep your generator ready for action the same way. Remotely monitoring generator performance prevents many expensive issues before they even occur, and keeps your generator shipshape so it doesnt fail when its needed most. With Duthie Power Services' new website - http://www.duthieremote.com - customers with Ayantra remote monitoring can easily monitor their generator performance and export usage, AQMD, and fuel reports.

Prevents Inconvenient (and Expensive) Generator Failures

For example, batteries tend to be ignored by owners...until their generators dont start.

Theres a saying in the generator industry that over 50% of generator failures are caused by weak batteries, says Andy Rogers, Vice President of Business Development at remote monitoring company Ayantra. Literally half the time, if a generator doesnt turn on when its needed, it turns out that its because the batterys weak.

Remote monitoring provides real-time updates of your generator and its components performance, including battery status. It notifies when batteries need to be charged, fuel needs to be refilled, a service visit is due, and many other issues. Some even allow us to remotely start your generator to make sure it runs! These notifications allow Duthie to fix many problems before an outage occurs.

Since batteries need to perform optimally in an emergency, this helps our customers avoid at least 50% of generator failure issues.

Keeps an Eye on As Many Generators As You Need

Remote monitoring capabilities are essential to homeowners and commercial building managers alike, but building managers with several generators can take even more advantage of it.

Our remote monitoring service reports the location and status of each generator you have in your fleet, as well as alerting people for weak batteries, faults, and services due, says Andy. Fleet managers can rest easy knowing that theyll know instantly if anything goes wrong, and so will be able to resolve it quickly. They have peace of mind knowing that their generators will function properly in an emergency, no matter what.

Compliance Reports with a Single Button Push

Since Ayantra is based in California, it gives commercial generator owners in California a very tangible benefit: compliance reports.

The state of California requires generators of a certain size to be registered with the state, explains Andy. Based on a site's location, the state will specify an allotment for total engine run-hours over the course of the calendar year, plus a separate allotment for total exercise hours for the year.

Local inspectors can go to any site and demand a compliance report to see if that generator ran for too long, was used too much, or exceeded allotment hours for test purposes.

Running a manual report is usually a time-consuming pain, but Ayantra can create accurate compliance reports at the touch of a button. This is a unique offering because since were based in California, we know the local regulations intimately. So we built in this option to make running reports much more convenient for our California customers.

Our Experience with Remote Generator Monitoring

Here at Duthie, weve experienced how Ayantras remote monitoring has freed up our service technicians to do what only they (not bots) can do. The instant notifications that result in routine service visits have cut down on the number of emergency visits our team has had to make. Since emergency visits and big repairs are significantly more expensive for our customers, this saves our clients both money and frustration.

Ayantras remote monitoring helps us bring support to our clients without demanding more manpower (and the ensuing greater expense), says Jennifer Watkins, marketing manager at Duthie. This allows us to perform better for our customers.

We ourselves use Ayantra to actively monitor the location of every generator in our rental fleet, as well as any customers whose generators have a remote monitoring capacity. If youre considering a remote monitoring service for your generator, call us up at 562-790-1772 or contact us online to find out more from a professional generator expert.


Significant changes to the road layout on State Highway 2/Maunganui Road, near the Bayfair roundabout, are scheduled to take place from this week as part of the Bay Link project.

With work on the five ground improvement sites nearly complete, the focus for the northern end of the project is construction of the underpass and Bayfair flyover.

"This next phase involves constructing a temporary road in the middle of the current work zone north of the Bayfair roundabout," says a spokesperson for Waka Kotahi Transport Agency.

"Traffic will be moved across to the centre of SH2/Maunganui Road to allow space for the new cyclist and pedestrian underpass to be constructed either side.

"Beginning this week, night works will be carried out to create new lanes and reconfigure the Bayfair roundabout.

"This is anticipated to take approximately three weeks."

The night works are scheduled to take place as follows:

 From Thursday 8 April to Thursday 15 April between 7pm and 5am (finishing Friday morning) lane closures will be in place on the approaches to and around the Bayfair roundabout while the new road layout is configured in this area.

 In preparation for the traffic switch on Monday 12 April, a partial closure of the Bayfair roundabout is scheduled on Sunday 11 April between 7pm and 5am (finishing Monday morning). During these hours motorists from Girven Road will not be able to travel through the roundabout or turn right on to SH2. SH2 southbound traffic will also not be able to turn right on to Matapihi Road. A sign-posted detour will be in place via the Sandhurst Drive/Mangatawa Interchange.

"Please drive with caution through the project site, reduce your speed and follow directions provided. Where possible, please use alternative routes or plan your travel outside of this work."

In the event of bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, this work may be moved to the next suitable night/s.

Road users are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz) for up to date information.

More information about the project can be found on the Bay Link website: www.nzta.govt.nz/baylink

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey this summer. Keep up to date with:
Police say a Geistown man admitted to stabbing a local woman to death inside his apartment, blaming an argument over the price of a refrigerator for sparking the clash.

Denise Williams, 54, of Hornerstown, was stabbed multiple times with a knife  despite efforts to protect herself from the attack  after agreeing on social media to buy the fridge at his apartment, County Coroner Jeff Lees said.

She put up one heck of a fight to defend herself, Lees said. But this was a violent death she sustained.

The man accused of taking her life, 26-year-old Joshua Gorgone, apparently left Williams to die in his Old Scalp Avenue apartment but was arrested Tuesday afternoon by police in a Richland Township shopping center parking lot.

Vehicle ended up elsewhere

There are indications an effort may have been made to misdirect authorities.

In the hours following her fatal attack, her Chevy sport utility vehicle was found four blocks away from the crime scene and her cell phone was located eight miles away on Sheridan Street in Johnstown.

Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer said investigators believe Williams drove to Gorgones apartment on Monday, and her vehicle and the phone ended up in the other locations after she died.

Fresh blood was found on the drivers side door and a small bag of possible cocaine was left in the center console, police wrote in a criminal complaint.

Criminal homicide charges and two counts of aggravated assault have already been filed against Gorgone, and additional charges could follow as the investigation progresses, Neugebauer said

Gorgone is being held without bond because criminal homicide is a nonbailable offense in Pennsylvania.

There is no further risk to the public, Neugebauer said.

Tragic ties

Gorgone now awaits a preliminary hearing before District Judge Susan Gindlesperger.

Neugebauer said it was too soon to speculate what prompted the attack and, at this point, it isnt believed the pair knew one another before arranging to meet through Facebook Marketplace  an online garage sale within the social media page where people can buy, sell and trade goods.

He said police located the online ad Gorgone posted about the fridge.

Williams was looking to buy the fridge as a gift for her boyfriend, Neugebauer added.

Williams is the sister of Robert Bobby Williams Jr., who was shot and killed inside his Richland home in 2013, moments after two men forced their way into his home, according to authorities.

Despite reward offers, that case remains unsolved  but Neugebauer said there are no indications that the cases are related.

He described Tuesdays homicide as a horrible, gut-wrenching coincidence.

ALSO READ: Harrisburg man shot to death while watching TV in his bedroom

Williams was a Conemaugh Health System employee who worked in the nursing field, Lees said.

The mother of two children, Williams was remembered as charismatic, loving and always willing to do whatever it took to help someone she loved, family wrote in a GoFundme.com page established in her memory Tuesday.

There is never a challenge she would back down from, and when it came to her family, there were no lengths she wasnt willing to go, Debby Hannah wrote in her tribute.

Neugebauer said Williams family is going through an unimaginably difficult time  and deserves gratitude for playing a crucial role in helping investigators track down her assailant.

When they couldnt reach Williams on Tuesday, family members recognized that something wasnt right and didnt hesitate to call police, he said.

They were also aggressive in tracking information down about her whereabouts, providing police with a Facebook post that led investigators to the crime scene, Neugebauer added.

They deserve all of our thanks, he said.

Lees said Williams was found inside the apartments bathroom. The massive amount of blood she lost from the stabbings caused her death, he said.

Neugebauer indicated several knives were seized as evidence from the scene.

He said it was too soon to speculate whether more than one knife was used and declined to elaborate on the style of knife.

Neugebauer said investigators are seeking subpoenas for additional information, including digital sources, that could provide further evidence in the case.

Geistown police are leading the investigation, which remains ongoing, Chief Nick Zakucia said. A state police records and identification unit, Richland Township police and the coroners office are all assisting Geistown.

___

David Hurst of The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa., wrote this story.

(c)2021 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.)

Visit The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) at www.tribune-democrat.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
New Delhi, April 8 : The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal has admitted hospitality major OYO's plea against the admission of an insolvency plea against its subsidiary by the Ahmedabad-bench of NCLT.

OYO had moved the appellate tribunal on Wednesday after NCLT on March 30 ordered the commencement of the insolvency proceeding against OYO Hotels & Homes Private Ltd (OHHPL). The NCLT ordered the commencement of a corporate insolvency resolution process of the OYO subsidiary with effect from April 1, 2021.

The tribunal had directed OYO Hotels and Homes to submit its claims with proof on or before April 15 to the interim resolution professional.

"The NCLAT provided a stay for the formation of COC in IBC proceedings against OHHPL, subsidiary of OYO. OHHPL appealed the order in front of NCLAT and explained that a demand draft of Rs 16 lakh was issued to the claimant under protest and the claimant has willingly banked the DD," said an OYO statement.

Taking to Twitter, Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO of OYO said: "I am so grateful to everyone for their support on social media since yesterday. Thank you for discouraging misleading news and forwarded msgs." The CEOs response comes on the backdrop of reports on Wednesday suggesting the OYO has filed for bankruptcy.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 14:44:59|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A total of 529,911 people have been vaccinated in Mongolia against COVID-19, the country's health ministry said Thursday.

Mongolia launched a COVID-19 vaccination campaign across the country on Feb. 23, with the aim of vaccinating at least 60 percent of its 3.3 million adult population in the country.

"We are working to vaccinate all adults in the country against the virus by July 1 as part of the efforts to curb COVID-19 infections," the ministry said in a statement.

So far, Mongolia has registered 12,780 COVID-19 cases, with 22 related deaths. Most of the confirmed cases were detected in the country's capital Ulan Bator.

In recent days, more than 500 COVID-19 infections have been reported on a daily basis in the country, mostly in Ulan Bator, which is home to over half of the country's total population. Enditem
Christian groups back new LGBT civil rights bill that protects religious institutions Christian conservative groups call bill's religious exemptions 'narrow'

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WASHINGTON  A new bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives Friday backed by faith groups seeks to extend federal discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity while providing protections for individual and institutional religious objectors to homosexuality.

Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, introduced the Fairness for All Act amending the Civil Rights Act to include discrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and includes laser-precise language protecting the convictions of religious organizations, health care providers and employers.

The bill is seen as the Republican response to the Equality Act, legislation passed by the House in May to codify sexual orientation and gender identity as protected social classes in federal law but does nothing to protect the beliefs of religious objectors.

They are not mutually exclusive principles. There is enough space where both of those can be accommodated and that is what we tried to do here today. Neither side has to lose in order for the other side to win, Stewart said at a press conference Friday.

I think it is better for us in society if the courts dont have to resolve these issues one at a time, often in conflicting findings over the course of many, many years. It leads to uncertainty and, in too many cases, strife and conflict.

The bill is co-sponsored by a group of eight Republican lawmakers.

It is the first time that a Republican in either chamber has introduced legislation that would codify discrimination protections for the LGBT community into federal law.

Fairness for All, however, has drawn the ire of prominent conservative legal and lobbying organizations such as the Alliance Defending Freedom, the Heritage Foundation and the Family Research Council. All three organizations have voiced concerns that the bill shares many of the dangerous characteristics of the Equality Act in that it would codify a radical gender ideology.

Additionally, some LGBT activist organizations, such as the Human Rights Campaign, also oppose the legislation, saying that it provides substandard protections for LGBTQ people and has massive loopholes that upend critical federal programs.

As the Equality Act stands little chance of passing in the Republican-controlled Senate, proponents feel the compromise legislation has a more realistic chance of bridging the partisan divide and becoming law one day. However, they recognize it could be an uphill battle.

The Fairness for All legislation is more than three years in the making and a diverse coalition of religious and civil society organizations and activists called Alliance for Lasting Liberty came up with the framework.

Among the groups involved in the discussions for the bill are the 1st Amendment Partnership, the American Unity Fund, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, the Center for Public Justice and the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance.

Proponents of the legislation believe that more support for Fairness for All could be had depending on how the U.S. Supreme Court rules on a pending Title VII cases next year.

The Supreme Court cases are going to be decided sometime this spring. If they are found to be only for the employers, there will be a real push to press the Equality Act into law, CCCU President Shirley Hoogstra told The Christian Post.

The Fairness for All bill stands in readiness for the religious liberty protections that are essential to make the rights in the Equality Act even possible or palatable. This is the firetruck and the firefighters in case this one-sided only bill were to have any movement. We need to be prepared to offer a much better result because LGBT people are going to continue to press for civil rights. And religious liberty is essential in the American landscape.

Tyler Deaton, a gay Christian and senior adviser at the American Unity Fund, said the coalition will press both chambers to have hearings on the Fairness for All Act.

Tim Schultz, the president of 1st Amendment Partnership, challenged the political system to stop posturing on the issue. He argued that the one-sided approach to LGBT protections is not working since many states lack sexual orientation and gender identity protections.

What we have done here is drafted something that we think looks forward to what might actually eventually become law, he said. It really is saying, Lets see if the political system is ready to solve these issues rather than just posture on them. This is very much like what the solution will be like.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere signaled an openness to the legislation in a statement to The Washington Blade, an LGBT publication, on Friday.

The White House looks forward to reviewing the legislation, Deere said.

The legislation is also supported by the AND Campaign, a progressive Christian civic engagement organization that upholds a traditional Christian ethic on sexuality. It is also backed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, institutions that uphold traditional Christian teachings on marriage.

We dont see this as any sort of compromise to our principles. We feel like it aligns with who we are as Christians, Melissa Reid, associate director of public affairs and religious liberty at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, told CP.

We have always stood for the separation of church and state and religious freedom. That is something that has been important to us since our churchs inception. This piece of legislation really champions individual conscience. It upholds our right as a church to hold our faith tradition and our values in our own institutions, but at the same time in the public sphere allows people to follow their consciences in that way.

Another organization that has expressed support for the idea of Fairness for All is the National Association of Evangelicals, an association of 45,000 churches and organizations from over 40 different countries.

The Fairness for All Act is similar to a bill that passed in Utah in 2015 that protects LGBT people from discrimination and shields religious institutions that uphold teachings that oppose homosexuality.

Among other things, the bill would ban discrimination against the LGBT community in situations of public accommodation, housing, employment or finances.

Under the bill, small businesses with fewer than 15 or more employees would not qualify as places of public accommodation in federal law and would not be bound by the federal discrimination statute for places of public accommodation, something LGBT activists fear could allow small businesses to discriminate against LGBT individuals.

Stanley Carlson-Thies, the founder of the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance, told CP that there still might be some concerns for small businesses when it comes to state and local accommodation laws that have been an issue of concern for Christian businesses in the past that have refused to service same-sex weddings.

The bill also carves out what types of organizations qualify as religious employers who would be exempt from Title VII employment law allowing them to hire and fire on the basis of the organizations convictions on sexuality and gender.

For example, a house of worship is considered a religious employer, while a religious-run hospital is not a religious employer and would not be exempt under Title VII employment laws.

Hospitals are places of public accommodations and there are employment rights, Carlson-Thies said. But this bill says that a medical professional doesnt have to do transgender surgery and that kind of thing. But there is no blanket protection for their religious hiring. That is because almost no hospital only hires religious people.

Under the bill, hospitals and medical providers would not be required to perform gender transition procedures regardless of whether they are religious-based institutions. Additionally, healthcare providers would not be forced to perform abortions. Religious doctors would have greater leverage to receive religious accommodations from their employers, the bill's supporters say.

While faith-based foster care and adoption care providers have been penalized by state and local governments over the years and forced to shut down for refusing to place children in the homes of same-sex couples, the bill seeks to protect those institutions from federal, state and local government actions.

One of the important areas [where this bill reaches into states] is foster care and adoption, which have been very controversial, he said. States get a lot of federal funding for that, so this bill says that when a state takes that federal money, then, even if they are Massachusetts, they cant unlicense an organization because [it doesnt serve same-sex couples.]

He added that the Fairness for All Act protects the Religious Freedom Restoration Act while the Equality Act seeks to dismantle the 1993 law.

Additionally, religious colleges and universities would be protected from state laws that interfere with their employment policies and from hostile accreditation agencies, according to CCCUs Hoogstra.

Chris Butler, the lead pastor of Chicago Embassy Church and executive committee member of the AND Campaign, said during Fridays press conference that it's the responsibility of the church to step forward into polarized environments and become the agent of reconciliation.

The Christian values of love and compassion dont always demand agreement but they often demand social action, he said. Saying that we love our neighbors from a pulpit cannot be only empty words. We have to advocate for policy that protect our LGBTQ neighbors while maintaining and never surrendering but always guarding our own Christian convictions.

Leaders from social conservative organizations such as FRC, Heritage Foundation, Concerned Women for America, Christian Medical and Dental Association and the American College of Pediatricians objected to Fairness for All in a letter to members of Congress last month.

FFA is simply not an effective means of stopping the Equality Act. Its narrow religious exemptions would not even protect religious schools, colleges and charities that open their property to the public, but who dont want it used to celebrate same-sex weddings, the letter reads.

The organizations contend that adding sexual orientation and gender identity to federal law could force employers to permit transgender employees to use the private facilities of the opposite sex and violate sex-specific dress codes.

It could create a preferred pronoun mandate and require employers to include sex-reassignment treatments in their employee health plans, the organizations fear. Under FFA, only businesses with less than 15 employees are exempted, while the rest face the certain loss of their conscience rights as their workforces grow. FFA would also lessen the impact of the Department of Labors recent proposed rule allowing religious federal contractors to hire according to their own religious beliefs and practices.

The letter adds that prominent LGBT rights groups oppose religious exemptions and have successfully gotten them repealed in other countries.

Indeed, the severability language in FFA could allow the religious exemptions it contains to be invalidated while other damaging provisions remain, they argue.

FRC President Tony Perkins, a major conservative evangelical activist in Washington, said in a statement Friday that Fairness for All sacrifices the conscience rights of Americans to "secure a few minor carveouts."

"'Fairness for All' represents a near-total surrender to the aggressive LGBT agenda," he argued. "It would legitimize discrimination against people of faith like floral artist Barronelle Stutzman, who was targeted by the government because she operated her business according to her Christian beliefs. Religious liberty includes the freedom to practice one's faith in every area of life, not just within a religious institution or the four walls of one's church."
The South Carolina firm that purchased Bon Carre Business Center paid $8 million for the Florida Boulevard property, according to documents filed Wednesday with the East Baton Rouge Clerk of Courts office.

The buyer was Edge 7389 Florida Blvd LLC, which has the same mailing address as EdgePWR, the South Carolina firm that announced two months ago it had purchased Bon Carre. The LLCs name includes Bon Carres address.
Tarobaap wrote:

I came to LBS not knowing what career I would pursue. My only wish was to find a meaningful job, a purpose to drive me. I got involved in the Net Impact Club, going to most events that were somewhat related to the social impact space and networking with professionals coming to LBS. The most amazing resource at LBS is its alumni, so I drew on this as much as possible, meeting everyone whose job seemed interesting to me. This is how I heard about Acumens opportunity in Ghana in their West Africa team, where I did my summer internship. I was supported by LBS to take on this internship through the MSc11 Award for Outstanding MBA students in the Non-Profit Sector. I heard about my second internship, at Social Finance, through meeting with alumni too.



I am now happily working part-time in their international development team as an associate, joining full-time as soon as I finish my MBA.



 London business school

The real owner of this article



Source:- London business school

Official website



Posted from my mobile device

Refreshing to read above experience . If you can post the link as well , it will help ._________________
WASHINGTON  One year after losing his son Daniel in the Sandy Hook school shooting, Mark Barden joined President Barack Obama at the White House as Obama unveiled a series of executive actions aimed at stopping more gun deaths.

Three years later in 2016, Barden was back at the White House, at Obamas side again as he launched new gun control initiatives after Congress declined to change the nations gun laws.

Since then, the number of people who die from gun violence has climbed, with 2020 the deadliest year on record, data from the Gun Violence Archive shows. On Thursday, Barden and his wife, Jackie, were back again  this time standing by a new president attempting again to curb the same intractable problem.

They know what its like to bury a piece of your soul deep in the earth, President Joe Biden told the small crowd gathered in the White House Rose Garden Thursday. Mark and Jackie, I want to tell you, its always good to see you but not under these circumstances.

Calling it an epidemic of gun violence, Biden  Obamas vice president and gun control point-man  unveiled a series of six new executive actions to address the problem Thursday, on the heels of multiple recent mass shootings. Biden has been under immense political pressure to use his presidential powers to act as new legislation on firearms has stalled in Congress for years.

In a 15-minute speech, Biden called gun deaths in the U.S.  over 11,000 so far this year  an international embarrassment and a blemish on our character as a nation.

Bidens new actions include directing the U.S. Justice Department to develop a rule so ghost guns  weapons built from kits  are assigned serial numbers and buyers are subject to federal background checks. He said the DOJ will also issue a rule to regulate certain firearm devices that can effectively turn pistols into short-barreled rifles, like the weapon used in a March shooting in Boulder, Colorado.

Biden also directed the DOJ to publish model red-flag law legislation for states to implement to help courts temporarily remove guns from people who pose a threat to themselves or others and release an annual report on firearm trafficking, the first since 2000. Biden appointing a gun-control advocate and former federal agent, David Chipman, to lead the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. The administration will also invest in community violence intervention programs.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called Bidens efforts the most significant executive action on gun violence in a generation.

But by the standards of some other gun safety advocates they are modest first steps and Biden framed them as his initial actions, with more to come. Biden also outlined his goals for legislation, including bolstering federal background check laws, making it easier for law enforcement to remove guns from domestic abusers, limiting the availability of assault-style weapons and eliminating legal immunity for gun manufacturers.

Biden hailed the work of U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Blumenthal and a few other members of Congress in the audience Thursday, noting especially Murphy was absolutely determined to make change.

Murphy and Blumenthal are leading Senate efforts to pass new gun control laws. Many gun violence prevention advocates, who have been lobbying the White House and Congress on this issue also attended Thursday, including Po Murray of Newtown Action Alliance and Jackie and Mark Barden, who lead Sandy Hook Promise.

After the Rose Garden speeches, Biden, lawmakers and advocates headed to the Oval Office for conversation and mingling.

Blumenthal said in the Oval, he was already discussing the next executive actions that the White House could take. Hes pressing the administration to next use its authority to close the Charleston loophole, which allows a gun owner to purchase a weapon if the federal government has not completed a background check within three days, he said.

While executive actions can be undone by the next president, gun law reform may have a better shot at the White House than Capitol Hill due to opposition from many Republican lawmakers and conservative groups.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Bidens actions Thursday were trampling on Second Amendment rights.

He is soft on crime, but infringes on the rights of law-abiding citizens, McCarthy said. I wont stand for it.

Holly Smith, president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, called Bidens actions concerning and urged the administration to focus on prosecuting criminal who unlawfully possess guns.

A ghost gun is misunderstood to be undetectable. However, it is still unlawful for a felon or other prohibited person to possess firearms, Smith said. Criminals will not cease to break the law. However, this uniquely American legacy of gunsmithing is in jeopardy while we believe that legislation will not stop violent criminals from breaking the law.

Blumenthal called ghost guns assembled from kits homemade instruments of death that no law abiding gun owner would want.

We have seen a dramatic increase in the sale and use of these dangerous DIY weapons since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic making this action all the more urgent, he said. There is no reason that a gun built in your kitchen should be treated any differently that one bought in a store.

In 2019, Connecticut passed a ghost-gun law requiring these weapons to obtain a serial number so they can be traced. The state is now debating whether to expand the law.

Murphy hailed Bidens actions, saying We finally have a president who is ready to treat gun violence like an epidemic we can solve.

Murphy has been leading Senate negotiations over legislation to tighten background checks on commercial sales and private transactions. His proposal and the bill passed by the House faces opposition from at least one Senate Democrat, making it challenging to pass in a 50-50 split Senate. Murphy sounded optimistic Wednesday night, however.

Ive been working hard over the last two weeks, talking to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle about the need to expand background checks, Murphy said. The NRAs influence is fading, the gun violence prevention movement is stronger than ever, and the prospect to pass lifesaving legislation that is supported by more than 90% of Americans has never been better.

Similarly, Blumenthal has been working with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on legislation to establish a federal red-flag law that would help law enforcement temporarily remove guns from people who threaten violence against their community. Bidens executive actions do not implement a federal red flag law, but would guide states on how to pass their own.

At least 19 states, including Connecticut, each have some version of a red flag law. Connecticuts is the oldest law in the nation, passed in 1999.

After the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, which claimed the lives of 20 young children and six educators, Connecticut took several steps to enhance its gun laws, making them some of the most restrictive in the nation. The state made background checks universal for all firearm and ammunition purchases and outlawed more than 100 additional assault weapons and large capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds.

But Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo testified to Congress in March that while Connecticut may have some of the strongest gun laws, guns can still flow into the state across state lines.

"Gun traffickers will continue to exploit weaknesses in federal law," he said. "Unless we can stop the unchecked flow of guns into cities like mine, preventing cycles of violence will be almost impossible."

Advocacy groups like Sandy Hook Promise and Newtown Action Alliance formed in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre have been pushing for federal changes ever since  placing a major emphasis on ensuring more gun sales require background checks. Mark Barden, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise, said Thursday he was honored to work with Biden on ending gun violence.

Nicole Hockley, Sandy Hook Promise co-founder and managing director, who lost her son Dylan in the shooting, said even after the executive actions Thursday legislation is needed for greater change.

Todays actions are just the first steps, she said.

emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
Maltese telco operator Epic has engaged Ericsson as its exclusive 5G radio access network (RAN) provider, bringing the wide-reaching benefits of 5G to Malta, with Epic to use Ericssons technology leadership to fully modernise its existing network.

With the Epic Malta deal, Ericsson now proudly boasts of 135 commercial 5G agreements and contracts with unique operators, of which 77 are publicly announced 5G deals, including 83 live 5G networks in 41 countries.

With the Epic deal, were told that RAN products and solutions from the Ericsson Radio System portfolio, including Ericsson Spectrum Sharing and Ericsson Antenna System will be deployed in Epics network as part of a smooth, fast, and cost-effective shift to 5G that will accelerate the digital transformation of Maltese society.

Ericsson reminds us its RAN portfolio also includes Massive MIMO technology, which enables communication service providers to capitalize on mid-band 5G spectrum.

And with a unique approach to energy optimization, Ericsson's radios and basebands will also improve the carbon footprint of Epics current network, contributing to significant energy savings.

Tamas Banyai, CEO of Epic, said: Partnering with Ericsson will help Epic deliver on its Great Network promise to our customers. The full modernisation of our radio network and the deployment of the latest 5G technology means that our customers throughout the country can expect significant improvements in mobile connectivity with higher speeds and lower latency for streaming along with a whole new world of future applications.

We continue building the best network in Malta to help our customers unlock their full potential. Our promise to our customers is to bring together a state-of-the-art network with great value. In utilizing Ericssons best-in-class 5G technology, we believe we can do just that.

Emanuele Iannetti, President of South East Mediterranean, Ericsson, said: he power of transformative technologies such as 5G are paving a path to a new digital future. Our partnership with Epic will deliver on that promise and enable an ecosystem of possibilities.

Gaining market share across Europe, we are pleased to work with Epic on 5G technology as their new network infrastructure partner, contributing to boost economic recovery and empowering new services and use cases for consumers, enterprises and society at large.
China is attempting to brainwash Christians by keeping them in mobile "transformation facilities," the latest report reveals.

China allegedly brainwashes Christians by detaining them

Last week, Radio Free Asia broadcast reported from a man who went by the pseudonym Li Yuese, who said he was beaten for nearly ten months in a windowless room. Authorities raided Li's church group in 2018, he said, and he was detained, Fox News reported. "There were no lights, no ventilation, and no outside time," Li said. "I was only given two meals a day, delivered to my room by a designated person."

Authorities threaten, insult, and threaten you," he said. Officials from the United Front are often anonymous and primarily dressed in plain clothes. The cops are insensitive to this. If you refuse, Li says, "you will be seen as having a bad attitude. They will lock you in detention and continue to beat you."

He said that his fellow prisoners had been released on parole and had participated in church-related activities. Both Protestants and Catholics were influenced by the suppression, with priests disappearing for "five, six, perhaps ten years at a time," he said.

Philippines Warns China of Daily Diplomatic Protests If Militia Continues to Stay

The report released last week was the latest to shed light on suspected Chinese government violations. Former prisoners alleged heinous crimes such as raping women with electrocuting instruments, according to a BBC report on the Uyghurs.

According to RFA, the CCP strictly regulates all forms of religious worship among its citizens. The party considers Christianity to be a threatening foreign import, and the party documents caution against "infiltration of Western imperialist powers" by religion.

Another Christian who asked to remain anonymous said that similar services are used by members of China's underground Catholic church worldwide. According to a prosecutor called Zhang, bishops and priests vanished after being arrested, often for ten years at a time.

"Some were sent back home after five or six years, and it was from their accounts that people heard about the brainwashing centers," Zhang said. The RFA said China has an estimated 68 million Protestants, 23 million of whom worship in state-affiliated churches under the Three-Self Patriotic Association's aegis, and nine million Catholics. The bulk of whom are members of state-sponsored organizations, as per Big News Network.

Myanmar Protesters Urge 'Guerrilla Strikes,' Fears News Disruptions Amid Internet Blackout

China institutes new crackdown on 'illegal social organizations'

China also started a drive to tighten controls on five forms of social organizations that the government considers unconstitutional, including house churches not affiliated with the Three-Self Patriotic Association, which the Chinese Communist Party funds. According to the Christian Post, the campaign will also target organizations that continue to operate after having their registration revoked, said the ministry.

The five social organizations currently deemed illegal, the persecution monitoring group International Christian Concern said. These include those suspected by the regime of committing fraud or participating in economic, cultural, or charitable activities in the interest of enforcing national strategies.

The movement has now been launched in provinces such as Sichuan. According to RFA, Sichuan's Department of Civil Affairs released a list of 84 so-called "Illegal Social Organizations" on March 25. Many Buddhist and Christian organizations, including the Early Rain Covenant Church, have been unable to meet in person after the communist regime shut it down in 2018.

"In the eyes of the Chinese government, any religious organization who refuses to adhere to the CCP, or even charity groups, are treated as 'illegal organizations.' Because the government is afraid that these civil groups will become a force that overthrows them," Father Francis Liu of the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness told RFA.

China is ranked 17th on Open Doors' World Watch List of the 50 countries where Christians are persecuted the most. The Pew Research Center reported in November 2020 that religious restrictions in China had reached an all-time high. China appeared to have "the highest score on the Government Restrictions Index out of all 198 countries and territories studied," researchers found.

WHO Report From China Claims COVID-19 Likely Originates From Animals

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi got his second dose of COVID-19 vaccine shot today at Delhi's AIIMS.

The two nurses who administered second does of COVID-19 vaccine shot to PM Narendra Modi at Delhi AIIMS are identifies as P. Niveda from Puducherry and Nisha Sharma from Punjab.

Taking it to his Twitter account PM Narendra Modi said, Got my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS today. Vaccination is among the few ways we have, to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon. Register on http://CoWin.gov.in.

Got my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS today. Vaccination is among the few ways we have, to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon. Register on https://t.co/hXdLpmaYSP. pic.twitter.com/XZzv6ULdan  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 8, 2021

"I have given the second dose of COVAXIN to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. He spoke to us. It was a memorable moment for me as I got to meet him and vaccinate him," said sister Nisha Sharma who inoculated PM Modi today.

Earlier, PM Narendra Modi had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on March 1, on the same day when the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive kick-started in India.

In that phase the country began covering people over 60 and those over 45 with co-morbidities. Now in the new phase, starting from April 1, India has opened the vaccination drive to anyone above the age of 45.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a meeting with the chief ministers of all states and the Union Territories today, to take stock of the coronavirus situation in the country.

During the crucial meeting, the PM will also address the vaccination-related issues in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting will be held around 6.30 PM via video conferencing. PM Modi will discuss the latest surge in COVID-19 cases in several states.

Till now, India has vaccinated over 9 crore individuals. PM Narendra Modi flagged off the first phase of the pan-India rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination drive on January 16.

Live TV


Speakers:

Liu Guiping, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China (PBC)

Wang Xin, head of the Research Bureau at the PBC

Sun Guofeng, head of the Monetary Policy Department at the PBC

Zou Lan, head of the Financial Market Department at the PBC

Chairperson:

Chen Wenjun, head of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

April 1, 2021

Chen Wenjun:

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to the press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). The fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) established a comprehensive overall plan for coordinated regional development, and the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 also reflected the guiding principles of the session. The finance sector plays a crucial role in promoting coordinated regional development under the new development paradigm. Today, we have invited Mr. Liu Guiping, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China (PBC) to brief the media on relevant issues and field questions. With us, we also have department heads from the PBC, including Wang Xin, head of the PBC's Research Bureau; Sun Guofeng, head of the Monetary Policy Department; and Zou Lan, head of the Financial Market Department.

Next, I will give the floor to Mr. Liu.

Liu Guiping:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good afternoon. The fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee clearly proposed accelerating the construction of a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. This is a major decision made by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, after evaluating the situation based on the changes in China's development stage, environment and conditions, as well as changes in its comparative advantages in particular.

The conditions necessary for achieving smooth economic circulation are the matching of supply and demand, coordination between regions as well as between urban and rural areas, and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. Among these, promoting coordinated regional development is an important foundation for accelerating the fostering of a new development paradigm, which ensures social harmony, political stability and sustainable economic development. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), the PBC adhered to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, resolutely implemented the decisions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and followed the new development philosophy. Working with other relevant departments, we have improved the regional financial policy system, actively provided financial support for the country's major regional development strategies, and continuously enhanced regional development coordination.

First, we have developed a dialectical approach to thinking and promoted regional economic planning featuring complementary advantages and high-quality development. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized on several occasions that imbalances are common, and we should pursue a relative balance between regions  this is a dialectical approach to coordinated regional development. On one hand, serving the implementation of China's major regional development strategies, the PBC has given full play to the functions of the central bank, and deployed financial vehicles to support coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta, ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin, and the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin City Economic Circle. We have guided financial institutions to improve financial service innovation, and promoted leveraging the role of city clusters in driving growth. On the other hand, we have flexibly tapped into monetary and credit policy tools, made full use of financial technology, and actively carried out pilot programs for the reform and innovation of modern inclusive finance and green finance, built and improved a modern inclusive financial system and green financial system, and guided rural areas and underdeveloped areas to make up for their weaknesses, and promoted green, low-carbon and high-quality economic development.

Second, we have adhered to a problem-oriented approach, formulated differentiated policies tailored to local conditions, and provided category-specific guidance. According to the characteristics and comparative advantages of different regions, targeted pilot regional financial reforms have been carried out. Positive results have been achieved in fields such as inclusive finance, green finance and science and technology finance, giving rise to a set of practices that can be applied in other areas.

Third, we have taken into account both domestic and international dynamics and leveraged these two markets and resources. The pilot free trade zones are pacesetters of reform and opening up in the new era, and testing grounds for a high level of financial openness, which serve as a platform for tapping into both domestic and international resources. Among the 21 pilot free trade zones and Hainan Free Trade Port approved by the State Council, financial liberalization and innovation is one of the highlights, covering important elements such as the facilitation of cross-border investment and financing, the optimization of financial institutional arrangements and the innovation of cross-border financial services.

Next, the PBC will actively implement the guiding principles of the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and the Central Economic Work Conference. As China enters a new development stage, we will follow a new development philosophy, foster a new development paradigm and pursue higher-quality growth. We will continue to bolster financial support for coordinated regional development, and advance regional financial reforms with distinctive features.

First, we will continue to increase financial support for the country's major regional development strategies. In accordance with local conditions, financial support will continue to be provided to promote the implementation of various strategies, including coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta, ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin, and the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin City Economic Circle. We will enhance the quality and effectiveness of financial services for the real economy and coordinated regional development.

Second, we will continue to make overall planning and work on pilot zones for regional financial reform. Financial reform and innovation with regional characteristics will be strengthened. We will select eligible areas to promote pilot projects covering such areas as technology innovation finance, inclusive finance and green finance, and explore effective ways of providing financial support for high-quality development such as scientific and technological innovation, rural vitalization and green development.

Third, we will continue to promote financial liberalization and innovation in the pilot free trade zones and promote domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. Starting from serving the real economy and promoting the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, we will focus on providing financial support for the construction of pilot free trade zones and free trade ports, promote the full implementation of the system combining pre-establishment national treatment and a negative list, and strive to achieve a high level of opening up. Thank you everyone.

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Mr. Liu. The floor is now open for questions. Please state the name of your news outlet before asking your questions.
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.
ATLANTA, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Spero M. Manson, PhD, a leading authority with respect to American Indian and Alaska Native health, today was awarded the 2021 Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award. Manson is a distinguished professor and the Colorado Trust Chair in American Indian Health at the Colorado School of Public Health, at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus where he directs the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health.

This year's award was presented virtually to Manson at the annual meeting of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE). Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency, SOPHE held their annual conference virtually. The CDC Foundation with the James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation honored Manson for his outstanding contributions to American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) health by increasing resources, improving research and training, and elevating the quality of health services to tribal communities.

The Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award, first presented in 1992, recognizes a health educator who has made a substantial contribution to advancing the field of health education or health promotion through research, program development or program delivery.

"It's critical that all people have the opportunity to live their healthiest lives. Dr. Manson's commitment and passion to improving the health and well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native people is evident in all he does," said Martha Katz, MPA, chair, James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation Board of Directors. "We are grateful for his contributions and honored to present him with the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award."

Manson is best known for improving the health and well-being of AI/AN people. He and his colleagues established the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health (CAIANH), which is widely recognized as the premier venue for addressing population health matters faced by Native communities. Over his career, Manson has addressed the challenge of bringing culturally appropriate health education, grounded in evidence from community-participatory methods, to address the challenges faced by AI/AN communities. He has developed methods for research with tribal communities, established model approaches for mentoring Native researchers, and advanced and evaluated innovative solutions to problems such as substance and alcohol use, suicide and behavioral and mental health, that have affected generations of AI/AN people.

Manson has pioneered approaches to behavioral and chronic disease prevention and management. He draws upon theory and practice of tribal peoples and pairs indigenous knowledge with state-of-the-art public health theory. Through CAIANH, multiple Al/AN health interventions have been developed, piloted and disseminated for use in tribal communities and tribal health organizations, including the Special Diabetes Program for Indians. As the coordinating center for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, his center recruited over 20,000 tribal members from the communities participating in the program and demonstrated widespread success in assisting tribal communities to achieve their community responsive intervention goals. In addition, Manson has pioneered research into mental health of Native peoples. He developed some of the first published studies on depression in this population and worked to develop instruments to reliably and validly identify related emotional problems in American Indian communities.

Manson's key appointments include serving on the National Advisory Councils for the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. He has received several prestigious recognitions including being among the few Americans Indian members of the National Academy of Medicine, receiving the Bronislaw Malinowski Award from the Society for Applied Anthropology and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for the Study of Psychiatry and Culture. In 2019 he was honored with both the Carl Taube Award for Lifetime Contribution to the Field of Mental Health from the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the National Institute of Health's (NIH) History Maker in Minority Health and Health Disparities Research.

Manson has written on mentoring and career development with emphasis on AI/AN investigators. His 250 peer-reviewed publications, four edited volumes, 38 book chapters have been cited in many academic publications. He has served as associate editor for several journals including the Journal on Aging and Ethnicity and Medical Anthropology Quarterly and serves as editor-in-chief for American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research.

The Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award was named in memory of Elizabeth Fries, who was a professor of psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University and co-director of the Massey Cancer Center Outreach Program. She made many important contributions to program development, implementation and evaluation. The Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award recipients receive a $25,000 prize. The award and lecture have been presented annually at the SOPHE conference, which draws approximately 900 health education researchers, faculty, practitioners and students for the latest research and practice in health education. Founded in 1950, SOPHE's mission is to provide global leadership in health promotion and to promote the health of society.

The James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation is a nonprofit corporation incorporated in 1991. The mission of the Foundation is to identify and honor individuals, organizations or institutions that have made great contributions to the health of the public. The Foundation seeks to reward accomplishment rather than promise, practicality rather than theory.

The CDC Foundation is honored to partner with the James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation, which established and funds the award. As of 2016, the CDC Foundation manages and administers the Fries Foundation's public health award programs, which include the Fries Prize for Improving Health and the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award.

About the CDC Foundation

The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC's critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has raised over $1.25 billion and launched more than 1,000 programs impacting a variety of health threats from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like rotavirus and HIV, to emergency responses, including COVID-19 and Ebola. The CDC Foundation managed hundreds of CDC-led programs in the United States and in more than 140 countries last year. Learn more at www.cdcfoundation.org and follow the Foundation on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.

SOURCE CDC Foundation

Related Links

www.cdcfoundation.org


Mumbai, April 8 : Actor Ronit Roy on Thursday received the vaccine for Covid-19 prevention. The 55-year-old actor tweeted the news with a photograph that shows him getting the jab on his tattooed left arm.

Ronit posted the photo with the hashtag "#vaccinated".

The day before, the actor had posted an emotional note on social media expressing gratitude for being the hero in his own life story.

"I've been the hero in multiple movies but what makes me most driven is that I'm the hero of my own story and three other stories that get written everyday. Thank you god for given me this position and the strength to be there," Ronit tweeted on Wednesday.

Ronit features in the new web series "7 Kadam" alongside Amit Sadh. Helmed by Mohit Jha, the cast of the show also includes Deeksha Seth, Rohini Banerjee, Shilpi Roy, Ashok Singh and Bidisha Ghosh.

Ronit recently tweeted to thank his fans for showering the series with love. He wrote: "Thank you so much for all the love y'all have showered on my work in #7kadam Especially West Bengal! Love you."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is one of the most promising Android OS phones of the year, but the sad thing about it is that it is shy of seeing a worldwide release from the Beijing-based company for no known reason. However, "The Superphone" would have an Amazon India launch on April 23, and it may be the closest thing to get one's hand on the new smartphone.

As seen on the listing from Amazon India's Xiaomi Official Store, the Mi 11 Ultra is a confirmed smartphone device, which was originally looking at rumors and speculations from enthusiasts of the Chinese device. Xiaomi has continued its reign of popularity for providing one of the top-performing phones that debuts at only a fraction of the price compared to competitors.

Several devices of Xiaomi are known to have been kept off the public or global release, and some have remained in China despite the massive demand and its popularity. Initial rumors of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is that it would be kept off the public and that the Chinese community will be the only recipients of the "Superphone" from the company.

EXCLUSIVE



Tomorrow, Mi 11 Pro will not launch in Global. The Mi 11 Pro will be exclusive to China. (Like OPPO Find X3 Pro and Find X3)  Xiaomiui | Xiaomi & MIUI News (@xiaomiui) March 28, 2021

Read Also: Tom Brady Debuts 'Autograph' NFT to Produce Digital Art Together with Other Athletes, Artists, and MORE

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Sees No Global Release

According to Gizmo China, this could be an exclusive release and partnership between Amazon and Xiaomi, which would be possibly an indication that it is the only region to release it outside of China. Initially, it was revealed by the company that the sister variant of the smartphone, Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro, would only be exclusive to the Chinese market.

The Mi 11 Ultra and Mi 11 Pro are separate smartphones and have a tier of their rights, but the superior and more advanced one goes to the former.

Additionally, the report from Gizmo China revealed that Xiaomi is debuting its Mi 11 Ultra at Rs 70,000, which is equivalent to $940, considered as one of the most expensive releases from the Chinese brand. This is because of the massive specs that have been installed on the device's hardware and software, featuring the MIUI 12 skin for Android 12.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Specs

The top-of-the-line and flagship smartphone from the company debuts the latest Snapdragon 888 chip from Qualcomm, also carrying the 5G connection capabilities for its network. Notably, the Mi 11 Ultra also holds 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, along with a 5,000 mAh battery that can be subjected to 67W of Wired and Wireless Fast Charging and 10W of Reverse Wireless Charging to other devices.

"The Superphone" is arriving on Friday, April 23, and users can get notified of its release and availability via Amazon India's website. The device has an IP68 rating for sand and water protection, along with storage capacity options ranging from 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB, and a Triple Rear Camera Setup with Ultrawide.

Related Article: Xiaomi's Mi 11 Pro Will Only be Released in China; Mi Mix Fold News

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Bankrupt Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) has sold the entire stake in the waste management arm IL&FS Environmental Infrastructure & Services (IEISL) and its subsidiaries to EverEnviro Resource Management (EverEnviro), an arm of the PE major Everstone Group, the companies said in separate statements.

Though the value of the deal was not specifically disclosed, the crippled IL&FS - which is under bankruptcy proceedings in NCLT - said the sale will reduce its overall debt by Rs 1,200 crore, which is the combined debt of entities under the group's environment businesses.

IL&FS Environmental Infrastructure & Services (IEISL) is one of the leading integrated waste management companies that is into municipal solid waste management apart from presence across various segments including construction and demolition, collection and transportation and waste to energy and currently manages over 8,400 tonne per day solid municipal waste.

After IL&FS promoters and management duped the company and cooked its books, the engineering and construction-focused NBFC major was sent to bankruptcy courts by the government in August 2019 and was placed under special management led by banker Uday Kotak.

IL&FS, which owed over 65,000 crore to the system, held 97.54 per cent of equity in IEISL and the balance 2.46 per cent was held by IL&FS Employee Welfare Trust.

The entire shareholding in IEISL, held by the IL&FS Group, has been transferred to EverEnviro, which is a 100 per cent owned arm of the green growth equity fund (GGEF), managed by EverSource Capital, an equal joint venture between Everstone Group and the British green energy major Lightsource bp, the release said.

The IEISL subsidiaries sold are Dakshin Dilli Swachh Initiative, Swayam Swachatta Initiative, RDF Power Projects, East Delhi Waste Processing Company and Kanak Resources Management and all of them are part of this transaction and have also been transferred to EverEnviro, it said.

These subsidiary companies run the country's first Euro norms-compliant integrated waste to energy plant located at Ghazipur in east Delhi, which has generated over 141 million units of green electricity by processing over 1.38 million tonnes of solid waste. The plant will mitigate 8.2 million tonne of greenhouse gases over the life of the project.

The group's collection and transportation contracts deploy over 800 vehicles in Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Washim in Maharashtra. It also runs the largest organic municipal sold waste to bio-CNG project in Indore of 500 TPD.

IL&FS said as part of the transaction, around 4,000 employees, including consultants, will be transferred along with the businesses to the new owner, which would effectively result into an annual savings of close to Rs 50 crore to it.

EverEnviro managing director Parvez Umrigar said this is one of the largest deals in solid municipal waste management in the country and is also a landmark investment that will pave the way for them to become a leading integrated waste management platform player in the country.

EverSource Capital manages the green growth equity fund which was established with anchor investment from the National Investment & Infrastructure Fund and the British government-run Department for International Development.

EverSource Capital chief executive Dhanpal Jhaveri said waste management is a key element of a circular economy and forms a core of their investment strategy. This acquisition accelerates our agenda of promoting and investing in clean and sustainable businesses to achieve the climate change objectives and the sustainable development goals on one hand and contribute to the government's vision of sustainable development on the other, he said.

EverEnviro is fully-owned subsidiary of the green growth equity fund, the leading climate fund in the country managed by EverSource Capital.

Also read: IL&FS receives Rs 693 crore in settlement claims from NHAI

Also read: IL&FS offloads 49% stake in China road asset
Since introducing the program in 2011, PetSafe has donated more than $1.5 million to support more than 70 off-leash dog parks in the United States. Beginning May 1, anyone interested in building a new dog park or providing a makeover to an existing park in their area should submit entries at barkforyourpark.com . To enter your community:

Contact a local civic leader and request an official letter of support for the dog park project.

Make a list of ways your community will benefit from a dog park.

Confirm that your community has land available for a dog park.

Design a layout for your ideal dog park.

Gather examples to show why the next big dog park should be in your community; like fundraising events, support from local businesses and more.

"The PetSafe brand is committed to creating safe, off-leash areas for pets and pet parents to enjoy for years to come," says Celeste Vlok, marketing manager for PetSafe brand. "For our 10th anniversary, we've added a voting element to the grant contest so more people can join in the fun. We encourage anyone who would like to have a new dog park in their area, or would like to upgrade an existing dog park, to enter."

The Bark for Your Park submission period will be open from May 1 to June 30, 2021. Entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges and PetSafe will announce 30 finalists to compete in the contest voting period. From there, five communities will receive $25,000 for the construction of a new park and five communities will be awarded $5,000 to enhance their local dog parks. The full grant contest timeline is as follows:

Submission Period: May 1 - June 30, 2021

Finalists Announced: August 3, 2021

Voting Period: August 3-31, 2021

Contest Winners Announced: September 2, 2021

To kick off the 2021 Bark for Your Park grant contest, PetSafe encourages cities across the country to safely celebrate National Dog Park Day on May 1. For more information on the program and how to enter your submission, visit barkforyourpark.com.

About PetSafe

PetSafe is dedicated to keeping pets healthy, safe and happy through innovative product solutions. As an industry leader, PetSafe brand offers behavioral, containment and lifestyle solutions. PetSafe brand is owned by Radio Systems Corporation, headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and services over 50 countries globally. For more information, visit petsafe.net.

Media Contact:

Rachel Worley

Senior PR Specialist

615.417.9870

[email protected]

SOURCE PetSafe

Related Links

https://www.petsafe.net


The latest South African fixed-broadband report revealed that the Cape Town CBD is the area which recorded the highest average broadband speed in Q1 2021.

The report is based on 636,786 speed tests using MyBroadbands speed test app and 867,425 tests using MyBroadbands web-based portals.

These speed test results were processed to find the average download speed, upload speed, and latency in neighbourhoods across South Africa.

To ensure a neutral testing environment, MyBroadbands speed test platforms are hosted at Teracos vendor neutral data centres.

MyBroadband has servers at NapAfricas Internet peering points in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, which are hosted in Teracos data centres.

These servers are connected via 10Gbps links to NapAfrica to ensure there is enough capacity to support high-speed broadband tests.

The report showed that the Cape Town CBD had the highest average download speed at 73Mbps, followed by Dainfern at 58Mbps, and Randjesfontein at 51Mbps.

Other neighbourhoods in the top 10 are Midstream Estate in Centurion, Franschhoek, Durban CBD, Irene, Atholl, Northcliff, and Broadacres.

The high average speeds are thanks to fibre rollouts and the latest wireless technologies  like 5G and LTE-A  becoming available in these areas.

These technologies mean broadband speeds exceeding 100Mbps are now commonplace in South Africa. This, in turn, drives up the average speed in the country.

The table below shows the top broadband areas in South Africa, ranked according to average download speed.
More than a fifth of care home staff in England have still not had a coronavirus vaccine, figures reveal.

NHS England data shows that 78.9 per cent of eligible workers at older adult care homes had been given a first jab by April 4.

It is an increase from 69 per cent on February 14 - but has caused concerns of low take-up rates.

Ministers have refused to rule out making vaccines compulsory for care home staff, who are all entitled to have the jab if they have not had Covid in the past four weeks.

The vaccination rate among staff is significantly less than the 94.1 per cent rate of residents to have been inoculated with their first dose.

The government could make it a legal requirement for care workers to get vaccinated, Matt Hancock has confirmed (Pictured: A man gets vaccinated in London)

Health Secretary Matt Hancock was today encouraged by the figures but urged more staff to get jabbed.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I'm very pleased to say that the uptake of the vaccine in care home workers is now 80 per cent, four in five.

'There's still more work to do but I'm very grateful to the care home workers who've been coming forward.'

Pressed on whether jabs could be made compulsory for care workers, he said: 'We haven't made an announcement on that, we haven't said anything about that.

'But the uptake has been going up and that's very important.'

Pete Calveley, CEO of Barchester Healthcare, which has introduced a controversial 'no jab no job' policy, said the human rights of people living in care homes were at stake and staff must protect them.

Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers are the top priority group in the vaccination programme.

The data also showed that 67.8 per cent of eligible staff of older care homes in London are estimated to have received their first jab - the lowest region in the country.

Lambeth in London was the local authority reporting the lowest proportion of eligible older adult care home staff given a first dose, at 51.6 per cent by April 4.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock was today encouraged by the figures but urged more staff to get jabbed

This was followed by Luton at 59.0 per cent, Wandsworth at 60.1 per cent, and Redbridge at 62.1 per cent, the figures showed.

This compares with Blackpool, which had the highest proportion in England, at 91.0 per cent.

A total of 70.1 per cent of social care staff in England working in independent Care Quality Commission-registered younger adult care homes and domiciliary care providers have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, NHS England said.

For social care staff working in other settings in England, including non-registered providers, the figure is 68.8 per cent.

Meanwhile 88.0 per cent of residents at younger adult care homes in England had received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by April 4, the NHS England data showed.

The region with the highest rate was the East of England at 91.0 per cent while the lowest was the North West at 85.6 per cent, the figures showed.

The local authority with the lowest proportion of younger care home residents given a first dose was Blackburn with Darwen at 57.1 per cent, followed by Barnet at 67.0 per cent.

This compared with Slough, where 100 per cent of residents had received a first jab.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 14:05:41|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The 14th National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam, the country's top legislature, on Thursday elected 14 cabinet members.

A resolution was adopted by the top legislature with an approval rate of 94.79 percent to elect Le Minh Khai and Le Van Thanh as new deputy prime ministers at the ongoing 11th session of the 14th NA, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Another 12 cabinet members, including the minister of national defense, the minister of foreign affairs and the minister of finance, were also elected by a resolution that gained majority approval among the NA deputies.

On Wednesday afternoon, the legislators relieved 13 cabinet members from duty before debating on the nomination list to the posts, which was proposed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Following the adoption of the resolutions which came into force immediately, Chairman of the National Election Council Vuong Dinh Hue submitted to the legislative body a nomination list for several vice chairpersons and members of the council. The proposed list is expected to be approved by the NA on Thursday afternoon, when the lawmakers will also cast secret ballots to elect vice chairpersons and members of the Defense and Security Council.

The 14th NA will wrap up its last session upon voting on a resolution summarizing the performance in the 2016-2021 tenure of the NA, the state president, the government and other state agencies on Thursday afternoon. Enditem
FILE PHOTO: A service member of the Ukrainian armed forces walks at fighting positions on the line of separation near the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine April 3, 2021. REUTERS/Serhiy Takhmazov

By Thomas Escritt and Tom Balmforth

BERLIN/MOSCOW (Reuters) -German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to pull back the Kremlin's military build-up near the border with Ukraine, while he in turn accused Kyiv of "provocative actions" in the conflict region.

Ukraine has raised the alarm over an increase in Russian forces near its eastern border as violence has risen along the line of contact separating its troops from Russian-backed separatists in its Donbass region.

"The Chancellor demanded that this build-up be unwound in order to de-escalate the situation," Germany's government said in a readout of a telephone call between Merkel and Putin.

Russia has said its forces pose no threat and are defensive, but they would stay there as long as Moscow saw fit.

The Kremlin dismissed a Ukrainian accusation that the build-up was intended to distract from domestic issues, including jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, ahead of September parliamentary elections.

"This has nothing to do with any detainees or anyone," Dmitry Peskov told Reuters. Russia has to react with caution when it has "such a restless region as Ukraine near our borders with the potential for renewed hostilities", he added.

'FORCED TO DEFEND'

A senior Kremlin official said on Thursday that Moscow could under certain circumstances be forced to defend its citizens in Donbass and that major hostilities could mark the beginning of the end of Ukraine as a country.

The Kremlin said in its readout of the Merkel phone call that "Vladimir Putin noted provocative actions by Kyiv which is deliberately inflaming the situation along the line of contact."

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy flew to eastern Donbass in a show of support on Thursday two days after he called on NATO to lay out a path for Ukraine to join the military bloc, whose expansion Moscow fiercely opposes.

The rouble hit a five-month low on Wednesday a day after Russia said it had begun a planned inspection of its army's combat readiness involving thousands of drills.

On Thursday, Dmitry Kozak, a senior Kremlin official, said Ukraine's government were like "children playing with matches".

"I support the assessment that the start of military action - this would be the beginning of the end of Ukraine," the deputy head of Russia's presidential administration said.

At a news conference, Kozak was asked if Russia would protect its citizens in eastern Ukraine.

Referring in his reply to Srebrenica, where 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb forces during Bosnia's 1992-1995 war, he said: "It all depends on the scale of the fire. If there is, as our president says, Srebrenica, apparently we will have to step in to defend (them)."

Ukraine and Western countries say Donbass separatists have been armed, led, funded and aided by Russians. Moscow has denied interfering. While a ceasefire halted full-scale warfare in 2015, sporadic fighting continued.

(Reporting by Andrey Ostroukh in Moscow, Thomas Escritt in Berlin; additional reporting by Darya Korsunskaya and Katya Golubkova; Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Toby Chopra, Timothy Heritage and Giles Elgood)
NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambridge Wilkinson has closed a $300MM Credit Facility for a Specialty Finance client that is growing rapidly in the Asset Management and Alternative Investments worlds. Our client was attracted not only to the competitive rate on this facility, but also the structure which was designed to grow with the company as they grow- with an incredible amount of flexibility embedded; says Rob Bolandian, Partner and Global Head of Investment Banking.

Cambridge Wilkinson is deep in the Specialty Finance industry and in the equity and credit space. We are happy that we are able bring our clients creative facilities that are designed to meet their specific needs, and not just offer rigid, pre-designed, off the shelf "products", says Bolandian. Cambridge Wilkinson specializes in arranging equity, credit facilities, forward flow, warehouse lines and portfolio sales that range from $25MM-$5BLN for clients.

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Representative transactions include prior experience of firm members. All securities assignments are completed through Avalon Securities, Ltd. a FINRA member and SEC registered broker-dealer.

Rob Bolandian, Partner & Global Head of Investment Banking

[email protected]

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THE NEXT SHIFT: The Fall of Industry and the Rise of Health Care in Rust Belt America, by Gabriel Winant. (Harvard University, $35.) The replacement of blue-collar work by health care work has been much discussed, but what makes Winants book stand out is his argument that these two seemingly distinct phenomena are in fact inextricably connected. Winant traces the surprising story of how all this happened, taking Pittsburgh as his focus. His book is an original work of serious scholarship, but its also vivid and readable, our critic Jennifer Szalai writes. Winant has an eye for the telling, and occasionally crushing, detail.

LIFES EDGE: The Search for What It Means to Be Alive, by Carl Zimmer. (Dutton, $28.) Zimmers book tackles some of biologys hardest questions: What is life? How did it begin? And what criteria should we even use to call something living? From metabolism to sentience to evolution to our current focus on DNA, Zimmer takes the reader on an elegant, deeply researched tour. Zimmer is an astute, engaging writer  inserting the atmospheric anecdote where applicable, drawing out a scientific story and bringing laboratory experiments to life, Siddhartha Mukherjee writes in his review. This book is not just about life, but about discovery itself. It is about error and hubris, but also about wonder and the reach of science.

OF WOMEN AND SALT, by Gabriela Garcia. (Flatiron, $26.99.) The women in Garcias striking debut novel are connected not just by blood but by the need to endure or escape abusive relationships and countries. She captures the hope and pain of immigration and the terror of deportation with an unsentimental yet empathetic eye. The novel has the rhythm of a linked story collection, a structure that effectively emphasizes the disconnections and breaks that have shaped these characters, Danielle Evans writes in her review. The connections that survive do so in compelling ways.  The depiction of the women in Jeanette and Carmens family is confident and layered, capturing their decencies and failings.

THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL & NEV, by Dawnie Walton. (37INK/Simon & Schuster, $27.) In Waltons debut novel  written as the oral history of an iconic 1970s pop duo  a magazine editor learns that her late father, a musician himself, may have been involved in one of their most notorious episodes and pivotal to their eventual breakup. With artful juxtaposition and Zelig-like placement of made-up characters with real ones, Alexandra Jacobs writes in her review, the author has conjured an entire oeuvre of lyrics, licks and liner notes that is backdrop for some of the most pressing political issues of our era, or any era.  Like the best fiction, it feels truer and more mesmerizing than some true stories. Its a packed time capsule that doubles as a stick of dynamite.

FUTUREPROOF: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation, by Kevin Roose. (Random House, $27.) This concise, insightful and sophisticated guide to maintaining humane values in a new machine age looks at the surprising potential, and equally surprising limits, of automated intelligence, and offers ways for people and organizations to respond. James Fallows, reviewing it alongside another book about technology (Cade Metzs Genius Makers), says that the most eloquent parts of the book come when Roose moves from preserving livelihoods to protecting basic humanity. Social-media algorithms, he points out, are ever more precisely honed to attract and hold your attention. Click on the next video, scroll to the next tweet. Thus technology becomes humanitys master, rather than the reverse.
Residents of lsokun area of Igangan in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State were thrown into another confusion, following a fresh attack by Fulani herders, as they allegedly macheted a retired school principal, Mr. Ogunmodede Ojedokun, on his farm last Saturday afternoon.

The 62-year-old Ojedokun was attacked and had his hands almost cut off by the herdsmen.

While narrating the incident to Vanguard, the son of the victim, Mr. Olumide Ojedokun said his father and four other people went to the farm, while they met a Fulani herder taking his cows to his farm to graze.

According to him, the said Fulani herdsman was in the habit of grazing on Ogunmodede's farm, which resulted in destroying his crops on several occasions.

His words: "My dad went to his farm in the company of four other people. They met this Fulani guy already grazing on his farm. He has been in the habit of bringing his cows to my father's farm to destroy his crops and he warned him not to allow his cows to enter his farm again.

"But later, that same herder took his cows to where they spread yam flower on the rock and the cows fed on the yam flower spread on the rock; the cows finished the whole thing. So, it was then my father and the four other people that went to the farm tried to trace him to his hut so that they can report him to his elders.

"It was my father that sighted him where he was hiding behind a tree during their search for him. On getting to know my father had sighted him, he brought out his machete and attacked my father.

"My father started shouting for help, but before other people could get to the scene, he had macheted him, nearly chopping off his hands.

"Consequent upon that, we took him to the police station with blood gushing out from his injured hands. It was at the police station they instructed us to take him to the hospital.

"Ibarapaland, especially, Igangan has no security architecture in place. We have become slaves in our land to the herdsmen. We can't sleep with our two eyes closed again. We don't know who will be the next victim. We are living in fear of the unknown."

Herdsmen still destroying our farmlands-- Ibarapa Farmers Union

Also speaking with Vanguard, the Secretary of Ibarapa Farm-ers Union, Taiwo Adeagbo said the herdsmen had not stopped destroying farms and attacking farmers in the area despite the public outcry against their criminal activities.

He said: "The victim is my relative. He is a retired principal and he should be around 62 years old. I was called to see what happened to him. I immediately called the Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko.

She said I should report to the police officially and I called the DPO in Ayete. He came with two officers and two vans loaded with armed policemen.

"The DPO could not look at the pictures of the victim. They were gory. Thin skin is preventing the two hands from falling off after the attack. The two hands are almost off. They have ruined his life."

We'll not rest until we flush out killer herdsmen--Sunday Igboho

When contacted on the incident, Yoruba freedom fighter, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Igboho, vowed not to relent until criminally-minded herdsmen are flushed out from Yorubaland.

Speaking with vanguard, Igboho said: "They attacked our people now, nobody raised alarm. If we retaliate, they will now say Sunday Igboho has started again. Should we continue to fold our arms while they perpetrate their dastardly act?

"But I assure you, they will pay dearly for what they have just done. We will not become slaves in our land. We have now risen to take our future into our hands.

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"Anyone who is against this noble cause is a bastard. We don't want them again, enough is enough. We don't want forced marriage again. We accommodated them, now they have turned us into slaves. If we launch attack again, nobody should blame us."

Police vow to fish out perpetrators of attack Speaking on the attack, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi, said it was a reprisal by a herder to an earlier attack against three Fulani by some youths in Igangan.

Fadeyi said: "Information from DPO Ayete revealed that a Fulani herdsman attacked and macheted a man in his farm by causing injury to his hands. The attack was a reprisal by some youths in Igangan, three Fulani herdsmen were attacked and they sustained injuries while they were rushed to a hospital in Igboora for treatment.

"But we are currently carrying out necessary investigation and we will always brief you as events unfold."

Vanguard News Nigeria
Uttar Pradesh reported 39 more COVID-19 fatalities on Thursday pushing the toll to 9,003, while 8,490 new cases took the infection tally to 6,54,404, a senor official said.

"The state reported 8,490 new cases of infection in the past 24 hours. While the death toll reached 9,003, the number of active cases are 39,338. The number of patients treated and discharged is now 6,06,063," Additional Chief Secretary, Heath, Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters.

Among 39,338 active cases, 22,904 are in home isolation, 770 are in private hospitals and the rest are undergoing treatment at government hospitals free of cost, he said.

Among the fresh cases, 50 per cent cases are from four districts -- Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi and Kanpur, he said



He said the state has so far tested over 3.61 crore samples for COVID-19, including over 2 lakh on Wednesday.

Over 78 lakh people have been administered the COVID-19 vaccine in the state till now including over 66 lakh who have got the first shot and over 11 lakh who were administered both the doses, Prasad said.
A man accused of murdering the Gold Coast inventor allegedly confessed to the killing, but lawyers claim it must have been an 'inside job', a court was told.

Philip Michael Stearman, 63, is charged with murdering Hugo Benscher, 89, found bound and gagged in his canal-front home on June 21, 1992.

The wealthy widower's body was found on the kitchen floor of his plush Paradise Point home, tied and gagged with evidence of head injuries.

A grey-haired and bearded Stearman waved to the court by videolink in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday as his lawyers applied to cross-examine key prosecution witnesses.

Defence barrister Timothy Ryan said there were a 'number of strands' that must be explored.

Philip Michael Stearman, 63, is charged with murdering Hugo Benscher (pictured), 89, found bound and gagged in his canal-front home on June 21, 1992

'He is alleged to have made admissions to persons who were close to him at that time, including his former partners,' Mr Ryan told the court.

'The prosecution case, it seems, relies upon the reliability of his admissions to sustain the allegations against the defendant.'

However, at the time of the retired inventor's killing, several burglaries and home invasion offences had been carried out in nearby canal estates.

Police found two sets of footprints in the canal sand leading to Mr Benscher's home, prompting speculation at least two people were involved in the murder, the hearing was told.

Mr Benscher's now deceased former assistant discovered the body and was considered a suspect, placed under police surveillance but never charged.

Detectives found no fingerprint or DNA evidence of the accused at the crime scene.

Only a bedroom where Mr Benscher hid cash was disturbed, with a canvas bag, cash and traveller's cheques stolen, Mr Ryan said.

'To use the expression of an "inside job", someone had to have provided information ... about where the man's money was kept, which then led others to come to the house,' Mr Ryan said.

The wealthy widower's body was found on the kitchen floor of his plush Paradise Point home, tied and gagged with evidence of head injuries

'The person or persons who committed this crime must have had some idea what they were looking for.'

It was also revealed Mr Benscher 'held grudges and had a personality prone to getting most people offside,' the court was told.

'Due to the type of personality of the deceased, it would appear that nearly everyone he dealt with may have had a motive for breaking into his house in order to obtain money they may or may not have been owed,' police notes read to the court revealed.

'Benscher was known to carry large sums of money on his person or in his home and made no secret of the fact.'

Mr Ryan said additional evidence found in police running logs and administrative material required examination.

Magistrate Belinda Merrin described the prosecution case as 'circumstantial' and will allow the cross-examination of four key witnesses at a committal hearing set down for August.

Mr Benscher, who invented the inflatable ball bladder and valve for sporting equipment, lived in Sydney before retiring to the Gold Coast in 1986 where he lived alone.
President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with his aides and secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Yonhap



By Nam Hyun-woo



With Wednesday's by-elections to pick new mayors for Seoul and Busan ending in a crushing defeat for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), observers say President Moon Jae-in is now likely to rapidly lose his grip on state affairs.



They said the elections will also affect Moon's peace initiative for the Korean Peninsula, as Pyongyang is anticipated to strengthen its perception of inter-Korean relations as subordinate to those it has with the U.S., especially as the South Korean leader increasingly becomes a lame duck president.



During a press briefing, Thursday, presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok said Moon was taking the by-election results as "a stern reprimand" from the people and will "address state affairs modestly with a heavy responsibility."



"The President pledged to spare no efforts to realize the people's desperate demands for overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, resuscitating the economy and eradicating real estate-related corruption," Kang said.





Presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok bows during a news conference at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. Kang said President Moon Jae-in is taking the ruling bloc's defeat in Wednesday's mayoral by-elections for Seoul and Busan as "a stern reprimand." Yonhap
The creators of the iconic Bertie Beetle chocolate have finally revealed the hidden secrets behind Australia's favourite sweet treat.

The chance to snatch up a showbag with the famous chocolate and honeycomb treat at Sydney's Royal Easter for only two dollars is considered a right of passage for adults and children alike.

First launched in 1963 and sold nationwide in milk bars and corner shops in the 1970's - the beloved chocolate beetle is now exclusively sold at exhibitions and agricultural shows nationwide.

First launched in 1963 and sold nationwide the beloved Bertie Beetle is now exclusively sold at agricultural shows and 50 'retro' confectionary stores nationwide

The famous honey comb beetle is 'more successful in a showbag' (pictured) than it was sold in stores

Nestle Oceania head of corporate affairs Margaret Stuart said the famous choccy beetle is 'much more successful in a showbag than it ever was in store'.

'Bertie has always been such a standout showbag. When people buy Bertie they're not just buying the chocolate honeycomb, it's also a really iconic part of going to an agricultural show,' she told news.com.au.

There are only about 50 independent 'retro' confectionary stores that sell the honeycomb beetle, according to Chicane Marketing.

Bertie's iconic branding - a white beetle dressed in a green leotard branded with a yellow 'B' and glasses - has also had a shake up in packaging and chocolate shape (pictured)

Chicane Marketing director Emily Williams said the famous chocolate performed incredibly well at shows due to generations of nostalgia.

'It's got such a long history and it's synonymous with the royal shows,' she said.

'For people it's memory. When they think royal show they think Bertie Beetle because that's what they grew up with, and then they pass that on to their children and their children's children.'

The honeycomb beetle has undergone many changes since the 1960's when it was first made to rival Cadbury's popular Freddo Frog.

The original manufacturer Hoadley's Chocolates used the trimmings from Violet Crumble to create the sweet treat before switching to freshly made honeycomb pieces in 2011.

Bertie Beetle chocolate (pictured) previously used trimmings from Violet Crumble for the iconic honey comb crunch

Bertie's iconic branding - a white beetle dressed in a green leotard branded with a yellow 'B' and glasses - has also had a shake up in packaging and chocolate shape.

The treat was a 'little beetle-shaped chocolate wrapped in foil' before it became the recognisable dairy product that children flock to every year at the Royal Easter Show.

The Bertie Beetle showbags at the 2021 Easter show include the triple deal, bonanza, gold and retro bags that range in price between $2 and $18.

Chicane Marketing director Emily Williams said Bertie Beetle chocolates (pictured) performed incredibly well at shows due to generations of nostalgia.
Gov. Gavin Newsom made a bold declaration on Tuesday: By June 15, California will be able to almost fully reopen after a year and three months of pandemic restrictions.

The clock has started, and California now has a little under 10 weeks to stabilize its vaccine supply and ward off another deadly wave of the coronavirus to meet its self-appointed target. On the whole, the state is in good shape, public health experts say, and that date seems reasonable for reopening.

But 10 weeks is still plenty of time to get knocked off the path to recovery, they warned. Especially when it comes to a pandemic defined by its twists and turns, and as the U.S. faces down a fourth surge.

Its a pretty bold leap to try and predict that far out, in COVID times, said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin Countys health officer. I hope that well be able to move forward. But theres a lot that can happen between now and then.

Californias reopening plan involves ditching the complicated, color-coded tier structure thats guided the state response since August. Instead, almost all sectors of the economy will be able to fully resume normal operations, with some precautions still in place. Californias mask mandate will remain indefinitely, state officials said.

Opening the state on June 15 is largely reliant on vaccine supply: California expects it will have enough by then so that every person 16 and older who wants to be vaccinated either already is or can easily make an appointment. The second criterion is keeping hospitalizations for COVID-19 very low. The state is using that metric as its main marker of whether a fourth wave is building and potentially threatening lives.

With those goals in mind, there are several hurdles that could hobble the states plans, or even make a June 15 reopening impossible, public health experts said. In short, those hurdles are: vaccine supply, variants and human behavior.

Vaccine supply

Newsom has said he feels confident that the state will have plenty of vaccines from the three manufacturers to offer shots to everyone on demand. And supply has indeed improved dramatically since the rough start of the state rollout. On Tuesday California hit 20 million doses administered, and Newsom said hes aiming for 30 million total by the end of this month.

But county public health officials arent all quite as confident. Willis said he learned Wednesday afternoon that county vaccine allocations across the state would be lower next week than this week or the week before. This could be a one time thing, but does raise additional concerns about setting a fixed (reopening) date, he wrote in a text message. We havent seen the increase in doses promised yet.

In a statement, Dr. Grant Colfax, director of San Francisco public health, said Wednesday that having a target date for reopening is exciting news because of its implication that we will soon have enough vaccines for all eligible San Franciscans. But he added that the city still has far more capacity to administer shots than actual doses.

State and federal leaders have repeatedly made promises to improve vaccination efforts, and to a certain extent those promises have been fulfilled, but some of them have not, said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, an infectious disease expert at Stanford. Granted, this is a difficult process. Its not often you build out vaccine manufacturing for a whole world all at one time. But you need to keep vaccination levels up to reopen.

Maldonado noted that supply is just one aspect of reaching herd immunity and stomping out spread of the virus. Over the next two months, she said, it may become clearer how many people dont want the vaccine, and how much that will impact the states reopening progress.

Variants

Coronavirus variants may be the real wild card barrier to reopening. California already has identified all of the most concerning variants circulating around the globe, but so far none seem to be causing significant damage, and notably the vaccines should provide strong protection against all of them.

The B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom is now dominant in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. That variant is up to 90% more infectious, and also causes more serious disease. And it may be whats driving surges in Michigan and a few other states.

California has identified about 900 cases of the U.K. variant but its not dominating here yet. Instead, two California-bred variants  known as B.1.427 and B.1.429  are predominant, and though theyre also more infectious theyre not nearly as concerning as the U.K. variant.

Its really the variants that threaten to undo all the progress weve made, Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara Countys health officer, told the Board of Supervisors. Like many of her public health peers, she said shes mindful of surges in other parts of the world and how tenuous Californias recovery could be if a dangerous variant gets a foothold.

Dr. John Swartzberg, a UC Berkeley infectious disease expert, said theres no clear reason that places like Michigan should be experiencing new surges in cases and hospitalizations when theyre also vaccinating at a quick pace. He and others suspect the B.1.1.7 variant is playing a significant role.

Thats a headwind that very much worries me. Whats protecting the West, and whats protecting specifically California from the same thing happening in Michigan? Swartzberg asked. What will these variants do and will they throw off the governors plans? Unknown.

Human behavior

Pinning a date on reopening could be an interesting study in psychology, some public health experts said. Will Californians use that June 15 date as a morale booster to get them through these last couple of months of restrictions? Or will they use it as an excuse to get a little sloppy and give up some still-necessary precautions like mask-wearing?

Stephen Lam / The Chronicle

Some people may think its party time already. But its not, said Dr. Curtis Chan, deputy health officer for San Mateo County.

The Bay Area is still reporting several hundred new coronavirus cases every day, and about a dozen deaths due to COVID-19. No counties are yet in the least restrictive yellow tier of the states still-operational blueprint for reopening. In short: The coronavirus remains a deadly threat, and people need to behave appropriately even as the situation improves and the public health messages become more hopeful than dire.

We want people to start thinking about what comes next, but balancing that with where we are today, said Dr. Nicholas Moss, Alameda Countys health officer. This is not the finish line.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday
Psaki dodges question about Equality Act's implications for Catholics: 'Difference of opinion'

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White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki declined to directly answer a question asking for President Joe Bidens thoughts about the Equality Acts implications for Catholic businesses and individuals who seek to operate in accordance with their deeply held religious beliefs.

EWTN White House Correspondent Owen Jensen asked Psaki about the Equality Act's implications for religious Americans, specifically Catholics, during a White House Press Briefing Tuesday.

What does the president, who we know is Catholic, say to Catholic doctors, Catholic institutions who are fearful that if the Equality Act passes, it has the potential to trample on their conscience rights? What does the president say to those people who are concerned about that? he asked.

Psaki responded by saying that the president has a difference of opinion.

[B]ut he has been a supporter of the Equality Act, and he also is a practicing Catholic and attends church nearly every week, she responded.

Tuesday was not the first time Jensen brought up the Catholic and religious communities concerns about the Equality Act, which would codify discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity into federal law without clear protections for religious organizations.

At the March 2 press briefing, Jensen told Psaki that pro-life groups were very concerned about the phrase pregnancy discrimination in the Equality Act  that it would force doctors to perform abortions even if it violates their concerns.

There are also concerns the bill would force doctors to perform gender transition surgeries and sterilizations, again, even if it violates their conscience. What does the president, President Biden, say about those concerns? Jensen asked at the time.

Psaki refused to answer Jensens question directly, instead pointing out that the President has been a long supporter of Roe v. Wade and has a consistent belief that [the ruling that made abortion a national right] should be law.

And he will fight to continue to protect that as being law, she said.

Jensen pressed Psaki for Bidens thoughts about conscience concerns, to which she replied, Im just going to state what the presidents policies are.

The Equality Act is a wide-reaching piece of legislation billed as a necessary measure to codify nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community into federal law. Biden promised to sign the legislation into law during the first 100 days of his administration, which will come to a close on Apr. 30.

Conservatives and religious organizations have raised concerns about several provisions in the Equality Act in addition to those mentioned by Jensen at the White House press conferences.

Specifically, critics of the Equality Act fear that the bill would expand the definition of a public accommodation to include nonprofit entities such as shelters and food banks as well as religious schools.

Should this happen, opponents contend, Christian colleges could be forced to place men who identify as women in womens dormitories.

Additionally, religious employers could be forced to include in their health plans things they might object to, like cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers for children and sex reassignment surgery, warned Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Gregory Baylor.

Unlike most measures similar to the Equality Act passed at the state and local level, the federal legislation does not include religious exemptions.

The Equality Act has already passed the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives on a largely party-line vote. The bill has stalled in the Senate, where most legislation requires 60 votes to pass. Democrats have a narrow 50-50 majority in the upper chamber, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote in favor of the Democrats.

Senate Republicans are expected to unanimously oppose the Equality Act and one Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Opposition to the legislation by all Republicans and Manchin would leave the legislation short of the votes needed for passage.

Biden has repeatedly touted his support for the Equality Act as a presidential candidate. As president, he has highlighted his Catholic faith extensively on the campaign trail.

His support for abortion and embrace of other positions that contradict the Catholic Church's teachings have led to one church official requesting that he refrain from referring to himself as a devout Catholic and some denying him communion.

Despite his divergence from Catholic Church teachings on several important issues, two-thirds of American Catholics think Biden should still be able to receive communion, according to a survey from the Pew Research Center.
As Cal Drops Age for COVID Shot, Black and Brown Nonprofits Demand Bigger Role

In Los Angeles County last week, 211 LA, a local non-profit organization that provides health-related information and services to residents, announced that it had reached an important milestone.

Celebrating its success, the community-based organization shared with California Black Media that it has been instrumental in helping more than 100,000 Angelenos sign up for vaccines since the state started rolling out its COVID-19 vaccination plan. Most of the people 211 LA helped get vaccinated were minorities living in greater LA communities that COVID-19 has hit hard.

211 LA County has been there to connect people in our county with essential services for decades, said Maribel Marin, executive director of 211 LA. As we face a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, it was natural for us to partner with the county in helping people access the vaccinations that will help them get their lives back again.

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As California prepares to lower the states vaccine eligibility age to 16 by the middle of this month, community-based nonprofits around the state like LA 211 are demanding a bigger and more formalized role in Californias vaccination rollout, touting their unique ability to reach residents through long-established communication channels and because of trust they have earned over the years in the communities they serve. A history of racial disparities in the healthcare system has caused issues of mistrust and misinformation in Black and Latino communities, the community organization leaders say.

Earlier this year, the state launched a $30 million grant program for 180 community-based organizations to engage with underserved communities in efforts to boost health equity and counter vaccine hesitancy. But the leaders of many of those organizations say their work  and as a result the states vaccine plan  would be more effective if the state integrated them more into the structure of the states vaccination program and charged them with a broader scope of responsibility.

Rhonda Smith, the executive director of the California Black Health Network, said the news of vaccine expansion is great, but the road to widespread immunity has a number of barriers.

The challenge still is accessibility, Smith said. Even though were opening up to a broader age range, theres still the challenge of getting an appointment, and the accessibility and the ease of getting an appointment.

Fortunately, she said, faith-based and community-based organizations have launched pop-up vaccination sites to address the issue of accessibility, particularly in regions of the state where large numbers of Black Californians live.

Last Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Prior to taking his shot, the governor announced the states plans to expand vaccine eligibility for people 50 years and older starting April 1, and people 16 years and older on April 15. Approximately 18 million vaccine doses have been administered since the announcement.

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The states partnership with community-based organizations has boosted equity and vaccine efforts across California, state officials say.

Isaiah Antoine agrees. He is the community impact director of California Human Development, a nonprofit that runs a number of anti-poverty and human development programs throughout Northern California.

Antoine said vaccine expansion is necessary for low-income communities with predominantly Black and Brown populations. But to successfully implement it, the state would need to partner with groups that are rooted in the most affected communities.

According to state data, 46 % of COVID-19 related deaths were Latino Californians. Reports also show that Black and Latino people have been the most affected by the health and socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vaccine expansion is the first step in ensuring these groups are receiving the protection and care they deserve, said Antoine.

Andie Martinez Patterson, the vice president of government affairs at the California Primary Care Association, said the relationship between community health and public health agencies has not been strong across the state. She believes California needs to formalize those partnerships.

For community-based organizations and the churches, there have been casual relationships, but not a strong network for when theres a crisis, said Martinez, adding that if that was the case,

you would immediately know what to do and which person to call.

The pandemic underscored the need to have a tighter social network surrounding the patients in the community, that should be prioritized, and we need to do a better job, she continued.

The pandemic was a learning curve for leaders in local organizations, primary healthcare, and public health to nurture relationships that will eventually save lives through quick and equitable response, Martinez said.

Dr. Jeffrey Reynoso, executive director of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, said the states vaccine expansion has the potential to increase access for Latinos Californians, too. However, health disparities among Latinos and the challenges of race and immigration status will be barriers to an effective vaccination program.

There are implementation challenges on the ground, just because the guidelines say that those over the age of 16 will have eligibility for the vaccine that doesnt mean that they have access, said Reynoso.

Several community partners say they have kickstarted rapid response campaigns that have provided resources for economic assistance and information sessions on COVID-19 and vaccinations.

From Smiths perspective, sharing vaccine success stories would be helpful because they will encourage people in the community to get vaccinated. Smith said understanding Black and Latino people, geographically, mentally, physically, and spiritually, is key to knowing how to best serve their communities.

Going into the community and showing up is one way to build trust, she said.

California Black Medias coverage of COVID-19 is supported by the California Health Care Foundation.
Somodevilla/Getty Images Sen. Tammy Duckworth with newborn Maile in 2018

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth says her new book, Every Day Is a Gift, started with a question from her young daughter.

"Abigail had been asking me why I went to Iraq and why was I willing to lose my legs, because now I couldn't run with her and I wasn't like the other mommies," Duckworth tells PEOPLE.

"How come somebody else's mommy or somebody else's daddy could've gone and lost their legs instead of me?" the Iraq War veteran, whose helicopter was shot down in 2004, remembers her 6-year-old asking one day.

So Duckworth, 53, started jotting down notes.

Flying again between Washington, D.C., and her home state of Illinois, she took down memories on the notes app on her phone or wrote on anything else she could find, making a list of the harrowing details of the life she wanted one day sit down and share with Abigail and her 3-year-old, Maile.

"I was just sort of jotting down things that I'd want to talk with her about when she got older, that would be my explanation why America is worth it," Duckworth says.

"Before I knew it, I had enough for a book proposal"  her first.

What she wrote down during whatever small down time she could find as a U.S. senator wound up being the first draft of Duckworth's life story in her own words. It's a journey that started in Bangkok as the biracial child of a U.S. marine from Virginia and a Chinese-born souvenir shop owner who found a new life  and love with an American soldier  in Thailand.

But nothing ever came easy, the senator writes in her biography.

"I hated being teased and feeling different," Duckworth recalls about her childhood, between stories about getting made fun of by her Thai cousins for being biracial and an older brother, Tom, who seemed to get all of their father's attention.

Duckworth Family Photo Tammy Duckworth family portrait from 1986

Story continues

Duckworth Family Photo Tammy Duckworth, age 16, off the coast of Malaysia

In her memoir, Duckworth describes life in a military family always on the move: Bangkok, to Cambodia, back to Bangkok, then to Hawaii and all the way to D.C. before landing in northern Illinois for graduate school.

There were close calls: Duckworth was not yet 7 years old when she and her mother, Lamai, hid underneath windows at a Cambodian airport to avoid the bullets overhead, waiting to board the last flight out of a country in civil war.

When she, her brother and father Frank eventually moved stateside, to Hawaii, the teenager became the family's breadwinner. On the heels of odd jobs handing out flyers and selling roses, she helped keep food on the table and rent paid.

"We were broke, had no place to live and were on the brink of homelessness," Duckworth writes of those early days in Honolulu, where she went to high school and "was constantly pushing myself to be better, smarter, and stronger" to win her dad's affection.

RELATED: Asian-American Senators Speak Out About Lack of AAPI Diversity in Joe Biden's Cabinet: 'Not Acceptable'

She filled in her family's financial gaps while her dad was out of work. She became a student-athlete in discus, just like he did, and learned from him how to change the oil on a car. Most of the time, a young Duckworth felt, all she received in exchange was little affection and slim attention.

Writing her book now, decades later, helped Duckworth see her family dynamics more clearly, she says.

"I was better able to come to terms with my relationship with my dad and the fact he was not the superhero I thought he should've been when he was younger," she says. "He was a man, like anyone else, with his flaws  but he was there for us our entire life. He never abandoned us."

The book's most gripping moments, of course, surround the injuries she suffered in 2004 as an Army helicopter pilot who was shot down in Iraq.

Duckworth Family Photo Tammy Duckworth in flight school

Duckworth Family Photo Tammy Duckworth (center) with fellow "rotorheads" in Iraq

Life up to that point was something of an "inoculation" to what she survived in the helicopter attack.

"As I wrote the book and got into the later chapters, I started looking back and I went, 'Wow, I didn't think of myself as having gone through a lot, but apparently I did,' " Duckworth explains. "Maybe that's why I was able to survive being wounded as well as I was."

A rocket-propelled grenade took down the black hawk helicopter Duckworth was co-piloting. She lost both of her legs and suffered severe damage to her right arm.

In her memoir, she recalls the pain of her recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in near-overwhelming detail: "It was relentless, dizzying in its force, nauseating. My legs and arm were on fire, inside and out, and the rest of my body just hurt, over every square inch of me. Even my hair follicles hurt."

US Army Photo The helicopter Tammy Duckworth was co-piloting when she was shot down in Iraq in 2004

RELATED: St. Louis Elects Its First Black Woman as Mayor: 'I'm Ready to Get to Work'

"I'm always grateful my husband was there for me," Duckworth says now of Bryan Bowlsbey's near-constant presence at her bedside. (Her mother also sat in anytime Bowlsbey, a retired major in the Army National Guard, had to step away.)

Bowlsbey, too, took notes during her recovery and his recollections are interspersed in the chapters about her injuries to fill in her unconscious gaps.

Now, as the two-term senator is writing down her own story, she is increasingly playing a bigger role in the country's.

Duckworth Family Photo Tammy Duckworth (center) being interviewed alongside Sen. Dick Durbin

RELATED: Megan Rapinoe Opens Up About 'Incredible' White House Visit and Why She 'Geeked Out'

Duckworth, who in 2018 became the first senator to give birth in office, drew much notice last year after she made the final cut in President Joe Biden's search for a vice president, second only to Vice President Kamala Harris  "my girlfriend," Duckworth says of her former Senate colleague.

And though a memoir is a customary step on any politician's pre-campaign checklist, Duckworth says "no, no"  she doesn't have presidential aspirations down the line.

"That's a unique fire in your belly," she says.

"My life, as improbable as it is, could never have happened if I was not an American," Duckworth says. "The book is really a love letter to my country and an explanation to a question my daughter asked about, 'Was it worth it?' And my answer is yeah, it was. America is worth it."
Rabat  Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese abroad Aissata Tall Sall, described Tuesday the Moroccan experience in terms of management of dry, arid and desert areas, as "important for the Great Green Wall project" in the Sahel.

"The experience of Morocco could be extremely important for the construction of the Great Green Wall," Tall Sall said at a press briefing in Rabat following a working session with Speaker of the House of Representatives, Habib El Malki.

"Dakar will host the World Water Forum next year. Water questions are at the center of our interests," she added, noting that sustainable development issues were also on the agenda of her meeting with the Moroccan official.

For his part, El Malki welcomed the constant support of Senegal for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom, witnessed by the opening of a consulate in Dakhla.

"The opening of Senegal Consulate General in Dakhla demonstrates the depth and strength of the relations between the two countries," he said.

"The relations between the two countries are not classic, but exceptional and strategic ones," he stressed, recalling that Morocco and Senegal share a common history and have worked together for the unity of the African continent.

He highlighted the complementarity of the positions of the two countries on questions, including water scarcity due to climate change.

Regarding women's representation in parliament, El Malki said that electoral laws should promote it within the Houses of Representatives and Advisors.
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Verizon-Recalls-2-5-Million-Ellipsis-Jetpack-Mobile-Hotspots-Imported-by-Franklin-Wireless-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards

Recall Summary

Name of Product: Ellipsis Jetpack mobile hotspots

Hazard: The lithium ion battery in the hotspots can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.

Remedy: Replace

Consumers can reduce the risk of hazard by powering the unit off, unplugging it from its power source and store in a place away from children, on top a hard surface with adequate ventilation around the unit and away from combustibles until it can be properly returned to Verizon.

If consumers must use the product for internet access, then they should take the following steps:

Turn the recalled hotspot "on" and plug it in to allow the hotspot to receive two over-the-air automatic software updates that:

(a) enable the device's identifying number to be viewed on its scrolling screen and



(b) prevent the device from charging while the device is plugged in and powered on.

After the software update is applied, users should:

(a) Leave the device powered on while it is plugged in.



(b) When not in use, the device should be turned off, unplugged from its power source, and securely stored.

Consumers should use the contact information below to receive a replacement hotspot free of charge and a return envelope to return the Ellipsis to Verizon for safe disposal.

Schools that provided the recalled Ellipsis Jetpack to students have been contacted by Verizon with instructions on receiving replacement hotspots free of charge and mailing packages to return the recalled Ellipsis Jetpacks to Verizon for safe disposal.

Parents whose children received the recalled Ellipsis Jetpack from their schools should contact their school for instructions on how to receive a free replacement device and return their recalled Ellipsis Jetpacks.

Consumer Contact:

Verizon toll-free at 855-205-2627 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET or online at www.EllipsisJetpackRecall.expertinquiry.com or www.verizon.com and click on "Recalls" on the bottom of the page for more information.

Recall Details

Units: About 2.5 million

Description:

This recall involves Ellipsis Jetpack mobile hotspots imported by Franklin Wireless Corp. The recalled Jetpacks are dark navy plastic oval devices that are about 3.5 inches wide and 2.25 inches tall. "Verizon" is printed below the digital display window on the front of the device. The charger provided with the recalled Jetpacks has a sticker on the wire that states: Compatible: FWC MHS900L, Model: FWCR900TVL, DC151030.

Incidents/Injuries: Verizon has received 15 reports of devices overheating, including six reports of fire damage to bedding or flooring and two reports of minor burn injuries.

Sold At: Verizon stores nationwide, and other stores and to school districts nationwide and online at www.verizon.com from April 2017 through March 2021 for between $50 to $150.

Importer: Franklin Wireless Corp., of San Diego, Calif.

Distributor: Cellco Partnership, d/b/a Verizon Wireless, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Manufactured in: Vietnam and Taiwan

This recall was conducted voluntarily by the company under CPSC's Fast Track Recall process. Fast Track recalls are initiated by firms who commit to work with CPSC to quickly announce the recall and remedy to protect consumers.

About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

For lifesaving information:

- Visit CPSC.gov.

- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.

- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.

- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.

- Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).

- Contact a media specialist.

Release Number: 21-106

Note: Due to the extraordinary circumstances surrounding COVID-19, some of the remedies identified in recall press releases may not be available at this time. Consumers should check with recalling firms for further details. It is important to remember that CPSC and recalling firms urge consumers not to use recalled products.

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Related Links

http://www.cpsc.gov


Slovakia's drug regulator said on Thursday the composition of a batch of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine delivered to Bratislava last month could not be verified

Bratislava, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2021 ) :Slovakia's drug regulator said on Thursday the composition of a batch of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine delivered to Bratislava last month could not be verified.

The vaccine manufacturer hit back at Bratislava, insisting that all Sputnik V batches went through "rigorous quality control".

Slovakia, an EU and NATO member state of 5.4 million people is battling one of the highest Covid-19 death rates in the world.

Former prime minister Igor Matovic was forced to step down last week amid a scandal over his purchase of two million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine, which so far has not received a green light from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for use in the European Union.

"Batches of (Sputnik V) vaccine used in preclinical tests and clinical studies published in the Lancet journal do not have the same characteristics and properties as batches of vaccine imported to Slovakia," the State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL) said a statement.

"It is only its name that links it to the Sputnik V vaccines used in about 40 countries around the world," according to the SUKL report.

"Based on laboratory tests alone, it is not possible to conclude on efficacy and safety in humans" of the batch sent to Slovakia, SUKL said.

It said the vaccine manufacturer had not responded to repeated requests for data on the composition of the first 200,000 doses sent to Slovakia.

The Lancet medical journal published a report in February that found Sputnik V to be over 90 percent effective against symptomatic Covid-19, allaying transparency concerns over the jab used in Russia and Hungary.

- Godsend or propaganda tool? - The Gamaleya institute, the Russian state agency behind Sputnik, took to Twitter on Thursday in defence of its vaccine.

"All Sputnik V batches are of the same quality and undergo rigorous quality control at the Gamaleya Institute," it tweeted.

The manufacturer claimed SUKL had "launched a disinformation campaign against Sputnik V" and rejected the Slovak allegation of a discrepancy between batches as "fake news".

It added that the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which has backed the development of Sputnik, has also asked Slovakia to "return the vaccine due to multiple contract violations so that it can be used in other countries".

Matovic, who has stayed on in government as deputy prime minister, visited Moscow on Thursday for talks on Sputnik.

Afterwards, he blasted his opponents in Slovakia on his official Facebook page.

"CONGRATULATIONS, YOU IDIOTS! You have taken the health of millions of people in Slovakia hostage!" he wrote.

Sputnik V has sown division among former Eastern Bloc countries, with some seeing it as a Godsend and others as a Kremlin propaganda tool.

Also on Thursday, Germany announced it would talk to Russia about purchasing Sputnik doses pending approval from European regulators, without waiting for coordinated EU action.
Personnel from the Counselling and Psychology Unit of the Ghana Police Service have interacted with the family of Ishmael Abdallah, the 10-year-old boy allegedly murdered at Kasoa for money rituals.



The visit was to sympathise with the family and provide counselling services to help them manage the trauma.



Mr Samed Akalilu, Spokesperson for the family, told the Ghana News Agency that the Unit engaged the parents and siblings of the deceased for hours and consoled them.



He said the family was still in a state of shock and could not fathom why such an evil should befall them, especially when one of the accused persons was very close to the family.



From henceforth, I will advise my family and other children to be careful about how to associate with strangers and even those they claim to know. You cant trust anyone these days, he added.



Mr Akalilu called on government to intensify the fight against crime in Kasoa in the Central Region and its environs as the murder of his nephew was not an isolated case.

Source: GNA









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French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation has rejected media reports about any irregularity in the deal to supply 36 Rafale combat aircraft to India, saying no violations were reported in the deal.

Earlier, French publication Mediapart had said that Dassault had paid 1 million Euros to an Indian middleman after signing of the India-France agreement in 2016. The report said the irregularity was first discovered during an investigation by the country's anti-corruption agency, Agence Francaise Anticorruption (AFA), during its scheduled audit of Dassault.

"Numerous controls are carried out by official organisations, including the French anti-corruption agency. No violations were reported, notably in the frame of the contract with India for the acquisition of 36 Rafales," a Dassault Aviation spokesperson said.

The company, the spokesperson said, acts in strict compliance with the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and national laws. "Since the early 2000s, Dassault Aviation has implemented strict internal procedures to prevent corruption, guaranteeing the integrity, ethics and reputation of the company in its industrial and commercial relations."

Also read: French major Dassault paid 1 million euro to Indian middleman after Rafale deal: report

The company said the government-to-government contract signed with India and the offsets corresponding the contract meet the criteria established by regulations and are being executed in full transparency between the various government and industrial partners.

"Dassault Aviation and the Reliance Group established the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL) joint venture in 2017 and built a plant in Nagpur that has been producing numerous Falcon parts and pieces since 2018," the spokesperson said, adding that the company and its partners are working with 60 companies in India, and negotiations are underway to establish potential new cooperations.

India and France had signed the Rs-59,000 crore deal in 2016, under which Dassault Aviation would manufacture 36 Rafale jets for India. India received the first batch of five Rafale aircraft on July 29, 2020.

Following this, the second batch of three Rafale jets landed in India on November 3, 2020, and the third batch of another three jets joined the IAF on January 27, 2021. The delivery of all 36 aircraft is likely to be completed by 2022-end. The fourth batch of three Rafale fighter jets landed in Gujarat's Jamnagar on March 31.

Opposition party Congress, in the run up to 2019 Lok Sabha elections, had raised several questions about the aircraft deal and had alleged corruption in it. However, the government had rejected all the charges.

Also read: Mukesh Ambani to challenge SEBI's Rs 25 crore fine in SAT
A giant Asian lizard shocked shoppers as it explored a 7-Eleven store in Thailand.

The water monitor walked through the aisles before climbing shelves and knocking goods to the floor to surprised squeals from onlookers.

The shelves are ruined! Oh my God, a witness can be heard saying on the video, which was originally posted to Facebook before going viral.

Water monitors are commonplace in Thailand and at up to 8ft in length are the second largest lizard in the world, after the Komodo dragon, which is also a type of monitor.

The brief clip ended with the water monitor coming to rest on the top of the shelves while customers laughed at the situation.

Read more:

The lizards are not a big threat to humans and normally eat eggs, small animals and carrion.

But in 2020 a dead infant was found partially eaten by the lizards in southern Thailand, although investigators were unsure if the youngster was already dead or killed by the lizards.

Godzilla is real guys, wrote one social-media user as the incident comes a week after Godzilla vs Kong was released simultaneously in US cinemas and on HBO Max.

Observers say the lizard may have entered the store to escape high humidity outside.
Editors note: This part of a series of profiles on cannabis brokers, in which Insurance Journal explores why and how these folks got into the business, the ups and downs of insuring cannabis, as well as a few tips for those interested in a little professional development.

Fady Kamel, managing partner at All-Risks Insurance Brokers Ltd. in Erin Mills, Ont., has been in insurance for 10 years holding various roles at Canadian firms, making the rounds between sales and service and senior personal and commercial underwriting.

He made the jump to the broker about five years ago, and then opened the branch hes currently with as the managing partner in May 2020.

Around the same time he decided to become a broker, he also began specializing in cannabis. Thats a decision he doesnt regret one bit.

Kamel spoke with Insurance Journal about his experience as a cannabis broker.

Insurance Journal: Why did you get in the cannabis and insurance space?

Kamel: A friend of mine needed insurance for a cannabis facility and company he was building, and from that day I saw the opportunity to convert my insurance and underwriting experience to a new industry and made it my goal to learn and be a leader in this space and havent looked back since.

Five years later cannabis insurance has become my specialty, and I have become a go-to broker for all things cannabis insurance in Canada.

Insurance Journal: Has this been a good financial decision so far?

Kamel: The best decision I made was to make the jump from underwriting to being a broker because your earning potential is unlimited  its all about how hard you work.

Just like anything it takes time to achieve the goals you set for yourself. If you reach them too quickly, they likely werent big enough. So, to answer your question, it has definitely helped us get where we are today, however we have much more to accomplish and are looking forward to growing and reaching new heights.

Insurance Journal: Whats the hardest thing about the cannabis industry to deal with?

Kamel: The hardest thing  especially a few years ago was just dealing with a new industry  is that with a new industry comes a lot more questions than answers and in insurance we want to know as much as possible about a risk in order to assess the exposure accurately.

With the cannabis industry being so new, we had to work even harder with our underwriters and clients to figure things out as the needs come up because there was no real road map to follow.

Insurance Journal: What insurance product is the most difficult to obtain for your cannabis industry clients? Why?

Kamel: Right now, it is definitely directors and officers liability, as there have been a few large class actions against cannabis companies, so most Insurers are being very selective in their risk appetite.

Insurance Journal: What two or three tips do you have for brokers entering the business of insuring cannabis?

Kamel: Do your homework and be prepared to put in the time.

You cant replace experience and hard work, so be patient, put a plan in place of where you want to go and get rid of anything that doesnt align with those goals.

Topics Agencies Cannabis
As the Biden administration has deliberately intensified the US confrontation with China, Taiwan has rapidly come into focus as the spark that could trigger a war between the two nuclear-armed powers. Biden, following on from Trump, is questioning and undermining the diplomatic framework that has maintained an uneasy and precarious peace across the Taiwan Strait for decades.

By strengthening ties with Taiwan, the US is calling into question the One China policy that was the basis for establishing diplomatic relations between Beijing and Washington in 1979. It is also encouraging Taipei to take a far more aggressive stance towards China adding to the danger of conflict, and fueling fears in Beijing that Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which advocates greater autonomy from China, could declare full independencea red line for Beijing.

Multiple aircraft fly in formation over the USS Ronald Reagan, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. (Kaila V. Peters/U.S. Navy)

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Taiwans foreign minister, Joseph Wu, took note that American decision makers were warning of the danger of China launching an attack on Taiwan. He bluntly declared that Taiwan would throw everything into a conflict with China We will fight the war if we need to fight the war. And if we need to defend ourselves to the very last day we will defend ourselves to the very last day, he declared.

Wus comments were followed on Wednesday by threats from Lee Chung-wei, who heads Taiwans Ocean Affairs Council, that Taiwan would shoot down Chinese drones that came too close to the Pratas Islands controlled by Taipei in the South China Sea. Lee claimed that Chinese drones had been spotted but acknowledged that none entered the restricted waters and airspace extending 6 km from the islets. But if they had entered, he said, it will be handled under the rules. If we need to open fire, we open fire.

These statements are testimony to the extraordinary tensions that the US is stoking in the Indo-Pacific. Denunciations of Chinese aggression and Chinese expansionism from Washington, parroted by US allies and partners around the globe, stand reality on its head. US imperialism has over the past decade carried out a huge military build-up throughout the region and deliberately inflamed potential flashpoints, including the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula.

On Wednesday, the US Navy sent another warship through the sensitive Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland which is just 130 km wide at its narrowest point. The guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain became the fourth naval vessel to make the transit since Biden took office. If the tempo is maintained, the Biden administration will eclipse the record of 13 transits set by the Trump administration last year.

On the same day, the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, and its associated strike group, carried out military exercises in the South China Sea, including fixed- and rotary-wing flight operations, maritime strike exercises and anti-submarine operations. It is the second time this year that the huge nuclear-powered carrier and its armada have carried out war games close to the Chinese mainland and key naval bases in southern China. [Our] war-fighting prowess is unmatched, the commanding officer Captain Eric Anduze boasted.

The US Navy has also carried out at least two so-called Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOP) in the South China Sea since Biden came to office. US warships directly challenge Chinese maritime claims by sailing close to Chinese-controlled isletsprovocative manoeuvres that have the potential to trigger a military clash either by accident or design.

On the pretext of freedom of navigation, Washington declares that these military exercises close to the Chinese coast line are legitimate. But when it comes to the operations of Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels, these are always portrayed in the most sinister light. Yesterday, Taiwan scrambled fighter jets in response to an incursion by 15 Chinese aircraft into Taiwans self-declared air defence identification zonebroad airspace restrictions that have no standing in international law.

At the same time, the US and international media played up the exercises in the Pacific involving Chinas aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, and five escort ships which passed through the Miyako Strait in the Japanese Ryukyu Islands on Sunday. The strait is wide enough that the waters are international and no Chinese violation of Japanese sovereignty was involved.

Two top US military figuresthe former head of the Indo Pacific Command Admiral Philip Davidson and the incoming head Admiral John Aquilinoboth warned of the heightened danger of US war with China over Taiwan in the near future. Davidson declared that the threat is manifest during this decadein fact, in the next six years, while Aquilino, when asked at his congressional confirmation hearing, said this problem is much closer to us than most think.

Since 1979, the US has adhered to the One China policy, in effect recognising Beijing as the legitimate ruler of all China, including Taiwan. As a result, the US has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan and any contact has been low key. At the same time, under the Taiwan Relation Act, the US has continued to supply defensive arms to Taiwan and offer an assurance that it would come to Taiwans defence in the event of a Chinese attack.

By elevating the levels of contact with Taiwan, including a visit last year by a US cabinet lofficial, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, the Trump administration effectively undermined the previous diplomatic protocols associated with the One China policy. Trumps Secretary of State Mike Pompeo early this year went a step further ending all restrictions on contact between US and Taiwanese civilian and military officialsa policy that Biden, who declared his commitment to Taiwan as rock solid, is continuing.

Under the Biden administration, the Pentagon is considering stationing offensive intermediate range missiles on what is known as the first island chain ringing the Chinese mainlandincluding on Taiwan. The US is also assisting in the expansion of Taiwan's submarine fleet. Taiwan is also developing its own indigenous offensive missiles to strike deep within China.

The US is recklessly playing with fire. As part of establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1979, the US broke relations with Taiwan and withdrew its military forces. Any attempt by the US to station its troops or military hardware on Taiwan would draw a hostile response from China and threaten to precipitate military conflict.

A great deal is at stake. Taiwan is both strategically and economically significant. As part of the first island chain, it would be a key element in an attempt by the US either to impose an economic blockade on China or to launch a full-scale war. At the same time, it is home to the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which accounts for some 90 percent of the production of the most advanced computer chips that are required for a wide range of both commercial and military applications.

The warnings by US admirals of war with China in the near term have far more to do with fears in Washington that China is overtaking the US economically and strategically, than with Chinese aggression. The heightened discussion in Washington over the need for strong ties with Taiwan makes clear that this strategic island is a major component of the Pentagons planning for war with China. US imperialism is prepared to use military means to shore up its global dominanceeven if it leads to a calamitous nuclear conflagration.

Facing a rapidly emerging class struggle at home, the US ruling class is also seeking to turn these immense social tensions outward against an external enemy. Workers and youth should reject the rising tide of propaganda demonising China in increasingly racist terms and turn to the Chinese working class which faces the same forms of capitalist exploitation. The only means for ending the danger of war is to build an international antiwar movement of the working class on a socialist basis to put an end to capitalismthe root cause of war.
Describing China's trade practices as "uncompetitive, coercive and underhanded," US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has said the Biden administration plans to use all the tools in its possession, as aggressively as possible, to protect American workers and businesses from Beijing's "unfair" actions.

Addressing her maiden news conference at the White House, she said that to compete in the long run with China, efforts must be made to rebuild America.

We have to work with our allies and find common ground where we can. With respect to tariffs, there is a place for tariffs. You know the 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium have, in fact, helped save American jobs in the steel and aluminium industries, she said, referring to the previous Trump administration's tariffs on imported aluminium.

Three years ago, former president Donald Trump levied 25 per cent tariffs on imported steel and 10% on imported aluminium from most countries, saying it was a matter of national security to ensure domestic production of the metals could survive.

The fact is China's actions are uncompetitive, coercive, underhanded. They've proven they'll do whatever it takes. So I plan to use all the tools in my toolbox, as aggressively as possible, to protect American workers and businesses from unfair Chinese practices, Raimondo said.

So what do we do with tariffs? We have to level the playing field. No one can outcompete the American worker if the playing field is levelled, the commerce secretary said.

During his tenure, Trump, a Republican, pushed aggressively on all aspects of US- ties, including with his relentless trade war, challenging China's military hold on the disputed South Sea, its constant threats to Taiwan, the mass detention of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang and the Tibet issue. Trump's four years in power are regarded as the worst phase in China-US relations.

Under president Trump, the US placed tariffs on around USD 370 billion of Chinese goods, and President said during the presidential election campaign that he would not make any immediate moves to lift the tariffs.

pledged to buy USD 200 billion in additional US goods and services over two years as part of the phase one trade deal signed in January 2020.

But according to statistics released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday, the US goods deficit with China grew 11.4 per cent from January to USD 30.3 billion in February.

Raimondo said the American Jobs Plan is about making sure every American has the opportunity to get a decent job. A decent, well-paying job, with dignity and has an opportunity.

It's a historic investment in America, intended to create tens of millions of jobs, rebuild our country's infrastructure, and position the United States to outcompete China. Many have commented that it's large, it's bold. It's necessarily large because, frankly, we're behind, and we've neglected for too long important investments in our infrastructure, she said.

We need to ensure that investments in infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and our care economy are made at the scale we need and are made in every single community in America, Raimondo said.

Meanwhile, Congresswoman Lisa McClain led more than a dozen Republican lawmakers in writing a letter to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations questioning why China is on the United Nations' Human Rights Council when they are the number one violator of human rights.

China's treatment of the Uyghurs is atrocious and reason enough for them to not have a seat on the UN Human Rights' Council, said. McClain.

Now, we are seeing reports that the Chinese Communist Party is sending Christians to brainwashing camps and torturing them for their beliefs. It is past time we stand up for religious freedom. The Biden administration needs to stand up to China, she said.

In the Senate, Senators Josh Hawley, Marsha Blackburn, Ted Cruz, Kevin Cramer, Tommy Tuberville, Mike Brau, and Rick Scott introduced the Transparency for Confucius Institutes Act.

Confucius Institutes allow the Chinese regime to funnel propaganda into American universities under the guise of educational enrichment, said Hawley.

The Chinese Communist Party funds and operates 55 Confucius Institutes at colleges and universities across America.

(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.)
United States Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Marie C. Damour visited Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper headquarters on Wednesday to speak with the dailys leaders about its contributions to Vietnam-U.S. ties.

During her visit, Consul General Damour and Tuoi Tre's Editor-in-Chief Le The Chu discussed their views on the cooperative relations between the two sides, particularly the newspaper's active coverage during the 25th anniversary of Vietnam-U.S. bilateral relations.

The diplomat also used the visit as an opportunity to recognize Tuoi Tres contributions in strengthening the Vietnam-U.S. relationship, sharing her hope that the relationship will continue to receive support from the newspaper well into the future.

Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre Le The Chu exchanges souvenirs with U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City Marie C. Damour, April 7, 2021. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

The two sides also discussed Tuoi Tres plans for its upcoming April 30 (Vietnams Reunification Day) special issue, as well as the newspapers Making COVID-19 Vaccine Contributions with Tuoi Tre program  an initiative which began in February and has so far received more than VND8 billion (US$345,000) in donations from readers.

I think its a wonderful project and I really commend Tuoi Tre for all of its efforts, Consul General Damour said.

During her visit, she praised the success of Vietnam in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing that the next step for the country is to increase its access to vaccines.

The diplomat also shared that she is looking forward to the release of coronavirus vaccines developed in Vietnam.

Formerly serving as the head of the consular department in Ho Chi Minh City from 2002 to 2004, Consul General Damour said she was surprised by the change of the city after she came back for her new position in 2019.

She said that the citys breakthrough changes in infrastructure reflect the countrys economic and social development.

"Ho Chi Minh City is closer to the image of an international city compared to 17 or 19 years ago," she remarked.

Damour also congratulated Vietnam on its chairmanship of the United Nations Security Council, which began on April 1 and illustrates the Southeast Asian countrys increasingly prominent role in the international community.

In response, Chu thanked her for such positive compliments regarding Vietnam and expressed his appreciation for her and the U.S. Consulate Generals contribution to the relationship between Hanoi and Washington.

He also affirmed that Tuoi Tre will continue to dedicate itself to promoting the good relations between the two countries.

U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Marie C. Damour tours Tuoi Tres headquarters, April 7, 2021. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

The editor-in-chief also shared his hope that the connection between the newspaper and the U.S. diplomatic missions in Vietnam will continue to strengthen.

The meeting ended with a tour of the Tuoi Tre newsroom and a discussion on the newspapers improvements over the years.

According a statement the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City posted on Facebook on Thursday morning, Consul General Damour said she had had "a great time visiting Tuoi Tre newsroom and meeting with Editor-in-Chief Le The Chu to learn about how a newsroom operates." "I was amazed at Tuoi Tre newspapers fundraising program for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate all Vietnamese citizens. "No country is safe from COVID-19 until every country is safe, which is why the United States and Vietnam are collaborating closely to end this pandemic!"

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
States dive into unemployment system upgrades

Kansas is taking a major step in modernizing its unemployment insurance system, issuing a request for proposals for updating its 40-year-old system.

Problems with the legacy platform quickly became apparent when the pandemic hit, resulting in waves of record-high unemployment workers. The antiquated technology was unable to keep up with the record volume of claims, Gov. Laura Kelly said. The states Department of Labor was forced to temporarily suspend its modernization efforts in order to focus on stabilizing the decades old system.

The state is looking for a comprehensive unemployment insurance systems that manages benefits, claims, appeals and tax applications. The solution must include secure data migration, integration with other state systems as well as partner systems, user self-service, case management, training, documentation and ongoing support, according to the request for proposals.

The modernization depends on legislative funding, the governor said. Kelly requested $37.5 million for modernization in her budget request, under consideration by the legislature, according to a report in the Wichita Eagle.

It will not be cheap -- fixing a system that has been neglected for 40-plus years never is, Kelly said. But failing to act is not an option.

Agile procurement

In Wisconsin, the Department of Workforce Development announced it was moving forward on modernizing its outdated UI system without legislative funding.

DWD is working with U.S. Digital Response, a nonprofit organization composed of thousands of volunteers focused on helping governments respond quickly and efficiently to support critical needs. USDR, which also helped Kansas shore up its legacy IT, will help lay the framework for DWD's modernization project, including developing short- and long-term goals and plans.

Thanks to $2.4 million in new federal funding, the department is also working with 18F, part of the General Services Administrations Technology Transformation Services (TTS), to use modular contracting for the UI modernization. 18F will specifically be supporting with the state with user research, creating a procurement package, drafting a solicitation, picking qualified vendors and prototyping. The state workforce agency will do the final buys.

DWD officials said the department plans to take an agile approach to modernization, prioritizing immediate needs first and bringing in vendors that can begin updating pieces of the massive IT infrastructure right away.

Agile procurement will reduce risk, improve outcomes, increase flexibility, and ensure contracts are awarded faster and to the most qualified industry partners, TTS Director Dave Zvenyach said.

The first phase of DWD's IT modernization project will be an integrated cloud-based phone and messaging center that will enable 24/7 customer service claims help and will collect data on agent performance.

Web-based UI services

Hawaii is also in the middle of a UI upgrade.

Working with Solid State Operations, Hawaiis Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is replacing its legacy mainframe system designed in the 1980s with a web-based application. DLIR expects the cloud-hosted, software-as-a-service application to lower total costs and provide more flexible capabilities that will transform the way the department provides essential services to unemployed workers, to employers and to the U.S. Department of Labor. The company is also helping DLIR investigate overpayments.

Meanwhile, DLIR has set up a pilot appointment system for claimants to speak with unemployment staff via a Zoom meeting or over the phone. Initially, the service will focus on Oahu with plans to expand to the neighboring islands.
Anthony Brett Banks, 30, formerly of Kannapolis, N.C., was sentenced by Judge Curtis L. Collier, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Wednesday. As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Banks agreed to plead guilty to a superseding indictment charging him with one count of transportation of child pornography, and one count of causing another person to transport and ship child pornography in interstate commerce.

Banks was sentenced to 480 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Banks will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions during his supervised release.



The defendant sexually abused his 9-month-old biological daughter, created digital videos of the abuse, and traded several of the images with someone he met in an online room dedicated to sexually abusing animals. The person with whom the defendant swapped images was located in the Eastern District of Tennessee.

The US Attorneys Office, along with its law enforcement partners, is committed to apprehending child sex predators wherever they operate," said Acting United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. "Todays sentence sends a strong message to sexual predators and demonstrates our commitment to protecting the communitys most vulnerable victims.

Each year, millions of children fall prey to sexual predators, said Homeland Security Investigation Nashville Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr. HSI agents make it a top priority to protect vulnerable children from victimization by working with their law enforcement partners to investigate predators involved with the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material and ensure they are held accountable for their heinous actions. I commend our agents for their tireless efforts in this case, which resulted in a guilty plea and a lengthy federal prison sentence for the offender.

The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, HSI, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. This investigation was led by Task Force Officer Ed Merritt and Special Agent Dave Nalley of HSI and Special Agent Chris Munden of the NC SBI.

Assistant United States Attorney James T. Brooks represented the United States. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 06:22:20|Editor: huaxia

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ROME, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Finance Minister and central bank governors from the world's largest economies on Wednesday agreed on continued financial backing for countries struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic "as long as required," said the co-chair of a virtual summit of the Group of Twenty (G20).

Daniele Franco, Italy's Minister of Economy and Finance, said confronting the economic damage from the pandemic was the G20's top priority. Franco said the participants at the second G20 meeting of the year agreed to use "all available policy tools for as long as required" in order to save lives and livelihoods.

Franco also said increasing the global availability of coronavirus vaccines in an "equitable and accessible" way was part of that effort.

Franco and Ignazio Visco, Governor of the Bank of Italy and the other co-chair of the talks, spoke to more than 100 reporters Wednesday via video hookup from Rome. That was the same format used by ministers and governors for the negotiations.

While the coronavirus pandemic was the central topic at the virtual summit of representatives from 19 major economies and the European Union, discussions also touched on other pressing issues, such as the need for global action on climate change and the development of standards for a global corporate tax rate.

Franco noted that the International Monetary Fund had just upped its estimate for global gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 6.0 percent, up from 5.5 percent in January. He said that was a positive sign, but he warned that the global economic outlook remained "clouded by uncertainty" due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Together, G20 countries account for 80 percent of the world's GDP. Enditem
TOKYO (TR)  Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested an employee at a transportation company at Haneda Airport who is suspected of stealing breathing masks from women, reports TBS News (April 8).

At around 1:00 a.m. on March 12, Hiroki Katagiri, 32, used a bicycle to come up behind a woman, aged in her 20s, on a road in the Kamata area of Ota Ward. He then snatched her mask.

I have no memory [of the matter], the suspect was quoted by police in denying the allegations.

Hiroki Katagiri (Twitter)

According to police, the woman was carrying her wallet. However, Katagiri only took her mask.

Police are aware of several other women who had their masks stolen by a man on a bicycle in the same area. Katagiri is under investigation in those cases.
New Delhi, April 8 : In a move aimed at optimising the utilisation of resources and maximising the benefits to the masses, Centre's key ministries -- Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) -- have decided to converge their various schemes to support Self-Help Group (SHG) entrepreneurs in food processing.

The convergence between the two Ministries is specifically focussed on the Centrally sponsored Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) scheme -- an all-India scheme to be implemented over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore.

In further support to the food processing industries, the PM-FME scheme was launched by MoRD on June 29 last year -- a scheme which is part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and the 'Vocal for Local' campaign initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM-FME targets to provide financial, technical and business support for upgradation of existing micro food processing enterprises that connect with masses.

Convergence between various schemes of the Ministries has been one of the key agendas, government is trying to pursue, a communique of the MoRD stated.

Under the convergence process, both MoFPI and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana -- National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) of the Rural Development Ministry agreed to work together on implementation of PM-FME to support Self-Help Group (SHG) entrepreneurs in food processing.

"Of all the components of the scheme, both Ministries decided to work closely on the component of providing seed capital support to SHG members," stated the document.

This involves working capital and purchase of small tools with the maximum permissible amount of support as Rs 40,000 per SHG member based on their existing business turnover and requirement, it said.

The concerned teams of both the Ministries at the National level worked together in formalizing the operational framework for the scheme -- the guidelines, joint advisories, training and awareness campaigns -- to facilitate the implementation of this component.

The State Rural Livelihood Missions in the states and the union territories and the State Nodal Agencies appointed by MoFPI are executing the programme in close coordination. This involves identification of targeted eligible beneficiaries, capturing their aspirations and growth plans in the form of applications, digitizing, reviewing, recommending and approving them.

During the 2020-21, the document said, a total 17,427 beneficiaries were scrutinized and recommended for seed capital support of Rs 51.85 crore.

Andhra, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha and Telangana have been pioneering and contributed to over 83 per cent of total beneficiaries and 80 per cent of the total fund demand in these recommendations.

So far, an amount of 29.01 crore has been approved towards the seed capital support for 10,314 beneficiaries covering 6,694 enterprises from Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh. The States are in process of releasing funds to respective SHGs and SHG members through the network of community organisations like Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) and Village Organisations (VOs).

"A robust system is also being developed for regular monitoring of the rural food processing enterprises operationalised by SHG members and supported under this scheme. This convergence has leveraged the strength of both the Ministries and is sure to empower rural women's livelihood in the critical sector of food processing." (Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in)
Saudi Arabias Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping of the Republic of Mauritius.



The memorandum of understanding (MoU) aims at strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the fields of fishing, fisheries and fish farming, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA).



It also aims to strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries, and to enhance cooperation, partnership and investment in the field of fisheries



The MoU was signed at the Ministry's headquarters in Riyadh by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadley and Ambassador of the Republic of Mauritius to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Showkutally Soodhun.



The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, during the last few years, has signed a number of memoranda of understanding and cooperation with many local and international bodies, with the aim of strengthening and supporting joint cooperation in the fields of environment, water and agriculture and in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
Washington/Jerusalem: The Biden administration has announced it will provide $US235 million ($309 million) in aid to the Palestinians, restarting funding for the United Nations agency supporting refugees and restoring other assistance cut off by former president Donald Trump.

The package, including humanitarian, economic and development assistance, was detailed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as part of an effort to repair American ties with the Palestinians that all but collapsed during Trumps tenure.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken AP

It marked Democratic President Joe Bidens most significant move since taking office on January 20 to make good on his promise to roll back some parts of his Republican predecessors approach that Palestinians denounced as heavily biased in favour of Israel.

The plan calls for $US150 million through the United Nations relief agency UNRWA, $US75 million in economic and development assistance and $US10 million for peace-building programs, Blinken said.

Bidens aides have also signalled that they want to re-establish the goal of a negotiated two-state solution as a priority in US policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

But any further major steps are likely to wait for the dust to clear after Israels inconclusive March election, which will be followed by Palestinian elections scheduled in coming months.

The Trump administration blocked nearly all aid after it severed ties with the Palestinian Authority in 2018. The move was widely seen as an attempt to force the Palestinians to negotiate with Israel on terms the Palestinian leadership branded as an effort to deny them a viable state.

The cuts came after Palestinian leaders decided to boycott the Trump administrations peace efforts over its decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, upending decades of American policy.

This included rescinding funding for the UNRWA, which provides aid and relief services to around 5.7 million registered Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank, Gaza Strip and across the Middle East.

UNRWA

The United States is pleased to announce that, working with Congress, we plan to restart US economic, development, and humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people, Blinken said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas AP

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbass office welcomed Bidens commitment to a two-state solution as well as the renewed aid. And Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh wrote on Twitter: We call upon the American administration to create a new political path that meets the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people.But Gilad Erdan, Israels ambassador to the United States and the United Nations, criticised the renewal of funding to UNRWA, saying that it allowed anti-Israel incitement and anti-Semitic activity in its facilities.

We believe that this UN agency for so-called refugees should not exist in its current format, he said in a video posted on Twitter.

He said that in conversations with the State Department he had expressed my disappointment and objection to the decision to renew UNRWAs funding without first ensuring that reforms were carried out.

Israels Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, a close ally of Trump, has previously called for the dismantling of the UNRWA.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini told Reuters the new funding was extremely welcome but said the agency was not yet out of the woods at a time of increased refugee needs exacerbated by COVID-19 and the crisis in Lebanon.

He said UNRWA was an easy scapegoat and that while the renewed funding was important, it was also important to have the United States back as strategic partners.

We have been under vicious attack with a clear political objective behind it, he said. We are a human development and humanitarian organisation operating in a highly politicised environment.

The United Nations welcomed the restart of UNRWA funding. There were a number of countries that had greatly reduced to halted contributions to UNRWA. We hope that the American decision will lead others to rejoin ... as UNRWA donors, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

Blinken suggested that the Biden administration would seek reforms in UNRWA, which the Trump administration accused of inefficiencies, over-counting of Palestinian refugees and perpetuating the decades-old conflict with Israel.

State Department spokesman Ned Price insisted that aid would be allocated absolutely consistent with US law. He pushed back against critics who have expressed concern that funds could fall into the hands of militants, especially in Gaza, where Hamas governs, saying there were safeguards in place.

US law also prohibits aid that benefits the Palestinian Authority as long as it continues to pay stipends to Palestinian prisoners held by Israel for anti-Israel attacks or to their families.

Blinken said the United States was also resuming vital security assistance programs with the Palestinians.

The administration is likely to hold back for now on resuming direct economic aid to the Palestinian Authority while Bidens aides consult with Congress on potential legal obstacles, according to one person familiar with the matter.

The money that will go to UNRWA does not immediately restore contributions to the $US365 million level that the United States gave to the agency in 2017.

Most of the refugees assisted by UNRWA are descendants of some 700,000 Palestinians who were driven out of their homes or fled fighting in the 1948 war that led to Israels creation.

The growing refugee count was cited by the Trump administration in its 2018 defunding, with then-State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert criticising UNRWA over what she called an endlessly and exponentially expanding community of entitled beneficiaries.

Reuters
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

When it came to the COVID-19 vaccine, Florencia Polite felt driven to be an early adopter.

"It was clear to me that I had the ability as a leaderspecifically as a Black leaderto stand up early, to say I believe in science, to do my homework, which I did, and to say to our community, 'Here's why we, as medical professionals, are going first this time, and you get to watch,'" she says.

On the first day the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania offered vaccinations, Dec. 16, 2020, Polite, chief of Penn Medicine's division of general obstetrics and gynecology, got hers. After her second dose, she recorded a video journal every few hours for the next two days. "I wasn't feeling super great the second day, but it was important for that transparency and trust we're trying to rebuild," she says. "This was the real real for 48 hours."

In the months since, Polite has become a Penn vaccine advocate, co-planning an 800-participant town hall, creating doctor huddles where people could ask questions and express concerns, taking broad measures to address hesitation and increase acceptance of the COVID vaccines.

"Vaccine hesitancy in the Black and brown communities is well-earned mistrust, from as far back as Tuskegee and even further back than that, to current-day disparities in care. It's not just historical," she says. "The Black and brown communities with hesitancy do not overlap with the traditionally white anti-vaccination communities."

Reservations about the vaccine emerge for a range of reasons: Some people have concerns regarding the speed with which they were developed or about their safety or side effects. Others feel a historical distrust for the medical establishment or governmental authority. Another community may feel like the shot just isn't something they need. Some discrepancies in uptake could be altogether separate from hesitancy, related to lack of access more than anything.

Of course, it's possible to experience a mix of many of these at once.

For that reason, it all tends to get clumped into one big "vaccine hesitancy" bucket. But Penn behavioral scientist Alison Buttenheim warns that's a mistake. "We have to be careful not to leap to the assumption that when we see people not getting vaccinated, it's hesitancy. There are many underlying barriers," she says. "We miss out on opportunities to support and intervene when we call all of that hesitancy."

It's also important to distinguish between communities in the United States wary of getting the COVID-19 vaccination, of which there are many and within each one, many subtleties. A March NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll found that Republican men were least likely to get a coronavirus vaccine if given the chance, followed by people who supported Trump in 2020, and white men without college degrees. And although in that same poll, a greater number of African Americans said they wanted this vaccine in March 2021 than in December 2020, there's still reluctance to overcome in that community, Polite says.

Understanding and, when possible, moving beyond all of this is key to giving the COVID vaccinesin combination with actions like mask-wearing and social distancingthe chance to protect the most vulnerable and ultimately, to offer a way forward out of this pandemic.

Vaccine-specific hesitation

The idea of resistance to vaccines is hardly new, arising first in the 1800s around the smallpox inoculation. In an effort to stop a smallpox outbreak in the 1870s, several U.S. states tried to enforce existing vaccination laws or create new ones. This ignited the sparks of a fledgling vaccine opposition movement, giving rise to organizations with names like the Anti-Vaccination Society of America.

"You can draw a string starting in the 19th century to this long history of vaccine opposition, in different eras with different vaccines," says Robert Aronowitz, a Penn physician and historian of science. "Yet it's a fairly different configuration of forces motivating this each time, not one consistent know-nothing movement that grabs onto each vaccine as it comes out."

Put another way, each vaccine controversy has its own character, he says. Some of Aronowitz's own research, for example, has focused on the debate over a Lyme disease vaccine. In the 1990s, two had been developed, with one brought to market and then pulled. Thirty years later, there still isn't an FDA-approved Lyme vaccine.

Part of the debate, Aronowitz found, comes down to beliefs about the disease itself. "The vaccine's efficacy, whether you thought it worked or not, ended up being totally connected to whether you thought Lyme was an acute, treatable disease that people got better from or a chronic condition that had many manifestations," he says.

Aronowitz sees potential parallels to current conversations around COVID long-haulers, whose coronavirus symptoms linger for months. (Many long-haulers have recently reported improvement after vaccination, mitigating vaccine hesitancy.) "It's not trivial," he says. "If you think you're not getting better because of your own body's immunological reaction, it's not a huge leap to worry about taking [the vaccine]."

In that case, he adds, "hesitancy is not because of a general distrust of the biomedical establishment or fears of autism," the latter a reference to the controversy spurred by a discredited scientist who made entirely false claims that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine caused autism. The most prominent such firestorm the U.S. has experienced to date still holds sway in some pockets of the country and for some groups.

A history of mistreatment

There's another type of concern around vaccines altogether, one unrelated to the specific inoculations themselves but rather tied to the idea of vaccinations more broadly, borne out of a long history of mistreatment of African Americans by the medical establishment.

The Tuskegee Study is the most glaring and frequently cited example: In 1932, researchers intentionally misled 600 Black men to coerce them to participate, telling them they were being treated for "bad blood." In reality, they were being subjected to an experiment about what happens when syphilis goes untreatedeven after it became clear that penicillin could significantly help the disease. The experiment continued until 1972.

Other shameful examples of exploitation and medical racism include forced sterilization and significant disparities in the health care access African Americans have today. All of this has weighed heavily on Polite during the pandemic, particularly as it became clear that COVID-19 was not affecting everyone equally.

"Black and brown communities are dying at two to three times the rate of the white community. This is because of racism, not race. That's an important distinction to make, that there's no biological reason for that," she says. It's also necessary to quantify the mistrust this group feels about the medical establishment, she adds, noting, for example, the fact that African Americans are less likely to have their pain addressed. "We in the medical community need to be thinking about itbecause it's current," Polite says. "The COVID-19 vaccine represents a real struggle."

Annenberg School for Communication's Damon Centola, whose research focuses on social networks and the spread of behavior, recently began a study on how decades of structural racism have influenced the way African Americans feel about these vaccines, how they are discussed on social media, and what effect such conversations might have on someone's willingness to get a shot.

"In the past, many public health campaigns tried to promote vaccination by using top-down approaches that relied on emphasizing the medical facts," Centola says. "But for communities that have suffered a long history of abuses, simply telling people what to do is an approach that's likely to backfire. It's more effective and offers greater health benefits in the long run to engage communities in a way that's empowering. Our work emphasizes the importance of targeting community networks to stimulate nuanced and critical discussion of new health information."

Aiming for the middle

As the pandemic passed its year mark in the U.S., the varied reasons for discomfort over a coronavirus vaccine have crystallized. But possible avenues to overcoming those barriers are just now coming into focus. Perhaps the most crucial, says Wharton's Sigal Barsade, is acknowledging there's no simple yes-or-no answer to the question, will you get a COVID vaccine?

She and Buttenheim, with a group of behavioral science experts across Penn, the University of California, Berkeley, and many other universities, recently released a report about vaccine uptake among staff at long-term care facilities, which has hovered around 40%. Their analysis revealed five types of decision-makers ranging from vaccine "accepters" to "refusers." They found that those in the middle three groups were most open to positive influence. In other words, those were people who might be swayed to accept a shot in a way that outright refusers simply would not.

To explain further, Barsade points to trends from Kaiser Family Foundation's COVID vaccine monitor: In December 2020, 39% of adults polled said they preferred to learn about vaccine outcomes and effectiveness before they decided whether to get one. In January 2021 that number dropped to 31% and in February it decreased again, to 21%. Conversely, the number of U.S. adults who have either gotten a COVID vaccine or want one as soon as possible keeps growing.

"Hesitancy about this vaccine isn't just a cognitive problem. It's also an affective problem. It's how people are feeling about the vaccine and this process and their organizations. We have to take that into account," Barsade says. "You have to take different action based on where people are psychologically in the process."

As an answer to that, Buttenheim and Carnegie Mellon's Gretchen Chapman came up with the idea of a COVID concierge. It's still theoretical, but they see it as someone who can get people exactly what they require in any particular moment, whether that's a conversation with a coworker or simply to be left alone. "What someone needs who hasn't been vaccinated yet is going to vary," Buttenheim says. "Unfortunately, that means interventions aren't really scalable and will take some individual handholding." Part of that relates to messaging.

Message matters

In January, the city of New Orleans released a public service announcement (PSA) of people explaining their reasons for getting vaccinated: "So Mardi Gras can happen." "To continue my culture." The United Kingdom's National Health Service put out a light-hearted PSA featuring Elton John and Michael Caine, the former auditioning for a vaccine advocate acting role that the latter eventually secures. An Ad Council spot of former U.S. presidents and first ladies offers reasons Americans should get the vaccine.

All very different, each with a particular audience in mind.

"No one campaign is going to be the silver bullet," Buttenheim says. "Clever ad campaigns that speak to specific groups, those are great. So are campaigns consistent in terminology, in look and feelthe bus ad is the same as the sticker, which is the same as the slogan you hear on the radio. People might need to hear the message 17 times."

But which language exactly? That's what Penn's Message Effects Lab (MEL) has been trying to parse since before there were actual vaccines to give. The lab, run by Jessica Fishman of Annenberg and Penn Medicine, has tested dozens of messages. For example, some focused on education, others on vaccine scarcity or the actions of peers. The work is ongoing, but so far, messages highlighting benefits have proven most effective.

It's counterintuitive, Fishman says, given the instinct to attempt to persuade with facts, something she's noticed happening more as new coronavirus vaccines enter the mix. "It's an understandable impulse to try to get into the nitty gritty by comparing the COVID-19 vaccines," she says. "But attention being paid to these vaccine differences, which are minor, could have a negative effect, giving the impression that some are inferior. It could get lost that the most important outcomes are great for any of these vaccines."

Right now, her team is conducting a randomized control study on another COVID messaging debate: whether financial incentives will increase vaccine uptake. "Some experts have argued that the fastest way to herd immunity is to pay people to vaccinate," Fishman explains. "Others have been adamant that this policy would backfire." These opposing arguments can't both be right, she adds.

Sometimes this kind of intervention fails to change behavior, sometimes it helps. Given that it's unclear what will be true for COVID, the MEL has started testing the effects of this potential policy, and Fishman says she sees reasons for either outcome. Even if payments do increase vaccination rates, people with less money may accept a financial incentive more readily, without the chance to work through hesitation they may have.

Moving forward

So many factors matter beyond the message of a public health campaign or the words used; for instance, who is saying them and who that person is to the community. And the fact is, because demand for the COVID vaccine in the U.S. has so far outpaced supply, it's unclear just how largely resistance to these shots will factor into the pursuit of herd immunity.

The supply-chain challenges will likely start to ease up soon, Buttenheim says, but "there will still be a whole bunch of people not wanting to get a vaccine." Fishman agrees: "There could be a gradual shift, but even with the flu vaccine that's been around forever, we still have a lot of adults who don't get it who are at risk of getting quite sick or dying from the flu."

For all those reasons, Penn Medicine's Polite is continuing her quest as a vaccine advocate. Through a program she named CAVEATCOVID Acceptance Vaccine Education and Adoption Taskforceshe's worked hard with Black physicians and hospital leaders to address the concerns of departments within the health system whose demographics skew majority Black. The doctor huddles she helped organize always included at least one Black physician, something she says was intentional "because we realized that the hesistancy of the Black community was such that bridging the cultural gap was important to the mission."

It's why, despite some initial fears, she got the vaccine herself and why she volunteered at the Mercy/Penn Medicine/The Community Vaccine Collaborative vaccination clinic Penn put on in West Philadelphia in early March, one in a series of such clinics. "It was very special," she says. "I was tired going into the day, but when I left, my soul was renewed." She personally vaccinated 80 people that day, including her own 73-year-old mother.

Yet despite all the efforts around hesitancy, it's just one half of the conversation, she adds. "We also need to decrease inequity in the vaccine roll-out to address access disparities. We have to address both sides of the vaccination coin."

Overcoming the pandemic will require both individual and collective actions

A pandemic, particularly like the one experienced this past year, elicits many bioethical considerations. In a new afterword to their book "Everybody Wants to go to Heaven, but Nobody Wants to Die: Bioethics and the Transformation of Health Care in America," Penn President Amy Gutmann and Penn Integrates Knowledge professor Jonathan Moreno addressed a few, including vaccinations.

"Once vaccines are developed, universally available, and taken by enough people for generation after generation to establish herd immunity, even a highly infectious disease like COVID-19 can be effectively eradicated," they wrote this past summer.

But the pathwhich requires both individual and collective actionisn't straightforward, particularly as the pandemic has pulled back the curtain on just how deeply systemic racism in the U.S. runs.

"Black and Hispanic Americans have suffered hospitalization and death from COVID-19 at disproportionately high rates," Gutmann and Moreno wrote. "Underlying these greater health vulnerabilities are also long-standing racial disparities in health care, as well as in housing, education, employment, wages, and wealth."

There's an urgency to closing such gaps, to addressing chronic racial, economic, educational, and social injustices, as well as investing proactively in public health and innovative research, they add. The time is now. "These investments save lives, all lives."

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
A Rocha Ghana, an environmental Non-profit Organization said, it has read the statements made by the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) during a meeting with journalists published on Monday 5 April.



A statement signed by Mr Daryl Bosu, Depuy National Coordinator of A Rocha Ghana and copied to the Ghana News Agency n response to GIADEC said, it rejects as propaganda an apparent claim that the whole of Atewa Forest will be destroyed by bauxite mining.



The statement said, the area it will be playing with  a surprising term to use for an activity that will cause so much damage to livelihoods, species, habitats, and clean water  was about 10 per cent or less over 50 years, and would mine 5million tonnes of bauxite in that time.



It said: "To be clear, civil societys concerns are over the location proposed for bauxite mining  that is, the mountain tops  as this is within Atewas legally protected area and is also the most critical for biodiversity and clean water".



The statement said the Loss of the forest and habitats there would be irreversible and would also cause wider damage to the integrity and ecosystem service provision of a much greater area of forest around it, but GIADEC seems to completely miss this point.



It said Bauxite mining in Atewa Forest, no matter how small, will be terminal cancer that will erode forest integrity and the ecosystem services they provide over time, adding, "Atewa is a critical forest ecosystem, which is not to be played with."



The statement said that participants were briefed on a baseline biodiversity study of the proposed mining area as part of documenting the areas life forms but that was unnecessary.



It said several research documents both recent and old have already been published of the species found in Atewa Forest including the proposed mining area and that these reports show that Atewa Forest contains many endangered and endemic species that would be threatened with extinction if bauxite mining goes ahead.



"Instead of another biodiversity report, an independent Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA) is what is urgently needed to document how mining will impact on the forest, species, habitats, ecosystem services, livelihoods and access to clean water," the statement said.



It said an ESIA is supposed to form part of any decision-making process over whether or not a development action should go ahead, but this has not been done.



"GIADECs statements did claim that reclamation plans have been proposed as well as a draft report produced. These documents they claimed have not been publicly available," and how can civil society access them for independent examination and validation?



It said Private sector investors were also urged caution. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCNs) Resolution 087 passed in November 2020 urged the protection of the Atewa Forest, which received overwhelmingly support, STRONGLY REQUESTS all companies in the mining sector not to participate in any mining activities in or near Atewa Forest and all companies using aluminium to ensure that no aluminium from Atewa Forest enters their supply chains.



The statement added that the Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape (CCAL) have made it very clear that they do not want mining companies entering their forests and destroying their resources, livelihoods, and clean water sources.

It said Civil society groups support their stand and urges caution to any private sector company interested in mining bauxite in the Atewa Forest, adding, "A number of aluminium user companies have already stated their objections to aluminium produced with bauxite from Atewa."



"If GIADEC is to fulfil its stated commitment to international best practices and standards, the Atewa Forest must be completely off limits to bauxite mining.



"GIADEC has done one good thing, though, by raising the issue of illegal mining and forest destruction in Atewa Forest, stating we will one day get up and find that there is no forest at all. Civil society has also made this point countless times over the years".



The statement said the destruction of state gazetted forests by illegal activities should be the concern of any state agency that has the wellbeing of Ghanaians at its centre and that citizens should not have to fight government agencies to ensure that they benefit from the judicious and sustainable use of their country's natural resources.



"Or is the government and its agencies deliberately allowing the forest to be decimated by illegal actors, to serve as justification for mining it? A typical case of give the dog a bad name so you can hang it? (while communities continue to suffer the impacts?).



It said the problem observed by GIADEC will only get worse with bauxite mining: building mining roads into closed forests opens up currently inaccessible areas to illegal operators, adding that, "the illegal mining and logging you see today will flourish in the protected area once GIADEC facilitate access for illegal actors."



The statement said there were currently several non-extractive uses for forests such as Atewa Forest that have significant prospects of harnessing green investments that will offer quality green jobs and ensure wellbeing for all.



"We urge GIADEC to work with us to explore these green investments for the benefits of Ghanaians today and tomorrow".

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/08/2021 -- Transparency Market Research (TMR) has published a new report titled 'Custom Procedure Packs Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 20192027.' According to the new report, the global custom procedure packs market was valued above US$ 10,000 Mn in 2018. It is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.6% from 2019 to 2027.



Rise in geriatric population that leads to an increase in the number of surgeries, caused due to severe diseases and performed at hospitals and clinics, and a rise in the number of hospital base with more number of OT rooms are likely to boost the custom procedure packs market during the forecast period.



North America and Europe are likely to dominate the global custom procedure packs market due to the high cost of the procedure packs and high awareness about the benefits of custom procedure packs in surgeries in these regions. Increase in number of surgeries and favorable surgery subsidiaries from governments of countries, such as China and Saudi Arabia, are likely to boost the custom procedure packs market in Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa in the near future.



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Error in medical device components in the custom procedure packs to hamper market



The medical device industry acknowledges that human error would occur. Hence, devices are designed in such a way that errors are prevented. However, it was found that several times, advanced devices provide incorrect results. For instance, recently in April 2015, DeRoyal Industries Inc. issued an urgent medical device recall notice for its custom surgical packs that contained Medtronic Covidien Devon(TM) Light Gloves, which split or developed holes during application. This led the devices to be recalled from the market. Such incidences are a key factor restraining the market.



Reusable custom procedure packs to lose market share



The report offers detailed segmentation of the global custom procedure packs market based on use, product, and end-user. Based on use, the single use custom procedure packs segment is projected to dominate the global market, as it helps prevent surgical site infection during the surgery, while the reusable procedure packs segment is expected to lose market share during the forecast period, as reusable packs have high risk or cross contamination and also increase the hospitals stock inventory. In term of product, other segment, which includes cosmetic procedure packs and urology procedure packs is anticipated to gain higher share of the market, as compared to others procedure packs. Its share is anticipated to rise from 17.0% held in 2018 to surpass 18.0% by the end of 2027, due to an increase in the number of cosmetic surgeries in countries such as South Korea, the U.S., and Brazil.



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Hospitals & ambulatory surgical centers: Top end-users in custom procedure packs market



In term of end-user, the hospitals & ambulatory surgical centers segment accounted for more than 70% share of the global custom procedure packs market, in terms of value, in 2018. The segment is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace in the near future. The market share held by the segment is likely to rise to reach more than 75% by the end of 2027. Rise in number of day care surgeries and increase in number of hospitals in developing regions are likely to propel the segment during the forecast period.



Market in Europe to expand at considerable pace and create high incremental opportunity



In terms of value, North America held a major share of the global market in 2018. This is due to the high rate of adoption of custom procedure packs in surgery. The market in Europe is projected to expand at a high CARG, due to high incidence of diseases, such as orthopedic and cardiovascular disease, in Europe, which propels the demand for utilization of custom procedure packs to carry out surgery. This, in turn, is projected to propel the custom procedure packs market in Europe from 2019 to 2027. Rise in healthcare investment in countries, such as China, in the region and rise in the geriatric population, which leads to several orthopedic and cardiovascular issues that require surgery, are anticipated to drive the custom procedure packs market in Asia Pacific.



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Rising incidence of fractures due to low-impact accidents among the obese population in Middle East & Africa is a major factor fuelling the market at a steady pace. For instance, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, in Iran, 50,000 hip fractures were recorded in 2010, and the number is projected to grow to 62,000 by 2020. Consequently, demand for surgery is also projected to increase. These factors are likely to propel the custom procedure packs market in Middle East & Africa. The market in the region is expected to expand at a CAGR of above 4.5% from 2019 to 2027.



Medline Industries, Inc, Molnlycke Health Care AB, Owens & Minor, Inc. and Cardinal Health to dominate market



The report provides profiles of leading players operating in the global custom procedure packs market. They include Medline Industries, Inc, Molnlycke Health Care AB, Owens & Minor, Inc. Cardinal Health, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Unisurge, 3M, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., and PrionTex. Market players adopt strategies such as expansion of product portfolio by developing new products or through acquisitions and licensing agreements. In 2017, 3M signed a distribution agreement with Owens & Minor Inc.'s subsidiary Owens & Minor Ireland. Under this agreement, Owens & Minor Ireland would be responsible for the distribution of 3M customer procedure trays in Europe. Other key players are also adopting similar strategies.



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Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday announced "night corona curfew" between 10 pm to 5 am in seven district centres of the state along with Manipal, from April 10 to 20, aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19.

"Night corona curfew between 10 pm to 5 am every day, from April 10 to 20, will be imposed in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Tumakuru, Udupi-Manipal cities. It will be applicable in district centres," Yediyurappa said.

Speaking to reporters after a video conference chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chief Ministers of various states on the COVID situation, he said essential services will be allowed.

"Vaccination drives will be conducted from April 11 - Jyotiba Phule's birthday till April 14 - Ambedkar's birthday," he added.

Also read: COVID-19 vaccine: Andhra Pradesh appeals for immediate supply of 1 cr doses

Appealing to people of the state, especially those from places where the curfew has been imposed for cooperation, the Chief Minister said "as corona is spreading, we have taken this measure to control it. We are not imposing any lockdown."

People should not give room for such an action (lockdown) and should wear masks, maintain social distancing, and not gather at a place, he said. "We are trying to implement the suggestions given by the Prime Minister within this framework." With public cooperation, the spread of virus can be contained, the chief minister said. "...that''s the reason, without imposing night corona curfew in the state, we have selected some district centres... we want to see how effective it will be, if things don't come under control, we may have to extend it to the entire state," he said.

Responding to a question, the Chief Minister said the curfew was on a trial basis and people should support it.

Marriages, functions, meetings and events will have to happen within the limitations that have been fixed, he said, adding that Rs 250 fine is being imposed for not wearing the mask and it will be made more stringent.

Also read: Varanasi court orders ASI probe into Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanwapi mosque dispute
Morning Briefing: Joe Manchin, Caitlyn Jenner, Northern Ireland, and the Wonderful Jack Hanna

By Dustin Rowles | Politics | April 8, 2021 |

Lets just hit the highlights today:

 Joe Manchin, once and for all (I guess?), says that he will not vote to abolish or weaken the filibuster under any circumstance because Joe Manchin in the worst. Kyrsten Sinema says the same, but Manchin is also sh*tting on the use of the budget reconciliation process to get bills, like the COVID stimulus bill, passed. Legislating was never supposed to be easy. It is hard work to address the needs of both rural and urban communities in a single piece of legislation, but it is the work we were elected to do, he wrote. Manchin thinks that if we try really hard, the Republicans will come around and compromises with the Democrats. Joe Manchin is wrong.

2/ in advance the one cudgel that could conceivably (though very unlikely) move some of them: ending or reforming the filibuster. Manchin's argument to Senate Republican colleagues is essentially this: start making compromises now or face the prospect of getting what you want.  Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) April 8, 2021

This basically rules out the Voting Rights Act, unless Democrats can convince 10 Republicans to vote against their interests and for the interests of Democracy (ha!).

 The woman who accused Andrew Cuomo of groping her in the Executive Mansion gave a fuller account to the NYTimes, saying that Cuomo had groomed her for months.

She said in an interview with The Times Union of Albany that Mr. Cuomo asked invasive questions about her personal life, recalling that at one point last year, the governor told her, Oh, if you were single, the things that I would do to you. The groping incident followed later in 2020  The woman told The Times Union that Mr. Cuomo closed the door and reached under her blouse. He pulled me close, and all I remember is seeing his hand, his big hand, the woman said in the interview. Moments later, the governor grasped one of her breasts over her bra, leaving her so confused and so taken aback.

Cuomo still plans to run for reelection next year. On the Republican side, Rudy Giulianis son, Andrew Giuliani, is considering running against him.

 Alabama Republican John Merrill  the current Secretary of State in Alabama  has dropped his bid for the Senate seat of Richard Shelby after admitting to an affair with a legal assistant (who also accused him of using racist language). Merrill denied the affair but came clean with a recording of an explicit phone call between them surfaced.

 Caitlyn Jenner is contemplating a bid to replace Governor Gavin Newsome in Californias recall effort. She has sought the advice of Brad Parscale, Trumps former campaign manager who had an emotional breakdown last year and was detained by police.

 Because I am apparently a solipsistic American, I didnt even realize that something was amiss in Northern Ireland, but Hannah has alerted me to this summation of the situation after six nights of violence. Evidently, the violence began due to rising tensions relating to Brexit and unionist anger over a decision by police not to prosecute leaders of the Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein for allegedly breaking coronavirus restrictions during the funeral of a former leading IRA figure.

"It's not just the Good Friday Agreement that's under threat today. It's the United Kingdom itself."



James O'Brien's powerful monologue in reaction to the sixth night of violence in Northern Ireland. @mrjamesob pic.twitter.com/M3Orm5yTDH  LBC (@LBC) April 8, 2021

Hannah also steered me toward this thread, if you folks are interested:

Dear @BorisJohnson,

There is no better Brexit when it comes to the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland. As you still seem bamboozled by all this Paddywackery heres a few pointers for your next stab in the dark - https://t.co/3E0T9MKm28  Patrick Kielty (@PatricKielty) September 28, 2018

 Seriously, people have way too much money. I dont want to spend shame anyone  do what you want to do with. your money, I guess?  but my God, yall. My God.

The iconic tweet of the Fyre Fest dinner  two limp slices of white cheese on wheat bread with "salad" in a styrofoam container is about to be sold as an NFT. https://t.co/Sehw9EZrqO  Axios (@axios) April 8, 2021

 The wonderful human being, Jack Hanna, has retired from public life. The celebrity zookeeper has developed Alzheimers disease.

 Angelina Jolie Might Be Dating Diplo? Oh, OK | Fantasia 25 To Open With World Premiere Of Quebecois Zombie Comedy, 'Brain Freeze' 

Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba.

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In todays bit of random news, Twitter is collectively freaking out that a sexy rocker dude from one of Jack Blacks best comedies is now district attorney in Texas.

Writer Janel Comeau tweeted that Lucas Babin, a former model and actor who played Spider in 2003s School of Rock, is surprisingly not still working in Hollywood.

Nope, Babin has been a district attorney in Woodville, Texas, since 2018.

People who have kept up with Babin may not be too surprised. Sure, he starred in a Brazilian telenovela and in music videos for both Paris Hilton and Alanis Morissette, but it seems a political life was perhaps always waiting for him.

His father, Brian, is a Republican congressman here in Texas. Some predict that Babin, also a Republican, may be setting up his career far to follow in daddys footsteps.

In September 2020, a Tyler County grand jury indicted Netflix for promoting depictions of the lewd exhibition of a child in its 2020 film Cuties. Babin referenced a section of the Texas penal code in his argument, saying that the company promoted visual materials of a childs genitals or pubic area. Following the initial controversy, Netflix clarified to the media that Cuties is intended as a form of social commentary against the sexualization of young children. Babin, however, argued that the film didnt have the artistic merit for such an issue.

Babin told the Tyler County Booster that the indictment was due to his ongoing commitment to cases with underage victims. He also admitted that he had watched the film and determined there was probable cause for indictment.

Seems like Spider has changed a lot. And folks online had lots of opinions about his new life.

Hes making sure there is NO VACANCY at the Tyler County jail, joked Twitter user @callmejoey9, a nod to the fake band Babins character played for in School of Rock.

Man, from modeling and acting to chasing pointless indictments in a bullshit Texas town, commented Reddit user shmoove_cwiminal. What a career trajectory.

He went all [N]ed [S]chneebly, said @SadSpud on Twitter, referencing Jack Blacks best friend in the 2003 film.

Even Sen. Ted Cruz caught wind of Comeaus viral tweet.

Well, thats one way to feel about it.
(Newser)  Rep. Matt Gaetz may have violated federal law in more ways than one with an alleged trip to the Bahamas with a marijuana entrepreneur. Sources tell CBS that federal investigators looking into the trip suspect that Jason Pirozzolo, a Florida hand surgeon who is chairman of the board of the Medical Marijuana Physicians Association, paid for travel expenses and female escorts on the trip in late 2018 or early 2019. The sources say investigators are also looking into whether Gaetz was provided with paid escorts in return for political favors. Pirozzolo said in a 2018 podcast that Gaetz was working on legislation to facilitate marijuana research at a national level. Gaetz introduced the Medical Cannabis Research Act twice.

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Former prosecutor Arlo Devlin-Brown tells CBS that traveling across state or international lines "creates a hook" for a sex trafficking prosecutionand it doesn't matter if Gaetz "personally paid them as long as he knows someone is doing that." He says the Republican could also be charged with a federal crime if "there's evidence of a quid pro quo that the congressman was provided with benefits in return for him sponsoring some legislation." In a statement, Gaetz's office said he has "never paid for sex," and slammed the case as a "general fishing exercise about vacations and consensual relationships with adults." The Hill reports that former President Trump broke his silence about Gaetz on Wednesday to deny reports that the lawmaker, one of his most outspoken defenders in Congress, had sought a "blanket pardon" from him. (Read more Matt Gaetz stories.)
(CNN)  US President Joe Biden's newly unveiled $2 trillion American Jobs Plan, which is designed to revive the US's infrastructure and tackle the climate crisis over the next eight years, offers some Black Americans hope -- balanced with caution.

To understand why the plan elicits hope, consider that it does something at once small and very big: It pays explicit attention to the variety of racial disparities bound up with the country's infrastructure.

For instance, Biden would spend $20 billion on "a new program that will reconnect neighborhoods cut off by historic investments and ensure new projects increase opportunity, advance racial equity and environmental justice, and promote affordable access," per the White House Fact Sheet.

Already, the President seems determined to keep his word.

For close to a decade, Amy Stelly, an architectural designer, has fought to remove the Claiborne Expressway that runs through her Black neighborhood in New Orleans and leaves residents to suffer from highway pollution.

Biden's plan mentions the highway by name as an example of a previous transportation investment that, over the decades, has harmed communities.

"I'm floored," Stelly told The Washington Post. "I'm thrilled to hear President Biden would call out the Claiborne Expressway as a racist highway."

She added: "It's great the federal government and this administration is recognizing that this is something that must be corrected if we are to be fair and just in America."

In addition, Biden would spend $45 billion on replacing all of the country's lead pipes and service lines because "no American family should still be receiving drinking water through lead pipes and service lines," as the fact sheet puts it.

It's not tough to grok how this move would improve the health of Black communities. The years-long water crisis that began in Flint, Michigan, in 2014, when the city started to take inadequately treated water from the Flint River, is still fresh in the US's collective memory.

In 2017, the government-appointed Michigan Civil Rights Commission issued a 129-page report saying that systemic racism played a role in the tragedy that afflicted majority-Black Flint.

Speaking with Bloomberg Law, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, whose research detected the high levels of lead in Flint children, praised the President for viewing the crisis as a warning.

"This Biden proposal learns the lessons of Flint," she said. "We know the science of lead. We've known for centuries that lead is a poison. Yet, across our country, lead is like the straw through which we're getting drinking water."

Amara Enyia, the policy and research coordinator for the Movement for Black Lives, echoed some of Stelly and Hanna-Attisha's sentiments.

"It's good that the US is actually on track to confront some crucial challenges with aging infrastructure -- roads, bridges, those sorts of things," she told CNN. "I was also excited to see that caregiving is part of the plan, because usually it's not seen as part of the country's infrastructure."

Enyia expanded on the importance of the caregiving plank of Biden's plan, which would provide $400 billion to "solidify the infrastructure of our care economy" via bolstering home care services, per the fact sheet.

The President would also increase the wages of home health-care workers, who make about $12 an hour, and create an infrastructure to give caregiving workers the opportunity to join a union.

"This focus is very important because it considers not only older and disabled Americans but also the caregivers themselves," Enyia said, before nodding to how the coronavirus pandemic has supercharged racial disparities. "We know that Covid-19 has increased the pressures that women, specifically Black and Latina women, face as workers in the care economy. So investing in this sector would really have a material impact on people's quality of life."

Biden's plan has symbolic value, too.

In the immediate aftermath of an administration that regularly denigrated Black communities (among other groups), it's no small thing for the federal government to direct its powers at furthering racial equity. Recall how in October, Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law, tapped into the "welfare queen" rhetoric of the 1970s and '80s when talking about Black Americans' supposed laziness.

In other words, the image of the federal government as a guardian -- as an entity that seeks to better the lives of the governed, including the most marginalized Americans -- is nothing to scoff at.

Of course, history has made Black Americans keenly aware of how quickly promises to pursue racial justice can fall by the wayside, particularly in a strained political environment.

"The New Deal taught Black America that racial justice goals are often sacrificed when ambitious political agendas face tough odds," Willow Lung-Amam, a professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, wrote for Bloomberg in January. "Even if Biden, who has a mixed history in promoting racial justice, wanted to, he could not go it alone. FDR's success lay in building a New Deal Coalition forged among Democratic leaders, labor unions, blue-collar workers, farmers, White Southerners and people of color. The compromises that this diverse coalition made, however, often left the latter further behind."

Put simply, Biden's plan is still in its early days. The coming months will reveal who's ultimately included in the President's far-reaching agenda, as various factions -- predictably, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the proposal might be "a Trojan horse for massive tax hikes and other job-killing left-wing policies" -- hash out the particulars.

"We know that the plan is supposed to be big and bold, but the devil is always in the details," Enyia said. "Implementation is where we'll see whether the plan lives up to the hype."

This story was first published on CNN.com "Only time will tell just how 'big and bold' Biden's infrastructure plan is for Black Americans".
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The North Central Council of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to drop his presidential ...

The North Central Council of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to drop his presidential ambition.

Kassim Muhammad, the Coordinator of APC North Central Council asked Bello to drop his presidential ambition and support the zoning of the partys National Chairmanship to the region.

He spoke at a press conference at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, on Thursday.

Muhammad said Bello must allow the North Central part of the country to produce the next president, in the interest of fairness.

Describing Bello as a democrat, Muhammad said he could abandon his ambition in the interest of political justice and equity.

He said: The North Central Council is equally appealing to the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to have a rethink over his 2023 presidential ambition.

We strongly believe that conceding the presidential ticket of our party, the APC to the southern part of the country would enhance equity and political justice. We believe that the Kogi State Governor is a true democrat who believes in one Nigeria.

We are therefore appealing to Yahaya Bello to drop his presidential ambition, and join us in the campaign to ensure that the North Central produces the next APC National Chairman.

Though he was yet to publicly declare his intentions to contest, his presidential campaign posters have been sighted in some states.

Bello had, however, assured that at the right time he would make his interest known to Nigerians.
Here's a peek at the fight for justice from beyond the grave as the shameful legacy of cleric coverups continues to haunt an embattled faith community.

Read more . . .

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A local support group applauds the Missouri Supreme Court over a new law, but it wants more from the Catholic Church. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, wants the bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph to add four names to the list of accused clergy.
[April 08, 2021] Atlanta Life Insurance Company Details Strategic Repositioning and Withdraws from A.M. Best Co. Rating

The Atlanta Life Insurance Company today provided an update on its strategic objectives, plans and progress. It also announced the decision to end its relationship with A.M. Best Co. as its rating agency. Founded in 1905 by former slave Alonzo Franklin Herndon, Atlanta Life's current leadership, led by Roosevelt Giles since 2017, is repositioning the business to ensure financial strength and flexibility and invest in long-term sustainable performance and profitability. With a unique and visionary corporate structure, put in place by Alonzo Herndon and his son Norris Herndon, the majority owner of Atlanta Life is the Herndon Foundation. With this ownership structure, Atlanta Life and the Herndon Family were at the forefront of stakeholder capitalism, using visionary tenets of corporate governance to fund the unique social mission of the Herndon Foundation with its long-standing commitment to supporting under-represented communities in need nationwide, to strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit in the Black community and to train the next generation of diverse corporate leaders. In sharing his strategic vision for Atlanta Life, Giles stated that "Our vision is to grow our reinsurance business with corporate customers who seek a competitive partner of choice and away to multiply the impact of their economic contributions to Black-owned businesses; and to offer personal insurance policies in conjunction with financial literacy education to be part of the solution in increasing financial security and reducing economic disparities in historically disadvantaged communities."



Atlanta Life's current strategy has delivered growth in net premiums in 2020 with continued (net) premium growth in the first quarter of 2021. The company has executed notable group life reinsurance treaties with several leading insurance carriers on behalf of approximately twenty new corporate, government and association clients during the past two quarters. Atlanta Life maintains a risk-based capital ratio well in excess of all regulatory requirements. With an ongoing focus on optimizing the capital structure of Atlanta Life to match the strategic opportunities, Giles stated that "Our growth strategy includes a continued focus on strategic and financial partnerships with various companies and financial institutions that recognize the differentiated value proposition to all stakeholders given the unique social mission and the exciting commercial opportunities that exist for Atlanta Life today." Over the past year, Atlanta Life has undergone a corporate governance review and board refreshment process that has established a strong and engaged Board of Directors with a diverse representation of talent and skills to take the Company forward. Atlanta Life is in the process of expanding the executive management team to help strengthen its organizational infrastructure, processes, and capacity to scale its impact in the marketplace and by extension the community.

According to Giles, "We will continue to focus our efforts and resources on investing in Atlanta Life's long-term success in a way that is consistent with serving our corporate customers and a broad definition of stakeholders. Atlanta Life will continue to work with organizations that understand and seek to help the Company advance our unique social mission of community reinvestment and skills-based empowerment." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005969/en/

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EXPERTS and other concerned Nigerians have been raising their voices of advice to the Federal Government to immediately take steps to save on the emerging boom in crude oil sales.

This call is well placed because for some time now, there has been a steady rise in the price of crude above our budget benchmark.

Throughout the month of March 2021, Brent crude oil price traded steadily above the $70 per barrel mark. Though it recently dipped to $62. President Muhammadu Buhari had announced a benchmark of $40 per barrel in his 2021 budget presented before the National Assembly in December 2020.

What it means is that currently crude oil price is significantly above this year's benchmark which should automatically go into the Excess Crude Account, ECA, and more importantly, the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF. Experts have predicted that the emerging good fortunes of oil sales (which sharply contrasts with the situation last year at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic when there was a serious glut) will likely prevail for the rest of the year into 2022, due to the force majeure of missile attack on Saudi Arabia's 6.5 million barrels a day capacity Ras Tanura oil terminal.

Already, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has notified consumers of petroleum products, especially Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, that it can no longer shoulder the N120 billion a month subsidy on petrol which emerged as a result of the rise in crude prices. What that means is that consumers may start paying up to N230 (up from the current N166) per litre of petrol when the subsidy is withdrawn.

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It is sad that a government that touts transparency and places top priority on anti-corruption is waiting to be pressured to take a proactive step to underscore its seriousness in upholding the sanctity of our public finance.

This is more so as President Buhari regularly blames the previous Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, regimes of failure to save on oil windfalls during the several cycles of oil boom that took place under their watch.

It was during that same era, with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in charge of the economy, that the ECA and SWF were created, and funds accruing to the three tiers of government were displayed monthly in prominent national dailies for public perusal.

We call on the Buhari administration to come up with its own signature policy of preserving the excess revenue on oil sales. They should also prevail on the governors to realise that this is not a time for another jamboree.

Without the federal and state governments reaching agreement on the need to save on the windfall, the effort will be futile as the governors will demand for their state ECA allocations.

Oil windfall never lasts. We must save for the rainy day.

Vanguard News Nigeria
TORONTO - Ontario's plan to use mobile units to vaccinate those aged 18 and older in COVID-19 hot spots will take some time to launch, a member of the province's immunization task force said Thursday as residents in those areas searched for specifics on the project.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford makes his way back to his office after a news conference at the Queen's Park legislature in Toronto on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. The government's stay-at-home order takes effect across Ontario today in response to worsening COVID-19 trends. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

TORONTO - Ontario's plan to use mobile units to vaccinate those aged 18 and older in COVID-19 hot spots will take some time to launch, a member of the province's immunization task force said Thursday as residents in those areas searched for specifics on the project.

Dr. Dirk Huyer said the plan was being developed "rapidly" but could provide few details a day after it was announced by Premier Doug Ford.

Huyer, who is also the provincial outbreak response co-ordinator, said the government still needs to iron out details with the hot spots of Toronto and Peel Region and work with community leaders.

"That work takes time, to be able to deliver the vaccines, because it's linking with the community," he said, noting that mass vaccination clinics will continue to be a vital channel for immunization. "That work is all rapidly in progress."

Ford announced Wednesday that mobile teams will deliver vaccines to hot spot residents aged 18 and older in congregate settings, residential buildings, faith-based centres and at large workplaces. Regions will be selected based on patterns of transmission, severe illness and mortality from COVID-19.

Humera Iqbal lives in what is considered a hot spot neighbourhood in Mississauga, which is part of Peel, and said she was frustrated at the lack of details from the province.

The 41-year-old said she wants to get vaccinated as soon as she can and criticized the province for not being ready to implement its plan as soon as it was announced.

"Its just another example of the confusion with any of the messages that are coming from the government," she said.

"I would have expected that ... at least in the announcement it would mention 'its starting this date, individuals would be eligible,'" she said. "Theres no information or indication on when I could expect it, only that I should expect it."

Other residents expressed similar sentiments online.

A spokeswoman for Health Minister Christine Elliott said mobile teams will work with public health units, community groups and local business to administer the vaccines to hot spot residents as supply allows.

"Pop-up clinics will also be set-up in highly impacted neighbourhoods to administer vaccines to those 18+, including at faith-based locations and community centres," Alexandra Hilkene said in a statement.

She said the mobile teams and pop-up clinics will not use the provincial booking system and more details on how to receive an appointment will be provide in the future.

Meanwhile, the top doctor for Peel Region - which includes Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon - said the region will begin moving through five-year age groups every week for residents in hot-spot postal codes as it aims to accelerate the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

"I am hopeful, because vaccination is here, and while it will need time to be successful, it will position us well to ultimately prevent a fourth wave," said Dr. Lawrence Loh, the region's chief medical officer.

Peel public health officials said they will start vaccinating residents of hot-spot postal codes aged 50 and older on Monday, and will descend through the age ranges in five-year increments each week.

Public health experts have said the novel coronavirus is hardest to control in cities such as Brampton where households are larger and there's a higher proportion of essential service workers.

Officials with Peel Region said their vaccination timeline could be extended depending on vaccine supply or if uptake in an age group is higher than predicted. They estimate that they will be able to give 65 per cent of the region's population their first shot by early June.

Meanwhile, a stay-at-home order took effect on Thursday as the province sought to bring soaring COVID-19 cases under control.

Ontario reported 3,295 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and 19 more deaths linked to the virus.

Residents received emergency alerts about the order on their cellphones, radios and televisions Thursday morning, asking them to only leave home for essential purposes such as food, health care, exercise or work.

Under the new rules, stores that sell goods such as groceries, cleaning supplies and pharmacy products can remain open but only to sell essential items. Non-essential retail can open for curbside pickup or delivery only.

Ontario's labour minister said Thursday that the province will send approximately 100 inspectors to Peel and Halton regions this weekend to enforce public health measures at big box stores, warehouses and manufacturers.

The province also promised to expand access to asymptomatic testing for students and school staff during spring break next week. Previously, students were only able to access a test without symptoms if they were a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 or were part of the government's surveillance testing.

-with files from Denise Paglinawan.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 8, 2021.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version incorrectly said Peel Region will start vaccinating all residents aged 50 and older on Monday.
Mia Fevola is tipped to be Melbourne's next queen WAG.

And the 21-year-old certainly appears to be living up to the label.

The brunette bombshell took to Instagram on Thursday showcasing her incredible figure in a skimpy green bikini.

Glam: Mia Fevola, 21, (pictured) flaunted her sensational figure in a skimpy green bikini in a photo shared to Instagram on Thursday

Mia stood in the bathroom as she flaunted her sensational curves in the swimsuit along with her ultra-flat stomach.

She touched her skimpy top as she worked her angles in the mirror.

Mia geo-tagged herself in Rye, in Victoria.

Star on the rise: Mia is certainly rising up the ranks in the WAG world after she debuted her relationship with Western Bulldogs' number one draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, 19

Mia is certainly rising up the ranks in the WAG world after she debuted her relationship with Western Bulldogs' number one draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, 19.

Mia confirmed the romance last month with a picture cosying up to the star.

Key forward Jamarra has been dubbed 'Buddy Franklin 2.0'.

Watch out Bec Judd! Mia (right) is set to be the next queen AFL WAG after confirming romance by going Instagram official

In December 2020, Jamarra told The Age that he tried to model himself on the Sydney Swans star: 'I just use him as a person that sets goals for me... Everyone has that person you want to become, or even do better [than].'

Mia, who is the stepdaughter of Carlton great Brendan Fevola, will no doubt become a WAG to watch in Jamarra's upcoming season.

Mia is the eldest child of Brendan's longtime partner, Alex.
Scientists look for safety issues during the testing phase and continue their monitoring as shots roll out around the world. So far, the only serious warning to emerge is a rare risk of severe allergic reactions.

Different types of COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized and its possible side effects will differ for each  although theres more public data on the vaccines being rolled out in Western countries than elsewhere. Countries also vary in their vaccine standards, with some allowing the use of shots before final-stage testing involving large numbers of volunteers.

But in the U.S., Britain and European Union, regulators required any vaccine to be tested in tens of thousands of people before distribution. So far, the U.S. is using shots from Pfizer and Moderna, while Britain and Europe have cleared those plus the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Those companies large studies found that common side effects were minor and typical of the immune system revving up: soreness in the arm, fever and flu-like symptoms including fatigue, chills and headache.

But since extremely rare problems might not turn up even in large tests, the vaccines still are being monitored. The U.S. and British governments and the European Medicines Agency track reports filed by health workers and the public about suspected side effects. Extra scrutiny in the U.S. includes tracking insurance claims for red flags. And U.S. vaccine recipients can sign up for a program that sends text messages to see if theyre feeling side effects.

Those checks are proving reassuring.

People are supposed to wait around for a short time after vaccination in case they have a severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis. Such incidents so far have been rare, with between 2 and 5 anaphylaxis reports for every million vaccine doses in the first weeks of U.S. inoculations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Officials expected to receive reports of health problems, even deaths, that occur just by chance in the days or weeks after vaccination, given the huge numbers of people, including the frail elderly, getting inoculated.

Deaths and other serious events are investigated to see if the vaccine played a role. Authorities consider the persons overall health and how often the reported condition occurs without vaccination. With more than 52 million vaccine doses administered in the U.S. by mid-February, the CDC said it hasnt detected any patterns in deaths that signal a safety problem.
Tucker Carlson on Wednesday led criticism of a Virginia politician hoping to be elected as the state's governor, who likened himself to George Floyd and Emmett Till.

Justin Fairfax, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, was accused of sexual assault in 2019 and fiercely denies the allegations, saying the relations were consensual.

On Tuesday night in the gubernatorial debate he said that he understands what it is like to be falsely accused, and denied due process - in the way that Emmett Till and George Floyd were not given a chance.

Fairfax, 42, who is black, said he, like them, knew what it was to be denied justice.

'What a hall of famer,' said Carlson on Wednesday night, expressing disbelief at the remark.

Justin Fairfax, pictured during Tuesday's debate, in which he likened himself to Floyd and Till

Tucker Carlson on Wednesday night said Fairfax's comparison was shocking

'He didn't explain why these allegations were untrue, he admitted he knew them, they are absolutely real people.

'They accused him, essentially, of rape.

'And he's Emmett Till, a kid from Chicago murdered in Mississippi?'

Till was tortured and murdered aged 14 in Mississippi in 1955 for talking to a white woman. Floyd died while being arrested for using a fake $20 bill in May last year.

Fairfax is one of five Democrats hoping to replace Ralph Northam - who cannot serve a consecutive term - in November.

The five candidates for the Democrat nomination to contest November's gubernatorial election: from left - Lee Carter, Terry McAuliffe, Jennifer McClellan, Jennifer Carroll Foy, and Fairfax

Another of the contenders, state senator Jennifer McClellan, later condemned his remarks.

'The murders of Emmett Till and George Floyd were traumatic & triggering for generations of Black people,' she said through her spokesperson, Rhyan Lake.

'The Lt. Gov's comparison was shocking, unseemly, & insensitive.'

Adele McClure, the executive director of the state black caucus, said his remarks were 'disgraceful'.

'Justin has repeated his appalling comparison to Emmett Till since 2019.

'My heart goes out to survivors tonight as Justin Fairfax continues to repeat these traumatizing & harmful talking points that will replay again & again.

'This harm is not new & cannot continue.'

The issue arose when candidates, in their first gubernatorial debate, were asked about policing in the state, in light of the current trial in Minneapolis of Derek Chauvin, accused of the murder of George Floyd.

'The murder of George Floyd was horrific, but it recalls a history in Virginia and in our nation where African-Americans  and particularly African-American men  are presumed to be guilty, are treated inhumanely, are given no due process, and had their lives impacted, and in some cases taken away, in an instant,' Fairfax said.

'In the interest of speaking truth to power here we can't just talk theoretically about what generally happens.

'But we have a real-world example, where I was falsely accused in 2019.'

Fairfax said that the other four on the stage - former governor Terry McAuliffe; former state delegates Jennifer Carroll Foy and Lee Carter; and McClellan - all rushed to judgement.

Fairfax is accused by Meredith Watson of raping her in 2000, while Vanessa Tyson says he assaulted her in 2004.

On Tuesday night, Tyson tweeted after the debate: 'Let me be very clear: I DO NOT regret coming forward publicly about the traumatic sexual assault that took place in Boston in July 2004.

'I stand behind my decision to come forward and the statement I made in February 2019. There was NO conspiracy against any elected official.'

Fairfax vehemently denies their allegations.

Fairfax is pictured in April 2020, gaveling in the Virginia Senate in Richmond

One of Fairfax's accusers on Tuesday night said she stood by her allegations

'Everyone here on this stage called for my immediate resignation, including Terry McAuliffe three minutes after a press release came out,' said Fairfax.

'He treated me like George Floyd, he treated me like Emmett Till, no due process, immediately assumed my guilt.

'I have a son and I have a daughter. I never want my daughter to be assaulted. I don't want my son to be falsely accused.

'And yet this is the real world that we live in.

'And so we need to speak truth to power and be very clear about how it impacts people's lives.'

It is not the first time that Fairfax has compared him to black people killed at the hands of white people.

In 2019, when the sexual assault allegations were first made, Fairfax compared himself to Jim Crow-era lynching victims in a surprise Senate speech, as he resists widespread calls to resign.

Vanessa Tyson (pictured) accused Fairfax of forcing her to perform oral sex in his hotel room during the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004

'I've heard much about anti-lynching on the floor of this very Senate, where people were not given any due process whatsoever, and we rue that,' Fairfax said, referencing legislation the General Assembly passed expressing 'profound regret' for lynchings in Virginia between 1877 and 1950.

'And we talk about hundreds, at least 100 terror lynchings that have happened in the Commonwealth of Virginia under those very same auspices,' he said.

'And yet we stand here in a rush to judgment with nothing but accusations and no facts and we decide that we are willing to do the same thing.'

When he finished his five-minute impromptu speech, stunned senators sat in awkward silence.
Just ask Lela Getzler, whos been struggling for months to figure out how to get her 104-year-old grandmother, Alyse Laemmle, vaccinated against COVID-19. Because Laemmle is mostly bed-bound, the vaccine would need to be administered in her Hermosa Beach, California, home. Its not going well, says Getzler, 52, who lives with and cares for her grandmother. I started with her primary care physician who was, like, Yeah, she definitely should want it. But its not like they have a way to have somebody come out here.

Shes also called the state and county vaccination information lines and the local Council on Aging, among other officials in the region, but theyve all told her they dont do home visits. Getzler says shes just going to keep calling around, because, Maybe Ill get somebody who just, you know, has an extra dose at the end of the day, and says, Ill just swing by on my way home. I dont know what else to do.

It can be difficult to navigate the patchwork of programs serving the homebound. Some are at the county and city level; others have been spearheaded by hospital networks or health insurance companies.

Theres no strong centralized effort and, unfortunately, in a lot of places there is no real solution right now, says Caitlin Donovan, a senior director at the National Patient Advocate Foundation, a nonprofit group that promotes access to health care for people with debilitating illnesses.

However, one centralized effort is in the works. A group of 13 health insurance plans under Americas Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) are now coordinating with the White House on ways to reach the most vulnerable, underserved older Americans, including African American and Hispanic communities and people who are homebound. Part of the Biden administrations Vaccine Community Connectors program, they may use mobile vans to get COVID-19 vaccine doses out to people who are unable to leave their homes, says Tonya Adams, national spokesperson for the program and chief customer experience officer at Regence BlueCross BlueShield. People dont need to be covered by insurance to receive the vaccine, however. (See their site for more information.)

And there are local programs making progress. Wake Forest Baptist Health, based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, started reaching out last month to patients who have difficulty leaving their homes; it so far has administered 50 first doses of either the PfizerBioNTech or Moderna vaccine. Both vaccines have been used in the U.S. since December and each requires a second shot a few weeks after the first. The one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a new, third option.

In Miami Beach, the fire department has distributed more than 5,200 first and second doses to homebound and other vulnerable older residents (in affordable housing, for instance) since January, says city spokesperson Melissa Berthier. She notes that the city already had a list of such residents for hurricane emergencies, and has the advantage of being a compact 7-square-mile island.

Logistical challenges



Distributing the vaccines to people who live close together, of course, is far easier than driving for miles between homes. The PfizerBioNTech and Moderna vaccines are relatively delicate. The first must be stored at minus 13 degrees to minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit; Modernas vaccine needs to be shipped and stored at minus 4 degrees. That means administrators need special cold storage units.



They also need to deliver the shots fairly quickly, points out Denny Chan, a senior staff attorney at Justice in Aging, a national legal advocacy organization for low-income older adults. Once a vial of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine is thawed, for instance, it must be used between 30 minutes and two hours.

Then you also have to wait for a certain amount of time to see if there are any allergic reactions to the vaccine, Chan adds. That leaves less time to travel to the next homebound person. In contrast, vaccinating residents in nursing homes or other congregate living facilities is extremely efficient, allowing a median of 78 percent of nursing home residents to have received at least the first dose by early February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Theres a whole level of coordination that has to be taken into account, says Karen Anna Abrashkin, M.D., medical director of Northwell Healths House Calls program, which is based in New Hyde Park, New York, and serves about 1,500 patients in the region. The program plans to start home vaccinations soon, using mapping software that clusters patients to allow for enough time from the vial puncture to when the last dose is drawn.

Another roadblock to more efficient home vaccinations: strict eligibility rules. It would make sense for the people visiting homes to vaccinate both the older person and his or her caregiver, but thats often not possible under state rules. Were seeing that home health agencies are more reluctant to do the vaccine administration for homebound individuals, knowing that that one trip is only going to result in one shot being administered, says Chan, a member of Californias Community Vaccine Advisory Committee, which provides feedback on the states COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

The good news



The U.S. now has a vaccine in its arsenal thats easier to store and administer. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine received emergency use authorization (EUA) for adults 18 and older from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last weekend, and doses have begun shipping. Its a one-shot vaccine, making it less complicated than the two currently used vaccines, which require a second shot three or four weeks after the first.



The J&J vaccine also has less stringent storage requirements: It can be shipped and maintained at standard refrigerator temperatures of 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
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A former Head of State, Abdusalami Abubakar, said on Wednesday that there are over six million weapons in the country.

Mr Abubakar, a retired general, spoke during a meeting of the National Peace Committee (NPC) in Abuja.

The meeting was attended by the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Simon Lalong of Plateau State, religious and military leaders.

Mr Abubakar, who said President Muhammadu Buhari was aware of the meeting, expressed concern over the proliferation of arms, saying it was the reason insecurity in the country has heightened.

He said the security challenges in the country had led to about 80,000 deaths and close to three million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The proliferation of all calibre of weapons not only in our sub-region in general and in Nigeria in particular is worrying. It is estimated that there are over six million of such weapons in circulation in the country. This certainly exacerbated the insecurity that led to over 80,000 deaths and close to 3 million IDPs, Mr Abubakar said.

The former Nigerian leader, who served as the countrys de facto president between 1998 and 1999, said the challenges confronting the country were not only security in the narrow sense of the military definition.

He listed the challenges to include the Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, rising poverty; calls for balkanisation of the country from different quarters; threat of hunger arising from insecurity that farmers have faced and continue to face, increasing sense of collective despair and despondency among the populace.

Mr Abubakar said the country must find a way to resolve these challenges.

We believe Nigeria must find a way out of these problems, he said. Our hope is that perhaps among us by listening to your different perspectives, we can begin to build up confidence among our people so that we can hold together.

So our hope is that we shall not only share our collective lamentations about the current situation but proposed some concrete suggestions that can point the way forward, suggestions that can inspire more confidence among our people and ensure that our country remains one.

Mr Abubakar was Chief of Defence Staff between 1993 and 1998. He succeeded the late dictator, Sani Abacha, and helped Nigeria navigate its way to democracy in 1999.
Lucknow, April 8 : Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has said that he and his party will celebrate Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar's birth anniversary on April 14 as 'Dalit Diwali'.

He said that 'Dalit Diwali' will be celebrated in India and abroad by Samajwadis.

In his tweet, Akhilesh said that Ambedkar had given a new light to Independent India with the Constitution.

"The same constitution is in danger during the dark era of the BJP regime and we hope that Ambedkar will again bring light to the country," he said.

The Central and state government offices remain closed on Ambedkar Jayanti which is widely celebrated by those who believe in Ambedkar's ideology.

Akhilesh's call for Dalit Diwali is being perceived as a move to win over a section of Dalits before the state goes for Assembly elections next year.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
WINNIPEG - Manitobans will soon pay less in property tax but fork out more to stream movies or buy certain goods online.

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Manitoba Finance Minister Scott Fielding speaks to media at a news conference before the provincial budget is read at the Manitoba legislature in Winnipeg on March 11, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG - Manitobans will soon pay less in property tax but fork out more to stream movies or buy certain goods online.

The Progressive Conservative governments 2021-22 budget released Wednesday includes some long-promised tax relief, some new tax revenues from the digital economy and millions of dollars in promised COVID-19 relief.

Our plan is to really protect Manitobans through COVID-19 and advance the provincial economy past the pandemic, Finance Minister Scott Fielding said.

The budget includes the first step in a plan to phase out education taxes on property and instead fund schools directly from provincial coffers.

Residential and farmland owners are to receive a 25 per cent rebate this year, while owners of commercial and other land are to get a 10 per cent rebate. The rebates are to be cut again by equal amounts next year, resulting in total savings of $1,100 for the average homeowner, the government said.

The province also plans to cut vehicle registration fees by 10 per cent as of July and is to eliminate the provincial sales tax from spa and salon services starting in December.

Businesses are to get a tax break to encourage hiring. The threshold at which companies start to pay the provinces payroll tax is to rise in January to $1.75 million from $1.5 million of total payroll. The threshold at which companies pay a higher rate will rise to $3.5 million from $3 million.

Manitoba finance minister Scott Fielding speaks to the media about the 2021 budget at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mikaela MacKenzie - POOL

Taxes elsewhere, however, are increasing. Digital streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify can expect to be subject to the provincial sales tax as of Dec. 1, as will online accommodation bookings through companies such as Airbnb. The move brings Manitoba in line with most other provinces.

Online marketplaces such as Amazon and Best Buy will have to start collecting provincial sales tax on items sold by third parties as of Dec. 1. They are already required to collect the tax on items they sell directly. Used items sold privately by individuals through sites such as Kijiji will continue to be exempt.

We think theres an advantage in levelling the playing field with local suppliers, Fielding said.

The budget forecasts a $1.6-billion deficit this fiscal year on total spending of $19.4 billion. It's the second-highest deficit in the provinces history, behind last years $2-billion mark.

The opposition parties said the property tax cuts will be costly.

"It's coming from underfunding seniors care ... it's coming from underfunding the education system," NDP Leader Wab Kinew said.

"That's not the right approach, least of all while the pandemic is still ongoing."

Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said the property tax cut will mainly benefit people who are already well off.

"It's overwhelmingly geared to helping people ... who don't need help."

Premier Brian Pallister disagreed.

"Given the insecurities of COVID and the realities of what it's done ... I think this is the right time to give Manitobans a little bit of a break."

The government is also promising more help for health care and the economy as the pandemic continues.

More than $62 million is being committed to boosting job creation and workforce training, Fielding said. Some $25 million is to be put up to help employers hire students and young adults.

A day before the budget, Fielding promised $1.2 billion in COVID-19 spending for things such as protective equipment and extra staffing at vaccination centres, although the budget provided few details.

Labour leaders said the province must do much more to speed up vaccinations and protect front-line workers.

"Instead of making urgent investments needed to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic ... they are pushing forward with unaffordable tax cuts," Michelle Gawronsky, president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union, said in a written statement.

To help renters, the guideline for increases in rent-controlled units will be zero in 2022 and 2023, following a 1.6 per cent increase this year. Landlords who want to raise rents above the guideline must demonstrate that the guideline amount would not cover cost increases they face.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2021
Jhansi : , April 8 (IANS) Three right wing leaders, including an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) member, involved in harassing two nuns and their two students recently, have been granted bail by the city magistrate's court.

All the three were released from the jail on Wednesday evening.

All the three accused persons, Ajay Shankar Tiwari, an ABVP member, Anchal Arjaria, president of Rashtra Bhakt Sangathan and Purgesh Amaria, secretary of the Hindu Jagran Manch, were arrested by GRP on April 2 in connection with the harassment of two nuns and their two students, who were travelling to Rourkela in Orissa from Delhi on Utkal Express on March 19.

All the four were forcibly deboarded in Jhansi by GRP on the application filed by Tiwari, who accused them of religious conversion which later turned out to be false.

The incident snowballed into a controversy after Kerala Chief Minister made a written complaint to Home Minister Amit Shah, who assured him of justice.

An investigation was initiated by Superintendent of Police GRP Lucknow, Saumitra Yadav, who holds additional charge of Jhansi.

Based on his report, all the three were arrested as a preventive measure.

City Magistrate, Salil Patel, said: "All the three were arrested under section 151 CrPC for the breach of peace. They have been released on bail and I have given next date on April 22 for further trial.
The Oregon Legislature has once again shelved a bill that would have required electronics manufacturers to give consumers the tools and instructions to repair their own gadgets.

So-called right to repair laws have been a flashpoint between big electronics companies like Apple and consumer advocates as manufacturers guard the parts, tools and guides needed to fix broken devices.

Critics say that prevents the gadgets owners, and independent repair shops, from making inexpensive repairs or, often, any repair at all. Consumer groups say that often forces consumers to buy expensive new electronics and discard the old one, creating unnecessary waste.

Right-to-repair advocates made a big push in two-dozen state legislatures across the country this year but appear to be making little headway. A right-to-repair bill died in Colorado last month and now Oregons bill is also dead after a House committee declined to move it forward.

Oregon considered a right-to-repair bill in 2019, too, but it faced a similarly quick death. The current legislative session is packed with coronavirus aid and social justice legislation and the crowded agenda made other items a tough sell.

But advocates moved forward anyway, lining up a bipartisan group of five sponsors.

This bill fell victim to a difficult and challenging legislative session, Rep. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, wrote in an email Wednesday. Sollman said she hopes to revive the effort in a future session.

I heard from all parts of the state on the need to pass this legislation and look forward to continuing the work to make it a reality, she said. Oregonians and our small businesses deserve it.

As consumer advocates have pushed right-to-repair legislation, electronics manufacturers have gradually loosened their hold on the tools and parts needed for repairs. Apple, for example, now offers parts, tools and manuals to independent repair shops whose technicians receive a free certification from the company.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway |
HARRISBURG, Pa., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced criminal charges against the major anti-union company, Glenn O. Hawbaker Incorporated, which has fleeced workers, honest companies, and the Commonwealth of more than $20 Million. The charges announced today are the largest Davis-Bacon prevailing wage case in U.S. History.

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO officers want to thank Attorney General Josh Shapiro and his incredible team for the extraordinary work done today to stand up and fight for PA's workers and their families. The State Federation officers issued the following statements:

"Glenn O. Hawbaker Incorporated has stolen from its workers and the Commonwealth. This fraud has cheated honest, hard-working people out of the wages, healthcare, and retirement security they are due. Companies should not get a pass for violating the law and depriving workers of the rightful compensation for their labor. The working people of Pennsylvania have an Attorney General who will fight for their rights on the job, and Josh Shapiro is holding this unscrupulous employer accountable for this egregious theft," stated President Rick Bloomingdale.

"These criminal charges are a clear demonstration of the importance of workers' right to organize and join a union. Workers with a union contract have the power to protect their wages, while workers without representation are subject to the employer's bad practices without recourse. The Protecting the Right to Organize act (PRO Act), which has passed the U.S. House of Representatives, is needed now more than ever to prevent wage theft and workers from being misclassified, among other common atrocities levied by unscrupulous employers. Where unions are involved, there is legitimate oversight and protection of workers. With no union, the understaffed and underfunded system puts the fox in charge of the hen house. The fox, in this case, was Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., where workers were financially devoured, and they deserve to be made whole, with every penny that was stolen from them, returned," remarked Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder.

Bloomingdale added, "Employers looking to take advantage of workers in Pennsylvania beware. PRO Act will also impose civil penalties of up to $50,000 per every single violation of workers' rights. And ultimately doing away with 'right to work for less,' once and for all."

SOURCE PA AFL-CIO

Related Links

www.paaflcio.org


Caption: Scenes of jubilation were commonplace throughout Ardagh village and surrounds following the news in September 1996 that the village was declared the tidiest village in Ireland. Leader photographer Joe McDonagh took the this photo after the triumphant return of the Ardagh delegation from the awards ceremony. Celebrations continued throughout the night.

CLICK ON THE ARROW TO GO TO THE NEXT PHOTO

#ThrowbackThursday | Do you recognise anyone from this gallery of Granard graduation photos from the Longford Leader archives?

In this week's Longford Leader #ThrowbackThursday gallery, we feature a selection of classic black and white photographs by legendary former Leader staff photographer Joe McDonagh from 1996.

See Cllr Turlough 'Pott' McGovern as you never seen him before! Ardagh celebrating their success as the tidiest village in Ireland. Fr Manning Gaels bringing the Sean Connolly Cup to Drumlish national school. The cast of 'Conversations on a Homecoming' which was staged in December 1996 at Bog Lane Theatre Ballymahon. And many more great images.

We hope the photos bring back some happy memories and don't forget to tag and share with any of your friends that you recognise.

GALLERY | Down Memory Lane - a beautiful bouquet of Longford Rose hopefuls, Clondra walking enthusiasts and Moyne CS award winners
Min Bahadur Bham is an interesting character. Maybe that is why he is a hard man to get hold of.

I dont like interviews, he says. If you call me for a hike or for a drink, Ill be easily available. But, for interviews, Ill always be hesitant because I dont think Ive done enough in my life to be giving out interviews.

Bham is one of the most fascinating persons in the generally boring Nepali cinema industry. He is neither busy nor is he free. He is in his own world, trying to figure out what he wants to do next. Some days, he spends his entire day watching films while other days, he does nothing as he sits somewhere and meditates for hours.

He is passionate about what he does, but he knows that he is not perfect. That is why he constantly works on himself so that, in years to come, he can smile at the work that he has done in his career.

Childhood

Born in Mugu in Karnali, Bhams childhood, like him, was unique and interesting. His father was a journalist at the Rastriya Samachar Samiti, the national news agency of Nepal, and a photography enthusiast who worked at a telegram office. That is where Bham spent most of his time.

The telegram was the only means of communication back then, he says. I used to stay there and write telegrams and send them to people who were working away from Mugu.

He also had to take the telegrams to their respondents. As most people did not know how to, either read or write, he used to read the messages out loud to them.

I used to love doing that. I must have read around 10,000 messages, maybe even more.

Bham, who grew up in Mugu, moved to Kathmandu after completing his secondary school.

He used to read all kinds of messages. Some would be good while others would be bad. This, he says, helped him understand that life is not always rosy and that there are always going to be bad days.

I leant psychology and the framework of society at an early age. Maybe thats why I didnt really enjoy my childhood.

He recalls how he wrote fake messages on behalf of the families of policemen and army men as they wanted to come home. Sometimes, he says, he even wrote fake telegrams of their parents dying so that they could come home for some more days.

As he grew older, his father brought home television and he spent his time watching Ramayan, Mahabharat along with films like Simana, Bhagyarekha and Kanyadan on a VCR player.

His curiosity for movies grew as his father also opened a high-vision cinema hall that played both Nepali and Indian movies. But, to his disappointment, his father rarely let him go there. The only time he was allowed was when the entire family was together.

That didnt stop me. I used to sneak in by bunking school and go with my elder cousins.

He would also spend a lot of his time listening to the radio. Even though he loved talking to himself, he found peace with radio shows. He used to visualise the presenters and think about them regularly. He did not have many friends as he was an introvert by nature. This is why he found solace in small things like reading an old tattered Gorkhapatra or buying Muna childrens magazine by saving money received during festivals.

Getting away

But, the time he was in his teens, he was captivated by movies. He wanted to learn more. He knew that if he stayed in Mugu, his parents would make him do things he did not like. He wanted to learn acting and get into the theatre. But, his parents wanted him to study science and become a doctor or an engineer.

That is why as soon as he finished his secondary education, he ran away. The only place he knew where he could learn more about films and acting was Nepals capital city, Kathmandu.

I had around Rs 2,700. But, more than that, I had the will to do it and a good accomplice  my maternal cousin who had around Rs 10,000 with him. Both of us decided it was now or never.

It was monsoon; everyone was busy planting paddy. He and his cousin saw this as a chance as the duo boarded a helicopter which often came to Mugu to drop food and other essential items to the village. The helicopter took them to Surkhet, from where they took a jeep to Nepalgunj. He had escaped his village in a pleasingly dramatic manner.

In Nepalgunj, he was free. Free from the bondage of his fathers expectations. Free from the boundaries of his home. He was free to go to movie halls. Free to eat what he wanted. Free to roam around like the protagonists in the movies he watched at his fathers movie hall.

Going to movies was cheap there. I normally went to the morning shows. After that was over, I went to eat momo or chowmein and then get back into the hall again to watch the afternoon show and then the evening show.

He spent a month in Nepalgunj. He was having so much fun; he forgot why he had left his home in Mugu. He forgot that his goal was to go to Kathmandu.

I only realised that when I got broke. Thats when my cousin left for Mugu and I left for Kathmandu.

Into the cinematic world

In Kathmandu, he became an avid reader. Whenever he got free time, he would spend it reading a new book.

When he came to Kathmandu, he had nowhere to go. He had a cousin living here but was afraid that h would be sent back to Mugu if he went to him. He enrolled to study in the management stream at Saraswati Campus in Lainchaur and stayed at Amrit Science Campuss hostel. He enrolled in management to make his family happy. But, his heart was somewhere else as all he could think of was films, arts and literature.

I started to go to the Rastriya Naach Ghar on a regular basis. There, I learnt acting. I liked it so much, I then joined Oscar College (to study it formally).

To make his family happy, he completed his bachelors in management. But, to keep him happy and stay true to who he was, he also completed bachelors in film studies.

In Kathmandu, he became an avid reader. Whenever he got free time, he would spend it reading a new book.

I was so much into reading that I even read condolence message on newspapers.

But, he was never a good student, he says, as he never went to college on a regular basis. He spent the time he should have spent in college with friends drinking, eating meat, and gambling although his family was a vegetarian one.

Id plan on eating meat after Id made a feature film, but sadly I didnt fulfil that promise as I ate it after making a short film. I also got a chance to go to Russia and there I even learnt how to drink.

By this time, he was already addicted to cigarettes. Some days, he would smoke up to 100 cigarettes a day. But, soon he quit smoking and says that he can do the same with alcohol and gambling.

Im not as hooked towards these things as others. If I want, I can leave it today.

This, he says, is due to his spiritual awakening. He says that there are times he feels he was a monk in his previous life.

It sounds weird, but that is what I feel.

That is why he often visits the monastery at Namobuddha. That is where he started to envision his one and only movie  Kalo Pothi.

The basic structure of the movie was formed when I was there. I recalled my childhood and how things were to how I wanted it to be. That is what the movie is about.

No rush

The movie made it big. It was even Nepals official entry for the Oscars. Apart from that, it made it to a host of film festivals throughout the globe. Since then, everyone has been waiting for another movie from Bham. But, he is in no hurry.

Im in no rush. I want to make a movie that makes me happy. So, people will have to wait.

To him, this is more than work. Its what he is passionate about, which is why he wants to wait to make the perfect film.

Im content with what Ive done in my life. Even if I die without making another film, Ill still be happy. But, I know that I want to make a film and am willing to wait to make a perfect one.
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DENVER  Health officials in Colorado have reported an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state while infections also suggest wider spread of the virus.

The state Department of Public Health and Environment said 450 people were hospitalized statewide as of Wednesday with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infections, The Denver Post reported Thursday. The last time that many people were in the hospital because of COVID-19 was Feb. 19.

Larimer, Adams, Douglas and Pueblo counties saw an increase in hospitalizations while numbers in most parts of the state remained stable or slowly decreased. Hospitalizations in Pueblo increased 11 of the last 14 days.

Health officials have said the relatively steep increase can be a sign that vaccines have not yet chased the virus out of Colorado.

State data released Wednesday said there was an 8% increase of active coronavirus outbreaks in the past week, bringing numbers back to the same level last seen last month.

Outbreaks are two or more cases tied to the same locations or events. Four weeks must pass with no new cases before outbreaks are declared over.

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Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, breathing trouble, sore throat, muscle pain and loss of taste or smell. Most people develop only mild symptoms. But some people, usually those with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia. Sometimes people with a coronavirus infection display no symptoms.

We encourage Coloradans to get tested if they exhibit symptoms or suspect they have been exposed to COVID-19. Testing allows the state to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and helps us mitigate outbreaks and increased disease transmission, said Jessica Bralish, spokesperson for the state health department.

Jefferson, Summit and Pitkin counties have increased safety restrictions as a result of rising case counts.

Unfortunately we are slipping in the wrong direction, and we have seen an increase in the COVID-19 case incidence rate, test positivity rate and hospitalizations, Jefferson County Public Health Executive Director Dawn Comstock said. None of us want to go backwards on the dial after all of the hard work weve put in and sacrifices weve made.

More than 3 million people, or 18% of the state population, have completed their vaccinations as of Wednesday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 35% of the state population has received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine.
Many nonprofits reliant on government funding went into this year expecting bad news in the state budget, with Gov. Andrew Cuomos proposed budget cutting 5% of funding for localities and nonprofits. But with a major influx of federal aid and the power tipped in favor of the state Legislature this year, the nonprofit sectors worst fears werent realized. Here is a rundown of the most noteworthy provisions for the sector in the state budget agreement reached by Cuomo and the Legislature.

Increased pay for human services workers

This years state budget sets aside $46.2 million to provide a 1% cost of living adjustment for nonprofits that work with certain state agencies to provide services to people with developmental disabilities, mental health challenges and substance use disorder. Another $5.6 million will also be given to provide a similar boost in pay through other human services agencies, including the Office for the Aging, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the Office of Children and Family Services.

Groups such as the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies and New York Disability Advocates praised its inclusion in the budget.

Grants for arts, cultural nonprofits

A new $40 million fund included in the budget will provide general operating support to arts and cultural organizations needing support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another $20 million was also set aside in capital grants to help such groups abide by COVID-19-related health regulations, such as upgrading filtration systems and creating spaces for outdoor performances.

Support for Asian American organizations

A coalition of nonprofits serving Asian American New Yorkers called on state lawmakers to put $19 million into social services, public education and other initiatives to help Asian Americans. The budget ended up including $10 million toward that request, with investments in organizations responding to anti-Asian hate and other needs Asian Americans face. The budget also included $3 million for the state Department of Health to collect data on ethnic groups under the Asian American and Pacific Islander umbrella.

For too long, the model minority myth and the lack of accurate and disaggregated data accounting for our ethnic diversity, have rendered the needs of our community invisible, Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung, co-executive directors of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, wrote in a statement. Community-based organizations on the ground have had to stretch to meet growing community needs. This investment is important to our communities both at this challenging time and in the long-run to address the inequities our communities face.

Preserved funding for child welfare initiatives

This years budget didnt include proposed cuts to various child welfare initiatives in Cuomos budget from earlier this year, including services that help keep youth out of the foster care system. Still, some child welfare advocates argued that the current funding levels were still insufficient.

We must acknowledge that these restorations only prevent exacerbation of an already dire situation, wrote Paige Pierce, CEO for Families Together in NYS, and Kate Breslin, president and CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, on behalf of the advocacy group CHAMPS NY.

Another niche benefit for foster care organizations was the inclusion of language that would ensure they wouldnt be penalized for getting federal relief loans during the pandemic while receiving their state rates.

Delayed Medicaid pharmacy carve-out

Safety-net health providers in New York have lambasted a state proposal that they say would cause them to lose out on $250 million annually. The change relates to the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, which allows some providers to get prescription drugs at a discount rate and use the rest of the funds for other services such as housing assistance. The benefit wouldve been carved out from Medicaid managed care plans and moved to a different arrangement which wouldve saved the state money but hurt providers.

The state budget delays the change for two years, causing celebration among groups such as the Alliance for Positive Change, an organization which serves New Yorkers with HIV and other chronic health conditions.

Public education and outreach around COVID-19

New York will use part of the $15 million set aside for COVID-19 public outreach to fund community organizations promoting awareness around COVID-19 and vaccination in Latino communities.

Funding for violence intervention programs

The state budget allocates $10 million toward gun violence intervention programs operated by community organizations, and dedicates 10% of the federal Victims of Crime Act funding New York receives to such groups in the future.

Correction:A previous version of this article included the incorrect allocation for the Asian American data disaggregation.
The shareholders in Auriant Mining AB (publ.) ("Company" or "Auriant Mining"), 556659-4833, are hereby summoned to the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.

In order to mitigate the spread of Covid-19, the board of directors has decided that the Annual General Meeting will be conducted by advance voting only, without physical presence of shareholders, proxies and third parties.

Auriant Mining welcomes all shareholders to exercise their voting rights at this Annual General Meeting through advance voting on the basis of temporary statutory rules, according to the procedure set out below. Information on the resolutions passed at the Annual General Meeting will be published on 11 May 2021, as soon as the result of the voting has been finally confirmed.

In the advance voting form, the shareholders may request that a resolution on one or several of the matters on the proposed agenda below should be deferred to a so-called continued general meeting, which cannot be conducted solely by way of advance voting. Such continued general meeting shall take place if the annual general meeting so resolves or if shareholders with at least one tenth of all shares in the Company so request. The shareholders are reminded of their right to request information according to Chapter 7, Section 32 of the Swedish Companies Act. A request for such information shall be made in writing to Advokatfirman Vinge KB, Att: Joel Magnusson, Box 1703, SE-111 87 Stockholm, Sweden, or via e-mail to agm@auriant.se , no later than on 1 May 2021. The information will be made available at Advokatfirman Vinge at Smalandsgatan 20, Stockholm and on www.auriant.com, on 6 May 2021 at the latest. The information will also be sent, within the same period of time, to the shareholder who has requested it and stated its address.

NOTICE

Shareholders wishing to participate, through advance voting, in the meeting must:

(i) Be entered in the shareholders' register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB (the Swedish Central Securities Depositary & Clearing Organization) as of the record date Monday 3 May 2021. Shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee through a bank or a securities institution must re-register their shares in their own names to be entitled to participate in the annual general meeting. Such registration, which may be temporary, must be duly effected in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on 5 May 2021, and the shareholders must therefore advise their nominees well in advance of this date.

(ii) Notify the Company of their participation in the general meeting by casting their advance vote in accordance with the instructions under the heading "Advance voting" below, so that the advance voting form is received by Auriant Mining no later than on 10 May 2021.

Advance voting

The shareholders may only exercise their voting rights at the Annual General Meeting by voting in advance, so-called postal voting in accordance with section 22 of the Act (2020:198) on temporary exceptions to facilitate the execution of general meetings in companies and other associations.

A special form shall be used for advance voting. The form is available on Auriant Mining's website, www.auriant.com. The advance voting form is considered as the notification of participation.

The completed voting form must be received by Auriant Mining no later than Monday 10 May 2021. The form may be submitted via e-mail to agm@auriant.se or by post to Advokatfirman Vinge KB, Att: Joel Magnusson, Box 1703, SE-111 87 Stockholm, Sweden. If the shareholder votes in advance through a representative, a power of attorney shall be enclosed to the form. If the shareholder is a legal entity, a certified copy of a registration certificate or a corresponding document verifying authority shall be enclosed to the form. The shareholder may not provide special instructions or conditions in the voting form. If so, the vote (i.e. the advance vote in its entirety) is invalid. Further instructions and conditions are included in the form for advance voting.

For questions regarding the annual general meeting or to have the advance voting form sent by post, please contact Auriant Mining AB on agm@auriant.se.

Number of shares and votes

At the time of issuing the notice to attend the Annual General Meeting, the Company has a total of 98,768,270 registered shares, with one vote per share. As of the same date, the Company is holding no shares in treasury.

PROPOSED AGENDA

Election of the chairman of the meeting. Election of one or two persons to attest the minutes of the meeting. Preparation and approval of the voting list. Approval of the agenda. Determination of whether the meeting has been duly convened. Submission of the annual report and audit report and the consolidated accounts and group audit report and in connection with this, report by the auditor regarding the audit work. Resolution on:

adoption of profit and loss account and balance sheet and consolidated profit and loss account and consolidated balance sheet, allocation regarding the Company's profit/loss in accordance with the adopted balance sheet, discharge of liability for the board members and the CEO.

Resolution on the number of board members, deputies and auditors. Resolution on remuneration to the board of directors, deputies and the auditor. Election of board members and deputies.

Lord Daresbury (Peter) as board member (re-election) Preston Haskell as board member (re-election) Birgit Koster Hoffmann as board member (election) Jukka Pitkajarvi as board member (re-election) James Provoost Smith as deputy board member (re-election)

Election of chairman of the board

Peter Daresbury (re-election) Election of auditor. Resolution on the principles of appointment of the nomination committee and instruction for the nomination committee. Resolution on authorisation for the board of directors to resolve upon issue of shares.

PROPOSALS BY THE NOMINATION COMMITTEE

The nomination committee consisting of Per Ahlgren, chair of the committee (appointed by GoMobile Nu AB), Risto Silander (appointed by Bertil Holdings Ltd), and Lord Daresbury, (chairman of the board of directors of Auriant Mining AB), have submitted the following proposals:

1. Election of the chairman of the meeting

The nomination committee proposes that advocate David Andersson, or the person proposed by the nomination committee if he has an impediment to attend, is elected chairman of the annual general meeting.

8. Resolution on the number of board members, deputies and auditors

The nomination committee proposes that the board shall consist of four (4) members with one (1) deputy board member and that the number of auditors shall be one (1) without any deputy auditor.

9. Resolution on remuneration to the board of directors, deputies, and the auditor

The nomination committee proposes that the remuneration to the chairman of the board shall be SEK 400,000 and SEK 250,000 to each of the other ordinary board members and to the deputy board member. If any committee is established by the board, it is proposed that remuneration to each member of the committee shall be paid in the amount of SEK 25,000 per annum for participation in it. The maximum amount of remuneration payable to the board, including remuneration for work in committees, is SEK 1,725,000.

The nomination committee proposes that the auditor's fees be approved in line with agreement between the Company and the auditor.

10. Election of board members and deputies

The nomination committee proposes re-election of Peter Daresbury, Preston Haskell and Jukka Pitkajarvi as members of the board. The nomination committee proposes election of Birgit Koster Hoffmann as new board member. The nomination committee proposes re-election of James Provoost Smith as deputy board member.

11. Election of chairman of the board

The nomination committee proposes that Peter Daresbury be re-elected as the chairman of the board.

12. Election of auditor

The nomination committee proposes re-election of the accounting firm Ohrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB. Ohrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB has informed the nomination committee that, if the committee's proposal is adopted by the general meeting, Anna Rozhdestvenskaya will act as auditor-in-charge.

13. Resolution on the principles of appointment of the nomination committee and instruction for the nomination committee.

It is proposed by the nomination committee that it shall consist of the chairman of the board and three other members, each appointed by one of the three owners with the largest number of voting rights. The selection of the three largest shareholders shall be made on the basis of the share register of the company kept by Euroclear Sweden AB as of the last banking day in September. However, if it becomes known to the company that two or more of the largest shareholders are controlled by the same physical person(s) (or the same physical person(s) holds shares in the company both directly and through a company controlled by him), then all such shareholders shall be considered to comprise one shareholder for the purposes of the participation in the Nomination Committee. At the earliest convenient date after the end of September, the Chairman of the Board shall contact the three shareholders with the largest number of voting rights, as determined above, and request that they each appoint a member to the nomination committee. If any of the three shareholders with the largest number of voting rights decline their right to appoint a member to the Nomination Committee, the shareholder with the next largest number of voting rights shall be provided with the opportunity to appoint a member. If such shareholder also declines its right to appoint a member to the nomination committee or does not respond to the request within a reasonable time, then the nomination committee shall be constituted by the remaining members. Unless the Nomination Committee members decide otherwise, the Chairman of the Nomination Committee shall be the member appointed by the shareholder with the largest number of voting rights in the company. If a member leaves the Nomination Committee before its work is completed, and if the Nomination Committee considers that there is a need to replace this member, then the Nomination Committee shall appoint a new member.

The nomination committee proposes that the Instruction for the Nomination Committee approved at the Annual General Meeting on 19 May 2020 shall remain unchanged.

PROPOSALS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2) Election of one or two persons to attest the minutes of the meeting

The board of directors proposes that Per Ahlgren, representing GoMobile Nu AB, and Maria Carrasco, or the person or persons proposed by the board of directors if one or both of them have an impediment to attend, are elected to approve the minutes together with the chairman. The task of approving the minutes also includes verifying the voting list and that the advance votes received are correctly stated in the minutes of the annual general meeting.

3) Preparation and approval of the voting list

The voting list proposed for approval under item 3 of the agenda is the voting list drawn up by the Company, based on the Annual General Meeting's share register and advance votes received, as verified and recommended by the persons approving the minutes.

7 b) Resolution on allocation regarding the Company's profit/loss in accordance with the adopted balance sheet

The board of directors and the managing director propose that the Company's non-restricted equity of SEK -86,488,459 is carried forward and that no dividend is paid for the financial year.

14. Resolutionon authorisation for the board of directors to resolve upon issue of shares

The board of directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorises the board to resolve - at one or several occasions and for the time period until the next annual general meeting - to increase the Company's share capital by new share issues, to the extent that it corresponds to a dilution of not more than 20 percent of the number of shares outstanding at the time of this notice of the Annual General Meeting, after full exercise of the hereby proposed authorisation.

New share issues may be made with or without deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights and with or without provisions for contribution in kind, set-off or other conditions. Pursuant to Chapter 16 of the Swedish Companies Act, the board of directors may not by virtue of this authorisation resolve on issues to board members in Group companies, employees, etc. The purpose of the authorisation is to increase the financial flexibility of the Company and the acting scope of the board. Should the board of directors resolve on an issue with deviation from the shareholder's preferential rights, the reason shall be to enable the Company to finance the operations in a fast and efficient way, acquire companies, businesses or parts thereof, or to broaden the ownership of the Company. Upon such deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights, the new issue shall be made at market terms and conditions.

The board of directors or the CEO shall have the right to make such minor adjustments in this resolution that may be necessary in connection with the registration of the authorisation with the Swedish Companies Registration Office.

Majority requirements

Resolution in accordance with item 14 above requires approval of at least two thirds (2/3) of the shares represented and votes cast at the general meeting.

Personal data

For information on how your personal data is processed, see the integrity policy that is available at Euroclear's website https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf.

Available documents

Accounts and audit reports as well as complete proposals and other documentation will be available at the offices of Vinge at Smalandsgatan 20, Stockholm and at the Company's website www.auriant.com as of April 20, 2021 and will be sent in connection therewith to the shareholders who so request and state their postal address.

Stockholm in April 2021

Auriant Mining AB (publ)

Board of Directors





For more information, please contact:

Danilo Lange, CEO

tel: +7 495 109 02 82

e-mail: d.lange@auriant.com

Company name: Auriant Mining AB

Short name: AUR

ISIN-code: SE0001337213

Website: www.auriant.com

www.facebook.com/AuriantMining/

Auriant Mining AB (AUR) is a Swedish junior mining company focused on gold exploration and production in Russia, primarily in Zabaikalye and the Republics of Khakassia and Tyva. The company has currently four assets, including two operating mines (Tardan and Solococon), one early stage exploration asset and one development asset.

Since July 19, 2010, Auriant Mining's shares are traded on First North Premier Growth Market under the short name AUR. For more information please visit www.auriant.com. Mangold Fondkommission is Certified Adviser to Auriant, for more information please call +46 8 503 015 50, e-mail CA@mangold.se or visit www.mangold.se.

Cautionary Statement: Statements and assumptions made in this press release with respect to Auriant Mining AB's ("AUR") current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs, and other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements about the future performance of AUR. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those using words such as "may", "might", "seeks", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "believes", "projects", "plans", strategy", "forecast" and similar expressions. These statements reflect management's expectations and assumptions in light of currently available information. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, (i) changes in the economic, regulatory and political environments in the countries where AUR operates; (ii) changes relating to the geological information available in respect of the various projects undertaken; (iii) AUR's continued ability to secure enough financing to carry on its operations as a going concern; (iv) the success of its potential joint ventures and alliances, if any; (v) exchange rates, particularly between the Russian rouble and the U.S. dollar. In the light of the many risks and uncertainties surrounding any gold production and exploration company at an early stage of its development, the actual results could differ materially from those presented and forecast in this report. AUR assumes no unconditional obligation to immediately update any such statements and/or forecasts. This press release shall not, directly or indirectly, be released, published or distributed in or to the United States, Australia Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Africa or other country where such action as a whole or in part is subject to legal restrictions. Nothing in this press release should be considered as an offer to invest or otherwise trade in shares of Auriant Mining AB (publ).

Attachment
Armenia ex-Ambassador to Vatican on Armenians' emigration and reasons

Catholicos of All Armenians takes remains of St. Gregory the Illuminator to Artsakh

Armenian ballet master Vilen Galstyan dies at 80

Putin shares expectations from upcoming meeting with Biden

Armenia 2nd President: Number of people who emigrated without returning has grown, only solution is shift of power

EU bans flights of Belarusian airline companies in its airspace

US deals blow to major Chinese companies

Armenia acting PM: 62% of weapons obtained were obtained between 2018 and 2020

Armenia acting PM: Meghri corridor issue and transfer of villages of Kazakh region were a topic in November 2020

Armenia ruling party MP drops mandate

Citizens of Armenia's Artashat greet acting PM by chanting 'Turk' and 'traitor'

Armenia Ombudsman reminds PM's ex-chief of staff about shortcomings in activities during war

Armenia 3rd President: We must start bringing back people who know everything about troops

Armenia MOD hosts consultation with deputy commanders and battalions' commanders

Armenia Ombudsman says acting PM's plan won't ensure restoration of Armenian citizens' rights

Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan's failure to return POWs is equivalent to war crime

Armenia 3rd President receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Prosecutor General speaks at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

"Armenia" bloc: We plan to meet with residents of Shirak Province

Armenian water resources come under Azerbaijani control, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, Jun. 4 digest

Armenia acting PM: Health insurance is inevitable

Armenia Investigative Committee launches criminal case regarding keeping of bodies and remains of deceased servicemen

Opposition "Armenia" bloc representative: Authorities are actually busy bribing voters

Armenia legislature passes law to help ease requirements for future teachers

Russia ambassador visits Meghri, Armenia border checkpoint (PHOTOS)

Armenia ruling party's candidate for anti-corruption commission member not elected

Armenia acting premier: There will be statement in coming days about exposure of high treason

Dollar loses value in Armenia

Armenia acting PM: Our task is to support our farmers so that engaging in agriculture is planned activity

China Daily: Water tribe prospers ashore in Fujian

China calls for closer security, economic cooperation with Afghanistan

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: There was proposal from Azerbaijans Aliyev on Meghri issue

CIS Observation Mission continues to monitor snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Nepal reports first death from 'black fungus'

Armenian analyst: High-ranking US delegation's visit to Armenia can't be viewed as support to incumbent authorities

"Armenia" bloc: Things can't get any worse in the country from the perspective of censure

Edmon Marukyan calls on people to vote for Bright Armenia Party to establish unity in the country

Armenia Ararat Province deputy governor sacked

Russian Ambassador says Russia makes significant contributions to ensuring of Armenia's security

Azerbaijan reports 3 deaths from mine explosion in Karvachar

Sarkissian to Nigmatulin: Armenia, Kazakhstan have lot in common

ECHR fails to accept Azerbaijan's application against Armenia Government as new and separate case

Head of Armenia's Verin Shorzha: Azerbaijanis operating equipment to move from one military post to the other

Iran produces trial batches of Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine

President welcomes Catholicos of All Armenians who has arrived in Artsakh

Armenia PM chief of staff: Possibility of full-scale war still exists in region

Alaska offers free COVID-19 vaccines to everyone

Two Azerbaijan reporters die in landmine explosion in Artsakhs Karvachar

Over 120 Nobel laureates urge G7 countries to step up efforts to tackle climate change

Downtown Yerevan murder solved, murder suspect is foreigner

Armenia former President Kocharyan: These authorities really have nothing to say

Armenia parliament holding 2nd special session in one day

Armenia ruling party MP unexpectedly admits that member candidate for anti-corruption commission is his wife

Court fines 12 Australian media outlets 1.1 million for reporting on Cardinal George Pell

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan instrumentalizes captured people as political hostages, tools to pursue other goals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: These authorities have not kept any of their promises in 3 years

UN Security Council will make a recommendation on the next Secretary-General on June 8

Armenia ombudsman: Water resources have come under Azerbaijan army control

Turkish actress faces 2 years in prison for 'insulting' rapist

US lawmakers call for Turkey to be held accountable for repeated religious freedom violations

72 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Candidate for post of Head of State must undergo psychiatric evaluation

Armenia legislature continues special sitting

Israel defense minister changes tone over Iran nuclear deal during US visit

Armenia parliament to convene 2 special sessions Friday

University of Nevada new School of Medicine to be named after Kirk Kerkorian

World food prices reach highest level in 10 years

Newspaper: Armenia ruling party to hold fundraiser Saturday

Newspaper: Russia does not manifest very active efforts in trilateral talks with Armenia, Azerbaijan

US to donate 25mn doses of coronavirus vaccine

Armenia is elected UN World Tourism Organization Executive Council member for period of 2021-2025

Armenia 2nd President meets with leaders and officers of Police, MOD and National Security Service of various years

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative: Incumbent authorities' mistakes are irreversible

Armenia ombudsman: Any persecution, trial of captives is gross violation of international law

Europe sees progress in latest rounds of Iran nuclear talks

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to push Russia out of the South Caucasus

Young Armenian says brawl with Azerbaijanis in front of Azerbaijan Embassy in Moscow might have been organized

Catholicos of All Armenians leaves for Armenia's Syunik Province and Artsakh on pontifical visit

Armenian and Russian Prosecutors General meet in St. Petersburg

Armenian acting minister: EU allocated EUR 68,700,000 to Armenia for budget support in 2020

Armenia Finance Ministry: MFA's budget grew by AMD 1,600,000,000 in 2020

Bodies and remains of Armenian soldiers are kept in morgue in Armenia's Martuni

White House confirms Biden-Erdogan meeting in Brussels

Armenia acting MOD touches upon priority directions for development of Armed Forces

Diaspora Armenian writer, publicist Toros Toranian dies

2 Armenian soldiers injured in scuffle with Azerbaijan, Armenian POW is hospitalized, Jun. 3 digest

Wedding held in Armenia's Shurnukh for first time since the war ended

EEU member states to finish preparing for negotiations over free trade zone in Iran in late June

Armenia Central Bank: Economic downfall in 2020 was due to decline in service and construction sectors

Armenia legislature adopts several bills in first reading

Armenia President meets with Nursultan Nazarbayev

Dejavu: Armenia ruling party distributes money for votes at Yerevan district election office

Chief Advisor to Karabakh President sacked

Russian MFA: Works are carried out to settle situation around Karabakh every day

Armenia opposition MP sounds alarm about Baku fabricating criminal cases against Armenian prisoners

Armenia acting health minister: I have apologized, I am not going to resign

Helga Schmid meets with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

Armenia's deputy foreign ministers resigned or have heavy workload?

Dollar goes down in Armenia

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee reports Iranian citizenship of ruling party's MP candidate
Australians are more likely to get blood clots from taking the pill or flying long haul than getting AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, studies show.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the state premiers have all backed the vaccine while the Therapeutic Goods Administration has said the jab is safe for public use.

Their support for the AstraZeneca version - which most Australians will have - is despite British regulators advising young people be given a different vaccine.

Of the 18 million people vaccinated in Britain against the virus, the national regulator has reported blood clotting in 79 recipients - 19 of whom died.

A registered nurse receives an injection of the Covid-19 vaccine in Townsville, central Queensland in March. Of the 18million people vaccinated in Britain against the virus, the national regulator has reported blood clotting in 79 recipients - or one in 228,000

But by those figures, only one in 228,000 AstraZeneca recipients have suffered a clot after going under the needle.

The risk of this type of rare blood clot is about four people in a million who receive the vaccine.

From flying long-haul to having orthopedic surgery and getting pregnant, these activities are more likely to give you potentially deadly blood clots than a coronavirus vaccine.

Contraceptive pill

While 37 out of 17 million inoculations in the EU and UK were linked to blood clots, women taking certain types of the contraceptive pill face much starker odds each year.

An article in the medical journal Lancet last year said about five in 10,000 women each year suffer blood clots after taking the combined contraceptive pill.

By that measure, the incidence rate is one in 2,000 cases - 125 times more frequent than the figures reported for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Women taking certain types of the contraceptive pill face much starker odds each year of suffering from blood clots (stock image)

Long-haul flights

Deep vein thrombosis - a potentially deadly clotting condition that affects veins deep inside the body - is estimated to affect one in 1,000 people.

According to an investigation by the World Health Organization, that risk doubles after a long-haul flight of more than four hours.

In healthy people, the risk of travel-related DVT on plane journeys over four hours is one incident every 4,656 flights.

For long-haul trips over 16 hours, that figure drops by almost three-quarters to one incident every 1,264 flights.

The increased level of risk also applies to other forms of transport where people are sat down for long periods such as cars, buses or trains.

The risk of suffering deep vein thrombosis doubles after a long-haul flight of more than four hours to about one in 500 people (stock image)

Pregnancy

Deadly pulmonary embolisms - where a blood clot blocks an artery leaving the lung - occurred in 25.1 of 100,000 live births in the US in 2015.

That figure equates to one in 3,984 pregnancies that are carried to term.

Covid-19 patients

Those who suffer from Covid-19 itself face a heightened risk of clotting and lower platelet counts, Britain's Chair of the Committee of Human Medicines Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed said.

He referred to a report that found 7.8 per cent of people who have Covid-19 suffer a pulmonary embolism, and 11.2 per cent experience DVT.

A study found the risk of suffering from blood clots after orthopaedic surgery is one in 33 patients (stock image)

'That puts into context that the risk of clots and lower platelet is much higher with Covid-19 than these extremely rare events which are occurring with the vaccine,' he said.

Surgery

The US' National Blood Clot Alliance estimated orthopaedic surgery leads to DVT in three per cent of patients and a pulmonary embolism in 1.5 per cent.

That figure jumps to as much as 80 per cent in patients who have not had preventative treatment to stop blood clots.
New York, April 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Second-life EV Batteries Market Research Report by Type, by Application - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05911455/?utm_source=GNW



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. This helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available.



1. The Global Second-life EV Batteries Market is expected to grow from USD 17.15 Billion in 2019 to USD 28.52 Billion by the end of 2025.

2. The Global Second-life EV Batteries Market is expected to grow from EUR 15.31 Billion in 2019 to EUR 25.01 Billion by the end of 2025.

3. The Global Second-life EV Batteries Market is expected to grow from GBP 13.44 Billion in 2019 to GBP 22.23 Billion by the end of 2025.

4. The Global Second-life EV Batteries Market is expected to grow from JPY 1,870.25 Billion in 2019 to JPY 3,044.37 Billion by the end of 2025.

5. The Global Second-life EV Batteries Market is expected to grow from AUD 24.68 Billion in 2019 to AUD 41.42 Billion by the end of 2025.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Second-life EV Batteries to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



"The Lithium-Ion is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Type, the Second-life EV Batteries Market studied across Lead Acid, Lithium-Ion, Nickel, and Sodium-ion. The Lithium-Ion commanded the largest size in the Second-life EV Batteries Market in 2019, and it is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



"The EV Charging is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Application, the Second-life EV Batteries Market studied across Commercial and Industrial Energy Storage, EV Charging, Grid Charging, Off-grid, and Residential Energy Storage. The EV Charging commanded the largest size in the Second-life EV Batteries Market in 2019, and it is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



"The Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Geography, the Second-life EV Batteries Market studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region surveyed across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region surveyed across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region surveyed across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. The Europe, Middle East & Africa commanded the largest size in the Second-life EV Batteries Market in 2019. On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Second-life EV Batteries Market including Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, BYD Company Ltd., Connected Energy Ltd., Daimler AG, Hyundai Motor Company, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., ReJoule Inc., Relectrify Pty Ltd, Tesla, Inc., and Toyota Motor Corporation.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



360iResearch FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The 360iResearch FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Second-life EV Batteries Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



360iResearch Competitive Strategic Window:

The 360iResearch Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The 360iResearch Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Second-life EV Batteries Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Second-life EV Batteries Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Second-life EV Batteries Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Second-life EV Batteries Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Second-life EV Batteries Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Second-life EV Batteries Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05911455/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
Beloved Bulgarian actors enter the second season of the hit series on bTV, "Sunny Beach". The legendary beauty Anya Pencheva, known for her dozens of roles in theater, film and television, and her colleague Kiril Efremov are two of the new faces joining the team of the popular comedy, whose filming is already about to begin. The two will energize the TV screen with a lot of laughter and pleasant emotions.

The dazzling Anya Pencheva will play the role of the airheaded Rosalia. In "Sunny Beach" her character is the mother of the lifeguard Mladen, brilliantly played by Ivo Arakov. "He's great! "Both in life, and on the screen, I've got great kids! To enter "Sunny Beach" is a real pleasure. We live in a nightmarish time of fear and stress, and one needs to smile at something colorful and cheerful," Pencheva said. Unlike her, Kiril Efremov decided to keep his role a secret and thus create a tense anticipation around his character.

A few hours before the start of filming for the second season of "Sunny Beach", Ivo Arakov met with his screen partner Lydia Indjova at the airport. The actress landed in Bulgaria from Brussels, where she has been living in recent years. "Expect the unexpected. My character will take a risky path and conquer Sunny Beach. Mladen will try to save her from herself and will dive into an emotional imbalance ", Indjova revealed.

In the end of March, viewers saw what happened to their favorite characters in the new, unaired episodes from the first season of "Sunny Beach". The show continues with full speed to ensure an emotional on-screen experience in the upcoming season.
Damascus, April 8 : The Islamic State (IS) has released 46 people out of the 59 the terror group abducted 24 hours ago in the Syrian desert region, a war monitor reported.

The IS militants on Wednesday released 46 and kept 13 people in captivity after capturing them in the desert region in the eastern countryside of Hama province, Xinhua news agency quoted the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as saying.

The 13 people include police officers, the watchdog group added.

It noted that a police officer was shot dead and many more were believed to be killed during the IS attack, which is the largest abduction carried out by the group in the desert region.

After losing key areas across Syria, the IS militants now have a strong presence in the sprawling desert region in eastern Syria.

The militants frequently carry out attacks and ambushes against the government forces in the desert region, prompting Syrian and Russian warplanes to strike their positions.

Since March 2019, a total of 1,381 Syrian soldiers and pro-government fighters have been killed by IS attacks.

At least 896 IS militants were killed in the same period.
By Jonathan Allen

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) -Medical experts used anatomical diagrams and charts to testify on Thursday that George Floyd was killed by police pinning him to the ground, not a drug overdose, challenging a key assertion by former police officer Derek Chauvin in his murder trial for Floyd's deadly arrest.

Dr. Martin Tobin, who treats patients in a Chicago hospital's intensive care unit, told the jury that Floyd died "from a low level of oxygen" caused by being handcuffed face down in the street with the police officer's knee on his neck. Video of the arrest last May sparked global protests.

Jurors touched various parts of their necks under Tobin's guidance as the doctor gave impromptu anatomy lessons from the stand. Any "healthy person," he said, would have died in a similar restraint, which he compared to a vise, supporting the county medical examiner's finding that Floyd's death was a homicide at the hands of police.

Dr. Daniel Isenschmid said the toxicology tests he performed on Floyd's blood on behalf of the medical examiner found fentanyl, but at a level comparable to those found in samples taken from living people detained for driving under the influence of narcotics.

Dr. William Smock, a forensic pathologist who works with police, told the jury that Floyd died of "positional asphyxia" from the police holds, "which is a fancy way of saying he died because he had no oxygen left in his body," he said.

Video of the arrest showed Chauvin, who is white, pinning Floyd's neck to the ground with his knees for more than nine minutes as Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, begged for his life, gasping more than two dozen times: "I can't breathe." Chauvin has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter charges.

All three doctors called by prosecutors from the Minnesota Attorney General's Office pointed to different moments from the video that they said undermined Chauvin's defense.

Story continues

Tobin said Floyd's breathing became fatally shallow under the police restraint, but asked jurors to count along with him as they watched body-worn camera video of the dying Floyd's torso, showing that the number of breaths he took per minute did not decrease up until the moment he lost consciousness.

A fentanyl overdose, in contrast, is marked by a sharp decrease in the frequency of breaths, he said.

The doctor also unbuttoned his shirt collar and began to feel parts of his neck, as he described how Chauvin's knee compressed the delicate tissue of the hypopharynx, blocking that part of the respiratory system in the lower part of the throat.

Eric Nelson, Chauvin's lead lawyer, objected to the hands-on anatomy lessons. Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill overruled the objection, but told jurors it was up to them whether they wanted to follow along with Tobin in feeling their own throats. Most continued to do so.

'DEADLY MANTRA'

Tobin calculated that at times, Chauvin, who suspected Floyd of passing a fake $20 bill, was exerting 91.5 pounds (41.5 kg) of downward pressure on Floyd's neck.

In cross-examination, Nelson asked Tobin if he had personally weighed Chauvin, who in police reports is recorded as 140 pounds (64 kg), or Chauvin's equipment in order to calculate the pressure applied by his knee. Tobin said he had not.

Tobin discussed frames from the video that he said showed Floyd trying to push his chest up from the street using his fingers and his face as leverage as he struggled for breath beneath Chauvin and two other officers.

"They're pushing the handcuffs into his back and pushing them high, then on the other side you have the street. The street is playing the crucial part," Tobin said. "It's like the left side is in a vise."

Chauvin can be heard on video dismissing Floyd's pleas, saying: "It takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to say things."

Tobin called that a "dangerous mantra."

"It's a true statement, but it gives you an enormous false sense of security," Tobin said. "Certainly at the moment you're speaking, you are breathing, but it doesn't tell you if you're going to be breathing five seconds later."

Tobin said Floyd's leg could be seen jumping up in an involuntary seizure as his brain was starved of oxygen.

Soon after, Tobin said, the moment came when Floyd did not have even "an ounce of oxygen left in his entire body," although Chauvin's knee stayed on Floyd's neck for three more minutes.

Isenschmid, the toxicologist, compiled data on samples taken from 2,345 people stopped for driving under the influence in 2020, noting that people addicted to opioids need to take higher doses as tolerance builds up. The mean average level of fentanyl found in the blood of those people, all of whom were alive, was 9.69 ng/ml, compared with the 11 ng/ml found in Floyd's blood, he said.

Nelson is expected to call his own medical experts to testify in Chauvin's defense as soon as next week.

(Reporting by Jonathan Allen in Minneapolis; Editing by Will Dunham and Peter Cooney)
Regulatory News:

AKKA (Paris:AKA) (BSE:AKA) (ISIN:FR0004180537) reinforces its long-term contribution to improve trains' sustainability and performance by participating to the one in a series of rail projects, including the GEARBODIES. AKKA's contribution to these projects illustrates the Group's ambition to reduce the ecological footprint of existing infrastructures and vehicles through innovation with longer-lasting technologies.

The GEARBODIES project

GEARBODIES is an EU funded research project launched by the Shift2Rail programme 1 in collaboration with AKKA and 12 other partners2 such as EURNEX (European Rail Research Network of Excellence), UNIFE (European Rail Industry Association) and CERTH (Centre for Research Technology Hellas) which aims to pave the way to a new efficient and reliable generation of trains without sacrificing capacity or speed.

AKKA's role in the GEARBODIES project

AKKA's main role in the GEARBODIES project is to focus on improving the maintenance processes, developing innovative non-destructive technologies, and to optimize inspection systems for lightweight train body shells3

AKKA leads the development and design of an innovative robotic inspection platform that will incorporate tailored thermography and ultrasonic inspection systems. This platform will optimize the automated detection and assessment of defects throughout the thickness of the shell by using a customized software module powered by a data fusion algorithm developed by AKKA.

"The Group is proud to provide its cross-sectorial expertise to railway undertakings by inspecting lightweight materials, as it did in 2016 with the AirCobot project in partnership with Airbus dedicated to pre-flight aircraft inspections. With our participation in the GEARBODIES project, we aim to shape the trains of the future by making them even more reliable and efficient. To do so, we will draw on our know-how in materials and mechanical design through robotics and computer vision. This approach is a strong demonstration of AKKA's capability to combine digital expertise and legacy knowledge", mentioned Pierre Lion, Group Director of AKKA Research.

ABOUT AKKA

AKKA is a European leader in engineering consulting and R&D services. Our comprehensive portfolio of digital solutions combined with our expertise in engineering, uniquely positions us to support our clients by leveraging the power of connected data to accelerate innovation and drive the future of smart industry. AKKA accompanies leading industry players across a wide range of sectors throughout the life cycle of their products with cutting edge digital technologies (AI, ADAS, IoT, Big Data, robotics, embedded computing, machine learning, etc.) to help them rethink their products and business processes. Founded in 1984, AKKA has a strong entrepreneurial culture and a wide global footprint. Our 20,000 employees around the world are all passionate about technology and share the AKKA values of respect, courage and ambition. The Group recorded revenues of 1.5 billion in 2020. AKKA Technologies (AKA) is listed on Euronext Paris and Brussels segment B ISIN code: FR0004180537.

For more information, please visit: https://www.akka-technologies.com/

Follow us on: https://twitter.com/AKKA_Tech

1 Shift2Rail is the first European rail initiative to seek focused research and innovation (R&I) and market-driven solutions by accelerating the integration of new and advanced technologies into innovative rail product solutions. Shift2Rail promotes the competitiveness of the European rail industry and meets changing EU transport needs. R&I carried out under the Horizon 2020 initiative develops the necessary technology to complete the Single European Railway Area (SERA). https://shift2rail.org/

2 EURNEX, UNIFE, CERTH, SACATEC, SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES, NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY, DASEL SL, VILNIUS TECH, UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS, RWTH AACHEN UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA and AIMEN.

3 The train body shell is the body of a rail vehicle excluding seats, doors and all mechanical components. It can be made of metal or lightweight composite materials.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005673/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations

Stephanie Bia

Group Communications Investor Relations Director

Tel: +33(0) 6 47 85 98 78

stephanie.bia@akka.eu
Mike Pence said that he wasn't sure that he and Donald Trump would ever see eye to eye over what happened on January 6
Tim Robards is enjoying every minute of fatherhood since welcoming his daughter Elle last year with his wife Anna Heinrich.

And on Thursday, the 38-year-old shared a sweet photo of his little girl dressed in an adorable unicorn outfit.

In the photo shared by the doting dad, the tot brightly beamed wrapped in a pink hooded towel that was customised with her name embroidered on it.

Cute! Former Bachelor star Tim Robards proved unicorns do exist as his five-month-old daughter Elle donned an adorable hooded towel which featured a cute unicorn horn and mane

The hood of the five-month-old's towel featured a cute unicorn horn and mane.

'And they say unicorns don't exist... pppffftt!!' The former Bachelor wrote in the caption, adding a special thank you to his friend who bought the gift for the bub.

It comes after Tim and Anna took Elle to the Sydney Royal Easter Show last week.

Adorable: 'And they say unicorns don't exist... pppffftt!!' the doting dad wrote in the caption, adding a special thank you to his friend who bought the gift for the bub

First-timer: Tim and Anna took Elle to the Sydney Royal Easter Show last week. 'Exhausted and full of sugar #weouttahere #EasterShow. First time in the big girl's pram (& loving it),' she captioned the post

'Exhausted and full of sugar #weouttahere #EasterShow. First time in the big girl's pram (& loving it),' she captioned the post on last Friday.

Anna looked chic in a bright green sundress, which she paired with white sneakers.

The couple announced Elle's birth on November 14.

Support: Anna told Who magazine in February that has been able to navigate the ups and downs of motherhood with the help of her husband. 'I couldn't do it without him,' she said of her actor husband

She told Who magazine in February that has been able to navigate the ups and downs of motherhood with the help of her husband.

'I couldn't do it without him,' she said of her actor husband.

The pair met on the first season of The Bachelor in 2013 and married in a lavish ceremony in Puglia, Italy, in 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 15:50:04|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Three more U.S. soldiers and one more civilian in South Korea tested positive for COVID-19, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Thursday.

The USFK said in a statement that four USFK-affiliated individuals were confirmed with COVID-19 after arriving in South Korea between March 25 and April 5.

Two service members arrived at the Osan Air Base on U.S. government-chartered flights from the United States on March 31 and April 5. The Osan Air Base is located in Pyeongtaek, 70 km south of Seoul.

One service member and one dependent arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on international commercial flights on March 25 and April 3.

The confirmed patients have been transferred to designated isolation facilities at the U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys and the Osan Air Base, both of which are located in Pyeongtaek.

The total number of infections among the USFK-affiliated personnel rose to 819, according to Yonhap news agency.

In the latest tally, South Korea reported 700 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 for the past 24 hours, raising its total tally to 107,598. The daily caseload logged the highest in 91 days. Enditem
In the heart of dinosaur country, many significant discoveries related to prehistoric life on Earth have been made in the Denver metro area, sometimes by local hikers.

Hiking is what eighth-grader Jonathan Charpentier was doing last month in Boulder County when he found a Tyrannosaurus rex tooth dating back 68 million years.

The discovery was made March 12 near the Laramie Formation, which is estimated to be between about 67.5 million and 68 million years old, according to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

I never expected anything like that, Charpentier told CBS4. It was shiny, and it caught my eye, so I picked it up, but I had no clue that it would be a dinosaur tooth.

Charpentier turned the T-rex tooth over to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science where it now sits on temporary display at 'The Prehistoric Journey' exhibit along with several other local discoveries, including a fossils from a horned dinosaur nicknamed Tiny that were found in Thornton.

These types of fossils are everywhere in the Denver Metro area said Denver Museum of Nature & Science dinosaur curator Joe Sertich. Its one of the largest metropolitan areas sitting on dinosaur rocks.

According to Sertich, discoveries like this are made every couple of days, but few are reported. Fossil hunters are encouraged to report any findings to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Turning in small fragments can lead to huge fossil discoveries," added Sertich.

Public lands are off limits to fossil hunters. Its illegal to collect fossils on state and federal property, such as national parks and monuments. If found on private property, then its likely yours to keep.
A follow up report reveals that imprisoned citizen journalist Zhang Zhan's family was informed of her transfer to Shanghai Women's Prison but their request for a visit was declined.

Following through Zhang Zhan's case - who was a former practicing lawyer, journalist, and human rights activist, ChinaAid reported that officials denied Zhang's mother her request for a scheduled visit and that they directed her to call a "non-working" phone number.

The report added that on February 3, a Zhang Zhan Concern Group released intelligence of a video chat between Zhang and her mother. The information states that the approximately twenty-minute conversation was repeatedly interrupted.

The founder of ChinaAid, Pastor Bob Fu, urges netizens and the public to send letters to Zhang Zhan as a means to somehow alleviate her despair.

"Please write to prisoners of conscience to provide encouragement and send a signal to prison officials that there are people all over the world who are invested in the safety and well-being of these unjustly imprisoned Chinese citizens," states the appeal for letters.

A list of suggested Chinese phrases with their English equivalents was also provided along with some guidelines on letter writing.

"A greeting and a word of encouragement will not only be like sending rays of warm sunshine ..., but it may also help prevent harsh treatment of Ms. Zhang by prison authorities," said Dr. Fu who also confirmed that the transfer was directed by the CCP.

Zhang was sentenced to four years of prison on December 28 for the charges "picking quarrels and provoking troubles." She would spend her sentence at the Shanghai Women Prison. Her last meeting with lawyer Zhang Keke was on January 13.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on China to release Zhang in January.

"The United States strongly condemns the People's Republic of China's (PRC) sham prosecution and conviction of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan on December 28," Pompeo said at the time.

Pompeo added that Zhang's unjust imprisonment shows the Chinese Communist Party's determination - that it will do "whatever it takes to silence" those who question or go against the CCP's "official line" even if it pertains to crucial information that could affect public health.

A petition to free citizen journalist Zhang Zhan posted on Change.org highlights the concern of possible mistreatment in prison now that she was cut off from her family and with no access to a lawyer.

Zhang is already in her weakened state due to her hunger strike since June 2020. She did it to protest her "unlawful imprisonment," said the petition. Christianity Daily reported earlier that she was fasting to pray against injustice and unrighteousness.

Before her current tragic ordeal, Zhang, working as a citizen journalist, covered the Wuhan virus outbreak in February last year. Her report revealed the neglect and abuses of the Chinese government in their handling of the virus, as well as the disappearance of her fellow citizen journalists. She uploaded a video report on her social media account which soon led to her "disappearance."

On May 15, the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau announced Zhang's detainment for violating Article 293 of China's Criminal Code, a state regulation that prohibits the illegal sharing of state secrets or intelligence. Zhang was also charged of fabricating information.

"I never fabricated any false information. I personally visited knowledgeable people in communities, drug stores, as well as in supermarkets near Wuhan's railway station," Zhang told her lawyer.

During her detainment, correctional officers had forcibly tube-fed Zhang when they learnt of her hunger strike. Despite her pains, Zhang was not bitter toward her tormentors.

"I believe in Christ, and I often pray to God to forgive the wicked. I pray that He will save those in pain and suffering," she once said through Ren Quanniu, one of her lawyers.
Former Vice President Mike Pence has agreed to write a memoir about his journey from a small town in Indiana to Washington, D.C., and has signed a book contract with a major publisher.

The untitled memoir is scheduled to be released in 2023 and will cover his upbringing, early political career, and tumultuous four years as Donald Trump's right-hand man. The Associated Press confirmed that Pence's agent, David Vigliano, said the contract was worth "way into seven figures," while CNN speculated that he could be paid up to $4 million.

Pence memoir would tell of his stint with the Trump administration

The untold tales from the core of what some have termed an often-dysfunctional Trump presidency would be the biggest appeal for many. Pence stayed true to his former boss throughout his four-year tenure, avoiding the fate of many people who were fired during that period.

He might imply that he knows more than anyone about the hirings and firings, controversies, and decision-making that characterized Trump's administration, including the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic's first year. Pence is also the first top Trump administration official to announce a contract since the administration was replaced in January. If previous political memoirs are any indication, Pence's book would likely reveal juicy information about his tenure in office, as per Newsweek.

Hunter Biden Has Explosive Revelations in His Memoir "Beautiful Things"

Pence's memoir could announce possible presidential bid in 2024

Rumors of a potential presidential run in 2024 are linked to talks of Republican base tensions. Pence has long been mentioned as a possible presidential nominee, and his reappearance in the public eye in recent weeks has sparked discussions about a run.

According to YouGov Ratings, he is the fourth most well-known Republican according to data gathered between October and December last year. However, he will face resistance from those on the far right of the party who want Trump to return. Pence was considering a bid after "betraying the constitution, Trump, and the American people," according to Infowars conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who has 178,000 followers on Gab.

Pence Unveils Plans for 2024 Presidential Run Following Reports He's Not Included as Trump's Pick

Mike Pence might mention the conservative group in his memoir

The memoir is expected to shed more light on Mike Pence's political activities following his exit from the White House. The former vice president's new Advancing American Freedom organization will "merge conventional conservative values with the Make America Great Again reform platform," said the group's website.

The former vice president has already joined Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington think tank. His memoir will reveal more information about this and other political advocacy work he has planned. The news arrives on the same day as Pence announced the formation of Advancing American Freedom, a conservative advocacy group.

Mike Pence said Wednesday that the group "would protect and build upon the Trump-Pence Administration's ambitious policies" and "will help counter the Radical Left Agenda and Advance American Freedom for years to come." Last month, the former vice president began re-entering national debate by speaking out about a Democratic-led electoral overhaul bill approved in Congress. In February, the former Indiana governor confirmed his appointment as a distinguished visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, as per N.Y. Post.

Hunter Biden Challenges Ivanka, Eric, and Don Jr. To Get a Job Without Using Donald Trump's Name

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Bengaluru, April 9 : Karnataka announced slew of measures including offering honorarium to retired drivers and conductors besides roping in private players to silence its employee rebellion in the state.

Apart from this, Karnataka is also contemplating to seek help from the armed and police forces to lend their drivers to overcome this crisis, Karnataka transport department principal secretary, Anjum Parvez told reporters here.

He said that the state government has many options before invoking serious measures by running busses taking help from armed forces and police. "These two are the biggest departments where drivers do exist. We can use them by handing over our bus keys to them," he said.

"At this juncture, we are collating data of those who retired as drivers and conductors in the last two years andA we will invite them to kick start our operations. If this falls short, then we can ask our armed forces to lend their drivers to run our operations. Above all, we can also have private operators running the show for us or till this crisis is over," he said.

He added that the state government had already finalised talks with private bus operators, who have agreed to lend their 18000 buses on a lease. "Karnataka has also already offered to them a slew of benefits like tax relaxations, cancellations of permits and fitness certificates in order to mitigate the crisis," Parvez said in response to a question.

He also appealed to employees not to stick to their stand in an adamant manner instead there should be some leeway to start the dialogue process.

"If the employees are sticking to their demand, then we have no option to launch our counterplan to help commuters," he said.

Parvez also added that neither the government nor the four state run corporations wish to harm anyone's interest. "Employees can not work without pay or less pay. Even after the state facing severe economic slowdown due to Covid, the government has released Rs 3,200 crore in the last fiscal only to lift the four state run transport corporations from losses and we were able to pay your salaries. This is a very great relief in such circumstances," he said.

Making an emotional appeal to the agitating employees, Parvez said that the employees strike is causing loss of Rs 20 crore a day and Corporations which has looked after its employees even under dire crisis, must not be harassed any further.

He added that all four state run transport corporations operate a fleet of 26,000 busses by its 1.37 lakh employees. "Of the four state run transport corporations three state run corporations - Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) operate fleet of 20,000 busses which look after the inter and intra state public transportation, while Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) that is responsible for ferrying passengers within Bengaluru city alone operates fleet of 6,000 busses," he explained.

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister, B. S. Yediyurappa said that he does not wish to deal with transport corporations employees but employees adamant stand on including them to on-par with the state government employees was just unacceptable by any standards.

After returning from a hectic campaign tour in Belagavi district where his party has fielded Mangala Angadi, widow of former Union Minister, Suresh Angadi, Yediyurappa said, "We have already fulfilled eight of the nine demands made by them. But unfortunately, the employees are being 'misguided' hence they have taken such irrational step of demanding their salaries to be brought on par with state government employees by implementing sixth pay commission recommendations." While on the sidelines of taking part in a hectic poll campaign in Basavakalyana Assembly constituency, Deputy Chief Minister, Lakshman Savadi who holds the transport department, said that it was not possible to increase salaries by 30 per cent.

"We are reeling under severe loss. Please agree to the state government's decision to increase the salaries by eight per cent, which according to me is good preposition under present circumstances when the entire country is still in the grip of Covid," he said.
For dairies that need more feed than their land can provide, relationships with local crop growers are paramount. That is certainly the case for Silverstreak Dairy, with four farm sites in Minnesota and South Dakota. Matt Kaschmitter, a managing partner for the dairy, shared his experience in building connections between livestock producers and crop farmers at the Midwest Forage Associations virtual annual symposium.

On our operation, and on a lot of operations that work with livestock, there is a short amount of time to deal with a lot of crop work, because on a lot of these sites, it takes a lot of production to make this thing work, he said.

The necessary investment in time and equipment it would take to grow enough feed for their dairies is what led Kaschmitter to pursue a lot of contract grown feeds agreements instead. Still, it takes time to find the right partners and build those relationships with growers that can best provide for the dairy.

When I look for relationships with crop farmers, I ask, How can they help us get to the goal we want? What can they do that we cant do? he explained. I also put a lot of time and effort into looking at whats in it for them, and how can I make this appealing for them.

He noted that growing crops to be sold for grain versus growing feed for a dairy requires a different mentality from the cropping side. Growing a forage for somebody is a little different thought process; the focus is quite a bit different. We are talking whole plant health versus just a hellacious ear of corn, he said.

He also places value on long-term relationships. Ive been placing more value on working out longer term agreements, and establishing that base with growers, he shared. Working with growers in multiple states, he feels this longevity is a benefit on both the dairy and cropping side.

Kaschmitter highlighted the importance of clear communication throughout the whole relationship. He encouraged having multiple conversations throughout the growing season to discuss what is going well and what is not. He also noted the value of bringing in agronomists or seed company representatives to when another opinion is needed.

He emphasized the important role crop growers play on their dairy. Our business cannot survive without people like you [crop farmers] around us. Time is too short, the equipment isnt there, and it isnt feasible for us to do all of this, he said.

We are good at what we do, and youre good at what you do. Thats part of what has made us very successful, utilizing other peoples talents to accomplish one goal to provide good quality feed to the dairy so the cows can do what they need to do, he added.





To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2021

April 5, 2021
[April 08, 2021] Cengage Named a "Trendsetter of the Year" by EdTech Digest

BOSTON, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cengage was named a 2021 "Trendsetter of the Year" by EdTech Digest for helping students save money on course materials with its Cengage Unlimited subscription, and for its expanded support for learners, educators and job seekers during the pandemic. The EdTech Digest Awards recognize companies and people in and around education for outstanding contributions in transforming education through technology. "This recognition is a perfect affirmation of the great work our team has done over the last year to support students, educators, and others who have been impacted by the pandemic and need reskilling opportunities," said Cengage CEO Michael Hansen. "The pandemic has widened disparities in our society, but education is the path to a better way of life, and we're proud our innovative technology is increasing access for learners." Cengage Unlimited, a first of its kind subscription service, gives students access to more than 22,000 products, including eTextbooks, online homework platforms, study guides, career support and more for one price ($120 term, $180/year). With the company's focus on education for employment, the subscription includes career center modules to help students get career ready and build employability skills such as critical thinking, communication, project management and more. Nearly 3 million students have saved more than $270 million on textbooks and course materials since Cengage Unlimited launched in 2018. When the pandemic closed colleges campuses for in-person learning last spring, Cengage immediately responded to help students, educators and the many people who were suddnly unemployed. The company opened up free access to Cengage Unlimited for students and educators for the term. More than 300,000 students benefitted, and Cengage helped thousands of instructors move more than 40,000 courses online in just a few weeks. The company also expanded its free professional development for faculty and administrators - "Navigating What's Next." For the millions of adults needing access to reskilling opportunities, Cengage opened up free access to 10 of its most in-demand self-paced online courses covering job-ready skills such as website development, management and communications. Within 10 weeks, more than 300,000 adults enrolled.



In addition to being named a "Trendsetter of the Year," nine resources from Gale, a Cengage company, were recognized as finalists for "Cool Tool" Awards, and Gale Presents: Udemy, an online learning platform for public libraries, was named a "Cool Tool" Award winner for best online courses/MOOCs solution. Celebrating its 11th year, the annual US-based EdTech Digest Awards program shines a spotlight on cool tools, inspiring leaders and innovative trendsetters across the K-12, Higher Education, and Skills and Workforce sectors. Winners are judged based on various criteria, including pedagogical workability, efficacy and results, support, clarity, value and potential.

For a full list of EdTech Digest Awards finalists and winners visit: https://www.edtechdigest.com/2021-finalists-winners/. About Cengage

Cengage, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides quality digital products and services, equipping students with the skills and competencies needed to advance their careers and improve their lives. We serve the K-12, higher education, professional, library, English language teaching and workforce training markets worldwide. 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 www.cengage.com or find us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. Media Contact:

Kristina Massari, Cengage

(203) 965-8694; kristina.massari@cengage.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cengage-named-a-trendsetter-of-the-year-by-edtech-digest-301265320.html SOURCE Cengage

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A year ago, they infamously demonstrated the dangers of singing in the pandemic. What will it take to get the choir of Washingtons Skagit Valley  and the rest of the worlds choral musicians  back together again?

The Skagit Valley Chorale last sang together in person on the evening of March 10, 2020. Earlier that day, Skagit County issued a news release on its website recommending the cancellation of gatherings of more than 10 people. But the chorale didnt see the advisory in time. The valley, a rural expanse in northwestern Washington cupped between the Puget Sound and the North Cascades, doesnt have a dedicated TV station, and county officials rely on radio, The Skagit Valley Herald and Skagit Breaking, an online news site, to carry announcements. Whenever I put out news releases, Im expecting behavior change and common knowledge not to happen for days, Lea Hamner, the communicable disease and epidemiology lead for the countys public health department, told me. Businesses, schools, restaurants and other public spaces were open as usual.

Mary Campbell, a tenor who worked as the district manager for the libraries in a neighboring county, spent the day in discussions about how to keep staff and patrons safe from touching things, like returned books. She showed up at practice feeling stressed and tired  but knowing that 2 hours of singing with the group would, through alchemy everyone felt but couldnt quite explain, give her uplift and energy.

Listen to This Article To hear more audio stories from publishers like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android

The chorale was rehearsing for its April concert, which often overlaps with the valleys annual tulip festival, an event that features fields blooming in red, pink and yellow flowers and traffic jams of admiring tourists. The practice that night was optional. The groups board, along with its artistic director and conductor, Adam Burdick, had been closely watching for local, state and national alerts since the end of February, when a soprano named Nancy Hamilton emailed Burdick to raise the question of whether they should wear masks. Hard to sing with a mask on, she observed. (After consulting the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Burdick replied, copying members of the board, to say that masks were recommended only for first responders and people who were sick.)

The chorales co-presidents, exercising what they understood to be an abundance of caution, emailed the membership before their weekly practice on March 3 to urge anyone with any symptoms or fears of being at a greater risk of harm from the coronavirus to stay home in the coming weeks. The chorale would put the music and recordings of the practice sessions online.

Hamilton, who was 83, decided to go on the 10th. So did Carole Rae Woodmansee, an alto who was a few years younger and had sung with the chorale for more than a decade. Her daughter had begged her to stay home because she had recently been through radiation treatment, but singing was Woodmansees passion, and she said she didnt want to live scared. At the time, the outbreak in Washington appeared to be largely confined to a nursing home near Seattle, an hour to the south of them. But it was starting to seem that this strange disease they were hearing about could migrate north and halt activities for a while, according to Susan Easthouse, a tenor who attended that night. Most of us on March 10 were thinking, Lets sing while we still can, she told me.

The chorale started in 1984 with 30 members; now there are about 120, with room for 10 more, a number determined in part by how many people can safely fit on the risers at the performing-arts center in Mount Vernon, where the concerts take place. Lois Vander Meulen, the only charter member still with the choir, told me that you dont have to read music to belong  you just have to carry a tune. She joined in her early 40s and is 77 now. So is Roger Emerson, who went to a concert 13 years ago, said to himself, That would be fun, and then signed up. Most members are over 65  educators, doctors, engineers, artists, farmers. Many are retired, but there are younger working professionals, even a pair of siblings in their late teens. There are couples, as well as parents who sing together with their grown children. Local politics is split down the middle and never discussed at rehearsals, which are intensely focused anyway, with little time for chitchat. Some in the group are accomplished musicians; others are beginners. Sheer size makes this mix possible. As Vander Meulen, a soprano, put it to me, With a hundred people, you could just move your lips.

Three choristers arrived at the church where they practiced early on March 10, as they typically did, to take folding chairs down from a rolling rack and set them up in the fellowship hall. The rest arrived a few minutes before 6:30 p.m. The exterior doors were propped open, as usual, for people to enter, so few needed to touch a door handle. Hand sanitizer was available inside. Nobody hugged. The hall was a tight squeeze for 120, but only 61 showed up, including Burdick and the accompanist, which enabled everyone to sit farther apart. The evening was chilly, but after a while, their bodies warmed the space and the HVAC system shut off.

Burdick began with a buoyant piece by Lane Johnson, a composer in Utah, called Sing On! After 40 minutes, he and the accompanist and the basses and tenors moved to the church sanctuary, where they sat in pews to practice. The altos and sopranos kept going on their own, while one among them played the piano. At 8 p.m., they took a 10-minute break. A handful used the restroom; about half of them ate some oranges someone had brought for a snack. They spent the last 50 minutes rehearsing together. Then those who were able carried the chairs back to the rack. Most departed around 9 p.m.

Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church where 53 members of the chorale gathered on March 10, 2020.

The next morning, Wednesday, March 11, Washingtons governor, Jay Inslee, banned gatherings of more than 250 people in three counties. That evening, the N.B.A. suspended its season. Woodmansees son, Joe, finally got her to agree to skip further practices until the authorities sorted out the risks. By Saturday, the board had made the painful decision to scrap the chorales spring concert and halt rehearsals indefinitely.

Already, though, multiple choir members were ailing. Ruth Backlund and her husband, Mark, who are in their early 70s and attended practice, developed fevers on Friday, March 13. So did Carolynn Comstock (who is the chorale co-president, along with Backlund) and her husband, Jim Owen, another choir member. She is 63; he is 67. On Saturday morning, Burdicks temperature spiked. On the 15th, he wrote the group to say he and at least five choristers had fevers. Though sick himself, he tried to keep everyone informed. On March 17, he sent a follow-up email: More than 24 members who attended the last practice were ill, and at least one had tested positive for the coronavirus. Mark Backlund notified the health department, which began phoning the chorale roster and asking those who had been at practice to quarantine. Most already were. Using an Excel spreadsheet, Burdick, who is 50, arranged for everyone to find a buddy in the group and check in on each other. Hamilton, whom everyone knew as Nicki, was hospitalized, then Carole Rae Woodmansee. (Another chorister was as well.) Because of the risk of contagion, Hamiltons husband, Victor, wasnt allowed to visit her. Late on March 20, over the phone, a nurse told him that Nicki was struggling to breathe, despite their best efforts. He decided that she should be made comfortable rather than endure further interventions. She died early the next morning. Six days later, so did Woodmansee. It was her 81st birthday.

The rehearsal, it would turn out, was one of the first documented super-spreading events of the pandemic. Tests were scarce, and not everyone was able to get one, but 53 people who attended that night developed symptoms of Covid-19. (Others could have been infected but asymptomatic.) The health department concluded that one person who later tested positive  and who had displayed some signs of a cold beforehand  was most likely the source. As with other rare cases in which it has been possible to narrow down when and where people were infected, and what they did during that time, the circumstances here raised a troubling question: If, as the C.D.C. and the World Health Organization were then insisting, the virus was passed mostly through contaminated surfaces, known as fomites, or droplets exhaled from an infected person that would fall within six feet, how and why did so many members of the Skagit Valley Chorale get sick? Could all 53 of them really have touched the same door handle, or orange, or folding chair? Had all of them stood face to face, talking to one another, less than two yards apart? Intuitively, the choristers knew what must have happened: The virus had drifted throughout the room and lingered in the air they breathed.

Eager to make sure others could learn from their experience, Burdick and the chorale leadership readily agreed to interviews. On March 29, an article appeared in The Los Angeles Times that described their rehearsal. One of the millions of readers who saw the story was Jose-Luis Jimenez, an aerosol scientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He and nearly 40 of his colleagues were trying to get the W.H.O. to acknowledge that the virus was being transmitted through aerosols  particles that can stay aloft and float considerable distances. (U.S. officials had been playing down this prospect. In late February, the C.D.C. director, Robert Redfield, said the widespread wearing of masks was unnecessary; in early March, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director, Anthony Fauci, said much the same.) Jimenez dashed off a note to the reporter, Richard Read, and described the case as the clearest example of that potential mode of transmission. He wanted to investigate. Read connected him with Carolynn Comstock, who provided answers to a long list of questions about where everyone sat and what they touched.

Washington State had just entered lockdown when the Times article appeared, nearly three weeks after the rehearsal. Messages of support flooded the chorales Facebook page. But people were also scared and angry  primed to cast blame on those who got sick. Nice to know they were more concerned about singing for the lord instead of keeping themselves and others safe, one person commented on Skagit Breakings Facebook page. One can only imagine how many people are infected because of their stupidity. (The chorale has no religious affiliation; because of how quickly its members isolated themselves, the health department believes that no one outside their households was infected.)

Locals also expressed anger with the health department. Why were they only reading about what happened weeks later  in The Los Angeles Times and other national papers? In fact, fearful that the chorale would face just this sort of backlash in their community of 130,000, Lea Hamner and her colleagues had not identified the group until reporters asked, though Burdick had given them permission to use their name. Because the health department had traced all of the choristers contacts and found no loose ends, in Hamners words, its staff decided there was no need to do so. They were the most cooperative group Ive ever worked with, Hamner told me recently. It was pretty terrible that the most pure, wonderful kind of group, a community choir, was hit so terribly. She felt protective. Supervising their quarantines, she and her colleagues talked to them on the phone daily and dropped off medications and groceries at their houses on the way home from work. Her heart sank when she saw the headline of the Times article  A choir decided to go ahead with rehearsal. Now dozens of members have Covid-19 and two are dead  which she read as accusatory, though she thought the piece itself was good. She never heard from the choristers about the attention they were receiving. I just sat here worrying, she said.

Lisa Stenberg, an alto who is 60 and was a close friend of Woodmansees, found herself responding to an acquaintance who sent her a reprimand as a direct message. I had to explain to him that at that time we were following everything they were telling us to do, she says. The condemnations tended to be directed at Burdick in particular. Coizie Bettinger, 73, a soprano who has sung with the chorale for more than 20 years, tried to delete them before he saw them. Heather MacLaughlin Garbes, the president of the Greater Seattle Choral Consortium, to which the chorale belongs, fielded some, too. They would say, You have blood on your hands, she told me. Many of the consortiums 91 choirs had practiced that week, she said. MacLaughlin Garbes, who attended graduate school with Burdick, added: When I think of Adam, hes a tremendously compassionate and empathetic person. Sometimes you have the personality of a maestro and things roll off your back. It did not.

When I think of Adam, hes a tremendously compassionate and empathetic person. Sometimes you have the personality of a maestro and things roll off your back. It did not.

The chorales willingness to serve as a warning to others, however, succeeded. Thanks largely to the Los Angeles Times article, word traveled quickly, leading to the shutdown of rehearsals nationwide. It was probably one of the most important events for the choral field and a huge wake-up call that saved lives, says Catherine Dehoney, president of Chorus America, a choral research and advocacy organization. The choral directors I talked to, to a person, said, That could have been me. They made the best decision they could at the time. Because of what happened there  it is why we know what we know now.

The outbreak also provided crucial evidence for scientists seeking to understand how the virus was being transmitted. In the months that followed, Hamner and Jimenez, along with their respective colleagues, published separate studies of the Skagit Valley case. Hamners, which appeared in the C.D.C.s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report last May, noted that the 2.5-hour singing practice provided several opportunities for droplet and fomite transmission, including members sitting close to one another, sharing snacks and stacking chairs at the end of the practice. But the notion that those activities caused so many infections, as Jimenez characterized it to me, is absurd. He says that that emphasis helped enable the W.H.O. and the C.D.C. to maintain and defend their guidelines. They have since revised them to acknowledge that the virus is transmitted by aerosols  the W.H.O. on July 9, the C.D.C. on Oct. 5. But many scientists, Jimenez included, argue that they still havent stressed enough that inhaling aerosols is the dominant mode of infection, which has led entities like schools and public-transportation agencies to put time and money into cleaning regimens that would be better spent on masks and ventilation. We proved how you get this thing, Comstock told me. And its so damn frustrating to watch the news and see that theyre ignoring it.

Yet the health departments study also determined that the act of singing itself might have contributed to transmission through emission of aerosols. Hamner says that although she believes that aerosol transmission and close contact caused the choristers to get sick, she doesnt regret not ruling out other pathways at the time.

Despite those caveats, the facts laid out in the health departments study made it almost impossible to imagine it was anything but aerosol transmission, John Volckens, a professor of mechanical engineering at Colorado State University, told me. From that standpoint, it was really a watershed study. The paper that Jimenezs group published in September in the journal Indoor Air found that transmission by the aerosol route is likely; it appears unlikely that either fomite or ballistic droplet transmission could explain a substantial fraction of the cases. Their modeling suggested that had the church been equipped with hospital-grade ventilation, as few as a dozen people might have been infected.

Rereading both papers again recently, Donald Milton, a professor of environmental health at the University of Maryland, noted that three choir members reported symptoms the day after practice  an atypically rapid onset for Covid-19. He wonders if multiple choristers were actually infected at practice the previous week and whether they all contributed virus to the air on March 10. In the past, he has run randomized control trials in a lab, infecting participants with flu virus in order to study how they pass it to others. Even under those conditions, Milton said, its very difficult to see how it happens. That, he added, makes it hard to appreciate how dangerous aerosols can be. You get too close to somebody and they cough or sneeze and you know you got hit, he said. You dont know you inhaled an aerosol.

Adam Burdick grew up in Pysht, a former logging and fishing camp near the tip of the Olympic Peninsula, about a four-hour drive west of Mount Vernon. To the north is the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with Vancouver on the other side. To the south are vast acres of forest and mountains. His was an isolated childhood. At home, he could get a handful of radio stations  two from Bellingham, one from Canada  but no TV. His grandmother lived a mile away, atop a hill that provided her with better reception, and sometimes Burdick and his two brothers would bring in firewood for her and stay to watch Gilligans Island, Battlestar Galactica, The A-Team.

Mostly, though, Burdick listened to records: His father favored classical instrumental; his mother loved opera. They also had vinyl from the 60s and 70s: Joan Baez, the Beatles, the Beach Boys. When Burdick was 12, he started buying his own 99-cent LPs from the discount rack at a store in Port Angeles, 60 miles away: R.&B. groups like Tierra and Ray, Goodman & Brown. He paid premium for Duran Duran and ABBA. I dont recall that I had friends, nobody really close, Burdick says. Once, as a teenager, he strapped a TV antenna and cable to his back and shinnied up a Douglas fir with the aim of attaching them there and being able to watch at home what he could at his grandmothers elevation. The result was imperfect. With that antenna, he told me, we could sort of see figures in the snow.

That image  of a kid willing to risk a bone-crushing fall for the chance to engage with a wider world, to hear and see something that might amaze him  stayed with me for weeks after Burdick shared it, in late October. A similar yearning for connection, for a release from our social confines, was familiar to many of us by then. But the anecdote also seemed like a metaphor for the project Burdick was engaged in as we spoke: putting on the chorales annual holiday concert without the groups singers being able to gather in the same room.

Adam Burdick, artistic director and conductor for the Skagit Valley Chorale, at his home.

It was a problem that choirs nationwide were wrestling with, the most fundamental obstacle being that the lag time on Zoom and other online platforms makes it impossible to synchronize voices. The plan called for singers to record their parts alone at home and then email them to Burdick. He would import them as separate audio tracks into an editing program, clean them up and then stack the tracks like blocks so the voices, one atop another, played back simultaneously. Burdick, who has a doctorate in choral conducting from the University of Washington, had done something similar using GarageBand software for a class he taught for students in North Seattle Colleges choir earlier in the pandemic. (He is paid for his job with the chorale, but without other freelance work and his wifes income, it wouldnt be enough to live on.) Once the tracks were ready, the chorale could host a live Zoom session: Burdick would interview a few guest musicians and composers and then play the assembled tracks over photo slide shows.

A concert date was agreed upon  Friday, Dec. 11  and a repertoire chosen to inspire confidence, Burdick hoped: six songs that the chorale had already performed or rehearsed in recent years, including Sing On! from their aborted April performance. For Coizie Bettinger, the effort was symbolic. Its a message about resilience and optimism and looking forward, she told me. We want to show the world that weve found another way to continue singing.

That goal, I began to understand as I followed their preparations, was not so easily achieved. For starters, about half the members declined to participate. Some werent comfortable with the technology required. Others didnt believe that the experience they enjoyed in person  the sensation of blending their voice with others  translated online. Its the working together to create something more than just yourself, explained Cynthia Richardson, an alto who is 78. When you feel its right on, you look at the person next to you and you smile with your eyes: Wow, didnt that sound good? Theres a personal interaction that reinforces the whole experience that you cant get looking at the computer screen. Mary Campbell tried attending a few remote rehearsals. It was bringing up too many sad thoughts for me, she told me. She had been infected and passed the virus to her husband, Steve, who spent two nights in the hospital. They are both in their mid-60s. Certainly I was thinking of the people who died, she said. And it would regenerate the fear I had when Steve was ill. They have fully recovered, but some other choristers and family members who were infected are still dealing with lingering symptoms.

About 50 singers would show up regularly at the weekly Zoom rehearsals. These consisted of Burdicks demonstrating vocal exercises or singing passages and everyone else following along on mute. Bring the straw to you, dont bring yourself to the straw, he said one evening in October to an onscreen mosaic of choristers holding cups of water with drinking straws in them. He blew a note into a pitch pipe and they mimicked him while exhaling through their straws. After bouts with Covid-19, many had described feeling short of breath, and he hoped this would help. He encouraged them to relax their neck muscles and focus on creating resonance. Say something open and spacious. You could have Miss Piggy as a model, or Julia Child.

In front of the group, Burdick always sounded upbeat. One of the things that I have done a little more in the Zoom rehearsals than I used to in in-person rehearsals is I will wax rhapsodic about a given phrase in the music and how good it feels to sing it, he told me. The way the vibrations happen in your head and in your mouth when you are creating a sound thats supported with your breath and kind of vitalized  that is a joy in itself.

But his own feelings were more difficult to manage. The damning messages hurt. We put out a statement on our website about how the choir was grief-stricken and mourning and recovering, and somebody said, Wheres the remorse? he told me. It seems to me that thats not the right word. Remorse implies wrongdoing, that we did someone wrong. We were in error, and we didnt understand the ramifications of the risk. Still, he did feel remorse. He felt responsible. Im the cheerleader for the group, he says. If I hadnt come, they probably would have canceled the rehearsal. I have felt that the decision was mine and what happened afterward was my fault.

A piece of music is choral music so long as each part has more than one singer. Thats the strict definition, but you also know choral music when you hear it: Its a full spectrum of human sound that, like water, fills up any container its set free in. Its the hallelujahs in Handels Messiah; its the London Bach Choir with the Rolling Stones on You Cant Always Get What You Want. Among the finest choirs in the world are groups as small as Chanticleer, a 12-man vocal ensemble based in San Francisco, and as large as the Tabernacle Choir, which is 360 men and women. Choral music most likely evolved out of Gregorian chant, a monophonic style of sacred singing that emerged in Europe during the sixth century. But the roots of choral music are hard to pin down, because theyre everywhere. Part of the challenge is the amount of literature is so vast, says Earl Rivers, emeritus professor of conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. This tradition is not just musical notes but also words  poetry. Each song tells a story.

What choral singing has never been, however, is something people do alone. Before Covid struck, Chorus America estimates that more than 54 million children and adults in the United States, or one in six people over 18, were singing in choirs. Beginning last March, most of them endured a lengthy hiatus; for many, it hasnt ended yet, and its unclear when it will.

On May 5, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, along with Chorus America, the Barbershop Harmony Society, the American Choral Directors Association and the Performing Arts Medical Association, organized a webinar to discuss when choirs might be able to sing together again. Donald Milton and another expert spoke, and what they had to say was devastating, says Tori Cook, who at the time was the director of sales and marketing for Chorus Connection, a company that builds software to manage choir membership and account information. We were told it would be one to two years before we could safely return to group singing, if we were to wait for a vaccine. That really put people in a panic.

Choirs, which have been linked to tuberculosis outbreaks in the past and at least eight other Covid-19 outbreaks internationally, are especially effective at spreading respiratory germs. The act of singing itself  drawing air deep into the lungs and then expelling it completely while forcefully vibrating the vocal cords  puts more particles, and thus more virus, into the air than talking does. And more of those particles are aerosols. Our respiratory tracts are lined with mucus. As you breathe out, narrow passages in the lungs called respiratory bronchioles that lead to the alveoli sacs, where air and blood exchange gases, collapse. Upon inhaling, those walls pull apart, creating a bubble of mucus that pops, adding a fine mist to the carbon dioxide going out. (The older you are, the less elastic your bronchioles are and the more aerosols you produce.) Louder singing (or speaking) tends to coincide with greater emission of particles of all sizes, though it may not account for what is known as super-emitting  the ejection of a far greater volume of matter than average  whose cause is still mysterious. The particles that leave the mouth of a super-emitter singing Happy Birthday, John Volckens says, are roughly equivalent to 10 people standing shoulder to shoulder talking.

Choral organizations began looking for remote solutions. Some hosted drive-in concerts, mic-ing singers and sending their vocals through a mixer and then an FM transmitter that people could tune into on their car radio. In temperate climates, they tried singing outdoors. Software developers got to work on the latency issue.

Even the most ingenious substitutes, however, could not fill the vacancy choristers felt in their lives. That missing sensation of being one of a hundred voices was also an intimate one. Harmonizing with another person  its a give-and-take process, Carolynn Comstock told me. The timing, the tone. If the basses go flat, everyone adjusts and goes flat, so it sounds in tune relatively. Theres a physical satisfaction to getting it right.

Kelli Boardman, a soprano, skipped the rehearsal on March 10 because she was caring for her elderly mother at home. On Tuesday nights last fall, she and her husband, Brian, who is also in the choir, would put on a movie for her mother and slip downstairs to attend the Zoom sessions, which they looked forward to. When I asked what singing in the chorale used to be like, she recalled squirming through a service her parents took her to at a large Methodist church in Shreveport, La., about 55 years ago. She was around 8. When that choir opened up and sang, the vibration just went right through me, and it made me feel like I wanted to explode. There was this joy, she said. I remember it vividly.

When that choir opened up and sang, the vibration just went right through me, and it made me feel like I wanted to explode. There was this joy.

Some researchers believe that singing together can be managed safely. Shelly Miller, an aerosol scientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and lead author of the Indoor Air paper, has since been collaborating on a study of Covid-prevention measures with the International Coalition of Performing Arts. They are tracking 200 or so bands and choirs that practice in person under criteria that Miller and colleagues created in part by studying the Skagit case: multiple layers of cloth masks (there are versions available that keep the fabric away from the mouth); a specific rate of air exchange; a limited and distanced number of occupants in a space; and a vacating of any room after 30 minutes of activity. So far, although many participants have tested positive, there is no evidence that any of them have transmitted the virus at practice. The risk is pretty low if you use this layered approach, Miller says. Volckens, though he agrees that such measures greatly reduce the likelihood of contracting the virus, isnt yet ready to recommend indoor practices unless everyone has been vaccinated, in large part because it is still unclear what an infectious dose of the virus is. Until we have that, he says, how can we possibly say whats safe? Figuring that out for any respiratory disease, though, is daunting. Weve been studying influenza for more than a hundred years, Donald Milton points out, and at the most detailed level, we still arent sure how it transmits.

Many choirs dont have the money for safety measures as comprehensive as Millers or arent comfortable with the risk. Half of 337 choruses surveyed by Chorus America have seen their budgets drop by 40 percent or more. Mass vaccination will surely help, but that is taking time, and virus variants could make achieving complete protection more difficult. Chorus America predicts that more groups will return in person this fall, but in a March blog post, the organization noted that C.D.C. guidance doesnt support large, unmasked gatherings yet, even if the participants are vaccinated.

Most choirs in the U.S. are church-affiliated, and they have been less affected financially. But many Christian churches, hoping to attract a generation infatuated with TV shows like American Idol and Glee, had already begun replacing their traditional choirs with smaller, pop-inspired groups backed by a band, not unlike, honestly, what Kanye West employed in his tour, says Craig Adams, a spokesman for the Gospel Music Association and creative director of Lifeway Christian Resources, a publishing company. Some church pastors in the evangelical church have seen this as an opportunity during the pandemic to go ahead and make that move, to make that switch. The response, he says, has been split between parishioners who find traditional choirs culturally irrelevant and those who see them as an integral part of not only the practice but even the theology of the Christian Church.

The fact that Covid-19 poses a greater risk to older people, and to communities of color, which also face greater barriers to vaccination, may affect what kind of choral music comes back and when. The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, founded in 1932 by Thomas Dorsey, a composer and director known as the father of gospel music, has more than 1,200 members nationwide, most of whom are African-American. The group has introduced remote socials and recorded presentations, provided information to choir leaders about virus-mitigation measures they can take and, for the second year, canceled its annual gathering in August, which typically features indoor performances by large choirs. We have to look at alternatives, says Ulysses Moye, a vice president of the group. Many of our constituents are elderly. Those persons are really not rushing to come back into that setting.

As Halloween neared, Burdick had received concert recordings from about only half of the Zoom participants, mostly altos. (The altos are overachievers, says Ruth Backlund, an alto herself. Basses, Roger Emerson says of his section, are not known to volunteer.) The main reason for the shortage was the reaction singers were having to hearing themselves unaccompanied by their choir mates. In playback, their voice reached them as it does others  from outside the friendly acoustics of their own skulls  and their responses ranged from surprise to horror. Theyre humbled, or theyre disturbed, or they dont think theyre worth including, Burdick told me. Backlund, who grew up in the Midwest playing piano and organ for church services held by her father, a minister, had already submitted Sing On! recorded in her bedroom with the iPhone memo app. When you listen to your own recording, every breath sounds so loud, she told me. Peggy Schultz, a 63-year-old tenor who is the groups treasurer, put it this way: Being exposed is what it is.

Often, Lorraine Burdick, Adams wife, a professional opera singer who got the virus from him and still has symptoms, would host a chat before practice began. We just talk about other things going on, Backlund says. What did you have for dinner? It was more socializing than what was typical for in-person rehearsals. For many, their connection with other chorale members tended to be more fraternal than familiar  you dont need to be confidants to harmonize. Subsuming oneself to a larger whole is what makes the experience transporting, even euphoric. And its part of what is lost online when all you hear is yourself.

But the choristers also found unexpected benefits in being forced to grapple  in bathrooms hung with towels or bedrooms with scores taped to the wall  with the reality of their voices stripped bare. Backlund started turning in tenor tracks in addition to her regular alto and wondered if she should switch parts. Debbie Amos, another alto, had learned how subtle changes to the shape of her mouth shaded her tone. She tried to open her throat as she learned to do with the straw and let the feeling the words gave her show on her face. I wanted a warm and soft tone to my voice, she said the week before Thanksgiving, referring to a song she had just finished recording, and I was able to get that.

Burdick hadnt wanted to pressure already-anxious singers with deadlines, but he was starting to worry that he hadnt left himself enough time to edit their submissions. By Thanksgiving weekend, he was spending more than a dozen hours a day in front of the computer. He had to listen to each track, eliminate ambient noises  pets, cars, ringing phones  then adjust the voice to be on key. Where the singers rhythm was off, he would shift their syllables. One day, feeling overwhelmed, he called a music-producer friend, Thyatira Thompson, to help. Thompson spent about 100 hours on one song, and he added his own voice to the mix. This is how Im using my life right now, Burdick told me 11 days before the show. Were making a work of art. The time that it takes is the time that it takes.

The chorale concert was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Pacific time. Im nervous as a cat, Ruth Backlund wrote me that afternoon. At 5:05, Burdick saved the final bounce, or version, of Sing On! He put on a tuxedo and some makeup; Lorraine pinned a white rose on his lapel.

In a small way, the concert seemed like an attempt to answer an unanswerable question  Why did this happen to us?  by distilling another question to its very essence: Why sing? Throughout history, choral music has given expression to collective grief, loss and fear that is otherwise unspeakable. During the Renaissance, many European cities held penitential processions in response to plagues, where residents sang Psalms in the streets in the hopes of securing Gods pardon. In America, the spirituals sung as a chorus by enslaved people during forced labor were the prayer and complaint of souls boiling over with the bitterest anguish, Frederick Douglass wrote in his memoir. The concert, by separating the singers in space and time  elongating the moment between when they made a sound and when they heard it combined with other voices  seemed to probe for the instant the choristers had described to me, when they stopped being themselves and became a single voice: Does it happen when the sound leaves the body? Or when you hear it with others? Must that happen simultaneously to achieve transcendence?

The elastic space-time properties of technology that made the concert possible have also transported choral music during the pandemic to places it wouldnt otherwise be known. Weve been hearing from people literally around the world, telling us: Oh, my, Im so pleased to hear you. I didnt know about you, says Marshall Onofrio, dean of Westminster College of the Arts at Rider University in New Jersey, whose symphonic choir frequently performs with the New York Philharmonic. Broadcasting may become a permanent feature of choral performance. But tablets and computers, Onofrio told me, are physically incapable of a full range of color and frequency, low and high notes. You are literally losing the resolution.

You also lose the vibrancy the audience and performers get from each other  the sense that each hit note is a victory over inevitable error. After the concert was over, Burdick would wonder if editing, ubiquitous now, was creating a false expectation of what singing should sound like. To make music together with other people in person is to surrender  and to be released from  the pursuit of perfection. To Carolynn Comstock, who didnt take part in the project, the compiled recordings felt stripped of that vulnerability. Its totally flat and sterile, she told me later. It lacks a soul.

To make music together with other people in person is to surrender  and to be released from  the pursuit of perfection.

When it was 5:30 Pacific, it was 8:30 my time. My kindergartner had fallen asleep; as he does every night, he had asked me to leave his bedroom door wide open, and I did. It was dark in our apartment. Careful not to make too much noise, I set up my laptop on the dining table and followed the link to the concert. From 3,000 miles away, from days and weeks away, the first bars of Sing On! arrived in my kitchen. I could still hear my sons breathing. Often, I wonder if he will remember this time at all, if his brain will retain certain sounds, smells or moods forever, like fragments from a strange dream.

At the bottom of the screen, a frustrated listener complained of choppiness and said she was signing off. Better luck next time, she wrote. A subsequent flood of comments, from the more than 500 accounts that had signed on, said everything could be heard just fine. Beautiful, they typed, over and over. The pieces emerged, complex and substantial, as Burdick had promised they would; the sections led and supported one another by turns, adding shading and dimension. Peggy Schultz had arranged photos of choristers together and with their families to go with the music; on a slide with photos of Nicki Hamilton and Carole Rae Woodmansee, she had written in loving memory of.

When I talked to the singers afterward, they sounded pleased and a little bit relieved that it had gone so well. It was thrilling to me, Coizie Bettinger said, surprising herself by tearing up. Im really proud of us for doing it. Debbie Amos, who is 69, thought the experience made her a better singer. Schultz shared their sentiments. She recalled one time, a little over a year ago, when the choir had been touring the upper Olympic Peninsula, near Pysht, and she needed to sit down. Usually, you hear your own part dominating, she said. To sit out front where its balanced and hear all parts equally  it was kind of neat, and I think we should all do it once in a while to get a sense of what we sound like. The online concert, she said, had accomplished that: It gave us an opportunity to hear ourselves as a whole, not just our little spot in the middle of it. Anonymous donors offered $6,000 to continue rehearsals in the spring, which Burdick agreed to run. Mary Campbell has begun joining in. Its part of my identity now, being part of a choir, she says. But there are no plans to do another concert.

Burdicks parents still live in Pysht, and they attended the performances Schultz remembered. We were almost treated reverently, his mother, Karolyn, told me. They were so pleased with Adam, she added. It was striking how much they wanted us to know how much they appreciated him. Her voice broke. The whole thing with Covid, I dont know how it will be. I dont know that that feeling  that you can recapture something like that after all the chorale has been through.

Choral singing may be the last activity to return to normal, the last thing we feel comfortable doing without a mask on. If it werent such a primal need  an expression of our humanity that cant happen another way  you might wonder if it would come back at all. Joe Woodmansee told me that his family took comfort in the fact that his mothers last activity before getting sick was singing, and that her death had helped others avoid the virus, which they believe she would have been grateful for. She loved to sing, he told me. I dont think there was a day in her life she wasnt at least singing to herself.

The day after the concert, Burdick posted it on YouTube so that anyone can watch it at any time. I imagined that I would revisit it myself, stopping and starting, taking notes, until I could describe it for you in intricate detail, as a critic might. My cursor hovered over the play button. But I found myself unable to click it again; you can go there, after all, and listen for yourself. Watching it live, so to speak, I had felt a heightened sense of anticipation, knowing how Burdick and the singers were feeling: Would the streaming work? Would people like it? Would it achieve an effect that was greater than the sum of its parts  greater than all the hours and painful self-examination it had required? I felt part of a collectively held breath, like the pause in a concert hall when the cacophony of instruments and the chattering of the crowd dims and the conductor raises the baton. And thats how I want to remember it. But I can tell you that in my kitchen, in the darkness of that December evening, the chorale was welcome company, and their voices, all together, made a full, sweet sound.
New Delhi, April 8 : Noted author, literary translator Sara Rai will head the five-member jury for the Rs 25 lakh JCB Prize for Literature 2021, one of India's most coveted literary awards, it was announced on Thursday.

The panel includes designer and art historian Annapurna Garimella, author and translator Shahnaz Habib, journalist and editor Prem Panicker and writer and podcaster Amit Varma.

Representing a vast range of Indian languages and mediums of expression between them, the jury brings a set of diverse points of view to the task of selecting the best of fiction from India this year. In its fourth year, the prize is funded by India's leading manufacturer of earthmoving and construction equipment, JCB India Ltd, and administered by the JCB Literature Foundation.

Commenting on this year's jury, Mita Kapur, Literary Director of the JCB Prize for Literature, said: "Each year at the JCB Prize for Literature, we are privileged to discover fresh voices and stories from across the country, both in translation and in English. Our aim while selecting a jury is to find people who would appreciate this diversity of talent.

"This year, our jury members are all authors, with three of them being award-winning translators as well. I trust their diverse interests and long engagement with the art of writing to shape their discussions of the books submitted and their final judgement for the 2021 Prize," Kapur added.

The jury will announce the longlist of ten titles on September 6, followed by the shortlist of five titles on October 4. The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in November 2021. If the winning work is a translation, the translator will be awarded an additional Rs 10 lakh. Each of the five shortlisted authors will receive Rs 1 lakh; if a shortlisted work is a translation, the translator will receive Rs 50,000.

"The JCB Prize for Literature provides a wonderful platform to showcase the range of literary voices active in contemporary fiction writing in India. I am happy to be associated with the award and to work with the others in the 2021 jury, all experts in their own fields. The JCB Literature Foundation and the jury enthusiastically look forward, in the 4th edition of the JCB Prize for Literature, to be able to nurture the power of storytelling both in English and in the Indian languages, and allow readers today, the opportunity to engage with the best literary works of fiction that India has to offer," Jury Chairman Sara Rai said.

Sara Rai is a writer and literary translator working with Hindi, Urdu, and English. She has published three collections of short stories in Hindi with her first novel, "Cheelvali Kothi" (The House of Kites) published in 2010. The German translation of her selected short fiction, "Im Labyrinth" (The Labyrinth) won the Coburg RAckert Prize 2019, and was also nominated for the Weltempfanger Prize, Frankfurt 2020. Her translation of Vinod Kumar Shukla's "Blue is Like Blue" won the Atta Galatta Prize 2019 and the Matrubhumi Award 2020. Over the years her work has been translated into Urdu, German, French, Italian and English.

Annapurna Garimella is a designer and an art historian. Her latest book is a co-edited Marg volume titled "The Contemporary Hindu Temple: Fragments for a History" (2019) and her upcoming edited volume is titled "The Long Arc of South Asian Art: A Reader in Honor of Vidya Dehejia". She is the Managing Trustee of Art, Resources and Teaching Trust, along with heading Jackfruit Research and Design.

Shahnaz Habib is the author of the nonfiction book "Airplane Mode", and the translator of the novels "Jasmine Days" and "Al-Arabian Novel Factory". She, along with the author Benyamin, won the JCB Prize for Literature for "Jasmine Days" in 2018. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker online, Creative Non-fiction, Agni, Brevity, The Guardian, and Afar, among many others. She currently teaches writing at The New School and consults for the United Nations as well.

Prem Panicker is the editor of Peepli.org, an independent website dedicated to longform multimedia storytelling. He has worked as a journalist and editor for over 30 years across print and digital mediums. He was one of the team of journalists who helped start Rediff.com. and has also worked as the Managing Editor, for Yahoo! India. He conducts storytelling workshops, and consults various media houses from time to time.

Amit Varma is a writer and podcaster based in Mumbai. He writes "The India Uncut Newsletter" and hosts the longform conversation podcast, "The Seen and the Unseen". He has been a journalist for over two decades, and won the Bastiat Prize for Journalism in 2007 and 2015. He also teaches the online course, The Art of Clear Writing.

The 2020 Prize was awarded to "Moustache" by S. Hareesh, translated from the Malayalam by Jayasree Kalathil and published by HarperCollins India. With an aim to increase inclusivity in readership, the book was also made available by the JCB Literature Foundation in a digitally accessible format as part of an initiative for the visually impaired.
Shares of hit an all-time high of Rs 924.25 as they rallied 6 per cent on the BSE in intra-day trade on Thursday. The stock surpassed its previous high of Rs 924 touched on October 29, 2007. In the past one month, the Tata group company has rallied 25 per cent after the global rating agencies upgraded the outlook on to stable, citing a recovery in Q3 of the financial year 2020-21 (Q3FY21).

On Tuesday, March 6, Standard and Poors raised the of and its subsidiary ABJA Investment Co from B+ to BB-' on deleveraging and strong operating momentum. Tata Steel's debt level is expected to decline materially in the next two years due to a strong cash flow and the company's stated intention to reduce debt.

"In our base case, we expect Tata Steel's adjusted debt to decline by about 30 per cent by March 2023 from the March 2020 level of about Rs 1 trillion, leading its credit metrics to steadily improve. The stable outlook reflects our expectation that Tata Steel will adequately deleverage over the next two years and build comfortable headroom at the current rating level," it said in its rating action.

Moody's also, recently, revised the outlook on Tata Steel from 'negative' to 'stable' on the companys solid recovery in operations in Q3FY21. The global rating agency affirmed the company's Ba2 corporate family rating (CFR). The company will sustain the improvement over 12-18 months, enabling its consolidated financial metrics to recover to levels more appropriate for its Ba2 CFR, it said.

"The rating action also reflects the company's proactive financial management amid the Covid-19 pandemic. It has publicly stated the target of reducing gross debt by at least $1 billion each year and prioritising deleveraging over capital expenditure, said Kaustubh Chaubal, Vice President and Senior Credit Officer at Moody's.

In the past six months, the stock has zoomed nearly 150 per cent as compared to a 24 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. The recovery in the global and Indian economy has led to a sharp improvement in steel demand in India. The investments in infrastructure and recent policy developments, to drive economic growth, should drive steel demand in India.

"After a sharp drop in April-June quarter (Q1FY21), the domestic steel industry has reported a rebound in margins in the September 2020 (Q2FY21) and December 2020 (Q3FY21) quarter, benefiting from improving demand and realisations on the one hand and softer coking coal costs on the other hand. Margins of steel companies are expected to show further expansion in the March quarter of FY21 driven by healthy export order and higher realisations," CARE Ratings said in a recent update.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 13:45:19|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. President Joe Biden's administration should reverse policies toward China by former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, stop its geopolitical contest with China, and let reason return to U.S. policymaking, a renowned scholar has said.

"There is a real danger that the Biden administration will retain many elements of Trump's policies toward China. If so, America is heading toward a disaster," Kishore Mahbubani, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Research Institute of the National University of Singapore, said in an article published in the latest issue of Global Asia, a quarterly magazine that focuses on global affairs.

Noting that Trump's policies on China, which were based on delusion rather than realistic assessment, had failed, Mahbubani said that if the Biden administration continues the Trump administration's policies on China, it will only result in a "weakened America."

"The Biden campaign described Trump's trade war with China as 'an unmitigated disaster' that cost Americans money and jobs," said Mahbubani, quoting political commentator Fareed Zakaria. "Hence, the rational response is to stop it."

Refuting claims that the Communist Party of China represents a threat to American democracy, the scholar said, "none see China as an exporter of communism to undermine democracy."

In Mahbubani's eyes, the U.S. government should also abandon its delusion that it could transform China.

"Future historians will be very puzzled that a young American republic, barely 250 years old, believed that it could single-handedly transform a 4,000-year-old civilization with a population four times its size."

Regarding the "sad reality" that many Americans just don't understand China, Mahbubani said some Americans "cannot even conceive of the realistic possibility that the Chinese people may be swimming happily in an ocean of Chinese norms and values, which create both a sense of a well-ordered moral society and psychological wellbeing."

Viewing "the past 40 years" as "the best in the 4,000 years of Chinese history," the scholar said, "by historical standards, the vast masses of Chinese people have never been better off." Enditem
Incumbency not enough for CACI to win $200M Navy contract

It always stings when an incumbent loses a contract and anecdotally we are hearing that takeaway wins are becoming more frequent.

So this Government Accountability Office decision to deny a protest by incumbent CACI International might offer some insights for incumbents and challengers.

CACI and Booz Allen Hamilton were locked in a tight competition for a $213.8 million Navy contract for acquisition and integrated logistics support. The contract supports the Navys Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems.

Both companies had identical overall ratings: Outstanding for their technical approaches and Substantial Confidence for past performance.

CACIs price of $224 million was slightly higher than Booz Allens bid of $213.8 million for the five-year contract.

But price was not the sole factor in the Navys decision to pick Booz Allen. The Navy said Booz Allen had a slight technical advantage in the subfactors. In fact, according to the GAO decision, Booz Allen would have come out on top even if the prices bid were identical.

It was those subfactors where CACI attacked the Navys decision. The Navy evaluated the transition plans both companies proposed and gave a nod to Booz Allens approach.

CACI said its transition plan was treated differently. The company argued that as the incumbent the transition would be less risky because the personnel is already in place.

If Booz Allens transition plan received a rating of a Significant Strength then CACI also should have received that score, CACI argued.

But the Navy responded with three areas where they felt Booz Allens approach deserved the Significant Strength rating. The Navy liked how Booz Allen planned to interface with the agency, high speed hiring and staffing, and the transition approach. A description of the transition approach was redacted.

CACI argued that its transition plan was for 30 days compared to the 60 days Booz Allen proposed. CACI also said that Booz Allens recruitment program should not have been evaluated as more advantageous than CACIs incumbent personnel.

Because of the scores the proposals received, CACI said the Navy didnt treat the companies equally.

But GAO said it could find no evidence of unequal treatment. GO pointed to several differences that the agency pointed to where it felt the Booz Allen approach was superior.

For example, while both companies had a dedicated transition manager, Booz Allen offered more details on how the manager would interact with the Navy and the manager would incorporate Navy priorities into the transition.

GAO also found that CACIs mentions of its incumbent personnel didnt offer the same level of detail that Booz Allen did with its recruiting program.

CACI also argued that its price/cost proposal wasnt properly evaluated, particularly when looking at escalation rates in the later years of the five-year contract. CACI argued its rates were lower than Booz Allens.

But CACI used a different method for calculating those costs. CACI used the Defense Departments Green Book. But the Navy didnt use that because they found it unreliable when applied to the commercial marketplace. CACI didnt explain in its proposal why the Green Book was better.

The Navy also said it used the same methodology for both Booz Allens cost proposal and CACI. They reasoned that even if they had used the methodology CACI proposed, Booz Allen still would have still a lower evaluated price, indicating that Navy still would have picked Booz Allen.

Given how tight the two companies were in the competition, the slightly-higher technology evaluation coupled with a slightly lower price is what pushed Booz Allen past CACI at the finish line.

So whats the lesson here?

Details matter, understand the evaluation methodology, and being an incumbent may not be the advantage it used to be.
Sponsored by a R$ 200 million donation of the Esteves family, and with institutional support from BTG Pactual, Inteli will be the Brazil's first project-based tech college.

SAO PAULO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With the challenging mission of developing future technology leaders who will help transform Brazil, Andre Esteves, Roberto Sallouti and BTG Pactual partners are joining forces to create the Institute of Technology and Leadership (Inteli), a private, non-profit institution located in Sao Paulo, Brazil designed to offer cutting-edge education in the country. Sponsored by a R$ 200 million donation from the Esteves family, and institutional support from BTG Pactual, Inteli will offer higher education for students in the technology area, with an emphasis on computing, business and leadership.

"Inteli was born of Brazil's need to become more relevant in technology. We want to train future leaders and, therefore, we will offer education that goes beyond computing, including subjects as entrepreneurship, market-based economy, rule of law and sustainability into the curriculum. It will be the first project-based tech college in Brazil", says Andre Esteves.

For Roberto Sallouti, digital transformation and leadership development are the main challenges for the future. "Inteli's mission is precisely to offer all the tools and the right environment to prepare a generation of leaders with a thirst of knowledge, an entrepreneurial spirit, a strong ability to adapt, and be fully oriented towards solving real problems. In our view, they are the ones who are going to help transform Brazil", Sallouti adds.

With the first classes scheduled for February 2022, Inteli will initially offer four on-campus undergraduate courses: Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science and Information Systems. The courses will last four years, divided into 16 modules. In addition to classes with expert teachers, in each of the modules, students will develop a project to meet the needs of a market partner, whether private enterprises, startups or NGOs. Enrollment of 250 students is planned for the first year. The goal is to have 1,000 students enrolled by 2025.

Inteli's mission is to develop its students in three sets of competences: computing, with in-depth studies in artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity; business, covering areas such as corporate finance, market intelligence, digital marketing, people analytics and sustainability; and in behavioral aspects such as communication, ethics and resilience. The goal is that students learn, from the first week of class, how to make a real impact on society, while permanently guided to seek solutions for the world's inefficiencies in a practical way.

With a focus on attracting the best talent in Brazil, regardless of social and economic status, the Institute will have both scholarship and paying students. The most important point is that the students have a passion for transforming society, high potential, analytical capabilities and be able to develop creative alternatives for problems. In the future, Inteli also plans to offer graduate courses, remote learning, a startup incubator, and free courses.

The Inteli Board comprises: Andre Esteves and Lilian Esteves, a businesswoman and philanthropist, as sponsors; Roberto Sallouti as Chairman of the Board, Arthur Lazarte, Wildlife Co-founder and CEO; Mark Maletz, Senior Member of the Harvard Business School (HBS); Exame CEO Pedro Thompson; Silvio Meira, PhD in Computing and co-founder of Porto Digital in Recife; Ricardo Dias, Co-founder of Adventures. Inc. and formerly Ambev Marketing VP; and Sofia Esteves, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Grupo Cia. de Talentos.

The Board members also include Executive Director Maira Habimorad, formerly CEO of Cia de Talentos and Academic and Innovation Director of Ibmec, who will be CEO of Inteli; Ana Garcia, Co-founder of Brasa, as Head of Operations at Inteli; and Mauricio Garcia, with more than 30 years' experience as an Academic and Innovation Executive in large educational groups, as Academic Adviser. The entire Inteli team was designed to create a multidisciplinary group with different experiences, which is fundamental for thinking of an academic model with a vision of the future and aligned with market expectations.

The next steps include signing an agreement for installing the Campus in a horizontal, wooded, 9 thousand square meter space in Sao Paulo, and raising funds for financing scholarships.
The United States population grew by 1.2 million people - or just 0.4 per cent - last year, which represents the smallest rate of growth since the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, according to a new study.

In 2019, the population in the US grew by 1.5 million, or 0.5 per cent.

The US populations rate of growth is expected to shrink even more this year to just 0.2 per cent, with the COVID-19 pandemic and the Trump administrations immigration policies cited as the chief cause, according to a study by Oxford Economics.

The decline in immigration accounts for about 75 per cent of the slowdown in population growth, according to the authors.

In 2019, net immigration was 595,000. Between 2017 and 2019, net immigration averaged 743,000.

The rate of population growth in the United States was just 0.4 per cent - the smallest since the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, according to a new study

The study by Oxford Economics cites immigration as a key in US population growth. The decrease in the number of immigrants between 2017 and 2019 is believed to have contributed to the declining trend

That is a drop off of an average of 1 million net immigrants per year during Barack Obamas second term as president, which began in 2013 and ended in 2017.

The decrease in immigration accounted for more than half of the slowdown in population growth from 2017 until 2019, when Donald Trump came to power.

The study expects the rate of population growth to bounce back to about 0.5 per cent in 2023 and 0.6 per cent by the end of the decade.

The authors also predict that a more moderate immigration policy will restore net immigration levels to 1 million annually within that same time frame.

The last time that the US population grew at such a slow pace was more than a century ago, when an estimated 675,000 Americans died of Spanish flu.

That year, the population of the country shrank by 0.1 per cent.

Oxford Economics researchers expect population growth in the US to pick up the pace beginning in 2022 and beyond.

By that point, the pandemic is expected to end and the federal government is also likely to lift Trump-era limits on immigration.

We estimate that [immigration] fell to 341,000 in 2020, and we expect it will decline to 180,000 in 2021 before starting to recover, Nancy Vanden Houten, the lead economist of the study said.

We look for immigration to return to about 1mn [million] annually by the end of the decade.

The report was first cited by Bloomberg News.

Vanden Houten said that admitting more immigrants into the country would be beneficial.

Given slower growth in the native-born population - and the aging of the US population - steady immigration levels will be key to maintaining growth in the labor force in the years ahead, she writes.

In the long term, slower population and household growth could negatively affect the future US economy by reducing the supply of workers, the tax base, and the demand for goods and services.

Under the Trump administration, the federal government slashed the number of immigrants who came to the United States on work visas

The COVID-19 pandemic likely played a huge factor in the severe drop off in the number of legal immigrants who came to the United States last year

This slowdown could also reduce demand for new home construction and lead to declines in home values.

President Joe Biden, who defeated Trump in the elections of last November, came into office vowing to undo his predecessors policies on immigration, but a sharp spike in the number of migrants illegally entering the country has complicated those plans.

Bidens immigration agenda has largely stalled since he sent Congress draft legislation in his first week in office, while he moves to prioritize COVID-19 relief and a push for a $2.3trillion infrastructure plan this summer.

Biden has also been slower to move than activists have wanted in lifting historically low Trump-era caps on refugee admissions for this year, despite pledging to swiftly raise them.

Trump built his presidency around hardline policies that expanded and fortified border walls, made it tougher for people fleeing drug violence and other desperate circumstances in Mexico and Central America to seek US asylum and separated immigrant families.

Biden has tried to seize political momentum on the issue by promising a more humane and orderly system, but his administration has struggled to cope with rising numbers of migrants coming to the border, especially unaccompanied children.

The image above from Tuesday shows a little girl at a new shelter for undocumented migrants trying to enter the United States. The shelter is located in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

The Biden immigration plan would provide an eight-year path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million people in the US illegally, but polls show doing so isnt high on the publics priority list.

The Oxford Economics study mimics other recent findings that show a declining rate of population growth nationwide.

In December, the US Census Bureau said that the population grew by the smallest rate in at least 120 years from 2019 to 2020.

Population growth in the U.S. already was stagnant over the past several years due to immigration restrictions and a dip in fertility, but coronavirus-related deaths exacerbated that lethargic-growth trend, said William Frey, a senior fellow at The Brooking Institutions Metropolitan Policy Program.

I think its a first glimpse of where we may be heading as far as low population growth, Frey said.

Its telling you that this is having an impact on population.

The US population grew by 0.35 per cent from July 2019 to July 2020, an increase of 1.1 million people in a nation whose estimated population in July was more than 329 million residents, according to Census Bureau estimates.

An analysis by Frey shows that its the smallest increase this century and smaller than any in the last century as well.

At the height of the Spanish flu, the growth rate from 1918 to 1919 was 0.49 per cent - even with US troops abroad during World War I.

The Northeast and Midwest regions of the US had tiny population declines from 2019 to 2020, while the South and West regions had slight increases.

Among the states, Idaho had the largest single-year population increase, growing 2.1 per cent to 1.8 million residents.

It was followed by Arizona, which grew 1.8 per cent; Nevada, which increased 1.5 per cent; Utah, which grew 1.4 per cent; and Texas, which increased 1.3 per cent.

Sixteen states lost population, including California, the nations most populous state, which declined 0.18 per cent to 39.3 million residents.

A medical worker in New York prepares to administer a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday. The pandemic has also played a role in the slowdown in growth of the US population

New York - the pandemics epicenter in the spring - had the nations biggest decline, losing an estimated 126,000 residents, or a dip of 0.65 per cent.

The Empire State has been losing residents since 2016, but the drop from 2019 to 2020 was significantly larger than in years past.

New Yorks population decline was followed by Illinois, with a 0.63 per cent drop; Hawaii, with a 0.61 per cent decline; West Virginia, with a 0.58 per cent drop; and Mississippi, with a 0.38 per cent decline.

The estimates released Tuesday were conducted independently of the 2020 census, which is a head count of every US resident, but they offer a preview of what the census may show once its data are finished being crunched.

The data from the once-a-decade census are used to determine how many congressional seats each state gets based on population, as well as the distribution of $1.5trillion in federal funding.

The estimates show that California could lose a House seat for the first time in the states history, while Texas could gain three seats and Florida could gain two seats, according to an analysis by Frey.

Five other states - Arizona, Colorado, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon - stand to gain one seat.

Alabama, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia stand to lose a seat, according to Frey.
The Sky From Here concert series begins with an exclusive performance by the Dublin based but Boyle inspired 4-piece Dirty Dreamer.

Having played together for a number of years with the Choice Prize nominated Come On Live Long, Dirty Dreamer formed in 2018 over months of writing and experimenting with a new sound. The band visited Carrick-on-Shannon to record in early 2021 and the results of that session will be available to stream from www.thedock.ie from April 8-11.

Speaking ahead of the live recording band lead vocalist Louise Gaffney said: I suppose the last 12 months really slowed things down for us in terms of writing new material or rehearsing as we like to do it together in a room and we were fairly into a great routine of at least once weekly sessions

We were fortunate in one way though as we had already started building up a large set of recordings prior to Covid hitting last March. We have really just spent the last few months apart but all of us listening to our bank of tracks and looking to begin to start piecing that into an album; making selections of our favourites and trying to imagine how tracks will sit together.

A few of the tracks we performed at The Dock are from this unreleased library of recordings, so we had never performed them live before. I guess they're a bit of an exclusive in that sense and it gave us a lovely chance to really road-test our favourites from the new batch.

Throughout April The Dock will bring you 4 exclusive live streamed performances by musicians and bands all with a connection to county Leitrim and its surrounding area. It is produced in association with The Leitrim Observer and funded by Leitrim County Council and The Arts Council.

Tune in to see Dirty Dreamers' performance here from 8pm tonight, Thursday, April 8. The video will remain online until April 11.
A senior journalist working for the state broadcaster was on Wednesday night shot dead in her house in Ngong, Kajiado County.

Betty Barasa, a senior producer with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), was waiting for the gate to her residence in Olulua to be opened when she was accosted by three men suspected to be thugs.

Police told nation.africa that they suspect that the three men were hiding at a nearby house, which is still under construction when Ms Barasa arrived at about 8:30pm.

After confronting the journalist, the thugs forced their way into the property while making monetary demands.

Overpowered

In the house were Ms Barasa's husband, her son and house help who were also overpowered by the men as they embarked on a ransacking spree.

At some point, it is said that one of the men forced Ms Barasa to take him upstairs in search of the money they had failed to get.

It is at this point when two shots were heard from an upstairs bedroom. Ms Barasa was shot twice on the head and died immediately.

Her body has been moved to Montezuma funeral home as police intensify the hunt for the thugs, who made away with some electronics.
BRIDIE Fitzgerald was never a drinker or a smoker but she celebrated her 100th birthday in style with a champagne breakfast in Caherass Nursing Home.

It was followed by a special online mass celebrated by Fr Richie Davern, a visit from her daughter Mary Cronin and later her son Joe and a socially distanced visit from her many friends including all her friends in Mungret Senior Citizens club.

It was a fitting celebration of a life well-lived by a lady born in Athea but who made Mungret her home.

Daughter Mary said her mothers 100th birthday was the first time they had been able to visit her mum in months following the slight easing of nursing home restrictions.

It was very emotional but she had a lovely day. Fr Richie made the Mass so personal and special. It was clear he had put a huge amount of work into it - he had a big banner erected outside the church and brought her baptismal register from Athea which showed she was baptised on the same day she was born - March 26, 1921, said Mary, one of three of Bridie and the late Joes children along with Ada Fitzgerald Nilsson and Joe Fitzgerald.

Bridie also has four loving grandchildren - Lorraine, Carol Ann, Brian and Richard and two great-grand children, George and Katie in New Zealand.

At 2pm, the Mungret Senior Citizens club arrived in their cars and tooted their horns. They had banners and balloons on the side of their cars and sang happy birthday. Mum was at the window waving out.

She couldnt praise the residents and staff of Caherass Nursing Home enough. She had a lovely day, said Mary, who also thanked Fr Davern and everyone who sent good wishes to her mum from far and near.

Fr Davern said Bridie is a real lady with a nice, gentle presence.

Her faith is very important to her. During Lent last year she arrived up to confession aged 99. I gave out to her because it was a cold night! She came to Mass every Saturday night and during the summer last year when we could have small gatherings, said Fr Davern.

As well as getting the happy birthday banner erected outside the church, the priest also went to the trouble of getting Bridies baptism register from her home parish of Athea.

I thought it would be interesting to have the book on the sanctuary when we were celebrating the Mass. I thought she would have another celebration - the 100th anniversary of her baptism but as it transpired she was baptised the day she was born, said Fr Davern, who brought the book to Caherass and showed it to Bridie through the window. He also organised for a copy to be given to her.

Fr Davern also discovered that the last person to celebrate their 100th birthday in the parish of Mungret, Crecora, Raheen was Jim Garvey, who died in 1990 aged 102. Prior to that it was a Margaret Fitzgerald, from Ballysheedy, who married a Michael Fitzgerald from Red House Hill, Patrickswell.

Michael was the uncle of Bridies husband Joe. Thus, the last two women in the parish to reach 100 were married to an uncle and nephew, said Fr Davern.

He said there was a great reaction in the parish as they celebrated their oldest and dearest parishioner, Bridie Fitzgerald.
LONDON and OXFORD, England, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PQShield , the cybersecurity company specialising in post-quantum cryptography, today announces that it is further strengthening its cryptographic hardware team with the appointment of Ben Marshall, the editor and main author of the RISC-V "K" Cryptography Extension, as a Cryptography Engineer. Ben will continue to contribute to RISC-V International's cryptography standardisation efforts while also working on PQShield's post-quantum hardware architecture.

While quantum computers offer enormous potential benefits to society, they also pose a significant risk to information security, as they will be able to easily break the public-key encryption widely relied on to protect sensitive data. Because of this, engineers and scientists around the world are working to develop post-quantum cryptographic solutions , using a new generation of encryption that will help organisations secure their sensitive information now and for years to come.

Headquartered in Oxford, with additional teams in the Netherlands and France, PQShield is pioneering the development and commercial roll-out of advanced, quantum-ready cryptographic solutions for hardware, software and communications, helping businesses prepare for the quantum threat. With one of the UK's highest concentrations of cryptography PhDs outside academia and the classified sector, the PQShield team is also a leading contributor to NIST's post-quantum cryptography standardisation project , now in its concluding stages, having contributed two of the seven finalist algorithms.

For over a year, PQShield has been working with Ben and the RISC-V International Cryptographic Extensions Task Group (CETG) to provide solid, FIPS-compliant symmetric cryptography foundations for the RISC-V ISA, which helps to support PQShield's post-quantum cryptography mission. CETG has adopted versions of the lightweight AES and entropy source interface (TRNG) originally designed by PQShield into the official extension.

Dr. Ali El Kaafarani, CEO and Founder of PQShield, said:

"Our partnership with RISC-V and leading role within CETG allows us to think, openly, with the rest of the RISC-V community and build the security layer of our future hardware together, taking a scrupulous end-to-end approach that doesn't repeat our security community's past pitfalls.

I am thrilled that PQShield continues to attract the best and brightest security and cryptography talents in software and hardware; we're excited to welcome Ben Marshall, an exceptional cryptography hardware engineer, to our ever-growing family."

The RISC-V "K" cryptographic extension specification is now considered stable, and has multiple independent hardware implementations and significant industry support. This is an essential preparatory step for FIPS 140-3 compliant post-quantum processors and coprocessors.

Mark Himelstein, CTO, RISC-V International, said:

"The security aspects of the RISC-V architecture are a top priority, and we are committed to providing the RISC-V ecosystem, developers and end-users with state-of-the-art hardware security instruction set architecture (ISA) features and assurances. Substantial contributions from cryptography experts and RISC-V International members, such as PQShield, play a key role in achieving our security goals."

PQShield offers size and performance-optimized implementations of all NIST PQC Finalist algorithms, together with post-quantum coprocessor solutions for RISC-V-based platforms. Several leading device manufacturers have already chosen PQShield's PQC IP for integration into hardware security solutions that will be compliant with upcoming German BSI and US NIST/FIPS post-quantum cryptography standards.

About PQShield

PQShield is a cybersecurity startup that specialises in post-quantum cryptography, protecting information from today's attacks while readying organisations for the threat landscape of tomorrow. It is the only cybersecurity company that can demonstrate quantum-safe cryptography on chips, in applications and in the cloud. Headquartered in Oxford, with additional teams in the Netherlands and France, its quantum-secure cryptographic solutions work with companies' legacy systems to protect devices and sensitive data now and for years to come. PQShield is principally backed by Kindred Capital, Crane Venture Partners, Oxford Sciences Innovation, and InnovateUK. Its latest white papers are available to read here .

www.pqshield.com

Press contact: [email protected]

SOURCE PQShield

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A fit and healthy 34-year-old has told how a freak reaction to the Astra-Zeneca Covid jab left him in intensive care with blood clots, fearing for his life.

'I thought I had pulled a muscle on my 5km run nearly two weeks after having the jab - but within days I was in hospital and they told me the blood clots might reach my brain,' said Mohammed Choudhury.

The married financial services worker from Poplar, east London, is now recovering at home and will have to take blood thinners for at least the next six months.

But he says he still strongly believes people should have the vaccine - even though he will not have the second jab himself on medical advice.

'Despite my experience I would still advise anyone to have the jab. I just want to raise awareness of the signs to look for in the extremely rare cases where blood clots developed as a side-effect' Mohammed told MailOnline.

Mohammed Choudhury (pictured with his wife Alia) has told how a freak reaction to the Astra-Zeneca Covid jab left him in intensive care with blood clots, fearing for his life

The married financial services worker from Poplar, east London, is now recovering at home and will have to take blood thinners for at least the next six months

Mohammed, 34, had no immediate reaction after receiving the jab and when he began to feel pains in his calf some 13 days later he initially thought it was due to pulling a muscle after one of his regular 5km lockdown runs with wife Alia.

But over the following five days he developed chest pains, breathlessness and headaches, and sought medical help by calling 111 and was admitted to The Royal London Hospital that evening after being advised to visit A&E. After a series of tests he was rapidly put on critical care.

'In the space of 24 hours I went from expecting maybe a painkiller for a pulled muscle or something to being in a critical care ward on my own, unable to be visited by my wife,' he told MailOnline in an exclusive interview.

'There was a lot of fear of the unknown at first, as I didn't know for a few days what the brain scan showed and whether there was an even higher risk to my health.

'I didn't know how dangerous these clots were as I have no history of this and I'm a healthy young man. It's not the kind of thing that's ever happened to me before.'

Mohammed, who lives with Alia, 31, in Poplar said that despite his experience he would still advise anyone to have the jab

Mohammed, who lives with Alia, 31, in Poplar said that despite his experience he would still advise anyone to have the jab, but wanted to raise awareness of the signs to look for in the extremely rare cases where blood clots developed as a side-effect.

The drama began on March 10 when Alia was called in for her own jab and because of some missed appointments, Mohammed was asked if he wanted to take up one of the spare doses and agreed.

It wasn't until something like 13 days later that he first noticed pain in his right calf and because the husband and wife had both been regularly running 5k twice a week, he assumed it was a muscle pain.

How Mohammed Choudhury's suffered rare blood clots after taking AZ vaccine Mohammed and Alia March 10: Alia and Mohammed Choudhury both receive the AstraZeneca jab at vaccination centre. March 23 (approx): Mohammed begins to feel pain in his right calf and puts it down to muscle strain after running with his wife. March 23-March 28: The leg pain persists and he also begins to experience pains in his chest, along with breathlessness and dizziness March 29: He calls NHS Direct and after a telephone consultation with a doctor an appointment is made at the Royal London Hospital's A&E Dept. Mohammed is admitted to a ward for tests March 29-30: Tests reveal that he has blood clots in his leg and lungs; a CT scan is ordered to check for clots on the brain. Mohammed is moved into the critical care ward. March 31: Mohammed is relieved to hear that his brain is clear from clots. April 5 (Easter Monday): Mohammed is released from hospital and now faces six months on anti-coagulant drugs. Advertisement

'I put some ice on it, but it didn't go away and a few days later I began to get chest pain and headaches,' he said.

'One Sunday night (March 28) it became unbearable and I called NHS Direct and they made me an appointment to go straight to A&E at the Royal London Hospital.

'The diagnosis of DVT was a real shock. They told me it started in my leg and had spread to my lungs and they would have to give me a CT scan to check if there was any clots on the brain.

'Initially I was on the ward, then moved into critical care. This was out of nowhere, I had no understanding that this was even a possibility. When they said they needed to scan me to check for clots in the brain, that was a really scary moment.

'I had to call Alia and have a really upsetting conversation with her about what they'd found and what might happen next. It was very apparent from the beginning that this was very new - many of the doctors were saying this was uncharted territory and we'd have to see how things went as they progressed.

I was moved to a critical care unit where I had a few IV tubes going into me with blood thinners and anti-biotics because I had a temperature and there was also a drip with antibodies.

'The general aim was to allow my body's platelet count to recover while also thinning my blood to stop any new clots forming or growing those already present.'

Thankfully, after a few days, Mohammed's brain was declared free of clots and on Easter Monday, he was released from the Royal London.

He said: 'I can't thank them enough for the care they gave me, it was quite exemplary.

'They were really good the way they communicated with me and they also showed a lot of concern for my wife because they knew she was on her own. We were able to speak on the phone each day.'

Tax adviser Alia added: 'We have been together working from home just the two of us throughout the lockdown so it's a really hard situation to manage emotionally when you're suddenly on your own.'

Now Mohammed will have to be on a course of anti-coagulants for the next six months to prevent any new clots forming as the clots will hopefully be absorbed back into his body. He still has pain in his legs and gets tired easily but the headaches have gone.

Mohammed said he had been advised by doctors not to take the second AZ jab. 'It's just too risky for me, given what's happened. I'm not sure about what the position would be with other vaccines, but for now I'm just concentrating on getting better. It's frustrating that I don't have as much energy as I did have before I got ill, but hopefully I'll get stronger as time goes on. It'll be a while before I start running again though.'

But he is adamant he doesn't want his experience to put anyone off having the injection.

'The chances of getting Covid are far, far higher than the kind of freak reaction I experienced, and Covid poses a risk to everyone around you, especially older relatives, so I would absolutely say get the jab.

'But I do think people need to be aware of the signs to look for which could be an indication of clots forming  pain in the legs or chest, possibly headaches, breathlessness and blurred vision.

'I was lucky that it was spotted early, and I hope anyone else in the same situation will seek medical help as soon as possible.'

Mohammed - who has since been discharged - said an examination of his most recent routine blood test a few years ago showed no sign of a low platelet count.

The Royal London Hospital was contacted for a comment.

Regulator lists symptoms to watch for after receiving vaccine Yesterday (April 7) the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a checklist, advising people to seek medical advice if they spot the following symptoms after vaccination, such as:  shortness of breath, chest or persistent abdominal pain, leg swelling  blurred vision, confusion or seizures  unexplained pin-prick rash or bruising beyond the injection site Also anybody with new onset of severe or persistent headache that does not respond to simple painkillers starting four days or more after vaccination should speak to their doctor. In a statement, the agency said: 'The MHRA's scientific review of UK reports of extremely rare and unlikely to occur specific blood clots with lowered platelets has concluded that the evidence of a link with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is stronger but more work is still needed. 'By 31 March 20.2million doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca had been given in the UK meaning the overall risk of these blood clots is approximately four people in a million who receive the vaccine.' They added: 'The MHRA recently confirmed that the evidence to date does not suggest that the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca causes venous thromboembolism without a low platelet count. 'It is important to note that this type of blood clot together with lowered platelets can rarely occur naturally in unvaccinated people as well as in people with COVID-19 disease.' Advertisement

GP says patients are CANCELLING AstraZeneca jabs and says he's 'inundated' by worries about headaches from people who've already had it

By Mark Duell for MailOnline

Britons are cancelling appointments for the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine amid fears over its potential link to rare brain clots, GPs warned today.

In what could be a major blow to vaccine uptake, doctors said they had been inundated with patients of all ages requesting to be given an alternative to the British-made jab.

GPs have also been bombarded with people complaining of headaches and 'requesting brain scans' after getting their first dose.

The concerns come amid fears that public confidence in the jab has been eroded after regulators suspended its use in healthy under-30s yesterday while it continues to probe its link to blood clots. The clots have been spotted in just 79 out of 20million Brits vaccinated with the AstraZeneca jab.

Meanwhile, a letter sent by NHS bosses on Wednesday urged all vaccination sites to cancel appointments for young people who don't have underlying health conditions, including NHS workers and carers.

These people will have to wait weeks before being given access to either the Pfizer vaccine, which is currently being rationed for second doses, or the Moderna jab which is due to start being rolled out later this month.

Dr David Triska, a GP partner at Witley and Milford Surgeries in Surrey, told MailOnline today that people are now cancelling their AZ jab in favour of another.

He said: 'We have now been inundated with consultations relating to headaches and people defaulting their AstraZeneca appointment to try and get another vaccine. We are reassuring them the balance of risk is in favour of receiving the vaccine.'

The comments were echoed by the Mail On Sunday's resident GP, Dr Ellie Cannon, who revealed she'd received lots of 'requests for brain scans from well people' who are concerned they may have developed the brain clots.

She said there had been 'mass panic' following yesterday's announcement by British regulators, tweeting: 'Lots of calls from patients thinking theyve had a blood clot or wanting to be checked for one...... Have we handled this reporting correctly? Storm for GPs and A&E colleagues...'

Matt Hancock today warned people under the age of 30 that refusing a vaccine because of blood clot fears could 'ruin your life' due to the risk of catching the disease and developing 'debilitating' long Covid.

The Health Secretary launched a media blitz today as officials scramble to shore up public confidence in the vaccine.

People queue at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Westfield Stratford in London in February

Dr David Triska (left), a GP partner at Witley and Milford Surgeries in Surrey, said people are now cancelling their AZ jab for a different one.The comments were echoed by the Mail On Sunday's resident GP, Dr Ellie Cannon (right), who revealed she'd received lots of 'requests for brain scans from well people'

Dr Triska also pointed to a Public Health England and NHS guidance factsheet on the various vaccines which has been prepared to help alleviate patients' concerns.

It comes as experts working with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on the clot cases said those affected were presenting to doctors 'with the worst headache they've ever had' four days after the jab and sometimes later.

The wider UK picture is not yet clear, with the British Medical Association telling MailOnline today that reports of patients cancelling jabs 'isn't something we've been hearing at this stage', and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association declining to comment.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED THE RARE BRAIN CLOTS AFTER GETTING THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE? MHRA data leaked to ITV shows that, in total, more fatal blood clots have developed in 30 to 39-year-olds than any other age group. According to the regulator's review, by March 31 there had been 79 cases of the side effect and 19 deaths. The 79 cases occurred in 51 women and 28 men, aged from 18 to 79. Some 14 cases of the 19 were cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), a specific type of clot that prevents blood from draining from the brain. The other five cases were thrombosis. An age breakdown of the cases is shown below: Age range 18  29 30  39 40  49 50  59 60  69 70  79 Unknown Cases 11 16 10 12 13 5 12 Fatalities 3 6 2 2 3 1 2 Total 79 19 Advertisement

Today, the Health Secretary said everyone should take a vaccine when their time comes, and the risk of experiencing a brain clot was the same as 'taking a long-haul flight'.

He warned that turning it down could 'ruin your life' because even healthy young people are affected by lingering long Covid symptoms.

During a round of broadcast interviews today, he said: 'Covid is a horrible disease and long Covid affects people in their 20s, just as much it seems as any other age group and can have debilitating side effects that essentially ruin your life.'

Mr Hancock said the UK has 'more than enough' Pfizer and Moderna jabs to cover all of the people in the 18 to 29 age group who are yet to receive a vaccination - approximately 8.5million.

He said 'all three vaccines that are in use in the UK are safe and they are safe at all ages' and that there is simply a 'preference for the under-30s, if they want to have the Pfizer of Moderna jab instead then they can'.

Speaking directly to younger people who may be thinking they do not need a vaccine, Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast: 'The vaccines are safe, and if you want to have the Pfizer vaccine or Moderna vaccine instead then that is fine.

He added: 'The safety system that we have around this vaccine is so sensitive that it can pick up events that are four in a million (the chance of developing a rare brain blood clot) - I'm told this is about the equivalent risk of taking a long-haul flight.'

Mr Hancock said there were almost 10.2million people aged 18 to 29 in the UK, of whom 1.6million have had their first vaccine.

Professor Jeremy Brown, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said that the benefit of vaccinating young people is not just preventing severe disease.

He told Sky News: 'It actually will prevent them catching Covid, and if they don't get Covid then the chance of developing so-called long Covid - the symptoms you get which many people get, about 10 per cent, after they've had even a very mild infection - that will prevent that.

'It also allows younger people to visit their relatives who are elderly and more vulnerable to the disease, without the risk of infecting them.

'Lastly, there are social benefits which have been much discussed over the past few days - travel, for example. I think it's unlikely that people will be allowed to travel out of the country easily unless they have been vaccinated.'

Meanwhile, Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the JCVI, explained that the chance of suffering a clot after a vaccine was much lower than for other medicines or during pregnancy.

'These are extremely rare events - much, much more rare than, for instance, clots due to common drugs that we prescribe such as the contraceptive pill; much rarer than clots during pregnancy; much, much rarer than clots due to Covid itself,' he told BBC Breakfast.

'We still feel this is a safe and effective vaccine where the benefits far outweigh the risks for the majority of people.

'In many ways, it's better to know the known than the unknown, so I would encourage anybody who's been offered either their first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, and certainly their second dose, when there's been no cases (of clots) for second doses, to receive it when offered.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits the AstraZeneca site in Macclesfield, Cheshire, on Tuesday

Leaked delivery schedules reveal the Government is expecting AstraZeneca's vaccine to make up 75 per cent of its Covid jab supplies over the next two months

Risk of blood clots from Covid-19 is 'much higher' than from vaccine, experts say Experts have described the risk of getting severe blood clots from Covid as 'much higher' than the 'extremely small' chance of doing so after having the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. Figures suggest the risk of developing such a clot is 'about four people in a million who receive the vaccine', the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said on Wednesday. Up to the end of March, the UK regulator had received 79 reports of blood clots accompanied by low blood platelet count, all in people who had had their first dose of the vaccine, out of around 20 million doses given. Of these, a total of 19 people have died, although the cause has not been established in every case. Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, has urged people not to lose confidence in the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, describing it as 'a great vaccine'. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Prof Harnden said there is a 'much higher risk of getting severe blood clots from Covid than the extremely small risk from this vaccination'. Chairman of the Commission on Human Medicines Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed said recent research has shown that clots on the lungs occur in 7.8 per cent of people who have Covid-19, while clots in the legs - known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - happen in 11.2 per cent of Covid-19 sufferers. He told a briefing today that almost a quarter (23 per cent) of patients who end up in intensive care with Covid-19 'will have some form of clot'. He added that up to 30 per cent of people who develop Covid-19 will get thrombocytopenia (lowering of the platelet count). 'That puts into context that the risk of clots and lowered platelets is much higher with Covid-19 than these extremely rare events which are occurring with the vaccine,' he said. Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, a statistician from the University of Cambridge, said it is 'crucially important' that the risk is set in context, and said the information given this week 'shows there is a benefit-risk balance'. He said the risk of a young person dying in an accident is around one in 100,000 each month. Advertisement

Prof Harnden insisted 'the vaccination programme is going full steam ahead' across the UK and 'everybody should remain confident in it'.

The risks of Covid and severe illness were highest in older age groups, but when you look down to very young people, 'the risks aren't quite as high', he said.

This meant that the risk of dying from Covid or a clot after a vaccine looked like they might be more similar for young people.

Urging anyone who has had one dose of AstraZeneca to have their second, Prof Harnden said 'we don't know how long that protection is going to last for, and it could well drop off'.

British health chiefs have restricted AstraZeneca's vaccine in under-30s because their risk of dying from Covid is so small and there are early signs they may be more prone to blood clots after the jab.

But EU regulators have decided against recommending the vaccine is withheld from any age group because they can't be sure that young people are definitely most at risk of the extremely rare complication.

The UK's own medical watchdogs confusingly hold the same opinion but acknowledge cases of rare blood clots from the life-saving jab are occurring slightly more often in younger adults.

For this reason, the JCVI  No10's vaccine advisory panel  has acted out of extreme caution to restrict the jab to under-30s because its benefits don't clearly outweigh the risks in younger adults, who face a vanishingly small risk of falling seriously ill or dying from the disease.

EU nations have defied their own regulator's guidance, with Belgium, Germany and Italy shunning the vaccine for under-60s.

But statistical analysis of the risks  done by Cambridge University academics and used to justify the UK's 'course correction' in the roll-out  show the benefits of the jab are much clearer for over-30s, who face a slightly higher risk from the disease and appear to suffer fewer blood clots.

Scientists have still yet to prove the vaccine causes the blood clots and are struggling to untangle the risk factors because young people are also more at risk of suffering the clots. But experts say the evidence is shifting.

'We felt that the benefits outweighed the risk in those above 30 years old. But in those under 30, the benefits and risk look more similar,' said deputy chair of the JCVI Anthony Harnden.

In total, more fatal blood clots have developed in 30 to 39-year-olds than any other age group and more of them have been found in women than men.

But statistical analysis supporting the UK decision was done by eminent statistician Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, who found that the clots were more common in even younger people.

Professor Spiegelhalter said data suggested about one in 90,000 people aged 18 to 29 given the AstraZeneca jab will likely suffer the clots compared to one in 500,000 over-60s.

Highlighting how the benefit-risk balance of the AstraZeneca vaccine swings heavily in favour of even middle-aged people, his team's calculations show people in their 40s are 100 times more likely to be hospitalised with Covid if they refuse jab.

Professor Spiegelhalter said the change in vaccine guidance had been made as precautionary measure because young people were being hit with a 'double whammy'.

He told MailOnline: 'There does seem to be extra risk in younger people of getting this combination of quite really odd particular group of symptoms [brain clots and low platelet counts].

'Younger people are also not benefiting so much from vaccine, so in sense they're getting a double whammy. They are at a higher risk from the vaccine and lower benefit from the vaccine.'

Regulators in the EU, on the other hand, have decided against restricting the British-made vaccine's use in any age group, claiming that age is not a risk factor.

What is the latest data on Covid vaccinations? A total of 31,812,141 Covid-19 vaccinations took place in England between December 8 and April 7, according to NHS England data, including first and second doses, which is a rise of 431,203 on the previous day. NHS England said 26,879,123 were the first dose of a vaccine, a rise of 58,962 on the previous day, while 4,933,018 were a second dose, an increase of 372,241. An estimated 94.3 per cent of people aged 50 and over in England have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Regional estimates range from 85.9 per cent for London to 96.6 per cent for south-west England. The figures, from NHS England, are for first doses of the vaccine up to April 4. Here are the estimated figures for each region: South-west England 96.6%

Eastern England 95.7%

South-east England 95.7%

Midlands 95.1%

North-east England/Yorkshire 94.8%

North-west England 94.4%

London 85.9% NHS England data shows a total of 3,877,259 jabs were given to people in London between December 8 and April 7, including 3,266,747 first doses and 610,512 second doses. This compares with 5,228,177 first doses and 852,899 second doses given to people in the Midlands, a total of 6,081,076. The breakdown for the other regions is: East of England: 3,218,455 first doses and 566,556 second doses, making 3,785,011 in total

North East and Yorkshire: 4,236,697 first and 861,572 second doses (5,098,269)

North West: 3,426,321 first and 668,012 second doses (4,094,333)

South East: 4,384,580 first and 809,317 second doses (5,193,897)

South West: 2,979,362 first and 544,143 second doses (3,523,505) Advertisement

Professor Spiegelhalter said he was 'not sure' how the European Medicines Agency could have come to such a different finding, reiterating that the 'data definitely does show there is an age gradient.'

He admitted that Europe needed the AstraZeneca vaccine more than the UK because the continent is in the midst of battling a third wave and is struggling to get its jab rollout up to speed.

But justifying their decision not to restrict the vaccine by age, Dr Sabine Strauss said: 'Our review has shown that there is a predominance of these rare events of thrombosis combined with thrombocytopenia in certain groups  notably in women and younger women.

'But it is still rather premature to conclude on a specific group because the background risk of thrombosis may be different in various groups and it may also be the case that more people have received this vaccine in certain groups in different countries. The potential for different risk levels is part of our further evaluations.'

The EMA and its UK equivalent, the MHRA, both say the AstraZeneca is safe for every age group, including the under-30s. The EMA has left it to individual countries to carry out their own risk-benefit analysis and decide whether to suspend the jab's use, which has led to nations taking different approaches.

Germany has banned its use in under-60s, while France is not recommending it for under-55s. Britain's JCVI said the benefit versus risk stopped at people aged 30 and below.

Putting the tiny risk of jab-related clots into context, Professor Spiegelhalter said if a cohort of people in their 20s large enough to fill Wembley Stadium was given the UK-made jab, just one person would likely develop clotting.

Professor Spiegelhalter added that he believes the low risk coronavirus directly poses to young people makes their decision to get vaccinated altruistic, because it stops them passing it to vulnerable people, has not been emphasised enough.

It comes after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation ruled yesterday that healthy Brits under 30 should be given an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine while experts probe the clot links.

Professor Spiegelhalter said the UK had the luxury of being able to pivot because it has plentiful vaccine supplies and low levels of Covid infection, which meant the relative risk of the clots was higher than the threat of the virus.

However, should there be a resurgence of Covid transmission or if the UK is hit with vaccine delivery issues, then the relative importance of the risk of blood clots would decrease.

He continued: 'We do know that as we come out of lockdown and as cases in Europe rise during a third wave, we may experience a third wave in this country over the next few months.

'And therefore to be unprotected would be to leave yourself at risk of developing Covid, and of course all the complications that come with Covid, including I might say quite severe blood clots, much higher risk of getting severe blood clots from Covid than the extremely small risk from this vaccination.'

Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said he had woken up on Thursday worrying about the pandemic and how many people are still dying.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'What I did wake up this morning worrying about is the pandemic.

'It's not over, it really does continue to threaten the whole of humanity - today about 12,000 people around the world will be confirmed dead as a result of coronavirus.

'And those numbers are getting worse - in Europe, in our immediate neighbours, in South Asia, in Latin America - and so this really is not the time to waver.

'We just need to put our confidence in the hands of the system which I think really has had a big boost by their ability to pick up an incredibly rare event through the monitoring that's going on, and that really gives me confidence that we can continue with the programme.'

Meanwhile, Professor Beverley Hunt, an expert in thrombosis and haemostasis at King's College London, who has been working with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on the clot cases, said those affected had been presenting to doctors 'with the worst headache they've ever had' four days after vaccination and sometimes later, though prompt treatment could save lives.

Yesterday, the MHRA said the benefits of the vaccine still outweigh the risks overall.

While it has not concluded that the vaccine causes rare brain clots, it says the link is getting firmer.

Up to March 31, the MHRA in the UK has received 79 reports of blood clots accompanied by low blood platelet count, all in people who had their first dose of the vaccine, out of around 20 million doses given.

Of these 79, a total of 19 people have died, with three under the age of 30.

NHS England said today that a further 34 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 86,510.

Patients were aged between 54 and 95 and all had known underlying health conditions.

The deaths occurred between December 26 and April 7. There were 19 other deaths reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
Princeton has offered admission to its class of 2025 to 1,498 applicants. According to numbers provided by the University, around fourteen percent of them are white American males.

14 percent of the admitted applicants identify as international students. 68 percent of the admitted applicants from the U.S. identify as persons of color. 52 percent are female. 48 percent are male.

Putting these numbers together, we see that only around 28 percent of admittees are white Americans. Less than half of that relatively small group are male.

Whites make up much more than one-third of American students. Thus, whites are severely underrepresented in the group of American students Princeton has admitted to the class of 2025. Princetons class of domestic students wont look like America, as the saying goes.

In its announcement, Princeton lumps Asian-American together with Blacks and other minority group members as persons of color. Thus, we dont yet know what percentage of those offered admission belong to which minority group.

We also dont know how many of the small group of white American males whom Princeton admitted denounced their white maleness in their personal statement. Even if thats not a prerequisite, its probably a good strategy.

Princeton assures us that in the admissions process the University remained committed to a holistic review process. In the hope that Princeton is sued for what looks like racial discrimination, I say tell it to the judge.

* As explained here, the original version of this article mistakenly put the percentage of white male Americans admitted at around 9 percent.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration started tracking COVID-19 related nursing home resident deaths as early as last April, but the complete data was left out of a health department report three months later, it was revealed Wednesday.

The state Health Department sent a memo to nursing homes and adult care facilities on April 18, 2020, directing them to report the number of residents who died from COVID-19 whether they died in the facility or not, the New York Post reports.

But 11 weeks later, the Health Department released a report on July 6 that excluded residents who did not die in a nursing home - appearing to under report the nursing home death toll by more than 8,000.

A March 25, 2020 order from the Cuomo administration that nursing homes accept COVID-positive residents returning from hospitals has been blamed for a spike in nursing home deaths.

But the July report found that the March 25 directive did not have a 'causal link' to the number of reported nursing home deaths.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo 's administration started tracking COVID-19 related nursing home resident deaths as early as last April

A view shows refrigerated trucks at Isabella Geriatric Center on Saturday, May 2, 2020 in New York City

The April memo, which was obtained by the New York Post, ordered nursing home administrators to tally the daily number of residents who died of COVID-19 whether the death occurred in their 'facility or the hospital setting'.

The Health Department's report only included deaths that happened in the facilities - which critics claim misrepresented the effect of the pandemic on nursing homes and the state's handling of the crisis.

The Health Department received information daily from the Hospital Emergency Response Data System, an application on the agency's health commerce system, a spokesperson for the agency told the New York Post.

That data included information from 'more than 1,000 long term care facilities and more than 200 hospitals since the start of this pandemic,' spokesman Gary Holmes said on Wednesday.

'In April 2020 we asked for additional information to provide a more specific clinical picture, and as part of that correspondence we asked all facilities to provide that same level of information retrospectively to March 1,' Holmes said.

Last month, Beth Garvey, special counsel and senior advisor to Governor Cuomo, admitted in a statement that the data about nursing home resident deaths outside of the nursing homes was omitted.

'The out of facility data was omitted after DOH could not confirm it had been adequately verified,' Garvey said.

'This did not change the conclusion of the report, which was and is that the March 25 order was 'not a driver of nursing home infections or fatalities'.'

On March 25, 2020, the Health Department directed nursing homes to 'comply with the expedited receipt of residents returning from hospitals.'

'No resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the [nursing home] solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19,' reads that directive, obtained by DailyMail.com.

That directive also prohibited nursing homes from requiring a hospitalized resident to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or readmission.

Garvey said the Cuomo administration's ultimate goal was to ensure 'public confidence' and refuted claims that COVID Task Force officials requested the report conclude that the March 25 directive played no part in the alarming number of deaths.

'In fact, Task Force Members, knowing the report needed to withstand rigorous public scrutiny, were very cautious to not overstate the statistical analysis presented in the report,' Garvey said.

'Overall, ensuring public confidence in the conclusion was the ultimate goal of DOH and the COVID Task Force in issuing the report.'

The Cuomo administration ultimately began to roll back the March 25 guidance in May before releasing the nursing home report in July, which said New York had 6,432 nursing home fatalities.

The report found that the March 25 directive did not have a 'causal link' to the number of reported nursing home deaths, and instead appeared to place blame on the 'tracking or testing of family and friends' who visited nursing homes.

A press release for the July report said: 'A survey conducted by NYSDOH shows that approximately 6,326 COVID-positive residents were admitted to facilities between March 25, 2020 and May 8, 2020.'

The report also appeared to blame the 'approximately 37,500 nursing home staff members' who 'were infected with COVID-19 between March and early June 2020.'

New York Attorney General Letitia James released her own findings in January that said the Cuomo administration had misled the public about the total number of nursing home residents killed by the pandemic.

James' report also concluded that 'resident deaths associated with nursing homes in New York state appear to be undercounted by DOH by approximately 50 percent.'

Medical workers attend to a patient outside Harlem Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Harlem, New York last May

Attorney General Letitia James, left, issued an alarming report in January that the Health Department had under-counted deaths associated with nursing homes. Health Comissioner Howard Zucker, right, has since released a general tally

Health Commissioner Howard Zucker then released a general tally after James issued her report  noting that there have been 12,743 confirmed and presumed deaths of nursing home residents in both nursing homes and hospitals as of January 19.

Cuomo was slammed for his seemingly callous reaction to the revelation.

'But who cares [if they] died in the hospital, died in a nursing home? They die,' Cuomo said during a news conference.

The concerns had kicked off after the Empire Center for Public Policy, a watchdog group, had filed a Freedom of Information Law request - and then a lawsuit when the state did not comply with the request - asking for totals of all deaths regardless of whether the nursing home resident died at the facility or at a hospital.

Albany Supreme Court Justice Kimberly O'Connor later issued a 16-page decision ordering the state Department of Health to provide the records and pay their legal costs.

Cuomo has since been rocked after top aide Melissa DeRosa also confessed that that the administration deliberately hid data on nursing home COVID deaths in the midst of a Justice Department investigation into their handling of the pandemic.

DeRosa admitted that officials 'froze' when former President Donald Trump's Justice Department had also asked for the data, before rebuffing the request.

'We were in a position where we weren't sure if what we were going to give to the Department of Justice, or what we give to you guys, what we start saying, was going to be used against us while we weren't sure if there was going to be an investigation,' DeRosa told lawmakers.

The latest revelation about the Cuomo administration's handling of nursing home deaths came after the governor signed a bill into law on Tuesday that repeals legal immunity that the state had granted to care facilities during the pandemic.

Effective immediately, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities can be held civilly and criminally liable for treatment of individuals with COVID-19 after the bill was sponsored and championed by critics including state senator Alessandra Biaggi.

In a justification for the bill , Biaggi wrote that 'it is now apparent that negligence by administrators and executives of nursing homes has occurred to an extraordinary degree'

Biaggi tweeted on Tuesday that the bill had been signed repealing immunity for nursing homes

Cuomo himself has faced calls to resign amid probes into whether the state mishandled nursing home deaths related to the pandemic and accusations that the state miscounted hundreds of nursing home deaths as hospital deaths.

The immunity had been granted last year under Article 30-D of the Public Health Law, known as the Emergency or Disaster Treatment Protection Act, as a part of last year's budget while the virus spread through the state.

But the new bill states that it 'repeals Article 30-D of the Public Health Law with the intent of holding health care facilities, administrators, and executives accountable for harm and damages incurred.'

Bronx State Senator Biaggi said Tuesday: 'I am relieved to see corporate immunity, which was slipped into last year's budget, fully repealed.

'This blanket immunity prevented thousands of families who lost loved ones to COVID-19 from seeking legal recourse, and potentially incentivized nursing home executives to cut corners  endangering staff and residents.'

Dr. Anthony Leno, Director of Emergency Medicine, top center, assists nurses as they take in a patient from a nursing home showing symptoms of COVID-19 on April 20, in Yonkers, New York

Effective immediately, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities can be held civilly and criminally liable for treatment of individuals with COVID-19

In a justification for the bill, Biaggi wrote that 'it is now apparent that negligence by administrators and executives of nursing homes has occurred to an extraordinary degree.'

'Article 30-D egregiously uses severe liability standards as a means to insulate health care facilities and specifically, administrators and executives of such facilities, from any civil or criminal liability for negligence.'

The bill continues: 'Repealing this article is a much-needed step to holding health care administrators accountable and doing everything possible to stop more preventable deaths from happening.'

Lawmakers had already rolled back some of the protections that had been granted to healthcare workers last year, the New York Daily News reported. At the time, the state had allowed lawsuits and prosecutions unrelated to COVID-19 to continue.

The repealing of immunity is the latest development in Cuomo's controversial handling of nursing homes and care facilities during the pandemic.

The bill notes that the repeal was recommended by James in her report.

'As written, the immunity laws could be wrongly used to provide any individual or entity from liability, even if those decisions were not made in good faith or motivated by financial incentives,' the report read.

In her report, James also alluded to claims that 'for-profit nursing home operators had a financial incentive to accept coronavirus patients and then not offer adequate care because the immunity shield was in place,' Gothamist reported.

George Pataki, the former Governor of New York, has previously said the state should look at creating laws to recall Cuomo after his administration was accused of hiding the true number of COVID-19 nursing home deaths.

Pataki, who was NY governor from 1995 to 2006 suggested that the state has lost confidence in Cuomo in the wake of the scandal.

Currently, New York does not have a procedure to allow for the recall of an elected official and creating one would require a constitutional amendment bill passed in successive years.

Republican Pataki, 75, told the New York Post: 'I think it would be appropriate to take a hard look at that.'

'I only think it should be used in extraordinary cases but when you really have lost confidence in the leadership in your state, I think the opportunity should exist for the majority of the people to say we want something different,' Pataki said.

Calls have since surfaced asking Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to issue a referral to James' office for a joint state probe in addition to the federal one, the Daily News reported.

Cuomo's office has also argued that several other states have made similar moves during the pandemic. Just two weeks ago, the Kansas City Star reported that state lawmakers had sent a biklll to the desk of Gov. Laura Kelly that would grant immunity to nursing homes from most COVID-19 related lawsuits.
press release

The North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha has welcomed the appointment of the new Head of Department. On Wednesday, 07 April, MEC Sambatha announced to the Departmental management and officials that Mr Obakeng Eden Mongale has been appointed the new Head of Department.

The Department of Health HOD position has been vacant since the departure of the former HOD Dr Thabo Lekalakala. Since 2018, the Department has been under Administration in terms of Section 100 1b and effectively the Administrator Ms Jeanette Hunter has been in charge of the administration matters of the Department while at the same time overseeing the process of filling the HOD position.

"Filling the position of the HOD for Health has been one of the critical milestones that we just achieved with the appointment of Mr Mongale. I believe he has what it takes to lead this huge Department in the area of administration. From now on I will have some time to do proper hand over for the period left until the end of Section 100 1b", said Ms Jeanette Hunter

A lot of ground work to reassert the Department's credibility and ability to deliver quality health services has been achieved under Ms Hunter's leadership. This has laid a solid foundation for the new HOD.

Meanwhile MEC Madoda Sambatha has called on the management and the entire staff complement of the Department to support the new HOD.

"The new HOD has a vast experience at executive level having been an HOD of other Departments before. He also has in-depth knowledge of the Department of Health both in the health branch and the support functions. Nonetheless he will still need the support of all of the management and employees of the Department if he is to make a great success of this challenging position. I wish him all the best", said MEC Madoda Sambatha
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Thursday, disclosed that eight members of the church ...

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Thursday, disclosed that eight members of the church kidnapped in Kaduna State have been released.

Recall that members of RCCG, Region 30, Trinity Sanctuary, Kaduna, were attacked on March 26 near Doka along the Kachia-Kafanchan Road, on their way to a programme.

The kidnappers had demanded N50m ransom.

But in a tweet on Thursday, the 79-year-old general overseer said all the eight members have been freed and have been taken to hospital for examination.

Adeboye wrote, Today I got the exciting news that our brethren who were in captivity of kidnappers have all been released and taken to the Hospital for checkup and tests.

Glory be to Jesus.

See tweet;
U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York in Buffalo, N.Y. on April 8, 2021. (screenshot Google Maps/via The Epoch Times)

Photographer Challenges New York Law Barring Faith Objections to Working Gay Weddings

A New York photographer represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is challenging in federal court state laws that force her to photograph gay weddings despite her religious objections to doing so.

One of the laws being challenged by Rochester artistic wedding photographer Emilee Carpenter in the U.S. District Court for Western New York also bars her from explaining on her business website why working at same-sex ceremonies violates her deepest Christian beliefs.

The ADF is an Arizona-based public interest law firm that specializes in religious freedom and other First Amendment liberties litigation. Attorneys for the ADF have argued and won a dozen Supreme Court decisions in recent years, including 2018s landmark Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission decision that upheld the right of cake decorator Jack Phillips to decline work for same-sex ceremonies.

Carpenters claims are similar to those of Phillips in the Colorado case, according to the ADF attorneys. Attorneys from ADF are also representing photographers and artists in similar cases in Kentucky, Colorado, and Virginia.

Her faith and eye for beauty shape her photography, from first click to final edit. And just like other artists, Emilee decides whether to create based on what her artwork conveys, not who asks for it, Carpenters suit states.

That means Emilee cannot create some artwork for anyone  like photographs that flout her artistic style, celebrate obscenity, or demean others. She likewise cannot promote certain views on marriage. New York finds this last type of editorial freedom too close-minded.

These laws do not simply dictate what she does; they dictate what she says. Emilee is already willing to work with clients no matter who they are, including those in the LGBT community, according to the suit.

But not satisfied with equal treatment, New York officials demand ideological purity, that Emilee violate her conscience by professing the states approved view about marriage.

Specifically, New York laws require Emilee to create photographs and blogs celebrating same-sex marriage because she creates photographs and blogs celebrating opposite-sex marriage. The laws also prohibit Emilee from adopting an editorial policy consistent with her beliefs about marriage.

And the laws even make it illegal for Emilee to post statements on her businesss own website explaining her religious views on marriage or her reasons for only creating this wedding content.

Violation of the New York laws being challenged carries with them unlimited liability against Carpenter personally and against her business for damages, fines of up to $100,000, loss of her business license, and up to a year in jail.

Bryan Neihart, ADF legal counsel for the Carpenter suit, told The Epoch Times on April 8 that New Yorks law that prevents the photographer from explaining on her businesss website why her faith prevents her from shooting gay ceremonies is unusually aggressive.

Its definitely a unique feature about New Yorks law, that it not only compels her to say things that she cant say because of her religious beliefs, but also restricts her from saying anything, Neihart responded.

Asked if any other states have similar statutes, Neihart said: Some states do and some municipalities do, it depends on the jurisdiction, but I think New Yorks law is especially aggressive in that it has this really vague language that you cant make anyone feel unwelcome. Its unclear how far that could apply, and it gives government officials discretion to apply it as far as they want to.

Carpenter, just in the month of March, received six requests for her services celebrating gay weddings, according to an ADF statement announcing the suit.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit and the Arizona Supreme Court ruled in 2019 in favor of filmmakers and artists who brought similar challenges to laws much like those of New York.

The ADF attorneys are asking the federal court to halt New York officials from enforcing the laws being challenged while Carpenters litigation proceeds through the judicial system.

In her suit, Carpenters attorneys claim the First and 14th Amendments guarantee her right to express her religious views and to determine the parameters of her artistic business.

Just as the government cannot compel a lesbian baker to create a cake condemning same-sex marriage or an atheist playwright to wax positively about God, New York cannot force Emilee to convey messages she objects to, according to the suit.

Emilee brings this lawsuit to protect her right and everyones freedom (even those who disagree with her) to speak and live out their core convictions. Because in our diverse and pluralistic country, the solution to disagreement is more speech by diverse speakers, not compelled ideological uniformity by government bureaucrats, the suit stated.

Congressional correspondent Mark Tapscott may be reached at mark.tapscott@epochtimes.nyc.
Two free speech advocacy groups filed a lawsuit Thursday against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on behalf of nine people who have been blocked from his Twitter account after criticizing him on the site.

The 34-page suit, filed in federal court in Austin by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, seeks for the court to declare this practice of Paxtons a violation of the First Amendment. It also seeks a court order that he unblock anyone he rejected because of their opinions.

Multiple courts have recognized that government officials who use their social media accounts for official purposes violate the First Amendment if they block people from those accounts on the basis of viewpoint, said Katie Fallow, a senior staff attorney with the Knight First Amendment Institute. People shouldnt be excluded from these important democratic forums simply because an official doesnt like what they have to say.

The attorney generals office and Paxtons campaign spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hearst Newspapers on March 9 requested a list of all the accounts that @KenPaxtonTX had blocked.

The office responded within 24 hours that itdoes not manage General Paxtons personal or campaign social media accounts. It added that no one is blocked on the offices Twitter account, @TXAG, or its Facebook page.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

The lawsuit makes the case that Paxton regularly uses the @KenPaxtonTX account to make official announcements or provide information that is not communicated through the @TXAG account and cites several examples.

The plaintiffs lawyers point to previous decisions by federal appellate courts holding that it is unconstitutional for public officials to block people from their official social media accounts. The Supreme Court has yet to weigh in on the issue.

Some of the plaintiffs were blocked after they tweeted their views about Paxtons qualifications and policies, such as his unsuccessful lawsuit to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

One tweet read, wear a mask nerd, after Paxton retweeted a photo of himself at the Conservative Political Action Conference mid-pandemic. A day later, the plaintiff was blocked.

Paxtons habit of cutting off users who bash him on Twitter is well-documented on the site. A simple search of his handle and the word blocked produces myriad examples.

Looks like @KenPaxtonTX is now blocking me, University of Texas law professor Steve Vladeck tweeted on Jan 7. Yesterday, I criticized him for claiming that those who stormed the Capitol werent Trump supporters. Sigh.

On March 26, Texas Observer reporter Justin Miller found a workaround. With the help of a good samaritan programmer, he created a bot account that automatically posts screenshots of Paxtons tweets in real time.

I must also note that Paxton promptly blocked the anti-block bot account soon after it launched, Miller tweeted.

taylor.goldenstein@chron.com
[April 08, 2021] Schwab Announces Its Spring Business Update

The Charles Schwab Corporation announced today that it has scheduled a Spring Business Update for institutional investors on Thursday, April 22nd. This Update, which will be held via webcast, is part of an ongoing series designed to help the investment community keep abreast of recent developments and management's strategic focus. The program is scheduled to run from 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. PT, 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. ET. Participants will include Walt Bettinger, President & Chief Executive Officer, Joe Martinetto, Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, and Peter Crawford, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer The Update will be accessible at https://schwabevents.com/corporation. About Charles Schwab The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) is a leading provider of financial services, with 31.5 million active brokerage accounts, 2.1 million corporate retirement plan participants, 1.5 million banking accounts, and $6.9 trilion in client assets as of February 28, 2021. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company provides a full range of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services to individual investors and independent investment advisors. Its broker-dealer subsidiaries, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., TD Ameritrade, Inc., and TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc., (members SIPC, www.sipc.org), and their affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and products including an extensive selection of mutual funds; financial planning and investment advice; retirement plan and equity compensation plan services; referrals to independent, fee-based investment advisors; and custodial, operational and trading support for independent, fee-based investment advisors through Schwab Advisor Services. Its primary banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Bank, SSB (member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender), provides banking and lending services and products. More information is available at www.aboutschwab.com.



TD Ameritrade, Inc. and TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc. are separate but affiliated companies and subsidiaries of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation. TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation. TD Ameritrade is a trademark jointly owned by TD Ameritrade IP Company, Inc. and The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005159/en/

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The Bible is not just a compilation of ancient texts. The lives of Gods people in the past mirror our lives today. The trials and tribulations we see in Scripture illustrate that dynamics we must contend with in our faith lives. As Paul writes these things are written for our learning, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope (Romans 15:4). The Bible addresses us. No truer is this the case than when Scripture deals with the chief threat to our faithful devotion: Idolatry.

Idolatry in the Old Testament: Baal, Molek, and Other Idol-gods

Israel constantly struggled in their faithful allegiance to Yahweh. Despite the Lord acting powerfully for them, Israel regularly flirted with foreign deities. The temptation was to adopt the religious and spiritual practices of the neighboring nations. Time and again, God reminded Israel of the unique identity of God for them, exhorting the people to remain faithful. For example, the Ten Commandments begin with the call to remember the identity of God, followed by a specific commandment against idolatry: I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt. You shall have no other Gods but me (Exodus 20:1). The rest of the commandments necessarily flow from this primary one. From their journey through the desert through the time of the prophets, the Lord continually reminded Israel of the dangers of idolatry.

The most common threat to Israels faithfulness was the idol Baal. Baal, and his divine consort Asherah, were the fertility gods of the Canaanite nation. Obviously, for desert-dwelling people, the notion of a god of lush fertility would be both attractive and tempting. Israel gives in to this temptation in the debacle of the golden calf, in Exodus 32. The calf (or bull) was the symbol of Baal. Having grown impatient with Moses absence, Israel demands that Aaron make an idol for them. Aaron casts the golden calf and declares it to be Israels god. With the new idol before them, Israel dives fully into idolatrous practice. They dance around the golden calf and engage in ecstatic revelry. In response, God declares that Israel had acted perversely and abandoned the way of the Lord (vs 7). Gods anger is kindled against Israel and the nation experiences the harsh consequence of their idolatry.

Unfortunately, it is not just Baal that is a problem for Israel. Connected to Baal was the Ammonite god Molek. Molek was a particularly heinous god. Molek demanded that children be sacrificed upon an altar known as a high place. The first mention of Molek occurs in Leviticus, as the Lord instructs Israel to not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God (Leviticus 18:21). Centuries later, Jeremiah calls out Israel for making these sacrifices. God charges Israel with setting up high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molek, though I never commandednor did it enter my mindthat they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin (Jeremiah 32:35). This idolatry is one of the main factors contributing to Israels exile. Israels idolatry does not simply destroy their relationship with God, it destroys the nation as well.

Throughout the Old Testament, we see references to these idol-gods. Chemosh, Dagon, Asherah, and others, are frequently mentioned as temptations to Israels faithfulness. In each instance, these idols threaten the single-hearted devotion that God requires of Gods people. And yet, despite these times of idolatry, the Lord remains faithful. God keeps his covenant with Israel again and again.

Idolatry in the New Testament: Greco-Roman gods, Caesar, and Mammon

When we think of idolatry we often think of the idols of the Old Testament, as it has been described above. Yet the threat of idolatry did not diminish as the years went by. The same temptations occur in the New Testament, although less explicitly. The Greco-Roman world had a tapestry of gods, from Jupiter to Venus. The spread of the Christian faith, through the proclamation of the apostles, occurred against this polytheistic backdrop. We see this most poignantly in Pauls visit to Athens. Here, Paul observes the various altars dedicated to this multiplicity of deities. Paul even spies an altar set up for an unknown God (Acts 17:23). Paul uses this as an opportunity to preach the gospel, and the unique salvation offered by Christ.

Within the Roman empire, the chief idol of the day was Caesar himself. For the Romans, Caesar held divine status. In fact, the creed of the Romans was Caesar is Lord. This was both a political statement as well as a spiritual one. It was for this reason that the Christian proclamation that Jesus is Lord was considered so problematic, and counter-cultural. Not only did it undercut Caesars political role, but it also denied his divine status. One could not believe in Jesus and, at the same time, ascribe to the lordship of Caesar.

Perhaps the idol that most threatens devout faithfulness in the New Testament is Mammon. Mammon is the word Jesus used for money or wealth. While there is no indication that Mammon was understood to be any type of national god, Jesus clearly saw money to be of the same spiritual threat. In the same way that people could worship the gods of foreign nations, Jesus says one could worship wealth. Jesus sets up money as a rival god, declaring: You cannot serve two masters . . . you cannot serve God and Mammon (Matthew 6:24). The spiritual devotion that one is to have before the Lord can easily be co-opted by the pursuit of wealth. Paul will say that the love (devotion) of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). In the New Testament, Mammon becomes a rival deity that volleys for a persons soul. Giving our spiritual attention and service to the pursuit of monetary wealth becomes the same as bowing down to Caesar or any one of the Greco-Roman gods.

Idolatry Today: Money, Popularity, and Nationalism among Others

If it is true that the number one threat to faithfulness in both the Old and New Testament is idolatry, then the question is: where do we see idolatry today? Are there still false gods that tempt the people of faith? Given what we have just seen about the threat of idolatry in Scripture, it would be foolish to believe otherwise.

The first idol that we must contend with is the same idol that Jesus spoke of. In fact, one might say that the worship of money has become an even bigger threat in todays world. For some, money is not a tool to be used for the economic reality of life, but an indicator of ones status, identity, and worth. In a spiritual sense, on bows before the almighty dollar. Bigger equals better, we say. Even within the church, this idol threatens. There is an idolatrous theology that states that the blessings of god are directly tied to ones financial and material gain. Bigger equals blessed, they say.

Yet the worship of money is directly contradicted in Scripture. If our life with God is to be modeled after the life of Jesus, what do material riches have to do with it? Jesus did not reside in the gilded halls of the rich and powerful. He dined with the down and out. He sat on a borrowed donkey and was placed in a borrowed tomb. Furthermore, Jesus specifically calls his disciples to shun all desire for earthly riches where thieves can break in and steal and moths can destroy (Matthew 6:19). Devotion to an endless pursuit of earthly riches is clearly a departure from the way of Jesus. Like an idol of the past, money can easily tempt us away from the God of our salvation.

Another idol we face today is the idol of popularity. Some bow before the god of fame believing eternal satisfaction is linked to the metrics of likes and followers. We might think that this is a temptation only for the younger generations, but fame tempts everyone. The cultural language behind leaving a legacy, or making ones mark upon the world, is simply a reworking of the idolatrous notion that earthly popularity is translated to eternal salvation. Just consider the theme song to the popular show of the 1980s Fame:

Fame! I'm gonna live forever.

I'm gonna learn how to fly,

High! I feel it coming together,

People will see me and cry.

Fame! I'm going to make it to heaven,

Light up the sky like a flame, Fame!

Although Fame was popular nearly 30 years ago, the theme song articulates a temptation that has become deeply ingrained in our culture. The idol fame, and its consort popularity are given spiritual significance. Fame tempts us to believe that it alone can bring us to heaven.

But again, when we look at Jesus, we see something different. Jesus was not a man of popular renown. While he did have a following, in the end, all deserted him. He was despised, rejected, and crucified. What is more, Jesus never considered his divine lordship as something to be wielded for his own fame of popularity. Instead, he gave of himself for the blessing of others. Indeed, Jesus came to serve rather than be served (Matthew 20:28). To believe that our popularity or fame will secure our spot in heaven is to have clearly departed from the gospel of grace and forgiveness. We have effectively stepped outside the Christian faith.

It is easy to think that the threat of idolatry is something of the past. Thus, it can be easy to criticize the Israelites of the Old Testament or the people of the new and believe that we have somehow evolved beyond this particular temptation. The truth is, this is not the case. Idolatry occurs whenever we view our salvation as dependent upon anything other than the Lord. Whether it be fame, money, or aggressive nationalism, whenever we begin to view our eternal life as dependent upon an earthly reality, we are flirting with an idol.

It was in light of the multiplicity of nation-gods that Israel was told You shall have no other God before me (Exodus 20:1). It was against the backdrop of a pluralistic empire that the disciples declared that there is no other name under heaven by which people might be saved (Acts 4:12). It is against the idols of today that Christians are called to remain steadfast in their conviction that forgiveness and salvation are uniquely found in the person of Jesus. It takes a certain amount of holy stubbornness to remain steadfast in faithfulness. Christians must shun all rival idols and remain committed to the Lord as the only source of eternal life or forgiveness. This is the call for all people of faith, back then, and today.

Photo credit: GettyImages/Tuned_In

Reverend Kyle Norman is the Rector of the Anglican Parish of Holy Cross in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He has a doctorate in Spiritual Formation and is often asked to write or speak on the nature of Christian community, and the role of Spiritual disciplines in Christian life. His personal blog can be found here.

This article is part of our larger resource library of Christian questions important to the Christian faith. From core beliefs to what the Bible says about angels, we want to provide easy to read and understand articles that answer your questions about Christian living.

What Do Christians Believe?

How Old Is the Earth?

Who Is My Neighbor in the Bible?

What Does God Look Like?

Are Guardian Angels Real?

What Does it Mean to Be Zealous for God?
On April 5, Emory took a step forward toward its goal of a full return in the fall: We moved from orange operating status to yellow. We made the change following careful consulting with infectious disease and public health experts as well as assessing multiple data inputs about campus operations.

Please review the Emory Forward website for more information regarding gatherings and events, dining, recreation/fitness and university travel. Should there be a need to return to a more restrictive operating condition, we will do so to keep the community safe. But the hope is that through continued vigilance  use of face coverings, physical distancing and handwashing, and getting vaccinated  we will continue to advance.

To date, more than 13,000 university faculty, staff and students have received at least one dose of the vaccine from Emory Healthcare  with many more vaccinated elsewhere. That is extraordinarily encouraging, but we can do more. The university is committed to vaccinating every faculty, staff and student who wants a vaccine. We would like to have every Emory student in the Atlanta area vaccinated by the end of the semester  and we can do it!

If you are using Emory Healthcare, consult Emory Forward to make your appointment, arrange transportation if you dont have a vehicle and get site directions. Multiple clinic sites, expanded hours and dedicated appointment times for university members are available. Though Emory Healthcare is admirably servicing many of us, dont wait for an appointment if you can get the vaccine more quickly elsewhere.

You are now able to receive your second dose through Emory Healthcare even if you received your first dose from a different system or location. Please remember, keep and secure the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card that you are issued. If your vaccine came from a source outside Emory and you wish to share that information, log into the self-service option with your network ID and password. Click on Workplace Health and then select Vaccination Consents/Questionnaires.

In Georgia, everyone 16 years of age and older is eligible to get the vaccine. Vaccine supply is stable, and just over 13 percent of Georgians have been vaccinated. According to Carlos Del Rio, executive associate dean in the School of Medicine and Grady Health System, there is still significant community transmission, especially as a result of the variants. With certain restrictions lifted in the state, we must continue wearing our masks, socially distance and get tested if you havent been vaccinated. This is not over, says Del Rio.

The April 1 Vaccine Community Update followed a format that has been useful, which is to answer your thoughtful questions. Below, I highlight some of the questions and responses. The medical questions were fielded by Del Rio and Jodie Guest, professor and vice chair of the department of epidemiology at Rollins School of Public Health.

Q: Will Emory require vaccination of faculty, staff and students?

A: Emory is currently assessing and evaluating this policy question through a formal review process that includes multidisciplinary teams from across the university. At this time, we strongly encourage members of our community to take the vaccine to protect themselves, their loved ones and our community.

Q: If I had the virus and developed immunity, should I get the vaccine?

A: Yes, we still recommend and encourage you to get the vaccine. Public health experts continue to evaluate data on how long one is protected after recovering from COVID-19, so the best guidance continues to be getting vaccinated to build protection. More information on this topic can be found here.

Q: Do vaccinated students need to comply with testing requirements?

A: Yes. Testing continues to be a valuable tool in detecting community prevalence, interrupting transmission and providing care to those infected. Emory will continue to review testing protocols as further public health guidance emerges; however, we still require students at this time to comply with the universitys testing procedures.

Q: How long will vaccines be effective? Will we need boosters?

A: We dont know yet. Emory was one of two sites in the world that did Phase I testing for the Moderna vaccine almost a year ago, and those participants still show protected immunity. So the data is encouraging, but more information is still needed for us to fully understand and define these answers.

The community update on April 1 will be the last for the semester, unless conditions warrant the need for an additional update. We will continue to align our practices and protocols with the states directives.

There are now many options open to us to obtain vaccinations. But regardless of your vaccination status, please remember we must all continue to follow safety guidelines on and off ccampus.

Our efforts have been successful because they reflect a campus-wide partnership. I am thankful for the role that each of you plays in creating a safe environment at Emory.
Back in February 2021, reports emerged claiming that NCIS was adding another spinoff to the franchise. The news that NCIS: Hawaii was in the works came as CBS announced it was canceling NCIS: New Orleans after seven seasons.

But ever since those initial reports, the network has refused to comment about the Aloha state spinoff. When will fans find out who will be part of the NCIS: Hawaii cast?

NCIS stars Sean Murray, Emily Wickersham, Mark Harmon, Wilmer Valderrama | Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images

The NCIS: Hawaii deal is still being finalized

The first reports of the NCIS: Hawaii spinoff came from Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter on February 16. Both claimed that the spinoff was in the works, but details were few and far between because the deal is still being finalized.

The one detail that appears to be a sure thing is that the executive producers/showrunners of NCIS: New Orleans, Christopher Silber and Jan Nash, will have the same roles on Hawaii.

CBS still has a production base in the Aloha state

Hawaii is the perfect place for an NCIS spinoff because they already have a production base in place. For ten seasons, CBS filmed Hawaii: Five-0 in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The production team turned the warehouse at the former Honolulu Advertiser building into the official soundstage studio.

During Hawaii Five-0s run, CBS also added another Hawaii-based drama, Magnum PI, to their primetime lineup. With Magnum still on the air, there is a possibility for a crossover with NCIS: Hawaii after it premieres.

Who will join the cast of NCIS: Hawaii?

Unfortunately for fans, its not clear when CBS will confirm that NCIS: Hawaii is in the works. Or, when they will announce a main cast. When the spinoff reports first appeared, insiders claimed the network was looking to hire the shows staff writers. They were also looking for a pilot director.

Is Agent Alex Quinn going to be making a comeback in NCIS Hawaii? @NCIS_CBS #ncis #ncishawaii https://t.co/IGj5EXR96g  Daily Express (@Daily_Express) April 6, 2021

RELATED: NCIS: Hawaii: Fans Think This Clue Means Cote de Pablo Is Free to Return in the New Spinoff

The only other bit of staff news was that Silber and Nash would be working with SEAL Team writer-producer Matt Bosack. And, unlike previous NCIS spinoffs, insiders claim that Hawaii will not be introduced via a backdoor pilot.

Fans have a lot of theories

Even though NCIS: Hawaii is supposed to be about a brand new team of agents, many fans are hoping there will be at least one or two familiar faces. The biggest fan theory on social media  by far  is that the new spinoff will be the perfect opportunity to see the return of Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) and Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly).

De Pablo starred on the flagship series for eight seasons, but said goodbye to the procedural in season 11. She briefly returned for a few episodes at the end of season 16 and the beginning of season 17.

Weatherly was an OG who left NCIS after season 13. He went on to star in the CBS courtroom drama Bull, but it has yet to be picked up for another season.

Will NCIS: Hawaii star an actor from Hawaii Five-0?

Another popular fan theory is that Hawaii Five-0 alum Katrina Law could be heading up the new NCIS: Hawaii team. She is currently starring as NCIS React Special Agent Jessica Knight on the flagship series.

Some fans think this could be the networks way of introducing her to NCIS fans before shipping her off to Hawaii to lead her own team. Others think that she might stay in Washington DC and replace Leroy Jethro Gibbs if Mark Harmon ends up leaving NCIS.

A whole lotta #NCIS news: 'NCIS: New Orleans' has been cancelled, a new spinoff 'NCIS: Hawaii' is nearing a pickup, and the flagship 'NCIS' series *could* be ending sooner rather than later. https://t.co/h7qegaCbpW  Collider (@Collider) February 18, 2021

CBS has kept extremely tight-lipped about the fate of NCIS, as well as their plans for NCIS: Hawaii. At this point, everything is up in the air. But answers should be coming soon.

NCIS airs Tuesday nights on CBS.
In April 2013, four months after his son Daniel was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings  and after the U.S. Senate voted to block gun control measures  Mark Barden spoke at the White House Rose Garden.

We are here now, we will always be here, because we have no other choice, Barden said, flanked by his family, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. We are not going away. And every day, as more people are killed in this country because of gun violence, our determination grows stronger.

Almost exactly eight years later, on another balmy Washington, D.C. day, Barden and his wife Jackie returned to the Rose Garden, where on Thursday President Biden unveiled his first major actions on gun control before an audience of legislators, activists and victims of gun violence.

In his somber and empathetic remarks, Biden invoked the pain of families who know what its like to bury a piece of their soul deep in the Earth  as well as their frustration over the inertia of gun control efforts in America.

In the years since Sandy Hook, gun violence has claimed tens of thousands of lives across the United States; at nearly 20,000 deaths, 2020 was the deadliest year for gun violence in decades. Federal gun control legislation remains elusive. Just last month, the House passed two bills to close loopholes in the background check system, though the legislation faces an evenly-divided Senate with little Republican support.

Mark and Jackie, I want to tell you, its always good to see you, but not under these circumstances, Biden told the Bardens. ...What a lot of people who have not been through what theyve been through dont understand, it takes a lot of courage to come to an event like this. Theyre absolutely, absolutely determined to make change.

Presenting a series of executive actions aimed at chipping away at Americas gun violence epidemic  which he called an international embarrassment  Biden argued that his measures do not conflict with the Constitutional right to bear arms.

Story continues

From the very beginning, you couldnt own any weapon you wanted to own, he said. From the very beginning the Second Amendment existed, certain people werent allowed to own weapons.

Within 30 days, Biden said, the Justice Department will issue a proposed rule to prevent the proliferation of ghost guns  homemade firearms, often assembled through at-home kits and lacking serial numbers, rendering them untraceable  by requiring buyers to undergo background checks. In the next 60 days, the Justice Department will issue a proposed rule to tighten restrictions on pistol-stabilizing braces, which can be used to make weapons deadlier.

Additionally, within the next 60 days, the Justice Department will publish model red flag legislation  allowing family members or law enforcement to petition for a court order temporarily barring people in crisis from accessing firearms  in order to encourage states to pass their own versions. Other measures include investment in community violence interventions and an annual report on firearms trafficking from the Justice Department.

The pro-gun group The Connecticut Citizens Defense League took issue with Bidens executive actions, including efforts to target pistol braces, which the group claimed in a statement are a tool used by countless Americans that help stabilize the firearm making it more secure and therefore safer.

During his remarks, Biden argued that pistols modified with stabilizing braces  such as the one used by the Boulder, Colorado shooter in last months massacre  can transform pistols into mini rifles, making them more lethal.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who along with Sen. Chris Murphy, attended the White House event, said that Bidens address was a stirring, searing call to action and called on Congress to match his courage.

Noting that Congress wields the power to institute wide-ranging gun control measures, Biden called on lawmakers to take further action by closing boyfriend and stalking loopholes that allow people found by courts to be abusers to possess firearms, banning assault weapons, and repealing gun manufacturers immunity from liability.

Theyve offered plenty of thoughts and prayers, members of Congress, Biden said. But theyve passed not a single new federal law to reduce gun violence. Enough prayers. Time for some action.

Vice President Kamala Harris decried lawmakers intransigence on gun control efforts  despite the thrum of deadly shootings that has long since become background noise to American life.

Time and again, as progressed has stalled, we have all asked, What are we waiting for? Because we arent waiting for a tragedy; I know that. Weve had more tragedy than we can bear. We arent waiting for solutions, either, because the solutions exist, she said. ...All that is left is the will, and the courage, to act.
About the series

This ongoing series from The Gazette delves into Colorados broken mental health care system. In this series, a team of Gazette journalists investigate the gaps in care for children, for veterans, and for the community at large. The series also focuses on solutions that might come as state officials and community leaders sharpen their focus on what for many is a vicious cycle of despair and ruin.

More here
Babel Group's real boss revealed his boy-next-door look in the new Esquire Korea issue.

Aside from captivating the eyes of the viewers with his hot and devious character in the hit ongoing series "Vincenzo," 2PM's Taecyeon proved his attractive, manly look.

Ok Taecyeon Displayed His Manly and Stylish Outdoor Look for Esquire

2PM's Ok Taecyeon participated in Esquire magazine's latest edition. In his newly released photos, the actor displayed his stylish outdoor look. With its concept of "Time Explorer," he was able to project his new persona in the most creative and catchy way.

A modern man who enjoys outdoor hobbies, the 32-year-old actor gracefully shared his natural outgoing vibe. The lens was able to capture Taecyeon's new character, different from his sociopath role with his ongoing legal-action drama "Vincenzo." His ensembles complemented emotions while doing the pictorial.

Meanwhile, an official staff from the magazine praised Taecyeon for his brilliant and improvised poses, such as walking on stone fields, running in the field, and by just standing on the corner but still exhibits a strong presence on and off the camera.

The staff also confessed that the idol-turned-actor made the shooting site enjoyable with his unique and positive personality.

This is not the first time that the 2PM member exuded charisma. Even in his previous dramas and magazine shoots, Taecyeon exhibited charms effortlessly.

Babel Group CEO Jang Han Seok to Start Another War Against Vincenzo Cassano

In the previous episodes of tvN's weekend drama "Vincenzo," Jang Han Seok (Ok Taecyeon) received an unexpected surprise from Vincenzo Cassano (Song Joong Ki). This prompted him to scheme another plan to retaliate. Choi Myung Hee (Kim Yeo Jin) found someone who could help them get rid of the mafia lawyer.

In the short teaser for the forthcoming episodes, Jang Han Seok finally knew about Vincenzo's mother, which he would against his adversary. With these new hints, viewers can't wait to see the new "Vincenzo" episodes.

Previously, it was announced that "Vincenzo" episodes 17 and 18 will air on later dates due to some drama adjustments. But tvN is expected to release a special episode of the said series as a replacement.

What can you say about Taecyeon's new magazine shoot? Tell your thoughts with us in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collin
Highlights Realme is planning to launch the GT 5G flagship phone in May.

The Realme GT 5G is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset.

Realme GT 5G arrived in China last month as company's first flagship of 2021.

Realme GT 5G flagship is coming to India next month. This is not an official announcement from Realme but a hint that the chief marketing officer, Francis Wong, at Realme India dropped at his recent Q&A session. Wong said that Realme will launch the flagship phone on its third anniversary in India, which happens to fall in the month of May. And yes, Wong did not take the name of this flagship, but it is obvious the highest-end phone from Realme with flagship specifications is the GT 5G.

Wong was talking to Realme fans on the India forum, which makes the confirmation more credible. And this confirmation came as the answer to a question about Wong's daily driver. He said, "I wish I could tell you the device I am using, it is our next flagship, and it will launch as part of our 3rd-anniversary celebration. Just wait for it." Obviously, this phone has to be the Realme GT 5G because it is the company's star phone of this year. The Realme GT 5G uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, which is the top-of-the-line chipset launched last year.

Besides the Realme GT 5G, the second flagship GT Neo is also expected to arrive in India. Although there is no confirmation around that, the GT Neo has appeared on certain regulatory body websites, which is a part of the procedure that companies need to follow before they can launch new phones in a market. Realme has got the GT Neo registered on the BIS website and that confirms the launch is imminent. On the other hand, this is the first time we are getting a concrete piece of information about the launch of GT 5G in India.

Realme GT 5G specifications

The Realme GT 5G features a 6.43-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 360Hz touch sampling rate. The display has an integrated fingerprint sensor. The phone uses a Snapdragon 888 chipset and has up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, along with microSD card support. The phone comes with a 4500mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging through a USB-C port. The phone runs Android 11-based Realme UI 2.0 out of the box.

For photography, the Realme GT 5G uses a 64-megapixel camera on the back, accompanied by an 8-megapixel and a 2-megapixel camera. For selfies, the phone has a 16-megapixel camera inside the punch-hole in the top left corner. The haptic feedback on the phone has improved over last year's version. The phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack, as well, which is a good thing, and it is only 8.4mm thick. The Realme GT 5G weighs 186 grams.
It came after the European Medicines Agency has confirmed it had found a possible link between the vaccine and blood clotting issues in adults. People under 30 in Britain will also be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine over fears about a potential link to blood clots. So, what exactly is VIPIT? What is the prognosis and how is it treated? What does treatment involve? Bill Renwick, head of haematology at Western Health, said treatment for the disorder did not appear to differ greatly from that for other types of blood clots. Generally, a patient with a venous thrombosis (blood clots in the veins) requires treatment for a minimum of three months with blood thinners, but this could be extended to six months, or even indefinitely, depending on why the clot occurred in the first place.

Loading Some patients have no identifiable cause for their blood clots and this may lead to a recommendation for indefinite treatment with anticoagulants, Dr Renwick said. Our blood is filled with platelets  small, colourless cell fragments in our blood that form clots and stop or prevent bleeding. Cases of VIPIT are fuelled by four factors: low levels of platelets; high levels of blood clotting breakdown products; the formation of blood clots; and the presence of a specific antibody that overactivates platelets in the blood. In the case of the Victorian man, where a clot was found in his abdomen, blood thinners such as warfarin or newer treatments such as rivaroxaban and apixaban are likely to be used as.

Treatment with anticoagulants [blood thinners] is the same whether its a simple deep vein thrombosis in the calf or a clot in a vein in the abdomen, Dr Renwick said. Loading But these traditional treatments must be administered carefully. The trouble with traditional anticoagulant treatment in these cases is that some of the people, because they also have such low platelets, they actually have issues with bleeding as well as clotting, so blood-thinning medicine needs to carefully used, Professor Griffin said. Hopefully one of the things that will change in time is when we have more of an understanding as to the mechanism, and how to diagnose it earlier. Then potentially well have more specific therapy that we will be able to use in a more evidence-based way.

Complications can also arise from having a blood clot in the abdomen because the veins in this part of the body drain the blood coming back from our internal organs, including the bowel. So, if there is a blood clot in the abdomen, for example, pressure can build and lead to an inability of the arterial blood to supply blood to the tissues and affected tissues may die. Sometimes the treatment with the anticoagulants is early enough to prevent infarction, sometimes its not, Dr Renwick said. Sometimes part of a bowel may infarct and need to be surgically resected. How long a patient stays in hospital depends on how affected they are and whether a surgical operation is required. Jose Perdomo, a senior research officer in the Haematology Research Unit at the St George and Sutherland Clinical School at UNSW, said more complex cases of the blood clotting disorder might need to be treated with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. This involves using a pool of immunoglobulins (antibodies) from the plasma of thousands of healthy donors to treat the clot.

What is the prognosis? In similar blood clotting conditions to VIPIT, mortality rates can be anywhere between 30 and 40 per cent. Data from the European Medicines Agency suggested the risk of blood clots following use of the AstraZeneca vaccine was potentially up to one in 100,000. Dr Perdomo estimated a person who received prompt hospital treatment could recover within weeks, but their recovery time depended on the level of antibodies circulating in their body. It can take many weeks for people to recover with treatment, he said. The difficulty is there is not much data out yet, so we dont know with absolute certainty.

He said VIPIT was strikingly similar to a blood clot condition observed in people who had been treated with the drug heparin, a blood thinner used to prevent the formation of clots. In some cases, there has been a potentially dangerous immune-driven adverse reaction to the drug, leading to a condition known as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. This occurs when patients, who have been given heparin, develop an antibody that interacts with platelets (blood cells involved in blood clots), which can lead to overactivation of platelets and cause blood clots. In heparin-induced blood clots it is slightly easier to treat because the heparin is withdrawn and the condition usually resolves as well, Dr Perdomo said. But in the case of VIPIT there is nothing extra that you can take out, so it can take many weeks for people to recover.

Reports of overseas cases indicate symptom onset was between four and 20 days after vaccination and symptoms have generally been severe, with patients requiring hospitalisation. Professor Griffin, who is also director of infectious diseases at Mater Health in Queensland, said no medical intervention was free of risk. He stressed the risk of these clotting issues linked with the AstraZeneca vaccine remained exceedingly rare. For comparison, a very common intervention in the form of the oral contraceptive pill carries a risk of clotting issues in the order of four of every 10 000 people taking this pill, Professor Griffin said. When assessing the risks and benefits, we also have to keep in mind the risks of not vaccinating.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Accounting Degree Programs.

Intelligent.com analyzed 269 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 60 making it to the final list for Online Accounting Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-accounting-degree-programs/

2021 Online Accounting Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

American InterContinental University

American Public University

Arizona State University

Ashford University

Athens State University

Auburn University

Baker College

Bellevue University

Bemidji State University

Bethel University

Brandman University

Brescia University

Briar Cliff University

Buena Vista University

California Baptist University, Online

Capella University

Chadron State College

Champlain College

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Colorado Christian University

Colorado State University

Colorado State University Global

Colorado Technical University

Concordia University, St. Paul

Culver-Stockton College

Daemen College

Dickinson State University

Eastern New Mexico University

Florida National University

Franklin University

Gardner-Webb University

Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southwestern State University

Grantham University

Indiana State University

Indiana Wesleyan University

Liberty University

Mississippi College

Morehead State University

National University

Northeastern University

Northwestern State University

Old Dominion University

Rasmussen University

Saint Leo University

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Southern Illinois University

Southern New Hampshire University

Southern Utah University

SUNY College, Plattsburgh

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Trine University

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

University of Mary

University of Memphis

University of Minnesota, Crookston

University of the Cumberlands

University of West Georgia

Western Governors University

Wilmington 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/.
Reliance High-Tech, the foremost independent security technology integrator, has announced a new partnership with AMAG Technology. It is the latest move in Reliance High-Techs on-going strategy to give its customers access to best-in-class security solutions that create ever more intelligent buildings while allowing organisations to effectively transform their operations and offer occupants the highest levels of protection.

AMAG Technology is a global provider of powerful and diverse unified security solutions. Headquartered in Hawthorne, California, at the heart of the companys offering is Symmetry  a unique software platform that delivers a flexible end-to-end solution comprising access control and video surveillance, along with intrusion, identity, visitor and incident management. Its analytics system, Symmetry Business Intelligence also gathers and analyses reliable, actionable data to help end-users make better business decisions to mitigate risk, reduce cost and ensure compliance. AMAG also offers a mobile access control solution to companies ready to transition to smart cards or using their cell phone to gain access to doors.

Symmetry Business Intelligence

Symmetry is designed to be scalable and meet the needs of organisations across a wide range of vertical sectors  from small to medium sized enterprises, multinational corporations and government through to education, healthcare, finance and banking, data centres, utilities, critical national infrastructure and logistics, explained Mark Williams, Director of Sales, EMEA at AMAG Technology.

The combination of Symmetrys pioneering technology and Reliance High-Techs security and IT expertise means that its customers can now benefit from a solution that offers protection for today but has the capacity to grow to meet the needs of tomorrow.

Microsoft Gold Partner

AMAG Technology's Symmetry recognised as one of the Best Business Tools of 2019 AMAG Technology has received numerous plaudits for its technological innovation, with Newsweek recognising Symmetry as one of the Best Business Tools of 2019. Just as importantly, AMAG Technology is a Microsoft Gold Partner for Application Development and Symmetry, so is, therefore, able to meet the demanding expectations of IT teams that are keen to eliminate any network vulnerabilities.

Although, it can be fully integrated with third-party components and has a fully open Application Programming Interface (API), one of the key advantages of Symmetry is that it is a truly end-to-end system that features a wide range of advanced applications as standard. For Reliance High-Tech this negates having to integrate numerous disparate components and platforms, and when one component is updated all other elements are taken into consideration. This ensures that the whole solution continues to work seamlessly at all times, guaranteeing reliability and maximum uptime for the end-user in an easily deployed and maintained system.

Unified security solution

Alistair Enser, Reliance High-Techs Chief Executive Officer (CEO), commented, AMAG Technology has an enviable reputation for what it has achieved with Symmetry and Im delighted that we are now able to work together as partners.

As the worlds of IT and security become more integrated, it allows us to fully implement our considerable expertise in both areas to provide a comprehensive unified security solution for the UK market. It is all part of our commitment to solving business challenges through the application of intelligent solutions.
[April 08, 2021] Bringing a Rocket Back from Space: Rocket Lab to Recover Electron Booster on Next Mission

Rocket Lab, the leading launch and space systems company, today announced that on its next mission the company will attempt to bring a rocket back from space, slowing the Electron launch vehicle down from speeds of >Mach 8 as it re-enters Earth's atmosphere before splashing the rocket down in the ocean. The complex mission is the next major step toward making Electron the first orbital-class reusable small launch vehicle, enabling rapid-turnaround launches for small satellites. Scheduled for launch in May 2021 from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, the 'Running Out of Toes' mission will be Rocket Lab's 20th Electron launch overall and the second of three planned ocean splashdown recovery missions. The mission will see Electron deploy two Earth-observation satellites for BlackSky's global monitoring constellation. While Electron's second stage delivers the satellites to orbit, Electron's first stage will undertake a series of complex maneuvers designed to enable the stage to survive the extreme heat and forces of atmospheric re-entry on the way back to Earth. As the rocket reaches speeds of around eight times the speed of sound on its descent, the air around Electron heats up to 2,400C generating an extremely hot plasma that creates a red-orange glow around the re-entering stage. Because Electron will enter the atmosphere engines first, the nine 3D printed Rutherford engines on the first stage will bear the brunt of this extreme heating. To withstand the immense temperatures, this Electron features an evolved heat shield designed to protect the engines and direct the force of the plasma away from the rocket. After entering the atmosphere, Electron will deploy a drogue parachute to help begin the process of slowing the rocket down and stabilizing its descent. Once Electron is at subsonic speeds, a circular parachute is deployed to help further slow the rocket in preparation for a gentle ocean splashdown. A Rocket Lab vessel will then rendezvous with the stage in the splashdown zone, approximately 650 km from Launch Complex 1, and retrieve it for transport back to Rocket Lab's Production Complex for inspection. 'Running Out of Toes' follows on from Rocket Lab's first recovery mission, Return to Sender,' which launched in November 2020 and saw the company successfully deploy the parachute system and recover a stage from an ocean splashdown for the first time. In doing so, Rocket Lab became only the second company to successfully recover an orbital class booster from space. The 'Running Out of Toes' mission is designed to validate the findings from the first recovery mission and to test updated systems including the new advanced heat shield.



"Reusability is hard for any launch vehicle, but it's a particularly complex challenge for small rockets. The Return to Sender mission proved we could successfully bring Electron back from space. Now it's about validating re-entry data a second time and starting to introduce the advanced systems that will enable us to launch, catch and repeat," said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. "Electron is already the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket. Reusability will enable us to further increase launch cadence giving our customers on-demand access to space." Following the successful completion of the ocean splashdown tests this year, Rocket Lab intends to move into the final phase of the recovery program - mid-air recovery. Using this approach, Electron stages will be captured mid-air by a helicopter.

While Electron is designed for mid-air capture, Rocket Lab's newest launch vehicle, the 8,000 kg class Neutron rocket under development, is designed for propulsive landing. This process will see Neutron's engines reignite during the re-entry phase to slow the stage's descent before landing legs are deployed to enable a vertical landing on an ocean platform. Information about Neutron can be found here: www.rocketlabusa.com/about-us/updates/rocket-lab-unveils-plans-for-new-8-ton-class-reusable-rocket-for-mega-constellation-deployment Images and video content: www.rocketlabusa.com/about-us/updates/link-to-rocket-lab-imagery-and-video/ About Rocket Lab: Rocket Lab is a leading end-to-end space company delivering reliable satellites, launch services and on-orbit management solutions that make space easy. We are motivated by the impact we can have on Earth by making it easier to get to space and use it as a platform for innovation, exploration and infrastructure. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron and Neutron launch vehicles, Photon satellite platform and a range of best-in-class spacecraft components. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab has delivered more than 100 satellites to orbit for government and commercial customers, enabling remote sensing, communications, Earth-observation, technology demonstrations and more. Visit www.rocketlabusa.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005879/en/

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King Felipe rose above recent public criticism of his family as he stepped out in Madrid today.

Felipe, 53, was joined on the engagement by the Minister of Labour and Social Economy Yolanda Diaz, who called out his two sisters for getting the Covid-19 vaccine during a visit to Abu Dhabi.

But there didn't seem to be any conflict between the Third Deputy Prime Minister, 49, and King Felipe, 53, as they attended an awards ceremony together on Thursday.

The duo appeared to be in excellent spirits as they shared a laugh while arriving at the seventh Confederation of Medium and Small Enterprises (CEPYME) awards ceremony at Reina Sofia Museum, in Madrid, Spain.

Felipe's wife Queen Letizia, 48, did not appear to be present at the annual awards ceremony, which Felipe was chairing and made a speech at alongside the labour minister.

King Felipe and Yolanda Diaz shared a laugh together at an awards ceremony in Madrid on Thursday, weeks after she criticised his sisters' for getting the Covid vaccine in Abu Dhabi

It comes weeks after Yolanda, 49, criticised Princess Elena, 57, (left) and Princess Cristina, 55, (right) for getting the Covid-19 jab while visiting their father Juan Carlos in Ahu Dhabi

The appearance comes weeks after Yolanda criticised Felipe's sisters - Princess Elena, 57, and Princess Cristina, 55 - for getting the Covid-19 vaccine while visiting their father and former King Juan Carlos in Ahu Dhabi, rather than waiting to get the jab in Spain.

'It is very unpleasant, very ugly,' Yolanda told Spanish state television TVE at the time. 'We, the people who exercise some sort of representation, must lead by example.'

Both princesses defended their decision to get vaccinated in the United Arab Emirates, where Juan Carlos has been living in self-exile since August, in a statement to El Mundo.

They said: 'My sister and I went to visit my father and in order to be issued with a medical certificate which will allow us to continue to visit him regularly, we were offered the chance to get vaccinated, which we accepted.

'Had it not been for these circumstances, we would have waited for our turn to get vaccinated to come around in Spain.'

But the recent controversy did not seem to have affected Yolanda and Felipe as they were seen avidly chatting and sharing a laugh as they arrived at the function together.

But the recent controversy did not seem to have affected Yolanda and Felipe, 53, who shared a laugh as they arrived at Reina Sofia Museum together

The labour minister looked effortlessly glamorous in a bold scarlet high-neck gown for the ceremony, which she teamed with a pair of nude heels and an elegant silver bangle bracelet

Third Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda could have been mistaken for Queen Letizia, who did not appear to be at the ceremony, as she surprisingly resembled the royal while chatting with the King of Spain.

Felipe cut a sophisticated figure in a dapper black suit which he stylishly paired with a dusty blue shirt and a patterned tie for the awards ceremony.

He kept himself protected amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis by sporting a white face mask as he arrived at the event, before showcasing his chic silver beard while making a speech.

The labour minister looked effortlessly glamorous in a bold scarlet high-neck gown for the ceremony, which she teamed with a pair of nude heels and an elegant silver bangle bracelet.

Yolanda wore her golden tresses cascading in a loose wave across her shoulders and sported a palette of bronzed make-up with a generous slick of rouge lipstick

The Minister of Labour and Social Economy (left) could have been mistaken for Queen Letizia (right), who did not appear to be at the ceremony, as she surprisingly resembled the royal

The Spanish royal kept himself protected amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis by sporting a white face mask as he arrived at the event, while his wife Queen Letizia, 48, was not present

Meanwhile, Yolanda wore her golden tresses cascading in a loose wave across her shoulders and put her safety first with a vibrant geometric face mask as she avidly chatted with Felipe.

The politician bore a striking resemblance to the glamorous Queen Letizia as she shared a laugh with King Felipe while arriving at the awards ceremony to make her speech.

Yolanda seemed to be taking tips from Felipe's wife's signature fashion choices, as her stunning gown appeared to be very similar to a crimson frock the Queen donned while launching a tourism campaign at The Prado Museum last summer.

Letizia appeared to be absent from the function after a busy week which saw her visit an insurance company headquarters in Madrid just one day previously.

The royal couple recently celebrated Easter weekend with their two teenage daughters - Leonor, Princess of Asturias, 15, and Infanta, Sofia of Spain, 13.

Each year, the Spanish royal family attend the Easter Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica of Santa Maria de Palma de Mallorca in Palma on the island of Mallorca, however, the celebrations were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic this year.

Felipe showed off his chic silver beard as he chaired the seventh Confederation of Medium and Small Enterprises (CEPYME) awards ceremony at Reina Sofia Museum

Felipe cut a sophisticated figure in a dapper black suit which he stylishly paired with a dusty blue shirt and a patterned tie for the awards ceremony

Felipe and Yolanda posed next to the lucky prizewinners during the annual awards ceremony at Reina Sofia Museum on Thursday

Their eldest child Leonor carried out her first solo engagement last month while visiting a Madrid language school, soon after it was announced that she will study at the renowned UWC Atlantic College, based at the 12th century St Donat's Castle in Wales, from September.

Felipe and Letizia have been keeping busy so far this year with royal engagements, and visited Andorra last week for their first state visit to the principality since King Felipe VI became King in 2014.

The trip came ahead of Andorra's presidency of the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government in April, which King Felipe will also attend.

Andorra is one of the smallest states in Europe. It is an independent European co-principality situated among the southern peaks of the Pyrenees Mountains and bounded by France and Spain.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, held a meeting on Wednesday, in video-conference format, with the heads of the Romanian consular offices on the territory of the Italian Republic - in Bari, Trieste, Turin, Catania, Milan and the consular section of the Romanian Embassy in Rome - on the occasion of his official visit to Rome.

According to a release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) sent to AGERPRES, the agenda of the discussions included topical themes on consular activity in Italy, with a focus on identifying the best solutions in support of the numerous Romanian community living in this country. Minister Bogdan Aurescu also presented the priority lines of action on the reform of consular services, as well as the professionalization and efficiency of consular activity.

On this occasion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that the reform of consular services is a "zero" priority of the MAE leadership, in order to facilitate the access of Romanian citizens to consular services and to improve their quality and conditions of processing.At the same time, Minister Aurescu stressed "the importance of maintaining high standards in working with the public and of irrefutable conduct in all situations, stressing that he will not tolerate any deviation from these standards and conduct," the MAE states.The Romanian chief diplomat also referred to the adoption and implementation of the new procedure on the organization of itinerant (mobile) consulates in localities far away from the premises of diplomatic missions or consular posts.Thus, on 1 April, it was launched in public consultation, with the Romanian communities outside the borders, the first form of the Plan on the organization of 63 itinerant (mobile) consulates in 2021.The minister also reviewed the steps initiated by the MAE to digitalize and debureaucratize the process of providing various consular services to Romanian citizens abroad, actions involving the optimization of related information systems, as well as, in some cases, the modification of the national legislative framework. Through this extensive process, the MAE aims to significantly reduce the physical presence of Romanian citizens at the offices of the diplomatic missions and consular offices of Romania, to improve the efficiency of consular services.According to the MAE, the heads of consular offices have presented in detail elements concerning the Romanian community in the consular district, with a focus on the problems faced by Romanian citizens in the current pandemic context, have made proposals for improving the work activity, including on the arrangement or relocation of consular office where appropriate, and have confirmed the necessity and usefulness of implementing the process of digitalization and debureaucratization of consular services.Minister Bogdan Aurescu stressed the importance of continuing the modernization process in the consular field, for the benefit of the members of Romanian communities abroad, and asked the consular offices' heads to boost the approaches to regularly inform the Romanian community in the Italian Republic about the state of the steps taken for this purpose.During his official visit to Rome, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, also attended a decoration ceremony in which he handed over the distinctions awarded by President Klaus Iohannis to representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy and the Adventist Church.During the ceremony were decorated the All-Holy Father Siluan, Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, the All-Holy Father Atanasie of Bogdania, Bishop-Vicar of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, and Pastor Benone Corneliu Lupu, coordinator of the Romanian Adventist Church in Italy, for their efforts in supporting people in need, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as as a token of appreciation for the activity of preservation and active involvement in the life of the Romanian communities in Italy. AGERPRES
Tracey Jewel gave birth to her son, Frankie, three weeks ahead of her due date.

And on Thursday, the former Married At First Sight celebrate her baby boy's predicted birthday with a special message.

The 37-year-old shared a series of photos of her newborn, including one of him with a 'three weeks old' sign.

'Happy due date to you little one!' Former Married At First Sight star Tracey Jewel has celebrated her newborn son Frankie's due date after he arrived three weeks early

She wrote in the caption: 'Happy due date to you little one!'

'We welcomed you earthside three weeks early. You fought your way through those first 5 days,' she said.

'We are so proud and in love with you - we can't wait to watch you grow little Frankie,' she added.

Adorable: The 37-year-old shared a series of photos of her newborn, including one of him with a 'three weeks old' sign. She said in the caption: 'We welcomed you earthside three weeks early. You fought your way through those first 5 days'

Motherhood: The brunette beauty added, 'We are so proud and in love with you - we can't wait to watch you grow little Frankie'

Tracey shares her sweet son with husband and high school sweetheart Nathan Constable, who she married back in February in a surprise ceremony.

At the time, she sweetly told Daily Mail Australia that she now has 'everything she's ever hoped for' in a partner and was excited for their future together.

'It was Nathan's first wedding and Ive done it twice before, so we wanted to do the official vows at Perths registry office, Tracey said of her big day.

Loved up: Tracey shares her sweet son with husband and high school sweetheart Nathan Constable, who she married back in February in a surprise ceremony

Tracey shares her older daughter Grace with her ex-husband, who she split from in 2012.

Speaking about Nathan becoming a stepdad to Grace, Tracey added: 'She loves Nate and that hell be her stepdad. Little miss independent!'

She first rose to fame in 2018 when she was 'married' to Dean Wells on Nine's controversial experiment, Married At First Sight.
President Joe Biden receives an economic briefing with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on Jan. 29, 2021. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

With Push by US, Talks on Global Minimum Tax Gain Momentum

WASHINGTONTreasury Secretary Janet Yellen is urging other countries to support a global minimum tax rate for corporations, which is crucial for funding President Joe Bidens infrastructure proposal, called the American Jobs Plan.

The Biden administration proposes substantial tax increases on U.S. corporations to pay for the $2.3 trillion plan aimed at boosting investment in infrastructure, clean energy, manufacturing, housing, and other programs.

Amid concerns that a higher corporate tax rate would hurt the countrys market competitiveness, Yellen announced on April 5 that the United States is working with the Group of 20 (G-20) countries to adopt a minimum global corporate income tax.

Bidens eight-year infrastructure plan is to be fully paid for by tax increases on companies spread over 15 years. His proposal is to boost the federal corporate tax rate to 28 percent from 21 percent.

Yellen said if an agreement among G-20 economies is reached on the minimum corporate tax, it would end a 30-year race to the bottom.

Together, we can use a global minimum tax to make sure the global economy thrives based on a more level playing field in the taxation of multinational corporations, and spurs innovation, growth, and prosperity, she said.

Both France and Germany, which have relatively high corporate tax rates in the OECD welcomed the Biden administrations proposal.

We are delighted by the U.S. support for a minimum corporate tax, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told AFP.

An agreement on international taxation is now within reach, he noted. We must seize this historic opportunity.

The average statutory corporate tax rate among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries had fallen to 23.3 percent in 2020 from 32.2 percent in 2000, according to a report by the Treasury Department.

The report, which outlines Bidens Made in America tax plan stated that the declines have resulted from a collective action problem. Fierce competition among countries to attract investments has fueled this race to the bottom, according to the report, and a better coordination across the globe will prevent companies from relocating to countries with lower taxes.

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz also hailed Yellens proposal.

Im in high spirits that with this corporate taxation initiative, well manage to put an end to the worldwide race to the bottom in taxation, Scholz said, according to Reuters.

However, Ireland, which has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the OECD (12.5 percent), voiced concerns about a global minimum tax. The country has chosen a low tax model to attract foreign investment.

Increasing the corporate tax rate to 28 percent would raise the U.S. federal-state combined tax rate to 32.34 percent, according to the Tax Foundation, a conservative-leaning group. This change will make the U.S. corporate tax rate the highest in the OECD, reducing U.S. competitiveness. The average corporate tax rate among the OECD countries, excluding the United States, is 23.4 percent.

Contrary to the proposals claims about a race to the bottom on corporate tax rates, reductions in corporate rates have plateaued for more than a decade, Tax Foundation said in a report.

When the U.S. cut the federal statutory corporate rate from 35 percent to 21 percent in 2017, it was not leading a race to the bottom but moving to the average.

During this weeks virtual spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva also called for progressive taxation and an agreement on minimum taxation for companies.

The IMF has long supported a global minimum tax, according to IMFs top economist Gita Gopinath.

It is a big concern that we have a large amount of tax shifting, tax avoidance, countries sending money to tax havens, and thats reducing the tax base from which governments can collect revenues and do the necessary social and economic spending thats required, Gopinath told reporters. So we are very much in favor of a global minimum corporate tax.

OECD officials earlier floated a minimum corporate rate of 12.5 percent. Yellen, however, proposed agreeing to a minimum tax rate of 21 percent.

World Bank President David Malpass warned governments against setting a minimum tax rate that is too high.

The critical thing is to have growth for countries around the world, Malpass told BBC.

Yellens proposal of a 21 percent global minimum tax strikes me as a high corporate rate, he said.
David Chipman, President Joe Bidens nominee for director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), doesnt possess a rudimentary understanding of the Second Amendment  which, considering this job, seems like a problem.

A couple of years ago, in reaction to local governments in Virginia declaring Second Amendment sanctuary, Chipman wrote a column in the Roanoke Times arguing that the Second Amendment envisions firearms as being well regulated, and individual sheriffs arent entitled to decide whether a particular regulation is constitutional  thats the job of the courts.

Of course, there is not a shred of historical evidence that the Second Amendment envisions the state inhibiting and restricting the ability of law-abiding citizens to own any firearms. That said, courts have already ruled on the question. Chipman may not have heard about the District of Columbia v. Heller ruling, but it found that individuals have a right to keep and bear arms unrelated to an individuals membership in a militia. Now, I understand some people get excited when they see the phrase well regulated, but it was a common term in the late 18th century that meant working well, not, Hey, lets make more laws. But even if it did mean that, the term is aimed at militias, not individuals.

Since Chipman ignores the high court, its unsurprising that he advocates not only a complete ban of certain semi-automatic rifles  guns by any definition in common use by law-abiding citizens  but also wants existing AR-15 owners to register their weapons with the federal government.

To achieve this, Chipman, senior policy adviser for the gun-restrictionist group Giffords  and before that, a member of Mike Bloombergs Mayors Against Illegal Guns  is constantly scaremongering about AR-15s. In a 2018 interview, for instance, Chipman told the Hill.TVs Buck Sexton and Krystal Ball, I dont think you should be able to anonymously purchase 20 AR-15s at one time, and the government shouldnt know. I dont think its unreasonable at all that you have to pass a background check to own a weapon of war. In 2019, Chipman told a House Judiciary Committee that assault weapons were virtually identical to those used by the military.

Story continues

You may have a whole bunch of reasons you want to ban AR-15s, but that will never make these guns into weapons of war. Moreover, AR-15s are rarely used in crimes  which, as a former ATF agent, Chipman surely knows. And the vast majority of AR-15 owners go through background checks, just as the recent mass shooters in Colorado and Georgia did. It is unknown why it matters if a person owns three or 20 AR-15s, or at what speed he purchases those guns, though I am certain it is none of the ATF directors business.

What Chipman, like many gun grabbers, does is try to shock people with irrelevant and misleading outliers. In a recent Reddit AMA, for example, Chipman, who worked as a case agent in the Branch Davidian trial, falsely claimed that the cultists murdered by the ATF in Waco had shot down two government helicopters with .50 caliber Barretts. Big news if true! Chipman also had brought up this imaginary event as he tried to blame American gun owners for the drug-cartel violence in Mexico.

Then again, name any gun-control effort, and Chipman is for it. He wants to ban tens of millions of magazines. In 2017, he testified against the Hearing Protection Act. Chipman urged governors to unilaterally shut down gun shops during the pandemic. If we can imagine how horrible this crisis is . . . the people who hoarded the guns might decide six months from now  once they see no zombies around but theyve run out of tuna and beef jerky  that they need the money to buy food, Chipman sneered last March. This wasnt the first time Chipman mocked gun owners as zombie-obsessed slaw-jawed yokels. It turned out, though, that gun owners hadnt changed their minds. The spike in buying would ratchet up throughout the pandemic  fueled, in part, by millions of first-time owners, women, and minorities. I suspect Chipmans nomination will continue to stimulate this positive trend.

It should be noted that Chipman does meet Bidens standards. We now have an energy secretary who is against affordable energy, a transportation secretary who is against efficient travel, and perhaps soon an ATF director who wants to gut Second Amendment protections.

More from National Review
April 08 : Actor Amit Sadh has decided to go offline amid the spike in Coronavirus cases. He penned a long note on social media to stress on the importance of helping people and not turn a blind eye towards them, especially during the pandemic.

The Sultan star said that he would not post quotes, pictures or reels on Instagram as he didnt wish to show his privileged life on social media. He promised to stay in touch with fans through direct messages if a need for a conversation arises.

"I am going offline. The recent events have made me reflect on whether I should be posting my pictures and reels. Especially when my city Mumbai and the entire state is under strict Covid restrictions, the whole country is going through a difficult time. I believe my post and reels of gym sessions, the silly things I do, will not heal or entertain anyone. This is not a criticism to anyone. I personally feel the best way to be sensitive about the situation is to pray and hope for the things to get better," he wrote in his Instagram post.

In his post, he also urged people to help those who are in need, especially daily wagers.

Amit ended his three-para post by thanking fans and assuring them that he is not abandoning them. The actor also requested all his fans to take care of themselves, help the needy, give people salaries on time and be safe.

Sadh had a busy 2020 as he featured in three films Shakuntala Devi, Yaara and Operation Parindey, and two web shows Breathe: Into The Shadows and Avrodh.

Meanwhile, the actor was recently seen in Jeet Ki Zidd, where he was seen playing the role of an Army officer battling disability.

The series is based on the true story of Major Deep Sengar of the Special Task Force, who returned from Kargil War in a wheelchair. While doctors gave up hope, Deep fought against all odds to bounce back in life. The Zee5 series is directed by Vishal Mangalorkar, and also features Amrita Puri and Sushant Singh.

Amit Sadh will next be seen onscreen in Milan Luthrias romantic action drama film Tadap along with Ahan Shetty and Tara Sutaria. The film is scheduled to be released theatrically on 24 September 2021.
A Kilkenny man was a key expert witness today at the high-profile Derek Chauvin murder trial in the USA.

Readers who are following the trial were quick to notice that the first witness called by prosecutors today was a Dr Martin Tobin.

The prosecution has called expert witness, Dr. Martin Tobin, a prominent pulmonologist who wrote a textbook considered the Bible on mechanical ventilation. All this just to prove to the jury that Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd. pic.twitter.com/F4w6mb8feD  Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 8, 2021

Dr Tobin is a native of Woodsgift/Tullaroan, and the brother of the late Fr Eamonn Tobin (Orlando). He is a graduate of UCD, and treats patients in a Chicago hospitals intensive care unit.

Irishman Dr Martin Tobin is testifying at the #DerekChauvinTrial. He studied at University College Dublin & is a pulmonology expert. He said #GeorgeFloyd died from a low level of oxygen which caused damage to his brain & caused his heart to stop. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/m4P9aSfleD  Brian O'Donovan (@BrianOD_News) April 8, 2021

Mr Chauvin is on trial for the killing of George Floyd, who died during the arrest in May 2020. He has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter charges.

Dr Tobin testified that Mr Floyd's breathing was too shallow to take in enough oxygen while he was pinned facedown with his hands cuffed behind his back . The highly-regarded scholar is the author what is considered 'the Bible of mechanical ventilation', according to medical journal Lancet.
Actor Amit Sadh on Wednesday uploaded what will possibly be his last post on Instagram. In the post, he informed fans that he is leaving social media for good. In a long note, the actor said that in these tough times of pandemic, he doesn't feel right about spamming people with trivial posts.

"I am going offline. The recent events have made me reflect on whether I should be posting my pictures and reels. Especially when my city Mumbai and the entire state is under strict Covid restrictions, the whole country is going through a difficult time. I believe my post and reels of gym sessions, the silly things I do, will not heal or entertain anyone. This is not a criticism to anyone. I personally feel the best way to be sensitive about the situation is to pray and hope for the things to get better," he wrote in the post.

In his post he also urged people to help those who are in need, especially daily wagers.

Amit ended his three-para post by thanking fans and assuring them that he is not abandoning them. The actor also requested all his fans to take care of themselves, help the needy, give people salaries on time and be safe.
WASHINGTON  As former President Donald Trump prepares to make his first appearance in front of a group of the GOPs top donors since leaving office, some Republican officials and fundraisers fear that his own political group will cannibalize a significant portion of the partys financial base heading into a critical midterm election cycle.

Over the course of two campaigns, Trump built up a loyal army of small-dollar donors, whom the former president is now encouraging to contribute to the political action committee he formed shortly after his 2020 election defeat, as he seeks to reestablish himself as the leader of the Republican Party and potentially set himself up for another White House run.

While Republicans are pleased that Trump agreed to speak at the Republican National Committees spring donor retreat this weekend  partly taking place at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida  some are wary the former president will ultimately do the partys fundraising efforts more harm than good as they try to take control of the U.S. House and Senate in the next election.

I readily acknowledge the former president will continue to have a strong fundraising base for himself, said Bill Palatucci, an RNC member from New Jersey. It remains to be seen if hes willing to share it or not.

Its not unusual for a politician to create a PAC to raise money and support like-minded candidates running for office. But as a former president with a devoted following, Trump is poised to play an outsize role.

Trumps group, Save America PAC, currently has more than $85 million on hand, according to a source familiar with its fundraising. At least $30.4 million of that was the result of a transfer of funds Trump made from one of his 2020 campaign committees late last year. By comparison, the RNC entered 2021 with $80.5 million in its main account. The source also said Trump is still in the process of setting up a super PAC, which unlike traditional PACs can raise unlimited sums of cash.

Longtime Republican donors are viewing Trumps new political operation skeptically, worried he will use it to advance his own brand rather than the broader interests of the party heading into an election cycle where Democrats are defending slim majorities in Congress.

Frank VanderSloot, the CEO of the Idaho-based health products company Melaleuca, said he supported some of the former presidents policies, but not his tactics.

The version of America I believe in is against bullying. And our country was led by a bully and I think its done a lot of damage, said VanderSloot, a major Republican donor. Thats not the kind of leader any of us should be following.

Asked if he thought Trumps group would hinder the fundraising efforts of other Republican organizations, VanderSloot responded, Clearly. I think that anybody would have to assume that, yes.

Stanley Hubbard, the CEO of the Minnesota-based Hubbard Broadcasting and a major GOP donor, said his main goal will be electing more Republicans to Congress in 2022, though he hasnt decided which groups to back yet.

It will probably be good for his ego, Hubbard said of Trumps group. I would have to hear about who its for, whos managing it, what other Republicans think of it.

Two of Trumps joint fundraising committees  which raised money for his own campaign, the RNC and state parties  were a major source of cash for the RNC over the past five years. Since Trump became the presumptive GOP presidential nominee in May 2016, those two committees transferred more than $300 million to the RNC, accounting for roughly 1 in 5 dollars raised by the RNC in that time period. That includes a $6.8 million transfer to the RNC this year.

But Trumps post-presidency relationship with major GOP groups has otherwise been off to a contentious start. Last month, his attorneys sent cease-and-desist letters to the RNC, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee in an attempt to prevent them from using his image in fundraising appeals. All three committees brushed off the letters.

Trump also released a statement urging his supporters to give money directly to his organization rather than RINOs, or Republicans In Name Only, though he clarified soon after, saying, I fully support the Republican Party and important GOP Committees.

The three main Republican committees have all included Trump in online ads this week, according to Facebooks Ad Library, a sign of the former presidents continuing appeal to small-dollar donors.

The RNC and President Trump are focused on the same goal  retaking our Congressional majorities in 2022, RNC spokesman Tommy Pigott wrote in an email. There is much more that unites our Party than divides it, and together we will work to expose Democrats bad policies and elect Republicans up and down the ballot.

Even if Trump and the GOP groups have patched up their differences for now, there are looming fights down the road. Trump has vowed to seek vengeance against the Republicans who voted against him during the impeachment proceedings that were spurred by the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Trump has already endorsed one of his former aides, Max Miller, who is challenging Ohio Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, one of the 10 House Republicans who voted for impeachment. If Trump continues to wade into GOP primaries, that would put him further at odds with Republican congressional leaders, who traditionally support incumbents in their reelection battles.

Morton Blackwell, a longtime RNC member from Virginia, said he understood why some Republicans were concerned about the former president competing with other members of the party for funds. But he argued that the Trump and GOP groups would see there is more for everyone to gain by cooperating, even if their interests dont always directly align.

Anybody with good sense would see a working relationship would benefit both, and that an adversarial relationship would hurt both, Blackwell said.



Adam Wollner of McClatchy Washington Bureau wrote this story. Ben Wieder contributed to this report.

2021 McClatchy Washington Bureau.

Visit at mcclatchydc.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Daniel J. Kritenbrink - US Ambassador to Vietnam Vietnam has been a capable partner during its current term as an elected member of the UNSC. The United States has worked closely and productively with Vietnam and looks forward to cooperating this month as Vietnam holds the rotating presidency. Vietnam is a respected voice not only at the UN but also in ASEAN. In leading valuable discussions on the 75th anniversary of the UN Charter and on the relationship between the UN and ASEAN, Vietnam has shown its value as a member of the international community. I am confident that Vietnam will continue to pursue our shared vision of a rules-based international order. Nicolas Warnery - French Ambassador to Vietnam France and Vietnam have been working well on issues that are on the UNSC agenda. Our countries share many priorities  for example, the protection of vulnerable populations in armed conflicts, especially women and children. Vietnam has put several priorities on his agenda: fostering the cooperation between the UN and regional organisations such as ASEAN; surmounting bomb and mine consequences, and maintaining sustainable peace; and protecting essential infrastructures for civilians amid armed conflicts. The UN Security Council agenda over the next weeks will necessarily be affected by the situation in Myanmar. The UN Security Council has already strongly condemned the violence against peaceful protesters in Myanmar, but the situation has since then worsened. The death toll is rising, and Myanmar is sinking even further into tragedy every day as security forces continue to use violence and refuse to return to the path of dialogue. Vietnam, as chair of the UNSC and a prominent member of the ASEAN, can make the link between the efforts led by the UNSC and ASEAN, contributing to tackling this crisis. Guido Hildner - German Ambassador to Vietnam Vietnam takes over the chair of the UNSC at a difficult time and has set itself an ambitious programme. The priorities concern central issues of international security and includes the role of regional organisations. This ties in with the Vietnamese ASEAN chairmanship in 2020 and was successfully dealt with during Vietnams first UNSC chairmanship in January 2020. Regional organisations can make a significant contribution to maintaining international peace and security. Strengthening their cooperation with the Security Council is in their interest as well as in the interest of the United Nations. Vietnam is currently the only ASEAN member state represented on the UNSC and thus has a special role to play. In addition, the country places a number of important humanitarian concerns on the councils agenda, including mine action, indispensable civilian objects, and sexual violence in conflicts. Germany was also a member of the council last year and worked well and successfully with Vietnam. We wish Vietnam every success. Kari Kahiluoto - Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam It is a great honour and at the same time a huge responsibility for Vietnam to hold the UNSC member chairmanship. I have had the precious chance over the last few years to observe Vietnams steady development. I enjoy seeing the development ambition of the country and studying how it is addressing its development path internally and with international stakeholders. The rotating chairmanship of the UNSC is an excellent opportunity for Vietnam to contribute to global peace and prosperity, and at the same time a good opportunity for the country in heightening its development achievements to the world. Finland and Vietnam share strong values of support to the multilateral system, the UN, and the World Trade Organization. We are both dependent on successful multilateralism, for security, for our economy, for our wellbeing. From Finlands experience, the best way of promoting peace and prosperity lays on creating wellbeing and building healthy socio-political lives for citizens everywhere. Vietnam will benefit from the chairmanship if it continues working hard to promote universal values within the countrys development that would be in turn the example for the world communitys admiration. Jaya Ratnam - Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Vietnam has served with distinction on the UNSC since it commenced its term as a non-permanent member. During Vietnams first chairmanship of the council in January 2020, Vietnam leveraged its responsibilities as UNSC chair and ASEAN chair to promote greater ASEAN-UN cooperation. This was well appreciated by ASEAN member states. Vietnams initiative to organise an open debate on upholding the UN Charter was also very timely, given the mounting and complex challenges the international community has been facing. The event contributed to the discourse on strengthening support for international law and promoting respect for the rule of law. Singapore shares a common interest with Vietnam to uphold ASEAN centrality, promote multilateral collaboration, and strengthen international law. We were therefore very happy to support these initiatives. With its second chairmanship in April 2021, Vietnam has indicated that it will continue to promote cooperation between the UN and regional organisations, including ASEAN. As a like-minded partner and fellow ASEAN member state, Singapore stands ready to work closely with Vietnam. More broadly, Vietnam has played a constructive and positive role both regionally and globally to advance important agendas related to international development, multilateral cooperation, and peace and security. Singapore is confident that Vietnam will continue to make meaningful contributions to the international community. Denny Abdi - Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Vietnam upholds the theme of Partnership for Sustainable Peace for its membership in the 2020-2021 UNSC tenure to ensure that the UN and the UNSC work to prevent conflict, build peace, and rebuild and recover post-conflict. This goal is also in line with Indonesias chairmanship themes in 2019 and 2020 when Indonesia and Vietnam worked together as non-permanent members. Indonesia believes that peace goes beyond the absence of war and is something we have to strive for, build, cultivate, and nurture. As two ASEAN members in the council, Indonesia and Vietnam fully recognise the vital and inevitable role of regional organisations in addressing regional issues. Hence, both countries continue to promote the importance of synergies between regional organisations and the UN in maintaining global peace and stability. The effort to strengthen cooperation between the UN and ASEAN is an excellent attempt to promote confidence-building and dialogue in conflict prevention and resolution. ASEAN has maintained peace and stability in the region, turning Southeast Asia from a war-torn and divided region into an area of peace and cooperation. Also, I believe that Vietnams second priority of overcoming the consequences of landmines and explosive remnant of wars is crucial for Vietnam as around 18 per cent of its land area remains contaminated. By presenting this issue to the UNSC, we hope that it could take more robust action and help many countries facing this problem. This issue shall remind us all of how dreadful the impact of war is. Vietnams achievements have elevated its image in the international arena. I am confident that Vietnam and Indonesia will continue to work together in promoting dialogue to achieve sustainable peace and security at a regional and global level.
STOCKHOLM, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The shareholders of Mentice AB, reg. no. 566556-4241, (the "Company"), are hereby given notice to attend the annual shareholders' meeting to be held on 6 May 2021 by completing a form for postal voting. A shareholder that wishes to attend the annual shareholders' meeting may only do so by completing the form for postal voting and mailing it to the Company prior to the meeting, no physical attendance is allowed.

Information due to the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Due to the ongoing spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and in accordance with the Act (2020:198) on temporary exceptions to facilitate the execution of shareholders' meetings in companies and other associations, the Board of Directors has resolved to not allow any physical attendance of shareholders, proxies or external parties at the annual shareholders' meeting to be held on May 6, 2021. Shareholders may only exercise their voting rights by completing the form for postal voting and mailing it to the Company in accordance with the procedure prescribed below.

Postal voting

Shareholders exercise their voting rights by postal voting in accordance with Section 22 of the Act (2020:198) on temporary exceptions to facilitate the execution of shareholders' meetings in companies and other associations. According to the Board of Director's resolution, this is the only way for shareholders to attend and exercise their voting rights at the annual shareholders' meeting to be held on May 6, 2021.

Shareholders that wish to exercise their voting rights by postal voting must be entered into the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB, as of April 28, 2021. Personal data collected from the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB will be used for registration, preparation of the voting register as well as the minutes of the annual shareholders' meeting.

A special form for postal voting shall be used. The form for postal voting is available on the Company's website, www.mentice.com. Shareholders that exercise their voting rights by postal voting will not have to register specifically for the annual shareholders' meeting. The form for postal voting is valid as notice of attendance.

The Company shall receive the completed form for postal voting no later than May 5th 2021. The completed form shall be sent to Mentice AB, att: Mentice AB, Annual Shareholders' Meeting, Odinsgatan 10, 411 03 Gothenburg. The completed form may also be submitted electronically to [email protected].

If the postal vote is submitted by a proxy, a written and dated proxy form signed by the shareholder shall be submitted along with the form for postal voting. The proxy form is available on the Company's website www.mentice.com. If the shareholder is a legal entity an up-to-date certificate of registration, or comparable document, shall be submitted along with the proxy form. The shareholder may not attach any special instructions or conditions to the postal vote or the vote will be considered invalid.

The postal voting form provides an opportunity for shareholders to request that an item on the agenda shall be postponed to a continued shareholders' meeting. In order for a resolution on the matter to be postponed to a continued shareholders' meeting, shareholders owning at least one tenth of the shares in the Company must make such a request. In such case, the Board of Directors shall set a date for the continued shareholders' meeting at which shareholders shall be allowed to attend in person or by proxy.

Trustee-registered shares

In order to be entitled to participate in the meeting, shareholders whose shares are trustee-registered must temporarily register their shares in their own names. Shareholders that wish to execute such registration must well in advance before the said date notify its trustee. The registration must be executed with Euroclear Sweden AB on 30 April 2021.

About the meeting

The annual shareholders' meeting will be held on May 6, 2021 in the Company's address in Gothenburg. The shareholders may not attend in person or by proxy and only people who are needed in order to carry out the annual shareholders' meeting (for example, chairman of the annual shareholders' meeting and persons keeping and approving the minutes) will attend in person.

Proposed agenda

1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Election of chairman of the meeting.

3. Preparation and approval of the register of voters.

4. Election of one or two persons to confirm the minutes.

5. Consideration of whether the meeting has been properly convened.

6. Approval of the agenda.

7. Presentation of the annual report and presentation of consolidated annual report and the auditor's report.

8. Resolutions

1.

a. regarding adoption of the income statement and the balance sheet and the consolidated income statement and the consolidated balance sheet,

b.regarding allocation of the Company's profit/loss according to the adopted balance sheet,

c. regarding discharge from liability for the members of the Board of Directors and the managing director

9. Determination of fees for the members of the Board of Directors and auditors and determination of fees to audit - and remuneration committees.

10. Election of members of the Board of Directors and appointment of auditors and deputy auditors, if any.

11. Resolution regarding authorisation for the board of directors to resolve on issue of shares

12. Closing of the meeting.

Resolution proposals

Item 2: In accordance with the nomination committee's proposal, it is proposed that Lawrence D Howell, or who he appoints in his place, shall be appointed chairman of the meeting.

Item 3: It is proposed that the register prepared by Euroclear Sweden AB, based on the share ledger and received votes by post, is approved as the register of voters.

Item 4: The board of directors proposes that Johan Videnpark, or in the event of obstruction, the person assigned by the board of directors, is appointed as person to confirm the minutes. The assignment also includes confirmation of register of voters and that the votes by posts are correctly reproduced in the minutes.

Item 8 (b): The board of directors proposes to distribute in total SEK 0 of the Company's profit of SEK 116,605,160 available to the meeting, to the shareholders.

Item 8 (c): The auditor endorses that the annual shareholders' meeting discharges the members of the Board of Directors and the managing director from liability for the fiscal year of 2020. Resolutions regarding discharge from liability are made through individual, and separate decision for each of the board members and the managing director in the following order:

1. Lawrence D. Howell Board member, chairman of the board 1. Denis Gestin Board member 1. Gosta Johanneson Board membe 1. David Ballard Board member 1. Johann Koss Board member 1. Eola Anggard Runsten Board member from 11 June 2020 1. Magnus Hardmeier Board member to 11 June 2020 1. Bengt Sjoholm Board member to 11 June 2020 1. Goran Malmberg Managing Director

Item 9: In accordance with the nomination committee's proposal, it is proposed that the annual shareholders' meeting shall resolve to determine that a fixed yearly fee of in total SEK 970,000 whereof whereof SEK 100,000 shall be paid to Johann Koss, SEK 170,000 shall be paid to Gosta Johannesson, Eola Anggard Runsten and David Ballard respectively and SEK 360,000 shall be paid to Denis Gestin. The payment is subject to the condition that the board member is elected by the annual shareholders' meeting and is not employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

The nomination committee proposes that the fee for the audit committee shall be determined to SEK 40,000 for the chairman and SEK 20,000 per other member. Furthermore, the nomination committee proposes fees to the remuneration committee to SEK 40,000 for the chairman and SEK 20,000 per other member.

Fees to the Company's auditor is proposed to be paid according to approved invoice.

Item 10: In accordance with the nomination committee's proposal, it is proposed that the Company's board of directors should consist of six board members without deputies. It is proposed for the time being until the end of the next annual shareholders' meeting that the Company should have a registered auditing firm without change as an auditor alternate.

Furthermore, it is proposed that as ordinary members of the board of directors shall, until the next annual shareholders' meeting, be elected Lawrence D. Howell, Denis Gestin, Gosta Johannesson, David Ballard, Johann Koss and Eola Anggard Runsten (all re-elected).

A presentation of the persons that the nomination committee have proposed as board of directors are available at the Company's website, www.mentice.com.

In accordance with the nomination committee's proposal, it is proposed that Lawrence D. Howell shall be appointed chairman of the board (re-election) and that KPMG AB (re-election) with Fredrik Waern (re-election) as principal auditor is appointed as the Company's auditors without deputy auditors.

Item 11: The board of directors in Mentice AB proposes that the annual shareholders' meeting resolves to authorise the board of directors, until the next annual shareholders' meeting, on one or several occasions, with or without deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights, to resolve on new issues of shares and/or issues of warrants, entitling the holders to subscribe for new shares and/or issues of convertibles, entitling the holders to convert the convertibles to new shares. Issues may be undertaken against cash payment and/or with provisions regarding issue in kind or set off or other provision.

The maximum number of shares to be issued under this authorisation together with any shares possibly issued in connection with use of options and converting of convertibles shall not exceed 2,476,885 shares, implying a maximum dilution of equity of approximately 10 per cent of all outstanding shares in Mentice AB at the time of this resolution proposal.

The incentive for this proposal and the reasons for deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights and/or the possibility to resolve on issuing of new shares with provisions on issue in kind, set off or other provisions, is to provide the board of directors with flexibility within the Company financing and to enable an accelerated expansion and development of the Company, its markets and products by e.g. acquisition of enterprises, businesses or other assets where payment wholly or partially shall be made with new issued shares and/or the enable the board of directors to swiftly obtain funds for such acquisitions.

The board of directors or the person appointed by the board of directors is authorised, to make such minor formal adjustments to the resolution, which may be required for registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office and Euroclear Sweden AB. For a valid resolution, this proposal has to be supported by shareholders with at least two thirds of the votes cast as well as of the shares represented at the meeting.

Number of shares and votes

As of the date of this notice the total amount of shares in the Company is 24 768 850 and the total amount of votes in the Company is 24 768 850. The Company does not own any treasury shares.

Majority requirements

Resolutions on items that are not an election require that at least half of the votes cast as well as the votes represented at the meeting. At election the person receiving the most votes shall be considered elected. In the event of a tie, the election shall be resolved by drawing lots, if not, prior to the election, the meeting has resolved that a new vote shall be carried out in the event of a tie. For a valid resolution with regards to Item 11, the proposal has to be supported by shareholders with at least two thirds of the votes cast as well as of the shares represented at the meeting.

Meeting documents

The complete proposal for resolutions as well as the nomination committees proposed resolutions and reasoned opinions are available for the shareholders at the Company's website www.mentice.com, at the Company address Odinsgatan 10, 411 03 Gothenburg, and will be sent free of charge to shareholders upon their request to the Company, provided that such shareholders state their current address.

Questions

The shareholders are hereby informed on their right according to the Companies Act Chapter 7 Section 32 to request information from the Board of Directors and the managing director at the annual shareholders' meeting regarding circumstances which may affect the assessment of a matter on the agenda as well as circumstances which may affect the assessment of the Company's and the Group's financial position. A shareholder who wishes to exercise their right of request in accordance with the Companies Act Chapter 7 Section 32 shall leave a written request to the Company no later than ten days prior to the annual shareholders' meeting. The Board of Directors and the managing director shall submit the requested information by making sure that it is available in writing to the Company for the shareholders no later than five days before the annual shareholder's meeting. The information shall also be sent to the requesting shareholder. The information will also be made available on the Company's website, www.mentice.com.

Processing of personal data

Personal data collected from the share ledger held by Euroclear Sweden AB, notice and participation in the meeting as well as information regarding advisors, proxies and trustees will be used for registration, preparation of the register of voters and, if applicable, for the minutes of the meeting. The personal data is processed in accordance with regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Gothenburg April 2021

The Board of Directors in Mentice

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/mentice-ab/r/notice-to-attend-the-annual-shareholders--meeting-in-mentice-ab,c3321369

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SOURCE Mentice AB
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo speaks during a daily press briefing at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 7, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Trumps Steel, Aluminum Tariffs Saved US Jobs, Biden Commerce Secretary Says

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said on April 7 that the Trump administrations tariffs on steel and aluminum saved American jobs.

With respect to tariffs, there is a place for tariffs. The 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum have in fact helped save American jobs in the steel and aluminum industries, Raimondo told reporters at the White House, marking a rare point of agreement with the policies of the prior administration.

So what do we do with tariffs? We have to level the playing field. No one can out-compete the American worker if the playing field is level, Raimondo continued. And the fact is, Chinas actions are uncompetitive, coercive, underhanded. Theyve proven theyll do whatever it takes.

And so I plan to use all the tools in my toolbox as aggressively as possible to protect American workers and businesses from unfair Chinese practices.

President Donald Trump in March 2018 imposed a 25 percent tariff on steel and a 10 percent levy on aluminum imports. Some countries were temporarily exempted from the tariffs. Currently, South Korea, Argentina, Australia, and Brazil are permanently exempted. The tariffs on Canada and Mexico were lifted with the signing of the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement.

During the same month in 2018, Trump fired the first salvo in the trade war with China, imposing tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese goods. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) responded with retaliatory tariffs and the tit-for-tat has escalated since. Trump had reasoned that the tariffs were necessary to force the CCP to abandon unfair trade practices and pay a price for years of rampant intellectual property theft from the United States.

Trump had also targeted private Chinese companies over concerns national security concerns, including the potential that troves of data on Americans were relayed to the communist regime in Beijing.

Raimondo made the remarks in response to a reporter who had also prompted her to clarify the Biden administrations stance on TikTok, a social media app that Trump had threatened to ban unless the Chinese company that owns it sold its American business to a U.S. company.

So I would say, heres my broad view, and I dont want to get into details on any particular company, Raimondo said. My broad view is what we do on offense is more important than we do on defense. To compete in the long run with China, we need to rebuild America in all of the ways were talking about today, and by the way, do that with our allies. We have to work with our allies and find common ground where we can.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Elections Commission has voted to refer Newburgh Heights Mayor Trevor Elkins for prosecution over his misuse of roughly $134,000 in campaign funds to cover his personal expenses.

Commissioners voted 5-2 on Thursday to refer Elkins, a Democrat, for prosecution, saying the commission needed to make a tough statement on what they viewed as a precedent-setting case. The two no votes came from Democrats Dennis Brommer and Otto Beatty, who argued the commission should only impose a fine, while Democrat Charleta Tavares joined Republicans D. Michael Crites, Catherine Cunningham, Natasha Kaufman and independent A. Scott Norman in voting yes.

The commission also voted to fine Elkins campaign $5,000 and to impose a $500 fine upon his campaign treasurer, Bernadette Weaver.

This is as Ive indicated previously ... probably the most egregious and blatant violation Ive seen during my tenure on this commission, said Crites, a former federal prosecutor and past state attorney general candidate who chairs the elections commission.

The Franklin County Prosecutors Office is expected to take up the case, and previously has said a felony charge is fully on the table. Elkins also could be charged with a misdemeanor or fined. The FBI also might be involved -- the agency since October 2019 has regularly requested Elkins campaign finance reports as theyve been filed, according to officials at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

Elkins didnt speak during Thursdays elections commission meeting, but previously told the elections commission he didnt realize he couldnt co-mingle his personal and campaign expenses. Hes also previously told them he repaid the money afterward, and said no money was missing from his account.

He said in an interview hes disappointed with the elections commissions decision.

I disagree with it, and having said that, I have accepted responsibility for violating the rule because I didnt know it, Elkins said. And theres not much to say beyond that. Its just unfortunate that thats the conclusion that they came to.

Elkins has been mayor of Newburgh Heights, a Cleveland suburb of roughly 1,700 people, since 2011. He is actively involved in county Democratic politics, including unsuccessfully seeking leadership of the county party in 2018. He is a political director for former state Sen. Nina Turners campaign for Ohios 11th Congressional District, which includes Cleveland and Newburgh Heights. A request seeking comment has been left with the Turner campaign.

Elkins has said the investigation began as a vendetta for challenging party leaders.

But Elkins also has admitted to misusing more than $134,100 of his campaign funds on 650 occasions from 2015 to 2019, using a campaign debit card to cover routine personal expenses. He said he always repaid the account and didnt realize what he was doing was illegal until it was pointed out to him.

State law prohibits politicians from using their campaign accounts to pay for personal expenses.

The case began when the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections made a referral in June 2019 after an audit found Elkins reported fund balances didnt match his actual account spending. Local elections officials called in the Franklin County Prosecutors Office to represent them, since the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office had a conflict of interest. A hearing initially was set for January 2020, but was postponed several times, with the coronavirus pandemic eventually playing a factor.

Jeffrey Ruppert, Elkins attorney, previously said the elections commission should only fine Elkins.

There was no real intent to deceive here, Ruppert said during a March 25 meeting. There certainly is a misunderstanding of the law. It was certainly sloppy, and its certainly not best campaign practices, and questionable whether it was a smart thing to do.
NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council (MJAC) praises the bipartisan and bicameral introduction of the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assaults, and Threats to Equality (NO HATE) Act, to help address the massive underreporting of hate crimes in the United States. The bill was introduced in the House by Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Judy Chu (D-CA), and Fred Upton (R-MI). It was introduced in the Senate by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jerry Moran (R-KS).

It is similar to the bill, strongly supported by MJAC, that the 116th House adopted last year.

Due to inaccurate and incomplete data, the U.S. Government lacks a full understanding of the national threat posed by hate crimes. Reporting to the FBI from local law enforcement agencies is not mandatory. In 2019, the FBI reported 7,314 hate crime incidents nationally, and 71 cities with a population of 100,000 residents or more reported zero hate crimes or did not submit any data. The FBI's annual Hate Crimes Statistics report clearly does not show a comprehensive picture of hate crimes taking place in the United States. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Justice Statistics asserts that the number may be as high as 250,000 per year.

"Muslims and Jews, like so many other minorities in America, have been subjected to increasing bias and violence in the past year," said MJAC Co-Chair Stanley Bergman. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation has seen a most disturbing and significant spike in hatred against the Asian-American community in particular. All of us must take action against hate."

The NO HATE Act will incentivize state and local law enforcement authorities to improve hate crime reporting by making grants available for law enforcement trainings, reporting hotlines, resources to liaise with affected communities, and public educational forums on hate crimes. Grants will be authorized from existing funds and managed through the Department of Justice. The bill also amends the penalties for hate crimes to allow courts to require offenders to undertake educational classes or community service related to the victim's community as a condition of release.

"This bill will significantly improve how law enforcement responds to hate crime incidents," said MJAC Co-chair Farooq Kathwari. "We are grateful to those members of Congress who showed true leadership in overcoming partisan divides to reintroduce the NO HATE Act together. Combating hate crimes, safeguarding, and protecting minorities is the responsibility of all Americans."

MJAC is a civil society coalition co-convened by American Jewish Committee (AJC) and Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). Founded in 2016, MJAC brings together civil society, religious, and business leaders from across the U.S. to advocate for domestic policy issues of common concern. MJAC's national council and eleven regional councils, in Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Louisville, Miami, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. represent a network of hundreds of Muslim and Jewish leaders committed to working together for the good of both communities and the country. MJAC stands at the forefront of those confronting hatred against religious minorities and has made stemming the rise in hate crimes a key advocacy area of focus.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


China has unleashed water during the rivers normal dry season by opening dams on the Mekong Rivers that further threaten the aquatic life in Laos along with several other people living alongside the river in Southeast Asian country, stated a report by Radio Free Asia (RFA).

As per the report, an official of the Natural Resources and Environment Department of Laos northwestern Bokeo province told RFA on April 2 that the Mekong River water level is up by 12 centimetres or 4.7 inches from yesterday. Further, even fishermen from northwestern Xayaburi province of Laos are raising concerns over the sudden change in water level that is harmful to fish stocks.

"The Mekong River has risen about 10 centimetres [four inches]. I'm concerned that the rising water will affect aquatic vegetation and fish," the fisherman said as quoted by ANI citing another report.

Several other experts have reportedly sympathised that the rivers water level is not supposed to spike during the dry season. Montree Chanthawong, a Thailand-based Mekong River expert reportedly said, The rising water could hurt aquatic species like fish and aquatic vegetation. Some of them could even die. Sparrows lay their eggs on the sand beds too, and when the water level rises these can become flooded.

US diplomat also raises concerns

Just last month, Senior United States diplomat Atul Keshap had raised concerns over the dipping water levels of the Mekong River and the upstream dams in China while also noting that the upstream dams in China that exacerbate droughts are harming the communities as well as the ecosystems that have depended on the Mekong River's natural flood pulse for several years.

"We remain concerned just as we were in October during the conference--that record drought and the upstream dams in China that exacerbate them are hurting the communities and ecosystems that have relied for countless generations on the Mekong River's natural flood pulse," Keshap had said as quoted by ANI citing another outlet.

Image credits: AP/ANI
The Diamondbacks announced this evening theyve selected the contract of reliever Anthony Swarzak. Fellow bullpen arm Chris Devenski has been placed on the restricted list in a corresponding roster move.

Swarzak signed a minor-league deal with the Arizona organization in early March. The 35-year-old is now in line to make his return to a major league mound after not pitching last season. Swarzak broke out with 77.1 innings of 2.33 ERA ball between the White Sox and Brewers in 2017, but he was less effective after signing with the Mets in the ensuing offseason. He struggled between a pair of injured list stints in 2018, and New York shipped him off to Seattle that winter. Other than a minor IL stint for shoulder inflammation, the veteran righty stayed healthy with the Mariners and Braves in 2019, but he only managed a 4.56 ERA/4.65 SIERA across 53.1 innings.

Devenski has pitched in two games for the D-Backs this season. He has been placed on the restricted list for unspecified personal reasons, manager Torey Lovullo told reporters (including Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic). No other updates are yet available, but Lovullo said Devenskis situation is not related to COVID-19.
The has recorded the



statements of former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, suspended API Sachin Waze and two others in connection with the allegations of and misconduct against former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, an official said on Thursday.

Following the Bombay High Court's directive on Monday, a team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrived in Mumbai from Delhi two days back for the preliminary inquiry into the allegations levelled by Singh against Deshmukh, the official said.

"The team has recorded the statements of Param Bir Singh and Sachin Waze in connection with the allegations. Their statements were recorded on Wednesday and Thursday," he said.

Waze is currently in the custody of the Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the probe into the explosives-laden SUV found parked near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's multi-storey residence in south Mumbai in the last week of February. Waze is also under scanner for the alleged murder of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran, who was in possession of that SUV.

"The team also recorded the statements of Mumbai ACP Sanjay Patil and advocate Jayshree Patil (on whose criminal writ petition the high court ordered the CBI probe against Deshmukh)," he said.

The high court had on Monday directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry within 15 days into the allegations against Deshmukh. Soon after the order, Deshmukh, a senior NCP leader, resigned as home minister.

Singh, who was under flak over the handling of the bomb scare outside Ambani's residence, was transferred from the post of Mumbai police commissioner on March 17. Three days later, he wrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in which he alleged that Deshmukh had asked Waze to collect Rs 100 crore per month from bars and restaurants.

In his letter, Singh had said that he was informed by ACP Sanjay Patil about the minister's demand about the money collection.

(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.)
Rights advocates, opposition politicians, and lawyers have opposed draft changes to the Pakistani criminal law that recommend a two-year prison sentence or more than $3,200 in fines for anyone who intentionally ridicules, brings into disrepute or defames the countrys military.

The proposed bill was adopted by the committee on interior in the National Assembly, the popularly elected lower house of the Pakistani parliament, on April 7. The bill still needs majority approval in the National Assembly and the Senate or upper house to become law. But it comes on the heels of government efforts to regulate social media while activists continue to face threats, kidnapping, and violence for allegedly criticizing the security forces.

If it is passed, it will be used as a tool against the political victims, Khush Dil Khan, vice chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council, said in a statement on April 8. If it is passed then the Pakistan Bar Council will oppose it tooth and nail.

The bill moved by Amjad Ali Khan, a lawmaker affiliated with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) party, seeks to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure, the main legislation tasked with administering criminal law.

Whosoever intentionally ridicules, brings into disrepute or defames the Armed Forces of Pakistan or a member thereof, he shall be guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment or a term, the text of the proposed law circulated on social media noted, adding that this may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to five hundred thousand rupees, or with both.

Lawmaker Rafiullah Agha, a member of the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party, opposed the draft amendment in the parliamentary committee. He says the amendment is uncalled for because his countrys laws and constitution have enough provisions to deal with such issues.

This proposed law will enhance a false perception, which says that people in Pakistan are against the military, he told Radio Mashaal. It is against the [fundamental] provisions of our constitution, which guarantees the freedom of expression, he added. The constitution of Pakistan says that all citizens are equal and there are no sacred cows.

Such criticism appeared to pressure the government with at least one minister opposing it openly. Absolutely ridiculous idea to criminalize criticism, respect is earned, cannot be imposed on people, Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted on April 8. Seriously doubt if Armed forces demanded such law, Army in Pakistan is loved and respected by every Pakistani.

But Afrasiab Khattak, a former lawmaker, says the real motive behind the proposed law is to muzzle social media. They are already censoring and controlling print and electronic media, so this is an effort to silence any criticism on social media, he told Gandhara.

Since 2018, mounting censorship of print and electronic has even forced leading Pakistani journalists to rely on social media for disseminating their reporting. Twitter, in particular, has emerged as the main platform of debate and discussion.

Last week, a robust social media campaign led to the return of Sarmad Sultan, an amateur historian who mysteriously disappeared amid speculations that he had been picked up by intelligence agents. He frequently posted probing questions about Pakistans checkered past that often clashed with the countrys official history and what are widely seen as government-sanctioned viewpoints.

What happened to me, my family, and younger brother is a question mark on the state and its institutions, he said in a brief video. Who will answer these questions -- you, me, or the states institutions? he asked.

The Pakistani government still plans to eventually implement social media regulations that have prompted tech giants to threaten to leave the country because the proposed rules give authorities blanket powers to censor digital content. A court in Islamabad is also hearing a case about the regulations that the government is currently reviewing.

Earlier this month, Pakistan reinstated access to video-sharing app TikTok three weeks after banning it for spreading offensive content.
The Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau is getting $1 million, mostly from CARES Act funds, to boost marketing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Thursday that it was awarding an $800,000 grant to the bureau, to be matched with $200,000 in local investment. The source of the local funds was not identified. The bureau promotes tourism in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, and the funds are to be used to develop and implement a tourism recovery marketing campaign in response to the economic downturn that resulted from the coronavirus pandemic.

In an announcement released by the Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration, Gov. Kay Ivey and Sen. Tommy Tuberville praised the allocation.

According to Thursdays statement, the grant will fund a series of marketing strategies, including identification of the most productive consumer markets and areas of opportunity, research into the most lucrative advertising platforms and the development of appropriate messaging.

The announcement credited the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission for laying groundwork that made the project possible.
NEW YORK, NY, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eight helically-curved, double-glazed, 16-foot channel glass walls by Bendheim are key to the design of the new Franklin & Marshall College Winter Visual Arts Center in Lancaster, Pa. They clad the buildings 2nd and Mezzanine levels and define its celebrated box-kite shape.

Steven Holl Architects designed the $29 million project  a three-story, 33,000 square foot building that opened in the fall of 2020. The unique building design curves in plan and section in response to several large, historic trees. The trees are the largest thing of this campus. I made the actual geometry of the building concave in response to the diameter of the trees, Holl said in a video on the company website.

One of the main challenges for Bendheim was to engineer a unique, parallel, single-glazed, tip-to-tip framing configuration for the curved glass walls. The unusual facade layout, which has never been done before in North America, minimizes the visual appearance of the channel glass joints. Together with the use of translucent white insulation and ultra-clear low-iron channel glass, the new design produces a homogenous facade featuring a crystalline, brilliant white aesthetic.

Channel glass joints create a signature linear aesthetic, and tend to be fairly pronounced in traditional double-glazed applications. Typical to Steven Holl, the architect took a building material he frequently employs and made it brand new.

The customized facade configuration at the Pennsylvania college deemphasizes the joints and creates walls with deeper cavities, allowing the insertion of double-thickness insulation. This enhances the thermal performance of the wall and the diffusion of natural daylight. During the day, the helically-curved channel glass walls diffuse approximately 20 percent of visible light to the interior, eliminating glare  ideal for light-sensitive art studio environments. At night, they emit a subtle, visceral glow.

The building design allows for natural ventilation during mild times of the year, while geothermal heating and cooling, coupled with an insulated envelope, dramatically reduce energy costs. The project was designed to achieve LEED Gold certification.

National Enclosure Company installed the channel glass. Casali Group served as the project manager, while Harvey Marshall Berling Associates and Knipper Helbig Advanced Engineering served as facade consultants.

For more information on Bendheims channel glass, please visit https://bendheim.com/glass_type/channel-glass.

Attachments
Wellington, April 8 : New Zealand on Thursday announced a temporary ban on arrivals from India, which has witnessed a massive surge in new Covid-19 cases, in order to curb the spread of the virus in managed quarantine facilities.

From April 11 to 28, flights from India to New Zealand will be suspended in order to reduce the number of arriving passengers from India who test positive for Covid-19, reports Xinhua news agency.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a press conference that anyone who had been in India in the past 14 days would be banned from entering New Zealand until April 28.

The ban applies to anyone who has been in India, covering New Zealand citizens and residents, Ardern said.

The Prime Minister said that she understood that the temporary ban would affect New Zealand citizens and residents currently living in India, but she felt "a sense of responsibility and obligation to find ways to reduce risks that travellers are experiencing".

The decision came as New Zealand reported 23 newly imported Covid-19 cases in managed isolation facilities on Thursday.

Among them, 17 people came from India.

On Thursday, India recorded 126,789 Covid-19 cases, the highest single-day spike following the onset of the pandemic last year.

The new figure increased the overall caseload to 12,928,574, the world's third highest after the US and Brazil.

The death toll from the deadly infection stands at 1,66,892, the fourth largest in the world after the US, Brazil and Mexico.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
[April 08, 2021] Finish Line in Sight for Efforts to Build Nearly 20,000 Homes in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff has determined that the overwhelming majority of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the master planned mixed use community of Centennial at Tejon Ranch is satisfactory, denying 20 of the 23 claims raised in two separate environmental lawsuits filed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The judge rejected all claims raised by the Center for Biological Diversity and the California Native Plant Society. He also found that certain narrow aspects of the EIR related to the analysis and mitigation of greenhouse gasses and off-site fire risk needed further analysis or clarification. In most of the issues related to greenhouse gasses and fire risk, including Centennial's wildfire protection program, the court ruled in favor of Tejon Ranch and Los Angeles County. "We want to thank the judge for his careful attention to this case's numerous issues, especially his affirmation that Centennial is a fire-resilient community," said Gregory S. Bielli, President and CEO of Tejon Ranch Co. "Environmental impact reports are extremely lengthy, complex documents, and it's difficult to get everything perfect the first time out. With the judge's direction, we will work with LA County to address the few remaining issues, just as we did in Kern County when a court ruled the EIR for our Grapevine community needed additional analysis. The analysis was completed, Grapevine was reapproved, and the court affirmed the additional analysis was correct. We expect the same will be true for Centennial." Centennial, which is located in the Western Economic Opportunity Zone designaed in the Antelope Valley Area Plan and the Los Angeles County General Plan, consists of 19,333 residential units, 18% of which are affordable units, and more than 10.1 million square feet of commercial space providing retail and business park uses. It will also produce a wide array of employment opportunities. In addition to much-needed housing, Centennial is projected to create more than 23,000 permanent jobs on site and nearly 25,000 construction jobs.



While the California Environmental Quality Act was created for an important purpose, it has been hijacked by extreme environmental groups such as the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) to try and stop all housing and job creation opportunities in California, ultimately denying millions of Californians an opportunity to own a home of their own and provide for their families. CBD's lawsuit filed against Tejon Ranch was the third the organization has lost in the last five months and was its 13th legal action taken against Tejon Ranch and its interests since 2003. CBD's goal is to undermine and prevent the development of Tejon's master planned communities, which will provide 35,000 desperately needed new homes for Californians.

The concerted efforts by CBD and other extremist groups only serve to worsen California's housing shortage and drive home costs ever higher. CBD's actions are consistent with their philosophy which advocates for "reducing the human population" because, in the words of CBD co-founder Kieran Suckling, "there's too many damn feet." Through its strategy of filing lawsuit-upon-lawsuit, CBD aims to, according to another co-founder, Robin Silver, "inflict severe economic harm." Regrettably, the ultimate victims of CBD and these other groups' short-sighted strategies are hard-working Californians who desire a home they can afford and an opportunity to better themselves and their families. Tejon Ranch Co. is ready to do its part to help solve California's housing crisis, to build the homes and create the jobs that California so desperately needs, so it is anxious to resolve the issues noted by the court as quickly as possible. About Tejon Ranch Co. Tejon Ranch Co. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TRC. Tejon Ranch is a diversified real estate development and agribusiness company, whose principal asset is its 270,000-acre land holding located approximately 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Bakersfield. More information about Tejon Ranch Co. can be found online at www.tejonranch.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005889/en/

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The UK has granted asylum to a leading democracy activist from Hong Kong as ministers set out a 43 million support package for families using a new visa route to come to Britain from its former territory.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the UK had a proud history of providing protection to those who need it as he confirmed Nathan Law had been granted asylum.

Meanwhile the Government set out the help that is on offer for Hongkongers eligible to use the new visa route to come to the UK.

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Mr Law said the Home Office had approved his asylum application in a move which could further inflame tensions with Beijing.

The fact that I am wanted under the national security law shows that I am exposed to severe political persecution and am unlikely to return to Hong Kong without risk, he said.

Mr Raab confirmed the move on Thursday, saying: Former elected Hong Kong politician, Nathan Law, has been granted asylum in the UK.

The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it.

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The introduction of the national security law in Hong Kong led the UK to offer a route out of the territory for eligible citizens.

Welcome hubs will help arrivals from Hong Kong access housing, education and employment to build a life in the UK, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Hongkongers with British National (Overseas) status and their dependants are eligible for the new immigration route, which was announced in the wake of Beijings national security law being imposed on Hong Kong last year.

Councils in England will receive 30.7 million to provide targeted support for new arrivals, covering additional English language assistance and support with housing costs for those who need it, according to the MHCLG.

As the areas of support covered by these funds are devolved, 5.8 million will be provided to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to deliver similar activity.

A further 5 million will establish 12 virtual welcome hubs across the UK, with funds for projects such as local helplines for practical advice and assistance, while the MHCLG will develop dedicated Hong Kong educational resources for schools.

John Song, from grassroots advocacy organisation Stand with Hong Kong, said: Providing these supports and education programmes will be vital to help Hongkongers fleeing to the UK to settle and integrate.

However, as the joint signatory of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the UK also has a responsibility to hold China to account for its gross human rights violations.

The UK needs to send a clear message to China that destroying Hong Kongs autonomy has consequences.

The BN(O) status was created before the UK handed responsibility for Hong Kong back to China in July 1997.

Under the new scheme, those with BN(O) status will be eligible for UK visas then, after five years, they will be able to apply for settlement, followed by British citizenship after a further 12 months.

As of March 19, approximately 27,000 BN(O) status holders and their family members had applied for a visa since January.

Between 123,000 and 153,700 BN(O) status holders and their dependants are expected to use the route to the UK in the first year, rising to between 258,000 and 322,400 over five years.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the support package ensures the very best start for BN(O) status holders and their families, supporting them to find a home, schools for their children, opportunity and prosperity.
Massachusetts residents who incurred funeral expenses after losing a loved one to COVID-19 complications could get financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA is offering to cover up to $9,000 in funeral expenses for people who died of complications related to COVID-19 after Jan. 20, 2020, two months before the pandemic was declared.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin on Wednesday urged residents to apply for financial assistance.

So many people have lost loved ones to this pandemic and coping with the loss of a family member is hard enough without needing to worry about the costs of laying that person to rest, Galvin said in a statement. I encourage anyone who has lost a loved one to COVID-19 to visit my website to learn more about the help that is available to them, even if the funeral has already been paid for.

Massachusetts surpassed 17,000 COVID-related deaths on Wednesday, and a growing number of new COVID-19 cases involve children under age 14. The U.S. death toll is exponentially higher, exceeding 556,000 since COVID-19 was first detected.

Who qualifies for reimbursement?

The program is open to U.S. citizens, non-citizens with legal status with some exceptions. The death must have occurred in the U.S., and a medical examiner or other certifier must have noted on the death certificate that COVID-19 played a role in the persons death, according to the programs interim policy.

Children cannot apply for the program on behalf of an adult who is not a U.S. citizen or qualified alien. But if a child paid for funeral expenses for someone who died from COVID-19 applications, that child could apply and have the request reviewed for possible reimbursement.

FEMA also requires that applicants submit reimbursement for funeral expenses that were not covered by other sources, including existing financial assistance programs, government agencies or other entities.

What if multiple people paid for a funeral?

If multiple people paid for a funeral, internment or burial, those people must register under the same application as an applicant or co-applicant. Alternatively, if people submit documents separately, the first applicant will get the funeral assistance to cover expenses for the person who died.

FEMA requires applicants to have receipts, funeral home contracts and other records that show the applicants name as the responsible party. The agencys website also states, We recognize that multiple individuals may have contributed to funeral expenses for one deceased individual. FEMA will work with applicants in these situations and those who submit multiple receipts for funeral expenses when their name does not appear on the receipt.

What about people who paid for multiple funerals?

People who had to pay for multiple funerals can get up to $35,000, depending on how much they can prove they spent on those services.

How to apply

People seeking compensation should call the COVID-19 funeral assistance line at 1-844-684-6333 or 800-462-7585. The line will accept calls 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. A FEMA representative will help the caller register for an application. FEMA will have multilingual services, though the agency did not specify what languages representatives speak.

FEMA will ask for the applicants and deceased persons Social Security numbers, as well as the applicants and deceased persons dates of birth.

The applicant will also need to provide a current mailing address, telephone number, the place where the death happened, funeral insurance policy information, records of donations and other funeral assistance received, records of CARES Act grants and assistance from voluntary organizations and a routing and account number of a checking or savings account.

Applicants will get an application number, which they can then use to submit documents to FEMA. Those documents can be faxed, mailed or uploaded to disasterassistance.gov after the applicant creates an account on the website.

In addition to a death certificate listing COVID-19 or COVID-symptoms as a likely cause, applicants must produce receipts, funeral contracts and other records that have their name, life insurance proceeds and proof of funds received from other sources (i.e. funeral assistance and donations). According to the FEMA policy, life insurance proceeds are not considered funeral financial assistance that could disqualify someone from getting federal aid.

What expenses are covered?

FEMA lists several expenses related to funerals, interments and cremations that could get covered. Those include transportation for up to two people to identify the person who died.

Other coverable expenses include the transfer of remains, the cost of a casket or urn, a burial plot cremation niche, a marker, a headstone, a clergy or officiant services, funeral home equipment or staff, cremation or interment costs, death certificate production and certification costs and other expenses that might have been required by local or state laws.
Seoul - Deputy Foreign Minister Mirwais Nob met with Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Jongmoon Choi.

The Deputy Foreign Minister termed the first round of political consultations between Afghanistan and Korea a turning point in the relations between the two countries and underscored its significance in expanding bilateral cooperation in political, economic, trade, and cultural areas.

Mr. Nab acknowledged that Korea's generous financial assistance in various fields played a significant role in Afghanistan's achievements over the past twenty years. The Deputy Minister added that amid the ongoing peace talks, the role of friendly countries such as Korea was critical in helping Afghanistan to achieve lasting peace and preserve and build on the achievements of the last twenty years, including strengthening the Islamic Republic.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea praised the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's efforts to establish peace and stability in the country. He hoped that the forthcoming Istanbul peace talks would play a significant role in advancing the peace process and preserving Afghanistan's gains. He stressed that at this critical historic juncture, Afghanistan's progress should not be reversed.

During the meeting, Mr. Nab provided detailed information on the prospects for peace. He also touched on Korea's role in capacity-building programs, the expansion of economic and trade relations, and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

The Republic of Korea has recently pledged $ 35 million in assistance for the 2021 Geneva Conference on Afghanistan.
Mr Kwasi Adu-Gyan, the Bono East Regional Minister, on Thursday expressed his determination to transform agriculture and create employment for the teeming unemployed youth in the region.



He said the agriculture sector was unattractive because farmers lacked credit facilities to go into commercial production and a ready market for foodstuff and agriculture produce.



Mr Adu-Gyan said this when the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Executives of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) paid a courtesy call on him at Techiman, the regional capital.



He said his administration had prioritised the One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) initiative and would ensure that Bono East is a 'perfect destination of 1D1F for agro-processing in the country."



Mr Adu-Gyan said the Local Government Act 2016 mandated Regional Coordinating Councils to supervise and monitor the operations of the Municipal and District Assemblies and he would go an extra mile to ensure the agriculture sector fetched jobs for many of the youth in the region.



He tasked the GJA in the region to organise periodic refresher training courses, particularly for upcoming media practitioners, to enhance high ethical standards.







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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America and the Wests policy of constructive engagement with Communist China make up the most egregious case of wishful thinking in history. For almost fifty years, the West has pumped trillions of dollars into the Chinese experiment and now has little to show for it except a much stronger China. Fortunately, many Americans are now waking up to the dangers of dealing with the Chinese dragon. It is not a moment too soon.

Ever since President Richard Nixons infamous 1972 trip to China, the West has deceived itself into believing that being nice to Red China is a win-win proposition. The policys underlying reasoning was that opening China up would expose the communist nation to freedom, which would induce its dictators to change and do what is best for the Chinese people. Alas, how wrong the West has been.

Several Myths

The wishful thinking revolved around several myths about China.

The first myth is that by introducing a free market system into the country, the leadership would gradually adopt a capitalist-like scheme that would be communist in name only. The West has long asserted that the Chinese have abandoned Marxist ideology and embraced world markets.

However, the Chinese have never stopped insisting that they are genuinely communist. The more the West claims that China is not communist, the more the Chinese openly say they are. The recent hardline developments of the Xi dictatorship have dashed the hopes of Western optimists. Hong Kong and the persecution of the Catholic Church now offer bitter testimony that nothing has changed.

Globalization and Control

Another myth is that China is so integrated into the global economy that it cannot be a threat. The reality is that the West has built up China and turned it into a power. By offshoring so many things there, it is now the West that is dependent upon China. The West has created a Frankenstein that now threatens the world.

A final myth is that China is a shining example of the free market that shows what can be done when countries work together. China has indeed gone from being a hopeless economic basket case to a vibrant power. However, this progress is not because of the free market.

China is an artificial creature of the West. It uses Western know-how and credit yet operates outside market systems. China routinely breaks trade agreements and shamelessly steals intellectual property from the West. It uses slave labor to produce cheap goods. Its economy is riddled with state planning and debt. Its shadow banking system is notoriously corrupt. The government manages to control the economy in every detail through Community Party members in every major industry. The nation is an environmental disaster. China is an example of everything the free market is not supposed to be.

The Wests wrongheaded policy treats China as a trade partner. China treats the West as an enemy. It now challenges American leadership, military might, and technological development. China wants to dominate the world and is developing a network of trade relationships to draw countries into its fatal embrace. China seeks to take the lead in developing artificial intelligence and quantum computing, two industries that will dominate the next generation of technological development.

Now a Competitor

The case against China is so compelling that Americans are starting to see the light. Public attitudes toward Beijing are hardening.

A recent Pew Research Center poll says that 67% of Americans have a negative or very negative attitude toward China, up from 46% three years ago. China is seen nearly 90% as either a competitor (55%) or an enemy (34%). Some 84% regard Chinas growing technological power as a serious or very serious problem for the U.S. Nearly half of all Americans believe the U.S. should give priority to limiting Chinas influence and power.

This more realistic vision of China transcends partisan lines. Both political parties advocate measures to contain Chinas ambitions. The Biden administration recently released a document titled the Interim National Security Strategic Guidance, which supports some realistic approaches to the problem.

The present administration will keep at least some of the Trump administrations aggressive policy changes that overturned decades of cooperation with the Communist regime.

A Need for a Consistent Policy

Alas, America is waking up to the danger only now. For decades, the nation has slept, hoping China would change its way. China has changed for the worst by becoming a mighty dragon that menaces the West.

Administration officials are reacting to Chinas advance by calling for more spending on tech research and development. While such funding is welcome to match the Chinese efforts, it is not enough. America educates countless Chinese students at its universities. The nation funds Chinese development by its massive imports and offshoring. Americas silence facilitates the violation of human rights and religious persecution of the Catholic Church.

Unless there is a consistent policy that limits the American contact, education and trade with China, nothing will be done. Foreign policy must be built on facts, not fancy. The government needs to listen to what Americans think about Communist China. It is still Communist, and no amount of thinking to the contrary can change this reality.

Indeed, the Wests wishful thinking is becoming more wistful. Energetic action is urgently needed before it is too late.

Image: Pixabay

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Kolkata, April 8 : A special NIA court on Thursday sentenced Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) terrorist Rizual Islam aka Riyaz aka Sumon to seven-year rigorous imprisonment in a 2017 case related to planning to commit terror acts in India.

An NIA spokesperson said that Islam, a resident of Khulna in Bangladesh, was convicted under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Foreigners Act. A fine of Rs 36,000 was also slapped on him.

The Kolkata STF had registered a case on November 21, 2017 pertaining to arrest of five members of ABT, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Bangladesh, in the city.

TFour of the arrested members were Bangladeshi nationals and one an Indian national.

The official said that the NIA took over the probe on March 1, 2018 and after completion of investigation, filed a charge sheet against five accused.

During the probe, it was found that the four Bangladeshi ABT members had entered India in 2016 and were conspiring to commit terrorist acts in India.

The official said that the accused had travelled and stayed at Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai in the guise of labourers and had tried to procure chemicals from a shop in Patna and were planning to establish hide-outs in Ranchi.

"They were also aiming to procure arms and ammunition in Kolkata. Several incriminating materials like map of Sealdah Railway Station, Howrah Bridge, literature on explosives and bomb-making, fake Adhaar Card, fake PAN Card were seized from the possession of the accused in the case," the official added.

Two accused in this case were convicted and sentenced earlier by the special NIA court here. The trial against the remaining two arrested charge-sheeted accused continues.
Mumbai: Equity benchmark Sensex ended 84 points higher after a volatile session on Thursday as concerns over rising coronavirus infections and resultant restrictions across the country kept investors on the edge.

The 30-share BSE index settled 84.45 points or 0.17 per cent higher at 49,746.21. The broader NSE Nifty advanced 54.75 points or 0.37 per cent to 14,873.80.

UltraTech Cement was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rallying over 4 per cent, followed by Titan, Tech Mahindra, Nestle India, TCS, Bajaj Finserv and L&T.

On the other hand, IndusInd Bank, ONGC, Sun Pharma, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank were among the laggards.

Domestic equities, despite trading positively for most of the session, gave up a large portion of gains towards the end of the day as concerns of rising COVID-19 cases continued to weigh on investor sentiment, said Binod Modi, Head-Strategy at Reliance Securities.

Financials witnessed profit-booking and dragged the market. Barring financials, most of key sectoral indices traded in the green with metal index remaining an outperformer.

"Expectations of steady 4QFY21 earnings and weakening INR continued to attract investors' interest towards IT stocks," he noted.

While softening of bond yields and crude prices in recent period offered some comfort to markets, a sharp depreciation in rupee in the last couple of trading days could be a new worry for investors, which can also have an impact on FPI flows, he added.

Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul ended on a positive note, while Tokyo was in the red.

Stock exchanges in Europe were largely trading with gains in mid-session deals.

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Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.44 per cent lower at USD 62.88 per barrel.
Bijapur: A photograph of Rakeshwar Singh Manhas sitting in a hut, purportedly released by the Naxals, has now surfaced on social media platforms amid ongoing efforts for his safe release.

It may be noted that CoBRA commando is believed to have been abducted by the Naxals after the fierce gun battle in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh on April 3 in which 22 security personnel lost their lives.

In this photograph, which has become viral now, the commando can be seen sitting in a hut alone without any Naxal in the frame.

When asked about this photograph, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said, "We are closely monitoring the situation. All best possible efforts are being made to secure the safe return of the jawan".

On Tuesday, the outlawed CPI (Maoist) had issued a statement in Hindi saying its cadres had abducted the CoBRA commando from the site of the ambush and demanded that the Chhattisgarh government appoint interlocutors to ensure his safe release.

The state government has so far not reacted to the demand raised by the Maoists.

In the statement, which was issued in the name of Vikalp, spokesperson of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) of Maoists, Naxals had also said that Manhas will be released after the government names mediators.

"He will remain safe in our captivity till then," it had said. The Maoists, however, had not raised any formal demands for the release of the commando. Police had said the authenticity of the statement was being verified.

In a bid to obtain leads on the whereabouts of Manhas, police are carrying out searches and also contacting local villagers, social organisations, public representatives and journalists, an officer had said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, tribal activist Soni Sori has left for the encounter site on Wednesday to appeal to Naxals to release the abducted jawan. Manhas was part of a squad that had gone for an anti-Naxal operation in the jungles on the Bijapur and Sukma border on the night of April 2, hours before the deadly ambush.

On Saturday, the gunfight broke out between security forces and ultras between Tekalguda and Jonaguda villages in which 22 troopers were killed and 31 others injured.

Out of the 22, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) lost eight personnel, including seven CoBRA commandos and one jawan of its 'Bastariya' battalion, eight from the DRG and six from the Special Task Force.

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Drew F. Lawrence is an active-duty Army officer and a graduate of the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs. The views in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of any agency or department in the U.S. government.

The screen showed a noose left hanging inside a bathroom near the mirror. I asked a classroom full of soldiers what it meant to them. One soldier, white, said that it was probably a dark joke, maybe about suicide, or maybe even a coded message to leadership about unit morale. It made him feel uncomfortable. At the other side of the room, another soldier, Black, explained that it was clearly an overt symbol of racism. It made him feel unsafe. Another soldier said that it reminded him of an incident last summer when a noose was found in the team garage of Black NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace.

All three agreed the noose was extreme, but not everyone agreed that it could be tied to extremist behavior. An investigation into the bathroom noose proved inconclusive. Like the Wallace case, no perpetrator was found, so no motive could be identified. Skeptics of both cases believed the incident was staged.

Col. Shanon Anderson, 436th Airlift Wing vice commander, left, listens to Chief Master Sgt. Jeremiah Grisham, 436th AW interim command chief, as he addresses wing staff agency members during the one-day extremism standdown on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, March 19, 2021. (U.S. Air Force/Roland Balik)

While this exchange echoed a microcosmic vignette of an oft-repeated narrative, the soldiers in the classroom voiced different perspectives in widely varying degrees, regardless of race or gender. Even though we all wear the same uniform, our backgrounds are not monolithic, a characteristically beautiful trait of this organization but one that set the context of the stand-down and made it all the more important for me to be crystal clear, even with the most obvious examples of extremism.

In early March, these soldiers sat in a room filled with memorabilia meant to remind them of their unit heritage: photos of straight-backed soldiers posed next to war machines. Awards. Crests. Guidons. They grimaced against the brightness, and the steel and brass along the walls reflected flashes of orange as scenes of destruction emitted from the projector. I stood at the front of the classroom, the screen illuminating the audience. I reviewed the presentation for the hundredth time as the ticker on the video dropped in concert with my stomach. We were moments away from heading full tilt into a conversation about extremism.

I'd started the lesson with the example of an Army veteran who served in combat 30 years ago. He served in Desert Storm, where he earned a Bronze Star. His leadership reprimanded him for buying a "White Power" T-shirt. He washed out of Special Forces selection. And in 1995, nearly four years after he was honorably discharged from the Army, he detonated a bomb-laden rental truck in front of a federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people. He hoped to inspire a revolution against the U.S. government.

As one of the noncommissioned officers near the door turned on the lights, I asked if anyone had heard of Timothy McVeigh and the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in the history of the United States.

Out of the 30 or so soldiers, five or six had heard the story. My straw poll would prove consistent in the following two classes I taught that day. And that makes sense: The average soldier was five years old when the attack occurred.

I am a typical junior leader in an ordinary line unit -- one that mirrors the fiscal year 2020 demographic profile across the active Army -- in that I am one of thousands of leaders charged with addressing extremism through classes and conversations throughout the defense secretary's 60-day stand-down. He issued his memorandum a month after the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol.

NPR reported that 14.6% of the people charged for their involvement in the Capitol attack have a military or law enforcement background.

On day 30 of the stand-down, the hands of the few soldiers who knew about McVeigh slowly lowered and the group collectively took a breath as we attempted to address in one hour what the Army has been tackling for 30 years. The conversation highlighted a decades-long undercurrent that has surfaced periodically and violently, one that demands a more thorough examination.

The strength of addressing extremism lies in data -- I wish I had more of it. In June 2020, the Army released a comprehensive report on extremism in the military. While this data narrows the conversation, the report's examples are immaterial to the events on Jan. 6. The document states, in part, that "the greatest threat emanates from anti-government extremism," but offers "militia extremism" only as a broad category with no specifics of whom that might include.

The final appendix is dedicated to extremist symbology but exclusively focuses on white nationalist groups like Atomwaffen -- and doesn't mention groups like QAnon, the Oath Keepers, or the Boogaloo movement, monikers for ideologies whose core tenets are anti-government, who actively recruit or have a military following, and who were participants in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Beyond the recent examples, the Army defines extremism thoroughly, to include harboring racist ideologies and "participating in activities advocating or teaching the overthrow of the U.S. Government by force or violence."

So, we examined what that definition might look like and we didn't have to search far: In the case below, a watchdog group identified a soldier from our unit as an extremist based on his online activity.

A member of the authors unit was discharged from the Army after an outside group outed him for posting Nazi propaganda. (Photo courtesy of the author)

I redacted any identifying information, but the point was probably moot. Many soldiers in the classroom had worked with this individual up until his separation from the Army in 2019.

The Uniform Code of Military Justice does not have a specific article for separation that addresses extremism. While that may give commanders several options to criminally charge extremism, it also means the Army does not have data for how many service members have been separated for extremist activity.

We talked about our former soldier's obvious regulatory violations, but went deeper: "What are some other problems with this case?" I asked.

One soldier was embarrassed that a third party had to identify the service member, rather than the unit identifying it internally, he said.

Others noted how this public document could compromise his future employment.

The next slides displayed infographics from the New York City Police Department's intelligence bureau. They were presented at the Army's John F. Kennedy's Special Warfare Center and School to identify symbols co-opted by extremist organizations. I heard murmurs as the images hit the screen.

The symbols listed included the QAnon "Q;" Three Percenters' co-opted insignia, which is marked by three roman numerals and 13 stars; and the Oath Keepers "tab," which looks suspiciously similar to the Army's Ranger tab.

I could hear the hum of jittery boots on linoleum. Up to this point, we had covered uncomfortable, but trodden territory.

The second and third slides included overt Nazi symbolism like the swastika and "SS" lightning bolts.

After the authors unit confirmed the identity of a soldier accused of extremism, they tracked his activities online to determine if he had behaved inappropriately. (Photo courtesy of the author)

We repeatedly read "far-right extremists," "white supremacists," "opposition to the federal government." Until then, we had not talked about specific groups involved in the events on Jan 6. I found myself at the intersection of an unpaved road that was difficult but critical to walk.

One soldier asked why we weren't talking about Black Lives Matter or Antifa. The question didn't surprise me, and senior military leaders have shown concern over equating the two groups with the anti-government militias involved on Jan. 6.

BLM isn't an extremist group, but Three Percenters are, a Black soldier said.

Three white soldiers on the other side of the room said Three Percenters were only concerned with upholding the Constitution -- specifically the right to bear arms.

Presented with the same information, soldiers wearing the same uniform came to different conclusions -- passionate, uncomfortable, by all accounts respectful but maybe not empathetic conclusions. And many of them felt uncomfortable in a room that showcased the heraldry of the community they all shared.

Sailors assigned to Commander, Destroyer Squadron Seven (DESRON 7) participate in a Navy-wide stand-down to address extremism in the ranks. (U.S. Navy/Lt. Lauren Chatmas)

Despite the discomfort, this presents an opportunity for unity, or at least clarity. It is against the federal government's interest to hire and retain employees who, in their free time, are part of groups that would organize, potentially violently, against the government based on their own interpretation of the Constitution. The Defense Department states this pretty simply. Yet groups like the Oath Keepers, which called many of their members to Washington under the guise of protecting the Constitution, consistently recruit servicemembers.

This was brought up during the discussion. Addressing extremism should not be equated to an attack on conservative views, a soldier said. Some of the core interests of these groups -- gun ownership, constitutional loyalty, and general conservatism -- overlap with those of service members.

On their own, those concepts are not extreme. Coupled with misinformation and violence, they are. It was clear that many conservative soldiers in the room did not want to be associated with the acts of extremism perpetrated on Jan. 6 but felt lumped into a mix of violence that they had no part in. For the few minority soldiers in the class, the ambiguity loomed over the unsettling motivations of these groups.

A soldier asked if he would get kicked out if he had a Three Percenters tattoo. That led to a conversation where many soldiers said the actions of a few violent members shouldn't color the reputation of the entire organization. Apparently, the Three Percenters agreed: After the insurrection, they issued a statement saying that they had dissolved permanently.

"It's like, you may not be a Nazi, but if you hang out with Nazis and do Nazi things, people are going to call you a Nazi," one soldier said. Others balked at this, saying it was too hyperbolic.

Many pulled out their phones to fact-check each other, citing Wikipedia or the website of the organization in question. No fact was empirical.

We addressed these and more, but the misinformation was often too great to rebut real-time. I flipped to the last slide: the oath of office.

U.S. Army Pfc. Alexis York, left, and Spc. Zekia Heath, both cannon crew members with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion 107th Field Artillery Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard stand watch near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, March 3, 2021. (U.S. Army National Guard/Sgt. 1st Class R.J. Lannom Jr.)

"Can you uphold this oath and be part of an extremist organization?" I asked. Some shrugged or muttered, "Maybe" -- perhaps because groups like the Oath Keepers have co-opted the oath of office for their own purposes. Most said, "No."

"I mean, it depends on your definition of extremism," one soldier said, and we released the breath we had held from the top of the hour into an uncomfortable laugh.

I offered to talk to anyone after the official sessions were over. Some took me up and we dived back into the folds of these questions, but at the bottom of them, we found the cold absence of the recent empirical data I needed.

I knew the discussion had not been wrapped neatly in a way I had hoped it would. I hadn't expected it to, but part of me hoped anyway. I worried that the hour in the classroom would be dwarfed by the day's other 23 -- hours consumed by a political and media ecosystem that could undo the ground we had just covered.

"This is just one of many conversations like this aimed to level the understanding of respect across the force," I told soldiers I met with after the class. "It's meant to be uncomfortable." That sentiment rattled around my brain during the following weeks, and it occurred to me that we were merely taking a step -- not a first or a big step but one of many toward clearing away decades of debris.

I am not inflated enough to believe an hour could unwind 30 years. Feedback on the class was positive; most appreciated the discomfort it brought. The conversation offered a quick dive into a deep, foreboding ocean: scary at first, cold second, refreshing at last, but best not to dwell too long for fear of getting sucked in forever.

We talked with those who left the room confused in places where questions could be whispered with less judgment. I felt that even though I may personally never see a consensus on these questions while in uniform, at least our boots are tied and we are marching in a better direction.

The military has a unique opportunity to spearhead unity for a country in need of it. It is a difficult conversation for any organization to tackle, especially one tasked with being the secular arm of foreign and domestic defense but bedeviled by a seemingly nonsecular issue. Given the conversations we had, and the ones we will have, I'm confident we are up to answering them, and I am hungry for the data to address it again and again and again.

Editors Note: This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter

-- 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.
EXPLAINER: What is excited delirium? View Photo

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  The attorney for the officer on trial in George Floyd s death has raised the concept of excited delirium as testimony examines whether reasonable force was used on Floyd.

Derek Chauvin, 45, who is white, is charged with murder and manslaughter. Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was arrested outside a neighborhood market on May 25, accused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill. A panicky-sounding Floyd writhed and claimed to be claustrophobic as police tried to put him in the squad car.

Thomas Lane, another officer at the scene, can be heard on body camera video as officers hold Floyd down, asking whether Floyd might be experiencing excited delirium.

HOW DID EXCITED DELIRIUM COME UP?

It came up Tuesday as Nicole Mackenzie, a Minneapolis police officer who trains other officers in medical care, testified for the prosecution. Chauvins attorney, Eric Nelson, asked Mackenzie to define excited delirium and explain how officers are trained to recognize and respond to it.

Mackenzie described it as a combination of psychomotor agitation, psychosis, hypothermia, a wide variety of other things you might see in a person or rather bizarre behavior.

Under questioning from Nelson, Mackenzie agreed that people exhibiting something like excited delirium have often taken drugs. She also agreed that someone experiencing the condition might have superhuman strength.

On Thursday, Dr. Bill Smock  an expert in forensic medicine who works as a police surgeon for the Louisville Metro Police Department in Kentucky and as a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Louisville  testified that he believes excited delirium is real. But he said Floyd met none of the 10 criteria developed by the American College of Emergency Physicians. A minimum of six signs are required for the diagnosis, he said.

How many did you see? prosecutor Jerry Blackwell asked.

Zip, Smock replied.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

A key question at Chauvins trial is whether he used reasonable force in pinning Floyd to the pavement for 9 minutes, 29 seconds. Police department officials have testified that he did not  that Floyd was under control and that force should have quickly ended.

Nelson has emphasized Floyds bigger size compared to Chauvin, and suggested that people can present a danger even when handcuffed, and that handcuffs can fail.

WHAT DOES SCIENCE SAY ABOUT EXCITED DELIRIUM?

Some coroners in recent decades have attributed in-custody deaths to excited delirium, often in cases where the person had become extremely agitated after taking drugs, having a mental health episode or health problem. But there is no universally accepted definition of it and researchers have said its not well understood.

The American Psychiatric Associations diagnostic handbook doesnt list it and one study last year concluded it is mostly cited as a cause only when the person who died had been restrained.

A medical examiner in New York concluded that Daniel Prude was in a state of excited delirium in 2020 when police in Rochester put a hood over his head and pressed his naked body against the pavement. Prude, a Black man, lost consciousness and died. State Attorney General Letitia James issued a report recommending that officers be trained to recognize the symptoms of excited delirium.

Elijah McClain  a Black man put in a stranglehold by officers in Aurora, Colorado, in 2019  was injected with ketamine after first responders said he was experiencing excited delirium. He wound up on life support and later died.

___

Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd

By The Associated Press
Ethiopias Ministry of Peace has hired Holland & Knight for strategic counsel and government relations work in DC.

The six-month contract, which began March 21, is worth $45K per month.

Ethiopias prime minister Abiy Ahmed ordered an invasion of the Tigray region of the country in November, which triggered a humanitarian crisis and sent refugees to neighboring Sudan.

Amnesty International, CNN and the BBC have shot video footage, which they say documents a massacre by Ethiopian forces.

An April 7 PBS NewsHour report charged Ethiopias military with carrying out an ethnic cleansing operation in Tigray.

Ned Price, a State Dept. spokesperson, said April 5 that the US is "gravely concerned by reported human rights violations, abuses, and atrocities in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. We strongly condemn the killings, the forced removals, the sexual assaults, the other human rights abuses that multiple organizations have reported."

Holland and Knight joins Venable on Team Ethiopia. Venable inked a $35K monthly contract that went into effect Feb. 1.

Five Holland & Knight partners represent Ethiopia including Ronald Oleynik, head of international trade who has advised clients on complying with sanctions placed on North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Syria and Russia; Francisco Sanchez, ex-undersecretary of trade in Barack Obama's Commerce Dept., and Michael Cavenaugh, co-chair of the energy team.
Decisions about managing long-term care become increasingly important as we age. Choices will have to be made about your care (or your loved ones care). And as you look at the available options, you may decide that home care is preferred over a nursing facility. Depending on your state, Medicaid benefits, which are accessible to the elderly (over 65) and disabled, may include care at home. But for some, just the thought of applying for home care assistance seems daunting. After all, there are many hurdles including lots of paperwork, specific steps to follow, limitations, regulations, and specific requirements involved.

Trying to handle the process on your own may cause you undue stress. Who can help me handle issues with qualifying for Medicaid Homecare benefits? Whos going to manage the home care expenses? What about my monthly income and bills? What role does a pooled trust play in making the process of receiving home care easier?

Qualifying you for homecare benefits

The first challenge for many people who are seeking long-term care starts with the process of getting qualified for government assistance. In some cases, individuals may have more monthly income than allowed to receive these benefits. This is the main reason that people look for a Pooled Trust to help them. To take advantage of Medicaid Homecare Benefits, excess monthly income is placed in the trust to meet the income requirements. The government and lawyers routinely recommend these special trusts to help people become eligible.

By depositing their income into such a trust, Medicaid recipients in some states like New York will not be subject to the rules that normally apply to excess income. Think of it as protecting your income in addition to helping you qualify for government home care benefits.

Remaining eligible is also important and shouldnt be something that you need to worry about. But the fact is, the government has strict rules in place for those receiving benefits. For example, as your monthly income increases, you may need to deposit additional excess funds into the trust.

Managing your funds to meet your needs

If you are in New York, you would join a Pooled Trust at the same time that you would apply for Community Medicaid. An account would be established in the trust where your money will be deposited monthly. Although the income is (pooled) jointly, each account is personalsimilar to a bank account. Its important to remember that the pooled trust is only allowed to pay your expenses from your funds.

Your deposited funds will be used to pay for your homecare and approved monthly bills. Your bills are approved by the trust and typically include your rent, mortgage, groceries, utilities, clothes, etc. These are the expenses that fall outside of the government assistance you receive. This means that the trust funds are used to supplement a beneficiarys government benefits.

The trust is administered and managed by a non-profit organization who is bound by rules and regulations. These organizations are established with the goal of meeting the needs of the beneficiaryyou or your family member. And in some cases, depending on the organization, they will provide services beyond what is required.

Gaining from additional benefits

Although to some people, pooling your funds together may sound scary, it actually provides beneficiaries with stability. Because there are many contributors to a pooled trust, the beneficiaries can benefit from additional management services.

In addition, non-profit organizations that establish such trusts are experts in managing them. They are very familiar with the rules and regulations in their state. A highly qualified organization will work to ensure beneficiaries funds are handled with the utmost care and accuracy. But not all pooled trusts charge the same fees and provide the same services. You should take the time to check out those in your state and consider any recommendations.

Being in good company

If you think the whole process sounds complicated, youre not alone. Many people scratch their heads when they start to look into Medicaid home care benefits and whats covered. Add to that the eligibility requirements, income limitations, plus joining a pooled trust, and youre bound to get frustrated. But the reality is that joining a pooled trust can give you peace of mind. Especially if your goal is to receive needed care in the comfort of your own home. So, keep your eye on the prize, work with a preferred pooled trust organization, and enjoy the rest of your lifeat home.

KTS is ready to help you with your pooled trust needs. Contact KTS for more information.

*This is a paid advertisement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked people to vaccinate themselves against Covid-19, making the appeal after taking his second shot against the disease.

News agency ANI tweeted a photo of Modi taking the vaccine at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences over a month after he received his first shot.

"Got my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS today.

Vaccination is among the few ways we have to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon," Modi tweeted and shared a link to the CoWin website, a portal to register for the vaccine.

The two nurses who administered the vaccine to the prime minister are P Niveda, who had also given him the first shot, and Nisha Sharma, reported NDTV.com.

Niveda is from Puducherry and Ms Sharma from Punjab, said the website.
I may have the genetic coding that I'm inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that, and I look at the homosexual issue the same way.
Mathura : , April 8 (IANS) The Mathura district court has been closed till Monday after some judges and staff tested positive for the coronavirus infection.

District and Sessions judge, Mathura, Yashwant Kumar Mishra issued orders for the closure of the court.

The entire court premises will be sanitized before work resumes next week.

However, remand and other emergency cases will be dealt with by the special sessions judge, like it is done on other holidays.

Mathura, incidentally, reported the first case of the African strain of Corona in a resident of Barsana last month.

According to the health department, 54 people have tested positive for Covid-19 since Wednesday and there are nearly 400 active cases in the district at present.

The increase in the number of Covid cases is mainly attributed to the fact that large crowds had gathered in the holy city for Holi which is celebrated on a grand scale in Mathura and Vrindavan.
A Nigerian student at Oxford Brookes University, Richard Okorogheye, has been found dead after two weeks of searching.

According to his mum, Evidence Joel, the 19-year-old left home on March 22 and was reported missing two days after.

Mrs Joel had repeatedly pleaded for information on her sons whereabouts.

All he said to me was mummy, Im going to see my friend. I trusted him, I had no doubt or no reason to ask him further questions.

Its my baby, its my treasure. Hes my oxygen, hes my crown. Hes everything to me, hes the reason I live, the reason I exist. Right now Im empty, there is nothing to look forward to. Hes taken my breath away from me, she told Sky News.

But on Wednesday, the Metropolitan police, in a statement, confirmed that a corpse found in a pond Monday has been confirmed to be Mr Okorogheyes.

On Monday, 5 April, at approximately 14:01hrs, the Met was informed by colleagues from Essex Police that the body of a man had been found in a lake in Epping Forest.

Formal identification has now taken place and the body has been confirmed as that of 19-year-old Richard Okorogheye.

The Met police authorities said the next of kin had been informed and were being supported by specialist officers while investigation is still ongoing.

Richards death is being treated as unexplained and police do not believe, at this stage, that there was any third-party involvement. A forensic post mortem took place on Wednesday, 7 April. The cause of death is pending whilst further investigations are carried out, however it found no evidence of physical trauma or assault.

As a matter of routine, as Richard had been reported missing prior to the discovery of his body, a referral has been made to the Mets Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) and to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Detective Superintendent Danny Gosling, Head of the Mets Central West Public Protection Unit, said, My deepest sympathies go out to Richards family at this incredibly difficult time. This was not the outcome that any of us had hoped for and we will ensure that his grieving family are well-supported by specially trained officers.

I would like to extend my thanks to the many officers, staff and members of the public who have each played a part in the extensive effort to locate Richard.

Specialist search teams remain in parts of Epping Forest, Loughton as they continue to carry out further searches as part of the investigation, the cop added.

What we know so far  Police

Although investigation continues, the British police said the Initial enquiries identified Mr Okorogheye leaving his home and heading in the direction of Ladbroke Grove, W10 on 22 March at approximately 20:30hrs.

He was then seen boarding the 23 bus in Ladbroke Grove, heading southbound at 20:44hrs.

Further enquiries have established that Richard then took a taxi journey from west London to a residential street in Loughton, Essex.

He was captured on CCTV walking alone on Smarts Lane, Loughton, towards the area of Nursery Road and Epping Forest at 00:39hrs on Tuesday, 23 March. This was the last confirmed sighting of Richard.

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Jihadi attacks in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province are accelerating, with heavy fighting breaking out around the town of Palma. In response, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa sent South African troops to evacuate South African nationals.

The French oil and gas company Total has evacuated its employees from its Afungi gas facility and suspended construction on a $20 billion project.

The Maputo government has, for much of the insurgency, routinely declined international help. But with the jihadi group Ansar al Sunna (ASWJ) increasing in strength, international assistance is now being accepted with greater regularity.

Thus far, the Biden administration has sent a special forces detachment to provide counterinsurgency training to Mozambican forces. Portugal and the European Union are offering assistance as well. Maputo has requested military assistance from South Africa, but Ramaphosa declined on the basis that the insurgency is too big for a bilateral response. Meanwhile, the contract with South African private military contractor Dyck Advisory Group will not be renewed.

The relevant multilateral security pact in the region is the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which will meet on Thursday to discuss the situation in northern Mozambique but apparently lacks the necessary funding to provide significant assistance. Further potential outside financial assistance from the European Union, South Africa, or the United States should not be ruled out, though it is unclear at present what the method of providing such assistance would be. SADC has not been particularly successful at conflict resolution and donors may well seek a different vehicle for providing their assistance.

Blog posts represent the views of CFR fellows and staff and not those of CFR, which takes no institutional positions.
Though incumbents Jan Carter Niccum and A.J. Ruggieri each had 380 votes as of late Tuesday night, there are still vote-by-mail ballots that have to be counted.
GIRLS in Kagera region have showered President Samia Suluhu Hassan with praise for the efforts she is making to improve the welfare of women in the country and inclusion of disabled people in her government.

The girls hailed the Head of State yesterday in the region when they spoke to the 'Daily News' in separate occasions during which they said President Samia's insistence on the government resolve to build 26 secondary schools for girls by 2025 is a proof that she cares for women welfare.

Janet Byombalirwa (18), a Form Four student at Rugambwa Girls Secondary School expressed her joy when she heard the President insisting on the implementation of the project.

"We are grateful that president Samia is determined to uplift the welfare of women. Most girls in the country missed out the opportunity to attend schools due to lack of enough schools," she said.

"The implementation of this resolve by the government shows Mama Samia wants to emulate the late Cardinal Laurian Rugambwa, who constructed our school," she said.

President Samia reminded the public on the government decision to construct 26 girls' secondary schools during the swearing in of permanent secretaries, deputy permanent secretaries and heads of public institutions in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.

Mwanaidi Hussein (24), on behalf of People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs), commended President Samia for the inclusion of PLWDs in her government.

"The inclusion of PLWDs in the cabinet line-up is warmly welcome. People Living With Disabilities have the capacity and ability to perform well if they are given the chance. "For many decades women have been marginalised due to outdated cultural practices with many communities regarding a woman as a person who deserves to be in the kitchen," she said.

She said President Samia has started on the right foot, asking her to cast a closer eye on rural women and children who continue to suffer debilitating poverty occasioned by retrogressive cultural practices and the politics of marginalisation.

The only source of financial freedom for rural women is productive agricultural enterprises, which unfortunately have not been strengthened enough to erase the circle of poverty.
Washington State Restores Voting Rights to Felons After Prison

Washington state is restoring voting rights to people who have served their prison sentence for felony convictions but may still be on parole and owe legal fees, under a law signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on April 7.

When the law takes effect in 2022, it will restore voting rights to more than 20,000 people in the state, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Currently, people with felonies in the Evergreen State can only regain their right to vote after completing all conditions of their sentence.

Today, I signed HB 1078, which will restore voting rights for people who have completed their prison sentence. This is a good day for democracy in Washington state, Inslee wrote on Facebook.

State Rep. Tarra Simmons, who introduced the legislation, said at a press conference that this was a personal issue for her.

Simmons, a Democrat, had been convicted of a felony. After her release, she took the bar exam and, in November 2020, became the first former felon elected to the Legislature.

And there was a time where if a person was convicted of a felony, they lost the right to vote forever. However, over the years, the state legislature has realized the social and racial injustice is inherent in these policies, she said.

Simmons said that prior to her proposal, those who wanted their right to vote restored had to go through a complicated process and werent allowed to miss a payment on their legal or financial obligations.

Under House Bill 1078, there will be no more complicated process and the right to vote will be restored if a person is no longer in prison. This makes a lot easier to administer and it also restores some amount of dignity for our neighbors when we welcome them home, she added.

Republican state Rep. Jesse Young, an advocate of the bill, said restoring rights to previous felons should be a nonpartisan issue because everyone deserves a second chance, as he learned watching his mother fight and beat alcoholism.

Fifteen Republican representatives voted in favor of HB 1078. Republicans who opposed the measure argued that completing probation and fulfilling legal financial obligations should be met before the restoration of a persons right to vote.

Beyond voting rights, first comes responsibility, Republican state Rep. Jenny Graham said in the state House in late February. When somebody makes a decision to harm or kill another individual, there is accountability that is due.

Meanwhile, Inslee praised his state for expanding voting rights with the passing of HB 1078, and criticized states such as Georgia that have enacted laws for stricter voter ID requirements.

While other states are restricting the right to vote, Im glad that in Washington, we are expanding access to democracy, Inslee said.

Voters stand in line to cast their ballots during the first day of early voting in the U.S. Senate runoff, in Atlanta, on Dec. 14, 2020. (Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

Georgias 95-page law adds a number of changes to the way Georgians vote, including requiring photo or state-approved identification to vote absentee by mail. The law also mandates that secure drop boxes be placed inside early voting locations, with constant surveillance, and it expands early voting across the state.

The law also shortens the election cycle to four weeks from nine and requires a minimum of one week of early voting before Election Day. People who wish to vote absentee are faced with new requirements as well.

Democrats have been saying laws such as Georgias are an attempt by Republicans to suppress votes, while Republicans say it is to bring greater integrity to the voting process.

On March 26, President Joe Biden criticized Georgias law as a blatant attack on the Constitution and good conscience. He also labeled the law as a Jim Crow in the 21st century, referring to Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation in the south.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp dismissed Bidens comments, saying it is obvious that neither the president nor his handlers have actually read the bill.

There is nothing Jim Crow about requiring a photo or state-issued ID to vote by absentee ballotevery Georgia voter must already do so when voting in-person, Kemp said. President Biden, the left, and the national media are determined to destroy the sanctity and security of the ballot box.

Janita Kan contributed to this report.
ZURICH, GENEVA and LUGANO, Switzerland, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The digital financial services company Alpian SA ("Alpian"), incubated by the Swiss banking group REYL & Cie Ltd ("REYL"), today announced a successful Series B funding worth around USD18 million (CHF16.9 million). The fundraising follows the Series A round in 2020 in which CHF12.2 million was raised.

The company's latest funding will allow Alpian to finalise the development of its digital offering tailored for the mass affluent population, individuals with investible assets between CHF100,000 and 1,000,000, and ensure that all operations are in place to achieve a successful launch, subject to regulatory approval. The offering combines cutting edge technology with investment advisors to create tailored investment portfolios aligned to personal preferences aimed at delivering a unique experience to each client based on their concept of wealth. Payment services will also be offered to meet everyday banking needs.

Schuyler Weiss, Alpian's CEO, said:

"While the Series A fundraising was conducted to build the digital bank, the Series B fundraising is intended to be principally used to launch the bank in the Swiss market, subject to the issuance of a full banking licence by FINMA."

Pasha Bakhtiar, Alpian board member and partner at REYL, said:

"This exceptional milestone is a strong testament to the talent and execution capabilities of the Alpian management team and the innovative mindset championed by Reyl & Cie. We are particularly proud that this incubated idea has flourished into a blooming company and has attracted broad investor interest as well as support from our strategic partner ISP-Fideuram."

About Alpian

Alpian is a Swiss financial technology company incubated by the private bank REYL & Cie and incorporated in October 2019. It will combine private banking and wealth management services with everyday banking to potential mass affluent investors. Alpian has applied for a full banking license to Switzerland's Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) and intends to launch its core product and services range in the course of 2021, subject to the issuance of a full banking licence by FINMA.

About the REYL Group

Founded in 1973, the REYL Group is an independent diversified banking group with offices in Switzerland (Geneva, Zurich, Lugano), Europe (London, Luxembourg, Malta) and the rest of the world (Singapore, Dubai). The REYL Group manages assets in excess of CHF 13.5 billion and employs more than 220 professionals.

Media Contacts:

C-Matrix Communications

Vicki Tanner

+41 43 300 56 72

[email protected]

SOURCE Alpian
Gupshup, the leader in conversational messaging, today announced it has raised $100 million in funding from Tiger Global Management, propelling the companys valuation to $1.4 billion. This funding will be followed by a second close with significant additional funds raised from more investors, to be announced later. This latest round follows years of profitable growth, product innovation, and customer adoption that saw Gupshup emerge as the global leader in conversational messaging. Gupshups API enables over 100,000 developers and businesses to build messaging and conversational experiences delivering over 6 billion messages per month across 30+ messaging channels. Gupshup will use this investment to rapidly scale product and go-to-market initiatives worldwide in order to accelerate the transformation of business-to-consumer interactions with conversational experiences delivered over messaging channels.

The growth in business use of messaging and conversational experiences, transforming virtually every customer touchpoint, is an exciting secular trend, said John Curtius, Partner at Tiger Global Management. He added, Gupshup is uniquely positioned to win in this market with a differentiated product, a clear and sustainable moat, and an experienced team with a proven track record. In addition to its market leadership, Gupshups unique combination of scale, growth and profitability attracted us.

Gupshup has long been the incumbent leader in business messaging in India. Most major brands in India across industries use Gupshup API for customer engagement across multiple channels, especially SMS. Over the last few years, business messaging has become more conversational as SMS messages include hyperlinks along with the rise of newer IP-based messaging channels, such as WhatsApp, RCS, and the Gupshup IP (GIP) messaging channel. Gupshup has been a pioneer and first-mover driving this industry transition to conversational messaging. Unlike the telco-based SMS ecosystem that is fragmented by country, IP messaging works exactly the same way globally thereby accelerating Gupshups global expansion. Gupshups technology, optimized for a mobile-first economy like India, is seeing great traction in emerging markets with similar dynamics. With a focus on automated, self-serve, developer-centric, partner-friendly APIs and solutions, Gupshup is making it easier and quicker for businesses, large and small, to leverage IP messaging and build conversational experiences for their customers. Gupshup offers a comprehensive suite of solutions including messaging APIs, bot platform, bot building tools, scripting engine, omni-channel inbox, conversational AI, client-side software and more.

The ubiquity of smartphones and dominance of messaging apps is forcing businesses to go where the consumers are: in their favorite messaging apps. Just like websites during the prior wave of technology-driven transformation, conversational experiences are enabling businesses to better engage, interact with and sell to their customers. Conversations are the new digital storefront for businesses  virtually every business will have to build it. This digital transformation has been further accelerated by the pandemic.

Customers expect to converse with businesses the way they do with friends. They expect the conversation to be simple, easy, quick, contextual, and personalized, explained Beerud Sheth, Gupshup Cofounder and CEO. Gupshups mission is to build the tools that help businesses better engage customers through mobile messaging and conversational experiences. As we work towards our mission, we are delighted with this investment from Tiger Global, given its incredible track record of making big, bold, successful bets on innovative, category-defining companies worldwide.

Gupshups last funding round was in 2011. Gupshup grew rapidly over the last few years, exiting 2020 with annual revenue run rate of approximately 150 million dollars.

Additional Resources

About Gupshup

Gupshup enables better customer engagement through conversational messaging. Gupshup is the leading conversational messaging platform, powering over 6 billion messages per month. Across verticals, thousands of large and small businesses in emerging markets use Gupshup to build conversational experiences across marketing, sales and support. Gupshups carrier-grade platform provides a single messaging API for 30+ channels, a rich conversational experience-building tool kit for any use case and a network of emerging market partnerships across messaging channels, device manufacturers, ISVs and operators. With Gupshup, businesses have made conversations an integral part of their customer engagement success. Visit www.gupshup.io. Converse with the Gupshup bot.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005203/en/
The couple saw brushes and paint cans in front of a paint-splattered canvas at a gallery in a Seoul shopping mall. So they added a few brush strokes, assuming it was a participatory mural.

Not quite: The painting was a finished work by an American artist whose abstract aesthetic riffs on street art. The piece is worth more than $520,000 ($US400,000) according to the organisers of the exhibition that featured the painting.

Now its hard to tell where the artists work ends and the vandalism begins. Graffitied graffiti, a local newspaper headline said last week.

Views of JonOnes Untitled before (top) and after it was vandalized (bottom). The extra brush strokes are hard to spot. Credit:New York Times

Either way, the piece, Untitled, by John Andrew Perello, the graffiti artist known as JonOne, is now a magnet for selfies. The Korea Herald has reported that the work will now likely be restored, at the request of the artist, although the exhibition organisers said they were attempting to persuade him to allow it to remain.
NAIROBI : The African Union has dropped plans to secure COVID-19 vaccines from the Serum Institute of India for African nations and is exploring options with Johnson & Johnson, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.

The institute will still supply the AstraZeneca vaccine to Africa through the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility, John Nkengasong told reporters, but the African Union would seek additional supplies from Johnson & Johnson.

The statement comes the day after European and British medicine regulators said they had found possible links between AstraZeneca's vaccine and reports of very rare cases of brain blood clots, but they reaffirmed its importance in protecting people.

Nkengasong said the possible link had nothing to do with the African Union's decision. The bloc of 55 member states shifted its efforts to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, he said, citing the deal signed last week to secure up to 400 million doses beginning in the third quarter of this year.

"...It was just a clear understanding of how not to duplicate efforts with the Serum Institute, so that we compliment each other rather than duplicate efforts," he said.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / EastWest Bioscience Inc. (the "Company" or "EastWest") (TSXV:EAST) announces the issuance of 3,777,567 common shares at a price of CDN $0.05 per common share to certain non-arm's length and arm's length service providers for settlement in respect of expenses incurred on behalf of the Company by consultants and for consulting services (the "Consultants") provided to the Company. The transactions with the Consultants were in the normal course of business and the consideration provided was agreed to by the Company and the Consultants.

The Company has received TSX Venture Exchange approval on these said transactions and a statutory hold period of four-months and one day is in place on the issuance of these common shares in accordance with applicable securities laws.

About EastWest Bioscience Inc.

EastWest Bioscience is a vertically integrated wellness company with a multitude of business units and assets that allow for seed-to-sale supply chain management. We source our raw material, process, manufacture, test, brand, market, and distribute our products to our customers in Canada, the United States, and beyond. The Company owns and operates retail and manufacturing subsidiaries.

The Company's retail subsidiary is the award winning, Canadian, natural health retail franchise - the Sangster's Health Centre's - with over 40 years of legacy in the health and wellness industry. Sangster's goal is to provide natural choices through quality products and educated advice for a healthy lifestyle. Sangster's Health Centres occupies a unique position in the industry, the stores provide vast knowledge and safe natural remedies for the prevention and treatment of disease and ailments. Sangster's introduction and development of over 202 exclusively labeled products (vitamins, mineral, herbs, proteins, natural body care and organic foods) catapulted Sangster's name and product into a large number of Canadian households. From a solid base in Saskatchewan, Sangster's has become a national brand name with franchise stores located across Canada.

Orchard Vale Naturals is the Company's manufacturing arm that is certified with a Health Canada Site License and has GMP Certified NHP Manufacturing capabilities. Orchard Vale Naturals specialize in custom blends and production runs of all sizes, small to large, for top-quality products with quick turnaround times. Orchard Vale Naturals operate out of the 34,000 sq Health Canada licensed facility in Penticton, British Columbia that is owned by EastWest Bioscience and is the Head Office for all of its Canadian operations.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

EASTWEST BIOSCIENCE INC.

"Rodney Gelineau"

Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Director

For Further Information:

Company Website: www.eastwestbioscience.com

Contact: Rodney Gelineau on 1-800-409-1930 or investors@eastwestscience.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.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the matters disclosed herein. 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: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE: EastWest Bioscience Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639406/EastWest-Bioscience-Announces-Shares-for-Debt-Settlement
TORONTO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Canada Nickel Company Inc. ("Canada Nickel" or "the Company") (TSXV: CNC) (OTCQB: CNIKF) is pleased to announce that it has initiated its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for its Crawford Nickel Cobalt Sulphide project.

"Canada Nickel is rapidly advancing the development of the Crawford mine to deliver NetZero Nickel and Cobalt products in a sustainable, environmentally responsible way. We will be announcing results from our Preliminary Economic Analysis (PEA) shortly and expect the feasibility study to be completed by year-end, therefore we want to begin this critical ESIA work as quickly as possible," said Mark Selby, Chair and CEO of Canada Nickel. "Initiating environmental data acquisition and our social engagement process at this early stage sends a clear signal of the importance that the company places in reducing its environmental footprint and building meaningful and lasting relationships with all project stakeholders. As we have in each dimension of the project, we are working with industry leaders Golder and Wood who have a proven track record of successful project delivery in this region."

The Company has retained Golder, a member of WSP, and Wood Canada Limited to initiate environmental data collection required for the ESIA. Canada Nickel has also hired Transfer Environment and Society (TES), a consulting firm specialized in community engagement, to support the company in designing and implementing a rigorous community consultation process.

Both Wood and Golder have an extensive track record in successfully supporting environmental permitting of mining projects in Northern Ontario. Wood has been involved in the environmental approval process of the Borden Gold Mine, Detour Lake Mine and Rainy River Gold Mine among others, while Golder have been involved in numerous mine expansion and approvals projects in Northeastern Ontario, including the permitting and environmental data acquisition for the Bradshaw Project and the Magino Project. Both firms were involved in recently permitted Cote Gold Mine. Detour Lake Mine and Cote Gold Mine are both located within 175 kilometers of Timmins and are of a comparable operating scale currently being contemplated for Crawford. As part of the Crawford's project team, Wood will be responsible for biophysical data collection such as hydrological studies and terrestrial and aquatic habitat characterization. Golder will support Canada Nickel in designing and implementing the hydrogeological and the environmental geochemistry programs.

Canada Nickel is fully committed to developing Crawford in collaboration with local and regional stakeholders. The company enlisted the services of TES, a pioneer company in the field of social acceptability of major projects, to support the company to achieve the highest standards from a stakeholder's engagement perspective. TES successfully supported the Dumont Nickel Project in implementing a community consultation and engagement process still considered as the benchmark in the industry.

About Canada Nickel Company

Canada Nickel Company Inc. is advancing the next generation of nickel-cobalt sulphide projects to deliver nickel and cobalt required to feed the high growth electric vehicle and stainless steel markets. Canada Nickel Company has applied in multiple jurisdictions to trademark the terms NetZero NickelTM, NetZero CobaltTM, NetZero IronTM and is pursuing the development of processes to allow the production of net zero carbon nickel, cobalt, and iron products. Canada Nickel provides investors with leverage to nickel and cobalt in low political risk jurisdictions. Canada Nickel is currently anchored by its 100% owned flagship Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project in the heart of the prolific Timmins-Cochrane mining camp.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, future exploration and development results, and corporate and technical objectives. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals, the future demand for metals, the results of drilling, inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the property, environmental liabilities (known and unknown), general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, results of exploration programs, risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals, and the impact of COVID-19 related disruptions in relation to the Company's business operations including upon its employees, suppliers, facilities and other stakeholders. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. Canada Nickel disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Canada Nickel Company Inc.

Related Links

https://canadanickel.com/


SARATOGA SPRINGS  After being shuttered for a year during the pandemic, the Canfield Casino in Congress Park has reopened for business.

Commissioner of Public Works Anthony Skip Scirocco announced Thursday that the historic building can now host weddings and other events with up to 150 people.

Guests will still need to follow (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and state guidelines to attend, but this is the first step towards normalcy," Scirocco said a prepared statement.



However, for all events booked at the casino, all attendees must have proof of a recent negative test result or proof of immunization prior to the event. Also, masks must be worn at all times except when eating or drinking. Socially distanced dancing will be allowed in designated areas.



While all of these requirements do not fit with what a traditional wedding or event would look like, these guidelines are in place to help prevent the spread of COVID. Hopefully, as more people are vaccinated and time passes these restrictions will be eased as well, Scirocco said.



The closure did allow the city to complete some restoration work. The improvements include a new sound system and air filters as well as restoration of some floors and decorative woodwork.

The Canfield Casino is designated a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was originally built in 1870 as a gambling establishment by John Morrissey, and upgraded with an ornate ballroom by Richard Canfield between 1902 and 1903 . Canfield closed the establishment in 1907 and it was sold to Saratoga Springs in 1911.



Those interested in renting the Canfield Casino can contact Mary Castanza in the Public Works Department at 518-587-3550 ext. 2555 or at mary.castanza@saratoga-springs.org.
Reformed University announces its partnership and collaboration with Gwinnett Drugs in providing the COVID-19 vaccine to Community members in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Gwinnett Drugs has made available 300 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and a medical team for this event.

Dr. Jeong, Vice President of Reformed University, and Dr. Naveed Tharwani, CEO of Gwinnett Drug Store signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday, April 7, 2021 at Reformed University.

Dr. Jeong, Vice President of Reformed University who is overseeing this partnership, says that "This COVID-19 vaccine project is a program implemented by Reformed University as a part of community contribution. It is the hope of the University and team at Reformed University that the growing of Anti-Asian discrimination will be abated by our greater love and service to our community."

Naveed Tharwani, CEO of the Gwinnett Drug store, said, "Gwinnett pharmacy has primarily being provided with Pfizer vaccines from the Georgian government. I'm so excited to join the project for community contribution."

Reformed COVID-19 Vaccination schedule is as follows:

First Dose: April 27th (Tuesday) 1:30-5:30 at Reformed University (Chapel Room) Second Dose: May 18 (Tuesday) 1:30-5:30 at Reformed University (Chapel Room)

Registration link will be available through Reformed University's website at www.runiv.edu.

Dr. Jeong also says: "In the future, Reformed University will continue to make efforts to serve and serve not only the Korean community, but also members of the local community.
Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has said his administration will continue to cherish and maintain the brotherhood subsisting among the adherents of the two major faiths in the state.

The governor stated this during the commissioning of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Guest House located at CAN centre along Gombe-Kwami road.

He said his administration will not relent in providing the necessary support for people to practice their beliefs freely, stressing that the essence of leadership is service to humanity.

The governor acknowledged the contributions of religious groups in the development of the society and commended CAN for its role in maintaining peace and stability which he described as the fulcrum of sustainable development.

And let me reiterate that this peace we have in Gombe State is non- negotiable. We cannot afford to throw it away and no matter what the devil will do, God will see us through and we shall maintain our strength in unity and our faith in Him and we believe He will deliver us at the point of need, he said.

Mr Yahaya described the commissioning of the CAN Guests House as an important milestone in the development of the Gombe CAN centre, congratulating the Christian community in the state for the opportunity and the gift that came from God.

He prayed that the Almighty God will continue to grant CAN the strength and the faith to see to the development of the centre and take it to the highest level so that guests from far and near can patronize their services for maximum benefits.

Mr Yahaya said as a party to the development of the CAN Centre during the Danjuma Goje administration, he will continue to remain steadfast to its growth and development.

He said, As a leader, I am aware that the state can only be a complete unit if the interests of all citizens are taken into consideration. And these are my watch words always.

He underscored the relevance and importance of providing such accommodation not only to the hospitality industry but also as a place for seclusion and solitude.

If you are looking for a place that you feel secure, you come here. If you are looking for a place that you can meditate and relate with your God as a Christian this is a place to be.

So development of this place to the highest level is something that we need to pursue and cherish.

I will personally be happy to see the CAN Guests House blossoms to be among the best in the country, he said.

The governor praised CAN leadership in the state for channelling the money he donated to them for the purpose it was meant, describing their sincerity of purpose as worthy of emulation.

Earlier speaking, the Chairperson Gombe State Chapter of the CAN, Sunday Congo, said the construction of the CAN Guests House was made possible through the governors support to the organisation.

Your Excellency, we are here today as a result of your kind gesture to CAN. To God be the glory, we have used the N25m you have given to us judiciously in constructing CAN Guests House with the sole aim of offering hospitality to guests coming to the state and also to help us raise income for the organisation.

We want to thank you for the love you have for the church and encouragement of peaceful coexistence of the two major religions in the state.

Thank you also for donating money to the women wing of CAN. The Christian community of Gombe State is indeed grateful and honoured. Your presence with us here is a clear indication of your love and sacrificial service to the people of Gombe State.

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Highlights of the event include ministration of songs and special prayers for the peace, unity and development of Gombe State.
Marjorie Taylor Greene's campaign raked in an eye-popping $3.2million in the first quarter of 2021 - a sign that the freshman congresswoman from Georgia may have actually benefited from backlash over her controversial remarks.

Greene's campaign announced its massive first quarter windfall in a press release on Wednesday, noting that the money came from more than 100,000 individual contributions in all 50 states.

'Over 100,000 donors poured in over $3,200,000 to support me, averaging $32 per donation. You know why? I stood my ground and never wavered in my belief in America First policies and putting People Over Politicians!' Greene boasted on Twitter.

'And I will NEVER backdown! As a matter of fact, I'm just getting started.'

By comparison, fellow headline-grabbing Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D - New York) raised just $728,000 for her campaign in her first quarter in office in 2019.

Marjorie Taylor Greene's campaign raked in an eye-popping $3.2million in the first quarter of 2021 - a sign that the freshman congresswoman from Georgia may have actually benefited from backlash over her controversial remarks. Pictured: Greene at a rally in October

Greene crashed into Congress this year and quickly built up a reputation for her fringe beliefs - including her support for QAnon conspiracy theories and her suggestion that school shootings are a hoax perpetrated by Democrats to push gun control.

Just a few weeks into her term Greene faced fevered calls to resign after it was revealed that she'd liked a number of social media posts encouraging violence against Democrats including Nancy Pelosi.

By comparison, fellow headline-grabbing Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (pictured) raised just $728,000 for her campaign in her first quarter in office in 2019

In February, she was stripped of her committee assignments in a House floor vote where 11 Republicans joined Democrats to vote her off 230 to 199.

However Greene's fundraising numbers show that those controversies didn't make a dent in her donations - and possibly bolstered them.

Greene leaned into the controversies in fundraising appeals - saying that they showed her dedication to shaking up Washington.

In her statement on Wednesday Greene declared: 'For too long, the political ruling class that looks down on the rest of us, have been selling out America to the world, by whipping the backs of the hardworking American worker and taxpayer. But they fear one thing.

'The political ruling class fears the people because its the people that can take away what they love most. Power. Because it's power that brings them everything else.

'I am one of the people and the people are with me, and I will always be with them.'

Greene is over a year and a half away from facing re-election in Georgia's 14th District - but the early funds will come in handy should she face a challenge from more moderate Republicans and critics of Donald Trump - whom she has aligned herself with.

GOP Rep Adam Kinzinger of Illinois has already vowed to help prevent Greene's re-election and said he's willing to use his own funding to do it.

First-quarter fundraising stats for all members of Congress have yet to be released - however last week it was reported that Rep Lauren Boebert (D - Colorado) had raised $700,000.
A company planning to build a massive Central Australian fruit and vegetable farm has been handed the biggest water licence ever granted in the Northern Territory.

Fortune Agribusiness wants to build a 3,500-hectare irrigated horticulture project at Singleton cattle station, about 380km north of Alice Springs.

It applied to the NT government in July to extract 40,000 megalitres of underground water per year, causing concern among native title holders.

A company planning to build a massive Central Australian fruit and vegetable farm has been handed the biggest water licence ever granted in the Northern Territory (stock image)

The Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security on Thursday approved a 30-year licence to extract the water, saying Fortune would have to comply with strict controls.

'The protection of environmental and cultural assets, along with the interests of existing users, are always the key priorities when assessing water licence applications,' NT Controller of Water Resources Jo Townsend said.

'That's why stringent conditions have been attached to this water licence, which will be monitored closely by the department and publically reported.'

The water will be released to Fortune in four stages over the next decade, peaking at 40,000 megalitres.

Ms Townsend said rigorous modelling and data showed the licensed water was sustainable and its extraction would not adversely impact other users or the environment.

The Central Land Council says it will review the licence decision with independent water experts but is likely to appeal it.

The water will be released to Fortune in four stages over the next decade, peaking at 40,000 megalitres

'However, at first glance, this water licence is simply too large,' chief executive Joe Martin-Jard said.

He said not enough was known about the aquifer storage in the area.

'We (also) have very real doubts about the department's capacity to ensure the company rigorously monitors and manages the project,' he said.

The council has previously voiced concerns about the alleged lack of scientific data about groundwater availability in Central Australia.

It said the extraction of such a large amount of water could have long-term effects on traditional owners, animals and plants, who rely on groundwater for their survival.

Fortune Agribusiness chairman Peter Wood and NT Farmers Association have been contacted for comment.
India: Italian marines case: Supreme Court to hear Centre's plea to close cases against the two accused on April 9

April 08,2021 | Source: The Hindu

The government on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to schedule an urgent hearing of its application to close the criminal trials pending in India against two Italian marines accused of killing two fishermen off the coast of Kerala in 2012. A Bench led by Chief Justice Sharad A. Bobde agreed to hear the case on April 9. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the government, said the victims families have been compensated and the case needs to be disposed off. Eight months ago, the Centre had informed the apex court about its decision to accept and abide by an international tribunals award that the Marines, Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre, should be tried in their native Italy. The government had explained that India was bound by the award of the arbitral tribunal formed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The award was final and without appeal as India was a party to the UN Convention. In a virtual hearing in August last year, the court had made it clear that it would close the criminal trial of the Marines in India only after the victims families were heard and paid a hefty compensation. The court had asked the government to negotiate an adequate compensation for the slain fishermens families with Italy.



We appreciate the steps taken by Italy to prosecute the two Marines... You want to withdraw the criminal cases against them, but you have not been able to fix the compensation [for the families of the victims]. Secondly, the fact is that there is a pending trial in a criminal court and the victims families are parties there. How can we order withdrawal of the cases here without first hearing them? Chief Justice Bobde, heading a three-judge Bench, had asked Mr. Mehta and advocate Suhail Dutt, for Italy, in that hearing. Girone and Latorre, who were detailed on the Italian ship Enrica Lexie, allegedly shot the fishermen thinking they were pirates. India is entitled to compensation for the loss of life. Its freedom and right of navigation was violated by the Marines, the U.N. tribunal had held. The tribunals finding that the Marines had immunity came seven years after the Supreme Court ordered the Centre to proceed with the investigation and trial of the Marines in a decision on January 18, 2013. The apex court had ordered the Centre to set up a Special Court to try the case. Prior to the Supreme Court verdict, the Kerala High Court too had found that the Marines enjoyed no immunity. However, in 2014, the Marines had successfully gained a stay order on the investigation by the National Investigation Agency. A year later, the Supreme Court had stopped its own proceedings to wait the verdict from the International Tribunal on Law of Seas.

 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD.
Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin speaks to the House and Governmental Affairs Committee, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, in Baton Rouge. Ardoin told lawmakers Thursday, April 8, 2021 that he won't soon restart Louisiana's work to upgrade its voting technology, after two prior efforts to replace thousands of voting machines were scrapped amid controversy.
Jio's pact with has enabled India's largest telco to top-up its holding in three key circles and yielded potential savings of about USD 400 million, according to a report.

It is pertinent to mention here that has signed an agreement with Bharti to acquire a portion of spectrum in 800 MHz band for Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Mumbai circles at an aggregate value of Rs 1,497 crore -- marking the first such deal between the two telecom giants that otherwise compete fiercely in the market.

Market analysts have termed the deal "mutually beneficial" and "win-win for both".

UBS in a note cited Jio's spectrum buys in the 800 MHz band in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Mumbai in the recently-concluded auctions.

Going by the total purchase cost of Rs 13,500 crore, and given the 20-year validity, it works out to cost/MHz/annum of Rs 300 million.

India's largest telecom operator through the deal with Bharti has now topped up its holding in these circles to 10MHz, 10MHz and 15MHz, respectively, for a total consideration of Rs 1,497 crore.

"With remaining validity of 14 years, the implied cost/MHz/annum comes to Rs 140 million...50 per cent discount to the auction price. Jio has therefore not only built up 10-15 MHz blocks in these key circles but has potentially saved USD 400 million," UBS said.

The deal makes sense for Bharti as this spectrum was acquired by from Tata for little consideration, and has remained unutilised. Bharti is, therefore, able to unlock value from the unutilised spectrum, UBS note explained.

"While this deal strengthens Jio's footprint in these circles, it is important to note that Jio had the opportunity to purchase this spectrum in the auction itself (there was enough 800MHz spectrum available). To that extent, there is no 'strategic opportunity lost for Bharti," it added.

In the deal announced earlier this week, acquired the 'Right to Use' of 800 MHz spectrum in Andhra Pradesh (3.75 MHz), Delhi (1.25 MHz) and Mumbai (2.50 MHz) -- in all adding up to 7.50 MHz.

As per the agreement, Airtel will receive a consideration of Rs 1,037.6 crore from Jio for the proposed transfer.

In addition, Jio will assume future liabilities of Rs 459 crore relating to the spectrum.

Airwaves come in different bands that support different propagation characteristics for the transmission of voice and data. For instance, lower bands like 800 MHz and 900 MHz support good indoor coverage while higher bands like 2300 MHz have a good carrying capacity. The airwaves are also sold in quantities measured as MHz.

By selling the spectrum to Jio, Airtel is able to monetise the unused spectrum assets, Credit Suisse said in its report.

"For Jio, the company is able to get additional blocks of 800 MHz spectrums at 47 per cent discount from government auction reserve price (pro-rated for the remaining period of the license)," it said.

Further, Jio now has a contiguous block of 2x10MHz of 800MHz spectrum each in Andhra Pradesh and Delhi service areas and 2x15MHz in Mumbai service area, Credit Suisse note pointed out.

(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.)
He held a gun to her head and she picked up a knife from the table. When he pushed her, she panicked and the blade went into his armpit, she told police. She dropped the knife and pleaded with Williams to let her take him to the hospital, documents state. As she walked to the door, he shot at her with the gun once or twice, she said.
Oregon senators are considering a bill that would incorporate privacy and data security measures within shared IT services in state government, making Oregon one of several states to introduce legislation to address privacy concerns. Senate Bill 293 would call for the appointment of a privacy officer within the state CIOs office; the development of a privacy assessment tool for government IT projects; and communication with those whose information has been collected, stored or used as part of state agency IT projects.Ive been a big supporter of this issue for many years now, said Sen. Chuck Riley, one of the bills co-sponsors. Its a really difficult intersection to meld the requirements needed for security and data privacy with the concept of openness.Through this bill, the states CIO, chief data officer and privacy officer, who has yet to be appointed, would be able to set guidelines that would transparently address privacy issues.For example, Riley expressed concern about the sharing of constituents email addresses through public record requests.As a legislator, I get a lot of emails from constituents who clearly dont expect me to share their email addresses, he said. However, I get public records requests asking me to share that information.At one point, Riley said, a candidate was able to access constituents email addresses through a public record request, allowing the candidate to send emails asking for money for a political campaign.I refused the request, but still, the state holds a lot of personal information that people should know about, he said. They deserve the right to decide what should be done with that information and also deserve the right to determine who can access it.Other state lawmakers have also acknowledged various data privacy issues, which have prompted them to craft legislation of their own.In Oklahoma, Reps. Josh West and Collin Walke recently introduced the Oklahoma Computer Data Privacy Act , which would require Internet tech companies to obtain explicit permission to collect and sell personal data.In Washington state, Sen. Reuven Carlyle introduced the Washington Privacy Act to grant consumers the right to access, transfer, correct and delete data that companies hold on them.Similar to Oregons bill, the Washington Privacy Act aims to create awareness about how citizen data is being used and clarify what personal rights citizens have to protect their personal information.Lastly, in Virginia, lawmakers introduced the Consumer Data Protection Act to offer residents added protections against businesses and companies using their personal data without their consent.Although each bill differs in terms of specifics, the overall goal is the same: protecting citizens private information.I shouldnt be sharing constituents private information, nor should others, Riley said. Thats what this legislation looks to address.
Despite a run of glorious sun-drenched days, Melbournes weather is about to take a dramatic turn, with a polar blast of air to bring the years first taste of winter.

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Chris Arvier said he hoped people had made the most of the near 30 degree temperatures on Thursday, because it could be a long, long time before we see them again.

David Gorrguis (left) and Volkan Akdogan cooling off in the water on Thursday. Credit:Simon Schluter

I wouldnt be confident enough to say its the last final day of warm weather [before winter] but theres nothing partially promising on the horizon, he said.

The temperature on Melbourne on Thursday hit a balmy 29.3 degrees just after 2pm, while Laverton in the citys west clocked 31.1 degrees at 1:55pm. The heat was still increasing in the states north with Mildura hitting a 31.5 degrees just after 4pm.
Treasury secretary Janet Yellen has called on other countries to join the US in setting a global minimum tax for companies. Will global corporate tax rates inch up in the months ahead after years of decline? What are the implications for India? Mint explains.

Why did Yellen call for a review of tax rates?

The US and many other advanced countries have spent trillions of dollars in covid relief over the past year. The US also intends to spend an additional $2 trillion through President Joe Bidens infrastructure plan that is aimed at boosting economic recovery. Additional resources are expected to be mopped up via a proposed hike in corporate taxes. But if the US hikes rates in isolation, it offers an incentive for companies to relocate. Hence, Yellen is calling for a global coalitionparticularly because public debt is likely to be a shared area of concern in most major economies for many years to come.

What are the odds of it turning into reality?

The European Union (EU) has been vocal about the strategies pursued by multinational firms which result in profit flight to subsidiaries that are located in countries with lower tax rates (known as tax avoidance). For the most part, the US had refused to wade into this discussion. The pandemic seems to have brought the countries on the opposing ends of the Atlantic Ocean together. It is also significant that Yellens appeal comes on the eve of the spring meeting of the IMF and the World Bank. The US is also pushing for a multilateral agreement on digital taxation at the OECD by the summer.

View Full Image The global picture

Where does India stand in the global picture context?

The Tax Justice Network estimates that India loses about $10.3 billion in tax revenue each year due to tax avoidance by businesses. It also loses at least $202 million a year due to tax evasion by individuals who siphon funds out of the country. Political and popular anger has squarely focused on the latter. Business practices still dont attract public scrutiny.

What are Indias tax trouble spots?

The countrys effective corporate tax rate is middling  neither too high nor too low  compared to other countries. But, there are several countries in the neighbourhood, particularly Singapore and Mauritius, whose tax rates are even lower. Mauritius was a favoured channel for funnelling foreign direct investment (FDI) into India via shell companies till 2017. A subsequent amendment in the bilateral tax treaty closed a loophole that has been exploited for over two decades.

Should India also join a global tax coalition?

In a globalised world, it is easy to register a firm or disclose profits in another jurisdiction. Apple Inc., for instance, has been in the middle of a running feud with the EU over its tax liability in Ireland, a country where tax rates are kept low to attract businesses. Indias new economy startups have also increasingly started to register in Singapore. As these startups turn profitable, troubling questions about taxes  along the lines of what is happening with the likes of Amazon and Google in the US  will inevitably come to India too.

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Haiti - News : Zapping...





Escape : Investigation almost closed

The General Inspectorate of the National Police of Haiti (IGPNH) announced that the investigation into the escape to the prison of Croix-de-Bouquets is about to be closed. Provisional measures were taken after their hearings against around thirty police officers who were on guard at the prison on February 25 during the escape https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33115-haiti-flash-arnel-joseph-killed-more-than-400-detainees-on-the-run-at-least-25-dead.html



Crisis : Religions for Peace mediating

In order to try to resolve the political crisis in Haiti, at the initiative of the National Alliance of Organized Forces in Solidarity, which continues to advocate dialogue, Religions for Peace has started consultations with the political parties of the opposition and the National Palace. However, the task of mediator once again proves to be an impossible mission as the opposition already poses as a precondition the recognition of the end of the mandate of President Moise on February 7, 2021.



3 young men executed

Wednesday April 7 in the Marin 26 neighborhood (Commune of Croix-des-Bouquets) heavily armed individuals shot three young men before setting the bodies on fire.



BRH : Logo contest for digital currency

The Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) is launching a logo competition for its digital currency "Bitkob" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33343-haiti-news-zapping.html . To participate, register at : https://t.co/bixEpoPKJQ?amp=1



EDH runs out of fuel, reduced electricity

The Directorate General of EDH informs the public that the institution's main supplier is facing difficulties in supplying the power plants with fuel. This will result in a significant reduction in the company's power generation capacity. The General Directorate would like to apologize to its customers for the inconvenience this situation may cause them.



218th anniversary of Toussaint Louverture



President Jovenel Moise :

"Today, Haiti commemorates the 218th anniversary of the death of Toussaint Louverture (April 7). On this occasion, I salute the memory of the Father of our common Fatherland, considered, in the eyes of humanity, as the trigger for the process of the abolition of slavery and colonization."



Chancellor Claude Joseph :

"In the footsteps of Toussaint Louverture, symbol of resistance, first rank fighter for the emancipation of the black race, we can rekindle the flame of freedom, equality and fraternity, for the benefit of the common homeland. May the commemoration of the 218th anniversary of his death serve as a pretext to engage in real battles for a successful outcome to the current crisis. General Respect !" Claude Joseph Minister of Foreign Affairs



Pradel Henriquez, Minister of Culture :

In homage to the Precursor of the independence of Haiti (April 7, 1803 - April 7, 2021), Pradel Henriquez, Minister of Culture made a floral offering to the National Pantheon, alongside Jean Claude Legagneur, Director General of the National Pantheon Museum Haitian (MUPANAH).



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33421-haiti-218th-death-of-toussaint-louverture-message-from-lesly-conde.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Dhaka, April 8 : Rafiqul Islam Madani, a preacher of the Hefazat-e-Islam militant outfit in Bangladesh, has been arrested on charges of anti-state speech and inciting chaos.

The 28-year-old Madani, also known as 'Shishu Bokta' or child preacher, was arrested on Wednesday night by a team of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the elite force of Bangladesh Police, from his ancestral home in Netrokona's Purbatola area.

A case has been filed against the preacher under the Digital Security Act for allegedly making anti-state, provocative and arrogant remarks and creating chaos.

The case was filed on Thursday morning by Deputy Additional Director of the RAB, Mohammad Khaled, at the Gaccha Police Station, Gazipur Metropolitan Police DCP Mohammad Eltutmish told IANS.

Imran Hossain, Assistant Director at the RAB headquarters, also confirmed Madani's arrest to IANS.

On March 26, Madani and around 30 others were detained after clashes between police and demonstrators in Dhaka during the violent protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh.

However, he was released later.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 22:31:06|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Britain has more than enough supply of alternative vaccines to vaccinate all adults under 30, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Thursday.

His remarks came after the British government's vaccination advisory body said Wednesday that Britons aged 18-29 will be offered an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine amid concerns over its possible link with reported rare cases of blood clots.

Hancock told the BBC that Britain is still on track to vaccinate all adults by July 31.

The AstraZeneca jab remained safe and those who had received one dose should take up their second when they are called, he said.

There was "no evidence" of rare blood clots after the second dose of the vaccine, he said.

"The safety system that we have around this vaccine is so sensitive that it can pick up events that are four in a million (the chance of developing a rare brain blood clot) -- I'm told this is about the equivalent risk of taking a long-haul flight," he said.

Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said Wednesday that the side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine were extremely rare and the vaccine's effectiveness is proven, adding that the benefits of taking the vaccine are still very favourable for the vast majority.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England Jonathan Van-Tam has said that because of the supply situation with other vaccines, the effect on the vaccination program in Britain should be "negligible".

Currently, Britain is also rolling out the Pfizer jab, and the first doses of the Moderna vaccine were administered Wednesday in Wales.

The country also has supply agreements with several other companies that are still waiting for approval, including Valneva and Janssen.

More than 31.7 million people have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the official figures.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Russia, the United States as well as the European Union have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines. Enditem
A frequent flyer has revealed that he managed to fly internationally multiple times over the past year without catching Covid  and claims he's proof that global travel can be done safely if it's properly managed.

Travel expert Gilbert Ott, who runs the flight tips site God Save The Points, told MailOnline Travel that in 2020 and 2021 he flew to New York (three times), Santorini, Amsterdam, Los Angeles (twice) and Palm Springs and remained virus-free.

The 34-year-old said: 'I have at least 10 tests to my name as proof, across varying periods of time. Each time I stayed in a hotel or Airbnb and observed quarantine and restrictions in each country.

Gilbert is pictured here with his wife, Laura, and baby daughter on an August 2020 British Airways flight to Santorini

Gilbert with his baby daughter in Palm Springs earlier this year

'I believe there's always some luck involved in life, but I also believe that all studies showing how safe air is on planes - 10 times safer than home, five times safer than a hospital - is a big factor to unlocking travel, and that testing is too. I feel safer on a plane, next to people who have tested negative, than in many environments nearer home.

'I've spent more than 60 to 80 hours on a plane this year with no Covid or symptoms.

'I've flown different airlines and seen each approach to clean planes.

'I'm not advocating breaking the rules, but just highlighting how safe travel can be. I'm living proof.'

Gilbert, an American passport holder who divides his time between London and New York, said that while plane air is one of the very cleanest indoor environments you can be in  'because air constantly blows directly down and goes through Hepa filters'  'the only time this isn't perfect is at the boarding gate when the plane might not be fully loaded'. He said that he boards late to avoid this.

Gilbert added that he was 'super-impressed' with Virgin Atlantic  'from the three masks, gels and wipes each traveller gets to the food and work put into the service, I couldn't fault it'.

'British Airways was great, too,' he said.

For anyone nervous about taking an international trip in the future, Gilbert has some advice.

He said: 'I've actually preferred destinations where Covid-19 testing is mandatory, or vaccination is high because it means people on the flight should be safer than destinations which don't require it.

Gilbert with his baby daughter in Santorini - a trip that he said was a real highlight

Gilbert said that he was very impressed with BA's Covid security. He's pictured here after touching down in Santorini

'Choose destinations which are seasonal and sunny, where outdoor activity and/or dining is easy. It's not easy to eat out in New York in the middle of winter, but in Palm Springs, it is.

'I picked private accommodations, such as villas without shared spaces or house rentals to avoid shared lobbies, gyms and other facilities where you can't control the environment.

'Even though indoor dining has returned, I'm still prioritising outdoor eating because of inside air issues, at least until vaccination rates are higher.

'Choose destinations where people are taking safety protocols seriously. For example, Texas has dropped the mask mandate, so people aren't always following it now, whereas New York and California are surprisingly excellent with mask-wearing, even better than the UK.'

Of the places he visited, Gilbert picked out Greece and California as highlights.

He said: 'The best experiences included Santorini Sky in Greece, where everyone has their own entrance, villa and pool, and renting a house in Palm Springs, for a fraction of the price of shared accommodations in Los Angeles.'

And where's next?

Gilbert said: 'I've had a year of normal holidays, so will now tap out and let everyone else have their turn.'

What you need to know about testing...

By Denis Kinane, Chief Medical Officer at Cignpost Express Test

When travel is reopened, what part will testing play?

Currently, most countries say they will require holidaymakers to have a negative Covid-19 test no more than 72 hours before they travel. Most countries say this must be a PCR test, which can detect Covid-19 at an earlier stage as it is more sensitive than other tests, allowing greater confidence.

Will holidaymakers who have been vaccinated need to take a Covid-19 test?

The WHO has indicated that vaccines do not rule out current Covid-19 safety measures, such as mask wearing and testing. We don't yet know whether vaccines stop people getting or transmitting Covid-19, so PCR testing is the most effective way of ensuring a holidaymaker is not carrying Covid-19 when they travel.

Will I need a vaccine passport?

When it comes to travel, the concept of 'vaccine passports' has become a hot topic. Desperate for a return to normality, many countries are contemplating endorsing 'vaccine passports' as part of their plans to reignite international travel over the coming months. Many are unhappy with the idea of 'vaccine passports' however, due to their concern that vaccine passports could lead to discrimination against those who have not been vaccinated for cultural or medical reasons, or because they are not on the government's priority list. In response to this unrest, the EU is expected to draw up plans for 'Green Digital Certificates', which would show whether EU citizens have had the vaccine, a negative Covid-19 test, or have previously had Covid-19. This Vaccine certificate is consistent with the WHO's recommendations.

Does the EU's Digital Green Certificate remove the need for testing?

No. According to the EU's launch announcement, the certificate will be given to any EU citizen who can provide evidence that they have been vaccinated, have recently tested negative or have acquired antibodies after recovering from the virus. Around 24million people in Britain won't receive their second vaccination until late summer and autumn, including many of those aged between 18 to 40 who are in the lowest risk groups, so testing is essential for them to travel abroad this summer. In addition, the WHO has made it clear that being vaccinated in itself does not fully mitigate the risk and Covid-19 safety measures will have to be retained.

What are the different types of Covid-19 tests?

Denis Kinane, Chief Medical Officer at Cignpost Diagnostics, says that the PCR test has an accuracy of 99 per cent (file image)

Broadly, there are two different types of testing. One to find out if a person currently has Covid-19 and the other determines whether they have previously had the virus, been vaccinated and built-up immunity (antibodies).

PCR

PCR (Polymerise Chain Reaction) is currently the most common form of testing in the UK and at 99 per cent accuracy, is seen as the most reliable test for viral carriage. If you have been tested by the NHS in a testing centre, or have been sent an NHS test in the post, this will have been a PCR test. A swab is used to collect a sample from the patient's tonsils and inside their nose and this is then sent to a laboratory to test for genetic material called RNA. Bioscientists can then see whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes Covid-19) is present.

SAGE, the government's scientific advisory group, has warned that with mass testing using lateral flow tests, false positives and false negatives could have 'critical implications' for effectiveness Denis Kinane, Chief Medical Officer at Cignpost Diagnostics

Lateral flow

A rapid antigen test, also known as a lateral flow test, detects proteins on the surface of the virus, called antigens. Inserted into the nose or throat, the swab is then inserted into a tube of liquid. The liquid is then dropped onto a small strip, which will show two lines if it is positive, one line on the top if it is negative or one line on the bottom if the test is invalid. Lateral flow tests use similar technology to a pregnancy test. These tests are the cheapest option and return results within 30 minutes, but are less accurate than PCR tests, as they can only detect a high load of the Covid-19 virus, so they can miss up to one third of positive cases. In addition, because of the low prevalence of Covid-19 in the population at present, they are also likely to have a high level of false positives. Antigen tests are therefore most accurate when used within a few days of the start of your symptoms, when there is a higher viral load present in your body.

SAGE, the government's scientific advisory group, has warned that with mass testing using lateral flow tests, false positives and false negatives could have 'critical implications' for effectiveness, so follow-up confirmatory tests are extremely important with lateral flow positive results. Given SAGE's advice, lateral flow can only be considered a red light rather than a green light indication, meaning that facemasks, social distancing and viral hygiene will still be necessary.

LAMP

A similar process to PCR testing, LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) tests are the least common. They require a swab from the nose and throat and give results within 90 minutes. Similarly to lateral flow tests, LAMP tests can only detect a high load of Covid-19 virus, so they can miss people in the early stages of infection. Samples can be processed on-site and are analysed to confirm the presence or not of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

Antibody

Antibody testing looks at whether your body has produced any antibodies to fight against the virus. This is done via a blood test and must be taken from a Covid 19 patient whose symptoms ended three to four weeks before. This test then determines whether any antibodies are present. Currently, there are tests in development that would allow a person to submit their own blood test from home.

Which test will holidaymakers need to travel?

For a definitive list of testing requirements, travellers should visit the official Gov.uk website. It is important that holidaymakers check the rules for the destination they are visiting as it will be their responsibility to take the right tests.

What about returning to the UK?

The UK has a testing process that is even more rigorous than the departures process as it requires arrivals to isolate for 10 days and have negative PCR tests on or before day two, and on day eight of their entry into the UK.

Why are testing rules different by destination?

The WHO has indicated that vaccines do not rule out current Covid-19 safety measures, such as mask wearing and testing

These are political decisions based on countries' own experiences of Covid-19, the need to get their tourism industry up and running, and the safety procedures they already have in place.

How can tests be used to open up travel?

The Governments traffic light system demonstrates that testing will be a crucial measure in providing a safe pathway out of the current crisis and reopening travel. Although green list countries are yet to be announced, we know that testing will be required for all bands  green, amber and red.

For those travelling from countries in the green category, there will be no need to quarantine on return. However, they will be required to take a pre-departure test as well as a PCR test on arrival back in the UK.

Travellers from amber listed countries will need to quarantine for 10 days in addition to taking a pre-departure test and two PCR tests (on day two and day eight) with the option to take up the test and release scheme to end self-isolation early.

Those arriving from red countries will be subject to the strictest of restrictions and will be required to complete a 10-day stay in a managed quarantine hotel, as well as pre-departure testing and two further PCR tests.

Its clear that the only way to safely open up travel will be to apply the most effective precautionary measures. Although the Government has defended the use of lateral flow tests in the past, the recent Cochrane Review found that they miss up to half the asymptomatic carriers of Covid and show a false positive as much as two thirds of the time. From the measures laid out in the traffic light system, it seems that the Government now recognises that the gold-standard PCR tests will be integral to reopening travel, as it detects the viral load of individuals with high sensitivity and specificity far greater than any other test. By implementing testing procedures based on PCR technology, we can protect our country from importing new and more dangerous variants of Covid whilst ensuring a simple and effective way to reopen travel this summer.

Challenges on testing going forward

One of the biggest hurdles to the reopening of society will be one of confidence, as both consumers and the government must have complete faith in the accuracy of the tests taken to open up all sectors of society safely. Lateral flow tests are fast-acting and cheap, but also miss a significant proportion of positive cases. In comparison, gold-standard PCR tests, whilst costlier, produce significantly more accurate results. This has initiated a debate around how the government finds a balance between protecting lives and the cost-effectiveness of their testing strategy, one which I suspect will continue to rage on until the end of the pandemic.

Is a combined approach the solution?

It's clear Covid-19 testing is going to become a normal part of life, at the very least until the UK's vaccination programme is complete. There are advantages and disadvantages to every type of test, so now, the challenge is to determine the most effective combination of testing. In my view, as long as people understand the limitations of lateral flow testing, using a combination of the different technologies available to us is the best solution.
Children arriving at the southern border without their parents have presented a political and humanitarian challenge for the past three presidents.

Their numbers began rising considerably after 2009, when 19,418 children were taken into custody at the border, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Unaccompanied minors peaked in 2014, with 68,000 apprehensions. Analysts say 2021 is on pace to break that record, with more than 600 children arriving daily to the U.S.-Mexico border. Most are teenagers seeking asylum.

Reports of children in warehouses or jaillike facilities have set President Joe Biden on the defensive about what critics refer to as a crisis at the border. In his first press conference, on March 25, 2021, Biden repeatedly stressed that his practice is different from that of former President Donald Trump, who introduced a policy of separating migrant children from their parents and detaining them in cages.

We are not talking about people ripping babies from mothers arms, Biden said.

He said his administration is moving rapidly  to get these kids of out of the border patrol facilities.

Child migration has long been such a vexing, bipartisan quandary for four primary reasons, based on my research as an immigration scholar and analysis in dozens of law review articles.

1. Children need care

Migrant children cannot simply get jobs and fend for themselves upon arrival to the U.S. They need to be housed, educated and fed. While some may have family with them or in the U.S., many do not.

By law the Department of Health and Human Services, or DHHS, must transport unaccompanied children to a facility run by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, a DHHS department, within 72 hours of the childrens being apprehended by Customs and Border Protection. While their legal status as immigrants or asylum-seekers is being resolved  which can take over two years  authorities attempt to connect the children with a parent, family member or family friend in the U.S.

A child who has no known U.S. connections is placed in a licensed shelter or foster home while the asylum application or immigration process proceeds. Nonprofit and for-profit groups operate more than 170 housing facilities in 22 states under grants from the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

The Trump administration slashed federal funding for refugee services, forcing many shelters and resettlement offices to close. Biden says his administration is moving rapidly to try to put in place what [Trump] dismantled. To address rising child migration and the Trump-era facilities shortage, Biden has ordered another 16,000 beds to house these children.

2. Care is costly

Unlike the roughly 11 million undocumented adults in the United States  a vital labor force that, studies show, drives key sectors of the U.S. economy like agriculture and construction  undocumented children require economic resources.

In 2014, a House of Representatives subcommittee held a hearing on that years record-high child arrivals. As Rep. Raul Labrador of Idaho observed, The impact has been felt across the country, imposing a variety of costs, such as for education, health care, policing and criminal justice.

Children also need translators and legal counsel during their immigration proceedings, and they cannot pay these costs. It falls to federal, state and local governments, as well as nonprofit organizations, to provide legal pro bono services. Despite these efforts, an estimated 75% to 90% of children undergo U.S. deportation proceedings without a lawyer to represent them, though in practice they are rarely deported.

Communities where the children are ultimately placed bear the brunt of youth immigration, receiving hundreds of newcomers or more each year.

Texas alone received nearly 5,300 children in just a seven-month period at the beginning of this year. Miami-Dade District in Florida reported that it had 300 more students in a single quarter of last year, which costs about $2,000 more per additional student, Labrador said in 2014.

The federal government provides resources to help cover these costs. But budget planning is difficult, as city officials are not always informed when children are to arrive. DHHS has also faced criticism for not tracking children once they are placed with sponsors.

3. Care is complicated

These last two issues combine to create an incentive for policymakers to simply demand these children be returned to their home countries.

But many of these children face violence in their home countries and are thus seeking political asylum. As President Biden suggested during his first press conference, sending them home would violate U.S. law, which requires the protection for those who face a well-founded fear of persecution.

The U.S. has human rights obligations under international law, too, including a proscription against returning refugees to a country where they would face cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, torture or other irreparable harm.

Following domestic and international law, the U.S. should contact the families of unaccompanied minors to ensure parents are aware that their children are in the U.S. and consent to their residing in the country, perhaps permanently.

But finding these parents, especially in remote areas of Central America, can be difficult. Younger children may know only their parents names  not their address or phone number. Sometimes the contact information they have is outdated or incorrect.

4. Migrants are nobodys constituents

These are all big problems, but the U.S. government has solved big problems before. So why is the country still struggling to effectively deal with the decade-old issue of child migrants?

The primary reason, in my analysis: politics.

Undocumented immigrants  and particularly children  are not the constituents of any Washington politician. They have no voice within the U.S. democratic system. While journalists can and do report on immigration problems, and public interest law firms can and do represent these children in immigration proceedings, unaccompanied minors are simply not part of any politicians voting bloc or reelection strategy.

Consequently, the issue is often overlooked or mishandled without real political repercussions. There are public relations costs to a presidential administrations being perceived as allowing children to suffer. But survey research shows American voters dont rate immigration high on their priority list.

And undocumented immigrants and refugee children themselves cannot really hold politicians accountable for their failures at the border.

Ediberto Roman, Professor of Law, Florida International University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
NEW DELHI (PTI): India and China are likely to hold the next round of corps commander level talks on Friday that is expected to focus on disengagement of troops in remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh, people familiar with the development said.



They said India will insist on early disengagement of troops in Gogra and Hot Springs besides pressing for resolution of pending issues in Depsang plains.



The people said the two sides had an exchange of views on holding the 11th round of military talks on Friday.



The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.



As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February in line with an agreement on disengagement.



In the subsequent military talks on February 20, India insisted on resolution of outstanding issues including in Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra.



India has been insisting that peace and tranquility along the border is essential for overall ties between the two countries.



Last week, India hoped that China will work with it to ensure disengagement of troops in remaining areas of eastern Ladakh at the earliest.



It said de-escalation of tension alone will lead to restoration of peace and tranquility in border areas and provide conditions for progress of bilateral ties.



In late March, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said that the threat to India has only "abated" following the disengagement in Pangong lake areas but it has not gone away altogether.


Former congressman Ron Paul was seen wearing Daisy Duke short shorts under his suit jacket during an interview with political podcast Doug Casey's Take on Wednesday.

Paul, 85, appeared in the podcast by Zoom wearing a blue suit jacket and a white button down shirt - but gave viewers a peek at his tight shorts when he stood up at the end of the interview.

The short shorts were quickly spotted by viewers who initially thought the legendary Libertarian was wearing boxers, the New York Post reports.

But on closer inspection, Paul is in fact wearing tiny denim shorts with a black belt.

The octogenarian served as congressman for Texas from 1976 until 2013.

Scroll down for video

Upon closer inspection, Paul is in fact wearing tiny shorts with a black belt

Rand Paul, 85, appeared in the podcast by Zoom wearing a blue suit jacket and a white button down shirt

He gave viewers a peek at his tight shorts when he stood up at the end of the interview

He ran as presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party and Republican Party in three separate races and received one electoral vote from a faithless elector in the 2016 presidential election.

During the interview, Paul discussed topics including personal liberties and the divisiveness perpetuating American politics.

I think things, were in desperate shape and theres good reason to be pessimistic, Paul said of the current political climate.

They elected Nixon to stop the war in Vietnam and after he was elected, 34,000 more Americans were still killed. Those are problems. But in some ways, philosophically, I think were in worse shape,' Paul said.

'Even though we went through those times, we werent killing each other. We werent fighting each other. We didn't have the divisiveness that exists today and right now its a real mess. What's happening in Washington, it wasnt that bad when I was there.'

He added: 'Theres nothing more exciting than finding a liberal that would agree with, say a libertarian, view on some civil liberty issue or some war issue.'

During the interview, Paul discussed topics including personal liberties and the divisiveness perpetuating American politics

His son, Rand, is a Tea Party Republican who has served as a U.S. Senator for Kentucky since 2011 and has recently sparred with Dr. Anthony Fauci over vaccinated people being required to wear masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The younger Paul also recently angrily confronted President Joe Biden's pick for assistant secretary for Health and Human Services.

He likened gender changes surgeries to genital mutilation while discussing Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, as she appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing.
Why learning Party history matters so much to CPC

Xinhua) 08:37, April 08, 2021

People visit the Huawu Village in Ruijin, a center of the early revolutionary activities of the Communist Party of China, east China's Jiangxi Province, May 6, 2019. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

The campaign on Party history learning and education is so important that President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended its launch and issued specific requirements.

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Reading books, watching documentaries, tuning in to APP-based programs -- 91 million members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) are diving into the Party's history.

These are the scenes of an educational campaign launched by the Party leadership as part of the events to mark the CPC's centenary in 2021.

The campaign on Party history learning and education is so important that President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended its launch and issued specific requirements.

Why does the study of history matter so much to the world's biggest Marxist ruling party, and what does it mean to do this at the Party's centenary?

"KEEPING IN MIND WHY WE STARTED"

The past, present and future are linked. Looking into the past helps one deal with issues today and be better prepared for the future.

Following the Opium Wars in the mid-19th century, China was laid to waste and the people were plunged into misery by repeated foreign aggressions and internal conflicts.

Since then, rejuvenating the nation has been the greatest dream of the Chinese people, for which countless patriots have fought and sacrificed their lives.

When founded in 1921, the CPC made it the Party's founding mission to seek happiness for the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Under the CPC leadership over the course of several decades, the once impoverished country has emerged as the world's second-largest economy and built a well-off society with the world's largest middle-income population.

"No matter how far we have traveled... we shall never forget the past, and never forget why we started our journey in the first place," Xi told his fellow CPC members, urging them, again and again, to stay true to the Party's founding mission.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at a key meeting to launch a campaign on Party history learning and education among all Party members in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

CONFIDENCE BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCE

In 2021, China announced success in ending extreme poverty and historic achievements in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

Looking ahead, the Party aims to lead China in basically realizing socialist modernization by 2035 and further building the country into a modern socialist country by the middle of the 21st century.

Xi said that, by learning the Party's history, CPC members can gain experience and draw lessons from the past, boosting their confidence as they continue the quest.

The CPC is good at finding solutions from past experience to tackle challenges and overcome dangers, said Qu Qingshan, head of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee.

A crucial lesson from past experience is the importance of firming up ideals and convictions, Qu said. This is how the CPC members can endure all sorts of risks and hardships while guarding against corrosive ideological influences.

Another lesson based on experience is maintaining close ties with the people, he added. "From leading the revolution and establishing the people's republic to advancing socialist modernization, everything the Party has done is to strive for the benefit of the people," Qu said.

In order to face future challenges, "we must be better prepared for struggles and raise our ability to fight through the study," Qu said.

SELF-REFORM TO LEAD MARCH FORWARD

History is the best textbook and it shows that the easiest way to capture a fortress is from within.

Over the past century, the CPC has been constantly maintaining its advanced nature and purity against being corrupted or disintegrated.

Party history study will make this even more clear to CPC members, and help maintain the strict self-governance of the Party, observers said.

There are still some mismatches in Party building as the CPC is tasked with leading a great social revolution towards a modern socialist country, Xi said.

He particularly asked his comrades to pay attention to problems undermining the Party's purity, especially those related to Party conduct.

According to the Party's top graft-busting body, in 2020 alone, more than 63,000 people received Party or administrative discipline over practicing bureaucratism or formalities for formalities' sake.

"Once we are not careful enough, (the conduct problems) will resurge again. All our previous gains may be lost," Xi said, adding that launching the educational campaign at this crucial juncture is to follow through on the spirit of thorough revolution, and help the Party maintain a clear mind and lead the great social revolution through self-reform.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun)
Driving and Smoking

South Africa

Luxembourg

Poland

Cyprus

Greece

Italy

New Zealand

Australia

Mauritius

France

Ireland

Belgium

Denmark

Austria

Malaysia

Qatar

We all have our own idea of what relaxation looks like.Of course, going on holiday to your favourite getaway destination is a great way to relax, as well as a great opportunity to really pamper yourself and indulge in all of your favourite vices.Naturally, you'll need a way to get around, and expensive taxis and crowded public transport isn't always the best option.A rental car opens up plenty more opportunities to enjoy your holiday.A long, relaxing drive through a new country is a great way to get to grips with the culture. Even a slightly overwhelming journey through a busy city brings the opportunity to learn new road signs, immersing yourself in new road etiquette.However, if you enjoy a cigarette, these scenarios might sound like the perfect time to light one up, but is it?Of course, putting the cigarettes away until you've parked the car is the best choice, as having your hands preoccupied with a cigarette can become dangerous when you're behind the wheel!The last thing you want is a brush with law enforcement in a foreign country.To help you avoid this, so you can relax in peace, we decided to do the hard part for you and delve into the complicated laws and policies surrounding smoking and driving across the world.So if you're planning your next getaway, or you booked your own rental to get to your international business meetings, read on to find out which countries are cracking down on smoking and driving.Not all countries have an easy-to-follow, strict no smoking policy. Some have different specifications that are important to remain mindful of before sparking up at the wheel. You might want to blast the air conditioning if you're considering lighting up behind the wheel in Singapore. Their laws dictate that whilst smoking is allowed in private vehicles, no secondhand tobacco smoke can be expelled. So, get winding up those windows before smoking if you want to avoid a brush with the law.Driving in a stressful environment, such as a new country, can really make those nicotine cravings spike. But, if you're in France , remember to keep those cigarettes tucked away if you have any passengers under the age of 12.If you do happen to feel the need for nicotine, and you fancy having a quick bite to eat to keep the cravings at bay, be prepared for an on the spot fine of 50. Motorists in France are forbidden from eating whilst driving!France isn't the only country that specifically says 'no smoking with any passengers under 12'. Greece and Luxembourg both specify that drivers cannot smoke behind the wheel with any passenger who is under the age of 12 in the car.In fact, Luxembourg law dictates that smoking is prohibited in playgrounds and sporting venues in which children under the age of 16 are playing. It also says that you cannot smoke in private vehicles in which children under the age of 12 are present. Of course, if you're smoking in a car, it's not always just you who's breathing in cigarette fumes.Several countries across the world have implemented strict laws that dictate when you can and can't smoke in your car.It's not always completely clear, and the age cut-off for passengers you can smoke around often varies from country to country.In fact, in Poland , their laws forbid smoking for drivers with passengers, with the exception of passenger cars and trucks. But, there is no age limit for these passengers.However, in Cyprus , the ban on smoking in cars applies when people under the age of 16 are travelling in the vehicle. Make sure you follow these rules if you're looking for a family trip to the idyllic island, as you'll face a fine of up to 85 euros if you break the law.Keeping on top of the new laws is also key. The age limit is much higher in New Zealand , in comparison to Cyprus, as in June 2020, the country banned smoking in any vehicle carrying a person under 18 years old.Here is a complete list of countries whose laws restrict smoking in cars that are carrying passengers, including minors:

Well, some countries have gone the extra mile, and completely banned the smoking of cigarettes behind the wheel, no matter the circumstances.



The penalties for breaking this law varies from country to country.



In Argentina, smoking while driving is illegal, as well as listening to music through headphones and using a mobile phone. So make sure you keep your hands on the wheel if you're planning a car journey in this country!



Jordan has the same laws, as new traffic laws dictate that drivers may not smoke or use a mobile phone at the wheel.



Some countries ruled out smoking behind the wheel a long time ago; for example, Iran has had a smoking ban for all car drivers since 2006



Other countries, including Armenia, Turkmenistan, Honduras and Burkina Faso, all have a complete ban on smoking behind the wheel, no matter the circumstances.

Smoking and driving in the United States

Of course, whilst many of these countries have issued a nationwide ban, or restricted when you can smoke whilst driving, it can vary depending on which area of the country you're in.



All 50 states in America have their own state laws, which can cause trouble if you're not up to date on which state you're in and what their rules dictate.



So, whilst a road trip across America has probably featured on the majority of people's bucket lists, you might want to double-check where you can spark one up.



Some states do allow smoking behind the wheel, regardless of the circumstances. These include West Virginia, Kentucky, Nebraska and Iowa.



They're not the only states that allow you to spark up whilst driving, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Indiana, South Dakota, Indiana and Ohio do as well.



Of course, much like other countries, the US has states that have brought in laws to protect passengers from second-hand smoke.



The following states have specifications in their laws that dictate you can't smoke when carrying underage passengers:



Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Utah

Louisiana

Maryland

Mississippi

New York

Texas

Virginia

Hawaii

California

Washington

Arkansas

Oregon

Vermont

Maine

So, if you're in a traffic jam and you're starting to feel those nicotine cravings, make sure you're up to speed before grabbing your lighter.



If you're planning a road trip and you know you're going to have a few drinks in the evenings, why not start studying the drink driving limits from around the world, here?



The smoking and driving laws and regulations were correct when this research was carried out between the 15th-19th of March 2021.
Highlights Trainee soldiers in France tested quadruped robot Spot, along with other robots in late March in a 2-day trial.

The robots were tested for various reconnaissance tasks and urban combat tests.

Spot was found to slow the troops down but helped them be safe. It also ran out of battery during the test.

The French army is testing quadruped robot dog Spot on the battlefield. Trainee soldiers tested Spot, along with other robots in late March in a 2-day trial. The robots were tested for various reconnaissance tasks and urban combat tests. The tests were part of a project by the Ecole Militaire Interarmes school at a French army camp Saint-Cyr Coetquidan. As reported by French publication, Ouest-France, the trainee soldiers ran various tests like offensive action capturing a crossroads, defensive actions during night and day, and an urban combat test. Every scenario was first performed using just humans and then using humans and robots together to see what difference the machines made.

(Picture: Saint-Cyr Coetquidan)

According to the reports, the robots slowed the troops down but helped them be safe. Spot was also reported running out of battery during the test. The publication has quoted one of the soldiers saying, "During the urban combat phase where we weren't using robots, I died. But I didn't die when we had the robot do a recce first."

(Picture: Saint-Cyr Coetquidan)

"The man remains at the heart of the tactical decision. The EOs had the opportunity to pilot these robots and to measure, on the basis of indicators devised by the CREC, the gains and constraints in the conduct of the maneuver," Saint-Cyr Coetquidan's noted on its Twitter handle.

Spot, built by Google-owned US firm Boston Dynamics is housed with cameras and can be remote controlled. As the name suggests, the quadruped robot dog has four legs that navigate terrain that challenge wheeled or threaded robots. Until now, Spot has been used to navigate terrain that would challenge wheeled or treaded robots. It has also been used to survey several environments, from construction sites to factories and underground mines, the Verge reported.

(Picture: Saint-Cyr Coetquidan)

Along with Spot, the French military is testing other robots, like French-made pack robot Nexter ULTRO and Shark Robotics Barakuda, a wheeled drone that carries a heavy blast shield to protect the soldiers with attached armored plating, and OPTIO-X20, a remote-controlled vehicle with tank treads and autocannon built by Estonian firm Milrem Robotics. Boston Dynamics' vice president of business development Michael Perry told The Verge that the company had policies forbidding suppliers or customers from weaponising the robot and that the firm is still evaluating if it should ban non-weaponised deployments by military customers.




In recent years, parts of the National Mall in Washington have been used to temporarily memorialize fallen American soldiers and those who have died from the coronavirus. Next week, a square block will be cordoned off to recognize the roughly 40,000 Americans who die annually in gun violence.

The gun violence prevention organization led by former Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, who was critically injured in a 2011 mass shooting, will on Monday evening place 38,000 silk white roses in 4,000 vases across from the Capitol. (An earlier version of this briefing item, using information from the gun violence prevention group, misstated when the memorial would be installed.)

The installation, set to occupy the square block of the National Mall lawn between Third and Fourth Streets, is designed by Doug Landry, a longtime Democratic advance man who created the coronavirus memorial that was on display during President Bidens inauguration. Ms. Giffords is expected to visit the site on Wednesday with a delegation of advocates and members of Congress. It will be open to the public next Thursday.

Our installation is a poignant reminder of the tragedy and trauma that gun violence inflicts on our nation, said Peter Ambler, the executive director of the Giffords organization. Each flower confronts us with the human cost of political failure  tens of thousands of people not here to pursue their hopes and dreams, families and communities gutted by the worst kind of loss. We will gather at the Gun Violence Memorial to mourn victims of gun violence and inspire the courage to act to address this national nightmare.
Bhopal, April 8 : Owing to the rising cases of coronavirus, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to put all urban areas under lockdown from 6 p.m. on Friday evening to 6 a.m. on Monday morning.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, talking to reporters on Thursday, said that he has reviewed the coronavirus situation in the state and has decided to place all urban areas under lockdown for two days from 6 p.m. on Friday evening to 6 a.m. on Monday morning. During this time, all the urban areas will be completely shut.

The lockdown has already been clamped in 13 districts of the state on Sundays. Now the government has decided to do a 60-hour lockdown in all urban areas starting Friday.

The state government a day earlier had announced a night curfew in all the cities of Madhya Pradesh. But after a record 4,043 corona cases were discovered on a single day on Wednesday, the government announced a Saturday-Sunday lockdown.

The chief minister has appealed to all to wear mask, maintain social distancing and wash hands regularly.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Sacrifice and military service go hand-in-hand, not only for soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, but for their families. Sudden deployments, long separations and frequent moves are just some of the challenges for military families.

But those, at least, come with the territory. But a shocking new report has revealed a challenge that should not exist for military families and which must be eliminated  food insecurity.

The report is by Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger, a national organization that examines food and nutrition issues affecting many aspects of society.

Its report on the military cited data that 9% of military families had sought emergency food assistance at some point over the past several years, and that a least a third of children attending Department of Defense schools on every base in the United States were eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.

Many of the families are eligible for benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, but their housing allowances are counted as income against their SNAP eligibility.

Mazon based its conclusions on data from an array of sources, noting that the Pentagon does not maintain specific data on food security among military families. Congress should take up Mazons recommendation that the DOD be required to do so.

President Joe Biden should follow another of the recommendations, to waive the SNAP regulation that counts young soldiers housing allowances as income that diminishes eligibility for SNAP benefits.

Soldiers families should not have to deal with food insecurity when the United States spends more than $700 billion a year on defense.
Members of the Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent to Mali treat a wounded Chadian peacekeeper. (Photo by Huang Song)

By Zhao Bingsen and Wang Xuechao

MALI, Apr. 8 -- Four peacekeepers from the Chadian contingent were killed and several others injured in an extremist attack on a UN camp in northeast Mali on April 2, local time.

After receiving the order to carry out the rescue mission at about 6:10 p.m. that day, the 8th Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent to Mali immediately dispatched all security and air evacuation team members, carrying medical rescue equipment in need, in three armored ambulances toward the airport to pick up the wounded.

At about 6:45 p.m., two Mi-8 military transport helicopters arrived at the Gao Airport with eight wounded peacekeepers, who were then quickly inspected and sent to the Chinese level-II hospital in armored ambulances. At the same time, their injuries were reported to the hospital where relevant department staffs set out to make targeted preparations for admission and first aid.

"This is the largest number of war-wounded patients we have received," said Guo Hongde, the commanding officer of the Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent. The eight wounded peacekeepers had various degrees of open gunshot wounds, penetrating injuries, closed fractures, open comminuted fractures and other war injuries, among whom two were seriously injured.

So far, it is learned that the eight wounded peacekeepers have been in stable condition and still receiving treatment in the hospital.
INDIANAPOLIS, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- El Paso Community College President William Serrata has joined Lumina Foundation's Board of Directors, which today concluded its spring meeting. Earlier this year, the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education honored Serrata for early career achievements.

Since joining the community college district as president in 2012, Serrata has increased student success and student retention. He also has boosted dual-credit enrollment and graduation rates at El Paso. Much of this success was realized through a focus on Hispanic and Latino students and students who are the first in their families to attend college.

Serrata became chairman of the board of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) last July. Several months earlier, in late 2019, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) named Serrata the nation's top community college CEO for his commitment to advancing the community college movement.

"William is a national leader and brings an experienced focus on first-generation and Hispanic students," said Jamie Merisotis, president and CEO of Lumina Foundation. "His wealth of knowledge can contribute to our goal of increasing opportunities for quality learning after high school."

Under Serrata's leadership, El Paso Community College was among 10 finalists for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The Aspen Institute awards this prize every two years in recognition of outstanding outcomes among 1,120+ community colleges nationally in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion rates, graduates' labor market outcomes, and levels of access, retention, and program completion among students of color and those from lower-income households.

In 2016, El Paso received the American Association of Community Colleges' (AACC)Student Success Award and the Association of Community College Trustees' (ACCT) Western Regional Equity Award. Hispanic Outlook on Education also has recognized Serrata as national leader in awarding associate degrees to Hispanic and Latino students.

Serrata is involved in the El Paso community and serves on boards of local and state-level associations. Nationally, he serves on the advisory board of the Higher Education Research and Development Institute, a forum for bringing together business and community college leaders. Serrata previously served on the National Student Clearinghouse Advisory Council and was a 2015 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow.

Serrata holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University, a master's degree from the University of Texas at Brownsville, and a doctorate in educational human resource development, also from Texas A&M.

About Lumina

Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. We envision a system that is easy to navigate, delivers fair results, and meets the nation's need for talent through a broad range of credentials. Our goal is to prepare people for informed citizenship and for success in a global economy.

Contact:

Tracy Chen, Lumina Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE Lumina Foundation

Related Links

https://www.luminafoundation.org


TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / Gratomic Inc. ("GRAT," "Gratomic" or the "Company") (TSXV:GRAT)(OTCQX:CBULF)(Frankfurt:CB82) is proud to announce it is in the research and planning phase of its goal to take its flagship Aukam Graphite Project solar, which will enable the Company's Aukam processing plant to transition from traditional fuel generators to clean, renewable and sustainable solar power. Implementing solar into its already highly energy efficient operations will further reduce the Company's already nearly negligible carbon footprint, which was internally calculated at an estimated 0.8Kg/tonne.

In keeping with its main strategic focus to become a key player in the EV battery market, going solar is an integral part of Gratomic's business plan as well as its initiative to introduce a cleaner, more environmentally friendly anode material to the global EV battery market. The Company is currently in talks with various solar supply companies to better assess their viability and to determine if they are able to fill Gratomic's needs as the solar plant will be a custom facility, designed to accommodate the Aukam Graphite Project's current and future energy requirements.

This transition to solar allows Gratomic to secure its position as a leader of environmentally conscious business practices and demonstrates the ways in which the Company adheres to those practices. By continuing to reduce Gratomic's carbon footprint, the Company shows its dedication and commitment to providing the world with cleaner graphite solutions for the future.

Gratomic looks forward to continuing to develop further green initiatives for its processing facility. The Aukam Graphite Project, while taking a large step by going solar, is already a cornerstone of modern graphite mining environmental awareness. The combined anticipated electrical draw of the Aukam facility currently sits at approximately half a megawatt per hour, compared to three to six megawatts per hour at the average graphite processing operation. Due to the naturally high purity levels and high quality of vein graphite available at the site, Gratomic can also avoid processes such as acid leaching and other chemical treatments. The only treatment required can be accomplished through a water treatment system. The water used for processing the graphite is then recirculated, with an approximated five percent of water being lost in the drying process while the other 95% is reused.

Gratomic's corporate vision is to become a key strategic supplier of clean, environmentally friendly and ethically sourced graphite for the Carbon Age, going solar is a large aspect of that plan and has been a company goal from the beginning.

"As ultimately all of the Earth's energy comes from the sun, we are reducing our carbon footprint by cutting corners and harvesting the energy directly," commented Armando Farhate, COO & Head of Graphite Marketing and Sales

"Gratomic, as a company, is focused on building a sustainable operation in an environmentally friendly manner, so that we can leave a lasting legacy for future generations." stated Arno Brand CEO & President.

About?Gratomic?Inc. ?

Established in 2014,?Gratomic?is focused on introducing carbon-neutral, eco-friendly, high purity vein graphite to the global Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage supply chains.?Gratomic?is anticipating full operational capabilities in 2021.?

Gratomic?is in the process of solidifying its plans for?the micronization, spheronization, and coating?of its Aukam vein graphite. This significant milestone is a small, additional step in the Company's proposed eco-friendly processing cycle and is intended to allow it to meet ideal battery grade standards for use in Li-ion battery anodes.? The Company's recent collaboration agreement with Forge Nano has advanced developments on its graphite finalization phase.

Forge Nano is a global leader in surface engineering and precision nano-coating technology, using Atomic Layer Deposition. Forge Nano's proprietary technology and manufacturing processes make angstrom-thick coatings fast, affordable and commercially viable for a wide range of materials, applications and industries. Forge Nano's suite of ALD and PALD products and services covers the full spectrum from lab-scale tools to commercial-scale manufacturing systems.?

GRAT plans to deliver mine-to-market traceability and guaranteed quality control. This will be accomplished by providing documented tracking on all graphite generated at its flagship?Aukam?Graphite Project. The tracking will begin at?Aukam?and will be verified at every stage during transport.?

Two off-take purchase agreements are currently held for lump-vein graphite sourced from?Gratomic's?Aukam?Graphite Project in Namibia, Africa. Fulfillment of the contracts is anticipated to begin in 2021. The agreements exist with TODAQ and Phu Sumika.?

TODAQ is an innovative?deeptech?company that can containerize assets, transactions & markets, and will partner with?Gratomic?on its mine-to-market commodity tracking and trading. Containerized assets are verifiably unique, keep an immutable record of who has owned them, have embedded smart logic, can be transferred P2P, and are interoperable with any system.? Asset owners enjoy stronger ownership control, value retention when trading, and ability to prove authenticity in seconds.?

Phu Sumika is a large global graphite supplier to battery and lubrication companies.?

Gratomic?Inc. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GRAT, on the OTCQX under the symbol CBULF and on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol CB82.?

For more information: visit the website at?www.gratomic.ca?or contact:?

Arno Brand at?abrand@gratomic.ca?or 416 561-4095?

Subscribe at gratomic.ca/contact/ to be added to our email list.?

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."?

Forward Looking 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: Gratomic Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639400/Gratomic-Intends-to-Fully-Power-Its-Aukam-Processing-Facility-Through-Solar-Energy-by-2022-Offering-an-Even-Greener-Option-to-the-Global-Electric-Vehicle-Supply-Chain
A new consumer protection lawsuit alleges Facebook executives like Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg have misled Congress and the American public by falsely stating the company removes content that violates its policies. Filed on Thursday by civil rights organization Muslim Advocates, the suit claims the company routinely allows rule-breaking posts to stay up. They say its actions have allowed anti-Muslim hate to spread on the platform, leading to real-world harm.

As one example of Facebook's failures on the matter, the organization points to a list of 26 anti-Muslim hate groups it shared with the company. Of those, 19 still have a presence on the network, and many have names with obvious anti-Muslim connotations, such as "Jihad Watch" and "Understanding the Threat."

"This is not, 'Oh a couple of things are falling through the cracks,'" Muslim Advocates lawyer Mary Bauer told NPR. "This is pervasive content that persists despite academics pointing it out, nonprofits pointing it out. Facebook has made a decision to not take this material down." The lawsuit asks a judge to order Facebook to stop making false and misleading statements about its content moderation policies and practices and pay "modest" monetary damages.

Facebook's Community Standards explicitly bans hate speech. "We do not allow hate speech on Facebook and regularly work with experts, nonprofits, and stakeholders to help make sure Facebook is a safe place for everyone, recognizing anti-Muslim rhetoric can take different forms," a Facebook spokesperson told Engadget. "We have invested in AI technologies to take down hate speech, and we proactively detect 97 percent of what we remove."

Critics have routinely accused Facebook of doing too little to prevent hate speech and misinformation from spreading on its platforms. In its defense, the company is likely to point to recent tools it has introduced to combat hate speech better, in addition to new policies aimed at imposing stricter sanctions on individuals and communities who repeatedly break its rules.
In a carefully controlled study, Michigan Medicine researchers will kick off the first national trial to study allergic reactions to the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

The clinical trial, co-led by a University of Michigan immunologist and funded by the National Institutes of Health, will examine whether participants who are highly allergic or have a mast cell disorder possess a greater risk for a reaction to the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

When these vaccines initially became available, there were a number of reports about allergic reactions, but it wasn't at all clear if they were true allergic reactions. The safety of these vaccines is otherwise remarkably good. So, if we can figure this out, it really facilitates the use of these technologies for vaccines going forward." James Baker Jr., M.D., director of the Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center and national co-chair of the vaccination trial

Researchers will analyze data from 3,400 subjects, including more than 100 at U-M, receiving one of the two mRNA-based vaccines at up to 35 academic allergy research centers across the United States. Staff will collect blood and urine samples from participants before and after injections.

They will look for immediate, systemic reactions to the vaccines. Such reactions occur in one or more parts of the body - not just at the injection site. If they occur, researchers will assess whether the reactions are more frequent in volunteers who are highly allergic or have a mast cell disorder, a disease caused by an abnormal or overly active white blood cell that predisposes a person to life-threatening reactions that look like allergic reactions.

"We're searching for the molecular markers of allergic reactions, so that we can see whether or not there is a smoking gun there," Baker says. "The symptoms are highly variable. In fact, it can be difficult to differentiate some of them from fainting spells."

Learn more about U-M's participation in the study here: https:/ / michmed. org/ lAxgj

Study mechanics

The phase 2 placebo-controlled trial will focus on adults between 18 and 69 years old. Around 60 percent of them will have a history of severe allergic reactions or diagnosis of a mast cell disorder. The remaining participants will have no history of allergic reaction.

"It's important to study people who have many severe allergies and may have even been told because they have allergies they shouldn't get vaccines," Baker says. "In the study, we can give them the vaccine safely in a controlled environment."

The group will be split into thirds; one will receive the Pfizer vaccine, the next will get Moderna and the other will receive a placebo. The placebo participants will subsequently get one of the two vaccines, so every participant will eventually receive both doses of either vaccine.

Staff administering the shots are allergists trained to recognize, and respond to, severe allergic reactions within seconds. They will observe all study participants for at least 90 minutes after the injections. Researchers will follow up with volunteers throughout the trial.

Implications

Millions of Americans are already immunized with Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and the federal government purchased an additional 100 million doses from the two companies in February to meet rising demand.

However, many people are hesitant to get the vaccine or fear a bad reaction. This study, Baker says, will allow researchers to test for specific molecules that the body typically produces in an allergic reaction.

"If we find those markers, that tells us it's an allergic reaction and sends us in one direction," he says. "If we don't, if we find markers of nonspecific inflammation, it may suggest this is simply a reaction people are having to activation of their immune system. That has different implications from an allergy."

A substantial number of the people enrolled in the study, called Systemic Allergic Reactions to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination, will have previously experienced anaphylaxis, a sometimes-fatal allergic reaction. Baker says the trial won't just help physicians do a better job of identifying the few people who should not get this type of vaccine - it may change the way they address future diseases.

"We're learning about these reactions to help battle COVID, but this technology will be used to develop new flu vaccines and, likely, vaccines for most respiratory diseases," he says. "These formulations are truly going to transform the vaccine industry."
With all three variants of concern in India having come from the UK, South Africa and Brazil, doctors are not sure which variant they are dealing with. (Representational Photo: AFP)

Hyderabad: While double mutation of SARS-Cov2 was localised to Maharashtra in February, rampant interstate travel has taken the virus to all parts of Telangana. The movement of people, gatherings in clusters and non-use of masks have worsened the situation.

Dr Rakesh Mishra, director at CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology says, "There is no major change in the disease pattern due to the double mutation. The infection rate is high as the wayward behaviour of the people helped in the spread of the pandemic. We are doing lab studies of the new mutation and find out if the new variant is highly infectious or not."

A major concern is that every few individuals on whom the virus jumps leads to a mutation. This makes many different versions of the virus and those who come in contact can contract any of the new variants too.

If the new variant spreads and leads to changes in disease patterns or to a higher mortality rate, then it would be a variant of concern. At present, double mutation has shown mild infection in those who contracted the virus.

With all three variants of concern in India having come from the UK, South Africa and Brazil, doctors are not sure which variant they are dealing with. A doctor explained, "Some patients are responding well to medicines but others require steroids and other high-end drugs. They have prolonged breathlessness, requiring all the medications for recovery."

The variants problem, say doctors, has led to many being given high-end drugs, but it is not known whether they really required them. The side-effects of medicines leading to post-Covid-19 treatment is also a concern as the immune system of the infected person is put on high alert.

A major worry noted in districts is that, unlike in the first wave, smaller towns are having high numbers of cases.

A government doctor from Nizamabad said, "ICUs are now having only Covid-19 patients. Hospitals have been converted into Covid wards due to the high loads of cases."

"The load of patients is high and serious cases in some districts are being referred to Hyderabad. There are some districts where ventilators are fully engaged. Also, making people understand the care protocols at home is a challenge as they have not opted for home care solutions."

In Hyderabad, despite hospitals attending to cases, double of this number of patients are in home treatment. Those with mild cases are being given home kits by hospitals and their status is monitored via video calls.

Experts say the situation is grim and the next few weeks will decide the course of the pandemic.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Jen Kimmich is the co-founder and CEO of The Alchemist Brewery, and a past board member of the Vermont Council on Rural Development. This commentary is part of a collaboration between VCRD, The Times Argus/Rutland Herald, Greater Northshire Access Television (GNAT-TV) and the Vermont Access Network (VAN). The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Brattleboro Reformer.
Russian human rights advocates keep track of Navalnys health

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

13:49 08/04/2021

MOSCOW, April 8 (RAPSI)  Members of Russias Presidential Council for Human Rights keep track of Alexey Navalnys health condition and his treatment, according to the Councils Chair Valery Fadeyev.

During his working trip to Yekaterinburg Fadeyev met with the Ural State University students. The future journalists asked him about digitalization risks, professional activity and rights of journalists, foreign agent law and other explosive legislative initiatives, situation concerning a nunnery situated near town of Sredneuralsk in the Sverdlovsk Region, excommunicated former schema monk Sergius (Nikolay Romanov) and Navalnys condition in a Vladimir Regions penal colony.

Fadeyev said that Navalny had certain health problems but he objected to the opinion that authorities wanted to quash him. Human rights advocates keep track of his health and treatment in the penal colony, the Human Rights Councils Chair stated. He also said there were no serious violations as to Navalny.




A UK judge on Thursday blocked an extradition appeal by a Vietnamese teenager, wanted by Belgium in connection with a people smuggling operation that led to the deaths of 39 migrants in southern England

London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2021 ) :A UK judge on Thursday blocked an extradition appeal by a Vietnamese teenager, wanted by Belgium in connection with a people smuggling operation that led to the deaths of 39 migrants in southern England.

Ngo Sy Tai, also known as Hung Sy Truong, is accused by Belgian authorities of running the safe house that held the migrants and transporting them to a location near the France-Belgium border.

Ngo, 18, fled to Birmingham in central England via Berlin following the discovery of the 39 dead men, women and children in horrific conditions in the back of a sealed lorry unit in October 2019.

The migrants -- the youngest of whom were two 15-year-old boys -- suffocated in the container as they were being transported to what they had hoped would be new lives in Britain.

Defence lawyer Joel Smith appealed against the extradition over the lack of detail in the charges against the teenager, explaining he was unable to give sufficient legal counsel.

However Westminster Magistrates' Court District Judge Mark Jabbit said in his written ruling that Ngo should be extradited.

The court heard that the Vietnamese teenager, who was 16 at the time of the crime and faces a possible 20 years in prison if convicted, ran a safe house in Anderlecht in Brussels used for the trafficking of other Vietnamese nationals.

"The vulnerable position of the people who paid money to be smuggled was abused and minors were also abused," prosecution lawyer Daniel Sternberg said.

He said Ngo arranged for taxis to take the Vietnamese migrants to a location near the France-Belgium border before they were put on the lorry bound for the UK.

"A criminal attitude on the part of Ngo and others amounted to gaining money with total disregard to the physical and psychological impact on the victim," the lawyer added.

Sternberg said the migrants kept at the safe house were "forbidden to leave, and were obliged to be silent during their stay".

The four ringleaders of the people smuggling ring were jailed in January in the UK after being sentenced to between 20 and 27 years in prison for their role in the tragedy which cast a shocking new light on the lengths migrants will go to in a bid to reach Britain.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Gov. Andrew Cuomo the other day lifted COVID-19 curfew restrictions for a host of businesses in New York State.

Hooray, right?

Well, sort of.

Because some of what Cuomo is doing when it comes to business shutdowns still just dont make sense. Not from a governor who has hectored us for months to follow the science.

Cuomo on Monday announced that the 11 p.m. curfew would be lifted for casinos, movie theaters, bowling alleys, pool halls and gyms.

Good news all around, even though, outside of casinos and pool halls, Im not sure how much post-11 p.m. activity is going on at some of these businesses. Are people getting their reps in at the gym at 1 a.m.?

But heres the bad news: Bars and restaurants across the Empire State still have to close at 11 p.m. And, yeah, you still have to order that one food item if you want to have a drink in a bar.

How does any of this make sense, particularly for bars? The midnight hours are prime time for these places.

I know what the experts have said: People get drunk in bars and ignore the pandemic protocols. They put people at risk.

Youre telling me that Im more at risk in a bar than I am in a gym, where spit and sweat are flying? That a casino, where sometimes highly agitated gamblers are plied with freeze booze in order to keep them at the tables, is intrinsically safer?

And we still have the age-old pandemic questions when it comes to bars and restaurants: Why am I safe from COVID-19 at 10:59 p.m. but not at 11:01 p.m.? How does a hot pretzel or a bag or chips keep me virus-proof while Im drinking a beer in a bar? Why do I have to put on a mask if I get up to use the bathroom when Ive been sitting maskless at a table for an hour?

Any loosening of pandemic restrictions is welcome as we slowly move back toward normal, but is a little consistency too much to ask?

I know that theres concern about the rising number of virus cases being seen across the country, including the dreaded variants. But Dr. Anthony Fauci the other day said that he believes that the national vaccination effort will help America avoid a true fourth wave of the pandemic.

If we cant trust Fauci, who can we trust?

And theres at least a small irony in the fact that five states, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida account for almost half of the new cases were seeing, with the Empire State in the lead.

Four of those states, save Florida, had some of the tightest lockdown restrictions of the pandemic. Four, save Florida, are blue states run by Democratic governors.

Whats that say about the effectiveness of lockdowns? Your guess is as good as mine.

But it also bears noting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guidance on virus spread from surfaces, as well as suggestions for how Americans should go about cleaning surfaces in order to protect themselves from COVID.

Simply, the CDC says that the risk of getting COVID from surfaces is low, and that people dont actually need to scour their home surfaces with disinfectants and Clorox wipes. Simple soap and water will do the trick.

Thanks for the update, CDC, when science has told us all along that prolonged contact with an infected person in an enclosed space is the best way to catch the virus. So much for all the fear that we had about picking Amazon boxes off of our porches without hitting them with bleach bombs first.

But if we brought those packages in after 11 p.m. while munching on a bag of chips, Im sure we would have been safe all along.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / Heatherdale Resources Ltd. ("Heatherdale" or the "Company") (TSXV:HTR) is pleased to announce that Ms. Marilyne Lacasse, P.Geo has been appointed Vice-President, Exploration for the Company, effective April 1, 2020.

"Ms. Lacasse is considered one of the most talented, young exploration geologists in the Pacific Northwest and we are very grateful for her acceptance of the position of Vice President, Exploration for our Company." said Rob McLeod, President and CEO of Heatherdale. "Her experience and strength in working safely in challenging geological terranes, track record for discovering mineralization and incorporation of new and innovative technologies are impressive. Her abilities and enthusiasm for exploration anywhere from advanced-stage resource expansion to greenfields project has enabled her to attract additional technical talent in both Alaska and Canada."

Marilyne Lacasse has over ten years of experience working in mineral exploration, ranging from Project Management of feasibility-stage underground to grass-roots and project generation. Primarily working in northwest BC and southeast Alaska, she has diverse base and precious metals experience in multiple metallogenic belts and deposit types, including: intrusive-related, porphyry, epithermal and orogenic vein types, Archean lode-gold and VMS systems. Most recently, Ms. Lacasse has consulted for multiple junior exploration companies with her Geological Management Firm, Outbounds Consulting, specializing in oversite of drilling programs as well as high-angle mountaineering geology. She progressed from field geologist to Project Manager with IDM Mining Ltd. at the Red Mountain Underground Gold Project in northwest BC. Ms. Lacasse has also worked with New Gold, Northern Superior Resources and Cabra consulting through her career. She obtained her BSc. in Geology from University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM) and is a Professional Geologist and Qualified Person under NI 43-101.

About Heatherdale Resources

Heatherdale Resources Ltd.'s founding vision is to be an industry leader in transparency, inclusion and innovation. Guided by our Vision and through collaboration with local and Indigenous communities and stakeholders, Heatherdale builds shareholder value through our technical expertise in mineral exploration, engineering and permitting. The Company holds a 100% interest in the high-grade Niblack copper-gold-zinc-silver VMS project, located adjacent to tidewater in southeast Alaska. For more information on Heatherdale, please visit the Company's website at www.heatherdaleresources.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Robert McLeod"

Robert McLeod, P.Geo

President, CEO and Director

For more information, contact:

Rob McLeod

604-617-0616 (Mobile)

604-343-2997 (Office)

rm@bwcg.ca

Liam Morrison

604-897-9952 (Mobile)

604-343-2997 (Office)

lm@bwcg.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market volatility; the state of the financial markets for the Company's securities; and changes in the Company's business plans. In making the forward looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including without limitation, that the Company will continue with its stated business objectives. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company seeks safe harbor.

The Company's "Mineral Resource Estimate" refers to a November 2011 NI 43-101 Report authored by SRK Consulting Independent of the Company and Deon Van Der Heever, Pr. Sci. Nat., Hunter Dickinson Inc., a Qualified Person who was not independent of the Company. Net Smelter Return (NSR) cutoff uses long-term metal forecasts: gold US$1,150/oz, silver US$20.00/oz, copper US$2.50/lb, and zinc US$1.00/lb; Recoveries (used for all NSR calculations) to Cu concentrate of 95% Cu, 56% Au and 53% Ag with payable metal factors of 96.5% for Cu, 90.7% for Au, and 89.5% for Ag; to Zn concentrate of 93% Zn, 16% Au, and 24% Ag with payable metal factors of 85% for Zn, 80% for Au and 20% for Ag. Detailed engineering studies will determine the best cutoff.

For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE: Heatherdale Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639399/Heatherdale-Appoints-Marilyne-Lacasse-PGeo-as-Vice-President-Exploration
The precision and promise of a data-driven society has stumbled these past years, serving up some disturbingeven damningresults: facial recognition software that cant recognize Black faces, human resource software that rejects womens job applications, talking computers that spit racist vitriol. Those who dont learn history are doomed to repeat it, George Santayana said. But most artificial intelligence applications and data-driven tools learn history aplentythey just dont avoid its pitfalls. Instead, though touted as a step toward the future, these systems generally learn the past in order to replicate it in the present, repeating historical failures with ruthless, and mindless, efficiency. As Joy Buolamwini says, when it comes to algorithmic decision-making, data is destiny.

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Now, in a corner of legal academia, scholars are debating how best to develop language-usage databases to answer legal questions. Specifically, some urge that judges use a developing field called corpus linguistics to help them answer questions about the meaning of statuary words and phrases. The idea has taken root, and the effort now has dedicated symposia in academic circles, a growing academic literature, and even 30-plus judicial opinions where judges have tried to wield the tool to answer legal questions.

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Corpus linguistics is a method by which a large number of natural language utteranceswhether in publications or elsewhere in the public arenaare pulled into a database and then plumbed to answer questions about how certain words are generally used. Ever wonder if a bicycle counts as a vehicle or if keeping something in your glove box counts as carrying it? Corpus linguistics would crowdsource the answer. But before we copy and paste that answer into judicial opinions about no vehicles signs or criminal sentences for carrying weapons, perhaps its worth recognizing that sometimes we dont get the best advice from crowds.

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Corpus linguisticswith its quantitative results and the sheer largesse of its datasetsthreatens to make available answers look like relevant evidence.

The primrose path here is not without its appeal. Proponents of bringing corpus linguistics to the bench point out that, when judges sit down to consider what a statutory word means, they often start with the question Whats the words ordinary meaning? Sometimes the idea is that the ordinary meaning must be what the drafters intended. Sometimes its that this ordinary meaning would reflect the fair expectations of the public, which we presume learns of a laws proscriptions from its text. But whether they are concerned with the intent of the drafters or with fair notice to the public, judges dont have a single, settled approach to answering that question. Some use dictionaries. Some use Google searches. Some just recite their own impressions without ever backing them up with a citation or source. This status quo, the corpus enthusiasts observe, is messy and disorganized. And its probably unjustyou cant have some parties subjected to Websters justice while others fates are in the hands of Oxford English Dictionary or the ad hoc Googling of a law clerk. So, proponents say, lets make the process a little more rigorous and a little more regimented.

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But, without care, bringing corpus linguistics to legal opinions stands to create as many problems as it solves.

To begin with, theres the problem of how to use such a tool. Proponents claim corpus linguistics would inform judges linguistic intuitions while leaving their professional judgment intact. While that seems reasonable enough, it ignores the larger context of the corpus effort. The judiciarys move toward textualisma judicial philosophy that emphasizes the text of a law above other considerations in resolving disputeshas not left a judges professional judgement intact. Rather, strict textualism has put up yellow tape around huge swaths of judicial judgment: DO NOT ENTER. Many jurists now not only start with the question of ordinary meaningthey often end there as well, insisting that doing anything more than reporting and applying the ordinary meaning of a word would offend the purity of the original legal proclamation. The broad adoption of corpus linguistics on the bench would inevitably lead to its use as a one-stop shop for judicial decrees. Indeed, early cases testing the tool have often struggled to account for context of the legal phrase or succumbed to fallacies such as assuming that rare uses are less ordinary or linguistically accepted.

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For example, Justice Clarence Thomas brought corpus linguistics to the opinions of the Supreme Court (its only appearance there so far) with his 2018 dissent in Carpenter v. United States, a case about warrantless search and seizure of cellphone records. In that opinion, Thomas admits that the court has described an unreasonable search under the Fourth Amendment as one that violates someones reasonable expectation of privacy, a phrase drawn from a 1967 case. But, he argued, at the founding, search did not mean a violation of someones reasonable expectation of privacy.  The phrase expectation(s) of privacy does not appear [in various databases and] collections of early American English texts. For this proposition, he cites three corpuses.

Thomas argument exposes the hazards of the corpus linguistics tool in practice. Its styled as an inquiry into the definition of search, but the constitutional phrase is unreasonable search, where it is conceptualized as a government action performed against someones will. The justices simple term-search approach arguably misses the important context of the word. More importantly, though, Thomas evidence (or cited lack thereof) does not necessarily support his conclusion. What if, instead of arguing about what counted as an unreasonable search, the legal dispute involved what counted as a sandwich? The phrase peanut butter and jelly wasnt around back when the good earl, looking for something he could eat without getting up from his desk, first put some meat between slices of bread. Does that mean a peanut butter and jelly doesnt count as a sandwich? Even textualists generally recognize that, as technological innovation marches forward, language will be forced to adaptand laws will cover devices (airplanes, radios, cellphones) undreamed of at the time they were written. Surely later turns of phrase can capture earlier sentiments, just like later innovations can be subjected to earlier legal frameworks. An empty return on the expectation of privacy query cannot answer whether the founders conception of unreasonable search could nonetheless be described in those terms, just as a null result for peanut butter and jelly could not resolve whether the early concept of a sandwich was flexible enough to consider the later innovation. Corpus linguisticswith its quantitative results and the sheer largesse of its datasetsthreatens to make available answers look like relevant evidence.

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But even if judges got better at using corpus linguistics, those crowdsourced answers are still just that: They reflect the biases, blind spots, and social norms of the community from which they were pulled. Language usage can have racial and gendered dimensions that play out across community borders and may not be evident in the entries of a dictionary. As Kevin Tobia pointed out recently, the pronoun he is often used withand would be captured by a corpus as ordinarily referring tothe masculine gender. But in legal uses, it is typically meantand typically understood by the publicas gender-inclusive. Of course, the bigger concern here is the bias unnoticed or unaccounted for. Tobia reports that only three of the 30-odd cases to employ corpus linguistics to date have even mentioned the matter of having a representative or balanced corpus. And even without the problem of illicit bias, targeting the corpus to the right community is a difficult one: Cast the corpus net too broadly and the ordinary meaning inquiry no longer looks like it has much to do with the case or controversy before the courtdock meaning something different to IT specialists than it does to sailors. Cast it too narrowly, and you run the risk of asking a regulated community to define regulated conduct.

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Whats more, incorporating corpus linguistics into judicial reasoning may well obscurerather than elucidatethe biases and judgments that invariably play a role in the ultimate decision. First, the corpus linguistics approach threatens to put the decision about meaning in a black box. Take, for example, the case where a banks employees engage in racist lending practices: You can understand the impulse to take the decisions out of human hands and let a computer do the credit assessments. But if you train the computer on past loan applications, youve re-created the racist problem, and youve made it a lot harder to see. Similarly, while corpus enthusiasts aim to cure the judge of overreliance on flawed intuitions about meanings, the method may well hide its troubling judgement callspotentially even from the judgerather than addressing them.

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Second, the contents of that black box, once made, will be hard to examine. Where data is destiny, examining the contents and application of a corpus for a particular case would be an important way of assessing whether a querys returns are to be credited when resolving statutory ambiguity. Thats hard, but not impossible. In other data- or modeling-heaving disputes, litigants have (expensive) tools to do that sort of thing: They hire experts to consider the issue and test the software, and then those experts opinions are tested in depositions or through cross-examination. But here, theres a catch: Expert testimony is for factual questions, not legal ones. While experts often opine on the facts that brought the parties before the court, theyre not allowed to tell the judge what the law means. In fact, testimony to that effect is generally considered improper. Once adopted, the judiciarys use of and reliance on corpus linguistics would likely be a matter left to the judges discretion or the judicial branchs self-regulation.

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This is not the first time the judiciary has tiptoed into algorithmic justice and faced the difficulties associated with dataset bias. As ProPublica detailed in 2016, several state court systems have adopted a proprietary software that purports to put a probability on recidivism for sentencing purposing. But the software appeared to have a racial biasand the company that coded it wouldnt open the hood for inspection, sparking debate (and litigation) over proprietary softwares role in the justice system and its relation to constitutional rights like due process. So far, the corpus linguistics effort has led an academic and open-source life, much of it focused on the Corpus of Historical American English, but theres nothing to stop a company from offering a proprietary solution to the problem of ordinary meaning down the road.

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A corpus and query tool could help advocates marshal evidence of word usage across certain communities in certain time frames. Developed deliberately and considered as but one line of argument among many, that effort could reward us with insights. But in the end, the corpus approach cannot turn the question of meaning into a purely empirical one. Answering even the most straightforward-looking empirical questions requires the development or selection of measurement tools, the consideration of some data sources to the exclusion of others. Here, as with so many data-driven efforts before, the contents of the corpus and the coded criteria for returning answers will determine the results. Worryingly, these decisions will be hidden in the corpus users manual or buried deep within its code.

Like algorithms, people look to the past to learn. But we do justice by looking forward, hopefully having gained some wisdom from that hindsight turn. So: We can certainly ask a corpus about the most frequent or ordinary uses of a word in the past. But maybe we should decide just how we will use and review those answers before we beta-test the program on the rights and obligations of the people who must live under the courts final judgments.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
A Franklin County man is behind bars after authorities carried out a drug raid at a north Alabama warehouse and a storage facility.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigators say they confiscated enough methamphetamine for 1,120 single uses of the drug. The meth has an estimated street value of $112,000.

On Wednesday, ALEAs Region E Drug Enforcement Task Force carried out two search warrants in Tuscumbia. The first was a warehouse near Highway 72, and the other was a storage locker facility near Sixth Street, said Agent Adam Buchanan.

During those searches, agents located and seized approximately 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 5.5 pounds of marijuana, digital scales and drug packaging materials. The estimated street value of the marijuana is $8,800.

Agents searched for, and located, Hunter Reid Hulsey 31, of Russellville, in Franklin County and found approximately 4 ounces of methamphetamine and a handgun in his possession at that time.

Hulsey was arrested on methamphetamine charges. He is being held in the Franklin County Jail.

Several agencies assisted the task force agents including SBI, the Franklin County Sheriffs Department, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the 25th Judicial DAs office and the Russellville Police Department. The Tuscumbia Police Department also assisted with the investigation.
There are fears the Otterhound, Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Skye Terrier are on the brink of extinction after just 121 puppies were born last year.

Puppies like Labradors and French Bulldogs have seen record sales during the Covid lockdown, but the same cannot be said for the Otterhound, one of Britain's oldest dog breeds that dates back to the 12th century.

The scent hound welcomed just seven puppies in 2020. It has been on the Kennel Club's most endangered species list for years but this is the first time it has recorded a single digit figure for newborn pups in a whole year.

Otterhounds are now rarer than giant pandas, of which there are around 2,000 globally, with a number of other heritage pure breeds also giving cause for concern.

These include the Skye Terrier, of which only 27 puppies were registered in 2020, and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, which saw 87 new arrivals.

Experts say these dogs have become a forgotten species and are rarely seen anymore, whereas demand for popular mixed-breeds such as Cavapoos and Cockerpoos has seen prices increase to as much as 5,000.

There are fears the Otterhound, Dandie Dinmont Terrier (litter pictured) and the Skye Terrier are on the brink of extinction after just 121 puppies were born last year

The scent hound has been on the Kennel Club's most endangered species list for years but this is the first time it has recorded a single digit figure for new born pups in a whole year (Otterhound puppies pictured in 2012)

Only 27 Skye Terrier puppies were registered in 2020. Bill Lambert, head of health and welfare at the Kennel Club, said: 'We monitor these breeds and once they drop to below 450 registered a year we put them at watch list'

Rare heritage breed puppies cost a fraction of that yet are still being ignored because nobody knows about them.

The three breeds can trace their demise back to 1978 when hunting otters, which became a common pastime in the Middle Ages because they were considered a pest, was banned.

Overall, there are less than 1,000 Otterhounds left in the world and about 300 of those are in Britain.

In comparison, there were almost 80,000 Labrador and French Bulldog puppies registered in 2020.

Former Crufts winner Maria Lerego said she can count on one hand the number of Otterhound breeders left, including herself.

Mrs Lerego, from Ledbury, Herefordshire, said: 'I think the breed is at serious risk and they have a grim future. Very grim indeed.

'They have never really become popular or captured the imagination and because they aren't glamorous people don't want them.

'Yet they make excellent pets. They are very sociable, intelligent and have very easy going characters.'

A number of other heritage pure breeds also giving cause of concern, including the Dandie Dinmont Terrier (puppies pictured), which saw 87 new arrivals registered in 2020

New Forest breeder Madeleine Fear has recently bred four Dandie Dinmont puppies that all have homes to go to. Pictured: One of the rare puppies with his grandfather Basil

A new batch of Dandie Dinmont Terrier puppies. Only 87 were born last year, in comparison to almost 80,000 Labrador and French Bulldog puppies registered in 2020

A Dandie Dinmont Terrier puppy, pictured above. Ms Fear said: It is amazing the number of people who don't know that these dogs exist'

Rare Dandie Dinmont Terrier puppies with their mother Polly. The current trend for dogs like the French Bulldog and the Cavapoo has seen prices rocket to up to 5,000 for puppies

Four Dandie Dinmont Terrier puppies. The breeder said: 'All the time, people ask me what breed it is because they have never seen one before and they ask "what is it crossed with?"'

The Otterhound: One of Britain's oldest dog breeds dating back to 12th century The Otterhound is one of Britain's oldest dog breeds, dating back to the 12th century. While it is likely the breed descends from Bloodhounds, it is thought they may also be related to French Griffons due to the distinctive fold of their ears. There are fewer than 1,000 of them left in the world and about 300 of those are in Britain. The breed can trace its demise back to 1978 when hunting otters was banned, but some breeders have helped to protect the dog's future through the use of pack hounds. Otter hunting began in the Middle Ages because there were so many of the small mammals that they were considered a pest. However in time hunting them became something of a sport. An oily coat, webbed feet, highly developed nostrils and smell make the breed ideal for its original purpose. Otterhounds have a lifespan of over 10 years and are classed as large dogs, requiring more than two hours of exercise a day and grooming at least once a week. Source: Kennel Club and DogTime Advertisement

The current trend for dogs like the French Bulldog and the Cavapoo has seen prices rocket to up to 5,000 for puppies.

Bill Lambert, head of health and welfare at the Kennel Club, said: 'Some heritage breeds become less popular simply because people don't see them around and they forget about them.

'We try and raise awareness to make sure people know about them.

'We know there is a trend to smaller dogs these days but there are lots of small breeds like a lot of old English terrier breeds that do make good companions have started those popularity.

'We monitor these breeds and once they drop to below 450 registered a year we put them at watch list.

'Once they get below 300 we start to say 'we need do something about this as they are getting endangered.'

'For example, the Cairn Terrier has dropped from 1,300 in 2011 to about 440 and that is causing us concern. They are a great little breed and suitable for lots of people but they are just getting forgotten about.

'The are certain breeds like the French Bulldog has seen enormous growth and have stolen some of the market from some of the terriers.'

New Forest breeder Madeleine Fear has recently bred four Dandie Dinmont puppies that all have homes to go to.

She said: 'It is amazing the number of people who don't know that these dogs exist.

'All the time, people ask me what breed it is because they have never seen one before and they ask "what is it crossed with?"

'People have been paying 4,000 or 5,000 for popular cross-breeds because they look at what their neighbours have got. They buy on what the dog looks like and have no idea what is underneath.

Former Crufts winner Maria Lerego (pictured above, with a full size Otterhound) said she can count on one hand the number of Otterhound breeders left, including herself

Rare heritage breed puppies cost a fraction of that yet are still being ignored because nobody knows about them (file photo of an adult Otterhound)

'We will lose these heritage breeds.'

Mr Lambert said social media was partly to blame with influencers driving trends by posting photos of themselves with their pets.

He said: 'Years ago the Welsh Corgi became hugely popular in 1950s and '60s because the Queen was photographed with them an awful lot.

'Nowadays we have different influence social media plays a large part and we really attribute the rise of the French Bulldog to social media.

'People are influenced by what they see and want to emulate their favourite star and want to buy a dog off the back of that, which is not always the best reason for getting a dog.'

Mr Lambert said Otterhounds should be considered as an alternative to Labradors when people are thinking about what dog to get.

He said: 'There is concern that the Otterhound could become extinct. We no longer hunt otters and so they are now being bred as companion dogs. They are a large breed and so they have limited appeal.

'But for the right environment they make great dogs. People who maybe thinking of choosing a Labrador because they are simply more popular when in actual fact an Otterhound may suit their lifestyle better.'
[April 08, 2021] HelloFresh Partners With the Food Education Fund and the Fund for Public Schools to Support New York City High School Students' At-Home Culinary Instruction

HelloFresh, the leader in delivering delicious ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes to households worldwide, announced the launch of @TheTable, a joint partnership with the Food Education Fund and the Fund for Public Schools to provide free meal kits to 1,000 students enrolled in culinary education programs at New York City public high schools with Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Working in close coordination with the New York City Department of Education, HelloFresh meal kits will be delivered directly to students' homes, providing both the students and instructors with fresh ingredients for hands-on, experiential learning that can easily take place in both a blended or fully virtual classroom setting. As students continue to learn both virtually and in-person, the HelloFresh meal kits create an enriching way for students and teachers to engage in culinary education from their home kitchens or classrooms. Starting now through the end of the school year, both students and teachers will receive a HelloFresh box with identical fresh ingredients on a regular basis for planned instruction. Participants will have both vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipes. "We're excited to kick off this innovative public-private partnership advancing the future career success of 1,000 CTE high school students across New York City," said Julie L. Shapiro, Chief Executive Officer of the Fund for Public Schools. "Grateful to HelloFresh and the Food Education Fund for coming to the table to ensure our young people receive hands-on culinary experiences to feed their body and mind, at home or in the classroom." "Food Education Fund is thrilled to be able to bridge the gap between private and public stakeholders in order to bring 1,000 NYC culinary public high school students fresh food and innovative recipes from our friends at HelloFresh," said Eliza Loehr, Executive Director, Food EducationFund. "These meal kits will allow students to continue their culinary education at home while also providing 64,000 meals for their families."



With the majority of the students living in historically underserved neighborhoods, the HelloFresh boxes are also designed to provide extra meals for the students and their families beyond what's needed for educational instruction. Each box contains enough ingredients to create four full servings of two different meals, providing participants with 64,000 meals throughout the duration of the program. "We are proud to partner with the Food Education Fund and the Fund for Public Schools to create @TheTable, a program designed to enrich culinary education and support our future culinary leaders during this very challenging school year," said Uwe Voss, CEO of HelloFresh US. "With strong support of the New York City Department of Education, we're excited to bring a hands-on learning experience to culinary students as they finish out the school year."

@TheTable supports 1,000 students enrolled in 13 different high schools, including Food and Finance High School, Long Island City High School, Bronxdale High School, George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education, Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, John Dewey High School, William E. Grady Career and Technical Education High School, August Martin High School, Port Richmond High School, Tottenville High School, Brooklyn STEAM Center, Coop Tech and School for Tourism and Hospitality. "This is the kind of innovative public/private partnership that helps our students achieve and our schools shine. Thanks to all participants who are ensuring that high quality culinary education continues in our public high schools even with remote learning. The added benefit of healthy and delicious meals for so many families makes this an even more important and exciting program," said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. "We know that hands-on education keeps students of all ages engaged and excited about learning, and during my time as borough president I have been proud to support projects throughout various schools in Brooklyn that teach students how to grow, harvest, and cook their own food. That's why I'm so excited about this new initiative, which will give students around the city an opportunity to learn how to make healthy, nutritious meals at home. I thank HelloFresh and the Food Education Fund for their commitment to giving our public school students the opportunity to take their health into their own hands, especially during such an unprecedented time for our city," said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. For more information on HelloFresh's social impact initiatives through its Beyond the Box (News - Alert) programming, visit https://www.hellofresh.com/pages/beyond-the-box. About HelloFresh HelloFresh SE is the world's leading meal-kit company and operates in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, France and Denmark. In 2020, HelloFresh delivered over 600 million meals and reached close to 5.3 million active customers. HelloFresh was founded in Berlin in November 2011 and went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in November 2017. HelloFresh has offices in New York, Berlin, London, Amsterdam, Sydney, Toronto, Auckland, Paris and Copenhagen. About the Fund for Public Schools Since 1982, the Fund for Public Schools has secured unprecedented investment from foundations, businesses, and individuals, raising more than $532 million for the City's approximately 1,800 schools and more than a million students. As the NYC Department of Education's non-profit partner, The Fund supports some of the most high-impact programs in 3K-12 education at the largest school district in the country by piloting innovative projects, accelerating outcome-driven initiatives, and responding to emerging needs across New York City public schools. To learn more, visit www.fundforpublicschools.org. About Food Education Fund Food Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in New York City dedicated to enriching the lives and education of culinary focused public high school students and alumni. Through experiential learning in culinary arts, hospitality, and entrepreneurship, FEF prepares and empowers their students to continue their education and cultivate sustainable careers. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005557/en/

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Wyoming Governor Signs Bill Requiring Photo ID at Polls

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon this week signed into law a bill that requires voters to present photo identification in order to vote.

The Republican governor signed House Bill 75, which requires voters to present valid government-issued ID before casting a ballot. Identification could include a drivers license, a tribal identification card, a Wyoming identification card, a U.S. passport, a U.S. military card, an ID from a university or public school within the state, or a Medicare or Medicaid insurance card.

The bill was approved by both chambers of the state legislature on April 1 with overwhelming support.

In a statement to The Epoch Times, State Rep. Chuck Gray, a Republican who sponsored the legislation, described the passage at the time as a victory for the citizens of Wyoming.

It is a necessary function of our Republic to provide our citizens with confidence that our elections are secure, fair, and valid. Even though it took over 20 years for us to pass this necessary legislation, I am proud that we were able to meet this important milestone for Wyoming, he said.

Meanwhile, some Democrats in the state have argued that the law would impose unnecessary burdens on voters, which they argue would result in voter suppression.

I think when you look at how our election structure works, we need to do everything in our power to encourage (voting), especially with our young people, our new people, our people of color, and those less fortunate. This bill doesnt encourage that, said Rep. Andi Clifford, a Democrat who challenged the bill.

The Wyoming chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement that it opposes the bill but didnt indicate whether it would challenge the measure.

The enactment of the bill comes amid a contentious battle over voting rights and election integrity that was triggered following the expansion of absentee voting during the 2020 election. Voter ID laws have long been opposed by the Democratic Party, which characterizes such laws as voter suppression. Theyre concerned that some Americans dont hold the proper documentation needed to meet the requirement.

Meanwhile, voter ID laws are common in Republican-led states but usually impose the requirement for in-person voting.

Georgia recently came under intense scrutiny for passing a series of election reforms, including requiring state-approved identification to vote absentee by mail. The Peach State has since faced corporate backlash and criticism from critics of the law, but state officials have remained firm over the need for legislative measures to advance election integrity following the states contended results in the November 2020 election.

Data from a recent Associated Press poll has found that nearly three-quarters of Americans agree that photo identification should be required to vote. Seventy-two percent of respondents reported that they were in favor of requiring all voters to provide photo ID in order to vote. It added that those in support of the requirement were mostly Republicans (91 percent).

The AP poll was conducted between Mar. 26 and 29 with 1,166 adults and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday.
Animals are remarkably diverse in their sleep and activity patterns due to foraging strategies, social behavior and their desire to avoid predators. With more than 3,000 types of cichlids, these freshwater fish may just be one of the most diverse species in the world. Lake Malawi alone, which stretches 350 miles through eastern Africa, is home to more than 500 cichlid species. They evolved from a few species that likely entered the lake about 3 million years ago and now display very different behaviors and inhabit well-defined niches throughout the lake.

So how is it possible that so many different species can coexist in this large tropical lake? Many factors have been considered including the multitude of ecological resources available, predation, and the ability of cichlid species to evolve highly specific courtship and feeding behavior. Despite the dramatic difference between day and nightlife, the way fish exploit different times of day has not been studied systematically.

Lake Malawi's cichlids are presumed to be active during the daytime, most likely to avoid predation, although this has never been investigated scientifically. By examining alterations in the circadian timing of activity and the duration of rest-wake cycles, researchers from Florida Atlantic University in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Amherst, are the first to identify a single nocturnal species of a Malawi cichlid - the Tropheops sp. "red cheek."

The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, reveals that nocturnal behavior in the red cheek, a member of a highly speciose and ecologically diverse lineage, was maintained when fish were provided shelter, but not under constant darkness, suggesting it results from acute response to light rather than an endogenous circadian rhythm. In addition, researchers discovered that nocturnality is associated with increased eye size after correcting for evolutionary history, suggesting a link between visual processing and nighttime activity.

Lake Malawi cichlids in the study exhibited substantial and continuous variation in activity levels and patterns, and closely related species differed markedly in activity. Findings suggest that circadian regulation of activity may provide a mechanism for niche exploitation in African cichlids. Researchers also identified diversity of locomotor behavior, and together, these results provide a system for investigating the molecular and neural basis underlying variation in nocturnal activity.

To examine the effects of ecological niche and evolutionary history on the regulation of locomotor activity and rest, researchers measured locomotor activity across the circadian cycle in 11 Lake Malawi cichlid species. The species were selected for diversity in habitat, behavior and lineage representation and included the near-shore rock-dwelling clade of Malawi cichlids (mbuna) as well as representative species from another major lineage within the lake. Prior to this study, the circadian regulation of activity and rest within a lineage that inhabits a shared environment was unknown.

"Given that Malawi cichlids exhibit an impressive magnitude of diversity in an array of anatomical and behavioral traits, we predicted that they may also exhibit high magnitudes and continuous variation in rest-activity patterns. We think these differences also extend to sleep and foraging behavior, providing a system to investigate how complex traits that are critical for survival evolve," said Alex Keene, Ph.D., lead author and a professor of biological sciences in FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, on the John D. MacArthur Campus at Jupiter. "Our finding that the timing and duration of rest and activity varies dramatically, and continuously, between populations of Lake Malawi cichlids raise the possibility that these differences play a critical role in the rapid speciation of this system."

###

Study co-authors are Evan Lloyd, an FAU graduate student in the Department of Biological Sciences, FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science; Brian Chhouk, a student at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst; and Craig Albertson, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

This work was supported by the University of Massachusetts and the National Institutes of Health (R01GM127872 awarded to Keene).

About Florida Atlantic University:
By Tang Qifang

The recent visits by four foreign ministers of ASEAN countries to China have drawn a lot of global attention. Many scholars and media commented that this is Chinas powerful response to America as ASEAN is viewed by some westerners as the last piece of the puzzle in its attempt at forming a besiegement around China. Yet such an attempt is just Americas wishful thinking and will never become a reality.

From the perspective of historical experience, Americas attempt at besieging China contradicts ASEANs principle of neutrality and independence. When the association of nations was founded in 1967, the world was in the middle of the Cold War when the US and Soviet Union were in intense confrontation, and Southeast Asia became the forefront of the Cold War during the Vietnam War.

After explorations in the initial years, ASEAN members adopted a unified foreign stance and principle of neutrality and independence. In November 1971, five ASEAN members jointly released in Kuala Lumpur the milestone Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality Declaration (ZOPFAN), in which they proposed to secure the recognition of, and respect for, South East Asia as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, free from any form or manner of interference by outside powers, and stressed the right of every state, large or small, to lead its national existence free from outside interference in its internal affairs .

For ASEAN countries that are surrounded by great powers, neutrality and independence are the lifelines and the foundation for their existence, and it is their commitment to this principle that has kept ASEAN thriving and developing amid the fast-changing major-power struggles today. Any action or attempt to force the association to pick sides between major countries poses the biggest threat to its survival and development  ASEAN is very aware of this and asked all partners attending the East Asia Summit to sign the declaration.

On August 8, 2020, foreign ministers of ASEAN countries released the Statement on the Importance of Maintaining Peace and Stability in Southeast Asia at the 53rd anniversary of the founding of the association, in which they reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, security, neutrality and stability in Southeast Asia . The purpose of releasing the statement at such a moment and regional situation is too clear  ASEAN will stick to their principle of neutrality and independence and will not take sides between major countries.

In terms of current politics, Americas besiegement of China challenges ASEANs central position. After the end of the Cold War, ASEAN leaders strongly advocated cooperation in East Asia and established a relationship of dialogue with China. In the past 30 years, ASEAN, with the strong support of China and other partners, has internally intensified solidarity among the member states and accelerated the building of a community while externally creating the East Asian cooperation mechanism and securing its own central position. It has evolved into a bloc of countries with strong internal cohesion and great international influence. However, the China besiegement and ganging-up pushed by Cold-War-minded Washington will seriously undermine ASEANs internal solidarity and external influence and challenge its central position.

On the one hand, Americas roping-in will exacerbate the divergences among ASEAM members and lead the association to division, even disintegration. ASEAN members vary greatly in their political system, economic level, religious belief and culture, not to mention the complicated historical issues such as territorial disputes. Their different relations, close or loose, with major countries outside the association also cause divergences and even contradiction in their judgment of respective interests. Under such circumstances, Americas interference in the South China Sea and attempt to rope in the claimants will only drive another wedge within ASEAN.

On the other hand, an escalated China-US struggle will undermine ASEANs position and marginalize it in the region. The precondition for the ASEAN-led East Asian cooperation mechanism to work is a relative balance and collaboration among regional powers. If the US keeps ramping up its provocations and pressure on China, the two countries will fall into deep-rooted structural conflicts on issues including the South China Sea, even with the possibility of direct conflicts, and that is far beyond the pale where ASEAN is able to lead and balance. Therefore, the association doesnt want to see an escalated confrontation between China and the US, nor does it want to take sides between them.

As far as long-term interests are concerned, Americas China besiegement cannot go in parallel with ASEANs goal of recovery and development. One of its greatest achievements is economic progress, as the economic community has laid a solid foundation for building the ASEAN community, and the successful signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) well proves ASEANs important position in East Asia. All these achievements couldnt have been made without the close collaboration between China and the association.

Since they formed the relation of dialogue 30 years ago, China and ASEAN have maintained close communication and practical cooperation, becoming each others biggest trading partner and important source of foreign investment. In the meantime, China has been firmly supporting ASEANs central and leading role in East Asian cooperation and is the first to sign the bilateral free trade agreement with it and join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia . The improvement and upgrade of regional industry chains promise great economic prospects for China and ASEAN countries and makes East Asia the strongest engine for global economic recovery and growth. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, China and ASEAN countries have stood together with mutual assistance and jointly fought the virus, injecting hope and vitality into the seriously hit world economy by taking the lead in resuming work and production. The two sides have long become a community of shared future and entwined interests defined by close interdependence and inseverable ties.

Therefore, Americas attempt to jointly besiege China with ASEAN countries will never come through because the last piece of the puzzle will not join as that will harm both the current and long-term interests of ASEAN countries.
Pres. Joe Biden's proposal to increase corporate tax will have a negative impact on the country's employment, according to a new study.

Impact of Biden's Corporate Tax Hike

Pres. Joe Biden is taking it seriously to increase the corporate tax to 28 percent. This is to fund his proposed $2.25 trillion infrastructure package. It can be remembered that the Republicans lowered the corporate tax from 35 to 21 percent in 2017.

According to a recently published article in The Hill, around 1 million jobs would be lost if Biden will increase the corporate tax to 28 percent. This is based on the findings of the study that the National Association of Manufacturers conducted.

NAM, along with the economists from the Rice University, calculated the impact of increasing the corporate tax. They found out that this will decrease the country's gross domestic product by $117 billion by 2023, $190 billion in 2026, and $119 billion in 2031.

In addition, the National Association of Manufacturers expressed their support to Pres. Joe Biden's plan. However, they said that it is not the way Biden wants it, according to a published report in CNBC.

Democratic Senators Say Infrastructure Plan of Pres. Biden Needs To Be Changed

NAM Released Its Official Statement

NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons said, "[T]his study tells us quantitatively what manufacturers from coast to coast will tell you qualitatively: increasing the tax burden on companies in America means fewer American jobs. One million jobs would be lost in the first two years, to be exact."

In the study they conducted, he also shared that ordinary capital or investments in equipment and structures will also be affected. This will lead to $80 billion less in 2023, $83 billion in 2026, and another $66 billion in 2031.

Meanwhile, NAM President touted the positive effect of Republicans tax law rate in 2017 or during the time of Pres. Trump. He said that it helped create more than 263,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector and increased wages to three percent in 2018.

Can Pres. Biden Unite the Two Parties for His Future Bills?

An Analysis that Supports Biden's Proposal

A recent analysis conducted by the Penn Wharton Budget Model found out that the corporate tax hike will increase the country's revenue to $2.1 trillion over ten years. However, they also admitted a gap in the analysis due to a lack of details.

Furthermore, the White House has already confirmed that they already started their negotiation to finalize the proposed 28 percent corporate tax rate increase. On the other hand, Pres. Joe Biden is also open to other ideas about the plan.

Pres. Joe Biden said when he introduced the proposal in Pittsburg, "We have to move now. Because I am convinced that if we act now, in 50 years people are going to look back and say, this was the moment that America won the future."

Lawmakers Divided Over the Corporate Tax

Two Democratic Senators have already expressed their opposition to the corporate tax. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said that this would force different businesses to cross one border to the other.

Another Democratic Senator also supported Manchin and said that this would affect jobs in the country. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Minority leader Mitch McConnell already said that they would not support the bill.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Bahujan Samaj Party MLA and mafia don Mukhtar Ansari is now lodged in the Banda jail but he remains under the scanner of the Yogi Adityanath government round-the-clock.

The director general, jails, in Lucknow is monitoring the movement of the mafia don in his isolation cell through the CCTV cameras installed there through the 12 screens put up in the office.

A senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "This monitoring is being done to ensure that the inmate (Mukhtar Ansari) does not enjoy any additional facilities and does not get any unauthorized visitors."

He said that the area around the cell where Mukhtar Ansari is lodged, is also under the scanner.

The official said that the round-the-clock monitoring will also ensure that there is no threat to the mafia don's security.
WWI decorated frontline heroine Ecaterina Teodoroiu who was killed in action in 1917, and 1821 Revolution leader Tudor Vladimirescu have been declared 'Heroes of the Romanian Nation', and 2021 is the 'Year of Tudor Vladimirescu', according to a law promulgated today by President Klaus Iohannis.

According to the regulatory act, Tudor Vladimirescu is declared 'Hero of the Romanian Nation' "for his outstanding role, courage, heroism and sacrifice during the 1821 Revolution", and Ecaterina Teodoroiu is honored with this title "for her outstanding role, courage, heroism and sacrifice during the First World War".

The two are to be commemorated annually on January 23 and August 22, respectively, and the authorities of the central and local public administration, as well as the public cultural institutions from the country and abroad can organize cultural and scientific programs and events on these occasions.The events organized during the 'Year of Tudor Vladimirescu' are "meant to highlight various aspects of the 1821 Revolution led by Tudor Vladimirescu on the occasion of its 200th anniversary as one of the events that marked the beginning of Romania's national rebirth."Central and local public administration authorities may provide logistic and/or financial support, as appropriate, for programs to promote the 'Year of Tudor Vladimirescu', and Romania's National TV Broadcaster and the Romanian Radio Broadcaster may include in the program of the day aspects from the celebration events. AGERPRES
Former Armenian President Robert Kocharian has filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Trend reports citing Russian media.

As reported, Kocharian demands to oblige Pashinyan to publicly refute some statements about the ex-president and pay compensation in the amount of 4 million drams (about $8,000).

It is about the statements of the prime minister dated March 1, 2021.
Relaxation of some Covid-19 restriction in Wales being brought forward as cases continue to fall

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Apr 8th, 2021

The relaxation of some Covid-19 restrictions are being brought forward due to a continued fall in new cases of the infection.

People will be able to form an extended household, visit the gym or take part in organised outdoor activities a week earlier than planned.

Last week First Minister Mark Drakeford set out a timetable for moving Wales into alert level three.

However he has confirmed tonight that some of these measures will now be introduced sooner than planned as cases have fallen Wales-wide from 37 cases per 100,000 people to fewer than 21 per 100,000 this week.





The pressure on hospitals also continues to ease, with the number of confirmed cases in hospital beds now at 89. This is 26% lower than last Thursday and is the lowest position since 22 September 2020.

From Monday 3 May, a week earlier than previously signalled, gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities will be able to reopen for individual or one-to-one training.

Extended households will also be allowed again, enabling two households to meet and have contact indoors.

The planned opening date for organised outdoor activities and outdoor wedding receptions will be moved forward to Monday 26 April from 3 May.

From Monday 12 April, the following relaxations will go ahead:

The full return of children to schools for face-to-face education, all post-16 learners will return to further education and training centres, and university campus will be able to open for blended face-to-face/online learning for all students;

All remaining shops will reopen, completing the phased reopening of non-essential retail;

All remaining close contact services will open, including mobile services;

Travel restrictions on traveling into and out of Wales will be lifted. However, restrictions on travel to countries outside the Common Travel Area without a reasonable excuse, remain in place. The Common Travel Area means the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland;

Wedding show-arounds by appointment are allowed;

Restrictions on political canvassing are removed, subject to canvassers doing so safely.

Further easements to restrictions in the coming weeks will be subject to the public health situation remaining favourable. These will be confirmed at the next three-weekly review of the coronavirus regulations on 22 April.

On Monday 26 April:

Outdoor attractions, including funfairs and theme parks, would be allowed to reopen;

Outdoor hospitality can resume, including at cafes, pubs and restaurants. Indoor hospitality will remain closed except for takeaways;

Organised outdoor activities for up to 30 people can again take place (previously Monday 3 May);

Weddings receptions can take place outdoors for up to 30 people (previously Monday 3 May).

On Monday 3 May (previously Monday 10 May):

Gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities can reopen. This will include individual or one-to-one training but not exercise classes;

Extended household will again allow two households to meet and have contact indoors.



First Minister, Mark Drakeford said: The public health situation in Wales continues to improve thanks to everything you are doing to help us control this awful virus. Cases of the virus are falling and our incredible vaccination programme continues to go from strength to strength.

Last week, we set out our programme to further re-open the economy and relax the restrictions we have lived with for so long, as part of our careful, step-by-step approach to keeping everyone safe. This week, because of the improvements we continue to see, we can bring forward some of our plans.

This is only possible because of the efforts everyone is making to protect themselves and their loved ones.

As set out in the revised Coronavirus Control Plan, a small number of outdoor pilot events of between 200 and 1,000 people are also being planned
For six long days, a crisis of global ramifications hovered over Egypt as the container ship Ever Given got grounded in the Suez Canal. Speculators from around the globe doubted Egypts ability and know-how in refloating the stranded ship and predicted a lengthy period before the Suez Canal would reopen its waters to travelling vessels. Some anticipated economic repercussions, such as fuel and food shortages, high freight rates and a shudder in the global economy.

Crises come in threes. The grounding of the Ever Given was soon followed by the collision of two trains in Sohag killing over 19 people and injuring hundreds of others. The pictures from the wreckage had people reeling in despair. Then came the collapse of a building in Gesr Al-Suez in Cairo that killed 18 innocent souls and injured many others.

It was a week of doom and gloom, and many Egyptians walked around with heavy and foreboding hearts. Some even asked themselves if the pharaohs curse, death will come on quick wings for those who disturb the kings peace, engraved on King Tutankhamun tomb, was befalling Egypt.

They wondered about plans to move the ancient Egyptian Royal Mummies from their resting place in the Egyptian Museum in Cairos Tahrir Square. Some said that the officials concerned should have thought twice, for the omen cast upon anyone who disturbs the mummies of ancient Egypt seemed to be alive and well.

Well, we were all soon afterwards rewarded with extraordinary events that showed that the curse was mute and that helped everyone to overcome the sense of dismay that had ripped through the community a week earlier.

The refloating of the Ever Given, a massive container ship that had seemed rooted in place, came after six days of round-the-clock efforts. Dredgers, tugboats and hardworking men were put to good use to move it, and they did so. It was a happy day as the ship moved slowly along, breaking away from the canals banks as Suez Canal Authority workers looked on in jubilation. They celebrated and cheered, hailing themselves and their dredgers by name and honking their vessel horns in joy. They patted themselves on the back as a worldwide economic crisis was thwarted. People at large were ecstatic, and finally relief set in.

The Ever Given awaits inspection in Egypts Bitter Lakes, and some estimate that Egypt will seek around $1 billion in compensation for losses linked to the cost of equipment and labour during the dredging and salvage efforts and any damage to the banks of the Suez Canal.

Then came an event like no other. On Saturday 3 April, Cairos streets witnessed the unprecedented and once-in-a-lifetime majestic procession of the Golden Parade. This transferred the mummies of 18 ancient Egyptian kings and four queens from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) in Fustat five km away in Old Cairo. In chronological order of their historical reigns, the king and queens of several ancient Egyptian dynasties travelled through Cairo to their new residence.

An event of equal magnitude may never have taken place in Egypt before, or even in the entire world. Each of the transferred kings and queens had lived a rich and far-reaching life filled with the kind of progress and development hardly imaginable by todays standards. Many of them had fought for Egypt and died for it, too, so their transfer had to befit their regal status and the importance in which they are held. This was indeed the case.

The route of the kings and queens to the new abode had undergone a huge transformation, and the two museums stood in all their glamour and dignity. The area around the NMEC, opened in 2017, had been prepared for the event, paving the way for the renovation of the entire district around the museum and the road leading up to it, and allowing the kings and queens to be welcomed to a glorious and pristine environment worthy of their honour and glory.

Many of the areas through which the parade passed had been refurbished and restored. Buildings along the procession route had been freshly painted and lit up for the parade. As for the iconic Tahrir Square, adorned with an obelisk of King Ramses II and four rams, it was illuminated with special lights in greeting to the kings and queens. It had finally reached the state in which it should have been all along. Tahrir Square and Cairo as a whole were looking their best.

After a 45-minute journey through the city, the ancient kings and queens were received at the NMEC with a 21-gun salute and by Egypts President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi.

Months, even years, of hard work may have gone into organising this meticulously crafted event, enveloped in the most breathtaking details such that it appeared in this exquisite fashion. It was a perfectly synchronised show exhibiting the love and dedication of artists, musicians, performers, designers and thousands of operators. The attires, the music, the dances, the songs and the tone and flavour of the whole show befitted its historical grandeur. The intention was clear: to produce a show equal to the royal status of the ancient kings and queens, and this was indeed realised.

People heeded the advice to stay at home to watch the parade in its entirety on television, instead of seeing only glimpses of it had they filled the streets to watch it live. They watched it spellbound.

The Egyptian people now need to pat themselves on the back, for the refloating of the Ever Given and the Golden Parade are events that prove that they are capable of performing wonders. Today, they are more than ever deserving of enjoying these positive vibes.

The writer is the author of Cairo Rewind on the First Two Years of Egypts Revolution, 2011-2013.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 8 April, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane on Thursday left for Bangladesh on a five-day visit to further expand cooperation and coordination between the two countries on a host of strategic issues. The visit comes less than two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to the neighbouring country. On Thursday, Gen Naravane will pay tributes to the fallen heroes of the Bangladesh liberation war and it will be followed by a one-on-one meetings with the three service chiefs, officials said. The Army chief will also interact with Bangladesh's foreign minister on April 11.

"This visit from April 8 to 12 will further deepen the bilateral relationships between the two armies and act as a catalyst for closer coordination and cooperation between the two countries on a host of strategic issues," Army Spokesperson Colonel Aman Anand said.

The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In reflection of close ties, India is also hosting a number of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 war that led to liberation of Bangladesh.

Around 93,000 Pakistani troops had surrendered before the joint forces of the Indian Army and the "Mukti Bahini" on December 16, 1971 that paved way for the birth of Bangladesh. Col Anand said Gen Naravane is also scheduled to interact with the force commanders of the UN peacekeeping missions and the deputy chief operations officer of the Royal Bhutanese Army on April 12.

He will also attend the closing ceremony of exercise 'Shantir Ogrosena', a multilateral UN-mandated counter-terrorism exercise from April 4 to 12. Besides armies of Bangladesh and India, the exercise is being participated by Bhutan and Sri Lanka along with observers from the US, the UK, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

The Chief of the Army Staff is also scheduled to interact with the members of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support and Training Operations (BIPSOT), the Army spokesperson said. He said Gen Naravane will also attend a seminar on UN peace support operations and deliver a keynote address on 'changing nature of global conflicts: role of UN peacekeepers'. The Army chief is also scheduled to visit the Mujibur Rahman memorial museum in Dhanmondi where he will pay tributes to the founding father of that country.

Image Credits: PTI

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
At the event, the co-chairs viewed the implementation of cooperation contents agreed since the third session, and put forth orientations and measures to boost the two countries future cooperation in the coming time.

Both sides agreed on the importance of the joint committee mechanism in developing friendship and cooperation, and continuing to pave the way for expanding multifaceted collaboration between the two countries.

According to Deputy Minister Cao Quoc Hung, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia have supported each other at international and regional forums, as well as multilateralism, international law, the United Nations Charter and the role of the UN in ensuring global peace and development.

Hung said Saudi Arabia is a major market and one of Vietnams important partners in the Middle East - Africa region, while highlighting the development of the two countries economic and trade ties in recent times.

The two countries import-export value has been rising and hit US$1.87 billion in 2014. In 2020, the figure reached US$1.6 billion despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, investment from Saudi Arabian enterprises to Vietnam is still modest, although their financial potential and strength are huge, and Vietnam boasts potential and advantages on investment and business environment.

Therefore, Vietnam encourages and is willing to create favourable conditions for Saudi Arabian businesses to invest in Vietnam, so as to increase and promote the two countries cooperation.

Saudi Arabia is running six projects with total registered capital of US$2.37 million in Vietnam, ranking 89th among 139 countries and territories investing in the Southeast Asian nation.

The fourth session focused on certain priority areas to promote cooperation such as enhancing bilateral trade through diversifying imports on the basis of demand and strength of each country, increasing investment attraction from Saudi Arabia to Vietnam, and removing difficulties in bilateral trade ties.

The two sides looked towards the early conclusion of the necessary legal framework to facilitate and support payment, trade and investment activities of businesses and people of the two countries.

They discussed how to increase cooperation in energy, electricity, oil and gas, renewable energy, chemicals, food processing, construction of infrastructure like airport, seaports, roads, industrial parks, high-end resorts, hotels, urban areas, and industrial and agricultural production.

Besides, they also discussed measures to boost cooperation in fields as defence - security, labour, healthcare, education, culture, tourism, agriculture, industry, information technology.

Deputy Minister Cao Quoc Hung from Hanoi and Deputy Minister Bandar AlKhamies from Riyadh signed the minutes of meeting. They agreed that the fifth session will take place in 2023 in Saudi Arabia.
The BSE Sensex gave up early gains but managed to close in the green on Thursday as concerns over rising infections and resultant restrictions across the country kept investors on the edge.

A depreciating trend in the rupee also weighed on risk sentiment, traders said.

Rising for the third session on the trot, the 30-share BSE benchmark settled 84.45 points or 0.17 per cent higher at 49,746.21. The broader NSE Nifty advanced 54.75 points or 0.37 per cent to 14,873.80.

Cement was the top performer among the Sensex constituents, rallying 4.24 per cent, followed by Titan, Tech Mahindra, Nestle India, TCS, Bajaj Finserv and L&T.

On the other hand, IndusInd Bank, ONGC, Sun Pharma, Bajaj Auto, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank were among the laggards, slipping up to 1.07 per cent.

"Domestic market continued its optimistic rally supported by dovish monetary policy, though it witnessed consolidation during the second half due to selling in banking stocks.





ALSO READ: BSE Metal index soars 4.4%; Tata Steel and JSW hit fresh all-time highs

"Metal stocks led the sectorial rally on a strong outlook supported by rising steel prices and production. Q4 earnings season has started and the market is expected to have a stock-centric rally in the coming days which has a very broad positive view," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

Sectorally, BSE metal, basic materials, consumer durables, industrials, IT and teck rallied as much as 4.44 per cent, while power, utilities, bankex and finance indices fell up to 1.04 per cent.



Broader BSE midcap and smallcap indices climbed up to 0.73 per cent.

Domestic equities, despite trading positively for most of the session, gave up a large portion of gains towards the end of the day as concerns of rising COVID-19 cases continued to weigh on investor sentiment, said Binod Modi, Head-Strategy at Reliance Securities.

"Expectations of steady 4Q FY21 earnings and weakening INR continued to attract investors' interest towards IT stocks," he added.

Global remained buoyant after minutes of the US Federal Reserve's last policy meeting reiterated the central bank's dovish outlook.

Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul ended on a positive note, while Tokyo was in the red.

Stock exchanges in Europe were largely trading with gains in mid-session deals.

Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.44 per cent lower at USD 62.88 per barrel.

The rupee fell for the fourth straight session and settled 11 paise down at 74.58 against the US dollar.

Foreign institutional investors were net buyers in the capital market as they purchased shares worth Rs 227.42 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
As last months shootings at three Georgia massage parlors gained national media attention, an advocacy group says the tragedy presents an opportunity for churches to raise awareness and help the women being trafficked by illicit massage businesses nationwide.

Illicit businesses masquerading as massage parlors or spas are the second-largest reported form of human trafficking in the United States. With 9,000 establishments across the country, it's a booming $2.8 billion industry for those who prey on vulnerable women, the advocacy group Street Grace has warned.

Street Grace, a faith-based organization that seeks to eradicate sexual exploitation, released a report last year detailing the breadth of the illegal massage businesses in Georgia. The report was published months before national attention turned toward the mass shooting at three Atlanta-area massage parlors by a man who told authorities that he sought to eliminate temptations as he battled sex addiction.

Street Grace President and CEO Bob Rodgers told The Christian Post that they know for a fact there is a nationwide trend among massage parlors and spas operating furtively to offer illegal sexual services under the guise of a legitimate business. Many of them exploit vulnerable women.

Source:The Christian Post
Mr Fayose and Mr Makinde have been at loggerheads over the party leadership in the region.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peoples_Democratic_Party_(Nigeria)">Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)</a> has moved to reconcile Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and an ex-governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

The move is to strengthen the party ahead of its South-west Zonal Congress, which was earlier slated for April 10.

Sources within the party also told PREMIUM TIMES that the PDP has postponed the congress until further notice.

"The leadership of the party met and they resolved that the best thing to do is to postpone the congress so that Mr Makinde and Mr Fasoye would be reconciled," a top official of the party in Oyo State told our correspondent on Thursday.

A statement by the national publicity secretary of the party, Kola Ologbodiyan, on Thursday also confirmed the move to reconcile the two leaders.

He was, however, silent on the postponement of the South-west Congress.

According to Mr Ologbodiyan, the NWC has scaled up processes for reconciliation and as it affects South-west zonal congress of the party.

He said the leadership resolved that "beyond the legal conundrum in our party's formation in the zone, the PDP must win the South West.

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"Consequent upon this, the NWC further resolved that a meeting comprising of the National Chairman, the Deputy National Chairman, the National Secretary, the Senator Bukola Saraki-led Reconciliation and Strategic Committee, Governor Seyi Makinde and former Governor Ayo Fayose, be held immediately for urgent resolution of all issues concerning the South West.

"The NWC will meet on the the outcome of this reconciliation meeting within the next 24 hours," the statement read.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that there has been a feud rocking the PDP in the South-west for months following a leadership tussle between Messrs Fayose and Makinde.

While some members of the party have argued that being the only governor of PDP in South-west, Mr Makinde should be regarded as the leader of the party in the zone, Mr Fayose objected, saying being a governor does not qualify Mr Makinde as his leader.

Mr Fayose also argued that a former Ondo State information commissioner, Eddy Olafeso, should be the next PDP National Vice Chairperson (South-west).

He claimed that an agreement was reached at Mr Makinde's house at Ibadan, Oyo State. Although the Oyo State governor did not deny Mr Fayose's position, he is believed to be lobbying for an Oyo indigene as the next National Vice Chairperson (South-west) of PDP.
Along with many others, I have long argued that the reason so few police officers are ever charged in their killings of unarmed Black people (and few of those charged are ever convicted) is that our legal system has effectively rendered those killings legal. This is the case regardless of how horrendous the killings are or how much evidence, including video, makes clear what took place.

The defense in the trial of Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd raised this very concept Wednesday when questioning Sgt. Jody Stiger, a Los Angeles Police Department use-of-force expert who was a witness for the prosecution.

Eric Nelson, an attorney for Chauvin, asked if Sergeant Stiger had ever had anything to do with a training called awful but lawful, or lawful but awful. He said that he had. Nelson continued his questioning: The general concept is that sometimes the use of force, it looks really bad, right, and sometimes it may be so, it may be caught on video, right, and it looks bad, right?

Sergeant Stiger responds, yes.

Nelson then says, But, it is still lawful.

The officer concludes, Yes, based on that departments policies or based on that states law.
The number of fully in-person districts continues to climb, though some New Jersey districts are switching temporarily to remote learning to stave off any spring break-related coronavirus outbreaks.

As of April 5, 493 districts were hybrid, 130 remote, and 151 were fully in-person, the highest number of in-person districts since the coronavirus shuttered schools last March. Thirty-seven districts have different educational formats for different schools.

The number of remote districts rose by 35 this week, after schools have said they will switch to remote after the break in anticipation of out-of-state travel. Eighty-nine districts made changes to their learning formats this week, with 43 districts moving to remote learning.

Scheduled spring breaks this week are not reflected in the school status reporting, officials said.

Gov. Phil Murphy has called for all districts to switch to either hybrid or in-person learning, announcing in March that some schools could relax social distancing measures.

Some of the states largest districts are preparing to bring students back into classrooms, including Newark, which will have students in its buildings for the first time in over a year on Monday, and Woodbridge, which will begin 5-day in-person instruction by the end of April.

Although just over 18% of districts are fully in-person, those schools educate just 7% of New Jersey students, as all the states largest districts remain remote or hybrid.

Some schools have remained entirely remote since last March, while other districts have changed formats as virus conditions have changed. Parents have also been given the choice to keep students virtual even if their district reinstitutes in-person learning. That option will be rescinded next year, and reserved only for students and teachers with medical concerns, Murphy said.

Districts have cited concerns about the viruss spread as the main reason for choosing to remain remote; at least one district has said it intends to stay virtual through the end of the year.

There have been 240 outbreaks and 1,070 cases of the coronavirus linked to schools in New Jersey. For cases to qualify as an outbreak, they must be confirmed to have been transmitted in the classroom or during academic activities. All 21 counties have seen an in-school outbreak.

Teachers are now eligible for the coronavirus vaccine, and some districts have begun partnering with health agencies to distribute vaccines to teachers. At least one district will begin to administer the shot to age-eligible students.

No vaccine has been approved for children under 16, although Pfizer has announced their vaccine is highly effective in children aged 12-15. Studies on younger children remain ongoing.

The following 20 districts brought students back for full-time in-person learning this week:

Burlington City Public School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Burlington County Institute of Technology School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Burlington Township School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Chesterfield Township School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Delanco Township School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Eastampton Township School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Edgewater Park Township School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Florence Township School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Hainesport Township School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Maple Shade School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Medford Township School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Mount Holly Township Public School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Northern Burlington County Regional School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Palmyra Public School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Riverbank Charter School of Excellence: Hybrid to In-Person

Shamong Township School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Southampton Township School District: Combo to In-Person

Westampton Township Public School District: Hybrid to In-Person

Holmdel Township School District: Combo to In-Person

Howell Township Public School District: Combo to In-Person

Six previously remote districts brought students back into the classroom at least part-time:

Benjamin Banneker Preparatory Charter School: Remote to In-Person

Moorestown Township Public School District: Remote to In-Person

Willingboro Public School District: Remote to In-Person

Jersey City Global Charter School: Remote to Combo

International Charter School of Trenton: Remote to Hybrid

P.G. CHAMBERS SCHOOL: Remote to Hybrid

43 districts switched students out of the classroom, switching from either hybrid or in-person to remote:

Cape May City School District: Hybrid to Remote

Dennis Township School District: Hybrid to Remote

Lower Cape May Regional School District: Hybrid to Remote

Lower Township Elementary School District: Hybrid to Remote

North Wildwood School District: In-Person to Remote

Upper Township School District: Hybrid to Remote

West Cape May School District: In-Person to Remote

Wildwood Crest Borough School District: In-Person to Remote

Bridgeton City School District: Hybrid to Remote

Compass Academy Charter School: Hybrid to Remote

Lawrence Township School District: In-Person to Remote

Vineland Public School District: Hybrid to Remote

Atlantic Highlands School District: In-Person to Remote

Fair Haven School District: In-Person to Remote

Freehold Township School District: In-Person to Remote

Hazlet Township Public School District: In-Person to Remote

Henry Hudson Regional School District: Hybrid to Remote

Highlands Borough School District: In-Person to Remote

Oceanport School District: In-Person to Remote

Red Bank Charter School: In-Person to Remote

Red Bank Regional School District: In-Person to Remote

Rumson Borough School District: In-Person to Remote

Shore Regional High School District: In-Person to Remote

Upper Freehold Regional School District: In-Person to Remote

West Long Branch School District: In-Person to Remote

Dover Public School District: Hybrid to Remote

Lakehurst School District: In-Person to Remote

Somerville Public School District: Hybrid to Remote

Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School: Hybrid to Remote

New Road School of Somerset: Hybrid to Remote

Andover Regional School District: Hybrid to Remote

Lafayette Township School District: Hybrid to Remote

Stanhope School District: Hybrid to Remote

Berkeley Heights School District: Hybrid to Remote

Cranford Public School District: Hybrid to Remote

Cresthaven Academy Charter School: Hybrid to Remote

Mountainside School District: In-Person to Remote

Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District: In-Person to Remote

The Queen City Academy Charter School District: Hybrid to Remote

Township of Union School District: Hybrid to Remote

Union County Educational Services Commission: Hybrid to Remote

Union County Vocational-Technical School District: Hybrid to Remote

Westfield Public School District: Hybrid to Remote

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Monrovia  Liberia is expected to host a 5-day decolonized ECOWAS Meeting. The expected meeting will take place in Monrovia from the 13-17 of April 2021 with specific focus on ECOWAS women.

The theme of the expected meeting is "Empowerment of Women in the ECOWAS Region" and will be held at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.

In a letter from Bomi Senator Edwin Snowe who heads Liberia delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, ECOWAS is requesting from Ministry of Foreign Affairs its usual protocol services and official guest vehicles.

"We present compliments on behalf of Liberia delegation and members of ECOWAS parliament and herewith inform you that, the Rt. Honorable Speaker and members of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria has made choice of the Republic of Liberia for the hosting of a 5-day decolonized meeting in Monrovia."

In 2017, Liberia hosted another ECOWAS meeting where issues of community interest particularly the running of institutions and organs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), alongside economic development of the West African sub-region dominated the 21st meeting of the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) of the regional organization.

This meeting was the first of a series of important ECOWAS meetings, ahead of the 51st Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Community, on 4 June 2017, in the Liberian capital.

They included the meeting of the Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee on Institutional Reform on 29 and 30 May 2017, followed by the Mediation and Security Council on 31 May 2017, and the 78th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers, on 1st and 2 June 2017.

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The opening ceremony of the 78th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers featured addressed by the then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Council Chair, Mrs. Marjon Kamara, as well as ECOWAS Commission President, Marcel de Souza.

Council, made up of ECOWAS Foreign Affairs Ministers, heard a special report of the President on the Commission's finances at a closed-door session.

It thereafter considered a series of documents, reports and memoranda for decision, approval and information.

Among items for information, the ministers listened to presentations on various issues such as the organization of the 8th ECOWAS Trade Fair in Niamey, Niger, status of implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), ECOWAS Biometric Identity Card, and Monrovia Declaration on post-Ebola, ECOWAS membership application by Morocco and observer status by Tunisia, and cooperation agreement with Mauritania.
One of the co-founders is Sarah Gilbert, the University of Oxford professor behind the vaccine

Vaccitech, the company behind the PLC ( )/Oxford University Coronavirus (COVID-19) jab, is preparing to float in New York.

The valuation could be as high as US$700mln (509mln), The Wall Street Journal reported, with some backers expecting it to rocket to US$1bn by the end of 2021.

It was founded in 2016 by Sarah Gilbert, the University of Oxford professor who led the team developing the Coronavirus vaccine, and professor Adrian Hill, the director of the prestigious Jenner Institute.

The biotech firm has developed a platform that mimics viral infection in human cells to stimulate the bodys immune system, so it can fight foreign pathogens and cancer.

Vaccitechs first licenced programme was the COVID-19 inoculation, now distributed by , while it is on first-stage trials for treatment for HPV, prostate cancer and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) among others.

Gilbert and Hill are lined up for a 20mln payout, after the company was valued at US$425mln in a new funding round.

They each owned over 5% of the biotech as of January.

s ( ) investment arm GV is set to rack up even more as it owned over 11%.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Rio Tinto (RTPPF.PK, RIO.L, RIO, RTNTF.PK) said it made a total direct economic contribution of $47 billion in 2020, including $8.4 billion of taxes and royalties. The company said it paid $6.8 billion or A$9.8 billion of taxes and royalties in Australia. It included $4.6 billion of corporate tax. The company also made significant payments in Canada ($651 million or C$872 million), Mongolia ($277 million), Chile ($246 million), UK ($132 million), United States ($111 million), and South Africa ($61 million). Rio Tinto noted that its $47 billion direct economic contribution in 2020 took the company's total direct economic contribution since 2016 to $220 billion. 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.
With his wealth further fueled by massive gains made amid the global coronavirus pandemic, Jeff Bezos retained the top spot on Forbes annual billionaires list.

In 2020, a year riddled with challenges brought on by a worldwide health crisis, the Amazon CEO saw his net worth increase by $64 billion, from $113 billion to $177 billion.

Tesla CEO and co-founder Elon Musk claimed the second spot, a dramatic climb from his 31st ranking last year, with $151 billion. His worth increased from from $24.6 billion in 2020 to $151 billion in 2021, according to the Forbes magazines 2021 list of the globes wealthiest individuals, which was released on Tuesday.

Teslas soaring stock prices at some points throughout the year pushed Musk to no. 1, but a skyrocketing demand for Amazon goods allowed Bezos to remain in first by the years end.

Bernard Arnault, a French billionaire and the CEO of LVMH, nearly doubled his fortune, but it was not enough for him to rise out of third place on the list. Hes now worth $150 billion thanks to an 86% rise in shares of the worlds largest luxury goods company, which houses brands including Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior.

SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrives on the red carpet for the Axel Springer Awards ceremony, in Berlin, on December 1, 2020. (Photo by BRITTA PEDERSEN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)TNS

Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates was ranked fourth with $124 billion while Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg rounded out the top five with $97 billion.

The worlds richest people collectively increased their net worth by $5 trillion in 2020, a year that also saw millions of Americans suffer from unemployment. Between March 2020 and February 2021, 80 million Americans lost their jobs with roughly 8 million living below the poverty line from June to November 2020.

There were also 493 new billionaires forged in the last year, Forbes revealed. In total, the list includes 2,755 billionaires.

___

Jessica Schladebeck of the New York Daily News wrote this story.

2021 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Andrew Giuliani says hes planning to run for governor of New York in 2022, challenging incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Giuliani, a former top aide to President Donald Trump and son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, told the Washington Examiner that the thinks he has a very real chance to win the gubernatorial race as Cuomo faces multiple scandals, including allegations of sexual harassment and scrutiny of his handling of data on nursing home deaths from Covid-19.

Outside of anybody named Trump, I think I have the best chance to win and take the state back, and I think theres an opportunity in 2022 with a wounded Democratic candidate, whether its going to be Gov. [Andrew] Cuomo, whether its going to be a radical [Attorney General] Letitia James, whether its going to be a no-name lieutenant governor, I think theres a very, very real chance to win, Andrew Giuliani told the conservative publication Wednesday. I believe I can win the race.

According to Politico, representatives for the New York State Republican Committee did not immediately respond to requests to comment.

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, a Republican from Corning, N.Y., previously said he planned to run for New York governor but instead announced his retirement last month after being accused of sexual misconduct. Other potential GOP candidates could reportedly include Rep. Lee Zeldin of Suffolk County or Rep. Elise Stefanik, who represents New Yorks 21st District in the North Country.

According to the Examiner, Giulianis bid has been encouraged by conservative donors and would have support from Trump. Giuliani served in the White House as a special assistant to Trump and as a director of the Office of Public Liaison. He has never held an elected office, but his father Rudy served as mayor from 1994 to 2001 and was known as Americas mayor after the Sept. 11 attacks before representing Trump as an attorney.

Andrew Giuliani told the New York Post that hell meet soon with state GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy in Albany and county Republican leaders from across the state. He told the Examiner he plans to then launch his campaign later this month.
These results will be presented at the 6th Annual Inhalation and Respiratory Drug Delivery Congress (April 20-21, 2021)

Regulatory News:

Pherecydes Pharma (FR0011651694 ALPHE) (Paris:ALPHE), a biotechnology company specializing in precision phage therapy to treat resistant and/or complicated bacterial infections, today announces that Nathalie Heuze-Vourc'h of the Centre d'Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires (Research Center for Respiratory Diseases) (UMR INSERM-Universite de Tours U1100) will present the results of a preclinical study undertaken with the phages of Pherecydes Pharma at the 6th Annual Inhalation and Respiratory Drug Delivery Congress (a virtual conference).

The presentation, entitled "Inhaled phage therapy to treat Ventilation Associated Pneumonia" is based on the results of a study undertaken within the framework of a partnership between UMR U1100, DTF-Aerodrug and Pherecydes Pharma and partly funded by the AID,the Defense Innovation Agency of the French Ministry of Defense(RAPID Pneumophage project).

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent hospital-acquired infection in intensive care. It has a high mortality rate (20%) and prolongs the duration of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization in intensive care. The bacteria that are the most frequently responsible for this infection are enterobacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The results obtained in this study show that Pherecydes Pharma phages have a major impact when delivered locally or by nebulization (inhalation) in animal models of pulmonary infections:

reduction of the mortality rate in mice with a single pulmonary delivery comparable to the benchmark antibiotic delivered via intravenous or pulmonary route;

99% reduction in the pulmonary bacterial load in pigs when delivered by inhalation.

Pherecydes Pharma has already carried out a number of preclinical studies with anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages in respiratory tract infection models and obtained positive results. The Company is planning to make these phages available to hospitals in France within the framework of an Early Access Program in the second half of 2021 and to initiate Phase I/II clinical development in respiratory indications within the next two years.

Guy-Charles Fanneau de La Horie, Chairman of the Executive Board of Pherecydes Pharma, states: "We are delighted that our partner has been invited to present this work at the 6th Annual Inhalation and Respiratory Drug Delivery Congress. The devastating effects of ventilation-associated pneumonia are unfortunately a topical issue, as the number of patients in intensive care has risen sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic and remains at a very high level. These results obtained in reference animal models demonstrate the considerable beneficial effect of phages delivered through inhalation. They represent a solid foundation for the clinical development of our anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages and strengthen the potential value of phages as a treatment of choice for certain pathologies lacking therapeutic solutions

For more details on this publication, launch the video by clicking on this link.

About Pherecydes Pharma

Founded in 2006, Pherecydes Pharma is a biotechnology company that develops treatments against resistant bacterial infections, responsible for many serious infections. The Company has developed an innovative approach, precision phage therapy, based on the use of phages, natural bacteria-killing viruses. Pherecydes Pharma is developing a portfolio of phages targeting 3 of the most resistant and dangerous bacteria, which alone account for more than two thirds of hospital-acquired resistant infections: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The concept of precision phage therapy has been successfully applied in over 22 patients in the context of compassionate use, under the supervision of the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM). Headquartered in Nantes, Pherecydes Pharma has a team of around twenty experts from the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology sector and academic research.

For more information, www.pherecydes-pharma.com

Disclaimer

This press release contains non-factual elements, including, but not limited to, certain statements regarding future results and other future events. These statements are based on the current vision and assumptions of the management of the Company. They incorporate known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could result in significant differences in results, profitability and expected events. In addition, Pherecydes Pharma, its shareholders and its affiliates, directors, officers, counsels and employees have not verified the accuracy of, and make no representations or warranties about, statistical information or forecast information contained within this news release and that originates or is derived from third party sources or industry publications; these statistical data and forecast information are only used in this press release for information purposes. Finally, this press release may be drafted in French and in English. In the event of differences between the two texts, the French version will prevail.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005777/en/

Contacts:

Pherecydes Pharma

Philippe Rousseau

CFO

investors@pherecydes-pharma.com

NewCap

Dusan Oresansky

Investor Relations

pherecydes@newcap.eu

T.: +33 1 44 71 94 92

NewCap

Nicolas Merigeau

Media Relations

pherecydes@newcap.eu

T.: +331 44 71 94 98
New Mexico Eliminates Qualified Immunity for Public Officials, Including Police

New Mexico has eliminated a legal defense known as qualified immunity, making it easier to sue government employees, including police officers, under a new law signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 7.

The law, dubbed the New Mexico Civil Rights Act, also allows individuals to sue for compensation if a state or local government employee violates the persons rights, privileges, or immunities within the scope of their employment.

New Mexicans are guaranteed certain rights by our state constitution, Grisham, a Democrat, said in a statement. Those rights are sacred, and the constitutional document providing for them is the basis of all we are privileged to do as public servants of the people of this great state.

Indeed, good public servants work tirelessly every single day to protect those rights, to ensure them, to safeguard New Mexicans. But when violations do occur, we as Americans know too well that the victims are disproportionately people of color, and that there are too often roadblocks to fighting for those inalienable rights in a court of law.

Civil rights activists, legal scholars, and lawmakers have called on the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit the doctrine, which they argue prevents officials such as police officers from facing consequences for misconduct or abuse of power if their actions violate the U.S. Constitution but dont contravene a clearly established rule.

The qualified immunity doctrine insulates government officials from civil liability for conduct required by the job. It comes from the Supreme Courts interpretation of 42 U.S.C. Section 1983, commonly known as Section 1983, which provides a basis for people to sue state officials who violate a persons constitutional rights.

The Supreme Court has said that it isnt enough to show that the rights are violated. Victims must also show that the action was clearly established, and if they fail, the official could be granted qualified immunity. The clearly established rule, which is seen to be problematic by critics of the doctrine, requires the party suing the official to show that the facts in their case were sufficiently similar to the facts in prior court cases.

Proponents say the doctrine is important to allow government officials, such as police officers, to carry out their jobs with protection from undue interference and threats of liability. They also say it prevents frivolous or retaliatory lawsuits against officers.

Qualified immunity reentered the public consciousness amid protests last summer against police violence following George Floyds death in Minneapolis. The debate of whether the doctrine should still be upheld as sacrosanct has reached a crescendo in recent months, with lawmakers taking action to abolish the concept completely.

New Mexico follows a line of other states that have abolished or limited the operation of the qualified immunity defense. Democrat-led Colorado was the first state to pass a law that bypasses the operation of the defense by allowing individuals to bring civil actions police officers who violate the states laws. The New York City Council last month also passed a similar law.

The Supreme Court has so far refused to take up any cases that present the justices with opportunities to revisit the issue. The court last month turned away the chance to review the Supreme Court-made doctrine in a case where a Cleveland man sued two police officers who assaulted him while trying to enter his home in 2016. The officers, who wore plain clothes at the time, had mistaken the home as a vacant home in a high-crime neighborhood.

The justices didnt give any reasoning for their decision.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Sonia Sotomayor had previously expressed interest in revisiting the doctrine, after they criticized its operation.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trumps administration, which was open to police reform, had criticized calls to eliminate qualified immunity. Trumps last attorney general, William Barr, said that in situations in which an officer knowingly and willfully violates a well-established right, then it may be appropriate to hold the officer civilly liable. But he said qualified immunity is necessary to ensure police officers can do their job without fear.

Grisham on April 7 stressed that her states law is not an anti-police bill. She underscored that the law does not endanger any first responder or public servantso long as they conduct themselves professionally within the bounds of our constitution and with a deep and active respect for the sacred rights it guarantees all of us as New Mexicans.
PALO ALTO, Calif., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Spain Chamber of Commerce is organizing the first edition of the Silicon Valley-Spain Venture Summit, to be held on June 10. A selection of early-stage Spanish startups will have the opportunity to pitch in front of some of the most prominent tech investors in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Founded in 2010, the California Spain Chamber of Commerce has a long track record organizing events to connect VCs and startups.

Pepe Agell, member of the founding team at Chartboost, is president of the California Spain Chamber. His company was the first startup with Spanish-born founders to get investment from Sequoia Capital. "Silicon Valley is an extremely competitive environment that requires founders to think big. Through the venture summit, we want the founders of the most promising Spanish startups to have direct access to this capital that can dramatically accelerate their companies," he says.

This non-profit organization is supported by institutions that are active players in the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem. That is the case of ASCRI (Spanish investor association), Caixa Capital Risc, Wayra and Banc Sabadell. The law firms K&L Gates and Cuatrecasas are also joining this initiative, providing legal advice to the participants.

The deadline for submitting startups is May 16. After that, a committee of experts that includes investors and entrepreneurs will select the six startups that will present to well-known VCs in Silicon Valley, home of Andreesen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, KPCB and Accel.

The first edition on June 10 will be virtual as a result of COVID-19. "The global pandemic has accelerated a trend that was already latent: investors look beyond Silicon Valley and want to invest globally, as long as great ideas meet execution. Spain is, for sure, one of these places," says Mar Hershenson, a Catalan investor at Pear VC with more than 20 years of experience in Silicon Valley, who is also a board member of the California Spain Chamber of Commerce.

Before pitching to investors, the selected founders will receive training and advice from experts and peer entrepreneurs who have successfully gone through the fundraising journey, such as Alejando Artacho from Spotahome, Javier Cortes from Flexport, Pilar Manchon from Google and Alberto Martinez from Streamloots.

With companies like Glovo, Wallapop, Flywire and Typeform, the Spanish market just surpassed the 1 billion transaction value threshold in 2020, becoming a sizable market in the context of the larger European region. International VC firms are already operating in Spain and have established a productive and symbiotic relationship with their Spanish co-players. "We do not want this Venture Summit to be an anecdote, but the beginning of a recurrent, growing action that normalizes the access to capital and the relationship between Spanish entrepreneurs and Silicon Valley investors," Agell remarks.

About the California Spain Chamber: Born in 2010, the California Spain Chamber is a non-profit organization that promotes shared knowledge and the relationship between businesses, universities and the technological ecosystem of California with Spain. More information at www.californiaspainchamber.org and www.svspventuresummit.com.

For more information and to request interviews, please contact [email protected].

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Tech investment event hosted by the California Spain Chamber of Commerce

Founded in 2010, the California Spain Chamber of Commerce has a long track record organizing events to connect VCs and startups.

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Pepe Agell, President of the California-Spain Chamber of Commerce

Since September 2020, the CSCC has a new board, led by Pepe Agell.

SOURCE California Spain Chamber of Commerce
Attorneys for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson on Thursday urged several state courts to require the disclosure of the names of the women accusing him of sexual assault and harassment -- a move one legal expert called an intimidation tactic.

In a new court filing, defense lawyer Rusty Hardin lambasted the womens attorney, Tony Buzbee, for holding a trial by press conference and making it difficult for Watson to respond to the 22 separate accusations without knowing who filed suit. The anonymous women, most of whom are massage therapists, allege that Watson assaulted or harassed them during sessions in 2020 and 2021 in Texas, California, Georgia or Arizona.

Hardin filed multiple requests Thursday but said he intended to file them in all of the women's cases.

Through the spectacle of the last few weeks, Mr. Watson has been unable to responsibly defend himself in the face of overwhelming national media coverage, Hardin said in the filing for a special exception to the original petition. Mr. Watsons counsel cannot in good conscience publicly respond to the specific allegations being made because any response would be based on dangerous speculation about the identity of the accusers.

Hearings are set to occur at 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Friday in separate state civil district courts.

Hardin said he knows only two womens names, both of whom were identified by Buzbee, during a Tuesday press conference. One of those women, the first to file suit, was the subject of a request for a $100,000 settlement before the litigation was filed, Hardin said.

The women are all officially listed as Jane Doe in court documents. Two Texas Rules of Civil Procedure prevent plaintiffs from filing civil claims using pseudonyms, Hardin said. One rule requires plaintiffs to state their name if it is known, and the other requires giving the defense fair notice of the claims involved. An exception is made for minors in sex assault cases.

A judge could potentially permit the defense to learn the identities of the plaintiffs but order the names not be released publicly, University of Houston law professor Meredith Duncan said.

Tahira Khan Merritt, a Texas attorney who litigates civil sex assault cases in state and federal court, said judges have discretion as to whether they would allow the case to proceed under a pseudonym. Prohibiting a pseudonym would merely be an intimidation tactic so early in a case, she said.

"The use of pseudonyms is very common across the United States," Merritt said. "The only reason they would push it is to shut the victim up and discourage others from coming forward."

Buzbee previously told Hardin he could provide the names if they used a confidentiality order, Hardin said.

Hardin added that he felt Buzbee has released crumbs of evidence to the public instead of handling the cases in court, allowing the public to rush to judgment.

Mr. Buzbee is wielding Plaintiffs anonymity as a sword instead of a shield, he wrote in the filing.

Watson is requesting a hearing on the matter on an expedited basis, according to the filing. His attorneys need to file an answer to at least one lawsuit on April 19, and defense is asking for the woman in that lawsuit to refile her case within two business days. If she doesnt, Hardin asked the court to strike the woman's entire petition and dismiss the case permanently.

Watson has categorically denied the claims.
The joint venture was established to explore for, develop and mine non-potash minerals on the project tenements.

The Lake Wells Gold Project is in the Yamarna region of Western Australia

( ) has welcomed ( ) completing its expenditure requirements to gain a 70% interest in the Lake Wells Gold Project in Western Australia.

The gold producer has passed the $5 million expenditure commitment of the earn-in and joint venture agreement relating to non-potash materials on APC's Lake Wells SOP Project.

APC and SBM have now formed an unincorporated joint venture to continue the exploration, development and future potential mining of non-potash resources on the project.

Under the terms of the Aareement, APC shall not be obliged to make any contribution to project expenditure until such time as SBM has completed a bankable feasibility study into the development of any non-potash orebody within the project tenements.

Potential to host significant gold deposit

In January St Barbara continued to expand the footprint and tenor of mineralisation at Lake Wells with a mineralised corridor exceeding 9 kilometres and with high-grade aircore results including 1-metre at 3.88 g/t gold from 47 metres, 3 metres at 2.03 g/t from 62 metres and 1-metre at 5.53 g/t from 62 metres.

Chief executive officer Matt Shackleton said at the time that these results confirmed APCs belief that the Lake Wells Gold Project had the potential to host a significant gold deposit.

The Lake Wells Gold Project is in the Yamarna region of Western Australia with adjacent tenement holder ( ) continuing to demonstrate the underexplored nature of the Yamarna Belt and the potential to delineate deposits of merit.

With more than 1.1 million ounces currently delineated along the Yamarna Shear Zone, including the Golden Highway deposits, APC's Southern Yamarna Anomaly Camp (SYAC) is proving to extend this well-established mineralised corridor to more than 70 kilometres to the north-northwest.
A new fund in the ECU School of Dental Medicine will support dental care for veterans across North Carolina.

The ECU Smiles for Veterans Patient Care Fund will support oral health care for veterans. | Photo: Contributed

Salutes and smiles

ECU provides dental care to veterans during annual Smiles for Veterans events. | Photo: Spaine Stephens

A four-way win

"It means a lot to me because it shows people actually want to help each other. In North Carolina, people just care more about each other, and this event shows that. Its hard for me to say what I feel, but it feels like a brick has been lifted off my back."  Lloyd Holland of Murphy, one of the first ECU Smiles for Veterans patients

Life-changing events

This post appears here courtesy of ECU News Services . The author of this post is Spaine Stephens A newly created fund in the ECU School of Dental Medicine will help offset the costs of vital dental care for U.S. military veterans who need it.The ECU Smiles for Veterans Patient Care Fund , part of the school's innovative Patient Care Funds program through the ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation and ECU Advancement , comes in the wake of success of the school's events geared toward veteran care.Since 2018, the School of Dental Medicine has provided free dental care for more than 120 veterans in western North Carolina at its community service learning center (CSLC) in Sylva during ECU Smiles for Veterans events Held annually, the Smiles for Veterans event serves pre-screened veterans who need a variety of dental procedures; faculty, residents and students from the school and local offices provide the care. ECU Smiles for Veterans originated through a partnership between the ECU School of Dental Medicine, NC Serves-Western and the Smoky Mountains Outreach Foundation  which has since shifted to the Veteran Smiles Foundation (VSF).said Dr. Greg Chadwick, dean of the dental school.The fund stands to support current and potential programs and events that offer low- and no-cost dental procedures and preventive care to veterans in financial need.said Lloyd Holland of Murphy, one of the first veterans to receive care through ECU Smiles for Veterans.The ECU Smiles for Veterans Patient Care Fund will support veterans' care that the school has worked to secure over the years through relationships with community partners with an interest in veterans' health.said Jon Jones, senior director of development for the School of Dental Medicine.According to statistics from the Veteran Smiles Foundation, of the more than 700,000 veterans living in North Carolina, only about 8% are qualified for dental care at a Veterans Administration dental clinic. More than 70,000 North Carolina veterans are estimated to be at or below poverty level.The Veteran Smiles Foundation aims to provide required dental care to veterans in need in North Carolina, ultimately helping veterans achieve good physical and mental well-being by improving oral health. Beyond the partnership during ECU Smiles for Veterans events, the VSF funds the initial exam and required X-rays, as well as determining a care plan for each veteran.The respective ECU center completes the care.McCracken said.NC Serves-Western connects veterans and their families with resources from housing and employment to health care. County veteran services offices have also been instrumental in testing and qualifying veterans for dental care, while local dental offices have provided funding and provider support.The partnership has yielded an expansion of Smiles for Veterans events to CSLC-Brunswick County, where an event is slated for this fall  providing an option for veterans in eastern North Carolina. The Sylva event will continue as well.The new fund is a part of the ECU School of Dental Medicine's Patient Care Funds program, which is set up as a system that benefits people at every level of care  the school, the patient, the student provider and the donor/supporter.The Patient Care Funds not only provide care to patients who meet financial criteria  they also provide students invaluable experience with building treatment plans, working with office staff and completing dental procedures. The funds also are a win for the school, allowing it to remain sustainable and offer affordable care. Finally, the donor is able to see the impact of their gift and know that their contribution made a true difference.So far, close to 600 patients have received dental care that is fully or partially covered by Patient Care Funds. Each of the school's eight CSLCs has its own Patient Care Fund, and other funds set up to serve special populations or named in honor of people and programs cover care on campus and in the school's local clinics.said one patient who received care in Ross Hall through the Patient Care Funds.Serving veterans is personal to the faculty, staff, residents and students in the ECU School of Dental Medicine.Dr. Bob Manga, faculty director at CSLC-Sylva, reflected on a recent Smiles for Veterans event and shared why it hit home.Manga said.Manga said the events have been successful because of the teamwork and partnerships behind the mission.he said.It's also all about the newly created smiles of veterans who find hope in an avenue for dental care.During a recent Smiles for Veterans event, one veteran hesitated to make a follow-up appointment as he calculated upcoming expenses  paying for dental care or purchasing Christmas presents for his grandchildren. The Navy veteran's service career was cut short by an accident, and health problems piled up over the years, overwhelming his resources. When the story of his dilemma was shared, a donor covered the cost of his follow-up care.the veteran said upon hearing the news.a staff member at ECU Smiles for Veterans replied.
During the week of March 29th - April 4th, 39.1 pct of cases of COVID-19 were registered in Bucharest and the counties of Cluj, Ilfov, Timis and Brasov, the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) informs on Thursday.

According to the weekly surveillance report, 26 pct of all deaths were recorded in Constanta, Timis, Bucharest, Cluj and Prahova.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, one case in 71 has been registered with medical personnel.At the same time, 85.5 pct of all deaths were in people over 60 and 59 pct of deaths were in men.According to the source, 95.2 pct of the deceased had at least one associated comorbidity.AGERPRES
In a recent interview with USA Today, Dwayne The Rock Johnson -- also known as The Peoples Champion -- said he would run for president of the United States if the people wanted it. And it turns out that the people might want it.

In a recent data analysis conducted by Piplsay, a near-majority of Americans voiced their support for The Rocks presidential run in some way. Adding the political aspirations of Matthew McConaughey, who expressed an interest in running for governor of his native Texas, put support of a celebrity politican into the majority.

The survey goes on to ask respondents which celebrities they would most support for the role of commander in chief. Hey, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Donald Trump held office, so why not these 10 celebrity would-be presidents?

1. Angelina Jolie

Jolie became the top choice at 30% of those who voted for a celebrity president. It wouldnt be the first time the actress has held a political position. She was once a United Nations special enjoy for the High Commissioner for Refugees.

Though shes known for holding a few liberal positions on the issues, her father, actor Jon Voight, is known for his conservative views. Maybe President Jolie could have a real bipartisan streak.

Angelina Jolie visits Camp Liberty, Iraq in 2009. (U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp)

2. Oprah Winfrey

Oprah came in at second place with 27% of the vote. For the record, Oprah doesnt need a political party. She was No. 20 on Forbes list of the Worlds Most Powerful Women, so she could run on her own dime. If President Trump was elected on his business acumen and net worth, then Oprah should have no trouble throwing her hat into the ring.

The idea has been floated past her before, but the media mogul has said she would need a sign from God before she ever would.

3. Tom Hanks

A full 22% of respondents chose Hanks as their pick for celebrity commander in chief. In 2016, filmmaker Michael Moore suggested Hanks run for president in 2020 as the Democrats answer to Trump. The actor quickly put the kibosh on the idea, saying he wanted to strangle Moore for making the suggestion.

Just because Im an actor, I can give a good speech. I agree with that, he said. But the concept of actually voting for someone just because they can do that? Then Monty Hall could be president!

It might be hard to imagine Hanks as president of the United States, but its even harder to imagine him strangling Moore.

4. Will Smith

As recently as March 2021, Smith has said publicly that a run for president could be in the future for him at some point down the line. He was talking to Jon Favreau, former speechwriter for President Barack Obama and host of the Pod Save America podcast. Still, 21% of respondents thought he would be a good candidate.

5. George Clooney

As Clooneys interest in politics began to rise in the days leading to the 2020 election cycle, rumors circulated that Obama encouraged Clooney to run if it was in his best interest. Clooney ruled himself out, but he still received 17% of the vote.

"I am not going to get into politics. It doesn't seem like a very logical place for me to be able to apply what skills I have. I don't have to make compromises for the things that I stand for and the things I believe in, like politicians do. So it is not something that interests me," Clooney said.

6. Dwayne The Rock Johnson

If you want The Rock to be the Peoples Champion officially, you need to tell him. As previously mentioned, he wont throw his hat in the ring unless the people give him a clear mandate that they want The Most Electrifying Man in Presidential History.

Dwayne The Rock Johnson, left, shakes hands with Pearl Harbor survivor Uncle Herb Weatherwax during the filming of Rock the Troops at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. (U.S. Navy/Petty Officer 2nd Class Laurie Dexter)

7. Leonardo DiCaprio

If DiCaprio ran for president, his signature issue probably would be climate change. The actor met with then-President-Elect Donald Trump after the 2016 election to present a comprehensive plan for green energy innovation, but it didnt seem to amount to much.

In the days leading to the 2020 election cycle, fans started a petition to encourage DiCaprio to run for the office himself, but that doesnt seem to have amounted to much, either. Thirteen percent of those who responded said he would have their support, but theres no sign that Leo wants to give up life on his private island in Belize for the very public life at the White House.

8. Dolly Parton

Dolly already displayed good-ol American leadership by helping the country during the coronavirus pandemic when she partially funded vaccine research at Vanderbilt University. When the time came, she publicly received the Moderna vaccine along with treatments for helping those affected by the virus. Dolly puts her money where her mouth is.

That $1 million donation has led to calls from fans for her to run for president, and 12% of those surveyed agreed that she would be their choice for the next celebrity commander in chief. You already can buy Dolly for President T-shirts.

9. Harrison Ford

Ford already demonstrated his presidential leadership ability by kicking Gary Oldmans corpse off Air Force One in 1997. Today, he would be a dark-horse candidate for celebrity president, with 10% of the voters support.

10. Robert Downey Jr.

Unlike most Hollywood types, many of which are on this list, Downey is one of very few who has identified as a political conservative in the past, especially after his time spent in prison. The once and future Iron Man described his political views to The New York Times in 2008 as interesting. Nine percent of survey respondents are interested.

-- If you have strong feelings about this list, Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. But before you go typing away, consider that he left Jane Fonda off the list, even though 6% of Americans would consider voting for her.

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AstraZeneca said it paused its COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial on Wednesday to children and teens as they wait for more data on rare blood clotting. AstraZeneca is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies that developed a cure to end the COVID-19 pandemic. At present, many countries have been using the AstraZeneca vaccine in an attempt to achieve herd immunity.

AstraZeneca Pauses Clinical Trial in Children and Teens

According to a recently published article on Reuters, the University of Oxford announced on Wednesday that it decided to pause its small clinical trial to children and teens in the United Kingdom.

The report said that the decision was made as the University and the pharmaceutical company await more data on rare blood clotting on those who received the first shot of their vaccine. In a recently published article on Inquirer, the trial disruption is the latest issue of the vaccine.

Patients Critically Sick With COVID-19 May Suffer Mental Health Conditions, New Study Shows

Oxford University Claims No Safety Concerns

The Oxford University claimed no pediatric safety concerns during the pediatric clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine. However, they paused the vaccination in children and teens while waiting for United Kingdom's drug watchdog before continuing its vaccinations.

Meanwhile, several countries already decided to restrict and stop using AstraZeneca's vaccine after different reports of its side effects surfaced. The European drug regulator described the blood clotting as a very rare side effect, according to a published report on BBC News.

It can be remembered that the Oxford University planned to have a clinical trial for children and teens age 6 to 17 in the United Kingdom. They were supposed to enroll 300 volunteers, but the trial did not happen due to reports of the vaccine's side effects.

New COVID-19 Variant: Experts Identify Children as the Major Spreaders

European Medicines Agency Reviews the Report

At present, the European Medicines Agency reviews the different reports of rare blood clotting, which is known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). It happens after the first shot of AstraZeneca.

The agency is expected to give the results of its review on Wednesday or Thursday. Meanwhile, a senior official from the EMA said that there is no clear association between AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine and the CVST. But the official also said that the origin or the direct cause of the clot remains unknown.

The World Health Organization, which, together with other authorities, is closely reviewing the latest evidence on AstraZeneca's vaccine, said on Tuesday that it saw no need to alter its conclusion that the shot's advantages outweigh any dangers.

Additionally, the WHO's advisory vaccine protection panel said on Wednesday that while a blood clot correlation was "possible," it was "not proven," and the cases were "very unlikely" among the 200 million people who had received AstraZeneca vaccines around the world.

On the other hand, even if AstraZeneca's vaccine receives regulatory clearance, top U.S. infectious disease doctor Anthony Fauci told Reuters last week that the U.S. may not need the AstraZeneca vaccine. This could also be one of the factors that AstraZeneca may not get full approval from the U.S. FDA.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8)  The Supreme Court on Thursday announced the resumption of proceedings  virtually instead of physical sessions  for the Anti-Terrorism Act two weeks after the government lifts the enhanced community quarantine now enforced in Metro Manila.

If the ECQ will no longer be extended beyond April 11, the oral arguments can reopen on April 27, the high court said.

The continuation of the oral arguments shall be through videoconferencing with live audio streaming made available to the public, Clerk of Court Marife Lomibao-Cuevas said in a statement.

The justices will decide on technical details and rules once they are able to convene, according to the statement.

The high court last held oral arguments on the controversial law last March 2. It was only Day 4. There have been several postponements to give way for disinfection of the Supreme Court compound in Manila, and justices and participants having to go on quarantine.

The oral arguments were supposed to resume on Tuesday, but the high court again deferred amid the imposition of ECQ in the National Capital Region. Metro Manila, epicenter of the local coronavirus outbreak, and four nearby provinces have been under ECQ since March 29 due to an exponential rise in infections.

As the country grapples with the COVID-19 crisis, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the anti-terrorism law despite questions on its constitutionality. It resulted in 37 petitions against what is now the most challenged law in the Supreme Courts recent history.

Petitioners have repeatedly asked for a temporary restraining order to stop the implementation of the law, which they said violates constitutional rights and puts government critics at risk of human rights abuses.

In a March 2 resolution, the Supreme Court said the en banc resolved to await the comment of the Office of the Solicitor General on the alleged intimidation and red-tagging of the laws critics before acting on pending motions for TRO.
Kourtney Kardashian and boyfriend Travis Barker were snapped visiting the celeb haunt Malibu on Wednesday evening, as their spring romance continues to blossom.

The reality star, 41, wore a black trench coat with a velvet interior at the shoreside location with a white top that bared her trim midriff.

The eldest of the Kardashian sisters rounded out her ensemble with blue jeans and white heels, with her lustrous black locks down.

The latest: Kourtney Kardashian, 41, and boyfriend Travis Barker, 45, were snapped visiting the celeb haunt Malibu on Wednesday evening, as their spring romance continues to blossom

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star had a navy blue face mask on as she headed out of black Range Rover the celeb couple drove to the upscale eatery.

Barker, 45, wore a black T-shirt with a black cap, grey pants and a black face mask as he made his way out of the vehicle.

He was later spotted wearing a long-sleeve black top while holding hands with Kourtney as they exited the restaurant.

The high-profile pair, who have been linked since February, brought along Kourtney's daughter Penelope, eight, and niece North West, seven, who is the daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.

Barker was later spotted wearing a long-sleeve black top while holding hands with Kourtney as they exited the restaurant

Family dinner: The high-profile pair have been linked since February

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star had a navy blue face mask on as she headed out of black Range Rover the celeb couple drove to the upscale eatery

Kourtney is also mom to sons Mason, 11, and Reign, six, while Barker is father to son Landon, 17, and daughter Alabama, 15, with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler.

The Blink-182 drummer and Kourtney spent time together recently on a Deer Valley, Utah ski trip as well as an Easter Sunday celebration.

The pair were also been seen dining in West Hollywood and were in Las Vegas for UFC 260.

Barker wore a mesh cap backwards with a black top and grey pants

Stylish: Kourtney wore a black trench coat with a velvet interior at the shoreside location with a white top that bared her trim midriff

Family night: Kourtney brought daughter Penelope, eight, and niece North West, seven, who is the daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Some projects submitted at the national science and technology for high school students have surprised people as they have dealt with complicated issues such as treatment of cancer and stroke.

The project which won first prize at the national science and technology competition

H.T. M, headmaster at a high school in HCM City, said his school has not participated in the competition in recent years, and that it is too costly to let teachers help students implement the works, as is the custom.

To be eligible to enter the national competition, the works need to be shortlisted from competitions at school and province/city levels. Many schools, students and parents, eager for achievements, spend big money and efforts on the competitions.

As the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) stipulates that students winning prizes at the national competitions can enroll in university without attending entrance exams, everyone strives for the prizes.

The competition is a useful playing field for high school students, but its significance has been distorted. The works entering the competition bear students names, but in fact there are big teams of supporters behind the students, T said.

The competition turns out to be a race among students, teachers and schools, he said.

He wondered whether the competition would even exist if the exam exemption incentive was removed.

Students not to blame

Pham Thai Son from the HCMC Food Industry University affirmed that it is a good idea to organize such a competition to encourage students to apply their academic knowledge in practice.

The crucial problem is finding out if the works are really implemented by students themselves.

It is often surprising to many people that high school students are dealing with complex topics, including treating serious diseases such as cancer.

According to Son, the students are innocent and this should be blamed on teachers, headmasters and parents.

Do Van Dung, rector at the HCMC University of Technology and Education, said that some parents have asked for help from experts to prepare works for the competition, with the aim of winning high prizes.

Some schools have hired university lecturers to prepare the works, while students just needed to learn the presentations by heart and be present at the competition.

An analyst noted that the projects on cancer treatment are just "copies". These are complex topics that can be implemented only by experts and at modern laboratories.

Despite the problems, Dung still supports the idea of organizing the competition, saying it is an incubator for research works in the future and ineligible works should be disqualified so as to encourage students creativity.

Le Huyen

Quantum leap in scientific research achieved by Vietnamese PhD student The replacement of fossil fuel-derived energy with environmentally-friendly energy is the focus of research by a PhD student from Hue who is studying in Taiwan.
VALLETTA, Malta, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tourism and Consumer Protection Minister Clayton Bartolo announced this Tuesday, 30th March, that the Maltese islands are reopening for tourism in summer 2021. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated tourists will be welcomed to the island of Malta from June 1st 2021.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8879651-visitmalta-announces-malta-is-reopening-for-summer-2021/

Located about 50 miles south of Sicily in the Mediterranean, Malta is a small archipelago that boasts a Mediterranean climate with over 300 sunny days per year, a top-ranked healthcare system and some of the world's best diving locations. With a primarily English-speaking population it is the perfect location for tourism; shown by its growing popularity year on year.

As of June, eighteen airlines, including Air Malta, are expected to fly to Malta this summer, making up some 70% of the routes the island had back in 2019. Four of these airlines are new, while tourism authorities are also in "advanced talks" with a further four airlines who are interested in opening up routes to Malta. In tandem with airplanes, cruise liners will also continue their service this summer, with no less than 34 port calls scheduled until the end of June.

"We will have 18 airlines coming to Malta this summer, with four of them being new operators. Airlines are the "lungs" of the tourism sector and they cannot be forgotten." - Minister Bartolo announced.

The Maltese government is also in discussions with the European Commission in the hopes of allowing 'green' passports for those who are vaccinated, allowing them to travel within Malta without any restrictions. The plan, as outlined by Minister Bartolo, is that vaccinated tourists will be able to visit Malta free of restrictions by presenting a digital "green passport" on arrival, while non-vaccinated tourists will need to submit a negative PCR COVID-19 test, taken a few hours before their arrival.

Malta has managed to handle the COVID-19 pandemic in a manner which was praised by the World Health Organisation, the EU and even the Commonwealth. As of writing, Malta is one of the highest vaccinated summer destinations in Europe, with over 40 doses of the vaccine carried out per 100 population. The average numbers of daily infections are hitting all-time lows for 2021, with less than 100 daily cases.

"All our decisions strive to find a balance and give priority to the health of Maltese citizens and the tourists who will come into our country", Minister Bartolo concluded in his announcement.

To find out more on the latest travel guidelines and tourist updates for Malta visit: https://www.visitmalta.com/en/home

Note to the Editor:

Please find the photo library under this link: https://webtek-global.com/mta-assets

Kindly include links to visitmalta.com and airmalta.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1483723/VisitMalta_passenger_boat.jpg
The White House confirmed on Wednesday that there are no discussions regarding boycotting the 2022 Beijing Olympics  and the State Department backtracked on its previous announcement about it, a report says.

According to the The Epoch Times, the White House will not join in the boycott for the upcoming Olympics due to the issue on Uyghur genocide that was raised previously because plans are actually underway for its attendance.

It was recently reported here that State Department Ned Price expressed they are considering a "coordinated approach" during a Tuesday night briefing since China persists denying the issue of genocide against the Uyghurs. But during the press briefing, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki contradicted the matter after a reporter asked about it.

As per the White House website, the reporter clarified the U.S. policy on American athletes participating in the Beijing Olympics. The reporter also asked if the government will encourage its citizens to "travel to China" for it.

"Well, these are the Winter Olympics of next winter, I should say. So some time away, as it relates to the second part of your question. And certainly our hope is that we are at a point where enough people across the country--and hopefully around the world-have been vaccinated. But we will rely on health and medical experts on that particular piece," Psaki responded.

"Our position on the 2022 Olympics has not changed. We have not discussed and are not discussing any joint boycott with allies and partners," she immediately added. "We, of course, consult closely with allies and partners at all levels to define our common concerns and establish a shared approach, but there's no discussion underway of a change in our plans regarding the Beijing Olympics from the United States' point of view."

Another reporter then asked specifically what is the United States' position regarding China's genocide issue and of the corresponding response for it such us a full check on them prior to full participation in the Olympics. Psaki affirmed that the U.S. government did recognize the CCP's genocide against the Uyghurs but clarified its stand regarding the Olympics.

"Well, I would say, first, just to be very clear and reiterate: Our position has not changed in our planned participation. However, we are working, of course, on-as we would be on any issue, in coordination with our partners and allies about a range of concerns we have with China's behavior and their actions, including the genocide of Uighur Muslims in China, including actions that China has taken as it relates to economic and security steps," she clarified.

Psaki also said that "just like in any relationship" there are areas that one can work "in coordination with" or "in partnership" with China and there are areas of "great concerns" that needs to be voiced out and these are areas one "don't hold back on" citing what President Joe Biden did during his call "with the President."

The Epoch Times explained that Psaki was referring to the February call Biden had with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The media outlet added that Price later clarified in an email that he was referring to the United States having a coordinated approach rather than specifically discussing a joint boycott.

"2022 remains a ways off, but we will continue to consult closely with allies and partners to define our common concerns and establish our shared approach to [China]," the Epoch Times cited Price posting in Twitter.
The Crimean Bridge is reliably protected all around from potential threats, Russian National Guard Chief Viktor Zolotov said.

"The facilities of the Kerch transport link are today comprehensively protected on the ground, from the air and from the water and under the water," TASS cited him as saying.

"The waters adjacent to this major transport artery are patrolled by National Guard boats while our combat swimmers inspect the bridge supports underwater. This is hard work and huge responsibility," the National Guard chief said.

Grachonok-class anti-saboteur boats have been accepted for service in Russias National Guard to ensure the security of facilities in the Kerch Strait, Zolotov said.

A National Guard special operations brigade is working in close interaction with Russias Defense and Interior ministries, the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Transport and Energy ministries. Since last year, the grouping has been operating in full under the general command of the Joint Coordination Center, the National Guard chief said.
April 8, 2021 - Women undergoing surgery to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are not at increased risk of developing pelvic cancers, according to a large-scale, population-based study in The Journal of Urology, Official Journal of the American Urological Association (AUA). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

"In a very large population with extended follow-up, we found no increase in the risk of any pelvic malignancy in women who underwent stress urinary incontinence surgery," comments lead author Humberto R. Vigil, MD, MSc, of University of Ottawa, Ont., Canada. "The vast majority of stress urinary incontinence procedures performed included transvaginal mesh."

No increase in cancers after SUI surgery - with or without transvaginal mesh Using Ontario health data, the researchers identified nearly 75,000 women who underwent SUI surgery between 2002 and 2015. Follow-up data (median 8.5 years) were used to assess for the development of pelvic cancers, such as bladder, cervical and ovarian cancer. A time to event analysis was used to determine the risk of pelvic cancer in SUI surgery patients compared to more than 5.5 million women who did not undergo SUI surgery.

On analysis of more than 40,000 pelvic cancers, there was no significant difference between groups. The event rate for pelvic malignancies was 0.90 per 1,000 person-years of follow-up in women undergoing SUI surgery, compared to 0.85 per 1,000 person-years in controls who did not have surgery.

After adjustment for multiple factors, there was a lower risk of pelvic cancers in women who underwent SUI surgery. While that may seem like a paradoxical finding, Dr. Vigil and colleagues suggest a couple of possible explanations: women opting for an elective procedure such as SUI surgery may be relatively healthier (selection bias), or cancers might be detected during assessment before SUI surgery. The study confirmed some known risk factors for pelvic cancers, including obesity and no history of childbirth.

Importantly, there was no evidence of increased cancer risk in women undergoing SUI surgery with implanted transvaginal mesh. A midurethral sling procedure using polypropylene mesh is the most commonly performed surgery for SUI.

Over the past decade, there have been public health concerns regarding complications and safety issues related to surgical mesh - particularly related to a condition called pelvic organ prolapse (POP), but also for SUI. These issues have led to some individuals being hesitant to move forward with mesh-based procedures. In the study data, more than 85 percent of women undergoing SUI surgery had a mesh-based procedure.

The new analysis may help to alleviate some patient concerns. "Our population-based study finds no evidence of increased risk of pelvic cancers following SUI surgery, with or without the use of transvaginal mesh," Dr. Vigil comments. "Providers can confidently reassure women regarding the lack of association."

###

Click here to read "Stress Incontinence Surgery Does Not Cause Pelvic Malignancy: A Population-Based Cohort Study." DOI: 10.1097/JU.0000000000001631

The Official Journal of the American Urological Association (AUA), and the most widely read and highly cited journal in the field, The Journal of Urology brings solid coverage of the clinically relevant content needed to stay at the forefront of the dynamic field of urology. This premier journal presents investigative studies on critical areas of research and practice, survey articles providing brief editorial comments on the best and most important urology literature worldwide and practice-oriented reports on significant clinical observations. The Journal of Urology covers the wide scope of urology, including pediatric urology, urologic cancers, renal transplantation, male infertility, urinary tract stones, female urology and neurourology.

About the American Urological Association

Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has nearly 24,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health care policy. To learn more about the AUA visit: http://www. auanet. org

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2019 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit https:/ / www. wolterskluwer. com/ en/ health and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.
NEW DELHI : The union finance ministry has requested the health and and home ministries for issuing instructions for enabling COVID-19 vaccination of employees of banks and National Payments Corporation of India on priority basis.

This will go a long way in assuring bank employees about safety of themselves and their families and also boost their morale in continuing to provide their services to customers even in these difficult times when the fresh wave has swept many states, the finance ministry in its recent communication said.

Out of total strength of 13.5 lakh employees in the banking sector, about 600 unfortunate deaths due to COVID-19 were recorded, as per the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) data.

In percentage terms, 0.04% of total strength lost their lives.

The communication to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Home Affairs emphasised important role of bankers during disbursal and withdrawal of benefits transferred under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.

Similarly, it said, the reliance on digital mode of payments increased and employees of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) played critical role in ensuring unhindered services.

The IBA in the last month had written a letter addressed to Secretary Health and Family Welfare for inclusion of bank employees for vaccination on priority basis given their role their important role in running the economy.

The association had requested the ministry for free vaccination on priority basis.

With the new variant of mutant virus, the risk has increased manifold for those who are not vaccinated, the IBA had said.

Quoting observation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, IBA had said the committee appreciated the efforts and pain taken by the banking sector for providing uninterrupted and seamless banking facility during the COVID-19 outbreak.

While recognising good work done by the banking sector, the committee emphasised that they be declared COVID-19 warriors, IBA letter to Health Secretary said.

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The people of Longford are being urged to show their support for people living with cystic fibrosis and their families by donating online at 65rosesday.ie on Cystic Fibrosis Irelands 65 Roses Day, Friday, April 9.

The annual fundraising flag-day is the largest fundraising event of the year for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and unfortunately collections have had to be cancelled due to Covid-19.

At this time of unprecedented challenge, now more than ever, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland needs your support so they can continue to provide much needed support for people with Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland. You can get behind the appeal by donating online at 65rosesday.ie.

Longford Cystic Fibrosis campaigner, Jillian McNulty has urged people in the county to get involved with 65 Roses Day this Friday, April 9.

Charities have often struggled for fundraising during this pandemic, many events have been cancelled due to restrictions, she said.

If you have a few euros to spare, please consider donating to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland so that they can continue their amazing work.

Ireland has the highest incidence of CF in the world and some of the most severe types. There are almost 1,400 people living with CF in Ireland and the number is increasing each year as a result of improvements in treatment and care.

According to recently-published statistics from the Cystic Fibrosis Registry of Ireland, there were 10 people with CF registered as being from Co. Longford in 2019.

CFI depends almost entirely on the public for the provision of its services and this 65 Roses Day is hoping to raise more than 300,000 for much-needed services for people with CF through the call for donations at 65rosesday.ie.

This includes the additional counselling and advice and other services put in place to deal with support required in relation to Covid-19 for the CF community with people with Cystic Fibrosis in the high risk group from the virus.

Funds are also needed for normal support services including patient grants for exercise, fertility treatment, and transplant assessment, covering the cost of a number of CF clinical staff in hospitals, and raising funds to assist in the building of the new CF in-patient unit at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin which serves people with CF across the North East region and beyond.

People can support 65 Roses Day by donating online at 65rosesday.ie or taking part in a 65 Roses Challenge, full details available at 65rosesday.ie.

For more information on how you can support Cystic Fibrosis Ireland on 65 Roses Day, please call Brendan on LoCall 1890 311 211, email fundraising@cfireland.ie or visit 65RosesDay.ie.

People can find the appeal on Facebook at facebook.com/CysticFibrosisIreland and on Twitter at twitter.com/cf_ireland. The campaign hashtag is #65RosesDay.
Baltimore, Md., has faced varied technology challenges in recent years, including large cyber attacks and a flurry of CIO resignations ; now, Mayor Brandon Scott is taking steps to strengthen leadership in key areas and increase public trust in the government.The mayor recently appointed two key technology positions within his administration: a chief data officer and a director of broadband and digital equity. The new position will not require the allocation of new funds, the city said in its press release.Justin Elszasz will serve as the administrations chief data officer and Jason Hardebeck as the citys first director of broadband and digital equity. Scott said that both Elszasz and Hardebeck will play integral roles within the administrations team.Since the pandemic hit, Baltimore's persistent digital divide has been made all the more prominent with the transition to distance learning and remote work.As a member of the mayors executive team, Hardebeck will coordinate with stakeholders and make decisions aimed at reducing connectivity barriers. As he stated in the press release, every citizen should be able to participate in the digital economy without limits.I look forward to working with the mayor and city administrator to fundamentally transform our approach to digital access and connectivity and do so through a lens of equity, said Hardebeck.Hardebeck brings a combination of public- and private-sector experience, having helped launch many startups in the tech industry and in serving as executive director of the Greater Baltimore Technology Council and Maryland Business Council.Elszasz will be working with various city agencies to improve data practices across city government. He will be working to reduce equity-related impacts of biased data and promote effective data use and transparency.Every day, Im inspired to work in an administration that places data, equity and transparency at the center of our work for residents, and am honored to continue serving the city in this new and broader capacity, said Elszasz in the release.Elszasz previously worked as the deputy director and analytics lead for the Mayors Office of Performance and Innovation (OPI), making him familiar with the citys unique challenges and history. He was also a founding member of the citys Innovation Team, and previously worked for the U.S. Department of Energy.Among other efforts, Elszasz is developing the citys first Open Checkbook, which will allow residents to explore city expenditures.These appointments are not Scotts first attempt to increase transparency through data.When he took office in December 2020, he revealed the 100 Days of Action Tracker , a tool allowing the public to view his goals and progress for the first 100 days having taken office. Of 58 planned actions, 23 were completed and 31 were in progress as of the final day of tracking, March 18, 2021. Hiring for the director of broadband and digital equity position was one of the planned actions this tool tracked.
NEW HAVEN  Police are adding extra patrols.

The department and city are adding the patrols as part of an emphasis on deterring distracted driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, April 8 marked the federal Connect to Disconnect campaign, a 4-hour national distracted driving enforcement and awareness initiative coordinated by state Highway Safety Offices and law enforcement agencies across the country, held in conjunction with the U Drive. U Text. U Pay enforcement period.

Lt. Stephen Torquati, deputy patrol commander with the New Haven Police Department, noting the Connect to Disconnect effort, said officers would be patrolling Howard Avenue, Foxon Boulevard, Grand Avenue, Whalley Avenue and other major roadways to address and correct distracted driving.

But Torquati also shared statistics regarding crashes in New Haven.

In 2020, there were slightly fewer than 5,000 crashes in New Haven, including 25 involving bicycles and 128 involving pedestrians, Torquati said.

He said 19 people were killed in crashes in 2020; six were in motor vehicles, two were riding bicycles, and 11 were pedestrians. There have been 1,323 crashes so far in 2021, with four fatalities, he said.

Our goal as a department is to reduce the number of crashes in the City of New Haven by educating (people) and enforcing the distracted laws, said Torquati. Distracted driving crashes are preventable.

Among other distracted driving laws, he noted it is illegal for people under 18 to use a cell phone while driving in any manner; people over 18 can use hands-free devices, but cannot hold a phone in use.

People across society engage in distracted driving and transit, he said.

I think if you stand in any intersection across the United States, stand there for 10-15 minutes, you will see everyone on their phone, said Torquati. People being distracted on our roadways is a major problem, and theres no age group; its common for everyone.

Acting Chief Renee Dominguez, noting that April is Distracted Driving Awareness month, said the department was grateful to have the resources, including grant funds, to help make the extra enforcement possible where crashes have increased.

And the (crashes) that obviously hit the hardest are where we have fatalities, whether its pedestrian, a bicyclist, a motorcyclist, or another operator of a motor vehicle, said Dominguez.

The city received $56,268.09 through the Connecticut Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office and the NHTSA for the effort, Torquati said.

Mayor Justin Elicker thanked the department for its efforts, but noted averting the dangers of distracted driving would require a collective societal shift, as has occurred with drunken driving.

Its not that complicated, but weve got to be vigilant. Weve got to be monitoring each other, reminding our family, reminding ourselves, that you could make a mistake that costs someone a life, just because youre impatient or you want to check out your phone, said Elicker.

Its easy for us to do. New Haven is obviously watching, making sure that people drive safely in our city. But the way were going to solve this is not by pulling people over all the time, he said. The way were going to solve this is by people being more responsible, and we encourage you to do so, and we encourage the advocacy community to call things out and make sure that more people are safe.

The goals of the Connect to Disconnect campaign, according to the NTSA, are to demonstrate a nationwide commitment to enforcing texting laws in a fair and equitable way, and to reduce traffic crashes caused by distracted drivers, ultimately preventing injuries and deaths associated with cell phone use and texting while driving.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Here in Minnesota and around the country, all eyes are on the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the alleged murder of George Floyd. We are nearing the end of the prosecutions case, so this is perhaps an opportune moment to assess what has happened so far. While not listening to every moment of the testimony, I have followed the trial closely. Much could be said, but here are a few big-picture observations:

* The defense got off to a slow start. Eric Nelson, Chauvins only in-court lawyer, was rather passive during jury selection and, I thought, delivered a sub-par opening statement. But he has gained steam during cross-examination of the states witnesses, which he has done skillfully. And the jury has seen him as one fallible man standing against the immense power of the state. This might create sympathy in unexpected quarters.

* The state preemptively showed the officers body cam videos that revealed, not just the last minutes while Floyd was being restrained on the street, but the 20 minutes or so that preceded. This was certainly a revelation to most or all of the jurors. Based on their answers during jury selection, they had all seen the famous last nine minutes that were posted on social media by a bystander, but had no idea of how George Floyd, big and strong and out of his mind on drugs, had battled police officers to a standoff, culminating in their acceding to his demand that he lie on the street rather than sit in the back of their squad car while waiting for an ambulance. Jurors also were probably surprised to learn that Floyd had been foaming at the mouth and complaining of not being able to breathe from the moment when officers came on the scene.

* George Floyds girlfriend was a key witness. The state tried to present her as a lets-go-for-a-walk-in-the-park flower child, but it soon became evident on cross-examination that she and Floyd were drug addicts. This was the first time the jury learned that Floyds death may have been caused by a fentanyl overdose, not by police officers kneeling on him. In fact, Floyd overdosed on fentanyl in March, just two months before his death, and spent five days in the hospital. Perhaps he took just a little bit more, a fatal overdose, in May.

* The state presented a parade of Minneapolis Police Department witnesses, including the Chief of Police, who threw Chauvin under the bus, alleging that he violated MPD policies in his restraint of Floyd. They were followed by use-of-force expert witnesses. But how did the jury view this testimony? Jurors may have been surprised to learn that there was nothing wrong with kneeling on Floyd on the street. That was consistent with MPD guidelines, and the experts agreed it was fine. Their complaint is that Chauvin and the others should have gotten off Floyd when he stopped struggling and grew quiet, and should have turned him over on his side. But there is no MPD policy that clearly states this. Rather, the Chief and other witnesses expressed their opinions as to how the broad, general use-of-force policy should be applied in this instance.

* So the state has effectively reduced its claims against Chauvin from nine minutes to four. I am willing to believe that it would have been better practice for Chauvin and the others to get off Floyd at some point, but seriously: failure to get off a guy who is crazed with drugs and has been battling with officers for 15 minutes, and more or less winning, is murder? or manslaughter? I dont think that is an easy sell.

* Yesterday, a senior official of Minnesotas Bureau of Criminal Apprehension testified. Nelsons cross-examination was effective. He brought out the fact that the normal procedure is for the BCA to investigate a crime or alleged crime, and write a report. That report is delivered to the relevant authorities, who then decide whether to bring criminal charges against one or more defendants. But that normal procedure wasnt followed here. Rather, criminal charges were brought almost immediately against Chauvin and the other officers, while the investigation was just beginning. Charge first, investigate laterthat is how things proceeded, under political pressure. Watch for this to be a significant theme in Nelsons closing argument.

* The other subtext of Nelsons cross-examination was the sheer power of the state that is determined to destroy his client: 50 BCA officers, 27 FBI agents, 440 reports, hundreds of witnesses interviewed, and so on. Atticus Finch and his client Tom Robinson faced better odds.

* Moreover, embarrassing testimony emerged yesterday. Two vehicles, the SUV in which Floyd, his drug dealer and a woman friend were seated, and the MPD squad car, were impounded and processed by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. But white pills in those vehicles were left unchecked. Why? Because the BCA didnt realize that drugs were a factor in the case. It was only in January, as a result of a request by defense counsel, that the BCA finally identified and tested pills in one of the vehicles that turned out to contain fentanyla lethal dose of which was in Floyds blood when he died.

So, is there any chance that Derek Chauvin might be acquitted? As you can tell from these notes, I have become sympathetic to his defense. But it is too early to tell what conclusion the evidence will point toward.

The prosecution will conclude its case with expert witnesses on cause of death, the key issue in the case. Did Minneapolis police officers kill George Floyd by kneeling on him, as the local and national press have relentlessly asserted for nearly a year? Or did Floyd die of a drug overdose, with the officers essentially bystanders? The medical evidence on both sides will be critical. We know that when he died, Floyd had something like three times a lethal dose of fentanyl in his system. How will the prosecution try to overcome that fact?

Again, the jury is likely to be surprised. Far from claiming that the officers kneeling on Floydentirely proper, at least for the first five minutes or sokilled him outright, I expect the prosecution will argue that the officers restraint was a contributing factor in the larger context of Floyds drug overdose and other health issues. Minnesota law says that a defendant can be guilty of manslaughter or murder if his wrongful conduct was a substantial causal factor in the decedents death.

When this trial began, I doubt that any juror expected the prosecution to argue that whatever Derek Chauvin did was not the sole cause, or the primary cause, of George Floyds death, but rather a substantial causal factor along with a fentanyl overdose and other serious health issues. Will the jury be willing to destroy Derek Chauvins life and send him to prison on this theory?

That raises, once again, the question of whether Derek Chauvin can possibly get a fair trial. Everyone knows that if the jury doesnt convict, and probably if it doesnt convict Chauvin of murder, the city of Minneapolis will go up in flames. This is why the power of the state is arrayed so unanimously against him. Chauvin may have misjudged, may have screwed up, for four minutes on May 25, 2020. But he is being sacrificed to raisons dEtat.

Everyone is against him, including his own police department. The three officers who were with Chauvin on May 25, and who also have been charged, presumably wont testify. Their lawyers will insist that they take the 5thas, by the way, Floyds drug dealer did yesterday. The dealer was with Floyd on May 25 and pled the 5th on the ground that he may be prosecuted for supplying Floyd with the overdose of fentanyl that killed him. But the jury wont see that.

The trial so far as been the world vs. Derek Chauvin and Eric Nelson. While the dream team prosecution has rotated counsel from the Attorney Generals office and various high-priced lawyers from Minnesota and D.C. who are working for free, Eric Nelson, outmanned and outgunned, has stood up alone for his client. Over the last two weeks, he has grown visibly tired and yesterday he lost control over some exhibits through sheer exhaustion. (No one who hasnt tried a jury case, even one of relatively modest length like the Chauvin trial, can understand what hard work it is.) Maybe the jury will look down on him, compared with the well-heeled prosecution team. Then again, maybe they will relate to a classic underdog story.

The trials result likely will come down to the medical testimony on both sides that we have not yet seen. But so far, I think Chauvins defense has held its own, and probably has surprised most members of the jury. The political class may have expected to usher Derek Chauvin off to a speedy oblivion for the sake of a greater good, but instead, they have a fight on their hands.
CoBRA commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, who was abducted by Naxals after the last week's fierce gunbattle in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, was released on Thursday, police said.



Manhas, who belonged to the 210th battalion of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), an elite unit of the CRPF, had gone missing after the gunfight on Saturday and later reported to be in the captivity of the Naxals.



The Naxals handed over the jawan, who hails from Jammu, to a group of facilitators in the forest along the Bijapur and Sukma border in the presence of a large number of villagers, police said."At around 4.30 pm, the abducted jawan returned to Tarrem Police Station safely along with the facilitators, who went inside the jungle to trace out his location," Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said. He is being admitted to Basaguda field hospital for medical examination and treatment, he said.
Governance Analyst and a lecturer at the Central University, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, has registered his displeasure with the years that a murder suspect who is a minor or child should be sentenced to prison in Ghana.



The nation received shocking news on Saturday after the mortal remains of a young boy was found buried in an uncompleted building in Kasoa, Central Region.



Two teenagers aged sixteen and eighteen years allegedly killed a 11-year old boy at Kasoa and hid his body in the ground to later exhume for money ritual purposes.



The teenagers were arrested and arranged before the court which has remanded them into police custody.



However, before the court gives a ruling, there are calls for the teenagers to serve a strict sentence in prison.



Some people are even calling for a life imprisonment for the teenagers.



But according to law experts, the Criminal Offence Act permits minors or teenagers to serve a five-year term and can't go beyond the specified years.



Contributing to Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah questioned why children who commit felony must serve only five years in prison.



According to him, the laws must be reviewed because five years is too small.



"I heard a lawyer say that the maximum punishment that can be given to these children is not more than 5 years imprisonment...If this is so, then we have to tighten our laws," he said.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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Ten Democratic members of Congress have joined a lawsuit alleging former President Donald Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani incited the violent Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Trump and Giuliani "acted in concert" with the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers to provoke the insurrection, the lawmakers alleged in court papers on Wednesday. The lawsuit was filed by Reps. Karen Bass, Barbara Lee and Maxine Waters of California, Steve Cohen of Tennessee, Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, Veronica Escobar of Texas, Hank Johnson Jr. of Georgia, Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, Jerrold Nadler of New York and Pramila Jayapal of Washington.

The 10 are joining a complaint originally filed in February by Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi. That lawsuit was the first major civil action to emerge from the deadly protest by Trump supporters, as congressional Democrats sought to hold the president accountable for his role after he was acquitted at a Senate impeachment trial.

Trump and Giuliani prevented Congress from carrying out its official duties and violated the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act, which was designed to combat political violence and intimidation targeted at government officials, according to the suit filed Wednesday.

With chilling detail, the complaint offers a blow-by-blow account of the siege from the perspective of members of Congress who were forced to flee or hide as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.

At one point during the riot, Cohen "began to contemplate whether he would want to be buried with his family in Memphis or at the Congress Cemetery," the complaint said. Jayapal tested positive for Covid-19 after being forced to huddle for safety with members who were not wearing masks. And since the riot, Waters has had "increased worries about her safety" and increased the size of her security team, according to the lawsuit.

Legal experts say they have long expected a wave of private lawsuits targeting Trump and others over the violence at the Capitol. Representative Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, filed his own lawsuit last month. Last week, two injured police officers sued the former president, accusing him of inciting the mob.

Such lawsuits have raised the possibility of a lengthy discovery process that could uncover new evidence of whether Trump or any of his emissaries had a role in provoking the siege.

But any suit against Trump will face a legal hurdle: He is likely to claim that his speech on Jan. 6 and his other claims about the election fell within his presidential duties, shielding him from litigation.

Representatives for Trump and Giuliani did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. After Thompson filed the initial suit, Jason Miller, a spokesman for Trump, disputed its claims, saying Trump "did not incite or conspire to incite any violence at the Capitol."
The CM has also elaborated on other aspects such as development of towns, villages, the welfare of women, farmers, the states efforts in the health and education sectors, the infra development works undertaken by the government and the YSRC governments stress on social justice.  Twitter

VIJAYAWADA: Personal letters are being sent by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to the beneficiaries of the state governments welfare schemes, seeking their support to the YSR Congress candidate in Tirupati Lok Sabha bypoll.

In the signed letter, the Chief Minister explains to the beneficiary families the development and welfare programmes initiated by his government in the past 22 months. These letters would be reached to the families by the YSRC cadre while seeking peoples support to party candidate Dr Gurumoorthy in the byelection.

The letter contains a detailed list of all the welfare schemes/initiatives that the families have benefited from ever since the YSRC government came to power in 2019. The CM signed the first letter at the Tadepalli camp office on Thursday.

Reddy has written the letters in a strictly personal style. Benefits extended to citizens under schemes like the YSR Sunna Vaddi, YSR Asara, Jagananna Vasati Deevena, Jagananna Vidya Deevena YSR Cheyutha, YSR Pension Kanuka, Jagananna Amma Vodi and Pedalandariki Illu have been listed.

The CM has also elaborated on other aspects such as development of towns, villages, the welfare of women, farmers, the states efforts in the health and education sectors, the infra development works undertaken by the government and the YSRC governments stress on social justice.

These letter has no criticism of the opposition parties and only showcased the developmental and welfare initiatives.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) on Thursday said that it has busted a narco-module in north Kashmirs Kupwara district and seized heroin worth Rs 60 Cr while one person has been arrested so far. The police also said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the case further.

Addressing a news conference at District Police Office (DPO) Kupwara, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara, GV Sundeep Chakravarthy said that a narco-module has been busted and 9 kg heroin recovered from a person who has been arrested.



Heroin consignment recovered from the possession of an arrested person was given to him by Pakistan-based militant outfits to ensure financial support to the militant organizations in Kashmir, the SSP said, adding that the market value of the consignment is around 60 crore rupees.



He said that the consignment was supposed to extend financial support to the militant organizations within the valley. The SSP said that the heroine consignment was recovered from Mukhtar Ahmed Shah. Shah has been arrested and is being questioned further, he said.

"This is a very big racket and the consignments are received from Pakistan. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted headed by a Senior Superintendent (SP) level officer to probe the case further and investigate it thoroughly, the SSP said.



Further, he added, "as of now, we don't know whether the case will be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for further course of action. The SSP assured that Kupwara police will continue its action against the drug peddlers involved in the narco-modules.

A case under relevant sections of law has been registered at police station Karnah. A special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to ascertain the details of ties of the accused with the terrorist outfit, radicals, smugglers and other anti-national elements.

Kupwara police once again appealed to the people of the district to come forward with the information regarding drug peddlers/ smugglers, so that curative steps can be taken against them.

(Credits-Arawat Mehraj)
Step by unprecedented step, Britain is starting to wean itself off its plastic addiction.

Just six years ago, each of us used on average 140 plastic shopping bags a year: now its ten.

Plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers have all been banned, and more and more of the plastic we use is being recycled rather than thrown away.

This revolution, largely driven by Daily Mail campaigns, is partly caused by revulsion at what is happening to the worlds oceans.

Discarded plastic nets, lines and other gear from fishing fleets are especially deadly: after all, they are designed to kill. They also destroy marine habitats, and even interfere with catches

Every minute of every day, the equivalent of a truckload of plastic is dumped into them  12 million tonnes a year  where it kills marine life of all sorts.

Yet, vital as it is for this pollution to stop, the greatest source of large plastic rubbish in the oceans is already there. Despite being particularly dangerous, it receives far less attention, and has so far provoked much less action than what we generate on land.

Discarded plastic nets, lines and other gear from fishing fleets are especially deadly: after all, they are designed to kill.

They also destroy marine habitats, and even interfere with catches. But they largely remain the guilty secret of one of the worlds most destructive industries.

This is highlighted in the spectacularly successful  and hugely controversial  Netflix film Seaspiracy, which last week soared to become one of the most popular films on the streaming service.

The documentary, featuring British filmmaker Ali Tabrizi, launches a wholesale assault on the industry, covering overfishing, destructive trawling, fish farming and even slavery in some fleets.

Viewers have reported being driven to tears, destroyed and heartbroken by what they have seen.

Many have sworn to stop eating fish, as urged by the film. Celebrities and some leading greens have applauded it.

But others  including environmentalists who have long fought against the evils it exposes  have accused it of exaggeration, cherry-picking facts, selective quotation and inspiring despair rather than thoughtful action.

Its makers have hit back, but for me, too, it appears to cross the line between investigative journalism and straightforward campaigning.

The documentary, featuring British filmmaker Ali Tabrizi, launches a wholesale assault on the industry, covering overfishing, destructive trawling, fish farming and even slavery in some fleets

Nevertheless, it is right to feature discarded plastic fishing equipment, often called ghost gear for catching and killing wildlife long after it has ceased active use. Every year, at least 640,000 tonnes of it  the weight of more than 50,000 double-decker buses  is dumped or lost at sea.

Nearly a third of all fishing lines  some which can be over 100km long, with more than 2,000 hooks  are discarded every year, as are almost one in ten lobster pots and other traps, and more than one in 20 fishing nets.

Most are made of plastic, for lightness, durability and the low cost. They make up about one-tenth of the material in the worlds oceans, and a much bigger proportion of larger plastic trash. Nets alone account for 46 per cent of all the plastic in the great garbage patch covering 1.6 million sq km of the Pacific  an area three times the size of France.

Ghost gear makes up 85 per cent of the rubbish resting on some underwater mountains and ocean ridges  and 60 per cent of the trash littering beaches of uninhabited Henderson Island in the remote British Overseas Territory of the Pitcairns in the South Pacific, for example.

By contrast, straws  which get much government attention  contribute only 0.3 per cent of ocean plastic waste.

Fish and other sea creatures get entangled or trapped in ghost gear, where they starve or are picked off by predators.

By one estimate, cited by the activist group Sea Shepherd  much-featured in Seaspiracy  discarded fishing gear is responsible for about a third of the decline of some fish populations, while the charity World Animal Protection reckons it kills or injures more than 100,000 whales, dolphins, seals and turtles annually.

Ghost gear also rubs against sensitive marine habitats or smothers them, gravely damaging seabed life, and impairing critical breeding and breeding areas. These problems have been known for at least 40 years, but little has been done. International regulations have been approved and agreements struck, but they tend to be limited or voluntary.

There is no comprehensive international legal framework to create some sort of order.

Viewers have reported being driven to tears, destroyed and heartbroken by what they have seen. Many have sworn to stop eating fish, as urged by the film. Celebrities and some leading greens have applauded it

Therefore, Seaspiracy has done well to highlight this neglected issue. It is also right to focus on overfishing: at least 85 per cent of the worlds fisheries are either overexploited  severely depleting once-abundant stocks  or on the verge of being so.

Above all, it exposes an increasingly common distraction tactic by industries, to try to focus problems  and their solutions  on individual behaviour by their customers, rather than on the systemic changes they need to undertake themselves.

It is much easier for the fishing industry to encourage us not to buy cotton buds rather than to stop dumping nets and lines in the oceans. By telling us what to do instead of changing its own ways, destructive industries can both avoid talking about the more transformative measures they need to take, and imply that any critic not leading a perfectly green life is a hypocrite. And, in that, it is abetted by some of the more puritanical environmentalists.

Seaspiracy admirably explodes such an approach on plastics, by focusing on the fishing industry, rather on what individuals can do. Unfortunately, however, it falls into the trap when outlining what needs to be done.

The only solution it offers with any emphasis is to stop eating fish. Indeed, it makes so much of this that some have accused it of being a vehicle for veganism  Tabrizi himself is a vegan.

Though such a personal reaction is understandable, even praiseworthy, it is no simple solution. The world will not stop eating fish, and nor should it; three billion people depend on seafood for protein and many millions depend on it for their livelihoods. So fishing will continue  as it should.

Fortunately, many other solutions are available. Ghost gear can be limited by making boats register their equipment, and return with it or be fined: if it is broken it can be recycled. Tagging it with GPS locators would also discourage dumping.

Sustainable fishing is possible, though the film goes out of its way to decry it, and stocks can bounce back. Take the Patagonian toothfish, known as white gold in the trade  since it can fetch $100 a gram  and marketed as the more appealing Chilean sea bass. Once close to collapse, its fishery has been returned to health.

Closer to home, stopping trawling and dredging in favour of less destructive fishing in Lyme Bay, agreed between local fisherman and the Blue Marine Foundation, has brought an almost fourfold increase in the abundance of commercially valuable fish. In the last weeks, ministers banned trawling in over 304 sq km off Sussex.

Marine reserves can also make a big difference. Even ones that allow some fishing have, one study found, doubled fish biomass, while no-take zones where fishing is banned have multiplied it more than sixfold. This even benefits fishermen by increasing their catches, as life spills out of the protected areas into waters where fishing continues.

Lobsters and king scallops have increased fourfold in a once devastated no-take zone, established by local demand, off the Scottish Isle of Arran in 2008.

So far, less than 5 per cent of the worlds oceans are protected. This needs to increase to 30 per cent over the next decade.

A Global Ocean Treaty  to be discussed at a UN meeting in August  offers an opportunity, if done well enough, to tackle the fishing industry globally, and to protect the oceans by 2030.

The Government is alive to the crisis of the oceans. It, and its predecessors, have done well in establishing giant reserves in all of the worlds main oceans.

Now it needs to do much more in increasing reserves, promoting truly sustainable fishing worldwide, and ending pollution by discarded fishing gear.

It is a shame that Seaspiracy is failing to use its enormous impact to help bring about such changes.

But maybe now that it has sensitised so many to the problems, others can come in with the real solutions.
Providing returning citizens with a second chance benefits not just individuals but entire communities

FALLS CHURCH, VA / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2021 / GTL, a trusted partner that connects those affected by incarceration with the resources and support necessary to achieve success, today announced its recognition of Second Chance Month, which is a nationwide effort during the month of April to raise awareness about the obstacles faced by adults with a criminal record. Prison Fellowship began Second Chance Month in 2017, and GTL supports their efforts as an official partner.

There are many statistics that tell the story of returning citizens and second chances.

33% of American adults have a criminal record.

95% of incarcerated individuals will be released from a correctional facility and return to society.

76% of released individuals will be reincarcerated within five years if they are not given access to basic resources, such as housing, education, and employment.

GTL recognizes the cycle of incarceration that keeps individuals from realizing their full potential. For that reason, the company continues to expand its focus on reentry and second chances not only with new partnerships and new content but with new team members. Nena Staley was recently hired as GTL's Director of Reentry after previously serving as the Deputy Director - Office of Programs, Reentry and Rehabilitative Services at South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC).

"Reentry begins at entry-placing the tools needed for successful reentry in the hands of an incarcerated individual is priceless," said Ms. Staley. "GTL is changing the narrative. By getting involved both inside and outside, they are not just showing justice-involved individuals what is possible, they have opened up opportunities for them and their family and friends. GTL walks the talk, which lets me know I have landed in the right place."

Partnering with organizations that help returning citizens access the resources they need has allowed GTL to become even more dedicated to Second Chance Month and all that it represents. Here a few of the partnerships and resources that have made a difference over the past year:

GTL partners with the Ladies of Hope Ministries (LOHM) to get disenfranchised and marginalized women access to high-quality education, housing, and more.

to get disenfranchised and marginalized women access to high-quality education, housing, and more. Through a partnership with EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute , GTL provides free access to an introductory curriculum focused on culinary arts and hospitality. The curriculum on GTL tablets then segues into a full training program at EDWINS upon release.

, GTL provides free access to an introductory curriculum focused on culinary arts and hospitality. The curriculum on GTL tablets then segues into a full training program at EDWINS upon release. GTL includes the Brian Hamilton Foundation's Starter U course , an online entrepreneurship course, on its tablets at no cost to incarcerated individuals to help them learn how to start their own businesses.

, an online entrepreneurship course, on its tablets at no cost to incarcerated individuals to help them learn how to start their own businesses. Returning Citizens Magazine is available for incarcerated individuals to read at no cost on GTL tablets, allowing them to gain knowledge about how to successfully transition back into society.

is available for incarcerated individuals to read at no cost on GTL tablets, allowing them to gain knowledge about how to successfully transition back into society. To assist incarcerated individuals in improving their mental and emotional health, GTL partnered with Hayes Art Therapy to offer an Art Therapy app on GTL tablets that individuals can access at no cost.

to offer an Art Therapy app on GTL tablets that individuals can access at no cost. A list of Resources helps connect formerly incarcerated people to information they need on housing, employment, life skills, health, legal assistance, and more.

helps connect formerly incarcerated people to information they need on housing, employment, life skills, health, legal assistance, and more. GTL's free weekly communication program allows incarcerated individuals to connect with their loved ones on a regular basis without worrying about cost.

Last year, GTL committed to the Society for Human Resource Management's (SHRM's) Getting Talent Back to Work pledge to consider all qualified candidates, including those with criminal records, for open positions. As a 2021 Top Workplaces USA Award winner, GTL offers a forward-thinking environment, including holding company-wide town halls discussing Second Chance Month, for individuals wanting to make a difference.

"The partnerships that we enter into, the resources that we provide, the people that we hire-all of this is done to assist incarcerated individuals, returning citizens, and family and friends," concluded Ms. Staley. "By doing so, we are helping returning citizens make the most of their second chance."

About Us

For over 30 years, GTL has worked side-by-side with correctional facilities and government agencies to provide imperative technology solutions to over 1.2 million incarcerated individuals across the globe. These solutions facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, enable successful reentry, and strengthen operational efficiency. GTL is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America and was recognized as a 2021 Top Workplace USA by Energage. To learn more about GTL, please visit www.gtl.net, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Contact:

Randy Brown

Work: 703-215-5383

media@gtl.net

SOURCE: GTL

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/639317/Recognizing-Second-Chance-Month-to-Identify-the-Barriers-to-Starting-Over-and-Support-Returning-Citizens-on-Their-Journey
Emmy-nominated songwriter Ingrid Michaelson detailed the entire story behind her mistakenly announcing Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid's 'marriage' last week.

'Maybe I just start revealing [other] celebrity marriages,' the 41-year-old Staten Island native joked on Tuesday's episode of Christine & Salt on 96.5 TIC FM.

'So I've had my brief experience of being a super famous person and I don't like it. I'm done...I want to wear, like, a mask and just never be seen by anyone ever again.'

Oops! Emmy-nominated songwriter Ingrid Michaelson detailed the entire story behind her mistakenly announcing Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid's (pictured March 25) 'marriage' last week

The 41-year-old Staten Island native (M) joked on Tuesday's episode of Christine & Salt: 'Maybe I just start revealing [other] celebrity marriages!'

Ingrid and the 28-year-old Englishman co-wrote and sang on the ballad To Begin Again - which dropped March 17 - but they never met and only communicated through their managers.

Michaelson was then asked on March 29 about Zayn during her monthly members-only Patreon livestream, which she believed was 'a safe zone' where she could speak freely to super fans.

'I said something along the lines of: "He's a really private guy. He's married. He has a kid. He just doesn't want to deal with stuff he doesn't want to deal with,"' the Build It Up songstress recalled.

'I don't know, I thought he was married! So spoiler alert - not married! Somebody was in the chat livestream that was dictating everything I said about him and posted it on Twitter.'

Ingrid groaned: 'I've had my brief experience of being a super famous person and I don't like it. I'm done...I want to wear, like, a mask and just never be seen by anyone ever again'

Dropped March 17! Michaelson and the 28-year-old Englishman co-wrote and sang on the ballad To Begin Again, but they never met and only communicated through their managers

Foot in mouth: The Build Up songstress was then asked on March 29 about Zayn during her monthly members-only Patreon livestream, which she believed was 'a safe zone' where she could speak freely to super fans

Ingrid recalled: 'I said something along the lines of: "He's a really private guy. He's married. He has a kid"'

Michaelson continued: 'I don't know, I thought he was married! So spoiler alert - not married! Somebody was in the chat livestream that was dictating everything I said about him and posted it on Twitter'

'I was like, "Oh no!"' Cut to three hours later and the phrase 'Zayn is married' became the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter and the Binghamton University grad's phone was filled with distressed DMs

Cut to three hours later and the phrase 'Zayn is married' became the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter and Ingrid's phone was filled with distressed DMs.

'I was like, "Oh no!"' Michaelson groaned.

'It was a whole thing. And I had to go on Instagram and be like, "So you guys, as far as I know he's not..." I don't even feel like I have the right to say he's not married. Like at this point, I'm afraid to say anything. So I was like, "As far as I know, he is not married. But I really don't know anything. I am sorry and that's it."'

The Binghamton University grad is currently hard at work writing the music and lyrics for the Broadway-bound musical adaptation of The Notebook.
Mumbai: The Supreme Court on Thursday (April 8) dismissed the petitions filed by the Maharashtra government and its former home minister Anil Deshmukh challenging the Bombay High Court order directing a preliminary enquiry by the CBI into the allegations of corruption and misconduct levelled against him by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

A bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Hemant Gupta dismissing the plea and said, "We are not inclined to interfere in this (Bombay High Court) order."The bench in its order stated, "Nature of allegations and personas involved needs an enquiry by an independent agency. It is a matter of public confidence.

We are not inclined to entertain this. dismissed."During the hearing, Justice Kaul observed that allegations are very serious as the two persons involved are the Home Minister and the Police Commissioner. "They are closely working together till they fall apart, both holding a particular position. Then should the CBI not investigate?" the bench asked.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Deshmukh, argued that there can be no preliminary inquiry without hearing the former minister. Justice Kaul said, "The facts are very important. It is not about a political rivalry. Here, a very senior officer is making allegations about a very senior minister."Sibal said, "It is only an inquiry on the basis of something akin to a press conference, it is hearsay.

It is not prima facie reliable and is not admissible."He further contended whether a CBI inquiry could be ordered on the basis of an oral statement that has no personal knowledge. He added that it is not Singh`s case that he has any knowledge.

Justice Gupta said, "Deshmukh did not resign when the commission of enquiry was constituted by the state but he resigned after the high court order and that shows that he was clinging to the office. This is not your enemy who has made these allegations."

This is almost your right-hand man. You cannot say that this was an attack on the federal structure. It is not every day that it happens," the bench said. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Maharashtra government, questioned the procedure adopted by the Bombay High Court and said that the state's advocate-general was heard on the question of maintainability of the pleas seeking CBI investigation against Deshmukh and the order too was reserved on that issue, but the court finally ended up directing the probe.

Singhvi said that the CBI cannot go into one state without their consent and the only exception is when a high court or the Supreme Court orders them to do so. Singh, after he was removed as the Mumbai Police Commissioner, had accused Deshmukh of running an extortion racket, a charge the latter has denied.

Deshmukh had filed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the apex court, challenging April 5 Bombay High Court`s order. Deshmukh tendered his resignation to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on April 5 after the Bombay High Court order. The court also directed the agency to register an FIR if any cognisable offence is found.

In his letter to Thackeray, Singh had alleged that Deshmukh had indulged in "malpractices" and asked suspended Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crores every month.

Live TV
The French government has confirmed that it had indeed sent a letter from President Emmanuel Macron congratulating Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe on his re-election, a letter that had been the subject of some controversy among the Togolese opposition.

France's ministry of foreign affairs said the letter sent to Gnassingbe, who won re-election in February 2020, was of a typical international diplomatic nature, wishing the Togolese leader success.

The letter had been at the centre of a storm, as the RFI journalist who initially reported on it in March 2020 was subjected to threats and harassment.

Members of the Togolese opposition had accused Pierre Firtion of lying when he cited letters of congratulation sent by France, Germany and the European Union.

RFI has published all three of these letters, demonstrating that Firtion had correctly reported the facts.

RFI management said in a statement on 26 March 2021, he carried out his job with rigour and professionalism.

It's a family affair

Gnassingbe secured a landscape election victory last year, taking 72 percent of the vote, in polls that the Togolese opposition described as a masquerade.

His victory gave him a fourth five-year term in office and further extended his family's rule of the West African country. The dynasty began in 1967 when his father took power in a coup.

Togo, which gained independence from France in 1960, has been the scene of several protest movements against Gnassingbe. The campaigns claim the president has illegally outstayed his time in office, under the moniker: "Faure must go".

Gnassingbe is expected to visit France on Friday on the invitation of Macron, according to the Togolese government.

The trip will focus on diplomacy and the economy, with bilateral cooperation, development and security top of the agenda, a statement from the Togolese presidency said.
Ukraine does not know the names of ten Iranian officials indicted by the Military Prosecutor's Office over downing of the Ukraine International Airlines passenger plane in January 2020.

Unfortunately, the Ukrainian side does not know any specific names of these allegedly indicted ten people, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Yevheniy Yenin said on the air of Ukraine 24 TV channel, Ukrinform reports.

The information leaks repeatedly happen in the Iranian mass media but they are not confirmed later, he noted.

The Iranian side has not yet provided us with any of these details, so we cannot know whether these are the people who are really involved in the downing or not, Yenin said.

He noted that Ukraine had repeatedly called on the Iranian side to be more transparent in the conduct of both technical investigations and criminal prosecution of those involved in the downing. However, the Iranian side has a purely formal approach towards the fulfilment of its international legal obligations, the deputy minister stressed.

All promises remain only in words. Unfortunately, the case is not moving forward, Yenin said.

As reported, on April 6, the Iranian Military Prosecutor's Office filed charges against ten officials in connection with the downing of a passenger plane of Ukraine International Airlines in January 2020.

On January 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport. There were 176 people on board  nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK).

On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accepted full responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner.

On February 20, 2021, Iran announced the completion of the investigation into this case.

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The court, while disposing of the contempt appeal, observed that in the event of the district collector of Nalgonda facing any contempt proceedings in future, he shall on his own place a copy of this order along with the reply to the contempt petition for the perusal of the concerned court.  DC file photo

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday repeatedly advised officials of the state machinery at various levels to be careful and prompt in implementing court orders.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy stated: If the state and its machinery show scant regard to the orders of the court, then the court will also treat them with equal distinct. If the officials have the confidence that they can get away from the contempt case by filing an appeal, then this court will shake and stir their confidence.

The court hinted that from now on, every contempt case against any officer will be listed out from the records of the high court and if it was found that any officer was involved in a contempt of court, then it would take a serious view of this.

Opining that nowadays, a go-easy attitude has developed among the contemnor officials, Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy reminisced the situations wherein the issuance of a Form-1 Notice by the high court to any official would, in the past, have ended the entire case. Now, the officials seem to have the confidence (to take such things easy) and come to the conclusion that, even if they are contemnors in a contempt case, they can get away with it by filing an appeal and offering an apology. But, the court cannot spare the contemnors, Justice Reddy clarified.

The court observed that the contempt cases and contempt appeal cases are being filed in larger numbers, and this is forcing the high court to arrange two judges to exclusively pursue these cases.

The division bench was dealing with various contempt appeals filed by contemnor officials who were found guilty in contempt cases, and ordered for punishments.

In the contempt appeals filed by the then additional collector Veera Reddy, Sangareddy, the RDO and tehsildar, Chief Justice Kohli directed the Registry of the high court to verify, collect and collate information from the court records to ascertain the fact that in how many contempt proceedings did the name of the then additional collector, Sangareddy appeared, and how many orders passed against the contemnor in these contempt proceedings.

The court directed the registrar to furnish such data to the court by June 16.

When the court asked about the earlier history of contempt cases against Veera Reddy and other officials, no answer came. So, the court directed the registrar to collate the information about these officials.

Veera Reddy, the then additional collector of Sangareddy as also the RDO and tehsildar there had deliberately violated the orders of the single Judge and willfully interfered with the peaceful possession and enjoyment of the land admeasuring Ac. 5.01 guntas in Kandi Chimnapur village, Sangareddy district, pertaining to EJ David and three others, despite clear orders from the court, not to interfere with the said land, the court noted.

The unconditional apology tendered by the then additional collector in the form of an affidavit was allowed only to the extent of granting an exemption for him in an appearance before the court only for one day, on the ground that he tested Covid positive. But, the order in the contempt case will remain alive, the court said.

NALGONDA COLLECTOR TO FEED ORPHANS

In another contempt appeal, the high court directed Prashant J. Patil, working as the district collector in Nalgonda, to feed the orphans every weekend for six months, as a punishment for his willful disobedience of the court orders.

The division bench headed by Chief Justice Hima Kohli directed the collector to spend two hours every weekend to serve the destitute in one of the orphanages in Nalgonda. This should be done for six months. If he misses any weekend, that should be adjustable by serving an extra day, the court ruled.

The compliance of these orders should be submitted before the high court after it was certified by the authority of the orphanage home and the district principal judge of Nalgonda, with details as to how many hours and the dates thereof he, Patil, had served in the orphanage. This report should be filed on October 30.

Patil, who was the then joint collector, civil supplies, Warangal district, had been found guilty in a contempt case for willfully disobeying the orders of the single judge by not allotting custom-milled paddy for the Kharif season 2015-16 to G. Chandrasekhar, proprietor of Parameshwara Binny Rice Mill, Parvathagiri mandal, Warangal, despite the fact that there were orders from the court that he allot the custom-milled paddy.

The single judge had directed Patil and D. Sandhyarani, the then DSO of Warnagal, now reitered. to pay a fine of Rs 2000 and in default, suffer simple imprisonment of six weeks.

Challenging the orders, both Patil and Sandhya Rani filed contempt appeals. On an earlier occasion, the division bench directed Prashant J Patil to do social service, if he wants to avoid punishment.

On Wednesday, special counsel for Telangana representing Patil submitted that the collector will undertake the task of enrolling more girl students in schools, treating this as a social service, as there was a reduction in girls admissions.

The bench disagreed with the proposal by saying was his statutory duty as collector of the district. It directed him to serve the orphanage home in Nalgonda town, in which there are 40 inmates.

The court also directed Sandhyarani, retired and suffering from bad health, to arrange the food in one of the orphanage homes in Malkajgiri area on Ugadi and Srirama Navami festival days. As she was unable to serve in the orphanage home, due to the ill health, the court directed her to arrange food for two days.

The court, while disposing of the contempt appeal, observed that in the event of the district collector of Nalgonda facing any contempt proceedings in future, he shall on his own place a copy of this order along with the reply to the contempt petition for the perusal of the concerned court.

If the court finds that these orders had not been complied with, then the punishment will be revived automatically.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 20:24:13|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writers Chen Qingbing and Lyu Qiuping

CHONGQING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Social worker Zhou Can was a bit surprised at receiving a phone call from a stranger, who wanted to avail end-of-life care services for his dying mother.

The man surnamed Chen said his mother was dying in a noisy hospital, and all he wanted to do was find her a quiet place and let her pass away with dignity, Zhou recalled.

It was the first such request ever over the past five years since the 29-year-old joined the hospice program at a social welfare home in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

"In most cases, we are turned down by families as long as we mention 'end of life'," said Zhou, adding that such a request indicates people's changing attitude toward their work.

According to traditional Chinese beliefs, death is seen as something very inauspicious, and people avoid uttering words like "die." While more and more Chinese people have become aware of death with dignity, social workers like Zhou are providing end-of-life services to comfort those in their final days of life.

After graduating from college with a major in social work, Zhou joined the First Social Welfare Home of Chongqing in 2016, when the organization had just introduced end-of-life care services.

Such services include palliative treatment from doctors and nurses, psychological counseling to ease the fear and anxiety of death as well as customized measures to help the dying elderly accomplish their unfinished dreams so that they can bid farewell to the world with peace and dignity. Sometimes, social workers need to contact public interest groups and volunteers to help achieve the elderly's wishes.

Despite all the goodwill for hospice programs, Zhou's colleague, Fan Jie, had warned her that the job was not favorable. "Families would deem our appearance a bad omen and would be reluctant to accept our service, although it's free of charge," Fan told Zhou.

Thus, instead of mentioning "end-of-life care," they have adopted a different approach. They tell the families that they have come to accompany the elderly, talk to them and entertain them so that they would not be lying in a lonely state.

The workers chat with elderly people first before providing them with customized services.

They play peaceful military songs for veterans, read for book lovers and even invite volunteers to perform for those who love dancing.

Hospice programs have become widely accepted in many developed countries, and are now being implemented at hospitals in major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang and Chengdu. But such services in elderly care houses are rare.

Zhou said that the care not only comes from social workers but also needs teamwork of doctors, nurses and nursing workers. "For example, we ask nursing workers to hold hands of the elderly, greet them and stay for more than 30 seconds while delivering meals for them."

She added that for those at the final stage of life, it is more important to address their needs than simply prolonging life. More often than not, their demands are simple.

"An impoverished elder used to tell me that his final wish was to have a sip of orange juice," Zhou said, recalling that the man who could barely be fed died in comfort and satisfaction after having more than a box of bottled orange juice.

"One can easily afford to buy a commonly available branded juice from a supermarket, but for the man living in frugality all his life, the beverage was a symbol of luxury," said Zhou.

Over the past five years, Zhou and her colleagues have served more than 100 elderly people in total.

Zhou feels delighted as she has earned recognition from families of elderly people due to her thoughtful and delicate services.

On the 90th birthday of a woman surnamed Cai, who was under late-stage care, her daughter expressed gratitude toward Zhou for looking after the nonagenarian and inviting volunteers to perform her favorite dances and songs in front of her bed.

For the birthday party, Zhou even decorated the ceiling, the only part that Cai could see as she was too weak to move her eyes. Cai's friends also joined the celebrations.

"Although my mother couldn't speak, I could tell that she was happy. I could feel her hands moving slightly," the daughter surnamed Fan told Zhou. "Thank you so much for all that you have done." Enditem
At least 134 people were killed and 129 other sustained injuries in 164 motorcycle accidents occurred between January and December 2020.

The Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Hamis Hamza revealed this in the Parliament in Dodoma Thursday morning when he was responding to Musoma Urban MP, Vedastus Mathayo.

In his primary question, On his question, Mr Mathayo sought to know when the government will make an amendment on penalties to distinguish the amount of fine to be charged between motorcycle rider's alias bodaboda and vehicles.

The lawmaker also wanted to know if the government has a plan to decongest most police stations that are full motorcycles that have been seized due to different offences.

Elaborating the matter, Mr Hamza said the number of accidents involving motorcycles is increasing despite the enforcement of various penalties including 30,000/- fine to those who violate the Road Traffic Acts.

On the decongesting the police stations, the Deputy Minister said there is a special procedure to be followed before auctioning any item or goods that have been seized.

"The items have to be auctioned after staying more than six months," he said.

However, he suggested that the motorcycles should either be sold or auctioned for the government to get revenue.
Police Chief Michael Wynn walks with a Black Lives Matter rally last summer. Wynn, who was appointed to a new state policing commission, says Pittsfield has been proactive in its policing policies.

Pittsfield Police Chief Wynn Brings 'Unique' Background to State Policing Commission

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Police Chief Michael Wynn is ready to represent Western Massachusetts on the state's new commission for police training.

Wynn's appointment to the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission was announced last week by Gov. Charlie Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey.

"The fact that I'm a Western Mass police chief is something that's been greatly talked about in the last several days," he said. "I don't think anybody expected that the governor's appointed chief would be from this far west."

The independent agency with appointees from the governor and attorney general was established by Chapter 253 of the Acts of 2020 signed by the governor in December 2020. It is part of the police reform bill and aims to create conduct standards and be responsible for investigating and adjudicating claims of misconduct, maintaining databases of training, certification, employment, and internal affairs records for all officers, and certifying law enforcement agencies.

Wynn describes himself as having a "fairly unique" training background for a police chief, including serving as a subject matter instructor and drill instructor at multiple police academies, a Leadership Fellow with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration's Leadership Development Unit, and an adjunct professor at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

The Williams College graduate recently collaborated with Police Advisory Review Board member Drew Herzig to create a policy for interacting with transgender individuals that was approved earlier this year. This features imperative themes such as gender expression, adopted names, non-removal of gender-confirming items, and detainees being held in a cell corresponding with their gender expression.

The policy aims to make transgender individuals able to access the Police Department without being traumatized in the process.

Wynn also received a Programming Excellence Award in the category of Radio Programming series for his department's "On Patrol with the PPD" radio program on WTBR. The program that was established prior to the COVID-19 pandemic also served as a communication resource to share public health information.

Wynn aims to ensure that smaller Berkshire County communities will be advocated for in policies established by the POST committee, answering questions about what the processes will look like for officers who have gone through the Part-time Police Academy at Berkshire Law Enforcement Council.

"All of my fellow chiefs out here do have part-time officers," he said.

Wynn, who has been with the Pittsfield force since 1995, said there is a lot more external scrutiny now, and people are generally interested in what the department is doing. The police reform bill passed in December reached Gov. Charlie Baker's desk six months after George Floyd died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer and nine months after Breonna Taylor was fatally shot in her home in Louisville, Ky., by police.

S.2963: An Act relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth was declared to be an "emergency law necessary for the immediate preservation of the public safety."

Massachusetts law enforcement leaders have been asking for these tools for years, Wynn said, because there's a nationally available database of other states where police departments can find out if an officer was terminated or disciplined for misconduct but nothing similar in the commonwealth.

"So I could have a candidate that's a potential hire that we could check them out nationally to find out if they've had issues with other departments, but I can't find out if they had an issue with another department two counties away," he said.

"Certification, there are questions about it and there are concerns, but everybody who is currently working is going to receive their certification and they know nothing has been done yet to determine what's going to be required for recertification. So again, that's the work that has to be done, regarding recertification," he said. "The concern that I'm hearing from my level officers is they want to make sure that their due process rights are protected, they should be, so whatever happens needs to be based on a thorough investigation and sought with findings, not emotion."

Wynn expressed personal frustration for the lack of questions his department had received in 2020 regarding what they had been proactively working on in the scope of police reform before the bill was passed.

"There was a lot of debate and a lot of discussion about reforming police or improving police but there wasn't a lot of questions about the work that we had already done," he explained. "There are several training topics that are mandated in the reform legislation that the municipal police training committee has already required for several years, so a lot of that work we took upon ourselves and have already either completed or made a lot of progress toward. Nobody took time to pause and recognize."

When asked if Pittsfield Police were committed to the process of engaging in the hard work of building an equitable society at a June rally for Black Lives Matter, his simple answer was "yes."

Though police reform didn't start being an immediate topic of conversation until last spring, Wynn said the Massachusetts Chiefs Police Association recognized that the climate was changing as early as 2014.

He explained that around 2015, the state began proactively changing training topics that are included in the police reform bill such as de-escalation.

"We had already identified national model from the police executive research forum called 'integrated communications assessment and tactics,'" he said. "That's been an in-service topic for several years, we had already incorporated specialized training, dealing with people in crisis and mental illness. And again, you know, that's a topic that's been repeated for several years."

The chief said he is excited to meet his colleagues and find out what the next steps will be for the commission.
ROME, APR 8 - Top Italian art critic Vittorio Sgarbi says he has discovered a lost Caravaggio at a Madrid auction house. The painting, The Crown of Thorns, attributed to Spanish 17th-century master Jose de Ribero aka Spagnoletto, was due to go on sale at the Casa Ansorena auctioneers Thursday, but has now been withdrawn after the owners "had doubts on its authorship", the house said. Sgarbi was sent a picture of the painting by an artist friend last month who told him it was by Italian 17th century great Mattia Preti. But as soon as he saw it Sgarni said he recognised the hand of Caravaggio, the painter who revolutionised art in the Mannerist period and whose works are among the rarest and most prized on the art circuit. "I see it, realise that the work is by Caravaggio and think that with the help of funding I can get it back to Italy," Sgarbi told the Italian press Thursday. The last rediscovered Caravaggio, believed to eb his lost Judith and Holofernes, was valued at up to $170 million before a French auction in 2019, when a mystery bidder stepped in ahead of the sale to get it for an undisclosed price. (ANSA).
The UN condemned an attack in Mali's volatile north that left 33 people dead on Wednesday, saying all political and some non-political armed actors need to "recommit" to the peace agreement for the people of Mali.

About 100 suspected Islamic extremists on motorcycles ambushed the Malian military convoy in the country's north in the deadliest attack of its kind since the president was overthrown in a coup last year, officials said Wednesday.

More than a dozen others were wounded in Tuesday's attack near Tassit, located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) southeast of Ansongo in the Gao region, according to a statement issued by the military.

Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations, said on Wednesday the UN peacekeeping mission are evacuating injured Malian soldiers to the hospital in Gao region.

He said the violence was likely due to a "lack of political movement", before adding the UN is working with national and international partners "to ensure smooth transition".

"The security situation is not going in the right direction," Dujarric added.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the ambush, though Islamic extremists with links to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are active in the area.

Islamic extremist rebels were forced from power in Malis northern cities with the help of a 2013 French-led military operation. However, the insurgents quickly regrouped in the desert and began launching frequent attacks on the Malian army and its allies fighting the insurgency.

The extremists have expanded their reach well into central Mali, where their presence has inflamed tensions between ethnic groups in the area.

Democratically elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was forced to step down last August after mutinous soldiers circled his house and fired into the air. Under international pressure, the junta that had seized power appointed a civilian-led government to lead the country through an 18-month transition to new elections.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Index, the Middle Easts largest and longest serving dedicated trade show for the interior design, architecture and fit-out industry, has announced its first round of speakers for the Design Talks, a key feature of the regional design calendar, to be held next month.

The speakers lineup for the 2021 edition of Index Design Talks comes following last months confirmation of the return of the 30th edition of the fair.

The event is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 31 to June 2, in-person, allowing the interiors industry to meet once again since 2019.

The Design Talks have become a must-attend feature of the regional design calendar in recent years, thus bringing the most talented, creative, and successful design leaders together to share candid insights into the key dynamics being faced by the industry in this challenging time.

Held over the duration of the fair, the Index Design Talks, in association with Geberit, will feature 15 distinct sessions and discussions between 50 expert speakers, with plans that 2021 will be the most relevant edition yet, said the organisers.

Confirmed speakers so far, include:

Firas Alsahin, Co-Founder & Design Director, 4SPACE Design

Chris Barnes, Founder & Managing Director, Broadway Interiors

Paul Bishop, Owner & Founder, Bishop Design by Paul Bishop

Carla Conte, Founder & Creative Director, Brand Creative

Pallavi Dean, Founder & Creative Director, Roar

David Lessard, Partner & Design Director, H+A

Kevin Mclachlan, Founder / CEO, Nomad|K

Christian Merieau, Founding Partner, MMAC Design Associates

Diane Thorsen, Design Director & Principal, Gensler

Kristina Zanic, Owner, Kristina Zanic Design Consultants

This years Index Design Talks are highly anticipated, marrying insights from the industrys most creative and entrepreneurial minds with a long-overdue opportunity for the whole community to re-unite, re-connect and knowledge-share once again, they stated.

Attendees will be able to hear leading design experts explaining their latest thinking and expertise on everything from new aesthetic trends; the expanding opportunity to influence end-user wellbeing and safety; analysis of new commercial and legal realities and tactics for accessing established procurement channels right through to international market analysis, sourcing and business development strategies.

Firas Alsahin, the co-founder and design director, 4SPACE Design said: "Speaking at the Index Design Talks is a real recognition among the industry. The programme is well established and always great quality. This year I think were all really excited to be together again, sharing our experiences and the approaches that we've been taking to overcome the challenges of this period," stated Alsahin.

"It will be like a reunion, except in front of a live audience! Im looking forward to lively debates and a real sense of industry camaraderie this year, and no-doubt well all be leaving Index inspired with new ideas and takeaways from the sessions," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday (April 8) decided that from April 9 to April 23 it will take up matters "through virtual mode only" in view of the "alarming" rise in COVID-19 cases in the national capital. The order to this effect was taken by the Full Court of the High Court.

An office order issued by Registrar General of the Delhi High Court, Manoj Jain, told PTI that even all the courts of the Joint Registrars (judicial) shall also hold proceedings via virtual mode during this period.

The order said that no adverse order would be passed by the courts of Joint Registrars (judicial) in case of non-appearance of parties and/or their counsel and the matter which are fixed for recording of evidence before the said courts shall be adjourned. Similar directions were also issued by the Full Court in respect of the functioning of the subordinate courts.

"Wherever required, during the trial, UTPs may be produced through video-conferencing. No adverse orders shall be passed by the District Courts in Delhi in case of non-appearance of parties and/or their counsel and the matters which are fixed for recording of evidence, shall be adjourned," the office order of the High Court reportedly said.

The office order reportedly said that the District Courts have been directed to hold proceedings via virtual mode only from April 9 to April 24 and the video conferencing links be made available on the website/causelist.

It has been further directed that the Principal District and Sessions Judges in consultation with the DG (Prisons) shall make necessary arrangements for extension of remand of Undertrial prisoners (UTPs).

The Delhi high court had commenced complete physical functioning from March 15 onwards.

HC refuses plea on steps for controlling COVID-19 second wave

The Delhi High Court today refused to entertain a plea seeking to direct the AAP government to take immediate measures for controlling and minimising the impact of another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli said the government has been doing everything to control the impact of the virus and it was not inclined to entertain the plea.

"Everything is being done by the government, maintaining masking guidelines, social distancing, people are getting vaccinations... The prayers stated herein are all general prayers, what else do you want the government to do," the bench said.

Notably, Delhi recorded 5,506 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, the highest single-day rise this year, while 20 more people died due to the coronavirus infection, taking the death toll to 11,133, according to the city Health Department.

In his application, Malhotra sought direction to the authorities to take immediate measures for controlling and minimising the impact of another wave of COVID-19 or its new variant.

(With Agency Inputs)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 12:44:26|Editor: huaxia

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by Martina Fuchs

GENEVA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Global airline industry organization the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Wednesday voiced cautious optimism that the European aviation industry could take off again in the second half of the year thanks to the rollout of vaccines. But it still called for more government rescue packages to weather the COVID-19 storm.

Reiterating that "this is the most challenging crisis the industry has ever faced," the Geneva-based IATA showed in its latest assessment that passenger traffic continued to fall in February, both compared to pre-COVID levels and the month of January.

International passenger demand in February was 88.7 percent below February 2019, a further drop from the 85.7 percent year-to-year decline recorded in January and the worst growth outcome since July 2020.

Performance in all regions worsened compared to January, the association, representing some 290 airlines comprising 82 percent of global air traffic, said.

"February showed no indication of a recovery in demand for international air travel. In fact, most indicators went in the wrong direction as travel restrictions tightened in the face of continuing concerns over new coronavirus variants," said Willie Walsh, IATA's new director general, in his first media briefing since taking office on April 1.

According to the latest data, European carriers recorded an 89-percent drop in passenger traffic in February compared with February 2019, substantially worse than the 83.4-percent decline in January compared to the same month in 2019.

On the bright side, cargo demand in Europe was largely unaffected by the new lockdowns and operating conditions remain supportive for air cargo, IATA said, as European carriers posted a 4.7-percent increase in demand in February compared to same month in 2019.

Asked about his outlook for European air travel demand, the new IATA boss said: "We should remain optimistic that the second half of this year will be much more positive than we have seen so far."

"It is still early in the year. We are only in April. We have seen some of these trends change, but I think the expectation of the vaccine rollout accelerating should be one of the reasons why we should be optimistic that things will start to improve," he said.

AIRLINE BAILOUTS

Across Europe, airlines and airports continue to be slammed by the impact from COVID-19 and have been calling for government subsidies and rescue packages to stay afloat.

In February, an analysis by IATA showed that the airline industry is expected to remain cash negative throughout 2021. Estimates for cash burn have ballooned from 75 billion U.S. dollars to 95 billion dollars for this year from a previously anticipated 48 billion dollars.

"I think it's fair to say that airlines will access any forms of support that they can get. You have seen airlines tap the capital, debt and equity markets. They have received government grants, government aid, loan guarantees," Walsh said.

"All of this is very welcome and all of it is necessary. This is a severe crisis, the likes of which we have not seen before. We continue to see the industry needs cash," he noted.

"We accept that all forms of aid need to be accessed and we welcome it and continue to welcome it. I don't think the industry is ready to stand on its own feet at the moment," he stressed.

On Tuesday, Air France-KLM announced that it would receive as much as 4 billion euros (4.7 billion U.S. dollars) from the French government, which could raise its stake to as high as 30 percent as part of a bailout and recapitalization plan for the indebted carrier.

In Poland, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in February that the government would participate in rescuing Polish airlines LOT, which suffered passenger volume drop like nearly all airlines.

"I don't see any problem with governments holding stakes in airlines. Many governments already hold stakes and in many cases exercise influence over airlines. This is nothing new," Walsh stressed.

Frankfurt Airport, one of the busiest air hubs in Europe, posted a loss of 690.4 million euros last year, its first negative financial result in almost 20 years.

Germany's largest airline Lufthansa posted record losses of 6.7 billion euros for the financial year of 2020, after a profit of 1.2 billion euros in 2019. The company still expects a negative operating result for fiscal 2021.

In Belgium, Brussels Airlines booked a loss of 293 million euros in 2020, as passenger numbers plummeted by 77 percent to 2.4 million.

Austrian Airlines announced in March that it would cut 650 more jobs by 2023 and reduce its fleet size from the current 80 to 58 at least until 2024/25.

TRAVEL PASS

IATA has planned to launch a global and standardized digital IATA Travel Pass for COVID-19 test results and vaccine certificates for passengers in mid-April.

Singapore announced this week that travelers flying to the island state can start using the travel pass from next month as the country takes steps to reopen its borders.

"It's important that the IATA travel pass is introduced and accepted because we need to be able to offer customers a digitalized option to travel. We clearly want to see the industry get back up to full speed in a safe and coordinated way," Walsh said.

"We are trying to get more airlines. I think we have 25 airlines now in total who are trialling it. The more we trial it, the better the feedback we get," he said.

IATA, however, stressed that booking for the critical summer travel and holiday season remains a concern.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday that the government has not made a decision on whether Britons can go for a foreign holiday from May 17 as previously planned.

A report from Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, showed that if international travel reopening was delayed to September, the cost could amount to 55.7 billion pounds (about 77.2 billion U.S. dollars) in lost trade and 3 billion pounds in the UK's tourism sector. Enditem

(Xinhua writers Pan Geping from Brussels, Yang Hairuo from London, Zuo Wei from Frankfort, Yu Tao from Vienna, and Zhang Zhang from Warsaw also contributed to the story.)
Kentucky voters to determine if state constitution will declare there's no right to abortion

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Voters in Kentucky will consider a state constitutional amendment declaring there is no right to an abortion when they go to the polls for the 2022 midterm elections.

Last week, the Kentucky legislature passed House Bill 91, which put a proposal on the Nov. 8, 2022 ballot to add an amendment to the state constitution denying that abortion is a protected right in the state.

To protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion, reads the proposed language.

If the measure is approved by voters next year, Kentucky will be the fifth state to amend its constitution in such a way, joining Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Addia Wuchner, executive director of the Kentucky Right to Life Association, told The Christian Post that her organization supports the proposed amendment since it leaves legislative abortion debates to the duly elected representatives of the people rather than rogue judges.

Critics of the measure include Jackie McGranahan, policy strategist with the American Civil Liberties Union's Kentucky chapter. She denounced the measure in a statement last week.

The General Assembly will stop at nothing to push constitutionally-protected abortion care entirely out of reach, even for people whose lives depend on it, said McGranahan.

Passing such extreme legislation shows Kentucky lawmakers want to force their constituents to remain pregnant against their will, even if they are victims and survivors of rape or incest.

Claiming that the measure, if approved, could cost lives, McGranahan went on to promise that the ACLU of Kentucky will continue to work to defend Kentuckians reproductive freedom.

Wuchner explained to CP that the idea claimed by some pro-choice activists that the amendment would ban abortion is a fallacy and totally not true.

HB 91 sponsor Rep. Joseph Fischer told a Senate committee that the amendment would not prohibit the legislature from hypothetically passing pro-choice laws but would prohibit judges from saying that abortion is legal in Kentucky, according to The Lexington Herald-Leader.

Regarding the likelihood of it passing, Wuchner told CP that she felt very hopeful and very positive about the outcome, adding that Kentucky is a right-to-life family values state.

And you can see that by those that they send to Frankfurt to represent them in the General Assembly, she contended, referring to the fact that the state legislature is overwhelmingly Republican.
Residents of Ontario and Quebec were to wake up to more COVID-19 restrictions Thursday as officials plan new approaches to vaccine distribution and promise crackdowns on rule-breakers in several jurisdictions.

A woman sits in solitude at George Bell Park in Toronto on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, a day before another province-wide stay at home order takes place. Ontario residents are facing new stay-at-home orders as officials in several provinces tighten restrictions and crack down on rule-breakers in a race against COVID-19 and its variants. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

Residents of Ontario and Quebec were to wake up to more COVID-19 restrictions Thursday as officials plan new approaches to vaccine distribution and promise crackdowns on rule-breakers in several jurisdictions.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, meanwhile, faced a backlash over restrictions introduced in that province this week.

Among the most sweeping changes are a four-week stay-at-home order and vaccines targeting hot spots announced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Wednesday.

Stores providing essential goods will remain open but will only be permitted to sell grocery and pharmacy items, while non-essential goods will be available for curbside pickup or delivery.

"Our hospitals are being hit hard. Intensive care units have more patients now than they ever did in previous waves," Health Minister Christine Elliott said.

With many hospitals at capacity, some patients are being transferred for care to other hospitals, sometimes hundreds of kilometres away, she added.

The announcement came as cases involving variants of concern continued to rise in many provinces, representing a growing proportion of new cases.

Ontario plans to start vaccinating people aged 18 and older living in areas with high COVID-19 case numbers, including teachers and essential workers.

Mobile teams will deliver vaccines in congregate settings, residential buildings, faith-based centres and spaces occupied by large employers in areas hit hard by the virus, Ford said.

Regions will be selected based on patterns of transmission, severe illness and mortality from COVID-19.

The province reported 3,215 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and 17 more deaths linked to the virus.

In Alberta, officials fenced off a church that has been charged with refusing to follow COVID-19 health rules as the province recorded 1,351 new infections.

Alberta Health Services says in a statement GraceLife Church will remain closed until it shows it will comply with public-health measures.

The move came a day after Kenney said widespread rule-breaking forced his government to shut down indoor dining, curb indoor fitness and reduce retail capacity.

Some doctors said the new restrictions don't go far enough.

It's not enough to bring the numbers down, Dr. James Talbot, a University of Alberta professor and co-chair of the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association's COVID-19 committee, said Wednesday during a Zoom news conference with several other doctors.

They'll rise more slowly, but they are not going to come down.

Quebecers in areas hit hard by the virus also prepared for previously announced restrictions on gyms, faith gatheringsand inter-regional travel to take effect Thursday, while officials expanded access to COVID-19 vaccines for essential workers like teachers and first responders in Montreal.

Residents with chronic illnesses and who are under the age of 60 can also start getting vaccinated in hospital on Monday, while essential workers can start booking appointments Friday.

An outbreak connected to a Mega Fitness Gym in Quebec City has been linked to 419 cases after staff and clients unknowingly carried the virus into grocery stores, homes and workplaces, the regional health authority said Wednesday.

The health authority said that while the gym outbreak is significant, it is not solely responsible for the spike in cases in Quebec City.

We are faced with a situation where dozens of community-type outbreaks, linked to a slackening of the compliance with health instructions, each feed the rapid growth of new positive cases, the health authority wrote in an email.

Meanwhile, a Montreal hospital confirmed the death of a 16-year-old patient from COVID-19, the youngest fatality from the virus recorded in the province. A spokeswoman for the Ste-Justine children's hospital said privacy rules prevent officials from releasing other details about the teenager's death.

The news came as health officials reported 1,270 new COVID-19 infections in Quebec, eight additional deaths and a jump in hospitalizations related to the disease.

British Columbia reported 997 new cases and two deaths Wednesday and said more than 305,000 people have pre-registered for vaccines through a new online portal.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told provincial and territorial premiers Wednesday that the federal government has delivered more than 10 million doses of vaccines.

In a readout of their weekly call, the Prime Minister's Office said they talked about working together to reinforce the safety and efficacy of vaccines, including the Oxford-AstraZeneca.

The statement said they also agreed to collaborate on potential adjustments to border measures and that any changes will be based on scientific evidence once it is safe.

It said first ministers agreed that now is not the time to adjust any border measures or to travel.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization said Wednesday it's standing by its emergency recommendation to extend the delivery of second doses of COVID-19 vaccines up to four months after further research, but it added that most Canadians will probably only wait half that long.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2021.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said some restrictions in Alberta were to take effect Thursday, but they were in place on Wednesday with others coming in on Friday.
Bob Bland, an evangelical pastor who trained and sent tens of thousands of teenagers on short-term mission trips, has died at the age of 92.

Bland founded Teen Missions International in 1970 after a 14-year-old girl at a Youth for Christ event in Southern Ohio broke down in tears because she had been rejected by a missionary organization. She said she didnt want to wait. She wanted to do something for the Lord now. Bland, moved by her passion for Jesus and lost souls, conceived of a program expanding the then-new concept of short-term missions to high school students.

Today, Teen Missions is a $3.7 million ministry that has sent more than 42,000 American teenagers to 19 countries. In 2021, the organization is planning trips to build classrooms in Zambia, a missionary house in Uganda, a security wall in Malawi, and a training center in Ecuador.

Get dirty for God, one Teen Missions slogan challenged young Christians. Lay a brick!

According to Bland, however, construction work was never the main goal of the groups short-term missions.

We tell the people who are leading our teams that were building kids, not buildings, Bland said. These kids go overseas and with their own hands build a place to worship or an orphanage or a school for young people, and they come back different.

Bland was born on December 8, 1928 in Chillicothe, Ohio, the youngest of four boys. His father, Jay, was a farmer and contractor. His mother, Blanche, worked at a laundry.

After graduating from high school in nearby Waverly, Bland went to work as a carpenter and trained to be a union plumber. But the day he was set to take his plumbing test he read Matthew 22:29 and it changed his life. In that verse, Jesus is challenged with a tricky question about the afterlife by the Sadducees. He rebukes them and says, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God (KJV).

Bland realized his life plan aslo erred, since he wasnt focused on the gospel. God had spoken to me out of his word, he said, showing me that day I was not to be a plumber.

Bland left construction work to study at Arizona Bible Institute in Phoenix and became a minister in the Christian Union, a Wesleyan denomination sometimes associated with the Stone-Campbell Movement. He pastored a church for a few years in Hennessey, Oklahoma, but then decided to focus his ministry on children.

Bland went back to Ohio to work with Youth for Christ in 1964, and also served as a recruiter for the Christian Service Corps until he started Teen Missions.

The first year, Teen Missions sent 83 young people on four teams to Mexico. It was a resounding success, and the next year they sent young people to Mexico, Columbia, and Guatemala. The ministrys slogan, painted on the side of a blue and white bus, was Missions Now for the Now Teens.

In 1973, however, the ministry almost ended in catastrophe during a troubled trip to Peru.

Everything that could go wrong, went wrong, Bland said in an interview years later. There was an encounter with a snake, a near drowning, dissension on the team, outright fighting, teenagers who refused to work, and cancelled airplane flights, stranding the group in the Amazon.

Image: Courtesy of Teen Missions International

So many bad things happened. Kids could have lost their lives on that trip, Bland said. We needed some training and discipline.

He made the decision to start a missionary boot camp. It would prepare young people to live in undeveloped and underdeveloped parts of the world, build cohesive teams, teach practical skills, and show young people what they could do. Teen Missions bought 250 acres of Florida jungle from the Girl Scouts on Merritt Island, Florida, just west of Cape Canaveral, and accepted 500 teenagerssome as young as 13in 1974.

Every morning for two weeks, the young people got up at 5:30 and ran a Bible-themed obstacle course in groupscrawling through Ten Commandment barrels, sorting heavy crates into the order of the books of the Bible, and swinging across a mud bog nicknamed the Red Sea.

After, they learned skills like how to build a stone wall, how to dig a well, and how to ride a motorcycle. They also learned to evangelize and memorize Scripture.

This is a missionary training camp, Bland told a documentary film crew in 2007. This is not pamper camp. If youre looking for pamper camp, thats down the road.

There was no running water at the camp, so if kids wanted to get clean they had to swim in the lake everyone called the bathtub. And there was no lights out, since the camp had no electricity and everyone went to bed at dusk, except during a final, candle-lit commissioning ceremony.

Image: Courtesy of Teen Missions International

In the early years, teens struggled to go without TV and soda during the boot camp. In later years, they were deprived of their cell phones and social media. But they learned things about themselves and, as Teen Missions would explain to reporters who regularly turned out summer stories on The Lords Boot Camp, the teenagers grew up a lot.

While some campers hated the training and the missions trip and called the experience manipulative and oppressive, more loved it, and talked for years about how it shaped them.

You learn you can survive without an electric light, one teen said in the 1980s. And it strengthens you inside to go back into the world. It gets you in tune with God.

According to Teen Missions, many of its thousands of alumni are in full-time ministry today, both as missionaries and pastors.

Bland continued to work at the camp into his 80s, wearing a polo shirt and jeans, riding around the grounds on an old bicycle, and saying a blessing over the thousands of young people going all over the world to serve the Lord now.

Bland died on Good Friday, April 2, after several years of ill health. He is predeceased by his wife Bernice, who died in 2016. He is survived by his daughter Cathy Stringer and son Robin Bland. His funeral will be held Saturday, April 10, at Mt. Tabor Community Church in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Planning to travel this year? Heres what you need to know before you book your flight and head to the airport.

Gone are the days of $30 airfare, intended to lure some business when the pandemic had grounded almost everyone. Millions of people stuck at home for the past year are giving in to the urge to travel  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week said travel is safe for those who are fully vaccinated  and are starting to book airline seats. As they do, the prices of those seats are rising, said Harrisburg International Airport spokesman Scott Miller.
Srinagar, April 8 : Proscribed terror outfit Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind's (AGuH) chief has been trapped in an ongoing encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district in which three unidentified terrorists have been killed on Thursday, officials said "Chief of proscribed terrorist outfit AGuH (JeM) trapped in the Shopian encounter. Operation is going on," a police official said.

The firefight between the terrorists and the security forces broke out after a joint team of the police and the army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about the presence of terrorists there.

As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where the terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter.
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!
COVID-19 one year later: W&M students assist local businesses

Miller Hall: Alan B. Miller Hall is the home of the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William & Mary. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption

When COVID-19 started negatively impacting the economy a year ago, William & Mary M.B.A. students stepped up to help local small businesses.

That effort to provide free support services quickly grew into a partnership now coming up on its first anniversary between the Raymond A. Mason School of Business and the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center.

Known as the CrimDell Small Business Network, the student-led organization gives participants an opportunity to work in pairs to help local small businesses strategize. Projects have included market research, marketing planning, IT consulting, strategy consulting, financial services and on-demand services.

Small business owners have some of the toughest jobs in the world, said Cara Simpson M.B.A. 21, who along with Vicki Harrington M.B.A. 21 were the student founders of CrimDell. They wear all hats at once and live and breathe their businesses. We have just as much or more to learn from the business owners as they do from us.

Passion, flexibility, adaptability and a strong focus on the customers needs are the recipe to success.

CrimDell is looking to become a permanent resource, and this academic year it has been part of the incubator program at Masons Miller Entrepreneurship Center to help develop its own business model.

{{youtube:medium:right|_SUkHsw9i_Y, CrimDell Small Business Network}}

Since our inception, weve had over 60 students either work or volunteer for CrimDell, Harrington said. They arent just full-time M.B.A. students, either  theyve also been recent grads, undergraduates and part-time M.B.A. students. Weve helped 54 small businesses and completed roughly 60 projects for them.

CrimDell emphasized working with minority business owners, and at least 80% of its clients have been minority-owned businesses where minority is defined as a woman, veteran, disabled person or person of color. CrimDell is also playing a large role in helping to develop and facilitate a minority business survey for Williamsburg-area business owners, which is an initiative led by Benming Benny Zhang 16 and the York-James City-Williamsburg NAACP branch.

Zhanna Imel M.B.A. 21 started as a student business analyst with CrimDell last spring and now serves as its director of operations.

Since then, I've learned a lot  one of the main things being the power of community, Imel said. At first, I wasn't really sure how much of an impact a few William & Mary M.B.A. students would have in helping small businesses in our area, especially with world governments and reputable companies struggling to manage COVID. But it became a reality due to Vicki and Cara's clear vision and strong leadership.

The importance of communication was another lesson.

We get told this quite a bit in the classroom, but experiencing the need for it drives the point home, Imel said. CrimDell has its hands in a lot of various pies, and we benefit from our highly skilled and knowledgeable business analysts, volunteers and partners.

As such, coordinating the various squads and departments has been a bit challenging. But seeing some of the innovative ideas generated by the CrimDell Board has made me consider how I could implement them in my future employment environments.

Working out in the community brought real-world experience.

I have learned a lot from listening to small business owners as they have talked about their wealth of knowledge within their business niche, and some fears that keep them up at night  mainly COVID related, Imel said. Having this in-depth perspective into the backbone of what drives our nation has been a great extension of my M.B.A. education at William & Mary.

Students are describing the unique interactions CrimDell has provided them with their job-searching and interview experiences.

Companies are wanting to see individuals who have been able to thrive during these challenging times, such as being able to think about others and act on that empathy in the time of need, Imel said.

Traishik Akuli M.B.A. 22 serves as both a business analyst and director of marketing for CrimDell.

The last year has been nothing short of remarkable for us, Akuli said. We got the opportunity to help businesses that were finding it difficult to make important decisions. It has been a learning experience for all of us.

As M.B.A. students, we were given a chance to apply our skills to real-world businesses. Seeing others succeed was extremely fulfilling. It's impressive how Cara and Vicki took the idea forward and brought it to life.
Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla said that UK-based pharma company AstraZeneca has sent a legal notice to its manufacturing partner over delays in COVID-19 vaccine supply. Adding to the woes, the US is also holding back crucial material required for the manufacturing of the vaccine. The US has invoked the Defence Act that restricts export of raw materials that are in turn impacting the manufacturing.

Speaking about the legal notice, Poonawalla said the Indian government is aware of the situation too. "AstraZeneca has sent us a legal notice and the Indian government is also aware of that. I cannot comment on the legal notice as it is confidential, but we are examining all avenues to amicably manage and resolve legal disputes over contractual obligations that Serum Institute is not able to fulfil due to its prioritisation of Indian supplies," he said in an interview to Business Standard. The drug mogul said that everyone has been understanding so far and that the government is evaluating what it can do to resolve the issue.

Adar Poonawalla also spoke about the pain point of raw materials. "This is as good as banning vaccines," he said, addressing the US' Defence Act that has banned export of raw materials. He said that all vaccine producers are facing difficulties because of this. Novavax production has been stalled because of this, he said.

Poonawalla said, "There is a long list of raw materials which we import from the US - filters, bags, certain media solutions, etc. To develop new suppliers in the eleventh hour will take a bit of time. We will do that. We will not be dependent on the US after six months. The problem is we need it now."

Poonawalla said that SII has submitted a formal proposal for an upfront grant from the government. The grant would help them set up a factory. It is otherwise difficult to ramp up as they have already poured in thousands of crores and borrowed Rs 1,500 crore, he said to the daily. He said that if the funds come, then they would be able to deliver double the quantity of vaccines within two months.

While the price of vaccines is $20 on average globally, Serum is making $2 per dose, said Poonawalla. He said that if players do not see an environment where they can sell the vaccine for $5-7 per dose then there would be no incentive for them.

Also read: PM Modi to meet CMs today to discuss COVID-19 surge, vaccination drive

Also read: 'Get your shot soon': PM Modi after getting 2nd COVID-19 vaccine dose
Patna, April 8 : At least four policemen in Bihar were suspended on Thursday in connection with the hooch tragedy in Nawada district on March 29, in which 15 persons had died and 4 others lost their eyesight.

Nawada SP D.S. Savlaram has confirmed the development, saying that ASI Devendra Kumar, ASI Sanjay Kumar, Head Constable Ratan Rajak and Constable Mukesh Kumar Singh were found guilty during the SIT probe in connection with the incident.

"These cops have already been facing the departmental inquiries pertaining to their various illegal activities and now they are found guilty of having alleged links with the manufacturers of the poisonous hooch," Savlaram added.

The SIT on Tuesday arrested Suraj Chaudhery alias Karku Chaudhery, Pappu Yadav, Anil Chaudhery and Manti Devi.

As many as 15 persons died and 4 others lost their eyesight after consuming poisonous liquor in Nawada district on the occasion of Holi, on March 29.

In the wake of the incident, Bihar government had earlier suspended an SHO, Excise Inspector and Chowkidar for their "callous" attitude.
Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny, Vertebrate Zoology and Geologica Saxonica are the latest historic titles to select the various services and advanced technology provided by the OA-born scholarly publishing platform

One of the largest natural research associations in Germany, the Senckenberg Nature Research Society moved three of its international, open-access scholarly journals to the publishing platform ARPHA, following a recent contract with the scientific publisher and technology provider Pensoft.

Having opted for the white-label publishing solution, the journals remain under the brand of the Society and the Senckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden, one of the oldest natural-science museums in the world. Despite transitioning to a new platform, the past volumes of the journals remain accessible from a link on their website homepages.

Following their recent move to the Pensoft-developed publishing platform, Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny, Vertebrate Zoology and Geologica Saxonica have not only acquired their own glossy and user-friendly websites, but have also taken advantage from ARPHA's signature fast-track, end-to-end publishing system, which is to benefit all journal users: authors, reviewers and editors alike. In addition, the journals are already using many of the unique services offered by ARPHA, including publication in PDF, semantically enhanced HTML and machine-readable XML formats; advanced data publishing; sub-article-level usage metrics; automated export of sub-article elements and data to key aggregators; web-service integrations with major indexing and archiving databases; and others.

In particular, to the appeal of the authors, editors and reviewers, the ARPHA's collaboration-centred online environment takes care after each submitted manuscript during the review, editing, publication, dissemination and archiving stages, so that no one needs to deal with locally stored files and their transfer by email or third-party cloud storages. Additionally, the platform is designed to regularly notify the users about any required action, thus sparing the burden of unnecessary communication and ensuring the speedy processing of manuscripts.

All three journals operate a Diamond Open Access policy, thanks to the support of the Senckenberg Nature Research Society, making the journals free to publish for all authors.

Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny

Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny is the successor of the historical Entomologische Abhandlungen, formerly published by the Museum of Zoology at Dresden.

Its scope covers the taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, phylogeny, historical biogeography and palaeontology of arthropod taxa, but excludes faunistics and research with a strong regional focus. Descriptions of new taxa are only welcome when embedded in a wider context, for example, a phylogenetic, evolutionary, or biogeographical framework.

Currently, the journal enjoys an Impact Factor of 1.51 and a continuously increasing Scopus CiteScore.

Vertebrate Zoology

Similarly, Vertebrate Zoology was preceded by Zoologische Abhandlungen, also formerly published by the Museum of Zoology at Dresden. Its first publications since the move to ARPHA Platform and part of the first journal volume for 2021 are already a fact.

The journal deals with research on taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, phylogeny, historical biogeography and palaeontology of vertebrates. Again, descriptions of new taxa should be integrated into a proper context, for example, a complete revision of a taxon. To support accountability and reproducibility in science and academia, the journal requires that studied specimens have to be deposited in a public scientific collection.

Vertebrate Zoology's Impact Factor is currently standing at 1.167, while its last Scopus CiteScore reached 2.1 (2019).

Geologica Saxonica

Geologica Saxonica - Journal of Central European Geology, began its life in distant 1876, when it was founded under the name Mitteilungen aus dem Koniglichen Mineralogisch-Geologischen und Prahistorischen Museum by German geologist Hanns Bruno Geinitz, renowned for his work on the Carboniferous and Cretaceous rocks and fossils of Saxony.

The journal's scope ecompasses geology, paleontology, stratigraphy, petrography, mineralogy and geoscience history with focus on Central Europe.

"At Pensoft, we are delighted to support a world-renowned natural history association like Senckenberg in carrying its legacy and treasure of knowledge into our days and well beyond. Now, with ARPHA's white-label solution, we're certain that the journals will simultaneously preserve their identity and enjoy all perks of modern and technologically advanced publishing," comments Pensoft and ARPHA's founder and CEO Prof. Lyubomir Penev.

"We are very pleased to have found reliable partners in Pensoft and the ARPHA platform for our three publications to further increase their visibility", says Prof. Dr. Uwe Fritz, Editor-in-Chief of the journal Vertebrate Zoology and head of the Department of Zoology at Senckenberg Natural History Collections in Dresden. He adds, "Senckenberg's scientific publications have a long - almost 200-year tradition - and are now shown in a new and innovative design with unprecedented information retrieval options!"

Senckenberg is not the first prestigious German research institution to sign an agreement with Pensoft and ARPHA Platform. Since 2014, the Natural History Museum Berlin has trusted the publisher with its own historical titles in the Biology domain: Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift and Zoosystematics and Evolution. In 2017, Evolutionary Systematics by the University of Hamburg, another prominent journal with a legacy in the field of Zoology, followed suit. Last year, Zitteliana, a historical scholarly journal covering all fields of paleontology and geobiology by the State Natural History Collection of Bavaria (SNSB) also announced its joining the journal portfolio of Pensoft and ARPHA Platform.

###

Follow ARPHA Platform on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Additional information:

About Senckenberg:

Senckenberg, Research Institutes and Natural History Museums, conduct research in bio- and geoscience. Major research fields are biodiversity and ecosystem research and the research on the entire Earth-Human-Earth system. Senckenberg headquarters are located in Frankfurt am Main, but research on marine, terrestrial and climate systems is also housed at additional nine locations throughout Germany: in Dresden, Gelnhausen, Gorlitz, Hamburg, Messel, Muncheberg, Tubingen, Weimar and Wilhelmshaven. Senckenberg employs about 900 people, including 300 scientists. Senckenberg scientists are active in projects worldwide, most of which are international collaborations with universities and other research institutions. Senckenberg hosts biological and geological research collections with more than 40 million series.

About Pensoft:

Pensoft is an independent academic publishing company, well-known worldwide for its innovations in the field of semantic publishing, as well as for its cutting-edge publishing tools and workflows. In 2013, Pensoft launched the first ever end to end XML-based authoring, reviewing and publishing workflow, as demonstrated by the Pensoft Writing Tool (PWT) and the Biodiversity Data Journal (BDJ), now upgraded to the ARPHA Publishing Platform. Flagship titles include: Research Ideas and Outcomes (RIO), One Ecosystem, ZooKeys, Biodiversity Data Journal, PhytoKeys, MycoKeys and many more.

About ARPHA:

ARPHA is the first end-to-end, narrative- and data-integrated publishing solution that supports the full life cycle of a manuscript, from authoring to reviewing, publishing and dissemination. ARPHA provides accomplished and streamlined production workflows that can be customized according to the journal's needs. The platform enables a variety of publishing models through a number of options for branding, production and revenue models to choose from.
On 6th April, many random people, who have nothing to do with Indiabulls or its Dhani lending app, were bombarded with repeated personalised messages reminding them about payments and pending dues. Many people received an unnerving flurry of messages, causing alarm among those who tend to be diligent and alert about their credit history.

Those who had borrowings from Indiabulls through Dhani were concerned about receiving repeated payment reminders that mentioned pending payments when there was none. Those who had no relationship with Indiabulls or Dhani had a bigger worry: Were they victims of fraud or an identity theft, given that the messages were very specific and personalised? Would clicking on the link in the message expose them to malware and phishing attacks? Many took to Twitter, to express their concern.

Their worry was legitimate. Payment delays and defaults affect a persons credit score and the ability to borrow in future, while getting a loan account linked to another person with the same name is not unknown. It is also important to remember that Paytm filed litigation against Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and telecom companies, precisely on the charge that the latter were not doing enough to control phishing attacks by fraudulent registered telemarketers. A court order then triggered the effort to stop at least the more toxic and harmful spammers.

When asked, Indiabulls told me it was a human error that caused the problem. A senior executive agreed to look into the issue and said that apology messages were sent out to all customers. But, by then, the issue had blown up on the social media. The company did, indeed, send out messages to say, Please ignore the payment reminder SMS sent to you from Dhani yesterday. It was sent erroneously. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.

A human error is understandable, but the episode also raises some questions at a time when TRAI is ostensibly working to protect us from relentless spamming under court orders. A good chunk of those spammed by Dhani are not its customers and claim they have nothing to do with the Indiabulls group. Many are even registered on TRAIs much-abused do not disturb (DND) registry. So how and why does Dhani have their data in the first place, and is this going to change if TRAI is serious about finally protecting us from spammers?

I have never taken any loan from Dhani or indiabulls.



I used to be their brokerage client only. @IVLSecuritiespic.twitter.com/FFH0x3BacX  suranatarun (@suranatarun) April 7, 2021

TRAI had deliberately allowed the DND registry to become defunct over the years, largely under pressure from telecom firms that need revenue and large corporate spammers  mainly banks (mostly hawking credit cards) and insurance and finance companies who want access to customers at any cost.

Once it was clear that TRAI was unwilling to act, it quickly opened the doors to fraudsters and phishing attacks to scam people into parting with one-time-passwords (OTPs) for digital transactions. While it was possible to block tele-callers, there is absolutely no protection against text messages.

On 3rd February, Delhi High Court asked TRAI to ensure that telecom companies strictly enforce the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation, 2018 (TCCCPR) rules to fake SMS headers, masquerading as legitimate ones. But telemarketers are still working to stop the implementation of the rules through litigation claiming that it would lead to a disruption in delivery of time-critical services. The court refused to quash the order and offer interim relief. But industry and telemarketers have already scored a victory, since the rules that were to become operational on 8th March were postponed after the panic caused by the delivery failure of OTP messages. However, the content scrubbing process was resumed on 1st April after relevant entities were asked to take remedial measures.

TRAIs new guidelines require every SMS/text message to be verified before it is delivered. To comply with this, all telemarketers need to register themselves on a DLT (distributor ledger technology) platform, which also scrubs data against the DND registry. There is some friction over who is providing this service as well. According to The Economic Times (ET), telemarketers had alleged that Tanla Solutionsan implementing partner of DLT for leading telecom companies, was itself a telemarketer, controlling 40% of the market. The stock has gone up 2000% in the past one year. But that is another story.

The TRAI notification on 1st April had says regulatory provisions not only help in preventing spam but also help in preventing fraudulent messages purporting to originate from banks, financial institutions, or other trusted sources.

But the Dhani episode shows that even after the new rules are in operation companies are in no hurry to scrub their databases against TRAIs DND list.

Ankit Banga, Dhanis marketing head wrote to say: The payment reminder SMS was erroneously sent out, the communication was directed towards a specific set of Dhani customers, but due to a human error, it was sent to non-targeted base. We would want to reassure you that there was no malaise in our intent and we are cognizant of the confusion this may have potentially caused and therefore we sent out a notification and SMS informing users to Ignore the SMS. We are working with our teams internally to ensure that such an error is not repeated in the future.

In a phone conversation earlier, when I pointed out that many people who received the messages insisted they were on the DND list, he claimed that the company has built its database in-house, based on specific engagements and registrations with customers. Well, it is clear that this is a cleaned and verified database that could target people by name, they deny any engagement with the group and also dont have an opt-out option, despite DND and the new TRAI regulations becoming operational.

Tech expert Srikanth (twitter handle: @logic) brought out another angle. He tweeted: So a lot of people are complaining about @dhanicares SMS spam including message about payment reminder for a loan they never had. What happened here is @dhanicares/ their CPaaS partner @KarixMobile is basically using transactional pipe for promotional message to bypass DND.

When specifically asked, Indiabulls has not commented on where the glitch happened or if KarixMobile had any role to play. What is clear is that payment reminders, that ought to have gone to specific borrowers, went out in the promotional pipe that includes those registered on DND. Does this mean telemarketers will continue spamming people or, as Shrikanth puts it, to skirt the DLT (Distributor Ledger Technology) based DND (which now stands postponed).

If TRAI is serious about the new regulations, it ought to investigate Dhanis 'human error' episode independently, at least to send out the signal that telemarketers cannot get away with a mere Oops! sorry folks, we made a mistake. Protecting subscribers and preventing spamming is more about TRAIs intent and seriousness, rather than a set of regulations.
Since South Korean consumer electronics company, LG announced its official departure from the smartphone business earlier this month, users have no idea if they will still receive some updates. On Thursday, Apr. 8, their questions now have the final answer.

Worry no more if you are a current LG smartphone user, as this time, the tech giant said that it will offer software updates for the Android OS. You can still enjoy the upgrade for up to three years.

LG Electronics Should Still Give Necessary OS Updates for Android Users

According to LG Newsroom, the official news body of the company, the multinational company located in Yeouido-dong, Seoul, South Korea will provide software updates for those users who have premium LG smartphones.

Moreover, the electronics firm said that the offer will last for two to three years, so users could still use their devices despite its recent revelation of leaving the smartphone world.

Specifically, mobile phones including Velvet, LG Wing, and those phones belonging to V-Series and G-Series will be the target devices that will receive the Android OS upgrades.

On the other hand, the company also mentioned that the 2020 mobile models like K-Series and LG Stylo will be able to acquire two updates upon the declaration. By the end of July, the smartphone business of the company will mark its end.

LG stated that it underwent a lot of hardships including its losses, as well as its declining performance due to a saturated phone competition with tech titans like Samsung and Apple, as well as Chinese electronics powerhouse like Oppo and Xiaomi which continue to expand its services globally.

However, it added that it will still resume smartphone production up to the second quarter of the year. This is in line with its obligations when it comes to its contracts with its partners and carriers. If you want to buy LG phones, you can still acquire those that are present in its inventory.

For more details about the announcement, visit LG's customer service center.

Read Also: Dell G15 Ryzen Gaming Laptop Brings Back AMD After a Decade; Expected to Sell at $899.99 on May 13

Why LG Quits Smartphone Business?

In a report by CNET on Monday, Apr. 5, LG will now focus on producing smart home products like speakers and smart televisions. It will instead pursue creating substantial products in the field of robotics, AI, and even manufacturing components of electric vehicles and other related products.

Parting ways with smartphones do not end up there, as LG has shown the world that the environment and technology could live in harmony. Throughout its service, the company has already recycled more than 20,000 tons of electronic devices like monitors and TVs.

What the company aims here is the prevention of solid waste, which could contribute to harmful emissions of carbon dioxide in the air which could translate to more than 55,000 metric tons.

The emissions also come from electricity and are believed to produce about 9,4000 homes in the US annually. If all companies are environment-conscious like LG, the world could be much safer while people enjoy using their electronic gadgets and devices.

Related Article: LG Closes Smartphone Products: US Most 'Green' Eco-Friendly Company Now Out of Phone Business



This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Joen Coronel

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 20:57:29|Editor: huaxia

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TASHKENT, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Uzbek and Russian companies have agreed to implement 33 projects worth 2.2 billion U.S. dollars following a business week and exhibition here, organizers of the event said Thursday.

"Uzbekistan is gradually expanding opportunities for cooperation with partner countries," said Denis Manturov, minister of industry and trade of Russia, who led a Russian delegation to the international exhibition held in the Uzbek capital.

"The republic is liberalizing tax, customs and currency legislation, creating free economic zones and updating sectoral development strategies," Manturov said.

Russia will fully support Uzbekistan's desire for greater openness and build up cooperation with Uzbek partners, he said.

The projects included the exploration and development of a gas field in southern Uzbekistan costing about 2 billion dollars, 900 million of which will be financed by Russian financial institutions.

According to the organizers, 300 Russian companies participated in the exhibition, while business delegations from Armenia, Belarus, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, France, the Czech Republic and Japan also attended the event. Enditem
Manchester Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi called a prison guard a 'filthy pig' in court today as he denied assaulting him.

Abedi, who conspired with his brother Salman over the bomb attack in 2017, entered a not guilty plea to assaulting Paul Edwards at Belmarsh prison in south-east London.

He also denied a charge of assaulting a second member of staff named Nick Barnett, during the 15-minute hearing.

Asked to enter a plea to the first charge on Thursday, Abedi, wearing a black, green and white zip-up jacket and with his hair grown out, told Westminster Magistrates' Court: 'I did assault that filthy pig, but I don't see any harm in doing that.'

Appearing on his 24th birthday via video link from HMP Frankland in County Durham, he added: 'This is my plea.'

A court artist sketch of Manchester Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi (right) and Parsons Green Tube bomber Ahmed Hassan (left), who have been charged over the attack of a prison officer at Belmarsh prison on May 11 last year

Abedi was making his first public appearance in more than a year since refusing to attend the final weeks of his Manchester bombing murder trial at the Old Bailey.

Asked to enter a plea on the second charge, Abedi said: 'Same as before. I don't see any wrongdoing.'

Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring formally recorded not guilty pleas.

Parsons Green Tube bomber Ahmed Hassan, who also appeared in court, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Edwards on May 11 last year.

But addressing the chief magistrate, he said: 'I want to make three points before I confirm my name.

'I want you to know that I hate you very much because you are a judge, judging by other than the law of Allah.

'You will be destined for hellfire unless you repent and submit yourself to the law of Allah. I am not represented and evidence has not been disclosed to me.'

Mr Goldspring told the pair, who were legally unrepresented, it was up to them to 'do something about it' if they wanted lawyers at their next court appearance, in May.

Mr Edwards received cuts to his head and bruising, and was also kicked. He has ongoing hearing problems as a result of the attack at Belmarsh (pictured), the court heard

They were due to attend court via video link on Wednesday, but refused to leave their cells, prompting district judge Tan Ikram to state that reasonable force may be used should they refuse to cooperate for Thursday's hearing.

Outlining the case, prosecutor Nicholas Alexander said Abedi, Hassan, 21, and a third defendant, 23-year-old Muhammed Saeed, were out of their cells when they entered an office and assaulted Mr Edwards as he sat at a desk.

Mr Edwards received cuts to his head and bruising, and was also kicked. He has ongoing hearing problems as a result of the attack, the court heard.

All three are due to enter pleas at Woolwich Crown Court on May 5.

Abedi, who turns 24 today, Hassan, 21, and a third defendant, 23-year-old Muhammed Saeed (pictured left to right), were out of their cells when they entered an office and assaulted Paul Edwards as he sat at his desk, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard

Hassan, who planted the Parsons Green Tube bomb in September 2017 that injured 51 passengers, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 34 years in 2018.

Abedi was found guilty by a jury in March last year of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and plotting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life over the terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in 2017.

He could die behind bars after being given 24 life sentences with a minimum term of 55 years before he can be considered for parole.

The Manchester Arena public inquiry heard evidence in December that he subsequently admitted involvement in the plot.
GUANGZHOU, China, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MCE, the world famous integrated expo which groups the whole worldwide production and distribution line of the HVAC and plumbing sector, will make a different debut in 2021. Aiming at enriching the expo experience, this year MCE will present in two different ways-digital and offline. The digital edition is scheduled from 8th to 16th, April, 2021. PHNIX, a leading heat pump manufacturer in China, will participate in the digital show with new R290 heat pumps presenting in an extraordinary virtual way. Moreover, PHNIX heat pump experts will offer a series of webinars deepening the theme of leading R290 heat pump technologies from China.

PHNIX will organize 3 live webinars (30 mins. each), in which the speakers of the webinars will directly interact with the participants and instantly answer their questions online so as to deliver an efficient communication experience on the show.

Here are three brand new R290 heat pump products that will be launched and capture your eye in the show:

*R290 All-in-one Inverter heat pump water heater with Hitemp Smart App control

*R290 Full inverter Air to Water Heat Pump for house heating/cooling/DHW heat pump

*R290 HeatMaster series Tankless Heat Pump for DHW (under development)

Agenda of PHNIX Live Sessions on MCE Digital 2021:

10th Apr. (12:00-12:30 GMT+2) Leading R290 Heat Pump Technology From China- Air to Water Heat Pump for house heating/cooling/DHW heat pump

12th Apr. (12:00-12:30 GMT+2) New Product Launch- New R290 Inverter All-in-one Heat Pump Water Heater

13th Apr. (12:00-12:30 GMT+2) PHNIX New Heat Pumps for District Heating in European Markets

"This time in the show, we will showcase three new R290 heat pump products for different application to the audience, we believe this new R290 heat pumps is the market trend and will soon be applied worldwide," said Peter Wang, director of PHNIX overseas business.

If you also want to join us at the show, follow the link below. We look forward to sharing our latest products and technologies with you.

https://livedigital.mcexpocomfort.it/

About PHNIX

As the leading heat pump manufacturer in China, PHNIX is an international enterprise specializing in the R&D and production of heat pumps and energy-saving solutions. Almost 50% of PHNIX products are exported to Europe, North America, and other overseas markets. To learn more about PHNIX and its products, please visit www.phnix-e.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1480241/image.jpg
Regulatory News:

Seche Environnement (Paris:SCHP):

In light of the COVID-19 epidemic and in order to protect the shareholders, the General Manager, duly authorized by the Board of Directors, has decided to hold the Annual General Meeting without the shareholders or other eligible attendees being present.

In light of the measures just announced by the Government, which aim to restrict freedom of movement to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak as part of the territory-wide containment as of April 3, 2021 and for a duration of 4 weeks, the place of the meeting shall be assigned on the date of the Meeting by an administrative measure preventing shareholders from being able to travel and physically participate in the meeting.

This decision is taken in accordance with the provisions of Order No. 2020-321 of March 25, 2020, extended and amended.

The prior notice for the Annual General Meeting, including the Meeting's agenda, the text of resolutions submitted for the Meeting's approval, and the Meeting's primary participation and voting conditions, was published on March 24, 2021 in the Bulletin of Mandatory Legal Announcements (BALO). The attention of shareholders and other persons entitled to attend the meeting is drawn to the fact that, contrary to what is stated in this notice, the meeting will be held in camera.

The convening notice will be published on April 12, 2021 in the BALO and in a legal announcements newspaper. These notices will be available on the company's website: www.groupe-seche.com.

Retransmission and terms of participation

It is specified that the shareholders will not be able to participate and vote live (by telephone or audiovisual conference) because of the technical impossibility to carry out their identification.

The general meeting will be broadcast live by clicking on the link that will be posted on the company's website www.groupe-seche.com. It will be rebroadcast on a delayed basis within the regulatory timeframe.

Since shareholders cannot physically participate in the general meeting, no admission card will be issued.

Shareholders are invited, prior to the General Meeting, to vote by mail or to give power to the President of the General Meeting or to a third party who must vote remotely, by post or electronically via the e-mail address: ct-assemblees@caceis.com.

Availability of Preparatory Documents Requests to Send Documents

The preparatory documents for the general meeting set out in Article R. 22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code will be posted on the company's website (www.groupe-seche.com) no later than the twenty-first day preceding the general meeting.

The documents intended to be presented at the meeting in accordance with articles L. 225-115 and R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code will be made available on the company's website (www.groupe-seche.com) or upon request at the e-mail address: actionnaires@groupe-seche.com.

From the date of the convocation, the shareholders may ask the company to send them the documents and information mentioned in articles R. 225-81 and R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code, up to and including the fifth day before the meeting, preferably by e-mail to the following address: actionnaires@groupe-seche.com.

In general, shareholders are encouraged to prefer the transmission of all their requests electronically to the aforementioned e-mail address.

Shareholder Questions

As soon as the preparatory documents are made available to shareholders, any shareholder may address written questions to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company, in accordance with the provisions of Article R. 225-84 of the French Commercial Code. These written questions should be sent, preferably electronically to: actionnaires@groupe-seche.com (or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt to Head Office) and received before the end of the second business day preceding the date of the general meeting. They must be accompanied by a certificate of registration in account. The questions and their answers will be posted on the company's website (www.groupe-seche.com) within the deadline set by the regulations.

Since shareholders cannot physically participate in the general meeting, exceptionally they will not be able to ask oral questions, nor suggest amendments to the resolutions or new resolutions during the general meeting.

Scrutineers

Finally, the scrutineers of the meeting will be appointed in accordance with the applicable regulations: In this context, these functions will be offered to shareholders among the ten shareholders with the largest number of voting rights of which the company is aware on the date of the convocation of the meeting. The identity and quality of the designated persons will be published in accordance with the regulations.

In general, you are invited to regularly consult the section dedicated to the General Meeting on the company's website (www.groupe-seche.com).

Next press release

Q1 2021 revenue April 27, 2021 after market

About Seche Environnement

Seche Environnement is the leading player in the recovery and treatment of all types of waste, including the most complex and hazardous waste, and in remediation services for the benefit of the environment and health. Seche Environnement is a family-owned French industrial group that has supported industrial and regional ecology for over 35 years with innovative technology developed by its R&D team. It delivers its unique expertise on the ground in local regions, with more than 100 sites around the world, including around 40 industrial sites in France. With 4,600 employees, of which 2,000 in France, Seche Environnement has revenue of about 700 million, of which 25% is earned internationally, driven by internal and external growth momentum via its many acquisitions. Thanks to its expertise in creating circular economy loops, the treatment of pollutants and greenhouse gases, and hazard containment, the Group directly contributes to the protection of the living world and biodiversity an area it has actively supported since its creation.

Seche Environnement has been listed on Eurolist by Euronext (Compartment B) since November 27, 1997. It is eligible for equity savings funds dedicated to investing in SMEs and is included in the CAC Mid&Small, EnterNext Tech 40 and EnterNext PEA-PME 150 indexes. ISIN: FR 0000039139 Bloomberg: SCHP.FP Reuters: CCHE.PA

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005811/en/

Contacts:

SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT

Shareholder Relations

Manuel Andersen

Director of Investor Relations

m.andersen@groupe-seche.com

+33 (0)1 53 21 53 60
The Pritzker Military Museum & Library is proud to announce its newest exhibit, Drawn to Combat: Bill Mauldin & the Art of War, which will celebrate the artistic career of cartoonist Bill Mauldin. A two-time Pulitzer Prize winning artist, Mauldins cartoons embodied the spirit of the infantryman during World War II before turning his critical pen to those in the political sphere. The exhibit will open on May 14th and will follow CDC-Guidelines for safety during the pandemic.

We are so excited to bring Bill Mauldins story back to the cultural forefront and introduce his talent and satire to a new audience, stated Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), Founder of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. The Museum & Library holds the largest collection of his artwork and with the archival items recently donated from the Bill Mauldin Estate, we can give his cultural legacy the platform and honor it deserves.

For nearly fifty years, from World War II to the end of the Cold War, Bill Mauldin used his artistry and wit to provide commentary on the world as he saw it, earning two Pulitzer Prizes in the process. As a soldier and nationally syndicated political cartoonist, he used his voice and platform to critique the policies and actions of the nations leaders, both military and civilian, when they came up short.

Born into poverty, Mauldin used his pen and paper to change his fortune and circumstances. His art saw him through World War II, where he used his own experiences and those of the downtrodden infantryman to present a true account of life on the front. Through his characters Willie and Joe, he was able to capture the cultural nuances of life in the Army, providing comedic relief or trepidation  depending on the viewer  while simultaneously presenting the grim reality of the war to the home front. On his return stateside, he transitioned his critique of military leaders to those leading the nation, finding success as a political cartoonist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where he won his 2nd Pulitzer Prize, and then at the Chicago Sun-Times. His famous cartoon reacting to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, 20 years after he first came to renown with his Willie and Joe cartoons, showed his continued ability to tap into the cultural zeitgeist of the time.

What makes Mauldin so unique and forward thinking is his uncanny ability to take on complicated issues  veterans affairs, segregation, the civil rights movement, healthcare, and the economic inequalities in America  and distill it into single images that force the viewer to examine their own biases, explains Museum & Library Curator James Brundage. His images continue to be relevant because we are still grappling with these issues and themes today.

Drawn to Combat: Bill Mauldin & the Art of War will feature 125 original Mauldin drawings, another 35 reproduced images, and more than 20 original artifacts. The art spans the breath of Mauldins entire career, from 1937  1994, from early years learning art in Chicago, to the frontlines of WWII in Europe, to his last years at the Chicago Sun-Times.

Curator James Brundage is available for interviews. Art and an in-person media preview will also be available.

Who: The Pritzker Military Museum & Library

What: Drawn to Combat: Bill Mauldin & the Art of War a new exhibit offering a retrospective of the work by two-time Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist Bill Mauldin.

When: Opening to the Public on May 14, 2021 with a Member Preview on May 13. Virtual components and the online exhibit to be available on May 14.

Where: Pritzker Military Museum & Library

104 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60603

Hours: Tuesday  Saturday, 10am - 4pm CT

Fee: General admission to the Museum & Library is $10.00. Seniors, students and teachers with valid IDs: $8.00. Admission is free for children under 12 and Active Military.

Info: For more information on the Bill Mauldin art exhibit, Drawn to Combat: Bill Mauldin & the Art of War, visit the website http://www.WhoIsBillMauldin.com

###

About the Pritzker Military Museum & Library

The Pritzker Military Museum & Library aims to increase the publics understanding of military history, military affairs and national security by providing a forum for the study and exploration of our military - past, present, and future - with a specific focus on their stories, sacrifices, and values. With national and global reach, these spaces and events aim to share the stories of those who served and their contributions as citizen soldiers, helping citizens everywhere appreciate the relationship between the armed forces and the civilians whose freedoms they protect. A non-governmental, non-partisan organization, the Museum & Library features diverse collections, scholarly initiatives, and public programs from its flagship center in downtown Chicago to its world-class research center and park currently under construction in Somers, Wisconsin.
Fluorescence microscopy image of protein condensates forming inside living cells. Credit: Weitz lab, Harvard University

Powerful algorithms used by Netflix, Amazon and Facebook can 'predict' the biological language of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, scientists have found.

Big data produced during decades of research was fed into a computer language model to see if artificial intelligence can make more advanced discoveries than humans.

Academics based at St John's College, University of Cambridge, found the machine-learning technology could decipher the 'biological language' of cancer, Alzheimer's, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Their ground-breaking study has been published in the scientific journal PNAS today and could be used in the future to 'correct the grammatical mistakes inside cells that cause disease'.

Professor Tuomas Knowles, lead author of the paper and a Fellow at St John's College, said: "Bringing machine-learning technology into research into neurodegenerative diseases and cancer is an absolute game-changer. Ultimately, the aim will be to use artificial intelligence to develop targeted drugs to dramatically ease symptoms or to prevent dementia happening at all."

Every time Netflix recommends a series to watch or Facebook suggests someone to befriend, the platforms are using powerful machine-learning algorithms to make highly educated guesses about what people will do next. Voice assistants like Alexa and Siri can even recognize individual people and instantly 'talk' back to you.

Dr. Kadi Liis Saar, first author of the paper and a Research Fellow at St John's College, used similar machine-learning technology to train a large-scale language model to look at what happens when something goes wrong with proteins inside the body to cause disease.

Fluorescence microscopy image of protein condensates forming inside living cells. Credit: Weitz lab, Harvard University

She said: "The human body is home to thousands and thousands of proteins and scientists don't yet know the function of many of them. We asked a neural network based language model to learn the language of proteins.

"We specifically asked the program to learn the language of shapeshifting biomolecular condensatesdroplets of proteins found in cellsthat scientists really need to understand to crack the language of biological function and malfunction that cause cancer and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. We found it could learn, without being explicitly told, what scientists have already discovered about the language of proteins over decades of research."

Proteins are large, complex molecules that play many critical roles in the body. They do most of the work in cells and are required for the structure, function and regulation of the body's tissues and organsantibodies, for example, are a protein that function to protect the body.

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases are three of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, but scientists believe there are several hundred.

In Alzheimer's disease, which affects 50 million people worldwide, proteins go rogue, form clumps and kill healthy nerve cells. A healthy brain has a quality control system that effectively disposes of these potentially dangerous masses of proteins, known as aggregates.

Scientists now think that some disordered proteins also form liquid-like droplets of proteins called condensates that don't have a membrane and merge freely with each other. Unlike protein aggregates which are irreversible, protein condensates can form and reform and are often compared to blobs of shapeshifting wax in lava lamps.

Professor Knowles said: "Protein condensates have recently attracted a lot of attention in the scientific world because they control key events in the cell such as gene expressionhow our DNA is converted into proteinsand protein synthesishow the cells make proteins.

Fluorescence microscopy image of protein condensates forming inside living cells. Credit: Weitz lab, Harvard University

"Any defects connected with these protein droplets can lead to diseases such as cancer. This is why bringing natural language processing technology into research into the molecular origins of protein malfunction is vital if we want to be able to correct the grammatical mistakes inside cells that cause disease."

Dr. Saar said: "We fed the algorithm all of data held on the known proteins so it could learn and predict the language of proteins in the same way these models learn about human language and how WhatsApp knows how to suggest words for you to use.

"Then we were able ask it about the specific grammar that leads only some proteins to form condensates inside cells. It is a very challenging problem and unlocking it will help us learn the rules of the language of disease."

The machine-learning technology is developing at a rapid pace due to the growing availability of data, increased computing power, and technical advances which have created more powerful algorithms.

Further use of machine-learning could transform future cancer and neurodegenerative disease research. Discoveries could be made beyond what scientists currently already know and speculate about diseases and potentially even beyond what the human brain can understand without the help of machine-learning.

Dr. Saar explained: "Machine-learning can be free of the limitations of what researchers think are the targets for scientific exploration and it will mean new connections will be found that we have not even conceived of yet. It is really very exciting indeed."

The network developed has now been made freely available to researchers around the world to enable advances to be worked on by more scientists.

Explore further Researchers discover a rare genetic form of dementia

More information: Kadi L. Saar et al, Learning the molecular grammar of protein condensates from sequence determinants and embeddings, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Kadi L. Saar et al, Learning the molecular grammar of protein condensates from sequence determinants and embeddings,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019053118
Mumbai, April 8 : Her mom, actress Pooja Bedi, has never really minced words when it comes to sharing her thoughts. However, budding actress Alaya F says when it comes to sharing knowledge and experiences about the industry, she and her mom have always had positive conversations.

She says when it comes to her mom, she has always been positive about her experience in the industry.

"The one wonderful thing is that she is an extremely positive person. She focusses on telling me the positives. If I ask about it, she will tell me anything I want to know. Most of the conversations related to the the industry have been positive," Alaya told IANS.

She adds that her mother never planned to be an actress.

"My mother never intended to be an actor. It was never her big dream to be an actor. She kind of fell into it. I don't think there were many heartbreaks with the industry when it came to her," she says.

Meanwhile, the actress, who was seen in her film "Jawaani Jaaneman", recently starred in a music video called "Aaj sajeya". The song has been written, composed and sung by Goldie Sohel.

"My film released and the world went into lockdown, so I lost a year at the start of my career. Which is okay! I knew that I wasn't going to have a release coming out super soon. When Punit (Malhotra) came to me, I saw no reason not to do it. I mean Manish Malhotra was doing my clothes and Micky (Contractor) sir was going to do my make up and he (Puneet) was directing it. Everyone else involved was just so wonderful, I was like let's totally do it!" she says.

Alaya dons the look of a young bride in the music video.

"The concept is fun, young, new, modern bride. It is funny because when I go to a wedding, instead of heels, I wear boots or high sneakers as they are more comfortable. I related to it on a personal level. I loved the whole vibe of it. It was something which my character from 'Jawaani Jaaneman' never got. In the film, I got pregnant, but never married. So here I got to get married!" she says.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Contributed / Getty Images

WEST HARTFORD  Authorities shut down the entrances to the Westfarms Shopping Mall as it was closing Wednesday night for a reported bomb threat, according to police.

Officers were dispatched to the mall on a reported bomb threat around 6:20 p.m., Capt. Michael Perruccio said.
The childhood of influential director Steven Spielberg is heading to the big screen, with the cast getting even bigger with the addition of Paul Dano.

Dano, 36, has signed on to portray a version of Spielberg's father, Arnold, according to Variety.

He joins Michelle Williams, who plays a version of Spielberg's mother Leah, and Seth Rogen, playing a version of the filmmaker's favorite uncle.

New role: The childhood of influential director Steven Spielberg is heading to the big screen, with the cast getting even bigger with the addition of Paul Dano

Version: Dano, 36, has signed on to portray a version of Spielberg's father, Arnold, according to Variety

The filmmaker was born in Cincinnati in 1946 and moved to New Jersey for a few years in 1952 though this project will be based on his formative years in Phoenix, where his family moved in 1957.

While each of the characters in the film will be based on his real family members and others in his life, the characters will, 'have a unique voice separate from the real people who serve as inspiration.'

Dano's role is believed to be the last adult character, with the rest of the cast comprised of young actors including a boy inspired by Spielberg himself, though it's said his name will not be Steven.

Formative: The filmmaker was born in Cincinnati in 1946 and moved to New Jersey for a few years in 1952 though this project will be based on his formative years in Phoenix, where his family moved in 1957

The filmmaker's time in Arizona is when he first started making Super 8 films with his friends, and when his parents' marriage started falling apart.

The currently-untitled project also marks the return to screenwriting for Spielberg, having co-written the screenplay with longtime collaborator Tony Kushner (Munich, Lincoln, West Side Story).

This is the first project Spielberg has had a hand in writing in 20 years, since the release of A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, a project Stanley Kubrick had been working on for years before his death.

Early films: The filmmaker's time in Arizona is when he first started making Super 8 films with his friends, and when his parents' marriage started falling apart

Production is expected to begin this summer, with the film expected to be released in 2022 through Spielberg's Amblin Partners and their overall deal with Universal.

Both Spielberg and Kushner will also serve as producers through Amblin alongside Kristie Macosko Krieger.

Spielberg's next film, a musical remake of West Side Story that Kushner wrote based on Arthur Laurents' play, hits theaters on December 10.

Coming soon: Spielberg's next film, a musical remake of West Side Story that Kushner wrote based on Arthur Laurents' play, hits theaters on December 10

Spielberg and Kushner are also teaming up for the director's next project, The Kidnapping of Edgaro Montaro, based on the book by David I. Kirtzer.

Dano will next be seen in director Antoine Fuqua's The Guilty, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Ethan Hawke, arriving later this year.

He also stars as Edward Nashton, a.k.a. The Riddler, in Warner Bros.' highly-anticipated superhero movie The Batman starring Robert Pattinson.
Spains government is set to trim its 2021 growth forecast after renewed pandemic restrictions led to a worse-than-expected first quarter and pushed back the countrys recovery.

An increase in Covid-19 cases forced some Spanish regions to impose restrictions on movement at the beginning of the year, dealing a blow to companies hiring plans and dragging on growth in the first quarter, Economy Minister Nadia Calvino said in a Bloomberg TV interview on Thursday.

That is the main reason why we are going to revise downward our forecasts for this year, Calvino said. We were expecting to have around 7% growth this year and it may be smaller due to the delay -- the one quarter delay in terms of the recovery.

A downward revision would put the governments forecasts more in line with those of other economists. The Bank of Spain, for instance, said last month it expects the economy to expand 6% in 2021 in its baseline scenario. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs administration published its economic outlook in October.

Despite the setback, Calvino said that economic indicators started to improve in March, in line with the governments expectations for a strong second half of the year. The countrys immunization program is also set to underpin the recovery.

All indicators are going toward the positive, she said, adding that Spain is on track to have around 70% of its population vaccinated by the summer. Calvino also welcomed a proposal by the U.S. on digital taxation and global minimum levies, while cautioning that leaders would have to hash out the details.

That gives us hope that by the summer we will be able to reach a global agreement on the tax issues, which we have been working on for years, she said. We have to stop the race to the bottom.

Jeannette Neumann, Matthew Miller, Mark Cudmore

: bloomberg.com
SAGINAW COUNTY, MI - A juvenile corrections facility operating in Buena Vista Township is closing its doors by the end of April after the state announced it was working to revoke its license, according to internal emails obtained by MLive.

Wolverine Human Services Chief Operating Officer Thomas Krolicki announced the closing in a mass email to staff Wednesday evening.

Although we are appealing and do not agree with the systemic actions taken by (the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services) to revoke the operating license at (Wolverine Secure Treatment Center) we cannot financially continue to operate this structure and maintain the safety standards that need to be in place for a secure setting, Krolicki said in the email.

The department has asked Wolverine to remove the children from its facility by Wednesday, April 21, Krolickis email said. Human resources will reach out to staff assigned to the treatment center and create a transition plan for them.

MDHHS recommended Wolverines license be revoked based on an investigation that substantiated physical abuse and safety-related licensing violations at the treatment center, spokeswoman Lynn Sutfin said in a previous report. In a previous statement, Wolverine CEO Judith Fischer Wollack said she strongly disagrees with the decision.

The recommendation began a 30-day time frame for Wolverine to appeal the decision, which should resolve in mid to late April. Wolverines appeal will go through a compliance conference, a hearing with the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules, and then a final decision by MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel, Sutfin said previously.

The Buena Vista Township site is a 100-bed treatment facility for boys and girls, aged 12 to 19, from the child welfare system and MDHHS. Wolverine has two other campuses in Michigan, one in Detroit and one in Vassar.

In a statement, Wollack said the treatment center is an important safety net for Michigans at-risk youth. She said the state informed Wolverine last month the facility would be closed by April 21 and theyre complying with that order, as well as asking government authorities to create discharge plans for the impacted children at the facility to be moved by then.

We are continuing the appeal process and we will consider all options including reopening the WSTC if the facts and truth prevail, Wollack said in the statement. The states decision has created huge upheaval and disruption in the lives of children who have already suffered enough.

Read more:

State recommends revoking operating license for Wolverine juvenile facility in Saginaw County

Wolverine juvenile facility strongly disagree with states decision to revoke license in Saginaw County

Baby found suffering from hypothermia in Michigan woods was allegedly abandoned by mother
SAN FRANCISCO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TrustArc, the leader in data privacy management and automation, today announced that Audiencerate, the identity hub, has received the TRUSTe International Privacy Verification from TrustArc. The verification illustrates that verified organizations maintain industry-established principles and standards for protecting personal data.

"We are thrilled and proud to have received the TRUSTe Verification, demonstrating our commitment to privacy compliance. Privacy has been a key driver for Audiencerate from day one and as global privacy regulations continue to evolve, we keep developing our product and operations accordingly to ensure that privacy is at the heart of everything we do," said Filippo Gramigna, CEO, Audiencerate.

Audiencerate bridges the gap between data providers, agencies and brands, enabling marketers to run better performing campaigns with trusted and reliable targeting data at scale. Audiencerate's platform processes more than 4 billion requests each week as it helps make compliant data-driven marketing easier.

Organizations that receive a TRUSTe Verification undergo a three-phase process. The Validation demonstrates privacy compliance that aligns with established privacy principles.

The Assessment phase: A member of the Global Privacy Solutions team helps organizations define an assessment scope and guides discovery, the results of which are included in a findings report.

The Remediation and Verifications phase: A team member assists the organization as it remediates gaps in privacy programs, awarding a seal and letter of attestation after successful remediation.

The Ongoing Monitoring and Guidance phase: TrustArc provides ongoing compliance monitoring, dispute resolution, and assessment of documentation for the duration of the agreement.

"TrustArc congratulates Audiencerate on its TRUSTe Verification," said Chris Babel, CEO, TrustArc. "Developing ongoing, scalable data privacy programs can be challenging in the face of constantly changing regulations. Organizations, such as Audiencerate, that receive TRUSTe verifications demonstrate to customers that they are privacy-forward companies. We look forward to our continued work with Audiencerate as it maintains its exceptional customer service through adherence to international privacy laws."

About Audiencerate

Audiencerate, the identity hub, is enabling compliant data-driven advertising via its proprietary technology. Bridging the gap between data providers, agencies and brands, Audiencerate allows marketers to run better performing digital campaigns with trusted and reliable targeting data. The agile, tech-focused team is able to react quickly to market changes and take advantage of trends, ensuring its product offering is always relevant, and giving marketers access to a wider range of tools for data modelling and activation. Headquartered in London, and with a team based in the US, UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden, Audiencerate helps companies across the globe to realise their marketing data objectives.

About TrustArc

As the leader in data privacy, TrustArc automates and simplifies the creation of end-to-end privacy management programs for global organizations. TrustArc is the only company to deliver the depth of privacy intelligence, coupled with the complete platform automation, that is essential for the growing number of privacy regulations in an ever-changing digital world. Headquartered in San Francisco, and backed by a global team across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, TrustArc helps customers worldwide demonstrate compliance, minimize risk, and build trust. For additional information visit www.trustarc.com.

SOURCE TrustArc

Related Links

https://www.trustarc.com


CINCINNATI, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cincinnati Bell Inc. ("Cincinnati Bell" or the "Company") today announced that it has commenced consent solicitations (the "Consent Solicitations") with respect to certain proposed amendments to the (i) indenture, dated as of July 1, 1993 (as supplemented and amended, the "2023 Notes Indenture") governing its 71/ 4 % Notes due 2023 (the "2023 Notes"), (ii) indenture, dated as of September 22, 2016 (as supplemented and amended, the "2024 Notes Indenture") governing its 7.000% Senior Notes due 2024 (the "2024 Notes"), (iii) indenture, dated as of October 6, 2017 (as supplemented and amended, the "2025 Notes Indenture") governing its 8.000% Senior Notes due 2025 (the "2025 Notes") and (iv) indenture, dated as of November 30, 1998 (as supplemented and amended, the "2028 Notes Indenture," and together with the 2023 Notes Indenture, the 2024 Notes Indenture and the 2025 Notes Indenture, the "Indentures") governing Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company LLC's (formerly known as Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company) 6.30% Debentures due 2028, which are guaranteed by the Company (the "2028 Notes," and together with the 2023 Notes, the 2024 Notes and the 2025 Notes, the "Notes").

The Consent Solicitations are being conducted in contemplation of the previously announced proposed acquisition by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners ("MIP") of the Company (the "Acquisition"), with certain funds managed by the Private Equity Group of Ares Management Corporation ("Ares") having agreed to provide equity financing for the Acquisition. However, receipt of the Requisite Consents (as defined herein) is not necessary to complete the Acquisition. Adoption of the Proposed Amendments (as defined herein) is not a condition to the consummation of the Acquisition, and whether or not the Requisite Consents are obtained will not affect whether the Acquisition closes.

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in the Consent Solicitation Statement, dated April 8, 2021 (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Consent Solicitation Statement"), the Company is soliciting consents (i) with respect to each of the Indentures, to amend the reporting covenants by replacing the requirement to file annual, quarterly and other periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission with the requirement to provide certain reports to the applicable holders of the Notes through a noteholder website and (ii) with respect to the 2023 Notes Indenture and the 2028 Notes Indenture, to amend the cross-payment and cross-default provisions to substantially conform to the corresponding provisions in the 2024 Notes Indenture and the 2025 Notes Indenture (collectively, the "Proposed Amendments"). All capitalized terms used in this press release but not defined herein have the meaning given to them in the Consent Solicitation Statement.

If the Requisite Consents are obtained and subject to the other terms and conditions in the Consent Solicitation Statement (including the consummation of the Acquisition), the Company will make a cash payment of $2.50 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, in each case held by each holder as of the Record Date (as defined herein) who has validly delivered its consent to the applicable Proposed Amendments at or prior to the Expiration Time (as defined herein) and who has not validly revoked its consent before the applicable Effective Date. Subject to the waiver or satisfaction of all conditions set forth in the Consent Solicitation Statement, the Company will make the consent payment substantially concurrently with the consummation of the Acquisition. The Company expects the Acquisition to be consummated in the first half of 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions; however, no assurance is made as to the timing and likelihood of completion of the Acquisition.

The Proposed Amendments will be effected by supplemental indentures (each, as applicable, a "Supplemental Indenture") to be entered into by the Company (in respect of the 2028 Notes, Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company LLC), the Guarantors (as applicable), and the applicable trustee as soon as practicable after the time that the Requisite Consents have been received; however, the Proposed Amendments will not become operative until the consummation of the Acquisition. In order for the Proposed Amendments Supplemental Indentures to be executed, the Company must receive valid consents in respect of (i) of not less than 66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 2023 Notes (the "2023 Notes Requisite Consents"), (ii) at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 2024 Notes (the "2024 Notes Requisite Consents"), (iii) at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 2025 Notes (the "2025 Notes Requisite Consents") and (iv) of not less than 66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 2028 Notes (the "2028 Notes Requisite Consents," and together with the 2023 Notes Requisite Consents, the 2024 Notes Requisite Consents and the 2025 Notes Requisite Consents, the "Requisite Consents"). Holders who do not deliver their Consents prior to the applicable Expiration Time shall be bound by the applicable Proposed Amendments if the applicable Supplemental Indenture becomes operative as described above. In addition, each of the Consent Solicitations is conditioned on, the consummation of the other Consent Solicitations. Regardless of the outcome of the Consent Solicitations, the Notes will continue to be outstanding and will continue to bear interest as provided in the applicable Indenture.

The Consent Solicitations will expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on April 22, 2021 (such date and time, as the same may be extended by the Company from time to time, in its sole discretion, the "Expiration Time"). Only holders of record of the Notes as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time on April 7, 2021 (the "Record Date"), are eligible to deliver consents to the Proposed Amendments in the Consent Solicitations. The Company may, in its sole discretion, terminate, extend or amend one or more of the Consent Solicitations at any time as described in the Consent Solicitation Statement.

This press release is for informational purposes only and the Consent Solicitations are being made solely on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Consent Solicitation Statement. Further, this press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes or any other securities. The Consent Solicitation Statement does not constitute a solicitation of Consents in any jurisdiction in which, or to or from any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such solicitation under applicable federal securities or blue sky laws.



Copies of the Consent Solicitation Statement may be obtained from D.F. King & Co., Inc., the Information and Tabulation Agent, at (212) 269-5550 (banks and brokers), (866) 388-7452 (all others, toll free), or email at [email protected]. Holders of the Notes are urged to review the Consent Solicitation Statement for the detailed terms of the Consent Solicitations and the procedures for consenting to the Proposed Amendments. Any persons with questions regarding the Consent Solicitations should contact the Solicitation Agent, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, at (212) 902-6351 (collect).

About Cincinnati Bell Inc.

With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Bell Inc. (NYSE: CBB) delivers integrated communications solutions to residential and business customers over its fiber-optic and copper networks including high-speed internet, video, voice and data. Cincinnati Bell provides service in areas of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Hawaii. In addition, enterprise customers across the United States and Canada rely on CBTS and OnX for efficient, scalable office communications systems and end-to-end IT solutions. For more information, please visit www.cincinnatibell.com. The information on Cincinnati Bell's website is not incorporated by reference in this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements in this communication contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and results that are subject to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industries in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "predicts," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues," "endeavors," "strives," "will," "may," "proposes," "potential," "could," "should," "outlook," or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of future financial performance, anticipated growth and trends in businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) the risk that the Acquisition may not be completed in a timely manner or at all; (ii) the possibility that any or all of the various conditions to the consummation of the Acquisition may not be satisfied or waived, including the failure to receive any required regulatory approvals from any applicable governmental entities (or any conditions, limitations or restrictions placed on such approvals); (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Acquisition, including in circumstances which would require Cincinnati Bell to pay a termination fee or other expenses; (iv) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the Acquisition on Cincinnati Bell's ability to retain and hire key personnel, its ability to maintain relationships with its customers, suppliers and others with whom it does business, or its operating results and business generally; (v) risks related to diverting management's attention from Cincinnati Bell's ongoing business operations; (vi) the risk that shareholder litigation in connection with the Acquisition may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (vii) risks related to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 (more commonly known as the Coronavirus), including the risk that the receipt of certain approvals required to consummate the Acquisition may be delayed; and (viii) (A) those discussed in Cincinnati Bell's Form 10-K report, Form 10-Q reports and Form 8-K reports, and (B) those discussed in other documents Cincinnati Bell filed with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Cincinnati Bell undertakes no, and expressly disclaims any, obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by applicable law.

For further information, please contact:

Media  Cincinnati Bell: Josh Pichler Senior Manager, Communications and Media Tel: (513) 565-0310 Email: [email protected]



Investors  Cincinnati Bell: Josh Duckworth Vice President of Treasury, Corporate Finance and

Investor Relations Tel: (513) 397-2292 Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Cincinnati Bell Inc.
For several days between last December and January, Dare Adeniyi was in hospital after Omo Oniles attacked him in Osogbo, Osun State.

Mr Adeniyi, a bricklayer, and his colleagues were constructing of a three-bedroom apartment on December 23 when the thugs arrived.

They asked for money but we replied that another set had come earlier and that the owner of the house was not around. They got angry and started attacking us with cutlass. I spent three weeks in the hospital nursing the injuries they inflicted on me. 

Since returning to work, Mr Adeniyi said he had had other encounters with the thugs at different sites in the state.

Criminality in Osun

Omo Oniles loosely translates as children of the landowner. They are thugs who invade construction sites to demand baseless levies from property developers. The practice is also common in other southwest states in Nigeria.

Their demands depend on the nature of the property being developed on sites.

Many of the thugs in Osun are said to be State Boys, a notorious group allegedly empowered by the preceding administration of Rauf Aregbesola but who were allegedly abandoned by the current governor, Gboyega Oyetola. PREMIUM TIMES could not verify any direct link between the Osun governemnts and the thugs.

The thugs, PREMIUM TIMES learnt, are involved in many forms of criminalities. They force buyers of land from government or families to pay foundation fee, lintel fee, decking fee, roofing fee, and many more, all without receipts or any evidence of payment.

In many cases, different groups make demands on the same projects and failure to pay often leads to attack on property developers and destruction of properties.

Violence on developers

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES at a construction site at Kobo in Osogbo, Mr Adeniyi narrated how Omo Oniles assaulted a property owner who refused to consent to their demands.

The Omo Oniles attacked the house owner and broke blocks on his head. They came to ask for money and the man told them he did not come to site with money. They just beat him up.

We usually flee the site whenever they come because one could get killed. They will come with cutlasses and other weapons, he said.

Another construction worker, Sodiq Olalekan, said constant encounters with Omo Oniles were discouraging him from his job.

We encounter them in all construction sites. Their request depends on what is being constructed on the site and failure to respond often leads to attacks on workers on the site.

Many of them claiming to be Omo Onile may not even be from this town. Some are from Lagos, Ibadan and other places and they are terrorising us in Osun. They disturb us from the foundation stage till the end of the construction, Mr Olalekan told PREMIUM TIMES.

Because of the activities of the thugs, our reporter learnt that many labourers no longer want to go to construction sites.

Kidnap of site engineers

A civil engineer in the state, Anthony Adejuwon, also narrated his experience with the thugs to our reporter.

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They (Omo Onile) injured one of my workers some days to Christmas in 2020, Mr Adejuwon said.

He was slapped repeatedly and lost hearing in one of his ears. I also know of a site that has been abandoned since 2016 because thugs requested N300,000 from the owner of the property.

Mr Adejuwon said the man abandoned the project because he heard they would keep coming to demand the illegal fees till the end of the construction.

We are always encouraging our clients to pay them, otherwise we would not have anything to do in Osun.

In 2016, a friend was working on a site owned by a telecommunications company in Abere. The community liaison officer on site and one other were kidnapped. They did not release them until they were paid.

They carry out this madness even on land bought from the government and bricklayers will say that they cannot work except the Omo Oniles are settled.

Mr Adejuwon said the police cannot curb the excesses of the thugs and they even facilitate payments to them.

The boys are operating as State Boys and they are so powerful that you cannot put one block on another without them showing up. On my first encounter with them, I was not on the site but my boys called me. I quickly went to the nearest police station, and they followed me with their vehicle.

Calling the police was a mistake because I eventually paid the Omo Oniles and still dropped something for the police. The police were the ones that negotiated on behalf of the bad guys when we got to the site.

However, the states police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, when contacted, told our reporter that property developers who suspect connivance between police officers and Omo Oniles should report to the higher authorities, saying thats criminal offence.

The Omo Oniles should not be condoned. Anyone who has bought land is entitled to build at any time he or she wants to. If any police officer is doing otherwise by supporting them, they should call me and I will brief the commissioner.

If this is difficult, they should report to the DPO of that station. We will be glad to know the area where they are disturbing people. Even if they (Omo Oniles) are the owners and they have transferred ownership to those that bought, it is no longer their property, she argued.

Land grabbing in Ede

In some parts of the state, some Omo Oniles demand more than levies. At Kajola in Ede, Mutiu Adeeyo narrated how a family has been trying to grab his familys land, despite a court judgment in favour of his family.

My family has six acres of land at Kajola in Ede and some Omo Oniles who called themselves Agunyanmasesu came to sell two acres of the land. When we questioned them, they claimed they are Omo Oniles and we asked them for documents but they could not produce.

We dragged them before the District Customary Court of Osun State in Ede, and the court in 2012 gave judgment that the land belongs to us. Despite the judgment, they have refused to vacate the land.

They sometimes attack us on the land and they are already selling the remaining four acres. The last time they came and I confronted them, I was attacked and injured. When we got to the police, they asked us to go and settle amicably. In fact, they have issued an eviction notice on me that I should leave Ede for them, Mr Adeeyo said.

PREMIUM TIMES obtained a copy of the certified true copy of the judgment delivered by O. K. Sulaiman on June 7, 2012, declaring Mr Adeeyos family as the owners of the disputed land.

The court also awarded N200,000 damages against the Agunyanmasesu and their thugs.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted one of the heads of the Agunyanmasesu, Semiu Abidogun, on the allegations against his family, he refused to speak. He simply told our reporter, we will discuss this later, and cut the call. Mr Abidogun did not respond to subsequent calls and text messages.

Omo Oniles fear nobody

For Mr Adeniyi, the Osun government does not have enough power to curb the excesses of the thugs.

We believe that the government cannot curb their excesses. If some of them had been jailed, it might have reduced our trouble. But nobody cares.

Speaking in the same vein, Mr Olalekan said the Omo Oniles fear nobody. They even disturb us on lands that belong to top government officials.

Mr Adejuwon said the governments romance with the thugs make it difficult to check their criminality.

They use these guys for elections and thats why they cannot disown them and take charge, he said.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the special adviser to the governor on security matters, Abiodun Ige, she said those who encounter Omo Onles should report them to the authorities.

If anybody of whatever name disturbs people from doing their lawful business, they should report to the police.

When informed about the alleged connivance of the police with Omo Oniles, she told our reporter she would take up the matter herself.

I would take the issue to the commissioner of police myself and we shall take necessary actions on this.

Way forward

A lawyer and rights activist, Adesina Ogunlana, said the state needs good political leadership structures to tackle the challenges.

Everybody has been talking about thuggery and violence by Omo Oniles. They show up even when youre just offloading cements. It is another sign that Nigeria is more of a jungle. The bad guys have connections even in Abuja. They are connected to politicians, so they live above the law. It is not a case of law. There is need for good political leadership.

Another right activist, Tope Akinyode, urged the government to ensure the security of lives and properties in Osun State.

Your report shows the lawlessness we have in this country. Unless the government stands on its responsibility, theres nothing anybody can do. There will be more crisis if matters are dragged to court because there are a lot of cases already that our courts are yet to address.

The government must take responsibility so that it would relieve the judiciary of unnecessary matters. Government should stand on its feet to protect citizens, he said.

Also, Ademola Owolabi, lawyer and public affairs analyst, said there are laws already but we need the authorities to enforce the laws. Even criminal law frowns at demanding money with violence.
WASHINGTON  President Biden is expected to unveil a series of executive actions addressing gun violence on Thursday, weeks after back-to-back mass shootings left 18 people dead and pushed the issue of gun legislation to the forefront for an administration tackling multiple crises.

Mr. Biden is also expected to announce his intent to nominate David Chipman, a gun control advocate, to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, officials said. The bureau has not had a permanent director since 2015.

The moves come as Mr. Biden has been under pressure to address gun violence, but has made clear that pushing legislation through a blockade of Republican opposition is not currently feasible. Officials reiterated on Wednesday that the proposals the president planned to unveil with Merrick B. Garland, the attorney general, were only a start and that the president would continue to call on Congress to take action.

On Thursday, the Justice Department will announce three initiatives to fight gun violence.

One rule would help stop the proliferation of so-called ghost guns  kits that allow a gun to be assembled from pieces. White House officials would not say whether the administration would ultimately seek to classify ghost guns as firearms, only that the department was trying to stop criminals from buying kits containing all of the components and directions to build one.
AG Nessel Commends President Biden for Executive Orders Combatting Gun Violence

AG Nessel Commends President Biden for Executive Orders Combatting Gun Violence

Kelly Rossman-McKinney 517-512-9342 Attorney General

LANSING  Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following statement applauding President Joe Biden for his executive orders to combat gun violence.

"I commend President Biden and his administration for taking action to address a problem in our country that has claimed far too many lives. The fact is this: a single life lost to gun violence is one too many and it is time for those in power to do something about it. From putting an end to the proliferation of ghost guns and their purchasers ability to circumvent common sense gun laws to model legislation that would work to keep these dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands, I am grateful to President Biden for taking significant steps to tackle our nations gun violence epidemic."

###
OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Enerplus Corp. (ERF, ERF.TO) said that it agreed to acquire assets in the Williston Basin from Hess Corp. for total cash consideration of US$312 million. Closing of the Acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in May 2021. Enerplus increased its 2021 production guidance to a range of 111,000 to 115,000 BOE per day from the previous outlook of 103,500 to 108,500 BOE per day. The increased production guidance was also driven by strong operating performance in North Dakota and higher than expected production in the Marcellus through the first three months of the year. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
A Nairobi court has released anti-IMF loan crusader Mutemi Kiama on cash bail.

Milimani Senior Resident Magistrate Jane Kamau declined a request by the prosecutor to remand the activist for 14 days saying there are no compelling reasons to warrant his detention.

Mr Kiama was granted Sh500,000 cash bail.

He is accused of being behind a poster circulating on social media indicating that President Uhuru Kenyatta is not authorised to act or transact on behalf of Kenyans. The graphic was posted at a time when Kenyans had trooped online to voice their opposition to loans disbursed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

State prosecutor Joseph Irungu Gitonga pressed for Mr Kiama to be detained for 14 days to enable cybercrime officers to examine the published graphic before deciding what charges to file against him.

"The presidency is a symbol of unity and any attack on him on the institution is contemptuous," Mr Gitonga submitted.

"Police are investigating a case of contravention of a number of the computer misuse and cybercrime Act No.5 0f 2018 including false publication contrary to Section 22 (1) as read with Section 22 (2) (b) and (d) thereof," Mr Gitonga told the magistrate.

He added that the alleged offences were committed on April 5/6 2021 by way of publication on social media.

Corporal Patrick Kibowen, who is one of the detectives handling the case, told the court that Mr Kiama is accused of contravening various provisions of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act including false publication.

The investigator said that a preliminary probe revealed that two Twitter handles, @MutemiWaKiama and @wanjikuRevolt, which posted the graphic, are linked to Mr Kiama.

As a result of the suspected link to the Twitter handles, Mr Kiama was arrested on Monday and detained awaiting arraignment in court.

"Besides the Twitter handles, the suspect published the National Identification Number of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his portrait cautioning the world lending institution against dealing with him," Mr Gitonga said.
Police are hunting for two men who threw a power switch at a Queensland medical centre, causing an MRI machine to fail and costing $150,000 in repairs.

Police released CCTV vision of the men they believed caused the damage at the medical centre in Springwood, south of Brisbane, on February 20.

Police have released CCTV footage after an MRI failed at a medical centre in Springwood. Credit:Police media

The switch to the chiller unit for the Dennis Road facility was turned off about 1am.

Police said this forced an MRI machine to shut down, leading to a repair bill of more than $150,000.
MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 22, ahead of the newfronts and upfronts, the Center for Multicultural Science is hosting its second virtual Hispanic Marketing NowFront, a media-agnostic, customer-centric research presentation on how brands can drive advertising ROI with U.S. Hispanics.

The virtual NowFront will feature a new advertising model that can help advertisers be more effective and efficient with the largest ethnic group in the country. "Using data science, we found that nativity, not language, is a better predictor of what Hispanics consume in media," says Dr. Jake Beniflah, author of the study and founding Executive Director of the Center for Multicultural Science.

"This new model, called the Nativity-Based View (NBV), provides advertisers and agencies with a better way to reach U.S. Hispanics since the language-based model was created more than 30-years ago." Hence, the theme of the NowFront is The Big Shift.

The NBV is a game changer: (1) 60% of first-generation Hispanics are Spanish-dominant at home, compared to second- and third-generation Hispanics who are 60-90% English-dominant at homechallenging the notion that Hispanics prefer speaking Spanish, and (2) Nielsen data shows that close to 80% of Spanish-language TV spend does not reach Latino Millennialschallenging the notion that Spanish-language media is the best way to reach Hispanics. The NBV disrupts the traditional Hispanic advertising model, impacting critical media investment decisions since its inception more than five years ago.

The NBV was published in a peer-reviewed journal, Journal of Cultural Marketing Strategy in 2018 and has been applied by many leading advertisers. "Our goal is to continue to let more brands and agencies know about the NBV. Once they understand the impact that nativity has on their business, they can't go back to how things were done. They simply now know better."

About The Center for Multicultural Science

The Center for Multicultural Science is a non-profit, non-partisan research think tank whose aim is to provide information on demographic, economic and consumer trends impacting U.S. Latinos and other multicultural populations. www.multicultural-science.org

Contact

Dr. Jake Beniflah

Executive Director

The Center for Multicultural Science

[email protected]

SOURCE The Center for Multicultural Science

Related Links

http://www.multicultural-science.org


After working the overnight shift at his job loading trucks for UPS, Caleb Gautney took his kayak and his dog, Pepper, to Dauphin Island on Monday morning, as he often does. The two of them have their own secret spot away from any crowds, and thats where they were when Caleb spotted the end of a bottle sticking out of the sand.

I keep my eye out for interesting-looking things, he says. So Caleb pulled out the bottle and was surprised to find a piece of paper inside. I thought it would be a prank, like one of those extended warranty things.

But it wasnt a prank at all. I couldnt believe there was an actual note, he says.

I found an actual note in a bottle at Dauphin Island today with a message I think a lot of people need to see Posted by Caleb Gautney on Monday, April 5, 2021

The author of the typed note identified herself only as a heartbroken mom in Iowa whose 21-year-old son Kole had died unexpectedly on Sept. 13, 2020. I am writing this with the faith that God will guide it to the person who needs to hear this message at this time, it began. What I want you to know is that in the darkest moment, when you feel like everything is falling apart and no one cares, just know that someone does.

She urged the reader of the note to go out and be a Kole in this cold world by being like her late son, who had a heart of gold and cared about everyone he came into contact with.

The message resonated with Caleb. It was very touching, he says. Just a few weeks ago, an old friend I grew up with killed himself. I watched his mom, who had been like my second mom, go through that pain.

He wanted to unravel the mystery a bit. A quick Google search turned up Koles obituary, and from there he made contact with Koles aunt, Shannon Koehler of Winnebago, Illinois.

"Those who knew Kole, even just a little, lost a shining light in their lives," his obituary read. "Kole didnt just love with his whole heart; he loved with every fiber of his being."

As it turned out, Shannons family had spent a week in Orange Beach in March  a visit her family had planned as a do-over because during their trip last year at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, they had arrived on the Alabama Gulf Coast to find the beaches closed. She begged her grieving sister, Elizabeth Reed, and her family to join the Koehlers on their vacation.

Elizabeth couldnt imagine going on such a trip with her husband and younger son but without Kole. Her daughter, a thrower on the Buena Vista University track and field team who was unable to leave school mid-season, begged her to not sit home and grieve, Elizabeth says. She cried for days as she struggled with the decision of whether to go or not.

Then one morning I woke up and a message in a bottle was stuck in my head, she says. It was like something in my mind wouldnt let the idea go. She had figured out a way to take him with her.

She ordered airtight bottles, wrote a letter from her heart and told Shannon she wanted to go to Orange Beach. During their week of vacation, the families wrote Koles name in the sand. When they went parasailing, Elizabeth fist-bumped her sister and said, This is for Kole.

In a strange coincidence, five of the 14 people from three different families on the boat shared his first name. When the sisters realized that, We ugly-cried, Shannon says.

Kole's family wrote his name in the sand while on vacation in Orange Beach, Ala., recently.

And while they were there, Elizabeth carried out her plan to throw the bottles into the Gulf of Mexico. She researched it, Shannon says, and only 3 percent of (message-filled) bottles are ever discovered. It was more therapeutic for her to put it out in the universe.

She tossed two of them into the water on a day trip to Dauphin Island. While the one Caleb found didnt travel far, its impact made waves on social media after he shared a photo of Elizabeths words.

YOU matter, she had written. YOU are important YOU were created to do something great. And if no one else has told you today, I think youre amazing just the way you are and I love you.

When Caleb and Shannon talked on the phone, they discovered many similarities between the 25-year-old who found Elizabeths message and the 21-year-old who inspired it. Their birthdays are one week apart. Like Caleb, Kole loved being near the water.

Shannon and Elizabeth are convinced that Caleb was just the person to find the message. She was so happy Caleb cared enough to do detective work and find us, Shannon says. He reached out, and thats what she wanted: for it to touch somebody. I told him hes inherited family in Illinois and Iowa.

For his part, Caleb says he stuck the message inside his journal, which he had with him the day he found the bottle. One of my coping mechanisms is journaling on my adventures, he says. I will keep it there.

The author of the message Caleb Gautney found is Elizabeth Reed, left, pictured with her sister, Shannon Koehler, while on vacation on the Alabama Gulf Coast in March.

I didnt think I would ever know if it was found or not, Elizabeth says. I certainly didnt think it would become what it has, but I am so very grateful that it has touched hearts and hopefully will spread the love I have for Kole. Losing Kole has been unbearable, but I needed his love and his heart to carry on and have his passing mean something. If I can spare just one person the pain I live with every day, then I am thankful.

This story was updated on Thursday, April 8, 2021, at 10:21 a.m. to add quotes from Koles mother, Elizabeth Reed.
NASHVILLE - Tennessee workers displaced by the economic disruption caused by COVID-19 can enroll in free online classes to advance their skill set. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) has partnered with Coursera, one of the world's leading online learning platforms, to help Tennesseans skill up and get back to work.

The success and impact of the TDLWD-Coursera Workforce Recovery Initiative program last year helped thousands of Tennesseans learn critical, job-relevant skills.

Through the Coursera Workforce Recovery Initiative, unemployed Tennesseans have free access to 4,000 courses that will help them develop the knowledge and skills needed to find meaningful employment.

Coursera partners with 200 of the worlds leading university and industry educators to offer courses teaching job-relevant skills across business, technology, and data science.

This type of training and education helps develop a stronger workforce development pipeline across the state, said TDLWD Commissioner Jeff McCord. Coursera provides courses for Tennesseans to learn new, marketable skills so they can advance their careers or start down the path to a new career.

Through this partnership, Tennesseans can earn professional certificates from leading companies like Google. These courses are designed to prepare people with no degree or technology background for entry-level careers in high-growth fields such as IT Support, Project Management, UX Design, and Data Analytics.

Google wants to ensure all Tennesseans have access to the job training needed to unlock their full economic potential, said Lisa Gevelber, vice president, Grow with Google. Through our partnership with Coursera and the state of Tennessee, were thrilled the local workforce can access the Google Career Certificates to help make them job-ready for high-paying, high-growth jobs.

With 4,000 courses available, Tennesseans can acquire a wide range of skills through Coursera. Students can earn certificates in everything from social media marketing to Excel skills, web development, the business of health care specialization, and IT security.

Our work with the state of Tennessee has already helped thousands of hard-working citizens prepare for high-demand local jobs, including roles in IT support and contact tracing, said Jeff Maggioncalda, Coursera CEO. As the state prepares for the post-COVID economy, were excited to expand our partnership and provide Tennesseans with a wider selection of skills-based learning and job-relevant credentials to rebuild a thriving workforce.

Coursera allows students to start most classes at their convenience and set work deadlines that accommodate their other time commitments.

To register, Tennesseans need to create an account with Jobs4TN.gov. Once they have an account, they can send an email with their name and phone number to coursera@jobs4tn.zendesk.com to start the enrollment process.

Tennessee will offer free access to learning on Coursera Classes through Dec. 31, 2021. You can learn more about the courses offered and how to enroll by following this link: https://www.tn.gov/workforce/coursera.html.
Government of Canada announces over $5M in clean tech funding for British Columbia Fisheries and Aquaculture Projects

April 08,2021 | Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Improving the environmental sustainability of our seafood sectors while ensuring they remain competitive in the marketplace is a shared goal of British Columbians. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting that goal through targeted investments in new technology. These are solutions that will help the sector become cleaner, greener and more sustainable.



Today, the Member of Parliament for Burnaby NorthSeymour and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Terry Beech, on behalf of the Minister, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, announced funding of over $5.4 million from the Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption Program to support 36 projects that are contributing to clean economic growth in British Columbia. The Province of British Columbia also announced a contribution of more than $785,000 in funding towards these projects.



The Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption program is a $20-million program (2017-21) that provides funding to help businesses incorporate clean technologies into their day-to-day operations. It is intended to accelerate the use of more sustainable and efficient tools, practices and techniques.



By supporting our commercial fisheries and aquaculture sectors' investment in clean technologies, the Government of Canada is ensuring the continued growth of a healthy and sustainable blue economy. These sectors contribute approximately $4.5 billion annually in gross domestic product and provide thousands of jobs across our country  many in Indigenous, rural and coastal communities. During the pandemic, these investments have helped strengthen Canadians' access to fish and shellfish food resources by supporting the small and medium sized-businesses that are the bedrock of the fish and seafood industry.



The 36 projects for which funding is announced today are helping fisheries and aquaculture businesses adopt greener practices that will upgrade waste/wastewater treatment facilities, increase energy efficiency, create more reliance on green energy such as solar, upgrade sonar, decrease reliance on Styrofoam and reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

 2021 CNW Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. A Cision company.

Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture.
Wells Fargo Announces Major Solar Expansion in North Carolina

Wells Fargo, NextEra Energy Resources, and Duke Energy (News - Alert) today announced a 20-year renewable energy purchase agreement, under which Wells Fargo will consume 100% of solar energy produced by the Blackburn Solar Project, a 58-megawatt 600-acre solar farm planned for Catawba County, North Carolina, under Duke Energy's Green Source Advantage (GSA) program. The transaction announced today is Wells Fargo's (News - Alert) single largest to date and will supply approximately 8% of the company's annual global electricity.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005207/en/

Wells Fargo/Duke Energy/NextEra Energy Resources project in Catawba County will deliver environmental, social and economic benefits (Graphic: Wells Fargo)

Energy provided under the agreement will allow Wells Fargo to meet more than 50% of total electricity needs and 100% of its eligible load within the Duke Energy Carolinas service area, where it maintains a real-estate footprint of 7.5 million square feet and employs about 36,000. The 130,000 megawatt-hours Wells Fargo will receive each year will be generated by about 200,000 solar panels. The facility will be developed, owned, and operated by a subsidiary of Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources, and is scheduled to come online in 2022. Wells Fargo will also retain the Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) associated with the project.

"The development of renewable energy projects close to employee and customer centers is one way Wells Fargo is working to meet our net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal in a way that also contributes to the communities where we live and work. Investing in solar energy development in North Carolina will support job creation, tax revenue, reduced carbon emissions, and grid resiliency," said Nate Hurst, head of Social Impact and Sustainability at Wells Fargo. "We appreciate the collaboration with Duke and NextEra to advance our enterprise sustainability goals in a way that benefits the local economy."

"As large energy users look to expand their sustainability goals, many are finding Duke Energy's Green Source (News - Alert) Advantage program the perfect fit to make that happen," said Stephen De May, Duke Energy's North Carolina president. "The program's flexibility allows the customer to modify it to best suit their needs. The state benefits by more renewable energy."

Developer NextEra Energy Resources is working with community leaders and organizations to ensure the project meets local solar development requirements, as well as Wells Fargo's needs. As part of the development, NextEra Energy Resources is negotiating a land grant with the Catawba Lands Conservancy to conserve lands along the Catawba River and expand a portion of the Carolina Thread Trail. According to the project website, community economic benefits include approximately $2.3 million in additional tax revenue for the local community as well as local employment opportunities, including up to 100 jobs to construct the project.







"We're excited to work with Duke and Wells Fargo to provide more affordable, renewable energy through the Green Source Advantage program," said Matt Handel, senior vice president of development for NextEra Energy Resources. "The Blackburn Solar project will also provide significant benefits to the economy, creating good-paying construction jobs and generating millions of dollars in additional tax revenue for the local community."

Wells Fargo has met 100% of its annual global electricity requirements with renewable energy since 2017, primarily through the purchase of RECs, which satisfied the first part of a two-pronged 2020 renewable energy goal set in 2016. The company is now working to fulfill the second part of that commitment - to transition to a higher mix of long-term renewable energy contracts for projects near its greatest load centers and significantly expand onsite solar generation in order to support the development of net-new sources of renewable energy and deliver community benefits associated with renewable energy development. In March, Wells Fargo announced its goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including its financed emissions.

"Leveraging our annual energy spend to advance green infrastructure development in the U.S. and create new revenue streams for communities is one way we are helping contribute to more sustainable, equitable, and resilient communities," said Richard Henderson (News - Alert) , head of Wells Fargo's Corporate Properties Group. "We will continue to look for opportunities to advance environmental and social sustainability through our operations as Wells Fargo drives toward its ambitious climate goals."

Earlier this year, Wells Fargo announced a deal with Ameresco, Inc. to install approximately 30 megawatts of new, on-site solar generation assets at about 100 corporate and retail locations in seven states. As part of that agreement, Ameresco will install 2.6 megawatts of solar generation at two administrative buildings in North Carolina. To date, Wells Fargo's Corporate Properties Group has entered into nearly 120 long-term contracts that support the development of over 750 megawatts of net-new renewable energy assets.

Aside from being one of the largest corporate users of renewable energy, Wells Fargo is a leader in financing large-scale wind, solar, and other renewable energy projects on behalf of its customers. The company recently reached the milestone of providing $10 billion in tax equity financing for utility-scale renewable energy projects. Since 2005, Wells Fargo has helped finance 12% of all wind and solar energy capacity in the U.S.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets and proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of all middle market companies in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 30 on Fortune's 2020 rankings of America's largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health and a low-carbon economy. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter (News - Alert) : @WellsFargo.

News Release Category: WF-PESG

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005207/en/
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 14:33:12|Editor: huaxia

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by Yoo Seungki

SEOUL, April 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's ruling Democratic Party was routed by the conservative bloc in by-elections of the country's two biggest cities amid growing public anger over the government's lack of proper response to an economic slump caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Oh Se-hoon of the main conservative opposition People Power Party won a landslide victory over Park Young-sun of the Democratic Party 57.50 percent to 39.18 percent in the mayoral by-election of the capital Seoul, the National Election Commission said Thursday.

In the by-election of the second-biggest city of Busan, Park Heong-joon of the People Power Party harshly defeated Kim Young-choon of the Democratic Party by a wider margin of 62.67 percent to 34.42 percent.

Kim Chong-in, chief of the People Power Party, said people "exploded in anger" over the government of President Moon Jae-in who took office in May 2017 following the impeachment of his conservative predecessor Park Geun-hye.

Park is currently in prison over corruption scandal, and her conservative predecessor Lee Myung-bak is also behind bars on conviction of corruption charges.

The Democratic Party had won key nationwide elections for the past five years, including general elections in 2016 and 2020, local elections in 2018 and the presidential election in 2017.

In the latest nationwide election last year, the ruling bloc won almost three-fifths of the 300 seats in the unicameral National Assembly as people exalted the Moon government for its fast and definite response to the pandemic and the economic turmoil.

The government rapidly reacted to the economic downturn last year by offering relief grants to all households that were required to be spent in three months on local mom-and-pop stores and small merchants. It greatly contributed to the revenue recovery among microbusiness owners.

One year later, it reversed course as the government selectively gave relief checks this year to struggling merchants who still had to worry about the lackluster revenue and the high rent later on. The relief checks were offered about 10 days before the by-elections as it took time to select the eligible recipients.

The country's third wave of the pandemic began in the middle of November last year. In the latest tally, South Korea reported 700 more cases of COVID-19 for the past 24 hours, marking the highest daily caseload in 91 days.

The land speculation scandal surrounding officials at the Korea Land and Housing Corp., the state developer, dealt a heavy blow to the ruling bloc, overshadowing the allegations of property speculation over conservative candidates.

The moral standing of the Democratic Party was weakened as the former mayors of Seoul and Busan, both members of the governing party, committed suicide or stepped down on allegations of sexual harassment.

President Moon said in a statement that he took the election result as a "reprimand" from people, vowing to assume his duties in a humbler manner and with a heavier sense of responsibility, according to the presidential Blue House.

The president noted that he will make all-out efforts to overcome the pandemic, reinvigorate the economy, stabilize people's livelihoods and wipe out corruption in the real estate market. Enditem
An employee killed one person and injured five others during a mass shooting at a custom cabinet maker in Texas before fleeing the scene and wounding a responding state trooper.

The alleged shooter was later captured by police 30 miles away from the shooting scene in Bryan, Texas after a massive manhunt.

Cops identified the suspect as Larry Bollin, 27, of Grimes County in a news release. Officials said the names of the victims will be released on Friday.

Witnesses say the gunman opened fire at Kent Moore Cabinets and 'was very selective about who he shot', KBTX reports.

The shooting took place at around 2:30pm at Brazos County Industrial Park in the bays where Kent Moore employees make cabinets.

Jail records show that Bollin is being held on a $1 million bond and that he has been charged with murder.

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Cops identified the suspect as Larry Bollin, 27, of Grimes County in a news release

First responders work at the scene of the apprehension of a suspect at a residence in Bedias, Texas on Thursday

Bryan police officers work the scene of a mass shooting at Kent Moore Cabinets in Bryan, Texas on Thursday

Cops identified the suspect as Larry Bollin, 27, of Grimes County and said the names of the victims will be released on Friday. Pictured: Texas Department of Public Safety patrol vehicles line the outside of St. Josephs Hospital in Bryan, Texas in support of an injured trooper

Bryan Police Chief Eric Buske told a press conference that one person was killed and four more were left in critical conditions.

Another shooting victim is non-critical while a seventh victim had an asthma attack related to the incident. All victims were taken to a local hospital, cops said.

'A DPS Trooper was shot while pursuing an individual suspected of being involved in the shooting in Bryan. He remains in serious but stable condition,' the Texas Department of Public Safety tweeted after the shooting.

It remains unclear if the trooper is an additional, seventh victim or one of the six counted by Bryan Police.

The suspect led law enforcement on a chase in Grimes County before a trooper's vehicle was later seen with shattered glass and bullet holes, KBTX reported.

A Bryan police officer blocks road access near the scene of a mass shooting at an industrial park in Bryan in Bryan, Texas

Police responded to a shooting at Kent Moore Cabinets on Thursday in Bryan, Texas where one person was killed and several people were wounded

Workers of surrounding businesses are let go by police after a mass shooting at an industrial park in Bryan, Texas on Thursday

First responders are seen after six people were shot, one of them killed, after the mass shooter opened fire

MASS SHOOTING UPDATE: A worker told me all the victims are men and it appears the suspect, who also works there, was very strategic about who he shot. pic.twitter.com/8GEnTM8kvz  Rusty Surette (@KBTXRusty) April 8, 2021

The suspect was eventually taken into custody in the tiny town of Iola, officials said, about 30 miles from the cabinet maker.

Cops have not yet released any additional information about the alleged shooter.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Bryan Police Department, the Department of Public Safety and the Grimes County Sheriff's Office for more information and additional comment.

Police told KBTX that they are speaking with employees at Kent Moore Cabinets which 'may explain why some people can't get in touch with relatives who work there now.'

One worker told the outlet that all of the shooting victims are men.

'To me, I was hiding like 10 minutes in a real small place. I think we are very lucky and blessed to be talking to you right now at this moment. I am still in shock because I think we live in a very peaceful community and nothing happens ever,' the female worker said.

Everyone told me that this guy is very calm and everything, I dont know why he decide to do this.

The shooting took place in the bays in a plant where employees make cabinets

A suspect believed to be an employee of a custom cabinet maker in Texas has killed one person and injured five others during a deadly mass shooting in Bryan

Authorities responded to a shooting at Kent Moore Cabinets in Bryan Thursday afternoon

Bryan Police Department posted about the shooting on Twitter, noting that all victims were taken to local hospitals

Kent Moore Cabinets addressed the shooting in a statement posted to its Facebook page

The company also addressed the shooting in a statement made to KBTX after the shooting

The worker, who is a painter for the cabinet maker, told a KBTX reporter that she heard loud booms and thought that a machine was malfunctioning before another coworker grabbed her and told her to run.

A former employee told KBTX that a couple hundred people work in the building.

The nearby Jane Long Intermediate School was put on a brief lockdown while cops hunted for the suspect that was lifted before school dismissal began, The Eagle reported.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has sent agents and dogs to the scene of the shooting, spokesman Deon Washington said.

The FBI said in a statement to ABC News that it was 'aware of the incident that occurred today in Bryan.'

Kent Moore Cabinets is headquartered in Bryan and employs more than 600 people across the state, according to the companys website.

The company makes custom cabinets and has design centers in neighboring College Station and nearly a dozen Texas cities.

A person who answered the phone Thursday at Kent Moore Cabinets headquarters said she could not provide any information on the shooting.

On Facebook, the company wrote that it is 'fully cooperating with police' during the investigation.

'Our hearts are hurting. We're all devastated by the tragic events at our Stone City manufacturing plant in Bryan on Thursday,' the company wrote.

'Our thoughts are with our workers and their families, and we ask that you join us in keeping everyone touched by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers.'

The post continued: 'We are fully cooperating with the police who are investigating this horrible crime.'

'We're thankful that law enforcement officers responded so quickly and are so appreciative of the critical medical care that paramedics provided to our coworkers.'

'Our focus now is on our employees and their families during this most difficult time, and we hope you understand we are not able to respond to your comments. Your concern and kind words are deeply appreciated,' the post added.

The suspect was eventually taken into custody in the tiny town of Iola, officials said, about 30 miles from where the shooting happend

An aerial view shows the heavy police and EMS response to the mass shooting in Bryan, Texas

The Texas shooting comes during a month of deadly mass shootings across the country, including one in South Carolina on Wednesday where a former NFL player gunned down five people.

The victims in that shooting included a beloved doctor and his two grandchildren - as well as the shooter, 32-year-old Phillip Adams who played cornerback for teams including the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots.

Last month, a 9-year-old boy, his mother and two others at an office complex in California on March 31. Another 10 victims were killed at a massacre at the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado on March 22. On March 16, eight people were killed, six of whom were Asian women, in Georgia.

Just hours before the Texas shooting, Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted in support of Second Amendment rights after President Joe Biden announced a slew of gun control measures.

'Biden is threatening our 2nd Amendment rights. He just announced a new liberal power grab to take away our guns. We will NOT allow this in TX,' Abbott tweeted.

'It's time to get legislation making TX a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary State passed and to my desk for signing.'

Texas Gov. Greg Abbot tweeted about Second Amendment rights just hours before the shooting

George P. Bush, Texas Land Commissioner, also tweeted before the shooting in Bryan

Greg Abbott later tweeted directly about the shooting in Bryan and the 'swift response' from law enforcement

Julian Castro also tweeted about the shooting, noting it is the 14th mass shooting in Texas alone this year

George P. Bush, Texas Land Commissioner, also tweeted before the shooting.

'Let me be clear: President Biden's gun control policies are not welcome in Texas. Texans will not allow the federal government to once again overstep and strip us of our constitutional rights,' Bush tweeted.

After the shooting, Abbott said he and his wife would be 'praying for the victims.'

'I have been working closely with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers as they assist local law enforcement on a swift response to this criminal act,' Abbott said in a statement.

'Their efforts led to the arrest of the shooting suspect. The state will assist in any way needed to help prosecute the suspect.'

He added: 'Cecilia and I are praying for the victims and their families and for the law enforcement officer injured while apprehending the suspect.'

Biden had announced a half-dozen executive actions on Thursday to combat what he called an 'epidemic and an international embarrassment' of gun violence in America.

Biden's new steps include a move to crack down on 'ghost guns,' homemade firearms that lack serial numbers used to trace them and are often purchased without a background check.

He's also moving to tighten regulations on pistol-stabilizing braces like the one used in the Boulder shooting last month.

The president's actions delivered on a pledge he made last month to take what he termed immediate 'common-sense steps' to address gun violence, after a series of mass shootings drew renewed attention to the issue.
Xeretec Ireland will expand into the North West through a 500,000 investment in Donegal and Sligo including an investment in new personnel to support this expansion.

Xeretec Ireland General Manager, Tom Cleare said Xeretec have a strong presence in the West of Ireland and this investment further demonstrates our commitment to the region and our position as industry leaders in managed print. We have responded to Covid-19 with a range of innovative products to facilitate digital transformation and remote working.

Xerox Managing Director, Mark McPhillips said Xeretec are a valued partner of Xerox and have been proven to deliver expert client service. This investment will allow us to continue our excellent relationship and deliver cutting edge technology to businesses in the North West of Ireland.

Established in 1991, with 200 employees and Irish offices in Dublin and Galway, Xeretec specialise in managed print services, digital transformation and remote working capabilities. This investment includes the transfer of managed print service contracts from Xerox and the addition of Donegal native Liam Boyle as Area Account Manager. Xeretec will continue to work with local Xerox support for an enhanced customer experience.
LONDON and OXFORD, England, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PQShield, the cybersecurity company specialising in post-quantum cryptography, today announces that it is further strengthening its cryptographic hardware team with the appointment of Ben Marshall, the editor and main author of the RISC-V "K" Cryptography Extension, as a Cryptography Engineer. Ben will continue to contribute to RISC-V International's cryptography standardisation efforts while also working on PQShield's post-quantum hardware architecture.

While quantum computers offer enormous potential benefits to society, they also pose a significant risk to information security, as they will be able to easily break the public-key encryption widely relied on to protect sensitive data. Because of this, engineers and scientists around the world are working to develop post-quantum cryptographic solutions, using a new generation of encryption that will help organisations secure their sensitive information now and for years to come.

Headquartered in Oxford, with additional teams in the Netherlands and France, PQShield is pioneering the development and commercial roll-out of advanced, quantum-ready cryptographic solutions for hardware, software and communications, helping businesses prepare for the quantum threat. With one of the UK's highest concentrations of cryptography PhDs outside academia and the classified sector, the PQShield team is also a leading contributor to NIST's post-quantum cryptography standardisation project, now in its concluding stages, having contributed two of the seven finalist algorithms.

For over a year, PQShield has been working with Ben and the RISC-V International Cryptographic Extensions Task Group (CETG) to provide solid, FIPS-compliant symmetric cryptography foundations for the RISC-V ISA, which helps to support PQShield's post-quantum cryptography mission. CETG has adopted versions of the lightweight AES and entropy source interface (TRNG) originally designed by PQShield into the official extension.

Dr. Ali El Kaafarani, CEO and Founder of PQShield, said:

"Our partnership with RISC-V and leading role within CETG allows us to think, openly, with the rest of the RISC-V community and build the security layer of our future hardware together, taking a scrupulous end-to-end approach that doesn't repeat our security community's past pitfalls.

I am thrilled that PQShield continues to attract the best and brightest security and cryptography talents in software and hardware; we're excited to welcome Ben Marshall, an exceptional cryptography hardware engineer, to our ever-growing family."

The RISC-V "K" cryptographic extension specification is now considered stable, and has multiple independent hardware implementations and significant industry support. This is an essential preparatory step for FIPS 140-3 compliant post-quantum processors and coprocessors.

Mark Himelstein, CTO, RISC-V International, said:

"The security aspects of the RISC-V architecture are a top priority, and we are committed to providing the RISC-V ecosystem, developers and end-users with state-of-the-art hardware security instruction set architecture (ISA) features and assurances. Substantial contributions from cryptography experts and RISC-V International members, such as PQShield, play a key role in achieving our security goals."

PQShield offers size and performance-optimized implementations of all NIST PQC Finalist algorithms, together with post-quantum coprocessor solutions for RISC-V-based platforms. Several leading device manufacturers have already chosen PQShield's PQC IP for integration into hardware security solutions that will be compliant with upcoming German BSI and US NIST/FIPS post-quantum cryptography standards.

About PQShield

PQShield is a cybersecurity startup that specialises in post-quantum cryptography, protecting information from today's attacks while readying organisations for the threat landscape of tomorrow. It is the only cybersecurity company that can demonstrate quantum-safe cryptography on chips, in applications and in the cloud. Headquartered in Oxford, with additional teams in the Netherlands and France, its quantum-secure cryptographic solutions work with companies' legacy systems to protect devices and sensitive data now and for years to come. PQShield is principally backed by Kindred Capital, Crane Venture Partners, Oxford Sciences Innovation, and InnovateUK. Its latest white papers are available to read here.

www.pqshield.com

Press contact: pqshield@thisisoutcast.com

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-nist-to-risc-v-pqshield-continues-its-leading-role-in-international-cryptography-standardisation-efforts-for-software-and-hardware-301264175.html

SOURCE PQShield
Ishmael Abdallah, the 10-year-old boy allegedly murdered at Kasoa in the Central Region is to be buried, tomorrow, Thursday, April 8, 2021.



Mr Samed Akalilu, spokesperson for the family and uncle of the deceased told the Ghana News Agency that, the family was preparing feverishly to convey the body from the Police for burial on Thursday in line with Islamic religion.



Yesterday when we went to Court, our expectation was that the body of Ishmael would be given to us but unfortunately, it could not happen. However, from the hints we have received, everything indicates that we will get the body tomorrow so we can proceed to bury our dead according to Islamic customs and rituals, he said.



He said after the burial, the family would continue to pursue justice for the deceased.



Mr Akalilu called on government to intensify the fight against crime in Kasoa and its environs, adding that, the murder of his 10-year-old nephew was not an isolated case in the sprawling commercial town.



The spokesperson said the family was still in a state of disbelief and shock and could not fathom why such evil could befall them especially when one of the accused was very close to the family.



From henceforth, I will advise my family and other children to be careful about how to associate with strangers and even those they claim to know. You cant trust anyone these days, he said.



Mr Akalilu expressed appreciation to the Counseling and Psychology Unit of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) for providing counseling services to the bereaved family.

Source: GNA









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

Featured Video
April 8, 2021

U.S. Oil & Gas Plc.

("US Oil" or the "Company")

Result of AGM

U.S. Oil & Gas Plc, ("USOIL" or the "Company"), the oil and gas exploration company with assets in Nevada, is pleased to make the following announcement:

The Board of Directors of U.S. Oil & Gas plc is pleased to announce that at the Company's Annual General Meeting held on 8th April 2021 all resolutions were duly passed.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The statements in this communication reflect the current thinking of the Board and the Company's present plans. The Company reserves the right to alter plans in the light of developing knowledge and circumstances. Shareholders' attention is drawn to the note below concerning Forward-looking Statements.

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information". Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: business plans and strategies of US Oil and Gas; operating or technical difficulties in connection with drilling or development activities; availability and costs associated with inputs and labour; drilling and exploration costs; the speculative nature of oil exploration and development; diminishing quantities or quality of reserves; synergies and financial impact of completed acquisitions; the benefits of the acquisitions and the development potential of properties of US Oil and Gas; the future price of oil; supply and demand for oil; the estimation of reserves; the realization of reserve estimates; costs of production and projections of costs; success of exploration activities; capital expenditure programs and the timing and method of financing thereof; the ability of US Oil and Gas to achieve drilling success consistent with management's expectations; net present values of future net revenues from reserves; expected levels of royalty rates, operating costs, general and administrative costs, costs of services and other costs and expenses; expectations regarding the ability to raise capital and to add to reserves through acquisitions, assessments of the value of acquisitions and exploration and development programs; geological, technical, drilling and processing problems; treatment under governmental regulatory regimes and tax laws.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements

THE DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENTS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

Neither this announcement nor the information contained herein constitutes an offer or solicitation by U.S. Oil and Gas Plc for the purchase or sale of any securities nor does it constitute a solicitation to any person in any jurisdiction where solicitation would be unlawful.

For further information contact:

Brian McDonnell, Chief Executive Officer +353 (1) 631 9022

About U.S. Oil & Gas:

U.S. Oil & Gas plc is an oil and gas exploration company with a strategy to identify and acquire oil and gas assets in the early phase of the upstream life-cycle and mature them. The Company's

main asset is in Nye County, Nevada where it holds the entire share capital of US-based company, Major Oil International LLC ("Major Oil"). Major Oil has acquired rights to exploration and development acreage in Hot Creek Valley, Nye County, adjacent to the oil and gas rich Railroad Valley area of Nevada, both of which are part of the Sevier Thrust of central Nevada and western Utah, USA.

For further information please refer to our website at: www.usoilandgas.us
Recent graduate Asuka Law, 23, poses with her British National (Overseas), or BN(O), passport in her favourite part of the city and the place she would miss the most if she leaves, near a shopping mall, in Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, on June 3, 2020. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

UK Launches Welcome Package for Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holders

The British government announced on Thursday the launch of a 43 million dedicated support package for Hong Kong BN(O) status holders and their families to help them settle successfully into life in the UK.

Under the support programme, 12 virtual welcome hubs will be set up across the UK to help new arrivals apply for school places, access health care, and even set up their own businesses.

Local councils will get funding to provide targeted support for new arrivals, covering additional English language training and support with housing costs for those who need it.

I want to extend a warm welcome to Hong Kongers arriving in the UK. Our 43 million package of support will ensure BN(O) status holders & their families have the very best start as soon as they arrive.  (1/4) pic.twitter.com/jREeY4ht3I  Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) April 8, 2021

British schools will receive dedicated Hong Kong educational resources to teach pupils about the historic connection between Hong Kong and Britain and the contribution of the Hong Kong-British and Chinese-British Diaspora to the UK.

I want to extend a warm welcome to Hongkongers arriving in the UK and reaffirm that this government is doing everything in its power to ensure your success and happiness here, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said in a statement.

This programme will ensure British National (Overseas) status holders and their families have the very best start as soon as they arrive, and support to help them find a home, schools for their children, opportunity and prosperity.

We are a champion of freedom and democracy and will live up to our responsibilities to the people of Hong Kong, so that these families will come to find the UK a place they can call home.

After the Chinese regime imposed a draconian national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020, Britain launched a new visa scheme to offer BN(O) status holders a path to citizenship at a time when freedom and human rights in the former British colony are under unprecedented threat.

According to the UK Home Office, approximately 27,000 BN(O) status holders and their family members had applied for the special visa as of March 19.

The government estimated last year that between 123,000 and 153,000 Hongkongers could take up the route in the first year, and the figure may reach between 258,000 and 322,000 over five years.

We promised to uphold freedom for the people of Hong Kong, which is why I am proud that we have been able to support so many people when they have needed our help, Home Secretary Priti Patel said in a statement.

I know communities up and down our country will welcome new arrivals with open arms and support them to build a new life in the UK.
Police investigate crash in Pottsville

POTTSVILLE  Pottsville police investigated a crash that was reported around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Route 61 and East Norwegian Street.

Police said the investigation determined a 19-year-old Minersville woman was driving a 2009 BMW north on Route 61 when she approached the intersection and tried to turn left, across traffic, onto East Norwegian Street.

In doing so, police said, the womans vehicle collided with a 2016 Chevrolet Trax that was being driven south on Route 61 by a 56-year-old Minersville man.

The impact caused the BMW to spin and strike a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox driven by a 59-year-old Brockton woman, police said.

No injuries were reported and police said the Minersville womans BMW had to be towed from the scene.

SUV, dump truck in incident on I-78

HAMBURG  Four people escaped injury when an SUV and dump truck were involved in an incident in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 78, near mile marker 27.9 in Tilden Township, Berks County, around 12:30 p.m. Monday.

State police at Hamburg said Tyler Carl, 35, of Minersville, was driving a 2005 Mack truck east when a rock-like object became dislodged from the bucket of the truck and struck a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe that was behind him driven by Zachary Newman, 40, of Hillsborough, New Jersey.

The rock struck the windshield of the SUV, prompting Newman to pull off to the side of the road, police said, adding that Carl continued east unaware the incident happened.
WASHINGTON ( JTA )  Nancy Kaufman, the former CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women, said this week that she had been in touch with the Biden administration about becoming this countrys newly empowered anti-Semitism monitor.

Kaufman revealed her contact in the Forward in a story about how progressive Jewish groups appear to be coalescing around her candidacy.

She confirmed it on Wednesday to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, saying that a number of people outside the administration urged her to apply for the job, so she made her interest known to people inside the Biden administration.

I expressed interest and now Im waiting to hear, she said.

ADVERTISEMENT



Kaufman isnt the only one angling for the position, which reports on anti-Semitism overseas and presses governments to adopt measures to mitigate anti-Semitism. JTA spoke with four people close to the Biden administration who named a number of others who have been mentioned in chatter inside and outside the administration while noting that they could not confirm whether any of them were under formal consideration.

The list includes Abraham Foxman, the retired longtime leader of the Anti-Defamation League, and Deborah Lipstadt, the prominent Holocaust historian at Emory University.

JTA reached out to all of those whose names are in circulation, but only a few replied  and confirmed that like Kaufman, they also had expressed interest in the job. One is Ethan Katz, a professor of Jewish history at the University of California, Berkeley. Mark Weitzman of the Simon Wiesenthal Center would only say that his name has cropped up in reporting on the issue.

Other replies were off the record and cannot be reported. In explaining their request to remain off the record, two candidates with whom JTA spoke cited an age-old Washington maxim: The best way not to get a job in government is to campaign for a job in government. Governments do not like to appear pressured into making hires.

Kaufman said she was not campaigning for the job, formally known as U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism. She said that she had campaigned for Biden, in senior positions in outreach to Jews, older adults and progressives, and with his victory there had been talk of a possible administration position. The only one that excited her, Kaufman said, was the State Departments anti-Semitism envoy.

Im very enthusiastic about the prospect, she said. But there are a lot of good people out there.

There are no front-runners. Kaufman said the administration had not reached the vetting stage, which the other applicants confirmed: They had not yet heard back from government officials who would be tasked with the formal hiring.

The Biden administration has made no sign that it is even considering a formal nomination beyond accepting applications.

At this time, we do not have any details to share regarding a nomination for the special envoy position, a State Department spokesman told JTA.

One thing the administration must consider that its predecessors did not: Congress just elevated the job to ambassadorial level, meaning the envoy will have more resources and influence. The downside is that the nominee will have to be confirmed by an evenly divided Senate, where Republicans have already sought to scuttle a number of Biden picks.

Groups on the left  including IfNotNow, which has endorsed Kaufman for the job  want the anti-Semitism monitor to focus on white supremacists and to deemphasize Israel. They decried the last monitor under President Donald Trump, Elan Carr, for launching a campaign equating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism.

Here in alphabetical order are the names circulating among people who talk with people inside the Biden administration:

Stuart Eizenstat, a longtime U.S. negotiator for Holocaust restitution

Ira Forman, anti-Semitism monitor under President Barack Obama

Abraham Foxman, retired longtime national director of the Anti-Defamation League

Ethan Katz, professor of Jewish history, UC-Berkeley

Nancy Kaufman, former CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women

Mark Levin, longtime CEO of NCSEJ: National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry

Deborah Lipstadt, Holocaust historian, Emory University

Sharon Nazarian, senior vice president, international affairs, the Anti-Defamation League

Mark Weitzman, director of government affairs for the Simon Wiesenthal Center

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New Delhi, Apr 8 (UNI) Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General MM Naravane on Thursday proceeded on a five-day visit to Bangladesh to further boost the bilateral and defence ties between between the nations.

The Army Chief will pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by laying a wreath at the Shikha Anirban which will be followed by one to one meetings with the three Service Chiefs of the Bangladeshs Armed Forces.

He will also visit the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi to pay tributes to Bangladesh's founding father.

The Army Chief will interact with Bangladesh's Minister of Foreign Affairs on April 11 April at Bangladesh Army's Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka where he will attend a seminar on UN Peace Support Operations and deliver a keynote address on Changing Nature of Global Conflicts: Role of UN Peacekeepers.

General Naravane is also scheduled to interact with the Force Commanders of the United Nations Missions in Mali, South Sudan and Central African Republic and the Deputy Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutanese Army on April 12.

He will also attend the closing ceremony of Exercise Shantir Ogrosena, a multilateral UN-mandated counterterrorism exercise comprising the Armed Forces of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka along with observers from the US, UK, Turkey and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia among others. The Chief will also witness the innovations of the Bangladeshi Armed Forces personnel during the Hardware Display.



The COAS will interact with the members of Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support and Training Operations (BIPSOT) during the last leg of his visit.

General Naravane's visit comes in the midst of Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations which mark 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh, made possible by the historic leadership of the Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and heroics of the Mukti Bahini who fought shoulder to shoulder with Indian Armed Forces.

This visit will further deepen the bilateral relationships between the two Armies and act as a catalyst for closer coordination and cooperation between the two countries on a host of strategic issues, the Indian Army said in statement to day.

UNI AKS SB 1150
FCW Insider: April 8, 2021

The Defense Department is betting that insights from its financial data will help improve its business operations, from optimizing the workforce to divesting of legacy systems.

Chris Krebs, the former CISA director, has been vocal in recent months about the need for his old job to be filled in short order while the administration confronts multiple cybersecurity problems within the federal government.

The Environmental Protection Agency rolled back the clock on portions of its collective bargaining agreement on official time, union office space, grievance procedures and more.

Quick Hits

*** The Department of Defense is looking to improve the quality of data in its Automated Biometric Identification System. GCN has more on the plan.

*** The Biden administration is nominating officials with considerable experience in government innovation shops into senior acquisition roles. Washington Technology takes a look at what that might mean for the federal contracting community.
A defiant Trump supporter is refusing to take down a huge 2020 flag, which violates city rules, and even said he is prepared to go to jail.

Jay Johnson, from Minnesota, is flying a 50ft by 30ft Trump 2020 flag over his construction business.

The custom-made $1,000 flag has caused huge controversy in Buffalo and even led to his work vehicles being shot.

Jay Johnson is refusing to take down a huge Trump 2020 flag which violates city rules in Buffalo, Minnesota

The city has received 100 formal comments about the flag with locals divided on whether it should stay.

The flag is flying from a crane 150ft over the construction site and a city ordinance claims it needs to be licensed.

Johnson told CBS Minnesota: 'It looks small because it's 150ft in the air, but it's a pretty big flag.'

A city official said it is still deciding how to proceed with enforcement but Johnson said he is prepared to fight.

The custom-made $1,000 flag has caused huge controversy in Buffalo and even led to his work vehicles being shot

If he is ordered to take it down, Johnson said he will put it up elsewhere and maybe even buy a bigger flag.

He initially took it down after Trump's election loss but decided to put it up again last month.

Within hours, windows of his construction vehicles were shot with BB guns, which police are investigating.

At the same time, a Trump merchandise shop in another part of the city was also shot.

A city official said it they are still deciding how to proceed with enforcement but Johnson said he is prepared to fight

Johnson said: 'I'm willing to forgive the people that did it. They just got to come forward and admit it. I put a reward out.'

The flag cost $1,000 and the crane cost $50,000, and the business owner said he is prepared to face any punishment the city hand him.

He said: 'I am prepared to get the fines, ultimately get cuffed, go to jail, whatever.'

Neighbors are divided over the flag with some describing it as 'weird' while others saying they would prefer a US flag.

Buffalo is about 40 miles west of Minneapolis.
Boutique browsers try to scratch out a living by finding a niche underserved by the usual suspects. Brave is one of those browsers.

Brave has gotten more attention than most alternate browsers, partly because a co-founder was one of those who kick-started Mozilla's Firefox, partly because of its very unusual  some say parasitical  business model.

That model, which relies on stripping every site of every ad, then substituting different ads, came under attack almost immediately from publishers that depended on online advertising for their livelihood. "Your plan to use our content to sell your advertising is indistinguishable from a plan to steal our content to publish on your own website ((emphasis in original," lawyers for 17 newspaper publishers wrote in a cease-and-desist letter to Brave Software in April 2016.

Computerworld took a deep dive into Brave to figure out what it is, what it does and how it does it. Here's what you need to know to decide whether Brave's for you. (If you do decide to try it out, download information is detailed below.)

Brave The Brave browser can show users how many ad trackers (and ads) have been blocked.

What is the Brave browser?

Brave is a more-or-less standard browser that lets users navigate to websites, run web apps, and display online content. Like other browsers, it is free to download and use, remembers site authentication information, and can block online ads from appearing on sites.

Its maker, Brave Software, is among the newer entries in the browser battles, having previewed the browser in January 2016. (By comparison, Google's Chrome launched in September 2008 and Microsoft's Edge traces its lineage to July 2015.) The firm was co-founded by Brendan Eich, the creator of JavaScript and a co-founder of Mozilla, after he left that browser vendor under pressure for supporting California's 2008 Proposition 8, a ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage.

Does Brave block ads within search results?

No. Brave doesn't lay a finger on those, including the ubiquitous Google Ads (formerly AdWords) advertisements within Google's results. That's not a surprise: Ad blocking extensions don't stymie search ads either.

What's under Brave's hood?

Brave is built atop Chromium, the open-source project Google and others maintain. (Google uses Chromium to provide the source code for its Chrome browser.) The back-end technologies that power Chrome  including the Blink rendering engine and the V8 JavaScript engine  also power Brave.

On iOS, Brave instead relies on WebKit, the open-source foundation that also powers Apple's Safari browser. WebKit is required as the backbone of any third-party browser submitted to Apple's App Store.

Other browsers that depend on Chromium include Edge, Opera, Vivaldi and Qihoo 360, one of the most popular Chinese-made browsers.

(In hindsight, Eich's decision to go with Chromium  rather than with Firefox's Gecko rendering engine  was smart, even though most expected Brave to lean Mozilla's way, what with Eich's connection to the latter.)

Brave Brave's default browser behavior can be customized in preferences.

Can Brave run Chrome's extensions?

Glad you asked. Yes, is the answer.

After choosing "Extensions" from Brave's Window menu, the browser heads to the Chrome Web Store, the official market for add-ons and themes suitable for, well, Chrome (and some, though not all, Chromium-based rivals). There, users can pick and choose.

What's Brave's pitch?

Brave boasts two things: speed and privacy. Both result from its ad-stripping strategy.

On the desktop, Brave Software contends that its browser loads pages three times faster than Google's Chrome, the world's No. 1 browser. The speed increases are not surprising. By eliminating ads and ad trackers, Brave downloads much less content from a website than any browser sans an ad-blocking extension.

There's nothing technologically-special about Brave's performance; it's simply retrieving less data than other browsers.

By eliminating ad trackers, Brave blocks efforts by advertisers to first identify users, then follow those users. That makes Brave users more anonymous, Brave Software has argued. "(Users) especially don't like it when large companies map together their online behavior and offline behavior," the firm said in a very early blog post.

The company has also sworn that it does not, and will not, store any user data on its servers. "We keep user data out of our cloud Brave Vault by default," Eich wrote in his inaugural post of Jan. 20, 2016. "It's better for you and us that we don't store any of your data without your permission."

What makes Brave different from other browsers?

What sets Brave apart is its aggressive anti-ad attitude. The browser was built to strip online ads from websites and its maker's business model relies not only on ad blocking, but on replacing the scratched-out ads with advertisements from its own network. It's as if a new sports cable network announced it would use technology to remove ads from another network's programs, say, ESPN's, then rebroadcast those programs with ads of its own devising, with the revenue from those ads going in its pockets, not ESPN's.

Brave also eliminates all ad trackers, the often-minute page components advertisers and site publishers deploy to identify users so that they know what other sites those users visit or have visited. Trackers are used by ad networks to show products similar to ones purchased, or just considered, leading to the meme of persistently seeing the same ad no matter where one navigates.

Since Brave's appearance, mainstream browsers  Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and others  have also adopted various kinds of anti-tracking defenses. (In fact, where once performance was the battlefield for browser skirmishes, with page rendering speeds the gauge of success, privacy features now represent the battleground, and it's tracker blocking on which the apps are judged.) Brave's claim of privacy superiority, then, is not as compelling as it was, say, three years ago.

Is Brave's advantage blocking ads and trackers?

No, and for the talk early on, it never was. Unlike other browsers that block ads and trackers  whether natively or when equipped with an ad-blocking add-on  Brave has created an ad ecosystem to replace what it wipes off websites.

Brave scrubs sites of ads and ad tracking, then replaces those ads with its own advertisements, which are not individually targeted but instead aimed at an anonymous aggregate of the browser's user base. Brave has said it went that route rather than a simpler all-ad-elimination model because, while few users relish ads, many realize that without them, the commercial web as it now exists would be nigh impossible. That's why, claimed Brave, it not only swapped its advertisements for those originally displayed by a site, but built a cyrpto-currency-based system that can, theoretically at least, compensate those same websites.

It's definitely a user-centric model. "We're building a solution designed to ... give users the fair deal they deserve for coming to the web to browse and contribute," Eich maintained two years ago.

Brave's ads are quite different than the traditional in-page ads web users know  and in many ways, hate. Instead, Brave's ads appear as notifications that pop up  just like other in-browser notifications that sites request for display  in front of the user. Clicking on one of these notification-like ads opens a new tab in Brave, where the "real" ad content appears.

How will Brave and its users 'pay' websites?

The foundation of the Brave economy is "Basic Attention Tokens" or BATs, which have a value derived from a cyber-currency. Those tokens will be awarded based on user attention, or more plainly, time spent viewing ads and content. Brave users who agree to receive ads will be rewarded with BATs; the tokens can be passed to publishers as support for their sites. Alternately, Brave envisions users trading their tokens for premium content or advanced site features.

Brave users have been viewing ads since April 2019 and are now receiving ads, although it's unclear when Brave will actually begin serving ads to all users who opt in, or when the exchanging-BATs part of the process will be ready.

As of April 7, a single BAT was worth about $1.20. (There were approximately 1.5 billion BATs in circulation, for a total market cap of nearly $1.8 billion.) In its latest Monthly Active User (MAU) status update, Brave claimed that users had contributed some 26 million BATs to site publishers and web content creators (the latter are often posting on social media, or sites/services like YouTube and Twitch).

Brave The financial foundation of Brave relies on "Basic Attention Tokens" or BATs, which are tied to a cyber-currency and used to support websites. Users can automatically "tip" sites based on how much of their total online time is spent viewing their content.

How is Brave funded?

Some browsers don't have to worry about making money because they're just a cog in a much larger machine. For example, Chrome, Microsoft's Edge, and Apple's Safari don't need to turn a profit because their parent organizations value them for non-monetary reasons as well as their ability to produce revenue in some fashion.

Other browsers, notably Firefox, are the opposite: They must find a way to generate revenue. Mozilla does that by striking deals with search firms for default placement in the browser. (The current deal is with Google.)

Brave Software's financial foundation rests on something completely different: Its share of ad revenue. Unlike other browsers, which only display websites in an ecosystem where those sites are earning ad revenue, Brave has inserted itself into the money stream. Brave is the entity earning revenue from ads, even though the user views the same site as, for example, Edge, which earns nothing.

Brave's cut of publisher ads is 15%, while its take of user ads is a heftier 30%.

(User ads are the notification-style pop-ups the browser delivers to users; they currently make up the bulk of Brave's ads. Publisher ads are those viewed "on or in association with publisher content." A banner ad at the top of a site's home page, for instance, is a publisher ad.)

Brave rakes in 15%, although it raised $35 million a year ago in just seconds by selling the BAT cryptocurrency to investors  but clearly it's expecting that its take, as much as 30% of the BATs earned by users, will be a revenue generator as it sells those BATs to advertisers.

Brave has other monetary means, as it kept a third of the 1.5 billion BATs  that billion and a half is a cap, the company said  for itself (200 million BATs) and as starter seed for browser users' wallets (300 million BATs). At the current BAT value, Brave's 200 million equals $240 million. That money, Brave said in 2017 in a white paper, would be used "to build out the Blockchain-based digital advertising system."

How many people use Brave?

According to Brave, the browser had more than 25 million monthly active users (MAU) as of Feb. 2, 2021. The company stressed that it had more than doubled its MAU in the prior 12 months.

Although that MAU sounds impressive, with the whole world online, 25 million is a drop of the bucket. Mozilla's Firefox, a browser that Computerworld has long believed to be on the knife's edge between survival and dissolution, reported a MAU of approximately 219 million around that same February timeline, or about nine times Brave's.

What's the latest on Brave?

Search.

In March, Brave Software announced that it had acquired a search engine called Tailcat (yeah, we hadn't heard of them before, either), which, according to Brave, "will become the foundation of Brave Search."

As outlined by Brave, its Search will eschew user tracking and profiling, and "will not use secret methods or algorithms to bias results," a slap at Google's under-deep-cover algorithmic juggling of search results that can, with just one change, drastically reduce the prominence of a site in the listings.

Like the browser made by Brave, Search will pay users to view search-related ads. But the company said it would also offer "options for ad-free paid search," which would be a very visible marker to separate it from the run-of-the-mill engines.

Brave did not reveal a timetable for taking Search public; users interested in testing Brave Search can register here to be put on a preview waitlist.

Where can I download Brave?

Brave can be downloaded from this page of Brave Software's site.

The page should automatically recognize the device's operating system and offer the appropriate version. If it doesn't, select from the choices at the bottom \: Windows x86 or Windows x64; macOS (Intel) or macOS (ARM64); and Linux x64 for CentOS/RHEL, Debian, Fedora, Mint, openSUSE, and Ubuntu.

Mobile versions of the Brave browser (for iOS and Android) are available in the App Store and in Google Play, respectively.
Andhra Pradesh: Sriharikota island eroding, and Chennais multiple ports are at fault

by SV Krishna Chaitanya

April 08,2021 | Source: The New Indian Express

Sriharikota island, Indias spaceport and a critical facility, is eroding. This is partly because of the growing port infrastructure in Chennai, say coastal scientists conducting shoreline studies to understand the problem. When contacted by Express, M Srinivasulu Reddy, controller at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-Shar), said, Yes, we are experiencing a little erosion, especially on the northern strip of the island. We requested scientists from the Chennai-based National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) to undertake studies and recommend solutions. We are yet to receive a report from them. As for how much area of the island, which is home to ISROs rocket launch station, has been lost, Reddy said, We dont know. NCCR scientists are studying it. But as per rough estimates, based on Google Earth images and visual evidence from the ground, at least 200-300 m of the beach has been eroded in the past decade. Express has visited at least half a dozen villages abutting Sriharikota island on the north. Only the Pulicat Lake bar mouth separates these traditional fishing villages from the highly-guarded Sriharikota island. Fishermen in Navapetta, Monapalem, Kondurpalem, Srinivasapuram, Vadapalem, Manjakuppam and Govindapalipalem villages say that though there isnt a drastic change in the coastline, beaches are eroding slowly and steadily.



Growing port infra in Chennai erodes spaceport in Sriharikota



A Arumugam (51), a fisherman from Rayadaruvu village, says the erosion at Sriharikota has been getting worse every year. The old pier bridges have been taken over by the sea, so the Shar authorities built new ones, and even they are under threat now. Arumugam, who holds a marine fisheries identity card issued by the Union Ministry of Agriculture, said Sriharikota is the countrys pride and needs to be protected at any cost. Our coasts are protected because of Sriharikota barrier island. Many children from fishing villagers here study at schools in Sriharikota. Its our lifeline in many ways. On taking a boat ride along the island, Express witnessed the partially-submerged bridges. Compared to other areas along the coastline, the wave energy near Sriharikota Island was intense. When contacted, a top NCCR official told Express that Shar authorities contacted NCCR some three months ago regarding the problem of sea erosion. A report on changes in the Sriharikota shoreline will be ready by June and submitted to Shar authorities. For the last two months, our team has been conducting shoreline studies along Sriharikota Island and further up north. Our initial assessment shows the coastal areas are subject to erosion due to both natural and anthropogenic activities. However in recent days, low-pressure systems and sea-level changes have increased and hence more erosion is noticed at Sriharikota. The net littoral drift is towards the north and hence eroded areas are usually noticed north of any development.



The only way to manage the coast is to balance the sediment budget with proper analysis of natural and man-made activities. The noticeable structures that scientists are referring to and that can block the longshore sediment transport impacting Sriharikota island are breakwaters built by multiple ports in Chennai. Remember, Sriharikota island is located north of Chennai ports. It is a well-established fact that ports with protruding breakwaters built on a coast cause alteration to the flow of sediments along the shore and trigger erosion north of the structures, while helping beaches grow on the south. This is the reason north Chennai beaches are eroding and Marina Beach, which is south of Chennai port, benefits from a constant sand supply. Rajesh, member of Marine Coastal Security Police at Dugarajapatnam in Nellore district, also confirmed that a team of coastal scientists carried out studies up to 12 nautical miles into the sea last month. In Puducherry, scientists from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) deployed wedge-shaped nearshore artificial reefs to fight sea erosion in 2017. It was a first-of-its-kind eco-friendly design developed and successfully implemented in India, breaking way from conventional solutions like seawalls and groyne fields, which are becoming increasingly unpopular worldwide as they are known to shift the erosion further north. However, these submerged soft structures like the one deployed in Puducherry allow the sand to bypass, thereby helping beach formation on the either side. After nearly two decades, today there is about 300 m of beach in Puducherry, restoring some of its lost glory. Besides, Nellore district collector KVN Chakradhar Babu says the Sriharikota Island and the adjacent Pulicat estuary has been declared an ecologically-sensitive area and erosion is a matter of serious concern. This means building hard structures like a seawall or groynes are not recommended. Shar authorities have not flagged the issue of erosion with the district administration as yet. We are ready to provide any assistance, if needed, in terms implementing anti-erosion measures, Chakradhar said.



When does a littoral current occurs?



A littoral current occurs when waves break at an angle to the shoreline. The waves current and their turbulence lead to movement of the sand along the shoreline. As waves approach the beach at an angle, the up-rush of water, or swash, moves the sand at an angle, according to oceanography experts.

 newindianexpress.com 2021
American Lending Center Expands California Portfolio with Investment in Home2 Suites, Tracy

American Lending Center (ALC), a licensed non-bank lender, celebrated the opening of Home2 Suites, Tracy at the end of March. Illustrating the hospitality industry's strong recovery in the wake of COVID-19, this marks one of three ALC investments which have opened their doors this past month.

One week into opening, the extended stay property has already made a strong debut, with their practical location amid Tracy's distribution hub making their lodging options extremely attractive. While during the week the hotel reaps the benefits of its corporate surroundings, their proximity to several tournament fields has driven weekend business as well. Amenities include a meeting pace for up to 60 guests, a spacious outdoor patio with barbecue grills and a heated pool.







"After a drawn out construction process due to COVID-19, we are very excited that Home2 Suites has opened," said John Shen, ALC's chief executive officer. "We are very familiar with California's economic landscape and enjoy every opportunity to continue to bring meaningful foreign investment to the state."

Despite anticipating a soft opening, occupancy rates over the last week have exceeded expectations, and the hotel already has several groups booked for May and June.

About American Lending Center

American Lending Center (ALC) is a licensed non-bank lender that has provided over 500 million dollars to American ventures and created nearly 40,000 full-time jobs throughout the US. ALC is a small business specialized lender supporting qualified borrowers nationwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005129/en/
(CNN)  Controversy erupted at the Mrs. Sri Lanka beauty pageant on Sunday, when a former title holder took the crown off the winner's head and falsely claimed she was a divorcee and therefore ineligible to take part.

Pushpika De Silva was named the competition winner to applause and cheers from spectators in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. Video footage from the event showed organizers placing the winners' sash around De Silva and the crown on her head.

Shortly afterward, the pageant's 2019 winner and Mrs. World 2020, Caroline Jurie, took to the stage and picked up the microphone. "I have a small request," she said. "As for the Mrs. World Inc., there's a rule that you'll have to be married, and not divorced. So, I'm taking my first step saying that the crown goes to the first runner-up."

Jurie then turned to a stunned De Silva, forcefully took the crown off her head and placed it on the first runner-up, who broke into tears and thanked the judges as De Silva walked away.

The Mrs. World series is an international beauty pageant for married women, founded in 1984. The winners of each country's title advance to the Mrs. World competition to face off against each other. Under the rules of the pageant, contestants must be "married as of the date of entry."

After the incident, organizers declared De Silva the official winner of the pageant, and said in a statement that contestants who were "legally married" were allowed to compete.

De Silva said in a statement posted on Facebook on Monday that she was currently separated from her husband "for personal reasons," but they were not divorced. If she had been ineligible, she would have been removed from the competition at the start, she said.

In her statement, De Silva described the incident as an insult and decried Jurie's actions, saying true queens do not snatch other women's crowns. In a second statement posted on Facebook on Tuesday, De Silva added she had forgiven those involved.

Mrs. World Inc. organizers said in a news release that they are reviewing the incident.

"We are deeply disturbed and sincerely regret the behavior of our current title holder, Mrs. Caroline Jurie, Mrs. World 2020, at the crowning," the statement said, adding the director of the Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant will be asking Jurie to apologize.

"Let it be known, Mrs. World Inc. does not sit in moral judgment," the organizers' statement said. "If the delegate sent by Mrs. Sri Lanka-World to compete in the international competition is legally married she will be accepted."

CNN has reached out to the organizers, De Silva, and Jurie for comment.

Many beauty pageants have eligibility rules based on contestants' relationship status. For instance, the Miss USA pageant forbids contestants who are or have ever been married, as well as those who are pregnant or have ever given birth to a child, according to the eligibility rules for numerous state titles. Miss World America and other pageants have similar rules.

The rules have been criticized before as being outdated and limiting, with some urging organizers to change the guidelines.

There have been several instances where a contestant has been disqualified or winners dethroned after organizers found out they had lied about their marriages.

Famously, Carlina Duran was forced to hand over her crown after winning Miss Dominican Republic in 2012, with organizers saying she had violated the rules by hiding her marriage and claiming she was single.

In 2018, Veronika Didusenko was crowned Miss Ukraine before being stripped of her title days later when it emerged she was a divorced mother.

Didusenko said in an Instagram post last year that England's Equality and Human Rights Commission declined to pursue a case against the UK-based Miss World organization because it did not "advance their strategic priority aims," and only a "very small number of women" were involved in the pageants.

This story was first published on CNN.com "'Mrs. Sri Lanka' pageant controversy erupts after former title holder snatches winner's crown"
The Andhra Pradesh government is sending an SOS to the Centre seeking immediate supply of at least one crore doses of the coronavirus vaccine as the current stock available in the state would last no more than two days. The state currently has just three lakh doses of the vaccine while on an average 1.4 lakh people were being inoculated per day, health department officials told Chief Minister Y SJagan Mohan Reddy during a review meeting here on Thursday.There were over one crore people above 45 years in the state to be inoculated but shortage of vaccine has become a cause for concern.

The Chief Minister, however, directed that all these people be administered the vaccine within a month.

A release from the CMO said the Chief Minister directed the health authorities to speak to Central government officials and ensure required supply of vaccine doses to the state.

"Vaccination is the only way to prevent Covid-19. Everybody needs to be vaccinated as per the Centre''s guidelines," the Chief Minister told the health officials.

He wanted them to work with a target of vaccinating four lakh people in rural and two lakh in urban areas per day.

Jagan also asked them to create awareness among people on vaccination and utilise the services of ASHA workers and village volunteers for the purpose.

"You need to focus more sharply on the vaccination drive. Only then will the programme be successful," the Chief Minister remarked.

Reviewing the spurt in Covid-19 cases, the Chief Minister wanted focus on testing, tracing and treating.

"Ensure that Covid-19 patients are treated well without having to spend even a rupee. Also, make sure that the private hospitals charge only the fixed rates and do not fleece the hapless patients," he said.

"AP suffered a financial loss of Rs 21,000 crore due to the pandemic last year. If the situation leads to a fresh lockdown, our financial system will be fully damaged," Jagan warned.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to see that such a situation did not arise.

Education and awareness among people on Covid-19 prevention and containment should be enhanced, he added.

Deputy Chief Minister (Health) A K K Srinivas (Nani), state Chief Secretary Aditya Nath Das, Principal Secretary (Health) Anil Kumar Singhal, Commissioner Katamaneni Bhaskar and other officials attended.

Also Read: 'Maharashtra, Rajasthan, both non-BJP states, got most vaccines,' Harsh Vardhan on bias allegations

Also read: Maharashtra alleges discrimination; says BJP-ruled states get more vaccine doses

Also read: Vaccine shortage in Maharashtra; inoculation centres send back people
AI innovators are finding that continuous evolution of the AI environment - such as models, infrastructure, and teams - is the key to sustaining the initial growth impact, and performance visibility is crucial to enabling this evolution.

Organizations have been investing heavily in AI-driven research and development for use cases such as fraud detection, healthcare research, and marketing intelligence. IDC predicts that in 2021 organizations will spend roughly $5B on AI Software Platforms [1], a wide range of solutions such as AI data management and machine learning operations (MLops) tools, to power their AI research and development efforts. Within this market, one particularly important category is AI monitoring. As companies adopt and build AI systems and products, they often struggle to sustain the initial business impact. Monitoring is a critical part of the lifecycle of AI systems, enabling data scientists and machine learning engineers to continuously observe and adjust the performance of their systems. AI teams are then able to protect AI from anomalies and biases, as well as sustain and even improve upon business impact and AI-driven growth.

Mona Labs latest release of its AI monitoring product marks a significant milestone in the AI platform market, most notably for its proven flexibility, intelligence, and scalability.

Flexibility. Supported use cases now include images, audio, video, text, and tabular data, for a myriad of purposes such as language detection, NLU, satellite imagery classification, risk analysis, and ETA prediction.

Intelligence. The latest release also includes 13 proprietary anomaly detection algorithms such as for detecting drifts, biases, and data integrity issues, along with several more for rule-based validations. The product highlights only anomalies that matter and often require immediate action, enabling preempting machine learning issues before they impact the business.

Scalability. The platform has recently scaled to support customer data in the range of billions of inferences per day. At the largest customer deployment, the platform now processes over 5G/minute of model data, translating roughly to 1M inference runs per minute.

For these reasons, the platform does not only extend to virtually any AI use case, but can also handle significantly large data workloads. These capabilities enable Monas customers to reduce manual labor often spent investigating potential AI anomalies, and to preempt negative business impact.

We started our journey with the realization that AI has gone from supporting businesses to fueling their growth, explained CEO Yotam Oren. AI innovators are finding that continuous evolution of the AI environment - such as models, infrastructure, and teams - is the key to sustaining the initial growth impact, and that performance visibility is crucial to enabling this evolution. To meet this need we continue to grow our AI/ML observability platform, and focus on empowering AI-native companies, with actionable intelligence about their data and models.

In addition to new product capabilities, the company announced several new marquee customers. In recent months, Mona has become the monitoring solution of choice for several fast-growth innovators and unicorns: Fiverr, Gong.io, K Health, Cape Analytics, and Kueski. Their AI monitoring implementations unlock business growth across different verticals, from healthcare to financial services and marketplaces, and span tens of thousands of machine learning model instances across deep learning and machine learning use cases.

At Gong, the rapid expansion of our revenue intelligence product presents big challenges of constant domain shifts and potential new biases which can shift the results of our ML models says Ohad Parush, EVP of Research and Development. With Mona, we're able to pre-empt it in production before it has a negative effect on our customers, allowing us to review our models and algorithms quickly and ensure our customers are not affected."

Mona Labs product is in general availability and interested customers can get started today.

Mona provides intelligent and flexible AI monitoring for AI-driven companies and teams who need to continuously adapt and optimize their production environments for fast business growth. Customers across all verticals use Mona's platform for a variety of use cases such as fraud detection, data-driven healthcare, e-commerce marketing optimization, and revenue intelligence. Founded in 2018 by product leaders and operators from Google and McKinsey & Co., the company is backed by top VCs, with offices in Tel Aviv, Atlanta, and San Francisco. For more information, visit https://www.monalabs.io.

[1] IDC Forecasts Strong 12.3% Growth for AI Market in 2020 Amidst Challenging Circumstances, 04 Aug 2020, https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS46757920
Dar es Salaam  Players in the mining sector welcomed remarks by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, saying they were opening a new era.

President Hassan warned government officials over frustrating the business community through unrealistic taxes, unnecessary bureaucracy, delayed refunds and unfriendly administration of taxes among others.

In the mining sector, she specifically stressed on improving partnership with mining companies, mentioning Barrick Gold through its subsidiary in which the government is a 16 percent shareholder.

She also asked responsible officials to fast-track agreements with companies eyeing to start mining nickel and look at how minerals in reserved areas were being exploited.

"This speech is most welcome by the private sector including mining players," said Mr Philbert Rweyemamu, the chairperson of the Tanzania Chamber of Mines which represent about 50 companies.

"This is a new beginning for the mining sector in Tanzania," he said.

"Our biggest concern has been about delays in VAT refunds in which the government owes the miners millions of dollars but with that statement, we are confident everything will go well," he added.

Mr Rweyemamu, who doubles as the Shanta Gold general manager responsible for government relations, said the government owes his company alone some $30 million in the VAT refunds.

"If we get this money, it will help us in developing our project in Singida," he said.

In 2017, Tanzania amended the mining law and enacted two other natural resource-related laws, compelling mining companies to partner with the government in an attempt to ensure the government gets a significant share of benefits from the minerals.

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The government also banned exportation of concentrates from Barrick Gold mines which were then managed by Acacia that was accused of cheating in taxes.

After negotiations that ran for almost two years, Barrick signed a framework agreement with the government of Tanzania.

In 2020, the two partners formed Twiga Minerals Corporation in which the government owns 16 percent free-carried shares in accordance with the mining law. However, President Hassan said yesterday that there were still a lot of unsettled challenges in the partnership with Barrick. "Go and clear the challenges so that we move ahead" she ordered.

She stated that there were issues related to taxes which government officials needed to handle carefully.

"We should not reach a point of flexing muscles. We still need the investors. If there are taxes which the ministry of Finance cannot exempt, bring them to us so that we can deal with them," she said.

"We have also agreed with some companies for new investments. Negotiation teams should hasten the process so that the companies can start mining," she said.

"On mining in reserved areas, let us also see how we extract the minerals. We still need the animals and at the same time we need the minerals.

"By the way the animals do not eat the minerals, we should look at the opportunity cost of mining and that of not mining," she added.
MELBOURNE, Fla., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- StorageMart adds a mix of regular and climate controlled storage units with the recent acquisition of a CubeSmart Self Storage facility in West Melbourne, Florida.

The latest acquisition in a period of rapid expansion after a refinancing deal late last year, the property will be upgraded to deliver on the StorageMart brand promise of easy, clean, well-lit self storage products and award-winning customer service. In the coming months, upgrades will include improvements to loading accessibility and enhancements to security features.

"We see this new addition to our portfolio as a strategic next step toward expanding our footprint according to the same patient, measured approach that has shown continued success over time." Alex Burnam, Director of Acquisitions.

About StorageMart: Dedicated to providing clean, well-lit storage units, and friendly customer service, StorageMart is led by the Burnam family, which has been in the storage industry for four generations. Through the "Store it Forward'' charitable giving program, StorageMart gives back to the many communities it calls home. In recent years, the company donated more than half a million dollars to charities, in addition to donating storage space to charitable organizations throughout the US, UK, and Canada. Find out more at https://www.storage-mart.com .

Contact: Sarah Little

573.449.0091

[email protected]

SOURCE StorageMart

Related Links

http://www.storage-mart.com


Lou Barletta, the former Hazleton mayor and ex-congressman, leads a field of Republicans who could potentially seek party nomination for governor in 2022, according to a poll conducted by Susquehanna Polling & Research.

Although he hasnt officially announced plans to run, Barletta leads a field of GOP gubernatorial candidates that includes former Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, state Sen. Doug Mastriano, former U.S. Attorney William McSwain and Congressman Dan Meuser, SP&R says.

The poll focused on candidates who, according to media reports, are considering a run.

It shows Barletta leading head to head and in total name identification, and with leads in three critical markets of Pennsylvania that combine for more than 50% of the GOP vote in a Republican primary on a statewide basis.

Barletta said last week that the poll will help shape a decision about whether to run for office.

Im discussing with my family, but it is something I am seriously considering, according to Barletta.

He didnt hesitate when expressing his displeasure for Gov. Tom Wolfs response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With Wolf limited to two terms, his seat is up for grabs in 2022.

I thought I was finished with public office but Pennsylvania has seen the direction that Gov. Wolf and Democrats have taken the commonwealth and its not good, Barletta said. Governors like Wolf crushed small businesses and hurt employees and made the crisis much worse than it had to be.

SP&R polled 700 likely Pennsylvania general election voters, including a subset of 272 Republican voters, from Feb. 16-24.

Barletta topped the candidate pool with support of 20% of Republicans. He holds a nearly 2-1 lead over Mastriano, who has support from 11% of respondents. Both McSwain and Meuser were next with 3% while Cawley followed with 2% and 1% opted for the choice of other.

Sixty percent who were polled said they were undecided on who they would back.

Barletta believes his statewide run was a factor in the results. In 2018, he was the Republican nominee for Senate and lost to Democratic incumbent Bob Casey Jr.

Prior to that, Barletta served in Congress from 2011 to 2019 and as mayor of Hazleton from 2000 to 2010.

He also served on city council for two years.

The poll certainly grabbed my attention, Barletta said. While I was mayor and congressman, I always stood up for the people in Pennsylvania. Its encouraging to see in the poll that many feel the same way.

Barletta polled highest in name identification, with 67% of Republicans who responded saying they know of him. Twenty-three percent have a favorable view of the former congressman, 11% have an unfavorable opinion, 33% have no opinion and 33% have not heard of him.

Mastriano follows in name awareness, at 66%, with 22% having a favorable opinion, 5% unfavorable, 39% with no opinion and 34% having not heard of him.

Cawley is third-highest in total name identification, with 54%, followed by Meuser, 45%, and McSwain, 40%, SP&R reported.

The poll also found:

 8% view Cawley favorably, 5% unfavorable, 46% have never heard of him, 41% have no opinion.

 5% view Meuser favorably, 7% unfavorable, 57% havent heard of him, 30% have no opinion.

 3% view McSwain favorably, 3% unfavorable, 60% havent heard of him, 34% have no opinion.

Barletta also leads the field in three areas or markets that SP&R deems critical. He leads in the conservative T/Central market at 36% (followed by Mastriano 18% and Cawley 5%), as well as the Northeast/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton media market at 37% (with Mastriano at 10% and Meuser at 6%) and the Southcentral/Harrisburg/Lancaster/Perry market at 29% (with Mastriano 11%, Cawley 3%, Meuser 2%, McSwain 1%).

Pollsters also reported that former President Donald Trump has a stellar 83:12 ratio in favorable to unfavorable likeability among Republican voters, suggesting that GOP voters are stalwart in their support for the former president, and that any GOP candidate for governor who is a supporter of the former president would presumably benefit from a potential Trump endorsement.

Barletta has been a staunch supporter of Trump, having been part of numerous campaign stops and rallies organized by the president and his supporters.

In October 2020, Barletta was on hand when Mark and Patricia McCloskey rallied voters as part of the Team Trump Bus Tour at Republican offices in Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre and Scranton.

Attendees cheered Barletta when a participant at the Hazleton event publicly encouraged him run for governor.

The margin of error for a sample size of 700 interviews is +/-3.7% at the 95% confidence level, or +/-5.9% for a subset of 272 interviews with registered Republicans, according to SP&R, which is based in Harrisburg.
TOKYO (AP)  Tokyo has asked Japan's central government for permission to implement emergency measures to curb a surge in a rapidly spreading and more contagious coronavirus variant, just over three months before the start of the Olympics.

Tokyo came out of a state of emergency on March 21. Its governor, Yuriko Koike, told reporters Thursday that she asked the government to allow her to issue binding orders under a new virus prevention law enacted in February that include penalty for business owners who defy measures and compensation for those who comply.

Tokyo's step follows Osaka in western Japan, which declared a medical emergency after its hospitals became overwhelmed with new cases.

Tokyo reported 545 cases on Thursday. Koike said she is alarmed by the rapid spread of the new variants, especially one initially detected in Britain.

It would be a matter of time before Tokyo faces a situation similar to Osaka, Koike said.

She said timing and details of the new measures, including shorter hours for restaurants and bars, will be decided later.

Later Thursday, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he plans to place Tokyo under emergency virus measures after consulting with experts on Friday. Suga said he is also discussing the possibility of similar steps with other prefectures where infections have spiked.

The latest surge started mainly in western Japan, including Osaka, where the daily toll hit a record 905 and Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura asked that the Olympic torch relay scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday be held at a park and not on the public road. He said more than 70% of hospital beds have been occupied, a threshold for a local medical alert.

Infections have also surged elsewhere in the country. With Japan's vaccination drive still at an early stage, the surge may cause further cancelations of Olympic-related events.

Kyodo News agency on Wednesday reported that Japan is considering prioritizing its Olympic athletes for vaccination by late June. Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato on Thursday denied that his government is discussing any details at the moment, but added that he is closely watching discussions among Olympic officials about how to ensure athletes' safety.

Story continues

Inoculations started mid-February with medical workers, but still account for less than 1% of the population. Vaccinations of elderly people are to start next week and the rest will likely have to wait until around July.

Though Japan is not doing as well as some other Asian countries in controlling the virus, its cases and deaths are much smaller than in the United States and Europe even though it has never imposed a hard lockdown. As of Wednesday, Japan had 492,875 cases and 9,301 deaths, according to the health ministry.

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This story corrects when Tokyo's state of emergency was lifted.
Vietnamese exporters of wood products have been struggling with rising transport and material costs. Photo: Le Toan

As global supply chains were affected by the Suez Canal incident, the supply issues for raw materials for Vietnams export wood processing were further exacerbated.

Raw material prices have increased by 10-25 per cent since July last year, depending on the source of imports, said Nguyen Liem, general director of Lam Viet JSC  a manufacturer of wooden chairs, boards, and beds for the US and UK markets.

The Vietnam Administration of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development estimated the import value of wood and materials at $696 million in the first three months of 2021, up 31 per cent on-year. The high value comes from an increased demand as well as increased raw material prices in the first months of the year. Vietnamese businesses are importing raw wood from China, the United States, Cameroon, Thailand, and Chile, accounting for about 55 per cent of the total imported wood and forest products in the past three months.

Many traders and wood processors are concerned that raw material prices will further rise due to the impact of the Suez Canal incident.

Data from TigerWood Co., Ltd., a company specialising in the trading of raw wood imported from the US and Europe with an office in the southern province of Binh Duong, noted many reasons for the recent rise in prices. For instance, fees for logistics, like containers and shipping, have pushed up the selling price of raw pine, poplar, oak, and ash by about $2-3 per cubic metre compared to mid-2020. During the first quarter of 2021, many companies had orders but lacked raw materials for production, and thus had to accept buying raw materials at high prices. Some of the materials are lacking due to supply disruptions in China, and many have currently not found alternative markets.

Large companies with long-term strategies have been increasingly collecting raw materials to produce large orders, pushing smaller companies away and leaving them with insufficient timber and other raw materials for production.

Raw wood from major sources, especially the US and Europe, has decreased due to a significant increase in the domestic demand in these markets. Data compiled by TigerWood shows that the demand for wooden kitchen and bathroom products in Europe and the US increased by 40 per cent from a year ago. Meanwhile, home extensions and repairs increased by 52 per cent, and security concerns seemed to have caused a much greater demand in fences and repairs, resulting in a rise of 166 per cent.

The US consumes half of Vietnams wood products, and Americans increased their purchases of imported products due to lower prices, consistent with a lower per capita income due to the effects of the pandemic  a trend that will continue in 2021 as the health crisis remains complicated, according to industry researcher IBISWorld.

TigerWood stated that the price of imported raw materials has mainly risen because of the slow global trade in goods. Meanwhile, the container demand in China is growing strongly with the recovery of its export industry pushing the demand further. Also, Chinas exporters seem to be willing to spend more money for carriers bringing empty containers back to them.

Currently, the cost of transporting goods from China to the US is almost 10 times higher than in the opposite direction, so carriers want to ship empty containers rather than goods, according to online freight shipping marketplace Freightos.

The increase in input material costs moves many small- and medium-sized manufacturers to also raise the selling prices of their products. However, buyers of Vietnamese wood products, such as in Europe and America, are still suffering from the pandemic while their purchasing power has not increased.

It is extremely difficult to raise issues with European and American customers at this time, said Lam Viets Liem.

According to Liem, most customers buy Vietnamese wood products at free on board prices, meaning that they have to bear the shipping costs. While the value of the goods in each container amounts to just over $10,000, the price of the container has increased from $2,000 to nearly $9,000 after just one year. If Vietnamese manufacturers also add the raw material price increase to their finished product prices, buyers refrain from purchasing at some point.

Moreover, for traders in Europe or America, input prices have been kept stable for around five years. Liem said, The renegotiation of these selling prices could have been still possible if Vietnamese companies had raised the issue last September.

However, the bargaining position of Vietnamese wood product suppliers has changed after efforts to train human resources and invest in and apply high-tech solutions in the operations.

Liem found that more major buyers around the world were working directly with Vietnamese suppliers on product sales. They typically order for a long term, instead of a month or a quarter like years ago. But, the only companies with large scales have this strong bargaining position. Smaller businesses still have to accept each quarter, even every month, he said.

As the pandemic is still progressing, the competitiveness of the Vietnamese wood industry will largely depend on the vaccination strategies of supplying and purchasing markets. Meanwhile, Vietnams goal of exporting wood and forest products worth of $14 billion in 2021 remains in the distance.
The United States is going ahead with a plan to impose tariffs of about US$880 million (A$1.2 billion) annually on goods from six countries that have levied taxes on digital companies.

This figure has been calculated by Bloomberg which also listed details of the taxes levied by the six countries in question.

The office of the US Trade Representative said in a statement that investigations had shown that the digital service taxes levied by these six countries were subject to action.

The USTR said the six countries were the UK, Turkey, Spain, Italy, India and Austria, all of whom have put in place taxes on companies like Facebook and Amazon.

Three other countries  Brazil, the Czech Republic and Indonesia  and the European Union had not adopted digital service taxes and hence investigations into them had been dropped.

The action was contemplated "because they [the six nations] discriminated against US digital companies... [in a way that was] inconsistent with principles of international taxation, and burdened US companies," the statement said.

The tariffs on each country would roughly come to the amount of tax that each gets from the technology firms. Tariff on some goods could be as much as 25%.

The US is committed to working with its trading partners to resolve its concerns with digital services taxes, and to addressing broader issues of international taxation, said US Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

The US remains committed to reaching an international consensus through the OECD process on international tax issues. However, until such a consensus is reached, we will maintain our options under the Section 301 process, including, if necessary, the imposition of tariffs.
Gov. Kay Ivey says she will not pass an order to stop businesses from requiring employees to get a coronavirus vaccine.

WAAY 31 spoke with a local attorney about the legality of this requirement.

Ivey said she couldn't comment too much on the issue at her news conference on Wednesday but did say every business has the right to set their own requirements.

Alabama is an at-will employment state, meaning you can be hired or fired for any or no reason.

Businesses could be sued if they don't provide a safe work environment for their employees. That's why some employers might choose to require their employees to get a coronavirus vaccine. However, there are exemptions to the rule.

Unless you qualify for the Americans Disability Act or some kind of religious exemption, then you will probably have to get a vaccine to go to work. Now, you don't have to get it, but you don't also have to go to work, so that means you won't get a paycheck, said attorney Will League.

Right now, everyone over the age of 16 is eligible to get a coronavirus vaccine in Alabama.
Algorithms similar to those used by Netflix, Amazon and Facebook have shown the ability to decipher the 'biological language' of cancer, Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Researchers trained a large-scale language model with a recommendation AI to look at what happens when something goes wrong with proteins that leads to the development of a disease.

The work, conducted by St. John's College and the University of Cambridge, programed the algorithm to learn the language of shapeshifting droplets of proteins found in cells in order to understand their function and malfunction.

By learning these protein droplets' language, the team can then 'correct the grammatical mistakes inside cells that cause disease.''

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Researchers trained a large-scale language model with a recommendation AI to look at what happens when something goes wrong with proteins that leads to the development of a disease

Professor Tuomas Knowles, a Fellow at St John's College, said: 'Any defects connected with these protein droplets can lead to diseases such as cancer.

'This is why bringing natural language processing technology into research into the molecular origins of protein malfunction is vital if we want to be able to correct the grammatical mistakes inside cells that cause disease.'

Machine learning technology has made waves in the tech industry  Netflix uses it to recommend series, Facebook's suggest someone to friend and Amazon's Alexa has an algorithm to recognize people based on their voice.

However, the medical world is adopting the technology in a way that is saving lives.

The work programed the algorithm to learn the language of shapeshifting droplets of proteins found in cells in order to understand their function and malfunction. Pictured are protein condensates forming inside living cells

'Bringing machine-learning technology into research into neurodegenerative diseases and cancer is an absolute game-changer,' said Knowles, who is the lead author of the study.

'Ultimately, the aim will be to use artificial intelligence to develop targeted drugs to dramatically ease symptoms or to prevent dementia happening at all.'

Dr Kadi Liis Saar, first author of the paper and a Research Fellow at St John's College, was tasked with training the large-scale language model to uncover the protein's secrets.

She said: 'The human body is home to thousands and thousands of proteins and scientists don't yet know the function of many of them. We asked a neural network based language model to learn the language of proteins.

'We specifically asked the program to learn the language of shapeshifting biomolecular condensates - droplets of proteins found in cells - that scientists really need to understand to crack the language of biological function and malfunction that cause cancer and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

'We found it could learn, without being explicitly told, what scientists have already discovered about the language of proteins over decades of research.'

Proteins play a number of key roles in the body, but most of their work is done in cells - they provide structure, function and regulate the bodys tissues and organs.

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases are three of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, but scientists believe there are several hundred.

In Alzheimer's disease, which affects 50 million people worldwide, proteins go rogue, form clumps and kill healthy nerve cells.

A healthy brain has a quality control system that effectively disposes of these potentially dangerous masses of proteins, known as aggregates.

Scientists now think that some disordered proteins also form liquid-like droplets of proteins called condensates that don't have a membrane and merge freely with each other.

Unlike protein aggregates which are irreversible, protein condensates can form and reform and are often compared to blobs of shapeshifting wax in lava lamps.

'Protein condensates have recently attracted a lot of attention in the scientific world because they control key events in the cell such as gene expression - how our DNA is converted into proteins - and protein synthesis - how the cells make proteins,' Knowles said.

'Any defects connected with these protein droplets can lead to diseases such as cancer. This is why bringing natural language processing technology into research into the molecular origins of protein malfunction is vital if we want to be able to correct the grammatical mistakes inside cells that cause disease.'

The machine-learning technology is developing at a rapid pace due to the growing availability of data, increased computing power, and technical advances which have created more powerful algorithms.

By learning the language of the proteins (pictured) the team can determine what is malfunctioning. 'Ultimately, the aim will be to use artificial intelligence to develop targeted drugs to dramatically ease symptoms or to prevent dementia happening at all,' scientists say

'We fed the algorithm all of data held on the known proteins so it could learn and predict the language of proteins in the same way these models learn about human language and how WhatsApp knows how to suggest words for you to use,' Dr Saar said.

'Then we were able ask it about the specific grammar that leads only some proteins to form condensates inside cells. It is a very challenging problem and unlocking it will help us learn the rules of the language of disease.'

Further use of machine-learning could transform future cancer and neurodegenerative disease research.

Discoveries could be made beyond what scientists currently already know and speculate about diseases and potentially even beyond what the human brain can understand without the help of machine-learning.

'Machine-learning can be free of the limitations of what researchers think are the targets for scientific exploration and it will mean new connections will be found that we have not even conceived of yet,' Dr Saar explained.

'It is really very exciting indeed.'
Zelensky Lobbies for Ukrainian Membership in NATO

April 7 , 2021 (EIRNS)Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in a flight forward effort to put Ukraines entry into NATO on a fast track. On April 6, he spoke by phone to both NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in order to gain their support and a day earlier had spoken to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson with the same aim in mind. During his discussion with Stoltenberg, Zelensky called for a greater NATO presence on the Black Sea, according to the readout published by the Ukrainian presidential office. Such a permanent presence should be a powerful deterrent to Russia, which continues the large-scale militarization of the region and hinders merchant shipping, he claimed.

Zelensky stressed, however, that the most urgent issue for Kiev in relations with NATO was the possibility of obtaining the NATO Membership Action Plan. We are committed to reforming our army and defense sector, but reforms alone will not stop Russia. NATO is the only way to end the war in Donbas. Ukraines MAP will be a real signal for Russia, Zelensky said (emphasis added).

Sen. Vladimir Jabarov, first deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Councils international affairs committee, told TASS that Zelensky has little chance of getting his country into the alliance. NATO admits only those countries which have no internal conflicts or conflicts with neighboring states. He [Zelensky] has both an internal conflict, the one in the southeast, and rifts with neighboring countries. He has quarreled with Belarus and is threatening us. May he [will] give up this hope. He will never be in NATO, Jabarov said.

If he thinks that NATO will agree to defend him, should he enter into a conflict with Russia, he is very wrong. May he give a call to [Georgias former President Mikheil] Saakashvili and ask him for advice. He will tell him how it happens, Jabarov said. He stressed that the sole way of settling the conflict in Donbas was through the implementation of the Minsk Accords.

But the Ukrainian authorities have torpedoed all Minsk agreements. Apparently, they are not prepared for this, he went on. I suspect that when he makes such statements, Mr. Zelensky has a very poor idea of the implications of NATOs membership for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. If he really thinks that he will be allowed to take any liberties under NATOs umbrella, he is very mistaken,

Jabarov said, and asserting that Ukraines southeast would be firmly against this.

In Washington, three different administration press secretariesat the White House, State Department and the Pentagonall said, in effect, and in fact at the Pentagon, no comment when asked about Zelenskys lobbying effort.
This is the horrifying moment a young woman was ambushed by three men on her way home from work and shoved into a car in Kyrgyzstan - hours before she was found murdered in a case of 'bride kidnapping'.

Security camera footage shows Aizada Kanatbekova, 27, being surrounded by the trio before they grab her and push her into the back of a red Honda Civic in the capital Bishkek on Monday so that she could be forcibly married.

One man can be seen pulling Karantbekova across the street but as she struggles against his grip, another man runs towards her and lifts her from the ground before shoving her inside the car.

Security camera footage shows Aizada Kanatbekova, 27, being surrounded by the trio before they grab her and push her into the back of a red Honda Civic in the capital Bishkek on Monday

A man in a red cap can be seen waiting by the car and opens the door so that Karanthbekova can be put inside (left). He then runs off to a nearby vehicle. The two remaining men clamber inside the vehicle (right), which has its licence plate clearly visible, before driving off

Police said Wednesday Aizada Karantbekova's (right) body was found strangled in the back of the car outside of the capital and she had been abducted for marriage in a case of 'bride kidnapping'

A man in a red cap can be seen waiting by the car and opens the door so that Karanthbekova can be put inside. He then runs off to a nearby vehicle.

The two remaining men clamber inside the vehicle, which has its licence plate clearly visible, before driving off.

Police said Wednesday Karantbekova's body was found strangled in the back of the car outside of the capital and she had been abducted for marriage in a case of 'bride kidnapping'.

Kanatbekova's kidnapper and assumed murderer, believed to be a 36-year-old man, was also found dead, police said, adding that they believe he committed suicide.

One of the other kidnappers was detained by police, state television reported today.

Kanatbekova's abduction and death sparked some 500 people to demonstrate in the capital today to demand the resignation of police chiefs.

Kanatbekova's abduction and death sparked some 500 people to demonstrate in the capital today to demand the resignation of police chiefs

The protesters called for the sacking of the interior minister and the city police chief and held banners bearing slogans such as 'Who will answer for Aizada's murder?', 'End the femicide' and 'Who still thinks that murder is a tradition?'

The protesters held up pictures of Kanatbekova whilst shouting 'Shame!' in front of the interior ministry.

They are angry that the police failed to find Kanatbekova in time, or her suspect, after the kidnapping had been caught on camera with the car model and number plates clearly visible.

The protesters called for the sacking of the interior minister and the city police chief and held banners bearing slogans such as 'Who will answer for Aizada's murder?', 'End the femicide' and 'Who still thinks that murder is a tradition?'

Another protester held up a sign reading: 'How many of us need to die before the kidnapping stops?'

Bride kidnapping, known locally as Ala Kachuu, has roots in the Central Asian country's nomadic past and persisted into the Soviet era, albeit on a smaller scale.

The practice involves a potential groom forcibly taking a young woman or girl back to his home before pressuring her to agree to marriage by writing a letter of consent.

The protesters held up pictures of Kanatbekova whilst shouting 'Shame!' in front of the interior ministry

The rally drew some 500 people and prompted Prime Minister Ulugbek Maripov to address the protesters

But the practice became chronic after the country gained independence in 1991.

It was outlawed in 2013 but convictions are extremely rare and survivors are reluctant to file complaints due to threats of violence and cultural stigma.

Journalist Mahinur Niyazova, who tweeted a call to rally outside the interior ministry headquarters, said that the murder showed police had other priorities rather than defending women from violence.

'It is impossible to be quiet and observe the violence that our women, who lack any rights, must endure,' said Niyazova, who is deputy editor of popular news website 24.kg.

The rally drew some 500 people and prompted Prime Minister Ulugbek Maripov to address the protesters.

He asked them to 'have patience' and promised that everyone associated with the kidnapping would be punished, as several demonstrators shouted him down and called for his dismissal too.

President Sadyr Japarov on Facebook described Kanatbekova's death as 'a tragedy and pain not only for her family, but also for our entire state'.

He said the incident should be 'the last bride kidnapping in history'.

The last time a bride kidnapping death brought protesters onto the streets in Kyrgyzstan was in 2018, when 20-year-old medical student Burulai Turdaaly Kyzy was killed in a police station where officers had held her with her kidnapper as she prepared to file a statement against him.

According to the UN Women's office in Bishkek, one in five marriages in the impoverished republic of 6.5 million are concluded after a bride kidnapping incident.
[April 08, 2021] A Glimpse into China's Burgeoning Edge Cloud Market

BEIJING, April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A report by EqualOcean on China's burgeoning edge cloud market: According to CNNIC, a national IT think tank, China had more than 989 million Internet users by the end of 2020, accounting for approximately 70% of the country's total population, whereas the figure only stood at 909 million a year ago. The COVID-19 crisis has clearly contributed to an accelerated penetration rate of Internet users in China. The user behavior changes have not only burdened the workload of the network but, at the same time, further inspired the development of the cloud industry. From cloud to 'edge cloud' Compared with the global market, China's cloud landscape is primarily led by the Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) segment. Dominated by the public cloud service and IDC service providers, the rising IaaS has developed several verticals to meet the evolving needs: cloud security, content distribution network (CDN), docker, cloud storage and so on. Simultaneously, innovative technologies such as AI and those enabling the Internet of Things (IoT) urged the cloud providers to adapt to the scaling technology deployment; edge computing came into the public sight. As estimated by GSMA, connected devices may reach 24.6 billion by 2025 while the IoT market size may exceed USD 1.1 trillion at the same time. Standing for a decentralized form of cloud computing, the so-called 'edge' networks can promptly respond to regional service requests. Forecasted by MarketsandMarkets, the edge computing market size is expected to grow from USD 3.6 billion in 2020 to USD 15.7 billion by 2025 (a 34.1% CAGR). Driven by the expansion of IoT applications and increasing network traffic and low-latency processing demands, edge computing is appreciated for strengths like a fast response, higher efficiency and improved security. Edge computing is at an early development phase, and pioneers in the field are mostly found to be network service providers, along with CDN vendors. CDN is a geographically distributed group of services that provides fast delivery of content. The services aim to provide a smoother Internet experience for users via storing cached contents at the end servers, instantly responding to nearby users' visiting requests. Thanks to their decentralized nature, CDN companies are inherently fitted to explore edge computing practice. CDN transcends to edge computing and edge cloud in China In the US, leading CDN players such as Cloudflare and Fastly are in the front of the edge cloud business. CDN's Point of Presence (PoP) and the capability to allow users to define their use of the CDN lay a foundation for the edge cloud business. Fastly has determined to dive into the edge cloud business as an extensive IoT future is foreseeable and edge computing demand will rise with the scaling deployment of IoT. Echoing the US edge cloud market, the domain in China is also led by public cloud providers as well as CDN players. In China, the CDN market is dominated by major public cloud providers, including Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud, Huawei Cloud and traditional CDN companies ChinaNetCenter and BaishanCloud. Due to the trending of the 'Mobile Internet' and ICT technology upgrades, the CDN business has advanced. While AI, IoT and Industrial Internet started to be adopted in China, the change in business demand prompted the emergence of edge computing and cloud companies, as these began to shape their profiles in the field. Currently, some take edge cloud as a nice-to-have business while others choose to go all-in with edge cloud. China's public cloud market size has been scaling rapidly and public cloud providers focus on making the 'cake' bigger in order to get a mouthful slice. Although in an early stage of development and not yet the main revenue pillar, the Edge cloud market is increasingly drawing the attention of big public cloud providers and top CDN vendors. It is being treated as an essential and integral part of their cloud strategies. The public cloud business is based on the concept of centralization. Large IDCs with cabinets and huge computing power are centered and public cloud providers make profits from growing client clusters. They can internally allocat and optimize cloud resources depending on clients' plans or actual use. Edge cloud is not about the size of use but the instant response. Traditional centralized network architecture sacrifices response speed and network latency may reach 800ms or even longer, but edge cloud can reduce latency to as low as 50ms, which is critical for some IoT scenarios like autonomous driving and manufacturing.



A mirror to edge cloud market through BaishanCloud The difference in business nature and interests yields opportunities for CDN companies in the edge cloud area. Owning more than 600 PoPs worldwide, BaishanCloud is a top 5 CDN vendor in China in terms of business size and technical capabilities. With such a legacy, the company has gradually engineered and matured its edge cloud product matrix since 2017. In response to regional/local cloud service demands, edge cloud services call for similar fundamental functions including cloud security, storage, computing, analytics and other services, which are not necessitated on traditional CDN business but with more agile and loosely coupled architecture compared with the centralized cloud.

Technologies like 5G and IoT sensors accelerate the generating of data  thus data security has been addressed more frequently than ever. As edge cloud is closer to where data is generated, security solutions of edge cloud services are in demand. In 2019, BaishanCloud acquired Shanghai YUNDUN, a top cloud security company in China, to enhance the security product feature in its edge cloud functions. Meanwhile, the cloud industry has been emphasizing usefulness rather than blindly developing 'white elephant' services  this represents a change in enterprise value: customer first. For BaishanCloud, helping clients benefit from cloud capabilities is the top priority and the cornerstone of the company's long-term cloud strategy. At the same time, the fine line between IaaS and PaaS is diminishing after integrating cloud services into practical solutions and BaishanCloud's edge cloud platform, consolidating many IaaS and PaaS services into one. IT upgrades and adoption of the cloud create a diversified technological environment  the heterogeneous IT infrastructure is common. The diversity in the IT environment requires cloud vendors to offer compatibility. Therefore, edge cloud providers are also making efforts to guarantee users a smooth experience. Infrastructure Services, Security Services and Developer Services altogether form the pillar of BaishanCloud's edge cloud platform. The full-stack services and one-stop solutions enable clients to develop their applications at the edge and be capable of integrating edge cloud services into their system and business. Edge infrastructure carries functions including collecting and processing data locally, and the responsibility to transmit data safely to other edges or the central management on demand. While CDN business remains a strong revenue pillar of the company, BaishanCloud's other infrastructural services are perfecting edge cloud functions. Container-as-a-Service and SD-WAN products are in favor to boost programmability on the client-side, which can help users to tailor the network and environment based on their practice. BaishanCloud rolled out its initial security services back in 2017, with an emphasis on Advanced Threat Detection services. The company's scaled-up security product suite through acquisition also brought WAF, Anti-DDoS, IAM to its service scope and made edge cloud more reliable for users. Adding to the Security Services are the Developer Services, an innovative business part of the company and it plays a significant role in empowering enterprise developers with their digital transformation. The Developer Services include Function@Edge and Orchsym iPaaS. Given the serverless nature, Function@Edge improves the DevOps experience by offering a platform for users to run function code on edge nodes. Orchsym iPaaS allows users to manage API through API integration, API gateway and API orchestration. Developer Services make digital transformation more approachable for enterprises via serverless solutions and API management platforms. BaishanCloud in real practice The company's edge cloud solution for one of its clients in the energy sector may be enlightening to illustrate how it can facilitate traditional companies to transform. The client is a state-owned enterprise that has gone through several mergers and acquisitions. The massive group operates nationwide, owning most of the electricity plants in China, which also creates difficulties in central IT management: all the acquired plants had their legacy IT infrastructures and operating systems. Each plant's operation data was an information silo needing to be processed and integrated. Data integration is critical for the client to grasp the overall picture of the business, so as to make a next-step plan. The client's geographically scattered plants are reachable for BaishanCloud's edge cloud network. Through full API integration across nationwide plants, the client's data became consolidated and interoperable. Without replacing pre-existing systems, the edge services improved the compatibility within a hybrid IT environment. With BaishanCloud's API-based iPaaS product at the edge, the client is now able to amalgamate data generated by heterogeneous systems into the central system to create business insights. Similarly, traditional large enterprises with distributive business networks may encounter the same problem when the IT environment becomes more hybrid and complex during the IT upgrading period. Besides, for SMB companies, BaishanCloud's edge cloud is a more feasible option with a better data security guarantee. Since the edge cloud can process requests locally, the data transmit path is much shorter, with less exposure to potential attacks. BaishanCloud edge cloud platform serves as an enabler for enterprise clients in accelerating their digital transformation. The legacy cloud is a product originating from the Internet business. It inherits a few advantages, which include its centralized nature, scalability and power. Traditional industries are not like the Internet sector and the productivity of brick-and-mortar businesses has long been seeking better approaches to synergize with the cloud power. This use case of BaishanCloud client can demonstrate how edge cloud services can help traditional enterprise businesses in their process of digital transformation. Data will be everywhere, and the edge service is essential With different features and capabilities, legacy cloud and edge cloud are rather complementary. The scale and centralization of legacy cloud bring it ultra-strong computing power and the ability to process complex information; the distributive network determines the edge cloud's fast and agile response to instant requests. With the adoption of 5G and maturing IoT, more data will be generated at the edge and the exponentially growing data will inevitably load up the network. As estimated by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China has already built 718,000 5G base stations, accounting for 70% of the global figure. By the end of 2025, China is projected to deploy over 7.6 million 5G base stations. With improved network accessibility, more data will be generated at the edge and will be transmitted faster. Although the legacy cloud is capable of processing massive data, the energy consumption and costs generated during the transmission burden users. With edge cloud, time-sensitive data can be processed in time and more related innovations can be inspired. Moreover, edge cloud can free companies from high bandwidth costs when edge services are able to meet their demand within specific application scenarios. Data security concern risks increased by mobile office demand and expanded corporate networks; thus, a dynamic and accessible control system based on identity trust has become even more crucial. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of cyberattacks saw an increase of 154% and the global losses expanded to nearly USD 1 trillion in 2020. Observed by NETSCOUT, 2020 was also a break-out year for DDoS attacks  May 2020 recorded the largest single number of monthly DDoS attacks, at 929,000. The number will keep rising in the digital shift, but losses can be contained amid the development of the edge cloud. A shorter path and stronger security protection at the edge will be a must. Edge cloud companies are making efforts to protect clients from cyberattacks on the edge network. Edge cloud services providers must consider thoroughly what clients need in the end-to-end service cycle: computing, security, interoperability, programmability and more. As a full-stack edge cloud service provider, BaishanCloud has positioned itself ahead of the competition in creating edge cloud solutions for different industry clients. The edge cloud market is almost a virgin land in China and the quality layout of its infrastructure services can spur more ideas and greater ambition in real practice. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-glimpse-into-chinas-burgeoning-edge-cloud-market-301265027.html SOURCE EqualOcean

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Was the Capitol building attack  where one police officer was killed and another injured  last Good Friday by Noah Green, a Nation of Islam member, a jihad attack?

Most would say no: the Nation of Islam, they would argue, is a heterodox group that has little to do with mainstream Islam as it focuses on placing a wedge between "superior" blacks (Allah's people) and "inferior" whites (Satan's people).

Although this is largely true, it overlooks two important facts: the Nation of Islam, as well as countless other groups regularly dismissed as out of the Muslim mainstream, traces its origins to Islam. More importantly, the fundamental aspect of almost all of these "fringe" groups  namely, the "us vs. them" element  is entirely Islamic.

This is significant and deserves some exploration.

For starters, countless have been the groups throughout Islamic history that not only see themselves as Islamic, but often as the only true Muslims  even as others, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, accuse them of being pseudo-Muslims. In fact, the first of these groups  the Khawarij, they who "exit [the mainstream]"  came into being just two decades after the death of Muhammad.

This group, which is today dismissed as un-Islamic, and which modern-day terrorists of the ISIS variety are regularly compared to, believed that any Muslim who does not uphold the totality of Islamic law, sharia, deserves death, and they acted on this impulse, including by slaughtering Muslim women and children (particularly the Azariqa Khawarij).

This is just one example. The Hashashin  who gave us the word "assassin"  are another. Although they too are regularly dismissed as being un-Islamic, the reality is that they emphasized some aspects of Islam  assassinating opponents and looking forward to a houri-filled paradise  over others.

The point here is that, just because an unsavory group does not follow mainstream Islam, that does not mean that the most unsavory aspects of that group are not Islamic. Both the Khawarij and their modern-day counterparts  ISIS, et al.  find backing in Islamic teachings that call for the slaughter of infidels. The difference between the "radicals" and the average Muslim is that the former are so wedded to this principle that even fellow Muslims who are not sufficiently Islamic become fair game. While that might be a "radical" interpretation, it would not exist  nor would the radicals themselves, past or present  if the Koran, Allah, and Muhammad did not call for violence against and the slaughter of non-Muslims in the first place.

The same can be said of the Hashashin: the three things they are most notorious for  assassinating their opponents, getting killed for it, and then being welcomed by supernatural sex slaves in paradise  are entirely Islamic. Muhammad himself called for the assassination of his opponents, including women and children, and he and Allah regularly entice their followers to do violence in order to gain entry to a hedonistic paradise.

In short, whatever liberties all these heterodox Muslim groups take, their worst aspects tend to be entirely Islamic. This is especially so when one appreciates that these aspects are grounded in a dichotomized worldview of us vs. them  which is entirely Islamic  tracing back to the doctrine of al-wala' w'al bara' ("loyalty and enmity"), which teaches Muslims to hate and fight all non-Muslims, while showing loyalty and cooperation to fellow Muslims.

It is this teaching that inspired the first Muslim sectarian group, the Khawarij, to trust only fellow members and slaughter all other Muslims on the accusation that they were not "good enough" or "true" Muslims. It is this impetus that inspires one of the most recent sectarian groups, the Nation of Islam, to be loyal to and help fellow blacks while hating and seeking to undermine whites.

In both cases, the dichotomy of hate for and violence against the "other" is based on mainstream Islamic teachings. These heterodox Muslim groups diverge only in that they rearticulate the meaning of "other" from its original, Islamic definition  non-Muslim, kafir, infidel  to something else (being not Islamic enough, being white, etc.). But the hate for the other  which is the root problem  is Islamic.

In this context, Noah Green's murderous assault on the Capitol building takes on the guise of a jihad, if only because the hate for the other behind it  the belief that "The U.S. Government is the #1 enemy of Black people!"  is wholly informed by Islam's dichotomized worldview, even if modified to suit Green's purposes.

Raymond Ibrahim, author of Sword and Scimitar, is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.

Image: CreaPark via Pixabay, Pixabay License.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Denvers Tattered Cover Bookstore, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, announced on Wednesday that it is opening a new bookstore in Aurora, an inner-ring suburb east of the Mile High City. The new bookstore, slated to open in early summer, will be Tattered Covers fifth outlet, its second location outside of Denver proper, and its first outlet specializing in children's books. The store will be located in the Stanley Marketplace, a 140,000-square-foot former aviation manufacturing facility turned into a warehouse-style development with food vendors and 50+ retail spaces.

The store will be located in a 1,400-square-foot space with child-friendly shelving. A large mural created by a local artist will be the centerpiece of the store, and architectural elements will evoke the experience of getting lost in a story. The store's name is still being decided upon, as according to a store representative, "it wont just be called 'Tattered Cover' or 'Tattered Cover Stanley.'"

According to a release, While the physical space will be focused on inspiring the littlest readers, the book selection will include titles for older ages as well. Besides books, the store will carry child-oriented sidelines, toys, games, and gifts.

Kwame Spearman, Tattered Covers CEO, and the principal among a group of investors who bought Tattered Cover in December, told PW that Tattered Cover decided to open a childrens bookstore because one core belief I have is that access to literature is the pathway to success for our youth. While meeting with Stanley Marketplace executives to discuss partnership possibilities, Spearman said, the light bulb went off for both parties at basically the same time that a childrens bookstore would enhance the existing retail at the facility.

We couldn't be happier, Spearman added, to create an environment that helps children fall in love with reading and books, which is central to our mission.

Mark Shaker, Stanley Marketplaces founder and chief visionary officer, commented, From the first time we laid eyes on Stanley Marketplace seven years ago, we thought that Tattered Cover would the perfect fit for what we are trying to accomplish with our community gathering place. We are so excited to welcome Kwame and Tattered Cover to the Stanley Family. They embody everything that we believe in.

Tattered Cover, founded in 1971 in Denver's Cherry Creek neighborhood, is currently moving its flagship store from the city's LoDo location to nearby McGregor Square. There is also a Tattered Cover outlet on Colfax Avenue and in Union Station. Tattered Cover Aspen Grove is located in Littleton, a Denver suburb, and a new store is planned for Westminster, another Denver suburb, this year. There are three Tattered Cover-branded bookstores at Denver International Airport.
The removal and streamlining of approval procedures for certain foreign-invested projects will attract and assist overseas companies while benefiting overall investment this year, experts and industry insiders said.



In a recently released guideline, the National Development and Reform Commission said that foreign-invested projects under $30 million will no longer need to follow filing procedures for approval.

Also, approval for projects over $30 million and under $300 million will be handed from ministerial-level authorities to provincial-level ones. The projects must be in industries covered by China's Catalogue of Industries for Encouraging Foreign Investment.

The changes were announced in a broader guideline released by the NDRC on March 22 on further facilitating and streamlining investment projects.

Researchers and insiders believe the step will further boost China's ability to attract foreign investment as procedures are eased and the role of lower-level governments is increased.

Guo Meixin, a senior researcher at the Academic Center for Chinese Economic Practice and Thinking at Tsinghua University, said the move will not only cut red tape for overseas businesses, but also encourage provincial-level governments to work more closely with the NDRC.

Guo said based on the center's research data most of the foreign-invested projects under $30 million and which qualify under the catalogue of industries are small and medium-sized ones in scientific and technological research, software and manufacturing industries.

Projects below $30 million are relatively small and those between $30 million and $300 million are more likely to be medium-sized ones, she added.

Guo said providing more power of approval to provincial-level governments will incentivize them to develop potential foreign projects.

The guideline made clear that for projects between $30 million and $300 million, the potential investor will be allowed to directly file the application with provincial-level authorities.

"Provincial-level governments, more often than not, know more specifics of these investment projects than the NDRC," she said. "Giving them such a mandate will help formulate a positive link between local governments and foreign businesses."

Greater market role

The changes are part of the country's broader efforts to let the market play a more decisive role in allocating resources by cutting institutional costs for foreign businesses and building a level-playing field, she added.

Guo said that with some countries, particularly in Asia, gradually resuming production as they recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, China's foreign trade volume may face pressure in the second quarter. This is why the NDRC changes are timely and necessary, she said.

Tu Xinquan, dean of the China Institute for WTO Studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, believes the steps are part of China's overall efforts to boost investment this year.

"As economic recovery is gradually gathering pace and a certain amount of investment is needed to sustain growth momentum for the wider economy the encouragement of foreign investment is an important step," Tu said.

He added that the changes were in line with China's policy direction of promoting opening-up and luring overseas investment.

The National Bureau of Statistics figures show that from January to February the value of fixed asset investment stood at 4.52 trillion yuan ($688 billion), a 25 percent year-on-year increase and up 3.5 percent from 2019.

Foreign businesses welcomed the changes to encourage foreign-invested projects.

Michael Mei, vice-president at Smiths Group, a United Kingdom-based industrial goods manufacturer that operates across 55 countries and regions, sees the adjustments as China's latest effort to deepen reform, promote opening-up and further improve the country's business environment.

"Removing the previous filing requirements will facilitate investment procedures for foreign investors and improve our efficiency. It will be conducive to luring foreign businesses to set up more projects in China at a faster pace," he said.

"What we expect is that provincial-level governments can fully implement the policy adjustment in coordination with the NDRC, so that this incentive will be a clear, stable and consistent one in its implementation," he added.

Bai Ming, deputy director of the Ministry of Commerce's International Market Research Institute, said the changes to approve projects under $30 million was a major step.

"Smaller investment projects need much greater flexibility to meet market demands and are much more responsive to an evolving economic situation," he said. "It's often the case that by the time filing procedures are completed the golden time for investment is gone."

With the country making progress in streamlining administrative procedures and improving the role of government functions, the changes to approval of smaller projects should go smoothly when oversight of compliance is in place, he predicted.

Bai said China has been working hard to expand market access for foreign investors. Items on the negative list for foreign investors in China have been cut to 33 from 93.

The World Bank's Doing Business report last year indicated that China carried out a record eight business reforms last year and ranked 31st among 190 countries in terms of the ease of doing business.

"Foreign investment will be playing an increasingly visible role in stabilizing China's economy via job creation and stabilizing supply and production chains," he said. "These policy incentives will continue to facilitate foreign investors and help them enjoy accessible government services in China."
The past year has shown us how critically important community leaders, programs and services are in helping to support Michigan residents. The Michigan Townships Association Robert R. Robinson Scholarship offers financial assistance to todays students who are aspiring to future leadership roles in their community. Applications for this annual scholarship are now being accepted.

The scholarship is designed to help Michigan students who are preparing for a career in public administration. Applicants must be a junior, senior or graduate student in a Michigan college or university.
RICHMOND, Va., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Moments ago, the Virginia Chamber Foundation announced the Blueprint Virginia 2030 Regional Tour, with virtual meetings scheduled in every GO Virginia region. As part of the Blueprint Virginia 2030 development process, the Virginia Chamber Foundation has announced it will host a series of virtual meetings throughout Virginia, in partnership with its network of local, regional, and other chambers of commerce; and GO Virginia.

These meetings will serve to foster greater regional collaboration by bringing together leaders in business, economic development, workforce, education, housing, and other community representatives from across the Commonwealth to provide input for Virginia's next statewide strategic plan.

"As Virginians prepare to elect a new Governor in November, we believe that the time is right to update Blueprint Virginia and set even more ambitious policy goals to achieve long-term economic growth," said Virginia Chamber President & CEO Barry DuVal. "We must be pro-active and remain vigilant as our Commonwealth works to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the coming months, we will call upon Virginia's regional leaders and industry experts to analyze state and regional economies and identify specific economic drivers."

Registered attendees will be invited to participate in the Blueprint Virginia 2030 Regional Tour survey and the initial survey results will be reviewed during each meeting. Participants will also have the opportunity to hear directly from Virginia Chamber President & CEO, Barry DuVal, and representatives of GO Virginia for an economic update presentation from both the statewide and regional perspectives.

The full schedule of the Blueprint Virginia Regional Tour can be found below. More information on these meetings and the registration links for each can be found here.

More information on GO Virginia and each of its nine regions can be found here.

MAY 5, 2021  12:00PM  1:00PM

GO Virginia Region 1

MAY 12, 2021  12:00PM  1:00PM

GO Virginia Region 2

MAY 26, 2021  12:00PM  1:00PM

GO Virginia Region 3

JUNE 24, 2021  12:00PM  1:00PM

GO Virginia Region 4

JUNE 30, 2021  12:00PM  1:00PM

GO Virginia Region 6

JULY 21, 2021  12:00PM  1:00PM

GO Virginia Region 7

JULY 28, 2021  12:00PM  1:00PM

GO Virginia Region 8

AUGUST 4, 2021  12:00PM  1:00PM

GO Virginia Region 9

AUGUST 11, 2021  12:00PM  1:00PM

GO Virginia Region 5

The Virginia Chamber Foundation tracks Virginia's economic competitiveness, conducts research and analysis, and hosts programs  connected to the priorities of Blueprint Virginia 2025. In December 2017, the Chamber released an update to its long-term strategic economic development plan, Blueprint Virginia 2025, which engaged over 6,000 business and community leaders to lay out a plan to getting Virginia back to the top of national business climate rankings. In December of 2020, the Virginia Chamber officially began the development process for the next update, Blueprint Virginia 2030. Learn more at https://www.vachamber.com/foundation/

Contact:

Nicole Bunce

[email protected]

SOURCE Virginia Chamber of Commerce

Related Links

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - First-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly increased in the week ended April 3rd, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Thursday.



The report said initial jobless claims edged up to 744,000, an increase of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level of 728,000.



Jobless claims rose for the second straight week after falling to a one-year low of 658,000 in the week ended March 20th.



The continued increase surprised economists, who had expected jobless claims to drop to 680,000 from the 719,000 originally reported for the previous month.



The Labor Department said the less volatile four-week moving average also inched up to 723,750, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average of 721,250.



Meanwhile, the report said continuing claims, a reading on the number of people receiving ongoing unemployment assistance, dipped by 16,000 to 3.734 million in the week ended March 27th.



The four-week moving average of continuing claims fell to 3,862,000, a decrease of 105,750 from the previous week's revised average of 3,967,750.



'Jobless claims may bounce around week to week as the recovery takes hold, but we expect they will start to decline more consistently as the economy gains momentum,' said Nancy Vanden Houten, Lead Economist at Oxford Economics.



She added, 'We expect the stellar March jobs report to be the first of many and look for a hiring boom in the spring and summer months.'



Last Friday, the Labor Department released its more closely watched monthly employment, showing employment spiked by much more than expected in March.



The Labor Department said non-farm payroll employment surged up by 916,000 jobs in March after climbing by an upwardly revised 468,000 jobs in February.



Economists had expected employment to jump by 647,000 jobs compared to the addition of 379,000 jobs originally reported for the previous month.



The bigger than expected increase in employment reflected widespread job growth, with employment in the leisure and hospitality sector once again leading the way.



The stronger than expected job growth resulted in a continued decrease by the unemployment rate, which fell to 6.0 percent in March from 6.2 percent in February. The drop matched expectations.



With the decrease, the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since hitting 4.4 percent in March of 2020, when coronavirus lockdowns were just starting to take effect.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Filmmaker Hansal Mehta tweeted on Wednesday: "Do the high courts have a lot of time to address film certification grievances? How many film producers will have the means to approach the courts? The FCAT discontinuation feels arbitrary and is definitely restrictive. Why this unfortunate timing? Why take this decision at all?"

The Ministry of Law and Justice has reportedly abolished the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) with immediate effect. Filmmakers and producers took to Twitter to express their disappointment.

"Such a sad day for cinema. FILM CERTIFICATION APPELLATE TRIBUNAL ABOLISHED | 6 April, 2021," expressed filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj.

Producer Guneet Monga reacted: "How does something like this happen? Who decides ?"

Producer and trade business analyst Girish Johar tweeted: "With #FCAT dissolved by Govt, mayb a larger body may come up, setup by Govt, which will not only address censor grievances of films, but raised issues of other content as well..#Online #OTT #Short #SocialMedia..kuchch toh aayega, makers cant afford, nor Govt can't burden courts more."

Before releasing in theatres, every film in India has to be certified by the Central Board of Film Certification or CBFC, which is also often referred to as the Censor Board. However, if any filmmaker is unhappy with a change suggested by the CBFC, they could go and challenge the decision at FCAT.

With FCAT abolished, filmmakers unhappy with CBFC's decision will now have to go to court with grievances.

Films which have been benefitted by FCAT in the recent past, include "Udta Punjab" (2016), "Lipstick Under My Burkha" (2017), "Babumoshai Bandookbaaz" (2017), "Kaalakaandi" (2018) and "Rangeela Raja" (2019) among others.

For more stories click here: Kollywood l Malayalam l Bollywood l Telugu
Jack Hanna, a wildlife conservationist, TV host and former executive director of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has been diagnosed with dementia, according to a statement by his daughters.

Doctors have diagnosed our dad, Jack Hanna, with dementia, now believed to be Alzheimers disease.

His condition has progressed much faster in the last few months than any of us could have anticipated. Sadly, Dad is no longer able to participate in public life as he used to, where people all over the world watched, learned and laughed alongside him, Kathaleen, Suzanne and Julie Hanna said in a statement.

A passion for wildlife conservation and education has been at the core of who our dad is and everything he has accomplished with the help of so many.

He has spent his life connecting people and wildlife because he has always believed that having people see and experience animals is key to engaging them in more impactful conservation efforts. Hes always said, You have to touch the heart to teach the mind.

Even though Dad is no longer able to travel and work in the same way, we know that his infectious enthusiasm has touched many hearts and will continue to be his legacy.

Hanna, 74, hosted the television shows Jack Hannas Animal Adventures from 1993 to 2008, Jack Hannas Into the Wild since 2007 and Jack Hannas Wild Countdown from 2011 to 2020.

Jungle Jack, who always wore khaki, served as executive director of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

The daughters said, The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has been a major part of our lives since we moved to Central Ohio as young girls in 1978.

From day one, Dad advocated for improved wildlife habitats and focused on connecting the community with animals. After he left his active management role as Executive Director in 1992, he continued to be a spokesperson for the zoo until his retirement last year.

The family said that Jack Hanna was able to engage with millions of households through his media appearances and weekly television programs.

This allowed him to bring an unparalleled level of awareness to the importance of global conservation given the unrelenting pressures on the natural environment. To say that we are abundantly proud to be his daughters is an understatement.

Hannas wife, Suzi, the daughters said, is recovering from major surgery as a result of life-long challenges from her childhood leukemia.

The family asked for privacy to keep everyone safe in light of COVID-19 restrictions.

While Dads health has deteriorated quickly, we can assure you that his great sense of humor continues to shine through. And yes  he still wears his khakis at home.
(Alliance News) - Cambridge Cognition Holdings PLC has won a GBP500,000 contract with a pharmaceutical firm to provide cognitive assessments in a clinical trial, it said on Thursday.

Shares surged 21% to 119.00 pence around midday in London.

Cambridge Cognition develops and markets digital solutions to assess brain health and has said most of the contract revenue is expected to be recognised in 2021.

The pandemic has accelerated interest in virtual or decentralised clinical trials, with more assessments being planned at home and therefore out of the clinic setting.

Cambridge Cognition Chief Executive Officer Matthew Stork said: "We are delighted to have secured this contract and to be supporting another major pharmaceutical company to assess cognition in patients' homes."

"This is a trend that we expect to continue and will therefore provide more growth opportunities for Cambridge Cognition in the future."

The clinical trial aims to assess patients' cognition from their homes and is sponsored by a "leading" pharmaceutical company.

By Will Paige; willpaige@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
The Seychelles' former president, Danny Faure, got married last weekend in a foreign country, according to the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).

Faure got married to Seychellois Shermin Rudie Bastienne in a private ceremony during the Easter weekend.

The country where the wedding took place was not specified but Faure told SBC that he and his wife are very happy.

Shermin Rudie Faure told SNA via Facebook on Thursday that "we got married abroad in privacy over the Easter weekend. We are very happy and are enjoying our honeymoon."

The newly married couple received congratulatory messages on Facebook from over 1,000 people from Seychelles and other parts of the world.

The former president was previously married and got divorced on October 10, 2016.

Faure, 58, was the president of Seychelles from October 16, 2016, until October 26, 2020 when he lost the presidential election.
Transforming multi-peril insurance, including private market in the U.S.

Empowering effective risk diversification for insurers

Latest version of No-HARM wildfire model now available in InsitePro

DENVER, CO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Intermap Technologies (TSX: IMP) (OTCQX: ITMSF) ("Intermap" or the "Company"), a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions, today announced that North American insurance monthly recurring revenue (MRR) has grown by 10% since the end of 2020. The growth is fueled by strong renewals, including key InsitePro clients renewing subscriptions at higher rates.

InsitePro is a SaaS package that delivers property-specific risk analytics for underwriting flood insurance anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, using Intermap's proprietary, global, 3D elevation data. One of the recent renewals is California Flood Insurance Services in San Diego. "Intermap is a valued partner in our operation," said Aaron Farmer, President of California Flood Insurance Services. "We love InsitePro because it's simple to use, and their API platform is seamless with our cloud rating service. Plus, they are always there if we need them."

The U.S. flood market is one of the largest untapped sources of new premium for insurers, with over $5 billion in unwritten premium available. InsitePro helps insurers move into flood insurance profitably while enabling effective risk diversification.

In addition to flood, InsitePro supports wildfire underwriting. Intermap is partnering with Anchor Point to deliver the National Hazard and Risk Model (No-HARM) wildfire model for the United States. No-HARM model is the most sophisticated and accurate wildfire model available. "We are very excited to be launching Version 4 of No-HARM," said Chris White, Chief Operating Officer of Anchor Point. "Wildfire behavior is changing almost annually, and we have combined the latest fire science with our extensive fire experience to realize a truly unique model for assessing and pricing wildfire risk. For wildfire, we feel there is no other model that compares with No-HARM for accuracy, innovation or consistency." Version 4 of No-HARM is available now in InsitePro, which makes complex geospatial models like No-HARM accessible to non-specialized users by eliminating the need for expensive GIS software and large teams of analysts. Underwriters can now manage multiple related perils, like flood and fire, in a 3D+ environment on a global scale, through an intuitive elevation data tool.

The combination of wildfire and flood risk is critical in the western states as they are frequently interrelated. The Colorado School Districts Self Insurance Pool (CSDSIP) is an example of how InsitePro customers combine flood and wildfire risk ratings to better cover their portfolio.

"Intermap's enterprise software business continues to grow subscription revenue despite the impact of Covid-19," said Patrick A. Blott, Intermap's Chairman and CEO. "Recurring revenue has become the foundation for our business, and we continue to grow in insurance in both North America and Europe. Intermap's InsitePro software is transforming flood risk assessment and wildfire hazard modeling around the world with rapid 3D exploitation and delivery."

Intermap Reader Advisory

Certain information provided in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "expect", "project", "estimate", "forecast", "will be", "will consider", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermap's forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermap's Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law.

About Intermap Technologies

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP;OTCQX: ITMSF) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions. The Company's proprietary NEXTMap database and value-added geospatial data management, processing, analytics, fusion and orthorectification software and solutions are utilized across a range of industries that rely on accurate, high-resolution elevation data, including aviation, engineering, environmental planning, government markets, hydrology, insurance, land management, law enforcement and patrol, oil and gas, renewable energy, telecommunications, transportation and utilities. Intermap's commercial applications include location-based intelligence, risk assessment, geographic information systems, global positioning systems and 3D visualization. For more information, please visit www.intermap.com.

SOURCE Intermap Technologies Corporation

Related Links

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A man who was rebuilding an old Torana motor got a huge surprise when he googled the engine number and found it belonged to a famous car he had watched on black and white television over 40 years ago.

Queenslander Rod Bowen found that the engine plate belonged to nine-time Bathurst 1000 winner Peter Brock and that the same motor competed in the prestigious race in 1976 in an L34 Torana.

The engine was considered one of Australian motor racing's greatest mysteries after going 'missing' having been removed from the Torana before the car was sold in 1979.

Rod Bowen rebuilt a Torana around the engine he bought completely unaware it was one of Peter Brock's Bathurst race cars

Brothers Peter and Phil Brock famously had fuel line problems at Bathurst in 1976 and finished third - a race Mr Bowen watched on black and white television.

'That was a real cooking car - I couldn't believe it,' Brock told author David Hassall in his book The Peter Brock story.

'In '1976 the fuel stopped because of a bent fuel pick-up pipe and the car ground to a halt near Forest Elbow.

Brothers Peter (pictured) and Phil Brock famously had fuel line problems at Bathurst in 1976 and finished third - a race Mr Bowen watched on black and white television

'I stopped to check the problem when I should have just rolled into the pits, that was my own damn stupid mistake - one that cost me victory.'

Mr Bowen bought the engine from a truck driver mate completely unaware of its history.

His friend suggested googling the engine number - so he did - and Brock's name came up.

The original: Peter and Phil Brock drove the L34 Torana at the 1976 Bathurst 1000 finishing third because of fuel line problems

'Mate, I've got one of the best 308 engines that I know of on the planet!' He told 7News.

Mr Bowen had planned to race the engine but instead decided to rebuild it faithfully to the specifications of Brock's 1976 L34 Torana.

He also painted the car to match the original red, white and blue paint job.

'I want to take it to Mount Panorama myself and take it for a lap around the track so the people of Bathurst can actually see it and hear it one more time,' he said.

Peter Brock died in 2006 when he lost control of his car during a rally in Western Australia.
Octopus Electric Vehicles has revealed a new 100 per cent electric car leasing service for businesses looking to become more environmentally friendly.

The scheme, called Electric Dreams, uses a system known as 'salary sacrifice' which allows staff to pay for a new electric vehicle out of their gross salary, potentially saving them thousands of pounds on national insurance and income tax.

The firm said it is introducing the programme in response to a surge in interest in electric vehicles from businesses.

Huel and Purplebricks are two large firms who have already signed-up, with more than a hundred new enquiries every week according to Octopus, which had Prime Minister Boris Johnson visit its London headquarters late last year.

New: Octopus Electric Vehicles has launched a new salary sacrifice scheme for businesses

The launch comes as EVs reach a tipping point thanks to falling cost, government incentives and changing attitudes towards zero emission vehicles.

Octopus has been providing salary sacrifice for the last year but only as a broker for other leasing companies.

But it is now its own dedicated leasing company, meaning it will own the vehicles themselves.

This is Money takes a look at Octopus Electric Vehicles' new programme and explains exactly how salary sacrifice schemes work.

What is a salary sacrifice scheme?

Essentially, salary sacrifice means employees agree to give up part of their salary in exchange for a benefit, in this instance the benefit is a 'green' car.

There are already many similar cycle to work schemes in place where workplaces provide their employees with bikes to get to and from their office.

Employees will pay a fixed monthly cost for the vehicle which is made using their gross salary which is their income before tax or net salary plus their national insurance and income tax.

Employers will first rent an electric car from a supplier with the employee then given the option to rent this car in exchange for a part of their salary.

The will usually be maintained by a third party chosen by the company if it opts for a fully maintained contract which typically includes routine services, repairs and MOT tests.

Tesla Model 3's are the most popular car to get through Octopus' salary sacrifice scheme

How will Electric Dreams work?

Electric Dreams aims to support the growing number of employees looking to go electric using salary sacrifice which could ultimately help them save thousands of pounds on both national insurance and income tax.

Octopus Electric Vehicles' new scheme gives employees access to every EV on the market with a range of over 100 miles  of which there are over thirty, up from just five in 2017. A further 20 more models will be available later in 2021.

It is available to all businesses  particularly those with fewer than 1,000 employees which may struggle to access similar schemes.

It provides everything businesses and employees need to go electric in one place  including EVs, home and workplace chargers, smart energy tariffs to keep bills low, and impartial expert advice on going electric.

Drivers that order an EV through Electric Dreams before July 2021 also receive a free smart charger fully installed by the Octopus Energy Services team.

In addition, 8,000 free miles of green electricity with home energy from Octopus Energy  enough for an average UK driver to drive for free for a year.

Octopus Electric Vehicles continues to offer business contract hire leasing packages as a broker.

One of the reasons Octopus has decided to start the scheme now is thanks to the low company car tax rates on EVs which can make them a hugely beneficial option for those looking to help the environment.

Full electric cars are exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty but drivers still have to pay Benefit-in-Kind tax if you are going to run one as a company car.

However, for the 2020 to 2021 financial year, the BiK rate for zero-emissions company cars was just 0 per cent meaning there was nothing to pay until this month, at which point it goes up to just one per cent.

It will rise to 2 per cent over the next three years. By comparison, combustion vehicles are subject to a typical BIK tax of 25 to 35 per cent.

There has been a surge in demand for EVs as people become more environmentally conscious

How many people are taking advantage of the scheme?

So far, 141 companies have signed up to salary sacrifice with Octopus, making it available to 22,298 employees.

Some 15 companies are already live on the scheme, including Huel and Purplebricks, making it available to 1,491 employees across the UK.

At present, the most popular car ordered is the Tesla Model 3, which was also the fourth best-selling new passenger vehicle in March.

How much will it cost?

The overall process is meant to be cost neutral for businesses as they can recover VAT and also save as they make lower National Insurance contributions due to the salary sacrifice - both are used to calculate the employer's gross sacrifice.

Octopus said many drivers are saving 30 to 40 per cent and some up to 60 per cent.

For example, for a 40 per cent tax rate payer opting for a Tesla Model 3, the typical net cost for an employee is 435 every month with the gross sacrifice from salary coming in at 726 per month.

This provides savings of 290 per month, inclusive of income tax and national insurance with just 14 in BiK tax and equates to savings of 13,920 over a four year period.

Inclusive of this is insurance, servicing and maintenance and 'generous' early termination terms for the business should the employee leave.

The above example relies on the motorist driving 8,000 miles a year for four years and also makes the assumption that the company is eligible to recover VAT - 50 per cent on Finance and 100 per cent on Services.

It also assumes the employer wishes to reflect any net savings they made in National Insurance by reducing the gross sacrifice so an adjustment of 10 per cent has been made.

In this case, the company pays 745.41 plus an unrecoverable VAT of 53.19 which equals 798.60.

The sacrifice the employee makes out of gross salary is 726 which, after tax, is equivalent to paying 435.

The company saves 53.19 on National Insurance meaning it is cost neutral for them.

The Nissan Leaf is one of the most popular electric vehicles currently leased by Octopus

Which are the most popular EVs?

Tesla is still one of the most popular electric vehicle leased through Octopus EV but its share dropped from 50 per cent to 28 per cent from the first three months of 2020 compared to the same time frame this year.

However, Nissan now has a share of 31 per cent compared to 22 per cent last year whilst Audi's have a share of five per cent, up from three per cent in 2020.

KIA, Polestar, Mercedes, VW and Porsche also all have a share.

Why is it launching now?

The launch of Electric Dreams comes exactly one year on from the UK Government's move to eliminate BIK tax for employees taking an EV via salary sacrifice.

The move instantly made an EV financially much better than a petrol or diesel equivalent, leaving drivers with savings on income tax and national insurance.

Electric vehicles are also increasing in popularity with March the best single month for sales of new zero-emission electric cars on record, beating last December by less than 100 sales, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Fiona Howarth, chief executive of Octopus Electric Vehicles, said: 'Salary sacrifice makes electric cars a no brainer  making them significantly cheaper than their petrol or diesel counterparts.

'With incredibly low company car tax rates on EVs, demand has never been higher  almost a third of employees want the option of an EV as a company car and our own enquiries from businesses have risen seven-fold in the last year alone.

'Salary sacrifice is essentially a zero-cost, zero-effort tool for businesses to fight climate change and save the planet.

'If just 10 per cent of UK's employees switched to electric  we could decimate CO2 emissions of cars, while collectively saving almost 4billion per year.

'We are thrilled to see so many customers offering our service to their employees already and the signs are that many more will sign-up in 2021.'
My father is aged 89 and approaching 90 this month. Can you please tell me if he is too old to invest in shares?

Tanya Jefferies, of This is Money, replies: He is not too old, but there is more to it than that.

We asked stockbroker Killik & Co to explain what to consider when investing at that age, and the contingency plans your father should put in place if he becomes unable to handle his own affairs.

My father is going on 90 now so is he too old to put money in shares? (Stock image)

Rachel Winter, associate investment director at Killik, looks at the practical aspects of maintaining a stock portfolio when you are older, and how you might approach investing decisions for yourself and your heirs.

Svenja Keller, head of wealth planning, then explains the importance of having power of attorney in place and how best to set it up, and the inheritance issues to bear in mind.

What should you consider when investing at 90?

Although there are no upper age limits when it comes to having an investment account, the Financial Conduct Authority has recently issued guidance to help financial services companies treat vulnerable clients fairly.

There are countless determinants of vulnerability, but age is certainly one of them.

Good investment managers should have several safeguards in place to protect elderly clients.

Rachel Winter: There are no upper age limits when it comes to having an investment account

They should be aware if a client has a power of attorney, and they should have a copy of this as well as the contact details for any attorneys.

It is also a good idea for them to have contact details for other family members should they need to raise any concerns about the client, particularly if the account in question is an 'advisory' one.

This is where the client is responsible for all decisions, as opposed to a 'discretionary' account where they delegate decision-making to a professional investment manager.

Investment managers should also be mindful of how they should communicate effectively with elderly clients, for example if they are hard of hearing or if they are uncomfortable with email.

The approach to investing at this age depends on the purpose of the portfolio, but also on the individual in question. Some nonagenarians may be in poor health, but others could thrive for another decade.

If the portfolio is intended to cover potential medical or care home costs, then it would not be advisable to take a high level of risk.

On the other hand, if the client wishes to draw the natural income  dividends only - from the portfolio but does not require the capital, then volatility may not be a concern.

In this case a client could invest in a portfolio of equities and withdraw the dividends on an ongoing basis.

If the client does not expect to draw on the portfolio and instead hopes to leave it to the next generation, then the risk profile of the beneficiary should be considered when selecting the investments.

Svenja Keller: Lasting powers of attorney are vital legal documents that most UK individuals should have.

How do you set up power of attorney?

Lasting powers of attorney are vital legal documents that most UK individuals should have.

Your father would be able to appoint one or more attorneys to act on his behalf  either if he becomes too frail or even if he loses mental capacity to make decisions himself.

If your father lost mental capacity without having LPAs in place, the Court of Protection would have to step in, and this could become a costly and lengthy process  not something you need when your family is already going through a difficult time.

There are two different types of LPAs  health and welfare, and property and financial affairs.

For your father and his share portfolio, the property and financial affairs LPA is most relevant although he may also want to think about the health and welfare LPA to ensure that the right person makes medical decisions for him if that ever becomes necessary.

There are a few things to bear in mind when drafting LPAs.

1. Your father needs to have mental capacity when he signs the document.

2. The main thing for him to consider is who his attorneys should be  he can have more than one  and whether they can only make decisions unanimously or whether they can each act separately.

He can also appoint replacement attorneys, in case his original attorneys can no longer act.

Although many people prefer to choose trusted relatives and friends, it is possible to appoint a professional to act as property and financial affairs attorney if your father would like to have an objective person with expertise involved.

Lasting power of attorney helps families keep control if illness or accident strikes Why you need this and how it works: Read more here. What happens if you or a family member fall ill without an LPA in place? Read more here.

Professional attorneys would charge ongoing fees for their services after he lost capacity to carry out his own affairs, which your father should ask about and ensure he fully understands in advance.

If he appoints non-professional attorneys, they could decide to hire help from professionals - lawyers, or financial advisers for example  and pay their fees out of his funds if necessary in the future.

3. Finally, it is important to ensure that LPA documents are well drafted, and your father may therefore want to ask a professional adviser to assist him with this.

One example is the necessity to have a special clause in the property and financial affairs LPA to ensure that attorneys are allowed to delegate the investment management to a discretionary manager if they want, as otherwise only advisory investment mandates are possible where the attorney has to make the final decision on each investment.

The requirement for this clause was introduced by new guidance in 2015 and is therefore missing in a lot of older documents.

What inheritance issues should be considered if you invest at age 90?

From an inheritance tax perspective, provided your father is UK domiciled for tax purposes, all his worldwide assets will be subject to this tax.

This would include his share portfolio, so its value when he passes away would count towards his taxable estate. That would be taxed at 40 per cent over and above his available 'nil rate band', which is the assets threshold at which inheritance tax starts to be applied.

Should you buy AIM shares to cut your loved ones' inheritance tax bill, or is this too risky? An estate planning expert explain how this works and the potential pitfalls to a reader here,

One positive thing to note is that, based on current legislation, capital gains tax does not become due when he dies. The beneficiaries of the estate inherit the shares at the base value on the date your father passes away.

A less comfortable thing to consider is your fathers age and life expectancy. Investing in shares is typically only appropriate for longer time horizons.

If one of your fathers objectives is to pass the investments on to the next generations, he could take a longer term view on how much investment risk he takes.

Mitigating inheritance tax when the investments pass from one generation to the next is more difficult as most planning has a time requirement of being in place for two or seven years.

The latter is in relation to gifts, whereas the former relates to investments in business relief qualifying assets.

Your father could consider investing in specific shares on the AIM market that qualify for the inheritance tax exemption under business relief as long as he has held them for at least two years.

There is of course still a risk that the two years are too long, and this will depend on his health too.

In addition, he would have to bear in mind that these types of shares can be less liquid and more volatile which means he is taking more investment risk with them.
U.S. District Court Judge Roy B. Dalton granted a motion on April 7 filed by Crowell & Moring's pro bono team to release Mr. Green from the Calhoun Correctional Institution in Florida, citing health risks stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that Mr. Green's conviction in the 1989 shooting death of Charles "Chip" Flynn was overturned nearly three years ago by the same court, a decision that the state appealed to the 11 th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2018. In addition, Judge Dalton found that Mr. Green has been a "model prisoner" who would pose no danger to the public, based on a declaration from the prison's warden obtained by Crowell & Moring.

"The public has a strong interest in the release of a prisoner whom the Court has found to be incarcerated in violation of the Constitution. The Court finds that the public interest weighs in favor of granting release pending appeal," Judge Dalton wrote. "The Court determines that, because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the length of time to resolve Petitioner's appeal ... Petitioner would be substantially injured since the Court has already reversed his conviction and ordered a new trial."

The ruling allows Mr. Green, now 63, to reside with family on conditional release until the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rules on his case. In 1990, an all-white jury convicted Mr. Green of first-degree murder of Mr. Flynn, a 22-year-old Titusville, Fla. man, and sentenced him to death. Crowell & Moring took Mr. Green's case pro bono in 2008. One year later, the firm won Mr. Green's release from Florida's death row.

In 2018, Crowell & Moring secured a landmark victory for Mr. Green when the federal court in Orlando granted his petition for habeas corpus, ordering the state to set him free or grant him a new trial. The court found that Mr. Green's constitutional rights had been violated when Brevard County prosecutors withheld key exculpatory evidence of Mr. Green's innocence in his original trial. The Florida Attorney General has fought his release during the appeal despite the fact that no physical evidence ties Mr. Green to the crime, and four of the prosecution's witnesses have recanted their testimony, alleging prosecutorial misconduct occurred at the time of their original testimony.

"After fighting to prove his innocence for more than three decades, Crosley Green is finally free and will be with his family once again," said Keith J. Harrison, a partner at Crowell & Moring. "We are extremely grateful to Judge Roy Dalton, Jr. for granting Mr. Green's immediate release as he awaits his ruling in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. There was never a shred of credible evidence that Crosley Green committed this crime. We have fought relentlessly since 2008 to prove his innocence, and we have faith that justice will prevail."

"It is incredibly rewarding to see Mr. Green with his family and to know that he will soon get to meet grandchildren he has never seen before. This is the moment Mr. Green has been dreaming about for decades, and it is an honor for our firm to play a role toward helping him achieve justice," said Jeane A. Thomas, a partner at Crowell & Moring.

"It's been three decades since Mr. Green's original trial, nearly 12 years since he was removed from death row, and nearly three years since his conviction was overturned. Mr. Green is an innocent man who never lost faith that, one day, the justice system would recognize his wrongful conviction, and he would reunite with his family once again," said Vincent J. Galluzzo, a Crowell & Moring partner.

Mr. Green's counsel includes Crowell & Moring partners Keith J. Harrison, Jeane A. Thomas, Vincent J. Galluzzo; Crowell & Moring pro bono specialist Virginia Martin; former Crowell & Moring partner Robert Rhoad; and Florida counsel Mark E. Olive. For more information on the case, visit: Crosley Green information page.

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with more than 560 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Media Contact:

Nicole Quigley

Senior Communications Advisor

+1 202.624.2849

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Crowell & Moring LLP

Related Links

http://www.crowell.com


The Democrats are poised to shatter the glass ceiling by providing us with the first female president of the United States. If recent events are any indication, this accomplishment may happen sooner rather than later. The first indication is the memo recently issued by the White House directing all personnel to refer to the new administration as the Biden/Harris (or is it Harris/Biden?) administration. Bill and Hillary were just unconvincing posers; this is what a real co-presidency looks like.

In several speeches, old Joe has referred to Kamala as President Harris. Republicans are quick to label this a gaffe, an indication of Joe's mental decline. It's nothing of the sort. President Asterisk is using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to prepare the misogynists among us (that would be all males) for the idea of a female president. CBT is a therapeutic method to help people overcome irrational fears, such as the fear of clowns or snakes. In this case, Joe is wisely preparing us so we won't vomit every time we hear the words "President Harris."

As we prepare for her elevation to high office, a review of Kamala's history is in order.

Born to immigrant parents Dr. Donald Harris and Dr. Shyamala Gopalan, Kamala's childhood was not a life of privilege, as both parents were non-white. Rather, Kamala grew up on the mean streets of Berkeley and Montreal. This instilled in Kamala a deep yearning for racial equity and social justice.

Kamala earned her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law, which she attended via its Legal Education Opportunity Program (LEOP). The LEOP was a program designed to help those from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve the dream of a law degree. As both of Kamala's parents were merely un-tenured professors, this program was a godsend.

Early in her career, Kamala met Willie Brown, former mayor of San Francisco and speaker of the California Assembly. Kamala was a politically ambitious 29-year-old. Willie was a married 60-year-old power broker in California politics. It was love at first sight. While dating her, Willie gave Kamala appointments to the state Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and later to the California Medical Assistance Commission.

In 2002, Harris ran for the office of district attorney of San Francisco. With the endorsement of Willie Brown and legal scholar and comedian Chris Rock, Kamala easily won the election. As the self-proclaimed "top cop" of San Fran, Kamala implemented a tough-on-crime policy seeking maximum sentences for marijuana possession. She even implemented a groundbreaking strategy of criminally prosecuting parents of truant children. The cleanliness and safety of 21st-century San Francisco is a testament to Kamala's leadership. Harris would eventually implement these policies at a state level after her election as the California attorney general.

In 2015, Harris announced her intention to seek the Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Barbara Boxer. With endorsements from Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Harris easily won election to the U.S. Senate. Thanks to California's recently enacted top-two primary format, Kamala never faced a Republican in the general election, sparing her the indignity of debating a racist.

As a senator, Kamala distinguished herself by calling out Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh for his obvious and blatant prior abuses of women. She was able to rise above her legal training in recognition of the reality that claims from females supersede the need for actual evidence.

Senator Harris further cemented her reputation as a principled leader when she called for the resignation of Homeland Security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen for her role in the Trump administration's children-in-cages scandal. By highlighting this humanitarian issue, Harris ensured that immigrant children would never again be housed in chain-link cages. Thanks to her efforts, children are now housed in chain-link juvenile detention facilities.

In 2019, Senator Harris announced her intention to run for the office of president of the United States. Unfortunately, she failed to win any primary elections and dropped out of the race early. However, speaking truth to power, she did manage to highlight the racist and sexist past of Vice President Joe Biden during the debates.

Upon his nomination, Joe Biden selected Kamala Harris to be his vice presidential running mate. His decision was based on her selfless government service and the coconut shampoo she's rumored to use. As a further demonstration of her principled standards, Kamala accepted the offer to serve at the pleasure of a known racist and sexist. Patriot that she is, it was her duty to accept personal sacrifice in service to her country.

In her new position, Kamala is already establishing herself as a champion of women in our society. She has teamed with world-renowned women's rights expert Bill Clinton to address women's empowerment. Through initiatives from her office, Harris will ensure that girls throughout America may follow the same path she and countless actresses have trod to achieve the pinnacle of professional success.

Early in his administration, President Asterisk selected Kamala to oversee a few minor problems at our southern border. It was an inspired assignment. Due to her nurturing nature, Kamala would be the perfect person to comfort the 13,000 children being kenneled at the border. She was uniquely qualified to ensure a much more humane experience at the border for our welcome but uninvited guests. Unfortunately, Kamala had to decline this assignment because she had housework to do. I understand that the V.P. mansion remodel is going well.

Caregiver that she is, Kamala is accompanying Joe everywhere he goes. Whenever he's seen in public, Kamala is standing dutifully behind him. The only thing missing is a hooded cloak and a scythe. The next time Joe takes a tumble down a jetway, Kamala is prepared to lend immediate Article 25 assistance.

Like the Kennedys before her, Kamala will return the proper decorum to the White House. The people's house will once again be filled with laughter  even if it is somewhat inappropriate. She will be a model of progressive women for decades to come  caregiver, homemaker, and obedient to the wishes of the men in her life.

The Democrats already elevated a black man to the presidency. With Kamala's swearing in, they will have done so with a female as well. To prove their intersectionality bona fides, they'll need to accomplish the same with a man calling himself female next. How does a President Rachel Levine strike you?

Postscript: Before readers let the angry emails fly, I'd just like to point out that this article is purely satire. I consider women superior to men in every way. Did I say that right, honey?

John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Star Idaho. He is a retired engineer with over 40 years of experience in the areas of product development, quality assurance, organizational development, and corporate strategic planning. He can be reached at greenjeg@gmail.com.

Image: Mobilus In Mobili via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
ROME - Top Italian art critic Vittorio Sgarbi says he has discovered a lost Caravaggio at a Madrid auction house.



The painting, The Crown of Thorns of Ecce Homo, attributed to Spanish 17th-century master Jose de Ribera aka Spagnoletto, was due to go on sale at the Casa Ansorena auctioneers with a reserve price of just 1,500 euros Thursday, but has now been withdrawn after the owners "had doubts on its authorship", the house said.



Sgarbi was sent a picture of the painting by an artist friend last month who told him it was by Italian 17th century great Mattia Preti.



But as soon as he saw it Sgarbi said he recognised the hand of Caravaggio, the painter who revolutionised art in the post-Mannerist Baroque period and whose works are among the rarest and most prized on the art circuit.



"I see it, realise that the work is by Caravaggio and think that with the help of funding I can get it back to Italy," Sgarbi told the Italian press Thursday.



The Spanish State has been reported as having blocked the sale and is reserving the right to buy the painting, La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera reported.



The last rediscovered Caravaggio, believed to be his lost Judith and Holofernes, was valued at up to $170 million before a French auction in 2019, when a mystery bidder stepped in ahead of the sale to get it for an undisclosed price.
The increasing insistence on digital payments has made data theft a growing menace, the reported breach of KYC data of 3.4 million customers of mobile wallet being the latest example. The lack of a privacy law, which would allow users to file class action suits against lax companies, is one reason user data is uniquely vulnerable in India. But in the absence of a law, it is still possible for the regulatory authorities to take proactive action as well, the second edit argues. Read it here

Other views examine the RBIs decision to keep policy rates unchanged, Chinas long-term plans and in India.

The RBIs (MPC) has done well to leave the policy repo rate unchanged and maintain an accommodative stance to support growth.

But given the unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases and uncertain international financial conditions, the policy path may not be so straightforward in the coming quarters, the first edit warns. Read it here

Xi Jinpings long-term ambitions could well lead to a wariness about Chinas intentions across the world, says Shyam Saran in this assessment of Chinas 14th Five-Year Plan 2020-25 and its Long Range Objectives for 2020-35. Read it here

My column looks at why the doctrine of separation of powers in Indian corporate management could be an especially challenging project. Read it here
Leader of the Groysman's Ukrainian Strategy political party Volodymyr Groysman called on all Ukrainian politicians, regardless of their political views, to unite around the idea of vaccinating Ukrainians against coronavirus (COVID-19) disease and abandon attempts or plans to discredit vaccination.

In his address on social networks, he said there is no other chance to save life and health than vaccinations.

"We remember how a few months ago one of the politicians allowed himself to call the vaccine an indecent word on the air. And what happened? What kind of anti-vaccination campaign started. This means one thing: people are left without protection. This irresponsible rhetoric of Ukrainian politicians should not be repeated anymore," Groysman said.

"When Ukrainian politicians consciously or unconsciously discredit the idea of vaccination, they commit a great crime against people. You scare them, people begin to hesitate whether to vaccinate or not, which means they are left without protection. The whole world has recognized that the only defense mechanism is vaccination. There is no other I call on politicians: let us unite and support the vaccination campaign. Make a call to your voters for vaccination. Let us all together stop this pandemic," he said.

According to Groysman, support for vaccination should be accompanied by the opening of wide access to the vaccine. The current government, the politician is sure, should not make statements about plans, but really open up opportunities for everyone to get vaccinated.

"Get together, make a decision and give people a clear plan, not statements that you plan to vaccinate 70% of Ukrainians by the end of the year. Rating analytical agencies today say that only 3% of citizens will be vaccinated in Ukraine in the first half of the year, and 97% will not be protected [...] I insist on convening an extraordinary, urgent meeting of the government, where the vaccination plan will be clearly approved by region, in terms of the number and availability of vaccines, where you will remove completely artificial restrictions. All Ukrainians who want to be vaccinated, you must provide a vaccine," the politician said.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pender Growth Fund Inc. (the "Company" or "Pender") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") for the potential acquisition (the "Proposed Transaction") of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Working Opportunity Fund (EVCC) Ltd. ("WOF") in exchange for cash consideration pursuant to a statutory plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia).

As a steadfast investor in private companies in the BC technology sector since 2000, Pender believes that long-term committed capital is a key requirement for building a strong local tech sector. Since 1993, WOF has also been a key supporter of the BC technology industry, providing patient long-term capital to BC technology entrepreneurs.

David Barr, CEO of Pender, commented, "This Proposed Transaction represents a unique opportunity for Pender to acquire an investment entity that holds a portfolio of mature companies in the private technology space, our sector of expertise. In fact, it also allows us to add to our holdings of Copperleaf Technologies Inc., one of the holdings we acquired in 2020."

The Proposed Transaction would allow Pender to provide ongoing support to the companies now in WOFs portfolio, allowing them to continue to execute on their strategic plans without the disruption of a change in direct ownership. Pender's aim will be to support their development and growth toward potential exits when and where possible.

A special committee of the WOF board of directors engaged an independent qualified firm that has provided a fairness opinion stating that the Proposed Transaction is fair from a financial point of view to the shareholders of both the Venture Series and the Commercialization Series, which together comprise WOF.

The Proposed Transaction gives the WOF Venture Series shareholders the option to elect to continue to hold their WOF shares, allowing them to continue to participate in the future performance of the underlying Venture Series portfolio, and with a limited annual right to have their shares redeemed at 40% of NAV. It is anticipated that the WOF will distribute any excess cash, if any, to the WOF Venture Series shareholders as a dividend just prior to closing.

Those WOF Venture Series shareholders who do not elect to continue to hold their shares ("Exiting Shareholders") will, by default, receive a cash payment from Pender of 43.5% of the value of the Venture Series NAV which will be payable 50% on closing of the Proposed Transaction and 50% thereafter. Exiting Shareholders have a limited and conditional right to an additional cash payment from Pender based on a percentage share of the net gains on carrying values at the effective date from divestment activity in the Venture Series portfolio before May 18, 2022, specifically, (a) if a divestment completes on or before November 18, 2021, Exiting Shareholders will receive their pro rata portion of 60% of the net gain; (b) if a divestment completes on or before February 18, 2022, Exiting Shareholders will receive their pro rata portion of 45% of the net gain; and (c) if a letter of intent, term sheet or binding agreement for a divestment is entered into on or before February 18, 2022 and such divestment is subsequently completed by May 18, 2022, Exiting Shareholders will receive their pro rata entitlement of 20% of the net gain.

The sole portfolio asset related to the Commercialization Series is BuildDirect.com Technologies Inc. ("BuildDirect") which announced a potential reverse take-over transaction and subscription receipt financing on March 19, 2021. For the Commercialization Series, it is anticipated that the WOF will distribute excess cash to its shareholders as a dividend just prior to closing and, on closing, the Commercialization Series shareholders would receive a cash payment from Pender equal to the greater of 50% of the NAV of the Commercialization Series portfolio and 75% of the BuildDirect subscription receipt financing price, if that financing is completed on the Proposed Transaction closing date.

The Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions to closing, including approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the WOF shareholders, the administrator under the Employee Investment Act (British Columbia) and the TSX Venture Exchange. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed on the basis proposed or at all. A detailed information circular fully describing the Proposed Transaction and matters related to it will be mailed to WOF shareholders in April and will be made available on WOFs website and profile on SEDAR.

About the Company

The Companys objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation for its investors. The Company utilizes its small capital base and long-term horizon to invest in unique situations; primarily small cap, special situations, and illiquid public and private companies. The Company trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "PTF".

Please visit www.pendergrowthfund.com.

For further information, please contact:

Tony Rautava

PenderFund Capital Management Ltd.

(604) 653-9625

Toll Free: (866) 377-4743

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 Information

This news release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws (together, forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans", "potential" or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements and information related to completion of the Proposed Transaction and the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transaction to the Company. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the assumptions that the parties will be able to satisfy the conditions to closing and complete the Proposed Transaction and that the Company will be able to accomplish its plans and objectives with respect to the WOF portfolio. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are made as of the date of this news release. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results may vary. Important factors that may cause actual results to vary include without limitation, risks related to the ability of the parties to satisfy the conditions of the Proposed Transaction and close the Proposed Transaction and the ability of the Company to accomplish its plans and objectives with respect to the Proposed Transaction and the WOF portfolio, including any changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets. The actual results or performance by the Company could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements relating to those matters. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on the Proposed Transaction or financial condition of the Company. Except as required by law, the Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
LONDON, April 8 (Reuters) - Myanmar's ambassador to the United Kingdom, who has been locked out of his embassy by representatives of the military, urged the British government on Thursday not to recognise the junta's envoy and to send them back to Myanmar.

"The ambassador has been recalled by the Myanmar military regime - since then he has stopped following instructions from the Myanmar foreign ministry," Ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn said through a spokesman.

"We believe the UK government would not back those who are working for the military junta and we also would like to urge the UK government to send them back," the ambassador said through his spokesman who read out his statement in English. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Sarah Young)
Conceding that India was in the grip of a serious public health crisis that had surpassed the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister on Thursday urged state governments to test more even if that meant higher reporting of the infection. Armed with experience of managing the first wave, better health infrastructure and a locally manufactured vaccine, lockdowns should be avoided altogether, the PM told chief ministers at the virtual meet on Covid.

In the last phase of the infection, we had to impose lockdowns because at that time, we did not have the infrastructure to control the infection: no PPE suits, not enough sanitisers, masks we are no longer facing those shortages. So micro-containment zones should be the strategy, he said.

Sounding a note of caution, the PM asked states to check the rise in cases on a war footing, while stressing that efforts must be strengthened in the next three to four weeks. This time, people are becoming casual. The administration is fatigued and laxwe cannot afford this. Combating this wave needs to be done on a war footing, he said.

The PM did not directly touch upon the complaint of several states that they were woefully short of vaccines. Instead, he urged young people to go out and spread the word about vaccination, especially among vulnerable groups. Announcing teeka utsav ( festival) from April 11 to 14, the PM also asked state governments to involve governors and all tiers of elected representatives in motivating people to follow Covid appropriate behaviour.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Night curfew imposed in Noida, Ghaziabad till April 17

Referring to the first wave of Covid, he said that war was won when there was no vaccine. Calling a long-term exercise, he reiterated the importance of testing along with other Covid protocols such as mask and social distancing.

His comments on teeka utsav, that will start with Jyotirao Phules birthday and end with Babasaheb Ambedkars , caused Delhi Chief Minister (among the chief ministers to have a less than cordial relationship with the Lieutenant Governor) to chuckle and shake his head.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who nearly failed to become an MLA in the mandated six month period of the constitution of the new assembly because of the hurdles placed by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, is unlikely to accept the PMs suggestion.





He asked states to tighten governance and streamline testing and while focusing on micro containment zones. Those who want to do politics will do politics he said as squabbles between the Centre and many states intensified over vaccine shortage. Several states have demanded more autonomy in the strategy of administering the vaccine while others said they just didnt have enough stocks.

Health Minister Harvardhan claimed there was no shortage and charged that states had mismanaged even existing stocks: Punjab, Maharashtra and Delhi had been unable to cross even the 50 per cent mark of vaccinating senior citizens as part of the very first phase of insulating the most vulnerable from the infection. However, Odisha said it had been forced to close down 700 vaccination centres as it did not have the stocks; Telangana said it was badly short of the inoculation doses; and Maharashtra elevated the issue to a political one with Health Minister Rajesh Tope asking why the Centre was discriminating against Maharashtra.

Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, UP and Kerala together account for 74.13 per cent of India's total active cases. Two chief minister  Mamata Banerji (West Bengal) because she was busy with elections; and Pinarayi Viajayan (Kerala) who tested positive for Covid on Thursday  did not attend the meeting.

ALSO READ: 60-hour weekend lockdown in all Madhya Pradesh cities: CM Chouhan

Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta said: "Around 18,27,800 vaccines have been administered as first dose, 2,78,000 vaccines as second dose. We have spoken to Union Health Minister and requested him to immediately provide us around 10 lakh (1 million) vaccines for first dose. We will get it either today or tomorrow (April 9). Around 83 lakh (8.3 million) people need to get first and second doses of vaccine. It means we will need around 1.60 crore (16 million) doses. We are getting it gradually. We do have vaccines available with us but there has been a shortage at some locations. So we have spoken to the Union Health Minister. We have stock for the next one to two days. We have made a request to the Union Home Minister and I am hopeful that he will provide us the vaccine."

The PMs response to suggestions from several chief ministers - Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and  to allow all people above 18 years of age to get vaccinated--was to first conclude the ongoing round.

The PM asked state governments to scrupulously collect mortality data as this would be an important input into granular analysis of the spread of the infection and help prevent it. But he added that testing was the key. to contain the virus, we need to contain the human host he said. The target must be 70 per cent of the population to be put through the RT PCR test. If the infection numbers appeared elevated, this was a sign of coming to grips with the problem, not a function of the performance of the state government, he said.

But the PM said, the most important element in defeating the infection was to ensure people did not lower guard, especially if they exhibited asymptomatic indications.
New Delhi: The Indian Army has informed that Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has left for Bangladesh on a five-day visit. The visit is aimed at further enhancing defense cooperation and strong bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh. PM Narendra Modi had recently visited Bangladesh to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence.

During PM Modi's visit, fundamentalists had targeted Hindu shrines by opposing his visit. Many people were killed in it. Fundamentalists allege that PM Modi is biased against India's Muslim minority. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina then lashed out at those who opposed PM Modi's visit to Dhaka. He warned the militants of Hifazat-e-Islam that they are playing with fire and strict action will be taken if they do not desist. Hasina stressed that her government will not tolerate extremism at all. Bangladesh is a secular country and it is not right to attack anyone in the name of Islam.

Speaking in Parliament, Sheikh Hasina said, "Do people belonging to Hifazat-e-Islam not go to Study Deoband in India? If so, who gave you the right to oppose the visit of the PM of India? When you go out to study, the Government makes all the arrangements, but it is surprising to protest even then.''

Also Read:

MP, Satna: Blood comes from nose and mouth of corona positive judge

Salman Khan's fans to suffer major setback if lockdown continues, 'Radhe' will release next year

MP: Night curfew imposed in all urban areas, also weekly lockdown to be imposed
The New Orleans City Council expressed unanimous opposition Thursday to the planned Formosa Plastics plant in St. James Parish, raising concerns about how the $9.4 billion complex would affect the health and environment of nearby residents and those of the council's constituents 65 miles downriver.

Louisiana and St. James officials have approved the company's plans to build the plant at Welcome, on the west bank near the Sunshine Bridge. The New Orleans resolution won't prevent its construction, but council members said they felt compelled to weigh in on the issue.

What happens upstream is going to reach us down here, said council member Kristin Gisleson Palmer, who sponsored the resolution. The plant might be in St. James, but the environmental effects have the potential to spread over a much larger area.

+4 New Orleans City Council members propose resolution opposing massive St. James plastics plant The New Orleans City Council is considering a resolution opposing a massive Taiwanese plastics facility in St. James Parish that could release

The Formosa plant has been opposed by some environmental groups, including RISE St. James and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade. About 100 people from both New Orleans and St. James opposed to the Formosa project wrote in to the City Council.

The issue also plays into the larger debate over industrial plants in the River Parishes, an area that some environment and health advocates call "Cancer Alley." Industry advocates say the state's tumor registry doesnt show any clear cluster of cancer in the chemical corridor, and state officials tout that as evidence that the plants pose no unusual health risk.

Formosa had urged the City Council to scrap the resolution, and a spokesperson for the company said earlier this week that the project had already gone through a rigorous environmental and operating permitting process and will also comply with multiple laws, regulation and permits designed to protect public health.

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+3 Environmental justice gains notice in Louisiana race to succeed Cedric Richmond Activists see candidates Troy Carter, Karen Carter Peterson as more vocal than former representative

The history of environmental threats from plastics, and particularly Formosa, was front and center in the resolution. Palmer said that when a spill from the CMA CGM Bianca cargo ship dumped 743 million plastic pellets known as nurdles into the Mississippi River near Napoleon Avenue over the summer, it was left to volunteers to clean up afterward.

Council member Cyndi Nguyen said her relatives in Vietnam were significantly affected when a Formosa steel plant there discharged toxic chemicals into the ocean in 2016, killing large numbers of fish and other marine life.

Threats to Louisiana seafood have been raised about the St. James plant, with several restaurant and hospitality groups focusing on the dangers that the plant could pose to the local industry.

We cannot allow the promise of economic development to negatively affect the livelihood of our residents, Nguyen said.
NEW BRUNSWICK (dpa-AFX) - A COVID-19 vaccination site in Colorado was closed early on Wednesday after around 11 patients started having adverse reactions to Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ) one-shot vaccine. Centura Health, which oversees the community vaccination center at the Sporting Goods Park site, said that 11 patients experienced adverse reactions, but only two were admitted to hospitals as a precautionary measure. Centura Health said that the percentage of people who reported adverse reactions to the vaccine was 0.62 of the more than 1,700 people, who got vaccinated that day. Colorado state officials also said that despite the incident, there was no need for the others who got vaccinated to be concerned. Around 80,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, which has a 66 percent success rate, have been used in Colorado since March, officials said. 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 unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.]

[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE] San Diego, CA April 8, 2021Publisher, Crytivo alongside the development team, Blue Meridian are proud to announce that the dinosaur zoo tycoon Prehistoric Kingdom will be heading to the Epic Store.





"We're excited to be added to the Epic Store and make our game available to even more players at launch," says Maurizio Morosan.

With the recent release of their Alpha to Kickstarter backers and content creators, a glowing spotlight has been placed on this ambitious team. Content creators have already been sharing their impressive builds to the ever-growing community. They already have over 150,000 wishlists on steam that number continues to grow.



Release Information

Summer 2021 PC | Epic Store, and Steam



Important Links

Epic Store | Steam | Crytivo | Website | Discord





About the Developers

Blue Meridian (formerly known as Shadow Raven Studios) is a team of 13 spread across 7 timezones. Theyre a group of gamers dedicated to bringing their own vision to life while honoring what came before them.





About Crytivo

Crytivo is an indie developer and publisher, founded in 2017 by Alex Koshelkov in San Diego, California. Crytivo works with game developers around the globe to help bring to market the best, most creative indie games in the world.
column

Olusegun Adeniyi writes that a politically conscious woman like Mrs Buhari cannot be confined to 'The Other Room'

Continued from the back page

I find this aspect of Mrs Buhari's life interesting. Her pursuit of education was purposeful and targeted. She did not go to school to just earn a certificate. She chose technical education that would give her a vocation for which she is now renowned. She was a resource person for the National Board for Technical Education on Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology, and she also participated in the curriculum development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME). She wrote a training manual, 'The Essentials of Beauty Therapy: A Complete Guide for Beauty Specialists'. I wish she had used her office and force of personality to lead a national campaign on technical education where we fail so miserably as a nation or for the education of the girl-child, especially in the North.

However, the most revealing aspects of the book are the crucial roles Mrs Aisha Buhari was documented as having played in the emergence of her husband as president of Nigeria. It is in these accounts that one can understand what has become a crisis of expectations. The author, a Senior Special Assistant to the President, is a close relation of the First Lady, a fact which she admitted, and among the many photographs in the book was one she took with a teenage Aisha in 1989. While the First Lady has no direct voice in the book, she spoke through others: Siblings, uncles, aunties, children, friends, former classmates, former teachers, politicians, and other acquaintances. These people of course have only good things to say about her, as to be expected. But her only son, Yusuf, sounded truer than he probably intended. After describing the First Lady with all those superlatives everyone would associate with their mother, Yusuf also added: "She is a fighter whom no one should attempt to disagree with as well. She goes all the way, till she sees the end of issues. She makes her point known and finds a way to make it stick."

Right from 2003 when Buhari first ran for president, Aisha was said to have been involved in mobilizing women and youths as well as meeting with various stakeholders, including campaigning in her home state of Adamawa in 2007. Against the background that most Nigerians for the first time saw Mrs Buhari in the prelude to the 2015 election, it is quite revealing to read about her efforts in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Let's take a few words from the book: "The finale of Aisha's political journey can be seen in the way she ventured, labored and scaled through the rough socio-political terrain dotted with difficult barriers of culture, gender and intrigues, like a woman caught in a political web. The stakes were high against a woman from a highly restrictive, and deeply cultural and religious background married to an opposition candidate who resolved to play politics ethically. First, there was stiff opposition from the home front, to women participating in politics, with attendant social biases, psychological assault, economic restrictions, and political intrigues... the testing ground for her was during the election campaigns of 2003, 2007 and 2011, where the worst incidences occurred, but which ultimately resulted in victory and survival for her."

Following Buhari's defeat at the 2003 presidential election, it was Aisha who "gallantly picked everything from the pieces and began to build back the campaign machinery, as if the next elections were around the corner. From trickles to small groups, the crowd began to rise like the moon tides, attracted by her sheer commitment and dedication to long-term goals set for the next election 2007." But when the court cases were over and Buhari could not reclaim his 'stolen mandate', he was abandoned by his supporters. This was when Mrs Aisha Buhari, according to Nana Abu Ali, who spoke to the author, took over the political structure of her husband. "Mrs Buhari proved her capabilities by taking over the campaign activities and by mobilizing women and youths across Nigeria in a very matured and civil way; aligning herself with people from all backgrounds. She was a voice, a powerful voice, and her humility was captivating. Though not known to many people, she played a vital role behind the scenes throughout the 2003, 2007 and 2011 election campaigns. Aisha Buhari is an attestation of the willpower of a woman. Her commitment and determination have proven her to be a woman with a strong head on her shoulders and a mind of her own."

Since what is candour to someone could be seen as indiscretion to others, the question some have raised about Mrs Aisha Buhari is whether her interventions were motivated by personal interest or the pursuit of public good. If indeed Mrs Buhari played the roles credited to her in all the four attempts by her husband before he was elected president in 2015, was she expecting to play a central role in the government? The author justified the First Lady's controversial public interventions that seemed to have put her at odds with the current administration headed by her husband. Aisha Buhari's motive in sharing those critical views, according to Hajo Sani, is two-fold. "The first is that she is moved by her humanitarian nature to identify with the general feelings of the people. Secondly, she desires to draw the attention of policy makers to the issues of the day", wrote the author who then added: "If your house is burning and you admit it, even the critic might lift a bucket of water to help drown the flames."

To be sure, Buhari's 'house' has been in flames for a while and whatever may have been her motivation, Aisha has had to call out people she described as "cabal" who had "hijacked power" from her husband, once threatened not to campaign for his second term (although she eventually did) and was critical of the nomination process of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Aisha has also publicly imputed corruption in the management of the State House clinic aside the allegory of hyenas, jackals, and weaker animals. The author says Aisha Buhari is a non-conformist and goes ahead to explain why: "Established structures are usually difficult to break from, and it is wisdom to extract from the old to bring about a more informed and useful innovation. One distinct feature of the personality of Aisha Buhari is her ability to break free of established structures."

Regardless of whatever role Mrs Buhari may have played in the elections contested by her husband before he got to Aso Rock at the fourth attempt, she was only supporting her spouse. That, for critics, is not a license to have vaunted expectations or to be engaging in public criticism of a government headed by her husband. I know from my own experience at the Villa that as First Lady, Mrs Buhari has channels to pass on her messages either to the president or his appointees. What her varied interventions have done is to enable Nigerians see the dysfunctionality of the administration and Buhari's hands-off approach to governance.

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Overall, 'The Making of the Nigerian Flagship: The Story of The Guardian' by Aaron Ukodie and O'seun Ogunseitan and 'Aisha Buhari: Being Different', by Dr Hajo Sani are two difficult books. One is a Herculean undertaking in the history of Nigerian journalism. No matter its encyclopedic sweep, a book on a massive media undertaking at a contentious phase in Nigerian history can only evoke more controversy mostly among journalists. But it also fills an important conceptual gap: newspapers should go beyond telling the story of others. One can only hope that other leading Nigerian media houses will be challenged to write their corporate and editorial histories. The book on Mrs Buhari is also unique. She evokes curiosity as the first Nigerian First Lady who has disagreed openly on policy and political issues with her incumbent husband. While some people will celebrate the book as providing insights into the making of a frank and outspoken First Lady, some will also see the effort as a thinly veiled PR attempt.

For me, the main takeaway from the book is that a politically conscious woman like Mrs Aisha Buhari is not someone anybody would consign to 'The Other Room' without consequences!
Beshear Signs Federal Relief Bills

By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has signed bills directing federal pandemic relief money for some big-ticket priorities.Those items include clean-water projects and repayment of a federal unemployment insurance loan.Beshear said Wednesday the federal aid offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for long-term investments to attract businesses, create jobs and improve quality of life for many Kentuckians.State government in Kentucky is expected to eventually receive about $2.6 billion in federal aid.Republican Senate President Robert Stivers says the investments create an economic dynamic for future expansion."The spending measures passed shortly before this year's legislative session ended.
New Delhi, April 8 : With the first night curfew of the year being imposed in the national capital, the shops at various places here are being closed at 8 p.m. while the workers are fearing job loss.

Amid the Covid resurgence across the country, night curfew has been imposed in Delhi from Tuesday till April 30 where everything will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Ramesh Sharma, manager of food outlet brand Haldiram, told IANS: "On the first day of night curfew, I couldn't leave my workplace on time. Delhi Police stopped me at Chandni Chowk and asked me to reach home on time from the next time." "We close our shop at 9 p.m. so that the staff reaches home on time. Till now, none of our staff has asked for early closure as they all reside nearby," he added.

Sunil Dutt, manager of Snow White, a shop in Connaught Place, said: "90 workers work here and considering their convenience we are closing our shop by 8 p.m., however, the Delhi Metro should also close the entry by 9 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. so that people can reach their homes on time." A lot of people have even asked their employers to leave workplace by 7.30 p.m.

One of the workers said, "Earlier, I used to reach home in one hour but on Tuesday it took more than two hours due to traffic. Due to night curfew, the police stopped me at a couple of places. Charging it to experience, I asked my employer to allow me to leave by 7.30 p.m." The night curfew is also hampering the business of the restaurants and food outlets which are open till late night which is causing a fear of job loss among the workers.

Amit Kumar Dhingra, manager of Ware House cafe in Connaught Place, said, "Due to night curfew, we are closing our cafe by 9 p.m. Around 20 workers work here. We were in loss due to the pandemic while night curfew will add to it." "We are constantly talking to our workers as well as management. We have asked our employees to come on alternate days, however, the salary part is yet to be decided," he said.

A worker who works at Ware House cafe said that some of the employees have been asked to go on leave while the manager didn't confirmed it.

Amit Gupta, executive member of New Delhi Traders Association, said, "Traders don't have much power during the night curfew. If the shops have to be closed by 10 p.m. then they have to be closed. If the workers have to reach home by 10 p.m. then the shops have to be closed by 8 p.m." "Apart from night curfew, the government should take some measures during the day also to contain the pandemic spread," he said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville urged Alabamians to continue wearing masks after the statewide mask mandate ends Friday and to take one of the three approved COVID-19 vaccines to help bring the pandemic to an end.

This is not over, Tuberville said after a visit to the National Computer Forensics Institute in Hoover. People are still getting sick. Be responsible.

Tuberville said he plans to continue wearing masks in public settings going forward.

Most places I go, I wear a mask, he said. Ill continue to wear a mask for a long time on airplanes. I havent had a cold since Ive been wearing one of these and I fly all the time. And I think its helping.

He also urged Alabamians to take one of the three COVID vaccines that are authorized for use in the United States.

Please take the vaccine, he said. Please take it. Because it helps. Ive had it. Its safe. We have now three of them. Everybodys going to have the opportunity to take it.

We have got to get this virus behind us so everybody can go back to school, go back to work, get back to normal life.

Tuberville also addressed the race for Alabamas other Senate seat, but declined to endorse a candidate at this stage of the race, saying it was important for the candidates to sell themselves to Alabama voters.

I think its important that when youre running a statewide race that you dont lean on anybody else, you go out and do your own work, he said. People all across the state need to know why youre doing it, and what you can do for people. And thats what I did.

Tuberville said he expects more candidates to enter the race, but that whoever becomes Alabamas next senator will have big shoes to fill in the retiring Sen. Richard Shelby.

Its gonna be an important race, Tuberville said. We need somebody to come up thats going to fill very big shoes and Senator Shelby has done a great job for the state, and for this country. And, you know, were going to have some good candidates.

Tuberville said he had seen former President Donald Trumps endorsement of Mo Brooks for the seat, but declined to weigh in for now.

President Trump felt like that Mo Brooks had tried to help him, and it looks like hes gonna get behind [Brooks], Tuberville said. Will that make a difference? Itll probably make some, but I think its still going to be a great race.

Tuberville was in Hoover for a tour of the National Computer Forensics Institute, a federally funded facility that trains state, local and federal law enforcement personnel on cyber crime trends, investigation methods and procedures.

This is big time, this trains people all over the country and really people in other parts of the world, how to do forensic work on computers, Tuberville said.

Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said he was excited to have Tuberville tour the facility, which opened in 2008.

We thought it was very important for the senator, being a new senator, to understand what is going on in Alabama, and the impact that this facility is having, not only just in the state of Alabama, but throughout the entire country, Brocato said.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Wednesday 7/4/2021inspected the secured and smart documents complex located on the Cairo-Ain Sokhna road.

The complex, a giant technology fortress, has the latest technical potentials in issuing all governmental documents at the highest security level, such as educational certificates, passports and others.

The complex is the largest in the Middle East and Africa

President Sisi was briefed by Eng. Walaa el Gohari on the pulping process where paper is produced and all production stages.

The president also visited a paper and pulp manufacturing fully-equipped lab that includes the latest equipment needed for testing chemicals, bleaches and colors added to the pulp as well as fiber shapes.

The president inspected a plant for producing 2D and 3D holographic images, which are used for securing all types of documents.

He also visited the printing center of secured cards, which prints different kinds of plastic products, such as smart cards and passports.

At the end of the inspection visit, the president was briefed on the different services offered by the complex.
Young Australians' hopes of overseas holidays this year could be dashed with the nation's Covid-19 vaccination rollout hitting a major hurdle after the government advised those under 50 not to receive the AstraZeneca jab over blood clot fears.

The Scott Morrison government had been aiming to open international borders beyond New Zealand by the end of October when it planned to have every willing citizen vaccinated.

But that timeline is now almost impossible to meet following Thursday's announcement the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine was no longer recommended for under 50s, only the Pfizer jab.

Vaccinating the entire nation will now likely take at least until early next year - almost certainly delaying plans to reopen the economy and international borders by the October deadline.

Further complicating the situation is that numerous quarantine workers have refused to get the vaccine on medical grounds.

A group in Victoria's hotel quarantine program were stood down with full pay as they are not allowed to work in the hotels unvaccinated.

Australia's hopes of widespread international travel from the end of October appears in doubt after authorities advised those aged under 50 against receiving the AstraZeneca Covid jab (pictured, a passenger at Sydney airport)

'All staff members working at our active quarantine hotels must have had at least their first vaccination; if they have not been vaccinated, they cannot work a shift in the hotels,' Covid-19 Quarantine Victoria said.

'We are working with the small number of staff who remain unvaccinated on alternative work arrangements outside of the hotels.'

The recommendation by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) was accepted by the government under an 'abundance of caution' over the 'rare but serious' side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Most Australians had been expected to get the AstraZeneca jab, which was also being produced locally, after the government ordered 53.8million doses compared to an initial order of 10million doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Mr Morrison said given his government's cautious approach he could no longer guarantee every Australian will be inoculated by the end of October - or even this year - which had been deemed a prerequisite for international travel.

'We expect that this will require some changes to the arrangements we have as part of the vaccination rollout. And this includes when we might expect our first doses, ultimately, to be able to be offered to all Australians,' Mr Morrison said on Thursday.

Australia will now 'recalibrate and re-evaluate' its vaccine rollout as it desperately tries to obtain more doses from Pfizer and clings to hope deliveries of the 51million doses of the Novovax jab will begin from October, despite the vaccine only being in the clinical trial phase.

The government recommends the Pfizer vaccine should now be adopted as the preferred vaccine for people aged under 50 (pictured, a nurse receiving the Pfizer vaccine in Adelaide)

Department of Health Secretary Dr Brendan Murphy said the government was unable to say how the setback will impact the country's rollout timetable, such as when citizens beyond the most vulnerable will be inoculated.

'We will have to replan... how we will deliver vaccines and we'll have to come back at a later stage with better estimates on when things in each phase will be completed,' Dr Murphy said.

Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Queensland Paul Griffin said he concerns over the AstraZeneca jab would without doubt slow Australia's vaccine rollout.

'A lot of our supply issues were proposed to be addressed by local manufacturing. And now, while we will retain that, the AstraZeneca vaccine will only be available for people in that older age group,' Dr Griffin told The West Australian.

'So there's a significant portion of the population that I think is still going to be subject to restricted supply of a vaccine. There's been a lot of talk about Novavax (vaccine) coming online, but that's many months away still.'

The government received its advice late on Thursday from ATAGI which promoted the health alert after European authorities confirmed a link between the AstraZeneca jab and rare blood clots.

The United Kingdom also offered people under 30 an alternative vaccine due to the risk, with health experts in that country saying evidence suggested young people are more susceptible to the blood clots following vaccination than older people.

Experts revealed people in their 20s had about a one in 90,000 chance of developing the side effect after receiving the AstraZeneca jab compared to one in 500,000 in the over 60s.

Their increased risk, combined with the fact younger people are statistically very unlikely to fall severely ill with Covid, led to the UK's restriction of the vaccine in healthy 18-to-30-year-olds.

Australia has advised citizens aged under 50 against receiving AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine (pictured, a vaccine vial)

One person in Australia so far has developed the clots after receiving the AstraZeneca jab, a man in his 40s who was admitted to hospital in Melbourne.

But Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said the adverse reaction to the jab was so rare it was not picked up in clinical trials.

'At the moment, it seems to be around four to six per million doses of vaccine. It's only been found in the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, usually within four to 10 days after that vaccine,' he said.

'But it is serious and it can cause up to a 25 per cent death rate when it occurs.'

Your two-minute guide to changes in Australia's Coivd vaccine rollout New AstraZeneca recommendations: - The use of the Pfizer vaccine is preferred over AstraZeneca in Australian adults under 50 who have not already received their first AstraZeneca dose - Australian immunisation providers should only give a first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to adults under 50 where the benefit clearly outweighs the risk - Australians who have had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine without any serious adverse events can safely be given their second dose, including those under 50 - Australians who have had blood clots associated with low platelet levels after their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should not be given a second dose - Australia's Department of Health further develop and refine resources for informed consent that clearly convey the AstraZeneca vaccine's benefits and the risks How will this affect Australia's Covid-19 vaccination rollout? - Rollout plan will be recalibrated and re-evaluated - End of October timeline for every Australian to receive first vaccine dose in doubt - Phase 1b - which includes younger adults with a medical condition or disability and frontline health workers among others - may be delayed - Pfizer vaccine will be reprioritised for under 50s once phase 1a finishes - Australia's vaccine purchases under review How often do AstraZeneca blood clots occur? - Four to six cases per million AstraZeneca vaccine doses - One known Australian case found in a 44-year-old man admitted to hospital in Melbourne - 25 per cent death rate in known cases - More common among younger people - Cause unknown How the AstraZeneca vaccine works: - Adenovirus vaccine  To make the vaccine, the common cold virus is genetically modified to trigger it to make the Covid spike protein - which the virus uses to invade cells. - When the vaccine is administered the patient's immune system attacks the spike protein by building antibodies, priming it to fight off Covid before it leads to an infection. Advertisement

The recommendations provided by ATAGI were made under an 'abundance of caution' of the rare but serious side effects mostly associated with younger people, Mr Morrison said.

'We've been taking the necessary precautions based on the best possible medical advice. It is not our practice to jump at shadows,' he said.

Professor Kelly said the use of the Pfizer vaccine is now preferred over the AstraZeneca vaccine in adults aged under 50 who have not already received a first dose of that vaccine.

ATAGI did recommend those under the age of 50 who have received their first AstraZeneca jab should proceed with their second, as the medical advice indicates the rare blood clots only develop after the first dose.

Only where the benefit clearly outweighs the risk should an initial AstraZeneca dose be administered to someone under the age of 50.

WHAT ARE THE BLOOD CLOTS LINKED TO ASTRAZENECA'S JAB? European health chiefs ruled that AstraZeneca's jab should come with a warning that, in very rare cases, it may cause potentially deadly blood clots. The EMA, which polices the safety of drugs used on the continent, spotted 169 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVST) and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), from 34million jabs. CVST occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot. It can lead to a stroke. SVT is the same type of blood clot but it occurs in the digestive system. Both the EMA and their UK counterparts said the clots had occurred alongside thrombocytopenia - low levels of blood platelets. The EMA, which polices the safety of drugs used on the continent, spotted 169 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVST) and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), from 34million jabs. CVST occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot. It can lead to a stroke. SVT is the same type of blood clot but it occurs in the digestive system WHAT EXACTLY IS CVST AND SHOULD I BE WORRIED? CVST is where potentially fatal clots form in the veins that run from the brain. Unusually, this is occurring with thrombocytopenia  abnormally low levels of blood cells called platelets. Platelets cause blood to clot, so while not unheard of, it is incredibly rare for people with low levels to develop clots. The most severe signs of CVST include stroke-like symptoms such as weakness of the face and limbs on one side of the body, seizures, coma and ultimately death. But anyone who has suffered headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, abdominal pain and bruising or pinpoint spots below the vaccination site for four days after a jab should seek medical attention. HOW COULD THE JAB BE CAUSING BLOOD CLOTS? Scientists are exploring several possibilities. European investigators have put forward one theory that the vaccine triggers an unusual antibody in some rare cases, similar to conditions seen in patients treated with the anticoagulant  commonly known as blood thinner  heparin. The autoimmune disorder called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) leads to plummeting platelet counts and clotting. Others are looking at whether the cases  which seem more common in women  are linked to birth control pills. However, at the moment scientists say there is no definitive evidence. Advertisement

'Ultimately here, the choice is with individual Australians and their doctor. We will encourage Australians to seek out the advice of their own doctor in relation to these issues,' Mr Morrison said.

'This is not a directive. This is not an instruction. This is advice that is being provided to Australians and the broader medical community, who are responsible for administering these vaccines.'

But the government insists citizens aged over 50 are still safe to get the AstraZeneca jab, saying it is 'highly-effective at preventing severe Covid' in that age group.

'They are the most vulnerable group in the country,' Mr Morrison said, pointing out the majority of deaths from the virus in Australia were among the elderly.

'The health advice is that the AstraZeneca vaccine for persons aged over 50 is well advised because, should there be an outbreak of Covid-19, they would be very exposed to that risk.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) said Australians should seek out medical advice before receiving the Covid-19 vaccine

Health care workers aged under 50 who were due to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine will now be prioritised for the Pfizer vaccine. (pictured, a nurse receiving her vaccine on the Gold Coast last month)

Health care workers aged under 50 who were due to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine will now be prioritised for the Pfizer vaccine, which will likely delay phase 1b of the rollout.

HOW COMMON ARE STANDARD SIDE EFFECTS WITH ASTRAZENECA'S JAB? Very Common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people) tenderness, pain, warmth, itching or bruising where the injection is given

generally feeling unwell

feeling tired (fatigue)

chills or feeling feverish

headache

feeling sick (nausea)

joint pain or muscle ache Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) swelling, redness or a lump at the injection site

fever

being sick (vomiting) or diarrhoea

flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, sore throat, runny nose, cough and chills Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) feeling dizzy

decreased appetite

abdominal pain

enlarged lymph nodes

excessive sweating, itchy skin or rash Source: MHRA Advertisement

'Important to remember, though, that we don't have community transmission. These healthcare workers are not at significant risk if it means they wait a few more weeks to get their vaccine,' Dr Murphy said.

Dr Murphy acknowledged all vaccines came with adverse effects but authorities were concerned enough to issue the urgent heath advice.

'This is a very, very rare event, and it is a highly precautionary position that Australia can take because we're in a fortunate position with Covid,' he said.

'All vaccines have adverse effects, some serious. Flu vaccines do, the Pfizer vaccine has a risk of anaphylaxis, which we've seen.

'But this syndrome, after all of the work we've done with the UK and Europe, does seem to be a real syndrome, and we now feel that, at an abundance of caution, given that this syndrome seems to occur mainly in younger people for whom the risk of severe Covid is not so great, that there is a basis to have a preferred recommendation for those under 50.'

Dr Murphy sought to assure older Australians there were no risks in having the jab.

'I want to reiterate that we are strongly encouraging those 50 and over to take up the AstraZeneca vaccine - it is a highly effective vaccine at preventing severe Covid. The risk is extraordinarily low,' he said.

Some 20million does of the Pfizer vaccine are expected by the end of the year and the government is confident they will be able to increase their supply to Australia in the near future.

'We're working with them almost on a daily basis to see when they can increase their supply,' Dr Murphy said.

More than 996,000 coronavirus vaccine doses have now been administered, although the government had planned to have four million Australians inoculated by the end of March.

All the answers to your questions about the AstraZeneca's coronavirus jab's link to blood clots

I DEVELOPED ONE OF THE TELL-TALE SYMPTOMS OF BLOOD CLOTS AFTER MY FIRST DOSE, IS IT SAFE FOR ME TO GET MY SECOND?

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation  which advises ministers on the vaccination roll-out  says anyone who has already had their first jab should still get their second 'irrespective of age'.

This is because the second dose 'will be important for longer lasting protection against Covid', the panel says.

Only the handful of Brits who developed major blood clots occurring with low platelet levels after getting their first dose should avoid their second.

Everyone else should attend their second appointment as normal, regulators insist.

No evidence currently exists to say there is any link between getting AstraZeneca's top-up vaccine and getting potentially deadly blood clots.

The EMA, which polices the safety of drugs used on the continent, spotted 169 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVST) and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), from 34million jabs. CVST occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot. It can lead to a stroke. SVT is the same type of blood clot but it occurs in the digestive system

But anyone who suffered one of the tell-tale symptoms of the rare complication should still speak to their doctor before receiving their second dose, purely out of caution, advisers say.

Severe headaches and blurred vision that last longer than four days after receiving the vaccine are two warning signs of the brain blood clot linked to AstraZeneca's jab, called CVST.

But it has also been linked to blockages in other veins, which can cause swollen legs, bruising beyond the site of the jab, crippling abdominal or chest pain, and feeling short of breath.

The JCVI insisted the clots 'appear to be an idiosyncratic reaction on first exposure' to AstraZeneca's vaccine.

Officials have not recorded any cases of blood clots after a second dose, with all 79 incidents occurring after the first jab.

Professor Adam Finn, of the JCVI, said facts could change but at the moment there is 'no evidence of a problem after the second dose'.

'At the moment we would be voyaging into an evidence-free zone if we recommend people do not have a second dose,' he added.

WHAT ABOUT IF I HAD OTHER SYMPTOMS?

HOW COMMON ARE STANDARD SIDE EFFECTS WITH ASTRAZENECA'S JAB? Very Common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people) tenderness, pain, warmth, itching or bruising where the injection is given

generally feeling unwell

feeling tired (fatigue)

chills or feeling feverish

headache

feeling sick (nausea)

joint pain or muscle ache Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) swelling, redness or a lump at the injection site

fever

being sick (vomiting) or diarrhoea

flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, sore throat, runny nose, cough and chills Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) feeling dizzy

decreased appetite

abdominal pain

enlarged lymph nodes

excessive sweating, itchy skin or rash Source: MHRA Advertisement

Brits who suffered flu-like symptoms after getting the first jab do not need to worry, experts say.

Side effects from vaccines are normal and go away on tend to disappear within 48 hours.

They are a sign they are working, with the side effects a result of the jab prompting the immune system to gear up to fight the virus.

Data shows one in ten recipients of the jab will feel unwell after their initial vaccine, or suffer fatigue and joint pain.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which polices the safety of all the drugs, says headaches are also a very common side effect.

Officials say only vaccinated Britons who are struck down with crippling headaches four days after getting jabbed should seek medical help.

They say the headache may not be relieved with painkillers or feel worse when you lie down or bend over. The agony may also occur alongside blurred vision, vomiting, or speaking difficulties.

CAN I 'MIX AND MATCH' AND GET A SECOND DOSE OF PFIZER OR MODERNA?

Drug regulators have yet to approve a mix-and-match policy for jabs, meaning Brits who were given the AstraZeneca jab must stick with it.

JCVI bosses have no reason to believe letting people receive Pfizer or Moderna's jab the second time around would be dangerous.

Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chair of the advisory panel, told Good Morning Britain the safest thing to do at the moment 'would be to receive the same type.'

He said: 'This is an evidence free zone at the moment because all the trials have been done using the same vaccine.

'There is work undergoing at the moment to use different vaccine types but we just don't have that data and we dont have the safety data on that.'

British scientists launched the world's first trial at mix and matching Covid vaccines earlier this year.

The study of 800 patients will look at the effect of giving someone an initial dose of the Oxford University jab, followed by the Pfizer one, and vice versa.

Scientists will trial other vaccine combinations as more are approved and rolled out across the UK over the course of the year-long research.

Experts believe the 'mix and match' approach could stimulate different parts of the immune system and give better, longer lasting immunity.

The tactic could also help Britain deal with supply shortages which has held back the UK's otherwise successful vaccination rollout.

CAN ANYONE CHOOSE WHAT VACCINE THEY GET?

Only healthy under-30s are currently being offered the choice of whether they take AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine.

But younger adults can still opt to take the jab, if they would like.

The MHRA has not placed any legal age-restriction on the vaccine, with the decision made out of an abundance of caution.

Advisers argue because young people are at such low risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid, the benefits of the vaccine are not as clear-cut.

The JCVI says 'the benefits of prompt vaccination with AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine far outweigh the risk of adverse events' over-30s and anyone with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of Covid.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RARE BLOOD CLOTS? MHRA chief executive Dr June Raine said anyone who has one or more of the below symptoms for longer than four days after vaccination should seek urgent medical advice. Shortness of breath

Chest pain

Swollen legs

Persistent stomach pain

Severe headache

Blurred vision

Skin bruising beyond the site of injection Advertisement

WHAT OTHER JABS ARE AVAILABLE FOR UNDER-30S?

More than 20million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have now been given in the UK, with the jab used as the main weapon in the UK's arsenal.

The roll-out is unlikely to move on to under-30s for several weeks, meaning supplies of other jabs could be saved for younger adults.

Moderna's jab was deployed in Britain for the first time today, with ministers having bought 17million doses  enough for 8.5million people.

The chief scientist behind the US-developed Novavax vaccine, which Britain has secured 60million doses of, has said he expects it to be given the green light this month and rolled out in May.

A separate vaccine made by American pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson, which uses the same type of technology as AstraZeneca's but is administered via a single injection, is slated for a summer rollout. No10 has bought 30million doses.

The UK has also ordered 40million Pfizer doses, enough for 20million people, but the majority of the country's remaining stocks are reserved for second doses.

But, given that AstraZeneca's vaccine is the main driver of the campaign, the roll-out could be slowed if the UK's change of heart on giving the jab to young adults knocks public confidence in 30-50 year olds.

WHAT ARE THE BLOOD CLOTS LINKED TO ASTRAZENECA'S JAB?

European health chiefs ruled that AstraZeneca's jab should come with a warning that, in very rare cases, it may cause potentially deadly blood clots.

The EMA, which polices the safety of drugs used on the continent, spotted 169 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVST) and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), from 34million jabs.

Revealed: How many clots have been seen in each age group, according to the MHRA

CVST occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot. It can lead to a stroke.

SVT is the same type of blood clot but it occurs in the digestive system.

Both the EMA and their UK counterparts said the clots had occurred alongside thrombocytopenia  low levels of blood platelets.

WHAT EXACTLY IS CVST AND SHOULD I BE WORRIED?

CVST is where potentially fatal clots form in the veins that run from the brain.

Unusually, this is occurring with thrombocytopenia  abnormally low levels of blood cells called platelets.

Platelets cause blood to clot, so while not unheard of, it is incredibly rare for people with low levels to develop clots.

The most severe signs of CVST include stroke-like symptoms such as weakness of the face and limbs on one side of the body, seizures, coma and ultimately death.

But anyone who has suffered headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, abdominal pain and bruising or pinpoint spots below the vaccination site for four days after a jab should seek medical attention.

HAVE THESE CLOTS BEEN LINKED TO ANY OTHER VACCINES?

No cases of CVST with low platelets have been linked to the Pfizer vaccine in the UK, with just two serious clots reported more widely.

Experts suggest this could be to do with the technology in mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, compared to those using adenoviruses, for example, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

Trials of the latter have shown possible clots, although scientists stressed they were incredibly rare with three reported cases in 4.5million jabs administered.

So far, only the Oxford jab has been linked to possible raised levels of clotting. All vaccines will continue to be monitored.

HOW OFTEN ARE THE CLOTS OCCURRING?

Figures presented by the EMA  which took into account data up until April 4  suggested the clots occur once in every 150,000 jabs. They also said most of the cases were in women under 60.

The MHRA, which plays the same role in the UK, found 79 cases of clots in 20million doses by the end of March. Officials said the risk was around one in every 250,000 doses.

They also insisted the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people  but that the ratio was more 'finely balanced' in younger people, who are slightly more prone to blood clots.

LBC claimed that the MHRA revealed the baseline rate of CVST was between five and 16 cases per million people each year. The MHRA has spotted 44 cases of that blood clot  a rate of two cases per million people every three months.

EMA chiefs said that clots occurred more often than expected, prompting them to say the jabs need to come with the warning that it is a rare side effect.

But it said the committee investigating the link did not conclude that age and gender were clear risk factors for the very rare side effects.

HOW COULD THE JAB BE CAUSING BLOOD CLOTS?

Scientists are exploring several possibilities.

European investigators have put forward one theory that the vaccine triggers an unusual antibody in some rare cases, similar to conditions seen in patients treated with the anticoagulant  commonly known as blood thinner  heparin.

The autoimmune disorder called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) leads to plummeting platelet counts and clotting.

Others are looking at whether the cases  which seem more common in women  are linked to birth control pills.

However, at the moment scientists say there is no definitive evidence.

IF I'M PREGNANT, SHOULD I GET THE VACCINE?

The advice on this has not changed, meaning its recommended that those who are pregnant should not be vaccinated, with some exceptions. This is because the vaccines have not yet been tested in pregnancy.

While there is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine would harm the baby, pregnancy is more likely to lead to thrombosis.

Therefore women should discuss with their healthcare professional whether the benefits of having the vaccine outweigh the risks for them.

I'M 29. WHAT IF THEY ONLY OFFER THE OXFORD VACCINE?

Officials say this will not happen unless you have an underlying medical condition and are prioritised.

In such instances, they say the benefit of having the vaccine far outweighs any issues as you have an equivalent risk from coronavirus as 65 to 70-year-olds.

For healthy under-30s, officials are confident there are sufficient supplies of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines coming on stream to vaccinate all 10million 18 to 29-year-olds in the UK.

I'VE HEARD ASPIRIN CAN STOP BLOOD CLOTTING. SHOULD I TAKE IT BEFORE THE JAB?

No. The risks of an adverse clotting event are extremely low. Taking aspirin or anti-coagulants can increase the risk of bleeding and is not
SEATTLE, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Merchant Risk Council's (MRC) CEO Julie Fergerson is prominently featured in the most recent edition of Insight Success magazine, alongside other successful women from a variety of business backgrounds. The piece explores her experience as a leading figure in the modern eCommerce landscape and highlights her leadership style, the challenges she has faced in her career, and the strategies she has adopted to overcome those challenges and excel as an executive.

Julie Fergerson, CEO, Co-founder & Board Emeritus, Merchant Risk Council

"I'm proud to be featured in this magazine alongside so many exceptional women," said Fergerson. "The contributions women are making to not just the payments and fraud prevention industry, but the entire business landscape, can't be overstated. I appreciate this opportunity to share my unique experiences and hope it provides visibility into what we're trying to achieve at the MRC."

Insight Success brings attention to the challenges facing modern businesses, and once a year focuses on the profound impact of women with their annual "The 20 Most Successful Businesswomen to Watch" edition of the magazine. The MRC was selected for its long-standing commitment to furthering inclusion and diversity in eCommerce. Career advancement and networking opportunities, programs like the Women in Payments and Fraud community, and educational programs such as RAPID Edu are a few examples of this commitment in action.

"Empowering people to take control of their career is at the core of our mission," says Fergerson. "We want to offer these resources to all of our members, regardless of gender or background. Educational programs like our NASBA certified RAPID Edu courses and industry conferences like MRC Spring Virtual allow our members to connect, collaborate, and advance their professional ambitions no matter who they are or where they come from. I believe I speak for the entire MRC team when I say we're proud of contributing to that goal."

About the MRC:

The MRC is an unbiased global community providing a platform for eCommerce fraud and payments professionals to come together and share information. As a non-profit 501(c)6 organization, the MRC's vision is to make commerce safe and profitable everywhere by offering proprietary education, training, and networking opportunities, as well as a welcoming forum for timely and relevant discussions. The MRC was launched in 2000, at the start of the eCommerce boom, by a small group of industry professionals from leading consumer brands, united by the goal of fighting against online fraud. Since its inception, the MRC has also added online payments to its portfolio, expanding its presence further into eCommerce, and continues to be at the forefront of industry evolution and the continued fight against fraud. The MRC is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, but embraces membership from across the globe.

Media Contact: Lea Prosenica

Telephone: +1 678-593-0391

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Merchant Risk Council
Mike has reported on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's wildlife, wildlands and the agencies that manage them since 2012. A native Minnesotan, he arrived in the West to study environmental journalism at the University of Colorado.
(ANSA) - ROME, APR 8 - Tourism Minister Massimo Garavaglia said Thursday that it was necessary to schedule in advance the easing of COVID-19 restrictions to give businesses time to prepare, adding that the Republic Day holiday on June 2 was a possible date for the nation to substantially "reopen".

Shopkeepers, hoteliers, bar owners and other people whose businesses have been shut by the restrictions have staged a series of protests in many Italian cities this week, including a demonstration outside the Lower House in Rome on Tuesday that turned ugly.

"There are businesses that can open from one day to the next, such as a barber," Garavaglia told La7 television.

"Others, such as large hotels, cannot.

"It is necessary to monitor the data and, on the basis of the data, reopen as soon as possible.

"We need to plan to be fast, otherwise the others will overtake us.

"June 2 is our national holiday and it could be the date of the reopening".

Regional Affairs Minister Mariastella Gelmini said the restrictions will be eased in a major way in May, adding that some limitations may be dropped as early as April 20. (ANSA).


The first thing Antoinette Dorsey-James did Thursday was check her phone for a call from her sister.

Typically, on April 8, Pamela Turner would phone a hundred times to ask, Do you know what today is? Its my birthday. Her sister would pretend to forget, and the calls would continue back and forth.

This year, of course, there was no call. Turner was shot and killed nearly two years ago by a Baytown police officer. She would have turned 46 on Thursday.

I wish that I could get that phone call now. But I cant, Dorsey-James said. She promised her sister: I will fight for your justice until I join you.

Turners family on Thursday filed a civil rights lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas against Baytown and the police officer who fatally shot Turner in the parking lot of her apartment complex  a killing captured in cell phone footage.

Attorneys Benjamin Crump and Devon Jacob named the City of Baytown, police officer Juan Pedro Delacruz, and Cypress Point Equity Partners, the apartment management company, as defendants in the case.

The complaint accuses the officer of using excessive force and causing Turners wrongful death with three bullets. Court documents outline the apartment managements repeated harassment against Turner, who suffered from mental illness and was killed the day she was served an eviction notice.

Today is a very hard day, said Chelsie Rubin, Turners daughter. I should be calling my mother and singing Happy Birthday this morning.

Rubin stood at a microphone near the steps of the Harris County Civil Courthouse, flanked by people who have similarly found themselves at the forefront of the movement against police brutality. Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, came to Houston from Kentucky. Crump arrived from Minneapolis, where former officer Derek Chauvin is on trial for the murder of George Floyd.

If you were outraged when you saw the video of how George Floyd was tragically killed in Minnesota, then you should be equally outraged when you see the video of how Pam Turner, an unarmed black woman, was tragically killed by the Baytown police officer, said Crump, who also represents Floyds family.

Palmer hugged Rubin. Members of the Equal Justice Now group stood with signs saying, Justice 4 Breonna Taylor and Pams Life Matters. Taylor, a medical worker, was shot and killed by Louisville police officers last March in her apartment.

Black women show up for everybody, Palmer said. I dont understand why we have to fight for anybody to have to show up for us.

Delacruz was indicted by a Harris County grand jury on a charge of aggravated assault by a public servant, a first-degree felony that carries a punishment of five years to life in prison. He was released from custody last September after posting $25,000 bond. The next trial date is May 25.

Delacruz worked as a Baytown police officer and as a security guard at The Brixton Apartments, where Turner lived, according to the civil lawsuit.

The manager at the apartment and Delacruz harassed Turner because of her mental illness, the attorneys allege in the suit, and she was terrified of the officer.

According to the complaint, Turner was charged with misdeanor offenses after one confrontation with the apartment manager in which she allegedly broke his glasses and left a scratch. Arrest warrants were issued when Turner did not appear in court.

Delacruz once called Rubin to say he wanted to have Turner involuntarily committed for a mental health evaluation, the suit says.

That summer, authorities notified Turner she would be evicted. The eviction notice was served the afternoon of May 13, 2019, according to the lawsuit. Shortly before 11 p.m. that night, Delacruz was patrolling near Turners apartment when she arrived home.

The officer intended to arrest her for the outstanding misdemeanor warrants, according to the suit. He discharged a single-shot Taser and then discharged his firearm, striking her in the face, chest and abdomen. A witness caught the shooting death on video and the recording surfaced on social media.

An attorney for Delacruz has previously said Turner took the officers Taser and used it on him.

Jacob, a former police officer and one of Turners attorneys, said Delacruz would have known that the Taser was not capable of firing and incapacitating him because he had already discharged it once. After discharge, the Taser could have been used like a stun gun. However, this requires the Taser to be touching its target and it causes only isolated pain. Turner was on the ground at a distance from the officer when he shot her.

Its very clear as a former police officer that this shooting was unlawful from the beginning, Jacob said. There is absolutely no reason to be serving low-level warrants at night at somebodys residence.

Among other allegations, the lawsuit claims that the city and Cypress Point, the apartment management company, failed to adopt policies meeting the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing Act. Both defendants failed to maintain policies or training regarding how to interact with people with mental illness.

The suit also accuses the city of failing to implement policies or training that meet the industry standard regarding the use of deadly force, de-escalation or responding to a person in possession of a Taser.

Delacruz remains employed at the department without pay, according to Turners attorneys.

Following the lawsuit announcement, members of Equal Justice Now, Turners family members, the attorneys and other supporters distributed purple balloons among themselves. There were 46. Someone sang Happy Birthday and then Crump counted down from three.

They let go. Balloons floated skyward, soaring past windows of the courthouse, free.

anna.bauman@chron.com
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-07 20:59:53|Editor: huaxia

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Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi (R) meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 7, 2021. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with the visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov here on Wednesday separately and both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral ties and deepen cooperation. (PID/Handout via Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with the visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov here on Wednesday separately and both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral ties and deepen cooperation.

The Russian foreign minister arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day visit to discuss bilateral and regional matters.

A statement from the Prime Minister Office said that during the meeting, Khan reiterated that "the importance Pakistan attaches to its relations with Russia as a key foreign policy priority" and expressed satisfaction at the steady growth in bilateral ties.

Enhanced bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, industrial modernization, railways and aviation was discussed, the statement said.

The Pakistani prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan's resolve to expeditiously conclude the requisite legal process for the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline project and commence the work as early as possible.

Views were also exchanged on the health and economic challenges posed by COVID-19 and the Pakistani prime minister congratulated Russia on its development of Sputnik-V vaccine and underscored Pakistan's procurement plans in this regard, according to the statement.

In the regional context, Khan stressed the importance of a negotiated political settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan and appreciated Russia's efforts in promoting the Afghan peace process.

Earlier in the day, speaking at a joint press conference along with the Pakistani foreign minister, Lavrov said that his country is ready to further build counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan through supply of military equipment.

"This serves in the interest of all states of the region," Lavrov said, adding that both countries have agreed on conducting more joint military exercises.

Lavrov said the increase in bilateral trade is satisfactory and expressed readiness to "further strengthen economic relations."

The Russian foreign minister showed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. "Russia and Pakistan have agreed to further facilitate the agreement among Afghan parties through inclusive political dialogue," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Qureshi reiterated Pakistan's resolve to build a strong multifaceted relationship with Russia.

"There is a new approach and mindset in Pakistan for a relationship with Russia. We feel that not just we have geographic proximity but Russia is a factor of stability in the region and the world at large," the Pakistani foreign minister said. Enditem
Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) announced the delivery of one new Boeing 737-8 aircraft on long-term lease to Belavia-Belarusian Airlines. Featuring CFM LEAP-1B engines, this is the first of five new Boeing 737-8s confirmed to deliver to Belavia from ALC's order book with Boeing.

"ALC is pleased to confirm this historic and significant transaction with Belavia, delivering the airline's first 737-8 today," said Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation. "Our team introduced the Boeing 737 aircraft family to Belavia 18 years ago and now we are delighted to announce the first of five new 737-8s on long-term lease with the airline."

"Since 2003, our passengers have been traveling on Boeing aircraft. Our desire to develop and constantly increase our service level with maximum flight safety does not allow us to stand still. Today, our long-standing partners Air Lease Corporation and Boeing have helped us to open a new page in the development of our fleet. The next-generation Boeing 737-8 aircraft will gradually replace the Boeing 737-300 and Boeing 737-500 operated by our airline, which will significantly renew the aircraft fleet of Belavia-Belarusian Airlines. It should also be noted that the 737-8 aircraft have better characteristics: they are more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient. This will allow us to do what is so expected of us: to reduce the cost of air tickets. For passengers, this aircraft will differ from the usual 737-800 aircraft, primarily in the Business Class cabin. It will be a separate cabin with 12 comfortable seats. Thus, we will offer a significant increase in the service level for our passengers. We are very carefully preparing for acceptance of the aircraft: our pilots completed training for this type of aircraft a year ago. Now, they are repeating training. This also concerns the technical personnel: they are re-trained and confirm their readiness for maintenance of this type of aircraft. When accepting a new aircraft, we must be sure of the safety of our passengers and will do everything to guarantee it. We hope that each trip of our passengers will be more comfortable and bright," said Igor Tcherginets, Director General of Belavia-Belarusian Airlines.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL)

ALC is a leading aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California, that has airline customers throughout the world. ALC and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline customers worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions. ALC routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the "Investors" section of ALC's website at www.airleasecorp.com. Investors and potential investors are encouraged to consult the ALC website regularly for important information about ALC. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, ALC's website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

About Belavia

Belavia-Belarusian Airlines is the largest airline of the Republic of Belarus. It was established on March 5, 1996. The airline is a full member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) from 1997, a member of the European Regional Airlines Association (ERAA) from 2010. Currently, there are 29 aircraft (one Boeing 737-8, nine Boeing 737-800, two Boeing 737-500, three Boeing 737-300, five Embraer-175, seven Embraer-195, two Embraer 195-E2 aircraft) in the airline's fleet. More information is available on the official website of the airline: www.belavia.by or in social networks: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, VKontakte.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005193/en/

Contacts:

Investors:

Mary Liz DePalma

Vice President, Investor Relations

Email: investors@airleasecorp.com

Jason Arnold

Assistant Vice President, Finance

Email: investors@airleasecorp.com

Media:

Laura Woeste

Senior Manager, Media and Investor Relations

Email: press@airleasecorp.com

Ashley Arnold

Manager, Media and Investor Relations

Email: press@airleasecorp.com
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).
MECHANICSBURG, Penn., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Select Medical Holdings Corporation ("Select Medical") (NYSE: SEM), will release the financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2021 on Thursday, May 6, 2021 after the market closes.

Select Medical will host a conference call regarding its first quarter results, as well as its business outlook, on Friday, May 7, 2021, at 9:00am ET. The domestic dial in number for the call is 1-866-440-2669. The international dial in number is 1-409-220-9844. The conference ID for the call is 8189262. The conference call will be webcast simultaneously and can be accessed at Select Medical Holdings Corporation's website www.selectmedicalholdings.com.

For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available until 12:00pm ET, May 14, 2021. The replay number is 1-855-859-2056 (domestic) or 1-404-537-3406 (international). The conference ID for the replay will be 8189262. The replay can also be accessed at Select Medical Holdings Corporation's website, www.selectmedicalholdings.com.

Select Medical is one of the largest operators of critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and occupational health centers in the United States based on the number of facilities. Select Medical's reportable segments include the critical illness recovery hospital segment, rehabilitation hospital segment, the outpatient rehabilitation segment, and the Concentra segment. As of December 31, 2020, Select Medical operated 99 critical illness recovery hospitals in 28 states, 30 rehabilitation hospitals in 12 states, and 1,788 outpatient rehabilitation clinics in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Select Medical's joint venture subsidiary Concentra operated 517 occupational health centers in 41 states. Concentra also provides contract services at employer worksites. At December 31, 2020, Select Medical had operations in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Information about Select Medical is available at www.selectmedical.com.

Investor inquiries:

Joel T. Veit

Senior Vice President and Treasurer

717-972-1100

[email protected]

SOURCE Select Medical Holdings Corporation

Related Links

https://www.selectmedical.com


International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) 20th Annual Meeting, May 3-7, 2021

The International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) 2021 Annual Meeting - the organization's 20th - will virtually bring together a global, multidisciplinary group of researchers, clinicians and students presenting their latest research. Anyone interested in autism research is welcome to attend. The meeting will be held Monday, May 3 through Friday, May 7, 2021 with registrants having access to on- demand content until June 7. The INSAR Annual Meeting is the world's largest gathering of scientists and specialists as they exchange and disseminate the latest scientific discoveries and stimulate progress into the nature, causes, and treatments and supports for autism spectrum disorder. INSAR 2021 will be the 20th Anniversary of the first annual meeting of INSAR. The first Annual Meeting, then named IMFAR (International Meeting for Autism Research), was held in San Diego, CA on November 9 & 10, 2001.

The 20th INSAR Annual Meeting will include virtual presentations of oral papers and posters, and panel sessions. Recipients of the INSAR Advocate Award, INSAR Cultural Diversity Research Award, and INSAR Lifetime Achievement Award will also be announced. More than 1,300 abstracts with authors from over 30 countries have been accepted for virtual Panel, Oral and Poster presentation.

A virtual press conference will be held on Monday, May 3, 2021 at 12:00 PM EST that will focus on highlighted notable research.

Registration is through the INSAR website. INSAR Membership is not required.

Panel session topics include:

Global Insights on Understanding and Reducing Autism Stigma

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Conditions: Lessons Learned from Studies across the Lifespan

Using Novel Implementation Tools for Evidence-Based Practice Delivery (UNITED) for Under Resourced Settings

Etiologies of Deviant Prenatal Development in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Implications for Early Treatment

Substance Use Among Adolescents and Adults on the Spectrum

Bridging the Gap: Mitigating Barriers to Autism Service Access in Rural Populations

Keynote speakers:

Dr. Stormy J. Chamberlain, UConn School of Medicine

Dr. Tony Charman, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London

Dr. Petrus J de Vries, Centre for Autism Research in Africa, University of Cape Town

Dr. Lucina Q. Uddin, University of Miami

###

WHAT: International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) 20th Annual Meeting, virtually bringing together more than 1,000 autism researchers, practitioners, and advocates from over 30 countries

WHERE: The annual meeting will be available virtually through the INSAR 2021 Virtual Meeting platform. The press conference will be livestreamed on the INSAR Facebook page.

WHEN:

Press Conference:

Monday, May 3rd, 12:00 PM -1:00 PM

The press conference will be livestreamed on the INSAR Facebook page

Keynote, Scientific Panel and Oral Presentations, and On-demand ePoster Sessions:

Tuesday, May 4, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Wednesday, May 5, 10:00 AM - 7:15 PM

Thursday, May 6, 9:00 AM - 2:45 PM

Sessions premiere May 3 - May 7 with on-demand access through June 7. In-conjunction events will be held May 3 and May 7. All session times shown in Eastern Time. The virtual platform will provide options to convert to other time zones.

MEDIA REGISTRATION AND NOTES:

Media registration:

https:/ / www. autism-insar. org/ page/ MediaRegistration .

Scientific abstracts are embargoed until Monday, May 3rd at 1:00 PM EST

Visit the following link for INSAR 2021 Annual Meeting updates:

https:/ / www. autism-insar. org/ page/ 2021AnnMtg

INSAR will arrange requested telephone interviews prior to the INSAR 2021 Annual Meeting and also remote interviews during the conference. Please contact if interested.

This story has been published on: 2021-04-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Khloe Kardashian is back in the gym and ready to work off all her 'frustration' amid the storm of controversy surrounding the attempt to kill an 'unflattering' and unfiltered bikini photo that went viral this week.

On Thursday, the 36-year-old reality star took to her Instagram Stories to tell her 136 million followers that she was pumping iron in a bid to 'let out' her anger over the debacle, which she addressed in a lengthy statement yesterday.

'Therapy time,' Khloe said in the video, filmed in a gym. 'So this is my therapy, and I don't anyone works out better or stronger than someone that's frustrated, angry, mad, determined... let it all out in the gym, and that's what I am about to do.'

'This is my therapy': Khloe Kardashian is at the gym to vent her 'anger and frustration' over unfiltered bikini photo that went viral, in a video posted to her Instagram Stories on Thursday

The latest post comes after Khloe stripped off yesterday for her fans, to defend her attempt to kill an 'unflattering' unfiltered viral bikini photo taken by her 86-year-old grandma, Mary Jo.

However, despite her attempts to explain the situation, the KUWTK personality has been met with criticism from fans and celebrities, including stars like Jameela Jamil and even broadcaster Katie Couric.

Katie, 64, said in an Instagram comment under Khloe's post: 'This was raw and honest but I agree with those who say the non stop procedures and constant filters are promoting unrealistic and harmful beauty standards.'

Luxury: It appeared Khloe was filming from inside her home gym at her mansion in LA

Let it go: On Thursday, the 36-year-old reality star took to her Instagram Stories to tell her 136 million followers that she was pumping iron in a bid to 'let out' her anger over the bikini debacle

Working out her feelings: Khloe said in the video, 'this is my therapy, and I don't anyone works out better or stronger than someone that's frustrated, angry, mad, determined'

Mother-of-one Khloe had posted videos of herself showcasing her fabulous body on Wednesday, which she said had not been Photoshopped - following the release of the 'unauthorized' photo appearing to show her un-airbrushed body.

The reality star also posted a statement about her struggles with her body image, where she described feeling 'unbearable' 'pressure' to be 'perfect' and discussed her lifelong struggle with her body image.

In a slideshow posted to her account, Khloe posed topless in her bathroom mirror as she showed off her body with her hand protecting her modesty.

Picture perfect: The Good American founder appears unfiltered and un-airbrushed in the leaked snap - and not as flawless as she appears in her social media shots

A second video showed Khloe going on Instagram Live, where she removed her sweatshirt and rolled down her trousers to show off her toned frame.

Kim Kardashian appeared briefly in the video, which was commented on by their half-sister Kendall Jenner.

'PS Yes I did a live to show you all this isn't photoshopped,' Khloe captioned the slideshow.

'Hey guys, this is me and my body unretouched and unfiltered...

Showing it off: Khloe posed topless in the bathroom mirror as she showed off her unedited body and declared the clip wasn't Photoshopped

Ab fab: The mom-of-one left little of her toned body to the imagination as she shared the defiant video

'In truth, the pressure, constant ridicule and judgment my entire life to be perfect and to meet other's standards of how I should look has been too much to bear. "Khloe is the fat sister." "Khloe is the ugly sister." "Her dad must not be her real dad because she looks so different." "The only way she could have lost that weight must have been from surgery." Should I go on?

'Oh but who cares how she feels because she grew up in a life of privilege. She's also on a reality show so she signed up for all of this. I'm of course not asking for sympathy but I am asking to be acknowledged for being human.

'I am not perfect but I promise you that I try everyday to live my life as honestly as possible and with empathy and kindness. It doesn't mean that I have not made mistakes. But I'm not going to lie. It's almost unbearable trying to live up to the impossible standards that the public have all set for me.

Speaking out: Khloe described her body image struggles in a lengthy statement posted to her account where she spoke of the pressure to look a certain way

Candid: She wrote: 'Everyday I am told by my family and friends who love me that I am beautiful but I know that it needs to be believed from within'

'For over a decade now in photos, every single flaw and imperfection has been micro-analyzed and made fun of to the smallest detail and I am reminded of them everyday by the world. And when I take that criticism to use as motivation to get myself in the best shape of my life and to even help others with the same struggles, I am told I couldn't have done it through hard work and I must have paid for it all.

'You never quite get used to being judged and pulled apart and told how unattractive one is, but I will say, if you hear anything enough then you start believe it. This is an example of how I have been conditioned to feel, that I am not beautiful enough just being me.

'I love a good filter, good lighting and an edit here and there. The same way I throw on some make-up, get my nails done, or wear a pair of heels to present myself to the world the way I want to be seen and it's exactly what I will continue to do unapologetically. My body, my image and how I choose to look and what I want to share is my choice. It's not for anyone to decide or judge what is acceptable or not anymore.

Take it off: In an Instagram Live Khloe removed her sweatshirt and rolled down her trousers to show off her incredible frame

'For those else who feel the constant pressure of not ever feeling perfect enough, I want you to know I see you and I understand. Everyday I am told by my family and friends who love me that I am beautiful but I know that it needs to be believed from within. We are all unique and perfect in our own way. Whichever way one chooses to be seen. I have realized that we cannot continue to live life trying to fit into the perfect mold of what others have set for us. Just do you and make sure your heart is happy,' she concluded.

Khloe's famous sisters Kim, Kendall and Kylie, as well as mother Kris Jenner took to the comment section to send support, with 'momager' Kris writing: 'Khloe you are the kindest most loving, most supportive, most beautiful heart I have ever known, and I adore you and am so proud of you.... you are an inspiration to all of us and I appreciate and love you each and every single day.

'Thank you for teaching the rest of us to be kind and to not judge.... you are one of a kind.... what a blessing you are. You are a gift.'

Soaring temperatures: Earlier this month, Khloe showed off her incredibly taut figure in a purple string bikini while relaxing by the pool in Palm Springs

The controversy all started after the original bikini photo emerged on social media over the weekend.

The image in question shows Khloe standing by a pool wearing a skimpy leopard print string bikini and appearing unfiltered an un-airbrushed.

Soon after it leaked on various forums online, members of the Kardashian PR team reported the posts as copyright infringement, due to the photo being posted without permission.

In the candid image, which is still up on one subreddit, the mother-of-one appears to be mid-conversation and has her hair pulled up in a ponytail as she holds her phone and flashes a subtle smile at the photographer.

Support system: Kim Kardashian appeared briefly in the video, which was commented on by their half-sister Kendall Jenner

Looking fab: The star worked her toned abs for the camera as she returned to social media after the photo was posted

The image seems to have been snapped at Kris Jenner's desert compound in La Quinta, California, where the Kardashian and Jenner clan just spent the Easter weekend.

While most would be proud to look so good in a bikini, it's not hard to see that Khloe looks very different to her highly glamorized Instagram images.

In the alleged unedited snap, her waistline appears less defined, her curves less dramatic and her skin not as impossibly smooth as it looks in her carefully staged glossy fashion shoots.

Bare: Noticeably absent from the poolside shots were the enormous diamond sparkler she has been sporting on her left finger in recent weeks

'I love my stripes': In February the E! star got real about her stretch marks as she shared a beach snap of her hips covered in fine lines

Tracy Romulus, Kim Kardashian's BFF and chief marketing officer for KKW brands, said in a statement to Page Six: 'The color edited photo was taken of Khloe during a private family gathering and posted to social media without permission by mistake by an assistant.

'Khloe looks beautiful but it is within the right of the copyright owner to not want an image not intended to be published taken down.'

The mistake could well cost the assistant their job, as the Kardashian team have been unable to contain the leak.

Change is good: Back in September, the star told People that she thrives on changing her appearance

Changing faces: Khloe has also been accused of going under the knife in recent years and not being honest about it with her fans. In 2019 there was speculation she had a nose job but she has yet to comment on it

After the photo surfaced on Saturday it spread across the internet before quickly disappearing on many sites.

It wasn't long before reports emerged from Reddit users who were asked to take the photo down, with some allegedly receiving legal threats from the Kardashian team because of 'copyright infringement'.

A user named 'Calithetroll' started a subreddit to discuss the Kardashian PR team's attempt to remove all of the posts online. They explained that 'after reposting the picture, the mods confirm that someone reached out to them warning them about potential legal action due to the picture.'
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Wellington, April 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2021 ) :Samoans go to the polls in a Covid-marred election Friday for what is expected to be one of the closest battles yet for longtime prime minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi.

Authorities have imposed a 48-hour ban on alcohol and declared a public holiday as Samoans choose between Malielegaoi, who has led the Pacific island nation for 22 years, and his former ally Fiame Naomi Mataafa, daughter of Samoa's first prime minister.

Mataafa resigned as deputy prime minister late last year, before taking over as head of the opposition FAST party, which won 39 percent of early votes counted this week.

Christina Laalaai-Tausa, a New Zealand-based Samoan political scientist, said their election chances had been hurt by Covid-imposed travel restrictions and a law that stipulated voters must be in the country for six months prior to the election.

Nearly 130,000 people have registered to cast their ballot in Samoa, and Laalaai-Tausa estimated there were another 40,000-50,000 overseas who have been shut out -- up to a quarter of the population.

"This is usually the time we return to Samoa but we haven't been able to do anything about that," she told AFP.

"This will have a big impact on both the main parties but what it would seem the newly formed (FAST) party would have more support overseas.

" The vote is the first significant challenge to Malielegaoi's Human Rights Protection Party, which has been in power for nearly four decades.

The FAST was formed following discontent with the government's handling of a measles epidemic in 2019 that killed 83 people, more than three-quarters of them children under five.

Mataafa also rejected a new law which she said would worsen corruption, leading Malielegaoi to accuse her of treason.

Despite the challenge, the prime minister has predicted his party will increase its number of seats in the 51-member parliament from 36 to 45.

"I am not worried and I am confident," he said in a radio interview.

A decision to ban the sale of alcohol on Thursday and Friday, and to make both days a holiday, was "a safeguard to ensure the safety of voters and candidates," political scientist Laalaai-Tausa said, adding there was no history of trouble around Samoan elections.

"But trying to restrict bribery before an election is a concern."Samoa had been one of several Pacific nations among the most successful in the world at keeping out the virus after closing their borders early in response to the threat, despite the huge cost to tourism-reliant economies. It registered its first case in November.
The Ukrainian Institute for the Future (UIB) has developed a national strategy to restore public confidence in vaccination in order to prevent a difficult situation in Ukraine due to a pandemic, which is possible due to the lack of communication between the government authorities and their citizens on this issue.

"Recently, Volodymyr Zelensky announced his commitment to the Cabinet of Ministers to draft a vaccination plan by the end of the year. The Ukrainian Institute of the Future decided to help the authorities, because judging by what we see, even if we have a vaccination plan, citizens will not be vaccinated because of the lost confidence in the government on this issue. This is evidenced by all sociological surveys, including those conducted by the Ukrainian Institute for the Future," the UIB said in a statement on Facebook.

The UIB experts suggest abandoning the goal of vaccinating 100% of the population and focusing on vaccinating from 70% to 75% of citizens. The authorities should abandon the idea of introducing repressive methods against those who do not want to be vaccinated.

"It is possible to achieve public trust only through a change in fundamentally important approaches. That is why we propose that the government take the following five steps: change the vaccination plan and give everyone the opportunity to get vaccinated; guide people about possible dates for vaccinations; provide free express tests for those who want to get tested; to increase the number of vaccination points; to pay off all debts to doctors," the institute said in the statement.

It is also noted that the vaccination queue in the Diia application does not work and it is necessary to develop a new electronic queue with the ability to find out the time when it is possible to get vaccinated and to observe how the queue moves.

In addition, the UIB insists on the need to change the current team of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine as soon as possible.

"Without rebooting this team, it is impossible to regain public confidence. New people have to enter with a clear distribution of media roles, when everyone is responsible for their specific area, and not for everything in general," the institute said.
Halia: In the midst of the high-pitched election campaign in Nagarjunasagar

assembly constituency, TRS candidate Nomula Bhagath, son of deceased MLA Nomula Narasimhaiah, exudes confidence about his victory in the by-election. He says his victory is assured on the back of TRS chief and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's welfare schemes, development programmes and the goodwill his father had earned as TRS leader since 2013 as also as Nagarjunasagar MLA from December 2018 to December 2020. Such was

Bhagat's confidence levels that he says he is focusing mainly on enlarging his majority and not just a victory.

A software engineer-turned-advocate, he says the sympathy factor would also work in his favour. The 37-year-old Bhagath did B.Tech, MBA and LLM, and is now a practising advocate in the Telangana High Court. He joined the TRS in 2014 and participated in a recent membership drive by the party.

In an exclusive interview to Deccan Chronicle, while campaigning in Peddavoora mandal in Pothunuru village, Bhagat explains why his victory is a foregone conclusion. EXCERPTS:

Q: Did you expect to get TRS ticket to contest the bypoll given that several noted and senior local TRS leaders were in the race and you were inferior to them both in terms of age and political experience?

A: I never expected I will get the TRS ticket for the same reasons that you have mentioned. But CM KCR garu and working president KTR garu stood by me like my family members after I lost my father. Whatever development issues or welfare schemes concerning Nagarjunasagar constituency I brought to their notice after my father's demise, they addressed those issues faster. They have given same prominence to me that my father used to get as an MLA. They only asked me to continue the good work in the constituency without thinking about the bypoll or the party ticket and that the party leadership will take a call on those at the right time. I had no information about getting the ticket until March 29 when I was asked to come to Pragathi Bhavan in Hyderabad. The last date to file the nomination was March 30. It was a pleasant surprise for me when KCR garu handed over B-form to me and asked me to contest the poll. I cannot express in words how thankful I felt when KCR garu handed over a Rs 28 lakh cheque along with the party ticket to meet the election expenses. These days, all parties demand money from ticket aspirants, but KCR garu gave me money in return. That is the greatness of KCR garu.

Q: Opposition parties campaign that you are a non local and not experienced in politics. What's your take on this?

A: I may be half the age of Congress candidate A Jana Reddy but age doesn't matter for a political leader in public life if one is sincere and committed to serving the people and his constituency. I believe people vote for TRS, KCR garu and KTR garu in the election and not for Bhagat. They are bigger than me. I will act as per the directions of the party leadership.

Coming to local and non-local issues, the Nagarjunasagar people already gave a verdict in December 2018 by electing my father as MLA. Non- local is a non-issue now. Opposition leaders or candidates who claim themselves as locals should realize that they don't own a house in Nagarjunasagar constituency and they stay in Hyderabad. They only run part-time camp offices in Nagarjunasagar. But my father had built his own house in Halia in Nagarjunasagar constituency in 2016 even before he was elected as MLA and stayed there till he breathed his last. He was accessible to people all the time. I reside in the same house. Now these people should answer who are non-locals.

Q: What chances do you stand in this election where you are pitted against Congress strongman Jana Reddy and the BJP that is claiming to

repeat the Dubbak bypoll success?

A: The tremendous response I am getting from the people wherever I campaign since March 30 proves beyond doubt that my victory is certain. I campaigned in 85 villages and covered three out of six mandals. I will cover all the remaining villages and mandals in the next one week. I noticed everywhere that people are keen to vote for TRS and give me an opportunity to serve them to complete the balance of the development works promised by my late father. For this reason, I am looking at enlarging the majority and not just victory, which is imminent.

Coming to Jana Reddy garu, people are questioning what he will do now if he wins. He failed to develop the constituency after winning from here seven times as MLA and working as minister for 17 years. They already rejected Jana Reddy in 2018. BJP neither has leaders or cadre in Nagarjunasagar. People here never owned the BJP as their party and they were polled just about 2,000 votes in the 2018 assembly polls.

Q: What makes you so confident of winning this election?

A: The message about the development programmes and welfare schemes of the TRS government has reached every household in the constituency. There are over 1.50 lakh beneficiaries of TRS welfare schemes who pledge and vow to support TRS in the elections. Voters want to thank KCR garu for giving them 24x7 power supply, 24x7 free power to agriculture, Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 as Aasar pensions, Rs10,000 per acre per year under the Rythu Bandhu scheme, Rs5 lakh Rythu Bima and so on. This list is endless. Added to this, there is the sympathy factor in my favour.

Q: But sympathy factor failed to work in the recent Dubbak bypoll.

A: The situation and factors in Dubbak and Nagarjunasagar are totally different. In Dubbak, BJP won with a slender majority. But mark my

words. BJP will not retain even its deposit in Nagarjunasagar. I am ready to talk on this after the Nagarjunasagar bypoll result is out.

Q: What do you want to achieve by winning this bypoll?

A: My father could not take up some development projects and welfare schemes due to the corona-linked lockdown and the subsequent funds crunch. Though we never stopped development programmes in the constituency, the pace of works slowed down. I want to speed up and complete the remaining works with the support of CM KCR in the remaining two-and-a-half years of tenure as MLA after getting elected.
Pacific voices are stronger on the world stage when they are united, rather than divided, says US Ambassador to Vanuatu Mckee. Photo:South China Morning Post
A mugger has returned hundreds of pounds in stolen cash to his victim after finding out the money was destined for the local mosque.

The balaclava-clad thief was filmed posting a wad of notes through the victim's letterbox in Small Heath, Birmingham, on Easter Monday.

The theft was captured on CCTV and an appeal to find the thieves quickly spread on social media.

After the muggers heard of the growing outrage in the community, they returned to the road at night to give back the money.

They said 'we would never rob from a mosque' and blamed their actions on 'false information'.

The balaclava-clad thief was filmed posting a wad of notes through the victim's letterbox in Small Heath, Birmingham, on Easter Monday

Footage of the theft shows the lone victim walking down the road carrying a bag - unaware he is being stalked by two masked thieves travelling in a black car.

They park in the middle of the road and jump out, as one rushes towards the man and snatches his bag before the pair make their escape in the vehicle.

But hours later the panicking thief was filmed by his accomplice outside the victim's house holding a stack of 20 notes.

He tells the camera: 'I'm here to return his money. We didn't know it was mosque money. We would never rob from a mosque, it was just based on false information.'

The crook then creeps towards the house and has a nervous look over his shoulder before stuffing the money through the door and leaving in a hurry.

Sajid Ali, 49, a father of three from the street, said: 'It's all been resolved in the community now, the lads that took the money have given it back.

'When they robbed him they found out the money for charity, for the mosque and posted it back.

'It went viral on social media and because they were local lads they thought they'd get caught anyway and posted it back.

'They did a good deed when they knew it was charity. They must've realised it came from an Islamic shop that takes donations for the mosque and it's Ramadan next week.

'I've no idea how much was taken but it would've been a lot because people brought donations to the shop before Ramadan starts.

'I live just around the corner and came by the shop to see if he's OK.

The theft was captured on CCTV and an appeal to find the thieves quickly spread on social media. They later returned the money (pictured)

'The matter's been resolved and the community doesn't want it to go any further. There's no point chasing them down.

'They filmed themselves giving it back because it went viral on social media and if they are local they knew they wouldn't get away with it.'

A resident on Kenelm Road, who refused to give his name, said: 'Yes, it happened around here but I don't want to disclose any more details.'

Another resident added: 'I know the man and the video you're talking about and he works in the Islamic shop.'

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: 'We're investigating after a man was robbed of cash in Kenelm Road, Small Heath, at around 6pm on Tuesday (6 April).

'CCTV shows two men approaching the victim and then making off in a black BMW.

'The man was left shaken but unhurt and we're carrying out enquiries to establish who was involved.

'Anyone with information can contact us via Live Chat or by calling 101. Quote 20BE/98776P/21.

'We're trying to make contact with the injured party to establish whether the money has been returned.'
Facebook has no intention to notify the more than 530 million users whose details were hacked and posted online, the social media giant has said.

Facebook said in a blog post on Tuesday that 'malicious actors' had obtained the data prior to September 2019 by 'scraping' profiles using a vulnerability in the platform's tool for synching contacts.

Among the victims were CEO Mark Zuckerberg, whose cell phone number was among the leaked personal data posted online by hackers.

A Facebook spokesman told Reuters the social media company was not confident it knew which users had been hacked and would need to be notified.

The spokesman said it also took into account that users could not fix the issue and that the data was publicly available in deciding not to notify users. Facebook has said it plugged the hole after identifying the problem at the time.

The scraped information did not include financial information, health information or passwords, Facebook said.

But it did include phone numbers and dates of birth and other private information - which could provide valuable information for hacks or other abuses.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's cell phone number is among the leaked personal data from 553 million users of the site posted online by hackers

Last week, Facebook's co-founder and president Zuckerberg was among the more than half billion to have had their data published on a hacker forum.

The trove of stolen personal data included his location and marriage information, date of birth and Facebook user ID.

Facebook, which has long been under scrutiny over how it handles user privacy, in 2019 reached a landmark settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over its investigation into allegations the company misused user data.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission, the European Union's lead regulator for Facebook, said on Tuesday it had contacted the company about the data leak. It said it received 'no proactive communication from Facebook' but was now in contact.

The July 2019 FTC settlement requires Facebook to report details about unauthorized access to data on 500 or more users within 30 days of confirming an incident.

The Facebook spokesman declined to comment on the company's conversations with regulators but said it was in contact to answer their questions.

Facebook co-founders Dustin Moskovitz, left, and Chris Hughes, right, were also among the millions of people who had their personal data posted online.

A websites called haveibeenpwned.com is offering some users the chance to check whether they are among the hacking victims.

By entering an email address connected to the Facebook account, the site will check if it's been accessed.

However, according to CNN, only about 2.5 million of the 533 hacked accounts included emails in the stolen data.

Computer servers that store users' photos and other data are seen at the Facebook site in Prineville Oregon in a file photo. The social media giant is not planning to inform the more than 500 million users whose details were hacked

Facebook co-founders Dustin Moskovitz, left, and Chris Hughes (right) also had similar personal details included in the leaked data
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Travel restrictions in effect for ABC islands effective Monday April 5th

As of Monday, April 5th, the Government of Sint Maarten implemented travel restrictions from the ABC islands to St Maarten which went into effect as recommended by our health professionals due to the highly-concentrated pools of the UK variant.





Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao (ABC) are experiencing high COVID-19 transmission and have recorded a significant number of cumulative UK variant cases to date. As such, returning residents from Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba will be required to hold a negative 72-hour PCR test and are advised to be retested 48 hours after arrival.





Ministries TEATT, VSA and Justice to Step Up Controls to Ensure Adherence to COVID-19 Public Health & Safety Protocols

The Ministries of TEATT, VSA and Justice have stepped up controls to ensure adherence to the COVID-19 Public Health and Safety Protocols specifically in light of the parties that took place during the Easter holidays. This decision was also taken during an emergency Council of Ministers meeting held last week Friday, April 2nd, as a result of the major COVID-19 outbreak in the ABC islands.





The business community is asked to follow their COVID-19 Safe Framework business re-opening workplace plans that were submitted last summer regarding operations. Employees and customers are expected to wear masks, and practice social distancing. In the case of events, crowd control measures must be in place, and compliance is expected at parties that have been marketed. Controls will be carried out, and warnings given will be based on the observations of controllers after observing large congregating crowds.





COVID-19 Vaccine

All residents on St. Maarten are encouraged to register online for the COVID-19 vaccine by visiting the Government of St. Maartens website: www.sintmaartengov.org/coronavirus. Paper versions of the registration form are also available in English, Spanish and Creole at Collective Prevention Services, various doctors offices, the Government Administration Building (Labor Affairs), the Public Service Center in Simpson Bay and select pharmacies.





COVID-19 Public Health Protocols Message

The public is reminded that our behaviour is that which will stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Government of Sint Maarten asks that the public not become complacent and let their guard down as government focuses their efforts in curbing the rise of St. Maartens COVID-19 active cases in order to protect our loved ones, our lovely island, our community and also to build back our economy. Continue practicing good hygiene, avoid large gathering, ensure proper face mask usage and keep a 2-meter social distance from others in public.
Police in Gweru have arrested a 55-year-old man employed as a security guard after he shot and killed a man he suspected to be thief after he jumped inside the yard of a house he was manning at night.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Insp Emmanuel Mahoko said police were also looking for assistance in identifying the shooting victim who had no identify particulars when he was shot by the suspect security guard, Masimba Mazendame.

He said, Mazendame who is employed by Temple Amour Security Company was arrested today and was expected to appear in court.

"While Masimba Mazendame was on duty guarding a private property in Lundi Park, he saw an intruder jumping into the yard of the property at night, he fired his rifle and shot the intruder three times. The intruder managed to jump outside but fell to the ground where his body was discovered this morning," said Insp Mahoko.
[April 08, 2021] Phzio Canada's MSK360 virtual physiotherapy platform launches to Manulife Group Benefit Members

OTTAWA, ON, April 8, 2021 /CNW/ - Phzio Canada's MSK360 Therapeutic Platform, is now available to Manulife Group Benefits plan members. The platform will offer Manulife's plan members access to physical health services for virtual musculoskeletal prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation services. MSK360 is another great way Manulife plan members can get the right care at the right time  an important component of Manulife's health by design approach (2). Approximately 1 in 5 employees will experience a musculoskeletal condition annually that impacts their ability to perform in the workplace (1). For Plan Sponsors, employees who are struggling with physical injuries, functional restrictions or limited mobility for example see an increased need for treatment prgrams, accommodations and time away from work.



Manulife is offering their plan members basic access to MSK360. This includes injury prevention content, early intervention, therapeutic programs and preferred rates for virtual providers, that can be claimed using the plan member's benefits coverage. Plan sponsors will have the option to upgrade access to MSK360 for their plan members and provide unlimited virtual evaluations and treatments, ergonomics assessments, and physical conditioning plans. With this option, plan sponsors will also gain access to advanced MSK360 metrics for pre-disability MSK patterns, utilization, consumption and member satisfaction.

Details and demos can be accessed at: https://msk360.ca/manulife Plan sponsor MSK360 upgrades are priced at $1 per employee, per month. Curtis Hollister, COO Phzio Canada "we are privileged to be working with forward thinking teams like those at Manulife. Through our unique approach to early interventions, injury prevention programs and effective therapeutic treatments we are working to keep employees physically prepared for work and life. Historically, employers have invested heavily in supporting mental wellness at work, this partnership is a leap forward for the physical health of employees." About Phzio, and the MSK360 Therapeutic Platform Phzio is a leading virtual physiotherapy company which has recently developed the MSK360 platform. Phzio provides advanced virtual tools and reporting systems for physiotherapists to use while assessing and documenting their patient's progress. Phzio's mission is to deliver remarkable content and virtual sessions on physical injury prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation programs for plan sponsors and their plan members with musculoskeletal disorders. (1) World Health Organization: Musculoskeletal conditions. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2021, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/musculoskeletal-conditions

(2) https://www.manulife.ca/business/group-benefits/health-by-design-proactive-care.html SOURCE Phzio Canada

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Partnership with EY Foundation offers a 10-month mentoring program to students from low-income backgrounds

LONDON and AUSTIN, Texas, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Prism is collaborating with young people charity, the EY Foundation, for a second year to help students from low-income backgrounds develop the skills they need to succeed in the tech sector.

While it's predicted that automation will result in a net increase of 58 million jobs, the digital skills gap widens globally, leaving a greater need for young people to embrace digital learning. Blue Prism's work with the EY Foundation highlights that these promising job prospects should be available to all young people. Given that a majority of these jobs are set to be higher-skilled, it's imperative that businesses and institutions prepare people for higher-skilled jobs and give students from less advantaged backgrounds, especially, access to the education and tools to progress within this exciting sector.

In April, 10 young people will join the 10-month Tech Smart Futures program and through paid work experience with Blue Prism they will have the opportunity to gain a variety of transferable skills. They will also receive guidance and advice from a mentor throughout, helping them to identify their next steps in education.

Head of Automation & Transformation and Global For Good Lead Matt Juden-Bloomfield, Blue Prism, commented: "What we are trying to do is begin breaking down the barriers for young people, specifically from minority communities, to get into tech and ensure the benefits of automation can be enjoyed by everyone."

Through the continued collaboration with the EY Foundation, Blue Prism will build a more diverse workforce and gain a deeper understanding of how to attract and retain young talent. Not only will this set up local students for success in the workplace, but it will also prepare Blue Prism to serve its increasingly diverse customer base.

Declan, a student who took part in the program with Blue Prism last year said: "Thank you EY Foundation and Blue Prism for the two-week placement. This has been an amazing, fulfilling and invaluable experience which has developed me as a person and put me on the next step towards my goal."

Juden-Bloomfield added:"Last year's Smart Future program was an incredible experience. We saw first-hand the passion and drive these young people had to learn about the future of work and automation. This year we're back, providing training to young people to gain the skills they need to thrive in tomorrow's tech sector."

EY Foundation Acting CEO, Lynne Peabody, said:"It's fantastic to be working with Blue Prism again and we are looking forward to building this program with more tech organisations over the coming months, to make a positive impact on young people and tech employers. In the UK, roles in technology are expected to grow significantly, so this relationship will help ensure the young people we support access the jobs of the future."

Technology companies who would like to find out more about the Tech Smart Futures program should contact the acting head of business development, Kathryn Eastwood, kathryn.eastwood@eyfoundation.ey.com.

Notes to editors:

About Blue Prism

Blue Prism is the global leader in intelligent automation for the enterprise, transforming the way work is done. At Blue Prism, we have users in over 170 countries in more than 2,000 businesses, including Fortune 500 and public sector organizations, that are creating value with new ways of working, unlocking efficiencies, and returning millions of hours of work back into their businesses. Our digital workforce is smart, secure, scalable and accessible to all; freeing up humans to re-imagine work. Blue Prism's vision is to provide a digital workforce for every enterprise. To learn more visit www.blueprism.com and follow us on Twitter @blue_prism and on LinkedIn.

 2020 Blue Prism Limited. "Blue Prism", the "Blue Prism" logo and Prism device are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Blue Prism Limited and its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
According to Mr Mamora, the directive became necessary as the country is unsure of when the next batch of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines will arrive.

The Nigerian government has directed all states to halt COVID-19 vaccination once they utilise half of the doses allocated to them.

The Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, disclosed this while speaking at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 weekly briefing on Tuesday.

According to Mr Mamora, the directive became necessary as the country is unsure of when the next batch of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines will arrive.

He said this will ensure those who have already received the first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine get the necessary second jab.

"We believe that in a situation where we still cannot specifically determine when the next batch of AstraZeneca vaccines will arrive, then I think wisdom only dictates that we should vaccinate people fully," Mr Mamora said.

"So we can say that we have a pool of citizens that have been fully vaccinated since this vaccination comes in two doses."

Nigeria commenced COVID-19 vaccination on March 5 having received 3.94 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines through COVAX, a UN-backed effort that promises access to vaccines for up to 20 per cent of participating countries' population

The vaccination started with healthcare workers who are often at the risk of exposure to infections being the first responders to patients.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and members of the PTF received jabs of the vaccines publicly to drive vaccine acceptance.

Strategic leaders, COVID-19 rapid response team, police officers, petrol station workers and others have since joined the list of people that have received the vaccine.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Coronavirus Nigeria By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

Nigeria recently received another 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from telecom giant, MTN, as part of the latter's contribution to Africa.

The country on Tuesday also received 100,000 doses of Covishield COVID-19 vaccines from India. This will boost the number of Nigerians to be vaccinated by about 50,000, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, said at the committee's weekly briefing on Tuesday.

The Covishield is a brand of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. It is used in over 71 countries including the UK, Canada, India and Brazil.

Clinical trials show that the vaccine has a 76 per cent efficacy rate against symptomatic COVID-19 and is 100 per cent effective in stopping severe infection.

Vaccination target

The Nigerian government had announced its plan to vaccinate 109 million people against the COVID-19 virus over a period of two years.

Health authorities said only eligible population from 18 years and above will be vaccinated in four phases.

COVID-19 vaccination has also commenced in all states across the country, according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

As of April 6, 2021, 964,387 persons in Nigeria, had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, an update by NPHCDA shows.
The majority of NSWs new school builds over the last three years have been determined by government promises and election commitments, rather than priority projects identified by the education departments infrastructure arm, an audit has found.

NSW Auditor-General Margaret Crawford said new school builds and upgrades led by School Infrastructure NSW had not all met the highest needs of the states students.

In her audit, released on Thursday, Ms Crawford called on the education department to commit to a 10-year project priority list.

Of the school projects funded by the government in last years budget, eight had already been announced, four were for new non-priority projects, and two were new priority projects determined by School Infrastructure NSW.
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Protestants and Catholics last night tossed petrol bombs at each other over a 'Peace Wall' as violence escalated on a sixth night of rioting in Belfast.

Loyalist youths hurled Molotov cocktails over an interface into nationalist areas - which returned fire - and lit blazes in the streets as police struggled to maintain order.

Unionist thugs also hijacked and firebombed a bus and sent it blazing down the Shankill Road while hundreds of others marched along the street in scenes reminiscent of the Troubles.

Meanwhile masked rioters hurled petrol bombs at police at the junction of Lanark Way and attacked a press photographer - smashing his camera and shouting derogatory sectarian terms at him.

The PSNI said on Thursday morning 55 of its officers had been injured across several nights of disorder in the country.

Boris Johnson and Arlene Foster were quick to condemn the actions, with the PM calling for 'dialogue' while the DUP leader said there is 'no justification for violence'.

The Northern Ireland Executive called an urgent meeting of politicians on Thursday morning to be briefed on the mayhem and later released a joint statement deploring the destruction.

The violence over the past week erupted after prosecutors said no action would be taken against 24 Sinn Fein politicians - including deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill - for a huge republican funeral during the pandemic.

They went to the service to Bobby Storey - an IRA terrorist from Belfast who died after a failed lung transplant - on June 30 along with about 1,500 people despite Covid rules.

Loyalists are also angry at post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK. They see the Northern Ireland Protocol as undermining their place in the Union.

A bus was hijacked and set alight after being pelted with petrol bombs at the junction of Lanark Way and Shankill Road in west Belfast, the PSNI said. Pictured: Belfast last night

Left: One rioter prepares to hurl a projectile into the bus. Right: Others join in and firebomb the vehicle, which quickly ignites

Videos circulating online show a bus being pelted with petrol bombs and having its windows smashed where a crowd of people had gathered

So this was earlier today

North Belfast one of my colleagues attacked on the bus and if it wasn't for the PSNI risking their lives he could have been in a very dangerous position pic.twitter.com/nk9PU7CLaQ  Let's Get Thru This Together  (@GlobalBritain21) April 7, 2021

An Irish nationalist stands in smoke close to a fire at the 'peace wall' gates into Lanark Way as protests continued in Belfast, Northern Ireland, last night

A PSNI officer stands on North Queen Street in Belfast looking towards Tigers Bay where three Police Land Rovers form a police line during further unrest

A fire in a street in the mainly nationalist New Lodge area of north Belfast during further unrest

Nationalists and Loyalists clash with one another at the 'peace wall' on Lanark Way in west Belfast, Northern Ireland, last night

A man walks through the 'peace gate' while holding a brick as clashes continued last night

It follows several nights of unrest in loyalist communities amid tensions over the Northern Ireland Protocol on Brexit and the PSNI's handling of alleged coronavirus regulation breaches by Sinn Fein at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey. Pictured: Belfast last night

Pictured: The red lines show the major peace walls that separate Catholics (green) and protestants (orange) in Belfast

Boris Johnson last night condemned the scenes in Northern Ireland, writing: : 'I am deeply concerned by the scenes of violence in Northern Ireland'

Irish premier Micheal Martin added: 'I utterly condemn the violent attacks on police, a journalist, and bus driver over recent days in The North'

Northern Ireland's peace walls: 33km of concrete that separate nationalist and unionists after history of bloodshed Despite being a small city of just 280,000 people, Belfast is marked out by more than 100 peace walls. The towering structures separate Catholic and Protestant communities in the city that has a history of horrific sectarian violence. During the Troubles, these 'interfaces' were often the sites of conflict. The Falls Road (majority Catholic) and the Shankill Road (majority protestant) in the west of the city is split by one of the most famous walls, which runs for 800m and has a number of huge gates swinging shut across the roads come nightfall. In nationalist areas the flag of Ireland is often draped from the walls or painted on them, as well as the flag of Palestine to show support for what they see as their fellow repressed people. In unionist areas you can barely move for Union flags and loyalist murals adorning the streets, walls and houses. The peace walls have become a popular tourist hotspot since the Good Friday Agreement brought relative peace to the country over two decades ago, but the history behind the walls are somewhat more gruesome. The first one was erected in 1969 following sectarian riots in Belfast. They were supposed to be temporary to keep the warring republicans and loyalists apart. But instead of being taken down, the walls were extended during the Troubles and remain there much the same to this day. Most were put up at the start of the bloody conflict, but about a third have been put up since the IRA ceasefire in 1994. Despite most people going to Northern Ireland ending up in Belfast, and so the peace walls becoming synonymous with the city, there are walls in other areas across the country. They also feature in Londonderry, Portadown and Lurgan. If all the walls in Northern Ireland were put next to each other, it is estimated they would run for 21 miles. The longest wall is five miles by itself. After the Belfast Agreement in 1998, the violence dipped and gates were installed in the peace walls. It meant for the first time in many years near neighbours could meet people from the other side with ease. But there is still the presence of tension in the city, with PSNI officers manning some gates and closing them at night time. For all the controversy surrounding the structures, the walls have proved an unexpected attracting in the city - tourism. Black cab tours escort foreigners around the walls and give them context on what happened where and why which wall was famous, often citing their own experiences. They also feature some of the most popular murals in Belfast, which also attracts tourists. One of the walls - on the Crumlin Road - was pulled down in February 2016 and was the first to come down. But most still stand across the country. Stormont, the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly, voted in favour of bringing down all the walls by 2023, but recent violence between Catholic and Protestant community will likely unnerve some ahead of the move. Advertisement

The gates of the peace wall on Lanark Way - which separates the mainly loyalist Shankill Road from the mostly nationalist Springfield Road - were forced open late last night, leading to clashes between young members of the two communities.

Shocking video footage showed petrol bombs being thrown over from both sides of the wall - in a dramatic ramping up of sectarian violence.

The bus was hijacked by Loyalist thugs on the Shankill Road at an intersection between nationalist and unionist communities.

Masked youths took the handbrake off and let it roll down the hill before the gang lobbed burning bottles in through the front door and it quickly ignited.

The PSNI's armoured Land Rover Tangis raced past the vehicle and pulled in front of it to force it to stop.

As they performed the difficult manoeuvre the crowd hurled stones and further firebombs at them before fleeing.

A crowd of around 500 people, most of them adults, also gathered on the corner of the junction at Lanark Way as events unfolded.

Further down the road a bonfire was lit where a crowd of approximately 100 people, mostly young, were assembled.

Video from later in the evening showed the bus smouldering, having burnt through.

Earlier, Belfast Telegraph photographer Kevin Scott said he was assaulted by two of the rioters.

The newspaper's visuals editor tweeted: 'So much for peaceful - I have just been jumped from behind by two males, masked on Cupar Way.

'One pulled me to the ground and smashed cameras. As I fought this one off I was told to f**k off back to your own area you fenian c**t by the other. Police informed.'

He added 'what happened to me tonight was disgusting, but not on the same level as this' - referring to the bus driver.

Mr Johnson tweeted: 'I am deeply concerned by the scenes of violence in Northern Ireland, especially attacks on PSNI who are protecting the public and businesses, attacks on a bus driver and the assault of a journalist.

'The way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not violence or criminality.'

First Minister Ms Foster condemned the attacks on Twitter, saying: 'There is no justification for violence. It is wrong and should stop.'

She later added: 'This is not protest. This is vandalism and attempted murder. These actions do not represent unionism or loyalism.

'They are an embarrassment to Northern Ireland and only serve to take the focus off the real law breakers in Sinn Fein. My thoughts are with the bus driver.'

Deputy First Minister and Sinn Fein vice president Ms O'Neill said: 'Disgraceful scenes of criminality tonight including a potentially lethal attack on bus driver and assault on journalist.

'Unequivocal condemnation needed and protests should be called off immediately - police need support not politicking.'

Irish premier Micheal Martin added: 'I utterly condemn the violent attacks on police, a journalist, and bus driver over recent days in The North.

'Now is the time for the two Governments and leaders on all sides to work together to defuse tensions and restore calm.'

Former Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers told MailOnline today: 'Unfortunately periodic rioting has been a feature of life in Northern Ireland for decades.

'It is always completely unacceptable whatever the grievances which might underlie it. The culprits here are the people throwing the petrol bombs and the Loyalist paramilitary crime gangs orchestrating this.

'There are important issues to tackle in relation to the operation of the Protocol and also regarding decisions made about policing the Bobby Storey funeral, but violent law-breaking is entirely counter-productive for anyone who really wants to resolve these issues.'

Meanwhile Sir Keir Starmer said the PM must 'step up' and convene all-party talks to tackle violence in Northern Ireland.

The Labour leader, a former human rights adviser to the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said there is 'no justification' for several nights of disorder that have seen dozens of police officers injured.

But he acknowledged there are concerns over the arrangements for the nation after the UK left the European Union and he told Mr Johnson to find 'pragmatic political solutions' over the rioting.

Sir Keir said: 'This is about leadership and the Prime Minister can't be absent. He needs to convene talks urgently to find pragmatic political solutions to reduce this violence.'

Asked during a campaign visit to Bristol if he thinks the violence is a consequence of Brexit, the Labour leader said: 'There are concerns in Northern Ireland about Brexit, there are concerns about the promises that the Prime Minister made which haven't been kept.

'They don't justify the violence, let's be very, very clear about that. What the Prime Minister needs to do now is step up, show leadership, convene all-party talks and talk to the government of Ireland of course as well, and resolve this with pragmatic political solutions.'

Northern Ireland leaders met for a briefing at 10am before the Stormont Assembly was recalled to discuss the recent scenes of violence.

The burnt-out bus is left crumpled on the street on Thursday morning as a road sweeper cleans up around it in west Belfast

Stones were thrown at police while a press photographer was assaulted nearby during the course of their work on Wednesday evening. Pictured: Belfast last night

Later on Wednesday night, the gates of the peace line on Lanark Way were opened, leading to clashes between loyalists and nationalists

Social media footage captured petrol bombs being thrown from both sides of the wall. Pictured: The 'peace gate' last night

Graffiti on a wall in Eccles Street in Shankill in Belfast during further unrest last night

First Minister Arlene Foster condemned the attacks on Twitter, saying: 'There is no justification for violence. It is wrong and should stop'

A man carrying bricks in Belfast during further unrest in Belfast on Wednesday night

Irish nationalists are seen at the 'peace wall' gate into Lanark Way as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland

The Chief Constable of the PSNI Simon Byrne has pleaded for the ongoing unrest to stop

Ms Foster, along with the other unionist parties, had called for the Chief Constable to resign over the Bobby Storey funeral debacle. Pictured: Police in Belfast on Wednesday

A person approaches a fire during clashes at the Springfield Road/Lanark Way interface

LOYALIST ANGER AT POST-BREXIT TRADE RULES AMONG FACTORS IN ULSTER DISORDER The street disorder that has flared in various parts of Northern Ireland for more than a week can be attributed to a multitude of factors. At its heart is loyalist anger at post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK. For loyalism, Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol has undermined their place in the Union. But it took an event unrelated to the Irish Sea border furore to set a match to resentment that has been simmering since the consequences of exiting the EU became a reality at the start of January. The announcement by prosecutors last week that no action would be taken against 24 Sinn Fein politicians, including deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, for attending a huge republican funeral during the pandemic sparked outrage among some loyalists. In several loyalist working class areas, many still in the grip of the malign influence of paramilitary gangs, sporadic rioting has since flared. Belfast, Londonderry, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and Ballymena have all witnessed scenes of violence that many hoped had been consigned to the history books. There have also been bouts of disorder within republican areas in recent days. In the most stark, youths on both sides of a west Belfast peace line pelted petrol bombs and other missiles at each other through Wednesday night. For loyalists, the funeral of former IRA leader Bobby Storey last June hardened a long-standing perception held by many within their community that the institutions of the state afford preferential treatment to republicans. For apparent confirmation, they pointed to police engagement with the Sinn Fein funeral organisers prior to an event that saw around 2,000 people take to the streets of west Belfast when tight limits on public gatherings were in place. This interaction with the planners was one reason why senior prosecutors concluded any prosecution of Ms O'Neill and her colleagues was doomed to fail - the other being the 'incoherent' nature of Stormont's Covid-19 regulations at the time. Criticism of the PSNI approach was not confined to hard-line elements within loyalism and all the main unionist parties subsequently called for chief constable Simon Byrne to resign, claiming he has lost the confidence of their community. DUP First Minister Arlene Foster has said she will no longer engage with Mr Byrne. Her lack of communication with the region's police chief during a time of escalating street violence, and coming only weeks after she met with representatives of loyalist paramilitaries to discuss the Brexit fall out, has drawn sharp criticism from political rivals. Non-unionist parties have accused Mrs Foster and other unionist political leaders of stoking up tensions, not only in relation to the Storey funeral but also in respect of the Irish Sea border. The DUP leader and other prominent voices within unionism and loyalism insist they are only reflecting genuinely held concerns they say must be addressed - specifically by way of Mr Byrne's resignation and the binning of the Protocol. Amid the current unionist clamour for Mr Byrne's head, and claims of 'two tier' policing, it is worth noting that two months ago the PSNI chief constable was facing similar claims of discriminatory behaviour from within nationalism. Those were prompted by a controversial police operation in Belfast that saw a man badly injured in a loyalist gun massacre during the Troubles arrested at the scene of a commemoration event after officers intervened to probe suspected Covid regulation breaches. Following that incident at the site of the 1992 Ormeau Road betting shop murders, Ms O'Neill claimed there was a 'crisis in confidence' in the PSNI among nationalists, albeit she stopped short of calling for Mr Byrne to quit. The Protocol and funeral controversy have not created the loyalist perception that the system is weighed against them, but have built upon a narrative articulated by an increasing number within loyalism that the peace process - particularly the Good Friday accord of 1998 - has handed them a raw deal. They cite underinvestment and deprivation in loyalist working class areas as further proof that they have missed out on the gains of peace. Nationalists and republicans reject this premise, insisting their communities have experienced just has many problems with poverty and unemployment since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Paramilitary elements are undoubtedly involved in much of the disorder witnessed across the region in recent days - either directly or by orchestrating young people to riot on their behalf. However, in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus an added factor is at play. In those areas, the PSNI believes paramilitary involvement is less motivated by Brexit or the Storey funeral and more to do with a rogue faction - the South East Antrim UDA - reacting to recent police operations targeting its criminal empire. Advertisement

Ministers met earlier and were updated on the situation by PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne.

In a joint statement the Executive said: 'We are gravely concerned by the scenes we have all witnessed on our streets over the last week, including those at the Lanark Way interface last night. Attacks on police officers, public services and communities are deplorable and they must stop.

'Destruction, violence and the threat of violence are completely unacceptable and unjustifiable, no matter what concerns may exist in communities.

'Those who would seek to use and abuse our children and young people to carry out these attacks have no place in our society.

'While our political positions are very different on many issues, we are all united in our support for law and order and we collectively state our support for policing and for the police officers who have been putting themselves in harm's way to protect others.

'We, and our departments, will continue to work together to maximise the support we can give to communities and the PSNI to prevent further violence and unrest.'

A small group of loyalists held a demonstration outside Stormont shortly before MLAs met.

Four people held a union flag and placards which read 'two-tiered policing must end now'.

Former Belfast councillor Jolene Bunting said she felt the voice of loyalism is not being heard.

She said: 'We must have our political representatives representing us.

'It seems the MLAs are going into the Assembly to condemn and talk about what's going on in the country at the minute but none of them are trying to solve the problems that we have.'

The Chief Constable of the PSNI Simon Byrne pleaded for the unrest to stop.

He said: 'The ongoing street disorder must stop. I am open to dialogue with anyone who is willing to work with me to resolve the issues facing our community.

'My message to those engaged in violence tonight is go home before someone is seriously injured, violence is not the answer.'

Ms Foster, along with the other unionist parties, had called for the Chief Constable to resign over the Bobby Storey funeral debacle.

Minister for Infrastructure Nichola Mallon described the attack on the bus as 'sickening'.

She said: 'Those attacking their own communities and their own public services are achieving nothing and if this doesn't stop now it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed.

'Tonight with deep regret Translink has had to suspended some services in Belfast due to ongoing disturbances.

'Thankfully no one has been hurt in this incidence, but those responsible for this attack, and ongoing attacks on the police, need to stop and stop now.

'I appeal for calm and call on those destroying their own communities and those fanning the flames to end this recklessness before someone is seriously hurt or killed.'

Translink chief executive Chris Conway condemned the attack on the company's staff member.

He said: 'Thankfully, all passengers got off the bus safely before the attack occurred. My thoughts are with the driver who is badly shaken but thankfully unhurt, he is being supported by colleagues.

'We are working closely with the PSNI and services have been suspended in this area and in other parts of the city. They will remain withdrawn until it is safe to reinstate them.

'Our staff have been working on the frontline throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to keep essential services operating and to keep communities connected, and this attack is reprehensible.'

The PSNI said: 'We would appeal to those with influence in the area to use it to help restore calm.'

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney branded Wednesday night's events 'disturbing'. He said: 'Further very disturbing scenes this evening in Belfast. Attacks on police, journalists and citizens must be condemned by all.

'There are peaceful, democratic and legal channels to address all issues and concerns. Calm and positive leadership needed from all.'

Labour's shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland Louise Haigh said the 'mindless violence' is damaging local communities and 'serves no purpose.'

She added: 'The frontline police officers and all those trying to restore calm deserve our support. All those with responsibility for Northern Ireland must be united in condemning the violence and coming together to bring it to an end.

'Violence will do nothing to resolve the complex challenges facing Northern Ireland - that will only happen through engagement and constitutional politics.'

Riots and attacks on police have taken place repeatedly throughout the last week and resumed last night after a relative lull on Tuesday.

Police were attacked during violence in a number of loyalist areas on Monday.

Nine officers were injured in Ballymena, taking to 41 the number injured in disorder across Northern Ireland since last Friday night.

The most intense clashes on Monday were in Ballymena, when nine riot police officers were injured after they intervened in an unlawful march of loyalists through the town.

During the unrest, debris, including a wheelie bin, was thrown onto the M2 motorway, forcing its closure.

Disorder also flared in parts of Carrickfergus, Newtownabbey and Londonderry on Monday, with petrol bombs and other missiles thrown at officers.

Children as young as 12 have been involved in some of the violence that has been witnessed in recent days. Cars, a JCB digger, a phone box and bins were set alight in the Waterside area of Londonderry on Monday.

Police said a brick was thrown at a taxi, which was carrying a passenger at the time, on the Limavady Road.

The street disorder that has flared in various parts of Northern Ireland for more than a week can be attributed to a multitude of factors.

At its heart is loyalist anger at post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK.

For loyalism, Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol has undermined their place in the Union. But it took an event unrelated to the Irish Sea border furore to set a match to resentment that has been simmering since the consequences of exiting the EU became a reality at the start of January.

The announcement by prosecutors last week no action would be taken against 24 Sinn Fein politicians, including deputy Ms O'Neill, for attending a huge republican funeral during the pandemic sparked outrage among some loyalists.

Nationalists jump to avoid a petrol bomb thrown by Loyalists over the peace wall in west Belfast, Northern Ireland, last night

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney branded Wednesday night's events 'disturbing'

A crowd of around 500 people, most of them adults, gathered on the corner of the junction at Lanark Way as events unfolded last night

Further down the road a bonfire was lit where a crowd of approximately 100 people, mostly young, were assembled

Riots and attacks on police have taken place repeatedly throughout the last week and have now resumed after a relative lull on Tuesday

In several loyalist working class areas, many still in the grip of the malign influence of paramilitary gangs, sporadic rioting has since flared.

Belfast, Londonderry, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and Ballymena have all witnessed scenes of violence that many hoped had been consigned to the history books.

There have also been bouts of disorder within republican areas in recent days. In the most stark, youths on both sides of a west Belfast peace line pelted petrol bombs and other missiles at each other through Wednesday night.

For loyalists, the funeral of former IRA leader Bobby Storey last June hardened a long-standing perception held by many within their community that the institutions of the state afford preferential treatment to republicans.

For apparent confirmation, they pointed to police engagement with the Sinn Fein funeral organisers prior to an event that saw around 2,000 people take to the streets of west Belfast when tight limits on public gatherings were in place.

This interaction with the planners was one reason why senior prosecutors concluded any prosecution of Ms O'Neill and her colleagues was doomed to fail - the other being the 'incoherent' nature of Stormont's Covid-19 regulations at the time.

Criticism of the PSNI approach was not confined to hard-line elements within loyalism and all the main unionist parties subsequently called for chief constable Simon Byrne to resign, claiming he has lost the confidence of their community.

Ms Foster has said she will no longer engage with Mr Byrne. Her lack of communication with the region's police chief during a time of escalating street violence, and coming only weeks after she met with representatives of loyalist paramilitaries to discuss the Brexit fall out, has drawn sharp criticism from political rivals.

Non-unionist parties have accused Mrs Foster and other unionist political leaders of stoking up tensions, not only in relation to the Storey funeral but also in respect of the Irish Sea border.

The DUP leader and other prominent voices within unionism and loyalism insist they are only reflecting genuinely held concerns they say must be addressed - specifically by way of Mr Byrne's resignation and the binning of the Protocol.

Amid the current unionist clamour for Mr Byrne's head, and claims of 'two tier' policing, it is worth noting that two months ago the PSNI chief constable was facing similar claims of discriminatory behaviour from within nationalism.

Those were prompted by a controversial police operation in Belfast that saw a man badly injured in a loyalist gun massacre during the Troubles arrested at the scene of a commemoration event after officers intervened to probe suspected Covid regulation breaches.

Following that incident at the site of the 1992 Ormeau Road betting shop murders, Ms O'Neill claimed there was a 'crisis in confidence' in the PSNI among nationalists, albeit she stopped short of calling for Mr Byrne to quit.

The Protocol and funeral controversy have not created the loyalist perception that the system is weighed against them, but have built upon a narrative articulated by an increasing number within loyalism that the peace process - particularly the Good Friday accord of 1998 - has handed them a raw deal.

They cite underinvestment and deprivation in loyalist working class areas as further proof that they have missed out on the gains of peace.

Nationalists and republicans reject this premise, insisting their communities have experienced just has many problems with poverty and unemployment since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

Paramilitary elements are undoubtedly involved in much of the disorder witnessed across the region in recent days - either directly or by orchestrating young people to riot on their behalf.

However, in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus an added factor is at play.

In those areas, the PSNI believes paramilitary involvement is less motivated by Brexit or the Storey funeral and more to do with a rogue faction - the South East Antrim UDA - reacting to recent police operations targeting its criminal empire.
Travel restrictions set to expire this month may be rolled over yet again.

Health minister says it is not the time for travel as Canada enters third wave

Health minister says it is not the time for travel as Canada enters third wave Travel restrictions set to expire this month may be rolled over yet again.

Health minister says it is not the time for travel as Canada enters third wave Travel restrictions set to expire this month may be rolled over yet again.

Health minister says it is not the time for travel as Canada enters third wave Travel restrictions set to expire this month may be rolled over yet again. Mohanad Moetaz Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Canadas travel restrictions are set to expire on April 21, but with the third wave of coronavirus, it seems like they could be rolled over for another 30 days or more.



Health Minister Patty Hajdu told reporters, Now is not the time to consider international travel. The health minister did not say when the border would re-open but named some of the factors that Canada considers when making decisions on travel restrictions.

We monitor a number of different metrics including domestic spread, provinces and territories capacities to manage cases in their own jurisdiction, as well as the situation internationally, Hajdu said at a press conference alongside other officials on Tuesday, April 6.

Hajdu reiterated that, like many other countries, Canada is facing a third wave of the virus and the provinces and territories are struggling with the surge in cases.

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Canadas Chief Public Health Officer, Theresa Tam, echoed Hajdus concerns.

[One consideration] is what is going on outside of Canada in terms of epidemiology and spread. The other aspect is whether the provinces are coping with hospitalizations, ICUs at that kind of capacity, Tam said, We must be able to cope with any potential risks, and that is absolutely critical.

In addition, there are operational considerations that should be taken into account, according to Tam. An example of this is having testing capacities to facilitate the safe entry of travellers.

As other countries are implementing vaccine passports, Canada is just keeping an eye on their effectiveness for the time being.

We continue monitoring evidence and we continue listening to public health experts to find out what measures are appropriate for those people who are vaccinated and those who are vaccinated by vaccines that are not approved here, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in French.

Trudeau added that Canada must ensure the easing of travel restrictions is done the right way.

Canadas public health agency has previously said that any decision on travel restrictions will be based on data. Currently, there is a lack of evidence to suggest whether vaccinated people can spread the virus to others.

There are currently no public plans from the federal government to lift travel restrictions.

Coronavirus situation in Canada

Canada as well as other countries around the world are facing a serious third wave. As such, Hajdu and Tam both said that Canadians should not be travelling for recreational purposes, even between provinces.

Tam said she is concerned about the rising number of COVID-19 variant cases across the country, and emphasized that it is unclear whether the approved vaccines provide protection against the variants of concern.

According to Tam, there are over 16,000 variant cases in Canada as of April 7. The majority of these cases are of the B.1.1.7 variant.

To date,  16,127 #VariantsOfConcern cases (923 since Apr. 5), including 14,790 (780) B.1.1.7, 1,000 (143) P.1 & 337 (0) B.1.351 variants have been reported, with numbers highest in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario & Quebec. https://t.co/IHyBa1lpr8  Dr. Theresa Tam (@CPHO_Canada) April 7, 2021

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 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
Students cross the street at Tomken Road Middle School as Ontario prepares for its third province wide lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mississauga, Ont., on April 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erdene Resource Development Corporation (TSX:ERD | MSE:ERDN) (Erdene or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on exploration at the new Dark Horse gold prospect as well as announcing the launch of an Employment Orientation program and advise on the current COVID-19 situation in Mongolia.



Highlights1(See the attached maps and images for reference):

Drilled nine scout holes totalling 1,900 metres in February 2021 to define the extent of the delineation program at the main Dark Horse Prospect Holes AAD-65 to AAD-67, in the northern half of the target, intersected broad zones of alteration, establishing continuity and supporting further drilling: AAD-65 returned 7 metres of 1.15 g/t gold beginning 113 metres downhole AAD-66 returned 14 metres of 1.31 g/t gold beginning 53 metres downhole, as well as 20 metres of 1.74 g/t gold, beginning 112 metres downhole AAD-67 returned 6 metres of 0.32 g/t gold beginning 110 metres downhole Holes AAD-68 to AAD-73, testing areas peripheral to the north-south structure intersected gold and/or pathfinder elements: AAD-68 returned 2 metres of 1.41 g/t gold beginning 192 metres downhole AAD-70 returned 2 metres of 4.24 g/t gold beginning 64 metres downhole

Commenced 3,000 metre delineation drilling program in late March Delineation drilling will utilize 100-metre fence spacing along the main trend Approximately 600 metres will target the southern extension of the trend (including the area around AAD-58, which intersected 45m of 6 g/t gold) Results are pending for ~1,100 metres of core, currently at the lab

Completed geophysical modelling, surface sampling, spectral analysis and other work over a 4 by 3 kilometre area in advance of further exploration Studies continue to improve Erdenes understanding of the mineralization in the greater Dark Horse area

Launched an Employment Orientation program at the Bayan Khundii Project camp for local community members Two cohorts of 36 received training from Erdenes HSEC team Further 140 residents are registered for upcoming sessions

Bayankhongor province registered its first COVID-19 infection on March 24 Provincial government has introduced precautionary measures in response Erdene provided relief funding to the Provincial Emergency Commission Dark Horse drilling continues with appropriate COVID safeguards



1 Reported intervals in this release are downhole apparent widths. Continued exploration is required to confirm anisotropy of mineralization and true thicknesses.

Quotes from the Company:

Following the announcement of the exciting Dark Horse gold discovery in January 2021, our technical team completed a staged exploration plan over the past quarter, said Peter Akerley, Erdenes President and CEO. This Q1 program confirmed continuity of a gold mineralized system along a 1.2 km north-south trending structure and improved our understanding of the discovery and its setting relative to the Bayan Khundii Deposit and the large Ulaan-Khundii alteration system, which we believe hosts a much more significant gold mineralizing event and hydrothermal alteration system than previously recognized.

In late March we commenced a 3,000 metre shallow delineation drilling program on the main Dark Horse discovery area, continued Mr. Akerley. Although focused on the 1.2km northern portion of the Dark Horse structure, testing will cover a 2.5km strike length. The first batch of core is currently in the lab with results expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Although we have been able to continue fieldwork with minimal disruption, Mongolia has seen increasing spread of COVID-19, including the first reported cases in our host province of Bayankhongor, concluded Mr. Akerley. We are taking all precautions to maintain a safe work environment. Furthermore, we recently provided funding to the local provincial emergency commission to ensure the safety of local residents. We are closely monitoring the COVID situation in the country and its impact on the start of construction of our Bayan Khundii Gold Project.

Q1 2021 Dark Horse Exploration Program Overview

Erdene carried out the following exploration at the Dark Horse prospect during Q1 2021:

Completed a nine-hole, 1,900 metre drill program, carried out by Falcon Drilling, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia;

Completed detailed surface mapping and sampling, conducted by Erdenes Mongolian technical team;

Completed geophysical modelling and interpretation with the assistance of Wave Geophysics, Denver Colorado;

Completed surface and downhole spectral alteration mineral analysis and interpretation with Plus Minerals LLC, Ulaanbaatar;

Commenced mineralogic and petrographic analysis and interpretation using APSAR Geoscience, New Zealand;

Commenced preliminary metallurgical testing using ALS Laboratories, Ulaanbaatar; and

Continued consultation with Dr. Jeffrey Hedenquist, Ottawa, on the style and characteristics of the mineralized system at Dark Horse and within the larger Khundii alteration system.



These studies and analyses continue to improve Erdenes understanding of the Dark Horse Discovery and its geologic setting relative to the nearby Bayan Khundii epithermal gold deposit, as well as the greater Ulaan-Khundii quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration footprint. Exploration results show evidence of a widespread mineralizing hydrothermal system consistent with many of the worlds major epithermal gold deposits. Evidence suggests that Dark Horse shares a structural relationship with the Bayan Khundii gold deposit through a 4-kilometres long N-S trending dilation zone connecting the two project areas.

Drill Results  Q1 2021

The Q1-2021 drill program was designed to collect geologic information for the surrounding area and define the area of interest for more detailed drilling. The majority of targets were cross-cutting or parallel structures with limited testing of the northern portion of the Dark Horse target area.

In February 2021, the company drilled nine holes at the Dark Horse prospect, totalling 1,900 metres. Three holes, AAD-65 through AAD-67, were drilled along the northern portion of the 1.2 km Dark Horse target area. The remaining holes were drilled in areas peripheral to the trend with one hole, AAD-71, testing the main structure 1km south of the nearest drilling (AAD-58).

Table 1 below, includes highlights from the program.

Table 1 - Dark Horse Scout Drilling Highlights

Hole From To Interval (1) g/t Au (2) Along N-S Structure























AAD-65 113 120 7 1.15 and 128 142 14 0.51 and 196 205 9 0.69 AAD-66 53 67 14 1.31 and 112 132 20 1.74 and 137 139 2 0.96 AAD-67 110 116 6 0.32 Peripheral Areas















AAD-68 192 194 2 1.41 and 250 252 2 0.47 AAD-70 52 53 1 0.66 and 64 66 2 4.24 and 110 116 6 0.33

1 Reported intervals are apparent thicknesses (i.e. downhole widths). Insufficient drilling has been completed at Dark Horse to determine orientation of the mineralized zones and therefore true widths cannot be determined at this time. Exploration drill holes are typically oriented normal to (at a right angle to) the trend of potential mineralized targets and holes dips range from 45 to 75 degrees.

2 Reported grades for intervals are weighted averages based on length of sampling intervals, typically 1 to 2 metres. No top cut has been applied; however, intervals greater than 10 g/t gold are reported separately for clarity.

Note: Exploration holes AAD-69, AAD-71, AAD-72 and AAD-73 intersected anomalous gold and/or zones anomalous in pathfinder elements (arsenic, molybdenum and antimony) but no significant intervals greater than 0.3 g/t gold.

Three holes (AAD-65, AAD-66 and AAD-67) were drilled across the northern portion of the Dark Horse prospect. AAD-65 and 66 were collared 290 metres and 160 metres, respectively, north-northeast of previously reported hole AAD-61 (130 metres of 0.5 g/t gold). Both holes intersected multiple gold-bearing zones, including intersections of 14 metres of 1.3 g/t gold and 20 metres of 1.7 g/t gold in AAD-66 and up to 59 g/t silver over 1 metre in AAD-65. Mineralization in both holes is hosted within pervasively clay altered and brecciated volcanoclastic rocks with varying degrees of oxidation in the form of hematite, limonite and goethite. AAD-67 was drilled 260 metres south of AAD-61 and returned relatively narrow anomalous gold zones within thick intervals of pervasively clay altered and hydrothermally brecciated volcanic sequences. These three holes have successfully demonstrated continuity of mineralization along the north-south strike, indicating the Dark Horse structure as a preferred fluid conduit with an interpreted pinch and swell pattern common to many structurally controlled epithermal systems.

Ten widely spaced holes have now been drilled along a 1.2-kilometre portion of the N-S structure. The holes have an average spacing of 160 metres apart (ranging from 42 to 255 metres) with an average vertical depth of 155 metres with the deepest hole (AAD-57) drilling to a depth of 242 metres vertically and exhibiting strong gold mineralization over the lower 100 metres of the hole. Drilling in early Q1-2021 focused on the northern portion (north of AAD-57) of the Dark Horse structure, recognizing that the southern portion of the Dark Horse structure hosting previously reported discovery holes AAD-58 (45m of 6 g/t gold) and AAD-57 (45m of 1.2 g/t gold) will be subject to close-spaced drilling during the next round of drilling, now underway.

Scout drilling outside the main N-S Dark Horse structure (holes AAD-68 to AAD-70, and AAD-72 to ADD-73) focused on testing geophysical and geochemical soil anomalism within the general Dark Horse prospect area. These holes confirmed widespread and pervasive hydrothermal alteration, brecciation and mineralization within the wider Dark Horse prospect area. Zones of anomalous gold mineralization in conjunction with key indicator element anomalism, hydrothermal alteration, silicification and prospective volcanoclastic-brecciated geology suggest the Dark Horse prospect is located in an environment capable of hosting a major mineralizing event. These concepts will be followed up in future drilling.

Drill Program  Q2-2021 Exploration

Core from the first 1,110 metres of drilling has been transported to SGS Laboratories, Ulaanbaatar for analysis. Assay results are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Geophysical Modelling and Interpretation

The Dark Hose areas 2D and 3D geophysical modelling serves as an important targeting tool and structural lineation mapping tool. Magnetics appear to support a relationship between magnetic low signatures and zones of magnetite destructive clay alteration, which have been shown to host anomalous gold mineralization. Induced polarization (IP) also serves as an important targeting tool at Dark Horse as high concentrations of disseminated sulphide minerals have been locally observed in drill core coincident with intervals of elevated gold.

Geophysical modelling, interpretation and targeting are ongoing as we continue to understand the larger Dark Horse system and its relationship to the Bayan Khundii system to the south. Further geophysical surveys are planned for the 2021 field season to aid in exploration success.

Clay Alteration and Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) analysis

The presence of low-temperature argillic clay assemblages at Dark Horse suggests formation within the upper stratigraphic levels (less than 150 metres) of an epithermal system. Similar to Bayan Khundii, Dark Horse is dominated by illite clay alteration. However, the presence of both smectite and kaolinite at Dark Horse indicates a lower temperature environment consistent with the near-surface regions of an epithermal system. These clay minerals are absent at Bayan Khundii, which has been interpreted to have formed at greater than 150 metres depth. If Dark Horse represents the upper part of a hydrothermal system, then the potential for zones of high-grade mineralization exists at depth. This theory is further supported by the presence of vuggy/residual silica bodies near AAD-57 and AAD-58, which may represent remnant near-surface lithocap zones.

Fault Hosted Epithermal Model

The North-South structural feature at Dark Horse is best defined on the magnetic survey map (see plan maps below), as are numerous zones of intersection between northeast and northwest-trending cross structures and splays. Structural interpretations suggest that the N-S trending structure is associated with dilation zones formed during tectonic compression from the south-southwest (Kloppenburg 2017). The resulting dilation zones produced conduits for hydrothermal fluid channelling and subsequent alteration and mineralization. Continued understanding of the prospects structural framework will be key in further identifying zones of mineralization at Dark Horse and within the Khundii tenements.

Bayan Khundii Gold Project Employment Orientation Program

In late 2020, Erdene began developing a series of training and community outreach programs as part of the Bayan Khundii Gold Projects construction readiness. These programs include the companys employment orientation, internship, and vocational training opportunities, initially targeting local residents in the sub-province and province. In March 2021, Erdene launched its employment orientation program with local residents at its Bayan Khundii Gold Project site. Led by Erdenes Mongolian management and HSEC team, the five-day orientation covered the key topics of mine development, community health and safety, environmental management, and local stakeholder engagement through a combination of individual and team-based methods. To date, 36 people attended the orientation as a result of which all of whom identified a personal development plan linked to the proposed mine operation. Given the strong interest and active participation in the program, the company plans to re-start the program as soon as COVID-19 restrictions allow.

Erdene expects the Project to provide direct employment for approximately 500 individuals during construction and as many as 400 during peak operation. The Bayan Khundii Gold Project is expected to become the largest employer in Bayankhongor Province and to generate over US$100 million in profit tax and royalty for the Government of Mongolia over the life of mine.

Mongolia COVID-19 Update

With the confirmation of the first community transmission of COVID-19 in November 2020, the Government of Mongolia implemented a series of restrictions on the movement of people and delivery of goods and services. While restrictions were temporarily eased in mid-Q1 2021, preventive measures prohibiting certain business and public activities remain in place in Ulaanbaatar, the countrys capital, and much of the countrys territory, where there has been a recent increase in the number of reported cases. Additionally, in March 2021, Bayankhongor Province, where Erdenes Projects are located, reported its first confirmed case of community transmission of COVID-19, imposing restrictions on the movement of people within and to/from the province. In response, Erdene provided emergency funding assistance to the Bayankhongor Emergency Commission to support its efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 within the province.

Since mid-2020, Erdene has implemented operational changes to ensure the safety and productivity of its people. In the field, daily health and safety briefings, body temperature checks, enhanced hygiene protocols, rapid testing, and additional personal protective equipment have been instituted. The company maintains a dedicated, registered nurse at site with the capability to administer COVID-19 testing. With these measures, our team safely and successfully completed the Q1 2021 Dark Horse Scout drilling program and launched a follow up exploration program in late March 2021. The Companys corporate and administrative teams continue to work modified schedules and have adopted enhanced hygiene measures that allow operations to continue without significant disruption.

Though the impact of COVID-19 on the Companys operations has been modest to date, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. The Company will monitor the impact of COVID-19 on its operations in 2021, particularly potential disruptions to the Bayan Khundii Gold Project schedule or budget, prior to reaching a construction decision, which is expected in mid-2021.

The Company extends its appreciation to all medical, public safety, and essential workers for their efforts to safeguard public health and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Mongolia and Canada.

Khundii Gold District

Erdenes deposits are located in the Edren Terrane, within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, host to some of the worlds largest gold and copper-gold deposits. The Company has been the leader in exploration in southwest Mongolia over the past decade and is responsible for the discovery of the Khundii Gold District comprised of multiple high-grade gold and gold/base metal prospects, two of which are being considered for development: the 100%-owned Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar projects. Together, these deposits comprise the Khundii Gold Project.

The Bayan Khundii Gold Resource1 includes 521,000 ounces of 3.16 g/t gold Measured and Indicated (M&I) and 103,000 ounces of Inferred resources at 3.68 g/t gold. Within the M&I resource, a proven and probable open-pit reserve totals 409,000 ounces at 3.7 g/t (see the full press release here), providing significant potential growth of reserves with the development of the remaining M&I and Inferred resources2.

In July 2020, Erdene announced the results of an independent Feasibility Study for the Bayan Khundii Gold Project (press release here). The Feasibility Study results include an after-tax Net Present Value at a 5% discount rate and a US$1,400/oz gold price of US$100 million and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 42%. The Feasibility Study envisions an open-pit mine at Bayan Khundii, producing an average of 63,500 oz gold per year, for seven years, at a head grade of 3.71 g/t gold, utilizing a conventional carbon in pulp processing plant. Production is expected to commence in early 2022 based on the current project schedule.

Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a Canada-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and base metals in underexplored and highly prospective Mongolia. The Company has interests in three mining licenses and two exploration licenses in Southwest Mongolia, where exploration success has led to the discovery and definition of the Khundii Gold District. Erdene Resource Development Corp. is listed on the Toronto and the Mongolian stock exchanges. Further information is available at www.erdene.com. Important information may be disseminated exclusively via the website; investors should consult the site to access this information.

1 For details of the Mineral Resources see Khundii Gold Project NI 43-101 Technical Report, Tetra Tech December 4, 2019  SEDAR

2 M&I: 171,000 ounces of 3.77 g/t gold Measured, and 349,700 ounces of 2.93 g/t gold Indicated

Qualified Person and Sample Protocol

Peter Dalton, P.Geo. (Nova Scotia), Senior Geologist for Erdene, is the Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. All samples have been assayed at SGS Laboratory in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In addition to internal checks by SGS Laboratory, the Company incorporates a QA/QC sample protocol utilizing prepared standards and blanks. All samples undergo standard fire assay analysis for gold and ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy) analysis for 33 additional elements. For samples that initially return a grade greater than 5 g/t gold, additional screen-metallic gold analysis is carried out which provides a weighted average gold grade from fire assay analysis of the entire +75 micron fraction and three 30-gram samples of the -75 micron fraction from a 500 gram sample.

Erdenes drill core sampling protocol consisted of collection of samples over 1 or 2 metre intervals (depending on the lithology and style of mineralization) over the entire length of the drill hole, excluding minor post-mineral lithologies and un-mineralized granitoids. Sample intervals were based on meterage, not geological controls or mineralization. All drill core was cut in half with a diamond saw, with half of the core placed in sample bags and the remaining half securely retained in core boxes at Erdenes Bayan Khundii exploration camp. All samples were organized into batches of 30 including a commercially prepared standard, blank and either a field duplicate, consisting of two quarter-core intervals, or a laboratory duplicate. Sample batches were periodically shipped directly to SGS in Ulaanbaatar via Erdenes logistical contractor, Monrud Co. Ltd.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information regarding Erdene contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although Erdene 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. Erdene cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Erdene currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the ability to obtain required third party approvals, market prices, exploitation and exploration results, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and is subject to change after that date. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS RELEASE

Erdene Contact Information

Peter C. Akerley, President and CEO, or

Robert Jenkins, CFO

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

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Join the worldwide Magnificat family by subscribing now: Your prayer life will never be the same!

Blessed Jerzy Popieuszko

1947-1984

Some men shuffled about them. Most were smirking. A few hung their heads.

"Beads are for girls," said the sergeant, "or worse. That's what you are, isn't it?"

The soldier shut his eyes and did not reply.

"Look here," said the sergeant, with mocking friendliness. He flung the soldier's rosary to the ground. "Wood is wood. Nothing else. Tread on those beads. Show that you're a man and not a girl. Now!"

"Sir, I will not."

"Afraid your mama will strike you dead from the sky?" The sergeant called out another private from the men nearby, a city boy who believed in nothing. "You, tread this thing into the mud."

The boy did.

"No lightning, Popieuszko. No lightning. But who knows? Maybe it will come. Why don't you stand at attention here to wait for the lightning? At attention!"

And he left him there. Alphons Popieuszko was accustomed to such treatment. The Polish communists sent seminarians into the army to indoctrinate them or shame them out of their vocations. The beatings, the privations, the humiliations  all because he was a Catholic and a Pole and not a secular toady for the Soviet lords and their Polish cooperators  ruined his health for the rest of his life.

The seed in the dark earth

The young man returned to the vocation he had discerned when he was a boy. He was ordained in 1972, at age twenty-four. He took the name Jerzy, the Polish name we know as George. That was fitting, for two reasons. One is that the name means a tiller of the earth. Father Popieuszko grew up on a farm in the village of Okopy, on the western bank of the Bug River, the border between Poland and modern-day Ukraine. Such a place was as the plains of Kansas are to the cultural elites in New York City: good for grain, and otherwise to ignore. The other reason is Saint George himself, patron of soldiers. The boy Alphons saw through the swagger of the communists in the Polish army. The man George  Father Jerzy  would become, not by his own design but by the providence of God working through his fidelity, a great warrior for truth and against the lies of the communist regime.

Think of those dark years. The Soviet Union seemed as immovable as the continents it spanned. The United States would soon withdraw from the fight against the communists in Vietnam. No one suspected that there would soon be a Polish pope, or that workers themselves would unite in Poland to protest the supposed workman's paradise. The wisdom of the world was blind.

The man George  Father Jerzy  would become, not by his own design but by the providence of God working through his fidelity, a great warrior for truth and against the lies of the communist regime.

No one suspected the role that Father Jerzy would play in the coming drama of freedom, perhaps he least of all. He was a priest in Warsaw, where he would eventually serve at the parish of Saint Stanislaus Kostka. That too was fitting. Stanislaus was a boy saint, remarkable for his piety. His own older brother Paul, in exasperation, would insult and beat him, but Stanislaus endured it with patience, finally fleeing to enter a Jesuit seminary, dying at age eighteen, on the feast of the Assumption. Father Jerzy was the man that Stanislaus might have been, physically frail but fearless, a sensitive soul who ministered to men as hard as the steel they wrought.

For that is what happened: Father Jerzy was assigned to be the chaplain to steelworkers in Warsaw. He learned to do the heavy jobs they did, sweating beside them. He urged them never to capitulate to a lie. And more: "It is not enough," he said, "for a Christian to condemn evil, cowardice, lies, and use of force, hatred, and oppression. He must at all times be a witness to and defender of justice, goodness, truth, freedom, and love." His preaching began to draw large crowds. His words were broadcast over Radio Free Europe, that shaft of light sent through the fissures in the Iron Curtain.

Then came Solidarity, and John Paul II, and the brave electrician Lech Waesa.

War and peace

Late in 1981, the Polish communists declared a state of martial law, and outlawed Solidarity  with its nine million members. By this time, Father Jerzy was the spiritual leader of the movement. The workers did not go to the Church authorities, who had worked out a modus vivendi with the communists and did not want trouble. American diplomats, strangely deaf to the calls of the spirit, could see only that the Polish regime didn't kill a lot of people. Why, some party members might even attend Mass.

His preaching began to draw large crowds. His words were broadcast over Radio Free Europe, that shaft of light sent through the fissures in the Iron Curtain.

Father Jerzy came to the United States that year to attend his aunt's funeral, and he could have stayed; General Jaruszelski, the head of state, would have preferred it. But Father Jerzy said of the workers, "They need me and I need them."

His activity over the next three years was a never-ending war waged by peaceful means; one young and deeply sensitive priest, drawing many thousands of people from all over Poland for his Masses for the Homeland, people otherwise afraid to speak up for their own rights, against a totalitarian state backed up by the military might of the Soviet Union. Paper copies and audio tapes of his sermons spread across the country. He did not urge his fellow Poles to take up arms. Truth was the sword he wielded. "An idea that needs rifles to survive will die of itself," he said.

Nor did he commit the modern error of separating the moral from the material. "The workers of August 1980," he said, "called more for moral order than for higher wages." Money can be printed. Prudence, temperance, courage, and justice cannot. Faith, hope, and charity cannot. The regime wanted to throw away a thousand years of Christian morality, and replace it with "so-called secular morality," and that, for a Christian people, must ever remain a festering sore. Yet Father Jerzy did not recommend retreat into a secret chamber, for private devotion, while the world went on as it would. "There is no love without justice," he said, and love in turn finds strength in justice.

Love  not hatred. Violence may appear to triumph for a time, said Father Jerzy, but we who stand beneath the Cross know that love shall win the day.

Terrible as an army with banners

During this time, the communist government did not rest. Lies must sweat to retain the status quo: and let Catholics who are tempted to bow to the lies of our time take heed. Father Jerzy was under constant surveillance. The communists worked hard to turn the Polish hierarchy against him. They planted arms and explosives in his room to accuse him of treason. Pope John Paul II, who supported Father Jerzy from the Vatican, said that the bishops of Poland had better stand up for him, or else they soon would find rifles under their beds too.

They tried to kill him by ringing his doorbell and throwing a bomb through his window. They tried to kill him by staging an auto accident. Thirteen times in 1984  in 1984, of all years  the secret police dragged him off for interrogation, while his supporters outside sang hymns and prayed. Meanwhile, the Soviets demanded that Jaruszelski shut the priest's mouth.

That the Polish communists did  to their loss in this world, and God knows to what shame in the next. On October 19, 1984, Father Jerzy and his driver were waylaid by three secret agents. The driver managed to escape and warn the Church, but the agents beat the priest with clubs, bound and gagged him, and threw him in the trunk. They smashed his skull. They crushed his teeth to the nubs. Finally, they loaded his unconscious body with a bag of rocks and cast him into a reservoir on the Vistula River. When divers found the body two weeks later, there were no legs, there was no face. Father Jerzy's brother identified him by a birthmark on his chest.

A million people attended his funeral. Men from Solidarity, square-jawed and grim, bore his coffin.

A million people attended his funeral. Men from Solidarity, square-jawed and grim, bore his coffin. "They wanted to kill hope," said Lech Waesa of the regime, "that it is possible in Poland to live without political violence," but the murder of the priest "exposes its deepest evil."

Father Jerzy overcame evil with love. He did not lash out against his tormentors. He urged his army of steelworkers to forgive, always. It was a power that American diplomats missed; to read their musings is like listening to a color-blind person talk about Fra Angelico. They thought that the Poles turned from communism to Solidarity without a violent upheaval just because Poles like to be orderly.

Perhaps they should have knelt beside the steelworkers at the Masses that Blessed Jerzy Popieuszko said. Or prayed the litany to the Blessed Mother that he composed. One of the verses is simply this: "Mother of those who speak the truth, pray for us."
Jill Biden Announces Next Steps for Military Family Program

Jill Biden is bringing a new focus to the cause of supporting Americas military families.

The first lady on Wednesday announced the next chapter for a decade-old military family support program she and then-first lady Michelle Obama led during the Obama administration.

Biden said that military families are as important to the nation as a rudder is to a ship and that national security will be served by supporting their physical, social and emotional health.

How can we hope to keep our military strong if we dont give our families, survivors and caregivers what they need to thrive? If we dont act on our sacred obligation? she asked at the White House.

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Biden said her relaunch of the Joining Forces initiative will focus on employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for military families, education for the more than 2 million children of enlisted parents and veterans, and the overall health and well-being of these families.

She noted that just 1% of the country serves in the all-volunteer military. She also cited a Defense Department estimate of a 22% unemployment rate for military spouses.

Service members cannot be focused on their mission if their families dont have what they need to thrive at home, said the first lady, who is the daughter and mother of service members. And we cant expect to keep the best and brightest if our service members are forced to choose between their love of country and the hopes and dreams they have for their families.

We have to help you carry this weight, the first lady added. She cited commitments from the defense, education and labor departments.

The first lady was joined virtually at Wednesdays event by U.S. military families, advocates and others from around the world, a total of more than 100 people appearing in individual boxes on screens behind her on the stage. Afterward, she visited the Military OneSource call center, a Defense Department operation that provides 24/7 support to service members and their families.

Biden toured the facility in Arlington, Virginia, one of three locations around the country, and listened to a military spouse and an active-duty member of the Army offer testimonials after they turned to Military OneSource for guidance.

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Thanks for helping our military members and their families, Biden said after meeting some of the workers who answer the calls. I dont know if people thank you enough.

Biden spent her opening weeks as first lady conducting listening sessions with the spouses of senior Defense Department officials and military leaders, military family advocates and military children. Last month, she toured U.S. military bases in Washington state and California, where she met with military families and children.

During the 2020 presidential campaign, she promised to revive Joining Forces. Shortly before President Joe Biden took office, the first lady named Rory Brosius as the initiatives executive director. Brosius previously served as the programs deputy director.

Jill Bidens father was a Navy signalman in World War II who went to college on the GI Bill. Her late son, Beau, a father of two children, served in the Delaware Army National Guard, including a year in Iraq. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015 at age 46.

Bidens other causes are education _ she is a longtime English professor at a community college _ and cancer research.

Joining Forces began in 2011 under President Barack Obamas administration and was led by Mrs. Obama and Jill Biden, when Joe Biden was vice president. The mission was to encourage the public and private sectors to support service members, veterans, their families and their caregivers. The program focused on education, employment and wellness.

After leaving the White House in 2017, Jill Biden continued working with military families through the Biden Foundation.

The Trump administration kept the focus on military issues and care for veterans, including increasing the military spending. Former first lady Melania Trump and Karen Pence, the wife of former Vice President Mike Pence, worked on military family issues but without the Joining Forces banner.
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)

Biden Blows Off Question About Chinas Pandemic Deception

And reporters ignore mounting evidence about the role of the Wuhan Institute of Virology

Commentary

On April 6, a reporter asked President Joe Biden if he had ever questioned Xi Jinping about reports that China maybe misled the world at the beginning of the pandemic.

I have not had that conversation with President Xi, said Biden, who has not commented on reports about the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and its possible role in the release of the virus that causes COVID-19. Evidence is pointing in that direction.

In February, Karen Pauls of the CBC reported that Canada had dismissed Dr. Xiangguo Qiu, a virologist from Tianjin, China, from the National Microbiology Lab (NML) in Winnipeg. As Pauls explained, in 201718 Qiu made at least five trips to China, including one to train scientists at the WIV, which does research with the most deadly pathogens.

According to Canadian government officials, Qiu was acting in response to the WIVs request for virus samples when she exported some to the lab in 2019.

As Pauls noted, the samples included Ebola Makona (three varieties), Mayinga, Kikwit, Ivory Coast, Bundibugyo, Sudan Boniface, Sudan Gulu, MA-Ebov, GP-Ebov, GP-Sudan, Hendra, Nipah Malaysia, and Nipah Bangladesh.

As Tom Blackwell of Canadas National Post explains, Nipah is transmittable from animals to humans and also able to jump between humansit can cause acute breathing problems and encephalitis, potentially fatal brain inflammation. Blackwell cited a 2018 NML paper warning that Nipahs threat to cause a widespread outbreak and its potential for weaponization has increased.

According to government documents obtained by the CBC, Qius trips to the Wuhan lab were third-party funded but the name of the party was redacted. Also blacked out were names of Qius collaborators during her September 2017 trip to China.

Last June, University of Ottawa law professor and epidemiologist Amir Attaran told the CBC that Qiu sent one of the deadliest viruses on Earth, and multiple varieties of it to maximize the genetic diversity and maximize what experimenters in China could do with it, to a laboratory in China that does dangerous gain of function experiments. And that has links to the Chinese military.

Gain of function research, as Nidhi Subbaraman explains in Nature, involves making pathogens more deadly or more transmissible. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) banned such research in 2014 but revived it in 2017, and the NIH and State Department also approved the WIV as a collaborator. U.S. funding for the WIV was channeled through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), headed by Dr. Anthony Fauci since 1984.

Fauci earned a medical degree in 1966 and hired on with the NIH in 1968. His bio shows no advanced degrees in biochemistry or molecular biology, so strictly speaking he is not a virologist. Fauci is uncritical of China and praises World Health Organization boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who in turn praises Chinas response to the pandemic as an example to the world.

Fauci contends the coronavirus was not engineered in a laboratory, but the NIAID boss has been evasive about what, exactly, went on at the Wuhan lab. WHO mouthpiece Peter Ben Embarek, a food safety and nutrition specialist, says its extremely unlikely that the virus causing COVID-19 leaked from the WIV. A March 30 WHO report contended likewise, and Chinas communist regime denies that the WIV was the source of the pandemic. Others remain curious.

In February, House Republicans called for an investigation of NIH funding for the WIV. The GOP members want an independent watchdog of Health and Human Services to find out when the NIH was first aware that coronavirus experiments were conducted at the WIV and whether the NIH coordinated any messaging about the lab leak hypothesis.

The lawmakers also seek to know how much NIH support the WIV has received and when its funding eligibility ends. Meanwhile, north of the border, the quest for evidence continues.

Last month, a committee of Canadas House of Commons ordered the Public Health Agency of Canada to turn over all documents related to the firing of Qiu and her husband Keding Cheng. The committee also wants documents related to a transfer of Ebola and Henipah viruses to Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology, according to The Canadian Press. The results should be of considerable interest to people around the world but probably not at the White House.

During the 2020 campaign, Biden said the Chinese communists are not bad folks, and not competition for us. When President Donald Trump imposed a ban on travel from China in January 2020, Biden called it xenophobic. So the Delaware Democrat is not likely to press Xi Jinping on Chinas role in the pandemic any time soon, if ever.

Lloyd Billingsley is the author of Yes I Con: United Fakes of America, Barack em Up: A Literary Investigation, Hollywood Party, and other books. His articles have appeared in many publications, including Frontpage Magazine, City Journal, the Wall Street Journal, and American Greatness.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Hyderabad, April 8 : The Telangana government on Thursday decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 2,000 and 25 kg rice every month to each of the teachers and other staff of recognised private educational institutions in the state.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao made the decision as teachers and other staff are facing financial problems due to shutting down of the educational institutions in view of Covid-19 pandemic. The rice will be made available through fair price shops.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said that this decision was taken on a humanitarian consideration and it would help 1.50 lakh teachers and staff working in the recognised private educational institutions in the state.

The Chief Minister's Office clarified Thursday night that this assistance will be provided every month till the educational institutions are reopened. It had earlier stated that it is one-time assistance.

KCR said that to get this assistance, the private educational institutions' teachers and other staff should apply to the District Collector concerned with their bank account details and other relevant information.

He instructed Education Minister Sabita Indra Reddy, Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar and Government's Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma to hold a videoconference on Friday at the state Secretariat in this regard.

All the District Collectors, District Education Officers and Civil Supplies department's District Supply Officers will participate in the conference. Orders for the implementation of the required guidelines and an action plan will be issued.
ROME, APR 8 - Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini told parliament on Thursday that Walter Biot, an Italian navy captain arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia last week, did not have access to documents on military operations. Biot is accused of passing on dozens of classified documents on NATO telecoms systems and other top-secret matters to two Russian embassy officials who have been expelled from Italy. "The officer had a position that authorized him to see classified material, but his responsibilities did not feature command or management activities," Guerini told parliament's defence committees. "This led him to have access to evaluation and policy documents but not to documents for the management of operations or details about the capabilities of nations or of NATO". Guerini said that, while he did not want to jump the gun on the outcome of criminal procedures, the case did not reflect "the values and experience of our armed forces". (ANSA).
(Newser)  Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday signed a bill automatically restoring voting rights to people who have been released from prison after committing felonies, even if they are still on parolea measure sponsored by a lawmaker who was herself formerly incarcerated. While other states are restricting the right to vote, Im glad that in Washington, we are expanding access to democracy, Inslee said. Rep. Tarra Simmons was convicted of assault in 2001 and of drug and theft charges in 2011, after her fathers death sent her into a battle with methamphetamine. But she went to law school and won approval from the state Supreme Court to take the bar exam following her release. Last November she became apparently the first former felon elected to the Legislature.

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She and other supporters said the measure would help encourage former prisoners to reintegrate into society and that it was a matter of racial justice, as those on parole in Washington are disproportionately people of color. More than 20,000 people stand to regain their voting rights when the law takes effect next year, the AP reports. About 20 other states similarly allow parolees to vote. In Washington, offenders havent been allowed to vote until they have completed their community supervision with the Department of Corrections, a period that can last up to three years for violent crimes. Senate Republicans opposed the measure despite support from many quarters, including the state attorney generals office, the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, some victims rights advocates and Republican Rep. Jesse Young, who co-sponsored the bill.

(Read more Washington state stories.)
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Aligarh : , April 8 (IANS) Following a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Aligarh district administration has rescued 127 bonded labourers from a brick kiln located in the Bansali village.

The rescued persons included 67 children.

All the rescued persons have been sent home to Bihar's Nawada.

According to reports, one of the labourers, last month, had lodged an FIR for alleged sexual assault of a minor girl by the brick kiln owner's relative.

Though the suspect was arrested and remanded to judicial custody, the labourers said they wanted to return to their homes as they said they were being abused and felt unsafe.

Circle officer, Iglas, Mohsin Khan, confirmed the sexual assault incident and said that the same was reported on the day of Holi.

The police had arrested the 20-year-old man accused for committing the crime.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Iglas) Kuldev Singh said that a 3-member committee was formed by the district magistrate to inquire the allegations and during inquiry, it was found that the labourers wanted to go back to their homes in Bihar.

A bus was arranged for them and they left on Tuesday.

Officials said that each labourer was being paid Rs 400 per thousand bricks that he or she made. Each labourer made around 2,000 bricks in a day.

The labourers had taken an advance of Rs 25,000 each before coming to work here.

Meanwhile, the owner of the brick kiln named Sri Radhe Eit Udyog, Munni Devi, and her son Jitendra Singh have been booked under sections 16, 17 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976 and can be punished up to three years of imprisonment, along with Rs 2,000 fine, by the sub-divisional magistrate.

The owner will also be booked for non-maintenance of records of bonded labourers. In addition, there was also violation of inter-state migrant workmen Act, 1979, under which a licence is required for employing more than five workers from other states.

The labour department of Bihar is also being informed so that the rehabilitation of the rescued people, after completing the summary trial in the SDM court, can be done and they can be given prescribed compensation.
About 250 beggars in Ibadan during the week protested over low patronage by members of the public following rumours that some rich men usually 'buy' money from them for fetish purposes.

The report, according to the spokesperson for the destitute, Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, Serikin Hausawa of the Hausa Community, Oja'ba, Ibadan, had created deep hatred for his people.

Abdullahi said: "The report that some wealthy people are buying money from beggars, including the physically challenged people, for money rituals, is not true.

"As a result of the claim that some ritualists do buy money from these beggars, there has been public resentment against these innocent people.

"What we know is that traders, hawkers and commercial drivers do come to these beggars who are mainly blind and lame people, to change money.

"We want to clear our names, so that people will not be punishing us for offences we don't know anything about. We notice that people no longer want to extend hands of generosity to these helpless people.

"We don't want to wait until the matter is blown out of proportion. It is good to let the

public know that we are all one. How can we be doing such a thing to good people who consider our plights and help us?"

When asked if some wealthy people do come under the cover of darkness to buy money from them, he said he didn't know anything about that. He said: "My people see only drivers and traders. We don't know if some people disguise and come to them to exchange money.

"We are very many, but due to the recent crisis at Shasha market in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, some of them have gone back to the North. But, those who are here now are up to 250."

Vanguard News Nigeria
ALBANY  Let's get something straight. No Republican with ties to Donald Trump will defeat Andrew Cuomo in next year's race for governor, no matter how much the Democratic incumbent is tarred by scandal.

Elise Stefanik would not beat Cuomo. Neither would Lee Zeldin, the Republican congressman from Long Island. There isn't a chance in the world that Andrew Giuliani beats the governor.

Andrew Giuliani?

That's the son of Rudy Giuliani, remembered for his childhood antics during his father's 1994 mayoral inauguration and spoofed by the late, great Chris Farley in iconic Saturday Night Live sketches. Young Andrew is all grown up now and, fresh off a nepotism job in Trump's White House, says he's planning to run for governor. Seriously.

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"Outside of anybody named Trump, I think I have the best chance to win and take the state back," Giuliani told the Washington Examiner. "I think there's an opportunity in 2022 with a wounded Democratic candidate, whether it's going to be Gov. Cuomo, whether it's going to be a radical Letitia James, whether it's going to be a no-name lieutenant governor, I think there's a very, very real chance to win."

Oh, boy. Where do we begin? Does Giuliani not understand the damage his father's post-election madness has done to the family surname? Does he not know that Democrats in New York  especially in New York City  would turn out in droves to defeat a candidate associated with the Trump White House?

This is the GOP's version of Trump Derangement Syndrome  the deranged belief that anybody tied to the former president has a snowball's chance in a very hot place of winning in deep-blue New York.

It. Will. Never. Happen. Not for Stefanik or Zeldin, who are said to be eyeing a run despite being among Trump's most voracious impeachment defenders. And certainly not for young Giuliani. Trump, who was seen favorably by just 31 percent of voters in the most recent Siena poll, is toxic here.

But as our governor has shown, there's a special hubris that comes with being the son of a famous politician, including the belief that having a recognizable name is a qualification. The younger Giuliani, after all, is just 35 years old and has no experience running, well, anything at all. The idea of him atop New York's government is ludicrous.

Stefanik and Zeldin might be more plausible if they hadn't sold their integrity to Trump's election lies. Put it this way: Anyone cynical enough to vote against certifying legitimate presidential election results, as Zeldin and Stefanik did, just hours after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol won't win in New York. Nor should they.

None of this is to say that Cuomo isn't vulnerable to a Republican challenger as scandals and allegations pile up. Read the disturbing and newly published Times Union interview with the staffer alleging that she was groped by Cuomo and it's easy to doubt he'll survive this term or run for a fourth. If he does, he could be defeated in the Democratic primary.

Voters, after all, need not wait for the report on sexual harassment allegations from Attorney General Tish James to know Cuomo is unfit for office, not after his nursing home deceptions and other abuses. But Trump was similarly unfit, and any Republican candidate who spent years justifying the former president's behavior will be unable to execute the case against Cuomo.

Skyrocketing state spending is another potential vulnerability; some voter backlash is inevitable after the eye-popping budget just approved by the governor and Democrats in the Legislature, especially if New York's economy sputters. Consider that the $212 billion spending plan almost equals the proposed budget in California, a state with twice the population.

"These folks have surpassed all laws of economic and political reality," John Faso, the former congressman and Assembly minority leader, told me Wednesday, describing the budget as an opportunity for Republicans. "We're at a level we've never seen before in terms of reckless spending."

But Trump ran up the federal deficit with help from allies in Congress. So how could Stefanik, Zeldin or even the younger Giuliani credibly make the case for fiscal responsibility?

Cuomo would gleefully wrap all three in Trump's sins and use them as replacement bolts for the controversy plagued bridge named after his father. The race would allow him to return to a anti-Trump playbook that has served him well. Donald has long been Andrew's perfect foil.

If there's hope for Republicans, it's that Stefanik, Zeldin and Giuliani cancel each other in the primary, leaving the nomination for somebody like Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, who ran against Cuomo last time, or another candidate who could run as the un-Trumpy face of moderation.

An embattled Cuomo still might win. But he could also lose.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
Capt. Andrew Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander, performs a dedication pass during the Melbourne Air and Space Show in Melbourne, Fla., on March 30, 2019. (Senior Airman Alexander Cook/U.S. Air Force)

US Air Force Unprepared for Defence of Taiwan: War Games Analyst

Beijing Driven by Fear, Not Expansionism

The U.S. Air Force will struggle to maintain pressure on the Chinese military if conflict erupts around the Taiwan Strait, according to a recent war games analysis.

Other factors, such as advancements in Chinese missile tech, and the sheer distance between the United States closest airbase in Okinawa and Taiwan, will also hamper the response of U.S. armed forces.

F-22s and F-35s operating under ideal conditions at sophisticated home bases here in the United States, have an operational readiness rate of about 60 percent, Joseph Siracusa, adjunct professor of the political history of international diplomacy at Curtin University told The Epoch Times.

Operational readiness describes the ability of a military branch to operate and maintain its systems and procedures effectively.

The rate is critical as military engagements require consistency and precision over days or weeks.

If you want to run 40 sorties [attacking runs] a day, well, you do the math, Siracusa added.

The professor, who has worked with war gaming models during the Cold War said, Fighting a war almost within sight of the Chinese homeland will be a tough slog when the United States has only one land airbase within 700 miles of the battle area.

Aerial file photo shows U.S. Marine Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa, southern Japan on Jan. 27, 2018. (Kyodo News via AP)

In January, Ellen Lord, the Trump-era undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment said operational readiness for the advanced F-35 fleet was at 69 percent, well below the target of 80 percent, which was set by former Secretary of Defense James Mattis.

The operational readiness of F-15s and F-16s hover around the 70 percent mark, while F-22s are currently at 50.6 percent.

The low numbers follow years of Obama-era budget cuts to the military that saw army personnel reduced by 10 percent, and ballistic missile projects suspended or halted altogether.

Ironically, it will be missiles that play key role in keeping U.S. forces at bay, particularly for the first 60 days.

F-22s and F-35s have very low radar signatures but the refuelling tankers have the radar cross-section of a large barn, making them very vulnerable to Chinese long-range anti-air missiles, Siracusa said.

U.S. naval carriers would also be out of the question, given the reach of Chinese ballistic missile launchers the DF-21 and DF-26.

Military vehicles carrying DF-26 ballistic missiles drive past the Tiananmen Gate during a military parade on Sept. 3, 2015, in Beijing. (Andy Wong  Pool /Getty Images)

We learned some lessons in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf where our naval carriers could operate just off-shore from the target areas and never be attacked, Siracusa said. That will not be the case in the Strait of Taiwan.

Since the reelection of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has ramped up its hostile rhetoric toward the island.

In recent months, Chinese military jets have also made near-daily incursions into Taiwanese airspace, with the largest being in late March, when 20 Chinese military planes entered Taiwans Air Defence Identification Zone.

U.S. Admiral Philip Davidson, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command issued a dire warning in response to the build-up, saying he believed Beijing could invade Taiwan in the next six years, while other analysts believe the timeframe could be shorter.

War Game Scenario

War game specialists like Siracusa believe the most likely war scenario surrounding Taiwan will begin with Beijings annual large-scale, amphibious landing drills normally conducted in October off the south-eastern coast of the mainland.

U.S. surveillance satellites begin picking up unusual activity, more troop movements than usual, and more realistic.

Beijings propaganda organs start working overtime to stir up national sentiment and indignation towards Taiwan, particularly at its dogged refusal to recognise CCP rule.

The United States responds by deploying bombers at its bases in Guam and Okinawa and increases naval patrols across Taiwan waters, which is already taking place.

U.S. surveillance pick up more worrying signs of PLA naval craft and amphibious forces marshalling on the opposite coast to Taiwan.

Soldiers takes part in the Han Kuang military drills simulating the Chinese military invading the island, at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, in Taichung, Taiwan, on June 7, 2018. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

If an attack commences, it likely begins with a naval bombardment and airstrikes targeting Taiwanese airfields and military bases.

The United States retaliates with bombing raids targeting CCP ships, airfields, bases, and missile launch sites.

If desperate enough, Beijing escalates and targets Okinawa, Guam, or Hawaii with intermediate-range ballistic missiles or low-yield nuclear weapons.

Beijing Driven by Fear, Not Expansionism

But the professor concedes that wargaming scenarios are only as strong as its weakest link. In this case, the scenario hinges on the willingness of either country to strike or fire the first shot.

Unfortunately, hubris sometimes trumps common sense, he said.

Mark Beeson, professor of international politics at the University of Western Australia said the build-up of military forces was increasing the likelihood of a confrontation.

China is digging itself a big hole, and it is difficult to get out of it without losing enormous amounts of face, he told The Epoch Times.

The chances of an accident, misjudgement or miscalculation are increasing by the day, he added.

Siracusa also says any move by Beijing was driven by fear and weakness, not strength or expansionism.

The expansionist story is a falsehood that the military-industrial complex tells each other as they go onto sell the latest weapon system, he said.

Having no control over Taiwan, will in fact, tell the rest of China that the CCP has lost control, he added. The Chinese are worried about how the Soviet Union disappeared after 74 years, theres this old rule that after five generations, it is very hard to pass on communist zeal.

The CCP is entering its 72nd year of control over China as of 2021.

Mustering the Defence of Taiwan

In recent weeks, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and The Netherlands have dispatched warships to patrol the South China Sea, to accompany existing U.S. naval carriers. While the Philippines have sent fighter aircraft to patrol the skies over hundreds of Chinese fishing ships moored in the area.

The guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) (F) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) transit the South China Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas V. Huynh/Released)

John Mills, former director of cybersecurity policy, strategy, and international affairs at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, previously told The Epoch Times that the Biden administration should sell Taiwan any weapons it asks for.

Taiwans diplomatic mission in Washington D.C. said that it was investing significantly in asymmetric capabilities, including a major investment in long-range missiles that can strike deep into China.

Australia has adopted a similar strategy, as a deterrence against military aggression.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassys second-highest-ranking diplomat in Australia, Michael Goldman, revealed in a podcast hosted by The Australian National University (ANU) that Australia and the United States were working on contingencies around a potential outbreak of conflict over Taiwan.
Actor Dan Macpherson is counting down the days until he is reunited with his one-year-old son Austin Xavier.

The former Neighbours star, 40, is completing a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine in Sydney after returning from Spain.

On Thursday, Dan shared a cute throwback photo with Austin, writing: 'Not long now til crisp autumn mornings & surf checks with the Little King. Day 8.'

'Not long now!' Dan Macpherson counts down the days until he is reunited with son Austin, one, as the actor completes his THIRD hotel quarantine after wrapping AppleTV sci-fi series in Spain last month

Just a few days earlier Dan had said he was using the forced isolation to 'decompress, unwind the beaten body and chill the whirling mind', adding he was most excited for 'family hugs and ocean swims on the other side'.



Dan had been in Fuerteventura, the second largest of Spains Canary Islands, for almost weight weeks to film Apple TV's new science fiction series, Foundation.

Based on the book series of the same name by Isaac Asimov, Dan is set to play Hugo.

Dedicated: Production for the upcoming American series has also seen Dan fly to Ireland twice, which means he is completing his third round of hotel quarantine since the coronavirus pandemic began

Coming soon! Dan had been in Fuerteventura, the second largest of Spains Canary Islands, for almost weight weeks to film Apple TV's new science fiction series, Foundation

Production for the upcoming American series has also seen Dan fly to Ireland twice, which means he is completing his third round of hotel quarantine since the coronavirus pandemic began.

'Thats a wrap on Foundation for me. A final Fuerteventura sunset. What an adventure its been,' he wrote on March 30.

Dan added: 'Time to get home and hug my son, and one day soon he will get to see his dad up there in space, in the sci fi world of Isaac Asimov. What a ride.'

'Time to get home and hug my son': Dan was most excited about being reunited with his son, who will turn two in December, after almost eight weeks apart

The Strike Back actor happily co-parents son Austin Xavier with ex-wife Zoe Ventoura, 39.

Dan confirmed his shock split from Zoe on December 13, after five years of marriage.

The couple first met on the set of TV series Wild Boys in 2011, and became engaged over Christmas 2014.

They tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Noosa, Queensland, in 2015 in front of close friends and family. They welcomed Austin Xavier in December 2019.
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HELENA, Mont.  David Armstrong, who trained and worked with Army sled dogs during World War II and co-founded the Race to the Sky sled dog race, has died. He was 100.

Armstrong died Tuesday night, retired Maj. Gen. Gene Prendergast said in asking for a moment of silence at Thursdays Hometown Helena meeting, the Independent Record reported.

Armstrong was the last known living member of Camp Rimini, one of two places where hundreds of dogs were trained for the Armys K-9 Corps in World War II. Armstrong was stationed in Newfoundland, where he and his dogs aided in recovering downed personnel and sensitive equipment from aircraft wreckage sites in Greenland and Baffin Island.

Camp Rimini was established in 1943 and over a period of 18 months troops trained about 800 sled and pack dogs, according to information from the Race to the Sky organization.

Armstrong co-founded the Race to the Sky to preserve the legacy of the dogs and the soldiers that trained at Camp Rimini in the mountains west of Helena.

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana, read a tribute to Armstrong into the Congressional Record in December, recognizing his military service and his 100th birthday.

Daines called Armstrong a distinguished World War II veteran who played a pivotal role in the U.S. Armys plan to liberate Norway from Nazi occupation as well as a number of search and rescue missions across northern Europe.

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Last month, Armstrong was presented with a Congressional Record commendation and a challenge coin, which Daines gives to Montanans to honor them for special achievements, at a small ceremony at his home.

Its awfully nice, but I dont think its necessary, Armstrong said a the time. Anybody could do it.

Armstrongs son, Mark, spoke on behalf of the family, saying they were grateful for the honor and praised his father.

He was one of the best dads I could have ever asked for, he said on March 16. What he did after the war was pretty amazing.

Hes had a very interesting and rewarding life, Mark Armstrong told the newspaper.
Bob Crippens heart rate jumped to 130. Countdown for the space shuttles maiden voyage had reached the one-minute mark, and he was strapped inside for the boldest test flight in NASA history.

Previous spacecraft  for the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs  were first launched without astronauts onboard. But the shuttle was significantly more complex.

We thought it had a better chance of success if we were there, Crippen said.

The April 12, 1981, launch would be his first spaceflight.

New innovations: Houston startup designing spaceplane that could fly from LA to Tokyo in 1 hour

Forty years ago, Crippens heart rate reflected a nationwide mood as his first flight coincided with the debut of an engineering marvel. The space shuttle fleet flew 135 missions over three decades, with mission control from the Johnson Space Center. Its crews built the International Space Station, repaired and upgraded the Hubble Space Telescope and carried a larger, more diverse group of people into space.

It was also expensive and sometimes deadly. The shuttle never delivered on NASAs early promises of flying 40 to 60 times a year, which would help bring down the cost of accessing space, and 14 people died between the Challenger explosion in 1986 and the Columbia accident in 2003.

More Information Space shuttle facts: First launch: April 12, 1981 Final landing: July 21, 2011 Days in space: More than 1,300 Individuals flown: 355 Missions: 135 Accidents: 2; Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003 See More Collapse

It left behind a mixed legacy, said John Logsdon, a retired professor and founder of George Washington Universitys Space Policy Institute. On one hand, the decision to develop it was based on a series of promises basically none of which were fulfilled. And yet it was a remarkable technological achievement and a continuing source of national pride.

40 years ago

For Crippen, a Navy pilot who grew up in Porter, that first flight began like an aircraft catapult launching planes off a ship: It was a nice kick in the pants.

He launched into space with John Young. The first two minutes of the mission, dubbed STS-1, were loud and the space shuttle Columbia shook as two solid rocket boosters propelled it upward. After the boosters detached, the ride was quiet and smooth as glass, Crippen said.

Chuck Lewis, a NASA flight director for later portions of the mission when the shuttle was in orbit, watched from his Clear Lake home.

So he sat on the edge of his chair and worried about the shuttles aerodynamics. Unlike capsules, which launched atop a long rocket in a streamlined manner, the shuttle had wings and other protruding features that would have to withstand the forces of launch.

If something went wrong during the first two minutes, Lewis knew the shuttle couldnt abort its launch. And the ejection seats werent really expected to save the astronauts.

If you eject, youre going to eject right into a solid rocket booster tail blast, Lewis said. You probably would be burnt to a crisp.

When the main engines shut off, meaning the shuttle had reached orbit, his daughter saw tears running down Lewis cheeks.

His shift at the Johnson Space Center began after the shuttle opened its payload bay doors  and just as Crippen reported missing heat-shield tiles on the top back of the vehicle.

What about the tiles on the bottom? Lewis recalled thinking. Those are the critical ones.

Technological hubris

Developing a winged spacecraft was a giant technological leap, and the heat-shield tiles, essential for keeping the crew alive during re-entry, had long plagued the agency. Early versions of the tiles werent strong enough to withstand meteoroid impacts. After the tiles were strengthened, engineers struggled to keep them firmly affixed to Columbia.

The Apollo program had emboldened NASA. But when getting men to the moon, the agency relied on brute force to escape Earths gravity. Its capsule landed in the ocean like a cannonball beneath parachutes. The shuttles fixed wings, allowing it to glide to a runway landing, would require more sophistication.

Wings vs. capsule: The beginning of a new era: NASA astronauts prepare to fly in a capsule once again

There was a significant degree of technological hubris in NASAs view of what would be achievable, Logsdon wrote in his book After Apollo? Richard Nixon and the American Space Program.

Further, there was no top-level, long-range planning for what NASA should do after Apollo until 1968, Logsdon said.

Unlike President John F. Kennedy, who threw ample resources into the Apollo program, President Richard Nixon placed human spaceflight alongside other national priorities. NASA hoped for a shuttle, moon base, space station and mission to Mars. Only the shuttle was initially approved.

The Office of Management and Budget had proposed a smaller, more experimental vehicle. But NASA argued for a larger space shuttle that would carry all U.S. missions: military, NASA and commercial.

Nixon chose the larger shuttle in 1972. He liked its ability to carry national security missions. And it created aerospace jobs ahead of his election  setting a precedent that would make jobs an important, sometimes overriding, factor for future space programs, Logsdon wrote.

Launch cadence

Between 1981 and 2011, the space shuttle flew 355 individuals into space. It carried a more diverse group of passengers, including NASAs first female astronaut, Sally Ride, and NASAs first African American astronaut, Guion Bluford. People representing 16 different countries flew on the shuttle.

I dont think there will ever be a vehicle quite like the space shuttle. It was beautiful, said Jason Davis, editorial director at the Planetary Society, a nonprofit that seeks to get more people engaged with space.

The initial intent was to launch the shuttle 40 to 60 times a year at a cost of $10.5 million per launch. The shuttles launch cadence peaked in 1985 with nine flights. The average annual launch rate was 4.3 a year, and the cost per launch was up to 20 times higher than the 1972 estimate, according to Logsdons book.

Extensive refurbishment was required after each flight. And the shuttle lost commercial customers after the Challenger accident in 1986, which prompted a change in national policy to prohibit the shuttle from launching most fare-paying satellites. Most military satellites were also removed from the shuttle and placed on rockets that launch without people onboard. Today, rockets owned by companies, not the government, are launching satellites into orbit.

You can lose a rocket and its a sad day and billions of dollars get lost, Davis said. But if you lose a space shuttle, you lose people. And its awful and tragic.

The Department of Defense had determined many aspects of the shuttles design, but only 10 dedicated national security missions would fly on the shuttle.

The increased complexity of a shuttle designed to be all things to all people created inherently greater risks than if more realistic technical goals had been set at the start, according to a report from the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

In orbit

Crippen knew the shuttle was complex, and he anticipated problems on the first flight. The missing tiles didnt really bother him. They hadnt been tested as rigorously as the more crucial tiles on the shuttles belly.

He spent his two days in orbit testing the shuttles various systems. The toilet, unfortunately, wasnt working properly (bags were on the shuttle as a backup).

More on space toilets: New female-friendly toilet headed to the International Space Station

Crippen also gave a tribute to John Bjornstad and Forrest Cole, who died after a countdown test just weeks before the shuttles first launch.

They believed in the space program, and it meant a lot to them, Crippen said while in orbit, according to a NASA transcript.

On the ground, mission control was preparing to bring the astronauts home. Ultimately, they had to trust in the shuttles design.

An amazing machine

The design of the shuttle would become a point of pride for the nation.

Youd be hard-pressed to say weve had any other spacecraft or launch vehicle in the last 40 years thats contributed as much as the shuttle did, said Jared Zambrano-Stout, a space policy expert with the law firm Meeks Butera & Israel. That type of technological prowess is not something that any other country has been able to duplicate.

The shuttles biggest accomplishment was building the International Space Station. But it spurred innovation on Earth, too. The shuttles fuel pumps inspired a miniaturized heart pump designed to keep patients alive as they waited for a transplant. Aerodynamics research conducted as part of the space shuttle program made trucks more fuel efficient, according to NASA.

The shuttle was also a predecessor for reusability before SpaceX began landing and reusing the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket.

In the Houston area, some 650 people working with NASAs Johnson Space Center retired only after the shuttle took its final flight.

Presidential swings: NASA treads carefully in politics that determine its fate

People are just really passionate about the space shuttle around here, said Jennifer Ross-Nazzal, a historian for the Johnson Space Center. It was an amazing machine.

Landing

George W.S. Abbey was at Edwards Air Force Base in California when the first shuttle re-entered Earths atmosphere. He was director of NASAs flight operations at that time and would later become director of the Johnson Space Center.

John (Young) was so exuberant, he recalled. He was jumping up and down. So excited that everything had worked as we wanted it to work.

Abbey wished NASA would have built another winged vehicle. But that isnt in the agencys immediate future. NASA is using a capsule for its plans to return humans to the moon. And the Commercial Crew program, where companies own vehicles that carry astronauts to the space station, is using capsules. These turned out to be simpler and faster to design.

Double sonic booms announced that space shuttle Columbia was arriving, surprising the crowd at Edwards Air Force Base. Lewis was watching from Houstons mission control. He recalls Young getting out of the shuttle, looking at its belly and triumphantly pumping his fist in the air. The tiles had worked.

Then I knew we had a program, Lewis said.

andrea.leinfelder@chron.com

twitter.com/a_leinfelder
Its been about a week since my eye caught a small news item on Chattanoogan.com that Chattanooga Printing and Engraving had been sold in North Chattanooga and, boy, do I remember it well. Matter of fact, I learned a huge lesson there one day during my junior year of high school that Ive never forgotten. As a junior, Id go by our family newspaper every afternoon with a very simple directive from my grandfather. Look for the wheel that squeaks. In short, find something that needs to be done and do it. Dont ask permission or expect any praise  just do it!

One day there was a note that said to go out to Chattanooga Printing and pick up some work theyd done for us, so I got my pickup truck and drove out to Hanover Street, just off Cherokee Boulevard, to fetch the order. Mr. Coolidge helped me gather it up. He was the nicest man you could ever imagine. Had a gentle smile and an almost meek air about him due to his famous sincerity. While he was rounding up the due bill and paperwork, I spied a small flyer that had his picture on it  I guessed taken in World War II  when he was in the war. I was shocked to read he was a Medal of Honor recipient!

Mr. Coolidge, is this you? Oh, my goodness. Wow! was about all that I could muster, and he wrapped me up in that smile once more and said, That was a long time ago. I drove faster back to the paper than I normally would and found J.B. Collins, a fountain of all knowledge, and yelled, Goo-Bab, a nickname my dad had for J.B. I told him Id been out to the Coolidges print shop to pick up some stuff and read where Mr. Charlie was a Medal of Honor hero.

Aint no way! Hes the nicest, kindest man in this city and I read he killed something like 30 Germans one day in the mountains as his guys moved from Italy into France. Cmon, I aint stupid. Id watched John Wayne and Lee Marvin movies. You gotta be some kind of tough! About then Julius Parker, our city editor, walked over and Julius looked every bit the man he truly was - a Master Sergeant who led platoons of Americans most-seasoned fighters from the beginning of The Bulge all the way to its end. Two cigar boxes could not hold his medals. I saw it almost every day  the last guys you would ever expect were heroes time and time again, Julius said. Ive seen them neutralize an entire enemy column and  Ive seen them give their lives to save their fellow soldiers. They are the backbone of freedom."

He and J.B. then took me back to a room all newspapers called the morgue. Thats where old files were stored, glossy pictures from years back, and stories that turned into research gold mines. Mr. Coolidges files where thicker than my medical charts. Two or three of em held together with three straps, and my teachers that day centered on an encounter Mr. Coolidge had with a Nazi tank. He had accompanied his platoon leader to the battlefield front for a look-see when they ran into advancing Germans.

The platoon leader was shot, so Mr. Coolidge got him to some medics, grabbed a bazooka, and ran back to an advancing tank, easily found by the clacking of its tracks. The fearless Coolidge ran directly towards the tank, stopped 50 feet from it, shouldered the bazooka and ignited the electric trigger. Nothing happened. But from a hatch a German officers head appeared. In perfect English, the tank commander yelled over the growl of the engine, You must and will surrender! Coolidge countered with a Hollywood line 

Im sorry, Mac. Youve got to come and get me!

The tanks 85 mm cannon fired at Mr. Coolidge point blank. And missed. It would miss four more time as Mr. Coolidge played dart-and-dodge making his way back to where he gathered all the hand grenades he could carry, issue orders to about 20 machine gunners and riflemen, and open an industrial sized can of whoop-a**  by darkness 26 Germans were dead and another 60 were wounded.

Because of the Germans' superior numbers, Mr. Coolidge was ordered to fall back but every man was quickly aware that he made certain every man was well into the skedaddle before he abandoned post and caught up with the rest. So inspirational was his effort he was only one of two soldiers who were awarded The Medal on the European battlefield.

After a very heroic stand against multiple sclerosis for many years, he died Tuesday at Chattanoogas Memorial Hospital  this just four months shy of his 100th birthday. Funeral services for the nicest, kindest, and most sincere man I have ever known with be on April 16, along with some other celebrations of his life. And lets be certain, Mac never could come and get him. I happen to be assured that Mr. Coolidges Lord and Savior had him so surrounded by thorns and thickets that even the devil knew better.

* * *

CHARLES H. COOLIDGES MEDAL OF HONOR COMMENDATION

It reads:

Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company M, 141st Infantry, 36th Infantry Division

Place and date: East of Belmont sur Buttant, France, 2427 October 1944

Entered service at: Signal Mountain, Tenn.

G.O. No. 53, July 1945

Leading a section of heavy machine guns supported by 1 platoon of Company K, he took a position near Hill 623, east of Belmont sur Buttant, France, on October 24, 1944, with the mission of covering the right flank of the 3d Battalion and supporting its action. T/Sgt. Coolidge went forward with a Sergeant of Company K to reconnoiter positions for coordinating the fires of the light and heavy machine guns. They ran into an enemy force in the woods estimated to be an infantry company. T/Sgt. Coolidge, attempting to bluff the Germans by a show of assurance and boldness called upon them to surrender, whereupon the enemy opened fire. With his carbine, T/Sgt. Coolidge wounded 2 of them.

There being no officer present with the force, T/Sgt. Coolidge at once assumed command. Many of the men were replacements recently arrived; this was their first experience under fire. T/Sgt. Coolidge, unmindful of the enemy fire delivered at close range, walked along the position, calming and encouraging his men and directing their fire. The attack was thrown back. Through 25 and October 26, the enemy launched repeated attacks against the position of this combat group, but each was repulsed due to T/Sgt. Coolidge's able leadership.

On October 27, German infantry, supported by 2 tanks, made a determined attack on the position. The area was swept by enemy small arms, machinegun, and tank fire. T/Sgt. Coolidge armed himself with a bazooka and advanced to within 25 yards of the tanks. His bazooka failed to function, and he threw it aside. Securing all the hand grenades he could carry, he crawled forward and inflicted heavy casualties on the advancing enemy.

Finally, it became apparent that the enemy, in greatly superior force, supported by tanks, would overrun the position. T/Sgt. Coolidge, displaying great coolness and courage, directed and conducted an orderly withdrawal, being himself the last to leave the position. As a result of T/Sgt. Coolidge's heroic and superior leadership, the mission of this combat group was accomplished throughout 4 days of continuous fighting against numerically superior enemy troops in rain and cold and amid dense woods.

* * *

AMONG HIS OTHER AWARDS

* -- In November 2013, Coolidge's was the first one of 12 portraits of Medal of Honor recipients on the cover sheet of a United States Postal Service "World War II Medal of Honor Forever Stamp" packet of 20 Medal of Honor stamps.

* -- The Charles H. Coolidge Medal of Honor Heritage Center in downtown Chattanooga was named in his honor. It opened to the public in February 2020.

* -- Coolidge Park on the Northshore waterfront was named in his honor. Coolidge Park features a beautifully restored 125+-year-old carousel, a pavilion, an interactive play fountain, the Outdoor Chattanooga Center, and lots of open space. It is a popular destination for concerts, movies-in-the-park, festivals, and special events. The 1894 Dentzel carousel is a central feature in Coolidge Park. The antique carousel was restored by local master wood carver Bud Ellis and a devoted team of craftspeople and volunteers at his studio "Horsing Around" in St. Elmo.

* -- A nine-mile portion of U.S. Route 27 (Tennessee Route 29) was renamed the Charles H. Coolidge Medal of Honor Highway and was dedicated in his honor on April 10, 1989.

* * *

It aint the size of the dog in the fight that matters  what counts is the size of the fight in the dog.  Mark Twain.

royexum@aol.com
Efforts to reform Pennsylvanias child sex crimes law have long been a moving target.

For years, victims of child sexual abuse and their advocates have been pushing legislation but have come up short.

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed a bill to give some child sex abuse victims a two-year period to file claims in civil court, which would help those who were assaulted years ago and have long passed the deadline to seek legal action. The bill now moves on to the Senate.

The measure, which the House approved a vote of 149-52, would allow lawsuits outside the statute of limitations against both public and private entities. Some legislators are aiming to change the state law while also pursuing an amendment to the state constitution.

Victims and advocates have widely supported the two-track approach. Lawmakers are aiming to revise state law and create a two-year window to help victims gain access to the courts sooner, despite inevitable legal challenges. The Legislature has also moved a measure to allow voters to amend the state constitution, a process which would take until at least 2023 but could also offer more insurance to withstand court battles.

For those who have long toiled for reform, its another glimmer of hope.

For me, its been about getting the victims the justice they seek, said Rep. Jim Gregory, R-Blair, a prime sponsor of the bill. I didnt get here because I believed the constitutional amendment was the only way to get it done ... This is the path victims wanted from the very beginning and they couldnt get there because the Senate would not allow it.

The commonwealth earlier this year was on track to put the question to voters in May, but a blunder by the Department of State kicked the effort back to square one. Earlier this year, the Wolf administration announced it had failed to advertise the constitutional amendment as required. The Legislature had to restart the lengthy process.

After previous efforts have stalled in recent years, the Senate once again is poised to consider a measure - Gregorys bill - seeking to update child sex crime laws. Gregory isnt just the bills author; hes a victim of childhood sexual abuse.

Here we are, Gregory said. They now have a chance once this process unfolds that perhaps it could be very soon that Pennsylvania makes history with a statutory path for statute of limitations.

Senate Republican leadership has most recently signaled support for the reform measures. Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre, has told victims that he supports the dual path to reform.

The General Assembly has spoken on this issue, he told PennLive on Wednesday. If not for the mismanagement of the former secretary of state this issue would have been resolved in May. Since we all assumed we were going to be here in May...we were prepared to be here anyway once voters approved it, I think the dual path is the way to go.

Corman for now defers to the process, knowing the bill could likely end up in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and even dueling with another similar bill out of the high chamber.

We certainly will look at it seriously, Corman said. Obviously its a significant issue and one that I would like to see resolved.

Sen. Lisa Baker, chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee, has repeatedly expressed a commitment to securing reforms to allow timed-out victims a shot at justice.

To be sure, the hurdles are still in place.

Lawmakers must approve constitutional amendments in two consecutive legislative sessions before they can go to voters. So both chambers would need to pass a constitutional amendment during the 2023-24 legislative session before going to voters for final approval.

And if history is any indication, the road to changing the law in typical fashion will be difficult.

Advocates have been toiling to secure legal relief for adults who were sexually abused as children but have long been out of legal recourse because the abuse happened years or even decades ago. In 2018, a grand jury investigation uncovered widespread clergy child sex abuse in Catholic dioceses across Pennsylvania. While it gained national attention, it wasnt the first investigation to find sexual abuse in Catholic churches.

In the past, the powerful interests of the Catholic Church and the insurance industry, to name just two, have opposed opening retroactive windows for victims and have aggressively lobbied lawmakers. Some leaders in the GOP-controlled legislature had argued a retroactive window wouldnt be feasible without amending the constitution.

Republicans still lead the Legislature, but a change of leadership has some believing that statute of limitations reform in Pennsylvania is possible.

State Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks County, is a victim of child sexual abuse who has spearheaded statute of limitations reform in the commonwealth. Rozzi also expressed optimism.

President Pro Temp Jake Corman told victims that he is confident he has the votes to pass it, Rozzi said. He also told them that he believes in a dual path. Now it is up to the Senate to act on those beliefs and pass HB951.

Erica Clayton Wright, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, offered little clarity on how the GOP-led Senate was likely to move.

Wright noted that last month Pennsylvania Senate passed a constitutional amendment giving all victims of childhood sexual abuse a two-year window to file a case against their abusers.

Senate Democrats and Republicans overwhelmingly passed the measure in a 443 vote, giving all victims the strongest legal path forward to secure justice, she said. As the Senate comes back to session, we will be working for the people of Pennsylvania to address how to responsibly allocate COVID-19 stimulus funding to help re-open our state, prepare to pass an on-time budget, and move forward with the Governors cabinet confirmations.

Political analyst Chris Borick believes enough has changed in the Legislature to lend optimism for those who seek reform.

The retirement of former Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, long an adversary to changes in the statute of limitations, could be enough of a game changer, said Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion.

The Pennsylvania Legislature is top heavy, said Borick. Leaders have enormous power in terms of setting agenda and moving bills forward more so than in other states. On pieces of legislation that have general solid public support, and this one has polled well, when you have that situation and you have a change of leadership that might be more amenable, it might open the door. In this case theres reason to be optimistic, but its never guaranteed.

Powerful interests are still very much play - but so is public opinion, and that has largely been on the side favoring reform.

Public opinion remains on the side of change and thats always powerful, Borick said.

Both Gov. Tom Wolf and Attorney General Josh Shapiro back measures that align with the recommendations handed down by the 2018 grand jury. Reform to statute of limitations law is one of those recommendations.

Since 2002, some 24 so-called statute of limitations revival bills have been enacted nationwide. Some jurisdictions have had multiple windows, including California with two, and Hawaii with three. Overall there have been 19 retroactive windows opened by states and five revivals.

Vermont has completely eliminated statutes on child sex crimes and has enacted a permanent retroactive window.

University of Pennsylvania law professor Marci Hamilton, a statute of limitations expert, said she is cautiously optimistic Pennsylvania lawmakers approve a window for victims in 2021.

While it is good to see the Houses continued support and pressure for window legislation, for this to happen, Senate Republicans must lead the way when they come back into session, she said. This issue remains a high priority.

In the meantime, victims and their advocates continue to rally, to make calls to legislators and to sit in the public gallery during legislative sessions.

Five years in and Im confident that this is and always has been political, said Shaun Dougherty, who was Gregorys guest on the House floor this week when the bill was under consideration. Someone from the Senate side will want to be our next governor. Good luck without the 20 percent voting bloc of the survivor community.

Dougherty, a survivor of clergy sex abuse, is latching on to hope.

Corman has told friends of mine that he is confident that he can pass it, he said.
A bank robber has managed to pull off a heist in Germany after distracting witnesses with his 'ugly tie' that has prevented them from giving police a description of his face.

The man, believed to be in his early 20s, robbed a bank in Bad Soden-Salmunster, a town near Frankfurt, while wearing an 'ugly patterned tie in the style of the 1980s' according to police.

The robber, who is said to have been armed with a gun, threatened a cashier on Tuesday and made off with an unknown amount of money according to local media reports.

But the police are still struggling to find the thief - and it's all down to the tie he was wearing.

An armed bank robber has managed to pull off a heist in Germany after distracting witnesses with his 'ugly tie' that has prevented them from giving police a description of his face (file photo)

The man, believed to be in his early 20s, robbed a bank in Bad Soden-Salmunster, a German town near Frankfurt

The man was wearing an 'ugly patterned tie in the style of the 1980s' (file photo)

The item was so ugly that when questioned by police, witnesses could not remember what the man looked like - only that he was wearing a hideously patterned tie.

Police believe it was part of the robber's plan to wear the ugly tie. 'He did it cleverly,' a police spokesman told Der Spiegel.

'Everyone focused on the ugly tie and didn't pay attention to his face.'

Witnesses of the bank robbery were only able to tell police the suspect was in his early 20s and was carrying a handgun at the time.

While this particular robber used an ugly tie to his advantage, a British bank raider nicknamed 'Shrek' was told he was too ugly for armed robbery in 2009.

David Holyoak, from Manchester, was caught after his distinctive features - including his 'big ears and rotund features' - made it easy for police to spot him.

Meanwhile, other robbers have not been so fortunate to get away with their crime.

Last year, a British man attempted to rob a bank but was caught after he wrote down his list of demands on a till receipt for vitamin tablets he had been given at a Holland and Barrett.

The robber fled when the Santander staff triggered the alarms but left behind the incriminating note which showed he had been at the neighbouring health food shop.
CHICAGO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Technomic announced a new subscription specifically for independent and small restaurants is available in the National Restaurant Association Marketplace. Technomic Essentials is designed to provide strategic research and analysis to support small business recovery and growth. The monthly and quarterly updates will provide essential insights on the foodservice industry, menu trends and consumer behaviors.

"Technomic saw a need and stepped up to fill it," said Alanna Young, president of Technomic. "Now more than ever, independent restaurants are going to need good strategic research and specialized information to help make business decisions. We're pleased that we can grow our partnership with the Association while providing this crucial support to small business restaurant operators."

"Technomic has long been a trusted partner of the Association and we're delighted to extend their reliable insights to our membership," said Terry Erdle, chief operating officer of the National Restaurant Association. "Data has become an essential piece of a restaurant's business plan, but for many independents, access to the information can be expensive or difficult to find. We're pleased that Technomic will make that possible for smaller operators."

Technomic Essentials includes three levels of subscription, allowing restaurants to choose the type of information they need most. Essentials is available to operators that are members of the National Restaurant Association through membership in a state association and to non-member operators. Find more information here.

Contacts:

Press inquiries, Technomic: Clare Toledo, (312) 506-3835, [email protected]



About Technomic

Technomic, Inc., a Winsight company, was founded as a management consulting firm in 1966. Since then, Technomic's services have grown to encompass cloud-based B2B research tools, consumer and menu trend tracking, as well as other leading strategic research and analytic capabilities, to prioritize and size business opportunities. Our clients include food manufacturers and distributors, restaurants, retailers and multiple other business verticals aligned with the food industry that are looking to make informed decisions to support their business growth. Visit Technomic at www.technomic.com.

About the National Restaurant Association

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 15.6 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We sponsor the industry's largest trade show (National Restaurant Association Show); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart). For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.

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Wellington: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday (April 8) temporarily suspended entry for all travellers from India, including its own citizens, following a high number of COVID-19 infections arriving from the country.

The order will be implemented from 1600 local time on Sunday (April 11) and will be in place until April 28, Ardern said in a news conference.

During this time the New Zealand government will look at risk management measures to resume travel and lift the restrictions.

"This is not a permanent arrangement but rather a temporary measure. The temporary hold would also help reduce the risk that travellers themselves faced, PM Ardern said.

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern temporarily suspends entry for all travellers from India, including its own citizens, following a high number of positive #COVID19 cases arriving from there. The suspension starts on April 11 and will be in place until April 28: Reuters pic.twitter.com/MCNUdLZTNs  ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2021

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also said that the government would be looking at risks posed by other COVID-19 hotspot countries as well in its future course.

"I want to emphasize that while arrivals of COVID from India has prompted this measure, we are looking at how we manage high risk points of departure generally. This is not a country specific risk assessment...," Ardern said.

"We haven't identified anything obvious ... but we have to try and do better," PM Ardern added.

Additionally, the government will look into the quality of PCR COVID-19 testing in other countries. The authorities will also note if the tests are being taken in the last 72 hours or not.

New Zealand on Thursday (April 8) reported one new local infection, a 24-year-old who was yet to be vaccinated.

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Fisher suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and he was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The 25-year-old, shot in his right arm, declined medical attention at the scene.




Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (centre) holds phone talks with his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen on April 6 (Photo: VNA)

On April 5, the Cambodian leader also sent a letter of congratulations to PM Chinh.

During the phone talks, PM Hun Sen highly valued Vietnams enormous achievements in the recent past, voicing his belief that under the leadership of PM Chinh, the Vietnamese Government and people will reap more successes in national reform and development and unceasingly promote the countrys role and stature in the region and the world.

Thanking his Cambodian counterpart for the congratulations, PM Chinh affirmed the wish to work closely with PM Hun Sen so as to continue sustainably and effectively developing the sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and the two governments.

He said he believes that the Cambodian Government and people, under the clear-sighted leadership of Hun Sen, will contain the COVID-19 outbreak soon and obtain new achievements.

He also agreed to assign the countries ministers of health to share experience in COVID-19 prevention and control.

The two PMs noted with satisfaction their countries sustaining cooperation amid the pandemic, maintaining phone talks and teleconferences at all levels, and effectively bringing into play bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

They agreed to coordinate to effectively implement the agreements between Vietnamese and Cambodian leaders, strengthen ties in defence and security, improve the effectiveness of borderline management, prevent the spread of diseases, and ensure the smooth flow of goods through border gates.

Both sides also concurred in keeping close coordination at multilateral forums and joining other member nations to maintain the solidarity and promote the centrality of ASEAN.

PM Chinh thanked Cambodia for supporting Vietnam to successfully serve as Chair of ASEAN in 2020, while affirming Vietnams support for Cambodia to successfully organise the 7th Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit and the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in 2021.

During the talks, the leaders exchanged the invitation to visit each others nations.

PM Chinh also took this occasion to extend greetings to the Cambodian leaders and people on their traditional New Year festival./.
Joe Biden promises local governments $5 billion for infrastructure improvements if they agree to build more affordable housing options  like apartments for young workers.

In another trade off with Republicans the president is looking to financially incentivize bolstering affordable housing as part of his $2 trillion infrastructure bill.

The program would allow construction of apartment buildings in places currently zoned for single family homes to help younger workers in the most expensive U.S. cities where many spend a third  or more  of their income on housing alone.

This could pit older homeowners against younger renters, experts note.

Biden's proposal is yet another example of Democrats seeking to get more social reforms passed in exchange for the GOP's long-awaited infrastructure overhaul.

In an effort to combat Republicans' demand that the massive bill only address infrastructure, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand labeled child care, paid leave and other social programs as additional forms of infrastructure.

'Paid leave is infrastructure,' the New York senator tweeted on Wednesday. 'Child care is infrastructure. Caregiving is infrastructure.'

The tweet was immediately met with backlash from both sides of the political spectrum  and right-leaning Twitter poked fun at the claim with outrageous examples of 'infrastructure,' like unicorns, margaritas and mayonnaise.

Many Twitter users noted: 'If everything is infrastructure then nothing is infrastructure.'

Joe Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure bill includes a $5 billion program for states, cities and localities to fix roads and bridges if they vow to build more affordable housing options

As Republicans lament Biden's infrastructure bill is leaning more toward bolstering social welfare programs, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand tried to redefine the word by claiming paid leave, child care and caregiving are different forms of infrastructure

Some Democrats have also already shared their opposition to the sprawling legislation, which even has tucked in it a $5 billion gun control legislation measures to support community-based violence prevention programs.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a centrist, is one of the Democrats claiming he could opposed the sweeping bill that reaches far beyond an infrastructure revamp.

The Build Back Better jobs and infrastructure plan, set to be the cornerstone of Biden's administration, could reach a total price tag of $4 trillion by the time all is said and done  the largest ever of its kind.

The $5 billion affordable housing program would set up a $5 billion fund for local governments to compete for grants to pay for new schools, roads or bridges if they agreed to loosen zoning rules.

It is also an example of the sort of broad social policy changes Democrats are including in the $2 trillion part of Biden's infrastructure bill.

'This is a new approach that is purely carrot, no stick,' said a White House official on condition of anonymity.

A similar effort by former President Barack Obama failed to gain traction.

Donald Trump's housing secretary, Ben Carson, also voiced support for easing zoning rules but did not take action during his time in the former president's cabinet.

The $5 billion fund is being set up as a compromise to give the GOP desired infrastructure revamp while cities change zoning laws to allow apartments in areas where people spend one-third or more of their income on housing

Critics of the zoning laws say they drive up housing costs, contribute to urban and suburban sprawl and perpetuate racial segregation.

'It's an enormous step forward,' said Richard Kahlenberg, a housing expert at the Century Foundation, a left-leaning think tank. 'Very few politicians have taken the next step to propose something really meaningful to change the system.'

The infrastructure bill would need to pass the narrowly Democratic-controlled Congress, where Republicans are already attacking it as not focused on roads and bridges.

In a 50-50 split Senate, just one Democratic defector could kill the legislation  and if reconciliation is needed, then 10 Republicans would need to vote on passing the bill to get it to Biden's desk.

Zoning laws were rare in the United States until the Supreme Court in 1917 struck down laws that prevented Black people from buying property in white neighborhoods, prompting local governments to adopt rules that set minimum lot sizes and barred apartment buildings from many neighborhoods.

Under pressure from politically active homeowners, urban areas with the tightest restrictions in place - coastal cities including New York and San Francisco - have increased them further since 2006, according to a University of Pennsylvania survey.

Younger Americans, civil rights groups and employers have pushed some cities in the opposite direction. In recent years, Minneapolis has allowed small apartments to be built in residential areas across the city, and Oregon made a similar change for all urban areas.

California last year allowed smaller living spaces to be built next to single-family homes. But its Democratic-controlled legislature rejected a bill that would have required cities to allow developers to build high-density apartment buildings near transit lines and job centers, even if they are located in single-family neighborhoods.

With the U.S. economy near full employment in 2019, roughly one in three U.S. households still spent more than 30% of income on housing, near record highs, according to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies.

Trump himself explicitly campaigned against the idea of changing zoning law last year, warning 'suburban housewives' that crime would spike and home values drop if zoning rules were relaxed.

Housing experts praised Biden's proposal, but said it may do little to influence affluent communities that have the tightest zoning laws, which have little need for federal assistance.

'This isn't going to change the world, but it could do some amount of good,' said Jenny Schuetz, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank.

Biden may get more results if he conditions the hundreds of billions of dollars of transportation and housing spending in his proposal to zoning changes, but that could spur a backlash that could make it harder to pass into law, she said.

The sheer scale of Biden's proposed spending - $2 trillion in infrastructure following $1.9 trillion in coronavirus aid - may also dilute the impact of the $5 billion fund.

'We'll have to see how this plays out in a world in which there will be a lot of money sloshing around,' said Michael Stegman at the Urban Institute, who is a former senior housing adviser to Obama.
[April 08, 2021] Gatos Silver Strengthens Executive Management Team

Gatos Silver, Inc. (NYSE/TSX: GATO) ("Gatos Silver" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Rodrigo Monroy as General Counsel effective April 1, 2021. Mr. Monroy is a highly accomplished legal executive with more than 30 years of international and domestic legal experience with multinational corporations and law firms in the U.S. and Mexico. Most recently, Mr. Monroy served as Vice President, Chief Counsel International at TTEC. He previously served as Director, Strategic Project Group at Sun Microsystems (News - Alert) , as Foreign Associate at Holland and Hart and as Senior Associate at Creel, Garcia Cuellar, Aiza y Enriquez in Mexico City. Mr. Monroy is licensed to practice law in the U.S. and Mexico. "We are delighted to welcome Rodrigo to the executive management team," said Stephen Orr, Chief Executive Officer of Gatos Silver. "Rodrigo brings extensive international public company experience to Gatos Silver and we look forward to benefiting from his extensive knowledge of Mexico and U.S. law." Mr. Monroy holds a Law Degree from Escuela Libre de Derecho in Mexico City and completed additional post juris-doctorate studies in international and private law at the Hague Academy of International Law in Hague, Netherlands. About Gatos Silver Gatos Silver is a silver dominant exploration, development and production company that discovered a new silver and zinc-rich mineral district in southern Chihuahua State, Mexico. To-date, 14 zons of mineralization have been defined within the district and all are characterized by silver-zinc-lead epithermal mineralization. More than 85% of the approximately 103,087-hectare mineral rights package has yet to be drilled, representing a highly prospective and underexplored district. The Company recently built and commissioned its first operating mine and mineral processing plant at the Cerro Los Gatos deposit.



Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. and Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding the expected average annual production are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities commissions. Certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, qualifications and procedures which are set out only in the technical report entitled "Los Gatos Project, Chihuahua, Mexico," dated July, 2020 with an effective date of July 1, 2020 (the "Los Gatos Technical Report") filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities commissions. Scientific and technical disclosures in this press release were approved by Philip Pyle, Vice President of Exploration and Chief Geologist of Gatos Silver who is a "Qualified Person," as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators. For a complete description of assumptions, qualifications and procedures associated with such information, reference should be made to the full text of the Los Gatos Technical Report. Gatos Silver expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which such statements are based unless required to do so by applicable law. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005710/en/

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New Delhi:

After the Elphinstone Road station stampede which resulted in death of 23 people, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday defended government by saying that problems in Railways are not new and it was just passed on to them as inheritance.

"Not an excuse but problems in Indian Rail aren't 1-2 years old, they accumulated over years and were given to us in '14 as inheritance," said Piyush Goyal.

Goyal questioned people who oppose Bullet Train. He said that the people who oppose it must answer if they want to keep people unsafe and do they still believe in 100 year old technology?

"13 FOBs in Western Railway approved for widening and 10 new FOBs approved. 20 new FOBs on Central Railway approved. All to be completed in 1 year," said Piyush Goyal.

Earlier in the day, Goyal said that they are turning 150 year old convention on its head and hereafter foot over bridges will be deemed mandatory and not a passenger amenity.

"To eliminate bureaucracy and delays, I have empowered GMs to spend whatever is necessary on safety," said Piyush Goyal.

Railway Minister informed that additional escalators have been sanctioned at crowded Mumbai suburban stations and thereafter for all high traffic stations.

"200 officers to be relocated from Head Quarters as field staff to strengthen ground operations and project implementation," said Piyush Goyal.

Sharing decisions taken today in a high-level meeting on Railways Safety in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/8IQ1d9iKpF  Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) September 30, 2017

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SDI Productions / Getty Images

Banks get a bad rap. Its easy to make villains out of the people who control the cash, but banks are the beating heart of capitalism. The credit they extend and the loans they issue are the lifeblood of small businesses, big businesses and the American consumer economy as a whole. Investment banks got away with economic and financial murder in 2008, a fact that stained the entire industry for a generation. This time around, however, Americas biggest financial institutions appear to be making good-faith efforts at redemption.

2021 Small Business Spotlight: Nominate Your Favorite Small Business and Share With Your Community

Not only did banks keep crucial capital flowing throughout the COVID-19 crisis, but the corporations of the financial industry were among the very earliest and most generous givers from the outset of the pandemic, according to Inside Philanthropy. When civil unrest erupted in response to racial injustice in cities across the country, Americas banks again got on board quickly and with real money.

Banks large and small have made donations, started funds, launched foundations and distributed grants to nonprofits for all kinds of issues and causes, and they continue to be some of the most generous givers in the corporate world. Here are just a few of the ways banks are giving back.

Last updated: April 6, 2021

Bank of America branch in NYC

Bank of America Gifted $1 Million to Latino History

One of the most recent stories of banks giving back came just at the end of March when the Smithsonian Latino Center announced a $1 million gift from Bank of America. The gift made Bank of America one of the first corporate sponsors of the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the Smithsonians National Museum of American History.

See: Top 100 Banks Leading the U.S. in 2021

Bank of America retail location in Raleigh, NC

Bank of America Is Banking on Racial Equity

A single $1 million gift to an individual cause that supports minorities is definitely a good thing, but the Smithsonian donation is just a little sliver of a much larger Bank of America social justice initiative. Bank of America pledged a full $1 billion to be rolled out over four years. The money is earmarked for small businesses and community programs to address racial inequity, particularly as it relates to COVID-19.

Story continues

How Were Adapting: COVIDs Financial Impact After 1 Year

Citibank store front

Citi Put Its Foundation To Work

Bank of America is not the only big bank that dug deep for COVID-19 relief. Citibank and the Citi Foundation have given or pledged more than $100 million to pandemic-related causes. Also like Bank of America, the Citi initiative puts a special focus on areas of racial inequity that were revealed or worsened by the pandemic. The new funding increases Citis support for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which tend to serve the hardest-hit communities.

More: What COVID-19 Has Meant for Small Businesses

Chase Bank

Chase Went Big

Even the massive undertakings of Citibank and Bank of America look small next to JPMorgan Chases racial justice initiative. Chase has committed a massive $30 billion to address the racial wealth gap in America. The vast majority of that commitment will go to housing in the form of 100,000 affordable rental units and $12 billion in mortgage loans that Chase would not have issued otherwise.

Read: How Each Generation Has Been Affected Financially By the Pandemic

Zephyrhills Florida, USA - January 19, 2020: Wells Fargo Bank Branch Office, Facade and Signage.

Wells Fargo Built a Volunteer Army

Wells Fargo gives its employees 16 paid hours per year to volunteer their time in the communities where they live and work. Wells Fargo offers a big menu of volunteerism opportunities across the world and its workers have definitely taken their company up on the offer. More than 91,000 Wells Fargo employees are currently active volunteers  thats about one of the banks employees in three.

Sound Good?: 6 Uncommon Job Benefits You Should Demand Right Now

Dec 21, 2019 San Jose / CA / USA - US Bank branch located South San Francisco Bay Area; U.

US Bank Is Rebuilding and Transforming

Headquartered in Minneapolis at the epicenter of the George Floyd unrest, U.S. Bank created a fund dedicated solely to issues dealing with racism and inequality. Its called the Rebuild and Transform Fund, and U.S. Bank initially funded it with $15 million. It makes philanthropic donations to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)-led organizations with Black-led nonprofits taking priority. The fund is just one part of a much larger $116 million social justice initiative by U.S. Bancorp.

Related: 27 Major Companies Donating To Fight Inequality

Romeo, Michigan, USA - September 24, 2011: The PNC Bank building in downtown Romeo, Michigan.

PNC Has Served Millions of Children

The Grow Up Great initiative is the signature program of the PNC Foundation. Since its founding in 2004, the $500 million bilingual programs have served 7 million children. Focusing on children from birth through age 5, the program helps prepare the youngest and most underserved kids to get ready for school, socialization and learning. The foundation funds many other programs, as well, all of which focus on education and community investment, including affordable housing, community development and arts and culture.

See: Dont Miss These 4 Tax Breaks in the $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Plan

DARTMOUTH, CANADA - MAY 21, 2015: TD Bank exterior sign.

TD Bank Spreads It Around

The TD Charitable Foundation has contributed $254 million in nonprofit grant funding since the foundation was launched in 2002. Most recently, its Housing For Everyone program awarded $4.9 million to 32 different grant recipients. The awards went to communities in TDs region from Maine to Florida and were distributed through nonprofits dedicated to supporting renters and preventing evictions, particularly in the post-COVID-19 landscape.

More: How the Coronavirus Pandemic Is Affecting Renters vs. Homeowners

people at bank atms.

A Little Bank Made a Big Difference

Compared to the likes of Citibank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America, First Financial is just a little regional bank with only a few branches in flyover country. Even so, a February 2021 Northwest Indiana Times report shows that Cincinnati-based First Financial managed to donate $3.5 million in 2020 to charitable causes including coronavirus relief across the Midwest.

More Help: 30 Major Companies Giving Back During COVID-19

donating-charity

Truist Doubled Down

Just as the virus was beginning to settle in at the end of February 2020, Truist Bank was establishing its giving-back bona fides with a $1 million gift to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. When things started getting bad, Truist kicked its efforts into high gear. Initially, the bank donated $25 million to COVID-19 relief before doubling it to $50 million. Thats the amount it has donated since March through the Truist Cares program.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: A Look at Banks Charitable Efforts: Ways Bank of America, Citi and More Give Back
Ontario Conservative Premier Doug Ford announced a totally ineffectual stay-at-home order yesterday in response to growing warnings from doctors that the surging third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the provinces hospitals weeks, and possibly just days, away from collapse.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announcing State of Emergency (Source: CBC News)

Already there are more than 500 COVID patients in hospital intensive care units (ICUs). This is far higher than the number hospitals have warned would severely impact their ability to treat other critically ill patients. On Wednesday, 311 of the provinces 504 COVID-19 ICU patients were on ventilators.

Fords stay-at-home order, which included the reinstitution of the state of emergency he let lapse in February, imposes no new restrictions on schools and workplaces, even though these are the two main sources of the transmission of COVID-19 and its new more infectious and lethal variants.

The order limits nonessential retailers to offer kerb-side pickup but allows big box stores to continue operating. Ford announced that education staff and all adults in pandemic hotspots will be vaccinated sooner. But this will provide little comfort given the Canadian ruling elites shambolic vaccine rollout to date.

The governments callous indifference to workers health and lives is underscored by the fact that Ford announced no restrictions on industrial, logistics and other large worksites. And he and Education Minister Stephen Lecce continue to insist that schools are safe and adamantly resist calls for the suspension of in-class learning.

It has been widely acknowledged for months that the institution of sick pay is critical to reducing workplace infections. At present, large sections of the workforce, especially frontline workers in logistics, food distribution and health care, are so poorly paid they cannot afford to miss work. Yet Ford continues to stubbornly oppose even a temporary sick pay plan.

In a tragic case that highlights the governments and employers prioritizing of profits over human lives, a woman in her 40s died from COVID-19 last week after contracting it from her husband, who was ordered to continue going to work in a factory where an outbreak was under way. He was told to go work at this factory, and he got COVID, so did everyone else on his shift, and they got the variant, said Dr. Michael Warner, medical director of critical care at Michael Garron Hospital. It got brought home, their daughter got COVID and his wife got COVID.

In Peel Region and Toronto, two of the worst hit areas of the province, local public health officials felt compelled earlier this week to announce temporary, ad hoc school closures due to high infection rates. The medical officers of health for Peel and Toronto have ordered all schools to return to online learning for the remaining few days prior to spring break, which is scheduled for next week. However, nothing has been said about what will happen beginning Monday, April 19.

The total inadequacy of the Ford governments measures is demonstrated by the dire picture more than 150 ICU doctors and other medical experts painted in the open letter they released last week. Addressed to Ford, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott, and the provinces Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, the letter demanded a hard lockdown, warning that it is the only way to prevent mass deaths.

The current measures and framework are not working to contain the spread of this virus, they wrote. Ontario, they continued, is at a critical point in the pandemic, and we are being led down a very dangerous path by using ICU capacity as a benchmark for tolerance of COVID-19 spread.

The doctors wrote that they are bearing witness to a swift rise in patients with variants of concern (VOCs), and that this matters because the VOCs spread more easily, making them much harder to get back under control.

They added that each person who gets infected with a VOC has a higher chance of hospitalization, ICU admission and death. This has been confirmed by Fords own COVID-19 panel of experts, the Ontario Science Table, which recently reported that the new variants or VOCs pose a 63 percent higher risk of hospitalization, a 103 percent higher risk of ICU admission, and a 56 percent greater risk of death.

As of April 1, there have been 483 confirmed cases of the P.1 variant (first identified in Brazil) nationwide, 10,856 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant (first detected in the United Kingdom) and 313 cases of the variant first detected in South Africa. On Tuesday, provincial authorities reported that 63 percent of all infections are made up of new variants.

Even if we had unlimited ICU capacity, allowing these VOCs to spread exponentially is unethical, the doctors wrote. About 4 in 10 patients who come to the ICU with COVID will die. More than half of patients requiring mechanical ventilation due to COVID will die.

Patients who survive a prolonged ICU admission and are discharged can have significant long-term impacts on physical or cognitive function, the letter noted.

The doctors also described how they are now seeing a younger range of people being admitted into critical care: We are seeing younger patients on ventilatorsmany are parents of school-aged children. We are seeing entire families end up in our ICUs.

The doctors open letter provided a damning account of how the working class has wholly borne the burden of the pandemic, forced to choose between remaining in unsafe workplaces with minimal protections or sacrificing their income. The impact of this virus has been disproportionate, infecting those with highest exposure risk, commonly from lower-income and racialized communities, they wrote.

The signatories went on to paint a grim picture of what is soon to occur in Ontario if different measures are not taken rapidly. Doctors will be forced to triage the critically ill, to decide who gets ICU care and a chance to survive and, alternatively, who receives palliative care and dies. Patients who today can be saved will not have access to life-saving treatment in the event that hospitals are forced to enter a triage scenario.

These next few days and weeks matter, the doctors emphasized. They stated that not enough vaccines have been administered to the population to blunt the spread of the virus and reiterated that the virus cannot be allowed to run free.

We cannot rely on the public health measures framework, they asserted. It did not contain the less infectious, less deadly original variant in Wave 2, and it will not be enough to protect us from VOCs in Wave 3. Immediate public health interventions are needed today in order to curb transmission and prevent further unnecessary deaths.

On April 4, the medical officers of health of Toronto, Ottawa and the Peel Region issued their own open letter addressed to Dr. Williams calling for stronger health measures to be imposed. Dr. Eileen de Villa, Dr. Vera Etches, and Dr. Lawrence Loh implored Dr. Williams to issue a provincial stay-at-home order, stating that stronger restrictions are immediately required to reverse the surge of cases spreading throughout their respective regions. They wrote: A stay-at-home order issued by the province through an Emergency Order is necessary to prevent and mitigate large scale morbidity and mortality and irreparable strain on the health-care system.

In an interview with the CBC News broadcast on April 4, Anthony Dale, the president and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association, echoed this dire warning, saying, This is the biggest crisis in modern Ontario hospital history. Within a matter of a few short weeks, it seems very probable that our intensive care units are gonna run out of space completely, he added. That is why you see so many physicians, in particular, panicked.

In a tweet posted on April 4, Dale stated that over the next five days, 88 critically ill COVID-19 patients are to be transferred out of Greater Toronto Area hospitals that are struggling with a very high ICU occupancy. His tweet went on to say that these hospitals already need urgent relief to ensure equitable access to life-saving critical care services for patients.

The hospitals such patients are being transferred to are dubbed rescue hospitals. While this is perhaps an adequate short-term fix, the third wave in Canada is as yet in its early stages. Ontario hospitals already have a pandemic-related surgical backlog of 245,000 patients.

The letter from the 150-plus ICU doctors and epidemiologists concluded with a final plea: As ICU doctors, we are the last line of defence, and we are ringing the alarm bell. Please hear it. We implore you to act now.

The ruling elites disastrous mishandling of the pandemic has underscored that if the necessary action demanded by medical professionals is to be taken, the working class must intervene as an independent political force to enforce the prioritization of human life over private profit.

We urge all workers and young people who want to take up this fight to attend the Cross-Canada Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees inaugural public meting on Sunday, April 11, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Lenovo's second gaming smartphone, the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2, is finally official. Some of its key specs include a 6.9-inch 144Hz AMOLED screen, up to 18GB of RAM, a pop-up selfie camera and a massive 5,500mAh battery. Prices start at EUR 799 for the base variant, which will be up for grabs in May.

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Lenovo's newest gaming smartphone is finally here after weeks of it being teased. However, it will arrive in global markets under a different name tag- the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2. Gaming smartphones are often well-known for their misshapen form factors, and the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is no exception. It also takes cues from competitors such as the Asus ROG Phone 5 and Nubia Red Magic 6.

Key Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 specifications include a colossal 6.9-inch FHD+ 8-bit HDR AMOLED screen clocked at 144Hz. It has a touch sampling rate of 720Hz, 800 nits brightness (1,300 nits peak) HDR10+ certification, sub-0.5 Delta-e values, 1115 DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage, and a dedicated Pixelworks i6 chip- the same one we've seen in other gaming smartphones. These specs put the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 on par with its competition.

Moving on to the hardware, the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, coupled with up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage and 18GB of LPDDR5 RAM. Lenovo has employed two tiny, high-speed fans to keep the processor chilly during extended gaming binges, one of which is displayed prominently on the phone's back. The fans work in tandem with graphite layers and vapour chambers to help minimize the effect of thermal throttling.

Given its gaming smartphone status, the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is meant to be used in landscape mode. Lenovo has thrown in a total of eight additional points of input on the smartphone; of which two are capacitive, four are ultrasonic and two are embedded under the phone's display. Gamers can remap these to in-game actions to gain an 'edge' over the competition. The smartphone also comes with two USB Type-C ports- one on the bottom, and the other on the side.

One of the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2's unique features is its camera placement. instead of cordoning off a part of the phone's top half, Lenovo has decided to pack all of its cameras at the centre of the back panel in a (very) visible bump, which also happens to house the aforementioned cooling fan. Lenovo has chosen to keep the rear camera simple with one 64MP OmniVision OV64A image sensor (f/1.9 aperture) and a 16MP (f/2.20 ultra-wide-angle lens. Things get even more interesting with the pop-up Samsung GH1 sensor (f/2.0). The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel can record HDR10+ video at 4K 30 FPS and regular video at up to 8K 24 FPS,

Lastly, the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2's 5,500mAh battery consists of two 2,700mAh cells in a dual-cell configuration. It supports fast charging at up to 90W via a proprietary charging dock. Otherwise, it is restricted to 65W. The smartphone runs Android 11 based ZUI 12.5 and comes with dual front-facing speakers.

Price and availability

The entry-level Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is slated to cost EUR 799. Bumping that up to 16GB and 512GB will set you back by EUR 999. However, the latter also comes with Lenovo's proprietary Turbo Charger. The smartphone will start hitting shelves in some Asian and European markets in May 2021. North America may have to wait a bit longer, with no launch date set for the region just yet.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexico will join about 15 other states in requiring businesses to provide paid sick leave for their workers  but not until July of next year  under a measure signed into law Thursday by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The sick leave bill, House Bill 20, was one of 10 bills signed by the governor, who faces a Friday deadline to act on most measures passed during the 60-day legislative session that ended last month.

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It generated pointed debate at the Roundhouse during the session after a year in which the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on workers and businesses alike.

Even the governor expressed misgivings about the impact the paid leave bill could have on businesses, but she threw her support behind the legislation after backers agreed to postpone its effective date from this summer to July 2022.

This is, point blank, a humane policy for workers, Lujan Grisham said in a Thursday statement after signing the bill. No one should ever be compelled to come to work when they are sick. And no worker should ever feel they must choose between their health and their livelihood.

Once it takes effect next year, the new law will be among the nations most generous by allowing workers to take up to 64 hours of accrued leave per year.

The union-backed bill will specifically permit employees to use that accumulated leave for illnesses, injuries, family medical appointments and absences due to domestic abuse or sexual assault.

Critics argued it will impose another financial burden on businesses whose sales have plummeted during the pandemic, but supporters described their concerns as overblown at a time when many businesses are getting state and federal financial aid.

Many grocery store employees and other front-line workers testified during the legislative session they sometimes had to pick between going to work while sick during the pandemic, or staying home and risking losing part of their paycheck.

Bellanira Lozano, a Santa Fe single mother who works as a domestic worker and caretaker, said Thursday the pandemic hit her family hard.

This law means families like mine wont have to decide between getting paid or going to work sick, said Lozano, who is a member of Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a nonprofit organization that was among a coalition of groups that advocated for the new law.

Meanwhile, the proposal approved by lawmakers does not exempt small employers, as some other states have done. But it will allow employers that already offer paid leave programs to qualify under the law as long as they meet its minimum terms.

The new law will apply to all parts of New Mexico, including Bernalillo County where a paid sick leave ordinance for unincorporated parts of the county is in place but is not as generous as the law set to take effect next year.

Aid-in-dying OKd

The governor also signed Thursday aid-in-dying legislation that will allow terminally ill New Mexicans to seek medical aid to end their lives.

Previous attempts to pass the bill, officially known as the End-of-Life Options Act, had stalled at the Roundhouse, but this years version passed both the House and Senate amid emotional debate.

Every New Mexican deserves to live life as they choose, and to maintain that free will and autonomy when facing their final days with a terminal illness, said Rep. Debbie Armstrong, D-Albuquerque, who sponsored the bill during this years session.

However, the legislation was opposed by the states Roman Catholic bishops, among others, who expressed concerns that it could harm vulnerable individuals.

Once the law takes effect May 18, patients themselves will have to self-administer life-ending medicine. And health care providers will only be allowed to prescribe the medication to a patient after determining the person has a terminal illness and the mental capacity to make the decision.

The new law is named after Elizabeth Whitefield, a retired judge who testified four years ago while battling cancer in favor of similar legislation. She died roughly a year-and-a-half after her testimony.

136 bills signed

With the latest round of bill action, Lujan Grisham has now signed 136 bills passed by lawmakers during the 60-day session and vetoed one bill dealing with fees for water testing.

The remaining 21 bills still awaiting action before Fridays deadline include a $7.4 billion budget bill for the coming fiscal year and a $518 million capital outlay package.

The governor has more time to consider bills passed in last weeks two-day special session.

Proposals to legalize retail sales of marijuana and expunge cannabis convictions from court records face an April 20 deadline for action by Lujan Grisham.
MONTREAL, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (Osisko or the Corporation) (OR: TSX & NYSE) is pleased to announce several positive steps towards its ongoing commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. These include the release of an inaugural ESG report, commitment to the United Nations Global Compact (UN Global Compact), and an investment and strategic partnership to promote global decarbonization and biodiversity efforts through carbon credit streaming transactions.

Sandeep Singh, President and CEO of Osisko commented, ESG sustainability principles have always been core tenets of the Osisko group of companies. When Osiskos management team built the Canadian Malartic mine in our predecessor company, we did so by being on the forefront of sustainability practices. Those same values underpin our present-day royalty and streaming company.

Our inaugural ESG report entitled Growing Responsibly and voluntary commitment to the UN Global Compact improve stakeholder communication of our ESG successes, risks, and mitigation activities and highlight our belief in the importance of corporate responsibility.

We perform well under an ESG lens due to the nature of our non-operating business model, the quality and jurisdictional advantages of our portfolio and the importance our operating partners place on sustainability. Nevertheless, we intend to go further and strive to be part of the solutions for a Net-Zero world.

Our early stage partnership with Carbon Streaming Corporation (Carbon Streaming), a newly formed private entity, allows us to be on the forefront of a nascent sector that leverages our streaming expertise to fund capital projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These projects will not only offset our relatively small direct carbon footprint, but also provide opportunities to offset our indirect carbon footprint. We view this as an opportunity to have a positive impact while deploying a small amount of capital accretively.

ESG Report

Osiskos goal, with the release of its ESG report, is to facilitate ongoing discussions of our risk management processes and help stakeholders assess our relative exposure to, and performance managing, ESG issues. In addition to a discussion of corporate governance practices, the report provides a focused review of how Osisko assesses potential investments through its diligence process and monitors existing assets to ensure the Corporation is well positioned to deliver growth responsibly.

The Corporations ESG report covers the 2020 period as well as providing context on Osiskos historical activities. It is available on www.osiskogr.com.

Partnering to Reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

Osisko is also proud to announce a strategic partnership with Carbon Streaming to help promote global decarbonization and biodiversity projects. The groups management team consists of seasoned executives with significant streaming expertise and recognized climate change experts. Carbon Streamings business model is to fund carbon-offset projects that avoid, reduce or remove GHG emissions globally.

Osiskos investment totaled C$3.5 million for a 14.3% partially diluted stake in the company, which has been able to raise approximately C$36 million privately. The investment affords Osisko a 20% right to participate in any streaming transactions conducted by Carbon Streaming under certain circumstances.

Beyond the potential to offset the Corporations indirect carbon emissions, Osisko expects potential synergies with current and future mine operators in its traditional royalty business. Mining operations afford significant opportunities to generate carbon credits through ancillary projects that are value enhancing for the mine, the neighboring communities (through employment and conservation) and the environment overall.

United Nations Global Compact

As part of its broader ESG initiative, Osisko is proud to have joined the UN Global Compact. It is the worlds largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative, with over 12,500 participants across 160 countries. The UN Global Compact is based on ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. By signing onto the initiative, Osisko has committed to align with these principles, intended to promote and strengthen responsible corporate policies and practices worldwide. As part of our commitment, Osisko will release an annual Communication on Progress that outlines the Corporations efforts to operate responsibly and implement the Ten Principles.

Management Information Circular

Osisko has filed its Management Information Circular for its upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held, virtually, on May 12, 2021 at 3:30 pm (EDT).

Shareholders will be asked to elect the Corporations directors for the ensuing year, appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers as independent auditor, adopt an ordinary resolution to approve all unallocated rights and entitlements under the Corporations Employee Share Purchase Plan, adopt an ordinary resolution to approve amendments under the Restated Restricted Share Unit Plan and approve the unallocated rights and entitlements under said plan, and adopt an advisory resolution supporting Osiskos approach on executive compensation.

The Management Information Circular is available on www.sedar.com, www.sec.gov and www.osiskogr.com.

About Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd

Osisko is an intermediate precious metal royalty company focused on the Americas that commenced activities in June 2014. Osisko holds a North American focused portfolio of over 150 royalties, streams and precious metal offtakes. Osiskos portfolio is anchored by its cornerstone asset, a 5% net smelter return royalty on the Canadian Malartic mine, which is the largest gold mine in Canada.

Osiskos head office is located at 1100 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal, Suite 300, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2S2.

For further information, please contact Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd: Heather TaylorVice President, Investor RelationsTel: (514) 940-0670 #105Email: htaylor@osiskogr.com

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may be deemed forwardlooking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. These forwardlooking statements, by their nature, require Osisko to make certain assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forwardlooking statements. Forwardlooking statements are not guarantees of performance. These forwardlooking statements, may involve, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future events or future performance, the realization of the anticipated benefits deriving from Osiskos investments, including from its investment in Carbon Streaming with the objective of promoting decarbonization and biodiversity efforts through carbon credit streaming transactions, the general performance of the assets of Osisko, including the realization of potential synergies with current and future operating partners to generate carbon credits, and the results of development exploration and production activities as well as expansions projects relating to the properties in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream or other interest. Words such as may, will, would, could, expect, believe, plan, anticipate, intend, estimate, continue, or the negative or comparable terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and the conditional, are intended to identify forwardlooking statements. Information contained in forwardlooking statements is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including, without limitation, managements perceptions of historical trends; current conditions; expected future developments; the ongoing operation of the properties in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream or other interest by the operators of such properties in a manner consistent with past practice; the accuracy of public statements and disclosures made by the operators of such underlying properties; no material adverse change in the market price of the commodities that underlie the asset portfolio; no adverse development in respect of any significant property in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream or other interest; the accuracy of publicly disclosed expectations for the development of underlying properties that are not yet in production; and the absence of any other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Osisko considers its assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, but cautions the reader that their assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the control of Osisko, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affect Osisko and its business. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, that the financial information presented in this press release is preliminary and could be subject to adjustments, the successful continuation of mining activities in Quebec and more particularly of the operations underlying the Corporations assets, the performance of the assets of Osisko, the growth and the benefits deriving from its portfolio of investments, risks related to the operators of the properties in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream or other interest, including changes in the ownership and control of such operators; risks related to development, permitting, infrastructure, operating or technical difficulties on any of the properties in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream or other interest, the influence of macroeconomic developments as well as the impact of and the responses of relevant governments to the COVID-19 outbreak and the effectiveness of such responses.

For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forwardlooking statements made in this press release, see the section entitled Risk Factors in the most recent Annual Information Form of Osisko which is filed with the Canadian securities commissions and available electronically under Osiskos issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available electronically under Osiskos issuer profile on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. The forward looking statements set forth herein reflect Osiskos expectations as at the date of this press release and are subject to change after such date. Osisko disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

Source: Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd.
U.S. President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani gestures as he speaks as Trump supporters gather by the White House ahead of his speech to contest (Photo : REUTERS/Jim Bourg/File Photo)

Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday asked a judge to throw out a voting machine company's $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit relating to his false claims about the November 2020 presidential election being rigged.



Giuliani's lawyer said in a court filing that Dominion Voting Systems' lawsuit should be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, and because the company has not adequately justified its request for money damages.



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The filing said Giuliani denies defaming Dominion, adding that the former New York City mayor would present a more forceful defense on the merits if his jurisdictional arguments are rejected by the judge in the District of Columbia assigned to the case.



"Should this matter reach legal or factual adjudication on the merits, Giuliani will provide a vigorous and complete response," the court filing stated.



Trump and his allies spent two months denying his election defeat, and claiming without evidence that it was the result of widespread voter fraud, before his supporters launched a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.



Denver-based Dominion alleged in its Jan. 25 lawsuit that Giuliani "manufactured and disseminated the 'Big Lie,' which foreseeably went viral and deceived millions of people into believing that Dominion had stolen their votes and fixed the election."



Dominion said it filed the lawsuit "to set the record straight" and to "stand up for itself, its employees, and the electoral process."



Founded in 2002, Dominion is a major U.S. manufacturer of voting machines, and various Dominion machines were used in more than two dozen states during the 2020 election.



Giuliani has said Dominion's lawsuit was intended to intimidate him from exercising his free speech rights.



Dominion has similar defamation lawsuits pending against Sidney Powell, another former Trump campaign lawyer, and pro-Trump businessman Mike Lindell of My Pillow Inc. Like Giuliani, they have denied defaming Dominion.



Powell said in a March 22 court filing that her claims about Dominion were meant to be hyperbolic, and that "reasonable people would not accept such statements as fact but view them only as claims that await testing by the courts through the adversary process."


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AUSTIN, Texas  The son of a slain Texas jeweler was sentenced to 35 years in prison Wednesday after admitting he hired someone to kill his father.

Nicolas Patrick Shaughnessy, 22, entered a guilty plea to a murder charge during a virtual court hearing. His attorneys in a statement said he accepts full responsibility for his role in his fathers death, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Shaughnessys family members said in a statement that they were unsatisfied with the plea agreement.

It would be our hope that you are never released from prison, the family wrote. We understand this plea but are not happy about it.

Nicolas Shaughnessy and his now ex-wife, Jaclyn Alexa Edison, were arrested on a count of criminal solicitation to commit capital murder in May 2018.

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They were charged with hiring people to kill Shaughnessys parents, Ted and Corey Shaughnessy, who were in the bedroom of the Travis County home during the break-in.

Ted Shaughnessy was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds in a hallway. Corey Shaughnessy returned fire until she ran out of ammunition and hid in a closet to call 911, authorities said.

Detectives did not find signs of forced entry into the home, except for one that had been opened in Nicolas Shaughnessys bedroom. Detectives discovered he would receive $2 million in the event of his parents death.

Arieon Smith, 23, one of several suspects in the case, also pleaded guilty to murder in the same hearing and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Britain is set to pass the threshold for herd immunity on Monday, scientists say.

Modelling by University College London (UCL) suggests that 73.4 per cent of the population will have protection against Covid by April 12.

The figures outdo pessimistic estimations by Imperial College this week - which suggested that just 34 per cent would have the vital antibody protection by the end of last month.

Herd immunity is when an infectious disease stops naturally spreading in a population because enough people are protected against the disease.

Scientists disagree on what the exact herd immunity threshold is but top US medical official Dr Anthony Fauci has previously suggested it could be as high as 90 per cent.

The UK governments Chief Scientific Advisor Sir Patrick Vallance quoted a figure of 60 per cent back in March 2020 but scientists now believe it is much higher than that because the virus is more transmissible than previously thought.

Imperial College's results formed part of data by SPI-M - whose calculations feed into the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE).

SAGE released modelling in documents this week suggested that lifting lockdown curbs fully in June could lead to more than a thousand deaths a day this summer and push the NHS to the brink again.

But UCL's data suggests Britain could be well on its way to lifting lockdown fully by June 21, the date set out in Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown.

On March 30, a major Office for National Statistics (ONS) testing survey revealed 54.7 per cent of people in England had the virus-fighting proteins in the week ending March 14, up from 50.8 per cent the week prior.

But since that point, a further 7.1 million have had their first dose of a Covid-19 jab - bringing the total to 31,707,594 - and the country has seen an additional 100,000 Covid cases.

WHAT IS 'HERD IMMUNITY'? Herd immunity is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection. Effectively, it means that once people have some form of immunity, it reduces the ability of a disease to spread among the population. Therefore, someone who has antibodies either through previous infection or vaccines, acts as a 'barrier' to the virus. If you have enough 'barriers' then the disease cannot effectively spread through a population. But in the case of a new virus, such as with Covid-19, the virus can spread essentially without any barriers - which can lead to a pandemic. The World Health Organisation says it supports achieving herd immunity through vaccination, not by allowing a disease to spread through any segment of the population. But one expert told MailOnline that Covid-19 is here to stay and that the key is reaching a 'herd immunity threshold'. This keeps the virus at what is known as an endemic level - where a disease is regularly found among the population but is not harmful enough to impact on society. Keeping Covid-19 within the herd immunity threshold, which can vary particularly in winter when diseases such as flu and coronavirus spread quickly, will mean it is kept at a 'manageable level', the expert added. Research shows the current crop of Covid vaccines help by increasing the antibody response to the virus - therefore heavily reducing the risk that someone can be made seriously ill. But data is not yet available about how effective the vaccinations are at preventing transmission. Advertisement

This means virus-fighting antibodies are present in many more Britons than in March - with countless more thought to be a-symptomatic or with immunity from harder-to-detect T-cells.

UCL theoretical neuroscientist Professor Karl Friston told The Daily Telegraph: 'Over 50 per cent of adults have been vaccinated, around 42 per cent of people have now been exposed to the virus and about 10 per cent have pre-existing immunity.

'When factoring in the estimated efficacy of vaccination in terms of sterilising immunity, this  according to the model  means about 70 per cent of the population are immune.

'Based upon contact rates at the beginning of the pandemic and estimated transmission risk, this is nearly at the herd immunity threshold.'

UCL's modelling examines real-time deaths, infections, vaccinations and hospital admissions - among other factors - to determine Britain's current R Rate of 1.12.

The scientists' optimistic follows reports that Coronavirus cases have more than halved in a month and fallen in every age group.

Imperial College London epidemiologists estimated 0.2 per cent of England's population, or one in 500, were infected between March 11 and 30 compared to 0.49 per cent in February, a fall of 60 per cent.

The biggest drops were recorded in the South East, where prevalence went from 0.36 per cent in February to 0.07 per cent in March, in London (0.6 to 0.16 per cent), and in the East of England (0.47 to 0.15 per cent).

The REACT-1 study - which randomly swabbed 140,000 people in the latest round - also suggested cases may have 'flattened off' in early April. But experts said this was nothing to worry about and insisted this was actually 'good news' because it means the slight easing of restrictions in late March has not caused a spike.

Writing in the study, the researchers said that small upticks in cases will become less meaningful now that the Covid vaccines have 'broken the link' between infections and deaths. More than 31million Britons - or three in five adults - have received their first dose.

Boris Johnson has given the go ahead to outdoor pubs and restaurants reopening on Monday, saying his four tests for moving to the next stage of England's roadmap out of lockdown - including cases still falling and ramping up vaccinations - had been met.

Further relaxations will see foreign holidays allowed from May 17, and the earliest date all restrictions on daily life could be relaxed - excluding face masks and social distancing - is June 21.

Separate data from the Department of Health - which publishes daily case updates - also shows the virus is still in retreat, with cases yesterday dropping by a third to 2,763 compared to last Wednesday.

UCL theoretical neuroscientist Professor Karl Friston told The Daily Telegraph : 'Over 50 per cent of adults have been vaccinated, around 42 per cent of people have now been exposed to the virus and about 10 per cent have pre-existing immunity'

Covid cases have more than halved in a month across England, a major surveillance study has found. But they levelled off in the first few days of April, although experts said this was nothing to worry about and it was 'good news' they were not surging

The Covid infection rate had also plunged in all age groups. The lowest rates were among over-70s, who have all been offered at least one dose of the Covid vaccine

Boris Johnson (pictured in Perranporth, Cornwall, yesterday) is steaming ahead with plans to ease lockdown measures that will see pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and gyms reopen in England on Monday

BRITAIN'S DAILY COVID CASES FALL BY A THIRD IN A WEEK Britain's daily Covid cases have fallen by a third in a week but deaths rose slightly, official figures revealed today. Department of Health data showed there were 2,763 new lab-confirmed cases recorded and 45 Covid deaths, which was two more than last Wednesday. More than 31.7million Britons - or three in five adults - have also now received their first dose, after the national drive began to pick up the pace yesterday following the Easter bank holiday. It comes as the UK's medical regulator today recommended all healthy under-30s should be offered an alternative to AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine amid mounting evidence that it may cause blood clots in very rare cases. In a blow to the programme, the Government's vaccine advisory group recommended healthy people aged 19 to 29 should be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna jabs when the roll-out is expanded. A review by the drugs watchdog the MHRA found that by the end of March, 79 out of 20million Britons vaccinated with the AstraZeneca jab had suffered deadly blood clots in the brain or arteries - a rate of about one in 250,000. Nineteen of these individuals died and three were under the age of 30. Anyone who has already had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, regardless of their age, is being advised to go for their second appointment as planned. Experts stressed the blood clots were very rare, and England's deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van Tam said the risk from Covid always outweighs that from vaccine side-effects for older age groups who are more likely to suffer hospitalisation and death if they catch the virus. Advertisement

The REACT-1 study is watched closely by ministers because it relies on random household swabbing, meaning it targets symptomless people adn those who aren't going out for tests. Asymptomatic infection is thought to make up a third of all cases.

Participants are asked to swab themselves for the virus, and then post their sample to the researchers where it is analysed to establish whether they may have caught the virus.

Scientists received 140,884 samples over March, and found 227 of them contained the virus. For comparison, 689 out of 165,456 samples had the virus on them the month before.

Infection rates had plunged among all age groups, and were lowest among over-65s (0.09 per cent) who have all now been offered at least one dose of the Covid vaccine.

They were followed by 55 to 64-year-olds (0.17 per cent), an those aged 25 to 34 (0.18 per cent).

Infection rates were highest among five to 12-year-olds (0.41 per cent) following the reopening of schools, although this was still lower than last month (0.72 per cent), and 18 to 24-year-olds (0.29 per cent).

Commenting on the figures Professor Paul Elliott, who leads the programme, said the dropping infection rates appeared to be following the 'pattern of timing of the vaccines'.

'In the last few days of April it did flatten off, but this is good news as it didn't go up with schools opening and more social mixing,' he said. 'I think we were pretty gratified that the rates hadn't gone up because that was certainly a possibility.'

But he added: 'It is clear we need to keep a close watch as the lockdown is eased further. It's that balancing act between opening up society more and more social mixing.

'On the other hand rates have got much lower than they were, and we are now looking at one in 500 people carrying the virus whereas only two months ago it was much higher than that.'

It comes amid mounting concern over Britain's vaccine drive as regulators today recommended the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine should be offered to under-30s instead of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Leaked Government figures suggest up to 75 per cent of the country's supplies over the next two months are from AstraZeneca, with ministers heavily relying on the jab to hit their target of vaccinating all adults by the end of July.

Experts stressed the benefits of the vaccine outweigh any risks for older people who are most at risk of dying or being hospitalised if they catch the virus, but said the picture was 'more complicated' for younger people.

Professor Stephen Riley, an infectious diseases expert also involved in the study, warned that should Britain's vaccination drive slowdown it was likely there would be a concurrent slowdown in falling infections.

'The faster the vaccine roll-out is then the less the increase in social interaction will contribute to infections,' he said in response to a question from MailOnline.

'If the vaccine roll-out slows down then we would expect to see higher levels of infection. It's obviously protecting the people from becoming positives in our study.

'Other recent data showed even people who do get infected after being vaccinated are not as able to infect other people.'

Scientists also said Covid vaccines now appeared to be breaking the link between someone catching the virus (black line) and hospitalisations (top red line) and deaths (bottom red line)

Data also showed the outbreak is now focused in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West

The study also estimated England's R rate was currently 1.0, to reflect that cases appeared to have stopped falling in recent months.

This ties in with other estimates that have also shown the rate of falling infections has slowed as restrictions are eased, and cases get to very low levels.

The South East had the lowest infection rate in the country (0.07 per cent), followed by the South West (0.13 per cent) and the East of England (0.15 per cent).

On the other hand, the highest infection rate was in the North East (0.41 per cent), Yorkshire and the Humber (0.36 per cent), and the North West (0.31 per cent).
SGX Nifty:

Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could rise 56 points at the opening bell.

Global markets:

Overseas, Asian stocks are trading mixed on Thursday after the S&P 500 nudged higher to a record closing high overnight.

In US, the S&P 500 gained slightly to hit a record high on Wednesday. The moves on Wall Street came as the U.S. Federal Reserve released minutes from its March 16-17 meeting during which it kept its accommodative policy in place. The meeting summary indicated that while officials saw the economy was gaining considerably, they see much more progress needed before ultra-easy policy changes.

President Joe Biden recently unveiled details of his $2 trillion infrastructure plan that includes a corporate tax rate hike to 28%. He said Wednesday that he is willing to negotiate on the proposed tax increase.

Domestic markets:

Back home, the domestic equity benchmarks ended with strong gains on Wednesday, led by banks shares. Shares climbed after the RBI kept policy rates unchanged but committed to a massive government bond purchase programme. All the sectoral indices on the NSE ended in the green. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, advanced 460.37 points or 0.94% to 49,661.76. The Nifty 50 index added 135.55 points or 0.92% to 14,819.05.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 227.42 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net buyers to the tune of Rs 381.08 crore in the Indian equity market on 7 April, provisional data showed.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Starfire Energy, a developer of modular chemical plants for the production of carbon-free ammonia and carbon-free hydrogen, today announced the close of a major funding round. The investment round was led by AP Ventures, a significant investor in breakthrough hydrogen technologies, and included New Energy Technologies, Chevron Technology Ventures, Osaka Gas USA, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Proceeds will be used to advance the development of commercial scale applications to decarbonize ammonia production and unlock its potential as a zero-carbon energy carrier.

Ammonia is a promising energy carrier with an energy density comparable to fossil fuels and significantly higher than Li-ion batteries, compressed, or liquid hydrogen. It can be inexpensively and easily stored and transported, leveraging established infrastructure and shipping networks, and is regulated by well-developed codes and standards. Ammonia can be used directly as a fuel or it can be 'cracked', and its hydrogen harvested to provide a stable and efficient means of hydrogen storage and transportation.

Conventional ammonia production has a significant carbon footprint. Traditionally made from natural gas, the production of ammonia emits two tonnes of carbon dioxide for everyone tonne of ammonia produced. Starfire Energy leverages a patented catalysis technology that allows for the synthesis and cracking of carbon-free ammonia and hydrogen-leveraging renewable energy sources.

Starfire Energys Rapid Ramp NH3 ammonia synthesis technology produces zero carbon ammonia using only renewable energy, air, and water as inputs. The modular solution is sized to connect directly with renewable energy production, providing a scalable, distributed source of zero carbon ammonia. The company has also developed their Prometheus Carbon-free Fire, a system to crack ammonia back into hydrogen providing an efficient means of green hydrogen storage and transportation.

Starfires plants will provide carbon-free fuel to power utility gas turbines, large-scale ships, process heat for industries like steel and cement and fuel cell vehicles. The modular plants are mass-produced and assembled onsite for maximum reliability and quality along with low and repeatable costs.

We are very excited to be partnering with such notable global partners as we continue to scale up our systems and operations, said John LoPorto, Chief Executive Officer of Starfire Energy.

We are excited to be leading this pivotal round for Starfire Energy, said Andrew Hinkly, Managing Partner at AP Ventures. As an established investor in the hydrogen industry, we understand the critical role green ammonia will play in decarbonizing chemical and industry value chains. Starfires modular synthesis and cracking technology is uniquely positioned, and we look forward to supporting the business in its development and commercialisation. We are also pleased to collaborate with Starfire on system deployments in South Africa, where there is a promising emerging market for innovative zero carbon technologies, said Mr. Hinkly.

NET sees Starfire Energy as the most advanced green ammonia production candidate in the world. Our role is to unlock the value chain by accelerating green ammonia production projects, and Starfire is key to that. As a key commercialization partner were excited to take Starfires innovative technology out of the lab and get it into projects and to scale as quickly as possible. This is important technology for the world because it will help us reach net zero faster. We look forward to seeing Starfire as a core critical part of the green ammonia production sector right around the world, as green fuels become central in the new energy landscape said Greg Stace, Director of Technology at New Energy Technologies.

Our investment in Starfire Energy gives us visibility into green hydrogens potential to improve the way ammonia is produced, distributed, and consumed, said Barbara Burger, Vice President, Innovation and President of Technology Ventures at Chevron. This is the first investment from our new $300 million Future Energy Fund II, which will focus on industrial decarbonization, emerging mobility, energy decentralization, and the growing circular carbon economy.

"MHI views clean ammonia as an important new energy source for fuel use and hydrogen carriers and we are committed to expanding the hydrogen and ammonia value chain from production to utilization by developing technologies such as the hydrogen and ammonia gas turbine, said Ricky Sakai, Vice President of new business development at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America. "We are also eager to partner innovative technology and solution providers and have confidence in Starfire Energy's technology to create distributed ammonia production solutions that help industries, and our customers achieve decarbonization goals."

Osaka Gas USA has an ongoing initiative to identify and develop new technologies that are key to decarbonization and believes that green ammonia is a promising option. We see how Starfires technology would accelerate efficient production of Green Ammonia to support the realization of carbon neutrality. Through collaboration with Starfire Energy, we continue to advance our commitment to decarbonization, said Sei Tamada, Senior Vice President at OGUSA.

About AP Ventures:

AP Ventures is headquartered in London and manages venture capital funds with a global mandate to invest in pioneering new technologies and businesses which aim to solve global challenges such as renewable energy integration, resource scarcity and a growing population. The existing portfolio is focused on the hydrogen value chain and includes investments in Altergy Systems, C-Zero, ERGOSUP, Greyrock Energy, HPNow, Hydrogen Refueling Solutions, HyET, Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies, Hystar, Infinium, Insplorion, Plug Power, and ZEG Power. AP Ventures is led by Andrew Hinkly (Managing Partner) and Kevin Eggers (Partner). Investors include Anglo-American Platinum, Impala Platinum, the Mirai Creation Fund, Mitsubishi Corporation, Plastic Omnium, the Public Investment Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation.

About Chevron Technology Ventures:

Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV) pursues and invests in externally developed technologies and new business solutions that have the potential to enhance the way Chevron produces and delivers affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy. For more information, visit http://www.chevron.com/technology/technology-ventures

About New Energy Technologies:

New Energy Technology brings new green fuel technologies to market. NET focuses on emerging technology for green fuel production and green ammonia applications across the energy sector. NET works with technology innovators, providing finance and commercialization to achieve global scaling.

About Osaka Gas USA:

Osaka Gas USA Corporation ("OGUSA"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. ("Osaka Gas"), was formed to expand Osaka Gas presence in the United States and beyond. Downstream investments (Energy Infrastructure) since 2004, formerly under Osaka Gas Energy America, and upstream investments (mainly Exploration and Production) since 2012, formerly under Osaka Gas Resources America, now comprise OGUSAs asset base and include IPP development and investment, Oil and gas development, Natural gas liquefaction, LNG exportation and Natural gas trading. As an experienced strategic investor in the energy sector, we are looking to grow into a leading energy company in North America.

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries:

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the worlds leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world.

Contact:

Starfire Energy: Jennifer Beach: 303-363-7848; jennifer.beach@starfireenergy.com; http://www.starfireenergy.com
Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman yesterday (April 7) launched 'The Journey Through Time' masterplan as part of the ambitious AlUla Development Programme, thus marking a new chapter in the legacy of AlUla historical region, which is the worlds largest living museum.

Located 1,100km from Riyadh in north-west Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561 sq km, includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years.

The Journey Through Time Masterplan is a complex and elegant urban planning solution using innovation to maintain balance between nature, heritage, culture and sustainable development.

It is an ambitious roadmap to protect, preserve and sustainably rejuvenate AlUla and form the backbone of the worlds largest and oldest cultural landscape, formed from the combined works of man and nature over millennia.

According to the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), work has already begun across all sectors of AlUlas development: community, arts and culture, heritage and archaeology, nature and wildlife, agriculture, tourism and hospitality and infrastructure.

Once completed, it will see the establishment of five unique districts in the heart of AlUla, from Old Town in the south to Hegra Historical City in the north, each shaped by the site's natural and cultural heritage.

All the districts - AlUla Old Town; Dadan; Jabal Ikmah; Nabataean Horizon and Hegra Historical City - will each focus on an existing heritage site and will be traversed by AlUla's ancient oasis.

Under this masterplan, a 9-km portion, constituting the heart of the Cultural Oasis, will be fully rejuvenated, starting in AlUla Old Town.

Also a total of 5,000 additional room keys will be added into the overall target of 9,400 keys by 2035, with each district set to offer its own tailored blend of living and hospitality options, ranging from hotels and eco-tourism resorts to luxury lodges and canyon farms carved into the sandstone rocks.

In addition to this, 15 new cultural assets including museums, galleries and cultural centres will serve as landmarks across each district.

The 20km Wadi of Hospitality running along the ancient oasis's bed will connect the five districts and act as the green pedestrian 'spine' of The Journey Through Time.

A 46km low-carbon tram line will connect AlUla International Airport to the five districts. A scenic roadway as well as bicycle, equestrian and pedestrian trails will promote a smooth and experiential approach to mobility, championing low-carbon journeys.

The wadi and the low-carbon tramway will mostly follow the route used by pilgrims on the Hijaz Railway for many centuries before, ensuring a memorable visual and interpretive experience of the transition from oasis to desert.

Unveiling the masterplan, Mohammed bin Salman said: "Today, we embark on a journey to preserve the worlds largest cultural oasis and advance our understanding of 200,000 years of heritage. The Journey Through Time master plan is a leap forward to sustainably and responsibly develop AlUla, and share our cultural legacy with the world."

He also launched two flagship projects of the masterplan  the Kingdoms Institute and the Cultural Oasis  that reflect Saudi Arabia's commitment to offer the world a viable model for protecting, preserving and contributing to the world's cultural and natural legacy.

Kingdoms Institute will be a global hub for archaeological knowledge and research dedicated to the cultures and civilisations that have inhabited this area for more than 7,000 years, including the ancient kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan and the magnificent Nabataeans, who built the city of Hegra, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

According RCU, the Journey Through Time Masterplan is the first in a series of plans for AlUla and constitutes the first and most important part of AlUla's development.

It will be implemented in three phases until 2035, while the first phase is set to be completed by 2023, aiming to provide a comprehensive visitor-centric experience.

Upon completion of the wider development strategy for AlUla in 2035, 38,000 new jobs amid a population grown to 130,000 will have been created.

Also AlUla will contribute SR120 billion ($32 billion) to the Kingdom's GDP. Additionally, 80 per cent of AlUla County will have been designated as nature reserves with key flora and fauna reintroduced, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
The deal is part of the miner's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25% from 2018 until 2025. This particular agreement, according to the company, will contribute with a 6% emission cut.

Emesco will be responsible for supplying 30% of the power needed from Rosh Pinah, purchased at a fixed rate from a solar energy system that Emesco built in a neighboring property. This will lower energy costs by 18%,...
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-08 23:05:36|Editor: huaxia

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JAKARTA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of tropical cyclone Seroja in Indonesia rose to 165 with 45 still missing, the National Disaster Management Agency said on Thursday.

"Two died in Bima district, West Nusa Tenggara province, and 163 others in East Nusa Tenggara province," said the agency's head Doni Monardo.

In addition, 45 people are still missing and another 20,929 are displaced.

The Indonesian police and the army have deployed 7,572 personnel to search for the missing people.

Meanwhile, 115 public facilities were damaged, a number of bridges were broken, and agricultural irrigation and rice fields were submerged.

Likewise, 8,322 houses in East Nusa Tenggara and 5,333 others in West Nusa Tenggara were damaged.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency said such extreme weather as heavy rains, strong winds, and high sea waves of up to six meters occurred after the tropical cyclone Seroja was swirled in the Savu Sea, south of East Nusa Tenggara Province with a peak on April 5, 2021.

Currently, Seroja moves away from Indonesia's territory, but the impact would still be felt in a number of provinces in the south of the country for the next few days. Enditem
New Delhi, Apr 8 (UNI) Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar was on Thursday administered with the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital here.

"Today I took the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine by visiting Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi," the 63-year-old Minister informed through social media.

He further urged the eligible people to get vaccinated and said "Be afraid of disease, not vaccine".

The Minister had got the first jab of the vaccine on March 6.

UNI XC-ASN 1233
New Delhi: The US Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (April 7, 2021) and briefed him about the upcoming Leaders Summit on climate that will be hosted by President Joe Biden.

Kerry also briefed Prime Minister Modi on his productive discussions over the last two days in India and 'positively noted' India's Climate Actions including its ambitious renewable energy plans, as per the press release by Prime Minister's Office.

Thank you, @narendramodi, for the productive discussion. India has an ambitious 2030 climate agenda, having set a target of 450 GW of renewable energy. Looking for shared solutions to drive progress faster. https://t.co/X1mc1HBd6a  Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry (@ClimateEnvoy) April 7, 2021

Busy day today meeting with Indian partners in support of Indias decarbonization through investment in a clean transition. pic.twitter.com/KHpb7SiyuY  Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry (@ClimateEnvoy) April 7, 2021

PM Modi highlighted that India is committed to meeting its nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement and that it was among the few countries on track to meet these commitments.

Kerry noted that the United States would support India's climate plans by facilitating affordable access to green technologies and requisite finance.

Prime Minister Modi agreed that cooperation between India and the United States particularly on financing innovation and faster deployment of green technologies would have a positive demonstration effect on other countries.

Kerry conveyed greetings of President Biden to PM Modi, whereas, the Prime Minister requested the US envoy to convey his best wishes to US President and Vice President Kamala Harris.

PM Modi, notably, has accepted the United States President Joe Biden's invite to attend the virtual climate summit on April 22 and 23. Over 40 world leaders were invited by Biden to use the Summit as an opportunity to outline how their countries also will contribute to stronger climate ambition.
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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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A representative body of private healthcare industry, NATHEALTH-Healthcare Federation of India, has suggested inclusion of accredited diagnostic labs and home care and specialty providers for setting up temporary vaccination centres and inoculating the elderly at home.

The set of recommendations submitted by NATHEALTH to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and NITI Aayog also include setting up of vaccination centres in malls, schools, airports, resident welfare association centres in addition to large corporations with space and staff facilities.

"In order to win the battle against COVID, India's strategy must continuously evolve in the fields of vaccination, diagnostics, contact tracing, tracking, sero-surveillance, data analysis, and communication advocacy to overcome the challenges in a dynamic COVID environment. India has 2,000 labs for COVID testing now and keeping in mind the unprecedented second wave of the pandemic, we must focus on increasing the coverage of the vaccination drive and continue large scale testing in the states which are reporting high number of cases," Dr. Harsh Mahajan President, NATHEALTH and Founder and Chief Radiologist, Mahajan Imaging said.

Also read: Need for equitable access of COVID-19 vaccines, says Sitharaman at G20 meet

According to Mahajan, the infrastructure built by private diagnostics labs in the 1st wave of the pandemic can be utilised for this purpose.

"The phlebotomists at any accredited diagnostic laboratory chain are well-trained to inoculate the population with utmost compliance under the supervision of MBBS doctors. Home healthcare service providers and certified diagnostic labs in India have the required infrastructure and trained medical professionals to vaccinate. This will definitely help increase the coverage of the vaccination drive effectively in tier 2 and tier 3 geographies. The private sector has supported the Government in the fight against the pandemic and these recommendations submitted by NATHEALTH is an effort to further lend active support to the Government," he said, adding that, "the home healthcare industry and diagnostics sector with other service providers like pharmacies are looking forward to collaborate with the Government to accelerate their vaccination program at the community level."

Also read: PM Modi to meet CMs today to discuss COVID-19 surge, vaccination drive

NATHEALTH points out that the temporary vaccine centres set up in schools, malls, hotels/dormitories, airports, and large corporate houses can follow the standard operating procedures and operational guidelines of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, and facilitate vaccine storage, handling, administration and documentation.

The entire process will be similar to that being followed at hospitals, including registration on CoWIN, involving only those nurses who have been specifically trained on COVID19 vaccination administration, infection control protocols and standards, it says. Meanwhile, the central government has decided to permit companies to carry out Covid-19 vaccination at workplaces from April 11.

Also read: 'Deplorable attempts by some states': Harsh Vardhan on Maharashtra's vaccine shortage claim

Also read: Maharashtra closes 109 centres, Odisha 700 due to vaccine 'shortage'
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The Prosecutor Generals Office has filed a communication to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the facts of the assassination of the Ukrainian military during the Ilovaisk tragedy and the defense of the Donetsk Airport.

Deputy Prosecutor General Giunduz Mamedov signed and filed yet another communication to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on serious violations of international humanitarian law by representatives of the Russian Federation and Russian-backed illegal armed groups in Donetsk region, the press service of the Prosecutor Generals Office informs.

Prosecutors of the Department for Crimes Committed amid Armed Conflict at the Prosecutor Generals Office collected facts and evidence confirming the treacherous killing and wounding of Ukrainian service members during the events near Ilovaisk on August 29, 2014, and during the defense of the Donetsk Airport on January 19-21, 2015.

The communication was prepared on the basis of files of criminal proceedings, photos and videos from open sources, as well as collected material evidence.

The treacherous killing and wounding of members of the Armed Forces and other military formations of Ukraine took place against the background of humanitarian agreements. Ukrainian servicepersons, who had laid down their arms, and a car with the Red Cross emblem on it came under intensive fire as they were moving along a green corridor to leave the encirclement in Ilovaisk area. As a result, 366 Ukrainian servicepersons were killed, 429 more were wounded, 300 soldiers were taken prisoner, and 24 service members went missing, the statement reads.

During the defense of the Donetsk Airport, representatives of the Russian occupation administration in Donetsk region  the so-called DPR Defense Minister  and the Armed Forces of the occupying power called for a ceasefire regime to evacuate the bodies of the dead and wounded. However, the ceasefire was used to covertly plant mines on the positions of the Armed Forces and further blow them up. As a result, 25 servicemen were killed, 22 were taken prisoner, and one prisoner was killed.

Assassination amid an armed conflict is a war crime and violation of Article 37 of the Additional Protocol to the 1949 Geneva Conventions which prohibits killing, injuring or capturing an adversary by resort to perfidy.

In December 2019, the Ukrainian prosecutors already informed the ICC Prosecutor's Office on extrajudicial executions of Ukrainian servicepersons during the Ilovaisk tragedy. The Prosecutor Generals Office filed a total of 19 communications to the International Criminal Court on violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas.

As reported, on March 9, the Prosecutor Generals Office prepared a communication to the Prosecutors Office of the International Criminal Court on the facts of Russias shelling of civilian objects in Luhansk region.

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The United States is considering sending warships to the Black Sea in the next several weeks in a show of support for Ukraine and as a warning to Russia, CNN reported on Thursday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th April, 2021) : The United States is considering sending warships to the Black Sea in the next several weeks in a show of support for Ukraine and as a warning to Russia, CNN reported on Thursday.

The US Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea, but a deployment of warships now would send a specific message to Russia that the United States is closely watching rising tensions along eastern Ukraine's borders, the report cited an unnamed US defense official.

The United States is required to give 14 days notice of its intention to enter the Black Sea under a 1936 treaty, but it is unclear if a notice has been sent, the report said.
White House Says More Gun Control Action Coming: This Is the Beginning

President Joe Biden will likely issue more executive orders on guns in the future, according to the White House, coming after he announced new executive actions to regulate ghost guns, introduced Red Flag laws, and more.

The president is not going to wait for Congress to act to take additional executive actionsthis is the beginning, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters after Bidens speech at the White House on Thursday. He will continue to have his team review, both from a policy and a legal standpoint, additional executive actions that are possible to take.

Psaki said Biden will still attempt to push Congress to create long-term measures, without elaborating on what regulations he might seek.

But hes not going to wait, she added. He can move on both levers at the same time.

Last month, the House passed two background check bills, including one for people who are seeking to purchase or transfer firearms, and the other would give authorities 10 business days for federal background checks to be completed before a gun sale can be licensed. That came before two mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colorado, which prompted Biden to announce during his first news conference that he would be pushing Congress to take action.

On Wednesday, the White House said it would authorize regulating ghost guns that can be assembled via kits, propose Red Flag laws, named a gun-control advocate to head the ATF, create a proposed rule to make clear when a device marketed as a stabilizing brace effectively turns a pistol into a short-barreled rifle, set up community violence intervention initiatives, and release a yearly report on firearms trafficking data.

Nothing Im about to recommend in any way impinges on the Second Amendment, Biden said at the White House Thursday, saying that recent shootings constitute a public health crisis. He added: These are phony arguments suggesting that these are Second Amendment rights at stake from what were talking about.

Republicans and pro-Second Amendment groups decried the Biden administrations executive actions and said they would violate the Constitution.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were silent as rioters endangered families & burned cities, wrote Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Twitter. Now, they offer new restrictions that completely sidestep Congress & would do nothing to stop criminals, while leaving law-abiding citizens defenseless. Ill fight this cynical & unconstitutional effort.

Signaling opposition to Bidens gun agenda in Congress, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) wrote that Republicans will strongly oppose and pursue every optionbe it legislative or judicialto protect the right to keep and bear arms from infringement by this Administration.


According to a recent study led by the U.S. Geological Survey, the risk of scientists passing coronavirus to North American bats during winter research is low. Researchers discover the overall risk to be 1 in 1,000 if there are no protective measures taken, and the risk decrease to 1 in 3,333 or less, with the right use of personal protective equipment or if researchers test negative for coronavirus before starting the research.

Potential Transfer of SARS-CoV-2

The research looked specifically at the potential transfer of SARS-CoV-2, which is the kind of coronavirus that brings about COVID-19, from humans to bats. Researchers did not survey potential transmission from bats to humans.

USGS scientist Evan Grant, an author of the new rapid risk assessment said: "This is a small number, but the outcome of human-to-bat transmission of coronavirus are potentially very large, the virus has not yet been discovered in North American bats, but if introduced, it could cause illness and even death, which may endanger long-term conservation of bat.

It could also constitute a source for new infection and exposure in humans."These are difficult risks for managers of wildlife and other decision-makers to measure as they contemplate on whether and how to permit scientists to study bats in their winter colonies," Evan continued.

Also Read: Saving Bats From Wind Turbine Death

White-nose Syndrome

Bats issue natural services that people value; for instance, former USGS studies discovered that bats save the U.S. agriculture industry over $3 billion every year by feeding on pests that destroy crops, decreasing the need for pesticides.

Yet they are often inappropriately portrayed as frightening creatures at Halloween and in horror movies. They are also under threat from white-nose syndrome, a disease that has lead to the death of millions of bats in North America.

The origin of SARS-CoV-2 is not verified, but studies show the virus likely came from similar viruses discovered in bats in the Eastern Hemisphere.The quick risk assessment held by the USGS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concentrated on the winter season, when some wildlife researchers organize field work that may need close contact with or handling of the animals directly.

Risk of Transmission to North American Bats

This involves research on white-nose syndrome and population studies that encourage Endangered Species Act decisions. USGS scientist Michael Runge, another author on the new assessment said that If scientists put on protective equipment, especially masks that are properly fitted with high filtration efficiency, or test negative for COVID-19 before performing the research, they greatly decrease the risk of transmission to North American bats.

Three bat species, free-tailed bats, tiny brown bats, and enormous brown bats were included in the analysis. They were picked because they possess physical and behavioral differences and are typical of the type of bats surveyed in winter. Researchers thought about different ways the virus could be transmitted between humans and bats, with airborne transmission as the major pathway.

Related Article: Amazing Discovery: Never-Before-Seen Black and Orange Bat Species Found in West Africa

For more news, updates about bats and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Over the last decade it has been a wild ride for Ecuadors trouble-plagued but economically crucial oil industry. Former president Rafael Correas heavy-handed policies, centered around oil nationalism and greater state control of the industry, deterred foreign energy majors from investing in the impoverished Latin American nation. Those impacted the profitability of private energy companies and allegedly led to profiteering by state run energy enterprises and far-reaching corruption.

Since assuming office in 2017 President Lenin Moreno embarked upon on a strategy of reforming and reviving Ecuadors deeply troubled petroleum industry. The problems are so severe that Ecuadors refineries are incapable of processing sufficient fuel to meet local demand. Moreno believes those changes will attract the urgently required investment needed to renovate aging and dilapidated energy infrastructure as well as expand Ecuadors proved oil reserves and production. Among the most important reforms are Quitos decision to exit the OPEC oil cartel, in January 2020, and the push to privatize much of Ecuadors energy assets.

After a devastating 2020 marred by pipeline ruptures, declining petroleum output, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet another corruption scandal it was believed that Ecuadors oil industry might be finally stabilizing. In early 2021, Ecuadors Energy Minister Rene Ortiz forecast (Spanish) a 2021 production target of 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily, which is 4% higher than the average 478,981 barrels pumped per day during 2020. Ecuadors energy sector, despite oil prices rallying substantially, is struggling to attract urgently required investment to grow production. Data from Ecuadors Agency For The Regulation And Control Of Energy And Non-renewable Natural Resources shows March 2021 crude oil production averaged almost 502,000 barrels per day, which represented a 36-basis point increase over February but still 7% lower than a year earlier. That indicates prevailing headwinds, including ailing infrastructure, a lack of investment, heightened geopolitical risk and the pandemic are weighing on Ecuadors petroleum industry recovery.

Related: UAE Presents Phenomenal Plan To Boost Its Position As Oil Hub

It is worth noting that average daily crude oil production of almost 503,000 barrels for the first three months of 2021 is significantly higher than the 478,981 barrels per day pumped during 2020. This is because April 2020 outages of the SOTE and OCP pipelines, connecting Ecuadors Amazonian oilfields to the Pacific port of Esmeraldas, caused the countrys worst oil spill in over a decade. It is estimated that up to 16,000 barrels of crude oil gushed into the Coca River threatening local water supplies, notably the city of Cocoa, as well as damaging large tracts of land in a region already afflicted by substantial petroleum contamination. That ultimately caused the impoverished Latin American countrys oil production to essentially fall to zero, until the pipelines were repaired, because Ecuadors most productive oilfields are in its portion of the Amazon basin. As a result, the Andean country only pumped an average of 208,062 and 333,369 barrels daily during April and May 2020 respectively. For that reason, Ecuadors 2020 crude oil production only averaged 479,000 barrels per day during that year. While Ecuadors petroleum output for the first three months of 2021 has declined by almost 2% since December 2020 to around 503,000 barrels per day the governments target appears realistic if there are no further infrastructure outages.

Aging and poorly maintained energy infrastructure, notably pipelines, poses a key threat to Ecuadors oil ambitions. There are fears that the SOTE and OCP pipelines are vulnerable to further subsidence and erosion. The phenomena which triggered the landslides leading to the ruptures has been attributed to the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric dam on the Coca River which commenced operations in 2016. Essentially, the dam, by altering the water flow of the Coca River, has substantially bolstered the rate at which the rivers water are eroding its banks. This caused, firstly, what was Ecuadors largest and most famous waterfall, the San Rafael waterfall, to disappear during February 2020. The level of erosion was so severe it eventually ate away substantial portions of the riverbank until it reached the land beneath the SOTE and OCP pipelines causing them to rupture. Not only did geologists and hydrologists predict the extreme erosion but Ecuadors energy ministry as well as Petroecuador, operator of the SOTE pipeline, were warned that the pipelines could be compromised.

Authorities, nonetheless, allegedly ignored the warnings and little appears to have been done since to remedy the issue. While Petroecuador and Oleoductos de Crudos Pesados Ecuador S.A., the owner of the OCP pipeline, claim that over $20 million was spent to fully clean-up the spill, local communities were claiming as late as September 2020 that there is still considerable evidence of hydrocarbon contamination. According to community leaders there are regular minor oil spills into the Coca River and surrounding terrain. There are fears that heavy rainfall and the waterflow of the Coca River will cause further heavy erosion leading to further landslides and pipeline ruptures. This is magnifying already heightened tensions, caused by a long history of oil spills and environmental degradation dating back decades, between local indigenous communities, the national government in Quito and local oil industry.

Related: Should U.S. Oil Drillers Be Worried About Carbon Taxes?



There is a long history of government mismanagement when it comes to managing Ecuadors economically vital oil industry. Moreno, since becoming president in May 2017, has made significant efforts to reform Ecuadors petroleum industry to bolster regulatory oversight and transparency as well as attract urgently needed foreign investment. A special audit conducted by Morenos administration found that nearly $2.5 billion destined for oil industry works and upgrades was lost to corruption, much of which is believed to have occurred during Correas tenure as president. That saw Moreno push to accelerate his reforms which include merged Ecuadors state-controlled oil companies Petroecuador and Petroamazonas, completed earlier this year, with a stock market listing reportedly being considered. If that occurs it would bring Petroecuador in line with other South American national oil companies including Colombias Ecopetrol, Brazils Petrobras and Argentinas YPF, which operate as public private partnerships.

Unfortunately, infrastructure outages continue to plague Ecuadors petroleum industry, impacting production. Petroecuador was forced to close the SOTE pipeline for two days during March 2021 for maintenance, impacting production. The national oil company also closed the catalytic cracking unit at its Esmeraldas refinery for maintenance, causing the price for the high sulfur content bunker fuel it produces to spike. The Esmeraldas refinery has long been a trouble-plagued operation. Even a $2.2 billion upgrade undertaken when Correa was in office, which was tainted by far ranging allegations of corruption, failed to resolve the problems affecting the facilities operation. The Esmeraldas refinery is incapable of producing the low sulfur content maritime fuel required by IMO2020 or produce sufficient gasoline or diesel to meet domestic demand, forcing Quito to import fuel, placing greater pressure on an already fragile fiscal position.

To address that dilemma Lenin is attempting to put private operators in place. A consortium led by South Korea's Hyundai and U.S. contractor KBR were the only group to acquire a tender package for the planned $3 billion 25-year lease deal to take over operations at the Esmeraldas refinery. The contract was expected to be awarded in April 2021, but Ecuadors leading presidential candidate Andres Arauz, a protege of former President Correa, is opposed to the plan. He has stated that he plans to reverse the deal if completed prior to entering office. Polls show he has almost 38% of voter support for the 11 April 2021 presidential runoff against Guillermo Lasso, who has just over 30%. If Arauz wins office it is likely that he will reverse many of Lenins oil industry reforms, which will be a poor outcome for an energy sector lacking investment and in urgent need of modernization. Ecuadors energy sector is engulfed in considerable uncertainty. A combination of a decade or more of corruption, malfeasance and lack of adequate investment has left it exposed to regular production outages caused by deteriorating infrastructure. The likelihood of another populist leftwing candidate assuming the presidency is amplifying that uncertainty and weighing on an industry in urgent need of investment.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The United States and Iraq have reached an agreement to withdraw American combat forces carrying out the fight against the Islamic State. But it won't happen quite yet.

In a joint statement released Wednesday, the two governments agreed that the Iraqi Security Forces are improving and increasingly able to protect their own nation. And the ISF's increasing capacity has allowed U.S. and coalition forces to shift to a mission focused primarily on training and advising, allowing any remaining combat forces in Iraq to be redeployed, according to the statement.

The timing of the combat forces' withdrawal will be settled during upcoming talks, the U.S. and Iraq said. But they reaffirmed that U.S. forces are in Iraq to support the ISF against ISIS, and that both nations intend to keep working together on security matters.

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"The transition of U.S. and other international forces away from combat operations to training, equipping and assisting the ISF reflects the success of their strategic partnership and ensures support to the ISF's continued efforts to ensure ISIS can never again threaten Iraq's stability," the statement adds.

In a briefing with reporters Wednesday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby stressed that the U.S. military's fight against ISIS was always going to end at some point.

"There was no expectation that it was going to be a permanent, enduring mission or footprint," he said. "So I think we've all been working toward the eventual redeployment, when we both agree. And the Iraqis believe that there's a need for that mission to end, and there's no need for American support on the ground."

Kirby said there are still 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq, adding that their mission had already largely evolved into an "advise and assist" role. It is unclear how many of those forces will be considered combat troops and subject to redeployment, or when the next technical talks on redeployment will take place.

The agreement does not spell out a date for withdrawal, or requirements for troop numbers to reach a certain point by a certain time, Kirby said. Eventually, he explained, the nations will determine the appropriate time to redeploy combat troops and what the footprint of any remaining forces will look like.

The U.S. will still advise and assist Iraqi forces to help them further improve their ability to fight ISIS, he said.

"Both sides agree that that mission is still important," Kirby said. "The invitation by the Iraqi government is still in place. And we're continuing as we have been, even before today's talks, to talk with the Iraqi government about what that mission and that footprint will look like."

Kirby said he expects that Iraqi forces will be much more able to withstand future incursions than they were in 2014, as ISIS tore across the nation.

When the U.S. last withdrew troops from Iraq in 2011, he said, the ISF was capable and competent. But in the wake of America's departure, he said, Iraqi forces weren't managed well enough to keep that combat capability in place; the force became more sectarian and wasn't able to effectively fight back against ISIS.

And while ISIS remains dangerous, Kirby said, it is also a much diminished threat from what it was seven years ago in terms of size, capability, competence, resourcing and recruiting ability. Territorially, he said, ISIS holds virtually no ground anymore.

"That's a testament not just to what the United States has been able to contribute to the effort, but to the whole coalition," he said. "And it's also a testament to the Iraqi Security Forces in the manner in which they have improved their capability and responded to the training and the assistance that they've been getting from the coalition. ... They are a vastly better force than they were before."

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

Related: Iraq Kills ISIS Commander, a Week After Baghdad Suicide Blasts
Godzilla vs Kong was not the only monster drama that we witnessed this week. Shoppers were witness to an apocalypse-type moment at a Thailand supermarket named 7 Eleven when a giant monitor lizard came in as their co-shopper.

The monitor lizard was seen climbing up a shelf in a 45-second video shared by the senior journalist Andrew MacGregor Marshall on Twitter with the caption 'OMFG'. Some customers can be heard screaming out of fear while others are laughing nervously in the background.





The tweet by Marshall has garnered numerous likes and retweets so far. Netizens had a field day with this bizarre event and one of them even went onto ask is Kong vs The Monitor coming next.

Is this the coming attraction for Kong vs. The Monitor?  Mark Stern (@mfstern) April 7, 2021

nah. it's a monitor lizard (Hear)  making profile picture (@BumpermanXDTH) April 7, 2021

Is it the' Milk Monitor'   Thorinoaken (@Thorinoaken6) April 7, 2021

Nothing to see here, just a 6ft monitor lizard raiding a supermarket in Thailand.  pic.twitter.com/AJCa5teJ2e   DaddyMO (@therealdaddymo1) April 7, 2021

Deleted post credits scene from the #GodzillaVsKong movie. pic.twitter.com/dx3RTXFDLA  TASK Leader of the Invincible Cult #StopAsianHate (@UpToTASK) April 7, 2021

ARE MONITOR LIZARDS DANGEROUS?

According to National Parks, a Singapore government agency website, monitor lizards do have venom secreting glands. While this poison is enough to kill its smaller preys like insects, spiders, small mammals, birds, amphibians and fish by causing rapid swelling, low blood pressure and blood clot inhibition, it has a comparatively mild effect on humans. In case of humans, the main cause of worry is the subsequent bacterial infection.

Like most wild animals, these creatures do not attack unless they are provoked. You will be absolutely fine if you keep a safe distance.

HAVE MONITOR LIZARDS BEEN FOUND IN INDIA?

This, however, is not the first time that social media is abuzz with such news. Back in July 2020, IPS officer HGS Dhaliwal shared an image of a giant monitor lizard gallivanting at someone's home in Delhi's Chhatarpur area.

Spotted at someones home in Delhi!! pic.twitter.com/4HG9vMhQ7V  HGS Dhaliwal (@hgsdhaliwalips) July 9, 2020

KOMODO DRAGON VS MONITOR LIZARDS

Scientific name of a Monitor Lizard is Varanus whereas a Komodo dragon's scientific name is Varanus Komodensis. While a monitor lizard can weigh 360 pounds, the average weight of a Komodo dragon is 200 pounds. Adult monitor lizards can range from 7.9 inches to more than 10 feet whereas the size of a male komodo dragon is 8-9 feet and in case of females, it can reach upto 6 feet, thus making it difficult for Komodos to climb.

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In this June 24, 2015 file photo, American-Brazilian businessman David Neeleman, right, talks to journalists during a join news conference with his partner Portuguese businessman Humberto Pedrosa, in Lisbon. Two new U.S. airlines are planning on starting service this spring, tapping into the travel recovery that is picking up speed. Breeze Airways is the latest creation of Neeleman, who founded JetBlue Airways more than 20 years ago. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

Americans are traveling in the greatest numbers in more than a year, and soon they will have two new leisure-oriented airlines to consider for those trips.

Both hope to draw passengers by filling in smaller strands on the spider web of airline routes crisscrossing the United States.

Avelo Airlines said Thursday that it will begin flying later this month to 11 destinations from Burbank, California. The startup plans to add other routes in the West as soon as it grows its fleet of three Boeing 737 jets.

Avelo was started by a longtime airline executive who thinks there is room for another low-fare carrier besides the several budget airlines already in the market.

"There are too few seats in the United States being offered by low-cost carriers. That's why we think the opportunity is huge," said Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy. "Customers want a really inexpensive way to get from Point A to Point B."

Waiting in the wings is Breeze Airways, the latest creation of David Neeleman, who helped start Canada's WestJet before founding JetBlue Airways and the Brazilian airline Azul.

Breeze plans to fly to "neglected, forgotten" markets, including many that larger airlines have abandoned. Breeze is currently running proving flights for the Federal Aviation Administration and could announce details around routes and fares as soon as next week and be carrying passengers in May.

The planning for both airlines started before the coronavirus pandemic hit, but they are starting up just as long-homebound Americans look to break out and travel like it's 2019 again. More than 1 million Americans have been flying each day for nearly a month now, and people who kept their jobs through the pandemic have saved more, which they could tap for trips.

The last new U.S. airline was Virgin America, which began flying in 2007 and disappeared after Alaska Airlines bought it in 2016.

It's hard to start an airline because of high costs for planes, fuel, technology, and labor. The pandemic has helped, however, by leading to a glut of planes and available workers, says Jonathan Kletzel, a transportation expert at consultant PwC. Still, start-ups face another riskfierce pushback if they threaten a market valued by an established airline.

When new entrants show up in a city, "the majors can always deploy (flights) there at a low price point and completely crush them," Kletzel says. "These entrants need to make sure that they target places that aren't going to ruffle the wrong feathers."

___

AVELO

Levy is a former Allegiant Air and United Airlines executive who has finally achieved a yearslong dream of starting an airline.

Avelo's strategy is straight out of the low-cost-carrier playbook first written by Southwest Airlines in the 1970s and copied by others, including Allegiant. Part of that strategy involves sticking to secondary airports that have lower costs and less congestionplanes land, take on new passengers, and take off quickly, spending more time in the air and less on the ground.

"It's not that it hasn't been done before, it's just that it hasn't been done in a really long timestaying away from the really big airports wherever it is possible," Levy says.

One of Avelo's first destinations, Ogden, Utah, "is a nice, convenient, easy-to-navigate airport," he says. "There are a lot of those around the country that have been unserved or at least underserved. Those are the markets we're going to target."

Allegiant is the only airline currently flying to Ogden, and only from Phoenix, while nearly a dozen carriers compete at nearby Salt Lake City.

Avelo's first flight on April 28 will be from Burbank to Santa Rosa, in Northern California's wine country. No other airline flies that route, although Alaska Airlines goes to Santa Rosa from John Wayne Airport, about a 90-minute drive from Burbank.

The airline will fly 189-seat Boeing 737-800 planes, which are plentiful and, Levy says, a bargain on the used-plane market. The planes won't have on-board internet access, at least not this year.

Avelo launched with $19 promotional fares. Like other budget airlines, Avelo will charge extra for many options, including an assigned seat and carry-on bags that go in the overhead bins.

Costs at a start-up airline "are real easy to forecast; the revenue is the hard part," Levy says. If Avelo hits revenue targets, "we will definitely be profitable before the end of this year, and 2022 will be a profitable year." That is roughly the same outlook that analysts have for major U.S. airlines, which are known commodities with established customer bases.

___

BREEZE

Breeze hasn't detailed where it will begin operations, although the airline has hinted it will be in the Southeast, including Florida, a popular destination for leisure travelers. Neeleman says the timing is right.

"Leisure traffic is crazy right now. A lot of people have vaccines, and younger, healthier people are like, 'I'm good,' " Neeleman said in an interview. "There is a lot of pent-up demand, probably more than the seats that are available."

In contrast to Avelo, Breeze will start out using smaller planes, 118-seat Embraer E-190s that it will lease, including some from Azul. Neeleman said the lower operating costs of the smaller planes will help his new airline succeed on routes that others are passing up or have abandoned.

"We can get trip costs that are 20% to 25% below where the other guys are," he said. "Because we have a smaller airplane, we can go into markets that may not make sense for them but make all the sense in the world for us."

There are "hundreds" of such overlooked routes, Neeleman says. He says about 80% of the airline's capacity will be deployed on routes where there is no other nonstop service, only indirect connections.

Like Avelo, Breeze planes won't have a separate cabin for first-class or business-class seating, but Neeleman isn't ruling that out when his airline begins flying slightly larger Airbus A220 jets later this year.

Neeleman figures Breeze needs to fill about 60% of its seats to break even.

"We fully expect to be profitable next year," he said.

Explore further Airlines return to old ways; Southwest drops boarding change

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Statistics

As of January 2019, Texas had an estimated 25,848 experiencing homelessness on any given day, as reported by Continuums of Care to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Of that total, 1,919 were family households, 1,806 were veterans, 1,355 were unaccompanied young adults (aged 18-24), and 3,511 were individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.

Public school data reported to the U.S. Department of Education during the 2017-18 school year shows that an estimated 231,305 public school students experienced homelessness over the course of the year. Of that total, 56,174 students were unsheltered, 19,797 were in shelters, 19,942 were in hotels/motels, and 135,392 were doubled up.

Source: United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden on Thursday will announce a half-dozen executive actions focused on curbing gun violence, including regulations on home-assembled firearms and the nomination of a gun-control advocate to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The initiatives are the first major actions that Biden will take as president on guns, a top Democratic priority that has only become more urgent after recent mass shootings in Boulder, Colo., and the Atlanta area.

"We know that Americans are dying from gun violence every single day in this country," a senior administration official, briefing reporters on the condition of anonymity, said Wednesday. "That's why we are pursuing an agenda that will address not only mass shootings, but also community violence disproportionately affecting Black and Brown Americans, domestic violence and suicide by firearm."

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The White House has suggested that executive actions by Biden would not preclude legislation on Capitol Hill, where a pair of bills expanding background checks passed the House last month, with support from nearly all Democrats and a handful of Republicans. The senior administration official emphasized that Biden could issue more executive actions on gun violence in the future.

Biden plans to announce his new directives at a White House event accompanied by Attorney General Merrick Garland, as well as advocates for stricter gun laws and lawmakers who have worked on the issue.

So-called ghost guns - devices without serial numbers that are sold in kits and assembled at home - will be a major focus of Thursday's executive actions. Biden plans to direct the Justice Department to issue a tentative rule meant to "help stop the proliferation" of the devices, the official said, without providing specifics.

The president will also tap David Chipman - a veteran ATF special agent who for five years has served as senior policy adviser at Giffords - as his nominee to lead the bureau, a key agency in the fight against gun violence that has gone without a permanent director for years.

Before his current role at Giffords - an advocacy group led by former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who was injured in a 2011 mass shooting - Chipman was a special agent at ATF for more than two decades. He worked on gun-trafficking operations and investigations into the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

Over his 25-year career at ATF, Chipman rose from an investigator focused on bombings and arson to a supervisory role in the agency. He was a member of ATF's version of a SWAT team and was in charge of the agency's firearms programs. After leaving ATF, Chipman worked at Everytown for Gun Safety and ShotSpotter, a private company focused on improving policing strategies.

Giffords was critically injured in January 2011 when a man went on a shooting rampage outside a supermarket where the congresswoman was meeting with constituents. She has since become a leading voice for gun control, and she praised Chipman on Wednesday.

"As a former ATF special agent, David will be able to address the most pressing issues facing the bureau from day one, including reducing gun violence," Giffords, whose husband is Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said in a statement. "David has spent his career serving the public, combating violent crime, and striving to make our nation and our communities safer."

She also praised Biden's planned executive actions. "Days like today are why we fought so hard to bring a gun safety champion to the White House," Giffords said.

The ATF director role has often become embroiled in politics, and it is not clear if Chipman can be confirmed in an evenly divided Senate given his record of advocating for tougher gun laws. The last permanent director of the bureau was Todd Jones, who was confirmed in 2013 under the Obama administration and left the post in 2015.

THE REAL CAPITAL: Sorry Dan, Houston is the TRUE capital of Texas

Biden on Thursday will also direct the Justice Department to draft policy that would scrutinize arm braces that help steady AR-15 style pistols. The braces coupled with shorter barrels make the weapons legally pistols, which are far less regulated than functionally identical short-barreled rifles. DOJ will also craft a template for states to enact red-flag laws, which empower a judge to keep firearms from people determined to be a threat to themselves or others.

The other actions include a directive to the Justice Department to issue a report on gun trafficking and an order for more funding of community violence intervention programs.

"It is long, long past time for Congress to act," the senior administration official said. "But that doesn't mean that we can''t call for Congress to act and also push through executive actions at the same time."

In lieu of legislative action, several lawmakers have urged the president to issue executive orders on guns. Four Democratic senators - Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Dianne Feinstein of California, Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut - wrote to Biden last month, asking the administration to regulate ghost guns like other firearms.

"It's incredibly exciting and a tremendous relief to finally have allies in the struggle against gun violence in the White House," Blumenthal said Wednesday. "Both President Biden and Vice President [Kamala] Harris are longtime champions committed to doing everything in their power to stem the tide of this public health epidemic."

Republicans contend that tightening gun control would do little to prevent gun violence.

"Every time there's a shooting, we play this ridiculous theater where this committee gets together and proposes a bunch of laws that would do nothing to stop these murders," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said at a recent Judiciary Committee hearing.

Any change to current gun regulations is likely to be challenged in court by gun rights groups. One such lawsuit resulted recently in a federal appeals court rejecting a Trump administration rule change designed to ban bump stocks, attachments to semiautomatic rifles that make the weapons fire much more quickly, similar to fully automatic weapons.

While campaigning for the Democratic nomination, Biden promised that gun legislation would be a "day one" priority for him, including legislation that would repeal liability protections for gun manufacturers. But the White House has yet to release a legislative plan, instead deferring to a pair of bills passed by the Democratic-controlled House last month.

On the liability legislation, as well as executive actions on guns, Biden said in a news conference last month that he planned to do "all of the above" but that it was a "matter of timing," suggesting that other goals were more urgent.

"As you've all observed, successful presidents - better than me - have been successful, in large part because they know how to time what they're doing - order it, decide and prioritize what needs to be done," Biden said.

The House measures would expand background checks to include private transactions between unlicensed individuals, while closing what advocates of stricter gun laws have called the "Charleston loophole," which allows a gun sale to go through if a background check isn't finished after three days.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has promised to put those bills on the Senate floor for a vote, but it's unclear whether they can win even a simple majority, much less the support of 60 senators needed to pass most legislation in the Senate.

Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., has signaled opposition to the House-passed gun measures, preferring instead a more modest expansion of background checks that he co-wrote with Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., in the aftermath of the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

- - -

The Washington Post's Devlin Barrett contributed to this report.
Johns Hopkins Medicine expert creates comprehensive guide to new diabetes drugs

New medicines for people who have diabetes seem to pop up all the time. Drugs that help the body break down carbohydrates, drugs that increase excretion of glucose in the urine, drugs that help muscles respond to insulin and drugs that stimulate the pancreas to produce it -- the list of pharmaceutical options to treat diabetes gets longer and longer.

The downside of this wealth of treatment options is that it can be difficult for health care providers to stay on top of the latest research and standards of care. Which medication is best for which patients? And what are the best medicines to prescribe that both lower blood glucose and reduce risk for cardiovascular disease?

Johns Hopkins Medicine endocrinologist and associate professor Rita Rastogi Kalyani, M.D., authored a clinical practice review article in the April 1 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that distills the newest trial results and guidelines into a systematic approach for treating patients with diabetes and a risk of cardiovascular disease. Kalyani's article is the first clinical practice review that the journal has published on diabetes management in almost a decade.

Different from research studies, clinical practice reviews present a common clinical problem and the evidence supporting various treatment strategies, followed by a review of the guidelines and the author's clinical recommendations to optimize patient care.

People who have type 2 diabetes are more than twice as likely to develop atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure than people who don't have the disease. The NEJM article presents an up-to-date approach for health care providers when choosing among glucose-lowering therapies for their patients with diabetes, particularly to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

"We've seen a major shift in diabetes care over the past few years," says Kalyani. "We now have tools to better understand how to reduce both microvascular and macrovascular complications in people with type 2 diabetes."

The article examines the cardiovascular benefits and risks of the most commonly used drugs for diabetes that are currently available on the U.S. market.

Kalyani lists specific agents in two newer drug classes as beneficial for patients with diabetes who already show signs of heart or blood vessel disease.

The glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists liraglutide, injectable semaglutide and dulaglutide increase insulin production from the body, particularly after meals.

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors empagliflozin and canagliflozin reduce the amount of glucose the body re-absorbs through urine.

All are effective at helping patients reduce the chance of having a major cardiovascular event, such as heart attack or stroke. The SGLT2 inhibitor, dapagliflozin, is effective at helping reduce the chance of hospitalization for heart failure.

"After metformin, which is widely considered the initial drug treatment for type 2 diabetes, specific drugs in the GLP-1 receptor agonist and SGLT2 inhibitor classes with demonstrated cardiovascular benefit should be considered as additional medications for patients who already have cardiovascular disease. This should be done irrespective of whether their A1C level is at target to reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events," says Kalyani, referring to the hemaglobin A1C test, which measures a patient's average blood glucose level over three months.

Sugar attaches to a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to organs and tissue and that transports carbon dioxide to the lungs. The A1C test measures the average percentage of glucose in a person's hemoglobin over the span of several months. Healthy A1C levels are below 5.7%. Generally, A1C levels higher than 6.5% indicate diabetes.

Kalyani notes that the newer drugs tend to be more expensive, and long-term effects are unknown. Before 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the agency that regulates the pharmaceutical industry -- did not require large outcome trials for drugs after their introduction to the market. As a result, says Kalyani, the cardiovascular effects of older drugs remain less certain.

The NEJM article details specific drugs that offer additional benefits for patients with diabetes who have conditions such as multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors, heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

"Some agents such as dulaglutide and dapagliflozin also have demonstrated cardiovascular benefit in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors," Kalyani says.

Further, specific SGLT2 inhibitors can be beneficial for patients who have heart failure with reduced ejection fraction -- a condition in which the heart muscle doesn't pump blood efficiently -- as well for patients with chronic kidney disease.

The article includes comprehensive drug tables that include the factors to consider in clinical practice when choosing a glucose-lowering drug for patients with type 2 diabetes, including A1C-lowering efficacy, route and frequency of administration, cost, effects on weight, risk of hypoglycemia, side effects and clinical benefits.

"Health care providers in primary care, endocrinology, cardiology and nephrology are now prescribing these newer glucose-lowering drugs for their patients," Kalyani says. "Diabetes care will need to be increasingly collaborative in the future and, at its core, remain patient-centered."

###

Kalyani was previously the chair of the American Diabetes Association's Professional Practice Committee, which annually updates the Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes, the organization's clinical practice recommendations. She has also co-authored clinical guidelines published by the Endocrine Society and the American College of Cardiology.

The author reports no industry conflicts.

This story has been published on: 2021-04-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
When Mandeville Police Capt. Vincent Liberto was killed in the line of duty in 2019, the public outpouring of grief was visible in everything from bouquets heaped in front of the police station to throngs of flag-waving mourners who lined his funeral procession.

But love for the fallen officer also took the form of a spontaneous memorial with flags, balloons and flowers that sprang up on the U.S. 190 off ramp at La. 22, the busy stretch of highway where the 58-year-old officer as fatally shot during a traffic stop on Sept. 20, 2019.

Now, those temporary tributes are going to be cleared away as Mandeville officials and Liberto's family work with the state highway department on a permanent memorial that that will conform with federal highway regulations and rules for the proper way to display the U.S. flag.

State Rep. Richard Nelson, who represents the Mandeville area, has filed a bill that would name the spot where Liberto was killed as the "Captain Vincent Liberto, Jr., Memorial Overpass."

Mandeville Police Chief Gerald Sticker said that he appreciates the support and symbolism of the flags that people strung on the fence along the highway. "It was just a spontaneous thing that individuals from the community did, not knowing how to help or support," Sticker said.

But allowing flags to weather away without care or attention is not proper flag etiquette, he said. The U.S. flag is also supposed to be illuminated, or taken down daily at dusk, he said, and he thinks Liberto, as a U.S. Marine veteran, would have wanted the flag displayed properly.

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The plan is to erect a memorial that feature a properly illuminated flag, although Sticker said that he doesn't know the time frame.

Larry Sharp, administrator for the Department of Transportation and Development's district office, said that finding a way to permanently honor Liberto's service that complies with highway regulations has been a goal since the temporary memorial was started by the community.

The Liberto family also issued a statement supporting the plan to memorialize the veteran officer and father of seven grown children.

"To know that Vince  was loved and admired by so many truly makes us feel so blessed. We are humbled by the roadside memorial and the desire to keep Captain Liberto's memory alive. After speaking with city and state officials, the current roadside memorial will be taken down with our blessing and will be replaced with a more permanent memorial in his honor."

Sticker said that he will be out Monday along with Tracey Liberto, the officer's widow, and state highway department workers to begin removing the memorial, with the flags being disposed of according to guidelines.

In the meantime, the family and city officials are asking people not to recreate the temporary tribute.
In 2008, when Q&A was new and Australia was years away from legalising same-sex marriage, the fledgling show helmed by Tony Jones was host to a memorable exchange.

Angela Shanahan, the conservative commentator, said the Catholic Church taught that gay sex was immoral, making the body merely an empty vessel for sex. But, she said, that did not mean gay people were not Gods children.

Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman was the first openly gay MP in the House of Representatives. Credit:James Brickwood

The veteran journalist David Marr, who is gay, would have none of it.

You people have no idea how unspeakably cruel you are, Marr said. Claims of being Gods creatures were mere poetic nonsense if gay people were forced to live sterile lives without sex, he said.
Afghanistan is trying to inoculate millions of children against polio after pandemic lockdowns stalled the effort to eradicate the crippling disease. Since 2010, the country has been carrying out regular inoculation campaigns in which workers go door to door, giving the vaccine to children. Most of the workers are women, since they can get better access to mothers and children.

Authorities say nearly ten million children are now in need of vaccination against polio. Of those, authorities are unable to reach some three million children living in areas under the control of Taliban insurgents. The first round of inoculations was carried out earlier this year, and a second was launched March 29.

During the four-day second round of vaccination, more than 6 million children were vaccinated, according to Health Ministry spokesman Ghulam Dastagir Nazari. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic, and both have seen a disturbing increase in cases in recent years. In Afghanistan, 56 new cases were reported in 2020, the highest number since 2011, when 80 cases were registered.

Merjan Rasekh, Head of polio public awareness of Afghan Health Ministry said, the numbers increased as anti-polio vaccination campaigns were halted in 2020 due to coronavirus pandemic and lack of security in some parts of the country. "Insecurity and coronavirus pandemic caused the increasing number of polio cases in Afghanistan, in 2020 we have registered 56 cases of polio type 1 and more than 300 cases of polio type 2 in Afghanistan," said Rasekh.

This year's polio vaccination campaign claimed lives of three female vaccinators, after they were killed in two separated attacks on March 30 as they carried out a door-to-door vaccinations in the eastern city of Jalalabad. The incident points the dangers facing the campaign as turmoil grows in the country. It was the first time that vaccination workers have been killed in a decade of door-to-door inoculations against the crippling children's disease in Afghanistan. Such attacks have been more common in neighbouring Pakistan, where at least 70 vaccinators and security personnel connected to vaccination campaigns have been killed since 2011.

Rasekh, said the killings of the three vaccinators was "painful." He also added that a continuation of such incidents can demoralize health workers, especially female vaccinators. "If this situation continues, it will definitely have negative impact on the morale of our health workers, especially the female health workers," said Rasekh. Adela Mohammadi, a vaccination worker in Kabul, said her parents didn't want her to go out to do inoculations on the day after the three women were killed in Jalalabad.

But despite, all the problems she walks door-to-door to vaccinate children. "During the campaigns we do face many problems and challenges, but still, I can't leave this job I am a volunteer, and I must serve my people. I can't do much, but this is the least I can do to serve my people," said Adela. Mohammadi has been participating in door-to-door campaigns for the past three years. She works in somewhat better educated parts of the capital, and most families she approaches allow their children to be given a dose. Public worries over the coronavirus and eagerness for treatment have made some more open to polio vaccinations, she said.

Still, she regularly faces sometimes angry resistance from some families who claim vaccines are forbidden by religion or harm children. "There are families who don't even open their gates for us, they just shout, if we don't leave, they will come out and beat us," said Adela.

The violence adds a new worry as Afghanistan struggles to stamp out a disease that has largely been eliminated around the world. But the young women at the forefront of the vaccination drive said it must continue. "If we are afraid and don't go out to vaccinate, our children and all of us will face problems," said Shabana Maani. The continued impact of polio can be seen at the International Committee of the Red Cross' Orthopedic Program in Afghanistan. It mainly provides artificial legs to the many wounded in war or by roadside bombs or mines. But it also offers services to anyone with mobility issues - including people affected by polio.

Shoaib Meskenyar, a polio victim, is working to make orthotic devices for polio patients at ICRC orthopaedic center in Kabul since 2012, he is paralyzed from right leg for the last 28 years after he was diagnosed with polio during civil war in early 90s. Meskenyar said he was happy to be able to help people with disabilities caused by polio, "I am very happy that with the job I do I can help someone like myself, or a polio victim. Because if not much can be done with my help, at least they will be able to go to their jobs and if the victim is a child, he will be able to go to school," said Meskenyar.

In Afghanistan's deeply conservative society, traumatized by decades of war, some are suspicious, viewing inoculations as a Western trick. In 2020, nearly 5,000 polio patients received treatment, including physiotherapy, medical equipment and orthopaedic devices at seven ICRC orthopaedic centres operating in Kabul, Herat, Balkh, Nangarhar, Parwan, Badakhshan and Helmand provinces.

Maiwa Gul, a polio patient from eastern Khost province, was at the center on a recent day getting repairs in the leg orthoses that he needs to walk. He urged that all children be vaccination. "Otherwise, they will eventually be in my position, needing someone to help them."

In Pakistan, officials have struggled to overcome deep public suspicion over vaccines particularly since the U.S. used a fake vaccination campaign to unearth the hideout of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Hard-line clerics and militants have stoked the fears by depicting polio vaccinations as a Western plot to sterilize Muslim children.

In Afghanistan, some have also been suspicious of vaccinations, but that rarely if ever translated into violence. The new killings appear to reflect the disturbing rise in chaos the past year, when the country has seen increasing targeted killings, sometimes of professionals or educated classes, sometimes just seemingly at random. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for some of the violence. But the authors of many attacks remain unknown, including the killings of the vaccination workers.

Image Credits: AP

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Sundry Photography/iStockBy Stephanie Ebbs and Elizabeth Schulze



(WASHINGTON) -- In the weeks leading up to Earth Day shoppers will see messages about companies' commitment to combating climate change or even products claiming to have a more positive impact on the environment than others by generating less waste or being produced with less energy.



And it can be hard to tell which of those statements are true.



One study from an international consumer protection group called ICEPN found as many as 40% of company claims about sustainability were misleading or overstate their impact on the environment -- a practice commonly known as "greenwashing."



And as the Biden administration continues to push for climate change to be a top priority more advocacy groups and businesses are honing in on greenwashing as a problem the government needs to address.



Companies like Patagonia, the popular outerwear business known for its commitment to sustainability, say those claims not only hurt consumers and the reputation of brands trying to minimize their environmental impacts, but also delay action seriously needed to address the climate crisis.



Jenna Johnson, the head of Patagonia's apparel division, said the company has always emphasized having as little impact on the planet as possible since it was founded by Yvon Choinard in 1973.



She said even a company like Patagonia struggles to sort through greenwashing from potential suppliers and other companies claiming they follow the best practices for the environment.



"It happens a lot. There's a lot of really strong marketing claims and a lot of products out there that feel fantastic and like they're moving in the right direction in terms of responsibility. But as you dig in, you find sometimes that it's more talk than actual actions," she told ABC News.



Johnson said this is a problem not only because it hurts consumers and companies that have robust environmental programs in place, but also because it delays real action on climate change.



"You could imagine if the oil and gas companies, for example, if they actually were funding and putting in place the actions that they're talking about around environmental and social goals, if they were truly driving impact within their organizations to move in that direction, we wouldn't be in the climate catastrophe that we're in today," she said.



"So saying is one thing, we can educate customers through marketing campaigns for sure that's important, but if we don't have action to back it up, we lose the trust and the confidence of the customer. And for those of us who are really working hard -- diligently every day to be honest -- and transparent and make progress, it erodes trust and credibility across the board, across brands."



The Biden administration is talking about taking more action to crack down on greenwashing, including creating new climate change units at financial agencies like the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve, Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.



Three environmental groups, including Greenpeace, filed the first-ever greenwashing complaint to the Federal Trade Commission last year against the oil company Chevron. They accuse Chevron of violating advertising guidelines from FTC known as the "Green Guide" that define how certain terms should be used and tells companies not to exaggerate or be overly vague about how their work impacts the environment.



Anusha Narayanan, climate campaign manager for Greenpeace USA, said they see the Biden administration's focus on climate change as a signal they could be more receptive to complaints about greenwashing.



"The Biden administration has been pretty committed to tackling the climate crisis and we believe that the FTC under the Biden administration will be receptive to this complaint and would take Greenwashing seriously," said Anusha Narayanan, climate campaign manager for Greenpeace USA.



The complaint accuses Chevron of producing ads about the company's commitment to new energy technology while not acknowledging the damage caused by burning fossil fuels and that clean energy investments make up less than 0.2 percent of its capital expenditures.



Narayanan said Greenpeace sees greenwashing as part of a bigger problem of people using talk about climate change to delay taking action, including drastically reducing or eliminating the use of fossil fuels.



"It's delaying action from happening, so it allows Chevron to operate business as usual and continue to burn fossil fuels. And then it distracts the public and consumers from seeing the real solutions we already have at hand to tackle the climate crisis and build a renewable energy future," she said.



Chevron called the allegations "frivolous" in a statement to ABC News and said they plan to invest $3 billion between 2021 and 2028 to advance the transition to cleaner sources of energy.



"We are taking action to reduce the carbon intensity of our operations and assets, increase the use of renewables and offsets in support of our business and invest in low-carbon technologies to enable commercial solutions," a Chevron spokesman said in the statement.



An FTC spokesman declined to comment on the complaint. As an enforcement agency, the FTC can investigate or bring complaints against companies accused of misleading consumers but cannot set new regulations on advertising.



Greenwashing doesn't only involve advertising, companies handling investments on Wall Street have also been accused of capitalizing on investors' desire to do good without actually taking steps to improve their impact on society or the environment.



Tariq Fancy is the former chief investment officer for sustainable investing at BlackRock, which manages nearly $9 trillion in assets. He said it was clear to him after working there that sustainable investing was more about marketing.



"My concern is that when they say that they're doing a bunch of things that are really helpful and the public believes that, it creates a placebo effect where we delay action -- and every year matters at this point," he told ABC News.



Fancy said he thinks the only way to push companies into action and avoid greenwashing is if the government gets more involved, including enacting regulations like a price on carbon and requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks.



BlackRock agreed the government should do more to regulate greenwashing. The company recently hired a former top climate official from the Obama administration, Paul Bodnar, to lead their sustainable investing efforts and CEO Larry Fink said he thinks coordinated involvement of governments all over the world will be necessary to decrease emissions and limit global warming.



"BlackRock believes greenwashing is a risk to investors and detrimental to the asset management industry's credibility, which is why we strongly support regulatory initiatives to set consistent standards and increase transparency for sustainable portfolios," a company spokesman said in a statement to ABC News.



Under the Biden administration the SEC could be poised to get more involved in what companies claim about their investments based on environmental or social values, a practice called Environmental, Social and Governance or ESG investing.



Acting SEC Chair Alison Lee said last month that the events during 2020, from the COVID-19 pandemic, George Floyd's death and the connection between racial justice and climate risk have proven that social values cannot be separated from the business world.



"Human capital, human rights, climate change -- these issues are fundamental to our markets, and investors want to and can help drive sustainable solutions on these issues. We see that unmistakably in shifts in capital toward ESG investing, we see it in investor demands for disclosure on these issues, we see it increasingly reflected on corporate proxy ballots, and we see it in corporate recognition that consumers and investors alike are watching corporate responses to these issues more closely than ever," Lee said recently in remarks to the Center for American Progress. "That's why climate and ESG are front and center for the SEC."



Patagonia's Johnson said even though regulations can be challenging and expensive for companies to deal with, holding companies accountable for their statements is the right thing to do when it comes to the environment.



"It's expensive business and the government, alongside civil society, working together, working in tandem," Johnson said. "That is how we are going to save the planet."



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A man, identified as Ahmed Saka, has set ablaze the room of his ex-lover, Mutiat Oladele, in Ibadan, leading to the death of the woman and her two children.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident happened on Wednesday night at Shogoye, Idi-Arere area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

It was gathered that Ms Oladele and Mr Saka had been lovers before the woman broke up the relationship.

Mr Saka had allegedly threatened to end his life and that of Ms Oladele for ending the relationship with him and later carried out the act at midnight.

NAN further gathered that three other children also sustained varying degree of injury as a result of the fire.

The children are currently receiving treatment at Anglican Diocese Hospital, Molete.

The man later died in the aftermath of the arson.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the incident on Thursday in a telephone interview with NAN.

They are concubine; the man went to set the house of his ex-lover ablaze because the woman said she was no longer interested in the relationship.

The woman and her two children died as a result of the incident.

The man that set the house ablaze died later while three other children sustain injury and are being treated at the hospital.

Mr Fadeyi said that further investigation was going on the matter. (NAN)
New Jersey Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, R-Ocean, wants to give people the option to either be tested or vaccinated for COVID-19 while they visit the Jersey Shore this summer.

A resolution he sponsored, AR231, urges the New Jersey Department of Health to provide mobile testing and vaccination units at boardwalks where practical and feasible and other spots along the coast during the summer tourism season.

Jersey Shore businesses and attractions are very much looking forward to welcoming back tourists this summer, and studies show we have reason to be optimistic, Dancer said in a statement. The state could help protect the health and safety of tourism and hospitality professionals, year-round coastal residents, and tourists considering vacations at the shore, by setting up mobile coronavirus testing and vaccination units along the boardwalk or other prominent locations. This would support an economic recovery down the shore while responsibly addressing coronavirus concerns.

Nearly 1.9 million people in the state are considered fully vaccinated as of Wednesday, which is 40% to Gov. Phil Murphys goal of having 4.7 million individuals fully vaccinated by June 30, he said at his daily briefing.

With this in mind, Dancer said that helping people get fully vaccinated during the summer would help the states tourism industry, which was New Jerseys sixth largest industry pre-pandemic, Dancer said. According to the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association, the impact of the coronavirus and related policies has been greater on the tourism industry than any other sector.

He added that the shore could see an increased amount of traffic this summer as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its travel guidance to say that fully vaccinated people can travel safely within the country without getting tested or self-quarantining.

More than half of the tourism spending in the state in 2019 can be attributed to the Jersey Shore. Clearly, if we want to return to a booming tourism industry, we should be boosting our efforts at the Jersey Shore, said Dancer. This summer already looks promising and the state should plan now on increasing access to testing and vaccinations in this region.

Dancers resolution has been referred to the Assembly Health Committee for review.

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.
Palm Coast, Florida, USA, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coastal Cloud helped CDR Health develop CDR HealthProTM, a proprietary management and logistics solution leveraging Salesforce Vaccine Clouds capabilities, to help support the State of Florida and the Florida Department of Health throughout all stages of the pandemic, enabling vaccinations in 49 counties, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Orange, Pasco, and Hernando Counties.

"Over the past three months using the Salesforce platform, we have been able to provide more than 1 million vaccines to Floridians, mostly senior citizens. Currently, our system is handling more than 50,000 vaccinations each day, which is an incredible accomplishment" said Sara Hale, co-founder and managing partner of Coastal Cloud. "Through our partnership with CDR Maguire, Floridians across the state were able to register online, complete the vaccination process in less than 30 minutes, and feel safe with a digital process that limited exposure on the site. We are so proud to be a part of a Salesforce solution that is literally saving lives."

CDR HealthPro has been used to register over 2 million residents for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations to date. Designed on the Salesforce platform and powered by Vaccine Clouds capabilities, the system enables end-to-end vaccine data management, from tracking the vaccination process from patient registration and scheduling through checkout at the vaccination site. The system provides integrated registration and scheduling, onsite vaccine operational workflow, and real-time data reporting for county, state, and federal partners via one streamlined portal.

CEO Tina Vidal-Duart said, We are incredibly proud to be a part of the COVID-19 vaccination process in our home state of Florida. To reach this milestone in three months including administering over 50,000 shots in one day and averaging less than 30 minutes per vaccination from check-in to release  is a testament to our comprehensive vaccination solution and the strength of our partnerships with the State of Florida and all of our local partners.

In addition to FEMA, state-operated, and county and regional vaccination sites, Coastal Cloud and CDR Health have spearheaded efforts to vaccinate residents and staff at long term care facilities across Florida, including assisted living facilities, underserved communities and Centers for Independent Living. Additional endeavors of door-to-door canvassing teams and vaccinations for homebound seniors have amounted to them proudly administering over 150,000 vaccines in these communities.

Salesforce, Vaccine Cloud and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc.

CDR Maguires healthcare team have been providing vaccination data management and staff augmentation services since vaccines first became available in the State of Florida. CDRs proprietary software, CDR HealthPro, is designed to collect and keep track of patient data, integrating all patient, county, state, and federal needs into one streamlined portal. In addition, CDR has provided PCR, Antibody and Antigen COVID-19 test kits, laboratory services, patient notification, testing site logistics and management, medical supplies and PPE, and field hospital oversight and management to the Florida Division of Emergency Management and several counties since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coastal Cloud is a Salesforce Consulting Partner and a Salesforce Navigator Expert in Public Sector, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Communications, and Nonprofit Cloud. They have completed over 3,200 Salesforce projects with over 290 US-based employees. Through its unique consulting business model, the Company provides implementations and managed services to assist clients in migrating to next-generation systems. They have been awarded the Global Salesforce Innovation Award for Customer Success in 2020 and were named to Inc.s Best Workplaces in 2020. including making the Editors Top 10 List.



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Burma Myanmar Junta Uses Explosives, Killing At Least Two Dozen Protesters

The military raid on Taze on Wednesday evening.

At least 11 civilians were killed and nearly 30 injured during clashes with regime forces near Taze Township in Sagaing Region on Wednesday evening.

By Thursday morning, around 612 civilians have been killed by the military junta since the February coup.

Using homemade firearms and air guns, residents attempted to prevent seven trucks full of troops from entering the town at around 4pm on Wednesday.

Residents claimed the troops were being deployed to crack down on daily anti-regime protests in Taze, which have attracted tens of thousands of people but had not been attacked by the juntas forces until yesterday.

Taze protesters battled troops using automatic firearms and sniper rifles, a resident told The Irrawaddy.

After civilians retreated, troops deployed in the town on Wednesday evening.

Residents said people were leaving the town and the wounded were seeking treatment elsewhere to avoid the juntas forces.

On Thursday, Taze was empty amid loudspeaker announcements by the military threatening to shoot anyone seen on the streets.

Protests in Kale Township, Sagaing Region, also faced a dawn raid to remove protesters roadblocks on Wednesday.

During the raids, the regime used explosives and live rounds against protesters armed with homemade firearms, air guns and slingshots, according to protesters.

Around 12 protesters were killed, mainly by explosives, and more than 12 were injured. Three civilians who were not protesting were shot dead and their bodies were taken away by the juntas forces, a source said.

They used explosives and automatic fire against protesters. It is unacceptable. This is not a real war, a young protester in Kale told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.

In earlier crackdowns in Kale, the security forces used automatic fire and rocket launchers against protesters.

Myanmars military regime has intensified crackdowns against the civilian population in recent days, although protests continue and activists look for alternative ways to oppose the junta.

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Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2021) - Copper Fox Metals Inc. (TSXV: CUU) (OTC Pink: CPFXF) ("Copper Fox" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Mark T. Brown as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") of the Company effective April 23, 2021.

Mr. Mark T. Brown, B.Comm., CPA, C.A., is the President of Pacific Opportunity Capital Ltd., located in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mr. Brown has played key roles in the success of several companies listed on the TSX-V, the TSX and the NYSE Market Exchanges. His corporate focus is merger and acquisition transactions, financing, strategic corporate planning, and corporate development. Prior to joining Pacific Opportunity, Mr. Brown managed the financial departments of two TSE 300 companies, Miramar Mining Corp., and Eldorado Gold Ltd. Mr. Brown has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1993, while working with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Vancouver. Mr. Brown is married and has two sons. He lives in Vancouver and is very active in his community.

Elmer B. Stewart, President and CEO of Copper Fox stated, "We are pleased to have Mark join the management team of Copper Fox. Mark's broad experience in the mineral industry will be instrumental in advancing Copper Fox's corporate strategy as well as managing the financial functions of the Company. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Braden Jensen for all his efforts over the past five years and wish him success in his future endeavors."

About Copper Fox

Copper Fox is a Tier 1 Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: CUU) focused on copper exploration and development in Canada and the United States. The principal assets of Copper Fox and its wholly owned Canadian and United States subsidiaries, being Northern Fox Copper Inc. and Desert Fox Copper Inc., are the 25% interest in the Schaft Creek Joint Venture with Teck Resources Limited on the Schaft Creek copper-gold-molybdenum-silver project located in northwestern British Columbia and the 100% ownership of the Van Dyke oxide copper project located in Miami, Arizona. For more information on Copper Fox's other mineral properties and investments visit the Company's website at http://www.copperfoxmetals.com.

For additional information contact: Investor line 1-844-464-2820 or Lynn Ball, at 1-403-264-2820.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Elmer B. Stewart

President and Chief Executive Officer

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "budgets", "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "projects" and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions.

Forward-looking information is based on management's current expectations and beliefs and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this news release include statements about Mr. Brown acting as CFO of the Company; and Mr. Brown being instrumental in advancing the corporate strategy and responsible for the financial functions of the Company. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, Copper Fox and its subsidiaries have made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: Mr. Brown's continued availability to serve as CFO of the Company. While Copper Fox considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, market and social uncertainties and contingencies. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause Copper Fox's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Known risk factors include: Mr. Brown may no longer be willing or able to serve as CFO of the Company; and Mr. Brown's assigned responsibilities may change.

A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Copper Fox is disclosed in Copper Fox's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and Copper Fox disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events, or developments, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/79721
Something rare and creepy recently washed ashore on Mustang Island, and it's best to stay away from them.

On March 29, Jennifer Baltazar didn't notice the eyeball-looking creatures scattered on the shore until her son starting to feel a stinging pain in his foot. When Baltazar traced back their steps to see what he could have stepped on, she saw the jellyfish-like species.

She took pictures and sent them to Mission Aransas reserve director Jace Tunnell at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, who told MySA.com he's never seen the creatures before. After some research, the institute identified them as Rhizophysa eysenhardti  a species related to Portuguese man-of-war.

READ ALSO: Powerful stingers are washing up in Port Aransas. Here's what to do if you find one.

Rhizophysa eysenhardti are sometimes called spaghetti monsters or thread-jellies. They are native to the tropical Atlantic and Indian oceans, making it pretty rare to see down here in the Gulf of Mexico, Mustang Island stated in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

"I've never seen these things wash up before," Tunnell said. "... Certain times of the year these jellyfish and stuff fluctuate coming in, and we randomly find interesting things coming, and this one, in particular, kind of threw me off ... it's an interesting find for sure."

Tunnell noted he doesn't think the sting is as powerful as the man-of-war, but it would be best to avoid the thread-jellies. Baltazar agrees as her son said the sting hurt quite a bit.

"Take pictures but leave the animal there," Tunnell said.

When researching information on this species, we learned there isn't much out there. However, a publication from CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research says the stings of Rhizophysa are painful. If stung, the publication says to rinse it well with seawater to wash away any remaining microscopic nematocysts (stinging cells) remaining on the skin. Freshwater or tap water should not be used, as it will aggravate it. Then, it says to use ice to relieve the pain.
Patna, April 8 : The labourers have started losing jobs amid the Covid-19 resurgence across the country.

Fentus Kumar (29), a native of Bihar's Khagaria district, came with his group of 45 fellow labourers from Hanumangarh in Rajasthan.

"Since the manufacturing unit where we were working was partially operational so our employer asked us to return to home. The company is not receiving ample amount of work orders, therefore, limited labourers were required," Fentus said while waiting for Katihar bound train to Khagaria at Patna after reaching from Delhi.

52-year-old Vinod Sharma, who is also part of the group, said: "Once we lost our jobs, there was no reason for us to stay there. Hence, we decided to return. The situation in industrial areas of Hanumangarh was almost similar. Too many labourers lost jobs." Bhim Mehta, a native of Saharsa district ,said: "During normal days, the garment factory where we worked was operating 24 hours. Now, due to the night curfew the manufacturing is done only during the day. Therefore, our employer shut the manufacturing unit for the night shift and reduced the numbers of labourers." Mehta's friend Vikas Kumar, who was also employed in the same garment factory, remembering the plight of the last year said: "During the last year's lockdown, our landlord held us captive inside the room and released us after we paid the room rent for the entire month. We had to walk for 60 km to reach Anand Vihar bus station to board the bus for our village. We not lucky enough to get the bus so we had to further walk till Lucknow. We reached Lucknow after nine days. The UP government had arranged a bus for us till Bihar border." "We didn't want to undergo the same plight this year. Despite possibilities of lockdown have been ruled out but the resurgence of Covid has led to a kind of partial lockdown and the pandemic is even more lethal. So we decided to return before the situation goes beyond our control," he added.

Mohamad Jabir, a native of Khagaria, who was waiting with his group of labouers on the stairs of foot over bridge at Patna Junction, said: "We were in the construction sector and our average monthly salary was between Rs 16-17 thousand. Amid the fear of Corona, our contractor suspended the work at the construction site and asked us to go back to our homes. Due to uncertainty about the work we came back."
The campaign focused on promoting a new online support service portal for front-line workers and building a social community among health care professionals

A task force of top US health care professional advocacy organizations enlisted Hashoff to create the campaign

DGTL Holdings Inc ( ) ( ) (FRA:A2QB0L) said its wholly-owned subsidiary Hashoff LLC has completed a national public service announcement campaign with a task force of top US health care professional advocacy organizations.

The company said that the campaign focused on promoting a new online support service portal for front-line workers and building a social community among health care professionals.

DGTL noted that the campaign was led by an organization that has championed the interests of registered nurses across the US for more than 100 years, providing advocacy, career development, and training as well as support services.

The group of leading health care professional associations built a task force committee to develop and deploy online tools to support front-line health care workers in coping with the workplace pressures and challenges brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

DGTL said the task force enlisted Hashoff to create an advocacy campaign using content creators from the health care community to create awareness and promote the adoption of the tools. Health care professionals have built a formidable online social media community and have been active in sharing their stories, key learnings, and best practices, pointing registered nurses to an online portal with support services for these front-line workers.

The company said that health care workers were enlisted to be content creators and were onboarded into the Hashoff platform. The campaign centered on publishing unique and organic content surrounding real-life stories of front-line workers and sought to drive traffic to the online health care support portals.

DGTL said the campaign was successful in generating both reach and engagement, and the strong performance has led to multiple requests for proposals for additional campaigns from the task force and the health care organizations that make up its membership.

Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham
Israele will not recognise ICC jurisdiction On court's allegations of war crimes in Gaza

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, APRIL 8 - Israel will not recognise the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague regarding Israel's alleged war crimes during the 2014 conflict with Gaza.



On March 3, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced that she intends to investigate both Israel as well as Hamas for any war crimes committed starting from June 2014 in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.



After the first decision, on March 9 Bensouda sent Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) a formal notice of the investigation, advising them that they would have until April 9 to request a postponement, on the condition that they begin their own investigations into the allegations made by the ICC.



Now Israel is getting ready to repeat, as it has already done in the past, that it does not recognise the ICC's jurisdiction.



Media reports said the decision was made on Thursday in a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Benny Gantz, National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabbat, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, and others.(ANSAmed).




CMEs Hold Love for YOUR Journey

The Los Angeles  San Diego District of the CME Church sponsored Love for Your Journey on March 27, and the response was overwhelming. A huge crowd tuned in for the international, intercontinental, interdenominational and interracial virtual event.

The Christian Coalition, a collaboration of the Christian community that includes the CME Churchs L.A.-S.D. Department of Evangelism and the Christians 4 Salvation outreach ministry, sponsored the program, which focused on the emotional and spiritual impact COVID-19.

According to Dr. Vanilla Brooks, Evangelism Dept. chair, the event was presented to encourage both Christians and non-Christians, assuring them of Gods Love, and His individual plan for each. The participants included the Rev. Travis Morris, L.A.-S.D. presiding elder, who rendered the opening prayer; the Rev. Thomas Ross, who captivated the crowd by playing the saxophone; and uplifting selections performed by Danette Armstead, Clydene Jackson, the Rev. David Pearson and Vincent Pierson.

Also, Debra Pearson, Dessie Tyson, Nancy McKee, Rev. Karen Bradford, Rev. Oliver Buie, Rose White, Rev. Karen Piggee, Viola Pearson, Georgia Allen, Robbie Richards, Julie Baldwin, and Amelia Lee delivered a range of scriptures and affirmations.

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Rev. Harold Godwin, a Christian pastor from Lusaka, Zambia, assured attendees that, Africa is praying for America. He also encouraged everyone to have faith in God, that He will take care of us and to pursue peace, said Dr. Brooks, who added that the Rev. Rodney Wooten led a prayer of salvation.

Other features of the program were the blessing of babies born during the pandemic and the rededication of lives to Christ by several believers. Elder Morris offered prayers of covering for both groups as well as all in attendance.

Viewers were moved by the events as evidenced by their positive comments in the chat box. The remarks included Thank you, the program was great said Rev. Bradford. I was really blessed by the service today, declared Rugenia from Florida. This was the spiritual shot in the arm we all need in these uncertain, troubling times, insisted Toni, a nurse practitioner, and Fantastic praises for Love for Your Journey! shouted Elder Rick.
The Texas House of Representatives has passed a bill that would create an Active Shooter Alert System for the state.

House Bill 103 passed by a vote of 146-0. The bills author, State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (Odessa), said the bill aims to save lives and prevent mass violence while protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding Texans.

The measure would require the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to develop and implement the Active Shooter Alert System. The alerts are intended to be issued quickly via SMS text and other available communications in the event of a mass active shooting situation to individuals near the location of the shooting.

Landgraf crafted HB103, the Leilah Hernandez Act, after working with families of victims from the August 31, 2019, mass shooting in the Odessa/Midland area.

In the aftermath of the mass shooting, I received countless calls and messages from constituents with ideas on how to save lives and prevent mass violence by establishing an active shooter alert system in Texas. Thats exactly what HB 103 sets out to do, Landgraf said in a House Media release.

Leilah Hernandez, a 15-year-old Odessa High School student, was the youngest victim killed that tragic day in Odessa and Midland. Her mother and uncle provided committee testimony about their experience and how they believe an alert system would have saved Leilahs life.

Today is about remembering those we have lost and fighting to prevent other Texas families from enduring the pain that Leilahs family has to go through, Landgraf said after the bill was passed. I want to honor her familys courage and her memory, along with the memory of everyone we lost, by passing this needed legislation into law.

Source: Texas House of Representatives

Topics Texas
Voters made relentless judgment on ruling camp



The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) won a landslide victory in Wednesday's mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan, dealing a fatal blow to the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). The outcome was a direct result of the arrogance, self-righteousness, hypocrisy and incompetence that have characterized the Moon Jae-in administration and the DPK over the last four years.



According to the National Election Commission, Oh Se-hoon of the PPP defeated his DPK rival, Park Young-sun, 57.5 percent to 39.1 percent to become mayor of Seoul. In Busan, PPP candidate Park Heong-joon routed Kim Young-choon of the DPK 62.6 percent to 34.4 percent. The results ended the DPK's winning streak in four elections  the 2016 general election, the 2017 presidential poll, the 2018 local elections and the 2020 general election. However, the by-elections, seen as a bellwether for the March 2022 presidential poll, have opened the way for the conservative PPP's political comeback.



The DPK's crushing loss was mainly due to the Moon government's policy failures. Most of all, the administration has failed to check runaway housing prices although it had implemented 24 sets of anti-speculation measures. More and more people have become disgruntled about the government policy of suppressing demand by putting a cap on mortgages and imposing heavier taxes on homeowners. Ill-conceived measures have also promoted a surge in rents. Homeowners have been hit by tax bombs.



Making matters worse, a land speculation scandal involving employees of the state-run Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH) has invited public rage. Twenty former and incumbent LH officials are suspected of having purchased farmland in satellite cities near Seoul by using inside information about a residential development project. Some lawmakers and presidential staff have also come under criticism for raising rents sharply for homes they were renting out right before a 5-percent cap was introduced last July.



More seriously, President Moon and his party have reneged on their promise to build a fair and just society. They seem to forget that they took power by taking advantage of candlelit rallies that eventually led to the impeachment of then President Park Geun-hye for corruption and abuse of power in 2017. Moon has concentrated on eliminating the "old evils" of the Park administration. But he has been long on words but short on action in advocating for fairness and justice. The ruling elite has become hypocritical by adopting a double standard, failing to keep the moral high ground.



One of the typical examples of hypocrisy was a corruption and admissions fraud scandal surrounding former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and his family. The Moon government mobilized all possible means to prevent then Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl from investigating not only Cho but also ranking officials, presidential secretaries and DPK lawmakers over allegations ranging from bribe-taking and influence-peddling to election rigging. In the name of prosecutorial reform, the ruling bloc has been engrossed in weakening the investigation power of the prosecution in order to cover up its own wrongdoings.



The Moon administration and the DPK should humbly accept voters' relentless judgment on their mishandling of state affairs and policy blunders. Otherwise, they cannot regain the public trust. Moon is feared to become a lame-duck president with a year or so left before his term ends in May 2022. First of all, Moon and his policymakers should reflect on their mistakes and work out new policies to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, stabilize housing prices, improve people's living standards and usher in a fair and transparent society. For this, it is necessary to conduct a sweeping Cabinet reshuffle and bring about drastic policy changes.



The PPP, for its part, should not be complacent with the election win. It has only benefited from the Moon administration's incompetence and poor performance. It must install a new leadership as its interim leader Kim Chong-in was only supposed to serve until the by-elections. It should also strive to present a future vision and bring hope to the people.


On Tahlia Street, a busy commercial boulevard in central Riyadh, a rotating digital billboard shows ads for oud fragrance, white boxer shorts, and a glittering diamond watch. Then comes an image of Crown Prince seated at a desk, with one of his latest soundbites:  plans to spend more in the next 10 years than it has in the past 300.



The poster went up hours after the prince unveiled new steps to bolster the economy on March 30. These were the latest in a series of initiatives since the beginning of the year that have reminded Saudis whos in charge of the kingdom. The subliminal message is that any mistakes from the past five years are firmly behind the 35-year-old prince.

Yet internationally, the Saudi heir has two stains on his record that he cant seem to make go away: the war in Yemen and the 2018 murder and dismemberment of critic and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. With a less pro-Saudi White House, these threaten to undermine Prince Mohammeds economic transformation plan, which relies at least partly on Western money.

According to government figures published on March 31, foreign investment in reached a new high in the last quarter of 2020. Yet it was Egypt and India that topped the list of 10 countries awarded projects there, followed by the US and UK, the only Western nations on the list.

At an online event hosted by the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council on March 10, Fahad Nazer, the spokesman for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, urged participants to visit his country and invest to help the kingdom move this exciting stage of our development forward. One attendee raised a red flag. The things that youre talking about are exciting, he said. But its hard to get past Jamal Khashoggi.



President Joe Biden has made it clear the US relationship with the kingdom wont be as cozy as it was under former President Donald Trump, emphasizing the need to reach out to King Salman rather than his son. Biden allowed the declassification of a US intelligence report that implicated Prince Mohammed in the Khashoggi killing; the Saudi government rejected the finding as a false and unacceptable assessment.King Salman, however, has been conspicuous by the low profile hes kept recently. Although the monarch still chairs the weekly cabinet meeting and sends public messages to world leaders, his son is now very much the face of the country.

Indeed, Prince Mohammed, also known as MBS, has tried hard to shift the focus back onto Vision 2030, his transformative plan for the nations future. His recent efforts range from working to reform the judiciary to calling heads of state to discuss the environment. Hes also keen to play the role of statesman in a region thats not getting any less volatile. Like his father, he called Jordans King Abdullah II to express solidarity after the country announced on April 3 the discovery of a conspiracy to destabilize the nation.

Some observers believe the prince has squandered goodwill from the West, which welcomed his changes to a society long governed by an austere strain of Sunni Islam and his plans to overhaul an economy long dependent on oil. MBS wouldve been the Wests darling had there not been Yemen and Khashoggi, says Ayham Kamel, head of the Middle East and North Africa at the political risk consultancy Eurasia Group.

Europe and the U.S. were charmed by his outlook on reforms. That damage is in some ways irreparable.



That could have an impact on attracting Western investment to a country where obstacles to doing business include an unpredictable judiciary (something the government is trying to change) and frequent delays in government payments. Investors will only come if there are significant returns, especially given the PR issues, Kamel says. Prince Mohammed has said he expects 90% of Vision 2030 funding over the next 10 years to come from domestic sources.

The princes reform efforts, as well as steps to improve the countrys human-rights image such as the release of womens rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul from prison, appear to be attempts to mollify the Biden administration. A Saudi official says the kingdoms actions arent related to changes in political leadership anywhere else in the world, but are rather in line with Vision 2030s objectives. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, says U.S.-Saudi relations are historic and multidimensional and have continued to deepen.

To Gregory Gause, a professor of affairs at Texas A&M University, Prince Mohammed remains on probation, in the U.S. at least. Bidens policy appears to give the Saudi leader room to repair his standing in Washington by seeking peace in Yemen and toeing the U.S. line in the region. In the meantime, says Gause, I do not think he has been fully rehabilitated in the American context, or that Yemen and Jamal are behind him.




The former daughter-in-law of a Trump Organization executive on Thursday turned over boxes filled with financial documents to Manhattan prosecutors who are investigating former President Donald J. Trump and his business, according to her representatives.

Investigators for the district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., acting on a grand jury subpoena, collected several boxes of documents and a laptop from the Upper West Side apartment of the woman, Jennifer Weisselberg, who was married to a son of the longtime Trump executive Allen H. Weisselberg.

The handover of the documents offered the latest suggestion that prosecutors looking into possible fraud by Mr. Trump and his company are stepping up pressure on Mr. Weisselberg, the companys chief financial officer, who has for decades looked after the Trump Organizations finances and could provide essential insider knowledge to investigators.

I can confirm that Jennifer Weisselberg has been in close contact with the district attorneys office, has been turning over documents to them and continues to do so, said Duncan Levin, a lawyer for Ms. Weisselberg, who is the ex-wife of Mr. Weisselbergs son Barry. She is committed to cooperating with law enforcement and being fully transparent with investigators.
STEPANAKERT, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan met today with Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan, the Presidents Office told Armenpress.

The private talk was followed by an extended-format meeting during which they exchanged views on issues relating to the house-building, infrastructure restoration works in Artsakh which are being conducted by the support of the Armenian government, the compensation for citizens mobile and real estate damaged by the recent war.

President Harutyunyan attached great importance to the assistance programs for Artsakh, noting that the successful overcoming of post-war challenges highly depends on their results.

The meeting was attended by State Minister of Artsakh Grigori Martirosyan, members of the Armenian government, Director of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Haykak Arshamyan.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 10 additional COVID-19 cases, of which two are locally transmitted including one with an unknown source of infection.

The new cases involve one male and nine females aged between three and 70.

The unlinked case is a 70-year-old retired woman who was asymptomatic. She was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital on April 6 for another medical condition and tested positive during admission screening.

The eight imported cases arrived from the Philippines and Indonesia.

A total of 120 cases have been recorded in the past 14 days, including 26 local ones, of which nine have unknown infection sources.

Additionally, since a few confirmed patients had visited H.A.N.D.S. at On Ting Estate in Tuen Mun, the mall is now covered in the compulsory testing notice.

The Government will set up a mobile specimen collection station at On Ting/Yau Oi Community Centre in Tuen Mun tomorrow for all members of the public, including those subject to compulsory testing.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.
In May, four electrifying live shows of "Bulgarias Got Talent" will have their broadcast premiere on bTV. The finalists in the competition will present their inspiring performances, with which they will claim the grand prize.

In the spirit of the show without borders, we will upgrade the TV broadcast in an online environment with a special 360-degree livestream of the finale of Bulgarias Got Talent ".

The three-dimensional adventure, which has already shown exceptional results for a number of brands, is expected to attract over 130,000 unique views.

The most engaged fans of the show will be able to follow the episodes with exclusive content from the section "More from Bulgarias Got talent" and any related news on www.talant.btv.bg, as well as follow the show on its YouTube channel.

Join the star company of the jury members, by taking advantage of our special offer (EN).

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MBABANE  A man has challenged his son-in law and indvuna for demanding lobola back.

Michael Mavuso (former father-in-law) took Indvuna of Kalanga Royal Kraal, Solomon Tikhontele Fakudze and Mzwandile Mhlungu (son-in-law) to the High Court. This comes after Mhlungu approached Kalanga Royal Kraal (umphakatsi) to intervene in the matter as he claimed back his lobola from Mavusos family. Mavuso revealed that around April 2016, Mhlungu had paid lobola to the Mavuso family. He delivered a herd of 13 cattle, as per Eswatini tradition. However, the two decided to marry under civil rites marriage. It was reported, however, Mhlungu and Mavusos daughter, Zinhles marriage fell apart and they divorced. Mavuso and his legal counsel argued that as this was a marriage in community of property, it forfeited Mhlungu every right to demand lobola back. It was submitted in Mavusos defence that out of the 13 cattle, three cattle were slaughtered during the lobola function. To cater for the wedding expenses, he allegedly sold two cattle and one was slaughtered on the day to feed the wedding entourage.

Money

Mavuso revealed to the court that the bride price was not entirely literal cattle as per Eswatini Law and Custom. The cattle were supplemented with money. He also disclosed to the court that the couple asked for financial assistance to start a new life and he felt compelled to sell the cattle to assist them. He stated that he sold two cattle and gave them the money. It was brought to the courts attention that Mhlungu was demanding that Zinhle should work at a shop in Nhlangano where she would have earned E700. This would be her contribution to the upkeep of her family. Mavuso relayed that he did not approve of this as his daughter was studying part-time at Ngwane Teachers Training College; he submitted that he felt strongly about this. Hence, this urged him to pay Zinhle a monthly allowance of E1 000. It was highlighted that he pulled this up for 12 months, so that Zinhle would continue with her studies with ease and still contribute towards her household expenses. He revealed that Zinhle did not have a study sponsor; hence he sold three cattle to pay for her tuition fees. His legal representative stated that considering the calculation of the mentioned expenses, the cattle were used for the benefit of Mhlungu and Zinhle. It was submitted that all the cattle were exhausted.
LEMBATA, Indonesia (AP)  The death toll from mudslides in eastern Indonesia has risen to 140 with dozens still missing, officials said Wednesday, as rain continued to pound the region and hamper the search.

East Flores district on Adonara island suffered the highest losses with 67 bodies recovered so far and six missing. Mud tumbled down from surrounding hills early on Sunday, catching people at sleep. Some were swept away by flash floods after overnight rains caused rivers to burst their banks.

On nearby Lembata island, the downpour triggered by Tropical Cyclone Seroja sent solidified lava from a volcanic eruption in November to crash down on more than a dozen villages, killing at least 32 and leaving 35 unaccounted for, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.

Hundreds of police, soldiers and residents dug through the debris with their bare hands, shovels and hoes searching for those buried. Relatives wailed Wednesday as they watched rescuers pull out a mud-caked body, place it on a bamboo stretcher and take it away for burial.

Please find my father and mother who are still buried  whatever their condition, Suzanna Tasoin cried to rescuers struggling to dig up tons of volcanic materials and rocks with farm tools at Waimatan village on Lembata island, We want to bury them with the respect they deserve.

In all, landslides and flooding have killed at least 140 across several islands in Indonesia as well as 27 people in neighboring East Timor. Thousands of homes have been damaged and thousands of people displaced by the weather, which is expected to continue until at least Friday as the storm moves south toward Australia.

Rescue efforts were being hampered by the rains and the remoteness of the area, where roads and bridges were damaged in many places.

Rescue personnel with excavators and tons of food and medicine were being deployed from Makassar city on Sulawesi island, but were hindered by bad weather and extremely high waves.

Five helicopters were helping to reach isolated areas of the islands, National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief Doni Monardo told reporters late Wednesday.

He said evacuees were in dire need of basic necessities such as blankets, mats, tents, baby food and medical services.

The government provided tens of thousands of anti-coronavirus masks, and Monardo said authorities would set up health posts at refugee camps to test people for the virus.

He said six navy ships, including a hospital ship, carrying more goods were expected to arrive on Friday to relieve overwhelmed hospitals and clinics in East Nusa Tenggara, one of Indonesias poorest provinces.
Deany Keith was 16 and living with her family in Corning, N.Y., when her brother, Preston Douglas Powers, a soldier in World War II, sent her a silk German parachute he found while on the beach in Normandy, France, on D-Day. It was 1944 and parachutes had become coveted items  for making wedding dresses.

When I got engaged to a boy I met at a square dance, who was also in the service, my mother made me a wedding gown out of it because material for dresses was scarce, said Ms. Keith, now 93, from her home at Country Meadows, a retirement community in York, Pa. The fact that my brother thought enough to send it to me, and that my mother made the dress, made this special. It was a family effort. You treasured something like this. Especially during that time.

Image Preston Powers found the parachute and sent it to Ms. Keith, his sister, back home.

She and her husband, Clinton Keith, were married Aug. 23, 1947. Today her dress is one of 20 that have been donated to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
[April 08, 2021] California and Oregon engineering teams take first place in SourceAmerica Design Challenge

VIENNA, Va., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Student engineering teams from Los Angeles, California and Portland, Oregon won the top prizes at the 2021 SourceAmerica Design Challenge for their efforts to address workplace obstacles facing people with disabilities. The two winning teams took top honors from a strong group of national finalists during a virtual showcase event... A team from California State University, Los Angeles, in partnership with the National Taipei University of Technology in Taipei, Taiwan, was honored with the first-place prize in the college division. Their project Zeno Effect, a web-based data tracking platform, uses facial and object recognition to assist in an assembly process and helps managers spot areas needing attention. This demonstrates how data analytics can be leveraged to better achieve production goals for all employees. "This was a wonderful opportunity," said California State University, Los Angeles team member Sandra Garcia. "We worked countless hours and it was worth it all!" Catlin Gable School in Portland took first place in the high school division for their project ZipBag, which presents a safe and easy way for people with limb differences and lower dexterity to better handle the opening and closing of resealable bags. "We decided to participate (in Design Challenge) because we wanted to use our engineering skills to help others," said Catlin Gable team member Keola Edelen Hare. "The ZipBag is a step toward a more inclusive environment for those with disabilities." The SourceAmerica Design Challenge is a national engineering competition that showcases the STEM skills these students utilize to develop concepts and prototype assistive technologies to support people with disabilities in their workplaces. The two winning teams took top honors from a strong group of national fnalists during a virtual showcase event held Wednesday.



"I would like to congratulate the winning teams from California State University, Los Angeles and Catlin Gable School," said SourceAmerica Interim President and CEO Richard Belden. "The 2021 SourceAmerica Design Challenge presented an opportunity for these students to use their imagination and ingenuity and show the world how assistive technology can make a difference. I think they did an awesome job." The virtual finals event featured presentations from three college and five high school finalist teams. SourceAmerica subject matter experts in workforce development and productivity engineering judged the teams' submissions based on their potential impact in the workplace.

In addition to the judge's picks, the 300-plus attendees had the opportunity to vote live for their favorite project. Catlin Gable earned this year's first-ever People's Choice Award for their ZipBag. The Design Challenge background

Student teams chose from a list of SourceAmerica's pre-approved projects spanning several engineering disciplines such as mechanical engineering and software development. The teams then designed technology to address project requirements. For most of the year, the teams worked together virtually to fine-tune and document their progress until they submitted a final design. Below are the finalists who also participated in the program: College Team Finalists:

The second and third place college teams are: Second Place - California State University, Los Angeles, and the National Taipei University of Technology

Project: Midas Touch Third Place - California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo  San Luis Obispo, California

Project: Just Kitting Workstation High School Team Finalists:

The second place and additional high school teams included: Second Place - Poolesville High School  Poolesville, Maryland

Project: Time Clock Third Place - Oswego East High School  Oswego, Illinois

Project: Robo-Sticker Fourth Place - Brentwood High School  Brentwood, New York

Project: The Quick Stamper Fifth Place - Diamond Bar High School  Diamond Bar, California

Project: Time Clocking and Office Supply Jigs For more information

For questions or additional details about the SourceAmerica Design Challenge, please visit https://www.sourceamerica.org/get-involved/design-challenge. About SourceAmerica

SourceAmerica connects government and corporate customers to a national network of approximately 700 nonprofit agencies that hire a talented segment of the workforce  people with disabilities. Established in 1974, SourceAmerica is committed to increasing economic and social inclusion and advocating for a more accessible future of work for people with differing abilities. As a leading job creator within the disability community and distinguished as an AbilityOne authorized enterprise, SourceAmerica harnesses the momentum and boosts the capability of its network and customers. To learn more, visit SourceAmerica.org and follow the organization on Facebook (@SourceAmerica), Twitter (@SourceAmerica), Instagram (@SourceAmerica), and LinkedIn (@SourceAmerica). View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/california-and-oregon-engineering-teams-take-first-place-in-sourceamerica-design-challenge-301264644.html SOURCE SourceAmerica

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(CNN)  Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's meeting on Tuesday with the European Union's two presidents has raised eyebrows after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appeared to be left standing while her male counterparts settled into two gilded chairs at the focal point of the room.

In a video of the awkward moment in Ankara, von der Leyen seems unsure of where to sit, gestures with her right hand and says "ehm" as Erdogan and European Council President Charles Michel take their seats.

Von der Leyen was eventually offered a seat on a nearby sofa, opposite Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who occupies a lower-status rank in diplomatic protocol.

In previous meetings the three presidents have all sat together.

Eric Mamer, chief spokesperson for the European Commission, said von der Leyen "was clearly surprised and that is something which you can see from the video." He added that "it's difficult to judge the reasons why she was offered one type of seat rather than another, that's something which you'd have to ask the Turkish authorities about."

Mamer said Turkey had been responsible for organizing the meeting.

He added that when it comes to "the view of the Commission abroad, what I can say is that the protocol level of our President is exactly the same as that of the President of the European Council. Our President is a member of the European Council in her own right and generally, normally, when she goes to foreign countries, she is treated in exactly the same way as the President of the European Council would be."

As leader of the European Commission, the European Union's executive branch and most powerful institution, von der Leyen is one of the most influential women in the bloc. She previously served as Germany's defense minister.

The diplomatic hiccup is especially uncomfortable considering the EU's recent condemnation of Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty aimed at preventing violence against women.

CNN has reached out to both to the EU Council and the Turkish Presidency for comment.
Previously, China accused Tesla of using its electric cars to spy on the country's people. The Asian country said that the giant EV manufacturer has multiple cameras that can record any footage it wants.

Also Read: Tesla Superchargers Are Half the Price to Charge During the Night-California Location Confirms Availability for Promo

Because of this, the Chinese military banned Tesla electric vehicles from entering any Chinese military complexes or housing compounds. And now, Elon Musk's company clarified that China's accusation is not true.

According to PCMag's latest report, Tesla explained that the cameras it integrates into its cars are not working in China. It added that these cams are only activated if the cars are sold within the United States.

"Even in the United States, car owners can freely choose whether to turn on its (the camera system's) use," said the giant EV manufacturer. "Tesla is equipped with a network security system with world-leading security levels to ensure user privacy protection."

Elon Musk defends Tesla

Bloomberg reported that Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, was forced to make a statement to defend its company's reputation against the accusation of China.

He said that they are ready to shut down the Tesla China plant if the camera spying accusation is true. Musk added that if his company really engages in spying, the negative effects of the activity will be extremely bad for his EV business.

As of the moment, Tesla is facing very strong competition in China since some speculations believe that there is a very cheap local brand called Hong Guan Mini EV, that is now outselling it. This might be the reason why Elon Musk decided to speak about the issue since China can easily ban the U.S. EV brand.

Are Tesla's cams alarming?

Tesla EVs' cams are not that alarming since the car owner can choose to deactivate these cameras if they want to. Aside from Elon Musk's company, General Motors and other giant car manufacturers are also using various cameras to protect their consumers when accidents happen.

You can click here for more details.

For more news updates about Elon Musk and his companies, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Tesla EV Owners Confirm Refund on 'Double Charged' Credit Card Transactions, Adds In $200 Coupon for Online Store

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Written by: Giuliano de Leon

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Aztecs' hieroglyphs were among the most sophisticated writing systems which humanity has produced, an expert has claimed.

Little was previously known about the ancient pre-Colombian civilisation's literary achievements because its three main libraries were destroyed by Spanish invaders in 1521.

This contributed to a belief that the Aztecs' hieroglyphic signs were not a proper writing system to match ones found in ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece.

But new research by British anthropologist Gordon Whittaker, reported by the Independent, shows that the Aztecs' system could in fact be used to communicate every syllable in their language.

This flexibility is said to have allowed the entire Aztec lexicon, including tens of thousands of complex words, to be expressed in written form.

Professor Whittaker said: 'Sadly, many scholars over the centuries have tended to dismiss the Aztecs' hieroglyphic system because it looked to Europeans like picture-writing.

'In reality, it wasn't  but many art historians and linguists have mistakenly perceived it in that way.'

The Aztecs' hieroglyphs were among the most sophisticated writing systems which humanity has produced, an expert has claimed. Pictured: The Codez Mendoza, which was produced after the Spanish invasion in 1521

New research by British anthropologist Gordon Whittaker, reported by the Independent , shows that the Aztecs' system could in fact be used to communicate every syllable in their language

The expert's research is due to be published in new book Deciphering Aztec Hieroglyphs.

Previously, literature experts had reportedly dismissed the Aztecs' literary influence because they believed their writing system was not good enough.

But Professor Whittaker's research reveals that it was arguably extremely advanced. The expert compared its complexity to that of Japanese.

His discovery also suggests that 16th century accounts claiming the Aztecs, whose civilisation was in modern-day Mexico, had produced sophisticated works on subjects including poetry, history and law were in fact true.

The Aztec hieroglyphic system was among several developed by different civilisations in the Americas.

The oldest known one was that which was developed by the Zapotecs, who lived in what is now central Mexico. It was in use between 400 BC and 800 AD.

The new research suggests the Aztecs' writing system rivalled those of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Pictured: Egyptian hieroglyphs

The Aztec language - Nahuatl - is still spoken by more than two million indigenous Mexicans.

The Aztecs lived in Central Mexico from the 14th to the 16th Centuries.

They were famous for their agriculture, introducing irrigation, draining swamps and creating artificial islands in lakes.

They were also known for their cannibalism and human sacrificial rituals.

The Aztecs lived in Central Mexico from the 14th to the 16th Centuries. Their capital was Tenochtitlan on the shore of Lake Texcoco  the site of modern-day Mexico City

Among the Aztec works which survives is the Codex Mendoza, which was produced after the Spanish invasion. It is written in Nahuatl and features a Spanish translation. It contains a history of the Aztec rulers and their conquests as well as detail of Aztec society before it was conquered

Their capital was Tenochtitlan on the shore of Lake Texcoco  the site of modern-day Mexico City.

Many of the temples and pyramids they constructed are still standing today. They include those at El Tepozteco in the Mexican state of Morelos and Acatitlan in the town of Santa Cecilia.

Among the Aztec works which survives is the Codex Mendoza, which was produced after the Spanish invasion.

It is written in Nahuatl and features a Spanish translation. It contains a history of the Aztec rulers and their conquests as well as detail of Aztec society before it was conquered.
BLUE BELL, Pa., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) said today that it will release its first-quarter 2021 financial results on Thursday, May 6, 2021 after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Following the release, Unisys will host a conference call with the financial community from 5:00  6:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results.

The company will offer a live, listen-only Webcast of the conference call on the Unisys Investor Website at www.unisys.com/investor. A replay of the Webcast will be available on the Unisys Investor Website shortly following the conference call.

About Unisys

Unisys is a global IT services company that delivers successful outcomes for the most demanding businesses and governments. Unisys offerings include digital workplace services, cloud and infrastructure services and software operating environments for high-intensity enterprise computing. Unisys integrates security into all of its solutions. For more information on how Unisys delivers for its clients across the government, financial services and commercial markets, visit www.unisys.com.

Follow Unisys on Twitter and LinkedIn.

RELEASE NO.: 0408/9823

Unisys and other Unisys products and services mentioned herein, as well as their respective logos, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Unisys Corporation. Any other brand or product referenced herein is acknowledged to be a trademark or registered trademark of its respective holder.

UIS-Q

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(8 April 2021) Telenor Group and Axiata Group Berhad ("Axiata") are in advanced discussions regarding a potential merger of its Malaysian mobile operations Digi and Celcom, in which the parties will have an equal ownership of 33.1 percent each. The new company will be a leading provider of telecommunication services in the country, with competence and scale to meet increasing expectations and demand from a digitally connected society.

The parties aim to create a leading telecommunication service provider in Malaysia with the capabilities to drive research and innovation and facilitate a platform for accelerated digital growth in the local ecosystem. A progressive digital economy is important to Malaysia's future economic resilience and competitiveness, and the merged company will be well positioned for delivering industry innovation, high-quality connectivity and a diversified value proposition to the customers.

"The proposed merger represents an important milestone in Telenor Group's strategy to strengthen its Asian presence and create value in the region. The new entity will have size and financial capabilities to support Malaysia's digital aspirations and lead industry development in a connected society. We look forward to partner with Axiata to realize the potential of the new company", says Jrgen C. Arentz Rostrup, Executive Vice President and Head of Telenor Asia.

Both parties have agreed to nominate Dato' Izzaddin Idris as Chair, Jrgen C. Arentz Rostrup as Deputy Chair, Idham Nawawi as CEO and Albern Murty as deputy CEO of the merged company which will be named Celcom Digi Berhad.

As part of the transaction, Axiata will receive newly issued shares in Digi which represents 33.1% of the merged company. a transaction will realize synergies and provide value for shareholders in line with our strategy of developing value from core telco assets. Celcom Digi will continue to be listed on Bursa Malaysia and will be amongst the top stocks in terms of market capitalisation and contribute to the attractiveness of the local capital market.

Telenor Group and Axiata will work towards finalizing agreements in relation to the proposed transaction within the second quarter of 2021 following due diligence.

The transaction will be subject to approval by Digi Board and Celcom shareholder, receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary terms and conditions. The parties acknowledge that there is no certainty that these discussions will result in any agreement.



Press contact:

Tormod Sandst, Director Media Relations, Telenor Group

+47 90 94 32 15 | Tormod.Sandsto@telenor.com




King Salman Energy Park (Spark), a fully-integrated industrial city coming up near the Saudi city of Dhahran, has won the Cityscape Intelligence 2021 award in the Tech and Innovation Category for Saudi Arabia.

A prestigious platform for the construction sector, Cityscape Intelligence 2021 is held every quarter and celebrates the Mena regions best and boldest projects by honouring the real estate developers and architects shaping the regions skylines.

This is the first time Cityscape has had a Saudi-specific real estate award platform and Spark is one of the first entities to win.

The panel of expert judges examine projects that not only show architectural excellence but also speak to the changing and challenging climate.

On the win, President and CEO Saif Al Qahtani said: "We are immensely proud to receive an award in this category. Spark is progressing at full speed to develop a globally-unique energy-centric ecosystem, set to play a major role in the diversification of Saudi Arabias economy and to be a catalyst of growth for local, regional and global organizations."

Spark is the worlds first industrial city which has been awarded Silver Leed certification, it stated.

Spark is also the first entity in the Kingdom and in the region to pioneer the use of multiple cutting-edge technologies, ensuring sustainability remains at the heart of its development. This include green concrete, ConXTech modular building technology, non-metallic rebar use in bridges among other technologies.

"We are grateful to be recognized for our proactive approach to building sustainably for the Kingdoms future, and we hope that this award is one of many to come," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
MSNBC and CNN legal analyst Midwin Charles posted that she wasn't 'feeling well' in the weeks leading up to her shocking death at 47.

Charles had taken to Instagram on March 19 to share that she would not be having routinely scheduled Happy Hour. The prominent attorney's family announced that she died Tuesday but did not list the attorney's cause of death.

'Hey guys! Sadly, happy hour tonight is canceled. I'm not feeling well,' she said in the post. 'See you next Friday.'

Midwin Charles had taken to Instagram on March 19 to share that she would not be having routinely scheduled Happy Hour, weeks before her unexpectant death

The MSNBC and CNN legal analyst died on Tuesday at age 47, her family shared

People have taken to the post to share their love for Charles, adding heart emojis in the comments.

Charles' family members announced late Tuesday night that the analyst died.

'It is with a profoundly heavy heart and the deepest sadness that we announce the untimely passing of our beloved Midwin Charles,' they said in the Tuesday post.

'She was known to many as a legal commentator on television but to us, she was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, niece and cousin. Our lives are forever changed and we will miss her for a lifetime.'

The attorney's cause of death was not mentioned in the post

'She was known to many as a legal commentator on television but to us, she was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, niece and cousin,' her family said in a post. 'Our lives are forever changed and we will miss her for a lifetime'

Charles provided commentary on shows including CNN, HLN, Bloomberg TV, MSNBC and TV One. While working for CNN, she even provided legal commentary for live trials daily on InSession (formerly CourtTV) on truTV. Pictured with Don Lemon

According to her website, Charles was the founder of law firm Midwin Charles & Associates LLC and a contributor at Essence Magazine.

Charles provided commentary on shows including CNN, HLN, Bloomberg TV, MSNBC and TV One. While working for CNN, she provided legal commentary for live trials daily on InSession (formerly CourtTV) on truTV. Charles had previously written for the Huffington Post.

Notable media personalities, politicians, and other celebrities took to Twitter to remember the brilliant and passionate lawyer.

The View's Sunny Hostin said: 'Midwin was my friend. We worked together on In Session/Court TV. She was a brilliant beautiful legal mind. I will miss her and am praying for her family and especially for her mother whom she adored and spoke of so often. Rest my dear friend.'

The View's Sunny Hostin said: 'Midwin was my friend. We worked together on In Session/Court TV. She was a brilliant beautiful legal mind. I will miss her and am praying for her family and especially for her mother whom she adored and spoke of so often. Rest my dear friend'

'I am DEVASTATED! Midwin Charles is someone I am deeply grateful to for her heart and her head,' shared New York City mayoral candidate Maya Wiley. 'And she was someone I valued at MSNBC! My heart goes out to her family and we have all lost a Sister. #RIJ'

PBS White House Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor shared a tribute and a photo of her and her 'Haitian sis' as she accepted the 2019 McSilver Honoree Award

'I am DEVASTATED! Midwin Charles is someone I am deeply grateful to for her heart and her head,' shared New York City mayoral candidate Maya Wiley. 'And she was someone I valued at MSNBC! My heart goes out to her family and we have all lost a Sister. #RIJ'

PBS White House Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor shared a tribute and a photo of her and her 'Haitian sis' as she accepted the 2019 McSilver Honoree Award.

'This is so, so hard,' Alcindor said in her post. 'My Haitian sis  was a brilliant mind and a beautiful person who worked so hard. Her voice and presence will be deeply missed.'

Bernice King added: 'I'm saddened to learn of the death of Midwin Charles. My heart goes out to those mourning her here and to her family. From what people are sharing, her life was a light that brightened the way for others. Well-lived.'

Bernice King added: 'I'm saddened to learn of the death of Midwin Charles. My heart goes out to those mourning her here and to her family. From what people are sharing, her life was a light that brightened the way for others. Well-lived'

Yvette Nicole-Brown shared that she was 'gutted' by the news while Meena Harris said that she was 'sending love and prayers'

Actress Patricia Arquette said that she was sad to hear about the passing of the attorney, offering her love to the family

Yvette Nicole-Brown shared that she was 'gutted' by the news while Meena Harris said that she was 'sending love and prayers.'

'This is devastating,' said CNN political analyst and TheGrio's Natasha Alford. 'Midwin, I pray you rest in power and perfect peace. Thank you for all you've contributed and the light you shined in the world. So many looked up to you, including me, and we will honor your memory.'

Laura Coates, a CNN senior legal analyst, added: 'I am so incredibly sorry to hear this. I respected her so much. What a devastating loss of a beautiful soul. I am so sorry for your family's tremendous loss.'

'This is devastating,' said CNN political analyst and TheGrio's Natasha Alford. 'Midwin, I pray you rest in power and perfect peace. Thank you for all you've contributed and the light you shined in the world. So many looked up to you, including me, and we will honor your memory'

Laura Coates, a CNN senior legal analyst, added: 'I am so incredibly sorry to hear this. I respected her so much. What a devastating loss of a beautiful soul. I am so sorry for your family's tremendous loss'

'Midwin, you were brilliant, fierce lawyer & analyst as well as a funny and warm soul,' said Exavier Pope, sharing a 2019 photo of the pair on Sirius XM's the Karen Hunter Show. 'The law & legal analyst community will miss you as your family, friends and all the lives you touched.'

'Midwin Charles you are a star that will never cease to shine. Thank you for illuminating my life, and the lives of so many, forever,' said Chris Witherspoon.

'I have no words here,' said Jumaane Williams, NYC Public Advocate. 'I'm having trouble comprehending this loss. It's stunning! As much prayers as I can muster to her family.'

'Midwin, you were brilliant, fierce lawyer & analyst as well as a funny and warm soul,' said Exavier Pope, sharing a 2019 photo of the pair on Sirius XM's the Karen Hunter Show. 'The law & legal analyst community will miss you as your family, friends and all the lives you touched'

'Midwin Charles you are a star that will never cease to shine. Thank you for illuminating my life, and the lives of so many, forever,' said Chris Witherspoon
DENVER, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE: AR) ("Antero Resources") and Antero Midstream Corporation (NYSE: AM) ("Antero Midstream") today announced new responsibilities for certain members of their management teams upon the effectiveness of Glen C. Warren, Jr. retirement as Antero Resources' President, Chief Financial Officer and Director and Antero Midstream's President and Director on April 30, 2021.

Paul M. Rady, currently Chairman and CEO of both Antero Resources and Antero Midstream, will also be named President of both Antero Resources and Antero Midstream.

Michael N. Kennedy, currently Senior Vice President (SVP) of Finance at Antero Resources and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Antero Midstream will be named CFO of Antero Resources and will be appointed to the Antero Midstream Board of Directors. Mr. Kennedy will also serve as SVP of Finance for Antero Midstream. Mr. Kennedy has served as CFO of Antero Midstream and SVP of Finance for Antero Resources since 2016, prior to which he served as Vice President of Finance beginning in 2013. Mr. Kennedy has been involved in all capital markets related activity and strategic transactions for the Antero family of companies, including all three IPOs related to Antero entities and has led the investor relations teams at both Antero Resources and Antero Midstream since going public. Prior to joining Antero, Mr. Kennedy was Executive Vice President and CFO of Forest Oil Corporation from 2009 to 2013. From 2001 until 2009, Mr. Kennedy held various financial positions of increasing responsibility within Forest. From 1996 to 2001, Mr. Kennedy was an auditor with Arthur Andersen LLP focusing on the Natural Resources industry. Mr. Kennedy holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Brendan E. Krueger, currently Vice President of Finance and Treasurer of Antero Resources and Antero Midstream, will be named CFO of Antero Midstream. Mr. Krueger will also continue to serve as Treasurer and Vice President of Finance for Antero Resources and Antero Midstream. Since joining Antero in 2014, Mr. Krueger has been involved in the capital markets related activity and strategic transactions for the Antero family of companies, including two initial public offerings. Prior to joining Antero, Mr. Krueger spent seven years in investment banking focused on equity and debt financing and M&A advisory primarily with Robert W. Baird & Co. and Wells Fargo Securities. Mr. Krueger earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Notre Dame.

Commenting on the new executive management responsibilities, Paul Rady, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Antero Resources and Antero Midstream said, "I would like to recognize Mike and Brendan on their new appointments. Their collective experience, commitment to and impact on the Antero family have been essential in shaping the companies' strategic outlook and positioning both companies for continued success. In particular, they were both instrumental in executing the numerous capital markets and strategic transactions that have occurred over the last 12 to 18 months and helped position the companies for long-term success. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Mike and Brendan in their new roles and I am excited about Antero's future as we work to continue to drive down costs, generate attractive returns, sustainable free cash flow, reduce debt and position both entities to return capital to our shareholders. These two appointments highlight the strong bench strength that we enjoy at Antero."

Commenting on Mr. Kennedy's appointment as CFO of Antero Resources, Ben Hardesty, lead independent director of Antero Resources, said, "I have had the opportunity to work closely with Mike for years. Mike's leadership and executive experience will be key to Antero Resources' efforts to continue to reduce costs and reduce absolute debt and leverage, and to position the company for long-term sustainable success. I have the utmost confidence in Mike and his ability to seamlessly transition into his new role as CFO of Antero Resources."

Commenting on Mr. Kennedy's and Mr. Krueger's new responsibilities at Antero Midstream, David Keyte, lead independent director of Antero Midstream, said, "I am excited to have Mike join Antero Midstream's Board of Directors and to have Brendan serve as Antero Midstream's CFO. Mike's experience as CFO of Antero Midstream, together with his broad knowledge and experience in the industry, will enable him to provide the board with executive counsel on a full range of business, strategic, financial and professional matters. Brendan has played an integral role in executing important capital markets and strategic transactions at both Antero Resources and Antero Midstream, and I think he is very well suited to serve as the company's CFO."

Antero Resources is an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas, NGLs, and oil properties located in the Appalachian Basin. Antero Midstream is a Delaware corporation that owns, operates and develops midstream gathering, compression, processing and fractionation assets located in the Appalachian Basin, as well as integrated water assets that primarily service Antero Resources properties.

For more information, contact Michael Kennedy, Chief Financial Officer of Antero Midstream and SVPFinance of Antero Resources and Antero Midstream, at (303) 357-6782 or [email protected].

SOURCE Antero Midstream Corporation

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